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All Slave-Keepers That Keep the Innocent in Bondage, Apostates (XHTML)
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One of the earliest North American antislavery works, published by Benjamin Lay in 1737 in Philadelphia. Digitized by the Antislavery Literature Project.
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<h3>ALL</h3>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>SLAVE-KEEPERS</span></b></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><b>That keep the
Innocent in Bondage,</b></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><b><i><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>A P O S T A T E S</span></i></b></p>
<p> <span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Pretending to lay claim
to the Pure</span> & Holy Christian Religion; of what Congregation so ever;
but especially in their Ministers, by whose example the filthy Leprosy and
Apostacy is spread far and near; it is a notorious Sin, which many of the true
Friends of Christ, and his pure Truth, called <i>Quakers</i>, has been for many
Years, and still are concerned to write and bear Testimony against; as a
Practice so gross & hurtful to Religion, and destructive to government,
beyond what Words can set forth, or can be declared of by Men or Angels, and
yet lived in by Ministers and Magistrates in <i>America</i>.</p>
<p><i> The Leaders of the People cause them to Err.</i></p>
<p> <span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Written for a General
Service, by</span> him that truly and sincerely desires the present and eternal
Welfare and Happiness of all Mankind, all the World over, of all Colours, and
Nations, as his on Soul;</p>
<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:16.0pt'> </span><span
style='font-size:14.0pt' lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR">B E N J A M I N L A Y</span><span
style='font-size:14.0pt' lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR">.</span><span lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR"> </span></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><i>PHILADELPHIA</i><i>:</i></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'>Printed for the
Author. 1737</p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>This is an annotated text of <i>All Slave-Keepers That
keep the Innocent in Bondage, Apostates</i>, published by its author in Philadelphia in 1737. Original spelling, punctuation and page citations have been
retained; minor typographic errors have been corrected.</span></b></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>This electronic edition has been prepared for the
Antislavery Literature Project, Arizona State University, a public education
project working in cooperation with the EServer, Iowa State University. Digitization has been supported by a grant from the Institute for Humanities
Research, Arizona State University.</span></b></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Editorial annotation by Joe Lockard. Digitization by
Noel Borde,</span></b></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Mahesh Bhutkar, Nilesh Ralbhat, Manoj Salvi, and April
Brannon. All rights reserved by the Antislavery Literature Project.
Permission for non-commercial educational use is granted.</span></b></p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[blank page]</p>
<h2>Introduction</h2>
<p> Benjamin Lay (1677-1759) was a Quaker merchant
who, together with Ralph Sandiford and Anthony Benezet, was one of the earliest
public opponents of slavery in colonial America. He was born in England, lived ten years in Barbadoes, and moved to the Philadelphia area. Lay attracted great
attention during the 1730s in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for his vociferous
opposition to slavery and slave-owners within the Quaker community. His
physical appearance reinforced this public notice, as he stood only four feet
seven inches, had a severely hunched back, and a very large white beard. He
was physically ejected from meetinghouses where he vehemently denounced slavery
and was disavowed by the Quaker community, although he considered himself a
Quaker throughout his life. </p>
<p>Lay had a theatrical talent that
accompanied his antislavery rhetoric. On one occasion he threw off his Quaker
garb in meetinghouse to reveal a military uniform, denounced slaveholders as
men of war, and stabbed his belt with a sword to pierce a bladder containing
red fluid. On another occasion he stood barefoot in the snow in front of a
meetinghouse to protest slavery. Once he kidnapped the son of Quaker
slaveholders to demonstrate how Africans felt when their children were
kidnapped; he returned the child when searchers came to his house. </p>
<p><i>All Slave-keepers that keep
the Innocent in Bondage, Apostates</i> (1737) was Lay’s only published work.
His friend Benjamin Franklin printed the work. <i>All Slave-keepers</i> is not
only one of the earliest antislavery texts of colonial America, but one of the most vehement ever written. Lay viewed slavery as quintessential
moral corruption and condemned it as such. Most of the text argues that
slavery constitutes a social evil that offends divine justice, although the
latter sections contain vast and visionary jeremiads against all forms of
worldly evil. Lay’s antislavery writings were frequently viewed as quixotic
but had a more pervasive influence on the development of American religious
antislavery thought than they have been attributed. </p>
<p>— Joe Lockard</p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 3]</p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'>THE</p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>P R E F A C E</span></p>
<p>Impartial Reader,</p>
<p> <i><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>T</span>HESE Things
following are so far from offending or grieving my very dear true and tender
Friends, called Quakers, who love the Truth more then all, that it is by their
request and desire that they are made publick; for I can say in the Truth
before the Lord, that I love them in & for the Truths sake, and covet their
sweet Unity, and pure Fellowship in the Gospel, more than my natural Life, and
all things in the World, without it or them, my record is in Heaven.</i></p>
<p><i> I say for the Truth, and Friends sake, these things
are exposed, and I my</i></p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 4]</p>
<p><i>self likewise , although not without some fear and
trembling, for fear I should hurt Truth’s cause, which is God’s cause, I being
and seeing myself so very unfit almost everyway, as a Man, yet I can truly say
as a Christian, I believ’d it my Duty, but made not haste, for the lord my good
God, the Truth knows, that I have prayed unto him earnestly, many Days and
Nights, with great concern of mind, that he would be pleased to raise up and
concern some worthy Friend or other, of more repute and Esteem amongst Men; for
I know my self to be so very mean and contemptible in the sight of Men, almost
in every respect, so that I might and do much question the Event, but shall
leave that to the Lord, to whom faithfulness and obedience is required; and no
true peace without it. For I have found long ago, the saying of Truth verified, </i>He that loves anything more than me, is not worthy of me:<i> I have often
thought of </i>Moses’s <i>Prayer, and </i>Gideon’s request,<i> when the Lord
was about</i></p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 5]</p>
<p><i>to send them to deliver his People from Captivity, and
many other worthy Men, a , and Women too, which are mentioned in Holy writ, and
many Thousands more no doubt, which we have no Account of there, for it is believ’d,
we have but a very small part of what have been written, and yet full enough,
if we will but be faithful; my dear, tender and well beloved Friends, I beg, I
pray, and beseech us, let us be more faithful I intreat, in bowels of Love, let
us be faithful, let us be faithful to God in all things; and then I know
blessed be his pure Name, which is the Truth, that when the Scourge shall come,
he will secure us in Life or in Death; and that will be enough for us, so be
it, saith my soul, and is in humble request.</i></p>
<p><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>B</span>ENJAMIN <span style='font-size:14.0pt'>L</span>AY.</p>
<p>Abington, Philadelphia <i>County</i><i>,</i></p>
<p><i>in</i> Pennsylvania, <i>the 17<sup>th</sup>,</i></p>
<p><i>9<sup>th</sup>. Me. 1736.</i></p>
<p><span lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR">[page 6]</span></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><span lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR">ALL</span></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><span lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR">S L
A V E - K E E P E R S, &c.</span></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt' lang="PT-BR" xml:lang="PT-BR"> <i> </i></span></b><i><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>Some Observations written</span> 1718, by </i>William
Burling<i>, now living, for aught I know, on </i>Long Island<i>, concerning
Slave–keeping, taken from his Writings. [</i>The same year I was convinced of
the same Hellish Practice, I then living in <i>Barbadoes. Benjamin Lay.]</i></p>
<p><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span></i></b><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span></b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>An Address
to the Elders</span><b> </b>of the Church, upon the occasion of some Friends
compelling certain Persons, and their posterity, to serve them continually and
arbitrarily, without Regard to Equity or Right, not heeding whether they give
them any thing near so much as their Labour deserveth.</p>
<p>[page 7]</p>
<p> <i><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>M</span>y Dear
Beloved Friends, and Elder Brethren, whom as it behoves me, I would intreat as
Fathers, a weighty concern from the Lord, is and hath been at times for many
Years on my spirit, in consideration of this unchristian Liberty, being
indulged in the Church, for it is in itself none of the least of the Worlds
Coruptions,</i> [no, say I, but the greatest, that ever the Devil brought into
the Church in<i> America;</i>] <i>and indeed the Lord by his Spirit, manifested
the Evil to me before I was 12 Years of Age, and since from time to time, I
have had drawings in mind to reprove and testify against it, nor have I been
altogether silent, altho’ much discourag’d by reason of its being practiced by
so many friends, yea Elders too, and tho’ I have formerly thought it strange, that
the Church did not exclude it, by her discipline, and fix the Judgment of Truth
upon it, yet now I am sensible such a thing is not easily done or accomplished,
there being so strong opposition in many, that it cannot be brought to the
Test, and Judgment brought forth into Victory in the cause at present, without
danger of much strife and disorder in the Church, which is</i></p>
<p>[page 8]</p>
<p><i>generally hurtful where-ever it prevaileth; therefore to
be carefully avoided; however I hope we are all unanimous in our judgment, that
whatever Friend hath anything from the movings of the Spirit of Truth to
communicate to his Brethren, either by word or writing concerning this or any
other matter, ought to be allowed and received in his Testimony, and borne with
by his Brethren, so long as he keeps to the counsel and direction of the Holy
Spirit, and therefore delivers nothing but what is according to Truth, altho’
it happens to be never so contrary to the interest or inclinations of the Readers
or Hearers.</i></p>
<p><i> Now I would such Friends as Practice or Plead for
the abovesaid Sin, Evil or Liberty, to consider solidly what Hardship they
impose on such as are concern’d to bear Testimony against it; for a while so
many Friends continues in said Practice, no one can reprove it, and give it
that deserved Character, which is agreeable to its nature, without implicitly
condemning many of his Brethren,</i> [Ministers and all say I, for they are the
worst Enemies in this case the Church has to War with, or that Hell itself, or
Devil can procure in this case. (This is very pinching, B. L canst thou prove
thy Allegations?) if</p>
<p>[page 9]</p>
<p>not, what will become of thee? Never fear, Friend; Fear
surprises, thou knows who; but the Truth is stronger than all the Powers of
Hell. Blessed forever is the God of Truth, the Truth of God, the Truth which is
God: So be it, faith my Soul.</p>
<p><i> Brethren and Elder Brethren, as Transgressors in
this Thing, which is very hard to do, yet if the Lord require such a Thing or
Testimony of any Friend be is necessitated so to judge his Brethren, or quench
the Spirit in its Motions, in his own Heart; for the case admits of no medium.
