How short a time will it be before its present possessor is removed! perhaps to be no more seen!

6

Sun. 28.-A servant of Mr. Bradley's sent to desire to speak with me. Going to him, I found a young man ill, but perfectly sensible. He desired the rest to go out, and then said, “On Thursday night, about eleven, being in bed, but broad awake, I heard one calling aloud, Peter! Peter Wright!' and looking up, the room was as light as day, and I saw a man in very bright clothes stand by the bed, who said, Prepare yourself, for your end is nigh;' and then immediately all was dark as before." I told him, "The advice was good, whencesoever it came." In a few days he recovered from his illness; his whole temper was changed as well as his life; and so continued to be, till after three or four weeks he relapsed, and died in peace.

6

Tues. 30.-Mr. Ingham, coming from Frederica, brought me letters, pressing me to go thither. The next day Mr. Delamotte and I began to try, whether life might not as well be sustained by one sort as by variety of food. We chose to make the experiment with bread; and were never more vigorous and healthy than while we tasted nothing else. "Blessed are the pure in heart; " who, whether they eat or drink, or whatever they do, have no end therein but to please God! To them all things are pure. Every creature is good to them, and nothing to be rejected. But let them who know and feel that they are not thus pure, use every help, and remove every hinderance; always remembering, "He that despiseth little things shall fall by little and little."

Sun. APRIL 4.-About four in the afternoon I set out for Frederica, in a pettiawga: (a sort of flat-bottomed barge:) The next evening we anchored near Skidoway Island, where the water, at flood, was twelve or fourteen foot deep. I wrapped myself up from head to foot, in a large cloak, to keep off the sand-flies, and lay down on the quarter-deck. Between one and two I waked under water, being so fast asleep that I did not find where I was till my mouth was full of it. Having left my cloak, I know not how, upon deck, I swam round to the other side of the pettiawga, where a boat was tied, and climbed up by the rope without any hurt, more than wetting my clothes. Thou art the God of whom cometh salvation: Thou art the Lord by whom we escape death.

The winds were so contrary, that on Saturday 10, we could but just get over against Doboy Island, twenty miles from

Frederica, but could not possibly make the creek, having a strong tide also against us. Here we lay beating off till past one, when the lightning and rain, which we had long seen at a distance, drove down full upon us; till, after a quarter of an hour, the clouds parted, some passing on the right, and some on the left, leaving us a clear sky, and so strong a wind right after us, as in two hours brought us to Frederica.

A little before we landed, I opened my Testament on these words: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Coming on shore, I found my brother exceeding weak, having been for some time ill of a flux; but he mended from the hour he saw me. This also hath God wrought!

Sun. 11.-I preached at the new Storehouse on the first verse of the Gospel for the day: "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" There was a large congregation, whom I endeavoured to convince of unbelief, by simply proposing the conditions of salvation, as they are laid down in Scripture; and appealing to their own hearts, whether they believed they could be saved on no other terms.

In every one of the six following days, I had some fresh proofs of the absolute necessity of following that wise advice of the apostle: "Judge nothing before the time; until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts."

Sat. 17.-We set out for Savannah, and reached it on Tuesday evening. O blessed place, where, having but one end in view, dissembling and fraud are not; but each of us can pour out his heart without fear into his brother's bosom !

Not finding, as yet, any door open for the pursuing our main design, we considered in what manner we might be most useful to the little flock at Savannah. And we agreed, 1. To advise the more serious among them to form themselves into a sort of little society, and to meet once or twice a week, in order to reprove, instruct, and exhort one another. 2. To select out of these a smaller number for a more intimate union with each other, which might be forwarded, partly by our conversing singly with each, and partly by inviting them all together to our house; and this, accordingly, we determined to do every Sunday in the afternoon.

Wed. MAY 5.-I was asked to baptize a child of Mr. Parker's, second Bailiff of Savannah; but Mrs. Parker told me, "Neither

Mr. P. nor I will consent to its being dipped." I answered, "If you certify that your child is weak, it will suffice (the rubric says) to pour water upon it."" She replied, "Nay, the child is not weak, but I am resolved it shall not be dipped." This argument I could not confute. So I went home; and the child was baptized by another person.

Sun. 9.-I began dividing the public prayers, according to the original appointment of the Church: (Still observed in a few places in England :) The Morning Service began at five; the Communion Office, (with the sermon,) at eleven; the Evening Service about three; and this day I began reading prayers in the Court-House: A large and convenient place.

Mon. 10.-I began visiting my parishioners in order, from house to honse; for which I set apart (the time when they cannot work, because of the heat, viz.) from twelve till three in the afternoon.

Sun. 16.-We were surprised in the evening by my brother, just come from Frederica. After some conversation we consulted how the poor people there might be taken care of during his absence: And it was at last agreed that Mr. Ingham and I should take our turns in assisting them; and the first was allotted me. Accordingly, on Tuesday 18, I walked to Thunderbolt; whence the next afternoon we set out in a small boat. In the evening, we touched at Skidoway, and had a small but attentive congregation to join with us in Evening Prayer.

