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 LETTER OF MERLE D'iUBIGNE, D.D. 
 
 The following letter is from the jDen of Rev. J. H. 
 Merle D'Aubigne, D.D., of Geneva. But it is not only 
 the voice of the historian of the Reformation ; — the 
 Protestantism of Europe here speaks to the Protestantism 
 of America from a revered seat of our common faith, in 
 tones so conciUatory and Christlike, that the most sensi- 
 tive can not take offense. Will not the reader prayer- 
 fully consider this appeal, and also bring it to the know- 
 ledge of the church with which he is connected ? 
 
 To the Evangelical €lirj§tiaiis of the United 
 States of America. 
 
 Dearly helomd brethren in Christy our all-sufficient 
 Saviour and common Head: 
 
 The Evangelical Christians of Geneva frequently re- 
 turn thanks to God for having, in the days of Calvin, 
 kindled that torch in their city, whose salutary Hght has 
 spread throughout Europe, and reached your far-distant 
 shores. They also give thanks to the Lord, that in these 
 latter days, when the word of tr^ith is penetrating into 
 all nations of the earth. He has placed a powerful focus 
 in North- America ; and has sent the children of God from 
 your churches both to enlighten the ancient countries of 
 the East, where the Apostles themselves preached the 
 Gospel, and to bring many souls out of heathen darkness 
 
2 LETTER OF MEKLE D'AUBIGXE, D.D. 
 
 to the Lord and Saviour. The work of propagatuig 
 Christianity in all the world, is, in our opinion, dear 
 brethren, the principal vocation which has been allotted 
 to you from on high. Thus every thmg which can 
 strengthen the hands of American Christians is, we think, 
 an advantage to the whole world ; whilst any thing 
 which would weaken them is a real loss, a matter of 
 grief, not to you alone, but to us, and to all mankind. 
 
 Now, dear brethren, we desire to express to you a 
 thought v/hich often pi-esses itself upon our hearts. "We 
 fear that the laws which estabhsh and regulate Slavery in 
 several of your States, are a source of weakness, not only 
 in your own dear country, but to her legitimate influence 
 over other nations. We know that there are Christians 
 in the United States who possess slaves, and we would 
 not oftend them. " Honor all men," says the Scripture, 
 (1 Peter 2 : 17,) and above all, we wish to do so " to them 
 that have obtained a hke precious faith with us." (2 Pe- 
 ter 1:1.) We would assure them we come not to speak 
 mth them as enemies, but as brethren. We do not claim 
 the right of imposing our opinion with authority upon 
 them ; — the Pope of Rome alone believes that he has that 
 power ; — and we do not doubt that those among you who 
 differ from us on this subject, are sincere and upright in 
 their opinions. However, if we would speak in love, we 
 must also speak in truth, and with that precious liberty 
 which belongs to Christians. We know, moreover, that 
 the city of Calvin is an object of deep and brotherly sym- 
 ]>athy in America. Your citizens who visit us, are con- 
 tinually giving us fresh proofs of this, and this circum- 
 stance excites a hope that our request will find some 
 tlivor in your eyes. But, we repeat, we do not pretend 
 to teach you, but to give you a cordial token of our 
 Krotherly love. 
 
 Beloved brethren, if it is true, not only that Slavery is 
 C3tablished in several of your States, but that in many 
 
LEITER OF MERLE D'aUBIGXE, D.D. 3 
 
 places it is unlawful to instruct the children of slaves or 
 even for the parents to attend pubhc worship ; if it is 
 true that the ties of husband and wife, parent and child 
 are often violently severed ; if it is true that the master 
 acqmres the property and possession of a woman as if she 
 were his own wife ; if other facts, which we prefer not to 
 describe here, are true— we ask ourselves, and we would 
 also ask you, if such laws are compatible with the eter- 
 nal principles of Christianity, which we aU are bound to 
 obey? 
 
