above all, confessing and worshipping the Christian God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave -- This phrase allows Douglass to introduce his fellow slaves as his listeners' fellow Christians. They have the same hopes of salvation as Douglass' audience. But that implies a threat. If the slaves merit God's gift of immortality, they may also be worthy of divine protection from their persecutors. The white citizens may risk their own eternal reward with their persecution of the black race.