Continuation of Journal from Arrival at Savannah to Leaving Stanford, Journal · Journal entry 10 – Journal entry 12
Hooſpanah Chappel and Good Hope.
Wedneſday, July 24. Roſe ſometime before Day, and got to Hooſpanah Chapel, …ear 30 Miles from Mr. Bee's about Noon. Here I preach'd to a very ſmall …, few People living thereabouts; but (as I was afterwards informed) not without ſome good Effect. Sermon being over, I went on Horſe-back to Good-Hope, where Mr. Hugh Bryan lived, and ſeveral followed, hoping I would preach again in the Evening: But here my bodily Strength ſo failed me, and GOD poured ſuch ineffable Thirſtings▪ and Hungrings in my Soul after him, that I ſometimes hoped he was about to ſet my impriſoned Soul at Liberty. Surely my GOD then placed me upon Mount Piſgah, and gave me a diſtant Proſpect of the Heavenly Canaan! Every Limb ſtretched for Immortality, and I longed for the bleſſed Angels to come and carry me to Abraham's Harbour. Theſe Words, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," with wonderful Sweetneſs and Power were preſſed upon me; and the Thoughts of my Saviour's dying Love, and of the LORD's being my Righteouſneſs, melted me into Tears. My dear Friend and Companion wept over me, anſwer'd almoſt Tear for Tear, and ſeemed willing to take his Flight with me into the Arms of our beloved JESUS. The poor Negroes crowded round the Windows, and by their Looks and Officiouſneſs expreſs'd a great Concern for me. Their Maſter had acquainted them, I believe, that I was their Friend: He himſelf ſat by, and wept too: But alas! GOD ſoon ſhewed me, that the Time of my Departure was not yet at Hand: In a ſhort Time I perceived my Body grew ſtronger, and I was enabled to walk about. As well as I could, I joined in Family-Prayer. I beg'd of GOD, if I was not to die, but live, it might be to declare the Works and loving Kindneſs of the LORD. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son's ſake! Amen and Amen.
Good-Hope and Beaufort.
Thurſday, July 25. Being too weak to ride on Horſe-back, I went in Mr. Bryan's Boat to Beaufort: We got thither-about Ten in the Morning; but the Heat of the Sun almoſt ſtruck me down, and took away my Senſes. As ſoon as I put my Foot on Shore, kind Mr. Jones courte…uſly received me. In the cool of the Evening I preached in his Church to a larger Auditory, and with more Power than when there laſt. Mr. Jones thanked me for my Sermon, diſapproved …tirely of the Commiſſary's Treatment of me, and kindly entertain'd me and my Friends all Night. The LORD JESUS bleſs his Habitation, and give him to know how it is that we are freely redeem'd by his precious Blood!
Beaufort and Savannah.
Friday, July 26. Took Boat before Day, and having …ine Weather, and a favourable Gale, reach'd Savannah, and ſaluted my dear Family about Five in the Evening. My Body being weak, it could not bear up under the Joy and Satisfaction which I felt in my Mind. However, I kneel'd down, wept out a ſhort Prayer and Thankſgiving, and as well as I could, told my Aſſiſtants what GOD had done for my Soul. In the Evening I expounded, and undeſignedly, thinking it was the Leſſon for the Night, read the laſt Chapter of St. Paul's ſecond Epiſtle to Timothy, in which were theſe encouraging Wor…s, But watch thou in all Things, endure Afflictions, do the Work of an Evangeliſt, make full Proof of thy Miniſtry. Alexander the Copper-Smith, did me much Evil: The LORD reward him according to his Works. Of whom be thou aware alſo: For he hath greatly withſtood our Words. At my firſt Tryal no Man ſtood by me: Notwithſtanding the LORD ſtood by me, and ſtrengthened me, that by me the Preaching might be fully known: And I was delivered out of the Mouth of the Lion. And the LORD ſhall deliver me out of every evil Work, and will preſerve me to His heavenly Kingdom. To whom be Glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Thurſday, Auguſt 7. Continued very weak ever ſince my Return from Charles-Town: But was much refreſhed this Morning with the Sight of ſome dear Friends, (amongſt whom was one Mr. Tilly, a gracious Baptiſt Miniſter) who came in our Sloop to ſee the O…phan-Houſe. I gave them the Meeting at early Prayers; and GOD enabled me to expound with Power. LORD, let them not depart hence without having ſome Spiritual Gift imparted to them! Amen and Amen.
