Continuation of Journal During the Time Detained in England by the Embargo, Journal entry 62 – Journal entry 65
Gloucester, York and Williamsburg.
Friday, December 14. … about seven in the Morning. … … Gloucester Town, a very little Place, and crossed in Ferry a Mile over. Din'd at York, a Place somewhat larger; and reached Williamsburg, the Metropolis of Virginia, by the Evening. The Gentleman before mentioned, was so kind as to accompany us.—With him I discoursed much of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of GOD. He seem'd to be one to whom GOD had given a hearing Ear and an obedient Heart. I have not met with a Temper more resembling that of Nathaniel, a great while. Oh that the LORD may make him an Israelite indeed!
Saturday, December 15. Waited on, and afterwards, at his Invitation, din'd with the Governor, who received me most courteously. Paid my Respects to Mr. …ir, Commissary of Virginia, and by far the most worthy Clergyman I have yet convers'd with in all America; his Discourse was savory, such as tended to the Use of Edifying. He received me with Joy; asked me to Preach; and wished my Stay was to be longer. Under GOD … has been chiefly instrumental in raising a beautiful College in Williamsburg, in which is a Foundation for about eight Scholars, a President, two Masters, and Professors in the several Sciences. Here the Gentlemen of Virginia send their Children; and as far as I could learn by Inquiry, they are near in the same Order, and under the same Regulation and Discipline as in our Universities at Home. The present Masters came from Oxford: Two of them, I find, were my Contemporaries. I rejoiced in …eeing such a Place in America. It may be of excellent Use, if learning CHRIST be made the Foundation of their Study, and other …rts and Sciences only introduced and pursued a… subservient to that: For want of this, most of our English Schools and Universities are sunk into meer Seminaries of Paganism; young Men's Heads are stuffed with Heathen Mythology: CHRIST, or Christianity, is scarce so much as named amongst them; so that when they come to be converted, they are obliged, Penelope like, to undo what they have been doing for many Years; and they are the most happy, who can soonest forget their Education. Revive, O LORD, a primitive Spirit; and then we may hope for some primitive Schools to be erected and encourag'd amongst us.
Sunday, Decem. 16. Preached in the Morning, and as I was afterwards informed, to the Satisfaction and Profit of many. Several Gentlemen came from York, fourteen Miles off, to hear me, and were desirous of my going back to preach at their Town, on the Morrow. A large Audience might have been expected, I found, could timely Notice have been given; but being in great haste, there being no Sermon customarily in the Afternoon, I din'd with the Commissary, who entertain'd me and my Friends with great Civility, and left Williamsburg in the Afternoon, promising, i… possible, to visit these Parts again, some Time in the Summer. About three Miles off the Town, we took …eave of our dear Friend from Gloucester; whose Heart GOD has much melted, by the Foolishness of Preaching. Here also, as well as at Williamsburg, we left some Letters to be sent to England. And I could not but think, that GOD intended, in his own Time, to work a good Work in these Southern Parts of America. At present, they seem more dead to GOD; but far less prejudiced than in the Northern Parts of America. At his Request, I gave the Printer leave to print my Journals and Sermons; and I trust, that GOD, who loves to work by the meanest Instruments, will be pleased to bless them to the Conviction and Edification of these his People. Visit them, O dearest LORD, with thy Salvation!
Stretch out thine Arm, victorious King
Their …eig…ing Sins subda…:
Drive the old Dragon from his Seat,
With his infernal Crow.
Monday, December 17. Got over a Ferry three Miles broad, the last Night; and providentially met with a young Man, who showed us the Way to one Capt. R—s, who entertain'd … with Simplicity and Freedom: He seem'd well disposed, and was so kind as to go with us this Morning 14 Miles on our Way. At my first getting up, I perceived myself much indisposed; but GOD was pleased to strengthen me▪ I h…ld out my Journey till I came to an Ordinary above 30 Miles from the Place where we lay la… Night: Here we met with what some would account very indifferent Entertainment; but GOD enabled us to be resigned and thankful. Bashfulness and a Fear of being Troublesome has kept us from embracing Offers of Gentleman's Houses; but we have heard a good Report of the Generosity of the Virginia Gentlemen, and I have great reason to believe what is reported; for I find they are so willing and accustomed to entertain …trangers, that f…w think it worth their while to keep publick Ordinaries. It's good to find People given to Hospitality.
Tuesday, December 18. Was very restless and indispos'd with a Fever all Night; which continuing upon me, and one of our Horses being founder'd, it was thought advisable to stay at the Ordinary all the Day. Being very weak, I could scarce list up my Head, or eat any Food; but GOD caused me to rejoice in it, so that my greatest Concern was about the Trouble I gave my dear Friends. I never feel the Power of Religion more than when under outward or inward …; it is that alone can enable any Man to sustain▪ with Patience and Thankfulness his bodily Infir…. LORD, l…t me feel the Power of it more and …, tho' thou …ill me, yet will … in thee.
