Farewell to the First Congregational Church in Norwalk, Conn. (bound with other addresses)

But it is said, " There is a great diversity of opinion in relation to this subject — as there always has been, and , always will be — among those equally qualified every way to judge of it. How presumptuous in 21 the pulpit to dogmatize about it, — to think to throw any new light upon it, — to undertake to discuss what the most eminent statesmen have differed about ! " There is a fallacy here, which is easily exposed. What does the pulpit undertake to discuss ] Not the ways of getting rid of slavery, about which men differ ; but the moral character of the system itself, about which, essentially, they agree, — and most earnest de- nunciations of which have come from some of those very statesmen, born and living in the midst of it. The charge against the pulpit of a dogmatic utterance of its opinions in the face of those who have an equal right to theirs, and are as competent to form them, has no meaning. The pulpit has no " opinions " on the subject. It but enunciates plain and incontro- vertible truths and universally-admitted principles. Thank God ! among all that is uncertain, there are some things sure, which one can no more doubt than his own existence ; and, among them, this, — and it is all we care to oppose to slavery, — that there is a righteous God, and that his will and law is right- eousness. But here it is urged, " If the pulpit has nothing to propose in the way of methods for abolishing slavery, why discuss it at all ? We are all right in sentiment with regard to it. We all believe, that, abstractly and in principle, it is wrong. We want to know what to do. When the pulpit can tell us this, it may, with 22 some reason, speak on the subject." Would that the almost universal profession of antislavery sentiment might be more substantiated by deeds ! though the profession is worth something, as a hopeful sign and indication. But who can observe the course of politi- cal parties, and the tone of the secular press, without feeling that this community — even this — needs yet to be baptized into the true spirit of this reform ] Men ask for methods. They know, in their secret hearts, that they are not ready to use them if they were proposed ; they are not, at heart and in princi- ple, — as their doings testify, — with the cause they have nominally espoused ; they have not sworn fealty to it before high Heaven, to be maintained at what- ever sacrifice ; they love money more ; they love distinction more ; they love social position more. What comes of the indignant feeling that flames forth at each fresh outrage of the slave power ] What 1 -Words unbacked by deeds, vows that never see fulfilment. Could it be, if the feeling were based in principle I if the cause had been religiously em- braced'? And is it so, that, for the sake of the material prosperity it helps to foster, this Christian community isi consenting to the continuance and growth of this enthroned oppression 1 consenting — r yes — to crucify afresh the Saviour in the person of the slave ■? — Tell us ,what to do 'i Learn to sympa- thize with the oppressed ; learn to hate oppression ; 23 renew within you a declining love of freedom and appreciation of its worth ; study the first principles, drink into the spirit, of the religion of Christ ; cherish a reverence and love of righteousness, — until you shall have some adequate and feeling apprehension — which you have not now — of the essential character of this accursed system, and have a will for its re- moval. " Where there's a will, there's a way." Let statesmen discuss modes and methods : the pulpit has enough to do to create the feeling that would employ them. Once more, it is urged, " If a minister feels that he must speak on this subject, let him do it elsewhere than in the pulpit. Other places are open to him. Why insist upon that ] " Because the minister of religion has the pulpit as peculiarly his sphere of action and influence. Whatever within him is plead- ing for utterance, as a matter of right and of duty, should have utterance there. Moreover, the pulpit stands before the community as the visible representa- tive, the public organ, the accredited voice, of its reli- gion. Should it fail of bearing testimony, openly and unequivocally, against this wrong, what would be the not unauthorized inference from such failure, — the natural language of it ■? Would it not be, that reli- gion, as such, had no rebuke for it, — had nothing to do with it 1 No : the minister of religion is not only 24 to preach "righteousness ; " he is to preach it "in the great congregation." I cannot close this already too protracted discourse without a more direct allusidn to that state of things among us which called it forth. After what has occurred within the last few weeks, and in