A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah Davis, A Colored Man.
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Noah Davis >> A Narrative of The Life of Rev. Noah Davis, A Colored Man.
"And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Here, we have divine
authority, for teaching our children, the things, which make for their
good, both in this life and that which is to come. But it may be asked,
to what extent are parents bound to comply with these high and solemn
obligations? We answer, to the utmost of their ability. To whom much is
given, of him much is required, and to whom little is given, of him
little is required.--But all are bound to train up their children "in
the way they should go, that when they are old, they may not depart from
it." This duty is seen in the judgments which God has visited upon those
parents and children who have neglected to obey the Lord in this
particular.--(1 Samuel 2: 34.)
3. We are, in the third place, to enquire what it is to "deny the
faith." Much is said in the Scriptures about faith. Much depends upon
it. We are said to be "justified by faith," and "saved by faith;" we
"live by faith." And inasmuch, as such as are spoken of in the text are
said to be worse than an infidel, because they provide not for
themselves and families, thereby showing that they have denied the
faith, therefore let us try to consider what genuine faith is, and what
it is to deny it. This is the most important point in the subject now
before us. "Without faith it is impossible to please God."
We will consider some of the effects of this distinguishing grace. There
are several kinds of faith spoken of in the Bible. In one case, men are
said to "believe for a while." This faith is shown us in the parable
taught by our blessed Saviour, in the characters represented by the seed
sown upon the rock, "which for a while believe, and in time of
temptation fall away."--(Luke 8: 33.)
There is a faith which is called dead.--"Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone."--(James 2: 17.) But the faith which
enables the christian to obey the Saviour in all things, is said to
"work by love."--(Gal. 5: 6.) Now we say that those who have this faith,
will never deny it. The counterfeit may deceive, but the genuine cannot.
We say this faith cannot deny itself. All who are spoken of in the Old
Testament as having this faith never denied it. By it Abel made a more
excellent sacrifice to God than Cain. By it, Enoch walked with God, when
the other portion of mankind walked in the vain wicked imaginations of
their own hearts. "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen
as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house."
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
This is the grace which enables believers to renounce the pleasures of
sin, which are but for a season. It gives them a complete victory over
the world. It abideth with hope and charity. Now, whosoever professes
this faith, and then by his unholy life denies it, by neglecting to
provide for his own, and especially for those of his own house, makes it
manifest that he never had it. It is as unchangeable as its Author, for
it is the gift of God. It prompted Noah to labor over a hundred years,
to build an ark, to save his house. And what it has done, it will
continue to do, for those who have it. This is the principle in religion
which purifies the heart, overcomes the world, and causes christians to
love one another, whatever may be their circumstances, or color or rank
in life.
4. We are now in the fourth and last place to draw a comparison between
those who deny the faith, and an infidel. Now an infidel, is an
unbeliever in the religion of Christ.--Yet he provides for his own, and
especially for those of his own house. In this he is consistent with
himself. Here he acts from reason, and principles of nature. But the
individual who denies the faith, is one, who has taken upon himself the
solemn vow before God and men, that he will act out what his profession
supposes him to be in possession of, which is superior in its influence,
to the infidel's principles, yet he fails to do as much.
But again, an infidel is a bad man, and makes no pretensions to hide it.
But he who contradicts his profession, by denying it in the manner here
set forth, is worse for attempting to cover up a character, which in
itself is no better. But consider the effect produced by a false faith,
(and we have shown, that such a faith, as does not come up with the
infidel's, is false,) it does the person no harm. Many persons, when
they make a profession of faith, suppose it is the true faith, but after
a while, they find that their faith does not work by love, it does not
purify their hearts. They love sin secretly, as much as before. They
love worldly company as well as ever. And they find the employments,
which their profession enjoins upon them, irksome and dry. Such persons
are greatly deceived, yet they are ashamed to confess it, and throw off
the mask of profession. And such persons are often the greatest
fault-finders with those, whose true faith inspires them to endure
hardness, afflictions and deny themselves and take up their cross, so
that they may glorify their Saviour in their bodies and spirits which
are the Lord's.
In conclusion, dear brethren, let us, who have made a profession of
faith, examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith of the gospel, or
not. "Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you,
except ye be reprobates." AMEN.
