Samuel Sewall was a Puritan minister who unsuccessfully tried to buy a slave’s freedom. Here, a religious argument about the institution is being made. He uses scripture to craft counterarguments for those who have defended slavery through their faith. By doing so, Sewall can use evidence that the other side would be familiar with. Furthermore, not only can he show them how they are wrong, but he can also use that scripture to teach a lesson. For Sewall, it is not enough just to say that people owning other people is immoral. Pay attention to the specific reasons Sewall gives in arguing that slavery is wrong; he is one of the earliest to express the vastness of the "wilderness" of slavery.
"For as Much as Liberty is in real value next to life: None ought to part with it themselves, or deprive others of it...
It is most certain that all Men, as they are Sons of Adam, are Coheirs; and have equal Right unto Liberty...If slaveowners should plead that their property has been altered, he has forfeited a great part of his own claim to Humanity. There is no proportion between Twenty Pieces of Silver and Liberty. The Commodity it self is the Claimer...They are offspring of God, and the Liberty is given by God.
It would be more beneficial to have White Servants for a Term of Years, than to have Slaves for Life. Few can endure to hear of a Negro's being made free; and indeed they can seldom use their freedom well; yet their continual aspiring after their forbidden Liberty, renders them Unwilling Servants...Masters are under temptation to use the slaves for sins...It is likewise most lamentable to think, how in taking Negroes out of Africa, and Selling of them here, That which God has joined together men do boldly rend asunder; Men from their Country, Husbands from their Wives, Parents from their Children, How horrible is the Uncleanness, Morality, if not Murder, that the Ships are guilty of that bring great Crowds of these miserable Men, and Women...It may be a question whether all the benefit received by Negro Slaves, will balance the amount of cash laid out upon them; and for the Redemption of our own enslaved Friends out of Africa. Besides all the Persons and Estates that have perished there.
Objection 1: Slaves are the descendants of Cham, and therefore are under the curse of slavery.
Answer: The extent and duration of slavery is to us uncertain. How do we know but that it is so long ago? It is possible that the Bible may have been misread.
Objection 2: Africans are brought out of a Pagan Country, into places where the Gospel is preached
Answer: Evil must not be done, that good may come of it.
Objection 3: The Africans have wars one with another. Our ships bring lawful captives take in those wars.
Answer: Every War is upon one side Unjust. An Unlawful War can't make lawful captives. And by Receiving, we are in danger to promote, and partake in their Barbarous Cruelties.
Objection 4: Abraham had Servants brought with his Money, and born in his House
Answer: Until the Circumstances of Abraham's purchase be recorded, no Argument can be drawn from it...Israelites were strictly forbidden the buying, or selling one another for Slaves...They are the Offspring of God. They ought to be treated with Respect.
Definitions
Cham: in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, a curse of slavery was put upon them.
It is most certain that all Men, as they are Sons of Adam, are Coheirs; and have equal Right unto Liberty...If slaveowners should plead that their property has been altered, he has forfeited a great part of his own claim to Humanity. There is no proportion between Twenty Pieces of Silver and Liberty. The Commodity it self is the Claimer...They are offspring of God, and the Liberty is given by God.
It would be more beneficial to have White Servants for a Term of Years, than to have Slaves for Life. Few can endure to hear of a Negro's being made free; and indeed they can seldom use their freedom well; yet their continual aspiring after their forbidden Liberty, renders them Unwilling Servants...Masters are under temptation to use the slaves for sins...It is likewise most lamentable to think, how in taking Negroes out of Africa, and Selling of them here, That which God has joined together men do boldly rend asunder; Men from their Country, Husbands from their Wives, Parents from their Children, How horrible is the Uncleanness, Morality, if not Murder, that the Ships are guilty of that bring great Crowds of these miserable Men, and Women...It may be a question whether all the benefit received by Negro Slaves, will balance the amount of cash laid out upon them; and for the Redemption of our own enslaved Friends out of Africa. Besides all the Persons and Estates that have perished there.
Objection 1: Slaves are the descendants of Cham, and therefore are under the curse of slavery.
Answer: The extent and duration of slavery is to us uncertain. How do we know but that it is so long ago? It is possible that the Bible may have been misread.
Objection 2: Africans are brought out of a Pagan Country, into places where the Gospel is preached
Answer: Evil must not be done, that good may come of it.
Objection 3: The Africans have wars one with another. Our ships bring lawful captives take in those wars.
Answer: Every War is upon one side Unjust. An Unlawful War can't make lawful captives. And by Receiving, we are in danger to promote, and partake in their Barbarous Cruelties.
Objection 4: Abraham had Servants brought with his Money, and born in his House
Answer: Until the Circumstances of Abraham's purchase be recorded, no Argument can be drawn from it...Israelites were strictly forbidden the buying, or selling one another for Slaves...They are the Offspring of God. They ought to be treated with Respect.
Definitions
Cham: in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, a curse of slavery was put upon them.