WO22146
SERIOUS
CONSIDERATIONS
On ſeveral Important
S U B J E C T S;
V I Z.
On War and its Inconfiftency with the
GOSPEL.
Obſervations on SLAVERY.
A N D
Remarks on the Nature and bad Effects of
SPIRITUOUS Liquors.
Ah! Why will men forget that they are Brethren,
-why delight,
In human Sacrifice? - Why burſt the ties
Of Nature, that ſhould knit their Souls together,
In one foft band of Amity and Love.
Father of men, was it for this,
Thy breath divine, kindled within his breaft,
The vital flame? For this, was thy fair Image
Stampt on his Soul, with god-like lineaments?
For this, dominion given him abſolute
O'er all thy works, only that he might reign
Supreme in woe!
PROTEUS.
PH 1 LA DE L H Id:
Printed by JOSEPH CRUKSHANK, in Market-feety
Between Second and Third-Streets, 1978,

CHR
ye
HRIST our Lord, to whom every knee muſt bow,
and every tongue confeſs, either in mercy or in
Judgment, came down from his father's glory, took up-
on him our nature and ſuffered death for us, to reſtore
to us that firſt life of meekneſs, purity and love, that
being dead to fin, we ſhould live unto righteouſneſs.
Leaving us an example, faith the Apoſtle, that we
ſhould follow his ſteps. He poſitively enjoins us, to
love our enemies, to bleſs them that curſe us; to do
good to thoſe that hate us, and pray for them which
deſpitefully uſe us and perſecute us. A new command-
ment, faith our bleſſed Saviour, I give unto you,
that love one another as I have loved you. The
meek, the merciful and the pure in heart are by him
pronounced to be the particular objects of divine re-
gard. Theſe are the watch words of Chriſtianity
to all the true followers of Chriſt.
On the other hand, War requires of its votaries that
they kill, deſtroy, lay waſte, and to the utmoſt of
their power diſtreſs and annoy, and in every way
and
manner deprive thoſe they eſteem their enemies of
ſupport and comfort. Now reader, conſider the dif-
ference; look at the ſuffering and diſtreſs which
has, and continues to deſolate this once highly
favoured land; numbers of human beings, equally
with our felves the objects of redeeming grace, are
daily hurried into eternity, many, its to be feared, in
an unprepared ftate; and if upon comparing the one
with the other we feel compunction, if we are moved
with compaſſion toward our fellow-men, let us cheriſh
this ſenſation, it is a call from the God of Love, the
beneficent father of mankind, whom the Apoſtle de-
nominates, under the appellation of love. God is
Love--and he that dwelleth in God dwelleth in love
and God in him.

THOUGHTS
Ο Ν Τ Η Ε
NATURE of WAR, &c.
TAR, conſidered in itſelf, is the pre-
meditated and determined deſtructi-
on of human beings, of creatures originally
formed after the image of God, and whoſe pre-
ſervation, for that reaſon, is fecured by hea-
ven itſelf within the fence of this righteous
law, that at the hand of every man's brother,
the life of man Mall be required. And though
this created image of our holy God muſt be
owned to have been ſo wretchedly defaced,
as to retain but a very faint reſemblance of
its divine original; yet as the higheſt enforce-
ment of that heavenly law, which was pub-
liſhed for the ſecurity of life, it is moſt gra-
ciouſly renewed by the incarnation of the
fon of God, and the indwelling of the Holy
Ghoſt.
The apoſtle James, chap.4th, hath anſwer-
ed the queſtion with reſpect to the cauſe of
war, in fo preciſe and determinate a manner
as to preclude all difficulty and doubt about
it; from whence comes wars and fighting among
you, ſays he, come they not hence, even of your
lufts,

( 4 )
buffs, that war in your members: Te kill and
deſire to have, and cannot obtain: Ye fight and
war, yet have not, becauſe ye aſk amiſs, becauſe
ye have no reſpect to the will of the Lord that
reigneth, but forſaking the Supreme Good in
whom alone your happineſs confifts, ye fol-
low an earthly and deceitful good, and think
only of procuring it by your power. James
iv, 3. re aſk and receive not, becauſe ye aſk
amiſs, from a ſuppoſed reſpect to the Lord that
reigneth, but, too generally, for animal and
ſenſual enjoyment, that ye may conſume it upon
your lufts. In this very explicit and true ac-
count, war, like all other evils, is deſcribed
as centering in itſelf; and the end of it is
declared to be gratification of thoſe very ap-
petites and paſſions, from which it derives its
birth; for in this unhappy circle, which is
indeed the great circle of the hiſtory of man,
the fatal miſchief proceeds. War is the inſe-
parable union between the ſenſual and malignant
paſions; war protracted to a certain period, ne-
ceſſarily compels peace; peace revives and extends
trade and commerce; trade and commerce give
new life, vigour, and ſcope to the ſenſual and ma-
lignant paſſions, and theſe naturally tend to gene-
rate another war.
The diforders of nature and of life are
wholly the effects of fin, of a voluntary aver-
fion and alienation from the life, light and
love of God; in perfect union, with which
perfect peace and happineſs are only to be
found; hence that diſcordance of the out-
ward

(5)
ward elements, which brings forth peſtilence,
famine, earthquakes, ftorms, and tempeſts;
hence, in the corporal part of the human
frame, pain, fickneſs, and death; in the
mental, ſenſuality, pride, and malignity, in-
cluding all the ſelfiſh and wrathful paſſions,
that between individuals, engender envy, ha-
tred, injury, reſentment, and revenge; and
between nations, a peculiar kind of enmity
and wrong, that iflues ia war. Surrounded
with evil as men are, and full of evil them-
delves, what would become of the whole
wretched race, at any given inſtant of time,
at this very moment for example, if the ef-
fect of that evil were not continually ſuſpend-
ed, and directed by infinite power; ſo as to
become continually ſubſervient to the pur-
poſes of infinite wiſdom, righteouſneſs, and
love.
It would be needleſs to mention the nature
of that univerſal redemption which is pro-
poſed by the goſpel; if in this age of levity
we were not ſo apt to forget it. It is, in
general, a full reſtoration of the life of God
in the foul; the life of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, which was once thc life and
perfection of fallen man, which the Son of
God, the bruiſer of the ferpent, has by his
fuffering, been reſtoring, to human nature
from the time in which Adam fell.
When the Son of God became incarnate,
what was implied in this reſtoration as the
effect of its influence upon man, was fully
A 3
evident

evident from our bleſſed Saviour's doctrine
and his life; namely, the conqueſt and re-
nunciation of the world, the death of the
will, and of all the appetites and paſſions of
fallen animal nature, through faith in his
namenot an hiſtorical and ſpeculative
faith, a mere rational afſent to the truth of
a well atteſted hiſtory of facts and doctrines;
but a full, ardent, continual deſire of the life
of Chriſt, as begotten and formed in the ſoul,
by the continual operation of the Holy
Ghoſt. Thus what was at firſt the perſonal
duties of ſingle chriftians, when they were
ſcattered over the face of the earth, and
were only parts of different nations, became
afterwards national duties, when whole nati-
ons became chriftians. If, therefore, to love
our enemy, to forgive him, to do him good, and
pray for him; if to overcome the world, whoſe
power conſiſts in the luſt of the fleſh, the luft
of the eye, and the pride of life, are chriſtian
perfonal duties, if to love the Lord our God,
with all our heart, with all our ſoul, with all
our mind, and with all our ſtrength, and our
fellow-Creatures as ourſelves, is the purity and
perfection of the chriſtian perſonal life, the
fame muſt alſo be true of a chriſtian national
duty; for a chriſtian nation differs no other-
wiſe from a chriſtian perſon, than as the
whole differs from one of the parts of which
it eſſentially conſiſts.
It would be needleſs to propoſe this fub-
ject to the confideration of experimental
chriftians,

chriſtians, who know with certainty, that
human nature left to itſelf, has no power
but that of producing mere evil, and that
every thing within it and without it, that is
either great or good, is the free gift of
grace,
the unmerited bounty of redeeming love.
But the true chriſtian ſpirit being much de-
parted from the earth, true chriſtian know-
ledge, as its inſeparable companion, is de-
parted with it, and men ſeem to be gone
back again to their old animal life; and
tho' in ſpeculation and idea they profeſs an
afſent to the truths of revelation, yet in heart
and practice they are apt to conſider the
courſe of all things as connected only with
temporal good and evil, and themſelves as
the center and circumference, the firſt cauſe,
and the laſt end of all, aſcribing to human
underſtanding, deſigns which only infinite Wif
dom can form, and to human power, events which
Omnipotence only can produce. If the chriftian,
however, recollects himſelf, he will find war
to be a ſad conſequence of the apoſtacy, and
fall of man, when he was abandoned, to the
fury of his own lufts and paſſions, as the
natural and penal effects of breaking looſe
from the divine government, the fundamen-
tal law of which is LOVE; Thou ſhall love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy
Soul, with all thy mind, with all thy ſtrength,
and thy fellow-creatures as thyſelf.
Tue
* Wars, fays Auguſtine, are fpectacles by whick
the devil cruelly ſports with mankind.

