Continuation of Journal from Savannah to Arrival at Rhode Island, Journal · Entry 38 – Entry 40
New-Haven.
Friday, October 24. Was refreſhed with the Sight of dear Mr.Noble of New-York, who alſo brought me Letters from Georgia. Bleſſed be God, the Orphan-Houſe Affairs go on proſperouſly. The Lord is with my dear Family of a Truth. Declined preaching in the Morning, becauſe it was wet, the People had no Notice of my coming, and I had much private Buſineſs on my Hands. Perceived my Health of Body grow better and better. Preached in the Afternoon with Power towards the latter End of the Sermon, and obſerved ſome deeply affected. It being the Time in which the Aſſembly ſat, the Governour, Council and the Gentlemen of the lower Houſe were preſent. After Sermon two young Miniſters, who ſeemed to have ſome Experience of divine Things, came to converſe with me, and in the Evening I expounded at my Lodgings to a Room full of People. The Power of the Lord was upon me. I ſpoke with much Weight and Freedom, and had ſweet Fellowſhip with my dear Companions. Oh who would but travel for Chriſt.
Saturday, October 25. Was again refreſhed this Morning by the Sight of Mr.Jedidiah Mills, a dear Man of God, Miniſter of Ripton, near Stratford. He wrote to me ſome time ago. I felt his Letter, and now alſo felt the Man. My Soul was much united to him, I could not but think God would do great Things by his Hands. He has had a remarkable Work in his Pariſh ſome time ago; and talked like one that was no Novice in divine Things. With him I dined at Mr.Chap's, Rector of New-Haven College; about one third as big as that at Cambridge. It has one Rector, three Tutors, and about 100 Students. But I hear of no remarkable Concern amongſt them on Account of Religion. I preached twice, and I believe much to the Conſolation of God's People, many of which as I have heard live at New-Haven and the Countries round about. There were ſweet meltings diſcernable both Times. I ſpoke very cloſely to the Students, and ſhewed the dreadful ill Conſequences of an unconverted Miniſtry. Dear Mr. Mills, and another Miniſter, came to my Lodgings after Sermon; they rejoiced in Spirit; and Mr. Mills, when he took his leave, told me of one Miniſter in particular who had been wrought upon before, but now was gone home as full as he could hold. Oh that God may quicken Miniſters! Oh that the Lord may … the… a flaming Fire! Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly Amen and Amen.
Sunday, October 26. Preached both Morning and Evening to much larger Congregations than before; and in the Afternoon obſerved an eſpecial Preſence of God in the Aſſembly. Many I believe, were comforted and quicken'd by the Holy Ghoſt. The People of God ſent me Word that they were much revived; and one came and told me theſe Words were lately preſſed upon upon her Heart, The Winter is gone, the Spring is at Hand, the Voice of the Turtle is heard in the Land. Indeed I believe this will be an acceptable Year of the Lord. Before Evening Service the following Note was put into my Hands, by one who came to me a Day or two ago, ſome miles off, under great Diſtreſs, and tho' weak in Body, could not but follow after me. One ſelf-righteous Phariſee reſting in Duties who hath a rational Belief of his damned Eſtate, and that he hath never felt the Pangs of the New-Birth, deſires Prayers to that God that hath ſaid, ye muſt be born again. After Sermon I waited on the Governour, an aged, grave, old Gentleman, well reported of by good Men. I obſerved him to be much affected under the Word; when I came in, he ſaid, I am glad to ſee you, and heartily glad to hear you. But his Heart was ſo full that he could not ſpeak much. The Tears trickled down his aged Cheeks like Drops of Rain. He was thankful to God, he ſaid, for ſuch Refreſhings in the Way to our Reſt. Food does us good, added he, when we eat it with an Appetite: And indeed I believe he had fed upon the Word. The Lord ſupport him when his Strength faileth, and bring his gray Hairs with comfort to the Grave. In the Evening I expounded at my Lodgings to a great Number of People, and collected near l. 40 for the Orphans. My Soul was much refreſhed to hear how the Children of God were revived by the Word preached. And nothing confirms me more that I have been taught of God, and preach the Truth as it is in Jeſus, than to find our Lord's dear and old Diſciples feeling the Power of the Word wherever I go, and ſaying, it agrees with their Experiences—My Sheep hear my Voice, ſays our dear Redeemer, a Stranger will they not hear. About 8 at Night we left New-Haven. The Moon ſhone bright, & after we had rode three miles, we called at a Houſe which as Mr. Wheelock, a faithful Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt told me before was full of God. I think they tell me the Mother and three Daughters were converted Perſons. Aſſoon as I came into the Houſe, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, God gave me to wreſtle with him. And my Friends ſaid at departing, They were never in ſuch a Houſe before. Oh it was a ſweet Time indeed! God made his Power to be felt and known. After I had given a Word of Exhortation, That they would adorn the Goſpel of our Lord in all Things, we went forward on our Journey and got to Milford, 10 miles from New-Haven, about 10 at Night. The Lord's Name be praiſed, from the riſing up of the Sun unto the going down of the ſame. Amen and Amen.
Milford and Stratford.
Monday, October 27. Preached this Morning at Milford, and I think with as much Clearneſs, Freedom and Power as I have for a long Seaſon. The Preſence of God was much in the Aſſembly, which was large: Many Miniſters were preſent, & they could not help glorifying God much on my Behalf. Dear Mr. Mills who came again to meet me this Morning, was much affected, and as I was riding out of Town a godly Gentleman met me, and with Tears in his Eyes, at length out of the Abundance of his Heart ſaid, I never ſaw God's Preſence in the Sancctuary on this wiſe before; I have experienced the Words you ſpoke, but never heard them ſo well cleared up, nor felt them ſo powerfully ſet home upon my Soul: It has been a bleſſed Time to my Soul. Or Words to that Effect. In the Afternoon I preached at Stratford, 4 miles from Milford, but was not ſo much aſſiſted as in the Morning. Both Places, eſpecially the la…ter I found were ill reported of for their leaning too much towards Arminian Principles. O Lord, convince them of the Rottenneſs of ſuch a Foundation, and bring them to know the Truth as it is in Jeſus.
Fairfield and Norwalk.
Tueſday, Octob. 28. Got to Fairfield, 8 miles from Stratford, about 10 at Night: The Weather was very cold, having ſnowed a great part of the Afternoon; but the Lord bro't us in Safety. Preach'd in the Morning to a conſiderable Congregation, and found my ſelf aſſiſted very much in Prayer after Sermon; I ſcarce knew how to leave off. In the Afternoon at Norwalk, 12 miles from Fairfield, I was reſtrained much both in Prayer and Preaching. It rained much, ſo that we had not a large Congregation; However, ſome ſay I obſerved were affected. I believe my Lord …ver lets me preach in vain. Grant this O Lord for … own Names Sake.