As detestable and shocking as these usages to the poor Negroes may appear to such whose hearts are not yet hardened by the practise of that cruelty which the love of wealth by degrees introduceth into the human mind, it will not be strange to those who have been concerned or employed in the Trade.
The second branch was, If he be found in his hands, he surely shall be put to death. This is the third and fourth clause of the before cited verse in Exod. If he be found in his hands. This is to be understood in two senses, either found in the Ship-master’s hands who stole him, or bought, as he says, or in the person’s hands who purchases him. As to the first of these senses in which this passage may be taken, if the laws of God, yea, even of man, were to be put into execution, he, the stealer, or even the buyer, would be punished with death, for it is clear as to Man-stealing, that it deserves death, by the above passage of Scripture, and it is no less with regard to buying: But why do I say buying? For no money can be equal to the worth of a man: Buying, I admit that word because Ship-masters and others in this Trade, say, for their justification that they purchased the Negroes, but as there are no laws, either of God or man, for the buying and stealing of Africans, I am inclined to think it cannot be supposed, but they justly deserve death. And in the second sense, the man who buys the Africans or Negroes is full as culpable as the stealer, and liable to the same punishment, for Scripture does not point out particularly either of them, but only just, If he be found in his hands, that is, in any man’s hands, so that it can be proved he stole or bought him, he surely shall be put to death.
The third part was, He that buyeth a Servant and serveth him six years, shall set him free the seventh, and furnish him liberally with what he hath. The first part of this branch is proved in three different texts, viz. Exod. xxi. 2. Deut. xv. 12. and Jer. xxxiv. 14. In all which parts it is expressly mentioned, That if an Hebrew Servant be sold unto thee, or if you buy him he shall serve thee six years, and the seventh, thou shall let him go free from thee, that is, he shall pay nothing for his Liberty.
Some persons for argument sake may object to this, saying, these people are not Hebrews, as mentioned in these texts of Scripture, but Heathens. This may be difficult enough to determine. However, admit they are Heathens, (although it is well known they are not) it must be owned by those who know them, that the natives of Africa have exalted notions of a Deity. It is an odd method these Traders take to civilize and teach them the Christian religion, by importing one hundred thousand of them yearly into Virginia and other Southern Provinces, together with the West-India islands, where they are kept in greater darkness than before, as they are not allowed to worship God on the Sabbath; but are employed in worldly business on that day, which is a scandal to the Rulers of the British Colonies and Islands where such things are practised. It is subversive of the Christian religion not to allow those ignorant people the benefit of it, who make up more than two thirds of the inhabitants of the beforementioned places. It is expressly against the laws of God; for he gave Paul and other Apostles commission to go and preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue; but instead of that, where the gospel is preached throughout the British Colonies, and where these people might expect to receive the light of it; I say, instead of that, they are kept from divine worship on Sundays, and never once in their lifetime admitted to church, but obliged to cultivate their small piece of ground allowed them by their Masters.
The last part of the verse runs thus, And shall furnish him liberally with what he hath. That is, when the Servant hath served thee six years, as expressed in Exod. xxi. 2, and Deut. xv. 12. Then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you; and in ver. 13. Thou shall not let him go away empty. Ver. 14. Thou shall furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine press; of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee, thou shalt give him. This is in token that thou dost acknowledge the benefit that thou hast received by his labours. Marg. Bible.
It is still further required to set your Servants or Bond-men free at the above appointed time, by the 15th verse of the same chap. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a Bond-man in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing to-day. I command thee. You are ordered, yea, commanded to do this thing. What thing? To set free your Bond-servants after six years service. You are commanded to do it to-day, viz. At the expiration of six years, for, says God, by the voice of his Servant, I command thee this thing to-day.
There is a blessing promised to those who do this thing in ver. 18 of the above chap. After enjoining that it may not seem hard unto you in sending away this Servant, as he hath been worth a double hired one, in serving thee six years, he says, and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest. Sweet encouragement for poor sinful souls! To be blessed in every thing that they do. What man will forfeit this great blessing for the sake of the service of one, two, or more Servants for life? Will he allow himself to be cursed by God in every thing that he doeth for the small gain he can make by their services? This charming promise of a blessing in all that thou doest, and the dreadful events that may take place in contradicting the command of God, I hope will make such impressions upon the minds of men, that they will not bind Servant to serve above six years; but will set him at liberty in the seventh year, and give him liberally of what the Lord hath blessed them with, as required in the above cited text. If you think you have not enough of this, pass along to
The fourth and last section on this head, If thy Brother be sold unto thee, thou shall not compel him to serve as a Bond-man; but as an hired Servant. This is proved by Lev. xxv. 39, 40. where it is said, If thy Brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a Bond-servant. This is expressly against making Slaves of any of our poor Brethren, or compeling them to serve as Bond-servants. If thy Brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, are the words of the verse; the poor Africans who fall into the hands of the Men-wolves that prowl on their coasts, are obliged to serve their lifetime, and their children after them: This is being Bond-men with a witness, and as we have great reason to believe they are poor enough when they steal them, they are kept so forever after, not having means to make a penny themselves. The Africans will be understood, if not primarily intended, to be the people mentioned in this text! It is said, Thy Brother who dwelleth by thee: When they are in Africa it is certain they are at a great distance; but when they come to America or the West-Indies they then dwell by us; therefore I think, from the above citations, no person can buy these people, and oblige them and their children to serve as Slaves, without incuring the displeasure of God and his punishments for disobeying his just commands.
It may be added, as in v. 42d of the same chap. For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of Egypt; they shall not be sold as Bond-men. The last part of this verse is expressly against selling them as Bond-men. Should it be objected, that the Africans were not brought forth out of the land of Egypt, it would not affect the controversy. I would sincerely advise every man who is in this abominable Trade not to persist in it, seeing the many threats and commands against him in God’s laws, and the blessings that are promised if he does not.