That
man's soul would be in as great danger as if he were committing great
crimes. Indeed, he would very probably before he died commit great
crimes--like certain negroes whom I have seen abroad, who live a life of
such lazy comfort and safety, and superabundance of food, that they are
beginning more and more to live the life of animals rather than men.
They are like those of whom the Psalmist says, "Their eyes swell out with
fatness, and they do even what they lust." So do they, and indulge in
gross vices, which, if not checked in some way, will end in destroying
them off the face of the earth in a few generations more. I had rather,
for the sake of my character, my manhood, my immortal soul, I had rather,
I say, a hundred times over, be an English labourer, struggling on on
twelve shillings a week, and learning obedience, self-denial, self-
respect, and trust in God, by the things suffered in that hard life here
at home, than be a Negro in Tropic islands, fattening himself in sloth
under that perpetual sunshine, and thinking nought of God, because, poor
fool, he can get all he wants without God's help.
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