the pecu- liar and trying position in which I have thereby been placed, I could not feel it right or well to be longer silent with regard to it. Knowing that I was misun- derstood, or at least misrepresented ; that feelings of displeasure and disapproval were cherished on the part of many of yoU towards me, — feelings whose expres- sion has come to me in no scanty measure or equivo- cal tone ; and that a barrier was thus interposed, here and elsewhere, to my access to your hearts, to my attempts at usefulness, — I felt that, in justice to myself, and yet more to a committed trust, I was bound to speak. Yet when to speak, and how, it has been most ditiicult for me to decide. Discarding, by an earnest effort, all personal considerations ; putting a guard where I felt my weakness lay, — I have endeavored to yield myself to a higher than human guidance. And again and again, even at the approach of each returning sabbath, has a restraining sugges- tion prevented the doing of what I now have done. 25 Friends! as I look back to the time, not four months ago, when I returned among you from a long absence, and think how all was kindness and cor- diality towards me, with not a whisper of disaffection from any quarter, and then contrast with it your pre- sent feelings, as indicated by the facts to which I have alluded, I am constrained to ask before you, What have I done ? leaving it with yourselves to answer, as I leave with you also, and most confidingly, the judg- ment, whether the offence was deserving its visitation. I speak in no spirit of complaint. I come not to whine myself into your compassion, nor even to seek the return of a departed popularity. Let it be as it is. Having nothing to regret, but much to congra- tulate myself for, in what I have done, I cheerfully accept its consequences. Had I seen those conse- quences beforehand, — yea, had all that is adverse iu them been aggravated to my foresight in a tenfold measure, — I should have done the same. An impression, I learn, exists with some of you, that, in allowing the antislavery enterprise to find continued advocacy in this pulpit, I have been untrue to some expressions in the sermon at my return, — expressions which were understood, most strangely, to involve a confession of regret at my past course in relation to this enterprise, and the avowal of a pur- pose to avoid its repetition. I desire to say, that not the slightest shadow of such an idea ever entered my 26 mind. No! No! Among the things in the past which I regret, and they are many, this, helieve me, is not one. Among the resolutions with which I crossed anew the threshold of my work, there was none of desistance froba the advocacy of this holy cause. Its summoning trump, heard long years ago, — heard, and, I bless God, heeded, — wakes still its echoes in my soul ; and, when I shall willingly be disobedient to it, may the earth miss me, and its befriending turf conceal me ! Circumstances require that I should be explicit^in this matter. This, therefore, I desire to say, that I stand here in perfect freedom, or I stand not here at all ; and that, in the exercise of that freedom, among the subjects that wUl be introduced here is that of "righteousness," in its application to the gi;eat sin of the nation, — to American slavery. Friends ! let not a demanded plainness of utterance - be deemed inconsistent with a due respect. Respect, be assured, I feel, as I look around on many a familiar face, many a manly and gentle spirit ; yea, more than respect, — a grateful and affectionate regard. The memories of the past are with me. But you would not, I am sure, desire, as you could not expect, that, through any perspnal regard, I should be untrue to myself. Nor can I believe that it is the wish of most of you to have this pulpit other than a free one. The experience of the past forbids me. And now, one word more, a hopefid one, for that 27 cause which many of you, I know, though with dif- ferent degrees of feeling and different convictions of duty with regard to it, have truly at heart. Let us take courage in the assurance of its Tiltimate success. It is the cause of Christ and of God, and cannot fail. Does man think, by all his power, to restrain it? Let him first essay an easier task, and turn back, with his puny palm, the rushing waters of Niagara. Forces the most potential are enlisted in its behalf, — thought, sentiment, love, faith. It has an advocate in every generous breast, however prejudice and passion for a time may silence it. The literature of the age is in sympathy with it. The lyre of each noble poet is struck for it. Every exile that comes panting from the despotisms of the older world blesses it. The prayers of all the oppressed in all the earth go up for it. Heaven sends down to earth, and earth sends back to heaven, the prediction of its triumph.