Continuation of Journal from Arrival at Savannah to Leaving Stanford, Journal · Journal entry 15 – Journal entry 16
Newport and Briſtol.
Wedneſday, Sept. 17. Left Newport in Rhode-Iſland about nine in the Morning, and reach'd Briſtol, a Town twelve Miles off, about Noon. Several Friends from Rhode-Iſland accompanied me; and before we came to the Town a Diſſenting Miniſter, as I found afterwards, met me, and in the Name of the Court, which was then ſitting at Briſtol, invited me and my Friends to dine with them, and alſo to give them a Sermon: I complied. The Gentlemen received us with much Civility: And after Dinner I preached in the Meeting-Houſe, to more People than might be expected on ſuch ſudden Notice. My Heart was much ſhut up in the Exerciſe. I felt and ſaw but little Power: However the Gentleme… ſeemed very thankful. I took my Leave about Four in the Afternoon; and lay at an Inn, about ten Miles farther on the Road. Here the LORD gave me a Spirit of Prayer. I wreſtled with GOD in Behalf of my ſelf and Friends. Supped comfortably. Sung a Hymn, and went to Reſt. Thanks be GOD for his unſpeakable Mercies!
Thurſday, Sept. 18. Roſe a long while before Day, and ſet out as ſoon as it was Light. Breakfaſted at a Miniſter's Houſe on the Road. Found the People were appriſed of my Coming, and were ſollicitous for my Preaching: But being reſolved, under GOD, if poſſible, to reach Boſton that Night, we travel'd on, for near fifty Miles, and came to Boſton about eight in the Evening. When we were within four Miles of the Town, the Governor's Son, and ſeveral other Gentlemen, and one or two-Miniſters, waited at a Gentleman's Houſe to give me the Meeting. They received me with great Gladneſs, and told me many more would have come, had not a large Funeral been in the Town, or if there had been more certain Notice of my Arriving. This rejoiced me: For I think I can ſtand any Thing better than this: It favours too much of human Grandeur: But I muſt be tried every Way. The LORD be my Helper. After ſtopping a little while, we went altogether in Company to Boſton, to the Houſe of one Mr. Staniford, Brother-in-Law to Dr. Coleman, who long ſince had ſent me an Invitation. Several Miniſters, and other Gentlemen came in to pay their Reſpects. My Heart was but low, and my Body weak; but at the Requeſt of one of the Miniſters I gave thanks to our gracious GOD for bringing me in Safety, and prayed that my Coming might be in the Fulneſs of the Bleſſing of the Goſpel of Peace. We then parted. I eat a little Supper; and then retired; beſeeching the LORD to raiſe my Heart, and make his Power known in the Hearts of his People. Even ſo LORD JESUS. Amen and Amen.
Friday, Sept. 19. Slept pretty well; and in the Morning perceived freſh Emanations of Divine Light, break in upon and refreſh my Soul. Was viſited by ſeveral Gentlemen and Miniſters; and went to the Governor's with Esq Willard, Secretary of the Province, a Man fearing God, and with whom (tho' before unknown in Perſon) I have correſponded for ſome Time. The Governor received me with the utmoſt Reſpect. He ſeemed to ſavour the Things which were of GOD, and deſired me to come and ſee him as often as I could. At eleven I went to publick Worſhip at the Church of England; and afterwards waited on the Commiſſary home, who read Prayers. He received me very courteouſly, and it being a Day whereon the Clergy of the eſtabliſhed Church met, I had Opportunity of converſing with five of them together. I think one of them firſt began witb me fo… calling that Tennent, and his Brethren, faithful Miniſters of JESUS CHRIST. I anſwer'd, I believed they were. They then queſtioned me about the Validity of Preſbyterian Ordination. I replied, I believed it was valid. They then urged againſt me a Paſſage in my firſt Journal, where I ſaid that a Baptiſt Miniſter at Deal did not give me a ſatisfactory Anſwer concerning his Miſſion: I anſwered, perhaps my Sentiments were altered. And is Mr. Weſley altered in his Sentiments too, ſaid one; for he was very ſtrenuous for the Church, and againſt all other Forms of Government, when he was at Boſton. I anſwered, he was then a great Bigot; but GOD had ſince enlarged his Heart, and, I believed, he was like minded with me, as to this Particular. I then urged, that a catholick Spirit was beſt; and that a Baptiſt Miniſter had communicated with me lately at Savannah. And, I ſuppoſe, ſays another Clergyman, you would do him as good a Turn and communicate with him. I anſwered, Yes. I then urged, that it was beſt to preach up the New-Birth, and the Power of Godlineſs; and not to inſiſt ſo much on the Form, for People would never be brought to one Mind as