DOXOLOGY (1890)

Doxology (1890)

Josephine Delphine Henderson Heard

Great God accept our gratitude,

For the great gifts on us bestowed -

For Raiment, shelter and for food.

Great God, our gratitude we bring,

Accept our humble offering,

For all the gifts on us bestowed,

Thy name be evermore adored.

James Melvin Washington, Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, (New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers), 1994.

A BENEDICTION FOR A PEACEFUL SOUL (1889)

A Benediction for a Peaceful Soul (1889)

Anthony Binga Jr. 

May the Lord save you from any painful regrets when the reaping time shall come. But may you all have so lived, that no arrow from God's quiver of justice can pierce your soul, nor mountain of guilt sink you down.

But may you all find your portion, with the redeemed and sanctified out of every nation, tongue and people, around the burnished throne of God, with everlasting shouts of joy and praise upon your lips. Amen.

 James Melvin Washington, Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, (New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers), 1994.

A PRAYER FOR THE MOURNER'S BENCH (1867)

A Prayer for the Mourner's Bench (1867)

An Anonymous "Colored" Woman

 

 

O Father Almighty, O sweet Jesus, most glorified King, will you be so pleased to come dis way and put you eye on dese poor mourners? O sweet Jesus, ain't you the Daniel God? Didn't you deliber de tree [three] chillun from the fiery furnis? Didn't you heah [hear] Jonah cry in de belly ub de whale? O, if dere be one seekin' mourner her dis afternoon, if dere be one sinkin' Peter, if dere be one weepin' Mary, if dere be one doubtin' Thomas, won't you be pleased to come and deliber 'em? Won't you mount your Gosepl hoss, an' ride roun' de souls of dese yere mourners, and say, "Go in peace and sin no moah?" Don't you be so pleased to come wid de love in one han' and de fan in de odder han', to fan away doubts? Won't you be so pleased to shake dese here souls over hell, an' not let 'em fall in! [Amen.]

- James Melvin Washington, Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, (New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers), 1994.

 



A PROPHET'S PLEA TO GOD (1829)

A PROPHET'S PLEA TO GOD (1829)

David Walker

O! save us, we pray thee, thou God of Heaven and of earth, from the devouring hands of the white Christians!!!

Oh! thou Alpha and Omega!

The Beginning and the end,

Enthron'd thou art, in Heaven above,

Surrounded by Angels there.

From whence thou seest the miseries

To which we are subject;

The whites have murder'd us, O God!

And kept us ignorant of thee.

Not satisfied with this, my Lord!

They throw us in the seas:

Be pleas'd, we pray, for Jesus' sake,

To save us from their grasp.

We believe that, for thy glory's sake,

Thou wilt deliver us;

But that thou may'st effect these things,

Thy glory must be sought.

James Melvin Washington, Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, (New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers), 1994.





A SLAVE WOMAN'S PRAYER (1816)

A SLAVE WOMAN'S PRAYER (1816)

{Stephen Hays}

O Lord, bless my master. When he calls upon thee to damn his soul, do not hear him, do not hear him, but hear me - save him - make him know he is wicked, and he will pray to thee.

I am afraid, O Lord, I have wished him bad wishes in my heart - keep me from wishing him bad - though he whips me and beats me sore, tell me of my sins, and make me pray more to thee - make me more glad for what thou hast done for me, a poor [N]egro.

James Melvin Washington, Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, (New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers), 1994.