First day. Attended Friends’ meetings there, in the morning at Pearl-street, and in the afternoon at Liberty-street. They were both exercising seasons, and I hope profitable to some, as in all right exercise we are encouraged to believe there is profit. After these opportunities, and a favoured season in a family of Friends, the heads of which were Elders, I felt a pretty full release from the city at present.
Second day. Proceeded on our journey to Newark, where we attended a meeting appointed for us at the third hour. It was on the whole, I think, a favoured season; many truths of the gospel were opened to the people, and appeared to have a good degree of entrance to the minds of some present; although others appeared to be too much fettered by the prejudice of education to be profited by them. The meeting closed in solemn quiet; and I left them with a peaceful mind. We then rode to Rahway and lodged.
Third day. This afternoon at the third hour we attended a meeting previously appointed at Elizabethtown. Many of the most respectable inhabitants attended, among whom were the governour of the state of New-Jersey and his wife; and a very considerable number of young people. The Lord, who is a never-failing helper to those that trust in him, was near, furnishing with ability to preach the gospel of life and salvation to the people, in the clear demonstration of the spirit; and with a power attending, that produced great brokenness of heart and contrition of spirit among them; and the power of his divine love was felt to spread over the meeting as a precious canopy. We parted with them in humiliation and deep thankfulness of heart, rejoicing that his loving kindness was still extended to his backsliding and offending creature man.
Fourth and fifth days. We attended Friends’ meetings at Plainfield and Rahway.
Sixth day. We had a favoured meeting at New Brunswick among the inhabitants of the town. Many truths of the gospel were opened to their consideration; and a comfortable solemnity was witnessed to spread over the meeting.
Seventh day. We rode to Upper Freehold, intending to be at Friends’ meeting at East Branch in that township on first day. We lodged at the house of our friend George Frost, where I had lodged before in my way through these parts, about twelve years prior to this time. We met a very kind reception from our said friend and his family; and it seemed like a fresh renewal of friendship and affection between us. How consoling it is for the weary traveller to meet with kind friends! it is as a brook by the way in a time of drought.
First day. We attended East Branch meeting as proposed. The forepart was exercising, for want of a lively travail among the members; too many of whom seemed in a dead, lifeless state, as to a right religious concern. This makes hard labour for the living exercised members, and is very trying to those who visit them in the service of truth; yet as we kept up the travail for truth’s arising, and patiently abode under suffering, a degree of light broke forth, and led to a seasonable, and I trust, instructive communication; in which I found relief and peace in the labour, which I consider a great favour.
Second day. Were at Upper Freehold meeting. It was a season of deep suffering in the forepart, in which my spirit was deeply baptized with, and for the dead; but as I patiently submitted to the crucifying operation of the present dispensation, a degree of light sprang up, and in it I was led to view the declaration of the apostle Paul, that “death reigned from Adam to Moses,” and to show to the people, that all the unregenerate were under the influence and power of the same death. For in Adam, that is, in the transgressing state, all die. And that it is only by and through our attention being turned to the inward divine law, which the apostle calls, “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” and our yielding full obedience thereunto, that we can be set free and delivered from this law of sin and death, which was typified by Israel’s deliverance, from the bondage of Pharaoh, by a full and implicit obedience to the outward commands of God, through his servant Moses. As I attended carefully to the opening, truth rose into victory, and administered cause of thanksgiving, under a grateful sense of the continued mercy and loving kindness of our gracious Creator to his backsliding creature man.
The three following days we attended meetings at Crosswicks, alias Chesterfield, Upper Springfield, and a meeting called the Mount. These were all favoured meetings, wherein the Lord’s presence and power were manifested, tendering and contriting many hearts, giving tongue and utterance; and through which the gospel was preached in the demonstration of the spirit, and with a power attending, which carried sharp reproof to the disobedient and unfaithful, strength to the weak and feeble minded, confirmation and encouragement to the honest-hearted, humble traveller; and mutually rejoicing the sincere-hearted. For all these favours my spirit was made humbly thankful to the Shepherd of Israel, to whom all the glory and praise is due, for his mercy endureth for ever.