 We might doubtless brmg forward other arguments 
 We might remind you that Slavery is contrary to natural 
 rights, and that all men having freedom alike, none can be 
 deprived of that Hberty unless forfeited by some criminal 
 act ; that the rights of property in men and in things are 
 widely different, and that no man is aUowed to sell a hu- 
 man being as he would a material object. We might 
 say, with Montesquieu, that Slavery is hurtful ahke to the 
 slave and to the master ; to the master especially, because 
 he acquires all sorts of vices with his slaves. He be- 
 comes proud, hasty, passionate, hard, voluptuous, cruel 
 We imght add, with that iUustrious author, that m every 
 country, however severe the toil which society exacts 
 its fruits may be obtained from freemen, by encouragmg 
 them with rewards and privileges, adapting the labor 
 to their strength, by bringing to their aid machinery 
 which art invents, and which, we might add, art has in- 
 vented abundantly smce the days of that great writer. 
 But we prefer waiving such material considerations, and 
 dwellmg upon our argument in a Christian point of view. 
 We acknowledge, dear brethren, that Slavery is not ex- 
 plicitly abolished in the New Testament. We see that 
 Christian masters are not prohibited from havmg slaves, 
 (Col. 4:1; Eph. 6:9;) and that slaves are exhorted to 
 submission and fidelity, (Eph. Q : 5, 8 ; Col. 3 : 22, 25 ; 
 Titus 3 : 9, 10 ; 1 Peter 2 : 5, 18.) Yes, slaves ought to 
 
4 LETTER OF MEELE D^AUBIGNE, D.D. 
 
 be obedient and faithful, and nothing should be said 
 which could drive them to revolt ; that is certain ; and 
 yet it is as certain that Slavery is opposed to the true 
 spirit of Christianity. 
 
 There are many texts in the New Testament which 
 make this plain. Does not St. Paul say to the Christian 
 slave, that if he can obtain Ids freedom^ he is to take ad 
 vantage of it ? (1 Cor. 7 : 21.) " The Apostle thus de- 
 monstrates that liberty is not only good, but also more 
 advantageous than slavery," says Cahin. Is it not also 
 evident that slaves who have become Christians, should 
 be regarded by their masters as brethren^ according to 
 the Epistle to Philemon ? Does not the same Apostle, in 
 another place, say that before the Lord in heaven the 
 slave is as the free f (Eph. 6:9.) Do not the Scriptures 
 elsewhere declare that the slave and the free share in the 
 same blessings of God in Jesus Christ, the Father, Son and 
 Holy Ghost, one God, blessed for ever ? Is He not the 
 true and living God of the black as well as of the white 
 man ? If the Eternal Son, who is God for ever and ever, 
 became man, was it not for the Greek as weU as the Jew, 
 for the slave as well as the free ? Does not the right- 
 eousness which was acquired on the cross by the atoning 
 blood of the Lamb, cover the sins of the one as well as 
 of the other ? Does the Holy Spirit, which changes the 
 hearts of all in whom he dwells into temples of the Holy 
 Ghost, make any distinction of color ? Ought we not to 
 exclaim now with the primitive Christians: "By one 
 Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be 
 bond or free"? (1 Cor. 12: 13.) "There is neither 
 bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all." (Col. 3 : 11.) 
 
 Such being the teaching of the Scriptures, do you not 
 think with us, beloved brethren, that these principles 
 suppress the spirit of Slavery, and only leave its name and 
 appearance ? Do you not beheve that since God, our 
 conmion Father, bestows the tender sympathies of his 
 
LETTER OF MERLE D'AUBIGNE, D.D. 5 
 
 love equally upon the slave and the free, we then* breth- 
 ren can not refuse the precious boon of liberty to those 
 who are dej^rived of it ? If Christ has made them free, 
 shall not %ce free them also ? Christianity in general did 
 not lay violent or unprudent hands on civil institutions, 
 but spread its principles everywhere, and gave precepts 
 to all men, the application of which was gradually to 
 bring about the suppression of all abuses. 
 
 These considerations are important ; but, we repeat, 
 what particularly induces us to make an appeal to your 
 consciences, is the system of laws, manifestly opposed to 
 the precepts of Christianity, with which several of your 
 States have been obliged to burden their legislation, in 
 order to maintain Slavery in the midst of you. It is not 
 necessary to enumerate these laws ; we know them from 
 official documents pubhshed in Europe, and which have 
 caused both astonishment and grief to the friends of reli- 
 gion, morahty, and hberty. We are aware these laws 
 do not exist in a good many of your States ; we know 
 that, with the exception of one or two laws, legislation on 
 Slavery is local, instituted in their sovereign power by 
 those States alone which maintain Slavery. But that in 
 no way prevents us from freely expressing the sentiments 
 which animate us, either to just and moderate men, who 
 doubtless are to be found in abundance in the Southern 
 States, or to all the Christians of the American Union. 
 
