First day the 1st of 8th month. At our meeting to-day, my mind was led into a view of the excellence and necessity of a right faith in God and Christ; it being that by which the just live. For nothing else can qualify to live a life of true righteousness and justice, but a true and living faith in God and Christ; and without this faith, it is impossible to please God. The subject spread and led to communication in a large testimony, by which many minds were reached and comforted, and a precious solemnity spread over the meeting; and we parted from each other with grateful hearts for the unmerited favour.
On fifth day I was led to call the attention of my friends to first principles, and to recur to the uprightness, simplicity, and faithfulness of our worthy predecessors, and to recount the great and sorrowful deviations therefrom by those who are making the same profession in the present day, in departing from a full reliance and dependance on the power and spirit that actuated and governed them. Hence weakness and darkness pervade their minds, by which great reproach is brought upon the society, and occasion given for many to speak evil of the truth, and the principle we hold out to the world, as the only sure guide to blessedness; to the wounding of the faithful few, who are yet preserved in a good degree of gospel simplicity, and who live under a daily exercise for the promotion and advancement of the Messiah’s kingdom here on earth, and that it may arise and become the peace and glory of all nations.
CHAPTER XVI.
Journey to Ohio in 1819.—Visit to the neighbouring inhabitants in 1819.—Visit to Farmington and Duanesburgh quarterly meetings in 1820.—Visit to some parts of Pennsylvania, and to Baltimore, in 1822. Visit to some of the lower quarterly meetings in 1823.
Having, as before noted, had it on my mind to attend the next yearly meeting of Friends in the state of Ohio, and some other meetings in going there and returning home; and having obtained a minute of unity and concurrence from our monthly and quarterly meeting, I left home in order to accomplish the service, the 17th of 8th month, 1819, and proceeded to New-York. The next day, being first day, I attended Friends’ meeting in Pearl-street in the morning, which proved a favoured season, in which I witnessed a renewal of strength, and a satisfactory evidence that my procedure was under right direction; for which my mind was reduced into a state of humble gratitude for the unmerited mercy; having left my home in weakness and poverty of spirit, and nothing to lean on in crossing this Jordan, but my slender staff of faith. I attended the meeting at Liberty-street in the afternoon, which, although small, was in a good degree comfortable, and encouraging to my much exercised mind. As our meeting for sufferings was the succeeding third day, I staid in town and attended that meeting.
After this I proceeded on my journey, accompanied by my kind friend and neighbour Willet Robbins, who had joined me as a companion in this journey. We attended the quarterly meeting at Rahway on our way, which opened the next day with the meeting of Ministers and Elders. The meeting for discipline was held the day after; and a meeting for public worship, as a parting meeting, the succeeding day. In these several opportunities, way opened to discharge myself faithfully in the exercise of gospel communication to my friends and others who attended, fully to the relief of my own mind, and, I trust, to the instruction and encouragement of many who attended; the Lord having been graciously pleased to manifest his presence and power for our help, to the glory and praise of his own excellent name, who is over all, God blessed for ever.
After these solemn opportunities were closed, we took leave of our friends, and proceeded on our journey; and arrived at Easton on seventh day evening. This is a town on the west side of the river Delaware, in the state of Pennsylvania. Having felt my mind led to pass through this town, attended with a concern to have a religious opportunity with the inhabitants, we tarried with them the next day, and had a meeting appointed, which was held in their school-house, at the fourth hour in the afternoon. It proved, through heavenly help, a favoured, and, I trust, an instructive season to many; several of their ministers and most of the principal people attended, and appeared all to go away satisfied; and many apparently with thankful hearts for the present favour; and I parted with them in true peace of mind.
The next morning we proceeded on our journey, and rode to Maiden Creek, and lodged with our kind friend Isaac Penrose. The day following being third day, we had an appointed meeting at Reading, about eight miles farther on our way. It was held in their court-house. Many of the inhabitants of the town attended, and behaved soberly; and the gospel was preached among them in the plain demonstration of truth, and, I trust, was as a sword or hammer to some present, who were not prepared to meet sound doctrine; but was comfortable and instructive to others, such as were tender in spirit, and were honestly seeking the way to peace. It was a solemn, and, I trust, profitable opportunity.