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mers. § About the end of this week we shall certain tainly go on board the ship, having to pay a second "time for our passage: even here, nothing is to be "had without money. It vexes me to be obliged to purchase this delay, and to pay a great price for my "departure.

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My disorder, once removed by this most salubri ous air, has again returned. All my friends advise me to consult a Physician, but I cannot afford so "expensive a funeral.”

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Mr. Wesley did not go on board as he expected, the ship being detained some time longer. During his stay here, his disorder returned with violence, and reduced him to a state of very great weakness. On the 15th of October he wrote to his brother, and continues his letter in a kind of Journal to the 25th, when he went on board the ship, and sailed for England. His account of himself is as follows.

"I should be glad for your sake to give a satisfactory "account of myself, but that you must never expect

from me---It is fine talking while we have youth and * health on our side; but sickness would spoil your "boasting as well as mine. I am now glad of a warm "bed; but must soon betake myself to my board 66 again. "Though

between four and five o'clock in the morning, before the alligators were stirring; but they heard them snoring all round them. One morning Mr. Delamotte was in great danger; an alligator rose just behind him, and pursued him to the land, whither he escaped with difficulty.

He puts informers in good company; they are always troublesome, and sometimes destructive creatures. They seldom or never confine themselves to simple facts; suspicion supplies much matter, and invention more. After what he had suffered, it is no wonder he speaks of them in so feeling a manner.

"Though I am apt to think that I shall at length "arrive in England to deliver what I am intrusted

with, yet do I not expect, nor wish for a long life. "How strong must the principle of self-preservation

be, which can make such a wretch as I am willing "to live at all!—or rather unwilling to die; for I "know no greater pleasure in life, than in considering "that it cannot last for ever.

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"No more shall vex me; every grief I feel
"Shortens the destined number; every pulse
"Beats a sharp moment of the pain away,

And the last stroke will come. By swift degrees
"Time sweeps me off, and I shall soon arrive
"At life's sweet period: O! celestial point
"That ends this mortal story.”

To-day completes my three weeks, unnecessary "stay at Boston. To-morrow the ship falls down→→ "I am just now much worse than ever; but nothing "less than death shall hinder me from embarking.

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October 18. "The ship that carries me, must meet "with endless delays: it is well if it sails this week. "I have lived so long in honours and indulgences, that "I have almost forgotten whereunto I am called; being strongly urged to set up my rest here. But I will lean no longer upon men; nor again put myself into the 66 power of any of my own merciless species, by either "expecting their kindness or desiring their esteem. "Mr. Appy, like an arrant gentleman as he is, has drawn me into monstrous expences for ship stores, &c. So "that, what with my three weeks' stay at Charles-Town,

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my month's stay here, and double passage,-from "Courtier I am turned Philosopher. *" October 21. "I am worried on all sides by the "solicitations of my friends to defer my winter voyage till I have recovered a little strength.-Mr.I am

apt to think would allow me to wait a fortnight for "the next ship; but then if I recover, my stay will be 66 thought unnecessary. I must die to prove myself "sick, and I can do no more at sea. I am therefore "determined to be carried on board to-morrow, and "leave the event to God."

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October 25. "The ship fell down as was expected, but a contrary wind prevented me from following till now,-At present I am something better: "on board the Hannah, Captain Corney; in the stateroom, which they have forced upon me. I have not strength for more. Adieu,"

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On the 27th, Mr. Wesley had so far recovered strength that he was able to read prayers. The next day the Captain informed him that a storm was approaching. In the evening it came on with dreadful violence and raged all night. On the 29th in the morning they shipped so prodigious a sea, that it washed away their sheep, half their hogs, and drowned most of their fowl. The ship was heavy laden, and the sea streamed in so plentifully at the sides, that it was as much as four men could do by continual pumping, to keep her above water. "I rose, and lay down by turns, (adds Mr. Wesley) but could remain in no "posture long. I strove vehemently to pray, but in vain ;

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Among the ancients, philosopher and a beggar were almost synonimous terms. In modern times, the philosopher holds a respectable rank in society. We commonly associate the ideas of a poet and a garret, but then we mean a poet by profession; one who procures a livelihood by writing verses.

"vain; I still persisted in striving, but without effect. "I prayed for power to pray, *for faith in Jesus "Christ; continually repeating his name, till I felt the "virtue of it at last, and knew that I abode under the "shadow of the ALMIGHTY."

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At three in the afternoon the storm was at the height; at four, the ship made so much water, that the Captain finding it otherwise impossible to save her from sinking, cut down the mizzen-mast. "In this dreadful moment, (says Mr. Wesley) I bless God I found the comfort "of hope; and such joy in finding I could hope, as "the world can neither give nor take away. I had "that conviction of the power of God present with me, "over balancing my strongest passion, fear, and raising me above what I am by nature, as surpassed all "rational evidence, and gave me a taste of the divine goodness."

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On the 30th the storm abated; and on Sunday the 31st, he observes, "my first business was, may it "be the business of all my days, to offer up the sacri"fice of praise and thanksgiving. We all joined in "thanks for our deliverance most of the day."

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They soon met with another storm, but not so violent as the former, and continuing their voyage with some intervening difficulties and dangers, till the third of December, the ship arrived opposite Deal, and the passengers came safe on shore. "I kneeled down, (says "Mr. Wesley) and blessed the hand that had conduct"ed me through such inextricable mazes, and desired "I might give up my country again, whenever God "should require it."

• He means with confidence and comfort.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER VII.

SECTION III.

Of Mr. CHARLES WESLEY, from December 3, 1736, until the end of June, 1738.

MR. Charles Wesley, had been absent from Eng

land upwards of thirteen months; during this time he had passed through a series of trials and difficulties, which in all their circumstances are not very common. He had indeed been in the wilderness, where the hand of God had been manifested in his preservation, and finally in his deliverance. Here God had proved him, and tried him, and shewn him what was in his heart. In this state of suffering, he was led to a more perfect knowledge of human nature, than he could have obtained from books and meditation, through the whole course of his life. His knowledge was derived from experience, which is the most certain, and the most useful in the conduct of life, and makes the deepest impression on the mind. In his distress the Scriptures became more precious than he had ever found them before, He now saw a beauty in them, which the most learned and refined criticism can never discover, From the frequent and pointed application of them to his state and circumstances, they were the means of giving a degree of consolation and hope, which human prudence and human help can never bestow, His situation abroad may be called a school, in which the discipline indeed was severe, but the knowledge acquired by it, valuable, as it prepared him to understand, and disposed him by degrees

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