though she hardly dared to think she had found any comfort that would be permanent. But from the time of the Conference, her faith, hope, and joy gradually increased, till she gained entire victory over her desponding state of mind.

On Sabbath, Nov. 22, she related her experience, and was received by the church at Canandaigua. After sermon, we retired to the shore of the lake, where she was baptized. For this opportunity, my joy was unspeakable, and I said in my heart, as did one on another occasion: "My soul doth magnify the Lord-For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. She was now a 'help' in the things of the kingdom; she accompanied me in my travels, and in every meeting usually spoke in exhortation or prayer. The furnace through which she had passed for seven months, appeared to have weaned her from the world, its pride, and its vanity; and she seemed to have no object or desire, except to devote herself to God and his cause. If at any time, I expressed sorrow for want of any convenience of life, she would remind me of the poverty our Saviour endured, and say, "Is it not enough that the servant be as his Lord?" or recite some other similar scripture, assuring me that she felt it a privilege, if the Lord called, to suffer for his sake. She dated her experience previous to her sinking in despair. This is one instance, among many that might be named, in which after souls have received the pardoning grace of God, they have, in consequence of yielding to doubts, waded through the waters of affliction; for months have sighed in the deepest anguish, and trembled for fear they should rest on a false hope, while they would not knowingly sin for a world. Too often they are censured, when they ought to be treated with tenderness and encouraged to persevere. They try to believe, and if there appears to be any hope, they tremble, and weep, and "It is not for me. say, I have observed that such persons rarely, if ever, are delivered suddenly. Their light and hope, generally increase gradually.

CHAPTER XXII.

Particulars of my travels and labours from November, 1829, to September, 1830.

MONDAY, NOV. 23, we attended a meeting in the west part of Middlesex, and found a good revival progressing among the Methodists. On a Sabbath previous, one of their preachers, as I was told, went down into the water with the converts, and baptized seventeen. We attended meetings in different neighbourhoods in the town. In one, at Flint creek, twenty arose for prayer. A reformation had just commenced under the labours of Elder Wire, and two had obtained a hope. I next preached in Italy, and the word was attended with the power of God. Here also five or six had lately found the Saviour; and I was informed, that in an adjacent neighbourhood all the young people had turned to the Lord."

After preaching in several other churches, I met the church in Canandaigua in monthly meeting, on Saturday, Dec. 4: five came forward for prayer. On the Sabbath, we enjoyed a refreshing time in devotion, communion, and washing the saints' feet. On Monday evening, I rejoiced to find the work of the Lord progressing in Conesus. Next day, I held two meetings in Sparta, where the Lord manifested his power. The reformation that commenced under the labours of Elder Fowler, immediately after he renounced Free Masonry, still continued; and the church that he gathered in the spring, had now increased to the number of forty. On Thursday, I spoke in Groveland, from Rev. 2:4. Saturday and Sabbath, Dec. 10, 11, we attended a two-days meeting at Bethany, in which saints were happy, and sinners were awakened. The Lord had lately poured out his Spirit in this place, and about thirty had found the Saviour.

The following week, we attended meetings in Batavia, Byron, Clarkson, and Greece; then returned to Canandaigua. The last of December, we visited a few churches of the Ontario quarterly meeting, and

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on "new year's day," 1830, attended a session of said meeting at Galen. The week ensuing, I preached in different towns, and attended the Benton quarterly meeting, at Flint creek in Middlesex. We understood that nearly sixty had been converted in this place since our last visit. A school teacher was one of the first. Several of his scholars, from the age of ten to fifteen, became serious; and some of them retired to a wood, at the time of intermission, to pray for mercy-forgot their school till near its close, when they returned happy in the Lord. Nineteen of the children had professed to be converted; and while I heard them tell what God had done for their souls, I rejoiced that the Saviour had said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." This was also a day of good tidings from other churches. During the meeting on the Sabbath, a woman of about three score years was converted, and for the first time shouted the praises of Emmanuel.

