THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE. A DISCOURSE DELIVERED IN THE CITY OF NEW-HAVEN, SEPTEMBER 9 , 179-0, BEFORE THE CONNECTICUT’ SOCIETY FOR The PROMOTION of FREEDOM, By JAMES. DANA, D. Et. PASTOR OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL. CHVR.CH IN. SAID. C.IT.Y. NEW-HAYEN': Erinte.d by Thomas and Samuel Green*, MiPCGjXCI. Ata Meeting-of tie GomieBicut Society ■ , 'thj^^^nbiid'n vf- TffkMm y -Mc.< T TOTED, That the Thanks of this, y : Society he; re^md]torihe;ReTO Doctor Dana, for the inftru&ive Ser¬ mon which he delivered before the So¬ ciety on the 9th Day 'of September i79d r ffl that- the Tfehdeht iequeft a Copy thereof that it may be printed. F fom the Records> • '3^% 'jBAi.bViiir, Sec y. Epiftle to the Galatians, IV. 31. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. T HE churches of Galatia confifted principally of Jewifh converts, who were engaged to incorporate, the Mofaic ritual with the Chriftian profeflion. They boafted, at the fame time,“ We be. Abraham’s children, and were never in bond¬ age.” With great addrefs and pertinency St. Paul reminds them, “ Abraham had two fons; one by a bond-maid, the- other by a ffee-woinan.” Thc-fe were emblems of the two covenants. Ifhmael, by Hagar the bond-woman, reprefented the Sinai’ co¬ venant ; I'faac, by Sarah the free-woman, repre¬ fented the Abrahamic Covenant. The former was local and temporary, founded in worldly promifes, had burthenfome appendages, and only afhadow. of heavenly thing's. The latter was univerfal. and permanent, a covenant of better hopes, and ftripped. of that ceremonial which was a yoke of bondage. The apcftle hath defcribed the'Ghriftian church in diftinftion from the Jewifh thus : The Jews un¬ der Mofes were like an heir in his minority, who is under tutors and governors. The law was a fchool- ' mafter to bring them to Chrift. He came to re¬ deem them that were under the law, that they- might be no longer lervants, but Tons j heirs of full age, heirs of God through Chrift. “ Now we, brethren, are the children of promife, as was Ifaac,” with whom the covenant- of better hopes was eftab- lilhed„ ( o fifhed. We are not children of the bond-woman) hut of the free. The apoftle proceeds: “Stand faft.therefore in the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bond¬ age.” The • Sinai’ covenant, was fubfervienttothe, Abrahamic, till the feed promifed to Abraham came. - When this feed came,'that covenant-had anfwered its purpofe, and gave place to a more lib¬ eral one. The Jewifh converts acknowledged that this feed was come : But they encroached on the liberty of their fellow-C.hriftians, by attempting to es of Mofes. This was falling from graces cutting themfelves off from the privileges of the children of the free-woman, and defiring again to be in bondage to weak and beggarly rudiments; It was. returning to a ftate of minority, after the time ap¬ pointed of the father for their majority and freedom.- The apoftle further acquaints them, that “ the bleffing of Abraham was come on the. .Gentiles through Jefus Chrift.” For the promife was thus, expreffed ;In thee fhall all nations be bleffed;” There is therefore no-difference, under the Chrifki- an inflitution, between Jews' and other nations. The latter, though by nature in bondage; are made equally free of. the family of Chrift -as the former^ This is the fulfilment of the prediction, “ I will call them my people, which were not my people ; and’ her beloved, which was not beloved. Where-it was faid .unto them. Ye are not my people, there ftiall they be called the children of the living God.” The text, though immediately addreffed .to. Jewifh believers, is equally applicable ta believing Gen¬ tiles, Tbefe ait not, any more than thofe , children of the bond-woman;, but of the free. They are ‘-‘ all, one in Chrift Jefus—children of God, whether ■t n;) . jew dr- Greek, bond or free, male of female—-If Chrift’s, then Abraham’s feed, and heirs according .to the promife.” . . ; , - : Chriftian freedom, being alike the . privilege of converts from Judaifm and, heathenifmj primarily intends, on .the part of the former, the abolition of , the.encumbered ritual of Mofes j and, bn the pah of the latter, liberation- from idolatrous fuperftition, to which they were in fervile fubje&ion : ; On the part of .both it intends deliverance from the flaveiy of:vicious paffions. \ , When Chrift appeared, the whole world were funk in ignorance and wickednefs;- The Gentiles, .profeffing themfelves to be, wife, knew not.