Samuel Sewall The Selling Of Joseph A Memorial Summary

380 Words2 Pages
Samuel Sewall was the first to write an anti-slavery tract in New England, urging the Puritans to evaluate the issue of slavery. He spoke about the injustice of slavery and tried to educate the populous on the atrocity of the slave trade. In “The Selling of Joseph a Memorial”, Sewall refutes the general beliefs about slavery by using the Puritans’ strong belief in God and the Bible to give supporting verses for his answers on servitude. While Sewall objected to slavery he presented a rather Pharisaical perspective on slavery and then proceeded to manipulate the Bible to support his answers to the objections. Sewalls’ view on slavery was selfish at best. He recognized the injustice of slavery and was willing to call it out, but he only saw