( 8 )
The conſequences of war, when imparti-
ally examined, will be found big, not only
with outward and temporal diſtreſs, but alſo
with an evil that extends itſelf (where in the
darkneſs and tumult of human paflions, it is,
by many, neither expected nor conceived to
reach) even into the regions of eternity.
That property is confounded, ſcattered, and
deſtroyed; that laws are trampled under
foot, government deſpiſed, and the ties of all
civil and domeſtic order broken into pieces;
that fruitful countries are made deſarts, and
ftately cities a heap of ruins, that matrons
and virgins are violated; and neither the in-
nocence of unoffending infancy, nor the im-
potence of decrepit age, afford protection
from the rage and thirft for blood; this is but
the mortal progeny of this teeming womb.
of miſchief; the worſt, even the dreadful
effect it has upon the immortal ſoul, is ſtill
behind; and tho' remote from thoſe fenſes
and paffions that are exerciſed only by pre-
fent good and evil, muſt yet, upon the leaft
recollection, impreſs with horror every mind
that believes there is a righteous God, and a
ftate of retribution, that is to laſt forever.
Under theſe confiderations, what muſt the
real chriſtian feel; he who is fully convinced
that the fall of man, is a fall from meekneſs,
purity, and love, into ſenſuality, pride, and
wrath; that the Son of God became incar-
Hate, and ſuffered and died to reſtore that
firſt life of meekneſs, purity, and love; and
that

(9)
that for theſe in whom the reſtoration of
that life is not begun, in the prefent ftate
the Son of God incarnate, it is to be feared,
fuffered and died in vain. What muſt he
feel for thoſe immortal ſpirits, who in the
earlieſt dawn of their day of purification,
are by hundreds and thouſands driven into
eternity, in the bitterneſs of enmity and
wrath ſome inflamed with drunkenneſs,
fome fired with luft; and all ſtained with
blood? In thoſe direful conflicts, which are
maintained with ſo much rage, that when
the vanquiſhed, at laſt, retreats with the lofs
of twenty thouſand human beings, the victor
finds he has purchaſed fome little advantage,
at the expence of more than half that num-
ber*. Heaven and earth! what a poffibility
is here of a facrifice made to the prince of
darkneſs, the firſt and chief apoftate, who re-
joices in beholding men, through the abuſe
of
66
* Smollet, in his Hiſtory of England, fpeaking of
the battle of Cunerſdorf, where the Pruffians, attacked
the Muſcovites, in the year 1759, ſays, “The carnage
was truly horrible, above twenty thouſand Prullians
lay dead on the field. The loſs of the Ruffians
« amounted to ten thouſand.” He adds, “That at no
time fince the days of ignorance and barbarity, have
the lives of men been ſquandered away with ſuch
" profuſion, as in the courſe of this German war.
* They have not only been unneceſſarily facrificed,
" in various exploits of no conſequence, but have been
* laviſhly expoſed to all the rigour and diſtempers of
“ winter campaigns-in deſpite of nature, and in con-
* tempt of humanity."

( 10 )
of thoſe benefits which undeferved mercy
has conferred upon them, transformed into
enmity and hatred of God and their brethren;
forſaken by God, and deſtroying one ano-
ther, and thus haftening once more into his
horrid ſociety; that having been accomplices
in his rebellion, they may become partakers
of his miſery and torment.
Now if the man of valour, whom confent-
ing nations have dignified with the title of
hero, and the man devoted to the world, are
alked, From whence this immortal mifchief,
that may thus extend its influence into the
regions of eternity, can proceed, what muſt
they anſwer? indeed what can they anſwer,
but that it is engendered by the love of
human glory-as vain a phantom as ever
played before a mad man's eye; by the luft of
dominion, the avarice of wealth, or fome
other purſuit that centers in this preſent
life. May all thoſe who are called to be the
followers of Chriſt be preſerved from theſe
earthly, theſe ſenſual and malignant motives,
ſo repugnant to the generous, compaſſionate
and forgiving temper, which, through the
influence of redeeming mercy, is concomi-
tant with the pure beams of heavenly light,
that light which is intended to remove all
the darkneſs of human corruption, and
transform ſelfiſh, ſenſual, proud ſpirits, into
angels of patience, humility, meekneſs, pu-
rity and love; the children, and heirs of God;
the brethren, and joint heirs of Chriſt.
All

( 11 )
All external bleffings, whether national or
perſonal, are curſes, when they become the
fuel of the ſenſual and malignant fire in cor-
rupt nature, when they not only alienate the
mind from the Lord that reigneth, but mad-
den it to impious rebellion and defiance
againſt him. If ye will not lay it to heart to
give glory unto my name, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts,
I will even ſend a curſe upon your bleſſings.
Malachi ii, 2. From the foregoing, it is
evident, that Chriſtians can have no intereſt
in war, they cannot derive bleſſings from its
fuccefs, nor triumph and exult, when to the
ſhort lighted view of the human mind, the
appearance of ſucceſs preſents itſelf; theſe
know, that the means are infinitely difpro-
portionate to the end, and our Redeemer
himſelf, in the revelation of his future
judgments, upon a fallen and obftinate evil
world, has declared, that, he that leadeth
into captivity Mall go into captivity, and he that
killeth with the ſword, muſt be killed with the
word. Rev. xii, 10. Here is the trial of the
faith, and patience of the ſaints, who being
called to a ſtate of ſuffering, and treading in
the footſteps of their great exampler, when
they are reviled, revile not again: When they
ſuffer, threaten not, but commit themſelves to the
Lord that reigneth to him that judgeth righte-
ouſly. Peter ii, 23. And to this folemn de-
claration of righteous judgment; the pen-
man of that awful book, calls upon all man-
kind to attend, and ſays, If any man have an
ear,

( 12 )
ear, an ear that is not totally deafened by the
tumultuous pafſions of nature, feparated
from God, and turned wholly to itſelf, let
him now bear; let him now repent, and for-
faking his own ſenſual and malignant will,
feek after the God of peace and love, and
live.
EXSRACT from L AW's ADDRESS to the
CLERGY.
THE temporal miſeries and wrong which
are the ſad effects of war, are neither to be
pumbered or expreſſed. —-What theivery
bears any proportion to that which with the
boldnefs of drum and trumpet, plunders the
innocent of all they have? and if themſelves
are left alive, with all their limbs, or their
daughters unravifhed, they have many times
only the aſhes of their conſumed houſes to
lye down upon. What honour has war
gotten, from its thouſands and tens of hun-
dreds of thouſands of men flaughtered on
heaps, with as little regret or concern as at
loads of rubbiſh thrown into a pit.- Who
but the fiery dragon, would put a wreath
of laurel on ſuch heroes head? Who but
he, could fay unto them, Well done, good and
faithful ſervants. But there is ftill an evil of
war much greater, though leſs regarded, ap-
parent to thoſe who reflect, how many hun-
dreds of thouſands of men, born into this
world, for no other end, but that they may,
by being born again of Chriſt, from fons of
Adam's

( 13 )
Adam's miſery, become fons of God, and fellow-
heirs with Chriſt, in everlaſting glory, who
reflects, I ſay, what nameleſs numbers of
theſe are robbed of God's precious gift of
life to them, before they have known the
one fole benefit of living, who are not ſuf-
fered to ftay in this world, till age and ex-
perience have helped them to know the in-
ward voice and operation of God's fpirit,
have helped them to find and feel that evil,
curſe, and ſting of fin and death, which muſt
be taken from within them, before they can
diethe death of the righteous; whoinſtead of this,
have been either violently forced or tempted
in the fire of youth, and full ſtrength of fin-
fullufts, to forget God, eternity, and their
own fouls, and ruſh into a kill or be killed,
with as much furious hafte and goodneſs of
ſpirit, as tyger kills tyger for the ſake of his
prey. Amongſt unfallen creatures in hea-
ven, God's name and nature is love, light,
and glory-to the fallen fons of Adam,
that which was love, light, and glory in
heaven, becomes infinite pity and compaſſion
on earth; in a God, cloathed with the na-
ture of his fallen creature, bearing all its in-
firmities, entering into all its troubles, and.
in the meek innocence of a lamb of God;
living a life and dying a death of all ſuffer-
ings due to fin. Sing! O ye heavens! and
fhout all ye lower parts of the earth, for this
is our God, that varies not, whoſe firſt creat-
ing love knows no change, but into a re-
B
deeming

