Continuation of Journal During the Time Detained in England by the Embargo, Journal entry 43
NEW-YORK.
Wednesday, November 14. Set out early from Brunswick, in Company with my dear Fellow-Travellers, and r…y worthy Brother and Fellow-Labourer Mr. Tennent. As we passed along, we spent our Time most agreeably in telling one another what GOD had done for our Souls. He recounted to me many sweet Instances of GOD's striving with his Heart, and how Grace at last overcame all his Fightings against GOD. About Noon we got to Elizabeth-Town, 22 Miles from Brunswick. Here we took Boat, and about 4 reached New-York, where we were most affectionately received by the Family of Mr. Noble. As soon as we had refreshed our Bodies by Eating a little Food, and our Souls by giving of Thanks, I waited upon Mr. Vesey, the Commissary, but he was not at Home; then I went to the Meeting-House, to hear Mr. Gilbert Tennent preach, and never before heard such a searching Sermon; he went to the Bottom indeed, and did not daub with untemper'd Mortar: He convinc'd me more and more, that we can preach the Gospel of CHRIST no farther than we have experienced the Power of it in our own Hearts. Being deeply convicted of Sin, and driven from time to time off his false Bottom and Dependencies, by GOD's holy▪ Spirit, at his first Conversion, he has learned experimentally to dissect the Heart of a natural Man.—Hypocrites must either soon be converted or enraged at his Preaching:—He is a Son of Thunder, and does not regard the Face of Man:—He is deeply sensible of the Deadness and Formality of the Christian Church in these Parts, and has given noble Testimonies against it. After Sermon we spent the Evening together at Mr. Noble's House; at their Request, I expounded and prayed, and after we had sung a Psalm, we took our Leaves of each other, and went to rest. My Soul was humbled and melted down with a Sense of GOD's Mercies; and I found more and more, what a Babe and Novice I was in the Things of GOD. Blessed JESUS, grant I may make continual Advances, till I come to a perfect Man in Thee!
Thursday, Nov. 15. Had several come to see me at my Lodgings, who also gave me kind Invitations to their Houses. Waited upon Mr. Vesey; but could wish for his own Sake, he had behaved in a more Christian Manner. He seem'd to be full of Anger and Resentment; and before I asked him the Use of the Pulpit, denied it. He desired to see my Letters of Orders. I told him they were left at Philadelphia. He asked me for my License: I told him, I never heard that my Lord of London, as yet, gave any License to any one that went to preach the Gospel in Georgia; but that I was presented to the Living of Savannah by the Trustees; and upon that Presentation had Letters dimissory from my Lord of London, which I thought was Authority sufficient. But this was by no Means satisfactory. He charged me with Breaking my Oath, for Breaking the Canons, which enjoins Ministers and Church-Wardens not to admit Persons into their Pulpits without a License. Alas! how can I break that, when I am neither a Church-Warden, nor have any Church hereabouts to admit any one into? Upon this, hearing he was a Frequenter of Publick Houses, I reminded him of that Canon which forbids the Clergy to go into any such Places.—This, tho' spoke in the Spirit of Meekness, stirred up his Corruptions more and more. He charged me with making a Disturbance at Philadelphia, and sowing and causing Divisions in other Places; But, says he, with a Sneer, you have a Necessity laid upon you to preach. I told him, I had; for the Clergy and Laity of our Church seem'd to be settled on their Lees; but my End was not to sow Divisions, but to propagate the pure Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. He said, they did not want my Assistance. I replied, if they did preach the Gospel, I wished them good Luck in the Name of the LORD; but as he had denied me the Church without my asking for the Use of it, I would preach in the Fields, for all Places were alike to me. Yes, says he, I find you have been used to that. After that, he taxed me with Censuring my Superiors. I told him, I was no Respecter of Persons; if a Bishop committed a Fault, I would tell him of it; if a common Clergyman did not act aright, I would be free with him also, as well as with a Lay man,—Whilst we were talking he called for some Wine, and I drank his Health. Soon after he rose up; said he had Business to do; and, as we were going out, full of Resentment he said to Mr. Noble, who accompanied me and Brother Seward, Mr. Noble, as you have sent for this Gentleman, so I desire you will find him a Pulpit. Alas! alas! what Manner of Spirit are the Generality of the Clergy possess'd with? Is this the Spirit of the meek Lamb of GOD? Are these the Fruits of the Holy Ghost, which they pretended to be moved with, when they took Holy Orders? It cannot be. Surely the Kingdom of GOD will be taken from them: The Curse which fell on Eli's Sons, I fear, will light on them: They cause the Sacrifice of GOD to be abhorred: Their Bigotry, if it was nothing else, in Time would destroy them. LORD! for thy Mercies sake, lighten their Darkness; and grant that some of the Priests also may be obedient to the Truth.
