|
|

Page 14
house, with his wife and seven children had not been
baptized.
On the 10th, at five o'clock, I preached from the first of
John, latter part of the nineteenth verse; when there was much of God's presence
with us. After breakfast, we went over to Ragged Island, with about thirty
persons. In the evening, I preached at Ragged Island from the eleventh
chapter of Matthew's Gospel, twenty ninth and thirtieth verses; and afterwards
conversed with many of them. Nobody seemed to have any sleep in their
eyes, but wanted to hear of the Lord continually.
On the 11th in the morning, about nine o'clock, I preached
again to a large congregation: here was manifested the mighty power of
god, in giving me strength to go through the important work, and sealing his own
word of divine truth to the hearts of the hearers. I then left them in the
hands of God, with an intent to go to Sable River, with three of the people of
Ragged Island; but when we came to a place called Little Harbor, the people
stopped me, and desired preaching.
On the 12th, I preached from the twenty-third chapter of St.
Luke's Gospel, the latter part of the fortieth verse. Here the Lord was
pleased to add one ion to the ministry; and tears and groaning were seen
and heard throughout the congregation. After conversing with them, and
commending them into the hands of God, I attempted to go on my journey, but was
prevented by the weather; and the people earnestly desired me to stay with them,
to let them hear more of Christ
On the 13th, in the evening, I preached from the first
chapter of Genesis, second verse; and at this time the Spirit of God did move
upon the waters; and I conversed with them part of the night. I preached
again in the morning on the
Page 15
4th, at six o'clock, from the sixth chapter of St.
Matthew, the thirty-third and thirty-fourth verses; although there was a violent
storm of snow, yet I had greater congregation in the morning than in the
evening. Here the Lord brake the bread of eternal life amongst poor hungry
souls.
After dinner, commending them into the hands of God, I passed
on my journey, and arrived a Sable River in the evening. Finding a
congregation waiting, I preached from the sixth chapter of St. Mark, the twelfth
verse. Here the Lord was pleased to shew them the absolute necessity of
repentance; indeed they were led to cry out. "What shall we do to be
saved."
On the 15th, at six o'clock in the morning, I preached from
the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the thirty-eighth verse, to a
large congregation. Here the Lord was pleased to display his divine power,
in giving them true repentance. I tarried with them till the 17th, and
preached twice every day; and found that my labours were not in vain in the
Lord.
On the 18th, after preaching, I had a desire to go over to
Jones's Harbour, where I was informed the inhabitants were all free-thinkers,
and was persuaded not to go over to them, but their persuasions proved fruitless.
At then o'clock, all that could conveniently go, went with me, both men, women
and children. We arrived at Jones's Harbour about twelve o'clock; I
entered into the first house we came to, determined to have divine service, with
God's permission. God was pleased to open the old man's heart, insomuch
that he sent all round to the neighbors, and informed them that there was
preaching at his house; and they all came with willingness. I preached
from the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the seventh verse.
Here God was pleased to manifest himself by his divine
Page 16
power, even to those
free-thinkers, and several were set at liberty, and could rejoice in the love of
God through Jesus Christ; God deepened his works in the hearts of others.
After preaching, I had some conversation with the free thinkers, asking them
what they thought of Jesus Christ, through the gospel? I found three of
them were convinced. I insisted that they could not think any good thing
of themselves, but some said they never had any bad thoughts, and I insisted
upon it they never had any good ones; upon this we parted, and I left them in
the hands of God, and we returned again to Sable River. In the evening, I
preached again from the second chapter of James, the twenty-sixth verse, shewing
the nature of true faith. In the heart, the Lord was pleased to open their
understanding, so that some of them were constrained to cry out, saying,
"Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be all the glory."
In the morning of the 19th, I preached from the thirteenth
chapter to the Hebrews, first verse. After preaching, I had some little
conversation with them. I left them in the hands of God, promising them
that I would return again, if God spared me; I then pursued my journey home
again, quite a different way; on which account, I had not an opportunity of
seeing those to whom I had preached. Five of them accompanied me through
the wood to the seashore, and then we parted in prayer; they returned home
again, and I pursued my journey.
I reached at Green's Harbour about nine o'clock at night;
being very tired, and having lost two hours in the day, I did not preach; but
called the family together; we went to prayers, and committed ourselves to the
Lord for refreshment.
On the 20th, being Saturday, I told the man to prepare his
children to be baptized on the Sabbath day; and I took a little walk as far as
the Indian
Page 17
wig-wam, to see how they did. After discoursing with them, they
expressed a great desire to hear me preach. I gathered them together, and
preached from St. Paul's epistle to the Romans, first chapter, thirty-second
verse. Here I found the Lord was pleased to strengthen my weakness; it was
enough to melt the heart of any man; to hear how these poor creatures expressed
their desires to know the true and living God. After a little discourse
with them, from their different places, I told them that I should preach
on the Lord's day. They asked me, if they came up in the evening, whether
I would to prayers with them? I answered, yes; and in the evening, on the
21st, they came up more than thirty of them. The family gathered together,
and filled the room; the Lord enabled me to speak from the second of Romans, the
seventh verse, and the power of God was present to would, and to heal.