 If we mistake not, there are three classes of opinions 
 and of persons in the United States, as to the present 
 subject ; one is decidedly against Slavery, another is 
 decidedly in its favor ; but there is a medium class which 
 hesitates ; and we think the moment has arrived when 
 all those who belong to that class ought to decide before 
 God and their conscience, wisely, but with courage and 
 firmness. Between Christianity on one side, and utili- 
 tarianism on the other, we do not think that Christians 
 should hesitate. 
 
6 LETTER OF MEKLE D'AUBIGNE, D.D. 
 
 The two great features which characterize the United 
 States, and which form the essence of your people, are 
 they not, honored friends — the Gospel and Liberty ! 
 And are you not called upon both to enjoy these two 
 blessings for yourselves, and to testify to others how 
 happy are those nations who possess them, and thus 
 to be the means of spreading them in the world ? Now 
 it is precisely the Gospel and Liberty which are imph- 
 cated in this question. The maintenance of Slavery 
 must hinder the growth of these two great principles. 
 The most eminent writers have shown that if Slavery may 
 be excused in despotic States, it is in conflict with the 
 essence of democracy, and that if it is more or less nat- 
 ural amidst Mohammedans and Pagans, it is impossible 
 to justify it amongst Christians, and above all amongst 
 Protestants. Yes, it is now in your power, dear Ameri- 
 can friends, to render the most brilliant homage, the 
 most signal service, to the cause of the Gospel of Protest- 
 antism and of true Liberty. Will you hesitate ? 
 
 How often we have mourned to see Roman Catholics 
 and partisans of arbitrary governments triumph in 
 pointing to the existence of Slavery in the United 
 States ! How often have we been tempted to exclaim : 
 "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of 
 Askelon, lest the daughters of the Phihstines trimnph." 
 (2 Sam. 1 : 20.) 
 
 Dear brethren, listen to these voices, w^iich come from 
 a far distant land at the foot of the Alps, from the city 
 of the Reformation, and are raised in concert with those 
 in France and other coimtries. We would entreat you 
 by the most precious interests ; in the name of the pros- 
 perity of the Union, of the peace, of the glory of your 
 country ; in the name of the cause of true liberty ; and, 
 above all, of the holy and great cause of Christianity ; — to 
 do all in your power, with an unflinching fidelity, to bring 
 about the suppression of Slavery and the establishment 
 
LETTEK OF MEELE D'AUBIGNE, D.D. 7 
 
 of social liberty in your country. Let it be done Avith 
 wisdom, with kindness, with justice, without disturbing 
 the public peace, but, notwithstanding, as promptly and 
 as universally as possible. 
 
 Should this step offend you, dear brethren, we pray 
 you to forgive us. We conjure you to bear with us. 
 We say with St. Paul to the Corinthians, " If we are fool- 
 ish, it is for the love of you ;" it is, we believe, for the 
 glory of Jesus Christ ; it is because we thought that God, 
 in a special manner, had called us so to do. 
 
 We live in solemn times. A new era is dawning on 
 this question, not only in your country but m the whole 
 civilized world. Universal attention is aroused. Every- 
 where public opinion pronounces with decision on this 
 subject. The time is certainly come when America must 
 give satisfaction to the claims of Christianity. We know 
 that it is not easy to find the means of attaining that end. 
 There will be many shoals and difficulties ; but we know 
 that your people have more courage than any others to 
 surmount all these obstacles, and that the Lord will give 
 the victory to those who are on his side. Let nothing 
 stop your progress ; combat Slavery in the spirit of the 
 Gospel, and not in a mere worldly spirit. Seek, above 
 all, the means of attaining this excellent end in a spirit of 
 prayer. Look to the Word of God, to the spirit of 
 Christianity, to the requirements of moraUty and liberty, 
 and to Jesus the Redeemer, and thus go forward in the 
 Lord's name. May God be your strength in this great, 
 salutary, just, and Christian work. Let us assure you 
 that such shall be our constant prayer ! 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, 
 Amen! 
 
