The Selling of Joseph

FOR AS MUCH as Liberty is in real value next unto Life: None ought to part with

it themselves, or deprive others of it, but upon most mature Consideration.

The Numerousness of Slaves at this day in the Province, and the Uneasiness

of them under their Slavery, hath put many upon thinking whether

the Foundation of it be firmly and well laid; so as to sustain the Vast Weight that is

built upon it. It is most certain that all Men, as they are the Sons of Adam, are

Coheirs; and have equal Right unto Liberty, and all other outward Comforts of Life. 

GOD hath given the Earth [with all its Commodities] unto the Sons of Adam, Psal 115.

16. And hath made of One Blood, all Nations of Men, for to dwell on all the face of the Earth;

and hath determined the Times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation: That they 

should seek the Lord. Forasmuch then as we are the Offspring of GOD &c. Act 17.26, 27, 29. 

Now although the Title given by the last ADAM, doth infinitely better Mens Estates,

respecting GOD and themselves; and grants them a most beneficial and inviolable

Lease under the Broad Seal of Heaven, who were before only Tenants at Will: Yet

through the Indulgence of GOD to our First Parents after the Fall, the outward Estate 

of all and every of the Children, remains the same, as to one another. So that 

Originally, and Naturally, there is no such thing as Slavery. Joseph was rightfully no 

more a Slave to his Brethren, then they were to him : and they had no more Authority

to Sell him, than they had to Slay him. And if they had nothing to do to Sell him; 

the Ishmaelites bargaining with them, and paying down Twenty pieces of Silver, could

not make a Title. Neither could Potiphar have any better Interest in him than the

Ishmaelites had. Gen. 37. 20, 27, 28. For he that shall in this case plead Alteration of 

Property, seems to have 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. If Arabian Gold be imported in any quantities, most are afraid 

to meddle with it, though they might have it at easy rates; lest if it should have

been wrongfully taken from the Owners, it should kindle a fire to the Consumption 

of their whole Estate.'Tis pity there should be more Caution used in buying a

Horse, or a little lifeless dust; than there is in purchasing Men and Women: Whenas 

they are the Offspring of GOD, and their Liberty is,

-- Auro pretiosior Omni.

And seeing GOD hath said, He that Stealeth a Man and Selleth him, or if he be

found in his hand, he shall surely be put to Death. Exod. 12.16. This Law being of E-

verlasting Equity, wherein Man Stealing is ranked amongst the most atrocious of 

Capital Crimes: What louder Cry can there be made of the Celebrated Warning,

Caveat Emptor!

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And all thing considered, it would conduce more to the Welfare of the Province,

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, ren-

ders them Unwilling Servants. And there is such a disparity in their Conditions,

Color & Hair, that they can never embody with us, and grow up into orderly Families,

to the Peopling of the Land: but still remain in our Body Politick as a kind of extra-

vasat Blood. As many Negro men as there are among us, so many empty places there

are in our Train Bands, and the places taken up of Men that might make Husbands

for our Daughters. And the Sons and Daughters of New England would become more

like Jacob, and Rachel, if this Slavery were thrust quite out of doors. Moreover it is

too well known what Temptations Masters are under, to connive at the Fornification 

of their Slaves; lest they should be obliged to find them Wives, or pay their Fines. 

It seems to be practically pleaded that they might be Lawless; 'tis thought much of,

that the Law should have Satisfaction for their Thefts, and other Immoralities; by

which means, Holiness to the Lord, is more rarely engraven upon this sort of Servitude.

It is likewise most lamentable to think, how in taking Negros out of Africa, and Selling

of them here, That which GOD ha's joyned together men do boldly rend asunder;

Men from their Country, Husbands from their Wives, Parents from their Children.

How horrible is the Uncleanness, Mortality, if not Murder, that the Ships are

guilty of that bring great Crouds of these miserable Men, and Women. Methinks, 

when we are bemoaning the barbarous Usage of our Friends and Kinsfolk in Africa: 

it might not be unseasonable to enquire whether we are not culpable in forcing the

Africans to become Slaves amongst our selves. And it may be a question whether all 

the Benefit received by Negro Slaves, will balance the Accompt 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.

Obj. 1. These Blackamores are of the Posterity of Cham, and therefore are

under the Curse of Slavery. Gen. 9.25, 26, 27.

