On sixth day we proceeded to Hudson, where we arrived at evening. The following evening, we had an appointed meeting in the town of Claverack, about four miles distant from Hudson. The inhabitants were mostly Dutch; a considerable number attended, and behaved pretty soberly; and way opened to communicate divers truths of the gospel, in a clear and impressive manner among them, to which they paid good attention, and appeared to be generally well satisfied. The next day, being first day, we attended Friends’ meeting in Hudson, and an appointed meeting in the evening. The latter was very large, more than the house could contain. These were favoured meetings, in which I was largely led forth in testimony to the truths of the Christian religion, setting forth, in a clear manner, the ground and source from whence all true religion and true worship have their spring and origin. A general solemnity prevailed, and truth was raised into dominion over all.
On second day, we proceeded to Kinderhook, and had a meeting in the evening in a school-house, and on third day afternoon, we had an appointed meeting in Spencertown. These were both crowded meetings, mostly made up of the different societies common among us; many of them were the descendants of the old Dutch inhabitants, not much acquainted with our customs and order; yet they generally behaved soberly, and gave good attention to the testimonies borne. Many gospel truths were opened to their consideration, and the Lord’s presence and power were felt to crown these solemn assemblies; and I parted from them in true peace and thankfulness of heart.
On fourth and fifth days, we attended Friends’ meetings at Kline Kiln, and New Britain. In both of these meetings, I had good service for truth and its blessed cause, and the hurtful tendency of a dependance on forms, and outward ordinances and ceremonies in religion and worship, was laid open and exposed.
On sixth day, we proceeded to Troy, where we rested on seventh day, and wrote to our families. On first day, we attended Friends’ meetings at Troy, both forenoon and afternoon, and, information being given that we were there, they were large. At the forenoon meeting, more assembled than the house could contain; and that gracious Being, who never leaves nor forsakes his dependant children, whose trust is fixed on him, was near for our help; and opened my heart and mouth in both meetings, to declare largely of the things concerning the kingdom of God, and to open many gospel truths to the people, and to show the fallacy and hurtful tendency of all ceremonial religion, which consists in the observance of days and times, and outward ordinances. The people were generally attentive; and I found solid peace in my labours of love among them.
On second day, we proceeded to Pittstown, and the next day had a meeting appointed there, at the eleventh hour, which was a large, favoured meeting. After this we proceeded to White Creek, and attended Friends’ meeting as it came in course the next day; and, information being given that we were there, it was largely attended. The Lord’s presence was felt to preside, and truth was raised into victory. Oh my soul! what wilt thou, or canst thou render unto the Lord, for all his benefits; “for his mercies are new every morning, and great is his faithfulness.”
On fifth day we attended an appointed meeting in the town of Shaftsbury, on our way to Danby. In this place, none of our society reside, except one female member, the wife of a well-disposed man, at whose house we put up, and were very hospitably entertained. The meeting, although small, was attended by the governor of the state, and divers of the judges and magistrates. It was a season of favour; many essential doctrines of the Christian religion were opened to them, in the demonstration of truth, and I parted with them in thankfulness of heart, and with a peaceful mind; and the next day rode to Danby.
On seventh day, we attended an appointed meeting near a village called the Borough, in the east part of the town; and on first day, attended Friends’ meeting on the Hill. Both were fully attended by Friends, and the neighbouring inhabitants; and were both solemn instructive seasons, in which the power of truth was felt to preside, enabling to preach the gospel in the demonstration of the spirit, to the comfort and encouragement of the living, faithful few, and to the instruction and edification of the honest inquirers, whose faces were turned Zion-ward; likewise spreading caution and reproof to the indolent and careless.
On second day we proceeded towards Ferrisburgh, where we arrived on third day afternoon, and the next day attended the monthly meeting at that place. The four following days, we attended meetings in the following order: On fifth day we had an appointed meeting at Monkton. It was large, and proved a very solemn, favoured meeting, in which the power of truth prevailed, silencing all opposition, and ran as oil, to the comfort, encouragement and instruction of the honest-hearted. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not any of his benefits! On sixth day we attended Friends’ monthly meeting at Starksborough. On seventh day had an appointed meeting in a school-house, in the southeast part of the town, where Friends hold a small meeting; and on first day was at Friends’ meeting at Lincoln. These were all favoured meetings, in which I had good service for truth and its cause.
On second day, we returned into the south part of Monkton, and had an evening meeting in a kinsman’s house, by the name of Stephen Haight. He was convinced of the principles of Friends, but failed in the practical part. This proved a pretty exercising season, by reason of the unsettled state of some who attended; especially in the silent part of the meeting: for being brought up and educated in the belief that, unless they are engaged in some bodily exercise, such as outward and vocal singing, praying, preaching, and the like, there is no meeting; being so instructed by their teachers, it is very difficult to get them into stillness, or into any right condition to hear. This makes hard work for the true gospel minister, whose labour and travail is to get into, and bring others into, a state of true solemn silence; that he may therefore become baptized into the state of the people, and be qualified to administer to their real conditions; for otherwise preaching is vain. But as I continued patient in travail, my mouth was opened in a large searching testimony, showing the fallacy and emptiness of all outward ceremonial worship; and that it must inevitably land all those who trust therein, in a state of sad disappointment, in the end. I was led also to open, in a clear manner to the people, the most essential doctrines of the Christian religion, to the information and satisfaction of the honest inquiring minds.
The next day we returned to Ferrisburgh, in order to attend the quarterly meeting which opened on fourth day, with the meeting of Ministers and Elders, which I attended, and had good service among them. I was led to open in the life the order of true gospel ministry, and the necessity all are under, who are called to that solemn and important office, of keeping their vessels clean, not only from sin and every pollution of flesh and spirit, but also in their ministry from all the dregs or remains of former offerings. For if, through the strength of memory, any act upon former offerings, such communications tend to produce death, rather than life. We find, under the law, that the vessels in the Lord’s house were not only at first made pure and holy, but when they were made use of in the Lord’s offerings, and had been filled with the Lord’s holy things, when that season of offering was over, they were then cleansed from all the remains and dregs of such offering, and put up in their places clean and empty. This also agrees with the doctrine of Christ to his apostles: “Every branch in me,” he says, “that beareth fruit, my heavenly Father purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” It was, I trust, an instructive season, there being a number present who were young in the ministry.