First day, the 16th. Our meeting to-day was large and solemn, and mostly silent. A little before the close, an exhortation of the apostle Peter was brought before the view of my mind: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” As the subject opened I found it my duty to spread it before the meeting, with some observations thereon, tending to excite the people to diligence, inasmuch as there could be no doubt of the truth of the apostle’s testimony; hence it was necessary for each one to keep the watch, resisting him steadfast in the faith. The communication though short, was so attended with the quickening power of the gospel, as to reach, affect, and tender many minds, and brought a solemn awe over the meeting. Such seasons are worthy of grateful acknowledgments to the blessed Author of all our rich mercies.
Spent this week mostly at and about home, enjoying sweet peace of mind, and the solace of heart-felt thankfulness to the Shepherd of Israel for the unmerited favour. Attended the funeral of a deceased neighbour on fourth day and our monthly meeting on fifth day. The funeral was largely attended by the neighbouring inhabitants, among whom I was led forth vocally to espouse the cause of the gospel, in a large impressive testimony. Many hearts were humbled, and the assembly in general solemnized; may it be to these as bread cast upon the waters, gathered after many days.
First day, the 23d. Our meeting to-day was a season thankfully to be remembered. The subject that arrested my mind and led to communication, was a comparative view of man with the rest of the animal creation; showing that man, although endued with a rational understanding, and blessed with a measure and manifestation of the spirit of God, to guide him infallibly in the way of his duty, had nevertheless swerved much further from the state of rectitude in which he was created, than any other creature; and was much more changeable and unstable than they. This is a sure mark of his fall: and although continually liable and willing to change, to gratify his own will and the humour of others, in following the changeable customs and manners of a vain world; yet averse to that necessary and laudable change, whereby he might regain paradise and renew communion with his Maker. This and much more I was led to open to the auditory, in the demonstration of the spirit, showing the way of man’s return; whereby many minds present were humbled and contrited, and solid satisfaction and comfort afforded to my own.
On fourth day, I attended a marriage at Bethpage. It was, I think, a solid instructive season. On fifth day attended our own meeting which was held in silence. The rest of the week I was busily attentive to my usual avocations.
First day, the 30th. I attended Westbury meeting, wherein my mind was opened into a view of man’s primitive state, the manner and means of his fall, and the way whereby he only can be restored, all which I had largely to spread before the meeting. In addition to this, I had also to caution Friends, particularly the youth, against letting their minds out in their own will and wisdom, into a search and pursuit after forbidden knowledge, particularly that of the origin of evil, which in the present day is a subject of much conversation and inquiry. For man in the beginning was forbidden the knowledge of good and evil, and that command is as binding and obligatory in the present day as it was in the primitive state; therefore all those who presume in their own wills and creaturely wisdom, independent of the teaching of the spirit of God, to know good and evil, do thereby desert God, and so become dead to the divine life; and this is man’s fall, and leads to Deism and Atheism.
I was much engaged in the course of this week in endeavouring to arrange and settle some difficulties in the neighbourhood, and in regulating some of my own temporal affairs. Sat our meeting on fifth day in silence.
First day, the 6th of 4th month. Sat our meeting to-day in silence. In the afternoon at the fourth hour, we had a meeting appointed by a Friend from abroad, who was accompanied by another Friend in the ministry, both of whom appeared in public testimony.
Most of this week I was occupied about home. Attended our preparative meeting on fifth day, which being the time of answering our queries to go forward to the yearly meeting, I was led to make several remarks to Friends to stir them up to more faithfulness, in order that we might profit by the queries, and be prepared to answer them with more clearness and propriety, according to truth and justice.
First day, the 13th. Sat our meeting to-day in silence. This week our monthly meeting was held, at which the state of society as represented by the answers to the queries from our preparative meetings was attended to, and a summary thereof forwarded to the quarterly meeting to be held the following week. This order of reading and answering the queries quarterly, if rightly attended to, and Friends were generally kept lively in spirit, and were zealously engaged for the promotion of truth, would, I believe, be productive of much good to the society: but alas! there are so many who seem lulled asleep in the lap of the world, and their minds clothed with so much indifferency, that it is to them but a dead lifeless form. Surely these reap little or no advantage from their right of membership among us.
Sixth day. Was our preparative meeting of Ministers and Elders, in which nothing transpired worthy of notice.