,,fugitive ,,slave ,,law4 ,,the ,religious ,duty ,,of ,,obedience ,,to ,,law3 ,a ,,sermon1 ,preached in the ,second ,presbyterian ,church ,,in ,,brooklyn1 ,,nov4 #bd1 #ahej4 ,,by ,,ichabod ,s4 ,,spencer1 ,d4,d4 ,,new ,,york3 ,,published ,,by ,m4,w4 ,,dodd1 ,,brick ,,church ,,chapel1 ,,city ,,hall ,,square1 ,,opposite ,,the ,,city ,,hall4 #ahej4 ,,to ,,the ,,rev4 ,,dr4 ,,spencer3 ,the undersigned having listened1 with much pleasure and as we hope profit1 to the ,sermon which you delivered yesterday morning1 most respectfully request a copy of the same for publication1 believing that much good may be done to the cause of ,religion and ,law1 by the dissemination of the truths expressed therein4 ,brooklyn1 ,monday1 ,nov1 #be1 #ahej4 ,,jasper ,,corning1 ,,francis ,h4 ,,abbott1 ,,lebbeus ,,chapman1 ,f4 ,,deming1 ,,george ,a4 ,,talbot1 ,a4,m4 ,,fenby1 ,,thomas ,,cochran1 ,,wm4 ,,barbour1 ,j4,b4 ,,wickham1 ,,samuel ,,hutchinson1 ,,wm4 ,h4 ,,ames1 ,l4 ,,hopkins1 ,,jarvis ,,brush1 ,s4,n4 ,,brown1 ,,george ,p4 ,,lord1 ,h4,k4 ,,corning1 ,,thos4 ,,baylis1 ,w4,k4 ,,brown1 ,m4,s4 ,,goodman1 ,,jas4 ,,wilde1 ,,jr41 ,,geo4 ,a4 ,,townsend1 ,,david ,b4 ,,baylis1 ,,henry ,w4 ,,barnes1 ,,eli ,,merrill1 ,w4,m4 ,,sands1 ,,isaac ,,otis1 ,,alanson ,,trask1 ,,charles ,,clark1 ,,john ,t4 ,,lawrence1 ,a4,s4 ,,marvin1 ,,wm4 ,m4 ,,harris1 ,r4,r4 ,,field1 ,,samuel ,t4 ,,hubbard1 ,,richard ,w4 ,,hubbard1 ,a4,g4 ,,trask1 ,,john ,h4 ,,prentice1 ,,waldo ,,hutchins1 ,e4,l4 ,,bushnell1 ,,sumner ,,stone1 ,,joseph ,,steele1 ,,jas4 ,mc,l,e,a,n1 ,j4,c4 ,,meeker1 ,j4,s4 ,,pierson1 ,a4,g4 ,,jennings1 ,,jr41 ,b4,w4 ,,delamater1 ,w4 ,,spencer1 ,j4,c4 ,,duryea1 ,a4 ,,crittenden1 ,,henry ,,rowland1 ,,wm4 ,,bullard1 ,,jn4 ,,bullard1 ,,jr4 99 99 99 99 99 ,to ,,jasper ,,corning1 ,esq41 ,,and ,,others3 ,,gentlemen--,the sermon which you have requested1 prepared without a single thought of its publication1 and amid a pressure of other duties1 ,i submit to your disposal2--governed more by your judgment than my own1 in reference to its fitness for the press4 ,yours1 very truly1 ,i4,s4 ,,spencer4 ,brooklyn1 ,nov4 #bf1 #ahej4 ,,sermon4 ,titus1 ,,iii4 #a4 ,put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey magistrates1 to be ready for every good work4 ,ro4 xiii4 #a-g4 ,let every soul be subject unto the higher powers4 ,for there is no power but of ,god1 the powers that be1 are ordained of ,god4 ,whosoever1 therefore1 resisteth the power1 resisteth the ordinance of ,god1 and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation3 7harm1 loss1 or ruin74 ,for rulers are not a terror to good works1 but to the evil4 ,wilt thou then not be afraid of the power8 do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same3 for he is the minister of ,god to thee for good4 ,but if thou do that which is evil1 be afraid2 for he beareth not the sword in vain3 for he is the minister of ,god1 a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil4 ,wherefore ye must needs be subject1 not only for wrath1 but also for conscience' sake4 ,for1 for this cause pay ye tribute also1 for they are ,god's ministers1 attending continually upon this very thing4 ,render therefore to all their dues3 tribute to whom tribute is due2 custom to whom custom2 fear to whom fear2 honor to whom honor4 ,there are two great classes of human duty4 ,one of them embraces duties which we owe to ,god1 the other embraces duties which we owe to men4 ,this classification of duties received the sanction of ,jesus ,christ1 when he spake of loving the ,lord our ,god with all our heart1 as the spirit and sum of the one class of duties1 and of loving our neighbor as ourselves1 as the spirit and sum of the other class of duties4 ,it had also been previously taught at ,mount ,sinai1 when ,god gave to ,moses the two tables of the law--the one enjoining our duty to ,god1 the other enjoining our duty to man4 ,this classification of duties is not arbitrary4 ,it is founded on truth and nature4 ,men have relations to ,god1 as their ,creator1 ,upholder1 ,governor1 ,redeemer1 and rightful ,judge2 and they are bound to recognize these relations1 and feel and act accordingly4 ,men hold relations to one another1 as parents1 children1 citizens1 rulers1 and subjects2 and they are bound to recognize these relations1 and feel and act accordingly4 ,such is the will of ,god4 ,such is the law of ,god4 ,there can be no holiness in man aside from conformity to the will of ,god in this thing4 ,this principle is carried out in all the teachings of the ,new ,testament1 with an emphasis and a plainness which no candid and unprejudiced mind can fail to understand4 ,jesus ,christ has incorporated it into his sermon on the mount in many particulars1 wherein he insists upon our social duties1 while he teaches religion4 ,he preached this principle when he said1 render unto ,caesar the things that are ,caesar's1 and unto ,god the things that are ,god's4 ,he practised on this principle when he made the fish bring in his mouth the tribute-money which1 as a citizen1 he owed to the government of the country1--a government a thousandfold more oppressive than ours4 ,it would be a fundamental error1 if we were to maintain1 that religion has nothing to do with the regulation of our conduct towards one another1--as parents1 as children1 as magistrates1 subjects and citizens2 but that it has left all that field of duty to be regulated by the individual preferences of men4 ,it has not done so4 ,social duties come as really within the field of religious obligation1 as any other duties4 ,the fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations1 as superiors1 inferiors1 and equals4 ,as men1 in any relationship we hold1 neighbors1 citizens of the state1 children1 parents1 or any other earthly connection1 religion extends its authority over us2 and our conduct in each one of these relationships constitutes a part of our holiness or our sin4 ,god has not seen fit to enact special or particular laws for us1 to regulate our conduct in all respects1 as here associated with one another1 and owing duties to one another1 as neighbors1 citizens of the commonwealth1 husbands1 wives1 and children4 ,he has himself enacted only general laws for us1--laid down great general principles1 under the authority and light of which1 he has left men to regulate the particulars as they please1 by the governments which they establish4--only not contravening his great general principles and laws4 ,he has himself made all the laws which are needful1 and all which can be justly obligatory upon us in respect to divine worship1--such duties as praise1 prayer1 preaching the gospel1 and observing the sacramental ordinances2--and no human authority may either repeal these laws or add to them4 ,but in respect to the duties which we owe to our neighbor1 that is1 to our fellow-man1 in any relation he holds to us or can ever hold2 ,god has left the most of these duties to the authoritative decision of human governments4 ,he has thus made a difference betwixt these two classes of duties4 ,the reason for this difference seems to be this2 namely1 man's wisdom can reach farther in ascertaining what is fit or right betwixt him and his fellow-man1 than in ascertaining what is fit or right betwixt him and his ,god3 and consequently1 man can legislate in respect to property1 and other matters of human right1 but not in respect to prayer1 and other matters of the first class of duties4 ,moreover1 in respect to worship1 ,god is himself one of the parties4 ,the parties are not man and man1 as they are in all social duties2 but they are man and ,god3--and therefore1 it would seem but fit and natural1 that ,god should legislate exclusively in respect to the duties which we owe to ,him1 and more specifically1 than in respect to the duties which we owe to one another4 ,hence1 we find it so4 ,explicit divine law regulates all the particulars of the one class of duties2 the particulars of the other class of duties are left to human law1 or the regulations of human society4 ,but this latter class of duties1 that is1 our social duties1 are not left to the individual judgment or independent choice of men1 in such a sense1 that they may obey or disobey human government just as they please4 ,not in the least4 ,human government is by the divine will4 ,obedience to it is obligatory upon men1 by the will and law of ,god4 ,st4 ,paul directing ,titus how to preach1 7and therefore directing all ministers of the gospel who come after him17 says to him1 ,put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers1 to obey magistrates3 and ,i am doing it in this sermon4 ,human government is of divine authority1 not the kind1 but the fact4 ,and consequently1 our action about human government1 our obedience to it1 and our disobedience1 are as much matters of religion1 and coming under its authority and obligation1 as are any other matters4 ,if religion had nothing to do with them1 ,i would have nothing to do with them here4 ,but it has something to do with them4 ,human government is a divine ordinance4 ,it is of divine authority4 ,it is not a thing of mere human authority4 ,our religion1 therefore1 our holiness and final salvation are concerned in our sentiments1 principles1 and conduct in reference to human government4 ,if ,god has left to men the choice of the kind of government they will have1 he has not left it to their choice whether they will obey human government or not4 ,he has commanded that obedience4 ,human government and law are by the will of ,god4 ,this is a religious principle4 ,and almost the entire sum of our second class of duties1 by the will of ,god1 lies under the regulation of human government4 ,god has himself legislated in respect to the other class of duties4 ,human government is founded on the revealed will of ,god4 ,the different expressions contained in the texts which we have just read in your hearing1 place this principle beyond all controversy4 ,glance at them again4 ,put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers1 to obey magistrates4 7,i am doing so--,i am preaching gospel this morning47 ,let every soul be subject unto the higher powers4 ,for there is no power but of ,god4 ,the powers that be1 are ordained of ,god4 ,whosoever1 therefore1 resisteth the power1 resisteth the ordinance of ,god4 ,rulers are not a terror to good works1 but to the evil4 ,do that which is good1 and thou shalt have praise of the same1 for he is a minister of ,god to thee for good4 ,we are commanded to be subject for conscience' sake4 ,magistrates are ,god's ministers4--,what could be plainer8--,this is religion3 not politics1 but religion4 ,human government is ordained of ,god4 ,magistrates are ministers of ,god1 to whom men are commanded to be subject for conscience' sake4 ,this1 therefore1 settles the principle1 on which obedience to human government is the religious duty of men4 ,there may be a point where that obedience may justly stop1 7a matter which we shall consider soon27 but the great principle before us now is an important one1 namely1 that human government and ,law are things which exist by the will of ,god1 and men are bound to submit to them on that high ground4 ,this is the general rule4 ,this is a religious duty2 whatever exceptions we may be able to find