to that; nor did JESUS CHRIST ever intend it. Yes, but ſays Dr. Cutler, He did. How do prove it? Why ſays he, our LORD prayed that all might be one, even as thou, Father and I are one. I replied, that was ſpoken of the inward Union of the Souls of Believers with JESUS CHRIST, and not of the outward Church. That cannot be, ſays Dr. Cutler; for how then …ould it be ſaid, that the World might know, that thou haſt ſent me? He then (taking it for granted, that the Church of England was the only true apoſtolical Church) drew a Parallel between the Jewiſh and our Church, urging how GOD required all Things to be made according to the Pattern given on the Mount. I anſwered, before the Parallel could be juſt, it muſt be proved that every Thing enjoined in our Church was as much a Divine Inſtitution as any Rite or Ceremony under the Jewiſh Diſpenſation. I added farther, that I ſaw regenerate Souls among the Baptiſt, among the Preſbyterians, among the Independents, and among the Church-Folks: All Children of GOD, and yet all born again in a different Way of Worſhip; and who then can tell which is the moſt Evangelical? What, ſays the Commiſſary, can you ſee Regeneration with your Eyes? or ſomething to that Purpoſe. Soon after we began to talk of the Righteouſneſs of CHRIST; and the Commiſſary ſaid CHRIST was to make up the Defects of our Righteouſneſs. I aſked him if Converſion was not Inſtantaneous? He was unwilling to confeſs it; but having juſt before baptized an Infant at publick Worſhip, I aſked him whether he believed that very Inſtant in which he ſprinkled the Child with Water, the Holy Ghoſt f…ll upon the Child? He anſwered, Yes. Then ſays I, according to your own Principles Regeneration is Inſtantaneous; and ſince you will judge of the New-Birth by the Fruits, pray watch that Child, and ſee if it brings forth the Fruits of the Spirit. I alſo ſaid, that if every Child was really born again in Baptiſm, then every baptized Infant would be ſaved: And ſo they are, ſays Dr. Cutler. How do you prove that? Why, ſays he, the Rubrick ſays, that all Infants dying after Baptiſm, before they commit actual Sin are undoubtedly ſaved. I aſked what Text of Scripture there was to prove it. Here, ſays he, (holding a Prayer Book in his Hand) the Church ſays ſo. We then juſt hinted at Predeſtination. I ſaid, I ſubſcribed to the 17th Article of the Church in its plain literal Senſe with all my Heart. We then talked a little about …ally falling away from Grace. I ſaid, a true of Child of GOD, tho' he might fall foully yet could never fall finally. But, ſays he, the Article ſays Men may fall away from Grace given. But then, ſays I, obſerve what follows, and by the Grace of GOD they may riſe again▪ Several other Things, of leſs Conſequence, paſſed between us; but being engaged to dine at my Lodging, and finding how inconſiſtent they were, I took my Leave, reſolving they ſhould not have the Opportunity of denying me their Pulpits. However, they treated me with more Civility than any Set of our own Clergymen have done a long while. The Commiſſary very kindly urged me to dine with them; but being pre-engaged, I went to my Lodging; and in the Afternoon preached to about 4000 People in Dr. Coleman's Meeting-Houſe; and, as afterwards I was told by ſeveral, with great Succeſs. In the Even-I exhorted and prayed with as many as came to my Lodging, and inwardly rejoiced at the Proſpect. there was of bringing many Souls in Boſton to the ſaving Knowledge of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Grant this, O Father, for thy dear Son's ſake. Amen.
Saturday, Sept. 20. Perceived myſelf grow more and more comfortable both in Body and Soul Was ſweetly refreſhed by ſeveral Packets of Letters ſent me from different Parts in England and America, giving me an Account of the Succeſs of the Goſpel, tho' was a little caſt down, to find ſome Engliſh Friends had thrown aſide the Uſe of Means, and others were diſputing for ſinleſs Perfection, and univerſal Redemption. I know of no ſuch Thing aſſerted in the Goſpel, if explain'd aright. LORD, do thou cauſe even this to work for Good, and give me Grace to oppoſe ſuch Errors, without Reſpect to Perſons, but with Meekneſs, Humility and Love. Amen, LORD JESUS, Amen and Amen.
Preach'd in the Morning with much Freedom and Power, to about 6000 Hearers, in Dr. Sewal's Meeting; afterwards on the Common, to about 8000; and again at Night, to a thronged Company at my own Lodgings; and then ſpent the Remainder of the Evening with a few choice Friends, in preparing for the Sabbath. Oh that it may be a Day of heavenly Reſt ſacred to divine Love! Oh that we may be always in the Spirit on the LORD's Day!
