Page:The negro's origin.djvu/28

26 the guilty party, else the whole story goes for nought. Having acknowledged the divinity of Noah's malediction, it will not do to suppose Canaan to be guilty; we must know it; at least our faith in the justice of God will not allow us to question his guilt for a moment. God's cursings are always proof positive of guilt. Our every conception of the Divine character demands this. He cursed and destroyed all the ante-diluvian world. Do any doubt their guilt? He cursed and destroyed Sodom. Do any doubt its guilt? Are not all His cursings, sufficient guarantees of guilt ? We know a portion of the angels sinned, simply because they were not allowed to keep their first estate. A Christian wants no better proof. It is thus with Canaan. We know he was the guilty party, because he was cursed ; and, we know he was the only guilty party, because he was the only party cursed. That he was cursed none pretend to deny ; that he was not the only person cursed, none can affirm. But if Ham was cursed by reason of guilt, why should the whole burden of it fall on Canaan? Why should Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut go scot free? If some transcriber has blundered and written Canaan when he should have written Ham, then jus-