Second and third days. Attended to some necessary concerns about home, preparatory to the approaching winter. On fourth day afternoon rode to Flushing, in order to attend the monthly meeting the following day, with a further prospect of having two other meetings on sixth and seventh days, one at Newtown, and the other at the Kilns, in my way to New-York, where I felt drawings on my mind to be on first day. Accordingly after attending the monthly meeting, having the company of my kind kinsman Isaac Hicks from Westbury, with the assistance of some Friends of Flushing, we procured the appointment of a meeting the next evening at Newtown at the sixth hour, principally for those not in membership with us. As there were no Friends residing in the village, the meeting was held in a large upper room at an inn, which was nearly filled with sober and orderly behaved people. Through heavenly help, it proved a comfortable edifying season; the doctrines of the gospel were freely and largely opened, apparently to the general satisfaction of those present, and many hearts were humbled and contrited.
The next day we attended an appointed meeting in Friends’ meeting-house at the Kilns. Although not large, yet it proved a precious tendering opportunity to most present, worthy to be remembered with thankfulness and gratitude to the blessed Author of all our multiplied favours and blessings. After this we dined with our kind friend Jane Betts, and then proceeded to the city.
First day. We attended Pearl-street meeting in the morning, and that at Liberty-street in the afternoon. In the former, the testimony of truth went forth with power, and its dignity and excellency were exalted over all opposition, to the praise of Him who is calling and leading all his devoted and obedient children out of darkness into his marvellous light, wherein they are brought to witness a full remission of their sins, and an inheritance among all those that are sanctified. The latter meeting I sat mostly in silence; but towards the close, I was led forth in a short searching testimony, which brought a solemnity over the meeting, under which covering the meeting closed.
Second day. I attended a committee of the meeting for sufferings, and in the afternoon a funeral of one not a member, but whose parents were inclined to Friends, and frequently attended Friends’ meetings. They hearing of my being in town, requested my attendance at the funeral; and being disposed thereto, I attended accordingly, and had an open time to declare the truth to those present, suited to the occasion, and many minds were humbled.
Third day. I attended the meeting for sufferings, and on fourth day the meeting held in the middle of the week at Pearl-street, at which there was a marriage; which occasioned the meeting to be quite large, and in which my mind was exercised in an unusual manner. For the subject which first presented, after my mind had become silenced, was the remembrance of the manner in which the temporal courts among men are called to order; and it became so impressive, as to apprehend it right to make use of it as a simile, much in the way the prophet was led to make use of some of the Rechabites, to convict Israel of their disobedience and want of attention to their law and lawgiver. I accordingly was led to cry audibly three times, “O yes, O yes, O yes; silence all persons, under the pain and penalty of the displeasure of the court.” This unusual address had a powerful tendency to arrest the attention of all present, and from which I took occasion, as truth opened the way, to reason with the assembly, that if such a confused mass of people as are generally collected together on such occasions, and from very different motives, and many from mere curiosity to hear and see the transactions of the court, should all in an instant so honour and respect the court, as immediately to be still and silent at the simple call of the crier: how much more reasonable is it, for a collection of people, promiscuously gathered to the place appointed in a religious way, to wait upon, and worship the Judge of heaven and earth, to be still, and strive to silence every selfish and creaturely thought and cogitation of the mind. For such thoughts and cogitations would as certainly prevent our hearing the inward divine voice of the King of heaven, and as effectually hinder our worshipping him in spirit and in truth, as the talking of the multitude at a court of moral law, would interrupt the business thereof. As I proceeded with this simile, the subject enlarged and spread, accompanied with gospel power and the evident demonstration of the spirit, whereby truth was raised into victory, and ran as oil over all. The meeting closed with solemn supplication and thanksgiving to the Lord our gracious Helper, to whom all the honour and glory belong, both now and for ever.
We left the city that afternoon, under a grateful sense of the Lord’s goodness, and rode to Flushing, where we had a large public meeting that evening, mostly of those not in membership with us. It was a solemn season, instructive and edifying. I returned home the next day, and found my family in a reasonable state of health; surely may I not, with propriety and humility of heart, exclaim with one formerly: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?” Are not his mercies new every morning? his faithfulness faileth not.
Sixth and seventh days. I was industriously occupied in my family affairs, and the week ended with peace of mind.
First day, the 17th. I was led in our meeting to-day, to call Friends’ attention to the cross; assuring them, that if we lived without the cross, we must expect to die without the crown. For as the cross consisted only in doing right, and doing right only in a conformity to the will of our heavenly Father, and doing all our works agreeable to his good pleasure and not our own, therefore, doing right is always a cross to our fallen nature, as nothing can do right in the sight of God, but a birth or child of God. For although a man in his fallen state may do a moral act, that in itself is a right work, yet, doing it for his own pleasure and will, and not because it is agreeable to the will and pleasure of his Creator, it cannot be accepted as a good act, because the motive and principle were evil, being selfish and not of God.
Second day. Busily employed about home and in home affairs.
Third day. Visited a sick friend at his request. Assisted him in settling his business and wrote his will. Surely this is a work which requires sound judgment and discretion, therefore ought always to be done in time of health, with proper deliberation, and not in haste.