From this place we returned to Duanesburgh, and attended their monthly meeting held on sixth day. This meeting was composed of the preparative meetings of Duanesburgh, Otego, Burlington, and Deruyter. The latter meeting was near ninety miles from the place where the monthly meeting was held at this time. Friends are much scattered in this new country, by reason of which, but few, in some meetings, have much opportunity of attending their monthly meetings; this is a great loss to many families, especially the children, many of whom are thus deprived of the improving company of experienced Friends in meetings for discipline or otherwise. I have often thought it a very weighty matter for a Friend to move with a family of children so far from meetings, and especially meetings for discipline, which, I have often considered as schools of very profitable instruction to well-minded youth. This is a new monthly meeting, made up of Friends of but small experience, many of them newly received members. The business of the meeting was of course but weakly conducted. We laboured among them in the ability received, for their instruction and help, and there appeared a readiness in some to receive, who, I trust, will become useful members, as they abide in humility, and are faithful to the measure of grace received. On seventh day we rode to Oakhill, and on first day attended Friends’ meeting there; it was a very full meeting, and proved satisfactory and instructive.
The four following days we were at meetings at Scott’s Patent, Bern, Rensselaerville, one in a Friend’s house between the last mentioned place and Coeman’s Patent, and one at Coeman’s Patent. They were seasons of general satisfaction, especially the last, which was a very large precious meeting, in which the truths of the gospel were largely declared, in the demonstration of the spirit. Many hearts were tendered and contrited, and the Lord’s name praised and magnified, who is over all, worthy for ever.
The sixth, we rode to Hudson, and passed most of the way upon the ice, on the river, the weather having been, for some days past, extremely cold. On seventh day evening we had an appointed meeting at Lunenburgh, which lies on the west side of the river Hudson, and opposite to that city. On first day we attended Friends’ meeting at Hudson. Both these meetings were held, I believe, to general satisfaction, and I trust, were profitable and instructive to many who attended.
From hence we passed on to Nine Partners, and reached there seasonably to meet with the committee who have the oversight of the boarding-school, held there by the direction of our yearly meeting, we being members of that committee. By the accounts now rendered, the school appears in a prosperous state; but a considerable difficulty attends procuring suitable tutors and caretakers in the family. On third day, the select quarterly meeting of this place was held, and on fourth day, that for discipline; and although there was a degree of favour experienced, yet, in general, it was a trying exercising season. This is a large quarterly meeting; and many who attend are mere birthright members, and having never known the baptizing power of truth, to sanctify and prepare for right and useful membership, are but as dead weights in our religious meetings; and some others, who have joined the society by convincement, for want of faithfully attending to that which first convinced them, have lost their first love, and suffered their minds too much to centre back again into the world, and the love of it; and have thereby become stumbling blocks in the way of others. These bring much exercise and concern to the living, who are daily engaged for Zion’s cause, and that truth may prosper and prevail in the earth.
On fifth day, we had an appointed meeting at Pleasant Valley, which was a comfortable instructive season; and another seasonable opportunity in the evening at Poughkeepsie, composed mostly of those not in membership with us. On sixth day, we were at West Branch meeting, which was pretty full, wherein I had to go down into deep baptism with the dead, being plunged into the feeling of a state of great ignorance and unbelief; but as I patiently sat under the burden, light sprang up, and life came into dominion; and I was led, in a clear manner, to show the ground from whence all this darkness and unbelief proceeded; that it was from a want of due attention to, and right belief in, the inward manifestation of divine light, which reveals itself in the heart of man against sin and uncleanness; and at the same time shows what is right, and justifies for right doing. Therefore while men disregard this inward divine principle, of grace and truth, and do not believe in it, as essential and sufficient to salvation; they are in danger of becoming either Atheists, or Deists—these are also in danger of becoming so blinded as not to believe in that necessary and very essential doctrine of perfection, as contained in that clear, rational, and positive injunction of our dear Lord: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” And we cannot rationally suppose they can ever be otherwise, while they continue in this situation; as nothing but this light is sufficient to produce the knowledge, on which this belief is founded. My mind was likewise largely opened to communicate, how we all might, by faithful attention and adherence to the aforesaid divine principle, the light within, come to know and believe the certainty of those excellent scripture doctrines; of the coming, life, righteous works, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our blessed pattern: and that it is by obedience to this inward light only, that we are prepared for an admittance into the heavenly kingdom. It was a day of high favour, wherein the Lord’s arm was made bare for our help, and the exaltation of his own glorious and holy name, who is over all, blessed for ever.
This favoured opportunity being over, we rode that afternoon to Samuel Dorland’s, and attended a meeting there appointed for us that evening: and lodged with our worthy friend Enoch Dorland. On seventh day we crossed the mountains called the Highlands, in our way homeward, and got well to our friend Abraham Underhill’s, at Croton River, that evening. The next day, being the first of the week, we attended Friends’ meeting there, and notice being given of our attendance, the meeting was pretty full, and graciously attended with the divine presence, in which strength was received to preach the gospel in the demonstration of the spirit. It was a season thankfully to be remembered.
On second day, the 9th of 2d month, 1807, we rode to New-York, where I was gladly received by my beloved daughter Abigail, and her kind companion; we being mutually glad to see each other. The next day we attended our meeting for sufferings. I then rode home, that evening, and found my dear wife and children well, to our mutual rejoicing; and we greeted each other with thankful hearts.
I was from home in this journey about two months, and attended forty-five particular meetings, nine monthly meetings, one quarterly, and our meeting for sufferings twice; and travelled upwards of seven hundred miles.
After returning from the aforesaid journey, I continued mostly at and about home, for several months, attending our several meetings as they came in course; and also at different times, some appointed meetings among those not in profession with us, in some adjacent neighbourhoods, to which I could go and return in a few days. In all these seasons, I have thankfully to acknowledge the Lord was near, and graciously manifested himself to be a present helper in every needful time, furnishing with ability to labour in the work of the gospel, convincing, and comforting many hearts; and to the solid relief and peace of my own mind.
In the ensuing fall, having felt my mind renewedly engaged in gospel love to visit a few of the meetings of Friends, in the three lower quarterly meetings belonging to our yearly meeting; and to have some meetings in divers places in those parts, among those of other professions, I left home, with the unity of my friends, the 31st of 10th month, 1807, and the seventh day of the week, and went to New-York, having my beloved wife with me; who proposed to be my companion in part of this journey. We also took our two youngest daughters with us, in order to place them in the boarding-school at Nine Partners. We remained in New-York over first day, and attended Friends’ meetings there; that at Pearl-street in the morning, and at Liberty-street in the afternoon. They were both, I trust, profitable meetings, more especially the former; in which truth prevailed, and came into dominion, solemnizing and comforting many hearts; and was very strengthening to my mind, in the prospect before me.