Slavery and the ConstitutionBowditch, William I. (William Ingersoll)
Religion
Slavery and the Constitution
Bowditch, William I. (William Ingersoll)
Enslaved persons -- United States -- Social conditions; Slavery -- United States
"What a blessed book the Bible is, my brethren! It speaks comfort to
all people in every station of life; it shows how every one must
live here so as to please our heavenly Father. He, the Father of
mercies and the God of all comfort, has in his word forgotten none
of the children of men. All may learn from that holy book how their
souls may be saved through the merits of the death of Christ. And,
in addition to this, every one, in whatever condition he may be,
will find in that holy book what his peculiar duties are. Thus,
ministers are taught in the Bible how they ought to preach the
gospel, and how they ought to live, so as to glorify their Saviour
Jesus Christ. The rich are taught in the Bible how they must do good
with their riches; and the poor, how they must be contented with the
portion that God has given them; and both rich and poor are taught
how to lay up treasure in heaven. Parents are told in the Bible how
they must bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord; and children, how they must obey their parents. Masters
are taught in the Bible how they must rule their servants, and
servants how they must obey their masters. Truly, this holy word of
God is a blessed gift indeed; and how greatly blessed shall we all
be, if we diligently seek the help of the Holy Spirit, that we may
be 'doers of the word, and not hearers only'! I will now read to you
the whole of this passage out of God's holy word, which is written
especially for your instruction:--'Servants, be obedient to them
that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with
eye-service as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart: with good-will doing service, as to
the Lord, and not to men; knowing that whatsoever good thing any man
doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or
free.' This passage from the Bible shows to you what God requires
from you as servants; and there are many other passages which teach
the same things. You should try and remember these parts of the
Bible, that you may be able 'to do your duty in that state of life
unto which it has pleased God to call you.' For, although a bad
servant may not wish to know what God requires of him, yet a
Christian servant will desire to know this, and to do his will in
every thing."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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