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my present situation, and had reason to bless God for some farther visible good effects of my ministry. Was highly delighted in seeing friend H. active in teaching the lambs of my flock. He has now gotten a regular school, and the children began to-day to come at regu lar set hours. Several also of the soldiers learn to write and read; so that my friend is like to make a useful man. God make him more and more so every

day!

Thursday, March 16. Preached this afternoon my sermon against swearing, at which several of the soldiers wept. Blessed be God! that sin is much abated amongst us; and I think a visible alteration may be perceived through the whole ship. Not unto me, not unto me, O Lord, but unto thy name be the glory!

Was much strengthened in my present undertaking, by reading the story of "Ezra," and joined in intercession with those who set apart this day as a day of fasting and prayer for the sins of the nation to which we belong. May they prove as effectual as those which Moses put up for the children of Israel!

The sick increased to-day; visited near a dozen. May I by this frequent visiting sick beds, learn to improve my time of health. For, alas, what can be done in time of sickness? I find but few that are able with any tolerable patience to sustain their bodily infirmities. But to have a wounded spirit at the same time, good God, who can bear it?

Friday, March 17. Last night God sent us a fair wind; and we began to sail most pleasantly. I was comforted on every side, and enabled to intercede fervently for all mankind. Oh, that the love of God and man were shed abroad in my heart!

Saturday, March 18. The weather being exceeding fair, and the sea calm, I went with captain W. on board the Lightfoot, dined with the gentlemen belonging to the ship and colonel C. who came on board to pay them a visit. Married a couple; dispersed bibles, testaments, soldiers' monitors, amongst the men; exchanged some books for some cards, which I threw

overboard, preached a sermon against drunkenness, which God enabled me to finish yesterday; and returned in the evening, highly delighted with seeing the porpoises roll about the great deep. O Lord, the sea is full of thy riches! marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. O, that I may live to praise thee for them! What mercies have I received this week! they are more in number than the hairs of my head. Oh, that my friends would give thanks for me!

Sunday, March 19. Went with captain W. on board the Amy; read prayers and preached to above two hundred and twenty hearers; and married a couple, who did not behave so well as I could wish. The bridegroom laughed several times in the midst of the solemnity, upon which I shut up my prayer-book: but he showing his concern by weeping, I then proceeded, gave him and the bride a bible, as the best present I could make them; and exhorted all to holiness of life. God give them a hearing ear, and an obedient heart!

Dined with colonel C., who treated me with the utmost civility, and took care to dispose of some books I brought with me to proper persons.

About three we returned to the Whitaker, read prayers and preached my sermon against drunkenness ; after which captain M. made a useful speech to the men, and exhorted them to give heed to the things that had been spoken. Religion is likely to go on well, when both the civil and ecclesiastical powers are engaged in keeping up the purity of it. But, Lord, unless thou assist us, all our endeavours are but in vain. Vouchsafe, then, we beseech thee, to give us thy blessing!

Had above an hour's close conversation with my companions concerning their interior; and walked with friend H. on deck till twelve at night, admiring God's wonders in the deep. Blessed be God for sending us abroad.

Monday, March 20.

To-day colonel C. came to

dine with us, and in the midst of our meal we were

entertained with a most agreeable sight; it was a shark about the length of a man, which followed our ship, attended with five little fishes called the pilot-fish, much like a mackerel, but larger. These I am told always keep the shark company; and what is most surprising, though the shark is so ravenous a creature, yet let it be never so hungry, it never touches one of them. Nor are they less faithful to him. For, if at any time the shark is hooked, these little creatures will not forsake him, but cleave close to his fins, and are often taken up with him. Go to the pilot fish, thou that forsakest a friend in adversity, consider his ways, and be abashed. This simple sight one would think sufficient to confute any atheist (if there be such a fool as a speculative atheist) in the world.

After dinner I read prayers and expounded to my own people; and then went aboard the Amy with colonel C. who used me with uncommon civility; married a couple; and came back to the Whitaker, rejoicing to see the works of the Lord, and the beauty of the great deep. Who would but come abroad?

