NEARING HOME. 271 



The weary, weather-worn company in the 

 May Flower, had no such friendly beacons as 

 this to shed light on their way when they came 

 as pilgrims to a rock-hound and rude land. It 

 was spring, too, with us, but we remember, 



" That through her chafed and moaning shrouds Decembers 



breezes wailed. 



Yet, on that icy deck, behold ! a meek but dauntless band, 

 Who, for the right to worship God, have left their native land." 



I now preached for the last time at sea, in 

 the afternoon. In the evening we had a very 

 happy prayer-meeting, our final one on ship- 

 board. The captain, a boat-steerer, one of 

 the fore-mast hands, and myself, led each suc- 

 cessively in fervent supplication and thanks to 

 the throne of grace. The two first, receiving 

 the Gospel in the power of it, during this ab- 

 sence from home, returned evidently regenerated 

 by the grace of God. Would that every pro- 

 fessing ship -master gave as good evidence of 

 possessing the reality of religion as ours. 



When, during our voyage, we were in the 

 midst of a herd of sperm whales, it was my in- 

 ward earnest prayer that God would give him 



