Page:Groves - Memoir of Anthony Norris Groves, 3rd edition.djvu/337

CHAPTER XIII.

a.d. 1834.

mr. groves sails from calcutta, in company with dr. duff and other interesting fellow-passengers—circumstances of the voyage to madras—his visit there, and happy parting prayer with mr. tucker—bible studies—services on board loss of his bible discomforts of the voyage—refreshing visit to the cape—voyage home occasional services and observations on scripture—thoughts on commending ourselves to every man’s conscience—a gale of wind off the cape—description of scenery and of cape town—interview with mr. and mrs. deck—meditations on many subjects he speaks to passengers on decision in god’s things, also on the love of god—finds no resting-place but the ark—diligence to the end in the study of the word—thoughts when near england.

For more than three weeks Mr. Groves could not resume the Journal so suddenly broken off. He had many arrangements to make preparatory to his departure from India, and was closely occupied in attending on Dr. Duff through a very dangerous illness. He was ever ready to minister to the sick, and it is even now a comfort to reflect that he was at this season permitted to be of essential service to one whose pro longed life has been dedicated to the service of a people in whom he was himself so deeply interested.

The Journal of Mr. Groves’s homeward voyage affords us the instructive example of a Christian “redeeming the time.” Amidst all the discomforts of the voyage, to which he was the more exposed from resigning his cabin to his sick friend, we