The History of the Negro ChurchWoodson, Carter Godwin
Religion
The History of the Negro Church
Woodson, Carter Godwin
African Americans -- Religion
[Footnote 6: "In all of his journeyings," says a contributor to the
_Baptist Magazine_, "he seemed to go among the people in the fullness of
the blessings of the Gospel of Christ. He was not indeed an ordinary
man, for without those advantages of good education in early life, he
became distinguished as a preacher. His understanding was vigorous, his
imagination was vivid, his personal appearance was interesting and his
elocution was grateful. We have heard him preach to an audience of more
than 1000 persons when he seemed to have the complete command of their
feelings for an hour together. On baptismal occasions he was truly
eloquent. His arguments were unanswerable, and his appeals to the heart
were powerful. The slow and gentle manner in which he placed candidates
under the water, and raised them up again, produced an indelible
impression on the spectators, that they had indeed seen the burial with
Christ in baptism. Near the close of his career in 1831 when he finally
died of a painful illness, he bore striking testimony to his faith in
Jesus. His mind being 'wonderfully sustained by the consolations of the
Gospel,' he said on one occasion to a friend, 'Since I saw you last I
have been happy in God--my sky has been without a cloud. I know that
when the earthly house of my tabernacle is dissolved, I have a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' When asked at another time if
he had a good hope through grace, O, said he, I am altogether unworthy,
but trust in him 'who of God is made unto me wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification and redemption.' After a short pause, he observed, 'I
know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I
have committed unto him until that day.' When his sufferings were great,
and he felt as if he were dying, he would say in broken accents,
'Come--Lord--Jesus--come quickly.' But he would add, 'I pray for
patience.' He frequently repeated, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth. Whom
I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.' On
his daughter's observing what a fine day it was, and how calm the water
was, he said smiling, 'Just like my mind, my dear--not a
wave--unruffled.' One morning being asked how he had rested the
preceding night, he replied, 'The Lord has spared my life one night
longer; but I never longed for any thing so really, as to die and to be
with my Saviour.' Towards the close of his last sickness, he exclaimed
with emphasis and a voice stronger than usual--'I am now ready to be
offered up and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the
righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.'"]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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