and was like to fall off the chest whereon I lay, several times, the sea being very rough, and the wind turning in an instant directly contrary. Oh, that I could learn from winds and storms to obey my master!

Buried a young man that came from Georgia, and died this morning. Lord, what is man? He solaced himself with the thoughts of seeing his friends in England. But God saw fit to prevent it, by shortening his days. Lord, thy judgments are like the great deep!"

When I buried him, I could not say much, because of the rolling of the ship; but at evening prayer I took occasion from the lesson, which providentially was the fifteenth chapter of the first of Corinthians, to exhort all my shipmates to consider so as to prepare for their latter end. I believe my words came with power. God grant they may have a due effect. Amen, Lord Jesus, Amen!

Friday, October 6. Before I left Savannah, the lesson appointed for the morning was St. Paul's shipwreck, out of the Acts, and before I left Charles-town, the lesson was the first of Jonah, both which made such a deep impression upon me, that I wrote to my friend Habersham, to acquaint him I was apprehensive we should have a dangerous voyage. Since I have been on board, what St. Paul said to his companions, "That he perceived their voyage would be to their great damage," has frequently been pressed upon my heart; and God has now shown me wherefore he gave these previous notices. For on Tuesday night last, after we had sailed one hundred and fifty miles, the last twenty hours, about eleven o'clock arose a sudden violent east wind, which continued till about four in the morning, and put all the sailors to their wits' end. Most of them declared they never had seen the like before. The main sail was slit in several pieces, and several of the other sails, and much of the tackling all to tatters; not a dry place was to be found in all the ship. The captain's hammock, in the great cabin, was half filled with water; and though I lay in the most dry part of the ship, yet the wave broke in upon me twice or thrice.

In short all was terror and confusion, men's hearts failing them for fear, and the wind and the sea raging most horribly. But God, for ever be adored his unmerited goodness, was exceeding gracious unto me. For I felt a sweet complacency in my will, in submission to his. Many particular promises God has made me from his word, that I should return in peace, flowed in upon my heart. And he enabled me greatly to rejoice. This is the first day we have ventured to pull down any of our dead lights, which put me in mind of the long night the Egyptians once saw.. But I spent my time in reading, and fervent intercession for absent friends, and comforted myself much with the remembrance of them; most of our fresh provisions are washed over board, and our tackling much out of order, so that we have a prospect but of an indifferent voyage. But blessed be God, the prospect pleases me. For now I shall learn,

I trust, how to want as well as how to abound, and how to endure hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. O Lord, let thy strength be magnified in my weakness, say unto my soul, “It is I, be not afraid, and then let storms and tempests do their worst."

Saturday, October 7. This has been a week, blessed be God, though not of much action, yet full of opportunities of exercising my passive graces. To-day, adored be the divine goodness, the weather has cleared up more and more, and our ship has sailed directly before the wind, at the rate of four or five miles an hour.

A desire to see my friends in England, to despatch my business, and to return to my poor flock, prompt me secretly to wish for a continuance of this prosperous gale. But, Lord, I know not what to pray for as I ought. Do with me as seemeth good in thy sight. Only I beseech thee to sanctify my present retirement; that the longer I am upon the sea, the more zealous I may be in thy service, when I come upon dry land.

Saw a Jamaica ship, captain Philips, who has been out nine weeks. What reason have we to be thankful! Having had no opportunity before, since the storm, of getting many of our people together, gave a word of

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two of exhortation to my shipmates, to bless God for our late deliverance, and to sin no more lest a worst storm should befall us.

Saturday, October 14. Sailed this week about six hundred miles; but yesterday God was pleased to send us a contrary wind, which still continues. Father, thy will be done.

A few days ago I flattered myself we should be soon at our desired port, but God is pleased to defer the accomplishment of my hopes. However, blessed be his name, he enables me to give thanks.

