Adventures and adventurers > Voyages and travels of a Bible

OP A MULE.
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priefor remembered me, ran home, snatched me up, ran in
great haste to the end of the pier, just in time to catch the ves¬
sel as she passed, into which he threw me with great violence.
I was now placed much in the same situation I had been in
some years before—sometimes in a hammock, and sometimes
in a chest, according to the fancy of the captain ; only on the
, Sabbath I was always liberated, and allowed to lie, during
the forenoon, on the cabin-table. Indeed, my lying in this
posture for a few hours, and those on board dressing a little
better, was all that distinguished the Sabbath from any other
i day.
All on board the ship in which I now sailed, considered
and called themselves Christians, yet not one of them ever,
as I could observe, worshipped God, or in anything made his
will their rule; on the contrary, they laughed at sin, and
j sported about hell, though, from their own account, most of
them had been wonderfully rescued from the very jaws of
death. So true is that saying, which I have repeated a thou¬
sand times—‘ Bray a fool in a mortar, yet his folly will not
depart from him.’
A young man, named Julius, asked the captain for liberty to
J converse with me, which was readily granted. At our first
interview, I related the history of the prodigal son, Luke, xv.
‘ Thou hast found me out,’ said he, ‘ for the history of that
young man exactly agrees with mine. I had indulgent
parents, and, during my younger years, was happy at home;
but, in consequence of a disagreement with my elder brother^
I went abroad, which was contrary to their wishes. They
] expended more on me than they could well afford. When I
arrived in that country, which we lately left, there was none
It to befriend me, consequently, I was slighted, and could obtain
It no situation suited to my expectations. In a few months,
a everything I had brought with me was sold for my support,
and I was obliged to engage in the most menial services;
J the kind of work in which I was employed, and the people
with whom I was constrained to associate, were both extreme-
l ly disagreeable, which often led me to reflect on the comforts
K which I had hastily forsaken. Hearing that this vessel was
f bound for the city where my parents reside, I determined to
it return ; and, should I meet with a reception anything resem-
f bling that which you have related, I shall be happy.’
When he had finished, he requested me to favour him with
| a few good counsels, which might be of use to him in after
I life ; upon which I said, ‘ Delight thyself in God—believe in
1| the Lord Jesus—look unto him, and you shall be saved—be
>i content with such things as you have—flee youthful lusts,
r which war against the soul—walk circumspectly, not as fools,