Sunday, Auguſt 3. Felt more than common of the Divine Preſence in my Soul ſince the Arrival of Charleſtown Friends; Who brought the Orphans many Preſents, and bleſſed GOD for the Footſteps of his Goodneſs and Providence plainly diſcernable amongſt us. But laſt Night, through Weakneſs of Body, and a prodigious Concern which lay upon my Soul on Account of ſome domeſtick Trials, juſt as I began Family Prayer, I was ſtruck, as I thought, almoſt for Death. I put up a few broken Accents, and breath'd out, LORD JESUS receive my Spirit. This Morning my Maſter ſhewed me why I was thus humbled: Soon after I roſe, I found that Mr. Jones, and his Wife of Port-Royal, Mr. Jonathan Bryan, Brother to Mr. Hugh Bryan, and one Mr. Bull, were come to pay us a Viſit. Tho' exceeding weak, and I had almoſt laid aſide Thoughts of officiating this Day; yet upon Mr. Jones's Intimating that Friends came expecting to hear me, I promiſed, if I could, to preach, and beg'd him to read Prayers: He did; but I found myſelf ſo ill that I would fain have perſuaded Mr. Tilly to preach for me: He peremptorily refuſed, urging that GOD would ſtrengthen me if I begun. Upon this I ſtood up, and ſoon found Power communicated to me from above. I felt a ſweet Melting in my Soul: And 'ere I had prayed long Mr. Bull dropped down as tho' ſhot with a Gun. He ſoon got up, and ſat attentively to hear the Sermon. The Power ſoon ſpread abroad; the greateſt Part of the Congregation was under Concern: Tears trickled down apace. GOD manifeſted himſelf alſo much amongſt us during the Time of the Sacrament. And I went home aſhamed that I was ſo unwilling to preach. I ſtood juſtly reproved when Mr. Tilly after we came home, ſaid, Did I not tell you, GOD would ſtrengthen you? Deareſt-LORD for thy Mercies ſake never let me diſtruſt thee again! Oh me of little Faith!
Monday, Auguſt 4. Was ſent for about Noon to ſee Mr. Jonathan Bryan. At my Coming I found him under great Concern and ſtrong Convictions of Sin. Oh, how did he reflect on his paſt miſpent Life! How did he bleſs GOD▪ for bringing him to Savannah! How did he deſire that he might be found in CHRIST 'ere he returned home! His Wife ſat Weeping by, and Mr. Bull lay on a Bed, Groaning in Bitterneſs of Soul, under a Senſe of Guilt, and Crying out for an Intereſt in CHRIST. I aſked him what cauſed him to fall down Yeſterday: He anſwered, the Power of GOD's Word. After about half an Hour's Converſation on the Nature of the New-Birth, and the Neceſſity of a ſaving Cloſure with the LORD CHRIST, I kneeled down and prayed with them, and then took my Leave, hoping the LORD would pluck them as Fire-Brands out of the Fire. Even ſo, LORD JESUS. Amen and Amen.
