Saturday 25. We had to beat through the woods between Winthrop and Redfield, which are as bad as the Alleghany mountain, and the shades of death. We have now laid by our carriage and saddle, to wait until Wednesday next for conference: the first of the kind ever held in these parts, and it will probably draw the people from far and near. Wednesday 29. Ten of us sat in conference; great was our union and freedom of speech with each other. Thursday 30. was our great day it was computed that from one thousand to eighteen hundred souls attended public preaching and ordination. The unfinished temporary state of the gallery was such, that the plank and other parts would crack and break: we had one alarm while ordaining, owing to the people's wish to gratify their curiosity; but no person was killed or wounded. My subject was 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2. it was observed, "this ministry,” by way of eminence distinguished from the law-the ministry of the Spirit and power, and the word and letter of the Gospel: Secondly, The apostolical manner of using the ministry-renouncing the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully not seeking either worldly honour, ease, or profit; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God-to sinners of all characters; to seekers, believers, men of tender and scrupulous consciences. Thirdly, The temptations, labours, and sufferings the faithful ministers have to meet with in the discharge of their duties: Fourthly, The support they shall have by the mercy and power of God, and fruit of their labours; Fifthly; We faint not-a person that fainteth loseth all action; is pale and dispirited: it is a near resemblance of death, and sometimes terminates in death. Unhappy the man who is dead and useless in the ministry! : Weary of being shut up in one house for some days, I came in the afternoon through the dreadful swamp to Squire Prescott's, at Winthrop I found a Congregational priest there. Early in the morning I came to Monmouth to breakfast; dined at Lewistown, and lodged at the widow Roe's: the next day (Saturday) I came to Grey to dinner; thence to Falmouth, and lodged at Major Illsley's. I came chiefly alone; I experienced much bodily weakness: my trials are great; the roads are bad, and I fear the families are little bettered by any thing I could say or do for them. Sunday, September 1. I am surprisingly supported, and am gaining strength, notwithstanding the heat of the sun and most desperate roads and rocks; we have come nearly sixty miles in two days. I had it confirmed that the ox was killed by lightning, which was found dead within one hundred yards of our horses. I went to Portland, unexpectedly, upon the Sabbath-day: I preached in the widow Bynton's back room to about twenty-five persons, chiefly women, my subject was 2 Peter ii. 9. In the afternoon I preached to about double the number on Phil. iii. 8. I returned Sabbath evening, to my very kind friend's house, Major Illsley's. Monday 2. We came off in haste, and rode thirty-five miles to Wells. We lodged with Deacon Clark; a most complete house of entertainment. Tuesday. We rode forty-seven miles to Salisbury, near Newburyport. NEW-HAMPSHIRE.-I passed Hampton and Hampton-Falls; at the latter Mr. Whitefield preached his last sermon, and probably caught the cause of his death. I came over Piscataqua bridge, a most admirable piece of architecture; it is double, and the tollgate and Tavern stand upon the Island: we dined at Greenland, and had great attention paid us. The fever is breaking out again in Portsmouth, and it is awful in Philadelphia; it seemeth as if the Lord would humble or destroy that city, by stroke after stroke, until they acknowledge God. Very serious appearances of this fever are now in New-York. Thursday 4. Came from Captain Patake's to Lynn; where I preached on Friday from Galatians v. 6-8. MASSACHUSETTS.-Saturday. We came off with a design to call at Boston: the heat was excessive, and the sun met me in the face, so that I was almost ready to faint in the carriage: I changed my mind, and concluded to come on to Waltham, and spend another Sabbath. I missed my way a little, but came in about seven o'clock, riding since two o'clock twenty miles. Sunday 9. I attended the chapel in the morning; my subject was 1 Peter ii. 9, 10.; and in the afternoon, at five o'clock, from the 11th and 12th verses of the same chapter; many attended. Monday and Tuesday. We continued at Waltham. Wednesday 12. We came on to Weston, where I preached in the new house, a well designed building, on 1 Cor. xv. 58. Thursday 13. We rode twenty miles, the way stony and dusty, to Mr. Nicoll's, at Westborough: here five preachers came together. With hard sighs I attempted to preach, and was most remarkably assisted upon Titus ii. 11, 12. Friday 14. We rode forty-one miles over very uneven roads ; my horse ran away with me, but did me no hurt. We lodged at Mr. Hubbard's, at Broomfield: I was surprised to see the meeting and dwelling houses they have built in this place, and the reforms they have made in the roads, since I came up through this part of the state seven years ago. Saturday 15, We came once more to Silas Bliss's, at Wilbraham. We have rode ninety miles in two days, and I would rather have rode two hundred in the low level lands of the south of this continent. Sabbath day. I attended at Wilbraham; my subject was 1 Peter ii. 1-4. Monday 17. We came to Springfield to dine, and then rode on through excessive heat and bad roads, sixteen miles to-day. Tuesday 18. We came up to Granville, sixteen miles: it was well that I had help over the rocks and mountains. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We sat in conference; about fifty preachers of different descriptions present: ten were admitted on probation. We had many weighty and deliberate conversations on interesting subjects, in much plainness and mode ration. Six of us lodged amongst deacon Loyd's kind Congregational people. CONNECTICUT.