REDEMPTION OF AFRICA. 801 



the ages, has had its place and its mission. Africa in bondage 

 lias been employed in developing the resources of those nations 

 which were to be most conspicuous in giving the world a free- 

 dom far grander and more precious than the freedom of the 

 hands from fetters — a freedom of mind and soul through Jesus 

 Christ; freedom from the oppression of superstition and the 

 bondage of vice. We do not need to condescend to the narrow- 

 mindedness which pronounces on all questions in the light of 

 a single day, in order that we may recognize the hand of God 

 in the revolution which brings the mighty influence of those 

 very nations which attained their strength by means of slavery 

 to bear directly against the slave-trade. The time has come 

 for the redemption of Africa. Its service of bondage has been 

 long and important : now there is another service for it. The 

 enslavement of a people and their elevation are incompatible. 

 Their elevation is ordered and their fetters must fall off. There 

 may seem to be difficulties in the way, but God will remove 

 them. 



The noblest nations of the world have come to the front in 

 the great work. They have put their immense moral influence 

 against slavery. Nobody ought to hesitate to do so if the 

 redemption of Africa calls for it. These nations have all held 

 slaves, African slaves; they do not now speak against them- 

 selves, they speak for Africa. Egypt already feels their influ- 

 ence. Egypt must abandon the institution. Other nations will 

 also abandon it. God controls the nations : they do his bidding. 

 There will hardly be a change in the Arab trader ; he will read 

 his Koran and curse the infidel. 



The work will go on — whatever stands in the way of pro- 

 gress must fall, whatever resists the kingdom of Christ will be 

 swept away. Men ought to watch diligently the tide of events, 

 they ought to study prayerfully the leadings of providence. 

 There should be no stubborn resistance of destiny. There are 

 very few customs of society which are founded in abstract 

 moral questions ; they generally hold with their occasion. A 

 man has no business putting his selfishness in the way of the 

 general welfare, neither has he a right to make the accidents of 

 history the basis of absolute principles — the fact that an institu- 

 tion is sustained by the necessities of to-day and is manifestly 



