compals to fteer by, or any fresh water, but what might happen to fall from the heavens, whofe mercy alone could deliver them. After they had rowed to and fro for four days the Captain died: this added, if poffible, to their mifery, for as they now fell into confufion, every one would govern and none would obey. This obliged them to elect one of their own company to command them, whofe orders they implicitly agreed to follow. This perfon propofed to draw lots, and to caft every fourth man overboard; as their fmall ftock of provifion was not fufficient to fuftain life above three days longer. They were now nineteen perfons in all; in this number were a Friar and a Carpenter, both of whom they would exempt, as one was useful to abfolve and comfort them in their laft extremity, and the other to repair the pinnace, in cafe of a leak or other accident. The fame compliment they paid to their new Captain, he being the odd man, and his life of much confequence. He retufed their indulgence a great while; but at laft they obliged him to acquiefce, so that there were four to die out of fixteen. The three firft, after having confeffed and received absolution, fubmitted to their fate. The fourth, was a Portuguese Gentleman that had a younger brother in the boat, who seeing him about to be thrown overboard most tenderly embraced him, and with tears in his eyes befought him to let him die in his room, telling him that he had a wife and children at Goa, besides the care of three fifters: that as for himself he was fingle, and his life of no great importance: he therefore conjured him to fuffer him to fupply his place. The elder brother astonished with this generofity, replied, That fince the divine Providence had appointed him to fuffer, it would be wicked to permit any other to die for him; especially a brother to whom he was fo infinitely obliged. The younger would take no denial; but throwing himself on his knees, held his brother fo faft that the company could not difengage difengage them. Thus they difputed for awhile, the elder brother bidding him be a father to his children, and recommended his wife to his protection, and as he would inherit his eftate, to take care of their common fifters; but all he faid could not make the younger defift. At last the elder brother acquiefced, and fuffered the gallant youth to fupply his place, who being caft into the fea, and a good swimmer, foon got to the ftern of the pinnace, and laid hold of the rudder with his right hand, which being perceived by one of the failors, he cut off the hand with his fword: then dropping into the fea, he frequently caught hold again with his left, which received the fame fate. Thus difmembered of both hands, he made a shift to keep himself above water with his feet and two ftumps, which he held bleeding upwards. This fpectacle fo raised the pity of the whole company, that they cried out, He is but one man! let us endeavour to fave his life! and he was accordingly taken into the boat: where he had his ftumps bound up as well as the place and circumftances would permit. They rowed all that night, and the next morning, when the fun rofe, as if heaven would reward the gallantry and piety of this young man, they def cried land, which proved to be the mountains of Mozambique in Africa, not far from a Portuguese colony. There they all fafely arrived, where they remained until the next fhip from Lifbon paffed by and carried them to Goa. At that city, Linfchoten, a writer of good credit, affured us, that he himself saw them land, fupped with the two brothers that very night, beheld the younger with his ftumps, and had the story from both their mouths, as well as from the rest of the company. LETTERS. LET T E R S. LETTER CCXCVI. [From the Rev. Mr. Whitefield to the Rev. Mr. Wefley.] The Downs, on board the Friendship, Capt. Ball, Rev. and very dear Sir, WHAT HAT hath God wrought for us, in us, by us! I failed out of these Downs almost thirty-three years ago! Oh the heighth, the depth, the length and breadth of thy love O God! Surely it paffeth knowledge. Help, help O heavenly Father, to adore what we cannot fully comprehend! I am glad to hear that you had fuch a Pentecoft-feafon at the College: one would hope that these are earnefts of good things. to come, and that our Lord will not yet remove his candlefick from among us. Duty is ours. Future things belong to Him, who always did, and always will order all things well. "Leave to his fovereign sway To choose and to command: So fhall we wondering own his sway, How wife, how ftrong his hand!" Mutual, Chriftian love will not permit you, and thofe in connection with you, to forget a willing Pilgrim, going now across the Atlantic for the thirteenth time. At present I am kept from staggering; being fully perfuaded that this voyage will be for the Redeemer's glory, and the welfare of VOL. VI. precious LI precious and immortal fouls. Oh to be kept from flagging in the latter flages of our road! Ipfe, deo volente, fequar, etfi non paffibus æquis. Cordial love and refpect await your Brother, and all that are fo kind as to enquire after, and be concerned for, Rev. and very dear Sir, Lefs than the leaft of all, G. WHITEFIELD. LETTER CCXCVII. I [From the Rev. Mr. J. T-d, to the Rev. Mr. Wefley.] Dear Sir, Oct. 16, 1764. Thank you for your token of love to my foul. Oh! that all men would deal thus faithfully by one another! With regard to the contents of your Letter, they are on a subject I do not love to write about. Some of the wifeft and best men in all ages were of one opinion, and fome of the other. And therefore I had better fleer as clear as I can of all needlefs difputes, that I may be able to love all the Children of God which I am forry to fee, They do not who run into either extreme. Oh! that I may be able to obey that admonition, “What is that to thee? follow thou me!" The Lord orders all things well: Oh! may we follow wherever he leads. I fhall be always very happy when you can contrive to vifit me and my people. I am, dear Sir, yours in the best Bonds, J. T―D. LETTER [From Mr. J. D, to the Rev. Mr. Welley.] Reverend Sir, Dublin, Nov. 21, 1769. Look upon it to be my duty to give you fome account of the Society here. 1. The Preachers, Stewards, and Leaders, are all in unity. 2. There is reafon to believe that the Leaders are as the heart of one man, for the glory of God and the good of fouls. 3. The Bands and Claffes meet well, and are increasing in the knowledge and love of God. 4. Several new members are added; others have found peace, and fome backsliders are brought back. 5. The Leaders fay, this Society has not been in fo good a way for a great while paft. But I could wish there was more fimplicity amongst us, and a greater looking through all men to God, that he might carry on his own work, in his own way. Through mercy, I have been enabled to preach hitherto (except a little at first,) as often as I fhould have done here, had I been in perfect health: fometimes two or three nights in a week. Since I came here, I have been forely tempted that the Lord would work no more by me; but a few nights ago, while I was speaking, he fet one at liberty who did not belong to us. Since then, he can fcarce do any thing but praise God. I hope the Lord is about to make bare his Arm. I am, Rev. Sir, yours at command, LI 2 J. D. LETTER |