Junkin, George. The Integrity of our National Union, vs. Abolitionism: An Argument from the Bible; in Proof of the Position that Believing Masters ought to be Honored and Obeyed by their own Servants, and Tolerated in, not Excommunicated from, the Church of God: being part of a Speech delivered before the Synod of Cincinnati, on the subject of Slavery, September 19th and 20th, 1843. Cincinnati [OH]: Printed by R. P. Donogh, 1843. First Edition. [3080]
Removed, foxing. iv. (5)-79 pp., complete contents, lacks the original wrapper. Good. Pamphlet.
In this sermon Junkin appeals to the evidences in the Bible for or against slavery, and comes down squarely on the side of the right of Christians to own slaves.
"There is not a sentence in the New Testament, which, by fair and just interpretation, according to the rules of grammar, gives ground for the logical inference that the simple holding of a slave or slaves is inconsistent with Christian profession and Christian character."
The main arguments are I. - Slavery existed during the period which the Old Testament History extends. II. - The law of Moses permitted the Hebrews to buy their brother Hebrews and to retain them in bondage, or slavery, six years. III. - This state of servitude - this relation of master and slave, might, in certain cases, become perpetual for life. IV. - The Hebrews were permitted by their law, to buy servants from the heathen; to hold them in perpetual servitude, and to transmit them as hereditary property to their children. V. - A very considerable degree of severity, in the treatment of servants, was indulged in during the Old Testament times. VI. - That God has nowhere in the Old Testament PROHIBITED slavery. There is no command to this amount, "masters let your servants go free." The relation of master and slave is nowhere condemned as a sin, and forbidden to exist. And lastly, Junkin shows that the New Testament does not prohibit slavery, and goes through all of the examples of master and servant in the NT.Rev.
George Junkin, D. D., LL. D. (1790 1868); b. Cumberland Co., Pa., d. at Philadelphia Pa. Junkin was a Presbyterian minister who served as the first president of Lafayette College and later as president of Miami University and Washington College (now Washington and Lee University). He grew up on his father's farm, afterward graduating at Jefferson College (now Washington and Jefferson College) in 1813. After studying theology privately, he entered the Theological Seminary of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in New York City and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Monongahela in 1816. He served as pastor to congregations in New York and Pennsylvania and he was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1844. From 1848 until his retirement in 1861 he was the President of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) in Virginia.