The next day being the fourth of the week, we attended Friends’ monthly meeting held at Plainfield, for Rahway and Plainfield. The meeting for worship was large, many of the neighbouring people of other societies coming in, to whom the gospel was freely preached in the demonstration of the spirit, solemnizing the assembly, and truth was raised into victory over all. My mind was also comforted in the meeting for discipline, in observing the harmony and brotherly condescension of Friends, in the orderly conducting the affairs of the Church.
The next day we proceeded on our journey to Kingwood, and put up with our kind friend Henry Clifton. We had an appointed meeting here the day after at the tenth hour, and although the number of Friends was small that constituted this meeting, yet Friends being careful to give their neighbours of other societies information thereof, we had a very full meeting; and it proved a very solemn impressive opportunity in which truth reigned, comforting and contriting many minds.
After this we passed on to Solebury in Pennsylvania, and lodged with our kind friend Watson Fell, who met us at Kingwood and kindly took us to his house. The next day we had an appointed meeting here at the fourth hour in the afternoon. It was a solemn opportunity, and I parted with them under a thankful sense of the unmerited favour. We then rode home with our kind friend Moses Eastburn; and the next day being first day, and the 22d of 6th month, we attended Buckingham meeting in the morning, and had an appointed meeting at Plumbstead at four o’clock in the afternoon. After this we rode home with our worthy friend Israel Lancaster, and on second day had a meeting at Wrightstown; on third day in the forenoon, we attended Newtown meeting; and at the fourth hour in the afternoon had an appointed meeting at Makefield. These were all large favoured meetings, in which the gospel was preached in the demonstration of the spirit, and many hearts were humbled and contrited, and a precious solemnity spread over the meetings, comforting and rejoicing the honest-hearted, and to the praise of Him, who is calling us to glory and virtue.
On fourth day, the 25th, we attended a meeting at the Falls; on fifth day were at Middletown; on sixth day at Byberry; and on seventh day at Abington. These meetings were all large and very solemn, and the canopy of love, in a very comforting manner, was felt to spread over the assemblies; and much kindness and friendly regard were manifested towards us, not only by our friends, but by the people in general of other societies, who attended the meetings.
We attended Horsham meeting in the morning, on first day, the 29th, and had an appointed meeting at Upper Dublin at the fourth hour in the afternoon. They were very large; more attended than the houses could contain. As the last meeting was assembling there came on a heavy shower of rain, accompanied with an uncommon time of lightning, and very heavy peals of thunder: many flashes of the lightning appeared to strike down to the earth within a very small distance of the meeting-house, which brought a great solemnity over the meeting, and I was thankful in observing the stillness and quiet which prevailed generally among the people. These meetings were very solemn seasons, in which truth reigned, and I parted with them in peace of mind, and the fresh feelings of gospel love.
Our kind friend Joseph Foulke met us at Horsham; and after the latter meeting conducted us to his house, where we met a very cordial welcome, and were favoured with the company and conversation of his ancient and very worthy father Hugh Foulke. The two following days we attended meetings at North Wales and Plymouth. These were large favoured meetings, in which many truths of the gospel were largely opened to the edification, comfort, and apparent satisfaction, of those large assemblies, and to the peace of my own mind. It was the Lord’s doing, and to him belongs all the praise, nothing due to man.
From thence we proceeded to Charlestown, and lodged with our kind friend James Wood; and the next day, being the fourth day of the week, we attended their meeting. After this we rode to Pikeland, where we were very kindly entertained by our friends Emmor Kimber and wife, and had an appointed meeting there the next day. We tarried here until the next morning; and then proceeded on to Uwchlan, where we had a meeting, by previous appointment, at the eleventh hour; and although it was in the midst of their harvest, and the care necessary for getting it in, very urgent, as many of their fields of grain appeared to be over-ripe, yet to our own and our friends’ admiration, the meetings were unusually large, frequently many more assembled than the houses could contain. The people were generally very solid and quiet, and very attentive to hear what was communicated; and many minds were humbled and contrited, and truth’s testimonies exalted, to the mutual comfort and encouragement of the honest-hearted, and to the general satisfaction of the assembled multitudes; and my mind was deeply humbled and made thankful for the continuance of those unmerited favours.
On seventh day, the 5th of 7th month, we attended a meeting at Downing’s Town, held in an orchard, under the shade of the apple trees; which was a large, solemn, satisfactory meeting. A division having taken place in the Society of Friends, and the meeting-house in this place being in possession of the party termed Orthodox, they refused to permit Friends to occupy it on this occasion. There were, however, more attended the meeting, than could have got into the house, if we had been permitted to use it. The next day we attended Friends’ meeting at East Caln; and notice having been given of our intention of attending it, the house, although very large, did not contain more than three quarters of the people that assembled. It was a season to be remembered with gratitude, in which the Lord’s presence was felt to preside, humbling and contriting many hearts, and truth was raised into victory over all.
On second day we attended a meeting, by appointment, at Sadsbury; and on third day their monthly meeting. On fourth day we had an appointed meeting at Lampeter. These were all favoured opportunities, wherein the Lord’s power was manifested for our help, rejoicing and encouraging the honest-hearted, and settling and confirming the wavering, who were halting between two opinions, but were now satisfied, and openly declared themselves on the side of Friends, some of whom had previously gone with our opposers, but were now convinced of the impropriety of their conduct, and cheerfully united with Friends.