Continuation of Journal from Savannah to Arrival at Rhode Island, Journal · Entry 18 – Entry 23
Hampton, Portſmouth and York.
Wedneſday, October I. Preach'd in the Morning, though not with ſo much Freedom as uſual, at Hampton, to ſome Thouſands in the open Air. The Wind was almoſt too high for me. Some, tho' not many, were affected. God's Spirit bloweth when and where it liſteth. After Dinner rode in Company with many to Portſmouth, a large Town about 14 Miles from Hampton, got thither in about an Hour and half; preach'd to a polite Auditory; but ſo very unconcern'd, that I began to question whether I had been ſpeaking to rational, or brute Creatures. Seeing no immediate Effects of the Word preach'd, I was a little dejected; but God to comfort my Heart, ſent one young Man, crying out in great Anguiſh of Spirit, What ſhall I do to be ſaved? Oh, how does God pity the Weakneſs of his Children, why waſt thou ſo caſt down O my Soul? Croſſed a Ferry immediately after Sermon, and went over a very ſtony Way to York, a Town 13 Miles round the Ferry, diſtant from Portſmouth: Hither I came to ſee one Mr. Moody, a worthy, plain and powerful Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt; though now much impaired by old Age; he has lived by Faith for many Years; wou'd have no ſettled Salary; and has been much deſpiſed by the Haters, and as much reſpected by the true Lovers of the bleſſed Jeſus. He came as far as Hampton to meet me, but getting before him in our Night travelling, a Phyſician, his Neighbour, who came alſo to meet me, receiv'd me into his Houſe, and kindly entertain'd us. Some of our Fellow-Travellers loſt their Way, but came to us ſometime after our Arrival at York. Here we ſupped and prayed very comfortably together. The Air agreed mightily with my Conſtitution. As I came along I was ſurpriz'd to ſee ſuch Improvements made in the Space of 100 Years, and could not but fancy myſelf in Old-England: Surely God is a God keeping Covenant. He has bleſſed the preſent Generation for their Fathers Sake with all temporal Bleſſings. Lord, with theſe temporal, give them ſpiritual Bleſſings; otherwiſe their Proſperity will deſtroy 'em.
York and Portſmouth.
Thurſday, October 2. Was much comforted to hear good Mr. Moody tell me, that he believed I ſhou'd preach to an Hundred new Creatures this Morning in his Congregation: and indeed I believe I did; for when I came to preach I could ſpeak little or no Terror, but moſt Conſolation: I preach'd both Morning and Evening. The Hearers looked plain and ſimple, and Tears trickled apace down moſt of their Cheeks. Indeed we ſaw the Outgoings of the Lord in his Sanctuary. But one Thing put a little Damp upon my Soul, and I hope did me good. Mr. Moody has a Son a Miniſter, who was once full of Faith and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and walk'd in the Light of God's Countenance, and made full Proof of his Miniſtry, but for theſe two Years laſt paſt, has walked in Darkneſs, and ſaw no Light. He has an inexpreſſible Gloomineſs upon his Soul, and cannot apply any of the Promiſes to himſelf. I was informed that he was at Meeting, but dared not ſee me: I was aſſiſted to pray for him, and ſo much the more earneſtly, not knowing but his Caſe might be mine hereafter. Lord, let me not be high minded, but fear; into thy Hands I commend my Spirit; I deſire to take no Thought for the Morrow; deal with me as ſhall pleaſe thee. Juſtly mayſt thou take every Thing from me; for I have wretchedly abuſed thy Loving-kindneſs. God be merciful to me a Sinner.
Left York about 4 in the Evening, reach'd Portſmouth by Night, where I ſupped, converſed, and ſung Pſalms very comfortably with my Friends: The Lord was pleaſed to lift up the Light of his bleſſed Countenance more and more upon my Soul; rightly is Jeſus called Emanuel, he is God, not only with, but in us. Oh that I may never provoke him to depart from me!
Portſmouth, Hampton & Newbury.
