First day, the 3d of 12th month. My mind has been much shut up since I returned home. Sat our meeting again to-day in silence; but felt a daily exercise and concern relative to a religious visit in New England, which has for months past, been ripening on my mind; but have a prospect of some services about home, ere I engage therein. Lay low, oh my soul! that thou mayest be rightly and wisely directed therein; for thou well knowest the greatness, and vast importance of the work thou art called to; and that of thyself, thou art utterly destitute of any right ability to perform it to thy own good, or to the glory and honour of thy chiefest good, who is the Lord alone, thy gracious and all-sufficient helper.
Second and third days. Attended to some necessary concerns about home, preparatory to the approaching winter. On fourth day afternoon rode to Flushing, in order to attend the monthly meeting the following day, with a further prospect of having two other meetings on sixth and seventh days, one at Newtown, and the other at the Kilns, in my way to New-York, where I felt drawings on my mind to be on first day. Accordingly after attending the monthly meeting, having the company of my kind kinsman Isaac Hicks from Westbury, with the assistance of some Friends of Flushing, we procured the appointment of a meeting the next evening at Newtown at the sixth hour, principally for those not in membership with us. As there were no Friends residing in the village, the meeting was held in a large upper room at an inn, which was nearly filled with sober and orderly behaved people. Through heavenly help, it proved a comfortable edifying season; the doctrines of the gospel were freely and largely opened, apparently to the general satisfaction of those present, and many hearts were humbled and contrited.
The next day we attended an appointed meeting in Friends’ meeting-house at the Kilns. Although not large, yet it proved a precious tendering opportunity to most present, worthy to be remembered with thankfulness and gratitude to the blessed Author of all our multiplied favours and blessings. After this we dined with our kind friend Jane Betts, and then proceeded to the city.
First day. We attended Pearl-street meeting in the morning, and that at Liberty-street in the afternoon. In the former, the testimony of truth went forth with power, and its dignity and excellency were exalted over all opposition, to the praise of Him who is calling and leading all his devoted and obedient children out of darkness into his marvellous light, wherein they are brought to witness a full remission of their sins, and an inheritance among all those that are sanctified. The latter meeting I sat mostly in silence; but towards the close, I was led forth in a short searching testimony, which brought a solemnity over the meeting, under which covering the meeting closed.