As it is necessary in order to bring about a change in any, particularly a publick affair, to touch the minds of the people with a just and true sense of the unlawfulness of the thing wanted to be removed, that to the end they may be unanimous in the abolishment thereof; this Dissuasion I am convinced you will find upon perusal, is calculated for that purpose, and am very sensible, that it alone never can strike the great blow without the legislative force added to it. I will detain you no longer; indeed I have almost run into an Introduction amidst this Preface: But it could not well be otherwise, the connexion between them was so great, and had I separated them, I should have incurred your displeasure, by increasing the Prolegomenas to a degree larger than the Dissuasion itself. J. S. A DISSUASION, _&c._ The subject of which these few sheets treat, would have been one of the last I should have ventured upon; had not the delusion of the men who are concerned in enslaving the people called _Negroes_ appeared so glaring, and the contradiction that the _Slave Trade_ bears to Christianity, prompted me to it. I shall be as cool and impartial in treating of this matter, as any British subject or Christian can: But why do I say cool? It is impossible I should speak cooly of such base, unchristian, and inhuman practices, in a land of Liberty and Christianity: However, in case any thing should be mentioned in the sequel that may give unintended offence to any person, I hope the tender feelings for these distressed Captives, with which I am possessed, and the warmth that is in my breast, to have this Trade abolished, will be sufficient excuse. I propose dividing the following Treatise into these different heads. I. Shew, that this custom of making Slaves of our fellow-men, is expressly against the revealed laws of God. II. That it is likewise against the law of nature, and the Charter of this Province. III. The disadvantages arising from this base Trade. IV. The advantages arising from abolishing it. And, V. Conclude with a short admonition to those concerned, and a method to put the Trade to _Africa_ on a just and lawful footing. The first head was, That the custom of making Slaves of our fellow creatures, is expressly against the revealed laws of GOD. And in treating of this part, I shall divide it into the following branches. 1st. By the laws of GOD, _He that stealeth and selleth a man, shall be put to death_. 2d. _He in whose hands he shall be found, shall be put to death_, by the same laws. 3d. _He that buyeth a Servant and serveth him six years, shall set him free the seventh, and furnish him liberally with what he hath._ And 4th. _If thy Brother_, that is, your fellow-creature, _be sold unto thee, thou shall not compel him to serve as a Bond-man; but as an hired Servant_.