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all thy might, right that which is wrong. Govern thyself by law then fhall the Lord love thee, and God above all things fhall be thy reward. Call upon him to advise thee in all thy need, and he fhall help thee in all thou undertakest.

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A BOLD ADVENTURE.

Dutch feaman being condemned to death, his punishment was changed; and he was ordered to be left at the island of St. Helen's. This unhappy man representing to himself the horror of that folitude, fell upon a refolution to attempt the frangeft action that ever was heard of. There had that day been interred in the ifland, an Officer of the fhip. The failor took up the body out of the coffin; and having made a kind of oar of the upper board, ventured himself to fea in it. It happened to be fo great a calm, that the fhip lay immoveable within a league and a half of the island. When his companions faw fo frange a float upon the water, they were not a little flartled at the resolution of the man, who durft hazard himself upon that element on three boards, flightly nailed together; though he had no reafon to hope to be received by thofe who had fo lately fentenced him to death. Accordingly it was put to the queflion whether he should be received or not. Some would have the fentence put in execution; but at last mercy prevailed, and he was taken on board, and came afterwards to Holland, where he lived in the town of Horn, and related to many how miraculously God had delivered him.

EXCELLENT COURAGE.

HENRY, Earl of
ENRY, Earl of Alfatia, being in great favour with

Edward the Third, was envied by the Courtiers; who one day (in the abfence of the King) counselled the Queen,

that

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that forafmuch as the Earl was preferred before all the English Nobility, flie would make trial whether he was fo nobly born as he gave out, by caufing a lion to be let loose upon him; faying, that the lion would not touch Henry, if he was truly noble. They got leave of the Queen to make this trial. He was used to rife before day, and to walk in the lower court of the caftle, to take the fresh air. The lion was let loofe in the night; and the Earl having a night-gown caft over his fhirt, with his girdle and fword, came down flairs into the court where he met with the lion, briftling his hair, and roaring. - He not in the leaf aftonilhed, faid, Stand you dog. At thefe words the lion couched at his feet, to the great amazement of the Courtiers, who looked out of their holes to behold the iffue. The Earl laid hold of the lion, fhut him within his cage, left his night-cap upon the lion's back, and came forth without fo much as looking behind him. Now, faid the Earl (calling to them that looked out at the windows) let him amongst you all that ftandeth most upon his pedigree, go and fetch my night-cap.

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TREACHERY PUNISHED.

WHEN the Emperor Aurelian marched against Thyana, and found the gates of the city shut against him, he fwore he would make fuch a flaughter, that he would not leave a dog alive in the whole city. The foldiers enticed with the hope of fpoil, did all they were able to take it; which one Heracleon perceiving, and fearing to perish with the reft, betrayed the city into their hands. Aurelian having taken it, caufed all the dogs in the city to be flain, but gave to all the citizens a free pardon, except only Haracleon, whom he caufed to be flain, faying, He would never prove faithful to him, that had been the betrayer of his own country.

A Wonderful

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N the twentieth year of Queen Elizabeth, Mark Scaliot, a Blackfmith, made a lock, confifling of eleven pieces of iron, steel and brass; all which, together with a pipe-key to it, weighed but one grain of gold. He made alfo a chain of gold, confifting of forty-three links, whereunto having faftened the lock and key before mentioned, he put the chain about a flea's neck, which drew them all with eafe; all thefe together, lock and key, chain and flea, being weighed, the weight of them was but one grain and a half.

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LETTER S.

LETTER

CCCCIV.

[From Mr. F. Gilbert, to the Rev. J. Welley.]

Rev. Sir,

ON

Antigua, August 25, 1773.

Na Faft-day kept here last September, on account of the hurricane which happened the month before, my Brother began preaching in St. John's, the capital of this place, and continued fo to do on Sundays and Thursdays, till my ar rival, when we took it by turns. And fo great was our fuccefs, that at prefent, almoft the whole ifland feems to be flirred up

to feek the Lord!

There is conftant preaching alfo at my Brother's, where we have very large congregations. We have in Society at St. John's, twenty Whites, and about forty Blacks and Mulattos. Several of the Whites, Mulattos and Negroes enjoy a fenfe of pardon, and adorn the gofpel much. The Whites are really patterns worthy of imitation. Many more are awakened

who are not united to us. In that number is an Officer's

Lady,

Lady, and the Doctor's wife. These attend constantly. Others fuffer great perfecutions from their Husbands, Parents, Masters, and Miftreffes. I expect in a fhort time the Society will be abundantly increased; several having made application to be taken into it.

In feveral parts of the country, where we have not been able to preach, there is a great ftirring among the people, who wifh to have the preaching among them. Ere now I should have preached at Falmouth, about nine miles from St. John's, but my diforder increafing, I was obliged to leffen my labours; and am now under the neceffity of defifting altogether for a few weeks. My Brother fome days ago appointed a Fast to be kept for me in the Society. For two or three days after, my diforder was more violent than it had been for fome time before: however since then it has greatly abated.

Here is work enough for three Preachers: as almost the whole island feems ripe for the gospel; yet I cannot defire you to fend them yet, feeing the people are not at present able to bear the expences. For the fire, the hurricane, and the fevere draughts that have been here for feveral years, have, I fuppofe, ruined two-thirds of the inhabitants.

I find great help from my dear wife. She is very ufeful and willing to spend and be spent in fo good a caufe; but she too is very indifferent in her health. She joins in best respects to you, with,

Rev. Sir, your affectionate Son in the Gospel,

LETTER

F. GILBERT.

CCCCV.

[From Mifs P. B. to the Rev. J. Wesley.]

Rev. Sir,

August 28, 1773.

Bless the Lord, who fill keeps my feet in the way of peace, and daily finds me out occafions of doing and fuffering his will. I have lately felt the hopes of glory, a great means

of

of encouragement to endure the crofs and defpife the fhame. And though I have never felt a keener fenfe of the miseries of life, yet I am willing to wait my appointed time till my change come. But I am fo flow of heart to learn the leffons of his grace, that I fear I fhall fall fhort. I feem lately to have contracted a habit of indevotion. I feel myfelf at times incapable of continuing inftant in prayer; though at others I find fweet moments of recollection.

I need particular inftruction with regard to thofe little ones you left to meet with me. I usually go to them with a selfabafing sense of my own infufficiency for any good word or work, and leave them, grieved at my inability to do them good. I should take it as a particular favour if you would give me any advice, or direct me to any book, that will teach me how to affift them in knowing themselves and Jefus. The befetting fins of the younger ones are felf-will, difobedience, lying, and fettled inattention to the things of God: and the elder ones are endangered by the pleasures of life, and the defire of other things, which stifle their good defires.

Madam Guion would fet them to "practife prayer," which indeed if any human art could effect, it would be a noble achievement; but it feems to me, beginning at the wrong end. Madam Guion's religion feems to me very fanciful. I can form no idea of a fpiritual perfon fitting for hours in meditation with her eyes fhut; efpecially when others want her advice and affiftance. Had it been my cafe, I fhould have concluded it to be either owing to my ftupidity, or elfe to the wiles of the devil. O let me rather be ever able to fay,

"Far above thefe earthly things,

While yet my hands are here employed,

Sces my foul the King of kings,

And freely talks with God."

I am, Rev. Sir,

Your obliged Servant,

P. B.

VOL. IX.

32

POETRY.

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