Continuation of Journal During the Time Detained in England by the Embargo, Journal entry 44 – Journal entry 46
NEW-BRUNSWICK.
Tuesday, Nov. 20. Reach'd hither about 6 last Night, and preach'd about Noon, for near 2 Hours in worthy Mr. Tennent's Meeting-House, to a large Assembly gather'd together from all Parts; and amongst them, as Mr. Tennent told me, there was a great Body of solid Christians. About Three in the Afternoon I preach'd again; and at seven▪ Baptized two Children; and preach'd a third Time, with greater Freedom than at either of the former Opportunities. It is impossible to tell with what Pleasure the Children of GOD heard these Truths confirm'd by a Minister of the Church of England, which for many Years have been preach'd to them by their own Pastor Mr. Tennent. Opposers Mouths were stop'd; several were brought under strong Convictions; and our LORD'S dear Disciples were ready to leap for Joy. To me, the Meeting seemed to be like the Meeting of the twelve Tribes, when they came from different Parts to Worship the LORD at Jerusalem. Among others that came to hear the Word, were several Ministers, whom the LORD has been pleased to honour, in making them Instruments of bringing many Sons to Glory. The one was a Dutch Calvinistical Minister, named Freelinghausen, Pastor of a Congregation about four Miles off New-Brunswick: He is a worthy old Soldier of JESUS CHRIST, and was a Beginner of the great Work, which I trust the LORD is carrying on in these Parts. He has been strongly opposed by his carnal Brethren; but GOD has always appeared for him in a surprizing Manner, and made him more than Conqueror over all. thro' his Love: He has long since learned to Fear him only, who can destroy both Body and Soul in Hell. Another was one Mr. Cross, Minister of a Congregation at Baskinridge, about 20 Miles from Brunswick: A most remarkable Outpouring of the Spirit has been frequently seen in his Congregation, for which he has been much opposed by natural Men: He himself told me of many wonderful Effects, and sudden Conversions that had been wrought by the LORD under his Ministry. For some time eight or nine used to come to him together in deep Distress of Soul; and I think he said, two Hundred of his Congregation, which is not very large, were effectually brought home to CHRIST: But tho' they are the excellent Ones of the Earth, they are looked upon as Enthusiasts and Madmen, and treated as such by those that know not GOD, and are ignorant of the hidden Life of JESUS CHRIST in their Hearts: He indeed is one, who, I believe would rejoice to suffer for the LORD JESUS. Oh that I may be like minded! A third Minister was one Mr. Camphel, who has been a Preacher of the Doctrines of Grace for these four Years; was a regular moral Liver, and accounted a very good Man; but within these few Months, being convinced of Sin, and that he knew nothing experimentally of JESUS CHRIST, tho' he had pretended to preach him so long; after many Struggles with himself, he told the Presbytery he was unconverted, and therefore durst not preach till he was converted: Accordingly he has le…t off Preaching these two Months, and h…s laboured under unspeakable Anguish and Distress of Soul. By some he is looked upon as melancholy, and besides himself; but I had much Discourse with him, and really believe these Humiliations will prepare him for great and eminent Services in the Church of GOD.—His Case puts me in mind of Professor Frank, who being on Easter-Day to preach on the Nature of Divine Faith, and finding he had not that Faith himself, was convicted by GOD of his unregenerate State, upon which he ran into the Woods, was there deeply humbled, and at last became a most exalted Instance of Faith. At our Persuasion, Mr. Campbell promised to preach next Sunday▪ and, I believe, will be instrumental of convicting many Heart-Hypocrites among the Dissenting Ministers: For that there are such, is evident from this; tho' they have been bred up in, and preach the Doctrines of Grace, yet whenever the Power of GOD appears in any Congregation, they cry it down, as much as our Ministers of the Church of England. Oh that the LORD may Comfort poor Mr. Campbell, and cause him to detect these Wolves in Sheep's Cloathing! With these Ministers, and many other Disciples of our dear LORD JESUS, I took sweet Counsel. We eat our Bread with Gladness and Singleness of Heart; and comforted ourselves with this Consideration, that, tho' we must be separated from each other on this Earth, yet we should sit down to eat Bread with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven. Hasten, O LORD, th… blessed Time▪ Oh when … thy Kingdom come!
Maidenhead, and Trent-Town.
