Christ in the villages of Geneseo and Moscow. I felt great boldness in proclaiming free salvation, and in vindicating the doctrine, that "God is no respecter of persons," but will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. This doctrine pleased some, and offended others. One of my hearers, whose heart the Lord opened, requested entertainment for me at a public house, promising that he would pay the charge. But the landlord refused, declaring that a man who would preach such doctrine, should have no place in his house. I understood also, that a man followed me with a horsewhip, to chastise me for preaching heresy, but finally was persuaded to desist.

After leaving Moscow, I attended meetings in Perry, Leicester, Wales, Boston and Eden, which closed my line of appointments that had been long standing, and had employed my time for nearly two months.

On Friday, May 3, I left Boston, and at five o'clock, P. M. preached in Attica, forty miles distant; at nine the next morning, in Perry, twenty-two miles from Attica; and at twelve the same day in Moscow. In the latter place, twelve manifested a desire for the one thing needful. The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking to an assembly in the evening at Livonia, and the hearts of many appeared to be touched. After the close of the meeting, I rode eight miles the same evening, in a cold rain; and in consequence, found my health much impaired.

Sunday, May 5, I preached in the A. M. to a people in Bristol, that seemed to hear as for eternity; and in the P. M. to several hundred in the north part of the town. I felt to bless God for the assistance of his Holy Spirit, and the solemnity that reigned. At the hour of five, I preached standing on a stone, in the open street, to about three hundred people in Canandaigua village. Some-appeared to receive the word; others cared not for the things which belong to their eternal peace. At ten the next morning, standing on a stump where two ways met, I preached in Gorham to about forty, who seemed to hear for the judgment day; and at one o'clock, P. M., spoke again in the street, to about two hundred, near Federal hollow. In this meeting the Lord gave me great freedom, and directed the truth to the hearts of the hearers. five o'clock, P. M., I spoke to an assembly in Middlesex. The next day I rode twenty miles, and attended three meetings; and the day following preached twice. Thursday, after travelling twenty-four miles, and preaching in Penn Yan and Benton, I found myself quite ill, and unable to attend my evening appointment in Milo. The next day, being somewhat strengthened, I travelled twenty miles and held one meeting.

At

On Saturday and Sunday, the 11th and 12th of May, the Benton Quarterly Meeting was held in Junius. I was still very feeble, but being requested, I spoke to the people on the Sabbath, from Acts 17:30 " And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent."

I now found my illness to be occasioned by the measles; a disorder of which I had not before had the least suspicion. As I had been constantly meeting with people, a large number had taken the disorder, and I felt much tried on the account; but as I could not find that any, who took it of me, died in consequence of it, I was much relieved. After meeting closed, with difficulty, I walked two miles to my father's, was confined one week, and consequently unable to attend my appointments, which extended to the west one hundred miles. This was the first time I had disappointed congregations on account of illness. Large numbers collected in many places; and though unable to be with them in body, I was with them in spirit, and earnestly prayed that Jesus would be one in their midst.

Monday, May 20, having recovered from my illness, I set out for the Owego Quarterly Meeting, which was to be held in Candor, on the 25th and 26th of the month. I tarried two days by the way, in Dryden, and preached the word. At the Quarterly Meeting a good season was enjoyed, and on the Sabbath, several were baptized.

Monday, I left for the Holland Purchase, and in five days travelled one hundred and ninety miles, to Concord. In this town the Erie Quarterly Meeting commenced its session on Saturday, June 1, 1822. A grove was prepared with seats for the people, and about one hundred assembled. After some preaching and exhortation, I addressed the assembly about three quarters of an hour; but enjoying little liberty, I took my seat under considerable depression of spirit, and soon the exercises closed. In the evening, a preacher, who heard my discourse, observed that he did not think it was my duty to preach, and that he was satisfied my preaching had done no good. After replying that I felt I had not a praying audience, he said he did not think I had; that he did not pray for me, for he thought me out of the place of duty. Feeling conscious it had been my intention to walk in the path of humble obedience, a degree of peace comforted my heart.

Monday, I preached in Zoar and Concord. My soul was happy, the Lord blessed his word, and in one of these meetings, five awakened souls came forward for prayer. At five o'clock, P. M. the preacher above mentioned held a meeting in Boston. After the conclusion of his sermon, I gave an exhortation, and then accompanied him to Elder R. Carey's. On resuming the subject of for

mer conversation, he said to me, "Either you or I have not the spirit of Christ ;—It is pride that causes you to travel so extensively,-you wish to get a great name," &c.,-" curiosity brings the people out to hear you, and after preaching two or three times in a place, you cannot get so large a congregation as at first." To these remarks I made little reply; for being confident, that, in some things at least, he labored under a mistake, they affected me little.

