Page:A Dissuasion from the Slave Trade.djvu/58

 cognizance of, and avenging the quarrel of poor Slaves, 2 Sam. xxi. 1. There was a famine in the days of David, three years, year after year, and David enquired of the, and the answered, it is for Saul, and his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. Two things are here very remarkable, 1st. These Gibeonites were only hewers of wood and drawers of water; or in other words, Slaves like yours. 2d. That this plague was sent by many years after the injury (the cause of the plague) was committed. And for what end were this and such like examples recorded in holy Scripture? Without doubt for our learning. For is the same to-day as he was yesterday, and will continue the same for ever. He does not reject the prayer of the poor and destitute, nor disregard the cry of the meanest Negro." When speaking of the oppression and unchristian usage these poor Negroes meet with from the Shipmasters in their passage, and from the Masters they are sold to in the south parts of America and the West-Indies, he adds, "The blood of the Negroes spilt for these many years in your respective Provinces will rise up to Heaven against you," together with that lost in Africa, occasioned by the Traders