We returned to Canandaigua; I preached twice, and baptized a lad of the age of twelve years. Jan. 16 and 17, we attended the second session of the Allegany quarterly meeting, holden in Sparta. The revival in this town had spread into Springwater, Conhocton, and Dansville. Elder Fowler had lately baptized fourteen, and the number of the church had increased to fifty-five. During the meeting five souls were hopefully converted. This quarterly meeting was organized about three months before; and, at this time, consisted of four churches, containing one hundred and forty-four members, three elders, and two unordained preachers. The largest of these churches was in the town of Independence. It was gathered by Elder Nathaniel Perkins, a Free Communion Baptist. He, with the church, I understood, renounced their belief in the certainty of the perseverance of the saints,' and embraced the doctrine of the necessity of their perseverance.' They were now blessed with a revival.

Jan. 22, 23 and 24, we attended the Bethany quarterly meeting, holden in the south part of Penfield. The reports from the churches were interesting, and

some of the preachers came in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel. On the Sabbath, for want of room, meetings were held in two places. Elder Jenkins preached to one assembly in the forenoon, and to the other in the afternoon, with great power. Unusual solemnity rested on the people, and many were melted into tears.

On Monday and Tuesday, I held meetings in the north part, and in the centre of the town. Tuesday evening, I preached where the quarterly meeting was held, and rejoiced to find that the work of the Lord had begun. I was informed, that on Monday morn ing, a young man who was teaching a dancing school, and a professed Universalist, begged some of the preachers to pray for him. He requested a prayer meeting to be appointed in the evening on his account; and, though it was very stormy, a large house was crowded with people. Thirteen mourners kneeled for prayer, and one or two were brought to praise the Lord. On the evening of my meeting, thirty mourners came forward for prayer, and two were brought into liberty. Leaving Penfield, we returned to Can andaigua, and held a few meetings in different towns.

In the fore part of February, we journeyed to Zorra, Upper Canada; and on the way held several meetings, which were refreshing. But as the sleighing left us suddenly, after a very short stay with our relatives, we returned in haste; and, on the 20th of Feb

ruary, we arrived in Penfield. Since the quarterly meeting, many a proud sinner had been brought to bow at the feet of Jesus. The brethren had just returned from monthly meeting; in which they said ninety-six witnessed for the Lord, fifteen united with the church, and one soul was converted. The next day, I stood in a window of a large stone school-house, and spoke nearly two hours to about eight hundred people, half of whom stood without. After this I had the privilege of baptizing three: one was a little girl that experienced religion at the age of six. She had anxiously waited for this opportunity; and when raised out of the water, exclaimed, Glory to the Lord." In the evening we had a very happy meeting; many

converts spoke, sinners confessed, and a boy twelve years of age professed to find Jesus, and was so filled with joy, that he only cried, "Glory-I am happyglory, glory," &c.

and

After attending meetings in some other towns, we returned to Canandaigua. Sabbath evening, I preached in the asylum for the poor of Ontario county, enjoyed the presence of the Lord. We understood the expense of this establishment was about eight thousand dollars; and we were highly gratified on viewing the ample provisions for the comfort of the afflicted. At this time, the asylum contained nearly one hundred; the greater part of whom were brought to this place through intemperance. They enjoyed many religious privileges.

In the early part of March, we returned to Penfield, and found the reformation still spreading with great power. Seventy, as we were informed, had already obtained a hope. Meetings had been attended every evening, and nearly every day since the quarterly meeting. We attended an evening meeting with Elders Hannibal and Straight. Many powerful exhortations were given, and several came forward for prayer. The next day, I preached with unusual liberty; and in the evening attended a conference meeting. A man who had lived in sin, and in Universalism, arose, apparently in the agonies of despair, and said, "I need not ask Christians to pray for me→ there is no mercy that can reach my case. One of his daughters, who was a young convert, addressed him very affectionately, and earnestly entreated him to look to Jesus for help; then turning to the assembly in a flood of tears, she said to the wicked, "Behold the awful consequences of living in sin." About forty arose for prayer, and it was a time of great mourning. Almost every house in the vicinity had become a house of prayer, and the work was more glorious than any I had ever before witnessed. The dancing master and fiddler, with their pupils, were converted to God, and their ball-room was open for worship.

We were told, about this time, that a boy eight years of age, was in a barn praying for mercy. As