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Interesting Account of the First Voyage to the West Indies.

AFTER conducting Mr. William to the gates of the New Jerusalem, I was sent for to reside with a young man in the middling ranks of life, who had received a liberal and religious education from his parents lately removed from this poor world. The effects of their example and counsel were evident in all his, conduct. He lived what men call a good moral life, his deportment was very agreeable, and his sobriety, was commended by many. He regularly conversed with me twice every day, and prayed in his closet morning and evening. On the Sabbath, I talked to him from dinner to tea, and from tea to supper.

An old uncle of his, perpetually exhorted him to go abroad to amass a fortune. He did not at first relish the advice. One day he consulted me. I bluntly told

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him to be content with such things as he had; not to hasten to be rich; for he would thereby pierce himself with many sorrows: that numbers were ruined through the deceitfulness of riches. Labour not for the meat that perisheth, said I, but for that which endureth to everlasting life. After this conversation he reasoned with his uncle against leaving his country and friends, merely to make money in a foreign land; he declared that the object was a pitiful one to an immortal creature, who must soon bid an eternal adieu to the affairs of time. However, after standing his ground for some months, he consented to go a voyage to the West Indies.

He set sail from Liverpool, and took me along with him. As there were several passengers in the ship, all of whom were profane sinners, he was ashamed to let me be seen; of course I was hid in a corner of the stateroom completely masked. On the first Sabbath morning, he took a single peep at me before the other passengers awoke. I hastily told him to remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy; that God was every where present to witness the works of men. He resolved to abide by my advice, and keep at as great a distance from those on board as he well could. They asked him to take a hand at cards, but he refused. Pho! said they, we have got a Methodist along with us; we shall have nice sport with him. They teazed him about his religion the whole day, and poor George could not well bear it. One bold sinner asserted that before they reached their destination, they would have all his enthusiasm hammered out of him.

George, having none to encourage and countenance him, and not possessing firmness sufficient for confessing me before men, resolved to give up his religion during the voyage, and to comply with their abandoned customs,

while he continued in the ship; thus he fell before temptation.

One day in the midst of his merriment, he recollected an advice which I had solemnly given him. It was this: When sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Immediately he rushed out of the cabin, threw himself on his bed, and wept bitterly. He called out, (but not so loud, as to be heard,) I have ruined my soul, O what would my worthy mother have said, had she witnessed my conduct for days past! On his return to the cabin, the sadness of his countenance was observed by the company; they laughed heartily, and assured him that his reluctance to join them in what they termed their sociality, arose from the prejudice of education; that he must endeavour to banish all his fears of futurity, and mind present enjoyment. These, and similar observations, gradually unhinged the principles of young George, and before reaching their destined port, his checks of conscience were almost gone. What a dreadful state when a man's conscience ceases to be a reprover! Men are often glad when they obtain this deliverance, but the infatuation is as shocking to a pious mind, as to see a man in the flames rejoicing in the heat, which shall infallibly consume him away.

After the arrival of the ship, we all went ashore, and George was soon fixed in a very advantageous situation for getting money. When the first Sabbath arrived, he protested against transacting business on that day, declaring that he had never been accustomed to do any thing of that kind. They advised him to labour hard seven days in the week, and he would return sooner to the country from whence he came. They told him that only a few superannuated whites in the whole island went to church, and sometimes a few slaves. In this manner he was prevailed upon to conform to the infidel

practices of the place. I told him, that for all these things God would bring him into judgment; that he was like the rest of the wicked, who waxed worse and worse, that he did not love Jesus Christ, else he would keep his commandments, notwithstanding all the raillery and reproach to which he was exposed. I warned him, that whoever was ashamed to confess Christ before men, of him would He be ashamed in the presence of his Father, and the holy angels. George began to condemn his uncle for forcing him to leave his fathers's house; but as he had come off, he was ashamed to return.

In a few months he became as wicked and abandoned as any on the island. He made a present of me to a poor native, who could read a little English. I frequently conversed with him, but he could not understand what I said. He often desired me to speak to his companions. A few were greatly affected with what I said. They often called upon me. Sometimes they pleasantly said, my words made them very happy, they desired to go to that happy world which I commended so highly. They fervently prayed to Jesus to take them to it. An old slave creeped in one day, inquiring if Jesus could do any thing for very bad people. I replied, It is a faithful saying that Christ Jesus.came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. He is able to save to the very uttermost all who come unto God through him. The black man, bathed in tears, exclaimed, Good book; tell me good news! Like the Ethiopian ennuch, he went away rejoicing.

After some years I was sent for in great baste to visit my old proprietor George, who, by his intemperance was brought to the gates of death. In his affliction he remembered me. I told him fools make a mock at sin, but sin finds them out. God had been long angry with him every day. He confessed he had been a great

sinner. He said that bad company had been his ruin; that, by following their example, he had destroyed a fine constitution; that, in his distress, his bottle companions had all forsaken him; they could not bear the thoughts of death. Had I my days to begin again, said he, I would flee from a swearer or a drunkard, as I would from the plague. He prayed frequently that God would forgive his iniquity for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ. His fever increased, and in a few days he went the way of all the earth.

When George died, I was put into his trunk, and sent home with his effects to his friends in England. Upon my arrival, I was soon released from my confinement in the trunk, and carried to a dark closet, where I remained unknown and unnoticed for several years.

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