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God will judge those, who left to their own free will, and without any of the restraints arising from servitude to an earthly master, persevere in a conduct opposed to his known commands.

Far be it from me to alarm any one needlessly with the judgments of the Almighty, or to interpret the language of Scripture in a sense more terrifying than the words literally express; but I read in the book of inspiration, and you also, my brethren, may read, that whoremongers shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone.

* Rev. xxi. 8.

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LECTURE V.

GIVING UNTO SERVANTS THAT WHICH IS JUST AND EQUAL.

(Preached at the Cathedral, Barbados, April 15, 1832.)

COL. iv. 1.

Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven.

THE precepts of the religion of our divine Master are distinguished from the instruction conveyed by heathen moralists, not so much by the specific nature of the duties enjoined, as by the authority on which they rest, and the motives revealed to enforce the observance of them. heathen' might argue well on the reasonableness and propriety of giving to our servants that which is just and equal;

1

Seneca, Epist. 47. Cic. Off. 1. i. c. 13.

The

and he might subjoin the additional, and more cogent reason, arising from the best interests of the master being involved in the merciful treatment of the slave, and from the great body of civilized society being joint sufferers with the sufferings of even its weakest members. The Christian teacher will adduce the same, or similar arguments in support of the prescribed rule of conduct for the master, but he will make them all subordinate to the command of God. From his sovereign will there can be no appeal to inferior and merely worldly motives.

It is thus the apostle Paul, when calling on Christian masters to be just to their servants, urges not merely the secu lar evils resulting from the neglect of this duty, for he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done," but he bids them remember that they also have a master in heaven. As they judge, so shall they be judged; as

2 Col. iii. 25.

3 Matt. vii. 1.

3

they give, so shall it be given unto them. 4

I have lately directed your attention to certain practices morally and religiously wrong, which have been allowed to prevail in this and in other British colonies in the West Indies. With the Scriptures for my guide, and uninfluenced by measures of supposed political right and expediency, I have endeavoured to the discontinuance of every usage urge which is opposed to the known will of God. Whether the offence be sabbathbreaking, or impure and forbidden concubinage, or withholding the bread of life from the people, and confining them to spiritual darkness and the shadow of death, I have attempted to show that such practices are a direct violation of God's commands, and that they must be accompanied with his displeasure.

Resting still on the authority of the Scriptures, I propose in the present lecture

4 Luke vi. 38.

to lay before you certain benefits which a due regard to the precepts of the gospel will induce every master to confer on his dependents, and which are not only compatible with his secular interests, but have an evident tendency to promote them.

Let no one suppose that I mean to advance from the pulpit opinions of a political character. With the civil institutions of society in these islands I can have no concern, and it would argue a culpable departure from my own duty, were I to dwell more especially in this place on subjects unconnected with any Christian obligation, and bearing solely on the civil and political weal of my fellow men.

But when prominent duties of social life are either distinctly laid down in the Holy Scriptures, or by a just and obvious inference are deducible from them, it would be an unworthy compromise in me were I studiously to pass them by in the present lectures; and

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