Most of this week has been spent in searching the scriptures, and particular retirements for direction and assistance in the work before me. God has been pleased to send me many inward trials. And now my fresh provisions are gone, and the people, are put to the allowance of a quart of water each man for a day. So that I hope now the spiritual man will grow, having so little for the natural man to feed on. Amen, Lord Jesus. Blessed be God I can by his grace say that I rejoice in necessities, and do in every thing give thanks. Keep me thus minded, O dear Redeemer, till thou perfect thy work in my soul.

Had this sentence out of Henry much pressed upon my heart to comfort me in my retirement:-"The mower loses no time whilst he is whetting his scythe."-Thus shall all christians be taught of God.

Sunday, October 15. The weather being calm, and I being kindly invited yesterday, went on board the Constant, captain Philips, bound from Jamaica, who now sails in company with us, and was kindly received both by the captain and his passengers, and not only so, but they spared me what they could of their provisions. A most providential supply; for ours was quite out. But our extremity is God's opportunity Blessed be his name for thus strengthening our faith May this be looked upon as a pledge that he will never leave or forsake us.

Our chief discourse was about Georgia, and staying a little longer than was thought: my shipmates were

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very suspicious I should be detained on board. though there was provision for the flesh, yet I like my own situation best, because here are greater opportunities of denying myself, and consequently of making farther improvement in the spirit. Oh, that I may always walk by this rule! Saturday, October 21. Made but slow advances in our voyage, having had but one or two days of fair wind. But notwithstanding, I believe we shall now soon reach shore; for God has been pleased to visit me all the week with a variety of inward trials, which is a sign to me that I shall experience yet more and more of his mercies. How good is God thus to prepare me by sufferings, that so his blessings may not be my ruin; these things to the natural man are not joyous, but grievous; but God enables me to take comfort only in him, to thank him sincerely for his loving correction; and therefore when I am sufficiently exercised thereby, I hope it will bring forth in me the peaceable fruits of righteousness. Amen.

Sunday, October 22. At the desire of the captain, preached my sermon on rash anger, having hitherto used to expound only. In the lesson were these remarkable words, "Return to thy own house, and show how great things God has done unto thee." And again, "It came to pass that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him, for they were all waiting for him." These last words were remarkably pressed upon me at Savannah, when I was consulting God by prayer, whether it was his will that I should go to England. Thus God's word is in particular cases as well as in general, "a light unto our feet, and a lantern unto our paths."

Thursday, October 25. Was much comforted this evening in reading the thirty-third and thirty-fourth chapters of Ezekiel, wherein I could not but observe many circumstances of God's dealing with him corresponding with what I have experienced in myself. The following verses in particular were set home to my heart:-"Also thou son of man, the children of thy people

are still talking against thee by the wall and in the doors of the house, and speak one to another, saying, come, I pray you, and hear what word cometh from the Lord. And they came unto thee as the people cometh, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them, for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after covetousness. And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument : for they hear thy words, but do them not." Who that knows how God has dealt with me since I have been in the ministry, sees not that this passage answers to my circumstances, as face answers to face in the water? However, this I know, what I have spoken from God will come to pass, lo it will come, and then shall these scoffers and despisers know, that a minister of Christ has been amongst them. Oh, that I may never be brought forth as a swift witness against any; but we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

Saturday, October 28. Sailed about three hundred miles the four first days of this week, had a little storm on Wednesday night, and a great calm ever since. We are now within one hundred and fifty leagues of land, and our provisions and water very scanty, and our ship very weak; but the hour of our arrival is not yet come. Lord, teach me to be resigned and thankful, and then deal with me as seemeth good in thy sight.

Blessed be God! he has this week enlarged my heart, and filled me with great comfort, after great inward conflicts. Is not all this to prepare me for further trials we are yet to endure ere we get to England? Lord, thy grace I know will be sufficient for me, and therefore I rejoice in the prospect of enduring tribulation.

Had reason to believe one on board was offended at my enlarging one night on the sin of drunkenness. I always endeavour to speak with the meekness and gentleness of Christ. But if people will account me their enemy, because out of love I tell them the truth, I cannot help that. Lo, I have delivered my soul.