The symbol of fruits
John Marrant has used ‘fruits’ to refer to negative consequences. Despite fruits being sweet and something good for humanity, the author has used then in this context to refer to them as consequences of sin. He says that being disobedient to God and man, he faces the fruits of sin. He writes:
“Disobedience either to God or man, being one of the fruits of sin, grew out from me in early buds.”
The symbol of water
The author has used water to refer to life instabilities. At some point, the author finds life unbearable and wishes to join trade with any master. His life keeps on shaking like unstable water. He as well regrets living his initial master despite being given everything to stay. Now, he is unstable and does not know which direction to take next as he seeks to get any master to absorb him in trade. Additionally, he forsakes God and this even makes the matters worse for him. He writes:
“Unstable as water, I returned to town, and wished to go for some trade.”
The symbol of a small pocket bible
John Marrant is using the small pocket Bible as a symbol of a weapon for Christians. He is demonstrating that whenever Christians are persecuted and ridiculed, it is not good to give up but instead read the Bible and turn to God. The Bible offers strength and hopes to continue living. Despite the feelings of being dead, the author keeps on moving because of the encouragement he gets from the Bible. He writes:
"I rose one morning very early, to get a little quietness and retirement, I went into the woods, and stayed till eight o'clock in the morning; upon my return, I found them all at breakfast; I passed by them, and went upstairs without any interruption; I went upon my knees to the Lord and returned him thanks; then took up a small pocket Bible and one of Dr. Watt’s hymn books, and passing by them went out without one word spoken by any of us.”
The symbol of wolves
The author has used wolves as a symbol of obstacles in one’s Christian journey. The author is trying to tell the reader that the Christian life is not a walk in the park. The Christian journey has vicissitudes that one must be ready to face and the only way to get through is thanking God and praying. He says:
"About evening I began to be surrounded with wolves; I took refuge from them on a tree, and remained there all night. About eight o'clock the next morning I descended from the tree, and returned thanks to God for the mercies of the night."
The symbol of a Lodging
Throughout his wildness journey, John slept in a tree. The tree is used symbolically to refer to a lodging. He slept on the tree to avoid being attacked by animals on the ground. He writes:
"The fourth day in the morning, descending from my usual lodging, a tree, and having nothing all this time to eat, and but a little water to drink, I was so feeble that I tumbled halfway down the tree, not being able to support myself, and lay upon my back on the ground.."
