Oh, how many have fallen before this temptation: sa
many, that it has almost ceased to be a shame to fall ! Oh,
how many parents may trace the impiety and licentious-
ness and shame of their prodigal sons, to the temptations
found in the female slaves of their own or neighbours'
households. Irregular habits are thus formed, which often
last through life. And many a lovely and excellent wo-
man, confiding in vows of affection and fidelity, trusting
to her power over her devoted lover, has, after uniting her
fate with his, and giving him all that a woman has to give,
found when too late how incorrigible are those habits of
roving desire, formed in youth, and kept alive by the
temptations and facilities of the slave system.
Now when we read the repeated declarations that *^ for-
nicators and adulterers shall not inherit the kingdom of



130 LETTERS ON SLAVERY.
God ;" and call to mind the teaching of our Lord, that
all intercourse between the sexes, except what takes place
between one man and one woman in marriage faith,
amounts to those crimes ; how can we, as believers in
Christianity, uphold a system which presents this tempta-
tion both to the bond and free, and yet escape a participa-
tion in the guilt ?

I notice as another evil of slavery, that it is hostile to
that instruction of slaves, which, if not absolutely neces-
sary, is exceedingly important to their salvation. The
policy of most slave-owners is to keep their slaves in ig-
norance. This often extends to religious matters. Very
little attention is paid to instructing them in religion.
