Next day we had a very large evening meeting at Thom. as Pearsall's, and likewise a large, good meeting, the day after (being first day) at Matinicock, wherein the kingdom of Christ was exalted, and the deformed state of sin and iniquity represented, and the example and doctrine of Christ, closely recommended, in order to the overcoming sin, this being not only possible, but the duty of christians, through the power of Christ, and true faith in his holy name; and the danger of believing that it is imposssible to overcome sin was opened to them, and that such a belief is contrary to, and against Christ and his doctrine, and darkens and blinds the hearts of men; but the love of Christ enlightens the soul, and strengthens it to believe that all things are possible with God; for this great work cannot be done in the will, wit, and power of man, but through the power and grace of Christ, which he promised to true believers in him.

I was faint after this meeting, but, resting a little, I soon grew better, so that we had an evening meeting at James Cock's, where one came and told us, we must not eat any flesh, and produced Thomas Tryon's works for his proof; but I took the bible, and shewed him a proof to the contrary, and told him, we were resolv. ed to believe our book before his, and shewed him from the apostle, that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, nor divers washings, but righteousness, peace and joy, in the Holy Ghost. Rom. xiv. 17. Though at the same time, according to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles, I was for temperance in meats and drinks, as well as moderation in apparel. The next day we had a very large meeting at Oyster-bay, many being there who were not of our society, who steadily gave attention to what was declared: here being many their young people, they were persuaded to give up blooming years to do the will of God, and to remember him their Creator, in their youthful days. Friends said there had not been such a meeting there a great while, for which opportunity I was humbly thankful to the Lord. After meeting, we went to Samuel Underhill's, and had an evening meeting with his brother, who,

through sickness and lameness, could not get out for a long time. Next day, Samuel Bowne being with me, we went to visit a young woman that was weak in body, but lay in a comfortable frame of mind; she was thankful for our visit, and said the visits of her friends were comfortable to her. Next day, being the fourth day of the week, we had a meeting at the widow Taylor's, who desired it on account of her father, who was in the 88th year of his age, and so infirm, that he could not get to meetings; he was very clear in his understanding and memory, and was much refreshed with this meeting, as were divers of us also. Next day we had a meeting at Flushing, which was large and open, and the grace and power of Christ was with us in the ministration of the gospel. After this meeting, we had an evening meeting with our ancient friend Joseph Thorne, who by reason of his age and infirmity could not go abroad as far as to the meeting the house was crowded with his neighbours and friends, and we had a solid, good time together. While at Flushing, I went to visit a young woman who was a most dismal spectacle to behold, an object of great pity : her face, hand, and foot, being much eaten away by the king's evil; our prayers were, that now in her great misery, the Almighty would be pleased to support her soul by his grace and spirit, and sanctify her afflictions to her, that it might work for her a more exceeding weight of glory in that world which is to come. The next first day we had a large meeting at Flushing, wherein many weighty truths were opened to the satisfaction and edification of the auditory, and in the evening we had a meeting with the wife of Matthew Farrington, who was too weakly to go abroad; the neighbours came in, and we had a seasonable opportunity. The next third day was the youth's meeting at Flushing, in which we were concerned to exhort them to obedience to God and their parents, and to follow their parents as they follow Christ; for where any leave Christ, there we are to leave their example, though they were our fathers of mothers; and the right honouring of our parents was set forth, and they exhorted not to despise the day of small

things, and the happy state of the obedient, and the unhappy state of the disobedient, and many weighty truths were delivered to them, in that meeting, by several experienced friends. From Flushing I went to the weekday meeting at Newtown, and in the evening we had a meeting at the widow Way's; the neighbours coming in, we had a good time with them: the parable of the ten virgins was treated of, and the great disadvantage of wanting the divine oil of grace in our vessels was shewn to them.

