The Higher Law, In Its Relations To Civil Government

With Particular Reference To Slavery, And The Fugitive Slave Law.

Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, Civil War Period (1850-1877), Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Christian Life

• Author: William Hosmer
• ISBN: 1230000097481
• Publisher: Jawbone Digital
• Publication: January 8, 2013
• Language: English

Penned in 1859, this work was written in response to slavery in America. It is written to highlight the fact that governments act under the authority of God's ultimate government, and that they ought to line up with His statutes. Slavery falls outside of that, and this book seeks to, among other things, prove this.

It is a great read and applicable even today. Slavery is no longer the issue, but the heart of man has not changed.

Contents:
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER II: THE HIGHER LAW.
   SECTION I: MANIFESTATION OF THE HIGHER LAW.
   SECTION II: CHARACTER OF THE HIGHER LAW.
   SECTION III: OBJECTS OF THE HIGHER LAW.
CHAPTER III: CIVIL GOVERNMENT. ITS ORIGIN AND DESIGN.
CHAPTER IV: LIMITATIONS OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
   SECTION I: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CANNOT BIND THE CONSCIENCE.
   SECTION II: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CANNOT IMPAIR ANY OF THE NATURAL RIGHTS OR POWERS OF MANKIND.
   SECTION III: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CANNOT RELEASE MAN FROM HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD.
   SECTION IV: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CANNOT CHANGE THE NATURE OF VICE AND VIRTUE.
CHAPTER V: THE POWERS OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
   SECTION I: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CAN MAINTAIN THE RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE.
   SECTION II: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CAN MAINTAIN THE NATURAL RIGHTS AND POWERS OF MANKIND.
   SECTION III: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CAN ENFORCE OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW OF GOD.
   SECTION IV: CIVIL GOVERNMENT CAN MAINTAIN THE IMMUTABLE DISTINCTION BETWEEN VICE AND VIRTUE.
CHAPTER VI: OBEDIENCE TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER VII: IMPROVEMENTS IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER VIII: SLAVERY.
   SECTION I: NATURAL INJUSTICE OF SLAVERY.
   SECTION II: POLITICAL INJUSTICE OF SLAVERY.
   SECTION III: RELIGIOUS INJUSTICE OF SLAVERY.
CHAPTER IX: THE EFFECTS OF SLAVERY.
   SECTION I: EFFECTS ON THE SLAVE.
   SECTION II: EFFECTS ON THE SLAVE-HOLDER.
   SECTION III: ITS EFFECTS ON THE STATE.
CHAPTER X: SLAVERY A CRIME.
CHAPTER XI: APOLOGIES FOR SLAVERY.
CHAPTER XII: GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION SUBVERSIVE OF SLAVERY.
CHAPTER XIII: CAPACITY OF SLAVES FOR CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER XIV: THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
   REFLECTIONS.
CHAPTER XV: CONSTITUTIONS AND COMPROMISES.
CHAPTER XVI: EFFECTS OF SLAVERY ON THE FREE STATES.
CHAPTER XVII: POSSIBLE RESULTS.
CHAPTER XVIII: CONCLUSION.