Again I intreat those who slights and disregards the Testimony of any whom the
Lord concerns to appear against this fleshly Liberty, to consider whom thy
oppose, and withstand; and the inspired Apostle speaking concerning the Lord’s
Instruments, whom he was pleased to make use of, faith </i>I Thess. iv. 8. <i> He
therefore that despiseth, despiseth not Men, but God, who hath also given unto
us his Holy Spirit. O! That I could prevail so far with all my dear Brethren,
that none would any more plead for or endeavour to defend the aforesaid unjust
Practice; neither endeavour to shield it from the judgment of Truth. We may do
well to remember, the Devil is</i></p>
<p>[page 10]</p>
<p><i>the Author of all Sin, and Sin is the Transgression of
the Law.</i></p>
<p> No greater nor no better Law, say I, than to love God
above all, and all our Fellow-Creatures as ourselves; these two contain Law,
Prophets and Gospel, do to all as we would be done by. No greater Sin Hell can
invent, than to prophane and blaspheme the pure and Holy Truth, which is God
all in all, and remove God’s Creatures made after his own Image, from all the
Comforts of Life, and their Country and procure for them, and bring them into
all the miseries that Dragons, Serpents, Devils and Hypocrites, can procure and
think of; these things are carried on by Christians, so called, and Ministers
too, in the very greatest appearance of Demurity and Sanctity in the whole
World, that ever I read or heard of; God which is the Truth, faith we shall not
eat this cursed Fruit; our Ministers say we may eat, and lawfully too; which
shall we believe?</p>
<p> We pretend not to love fighting with carnal Weapons,
nor to carry Swords by our sides, but carry a worse thing in the Heart, as will
I believe appear by and by; what, I pray and beseech you, dear</p>
<p>[page 11]</p>
<p>Friends, by the tender Mercies of our God, to consider, can
be greater Hypocrisy, and plainer contradiction, than for us as a People, to
refuse to bear Arms, or to pay them that do, and yet purchase the Plunder, the
Captives, for Slaves at a very great Price, thereby justifying their selling of
them, and the War, by which they were or are obtained; nor doth this satisfy,
but their Children also are kept in Slavery, <i>ad infinitum</i>; is not this
plainly and substantially trampling the most Blessed and Glorious Testimony that
ever was or ever will be in the World, under our Feet, and committing of
Iniquity with, both Hands earnestly? Is this the way to convince the poor
Slaves, or our Children, or Neighbours, or the World? Is it not the way rather
to encourage and strengthen them in their Infidelity, and Atheism, and their
Hellish Practice of Fighting, Murthering, killing and Robbing one another, to
the end of the World.</p>
<p> My dear Friends, I beg, I would intreat, in all
Humility, with all earnestness of mind, on the bended Knees of my Body and
Soul; willingly and with all readiness, sincerely, if that would</p>
<p>[page 12]</p>
<p>do, that you would turn to the Lord, the Blessed Truth, in
your Hearts, for Direction, for Counsel and Advice; that you may quit your
selves like Men, honourably, of this so Hellish a Practice. Especially, you
that have the Word of Reconciliation to preach to the Children of Men; and if
you have any true tenderness of the Love of God in you, as I right well know,
blessed be the Name of the Lord, all true Ministers have, you my dear Friends,
consider waightily of these important concerns, and quit yourselves of
yourselves and Slaves; for a good example in you might do a great deal of good,
as a bad one will do, and has done a very great deal of mischief to the Truth;
for the eyes of the People are upon you, some for good, and some for Evil.</p>
<p> And my Friends, you that have Slaves, and do minister
to others in our Meetings, consider I intreat and beseech you concerning this
thing in particular. What Burthens and Afflictions, Bondage, and sore Captivity
you bring upon your dear and tender Friends, and keep them in, which cannot
touch with this vile and Hellish Practice, but are constrained to bear
Testimony against it, is one the greatest</p>
<p>[page 13]</p>
<p>Sins in the World, all things considered; And against you
too in some sort, as being in the practice yourselves, of that which is
directly opposite to your own Pretensions, and a very great stumbling Block in
the way of honest, godly Inquirers, which want Peace to their Souls.</p>
<p> What a great Strait these tender hearted mourning
Souls must needs be in, think ye, betwixt Love and Duty; they love you dearly
for the Truth sake, and yet think it their Duty absolutely in the Fear and Love
of God, to testifie against the Sin, and you for continuing in it.</p>
<p> Dear Friends, what peace can you have, in thus
afflicting your Fellow Members; even the same Testimony they have with you in
Meetings, where is the Blessed Unity and Fellowship, you have been preaching so
many Years, as being sensible of one anothers exercises, Bearers of one
another’s Burthens, having a deep sense and a feeling of others infirmities, or
afflictions, or troubles.</p>
<p> What is become of this blessed experience, my Friends?
Is it all left as to you, if so I must give my judgment, that you? have not
your constant dwelling in him, that was touched with a feel-</p>
<p>[page 14]</p>
<p>ing of our infirmities, tempted in all cases like unto us,
yet without Sin, and so are his Saints, for they are all of one, and they live
with him Night and Day, in his blessed Kingdom, which is within; and they love
him dearly, they cannot avoid it, for he first loved them or us, and we cannot keep
back our love from him any more than we can hinder, or stop the Rivers and
Streams from running into the <i>Ocean</i>: For we having received all from
him, of course all return or run to him again; it is the nature of his essence
or divine being.</p>
<p><i>What from Heaven is, to Heaven
tends,</i></p>
<p><i>That which descended, the same
again ascends.</i></p>
<p><i>What from the Earth is, to
Earth returns again,</i></p>
<p><i>That which from Heaven is, the
Earth cannot contain.</i></p>
<p><i> The white Stone that has
the new Name in it, is given to him that overcomes.</i></p>
<p><i>None can
Read but he, or she that receives it.</i></p>
<p><i>He that
overcometh, shall sit with me on my Throne, as I in my Father’s Throne. </i></p>
<p><i> He that over-cometh, shall
eat of the hidden Manna.</i></p>
<p><i> He that overcometh, shall
have right to the Tree of Life, which stands in the</i></p>
<p>[page 15]</p>
<p><i>midst of the Paradise of God, in the Heart.</i></p>
<p><i> W. B. </i>In his Preface, mentions something of the
Lord’s dealing with him, when he was about about 10 or 12 Years of Age, which I
suppose is about 50 Years ago, then there was much Discourse about many <i>English</i> and <i>Dutch</i> People, being taken into <i>Turky</i>, or by the <i>Turks</i> into Slavery, and sold in the Market, for Term of Life, as Beasts in the Field.
