Page:The Black Prince (John Naimbanna).djvu/6

( 6 ) of an outward kind, it plainly affected heart. He had tried, when in Africa, (to use his own words to make himself as proud as he could and he thought it great to revenge himself on any one who had done him an injury: but from the Bible he acquired such humble views of himself, that he was led to see his need of Christ as his Saviour, and the necessity of relying on him as the ground of acceptance with God. Humility was a quality which he found it hard to attain, but before his departure from England, not only his pride, but also his revengeful spirit had become hateful to him. The progress he had made in subduing his passions during his short stay in this country, considering the natural violence of his temper, was considerable. He always expressed sorrow when he had been hasty or passionate in his conduct: as he became more acquainted with christian principles, he acquired more courtesy and delicacy of manners, some degree of which indeed was natural to him; and the superstitious belief in witchcraft to which Africans are so prone, gradually left him.

He paid great respect to the teachers of christianity, whom he wished much to invite over to his country; took great delight in the exercises of devotion, and would talk on religious subjects with much openness and simplicity, and without any mixture of enthusiasm. Love and gratitude to God, who had delivered him from darkness in which, in common with millions of his countrymen, he had lately been plunged, were strongly impressed on his mind, and had a strong abiding effect on the whole of his conduct.

His tenderness of conscience was very striking and it seemed to have become his desire on all