Journal of the Life and Religious Labours of Elias Hicks

by Elias Hicks

We proceeded the next day to Almsbury, and lodged with our friend Ezekiel Jones, and the next morning rode back to Newbury, and attended Friends’ meeting at the eleventh hour. Although the meeting was small, Friends being much reduced there, yet some of the neighbouring people coming in we had a precious opportunity together, to our mutual comfort; the way of life and salvation being clearly opened to them, in the demonstration of the spirit, and with power; for which my spirit was reverently thankful. We rode back and attended a meeting at Almsbury that afternoon, at the fourth hour; a large number of those, who were not members of our society, assembled with the few Friends of that place, insomuch that the house could not contain them. It proved a painful season, by reason of the prevailing death and darkness that seemed to spread, not only over Friends, but the assembly in general. My spirit was brought into a state of deep suffering and baptism, but as I patiently endured the conflict, way was made, and ability afforded, to open to them their states and conditions, with the necessity of being redeemed therefrom, and the way whereby it must be effected. The people were generally solid, and I trust it was a profitable season to many minds present.

We returned that evening to the house of our friend Ezekiel Jones, and the next day proceeded to Newtown, where we had a meeting, which proved, I trust, an instructive edifying season to some present; although the life of religion appeared very low in that place. We lodged here, and the day following we went to Halestown alias Wear, and took our lodgings at the house of our friend Ebenezer Breed. We attended their monthly meeting next day; things in general appeared in a low state with Friends here, much of which weakness I apprehended arose from these two causes. First, from a forward spirit, which appeared very predominant in some members, who were not under a right qualification to be active in meetings for discipline, not having their spirits sanctified: and their unseasoned offerings and forward activity were a great burden to the living concerned members, being often opposed to the right exercise of discipline, which caused divisions and parties in the meeting: Secondly, those Friends who seemed to have the cause of truth at heart, for want of dwelling enough in the root, and in that perfect love that casts out all fear, were led from an apprehension of necessity, in order to keep down those forward spirits, to make use of some undue methods in the exercise of discipline. This, originating in fear, and being the result of human contrivance, instead of subjecting, had a tendency to strengthen them, in their opposition: for nothing can promote the Lord’s work but his own peaceable spirit and wisdom, and this stands out of all human consultation and contrivance, which, when given way to, although ever so well intended, always mar his work. I was much exercised, both in the meeting for worship, and that for discipline; and I was helped to administer much counsel and advice for Friends’ improvement in general, and particularly that those before mentioned difficulties might be removed; and felt much peace in my labour.

The next day, being the 5th of the week, and 19th of 7th month, we rode to Epping, about forty-two miles, and lodged with our friend Joshua Fulsome, an approved minister, and attended Friends’ meeting there the following day. In the forepart of this meeting, my mind was reduced into such a state of great weakness and depression, that my faith was almost ready to fail, which produced great searchings of heart, so that I was led to call in question all that I had ever before experienced. In this state of doubting, I was ready to wish myself at home, from an apprehension that I should only expose myself to reproach, and wound the cause I was embarked in; for the heavens seemed like brass, and the earth as iron; such coldness and hardness, I thought could scarcely have ever been experienced before by any creature, so great was the depth of my baptism at this time; nevertheless, as I endeavoured to quiet my mind, in this conflicting dispensation, and be resigned to my allotment, however distressing, towards the latter part of the meeting a ray of light broke through the surrounding darkness, in which the Shepherd of Israel was pleased to arise, and by the light of his glorious countenance, to scatter those clouds of opposition. Then ability was received, and utterance given, to speak of his marvellous works in the redemption of souls, and to open the way of life and salvation, and the mysteries of his glorious kingdom, which are hid from the wise and prudent of this world, and revealed only unto those, who are reduced into the state of little children and babes in Christ. It proved a time of renewed strength and consolation to myself, and I trust it was so to many present. Renowned for ever be the name of the Lord, who hath his way in the cloud, and in the thick darkness, and who can cause the light to shine out of obscurity, when he pleaseth, for the comfort and help of his devoted children, and cause their darkness to become as the noonday.

We passed on from thence through Dover to Berwick, where the monthly meeting for Dover was held the next day. It proved a very exercising season, great weakness attending the meeting, on account of the same rending, dividing spirit getting in among Friends there, mentioned at the foregoing monthly meeting at Wear. It had made great havoc among them; a great number of members had been separated, and others were about to be separated, by minutes of denial from the monthly meeting. I had some close labour with them, not only by endeavouring to stir up and warn the careless and refractory members; but I also found it necessary to caution and warn those, who had the chief management of discipline. I believed they had too much departed from the meek spirit of Jesus, in ordering the affairs of truth; and instead of giving the right portion of meat in due season to their fellow members, had given way to a spirit of impatience, and therefore did not stand wholly clear of beating and abusing their fellow servants. O how necessary it is for all those, who think themselves called to be active in the discipline of the Church, to know their own spirits fully subjected, that nothing of the unmortified will of the creature may be found acting in the work of the Lord; or mixing its own forward unsanctified zeal, with that true and holy fervour of soul, which animates, quickens, and constrains, by the mere force and influence of the pure love of Christ, our holy head, and heavenly high priest, from whence it derives all its power and authority, in putting right discipline in practice, and laying true judgment on the head of transgressors, and refractory members. We tarried here the next day, it being the first of the week. The meeting was pretty large, and was composed of Friends and others, and favoured with the reachings forth of heavenly regard, consoling many hearts, and refreshing the weary travellers; of these, there appeared to be a small remnant preserved in almost every place. The meeting ended with humble supplication, and praise to the great Author of every blessing, who is over all, worthy for ever.

