human
Yet I _am_ one, thought he, as the shout of his name and now title reached his ear, distinct, though softened by distance.
gpt
I am an appointed minister. It seems as if I were the one of whom I myself have spoken as likely to arise--not, as Laveaux says, after Raynal, to avenge, but to repair the wrongs of my colour. Low, indeed, are we sunk, deep is our ignorance, abject are our wills, if such a one as I am to be the leader of thousands--I, whose will is yet unexercised--I, who shrink ashamed before the knowledge of the meanest white--I, so lately a slave--so long dependent that I am an oppression to myself--am at this hour the ruler over ten thousand wills! The ways of God are dark, or it might seem that He despised His negro children in committing so many of them to so poor a guide. But He despises nothing that He has made. It may be that we are too weak and ignorant to be fit for better guidance in our new state of rights and duties. It may be that a series of teachers is appointed to my colour, of whom I am to be the first, only because I am the lowest; destined to give way to wiser guides when I have taught all that I know, and done all that I can. May it be so! I will devote myself wholly; and when I have done may I be more willing to hide myself in my cottage, or lie down in my grave, than I have been this day to accept the new lot which I dare not refuse!--Deal gently with me, O God! and, however I fail, let me not see my children's hearts hardened, as hearts are hardened, by power! Let me not see in their faces the look of authority, nor hear in their voices the tones of pride! Be with my people, O Christ! The weaker I am, the more be Thou with them, that Thy gospel may be at last received! The hearts of my people are soft--they are gentle, they are weak:--let Thy gospel make them pure--let it make them free. Thy gospel--who has not heard of it, and who has seen it? May it be found in the hearts of my people, the despised! and who shall then despise them again? The past is all guilt and groans. Into the future open a better way--
human
Toussaint L'Ouverture!
gpt
Toussaint L'Ouverture!