enjoins the slave at the present day to return to his master. If so, the law of England, which takes away the slave from his master directly his feet touch English soil, is a robber’s law. If so, the great Act of Emancipation, of which we speak so proudly, was a robber’s act; for though a partial compensation for their loss was granted to the West Indian slave-owners, they were forced to give up their slaves notoriously against their will.
SECTION I.
It is true that the Old Testament distinctly recognises Slavery as a Hebrew institution. It is also true that the New Testament speaks of Slavery in several passages and does not condemn it.
But before we draw the conclusion that Slavery is a divine institution established by God for all time, we must consider what was the object of God’s dealings with Man recorded in the Bible.
If it was to put human society at once in a state of perfection, without further effort, political, social or intellectual, on the part of Man, the inference is irresistible that every institution enjoined in the Bible is part of a perfect scheme, and that every institution mentioned in the Bible without condemnation will be lawful to the end of time.
But if the object was to implant in man’s heart a principle, viz. the love of God and Man, which
