"_Perfecta servitus paenae, non potest jure locum habere, nisi ex delicto gravi quod ultimum supplicium aliquo modo meretur: quia Libertas ex naturali aestimatione proxime accedit ad vitam ipsam, & eidem a multis praeferri solet._ "Ames. Cas. Confc. Lib. 5. Cap. 23. Thes. 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.