Having been very unwell, as before observed, most of the last week, I found it necessary to lay by a day or two, which we did at the house of our friend John Talbot. With a little rest I soon found myself better, and being desirous to improve the time, we again proceeded. On fourth day, the 16th of the month, we were at Concord meeting, at Wilmington on fifth day, Centre on sixth day, Hockesson on seventh day, and at Kennet on first day. I was helped to get through the service of these meetings to my own satisfaction and peace of mind; although some of them were very trying and exercising, by the unfaithfulness and great want of a right concern and zeal, for the support and maintenance of our Christian testimonies, which in some families were very much neglected and let fall. I was led forth generally in those meetings, in close searching testimonies, tending to arouse friends from their bed of ease and carnal security; brought upon them by an inordinate love of the world, and an increase of temporal blessings; in which their principal enjoyments were too much centered, loving the gifts and forgetting the Giver. I laboured fervently among them, especially in the last meeting, wherein my mind was largely opened to unfold to the audience many of the deep mysteries of the gospel state, making them plain and easy to be understood by the most ignorant, whose minds were in any degree turned to inquire the way to Zion. It was a season in which the Lord’s power was manifested in an eminent degree, breaking down and contriting many hearts, and truth appeared to reign triumphantly over all, to the praise of his grace who is God, blessed for ever.
The following week we attended meetings at Birmingham, Willistown, Goshen, Westchester, Bradford and Marlborough. These were mostly pretty full meetings, and generally favoured and satisfactory. In some of them, as in many foregoing opportunities, the Lord’s power was eminently exalted, and set above, and over, all errour and untruth.
On first day, the 27th of the month, we attended two very large meetings. One in the morning at London Grove, and the other in the afternoon at New Garden. In both of these meetings, my mind, I trust, was opened by that divine key, which, when it opens, none can shut, and when it shuts, none can open. I was strengthened to declare largely of the things of God, and the way to eternal life; to the satisfaction and peace of my own mind; and I trust to the edification and instruction, as well as conviction and reproof, of many present; the spirit assisting to divide the word severally to every one, according to the necessity of their different states. It was a day thankfully to be remembered.
In the course of this week we attended meetings at West Grove, East and West Nottingham, Eastland, and Little Britain. These were all satisfactory seasons; that at East Nottingham particularly, was a heart-searching opportunity, wherein truth was raised powerfully into dominion over all. Many were broken and contrited, and a number wept freely for a considerable time: surely it was the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in our eyes. On seventh day we crossed the river Susquehannah, and rode into the neighbourhood of Deer Creek; and attended the meeting there on first day. This also proved a very precious meeting, wherein the Lord’s power was eminently manifested; and every mind appeared to be humbled by its blessed influence. The meeting ended with solemn supplication. The two following days, we attended meetings at Little Falls and Gunpowder. After the latter meeting, we rode to Baltimore; and the two following days, attended Friends’ meetings there for the Western and Eastern Districts, as they came in course. At the close of each, their monthly meetings were held, which were exercising seasons, but ended to pretty good satisfaction. There appeared to be a concerned remnant in each meeting, through whose care the discipline appeared to be pretty well supported. After the latter, we left the city and rode to Elk Ridge, to attend a meeting appointed for us there the next day, the sixth of the week; which was a satisfactory opportunity. The day after, we attended Indian Spring meeting. It was a solemn, and I trust profitable season to some: may it remain with them as bread cast upon the waters, that may be found after many days.
After this meeting, we rode to the city of Washington; and the next day, being the first of the week, and the 11th of 7th month, we attended a meeting there in the morning; and in the afternoon one at Alexandria. These were both very hard trying meetings; the people appeared very destitute of real religious engagement, their minds being so swallowed up in their political controversies, and other worldly concerns, that there seemed to be very little room in their thoughts for any thing else. I felt but little satisfaction in these meetings, except a consciousness of having done my duty, in laying before them, in a plain manner, divers truths necessary for them to be in the practice of, and without which they could not be real Christians, nor obtain an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven.
The three following days we attended meetings at Georgetown, Sandy Spring, and Elk Ridge. We had been at the latter place the week before on sixth day. These were seasons of favour: many truths of the gospel were, I trust, clearly opened to the people, accompanied with right authority, humbling many minds, and truth reigned over all. After the last meeting, we rode to Baltimore that afternoon, and attended a meeting previously appointed for us at the fifth hour; and the next day Friends’ meeting in the Eastern District was held, and public notice was given of our intention of attending it. These were both full meetings, in which I was led forth in two large doctrinal testimonies, I trust, to the edification and comfort of many minds.
After this I felt easy and clear to leave the city. We proceeded that afternoon about fourteen miles on our way towards Little York, in Pennsylvania; where we arrived the next day a little before evening. On seventh day we had a comfortable instructive meeting there. We then rode to Columbia, crossing the river Susquehannah in our way. The next day being first day, we attended Friends’ meeting there. It was large for that place, more came than the house could contain; and was a favoured season; the Lord’s power was manifest, and truth reigned over all; and I was made to rejoice, under an humbling sense of his continued mercy and gracious assistance from day to day; wherein we had cause often to set up our Ebenezer, and say, in the language of one formerly, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
The three following days, we attended meetings at Lampeter, Sadsbury, and Doe Run. In these, our gracious helper, whom we waited upon, and trusted in, manifested himself to be a God near at hand, and a present helper in every needful time; and was not only mouth and wisdom, tongue and utterance; but likewise sealed the truths communicated by the attendant evidence of his own power, humbling and contriting many hearts and bringing all under subjection to the authority of truth; so that I had often in deep thankfulness of heart, to query like David: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me.”
We then proceeded, attending meetings at Fallowfield, East Caln, Downingstown; and on first day, the 25th of 7th month, were at Uwchlan meeting. It was, I trust, a profitable instructive season, as were also the three foregoing; and I found peace in my labours, which I esteem above all.
On second day we crossed the river Schuylkill, in our way to Plymouth; where, by previous notice, we had a meeting appointed at the fourth hour in the afternoon, which we accordingly attended. The next day we had an appointed meeting at Abington. These were both large meetings, in which the Lord’s power was felt to preside. The latter especially was a very comfortable satisfactory meeting, wherein many truths of the gospel were opened to the people’s consideration, and they pressed to an engagement of mind to realize them in their own experience; and were shown the great and singular advantage and benefits, that would most certainly result to them and to society, in their so doing. The Lord’s power was manifest, and truth reigned over all opposition.