Wednesday, November 21. Set out early with about 20 in Company, for Maidenhead, a little above 20 Miles from Brunswick, where, at Mr. Tennent's Request, I had appointed to preach as to Day. At Noon we got there, and preached from a Waggon to about 1500 Persons, on the Conversion of St. Paul; and GOD was pleased to direct my Words, and enable me to preach so suitably to the poor despised Christians in these Parts, that they knew not well how to express their Satisfaction. The LORD is gracious in all his Ways, and wonderful in all his Works. Oh that I could praise him as I ought! Here one Mr. Rowland, another faithful Minister of JESUS CHRIST, gave us the Meeting.—He has been a Preacher about 2 Years; has gone about doing Good, and had many Seals to his Ministry:—Much of the Simplicity of CHRIST was discernable in his Behaviour. Blessed be GOD, for sending such burning and shining Lights in this dark and dead Generation! Thou, LORD of the Harvest, send forth more such Labourers into thy Harvest. After Sermon we were kindly … attained at a House near the Place where I preach'd; and being strongly desired by many, and hearing a condemned Malefactor was to suffer that Week, in Company with about 30 more, I went to Trent-Town, 10 Miles from Maidenhead, and reached thither by 5 in the Evening. … GOD was please… to … … thy Soul, and bring my Sins to Remembrance, so that I could scarce hold up my Head;—however, knowing that GOD called, I went out trusting in his Divine Strength, and preached in the Court-House; and tho' I was quite barren and dry at the Beginning of the Discourse; yet GOD enabled me to speak with great Sweetness, Freedom and Power, before I had done. The unhappy Criminal seemed hardened; but I had great Reason to believe some Good was done in the Place. LORD, send forth others to carry it on, for thy dear Son's sake.
Trent-Town and Neshaminy.
Thursday, Nov. 22. Set out for Neshaminy, 20 Miles distant from Trent-Town, where old Mr. Tennent lives, and keeps an Academy, and where I was to preach to Day, according to Appointment. About 12 we came thither, and found about 3000 People gather'd together in the Meeting-House Yard.—Mr. William Tennent, an eminent Servant of JESUS CHRIST, because we staid beyond the Time appointed, was preaching to them. When I came up, he soon stopt; sung a Psalm, and then I began to speak as the LORD gave me Utterance. At first, the People seem'd unaffected; but in the Midst of my Discourse, the Power of the LORD JESUS came upon me, and I felt such a Struggling within myself for the People, as I scarce ever felt before.—The Hearers began to be melted down immediately, and cry much; and we had good Reason to hope the LORD intended good for many. After I had finished, Mr. Gilbert Tennent gave a Word of Exhortation, to confirm what had been delivered. At the End of his Discourse we sung a Psalm, and then dismissed the People with a Blessing. Oh that the LORD may say Amen to it! After our Exercises were over, we went to old Mr. Tennent's, who entertain'd us like one of the antient Patriarchs: His Wife to me seemed like Elizabeth, and he like Zachary; both, as far as I can find, walk in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the LORD, blameless. Tho' GOD was pleased to humble my Soul, so that I was obliged to retire for a while; yet we had sweet Communion with each other, and spent the Evening in Concerting what Measures had best be taken, for Promoting our dear LORD's Kingdom. It happened very providentially, that Mr. Tennent and his Brethren, are appointed to be a Presbytery, by the Synod; so that they intend Breeding up gracious Youths, and sending them out, from time to time, into our LORD's Vineyard.—The Place wherein the young Men study now, is, in Contempt, called, The College: It is a Log-House, about 20 Foot long, and near as many broad; and to me it seem'd to resemble the School of the old Prophets; for that their Habitations were mean, and that they sought not great Things for themselves, is plain from those Passages of Scripture wherein we are told, that each of them took a Beam to … them a House, and that at the Feast of the Sons of the Prophets, one of them put on the Pot. Whilst the others went to fetch some Herbs … of the Field. And that can be said of most of our publick Universities, is, they are glorious without. From this despised Place, 7 or 8 worthy Ministers of JESUS have lately been sent forth; more are almost ready to be sent; and a Foundation is now Laying for the Instruction of many others. The Devil will certainly rage against them; but the Work I am persuaded is of GOD, and therefore will not come to nought. Carnal Ministers oppose them strongly; and because People, when awakened by Mr. Tennent or his Brethren, see through, and therefore leave their Ministry; the poor Gentlemen are loaded with Contempt, and looked upon (as all faithful Preachers will be) as Persons that turn the World upside down. A notable War, I trust, is Commencing between Michael and the Dragon. We may easily guess who will prevail. The Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpent's Head.