Memoir of Old Elizabeth, A Coloured Woman | Page 5

His love.
As for myself, I was so full I hardly knew whether I was in the body, or
out of the body--so great was my joy for the victory on the Lord's side.
But the persecution against me increased, and a complaint was carried
forward, as was done formerly against Daniel, the servant of God, and
the elders came out with indignation for my holding meetings contrary
to discipline--being a woman.
Thus we see when the heart is not inspired, and the inward eye
enlightened by the Spirit, we are incapable of discerning the mystery of
God in these things. Individuals creep into the church that are
unregenerate, and after they have been there awhile, they fancy that
they have got the grace of God, while they are destitute of it. They may
have a degree of light in their heads, but evil in their hearts; which
makes them think they are qualified to be judges of the ministry, and
their conceit makes them very busy in matters of religion, judging of
the revelations that are given to others, while they have received none
themselves. Being thus mistaken, they are calculated to make a great
deal of confusion in the church, and clog the true ministry.
These are they who eat their own bread, and wear their own apparel,
having the form of godliness, but are destitute of the power.
Again I felt encouraged to attend another and another appointment. At
one of these meetings, some of the class-leaders were present, who
were constrained to cry out, "Surely the Lord has revealed these things

to her" and asked one another if they ever heard the like? I look upon
man as a very selfish being, when placed in a religious office, to
presume to resist the work of the Almighty; because He does not work
by man's authority. I did not faint under discouragement, but pressed
on.
Under the contemplation of these things, I slept but little, being much
engaged in receiving the revelations of the Divine will concerning this
work, and the mysterious call thereto.
I felt very unworthy and small, notwithstanding the Lord had shown
himself with great power, insomuch that conjecturers and critics were
constrained to join in praise to his great name; for truly, we had times
of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. At one of the meetings, a
vast number of the white inhabitants of the place, and many coloured
people, attended--many no doubt from curiosity to hear what the old
coloured woman had to say. One, a great scripturian, fixed himself
behind the door with pen and ink, in order to take down the discourse
in short-hand; but the Almighty Being anointed me with such a portion
of his Spirit, that he cast away his paper and pen, and heard the
discourse with patience, and was much affected, for the Lord wrought
powerfully on his heart. After meeting, he came forward and offered
me his hand with solemnity on his countenance, and handed me
something to pay for my conveyance home.
I returned, much strengthened by the Lord's power, to go on to the
fulfilment of His work, although I was again pressed by the authorities
of the church to which I belonged, for imprudency; and so much
condemned, that I was sorely tempted by the enemy to turn aside into
the wilderness. I was so embarrassed and encompassed, I wondered
within myself whether all that were called to be mouth piece for the
Lord, suffered such deep wadings as I experienced.
I now found I had to travel still more extensively in the work of the
ministry, and I applied to the Lord for direction. I was often invited to
go hither and thither, but felt that I must wait for the dictates of His
Spirit.

At a meeting which I held in Maryland, I was led to speak from the
passage, "Woe to the rebellious city," &c. After the meeting, the people
came where I was, to take me before the squire; but the Lord delivered
me from their hands.
I also held meetings in Virginia. The people there would not believe
that a coloured woman could preach. And moreover, as she had no
learning, they strove to imprison me because I spoke against slavery:
and being brought up, they asked by what authority I spake? and if I
had been ordained? I answered, not by the commission of men's hands:
if the Lord had ordained me, I needed nothing better.
As I travelled along through the land, I was led at different times to
converse with white men who were by profession ministers of the
gospel. Many of them, up and down, confessed they did not believe in
revelation, which gave me to see that men were sent forth as