as may be deemed most convenient, and to spend about three hours at each meeting in the manner that may appear to him best calculated to promote our spiritual welfare and the divine glory. 3. We engage to endeavor to answer such questions as he may ask us at these meetings, however we may manifest our ignorance and imperfections. 4. We engage to exercise great candor and tenderness toward all who at these meetings may manifest ignorance, make mistakes, appear confused, or appear in any way to disadvantage. 5. We engage not to mention the performance of any of the subscribers in a manner calculated to wound their feelings, or injure their character. 6. We engage to assist each other, with regard to the object of these meetings, as far as we may find it convenient, and frequently to pray in secret, that these meetings may prove greatly instrumental of building up Zion. We hold ourselves bound by these engagements, as long as the pastor finds it consistent to attend the meetings, and our names stand upon the list of subscribers. We reserve to ourselves, the right of having our names taken off from the list of subscribers, whenever we feel it our duty to request the pastor to do it. Those of us, who reside more than two miles from the place of meeting, do not hold ourselves obligated to attend more than half of the meetings. We do not expect that any will attend these meetings but the pastor and subscribers; as the presence of others might tend to embarrass the performances, and thus diminish the advantages which we hope to derive from these meetings. If as many as ten should subscribe, the pastor will feel bound to appoint and hold the first meeting as soon as convenient. CHAPTER XII. FROM HIS DISMISSION TO HIS REMOVAL TO BYFIELD. 1816-1818. Sails for Wilmington-Arrival-Kind treatment-Spiritual enjoyment-Great love to his former people, etc. –Becomes a mason-Reasons for this-Preaches to the masons—Remarks on Milton, Dwight, etc.-His estimate of Scott's Commentary-Goes to Charleston— Kind reception- Astronomical Lectures—Lectures on the millennium and other efforts—Return-Removal to Byfield. AFTER his dismission, and a subsequent journey to Hanover, N. H. he sailed from Salem for Wilmington, N. C. in quest of a milder climate for the approaching winThe following extracts are from letters to his wife. ter. Schooner Superior, Lat. 37, Lon. 74, MY DEAREST COMPANION,-I left Dr. Worcester's be fore sunrise last Thursday, and went in a boat to the schooner, as she lay at anchor. About 12 o'clock we sailed. The attraction of Beverly, as we sailed along, soon drew me from the cabin. With what tender and solemn interest did that much loved village retire, and lessen, and melt away from my view. Mackerel Cove, the Farm, and Manchester meeting-house, seemed covered with a new charm. But still, I was far from regretting my undertaking. We soon found ourselves in the wide and roaring ocean. The wind was strong and fair; and we were swiftly driven through the opposing waves. I trust I found some satisfaction in committing myself to * * Distant parts of his parish where he often held meetings. the Creator and Ruler of the deep. The motion of the vessel, being considerably violent, had much more effect upon me, than I anticipated. The day, though poor for sailing, has in other respects been very fine. I have spent several hours on deck with much satisfaction. About sunset, I was greatly amused with a company of porpoises, perhaps fifty in number. We discovered them when they were thirty or forty rods from us. Almost every moment some of them might be seen, at or above the surface of the water, where they came up to breathe. They appeared as large as hogs and shoats. They came -very near the vessel. Mouth of Cape Fear River, Oct. 29. When I wrote the above, I indulged the hope that my sea-sickness was drawing to a close. In this, however, I have been disappointed. I have not been well a moment since passing Cape Cod. I have reason to be thankful, however, that I have not been very sick at any time, that I have been able to attend prayers with those on board almost every day, and have enjoyed much delightful meditation. I have received the most kind and constant attention from all my shipmates, especially from Capt. Knowlton. I am not without hope, that this little voyage may prove beneficial to my health. The motion of the vessel has given me abundance of exercise. I have been rocked, and waved, and heaved, and jolted, and rolled, and tumbled, and shaken, far beyond my anticipation. Though I have been able to eat very little, and have lost some flesh, yet I do not perceive that 1 have lost any strength. Wilmington, Oct. 29. In a By the good hand of our God upon us, we arrived safely in this port, about three o'clock this afternoon. few minutes after we arrived at the wharf. Mr. Tyler came on board, and seemed much rejoiced to see me. He introduced a Mr. Pitts of this place, a native of Chelmsford, Mass., brought up in Boston. He also appeared to give me a most hearty welcome. As I had made no arrangements for coming ashore, I thought of sleeping in the cabin. But Mr. Pitts politely invited me to his house, and I was persuaded to alter my purpose of lodging on board. I am now at his house, where I re ARRIVAL AT WILMINGTON. 