B1r

Memoirs
of the
Life, Religious Experience, Ministerial
Travels, and Labours
of
Mrs. Elaw

I was born in the United States of America, in the
State of Pennsylvania, and of religious parents. When
about six years of age, my mother’s parents, who resided
on their own farm, far in the interior of America,
at a distance of many hundred miles, came to visit us.
My parents had three children then living; the eldest,
a boy about twelve years of age, myself, and a younger
sister. On his return, my grandfather took my brother
with him, promising to bring him up to the business of
his farm; and I saw him not again until more than thirty
years afterwards.

At twelve years of age I was bereaved of my mother,
who died in child-birth of her twenty-second child, all
of whom, with the exception of three, died in infancy.
My father, having placed my younger sister under the
care of her aunt, then consigned me to the care of
Pierson and Rebecca Mitchel, with whom I remained
until I attained the age of eighteen. After I had been B B1v 2
with the above-mentioned persons one year and six
months, it pleased God to remove my dear father to
the world of spirits; and, being thus bereft of my
natural guardians, I had no other friends on earth to
look to, but those kind benefactors under whom my dear
father had placed me.

But that God whose mercy endureth for ever, still
continued mindful of me; but oh, what a change did I
experience in my new abode from that to which I had been
accustomed. In my father’s house, family devotion was
regularly attended to morning and evening; prayer was
offered up, and the praises of God were sung; but the
persons with whom I now resided were Quakers, and
their religious exercises, if they observed any, were
performed in the secret silence of the mind; nor were
religion and devotion referred to by them in my hearing,
which rendered my transition from home the more
strange; and, being very young, and no apparent religious
restraint being laid upon me, I soon gave way to
the evil propensities of an unregenerate heart, which is
enmity against God, and heedlessly ran into the ways
of sin, taking pleasure in the paths of folly. But that
God, whose eyes are ever over all His handy works,
suffered me not unchecked to pursue the courses of sin.
My father’s death frequently introduced very serious
reflections into my mind; and often was I deeply affected,
and constrained to weep before God, when no human
eye beheld my emotion. But, notwithstanding these
seasons of serious contrition, my associations with the
juvenile members of the family were too generally
marked by the accustomed gaities of a wanton heart.
Our childish conversations sometimes turned upon the B2r 3
day of judgment, and our appearance in the presence
of the great God on that portentous occasion, which
originated in my breast the most solemn emotions whenever
I was alone; for I felt myself to be so exceedingly
sinful, that I was certain of meeting with condemnation
at the bar of God. I knew not what to do; nor were there
any persons to whom I durst open my mind upon the subject,
and therefore remained ignorant of the great remedy
disclosed by the plan of salvation afforded by the gospel,
and incapable of religious progress. I was at times
deeply affected with penitence, but could not rightly
comprehend what it was that ailed me. Sometimes I
resolutely shook off all my impressions, and became
more thoughtless than before; one instance, in particular,
is so rivetted on my memory, that I shall never
forget it when ever I glance back upon my youthful
life. On this occasion I was talking very foolishly, and
even ventured to take the name of God in vain, in order
to cater to the sinful tastes of my companions; it well
pleased their carnal minds, and they laughed with delight
at my profanity; but, whilst I was in the very act
of swearing, I looked up, and imagined that I saw God
looking down and frowning upon me: my tongue was
instantly silenced; and I retired from my frolicsome
companions to reflect upon what I had said and done.
To the praise of divine mercy, that God who willeth not
the death of a sinner, but rather that all should turn
unto him and live, did not even now abandon me, but
called me by an effectual call through the following
dream. It was a prevailing notion in that part of the
world with many, that whatever a person dreamed
between the times of twilight and sunrise, was prophetically B2v 4
ominous, and would shortly come to pass; and,
on that very night, after I had offended my heavenly
Father by taking His name in vain, He aroused and
alarmed my spirit, by presenting before me in a dream
the awful terrors of the day of judgment, accompanied
by its terrific thunders. I thought that the Angel
Gabriel came and proclaimed that time should be no
longer; and he said, “Jehovah was about to judge the
world, and execute judgment on it.” I then exclaimed
“Oh, Lord, what shall I do? I am unprepared
to meet thee.” I then meditated an escape, but
could not effect it; and in this horrific dilemma I
awoke: the day was just dawning; and the intense
horror of my guilty mind was such as to defy description.
I was now fourteen years of age; and this
dream proved an effectual call to my soul. I meditated
deeply upon it, my spirits became greatly depressed, and
I wept excessively. I was naturally of a very lively and
active disposition, and the shock my feelings had sustained
from this alarming dream, attracted the attention
of my mistress, who inquired the reason of so
great a change. I related my dream to her, and also
stated my sentiments with respect to it: she used every
endeavour to comfort me, saying that it was only a
dream; that dreams have nothing ominous in them; and
I ought not to give myself any more concern respecting it:
but she failed in her attempt to tranquillize my mind,
because the convictions of my sinfulness in the sight of
God, and incompetency to meet my Judge, were immoveable
and distressing. I now gave myself much to
meditation, and lisped out my simple and feeble prayers
to God, as well as my limited apprehensions and youthful B3r 5
abilities admitted. About this time, the Methodists
made their first appearance in that part of the country,
and I was permitted to attend their meetings once a
fortnight, on the Sabbath afternoons, from which I
derived great satisfaction; but the divine work on my
soul was a very gradual one, and my way was prepared
as the dawning of the morning. I never experienced
the terrific dread of hell by which some Christians
appear to have been exercised; but felt a godly sorrow
for sin, in having grieved my God by a course of disobedience
to His commands. I had been trained to
attend the Quaker meetings; and, on their preaching
occasions, I was pleased to be in attendance, and often
found comfort from the word ministered by them; but
I was, notwithstanding, usually very much cast down
on account of my sins before God; and in this state I
continued many months before I could attain sufficient
confidence to say, “My Lord and my God.” But as
the darkness was gradually dispelled, the light dawned
upon my mind, and I increased in knowledge daily;
yet I possessed no assurance of my acceptance before
God; though I enjoyed a greater peace of mind in waiting
upon my heavenly father than at any previous
time; my prayer was daily for the Lord to assure me
of the forgiveness of my sins; and I at length proved
the verification of the promise, “They that seek shall
find;” for, one evening, whilst singing one of the songs
of Zion, I distinctly saw the Lord Jesus approach me
with open arms, and a most divine and heavenly smile
upon his countenance. As He advanced towards me,
I felt that his very looks spoke, and said, “Thy prayer
is accepted, I own thy name.” From that day to the B2 B3v 6
present, I have never entertained a doubt of the manifestation
of his love to my soul.

Yea, I may say further than this; because, at the time
when this occurrence took place, I was milking in the
cow stall; and the manifestation of his presence was so
clearly apparent, that even the beast of the stall turned
her head and bowed herself upon the ground. Oh,
never, never shall I forget the scene. Some persons,
perhaps, may be incredulous, and say, “How can these
things be, and in what form did He appear?” Dear
reader, whoever thou art, into whose hands this narrative
may fall, I will try to gratify thee by endeavouring
to describe this manifestation. It occurred as I was
singing the following lines:— “Oh, when shall I see Jesus, And dwell with him above; And drink from flowing fountains, Of everlasting love. When shall I be delivered From this vain world of sin; And, with my blessed Jesus, Drink endless pleasures in?”

As I was milking the cow and singing, I turned my
head, and saw a tall figure approaching, who came and
stood by me. He had long hair, which parted in the
front and came down on his shoulders; he wore a long
white robe down to the feet; and, as he stood with open
arms and smiled upon me, he disappeared. I might
have tried to imagine, or persuade myself, perhaps, that
it had been a vision presented merely to the eye of my
mind; but, the beast of the stall gave forth her evidence
to the reality of the heavenly appearance; for she turned B4r 7
her head and looked round as I did; and when she saw,
she bowed her knees and cowered down upon the
ground. I was overwhelmed with astonishment at the
sight, but the thing was certain and beyond all doubt.
I write as before God and Christ, and declare, as I shall
give an account to my Judge at the great day, that
every thing I have written in this little book, has been
written with conscientious veracity and scrupulous adherence
to truth.

After this wonderful manifestation of my condescending
Saviour, the peace of God which passeth understanding
was communicated to my heart; and joy in
the Holy Ghost, to a degree, at the least, unutterable
by my tongue and indescribable by my pen; it was
beyond my comprehension; but, from that happy hour,
my soul was set at glorious liberty; and, like the
Ethiopic eunuch, I went on my way rejoicing in the
blooming prospects of a better inheritance with the
saints in light.

This, my dear reader, was the manner of my soul’s
conversion to God, told in language unvarnished by
the graces of educated eloquence, nor transcending the
capacity of a child to understand.

The love of God being now shed abroad in my heart
by the Holy Spirit, and my soul transported with heavenly
peace and joy in God, all the former hardships
which pertained to my circumstances and situation
vanished; the work and duties which had previously
been hard and irksome were now become easy and
pleasant; and the evil propensities of my disposition
and temper were subdued beneath the softening and
refining pressure of divine grace upon my heart.

B4v 8

In the year 18081808, I united myself in the fellowship of
the saints with the militant church of Jesus on earth;
and I can never forget that memorable evening on which
I went up formally to present my hand to the brethren,
and my heart for ever to the Lord.

I was received by the travelling preacher, the Rev. J.
Polhemos. After sermon, he conducted the class;
in the course of which he inquired if there were any
persons present who desired to join in the society: I then
arose from my seat, and replied, “Yes, bless the Lord,
here is one.” He fixed his eyes upon me for a short
time, and said, “Well, this seems a bold champion indeed.”
He then asked me the reason of my hope in
Christ; if I enjoyed the evidence and witness of the
Holy Spirit; if I calculated that I should be able to hold
out to the end; and many very important questions
besides; cautioning me against deceptive imagination
that the testimony I had given before the brethren,
which had been witnessed by angels, or my union
with the church, would alone be sufficient for my salvation.
He then inquired if there existed any objections
against my admission as a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Society; and there being none, he entered
my name into the class book of the society. I then
returned home, meditating on that which I had heard
and done, and praying that God would bestow on me
sufficient grace to enable me to perform all his righteous
will. Truly, in those days, my peace flowed as a river,
and the light of God’s countenance continually shone
upon me; my path grew brighter and brighter, and my
soul was stayed upon his gracious word and promises.

But, notwithstanding this tide of divine comforts so B5r 9
richly replenished my soul, Satan, my great adversary,
frequently assailed me with various trials and temptations,
and the young folks often derided me as being a
Methodist: it was my happiness to be such, and I
thanked God who counted me meet to be a partaker of
the heavenly calling. I sometimes met with very severe
rebukes from my mistress, and I endured her reproofs
without the exhibition of my former resentments and
saucy replies: whatever storm arose, I was hid in the
cleft of the rock until it was blown over. How vast a
source of consolation did I derive from habitual communion
with my God; to Him I repaired in secret to
acquaint Him with all my griefs, and obtained both
sympathy and succour. At such times, an overflowing
stream of love has filled my soul, even beyond my utmost
capacity to contain, and I have thought, when in such
ecstacies of bliss, that I should certainly die under them,
and go to my heavenly father at once, from an earthly
to a heavenly transport; for I could not imagine it
possible for any human being to feel such gusts of the
love of God, and continue to exist in this world of sin.

But it was with me as with the great apostle of the
Gentiles; “when I was a child I thought as a child; I
spake as a child, I understood as a child; but when I
attained to maturity, I put away childish things.” For as
an earthly father pitieth his children, so does our Heavenly
Father pity those who fear Him: they who serve Him
in the time of peace, He will not abandon in the times
of war and conflict, which in our probation here it
behoves us to pass through. He has promised to carry
the young Lambs in His bosom; and He verified that
promise, in my experience, in the day of my trouble. B5v 10
Many were the tears which overflowed my eyes, and
indicated the sorrows of my heart, and which none but
God was the witness of. There were no persons in the
house in which I resided, to whom I could at any time
open my mind; for the knowledge of God was possessed
by none in that family with the exception of my
master, and amongst them I dwelt as a speckled bird;
but the want of suitable associates, and the singularity
with which I was treated, drove me to God my refuge,
and proved very congenial to increased intimacy of
communion with Him.

Prior to my experience of the life and power of godliness,
my mistress frequently charged me with pertness
and insolent behaviour; but after I had imbibed somewhat
of the meekness and gentleness of Jesus, and had
been instructed by his religion not to answer again
when chided, then she frequently charged me with
sullenness and mopishness. The treatment often sent
me to the throne of grace, to seek the sympathy of
Him who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.
I now felt, bitterly, the loss of my dear mother, whose
earthly remains had long since been consigned to the
house appointed for all living, and her spirit made meet
for the inheritance of the saints in light, in which I hope
to meet her at the right hand of God. Oh, how often
do I think of the advantages enjoyed by many young
people, who are blessed with devout and godly parents,
and of the little estimation they are held in by too
many perverse and giddy children, who, instead of
greatly prizing the grace conferred upon them, resent
the kind of restraints of family worship and attendance
at the house of God. Some of them, perhaps, may B6r 11
ultimately be led as I was, when their parents are
gathered to the generation of their fathers, to pine after
the privileges which they had once despised and finally
lost. See ye to it, ye careless, giddy, perverse young
folks, while the light of parental godliness yet illumines
the house; prize it, imbibe it, conform yourselves to and
profit by it, that the fervent petitions of your pious
parents, in your behalf, may be prevailingly successful,
by the production of a spirit of prayer in yourselves,
and the bowing of your souls to God.

Before I knew the power of real religion, I was timid
and fearful when alone in the dark; and if I had recently
heard of the death of any person, even if it had occurred
at a distance of twelve miles, I durst not go out
of doors at night alone, from the superstitious dread of
seeing their apparition, and to pass a grave-yard alone
was terrible indeed; but when the Lord had spoken
peace to my soul, by the manifestation of Christ, my
fear was removed; and my heavenly Father instructed
me in reference to departed spirits, that if they slept in
Jesus they would have no desire again to visit this
world of sorrow; and if, on the other hand, they had
died under the power of Satan, he would
surely retain them safely in his custody, and not allow
of their enlargement. I thus was freed from the terror
by night, and dwelt secure under the protection of the
Almighty.

The place of meeting for the class I was connected
with, was two miles distant from my abode, and my
way thither lay near two grave-yards; but, thanks be
unto God, I had no dread upon my mind as I passed
them continually on my way to and return from the B6v 12
class meeting; and I counted this as strong evidence of
a great privilege to a heart renewed by divine and
omnipotent grace; to God be all the praise! It is to be
considered that a two miles journey in the more rural
territories of the United States, is very different from
the same distance along the streets or well frequented
roads of England: across lonely fields, and through
the dark and hazy woods at night, the way is awfully
silent and frightfully wild; but these nocturnal walks
were to me seasons of sweet communion with God:
I went on my way rejoicing; fervent prayers and heavenly
meditation were to me the very elements of life;
my meat and drink by day and night. My delights
were to follow the leadings and obey the dictates of the
Holy Spirit, and glorify with my body and spirit my
Father who is in heaven. I enjoyed richly the spirit of
adoption: knowing myself to be an adopted child of
divine love, I claimed God as my Father, and his Son
Jesus as my dear friend, who adhered to me more faithfully
in goodness than a brother: and with my blessed
Saviour, Redeemer, Intercessor, and Patron, I enjoyed
a delightsome heavenly communion, such as the world
has never conceived of.

Thus I passed three happy years after my conversion,
growing in grace and in the knowledge of God. At the
commencement of my religious course, I was deplorably
ignorant and dark; but the Lord himself was graciously
pleased to become my teacher, instructing me by his Holy
Spirit, in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. It was
not by the aid of human instruments that I was first
drawn to Christ; and it was by the Lord alone that I was
upheld, confirmed, instructed, sanctified, and directed.

C1r 13

The persons who became members of the Methodist
societies in America are first introduced to the class,
which they attend for six months on probation; at the
expiration of which, if their conduct has been consistent
with their professions, they are baptised, and accounted
full members of the society. After I had completed
my six months probation, I was baptised by the
Rev. Joseph Lybrand; and I shall never forget the heavenly
impression I felt on that joyfully solemn occasion.
Truly “the one Spirit of Jesus doth by means of His
ministers, baptise us into the one body of Jesus.” 1 Cor.
xii. 13. When he said “I baptise thee into the name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen,” I was so
overwhelmed with the love of God, that self seemed
annihilated: I was completely lost and absorbed in the
divine fascinations. The Rev. Divine then added, “Be
thou faithful unto death, and thou shalt receive a crown
of life; and, ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
with all thy might;’ for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you.” I was now accounted a full
member of the society, and privileged with the communion
of the Lord’s Supper. In this happy home I
continued nearly seven years, and only parted from it
when I left my situation.

In the year 18101810, I surrendered myself in marriage to
Joseph Elaw, a very respectable young man, in the
general acceptation of the term, but he was not a Christian,
—that is, a sincere and devoted disciple of Christ,
though nominally bearing His name. Oh! let me affectionately
warn my dear unmarried sisters in Christ,
against being thus unequally yoked with unbelievers.
In general your lot would be better, if a millstone were C C1v 14
hung about your necks, and you were drowned in the
depths of the sea, than that you should disobey the law
of Jesus, and plunge yourselves into all the sorrows,
sins, and anomalies involved in a matrimonial alliance
with an unbeliever. This mischief frequently emanates
from the delusive sentiments in which the female portion
of the Christian community is steeped. Young ladies
imagine themselves their own mistresses before they are
able to shift for themselves; and especially when they
attain the legal maturity fixed by the civil law. Pride,
consequential haughtiness, and independent arrogance
in females, are the worst vices of humanity, and are
denounced in the Scriptures as insuring the severest
retributions of God. Isaiah iii. 16-24. The laws of
Scripture invest parents with the trust and control of
their daughter, until the time, be it early or late in life,
when the father surrenders her in marriage to the care
and government of a husband: then and not till then,
the guardianship and government of her father over her
ceases; and then, formed as she is by nature for subordination,
she becomes the endowment and is subject to
the authority of her husband. The boastful speeches
too often vented by young females against either the
paternal yoke or the government of a husband, is both
indecent and impious—conveying a wanton disrespect
to the regulations of Scripture: the fancied independence
and self-control in which they indulge, has no
foundation either in nature or Scripture, and is prolific
with the worst results both to religion and society.
That woman is dependant on and subject to man, is the
dictate of nature; that the man is not created for the
woman, but woman for the man, is that of Scripture. C2r 15
theseThese principles lie at the foundation of the family and
social systems; and their violation is a very immoral
and guilty act. These remarks will not, I trust, be out
of place here. I now observe, in reference to the marriage
of a Christian with an unbeliever, that there is not,
there cannot be in it, that mutual sympathy and affectionate
accordance which exists in the marriage lives of
devoted Christians, when both parties are cordially progressing
on the king’s highway. How discordant are
the sentiments, tastes, and feelings of the Christian and
unbeliever, when unequally, and I may say, wickedly
allied together in the marriage state. The worldly man
displays his settled aversion to the things of religion,
and especially against the sincerity and tenacity with
which his believing partner adheres to them; and on
the other hand, the believer displays his settled abhorrence
of the things of the world, to which he is crucified
and dead: nor can the strength of any carnal attachment
betwixt the parties, or the utmost stretch of
courtesy on both sides, ever reconcile the radical opposition
of their principles. If the saint winks at the
worldly course pursued by his partner, he evidences the
weakness of Christian principle in himself, is unfaithful
to his profession, and perfidious to the King of kings;
if he reproves it, he involves the household in strife,
his own soul in vexation, and perils it by wrath. Besides,
the wife is destined to be the help-meet of her
husband; but if he be a worldly man, she cannot, she
dare not be either his instrument or abettor in worldly lusts
and sinful pursuits; if he be a saint and she a child of
wrath, she is not his help-meet, but his drawback and
curse; and in either case she possesses the title or name C2v 16
of a wife without the qualification, viz. that of a help-
meet. By the Jewish law, the marriage of a Jew with
a woman of a prohibited nation, was not accounted
marriage, but fornication, Ezra x. 11, Hebrews xii. 16;
and it is a very serious impropriety also under the
Christian dispensation. I am aware that when once
the carnal courtship is commenced, the ensnared Christian
fondly imagines that he shall soon be able to persuade
his unregenerate companion to think as he does,
and also to love and serve God with him; and on the
other hand, the carnal suitor accounts religion as mere
whimsy and pretence, and flatters himself that he shall
soon divert the object of his desire from so melancholy
and superstitious a pursuit; and thus both of them are
miserably deceived, and miss of that happiness they so
fallaciously had dreamt of. I am sorry to say, I know
something of the experience. My dear husband
had been a member of the society to which I belonged,
and had been afterwards disowned by them; but I could
not regard him as a backslider from religion, for I am
of opinion that he had never tasted of the pardoning
love of God through atonement of Jesus Christ.
He made me many promises that he would again unite
with the Church, and try to devote his life to the service
of God; but they were never fulfilled. After we
had been married about a year, he resolved to use every
means to induce me to renounce my religion, and abolish
my attendance at the meeting-house. It was then
that my troubles began, and grew so severe, that I knew
not what to do; but that God who is a present help in
every time of need was with me still, and enabled me
to endure every trial with meekness; and when suffering C3r 17
his keenest chidings for my attendance at the
meeting-house, I kept my mouth as with a bridle, and
sinned not with my tongue. He was passionately fond
of music and dancing, and determined to introduce me
to such amusements; thinking that I should be as delighted
as himself with the merriments of the world,
and hoping thereby to accomplish his object: but that
God whom I served night and day, preserved me in the
hour of temptation, and shielded me from harm. We
resided about twenty miles from Philadelphia, a city of
great note in America, and which I had never yet seen.
An opportunity at length was presented for us to repair
thither; and my dear husband projected my introduction
to his favourite resort—the ball-room, on our visit
to this great city. We accordingly travelled to Philadelphia;
and after we had been there a few days, we
went to take a walk and view the different edifices and
parts of the city: he then conducted me into a place
which I quickly recognised as a ball-room; for the
violin struck up, and the people began to caper the
merry dance, and take their fill of pleasure. The tones
of the music and the boundings of the people were to
me like awful peals of thunder; and all I could do was
to weep before God. I often think and say, “Where’er I am, where’er I move, I meet the object of my love.”
Although I was then in a ball-room, I think that I
never heard a sermon that preached more impressively
to me than the display I witnessed there, in the din and
scenery of that vapourish bubble of worldly gaiety and
pleasure. Well might the wise man exclaim, “All is
vanity and vexation of spirit!”

C2 C3v 18

From the ill success of this wretched experiment, my
dear husband found his expectations disappointed, and
he never after urged me to accompany him to such
places,—to God be all the praise! We soon returned
home; and I continued on my course, blessing and
praising God for his kind preserving care of me in the
perilous hour of temptation.

My husband was a fuller by trade; and when the
embargo was laid on British vessels, all traffic ceased
betwixt the two nations: the cloth manufacturers in the
States enlarged their business very extensively, and the
demand for hands was urgent. By this turn of affairs
we were induced to remove our place of residence to the
city of Burlington, in the state of New Jersey, which
was to me a happy removal indeed; and I plainly read
the indications of the Lord’s goodness in it: for the
class assembled at a house but a few doors from mine;
the chapel was also near, and I more plentifully
enjoyed the means of grace, and grew thereby. Highly
did I prize these precious privileges, for I grew in grace
daily, and in the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus.
With cheerful gratitude and paramount peace could
I sing these lines— “How happy every child of grace, Who knows his sins forgiven; This earth, he cries, is not my place, I seek my rest in Heaven.”

I am compelled to omit much interesting and important
matter relative to my religious experience and life,
and pass to the more strikingly eventful points, lest I
should swell these pages beyond my present limited
means for the press.

C4r 19

In the year 18171817, I attended an American camp-
meeting. Oh, how I should like our dear English
friends to witness some of our delightful camp meetings,
which are held in the groves of the United States.
There many thousands assemble in the open air, and
beneath the overspreading bowers, to own and worship
our common Lord, the Proprietor of the Universe;
there all arise and sing the solemn praises of the King
of majesty and glory. It is like heaven descended
upon an earthly soil, when all unite to “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.”
The hardest hearts are melted into tenderness; the driest
eyes overflow with tears, and the loftiest spirits bow
down: the Creator’s works are gazed upon, and His
near presence felt around.

In order to form a camp meeting, when place and
time of meeting has been extensively published, each
family takes its own tent, and all things necessary for
lodgings, with seats, provisions and servants; and with
waggons and other vehicles repair to the destined spot,
which is generally some wildly rural and wooded retreat
in the back grounds of the interior: hundreds of
families, and thousands of persons, are seen pressing to
the place from all quarters: the meeting usually continues
for a week or more: a large circular inclosure of
brushwood is formed; immediately inside of which the
tents are pitched, and the space in the centre is appropriated
to the worship of God, the minister’s stand being
on one side, and generally on a somewhat rising ground.
It is a scaffold constructed of boards, and surrounded
with a fence of rails.

C4v 20

In the space before the platform, seats are placed sufficient
to seat four or five thousand persons; and at night
the woods are illuminated; there are generally four large
mounds of earth constructed, and on them large piles of
pine knots are collected and ignited, which make a wonderful
blaze and burn a long time; there are also candles
and lamps hung about in the trees, together with a
light in every tent, and the minister’s stand is brilliantly
lighted up; so that the illumination attendant upon a
camp-meeting, is a magnificently solemn scene. The
worship commences in the morning before sunrise; the
watchmen proceed round the inclosure, blowing with
trumpets to awaken every inhabitant of this City of the
Lord: they then proceed again round the camp, to summon
the inmates of every tent to their family devotions;
after which they take of breakfast, and are again
summoned by sound of trumpet to public prayer meeting
at the altar which is placed in front of the preaching
stand. Many precious souls are on these occasions
introduced into the liberty of the children of God; at
the close of the prayer meeting the grove is teeming
with life and activity; the numberless private conferences,
the salutations of old friends again meeting in
the flesh, the earnest inquiries of sinners, the pressing
exhortations of anxious saints, the concourse of pedestrians,
the arrival of horses and carriages of all descriptions
render the scene portentously interesting and intensely
surprising. At ten o’clock, the trumpets sound again
to summon the people to public worship; the seats are
all speedily filled, and as perfect a silence reigns throughout
the place as in a Church or Chapel; presently the
high praises of God sound melodiously from this consecrated C5r 21
spot, and nothing seems wanting but local elevation
to render the place a heaven indeed. It is like
God’s ancient and holy hill of Zion on her brightest festival
days, when the priests conducted the processions
of the people to the glorious temple of Jehovah. At
the conclusion of the service, the people repair to their
tents or other rendezvous to dinner; at the termination
of which prayers are offered up, and hymns are sung in
the tents, and in the different groups scattered over the
ground; and many precious souls enter into the liberty
of God’s dear children. At two o’clock, a public
prayer-meeting commences at the stand, and is continued
till three, when the ministers preach again to the
people. At six o’clock in the evening, the public services
commence again as before; and at the hour of
ten, the trumpet is blown as a signal for all to retire to
rest; and those who are unprovided with lodgings,
leave the ground. On the last morning of the camp
meeting, which is continued for a week, a solemn love
feast is held; after which, all the tents are struck and
every thing put in readiness for departure; the ministers
finally form themselves in procession, and march round
the encampment; the people falling into rank and following
them. At length the ministers turn aside from
the rank, stand still, and commence singing a solemn
farewell hymn; and as the different ranks of the people
march by, they shake hands with their pastors, take an
affectionate farewell of them, and pass on in procession,
until the last or rear rank have taken their adieu. This
farewell scene is a most moving and affecting occasion.
Hundreds of Christians, dear to each other and beloved
in the Spirit, embrace each other for the last time, and C5v 22
part to meet no more, until the morning of the resurrection;
and many a stout-hearted sinner has been so
shaken to pieces at the pathetic sight, as to fall into
deep conviction of his depravity before God, which has
ended in genuine repentance and saving conversion to
Christ. I, for one, have great reason to thank God for
the refreshing seasons of his mighty grace, which have
accompanied these great meetings of his saints in the
wilderness. It was at one of these meetings that God
was pleased to separate my soul unto Himself, to sanctify
me as a vessel designed for honour, and made meet for
the master’s use. Whether I was in the body, or whether
I was out of the body, on that auspicious day, I
cannot say; but this I do know, that at the conclusion
of a most powerful sermon delivered by one of the ministers
from the platform, and while the congregation
were in prayer, I became so overpowered with the presence
of God, that I sank down upon the ground, and
laid there for a considerable time; and while I was thus
prostrate on the earth, my spirit seemed to ascend up
into the clear circle of the sun’s disc; and, surrounded
and engulphed in the glorious effulgence of his rays, I
distinctly heard a voice speak unto me, which said,
“Now thou art sanctified; and I will show thee what
thou must do.” I saw no personal appearance while in
this stupendous elevation, but I discerned bodies of
resplendent light; nor did I appear to be in this world
at all, but immensely far above those spreading trees,
beneath whose shady and verdant bowers I was then
reclined. When I recovered from the trance or ecstasy
into which I had fallen, the first thing I observed was,
that hundreds of persons were standing around me C6r 23
weeping; and I clearly saw by the light of the Holy
Ghost, that my heart and soul were rendered completely
spotless—as clean as a sheet of white paper, and I felt
as pure as if I had never sinned in all my life; a solemn
stillness rested upon my soul: “The speechless awe that dares not move, And all the silent heaven of love.”
Truly I durst not move, because God was so powerfully
near to me; for the space of several hours I appeared
not to be on earth, but far above all earthly things. I had
not at this time offered up public prayer on the camp
ground; but when the prayer meeting afterwards commenced,
the Lord opened my mouth in public prayer;
and while I was thus engaged, it seemed as if I heard
my God rustling in the tops of the mulberry-trees. Oh,
how precious was this day to my soul! I was after this
very frequently requested to present my petitions to
the throne of grace in the public meetings at the camp;
and to my astonishment, during one of the services, an
old gentleman and his wife, whose heads were blanched
by the frost of time, came to me, fell upon their knees,
and desired me to pray for them, as also many others
whom I expect to meet in a happier world: and before
the meeting at this camp closed, it was revealed to me
by the Holy Spirit, that like another Phœbe, or the matrons
of the apostolic societies, I must employ myself in visiting
families, and in speaking personally to the members
thereof, of the salvation and eternal interests of their
souls, visit the sick, and attend upon other of the errands
and services of the Lord; which I afterwards cheerfully
did, not confining my visits to the poor only, but extending
them to the rich also, and even to those who sit in C6v 24
high places in the state; and the Lord was with me in
the work to own and bless my labours. Like Enoch, I
walked and talked with God: nor did a single cloud
intervene betwixt God and my soul for many months
after.