But as I awoke next morning, a gloom veiled my mind. I arose and without taking any food, proceeded on foot, through a severe rain, to Eden, where I had an appointment. While travelling, the remarks of him whom I believed a father in Israel, and to whom I had looked for encouragement, rushed upon me. And reflecting that his labors had been greatly blessed to the conversion of soulsthat he was highly esteemed, and considered a spiritual preacher, sore temptations beset me. Thinking I might have been deceived respecting duty, and have engaged in a work to which God had not called me, my faith began to fail-unbelief increased—the powers of darkness bound my soul, and all my hope seemed blasted. My distress and trials were past expression, and unparalleled by any thing that I had hitherto experienced. I turned aside into a wood, prostrated myself on the wet ground, and poured forth my grief in sighs and tears. Perhaps I never came nearer sinking under trials, and vowing, like Jeremiah, no more to speak in the name of the Lord, than I did at this time. I lamented that I had any appointments, and concluded that after attending those I had already given out, I would make no more; and in case there was no change in my mind, would tell the people that I had been deceived and should preach no more. O how important, that fathers in Israel be exceedingly careful that they hurt not the oil and the wine. Young preachers, and those who are inexperienced, cannot, at the best, exercise the wisdom and skill of more experienced ministers. They may often err in judgment as to dutythey may often err in the selection of a subject, and in the explanation of Scripture, as possibly I might in this case, and probably may have done at some other times. Yet as these errors are almost inseparable from the improvement of young and weak gifts, how necessary it is that elder brethren deal tenderly with such; striving with gentleness to admonish and correct them, when they see them in error. A few words of discouragement from one of age and experience, may forever destroy the confidence and faith of the tender mind. Experience lamentably proves the hurt that is done tender minds by harsh treatment and severe reproofs from the fathers and mothers in Israel. Instead of its disposing them to trust more in the Lord, it generally discour

ages and disheartens them, and frequently causes their faith to fail. O may the Lord give his followers wisdom to become nursing fathers and nursing mothers in Israel, and gently lead the children along in the paths of duty. I arose and went to my appointment with a gloomy mind, and dreaded to meet the people. On entering the assembly, I remained in silence a few minutes, thinking to tell them I had been deceived with regard to my duty; but in an instant, former experience and former evidences of the duty God required of me, rose clearly to view; and with them, peace flowed into my soul. My doubts fled-and reflecting that "Great men are not always wise;" neither are good men always perfect, I was convinced my duty might be better known to myself than to any other erring mortal; and, though saying in my heart with the apostle, "Who is sufficient for these things?" I arose and commenced speaking. The word of the Lord was like fire shut up in my bones, and his power attended it to the hearts of the people. Sinners wept, saints rejoiced, and my soul was happy in God. awakened and bowed before the Lord, while we pleaded for mercy. I next preached with much freedom in Hamburg, Attica, and again in Eden.

Seven were

CHAPTER VIII.

My Journey to Ohio.

For some time I had felt that it was my duty to go to Ohio, and declare the glad tidings of salvation to the inhabitants of that new section of country. And having made such preparations for my journey as were practicable, I left my horse with a friend in Hamburg, went to Black Rock on Wednesday, June 12, and engaged a passage in a schooner to Portland, Ohio. In the morning we embarked, and sailing up Niagara, anchored opposite Buffalo till about four o'clock, P. M., when we weighed anchor, and before a gentle breeze sailed up the lake. The sun shone beautifully, and the waves rolled gently, as the land of my friends and acquaintance gradually receded. Placing myself at the stern, I fixed my eyes on Buffalo, till night rendered every object indistinct; and I said adieu to many precious brethren and agreeable acquaintances, who have often administered to my necessities and soothed my sorThen turning my thoughts to the land in which I should soon be a stranger, tears stole down my cheeks. But reflecting upon the care my Heavenly Father has over his children, I retir

rows.

ed to the cabin, and soon sunk into a gentle slumber for the first time on the water, and passed the night in a calm and sweet repose. In the morning we found we had made ninety miles; the sun again shone pleasantly, and the bosom of the lake was peaceful. At the south stretched the Pennsylvania shores; at the north appeared a vast expanse of water. While gazing on the sublime and beautiful prospect before me, my heart was filled with adoration. A calm succeeding, we advanced but little; and on Saturday were still in sight of Pennsylvania. Being requested, I preached on deck from John 3:14, 15. Although the crew seemed to listen attentively, the word appeared to have little place in their hearts. This day I ate the last of my provisions; the weather became unpleasant, and the lake that a little time before was almost unruffled, now became very tempestuous.

Monday, June 17, the wind and storm abated. Our voyage having been longer than we expected, and the wind being still contrary, the captain of the vessel, notwithstanding his engagement, now refused to take me to Portland; and after receiving my last money for the passage, he set me with four others on the peninsula west of Sandusky bay, and six miles opposite Portland. Here was a light-house, and besides the man who kept it, there were no inhabitants on this part of the peninsula. It was now after sunset, and during the last forty hours I had eaten but one meal, which was given me by the captain of the vessel. The man who kept the light-house, had but little provision with him, having been disappointed of an expected recruit in consequence of the unfavorable wind. So without tasting any food, I lay down on the floor and closed my eyes to sleep, hoping to forget my hunger. But recollections of the kind brethren in New York, who had often fed and lodged me with willing and joyful hearts, together with the painful contrast of my present situation, crowded into my mind, and drove slumber from my eyes. When the men who landed with me had fallen asleep, the keeper, remembering the poor boy that had come far from a father's house to preach the gospel, brought me a cracker and half a pint of milk. This was a delicious morsel, and I received it with thanksgiving. Next morning the sun rose with splendor, and I walked out to view the surrounding scenery. The waters of Erie lay on the east, west and north; south, the prospect was bounded by a wood; across the bay, Portland appeared in sight. But I knew no way to go thither, for there was no vessel on this part of the peninsula, and I could not go by land, as the distance was sixty miles, through a marshy wilderness. Going into the top of the light-house, I looked eastward, and, though my hunger was oppressive, and I could neither see my native land, nor any place where I had formerly travelled, yet I