Page Highlights

Here in the opening page of the 1680 document (60 years after Africans were first brought to America for slavery), Christian Missionary Morgan Godwyn:

A. Refers to himself, through the document title, as the "Negroe's and Indian's Advocate" (synonyms for advocate include: champion, proponent, backer, lawyer, attorney, counselor, counsel; barrister; solicitor)

B. In line with the role of attorney, states that he is, "Suing for their admission into the church"

C. In conjunction with his stated purpose of the lawsuit, through the word suing, states his final goal of gaining the legal right to the "Instructing and Baptizing of the Negros and Indians" on the plantaionsowners being the defendants of this lawsuit

D. Alludes to the fact that the plantation owners are the ones who are opposed to the Africans on their plantations being converted to Christianity from the Africans' traditional religion and worship of God

E. Provides reference to what knowlege, through the Bible, the plantation owners were opposed to the Africans being exposed to, that being the God-given right to freedom and liberty in Old Testament stories, alluded to in the reference of the Israelite freedom from Egyptain slavery, "...the Children of Israel came up out of the Land of Egypt..."
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