AN

INQUIRY

INTO

THE SCRIPTURAL VIEWS

OF

SLAVERY.

BY

ALBERT BARNES.

Τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἑλοίμην ἂν ἀντὶ ὧν ἔχω πάντων καὶ ἄλλων πολλαπλασίων.

THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY

162477

ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
1899.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by

ALBERT BARNES,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Printed by T. K. & P. G. Collins.

STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON & CO., PHILADELPHIA,

CHAP. I. Reasons why the appeal on the subject of Slavery should

be made to the Bible

19

1. The Bible is the acknowledged standard of morals in this

nation

2. The subject of slavery is one on which the Bible has legis-

lated, and there is, therefore, a propriety that we should

ascertain its decisions

3. The question whether slavery is right or wrong can only

- be settled by an appeal to the Scriptures .

21

22

23

4. Great reforms, on moral subjects, do not occur except under

the influence of religious principle

5. Because it is by such an appeal that the advocates of slavery

endeavour to defend the system

CHAP. II. What constitutes Slavery?

(2.) Not to be confounded with the condition of a minor .

(3.) Not merely a governmental affair

(4.) Not a mere relation in which legislative bodies alone are

38

(5.) Does not pertain wholly to a legislature to regulate

(6.) Not a condition like that of the serfs of Russia, &c.

(7.) Not the kind of property which a man has in his wife or

child

1. Is wholly involuntary on the part of the slave

2. Is property claimed in that which belongs to him, but which

he is not at liberty to resume to himself

3. Is a right of property in all that pertains to the slave

4. Is a right of property in his services without equivalent or

compensation

5. Involves the right to sell him as the master pleases

The true question stated