On the two following days we attended meetings at Marlborough and West Chester. The first was by our appointment, the latter on first day. These meetings were like the former; great numbers attended more than the houses could contain: nevertheless, order and stillness prevailed in a remarkable manner in and without the houses, in every place, to the comfort and rejoicing of Friends, and to the instruction and edification, I trust, of the assembled multitudes. We took leave of them under an humbling sense of the unmerited favour, and with true peace of mind.
On second day, the 8th of the month, we attended Kennet meeting, and on third and fourth days we had meetings at Kennet Square and Centre. These were all crowded meetings, and in them all the divine presence was felt to preside, solemnizing the assemblies, and comforting and rejoicing the honest-hearted.
On fifth and sixth days we attended meetings at Hockesson and Stanton. Both were crowded, solemn meetings, and, I trust, instructive and profitable to many who were present. After the latter, we rode that afternoon to Wilmington, and rested on seventh day with our friend William Poole, who was in a weak state from bodily indisposition, but was so far recovered as to walk about. On first day, the 14th, we attended Friends’ meetings in Wilmington, both forenoon and afternoon. They were both very large. In the forenoon meeting I had good service, but in the afternoon I was mostly silent, as the people appeared to be too much hungering for words, and too indifferent and careless in putting in practice what they had already heard and knew to be their duty. Hence I was led to set them an example of silence.
We left Wilmington on second day morning, and proceeded to Concord, and attended a meeting there by previous appointment. The four following days we attended meetings at Middletown, Providence, Chester, and Darby. These were all very large favoured opportunities, in which the Lord’s power was felt to preside, causing a precious solemnity to spread over the assemblies, and humbling and contriting many minds. To the Lord be the praise and glory of his own work; nothing due to man.
Leaving Darby, we proceeded on to Philadelphia; and on first day, the 21st of 12th month, we attended Friends’ meetings in the city, that at Cherry-street in the morning, and at Green-street in the afternoon. At both these meetings hundreds more assembled than the houses could contain. On second day we left the city, and attended meetings, in the course of the week, at Haverford, Radnor, Newtown, Willistown, and the Valley. All these meetings were unusually large; the houses were generally too small to contain the people; many had to stand out of doors for want of room; nevertheless, the people behaved orderly, and the Lord’s presence was felt to preside, solemnizing those crowded assemblies, in all of which my mind was opened, and ability afforded, to preach the gospel to the people in the demonstration of the spirit and with power, and many hearts were broken and contrited, and went away rejoicing, under a thankful sense of the unmerited favour.
After this we returned to the city, and on first day, the 28th of the month, we again attended Friends’ meetings there, in the same order as before. On second day we attended Frankfort meeting by appointment. These were all large favoured meetings; many had to leave those in the city for want of room. My opposing brethren had, by their public opposition and erroneous reports, created such excitement in the minds of the people generally of every profession, that it induced multitudes to assemble to hear for themselves; and they generally went away satisfied and comforted.
On third day we took leave of our friends in Philadelphia, and passed over into New Jersey; and the four following days attended meetings at Mullica Hill, Piles Grove, Salem, and Woodbury. These were very large favoured meetings; and I felt true peace of mind as a rich reward for my labour and exercise among them.
We attended Haddonfield meeting on first day, the 4th of 1st month, 1829. Here Friends, and those who styled themselves Orthodox, met together in the same house. As notice was given of my attendance, the people assembled in great numbers; and as soon as the meeting was fully gathered, a precious solemnity was felt to spread over the assembly; and the Lord, our gracious helper, was near for our support and strength, and the truth was raised triumphantly over all opposition.
The four following days we attended meetings at Moore’s Town, Evesham, Cropwell, Mount Holly, and Upper Evesham. These were very large meetings, in which the Lord our gracious helper made bare his arm for our support, enabling to hand forth out of the treasury things new and old, to the comfort and edification of the honest-hearted, and solid peace of my own mind; to Him be all the praise, nothing due to man.
On first day the 11th, we attended Friends’ meeting at Rancocas. This was said to be the largest meeting ever known in that place; in which the Lord’s presence was felt to preside, humbling and contriting many minds, and baptizing the whole assembly into a very precious solemnity; and causing the upright in heart to rejoice, under a thankful sense of the unmerited favour.