Untitled - African American History

CV1 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF SLAVERY.
ever, the immediate tithe-gatherers became very oppressive,
and demanded more than was required by their
superiors. The Pope himself interfered frequently on
such occasions. 1
Another cause maybe traced in the effects of the Crusades.
In these holy wars, the vassal and his lord had
fought side by side, stimulated by the same religious
enthusiasm, rejoicing in the same victory, and suffering
from the same defeat. The idea of equality among men
became an admitted dogma, and the friendships originating
in common toils and sufferings added another reason
for admitting this equality. Commerce, between
nations, springing up from this common intercourse and
common end, tended to enlarge and liberalize the
opinions
of masters as well as men. 8
In addition to these, were the mild and humanizing
influences of Christianity, which, while it did not forbid
the control of the master over his slave, for their mutual
benefit, exhorted him to remember that his slave was
"the Lord's freeman," and joint heir with him in Christ
of the promises held out to the faithful. At the same
time, teaching the slave obedience to his master under
the law, all earthly authority being by permission ot
God. That bond or free, on earth, is a matter of no
moment, so that heavenly freedom is obtained. Tertul-
lian thus developed this idea to the early Christians :
" In the world they who have received their freedom are
crowned. But thou art ransomed already by Christ, and
indeed bought with a price. How can the world give
freedom to him who is already the servant of another ?
All is mere show in the world, and nothing truth. For
even then, thou wast free in relation to man, being redeemed
by Christ, and now thou art a servant of Christ,
1 See the Letters of Gregory the Great to the Subdeacon Peter, as to
the administration of the property of the Church in Sicily, given by Gui-
zot, in Sect. 8, on Hist, of Civil, in Europe.
2 See Michelet, Hist. &c. Bk. IV, ch. iv.