As our brave Christians so call’d do, and have done for many Years in <i>Philadelphia</i>,
and elsewhere in <i>America</i>, by the poor Negroes, which is ten times worse
in us; all things consider’d; but what crying, wringing of Hands, what Mourning
and Lamentations there was then by their Relations, Wives for their Husbands,
Parents for their Children, Relations for their Friends, one Neighbour for
another! what exclaiming against the <i>Turk</i> for his Tyranny and
oppression, and cruel Dealing and Treatment, towards their Friends, and may be
cursing and calling for Damnation to him and his God too.</p>
<p> Well my Friends, consider of it, and make an
Application suitable to the circumstance of your own Slaves; for I do not
believe in my Soul, the <i>Turks</i> are</p>
<p>[page 16]</p>
<p>so cruel to their Slaves, as many Christians, so called, are
to theirs, by what I have seen and heard of, in <i>Barbadoes</i>, and
elsewhere; and I give you a reason for it. I was near 18 Months, on board a
large Vessel of 400 Tons in a Voyage to <i>Scanderoon</i> in <i>Turkey</i>, with four Men that had been 17 Years Slaves in <i>Turky</i>, and I never did
understand by them, that they were so badly used as the poor Negroes are by
some called Christians.</p>
<p> Ezra vi. 21, 22.</p>
<p> <i>And the Children of </i>Israel,<i> which were come
again out of Captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from
the filthiness of the Heathen of the Land, to seek the Lord God of </i>Israel,<i> did eat.</i></p>
<p><i> And they kept the feast seven Days with joy: For the
Lord made them joyful, </i>that had separated from the filthiness of the
Heathen.</p>
<p> It is like there was some, which came out of <i>Babylon</i>, and out of Captivity in some sort, which nevertheless would not separate
themselves from the filthiness of the Heathen. For long custom had made it so
familiar, easy and sweet unto them, that they would not leave it,</p>
<p>[page 17]</p>
<p>so not for the Joy of the Lord. And some of these were
Priests and Levites, for ought we know; for they loved their Heathen Whores, I
believe, and other filthiness, which the Heathens allow of, almost as well as
our spiritual Priests and Levites, under the gospel of Christ, do their slaves,
it is very plain, parallel case, when neither the one or the other will part
with them, no not for the Joy of the Lord. Then to be sure not for the comfort
and Joy of their Brethren, and Sisters, who have been in sore Bondage, and
Thraldom or Captivity on that Sinful Hellish Account, Slave–keeping, for 50
Years and more; and that by their Brethren and Sisters, which keeps them, and
will keep them, in spite of them, let them beg or pray, or say, or do what they
can or will.</p>
<p> And all this while Preach, as their tender friends do;
who cannot touch with that sinful practice to gain the whole World; profess the
same Pure Truth, Gospel, Unction, Annoyting, Urim, and Thumim, Measure of the
Spirit, pretend they have received the same Manifestation and Dispensation to
preach, as their innocent Friends, Brethren, or Sisters have.</p>
<p>[page 18]</p>
<p> And really to give them their due, they come very near
them in Words, for what I and some others can see; for we have observed them
strictly as is our duty upon the Truths Account, which suffers so much by them,
and their sinful practice, as well as their oppressed, and greatly afflicted
Brethren and Sisters.</p>
<p> I say these Nocents, come very near the Innocents in
Words, except here and there, they do stretch and strain, rest, part, pervert,
misconstrue, and misapply Scripture to serve their covetous Ends, or to
justifie the Practice, or to extenuate the Crime. It these things be done by
them intentionally, we may say, without Breach of Charity. They shall receive
the greater Damnation; as Christ himself said in a case almost as bad.
(Matt.xxii. 13,14.)</p>
<p> Many worthy Men have borne Testimony against this soul
Sin, Slave-keeping, by Word and Writing; some of which I have noted elsewhere;
but especially <i>Ralph Sindiford,</i> amongst many others, has writ
excellently well, against that filthy Sin; far beyond what I can or do pretend
to, being a Man of so very </p>
<p>[page 19]</p>
<p>mean a capacity, and little Learning; but as I firmly
believing it to be my duty, in the sight of God; I endeavour to do what I can
and leave the Event to the Lord.</p>
<p> And as for any Slave-keepers who are not impartial in the
case; to say that <i>R.S</i>. writ in a Spirit of Bitterness or that he did not
end his Life well. As to the first I have read his Book carefully, with
Attention; and I do not remember a Word in it contrary to Truth, or any such
sharp invectives, as may easily be found in Holy Scripture, both Old and New
Testament; altho’ I have, it’s true, because, I believe in my very Soul the
cause does require it, for the nature of those Beasts, is in those Men, which
do trade in Slaves; and much worse.</p>
<p> As to the second objection, that he<i> R.S</i>. did not
end well; let such be intreated to remember the Man of God, that was sent by
the Lord, from <i>Judah</i>, to declare against the Altar; or that of <i>Bethel</i>,
and the Miracles wrought by him, the King’s Hand withering, and restored by his
prayers; the Altar splitting, and since that his Prophesy fulfilled; of Men’s
Bones, being offered or Burnt thereon.</p>
<p>[page 20]</p>
<p> And yet this Man of God, never came to the Supulchers
of his Fathers, by reason an old lying Prophet leading him out of the way. So
was slain by a Lyon <i>Judah’s</i> Prophet, had but one Hypocritical lying old
Prophet, that we read of, to lead him out of the way. But <i>R.S. </i>had, and
we now have, abundance of Old and Young pretended Prophet’s Prophets to lead
us, poor Creatures, out of the way.</p>
<p> And so they will many, unwary souls; except the Lord
our God be pleased to open our Eyes, to see the Hellish Cheat, and Devilish
Delusion; by which many of our poor Friends have been seduced, and lead aside
in the Hellish Darkness or Smoak, of the Bottomless Pit; for whom my very Soul
is grieved. <i>God </i><i>Almighty is my Witness</i>.</p>
<p> <i>The 8<sup>th</sup> Mo.</i> 1736. <i>Benjamin Lay</i>.</p>
<p> R.S. above–mentioned, was in great Perplexity of mind;
and having oppression, which makes a wise man Mad, by which he was brought very
low, with many Bodily Infirmities, long before he died; his Book largely set
out, read without partiality or prejudice, which is always blind, or very short
sighted and you may excellent weighy matters</p>
<p>[page 21]</p>
<p>find in it; he was a very tender hearted Man before he came
amongst Friends, as well as after, as I have heard from many honest Friends,
that had much dealing and intimate Conversation with him, for many Years, which
are now living. But before he died, by reason of his sore Affliction of mind,
concerning Slave-keeping, as in his Book largely appear, and Infirmity of Body,
he fell into a sort of Delirium: However I do believe if he had lived he would
have overcame it; for I went to see him several times, a little before he died;
I am not ashamed, nor afraid, to write it, altho’ I be censured for it, as I
have been with some others, for going to see him, altho’ in Affliction, the
only time for Visiting, as I humbly conceive, if we go in a right mind.</p>
<p> But O! Say the Slave-keepers, and must confess in their
Hearts that Book, <i>The Mystery of Iniquity</i>, as it is call’d and titled;
it tells Tales to the World, sets forth to the World’s People, what a Parcel of
Hypocrites, and Deceivers we are, under the greatest appearance and Pretentions
to Religion and Sanctity that ever was in the World; we’ll censure him, and his
Book too, into the </p>
<p>[page 22]</p>
<p>Bottomless Pit, if we can, tho’ we can’t disprove a Word in
it, for its undeniable Truth, and so unanswerable; for we never understood,
that any one ever attempted it, or so much as spake of it; but what of that,
Brethren, if it be sinful we are in the Iniquity, in the practice of
Slave-keeping; and our Children by our means, incouragement, and appointment,
not only so, but our Fathers before us, worthy Men, in their generating Work;
and some of them Ministers and Elders, with all Men of renown. They found the
sweetness of it, and so do we, and we will continue in it; let who will or dare
say nay; we’ll condemn <i>R. </i>in his Grave, and his Book and all that favour
it, or promote its being spread abroad, or being read, that exposes us, and
we’ll expose that or especially him that writ it, by Calumnies and Slanders, and
Surmises, and by insinuating all that ever we can hear or think of against
him, now he is in his Grave; especially we did it before, but now more safely,
for he can’t contradict or oppose us now; so that if we can but render him
odious in his Character, his Book will be invalidated in course with us that
hate it, altho’ we cannot disprove</p>
<p>[page 23]</p>
<p>a little of it, especially with our Brethren in strict
Unity, in this Iniquity, and soulest of Sins, the Negroe Trade.</p>
<p> If this practice can be proved to be the greatest of
Sins (as may easily be done) considering its Root and Branch, and all the sad
Fruit it brings forth; yet we read Christ died for Sinners, and he can forgive
the greatest, as well as the least.</p>
<p> It is true some may say, Christ in his great Love, hath
forgiven Sins, committed in time of great Darkness and Ignorance; but if we
should commit the grossest of evils now, in the clear light of this Gospel Day,
continue in them, and plead for it too, we should withstand spiritual <i>Moses</i>,
and our Damnation would be just.</p>
<p> Some indeed may insinuate <i>Numbers</i> xvi. this
Chapter against us, but what if <i>Korah</i> the Son of <i>Lobar</i>, did with
his Company 250 withstand <i>Moses</i>, they were Princess of the Assembly,
famous in the Congregation, Men of renown, as we are many of us: What if <i>Moses</i> did fall on his Face, and weep before the Lord, with <i>Aaron</i> and others?
