The meeting at Makefield was likewise a precious opportunity. The Lord being mightily with us in our passing along, from season to season, to our humbling admiration, furnishing with strength for every service; so that we indeed found him to be strength in weakness, and riches in poverty. For I never felt greater weakness and nothingness, as to self, than in this journey; and could truly say, that our sufficiency was not of ourselves, but of God; and that the Lord was our strength from day to day, who is over all, blessed for ever.
The three following days we attended meetings at Middletown, Bristol, and the Falls. I was led forth in these meetings to show wherein real Christianity consists; and although the people of christendom had the name of Christians, yet, so long as they lived in the gratification of their own wills and carnal lusts, from whence discord, animosities, envyings, strife and every evil work originated, they were only heathens in disguise. For true Christianity is nothing else than a real and complete mortification of our own wills, and a full and final annihilation of all self-exaltation: and the contrary is the true antichrist, that sitteth in the seat of God, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped. Therefore, none are any further Christians, than as they come to experience the self-denial, meekness, humility and gentleness of Christ, ruling and reigning in them, so as to become their real life; and in, and by which, they become partakers of the divine nature, and know the life of God raised up in the immortal soul; which is the new birth, or Christ formed in us, and without which, as our Lord told Nicodemus, no man can see the kingdom of God.
After these meetings we crossed the river Delaware into New Jersey, attending meetings on our way, at Kingwood, Hardwick, Mendham, and one near Paulingskiln. From thence we passed to Cornwall, in the state of New-York. We reached there seventh day evening, the 18th of 7th month, and the next day were at their first day meeting. I was much worn down by constant travelling and hard labour, and felt much fatigue when we came here; and in going to this meeting, I felt a desire to rise in my mind, that I might have a good silent meeting. The prayer of my spirit was answered, for I had not sat long before a perfect, sweet calm ensued, wherein my whole man was swallowed up in divine seraphic enjoyment; so that not only my mind, but also my wearied body forgot all its toil; and my soul was so inflamed with gratitude, to the all-bountiful Author of all our rich mercies and blessings, that praises and thanksgiving ascended as incense from the altar of my heart to his great and glorious name, who remains to be God over all, blessed for ever, world without end. Amen.
In the course of this week we attended meetings at Newburgh Valley, the Paltz, Marlborough, and on fifth day were at Cornwall monthly meeting. The meeting for worship which preceded the business, was large. I was led among them in a line of close searching labour, which, for some time, seemed to have but little entrance among them; mankind being too generally disposed, while in a state of unsoundness, to shut themselves against that, which they know, if they are open to receive, would find out all their secret lurking places, where self-love and self-will lie shrouded under a mask of doing good, while it is gratified in the full enjoyment of all its beloveds, and with whom it is daily committing adultery and fornication: but as I continued to persevere in faithfulness to the opening, although the prospect for a time seemed discouraging, truth began to make way by its own power, and gradually spread over the meeting, breaking down all opposition, and tendering and mollifying many hearts. The meeting for discipline appeared to be pretty well conducted, there being, I believe, a remnant honestly engaged for the promotion of the cause of truth; and these the Lord delights to favour, and furnish with strength to carry on his own work of truth and righteousness in the earth; and he will continue to reward these with the real enjoyment of his life-giving presence; while those who sit as mere idle spectators, will be sent empty away.
On sixth day we had an appointed meeting at the house of our friend Thomas Jones at Walkiln; on seventh day, one at Goshen, and on first day, we were at Smith’s Clove. All satisfactory seasons, especially the last, wherein truth was powerfully manifest, tendering the hearts of the people in a remarkable manner; so that a very precious solemnity was witnessed to spread over the meeting. After these meetings we turned homewards, attending meetings in our way at Kakiat, Tappan and New-York. We reached home on fourth day evening, the 29th of 7th month. I found my family in usual health, which, together with an endeared and cordial reception in the feelings of mutual love, and flowings of that peace of mind attendant on a faithful discharge of manifested duty, filled my heart with thankful acknowledgments to the great and bountiful Author of every blessing.
I was from home in this journey three months and eighteen days, and travelled about sixteen hundred and thirty miles.
CHAPTER V.
Visit to Friends in Canada, and some of the northern parts of the yearly meeting of New-York, 1803.—Visit on Long Island, Staten Island, and New-York, 1806.—Visit to Purchase, Nine Partners, and Stanford, and some adjacent parts, 1806.—Visit to Nine Partners, 1807.—Visit to Purchase, Nine Partners, and Stanford, 1808.—Visit to the subordinate meetings, 1808.—Visit to Purchase, 1809.—Visits on Long Island, 1812 and 1813.—Visit to Purchase in 1813.