16 Quotes by Samuel Hopkins

If we obstinately refuse to reform what we have implicitly declared to be wrong, and engaged to put away the holding of the Africans in slavery... have we not the great reason to fear, yea, may we not with great certainty conclude, God will withdraw his kind protection from us, and punish us yet seven times more?

This is acting like the mariner, who, when his ship is filling with water, neglects to stop the leak, or ply the pump, that he may mend his sails.

This institution of Heaven, when properly attended to, understood, and cordially embraced, turns men from darkness to marvelous light. If it finds them in a state of savage ignorance and barbarity it civilizes them, and forms them to be intelligent and good members of society.

It was right for them to make bond-servants of the nations round them, they having an express permission to do it from him who has a right to dispose of all men as he pleases.

That mountains that are now raised up in the imagination of many would become plain, and every difficulty surmounted.

And if there were any such, they have never been condemned to slavery by any who are proper judges, or had any authority to act in the affair.

God saw fit, for wise reasons to allow the people of Israel thus to make and possess slaves; but is this any license to us to enslave any of our fellow-men, to kill any of our fellow-men whom we please and are able to destroy, and take possession of their estates?