Page images
PDF
EPUB

:

mediation of Christ, which are given to make us sensible of our weakness and wants, that we may seek, and have the same supplied and of course, it is our duty to adhere to the sacred influence by solemn considerations, and a resolution to put in practice the same, by breaking off from that which we are convinced is displeasing and offensive in God's sight, and looking to him for the bles sings we feel we want, in earnest expectation that he 'will bestow it through the merits of the Son.

Crossing Little River in a canoe, I held meeting at ten o'clock in the morning; and though the notice was short, sixty or seventy came out, and it was a tender time.

Sunday 7th. I arrived in the town of Augusta, and my things having arrived, I went through the town, distributing hand bills from house to house; some I gave to black people, some I flung over into the door-yards, and some I put in under the doors, or through the windows where the lights were out; and whilst doing this, a negro came after me three times to go to his master's house, saying that Mr. Waddle (a presbyterian minister) wanted me; I went and obtained a breakfast; he being about to leave the town, and hearing of me before, and being a candid man, was the means of removing prejudice, in some degree, from that society. Then I went to the methodist meeting-house, where the preacher beckoned me to come up into the pulpit, which I declined until the third time, and then went: Said he, the elder, Stith Mead, will be in town this morning, and he wants to see you. He had got on my track, and some knowledge of my conduct, which had removed prejudice from his mind; at length, he came, and after preaching a funeral sermon, offered me, (if I desired it) liberty of the pulpit, and the privilege of giving out my appointment for the afternoon, which I accordingly did, and then went off to the presbyterian meeting, and told them of it as soon as the meeting was dismissed; and the African baptist likewise, and then to my room, (the people said, I was a crazy man). The bell was rung to give the people notice; this was for the convenience of the presbyterians. I spoke in my feeble way, and appointed meeting for the next evening. The methodists said, you will have

no hearers to-morrow evening, for Mr. Snethen was liked the best of any minister that was ever here, and he could get but few hearers on a week day night. However, the people flocked out more on Monday evening than Sabbath, and I appointed for Tuesday, and told the young people, if they would come out, that I would give them hymn-books, which accordingly they did, and the congregation was larger still; I proposed a covenant to the people, to meet me at the throne of grace daily in private devotion, which hundreds agreed to (by rising up) for a space of time, which I bound them by their honour to keep. I expected to leave town next morning, but S. Mead prevailed on me to tarry till the following sabbath, considering the prospect of good. Solemn countenances were soon seen in the streets. On Wednesday even ing we had meeting in Harrisburg; on Thursday evening, the man who had just finished a job about the meeting-house, kept the key, so that it was with much difficulty that we obtained it for meeting in the evening; he assigned as the reason, arrearage of pay; we told the people of it; I mentioned that I esteemed it a privilege to have such a house to hold meeting in, and for my share felt willing to give ten dollars towards the deficiency; and if they would come forward and subscribe liberally, perhaps they might not feel the loss of it, for God might bless them accordingly. We got upwards of seventy dollars that night. I told the youth, if they would come to a prayer-meeting next evening, I would give them some more books; about six hundred persons came out, to whom I gave seventy hymn-books more, making an hundred in all. Saturday evening and next. morning, I held meeting in the vicinity, and the work evidently appeared; for mourners came forward to be prayed for. In the afternoon, I gave my last discourse in Augusta, and then I requested those that were determined to set out and seek God, to let me take their names in writing, that I might remember them in my devotions when gone; about seventy, who had been careless, came forward.

Last evening, we got about thirty dollars more for the meeting house-it was expected that I should have a contribution last meeting, for my labours, and well wish

es to the town, &c. which I declined, and many thought it strange, yet five dollars I was constrained by my friends to take from a man out of society, lest my refusal should do harm. Next morning, Doctor Prentice, who had treated me as a friend, and was the first man that gave me an invitation to make his house my home in this place, sent his servant and chair with me nine miles; thence I continued on my way towards Charleston.

Wednesday 17th. I set off before sun-rise, but was taken unwell, so I walked about ten miles, and whilst lying down under a pine, I reflected thus; how do I know but this weakness of body came by the will and wisdom of God, and in a way to do good, as afflictions happen not by chance nor come from the dust, but are God's mercies in disguise; presently there came along a methodist backslider, who at times strove to reason himself into the belief of deism and universalism; but I still he could not forget the peaceful hours he once-njoyed, yet the word preached would reach his heart, so that he but seldom went to places of meeting. I obtained a promise from him, however, that he would try to set out again; and as we parted he was tender. I spoke at night and next morning to a few, and some waggons coming along, I got liberty to ride in some of them by turns. My shoes heating my feet, I gave them away for some bread, having a pair of mogasons with me, which preserved my feet from the sand.