-God, and worlhipped and ferved.the creature more than the Creator. They , were vaffals to the prince of the power.of. the air. . The. Chriftian difpenfatierij ac- , companied with the holy. Ghoft fent -down from .heaven^ called them out of darknefs into marvelr lous light s they were turned from' dumb -idols, from the power of Satan, from worldly pollutions, .to ferve the living God. The Jewifh church had corrupted, and made void the law of God'; Theft- guides taught for doftrines the commandments of .men;' perverted to a worldly feiife the promifes of ipirituaf redemption, and impofed a greater’burtheh of ceremonies than Mofeshad: enjoined; Chrift removed the vail of Mofes j covfecrated d new and living way to God, refcued the precepts of the de¬ calogue from' the gloffes .of blind and interefted guides, . and dilburthened religion of that weight tinder, which,irhad groaned.; His yoke is eafy, and hh butiheiuiight. - Where the fpirit. of the Lord if there is. liberty in the higheft fenfe. The fpirit of life in Chrift removes the dominion of fin. His difciples, made free from fin , walk nbt after the flejh,. hit, after they fpirit. fhere is no condemnation to ( *.) ■to- tBest. ; Thus' emancipated, they ; :“wairfof 7 iH’£ hope of righteoufnefs -bydaith—-the redemption 6f the body.” "When made free of the kingdom-pro^ mifed them, - fin and the eurfe; paih^formw,’«feath v fhall be» no more. - How: glorious this liberty - > 'Further Ghriftianity is a r'eajmMe'Jervicey-HtiA. jbunded 'in .perfonal perfuafion. ■ It permits us fO “call no man matter; for one is our rnaftef, Ovdn ;Ghriftto whom alone every one l muft ! ftand or •fall. /- His religion is friendly to free enquiry t It directsus to “prove all things”—to claim the lib- •erty of grounding our faith, not on the Wifdom of man, but the power of God : ; and to allow others the fame; Our liberty may not be judged of theflr etonfciences, nor their liberty of our conference;, They who are ftrong ought to'bearthe infirmities of the weak and fhould take heed left by - 'any means their liberty, their improved knowledge iii Chriftianity, fhouH be' a ftumbling block to tinin- iormed minds. - “ Ufe not liberty for -anoecafion to the fiefh, but by love ferve one another. There is one body, and One fpirit, and We : are called in'one hope. One Lord, one faith, one baptifm, oiie God and Father of all.” • How then fhould different profeffors,and dif¬ ferent denominations, endeavour to. keep the unity of the fpirit in the bond of peace, with ail meek^ nefs, humility and charity ? The body of thrift-is one, and hath many members. The members then “dhould have the fame care one' for another; ' If "one fdfier, ail the membersdhould ftiffef with it'j or if one be honoured,- all the members ftiould re¬ joice with it.” Thofe ar & carnal^ and walk as men. Who contend for the fyftem of this or that man, or body of men. " The children of the - bond-woman •would exclude from the privileges of the Chrifti- an church, and'doom to eternal.chains, fuch ; asHo not { 9 ) iiOtembrace the faith or opinions they hold : But the children of the free-woman have not Jo learned Chrift. The fimplicity and perfpicuity of this hea¬ venly inftitutionj defigned to guide men of common undemanding in the paths of falvation, can derive no affiftance from fpeculations too high for the ge¬ nerality of mankind—too. high alfo for thofe who exercife themfelves therein. In going off from one extreme, let i!s Jhutt the other, “ We are called unto libertyShould : it! be an occafion of infidelity and indifference to all religion, the guilt and fhame muft : be aggravated; The real friends of liberty ■ always diftinguilh be¬ tween freedom and licentioufnefs. They know that the mind cannot be free, while blinded by fceptical pride, or immerfed in fenfuality, Liberty confifts hot in fubverting the foundations of fociety, in be¬ ing without law. Nor doth it confift ih reafoning againfc God-, and providence, and revelation; Nor in. attempting to. explain his nature, his govern¬ ment, and the fecret things Which belong to him. ,• Chriftian liberty fuppofeth ■ that we receive the record which God hath given of his Son—that we be not the fervants of fin, but have our fruit unto holinefs—that we abide in our callings. ■ , Laftlyj The fpirit of Chriftianity hath the beft afpeft on general liberty and the rights of mankind. Would we perfuade men to look , not on their own things , but on the things of others, let us fet-before them the pattern of Chrift. Was ever-grace or liberality like his, £C who though, he was- rich, for ' our fakes became poor, that we through his pover¬ ty might be rich ?” He was cc in the form of God, T-but rook upon him the form- of a fervant.” -He “ came not to be miniftred unto, but to mrnifter, and gave his life” to purchafe fpiritual and eternal .redemption for the (laves of Satan. ■ Poffibly-for a B friend, ( I® ) frieiid, or i good man, fome might dare to die. Bub he died for enemies , for the ungodly. Is it glorious to die for one’s country ?. HE died for all the world.