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The Negro Christianized An essay to excite and assist the good work, the instruction…

Name: The Negro Christianized An essay to excite and assist the good work, the instruction…
Author: Cotton Mather

The Negro Christianized An essay to excite and assist the good work, the instruction of Negro-servants in Christianity. : [Four lines of Scripture texts]

Cotton Mather 1663–1728Boston: printed by B. Green, 1706

[2], 46 p. ; (12mo) · 8.6k words · Evans 1262

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THE Negro Christianized.

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An ESSAY TO EXCITE and ASSIST that GOOD WORK, The INSTRUCTION OF Negro-Servants IN Christianity.

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Josh. 24 15. As for me, and my House, we will Serve the Lord. Psal. 68.31. Ethiopia shall soon Stretch out her Hands unto God.

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Boston, Printed by B. Green. 1706.

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THE Negro Christianized.

:5p. 1–3

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Title as printed: The Negro Christianized An essay to excite and assist the good work, the instruction of Negro-servants in Christianity. : [Four lines of Scripture texts]
Author: Cotton Mather 1663–1728
Place: Boston
Printer: B. Green
Year: 1706
Size: [2], 46 p. ; (12mo)
Words: 8,611
Catalogue: Evans 1262
Text: Evans-TCP N01059

Passages: 161
Sections: 6

Title page

The author

Cotton Mather 1663–1728

PuritansNew England

Minister of the Second Church in Boston.

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〈…〉

IT is a Golden Sentence, that has been sometimes quoted from Chrysostom; That for a man to know the Art of Alms, is more than for a man to be Crowned with the Diadem of Kings: But to Convert one Soul unto God, is more than to pour cut Ten Thousand Talents into the Baskets of the Poor. Truly, to Raise a Soul, from a dark State of Ignorance and Wickedness, to the Knowledge of GOD, and the Belief of CHRIST, and the practice of our Holy and Lovely RELIGION; 'Tis the noblest Work, that ever was undertaken among the Children of men. An Opportunity to Endeavour the CONVERSION of a Soul, from a Life of Sin, which is indeed a woeful Death, to Fear God, and Love CHRIST, and by a Religious Life to Escape the Paths of the Destroyer; ⟨p. 2⟩it cannot but be Acceptable to all that have themselves had in themselves Experience of such a Conversion. And such an Opportunity there is in your Hands, O all you that have any Negroes in your Houses; an Opportunity to try, Whether you may not be the Happy Instruments, of Converting, the Blackest Instances of Blindness and Baseness, into admirable Candidates of Eternal Blessedness. Let not this Opportunity be Lost; if you have any concern for Souls, your Own or Others; but, make a Trial, Whether by your Means, the most Brutish of Creatures upon Earth may not come to be disposed, in some Degree, like the Angels of Heaven; and the Vassals of Satan, become the Children of God. Suppose these Wretched Negroes, to be the Offspring of Ham (which yet is not so very certain,) yet let us make a Trial, Whether the CHRIST who dwelt in the Tents of Shem, have not some of His Chosen among them; Let us make a Trial, Whether they that have been Scorched and Blackened by the Sun of Africa, may not come to have ⟨p. 3⟩their Minds Healed by the more Benign Beams of the Sun of Righteousness.

