What, then, does he attempt, who turns over the sacred pages to find something in the way of permission or command, which may set him free from the obligations of the Golden Rule?
What must his objects, methods, spirit be, to force him to enter upon such inquiries ?--to compel him to search the Bible for such a purpose?
Can he have good intentions, or be well employed?
Is his frame of mind adapted to the study of the Bible ?--to make its meaning plain and welcome?
What must he think of God, to search his word in quest of gross inconsistencies and grave contradictions! Inconsistent legislation in Jehovah! Contradictory commands! Permissions at war with prohibitions! General requirements at variance with particular arrangements! What must be the moral character of any institution which the Golden Rule decides against ?--which the second great command condemns?
_It can not but be wicked_, whether newly established or long maintained.
However it may be shaped, turned, colored--under every modification and at all times--_wickedness must be its proper character_.

_It must be_, IN ITSELF, _apart from its circumstances_, IN ITS ESSENCE, _apart from its incidents_, SINFUL.
"THINK NOT TO SAY WITHIN YOURSELVES, WE HAVE ABRAHAM FOR OUR FATHER." In disposing of those precepts and exhortations which have a specific bearing upon the subject of slavery, it is greatly important, nay, absolutely essential, that we look forth upon the objects around us, from the right post of observation.

Our stand we must take at some central point, amidst the general maxims and fundamental precepts, the known circumstances and characteristic arrangements, of primitive Christianity.

Otherwise, wrong views and false conclusions will be the result of our studies.

We can not, therefore, be too earnest in trying to catch the general features and prevalent spirit of the New Testament institutions and arrangements.