FL14424394

[MS 3]                                                               

At Sea 29th May 1817
Often with anxious thoughts I
travel back to  scenes of former pleas
ure and hope usefulness but more particularly
both with pleasing ideas I
retraverse the mighty Ocean and get
amongst you in your labor of love
and usefulness tis now I feel the
length of the [indecipherable - LS?] and am almost con
strained to cry out O that my feet could
be directed to the house of the L [Lord?] that
my soul might be refreshed with the
springs of heavenly comfort yea if it
were but for one hour those of you that
have been placed in my situation
may have some idea of the manner
of spending this day on board ship
but those of you who have never
been on board & love the Lord can
have no criteria to go by - like

[Adjacent page inverted. Two lines deleted]
one jot or little of his word shall
pass away - there is a promise
that is sure; & an affirmation
that time will most surely ac-
complish. What a compassionate
Saviour have we to serve yet
how feebly do we obey his blessed
mandates truly we are unworthy [5 - page number in margin]
unprofitable servants but let
not our time our talents however
small be hid under a bushel
as there is a way open [or opened?] let us
be diligent giving the more ear
nest? heed to make our calling
election sure - let in worth
while it is called to day let the
night come on when no man

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     5
mock me. I much fear my Dr B & S some of you
will get lukewarm cold & indifferent Some of you
will take offence at something or other & suffer your
unruly passions to be controlled by envy hatred. I make
Sloth? [or Slap?] I began to see & hear of these things before I
left I sought opportunity to admonish you ere I
departed but time & circumstances prevented this
not that I point to any particular one let each
ask himself am I engaged merely to please my
self my friends or those around me if so you 
may be assured you labours will not be found? [or owned?]

and blessed Go immediately to a throne of Grace ask
for wisdom & direction & seek only God's Glory the
salvation of your own soul & the welfare of all
mankind - Where a more pleasing talk where a
more profitable employment than that which you are
engaged in viz the teaching children to read the
Sacred Scriptures the blessed word of God which will
make us wise unto salvation - If a soul be worth
this whole world surely many souls must be worth
many worlds & the soul of a child is equal to the
soul of a man & not only the salvation of a
child is to be taken into account but should one? be

"