New Alexandria,
Penn., November 23.
Dear Sir: Permit a
stranger to address you. I am the pastor of a congregation of people known as
Scotch Covenanters — a people who refuse to incorporate with this Government by
holding its offices or using its elective franchise on the ground that it
refuses to perform the duty of Government either to God or man. It neither
acknowledges the authority of God, nor protects the persons of its subjects;
therefore we do not acknowledge it to be the moral ordinance of God for good to
be obeyed for conscience' sake.
I do not address you
from the expectation that you need any promptings to that fortitude which you
have so nobly displayed, and which I doubt not is begotten in your soul by the
Spirit of God, through a good conscience and a good cause. I have no fear but
that your own familiarity with the word of God and the way to the Throne, will
fortify your heart against the foul aspersions cast upon your character and
motives by the purchased presses and parrot pulpits. He that fears God need
fear no other. Still I know that the bravest heart may be cheered in the midst
of sore trials by a kindly word from even a stranger. And, while the bulls of
Bashan are roaring around you, it may be some consolation to you to know that
there are some earnest Christians who regard you as a martyr to human liberty,
and pray for a large outpouring of the martyr spirit upon you, and feel that in
such a cause 'tis glorious to die. Whatever prudence may whisper as to the best
course, God requires us to "remember them in bonds as bound with
them," (Heb. xiii. 3,) and declares that "we know that we have passed
from death to life, because we love the brethren," (1 John iii. 14 ;
"that we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren," (1 John iii. 16;)
"and if any have this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and
shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in
him?" (1 John iii. 17.) If these are the proper tests of Christianity, I
think, at least, you have no reason to fear a comparison of character in that
respect with your clerical traducers.
But, my dear
brother, you will allow me to urge upon you a rigid inquiry into your motives
to know whether you have taken up the cross for Christ's sake, as well as for
the sake of His oppressed people? If you have made all this sacrifice for
Christ and His cross, you have the promise of a hundred fold now in this life,
and in the world to come eternal life, (Mark x. 29, 30.) Your character will be
a hundred fold more than redeemed, and a hundred fold better legacy will accrue
to your family than you could otherwise have left them.
I know that your
mind is deeply exercised in behalf of the slave; but I would suggest to you
another feature of "the irrepressible conflict," to which you may not
have bestowed as much thought: God's controversy with this nation for dishonor
done to His Majesty. This nation, in its Constitution, makes no submission to
the King of kings; pays no respect to His Higher Law; never mentions His name,
even in the inauguration oath of its Chief Magistrate. God has said, He
"will turn the wicked into hell, and all the nations that forget
God," (Ps. ix. 17.) To His Son He says, "The nation and kingdom that
will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly
wasted," (Isa. lx. 12.)
If you must die a
witness for the "inalienable rights" of man, I desire that you would
also set the seal of your blood to a noble testimony for the supreme authority
and outraged majesty of God, and with your expiring breath call upon this
guilty nation, not only to "let God's people go," but also to serve
God with fear and kiss His Son lest He be angry."
You have been called
before judges and governors, and "it has been given you what to say and
how to speak," and I pray that when you are called to witness a good
confession before many witnesses, that there will be given you living words
that will scathe and burn in the heart of this great and guilty nation, until
their oppression of men and treason against God shall be clean purged out.
Noble man! you are
highly honored of God! You are raised up to a high, commanding eminence, where
every word you utter reaches the furthest corner of this great country; yes, of
the civilized world. What matter if it be from a scaffold, Samson-like you will
slay more Philistines in your death, than you ever did or could by a long life;
and I pray God that in your dying agony, you may have the gratification of
feeling the pillars of Dagon's Temple crumbling in your grasp. O, feel that you
are a great actor on a world-wide stage; that you have a most important part to
play, and that while you are suffering for Christ, he will take care of you. He
sends none a warfare on their own charges, and, "as the tribulations of
Christ abound, the consolations that are by Christ will much more abound."
Fear not to die; look on the scaffold not as a curse but an honor, since it has
been sanctified by Christ. It is no longer, "Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree;" that curse was borne by Jesus; — but now it is
"Blessed is he that suffers for righteousness' sake; for his is the
kingdom of Heaven."
I still entertain
the lingering hope that this nation will not add to its already full cup of
crime the blood of your judicial murder, and I daily pray God "to hear the
groaning of the prisoner, and loose those that are appointed to death,"
(Ps. cii. 20.)
I wish to be
understood as addressing your companions along with you. Should this reach you,
will you gratify me by letting me know. I greatly desire to know more of one in
whom I feel so deep an interest.
I commend you to God
and to the word of His Grace, that is able to keep you from falling, and
present you faultless before Him with exceeding great joy.
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