( 14 )
deeming pity towards all his fallen creatures,
Look now at warring Chriſtendom, what
ſmalleſt drop of pity towards finners is to be
found in it? or how could a ſpirit, all hellith,
more fully contrive and haften their deftruc-
tion; it ſtirs up and kindles every pafſion of
fallen nature, that is contrary to the all-
humble, all-meek, all loving, all-forgiving,
all-faving ſpirit of Chriftit unites, it
drives, and compels nameleſs numbers of un-
converted finners to fall murdering and mur-
dered, amongſt flaſhes of fire, with the wrath
and ſwiftneſs of lightning, into a fire in fi-
nitely worſe than that in which they died-
O ſad ſubject for thankſgiving days, whether
in popiſh or proteftant churches; for if there
is a joy of all the angels in heaven for one finner
that repenteth, what a joy muſt there be in
hell, over fuch multitudes of finners, not
fuffered to repent? And if they who have
converted many to righteouſneſs, ſhall ſhine as the
Stars in the firmament forever, what Chorazin
woe may they not juftly fear, whoſe proud
wrath, and vain glory, have robbed fuch
numberleſs troops of poor wretches, of all
time and place of knowing what righteouſ-
neſs they wanted, for the ſalvation of their
immortal fouls*. Here my pen trembles in
my hand-But when, O! when will one ſingle
chriſtian
* Moſt lamentable was the calamity, or rather griev-
ous judgment, which befel the Engliſh State, by means
of the inteſtine wars which prevailed between the two
Houſes of York and Lancaſter, in fupport of their claim
to

( 15 )
chriſtian church, people, or language, trem-
ble at the ſhare they have in this death of
finners---Again, would you further ſee the
fall of the univerſal church, from being led
by the Spirit of Chriſt, to be guided by the
inſpiration of the great fiery dragon, look
at all European Chriſtendom failing round
the globe, with fire and ſword, and every
murdering art of war, to feize the pofſeffion's
and ſteal or kill the inhabitants of Africa and
the Indies.---What natural right of man,
what ſupernatural virtue, which Chriſt bro't
down from heaven, is not here trodden un-
der foot? ---all that you ever read or hear-
ed of heathen barbarity, was here outdone
by chriſtian conquerors.
What wars of
chriſtians againſt chriſtians, blended with
ſcalping heathens, have ſtained the earth and
the feas with human blood, for a miſerable
ſhare in the ſpoils of a plundered heathen
world; a world which ſhould have heard,
or ſeen, or felt nothing from the followers
of Chriſt, but a divine love, that had forced
them
to the crown. We are told in Hiſtory, That above
one hundred thouſand men periſhed in the ſeveral con-
flicts, which enſued on that debate, with great numbers
of the principal men of the nation, amongſt whom were
more than fifty of the royal blood, who laid down their
lives either in battle, or by the hands of the public ex-
ecutioner And here an awful confideration occurs-
What did either party obtain by this lamentable devaſ
tation and deſtruction of their fellow creatures, their
countrymen, their brethren, called to be heirs of the
fame ſalvation.

( 16 )
them from diftant lands, and through the
perils of long ſeas, to viſit ſtrangers, with
thoſe glad tidings of peace and ſalvation, to
all the world, which angels from heaven,
and ſhepherds on earth, proclaimed at the
birth of Chrift*.
But to know whether chriſtianity admits
of war, chriſtianity is to be conſidered as in
its right ftate; now the true ſtate of the
world, turned chriftian, is thus defcribed by
the great Goſpel-prophet, who fhewed what
a change it was to make in the fallen ftate
of
* It is frequently urged in favour of war, that our
Saviour near the time of his paſſion, gave directions to
his difciples to take their ſwords. The paſſage is as
follows, Luke xxii, 35.
When I ſent
you without
purſe, or fcrip, lacked ye any thing? and they ſaid,
Nothing. Then he ſaid into them, But now he that
hath a purſe, let him take it, and likewiſe his fcrip;
and he that hath no ſword, let him fell his garment,
and buy one. And they ſaid, Lord, behold here are
two ſwords.
And he ſaid unto them, It is enough."
Now from what follows in the context, it appears this
paſſage ought not to be taken literally, but rather as
ſome annoters ſay, to be underſtood as an emblem of
the dangerous ſituation they were in, as we find at Mat.
- And behold, one of them which were with
Jeſus, ſtretched out his hand, and drew his ſword, and
ftruck a ſervant of the high prieſt, and finote off his ear.
Then ſaid Jerus unto him, Put up again thy ſword into
his place; for all they that take the ſword, ſhall periſh
with the ſword.” This agrees with the anſwer made
by our Saviour to Pilate. John xviii, 36. " My king-
dom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this
world, then would my ſervants fight; that I ſhould
not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom
not from hence.
xxvi, 51

( 17 )
of the world; It ſhall come to paſs, in the laſt
days, that the mountain of the Lord's houſe ſhall
be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and
all nations Ball flow into it, and many people
Mball Jay, Let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord's houſe, and he will teach us of his ways,
and we will walk in his paths, Iſa. ii, 2. Now
what follows from this going up of the na-
tions to the mountain of the Lord's houſe,
the holy prophet exprefly tells you in the
following words: They ſhall beat their ſwords
into plow-ſhares, and their Spears into pruning-
hooks; nation ſhall not lift up its ſword againſ
nation, neither all they learn war any more.
Ifa. ii, 4. Mic. iv, 3. This is the prophet's
true Chriſtendom, with one and the ſame
effential divine mark ſet upon it; as when the
Lamb of God ſaid, By this ſhall all men know,
that ye are my diſciples, if ye love one another,
as I have loved you, John xiii, 34. Chriſt's
kingdom is no where come, but where the
works of the devil are deſtroyed, and men
are turned from the power of fatan unto
God- --God is only another name for the
higheſt and only good, and the higheſt and
only good means nothing elſe but love, with
all its works. Would you farther fee when
and where the kingdoms of this fallen world
are become a kingdom of God, the Goſpel-
prophet tells you, that it is then and there
where all enmity ceafeth. The wolf, ſaith he,
fhall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard ſball
lye down with the kid; the calf and the young
B 3
lion,

( 18 )
lion, and the fatling together, and a little child
Shall lead them. The cow and the bear ſhall feed,
and their young ones ſhall lye down together; and
the lion ſhall eat ſtraw like the ox. The fucking
child ſhall play on the hole of the aſp, and the
weaned child ball put his hand on the cockatrice-
den for they ſhall not hurt and deſtroy in
all my holy mountain, Ifa. xi, 6. See here a
kingdom of God on the earth; it is nothing
elſe but a kingdom of meer love, where all
hurt and deſtroying is done away, and every
work of enmity changed into one united
power of heavenly love--but obſerve again
and again, whence this comes to pafs, that
God's kingdom on earth is, and can be no-
thing elfe, but the power of reigning love;
the prophet tells us, it is becauſe in the days
of his kingdom the earth shall be full of the
knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the
fea."
Hence we are enjoined, by our bleſſed
Saviour, to pray for, and continually to
watch over every ſuggeſtion of our corrupt
minds, which may impede the accompliſh-
ment of theſe gracious promiſes: Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is done in
beaven. The frequent accounts we meet with
in the Old Teſtament, of wars being carried.
on in the time of the law, gives no fanction
to the ſame practice under the goſpel; as this
laſt diſpenſation is a wonderous diſplay of di-
vine benignity and love, pronouncing thoſe
only bleſſed, who are found in the actual
poffeffion

( 19 )
poſſeſſion of that poverty of ſpirit, that meek-
neſs and purity of heart, which was pointed
out in types and ceremonies, under the law;
hence the goſpel diſpenſation is declared to
be the bringing in of a better hope, by which we
draw nigh unto God, Heb. vii, 19.
We are chriſtians, not Jews, and are there-
fore required to attend to the inſtruction and
practice of our great and good exampler,
Jeſus Chriſt, who was declared from heaven
to be the beloved Son of God; and whoſe ap-
pearance on earth was uſhered in by the an-
gels and heavenly hoft, with a publication
of peace on earth, and good will towards men,
The prophecies which preceded our Saviour's
coming, clearly pointed to the greater ex-
cellency of the diſpenſation, which was to
take place when He, the peaceable Shiloh, the
defire of nations ſhould come, unto whom the
gathering of the people was to be, Hag.ii, 7.
The primitive chriſtians bore a teſtimony
to the inconſiſtency of war with the goſpel.
Robert Barclay, in his Apology, ſays, " That
- this was the judgment of moft (if not all)
as the ancient fathers, (ſo called) the firſt three
"hundred years after Chrift. They affirm-
66 ed the prophecies of Iſaiah and Micah, re-
ſpecting the peaceable reign of the Meſſiah,
" to be fulfilled in the chriſtians of their
« time."* Many of the Reformers favoured
the
* Origen (who wrote in the beginning of the third
century) confirms this in his anſwer to Celſus, a moſt
virulent

( 20 )
the ſame ſentiment, particularly John Wick-
liff; the firſt eminent inftrument raiſed in
oppoſition to the errors and corruptions
then prevalent in the world; of whom we
are told in the account of his life,* " That
« he thought the whole trade of war was
66 finful.”
We find by the accounts we meet with in
John Fox's Acts and Monuments of the Church,
that the ſame teftimony againſt war was
maintained amongſt the followers of Wick-
liff. This appears more particularly, from a
repreſentation, called Concluſions and Reforma..
tions, laid before the parliament, by thoſe
firſt Reformers, the 17th of Richard the Ild,
in the year 1395, as mentioned vol. I. p. 579.
It farther appears from what John Fox cails,
The godly Declaration of Walter Brute;"
of whoſe ſufferings for the truth, he gives
us a large account, at page 555. An extract
of the ſaid Walter's expreffions, on that
head, are as follows, viz.
“ I marvel why wiſe men, leaving the
«c plain and manifeſt doctrine of Chriſt,
« whereby he teacheth patience, do ſeek cor-
“ ners of their own imagining, to the intent
" they may approve fightings and wars;
66 why
virulent adverſary, who had charged the chriftians
with refuſing to bear arms, and to enter into military
employment. Origine contra Celſum, lib. 8. p. 426.
Cantab. editio.
* Life of John Wickliff, &c. by W. Gilpin.

