The Negro Christianized Summary

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Debates that slavery was detestable for America had long existed. In the eighteenth century, the white American Christians were concerned with slavery among themselves. The disparity of opinions was brought to light by Samuel Sewall, who wrote “The Selling of Joesph: A Memorial.” and Cotton Mather who wrote “The Negro Christianized. An Essay to Excite and Assist that Good Work, the Instruction of Negro Servants in Christianity.” These two core Puritan Christians argue their views on slavery with conflicting theories which demonstrate the splintering opinions of white Christians, some more radical than the other, on what should be done with slavery in America during the antebellum period. Cotton Mather was the son of a Puritan minister and he was not very radical on his opinions in regards to slavery. In his writing, “The Negro Christianized. An Essay to Excite and Assist that Good Work, the Instruction of Negro Servants in Christianity”, Mather states that “…masters should work to convert their slaves to Christianity”. ( ) Here, he argues that the Negro slaves are part of the household,…show more content…
In addition, to counter the common argument against the conversion of slaves, Mather suggests an idea that “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.” ( ) Here, he advocates Negros slaves are also humans because Africans are descendants of Cham, also known in the Bible as Ham, who is the son of Noah, and could credibly be God’s chosen ones living among them. To convince the white masters that the slaves can be more profitable to the masters if their spiritual welfare are improved, Mather quotes from

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