‘Now begin the heavenly theme,
Sing aloud in Jesus’ name,’” &c.
Which was accordingly done. Whatever might be the merit of the natural voices, it was evident there was spiritual melody in all their hearts.
The Negro was not much used to our way of singing, yet joined with great earnestness and affection, that showed how truly he felt what he uttered. When the fifth verse was ended—
“Nothing brought him from above,
Nothing but redeeming love”—
he repeated the words, almost unconscious where he was—
“No, noting, noting but redeeming love, bring him down to poor William; noting but redeeming love.”
The following verses were added and sung by way of conclusion:—
See, a stranger comes to view,
Though he’s black, [121] he’s comely too
Comes to join the choirs above,
Singing of redeeming love.Welcome, Negro, welcome here,
Banish doubt and banish fear;
You, who Christ’s salvation prove,
Praise and bless redeeming love.
I concluded with some remarks on the nature of salvation by grace, exhorting all present to press forward in the
heavenly journey. It was an evening the circumstances of which, had they never been recorded on earth, were yet, doubtless, registered in the book of remembrance above.