ing them mine; so I left him to his conscience to settle the matter. However, my trust was still in God, whom I did think would over-rule it for good, which accordingly took place; for there were several neighbourhoods which I had previously felt a great desire to visit, but prejudice and bigotry had entirely shut up the way until now, when the above incidents were over-ruled to the casting of my lot in those vicinities, where the door was opened, and I held meetings, the fruits of which, I expect to see in the day of eternity. I got assistance to Suffield, Westfield, Springfield, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Stafford, Ellington, East-Hartford, Wapping, Hartfordfive miles, Mansfield, Eastford, Thompson, Killingly, Abbington, Plainfield, Voluntown, Cranston, and Providence where Providence opened my way, by raising me up friends to assist me to get from place to place, speak to thousands of people. A few appointments were not given out according to my expectation, so I disappointed them, as they clashed with my own; but those which were given out according to my direction, I fulfilled all, except one, which I withdrew, so none was disappointed. I visited Lyme, and several neighbouring places. About this time, I lost my pocket handherchief, and borrowing another at tea, forgot to return it as I arose from the table, and immediately went to meeting from this circumstance, an idea was con ceived that I meant to steal it. Oh, how guarded should we be against a spirit of jealousy! which is as cruel as the grave! however, I sent the woman money, as I had lost her's likewise, while riding. In ten weeks and two days, I rode about fifteen hundred miles, and held one hundred and eighty-four meetings; and feeling my mind drawn out to declare a free salvation, I frequently stood three hours, and generally near two. I received two letters from Dr. Johnson, which were a comfort to me. Daniel O'Strander is appointed presiding elder of Connecticut he gave me a recommendation for a local deacon's ordination, &c. but I observed a clause in the discipline that was made whilst I was in Europe that every local preacher should meet in class, and that if he did not he should forfeit his ligence, which made me Father suspicious about being ordained; as it would be impracticable to meet in a class and yet travel as extensively as what I expected, and if I travelled without meeting in a class, I should forfeit my license (or rather credential) and if I proceeded without it, must forfeit my membership and be excluded, &c. and to be so excluded without breaking discipline, as I only had been on trial and never in full connexion, and had a right of course to desist, as well as they to stop me if they chose, as a trial implies a trial on both sides; nor yet guilty of false doctrine, contrary to methodism, or immoral conduct-I was unwilling to put a sword in the hand of another to slay myself-and though I had ap pointed a day to fall in with the bishop for that purpose, yet could not see my way clear to proceed, and se gave up my recommendation, lest it should be said, I converted it to a different use from what it was intended; not but what I was willing to be accountable for my moral conduct, if I could in any way, that I might follow the dictates of my conscience. I was fearfut of hurting brother O'Strander's feelings by this refusal. Some said that I construed that part of the discipline wrong; however I explained it as I thought it read, and afterwards asked J. Lee, who observed that he would have made use of that very passage to prevent one of his local preachers from travelling in my way, because a local travelling preacher is a contradiction in terms, and would be a bad precedent. Another time I wanted to cross a ferry, and thought, what shall I do for money to get over? I had none and could think of nothing I had with me to pawn, and as I was mounting my horse a half dollar was put into my hand by two persons, so I was provided for; about this time, I wanted a horse shod and had given the last farthing of my money to have a school house lighted in Glastensbury, and knew not where to look however a way was provided in a strange congregation who knew not my necessity. In Milton, Woodbridge, Stratford, Merriden and several other places I found kind friends to aid me, and some appeared to believe more freely in a free salvation; and good I have reason to believe was done. At length feeling my mind free from Connecticut, I took water passage from Fairfield to New-York, and having paid my passage and procured some provisions, I had no money left; and having a tedious passage, the last twenty-four hours I had no food to eat; however I arrived in the city, and found some kind friends, who knew not my les, for previous to my sailing my small clothes I had to be washed, which were to have been brought to ine, but was disappointed of their coming, so I had not a necessary change; however God still provided for me. One day, as I was walking one of the streets, Solomon Roundtree from Georgia (being here after goods,) saw me and knew me, and called me into the store to know if I wanted or needed any thing. He gave me a pocket handkerchief, a change of linen, kersimere for vest and pantaloons, and four dollars in money, for which may he be rewarded at a future day. The preaching houses were shut against me. I made application for and obtained permission to hold meetings in the poor house school-room, and then with much