The next day, being the fifth of the week, we had a very large, satisfactory meeting at the widow Alsop's, at the kills, and from thence with several friends went to New York, where we had three meetings to our edification, the weather still remaining very cold, but we felt the love of Christ to warm our hearts, and though I think I never felt it colder, I never had my health better. Sev. eral friends accompanied us to the boat at New-York, the water being open on that side, we took our leave of each other, and put out for the other shore; but before we got there, we were blocked up in the ice, and it was a considerable time before we could work our way through, but at last got well on Long-Island, where I waited some hours for company, who through some dif ficulty got on shore; after which we went to the Narrows through a storm of wind and snow, but the wind being high we could not get over that night, nor the next day, the ice having come down, and filled the bay: when the tide had drove away the ice, we put out, and got well over, and lodged at the ferry-house on Staten-Island. Next morning we went to the ferry at the Blazing-star, over against Woodbridge, but it was all fastened with ice, and we not daring to venture over it, went to the ferry at Amboy, and got comfortably over, stayed there that night, and next day went to Trenton, and lodged at captain Gould's, who treated me very kindly, I being much tired with travelling. Next morning I went over Delaware river on the ice, as we had also the day before the Rariton, and that day, being the 5th of twelfth month, I got safe home to my loving spouse and tender children,

where I found all well and a hearty reception, having travelled six hundred miles, and attended above sixty meetings.

After having been at home, at our own meeting at Frankfort, I went to the quarterly meeting at Philadelphia, where friends were glad to see me.

On the next fifth day I was at the marriage of Thomas Masters, and Hannah Dickinson, where were many sober people, not of our society.

Having been lately among friends at Long-Island, and been comforted in the many opportunities we had together, it came into my mind to visit them with an epistle at their quarterly meeting at Flushing, which was as fol loweth,

"Frankfort, 12th month, 1725.

"My dear and well-beloved Friends,

"BELIEVING it might be acceptable to you to hear that I was got well to my habitation in such a difficult time of the year as I set out from you in; and also feeling the sweet influence of the divine love of the heavenly Father, and his dear Son our Lord Jesus Christ, to arise and spring in my heart, and flowing towards you:

It came into my mind to write a few lines to the quar terly meeting of friends at Flushing, by way of epistle, well knowing also that many of us are as epistles writ in one another's hearts by the heavenly finger of the Most High; and those characters of divine love so written will not easily be erased. I could willingly have been at your quarterly meeting, but that I had been so long from my family, that I was much wanted therein, and my coming home was seasonable and acceptable, both to them and my friends; and I humbly thank the Lord, I found all well. Now that which is on my mind to your quarterly meeting, is after this manner, concerning the government of the church of Christ, of which church

he is the holy head and lawgiver; wherefore we are to seek and wait for counsel and wisdom from him, in all our monthly and quarterly meetings, for the well order. ing of our little society, which is growing and increasing in the earth, and also in your island, (notwithstand ing the invidious attempts of some men of corrupt minds) and it will grow and increase more and more, as we keep our places, our heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Dear friends, the good order of truth, and government of Christ in his church, is a great help to us and our children, when carried on in Christ's spirit; [pray observe or mind that] for if our order, and church government, be carried on in the spirit of man, (as he is mere man) though he is never so crafty, or cunning, it will do more hurt than good in the church of Christ. Christ's spirit must govern Christ's church; and when, and where that is over all, then, and there Christ's church and king. dom are exalted, of whose kingdom and peace there will be no end; and happy will all those be, whose end is in it. Moses, that man of God, governed in the Jewish church in the spirit of God, and when he found the work too heavy for him, the Lord put his spirit on seventy more, who were help-meets in the government; so that it was God's spirit that governed; and while that ruled, all was well; but when they went from that, they fell into error and disobedience; and, at length, the Messiah came, and he governed his own little flock himself; and when he ascended up on high, he promised his spirit should be with and in his church forever, and be their holy guide into all truth, in which he would also comfort them and Christ fulfilled this his promise: for when his disciples waited at Jerusalem to be endued with pow er from on high, according to the advice of their Lord, they were filled with the gift and grace of the holy spirit: and when the brethren and elders met together about the affairs and government of the church, they gave forth rules and orders from that general meeting to the particular ones; and the Holy Ghost presided amongst them, which they signified to the other meetings, saying, "It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to put you