The Traveller

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE TRAVELLER. MEDITATION I. GOING ABROAD. 1757. WHAT a load of business presses me on every hand when about to leave my native country ! I must state and clear with all my creditors and debtors before I go ! Besides, when I am about my ordinary business, a little pocket-money will defray my charges; but it is not so when going abroad; I must have bills of exchange for a considerable sum, and changes of apparel agreeable to that part of the world to which I am bound. Now, if I am thus busied, thus anxious and concerned about my going from one part to another of this terrestrial globe, with what justice will all this care, anx- . iety, and concern, be increased, when I must com-, mence my journey to eternity, and set out for the other .world J This is an event that unavoidably awaits me; and who can tell how soon ? Of what folly would I prove myself possessed, should I propose to go so far without a farthing I But with much greater madness would I be intoxicated, should I launch into eternity without an interest in the heavenly treasure. To be poor in any part of this world, begets contempt among the men of the world; but poverty in the world of spirits, is an eternal shame, and an irretrievable loss. H 2 Again, would I not blush to go with tattered cloaths and coloured shoes, to a part of the world where it is fashionable to be finely dressed ? How, then, shall I appear without the white raiment of a Saviour's righteousness, in the presence of God, where angels walk in robes of innocence, and saints in broidered garments? When the marriage of the Lamb shall be come, and his wife shall have made herself ready, if found without the wedding-garment, with what confusion of face shall I be covered, and with what anguish cast into outer darkness ! How I am hurrie...