Jews was more notorious, and more wickedly premeditated, than the late invasion and conquest of the poor innocent Carribees at St. Vincent's? And what nation hath "dealt by oppression with the stranger" so generally, so inhumanly, and in so great a degree, as our British American slaveholders!—Have we not ample reason to expect that the same tremendous decree will, in God's justice, be fulfilled upon these kingdoms?—"Destruction cometh: and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumor upon rumor," &c. &c. &c.—"I will do unto them after their (own) way, and according to their (own) judgments will I judge them!" &c.
Nevertheless, God was pleased to offer the Jews a choice in their fate,—either to forsake their wicked King (who had forfeited all right to govern, by his neglect of justice and natural right) and to fall away to the king's enemies, the Chaldeans; or else to perish miserably in the city, and partake of its destruction!—"And unto this people" (said God to the prophet Jeremiah) "thou shalt say, thus saith the Lord; behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that be-siege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey," &c. Jer. xxi. 8, 9.
The prophet, however was directed to add to his message a word of advice to the king and court, which shows that a seasonable repentance might, even then, have saved the state, and turned away the impending vengeance.
It was such advice, too, as every other monarch, who tolerates any unnatural bondage or oppression in his dominions, ought seriously to consider, because the event proved it to be the best means of averting God's anger, if the king had but persevered in it.—"And touching the house of the king of Judah" (continued the prophet) "say,—hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of David — thus saith the Lord; execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go
