The slavery described in the OT & NT looked nothing like 1700's slavery. Even under the Romans, one could eventually secure their freedom and become a citizen.
A passion for sugar and sweets led Britain into the iniquity of the slave trade. The capture of Jamaica (1655), Barbados (1625), and Bermuda gave Britain an inheritance of sugar. In 1700, Jamaica had 45,000 slaves and was the world's largest sugar producer. By 1775, there were 250,000 slaves and 19,000 whites, with an annual income of 1.6 million British pounds (for today's amount, multiply by perhaps 1,000 to account for inflation).
William Cowper lampooned the slave trade in the poem “Pity for Poor Africans” as he exposed why Britain was involved:
“I pity them greatly, but I must be mum, For how could we do without sugar and rum? Especially sugar, so needful we see? What? give up our desserts, our coffee, and tea!”
Quaker Anthony Benezet was one of the first to voice opposition.
Baptist William Carey said that the Brits should stop buying sugar and instead send their money to the missionaries.
William Wilberforce and Abraham Booth were key in opposing slavery in England and eventually seeing its downfall.
In the 1700s slavery was justified by viewing slaves as less than human. In our day, those supporting abortion do the same.
Many early evangelicals did not see the evils immediately. Newton continued for five years after conversion and Whitfield introduced it to Georgia.
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“ Useful. ” Useful message, most unknown things to me, I had much to learn. I am thankful that I observed again that God had and had always His men to fight for His cause.
Dr. Michael Anthony George Haykin is currently Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Haykin was born in 1953 of Irish and Kurdish parents and raised in England. He emigrated with his family...