And if the Lord threatened to to destroy the whole Company; What</p>
<p>[page 24]</p>
<p>of that? he did not: What if the Earth did open, and swallow
up <i>Korah</i>, and a Fire from the Lord consumed others; yet we may take
notice, the Congregation were not pleased; the rebellious party, for they
murmured against <i>Moses</i> and <i>Aaron</i>, saying, <i>Ye</i>, <i>have
killed the Lord’s People, or People of the Lord</i>.</p>
<p> It is also true, there was 14700 slain by Plague, of
the Murmurers and Rebels, beside them that died about the matter of <i>Korah</i>.
But it is not, nor hath been so with us yet, and we have been in this practice,
that some few poor Fellows, make such a stir about, above 50 Years; poor People
which cannot purchase them, so pretend Conscience in the case, but let them
that oppose our practice in Negroes, bring those things upon us as
above-mentioned; if they can, then People may believe they are in the Right,
and we are in the Wrong.</p>
<p> But let us consider by the way, Brethren, if we go on
arguing after this manner, some may be ready to object, that Blasphemous Saying
of our Elder Brethren, concerning Christ: <i>If he be the king of Israel, let
him now come down</i></p>
<p>Matt.xli. xxvii, xlii, xliii</p>
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<p>[page 25]</p>
<p><i>from the Cross, and we will believe in him.</i> It is
true the Objection is just, and it may be a Parallel Case: But what shall we
do, for People begin to see as clearly as when the Sun is in its Meridian
Throne, young People as well as old, That this Practice of ours is as directly
opposite to our holy Principles as Light is to Darkness, Christ to <i>Belial</i>,
or God to the Devil.</p>
<p> If the Case be thus, dear Brethren, as to be sure it
is, how shall we stand our Ground? our Ground, I say. It is true we may keep
our Meeting. Houses for a time, and we may join Forces with them that are in
the Negro Practice; in strict Unity among our selves, and with any other dear
Friends of our own Mind, Relations, Customers, Chapmen, Workmen, or others that
we can have any Influence over, Quakers or no Quakers, if they will but come to
Meetings and do as we do, if not, say as we say, and plead for said sad
Hell-Practice; or atleast, Gentleman-like, connive, palliate and dissemble to
extenuate the Crime; and we will with all our Might, Interest and Strength, put
forth, keep out, and hinder or prevent coming into our Synagogues, any that
will oppose, or condemn</p>
<p>[page 26]</p>
<p>our Practice, or us for continuing in it. And further, as we
have the power of Discipline, our Ministers are forc’d, and must of Necessity
come to us for Certificates or Letters to recommend them, which we are very
ready to give if they are fit for our Turn and Practice, and very good ones
too. If they be but very poorly qualified in Words, and worse in conduct and
Life, yet they’ll serve a small Turn. When he or she have got their Passport,
one or other of us, a trusty Brother without Doors, will give them the Hint
before they go forth, that if they should chance to meet, or go on purpose
where they are to be found or heard of, any of the heavenly Party that is
against our hellish Practice (or hellish Party that is against our heavenly
Practice, for it is heavenly to us, it is Comfort and Joy to us, and we delight
in it greatly and will keep in it) and may be, <i>My dear Friend, we will give
thee a little Memorandum in thy Pocket of Places and Persons, which will be a
great help to thee, poor dear Creature, thy dear mind being so much exercised
about other Good Things, that thou mayst chance to forget some other Matters
though they be weighty: And wherever thou meets with any such as are</i></p>
<p>[page 27]</p>
<p><i>abovemention’d, when thee comes near their Dwellings,
which thee may chance to hear of by strict Inquiry, inform Friends against them
whatever thee can; tho’ the Name of an Informer be odious, yet in some cases it
is thought necessary, as in this: But be sure when thou comes in thy Testimony
thresh’em going, spare’em not; and if any speak to thee after Meeting about it,
say, </i>If the Coat fits thee, put it on; I had no Particular in View. This is
and has been the Practice of many worthy Friends, so they hide themselves, and
strengthen our Party bravely ; so be it, say they. </p>
<p> Matth. vii. 17. <i>Every good Tree bringeth good Fruit,
but a corrupt Tree bringeth evil Fruit. </i> Is there any eviler Fruit in the
World than Slave-keeping? any thing more devilish ? it is of the very Nature of
Hell itself, and is the Belly of Hell.</p>
<p> Verse 18. <i> A good Tree cannot bring forth such
cursed evil Fruit </i>as Slave-trading, if this Practice be the worst, the
greatest Sin in the World (with what goes and grows with it) as it is, to be
sure. But if any should say that good Trees, good Men, may be in this Practice
and encourage it, and if they may</p>
<br clear="all"
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<p>[page 28]</p>
<p>bring forth such Fruit, what Fruit must evil Trees bring
forth. This will not hold by a Parity of Reason; comparing Things with Things
by an Equality, it will not hold good in any case, much less in a religion
sense; there it is very odious, to be sure, and is very soul in Ministers
especially. Let them keep on their Sheeps Cloathing, and preach and pray as
long as they may, until their Tongues are weary, and their Hearers Ears too;
they’ll preach more to Hell, I firmly believe, than they will to Heaven, while
they continue in said Practice.</p>
<p> For Custom in Sin, hides, covers, as it were takes
away the Guilt of Sin. Long Custom, the Conveniency of Slaves working for us,
waiting and tending continually on us, besides the Washing, cleaning, scouring,
cooking very nicely fine and curious, sewing, knitting, darning, almost ever at
hand and Command; and in other Places milking, churning, Cheese-making, and all
the Drudgery in Dairy and Kitchen, within doors and without. And the proud
dainty, lazy Daughters sit with their hands before ‘em, like some of the worst
idle Sort of Gentlewomen, and if they want a Trifle,</p>
<p>[page 29]</p>
<p>rather than rise from their Seats, call the poor Slave from
her Drudgery to come and wait upon them. These Things have been the utter Ruin
of more than a few; and yet encouraged by their own Parents, for whom my Spirit
is grieved, some of which were and are Preachers in great Repute as well as
others.</p>
<p> Now, dear Friends, behold a Mystery! These Ministers
that be Slave–keepers and are in such very great Repute, such eminent
Preachers, given to Hospitality, charitable to the Poor, loving to their
Neighbours, just in their Dealings, temperate in their Lives, visiting of the
Sick Sympathising with the Afflicted in the Body or Mind, very religious
seemingly, and extraordinary devout and demure, and in short strictly exact in
all their Decorums, except Slave-keeping, these, these be the Men, and the
Women too, for the Devil’s purpose, are the choicest Treasure the Devil can or
has to bring out of his Lazaretto, to establish Slave-keeping. By these Satan
works Wonders many ways. These are the very men, or people of both Sexes, that
come the nearest the Scribes & Pharisees of any People in the whole World,
if not sincere: For the Scribes were exact and</p>
<p>[page 30]</p>
<p>demure seemingly in their appearance before men, according
to Christ’s Account of them, and yet the worst Enemies the dear Lamb had, or
that the Devil could Procure for or against him. And I do surely believe that
one such as these, now in this our Day, in this very Country, does more Service
for the Devil, and Hurt in the Church, in Slave-keeping, than twenty Publicans
and Harlots: For by their extraordinary Conduct, in Hypocrisy, smooth and
plausible appearance, they draw into the Snare almost insensibly, and so
beguile unstable Souls before they are aware which is sorrowful to consider as
well as write, their Example being much more powerful than others.</p>
<p> And Friends, what I touched at a little before,
concerning the delicate Damsels, or fine idle Dames, it may be pretty much like
it with the young Men, and may be the old ones, that have their Negroes to
Plow, sow, thresh, winnow, split Rails, cut Wood, clear Land, make Ditches and
Fences, fodder Cattle, run and fetch up the Horses, or fine curious pacing
Mares, for young Madam and Sir to ride about on, impudently and proudly
gossiping from House to House,</p>
<p>[page 31]</p>
<p>stuffing their lazy ungodly Bellies. Then old Sir Master
calls, <i> Negro, fetch my best Gelding quickly, for me to ride to Meeting, to
preach the Gospel of glad Tydings to all men, and Liberty to the Captives, and
opening the Prison-Doors to them that are bound; but I’ll keep thee in Bondage
nevertheless, help thy self if thee can. I charge thee to work very hard when I
am gone, and before be very ready to wait on me & my Children when we come
home, if they come with me, or else wait till they do come, and then take their
Horses, and look well after them; and then make haste in, all of ye, and be
ready to wait upon us, and keep good Fires abovestairs or below, and mind your
Business well, or I’ll take a Course with you; don’t think that I’ll give 70 or
80 1. apiece for you, for nothing but to ly lazying about like Gentleman</i>, <i>doing
nothing</i>, <i>you shall work now you are young, for when you are very old,
you will not do much, I suppose, and then you must be maintained, you and your
Wives and Children and Children’s Children; and if you don’t behave your selves
well, you’ll be but badly provided for, I believe, when you are past your
Labour, whatsoever you are now.</i></p>
<p> Dear Friends, these Things are True in Fact, and have
been the Ruin of many,</p>
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<p>[page 32]</p>
<p>Body and Soul, and will be of more I greatly fear; beside
and above all, the Soul Stain it brings upon the pure, blessed, unchangeable TRUTH.</p>
<p> And my Dear, my very dear Friends, I must say, I must
say, and it is the Experience and certain Knowledge of my own Soul, that except
People will be willing to come to a Separation, a Separation, a Separation,
from this Thing, to wit, Negro Practice, they never can nor will see the Evil
of it, as it really is in itself.</p>
<p> I say my own Experience when I lived in <i>Barbadoes</i> about 18 Years ago, where we had much Business in Trading, and the poor Blacks
would come to our Shop and Store, hunger– starv’d, almost ready to perish with
Hunger and Sickness, great Numbers of them would come to trade with us, for
they seem to love and admire us, we being very much alike in Stature and other
ways; and my dear Wife would often be giving them something for the Mouth,
which was very engaging you that read this may be sure, in their deplorable
Conditions. Oh! my Soul mourns in contemplating their miserable, forlorn,
wretched State</p>
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<p>[page 33]</p>
<p>and Condition that mine Eyes beheld them in then, and it is
the same now, and I will remain except the great almighty Being, either
immediately or instrumentally shall be pleased to put a Stop to it; for they
are yearly by Shiploads poured in upon, and received by the People, many
Thousands in one Year, Year after Year, as is thought, up and down <i>America</i>,
besides what vast Numbers are increased by Generation daily. O Lord God
Almighty, where will this Practice lead us that are called thy People, Dearest
God, and make so great a Profession of being lead and guided by the eternal
Spirit, which is the glorious Truth unchangeable and precious, and without End.
