Certain editions of Douglass' Narrative conclude with an appendix. Douglass feels he may be misunderstood and wants to explain to the reader that he is not anti-religion. He makes it clear that he is only against the religion of slaveholders; for Douglass, their religion is far removed from the "Christianity of Christ." In fact, to embrace the latter as "good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked." To be a Christian requires one to reject slavery.
Douglass ends by presenting a parody of a Southern church hymn called "Heavenly Union." In it, he pokes fun at Southerners who profess religion while "stinting negroes backs and maws." He jibes at the preacher who gives his slaves only meager allowances of food and clothing, all the while urging them to "love not the world" (that is, indulge in worldly pleasures). And he exposes the "man-thief" (the slave trader) who lives very well from the profits of his trade. Finally, Douglass states that he hopes his little book will shed light on the institution of slavery and hasten its end. He pledges to fight for his "sacred cause" with the power of "truth, love, and justice."
