Select passages from the diary and letters of the late John Blackader, Esq.

74 SELECT PASSAGES FROM [1708.
Lots that are in this Sodom, whom thou
wilt fpare in the day of thy wrath.
29. Attending a review of the army.
We are a great army if God be with us;
but if he be not, we are but fo many cy-
phers.
June 1. Attending a court martial all
the forenoon, which is a very unpleafant
part of my duty, profecuting a deferter
for his life, yet I have peace of mind
in this affair, for I pardoned this man
once before for defertion. Now provi-
dence has caft him in the way again. I
know not what is in it, but all God's ways
are holy and juft ; he brings men's fins to
light, and malefactors to punifhment
when they are leaft thinking on it, and
when men punifh for one crime, he of-
ten difcovers other crimes in them, for
which fentence of death has paffed againft
them in heaven.
24. We marched this morning at two
o'clock, the enemy alfo being upon their
march. We came within fight of them
about four or five in the evening, and they
advanced as if they defigned a battle.
We took poft, as the Generals thought, to
the beft advantage, and lay at our arms
all night, having orders to be ready in the