Page images
PDF
EPUB

tience to possess my soul. I did not go to bed all the last night I was on board. I spent part of it in writing a letter to my thoughtless fellow passengers. In it I frankly reminded them of our many mercies, of our great deliverance, and of their great abuse of both. I reminded them of the uncertainty of life in the securest circumstances, and exhorted them to flee from the wrath to come.

On the second day of February, a boat came along side the packet. I was the only one of the crew that went with her to the shore. As soon as I could get discharged from the customhouse, I retired to an inn, where I attempted to present my grateful acknowledgments to the God of my salvation, made a resignation of myself to his gracious disposal, and indulged myself in meditation. In the evening I attended preaching in Mr. Wesley's room, and found it good to be there, afterwards I retired to bed, and enjoyed a sweet sleep. When last at Dover I was a forlorn character with no prospects before me, barely clad and merely capable of getting conveyed from place to place. I now had the means of travelling comfortably. I vented my soul in a line to Mr. Peronet, of Canterbury, whose former kindness intitled him to the expression of my gratitude. It is

good to recal the history of life to mind, that we may be quickened to bless the Lord: I find pleasure in the review, and I feel this effect resulting from it. I bless God I have no disposition to deny his mercies, or to conceal his loving kindness. May my heart never be the grave of forgetfulness, but the altar of praise. From thence may grateful incense rise in abundance. I give glory to God while I recite his goodness to you, who possess a great share of that affection, that makes it pleasant for me to subscribe myself,

My very dear friend,

Your's, &c.

LETTER XII.

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,

Ir is a part of the christian's wis

dom to enjoy his mercies, but to be cautious that he is not impeded by them in his progress. A voyage or a journey is an emblem of life, the end of which is to be regarded while we use the refreshments of the passage. I lighted at Dover, but was not to be detained a second day, since I had an opportunity to set off the next morn

ing for London, whither I arrived safe in the evening. The first house I held myself bound to go to, was Mr. Keen's, Woollen-draper, in the Minories, a principal friend of Mr. Whitefield's, and one of his executors. He gave me a most kind reception. After the first salutation, he said, he, and Mr. Hardy, and Mr. West, the other managers of Mr. Whitefield's concerns, had been but once sorry they let me go, and that had been ever since. Having delivered Mr. Whitefield's will to him, and spent some hours, he said he hoped I should make the tabernacle house my home. I signified it had the preference of all other places. The next day I had the pleasure to see my relations, now lovers and followers of that gospel, they once despised. The letters I had received from them while abroad, prepared me for this agreeable sight, and our meeting was an emblem of that which I trust we shall have on the other side of Jordan, notwithstanding the strong efforts used by the enemy of souls to prevent it.

I knew my business required dispatch, and I was desirous to know the issue. 1 therefore proceeded immediately upon it, and a very few days ended it. When When my friends saw how well recommended I came home, they all seemed positive that I should succeed. Mr. Broughton,

on reading Mr. Habersham's letter, made no doubt of it. He seemed pleased exceedingly with my recommendations, but want of courage in a good cause, and the prevalence of the fear of man, suffered him to subvert the design of his letter, for he never shewed it to the Bishop, though he was present at the society at Bow church, when my case was canvassed. I wish to make no reflection upon Mr. Broughton's pusillanimity. Providence saw fit no doubt for wise ends to frustrate my intention in America, by shutting up the Bishop's heart against me, as will appear by a letter I wrote to the Rev. Mr. Zububuhler's executors, giving them an account of all the whole process of the affair after my arrival, which was as follows.

“GENTLEMEN,

"WHILE I possess much satisfaction, upon a recollection of the prudence with which I have conducted myself since I arrived in England, and have commenced candidate for holy orders, it gives me pain on many accounts that I am obliged to inform you, that neither your strong recommendations, nor the use I have made of them, have been productive of their desired effect. There is a first cause

for all the disappointments we meet with in life, and we should be reconciled to them.One would have thought the great pains you have been put to, the character you have so kindly given me, the generosity you have shewn me, together with the additional favor of his excellency's and Mr. Frink's recommendation to his lordship of London, for my ad, mission into the establishment, were sure indications of success. But all these have availed me nothing.

"That I may not leave you in the dark about the matter, I think it my duty to state the whole case to you as justly as possible, and then you will judge of the propriety of the conduct of the society, and of the Bishop.

"At my arrival I waited upon Mr. Knox, who after perusing Mr. Habersham's letter, was pleased to express his great approbation, and he directed me to Dr. Burton, to whom he desired I would signify the letter he had received, and ask directions how I should proceed. The Doctor read that part of Mr. Zububuhler's will, that respects the instruction of negroes; he observed it was plain Mr. Zububuhler designed the gentleman employed should be in orders, but gave it as his advice, that as I wanted

« PreviousContinue »