- Were the fame mind in-us, we fliould love all man-' kind, and do good to all as we have opportunity.' They who hate and perfecute us would be the ob¬ jects of our. good wilhes and forgivehefs. We fliould pray, “Father, forgive them.” ..We fliould have compaflioh on them, as the good-Samaritan had on the Jew whom he found helplefs and ready to. perifh. Every natural and friendly, every pri¬ vate and public affe&ion is cherifhed and improved by looking unto Jelus. And if we fpeak of uni- verfal philanthropy, how doth every ■ example fade before his? He is not alhamed to call mankind his brethren. His love to them was ftronger than death, when they had forfeited the privileges of children, and might have been configned, with a- poftate.fpirits, to chains and blacknefs of darkriefs. They owe all the liberty they have or hope for to his friendlhip. Where the fpirit of Chrifc is, there is no envy, ftrifeor confufion; no difcord and war; no inva- fion of the rights of others, either thofe of individ¬ uals, or of focieties and nations; but meeknefs, peace, and harmony,, joy in the happinefs, and eommiferation of . the diltrefles of others. This fpirit doth no ill toothers, but all poffible good. Rulers, under its influence, are not oppreffors, but benefactors. Subjefts do not refill lawful authori¬ ty-; but render tribute, cuftom, fear, honour to whom they are due, leading a quiet life in godli- cels and honefty. When the fpirit of Chriftianity fhall univerfally. prevail, as our hope is that it will, nations will “learn war no more; they fhall not hurt nor deftroy in all God’s holy mountain.” ©ur Lord undertook not to fay what men’s, per-. fonal ( H ) Tonal and civil rights are—what- the prerogatives of princes,; or the fovereign power- oT a nation, 1 and -what the privileges: of fubjeds. : He 'left civil-di£ -tinftions. among men as. he found them. ■ He taught his difciples to “ render to Cefar the things that- are Cefar’s, arid to God the things that are God’s.' - Among other relative duties, his religion parti-, cularly requires of fervants, that they lefubjeSt to ■their mafiers with, all fear ; not- only to the good and gentle? but aljo to. thefrowardShewing all good fi¬ delity, that they may adorn the doftrine of God our ■Savior in all things. Let every man wheriin he is ■ called? therein abide with-God. Let- as-many- fet- vants as are-under the yoke, account their own-wafers worthy of all honor, that- the name of God-and bis ■doBrine -lenot blafphemed.- -And they-that-havdber- lieving wafers, let them not defpje them, becaufe they are brethren. ■ ' ' Revelation has- not informed?us, what- form: of government is beft adapted to anfwer the ends of Toc-iety. Every form muft be feme abridgment of -natural liberty.. Our being focial creatures’,: our .dependence on one another, fhew that, government is the will of the Creator.. The original-form was probably patriarchal. . The- theocracy, of the Jews was appropriate to them. Monarchy • was a- fub- verfion of their 1 conftitution. No- other fonm than theirs can be pronounced divine. Nations, have- a right to, inftitute fuch form as. they cliufe'. The government 'of moft nations, therefore, hath .been mere ufurpatiori. Far from, being fan&ioned- by divine authority, we might rather confider the peis- miflion of fuch government as his greateft fcourge on mankirid. • • Relying on the candor which I need from my prefeut auditory, I addrefs myfelf more; particularly, tp the defign of our- coming together.. . • < ** 3 ' A manner of'addrefs calculated toirtflamethe •paffions would neither become my ftatioD, -nor >be irelpeftful' to an audience .well .acquainted-with the rights of men. and citizens, educated in principles liberty. - . , . : - The Africans belong to the families forwhom. ■heaven defigned a participation in the-bleffing of Abraham; W.eneednot difcufs thequeftion,what 'the date of thpfe, whomrhe Europeansdiave enflay- ■ed, was antecedently 'to fuch their , flavery. •/ It is. •more proper to enquffewhen and how the African Rave-trade commenced—what nations have engag¬ ed- in it—in what manner they have carried it on- r . what the probable numbers-.they have reduced to, -flayery—in what condition .thefe flaves. are held— ahdlwhat reafons are offered in vindication !of the- trade. • : - A zeal for the difcovery of new territory marked; -the-fifteenth -century. The-firft-navigations ofthe. Europeans for this purpofe. were concerted and di- refted by prince Henry, .fourth fon of.John I. king' of Portugal. - He was born 1394. His valor ip :.the aflault and capture of the city Ceuta in. Africa, ,A. D. 1415, prefaged the fame he afterwards ac- squired.