According to James Henry thornwell what were slaves doing when they obeyed their masters?

James Henley Thornwell, a theologian and educator in the 19th century, believed that slaves, when obeying their masters, were fulfilling their Christian duty and contributing to the orderly operation of society. He argued that slavery was a natural and necessary social institution that maintained social order and harmony. Thornwell's views were part of a pro-slavery ideology that sought to justify and uphold the institution of slavery in the United States.