But Satan at length succeeded in producing a cloud
over my mind, and in damping the delightful ardours
of my soul in these blessed labours, by suggesting, that
I ought not to make so bold a profession of an entire
sanctification and holiness of spirit, lest I should be
unable at all times to maintain it; and to this evil suggestion
I sinfully acceded, and dilated chiefly in my
visits on the goodness of God; and much ceased to
enforce that high attainment, and to witness to the indwelling
presence and superintending sway of the Holy
Spirit in a clean and obedient heart, which I had so
powerfully experienced; but alas! I soon proved that
to God must be cheerfully ascribed the glory, or he
will not vouchsafe to us a continuance of the happy
enjoyment.

I write this as a warning to others who may be attacked
with the same temptation, that they may be
careful not thus to grieve the Holy Spirit of God: but
ever remember, that we are witnesses of that gracious
passage of Scripture, “This is the will of God, even
your sanctification.” “For this the Saviour prayed on
behalf of his disciples, ‘Sanctify them by thy truth,
Thy word is truth:’” and Peter says, “Ye have purified
your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit:”
and “As he which hath called you is holy, so be
ye holy in all manner of conversation.” As, therefore,
this blessed doctrine is most certainly believed by us D1r 25
Methodists, it is both our high privilege and bounden
duty to manifest it to those around us; and, in default
thereof, we shall bring clouds of darkness upon our
souls.

I shall here narrate a very extraordinary circumstance
which occurred in the family of Mr. Boudinot, one of
the richest gentlemen in the city of Burlington. The
Lord bade me repair to this gentleman’s residence,
and deliver a gospel message to him. I was astounded
at the idea of going to such a man, to talk to him of
the condition of his soul; and began to reason with
myself as to the propriety thereof. Satan also suggested
that a man of his rank and dignity would not listen to
such a poor, ignorant creature as myself. I therefore
concluded, that possibly I might be mistaken about this
message, and that it might have arisen in my imagination
merely, and not have come from God. I accordingly
decided in my mind that I would not go to him. But
oh! how soon did my heavenly Master show me that
I had disobeyed his high commands, given me by the
impression of his Spirit upon my heart; for I habitually
enjoyed so clear an illumination of the divine presence
and glory upon my soul, a conscience so pure, and an eye
so single, that the slightest omission would produce the
intervention of a cloud and an obscuration of the divine
ray upon my spirit; and thus I felt on this occasion,
being deprived of the divine ray, and of the peculiar
zest and nearness of divine intercourse I had hitherto
enjoyed with my heavenly Father. I endeavoured to
search out and ascertain the reason, why the lustre of
my Father’s countenance was obscured upon my soul;
for so manifest was the gloom on my spirit, that even D D1v 26
my class leader said, “Why, how is this Zilpha, that
you appear less lively than you did a week or two
since?” yet I still remained ignorant of the cause thereof;
but on the next class evening, one of the itinerating
ministers presided, and he gave forth the following lines
to be sung― “Jesus, the hindrance show, Which I have feared to see; And let me now consent to know, What keeps me back from Thee.”
While singing these lines, I was led to discover that I
had not obeyed the call of the Lord, by refusing to go
to Mr. Boudinot’s, as I had been directed. “In me is all the bar, Which God would fain remove; Remove it; and I shall declare, That God is only love.”

I then laid open my case before my dear minister;
and I shall never forget the kind and excellent advice
he gave me upon that occasion. I never durst take
any important step without first consulting my superiors;
and having informed him of the painful exercises
of mind I had passed through, and of the disregard
I had paid to my heavenly direction, he advised
me, by all means, to go whither I had been directed,
and no more confer with flesh and blood; but proceed
in the course of duty and obedience, leaving the event
to God, before whose judgment-seat we shall all stand
to give an account of our stewardship. Upon this,
I again sought my heavenly Father at the throne of
grace, promising that I would go in His name, whither
he had sent me, if He would be pleased to restore to D2r 27
me the light of his countenance and Spirit; and He
graciously favoured me with the request of my heart.

I then went to the house of Mr. Elias Boudinot,
and had access to all who were in his house; and it
was a day for ever to be remembered; for such an
outpouring of divine unction took place, as I never
witnessed in all my life. All other matters were laid
aside but that of religion; and little was to be seen
but weeping and mourning. Some of us were occupied
in praising the Lord, but most of the household were
weeping the penitential tear for their sins. There were
company visiting at the house at the time, and when
dinner was ready, there were none to come and partake
of it; we had quite a search to find, and some
trouble to induce them to come to dinner. One lady,
who was then on a visit there, had shut herself up in
her apartment to read the New Testament; another
was shut up in another apartment; one of the servants
had locked himself up in the pantry, and there he cried
aloud upon God for mercy. It was a day of wonders,
indeed! Oh, that so gracious a visitation might come
upon thousands of families in England! How sweet is
the path of obedience! God will bless while man obeys;
“for what his mouth hath said, his own almighty
hand will do.” I again enjoyed a full measure of the
Holy Spirit, and kept that sacred, hallowed fire alive
in my soul; to God be all the praise!

I thus attended my Master’s business in this and
similar spheres of effort for the space of five years;
during which period, much good resulted from the
attempts of so simple and weak an instrument as myself;
because directed by the wisdom, and sustained by D2v 28
the mighty power of God. Five happy years, on the
whole, were they indeed to me; notwithstanding that
I had many sorrows and grievous trials to endure and
contend with. “Trials must and will befal; But with humble faith to see, Love inscribed upon them all, This is happiness to me.”

The bitters of my cup were continually sweetened by
the smiles of Jesus; and all things went on easy, because
my heavenly Father took the heaviest end of the
cross and bore it with me: thus the crooked was made
straight, and the rough became smooth.

In 18161816, I had a presentiment on my mind of a
speedy dissolution; and felt so confident in this expectation,
that, when in the class-meeting, I could not forbear
from speaking in a strain which implied my speedy
departure. My leader inquired if I was about to leave
Burlington? Upon which, I opened my mind to him, and
the train of my feelings; he made no comment upon it at
the time; and in the week following, I accidentally met
with a severe fall, by which I was so injured internally,
as to allow no presage of recovery; my medical attendant
pronounced it impossible that I could live, and my
friends for many days looked to see me breathe my last;
but God ordered it otherwise to every expectation.

While I was thus lying with but one step betwixt me
and death, a dear lady, who was a preaching Quakeress,
came to see me, and take a last farewell, not expecting
to see me again in this life, as she was about taking a
religious tour in the country. She affectionately told
me she hoped that all would be well with me, and that D3r 29
we should meet again in a better world, though we
might meet no more in the flesh. But though my recovery
was very gradual indeed, yet it pleased God to
raise me up again; and then, with what renewed pleasure
did I sit under the sound of the glorious gospel of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and resume the
work of my heavenly Master, going forth in his great
name from day to day, and holding sweet converse
with my God, as a man converses with his friend. This
family or household ministry, as I may call it, was a
particular duty, a special calling, which I received
from the Lord to discharge for the space of five years;
at the expiration of which, it was taken from me, and
consigned to another sister in the same class with myself.
How wonderful are the works of the Almighty,
and his ways past finding out by the children of men!
I was often so happy in this work as to be quite unable
to contain myself; sometimes I cried out, “Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do?” for it seemed as if the Lord
had yet something more in reserve for me to undertake.

I had at this time but one sister living, who resided
in Philadelphia, about twenty miles distant from Burlington;
she was the only sister, who with myself arrived
at years of maturity; a very pious woman, and
she conducted herself very strictly and exemplarily in
all her movements: she was so sanctified and devoted
a Christian, that some persons have informed me, that
they have sat with her in their meetings, and received
much edification from beholding the earnest devotedness
of mind she manifested in the house of God; thus,
“as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of
a man his friend.”

D2 D3v 30

This dear sister of mine was at length attacked with
a mortal disease, and intelligence of her illness was
communicated to me. I therefore repaired to Philadelphia;
and, on entering the room, I found her so emaciated
and altered in appearance, that I scarcely knew
her; but in so happy a frame of mind, that the body
seemed almost unable to detain so heavenly a spirit.
As I stood by her bed-side weeping, she said, “I’ll take my sister by the hand, And lead her to the promised land.”
Thus I found her; and after staying with her a few
days, thus I left her, and returned home to Burlington.
But being pressed with concern for her, I could not
long rest at home; I therefore arranged my affairs
there, and taking my little daughter with me, set off
again for Philadelphia. When I arrived at the house
of my brother-in-law, I went directly to the chamber
where my sister was lying; and the first thing she said
to me was, “My dear sister, I am going to hell.” I
had not either spoken or sat down in the house; but
upon hearing this, I kneeled down and tried to pray;
but she instantly exclaimed, “Oh, do not pray, for
you will only send me sooner to judgment!” My
astonishment was immense at finding her in such an
altered condition of mind; for only a fortnight previously
she was exulting in the high praises of God,
completely weaned from all things of an earthly nature,
and longing to depart to the world of spirits. Many
kind brethren and sisters visited her, and prayer was
made day and night unto God for her, that her soul
might be released from the bonds of darkness; but she
remained in this horrible state for nearly a week after D4r 31
my arrival. Some of theministersthe ministers bade me not to be discouraged
on her account; saying that for they had witnessed
others who had been in a similar condition, and
had afterwards experienced a most powerful deliverance.
I had never before heard of such a case, much
less witnessed one; and it was equally as surprising as
it was afflictive to me; but the Spirit of God at times
whispered in my heart “Be of good cheer, thou shalt
yet see the glory of God.” My faith and hope were
thereby strengthened; yet the sorrowful sight of my
poor dear sister opposing every effort of the friends to
pray with and for her, did not a little, at intervals,
deject and cast me down. Thanks be unto God, the
hour at last arrived when he was pleased to burst
through the gloom, and set the captive free. A number
of the friends had assembled in the house, and we
joined in prayer together; after several friends had
prayed, in a moment such a spirit of prayer came upon
me, as seemed to shake the whole place, as at the
memorable apostolic prayer-meeting. Acts v. 31. I
immediately commenced praying; and while thus engaged,
my dear sister exclaimed aloud, “Look up, children,
the Master is coming!” and she shouted, “‘Glory
to God in the highest, and on the earth peace’; for I
have again found Jesus, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Honour and glory, and majesty and power, be
given to Him for ever and ever.” “Now,” said she,
“turn me round, and let me die in the arms of Jesus;
for I shall soon be with Him in glory.” We then turned
her over on her other side, as she requested, and awaited
the event; she then swooned away, and lay for some
time to all appearance dead.

D4v 32

What will infidelity say to this? It surely will not
attempt to charge a sincere and godly Christian on her
death-bed with hypocrisy; nor can it be consistently
attributed to fanaticism. The antagonising conflicts of
Christian faith, and its triumphs through the aids of the
Holy Spirit over the powers of darkness, as exemplified
on such occasions, are very remote from the whimsical
vagaries of an over-heated and incoherent imagination;
such experience, under certain circumstances, is the
natural cause and effect of Christian faith,
in collision with forces asserted by the gospel to be engaged
in hostile action to it; and it is a fact worthy
of extensive observation, that the vast variety of mental
exercises and religious experiences of all true and
lively Christians, in every grade of society, in all ages,
and in all denominations and sections of the Christian
Church are of too uniform and definite a character to
be ascribed to the wild and fluctuating uncertainties of
fanaticism: so widely spread an uniformity as that
which exists in the genuine pilgrim’s progress of Christian
experience, can never be philosophically shewn to
be an attribute of fanaticism; an uniformity, like that
of the human constitution, admitting of the greatest
variety of individual features, yet all governed by the
same laws; and it may be retorted also, that stubborn
facts continually prove, in other countries as well as in
modern Gaul, that no fanaticism is more luxuriant,
bewitching, and arrogant, than that which inscribes on
its ensign—“The Age of Reason,” and roots itself in
the soil of infidelity.

After my dear sister had laid in a swoon for some
time, she revived, and said, amongst other things which D5r 33
I could not remember, “I have overcome the world by
the kingdom of heaven;” she then began singing, and
appeared to sing several verses; but the language in
which she sung was too wonderful for me, and I could not
understand it. We all sat or stood around her
with great astonishment, for her voice was clear,
musical, and strong, as if nothing had ailed her; and
when she had finished her song of praise, (for it was
indeed a song of praise, and the place was full of glory,)
she addressed herself to me, and informed me, that
she had seen Jesus, and had been in the society of
angels; and that an angel came to her, and bade her
tell Zilpha that she must preach the gospel; and also,
that I must go to a lady named Fisher, a Quakeress,
and she would tell me further what I should do. It
was then betwixt one and two o’clock in the morning,
and she wished me to go directly to visit this lady, and
also commence my ministry of preaching, by delivering
an address to the people of the house. I cannot
describe my feelings at this juncture; I knew not
what to do, nor where to go: and my dear sister was
pressingly urgent for me to begin and preach directly;
and then to go and see the above-named lady. I was
utterly at a loss what to say, or how to move; dear
heart, she waited in silence for my commencing, and
I stood in silence quite overwhelmed by my feelings.
At length, she raised her head up, and said, “Oh,
Zilpha! why do you not begin?” I then tried to say
something as I stood occupied in mental prayer; but
she said, “Oh! do not pray, you must preach.” I
then addressed a few words to those around me, and
she was very much pleased with the attempt: two of D5v 34
the sisters then took me by the arm, and led me into
another room; they there informed me they expected
to see me sink down upon the floor, and that they
thought my sister was perhaps a little delirious. The
next day when I was alone with her, she asked me if
that hymn which she had sung on the previous night
was not beautiful; adding “Ah, Zilpha! angels gave
it me to sing; and I was told that you must be a
preacher; and oh! how you hurt me last night by not
going where I told you; but as soon as you moved, I
was released.” She continued in this happy frame of
mind until her soul fell asleep in Jesus. The whole of
this sick-bed scene, until its termination in death, was
as surpassingly wonderful to me, as a Christian, for its
depths of religious experience and power, as it was
afflictively interesting to me as a relative. I have,
however, since learnt that some other Christians have
occasionally been known, when in the very arms of
death, to break forth and sing with a melodious and
heavenly voice, several verses in a language unknown
to mortals. A pure language, unalloyed by the fulsome
compliment, the hyperbole, the tautology and circumlocution,
the insinuation, double meaning and vagueness,
the weakness and poverty, the impurity, bombast,
and other defects, with which all human languages are
clogged, seems to be essential for the associations of
glorified spirits and the elevated devotions of heaven,
are, doubtless, in use among the holy angels, and seems
to be a matter of gracious promise on the part of Jehovah,
on behalf of his redeemed people. Zephaniah iii. 9.

I have been very careful, and the more minute in
narrating the experience of my dear sister during her D6r 35
illness and death, in hope that it may possibly meet
the cases of others tempted in a similar manner; that
they may take encouragement from her happy and
triumphant end. She had evidently grieved the Holy
Spirit in some way or other, and He had withdrawn
from her His comforting presence for a time; but He
returned to her again with abundant mercy and comforting
grace. After receiving a little refreshment, the
last words she spoke were, “Now I want a good
prayer;” her husband then commenced a prayer; and
during the exercise, her happy spirit bade adieu to the
frailties and sorrows of this mortal life, prepared for,
and assured of, her title to a jointure in the ever-blooming
glories of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Notwithstanding the plain and pointed declaration of
my sister, and though the Scriptures assert that not
many wise, rich, and noble are called; but God hath
chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the
wise, and the weak things of the world to confound the
mighty, I could not at the time imagine it possible that
God should select and appoint so poor and ignorant a
creature as myself to be his messenger, to bear the
good tidings of the gospel to the children of men.
Soon after this, I received a visit from a female who
was employed in the work of the ministry, who asked
me if I did not think that I was called by the Lord to
that work? to which I replied in the negative; she then
said; “I think you are; now tell me, do not passages
of Scripture often open to thy mind as subjects for
public speaking and exposition? Weigh well this matter
and see; for I believe that God has provided a great
work for thy employment.”

D6v 36

But still I could not believe that any such line of
duty was enjoined upon me. Though one intimation
came after another, and I had warning after warning,
to prepare me for and urge me to it, I went on from
one degree to another, without seriously and earnestly
entertaining the subject; yet I often reflected on that
which had been expressed by this kind friend, and
especially on what had fallen from the lips of my dear
sister Hannah but a short time previously to her death;
but I kept these things very reservedly to myself, and
pondered them in my heart, as did Mary the mother
of Christ. Besides all this, I continually endured such
sore trials from my poor unconverted husband, as
powerfully operated to deter me from the thought of
such as undertaking; but on the other hand, when I
had been contemplating the wonderful works of creation,
or revelation of the mind and truth of God to
man, by the inspiration of his prophets, I have been
lost in astonishment at the perception of a voice, which
either externally or internally, has spoken to me, and
revealed my understanding many surprising and
precious truths. I have often started at having my
solitary, contemplative silence thus broken; and looked
around me as if with the view of discovering or recognising
the ethereal attendant who so kindly ministered
to me, Heb. ii. 14; not, indeed, with the slightest alarm,
though with much wonder; for I enjoyed so intimate
and heavenly an intercourse with God, that I was assured
He had sent an angel to instruct me in such of His holy
mysteries as were otherwise beyond my comprehension.
Such communications were most gratifying and delightful
to me; yet I had not sagacity sufficient to discern, E1r 37
that, gifted with such an aid as this, I had a sufficiency
from God for the proclamation of his gospel. 2 Cor. iii. 5.
Every thing failed to convince me that God had destined
me for the ministry; intimation and qualification
were alike unheeded by my unbelieving ignorance of
the will and ways of God; and thus I continued, for
several years after my sister’s death, unmindful of the
allurements as well as the precepts of God.

As all other means had failed to move me to proceed
upon my appointed duties, the Lord used other means
to move me; for when gentle means do not answer,
the rod must be applied to bring us into subjection to
our Master’s will. In 18191819 it pleased God to lay me
upon a bed of affliction, with a sickness which, to all
appearance, was unto death; an internal inflammation
wasted my body, in defiance of all the means and remedies
which were resorted to; and I grew worse and
worse. The medical gentleman who attended me said,
he could do no more for me; he was a very pious
Christian, and his visits were very precious to me; for
we often held much sweet counsel together about the
things of God. Real religion is very seldom to be found
amongst the medical profession; but thanks be to God,
there are some to be met with, occasionally, who can
administer comfort to the soul while relieving the ailments
of the body; and thus it was with him.

I had many persons come from far and near to visit
me, because God was with me; my soul was preserved
in great peace and tranquillity; but, on one occasion,
when in conversation with my husband about my death,
which seemed to be fast approaching, I could not forbear
from weeping, from the thought of leaving behind E E1v 38
me, in this evil and stormy life, my poor little girl who
was then about seven years of age. It then occurred
to my mind, that this natural anxiety which I felt, did
not comport with an absolute submission to the will of
God; and evinced the inordinate strength and force of
those ties by which I was still bound to this earth. I
then, in prayer, pledged myself afresh to God, begging
that he would effectually wean me from all the excesses
of nature’s ties; and that my affections and will might
be brought into due submission to the will of my heavenly
Father. I wrestled in prayer against my insubordinate
affections, for about two hours, and the Lord
graciously bestowed upon me the victory; and I became
so dead to this world, that I felt no anxiety to give any
directions as to what should be done for the child after
my decease. I was perfectly resigned to the will of God,
and willing either to live or die as he thought best;
though I could rather have preferred to depart and be
with Christ, which is far better. While thus awaiting
the divine disposal, my doctor came in one morning,
and said, “There is but one thing more that I can try
for you, and it is a very severe operation; nor can I
say how it will affect you; but if you wish to try it,
I will apply it in the name of God;” adding, “that
it is our duty to try every means for the restoration
of health, leaving the event to God.” I therefore
consented to submit the operation, which was, to
have my side burnt with caustic, and have an issue
inserted therein. I complied, and the thing was done;
but it well nigh proved the breaking asunder of the
slender thread of life. A kind Quaker lady, who much
visited and attended to me during my illness, being E2r 39
unable to witness the operation, was absent from me on
that day: when she came on the morrow, I had scarcely
power left me sufficiently to recognise her; and my exhaustion
was so extreme, that I could not even raise my
hand. I was many weeks ere I recovered from this painful
operation, and my debility was long protracted; but at
times the presence of the Holy Spirit was so powerful
within me, that I seemed quite invigorated and strong;
and in this illness, I received another striking communication
in reference to my future employment in the
ministry; it occurred after the renewed dedication of
my soul to God as above related. About twelve o’clock
one night, when all was hushed to silence, a human
figure in appearance, came and stood by my bed-side,
and addressed these words to me, “Be of good cheer,
for thou shalt yet see another camp-meeting; and at
that meeting thou shalt know the will of God concerning
thee.” I then put forth my hand to touch it, and
discovered that it was not really a human being,
but a supernatural appearance. I was not in the least
alarmed, for the room was filled with the glory of God,
who had permitted the veil to be removed from my
mortal vision, that I might have a glimpse of one of our
heavenly attendants,—of one who had a message to
deliver to me from God. There are many sceptical
persons who conceitedly, rashly, and idly scoff at the
idea of apparitions and angelic appearances; but they
ignorantly do it in the face of the most extensive experience,
instinct, belief, and credible testimony of persons
of every nation, and of all ages, as well as the inspired
statements of the Scriptures. The universal belief of
mankind in the separate existence of the soul after E2v 40
death, is sustained, not by fanciful speculations, but by
matters of the fact; from facts of this class, this belief
derives more substantial support and confirmation than
from all the cold deductions of metaphysical ratiocination.
Ocular proof is its own demonstration, and commands
a far more extensive currency than logical
influence. Seldom do the juries of our criminal courts
establish their verdicts on evidence equally abundant
and express, with that which is furnished by every locality
to facts of this description; and the number of
such facts in the possession of the present generation of
mankind, or even of each hamlet or parish in the world,
is astonishingly greater than ever meets the ear of the
public, or enters into the conceptions of the headstrong,
heroic, and unreasoning sceptic. From that moment
I was assured of my ultimate recovery; nor could any
human assurances or arguments have persuaded me to
the contrary. Soon after this, one of our ministers
having heard of my illness, and of the happy frame of
my mind, travelled a distance of several miles to see
me; he informed me, that he longed to be in such a
situation as mine—so near to the gate of heaven. I
replied, “Brother, it seemeth to me that I shall yet
see another camp-meeting.” He then addressed me in
a manner that implied, that in his judgment it was
quite impossible, and out of the question. But from
the very hour in which the kind celestial messenger
delivered to me that comforting and assuring announcement,
I began to amend; though my recovery was
very gradual, and it was a long time ere I was able to
sit up. Thanks be unto the Lord, my sickness was
not unto death, but for the glory of God. So sturdy E3r 41
had been my unbelief, that my merciful and indulgent
God was thereby induced to adopt more severe and
extraordinary means to bring me into subjection to his
holy will. My spirit and temper were now subdued,
and resigned to do the will of God, which I was desirous
to ascertain, but my hour was not yet come; I
therefore waited patiently until the time when it was
to be revealed to me, often, in the mean time, saying,
“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? whatever
seemeth good unto Thee, give me the ability, and I will
do it.”

Eight months had passed away since I had been
permitted to attend in the sanctuary of God; but the
happy day arrived at last, when I was sufficiently recovered
to repair thither again. My kind friends came
to assist me to go to the chapel, by supporting me on
each side; and I arrived there very comfortably. A
minister occupied the pulpit on that occasion, who was
unknown to me, and preached on the nocturnal visit
of Nicodemus to Jesus. He spoke with much power,
and the glory of God filled the house; the people
shouted for joy, and the whole place seemed in motion.
Glory for ever! Glory be to God! for his presence was
manifested on earth. After an interval of fifteen months
from the time when I received the angelic announcement,
I heard it published in the meeting, that there
was to be a camp-meeting in five weeks from that time.
At the moment when I heard the notice proclaimed, I
felt a sensation as if I had received a blow on the head,
or had sustained an electric shock. So singular a feeling
surprised me, and gave rise to much thought; but I
could not account for, or explain its cause.

E2 E3v 42

The spot where the camp-meeting was announced to
be held, was at a great distance from my home; and
as my long indisposition had borne heavily on my earthly
resources and entirely exhausted them, I knew not how
I should be furnished with sufficient means to undertake
such a journey. My poor husband was extremely hostile
to religion, and had an extravagant prejudice against
camp-meetings; the bare mention of them usually irritated
him, excited him to treat me with much bitterness,
and urged him to denounce them as pregnant with all
manner of evil. However, on my return home, I informed
him of the projected camp-meeting, and of my
desire to be present at it; and contrary to my expectations,
he spoke not a word in reply. I was surprised
at this, but I regarded it as springing from the restraining
power of that God, who, on one occasion, would
not permit even a dog to move his tongue against the
children of Israel as they passed by.

I had been ill nearly two years, and was even then
unable to help myself; nor had I any apparel suitable
for me to go into the grove with; and much clothing
was requisite for the occasion. I knew not therefore
what to do; it would have been useless to have
applied to my husband for assistance for such a purpose:
go without more apparel I could not; I was therefore
quite at a stand to know how to proceed. But God
took the cause in hand, and made the way plain and
pleasant; for my dear old master Mitchel, under whom
I had been brought up, had heard a year back that
Zilpha was very sick; and though he had received no
subsequent intelligence as to whether she lived or died,
yet he thought if she was living, she must by this time E4r 43
be in need of some pecuniary assistance; he had been
inclined, therefore, to send her a supply of money, but
knew not how to effect it from want of opportunity.
However, in the month of August, the society of Friends
hold their quarterly meetings in Burlington, New Jersey;
and they are in the practice of taking long journeys to
attend these meetings; so he encouraged his son and
daughter to come over to the meeting at Burlington;
desiring them when there, to search after and if possible
find out the residence of Zilpha, present his kind love to
her, and hand her a donation which he committed to their
care. When the quarterly meeting of the Friends came on
in our city, to my great astonishment who should come
to see me, but William and Achsah Mitchel, the former
companions of my youthful days, with whom I had been
reared; and as we not seen each other for several years,
it was indeed a happy meeting; and they came to me
with presents, as did the wise men who came to the
infant Jesus and his mother, and presented them with
frankincense and myrrh; to God be all the praise!
Then I might have said with Job’s friend, “The Almighty
has been my defence; and now I have plenty of
silver.” Being thus supplied, I was enabled to make preparations
for going into the mount of God, to hear his
holy word; and during all my preparations, my husband,
contrary to his usual manner, preserved a perfect
silence. Thus all went on easily and calmly, it being
the Lord’s doing, and it was marvellous in my eyes.

As the time drew near, we ascertained that a considerable
number of coloured people were about going
thither from our parts; and the members of our class
arranged for all of them to sojourn together in one tent. E4v 44
But we were as yet unprovided with one, nor did we
know where or how to procure it. My heavenly Father
then put it into my heart to go to a friend of mine, and
ask for the loan of his tent, and I obtained it at my
request without the least hesitation; and thus all things
were provided in readiness for the projected journey.

I have been particular in narrating these circumstances,
to show the ever-mindful care of God for us; and how
he disposes our matters even when we are unable to discern
any possible way, or to provide for the exigencies
which clog up and embarrass our paths. How remarkable
was it that my dear father Mitchel, who had
brought me up from my childhood, should, after an
absence of ten years, be stirred up in his mind to send me
such a timely relief; and the more especially as it was
the first favour of the kind that I received from him.
Oh! let all the powers within me unite in fervent adoration
of the God I love.