(21)
why mark they not after what manner
* Chriſt ſpake to Peter, ſtriking the high
6 biſhop's fervant, ſaying, Put up the ſword
“ into the jheath; for every one that ſhall take
" the ſword, Jall periſh with the ſword."
Again; " the apoſtle writing to the Corin-
* thians, as touching judgment and conten-
“ tion, which are matter of leſs weight than
" are fightings; he writeth, Now verily there
* is great fault in you, that ye be at law
amongſt yourſelves; why rather take ye
“ not wrong? why rather fuffer ye not de-
“ ceit. And that apoftle generally in all his
“ epiſtles, teacheth, that patience ſhould be
kept, and not corporal reſiſtance by fight-
“ings, becauſe charity is patient, it is cour-
“ teous, it ſuffereth all things. I marvel how
they juſtify, and make good the wars by
“ chriſtians, ſaving only the wars againſt the
“ devil and fin. For ſeeing that it is plain,
" that thoſe things which were in the Old
“ Teftament, were figures of things to be
66 done in the New Teſtament, therefore we
“ muſt needs ſay, that corporal wars being
" then done, were figures of the chriſtian
wars againft ſin and the devil, for the
“ heavenly country, which is our inheri-
66 tance." *
In
66
65
* Wickliff thought all arts which adminiſtered to the
luxuries of life, were prohibited by the goſpel. The
fcripture, he ſaid, tells us, that having food and raiment,
we ſhould be therewith content. Beihner, tho' a popilk
writer

( 22 )
In the times which preceded our Saviour's
appearance on earth, “ every battle of the
es warrior was with confuſed noiſe, and gar-
os ments rolled in blood;" but the warfare
which was to be introduced by Him, the
Prince of Peace, of the increaſe of whoſe
government there is to be no end, was to
be“ with burning and fuel of fire,” * Iſaiah
ix, 5. to the deftruction of the man of fin,
the corrupt propenſity of nature, and eſta-
bliſhment of that purity of heart and uni-
verſal love, which the goſpel propoſes.
The apoſtle tells the believers, Eph. vi, 12.
66 That they warred not after the fleſh."
2 Cor.
writer, gives a very favourable account of Wilckliff's
diſciples. He ſays they were men of a ſerious,
modeft deportment, avoiding all oftentation in dreſs;
chaſte and temperate; never ſeen in taverns, or amuſed
by the triffing gaieties of life-that they utterly de.
ſpiſed wealth, being fully content with bare neceſſa-
ries.t--Hence it appears that theſe firſt Reformers,
as well as the primitive chriſtians, took our Saviour's
injunction, Mat. vi, 19. Lay not up for yourſelves treaſures
upon earth, in a more literal ſenſe than it has been un-
derſtood by many high profeſſors in more latter days.
They were ſenſible of the truth of his declaration,
That it would be hard for thoſe that had ac-
cumulated riches, had added houſe to houſe and field to
field, to enter the kingdom of heaven.
* This expreſſion, of the increaſe of whoſe government,
there is to be no end, appears to point out, that the pre-
valency of the ſuffering ſpirit of the goſpel in the world,
is to be a gradual work, which will be brought about
under ſuffering to the followers of Chriſt, as it was to
cheir Maſter, who was made perfect through ſuffering.
+ Gilpein's life of Wickliff.
Mark X, 23:

( 23 )
GC
2 Cor. x, 4. "That the weapons of their war-
fare were not carnal, but mighty through
6 God, to the pulling down the ſtrong holds,
cafting down every imagination, and high
" thing which exalteth itſelf againſt the
“ knowledge of God, and bringing into cap-
6 tivity every thought to the obedience of
“ Chriſt." It was by meekneſs and patient
ſuffering, that our Saviour overcame and
gave a deadly blow to fin; leaving us an ex-
ample that we ſhould follow his footſteps.
“Learn of me," ſays this bleſſed Redeemer,
" for I am meek and low, and ye ſhall find
" reſt to your fouls. Bleſſed are the meek,
" the merciful, and thoſe who hunger and
6 thirſt after righteouſneſs,” (with this blef-
fed promiſe) “ for they ſhall be filled. Blef-
“ fed are the peace-makers, for they ſhall be.
es called the CHILDREN OF GOD,” Mat. v.
And to his diſciples, when he ſent them to
preach the Goſpel, he ſays, “Behold I fend
you as lambs amongſt wolves.” The evan-
gelick prophet had a clear proſpect of the
abaſement and ſufferings of our Saviour,
when he ſays, “He was oppreffed and af-
flicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he
is brought as a lamb to the ſlaughter, and
as a ſheep before her fhearers is dumb, fo
she opened not his mouth,” Ifa. liii, 7.
The efficacy of this ſuffering ſpirit of Chriſt
was contrary to the natural will, and a myf-
tery to the reaſoning part in man; "it was
as to the Jews a ſtumbling-block, and to the
66 Greeks,

( 24 )
C Greeks, fooliſhneſs;" and ſtill remains a
myſtery to the “ wiſdom of the world,"
1 Cor.i, 22.
Our Saviour himſelf, in the courſe of his
precepts, clearly diſtinguiſhed the greater
purity of the doctrine he was about to eſta -
bliſh, from the imperfectneſs of that prac-
tiſed in the former diſpenſations; Mat. v.
66 Ye have heard that it hath been ſaid to
" them of old times ---an eye for an eye,
65 and a tooth for a tooth, but I ſay unto
“ you, that ye refift not evil.” Again:
* Ye have heard that it hath been ſaid,
thou ſhall love thy neighbour, and hate
“ thine enemy, but I ſay unto you, love
your enemies, * bleſs them that curfe you,
“ do good to them that hate you, and pray
“ for them which deſpitefully uſe you and
perſecute you, that ye may be the children
" of your Father which is in heaven.”+
Hence we have reaſon to believe, that the
injunction and allowance granted to the
Jews, of making war upon their enemies, and
one upon another; was in conſequenceof that
hardneſs of heart, which prevailed amongſt
them; and that this permiffion was granted
from
66
* It is certainly as eaſy to reconcile the greateſt con-
tradiction as theſe declarations of our Lord's with the
practice of war, reſiſt not evil, with diſtreſs and annoy thoſe
we are contending with; love your enemies with contrive
every method to ſpoil, to make a prey of, and purſue them with
fire and ſword.
+ A new commandment I give unto you, that ye
love one another as I have loved you, Joh, xiii, 34.

( 25 )
from the ſame motive, as that mentioned by
our Lord, when the Jews were pleading the
licence given them by Moſes, to put away
their wives, and marry other women: Mark
X, 5.
" For the hardneſs of your hearts,
“ Moſes wrote you this precept; but from
" the beginning of the creation God made
" them male and female-what therefore
• God hath joined together, let no man put
" afunder." This, as well as war, flavery,
an other practices of the like nature, were
a violence upon that union, purity, and bro-
therly love, which fubfifted in the beginning,
in the original conftitution of things, whilſt
man retained his primitive innocency. And
that the ſpilling of human blood was not ac-
ceptable in the eyes of perfect Purity, who
the apoſtle denominates under the appella-
tion of love, God is Love, appears from the
prohibition laid upon king David, not to
build an houſe unto God, on account of his
having been concerned in the deſtruction of
ſo many of his fellow creatures, as himſelf
declared, I Chron. xxii, 8. The word of
o the Lord came to me, ſaying, Thou haft
6 fhed blood abundantly, and haſt made great
wars; thou ſhalt not build an houſe unto
my name, becauſe thou haft ſhed much
blood upon the earth in my fight.”
That pious, learned man, bifhop Taylor,
.chaplain to king Charles the Iit, in his de-
dication to his Diſcourſe on the liberty of Pro-
pheſying, printed in London, 1702; appears
C
66
66
66

