Anonymous

“ Thus, evincing by his conversation and example, the truth of that scripture declaration, “All thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children; in righteousness shalt thou be established.” ”

“ On its being asked him, whether he thought so well of his friends that used the products of slavery, as he would do, if they did not use such articles; he replied, “Obedience is all, with me. I believe it is required of me, not to use these things: and if it has never been required of them, not to use these things, then they are as much in the way of their duty, in using them, as I am in the way of my duty, in not using them.”
When William was drawing near the close of his long and exemplary life, his bodily powers failed through weakness, and the decay of nature ”

“ It may be useful to survivors, who, like William, are desirous so to live, as that they may become fit to die,—to bring into view some anecdotes of his life, that show the principles by which his mind and conduct were regulated. ”

“ As the memory of those who have followed the leadings of that Teacher which leadeth into all truth, and enables its votaries to become, by example, [Pg 15] preachers of righteousness, is precious, we feel engaged to give the following testimony concerning our deceased friend, William Boen, a coloured man.
He was born in the year 1735, in the neighbourhood of Rancocas. Being a slave from his birth, he had very little opportunity of acquiring useful learning; yet by his own industry and care, he succeeded in learning to read and write. ”

“ Go, cut that tree down.’ Then, I didn’t know what I should do. But he never said any thing to me about it. I cut on, and got some distance by it; and one day my old master brought out his axe, and cut the tree down himself; and never said, William, why didn’t thee cut that tree down? never said any thing to me about it. Then I thought, surely my new Master will make way for me, and take care of me, if I love him, and mind him, and am attentive to this my guide, and rule of life. And [Pg 6] this seemed an evidence and proof of it, and strengthened me much in love, and confidence in my Guide. ”

“ On being asked, whether he could remember in what way, and by what means, he was first brought to mind and follow that, which had been his guide and rule of faith and life, and which had led and preserved him so safely along through time? William answered as follows: “Oh! yes; that I can, right well. In the time of the old French war, my master (for I was a poor black boy, a slave) my master sent me to chop wood, on a hill-side, out of sight of any house ”