At length the auspicious morning arrived for us to
proceed on our journey to the holy mount of God; the
carriage soon drove up to my door, and I bade farewell
to my dear husband. We started off, and it being a
delightful day, we had a very pleasant journey, and
arrived on the camp ground in the afternoon of the
same day. I was very cordially received by the dear
friends, and the dear brethren in the ministry joyfully
hailed my appearance on the camp ground; and I
was promptly handed to a seat to take refreshments
after my journey. There were thousands already assembled;
but the best of all was, God was there; and much
good was accomplished in the name of Jesus. Friday
and Saturday were two heavenly days indeed; the E5r 45
mighty power of God was greatly displayed, and His
ministers were like a flame of fire; so animated with
godly zeal. I never saw so much godly effort and
evangelic exertion displayed in all my life as on that
occasion. On the Lord’s-day morning, the presiding
Elder stepped forth in the might of the Holy Spirit,
like Joshua, when he went to meet the angelic captain
of the Lord’s hosts, and said “Let this day be entirely
spent in holiness to the Lord; let no table be spread;
but let us abstain as much as possible from food, and
see what the Lord will do for us this day; for this is
the great day of battle against old dragon and the
powers of darkness.” Oh! what a memorable day
was this. The public prayer-meeting commenced at
seven o’clock in the morning; and at half-past eight
o’clock, dear Mr. Potts preached a powerful sermon,
under which many souls were awakened to a concern
for their eternal interests. At ten, the trumpet sounded
again for preaching, and the presiding Elder preached
from 2 Cor. v. 20 “Now then we are ambassadors
for Christ; as though God did beseech you by us;
we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
When he came to the application of his discourse, there
seemed not to be one person on the spot, whose eyes
were not suffused with tears; both high and low,
rich and poor, white and coloured, were all melted like
wax before the fire. In every part of that vast concourse,
the number of which was estimated at seven thousands,
there were heaving bursts of penitential emotion, with
streaming eyes; and the mighty action of the Holy
Spirit, and the quickening energy of God was so
obvious and exhilirating, that all the sons of God shouted E5v 46
for joy. At the conclusion of this lively and interesting
meeting, the people returned to their tents to pray with,
and direct and comfort those who were in the distresses
of godly sorrow. A number of persons were collected in
our tent, who were in great distress, earnestly imploring
the mercy of God. We engaged in fervent prayer
with and for them; and a great noise being made from
the mingling of so many voices, and of such various
tones of sorrow and rejoicing, of despair and exultation,
of prayer and praise, hundreds were attracted to
the place, and came round to witness the scene, and
ascertain what was going forward. One of the brethren
manifested some uneasiness and dissatisfaction at the
eagerness with which the people came rushing into our
tent; and I said to him “Oh, never mind, my brother;
let them come in and see the wonderful works of God;”
and I was in the act of pressing through the crowd to
open the back part of the tent, which I was just about
to do, when I felt, as it were a hand, touch me on the
right shoulder; and a voice said to me, “Go outside
of the tent while I speak with thee.” I turned myself
round to see from whom the voice proceeded; but
there were none near me but those of our own company;
and not any of them were addressing me. I immediately
went outside and stood at the door of the tent; and in
an instant I began as it were involuntarily, or from an
internal prompting, with a loud voice to exhort the
people who yet were remaining near the preacher’s
stand; and in the presence of a more numerous assemblage
of ministers than I had ever seen together before;
as if God had called forth witnesses from heaven, and
witnesses on earth, ministers and members, to witness E6r 47
on this day to my commission, and the qualifications He
bestowed on me to preach his holy Gospel. How
appropriate to me was the text which had been preached
from just before, “Now, then, we are ambassadors for
Christ.” Our dear ministers stood gazing and listening
with wonder and astonishment; and the tears flowed
abundantly down their cheeks while they witnessed the
wonderful works of God. After I had finished my
exhortation, I sat down and closed my eyes; and there
appeared a light shining round about me as well as
within me, above the brightness of the sun; and out of
that light, the same identical voice which had spoken to
me on the bed of sickness many months before, spake
again to me on the camp ground, and said, “Now thou
knowest the will of God concerning thee; thou must
preach the gospel; and thou must travel far and wide.”
This is my commission for the work of the ministry,
which I received, not from mortal man, but from the
voice of an invisible and heavenly personage sent from
God. Moreover, this did not occur in the night, when
the dozing slumbers and imaginative dreams are prevalent,
but at mid-day, between the hours of twelve and
two o’clock; and my ministry was commenced in the
midst of thousands who were both eye and ear witnesses
of the fact. Oh, adorable Trinity! dispose me
to do thy holy will in all things. This was my experience
on the Lord’s day on the camp ground; a day
wherein the energies of the Holy Spirit were amazingly
exerted, and His presence circulated; and on which
hundreds drank into, and were filled with the Spirit.
It was such a day as I never witnessed either before or
since. On the Monday came the solemn parting time, E6v 48
of bidding farewell to the brethren and sisters, who
were about to proceed to their different stations and
places of residence, never to meet again until they meet
before the throne of Jesus. Many hundreds of them have
doubtless, since then, gone to their final rest; and will
sing the praises of their Redeemer in that world of
immortality to which we are all hastening; may we
then hail their happiness; and with them share the
bliss of the blood-bought myriads around the glorious
throne in heaven. Having taken our farewell of the
dear friends on the camp ground, we started for Burlington;
and happily and safely returned home more spiritual
and heavenly minded, and stronger in the Lord,
than when we came. On my arrival at home, I found
all well, and things peaceful and quiet; and for a short
time, I went on my way rejoicing.

But Satan, my unwearied adversary, did not suffer
me long to remain exempted from conflict and trouble.
Soon after my return, I laid my case in reference to my
call to the work of the ministry before the ministers;
and they greatly encouraged me to proceed, and to
preach wherever and whenever opportunities offered.
They saw no impropriety in it, and therefore advised me
to go on and do all the good I could do. I first broached
the subject to Mr. John Potts, the beloved brother who
preached at the camp-meeting on the morning of the
day on which the heavenly commission was delivered
unto me: and I obtained the approbation and sanction
of all the ministers and of the society. But some of the
members of our class soon began to betray a little jealousy,
lest I should rise into too great estimation; for a
prophet is not without honour, save in his own country; F1r 49
and they began to discover many faults and imperfections
in me; for three years previously there had not been a
single jarring string amongst us; and nothing could be
done without my opinion being first given: in every
thing I suited them exactly, and we were a very loving
and happy band: but after I commenced the work of
the ministry, I was a person of no account, and ever had
been; and I became so unpopular, that all our coloured
class abandoned me excepting three. Like Joseph, I
was hated for my dreams; and like Paul, none stood
with me. This treatment, however painful, by no means
damped my ardour in the work to which I had been
called. I still continued in my Master’s work, and great
crowds assembled every Lord’s day to hear me: the
Lord was with me and strengthened me in my feeble
labours; the number of white brethren and sisters who
flocked to my ministry increased daily; the work
prospered amazingly; and thus I had gone on for two
months before my husband knew any thing about it;
for he never went to a place of worship. At last the
tidings came to his ears, and were tauntingly disclosed
by one who said to him, “Josh, your wife is a preacher:”
this important announcement he met with a direct negative;
but when he returned home, he asked me if it
was true; and I informed him that it was. “Well,” said
he, “I’ll come and hear you, if I come barefoot:” at
these words my heart leaped for joy; and I indulged in
sanguine hopes that he might thereby be converted to
God. He came according to his word; and I think
that conviction of the sinfulness of his state strongly
fastened on his conscience, for he became much troubled
in mind: he was also apprehensive that I should become F F1v 50
a laughing-stock for the people; and this also grieved
him considerably: sometimes he said to me, “Now
child, we are undone:” it appeared to him so strange
and singular a thing, that I should become a public
speaker; and he advised me to decline the work altogether,
and proceed no further. I was very sorry to see
him so much grieved about it; but my heavenly Father
had informed me that he had a great work for me to do;
I could not therefore descend down to the counsel of
flesh and blood, but adhered faithfully to my commission;
and very soon after, all my friends who had
forsaken, me, returned to me again, for they perceived
that God was with me; and many were added to our
numbers, whom I hope to meet in the realms of immortality.

My poor husband’s health about this time began
visibly to decline; and his disorder soon settled into
an intractable consumption: the amount of care which
now devolved upon me was very great; I was compelled
to work very hard to keep my little family and
household comfortable in this time of affliction; and it
was frequently with great difficulty that I balanced my
income and expenditure; but thanks be to God, he
opened my way before me, comforted, cheered and
strengthened me, and conducted me through all my
difficulties far beyond my expectations: it is true, I
diligently used every means in my power, and my exertions
were sanctified and blessed by the Lord. The
worst feature of this affliction was, that my dear husband
yet remained a stranger to the precious blood of
atonement, and to the Lamb of God who taketh away
the sins of the world. A short time prior to his death, F2r 51
he indicated a better state of mind than formerly: he
even confessed the misconduct with which he had behaved
towards me; requested my forgiveness, and
expressed his hope of meeting me in a better world;
he acknowledged that my behaviour had ever been
irreproachable; and hoped that the Lord would ever
sustain me: many other things he uttered of much
importance; and his countenance assumed such a calmness
and sweetness, that the neighbours who visited him
observed the change, and spake of it with great satisfaction.
Glory be to God, who doeth all things well:
who is too wise to err, too good to be unkind. “Above the rest this note shall swell, My Jesus hath done all things well.”

The fatal hour came at last when the brittle thread of
life snapped asunder, and his spirit fled to an invisible
world. This mournful event took place on the 1823-01-2727th
day of January, 1823. It was a day never to be forgotten.
Although my poor husband had suffered under
so protracted an illness, and I had had so much time
to prepare for the solemn hour, I found my strength,
alas, was perfect weakness; but God was my strong
tower and my refuge in the day of distress. Some kind
friends came forward, and offered to undertake the interment
of the corpse and defray the expences of his
funeral; but as it was the last thing I could do for him,
I declined their generous offer, and chose rather to do
it myself; and though it involved me in considerable
expense, my creditors waited patiently, until by the
Lord’s blessing I was enabled to pay it all off to the uttermost
farthing; to God be all the praise!

F2v 52

After my dear husband was buried, and I had become
a little settled, instead of submitting myself in
all things to be led by the Spirit, I rather leaned to
my own understanding, and procured a situation of
servitude for my little girl, and another for myself,
judging these the best means I could adopt for the
liquidation of my debts; and I remained in service
until my health was so impaired that I was compelled
to relinquish it; nor did the blessing of my heavenly
Father appear to prosper this course; for I was constantly
obliged to be under medical treatment, and yet
grew worse and worse. I therefore left my situation,
and went back to my house, which I had still reserved
in case I should want it. I then opened a school, and
the Lord blessed the effort, and increased the number of
my pupils, so that I soon had a nice little school;
many of the society of friends came and visited it, and
assisted me with books and other necessaries for it.
They were also much pleased with the improvement of
the children; and when any strangers came to visit
Burlington, they introduced them to me; and it was
gratifying to many of them to see a female of colour
teaching the coloured children, whom the white people
refused to admit into their seminaries, and who had been
suffered formerly to run about in the streets for want of a
teacher. The pride of a white skin is a bauble of great
value with many in some parts of the United States, who
readily sacrifice their intelligence to their prejudices,
and possess more knowledge than wisdom. The
Almighty accounts not the black races of man either
in the order of nature or spiritual capacity as inferior to
the white; for He bestows his Holy Spirit on, and dwells F3r 53
in them as readily as in persons of whiter complexion: the
Ethiopian eunuch was adopted as a son and heir of God;
and when Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hands unto him,
their submission and worship will be graciously accepted.
This prejudice was far less prevalent in that part of the
country where I resided in my infancy; for when a
child, I was not prohibited from any school on account
of the colour of my skin. Oh! that men would outgrow
their nursery prejudices and learn that “God hath
made of one blood all the nations of men that dwell
upon all the face of the earth.” Acts xvii. 26.

But my mind was not long at rest in this situation;
for the remembrance of the commission which I had
received from the Lord very strongly impressed me;
and as the Lord had said, “Thou must preach the
gospel, and thou must travel far and wide,” so He was
about to bring it to pass, but I knew not in what manner.
I was not as yet out of debt; and with an empty
exchequer, I felt myself but ill adapted to set out on an
excursion for preaching the gospel. I was not as yet
sufficiently broken in nor bent enough to the discipline
of heaven, entirely to live and walk in the Spirit; but
projected many schemes and ways for the Lord to act
by; yet He did not stoop down to my wretched conceptions,
nor avail Himself of my short-sighted plans: for
He hath said, “I am God, and besides me there is no
Saviour.” “For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 1v. 9. I appointed
many opportunities in my own mind, on which
to venture on a journey into the country to preach the
gospel in far distant places, if the Lord would beforehandF2 F3v 54
furnish me with the necessary supplies for such an
undertaking; but I thought it a sin to undertake such
a journey while I remained indebted to any man. And
here Satan bound me down for two years; at the expiration
of which, I possessed no more accumulation of
funds than before; and notwithstanding that my school
was greatly improved, yet I was hedged up on every
side; as it is written, “Cursed is every one that continueth
not in all things written in the book of the law
to do them.”

I then began to question the reality of my call to the
ministry; and endeavoured to bring it to the test by
laying my heart before the Lord, and solemnly praying
to the God of my salvation, that if it were His will for
me to go out to preach the gospel, He would give me a
token thereof by opening my way before me at the end
of three months; and, if otherwise, that He would remove
from my mind the weighty impression, which
clogged me with care, kept me as a prisoner on parole,
and blighted every other prospect in life. I accordingly
waited very quietly until the time was nearly expired,
watching carefully the signs of time; but all was
still dark; and not only so, I was also attacked with a
severe fit of sickness, and rendered unable to attend to
my school. I then concluded that I had been mistaken,
and endeavoured to attribute my past impressions to
the zeal of my imagination; for I thought, if it had really
been the design of God to send me forth to preach His
gospel, He would have disposed my affairs so as to open
my way, and suitably replenish my purse for the journey;
but instead of this being the case, my situation became
more and more irksome, and hemmed in with difficulties. F4r 55
Oh! how amazingly difficult it is for the Christian,
when decoyed by erratic gleams, or delusive principles,
he misses his way, wanders from his proper
compass point, and flounders amongst the marshy
reeds of worldly principles and proprieties, to detect
his error, espy the gospel beacon, and regain his path:
thus it was with me; and in prayer I said to my heavenly
master, in reference to my ministry, “Now I know
that I am mistaken; and I am not going out at all.”

I had no sooner uttered these words, than a dreadful
and chilling gloom instantaneously fluttered over, and
covered my mind; the Spirit of the Lord fled out of
my sight, and left me in total darkness—such darkness
as was truly felt; so awful a sensation I never felt before
or since. I had quenched the Spirit, and became
like a tormented demon. I knew not what to do, for
I had lost my spiritual enjoyments; my tongue was also
silenced, so that I was unable for speak to God: and
although my congregation continued to meet every Lord’s
day, I had no power whatever to preach to them. The
members of the class inquired why did I not preach to
the people? “You see,” said they, “how the people
flock to hear you, and yet you do not preach to them.”
This went like a dagger to my heart; for it was evident
to all that I had displeased my God, and therefore
He had withdrawn His Holy Spirit from me; nor had
I any life or power whatever in prayer. I then laid my
case before some of the church; but none of them could
administer any comfort to me. I also consulted some
of the Society of Friends, but they could give me no
instructions, because my business was not with mortal
man, but with the living God. The anguish of my soul F4v 56
continually increased; every thing went contrary with
me, and I fretted and repined, and found fault when
there was no occasion, except in myself. I shall never
forget the reproof I received from my little daughter on
account of the irritability of my temper. She looked at
me one day, and said, “Mother, what does ail thee?
why, I never saw thee so before; I believe thou art
going to be like some of the queer old women.” I received
this reproof as sent from God, who, I believe,
had put it into the mind of the child to utter it; and,
from that day, I solemnly pledged myself to the Lord,
that if He would again bestow on me the aids of His
Holy Spirit, I would go forth in His ministry just as
I was, not waiting for any further provision or preparation,
but trusting alone in His holy word; and I prayed
that He would enable me again to preach to my people
in Burlington; and that on such and such day of the
month, I would obey His holy commands, whatever
might become of me. The Lord accepted of my proposition;
and on the next Lord’s day, my tongue was
set at liberty, and my heart was enlarged; and I was
enabled to preach with more fluency and copiousness
than ever before. I then informed my audience, that I
must leave them, and go out into the vineyard of the
Lord; and announced to them on what day I should
preach my farewell address to them. It was a Bochim,
a day of weeping indeed with them, but they said, “the
will of the Lord be done.”

I had been under this dark cloud for more than three
weeks; and the time appeared to me more than three
months; but it now retired, and my captivity vanished.
Heaven again opened to my eyes and ears, because I F5r 57
was at last led to discern the path of obedience, and
hearken to the counsel of the Almighty, saying, “This
is the way; walk ye in it.” The chastisement of God
is often more profitable than His indulgence would be;
His correction is kindness, and His severity mercy.

My peace again flowed as a river on a calm summer’s
day; and I began to draw my school to a close. About
three weeks prior to the time appointed for the dismission
of my scholars, some friends who resided in the
direction my mind was disposed to take, and with
whom I had been previously acquainted, came to Burlington;
and they, together with some of my dear
people thought it advisable for me to accompany them
on their return; but I saw no possibility of doing this,
because they were about to take their departure before
I could arrange my affairs, and receive the accounts
due to me at the end of the current quarter. I therefore
informed my kind friend that I should not be ready
to go with him; but he insisted upon it, and enforced
it with many arguments. I replied, “It is utterly impossible
for me to be ready to go with you;” at which
he seemed somewhat offended; and his wife then said,
“Why, Zilpha, if thou feelest that thou art bound to
go, and if it is thy wish to go, and if thou canst not
get ready at this time, never mind, go as soon as thou
canst, and thou wilt get along somehow, and thou wilwill
hardly understand how; if thou art sent, He that sends
thee will take care of thee.” This filled my heart with
tenderness, and my eyes with tears, and I replied, “Oh,
neighbour Hull, this is a word of consolation indeed
now I will return home and weep before the Lord, and
all will be well.” I returned home, and my little daughter F5v 58
seeing the tears flowing down my cheeks, said to
me, “Now, mother, what is the matter?” for she was
aware of the great anxiety of mind I had so long been
labouring under, and said all she could to comfort me;
and added, “If I were you, I should not mind what
any person said, but I should go just as I had arranged
to go, and do not think any thing about me, for I shall
do very well.” By this time my scholars had gathered,
and the school business commenced; and for the Bible
class, the lesson was in the Psalms; one of the little
boys commenced the 125th Psalm, which begins thus,
“They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion,
which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.” While
the psalm was being read, it seemed as if I had never
seen it before; but the Almighty had sent it as a special
message from heaven to me: those words so filled my
heart, that all my tears were dried away, and I could
only exclaim, “Glory be to God!” My soul rejoiced
in God my Saviour, yea, the God of my salvation. No
more foreboding fears assailed me; every circumstance
readily converged to its proper point, and all things
were prepared exactly to the appointed hour. I took
my little girl, and placed her under the care of a dear
relative of mine, and proceeded on my way to the City
of Philadelphia, commenced my Master’s business, and
strange to relate, when I arrived in that large city,
every one appeared to be acquainted with my situation.
I preached in a great many chapels, and every congregation
voluntarily made a collection for my aid; and
every person at whose house I visited, gave me something
for my journey. Oh! how astonishing was this
to me. I had been for several years striving to provide F6r 59
myself with necessary supplies for my Master’s work,
and without success; nor did I ever think of obtaining
any money in my travels. It never occurred to me
that I should receive a single penny in this work: but
when I was willing, I ought to say—made willing to go
just as I was, as the apostles of old, without purse or
scrip, then the Lord made my way straight before me,
and dealt bountifully with me; then was was that blessed
promise verified, “Seek ye the kingdom of God, and
His righteousness, and all other things shall be added
unto you.” In the first three weeks I obtained every
particle that I wanted, and abundance of silver to proceed
on my journey with. Oh! what mercy and what
goodness was manifested to such a poor, unbelieving,
weak, and unworthy instrument as me. How often
have I said, “Lord! send by whom thou wilt send,
only send not by me; for thou knowest that I am
ignorant: how can I be a mouth for God!—a poor,
coloured female: and thou knowest we have many things
to endure which others do not.” But the answer was,
“What is that to thee? follow thou me.”

Thus I left my child and ventured on my journey, not
knowing whither I should go. From Philadelphia I
started for New York; and on my journey passed
within three hundred yards of my own home, yet did
not call there, but pursued my journey and arrived in
New York; and there the Lord rendered my ministry a
blessing to many precious souls—glory be to His name.
I was absent from home seven months; and when I returned,
I was able to meet my creditors and pay my
debts, which was an unspeakable indulgence. Hallelujah.
Praise the Lord.

F6v 60

I returned home in 1828-04April, 1828, and remained there
a few days. During my stay at home, I was one day
exercised with devout contemplations of God, and suddenly
the Spirit came upon me, and a voice addressed
me, saying, “Be of good cheer, and be faithful: I will
yet bring thee to England and thou shalt see London,
that great city, and declare my name there.” I looked
round to ascertain from whence and from whom the
voice proceeded, but no person was near me; my surprise
was so great that my very blood seemed to stagnate
and chill in my veins: it was evidently the Spirit
of the Lord whose I am, and whom I serve, who had
spoken to me; and my soul responded to His word,
saying, “The will of the will of the Lord be done in and by me on
earth, as it is by His servants in Heaven.” My mind was
at this time very much perplexed as to what was the
will of God concerning me: I was in doubt as to what
I ought to do; but, after a few days, I took my journey
again to Philadelphia, with the intention of visiting the
southern or slave-holding states of America; here I saw
my dear daughter, and remained with my friends during
some few weeks; but the confusion of my mind still
continued, and whenever I opened a bible, wherever I
visited, as well as at my apartments, the book of the
prophet Jonah was perpetually presented before me. I
mentioned to my friends the uncertainty of my mind as
to what the Lord required me to do, the propriety of a
voyage to England, and my repeatedly opening in the
Bible at the Book of Jonah; and they assured me that if
tit was God’s will that I should then visit England, He
would make itappearit appear, and smooth the way for me in His
own good time. I therefore rested upon this assurance; G1r 61
and while I yet abode in Philadelphia, I dreamed one
night, that I saw two ships cleared out of the docks there,
bound for England, and I was not on board either of them.
I then concluded that the time for my journey to England
had not yet come; and being now satisfied on this
matter, I started off for the southern territories of the
United States, where slavery is established and enforced
by law. When I arrived in the slave states, Satan
much worried and distressed my soul with the fear of
being arrested and sold for a slave, which their laws
would have warranted, on account of my complexion
and features. On one occasion, in particular, I had been
preaching to a coloured congregation, and had exhorted
them impressively to quit themselves as men approved
of God, and to maintain and witness a good profession
of their faith before the world, &c. I had no sooner
sat down, than Satan suggested to me with such force,
that the slave-holders would speedily capture me, as
filled me with fear and terror. I was then in a small
town in one of the slave states; and the news of a
coloured female preaching to the slaves had already
been spread widely throughout the neighbourhood; the
novelty of the thing had produced an immense excitement,
and the people were collecting from every quarter, to gaze
at the unexampled prodigy of a coloured female preacher.
I was sitting in a very conspicuous situation near the
door, and I observed, with very painful emotions, the
crowd outside, pointing with their fingers at me, and
saying, “that’s her,” “that’s her;” for Satan strongly
set before me the prospect of an immediate arrest and
consignment by sale to some slave owner. Being very
much alarmed, I removed from my seat to a retired part G G1v 62
of the room, where, becoming more collected, I inquired
within myself, “from whence cometh all this fear?”
My faith then rallied and my confidence in the Lord
returned, and I said, “get thee behind me Satan, for
my Jesus hath made me free.” My fears instantly forsook
me, and I vacated my retired corner, and came
forth before all the people again; and the presence and
power of the Lord became greatly manifested in the
assembly during the remainder of the service. At the
earnest request of the friends, I consented to preach
there again on the following Lords-day morning, which
I accordingly did. Some of the white brethren in connexion
with the Methodist Society were present on that
occasion; at the conclusion thereof, they introduced
themselves to me, and wished me to preach for them in
the afternoon; to which I agreed; and they obtained
permission of the authorities to open and use the courthouse;
and therein I obtained a very large auditory;
and God gave forth proofs that my ministry was from
Him, in giving me many seals to it on that day; thus was
I relieved from my fearful forebodings, and pursued my
course with increased energy, rejoicing in the prosperity
and success with which the Almighty crowned my efforts.

After this, I visited Baltimore in the State of Maryland,
and attended a conference of the coloured brethren,
by whom I was very kindly received; a large
field of labour was provided, and a great and effectual
door of utterance opened to me by the Lord. After
labouring there for some weeks, I proceeded to the
City of Washington, the capital of the United States,
and the seat of government: here also I laboured with
much success; many souls obtaining the knowledge of G2r 63
salvation by the remission of their sins, with the gift of
the Holy Spirit, through the instrumentality so feeble
an earthen vessel. I continued my travels southward
into the State of Virginia, and arrived at the City of
Alexandria, where the Lord rendered my labours effectual
to the conversion of many from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God. I abode there
two months, and was an humble agent, in the Lord’s
hand, of arousing many of His heritage to a great
revival; and the weakness and incompetency of the
poor coloured female but the more displayed the excellency
of the power to be of God. There were some
among the great folks whom curiosity induced to
attend my ministry; and this formed a topic of lively
interest with many of the slave holders, who thought it
surpassingly strange that a person (and a female) belonging
to the same family stock with their poor debased,
uneducated, coloured slaves, should come into their
territories and teach the enlightened proprietors the
knowledge of God; and more strange still was it to
some others, when in the spirit and power of Christ,
that female drew the portraits of their characters, made
manifest the secrets of their hearts, and told them all
things that ever they did. This was a paradox to them
indeed: for they were not deficient of pastors and
reverend divines, who possessed all the advantages of
talents, learning, respectability and worldly influence,
to aid their religious efforts; and yet the power of
truth and of God was never so manifest in any of their
agencies, as with the dark coloured female stranger,
who had come from afar to minister amongst them.
But God hath chosen the weak things of the world to G2v 64
confound the mighty. Divine goodness raised me and
honoured me as an angel of God; yet my bodily presence
continued weak; the passions, frailties and imperfections
of humanity abounded in my own consciousness; the
union of such meanness and honour rendered me a riddle
to myself. I became such a prodigy to this people, that
I was watched wherever I went; and if I went out to
tea with any of the friends, the people would flock
around the house where I was; and as soon as they
judged that the repast was finished, they came in and
filled the house, and required me to minister to them
the word of life, whether I had previously intended to
preach or not. The people became increasingly earnest
in their inquiries after truth; and great was the number
of those who were translated out of the empire of
darkness into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.

At this place, resided a gentleman named Abijah
Janney, belonging to the society of friends, at whose
house I spent many delightful hours. One day he
requested to speak with me alone; and having accompanied
him to another apartment, when we were
seated, he said to me, “Now Zilpha, I perceive that
thy visit to this place will be attended with much good,
if thy deportment amongst the whites, as especially
amongst the slaves, be prudently conducted; for there
seemeth in reference to the great topics of thy ministry
to be much interest felt by the people generally.”
This was a well-timed and salutary caution, and most
prudent advice to me, situated as I was in connexion
with two distinct communities, so opposite in condition,
so contrasted in intelligence, and so antipodal in their
feelings and prejudices. These words at such a time
were to me as apples of gold in pictures of silver.

G3r 65

During my continuance in this city, I had a very
severe attack of the fever which is endemial in that
climate; but I was attended by a physician of first
rate eminence, and by several most kind and anxious
nurses; and the Lord was pleased speedily to raise me
up again; most kind and affectionate were this people
to me: before I was able to sit up an hour, Mr. Janney
sent his carriage morning and evening to take me out,
that I might be benefited by the refreshing breezes,
and be regaled by the sweet zephyrs which gently fan
over the verdant plains of that genial clime. It was
the Lord’s doing; and to him be all the praise.

On my recovery, I again resumed my Divine Master’s
work; and going to my physician to discharge his
demands for his skilful care and kind attendance upon
me during my illness, he refused to receive any remuneration,
assuring me, the reflection that he had been
instrumental, through the blessing of God, of contributing
towards my recovery, afforded him much pleasure;
that it was his desire his past services to me should be
free of cost; and expressed his hope that I might long
be spared to do the will and work of the Lord.