( 26 )
to have had a clear proſpect of what muſt
be the genuine effect of the doctrine and
power, which our bleſſed Saviour came to
communicate to mankind, even that inex-
preffible love, which breathing peace and
goodwill to every individual, knows of no
enemy; but, in Jeſus Chriſt, embraces with
brotherly affection, the whole creation. He
expreſſes himſelf as follows at page 3, &c.
" As contrary as cruelty is to mercy, tyran-
ny to charity; ſo is war and bloodſhed,
e to the meekneſs and gentleneſs of the chri-
• ftian religion. I had thought, ſays he, of
« the prophecy, That under the goſpel, our
€ ſwords ſhould be turned into plowſhares,
66 and our ſpears into pruning-hooks: I
as knew that no tittle ſpoken by God's Spi-
“ rit, ſhould return unperformed and inef-
66 fectual; and I was certain, that ſuch was
66 the excellency of Chriſt's doctrine, that if
6 men would obey it, chriſtians ſhould never
$ war one aganft another."
OBSERVATIONS

een ZZZZZZXXXSVE,
OBSERVATIONS
ON
SL A VERY.
HE Slavery which now fo largely ſub-
fifts in the American Colonies, is ano-
ther mighty evil, which proceeds from the
ſame corrupt root as War; for, however,
it may be granted that ſome, otherwiſe, well
diſpoſed people in different places, particu-
larly in theſe provinces, at firſt fell into the
practice of buying and keeping Slaves, thro'
inadvertency, or by the example of others;
yet in the generality it ſprang from an un-
warrantable deſire of gain, a luft for amaf-
ſing wealth, and in the pride of their heart,
holding an uncontroulable power over their
fellow-men. The obſervation which the
Apoſtle makes on War, may well be applied
to thoſe who compelled their fellow-men to
become their ſlaves, they luſted, for wealth
and power and deſired to have, that they might
conſume it upon their lufts.
IC

( 28 )
It is a very afflictive conſideration, that
notwithſtanding the rights and liberties of
mankind have been ſo much the object of
publick notice, yet the ſame corrupt prin-
ciples ftill maintain their power in the minds
of moft Slave Holders. Indeed nothing can
more clearly and poflitively militate againſt
the ſlavery of the Negroes, than the ſeveral
declarations lately publiſhed, with fo great
an appearance of folemnity, thro' all the co-
lonies, viz. “ We hold theſe truths to be felf
s evident, that all men are created equal,
66 that they are endowed by their crea-
ss tor with certain unalienable rights; that
among theſe are life, liberty, and the pur-
65 fuit of happineſs." And " That all men are
65 by nature equally free and independent,
6 and have certain inherent rights, of which
*5 when they enter into a ſtate of fociety they
“ cannot by any compact, deprive or divert
cs their property, namely the enjoyment of
6s life and liberty, with the means of acquiring
65 and pofíefling property, and purſuing and
" obtaining happineſs and ſafety." That
after theſe and other declarations of the fame
kind, have been ſo publickly made to the
world, Slavery thould continue in its full
force in the Colonies; and even in fome ca-
fes, its bands ſhould, by Law, be farther eflab-
liſhed,* is a great aggravation of that guilt
which
* By a Law of the Province of North Carolina,
May 1777. All Slaves who have been ſet free, except
by

( 29 )
which has ſo long lain upon America; and
which together with the blood of the Native
Indians, fo daringly ſpilt, † is likely to be
one of the prinpcial cauſes of thoſe heavy
judgments, which are now ſo fenfibly diſ-
played over the Colonies. Perhaps nothing
will fo fenſibly teach us to feel for the afflic-
tion of the oppreſſed Africans, as that our-
ſelves partake of the ſame cup of diſtreſs, we
have fo long been inſtrumental in cauſing
them to drink. If we look back to early
times, and bring to our remembrance what
we have heard from our fathers, relating
to the firſt introduction of Negroes amongſt
us, we ſhall have reaſon to conclude, that
there were but few of thoſe concerned in
thofe purchaſes, who were not in ſome
meaſure acquainted with the dreadful cala-
mities introduced in Guinea, in order to
procure Slaves for the American Market.
They had doubtleſs heard ſomething of
theſe accounts; they ſaw their afflicted fel-
low-men, after being by the ravages of war
deprived of all property, and cruelly rent
from
C 3
by licenſe firſt obtained from the County court, for
what ſaid court ſhall judge to be a meritorious Tervice,
fhall be ſeized and fold by the ſheriff to the higheſt
bidder.
+ Many of the Indians in this and the neighbouring
provinces have at different time been treacherouſly and
cruelly murdered, particularly in the town of Lan-
cafter and the neighbouring mannor of which little
judicial inquiry has been made, in order to bring the
murderers to juſtice.

( 30 )
25
from every tender connection in their native
land, brought to America, and there fold
like beaſts for burden or flaughter; yet we
have too much reaſon to conclude that but
little ſympathy was extended to them, few,
very few, even amongſt profeſſors, endea-
voured, on their behalf, “To ſeek judgment,
et to relieve the oppreſſed; to plead for the father-
leſs, and to judge for the widow; few mourned
66 with thoſe that mourned;" people ſaw their
affliction and heared the doleful ſtory of
their particular caſes with little or no fellow
feeling, indifferency prevailed; there was
too much of a joining in fpirit with thoſe who
" had pain with the ſword, and had carried into
captivity," ariſing from a ſecret fatisfac-
tion, at the proſpect of having an opportuni-
ty, thro' the Slaves labour, of encreaſing
their fubftance, and amaffing much wealth,
In the acquirement and poffeffion of which,
a proper regard not being had, “ to the will
of the Lord that reigneth," there has been
fent a curſe upon what they eſteemed a blef-
fang; their riches have proved as wings to
raiſe their children above truth and real hap-
pineſs: The offspring of many of theſe are
ſtill living in idleneſs and pride; whilſt others
are rioting in diſlipation and luxury. If the
good and juft father of mankind is now
ariſen to plead the cauſe of the opprefſed
Africans, and to bring the matter home to
ourſelves; who can fay, what doeft thou.
Will not the Americans, amongſt whom the
eſtabliſhment

( 37 )
eſtabliſhment of religious as well as civil
liberty is the preſent and great object of con-
fideration and debate, be a witneſs againft
themſelves, ſo long as they continue to
keep their Fellow-Inhabitants in ſuch griev-
ous circumſtances, whereby they are not
only deprived of their liberty, but of all
property and indeed of every right what-
ſoever!
From the experience of others, we may
deduce a proper application to ourſelves:
We read Jerm. xxxiv, 8. that the Jewiſh
people, a little before the Babylonian Capti-
vity, acknowledged the duty which lay
upon them, of proclaiming liberty to thoſe
of their brethren who had been forceably
kept in ſervitude, beyond the term limited
by the Moſaic Law; for the performance of
which they had made a covenant before the
Lord; but upon the danger appearing to be
over, by the retreat of the king of Babylon,
they cauſed the ſervants and hand-maids
whom they had let go free, to return, and
brought them again into fubjection. Where-
upon the prophet pronounces the judgment,
threatned by the Lord, againſt thoſe who had
thus fàlfified their covenant, Chap. xxxiv,
II. 66 Ye have made a covenant before me,
" but ye turned and polluted my name,
" and cauſed every man his fervant, and
- every man his hand-maid-to return and
brought them into fubjection." There-
fore, thus faith the Lord, “ Ye have not
hearkned
66

( 32 )
66
c hearkned unto me, in proclaiming liberty
every one to his brother, and every man
" to his neighbour; behold I proclaim a li-
Cs berty for you, faith the Lord, to the ſword
66 the peſtilence and the famine."
Here it may not be neceffary to repeat
what has been fo fully declared in ſeveral
modern publications, of the inconſiſtence of
ſlavery with every right of mankind, with
every feeling of humanity, and every pre-
cept of Chriſtianity; nor to point out its in-
conſiſtency with the welfare, peace and pro-
ſperity of every country, in proportion as
it prevails; what grievous ſufferings it brings
on the poor Negroes; but more eſpecially
what a train of fatal vices it produces in
their lordly oppreſſors and their unhappy
offspring. Nevertheleſs for the ſake of fome
who have not met with, or fully conſidered
thoſe former publications, and in hopes that
ſome who are ſtill active in fupport of flave-
ry, may be induced to conſider their ways,
and become more wiſe, the following ſub-
ſtance of an addreſs or expoftulation made
by a fenfible Author, to the ſeveral ranks of
perſons moſt immediately concerned in the
trade, is now republiſhed.
6 And, firſt, to the Captains employed in
this trade. Moſt of you know the country
of Guinea, perhaps now by your means, part
of it is become a dreary uncultivated wilder-
neſs; the inhabitants being murdered or car-
ried away, ſo that there are few left to till
the

