Nothing uncommon transpired in the course of this week, save as usual, bonds and afflictions for the gospel’s sake, spiritually and inwardly experienced, await me; from a view and sense of the spread of evil, and the great want of faithful testimony-bearers in society; and the languor and weakness which abound; that I am sometimes almost involuntarily led to cry, alas for the day.
First day, the 15th. My mind was deeply exercised in our meeting to-day on divers important subjects, and largely led forth in communication: but for want of a more full openness and preparation in the auditory to receive, the labour was arduous and exercising, yet I trust profitable to some.
The rest of the week was employed in my usual attention to my necessary temporal concerns, and an unfailing attention to those of a religious nature. Our monthly meeting was held this week. The meeting for Ministers and Elders belonging to the yearly meeting was held on seventh day, at the tenth hour, which my wife and myself attended. It was, I think, in a good degree a favoured time; as were the public meetings on first day, both forenoon and afternoon. On second day the yearly meeting for discipline opened at the tenth hour, and continued by adjournments until fifth day evening. It was for the most part a comfortable profitable season, evidencing in the several sittings, that the Lord had not forsaken his people, but was still graciously manifesting his presence and power for our comfort and help, in ordering the affairs of the Church. On sixth day Friends turned their faces towards home, where I arrived at evening with my wife and two youngest daughters, who constitute my present family, except servants.
The next day I felt myself in a cheerful readiness to put my hands to whatever they found to do, as right to be done.
First day, the 29th. Felt myself so much indisposed with a cold and considerable pain of body, as to be prevented from attending our meeting to-day; in reflecting thereon, and how very seldom I had been thus prevented for many years past, my mind was filled with gratitude and thankfulness to our gracious Helper and Preserver, for the portion of bodily health allotted me in the course of his divine providence; whereby, I have been almost invariably of ability of body for a number of years, to attend all our religious meetings, which I consider and number among our chiefest blessings and benefits.
The latter end of this week I joined our friend William Flanner, who was here on a religious visit from Ohio; and attended a number of meetings in divers places, where no meetings of our society were held. I had had a prospect of visiting those places some time before. We were out three days and attended five meetings. The first was with Friends at Bethpage, the rest among people inclining to Friends, and those of other professions. They were, I think, all favoured seasons. The Lord’s presence and power were manifested for our help, furnishing ability to minister suitably to the different states of the people, in the demonstration of the spirit. Many hearts were humbled and contrited, and the assemblies solemnized, and truth raised into dominion over all; and our hearts were made glad under an humbling sense of the continuation of the Lord’s mercy and compassion, still extended to the children of men. We returned home on first day evening, the 5th of 6th month.
The three following days I was about home, mostly employed in my temporal concerns.
On sixth day attended the funeral of a friend of Westbury meeting. It was a solemn time, in which I found it my place to be an example of silence. Seventh day spent at home. On first day, the 12th of 6th month, I attended two meetings, by appointment, among those not of our society. One in the morning at Cold Spring, and the other at four o’clock in the afternoon at Huntington. They were both seasons of extensive labour, and I hope profitable to some; and productive of peace to my own mind.
On second day I went to New-York in order to attend the meeting for sufferings, which I accordingly attended the next day, and returned home at evening. On fourth day attended to my temporal concerns with usual industry.
Fifth day attended our monthly meeting, at which several matters occurred producing exercise to my mind, which led to a communication of prospects; and although some diversity of sentiment was expressed, yet I was favoured so to unfold the subjects, that they were concluded in a general unity.