MY LIFE AND TRAVELSBy LEVI BRANHAMCHAPTER XIII I HAVE seen three wars in my life. I believe the Civil war was the most severe of all. During the Civil war I was living at the Chief Vann house. Salt was so scarce thai my mistress had her servants dig up her smoke house and boil the dirt down to salt. Everybody said times were hard, but they did not seem hard to me. I know I have been born again, regenerated and washed in the blood of the Lamb. I love everybody, both white and black. I like the following familiar passages of Scripture: Ecclesiastes, 1st chapter. 1. "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King of Jerusalem. 2. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3. "What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4. "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth forever. 5. "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6. "The wind goeth toward the south,and turneth about toward the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7. "All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. 8. "All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9. "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10. "Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11. "There is no remembrance of old things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. 12. "I the Preacher was king over Israel and Jerusalem. 13. "And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14. "I have all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15. "That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16. "I communed with mine own heart, saying, lo, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17. "And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18. "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge in-creaseth sorrow." Psalm 91 1. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2. "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. 3. "Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4. "He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckle. 5. "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6. "Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wast-eth at noonday. 7. "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at they right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8. "Only with thine own eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9. "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10. "There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwell ing. 11. "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12. "They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13. "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14. "Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15. "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16. "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." Psalm 23 1. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. 4. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5. "Thou prepares! a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annoint-est my head with oil; my cup runneth over 6. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." My love to the entire generation—both white and colored. God has always intended to do whatever He does. We choose and can act freely and are held accountable to Him for all our actions. Amen Memoirs Of A Slave
Memoirs Of A Slave