IT is a Golden Sentence, that has been sometimes quoted from Chrysostom; That for a man to know the Art of Alms, is more than for a man to be Crowned with the Diadem of Kings: But to Convert one Soul unto God, is more than to pour cut Ten Thousand Talents into the Baskets of the Poor. Truly, to Raise a Soul, from a dark State of Ignorance and Wickedness, to the Knowledge of GOD, and the Belief of CHRIST, and the practice of our Holy and Lovely RELIGION; 'Tis the noblest Work, that ever was undertaken among the Children of men. An Opportunity to Endeavour the CONVERSION of a Soul, from a Life of Sin, which is indeed a woful Death, to Fear God, and Love CHRIST, and by a Religious Life to Escape the Paths of the Destroyer; ⟨p. 2⟩it cannot but be Accptable to all that have themselves had in themselves Experience of such a Conversion. And such an Opportunity there is in your Hands, O all you that have any Negroes in your Houses; an Opportunity to try, Whether you may not be the Happy Instruments, of Converting, the Blackest Instances of Blindness and Baseness, into admirable Candidates of Eternal Blessedness. Let not this Opportunity be Lost; if you have any concern for Souls, your Own or Others; but, make a Trial, Whether by your Means, the most Bruitish of Creatures upon Earth may not come to be disposed, in some Degree, like the Angels of Heaven; and the Vassals of Satan, become the Children of God. Suppose these Wretched Negroes, to be the Offspring of Cham (which yet is not so very certain,) yet let us make a Trial, Whether the CHRIST who dwelt in the Tents of Shem, have not some of His Chosen among them; Let us make a Trial, Whether they that have been Scorched and Blacken'd by the Sun of Africa, may not come to have ⟨p. 3⟩their Minds Healed by the more Benign Beams of the Sun of Righteousness.

:6p. 3–4

It is come to pass by the Providence of God, without which there comes nothing to pass, that Poor Negroes are cast under your Government and Protection. You take them into your Families; you look on them as part of your Possessions; and you Expect from their Service, a Support, and perhaps an Increase, of your other Possessions. How agreeable would it be, if a Religious Master or Mistress thus attended, would now think with themselves! Who can tell but that this Poor Creature may belong to the Election of God! Who can tell, but that God may have sent this Poor Creature into my Hands, that so One of the Elect may by my means be Called; & by my Instruction be made Wise unto Salvation! The glorious God will put an unspeakable Glory upon me, if it may be so! The Considerations that would move you, To Teach your Negroes the Truths of the Glorious Gospel, as far as you can, and bring them, if it may be, to Live according to those Truths, a Sober, and a Righteous, and a Godly Life: They ⟨p. 4⟩are Innumerable; And, if you would after a Reasonable manner consider, the Pleas which we have to make on the behalf of God, and of the Souls which He has made, one would wonder that they should not be Irresistible. Show your selves Men, and let Rational Arguments have their Force upon you, to make you treat, not as Brutes but as Men, those Rational Creatures whom God has made your Servants.

It is come to pass by the Providence of God, without which there comes nothing to pass, that Poor Negroes are cast under your Government and Protection. You take them into your Families; you look on them as part of your Possessions; and you Expect from their Service, a Support, and perhaps an Increase, of your other Possessions. How agreeable would it be, if a Religious Master or Mistress thus attended, would now think with themselves! Who can tell but that this Poor Creature may belong to the Election of God! Who can tell, but that God may have sent this Poor Creature into my Hands, that so One of the Elect may by my means be Called; & by my Instruction be made Wise unto Salvation! The glorious God will put an unspeakable Glory upon me, if it may be so! The Considerations that would move you, To Teach your Negroes the Truths of the Glorious Gospel, as far as you can, and bring them, if it may be, to Live according to those Truths, a Sober, and a Righteous, and a Godly Life: They ⟨p. 4⟩are Innumerable; And, if you would after a Reasonable manner consider, the Pleas which we have to make on the behalf of God, and of the Souls which He has made, one would wonder that they should not be Irresistible. Show your selves Men, and let Rational Arguments have their Force upon you, to make you treat, not as Bruits but as Men, those Rational Creatures whom God has made your Servants.

