" What an anomaly it would be to have an abolition
convention opened with reading a collect of Paul's inspired directions
to masters and slaves.
But we never hear anything quoted from the Bible on the subject but
"break every yoke!" "let the oppressed go free!" "undo the heavy
burdens!" I was telling a slave-holder of the frequency with which we
hear these expressions in public prayer. "I could join in every one of
them," said he; "I am for breaking every yoke, South and North,
unbinding every heavy burden, and destroying every form of oppression.
But they must be actual, not theoretical, nor imaginary."
This gentle slave in the cars, we will suppose, refuses opportunities to
escape, but complies with the exhortations of the New Testament,
"enduring grief, suffering wrongfully." His master is at last touched by
his meekness, his "not answering again." I should relate only that which
I know to have happened, should I say, that one day this master is
filled with distress on account of sin. He goes out into the
cotton-field and finds Jacob.
"Jacob," he says, "I am a great sinner. Jacob, I feel that I am sinking
into hell. Jacob, pray for me. I mean to turn about, if I live.
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