at William Jeffers's. We rode to Job Johnson's, Jessemen county, the 12th. Jesse Griffith and I took the wilderness; on the 16th, we got safe to Martin Stublefield's, Grange county, Tennessee; the 17th, brother Griffith returned, and I continued my course by the Warm Springs, Bunkum, and the head branches of Selewdy, to Colremby in South Carolina. Mr. Reed, a Presbyterian minister, preached in the StateHouse at 12 o'clock, Dr. Mackey, President of the College, at half past 3 o'clock, and I at night; 16th of December, I continued my course to Charleston. The 1st of January, 1805, our Conference began : one was ordained to the Deacon's, and four to the Elder's office; the 5th we closed our Conference : we had good order, and great peace. The way I travelled from Baltimore to Charleston, was about twelve hundred and ten miles. January 8th, Bishop Asbury and I set out for the east, by the way of Lumberdon, Fayetteville, Wilmington, Newbern, and Washington; but in crossing Tar River, the boat filled with water, yet, thank God, we got safe to land; after delivering three discourses, Bishop Asbury preached at William's Town: we rode through Murphresburg, and Suffolk, to Portsmouth : after a short visit at Norfolk, we passed on to Petersburg, and so on to Edmund Taylor's, Granville county, North Carolina, where our Conference began on the 1st of March: we ordained four to the Deacon's, and five to the Elder's office; the 8th, our Conference closed in great peace. On the 9th, we travelled on for New London, Lynchburg, Woodville, Whinghton, Front Royal, and New Town, to Winchester in Virginia, where our Conference began the 1st of April, and closed the 5th. We ordained three to the Deacon's and two to the Elder's office. It was thought that six souls were converted in one evening. On the 6th we rode to Charlestown, by Harper's Ferry, and Frederick, to Baltimore. The way we travelled from Charlestown to Baltimore is twelve hundred and eighteen miles. We generally had great liberty in preaching; and were highly gratified in seeing and hearing of Zion's prosperity.--Thanks to the adorable Trinity for such days of grace and gospel liberty!--On the 17th we journeyed for the eastern shore, and visited several places in the States of Delaware and Maryland; and began our Conference at Chestertown, Kent County, Maryland, May 1st: we ordained three to the Deacon's, and two to the Elder's office. We had great searching of hearts, strict discipline, good order, much preaching to large congregations, and very comfortable times. On the 8th our Conference closed. Bishop Asbury and I took a north-east course, through Pennsylvania, the Jerseys, and the State of New York. On Friday, the 7th of June, our camp meeting began at a place called Stillwater about twenty tents were erected, and about five hundred people attended. In the night rain descended, but our meeting continued about thirty hours, notwithstanding the rain. Many continued in singing, prayer, and exhortation, with little intermission. On Saturday, there were about forty tents. On the Sabbath, it was thought that five or six thousand people attended, and about sixty preachers. Monday, about five o'clock in the evening, we closed our meeting. A considerable number were brought under the powerful operations of grace. Our Conference began on the 12th of June, at Ashgrove, Cambridge County, in the State of New-York. We ordained seven to the Deacon's, and nine to the Elder's office; on the 18th, our Conference closed in great peace, The way we travelled from Baltimore to Ashgrove, is six hun dred and seven miles. There Bishop Asbury and I parted he went to the New England Conference, and I returned to the West. I stopped a few days at brother Freeborn Garrettson's. Having sent my horse to New-York, I went down the river in a sloop with brother Garrettson. On the 16th of July, I arrived at Little York, three hundred and eighty-two miles from Ashgrove. Notwithstanding my infirm state of body, through the blessing of God, I have been able to travel three thousand four hundred and sixteen miles the last twelve months, stopping one fourth of the time at different places by the way. July 22d, I continued my course through Carlisle, Shippensburg, Bedford, Berlin, Canals Town, Union Town, Washington, West Liberty, and crossed the Ohio near Weeland; and have great reason to bless God, who has preserved me these many years as an itinerant preacher, during which time he hath delivered me from many afflictions of body and mind. Here the journal preserved by Mr. Whatcoat concludes. In presenting which, the Editor has conscientiously abstained from interpolations, or attempts at improvement, under the persuasion, that the reader would prefer the matter as originally written by their deceased friend. Among Mr. Whatcoat's papers was found the following substance of a sermon, which he preached (extemporaneously) in John-Street Church, New York. [45] ON THE LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR. Rom. xiii. 9.-" Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." After THE holy apostle having proved at large that Jew and Gentile had sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and that there was but one way for their recovery, which was through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, admonishes Christians, in the twelfth and following chapters, to several relative duties. One which he strongly enforces is, "to obey the Civil Powers, not only through fear, but for conscience' sake; for there is no power but of God; the powers that be, are ordained of God :" the power is of God; the abuse of it is of man. speaking of several branches of the Christian duty, he adds, "if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." But "who is my neighbour?" Perhaps there is a nearer relation subsisting among men than most people are aware of. Is not God the Father of the Spirits of all flesh ?” hath he not "made of one blood all nations dwelling on the face of the earth?" If we have one father; are of one blood, one family; are all His offspring, and the sheep of his pasture," then all men are neighbours. If any distinction is to be made, it is. in the case of him that acts the neighbourly part of showing mercy, (Luke x. 31.) are " But what is our duty to our neighbour? Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love is the essence of religion-the bond and perfection of every duty we owe to God, and our neighbour; therefore Paul "love is the fulfilling of the law." But this embraces the disposition and temper of the mind and heart,-the words of our lips and the actions of our lives. St. Peter admonishes us also to love one another, with a pure heart fervently, (1 Peter i. 22.) adds, "Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you," (Eph. iv. 32) St. John says," Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God," (John iv. 9.) God is love: and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him,” (iv. 16,); and our Lord adds," I say unto you, love your enemies, (Mat. v. 44.) What a heavenly temper is this! "Soft peace she brings, wherever she arrives ; 66 66 But, secondly, loving words, as St. Paul advises, speaking the truth in love, (Eph. iv. 15.) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth; but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (29.) Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Col. iv. 6.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, (Phil. iii. 20, 21); and the Apostle James adds, "who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation, his works with meekness of wisdom," (St. James iii. 13); and our Lord says, Let your com munication be yea, yea, nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." 66 |