1725. at Thomas Pearfall's, and likewife a large, good Meeting the Day after (being Firft-day) at Matinicock, Matinicock, wherein the Kingdom of Chrift was exalted, and the

deformed State of Sin and Iniquity reprefented, and the Example and Doctrine of Chrift closely recommended, in order to the overcoming Sin, this being not only poffible, but the Duty of Chriftians thro' the Power of Chrift, and true Faith in his holy Name; and the Danger of believing, that it is impoffible to overcome Sin, was opened to them, and that fuch a Belief is contrary to, and againft Chrift and his Doctrine, and darkens and blinds the Hearts of Men; but the Love of Chrift enlightens the Soul, and ftrengthens it to believe, that all Things are poffible with God, for this great Work cannot be done in the Will, Wit, and Power of Man, but thro' the Power and Grace of Chrift, which he promised to true Believers in him. I was faint after this Meeting, but refting a little I foon grew better, fo that we had an Evening-meeting at James Cock's, where one came and told us, we must not eat any Flesh, and produced Thomas Tryon's Works for his Proof; but I took the Bible, and fhewed him a Proof to the contrary, and told him, we were refolved to believe our Book before his, and fhewed him from the Apostle, that the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, nor divers Washings, but Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the holy Ghoft, Romans xiv. 17. Though at the fame Time, according to the Doctrine of Chrift and his Apoftles, I was for Temperance in Meats and Drinks, as well as Moderation in Apparel. The next Day we had a very large. Gyfter-Bay. Meeting at Oyster-Bay, many being there, who were not of our Society, who fteadily gave Attention to what was declared: Here being many young People, they were perfuaded to give up their blooming Years to do the Will of God, and to remember him their Creator, in their youthful Days: Friends faid, there had not been fuch a Meeting there a great while, for

which Opportunity I was humbly thankful to the Lord. 1725. After Meeting we went to Samuel Underhill's, and had an Evening-meeting with his Brother, who, through Sickness and Lamenefs, could not get out for a long Time. Next Day, Samuel Bowne being with me, we went to vifit a young Woman that was weak in Body, but lay in a comfortable Frame of Mind; the was thankful for our Visit, and said the Visits of her Friends were comfortable to her. Next Day, being the Fourth-day of the Week, we had a Meeting at the Widow Taylor's, who defired it on Account of her Father, who was in the 88th Year of his Age, and so infirm, that he could not get to Meetings; he was very clear in his Understanding and Memory, and was much refreshed with this Meeting, as were divers of us alfo. Next Day we had a Meeting at Flushing, Fling. which was large and open, and the Grace and Power of Chrift was with us in the Miniftration of the Gofpel. After this Meeting, we had an Evening-meeting with our antient Friend Jofeph Thorne, who by Reafon of his Age and Infirmity, could not go abroad as far as to the Meeting: The House was crowded with his Neighbours and Friends, and we had a folid, good Time together. While at Flushing I went to vifit a young Woman who was a moft difmal Spectacle to behold, an Object of great Pity: Her Face, Hand and Foot being much eaten away by the King's Evil; our Prayers were, that now in her great Milery, the Almighty would be pleafed to fupport her Soul by his Grace and Spirit, and fanctify her Afflictions to her, that it might work for her a more exceeding Weight of Glory in that World which is to come. The next Firft-day we had a large Meeting at Flubing, where many weighty Truths were opened to the Satisfaction and Edification of the Auditory, and in the Evening we had a Meeting with the Wife of Matthew Farrington, who was too weakly to go abroad; the Neighbours came in, and we had a feasonable Opportunity

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1725. Opportunity. The next Third-day was the Youthsmeeting at Flushing, in which we were concerned to exhort them to Obedience to God and their Parents, and to follow their Parents as they follow Chrift; for where any leave Chrift, there we are to leave their Example, though they were our Fathers or Mothers; and the right Honouring of our Parents was fet forth, and they exhorted not to defpife the Day of fmall Things; and the happy State of the Obedient, and the unhappy State of the Difobedient, and many weighty Truths were delivered to them in that Meeting by feveral experienced Friends. From Flushing I went to the Week-day-meeting at New-town, and in the Evening we had a Meeting at the Widow Way's; the Neighbours coming in, we had a good Time with them: The Parable of the ten Virgins was treated of, and the great Disadvantage of wanting the divine Oil of Grace in our Veffels, was fhewn to them.

New town.

