sink ninety persons out of a hundred deeper and deeper in neverending misery!

Reports, injurious to my peace, were now very generally circulated; and although I expected all manner of evil would be said of me falsely, for his sake, whose servant I was, yet did the shafts of slander possess a deadly power, by which I was sorely wounded. Had the poisoned weapon been aimed by characters, wicked in the common acceptation of the word, it would have fallen harmless nay, the fire of their indignation would have acted as a purifier of my name; but reports, originating from those, who were deemed holy and reverend-alas! their bite was mortal. Again I sighed for retirement, again I hastened to the bosom of my patron, and again my reception was most cordial. Yet, although so much evil was said of me, many, glancing at the source, made candid deductions, and were careful to proportion their acts of kindness to the magnitude of my wrongs. Invitations met me upon the road, and, wafted upon the wings of fame, I could enter no town, or village, which my name had not reached in which I did not receive good and evil treatment. The clergy and their connexions were generally inveterate enemies; while those, who had will and power to act for themselves, and chanced to be favorably impressed, were very warm in their attachments. Thus iny friends were very cordial, and my enemies very malignant; and as my enemies were generally at a distance, and my friends at my elbow, but for officious. individuals, who brought me intelligence of all they heard, I might have gone on my way with abundant satisfaction. At Brunswick, which I had been earnestly solicited to visit, I was received into a most worthy family. The Rev. Mr. Dunham was of the Seventhday Baptist persuasion; a man of real integrity, who, although he could not see, as I saw, threw open the doo s of his meeting-house; conducted me into his pulpit, and discharged toward me, in every particular, the duty of a Christian. His neighbor, a clergyman, who was a First-day Baptist, exhibited a complete contrast to Mr. Dunham. He invited me, it is true, to his house, asked me to lodge there; we conversed together, prayed together, he appeared very kind, and much pleased, and I believed him my confirmed friend, until, leaving Brunswick, I called upon some, whose deportment to me was the reverse of what it had been. I demanded a reason; when they frankly informed me, that the Rev. Mr.had made such representations, as had destroyed all the pleasure they had been accustomed to derive from my presence. This affected me beyond expression, a stranger as I was; and suffering in the dread of what I had to expect, I turned from the door of those deceived persons, without uttering a word. I quitted their habitations forever; invidious remarks were made upon my silence; but of these I was careless; on other occasions I might have been affected, but treachery from a man, who had entertained me so hospitably, and who stood so high in the ranks of piety, shocked me beyond the power of utterance. Upon the afternoon of this day, on which

I had been so deeply hurt, I was engaged to deliver my peaceful message in the pulpit of Mr. Dunham, in the vicinity of this perfidious man. Some time had elapsed since I had seen him, and I then met him upon the road; he advanced toward me with an extended hand, and a countenance expressive of Christian affection; 'You are a great stranger, sir?' Yes, sir, I am a stranger, and sojourner, in every place, as all my fathers were before me. Well, how have you been since I saw you?' Thanks be to God, I have been preserved, and owned, and blessed, notwithstanding the slanders of the adversary, and his agents. He saw he was detected, and he deterinined immediately to drop the mask. 'Well, I will do all in my power to obstruct your progress, in every place.' Had you, sir, made this declaration at an earlier period, I should at least have believed you an honest man. But to pass yourself upon me as my friend, while you were aiming at me a vital stab! Oh sir, I am astonished at you. 'And I am more astonished at you. Do you not tremble, when you think that God must have a quarrel with you? and that all his ministers in America hate you?' Sir, I do not believe my Creator is a quarrelsome Being, neither do I credit the information, that all God's ministers hate me; a minister of God is incapable of hating any human being. 'But are you not confounded, when you consider, that you must be right, and we wrong; or you wrong, and all God's ministers right? Surely, it is more probable we should be all right, and you wrong, than you right, and we all wrong.' I have no apprehensions upon this head some one might have questioned in the days of Elijah, when he was opposed by eight hundred and fifty prophets: Do you not tremble to see all these holy, and reverend priests on one side, and you alone on the other? either they must be wrong, and you right, or you wrong, and they right.' So in Jerusalem, our divine Master night have been asked: 'Are you not appalled at beholding all the ministers of God, all the rulers of the people, in opposition? Either they must be wrong, and you right, or you wrong, and they right; and which, pray, is the most probable?' And the people might have been asked: Have any of our rulers believed on him? He is a devil, and mad, why hear ye him?' I am astonished at your daring blasphemy, in comparing yourself, either to Elijah or Christ.' Why, was not Elijah a man of like passions with us? and are we not taught to put on the Lord Jesus Christ? Who is it that asks, If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub? what ought the servants of his household to expect? Elijah is a member in the same body with me; but the Redeemer is still nearer; He is my head, the head of every man; He indulges me with the privilege of denying myself, my sinful self, and he allows me to acknowledge no other than his blessed self; that, thus standing in his name, I may stand in the presence of the Father, the Divinity, with exceeding joy; that, asking in the name of his immaculate humanity, I may be sure to receive, that my joy may be full. Nor can all that you, nor any one else can say, be able to shake me from this my

