The whole of the chapel was crowded to excess. People coming
from all parts of the bay with a chair from any person they
could make their friend, filled the landings. The stairs
leading up the whole of the three stories (which are carried up
outside the buildings in this country) were occupied, by four
persons on each. And then the poor creatures went into our
hall, and laid their ears on the floor to listen from beneath.
This is a congregation in Jamaica; and often we have them
standing in the streets exposed to the rays of a vertical sun!
Behind and before, on the right hand and on the left, we are
surrounded, yea crowded, in every possible way.
The result is, that on the evenings of the sabbath we wear a
completely emaciated appearance. Oh, say you, this is not
right, you ought not to do so. I am fully aware that we ought
not to do so, but the remedy is not with us. You may try, and
try again, to overcome such feelings, but you cannot. I should
pity that man who professed to have the welfare of souls at
heart who would not be aroused by such overwhelming scenes as
we have here. When persons have come from two to twenty or
thirty miles to hear the word of eternal life, to disappoint
more than can possibly be helped, is what I cannot, what I dare
not, do. For as I value my own immortal soul, as I prize the
joys of heaven and dread the miseries of hell, so in proportion
I consider it my duty to let all, as far as in me lies, hear
the truths of that gospel which is able through Christ to raise
poor perishing creatures from the degradation of sin to a life
of righteousness and holiness by faith in him. Pardon me, my
dear brother, pardon me for giving vent to the flowing tear
while I am again considering that the remedy is not with us.
Here is myself and there are my brethren with congregations
which are enormous. We cannot refrain from shedding a tear
again and again, because we are not able to do more for their
thirsty souls. The remedy rests with friends at home.
I often think that I must as I am now doing fall, very soon
fall, a sacrifice to the cause in which I have embarked.
Through mercy I fear it not. I am happy, truly happy, in my
work, and feel confident that should I be a martyr to the
cause, I shall receive a martyr's reward.
BAHAMAS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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