First day, the 2d of 6th month. Attended our meeting in the morning in silence; but in the afternoon meeting, appointed by a friend from Pennsylvania, I had a pretty full opportunity, after the Friend who appointed the meeting had relieved his mind, to call the people’s attention to the only sure guide, the light of God’s spirit in their own hearts and minds, which reveals to every man and woman all things that they had ever done, as Jesus did to the woman of Samaria, reproving for the evil, and justifying for the good: and were men and women all as faithful to themselves, as this divine reprover is to them, they would all witness the blessing of peace; and if they held out in faithfulness and obedience to the end, the answer of “well done, thou good and faithful servant”, would be the happy portion of them all.
Fifth day. Attended our meeting in silence.
First day, the 9th. Had the company of two female Friends from Philadelphia, who were travelling in the ministry, at our meeting. It proved a hard trying season: one of them was exercised in public testimony, and although she appeared to labour fervently, yet but little life was felt to arise during the meeting. This makes the work hard for the poor exercised ministers, who feel the necessity publicly to advocate the cause of truth and righteousness, and yet obtain but little relief, by reason of the deadness and indifference of those to whom they are constrained to minister. I found it my place to sit silent, and suffer with the seed.
Second day. Went to New-York, in order to attend our meeting for sufferings, which was held the next day at the ninth hour in the morning. I accordingly attended, and returned home that afternoon.
The rest of the week I spent about home. Attended our preparative meeting on fifth day. The meeting for worship was held in silence, and was a hard trying meeting.
Engagements at and about home, and within Westbury quarterly meeting, 1816 and 1817.
First day, the 16th of 6th month, 1816. My wife being under an appointment to meet some women Friends at Bethpage meeting, I accompanied her thither. It proved an exercising meeting, especially in the forepart; but as I submitted cheerfully and patiently to endure the present baptism, which, indeed, as the experienced Paul well observes, is being baptized for the dead, towards the latter part of the meeting, that all-quickening and vivifying power that raises the dead to life, was felt gradually to arise, by which my mind was quickened and led to minister to the states of many present. Life spread over the meeting tendering many hearts, and we parted under a grateful sense of the Lord’s mercies; so that indeed the query of the royal Psalmist is worthy to be had in continual remembrance: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?”