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 bis 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
any friends, we are all in the situation of
the poor man by the pool; we are blind and
aing until Jesus cures us. Sin is our disease,
and Jesus is the great pkysieidner."
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
30 in very correct and interesting manner
pronouncing, generally, very well, and with
scarcely any Of the negro accent. He said
"My 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 eueruchere present he is with US ON the
plantation, in the corn.feld and the tobacco
field he is with us at our work, whatever it is
and we don't care for labor, u Jesus as t0ith US.
No; glory, glory! Jesus can help us in all our
tribulation. 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 here"
He then described heaven, as it is described
in the book of Revelations, very accurately.
Some Of our children" said he, 81 are far
SOhh-parted from us here-but in heduen,
there are gates on every 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. Nav they all find their tcdy Il
this gate Jesus is ready to receive them and
you ! come then, to Jesus; come, and b'
made whole of your sin-sicknesS. de Is th'
great physicianer; he will heal all your SIN ant
backsliding. We cannot enter heaven unit
we go to Him for cure, for we are unclean, anC
nothing impure can enter there Come, then
surrender your hearts to Jesus, the great Ply
sicianer of soul and body When we feel very
sick, we send for a physicianer he racks his
|
will cure us; and when we are dying, he says
{ / can't cure you ), there's no hope, you mus
diep But Christ does not say so, bless the
Lord He says, I am the resurrection and the
| life he that belieueth in me shall seuer die
No, glory, glory we shall live with him for.
ever. When we 90 to Jesus for cure he
don't charge us cent for it. No; he cures
all who come freely, without price, All we
| havo uoSt N do 10 IN fooIfb ufs rTp
go to Jesus and tell him all your disease and
He will cay 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 him
really eloquent, untutored as he was. His
countenance, and the countenances of those
around him, beamed with happiness. Several
hymns were sung, which sounded delightfully."-
in this quiet grove, this temple of Nature
And they seemed to sing with the "spirit and
the understanding also" One struck up THU
verse of hymn
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
Were no less days to sing God praise,
Than when we first begun.
All stood in singing and then they knelt il
prayer Several of the coored members prsye
in succession, and their prayers seemed to com
from the heart Their language was excellen
and appropriate. They prayed for master an
mistress for white and black; that the reli
giOn of the parior might extend to oil branche
of the household, and that the little band o.
worsbippers who meet in this grove to-day
may be kept together, and increased in nun
Der.
One man, quite aged, prayed for seven chill
dren parted from him He alluded TO what
his colored brother had said about the gate on
the south, and prayed that they might all find
it, and be happy together in heaven. wish
some of our Northern friends could have wit.
messed this scene in n Southern grove | am
sure they would have enjoyed it, as did. Who
can say the colored race are stupid, and have
no intellect, no capacity for improvement
think differently. IL they can preach and
pray thus, wifhou instruction, how would they,
IL favored with the blessing Of education
P.S.--The aged colored man gave the bene-
diction at the close Of the meeting.
Yours, SARAH.