Journal of the Life and Religious Labours of Elias Hicks

by Elias Hicks

At three o’clock in the afternoon, I attended a meeting I had previously appointed in a neighbouring village. It proved a satisfactory season to my own mind, and generally so, I believe, to all who attended. These favours are not to be lightly esteemed, but held in grateful remembrance.

In the course of this week was our quarterly meeting, held at this time at Flushing. Although some of the sittings were exercising and arduous, yet in the main, I think, it was a favoured edifying season; and we parted at the close of the public meeting on sixth day, under a thankful sense that the Shepherd of Israel had not forsaken his people, but was still graciously near, a present helper to all his faithful and devoted children. In the course of this meeting, on the evening of fifth day, I had an appointed meeting in the town of Jamaica, among those not in profession with us, which proved a very satisfactory season. The people’s minds appeared to be gathered into true stillness, a situation most suitable to be taught and instructed.

First day, the 27th. Sat our meeting mostly in silence, but towards the close my mind was opened and led to communicate a short, but lively testimony, which was introduced by the greatest part of the first psalm of David: in the opening of which, the meeting appeared generally to be gathered into a sweet, comfortable solemnity, and we parted under a solemn sense of the unmerited favour.

In the course of this week, I attended, in company with most of the committee of the quarterly meeting on the concern relative to schools, the two preparative meetings in New-York, and that at Flushing; also an appointed meeting at Brooklyn on third day evening, and one at Newtown on fifth day evening. The last was a very instructive favoured meeting.

First day, the 3d of 11th month. Sat our meeting to-day altogether in silence. Spent the rest of the week principally in attention to my temporal concerns, which I believe to be a Christian’s reasonable duty; except that I attended in company with some of the quarterly meeting’s committee on fifth day, the preparative meeting at Cowneck. I sat the meeting for worship in silent suffering; but was led in the preparative meeting, pretty largely to open the nature and design of the concern of the yearly meeting, with regard to the pious and guarded education of the youth of our society, particularly while young and at school, in getting their necessary school learning; that they might as much as possible, be kept out of harm’s way, by being placed at schools under the care of pious religiously concerned persons, members in society; who would be likely to co-operate with the religious concern of their parents, in endeavouring, as much as might be, to bring them up agreeably to apostolic exhortation: “In the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” For there is nothing that can more nearly and necessarily engage the minds of rightly exercised parents, next to their own souls, than the religious welfare of their children: for parents who can live in the neglect of this great and incumbent duty, must be dead to every right exercise and concern for the preservation and everlasting welfare of their tender offspring.

First day, the 10th. Sat our meeting in silence: then rode several miles to visit a person who was sick, and returned the next day.

I had to reflect on the great and serious loss sustained by a large portion of mankind, from the want of due attention and a right perseverance in the way of known duty while young in years; that when they are advanced in age, and bodily infirmities interfere and increase upon them, they are tossed up and down in their minds, and can find no sure place of refuge for their souls; like a ship in the midst of the ocean without a helm, and which can find no safe anchoring ground.

On fourth day attended the funeral of a young woman on Cowneck, who was taken away very suddenly, with about three hour’s illness. I had an open time among the people that were assembled on this solemn occasion, and was led to call their attention to the propriety and necessity of an early preparation for death; and to show that it manifested great presumption in such a poor impotent creature as man, who was so sensible of the uncertainty of time, to dare to lay his head down at night to take his natural rest, without knowing his peace made with his God.

Fifth and sixth days. Attended, in company with some of the committee of the quarterly meeting on the subject of schools, the preparative meetings of Martinicock and Bethpage; both of which were open favoured seasons, while the subject of our appointment was under consideration.