Although I had been sick and laid aside for a time,
I lost nothing, except the dross of earthly affections:
it was merely a furnace, in which my heavenly father
saw the necessity of my being placed for a time: and
I believe that I was thereby weaned still more from
the world, separated to my God and purified in holiness.
The methodist preacher at the station, Mr. J. Gess,
behaved to me with very great kindness; he much promoted
my labours in that neighbourhood, and I proceeded
throughout the vicinity of Alexandria, preachingG2 G3v 66
the gospel with the happiest results. On one
occasion, I took an excursion with some ladies, a few
miles into the country, to preach at a distant farmhouse
occupied by a Mr. Marifield; and as is usual
with the farmers there to keep very savage dogs for
the protection of their premises, this gentleman had
three of those animals; very fierce and ferocious
creatures, which met us at the door; but, as the family
were present, without giving us any molestation; yet
as the people soon came flocking to the meeting, the
inmates were concerned on account of the ferocity of
the dogs, and tried to fasten them up, but could not
succeed; but God restrained the savage beasts and
they were very quiet, though the assemblage was so
large, that we were compelled to resort to the orchard,
and hold our meeting beneath the spreading apple trees.
When I took my position, the three dogs came and
laid down, one on each side, and the other behind me;
and there they remained till the conclusion of the
service; and as the people shook hands with me and
bade me adieu, they rose, wagged their heads, and
brushed me as if to welcome my visit there. It was a
most interesting and profitable season; and the presence
and power of God were greatly manifested: there were
several youth in attendance, who were reputed to be
very wild and giddy, but they appeared to be struck with
awe at the religious fervour manifested, and conducted
themselves with reverence and solemnity.

I had also another engagement, arranged by some
friends, for me to go into another part of the country,
about twelve miles distant, and preach in the grove; but
I was prevented by heavy rains from fulfilling it for three G4r 67
Lord’s days successively: at length, the weather becoming
more favourable, I was published to preach there on the
following Lord’s day: as the time drew near, I was in
much perplexity through inability to fix on any passage of
Scripture as a text to preach from, or rather, because
the Lord had not as yet presented a passage to my mind
or fastened one upon my spirit; but as I was speaking to
the dear friend at whose house I was then visiting, of
the dilemma I was in, the following passage powerfully
flashed upon my mind, “Set thine house in order, for
thou shalt die and not live.” In meditating upon this
passage, my soul was barren. I was oppressed by a
complete dearth of suitable ideas, and unable to obtain
any spiritual opening or discernment of this text; I then
foolishly endeavoured to abandon it; and as if I possessed
the right of self direction, or liberty to select what
messages I pleased, searched the Scriptures for another
text; but to no purpose; for every other was sealed
up from me, though I continued my search until twelve
o’clock on the Saturday night, and resumed it in the morning
at the dawning of light; but I learned that when the
Lord impresses a text on the minds of His servants, that
He will not be tempted by our solicitations to have another
one substituted. Having such a distance to go,
we started off at nine o’clock in the morning; and I
went as reluctantly as a criminal goes to the bar: as we
approached within a few miles of the selected spot, we
observed the people from every direction over the face
of the country repairing thither; which rendered the
distress of my mind the more poignant. It is a weighty
matter for a well-furnished preacher to address a numerous
auditory in the name of the Lord of Hosts; but to G4v 68
go as I then did, destitute of a topic whereon to preach,
was a mental affliction indeed. When we arrived at
the place, it was already like a camp-meeting; the
platform was erected, hundreds of persons assembled,
and all things in readiness. I directly ascended the
stand, and read forth a hymn, which was sang by
the congregation, offered up a prayer, and gave out
another hymn. Whilst the congregation was singing,
I was anxiously searching for a text to preach from;
but no other could I find than that which had been
given me. When, therefore, the singing was finished,
I arose and read the passage before referred to, which
I had no sooner done, than my mind took a comprehensive
grasp of the subject; a region of truths were
unfolded to my view, such as I had never previously
conceived of; and it occupied me an hour and a half
to exhaust the fund of sentimental treasure, which the
Divine Spirit poured into my mind. It was, indeed,
a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

At the conclusion of my discourse, I inquired if there
were any ministers present; intimating, that if this was
the case, an opportunity was offered them of further
addressing the audience; and a minister being present
from George Town, who had arranged to preach a funeral
sermon at a neighbouring spot, and the relatives of the
deceased being all present, it was agreed that he should
preach it there from the platform; and it constituted
an appropriate sequel to my sermon; we enjoyed quite
an heavenly day in the grove, and returned home in the
evening in peace.

Among the number of persons who were introduced
into the fold of God, in the city of Alexandria, was G5r 69
Miss Butts, a young lady who found peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, and manifested remarkable
piety. In the correspondence with which she subsequently
favoured me, she indicated an affectionate
desire to see me again in the flesh; and assured me of
the happiness and freedom she enjoyed in the service of
the Lord. The work of the Holy Spirit was greatly
manifested in this city; both high and low, rich and
poor, white and coloured, all drank out of the living
streams which flowed from the City of our God. Every
day brought me tidings of souls newly born of God. Even
the angels in heaven rejoice over the repenting sinner,
and much more should the redeemed on earth! Oh,
the depth both of the riches and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past
finding out!

Before I took my leave of this city, Lady Hunter, the
wife of Major Hunter, came to Alexandria; being a
member of the Methodist Society, she invited me to
spend a few days at her house, and preach on the Lord’s
day. I accepted the invitation, and enjoyed my visit
greatly. The Major was not a religious man; and as
the ministers frequently visited his Lady, he was in
the habit of attacking them with controversial cavils
against their faith. As he displayed but little respect to
persons, when he came home from the city, accompanied
by several other gentlemen, the Bible was produced,
the family summoned to evening prayers, and I
was required to officiate as chaplain. As I prayed,
read, and commented upon the Scriptures, he mustered
his interrogatories, and produced his objections. I
had no more desire for a mental collision than G5v 70
ambition for or prospect of a triumph in a contest for
intellectual pre-eminence with such an antagonist; but
as He who sent me, helped my infirmities, and was
ever ready to succour me, I was enabled to reply to all
his questions and quibbles, and maintain the truth.
Indeed, he appeared highly gratified that my answers
were such as in no way put the cause of religion to the
blush before his friends, who had been introduced for
the purpose of testing my poor feminine abilities. The
Lord directed his servants on such emergencies, to take
no thought or premeditation for the framing of their
speech; and promised them a suitable inspiration of
his Holy Spirit; and he richly assisted me on this
occasion; to Him, therefore, be all the renown!

Taking my departure, amidst the regrets of many,
from Alexandria, I returned to Washington: my visits
were very numerous there among the people; and my
company was desired by many of the great folks, even
by the friends and associates of the President of the
United States. Some religious gentlemen, friendly to
the cause of missions, proposed for me to go out to
Africa, and labour among the native tribes; but I declined
their proposal; telling them, my heavenly
Father had given me no such direction; and I dared
not go thither unless sent by his Divine Majesty; but
if God had required me to go thither, I should not have
ventured on a refusal: they therefore urged this matter
no further. I was continually visited by ladies from all
parts of the city and its vicinity; many of them informed
me they had heard their friends relate, with
most lively interest, the astonishing wonders of divine
grace and power, which had attended our meetings in G6r 71
the groves; and what seasons of refreshing and spiritual
edification they had experienced at those meetings.
When on a visit at the residence of General
Van Esse, I was invited by Lady Lee, the wife of
General Lee, to a visit at her residence; and to preach
at a chapel the ladies had erected at Green-leaf point,
for the use of the missionaries who came thither. On
the day appointed, her carriage came for me, and I
went accordingly: after tea, a great number of her
friends met there, who were going to the meeting; and
among them was Commodore Rogers and his Lady,
with many others who came from a distance. When
the time came, Mrs. Lee and myself went on first; and
she took the opportunity to caution me against the supposition
that the bulk of those ladies and gentlemen were
religious persons; assuring me they were merely coming
from motives of curiosity to hear what I might say, and
witness my performance. If I had gone confiding in my
own poor abilities, this information would, doubtless, have
utterly disconcerted me; but I depended on the faithful
promise of my Master, that he will be with me even unto
the end; nor was I disappointed. A large congregation
assembled, composed of persons of all grades of
society. I commenced the service by reading a portion
of the Scriptures; when I gave forth my hymn, the ladies
assisted to sing it, and the service was thus far sustained
with propriety. I based my discourse on the
Gospel of St. John v. 25. The Lord was pleased to
give efficacy to the word of His grace, and to apply it
with saving power to the mind of Lady Rogers. I
perceived in the course of my sermon, that she was
greatly interested and powerfully affected by it: indeed G6v 72
a mighty religious awe and solemnity rested upon the
entire assembly. During the service, and for several
days afterwards, the spiritual welfare of Mrs. Rogers
was a theme, which, as it were, involuntarily occupied a
very prominent interest in my mind; and I felt strongly
assured that the Lord would endow her with the rich
blessings of his salvation. In a few days after, I proceeded
on my travels, and heard nothing further of the
results of this meeting.

My next visit was to Baltimore, and from thence I
went to Annapolis, where I continued during a great
part of the winter. Here, also, the Lord gave forth to
the people His gracious attestations that my ministry
was from Him; for my speech and my preaching were
not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration
of the Spirit, and in power: it was mighty
through God, to the pulling down of strongholds; and
became the power of God to the salvation of many.
On one Lord’s-day evening in this place, I was led by
the Spirit to discourse very impressively on mortality
and death; so much so, that my sermon might have
been well suited to a funeral occasion; I was succeeded
in the pulpit by a local preacher, a coloured brother
and a slave; this poor brother seemed to manifest an
undue anxiety for his freedom. Certainly, freedom is
preferable to bondage, as saith the apostle Paul, 1 Cor.
vii 21; who bade the Christian brethren in bondage to
be unconcerned about it, unless an opportunity arrived
of their attaining freedom; in which case, they werwere
to avail themselves thereof. This poor brother in bonds,
however, was very impatient of slavery, and anxiously
sighed for liberty. Alas! his life and spirit, his body, H1r 73
his bones, and his blood, as respects this life, were
legally the property of, and at the disposal of his fellow
man. But his sighs were heard in heaven by Him who
looseth the prisoners, and the time of his release arrived.
In that same week he was taken ill, and finally fell asleep
in Jesus, departing to be “where the wicked cease
from troubling, and the weary are at rest. There the
prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the
oppressor; the small and great are there, and the
servant is free from his master.” Job iii. 17–19. His
internment was a remarkably afflictive occasion: his
corpse was brought into the chapel during the time of
service, and the wailings of the congregation grew so
intense, that the officiating minister was unable to proceed
with the service. The suddenness of the stroke
was surprising; and the loss of their beloved minister
appeared to his sorrowful flock more like a dream than
a fact. Oh, the abominations of slavery! though Philemon
be the proprietor, and Onesimus the slave, yet every
case of slavery, however lenient its inflictions, and mitigated
its atrocities, indicates an oppressor, the oppressed,
and the oppression. Slavery in every case, save those of
parental government, criminal punishment, or the self-
protecting detentions of justifiable war, if such can happen,
involves a wrong, the deepest in wickedness of any
included within the range of the second table.

In the Slave States of America the law sanctions the
arrest of any person of colour, within their territories;
and unless such person can produce the most unexceptionable
papers in proof of his freedom, the legal
officers may sell him on behalf of the State, into perpetual
captivity. Blessed for ever be the Lord, who H H1v 74
sent me out to preach his gospel even in these regions
of wickedness, He preserved me in my going out and
my coming in; so that the production of the documents
of my freedom was not once demanded during
my sojourn on the soil of slavery. While staying at
Annapolis, I was engaged to preach at a place some
miles distant in the country, and while proceeding
thither in a one horse chaise, we were obliged to cross
a river, and we were about to get into the ferry-boat, together
with our horse and chaise, when the horse fell
down and put us in danger of drowning; but by the
dexterity of the men who assisted us, and the blessing
of God, we safely landed on the other side, still further
in the interior of the Slave States. On another occasion,
I went from Annapolis to preach on the Lord’s
day at another station in the country. Many hundreds
were collected together, to whom I preached from
these words, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh; go ye
out to meet him.” An elderly gentleman sat in a very
conspicuous seat just before me, greatly agitated; the
restraint of his emotions was evidently a matter of great
difficulty, for his soul had deeply adopted the prayer
of the publican, “God be merciful to me a sinner.”
When I retired from the pulpit the people rushed eagerly
forward to salute me; they appeared to be quite overpowered
by their penitential feelings, and in an agony
of self-abasement. The multitude of repenting sinners
on that occasion doubtless exhilirated many an angel-
mind, and caused heaven itself to thrill with joy. That
my mission was from God was manifest to them by His
communication of the Holy Spirit, through my ministry,
to those who received my testimony; the power of the H2r 75
Lord was present, indeed, to pull down some of the
strongholds of Satan, and to set up Christ in the hearts
of the people. On my return to Annapolis, I was
thrown out of my chaise, and so much injured that I
was unable to preach in the evening, in the city. I
was very ill in consequence for some time, but the Lord
raised me up again and restored me to health. On my
recovery I resumed my work; and being on a visit at
the house of one of our ministers, I heard tidings of
Lady Rogers of Washington, through the medium of a
minister who had recently been there. Being on a visit
to Commodore Rogers, the latter inquired if he knew
anything of the preaching woman, adding, that he
hoped God would bless every lane of her life; for that
his wife was become a very pious woman through attending
a meeting held by her, at Green Leaf’s point;
and further, if she would come and reside in that neighbourhood,
he would make a suitable provision for her
subsistence. A gentleman residing in the city of Annapolis,
offered to give me a house and a plot of ground
on condition of my residing there; but it was not meet
for me to depart from my Master’s work, from considerations
of worldly interest. I dared not, like Demas,
forsake my itinerating ministry, to love this present
world: nor was filthy lucre the object I had in view
in the service of the gospel. The cheerful liberality of
grateful affection is one of the evidences of sincere
discipleship to Jesus; but the love of mammon has no
place in the hearts of his true ministers, who love the
flock rather than the fleece.

Before I left Annapolis a gentleman, named Watson,
residing in the city, one of the local preachers, earnestly H2v 76
desired me to accompany him to Mount Tabor,
about ten miles distant, and preach for him in his appointment;
I had no desire for this journey on account
of my remaining weakness, and the severity of the
season, it being winter: but as he would take no denial,
coming repeatedly to solicit my compliance, I reluctantly
consented, and a dreary journey we had; the
cold being intensely rigorous, the roads bad, and travelling
dangerous. On our arrival I found that the people
had not been apprised of my coming, but Mr. Watson
ascended the pulpit and introduced me to the audience;
he then retired and I occupied his place, very much to
the astonishment of the people. A young man was
present who behaved very indecorously, and as the
people came in he pointed with his finger to me, tittering
and laughing. Poor young man; before that meeting
was terminated, his laughter was turned to weeping.
This place was on that day a Mount Tabor indeed
not celebrated by the visit of Moses, but blest with the
presence of Christ. After the service the brethren requested
me to preach for them again on the 1829-12-2525th day
of December, commonly called Christmas day; but
Mr. Watson thought it best to decline another journey
in so inclement a season; it was therefore arranged that
I should abide at the house of Mr. Beard, one of the
trustees of the chapel, till after the 1829-12-2525th instant; and
I accordingly returned with him and his family to their
house for dinner. At this place I was still further in the
interior of the Slave States, and now left without an
earthly protector. During the dinner time, the young
man above referred to formed the topic of conversation.
It appears that he was a slave-driver, accounted the most H3r 77
profligate drunkard in that vicinity, and habituated to
every vice; and it was remarked that he had never
been previously known to evince so much serious attention
to a sermon as he had paid to my discourse, in
the morning: and that his kneeling during the concluding
prayer was a matter of surprise to them; however,
my mind was greatly moved with evangelic interest
for this young man: and, like Paul, for the
Galatians, I travailed in birth for him.

On the appointed morning of the 1829-12-2525th instant, I said
to one of Mr. Beard’s sons, who was a member of the
society, “Now, brother, let us go to meeting, having our
swords sharpened, and who knows but God will give us
this young man?” “Oh!” he replied, “he is far enough off
from here by this time, and has swallowed many bowls of
drink ere now.” On hearing this, I gave up all expectation
of seeing him; but when we entered the chapel, to my
great surprise he was there, clothed, and in his right
mind. I preached that morning from Luke ii. 10; and,
under the sermon, every heart was melted, nor was one
person to be found in the entire assembly, whose eyes
were not suffused with tears. The gallery of the chapel
was occupied by the slaves, and the body of the building
with proprietors; and all were alike affected. Mr.
Beard requested the congregation to restrain the expression
of their feelings; but the powerful operation of the
Holy Spirit disdained the limits prescribed by man’s
reason, and bore down all the guards of human propriety
and order. The presence of the Holy Ghost
filled the place, and moved the people as the wind
moves the forest boughs. Mr. Beard’s cautions were
unavailing; the coloured people in the gallery wept H2 H3v 78
aloud, and raised vehement cries to heaven; the people
below were also unable to restrain their emotions; and
all wept beneath the inspirations of the Spirit of grace.
I was obliged to stop in my discourse, and give vent to
my own feelings, and leave it to God to preach in His own
more effectual way. Oh, what a memorable day was
this! Saints and angels poured their little current of
holy and benevolent sympathies into the volume of
mercy, love, and grace, which streamed from the compassions
of the Infinite Eternal into our little earthly
sanctuary, to staunch the bleeding heart, remove its
guilt, reform its character, and give new impulse to its
powers. At the conclusion of the service, several of
the gentlemen present collected a sum of money amongst
themselves, which they presented to me, with great
expressions of gratitude for the faithful and warning
discourse I had preached to them in reference to their
spiritual interests; the brethren, also, cordially invited
me to come again, offering me the use of the chapel
whenever I thought fit to come and occupy it: they
wished me God’s speed, and we took our farewell of
each other, probably to meet no more until the gospel
dispensation and its ministry is closed for ever.

I then returned to Annapolis, and received the kind
welcome of my dear friends there; and from thence I
proceeded on my journey homeward, through Baltimore
and Philadelphia, to Burlington; and thus closed with
me the year 18291829, amid scenes of usefulness and godly
revivals and conversions to Christ, the memory of
which will be cherished with the most lively interest by
thousands of persons.

I will mention, in this place, that many months after H4r 79
my visit to Mount Tabor, I received a letter from the
young man whose conversion is above narrated; in which
he earnestly desired me to come and visit them again,
offering to defray all the expenses of the journey; but
the Lord had directed my steps in another direction
and kept my conscience tender and fearful of offending
him; so that I durst not step aside from the path
of His guidance for any private interest, personal gratification,
or earthly gain. Whatever of sorrow or difficulty
I met with in the paths of the Lord, I was enabled
to sustain, and cheerfully to bear the cross after
my loving Lord and Master; but the privilege of self-
direction the Lord did not permit so ignorant and incompetent
a servant as I was, to exercise. It was one
of the crying provocations of ancient Israel, that “they
did every man that which seemed right in the sight of his
own eyes,” and “walked after the imagination of their
own hearts.” May I ever be preserved to “trust in the Lord
with all my heart, and not lean to my own understanding.”
Lord! ever teach me the way wherein I should go. “Oh, may thy Spirit guide my feet, In ways of righteousness; Make every duty plain And straight before my face. Since I’m a stranger here below, Let not my path be hid; But mark the road my feet should go, And be my constant guide.”

“When I was a child, I thought as a child;” and often
wondered how the ancient servants of the Lord knew the
will of God in reference to their movements in life; and
how they understood when and whither the Lord required
them to go; but when I had fully dedicated
myself to the service of the Lord, I experienced “the
secret of the Lord to be with them that fear him.” H4v 80
When our souls are in a right position before God, the
will of the Lord, in reference to our future movements,
is always made manifest and plain to us in the Lord’s
own time. It is only when we are carnal, wayward,
neglectful, and disobedient, that our mental vision becomes
obscure, and we fail of reading the Lord’s indications,
or that he ceases to bless us with His guidance.
In all the errands on which the Lord has been graciously
pleased to send me for the proclamation of His
gospel, my work has been attended with the witness of
His Spirit, and He hath given seals to my ministry, and
souls for my hire.

My mind was at this time directed to the northern
States of America; and I accordingly took my daughter
with me, and went to New York, where I abode some
few weeks, and then went, accompanied by many of
the brethren, to Oyster Bay, to attend a camp-meeting
held there, which proved a very blessed season to many
hundreds of persons; and numbers were, on that occasion,
savingly converted to God. On the second time
of my appearing in public at that place, I preached
from Deut. v. 29, “Oh, that there were such an heart
in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments
always, that it might be well with them,
and with their children for ever;” and under this discourse,
it pleased God to capture my own daughter in
the gospel net; she cried out aloud, during the service,
and exclaimed, “Oh, Lord! have mercy upon me for
I can hold out no longer, Oh, Lord! have mercy upon
me.” This occurred in the midst of listening hundreds,
and it produced a most thrilling sensation upon
the congregation; for, said they, “It is her own daughter! H5r 81”
and their emotions of sympathy were still more
excited, when they learnt that she was my only child.
Many a mother strongly felt with me on that occasion;
and though my position would not allow me to leave
the pulpit, to go and pour the oil of consolation into
her wounded spirit, yet, thank God, there were abundance
of dear friends present who were ready for every
good word and work. The conversion of a soul is not
to be effected by the mere effort of man; none but God
can communicate a full pardon to the guilty soul; but,
ere that meeting dissolved, the glorious work was accomplished,
and Christ, the chiefest of ten thousand and
the altogether lovely, was manifested in her heart, the
hope of glory: thus she experienced the knowledge of
salvation by the remission of her sins, being called out
of darkness into God’s marvellous light; the Spirit of
adoption was imparted to her; she rejoiced in the Lord
with all her soul; and His love was shed abroad in her
heart by the Holy Ghost.

We then returned to New York, where I apprenticed
her to the dress-making business; and taking my leave
of her and the friends there, I departed for Newhaven, in
the State of Connecticut, being richly replenished by
Him who hath said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake
thee:” and as I went to and fro in the earth, from
place to place, embracing a scope of space and effort
too vast for minute detail, the Lord blessed my labours
wherever I went, to the conversion of sinners and the
edification of saints; but I was not wholly exempted
from those trials and persecutions, which are the common
lot of the servants of Jesus. The principalities
and powers of evil spirits, ( Ephes. vi. 12) which Christians H5v 82
have to contend against, which Christ despoiled,
( Colos. ii. 15) and which constitute the strength of the
empire of darkness, the world of evil spirits, the right
hand of the prince of the power of the air, ( Ephes. ii. 2)
who is the god or deity of this world, ( 2 Cor. iv. 4); these
principalities occasionally obstructed me much; and, by
blinding and infatuating the sons of men, inspired them
with a hostile zeal against me. This was particularly the
case at Hartford; in which city some of the most influential
ministers of the Presbyterian body greatly opposed
me; and one of them, a Mr. House, resolutely declared
that he would have my preaching stopped; but he, like
Sanballat, imagined a vain thing; for the work was of
God, who made bare his arm for the salvation of men by
my ministry. Thanks be unto God who always caused
me to triumph in Christ; and made manifest the savour
of his knowledge by me in every place.

While the opponents of my ministry were pursuing
their plans of opposition, it happened that I was sent
for one day to visit a Mr. Freeman, who was dangerously
ill; I accordingly went to see him: and while
occupied in praying with him, his medical attendant,
a physician of the first eminence, and moving in the
highest rank of society, came into the chamber; he
waited patiently until my supplications were concluded,
and I had withdrawn; he then inquired into the condition
of his patient, and finding him much better, he
exclaimed with surprise, “It is the woman who has
made you better.” No, dear reader, it was not by my
power or holiness that the sick man was benefitted, but
the power of God through faith in the name of Jesus;
for the Scriptures say, that “the prayer of faith shall H6r 83
save the sick.” On my departure from the house, the
doctor inquired who I was, and from whence I came;
and expressed his wish to hear me himself, desiring them
to inform him when and where I should next preach.
It appeared that he had previously heard many reports
respecting me, for my ministry had been attended by
persons of every rank in life.

The time soon arrived for my appearance again in
the pulpit, and many of the great folks were present,
and amongst them, the physician; and the Spirit of the
Lord was there also, to direct and bless and own his
word, or the efforts of a poor weak female would have
been feeble and insipid indeed: but on that occasion
a very great interest was excited in the minds of the
audience, for greater and mightier is He that is in us,
than the spirit which directs the world; and the more
we live and walk in the Spirit, the more the might of
God dwells in us and breathes in our words. The
doctor then visited his minister, the Rev. Mr. House,
the very gentleman who had declared that he would
stop me from preaching in that city, and spoke of me
to him in such terms as induced the clergyman to exclaim,
“Well, if God has sent her, I bid her God’s
speed.” The work of the Lord spread throughout the
city, and amongst people of every denomination; and
such a revival took place as filled the city with astonishment;
and Mr. House, my former opponent, seeing
the wonderful works of God, exhorted his congregation
to be sober and stand at their posts, “for,” said he, “I
perceive that God is about to do a great work in this
city, therefore be ye still, and know that it is of God.”
Being encouraged by the smiles of my heavenly Father, H6v 84
and animated to increased zeal in his holy cause, I
went from house to house and preached Christ and
Him crucified to the people; I even ventured into
houses of ill fame, and exhorted the debased inmates to
repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ: and
many of these unfortunate females became the genuine
disciples of Jesus. I also penetrated into the alleys
and courts, and the different outskirts of the town,
where vice and immorality abounded; and it pleased
God to effect a mighty change in the morals and habits
of the people, especially in the south quarter of the
town. I met with many persons here, who called themselves
Universalists; but they might more properly be
named “Deistical Sceptics”; they pretended to believe that
the whole human family would eventually be saved,
irrespectively of their principles and conduct. Many of
these gentlemen came to hear me preach, at the house
of a friend, in the skirts of the city, to which I had
been invited, but very little to their satisfaction; they
much approved of my prayers, because my intercessions
included all the human family: but they were unable to
reconcile them with my preaching, in which I insisted
on salvation by the remission of sins, through genuine
faith in the crucified Redeemer; described the lost
condition of mankind, and exhorted men to flee from
the wrath to come. Blessed be the Lord, there were
several of these very persons who believed and turned
to Him with all their heart; and among them was
Mrs. Spring, a lady connected with the third Presbyterian
chapel in the city, who attended at that meeting
with three of her daughters; they were attired in
mourning for another daughter, who had recently died: I1r 85
and, as I was expatiating, on the attendance of kind
angels on the death bed scenes of the saints, I observed
these ladies weeping with great emotion. In a few
weeks afterwards, I was again invited to spend a few
days at this same house; and I was then informed
that this lady and her three daughters had, from that
evening, evinced a saving conversion to God, having
been under that sermon convinced of sin, of righteousness
and of judgment to come. Mrs. Spring stated
that she felt more under that discourse, in reference to
the death of her daughter, than she did at the time of
her decease: and from that time they had no rest until
they obtained the assurance of peace with God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ: they were soon after introduced
to me, and I received much kindness from them.

I met with a young woman in the course of my ministry
in Hartford, who was very unsteady and depraved
in her habits; her mother was a member of the Methodist
Society, and at that time ill; she wished me to be sent
for to visit her, but the daughter insisted that I should
not come there; or, if I did, she threatened to swear
and dance in my presence during my visit, and to treat
me with all possible disrespect. However, this young
woman was by some means or other induced to come
and hear my preach; and the Lord was pleased to open
her heart, that she attended unto the things that were
spoken; and at the conclusion of the service, she came to
me and invited me to come and visit her mother;
and the next morning she called upon me again. I
exhorted her, prayed with and for her, and she became
so attached to me, that my company was continually
sought by her: she was soon after admitted into the I I1v 86
household of faith, and I afterwards preached in their
cottage: thus one of my enemies became my child in
the gospel, and my sister in the Lord.

Intending to take my departure from this city, I
went to the coach office, and paid my fare, was booked as
a passenger for the next day, leaving directions for the
coach to call for me on the following morning; but so
eager were the people for my further stay amongst
them, that some of the brethren went and took up my
fare at the coach office, and would not listen to any
proposition for my departure. I therefore resumed my
labours among them, being constantly engaged by day and
night in the work of the Lord, without an intervening
cloud, for the space of three months, preaching in the
chapel of the Lord’s-day, and on one evening in the week.

On one occasion, a number of persons, amounting
to between twenty and thirty, presented themselves in
the chapel, in great distress, and deep penitence on
account of their sins. The excess of their emotions
were such, that the order of worship was suspended;
for some were calling upon the name of the Lord, some
were groaning to receive the atonement of Jesus, while
others were rejoicing in his salvation and giving glory
to God. Our services were not unfrequently interrupted
by scenes of this description; for the operations of the
Holy Ghost can no more be circumscribed within the
limits of man’s arrangement, than the wind and rain
and sunshine can be restricted to man’s times and opportunities.
Order in divine worship and in the house
of God is graceful and appropriate; but the life and
power of religion is not identified with, nor in proportion
to, the polish of the minister, the respectability of I2r 87
the congregation, or the regularity and method of its
services: the most abrupt and extraordinary vicissitudes
of weather are frequently productive of more benefit than
the nicest graduated scale of temperature; and had it
not been for some of these instances, in which the
Almighty displayed the wonders of his victorious grace,
even though the accustomed proprieties and regularity
of divine service were at the time abruptly trenched upon
and suspended, there are many churches now lively
and flourishing, which, notwithstanding the exactness
of the order of their worship, and the beauty of their arrangements,
would not be but little more than so many
religious automata. Our duty is humbly to submit to,
rather than attempt to limit, the Holy One of Israel;
and when God is at work, though the ark may seem
to rock with irregular motion, let not men pretend to
more wisdom than their Creator, lest, like Uzzah, they
fall themselves in their attempts to direct His energies,
and regulate His movements.

