John Lee

“ But a still more instructive lesson, and one which appears more generally, may be drawn from the conduct of the Black Prince, whose story has just been told. He comes among us rude and ignorant with no just ideas of religion, and after having been accustomed for twenty three years to indulge all his passions without any restraint. No sooner, however, is Christianity placed before him, than he is struck with its truth and beauty, and embraces it with a child-like simplicity. ”

“ As he views himself in the glass of scripture, he perceives its account of human nature to be true from his own experience. Humbled under a sense of his sins and imperfections, trembling under the apprehensions of the consequences of them, and sensible of his inability to help himself, he gladly lays hold of the hope set before him, he believes the promises of God to the penitent, and relies for salvation on Christ alone. ”

“ Has thy heart been turned to fear and to love and to serve the Lord thy God, or does thy conscience witness against thee, that thou art yet a stranger to peace and joy, as well as to the obedience of the gospel. ”

“ And may we not learn hence, to cherish sentiments of kindness and affection towards all men, whatever be their colour, or however low they may stand in the scale of human beings. Those especially who know how to estimate the blessings of religion, and who have a regard for the everlasting happiness of their fellow creatures, will be encouraged by it, to promote, with zeal, every plan which tends to introduce Christianity among the savage nations of the earth, or to remove the hindrances to its introduction. ”

“ At length a number of English gentlemen, who had at heart the same thing formed themselves into a company for the purpose of putting a stop to the trade in slaves, and spreading in Africa the blessings of the gospel. ”

“ IN Africa, the country where the negroes live, and from which slaves are taken, there was a king who was not a Christian, but who was a better man (to their shame be it spoken) than many who call themselves Christians. ”

“ He sent his son thither, not to make a fortune, not to procure an insight into trade, nor to form great connections, but to learn the Christian Religion. How many parents are there in this country, where it is so easy to attain the means of learning the Christian Religion, who take no pains to make their children acquainted with it. ”

“ This immediately quieted his rage and he became as calm as a lamb, nor was used afterwards to express the least anger against the gentleman who had so much offended him.
Another time, when he saw a man beat his horse about the head and otherways use it ill, he became very angry, and talked of getting a gun to shoot the man, for he was sure he deserved it, and also of carrying a gun always about him to shoot such bad people. As soon, however, as a passage of Scripture which condemned such violence was mentioned to him his anger ceased, and he became sorry for it. ”