227 ceive every attention I can wish-and more, for the mosquetoes come and sing round my ears, as though very glad to see me. Mrs. Pitts is a native of this place, and appears more like a native of New England than I expected to find. Oct. 30.-The morning is fair and bright; the mosquetoes are all retired; the trees are green around me, and roses are blooming in the garden before me. I feel much better this morning, than I had dared to anticipate. I feel as much at my ease, in this land of strangers, as you can well imagine. I am cheered with the hope that my voyage and residence here, will prove serviceable to my health. Capt. Knowlton has just called. When I proposed settling for my passage, he declined taking any thing, and said he was glad of the opportunity to give me the passage-and glad of my company. Nov. 2.-I feel more vigorous than for many weeks before, and dare to indulge the hope, that my limbs are a little stronger. I hope to be able to preach to-morrow. I believe many are strongly desirous to hear a New England Presbyterian. They have scarcely ever heard any preaching but from Episcopalians and Methodists. Wilmington, Nov. 4, 1816. 1 Yesterday, according to my previous hope, I was able to preach twice. Indeed, I was less fatigued at night, than I have usually been after preaching at home. suppose one reason was, that my seat in the pulpit is more commodious than I have ever had before. As it respects the exercise of preaching in this place, therefore, the weakness of my limbs is a small calamity. I preached with about the same comfort to myself that I have generally enjoyed. My audience was nearly as large as I have usually had in Beverly; most of them appeared attentive, and some very attentive. God grant it may not be in vain. Nov. 10. Sabbath eve.—I have preached twice to-day. As I was coming out of the meeting-house this afternoon, when most of the people were out, a poor old negro came up to me, and reaching me his hand, "Sir, I rejoice to hear you," "said he. You may be assured I took his hand most cordially, though nothing more was said, as the carriage was waiting for me at the door. I must inquire him out, however, and see him again. O, I long to have a little prayer meeting, where I can have at least two or three dear brethren and sisters, that I am acquainted with, to help me pray and praise. And such a meeting I do fondly hope to enjoy within a few days. Never before did I so highly estimate my former privileges. The hour of one o'clock is more precious to me here than ever it was in Connecticut. O what a gratification would it be to think, that my dear Beverly friends were praying at the same time. I do love them more than ever; and beg of them to walk in love. Nov. 17.-The day has been very warm; nay, hot, and what we should call at Beverly, a hot summer day. We have had frosts, however; and most of the leaves that were green, when I came, are dead. The roses, however, are still blooming in the open garden; and they are said to yield their blossoms every month in the year but February. But they are a peculiar kind of roses, that are more pleasant to the sight than to the smell. The frosts are considered a very great mercy, as putting an end to the sickly season. I have not seen a sick person in the place. Wilmington, Dec. 1, 1816. Tuesday evening I did not have the sweet little prayermeeting, which I had anticipated; but I had a congregation of nearly sixty persons to hear what I had to say to them. After the introductory devotional exercises and reading a chapter in the bible, I made a few remarks, and read Miss Woodbury's "Address to Christians." was heard with much attention and solemnity, and I hope with some profit. It I have now been here more than a month; and if I have ever found it good for me to draw near to God, it has been in this place. I have here enjoyed one of the happiest months of my life. O how good and how pleasant it is to feel my heart glowing with love to my wife, my children, my parents, my connexions, my friends, my enemies, and the whole human race. "My willing soul would stay in such a frame as this." |