- From this period he deyoted himfelf to, naval expeditions for the difcovery of unknown t countries. The fhipshe fent out fubjefted divers •parts of Africa, and the neighbouring iflands, to. -the dominion of Portugal. After the fiiecefs in, -doubling cap t Bojador, he gave to his father and rhis fuccefibrs all the lands he had dilcovered, or- might diicover, and applied to. yoye.Mqrtin V. to, ■ratify the donation. He engaged,.that in all their;, expeditions the Portuguefe fhould have mainly in, View the extenfion of the Roman; church, and au- -thority of its pontifi -Martin granted the prince’s, requdL In, .ffb' bull of- ratification, .which was a- t n 3 bout tihje year -1430, • declared; :of Portugal 4433', >pn',fthe- deatfc.pf ity :hj$ 4 sil- ift U438,:ratified to Edward the igrant made' by Mar¬ tin Vi ..-A-bull : 6 f Nicholas :Y'. .dated J^hvtary hebaduot■ cefifedJofend\ drt T molly. almjl:.an army V. vofPorttigtfele y -with ; the •gfeateft dangers, labors' one quarter are negro flaves. In the four .ftates next north of Maryland are 45,401 Haves. In New- England 3870. There may have been brought into all the Weft-India-Ifla'nds, and into the Unit¬ ed States, from firft to laft, seven millions. One million more mult be allowed for mortality on the paffage. How many have been deftroyed in the colleftion of them in Africa, we cannot juftly con¬ jecture. It is judged that Great-Britain fuftain the lofs of twice as many feamen in this, as in all their other extenfive trade. We fuppofe, then, that eight "millions of flaves have been Ihipped in Africa for the Weft-India iflands and the United States ; ten millions for South-America; and, perhaps, two millions have been taken and held in flavery in Africa. Great- Britain and the United States^ have Ihipped about five, millions, France two, Holland and other nati¬ ons one; though' we undertake not to ftate the proportion with exactnefs. The other twelve mil¬ lions we • fet. to Portugal. Twenty million flaves, at £. 30 fterling each, amount to the commercial value of £. 600,000,000. Six hundred times ten. hundred thousand founds fterling traffic in the souls of men nr ■ By whom hath this commerce been opened, and fo long and ardendy purfued ? The fubjefts of their moft faithful , moft catholic , moft Chriftian , moft pro- teftant majefries, defenders of the faith ; and by the citizens of the moft republican States, with the fane- dob of St. Petef s' fucceffor. Unprovoked, wijtli- out any pretended injury, thefe have kindled and kept alive the flame of war through three quarters of the continent of Africa; that is, all the interior as well as maritime parts fouth' of Senegal and A- byfEnia. thefe have taught the Africans to Heal; fell and' murder one another. On any of no pre- tence i ^3 ) tence the different tribes make prifohers of each b- ther, or the chiefs feize their own people; anddriyd, them, as herds of cattle, to market. - The natives, are trepanned by one another, and.by the Europe¬ ans ; forced from their flocks, and'fields, and ten¬ dered: connexions. This vile commerce hath depo¬ pulated the fea-coaft : It mult now be" carried'on in the inland parts. . As though it were notfufficient to force the Af¬ ricans from their country, and evefy thing, dear to them, they are made to travel in irons hundreds of miles through their native foil, through fands and moraffes, down to the Tea Ihore; and there'ftowed; as lumber, for tranfportafcion. The cruelty of the captains of the Guinea {hips, in many inftances, is not inferior to that of Clive or Raftings'. 1 ■ ".• : The fervitude of the greateft part of the flaves after their arrival; the fcantinefs of their provifion and its bad quality, their tyrannical and mercilefs difcipline, are well known, and too painful .to re¬ coiled!. It is a law in Barbados, “that if.any flave, under punilhment by his matter or his order, fuffer in life or limb, no perfon {hall be liable to any fine for the fame. But if any . man fhall .wan¬ tonly or cruelly kill his own flave, he {hall pay in¬ to the treafury £. 