My mental hemisphere soon after this became obscured
and cloudy, and my mind became exceedingly
heavy and sorrowful; satanic spirits also gained access
to my soul and harrassed me much, and I seemed
oppressed with fearful forebodings of some impending
evil; I knew not any cause in myself for this reverse of
my spiritual condition, and was wholly unable to account
for, and comprehend the reason thereof. The following
words constantly ran through my mind during this
affliction: “Lord, what are all my sufferings here, If thou but make me meet, With that enraptured host to appear And worship at thy feet.”

I2v 88

I waded through much gloominess and sorrow; the
dial of my spirit was beclouded with great darkness,
and I wept much and frequently; but the cause was
beyond my comprehension.

The chapel in which I had been preaching was called
an union chapel, and was not the property of any particular
sect of Christians; but the majority of the persons
worshipping therein were Presbyterians; and by them,
at length, a great jealousy against me was excited,
fostered and hatched under the influence of the rulers of
the darkness of this world, professedly on account of
my being a Methodist. The chapel was to some extent
involved in debt; and this Presbyterian faction came
forward before the managers with a proposition to
procure a minister to supply the pulpit for three months
free of expense; requesting, at the same time, that I
might not be informed of their proposal: the volunteer
preacher was accordingly introduced and tendered his
services to supply the pulpit every Lord’s-day; and
as the chapel was in debt, the proposition was accepted,
and the matter arranged and settled. Upon this, one
of our friends came and informed me, that it had been
arranged by the managers, that Mr. A. should preach on
next Lord’s-day, in the morning, myself in the afternoon,
and Mr. B. in the evening: this somewhat enlightened
my understanding into this mystery of iniquity. I
attended the morning service on the next Lord’s-day,
and heard Mr. A. preach; and in the afternoon, as I
was proceeding to the chapel, one of the managers met
me and informed me he had learnt that Mr. C. was appointed
to preach there on that afternoon, and advised
me not to enter the pulpit: thus instructed, I took my I3r 89
seat with the congregation: soon afterwards the deacons
entered the chapel, and seeing me setting in a private
seat, they came and desired me to ascend the pulpit
according to the recent arrangements: I then related
to them what the manager had said to me; they assured
me his statement was untrue, and urged me to
take the pulpit; having been informed of all the circumstances,
when I appeared in the pulpit I was obliged
to vent my feelings in a shower of tears, before I could
utter a word; and my dear flock were very much
affected at the sight; but we afterwards enjoyed a very
blessed meeting. In the evening, I went again and
heard the Rev. Mr. B.; there were many of the officials
present; and on the conclusion of the service the congregation
still kept their seats, none offered to leave,
but maintained a profound silence, and the eyes of
many of them were fixed in expectation upon me; I
felt called forth by the assembly, and rising to my feet,
I said, “If there are any present who feel anxious about
their souls, and will come forward, we will hold a
prayer-meeting.” A great number then came forward;
and when they were seated, the preacher descended
from the pulpit, and with the official gentlemen present,
without deigning the least notice of me, went and
conferred with the persons who were seeking the salvation
of their souls, and instructed them in the way
of life; after which, they announced that their minister
would preach again on Wednesday evening, and closed
the meeting, without giving me an opportunity of saying
a word: this conduct seemed much like gospel rivalship,
a thing which unhappily too great prevails
amongst Christians: the apostle Paul intimated that I3v 90
some in his day preached Christ of contention, for the
purpose of increasing his affliction; and I cannot but
think that this treatment was intended for my affliction;
it was too plainly marked to be mistaken; for they all
sat waiting in mute silence, until I had invited the
inquiring souls to come forward; and then coolly obtruded
their grave admonitions on those who had been
pricked in their hearts, and were become impatiently
violent to grasp the kingdom of heaven; shutting me
out entirely, and concluding with a notice that their
new minister would preach on the following Wednesday
evening, and the next Lord’s-day; directing those who
wished for further instructions to apply to them at their
several residences. My affections were, however, very
strongly attached to my little flock; and on the Wednesday
evening, I went again to hear the new minister;
but the Lord said unto me, “It is enough; I will take
thee away from them, and I will put bands upon thee,
and thou shalt not go out amongst them; and I will
make thy tongue cleave to the root of thy mouth, that
thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be a preprover to
them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak
unto thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say
unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord God, He that heareth,
let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear:
for they are a rebellious house.’” Ezek. iii. 25—27.
Thus it was partly with me, for on that very night, I
was suddenly attacked with a very severe fit of illness,
and confined by it for five weeks, so that I became
dumb to them indeed. After I had been ill three weeks,
the Rev. Mr. Moffit, one of our principal Methodist
preachers, came to Hartford; and, under his ministry, I4r 91
the revival which the Lord had began by my instrumentality
was renewed again; the chapel became completely
deserted, the new minister became discouraged,
and shortly withdrew altogether.

Mr. Moffit spent several weeks in Hartford, and
preached every evening in the week for the greater part
of the time; the people flocked, from every part of
the town, to his ministry; and many people were
turned unto the Lord. Many of the Methodists and
many of my congregation also experienced, under him,
a great revival of the work of the Lord in their souls.
Before he left the city, it pleased God to raise me up
and enable me to go and hear him, and render my
thanksgivings to God for His great goodness and tender
care towards me in my illness: before I was able to go
abroad, those very persons who had treated me so unhandsomely
called to inquire after my health; and
expressed their hope that God would bless and restore
me to health, that I might soon resume my labours
among them again, saying, that I had already effected
much good to many souls; but as the Lord had said
unto me, “when I speak, thou shalt hear: and I will
put words in thy mouth and thou shalt speak;” on my
recovery, I left the city for a short time; when I
returned again, these people were extremely anxious for
me to preach to them, and by the grace of God, I
resumed my former station and continued my labours
amongst them for some time without interruption; the
Lord having made it increasingly manifest that He had
sent me, and that my ministry was from Him.

A few weeks before I finally left this city, I learnt
that Mrs. Adams, the wife of a gentleman in the legal I4v 92
profession, had been dangerously ill for a long time,
and had expressed a great desire to see me; I, therefore,
without an invitation, called at her residence, but
I was so weak at the time, that when I arrived there
I fainted, and was taken to bed; when I recovered,
I was conducted into her chamber, where Mrs. Adams,
and all the family were collected, expecting to see her
breathe her last; she had been ill so long a time, and
wasted so much, that her skin had been broken through
by the pressure of the bones. After a little conversation,
I inquired if I should pray with her; consent
being given, I bowed down before God, and lifted up
my heart in supplication to Him on her behalf. It was
a time of much power; and all the family were bathed
in tears. Mrs. Adams’ sister accompanied me to the
door on my retiring, and asked me if I did not think
her sister was very near her end. I said, “no: I
think she will recover, for God showed me this in the
time of prayer.” She then sent one of the servants to
lead me home; the next morning I was so ill as to require
medical aid; and the physician who attended
Mrs. Adams was sent for. He seemed much pleased
to communicate to me the intelligence that Mrs. Adams
was vastly better; and before I left the city, she was
down stairs, at the head of the family. This circumstance
made a great impression on the inhabitants of
the city, who thought it strange, indeed, that God, in
answer to my prayer, should heal the sick: the intelligence
flew from street to street, that Mrs. Adams was
recovered; and those reverend gentlemen, who had so
strenuously exerted themselves to silence my ministry,
were themselves completely disconcerted, and their I5r 93
objections silenced. I might add many more of the
kind and condescending corroborations, the Lord was
pleased to manifest on my behalf in that city; but
I forbear narrating any further instances, and leave them
to be further revealed in the disclosures of another life.

The wonderful revivals of the work of God, some of
which I have attempted to describe, were not done in
a corner; but extended throughout the greater part of
the vast territory of the United States: many were the
labourers, zealous and devoted their spirits, and indefatigable
their exertions, whom the Lord raised up, and
sent forth to achieve these blessed conquests, the reports
of which have long since reached the ears even
of British Christians, and excited amongst them some
searchings of the heart, and some curiosity to have further
information respecting them; insomuch that I have
understood that men of high repute for learning and
wisdom, have been sent over to ascertain the nature,
as well to investigate the means and extent of those
great transatlantic revivals: what report of the good
land they returned with, I have not been informed, but
generally I have found that the wise and learned have
seldom experienced much of the heavenly discipline of
God’s Holy Spirit; “the world by wisdom knew not
God;” and though many Christians are at immense
pains to acquire the wisdom of this world, God bringeth
it to nought, and taketh them in their own craftiness;
He hideth His counsel from the “wise and prudent, and
revealeth it to babes.” The man who would judge of
so high a matter as a revival of the kingdom of heaven
upon earth, must be spiritual (he need not be learned)
himself; for the spiritual man judgeth all things; yea, I5v 94
even the deep things of God, yet he himself is judged
of no man, for no man can fathom the sacred Urim
and Thummim, or as St. John says, the holy anointing
or unction which abides in his soul.

I left Hartford for Boston, in the state of Massachusets,
in company with a lady, who was from
the latter city: and the Lord went before me and
cleared up the way; for, in the city of Boston,
many doors were opened for my reception; and the
Lord wrought wonderfully among the people. Many
of the brethren were going to a camp meeting at
Cape Codd, about sixty miles from Boston, and invited
me to go with them, which I did with great
pleasure, and we had very pleasant weather. Many
thousands attended at that meeting, and the Lord
manifested his glory and his grace. Hundreds
came to that camp-meeting, to make sport and derision
of the saints, and of their worship, who returned home
themselves rejoicing in God their Saviour. A band of
young gentlemen, connected with the highest families
in the town of Lynn, chartered a large vessel, brought
their tent, provisions, and every other necessary for a
week’s sojourn on the camp ground, with the wicked
intention not only of greatly annoying us, but of dispersing
the camp meeting altogether: the manner in
which they approached the encampment rendered it but
too evident what kind of persons they were, and for
what purpose they came. When these wanton young
gentlemen arrived upon the ground, they went from
tent to tent, and appeared to be greatly struck with
astonishment at the novel appearance of the scene;
for the Lord had set the hearts and consciences of the I6r 95
people in motion; some of them were weeping with
godly penitence; others were rejoicing in the salvation
of Christ, manifested in their souls; in the public services,
the ministers were as a flaming torch, and their words
as a two edged sword; and the powerful discourses
they preached from the platform, made a wonderful
impression on these giddy young men, and their conduct
became greatly altered. On the Thursday, between
twelve and two o’clock, matters were so changed that
they prepared their tent for religious service, and sent
for me to come and preach to them; I went accordingly,
and commenced the meeting, and some of our
ablest preachers followed soon after and assisted me,
and the Lord owned and blessed our message, and
many of these young gentlemen became deeply affected,
and cried to God for mercy. The ministers evinced
the greatest attention and tender care of them; but
they more particularly desired to hear, “the woman:”
and the next day I was sent for to preach to them
again; after which, we all attended the prayer meeting
at the preachers’ stand; and many of them found
mercy with God. When the camp meeting broke up,
all of them with the exception of four, together with
many others both white and coloured, manifested the
triumphs of redeeming grace, and evinced a saving conversion
to God; and the happy result of that meeting
was, that, in a short space of time, in the town of
Lynn alone, upwards of two hundred persons were
added to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The brethren residing at the Cape having strongly
solicited me to tarry for a time with them, I consented,
and instead of returning with the brethren to Boston, I6v 96
went home with the Cape friends, and travelled with
the itinerating preachers on the different circuits of the
Cape district, and with great success; for the glorious
camp meeting we had just before attended, had laid
the foundation for an extensive and continuous revival:
the fields were indeed white, already to harvest; and
we went to reap them, and receive the rich wages of
souls for our hire.

In the course of my excursions, I went into the Haverich
circuit, and entered one of their chapels. After the service
had commenced, I observed a young man in the assembly
who appeared to idolise himself, and to soar very high
into the regions of self-conceit; his excessive self-complacency
very much attracted my attention, and I felt
a desire to have some conversation with him; not suspecting
that there was any probability of its coming
to pass; but God overrules and arranges matters for
His people, that they may glorify His name. It happened
that we went that day to dine with this very
young gentleman’s father-in-law; and during the time
of dinner he came in. Some one at the table then
asked him if there were many persons in attendance
at the meeting in the morning; to which he replied,
no; adding, that he was a fool in going, for it was
complete folly to attend those meetings. These words
came very painfully to my heart; but as I was to
preach in the afternoon, and required much self-composure,
I passed over his remarks in silence; when the
service of the afternoon was over, I returned to tea
with the family, and being now at liberty, having no
sermon before me to preach, I was not indisposed for
a colloquy with him; he was also desirous of having K1r 97
some conversation with me, and had prepared himself
for that purpose; after tea, he came again, and brought
many others with him to witness his feats of prowess:
so he promptly commenced an attack upon me, worked
himself into a great fury, and spouted away for a time;
but his ammunition was quickly exhausted; his creed,
if he had any, was that of modified deism; looking
for a future paradise to be enjoyed by all men indiscriminately;
he was, however, deplorably ignorant of the
Scriptures; I replied to him according to the ability
the Lord gave me; and conviction of the truth went
with the word, so that he became of the number of
believers in Christ, and subsequently behaved to me
with very great kindness—to God be all the praise for
ever and ever.

My ministry every where, on the Cape, was very
numerously attended: there were but few buildings
that could contain the numbers who flocked to hear
the word of the Lord; as I journied from place to place,
many an open waggon became my pulpit, from which
I preached in the open air to listening multitudes, the
candidates for immortality, and directed them to the
Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. My
own soul was filled with heavenly hope, which maketh
not ashamed; my affections were set upon things above;
my treasure was in heaven; my hope bloomed with the
glories of immortality and eternal life: it was the anchor
of my soul, sure and steadfast; I rejoiced in the hope of the
glory of God; and in my ministry, I determined to be
conversant with no other topic, to know nothing amongst
men but Jesus Christ and him crucified. The divine
treasures which God imparted into my earthen vessel I K K1v 98
freely poured out; and the Lord constantly replenished
me with more; so that I was always being exhausted
and ever being filled with the heavenly treasures orof
divine knowledge; and became more and more able to
bring out of the good treasure in my heart things new
and old. The Lord enabled me to keep my heart with
all diligence; and having my own soul right with God,
I was enabled to set others right also. I affectionately
press it upon the attention of every minister of
the gospel, who really desires his ministry may be
effectual to convert and sanctify men, to attend to himself
first, to see that the work of genuine conversion
be perfected in his own heart; that he is truly born
again of the incorruptible seed of the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever; that he is thoroughly
cleansed from his old sins; enjoying the remission of
sins and justification to life; that the word of God
abideth in him, and is fruitful; that he enjoys the
spirit of adoption; is sealed with the Holy Spirit of
promise; that the Holy Ghost dwelleth in him; that
he comes to the light in every thing; is pure in heart,
and hath his eye single to the glory of God; that he is
sanctified by the truth; purified by obeying it; that he
abideth in Christ the true vine; dwelleth in God and
God in him; that he hath continual communion with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ; that he
lives and walks in the Spirit; is led by the Spirit; that
he is not proud of these attainments, but simple and
of a childlike disposition; that his heart is preserved
in a state of transparency, and so free from guile and
sin, that he woudl not be reluctant to have it probed by
a truly godly-experienced and judicious Christian of K2r 99
like attainments. Let him see to it that he is meek
lowly, patient, contrite and humble, habituated to self
denial, filled with charity or love which is the bon[Gap in transcription—flawed-reproduction1 letter]
of perfectness; that his will is entirely submitted and
resigned to the will of God; that his meat and drink
is to do the will of his Father in heaven; that his attitude
is that of a self-devoted, living sacrifice, utterly at
the disposal of his God, taking up every cross placed
before him; that he meekly and practically regards the
sayings of Jesus and the precepts of the Christian
Scriptures, aiming at a perfect observance of them all
that he may become a finished disciple of Jesus Christ,
exercised in all parts of Christian duty and practise,
and copying the pattern set by his Lord, devoting
soul and body, time and opportunities, money and
means, his entire all to the service of Jesus; not wedded
to this life, but holding it as loosely as possible, rejoicing
in hope of the glory of God, and seeking an increased
knowledge of Christ, the fellowship of His sufferings
and the spiritual might of His resurrection. Such a
man as this, if called and sent by Christ into His vineyard,
is able to make men wise unto salvation; and I
the kind of minister whose labours Jesus will deign to
bless. Such ministers have adorned and blessed the
church in all ages; and such ministers occasionally
adorn it still. It is an axiom which holds good in
Christianity, as well as in common life, that whatever
man has borne, been, or done, man may bear, be, or
do; and there is no more impossibility of attaining
eminent saintship in the present day, than there was
two thousands of years since: with the Scriptures in
our hands and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we possess K2v 100
advantages even beyond those Christians who enjoyed
the living ministry of the apostles. He who would be
a master in Israel should possess such an experimental
knowledge of the Christian religion, as an university
cannot bestow, but which is the exclusive endowment
of the Holy Ghost. A well-disciplined minister is a
father in Christ; an elder in the Christian church; and
happy is that flock over which the Holy Ghost hath
made him an overseer: who are fed by him, not with
college lore, nor with orations such as are emitted by
divines not yet out of their teens; but with such instructions
as the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing
spiritual things with spiritual. When ministers aim
at revivals in their flocks, they must first obtain them
in their own souls; for he who has left his first love, is
in no condition to communicate the glowing flame to
others: he must first remember from whence he has
fallen, and repent, and do his first works; strengthen
the things that remain; stir up the gift of God in himself;
obtain the pure gold of true faith, well tried in the
fire, and anoint his mental eyes with the illuminating
eye-salve of divine unction; render his body a temple
for the Holy Ghost, and equip himself with the whole
armour of God, and then he may efficiently contribute
to the health and prosperity of the souls of others; being
a discerning, faithful watchman, and a good shepherd
to them. I have witnessed such ministers, (who are
rightly named “Great Grace”,) lay open the heart, cast
down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God: and with the
Spirit’s two-edged sword, divide the sinner from his
sins, slay the lion, and bring him a lamb-like penitent K3r 101
to the feet of Jesus; then take the new creature by the
hand, “lead him by the side of still waters, in paths of
righteousness”; comfort, exhort, warn, instruct, and
build him up in our most holy faith, that he may eventually
have the joy to present him faultless and perfect
in Christ Jesus. Oh! that every leader of souls in
Britain may speedily become a Joshua, to bring all the
Lord’s Israel into the promised rest of faith.

In the course of my travels on the Cape, I one day
met with a young lady recently married, whose pride
and self-consequence were superlatively high; her
parents, brothers and sisters were decidedly religious;
but her vanity and haughtiness had hitherto resisted the
humbling impressions of true godliness. I felt my mind
much drawn to this young lady, but she rejected every
advance of mine, and contemptuously avoided my conversation.
I spent a day at her father’s house; during
which time she was with us; but she sat as a queen, and
maintained all the dignity of haughty reserve to every
religious topic; at night, we had family prayer; and I
followed the impressions of my mind, in fervently praying
for her; and took leave of the family. In about
two years afterwards, I again met with her mother, who
informed me that, on that evening, this young lady was
brought to repentance towards God: she was afflicted
with penitential anguish to an extraordinary degree, ere
she was enabled to exercise faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ; since that time, she evinced as great anxiety to
see and unbosom her mind to me as she had previously
to shun and repulse me. Verily, God doeth all things
well: all praise to His glorious wisdom and power; His
rich and free mercy, and adorable grace.

K3v 102

Having reached a rich harvest of souls on the Cape, I
returned to the city of Boston, where I remained for a
few months; the Lord having made my way prosperous,
many doors were opened to me, the word of God had
free course and was glorified; many who sat in darkness
there saw the great and true light, and turned to
the Lord with all their heart; from thence I proceeded
to the city of Salem, and laboured amongst the Methodists
with much attendant prosperity. The coloured
people had a chapel in course of erection, and stood in
great need of assistance; the Methodist brethren therefore,
in conjunction with several gentlemen in the city,
subscribed a considerable sum of money, with which
they furnished them with a pulpit and seats for the
chapel. When the building was got in readiness, I
delivered the first discourse therein, from Zech. ii. 10,
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for I come, and
I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.” The
Lord graciously manifested and recorded His name there
on that occasion; and many considered their ways, and
turned from their vanities to serve the living God. The
Lord was pleased also to apply a portion of His word
with much power to my own soul, as it was delivered
by His angel. Zech. iii. 7. “Thus saith the Lord of
Hosts, if thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt
keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house
and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee
places to walk among these that stand by.”

In that city, the ladies who were connected with
the several Christian denominations, were in the habit
of holding a monthly union prayer-meeting together;
and as this brought the different denominations into K4r 103
closer contact with each other, it caused a rich intercourse
of sanctified gifts and graces amongst them, for
the edification of the general body; it also greatly promoted
Christian love, for the pure, genial currents supplied
by genuine gospel faith, purified the disciples from party
bigotry, and caused them to love one another for the
truth’s sake. It was delightful indeed to hear Episcopalians,
Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists, avow
the rich enjoyments they had in the spirit of adoption
from God, who gave forth the corroborating testimony
of His divine witness with their spirits to their heavenly
filiations. The Christian church should manifest one
fold and one shepherd; one body and spirit; one hope,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; and one God and father
of all who is above all, and through all, and in all. O
that the Christian community in Great Britain were all
of one heart and one soul; only, but earnestly, contending
for the faith once delivered to the saints; that there
were no divisions among them, but all were speaking
the same things, and perfectly joined together in the
same mind, and in the same judgment; none being
puffed up one against another, knowing that ministerial
partizanship, doctrinal divisions, and sectarian prejudices
flow from sheer carnality, and savours nothing
of the grace of God. Rom. xvi. 17. Cor iii. 3. During
my stay in Salem, a great alteration was effected in
the morals of the colored friends; I hope to be forgiven
by my English brethren, in saying, that it is not an
uncommon thing for white Christians to reprobate the
morals of their sable brethren, without an adequate
occasion; the intelligence, the circumstances, and the
habits of the two races are widely different; and it is K4v 104
the part of a moted eye and biassed heart to require the
same standard tale of bricks from the Ethiopean family!
Or, in other words, an observance by them of all the
proprieties attached to the refined Christian morals of
the more cultivated Saxon stock; the illiterate colored
Christian is competent to, and ought, practically, to
carry out the precepts of the Christian religion to the
utmost extent his circumstances admit of; but Christian
charity will not rashly judge him, for an imperfect
conformity to the politer standard of morals and tasteful
delicacy, which have been superadded to the Christian
precept, by the supererogative pride of high-toned sensibility
and civilization; a more perfect exemplification
of Christian morals than that which characterized the
apostolic era has never been attained by any later age;
but its simplicity and want of polish would have presented
a very rude and vulgar exhibition in contrast with
the whited exterior, the artificial delicacy and current
respectability or pride of life of much of the present-day
Christianity. The immoralities of the Abyssinian brethren,
when they occur, are obvious and glaring, and are easily
visited and purged by the discipline of the church;
but those of more polished Christians too often flow in a
deep and mighty under current: no principles are more
vicious, no practices more immoral and debasing, than
covetousness and worldly pride; the Scriptures exclude
those who are guilty of them from any inheritance in
the kingdom of God and Christ; yet it is a fact but too
well known, that these vices have an unrestrained course
throughout the more civilized Christian communities; and
that an attempt to expel these immoralities from those
communities, by subjecting all such offenders to the K5r 105
discipline of the church, would fill with confusion, and
crumble to ruins every denominational superstructure in
Christendom.

The Lord’s blessing on my visit to Salem was made
apparent by the improvement which followed in the
morals and habits of the colored population; many of
whom became truly devout, righteous, holy, godly,
spiritual, and heavenly-minded: by devout I mean,
devotional and religious; righteousness consists in
being and doing right; holiness is purity internally and
practically. Godliness is an assimilation of the human
character to that of our heavenly Father; spirituality is
such a practical acquaintance with spiritual things, and
abiding sense of the existence and agency of spiritual
and invisible beings, and converse with them, as gives
a complete ascendancy to the moral and mental powers
over the animal propensities; but it more especially consists
in a discernment oof the presence and operations of
the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God and his Son Jesus
Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, together
with an habitual and deep consciousness, and a blooming
prospect of the momentous realities of a future life.
Heavenly-mindedness consists in having our mind and
hope fixed upon the things above; on the mercy-seat
and throne of grace, the heavenly Jerusalem; the mansions
which Jesus is preparing for us there; the heavenly
Mount Zion; the general assembly and church of the
first-born; the innumerable company of angels; the
blood of sprinkling; the mediator and high-priest of the
new covenant; and upon God the judge of all. Many
of my sable brethren became eminently spiritual, having
ceased to be led by their animal appetites and K5v 106
worldly lusts, they were led by the Holy Spirit of God
which dwelt in them, and whose temples they were.
In the Methodist connexion, also, I had an extensive
circle of young ladies who were constant attendants upon
my ministry, and who were in an especial manner my
charge in the Lord; these manifested great diligence in
their pursuit of the higher attainments of the experimental
spirituality. The love of God being richly shed abroad
in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, many of them attained
to considerable eminence in the apprehension of,
and conformity to, the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge; abiding in Christ, dwelling in God, and
walking in the light as God is in the light, they experienced
that perfect love which casteth out fear; the
holy vigour and zeal with which they pressed forward
after the life of God, the avidity with which they drank
until they were filled with the Spirit, and the wonderful
revelations God was pleased to manifest to them,
provoked me to run forward in the heavenly race with
increased earnestness, lest they should overtake, and
leave me behind them: but as the Lord set me as their
leader, He sustained me as such; and an abundance of
grace was given to me as His commissioned servant, to
maintain my leadership. I abode in Salem throughout
the winter, and a most delightful winter it was.

I also paid a visit to the friends at Lynn; a town to
which reference has already been made; the Rev. J.
Melvill was the minister stationed there, who invited
me to preach in his pulpit, which I did to an overflowing
audience: on that occasion, I had the happiness to
see many of those dear young men who had attended
the camp-meeting as before narrated. On the conclusion K6r 107
of the service, they formed themselves into two
ranks down the aisle of the chapel. in order to salute
me as I passed betwixt them; and we parted in the
hope of a joyful meeting on the morning of the
resurrection.

From Salem I again returned to Boston, which city I
left in 1830-05May, 1830, in company with a Mrs. Ruby, who
had been thither on a visit, and was now returning to
Portland, in the State of Maine, in the north-eastern parpart
of America. We had a pleasant passage by water; the
night was calm, and we reached Portland about eight
o’clock in the morning. It is a beautiful city, situated
on the sea coast; built on a considerable elevation, and
the houses being white, it presents a very conspicuous
and fine appearance from the sea.

On my arrival, I found the friends to be a very benevolent
and kind-hearted people: they gave me a very
cordial reception; we quickly became well acquainted
and at home in each other’s company, and it was a
blessed visit to my own soul anand to their souls also. The
Abyssinian chapel, a very neat and pretty erection, was
appropriated to my service: and the news of a female being
about to preach therein, attracted a great number of persons
from all parts of the city; the Lord applied my message
to the hearts of many of them, and they cried to
Him for mercy, they sought Him with their whole heart,
and He was found of them to be a God merciful and gracious,
pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin; and like
the eunuch, they went on their way rejoicing. The chapel
was constantly filled during my stay, amongst them:
many were made happy in the love of God, enjoyed a
sense of His approbation and the witness of His Spirit K6v 108
with their spirits that they were the children of God;
many strangers were continually attracted to the chapel;
and on one Lord’s day, a gentleman was present whose
emotion was so strong as to excite much attention; he
at length retired to the lobby where he vented his feelings
in sobs and tears: he stated to one of the brethren
that he was a sea-captain, a stranger to earthly fears,
that his heart was attracted and rivetted by the discourse
which was in the course of delivery, so that he
could not retire from the place; but being unable to
repress his feelings, and desirous of evading observation,
he preferred standing in the lobby. Another person
was there also under similar circumstances, who called
upon me the next day, and informed me that he had
been a sailor during the last forty years, and had encountered
every form of marine danger: that he had
belonged to a ship of war, and been accustomed to the
roaring of cannons, and all the tragic horrors of naval
warfare, but never had felt dismayed by any accumulation
of peril; he now wept bitterly, and we both knelt
before the Lord in supplication, and the Lord heard
and spoke peace to his soul. Many other instances of
the Lord’s especial favour to me, and blessing upon
my ministerial labours in that city I might relate; but
the limits I am compelled to assign to the compass of
this volume require their omission.

After remaining a few months in Portland, I was
moved to travel further into the State of Maine, and I
journied in company with Mr. Black, a Baptist minister
to the town of Brunswick; a town eminent in the State
for its literary institutions. Mr. Black preached there
on the Lord’s-day, and I was invited to occupy the L1r 109
pulpit of the Baptist chapel on the Monday evening;
which I did, and preached to a very crowded auditory,
of whom a large number were collegians: at the close
of the meeting, I was invited to preach there again.
After this, my mind was impressed that I must go to
Bath; a town about ten miles distant; though I had
received no invitation, possessed no introductory means
to any one, neither knew any person there, and had been
informed that the town was not inhabited by one person
of colour; my mind was therefore somewhat saddened
on account of this impression; I knew not how to proceed
in it; and committed my way unto God, who in
His own way and time brought it to pass.

