Page images
PDF
EPUB

years cruelty and persecution which could hardly obtain credence. She bore about on her body the visible marks of her faithful allegiance to the Lord Jesus; yet while alluding to this, tears filled her eyes, and she said with emotion, "I am thankful that I have been found worthy to suffer for my blessed Saviour."

5. Although living in great poverty, and subsisting at times on casual charity, with health impaired by the sufferings through which she had passed, yet neither promises of protection, accompanied with the offer of the good things of this life, on the one hand, nor the dreadful persecution she endured on the other, could make her relinquish the office of a minister of the Gospel. This office she continued to exercise, holding meetings regularly on the first day of the week, at her own little habitation, where a greater number at times assembled than could be accommodated in the house.

6. It may be interesting to add some particulars relative to the trial of her faith and the persecution she suffered. One individual in whose neighbourhood she lived, who was much annoyed by hearing her sing and pray, offered, if she would desist, to provide her with a home and the comforts of life; but she replied, she had received a commission to preach the Gospel, and she' would preach it as long as she had breath. Several illintentioned persons one night surrounded her house, and commanded her to come out to them. This she refused to do.

After threatening her for some time, they forced open the door, and having seized their victim, they beat her cruelly, so that her head was deeply indented with the blows she received. At another time she was so much injured that she was left nearly lifeless on the open road, whither she had fled to escape from them; but her unsuccessful efforts increased the rage of her pursuers, and after treating her with the utmost barbarity, they left her. She was found after some time, but so exhausted by the loss of blood, that she was unable to walk, and from the efforts of that cruelty she did not recover for years. But it may be said of her, that she joyfully bore persecution for Christ's sake.

1

7. A man who lived in the same village, being much incensed at the undaunted manner in which she stood forth as the minister of the meek and crucified Saviour, swore that he would beat her severely if ever be found an opportunity. One evening, as she was walking home on a solitary road, she saw this person riding towards her; she knew of his intentions, and from his character did not doubt that he would execute them. She trembled from head to foot; escape seemed impracticable, and prayer was her only refuge. As he advanced she observed that his handkerchief fell and was wafted by the wind to a little distance; she picked it up---he stopped his horse, and she handed it to him in a submissive manner; he looked at her fiercely for a moment, when his countenance softened; he took it, saying, "Well, Clarinda," and passed on.

8. She was not able to read a word till her 66th year, but was in the practice of getting persons to read the Holy Scriptures to her; much of which she retained in her memory with remarkable accuracy. By dint of application she was at length able to read them herself; and those who visited her in advanced life, found her knowledge of the Scriptures, as well as her growth in grace, very surprising.

9. When she was one hundred years old, and very feeble, she would, if able to get out of bed, on the morning of the first day of the week, discharge what she thought to be her duty, by conversing with and exhorting both the white and coloured people who came to her house, often standing for half an hour at a time. Her zeal was indeed great, and her faith stedfast. She said she often wished she could write, that she might in this way also express her anxiety for the good of souls. Then she would have described more of the exercises of her mind upon the depravity of man by nature and by practice, with the unbounded and redeeming love and mercy of God through Jesus Christ.

10. The person who gives the account of Clarinda's death, says, "I was prevented seeing her often in her last moments; when I did she was always the same:

[ocr errors]

her one theme the love of God to poor sinners, which was always her style of speaking. One day, as I sat by her bedside, she said to me, 'Do you think I am a Christian? Yes,' I answered, 'I do believe you are a Christian.' 'I have tried to be,' she replied,' but now that I suffer in my body, when I think what an unprofitable servant I have been, I am distressed.' She then wept. You know,' I said, 'it is not how much we can do, but what we do sincerely for the love of Christ, that is acceptable.' She seemed comforted, and talked as usual. She showed me much affection when I left her, saying, 'I shall not live long, my dear,' and adding a few other words, blessed me, and bid me pray for her. She had frequently expressed her fears of the bodily sufferings of death, but not accompanied with a dread of eternal death. I asked her when she was ill, if she now feared to die. She said 'No: this fear was taken away sometime previous to my illness.""

