Page:The Black Prince (John Naimbanna).djvu/14

( 14 ) The other was written after he had been some time at sea, and had made some unavailing remonstrances to the captain on the profaneness of his crew; and in it he declared, "that if the crews of other vessels should be like the crew of the Naimbanna, he should never think of coming to England, though he had friends there as dear to him as the last words of his father."

May we not conclude from the above story that God has given to the most rude and savage people minds capable of knowing, loving, and serving him. 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. Happy, if through their instrumentality, those who now sit in darkness, should be brought, like Naimbanna, to know God and themselves, and to rejoice in hope of his glory.

Let us also learn from this story, that God's ways are not as our way. Short sighted as we are, we are ready to conclude, that this young man had been sent by Heaven to be a blessing to Africa, and to spread the christian Religion among his countrymen. But God, who sees and knows all things, determined otherwise. He saw it right to take Naimbanna from the evil to come; thus disappointing our hopes, but, at the same time,