Memoir of Old Elizabeth, A Coloured Woman | Page 2

led me down a long journey to a fiery gulf, and
left me standing upon the brink of this awful pit. I began to scream for
mercy, thinking I was about to be plunged to the belly of hell, and
believed I should sink to endless ruin. Although I prayed and wrestled
with all my might, it seemed in vain. Still, I felt all the while that I was
sustained by some invisible power. At this solemn moment, I thought I
saw a hand from which hung, as it were, a silver hair, and a voice told
me that all the hope I had of being saved was no more than a hair; still,
pray, and it will be sufficient. I then renewed my struggle, crying for
mercy and salvation, until I found that every cry raised me higher and
higher, and my head was quite above the fiery pillars. Then I thought I
was permitted to look straight forward, and saw the Saviour standing
with His hand stretched out to receive me. An indescribably glorious
light was in Him, and He said, "peace, peace, come unto me." At this
moment I felt that my sins were forgiven me, and the time of my
deliverance was at hand. I sprang forward and fell at his feet, giving
Him all the thanks and highest praises, crying, Thou hast redeemed
me--Thou hast redeemed me to thyself. I felt filled with light and love.
At this moment I thought my former guide took me again by the hand
and led me upward, till I came to the celestial world and to heaven's
door, which I saw was open, and while I stood there, a power
surrounded me which drew me in, and I saw millions of glorified spirits
in white robes. After I had this view, I thought I heard a voice saying,
"Art thou willing to be saved?" I said, Yes Lord. Again I was asked,
"Art thou willing to be saved in my way?" I stood speechless until he
asked me again, "Art thou willing to be saved in my way?" Then I
heard a whispering voice say, "If thou art not saved in the Lord's way,
thou canst not be saved at all;" at which I exclaimed, "Yes Lord, in thy
own way." Immediately a light fell upon my head, and I was filled with
light, and I was shown the world lying in wickedness, and was told I
must go there, and call the people to repentance, for the day of the Lord
was at hand; and this message was as a heavy yoke upon me, so that I
wept bitterly at the thought of what I should have to pass through.
While I wept, I heard a voice say, "weep not, some will laugh at thee,
some will scoff at thee, and the dogs will bark at thee, but while thou
doest my will, I will be with thee to the ends of the earth."

I was at this time not yet thirteen years old. The next day, when I had
come to myself, I felt like a new creature in Christ, and all my desire
was to see the Saviour.
I lived in a place where there was no preaching, and no religious
instruction; but every day I went out amongst the hay-stacks, where the
presence of the Lord overshadowed me, and I was filled with sweetness
and joy, and was as a vessel filled with holy oil. In this way I continued
for about a year; many times while my hands were at my work, my
spirit was carried away to spiritual things. One day as I was going to
my old place behind the hay-stacks to pray, I was assailed with this
language, "Are you going there to weep and pray? what a fool! there
are older professors than you are, and they do not take that way to get
to heaven; people whose sins are forgiven ought to be joyful and lively,
and not be struggling and praying." With this I halted and concluded I
would not go, but do as other professors did, and so went off to play;
but at this moment the light that was in me became darkened, and the
peace and joy that I once had, departed from me.
About this time I was moved back to the farm where my mother lived,
and then sold to a stranger. Here I had deep sorrows and plungings, not
having experienced a return of that sweet evidence and light with which
I had been favoured formerly; but by watching unto prayer, and
wrestling mightily with the Lord, my peace gradually returned, and
with it a great exercise and weight upon my heart for the salvation of
my fellow-creatures; and I was often