difficulty obtained literly of the universalist's meeting-house: they thought The methodists had something against me of a bad nature, or why would they shut me out and keep me so distant? I spoke in the universalist's meeting-house to a large assembly, and one of their preachers attempted to answer my discourse afterwards, and gave notice of his intention that night. Mr. Sergeant one of the stationed preachers who had been opposed, now (as he there told me) became friendly; but T. Morrell the superintendent was still opposed, so I must do as I could if I could not do as I would. I perceived by wrong information he had formed wrong ideas of me, as many others, through the same channel have done: therefore, as they mean well though they lie under a mistake, it is not worth while for me to give them bitter retaliations as many do who are opposed by the methodists, and thus become persecutors. I ought to do right if other people do wrong, and the best way that ever I found to kill an enemy, was to love him to death; for where other weapons would fail, this hath had the desired effect, and I hope with me it ever may. After holding meetings in different private houses, whilst hundreds were listening in the streets, I at length felt my mind free from the city, though during my stay, I had walked thirty miles one day into the country, and had meeting at night, and likewise had obtained permission from the mayor to hold meeting in the Park, who sent constables there to keep order, and some said the mayor himself was there in disguise. I visited Turkey in NewJersey, and Elizabeth-town, where the meeting house was open to me, and Thomas M-'s father, who calls himself a bible man, gave me a dollar. I embarked and sailed for Newburgh, where I felt previously a desire to go. The captain gave me my pas sage, though a calvinist, and admitted prayers on the way. I procured with some difficulty the liberty of an academy in which I held two meetings: the people complained to their minister that I had destroyed their doctrine, (as was said,) and he must build it up, or they would hear him no more; he replied, that it would take him nine sabbaths to build up what I had pulled down. He spoke two Sundays and made bad worse; then cal ling in help, they disputed about construing scripture, got quarrelling, and it terminated in a law-suit, as one charged the other with heresy, and so was prosecuted for slander, &c. I called on elder Fowler, whom I expected would keep me distant, but was agreeably disappointed; he gave me a horse, for getting it shod, to ride several days: So I visited Latten-town, where I was expected the day before; however, the disappointment was over-ruled for good, and being notified, more came out. I visited Plattekill, Pleasant Valley, Shawangunk, and several other places. At the Paltz, I was taken with a violent puking for several hours; but at length, I embarked and landed at Loonenburgh, and walked to Schohaire, and saw my brother-in-law Fish for the last time. I visited Halabrook, Schenectada, Clifton Park, Niskeuna, Troy, and Half Moon, where I saw my friend R. Searle,* whom I had not seen for about eight years, except about five minutes. It seemed natural to see him, and brought past times fresh into my mind, when he and his sister * I have not seen him since he has withdrawn and joined the Church of England. were in our native land, who were the only young persons I had then to associate with on religious subjects: Our meeting gave me a tender sensation, but it appeared that he could not see the propriety of my travelling thus, so I thought it most advisable to retire that day, and went to another place and held meeting. Albány friends met me at a distance, and invited me to town to hold meeting, which I accepted; but the preacher, Cyrus S. would not consent for me to go into the meeting house, so hundreds were disappointed, as the trustees did not like to hurt his feelings; as he said, if they let me in, he should petition the next conference not to give them a preacher. The society, in general, appeared friendly, and John Taylor opened his house in which I held meeting; this Cyrus did not like the Lutherans it appears would have lent me a meeting-house, but supposed I was wicked, or why should Mr. Stebbins shut me out? so I went to him to get a paper that there was nothing against my moral conduct; which he refused to give, adding, that I trampled on the bishop's power, by travelling so independent, which if he was to do, he would have been cut off long ago; likewise, that it would be inconsistent for him to pave the way for me to ob tain another meeting-house when he denied me his own; and said, that he would rather have given ten dollars, than to have had such an uproar in the society and city as there was since I came; and ten to the end of that, if I could not have been kept away without-just after I began to travel, he appeared friendly, and his labours were owned and blessed of God, and then he was a noisy mothodist.* * In Cobuskill, we had a good time, and at Skenevius Creek, where I saw some who were stirred up to become serious about the time I was in my native land; likewise an old uncle of mine whom I supposed was dead; I re member once some of his words when I was young which made great impression on my mind in one of his visits. Sept. 15. A large meeting being appointed for all denominations in the country to worship God together But now he has withdrawn and joined the Church of En gland. |