Din'd with Mr. Pemberton, the Presbyterian Minister. Preached in the Fields to upwards of 2000, as Three in the Afternoon, and expounded at Six in the Evening to a very thronged and attentive Audience at Mr. Pemberton's Meeting-House. At first for the sake of my weak Brethren, I was unwilling to Preach there; but hearing that Mr. Vesey, the Commissary himself, had preach'd in the Dutch Calvinistical Meeting-House, when there was no Place of Worship for the People of our own Community; and the Dutch Meeting-House being denied me, as well as the Church, I thought it my Duty to accept of the kind Offer made me by Mr. Pemberton and his Friends. In the Field, some few Mock'd; but GOD gave me Power to speak to them, and they grew more serious. At Night, the People seem'd exceedingly attentive; and I have not felt greater Freedom in Preaching, and more Power in Prayer, and a stronger Indwelling of the Spirit, since I came into America, than I have at New-York. I find it has been a secure Place, and but little of the Work of GOD seen in it for many Years. Oh that this may be the accepted Time! LORD, let this be the Day of their Salvation!
Friday, November 16. Preached at Three in the Afternoon, to a lovely Congregation, in the Meeting-House, it being too cool to go into the Fields.—Expounded again in the Evening at the same Place to a far greater Congregation than I have seen yet. Great Multitudes returned home for want of Room. GOD enabled me to Preach with Power; and I hope some Good will be done here, because Satan is disturbed. After Evening Service, I was told by several Persons, that the Constables of the Town had been placed at the Door of the English Church, lest my Adherents, encouraged by me, should break it open and take it by Force. Well may the Heads of our Church People be said to reject the Kingdom of GOD against themselves. I fear GOD will shortly take it from them. They imitate the Scribes and Pharisees in their Crimes: … fear they will be made Partakers of their Punishments. Oh that they would see in this their Day the Things that belong to their Peace!
Saturday, November 17. Preached as usual in the Afternoon at the Meeting-House to a pretty Congregation: And again at Night, to a great Multitude, standing round the Doors, beside those that were within. Wo be to those, who by their Bigotry, Prejudice and Party Zeal, oblige us to Preach the Gospel in so confined a Place: But no Matter; this as well as every Thing else shall be over-ruled for the good of CHRIST'S Church.—Had the Pleasure of Hearing that some blessed Effects had been produced by the Preaching of the Word; and several expressed a strong Inclination to go with me. When GOD will work, who can hinder? Praised be the LORD, who daily shews me this is the Way wherein I should go. LORD, make me humble and thankful!
Sunday, November 18. Preached this Morning by Eight a Clock, unto a very attentive Auditory. Went to the English Church, both Morning and Evening, and felt my Heart almost bleed within me, to consider what blind Guides were sent forth into her. If I have any Regard for the Honour of CHRIST, and the good of Souls, I must lift up my Voice like a Trumpet, and shew how sadly our Church Ministers are fallen from the Doctrines of the Reformation. Her Prophets prophesy Lies, and I fear many of the People love to have it so. It is high Time, O LORD, that thou have Mercy upon Sion. Oh let that Time shortly come!
In the second Lesson in the Morning, were these Verses, and some I found made an immediate Application of them, by looking on me. John, Chap. X. Ver. 19, 20, 21. There was a Division therefore again among the Jews, for these Sayings. And many of them said, he hath a Devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, these are not the Words of him that hath a Devil. In the Evening vast Numbers flocked to hear the Word. Some petitioned the Mayor to have the use of the Town-Hall; but it was denied: Then we thought of expounding out of a Window, and to let the People stand in the Street; but at last, with much Difficulty, I got into the Meeting-House; and the People being prevailed on to open the Windows, Numbers could hear that stood on the outside. GOD was pleased to enlarge my Heart, and I was pressed in Spirit to bear my Testimony against the Doctrines deliver'd in the English Church, both Morning and Evening. Tho' it may seem a hard Saying to many, yet our People have need to be caution'd against the Generality of the Scribes and Pharisees of our Communion, as much as the Jews were cautioned to beware of the Scribes and Pharisees, by our dear LORD JESUS. After Sermon, many People came to pray with me, and take a last Farewel. They also gave me Tokens of Love, and I had great Reason to believe GOD has begun a good Work in New-York. I have not felt such Freedom and Sweetness of Soul since I have been in America; one Reason I believe is, because I have been here uncommonly opposed. Saw my Sermon on Regeneration advertised in the New-England Paper. Gave leave for my Answer to my Lord of London to be printed at New-York.
About Ten at Night, having spent some time in Prayer, I took Boat with my Friends, and had a pleasant Passage to a Place about Halfway to Elizabeth-Town, where we lay down with Joy and Thankfulness for the great Things the LORD had shewn us. Oh that I was duly sensible of his distinguishing Mercies!
Monday, November 19. Took Boat about Five in the Morning, and reached Elizabeth-Town about Seven. Spent the Morning in writing Letters and Journal, and in Religious Conversation with dear Mr. Tennent, Mr. Noble, and other Friends, who accompanied me. Paid a Visit to Mr. Vaugh… the Minister of the Church of England in Elizabeth-Town; who, as I afterwards heard, had preached against me, and said, I should not have the Use of his Pulpit. Din'd with Mr. Dickinson the Dissenting Minister, who had sent a Letter of Invitation to New-York, and offer'd me the Use of his Meeting-House; About Twelve I preach'd in it according to Appointment, to upwards of 700 People, many of which seemed much affected; and GOD was pleased to open my Mouth against both Ministers and People among the Dissenters, who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness, contenting themselves with a bare speculative Knowledge of the Doctrines of Grace, but never experienced the Power of them in their Hearts. These shall receive the greater Condemnation.