174 HISTORY OF THE [book hi. 
habit of si si, and the tendency, to excuse it, is in the 
minds of the negroes ; who when unconverted, are 
particularly given to an unbounded gratification of 
every sensual Just; but on this very account it be¬ 
comes the more needful to watch, and not to suffer 
the least deviation from the right path, to remain 
unnoticed in the believers. It has been before ob¬ 
served, that baptism is administered to none, but 
to such in whom a thorough conversion of heart is 
already perceivable. As soon as they are consider¬ 
ed as candidates for baptism, they are subject to the 
discipline of the church, by which, if they offend, 
and private admonition and reproof have not the de¬ 
sired effect, they are excluded from the fellowship 
of the rest, though they may attend public service, 
and every means is still faithfully applied to bring 
them back. Thus a communicant, in case of an of¬ 
fence given, is not admitted to the Lord’s supper. 
This discipline has, by God’s blessing, had so good 
an effect, that many a believing negro would rather 
suffer the severest bodily punishment, than incur it. 
If they confess their sins, and heartily repent, they 
are willingly, and, according to the nature of the of¬ 
fence, either privately, or in the presence of a part, 
or the whole of the congregation, re-admitted to 
the fellowship of the church. The believing ne¬ 
groes are not suffered to attend any where, where 
the unconverted meet for the sake of feasting, dan¬ 
cing, gaming, &c. and the usual plea of not en¬ 
tering into the sinful part of these diversions , is 
never admitted, inasmuch, as the least step towards 
