On second day we set out for Nine Partners, and reached there seasonably to attend the quarterly meeting for discipline, the ensuing fourth day; and the latter part of the week, we spent in attending the quarterly meeting of Stanford. After this we returned to the boarding-school and placed our daughters there; and, as I was one of the committee, who have the superintendence of the institution, I remained there about ten days. Then way opening to proceed, I went as far as Hartford in Connecticut; accompanied by two Friends who reside at Nine Partners. As the weather was cold and unsettled, my wife remained at the school, assisting the managers, until I returned. We had several meetings in our way thither, and one as we returned; and were at several in and about Hartford, mostly among those of other professions. And the Lord, magnified for ever be his right worthy name, was graciously pleased to be with us, and manifested his power for our help; giving wisdom and strength, tongue and utterance, and teaching to divide the word aright, to the states of the people; whereby his righteous cause was exalted in many minds, and his glorious holy truth raised into dominion over all, in divers of those favoured opportunities; to the praise of his grace, “who is over all, God blessed for ever.”
On my return to the school, I again spent some days with the family, assisting them in the management thereof; and then, my wife and myself took leave of our children and friends, in much mutual affection; and turned our faces homeward. We attended Oswego monthly meeting in our way, on fourth day, the 16th of 12th month; and the next day had an appointed meeting at Apoquague. On sixth day we rode through the mountains to Peekskill, and lodged with our kind friend Nathaniel Brown. We attended their meeting on first day, and on second day, we had an appointed meeting at a place called Crompond; which was held in a meeting-house belonging to the Presbyterians, by their proposal. On fourth day we were at Amawalk, on fifth day at Shapaqua, and on sixth day we had an appointed meeting at Mount Pleasant; this was likewise held in a place of worship belonging to the Presbyterians. We rode to New-York on seventh day, and on first day attended Friends’ meeting there. The third day following we left the city on our way home, but a storm came on soon after we left, and increased to that degree, that when we came to the ferry at Hurlgate, where we intended to cross, we found it impassable. We then turned our course and rode to our friend Joseph Byrd’s at Harlem, and lodged. I felt my mind drawn towards having a meeting at that place when passing down to the city, but admitting some doubts to arise, as to the clearness of the prospect, I omitted it; but now, way opening with more clearness, we had one appointed the next day, which proved a favoured season. After this we crossed the ferry that afternoon, and rode to Flushing, and the next day being the fifth of the week, and 31st of 12th month, we attended Friends’ meeting there; and then rode home that afternoon, and were gladly received by our friends. My spirit was made humbly joyful, in believing that the Lord Almighty had graciously condescended to be with us, to lead us in the way, manifesting his loving kindness and mercy, in a greater or lesser degree, in all those opportunities, convicting, convincing, edifying and comforting many hearts; and encouraging the honest travellers Zion-ward. May his right worthy name be praised and exalted above all for ever.
As our return home at this time was hastened by the inclemency of the season, we being out with a carriage, and likely to be prevented from travelling by the snow, my mind was not relieved of the prospect before me. Therefore, after remaining at and about home a few weeks, I again set out, with the unity of my friends, in order to finish what was left behind of my former concern. Charles Willets a friend and neighbour accompanied me. We set out the 24th of 1st month, 1808, and attended the three quarterly meetings of Purchase, Nine Partners, and Stanford, as they came in course: and likewise five particular meetings in the intermediate space, between Purchase and Nine Partners. We were from home at this time about five weeks; and attended three quarterly meetings, one monthly, and twenty-three particular meetings. And I have abundant cause, with humble gratitude, to admire the adorable loving kindness, and condescending goodness, of a gracious God to me a poor creature; in enabling me to surrender all up to his heavenly disposal, to be any thing or nothing, as he would have me to be; leading me from place to place, as a weaned child, by the guiding of his power, and the influence of his precious love: and teaching me, not only how to suffer want, but likewise, how to abound; and in every situation and dispensation which he is pleased to lead into, to be therewith content. Under a renewed sense whereof, my spirit is led to acknowledge, that “great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Even so. Amen.
In the spring of the year 1808, our yearly meeting, from an exercise in observing the many deficiencies, brought up in the reports from the several quarterly meetings, issued an epistle, or minute of advice and caution, to its subordinate meetings. And in order to strengthen and enforce the same, and to make it the more effectual to promote a reformation, appointed a committee to attend therewith. And I, being one appointed with divers other brethren and sisters, willingly engaged therein; as a concern, of a similar nature, had for some time previous thereto attended my mind.
