Page:Voyages and travels of a Bible.pdf/7

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OF A BIBLE.
7

observed by the company; they laughed heartily, and assured him that his reluctance to join them in what they termed their sociality, arose from the prejudice of edueation; that he must endeavour to banish all his fears of futurity, and mind present enjoyment. These, and similar obscrvations, gradually unhinged the principles of young George, and bcfore reaching their destined port, his checks of conscience were almost gone. What a dreadful state when a man’s conseience ceases to be a reprover!

Aftcr the arrival of the ship, we all went ashore, and George was soon fixed in a very advantagcous situation for getting money. When the first Sabbath arrived, he protested against transacting business on that day, declaring that he had never been accustomed to do anything of that kind. They advised him to labour hard seven days in the week, and he would return sooner to the country from whcnee he came. They told him that only a few superannuated whites in the whole island went to church, and sometimes a few slaves. In this manner he was prevailed upon to conform to the infidel practices of the place. I told him that for all, these things God would bring him into judgment; that he was like the rest of the wicked, who waxed worse and worse; that ho did not love Jesus Christ, else he would keep his commandments, notwithstanding all the raillery and reproach to which ho was exposed. I warned him, that whoever was ashamed to confess Christ before men, of him would he be ashamed in the presence of his Father and the holy angels.

In a few months he became as wicked and abandoned as any on the island. He made a present of me to a poor native, who could read a little English. I frequently conversed with him, but he could not understand what I said, He often desired me to speak to his companions. A few were greatly affccted with what I said. They often called upon me. Sometimes they pleasantly said, my words made them very happy; they desired to go to that happy world which I commended so highly; they fervently prayed to Jesus, to take them to it. An old slave crept in one day, inquiring if Jesus could do anything for very bad people. I replied,—‘It is a faithful saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. He is able to save to the very uttermost all who eome unto God through him.’ The black man, bathed in tears, exclaimed, ‘Good book; tell me good news!’

After some years, I was sent for in great haste to visit my old proprietor George, who, by his intemperance, was brought to the gates of death. In his affliction he remembered me. I told him, ‘Fools make a mock at sin, but sin finds them