The two following days after he got on board, were spent with his friends, partly in the ship and partly on shore, in exhorting one another to shake off every weight, and to run with patience the race set before them. There being twenty-six Germans on board, members of the Moravian Church, Mr. Wesley immediately began to learn the German language, in order to converse with them; and David Nitchman, the Moravian Bishop, and two others began to learn English, that they might enjoy the benefit of mutual conversation. He observes, that he now first preached extempore

this strain, ab omnibus gentitium libris abstine: abstain from all books of the Gentiles. And though these Constitutions are not Apostolical, yet it is allowed on all hands, that they are very ancient. Cotelerius in a note on this passage, has shewn the different sentiments of many of the Fathers: and it is probable that a majority of them were of opinion, the heathen writers might be read with advantage, under certain restrictions and regu. lations. Basil the great, has an oration, shewing, Quomodo ex scriptis Gentilium utilitatem capere debeamus: how we ought to reap advantage from the writings of the Gentiles. The most learned and pious among the moderns, have very universally condemned the practice of indiscriminately, reading the writings of the heathens. On this subject, Erasmus compiairs in one of his letters, pro christianis reddamur pagani. Instead of Christians we are made Pagans. And again, animadverto, says he, juvenes aliquot, quos nobis remittit Italia, præcique Roma non nihil abflatos hoc veneno. I observe some youths, returned from Italy, especially from Rome, infected with this poison. Buddei Isagoge, par. 1. p. 147. Buddeus himself observes, after giving the opinions of several others, "Singulari utique hic opus esse circumspectione, negari nequit; cum facile contingat, ut qui ethnicorum' scriptis toti veluti immerguntur, ethnicum, plane, alienumque a religione christiana, inde referant animum." It cannot be denied that there is here. need of singular circumspection, as it easily happens, that they who are, as it were wholly immersed in the writings of the heathens, return from them with a heathenish mind, alienated from the christian religion. He then gives several examples of the bad influence of this practice on the minds of men of great abilities and learning; to which we might add the name of a late celebrated histo-. rian; and perhaps many others of our nation. The danger arises from the fondness which these persons contract for the studied and regular composition manifest in these writings, and for the flowers of oratory with which they dress out their fables and false notions of things.

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extempore, though I believe he had done so once before in London. It was here that his acquaintance commenced with the Moravian brethren, which he cultivated for several years with great assiduty and success; and we must allow that the knowledge he acquired by their means, laid the foundation of the great things which followed in the subsequent part of his life.

It was a maxim with Mr. Wesley in the conduct of life, that every part of the day ought to be filled up with some useful employment; a man unemployed, being in constant danger of falling into foolish temptations and hurtful habits, the best preservative from which is industry. He therefore so arranged his business that he had a stated employment for every part of the day. This love of regularity in the improvement of his time, immediately shewed itself in his new situation. October 21, they sailed from Gravesend, and got into the Downs. "Now (says he) we began to be a little regular. Our common way of living was this from four in the morning till five, each of us used private prayer. From five till seven we read the Bible together, carefully comparing it (that we might not lean to our own understandings) with the writings of the earliest ages. At seven we breakfasted. At eight were the public prayers. From nine to twelve I usually learned German, and Mr. Delumotte, Greek. My brother writ sermons, and Mr. Ingham instructed the children. At twelve we met, to give an account to one another what we had done since our last meeting, and what we designed to do before our next. About one we dined. The time from dinner to four, we spent in reading to those of whom each of us had taken charge, or in speaking to them severally, as need required. At four were the evening prayers; when either

the

the second lesson was explained (as it always was in the morning) or the children catechised, and instructed before the congregation. From five to six we again used private prayer. From six to seven I read in our cabin to two or three of the passengers (of whom there were eighty English on board) and each of my brethren to a few more in theirs. At seven I joined with the Germans in their public service; while Mr. Ingham was reading between the decks, to as many as desired to hear. At eight we met again, to exhort and instruct one another. Between nine and ten we went to bed, where neither the roaring of the sea, nor the motion of the ship, could take away the refreshing sleep which God gave us.

This, no doubt, was prodigious labour; and yet it may be safely affirmed, that during the fifty-five years and upwards, which followed, few days passed, in which, by one employment or other, the time was not filled up with equal exactness and diligence. It has indeed been doubted whether the human mind be сараble of such unremitted attention through a multiplicity of business, without injury. The words of Horace, "Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo," have been quoted to shew, that the mind ought not always to be on the stretch. But these words were not spoken with any allusion to this subject. We may observe also, that varying our employment gives a considerable degree of relaxation to the mind. Every subject does not require the same stretch of thought; nor every kind of exercise the same degree of exertion,

The wind being contrary, they did not sail from Cowes till the 10th of December.-On Thursday, the 15th of January 1736, complaint being made to Mr. Oglethorpe of the unequal distribution of water to the passengers, new officers were appointed, and the old

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ones were highly exasperated against Mr. Wesley, who, as they supposed had made the complaint.-From the 17th to the 25th, they had violent storms, the sea going frequenly over the ship, and breaking the cabin win dows. On these occasions he found the fear of death brought him into some degree of bondage, and being a severe judge of himself he concluded, that he was unfit, because he was unwilling to die; at the same time he could not but observe the lively victorious faith which appeared in the Germans, and kept their minds in a state of tranquillity and ease, in the midst of danger, to which he, and the English on board were strangers: speaking of these humble followers of Christ, he says, "I had long before observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired and would receive no pay; saying, "It was good for their proud hearts, and their loving Saviour had done more for them." And every day had given them occasion of shewing a meekness, which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown down, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying, whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. In the midst of the psalm, wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards, "Was you not afraid?" He answered, "I thank God, No." I asked, "But were not your women and children afraid?" He re

plied mildly, "No; our women and children are not afraid to die."

On the 29th, they fell in with the skirts of a hurricane, which however did no damage; on the 4th of February, they saw land; and on the 6th, after a stormy passage set first foot on American ground, on a small uninhabited island over against Tybee, where Mr. Oglethorpe led them to a rising ground and they returned God thanks, and then he took boat for Savannah.

During this passage Mr. Wesley's leading principle, that self-denial and mortification, were to him the chief means of holiness, shewed itself powerfully in his conduct. Judging, as he observes, that it might be helpful to him, he discontinued the use of flesh and wine, and confined himself to vegetables, chiefly rice and biscuit. He also left off eating suppers, and his bed having been wet by the sea, he lay upon the floor, and slept sound till morning. He speaks with an air of triumph on this unexpected victory over the common indulgence of using a bed to sleep in; and adds, "I believe, I shall not find it needful to go to bed, as it is called, any more."

February 7, Mr. Oglethorpe returned from Savannah, with Mr. Spangenberg, one of the pastors of the Germans. "I soon found, says Mr. Wesley, what spirit he was of; and asked his advice with regard to my own conduct. He said, "My brother, I must first ask you one or two questions. Have you the witness within yourself? Does the spirit of God bear witness with your spirit, that you are the child of God?" I was surprised and knew not what to answer. He observed it, and asked, "Do you know Jesus Christ?" I paused and said, I know he is the saviour of the world. True; replied he; but do you know he has saved you? I answered, I hope he has died to save me. He only added, "Do you know yourself?” I said, I do. But I

fear