Injustice
The Bible says, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils,
and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given
you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their
parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth
to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:16-22 (KJV)
That great American hero, editor,
school teacher, and Presbyterian clergyman Elijah Lovejoy left the pulpit and returned to the press in order to be sure his
words reached more people. The Civil War might have been averted and a peaceful emancipation of slaves achieved had there
been more like him. After observing one lynching, Lovejoy was committed forever to fighting uncompromisingly the awful sin
of slavery. Mob action was brought against him time after time; neither this nor many threats and attempts on his life deterred
him. Repeated destruction of his presses did not stop him. “If by compromise is meant that I should cease from my duty,
I cannot make it. I fear God more that I fear man. Crush me if you will, but I shall die at my post...”
And he did, four days later, at the hands of another mob. No one of the ruffians was prosecuted
or indicted or punished in any way for this murder. (Some of Lovejoy’s defenders were prosecuted! One of the mob assassins
was later elected mayor of Alton!) However, note this: One young man was around who was deeply moved by the Lovejoy martyrdom.
He had just been elected to the Illinois legislature. His name was Abraham Lincoln.
Daily Chronological Bible Reading: 2 Kings 20-21