In a few days I went to preach at a small country
village; and, a female from Bath being present at the
meeting, I sent a message by her to the religious people
of Bath, requesting permission to come and preach
to them; this was the first time in my life that I had
ever requested as a favour to myself, that which in the
nature of things is the communication of a favour. In
a few days I received an answer from them, intimating
that they neither knew nor had heard of me previously;
but that they regularly held a prayer-meeting at certain
times at a certain house about a mile from the town, at
which I might attend if I thought proper.

Although this reply seemed rather uncourteous and
grating to the feelings, yet the matter was from the
Lord, and I durst not refuse even an invitation so uncouth.
Accordingly a kind sister conveyed me in her
chaise to the place on the day of their next prayer meeting:
having alighted, we inquired of the housewife if
that was the meeting-house; she admitted that it was; L L1v 110
“but,” says she, “who asked you to come here?” Having
given her the name of the friend who had sent to me, she
added, “Oh! then go to him, go to him, he will tell
you all about it.” It is to be deplored that some Christians
have Nabal so prominently inscribed upon their
tempers, that they display an equal moroseness with
the canine snarlers: such are unmindful of the authority
and disobedient to the laws of their Master, by which
they are required to be courteous, gentle and kind;
and they greatly disgrace the Christian profession by
their churlishness. We departed from that surly abode,
and went into the town, but were unable to find one
person belonging to the society or who knew anything
of our coming; nor could any of them accommodate us
with a night’s lodging; we therefore rode back to the
house where the meeting was to be held, and the time
for its commencement was nearly arrived. We again
alighted and knocked at the door, and it was opened
by the female before mentioned, who, when she saw us,
shut it again in our faces and turned away. As she did
not lock the door, I opened it and entered into the
house. A great many people and the preachers were
already assembled; I sat down in the meeting and reflected
on the repulsive reception I had met with; and
conscious that I had now discharged my duty before
God, I resolved, if not requested to preach, to sit in
silence and wait before Him.

When the time for service arrived, one of the preachers
came to me and said, “Sister, I suppose you wish
to addres the meeting,” to which I assented: and as he
stated that the assembly were desirous of hearing me, I
went into the desk opened the meeting, and preached L2r 111
from Isaiah xlviii. 18, “Oh, that thou hadst hearkened
to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a
river; and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.”
The audience were very numerous and attentive; much
feeling was excited and many tears were shed, for the
Lord was with me in the work, to give efficacy to the
words of His grace. At the conclusion of the service,
the society were detained to consult on matters of their
own; and I retired to prepare for my departure. When
we were ready to enter the chaise, some of the sisters
came to us, and informed me that I might be accommodated
with a lodging at the residence of a lady
in the neighbourhood; but as they did not assign
any object for my further stay with them, I declined
the offer, and departed. I afterwards learnt
that they had been consulting about my preaching in
the town on the next Lord’s day, and had arranged for
me to do so; though they did not then inform me of it.
After the sermon, my soul was filled with an inexpressibly
sweet serenity and heavenly peace. On our
way home we called at a house on Brunswick plains,
which is midway betwixt the two towns, where one of
our friends resided; and as they were preparing supper
for us, I sat in thoughtful meditation on the varied
goodness of God towards me; and looking upwards, the
Lord opened my eyes, and I distinctly saw five angels
hovering above and engaged in the praises of God: the
raptures of my soul were too awful and ecstatic on that
occasion for human description: the sensual world are
unacquainted with the overwhelming fascinations which
thrill through every instinct of the spiritual mind under
the complacent manifestation of etherial intelligencies L2v 112
and their enchanting influence. I concluded that this
wonderful manifestation was a token for good, and
a proof that the Lord was well pleased with the
course I had taken; and I was encouraged to hold
several meetings throughout the week, and preached on
the Lord’s day twice on the plains, and once in Brunswick.
I learnt, in the meantime, that a great curiosity
had been excited in Bath on account of my visit to that
place, and that I was anxiously expected there again.
On the Lord’s day morning, immediately after I had
commenced the service, one of the Bath preachers came
in, and when the service was over, informed me that he
was directed to conduct me to Bath to preach there in
the evening; but being then engaged to preach in Brunswick
in the evening, he was much disappointed at my
declining his invitation; however, I promised to call and
preach there when on my journey to Bangor, to which
town I purposed shortly to go: in a short time,
taking leave of the friends at Brunswick, I went to Bath,
and was very kindly received by Mr. Wilkinson, one of
the preachers: in the evening I preached in their spacious
chapel to a very large and attentive audience:
after service they made a collection, the whole of which
they generously presented to me; being a larger sum
than I had received from any other congregation in the
State of Maine; they then earnestly requested me to
remain a few days with them, and preach again ere I
proceeded on my journey, to which I was constrained
to consent. As the immense concourse retired from
the chapel, the noise of so many hundreds of feet
unbroken by any human articulation was very remarkable,
and excited the surprise of some of the friends L3r 113
as being very unusual in that town; but the people
obviously had “A while forgot their earthly cares, And soared above this vale of tears, To yon celestial hill.”

I attended the different meetings of their classes
during my stay there, and enjoyed a very pleasant visit
among them; and, having preached to them again, they
gave me letters of recommendation to the methodist
ministers who resided along the course of my journey
through the State. I could not but gratefully regard
the kind dealings of my Heavenly Father towards me in
my visits to this people; although my reception was so
rude and repulsive at the first, yet my was was enlarged,
my messages welcomed, and my subsequent
treatment warmly cordial and affectionate: such are
frequently the ways in which the Lord conducts His
saints— “Behind a frowning Providence He hides a smiling face.”

Having preached to them on Thursday evening,
my departure was arranged for the morrow; the friends
having obtained my promise, that, with the Lord’s permission,
I would come and preach to them again on
my return. On the morning, before I left, the superintendent
minister of the Circuit came on a visit to Bath
from Augusta; and hearing of my preaching there,
treated it at first as many other ministers do, with great
contempt, and reprobated the ministry of a female;
but after hearing somewhat more of the matter, his sentiments
became changed, he was introduced to me, and
became one of my very kind friends.

L3v 114

It is true, that in the ordinary course of Church arrangement
and order, the Apostle Paul laid it down as
a rule, that females should not speak in the church, nor
be suffered to teach; but the Scriptures make it evident
that this rule was not intended to limit the extraordinary
directions of the Holy Ghost, in reference to
female Evangelists, or oracular sisters; nor to be rigidly
observed in peculiar circumstances. St. Paul himself
attests that Phœbe was a servant or deaconess of the
Church at Cenchrea; and as such was employed by
the Church to manage some of their affairs; and it was
strange indeed, if she was required to receive the commissions
of the Church in mute silence, and not allowed
to utter a syllable before them. The apostle John wrote
his second epistle to a Christian lady, as a matron of
eminence and authority; exhorting her believing
children by her, and bidding her to prove the doctrines
of those who visited her in the capacity of Christian
teachers: honourable mention is made of many other
Christian females who promoted the cause of Jesus;
and Paul wished every assistance to be given to those
women who laboured with him in the Gospel. Tryphena
laboured with Tryphosa in the Lord; mention is made
of the services of many of the sisters of Nereus, of the
mother of Rufus, many others are also very respectfully
referred to by St. Paul the prophet Joel predicted that
God would pour His Spirit on His handmaids, and that
they should prophecy as well as His servants; and this
prophecy, Peter, on the day of Pentecost, asserted was
fulfilled; and if so, the Christian dispensation has for
its main feature the inspirations of the holy prophetic
Spirit, descending on the handmaids as well as on the L4r 115
servants of God; and thus qualifying both for the conversion
of men, and spread of the Gospel. Priscilla
took upon herself the work of a teacher, when, in conjunction
with her husband Aquila, she expounded to
Apollos the way of God more perfectly; the four virgin
daughters of Philip the Evangelist, were prophetesses
or exhorters, probably assisting their father in his evangelic
labours: being prophetesses or exhorters, the
work in which they were employed was prophecy or
exhortation; and those brethren certainly err, who
fetter all and every ecclesiastical circumstance, and even
the extraordinary inspirations of the Holy Spirit with
the regulations given by the apostle to a church, the
brethren of which extensively possessed the gift of
utterance, and were therefore in no need of female
speakers; and a Church, too, which owing to its
disorders and excesses, required the most stringent rules
for its proper regulation. The superintendent minister
desired me to tarry some days in Augusta; furnished
me with letters of introduction to the brethren there,
and in the event of the preacher, who was appointed to
preach on the following Lord’s day in his stead; failing
to come, he made the necessary arrangements, and
directed me to supply his lack of service. I set off for
Augusta in the steam boat at two o’clock, P.M. and
arrived there at nine in the evening; and it being dark,
I was unable to find the inn to which I had been
directed; but the Lord was with me to preserve me.
Being alone so late at night, I felt uncomfortable, as a
female and a stranger, and wandered about until I came
to the principal hotel, into which I entered and received
great kindness from the landlord. In the morning he L4v 116
went himself to Mr. Robinson, and informed him I was
inquiring for him, whereupon that gentleman came to
the hotel for me, conducted me to his house, and very
kindly entertained me. From the moment I consented
to tarry in Augusta, till the next Lord’s day, I felt a very
heavy cloud upon my soul, for I had received no direction
from the Lord upon it, but had acted upon my own
judgment. I went mourning by day, and passed two
nights in sleepless sorrow. Mr. Robinson informed me
that the committee of the society were about to meet in
the evening, that the question of my preaching there
must be submitted to them, and he would inform me of
their decision, but the time passed by and I heard nothing
thereof. On the Lord’s day morning, after breakfast,
as I was praying in private to my heavenly Father,
and desiring to know why my soul was thus shut up in
confusion and obscurity, the Lord was pleased to give
me this answer, “Thus saith the Lord, the brethren are
divided in their sentiments; nevertheless, though clouds
and darkness be with thee, I will deliver thee; my presence
shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” I
then went into the parlour, and said to Mrs. Robinson,
“My dear madam, since my coming here, I have not
enjoyed that rich endowment of the light of the Holy
Spirit which I usually experience, nor could I imagine
the reason thereof.” I further stated, that my heavenly
Father had showed me the reason, viz., that I have
come amongst a people who are divided in their sentiments;
and that the brethren are not perfectly joined
together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.
She then burst into a flood of tears, and said, “Well,
if they will not receive those whom God is pleased to L5r 117
send, we cannot help it.” When the time came for
morning service, I accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Robinson
to the chapel. The congregation assembled, but the
minister, who was appointed to preach, did not come:
after waiting some time for the preacher, and he not
coming, Mr. R. came and requested me to take the
pulpit; but having made no preparation whatever
to conduct the public services, I declined, stating that
I had no desire to intrude myself upon the attention of
the congregation contrary to the feeling of the church;
upon this, a gentleman present said he would not bind
the rest of the brethren by his peculiar view; that he
would go to another meeting, and leave them at
liberty to act as they pleased. He then withdrew;
and one of the brethren rose and assured me that all
the brethren present were of one mind as to my preaching;
and hoped that I would consider myself amongst my
friends and not feel the least embarrassment.

I then repaired to the desk, and conducted the
service, though with but little of my accustomed
unction and freedom. In the afternoon, however, it
pleased God to grant us a time of refreshing indeed.
The chapel, which was large and commodious, was
densely crowded; and, at the conclusion, one of the
brethren arose and proclaimed that a meeting would be
held there in the evening also; and in the evening, so
great was the concourse, that crowds remained at the
chapel doors unable to gain an entrance; and numbers
were forced to retire disappointed of any accommodation.
The presence of the Holy One was also manifested, and
the glory of God filled the house. Although greatly
fatigued with the exertions of this day, at five o’clock L5v 118
on the following morning, I took the stage for Bangor,
and rode seventy miles that day over a remarkably uneven
ground, sometimes ascending the sides of the mountains,
and at other times jolting through the rocky
valleys. After a very fatiguing journey we arrived at
Bangor at four o’clock, P.M., and I was kindly received
by Mr. Brown, a very respectable gentleman of colour,
who stood in high repute among the people: this
gentleman went and and apprised the Methodist preacher
of my arrival: who soon came to see me, and gave me
invitations to the pulpit, the classes, and the family in
which he resided. I attended their quarterly meeting,
and also a love feast, with very great enjoyment and profit
to my own soul: the meeting was attended with divine
power of very perceptible density; the people spoke
with great feeling, and fluent utterance; the Spirit of the
Lord directed and inspired the meeting, and much good
was effected on that occasion. My visit to Bangor was
replete with reciprocal benefits to them and myself. I
truly saw there the grace of God, and was glad; for the
Lord sent the Spirit of His Son into the hearts of many,
crying, “Abba, Father!” and sealed them with His Holy
Spirit of promise. After remaining with them a few
days, I took my leave of them and returned by the route
by which I came. The day was very rainy; and the
coach was closely shut up, that no inside passenger
could be seen; nevertheless, I had not been in Augusta
an hour, before Mr. Robinson came to the house where
I was, to engage me to preach in the chapel that evening.
I accordingly went and preached, during one of the
most terrific thunder-storms I ever witnessed; the heavens
gathered blackness; the God of glory thundered, L6r 119
He uttered His voice, and that a mighty voice, which
divided the flames of fire: the awfulness of the evening
gave an increased solemnity to the service; in the night
a vessel was lost upon the coast; and all hands except
two perished. In the morning I went by the stage coach
to Bath; and two young men, the only survivors of
the crew of the wrecked vessel were amongst the passengers.
I was very kindly received by my dear friends
in Bath; and, according to previous engagement, I
preached in their Chapel in the evening; and a delightful
visitation of the love of God was enjoyed by the congregation.
I felt a most spiritual union with this people,
which I believe will be renewed with increased delights
in the world of bliss; the Lord had enabled me to
endure with meekness and patience, the repulsive
treatment I met with from them on my first introduction
amongst them and we afterwards became more closely
united and endeared to each other, than we perhaps
might have been, if my first reception had been more
courteous; their subsequent behaviour was full of
kindness and tender affection; we enjoyed many happy
hours in each other’s company, and the time of my
departure was painfully affecting. I then returned to
Portland, after an absence of about three months; and
after an abode there of some few weeks, I journeyed to
another part of the Lord’s heritage, going from one town
to another, the Lord having opened many doors to me,
and given me access to every denomination of Christians,
my labours greatly abounded. My earthen vessel was
continually exhausted, and as continually replenished;
my bodily frame was often wearied in the service of
my Saviour, Proprietor and Lord; and many an L6v 120
hospitable home was opened by his providential care, to
furnish me with refreshment and repose. “Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by thy help I’ve come, And I hope, by thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home”

At one little town that I visited, it having been announced
that I should preach in a large school room
usually appropriated for that purpose; when I was proceeding
thither, accompanied by some friends, at
the time appointed, my mind suddenly became disquieted;
and I said, “what is the matter, for I feel
that there is something not right;” the friends who were
with me, however, made light of my inquiry; but it
soon appeared that some dissolute and ruffianly persons
had conspired together to come and break up the
meeting; and they had so far intimidated the brethren
who should have opened the doors, that they durst not
go forward to prepare the place! One of the sisters
then procured the key, and opened the room. A great
concourse of people assembled; and I commenced the
service in entire ignorance of the disturbance which was
projected. In a short time afterwards the conspirators
entered the room, their leader tarrying at the door;
the power of the Lord was visibly present; and the
rabble were overawed and restrained from then purpose.
Their champion growing impatient, then made his appearance
—an unusually stout and ferocious looking
man: he came close up to me, making a demonstration
as if he intended to seize or strike me, but this producing
no impression upon me, he stood over me as if he would
take my life; but God was with me, and I felt no fear. He M1r 121
then seated himself beside his companions, pulled their
hair, and groaned aloud, in derision of the Methodists!
Those groans rested upon my spirit; the thread of my
discourse was suspended, and I was directed to rebuke
and exhort him personally, telling him that those groans
would soon be repeated in reality; and it was not improbable
that he might be suddenly cut off from the
land of the living, and required to give a woeful account
of himself at the bar of God. I thus cleared my soul
of his blood, and left him in the hands of God. On the
next day, as I was walking in the town, this very man
came and civilly accosted me, and invited me to call at
his house, which I did, and prayed with him and his
family, and departed. Proceeding further, I met with
the gang of his confederates; who addressed me, and
entreated my forgiveness for their misbehaviour on the
previous evening; and while I assured them of my
forgiveness, I exhorted them to seek forgiveness from
God, whose majesty had been insulted by their disrespectful
conduct toward His servants and the ordinance
of His worship. I then left the town; and, in a few
days afterwards, I learnt that their champion had died
suddenly, from the rupture of a blood-vessel in the lungs!
having gone from his house but fifteen minutes before in
perfect health: this event made a deep impression on
the minds of the people in that locality, and caused the
fear of God to rest upon many. I then visited another
part of that country, where an abundant field of labour
was presented before me; and the Lord applied His word
as a two-edged sword, to the conviction and awakening
of many souls; but lest I should be too much elated
with my ministerial prosperity, my course received a M M1v 122
check by the oversetting of the chaise in which I was
returning one evening from the house of God, by which
my ancle was broken, and I was laid by for a time; but
after a few months, my hurt was recovered, and I resumed
my work in the vineyard of the Lord. I then returned to
Portland, and thence proceeded to Boston, which I
left for Rhode Island; where I passed some time amongst
the Christian brethren. In the town of Providence there
was a great shaking among the dry bones; the Spirit of
God entered into them, and many began to live. I proceeded
from thence to New Bedford, where I was cordially
received by the minister of the Freewill Baptist congregation.
I preached there many times; and then went
to the Island of Nantucket, intending, in a few days, to
return to New York and see my daughter, from whom I
had been absent more than two years, and whom I had
a great desire to see: but God ordered it otherwise; for
when about to sail for New York, the wind shifted, and
was so contrary, that the vessel could not go out of the
harbour, and I returned again on shore to the house of
my friend; before the wind became favourable, I was
attacked with a very severe fit of illness, by which I
was confined for a long time: I therefore sent for my
daughter to come to me; and, on her arrival, the interview
was very affecting to us both. The physician gave
no hopes of my recovery, but prayer was made on my
behalf by day and night. Miss Sarah M. Coffin, a
young lady in the vicinity, incessantly visited me, and
prayed much and fervently for me. One evening, while
praying by my bed-side, she used these words, which
were written on my heart as with an iron pen, or the
point of a diamond—“Lord, if consistent with thy M2r 123
will, spare our sister Elaw, and take my life in her
stead; for she is useful to thy cause, and I am but a
feeble worm, and but of little worth.” Her affection
for me was as great as that of Aquila and Priscilla for
St. Paul, who would have laid down their own necks
upon the block for him. One day I was so ill, that my
attendants were expecting my breath to cease. The
medical attendant came in, and informed them, that
he was about to fetch the principal physician on the
island to see me. The friends were then sitting around
me, and an elderly lady, a Baptist, came into the
chamber, sat down, and looked at me awhile, and then
said, “Mrs. Elaw, I am bidden to tell you, that you
will get better; God has a great work for you yet to
do, and I think you will travel some thousands of miles
yet.” On her departure, our second preacher came
in, and such was the weakness of my faith in the word
of Him who had said, “Thou shalt see London, and
declare my name there,” that I requested the minister
to attend my funeral; gave him a portion of Scripture
to preach from, and the hymns I wished to be sung on
the occasion. Having promised compliance, if the event
so required, he kneeled down and prayed the Lord to
grant that I might yet be raised up, to stand forth in
the name of God and declare His truth. While he was
praying, I felt the evidence of the Holy Spirit, witnessing,
that his prayer was heard, and that God had
granted the request of his lips. From that very hour
I began to amend; and some time after, Miss Coffin
came in and asked how I was, saying, that she had requested
a lady with whom she was acquainted, a Quakeress,
to make a special prayer to the Lord for me; for M2v 124
said she, “We cannot have thee die.” She further stated
that the friendly Quakeress had waited upon God on
my behalf, and had received this answer by the Holy
Ghost: “She shall get better, and in this Island shall
hereafter be her home.” As far as my own mind was
concerned, I had no anxiety either to live or die, knowing,
that for me to live would be for Christ’s service, but
to die, my gain. I sometimes thought, I shall never
see England: yet it was generally met by an internal
whisper, “the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” However
after an illness of eight months’ duration, my health
was re-established, and I was again brought forth to the
service of my heavenly master; and the kind friends
would not consent for me to leave the island: my
daughter also married and settled in it, thus verifying
the prediction of the prophetess, that my home should
hereafter be on this delightful spot. The Lord thus
established my goings here; and, as my strength increased,
so also did my labours. I had a numerous class
to lead, and much employment in the ministry also.
There were two chapels in the occupation of the society;
in the one, situated in the upper part of the town, I
statedly preached on the Lord’s-day afternoon; and,
in the evening, I assisted our beloved minister in the
large chapel, where we enjoyed a little heaven below.
Numerous souls were awakened and converted to God;
and inquiry after the way of life and salvation was
prevalent in every part of the town. The work of God
was our entire pursuit; and we knew nothing among
the people, but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was
constantly going from house to house, both early and
late; and thus I spent two happy years in the pleasant M3r 125
island of Nantucket, the Lord blessing both my going
out and my coming in.

I afterwards took my daughter with me, and went
into the land of our nativity to visit our brethren and
see how they did: we came to the city of Philadelphia,
had a joyful meeting with our brethren, and abode in
that city for a little space: while there, I engaged to
go to a small town at some distance, whither I had
been once before; but my arrangements for this journey
were twice frustrated; and on returning from my
second disappointment I called upon a friend in Philadelphia,
and remarked, that it appeared to be contrary
to the mind of God for me to go thither: while
thus talking, there appeared a young man standing
before me, and although conscious that it was a supernatural
appearance, I involuntarily exclaimed, “what
is this?” The suggestion then took possession of my
mind, that if I yet persisted in going thither, the Lord
would there convert this young man by my ministry as
a token that He had sent me. In a third attempt, I
was more successful; and when I appeared in the
congregation, I looked for him; but saw no young man
whose person and apparel I could identify as the man
whom I had seen in my vision: however, on the last
evening of my stay there, after I had preached, the
same young man, habited in the very apparel I had
beheld in the vision, came forward and shook hands
with me; testifying, that the Lord had sent me to
awaken his soul, and separate him from his sins unto
the Lord. He corresponded with me several years
afterward, and gave evidence that he was standing
fast in the faith, and progressing in the knowledge of M3v 126
God, and I was informed that he continually made
mention of me in his prayers in the public congregations
as well as in private. Having tarried some
time with my friends in those parts, we returned back
to New York; and having promised to accompany the
brethren there to a camp-meeting in the neighbourhood,
the time for holding which had not arrived, I left my
daughter there, and proceeded on to Albany, which is
distant about three hundred miles: the Lord graciously
preparing the way by His providential operations. I
preached in many chapels throughout that region;
and the Methodists opened an extra house purposely
for me; a very large and commodious building, but
greatly insufficient to contain the masses who flocked
thither to hear the word of God: the presence of the
Lord accompanied my ministry, and rendered it the
power of God to the salvation of many. When it
was first announced that a female would preach in
that chapel, a gentleman in the vicinity had a strong
desire to come and hear me, and proposed for his lady
to accompany him; but she objected, that it was unbecoming
in a woman to preach; and also, that God
never commissioned women to preach: he however,
very much urged her, and at length he overcame her
objections by persuasions; and they came, and the
word was effectually sown in her heart with quickening
power from God, her former sentiments became completely
reverted; for, as she had never before experienced
the searching and converting power of the
word under a sermon, she was ready to imagine that
none beside myself on earth had received the commission
of God to preach the gospel; when she got M4r 127
home, she read of Christ sending the women to inform
the disciples and Peter, that he was risen from the
dead; she then reprobated the folly of her former
objections; for said she, “I now perceive that the first
preachers of the resurrection were women: thus the
Scriptures become as a new volume, when the Lord
opens and illuminates the eyes of our mind.” The
Scriptures ever develope new and surprising truths to
the regenerate soul; and in proportion to our measure
of grace, and the Spirit of God, is the illumination
which accompanies our perusal of the Scriptures; that
soul is not in the enjoyment of spiritual life, who reads
the Scriptures without some perception of their unparalled
glories, the divine lustre of which is so peculiar
that the expositions furnished by the wisdom of
this world, and all the elucidations of human learning,
fail of any imitation of its radiance: it is the high
privilege of those who are begotten by the Word of
truth to read the Scriptures, not as the word of man,
but as they are indeed, the Word of God, a sacred
volume, the production of the infinite God; the true
key of this heavenly book is the Spirit of truth; under
whose guidance and illumination we ascertain and
enter into the mind of God; therein beholding as in a
mirror, the glory of Jesus, we become increasingly
assimilated to the same image, from one degree of
glory to another, as by the Spirit of the Lord.

While I was in this district, I had intelligence of my
only surviving brother, and took a further journey of
three hundred miles to Utica, to see him; I found him
there, married and comfortably settled in life. I had
not seen him since his departure from our parental M4v 128
roof; at which time I was a child of six years of age.
It was an affectingly joyful meeting to us both; and
my gratitude to the Lord was heightened by finding
in him a fellow-traveller to the kingdom of heaven, and
a member of the Baptist church in Utica. I there
met with Mrs. Jones, a female preacher, who had come
from England, where it appeared her ministry had been
popular, though it was otherwise with her in America.
Being myself a member of the parent stock, or the old
Methodist Society, I possessed an advantage over many
other labourers, in having access to many pulpits which
they had not. The dear brethren in Utica freely
opened their chapels to me; and we enjoyed many
very blessed opportunities of edification to our souls.
In one of their large chapels in which I preached, a
number of young men conspired together, and came to
hear me, with their hands filled with stones; intending,
if I uttered any sentiments which they disapproved of,
to pelt me therewith: my brother had driven me to the
place in a carriage and pair; the chapel was amazingly
crowded, the presence of the Lord overshadowed the
assembly, and the worship suffered no interruption
from the young gentlemen, who came, not to be
instructed in the way of truth, but to sit in judgment
on and try my discourse by the standard of their
petty opinions. After service, my brother went to
fetch the horses from some stables adjacent, these
tyros were standing there; and he overheard their
conversation, discovered their wicked plot and heard
them confess that they knew not what ailed them when
they entered the chapel; but their arms seemed bound
and held down, and were so paralized that they dropped M5r 129
the stones upon the floor, and that their emotions were
such during the service as they had never felt before.
Having spent a very happy week with my brother, I
was compelled to hasten back to New York to fulfil
my engagement with the brethren there. On going to
the water side to take my passage in the two o’clock
steamer, the captain informed me that he had no room
for another passenger; though my complexion appeared
to be the chief reason of his refusal. I was therefore
in a strait, for the performance of my engagement with
the brethren in New York depended on my going that
day; however, I learnt that there was another steamer
about to start at seven in the evening; and on my
application, the captain thereof agreed to take me
with him. I therefore thanked God and took courage.
We had a very pleasant passage, and many of the
persons on board belonged to the household of faith;
and what with edifying conversation, and the relation
of each other’s experience, we enjoyed a little Bethel.
On the deck in the morning, I noticed several of the
gentlemen engaged in very earnest conversation, and
perceived that their discourse had reference to me; I
therefore withdrew into the cabin, and had been there
but a few minutes when one of them came and requested
me to preach them a sermon on board. I replied that
I felt no desire to preach by the will of man, and to
gratify a human curiosity; he then assured me that
the gentlemen who concurred in this request, were
persons of integrity, whose aim was not novelty and
curiosity, but edification. I then objected that the
captain might not approve of such an attempt; he
said he would ask permission of the captain and M5v 130
withdrew. The captain’s consent being obtained, the
crew came, and seated themselves in the cabin to the
number of sixty. I then read a hymn, prayed, delivered
a short address, concluded the service and took
my seat. In a short time, I again perceived them in
close conversation, and apparently talking about me,
and I therefore withdrew; then same gentleman presently
called me back, and said, “these gentlemen are greatly
gratified by your discourse, and desire your acceptance
of your passage money;” upon which he presented me
with a sum which more than covered the expense of
my passage. I was therefore astonished at the fresh
display of the kind providence of my indulgent God;
for I was then much straitened in pecuniary matters,
and was three hundred miles distant from New York;
they then informed me that five of their number were
ministers of the gospel, and I saw how remarkably God
had overruled matters to prevent my passage in the
earliest vessel, to introduce me to so many Christian
friends, and arrange for me so convenient a supply of
money for my necessities. I arrived in New York
safely; and after fulfilling my engagements with the
brethren proceeded home to Nantucket, where we
found all things well, and the brethren rejoiced at
and welcomed our return. We arrived at home on a
Saturday, having been a week on our journey from
New York, at a very critical point of time. In the
evening after our arrival, our dear minister, Mr. Pierce,
called to see us, and requested my assistance on the
approaching Lord’s day. I therefore resumed my former
labours in the congregation. On Tuesday, 1834-12-10December
10, 1834, my daughter was safely delivered of her firstborn M6r 131
son, and the blessing of the Lord very apparently
rested upon the family. Soon after this, our Baptist
brethren being destitute of a minister, and the coloured
people of that denomination having a chapel on the
island, requested me to preach statedly to them; which,
with the consent of Mr. Pierce, I did, and the Lord
wrought marvellously among them; the holy fire was
greatly diffused throughout the town; many of the
coloured people were turned to the Lord, and I had
the pleasure of seeing them at the sea-side immersed
into Christ, they putting on the Lord Jesus in the
ordinance of believing baptism. Our methodist class-
meetings also were powerfully attended with the
presence and operations of the Holy Spirit; and indeed
a wonderful revival of the work of the Lord ensued,
which extended to every part of the town, and to every
denomination of Christians. On the meeting of the
conference, our dear minister, Mr. Pierce, was removed
from the island, and the Rev. J. Lovejoy was stationed
there in his stead. He manifested himself a faithful
minister of the cross of Jesus, and I enjoyed with him
the same intimate friendship and unity of faith, of
purpose and effort as with Mr. Pierce. My daughter
was some time afterwards attacked by a very serious
illness, which continued upon her for a long time
without any prospect of amendment; but one day, our
minister called to see her, and prayed most fervently
with her, and during prayer, the Lord vouchsafed a
surprising manifestation to her soul, and from that very
hour both she and the infant began to recover.

