the new meeting house then building, which tried them at my boldness, (they not knowing who I was, but supposed a local preacher) and intended Mr. G. should preach the first sermon there, for the dedication. Next day, some desired to know my name, which I desired to be excused from telling. I held a number of meetings in this place, mostly cold and lifeless, though we had some good and pious friends; yet I could not speak with life and power, as formerly; but felt as if I was delivering my message to the wrong people. For it had been in my mind to return to my native town, and there begin, and travel extensively; first in the adjacent places, and so abroad, as I might find Providence to open the door.

When I got to this place I had two shillings left, and hearing of a place called Kingston-sopus, I was minded to visit it, contrary to the advice of my friends, and having got a few together with difficulty, and leaving two other appointments, returned, having paid away all my money for ferriages, and when the time commenced in which I should go and fulfil the appointments, saw no way to get across the ferry, and whilst walking along in meditation on past providences, and raising my heart that a way might be opened for my getting across the ferry, cast my eye upon the sand, and espied something bright, and on picking it up found it to be a York shilling, the very sum I wanted in order to cross over. And when I had fulfilled my first appointment and was going to the second, a stranger shook hands with me, and left near half a dollar in my hand, so I was enabled to get back. Thus I see that Providence provides for them that put their trust in Him. Having some scripture pictures framed sent by me from Europe to dispose of, some I gave away, and the remainder I let go to a printer for some religious hand bills in Poughkeepsie, some of which I distributed through the town, and hearing the sound of a fiddle I followed it, and came to a porch where was a master teaching his pupils to dance. I gave some hand-bills, which he called after me to take away, but I spoke not a word but went off. Here the people are hardened.

At Fish-kill and the Highlands, the people were hard, and apparently sorry to see me. At Clove and Snarling-town likewise; I visited some neighboring places, and had some tender meetings.At Amenia and Dover the Methodists seemed shy; I put up at a tavern several times. Swago, I visited from house to house, but

have not the art nor the spirit of visiting as when in the north country.

Sharon--I found two classes here; the first, hard, and sorry to see me; the other, tender with Christian love. In Salisbury and Canaan, Connect., I had sundry meetings, but still felt as if not in my right sphere. A report that crazy Dow had got back from Ireland brought many out to hear. Mount Washington, Sheffield, and Egremont, Mass., I visited; thence to Hudson, and so to Rhinebeck.

After quarterly meeting, I went home to see my friends, and found my parents well, and one sister, who had become more serious within the course of a few months; which was a matter of consolation to me.

The expectations of the Methodists was raised, expecting such times as we had before, not looking enough beyond the watchman; once some were prejudiced against me, but now too much for me, so I was clogged with their expectations and shut up. Walking to Norwich, gave away my pocket handkerchief to get a breakfast, ana took shipping to New London, where we had three meetings that were large and tender. One who was near and dear to me did not come to see me, neither durst I go to see him, which caused me some pain of heart.

September 3rd. I went forty miles to Middletown, and had four meetings which were good and tender. At New Hartford I hired a ball-room, which cost me a dollar and a half. The man thought I was going to have a play, at first; many came to hear, to whom I spoke from, "After I have spoken, mock on." Some were tender, and some disputed, saying, all things are decreed, and they hoped they were Christians, and no man can be a Christian unless he is reconciled to God's decrees. I replied, if all things are fore-ordained, it was fore-ordained that I should talk as I do, and you are not reconciled to it, and of course are not Christians, but deceiving yourselves according to your own doctrine. The young people smiled, and so we parted.

Oh, when shall the time commence when the watchmen shall see eye to eye, and the earth be filled with God's glory? Thence I went to my circuit, and continued round with my mind burdened, as when sailing up from New York; and have been burdened and

depressed whilst on this circuit ever since. I do not have such meetings as formerly, though the cause of God, and the worth of souls lie near my heart as ever. What can be the cause, unless out of my sphere? I felt a pain in my right side, and on the seventh day an ulcer, as I suppose, broke in my lungs, and I raised a putrified matter, and was forced to cut my labor short the next day by physical inability. After this I had hardly strength to keep up with my appointments; but frequently was obliged to lie upon my bed whilst addressing the people. At length, I got a little more free from my pain, and was in hopes that the raising would cease, and the place heal.