15.” . With what reafon or truth is it Urged; that the condition of' the Africans is meliorated by their flavery ? They, not their matters,, are the proper judges in this matter. Wretched as you may fupr- pofe their condition was .in Africa, the nefarious , commerce of foreigners may have been the princi¬ pal caufe of that vfretchednefs. Should foreigners defift from this commerce, and the holders of flaves propofe to tranfport thefn back to Africa, how would their month be filled with laughter, and their tongue with ftnging ? Inftead of thinking their cOrt- ' dition ( 24 ) dition meliorated by flavery, they moft fiiicereiy join in that execration on their oppreffors : Bappy Jball he he that taketb. and dajheth thy little ones a- gainfi the Jlones. The imaginary expectation that death may tranfport them. to their own country, is their chief confolation. Under .unlimited powers accuftomed to the moft inhuman ufage, no example of mercy relenting for them heing exhibited, no marvel that the language of infurgents is, Death or conqtieft. Their cries will fooner or later reach the ears of him to whom vengeance belongeth. Will any one fay, that their condition is melior¬ ated by their being taught the knowledge of God and Christ ? How many of their matters are in a ftate of brutal ignorance in this refpeft ? A parilh minifter * in the Weft-Indies faiths that he “drew up plain aiid eafy inftntftions for the Haves, invited them to attend at particular hours on Lord’s-day, appointed hours at home, and exhorted their maf- ters to encourage their attendance. But inconceiv¬ able was the liftleflhefs with which he was heardj and bitter the cenfure heaped on him in return. It wasfuggefted, that he aimed to render them inca^ pable of being good Haves by making them Chrif- tians—Some who approved of the plan, did not think themfelves obliged to co-operate : I ftoodj!’ fays he, “ a rebel convift againft the intereft and majefty of planterlhip.”.. When Archbilhop Seeker allied what fuccefs .thfe miffionaries “ had in baptizing and converting ne¬ gro flaves ? how the catechift at Coddrington col¬ lege in Barbaaoes proceeded with thofe flaves that bdonged to the college eftate,” and whom he pre¬ fumed had been inftrufted in Chriftianity ? He was anfwered, “ I found one old negro, who told me he could fay all his catechifm. I aflted him, if he did not find himfelf much happier amf better fmce. life became * Mr. Rj.ufiy. ( H. ) Bdeame.^Chriftianj than .he was before:? Why, Sif> faid he, I am old man, and as a.driver am, not put to common! labour ; but phriftian ‘ not rpad.e for: negro in .this, country.; , HoW fo ? What is your, duty towards God ? .He repeated .it. , What is your- duty towards your neighbor ?—Ah, matter, I-don't- fay that no more. .Why fo ? Becaufe, matter, I can??,. fay.it from'my heart, if 1 think of white,man.” ' : ' . Had.African, flaves.the!means of;thriftian.jri- ftru&iqn, had they been treated, with humanity^ ftill the making.tlaves of. them-liath.beeh-rio more than doing- evil .'that.good may. come,'.-. Chriftlanity and .hu¬ manity- Would: rather have, dilated the fending, bpoks. and teachers into Africa, and endeavors for their'civilization.. Have..they been treated hlciiii-. 1 dren ofthe fame family with, burfelves t as having, the fame Father, whofe tender -, mercies are over alt , his works as having.the fame natural prerogatives', with other nadons ? dr have, they been treated as outcafts from humanity ? ^ . ■ • • .. • - D. ; \ TIie * The committee of the fociety in bpndon, inftitu.ted in 1787,' for the pirpofe of effe'Eting the abolition of the flave trade, reported to the fociety,) January {5,1788, “ that fundry fpecimens evince that a trade,.of, great national importance might be opened by once eltablilhing the confidence of' the natives.” The rentirtieiits ’and reafoHing of a great commercial writer: dn this fubjedt are.juft and forcible.. • • . .. ... , . . “ If once a turn'for iiidullry arid the arts wds intS-oduttd,’ [into Africa]- a .greater quantity of the European produce and manufactures might be era j pprted thither, than to any other country in tjie whoie world, N? country is richer in gold and'fiber. Here 13'a-prodigious number of Elephants, vrtlich Would not only facilitate the inland .intercourfes of commerce,-but: alfo, in the teeth of thefe notable animals, afford a very beneficial branch of commerce. The fruitful rich lands;Every where to b'e found'upon the coalis.' and within theicountry, .Upon the banks of the rivers near the gqltbcoalfand 1 the (lave-coaft, would produce all the rlcheft articles of the Eaii and Wefi- Ihdia' commerce. It is, melancholy to obferve, that a country which has . ( iS ) • The’Greeks and Romans, arnultftheir ithpftfVe^ mints' kphftbfophy; arfSand fdehfcis, iftlablifeed’ liavery as far., as ffiey .'extetided tHelr. r .tbhtjueM; Their rage for cpttqtleft had the wdrftffor its r otr-p jebfc. They made war ‘without h'avihg "received 1 any injury. Captives taken in war Were e&p’bfed td. fete. And indeed ail the ancient nffliionk tbnfider- • ed conqueft as a juft foundatijoii for flaveiy. Some' moderns have undertaken tb defend the; fame prin-_ ciple. In an age and countty fo will acquainted With