Having thus travelled through _Maryland_, we came amongst Friends at _Cedar-Creek_ in _Virginia_, on the 12th Day of the fifth Month; and the next Day rode, in Company with several Friends, a Day's Journey to _Camp-Creek_. As I was riding along in the Morning, my Mind was deeply affected in a Sense I had of the Want of divine Aid to support me in the various Difficulties which attended me; and, in an uncommon Distress of Mind, I cried in secret to the Most High, O Lord, be merciful, I beseech thee, to thy poor afflicted Creature. After some Time, I felt inward Relief; and, soon after, a Friend in Company began to talk in Support of the Slave-Trade, and said, the Negroes were understood to be the Offspring of _Cain_, their Blackness being the Mark God set upon him after he murdered _Abel_ his Brother; that it was the Design of Providence they should be Slaves, as a Condition proper to the Race of so wicked a Man as _Cain_ was: Then another spake in Support of what had been said. To all which, I replied in Substance as follows: That _Noah_ and his Family were all who survived the Flood, according to Scripture; and, as _Noah_ was of _Seth's_ Race, the Family of _Cain_ was wholly destroyed. One of them said, that after the Flood _Ham_ went to the Land of _Nod_, and took a Wife; that _Nod_ was a Land far distant, inhabited by _Cain's_ Race, and that the Flood did not reach it; and as _Ham_ was sentenced to be a Servant of Servants to his Brethren, these two Families, being thus joined, were undoubtedly fit only for Slaves. I replied, the Flood was a Judgment upon the World for its Abominations; and it was granted, that _Cain's_ Stock was the most wicked, and therefore unreasonable to suppose they were spared: As to _Ham's_ going to the Land of _Nod_ for a Wife, no Time being fixed, _Nod_ might be inhabited by some of _Noah's_ Family, before _Ham_ married a second Time; moreover the Text saith, "That all Flesh died that moved upon the Earth." _Gen._ vii. 21. I farther reminded them, how the Prophets repeatedly declare, "That the Son shall not suffer for the Iniquity of the Father; but every one be answerable for his own Sins." I was troubled to perceive the Darkness of their Imaginations; and in some Pressure of Spirit said, the Love of Ease and Gain is the Motive in general for keeping Slaves, and Men are wont to take hold of weak Arguments to support a Cause which is unreasonable; and added, I have no Interest on either Side, save only the Interest which I desire to have in the Truth: And as I believe Liberty is their Right, and see they are not only deprived of it, but treated in other Respects with Inhumanity in many Places, I believe he, who is a Refuge for the Oppressed, will, in his own Time, plead their Cause; and happy will it be for such as walk in Uprightness before him: And thus our Conversation ended.