Friday 19th. I called at a number of houses, to get entertainment, but could not for love nor money, till about the middle of the night, when coming opposite to a house or cottage, an old woman opened her door, and as I saw the light, begged permission to tarry; which E obtained, and she gave me some bread, and said, I suppose the other families did not take you in; but supposed you to be some thief, as you did not appear to be in the character of a gentleman. I paid her for my lodg ing; but for the bread she did not require it. Next evening, I travelled till late, likewise inquired at almost every house for entertainment, but could not obtain upon any conditions. At length, I espied a light, but durst not venture near it for fear of the dogs, but found a convenient tree, where I could screen myself from the dogs,

N

and then alarmed the family. After some time, I was answered, and piloted to the house, where I found an old woman and her son, and she, to relieve my hunger, gave me such as her cottage afforded, viz. coffee and cake, gratis; however, I paid her, and next morning I went to Dorchester, and called on a Mr. Carr, to whom I had a letter, and spoke in his house, where good seemed to be done, after that I had heard a Mr. Adams, an independant minister, in their meeting-house.

Monday 22d. I came to Charleston, and found the preachers friendly, and yet shy, for fear of the censure of the conference; so the preaching house was shut against me. I called on Mr. Matthews, then one of Hamet's preachers, for some hand-bills, which were sent there by Adam C. Cloud, for me, (here I took the measles) and distributed about twelve hundred of them thro' the town, and then obtained the liberty of the poor house, in which I held several meetings. Matthews invited me to supply an appointment for him in the great meeting-house, which was built for the methodists, and about which Hamet made crooked work, &c. When M. was gone out of town, I advertised the meeting, and about two thousand attended, to whom I spoke; it was thought to have been as still a meeting as had been known in that quarter, for such magnitude. A collection was offered to me, which I refused. A gentleman opened a

large room in which I held several picked meetings; a collection was offered here to which I declined; however a few dollars I received from some, partly through constraint and the medium of Mr. Monds, who appeared loving and kind. The family here, where Jones the preacher had piloted me, expecting pay for my board, I found a little book here which I wanted, and when paying for it, left money in the man's hands, a sufficiency for my board, and quit the house, and took up my lodg ing with esquire Terpin, who was inclined towards the Friends or quaker society, where I held several picked meetings: the Hamet methodists were low-the Asbury methodists (so called) were shy. At length, I took my departure for New-York. The measles appeared on my voyage, and the captain and all hands were unkind, and

[graphic]

A

CHAP IX.

RETURN TO NEW-ENGLAND.

PRIL 8th. I landed in New-York, (though on our way we had crossed the Gulph stream) and about two days after, my life was despaired of by Dr. Lester, (as the inflammatory fever had set in.) Whilst I was confined at the house of brother Quackenbush, the Lord was precious to my soul.-the sting of death was fled, and sometimes I turned my thoughts on future joys, and realized that some of my spiritual children had gone before and I absent from Jesus: O how did my soul wish to be in those sweet realms above! But then turning my thoughts on time, I considered the value of souls, and that poor sinners were in the dangerous, blind, dark road-the question arose, which I would choose, to depart to Paradise, or spend twenty or thirty years more in this vale of tears, in labouring in the spirit of a missionary for the sake of my fellow mortals' salvation; and after a short pause I felt such a travail for souls, that if it might be consistent with the Divine Will, 1 wished to recover for their sakes, and still to be absent from my crown of glory; yet I felt resigned to go or stay as God should see fit.

After about twelve day's confinement, I put on my clothes with help, though during that time I could sit up but a very few minutes at a time, and that not without assistance, to prevent fainting. The day that I got able to stagger abroad, the mistress of the house was taken ill the Lord was good that we were not both sick together.

I went to the south, without consent: some of the preachers in the city appeared shy, who were dear to me, which hurt my feelings, not to be visited in my sickness, though one came at times for a morning walk, and at length another; but perhaps there was a cause. May 2d. God opened the way for my getting into

« PreviousContinue »