A Narrative of the Life of Rev. Noah Davis, A Colored Man | Page 5

still, as I felt so very
different from what I had expected to feel, I could not see how that
could be. I concluded to run and see my mother, and ask her how
people felt, when they got converted. So I went, right away, to my
mother's house, some five or six squares from the shop.
When I reached the door of her house, it appeared to me that everything
was new and bright. I went in, and sat down. Mother asked me how I
was. I told her, I felt right smart. This was a new sound from me; for
my answers to this question had long been--"poorly." But now came
the trial; to ask mother how people felt, when they were converted. I
felt ashamed to ask the question; so I went into another room; and
seeing a hymn book lying on the table, I took it up. The first hymn that
struck my sight began with these words:
"When converts first begin to sing, Their happy souls are on the wing--
Their theme is all redeeming love; Fain would they be with Christ
above. With admiration they behold The love of Christ, which can't be
told," &c.

These lines expressed my feelings precisely, and being encouraged
from them, I went to my mother, and asked her the question--"How do
people feel, when they get converted?" She replied, "Do you think you
are converted?" Now, this was a severe trial; for, although I felt that I
was really changed, yet I wanted to hear from her, before I could decide
whether I was actually converted, or not. I replied, "No." Then she said,
"My son, the devil makes people think themselves converted,
sometimes." I arose, and left immediately, believing that the devil had
made a fool of me. I returned to my shop, more determined to pray than
ever before.
I arrived, and took my seat, and tried to get under that same weight,
that I had felt pressing me down, but a short while before. But it
seemed to me that I could not; and, instead of feeling sad, I felt joyful
in my heart; and while trying to pray, I thought the Saviour appeared to
me. I thought I saw God smiling upon me, through Christ, His Son. My
soul was filled with love to God and Jesus Christ. It appeared to me, I
saw a fullness in Jesus Christ, to save every sinner who would come to
Him. And I felt, that if I was only converted, I would tell all sinners
how precious the Saviour was. But I could not think myself converted
yet, because I could not see what I had done, for God to pardon my sins.
Still I felt a love to Him for what He had done for my soul.
Then I began to think upon my shopmates--and, O what pity ran
through my soul for them. I wished to pray for them; but I felt so
unworthy, that I could not do it. At last I promised the Lord that if He
would convert my soul, I would talk to them.
... It was several months after that, before I was made to realize this to
be the work of God; and when it was made plain, O what joy it did
bring to my poor soul!
I shortly became a member of the Baptist church, and was baptized, in
company with some twenty others, by Rev. Geo. F. Adams, who was
then pastor of the Baptist church in Fredericksburg--September 19,
1831. This church then contained about three hundred colored
members.

CHAPTER IV.
Marriage--License to Preach--Purchase of Freedom--A Call to
Baltimore.
I had not been a member of the church a great while, before I formed
an attachment to a young woman, who ultimately became my wife. I
have ever regarded her as the special gift of God to me. She embraced
religion about the same time that I did. We had been acquainted with
each other for several years previous, and although we associated
frequently in the same social circle together; yet nothing of a special
liking had manifested itself until the day she was baptized.
But we were both slaves, and of course had to get the consent of our
owners, before we went further. My wife belonged to the late Carter L.
Stephenson, Esq., who was a brother to Hon. Andrew Stephenson, of
Va. My wife's master was quite indulgent to the servants about the
house. He never restrained visitors from coming on his premises to visit
his domestics. It was said he had the likeliest set of servant girls in the
town; and though I cannot say I got the prettiest, yet I think I got the
best one among them. We have lived happily together,