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Show 38 ON THE SLAVERY AND CoMMERCE " Thus the barrier between the two natures u was thrown down, and Jlavery was no " more heard of, in the -.vejl." That this was not the mcejjiuy confcquence of fuch a lituation, is apparent. The political fl:ate of Greece, in its early hifiory, was the fame as that of Europe, when divided, by the feudal i)•fiem, into an infinite number of [mall and independent kingdoms. There was the iirme matter therefore for contention, and the iiunecall for all the hands that could be mufiered : the Grecians, in lhort, in the heroick, were in the fame iituation in thefe refpects as the feudal barons in the Got hick times. Had this therefore been a necejjary effect, there bad been a ceifation of fervitude in Greece, in thofe ages, in which we have already lhewn that it exified. But with refpect to Chriflianity, many and great are the arguments, that it occafioned fo deiirable an event. It taught, " that all men were originally equal; that " the Deity was no refpecter of perfons, and " that, as all men were to give an account ~' pf their actions hereafter, it was neceifary " that OF TilE HUMAN SPECIES. 39 " that they lhould be free." Thefe doc~ rines could not fail of having their proper u~llu.encc on tbofe, who lirfi embraced Chriftzamty, from a convitlion of its truth; and on thofc of their defcendcnts afterwards who, by engaging in the crzffades, and ha~ zarding their lives and fortunes there, lhewo: d, at leafi, an attachment to that religion. We find them accordingly actuated by thefe principles : we have a poiitive proof, that the .fcuda/ fijlem had no fhare in the honour of fupprefling flavery, but that Chriflianity was the on] y cau fe ; for the greatefi part of the charters which were granted for the freedom of flaves in thofe times (many. of which are fl:ill extant) were granted, "pro amon " Dei, pro mercede anim12." They were founded, in lhort, on religious conJiderations, " that they might procure the favour " of the Deity, which they conceived them" felves to have forfeited, by the fubjuga" tion of thofe, whom they found to b<J " the objects of the divine benevolence and "attention equally with themfelves. Thefe coniiderations, which had thus their firfl: origin in Chriflianity, began to C 4 produce: |