Anthony Benezet, Epistle of Caution and Advice
Philadelphia, 1754
“The Characteristic and Badge of a true Christian is Love, and good Works…”
Reference
Anthony Benezet, Epistle of Caution and Advice, Concerning the Buying and Keeping of Slaves (Philadelphia: James Chattin, 1754).
Key Quotes
“To live in Ease and Plenty, by the Toil of those whom Violence and Cruelty have put in our Power, is neither consistent with Christianity, nor common Justice…”
“…where Slave keeping prevails, pure Religion and Sobriety decline, as it evidently tends to harden the Heart, and render the Soul less susceptible of that holy Spirit of Love, Meekness, and Charity, which is the peculiar Character of a true Christian.”
“How then can we who have been concerned to publish the Gospel of universal Love and Peace among Mankind, be so inconsistent with ourselves, as to purchase such who are Prisoners of War; and thereby encourage, this antichristian Practice?”
“Remember our blessed Redeemer’s positive Command, To do unto others, as we would have them do to us, and that, with what Measure we mete it, it shall be measured to us again.”
Excerpt
Now dear Friends, if we continually bear in Mind the royal Law, of doing to others, as we would be done by, we shall never think of bereaving our Fellow Creatures of that valuable Blessing Liberty; nor endure to grow rich by their Bondage. To live in Ease and Plenty, by the Toil of those whom Violence and Cruelty have put in our Power, is neither consistent with Christianity, nor common Justice; and we have good Reason to believe, draws down the Displeasure of Heaven, it being a melancholy but true Reflection, That, where Slave keeping prevails, pure Religion and Sobriety decline, as it evidently tends to harden the Heart, and render the Soul less susceptible of that holy Spirit of Love, Meekness, and Charity, which is the peculiar Character of a true Christian.
How then can we who have been concerned to publish the Gospel of universal Love and Peace among Mankind, be so inconsistent with ourselves, as to purchase such who are Prisoners of War; and thereby encourage, this antichristian Practice? And more especially, as many of these poor Creatures are stolen away, Parents from Children, and Children from Parents … inhumanly torn from what they esteemed a happy Situation, and compelled to toil in a State of Slavery, too often extreamly cruel! What dreadful Scenes of Murder and Cruelty those barbarous Ravages must occasion in these unhappy People’s Country, are too obvious to mention: Let us make their Case our own, and consider what we should think, and how we should feel, were we in their Circumstances. Remember our blessed Redeemer’s positive Command, To do unto others, as we would have them do to us, and that, with what Measure we mete it, it shall be measured to us again. And we intreat you to examine, whether the purchasing of a Negroe either born here, or imported, doth not contribute to further importation; and consequently to the upholding all the Evils above mentioned …
The Characteristic and Badge of a true Christian is Love, and good Works; our Saviour’s whole Life on Earth was one continual Exercise of them: “Love on another,” says he, “as I have loved you.” How can we be said to love our Brethren, who bring, or for selfish Ends keep them in Bondage? Do we act consistently with this noble Principle, who lay such heavy Burdens on our Fellow Creatures? Do we consider, that they are called, and sincerely desire that they may become Heirs with us in Glory, and rejoice in the Liberty of the Sons of God, whilst we are with-holding from them the common Liberties of Mankind? Or can the Spirit of God, by which we have always professed to be led, be the Author of those oppressive and unrighteous Measures? Or do we not thereby manifest, that temporal Interest hath more Influence on our Conduct herein, than the Dictates of that merciful, holy and unerring GUIDE?
Addressed to the Yearly Meeting of Quaker congregations of Pennsylvania and New Jersey provinces.
Related Links
Benezet, Epistle of Caution and Advice, 1754 — Excerpt
Anthony Benezet, Epistle of Caution and Advice
Philadelphia, 1754
Reference
Anthony Benezet, Epistle of Caution and Advice, Concerning the Buying and Keeping of Slaves (Philadelphia: James Chattin, 1754).
Key Quotes
Excerpt
Now dear Friends, if we continually bear in Mind the royal Law, of doing to others, as we would be done by, we shall never think of bereaving our Fellow Creatures of that valuable Blessing Liberty; nor endure to grow rich by their Bondage. To live in Ease and Plenty, by the Toil of those whom Violence and Cruelty have put in our Power, is neither consistent with Christianity, nor common Justice; and we have good Reason to believe, draws down the Displeasure of Heaven, it being a melancholy but true Reflection, That, where Slave keeping prevails, pure Religion and Sobriety decline, as it evidently tends to harden the Heart, and render the Soul less susceptible of that holy Spirit of Love, Meekness, and Charity, which is the peculiar Character of a true Christian.
How then can we who have been concerned to publish the Gospel of universal Love and Peace among Mankind, be so inconsistent with ourselves, as to purchase such who are Prisoners of War; and thereby encourage, this antichristian Practice? And more especially, as many of these poor Creatures are stolen away, Parents from Children, and Children from Parents … inhumanly torn from what they esteemed a happy Situation, and compelled to toil in a State of Slavery, too often extreamly cruel! What dreadful Scenes of Murder and Cruelty those barbarous Ravages must occasion in these unhappy People’s Country, are too obvious to mention: Let us make their Case our own, and consider what we should think, and how we should feel, were we in their Circumstances. Remember our blessed Redeemer’s positive Command, To do unto others, as we would have them do to us, and that, with what Measure we mete it, it shall be measured to us again. And we intreat you to examine, whether the purchasing of a Negroe either born here, or imported, doth not contribute to further importation; and consequently to the upholding all the Evils above mentioned …
The Characteristic and Badge of a true Christian is Love, and good Works; our Saviour’s whole Life on Earth was one continual Exercise of them: “Love on another,” says he, “as I have loved you.” How can we be said to love our Brethren, who bring, or for selfish Ends keep them in Bondage? Do we act consistently with this noble Principle, who lay such heavy Burdens on our Fellow Creatures? Do we consider, that they are called, and sincerely desire that they may become Heirs with us in Glory, and rejoice in the Liberty of the Sons of God, whilst we are with-holding from them the common Liberties of Mankind? Or can the Spirit of God, by which we have always professed to be led, be the Author of those oppressive and unrighteous Measures? Or do we not thereby manifest, that temporal Interest hath more Influence on our Conduct herein, than the Dictates of that merciful, holy and unerring GUIDE?
Addressed to the Yearly Meeting of Quaker congregations of Pennsylvania and New Jersey provinces.
Related Links