October 24th-25th. After quarterly meeting, I left this circuit by G's direction, and proceeded for Litchfield circuit, but did not ask for location, as I wished to go through the year if possible, considering my engagement, and the nature of my standing.

26th. The Methodists being low and lazy here, I walked through the town, and gave notice for meeting, and invited the people, and some ministers and lawyers, with the people, accepted. The second meeting scores could not get in. At Milton, God has begun a good work. In Kent, the people are hard. New Milford, Washington, Woodbury, Goshen, Winchester, Bristol, I visited. Some were hard; some were prejudiced; and with some I had comfort, amongst whom were some seventh-day Baptists near the last place. In Farmington and Northington, religion seemed low; in the latter, harm was done by the minister opposing the work under brother M. In Granby and Barkhemstead, it is low. Hartland Hollow, once a flaming place for piety, seems to be diminished greatly, yet of late some small quickening. Colebrook and Winstead I visited; in the latter is a large society, but not so much engaged as they used to be. Thus I have got round the circuit-scarce any blessing on my labors, and my mind depressed from day to day.

CHAPTER VIII.

GEORGIA TOUR.

Or late it hath lain upon my mind that I should not recover whilst I continued in this sphere of action, and that my ill health came in consequence of my not doing what I had felt to be my duty, viz: to travel the continent more at large; and the only remedy to escape and recover from this decline, would be a change of air and climate, &c., and as though Providence choose to make use of this means for my recovery, for some end unknown to me. And the more I make it a matter of prayer, that if it were a temptation, it might decrease; but if it were from Him, it might increase, and the more I think upon it and weigh it for eternity, the more it increases, and cords of sweet love draw me on.

The thoughts of leaving the circuit without liberty, is somewhat trying, as I had done it once before; and some perhaps may conclude there is no confidence to be put in me. The Island of Bermuda, or Georgia is what I had in contemplation.

November 21-22. Quarterly meeting was in Cornwall; I told brother Batchelor that my mind was under the above trials, he said he was willing I should go. But Garretson, my spiritual Grand father, would not consent; but offered me a location on the circuit if I would say I could travel no longer; but would not consent that I should leave it on any condition at first. I could not say but that I could travel a space longer, and yet apparently but a very little while. At length I strove to get him to say, if it was the opinion of brother Moriarty, that my health was declining, he would not charge me with disobedience at the next conference: he said I must then labor not in my usual way, but like the other preachers, the regular appointments only, and thus indirectly it was left-I contin ued on.

27th. My strength I think declines.

December 1st. I reached my parents again, tarried four days,

had two meetings, and told my parents of my intention of visiting the southern climes. They did not seem to oppose it as I expected; but said, once it would have been your delight to have been received and travelling regularly on a circuit, and now they are willing to receive you, you cannot feel contented to tarry on a circuit, which if we could have our choice, it would be to have you continue; then you will have friends, and can come and see us; but you must be your own judge in this matter; weigh it well and ret accordingly.

I left my horse, saddle, bridle, and watch, in the hands of Nathaniel Phelps, and had some money of a neighbor, viz: my horse with the man who came fifteen miles to see me, and gave me a dollar, when I was sick in the north country. Peter Moriarty, the assistant preacher of the circuit, being gone home to wait till God should send snow that he might move his family, it was uncertain when I could get his judgment respecting my decline, and there being no probability of my obtaining Garretson's consent, I was now brought into a strait. Being unable to fufil the appointments with propriety any longer, I got brother Fox to take them in my stead.

My license being wrote in such form by Mr. G., it would only serve for the Dutchess and Columbia circuits, so that when he removed me to Litchfield it was good for nothing, so I destroyed it, and of course, now had no credentials to aid me in a strange land; the thoughts of going away under the above difficult circumstances was trying both to my natural desire, and to my faith; yet it appeared to me I was brought into this situation by my disobedience, and the only way would be to obey in future.

December 9. A friend, N. P., carried me to Hartford, and being disappointed of shipping, I set off on foot for New Haven, and though weak in body I went twelve miles and stopped at a tavern; but it being the Free Mason Lodge night, they made such a noise I could not sleep, so I went to a farm house.

Set off at the dawn of day; and a man in Meriden saw and knew me, gave me a breakfast and sent a horse with me several miles, so I reached New Haven that night, and spoke to a few. The next evening I spoke again, and God gave me favor in the sight of some.

At length I set sail for New York, and making a mistake as the