After preaching was over, the Indians would not go away till twelve
o'clock. I informed them that on the 22nd, there would be preaching in the
morning early, that they had better go home and get a little sleep. Three
of the women answered, they did not want any sleep. However they went home,
but I believe they did not sleep, for in the morning they were there before five
o'clock. I preached from the sixth chapter of Romans, and the third verse;
and here I found that god did not fail to manifest himself, in such a manner,
that we all got a good Sabbath's breakfast.
Some of the poor creatures went home, weeping; the master of
the house, his wife and three children, reflected much upon the nature of the
ordinance they were about to submit to. At half after ten o'clock, a large
body of people came from Ragged Island, and round about, so that the place could
not contain them, and many of them were obliged to stay out of doors; and my
reader will be pleased to take notice, that the snow was four feet deep, and in
some places five feet deep, I preached from the twenty-eighty chapter of St.
Matthew's gospel, the nineteenth and twentieth verses. My soul was filled
with the glorious power and love of God; I could perceive solemnity in the faces
of all the people within the audience of my voice; so that the convincing power
of God was manifested; instead of nine, the number of the family there were
added to it twelve, which made twenty-one; and in the time of baptizing, I
desired all the grown people to kneel down upon their knees; fourteen kneeled,
then did I lift up my voice aloud to the Lord for the baptizing Spirit to fall
upon us; and here I would have my readers
Page 18
to take notice, that, for about five
minutes, I was not able to speak, being overpowered with the love of God; when,
rising from the my knees, I looked upon the people, and saw tears in their eyes,
and the congregation at large, filled with solemnity. I took the basin in
my hand, and attempted to baptize them; when I had had baptized five, the rest
were fallen to the ground; however I baptized them on the floor, while they were
crying out, and saying, "Lord Jesus have mercy upon us." I
immediately called for the children to be brought up, two of which I took in my
arms, the other five I commanded to kneel down, and I baptized them all with
tears running down my cheeks; then I lift up my voice to God to bless the
means. There was such crying in the congregation, that my voice could
hardly be heard; and one particular circumstance I would have my reader to note;
a girl of twelve years of age was continually calling for God to have mercy upon
her. I went to her, and asked her, what she cried out so much for after
the rest. Her answer was that she was afraid she should not be able to
fulfill the
charge that was then given her. I asked her if she was not
afraid her soul would be lost to all
Page 19
eternity? Looking me earnestly in the
face, she burst out in tears. I left her, finding that she was not able to
express her feelings. The congregation was then dismissed, but would not
go home. I went into private, and returned God thanks for the mercies
received, imploring his presence, that he would not leave them comfortless
In the evening, I preached from St. John, xiv. I, 2;
when God was pleased to comfort the mourners. I intended to set off in the
morning for home; but this night was a blessed night, it was spent in reading,
praying and singing. In the morning, half after four, I preached from the
same chapter, verse the 27th
On the 22nd, the girl I have already mentioned rose up in
the time of preaching, crying out, and declaring to the congregation-that her
sorrow and sighing had fled away, and she had received that peace from God,
which the tongue could not express. The we sung, for joy, one of Dr.
Watts's hymns, "My god, the spring of all my joy." In singing
the hymn, the mother was able to testify of the love of God; and, after
conversing with them, I commended them in the hands of God.
About nine o'clock, we came to the Indian wigwam, and found
several wounded souls; I stayed with them all this day, and from place to place,
we had prayer, if God would be pleased to display his divine power, and deliver
their precious souls from the distresses they were then in. I prayed the
best part of the night, saying, " O Lord, this is thine arm shortened, that
it cannot save? O Lord, for Jesus Christ sake, have mercy upon these poor
creatures:" but the heavens seemed as brass to my prayers, and they
continued in distress all night.
In the morning, on the 24th, we had prayers, and I left them,
deeply wounded for their sins, and we came to Jordan River about eleven o'clock
and
Page 20
crossed over the upper part of the river upon ice and reached Shelburne
Town about seven o'clock in the evening, and stayed there all night
On the 25th, very early in the morning, we set out for Birch
Town, and arrived at eight o'clock.
At nine o'clock, I had a letter from Barrington, wherein the
people expressed a great desire for me to come to them. I very readily
answered them by a letter that I would come to them as soon as I could. I
abode in Birch Town eight days, attending the classes, and confirming the
people; in the evening, we had a great love feast, and we continued all night
praying to and praising of God, and God was in the midst of us: six souls
were pricked to the heart. I left them on the 3rd of February, and on the
7th day after I had left the town, I was informed that these souls were set at
liberty. In the evening we arrived at Shelbourn, and stayed all night.
On the 4th, we crossed Jordan River very easy, because the
ice had reached as far as Green Harbour. The next morning we had a great
number of Indians and white people. I preached from ii Cor. ch.
xiii. verse 5. God was pleased to manifest himself to those precious
wounded souls, and we had great joy indeed. At two o'clock we set off for
Ragged Island; we had a great multitude singing praises to God through the
woods.