Answ. Of all Offices, one would not begg this; viz. Uncall'd for, to be an Execu-

tioner of the Vindictive Wrath of God; the extent and duration of which is to

us uncertain. If this ever was a Commission; How do we know but that it is long 

since out of date? Many have found it to their Cost, that a Prophetical Denunci-

ation of Judgment against a Person or People, would not warrant them to inflict that 

evil. If it would, Hazael might justify himself in all he did against his Master, and

the Israelites, from 2 Kings 8. 10, 12.

But it is possible that by cursory reading, this Text may have been mistaken. For

Canaan is the Person Cursed three times over, without the mentioning of Cham. Good 

Expositors suppose the Curse entailed on him, and that this Prophesie was accom-

plished in the Extirpation of the Canaanites, and in the Servitude of the Gibeonites, 

Vide Pareum. Whereas the Blackmores are not descended of Canaan, but of Cush.

Psal. 68. 31. Princes shall come out of Egypt [Mizraim] Ethopia [Cush] shall soon

stretch out her hands unto God. Under which Names, all Africa may be compre-

hended; and the Promised Conversion ought to be prayed for. Jer. 13, 23. Can the

Ethiopian change his skin? This shews that Black Men are the Posterity of Cush: Who

time out of mind have been distinguished by their Colour. And for want of the 

true, Ovid assigns a fabulous cause of it.

Sanguine tum credunt in corpora summa vocato

Aethiopum populos nigrum traxisse colorem. 

Metamorph. lib.2.

Obj. 2. The Nigers are brought out of a Pagan Country, into places where

the Gospel is Preached.

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Answ. Evil must not be done, that good may come of it. The extraordinary and 

comprehensive Benefit accruing to the Church of God, and to Joseph personally, did

not rectify his brethrens Sale of him.

Obj. 3. The Africans have Wars with one another: our Ships bring lawful

Captives taken in those Wars.

Answ. For ought is known, their Wars are much such as were between Jacob's 

Sons and their Brother Joseph. If they be between Town and Town; Provincial, or 

National: Every War is upon one side Unjust. An Unlawful War can't make law-

ful Captives. And by Receiving, we are in danger to promote, and partake in their 

Barbarous Cruelties. I am sure, if some Gentlemen should go down to the Brewsters 

to take the Air, and Fish: And a stronger party from Hull should Surprise them, and 

Sell them for Slaves to a Ship outward bound: they would think themselves unjustly

dealt with; both by Sellers and Buyers. And yet 'tis to be feared, we have no 

other kind of Title to our Nigers. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men

should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matt. 7. 12.

Obj. 4. Abraham had servants bought with his Money, and born in his

House.

Answ. Until the Circumstances of Abraham's purchase be recorded, no Argument 

can be drawn from it. In the mean time, Charity obliges us to conclude, that He

knew it was lawful and good.

It is Observable that the Israelites were strictly forbidden the buying, or selling one

another for Slaves. Levit. 25. 39, 46. Jer. 34. 8--22. And GOD gaged His 

Blessing in lieu of any loss they might conceipt they suffered thereby. Deut. 15. 18. 

And since the partition Wall is broken down, inordinate Self love should likewise be

demolished. GOD expects that Christians should be of a more Ingenuous and benign

frame of spirit. Christians should carry it to all the World, as the Israelites were to

carry it one towards another. And for men obstinately to persist in holding their

Neighbours and Brethren under the Rigor of perpetual Bondage, seems to be no proper

way of gaining Assurance that God ha's given them Spiritual Freedom. Our Blessed

Saviour ha's altered the Measures of the Ancient Love-Song, and set it to a most 

Excellent New Tune, which all ought to be ambitious of Learning. Matt. 5. 43, 44.

John 13. 34. These Ethiopians, as black as they are; seeing they are the Sons and 

Daughters of the First Adam, the Brethren and Sister of the Last ADAM, and the

Offspring of GOD; They ought to be treated with a Respect agreeable.

Servitus perfecta voluntaria, inter Christianum & Christiainum, ex parte servi

patientis saepe est licita, quia est necessaria: sed ex parte domini agentis, & pro-

curando & exercendo, vix potest esse licita: quia non convenit regulae illi generali:

Quaecunque volueritis ut faciant vobis homines, ita & vos facite eis. Matt. 7.12.

Perfecta servitus poenae, non potest jure locum habere, nisi ex delicto gravi quod

ultimum supplicum aliquo modo meretur: quia Libertas ex naturali aestimatione

proxime accedit ad vitam ipsam, & eidem a multis proeferri solet.

Ames. Cas. Consc. Lib. 5. Cap. 23. Thes. 2, 3.

BOSTON of the Massachusets;

Printed by Bartholomew Green, and John Allen, June, 24th. 1700.