Letters on American Slavery: Addressed to Mr. Thomas Rankin, Merchant at Middlebrook, Augusta County, VaJohn Rankin was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Ripley and Strait-Creek, in Brown County, Ohio. His brother Thomas was a Virginia businessman. Reverend Rankin wrote these thirteen letters "with the desire of aiding and encouraging every effort for the liberation of the enslaved and degraded Africans." He rebuts the canard that blacks are an inferior race: "What people, in similar circumstances, have ever given stronger marks of genius than are exhibited by the enslaved African of the United States?" By 1838 the book had gone through at least five editions, all of which are far more common than this first edition. |
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Page 80
... servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren . Thus we see that but one of Ham's sons was included in the Canaan doubtless was deeply concerned with his father in the guilt which gave rise to this denunci- ation against him , else ...
... servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren . Thus we see that but one of Ham's sons was included in the Canaan doubtless was deeply concerned with his father in the guilt which gave rise to this denunci- ation against him , else ...
Page 81
... servants of those who had been servants . Hence , the following predictions of Noah were liter- ally fulfilled . ' Cursed be Canaan ; a servant of ser- vants shall he be unto his brethren . ' ' Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ; and ...
... servants of those who had been servants . Hence , the following predictions of Noah were liter- ally fulfilled . ' Cursed be Canaan ; a servant of ser- vants shall he be unto his brethren . ' ' Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ; and ...
Page 82
... servants of their conquerors . This kind of servitude the Canaanites en- dured to great extremes . The Israelites conquered them , and took possession of their cities , their houses and their lands , and thus enjoyed the fruits of their ...
... servants of their conquerors . This kind of servitude the Canaanites en- dured to great extremes . The Israelites conquered them , and took possession of their cities , their houses and their lands , and thus enjoyed the fruits of their ...
Page 83
... servants were held to involuntary servitude . It is true that he had servants born in his house , and servants bought with his money ; but these circumstances do not ab- solutely prove that their servitude was involuntary . Abraham was ...
... servants were held to involuntary servitude . It is true that he had servants born in his house , and servants bought with his money ; but these circumstances do not ab- solutely prove that their servitude was involuntary . Abraham was ...
Page 84
... servants born in his house were merely his subjects . Abraham had no fixed residence , and therefore he and his sub- jects dwelt in tents . By faith he sojourned in the land of promise , as in a strange country , dwelling in tabernacles ...
... servants born in his house were merely his subjects . Abraham had no fixed residence , and therefore he and his sub- jects dwelt in tents . By faith he sojourned in the land of promise , as in a strange country , dwelling in tabernacles ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham admit American slaveholder Apostle argument avarice become benevolence bondage bound Bourbon county brethren Cameron Canaan Canaanites chains children of Israel circumcised color command consequently consider constitution of Kentucky creatures crime cruel cruelty curse DEAR BROTHER deprive DOULOS dreadful Egyp Egypt emancipation endure enslaved equally eternal evident evil father feelings Fleming county freedom give gospel hapless heart heathen Hence hired servants hold slaves human induce inflicted injustice innocent instances involuntary slavery Israelites Japhet justice Kentucky kind of servitude labor lashes liberation liberty love of gain master ment mind misery nation natural rights nature oppression parents permitted perpetual phemed poor slaves possess principles prohibit proprietors of slaves purchased rest of mankind Sabaoth Sabbath Schools sacred says scene shocking slaveholding soul steal sufferings suppose system of slavery tender thou thousand tion toil torturing unjust vants whip wife WILLIAM DICKEY word
Popular passages
Page 84 - By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise ; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Page 86 - Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you to inherit them for a possession ; they shall be your bondmen for ever : but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.
Page 97 - Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
Page 103 - And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Page 94 - Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren ; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit These things teach and exhort.
Page 98 - Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers ; but in singleness of heart, fearing God...
Page 86 - Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you ; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land : and they shall be your possession.
Page 8 - Look not upon me, because I am black, Because the sun hath looked upon me : My mother's children were angry with me ; They made me the keeper of the vineyards : But mine own vineyard have I not kept.
Page 108 - Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house ? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh...
Page 107 - Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: he shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best : thou shalt not oppress him.