Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/325

No. 104] 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 has given them Spiritual Freedom. Our Blessed Saviour has 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 Sisters of the Last, and the Offspring of ; They ought to be treated with a Respect agreeable.

''Servitus perfecta voluntaria, inter Christianum & Christianum, ex parte senri patientis sœpe est licita, quia est necessaria ; sed ex parte do mini agentis, & procurando & exercendo, vix potest esse licita ; quia non convenit regulœ illi generali : Quœcunque volueritis ut faciant vobis homines, ita & vos facite eis. Matt. 7. 12.''

Perfecta servitus pœnœ, non potest jure locum habere, nisi ex delicto gravi quod ultimum supplicium aliquo modo mere fur : quia Libertas ex naturali œstimatione proxime accedit ad vitam ipsam, & eidem a multis prœferri solet. Ames. Cas. Consc. Lib. 5. Cap. 23. Thes. 2. 3.



104. A Slave Act Disallowed (1709) BY THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS FOR TRADE AND PLANTATIONS


 * O the Queens most Excellt Majty

May it Please Your Majesty.

We have considered An Act past in the General Assembly of Your Majesties Province of New Jersey in December 1704. Entituled, An Act for Regulating Negro, Indian & Mulato Slaves within this Province of New Jersey, in which, tho there are Several good & Useful