STATISTICAL REPORT
OF ALL THE
COLORED PROTESTANT CHURCHES
AND SABBATH SCHOOLS
IN BALTIMORE.
(As quoted from the Minutes of their respective
bodies, for the year 1859.)
Sharp st. and Wesley Chapel, Meth. Ep., 1812
Orchard st. and Asbury, " 1508
Dallas st., " 119
Bethel, Saratoga st., African M.E., 1398
Ebenezer, Montgomery st., " " 600
Union Bethel, Fell's Point, " " 100
Water's Chapel, Spring st., " " 98
Mission " Tissia st., " " 77
South Howard st. Chapel, Zion Meth., 200
St. Thomas', Chesnut st., Meth. Prot., 70
St. James', Saratoga st., Episcopal, 100
Presbyterian church, Madison st., 69
First Baptist, cor. Young and Thomson st., 99
Union Baptist, Lewis st., 63
Saratoga st. African Baptist Chapel, 73
-----
Total Col'd Prot. Religious Popul'n, 6386
SABBATH SCHOOL REPORT.
(Rendered to the S. S. Union, for 1859.)
V
B C O
I O L F M
B N S E A
L V . M L S
E E . E C
R L H
R S I T T O
E I B E E L
A ' R A A A
D N ' C C R
S S Y H H S
. . . . . .
Sharp st., M.E., 200 15 15 200
Orchard st., " 6 9 177
Asbury, " 2 45 259
Dallas st., " 20 17 250
John Wesley, " 250 10 10 120
Bethel, African M.E., 60 15 200 16 16 350
Ebenezer, " " 27 178
Spring st., " " 113 13 120
Allen chapel, " " 6 58
Union Bethel, " " 11 86
Good Samaritan, " 6 60
Tissia st., " " 108 6 30
St. Thomas, M.P., 200 3 4 56
S. How'd st., Zion, 5 7 102
Mt. Olive, Ind., 3 7 40
Presbyterian, 20 10 240
Episcopal, 205 5 5 70
First Col'd Baptist, 78 3 3 33
Union, " 11 86
Saratoga st., " 40 1 250 8 6 150
----------------------------------
Aggregate, 106 18 1604 126 222 2665
THE SARATOGA STREET
_INSTITUTE._
This Seminary for colored people, was opened in the upper rooms of the
African Baptist Chapel building, in December, 1856, and in a few months,
over one hundred scholars, were in attendance. But from circumstances
which need not be narrated, in 1857, the school was removed away,
without any rent having ever been paid for the use of the rooms. A
second time a school has been collected of over one hundred scholars,
but, up to the present time, August, 1859, the trustees of the building
have never received any sort of compensation for the use of the rooms,
occupied by the Institute.
Mr. J. G. Goodridge, lately a teacher of a Public School, in York, Pa,
has now rented the rooms, and his friends feel great confidence in the
success of his labors.
It may be remarked, that the large colored population of Baltimore, now
from thirty to forty thousand souls, have no sort of Public School
provision made for them, by the city or state governments. They are left
entirely to themselves for any education they may obtain.
The above named Institute combines advantages for the education of
colored children far superior to any other in the city.
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_Table of Contents._
PART I.
The beginning of Life.--The first
disappointment.--Apprenticeship.--Follies of Youth.--Sin.
PART II.
The Child has become a young Man.--He dissipates.--The revelers of
Vagrant Island.--Religion scoffed.--Follies and pains of an irregular
life.--Sickness.--The Friend in need.--Tempter.--"RECRUITS
WANTED."--Enlistment in a regiment of soldiers.--Col. Blood's speech.
PART III.
The Army.--Advancement.--Mortal succeeds Col. Blood.--The fury of
War.--The slaughter.--Glory.--Unhappiness.--Honor to the brave.--Major
Sharper.
PART IV.
Mortal in love.--He becomes wealthy.--He travels.--Vesuvius.--The grave
of General Gog.--Gambling.--Ruin.
PART V.
The last scene of all.--Dr. Popular Gospel.--Dimelover and Sharp die
hopefully.--John Mortal's last conversation with Mentor and
Tempter.--Despair and Death.