. 2. 3."

Judge Sewall's attack on slavery created no little stir in Boston; and
the next year, 1701, Judge John Saffin, an associate of Judge Sewall,
answered it in quite a lengthy paper.[376] Having furnished Judge
Sewall's paper, it is proper that Judge Saffin's reply should likewise
have a place here.

"JUDGE SAFFIN'S REPLY TO JUDGE SEWALL, 1701.

"A Brief and Candid Answer to a late Printed Sheet,
_Entituled_, The Selling of Joseph.

"THAT Honourable and Learned Gentleman, the Author of a
Sheet, Entituled, _The Selling of Joseph, A_ Memorial, seems
from thence to draw this conclusion, that because the Sons
of _Jacob_ did very ill in selling their Brother _Joseph_ to
the _Ishmaelites_, who were Heathens, therefore it is
utterly unlawful to Buy and Sell Negroes, though among
Christians; which Conclusion I presume is not well drawn
from the Premises, nor is the case parallel; for it was
unlawful for the _Israelites_ to Sell their Brethren upon
any account, or pretence whatsoever during life. But it was
not unlawful for the Seed of _Abraham_ to have Bond men, and
Bond women either born in their House, or bought with their
Money, as it is written of _Abraham, Gen. 14. 14._ & 21. 10.
& _Exod. 21. 16._ & _Levit. 25. 44. 45. 46 v._ After the
giving of the law: And in _Josh. 9. 23._ That famous Example
of the _Gibeonites_ is a sufficient proof where there no
other.

"To speak a little to the Gentlemans first Assertion: _That
none ought to part with their Liberty themselves, or deprive
others of it but upon mature consideration_; a prudent
exception, in which he grants, that upon some consideration
a man may be deprived of his Liberty. And then presently in
his next Position or Assertion he denies it, _viz.: It is
most certain, that all men as they are the Sons of_ Adam
_are Coheirs, and have equal right to Liberty, and all other
Comforts of Life_, which he would prove out of _Psal. 115.
16_. _The Earth hath he given to the Children of Men_. True,
but what is all this to the purpose, to prove that all men
have equal right to Liberty, and all outward comforts of
this life; which Position seems to invert the Order that God
hath set in the World, who hath Ordained different degrees
and orders of men, some to be High and Honourable, some to