the impression continued, that I would go into the next house, and if I met good reception, that I would thus go through all the families in the hollow, which amounted to about thirty in number. I called, and finding a good reception to my visit, I went to a second and third, but was turned away: to all in the village, however, I went, and some thought one thing, and some said another; however, they came out, to hear a crazy man, as they thought, and were struck with a great solemnity, whilst I spoke from these words, "Thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live." The second and the third day, I held meetings likewise, and said, at such a time, I hope to be here again, God willing; and accordingly came, and proposed a covenant to the people, if they would attempt to pray three times a day, four weeks, (on their knees) I would remember them thrice in the twenty-four hours during that space, God being our helper, to perform; and those who would endeavour to do it, to signify it by standing on their feet, and those who would not, to keep their seats; for God is about to revive religion here; and those who will put in for a share, may freely obtain, but those who neglect will find to their sorrow.

About twenty rose up, to which I called God to witness, and whilst we were at prayer, one who had not agreed, caught hold of a loom to avoid falling down, whilst his knees smote together. The evening after I was gone, the youth assembled to take counsel about their souls; and were so concerned, that the cries became general, and were heard afar off; but eight persons found comfort before they disbanded.

To this place, Hutchinson came, just after he reached the circuit, though I had not heard of this effect of my labours.

Thus round the circuits, I went, visiting from house to house, getting into as many new neighbourhoods as I could, and sparing no character in my public declarations. Many were offended at my plainness both of dress, expressions, and way of address in conversation, about heart religion; so that the country seemed to be in an uproar scarcely one to take up my cause, and I was mostly known by the name of crazy Dow. At length,

quarterly meeting came on in Welsh hollow, and I expected an expulsion, the uproar being so great, as T. Dewey had come thirty miles to give me a scolding for my conduct to whom I said, I make a conscience of what I do, and for it, I expect to give an account to God: if you should even turn against me, I cannot hearken to you, in this matter. After which God gave me favour in his sight; so that he took my part, and defended my cause (round the circuit, like a champion) to the lukewarm, unknown to me at first.

Of him I was the more afraid, as I knew that he had promoted the expulsion of Ballard.

So I went to Hutchinson, and besought him to exclude me, that I might go my way and be of no more trouble to them; which he refused, and gave me some sharp words, and said he would not; but that I should tarry on that circuit another quarter, adding, but before the quarter is up, I expect you'll leave the circuit and run away: so we parted. But I was resolved he should be disap pointed in me for once, at least if no more.

At Claridon and Castleton the society were watching over me for evil, and not for good. These two places, I visited, likewise, from house to house; next to Fair Haven, where I met with hard speeches. Then to Poultney, where was no regular preaching. Here lived a young woman whom I began to question about her soul; but met with cool answers. Well, said I, I'll pray to God to send a fit of sickness upon you, if nothing else will do, to bring you to good, and if you won't repent then, to take you out of the way, so that you shall not hinder others. Said she, If you'll pray for such things as this, you can't be the friend you pretend to be to my soul; and I'll venture all your prayers, and was much displeased, and so was her mother likewise. She soon began to grow uneasy and restless, and went into one room and into another, back and forth; then sitting down, but could get no relief. The whole family, except the father and one son, began to grow outrageous towards me, which occasioned me to go seven miles late at night, for the sake of family quietness.

Shortly afterwards the young woman began to seek God, and with two of her sisters, were found walking in the

E

ways of wisdom: and a society was soon formed in the place, although I saw them no more.

In Hampton and Skeinsborough, on the south end of lake Champlain, was some revival, likewise.

Here was a woman who found fault with me, for exhorting the wicked to pray; saying, the prayers of the wicked were an abomination to the Lord. But I told her that was home-made scripture; for that there was no such expression in the bible: and after bringing undeniable passages to prove it was their duty, I besought her to pray she replied, I cannot get time. I then offered to buy the time, and for a dollar she promised she would spend one day as I should direct, if it were in a lawful way, provided she could get the day, (she not thinking I was in earnest;) I then turned to her mistress, who promised to give her a day-then throwing a dollar into her lap, I called God and about thirty persons present, to witness the agreement. She besought me to take the dollar again, which I refused, saying, if you go to hell, it may follow and enhance your damnation. About ten days elapsed, when her conscience roaring loud, she took the day, and read two chapters in the bible, and retired thrice to pray to God to shew her what she was, and what he would have her to be, according to my directions.