sometimes1 among the diversities of human ,law and human condition under it1--or when human ,law would interfere with the first class of our duties1 which ,god does not allow it to do4 ,the powers that be1 are ordained of ,god4 ,let it1 therefore1 be carefully noticed1 that no man or body of men has any right to say1 that they will be without government1 without ,law1 or that religion has nothing to do with the question of their civil obedience to ,law4 ,such obedience must be a part of their religion1 or they cannot be ,christians4 ,it is a part of the will and ordinance of ,god4 ,among politicians and statesmen1 the idea of what they call the social compact is a very familiar idea1 and sometimes figures largely4 ,they mean by this1 that there exists between the different members of every civilized and orderly community1 a tacit compact or agreement1 by which each individual tacitly or impliedly consents to surrender some of his natural rights into the hands of the community in general1 or the hands of its government1 in order to have the power of the community in general1 or power of its government protect him in the enjoyment of others of his rights4 ,thus1 they tell us1 that each man receives a benefit from the power of society or government1 which he could not secure by his individual power1 and receives it in return for the individual natural rights1 which he surrenders to the general society or government3 so that1 on the whole1 this compact between him and the body politic is beneficial to him4 ,for example1 he might not be able to defend his farm from the violence of unjust men1 who might deprive him of it2 and so he procures the aid of civil government to defend it for him1 and in return for this benefit he consents that his farm shall be taxed1 and consents also to forego his personal right to defend it himself in any manner he could1 and let the government defend it for him in their own way4 ,so of all other civil provisions1 rights and duties under the civil government4 ,politicians are accustomed to refer them all to the social compact4 ,i do not complain of this idea of a social compact1 when the idea is presented merely as a justification of government1 or as an explanation of the propriety1 necessity and equity of ,law4 ,but when it is presented as the foundation on which civil government reposes1 though it may satisfy a citizen1 it ought not at all to satisfy a ,christian4 ,the truth is1 there is no such social compact4 ,the idea is only a fancy4 ,human government is not founded on any such social compact at all4 ,it either exists by force1 or it is founded on the will of ,god1 in every case4 ,its just foundation is the will of ,god4 ,and when men are submitting to human government1 they are not to consider themselves as merely carrying out the implied conditions of a social compact2 but their duty is1 to consider themselves as submitting to an ordinance of their ,god and ,maker4 ,human government is of a more high and sacred and solemn character1 than the mere idea of a social compact would make it4 ,god has something to do with it--much to do with it4 ,his will is the solid foundation on which it rests1 7even though at first it may have been established by force17 and every man is religiously bound to regulate his obedience or disobedience to human government on this divinely revealed principle4 ,the social compact may be a very good idea to employ for convincing an infidel in respect to the right of ,law2 but it is too low and loose an idea for a ,christian2 it falls far below the truth1 and below the just solemnity of obligation4 ,the necessity of human ,law results very much1 if not entirely1 from the injustice of mankind4 ,in no age since the fall of ,adam1 has any considerable body of men been found so just and upright1 that civil ,law could be dispensed with4 ,the bad would do injustice to the good1 if it were not for ,law1 and those magistrates appointed by ,law1 who are a terror to evil doers4 ,conscience is not effective in the breast of every sinner1 and therefore ,law must come in1 to hinder that injustice1 which1 without it1 would not be hindered by individual conscience1 and to compel that righteousness which1 without it1 individual conscience would fail to enforce4 ,as individual conscience becomes more stringent1 civil ,law may become more lax4 ,if men would be just towards one another of themselves1 there would be no necessity of human ,law1 to compel them to abstain from injury and to perform their duties to one another4 ,consequently1 ,law is a friend to the human race4 ,it is the protector of the good man2 and it punishes the bad man1 only for the purpose of securing rights1--property1 liberty and life4 ,and even the bad would be worse off a thousand fold than they are1 if there were no efficient ,law to restrain them by its authority and sanctions4 ,the importance of civil ,law is vastly great4 ,its importance can scarcely be exaggerated by any representation4 ,the most of our earthly happiness lies under the protection of human ,law1 and lies there by the will of ,god4 ,we have not an item of property1 in land1 or houses1 or goods1 or chattels1 or money1 which the ,law does not guard for us2 and we have very little indeed1 which we could effectually guard for ourselves4 ,if this protecting1 guarding ,law is not enforced1--if the ,law is obstructed1 or crippled1 or baffled1 or violently set at naught2 then1 the security of civilized society is gone1 and our property1 our liberty1 our rights1 privileges and life1 just lie at the mercy of every unjust man1 and any violent and excited band of the wicked6--,so