Part 24

When passing along, whilst I have viewed your plantations cleared and cultivated, many spacious houses built, and the owners of them faring sumptuously every day, my blood has frequently almost run cold within me, to consider how many of your slaves had neither convenient food to eat, nor proper raiment to put on, notwithstanding most of the comforts you enjoy, were solely owing to their indefatigable labours. The scripture says, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.” Does GOD take care of oxen? And will he not take care of the negroes also? Undoubtedly he will. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.” Behold the provision of the poor negroes which have reaped down your fields, which is by you denied them, crieth, and the cries of them who reaped, are entered into the ears of the LORD of Sabaoth. We have a remarkable instance of GOD’s taking cognisance, and avenging the quarrel, of poor slaves, _2 Samuel_ xxi. 1. “Then there was a famine in the days of _David_, three years, year after year; and _David_ enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for _Saul_ and his bloody house, because he slew the _Gibeonites_.” Two things are here very remarkable; first, that these _Gibeonites_ were only hewers of wood and drawers of water, or, in other words, slaves like yours. Secondly, that this plague was sent by GOD, many years after the injury, the cause of the plague, was committed. And for what end was this and such like examples recorded in holy scripture? Without doubt for our learning, upon whom the ends of the world are come: for GOD is the same to-day, as he was yesterday, and will continue the same for ever. He does not reject the prayer of the poor and destitute, nor disregard the cry of the meanest negroes: their blood which has been spilt, for these many years in your respective provinces, will ascend up to heaven against you; I wish I could say, it would speak better things than the blood of _Abel_. But this is not all. Enslaving or misusing their bodies, comparatively speaking, would be an inconsiderable evil, was proper care taken of their souls: but I have great reason to believe, that most of you on purpose keep your negroes ignorant of christianity; or otherwise, why are they permitted through your provinces openly to profane the LORD’s day, by their dancing, piping, and such like? I know the general pretence for this neglect of their souls, is, that teaching them christianity would make them proud, and consequently unwilling to submit to slavery. But what a dreadful reflection is this upon your holy religion? What blasphemous notions must those have, that make such an objection, of the precepts of christianity! Do you find any one command in the gospel, that has the least tendency to make people forget their relative duties? Do you not read, that servants, and as many as are under the yoke of bondage, are required to be subject in all lawful things to their masters, and that not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward? Nay, may not I appeal to your own hearts, whether deviating from the laws of JESUS CHRIST, is not the cause of all the evils and miseries mankind now universally groan under, and of all the vices we find both in ourselves and others? Certainly it is. And therefore the reason why servants generally prove so bad is, because so little care is taken to breed them up in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. But some will be so bold perhaps as to reply, “That a few of the negroes have been taught christianity, and notwithstanding have been remarkably worse than others.” But what christianity were they taught? They were baptized, and taught to read and write: and this they may do, and much more, and yet be far from the kingdom of GOD; for there is a vast difference between civilizing and christianizing a negroe. A black as well as a white man, may be civilized by outward restraints, and afterwards break through those restraints again; but I challenge the world to produce a single instance of a negroe’s being made a thorough christian, and thereby made a worse servant; it cannot be. But further, if the teaching slaves christianity has such a bad influence upon their lives, why are you generally desirous of having your children taught? Think you, they are any way better by nature, than the poor negroes? No, in nowise. Blacks are just as much, and no more, conceived and born in sin, as white men are: both, if born and bred up here, I am persuaded are naturally capable of the same improvement. And as for the grown negroes, I am apt to think, whenever the gospel is preached with power amongst them, that many will be brought effectually home to GOD. Your present and past bad usage of them, however ill-designed, may thus far do them good, as to break their wills, increase the sense of their natural misery, and consequently better dispose their minds to accept the redemption wrought out for them by the death and obedience of JESUS CHRIST. Not long since, GOD hath been pleased to make some of the negroes in _New-England_, vessels of mercy; and some, I hear, have been brought to cry out “What shall we do to be saved?” in the province of _Pensylvania_. Doubtless there is a time, when the fulness of the Gentiles will come in and then, I believe, if not before, these despised slaves will find the gospel of CHRIST to be the power of GOD to their salvation, as well as we. But I know, all arguments to prove the necessity of taking care of your negroes souls, though never so conclusive, will prove ineffectual, till you are convinced of the necessity of securing the salvation of your own. That you yourselves are not effectually convinced of this, I think is too notorious to want evidence. A general deadness as to divine things, and not to say a general profaneness, is discernible both in pastors and people.