Sat. 22.-About four in the afternoon we entered upon Doboy Sound. The wind, which was right a-head, was so high, when we were in the middle of it, and the sea so rough, being driven in at the inlet, that the boat was on the point of sinking every moment. But it pleased God to bring us safe to the other side in half an hour, and to Frederica the next morning. We had public prayers at nine, at which nineteen persons were present; and (I think) nine communicants.

Fri. 28.-I read the Commendatory Prayer by Mr. Germain, who lay at the point of death. He had lost his speech and his

senses. His eyes were set, neither had he any discernible motion,

but the heaving of his breast. While we stood round him, he stretched out his arms, rubbed his head, recovered his sight, speech, and understanding; and immediately sending for the bailiffs, settled the affairs of his family; and then lay down and died.

At the first service on Sunday, May 30, were only five; at the second twenty-five. The next day I made Mr. Lassel's will; who, notwithstanding his great weakness, was quite revived when any mention was made of death or of eternity.

Tues. JUNE 1.—After praying with him, I was surprised to find one of the most controverted questions in divinity, disinterested love, decided at once by a poor old man, without education or learning, or any instructer but the Spirit of God. I asked him what he thought of Paradise; (to which he had said he was going ;) he said, "To be sure, it is a fine place. But I don't mind that; I don't care what place I am in. Let God put me where He will, or do with me what He will, so I may but set forth his honour and glory."

Thur. 3.-Being Ascension Day, we had the holy communion; but only Mr. Hurd's family joined with us in it. One reason why there were no more, was, because a few words which a woman had inadvertently spoken, had set almost all the town in a flame. Alas! How shall a city stand that is thus divided against itself! Where there is no brotherly love, no meekness, no forbearing, or forgiving one another; but envy, malice, revenge, suspicion, anger, clamour, bitterness, evil speaking, without end! Abundant proof that there can be no true love of man, unless it be built on the love of God.

Sun. 6.-Calling on Mr. Lassel, and asking how he did, "My departure," said he, "I hope is at hand." I asked, "Are you troubled at that?" He replied, "O no; to depart, and to be with Christ, is far better. I desire no more of this bad world, My hope and my joy and my love is there." The next time I saw him he said, "I desire nothing more, than for God to forgive my many and great sins. I would be humble. I would be the humblest creature living. My heart is humble and broken for my sins. Tell me, teach me, what shall I do to please God. I would fain do whatever is his will." I said, "It is his will you should suffer." He answered, "Then I will suffer. I will gladly suffer whatever pleases Him.”

Mon. 7.-Finding him weaker, I asked, "Do you still desire to die?" He said, "Yes; but I dare not pray for it, for fear I should displease my heavenly Father. His will be done. Let him work his will, in my life, or in my death."

Thur. 10.-We began to execute at Frederica what we had before agreed to do at Savannah. Our design was, on Sundays,

in the afternoon, and every evening, after public service, to spend some time with the most serious of the communicants, in singing, reading, and conversation. This evening we had only Mark Hird. But on Sunday Mr. Hird and two more desired to be admitted. After a psalm and a little conversation, I read Mr. Law's "Christian Perfection," and concluded with another psalm.

Sat. 12.-Being with one who was very desirous to converse with me, but not upon religion, I spoke to this effect :-" Suppose you was going to a country where every one spoke Latin, and understood no other language, neither would converse with any that did not understand it: Suppose one was sent to stay here a short time, on purpose to teach it you; suppose that person, pleased with your company, should spend his time in trifling with you, and teach you nothing of what he came for: Would that be well done? Yet this is our case. You are going to a country where every one speaks the love citizens of heaven understand no other language. with none who do not understand it. admitted there. I am sent from God to days are allotted us for that purpose. done in me, because I was pleased with your company, to spend this short time in trifling, and teach you nothing of what I came for? God forbid! I will rather not converse with you at all. Of the two extremes, this is the best."

of God. The

They converse Indeed none such are teach you this. A few Would it then be well

Wed. 16.-Another little company of us met; Mr. Reed, Davidson, Walker, Delamotte, and myself. We sung, read a little of Mr. Law, and then conversed. Wednesdays and Fridays were the days we fixed for constant meeting.

Thur. 17-An officer of a man-of-war, walking just behind us, with two or three of his acquaintance, cursed and swore exceedingly: But upon my reproving him, seemed much moved, gave me many thanks.

and

Sat. 19.-Mr. Oglethorpe returned from the south, and gave orders on Sunday, the 20th, that none should profane the day (as was usual before) by fishing or fowling upon it. In the afternoon I summed up what I had seen or heard at Frederica, inconsistent with Christianity, and, consequently, with the prosperity of the place. The event was as it ought: Some of the hearers were profited, and the rest deeply offended.