important to us is the potential dominion and regular administration of ,law4 ,moreover our very rights in religion1 our privilege to have the word of ,god and read it1 to worship ,god according to the dictates of our own conscience1 to preach the gospel and hear it1 are rights and privileges1 which1 in this unjust world1 we could not enjoy for a single year1 aside from the protection and potential administration of human government4 ,if this human government1 the government of ,law1 cannot be maintained1 therefore1 there is nothing on earth valuable to us1 which is secure for a single hour6 ,if the ,law cannot be enforced1 then government is at an end and anarchy reigns1 and all is confusion1 uncertainty1 and violence6 ,order1 civilization1 ,christianity is not safe6 ,there is indeed a limit to the obedience due to human government4 ,such government may become1 and sometimes does become1 so unjust1 oppressive1 tyrannical1 and cruel1 as not to answer the designed1 and righteous1 and beneficial purposes of government for a whole people2 and in such a case1 it deserves no respect as an ordinance of ,god1 for it is then acting contrary to the will of ,god and the necessity of society2 and the injured and oppressed people may justly rise in rebellion against such a government1 and overthrow it1 if they can4 ,but1 let it be carefully remembered1 that any violent resistance is positive rebellion against the government2 and either that resistance must be crushed1 or the government must be overturned4 ,there is no middle way--there can be none4 ,in such a case the whole authority and power of the government come into direct hostility and conflict with the violence which resists the execution of ,law2 and government must crush that violence1 or that violence must crush the government4 ,a government is at an end1 a nullity1 when it cannot execute its laws4 ,let it be carefully remembered also1 that violent resistance to ,law cannot be justified1 when there is no righteous design to overthrow the government itself2 for no man owes a half-allegiance to government1 or can commit a half-high-treason2 and besides1 ,law is too important and delicate a thing to have its majesty trifled with1 by the wicked nonsense of a half-obedience4 ,let it be carefully remembered also1 that violent resistance to ,law cannot be justified1 when there is no fair prospect of overthrowing the government1 and being able to establish a better one4 ,to justify violent resistance to the laws1 it is not enough that the government is unjust and its laws unrighteous2 it is necessary also1 that there should be no good ground to hope for a cessation of that unrighteousness in some peaceful way1 and that there should be a prospect of some good to be gained by the resistance1 which good shall be worth more than all the labor1 and treasure1 and strife1 and blood1 which the revolution shall cost4 ,let it be carefully remembered1 too1 that violent resistance on any one point is rebellion on every point1 for he that offendeth in one point is guilty of all3 such resistance is opposition by force to one entire government--is just a conflict with the powers that be2 so that any resisting individual or number of individuals who commence a violent resistance on any one point1 have cast off their allegiance to the entire government1 and stand in the attitude of open and hostile rebellion4 ,it may not be an easy thing to settle the right of rebellion--to determine the question1 when a people have a right forcibly to resist the execution of regularly enacted ,law4 ,but we can tell something about it4 ,there are some things perfectly clear on this point4 #a4 ,to justify rebellion1 7or what is the same thing1 forcible resistance of the laws17 a government must be so bad1 as to fail manifestly of its just end1 that is1 to promote the happiness of the people4 ,if it does promote that general happiness1 it answers the just end of government--it is a good government1 and ought not to be overthrown4 #b4 ,to justify rebellion1 the injustice or failure of a government must be so great1 that it cannot be endured1--so great1 that it will manifestly be better on the whole1 to run all the risks of a bloody conflict1 of civil war1 than to endure the execution of the governmental laws4 #c4 ,to justify rebellion1 there must be little or no prospect that the government can be peaceably altered1 as ours may be1 or that the injustice or oppression of the government can be made to cease by any peaceable means4 ,violence against government1 rebellion1 civil war1 are no small matters4 ,they bring horrid evils along with them4 ,the injury of government must be very great to justify the introduction of such evils2 and if the injury can be made to cease1 by any peaceable means and within any reasonable time1 it would be better to bear the injury for a while1 than to involve the nation in confusion and blood1 with uncertainty as to the result4--,the last four years' experience of nations in ,europe may read us a lesson4 ,a republic is different from a despotism4 ,a nation where a ,constitution forming the foundation of ,law1 limiting its enactments and establishing courts1 is plainly written out in language that everybody can understand1--where ,constitution and ,law provide for their own amendment at the will of the sovereign people expressed in a regular and solemn manner1--where the will of the people thus governs1 and 7for example17 there is no taxation without representation1--where the elective franchise is free1 and every man capable of intelligently exercising the right may give his voice for altering the ,constitution or ,law1--and where1 therefore1 there can be no necessity of violently opposing the laws1 and no excuse for meanly evading them2--such a nation is very differently conditioned from what it would be1 if the will of one man or of a few governed4 ,in such a nation1 rebellion1 or any evasion of ,law1 becomes a more serious moral evil4 ,rebellion there can scarcely be called for2 and it were difficult to gauge the dimensions of its unrighteousness6 #d4 ,to justify rebellion1 it is necessary that there should be a fair prospect of successful resistance--of an overthrow of the government4 ,if the resistance is not likely to be successful for good1 but is only likely to cost the lives of the resisting individuals and others2 then1 such individuals are sacrificing themselves and others for no good purpose1--which is a thing that cannot be justified to reason or religion4 ,a man has no right to fling away his life for a mere sentiment1 and leave his wife a widow1 or his gray-haired parents without a son to solace them4 ,there must be some fair prospect of great good to come from it1 before one can justly fling his life into the scale1 in a violent contest with the government4 #e4 ,to justify rebellion1 there must be a fair prospect of the firm establishment of a letter government1 and the enactment of more just laws1 after the present government is overturned4 ,nothing can justify a revolution1 a conflict1 a waste of treasure and blood1 which are not going to gain anything in the end4--,again1 the last four years' experience of ,european nations may read us a lesson4 #f4 ,to justify rebellion1 or what is the same thing1 violent resistance to the execution of the laws1 it is necessary that something more than a small fraction of the people should rise in such a resistance4 ,if the people in general are ready for it1 and are willing to run all the hazards of a rebellious conflict with the government1 conscious that they have righteousness and the ,god of righteousness on their side2 this is a very different affair from what it would be1 if only a minority of the people were ready for rebellion4 ,such a minority have no right1 on account of their deemed injuries1 to plunge the nation into a civil war1 for the purpose of over-turning a government which suits the great mass of the people2--a civil war1 in which there is every prospect1 that the government and the majority who aim to support it will prevail2 and prevailing1 must crush their hostile opponents1 this hasty and reckless minority4 ,these are some of the things which appear necessary1 in order to justify violent resistance of ,law4 ,they must all exist1 or such resistance would be criminal1--contrary to reason1 to benevolence1 and to ,christ4 ,it is not a thing to be expected at all among mankind1 that all laws should be right1 or just and equal4 ,human legislation must be expected to bear the marks of an imperfection1 which attaches itself to everything human4 ,if obedience to government were obligatory1 only on the condition that all the laws of that government are just2 then1 such obedience would mean nothing at all1 and every man would be absolved from all allegiance to the government1 and from all obligations to obey4 ,such is man1 so limited his wisdom and so imperfect his holiness1 that human laws must necessarily be imperfect1 and must1 therefore1 necessarily operate hardly in some instances1 upon more or less of the people4 ,it is impossible1 that the thing should be otherwise--in the very nature of the case1 it is impossible4 ,and if every individual were allowed to be the judge in his own case1 whether or not the law operated so hardly upon him that he might disobey2 then his obligation to obedience would mean just nothing at all1 and ,law would be nothing more to him than mere advice4 ,it might be very good advice1 but he might spurn it1 if he chose4 ,i may think it hard and unjust upon myself1 that1 in the great ,empire ,state1 by a sort of bill of attainder1 7,i know not what else to call it1--,i suppose ,i must not call it a slave law17 ,i am prohibited from holding any office of profit or trust1 because ,i will preach the gospel1 and people will hear me2--but notwithstanding this law1 7which you will not allow me to call by any hard name17 you think me under obligation to obey the government1--and ,i think so too4 ,i shall not rebel4 ,the execution of the ,law also1 must necessarily be imperfect1 for the same great reason--human imperfection3 judges and jurors are not infallible4 ,but1 what then8 ,god knew all this when he ordained human government1 and commanded us to be subject to it4 ,such government1 with all its unavoidable imperfection and errors1 on the whole is beneficial--indispensable--we could not do without it4--,and rarely1 very rarely indeed1 is there a single instance of an individual man1 here or beyond the ,potomac1 whom ,law has injured more than it has benefited4 ,even if that ,law unjustly takes away his liberty or his life1 it may have done him more good than injury2 his liberty or his life might have been sooner and more cruelly destroyed without it4 ,it would be hard to prove the contrary1 in any one case that ever existed or ever will1 here or elsewhere4 ,the best and wisest ,laws ever enacted by man1 or that ever will be enacted by man1 may sometimes operate hardly1 even destructively1 upon some particular persons4 ,an innocent man may be accused of murder1 tried1 convicted1 and sentenced to ignominious execution4 ,but1 what then8 ,may this man1 who knows his innocence1 justly arm himself with deadly weapons1 and kill the officer who would execute the sentence of the ,law upon him1--and thus get out of his hands8 ,may this innocent man's neighbors1 who know his innocence as well as he1 lawfully interpose their own persons betwixt him and the officer of ,law1 and thus rescue him8--and may they do this1 because they have decided for themselves1 that this is not a case where the administration of justice is concerned8 ,if so1 then all ,law and ,government must soon come to an end1 and anarchy1 mobs and confusion reign6 ,if so1 then each man becomes really his own ,lawmaker1 and when he thinks the ,law unjust towards him1 may resist it unto blood6 ,if one man is at liberty to be fully prepared for his own defense1 and calling the legal officer an assailant1 or an assassin1 may resist the execution of one law which he deems hard upon him1 then another man may do the same thing in reference to another law2 and the consequence inevitably must be1 that all ,government1 ,law and security are at end6 ,if my neighbor may arm himself1 and kill a legal officer who attempts the discharge of his sworn duty2 then ,i may arm myself also1 when ,i deem the ,law unjust to me1 and kill another legal officer1 who attempts to execute the ,law6 ,and if all this may be1 ,,law is nothing but a bugbear or a bubble--is a dead letter--and the texts of ,god's word which we have just read to you may be disobeyed1 and ought to be blotted from the ,bible6 ,my brethren1 this is a very solemn subject6 ,no theme of earth could be more so4 ,all our earthly benefits1 and no small part of our spiritual privileges and hopes are wrapped up in it4 ,religion cannot prosper1 if ,law is not potential--if the minds of the people are to be perpetually agitated1 distracted and tormented1 by confusion1 fear and uncertainty6 99 99 99 99 99 ,i have stated these great principles1 and made these general remarks upon the subject presented in our texts1 on account of some recent teachings which have been put forth as religious--put forth in religious publications1 by ministers of the gospel4 ,i have no reference to mere politics--to political papers or political parties1 whig or democrat4 ,i have never entered into such matters3 other things occupy me4 ,i have never given but one vote in any legal election1 during the eighteen years ,i have resided in the ,state since ,i returned to it2 and ,i never expect to give another4 ,and if principles opposite to those ,i have laid down in this sermon were promulgated among us1 only by politicians and political parties and papers1 ,i should not advert to them here4 ,i have always supposed1 that some extravagant and evil principles would be occasionally promulgated for party purposes and political effect1 and that the people very well understand this1 and therefore will not be led very far astray by them4 ,and whenever such evil principles have been put forth in the name of religion1 by men whose fanatical phrensy contemned the ,sabbath and other institutions of ,god1 7like some of our ,northern fanatics1 men of one idea and not capable of two17 ,i have very seldom adverted to them at all1 but have supposed it best to leave them to be counteracted by their own extravagance and by the character of their advocates1 and let them die by their own contemptibility4 ,but now1 principles1 contrary to the plain meaning of the texts before us1 come to our ears from some more respectable quarters1 and in the name of religion4 ,i should be a traitor to the high trust of this pulpit1 if ,i did not caution you against them4 ,forbearance and delicacy must sometimes have limits4 ,we owe duties to truth and ,christianity1 which tenderness must not make us violate4 ,the ,new ,york ,evangelical ,congregational ,association recently passed the following ,resolution in respect to the ,fugitive-,slave ,law1--a ,law regularly enacted by the ,congress of the ,united ,states3-- ,resolved1 ,that we cannot recognize this ,law1 as of any binding force upon the citizens of our country4--7,i am thankful that these modest men did not go on1 like him of the triple crown1 to absolve the citizens of our country from all allegiance to the government1 and give our rulers over into the hands of a majesty fit to take care of them47 ,a religious paper1 edited by ,congregational clergymen1 holding respectable stations1 ,pastors of churches1--a paper professedly devoted to the cause of ,christ1--holds the following language in an ,editorial article1 under the caption1 ,how to oppose the ,fugitive-,slave ,law3-- ,this religious paper says1--,to the fugitives themselves 444 this ,law is no ,law 444 and to resist it even unto death1 is their right1 and it may be their duty4444 ,to each individual fugitive1 to every man or woman1 who having escaped from bondage and tasted liberty1 is in hourly peril of being seized and dragged back to slavery1 we say1--,be fully prepared for your own defense4 ,if to you death seems better than slavery1 then refuse not to die--whether on the way-side1 at your own threshold1 or even as a felon upon the gallows4 ,defend your liberty and the liberty of your wife and children1 as you would defend your life and theirs against the assassin4 ,if you die thus1 you die nobly1 and your blood shall be the redemption of your race4 ,should you destroy the life of your assailant1 you will pass into the custody of the criminal ,law 444 under an indictment for murder2 but the verdict of the community1 and the verdict of almost any jury will be1 justifiable homicide in self-defense4444 ,or should a different verdict be found1 and you be condemned to die as a murderer1 your ignominious death shall be luminous with the halo of a martyr1 and your sacrifice