1851 FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT. Duty of American Christians to Comply with Fugitive Slave Act. This did not Age Well.

A fascinating discourse delivered in the midst of the church's larger discussion about obedience to the Government in response to the Fugitive Slave Act. Many New England abolitionists recommended a giant belch in the face of the Government's command to return slaves to their "owners." Others were more "cautious."

Reading this, I can tell you their caution and conservatism did not age well, and it is perhaps worth some reflection.  

Krebs was deeply influential at the time. A graduate of Princeton, he would just shortly afteward become the head of Princeton Theological Seminary. So, as an authoritative religious leader telling people to relax, obey the government, return slaves, and trust the process and the government, he was listened to. In fact, after he preached this at his church, someone was like, "Hey, go share this with the young guys at the Young Men's Associations." The abolitionists are getting them all riled up; tell them to simmer down and not get too up in a huff about being asked to be complicit with the re-enslavement of their brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Krebs, John M. The American Citizen. A Discourse on the Nature and Extent of Our Religious Subjection to the Government Under which we Live: Including an Inquiry into the Scriptural Authority of that Provision of the Constitution of the United States, which Requires the Surrender of Fugitive Slaves. Delivered in the Rutgers Street Presbyterian Church, in the City of New York, on Thanksgiving Day, December 12, 1850. And Afterwards at their Request, as a Lecture before the Young Men's Associations of Albany and Waterford, New York, on January 14th and 15th, 1851. New York. Charles Scribner. 1851. 40pp.

A textually very good example, at some point bound as part of a larger sammelband, but complete as issued, sans half-title wraps. Some flotsam from previous binding on spine.