this to have been effected through the present efforts of Abolitionists. Will not the master believe that his property has been forcibly wrested from him? and will he not indulge unkind feelings toward the freed slave, and the Abolitionists? The slave obtains his freedom, as one who has been long and most unrighteously oppressed. Will it not seem to him a virtue to hate his former oppressors? Can we expect any harmony or interchange of kindly feeling between them?

But what will be the effect upon the political condition of the slave? With the ignorance and inexperience of the bondman-he becomes a free citizen, in a community of his fellows. What will be the prospects of such a community?

When the Jews were emancipated from Egyptian bondage, their number was about equal to the number of slaves now in the United States. Yet, with a prospect of national prosperity and glory, such as had never been conceived by any other people; and with influences to humble them, and secure reverence for their ruler, and obedience to law-such as were never exerted upon another community; it was found impossible to constitute them an independent nation.— The entire generation that had arrived to years of maturity, at the exodus, from Egypt, perished in the wilderness. The next generation required the discipline of the forty years in the wilderness, ere they were prepared to become a nation. To them Moses said, "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no."--Deut. viii. 2.

What then, must be the prospects of the slaves, if

emancipated, on the plan of Abolitionism? How different from these effects are those of the Gospel! It takes both master and slave under its supervision, and with its own divine authority prescribes to each his relative duty. It constitutes the master the guardian of his slaves, responsible to his "master in heaven," not only for their kind treatment, but, for their moral and religious culture. It thus provides for the instruction. of every slave, by a teacher, who has an interest in his welfare, such as no other person can have. What system of common schools can be compared with this.

The discharge of his duties will necessarily increase the master's interest in his slave. He learns to regard him as a fellow-being-a man like himself, formed for the glory of God, and redeemed by the blood of the Saviour; and he seeks his welfare, not only because it is required, but from the fraternal feelings of humanity.

The gospel has its influence also, on the slave. It addresses him as a man, and sustains the responsibility of man;-teaching him that his servitude is lawful, it removes that sullen dissatisfaction which Abolitionism creates, and which so eminently unfits him for receiving instruction. Now he appreciates and assists his master's efforts for his culture. He learns to serve, not with eye-service, but as fearing God; and in his care for his master's interest, and his anxiety, that “he may adorn the doctrines of God his Saviour, he learns the duties and cultivates the habits of a freeman. If it now seem best that he should be made free, the way is prepared. He can now be emancipated, without injury to himself, without the regrets of his master, and without detriment to the State.

Will it be said that "this result can never be accomplished." Then the question recurs:---Shall we adopt

a plan of our own devising? Because, from unbelief, we doubt the efficacy of the divine plan; or from an overweaning estimate of our own wisdom, we feel able to devise one more efficacious, shall we take credit to ourselves for rejecting God's and substituting our own?

But the gospel proposes, and enjoins no plan that may not---shall not be realized, if the church discharge her duty. Let the zeal, manifested in efforts to counteract the divine plan, be exerted for its execution; let the church in the meek spirit of her Redeemer, with entire confidence in the perfection of his law, and an humble reliance on his aid, teach the master and slave according to his word, and who can doubt the result? "If they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings." If we would do good to others, we must stand in the counsels of the Lord. If we would save our own souls, his word must be "hid in our hearts." "Thus saith the Lord the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?----But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."