Accordingly, at the close of the yearly meeting, we agreed to enter upon the service at the succeeding quarterly meeting at Nine Partners; and to attend in succession the quarterly meetings of Stanford and Easton, as they came in course. Two men, and three women Friends, joined me in this northern tour; and several others of the committee attended at the quarterly meetings. After those meetings, we proceeded to attend with the minute, all the monthly meetings constituting them; except the three distant ones, of Adolphustown in Upper Canada, and Farmington and Scipio, in the western part of the state of New-York: also a considerable number of the preparative meetings, as way opened therefor. Although great and many were the apparent deviations and departures of many of our members, in the varied classes of society, from that ancient simplicity and integrity, which marked the conduct of our worthy predecessors, in the dawn of this latter gospel day; and by this declension, those noble testimonies given us to bear, for the prince of peace, and the promotion of the cause of truth and righteousness in the earth, were by many, but weakly supported; and by others, almost wholly neglected; grieving and wounding the hearts of the faithful, and reproaching our Christian profession: nevertheless, we had abundant cause gratefully to acknowledge the condescending goodness and mercy of the great Head of the Church, in uniting us together in the work, and in owning the concern from place to place; giving full evidence thereto in a general manner, by the manifestations of his love and power; and thereby enabling and qualifying his weak and unworthy though devoted servants, who were very sensible they had no might nor ability of their own, to perform the service they were engaged in, to his honour, or the promotion of his righteous cause; and to communicate counsel and encouragement, reproof and caution, as occasion required, and opportunity offered; by which the faithful were strengthened, and made at times to rejoice together, the hearts of Friends being in a very general manner, opened cordially to receive us and the concern, with much unanimity.
We had many precious opportunities as we passed along, in public meetings, (many of which were much crowded, by those coming in who were not in membership with us,) and also in meetings for discipline; truth being often raised powerfully into dominion over all. So that in many of those favoured seasons, we were strengthened to set up our Ebenezer, and to say, in the heart-felt language of filial and grateful acknowledgments, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” And, I believe, it was a season of renewed powerful visitation, and manifestation of the Lord’s mercy to many; not only to the members of our society, but also, to others that are without, who were favoured with the privilege of attending the public meetings.
After getting through this part of the service, which took us between nine and ten weeks, in which time we travelled upwards of one thousand miles, and attended three quarterly meetings, seventeen monthly meetings, sixteen preparative meetings, and forty public meetings for worship, including those that preceded the monthly and preparative meetings, we returned home, and remained until the time of the next quarterly meetings’ coming on when I again joined some of the committee, and attended the quarterly meetings of Westbury and Purchase, and all the monthly meetings constituting them; except Purchase monthly meeting. And I may say with gratitude of heart, that the same divine power that attended in the foregoing part of the visit, was again manifested for our help, in going through, and finishing the service, to the humble admiration and solid peace of my own mind, and the praise of his own right worthy name, “who is over all, God blessed for ever.” How great and wonderful is his goodness and loving kindness to the children of men; his mercies are present every moment; and as saith the prophet, “they are new every morning:” therefore saith my soul let all praise and exalt him above all, for his mercy endureth for ever.
In the latter part of the winter, and spring of the year 1809, with the concurrence of our monthly meeting, I made a pretty general visit to the meetings of Friends, within the quarterly meeting of Purchase; and attended some meetings belonging to Nine Partners quarterly meeting; and also appointed a considerable number among others, in the adjacent parts. I found great openness generally among the people, to hear the truths of the gospel; and a number, I believe, received them with sincerity of heart; and I was made glad in believing, that the Lord was graciously near, and accompanied the word preached, with his heart-tendering power, comforting and refreshing the broken hearted, reviving the spirit of the contrite ones, and stopping the mouths of gainsayers. For these favours my soul was often bowed, in deep humility and contrition of spirit, accompanied with grateful acknowledgments and thanksgiving, for his wonderful works to the children of men.
The year 1810, I spent mostly at home, except performing a visit to some of the neighbouring inhabitants, not in membership with us. I was from home in this service a few weeks in the spring; and in the summer I performed a visit to the half year’s meeting at Canada, by appointment from our yearly meeting.