takes all opportunities to express his kindness to me: may the God whom I serve, sanctify and save him. Tuesday, February 14. May I never forget this day's mercies, since the Lord was pleased to deal so lovingly with me! About twelve at night a fresh gale arose, which increased so very much by four in the morning, that the waves raged horribly indeed, and broke in like a river on many of the poor soldiers, who lay near the main hatchway. Friend H. and I knew nothing of it, but perceived ourselves restless, and could not sleep at all; he complained of a grievous head-ach. I arose and called upon God for myself and those that sailed with me, absent friends and all mankind. After this I went on deck, but surely a more noble, awful sight my eyes never yet beheld! for the waves rose more than mountains high, and sometimes came on the quarter-deck. I endeavoured all the while to magnify God, for thus making his power to be known; and then creeping on my knees (for I knew not how to go otherwise) I followed my friend H. between decks, and sang psalms and comforted the poor wet people. After this I read prayers in the great cabin; but we were obliged to sit all the while. Then thinking I should be capable of doing nothing, I laid myself across the chair reading; but God was so good, so to assist me by his spirit, that though things were tumbling, the ship rocking, and persons falling down unable to stand, and sick about me; yet I never was more cheerful in my life, and was enabled though in the midst of company, to finish a sermon before I went to bed, which I had begun a few days before. So greatly was God's strength magnified in my weakness! Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name! Thursday, February 16. Did as usual in the ship, only instead of catechising, examined into the proficiency of my friend H.'s scholars, gave them proper encouragement, as I saw they wanted; and had hopes some of them would become living members of Jesus Christ. Joined with those at night, who set apart this day as a day of fasting and humiliation, to deprecate the judgments our national sins deserve. Lord hear our prayers, and let our cry come unto thee. Friday, February 17. Read prayers, expounded the lessons and proceeded on my explanation of the catechism to the women: expounded part of the Lord's Prayer, after evening prayer, in the great cabin; and intend after this is done, to go on with the Creed and Ten Commandments. God give us all praying, believing, obedient hearts. Found honest Mr D. particularly useful to me, I being a little sick by the late shaking of the ship, and the heat and smell of the people between decks, who, as yet, have scarce had time to recover themselves since the storm. O how soon are these frail tabernacles of ours put out of order! happy the man who serves God in his health, and has nothing to do when sickness seizes him, but quietly to lie down and die. Saturday, February 18. Performed the usual duty, and finished the Lord's Prayer. Perceived my bodily disorders to go off, and was enabled to preach to the soldiers with more enlargement than I have been for these four days past. The captain observed me a little disordered, and gave Mr H. a cordial for me. The good Lord note this favour in his book. The After dinner I grew better and better, was exceedingly delighted by sitting on deck, praising God for the pleasantness of the weather, and reading archbishop Cranmer's life: surely he was a righteous man. account of his fall made my heart tremble within me. But why shouldest thou be cast down, O my soul? Still trust in God: he that has begun will carry on and finish the good work. Even so, Lord Jesus come quickly. Though the weather was exceeding pleasant all the day, yet it grew more and more pleasant in the evening, and our ship sailed at the rate of nine miles an hour, and as steady as though we were sitting on shore. The night was exceeding clear, and the moon and stars appeared in their greatest lustre; so that not having patience to stay below, I went upon deck with friend H. and praised God for his wonderful loving-kindness in singing psalms, and gave thanks for the blessings, and asked pardon for the offences of the week, and then had a long intercession. God grant I may learn a lesson from this good providence of God; and the nearer I come to my journey's end, the quicker may my pace be. It is worth coming from England, to see what we have beheld this day. God be praised for all his mercies. Sunday, February 19. Slept better to night than [ have a long while, blessed be the keeper of Israel. Read prayers in the great cabin, was enlarged in expounding both the lessons to the soldiers, and had prayers, and preached one of the sermons God enabled me to make since I came on board, on open deck in the afternoon. All the gentlemen attended, benches were laid for the people, and the ship sailed smoothly, and the weather was finer than I can express; so that I know not where I have performed the service more comfortably. And, indeed, I have been so delighted these two days with our pleasant sailing, and the promontories all around us, that I could not avoid thanking God for calling me abroad, and stirring up all to praise him who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, and is girded about with power. For these two days our ship has sailed at the rate of a hundred and sixty miles in twenty-four hours, and rode in triumph directly before the wind, and cast anchor about two in the morning; till which time, I sat up on purpose to give thanks in Gibraltar haven. Oh, that my friends would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and extol him for the wonderful works he doth for me, the least of the sons of men. How Providence will be pleased to dispose of me here, I cannot yet know; but I thought proper to send you this account of my short voyage already, to show you how God has heard your prayers, to provoke you to thankfulness, and to encourage you to persevere in praying on my behalf. If you observe, as doubtless you may, any thing amiss or imprudent in my conduct, I beseech you by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, tell me plainly; for, for that cause have I been so particular. And if you should happen to see any thing commendable or praiseworthy in my behaviour, oh, do not think more highly of me than you ought to think, for I am a worm, and no man, and deserve to be the outcast of the people; but give all glory to my best master, by whose free grace I am what I am. I cannot help transcribing the verses that follow, as a conclusion to what I have now sent you. VOL. VI. How are thy servants bless'd, O Lord! How sure is their defence! Eternal wisdom is their guard; Their help, Omnipotence. Think, O my soul, devoutly think, Confusion dwelt in ev'ry face, When waves on waves, and gulf on gulf, Yet then from all my griefs, O Lord! Whilst in the confidence of prayer, My soul took hold on thee. For though in dreadful whirls we hung I knew thou wert not slow to hear, Nor impotent to save. The storms were laid, the wind retired, The sea, that roar'd at thy command, In midst of dangers, fears, and death, And praise thee for thy mercies past, My life, if thou preserv'st my life, And death, if death shall be my doom, PART II. FROM GIBRALTAR TO SAVANNAH. My dear Friends, THOUGH I know no reason why you should be solicitous about any thing that happens to such a dead dog as I am, yet as your love, (oh, unmerited kindness,) abounds exceedingly towards me, I am positive you will give thanks unto our good God for all the mercies he had conferred upon me; therefore have I sent you as full and particular an account of the remainder of my voyage, as the little leisure I have had from my ministerial offices would permit me to give. Monday, February 20, 1737. Spent the morning on board, in writing letters to my dear friends in England to acquaint them of my safe arrival. Went in the afternoon on shore to Gibraltar, and was unspeakably delighted with the prospect of the place. My friend H. and I dined at an inn, and afterwards with captain W. and some other company, to view one side of the fort, which to us seemed impregnable; and at the sight of it I could scarce avoid crying out, who is so good a God as our God? The seeing persons of all nations and languages gave me great pleasure, and the difference of the value of |