:8p. 4–6

First; The Great GOD Commands it, and Requires it of you; to do what you can that Your Servants, may also be His. It was an Admonition once given; Eph. 5.9. Masters, Know that your Master is in Heaven. You will confess, That the God of Heaven is your Master. If your Negroes do not comply with your Commands, into what Anger, what Language, Perhaps into a misbecoming Fury, are you transported▪ But you are now to attend unto the Commands of your more Absolute Master; and they are His Commands concerning your Negroes too. What can be more Expressive; than those words ⟨p. 5⟩of the Christian Law? Col. 4.1. Masters, give unto your Servants, that which is Just & Equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven. Of what Servants is this Injunction to be understood? Verily, of Slaves. For Servants were generally such, at the time of Writing the New Testament Wherefore, Masters, As it is Just & Equal, that your Servants be not Over-wrought, and that while they Work for you, you should Feed them, and Clothe them, and afford convenient Rest unto them, and make their Lives comfortable; So it is Just and Equal, that you should Acquaint them, as far as you can, with the way to Salvation by JESUS CHRIST. You deny your Master in Heaven, if you do nothing to bring your Servants unto the Knowledge and Service of that glorious Master. One Table of the Ten Commandments, has this for the Sum of it; Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self. Man, Thy Negro is thy Neighbour. 'Twere an Ignorance, unworthy of a Man, to imagine otherwise. Yea, if thou dost grant, That God hath made of one Blood, all Nations of men, he ⟨p. 6⟩is thy Brother too. Now canst thou Love thy Negro, and be willing to see him lie under the Rage of Sin, and the Wrath of God? Canst thou Love him, and yet refuse to do any thing, that his miserable Soul may be rescued from Eternal miseries? Oh! Let thy Love to that Poor Soul, appear in thy concern, to make it, if thou canst, as happy as thy own! We are Commanded, Gal. 6.10. As we have opportunity let us Do Good unto all men, especially unto them, who are of the Household of Faith. Certainly, we have Opportunity, to Do Good unto our Servants, who are of our own Household; certainly, we may do something to make them Good, and bring them to be of the Household of Faith.

First; The Great GOD Commands it, and Requires it of you; to do what you can that Your Servants, may also be His. It was an Admonition once given; Eph. 5.9. Masters, Know that your Master is in Heaven. You will confess, That the God of Heaven is your Master. If your Negroes do not comply with your Commands, into what Anger, what Language, Perhaps into a misbecoming Fury, are you transported▪ But you are now to attend unto the Commands of your more Absolute Master; and they are His Commands concerning your Negroes too. What can be more Expressive; than those words ⟨p. 5⟩of the Christian Law? Col. 4.1. Masters, give unto your Servants, that which is Just & Equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven. Of what Servants is this Injunction to be understood? Verily, of Slaves. For Servants were generally such, at the time of Writing the New Testament Wherefore, Masters, As it is Just & Equal, that your Servants be not Over-wrought, and that while they Work for you, you should Feed them, and Cloath them, and afford convenient Rest unto them, and make their Lives comfortable; So it is Just and Equal, that you should Acquaint them, as far as you can, with the way to Salvation by JESUS CHRIST. You deny your Master in Heaven, if you do nothing to bring your Servants unto the Knowledge and Service of that glorious Master. One Table of the Ten Commandments, has this for the Sum of it; Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self. Man, Thy Negro is thy Neighbour. T'were an Ignorance, unworthy of a Man, to imagine otherwise. Yea, if thou dost grant, That God hath made of one Blood, all Nations of men, he ⟨p. 6⟩is thy Brother too. Now canst thou Love thy Negro, and be willing to see him ly under the Rage of Sin, and the Wrath of God? Canst thou Love him, and yet refuse to do any thing, that his miserable Soul may be rescued from Eternal miseries? Oh! Let thy Love to that Poor Soul, appear in thy concern, to make it, if thou canst, as happy as thy own! We are Commanded, Gal. 6.10. As we have opportunity let us Do Good unto all men, especially unto them, who are of the Houshold of Faith. Certainly, we have Opportunity, to Do Good unto our Servants, who are of our own Houshold; certainly, we may do something to make them Good, and bring them to be of the Houshold of Faith.

