After this meeting, we passed directly to West Hartford, and lodged with our friend Ebenezer Crosby, whose daughter Abigail had come in company with us from Nine Partners. She was a discreet religious young woman, whose mind, I apprehended, was under the operation of the forming hand, for her good; may she be preserved in faith and patience, under the varied turnings thereof upon her; and then, I have no doubt, she will become a useful member in the Church.
The next day we rode to Springfield, about twenty-six miles north of this place; and attended a meeting there the following day. Although the people appeared generally raw and ignorant, as to the internal work of true religion on the heart, being mostly of those persuasions, whose doctrines lead them to place too much trust and dependence on the external works of a Saviour without them, and an imputative righteousness; and not experiencing the internal work of sanctification, wrought by the spirit and power of a Saviour within them; which is a very dangerous errour; nevertheless, I was favoured by the Lord’s power to relieve my mind, and divers appeared to be tenderly affected, and manifested much satisfaction with the opportunity, as did the auditory in general.
We rode back that afternoon to West Hartford, and the day following, the first of the week, and 17th of 11th month, we attended Friends’ meeting; and another at the house of our friend Ebenezer Crosby, in the evening. They were full meetings, many of other societies attending, mostly Presbyterians. Truth favoured, in an eminent degree, in both opportunities, but especially in the latter, wherein it rose into great dominion, breaking down, and apparently reducing every contrary spirit. A remarkable calm, and general solemnity was felt to spread over the assembly, to the solid rejoicing and comfort of many hearts, and the exaltation of the cause and testimony of our God; who, for this, and his multiplied favours and blessings, vouchsafed from time to time, is worthy of all honour, dominion and glory, both now and for ever.
The next day, feeling my mind drawn to some of the adjacent towns, we rode about ten miles, to a place called Perquanock, a thickly settled village in the west part of the township of West Windsor. We had a precious opportunity there that evening, in a large school-house. Although the notice was very short, it being late in the afternoon when we came there, yet, when we reached the meeting, which began at the sixth hour, the house was nearly full, and soon after taking our seats was crowded with as many as it could well contain. A commendable stillness was maintained during the silent part of the meeting, which we thought a little uncommon, as the people were generally strangers to us, and our ways. After a time of solemn waiting, my mouth was opened in a clear full testimony; wherein the doctrines of the gospel were largely and plainly held forth, in the demonstration of the spirit, and with power, tendering many hearts, and to the apparent satisfaction of the people in general; many expressing their thankfulness for the favour. We left them with the answer of peace in our own minds, and in a full persuasion, that the Lord is secretly at work in the minds of many of the people in these parts, in order to deliver them from the power of their dark and blind leaders, who, for a long time, by their carnal and lifeless teachings and doctrines, and many vain traditions, have formed almost a total eclipse between God and their souls. May the Lord hasten this good work in his own time, that those merchants of Babylon, who are trafficking in the souls of the people, those blind guides may be so discovered, that no man may buy their merchandize any more.
The day after, we attended a meeting in Windsor town; the people here seemed to be more under the dark power of their teachers, being much blinded with the prejudice of education, so that the meeting was but small. Nevertheless, truth favoured me with ability to preach the gospel, with a good degree of divine authority, to the comfort and edification of some seeking minds present. The two following days we attended Friends’ meeting at Hartford, the latter of which was appointed by our friend Jervis Johnson, from Ireland. Both were comfortable seasons.
The sixth of the week, and 22d of the month, we rode to the city of Hartford; and way opening for an opportunity with the people, a meeting was accordingly appointed at the sixth hour in the evening, to be held in a large meeting-house belonging to the Presbyterians. A great number of the citizens assembled, supposed to be near a thousand, among whom were most of the principal inhabitants. The Lord, in whom was our trust, was graciously near, and furnished us with ability to conduct the meeting to the satisfaction and peace of our own minds; and to the edification of many present, and general satisfaction of the assembly.
We rested on seventh day, and, on first day, we were again at Friends’ meeting at West Hartford; and notice that we were to be there having spread, a considerable number of the neighbouring inhabitants and some from the city came in. It was a season of high favour; many weighty truths of the gospel were clearly opened, and the way of life and salvation placed before the minds of the people; and a general solemnity appeared to reign, which was manifest in almost every countenance, silencing every opposite spirit. The hearts of Friends, with my own spirit, were bowed in humble acknowledgment and gratitude to the Lord our helper, for granting us so great a mercy; and under a solemn sense thereof we parted, and took leave of each other in great nearness of spirit.
On second day we turned our faces homeward, attending meetings in our way at Cambridge and Woodbury; at the latter place we had two meetings; we also had meetings at Middlesex, and Stamford, and again at Middlesex on first day; these were generally seasons of divine favour, edifying and instructive. After this we passed on into the state of New-York, and had meetings the six following days, at Rye, White Plains, North Castle, Shapaqua, Amawalk, and Croton. As my mind was led, in faith and patience, to close in with the baptismal influence of the spirit of truth, it was reduced into a state of suffering with the precious seed in the hearts of the people, and their divers states were felt, and way made to divide the word aright to those assembled; who were a mixed number of Friends and others. Truth was exalted, and set over every contrary spirit, and the honest-hearted comforted and encouraged to persevere in the “work of righteousness,” which “shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.”
The following first day we attended Friends’ meeting at West Chester; and in the afternoon we had an appointed meeting at East Chester, principally among those not of our society. We had cause, in both these meetings, to magnify and adore the name of the Lord, who deigned to be near with his saving help, and furnished with ability to preach the gospel of life and salvation, in the clear demonstration of the spirit; the power attending, convicting and tendering many hearts. The few Friends, who dwell in that place, were strengthened and encouraged, and my spirit refreshed and made to rejoice, in those closing opportunities. After this I returned home, and found my dear wife and tender children all well, to our mutual rejoicing. I was out about six weeks, and attended about thirty meetings, and two quarterly meetings.
On my return from my late visit in Connecticut, I felt my mind not fully clear of a prospect I then had of a few other places; and the way opening with greater clearness, and feeling a motion of love to draw towards again attending the ensuing quarterly meetings of Oblong and Nine Partners, after attending our quarterly meeting at Westbury, in 1st month, 1800, I set out with Amos Whitson as my companion. We attended Purchase meeting on first day, which I sat in silence, and passed from thence to Oblong, and attended their quarterly meeting. After this we had a meeting at Kent, in our way to Nine Partners. The people of this place are mostly of the Presbyterian society, and a considerable number assembled, and behaved in an orderly manner. I trust the opportunity was a season of profit, and that the labour bestowed may be, to some of those present, as bread cast upon the waters. After attending the quarterly meeting of Nine Partners, we had two meetings in our way to Cornwall and Goshen, among those not of our society, though nothing very remarkable occurred in either. We had a comfortable meeting at Cornwall, and visited Charles Richards and some others, who appeared to be going into a separation from Friends, having already set up a separate meeting, for which they were not long after disowned. They had given way to some very inconsistent notions, in which they became so hardened as not to take the tender counsel and advice of their friends, who laboured much with them for their recovery. From thence we returned home, having a few meetings in our way, mostly among people of other persuasions. We got well home on first day evening, the 16th of 2d month, after attending the morning meeting at New-York. As I took this little journey in part to fill up what seemed lacking in the other, I now felt clear, and my mind was accompanied with true peace, which raised in me humble acknowledgments and gratitude to the great and blessed Author of all our mercies.