ered my feelings. To my surprise, however, I found that the family
had not only been aware of my state for several days, but were deeply
anxious on my behalf. The following Sabbath, Dr. Cox was on a visit in
Brooklyn to preach, and was a guest in the family; hearing of my case, he
expressed a wish to converse with me, and without knowing the plan, I was
invited into a room and left alone with him. He entered skilfully and
kindly into my feelings, and after considerable conversation he invited me
to attend his service that afternoon. I did so, and was deeply interested.
Without detaining the reader with too many particulars, I will only state
that I heard the doctor once or twice after this, at his own place of
worship in New York City, and had several personal interviews with him, as
the result of which, I hope, I was brought to a saving acquaintance with
Him, of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write; and soon
connected myself with the church under his pastoral care.
I now returned with all my renewed powers to the great theme--slavery. It
seemed now as I looked at it, to be more hideous than ever. I saw it now
as an evil under the moral government of God--as a sin not only against
man, but also against God. The great and engrossing thought with me was,
how shall I now employ my time and my talents so as to tell most
effectually upon this system of wrong! As I have stated, there was no
Anti-Slavery Society then--there was no Vigilance Committee. I had,
therefore, to select a course of action, without counsel or advice from
any one who professed to sympathize with the slave. Many, many lonely
hours of deep meditation have I passed during the years 1828 and 1829,
before the great anti-slavery movement. On the questions, What shall I do
for the slave? How shall I act so that he will reap the benefit of my time
and talents? At one time I had resolved to go to Africa, and to react from
there; but without bias or advice from any mortal, I soon gave up that, as
looking too much like feeding a hungry man with a long spoon.
At length, finding that the misery, ignorance, and wretchedness of the
free coloured people was by the whites tortured into an argument for
slavery; finding myself now among the free people of colour in New York,
where slavery was so recently abolished; and finding much to do for their
elevation, I resolved to give my strength in that direction. And well do I
remember the great movement which co
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