March 1826
March 5th/26. Sabbath. Preached at Layou; -renewed Tickets, received a candidate on trial, catechised the children from Cane Grove Estate, superintended the school, and returned home late in the afternoon.
6th This week I have several sermons to review or study, beside the usual duties of each day; made more embarrassing from certain interruptions perhaps unavoidable in the missionary life. O my Lord! Be nigh to me, "ever present, ever felt"; enlarge and bless me more than ever and make me useful in preaching the Gospel of the ever blessed Jesus.
12th March/26. Lord's-day - Officiated in Princes Town, endeavoured to preach & pray the Society into the spirit of a revival & on this occasion as also in the evening service, the Divine presence was gloriously experienced. O for great prosperity!
18th Went up to Town for my Sabbath's employment, and had the usual three hours tossing in the canoe.
19th Lord's-day; - In my public labours I have felt much pleasure, was blessed in my deed & hope to see fruit to the glory & praise of God.
20th A short time ago reached home and now record a circumstance - T.P. & J.R. are involved in a serious affair, in which instead of taking an offender to justice they have egregiously committed themselves by tying & shutting her up privately in order to make her confess etc. This is a bad concern, and though I sincerely wish the parties well out of it, it is impossible that it can end well; as the religious character of the individuals in question is seriously compromised, and the whole affair is Gazetted!!!
24th March/26. Good Friday; - The Negroes are now more generally permitted to suspend their work in order to attend Divine worship on this day, and crowds of them attended. I preached at P. Town in the forenoon to a large & serious company, & had scarcely concluded, when the members arrived from Chateau-belair in a canoe to carry me thither for the same purpose. We launched, and they rowed against wind & tide for two hours & I had my share of salt water as usual. The congregation had assembled before the time appointed & I was a little late - yet they were not weary of waiting and the attendance was very great. After service I returned to P. Town in peace & safety, realising the truth of that promise "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." O that health and strength and Grace may be given me, as needed in this land of sun & sin & death, that I may bring more glory to God!
26th March/26. Easter day; and a "high day" among the Negroes, many of whom go to church or chapel scarcely at any other time Christmas excepted. As they are in the lowest sense only occasional hearers, they cannot all be accommodated with seats and many have to remain outside. After the public service held a Love-feast, which was a very good one. Many spoke of the goodness of the Lord to them & it was a very quickening & reviving season. In this Society the work of God prospers. May it ever be so at Chateau-belair.