158  GREAT  STRUGGLE  BETWEEN

proceeded  to  say  that  it  "  cannot  determine  the  degree  of  moral
turpitude  involved" — "cannot  pronounce  a  judgment  of  general
and  promiscuous  condemnation," — it  recognizes  "embarrass-
ments and  obstacles  in  the  way  of  emancipation  " — it  cannot
"  exclude  slaveholders  from  the  table  of  the  Lord  " — it  would
rather  "  sympathize  with  and  succor  them  in  their  embarrass-
ments " — it  condemns  all  divisive  and  schismatic  measures
tending  to  destroy  the  unity,  and  disturb  the  peace  of  our  Churchy
The  "  Assembly  possesses  no  legislative  or  judicial  authority;"
it  must,  therefore,  "  leave  it  vntJi  the  Sessions,  Presbyteries^  and
Synods"  &c.,  &c. ! —  Vide  Ohr,  Inv.,  June,  1847.
The  confusion,  incongruity,  and  self-contradiction  of  this
action,  can  hardly  escape  notice,  even  when  our  attention  is
confined  to  the  doings  of  this  one  session.  Slavery  is  charac-
terized as  unrighteous  and  oppressive ;  but  this  unrighteous-
ness and  oppression  must  not  be  promiscuously  condemned,
nor  excluded  from  the  table  of  the  Lord,  lest  it  should  destroy
the  unity  and  disturb  the  peace  of  the  Church.