shall be for the deliverance of your people4 ,such are the religious principles1 and such is the religious advice of these religious ministers6 ,i am sorry to see this4 ,i never read more wicked and abominable principles6 ,they deserve not only the reprehension of every ,christian1 but the entire indignation of all civilized mankind6 ,they advise private arming with bloody weapons--they advise violent resistance and murder--the murder of officers of civil ,law engaged in the discharge of the duty which they have sworn to perform6 ,i have no words to express my abhorrence of these wicked and outrageous sentiments1 so directly contrary to the whole nature of all civilized society1 to the precepts of the ,bible1 and the whole spirit of ,christianity6 ,i speak not of the men4 ,good men may err4 ,but these principles1 which these ministers have published as religious ones1 are horribly and outrageously wicked6 ,there are other things in this religious paper1 which we think are calculated to do immense mischief4 ,this editorial article would utter its remonstrance against all violent resistance to the execution of the ,law4 ,indeed6 ,very quiet and peaceful1 after having talked about being fully prepared for defense--about death on the wayside1 at the threshold and on the gallows--about murder1 and about martyrdom4 ,away with such morality6 aiming at one thing and professing another6--,if one sees a fellow man struggling with his captors1444 he may lawfully interpose his own person between the parties and separate them4 ,away with such morality6 encouraging people to act a lie1 by opposing ,law while professing to obey it6 ,and this species of morality is virtually commended to the jury-box2 and its inmates are furnished in advance with a verdict here prepared for their use--justifiable homicide in self-defense6 ,away with such morality6 encouraging a juror to violate his oath1 by disregarding the ,law1 which he has just sworn to his country and to his ,god1 shall govern his verdict6 and encouraging a fugitive to expect him to do so6--,we may yet see whether the jurymen of our country will regard their oath1 or will follow the religious counsel of this religious paper4 ,i am not justifying slavery4 ,i am pleading obedience to the texts before me4 ,slavery may be wrong4 ,be it so2 there is still a righteous method to get rid of it4 ,but if slavery is wrong1 that does not make violence and murder right4 ,i am not justifying the fugitive-slave ,law4 ,it may be wrong3 it may be unwise and unconstitutional4 ,i think that any wise and modest man would hesitate much to pronounce it unconstitutional1 after its enactment by a body of men who aimed to abide by the constitution1 and who studied the matter most intensely1 with every opportunity for information and with minds trained for years in the depths of legal science4 ,but1 be it wrong--be it unwise and unconstitutional2 there are civil courts to decide upon its constitutionality1 and no man has any right to decide for himself that it is unconstitutional1 and act upon that decision3 if he had such a right1 then every man would be his own ,lawmaker1 and public ,constitution and ,law would be nothing but a bugbear or a bubble6 ,be it wrong2 there is a peaceful1 prescribed way of amending both ,law and ,constitution1--and a wrong in the ,law does not make false-swearing by the juryman and murder by the fugitive right6 ,it is a most marvellous thing1 what a number of clergymen north of ,mason and ,dixon's line1 have1 all of a sudden1 become such great ,constitutional lawyers6 ,never before was anything like it6 ,it is a modern miracle6 ,a decision upon a great constitutional question is nothing to them6 ,how amazingly these profound legalists1 these clergyman jurists1 would adorn the high courts of the country if they would only consent to take their seat upon the bench6 ,the ,judges of the ,united ,states ,supreme ,court ought to be thankful1 that these clergymen ,judges have done their duty for them in advance1 deciding the law to be unconstitutional and no more is to be done6 ,benevolent men1 these clergymen6 ,some have done the duty of the jurors for them and others the duty of the judges--the verdict and the decision are both recorded6 yea indeed1 in advance1 and without pay6 ,but seriously1 it were far better1 that these clergymen should attend to their own appropriate duties to which their ,master has bidden them1 than to be engaged in fostering excitements among their people1 which never can result in any good1 civil or religious4 ,if we shall have the rebellion1 disunion1 and civil war1 to which these evil principles and these excitements tend1 the guilt of such clergymen will not be small6 ,i would not have their accountability for all the gold of ,ophir6 ,but it is not all the clergymen of this part of the country1 nor the most of them1 nor the half of them1 who have turned ,constitutional lawyers1 or turned law opposers4 ,i hesitate not to say1 it is only a small minority1 and those in general who are not entitled to the most respect for erudition1 sense1 or excellence of character4 ,the 7,new ,school7 ,synod of ,new ,york and ,new ,jersey1 as respectable a body of ministers and elders as is to be found in the ,presbyterian ,church1 at their late meeting in this city1 had good sense enough1 and good religion enough1 to leave the constitutionality of the recent enactment 7the ,fugitive ,slave ,law7 to be adjudicated by the civil tribunals of the country4 ,they deserve the thanks of the country and of all mankind4 ,the solid sense and real religion of the land will respect their decision4 ,i have nothing