"God saw fit, for wise reasons to allow the people of Israel thus to make and possess slaves; but is this any license to us to enslave any of our fellow-men, to kill any of our fellow-men whom we please and are able to destroy, and take possession of their estates?"

This quote by Samuel Hopkins is a tip that God allowed individuals of Israel to make and have servants, yet this does not give us the right to shackle, kill, or seize the estates of our fellow humans. Hopkins is emphasizing that God's allowance of enslavement in the Old Testament does not give us the right to do the exact same in today day. He is reminding us that we should not make use of God's allocation of enslavement in the Old Testament as a reason to enslave, eliminate, or take possession of the estates of our fellow human beings. We should instead make every effort to deal with all people with respect and also dignity, regardless of their race, sex, or social status. Hopkins' quote is a pointer that we need to not use God's allocation of enslavement in the Old Testament as an excuse to abuse our fellow people.