Journal of the Life and Religious Labours of Elias Hicks

by Elias Hicks

First day, the 13th. A comfortable meeting to-day, mostly in silence, but closed with solemn supplication, wherein I was led to set forth how our gracious and beneficent Creator, although he sees all our wants, and stands always disposed, before we ask him, to redress all our real grievances, and dispense good to us whenever he finds us in a condition fit to receive: yet as he is a God of justice and truth, he delights to see his people and children grateful and humbly sensible of their dependence on him for every blessing; therefore, he permits them, at times, when he sees meet to influence their minds thereto, to approach his sacred presence in humble and devout prayer, and which also affords to those who are thus devoted, sweet and heavenly consolation and joy.

I passed this week mostly at home overseeing my temporal concerns. Attended our monthly meeting on fifth day, at which we received information, from the women’s meeting, of the departure of one of our members, a young woman, who had gone out in her marriage with one not a member, whom they concluded ought to be disowned; with which the men’s meeting concurred. This is a weakness among our young members, which is, in general, very pernicious in its consequences, and too often happens through the neglect of care and right concern in parents and guardians, who, for want of living near the truth, and under right religious engagements themselves, are too often led away to seek after riches for their children, and are more desirous that their children should obtain companions who are wealthy and rich in this world’s treasure, than such as are truly religious and virtuous. Thus a foundation is often laid, by such indiscreet parents, for many very unhappy connexions, by which the religious improvement and advancement of their tender offspring is often entirely intercepted and prevented, and their prospects of temporal comfort and joy rendered abortive; and they have to drag out a miserable existence until death dissolves their obligations.

First day, the 20th. As I sat in our meeting my mind was brought under exercise in taking a view of the life of Solomon, that wise king of Israel, as delineated by his own pen; and from which we learn the insignificance of all consolation and joy which have their source in temporal and mortal things, as they must and will end, in vanity and vexation of spirit: and that to fear God and keep his commandments, is not only the whole duty of man, but likewise the only blessed and eternal source of all true joy and never ending felicity. The subject spread on my mind and led to communication, in which I endeavoured, in the ability afforded, by persuasive arguments, to engage the minds of the auditory, both old and young, in the pursuit of that invaluable treasure that waxeth not old, but endureth for ever, which will bring true joy to the immortal soul and adds no sorrow.

Nothing particular occurred in the course of this week, except that a care and fear attended my mind, lest the cares of this world and the increase of temporal things might too much interrupt, and intrude, upon my spiritual concerns; for riches are ever deceitful, and always promise more than they have in their power to perform.

First day, the 27th. Feeling my mind inclined to sit with Friends at Bethpage to-day, I yielded to the motion and attended their meeting; and although I had not a great deal to communicate, yet what I had, appeared to reach home to many minds, and rendered it a comfortable meeting, not only to myself, but to the assembly in general. The subject which opened for communication was the necessity and excellency of integrity; and that although we might be so wise and knowing as to comprehend all knowledge, yet if we were destitute of integrity and sincerity of heart, we should but share the fate of fools at last, and be not a whit better for all our wisdom and knowledge.

Second, third, and fourth days. Spent in close attention to my temporal concerns, the care for which, and for their right ordering, is constantly necessary; insomuch that I often wonder how it is, that I sometimes hear people say, they seem at a loss how to spend their time; when not only my temporal, but in an especial manner my spiritual concerns, are always urgent and pressing; so that I find not a moment to be idle: so true is that declaration of the Most High verified: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return.” The wise man also saith: “All things are full of labour” therefore we ought not to repine or murmur at our lot, but receive all, as at the hand of the Lord with thanksgiving.

Fifth, sixth, and seventh days. I attended three funerals, one on each day successively. The first was a very ancient female, upwards of ninety years of age, belonging to Westbury meeting. We had a solemn meeting on the occasion, in which truth favoured, opening suitable doctrine, and bringing it home to the states of those present, who were mostly Friends. The hidden things of Esau, or the first nature, and the secret lurking places of self, were searched out and exposed; for which my mind, with the honest-hearted present, was made glad in the Lord, and in the apparent working of his power and wisdom. The two last were not members of our society, but were favourably disposed to Friends. They were seasons of favour. A meeting, was held at each, and both largely attended by the neighbouring inhabitants. The doctrines delivered were well adapted to the conditions of the hearers, and were brought home to many minds in the demonstration of truth, breaking and contriting many hearts; and thanksgiving and praises were returned to the Shepherd of Israel, as a tribute of gratitude for such unmerited mercies.

First day, the 3d of 4th month. Our meeting to-day was favoured with the overshadowing wing of divine truth, and its power exalted over all, contriting and comforting many minds. But alas, what small advancements are made by many of those who are often dug about and watered by the compassionate Shepherd of Israel, whose mercy is still eminently dispensed to man, the workmanship of his holy hand.

I attended two funerals in the course of this week, one on fifth day, after the sitting of our preparative meeting, and the other on sixth day. Both were young men in the prime of life. The latter unmarried, and was a relation to my wife. His parents had a healthful family of children, and had never met with the like trial before. It was therefore a very affecting scene both to them and their children; they having been before favoured with almost an unbroken scene of worldly prosperity, which made the wound sink deeper. We had a very solemn meeting on the occasion, wherein I was largely opened to preach the gospel in the demonstration of truth; and among other things to show to the people, the necessity and sure felicity of an early preparation for death; and that God was the alone proper object for man to set his heart and affections upon. The auditory were mostly not in membership with Friends. Many of them were much broken and contrited, and a general, and very precious solemnity was spread over the meeting. The hearts of many were made glad, from a sense of the Lord’s continued and unmerited goodness and mercy to the children of men; still showing his unwillingness that any should die in their sins, and that all might repent, turn to him and live.

First day, the 10th. I had a hard suffering meeting to-day, in which I witnessed not only deep inward poverty, but had to struggle with unprofitable thoughts, with very little ability to maintain the warfare; yet, under the consideration that it was altogether as good, if not better, than my deserts could justly require, I was preserved from murmuring or complaining at my lot, being willing to receive evil as well as good, at the hand of my gracious and compassionate Lord, when he sees meet to permit or dispense it. “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not evil?”