Second day. I attended the funeral of a young man, who was killed by the falling of his horse. He was in company with a number of loose young men at a tavern, where they had been running horses; and his horse threw him off in a fearful manner; nevertheless he escaped unhurt: but shortly after, as he was riding from the tavern, his horse fell with him, and he died with the hurt he received by the fall, in about a week after. The accident had considerable effect on his young companions; and impressed their minds with sadness and alarm. They were generally present at his funeral; as also were most of the youth in the neighbourhood, for a considerable distance round; who, with others of riper years, made a large collection. The Lord, who is always graciously near, and ready to help in every needful time, opened my mouth among them in a large affecting testimony, suiting the occasion. It was a very humbling solemn season, not soon to be forgotten by many present; and my spirit was made thankful for the unmerited favour.
After the funeral, I went, with my wife and daughter Elizabeth, to Islip, to see our grandson, who is in a weakly declining state. We returned home the next evening.
Fourth day. Engaged in my family concerns.
Fifth day. Attended our meeting to-day in silence. We had the company of our friend Phebe I. Merritt, from New-York, who also sat most of the meeting in silence; but appeared towards the close in a short testimony, which spread a good degree of life over the meeting; which was truly gladdening.
Sixth and seventh days. Part of the time occupied in temporal concerns; and part in assisting an ancient Friend, upwards of ninety years of age, in settling his business, and writing his will. He appeared competent to the purpose, both as to memory and understanding.
First day, the 8th. My mind was in unison with the exercise and testimony of our friend Phebe I. Merritt, who was again with us at our meeting to-day; and I found it my duty towards the close of the meeting to set my seal thereto, in a short impressive testimony: and, I trust, the meeting closed under a sensible degree of divine favour, worthy of our thankfulness and gratitude.
Second and third days. While my hands were busily employed in my temporal business, my mind was often led to rise above all temporal enjoyments; and to contemplate on things of an eternal nature. In the course of my meditations I was led to contrast those who are led and influenced by the wisdom and will of man, with those who are led and influenced by the wisdom and will of God; and it was opened to me that, of necessity, the former must be ruled and governed by the wisdom and power of man: hence the necessity of coercion, and hence the necessity of war; as every government of coercion, must of necessity be set up and maintained by the force and fear of the sword, as that is the last alternative, in every government, set up in the wisdom and will of man. But those, who are led and influenced by the wisdom and will of God, have no necessity of being governed by any thing else than the divine wisdom and will, through the power of persuasive love; and no other coercion can ever be necessary in the kingdom of heaven, where nothing reigns but love, peace, and joy undefiled, without intermission. And O! that every rational being was so inspired with a real soul-craving desire, after the enjoyment of this heavenly and peaceful kingdom, as not to rest until he had gained a satisfactory assurance, that his name was enrolled in that city, which hath foundations whose builder and maker the Lord is.
Fourth day. I rode to New-York, in order to attend the funeral of our beloved friend, Matthew Franklin, to take place the next day. He was taken with an apoplectic fit while speaking in the morning meeting in Pearl-street, on the preceding first day. He appeared lively in testimony, but was suddenly stopped by indisposition, and sat quietly down: but soon arose and withdrew, and was followed by some of his friends, and would have fallen as soon as he got out, had he not been upheld by them. In a few minutes he fell into an almost senseless state, as to the body, not being able to speak afterwards; and quietly expired at about half past seven in the evening of the following day: and, we trust, has safely landed in that celestial port, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary soul is at rest.
He appeared amiable in his life and conversation, and was generally beloved by his friends and acquaintance, especially the youth; for whose improvement and preservation, he often appeared very solicitous. The unusually large attendance at his funeral, and the solemnity that appeared in the countenances of the multitude assembled, (the meeting-house though large not containing perhaps more than two-thirds of those that gathered,) carried full evidence of the correctness of the foregoing representation, as did also the testimonies borne on that solemn occasion.
I attended, besides the funeral on fifth day, two other meetings; one at Liberty-street in the morning, it being Friends’ meeting day at that place, and a meeting for the people of colour in Pearl-street. The latter was very large. My mouth was opened in each assembly to speak of those things which relate to the kingdom of God, especially at the funeral; and in the meeting for the people of colour, my mind was largely opened to preach the gospel in the demonstration of the spirit, and the Lord’s power attended, humbling and solemnizing the assemblies. It was evidently the Lord’s doing. May all the honour and praise be ascribed to him, for he only is worthy, both now and for ever. Lie low, O my soul! and be humbled in the dust, from a due sense of such unmerited mercy.