“When, after the deluge,” says Josephus, “the earth was settled in its former condition, Noah set about its cultivation; and when he had planted it with vines, and when the fruit was ripe, and he had gathered the grapes in the season, and the wine was ready for use, he offered a sacrifice and feasted, and, being inebriated, fell asleep, and lay in an unseemly manner.  When Ham saw this, he came laughing, and showed him to his brothers.”  Does not this exhibit the impression of the Jews as regards the character of Ham?  Could a man capable of such an act deserve the blessing of a just and holy God?

“The fact of Noah’s transgression is recorded by the inspired historian with that perfect impartiality which is peculiar to the Scriptures, as an instance and evidence of human frailty and imperfection.  Ham appears to have been a bad man, and probably he rejoiced to find his father in so unbecoming a situation, that, by exposing him, he might retaliate for the reproofs which he had received from his parental authority.  And perhaps Canaan first discovered his situation, and told it to Ham.  The conduct of Ham in exposing his father to his brethren, and their behaviour in turning away from the sight of his disgrace, form a striking contrast.”—­Scott’s Com.

We are told in Gen. ix. 22, “And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without;” and in the 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th verses we read, “And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him; and he said, Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.  And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant.  God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant.”  Is it not preposterous that any man, any Christian, should read these verses and say slavery was not instituted by God as a curse on Ham and Canaan and their posterity?

And who can read the history of the world and say this curse has not existed ever since it was uttered?

“The whole continent of Africa,” says Bishop Newton, “was peopled principally by the descendants of Ham; and for how many ages have the better parts of that country lain under the dominion of the Romans, then of the Saracens, and now of the Turks!  In what wickedness, ignorance, barbarity, slavery, misery, live most of the inhabitants!  And of the poor negroes, how many hundreds every year are sold and bought like beasts in the market, and conveyed from one quarter of the world to do the work of beasts in another!”

But does this curse authorize the slave-trade?  God forbid.  He commanded the Jews to enslave the heathen around them, saying, “they should be their bondmen forever;” but he has given no such command to other nations.  The threatenings and reproofs uttered against Israel, throughout the old Testament, on the subject of slavery, refer to their oppressing and keeping in slavery their own countrymen.  Never is there the slightest imputation of sin, as far as I can see, conveyed against them for holding in bondage the children of heathen nations.