Continuation of Journal During the Time Detained in England by the Embargo, Journal entry 69
SOUTH-CAROLINA.
Tuesday, January 1. Rode about 10 Miles, and to my great Comfort, where we baited, met with one, who, I had great Reason to believe, was a Child of GOD. It somewhat grieved me, that I could stay no longer; but being in Haste, we passed over a Half-Mile Ferry, and about sun-set came to a Tavern lying near five Miles in the Province of South-Carolina. Here I immediately perceived the People were more polite than those we generally met with. But I believe the People of the House, at first, could have wished I had not come to be their Guest that Night: For it being New-Years-Day, several of the Neighbours were met together, in order to divert themselves by dancing Country Dances. By Advice of my Friends, I went in amongst them, while a Woman was Dancing a Jigg. At my first Entrance I endeavoured to shew the Folly of such Entertainments, and to convince her how well pleased the Devil was with every Step she took:—For some Time she endeavoured to out-brave me; neither the Fidler nor she desisted; but at last she gave over, and the Musician laid aside his Instrument. It would have made any one smile, to see how the Rest of the Company, one by one, attacked me, and brought, as they thought, Arguments to support their Wantonness. But CHRIST triumphed over Satan: They were all put to Silence; and were for some Time so over-awed, that after I had discoursed with them on the Nature of Baptism, the Necessity of being born again, in order to enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven; at their Entreaty, I baptized one of their Children; and prayed afterwards, as I was enabled, and as the Circumstances of the Company required. Then I and my Companions took a little Refreshment. But the People were so bent on their Pleasure, that notwithstanding all that had been said, after I was gone to Bed, I heard their Musick and Dancing; which made me look back on my own past Follies, with Shame and Confusion of Face; for such a one not long since, was I myself. LORD, for thy Mercies sake, shew all unhappy Formalists the same Favour, and suffer them not to go on in such a carnal Security till they lift up their Eyes in Torments. Draw them, O …aw them from Feeding upon such Husks. Let them know what it is to feed upon the fatted Calf: Even the Comforts of the blessed Spirit. Amen. Amen.
January 2. Rose very early; prayed, sung a Hymn, and gave a sharp Reproof to the Dancers. They were very attentive, and took it in good Part. At break of Day we mounted … Horses, and I think never had a more pleasant Journey in all my Days: For near 20 Miles we Rode over the Shore of a most beautiful Bay, as plain as a Terras Walk; and as we passed along were wonderfully delighted to see Porpusses taking their Pastime, and Shore resounding to Shore the Praises of him who has set Bounds to the Sea that it cannot pass, and hath said, Here shall your proud Waves be stayed. At Night we thought to call at a Gentleman's House, where we had been recommended, about 40 Miles distant from our last Night's Lodging; but the Moon being totally eclipsed, we miss'd the Path that turned out of the Road. We then thought it most adviseable, as we were in the main Road, to go on our Way, trusting to the Almighty to strengthen both our Beasts and us. We had not gone far, but we saw a Light; two of my Friends went up to it, and saw a Hut full of Negroes: They enquired after the Gentleman's House whither we were directed; but the Negroes seem'd surprized, and said they knew no such Man, and that they were but new Comers. From these Circumstances, one of my Friends inferr'd, that these Negroes might be some of those who lately had made an Insurrection in the Province, and were run away from their Masters. When he return'd, we were all of his Mind; and therefore thought it best to mend our Pace. Soon after we saw another great Fire near the Road Side; but imagining there was another Nest of such Negroes, we made a Circuit into the Woods.—One of my Friends, at a Distance, observed them Dancing round the Fire. The Moon shining bright, we soon found our Way into the great Road again; and after we had gone about a Dozen Miles, expecting to find Negroes in every Place, we came to a great Plantation, the Master of which, to our great Comfort, gave us Lodging and our Beasts Provender. Upon our relating the Circumstances of our Travels, he gave us Satisfaction about the Negroes; informed us whose they were, and upon what Occasion they were in those Places in which we found them. This afforded us much Comfort, after we had rode near Three-score Miles, and, as we thought, in great Peril of our Lives. Blessed be thy Name, O LORD, for this and all other thy Mercies through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.
Thursday, January 3. Had a hospitable Breakfast set before us by the Gentleman who last Night received us into his House. Set out late in the Morning. Passed over a Three Mile Ferry, near George-Town: And, for the Ease of our Beasts, rode not above 18 Miles the whole Day. A good Man, says Solomon, is merciful to his Beast. How they will answer it at the great Day, who abuse the inferior Creatures, as tho' they had a License to use them as they please, I know not; sure I am, that for every such Abuse GOD will bring them into Judgment.
Friday, January 4. Lay at a little House on Santee River; where I met with one of my Red-coat Catechumens, who had been discharged, but retained a grateful Sense of the Instructions that had been given him. Passed over two Ferries in the Morning. Baited at Dinner-Time, after we had rode 18 Miles, and were then obliged to ride 25 Miles more, there being no proper Place to stay by the Way. About Eight in the Evening we came to a Tavern, within Eight Miles of Charles-Town, where we comfortably were refreshed with Food convenient for us. We had Family Prayer; and therein endeavoured to express our Thankfulness to GOD, for thus causing us to renew our Strength, and bringing us so near a Place where we would be. Oh! that our Hearts may be excited, more and more, to praise the LORD, for these and all other Mercies, which he daily pours down upon the unworthiest of the Sons of Men!