“The seed which had been so freely scattered by the revolutionary politics of some leading abolitionists had sprung up into a plentiful harvest of suspicion. ‘People connect,’ writes Mr. Clark, ‘democratical principles with the abolition of the slave trade, and will not hear it mentioned.’” On this reverse, Mr. Wilberforce made the following reflections, displaying a humility worthy the imitation of every abolitionist, and of every Christian:--“Oh, may not this have been because one so unworthy as I undertook this hallowed cause, (Uzzah and the ark,) and carried it on with so little true humility, faith, self-abasement, and confidence in God through Christ? No principles but the principles of the gospel should be connected with the abolition of slavery. And if we would expect the blessing of God upon this enterprise, it must be conducted in the spirit of his gospel, and in conformity to the precepts of his word. And without his blessing we shall labor in vain.”[D] And is a dependence on God’s aid and blessing duly felt? If thus felt, it will lead to the cultivation and exemplification of a right spirit--the spirit not merely of humanity, or sympathy, or party zeal, but of real vital piety, which will seek supremely the glory of God, the honor and permanency of his institutions, the advancement of his cause in the world, and the disenthralment and salvation of those around us, who are slaves to sin, and in bondage to Satan; and the conversion of the benighted heathen, as well as the emancipation and elevation of the slaves of our own beloved country. And then the car of liberty, and the chariot of the gospel will move on with majestic and mighty power. FOOTNOTES: [A] These were manifestly the views of those who formed the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833. For in the second article of the constitution, they say of the Society, “It shall aim to convince all our fellow citizens, by arguments addressed to their understandings and consciences, that slavery is a heinous sin in the sight of God,” &c. [B] I am a member of the New Hampshire State Anti-Slavery Society. [C] Though we are commanded “earnestly to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,” yet the unkind and censorious spirit, and harsh language often displayed in theological disputes, has excited great prejudice, and led many to condemn _all_ religious controversy. [D] Life of Wilberforce, pp. 112, 113, 111, 110, 126, 130. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.