Afterwards, I had the satisfaction to hear that before night she felt distressed on account of her soul, and before long found the comforts of religion. From thence I visited Kingsborough and Queensborough, where many were brought to a sense of themselves, among whom was Solomon Moon.

One evening, just as I had dismissed the assembly, I saw a man to whom my mind was impressed to go; and before I was aware of it, I was breaking through the crowd; and when I had got to him, I said, are you willing I should ask you a few serious questions?" to which he replied, yes: do you believe (said I) there is a God? said he, yes.

Q. Do you believe there is a reality in religion?

A. I am uncertain; but think we ought to do as we would be done by.

Q. Are you willing for some good advice?

A. Yes.

Q. Supposing I shall give you some that you can find no fault with the tendency of it; are you willing, and. will you try to follow it for four weeks?

A. Yes, if it is no unreasonable request.

I then desired him not to believe what authors, ministers, or people, said, because they said so; but to search the scriptures to seek for light and instruction there; to read but little at a time, and read it often, striving to take the sense of it.

2dly, Not to stumble over the unexemplary walk of professors of religion; nor the contradiction of ministers' sermons; but to forsake not what other people thought was wrong, but what he himself thought to be wrong: and then to take his leisure time, and go where none would see him but God, twice or thrice a-day, and upon his knees beseech the Almighty to give him an evidence within, that there was a heaven and a hell, and a reality in religion, and the necessity of enjoying it in order to die happy: and then, said I, I do not believe the time will expire before you will find an alteration in your mind, and that for the better.

Q. Is the advice good or bad?

A. I have no fault to find; the natural tendency of it is to good, if followed.

I then said, you promised, if the advice was good, and you had no fault to find with it, that you would follow it four weeks; and now I call God to witness to your promise; so left him.

He went away, and began to meditate how he was taken in the promise before he was aware of it, and for forty-eight hours neglected it-when his conscience condemned him, and for the ease of his mind was necessitated to go and pray.

From hence I went to Thermon's patent, and held several meetings, not in vain, and riding across the branches of Hudson's river, I called the inhabitants together, and we had a refreshing season from the presence of the Lord. In eternity, I believe, some will be thankful for that day.

After preaching at Fort Edward, (where one took fire misteriously, and was burnt to death) I went to East

town. Here the youth, under plain dealing, would frequently leave the house. Accordingly, after procuring a school-house, I invited all the youth to come and I would preach to them; and the house was filled from end to end: and then placing my back against the door, (to prevent their running away) gave out the text, and did not spare, and was soon confirmed that God was about to visit the place.

Solemnity rested on every countenance, and in the morning the congregation was treble its usual number, and there was a shaking among the dry bones. This neighbourhood I visited from house to house likewise, and conversed personally with the youth, found that about two-thirds of them were under serious impressions, but durst not expose it to each other for fear of being laughed at, (though some fled from me to prevent being talked to) and in this private conversation, they promsed to pray for a season, one of which broke her promise and strove to escape my sight, but following her to a neighbouring house, I sat in the door and would not let her out till she promised to serve God or the devil for a fortnight; the latter she choose, saying, I can't keep the other and I called God to witness, and said, I'll pray that you may be taken sick before the fortnight's upand left her. Before night she began to grow uneasy and was sorry she made the promise, and soon broke it, and began to seek the salvation of her soul, and in about a week was hopefully converted to God.

After I had gone through the visiting, in public meeting I set forth plainly the state of the youth, as abovementioned, and besought them not to be afraid of each other, but to continue seeking the Lord. And one evening whilst T. Dewey was exhorting, a flash of forked lightning pierced the air, and rolling thunder seemed to shake the house. Some screeched out for mercy; some jumped out at the windows, and others ran out at the door.

From this night the stir became visible, and thirteen of the youth that night resolved together to pursue religion, let their companions do as they would. A young man by the name of Gideon Draper, said, “If I can stand the crazy man, I will venture all the methodist