Having laboured for some time at home with very
great success, my mind again began to be impressed M6v 132
with the weight of more distant spheres of labour,
and my impressions seemed directed to the States of
New Hampshire and Vermont. About this time it happened
that I was from home a few weeks on a visit;
and as I was sitting in the house of God, I was caught
up in spirit, away from and far above all sublunary
things; and appeared to be standing on a very elevated
place in the midst of tens of thousands, who were all
seated around, clothed in white; my own complexion
and raiment were also white, and I was employed in
addressing this immense concourse: it was such a
scene as had never before entered into my conceptions;
and presently it disappeared, and I found myself again
in the chapel. I pondered this wonderful vision over
in my mind, and concluded that it was given to me as
a token that the Lord had destined me for enlarged
and more elevated spheres of effort; and the Christian
friends to whom I related it, also thought it a prelude
to my future ministerial work. After this, I returned
home, and in a few weeks afterwards, the same vision,
but much nearer and more vivid than before, was presented
before me in the chapel, as I was sitting under
a sermon; and after a short interval it was presented
to me a third time in the class meeting; but more
vividly still. I related these visions to Mr. Lovejoy’s
mother, who concurred in my interpretation of them;
adding that she thought it was my duty to go out again
on an itinerating ministry: some time after this, the
sisters of our society presented me with a quantity of
apparel, with some money, which they had secretly prepared
and subscribed; bidding me to go in the name
of the Lord, and call sinners to repentance. Thus again N1r 133
was that Scripture verified to me, “Seek ye the kingdom
of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall
be added unto you.”

I left home again in 1835-07July, 1835; and was absent
fifteen months: the Lord graciously prepared the minds
of the people everywhere for my ministry; and many
received the word with gladness and singleness of heart.
I was in Boston when Mr. George Thompson was lecturing
there on the abominations of slavery; great
crowds were attracted to his lectures, and much light
was diffused by his zealous exertions in the cause of
emancipation. From Boston I went to Lynn to attend
the Conference. I was there introduced to Bishop
Heading, and spent an afternoon in his company. He
requested a sight of my testimonials and letters of recommendation,
which I handed him; and he expressed
his entire satisfaction with them, but inquired if it
should be found that my ministry was calculated to
excite contention, many persons being strongly averse
to the ministry of females, whether I would be willing
to relinquish it. To which, I replied, that no ambition
of mine, but the special appointment of God, had put
me into the ministry; and, therefore, I had no option
in the matter; and as to such Christians as take up
ignorant and prejudiced objections against my labours;
men whose whims are law, who walk after the imagination
of their own hearts, and to whom the cause of
God is a toy; I could not for a moment study their gratification
at the sacrifice of a duty. It is an easy matter
to adopt a string of notions on religion, and make a
great ado about them; but the weight of religious
obligation, and the principle of conscientious obedience N N1v 134
to God are quite another matter. I enjoyed the good
bishop’s company, and heard him with pleasure avow
that he should be sorry in any way to discourage
me.

From Lynn I itinerated from city to city, and from
village to village, preaching the gospel of the kingdom
in the fear of the Lord; and great was the number of
those who believed and were baptised.

On my visit to Flushing, I preached from Isaiah
xxxviii. 1, “Set thine house in order; for thou shalt
die and not live.” Under that sermon many persons
were awakened, and among the number was one poor
woman who cried to the Lord for mercy, and applied
for admission to the church; but her application was
rejected, because she was then cohabiting with a man
by whom she had borne five children, yet had neglected
to comply with the matrimonial form required by the
law of the state. Whether her position was that of
mere concubinage or marriage de facto; and whether
the brethren were in their decision equally justified by
Scripture as by the law of the state and the sense of
society, are points which may admit of much discussion:
the marriage customs and laws set forth by God in the
Scriptures, are so widely opposite from those of civilized
nations in modern times, that when such cases arise,
and the sacred and secular authorities clash upon them,
it is not easy to determine what course ought to be
pursued by a Christian communion. Happily, however,
these parties immediately complied with the requirements
of the American marriage law, the usage of society, and
the dictum of the church; upon which they were
admitted into the Methodist connexion, lived happily N2r 135
in the Lord, and became respected as good members of
society.

On leaving Flushing, I took a long and circuitous
route, and after an absence of fifteen months, returned
home with great peace of mind.

I remained at home this time for the space of three
years, with the exception on an occasional short journey,
and a visit of a few weeks; and throughout this period,
my mind was often burdened with the weight of a
voyage to England. I often argued the matter before
the Lord in prayer, pleading my ignorance, my sex,
my colour and my inability to minister the gospel in a
country so polished and enlightened, so furnished with
Bibles, so blessed with ministers, so studded with
temples; but the Lord said, “say not, I cannot speak;
for thou shalt go to all to whom I send thee, and what I
command thee, thou shalt speak.”

In 18371837, when on a visit to some religious friends,
one morning, I saw a remarkable vision; I appeared to
be in a strange place, and conversing with a stranger,
when three enormous balls of fire came perpendicularly
over my head, and each of them exploded and burst
at the same moment: I instantly appeared to fall to the
ground; but was caught up by an unseen hand, and
placed upon an animal, which darted with me through
the regions of the air, with the velocity of lightning,
and deposited me inside the window of an upper
chamber. I there heard the voice of the Almighty,
saying, “I have a message for her to go with upon the
high seas, and she will go.” This occurrence took
place just three years prior to my departure from
America.

In 18391839, the Lord was pleased to send me again N2v 136
into the Southern states; and as I travelled from city
to city, I felt the impression that time was near
when I must leave the land of my nativity for a foreign
shore. In the town of Providence, Rhode Island, I
preached on a Thursday evening in a large Room, for Mr.
Bedell. On the following Lord’s-day, I attended the
Wesleyan Chapel, where I heard Mr. Bedell in the
morning, and, by his invitation, occupied his pulpit in
the afternoon, on which occasion the chapel proved
much too small for the crowds which assembled: after
the service, some leading gentlemen from another
denomination came to Mr. Bedell, and offered him the
use of their chapel, which was much larger than his, for
the evening service. It was thankfully accepted, and I
preached there in the evening, to an immense audience.
Mr. Bedell and his lady were both of them natives of
England; at that time he was stationed in the Providence
circuit. I had not been in their company a
quarter of an hour when both of them avowed their
concurrent impression, that I was destined by the Lord
to minister the gospel in a foreign land: such an observation
appeared to me very remarkable. From Providence
I visited New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore;
and wherever I went, the inquiry was continually
made, if I was not about shortly to embark for England,
accompanied by observations that my ministry was
ultimately destined for a different arena than was furnished
by America. I went on to the city of Washington,
and our meetings there were greatly distinguished by
the presence and operations of the Holy Spirit. Lady
Hunter, of whom mention is made in my former visit to
the city thirteen years before, presented me with a
contribution in aid of this purpose; and I could not but N3r 137
remark, how the Lord everywhere moved the minds of
my friends to make it a topic of conversation; thereby
keeping it always before me, and increasing the stimulus
of my mind towards it; and without any solicitation of
mine, they presented me their cheerful contributions;
yea, both white and coloured brethren, voluntarily came
forward with their free-will offerings, to enable me to
undertake the voyage, and bade me go and preach to
strangers in a strange land, in the name of the Lord.
Many were the proofs besides those related in this work,
that the Lord gave me of His purpose that I should
come to England; and being now many hundreds of
miles distant from my daughter, and feeling that the
Lord’s time had arrived, I wrote to apprise her thereof,
and shortly after returned homewards as far as New
York, where I attended the anniversary of the abolition
society: many of the speakers on that occasion came
over to England to attend the great anti-slavery meeting
in Exeter Hall. I then returned home; and was very
affectionately received by my dear daughter; and made
all possible dispatch in preparations for my departure.

The parting moment was painful in the extreme;
for my daughter, and her two dear little boys, were
entwined in the strongest affections of my heart;
but I durst not disobey Him who had said unto me,
as he had said unto Abraham, “Get thee out from
thy country, andand from thy kindred, and from thy
father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.” On
the 1840-06-1010th of June 1840, I rose from the bed on which I
had laid for the last time; the recollection of that bitter
morning even now suffuses my eyes with tears, and
interrupts the delineations of my pen: the morning was N3v 138
calm, our minds resigned and peaceful, and we took,
and held each others hand, in silence; which was at
length broken by my daughter, who said “Mother,
we part now, but I think we shall yet meet again; the
will of the Lord be done, and God be with thee.” At
nine o’clock, a.m., I bade farewell to those dear ties,
and started for New York, where I tarried until the
1840-07-011st July; and then I took the steam-boat to go to
the ship Philadelphia, Captain Morgan, which vessel
was lying in quarantine. Soon after our arrival on
board, she got under weigh, and set sail for the port
of London. My feelings on leaving the land of my
nativity, and all that was dear to me on earth, were
acutely indescribable; but God commanded, and I
obeyed; bidding farewell to my country, and, committing
my dear friends to the grace of God. The wind
was fair, the passengers agreeable, and we were soon
carried beyond the view of the land. On the following
morning, I awoke and presented my thanksgivings to
my heavenly Father for His preserving care of me
throughout the night. I then went upon deck, and
surveyed the broad canopy above, and the rolling ocean
beneath, gently moving wave after wave, as we glided
over its tremulous surface. I observed the birds of the
air flying over our heads, and wondered, at such a
distance from land, that they were able to take such
excursions without resting. I beheld the finny tribes
pouring forth by thousands. “I was now floating on the
great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable,
both small and great beasts. There go the
ships! there is that great leviathan whom thou hast
made to play therein. These wait all upon thee, that N4r 139
thou mayest give them their mean in due season. Oh
Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast
thou made them all! the earth is full of thy riches.”
Psalm civ. 24, 27.

On the 1840-07-2323rd day of July, we were cheered with the
sight of land; and on the 1840-07-2424th, we came to anchor off
Falmouth, where most of the cabin passengers left us.
On the evening of the 1840-07-2525th, we came safely into the
London Docks: this was on a Saturday; and on the
morning of the Lord’s-day, I first set my foot on British
ground. As I proceeded along Ratcliff Highway, I
was much surprised to see the shops open, and many
kinds of business in the course of transaction, women
crying “fruits for sale”, and the people intent on traffic
and marketing. I was indeed astonished, that in the
metropolis of the most Christian country in the world,
such a want of respect should be indicated towards the
day which Jesus signalised by His resurrection, and His
apostles practically set apart for the commemoration of
His eucharistic sacrament, and the ordinances of His
religion. Whether the literal and exact requirements
of the fourth commandment be, in the case of Christians,
transferred from the Jewish Sabbath to the Lord’s-
day, is a point upon which all the disciples of Christ are
not agreed; but if Christians are not bound to observe
an absolute quietude and rest thereon, they certainly are
bound to pay it that respect which is due to the day on
which our redemption was assured by the Lord’s resurrection
—a day which was made sacred to the practice
of His apostles, and by their inspired authority, called
the “Lord’s-day.” Having taken apartments in Wellclose-square,
in the evening I attended at the Countess N4v 140
of Huntingdon’s chapel in Pell-street, and heard a
discourse which afforded some encouragement to the
heart of a female stranger in a foreign land. Some
days elapsed ere I met with any of the Methodist family;
but, going on the Wednesday evening again to Pell-
street chapel, as I was passing a window, I caught
sight of a lady, whose appearance powerfully arrested
my attention; and it appeared that the feeling of surprise
and interest was mutual. I turned back, and
spoke to her, and inquired if she was acquainted with
any section of the Methodist body? She said that her
daughter should on the following evening conduct me
to the Wesleyan chapel of St. George, which she did
accordingly; and I found that several class meetings
were held on that evening; on that occasion, I met
with Mr. A― who introduced me to Mr. C― one of
the local preachers; and I was admitted into the class
led by him, and enjoyed a very sweet time of refreshing
from the presence of the Lord. I became acquainted
also with Mrs. T.― a true sister in the Lord, who has
since fallen asleep in Jesus: and was introduced to a
gentleman who interested himself greatly on my behalf
very considerably enlarged the circle of my acquaintance,
and even ushered me before the committees of
the peace and anti-slavery societies. I found my situation
rather awkward in reference to the latter body. I
was first received by a deputation of three gentlemen,
and afterwards admitted before the board. It was
really an august assembly; their dignity appeared so
redundant, that they scarcely knew what to do with
it all. Had I attended there on a matter of life and
death, I think I could scarcely have been more closely N5r 141
interrogated or more rigidly examined; from the reception
I met with, my impression was, that they imagined
I wanted some pecuniary or other help from them; for
they treated me as the proud to the needy. In this,
however, they were mistaken. Among many other
questions, they demanded to be informed, whether I had
any new doctrine to advance, that the English Christians
are not in possession of? To which I replied, no; but I
was sent to preach Christ, and Him crucified: unto the
Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness:
they also wished to be informed, how it came about that
God should send me? to which I replied, that I could not
tell; but I knew that God required me to come hither,
and that I came in obedience to His sovereign will; but
that the Almighty’s design therein was best known to
Himself; but behold! said I, “I am here.” Pride and
arrogancy are among the master sins of rational beings;
an high look, a stately bearing, and a proud heart, are
abominations in the sight of God, and insure a woeful
reverse in a future life. Infidels will indulge in pomposity
and arrogance; but Christians are and must be
humble and lowly. As a servant of Jesus, I am required
to bear testimony in his name, who was meek and lowly,
against the lofty looks of man, and the assumptions of
such lordly authority and self-importance. Ere this work
meets the eye of the public, I shall have sojourned in
England five years: and I am justified in saying, that
my God hath made my ministry a blessing to hundreds
of persons; and many who were living in sin and darkness
before they saw my coloured face, have risen up to
praise the Lord, for having sent me to preach His Gospel
on the shores of Britain; numbers who had been reared N5v 142
to maturity, and were resident in localities plentifully
furnished with places of worship and ministers of the
gospel, and had scarcely heard a sermon in their lives,
were attracted to hear the coloured female preacher,
were inclosed in the gospel net, and are now walking in
the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. I have
travelled in several parts of England, and I thank God
He has given me some spiritual children in every place
wherein I have laboured.

Soon after my arrival, I met with a gentleman, who
advised my immediate return to my own country; adding
that if he had been in America before my departure
and had known my intention, he would have advised
me better: I replied, that I had no will of my own in
the matter; but my heavenly Father commanded, and
I durst not confer with flesh and blood, but obeyed and
came : but like other men destitute of faith in God, he
did not comprehend this kind of argument; and persisted
in his worldly reasonings, saying that people did
not give away their gold here, and I had much better
return. It is to be deplored that there are so many
Christians of this person’s cast: who are of the world;
speak in accordance with its principles and sentiments,
and walk according to its course. Instead of having
little faith, they discover none at all: ignorant of the
Scriptures and the power of God, the love of the
Father is not in them. Having parted with this Laodicean
gentleman, I called upon Mrs. H., in Princes-
square: and my mind being somewhat damped, I sat
a few minutes in silence, which Mrs. H. broke by
an affectionate inquiry into my circumstances; at the
same time, presenting me with a handsome donation; N6r 143
telling me not to be discouraged, for the Lord, would
open my way and sustain me: my mind was cheered and
my faith strengthened by this opportune proof of the
power of God to furnish succours and raise up friends
for His people even in a land of strangers.

In a few days after, Mrs. T. introduced me to some
of the Bible Christians or Bryanites as they are called;
who are, I believe, a secession from the Wesleyan Methodists;
our reception from them was very cool; but one
of the brethren was about to preach in the street; and
he invited me to preach in his stead. Accordingly at
the time appointed, we repaired to the street and commenced
the meeting; a very great crowd assembled,
and I preached to them; but the meeting was broken
up by two policemen, who came and tapped me on
the shoulder, and desired me to desist; they demanded
what authority I had for preaching? a gentleman present
said, “she has her authority in her hand,” that is,
“the Word of God:” we then departed.

On the following Lord’s-day morning, I attended
with Mrs. T., at Salem chapel; and in the afternoon,
I preached in Stepney-fields, to a very numerous auditory.
A very heavy thunder shower fell during the
service, yet very few persons retired in consequence of
it. When the service was terminated, a gentleman and
lady came, and inquired of me where I resided? and
desired me to call and visit them; which, in the course
of a few days, I did, and was very affectionately received:
the lady, Mrs. T. then invited me to spend
a day with them, to which I consented, and enjoyed
a heavenly day in their company. She then engaged
me to spend a week with them; I did so, and a delightful N6v 144
week it was. The house was a little Bethel to us,
and in the stated morning and evening worship of the
family, the Lord manifested Himself in very rich displays
of grace. Before my week expired, Mrs. T. sent to my
apartments for my trunk, and bade me account her
house my home during my sojourn in England. Their
second daughter, who has since fallen asleep in Jesus,
a most interesting and excellent young lady, was then
greatly afflicted with a disease of the heart: our communion
in the Spirit was exceedingly choice and precious;
I richly enjoyed and highly prized her society.

I visited a number of small chapels in this vast metropolis,
and endeavoured to advance my heavenly Father’s
cause by attending many religious tea meetings; some
of which I found very edifying and profitable to the
soul. I also partook of a breakfast with a number of
ministers and friends at Mr. B. T―rs., by his special
invitation; and after this, I was sent for to Ramsgate,
and travelled through the country of Kent, preaching
the word in many of the towns and villages as I passed
through them. When in Canterbury, my mind was
much struck with the mutations of time upon the works
of man. I beheld there some stately edifices which
were venerable with age; I ascended the eminence of the
Dane John, from which I had a full view of the town;
the spot where some of the martyrs of Jesus sealed the
truth with their blood, was pointed out to me; and as I
gazed upon the memorable place, I thought of those faithful
servants of God with much sympathy and yearning
of heart.

Having received an invitation from some of the Primitive
Methodists in Yorkshire, to go down and labour O1r 145
among them, I went thither by railway, and reached
Pontefract about eight o’clock on the evening of the
1840-12-3030th of December, 1840; the distance was great, being
about 170 miles; and I was very much fatigued with the
journey. The hireling will make the best bargain he can;
but they who bear the commissions of Jesus will find no
sinecures involved in them, but frequently hard labour
and harder fare. On my arrival, I was very kindly
received by Mrs. Clift; and after a good night’s repose,
I was on the next morning much invigorated. On the
following day, 1840-12-31December 31, Mr. Colson the superintendent
minister, and Mr. Crompton his assistant, called to
see me, and explained the objects they had in view in
sending for me. In the evening we attended a tea meeting
of the Sunday School; on which occasion the children
sang some beautiful anthems, and repeated some
pieces with much correctness; the meeting was afterwards
addressed by some of the brethren, and also by
myself. At the conclusion of the meeting, we observed
a watch night, as is customary with the Methodist
societies, which was attended with much of the presence
of God, the gracious manifestation of His Spirit, and with
spiritual benefit to the souls of many. The weather was
very inclement and rigorous; and an abundance of
labour was presented before me, which I entered into
with much delight and vigour, though with considerable
weariness and distress to the body. “My shrinking flesh complains, And murmurs to contend so long; My mind superior is to pains: When I am weak, then am I strong.”

O O1v 146

On the 1841-01-033rd of January, 1841, I went to Brotherton,
and preached in the chapel belonging to the brethren;
it was completely crowded, and the Lord was in the
midst of us to bless His people with the manifestations
of His grace and love. After service, I returned the
same evening to Pontefract, very much exhausted with
fatigue. On the following day Mr. T― came to conduct
me to Thorp, where I preach in the evening, from
“Enter ye at the strait gate,” Matt. vii. 13, with considerable
energy of spirit; but, throughout my labours in
England, I have found a far less favourable soil for the seed
of the kingdom in the British mind than in the American.
Human nature must be in every country radically the
same; God is the same; yet the word preached is
generally attended in America with far more powerful
and converting results than in Britain. The population
of the United States have not been so extensively
vitiated by the infidelity and sedition of the press; and
being more thinly spread over an immense territorial
space, there is less of contamination than in the more
condensed masses of English society; and they perhaps
possess more honest simplicity of character, and less of
the self-sufficiency of a licentious intellectuality and
worldly wisdom. It is not for me, however, to account
for the cause; the fact is but too apparent. I had many
seals to my ministry in Yorkshire, notwithstanding the
general barrenness of the mental soil; and found, in
many of its towns, and especially in Leeds, a very loving,
lively and benevolent Christian people; not only
in the Methodist, but in other denominations also; and
amongst the society of Friends. I attended one of
the meetings of the Friends there, and whilst sitting O2r 147
among them, was moved by the Spirit to address them,
and the dear friends received the message which came
through the medium of their coloured sister with patience
and delight.

I went to Leeds on the 1841-02-044th of February; a place rendered
memorable to the Methodist societies by the
labours of Mrs. Fletcher, whose ministry the Lord so
signally blest with the communications of His Spirit:
the first place I preached at in Leeds was a chapel in
Leylands, which had been in the occupation of the late
Ann Carr, who had recently departed this life in the faith
of Jesus; the place was then in the occupation of her
companion in labours, Miss Martha Williams, and the
Lord graciously gave me some seals to my ministry in
that chapel. From thence, I went, on the 1841-02-077th, to Mr.
R―ds, and laboured with the Primitive Methodists on
Quarry Hill. I attended several missionary meetings
in their connexion, which were held in various circuits;
taking up my abode chiefly at Miss P―s, and Mr. A―s;
under the roof of the latter friend, I spent
many weeks, in peace and happiness, blessed with abundance
of blessings spiritual and temporal. I also preached
in Stanningley, for the primitive brethren; and for the
Wesleyans, in their chapel; on which occasion, a very
remarkable solemnity pervaded the assembly; and the
Lord was pleased to direct my utterance, and give it
such a pointedness, as made it apparent that it was a
message from Himself. While I abode in that town,
I lodged at Mr. G. W―s, with whose lady I went, by
invitation, to breakfast with the minister, Mr. H. who
was stationed there; we enjoyed a sweet and refreshing
season in the family devotions of the morning; and O2v 148
I felt a strong attachment in the Spirit to Mrs. H―,
who, though young in life, was blessed with the possession
of deep piety or devotion; and a very sweet unction
of the Holy Ghost abode on her spirit. From Stanningly
I departed to Pontefract; and, in a few days
afterwards, received a letter from a brother at the
former place, informing me that one of the brethren
there had died suddenly, on the day of my departure;
but they sorrowed, at the loss of a dear brother on
whose behalf they possessed a well grounded hope.
Among others of the towns I visited in Yorkshire, was
Bradford. I also preached an anniversary sermon at
Shelf; being, while I sojourned there, the guest of Mr.
B―y. On my return to Leeds, I met with a gentleman
from Hull, who came to conduct me to that place.
I accordingly went thither; and abode a few days,
preaching in different parts of the town. On one evening
there were ten persons who professed to find peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. On another
occasion a female who had left her first love, and lost the
vitality as well as the name of spiritual life, was recovered
from her lapsed condition and obtained peace to
her soul. On my departure I engaged to come to them
again, and preach to them on the opening of their new
chapel; and this poor woman had desired to open her
mind to me, and relate what great things God had
done for her by my ministry; but ere that day came,
her spirit had taken flight from this region of sin and
grief; but she left a message for me on her death-bed,
to assure me that she died in the faith of Christ, confiding
in the God of her salvation.

From Hull I returned to Leeds; and, during my temporary O3r 149
abode there, the church sustained a loss in the
sudden death of our dear brother, Willam Dawson,
who had been a zealous champion in the work of the
Lord. Several thousands of persons were congregated
together on the day of his interment, to witness the
procession, and manifest their respect to the memory of
our departed brother. The corpse was brought out
into the open air, and one of the ministers offered
prayer to God; after which, Mr. Garland delivered an
address, the local preachers and leaders then formed in
order of procession, six abreast in the front of the hearse,
and the cavalcade solemnly proceeded to the place of
interment, which was several miles distant from Leeds;
the whole distance being thronged by multitudes who
anxiously witnessed the scene. From Leeds I took a
tour of that part of the country, travelling from town to
town, and village to village, preaching the gospel of the
kingdom, and testifying to thousands of persons, repentance
towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the appointed time, I fulfilled my engagement at
Hull, leaving the 1841-07-033rd of July; and on the day following,
I preached at Brewery Fields, and had the pleasure
to witness the conversion of four souls from darkness to
light: at Keithly, I met with a gentleman and his wife,
who were from Liverpool on a visit, and who gave me
a very pressing invitation to come over to Liverpool and
see them, which I promised to do. I preached on an
anniversary occasion at Leylands, when seven souls
entered into the liberty of the gospel. On the 1841-07-2323rd, I
went to Wirksworth, accompanied by sister W―ms,
and we were kindly received by Mr. S. E. and the
friends there; I preached on the afternoon and evening O3v 150
of the day following in the chapel; when four persons
received very manifest spiritual benefit. I also preached
in the Wesleyan chapel in that town, and much enjoyed
the interviews with its minister with which I was
privileged.

Having written to the family in Liverpool who had so
pressingly invited me to visit them, to apprise them of my
coming, on the 1841-08-022nd of August, I took leave of sister W.
and the kind friends at Wirksworth, and travelled thither
by way of Manchester, and arrived in Liverpool about
six o’clock in the evening. On going to the residence
of the parties who had invited me, I found that the lady
and her daughter were absent from home; and the gentleman’s
memory was so reluctant, that he very distantly
recognised me. I was greatly fatigued with my journey, to find
my reception so different from the invitation. I soon
took my leave of one whom I found not at all careful to
entertain strangers, or practice the Christian duty of
hospitality, and went in search of lodgings, which I
had great difficulty in procuring: but after wandering
from place to place, and making many fruitless applications,
I at length succeeded. It was of the Lord’s goodness
that I was at that inauspicious time possessed of
sufficient money for my exigencies. My visit to this
town was replete with discouragements. I attended
several meetings of the association, who were holding
their annual conference there at that time. I also
made inquiries for the Wesleyans, and attended at
Brunswick Chapel; and afterwards called upon the Rev.
Mr. H., who received me with kindness, and referred
me to Mr. D. the Wesleyan superintendent minister at O4r 151
that station. On my visit to Mr. D., he left directly
on my introduction, to attend a funeral; but Mrs. D.
entered into conversation with me, and assuming the
theologian, reprobated female preaching as unscriptural;
adding, that Mr. D. was greatly opposed to it, and
always put it down if possible: she further said, that
Paul ordained that a woman should not be suffered to
speak in the church: but to sit in silence, and ask information
of her husband at home. I was, however,
too blind to discern, that for a female to warn sinners
to flee from the wrath to come; to preach Christ to
them, invite them to come to Him, and exhort them to
be saved, was equally disorderly and improper with the
interruptions of a church in its meetings and services,
by the inquisitive questions of the females present;
nor could I possibly understand how my ministry,
which is directed to bring sinners to repentance, and
employed in humble and affectionate attempts to
stir up the pure minds of the saints, by way of remembrance
and exhortation, involved any dictation or
assumption of authority over the male sex. The apostle
directed that a woman, when praying or prophecying,
should have her head covered; from which it may be
inferred, that the praying and prophecying of a woman
is allowable; but Mrs. D. was differently minded, and
thought that a preaching female ought to depart from
the Methodist body, and unite with the Quakers; but
the Lord, who raised up Deborah to be a prophetess,
and to judge His people, and inspired Hulda to deliver
the counsels of God, sent me forth not as a Quakeress
but as a Methodist, and chiefly employed me to labour
amongst the Methodists. I mentioned to her, some of O4v 152
the methods, by which the Lord made known to me
His will, that I should go and preach the gospel; and
these she met, by supposing, that it was possible I
might have been misled. By this time, Mr. D. returned,
and his Christian charity seemed put to some
little expense on finding that I had not decamped; I
presented him my testimonials and certificates; as he
returned them, he said, “But do you not know that we
do not allow women to preach: and there is nothing
in the Scriptures that will allow of it at all?” Addressing
me with much assumed authority and severity. “We
do not allow,” sounded very uncouthly in my ears in a
matter in which the commission of the Almighty is
assumed. I again related some of the manifestations
made to me by the Holy Ghost in reference to this
matter; to which he replied, that he could not see how
God could, consistently with Himself, give me such directions.
Doubtless he said the truth; for the line of worldly
wisdom, self-sufficient reason and opinionated faith, can
never gauge the operations of the Spirit of God; and
always either rejects them at once, or meets them with,
“How can these things be?” He then complimented me
by adducing some instances, in which female preachers
had misconducted themselves; and wound up his
vituperations by saying, that the success of my labours
in the ministry proved nothing in my favour; for that
God would ever bless His word by whomsoever preached.
Perhaps, had I taken upon myself to have investigated
this gentleman’s call to the ministry, I might have
written Tekel upon it, for his spiritual condition falls far
short of the standard I have received: but Paul says,
“Who art thou that judgeth another man’s servant; to O5r 153
his own master he standeth or falleth,” and “Why
dost thou judge thy brother.” I then departed from
this iron-hearted abode, somewhat distressed and
wounded in spirit and at a loss what step I should take
next.

