Sixth and seventh days. Spent in manual labour, a reasonable portion of which I consider my duty and delight; and the more my delight, because I esteem it my reasonable and Christian service: and as I also abhor idleness and sloth.
First day. Sat our meeting in silence under a pretty long testimony of a ministering Friend on a visit to us, who introduced his communication with the following saying of Christ: “Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood, ye have no life in you; for my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed:” and to show that it was to be spiritually understood and internally received, he further added: “The words that I say unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” An excellent subject indeed, and while he kept to his text and the subject, it seemed lively; but he after a time departed from it, and the life, I thought, very much departed with it. How very necessary it is for ministers to keep a steady eye to the openings of truth, and not suffer any premature birth to rise up and get in and scatter their attention. For want of this care, I have often thought many good openings have been much lost, and the work thereby marred.
First day, the 10th of 10th month. Alas! how fleeting is time: three weeks have elapsed since my last note; in the course of which I have attended two funerals. Take care, oh my soul! and do not grow careless and forgetful when drawing near to the eve of life; lest the world and its cares get in and choke the bubblings of the celestial spring, through the abundant cumber that seems necessarily attendant on my present state in striving to help and comfort others.
First day, the 17th of 10th month. Passed the last week principally in attending to my outward avocations, except attending the funeral of a young man, where we had a solemn opportunity. I was exercised publicly to set forth the necessity and great propriety of an early and timely preparation for death; and to show to the people the way and means by which it only can be effected; founded on the declaration of the apostle Paul, where he asserts that, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” The opportunity closed with comfort and peace of mind, which is the true crown of all.
I sat our meeting to-day in silence, feeling nothing to exercise my mind in a communicative way.
Seventh day. Spent this week mostly in the busy round of outward cares, in my temporal concerns; except attending our monthly meeting on fifth day, and our select meeting for Ministers and Elders on sixth day. In both of these my mind was exercised on account of the apparent languor respecting the right management and want of firmness in the execution of our discipline, even in Ministers and Elders; by which reason the society were very much enveloped in a state of weakness.
First day. Felt my mind clothed with great weakness, and a feeling sense of my own insufficiency, while sitting in our meeting to-day; nevertheless, I was led to view in prospect and contemplation, the great and essential advantages which result to individuals, and society in general, by a strict and steady attendance of religious meetings, from a real sense of duty; as there is scarcely any thing in the outward conduct of men and women, which more fully denotes a mind fixed on God its maker for support and countenance, while passing through the changes and vicissitudes of this mortal life. The subject spread and led to communication, and opened to a large field of doctrine, in which the gospel was preached in the authority of truth, and a very comfortable solemnity covered the meeting.
Third day. Attended the funeral of an acquaintance, a convinced person; it being his request on his death-bed; and also that a meeting might be held at his funeral. It was accordingly so ordered, and proved a very solemn affecting season, particularly so to the near connexions of the deceased. The Lord was graciously near, furnishing ability to bear ample testimony to many truths of the gospel. The people were very attentive, and many hearts were broken and contrited, and the Lord’s name and power exalted over all.