God , who humbles the vanquished either for the sake of removing or of punishing their sins . Witness that man of God , Daniel , who, when he was in captivity , confessed to God his own sins and the sins of his people, and declares with pious grief that these were the cause of the captivity . Daniel ix The prime cause , then, of slavery is sin , which brings man under the dominion of his fellow -- that which does not happen save by the judgment of God , with whom is no unrighteousness, and who knows how to award fit punishments to every variety of offense. But our Master in heaven says, Every one who does sin is the servant of sin . John 8:34 And thus there are many wicked masters who have religious men as their slaves , and who are yet themselves in bondage ; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage . 2 Peter 2:19 And beyond question it is a happier thing to be the slave of a man than of a lust ; for even this very lust of ruling, to mention no others, lays waste men's hearts with the most ruthless dominion. Moreover, when men are subjected to one another in a peaceful order, the lowly position does as much good to the servant as the proud position does harm to the master. But by nature , as God first