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

Yea, the pious Masters, that have instituted their Servants in Christian Piety, will even in this Life have a sensible Recompense. The more Serviceable, and Obedient and obliging Behaviour […] ⟨p. 21⟩their Servants unto them, will be a sensible & a notable Recompense. Be assured, Sirs; Your Servants will be the Better Servants, for being made Christian Servants. To Christianize them aright, will be to fill them with all Goodness. Christianity is nothing but a very Mass of Universal Goodness. Were your Servants well tinged with the Spirit of Christianity, it would render them exceeding Dutiful unto their Masters, exceeding Patient under their Masters, exceeding faithful in their Business, and afraid of speaking or doing any thing that may justly displease you. It has been observed, that those Masters who have used their Negroes with most of Humanity, in allowing them all the Comforts of Life, that are necessary and Convenient for them, (Who have remembered, that by the Law of God, even an Ass was to be relieved, When Sinking under his Burden, and an Ox might not be Muzzled when Treading out the Corn; and that if a Just man will regard the Life of his Beast▪ he will much more allow the comforts of life to and not hide himself from his own Flesh:) have ⟨p. 22⟩been better Served, had more work done for them, and better done, than those Inhumane Masters, who have used their Negroes worse than their Horses. And those Masters doubtless, who use their Negroes with most of Christianity, and use most pains to inform them in, and conform them to, Christianity, will find themselves no losers. by it. Onesimus was doubtless a Slave: but this poor Slave, on whose behalf a great Apostle of God was more than a little concerned; yea, one Book in our Bible was Written on his behalf! When he was Christianized, it was presently said unto his Masters, Philem. 11. In time past he was unprofitable to thee, but now he will be profitable. But many Masters whose Negroes have greatly vexed them, with miscarriage, may do well to examine, Whether Heaven be not chastising of them, for their failing in their Duty about their Negroes. Had they done more, to make their Negroes the knowing and willing Servants of God, it may be, God would have made their Negroes better Servants to them. Sirs, you may Read your Sin in the Punishment.