to do with politics or party4 ,i am only insisting upon religious obedience to ,law4 ,i am preaching the texts before me4 ,such obedience is a religious duty4 ,it is the will of ,god4 ,i appeal to the texts4 ,they proclaim the ,law of ,god4 ,peaceful subjection to government is his law2 and men are guilty of sophistry and falsehood1 when1 to excuse wicked evasion of ,law or violent resistance1 they pretend to appeal to what they call the higher laws of ,god4 ,there are no such higher laws4 ,the texts before me are his law4 ,if one man has a moral right1 either cunningly to evade or openly to violate ,law1 under such pleading1 then another man has the same right to violate another ,law2 and thus any villainy on earth may be perpetrated under the sacred names of conscience1 and the higher laws of ,god6 ,nothing is safe in the hands of men of such principles4 ,these principles undermine the foundations of all society among men6 ,as ,i told you last ,wednesday evening in my lecture1 the question before the country is not1 7as the deceivers pretend17 whether ,god's laws are not higher than man's1 or whether ,god's laws are to be obeyed4 ,nobody disputes either of these things4 ,nobody ever did4 ,but the question is1 whether it is the will of ,god that men should submit to the laws of the land1 or aim to paralyze law1 cheat it1 cripple it1 resist it1 and thus overthrow the government of the country--a government at this moment more beneficial than any other that ever existed4 ,nor is it true1 that the fugitive slave is made an outlaw1 and on that ground justifiable for bloody and murderous resistance of ,law4 ,he is under the protection of ,law2 and if any man injures him or kills him1 the ,law will avenge him1 just as soon as it would you or me4 ,he is not made an outlaw3 common sense knows better4 ,the matter before us is a very serious matter4 ,the wicked principles of which ,i have spoken1 disguise it as you will1 tend directly to anarchy1 confusion1 and civil war6 ,the question is not1 whether slavery is right1 or the ,fugitive ,slave ,law right4 ,it draws deeper4 ,the question is1 shall ,law be put in force1 and the government of the country stand2 or shall ,law be resisted1 and the government of the country disobeyed1 and the nation plunged into all the horrors of civil war8 ,if ,law cannot be executed1 it is time to write the epitaph of your country6 ,suffer me to utter a few words of earnest counsel to you1 my beloved people4 #a4 ,beware of the influence of mere feeling on this serious subject4 ,your feelings may be with the slave1--so are mine1 so are those of most of the ,southern people4 ,we all want men to be free2 and no more do we want it now1 than did the inhabitants of this country before we were born3 the extravagant fanaticism and noisy zeal of the ,northern abolitionists have not increased the sentiment of the country in favour of freedom a single item4 ,but what can we do8 ,this is a very grave and difficult subject4 ,one thing is certain1--the perpetual abuse of our ,southern brethren1 violence1 disunion1 and bloody murder will do us no good1--whether we are bondmen or freemen4 ,and when we think on this subject1 let us aim to be cool1 unimpassioned1 deliberate1 and give reason and religion their just influence over us4 #b4 ,beware of prejudice4 ,do not make up your mind hastily1 and under the impulses of mere feeling1 without any just and extensive information4 ,study the matter calmly1 extensively1 and on all sides and aspects of it4 #c4 ,study it religiously4 ,keep it1 in your mind1 aloof from all the excitements and influences of party and party spirit4 ,let me say to you1 my beloved people1 study it on your knees1 in earnest prayer to ,god4 ,learn your duty from ,god's word1 praying in the ,holy ,ghost4 #d4 ,aim to cultivate the entire spirit of your ,lord and ,master1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,feel as he felt4 ,act as he acted4 ,pray as he prayed4 ,seek the salvation of sinners1 as he sought it1--evidently putting more value upon that for every dying son of ,adam1 than upon all things earthly4 ,oh remember1 you will be the best citizens1 just when you are the best ,christians2--and ,i do believe in my heart1 you will do most earthly good to your fellow-men1 just when you do them most spiritual good1--leading them1 by example1 by precept1 and prayer1 to seek first the kingdom of ,god4 #e4 ,be obedient to the laws of your land4 ,do not resist these ordinances of ,god4 ,stand by the ,constitution of your country4 ,if that die1 the most of your happiness and your hopes die with it6--yea1 it would be a calamity to the civilized world6 ,christianity herself would be hindered a whole century in her march6 ,respect your rulers4 ,frown indignantly upon the low and vile abuse now heaped so liberally upon the great men of your country4 ,be peaceful ,citizens4 ,be a law-abiding people1 with all your sentiments opposed to violence1 bloodshed1 and confusion2 and aim to allay all the excited and angry feelings that may come up around you4 ,finally2 have your hope and your trust in ,god4 ,men women1 and children1 ,i beseech every one of you to beware of the spirit of worldliness1 and the excitements of worldly subjects and interests2 and let not such interests and subjects prevent your conversion to ,christ1 your holiness and eternal salvation4 ,pray for yourselves1 your children1 your rulers2 and let your prayerful and humble trust in ,god hold you safe1 amid all the agitations of a world that you must soon leave for another4 ,god grant it to you1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour4 ,amen4