Adventures and adventurers > Voyages and travels of a Bible

VOYAGES AND TRAVELS
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skives knew no more about God than what they collected
from the wicked oaths of white people. Their conversation
on these matters made them forget the proper time when
they should have begun work. Of course, the overseer came
upon them in a rage, and whipped them to their respective
employments, who, finding that I was the cause of their
detention, declared I should no more be a snare to his slaves ;
wherefore, I was put under lock and key in his house. Per¬
secution for imprudence or indiscretion, is- not persecution for
righteousness’ sake. I teach my friends to do all things in
order, lest they should bring reproach on the good cause ; not
to be in their closets when they ought to be at work, nor at
work when they ought to be in their closets.
I was soon after sent off the island, in a vessel on its way
to South America. In a few weeks, the vessel arrived at its
destined harbour, and I was exchanged for a few dead birds,
of a beautiful plumage, which the mate intended to carry
home as curiosities. My purchaser soon perceived that I
had some sentences very different from the assertions of some
of mv brethren. For example, when I said, one day, that
Jacob worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff: ‘ That’s
false,’ said he ; 1 for our priest told me that father Jacob wor¬
shipped the top of his staff.’ At another time, when I said,
‘ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, nor the
likeness of anything in heaven or in earth ; thou shalt not
bow down thyself to them, nor serve them ;’ he was very
angry, and almost threw me into the fire ; * for,’ said he, ‘ our
priests insist more on our worshipping images of the Virgin
Mary, and other saints, than on worshipping God, or his Son
Jesus Christ.’ He then demanded my sentiments about Pur¬
gatory, but on this subject he could not get me to say a word.
On this he concluded I was some spurious character, and re¬
solved to part with me the first opportunity that offered.
My possessor watched the opportunity of some North
American vessel calling at the port, that he might dispose of
me. For nearly six months I was hardly permitted to speak
one word. Two or throe times I was suspended by the cor¬
ner ef my coat, and viewed in the most disdainful manner by
some one or another, who, saying I was heretically inclined,
would throw me with vengeance against the wall. Immediately
after one of these occasions, I happened to say, ‘ Behold, ye
despisers, and wonder, and perish !’ which made them seri¬
ous for a minute; but a person present assured them that
this was an old cant phrase of mine, and need not be at¬
tended to.
A North American vessel arrived, but they forgot me till
she was sailing out of harbour. However, the son of my pro-