But I trust, dearest One, thou wilt be pleased to stop and end this Practice,
that is more like Hell than heaven, to be sure.</p>
<p> I having made a little Digression, may resume the
Matter relating to my dear Wife, and the <i>Negroes</i>. She was a
tender-hearted Woman, and, as I said, would be very often giving them something
or other; stinking Biscuits which sometimes we had in abundance, bitten by the
Cockroaches; or a rotten Cheese,</p>
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<p>[page 34]</p>
<p>stinking Meat, decayed Fish, which we had plenty of in that
hot Country; so my dear sweet <i>Sarah</i>, she would hand it to them, here and
there to those that she thought wanted it most, tho’ all wanted enough, God
Almighty knows, except here and there a favourite Slave, one of an hundred or
thousand, may be, kept for their Glory and Pride to wait on them, amongst their
proud, lazy, dainty, tyrannical, gluttonous, drunken, debauched Visitors, the
Scum of the infernal Pit, a little worse than the same that comes off their
Sugar when it is boiling, which is composed of Grease, Dirt, Dung, and other
Filthiness, as, it may be Limbs, Bowels and Excrements of the poor Slaves, and
Beasts, and other Matters, but this I say serves exceeding well to make Rum of,
and Molosses, for that is the Use it is put to, with other Ingredients pretty
much like it; and these People in the Islands may laugh at us for being
ridiculously infatuated, to send away our excellent good Provisions, and other
good Things, to purchase such filthy Stuff, which tends to the Corruption of
Mankind, and may be send us some of the worst of their Slaves, when they cannot
rule them themselves, along with</p>
<p>[page 35]</p>
<p>their Rum, to compleat the Tragedy, that is to say, to
destroy the People in <i>Pennsylvania</i>, and ruin the Country. Dear Friends,
or any of my Fellow Creatures, I must confess I am apt to disgress, but when
such dangerous Filthiness comes in my way, I think it my Duty to make it appear
if possible to others; for it is so to me, exceeding sinful above Measure, I
will assure you, more than what I can speak or write abundantly; if it should
be so to you, I hope you will endeavour to avoid it, and pray for Heavens
Assistance, without which all is nothing. As to what was touched on before,
when my dear <i>Sarah</i> had given to them what she thought fit within-doors,
we have taken some more of the same sort and thrown it into the Street,
stinking as to be sure it was, yet the poor Creatures would come running, and
tearing, and rending one another, to get a part in the scramble of that which I
am sure some Dogs would not touch, much less eat of, their poor Bellies were so
empty, and so ravenous were they, that I never saw a parcel of Hounds more
eager about a dead Carcase, than they always were. This Scramble was commonly
on First Day, before we went</p>
<p>[page 36]</p>
<p>to meeting, which was their Market day, as well as their
Hallowing-Day, when they are exempted from their Labour, they come down to
Town, many Hundreds of them, they that could get or steal any Thing, a little
Sugar, or Cotton, Ginger, Aloes, Rum, Cocoa-Nuts, Pine-Apples, Oranges,
Lemmons, Citrons, old Iron, Wood for Firing, steal any Thing out of Houses,
Yards or anywhere, or any Thing that was not too hot or too heavy, and bring it
to Market on a Sunday, as they call it, to get a penny, or something for the
Mouth, and they that could not get anything to bring to Market, they would come
to Town if possibly they could hold out and keep from falling down and fainting
by the Way, being perished with Hunger and hard Labour the Week before; I say
these very miserable Objects that could get no Truck in the Country to bring to
Market, yet they would if possible come to Town, and see what they could beg or
steal there. (Who can blame them if it was ten times worse, they being under
such unmerciful Tyrants.) These Wretches being in Town in this miserable
Condition, with not a Crum of good or bad to put into their </p>
<p>[page 37]</p>
<p>Mouths, ready to drop as they walked or crawled along the
Streets, they many of them hearing of us, for we were very much known amongst
them, they would come to our Door, if they came before we were gone to Meeting,
and there they would stand as thick as Bees, but much more like <i>Pharaoh’s</i>
lean Kine, and I may say their Appearance was dismal enough to move a very hard
Heart; so we used to give them a little of something at Times, as we found some
Freedom, considering our Circumstances; But if we gave to some, and did not to
all, as to be sure we could not, oh how the poor Creatures would look. I say
many Hundreds would come and flock about us; and them that receiv’d, O how
thankful, with bended Knees; but them that did not, what Words can set forth
the dejected sinking Looks that appeared in their Countenances. Shall I ever
forget them?</p>
<p> Many of these Poor Creatures, in Town and Country, were
sent to Market by their Masters or Mistresses, at other Times, and they would
come to us to lay out their Money, if we had such Goods as they wanted, and
when they came in, seem’d to rejoice to see us </p>
<p>[page 38]</p>
<p>together, we were so very much alike; and would lift up
their Hands with Admiration, and say, <i>That little backararar man, </i>for so
they call White People,<i> go all over world see for that backarar woman for
himself</i>. But we, alas! are parted!</p>
<p> Here Friends you may see and understand the powerful
Influence long Custom, Conveniency, Intimacy and Profit has to insinuate itself
into our Affections; for I have often heard my dear Wife say in her Life-time,
and express the Danger she was in when living in <i>Barbadoes,</i> of being
leavened into the very Nature of the Inhabitants, Pride and Oppression: So that
dear Creature, she seeing the Evil and the Danger, she was willing and desirous
to leave the Island, and indeed so was I.</p>
<p> But, my Friends, here I must come to that that is not
very agreeable to Flesh and Blood, which is Confession of Sins: For although I
never was Owner of a Slave myself, and all Friends in Barbadoes could never
persuade me to purchase one, I humbly bless the Lord my good God for that, and
this is now my Comfort and dear Joy and sweet Experience<i>:</i> Yet I must
confess, and I have not full Peace without it, yet I may say,</p>
<p>[page 39]</p>
<p>I have been sorely grieved to see and hear the inexpressible
Cruelty, Torture and Misery, these poor Wretches were and are put to, Night and
Day, yet although, as I have said, I saw and heard of such very great Barbarity
used toward the Slaves, Night and Day, yet for want of dwelling near enough to
the blessed Truth, I was leavened too much into the Nature of the People there
which are Masters and Mistresses of Slaves, though I never had nor would have
any of my own, but by conversing, trading, and living daily amongst them, where
there is vast Numbers, abundance coming daily to buy Goods and to beg, some to
steal, we had abundance stolen from us at Times, the worth of ten, fifteen, or
near twenty Shillings at a time, come into shop whole Droves together, lay the
Scheme I suppose, come by Appointment; when many are come in they seem in great
haste, one would say, <i>Serve me,</i> another, <i>Serve me, Serve me</i>;
come sometimes, by twilight and within Night, there was their Time; so when we
were in a hurry, one would run away with one Thing, another with another, and
so on. Very much we lost to be sure. Sometimes I could catch them, and then I</p>
<p>[page 40]</p>
<p>would give them Stripes sometimes, but I have been sorry for
it many times, and it does grieve me to this Day, considering the extreme
Cruelty and Misery they always live under. Oh my Heart has been pained within
me many times, to see and hear; and now, now, now, it is so.</p>
<p> Shall we fetch and steal them out of their own Country,
