Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might
cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each
looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and
astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and
each invokes his aid against the other. It may seem strange that
any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing
their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge
not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be
answered--that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has
his own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it
must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the
offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one
of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come,
but which, having continued through his appointed time, he now
wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this
terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offense came,
shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes
which the believers in a living God always ascribe to him? Fondly
do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war
may speedily pass away.
Pages:
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621