 Merle D'Aubigne, D.D., President de I'&ole de Theologie et Yice- 
 
 Pr^sident de la Societe ^vangelique.^ 
 L. Gaussen, D.D., Professeur de I'Ecole de Theologie et Membre 
 
 dcs Comites de la Soc. Evan. 
 
8 LETTER OF MERLE D'AUBIGNE, D.D. 
 
 H. LAHARPE, Proffesseur de I'Ecole de Theologie, et membre du 
 
 Comite de la Societe Evan. ^ m' •_„„« 1 
 
 C. xMalan, D.D, Pasteur de T^glise du Temoiguage.^ J 
 
 H Trovchiv Colonel federal et President du Comite Italien. 1 
 
 Adr^^NavIlle President du Comite do I'Alliance fivangebque et du 
 
 Comite d'fivangelisation de la Soc Evan. 
 Ts Rrocher President du Presbytere de I'Eghse Evan. 
 DR dXiTe, Vice-President du Presbytere de r|ghse |van. 
 Sr Lo^ 'rd; Vice-President du Presbytere de I'figbse Evan. 
 FwTTv Demole Pasteur, Membre du Presbytere. . v-& ^ ^ 
 
 I pIet Professed de V^cole de Theologie et Pasteur de l^ghse 
 
 E BixDER, Professeur de I'ficole de Theologie. 
 
 A. Le Fort, Tresorier de la Soc. Evan. . 
 
 Dr. Panchaud, Membre du Comite de la Soc Evan. 
 
 C. Cr^mieux, President du Comite de Colportage de la Soc. Evan, et 
 
 E ^rImer, Membre du Comite^dela Soc Evan, et Diacre. 
 
 \^^ Tttrrettivi Membre du Comite de la boc. E\^n. 
 
 Jk DE MoRsSS, Membre du Comite de la Soc. Ilvan. et du Comite 
 
 des Missions. . , -, , o -6 ^^ 
 
 a Naville, Membre du Comite de la Soc Evan. 
 H SeRMENT Avocat, Membre du Comite de la Soc. Evan. 
 Ch Hahn', Membre du Comite de la Soc. Evan. 
 F Cramer, Membre du Comite de la Soc. Evan, 
 i'" r aTtier, Maior fed. Membre du Comite de la Soc. Evan. 
 ?• .tJ«?^rde Pasteur President du Comit6 des Missions. 
 h!SrRE SecS'de la Soc. des Missions et Membre du Comite 
 
 de la Soc. ]6van. , , , r- • 
 
 ^.^^'"^^' ^^Er^LER tl^ist^^^^^^^ des Missions. , 
 
 D'E^PiNf P^re, Secretaire de la Soc. Biblique de Geneve. 
 
 ^^ArxMEfSRofp?^^^^^^^^ de rUnionChr^tienne des 
 
 c/ GALOP^irMembre du Comite de rUnion Cbretienne. 
 
 F Bertholet, Pasteur, Membre du Presbytere. 
 
 Emile Guers, Pasteur, Membre du Presbytere. 
 
 Tn Lhuillier, Pasteur, :Membre du Presbytere. 
 
 Ch* Saladin, Ancien, de I'Eglise Evangelique. 
 
 E Bieler, Ancien, de i;Egbse,Evan. 
 
 A Loup, Ancien, de TEglise Evan. 
 
 t' a. Glardon, Ancien, de TEgbse Evan. 
 
 H. Dansse, Diacre, de rEglise Evan. 
 
 M. Briquet, Diacre, de I'Eglise Evan. 
 
 T L. ViLLiBOURG, Diacre, de I'Eglise Evan. 
 
 L ZiMMERLi, Diacre, de VEglise Evan. 
 
 ?.Kctr;rD J^LoSrMembre du Co»itide la Soc W 
 
 Wm. Rey, Membre du Comite de la Soc. Evan. 
 
 Hi. Morret, V. D. M e^ a W 
 
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