Had near two hours close conversation with a gentleman, in whom appear many marks of the new birth. Surely he will prove a devout centurion! How shall I be constrained till it be accomplished!

Tuesday, March 21.

Had fresh reason to be thankful: captain M. made me a kind present; the weather exceedingly pleasant; and what was the greatest blessing of all, God's Holy Spirit seemed to be moving on the faces of some of the souls in the ship.

The weather growing warmer, friend H. had some cloths hung over to cover his school. His children come very regular both to learn and to say their prayers at night. Captain W. takes great delight in them. Captain M. much encourages the soldiers to learn to read and write; so that we begin to live as regular now as we could wish to do on shore. Blessed be God for thus making his power to be known!

Though God gives me so much comfort, yet my dear England friends are seldom out of my mind; though

absent in body, I am present with them in spirit. The Lord direct my way unto them, and grant if ever I return, it may be in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace!

Wednesday, March 22. Saw a large grampus rolling and spouting out water for a long while at a short distance from our ship: it put me in mind of the behemoth spoken of by holy Job, and of the Leviathan men tioned by the royal psalmist. O God, who is like unto thee?

Thursday, March 23 This morning we began to have prayers at six o'clock, and the drum beat to call the people. Methinks we grow more and more regular every day. God be praised!

Was very fervent in intercession for absent friends and all mankind. Oh, intercession is a most delightful exercise! How does it sweeten and purify the heart!

Visited near twelve or fourteen sick persons; and yet such is God's mercy to me, that though the place where they lie is much confined, and they catch the fever of one another, yet God keeps me from infection. The way of duty is the way of safety. Now God has sent his visitations abroad amongst us, I hope we shall learn righteousness.

Friday, March 24. To-day the sick still increased, and friend H. was very ready to assist and carry things to them. Nothing more useful than visiting sick beds. How are those to be pitied, who purposely shun such improving sights!

Had still fresh reason to bless God for the success of my ministry. Not unto me, not unto me, but unto thy name, O Lord, be all the glory!

We begin now to live so happy on shipboard, that I believe we shall part with each other with regret. By this may all men know we are Christ's disciples, that we love one another!

Sailed a hundred and fifty-four miles the last twentyfour hours. And was much delighted in seeing many porpoises playing about the ship, one of which captain W. caught, and part of its liver we had dressed for

dinner: it had a head much like a pig, and was about six feet long. The works of the Lord are exceeding great, and to be admired of all them that have a delight therein.

Churched a woman who lately was delivered of a dead child, and afterwards gave her an exhortation applicable to her circumstances. God grant she may apply it to her heart!

Sunday, March 26. This day God I trust magnified his power in the conversion of a young gentleman on board, whom he has been pleased to visit with a fever. His convictions were strong, and, as far as I could find, a thorough renovation begun in his heart. The good Lord perfect it till the day of his dissolution. Now, God begins to show me wherefore he hath sent me. 0 that I were humble! that I might be fit for the High and Lofty One, who inhabiteth eternity, to work by.

Preached a sermon in the afternoon, on Luke iii. 14. "And the soldiers likewise came unto him, and demanded, saying, 'and what must we do? And he said unto them, 'Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages.” ?" I made it at the request of captain M. who seems in earnest about the great work of his salvation. He has read Arndt's "True Christianity," and is now reading Law's "Christian Perfection;" books worth thei weight in gold, and which God has blessed to the con version of many. But what are books without thy Spirit, O Lord? Do thou bless them unto him, and they shall be blessed.

Exchanged some bad books that were on board (which I threw immediately into the sea) for some good ones, blessed be God; all that I have found them with, as yet, have been ready to surrender them up. And I find it by daily experience more and more that people who are truly awakened to a sense of the Divine Life, cannot bear to read any thing trifling; but throw away their useless books, as those did the books of divination and curious arts, whose conversion we read in the Acts, chap. v.

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