:10p. 7–9

To deal yet more plainly with you; Secondly; With what Face can you call your selves Christians, if you do nothing that your Servants also may become Christians? A Face that has been Baptized into the Name of the One GOD, in Three Persons, may Blush to continue unconcerned, Whether the Name of that God, be ever Known or no, in the very Families that belong unto them. Are they Worthy to be counted Christians, who are content tho' a part of their Families remain Heathen, who do not know God, nor call upon His Name? We read, 1 Tim. 5.8. If any provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he has denied the Faith, and is worse than an Infidel. And what is he, who does Provide nothing for the Souls of those whom God has made his own; that their Souls may be fed with the Bread of Life, and clothed with the Garments of Righteousness, and Healed of the Deadly Wounds which their Fall from God has brought upon them! What is he, who is willing that those of his own House remain Strangers to the Faith, and Wretched ⟨p. 8⟩Infidels? Householder, Call thy self any thing but a Christian? As for that Worthy Name, — Nomen Depone, Do not pretend unto it; Thou art not Worthy of it. If thou wilt Name the Name of CHRIST, in denominating thy self a Christian, then Depart from this Iniquity, of leaving thy Servants, to continue the Servants of Iniquity. It will be found a Maxim that Fails not; That no man can Really and Heartily be of any Religion, without some Desire to have that Religion Propagated. For a man to Profess a Religion, and care not a Straw, Whether any body besides himself be of it; certainly, That mans Profession is not worth a Straw; it can be no Sincere Profession. It is Natural for men, to promote their own Religion. Shall Christians fall short of Mahometans, or of Idolaters? The Pagan Japonians, were too much in the right out, when they concluded a certain Worldly Generation of Europeans, to be no Christians; Because they declined the doing of any thing for the Propagation of Christianity. The Christians who have no concern upon their ⟨p. 9⟩Minds to have Christianity Propagated, never can justify themselves. They say they are Christians, but they are not; What they are, we know not. All along the Pagans themselves, have made it the main Stroke in the Definition of, A Good Man; He is One who does all the Good that he can.

To deal yet more plainly with you; Secondly; With what Face can you call your selves Christians, if you do nothing that your Servants also may become Christians? A Face that has been Baptized into the Name of the One GOD, in Three Persons, may Blush to continue unconcerned, Whether the Name of that God, be ever Known or no, in the very Families that belong unto them. Are they Worthy to be counted Christians, who are content tho' a part of their Families remain Heathen, who do not know God, nor call upon His Name? We read, 1 Tim. 5.8. If any provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he has denied the Faith, and is worse than an Infidel. And what is he, who does Provide nothing for the Souls of those whom God has made his own; that their Souls may be fed with the Bread of Life, and cloath'd with the Garments of Righteousness, and Heal'd of the Deadly Wounds which their Fall from God has brought upon them! What is he, who is willing that those of his own House remain Strangers to the Faith, and Wretched ⟨p. 8⟩Infidels? Housholder, Call thy self any thing but a Christian? As for that Worthy Name, — Nomen Depone, Do not pretend unto it; Thou art not Worthy of it. If thou wilt Name the Name of CHRIST, in denominating thy self a Christian, then Depart from this Iniquity, of leaving thy Servants, to continue the Servants of Iniquity. It will be found a Maxim that Fails not; That no man can Really and Heartily be of any Religion, without some Desire to have that Religion Propagated. For a man to Profess a Religion, and care not a Straw, Whether any body besides himself be of it; certainly, That mans Profession is not worth a Straw; it can be no Sincere Profession. It is Natural for men, to promote their own Religion. Shall Christians fall short of Mahometans, or of Idolaters? The Pagan Japonians, were too much in the right ont, when they concluded a certain Worldly Generation of Europaeans, to be no Christians; Because they declined the doing of any thing for the Propagation of Christianity. The Christians who have no concern upon their ⟨p. 9⟩Minds to have Christianity Propagated, never can justify themselves. They say they are Christians, but they are not; What they are, we know not. All along the Pagans themselves, have made it the main Stroke in the Definition of, A Good Man; He is One who does all the Good that he can.

