Published in 1842, this book provides an early glimpse into the religious practices and beliefs of African Americans in the southern United States. Jones, a Presbyterian minister and slave owner, advocates for the religious education of enslaved people as a means of improving their moral character and reducing the risk of rebellion. He presents his own experiences and observations along with biblical references to support his argument. This book is an important document for understanding the intersection of religion and race in 19th century America. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.