( 33 )
the ground; but you know, or have heared,
how populous, how fruitful, how pleaſant
it was a few years ago. You know the peo-
ple were not ftupid, not wanting in fouſe,
conſidering the few means of improvement
they enjoyed. Neither did you find them
ſavage, treacherous, or unkind to ftrangers.
On the contrary they were in moſt parts a
ſenſible and ingenious people; kind and
friendly, and generally juſt in their dealings.
Such are the men whom you hire their own
countrymen, to tear away from this lovely
country; part by ſtealth, part by force, part
made captives in thoſe wars which you raiſe
or foment on purpoſe. You have ſeen them
torn away, children from their parents, pa-
rents from their children: Huſbands from
their wives, wives from their beloved huf-
bands; brethren and fifters from each other.
You have dragged them who had never
done you any wrong, perhaps in chains,
from their native thore. You have forced
them into your ſhips, like an herd of fwine,*
them
The following Relation is inſerted at the requeſt of the
Author.
" That I may contribute all in my power towards
e the good of mankind, by inſpiring any of its indi-
#viduals with a ſuitable abhorence for that deteſtable
s practice of trading in our Fellow Creatures, and
es in ſome meaſure atone for my neglect of duty as a
" chriſtian, in engaging in that wicked traffic, I offer
" to their ſerious confideration, fome few occurrences
** of which I was an eye witneſs. That being truck
with the wretched and affecting ſcene, they may
6 fotter

( 34 )
them who had fouls immortal as your own.
You have ftowed them together as cloſe as
ever they could lie, without any regard
either to decency or conveniency--- And
when many of them had been poiſoned by
foul air, or had funk under various hard-
fhips, you have ſeen their remains delivered to
the deep, till the ſea ſhould give up his dead.
You have carried the ſurvivors into the vi.
left ſlavery, never to end but with life: Such
ſlavery as is not found among the Turks
at Algiers, no, nor among the heathens in
America.
May
« foſter that humane principle, which is the noble and
diftinguiſhed characteriſtic of man."
About the Year 1749; I failed from Liverpool to
the coaſt of Guinea, fometime after our arrival, I was
ordered to go up the country a conſiderable diſtance,
upon having notice from one of the Negro Kings, that
he had a parcel of Slaves to diſpoſe of, I received my
inſtructions and went, carrying with me an account of
ſuch goods we had on board, to exchange for the
Slaves we intended to purchaſe; upon being intro-
duced, I preſented him with a ſmall caſe of Spirits,
a Gun, and ſome trifles, which having accepted, and
underſtood by an interpreter what goods we had, the
next day was appointed for viewing the Slaves; we
found about two hundred confined in one place. But
here how ſhall I relate the affecting fight I there be-
held, the filent forrow which appeared in the coun-
tenance of the afflicted father, and the painful anguiſh
of the tender mother, expecting to be forever ſeparated
from their tender offspring; the diſtreſſed maid wring-
ing her hands in prefage of her future wretchedneſs,
and the general cry of the innocent, from a fearful
apprehenſion of the perpetual ſlavery to which they
were doomed. I purchaſed eleven, who I conducted
ty'd,

( 35 )
May I ſpeak plainly to you? I muſt. Love
conſtrains me: Love to you, as well, as thoſe
you are concerned with. Is there a God? You
know there is. Is he a juft God? Then there
muſt be a ſtate of retribution: A ſtate where-
in the juft God will reward every man accord-
ing to his work. Then what reward will
he render to you. O think betimes! before
you drop in eternity: Think how, “He ſhall
have judgment without mercy, that ſhew-
c ed no mercy."
Are you a man? Then
you
ty'd, two and two to our ſhip. Being but a fmall
veſſel (ninety ton) we foon purchaſed our cargo, con-
fiſting of one hundred and ſeventy Slaves, whom thou
may'ft reader range in thy view. as they were ſhack-
led two and two together, pent up within the narrow
confines of the main deck, with the complicated diſtreſs
of fickneſs, chains and contempt; deprived of every
fond and ſocial tie and in a great meaſure reduced to
a ſtate of deſparation. We had not been a fortnight
at Sea, before the fatal conſequence of this deſpair
appeared, they formed a deſign of recovering their
natural right, liberty, by raiſing and murdering every
man on board; but the goodneſs of the Almighty ren-
dered their ſcheme abortive and his mercy ſpared us
to have time to repent: The plot was diſcovered; the
ringleader tied by the two thumbs over the barricado
door, at Sun-riſe received a number of laſhes, in this
ſituation he remain till Sun-fet, expoſed to the inſults
and barbarity of the brutal crew of Sailors, with full
leave to exerciſe their cruelty at pleaſure: The confe-
quence was, that next morning the miſerable ſufferer
was found dead, flead from the ſhoulders to the waiſt.
The next victim was a youth who, from too ſtrong a
ſenſe of his miſery refuſed nouriſhment and died difre-
garded and unnoticed, till the hogs had fed on part
of his flesh.

( 36 )
you fhould have a human heart. But have
vou indeed! What is your heart made of?
Is there no ſuch principle as compaſſion
there? Do you never feel another's pain?
Have you no ſympathy? No ſenſe of human
woe? No pity for the miſerable? When you
faw the flowing eyes, the heaving breaft, or
the bleeding ſides and tortured limbs of
your fellow-creatures. Was you a ftone or
a brute? Did you look upon them with the
eyes of a tiger? When you ſqueezed the
agonizing creatures down in the ſhip, or
when you threw their poor mangled re-
mains into the fea, had you no relenting?
Did not one tear drop from your eye, one
figh eſcape from your breaſt? Do you feel
no relenting now? If you do not, you muſt
go on, till the meaſure of your iniquities is
full. . Then will the great God deal with
you, as you have dealt with them, and re-
quire all their blood at your hands. And
at that day it fhall be more tolerable for So-
dom and Gomorrah than for you: But if
your heart does relent; though in a ſmall
degree, know it is a call from the God of
love. And to-day, if you hear his voice,
harden not your heart- To-day reſolve,
God being your helper to eſcape for your
life-Regard not money: All that a man
hath will he give for his life. Whatever
you loſe, loſe not your Soul; nothing can
countervail that loſs. Immediately quit the
horrid trade: At all events be an honeft
This
inan.

( 37 )
This equally concerns every merchant
who is engaged in the Slave-trade. It is
you that induce the African villain to ſell
his countrymen; and in order thereto, to
ſteal, rob, murder men, women and children
without number: By enabling the Engliſh
villain to pay him for ſo doing; whom you
over pay for his execrable labour. It is your
money, that is the ſpring of all, that impow-
ers him to go on, fo that whatever he or the
African does in this matter, is all your act
and deed. And is your conſcience quite re-
conciled to this? Does it never reproach you
at all? Has gold entirely blinded your eyes
and ftupified your heart? Can you ſee, can
you feel no harm therein? Is it doing as you
would be done to? Make the caſe your own.
46 Maſter! (ſaid a Slave at Liverpool to the
" merchant that owned him) what if fome
66 of my countrymen were to come here,
" and take away my miſtreſs, and maſter
66 Tommy and maſter Billy, and carry them
6 into our country and make them flaves,
" how would you like it?” His anſwer was
worthy of a man: “I will never buy a flave
more while I live.” O let his reſolution
be yours! Have no more any part in this
deteftable buſineſs. Inſtantly leave it to
thoſe unfeeling wretches, " Who laugh at
“ humanity and compaſſion.'
And this equally concerns every Perſon
who has an eſtate in our American plantati-
ons: Yea all Slave-holders of whatever rank
D
and

( 38 )
and degree; ſeeing menbuyers are exactly on
a level with menftealers. Indeed you ſay,
** I pay honeſtly for my goods; and I am
not concerned to know how they are
“s come by.” Nay, but you are: You are
deeply concerned, to know that they are
not ſtolen: Otherwiſe you are partaker with
a thief, and are not a jot honefter than him.
But you know they are not honeſtly come
by: You know they are procured by means
nothing near ſo innocent as picking of poc-
kets, houſe breaking, or robbery upon the
highway. You know they are procured
by a deliberate ſeries of more complicated
villainy, (of fraud, robbery and murder,)
than was ever practiſed either by Maho-
metans or Pagans; in particular by mur-
ders of all kinds; by the blood of the inno-
cent poured upon the ground like water.
Now it is your money that pays the mer-
chant, and thro' him the captain and African
butchers. You thereforeare guilty: Yea, prin-
cipally guilty, of all theſe frauds, robberies,
and murders. You are the ſpring that puts
all the reſt in motion; they would not ftir
a ſtep without you. Therefore the blood
of all theſe wretches, who die before their
time, whether in their country or elſe where,
lies upon your head. The blood of thy
brother, (for whether thou wilt believe it
or no, fuch he is in the fight of him that
made him) crieth againſt thee from the
earth, from the ſhip and from the waters.
O! what

