The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African - Essay Example

? IMAGINED REACTIONS OF ROBERT KING TO THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH EQUIANO, OR GUSTAVUS VASSA, THE AFRICAN Number Date I humbly thank the Creator in his Wisdom for allowing that I become a small means for the realization of His Will and His Grace on Earth. My former faithful servant, Gustavus, who has now reverted to his African name Olaudah, has indeed become an Instrument for the Redemption of our fallen Nation by showing us, his former Masters, how we should Repent so that we follow more faithfully the footsteps of our Savior. It has been near Thirty years since I freed Gustavus, and in that time the Evil of the Slave-Trade has been exposed for all of us to see and read, in large part from his Account of his Life. Had I not freed Gustavus, he would not have been available to do this Work of Our Lord and stir the conscience of our Country. I tremble at the thought of the Ways in which Providence’s Work is mysteriously achieved. I am also relieved that my Stewardship has been exposed to the World through this book in a favorable manner, and hope that some measure of forgiveness will be afforded me for my participation in the evil practice of Slave Trading, by showing that I at all times endeavored to treat all of Our Lord’s children with kindness and Mercy. For the first time I have understood the Humanity of Gustavus’ Life in his home of Africa, with those other Children of Our Lord who have been lost, but live in a type of innocence. Gustavus is now doing the Lord’s Work by bringing His True Word to the heathens in that continent now made more wretched by the Slave-Trade. May they turn away from their Pagan superstitions and find the True Deliverance and comfort that only comes from our Savior. It is mystifying indeed how the Lord has caused His Salvation to reach the primitive peoples of Africa through such trials and Tribulations as those suffered by the Martyrs! It is a strange thought, without a doubt, to learn that our African brothers are descended from the same seed of Abraham, and are still waiting to hear the Word of our Lord. Indeed, as a man of the Sea, I am ashamed to learn of all the wretched conditions on the Slave Ships and the Evil that it has made good Christian men do. Indeed, they are the breeding grounds for Satan’s works. The immorality of kidnapping of children and the sinfulness of the behavior of men for this Inhuman Traffic is shameful to read. I fear the consequences of my actions on the Day when I have to account to my Saviour, as we all suspected and sometimes even knew that the men we left in charge of our Slaves were committing the gravest acts of immorality, lust, and cruelty, but said nothing as we served Mammon instead of serving our Savior! I had known that Gustavus was a remarkable and valuable Servant, but I did not know the extent of his adventures and sorrows. Gustavus was brought into the Evils of the Slave Trade, and then into the evils of War, both of which violate the sacred teachings of our Savior. But Providence saved him in countless situations, even when my dear Captain had succumbed to illness, so that Gustavus could save more Souls and reveal His Glory to all the World. The Lord and His Grace were present even in the most horrid conditions of war and slavery, and His Servant, Gustavus, could see the Guiding Hand of Providence and thereby be saved. It fills my heart with sorrow to read of the countless betrayals faced by faithful Gustavus, and I thank the Lord that I, at least, kept my word and offered him his Freedom, without ever wishing to keep him in further Bondage. That this black seed of Abraham shall redeem the white Christians of Europe from their immorality, lust, and perversity caused by such a pernicious Slave Trade, through my act of manumission is a humbling Honor for which only the Lord deserves credit. If we can now rid ourselves of this Great Sin, let us do so! Gustavus’ talent was well made manifest to me when I saw how quickly he had been able to raise the forty pounds sterling for his manumission, much more quickly than I could raise it. To read how these same Talents took him to Turkey and the North Pole, to be a model Christian and famous speaker able to Petition the Queen and be in the company of such virtuous men as Mr. Granville Sharp and Reverend Clarkson, and to write such a famous book proclaiming the Glory of our Lord demonstrates the injustice of his Servitude in the first place. May our Nation repent from its Sins and Abolish the Slave Trade forthwith! It is sad to read of Gustavus’ failed attempt to spread the message of our Lord back in his Native land. Surely, if he is as inspiring to a Nation as alien to him such as ours, how much more effectively will he demonstrate the Lord’s Blessings amongst his own countrymen! I hope to read one day that the Bishop in London will change his mind and ordain Gustav to do the Lord’s work with the proper protection. The Vices which so engulf our Society can only be done away with through a National Repentance. As the Word of the Lord tells us that “The Stone that the Builders rejected has become the Cornerstone”, so to has Gustavus become the Cornerstone to Deliver our Nation from the Iniquities of the Slave Trade and more faithfully follow our Savior’s example. The whole Nation’s Conscience is now awakened by the sad story of Gustavus’ life, from his kidnapping in Africa to his tribulations as a Slave in the Immoral West Indies, and the touching of Gustavus’ life by the Grace of Our Saviour. My old faithful Gustavus has now brought our Nation closer to Our Lord, and I pray that we shall Repent and Seek the Lord’s mercy for the many Sins we have committed. References Equiano, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Edited and with an introduction and notes by Vincent Carretta. New York: Penguin Books, 2003. Read More