In the evening I preached at Ragged Island, from Psalm
lxxiii. verse 1. when we had a love feast, and Christ was the master
of the feast. The people here seemed to want no sleep however I left them
praising of God, and I went to bed and got a little sleep. I awoke about
three o'clock, and hearing them praising the Lord, I rose up and joined them,
and so continued till morning.
On the 5th, I preached from Isaiah xl. verse 31; then
leaving them in the hands of God's some of
Page 21
them accompanied me across the river
on the ice; and then we parted with prayer. I felt much of the presence of
the Lord. Here the Lord was preparing me for trials; the people persuaded
me not to enter into this man's house, because his wife was a abandoned woman,
one that had been on board a man of war all the last war; however, when I came
up to the house, it was impressed upon my mind to go and see them. I
knocked at the door, and had much such a reception as my Lord had among the
Jews; she called me a pickpocket; I told her I thought she had nothing to lose;
she then took the tongs, and gave me several blows on my arm with much violence,
and wounded me much on my head; she also cut my hand, and I was constrained to
hold her, with the blood running down on the side of my face and from my hand,
which fell upon her and enraged her worse than before; however, being stronger
than she was, I held her fast; my little boy was frightened, and cried, and ran
away. After a while, her rage seemed rather to abate, and I was enabled to
speak to her in the name of the Lord. I let her to, to see what was become
of the boy, not thinking she would rage again in the former manner; but as I was
going out of the door she got the broom, and struck me on the head. I went
to seek the child, and afterwards went into a house, where cows are kept in the
winter; I kneeled down, and laid my complaint before my God, and lifting my hand
up which was then bleeding, and the blood trickling allover my face, begging the
Lord to search my heart, whether I had lost these drops of blood for the gospel
of Christ, and the good of souls; that he would be pleased to show me a token
for good, so that I might not deceive myself. The Lord was pleased to pour
down his blessing upon my soul, in answer to my poor petition; then was I
strengthened and encouraged to go back, and said
Page 22
If it is his will that I should
spill more blood, in his cause, I was willing, for I know that he will not let
the words return void. I entreated him to go with me, that he would seal
the word of divine truth to his glory, and the good of her soul; so I came up to
the door again, and she retaliated with more violence than at first. I was
met with the poker and tongs, but the Lord, who over rules all things, prevented
her from hurting me. I caught hold of her two shoulders, and held her for
some considerable time, but she raged like a lion; and the Lord furnished me
with words, particularly out of St. Matthew's gospel, chapter xxvii; and she
struggled hard as long as she could, till she was almost out of breath; she then
set herself down, and I continually speaking to her concerning the sufferings of
Christ, and his resurrection power, and she seemed to be somewhat calm; I continued
speaking of the glory of God, and the happiness of the saints in heaven, who had
suffered for his names sake; and of the dreadful torment of hell, and of the
long continuance of the same.
She sat for about five or six minutes and never said a
word, then I asked her, if I should go to prayers? She answered in a very
rough manner, I might if I pleased. I went on my knees, and she set down
on the side of a bed. Whilst I was in prayer, I felt much of God's spirit,
and about the middle of the prayer, she fell from off the bed, as though she was
shot, and screamed out with a loud voice, and stretched herself off, as though
she was going out of the world. I rose from off my knees, and put a
smelling bottle to her nose, and washed her face with cold water. All this
while the old man, about eighty-two years of age, sat in the corner, crying, and
both were despised in the neighbourhood
Page 23
I attempted the second time to go to prayer, but found I
was shut up; I came out and went to another house, about a quarter of a mile
off, and left her on the floor. When I arrived at this house, they
received me kindly; seeing my clothes were daubed with blood, they were rather
surprised; they asked me the meaning of all this- I told them I had received all
this at the next house. They were surprised that I was suffered to go
in. I told them I did go in, and received these wounds, and left her on
the floor. The young man was surprised, and said, "I hope you have
not been fighting." I told them, no, she fought with me, but I did not with
her.
He set off, and finding her lying on the floor, he took
her up and laid her on the bed, and searched her to see if there were any wounds
upon her; asked her several questions, but she answered none. Then turning
to his father, the old man related the story to him. She cried out, with a
lamentable voice, "Lord have mercy upon me!" which surprised
him. He ran out immediately, and came home for his wife, and told her that
her mother-in-law was very ill, and she must go over to her.
They both set off, and one of the boys; and after being
absent about half an hour, I looked and saw them dragging something upon a
sledge. I continued walking about till they came up to the door, and found
they had the old woman upon a bed covered up. They brought her into the
house and seemed to be very much scared; but she continued as though she was
dead. I looked on her, and smiled. They asked me what I had done to
her. I told them-nothing, but went to prayers with her, and spoke to her
in the name of the Lord. They asked me, if they had not better send for
the doctor to her. I answered-no, I told them that she was only sin sick,
and no doctor in this life could cure

|