slaves knew no more about God than what they eollected from the wicked oaths of white people. Their conversation on these matters made them forget the proper time when they should have begun work. Of course, the overseer came upon them in a rage, and whipped them to their respective employments, who, finding that I was the cause of their detention, declared I should no more be a snare to his slaves; wherefore, I was put under lock and key in his house. Persecution for imprudence or indiseretion, is not persecution for righteousness’ sake. I teach my friends to do all things in order, lest they should bring reproach on the good cause; not to be in their closets when they ought to be at work, nor at work when they ought to be in their closets.
I was soon after sent off the island, in a vessel on its way to South America. In a few woeks, the vessel arrived at its destined harbour, and I was exehanged for a few dead birds, of a beautiful plumage, whieh the mate intended to earry home as curiosities. My purchaser soon perceived that I had some sentences very different from the assertions of some of my brethren. For example, when I said, one day, that Jacob worshipped, lcaning on the top of his staff: ‘That’s false,’ said he; for our priest told mc that father Jacob worshipped the top of his staff.’ At another time, when I said, ‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, nor the likeness of anything in heaven or in earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them;’ he was very angry, and almost threw me into thc fire; ‘for,’ said he, ‘our pricsts insist more on our worshipping images of the Virgin Mary, and othcr saints, than on worshipping God, or his Son Jesus Christ.’ He then demanded my sentiments about Purgatory, but on this subject he could not get me to say a word. On this he concluded I was some spurious character, and resolved to part with me the first opportunity that offered.
My possessor watched the opportunity of some North American vessel calling at the port, that he might dispose of me. For nearly six months I was hardly permitted to speak one word. Two or three times I was suspended by the corner of my coat, and viewed in the most disdainful manner by somc onc or another, who, saying I was heretically inclined, would throw me with vengeance against the wall. Immediately after one of these occasions, I happened to say, ‘Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish!’ which made them scrious for a minute; but a pcrson present assured them that this was an old cant phrase of mine, and need not be attended to.
A North American vessel arrived, but they forgot me till she was sailing out of harbour. However, the son of my
