第29章 Reinforcements(7)
We told him our view; he said he would like to visit Herrnhut.
(We re-crossed the Tropic of Cancer.-- Dober's Diary.)====== 21 Jan.1736.
Nitschmann.Jan.21st.
(We are still in the Trade wind, and sail swiftly and steadily.)We cannot thank God enough that we are all well, only Mrs.Demuth is always sea-sick when the wind rises.
====== 23 Jan.1736.
Nitschmann.Jan.23rd.
We saw a ship.
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Wesley.Jan.12th, 1736.
(I began to write out the English Dictionary in order to learn the Indian tongue.-- Ingham's Journal.)====== 26 Jan.1736.
Wesley.Jan.15th.
Complaint being made to Mr.Oglethorpe of the unequal distribution of the water among the passengers, he appointed new officers to take charge of it.At this the old ones and their friends were highly exasperated against us, to whom they imputed the change.
But "the fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise."====== 27 Jan.1736.
Nitschmann.Jan.27th.
(As there was little good water left the passengers were given poor water, but when Oglethorpe heard of it, he ordered that all, in the Cabin and outside, should be treated alike, as long as the good water lasted.
Mr.Oglethorpe and the preacher, John Wesley, are very careful of the passengers' welfare; the latter shows himself full of love for us.
-- Dober's Diary.)
====== 28 Jan.1736.
Nitschmann.Jan.28th.
There was a great storm, the waves went over the ship, and poured into it.
Then many who knew not God were frightened, but we were of good cheer, and trusted in the Lord who does all things well.Roscher and Mack are good sailors and not afraid of anything.
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Wesley.Jan.17th, Saturday.
Many people were very impatient at the contrary wind.At seven in the evening they were quieted by a storm.It rose higher and higher till nine.
About nine the sea broke over us from stem to stern;burst through the windows of the state cabin, where three or four of us were, and covered us all over, though a bureau sheltered me from the main shock.
About eleven I lay down in the great cabin, and in a short time fell asleep, though very uncertain whether I should wake alive, and much ashamed of my unwillingness to die.O how pure in heart must he be, who would rejoice to appear before God at a moment's warning!
Toward morning "He rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm."====== 29 Jan.1736.
Nitschmann.Jan.29th.
We read the 13th chapter of Mark at our early prayer service.
The weather was a little better, but the wind was contrary.
We also saw a ship which was sailing northeast.In the evening we read the ninety-eighth Psalm, the Lord was with us and we were blessed.
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Wesley.Jan.18th, Sunday.
We returned thanks to God for our deliverance, of which a few appeared duly sensible.But the rest (among whom were most of the sailors)denied we had been in any danger.I could not have believed that so little good would have been done by the terror they were in before.
But it cannot be that they should long obey God from fear, who are deaf to the motives of love.
====== 1 Feb.1736.
Nitschmann.Feb.1st.
The weather was fine, and there was no wind until ten o'clock, when it came from the right quarter.In addition to our usual allowance the Captain sent us fresh meat, which he has done thrice already, and we do not altogether like it, for we are content with what we have, and do not desire more.
====== 3 Feb.1736.
Nitschmann.Feb.3rd.
There was a great storm, which lasted all night.
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Wesley.Jan.23rd, Friday.
In the evening another storm began.In the morning it increased, so that they were forced to let the ship drive.I could not but say to myself, "How is it that thou hast no faith?"being still unwilling to die.About one in the afternoon, almost as soon as I had stepped out of the great cabin door, the sea did not break as usual, but came with a smooth full tide over the side of the ship.I was vaulted over with water in a moment, and so stunned, that I scarce expected to lift up my head again, till the sea should give up her dead.But thanks be to God, I received no hurt at all.About noon our third storm began.
====== 4 Feb.1736.
Nitschmann.Feb.4th.
The storm lasted all day, and the waves often swept over the ship.
The storm rudder was lashed fast, and so we were driven.
====== 5 Feb.1736.
Nitschmann.Feb.5th.
In the early morning we had a fairly good breeze, but about ten o'clock, a storm rose, of such violence that the wind seemed to blow from all four quarters at once, and we were in danger of being overpowered.
The waves were like mountains; the rudder was lashed fast, only one sail was spread, and we drove on, only the Lord knew whither.
But we did not let it prevent us from holding our song service.
The text given to us was Psalm 115:14, which assured us that we were blessed of God, -- may He ever bless us more and more.
During the service the ship was covered with a great wave, which poured in upon us, and on the deck there was a great cry that the wind had split the one sail which was spread.
There was great fright among the people who have no God;the English clergyman was much aroused, ran to them, and preached repentance, saying among other things that they could now see the difference.
I was content, for our lives are in God's hands, and He does what He will;among us there was no fear, for the Lord helped us.
(There was a terrible storm which lasted till midnight.
During the song service a great wave struck the ship with a noise like the roar of a cannon.The wind tore the strong new sail in two;the people, especially the English women, screamed and wept;the preacher Wesley, who is always with us in our song service, cried out against the English, "Now man can see who has a God, and who has none." During the last eight days we have had so much contrary wind, and so many storms that we could not approach the land, though we were near it several times.-- Dober's Diary.)----
Wesley.Jan.25th, Sunday.
At noon our third storm began.At four it was more violent than before.