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Show 178 ON THE SLAVERY AND CoMMERCE C H A P. VIII. The fecond argument, by which it is attempted to be proved, " that the Africans " arc an inferiour link of the chain of na" ture, and are deligned 'for llavery," is drawn from colour, and from thofe other marks, which di!l:ingui!h them from the inhabitants of Europe. To prove this with the greater facility, the receivers divide in opinion. Some of them contend that the Africans, from thefe circum!l:ances, are the defcendants of·~ Cain: others, that they are the po!l:erity of Ham; and that as it was declared by divine infpiration, that thefe fhould be fervants to the re!l: of the world, fo they are deligncd for llavery; and that the reducing of them to fuch a lituation is only the accomplillw1ent of the will of heaven: while the re!l:, confidering them from the fame circum!l:ances as a totally di!l:inCl: fpecies of men, conclude them to be an inferiour link of the chain of nature, and deduce the inference defcribed. • Gcnefis, ch. iv. •S· To OF THE HuMAN SPECIES. 179 To anfwcr thcfe arguments in the cleareft 11nd fulle!l: manner, we are under the neceffity of making two fuppolitions, fir!l:, that the fcriptures are true; fecondly, that they are falfe. If then the fcriptures are true, it is evident that the po!l:erity of Cain were extinguill1ed in the flood. Thus one of the arguments is no more. With refpeCl: to the curfe of Ham, it appears alfo that it was limited; that it did not extend to the po!l:erity of all his fons, but only to the * defcendants of him who was called Canaan : by which it was foretold that the Canaanites, a part of the po!l:erity of Ham, fhould ferve the pofterity of Shem and Japhet. Now how does it appear that thefe wretched Africans are the defcendants of Canaan ?-By thofc! marks, it will be faid, which di!l:inguill1 them from the re!l: of the world.-But where are thefe marks to be found in the divine writings ? In what page is it faid, that the Canaanites • Genefis, ch. ix. z5, z6, z7. M?. were |