Thus it appears evident, that great Numbers of these People are brought every Year to an untimely End; many of them being such who never injured us.
When the Innocent suffer under hard-hearted Men, even unto Death, and the Channels of Equity are so obstructed, that the Cause of the Sufferers is not judged in Righteousness, the Land is polluted with Blood, Numb. xxxv. 33.
When Blood hath been shed unrighteously, and remains unatoned for, the Cry thereof is very piercing.
Under the humbling Dispensations of Divine Providence, this Cry hath deeply affected my Heart, and I feel a Concern to open, as I may be enabled, that which lieth heavy on my Mind.
When the Iniquity of the House of Israel and of Judah was exceeding great, when the Land was defiled with Blood, and the City full of Perverseness, Ezek. ix. 9. some were found sighing and crying for the Abominations of the Times, Ezek. ix. 4. and such who live under a right Feeling of our Condition as a Nation, these I trust will be sensible that the Lord at this Day doth call to Mourning, though many are ignorant of it. So powerful are bad Customs when they become general, that People growing bold thro' the Examples one of another, have often been unmoved at the most serious Warnings.
Our blessed Saviour speaking of the People of the old World, said, They eat, they drank, they married, and were given in Marriage, until the Day that Noah went into the Ark, and the Flood came and destroy'd them all, Luke xvii. 27.
The like he spake concerning the People of Sodom, who are also represented by the Prophet as haughty, luxurious, and oppressive; This was the Sin of Sodom, Pride, Fulness of Bread, and Abundance of Idleness was found in her, and in her Daughters; neither did she strengthen the Hands of the Poor and Needy, Ezek. xvi. 49.
Now in a Revolt so deep as this, when much Blood has been shed unrighteously, in carrying on the Slave Trade, and in supporting the Practice of keeping Slaves, which at this Day is unatoned for, and crieth from the Earth, and from the Seas against the Oppressor!
While this Practice is continued, and under a great Load of Guilt there is more Unrighteousness committed, the State of Things is very moving!
There is a Love which stands in Nature, and a Parent beholding his Child in Misery, hath a Feeling of the Affliction; but in Divine Love the Heart is enlarged towards Mankind universally, and prepar'd to sympathize with Strangers, though in the lowest Station in Life.