where God Almighty has made them and placed them, and in taking of them murther
many, very many, and serve them that we take alive ten times worse; steal
Husband from Wife, Wife from Husband; steal the Children from their Parents,
bring them here or elsewhere amongst our extraordinary Christians, worse
Thieves than the others by far; they work ‘em, whip and starve ’em almost to
death, and if the poor Wretch steal a little to satisfy Hunger, he is tormented
without Mercy. Be these Christians, and Ministers too, that encourage and plead
for these Things? It must be all Lie, and that is of the Devil, <i>for when he
speaketh a Lie, it is of himself</i>. Joh. viii.44. I do believe in my Soul, if
Christ was here in that very Body, he would say as much to some Quakers as he
said to the Scribes</p>
<p>[page 41]</p>
<p>and Pharisees in the eighth of <i>John</i>; if he the Devil
be a Murtherer and a Liar, what are our Slave-Merchants ? Is there a greater
Lie in the World? I <i>Joh</i>.ii.4. <i>He that faith, I know him, and keeps
not his sayings, is a Liar. </i> ver. 22. Do not all Liars <i>deny the Father
and Son?</i> iv. 20. <i>He is a Liar that saith he loves God, and hates his
Brother. </i>v.10. <i>He that believeth not God, hath made him a Liar.</i> What
does our dear Slaves with their Slaves think of these Things<i>:</i> As <i>Solomon</i> saith, <i>a poor Man is better than a Liar.</i> Luke vi.43, 44. <i> a good tree
bears good Fruit</i>, and can a good Tree bear Negro-Trading for Gain?</p>
<p> Matth. vii. 17, 18. <i>A good Tree cannot bear evil
Fruit.</i></p>
<p> Luke viii.14, 15. Not many Slavek----rs <i>bring forth
Fruit to Perfection.</i></p>
<p> Rom.vii.5. I am much afraid Sl--e-k----ng will <i>bring
forth Fruits to the Death.</i></p>
<p>Rom. vi. 20. Are not Sl—e-k—pers <i>the Servants of Sin?</i></p>
<p> 21. Are our S.K. <i>ashamed of their Sin?</i></p>
<p><i> </i> 22. Are our S.K. <i>free from Sin?</i></p>
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<p>[page 42]</p>
<p>Tit. i. 9. Are S.K. able to <i>convince the Gainsayers?</i></p>
<p> 10. Are not S.K of the <i>Circumcision, unruly
vain Talkers?</i></p>
<p> 11. Do not S.K <i>subvert whole Houses, for
filthy Lucre?</i></p>
<p> 12. Are not S.K. <i>Liars, evil Beasts, slow
Bellies?</i></p>
<p> 13. Don’t they Deserve to be <i>rebuked sharply, </i>as being very<i> unfound in the Faith?</i></p>
<p> 14. Don’t these <i>give away to Jewish Fables,
and turn from Truth?</i> What think ye, my </p>
<p> Brethren?</p>
<p> 15. <i>Unto the Pure all things are pure</i>; if
literally, then Robbing and Killing, as well as </p>
<p> Slave-keeping.</p>
<p> 16. Do not these <i>deny God in works and yet
pretend to know him?</i></p>
<p>Tit. ii. 7. Have these men <i>found Doctrine Gravity and
Sincerity?</i></p>
<p> 8. Have not these men <i>of the contrary Part
need to be ashamed, when we have so </i></p>
<p> <i>many evil things to say of them,</i> under very justly too?</p>
<p>Do these <i>adorn </i>the <i>Doctrine of god our Saviour</i> with Slave-keeping? I think in</p>
<p>[page 43]</p>
<p>my very Soul, it is more agreeable to the Devil.</p>
<p> Prov. xxiv.23,24, 25, 26. He that <i>faith to such
wicked ones, thou art righteous; </i></p>
<p><i>him shall the People curse, Nations shall abhor him. But
to them that rebuke them shall be Delight, and a good Blessing shall come upon
them</i>. </p>
<p> But, my friends, you that practise Tyranny and
Oppression for Slave-keeping is such, he that assumes in arbitrary Manner,
unjustly, Dominion over his Fellow-Creature’s Liberty and Property, contrary to
Law, Reason or Equity, He is a wicked sinful Tyrant, guilty of Oppression and
great Iniquity<i>:</i> But he that trades in Slaves and the Souls of Men, does
so; <i>therefore</i> ----- Beside, Friends, the very Name of the Tyrant is
odious, to God, to good men, yea to bad Men too; and the Nature and Practice is
much worse.</p>
<p> And Friends, you that follow this forlorn filthy
Practice, do you not consider that you are opening the Door to others, or
setting them an Example to do the like by you, whenever it shall please the
Almighty to suffer them to have power over us, as a Scourge to us for our Sins,
what Reason then shall we</p>
<p>[page 44]</p>
<p>have to complain? If any of you ever read the History of the
English Slaves in <i>Algier</i>, how would you like that yourselves? There was
some Discourse of its being printed in <i>Philadelphia:</i> I wish it might,
for the sake of some. Lam. iv. 3 <i>The Sea-Monsters draw out their Breast to
their Young</i>, but you draw out the Sword to young and old, middle-aged and
all (save what you cannot come at) or cause it to be done so: <i>and yet them
that die by the Sword are better</i> than them you bring away and starve; for
these pine away for want of the Fruits of the Field, and by other Severities.</p>
<p> My dear Wife has often spoke of a passage in or near
Spikes’s in Barbadoes, going hastily into a very plain-coat outside Friend’s
house, there hung up Negro stark naked, trembling and shivering, with such a
Flood of Blood under him, that so surprised the little Woman she could scarce
contain; but at last a little recovering, she says to some in Family, <i>What’s
here to do</i>. They began exclaiming against the poor miserable Creature, for
absconding a day or two, may be by reason of his cruel Usage, as by this Barbarity
we may imagine.</p>
<p>[page 45]</p>
<p> Another Piece of Barbarity, of one <i>Richard Parrot</i> a Cooper, which I knew; he used to whip his Negroes on Second-day Mornings very
severely, to keep them in awe. It is usual for these miserable Slaves to get
together on First days, to bewail and lament their forlorn Condition that they
are in one to another. One Says, <i>My Master very bad Man; another, My
Mistress very bad Woman.</i> This <i>Parrot’s</i> Negro, a lusty Fellow, a
Cooper, and used to get his Master 7 s. 6 d. a day, being valued at 100<i>l</i>.
or more; he says, <i>My Master</i> Parrot <i>very bad man indeed, whippe,
whippe poor Negro evee Munne Morning for notin tall!</i> <i>me no bear no
longer</i>. So he hangs himself on First-day at Night, because he would not be <i>whippe
Munne Morning</i>. This was while we lived in <i>Barbadoes</i>. I knew <i>Parrot</i> very well, having been at his House; and abundance more of such like Things
while we abode there.</p>
<p> 1736, the 29th of the 8th Month, this Morning between 2
& 3 this was written.</p>
<p> It arose in my Mind in Love of Truth, that as the
blessed immaculate Lamb was said <i>John </i>i.<i> </i>14<i>. </i>to be<i> the
only begotten of the Father, full of Grace, and full</i></p>
<p>[page 46]</p>
<p><i>of Truth; </i> so Slave–keeping and trading is the only
Begotten of the Devil, full of all Ungraciousness and all Untruth. The True
Child and Heir of Hell, the only begotten of the Devil, indeed, but not in
Truth nor any part of it.</p>
<p> As it is written, <i>Psal. </i>ii.7<i>. Thou art my
Son, this Day have I begotten thee; </i>so may the Devil say by Slave-keeping.</p>
<p> <i>As God gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believed in him might have everlasting Life; </i>so the Devil gives his only
begotten Child, <i>the Merchandize of Slaves and Souls of Men, </i>Rev.
xviii.13. that whosoever believes and trades in it might have everlasting
Damnation.</p>
<p> Again, it is written, I Cor. iv. 15. <i>though you have
ten thousand Instructors in Christ, yet you have not many Fathers, </i>I may
say so,<i> for in Christ have I Begotten you thro’ the Gospel</i>; so may many
of our Ministers say to the Negro-Traders and Keepers, You have we begotten
thro’ the Devil, by our Example and Pleading for it, and by our Condemning and
Disowning many worthy Friends, of innocent Lives, for testifying against it,
and against us for living and continuing in it; but we will do it for all that.