Sunday, Sept. 21. Went this Morning to hear Dr. Colman preach. Din' with his Collegue Mr. Cooper, and preach'd in the Afternoon to a very throng'd Auditory, and with great and viſible Effects, at Mr. Foxcroft's Meeting; immediately after on the Common, to about 15,000, and again at my Lodging, as uſual, to a greater Company than before. Some afterwards came up into my Room. I felt much of the divine Preſence in my own Soul, and tho' hoarſe, was enabled to ſpeak with much Power, and could have ſpoke, I believe, till Midnight. To ſee the People ſo willing to hear makes me forget myſelf. Oh that it may be my Sleep, my Meat and Drink, to do the Will of my heavenly Father! Oh that all who come to hear the Word, may take the Kingdom of GOD by force! Amen and Amen.
Monday, Sept. 22. Preached in the Morning, at Mr. Webb's Meeting-Houſe, to about 6000 Hearers in the Houſe, beſides great Numbers ſtanding about the Doors. The Preſence of the LORD was amongſt them. Look where I would around me, viſible Impreſſions were made upon the Auditory. Moſt wept for a conſiderable Time. Some time after I receiv'd a Letter, wherein were theſe Words.
But what I muſt give the Preference to, was that gracious Seaſon at the New North, the Monday following, where there was more of the Preſence of GOD thro' the whole of the Miniſtration than ever I had known at one Time thro' the whole Courſe of my Life. Juſtly might it have been ſaid of that Place, it was no other than the Houſe of GOD and the Gate of Heaven. O how dreadfu… was the Place! and yet, O how delightful! The LORD JESUS ſeem'd to be viſibly walking in that his golden Candleſtick, to try ſome of the many Thouſands that were th… preſent. But O! how few were prepared for ſo holy an Inquiſition? I am ſure I know one who could not but tremble at the Tho'… of it, and who indeed could help crying out, Wo is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a Man of unclean Lips; for mine Eyes have ſeen the King, the LORD of Hoſts. Indeed, my own Soul was ſo deeply abuſed and overwhelm'd with ſuch unuſual Meltings, that I could have been glad of ſome private Corner in that Houſe, to pour out my Soul without Diſturbance to the Audience. The Spirit of GOD indeed, ſeem'd moveing upon the Face of the Waters at that Time; and who knows, but that, to a great many Souls, GOD was pleaſed to ſay, Let there be Light, and there was Light.
In the Afternoon I went to preach at Mr. Chickly's Meeting-Houſe; but GOD was pleaſed to humble us by a very awful Providence: For, when the Meeting-Houſe was filled with People, tho' there was no real Danger, on a ſudden the People were all in an Uproar, and ſo unaccountably ſurprized, that ſome threw themſelves out of the Window, others threw themſelves out of the Gallery; and others trampled upon one another, ſo that ſome were actually killed, and others dangerouſly wounded. I happen'd to come in the Midſt of the Uproar, and ſaw two or three lying on the Ground in a pitiable Condition. GOD was pleaſed to give me Preſence of Mind, ſo that I gave Notice, I would immediately preach on the Common. The Weather was wet, but about 8000 followed into the Field, to whom I preached from theſe. Words, — Go out into the Highways and Hedges, and compel them to come in. I endeavoured, as GOD enabled me, to improve what had befallen us; and tho' Satan in this has bruiſed our Heel, yet I doubt not, but even this will be a Means of bruiſing his accurſed Head. LORD, thy Judgments are like the great Deep! Thy Footſteps are not known, Juſt and holy art thou, O King of Saints!
In the Evening perceived myſelf weak in Body, ſo that I could not ſay much at the Houſe where I ſupped; but GOD by his bleſſed Spirit greatly refreſhed and comforted my Soul. Bleſſed be GOD, I …ind what our SAVIOUR ſays, exceeding true. He that believeth on me as the Scripture has ſpoken, out of his Belly ſhall flow Rivers of living Water. I drink of GOD's Pleaſures as out of a River. Oh that all were made Partakers of this living Water. They would never thirſt after the deadly Pleaſures of this lower World.
Roxbury and Boſton.
Tueſday, Sept. 23. Went this Morning with Dr. Colman and the Secretary, to Roxbury, Three Miles from Boſton, to ſee one Mr. Walter, a good old Puritan, who, with his Predeceſſor Mr. Elliot, commonly called the Apoſtle of the Indians, but now with GOD, have been Paſtors of that Congregation 106 Years. I had but little Converſation with him, my Stay was ſo very ſhort; but I remember he told me, He was glad to hear I ſaid, Man was half a Devil and half a Beaſt. The more People drink into GOD's Spirit, the more, I find, they are inclin'd to debaſe the natural Man.
About Eleven were return'd, and I preached in Mr. Gee's Meeting-Houſe, but not to a very crouded Auditory, becauſe People were in doubt where I would preach. Dined at the Secretary's, and preached in the Afternoon at Dr. Sewal's to a throng'd Congregation; and exhorted and prayed as uſual at my own Lodgings; at neither Place without ſome Manifeſtations of a divine Power accompanying the Word. LORD, let thy Preſence always follow me, or otherwiſe I ſhall be but as a ſounding Broſs or tinkling Cymbal!