Page:A memoir of Granville Sharp.djvu/68

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64
MEMOIR OF

the friend of man, (not because he was black or white; or Englishman or foreigner—but because he was God's creature, in God's image, for God's glory, the object of Christ's love, in hopes of heaven, in danger of hell, of one blood, and of one law, and of one calling with himself;) yes, Granville Sharp, the friend of man, then indeed began to live! He slept. He wakened—but not as he had been used to waken; still a prisoner in the body, and subject to all the ills to which it gives access—but "the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on his waking—and the song which he heard was the cherubims' song."

His departure was honored by various societies, and a monument in Westminster Abbey, in that part which is well known by the name of Poet's Corner, marks the public sense of his merits. On this monument, a lion and lamb are represented on one side, lying down together; and on the other, an African, supplicating, in chains. The following is part of the inscription:

"He was incessant in his labours to improve the condition of mankind. Founding public happiness, upon public virtue, He aimed to rescue his native country from the guilt and inconsistency Of employing the arm of freedom, to rivet the fetters of bondage; And established for the negro race, in the person of Somerset, The long disputed rights of human nature: Having in this glorious cause, triumphed over the combined resistance of Interest, Prejudice and Pride."

A few general observations may be added, in relation to this dear brother in the Lord.

Although singularly blessed with an intuitive clearness, and correctness of judgment, and with the most generous and decided firmness in asserting and supporting his convictions, he was not quick at repartee, nor always powerful in colloquial reasoning. False conclusions rarely arose in his mind; and false reasoning scarely ever perplexed him. He deeply saw, but he could not always distinctly expose, on the spot, the sophistries of others. Hence, he some, times appeared to be vanquished, when in God's sight, he was most triumphant; when the thorough rectitude of his