First day, the 8th. Had a comfortable meeting to-day. The testimony to the power of truth went forth freely to the people, comforting and contriting many minds present. This is the Lord’s doing and is worthy of grateful acknowledgments from his people, for such continued yet unmerited mercy.
On third day I attended a meeting at Bethpage, appointed by our friends Elizabeth Coggeshall and Ann Shipley of New-York, who were now among us on a religious visit. It was, I think, a season of great favour; not only the two women appeared in seasonable and appropriate testimonies, tending to gather the minds of the people into a very comfortable solemnity, but also, my heart and mouth were opened in a large affecting testimony, which found a ready entrance into the minds of most present, breaking down all opposition and contriting many hearts by the prevalence of truth, which ran as oil over all. After this, our friend Elizabeth closed the service in solemn supplication. It was a day of favour, worthy of grateful remembrance.
On fifth day I attended our preparative meeting, in which I had some service for the promotion of truth’s cause. The four other days of this week, I spent in my usual necessary avocations.
First day, the 15th. Nothing in particular to remark respecting the exercise of this day.
On the fourth day of this week, our monthly meeting was held, in which I was led into some close searching exercise, in order to stir up Friends to more diligence and circumspection, that so their light might shine forth to the help of others, and their conduct appear consonant with their profession. In this meeting I found it expedient and consistent with my duty, to open to Friends a prospect and concern which had for a considerable time rested on my mind, to pay a visit in gospel love, to Friends and others in some parts of the yearly meetings of Philadelphia and Baltimore. The subject obtained the solid attention of the meeting, and some Friends were appointed to confer with me on the subject, and, as way opened, prepare an essay of a certificate for that purpose, and produce it to our next meeting.
First day, the 22d. Whilst sitting in our meeting to-day, my mind was led into a view of the great and singular advantages that would accrue to the children of men, from their having right and just ideas of religion, the want of which was the principal cause of all the distress and misery that fell to their lot, both here and hereafter. The subject spread, and, as I communicated, opened to a large field of doctrine, which had a very reaching effect upon the assembly, and a very precious solemnity was spread over the meeting; for which my heart was made truly glad, with that gladness that hath no sorrow with it.
The rest of the week I was busily employed in the care of my temporal concerns, which nevertheless has no tendency, if kept within right bounds, to prevent internal religious exercises, and spiritual meditations and soliloquies. Sat our fifth day meeting in silence.
First day, the 29th. I sat our meeting to-day in a sense of great weakness, in which I realized the truth of David’s testimony: “Verily every man at his best estate is altogether vanity.”
Except attending in silent meditation our fifth day meeting, and the funeral of the only daughter of my brother Samuel, on seventh day, I was engaged as usual during the week, in my family cares; which indeed is an arduous task, if rightly performed, and every department duly cared for in its right season, consistent with our moral and religious duty. The funeral mentioned above was a solemn one, in which I was largely led forth to testify of the things concerning the kingdom of God; opening the way of life and salvation to the people, in the demonstration of the spirit. The assembly were generally solemnized by the efficacy of the power which attended, and truth raised into victory over all. Such favours are truly worthy of deep heart-felt gratitude and thanksgiving to the God and Father of all our sure mercies, who is over all, worthy for ever.
First day, the 6th of 7th month. Soon after I took my seat in our meeting to-day, my mind was opened into a view of the great need man stands in of a Saviour, and that nothing can give him so full and lively a sense thereof, as a true sight and sense of his own real condition; by which he is not only brought to see the real want of a Saviour, but is also shown thereby, what kind of a Saviour he needs. For it must not only be one, who is continually present, but who is possessed of a prescience sufficient to see, at all times, all man’s enemies, and every temptation that may or can await him; and have power sufficient to defend him from all, and at all times. Therefore, such a Saviour as man wants, cannot be one without him, but must be one that is always present, just in the very place man’s enemies assault him, which is within, in the very temple of the heart: as no other Saviour but such an one, who takes his residence in the very centre of the soul of man, can possibly produce salvation to him: hence, for man to look for a Saviour or salvation any where else, than in the very centre of his own soul, is a fatal mistake, and must consequently land him in disappointment and errour.