When Jamaica was formally ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Madrid in 1670, the place of the native Indians was taken by slaves, brought from Africa by the Spaniards. During the eighteenth century over half a million slaves were brought to toil, suffer and die on the island.
The history of these slaves, their outrageous abduction, torture, wretchedness, poverty and degradation, is among the blackest annals of human crime. When the facts became known in Great Britain, the conscience of English freemen demanded their liberation, and by popular demand the abolition of slavery was decreed. Midnight, July 31, 1838 was set to usher in the complete liberation of every slave.
On that memorable night, led by their missionaries, fourteen thousand adults and five thousand children joined in prayer to God as they waited and watched for the moment which would terminate the reign of the slave master.
A great mahogany coffin had been built, polished and fitted by cabinet-makers among the slaves. A great grave had been dug to receive it.
In the coffin were packed tokens of all the various things that represented their bondage, suffering and sorrow. The whips, the torture irons and the branding irons; the coarse frocks and shirts and the great hat; fragments of the treadmill and the handcuffs. Whatever was the sign and badge of seventy-eight years of thralldom, they crammed into the coffin, then fastened down and sealed the cover.
As the bell began to toll twelve o'clock the voice of a missionary was heard saying: "The monster is dying... is dying... is dying... is dying." And as midnight struck...
"The monster is dead! Let us bury him out of sight forever!"
The coffin was immediately lowered into the grave, while the whole multitude celebrated their deliverance from thralldom by singing the doxology.
The sin of enforced servitude is very old; but the enslavement of the soul of man dates back to the beginning and became universal. Satan's first great victory over man was the day he tempted Adam to sin. With its head fell the whole human race. Today the whole world of mankind is the slave of sin and lies in wickedness ("in the wicked one") 1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19). Countless millions groan under his yoke— and dread his "payday," "for the wages of sin is death."
The Law (the Ten Commandments) but proves man's transgression individually— proves that "all have sinned." The Law curses everyone that breaks it.
God in unspeakable grace and mercy has provided a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. "Behold the Lamb of God!" He is the mighty Redeemer from sin and Satan. Those that trust Him He delivers from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us upon the cross.
Millions today have proved His great salvation. Their sin and guilt, with all the tokens of sin's cruel slavery, they see buried in the grave of Christ. They rejoice in glorious new liberty and freedom, having proved in their own hearts and lives the words of the Lord Jesus: "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36).