A Review of Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, An Essay on Slavery

rated and regulated by the Divine Being among the children of Israel; no doubt for wise and beneficent purposes. I know that it is vain for us to attempt to elevate our mind

at least so far as our respective duties are concerned. This may be learned from the Old, as well as the New Testa

s that the Hebrews under peculiar circumstances became servants; and they were released, or went free on the seventh year. If, however, they preferred to remain with their masters, they then became servants forever. The Hebrews were not suffered to enslave each other, except for a limited time; their servants were taken from the heathen nations around them. See Leviticus, 25th Chapter, from the 39th to the 55th verses inclusive. Mention is frequently made of servants throughout the Old Testament. Men women and children were held

l now hastily glance at the position occupied by Christ and his apostles in relation t

y taught, give no countenance to the wild and visionary views of the faction, known in the United States by the name of

to run away from them. No! No! They never incited servants to murder their masters, nor to murmur at their service; nor yet to steal all they could get, and then leave then. But there are those among us who have been guilty

, if slavery is an evil, why did not Christ and his apostles strike directly at its root, and eradicate it from the face of the earth? Others may impiously ask if it is an evil, why did the Almighty permit it, or why does he tolerate it? The latter interrogatory is fully considered in the preceding Chapter; but I will for obvious reasons make a few additional remarks in reply. I again beg such persons to recollect that we are but finite beings, and cannot, therefore, fully comprehend the Infinite Mind; and that God is moreover the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and that to Him belongs the right to govern and dispose of the work of his own hands, as he, in his infinite wisdom, sees fit and proper. We may observe His dealings with man, but we cannot in all cases say why he acts thus; nor have we any right to ask him, why hast them done thus? Slavery is a consequence of sin, and God, in his providence, suffered it to fall on the posterity of Ham as a just and righteous judgment-as a punishment suitable and proper-as a punishment proportioned to the magnitude of the crime. The Divine Being, no doubt, intended that the signal punishment inflicted on Ham's posterity, should be a warning to all future generations, in all future time, to warn them of the danger of violating his commands, and deter them from the

to comply with the requisitions of the Holy Bible. It is disobedience to God's commands, that makes slavery an evil and a curse. The curse of slavery originates in the disobedience of slaves, and the cruelty of masters. "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters-masters give unto your servants that which is just and equal." Here, in a sentence of twenty words, the Apostle Paul prescribes a remedy for the evils of slavery, a remedy too, that has never failed-a remedy that will remove the curse of slavery; and under some circumstances, make it a blessing to both masters and servants. A compliance on the part of masters and servants with the requisitions of God's word, will disarm slavery of all its evils and terrors. It will bring peace and

ressive, and slaves were disobedient. This condition of slavery made it a sore evil-a grievous calamity, to both masters and servants. The duty of the apostles was clear. It was to remove those evils as far as practicable. It was to instruct masters and servants in their relative duties; well knowing, that obedience on their part, would remove the evils of slavery, and make both masters and servants better and happier. Having done this, they could do no more. Any other course would have entailed misery on masters and servants; or otherwise would have deprived them of all acce

gospel, masters and servants, to the requisitions of God's word. Let ministers of the gospel imitate the example of Jesus Christ and his apostles; let masters and servants strictly observe what is enjoined on them in the New Testament; and let those not immediately interested, look around, and see if they cannot find objects of charity nearer home; and then will slavery soon cease to exist as an institution in this nation. This is the

ve augmented the evils, hardships and calamities of slavery. Thus it has been; thus it is; and thus it ever will be. God is immutable; his laws are unchangeable; and he that expects to accomplish good, must do it by His appointed mea

nt chapter with some qu

aith Th

had done unto him. And he said, cursed be Canaan; a servant

ord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence comest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And

son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor th

he children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land; and they shall be your p

not for it; but if thou mayest be mad

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, whe

e service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whats

hich is just and equal; knowing that ye

are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our L

all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; th

all fear; not only to the good and gentle