Daily Republican., 1879-12-08
Of MRS. Aman da smi tn


Mrs. Amanda Smith, negress, with
whose name our readers are acquaint-
ed, being called upon by Mr.. Cowper-
Temple, told her thrilling story with
the strange weird pathos which long
years of oppression have wrought into
the negro's voice, yet with the dignity
Of a kings daughter, and with the sim
plicity Of little child:
was very definitely converted to
God in 1856. Twas very ignorant, but
| had been taught that God would save
me the moment believed. l lived in
the country, in family Of "Friends, ?"
and went to town only once fortnight.
When was convicted Of sin prayed,
tasted, wept, read my bible, but the
more read the more confused got. l
used to think my own troubls was dis
obedience, and it seemed to me need
cd some one that had not sinned to in
tercede with Jesus for me. Therefore l
cried to the wind, the sun, and moon,
and stars, to carry my sorrow to the
Lord. 80 wind you never sinned
like me tell Jesus am poor sinner.
When the sun got up and lightened
the world said, 30 sun you never
sinned like me tell Jesus Pm poor
sinner" At night, when the moon
and stars were shining, | cried in my
distress, 40 moon and stars you've
never sinned like me, but kept your
places al God made you tell Jesus Pm
a poor sinner" Thus pleaded sec
ond -handedly with Jesus through the
heavenly bodies but, oh i! the won
derful forbearance Of God cannot
understand It.
| sat down one day almost in despair
The suggestion came-"You've been
sincere; you've tasted, wept, prayed, ,
read your Bible. You've been three
months like this. God does His work
Quick; II He'd meant to convert you
He'd have done 1t long ago. Give 1t
upl' But it seemed as II the Holy
Spirit said, "Pray once mors."
eyes" | said. "and I'll be converted
this afternoon If there's any such thing
as conversion" It was March II, =
bright and beautiful day. l got all my
work as forward as l could, and then
went down into the cellar and began to
pray, 80 Lord, convert my soul.' The
sugg followed, "Thats just what
you've said many times before. It's
no use." began again, 30 Lord,
please convert my soul. Ifyou'll only
do 1t, III love and obey you all my
life: o Lord, II not, I've come down
here to die. Salvation or death
I'll never leave this cellar alive uA-
less have that which I've been pray
ing for so long" Well, did die but,
| came to life again very quick. said
80 Lord, / will believe" The dark
ness that had filed my heart SO long all
passed as before the MONDAY sun.
when got a glimpse Of Christ, my
Saviour, my bonds were loosed, and
cried, "Why, Lord, do believe this
il lust what I've been asking for. .
Lord, | do believe !" and down 1t came
like q wave all through me again and
again.
Why didn't they tell me 1t was like
this !? Why didn't they tell me 1t was
only by believing God? l was new
creature. l was all new-my flesh, my
head, my whole being. | rubbed my
hands together, and said, "Oh, I'm
new |" You know what colour they
are but there seemed halo over them.
| made but two springs out Of the Gel
lar. The glory Of God filed my heart.
| wanted to tell some one, and l thought
must wait fortnight before l can tell
out my joyi How many times | had
prayed for hours in that kitchen after
they had all gone to bed
Now struck the table at which l
had 80 often knelt, and cried, "rm
saved I" and the table seemed to
bound with delight. ! wanted to see If
| was the same. might have been as
green as grass or as black as the ace OF
spades, but / felt new. There was
large mirror in the parlour, and went
in there to see II was the same, or II
some wonderful change had come over
me.
When told about it, some OF my
people said, "There'll be q vacillation.
Wait till the devil fires a few bomb
shells, and you won't be as happy as
you are now." Not being taught that
God would sanotify and keep me, was
sometimes on the mountain, sometimes
in the valley; but in reading my Bible
and praying vey much l began to see
that God had more Of the same kind to
follow. and being SO much more 1t really
was better than the beginning.
had now begun to seek entire sane
tiication. asked an elder what was
meant by being "pure in heart" ~
child" he said, that means you
must come as rear to 1t as you can.' !
went home, but oh, this hunger ana
thirst after righteousness was not sat-
isfisd. When was convicted for holi-
ness was in a clearly justified state.
had no doubt about my acceptance
with God. When l was converted 1t
was conviction Of guilt; now 1t was con-
viction Of want. As the hart panteth
After tho water brooks, so my soul
-, .rX. ga tho living God.