(39)
O! what ever it coſt, put a ſtop to its cry, be-
fore it be too late. Inftantly, at any price,
were it the half of thy goods, deliver thyſelf
from blood guiltineſs! Thy hands, thy bed,
thy furniture, thy houſe, thy land, are at
preſent ſtained with blood. Surely it is
enough; aecumulate no more guilt: Spill
no more the blood of the innocent! Do not
hire another to fhed blood! Do not pay him
for doing it! Whether thou art a chriſtian
or no, ſhew thy ſelf a man; be not more
ſavage than a lion or a bear.
Perhaps thou wilt fay, “I do not buy any
“ negroes: I only uſe thoſe left me by my
6 father.” But is it enough to ſatisfy your
own conſcience! Had your father, have you,
has any man living, a right to uſe another
as a ſlave? It cannot be, even ſetting revela-
tion afide. It cannot be, that either war,
or contract, can give any man, ſuch a pro-
perty in another as he has in his ſheep and
oxen: Much leſs is it poſſible, that any
child of man, fhould ever be born a flave.
Liberty is the right of every human crea-
ture, as ſoon as he breathes the vital air,
And no human law can deprive him of that
right, which he derives from the law of
nature. If therefore
If therefore you have any regard
to juſtice, (to ſay nothing of mercy, nor of
the revealed law of God.) render unto all
their due. Give liberty to whom liberty is
due, that is to every child of man, to every
partaker of human nature. Let none ſerve
you

( 40 )
you but by his own act and deed, by his own
voluntary choice. Away with ſhips, chains
and all compulfion. Be gentle towards all
And ſee that you invariably do unto
every one, as you would he ſhould do unto
you.
men.
Remarks on the Nature and bad Effects of
SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.
THE
HE common uſe of Spirituous liquors diſtilled
from molaſſes, grain, fruit, &c. is a matter that
calls for the particular attention of every lover of
mankind.
Several phyficians of note,* have given it as their
ſentiments, that thoſe diſtilled ſpirits when taken in-
wardly, even tho' mixed with water, deſtroy the hu-
man frame; being burning fpirits, the uſe of which
bring on many fatal diſeaſes, ſuch as fevers, jaundice,
drophies, conſumptions and whereby multitudes are
daily deſtroyed. That they parch up and contract
the ſtomach to half its natural fize, like burnt leather,
and rot the entrails, as is evident, not only by open-
ing the bodies of thoſe perſons who are killed by
drinking them; but alſo by what Doctor Hoffman
fays, was obſerved of the effects which the cauſtic
fiery remaining waſh of the diſtillers, has on the guts
of thoſe hogs which in fome places are fed by it;
which are thereby fo tendered, that puddings cannot
be made in them: Wherefore all people, who have.
any regard to their health and lives ought to tremble
at the cravings for ſuch poiſonous liquors, which
Chorten
Doctor Hoffman, Chyne, Short, Lind, Buchan, &c.

( 41 )
ſhorten and deſtroy the lives of ſuch multitudes of
people. It is farther obſervable, that the free uſe of
thole Spirits deprave the morals of thoſe who ad
diet themſelves thereto; the feelings of their minds are
gradually benumbed; an inſenſibility to the healing
influences of grace prevails, and many become pro-
tane and regardleſs of their duty to God and Man.
Doctor Cheyne, in his Effay of health and long life,
fays, " All people, who have any regard to their
health and lives, ought to tremble at the firſt cravings
for ſuch poiſonous liquors. The maladies begot by
them bring forth neceſſity upon necefſity of drams and
gills; till at laſt, a kind dropſy, nervous convulſion,
Hux, if not a fever, or phrenfy ſets the poor ſoul free.
It has often raiſed in me, ſays the Doctor, the moſt
melancholly reflections, to ſee the virtuous and fenfi-
Ble, bound in ſuch chains and fetters, as nothing leſs
than omnipotent grace or the unrelenting grave could
releaſe them from."
It is pretended, that drams comfort, warm, and de--
fend from the ſeverity of weather, to which men are
fometimes expoſed; without which they fay, they
fhould periſh with cold; which is probably, in a great
meaſure, true of thoſe who are habituated to drink
them; the blood of ſuch being thereby ſo much im-
poverished, that it is well known many of the drinkers
of drams are cold and lifeleſs in the midft of ſummer,
without frequent repetitions; this is what ſome of
them have owned. But on the other hand, how
much more able are fober perſons to endure cold and
hardſhips; their vital heat not being extinguiſhed by
intemperance, does by its kindly genial warmth, more
effe&tually ſecure them from the inclemency of the
weather, than the falſe flaſh of a dram. Beſides, it is
well known, that men did not periſh in the coldeſt
countries for want of drams formerly, when they were
not to be had, of the undoubted truth of this, Cap-
tain Ellis gives a full proof in the account of his
voyage to Hudſon's bay, page 199: Where he ob-
ſerves, “That the natives of the very cold coaſt of
that
D 3

(42)
that Bay, to whom the French are kinder than to fell
diſtilled fpirituous liquors, are tall, hardy, robuſt and
active; whereas thoſe of them that are fupplied with
drams from the Engliſh, are a meagre, dwarfiſh, indo
lent people, hardly equal to the ſeverity of the coun-
try and ſubject to many diſorders
And as to the per-
nicious effects of ſpirituous liquors in very hot cli-
mates, (as on the coaſt of Guinea,) it is obſerved,
that the French and Portugueſe, who do not indulge
in diſtilled fpirits, are healthy compared with the
Engliſh; who, drinking freely of ſpirits &c. die faft."
The unhappy dram-drinkers are ſo abſolutely bound
in flavery to theſe infernal ſpirits, that they ſeem to
have loſt the power of delivering themſelves from this
worſt of bondage. How much then is it the bounden
duty of thoſe, who have it in their power to withhold
this deſtructive man bane, either as parents, maſters,
or rulers to the people committed to their traft. This
is a caſe fo calamitous to mankind, that to have a
thorough ſenſe of it, and yet not to remonftrate, nor
earneſtly caution againſt it, is certainly as criminal as
it is unfriendly not to warn a blind perſon of a dan-
gerous precipice or pit. Yet, alas how unconcerned are
the greateſt part of mankind at this enormous ruin of
multitudes! In trials for life, what diligenee is uſed to
find the occaſion of the lofs of one ſubject. What
care will not a faithful Phyſician beſtow for the pre-
fervation of one life. How did the wiſe Romans ho-
pour him, who ſaved the life of one Roman citizen.
But in the preſent caſe it is not one, nor one hundred,
nor one thouſand, but probably no leſs than a million
that perifh yearly.
The miſtaken uſe and grievous abuſe of rum and
other diſtilled ſpirits, in no cafe appears more palpably
than at the time of harveſt, a buſineſs which the peo-
ple under the Moſaic difpenfation were enjoined to,
carry on with humiliation and thankſgiving; but
which amongſt us through the free uſe of ſpiritubus
liquors is made an occaſion of a greater abuſe of the
creatures and diſhonour of the Creator; this ariſes in
many,

( 43 )
many, from a miſtaken perfuafion that hard labour,
particularly that of the harveſt field, cannot be carried
on without ufing a quantity of rum or other diſtilled
fpirits. In ſupport of this opinion, we are frequently
told of the many people who have died at thofe times
through the extream heat and fatigue, and it is fupe
poſed that many more would die, if a plentiful uſe of
ſpirituous liquors was not allowed, but this is a miſ.
taken notion, it being much more likely that the free
uſe of rum occafioned the death of thoſe people, the.
quantity they had ſwallowed down, ſending a great
flow of ſpirits into the head in proportion to the
ſtrength of their body cauſed them to ſtrain their.
ſtrength beyond what nature could bear; and in gene-
rał the repeated large quantities of ſpirit commonly
drank during the whole time of harveſt, keeps up the
blood in fo continual a ferment and fever, that people
cannot have a proper reſtorative fleep; their conſtitu-
tions are thereby enervated their lives ſhortned and.
an unfitneſs for religious impreffions generally prevails.
Theſe weighty confiderations have induced ſome well
nsinded people to endeavour to induce, by their exam-
ples, their friends and neighbours into a contrary prac-
tice; and under theſe attempts experience has made it
manifeſt that very little or no ſtrong liquor is neceſſary
at thoſe times; indeed they have been convinced that
the harveſt, and other labourious work, can be very
well managed without making uſe of any fpirituous
liquors at all. If ſuch labour was carried on with
ſteadineſs and proper moderation, there would cer-
tainly be no need of a recruit of ſtrength being fought
for by that means; more frequent intervals of reſt with
a little food oftener allowed the reapers, and ſmall
drinks, ſuch as molaſſes and water, either alone or made
more agreable with a little cyder, ſmall beer, or even
milk and water would fully enable them to perform
their work to their employer's fatisfaction and their
own advantage, and the overplus wages they would
receive to the value of the ſpirits uſually given them,
might be fufficient to purchaſe bread for their families.
Several