Sunday, Auguſt 9. Went on Tueſday with Mr. Bryan, Jones, &c. to Betheſda, and had the Pleaſure of ſeeing the Work of GOD much carried on in moſt of our Viſiters Hearts. It was but ſeldom I could officiate, but when I did the LORD generally cauſed the Word to come with very great Power. This Morning I expounded early, as uſual, and read Part of the Prayers at Ten a Clock; but got Mr. Tilly to preach; who tho' a Baptiſt Minister, joined with us in receiving the Sacrament in the Church of England Way. And the King was pleas'd to ſit at his Table. He brought us into his Banquetting-Houſe, and cauſed it to be a Feaſt of fat Things to our Souls. Many, I believe, fed on JESUS in their Hearts with Thankſgiving. After the Ordinance was over, the LORD enlarged my Heart, and I prayed as the Spirit gave me Utterance. I went home, much refreſhed in Soul, but ſo weak in Body, that I declined going to publick Worſhip in the Afternoon. In the mean while, GOD gave me a freſh ſupply of Strength. About the Evening, when my Friends were ſitting down together, finding the Power of the LORD come upon me, I began to ſpeak to them of the Things of GOD. A great Alteration was ſoon diſcernable in moſt of the Company. Their Concern gradually increaſed, till many burſt into Floods of Tears; and one fell on the Ground. 'Ere I had done, ſome of my Pariſhioners came up, and the reſt of my Family: They alſo felt the Divine Power. When I had done ſpeaking to them from GOD, I ſpoke for them in Prayer to GOD: My Soul was carried as it were out of the Body, and I was enabled to wreſtle mightily with our LORD in their Behalf. He did not let us go without a Bleſſing. The Room was filled with the Cries of thoſe around me; and many, I believe, at that Time ſought JESUS Sorrowing. The Concern continued after the Duty was over. Several were in great Agonies of Soul; and a Cherikee Indian-Trader, who providentially was preſent, deſired to ſpeak with me, ſaying, He never ſaw the like before. Mr. Jones alſo, of Port-Royal, who went away on Friday, but was forced back, and officiated for me this Afternoon at Savannah, told a Friend, that Surely GOD was with us? Bleſſed be His rich, ſovereign and diſtinguiſhing Grace. LORD make me lowly in my own Eyes, and cauſe me ſtill to go on from Conquering to conquer! Not unto me: Not unto me; but unto thee, my King and my GOD, be all the Glory!
Saturday, Auguſt 15. Parted with dear Mr. Bull and Mr. Bryan on Tueſday, who I hope, could ſay, LORD now letteſt thou thy Servants depart in Peace, for our Eyes have ſeen, our Hearts have felt thy Salvation. Met with cloſer outward Trials this Week than ever I was viſited with before. Was forced, ſeveral Times, to come out, thro' Concern of Soul and Weakneſs of Body, in the Midſt of Publick Worſhip; and had not GOD uncommonly ſupported me, I muſt frequently have given up the Ghoſt. But as Troubles abounded, Conſolations abounded alſo. Theſe Words, But David ſtrengthned himſelf in the LORD his GOD, were preſſed with a wonderful ſupporting Power upon my Soul. The Eleventh of Hebrews alſo was bleſſed to me; I found the Benefit of being afflicted, GOD enabled me to ſanctify him in my Heart; and my greateſt Grief was▪ that I ſhould be ſo naughty as to oblige my Heavenly Father to …haſtize and ſcourge me.—LORD I adore thy infinite condeſcending Goodneſs! Oh do not leave me to myſelf, but purge, oh purge me for thy Mercies Sake, that I may bring forth more Fruit!
Correct me when I go aſtray,
And lead me in thy perfect Way.
Monday, Auguſt 17. Preached Yeſterday Morning, and took leave of my Pariſhioners. Adminiſter'd the bleſſed Sacrament, and gave a cloſe Exhortation afterwards. Settled every thing to Day, to the beſt of my Power, for the Orphan-Houſe (which ſucceeds even beyond Expectation) and was ſo filled with the Love of CHRIST, in this Evening's Expoſition and my private Farewel-Diſcourſe to my Family, that I could almoſt ſay, I was within the Veil. My Hearers, both in private and publick, were vaſtly affected; and a ſtrange Woman was ſo touched, that ſhe came to me, confeſſing her Sins and crying out, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? When I came to converſe with her, I found GOD had ſtruck her the laſt Time I preached at Port-Royal; and I hope he will now call her effectually by his Grace. Pleaſed, and I hope in ſome Meaſure thankful to the LORD of all LORDS, for ſetting ſuch Seals to my Miniſtry juſt at Departure. About Ten at Night I went on Board our Sloop with my other dear Viſitors, in order to go to Charles-Town, where, by the Advice of Friends, the Captain is to take in Freight for Boſton, for the Benefit of the Orphan-Houſe. The LORD preſerve my dear Lambs and Flock in my Abſence; bring them into green Paſtures, and lead them beſide the Waters of Comfort.