Fugitive Slave Law The Religious Duty of Obedience to Law : A Sermon by Ichabod S. Spencer Preached In The Second Presbyterian Church In Brooklyn, Nov. 24, 1850

In this stirring 19th‑century sermon, a New York Presbyterian minister confronts the contentious Fugitive Slave Law by grounding his message in Scripture and natural law. He begins with biblical passages that link obedience to civil authority with divine mandate, then expands the argument to the twin duties owed to God and to fellow humans. By weaving together New Testament teachings, the Ten Commandments, and contemporary legal realities, he challenges listeners to consider how moral conscience and civic responsibility intersect.

The preacher’s rhetoric is both pastoral and polemical, urging congregants to weigh the ethical implications of a law that forces citizens to participate in the capture of escaped slaves. He frames the issue as a test of personal integrity, inviting believers to discern when civil obedience aligns—or conflicts—with higher spiritual principles. The sermon offers a vivid snapshot of ante‑bellum religious debate, revealing how faith was invoked on both sides of the nation’s most divisive moral crisis.