( 44 )
Several perſons who from a perſuaſion that the com-
mon method of giving fpirituous liquors to labourers
was exeeding hurtful, have made it a condition with
thoſe they have employed, not to uſe any ſpirituous
liquors in their field; theſe have had their work per-
formed to good fatisfaction and without any damage
enſuing to their labourers. Nay, where they have
remained any confiderable time with fuch employers,
they have generally acknowledged themſelves fenfi.
ble of the benefit ariſing from having thus totally re-
frained the uſe of thoſe liquors.
Should this practice take place, it would prove a
great bleſſing particularly to the labouring people, one
half of whom (a phyfician of this country hath given
as his ſentiment) die fooner than they otherwiſe would
do, folely by the uſe of fpirituous liquors. Befides;
that it would diſcourage the diſtillation of rye and
other grain; a practice which is not only a great hurt
to the poor in raiſing the price of bread, but muſt
alſo be very offenſive to God, the great and good fa-
ther of the family of mankind, that people ſhould, in
their earthly and corrupt wiſdom, pervert their Maker's
benevolent intention, in converting the grain he hath
given to us as the ſtaff of life, unto a fiery fpirit, fo
deſtructive of the human frame and attended with
the other dreadful conſequences already mentioned:
Here it may be noted that any quantity of good mo
laſſes will by diftilation, yield more than the fame
quantity of proof ſpirit. And that a confiderable
quantity of molaſſes if taken with bread at one time,
as the Indians will fometimes do, will not intoxicate,
the ſpirituous parts in the molaſſes being properly
united by our good and wife creator with the earthy
and balſamick parts, fo as to make it quite friendly to
our nature; but when by diftilation the ſpirituous
parts are ſeparated from the other parts, that meaſure
of ſpirits procceding from the fame quantity of mo-
laſſes, becomes a fiery liquid, deſtructive of the human
frame. Doctor Buchan in his Domeſtic Medicine, or
Family Phyfician, a book which has gained ſo much
eſteem

( 45 )
55
page
eſteem as to be twice published in this city, at
page 71 of the Engliſh Edition ſays, “
many imagine
that hard labour could not be ſupported without
drinking ſtrong liquors. This, tho' a common is a
very erronous notion, men who never taſted ſtrong
« liquors are not only able to endure more fatigue,
“ but alſo live much longer than thoſe who uſe them
“ daily.* But fuppoſe Itrong liquors did enable a
" man to do more work, they muft nevertheleſs waſte
" the powers of life, and of courſe occafion premature
" old age. They keep up a conſtant fever, which
" waſtes the ſpirits, heats and inflames the blood and
prediſpoſes the body to numberlefs diſeaſes. At
the ſame author tells us, that all intoxicat-
ing liquors may be conſidered as poiſons. How-
"ever diſguiſed, that is their real character, and ſooner
* or later they will have their effect.”
Amongſt the fereral prejudices in favour of the mif-
taken uſe of ſpirituous liquors, there is none gives it a
greater ſanction or ſupport, than the prevailing opini-
on, even with
fons of reputation, that what they
term a moderate quantity of rum mixed with water,
is the beſt and fafelt liquor that can be drank; hence
confirming the opinion, that fpirit in one form or
other is neceffary. To fuch who have not been ac-
cuſtomed, and think they cannot habituate themſelves
to drink water, there may appear to be ſome kind of
plea in this argument, eſpecially to travellers, who
often meet with beer, cyder, or other fermented li-
quors that are dead, hard, four, or not properly fer-
mented, which tend to generate air in the bowels,
produceing colicks, &c. But if thoſe perſons fuffered
the weight of the ſubject, and the encouragement they
thereby give to the uſe of theſe deſtructive ſpirits, to
take proper place with them, it might ſuggeſt the pro-
priety, if not neceflity of introducing a more falutary
practice.
That
* The few of thoſe who notwithſtanding their exceſs in drink
ing fpirituons liquors, from the uncommon ſtrength of their con
ftita:ion, may have attained to conſiderable age, would doubtiels
bave lived much longer if they had lived temperate lives.

( 46 )
That pure fluid (water) which the benevolent father
of the family of mankind, points out for general uſe,
is ſo analegous to the human frame, that people
might with ſafety gradually uſe themſelves to it. Dr.
Cheyne obferves, that without all doubt, water is the
primitive original beverage, as it is the only fimple
fluid fitted for diluting, moiſtening and cooling; the
ends of drink, appointed by nature, and he adds happy
had it been for the race of mankind, if other mixed and
artificial liquors had never been invented. Water
alone is ſufficient and effectual for all the purpoſes of
human want in drink: Strong liquors were never de.
figned for common uſe. Speaking of the effect of wine,
which he ſays to have been ſo much in uſe at the
time he wrote, that the better fort of people ſcarcely
diluted their food with any other liquor, he remarks,
« That as natural cauſes will always produce their
proper effects, their blood was inflamed into gout,
« ſtone, and rheumatiſm, raging fevers, pleurifies, &c.
“ Water is the only difolvent or menftrum, and the
o moſt certain diluter of all bodies proper for food."
Doctor Short, in his diſcoorſe of the inward uſe of
water, ſpeaks much in its commendation. He ſays,
we can draw a very convincing argument of the excel-
lency of water, from the longevity and healthfulnets
of thoſe who at firſt had no better liquor, and the
health and ſtrength of body and ſerenty of mind, of
thoſe who at this day have no other common liquor
to drink, of this the common people amongſt the High-
lands of Scotland, are a ſufficient inſtance, amongſt
whom it is no rarity to find perſons of eighty, ninety,
yea an hundred years of age, as healthy ſtrong and
nimble, as wine or ale bibbers are at thirty fix or forty.
The Doctor fays, There is a ridiculous maxim uſed
by drinkers, that water makes but thin blood, not fit
for buſineſs. I ſay, ſays he, it is water only that can
enduce its drinkers with the ftrongeſt bodies and moſt
robuſt conſtitutions, where exerciſe or labour is joined
with it, fince it beſt affiſts the ſtomach and lungs to
reduce the aliments into the ſmalleſt particles, that
they

( 47 )
they may better paſs the ſtrainers of the body, which
ſeparates the nutritious parts of the blood to be ap-
plyed to the ſides of the veſſels, and exerciſe invigo-
rates the fibres and muſcles; whereas the rapid motion
of the blood excited by drinking ſpirituous liquors,
can not fail of being prejudicial to the body, it will
cauſe the watery parts to difſipate, and the remaining
to grow thick and tough, and the event be obſtructions,
inflammations, impofthumations, &c.--and tho' ſtrong
liquors afford a greater flow of ſpirits for a ſhort time,
yet this is always followed with as much Towneſs of
ſpirit; fo that to gain a neceſſary ſtock of ſpirits, the
perſon is obliged to repeat the ſame force, till he learns
a cuſtom of drinking drams. In this we are confirm-
ed, if we conſider the great ftrength and hardineſs
of poor ruſticks in many parts of the world, whole
proviſions is moſtly vegetable food, and their drink
water. The doctor adds, that it often happens that
perſons of tender, weakly, crazy conſtitutions, by re-
fraining from ſtrong liquors and accuftoming themſelves
to drink water, make a ſhift to ſpin out many years.
After deſcribing the many diſtempers produced by
drinking malt or other fermented liquors he adds, that
ſeeing conſtitutions differ, it is not to be expected that
fpirituous liquors fhould produce all the ſame fymp-
toms in one and the ſame perſon, yet that all drinkers
have ſeveral of thema; and if they come not to that
height, its becauſe they afterwards uſe great exerciſe
or hard labour, with ſometimes thin diluting liquors,
which prevent their immediate hurting.
And with reſpect to ſuch well diſpoſed people, who ſtill
retain a favourable opinion of the uſe of ſpirits mixed
with water, ought they not, even from a love to man-
kind, to endeavour to refrain from it, on account of
the effect their example may have in incouraging
others in the uſe of ſpirituous, liquors, agreable to the
example left us by the apoſtle Paul, 1 Cor. VIII, 13.
If meat make my brother to offend I will eat no fiefh while
the world ſtands, leſt I make my brother to offend. How
much more ought they to refrain from that which
tends

( 48 )
tends to eſtabliſh mankind, in a practice fo gene
rally deſtructive, more eſpecially when they confider
the danger themſelves are in of encreaſing the quan-
tity of ſpirit with their water, as it has been obſerved,
that the uſe of this mixture is particularly apt, almoſt
imperceptible to gain upon thoſe that uſe it, ſo that
many otherwiſe good and judicious people have un-
warily to themfelves and others, fallen, with the com-
mon herd, a facrifice to this might devourer.
A very eminent phyſician has given the following di-
rection, for the benefit of thoſe who have not wiſdom
enough left at once to abandon the odious and pernici-
ous practice of drinking diſtilled fpirituous liquors, viz.
By degrees to mix water with the ſpirit, to leſſen the
quantity every day, and keep to the fame quantity of
water, till in about the courſe of a week, nothing of the
dram kind be afed along with water. By this means
the perſon will fuffer no inconveniency, but reap great
benefit upon leaving off drams or fpirits as has been
tried by many.
If any gnawing be left in the ſtomach
upon quite leaving it off, a little warm broth, weak tea,
or any thing of that kind, will be a ſervice. The ap-
petite always increaſes in a few days after leaving off
drams, unleſs by the too long continuance of them,
the tone of the ſtomach is deſtroyed. And when the
ftomach is thus affected a cup of carduus, camomile tea,
wormwood or centaury every morning fafting and
every evening will be found a good remedy.
Τ Η Ε.
E N D.
Pam
1779
Benezet, Anthony
36040
LBOOK