10 
JOURNAL OF A 
finished readiiig Risler's life of the Rev. August Gottlieb Span- 
genberg, a bishop of our Church. As we are apt to compare 
ourselves ^vith those, of whose life and character we read a de- 
scription, more especially if there be some degree of similarity in 
our professions and occupations, I cannot help confessing, that 
this narrative led me into a train of reflection, very humbling to 
my own heart. Compared to this extraordinary man, I sink into 
nothing! What indefatigable application of all the energies and 
powers of soul and body, even from his earliest years, to acquire 
knowledge of every kind! What eagerness to explore the truth; and 
what zeal and fortitude in practising that which he had gained 
in theory! And when he had found Jesus to be that Glorious 
Being, " in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and know- 
ledge," with what full purpose of heart did he not " count all things 
but as dung and dross, for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus, 
and Him crucified How strictly did he watch over himself, and 
seek in all things, by word and work, to glorify the name of his 
Saviour! He uas, indeed, a pattern and ensample to the flock. 
While I admired him, in all his principles and practice, and in the 
multiplicity of his labours in the Lord's vineyard, I could not help 
recollecting with much regret, that I did not better improve the ac- ^ 
quaintance I was favoured to have with so distinguished a servant 
of God, during my residence at Barby from 1776 to 1779, when, 
on account of the friendship he bore to my grandfather, H. Antes 
in Pennsylvania, and to my late excellent father, he showed parti- 
cular attention to me. But though I highly respected him, I did 
not then know how sufficiently to appreciate the inestimable value 
of the notice and counsel of such a man. He also honoured me 
with his correspondence, after my return to England; until his 
departure out of this world, in his 90th year, deprived our Church of 
one of its most distinguished ministers. 
22d. Between three and four in the morning, the watch announced 
the approach of a schooner, which, on hailing, proved to be an 
American, bound to Boston. The captain and Mr. Buck went on 
