"Dear Friend,—I rode from Stanstead, where I had enjoyed several good meetings, across the line into the State of Vermont, where I had several more in Derby, Holland, and Morgan, but soon returned to a little village on the line, and on Stanstead Plain, where there were prospects of good being done. It was here that I met Mr. Roswell Bates, who became my company, as he was going to the town of Woodstock. Leaving the line about July the 16th, we passed through Rigah, Browning, and Wheelock, holding several meetings at the last named town, in which the spirits of many appeared to gather new courage and joy. I then rode to Danville, and remained several days, in which time I had the pleasure of seeing some who had been for months cold in their affections, quickened and newly determined in the cause of life. We then rode to Peacham, then to Newbury, Bradford, and Corinth, where we separated, Mr. B. going to Hafford and I to Strafford. Here I was greeted by a happy band of brethren, with whom I held several meetings, and remained several days. Crossing the Connecticut river over into Lyme, thence through Dorchester to Hebron, thence to Bridgewater, I arrived next morning, which was Sunday, at New Hampton, and was kindly received by Wm. B. Kelley, Esq., a distant relative, by whom I was politely introduced to the clergyman of the place. With him I passed a half hour very pleasantly; we repaired to the church together, as the people began to assemble. I occupied with him a seat in the desk, and listened with a degree of satisfaction to what he communicated. When we returned to his house, he insisted on my speaking in the afternoon, and in vain did I urge the excuses of a long journey and much fatigue. He gave me a Bible and a Concordance, saying that I had three quarters of an hour in which to prepare, and left the room. We again repaired to the church, and contrary to the order of the morning, I was assigned the right-hand place in the pulpit. I spoke to these strangers in the same freedom to which I had ever been accustomed, and reserved nothing of the divine counsel made known unto me; the word seemed to have some direct effect; the people appeared to hang with solicitude on the truths advanced, and many wept under the exhibition of the love and pardoning grace of Jesus Christ. The next day I heard a young man, Mr. John Swett, who, much to my joy, was wholly engaged in the work of the Lord—a work already commenced under his labors. At the request of my friends, I gave out an appointment, at which there were three ministers, Mr. Hillard, the aged priest to whom I had been at first introduced, Mr. Daney, whom I had never before seen, and Mr. Swett, my new acquaintance. I scarcely ever found greater liberty in speaking. Priest Hillard at the close arose and gave me his approbation, inviting me again to call on him; others also spoke on the goodness of God, as experienced by them. Bidding them an affectionate farewell, I was, in about four hours, at my native Gilmanton, whose citizens and scenes I had not known for the space of four years.
"Here I had great joy, mingled with sorrow—joy to meet my sister, Mrs. Cogswell, and other relatives; sorrow to learn that in their plans of happiness, religion and reconciliation to God were not the essential part. Capt. C., who did not usually go to the Free Church, wished me to permit him to make an appointment in that place, to which I gave consent. Accordingly, on the next Lord's day, at half-past ten o'clock, I met a large congregation at the Free Church; and at five o'clock, P. M., spoke to a full assembly at the house of Capt. Cogswell, each audience being probably attracted in part by curiosity. At the former meeting, my mind was constrained to weep over the people, who also wept under the message I delivered them. Many serious exhortations were given; many expressed the fulness of their joy in Christ. Wishing to see men and women stand upon some positive decisions in regard to their salvation, and knowing the good influence which a public expression of secret resolves has upon the subsequent action of man, I proposed that such of the assembly as felt the worth of religion, and desired to enjoy its heavenly light and consolation, would signify the state of their minds by rising up. Very few kept their seats; and I have reason to think that many were strengthened for life. Many invitations were given me for new appointments. At 5 o'clock at Capt. C.'s, there were many Calvinists present, who with the rest, seemed to mingle with their critical aspect considerable true religious feeling. Perhaps my preaching called out more criticism than it would otherwise have done, on account of my manner being wholly extemporaneous, and my sentiments not being formed from Calvin or any sectarian creed. My grandmother[15] was present; she seemed much pleased, and after meeting said to me, 'It is a wonder and a mystery to me how you talk as you do without having any of it written. Two of my family have got to be preachers, William C. and yourself. He learned to preach at the institution, but who in the world ever learned you up there in Canada?' I believe I told her that the Being who needed ministers had much to do in making them, which seemed to be a new idea in these parts.
"I then went to New Durham to visit my relatives, but spoke frequently before my return. On my way back, at a very good meeting about two miles from the place of my other appointments in the town, a young lady whom I baptized in February of the next year, was there permanently and effectually impressed with the need of salvation through Christ. She continued from that time to be drawn into nearness and union with Jesus, whose power over the heart no one can measure. After this meeting I returned to Gilmanton. As my sister was somewhat out of health, and travelling was recommended as her best restorative, I favored her desires to visit her parents in Canada, whom she had not seen for six years: and taking a carriage suited to the journey, conveyed her to my father's house in Compton. Our parents were overjoyed to see us. The next morning early I returned to the States, rode to Glover, Greensborough, and Montpelier, attended a quarterly meeting, with several other appointments, and returned to the Province in about seven days. Meeting my sister at Stanstead, where my elder brother according to agreement had brought her, I again set out for Gilmanton, where I arrived after an absence of about four weeks. On my way east I passed through Cabot and Danville, where I held several meetings; but when passing through New Hampton I met Rev. Mr. Hillard, who informed me that he intended to go to Toronto to preach, and should be happy to have me supply at his church during his absence. I accordingly left an appointment.
