ance was brought to the gates
of death. In his affliction he remembered me. I told him fools make a
mock at sin, but sin finds them out. God had been long angry with him
every day. He confessed he had been a great sinner. He said that bad
company had been his ruin: that by following their example he had
destroyed a fine constitution; that in his distress his bottle
companions had all forsaken him; they could not bear the thought of
death. Had I my days to begin again, said he, I would flee from a
swearer or a drunkard, as I would from the plague. He prayed fervently
that God would forgive his iniquity for the sake of his Son Jesus
Christ. His fever increased, and in a few days he went the way of all
the earth.

After this I became the inmate of a respectable family which had
long been on the island. The master and mistress were professors of
religion, but during their residence in the island they had neglected
many of its most important duties.

At length one of their children became ill and died. They came to me
for consolation. I gave them to understand, that it was because they
had gone astray that they were afflicted, and that their affliction
was designed to call them back to duty. They were at length persuaded
of their error, and praised God that he had loved them so much as to
chastise them. They now strove to serve God with all their hearts.
They listened to me when I told them that they should instruct their
children in religion on every proper occasion, both when they sat in
the house and when they walked by the way. The youth of that family
became at length distinguished throughout the island for every
virtuous and amiable quality.

But what did more to make religion respected in that house, was the
practice of family prayer. I was brought out night and morning, and
permitted to speak before all the family, which was seated around the
room in a respectful and attentive attitude. I seldom spoke with more
effect than on these occasions. I addressed every member of the family
in their turn. I commanded the parents to treat their children with
mildness, and the children to obey their parents. I told the little
ones that Christ took little children in his arms and blessed them;
and bade the servants do their duty to their master, and the master to
be kind to his servants. And when my instructions were finished, all
in the house united in singing a hymn to God; and I believe they
sometimes made melody in their