Slavery Ordained of God

Compiled from a series of public speeches and personal letters, this mid‑nineteenth‑century work presents a vigorous theological defense of slavery. The author addresses both Northern philanthropists and Southern planters, arguing that the institution is not a sin but a divinely ordered condition that can coexist with Christian liberty. By citing biblical passages, contemporary scientific ideas, and legal arguments, he seeks to bridge the growing chasm between the two regions.

Listeners will hear the rhetoric used to portray slavery as a temporary, even beneficial, arrangement that serves the “whole American family.” The text reveals how religious authority was marshaled to legitimize the practice, offering a stark glimpse into the moral justifications that shaped the nation’s most turbulent years. It provides a compelling, if unsettling, window into the mindset that preceded the civil conflict.