"Here, my dear friend, you have a brief account of my journeyings for the space of two months and a few days, in which time I have travelled 770 miles. Here in good old New England scenes, I at times revive the lights and shades of my early days, but the work of salvation is one that overlays in interest all reverie of the mind, and I shall hasten to give you a further account of the work of God in my next, hoping that from former friendship, my hasty letters will be interesting to your delicate and studious mind.
"Yours, in the truth,
J. Badger.
"Sept., 1814."
Here I would observe, that the manuscript from which the events of these several months are chiefly known appears to be copies of letters, several of which were addressed to one person, whose name may have been upon the outer leaf of the scroll at first, but which I do not find in the letters themselves. As his present history is reflected in these, I offer them, with all the variety of incident which a man of his peculiar cast of character would very naturally call out. These "scratches," as he labelled them, appear to have been kept as a means of reënlivening past scenes, should he ever wish to write their history.
"After attending several meetings in Gilmanton, I went on to my appointment at Newhampton, and met a very large congregation who had come out to hear the new preacher. The people thinking me a missionary direct from college, readily swallowed the doctrine of a free, universal salvation, designed for and offered unto all men, and many rejoiced in the liberal view I presented. I felt at this time, very much the weight of the cause, and spoke with great freedom on the true mission of the Gospel to our lost world. It may be thought by some that courtesy should have dictated an acquiescence in the formality and doctrine that reigned about me. But I felt constrained to speak from my own soul and the word that burned in my own heart. I did so. Many of the silent kindled anew with ardor, their tongues were unloosed, and some praised God aloud. In the afternoon I had a glorious time, concluding my sermon with the most earnest warning to the people. This change in their accustomed routine for Sunday called out many remarks, some saying one thing and some another. One said, 'He preaches just like a damned Freewiller, and if Mr. Hillard lets him preach there again, I will neither hear nor pay him in future.' Nevertheless, I had several invitations to preach again. In the evening I spoke at Mr. Kelley's, to about 200 hearers, on Monday, P. M., at Lieut. Sinkter's school-house, to an audience of entire strangers. In that vicinity were many Freewill Baptists, few of whom, however, saw fit to attend. Priest Hillard's deacon came to me at the close of meeting, with considerable emotion, and said, 'I know the joyful sound of which you have spoken. I am satisfied God has called you to preach the Gospel. I want you to preach at my house this evening,' and accordingly gave out the appointment. There are always some discerning spirits among the people, who, sooner than others, look into the nature and meaning of things. One of the Freewill members, a lady, remarked when she got home on the character of the meeting, saying, 'The deacon will get joked this time with his missionary or I am deceived.' At evening the house was crowded, the Freewill brotherhood having waked up to an interest in what was occurring. At the time I did not know as there was one anti-Calvinistic mind in the house, but resolved, as a dying man, to do my duty without shrinking. I arose to speak from Mal. 4: 2: 'Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings,' and felt, as I progressed, the love of God in my soul. Many of the young people wept aloud, the Freewill brethren began to assist, and before the meeting broke up the power of God was so strikingly displayed that the deacon, unexpectedly to all, fell prostrate on the floor. A haughty young woman, whose hair was wrought into a profusion of curls, came forward and kneeled down, bathing her curls with tears as she cried for mercy. The argument on this occasion, though no doctrine was discussed, was one that the deacon was unable to resist, for he fell as many as five times under the power of God. The house seemed filled with divine glory. The congregation broke up about one o'clock at night. The next day I went from house to house praying and conversing with the people. I found that many were seeking Christ, and that a thoughtful solemnity was resting even on the minds of children.
"The next evening our meeting was no less powerful. Not less than twice did the deacon fall to the floor; one man who had fallen away from the Christian profession, lay for some time speechless, and the young lady spoken of before, came out bright and clear in the expression of her change. She then walked through the assembly, taking her mates by the hand, and warning and inviting them to flee to Christ, made a deep impression on the assembly. One other made profession of being translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. In this state of affairs I left Newhampton to attend other appointments, which required some eight or nine days, and from the good attention paid to the word and its effect on the people, I began to think that my mission to New England was not in vain."
Passages like these will doubtless meet with a variety of tastes, and be subjected to different constructions. The effects of a great immediate power that followed the preaching of Abbot, Whitfield, and others, seeming for a time to irresistibly sway the subject, has been variously explained, or, perhaps, more properly, has never been explained to the full satisfaction of the thoughtful. There is something certainly in the nature of the theme; for who was ever struck speechless and nerveless by a political appeal, or a literary, philosophical, or financial address? To make the least of it, these phenomena show a wild, mighty vigor in the darkly oppressed religious element within, or the same amount of zeal on finance or the election of candidates would produce equal results. Whether the Holy Ghost be present or absent, the man whose word and personal presence palsies a beastly sinner or formal deacon, so that he can neither move nor speak, is himself no weak formalist; no wavering, half-and-half man, who lives on plausibility and apology. This much is certain, that he carries a conquering force, if the effect be of him; if not of him, if he is right in the declaration "not unto us" be the glory, a similar conclusion follows the admission of his instrumentality. We love harmony; and in the great harmony that the soul should enjoy genuine thunder will prove no essential discord. We enjoy quietness; but of the two, we say by all means give us the preaching that knocks men off their seats, to that which never moves them. But how comes on Newhampton?