*While he was musing in this manner, he saw, he said, with his heart (which is a common phrase among them) something that was unspeakably good and lovely, and what he had never seen before; and “this stole away his heart whether he would or no.” He did not, he said, know what it was he saw. He did not say, “this is Jesus Christ;” but it was such glory and beauty as he never saw before. He did not now give away his heart _so_ as he had formerly attempted to do, but it _went away of itself_ after that glory he then discovered. He used to try to make a bargain with Christ, to give up his heart to him, that he might have eternal life _for it_. But now he thought nothing about himself, but his mind was wholly taken up with the unspeakable excellency of what he then beheld.
After some time he was wonderfully pleased with the way of salvation by Christ: so that it seemed unspeakably better to be saved altogether by the _mere free grace_ of God in Christ, than to have _any hand_ in saving himself.――――And the consequence is, that he appears to retain a relish of divine things, and to maintain a life of true religion.
Lord’s-day, January 26. After public worship, I was in a sweet and solemn frame of mind, thankful to God that he had made me in some measure faithful in addressing precious souls, but grieved that I had been no more fervent in my work; and tenderly affected towards all the world, longing that every sinner might be saved; and could not have entertained any bitterness towards the worst enemy living. In the evening, I rode to Elisabeth-Town: while riding I was almost constantly engaged in lifting up my heart to God, lest I should lose that sweet heavenly solemnity and composure of soul I enjoyed. Afterwards I was pleased, to think, that God _reigneth_; and thought, I could never be uneasy with any of his dispensations; but must be entirely satisfied, whatever trials he should cause me or his church to encounter. I never felt more divine serenity and composure of mind: I could freely have left the dearest earthly friend, for the society of “angels, and spirits of just men made perfect:” my affections soared aloft to the blessed Author of every dear enjoyment: I viewed the emptiness and unsatisfactory nature of the most desireable earthly objects, any further than God is seen in them: and longed for a life of spirituality and inward purity; without which, I saw, there could be no true pleasure.
January 28. The Indians in these parts having in times past run themselves in debt by their excessive drinking; and some having taken the advantage of them, and arrested sundry of them; whereby it was supposed their hunting lands might speedily be taken from them: I being sensible that they could not subsist together in these parts, if these lands should drop out of their hands, thought it my duly to use my utmost endeavours to prevent it. And having acquainted the gentlemen concerned in this _mission_ with the affair, they thought it proper to expend the money they had been collecting for the _religious_ interests of the Indians, (at least a part of it,) for the discharging of their debts, and securing of these lands.――And having received orders from them, I answered, in behalf of the Indians, _Eighty-two pounds five shillings_, New-Jersey currency.
January 31. This day the person I had engaged for a _school-master_ among the Indians, arrived among us, and was heartily welcomed by my people.――――Whereupon I distributed several dozen of _primers_ among the children and young people.
February 1, 1745‒6. My school-master entered upon his business among the Indians.――He has generally about thirty children and young persons in his school in the day-time, and about _fifteen_ married people in his evening-school. The number of the latter sort of persons being less than it would be, if they could be more constant at home.
In the evening I catechised in my usual method. Towards the close of my discourse, a surprising power seemed to attend the word. One man considerably in years, who had been a remarkable drunkard, a conjurer and murderer, that was awakened some months before, was now brought to great extremity, so that he trembled for hours together, and apprehended himself just dropping into hell, without any power to rescue or relieve himself.――Divers others appeared under great concern as well as he, and solicitous to obtain a saving change.
[Monday, February 10. He set out on a journey to the Forks of Delaware, to visit the Indians there. He performed the journey under great weakness, and sometimes was exercised with much pain. He arrived at his own house at the Forks, on Friday.]
I baptized three persons, two adults, and one child. There was a considerable melting in the assembly, while I was administering the ordinance.