10. She requested that her people, as she called them, might continue to meet at her house; but this was not allowed. I am told they meet sometimes elsewhere, and are called "Clarinda's People." When dying, she told those near her, to follow her only as she had followed Christ. Her death occurred in 1832. "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bring forth fruit in old age."

[ocr errors]

a

11. While perusing this remarkable account of brand plucked from the burning," let those who from their earliest years have enjoyed the inestimable privilege of access to the Sacred Volume, and various other religious means, seriously consider the blessed Saviour's words"To whom much is given, of him shall be much required."

Naimbanna.

1. When the Sierra Leone Company was first settled, they endeavored to bring over to their friendship, all the

petty African princes in their neighborhood. Among others, they applied to a chief of the name of Naimbanna, who was remarkable for a good disposition, and an acute understanding. He easily saw that the intention of the Company was friendly to Africa, and entered into amity with them. They spoke to him about the slave-trade, and gave him reasons for wishing to have it abolished. He was convinced of its vileness; and declared, that not one of his subjects should ever go into slavery again.

2. By degrees, they began to talk to him about religion. But he was rather wary on that head. It seems he had formed some prejudices against Christianity. Finding, however, that the factory contained a very good sort of people, and that they lived happily among themselves, he began to think more favorably of their religion. But he was still backward either in receiving it himself, or in making it the religion of his country. He was well convinced of the barbarous state of his own people, on a comparison with Europeans; and wished for nothing more than a reformation among them, especially in religion. But as he found there were several kinds (or forms) of religion in the world, he wished to know which was the best, before he introduced any of them.

3. To ascertain this point as well as he could, he took the following method. He sent one of his sons into Turkey, among the Mahometans; a second into Portugal, among the Papists; and a third he recommended to the Sierra Leone Company, desiring they would send him into England, to be there instructed in the religion of the country. By the report of his sons, it appears, he meant to be directed in the choice of a national religion. Of the two former of these young men, we have no particulars; only that one of them became very vicious. The last mentioned, though I believe the eldest, bore his father's name, Naimbanna. The Sierra Leone Company received the charge of him with great pleasure, believing that nothing could have a better ef

fect in promoting their benevolent schemes, than making him a good Christian.

[ocr errors]

4. Young Naimbanna was a perfect African in form; and that bluntness of feature, with which the African face is commonly marked. While he was with the Company, he seemed a well-disposed, tractable youth; but when opposed, he was impatient, fierce, and subject to violent passion.

5. In the first ship that sailed he was sent to England, where he arrived in the year 1791. We may imagine with what astonishment he surveyed every object that came before him: but his curiosity, in prudent, hands, became from the first, the medium of useful instruction.

6. During his voyage, he had acquired some knowledge of the English language.; and although he could not speak it with any degree of fluency, he could understand much of what he heard spoken: which greatly facilitated his learning it, when he applied to it in 'a more regular way. The difficulty of learning to speak and read, being in a great degree subdued, he was put upon the grand point for which he was sent to England; that of being instructed in the Christian religion. The gentlemen to whose care he had been recommended, alternately took him under their protection; and each gave up his whole time to him, faithfully discharging the trust which he had voluntarily, and without any emolument, undertaken. Naimbanna was first made acquainted with the value of the Bible; the most material parts of the Old Testament, as well as the New, were explained to him. The great necessity of a Saviour, for the sinfulness of man, was pointed out; the end and design of Christianity, its doctrines, its precepts, and its sanctions, were all made intelligible to him. With clearness of understanding, which astonished those who took the care of instructing him, he made those divine truths familiar to him. He received the Gospel with joy; and carried it home to his heart, as the means of happiness both in this world and the next. 7. His love for reading the Scriptures, and hearing them read, was such, that he never was tired of the ex

« PreviousContinue »