Page:Voyages and travels of a Bible.pdf/20

 been in conveying to his mind the knowledge of his Creator audand [sic] Redeemer, before he knew me, he declared he had been as ignorant of himself and his God as the very fowls of heaven. ‘But now,’ said he, ‘I know the grace of the Lord Jesus, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might bobe [sic] made rich.’ They asked him if he was any happier since he knew these things. ‘Happier!’ said Teito, with tears in his eyes, ‘I never was happy before. I knew nothing that could make me so; but now I know my God to be my Friend, his Son to be the Prince of pcacepeace [sic] and of life to me. My Friend, the PrineePrince [sic] of life, lives in my soul, and teaches me to live a life of dependence on his dear, faithful, precious Word, which is sweeter to me than honey from the honcycombhoneycomb [sic].’

‘Do you not think, Teito, you should bobe [sic] happier still, if your master would give you your liberty?’ ‘I should, in that case,’ replied Teito, ‘bless God, and thank my master. But though I am now my master’s slave, yet I am God's free man. He allows me to speak to him when I please, to ask from him any favour; and he does it for me as readily as hohe [sic] does for the richest Christian in the world. He tells me that all his family are one in Christ Jesus, and that when I reach the heavcnlyheavenly [sic] mansions, I shall reign with his Son. In fact, that I am an heir of God, and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Is it not wonderful, my friends, that God should be so kind and condescending to a poor slave?’

Our two visitors sat amazed at hearing old Teito tell them of the love of the great God to his soul. Indeed, this was the first time that he had ever heard a man speak of the love of the great God to his soul; nor is this surprising in such a country, where the acquisition of wealth is universally eonsideredconsidered [sic] to be the one thing needful to render men happy. God, and his great salvation, are entirely negleetedneglected [sic]. The white people’s children are brought up for business, but not for God. ThcirTheir [sic] cdueationeducation [sic] is the same as if they had no soul, and as if there was neither a God, nor a heaven, nor a hell. As for the black ehildrenchildren [sic], they are reared like beasts, merely for work. Their parcntsparents [sic] know nothing to teach them, and their masters, in general, know as little about God; wherefore they are left to grow up, to live, and to die, in ignorance.

Teito now desired me to speak to his two friends, which I did for several hours, and they then left us in silence, hut seesaingly very thoughtful.

The shadows of the evening began to appear in Teito, for his bodily strength was decaying apace. His master, being a humane man, did not exact his usual labour, but allowed him to work or not, as he pleased. This gave him