NORTH-CAROLINA.
…, December 19. Finding myself …, and the Horse also being in better order, we took a short Day▪ Journey of above, 26 Miles, and were most affectionately received by one Mr. …, in …-Carolina. A little after …ar coming in, I beg…d Leave to lie down to … my weary …. And some way or other in my …, my Friends acquainted our … who I was; upon which he was so rejoiced that … could not tell how to express his Satisfaction; his Wi…e also seem'd most … to oblige, and they were only concerned that they could do no more for us. The honest old Man told us, that his Son-in-Law, who lived about three Miles off, ever since he heard of me in the News, wished that I could come thither. This is not the first Time (by many) that I have found the Advantage of the Things my Adversaries have inserted in the publick Papers. They do but excite People's Curiosity. There must be something to raise their Attention. Besides all Men of Seriousness and Candour, naturally infer, that some Good must be doing, where such Stories and Falsities are invented. It often gives me unspeakable Comfort, to see how wisely GOD over rules every Thing for the good of his Church: And how he never more effectually bruises the Serpent's Head, than when he permits him, most cruelly to bruise our Heel.
The World, Sin, Death, oppose in vain:
Christ, by his Dying, Death hath slain.
My great Deliverer, and my God!
In vain does the old Dragon rage,
In vain all Hell its Power engage,
Nought can withstand Christ's conqu…ing Blood.
EDEN-TOWN.
Tuesday, December 30. Better this Morning, than I have been for some Days past. Took our Leave of our kind Host, and travelled chearfully on. About Noon we lighted off in the Woods, to give our Horses Provender, and to take a little Refreshment ourselves, which we have done every Day this Week, because there are no Ordinaries in the Way. No one can tell with what Gladness we eat our Food; and how comfortably we praised God, for spreading a Table for us in the Wilderness. By four in the Afternoon we reached Eden-Town, a little Place, but beautifully scituated by the Water-side. Here we were well entertained at a publick House; and tho' GOD was pleased to humble my Body by Weakness, and my Soul by Convictions of past Sins, yet before we went to Rest, he was pleased to refresh me with much Peace in the midst of my Humiliations; and exalt me, by giving me a more lively Sense of his Favour and loving Kindness. I think, I often feel what our LORD means, when he says, The Publican went down to his House justified, rather than the Pharisee. I doubt not, but while he was pouring out his Soul and smiting upon his Breast, the Holy Spirit overshadow'd and seal'd to him his Pardon. It is a dreadful Mistake, to deny the Doctrine of Assurance, or to think, it is confined to a Time of Persecution, or the Primitive Ages of the Church. Not only Righteousness and Peace, but Joy in the Holy Ghost (which is the Consequence of Assurance) is a necessary Part of the Kingdom of GOD within us. And tho' all are not to be condemned, who have not an immediate Assurance, yet all ought to labour after it. And I really believe, one great Reason why so many go mourning all their Life long, is owing to their …gnorance of their Christian Priviledge. They have not Assurance, because they ask it not; they ask it not, because they are taught, that it does not belong to Christians of these last Days; whereas, I know Numbers, whose Salvation is written upon their Hearts, as it were with a Sun-beam: They can rejoice in GOD their Saviour; and give Men and Devils the Challenge to separate them if they can from the Love of GOD in CHRIST JESUS their LORD. Dearest Redeemer, enlighten all thy Followers, to see their Priviledge; and never let them cease Wrestling with thee, till thou dost bless them, by assuring them of their Salvation.
Why should the Children of a King
Go …ing all their Days?
Great Comforter descend, and bring
Some Tokens of thy Grace.
Assure their Conscience of their Part
In the Redeemer's Blood,
And bear thy Witness with their Heart
That they are born of GOD.
Bell's Ferry.
Friday, Dec. 21. Was refreshed much both in Body and in Spirit, and the Weather being too hazy to pass over the Sound, I had a sweet Opportunity given me, of Writing some Thing that lay upon my Mind. I intended, had staid, to preach to those few People that were … the Town; but about Noon the Sun shinin… bright, and dispelling the Mist, at three a Cloc… we went in a Pettiauger over the Sound; an… were near seven Hours in our Passage. It … about Twelve Miles over. GOD favour'd … with a calm and pleasant Night. We praise him as we went over, by singing Hymns; … met with a convenient Ordinary when we ca… on the other Side. How … a … a … go in a long Time, when there is … … or … to carry it forwards! Thus it is with the Soul, when GOD with… the gentle Gales and Breathings of his blessed Spirit from …, we sail but … towards the Heaven of eternal Rest. Happy the Man who gets out of himself, and lives upon the Promises … the Gospel: He is … whether he is becalmed or in a Storm, that all shall work together for his ….