the rights of men, this kind of reafoning me¬ rits very little attention. It is, moreover, Wholly inapplicable to the cafe of African flavery. What-’ ever juft dominion conquerors may claifn over the conquered muft be founded in this; that the latter were the aggreffors. Did the Africans drift invade the rights Of the nations who have carried, on 1 the ftave trade ? or give them a foundation bf 'com¬ plaint? Were they ever conquered by theii; foreign invaders ? , . But the reafoning is not lefs unjuft 'than inappli¬ cable. The objefts of a juft war are the fecurity of national rightSj and indemnification. for injuries'.. Superior, force may enflave, but gives no right. It is inglorious, favage and brutal to infult a conquer¬ ed enemy, and reduce him to the loweft fervility. “ But did not the Jews make ilaves of the Ca- naanites by the exprefs command of God ?” They did indeed. Thofe nations had filled up. their mea- fiire of iniquity. The Supreme Sovereign devoted • • them. not tie people only were to. be fold, for ilaves to their fellow-creatures, but the whole country was captive, and produced its treafures merely for the ufe and benefit of the reft of the world, and not at all for their own;. Inftead of, nsa&ing ilaves of thcfe people, would it not rather become nations; who aflame the name and character of Chriftiaris, to give them a relilh for the hiefiings of Hie, by extending tragic into their country in. the largeft extent, it will admit of, and introducing among them the more civilized arts and. coftoms ? -While the Having trade Continues to be the great objeft of” other nations, and thefe K promote the fpirit of butchery and making ilaves of. each other among the negro princes and chiefs, their civilization, and the' extenfion of trade into the bowels of the country, will be obftru&ed." [PoSTlZTHWAIT, Vol. I. p. 686 j 727.] ( 27 ) them to deftruftion, and commiffioned Iirael to be the executioners of his juftice. Thou mayeft not,” faid God, “ confume- them at once, left the land become defblate, and the beafts of the field increase againft thee. By little and little will I drive them out from before ; thee.” Of thofe nations, remain¬ ing in the land, they might,purchafe bond-fervants, and tranfmit them as an, inheritance to pofterity. The Gibeonites, one pfthefe devoted nations,'ob¬ tained a league of peace with Joftiua, under pre¬ tence that they were a very remote people. When their ftratagem was detefted, be laved them alive, becaufe of his league ; but he made them all .bond¬ men, hewers of wood, and drawers.of water. (Lev. 25.44, 45, 46. Jolhua chap. 9th) When.alike warrant can be produced,- it will authorize a like practice. “ But Ifhmael was the Ibri of a bond-woman. His pofterity therefore can have no claim to free¬ dom.” This, is not a juft confequence; nor is this objedtion fupported by hiftory. The prophecy con ¬ cerning Iihmael was, “ He will be a wil'd man; his hand will be againft every man, and every manfs hand againft him.” His pofterity, the Arabians, have lived in war with the world. The Egyptians, Affyrians, Perfians, Greeks, Romans, Tartars and Turks, have in vain attempted to fubjugate them. They ha ve been and are free and independent. - That the heathen-have no right to any poffeffion on earth, is an article of -the Roman faith. The charters of Britain to her late colonies held out the. fame language. But is this, the language of him, whofe is “ the world, and they that- dwell therein 5 ” who “hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth ; and deter¬ mined the bounds of their- habitation ?” In enflav- ing th s logans of Africa, have the Chriftians of.Eu- ( i* ) . rope and America proceeded on this principle, that the Author of their religion, whole kingdom is not of this world, hath commiffioried them to feize on the poffeffipns, and, what is more, on; the' perfons, of thofe heathen ? Among the enumerated' articles of commerce in myftical Babylon in the; day of-her •fall, Jlayes and fouls' .of men■ dofeth the Account— • intimating that this kind'of commerce was' the con- -Jummatian of- her wickednels. ’Let iuch as imitate - the example, confider the confequence. T {C Man’s obdurate heart does not .. . : - feel for man. He finds his fellow guiltypf a ikin ’ cplourd hke.his.own ; and haying pow’r ,T’ enforce the wrong, for fuch a worthy caufe ’. Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey. Thus man deyotes his brother, anddeftroys ; ' And worie than, all, and moil to be deplor’d. As human, nature’s broadeft, fouleft blot,- > Chains him, talks him, and exads his fweat Witli IFripes, that mercy with : a bleeding-heart , "Weep§ wh?n die fees -inflifted on a be^ft, ;: ; Then what is man ? And v(hat man feeing this. And having human feelings, does, not, blufo. And hang his head, to think hunfelf a man ?” * Our late warfare was exprelsly founded on fuch principles as thefe : ;t All men are created equal: They are endowed by their Creator With certain unalienable rights; among thefe are life, liberty, - and the purfuit of happinefs.” Admitting thefe jufo principles, we need nor puzzle ourfelves with the queftion, whether a black complexion is a-to¬ ken of God’s wrath ? If attempts to account for - the color of the blacks, by afcribing it to climate, or the ftate of lociety, or both, lhoiild not- be per¬ fectly fatisfaftory, (and perhaps they are not) fhall .( *9 ) we therefore conclude, that they did not fpring from the fame original parents ? How then fliall we ac¬ count either for their origin or our own ? The Mot faic, which is the only account of the origin of man¬ kind, doth not inform us what was the complexion of Adam and Eve. If we admit the Mofaic ac¬ count, we cannot fuppofe that the Africans are of a different ipecies from us: If we rejeft it, we have no account whence they or we fprang. • Let us then receive the Mofaic hiftory of the creation, till ano¬ ther and better appears. According fto that, the Africans are our brethren. And, according to the principles of our religion, they are children of- the free-woman as well as we. This inftrufts us, that God is no refpeSer of perfons, or- of nations—hath put no difference between Jew and Greek, barbarian and Scythian. In Chrift Jefus, in whom it was fore¬ told " all nations fhall be bleffed,” thofe " who fometimes were far off, are brought nigh, and have accefs by one Spirit unto the Father.” ' So that they “ are no more ftrangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the faints, and of the houfhold of God.” The heathen will all be given him for his inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth fer a poffeffion. Why then fhould we treat our African brethren, as the elder fon in the. parable treated the younger, offended at the companion of their common parent towards him ? Why place them in a fituation in¬ capable of recovery from their loft ftate ? their -ftate of moral death ? Did Jefus come to redeem us from the worft bondage ? Shall his dilciples then enflave thofe whom he came to redeem from flavery ? who are the purchafe of his blood ? Is this doing to others , as he hath commanded, wbatfoever we would that they jhould do to us ? Is it to love our-neighbour ( 3 ° > On a view -of the wretched fcrvitude of the Afri¬ cans, fome may fufpeft, that they muft have been Jnners above oil men, becauje they fuffer Juch things. This way of reafoning, however common, our Lord has reproved-particularly in the inftance of the blind man ; of thole who were flain by the Till cf the tower inSiloam; and of tho.fe whole ■ blood Pilate mingled • with the public Sacrifices. All mankind are the offspring of God. His govern- . inent over them is ■parental. Children may have the fulled: proof that , the government of their fa¬ ther is not capricious and tyrannic, but moll; wife and kind At-the fame time, they cannot explain many parts of it ; .but unrefervedly fubmit -to hlis pleafure, having the fulleft confidence in his fupe- rior wifdom, his paternal care and affection.. That fuch as have been educated in flavifli prin¬ ciples, jultify and praftife llavery, may not leem ftrange. Thcfe who profefs to underftand and re¬ gard the principles of liberty fnould cheerfully u- nite to abolifh. Slavery. • ■ Our middle and northern ftates have, prohibited :3.ny further importation of flaves. South-Carolina paffed a prohibitory aft for a limited time. Con- fiftently with the federal conftitution the traffic may ■be Hopped in feventeen years; and a duty of ten dol¬ lars may be laid on every Have now imported. By an aft of the legifiature cf Connecticut, all blacks and mulattoes born within, the ftate from March 1784, will be manumitted at the age of 25 years. The act of Pennfylvania liberates them at the age of twenty eight years. Such provifion hath been, made for the gradual abolition of llavery in the -United States, Could wifdom and philanthropy have advanced further for the time ? In the northern divifion of the United States, the flaves live better than one quarter of the white people. ( 3i ) • people. Their matters are poffeffed of property nor is harder labor required of the {laves, than a' great part of the matters perform themfelves. Might the eftate of the matters-be exempt from the main¬ tenance of their (laves, but very few would hefitate to manumit them. In co-operating vrith the wife meafures and be-' nevolent intentions of the legiflature of Conne&icuty