Friday, October 3. Preach'd this Morning at Portſmouth to a far greater Congregation, and bleſſed be God, with much better Effect than before. Inſtead of preaching to dead Stocks, I now had Reaſon to believe I was preaching to living Men. People began to melt, ſoon after I began to pray, and the Power encreaſed more and more, during the whole Sermon. The Word ſeemed to pierce through and through, and carried ſuch Convictions along with it, that many who before had induſtriouſly ſpoken Evil of me, were made aſham'd of themſelves. Mr. Shurtleff the Miniſter, when he afterwards ſent me l. 97 7 s. 6 d. collected at this Time for the Orphan-Houſe, wrote thus, You have left Numbers here under deep Impreſſions; and I truſt in God they will not all wear off, but that the Convictions of ſome will be kept up and cheriſhed till they have had their deſired Effect. Amen and Amen.
Haſten'd after Dinner to Hampton; preached to ſeveral Thouſands of People with a good deal of Life and Power. Collected l. 41 10s. For my little Ones; and ſet out directly for Newbury; which we reach'd about 8 at Night, and were kindly entertain'd at a Gentleman's Houſe with all my Friends, my Heart was much enlarged and filled with Joy. In the Way two old Diſciples came to me, acquainting me what ſweet refreſhing Times God had vouchſafed them under my Miniſtry. Lord not unto me, not unto me, but unto thy free Grace be all the Glory.
Newbury, Ipſwich and Salem.
Saturday, Octob. 4. Lay at the Houſe of Mr. Lowell, Miniſter of the Place. Preached in the Morning to a very throng'd Congregation, and ſaw the Outgoings of God in his Sanctuary; collected l. 80 9s. Haſtned to Ipſwich; preached to a larger Congregation, and with as much Power as when there laſt. Got to Salem about 8 at Night, was moſt kindly received by Col. P—d; and alſo was favour'd with a Viſit from the Miniſter belonging to the Church of England. O that they wou'd preach the Articles which they have ſubſcribed.
Salem.
Sunday, October 5. Preach'd at 8 o'Clock this Morning in the Meeting-Houſe. At the Miniſter's Requeſt, read Prayers and aſſiſted at the Sacrament in the Church of England, but thought Matters were not at all carried on with Decency and Order. Preached again in the Afternoon in the Meeting-Houſe, but ſaw no ſuch Power all the Day as when I preached here a few Days ago. Oh that the Lord would reach the Hearts of the Inhabitants, and make them a peculiar People, zealous of good Works.
Salem, Marblehead, Malden and Boſton.
Monday, October 6. Spent the Sabbath Evening very comfortably with my dear Fellow Travellers in praying and ſinging ſpiritual Songs: I truſt we made Melody, with Grace in our Hearts unto the Lord. Set out from Salem about 9, preached at Marblehead about …, and with ſuch Power that I truſt it will be a Day much to be remembred by many Souls. I was upon the Mount my ſelf, and the Lord attended his Word with mighty Power. The two Miniſters preſented me l. 70 2s. 6 d. for the Orphan-Houſe, which they had voluntarily collected Yeſterday in their own private Meetings. Was moſt affectionately received and entertain'd by Col. M—n, from whom I parted almoſt with Tears. The Lord make him rich in Faith and good Works.
At the Intreaty of Mr. Emerſon, Son-in-Law to dear Mr. Moody, I believe a real Man of God; we went to Malden, 14 Miles from Marblehead, where I preached not with ſo much Power as in the Morning. But one Girl came crying to me and ſaying, She feared ſhe had not true Faith in Jeſus. Oh that thouſands others began to doubt alſo! Here the Secretary and ſeveral Friends from Boſton gave us the meeting; with them after Sermon, I immediately ſat out, and got privately into Boſton about 7 at Night. Received comfortable Letters from Georgia and South-Carolina, and alſo had the Satisfaction of hearing that Brother Seward was ſafely arrived in England. The Lord proſper the Works of his Hands upon him.
Perceived my Health to be much improved ſince I left Boſton; and though I rode 178 Miles, and preached 16 Times, I truſt to the great Benefit of Thouſands, yet I was not in the leaſt wearied or fatigued. The Spirit of the Lord was upon me; and I ſat up till near Mid-night to anſwer Correſpondents, and ſettle my private Affairs. Afterwards I went to Reſt, full of Peace, and deſiring to be thankful to the Lord for cauſing me thus to renew my Strength. O what a good Maſter is Jeſus Chriſt?