published a work, in which, he labors hard to prove the sinfulness of
American slavery from its evils. It was the design of the author of
Uncle Tom's Cabin, to prove the sinfulness of slavery from its evils;
or otherwise, its abuses. If this mode of reasoning is allowable in
one case, it is so in another, and by this mode of reasoning I can
prove the sinfulness of every institution beneath the sun, social,
civil and religions. It is in fact the argument principally relied on
by skeptics to invalidate the Christian religion. They will all point
to its abuses, or in other words, to the evils growing out of its
abuses. Every institution, social, civil and religious is subject to
abuse--may be prostituted to the worst of purposes--the institution of
Christianity not excepted. But it does not necessarily follow, because
an institution is subject to abuse--because it is prostituted to vile
purposes, that there is any thing wrong about the institution. The
evil consists in the abuse or improper use, and not in the
institution. Cupidity inhumanity, and the gratification of the animal
passions and propensities, have incited slaveholders to the worst of
crimes. But this does not prove that the holding of slaves is sinful,
_per se_, under all circumstances. I have shown in the last chapter of
this work, (Chap 13,) that men are too often prompted from selfish
motives to attach themselves to churches, and that many of them are
prostituting a Christian profession to the worst of purposes. But this
does not prove that there is anything defective or wrong about the
Christian religion. No, by no means. If clergymen descend from their
sacred vocation to dabble with politics, and a thousand other things
that a minister of Christ should not touch; or to use their
ministerial influence to accomplish the most diabolical purposes, and
thereby bring reproach on the Christian name, and a grievous curse on
the nation--then assuredly, the institution of Christianity is not to
blame for it; for its Author, both by precept and example taught the