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Showing posts with the label Covenanters and Slavery

A Man of Character

By Angela Wittman Excerpt from American Covenanters and Abolitionism Alexander McLeod (1773 - 1833) was a man of character who took a strong stand against the inhumane slavery of fellow human beings. Covenanter.org has this brief biography of Alexander McLeod , who was clearly a conservative theologian and a man of respectability. He was no liberal wolf in sheep's clothing seeking to lead folks astray with unbiblical anti-slavery propaganda. “Born in the Isle of Mull, Scotland, June 12, 1774. His father was a distinguished minister of the Church of Scotland. He came to America, by way of Liverpool, England, in the spring of 1792. Soon after his arrival in New York, he moved up the Hudson to Albany, then to Schenectady, New York. At the establishment of Union College, he became a student and graduated with honour in 1798. He joined the Covenanter Church in Princetown, New York, under the eminent James McKinney. He studied theology under his direction, and was lice

Covenanters and Slavery - Part Ten: Conclusion - Was the War Between the States God's Judgment on America?

By Angela Wittman Readers may be familiar with the National Reform Association and the movement for a national Christian amendment acknowledging Christ as Lord in the United States Constitution. This movement has a noble history and was led by men with theological roots to the Scottish Covenanters. Wikipedia reports the movement began during the Civil War: In February 1863, while the American Civil War was being fought, a coalition of eleven Protestant denominations from seven northern states gathered to discuss the state of the nation. Seeing the Civil War as God's punishment for the omission of God from the Constitution, they discussed a proposed amendment to alter the wording of the Preamble to acknowledge God. The idea that civil governments derive their legitimacy from God, and Jesus in particular, was alleged to be based on Biblical passages such as Psalms 2 and Romans 13. Raymond Joseph was a senior pastor of Southfield Reformed Presbyterian Church , Southfield, Michigan (F

Covenanters and Slavery - Part Nine: Christians and the Civil War byDr. John W. Robbins

Editor's note: This essay by John W. Robbins is being reproduced from The Trinity Foundation website and can be found in its entirety at: http://www.trinityfoundation.org/journal.php?id=256 .  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Christians and the Civil War By Dr. John W. Robbins - The Trinity Foundation Editor’s note: John Robbins finished this essay December of 2007. After battling cancer for almost three years he went home to be with his Lord on August 14, 2008. He believed and faithfully defended Christ Jesus and the one true Gospel of our King. He lived his life according to Philippians 1:21 - “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” May we all endeavor to do the same. “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries.... Therefore if there is any

Covenanters and Slavery - Part 8: 'justice, your religion, requires that you should cease to be slave-holders'

By Angela Wittman As we conclude Alexander McLeod's Discourse: Negro Slavery Unjustifiable , let us learn from his words and the spilled blood of Americans in the War Between the States that God will not be mocked. If only God's people had heeded the words of Pastor McLeod preached 60 years earlier and followed the direction given on how to repent and extricate themselves from the sin of slave-holding, the War may have been avoided or at the very least would not have been as bloody as it was ( the total death count has been estimated at 600,000 and perhaps even up to 700,000 men ). [Emphasis in bold text is mine, AW] III. To make some improvement. In his walk of faith, the Christian considers himself bound to the practice of every known duty. By the test of obedience, the nature of his love to God is tried. This is the love of Gods that ye keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. [17] This disposition inclines and fits him for making a practical improveme

Covenanters and Slavery - Part Seven: 'God is the Lord of the universe. As the Supreme Governor, he does what is right.'

By Angela Wittman Alexander M’Leod's Negro Slavery Unjustified continued from Part Six : [Bold text emphasis is mine, A.W.] This naturally leads us to consider another objection—the most plausible argument that can possibly be offered in defence of the unhallowed practice of holding our fellow men in perpetual bondage. OBJECTION IV. "God permitted the ancient Israelites to hold their fellow creatures in servitude. Men and women were bought and sold among them. The bond servant is called his master’s money. Exod. 21:21. Had it been wrong in its nature to enslave any human being, God could not have granted the Hebrews a permission to do it. Negro slavery, stripped of some accidental cruelties, is not necessarily wicked." ANSWER. This objection requires minute attention. The fact is granted. Heaven did permit the Hebrews to purchase some of the human race for servitude. The general principle deduced from this fact is also granted. It is, in certain cases, lawful to enslave