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strong hold. Ay, perhaps you may be mistaken-you may be deceived.' If I am deceived, I am deceived; but I will venture. You know this is not the privilege of all; and therefore it may not be yours. I do not know that this is not the privilege of all but if it be of any, it is of the believer; and, as I believe it must be mine. They shall, said my divine Master, say all manner of evil of you, falsely. You, sir, have been in Brunswick, fulfilling this scripture; and I rejoice that I have made the discovery. You can never deceive me again; but as I am not naturally suspicious, others may obtain a lease of my good opinion, from which they will never, but upon the strongest conviction, be ejected. I left this good man beyond measure enraged; and no doubt, believing he should really render God service, by doing me the most essential injury. I immediately repaired to the pulpit of my friend Dunham, where, preaching peace, I recovered my lost serenity; and it gladdened my heart to believe, that the inveterate enemy, with whom I had parted upon the road, was included in the redemption it was my business to proclaim.

But now again, my heart failed me-again I sickened at the prospect before me, and my whole soul, revolting from a continuance in public life, I once more fled to my beloved, my sequestered home. I sighed ardently for my emancipation. Of that God, who was, in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, I entertained not the smallest dread. But my coward spirit trembled before a combination of religious characters, headed by the clergy, and armed for my destruction. Their zeal was manifested by their industriously propagating a variety of evil reports. I would detail them, were they not so numerous. And, although all manner of evil had not yet been said of me, enough was said to implant a dread of some overwhelming termination. Thus my aversion to the path, into which I had been pressed, became more imposing. I was ready to say, Lord, send, by whom thou wilt send, and, in mercy vouchsafe to grant me my final exit from those surrounding scenes, which embosom the retirement of my friend.

Often have I wept, as I traversed the woods and groves of my patron, at the thought, that I could be indulged with the felicity of passing the remainder of my days amid those sylvan scenes; especially as it was the wish of the liberal master, that I should so do. I became apprehensive, that my trials, in this new world, would surpass those, which I encountered in the old. These agonizing anticipations prostrated me before the throne of the Almighty, imploring his protection; and from this high communication with my Father God, my griefs have been assuaged and my wounded spirit healed. Urged by a strong sense of duty, I again visited Upper Freehold, to which place I had been repeatedly summoned. My acquaintance there was large and respectable, but it was the residence of a high-priest, who treated me roughly. I was asked to breakfast, at the house of one of his congregation, without the most remote hint, that I was to meet this great man; but I was hardly seated, when he was observed making his approaches; and, from