:11p. 9–11

The greatest Good that we can do for any, is to bring them unto the fullest Acquaintance with Christianity. Will Christianity allow him then to be, A Good Man, or, which is the same thing, A Christian, who refuses to do this Good, for the Servants that are under his influence? All genuine Christians are to be looked on as the Children of the Faithful Abraham, who is therefore called, The Father of the Faithful. Now of this our Father, did Heaven take it for granted; Gen. 18.19. I know him, that he will Command his Children, and his Household, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. He had some Hundreds of Servants belonging to his Household: He obtained, that the Slaves of his Household should Know the Way of the Lord; He, then Commanded, that they should Keep that ⟨p. 10⟩Way. Now, Christianity is, The Way of the Lord. Householder, There are Servants pertaining to thy Household. It is a mighty Power which thou hast over them; A Despotic Power which gives thee numberless Advantages, to call them, and lead them into the Way of the Lord. Art thou Regardless of bringing them into Christianity? Then thou doest not Walk in the Steps of our Father Abraham; and art not like to call him thy Father, any otherwise than the Rich Man in the place of Torment. We are very sure, That where the Spirit of Christianity has had its true operation, it has from the Beginning Shone forth in most Lively Essays, to diffuse the Light of the Glorious Gospel, unto such as have been Perishing for the Lack of that Vision. All Ecclesiastical History, down from the Book of, The Acts of the Apostles, to this Time, are filled with admirable Examples, of a Zeal flaming in the Hearts of Christians, to Christianize the rest of the World. Christianity, Whither art thou fled! Return, Return, O Beautiful Daughter of Heaven, Return, Return, that we may look upon thee. ⟨p. 11⟩What shall we then see, but a vast company of Christian Householders, filled with zealous contrivance and agony, to see their Houses become Christian Temples, and a glorious CHRIST worshipped and obeyed by all their Households! Yea, we read concerning some of the Primitive Christians, that with a Prodigy of Charity, they have bound themselves in the Quality of Servants, to Pagan Families, merely that they might be in a way to Christianize the Families; And their successes were Wonderful.

The greatest Good that we can do for any, is to bring them unto the fullest Acquaintance with Christianity. Will Christianity allow him then to be, A Good Man, or, which is the same thing, A Christian, who refuses to do this Good, for the Servants that are under his influence? All genuine Christians are to be look'd on as the Children of the Faithful Abraham, who is therefore called, The Father of the Faithful. Now of this our Father, did Heaven take it for granted; Gen. 18.19. I know him, that he will Command his Children, and his Houshold, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. He had some Hundreds of Servants belonging to his Houshold: He obtained, that the Slaves of his Houshold should Know the Way of the Lord; He, then Commanded, that they should Keep that ⟨p. 10⟩Way. Now, Christianity is, The Way of the Lord. Housholder, There are Servants pertaining to thy Houshold. It is a mighty Power which thou hast over them; A Despotick Power which gives thee numberless Advantages, to call them, and lead them into the Way of the Lord. Art thou Regardless of bringing them into Christianity? Then thou doest not Walk in the Steps of our Father Abraham; and art not like to call him thy Father, any otherwise than the Rich Man in the place of Torment. We are very sure, That where the Spirit of Christianity has had its true operation, it has from the Beginning Shone forth in most Lively Essayes, to diffuse the Light of the Glorious Gospel, unto such as have been Perishing for the Lack of that Vision. All Ecclesiastical History, down from the Book of, The Acts of the Apostles, to this Time, are fill'd with admirable Examples, of a Zeal flaming in the Hearts of Christians, to Christianize the rest of the World. Christianity, Whither art thou fled! Return, Return, O Beautiful Daughter of Heaven, Return, Return, that we may look upon thee. ⟨p. 11⟩What shall we then see, but a vast company of Christian Housholders, filled with zealous contrivance and agony, to see their Houses become Christian Temples, and a glorious CHRIST worshipped and obeyed by all their Housholds! Yea, we read concerning some of the Primitive Christians, that with a Prodigie of Charity, they have bound themselves in the Quality of Servants, to Pagan Families, meerly that they might be in a way to Christianize the Families; And their successes were Wonderful.

