What a deplorable process of stealing-nay, gently taking away the knowledge which an all-wise Providence has given to man as his inheritance; how it reduces his natural immunities to sensual misery!  And, too, it forbids all legitimate influences that could possibly give the menial a link to elevation, to the formation of a society of his own.  We would fain shrink from such a system of debasing mankind-even more, from the hideous crimes of those who would make Scripture the means to such an end.  And yet, the Church defender of slavery-the Christian little one-his neck-cloth as white as the crimes he defends are black-must distinguish his arguments; and that the world may not suspect his devotion, his honesty, his serious intention, he points us to the many blessings of the plantation-service.

Heavenly divinity!  Let us have faith in the little ones sent to teach it; they tell us slavery enforces Christianity!  The management of ignorance under the direction of ministers of the gospel is certainly becoming well-defined; while statesmen more energetically legalise it.  The one devises, the other carries out a law to make man ignorant of everything but labour.  But while the statesman moulds the theory, the preacher manufactures Scripture texts, that the menial may believe God has ordained him the pliable victim.

Under the apparent necessity of the slave world, Marston had regularly paid Elder Pemberton Praiseworthy for preaching to his property on Sundays; and to the requisite end the good Elder felt himself in duty bound to inculcate humility in all things that would promote obedience to a master’s will.  Of course, one sermon was quite sufficient; and this the credulous property had listened to for more than three years.  The effect was entirely satisfactory, the result being that the honest property were really impressed with a belief, that to evince Christian fortitude under suffering and punishment was the best means of cleansing themselves of the sins they were born to.  This formality was misnamed Christianity—­it was!  And through the force of this one sermon the Elder became indolent; and indolence led him to its natural yoke-fellow-intemperance.  His indulgent mood, such as we have described him enjoying in a previous chapter, became too frequent, leading to serious annoyances.  They had been especially serious for Marston, whom they placed in an awkward situation before his property, and he resolved to tolerate them no longer.  Probably this resolution was hastened by the sudden discovery of Harry’s singular knowledge of Scripture; be that as it may, the only difficulty in the way was to know if Harry could be so trained, that he would preach the “right stripe” doctrine.  This, however, was soon settled, and Marston not only suspended his engagement with the Elder, but entered into a contract with the neighbouring planters, by the terms of which Harry will fill their pulpit, and preach extempore—­the Elder has brought written