The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-07-28

AS took my seat on bench, very politely
placed for my friend and me under the shade
of an oak, young preacher rose on the stand
and named his text. He had no Bible in his
hand-perhaps he could not read-yet he was
taught Of God He was apparently about thirty
years OF age, was very black, tall, and slender,
and good looking and in speaking, his fine set
of white teeth contrasted strongly with his jet
ty complexion. His text was from Luke:
"Go to the Pool of Sloan, and wash
He said e
any friends we are all in the situation Of
the poor man by the pool; we are blind and
ailing until Jesus cures US. SIN is our disease,
and Jesus is the great physieidner."
| listened with pleasure to this untutored
son of the African race. His utterance was
rapid, and his manner very energetic and,
when wrought up to the highest pitch of feel
ing his gesticulation was violent He related
many of the miracles Of our Saviour, and did
so in very correct and interesting manner
pronouncing, generally very well, and with
scarcely any of the negro accent He said
NV friends, ] was converted in this grove
| was once blind, but Jesus has opened mine
eyes Go to the pool, go wash, and receive
| sight Jesus is waiting TO cure you. Jesus Is
here in the midst Of us my friends; yes, tins
very Jesus who performed these miracles. he
| is everywhere present he is with us on the
plantation, in the corn. field, and the tobacco
field 4; he is with us at our work, whatever 1t Is,
and we don't care for labor, u Jesus IS vith us
No; glory, glory Jesus can help us in all our
circulation When we get to Heaven, we are
no longer in bondage Of any kind Now we
are sinners but, blessed be God, we shall be
free there we shall walk those golden streets
and say, Is this Heaven and am 4 here 2"
He then described heaven, as it is described
in the book of Revelations, very accurately
Some of our children said he, are far
South-parted from US here-but in heaven
there are gates on euery side-north and south
east and west Yes, my brethren, there is a
gate on the south, too, for them to enter into
the kingdom Mag they oil find their tcdy t
this gate Jesus is ready to receive them ant
you come, then to Jesus; come, and b
made whole of your sin-siekness. He is tn
great physicianer; he will heal all your SIN ant
backslidng We cannot enter heaven unit
we go to Him for cure, for we are unclean, ant
nothing impure can enter there. Come, then
surrender your hearts to Jesus, the great Ply
sicaner Of soul and body. When we feel very
sick, wc send for physicianer he racks hi
brains, and is at his wits end to know what
will cure us; and when we are dying, he says
1 can't cure ,ou ; there's no hope, you mus
die' But Chriss does not say so, bless the
Lord He says ! am the resurrection and The
life he that belieusth IN me shall aeUer die.
No, glory, glory we shall live with him for
ever. When we 90 to Jesus for cure, he
don't charge us a cent for it. No. he cure
all who come freely, without price, All WI
have got to do is 10 feel that zoe are sick. Their
go to Jesus, and tell him all your disease anC
He will say to you, Come, now let us reason
together; though your sins are as scarlet they
shall be white as snow
This is as nearly as | can recollect the
subject of his discourse | thought hin
really eloquent, untutored as he was. Hi
countenance and the countenances Of thos
around him, beamed with happiness Severa
hymns were sung, which sounded delightful
in this quiet grove, this temple of Nature
And they seemed to sing with the "spirit an
the understanding also" One struck up thi
verse of hymn
when we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining rs the sum-
Were no less days TO sing God praise
Than when we first begun
All stood in singing, and then they knelt i
prayer. Several of the colored members pray,
III on0Ooooioh, anu euoh prayers Scohiou W eou
from the heart. Their language was excelle
and appropriate. They prayed for master al
mistress for white and black that the rel
gion Of the pdrior might extend to all branch
of the household, and that the little band
worshippers who meet in this grove to-da
may be kept together, and increased in nut
Der.
One man, quite aged, prayed for sven CHI
dren parted from him. He alluded to VIII
his colored brother had said about the gate
the south, and prayed that they might oil fiji
it and be happy together in heaven. wi
some of our Northern friends could have W
messed this scene in Southern grove a
sure they would have enjoyed it. as did. WI
can say the coIored race are stupid, and ha
no inteteet, no capacity for improvement
think differently. II they can preach al
pray thus, gifhout instruction, how would the
IL favored with the blessing of education
PS.-The aged colorcd man gave the ben
dicton at the close Of the meeting.
Yours, SARAH.