Zilpha Elaw
1846

“[…] When I arrived in the slave states, Satan much worried and distressed my soul with the fear of being arrested and sold for a slave, which their laws would have warranted, on account of my complexion and features. On one occasion, in particular, I had been preaching to a coloured congregation, and had exhorted them impressively to quit themselves as men approved of God, and to maintain and witness a good profession of their faith before the world, &c. I had no sooner sat down, than Satan suggested to me with such force, that the slave-holders would speedily capture me, as filled me with fear and terror.

I was then in a small town in one of the slave states; and the news of a coloured female preaching to the slaves had already been spread widely throughout the neighborhood; the novelty of the thing had produced an immense excitement, and the people were collecting from every quarter, to gaze, at the unexampled prodigy of a coloured female preacher. I was sitting in a very conspicuous situation near the doer, and I observed, with very painful emotions, the crowd outside, pointing with their fingers at me, and saying, ‘that’s her,’ ‘that’s her;’ for Satan strongly sat before me – the prospect of an immediate arrest and consignment by sale to some slave owner.

Being very much alarmed, I removed from my seat to a retired part of the room, where, becoming more collected, I inquired within myself; ‘from whence cometh all this fear?’ My faith then rallied and my confidence in the Lord returned, and I said, ‘Get thee behind me Satan, for my Jesus hath made me free.’ My fears instantly for-sook me, and I vacated my retired corner, and came forth before all the people again; and the presence and power of the Lord became greatly manifested in the assembly during the remainder of the service. At the earnest request of the friends, I consented to preach there again on the following Lord’s-day morning, which I accordingly did.

Some of the white brethren in connexion with the Methodist Society were present on that occasion; at the conclusion thereof, they introduced themselves to me, and wished me to preach for them in the afternoon; to which I ‘agreed; and they obtained permission of the authorities to open and use the courthouse; and therein I obtained a very large auditory: and God gave forth proofs that my ministry was from Him, in giving me many seals to it on that day; thus was I relieved from my fearful forebodings, and pursued my course with increased energy, rejoicing in the prosperity and success with which the Almighty crowned my efforts. […]”

Source(s):

Zilpha Elaw, Ministerial Travels and Labours of Mrs. Zilpha Elaw (London, 1846), p. 61-62