第28章 Reinforcements(6)

Nitschmann.Dec.3rd.

The women went ashore to wash our clothes.The others went with them, because we do not wish to annoy any one, and desired to be alone that we might celebrate the Lord's Supper.I could not leave the ship, but was with them in spirit.

====== 4 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.4th.

(Nitschmann and Dober spoke with several of the Brethren concerning their spiritual condition.In the evening a storm sprang up which continued most of the night.Mr.Oglethorpe is ill, which reminds us to pray for him, and the English preacher, John Wesley, has promised to do the same.This preacher loses no opportunity to be present at our song service; he spares no pains to perform the duties of his office and he likes us.We wish we could converse freely with him, so that we could more carefully explain the way of God to him.-- Dober's Diary.)----

Wesley.Nov.23rd, Sunday.

At night I was waked by the tossing of the ship, and roaring of the wind, and plainly showed I was unfit, for I was unwilling to die.

====== 7 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.7th.

A great storm, and we thanked God that we were in a safe harbor.

====== 10 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.10th.

All hands summoned to lift the anchor.Mr.Oglethorpe called me, took me by the hand, led me into the cabin, and gave me 1 Pound for the Brethren.Later the wind was again contrary, and we had to lie still.

====== 18 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.18th.

We lifted the anchor at three o'clock, but as we got under sail the wind changed again.We must stay still, but what the Lord intends we do not know.

----

Wesley.Dec.7th, Sunday.

Finding nature did not require such frequent supplies as we had been accustomed to, we agreed to leave off suppers;from doing which we have hitherto found no inconvenience.

====== 21 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.21st.

An east wind sprang up, and with the help of God we sailed at nine o'clock from Cowes, where we had been for five weeks and three days.

When we reached the open sea many became sea-sick.There was so much to be done that we could not hold our prayer-meeting, for our people help in all the work, and therefore the sailors treat us well, no matter what they think of us in their hearts.In the evening our song service was much blessed.

(With us went two ships, the man-of-war, and that which carried Baron von Reck and his Salzburgers.Two of the Salzburgers were on shore, and were left behind when the ship sailed, whereat their wives and children who were on board, were sorely grieved.-- Dober's Diary.)----

Wesley.Dec.10th, Wednesday.

We sailed from Cowes, and in the afternoon passed the Needles.

From this day to the fourteenth being in the Bay of Biscay, the sea was very rough.Mr.Delamotte and others were more sick than ever;Mr.Ingham a little; I not at all.But the fourteenth being a calm day, most of the sick were cured at once.

====== 22 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.22nd.

The wind was east, and we sailed nine miles an hour, but were all very sea-sick.

====== 23 Dec.1735.

Wesley.Dec.12th.

(In the forenoon we left the man-of-war, he not being able to sail as fast as our ships.-- Ingham's Journal.)====== 25 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.25th.

As this was Christmas Day we read Matt.8 in our prayer service.

The wind had died down, everyone felt much better, and it was a beautiful day.

====== 27 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.27th.

At midnight there was a great storm, and the waves broke over the ship;the middle hatch was open, and the water poured in, running into our cabin, so that we had to take everything out of them until we could dry them.

====== 30 Dec.1735.

Nitschmann.Dec.30th.

The weather was again pleasant.

----

Wesley.Dec.19th.

(Messrs.Wesley and I, with Mr.Oglethorpe's approbation, undertook to visit, each of us, a part of the ship, and daily to provide the sick people with water-gruel, and such other things as were necessary for them.

-- Ingham's Journal.)

====== 1 Jan.1736.

Nitschmann.Jan.1, 1736.

It was New Year's Day, and Mr.Oglethorpe's birthday.

(Br.Nitschmann asked us to select a number of verses, wrote them out and presented them as a birthday greeting to Mr.Oglethorpe.

It was a beautiful day, warm and calm.-- Dober's Diary.)----

Wesley.Dec.21st, Sunday.

We had fifteen communicants, which was our usual number on Sundays.

(This being Mr.Oglethorpe's birthday, he gave a sheep and wine to the people, which, with the smoothness of the sea, and the serenity of the sky, so enlivened them that they perfectly recovered from their sea-sickness.

On Christmas Day, also, Mr.Oglethorpe gave a hog and wine to the people.

-- Ingham's Journal.)

====== 5 Jan.1736.

Nitschmann.Jan.5th.

(To-day, according to the old style, Christmas was celebrated on our ship.

Br.Nitschmann spoke on the words, "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." -- Dober's Diary.)====== 9 Jan.1736.

Wesley.Dec.29th.

(We are now past the latitude of twenty-five degrees, and are got into what they call the Trade winds, which blow much the same way all the year round.The air is balmy, soft, and sweet.

The ship glides smoothly and quietly along.The nights are mild and pleasant, being beautifully adorned with the shining hosts of stars,"Forever singing as they shine, The Hand that made us is divine."-- Ingham's Journal.)

====== 10 Jan.1736.

Nitschmann.Jan.10th.

(We have been running for several days with the Trade winds.

Here the day is two hours longer than it is in Germany at this season.

The sailors wished to adhere to their custom of initiating those who crossed the Tropic of Cancer for the first time, but Gen.Oglethorpe forbade it.The weak, the children, and the sick, are well cared for, so that the nine months' old child receives an egg and some goat's milk every day.-- Dober's Diary.)====== 12 Jan.1736.

Nitschmann.Jan.12th.

To-day, according to the old style, we celebrated the New Year.

====== 20 Jan.1736.

Nitschmann.Jan.20th.

An English clergyman asked us how often we celebrated the Lord's Supper, saying that he thought it a sacrifice which consecrated and improved the life.