In the afternoon I took my friends on board, read prayers, and preached to the soldiers; after this, went on shore, sang psalms with my friends, and then expounded to the people, who now increased so much that I was obliged to divide them into three companies, and God enabled me to continue expounding three hours without any intermission, or the least weariness. Thanks be to God for his strengthening grace! As our day is, so shall our strength be. Received three more letters, and sat up till one in the morning to answer some sent before, and then went to bed rejoicing and blessing God for the great things he had done for me. But withal desirous to say with the divine Herbert, Less than the least of God's mercies shall be my motto still. Friday, January 27. Spent the beginning of the morning in writing letters, then breakfasted with all my friends at one Mrs H.'s, a widow gentlewoman, who kindly invited, and as kindly entertained us. The Lord reward her a thousand fold. About twelve I came on board, being unwilling to be absent from my proper charge long together. I was received kindly, visited the sick and catechised the soldiers, some of whom answered most aptly, for which I distributed amongst them all, something I knew would be agreeable. Oh! that I may catch them by a holy guile! but that power belongeth only unto God. About two came a clergyman on board, from a neighbouring village to pay me a visit, with whom I spent an hour or two agreeably, had prayers on open deck, and enforced the duty of keeping holy the sabbath day, which then came in course to be explained, but was afraid to sing a psalm, Mr H. being at Deal with friends. Where was my courage then? Lord, what am I when left to myself? At five returned ashore with the clergyman to whom I promised some books for his parishioners. Expounded three hours to three companies, as before. Glad tidings of great joy sent me by four or five correspondents, sat up till one in the morning answering them, and then went to bed and had a feeling possession of my God. And will God in very deed, dwell in this heart of mine? O free grace in Christ! Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name! Spent the morning most agreeably in conversation, intercession for all friends, and all mankind, walking on the seashore. Dined with Mrs St. L., who hospitably entertained us. Went about three in the afternoon intending to go on board, but could not, which gave me a little uneasiness, thinking it by no means right to leave my flock so long. At night I expounded to three companies more numerous than before. Received letters, and sat up till one in the morning answering them, and went to sleep in order to fit myself for the duties of the following sabbath. Sunday, January 29. Went on board early in the morning, read prayers, and preached to the soldiers, and visited the sick; then returned on shore, and, accompanied with a troop of pious friends, hasted to Shroulden church, about a mile and a half distant from Deal, where I preached to a weeping thronged congregation, at the request of the minister, who, at my request, gave me and my friends the blessed sacrament. Öthers staid also, to the number of sixteen; and, which I never observed before, the clerk pronounced a loud Amen to every person that received either bread or wine: an excellent custom, and worthy, in my opinion, to be imitated in all churches. After this, I and my friends went on our way rejoicing, dined comfortably at Mr R.'s, and in the afternoon preached at Upper Deal. The church was quite crowded, and many went away for want of room; some stood on the leads of the church on the outside, and looked in at the top windows, and all seemed eager to hear the word of God. I preached against worldlymindedness, and had great reason to think God gave it his blessing. The weather was exceeding pleasant, and seeing the people go in such flocks over the fields, put me in mind of our blessed Lord's words, when he saw the people coming in companies from Samaria. The fields are white already to harvest. I then prayed that he would be pleased to enable me to gather wheat into his heavenly garner. In the evening, such numbers came to hear me, that I was obliged to divide them into four companies; and God enabled me to expound to them from six till ten. Some would have persuaded me to have dismissed the last company without expounding, but I could not bear to let so many go empty away; and I find the more we do for God, the more we may. My strength held out surprisingly; I was but little, if at all fatigued; or if I had, I should have been sufficiently recompensed by some letters, which I received from my dear friends, which gave me unspeakable satisfaction; and after I had perused them, I took a little refreshment, rejoiced and gave thanks with my friends for the blessings of the day, and went to our respective beds about twelve at night. Oh! who can express the loving-kindness of the Lord, or show forth all his praise? Monday, January 30. At the request of the inhabitants, and the leave of Mr R., who sent from Canterbury a most obliging message, I preached again at Upper Deal to as crowded and attentive an audience as I had yesterday; and afterwards, I, with Mr H., waited upon the rev Mr W., who read prayers, and most courteously invited me to come and see him. Our conversation ran chiefly on the expediency of baptizing infants at church. I continued with him about an hour, and then, at his request, visited a poor woman of the parish, who was grievously troubled in mind, and God was pleased to bless my ministry to her comfort. To him be all the glory! So poor, so frail an instrument, If thou, my God, vouchsafe to use, "Tis praise enough to be employ'd, Reward enough if thou excuse. If thou excuse, then work thy will, Soon after this we went to Mr R.'s, where our friends expected us; but we had not been long there, before the wind shifted about on a sudden, and a cry came, the wind is fair, prepare yourselves for sailing. I received the news with an humble joy; but sorrow, I perceived, filled the hearts of my dear friends, who came from London to see me. We immediately retired, intending to intercede for all mankind before we parted, but the people were in such a hurry, for fear the sea should grow too tempestuous to go off, that we were obliged to be very brief Having, therefore, recommended ourselves to God, I took my leave; but oh, what affection did the Deal people express to my unworthy person for no sooner were they apprized of the wind being fair, than they came running in droves after me to the seashore, wishing me good luck in the name of the Lord; and with tears, and other expressions of kindness, praying for my success and safe return. I was confounded with a sense of God's mercies to me. The sea was very boisterous indeed, and the waves rose mountains high; but God was pleased to give Mr H. and me an unusual degree of faith, and we went on singing psalms and praising God, the water dashing in our faces all the way. Doubtless we were in jeopardy, but wherefore should we fear, having so many on shore praying for us? About five we came on board, and were received with joy, for the ship was under sail, and the people were afraid I should be left behind. As I was going into the great cabin, I fell down the steerage stairs, but received little or no hurt. After we had sailed for a short time, the man of war not moving, we cast anchor again. Mr H. was so sick by the ship's motion after we came on board, that he was obliged to go to bed. Tuesday, January 31. Spent the morning in writing letters, visiting the sick, reading prayers, and preaching to the soldiers. About twelve was pleasingly surprised with another sight of my London friends, who stayed at Deal all night, and finding the ship did not sail, came with some more Deal friends to take me on shore, that I might bid them once more farewell. I was a little unwilling at first, but by their importunity and affectionate entreaties they even compelled me. I accordingly went with them, singing psalms and praising God all the way. But I had scarce been on shore an hour before the man of war gave a signal for sailing; and so we were obliged to hasten back on board. The people expressed much joy at seeing me come to Deal again, and accompanied me to the seashore, as before. The weather being fair, we went on board with pleasure. The ship was under sail, but we met with it, and were received affectionately. I hope that these frequent and sudden removes will put me in mind that I have here no continuing city; and stir me up to live so holily, that were God at any time to say, "This night shall thy soul be required of thee;" I might with pleasure say, "Lo I come.' Another thing I could not but reflect on yesterday, when I saw Deal all in a confusion when the wind shifted about so suddenly, some crying for one thing, some another, but all anxious lest their ship should sail without them. Alas! what confusion, thought I, will the inhabitants of the world be in, when in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, they shall hear the voice of the archangel and trump of God, crying aloud, Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment! After I was on board, I preached, read prayers to the soldiers, visited the sick, wrote some letters, and interceded for all mankind on deck, and retired to bed about twelve. Our ship sailed briskly for a few hours; but the wind shifting again, was obliged to return back once |