:12p. 11–13

But what shall we say of it, When Masters that would be thought Christians already shall even refuse to have the Servants in their Families duly Christianized? Pray, deal faithfully; Don't mince the matter; say of it, as it is; It is a Prodigy of Wickedness; It is a prodigious Inconsistency, with true Christianity! Householder, art thou a Christian? Then the Glory of a precious CHRIST is of such Account with thee, that it afflicts thee to think, that any one Person in the World should be without the Sight of it. And how can it be, that thou shouldest be negligent ⟨p. 12⟩about bringing to a sight of the Glory of God, in the Face of JESUS CHRIST, the Folks of thy own House, upon whom thou art able to do a great deal more than upon the rest of the World? Art thou a Christian? Then thou dost Pray for thy Servants, that they may become the Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Children of God, and not fall short of entering into Rest. What! Pray for this; and yet never do any thing for it! It is impossible, or, such Praying, is but Mocking of God? Art thou a Christian? Then thou art apprehensive of a dreadful Danger, attending the Souls of them who know not God and obey not His Gospel: Tis thy persuasion, That if our Gospel be hid, it is hid from them that are left; and the Ungospelized Souls are in danger of an Eternal Banishment from the Favour and the City of God. Can a Christian see his own Servants in this condition, and not be solicitous to have them saved out of it? No; When such Christians appear before the Glorious LORD, it will be in vain for them to plead, that they called him LORD, and owned ⟨p. 13⟩Him for their LORD. If they did it why did they not bring their Servants under the Government of the LORD? Verily, He will say to such Christians, I knew you not? Suppose that Language were heard from the mouth of a Master concerning a Servant; If I can have the Labour of the Slave, that's all I care for: Let his Soul go and be damned for all me! would not every Christian say, This were Language for the Mouth of a Devil, rather than for the Mouth of a Christian! Would not every Christian cry out, Let him not be called a Master, but a Monster that shall speak so! Consider, Sirs, whether Deeds have not a Language in them, as well as Words; a plainer Language than Words.

But what shall we say of it, When Masters that would be thought Christians already shall even refuse to have the Servants in their Families duely Christianized? Pray, deal faithfully; Don't mince the matter; say of it, as it is; It is a Prodigy of Wickedness; It is a prodigious Inconsistency, with true Christianity! Housholder, art thou a Christian? Then the Glory of a precious CHRIST is of such Account with thee, that it afflicts thee to think, that any one Person in the World should be without the Sight of it. And how can it be, that thou shouldest be negligent ⟨p. 12⟩about bringing to a sight of the Glory of God, in the Face of JESUS CHRIST, the Folks of thy own House, upon whom thou art able to do a great deal more than upon the rest of the World? Art thou a Christian? Then thou dost Pray for thy Servants, that they may become the Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Children of God, and not fall short of entering into Rest. What! Pray for this; and yet never do any thing for it! It is impossible, or, such Praying, is but Mocking of God? Art thou a Christian? Then thou art apprehensive of a dreadful Danger, attending the Souls of them who know not God and obey not His Gospel: Tis thy perswasion, That if our Gospel be hid, it is hid from them that are left; and the Ungospelized Souls are in danger of an Eternal Banishment from the Favour and the City of God. Can a Christian see his own Servants in this condition, and not be sollicitous to have them saved out of it? No; When such Christians appear before the Glorious LORD, it will be in vain for them to plead, that they call'd him LORD, and own'd ⟨p. 13⟩Him for their LORD. If they did it why did they not bring their Servants under the Government of the LORD? Verily, He will say to such Christians, I knew you not? Suppose that Language were heard from the mouth of a Master concerning a Servant; If I can have the Labour of the Slave, that's all I care for: Let his Soul go and be damn'd for all me! would not every Christian say, This were Language for the Mouth of a Devil, rather than for the Mouth of a Christian! Would not every Christian cry out, Let him not be call'd a Master, but a Monster that shall speak so! Consider, Syrs, whether Deeds have not a Language in them, as well as Words; a plainer Language than Words.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

THE Negro Christianized.