some expressions of surprise, I was induced to believe he was totally unexpected. I was astonished to see so many assembled; but supposed, that curiosity to see the strange preacher of so strange a doctrine, had drawn them together. I was, however, afterwards assured, that the plan had been previously concerted. Mr. Tennant entered. We were introduced to each other. He drew a chair into the midst of the circle; and commanding into his countenance as much stern severity as he could collect, he commenced his studied operations. I want to know, sir, by what authority you presume to preach in this place?' Pray, sir, by what authority do you thus presume to question me? I am, sir, placed here, by Almighty God, to look after the affairs of his church, and people; and I have a right to insist on knowing who, and what you are? Well, sir, if you be placed here, as the vicegerent of Heaven, you should take care how you conduct; you have a great charge, and your responsibility is proportioned to its magnitude. But, sir, I am not assuming; I have no design upon your people; I am like a person in the time of harvest, who steps into the field, and binds up some sheaves, making no demand upon the proprietor of the grounds. I have never attempted to scatter your sheep; I have not even plucked a lock of their wool. I do not wish to govern, I only aim at being a help. I do not like you a bit the better for all this stuff. I insist on knowing whether you came in at the door?' I wish to know, sir, what door you mean? I mean the door of the church : all, who come not in at that door, are thieves and robbers.' But, sir, I would know, what church you mean? The pope declares, there is no true church, save the one of which he is the head. The Episcopal bishop affirms, there is no true church, but that of which the king is the head. Do you, sir, mean either of these? No, sir, I mean the true church. Did you come in at that door?' If, sir, you do not tell me, what you mean by the true church, how can I answer you respecting the door? Sir, I will have no evasions. Did you, or did you not, come in at the door?" Jesus Christ says: 'I am the door; by me, if any man enter, he shall be saved.' Do you mean this door, sir? No, sir, I mean the door of the church.' Is not Jesus Christ the door of the church, sir? No, sir.' Well, sir, although there be many preachers, who have not entered at this door, you will not, I trust, esteem a preacher the less, for having the privilege to go in and out at this door. 'Sir, I have nothing to do with this; I wish to know, whether you have church authority for preaching? that is, whether you came properly in at the door?' Sir, I have the saine authority for preaching, which the apostle Paul had; he received his mission by the will of God,-so have I. 'Ay, sir, give us the same miracles Paul wrought, and we will believe you.' If the power of working miracles were necessary to prove a right to preach the gospel, perhaps you, sir, would be also at a loss to prove your own right, either to preach, or thus to question a fellow creature. Sir, you are a deceitful, hypocritical man. If you had come properly in at the door, I should have received

you; but you are an impostor, I pronounce you an impostor.' That is more than you know, sir, ard, I add, more than I know myself; but, if we cannot agree about the church, and the door, blessed be God! we can agree in one fundamental point: While we were yet sinners, Christ Jesus died for us, and, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. The old gentleman started from his seat, and, running round the apartment, exclaimed, in a loud and thundering voice, to those who were without: 'Come in, and hear gibberish, gibberish, gibberish.' I was astonished, and when he had so far spent his rage, as to remain for one moment silent, I looked full in his face, and asked: Pray, sir, what language do you make use of? Is it possible, that you, a clergyman, highly distinguished, the head of the Presbytery, and now in the evening of life, should be so little acquainted with the scriptures, as to call the language of revelation, gibberish? 'You know nothing about revelation; there never was an individual of the human race, that ever had any interest in Christ, or in God, until they had repentance and faith. Pardon me, sir: you do not believe this yourself. I say, I do.' Excuse me, sir; you certainly do not. Give me leave to tell you, you have a great deal of impudence, thus to talk to me.' Nay, sir, I do not wish to offend; I wish you to reconsider your assertion; I am confident, you do not believe it; and I am confident, you will have the goodness to own it, before I quit this apartment. Let me tell you, young man, you have the greatest stock of assurance, I have ever met with in any young person. I tell you again, there never was an individual of the human race, who left this world without faith and repentance, who ever had any interest in Christ, or ever tasted happiness.' Not one? No, sir, not one.' Oh! sir, I am very sorry you compel me to make you retract this affirmation. Turning to the company, he required them to say, whether they did not think my insolence surpassed credibility? The company were silent, and, after a pause, I said: I know, sir, if you believe Calvinistic principles, you believe some infants may be eternally lost; but no Calvinist denies, that some infants are interested in Christ, and eternally blessed, although they passed out of time, without repentance or faith. 'Sir, I never thought of infants.' So I imagined; and it was therefore, sir, I took the liberty to say, you did not believe what you advanced. 'But I believe it with respect to all, besides infants.' No, sir, pardon me, you do not.

'I did

Again he was exceeding angry, until I mentioned idiots. not think of idiots.' I believe you did not; but, my good sir, would it not be as well, if you were always to think before you speak? • Again I say, I am astonished at your impudence; I could not have believed a young man like you conld have had so much impudence.' I dare say, sir, you are disappointed: you expected to have met a timid, poor, destitute stranger, who would have been confounded by noise, and such cogent arguments, as gibberish, gibberish, repeatedly vociferated; you expected I should not have dared