_August 10._--Rose very early, with uneasiness increased by
seeing the wind northerly; walked away at seven to Gurlyn,
feeling little or no pleasure at the thought of seeing Lydia;
apprehension about the sailing of the fleet made me dreadfully
uneasy; was with Lydia a short time before breakfast; afterwards
I read the 10th Psalm, with Horne's Commentary, to her and her
mother; she was then just putting into my hand the 10th of
Genesis to read when a servant came in, and said a horse was
come for me from St. Hilary, where a carriage was waiting to
convey me to Falmouth. All my painful presentiments were thus
realised, and it came upon me like a thunderbolt. Lydia was
evidently painfully affected by it; she came out, that we might
be alone at taking leave, and I then told her, that if it should
appear to be God's will that I should be married, she must not
be offended at receiving a letter from me. In the great hurry
she discovered more of her mind than she intended; she made no
objection whatever to coming out. Thinking, perhaps, I wished to
make an engagement with her, she said we had better go quite
free; with this I left her, not knowing yet for what purpose I
have been permitted, by an unexpected providence, to enjoy these
interviews. I galloped back to St. Hilary, and instantly got
into a chaise with Mr. R., who had been awaked by the signal gun
at five in the morning, and had come for me. At Hildon I got a
horse, with which I rode to Falmouth, meeting on the road
another express sent after me by R. I arrived about twelve, and
instantly went on board; almost all the other ships were under
weigh, but the Union had got entangled in the chains. The
commodore expressed his anger as he passed, at this delay, but
I blessed the Lord, who had thus saved His poor creature from
shame and trouble. How delusive are schemes of pleasure; at nine
in the morning I was sitting at ease, with the person dearest to
me on earth, intending to go out with her afterwards to see the
different views, to visit some persons with her, and to preach
on the morrow; four hours only elapsed, and I was under sail
from England! The anxiety to get on board, and the joy I felt at
not being left behind, absorbed other sorrowful considerations
for a time; wrote several letters as soon as I was on board.
When I was left a little at leisure, my spirits began to sink;
yet how backward was I to draw near to my God. I found relief
occasionally, yet still was slow to fly to this refuge of my
weary soul. Was meditating on a subject for to-morrow. As more
of the land gradually appeared behind the Lizard, I watched with
my spy-glass for the Mount (St. Michael's), but in consequence
of lying to for the purser, and thus dropping astern of the
fleet, night came on before we weathered the point. Oh, let not
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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