Letter from Rev. John Day
Bexley, Sept. 16th, 1851
Dear Brother, — By the packet I received yours of 8,h July -
a very kind letter of condolence. All you have said, had been
thought of by me. I had bowed my neck to the sovereignty of God.
I have felt that the Lord was my portion. I love and trust in him,
but of all earthly afflictions, the loss of a wife is the last to be
sanctified to one. All a man can do is to say, it is the Lord, and
submit; but how can one heartily concur, how rejoice?
I have endured excruciating pain of body, and borne it long,
and could say these light afflictions work out for me a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I have seen flames bear off
my property more than once, and smiling at the anxiety of others,
could say, naked came I into the world; the Lord gave and hath
taken away. Soon I have rejoiced in the special providence of
God, in spreading a table before me. Yea, my soul has magnified
the Lord in view of his condescension and love to me. His love
has filled me with love, and I have felt the sanctifying influences
of such afflictions. But the loss of a wife crushes me. Cares fall
heavily upon, and weigh me down. I have now been confined to
my sick room about three months; and have only a bell, with which
I ring up a little girl, to mix medicines, and do a few other things
for me. But no kind wife. I will not murmur, and therefore drop
the subject.
Benjamin D. Harris died in July last. He learned English in
Monrovia, and interpreted for me in 1844 and ’45. In 1846, his
conviction of sin and distress of mind, induced the impression that
he was deranged. But soon he called his people together, to hear
what the Lord had done for his soul. His gree grees he threw into
the river. His wives he dismissed, and all participation in heathen
customs disavowed. The Bassas in astonishment beheld him, and
thought him mad. His father was entreated to interpose his
authority and change Ben’s course. But his father’s heart was
smitten; for Ben had been to him, in the power of the Spirit and
demonstration of the truth, and so related his experience to his
father, that the spirit of enquiry was awakened in his own bosom -
What shall I do to be saved? He had heard the word of God
before, first by Mr. J. B. Pinney, then by myself, now by his son,
and the sword of the Spirit had pierced him. Ben was soon to see
me, with the joyful news of salvation on his tongue, and to ask