The next day, the 22d of 7th month, we proceeded on towards Falmouth, at Casco Bay, attending a meeting at Portland, in our way thither. On fourth day we attended the monthly meeting of Falmouth, and, on sixth day, the monthly meeting of Durham; they were in general satisfactory seasons. The next day we rode to Georgetown, and attended a meeting appointed there at the eleventh hour. After this we proceeded on to the widow Gardner’s, in a town called Bordingham; in getting to this place, we had to cross the great river Kennebeck twice. The next day, being the first of the week, and the 28th of 7th month, a large meeting was held there by our appointment, there being no meeting in that place. It was a time of hard labour for a season, by reason of the indifference and ignorance of many present; nevertheless, ability was afforded to discharge myself among them, to pretty good satisfaction, and, I believe, generally so to those present; and, I trust, by some, the season will not soon be forgotten.

We went by water that afternoon up the aforesaid river, about seven miles, to the house of our friend George Ramsdale, having sent our horses there the night before. The next day we passed on to Vassalborough, and the day following rode up the river to Fairfield, and attended a meeting, and returned to Vassalborough that afternoon. The next day we attended Friends’ meeting there, which proved a heavy dull season, till near the close, when ability was afforded me to clear myself among them, in a close searching communication, which appeared to have a good effect, and the meeting ended well.

We passed on that afternoon twenty miles to Winthrop, and the next day had a meeting there. After this we rode to Greene, and from thence to Lewistown, having a meeting at each place; both precious heart-tendering seasons, especially the latter, which was attended by a large number of young people, many of whom were greatly affected by the power of truth. We left them in a tender loving frame of mind, and rode that afternoon to Durham. The next day, being the first of the week, and 4th of 8th month, we attended Friends’ meeting there, in which I was favoured to open many things in a doctrinal way, there being many present, who were not in membership with Friends. I was likewise led to speak largely of the good effects of pure love.

We passed on from thence through Falmouth to Portland, where we had a meeting appointed for the town’s people; it was held in their court-house, and was, through heavenly help, an instructive season. Many doctrines of the gospel were clearly opened; and the unsound doctrines of original sin and predestination, also the schemes of the Universalists, Atheists, and Deists, were confuted from scripture and reason. And a pressing exhortation was extended to all present, to attend to the leadings of the spirit of Christ in their own hearts, so as to be sensible of their fallen condition, and to become acquainted with the necessity, means, and manner of their salvation. Truth was over all, and I had great peace in my labour.

We returned that evening to Falmouth, and the next day went to Windham, and attended a meeting, wherein I was led to be an example of silence. After this we rode to the house of our friend John Robinson, and lodged; and a prospect opening for paying another visit to Friends at Wear, we accordingly proceeded, attending meetings in our way, at Gorham, Lymington, New Sandwich, and Gilmantown, all satisfactory seasons; and reached Wear in time to attend their monthly meeting. Although the same dividing spirit was still discernible among them, which produced much weakness, yet we had pretty good satisfaction in our visit. We proceeded from thence through Pittsfield, and Lee, in our way to Dover, having a meeting at each place, and reached Dover in time to attend their monthly meeting, held on seventh day, the 17th of 8th month. Although discipline is at a low ebb with Friends here, yet, through divine condescension, I hope the season was profitable and instructive to many present. We were at their first day meeting in the forenoon; and, in the afternoon, had a satisfactory meeting at Kittery; and, on second day, we attended meetings at Madersborough, and Rochester, both, I trust, profitable seasons. On third day we rode to Hampton, and the next day had a comfortable meeting with Friends of that place; and from thence we returned to Salem, and attended a meeting. Then we proceeded to Lynn, and attended their forenoon and afternoon meetings on first day. On second day we rode to Boston, and attended a meeting at the eleventh hour; although the meeting was but small, there being but very few Friends in that place, and only a small number of the town’s people came in, yet we had pretty good satisfaction in giving them this opportunity, and way opened to clear ourselves among them. After this we passed on, having a meeting at Taunton, and then attended Providence monthly meeting, held at Smithfield; things appeared but low with Friends of this monthly meeting, their attention being too much turned to worldly concerns. We next attended the monthly meeting held in the upper part of Smithfield, being about nine miles from the latter; this was in general a satisfactory season; and the following day we attended Uxbridge monthly meeting, to good satisfaction.