Continuation of Journal from Arrival at Savannah to Leaving Stanford, Journal · Journal entry 13
CHARLES-TOWN
Friday, Auguſt 21. Had a comfortable Paſſage with my dear Friends. Found the Sea Air improved my Health, and arrived ſafe at Charles-Town about Fourth Afternoon. Many came to the Whar and ſaluted me moſt kindly. I retired a ſoon as poſſible to my old Lodgings, and ſpent the Evening moſt ſweetly at the Houſe of Mr. Fowler, where I hope many true Diſciples of the bleſſed JESUS were met together. The LORD, who once came to the Eleven by Night and ſaid, Peace be unto you, I am perſuaded by his Spirit ſpoke to many of them. The LORD, I believe, has made a willing People in this Day of his Power. Praiſed be his Name, from the riſing up of the Sun unto the going down of the ſame! Amem & Amen.
Monday, September 1. Being but weak in Body (except on Sundays) I have preached only once every Day; but I think with greater Power than ever, and with greater Succeſs. I ſcarce know the Time wherein I did not ſee a conſiderable Melting in ſome Part or other of the Congregation, and often it ſpread over the whole. Several Times I was ſo weak before I began to preach, that I thought it almoſt impoſſible I ſhould go through half a Diſcourſe; but the LORD quickened, enlightened and ſupported me above meaſure. Out of Weakneſs I became ſtrong, and the LORD manifeſted himſelf in the Sanctuary. The Audiences were more numerous than ever, and it was ſuppoſed not leſs than Four Thouſand were in and about the Meeting-Houſe when I preached my Farewel-Sermon. The Commiſſary, having run his utmoſt Length, thought it beſt to ſay no more himſelf; but he employed one Mr. Rowe to preach for him, who told the People, that becauſe of their Wickedneſs, GOD had ſent them ſtrong Deluſion, that they might believe a Lie. Finding when I was here laſt, that JESUS CHRIST was not preached in the Church, my Conſcience would not ſuffer me to attend on thoſe that preach there any more: I therefore went to the Baptiſt and Independant Meeting-Houſe, where JESUS CHRIST, I hope, was preached in Sincerity. I likewiſe adminiſtred the Sacrament thrice in a private Houſe, viz. Yeſterday was ſeven-night, Yeſterday, and this Morning. Never did I ſee any Thing more ſolemn. The Room was …arge, and moſt were diſſolved into Tears …s tho' they were weeping at their SAVIOUR'S Croſs. Surely JESUS CHRIST was evidently ſet forth before them. Many, …t their Requeſt, ſtood by that did not re…eive, but they wept bitterly. I prayed …or them and all with great Power; and I …ope the LORD will cloath them with a Wedding Garment. What was beſt, Baptiſts, Church-Folks and Preſbyterians all joined together, and received according to the Church of England, except two, who deſired to have it ſitting. I willingly complied, knowing it was a Thing quite indifferent. Many others hearing how GOD was amongſt us Yeſterday, deſired I would adminiſter to them to Day. I did, and our Lord was with us again. Having more Leiſure from my private Studies, by Reaſon my Weakneſs would not permit me to read much, I had better Opportunities of converſing with, and confirming thoſe that were under Convictions. Moſt of them I found grown in Grace, and their Hearts ſoftned by redeeming Love. Mr. Jonathan Bryan and Mr. Bull came to Charleſtown, I hope, much eſtabliſhed Mr. Hugh Bryan they left ſick at Home, drinking deeply of the Cup: of GOD's Conſolations. His Wife came with them to Charleſtown: A gracious Woman. By my Advice they returned Home, with a Reſolution to begin a Negroe-School for their Slaves. A young Stage-Player, convinced when I was laſt at New-York, and who providentially came to Georgia when Mr. Jonathan Bryan was there, is to be their firſt Maſter. The Time would …ail me was I to deſcend to every Particular. A great, very great Alteration is made in the Life and Manners of moſt of the Polite Ladies. The Rooms that were uſually▪ employed for Balls and Aſſemblies, were now turned into Society-Room…. Every Night, where I was invited to Supper, it became cuſtomary to have the Houſe filled with Company, whom the LORD enabled me to pray with and exhort, with great Power; but once I was ſo weak, that I was obliged to be led Home. Many came to me in private under the deepeſt Convictions. Several were eſteemed mad by their Relations: One young Lady in particular, for ſome little Time, was turned out of Doors, but afterwards was recalled again. And one Tradeſman, who was looked upon as a very-good Man, was convinced of his Self-Righteouſneſs in an extraordinary. Manner, and burnt near Forty Pounds Worth of Books, written by ſuch as Chub, Foſter, &c. The Care which People expreſſed of my Heath and Preſervation, was uncommon. They were generally ſending me in ſomething or another, and ſo loaded our Sloop with Sea-Stores, that I was obliged to ſend Part of them to the Orphan-Houſe. How this Work will end I know not. At preſent …here's a comfortable Proſpect, that the LORD will gather to himſelf, out of Charleſtown, a peculiar People, zealous of Good Works. Being to be abſent from them for a long Seaſon, I exhorted them with all my Power to continue in the Grace of GOD; I forwarned them of their Danger. and told them how they muſt deny themſelves and take up their daily Croſſes, if they would follow JESUS CHRIST. Having our Sloop freighted, and the Wind favouring us, after Dinner, with ſeveral Charleſtown Friends I embarked for Rhode-Iſland, intending to go from thence by Land to Boſton. In the Evening we got over the Bar: But the Pilot would not take any thing for his Trouble. Here I parted with all Friends except Four, Two of which, GOD willing, intend to accompany me during this Excurſion. Do thou, O LORD, who claſpeſt the Winds in thy Fiſts, and holdeſt the Waters in the Hollow of thy Hands, accept our Thanks for paſt Mercies; ſanctify our Voyage, and if it be beſt, carry us with Speed to the Haven where we would be. Amen and Amen.