The Law-Abiding Conscience, and the Higher Law Conscience: With Remarks on the Fugitive Slave Question. a Sermon, Preached in the South Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, Dec. 12, 1850

The Law-Abiding Conscience, And The Higher Law Conscience: With Remarks On The Fugitive Slave Question is a sermon preached by Rev. Samuel T. Spear before the South Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn on December 12, 1850. Spear surveys two kinds of conscience—the law-abiding conscience which upholds civil law and the higher law conscience which holds that God’s will is the ultimate norm. He argues for a balanced ethics where civil government has a legitimate, but limited, authority and may be opposed when it conflicts with divine commands. He defends the right of revolution only as a last resort against tyranny, while insisting that obedience to God must prevail over unjust human law. The sermon then addresses the Fugitive Slave Question, criticizing the Fugitive Slave Law, advocating due process and fair trials, urging non-violence, and urging public sentiment and constitutional consideration to guide reform. It closes with a call for national unity, prayer, and righteous reform.