-Saturday 22. We began our flight to the White Plains, across the hills and along most dreadful roads for a carriage: we came to Canaan, about thirty-six miles, and lodged by the falls of Housatonick river. Its source is in some ponds and springs N. and S. W. of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and running through the heart of Connecticut, empties into Long-Island Sound at Stratford it is the second in magnitude to that which gives a name to the state. : NEW-YORK.-Sabbath day 23. We came on, twelve in company, to Dover, in the state of New-York. I should have stopped at Sharon meeting-house had we not expected a meeting at four o'clock in Dover. We made this Sabbath day's journey twentyfive miles; the weather was very warm, and we had nothing to eat from seven o'clock in the morning until four o'clock in the afternoon. My subject was Hebr. xii. 12, 13. 14. Monday 24. We came through Dutchess county, near the line of the two states, and down the waters of Croton-River. We lodged at Webb's, near New-Salem. We reached the Plains in about thirty-six miles, and came in about sundown. Most awful times in Philadelphia and New-York-citizens flying before the fever as if it were the sword! I now wait the providence of God to know which way to go. Wednesday 26. Came to my former lodging, where I lay sick last year it is still like a home. Thursday 27. We attempted to cross North-River at Woolsey's ferry, but the wind blew too strong. We visited a kind family, and returned to the widow Sherwood's. We have spent a day, and rode sixteen miles, and are now where we began. Friday we rode twenty miles and crossed at Bulls-Ferry, six miles above New-York: we were about two hours and a half in getting over; after which we rode eighteen miles to Elizabethtown. NEW-JERSEY.-Saturday 29. We rode on to Brunswick, twenty miles, dined, and then hasted to Milford, twenty-two miles: here we spent the Sabbath day. I preached in the Hutchinsonian chapel, my text was Matt. v. 8. Now we meet the tidings of doleful distress from poor Philadelphia-ninety dying in a day-surely God will plead with us! Monday I rested. Tuesday, October 2. I stopped and dined, talked, and prayed with the Lovell family, at Crosswick's, and came that night to Hulet Hancock's, who is a kind and gracious man. : Wednesday 3. Called upon James Sterling. This morning the certainty of the death of John Dickens was made known to me : he was in person and affection another Thomas White to me for years past I feared death would divide us soon: I cannot write his biography here. We came to Germantown and Thursday, twenty-five miles to Daniel Meridith's; where we tarried for a night. Next day we reached Thomson's mill, upon Great Elk: within a mile of this place, while going over a desperate piece of road, my carriage turned bottom upwards; I was under, and thrown down a descent of five or six feet: I thought at first I was unhurt, but upon examination I found my ancle was skinned and a rib bone bruised. Oh, the heat, the fall, the toil, the hunger of the day! MARYLAND.-On Saturday we rode six miles to North-East: my bruised side pained me much, my spirits were sad-dark clouds impend over Methodism here. Sabbath day 7. I preached in the North-East church on Hebr. xii. 15, 16, 17. The substance of my sermon was-1. A caution against failing to obtain the repenting, converting, persevering, sanctifying grace of God. 2. How some bad principles, persons, and practices were like wormwood, gall, and poison to society. 3. How small the gain, and how great the loss of peace. 4. That some might apostatize beyond the possibility of being restored, VOL. II. 42 and weep hopeless and unavailing tears: I enforced the cautionlooking diligently to avoid the greatest evil and danger on the one hand, and to secure the greatest good, grace, and glory on the other. Monday we rode to the Buck, and dined with a daughter of Sarah Dallam's. We then came on to Perry-Hall: in consequence of the drought this place does not appear a universal green, as formerly. Tuesday 9. We came to Baltimore: here they have little to boast of but health and trade: the outward building of a societyhouse is going on. I had John Dickens's son with me: we sketched out a few traits of his father's life. For piety, probity, profitable preaching, holy living, Christian education of his children, secret, closet prayer, I doubt whether his superior is to be found either in Europe or America. Friday 12. I had an appointment in the new church at ten o'clock. I endeavoured to suit my subject to the season, and to the time of affliction in our towns and cities; it was 2 Chron. vii. 13, 14. VIRGINIA. Saturday 13. We rode thirty-two miles to Turner's. Here man and beast beginning to fail, I rested on Sabbath day; we had a long ride to Fairfax chapel, where we came in about twelve o'clock. In consequence of my affliction of body and mind I was but poorly prepared to preach; however, I attempted a gloss on 1 Peter ii. 1, 2, 3. Here I saw and conversed with my old friend William Watters. Monday 15. We came to Alexandria-I preached in the evening on Col. iii. 15. Tuesday 16. Brother Lee and John Harper accompanied me; we came through excessive heat and dust, thirty miles, to Ward's. Wednesday 17. I came to the widow Conner's, who keeps a decent boarding-house: we rode this day about forty miles, having nothing to eat but a little bread and cheese. On Thursday, twelve miles to the widow Collin's, where we breakfasted between eleven and twelve o'clock, and in our usual manner prayed, and addressed the family about their souls; and then rode on, ten miles, to brother Lyon's. Whilst others leave us, and say much evil of us, these people in Caroline county keep closely to us. I felt very unwell, occasioned, I suppose, by riding so late and early through the exces sive heat, dust, and dews. Friday 19. We came through the dust, thirty-five miles, to Richmond here I heard of the death of John Norman Jones, who departed in joy and peace in Charleston; this is the second preacher |