But thanks be unto God; He knoweth how to deliver
the godly out of temptations, and will not suffer us to
be tempted above what we are able to bear. On the
following morning I awoke, with these words passing
through my mind, “Angels are now hovering round us; Unperceived, they mix the throng; Wondering at the love which crowned us; Glad to join the holy song. Hallelujah! Love and praise to Christ belong.”

I then felt the assurance of the Holy Spirit that the
dark cloud which had so thickly and heavily pressed
upon me was breaking; and a way soon after opened
for me to visit Manchester, which in a few days after I
did; and took lodgings on Chetham-hill, of Mrs. H―
who conducted me to Mr. R―’s, a local preacher,
at whose house I was invited to spend the day: in the
evening the class met here, and I assisted to lead it;
the people were in a healthy, spiritual condition; and
we enjoyed a sweet fellowship of the Spirit and communion
with each other. On the 1841-08-2828th, I preached in
Stanly Street; and on the 1841-08-3131st, in the association chapel
in Stork Street, to a numerous audience. In a few
days afterwards, I was sent for to visit a lady who was
in great distress of mind. On entering the apartment
where she was sitting, I shall never forget the expression
of despair which sat on her countenance: she O5v 154
informed me that on the previous Lord’s day, she came
in the afternoon from motives of curiosity to hear me,
and that the discourse had cut her to the heart, and
portrayed her character as one self-destroyed by suicidal
sin: the Bible was lying by her side; I took it up,
opened at, and read from Isaiah lxi. 1–3, “The
Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord
hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the
meek; he hath send me to bind up the broken hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of
the prison unto them that are bound: to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance
of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint
unto them that mourn in Zion; to give unto them
beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments
of praise for the spirit of heaviness, &c.” She
then broke out in rapturous exclamations, praising God
for sending me as a messenger of salvation to her;
declaring herself filled with joy, and wondering at the
change which had taken place within her soul; she
confessed her unworthiness to receive such unexampled
mercy and grace; having gone to hear me as she acknowledged
without any thought of good, but of mere
curiosity; and she glorified God in me. This dear
lady was one of many of the earliest seals to my
ministry in Manchester. On one occasion, I accompanied
my friend, Mrs. H―, to visit a family of her
acquaintance; they made no pretensions whatever to
religion; but our visit proved a blessing indeed to them:
several of their neighbours were present; and among
them, a private in the police force and his wife; and, as
I inquired of their prospect, relative to a future state of O6r 155
existence, his wife informed me that he had been a
religious man, but had fallen from grace; and with
much earnestness intreated me to discourse with him in
particular. I did so; and the Lord gave me a message
to him, which went to his heart; he burst into tears;
lamented that his calling was of such a description,
that the class of persons to whom he belonged were
regarded as the offscouring of the human race, and that
few cared for their souls; adding, that the hardships of
their situation were peculiarly distressing; and expressed
great gratitude to God and acknowledgements to me
for the sympathy I had evinced for him. We then
bowed down before the Lord in fervent prayer, and all
present were greatly moved, and deeply affected. A
great door and effectual was opened to me of the Lord
in Manchester; and many there became the crown of
my rejoicing in Christ Jesus. I again became fully
occupied in the service of my heavenly Master, going
from chapel to chapel, and from town to town.

I preached one day at the house of Mr. W―,
under the bank, from Luke xiii. 7. “Cut it down;
why cumbereth it the ground.” Many persons were
deeply affected under that sermon; and among them,
one poor man who came in a few days afterwards
to Mrs. W―, asked permission to meet in the
class, stating that he had been wholly deprived of sleep
ever since he heard that sermon. On the class-night, I
preached a short discourse, which was followed by a
prayer-meeting, and this man and four others experienced
the pardoning love of God.

On the 1841-09-1515th of September I went by appointment to
preach at the house of Mr. L. under the Bank; and just O6v 156
before the meeting commenced, the powers of darkness
suddenly assailed my spirit, and so burdened and obscured
me, that in a short time I had no light or spirit
within me; and I commenced the service with a weight
upon my mind as if all the people were hanging upon
me. A hungry people exhausts a spiritual ministry, a
carnal people paralyses it, an unbelieving people drags
it down, a rebellious and resisting people grieves it, an
erroneous people inflames it—the cause of my darkness,
however, was not in the people; nor was I able to ascertain
the reason, which has hitherto been hidden from
me. In my first prayer the cloud was dispelled, and I
proceeded with my work in the light of the Lord; but
as I returned home to my lodging, the darkness returned
upon my soul. In the morning the Lord smiled upon
my soul again: and I arose with a light and cheerful
heart, rejoicing in God with joy unspeakable and full of
glory.

On the 1841-10-1223rd of October, I preached in the afternoon
and evening to numerous audiences at Hayfield, with
much freedom; and the people were very attentive and
much edified.

On the 1841-10-2727th, Mr. Ellery, the superintendent of the
Tonnon Street circuit, with his wife, called and took me
home with them; I preached for him in the evening;
and seven persons were under that sermon brought into
the liberty of the children of God. On the 1841-11-011st of
November, I attended a Wesleyan Missionary meeting
at Chetham; and enjoyed it as a time of refreshing
from the Lord. On the 1841-11-077th, I preached morning and
afternoon at Tonnon Street Chapel; and preached a
charity sermon in the evening, in Berry Street Chapel P1r 157
Salford. While in Manchester, I took an opportunity
of going with several of the brethren and sisters to visit
the deaf, dumb, and blind school, where we witnessed
the substitutes for tongues, ears and eyes in successful
operation. Truly marvellous is the immense variety of
resources, which the bountiful God of nature has placed
within the reach of, and at the service of man.

On the 1841-11-2727th, I went to Glossop to preach three anniversary
sermons; on my arrival in the town, Mr. H.
came to the coach to meet me, conducted me to his
house, and very kindly entertained me: the anniversary
was a delightful day; and numbers found it good to
be in attendaneeattendance. I preached again on the following
evening, and the place was excessively crowded: on the
day after, I returned to Manchester. On the 1841-12-055th of
December I went to Stockport to preach some charity
sermons; and the croud was so great, that it was with
great difficulty I reached the pulpit; many hundreds of
persons were forced to retire who could not gain admittance.
I preached again on the 1841-12-088th, and spent a very
happy week there in visiting the brethren and sisters,
and returning again to Manchester. On the 1841-12-1010th, I
went to Hollingsworth; on the Lord’s day morning I
led the class, and preached in the afternoon and evening
in the chapel. On the Monday a great many of
the friends brought their provisions together and spent
the afternoon in singing, prayer and spiritual conversation:
in the evening they all repaired to the chapel,
and I preached again to a great congregation. Two
gentlemen were present who were utter strangers to all
the friends; and, as they placed themselves just before
me, laughing and tapping each other, their design wa[Gap in transcription—flawed-reproduction1 letter] P P1v 158
apparently not the edification of their souls. I preached
on that evening from Proverbs iii. 5, 6, and, under the
sermons, their laughter was checked, and they hung
down their heads and strove to conceal their dejection.
After service the congregation was detained some time
by a very heavy shower of rain; and I sang one of the
American hymns; many shed a profusion of tears:
and these gentlemen seemed rivetted to the spot, and
were the last to retire from the chapel. On the next
day, I was about to return to Manchester; and on my
way to the coach office, I called at Mr. H―’s, to bid
him and his family farewell, when Mrs. H. exclaimed,
“Oh! are you going? I am very much disappointed;
for I wished you and some other friends to spend the
afternoon with us, and I have been making preparations
for it; and I was in hopes it would do me good: for I
feel that I am a poor and lost sinner; I am very
much burdened;” her tears and sobs suppressed her
further utterance; and I needed no further persuasive
to stay that day at their house; and on that evening,
she obtained peace with God through faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ; and on the next Lord’s day, she
came forth and gave evidence of having become a new
creature in Christ Jesus. On the 1841-12-1111th, I returned to
Manchester, and removed my lodgings to St James’
street; in the evening, I attended a tea meeting in
Beetle-street, at which Mr. F. presided. On the 1841-12-2525th
I went to Stalybridge, where I received a message from
the friends at Hollingsworth, desiring me to attend a
tea meeting there that evening. I accordingly went
thither, and found Mrs. H. still rejoicing in the love of
God: we had a very comfortable tea meeting. On P2r 159
the Lord’s day I preached in the afternoon and evening
at Staleybridge; and also on the Monday evening.
On the 1841-12-3131th. Mrs. F—d. of Salford, the lady of the
superintendent sent for me to come and spend the day
with them; which I did, and it being the last of the
year, at nine o’clock in the evening we went to the chapel
to commence the watch meeting: several of us were
speakers on the occasion, and it was a season of much
solemnity and godly comfort. Thus we witnessed the
expiration of the year, with thanksgivings for the divine
kindness which had been vouchsafed to us therein; and
hailed the new year with prayer for and earnests of
sustaining grace and prospective mercies. I tarried in
Manchester about nine months; visiting and preaching
in very many towns and villages in its vicinity and within
ten or twenty miles around it; the Lord being with me
to direct and sustain my willing exertions in His holy
cause. I preached about two hundred times during my
continuance here; and ultimately by His direction, took
my leave of the dear friends to see them no more in the
flesh, till the trumpet of God shall sound the muster of
the blood-bought congregation to the throne of Jesus.

On the 1842-06-1313th of June, 18431842,Open note 1Back to note ¹ I travelled by railway to
Huddersfield; met with a very kind reception from
Mr. S. Routledge; and, in the afternoon, Mrs. R.
accompanied me on a visit to Mr. Keys, a class leader
in the Wesleyan connexion. I attended, and led his
class in the evening, and enjoyed a happy season with
the people. Several of Mr. R’s work-people were
members of his class; and they went and informed
Mrs. R. that they had enjoyed a most blessed opportunity
with me; the information sunk with great P2v 160
weight into her mind, for she was at the time in great
concern about the salvation of her soul, and very much
distressed on account of her sins. On my return to
her house, she said to me, “I have earnestly endeavoured
to find rest for my soul; but there is no rest
for me, Mrs. Elaw.” We then kneeled down before
the Lord in prayer for her, and He removed her burden
and manifested His comforts to her spirit through faith
in Christ Jesus. On the 1842-06-1717th, I went to Shelf, and
visited my kind friends, Mr. and Mrs. B. I assisted in
the anniversary sermons of the Primitive Methodists,
visited a number of the friends, led several of their
classes, and preached also in the Wesleyan chapel,
where we enjoyed a very rich manifestation of the
presence of God, and a delightful opportunity to
our souls. I staid here a fortnight, passing the time
very pleasantly in the family of Mr. B. I also visited
frequently at Mr. G—ys; his wife is a very godly
woman, whose adorning is not of the outward person,
but of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is
not corruptible; a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price. This lady is one of
the genuine daughters of Sarah; chaste in conversation,
subdued in temper and reverent to her husband. Oh,
that many flighty, petulant, high-minded and insubordinate
wives, who profess the religion of Jesus, would
pay more attention to the duties of Christian wives,
and like this pious lady, adorn the doctrine of God
their Saviour. Little Miss G, a child of ten years of
age, had already savingly experienced that the Lord is
gracious, and rejoiced in the God of her salvation, she
manifested as grave and steady a deportment, as might P3r 161
have been expected from the years of a Christian
matron.

I returned to Huddersfield on the 1842-07-1111th of July, where
I remained a few weeks; it is delightfully situated;
being entirely surrounded with majestic hills, with
several streams of water running through it, which conduces
much to the prosperity of its manufacturing
enterprise. There are in this town four places of worship
belonging to the Episcopalians; two very large
Wesleyan chapels, and two others occupied by the
Primitive Methodists. The houses are neat, and chiefly
built of stone; there are several bridges watering
places and baths. It has a large market; and appears
to be situated in a fruitful soil, abounding with fruit
trees; the gardens are extensive and many of them
tastefully laid out; and the approaches to it are by
railway and good high roads. On the 1842-07-2929th, I again
visited Hull, when I preached morning and evening to
immense congregations; and afterwards we held a
prayer-meeting; and the Lord blessed the word that
day; many were comforted, and many others inquired
“what must we do to be saved.”

On the 1842-08-022nd of August, I embarked on board a steamer
for London: there were a great many passengers on
board; several of whom were from very widely distant
parts of the earth. Some of the passengers requested
me to preach to them, and the captain having given
permission, we ascended the poop, and there held our
meeting, which many persons seemed much interested.
One gentleman afterwards came and inquired
my name, saying that he was about to write to his wife,
and wished to give her an account of a meeting so P3v 162
interesting and so novel to the crew of a steam-ship. I
arrived in London about six o’clock in the evening very
much fatigued. On going to my friend’s, Mr. T.,
I found Mrs. T. was absent from home. I lodged that
night at Mrs. F—’s; and the day following, I went to
my former lodgings in Princes-square. My mind was
somewhat cast down by these matters; for, notwithstanding
the extensive exercises my faith has experienced,
I am often too much a mere creature of circumstances.

On the 1842-08-077th I went to Great Queen-street chapel to
hear Bishop Soul from America, and was very much
fatigued with the length of the walk. My mind was at
this time very cloudy and dark; and I formed the
resolution to call upon and have an interview with the
Bishop; but as I began to get myself ready for the
visit, I was seized with a fearful tremour and loss of
strength. I sunk down upon a chair, and pondered
within myself the reason of this visitation, and it occurred
to me, that my design of going to the Bishop
was taken without the permission of God being first
obtained. I therefore abandoned this project, and the
cloud on my spirit soon disappeared, and my peace
was restored. Shortly afterwards, Mr. D—y came
and engaged me to preach in Crosby Row chapel,
Borough; Mr. G. engaged me to preach in his chapel,
I also made an engagement to preach for Mr. P. and
another to preach for Mr. O. in Whites-row chapel. I
also preached in Timothy chapel, Ratcliff Highway, for
Mr. B. and for many other ministers and congregations
in other chapels, after fulfilling a host of engagements:
and a variety of labour, I receiving an invitation from the
north of England; and on the 1842-11-2727th of November I P4r 163
went on board a vessel for Berwick-upon-Tweed. We
had a very boisterous passage; and, in the night, a
gale of wind laid the vessel completely on her side.
The passengers all concluded that we should soon be
overwhelmed in a watery grave; but the Lord held our
lives in His preserving care, and the vessel was got
upright again. At eleven o’clock on the night of the
1842-11-3030th, we came to anchor in the port of Berwick. I
went ashore, the same night, to Mr. J. R—’s, the superintendent,
who very kindly received me; and thence
retired to Mr. G—s. Many persons were converted to
God under my ministry in this town; among the number
of whom, was Miss A. G.; she had been to chapel
with me, and, on our return, several of the preachers
accompanied us; before we parted, we kneeled down
in prayer together, and the Lord then and there gave
her the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins.
The town of Berwick is one of great antiquity; the
people pointed out the remains of an old castle, which is
said to have priority over the Christian era; also, the
ruins of an old abbey of remote antiquity. The streets
of Berwick, I was informed, have been drenched with
human blood. There are several places of worship in
the town belonging to different denominations; and
the pasture fields in the vicinity are very beautiful and
green. There is also an elegant pier, which is a convenient
promenade for the townspeople, and an extensive
fishery. From this place, I went over to Holy
Island, and preached to the fishermen, and enjoyed
some very blessed meetings among them. This is a
place of great antiquity, and was formerly inhabited by
a great number of monks. On my return to Berwick, P4v 164
Mr. R. conducted me to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I
went from thence to Shields on the 1842-12-2525th of December,
and reached there late in the evening; but my Heavenly
Father had been there before me, and prepared
the way. A comfortable home was provided, and
generous open hearts to receive the stranger at Mrs.
T—s. When I arrived at her house, I was not aware
that it had been arranged for me to lodge there. I
therefore sat waiting to go I knew not whither. Mrs.
T. bade me take off my out-doors apparel, at which
I inquired if I was to stay there? and she replied, “Yes,
this is your house as long as you stay in these parts;
and we shall receive our reward in heaven.” She then
related how her mind had been exercised, until she
came to the resolution to receive me under her roof.
The Lord grant to this dear lady an hundred-fold more
in this present time, and in the world to come, everlasting
life. My labours here commenced on the 1842-12-2525th,
in the new chapel. Mr. R. of Berwick, preached in
the morning and evening, and myself in the afternoon:
it was an auspicious commencement. On Monday, I
attended a tea-meeting, which proved a very interesting
time; and many excellent addresses were delivered by
the speakers. After this, I went and preached at Newcastle,
and returned again to South Shields. The sphere
of effort was enlarged before me, and in labours I became
more abundant. In heat and cold, through wet
and dry weather, by night and day, I laboured in that
part of God’s vineyard, preaching the gospel of Christ
incessantly, wherever opportunity was afforded me.
One of the seals to my ministry here, was a descendant
of Abraham, according to the flesh—a Jew outwardly, P5r 165
who, believing in the Lord with the heart unto righteousness,
became a Jew inwardly also.

The success of my ministry, in Shields, was very
gratifying; butbut here as in many other places, I endured
a considerable share of persecution from the opponents
of female preaching; some opposing my ministry of
mere caprice, and others from mistaken convictions.
Satan never fails to find a pretext by which to inspire
his agents with opposition against that ministry which
is of God. While in this neighbourhood, I was sent for
to visit a young man confined to his bed with mortal
disease: though favoured with Christian parents, it
appeared that when in health, he had indulged in sentiments
very inimical to revealed religion: subdued
however by a sickness which exhausted his spirits and
secluded him from the accustomed gaieties of life, he
became susceptible of more serious impressions and of
juster views. On my first visit to him, he was not only
very weak in body, but very dark as to his perceptions
of spiritual things. As I read the Scriptures, conversed
with and opened to him the way of salvation, he was
led to a discernment of the great atonement for sin in
the cross of Jesus, and cried to the Lord for mercy: the
Lord heard our united prayers, and spoke peace to his
soul. He took refuge in the propitiation set forth by
the Most High, became justified by faith, and believing,
found peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
His surviving days were employed in the praises of Him
who had called him out of darkness into His marvellous
light; and he rejoiced in hope of the glory of God: the
love of God was richly shed abroad in his heart by the
Holy Ghost; and after languishing a few weeks more in P5v 166
the flesh, he found the rest which he sought; departing
to be with Jesus, which is far better than a protracted
abode among the ills of mortality.

On the 1843-01-2828th of January, 1843, I preached again at
Newcastle, on the opening of a chapel that had been
long closed: but was now taken by the Ebenezer society
for the cause of the Lord: the meetings were well attended;
and I had the pleasure of knowing that some
persons were converted to God therein. I generally
found Newcastle a very barren and rocky soil to work
upon; for the wickedness of the people is very great;
and the cry of it, like the cry of Sodom, must ere long
reach unto heaven; but nevertheless God hath a chosen
remnant even there, whom He delights to bless; and I
might enumerate many names here dear to me, whom I
love for the truth’s sake which dwelleth in them.

On the 1843-09-088th of September, I went to Rainton Hall;
and preached on the following Lord’s day to a numerous
congregation in Middle Rainton; the place was filled
with the glory of the Lord, and the people with the
Holy Ghost; the next day we had a delightful tea
meeting. On the 1843-09-1212th, I visited Colliery-road; passed
the day at Mrs. L―s,, took breakfast at Mr. R―s,
and returned to preach at Rainton. Just before I went
into the meeting, I was called in to see a sick woman,
who related to me a remarkable vision which she had
seen. On the 1843-09-1414th; I preached at Pittenton to a very
large audience; and the meeting was attended with
much power and spiritual assurance; after the service
the friends presented me with a small sum of money for
which I was thankful to my Heavenly Father. On the
1843-09-1515th, I went to New Lampton, and was cordially received P6r 167
by MrMr. J. H―n: on the 1843-09-1515th, I preached to a
large assembly, and on the next Lord’s day I preached
again to a dense mass of people, and held a prayer
meeting after preaching. On retiring from that meeting,
I was filled with the love of God too full to conceal my
emotion, and I seemed to hear a concert of angelic
voices singing the hymns of God in the air over my head.

On the 1843-09-1919th, I went to Lumley, and preached in the
new connexion chapel to a large and listening audience.
It was a very solemn season; there being a very fatal
distemper raging in the town at the time, which had
prostrated many persons in death, and rendered their
surviving relatives and friends so many bereaved
mourners: the next day I returned to New Lampton,
greatly exhausted by much travelling and preaching.
On the 1843-09-2323rd, I went to Hettingly hole, and visited a
young woman then dying, whose death occurred a few
hours after. On the 1843-09-2424th, I preached in the Seceders
Chapel to an immense throng of people; the vapours
which arose from so compacted a concourse, as it condensed,
ran down the walls in streams of water; and I
caught a severe cold on this occasion. On the 1843-09-2727th, I
preached there again to another multitude: the day
following I spent the afternoon at Mr. W―s, whose
daughter, a widow, was dying: we bowed the knee in
prayer to God for her; and I received the assurance
that our petitions were granted: she spoke not, but
when I arose, she took my hand, and looked at me
with an affectionately languishing smile. On the 1843-09-3030th,
I went to Colliery row, being in very bad health. I
preached three sermons there, and likewise held a love
feast; and taking a last farewell of my dear friends, I P6v 168
returned on the 1843-10-044th of October to New Lampton, and
on the 1843-10-055th, preached at Newbottle, in the Wesleyan
chapel; the friends connected with which expressed
themselves greatly edified, invited me to preach there
again on the following Lord’s day, and gave me a ticket
for their tea meeting of Monday. One of the brethren
engaged early to inform me by note on what part of the
Lord’s-day I should occupy their pulpit; however, I
received no note from him, and therefore I went not.
On the Monday, having a ticket for their tea meeting;
I went with several of my friends; but could not obtain
admittance; for the interval from Saturday was too
great for their memories: they had all forgotten me;
nor was there one who was able to recognise the
preacher who had so delighted them the previous week,
they had probably received a philippic from some petty
Authority against female preachers, which had blotted
me out altogether from their thought and feeling. On
my return in the evening, I was attacked with a very
severe fit of illness, which confined me to my bed for
five months; but my Heavenly Father was graciously
pleased to make my consolations about throughout
this period of affliction; that dear lady Elizabeth
Gardiner, was unremitting in her kind attentions to
me, and with great benevolence administered to my
necessities. Mr. A. gave proof of the constancy of his
kindness, and sustained the burden of my sickness
without prospect or desire of remuneration; the kind
friends loved not in word only, but in deed and in
truth: my medical attendant also was very assidious
and kind.

I have felt much gratitude to the Lord for enkindling Q1r 169
so great a friendship for me in the bosoms of many
persons in England; many of my English acquaintance
possess a large share of my affections; and an imperishable
image in my memory; but I know by experience
the heart of a stranger; many and deep and raging
have been the billows of affliction which have rolled
over my soul since I crossed the Atlantic Ocean. My
reader may perceive that I have not been an idle spectator
in my Heavenly Master’s cause. During my sojourn
in England, I have preached considerably more
than a thousand sermons. I have expended all my
means in travels of no little extent and duration; devoted
my time, employed the energies of my spirit,
spent my strength and exhausted my constitution in the
cause of Jesus; and received of pecuniary supplies and
temporal remunerations in comparison with my time
and labours a mere pittance, altogether inadequate to
shield me from a thousand privations, hardships, target-
fires, vexatious anxieties and deep afflictions, to which
my previous life was an utter stranger.

After an absence of six months, on my recovery, I
returned to my kind friends in Shields, and the next
day went to fulfil an engagement I had entered into
when I was last there. As I proceeded to the place, I
did not expect to return again alive, my exhaustion and
debility was so extreme; but the Lord sustained me;
and my strength was equal to my day. I preached four
sermons in the space of three days, and returned more
convalescent than I went. In a few months’ time, I became
fully occupied again in the work of the Lord, and
continued my labours in Shields, Newcastle and Sunderland
until the month of 1844-07July, 1844, when I bade my kind
friends a final farewell, to see them no more until we Q Q1v 170
meet in the kingdom of God. My last address to the
dear friends in Shields was attended with a great sensation
among the people, and was a very affecting season.
On the 1844-07-3131st of July I left Shields, embarking at seven
o’clock that evening on board a steam vessel for London.
On my arrival in the port of London, I was met at
the water side by my very kind friends, Mr. and Mrs. B.T..
My soul truly rejoiced to meet my dear brethren and
sister in Christ of this metropolis once more in this vale
of tears; and the Lord soon made my way clear on this
my third visit to this great city. I have enjoyed much
of the divine life in my soul since I have been here; my
first residence was in Solomon’s terrace, Back Road,
St. George in the East; but I was obliged to leave
it on account of the intemperate habits of one of its
inmates. Drunkenness is an awful vice, and though
debasing to both sexes, seems yet more unbecoming
in a woman; it is a prolific parent of crime, being the
origin of a thousand other evils. The Most High has
strikingly reprobated this sin, by attaching to it the
capital punishment of banishment from the kingdom of
heaven. About the commencement of the present year,
18451845, I removed to the residence of Mr. T. Dudley, 19,
Charter-house-lane, where I enjoy a comfortable home.
I soon after visited Jewin-street chapel; and have cause
for thanksgivings to God for directing me to that place
of worship. My first visit to this chapel was on the
watch night of the evening of 1844-12-31December 31, 1844: I
also attended at another meeting, commonly known
among the Wesleyans as a covenant meeting, the object
of which is a renewed dedication of our entire selves to
the kingdom, service and glory of Christ. In a few
evenings afterwards I joined Mr. Self’s class; he is an Q2r 171
able and experienced leader; I much enjoy and highly
prize his judicious Christian counsel as a class leader;
and feel a great attachment to each member of the
class; I think the friends are growing in grace, in the
knowledge of the truth, and increasing with the increase
of the life of God. I esteem class meetings as a most
wise and benevolent provision for the spiritual necessities
of the saints; they appear somewhat to resemble
the ancient church meetings of the primitive Christians
which were instituted by the apostles; and might easily
be vested with yet closer approximation to them, and
increased powers of edification: such meetings greatly
tend to preserve the purity and transparency of the
renewed heart; there the weary soul is invigorated, the
doubting mind confirmed, the dismayed heart encouraged:
the tempted are instructed, the heedless are
admonished, and the lukewarm stimulated; the class-
meeting is the place where the saints compare notes;
and behold in each other’s experience their own lineaments
and image

Let me exhort my dear Christian friends of every
name and denomination, by no means to omit any possible
attendance on the means of grace, which are intended
for their growth in the divine life and image; that
they may not only hold fast where to they have attained,
but become filled with the life and power, and display
the perfection of the Christian religion; being the
children of the resurrection, the sons of God, and
receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Slumbering
virgins, the Bridegroom cometh! Rouse timely
to the midnight cry. I exhort all Christians, believing
that there is but one church of Jesus Christ Q2v 172
in this wilderness; and I trust she will soon come
forth as the morning, leaning on her beloved, fair as the
moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as a bannered
army. May all who are of the household of faith stand
fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free.
Dear brethren, the time is short, it is ominous, and it is
perilous: be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord. Be not carried about with every
wind of doctrine; at the same time, reject not, nor fight
against any statement of the Scriptures of truth, but with
all confidence, aptitude and simplicity, as little children,
receive and adopt ass their inspired instructions. Mark, I
beseech you, the signs of the times; they are awfully portentous:
Christ’s words are every where fulfilling, “Because
iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax
cold. Perilous times are verging upon us: He has asked
the question, when the Son of man cometh will He find
faith on the earth?” Alas, of outward profession there is
abundance; but of true faith, a melancholy dearth.
May we be prepared to answer this question for ourselves,
by keeping our faith in continual exercise.

I have now furnished my readers with an outline of
my religious experience, ministerial labours and travels,
together with some of the attendant results, both on the
continent of America and in England: these humble
memoirs will doubtless continue to be read long after
I shall have ceased from my earthly labours and existence.
I submit them, dear Christian reader, to thy
attentive consideration, and commend this little volume
and each of its readers to the blessing of the adorable
God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Finis

[Gap in transcription—library stampomitted]