What do we care for their Testimony?</p>
<p>[page 47]</p>
<p>Shall we, our Wives, or Sons, or Daughters, when our
Fellow–Merchants (of <i>Mystery Babylon the Great</i>) come to visit us, run to
wait on them, their Horses, their Chariots and Equipage, Cooking, Sculling and
waiting? No we despite it, and them that do it. We will have our Slaves and
Souls of Men to do it for us, as our Mother has and had in all Ages of the
World; and it was their Glory, and it is ours, and we will have it; and we, our
Wives, Sons, Daughters, Kindred, and our Fellow-Merchants, that are great and
honorable, Men of Renown, shall fit and live like Kings and Queens that know no
Sorrow.</p>
<p> I must confess, that as <i>Paul</i> had <i>begotten one
in his Bonds</i>, for Christ’s Sake to Christ; so those abovemention’d have
begotten many, yea very many, in their Bonds, for the Devil and <i>Mammon’s</i> sake to the Devil and his Kingdom.</p>
<p> We may safely say, without breach of Charity, by these
Prophets or Ministers before –mentioned, as <i>Micajab</i> said by <i>Ahab’s</i> four hundred false prophets, I <i>Kings</i> xxii.23. that there is a <i>Lying
Spirit</i> in the mouths of all them that keep or trade in Slaves, and say it
is lawful</p>
<p>[page 48]</p>
<p>in this blessed Gospel Day; let them pretend to what they
will or may; whether Hearers or Prophets, or Preachers, although there be or
should be four hundred or four thousand of them, no matter for their great
Number, the truth is over them all, although them that are and were out of the
Truth have faln, and may fall, by their Means, by their lying Persuasions; I
say their great and lying Pretensions, have and may and will cause many more I
fear, to fall, as well as the other false Prophets did <i>Ahab</i> and many
others, as we may read of in Scripture and elsewhere plentifully, as in Case of <i>Jezabel’s</i> eight hundred and fifty false prophets, which <i>Elijah</i> slew, I <i>Kings</i> xviii. 19.</p>
<p> <i>Jerem.</i> xiv. 14, 15, 16, 17. It is enough to make
one tremble to think what will become of those Prophets that prophesy Lies in
the Name of the Lord, and teach the people to keep Slaves in this pure Gospel
Day; it has and does cause the Eyes of many dear Servants & Handmaids
amongst us to run down with Tears, because of this sinful Practice.</p>
<p> I can truly say, I have had large and long Experience
since I came into</p>
<p>[page 49]</p>
<p><i>America</i>, that many of our Ministers and Elders are
not only in the Bond of Iniquity, but also in the Gall of Bitterness, and are
as ready to smite as the Son of Immer, altho’ chief Governour in the House of
the Lord. Jer. xx.1, 2. or as <i>Zedekiah</i> to smite <i>Micajah</i> on the
Cheek, I <i>Kings</i> xxii. 24. Do but reprove for these Things
(Slave-Practice) and he or they will, if possible, bring you into Bonds and
Fetters, or put you into the Stocks, with or in the high Gate of <i>Benjamin</i>,
or some other way, although he dwells near and in the House of the Lord.</p>
<p> <i>Jerem. xxii. 13, 14, 15, 16. Wo unto him that
buildeth his House by Iniquity, and useth his Neighbour’s Service without
Wages, and giveth him not for his Work. Shalt thou reign because thou encloseth
thyself in Cedar?</i></p>
<p><i> </i> <i>Jerem</i>. xxiii. 9. Is it not enough almost
to <i>break ones Heart</i>, to see this Practice of Slaves lived in and pleaded
for by our Preachers and Elders?</p>
<p><i> ver.14. </i>Dear<i> </i>Friends, do not these
greatly <i>strengthen the Hands of Evil-do-ers? </i></p>
<p><i> Ver.</i> 15. Is not <i>Profaneness gone forth into
all the Land</i>, by their means?</p>
<p>[page 50]</p>
<p><i> Ver</i>. 16. My dear and tender Friends, Should we
or shall we always hearken unto the Voice or Words of such Prophets that teach
Lies in the Name of the Lord?</p>
<p> <i>Deut</i>. xxix. 18. Is not this Practice <i>turning
the Heart from the Lord to serve the Idols of the Nations?</i></p>
<p> Then what a Root of Gall and Wormwood appears in these
Negro-keepers when they are reproved, Ministers especially, to my certain
knowledge, and long experience.</p>
<p> In his excellent song Moses lively sets forth the
tender mercies of God to the faithful; and his Vengeance against the unfaithful
Slave-Keepers, <i>all unfaithful that profess Truth.</i></p>
<p> <i>Deut. </i>32. 1. <i>Give Ear</i>, <i>O Heavens</i>,
the heavenly-minded, <i>and I will Speak</i>.</p>
<p> <i>Ver.</i> 2. My Doctrine shall drop as the Rain, and
Dew, but then it is upon the tender Plant, not the old sturdy Oak; it will do
no good there, I fear.</p>
<p> <i>Ver</i>. 6. Do ye (Slave-Keepers) thus requite the
Lord, for all his Favours, <i>O foolish People and unwise.</i></p>
<p> <i>Ver.</i> 20. What shall we do, Dear Friends, if the
Lord should intirely <i>hide</i> his <i>Face from</i> us, because of this thing
Slave-Keeping, and some others almost as bad.</p>
<p>[page 51]</p>
<p> <i>Ver </i>. 30. <i>How shall one chase a Thousand,</i> while this Trade is practised by us as a People.</p>
<p> <i>Ver.</i> 31. But blessed be the pure Name of our
God, the Negroe-Keeping Rock <i>is not our Rock, even our Enemies themselves</i> being Judges; they are Enemies, though called Friends.</p>
<p> <i>Ver. </i>32. <i>For their vine</i> <i>is the vine</i> of Sodom, and their Fruit bitter as Gall and Wormwood, as is very well known.</p>
<p> <i>Ver</i>. 33. <i>Their Wine</i>, their pleasures, and
Profit, gotten by Slave-Keeping, will be as the <i>Poison of Dragons,</i> and <i>the
cruel Venom of Asps</i>, in the end, or I am mistaken.</p>
<p> <i>Ver. </i>41. Will not the Lord <i>whet</i> his <i>glittering
Sword</i>, and take <i>vengeance</i> on such <i>Enemies,</i> that pretend to
preach Truth, and Practice a Lie, the greatest in the world.</p>
<p> <i>Job</i> xx.12. <i>Though</i> this <i>wickedness</i> Slave-Keeping, <i>be sweet in </i>the Mouth, they can salve it with smooth
Words, yet Torment is under the <i>Tongue</i>. <i> </i></p>
<p><i> Ver. </i>13. <i>Though he spare </i>his Sin, and
forsake it not; but keep it still within his Mouth; will not confess how it is
within him.</p>
<p><i> Ver</i>.14. <i>Yet his Meat in his Bowels is</i></p>
<p>[page 52]</p>
<p><i>turned</i>, his pleasant Gain, gotten by his Slaves, and
swallowed down, it will bite as bad as <i>the Gall of Asps</i> and Vipers
Tongue within him, if not repented of and forsaken before Death; for when Death
approaches, Sin will sting.</p>
<p> Ver.17. Such without Repentance and forsaking, <i>shall
not see the Rivers, the Floods, the Brooks of Honey and Butter</i>, that flow
in a pure Conscience, and Holy Souls.</p>
<p> <i>Amos</i> vi. 12. Have not <i>some turned Judgment</i>,
in Discipline <i>into Gall</i>, and <i>Hemlock</i>, which is bitter Poison.</p>
<p><i> Job</i> xxi. 6, to 14. <i>They that think they have
the Blessing of God</i>, with Slave-Keeping, <i>because they prosper in this
World. Psa.</i> xvii. 10, and lxxiii. 3. Let such be intreated to read these
Scriptures, to the end; for says <i>David, I was envious at the wicked, or
foolish, when I saw the property of the wicked</i>, and so goes on, very
excellently indeed.</p>
<p> <i>Habb</i>. i. 3, 4, 16. <i>Why doesn’t thou show me
iniquity</i>, Men are in it, therefore wrong judgement proceedeth.</p>
<p> <i>Isa</i>. xxviii. 15, 17, 18, 19, 29, 21. You that
keep Slaves, <i>your covenant with Death, and Hell shall be broken when the
over-flowing Scourge shall pass through</i></p>
<p>[page 53]</p>
<p><i>then ye shall be trodden down by it;</i> the Lord hasten
the time, faith my Soul; <i>for they lay snares for him that reproves in the
Gate.</i></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'><i> Matt</i>. v. 19. If they <i>shall
be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, that shall break the least
Commandment, and teach Men so to do;</i> Surely they are the greatest in the
Kingdom of Hell, that break the greatest, and all of them, them, and teach Men
so to do: But Slave Trading Preachers does do so, therefore.</p>
<p style='text-align:justify'> <i> Matt.</i> 21. 28, to 31. <i>He
that said he would not,</i> and yet did the Will of his Father was commended.
