Baxter's directions to slave-holders, revived; first printed in London, in the year 1673

If we bring this matter home, and, as Job proposed to his friends, "Put our soul in their souls stead;" if we consider ourselves, and our children, as exposed to the hardships which these people lie under, in supporting an imaginary greatness; Did we, in such case, behold an increase of luxury and superfluity among our oppressors, and therewith feel an increase of the weight of our burdens, and expect our posterity to groan under oppression after us; Under all this misery, had we none to plead our cause, nor any hope of relief from man, how would our cries ascend to the God of the spirits of all flesh, who judgeth the world in righteousness, and, in his own time, is a refuge for the oppressed! When we were hunger-bitten, and could not have sufficient nourishment, but saw them in fullness, pleasing their taste with things fetched from far; When we were wearied with labour, denied the liberty to rest, and saw them spending their time at ease; when garments, answerable to our necessities, were denied us, while we saw them clothed in that which was costly and delicate? Under such affliction, how would these painful feelings rise up as witnesses against their pretended devotion! And if the name of their religion were mentioned in our hearing, how would it sound in our ears, ⟨p. 15⟩like a word which signified self-exaltation and hardness of heart! When a trade is carried on productive of so much misery, and they who suffer by it are some thousands of miles off, the danger is the greater of not laying their sufferings to heart. In procuring slaves from the coast of Africa, many children are stolen privately; wars also are encouraged among the Negroes; but all is at a great distance.—Many groans arise from dying men, which we hear not. Many cries are uttered by widows and fatherless children, which reach not our ears. Many cheeks are wet with tears, and faces sad with unutterable grief, which we see not. Cruel tyranny is encouraged. The hands of robbers are strengthened; and thousands reduced to the most abject slavery, who never injured us. Were we, for the term of one year only, to be eye witnesses to what passeth in getting these slaves; was the blood which is there shed, to be sprinkled on our garments; were the poor captives, bound with thongs, heavy laden with elephants teeth, to pass before our eyes, in their way to the sea;

If we bring this matter home, and, as Job proposed to his friends, "Put our soul in their souls stead;" if we consider ourselves, and our children, as exposed to the hardships which these people lie under, in supporting an imaginary greatness; Did we, in such case, behold an increase of luxury and superfluity among our oppressors, and therewith feel an increase of the weight of our burdens, and expect our posterity to groan under oppression after us; Under all this misery, had we none to plead our cause, nor any hope of relief from man, how would our cries ascend to the God of the spirits of all flesh, who judgeth the world in righteousness, and, in his own time, is a refuge for the oppressed! When we were hunger-bitten, and could not have sufficient nourishment, but saw them in fullness, pleasing their taste with things fetched from far; When we were wearied with labour, denied the liberty to rest, and saw them spending their time at ease; when garments, answerable to our necessities, were denied us, while we saw them cloathed in that which was costly and delicate? Under such affliction, how would these painful feelings rise up as witnesses against their pretended devotion! And if the name of their religion were mentioned in our hearing, how would it sound in our ears,