New

York.

us

The next Day, being the 5th of the Week, we had a very large, fatisfactory Meeting at the Widow Alfup's at the Kills, and from thence with feveral Friends went to New York, where we had three Meetings to our Edification, the Weather ftill remaining extreamly cold, but we felt the Love of Chriff to warm our Hearts, and tho' I think I never felt it colder, I never had my Health better. Several Friends, accompanied ys to the Boat at New-York, the Water being open on that Side, we took our Leave of each other, and put out for the other Shore; but before we got there we were blocked up in the Ice, and it was a confiderable Time before we could work our Way through, but at last got well on Long-Iland, where I waited fome Hours for Company, who through fome Difficulty got on Shore; after which we went to the Narrows through a Storm of Wind and Snow, but the Wind being high we could not get over that Night, nor the next Day, the Ice having come down and filled the Bay: When the Tide had drove away the Ice, we put out and got

well

well over, and lodged at the Ferry-Houfe on Staten- 1725. Iland. Next Morning we went to the Ferry at the Blazing-Star, over-againft Woodbridge, but it was all fastened with Ice, and we not daring to venture over it, went to the Ferry at Amboy, and got comfortably over, Amboy. ftay'd there that Night, and next Day went to Tren- Trenton ton, and lodged at Capt. Gould's, who treated me very kindly, I being much tired with Travelling. Next Morning I went over Delaware River on the Ice (as we had alfo the Day before at Rariton) and that Day, being the 5th of the Twelfth Month, I got fafe Home Frankfort. to my loving Spouse and tender Children, where I found all well, and a hearty Reception, having travelled 600 Miles, and attended above 60 Meetings.

After having been at Home, and at our own Meeting at Frankfort, I went to the Quarterly-meeting at Philadelphia, where Friends were glad to fee me.

On the next Fifth-day I was at the Marriage of Thomas Mafters and Hannah Dickinson, where were many fober People, not of our Society.

Having been lately among Friends at Long-Ifland, and been comforted in the many Opportunities we had together, it came into my Mind to vifit them with an Epiftle at their Quarterly-Meeting at Flushing, which was as followeth.

Frankfort, 12th Month 1725:

My dear and well beloved Friends,

in Long

ELIEVING it might be acceptable to you An Epiftle to hear that I was got well to my Habitation in to Fiends fuch a difficult Time of the Year as I fet out from land. you in; and also feeling the fweet Influence of the divine Love of the heavenly Father, and his dear, Son our Lord Jefus Chrift, to arife and fpring in my • Heart and flowing towards you:

of

It came into my Mind to write a few Lines to the
Quarterly-meeting of Friends at Flushing, by way
M 4

Epiltle,

1725.

Epiftle, well knowing alfo that many of us are C as Epiftles writ in one anothers Hearts by the hea• venly Finger of the moft High; and thofe Charac❝ters of divine Love fo written will not easily be erafed: I could willingly have been at your Quarterlymeeting, but that I had been fo long from my Family, that I was much wanted therein, and my coming Home was feasonable and acceptable, both ⚫ to them and my Friends; and I humbly thank the Lord, I found all well. Now that which is on my Mind to your Quarterly-meeting, is after this Manner, concerning the Government of the Church of • Chrift, of which Church He is the holy Head and Lawgiver: Wherefore we are to feek and wait for • Counsel and Wisdom from him, in all our Monthly and Quarterly-meetings, for the well-ordering of our little Society, which is growing and increafing in the Earth, and also in your Island (notwithstanding the invidious Attempts of fome Men of corrupt • Minds) and it will grow and increase more and more, as we keep our Places, our heavenly Places in Chrift • Jefus.

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Dear Friends, the good Order of Truth and Go❝vernment of Chrift in his Church, is a great Help to us and our Children, when carried on in Chrift's Spirit [pray observe or mind that] for if our Order, and Church-Government, be carried on in the Spirit of Man (as he is meer Man) though he is never fo crafty or cunning, it will do more Hurt than Good in the Church of Chrift. Chrift's Spirit must govern Chrift's Church; and when, and where that is over all, then, and there, Chrift's Church and Kingdom is exalted, of whofe Kingdom and Peace ⚫ there will be no End; and happy will all those be, ⚫ whofe End is in it. Mofes, that Man of God, governed in the Jewish Church in the Spirit of God, and when he found the Work too heavy for him, the Lord put his Spirit on Seventy more, who were Help