we fhall do as much as can be defined to eafe the condition of flavery, and extinguifti the odious dif- tinftion. Humane matters, requiring no.more than' is juft and equal, and affording to their fervants the - means of moral and religious inftruftion, take the only fure courfe to make'them faithful. Many re¬ ceive fuch kind treatment, and have fuch affedlion • to their matters, that they wiih to abide with them. Nor is it to be doubted but many others, who may wifh to be manumitted, would foon repent tlirir choice. Stitt the term flame is odious, be the maf-' ter’s yoke ever fo light; And it is very queftion-' able whether any fervant can be profitable who is'' not a voluntary one. ’ The revolution in the United States hath given' free courfe to the principles of liberty. One' anci¬ ent kingdom, illuminated by thefe principles, and aftuated by the fpirit of liberty, hath eftabl'ifiied a- free conftitution. The fpirit will fpread, and (hake the throne of defpotic princes. Neither an habit of fubmiffion to arbitrary rule in church and date,' nor the menaced interference of neighboring king¬ doms, could prevent, or counterwork, a revolution,' ■ propitious in its afpeft on the rights of other nati¬ ons, and of mankind. No combination of Euro¬ pean potentates can' impede the progrefs of free-' dom. The time is haftening, when their fubjefts will not endure to be told, that ■ no government’ lhall exift in any nation but fuch as provides for the perpetuation C 3i; ) perpetuation of alfdute monarchy, and die tranf- . million of it to. die families in .prefetit pofleffion: The timAishaftening, when no monarch in,Europe fiiajl 'tell His fubje&. Yourfiver and.your gold are Ham i . _ The prefent occafion will bewell improved, if ■we fet ourfelves to banifh all flaviih principles, and aflert our . liberty as men, citizens and Ghriftiansi. We have all one Father: He will have all his off- i ipring to be fayed. We are difcipies of one maf- ter t. He will finally gather together in one the chil¬ dren of God. Let us unite in carrying into effeft the purpofe of the Saviour’s appearance. This was to give -peace and good will to man , and thus bring glory to God on high. . Being " one body in Chrift, and every one mem-. Bers one of another;” wefhould take care " that there be nofchiim in the.body.” They who fepa- , rate t’nemfelyes, or feparate others, without' caufe, are fchifmatics. Chrift is not divided. A religi —. ctis party is of all others; the molt odious and dan¬ gerous. The terms expreis a palpable contradict don. The dire effefts of profelyting zeal in Ro- 'mifh, and even in Proteftant, countries would have been prevented, had Chriftian liberty been under-, flood, and the exercife of it permitted. . Whether ignorance or learning, weak’nels or craft; have bound the heayieft burthens in religion,, we need not enquire. Each of themhath done much in this way in ages paft. Happily for the prefent . age of .light and liberty, the fpirit of bigotry and domi¬ nation cannot encumber and debafe Chriftianity as heretofore. The exercife of private judgment, an . appeal to the.fcriptures, and the cultivation of Chriftian charity and philanthropy, will’difplay the excellency of our religion. To ■ ('-33 ) To conclude : In vain do we affert oiir natural and civil liberty, or contend for the fame liberty in behalf of any of our fellow-creatures, provided we ourfelves are not made free from, the condemnation and dominion of fin. If there is fuch a thing as llavery, the fervant of fih is a flave—and Jelf-fiidde, The captive, prifoner and flave, in an outward re- fpeft, may be free in Chrift, free indeed ; while he who enjoys full-external liberty, may, in regard to his inward man, be under the power of wicked fpi- rits: Thefe enter and dwell in an heart garnifhed to receive them. Jefus Chrift, and; no other, faveth from fin and wrath. The fpirit of life, quickeneth thofe who are dead in trefpaffes, and loofeth thofe whom'Satan hath bound. “If we be dead with him, we believe that we fhall alfo live with him.’* The new Jerufalern is free in a more exalted fenfe than the church on earth! - True Believers, “ fealed with the. Holy Spirit of promife, have the edrneft of their inheritance, until the redemption of the purchafed poffeffion.’’In that day of com¬ plete redemption, of glorious liberty, may God d£ his infinite mercy grant that we may nieet all the ranfomed of the Lord, witH'fongs and everlaftingj joy, fayihg : “ Bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that fitteth upon the throne ; and unto the lamb Who Was flain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, out of e-, very kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Amen.”