But I believe these that say well sometimes in Meetings, and do ill in Slave
Trading; will come far behind Publicans and Harlots.</p>
<p style='text-align:justify'> <i>Luke </i>14. 33, 34, 35.
He <i>that for saketh not all, said blessed Jesus, cannot be my Disciple,</i> Slave-Keepers covet all Body and Soul, Wives and Children of their Neighbours:
such unsavoury Salt, good <i>for neither Land or Dunghill. He that hath Ears to
hear,</i> <i>let him hear.</i></p>
<p style='text-align:justify'> 9<sup>th</sup> Month, 1736,
as I sat in <i>Concord </i>Meeting House, it was their Quarterly Meeting; I may
say it was sweet and comfortable time to me; it came into </p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 54]</p>
<p>and arose in my mind, in Love of Truth, that is our
Slave-Keepers had been, or now would be faithful to God, the Truth, and would
bring up their Negroes to some Learning, Reading and Writing, and endevour to
the utmost of their power in the sweet Love of Truth to instruct and teach ’em
the Principles of truth and righteousness, and learn them some Honesty Trade or
Imployment, and then set them free; and all the time Friends are teaching of
them let them know that they intend to let them go free in a very reasonable
time; and that our Religious Principle will not allow of such Severity, as to
keep them in everlasting Bondage and Slavery.</p>
<p>This might according to my way of
thinking, beget such Love and tenderness in them, towards their Masters or
Mistresses, and to the blessed Truth for their sakes; that it might be a means
to convince some of them.</p>
<p> And should they come to receive the pure Truth, in the
love of it; as, blessed be the Lord, many of us have, and in that sweet Love,
which is constraining, come under a concern and necessity, to go and visit
their Brethren, of their own colour, and Country, and Language,</p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 55]</p>
<p>and preach the Gospel of eternal Salvation unto them, from
Sin and Captivity, both of Body and Soul, this would be a glorious work indeed,
and well worth our Friends pains, charge and time, that they might spend about
it; and the best compensation to God and Man, as I think, that they can
possibly make, for being so long in a practice that has so much Wickedness
attending of it continually.</p>
<p> <i>Isa. </i>61.1. As to this Chap. it is very excellent
Prophesied of concerning the true anointing, which is the Spirit, and is God
and was in <i>Isaiah,</i> and filled him with Love, to <i>preach good tidings
to the meek,</i> and is of the same Nature, in all People, in all colours, and
Countries.</p>
<p> The many Hundreds of Thousands, that are now in
Slavery, were they at Liberty, as we are, had the same Education, Learning,
Conversation, Books, sweet Communion in our Religious Assemblies; I believe many
of them would exceed many of their Tyrant Masters in Piety, Virtue and
Godliness; and their bright Genius, which I know they have, would be inlivened;
for I have converst with many of them, for Liberty is Life, and Slavery is
Death, nay the very</p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 56]</p>
<p>thoughts of it to the right thinking Animal, as Man or
Woman.</p>
<p> <i>Isa.</i> 61. 1. Is this <i>preaching glad tideings
to the meek,</i> as many of them are, and <i>hind up the broken hearted; to
proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and opening of the Prison, to them that are
bound</i>; and yet keep them in double Bondage, Body and Soul, them and theirs
forever more. If there be greater contradiction under the Sun; many dear and
tender Friends are mistaken, as well as myself.</p>
<p> <i>Ver.</i> 2. But how does Slave Merchants, <i>proclaim
the acceptable Year of the Lord?</i> To their Slaves <i>the day of Vengeance</i> they may, and a long Day it is; but I believe the Lord will repay it, tho’ he
suffers it long: But I pray and beseech you; you hard-hearted Ministers, of all
persuasions in Church and State, that are Christians; how do you comfort all
that mourn, and are in Misery, as great for aught I can learn as any are that
be under the very worst of <i>Turks, Jews </i>or<i> Infidels</i>, in the known
World.</p>
<p> But my dear and tender Friends, how does this cruelty
and partiality agree with our Principles as a People, which have been preaching
up Perfections in holiness of Life, for near a Hundred Years,</p>
<p>[page 57]</p>
<p>and the universal Love of God to all People, of all colours
and Countries, without respect of persons: Have we forgot this blessed
Testimony for which our dear Friends suffered in <i>Old</i> and <i>New England?</i></p>
<p> <i>The 2d of the 9<sup>th</sup> Mo. </i>1736.</p>
<p> IF Two-Weeks Meeting had had any thing material against
me, or Monthly meeting; they should have appeal’d to Quarterly Meeting before
we came away: But some Friends have been the Instruments of the Death of my
Dear Wife I believe. Hath it not been the Practice of the Nocents in all Ages,
to lay Traps and Ginns, to intangle and insnare the Innocent? Did you not do
so, two or three of you, of the Monthly-Meetings, at the Quarterly-Meetings,
Yearly Meetings at <i>Philadelphia</i> and <i>Burlington</i>; when I insisted
of having the Letter from <i>Colchester</i> read, did not you strenuously
insist, that I should consent that then the matter should be concluded in that
Meeting so to go no further; and you had got a strong Party there the same
time, to conclude the Business, according to your own minds; is not this laying
a Snare? In the same Meeting accusing me falsly,</p>
<p>[page 58]</p>
<p>for seeking a Party to deter, any from speaking their Minds;
and opposed and hindred me from reading a Letter or two from <i>Colchester</i>;
which you knew you did not like to hear, because they would have confirmed our
Certificate more fully.</p>
<p> How did <i>William Penn</i> and <i>William Mead</i>, at
their Tryal, in the <i>Old-Baily</i>, <i>London</i>, like such arbitrary
Proceedings, as well as many, yea very many more of our Dear and Worthy Friends
and Elders, in the beginning, before and by wicked unjust Judges, in <i>Old-England</i> and <i>New-England</i> too, in particular, as the Book of Sufferings largely
sets forth, writ by <i>George Bishop</i>. But these things are forgotten by
many, that are doing the same thing themselves, according to their power and
ability: Let any Friend read <i>G.</i> <i>Whitehead’s</i> Account of Friends
Sufferings, which is written in his Works. How many profuse, profligate
Creatures, have come in Servants to this Country, which have been stated not
only as Members, but Ministers in full Unity, in less time then I have been
here; it is not intolerable then, that three or four Men that has the Mark of
the Beast, and the Number of his Name, Slave-</p>
<br clear="all"
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<p>[page 59]</p>
<p>Keepers, upon them in their Foreheads should have the whole
Rule of Discipline, and Govern contrary to all Justice and Equity. Time for
such old rusty Candlesticks to be moved out of their Places, who have disowned
many less Nocents then themselves; if it is not so now, <i>who will make me a
Liar, and my Speech nothing worth. Job</i>. 24. 2, 3, 4, 25.</p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><i>A B I N G T O N.</i></p>
<p align="center" style='text-align:center'><i><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>The </span></i><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>11<i><sup>th</sup> of the 9<sup>th</sup> Mo.<b> </b></i>1736.</span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> W</span>HEN the strong
Man armed keeps the House, his Goods are in Peace: Is not this the Devil? Is
not Hell in the Soul his House? Is not all his Goods Sin? Is not Slave–Keeping
and Trading the greatest Sin in the World, when it is seen in the light of
Truth in all its parts? Is not Truth the Light stronger then all? And when this
appears in the Heart, and shews the Creature, this Capital Sin, and other Sins
to be exceeding Sinful; does not the whole Creation, in the poor condemned or
damned Creature groan, to be delivered? Then Hell-Torments, the Smoak and
Darkness, of the Bottomless Pit arises and appears in the Soul; the Creature by
some Glimmering of the Light sees itself in Darkness, feels itself in Hell
tormented, then it cries to </p>
<br clear="all"
style='page-break-before:always' />
<p>[page 60] </p>
<p>Light to appear more and more for its help, and to bind the
strong Man armed, the Dev