Ifhould like to fee all Preachers, connected with us, have their hearts fo in the work as to preach frequently, to meet Societies, Bands, &c. and to do. all other occafional things which come in the way. In this very thing I myself must plead guilty but the chief caufe has been depreffion of spirit through manifold temptations. I hope the Lord will, ere long, pluck my feet out of the net, that I may run thè way of his commandments. In the mean time, I beg leave to subscribe myself, your Son and Servant in the Gospel, B. COLLEY.

[From Nathaniel Gilbert, Efq; to the Rev. Mr. Wesley.]

'Rev. and dear Sir,

Antigua, July 22, 1765.

ALTHOUGH not many wife men after the flesh, not

many mighty, not many noble are called; yet there are fome. In this number I may reckon Rear Admiral T————ll, who at prefent commands on this ftation. His call is the more wonderful, not only on account of his rank, but also as he is a great Mathematician, and has spent a good part of his life on board fhips of war; which I look upon to be emblems of hell, if there be any emblems of it upon earth. How gracious hath the Lord been to me, in raifing me up a friend in this place! He had formerly lived a diffolute life; but the Lord, fome years ago, made use of Barclay's Apology as the means of awakening him. He commanded his Majefty's fhip Buckingham, of feventy guns, in 1758, when he had an engagement with the Floriffant, of feventy-four guns, and a Frigate; in which he loft three fingers of his right hand. But he fays, that though his pain was as violent as if his hand had been held in boiling oil, yet he could not help praifing God, in the midst of it. He will not allow that he received remif.

VOL. VI.

Sf

fion

fion of fins till very lately, yet he says, he has often felt fuch joys, that if they had continued, Nature must have funk under them without extraordinary, fupports.

I would inclofe you his Notes and Letters to me, but that they will fwell the poftage too high; therefore I content myself with fending you fome extracts from them. What surprises me is, that when he was in England, he mentioned his ftate to Mr. Law, who told him it was all delufion. He expects to receive orders fome time next year, to return to England the Spring following: and if he should arrive there in your life time, he will defire to be acquainted with you. As he had but little affiftance from men or books, and I have too little experience myself, to be of much fervice to him, he will probably have many queflions to propofe, which may take up more of your time than you usually give to one person at once. We are ufually together once in two or three weeks, and always join in prayer before we part. He has entirely laid afide Mathematicks, and devotes all the time he can fpare from business, to Religion.

I might well take shame to myself, that with the fuperior advantages I have enjoyed, he should outftrip me fo greatly; but this is verified in regard to us, as well as to many others, the firft fhall be laft, and the laft firft. God only knows when I fhall be able to inform you that my Wife and myfelf have found peace; but it is a great mercy that we have been kept from falling off wholly. I ftill hope that the Lord has good things in store for us. I ufually meet the little Society twice a week, and speak to thein as I am able. A free Negro-woman, found peace lately. A Mulatto-woman, who received the Bleffing before my Brother went away, appears to me to be a person of great grace. My Negro-woman, Beffy, whom you baptifed at Wandfworth, has been kept ever fince; and is fill able to rejoice in God. I flatter myfelf, that you fometimes remember me and mine in your addrelles to the throne of grace. May the Lord preferve and keep you, as

he

he hath hitherto done, and may he grant that the afflictions you meet with may work out for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! I am, Rev. and dear Sir, your affectionate Son in the Gospel,

NATHANIEL GILBERT.

LETTER

CCCIII.

[An Extract from one of Admiral T's Letters, to Nathaniel Gilbert, Efq;]*

June 10, 1765.

I Have been strangely exercised with drynefs, hardness of

heart, desertion and horrible defolation, even fince I faw you laft; but not daring to murmur, I am filent and refigned. Some tranfcient flashes of confolation have been afforded me in this long, darkfome night of tribulation. I am abfolutely forbid to feek external comfort, either from the works of Nature, men or books. A few tears now and then are allowed me. I know that my Beloved is near me; hears my fighs and groans and bitter wailings, and I humbly hope he will foon relieve me. His bleffed will be done! I begin to feel my heart foften this very infant. Adieu Brother pilgrim. Let us proceed on our way to Mount Zion with courage.

POETRY.

The NIGHTINGALE and GLOW-WORM.

A Nightingale that all day-long,

Had cheered the village with a fong;

Nor yet at eve his note fufpended,
Nor yet when even-tide was ended,

Sf 2

*

Began

Began to feel, as well he might,
The keen demands of appetite;
When looking eagerly around,
He fpied far off upon the ground,
A fomething thining in the dark,
And knew the Glow-worm by his fpark,
So ftooping down from hawthorn top,
He thought to put him in his crop;
The worm aware of his intent,
Harangued him thus right eloquent.
Did you admire my lamp, quoth he,
As much as I your minstrelly,
You would abhor to do me wrong,
As much as I to fpoil your fong;
For 'twas the felf fame Power divine,
Taught you to fing, and me to fhine;
That you with mufic, I with light,
Might beautify and cheer the night.
The fongfter heard his fhort oration,
And warbling out his approbation,
That pleafed him as my story tells,
And found a fupper fome where else.

Hence jarring Sectaries may learn,
Their real intéreft to difcern:

That brother fhould not war with brother,
And worry and devour each other;

But fing and fhine by fweet confent,
Till life's poor tranfient night is fpent ;
Respecting in each other's cafe
The gifts of Nature and of Grace.
Those Chriftians beft deferve the name
Who ftudiously make peace their aim;
Peace, both the duty and the prize
Of him that creeps and him that flies.

VERSES,

VERSES, fuppofed to be written by Alexander Selkirk, during his folitary abode in the Ifland of Juan Fermandez.

Society, friendship, and love,

Divinely bestowed upon man;
Oh had I the wings of a dove,
How foon would I taste you again!
My forrow I then might afsuage,

In the ways of Religion and Truth,
Might learn from the wisdom of age,
And be cheered by the fallies of youth.

Religion! what treasure untold,

Refides in that heavenly word!
More precious than filver and gold,
Or all that this earth can afford.

But