Friday, June 13.――I came away rejoicing and blessing God for his grace manifested at this season. The same day I baptized _five_ persons, three adults and two children. One of these was the very _aged woman_ of whom I gave an account in my journal of December 26. She now gave me a very punctual, rational, and satisfactory account of the remarkable change she experienced some months after the beginning of her concern. And although she was become so childish through old age that I could do nothing in a way of questioning with her; yet, when I let her alone to go on with her own story, she could give a very distinct relation of the various exercises of soul she had experienced; so deep were the impressions left upon her mind by that influence she had been under! And I have great reason to hope, she is _born anew_ in her old age, being, upwards of _fourscore_.
Saturday, June 14. I rode to Kingston, to assist the Rev. Mr. Wales in the administration of the Lord’s-supper. In the afternoon I preached; but almost fainted in the pulpit: yet God strengthened me when I was just gone, and enabled me to speak his word with freedom, fervency, and application to the conscience. And praised be the Lord: “out of weakness I was made strong.” I enjoyed sweetness, in and after public worship; but was extremely tired. Oh, how many are the mercies of the Lord! “To them that have no might, he increaseth strength.”
Lord’s-day, June 15. I was dejected so that I could not hold up my head. Yet I administered the Lord’s-supper at Mr. Wales’s desire: and found myself in a good measure relieved of my pressing load, when I came to ask a blessing on the elements; here God gave me enlargement, and a tender affectionate sense of spiritual things: so that it was a season of comfort to me, and I trust more so to others. In the afternoon I preached to a vast multitude from Revelation xxii. 17. God helped me to offer a testimony for himself, and to leave sinners inexcusable. I was enabled to speak with such freedom, fluency, and clearness, as commanded the attention of the great. I was extremely tired in the evening but enjoyed composure and sweetness.
Monday, June 16. I preached again; and God helped me amazingly, so that this was a refreshing season to my soul and others. For ever blessed be God for help, when my body was so weak, and there was so large an assembly.
June 19. I visited my people with two of the reverend correspondents: I spent some time in conversation with them upon spiritual things; and took care of their worldly concerns.
This day makes up a complete year from the first time of my preaching to these Indians in New-Jersey.――――What amazing things has God wrought in this time for these poor people! What a surprising change appears in their tempers and behaviour! How are savage Pagans transformed into affectionate, and humble Christians! And their drunken and pagan howlings, turned into fervent prayers and praises to God! They “who were sometimes darkness, are now become light in the Lord.” May they walk as children of the light, and of the day. And now to him that is of power to establish them according to the gospel.――――To God only wise, be glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever! Amen.
Before I conclude, I would make a few _general remarks_ upon what to me appears worthy of notice.
And, _first_, I cannot but take notice that I have ever since my first coming among the Indians, been favoured with that assistance, which (to me) is _uncommon_, in preaching _Christ crucified_, and making him the _center_ and _mark_ to which all my discourses were directed.
*It was the principal scope of all my discourses for several months, (after having taught the people something of the being and perfections of God, his creation of man in a state of rectitude and happiness, and the obligations mankind were thence under to love and honour him,) to lead them into an acquaintance with their deplorable state by nature: their inability to deliver themselves from it: the utter insufficiency of any external reformation, or of any religious performances, to bring them into the favour of God. And thence to shew them their absolute need of Christ to save them from the misery of their fallen state.――To open his all-sufficiency and willingness to save the chief of sinners.――The _freeness_ and _riches_ of his grace, proposed “without money, and without price.”――And thereupon to press them _without delay_ to betake themselves to him, under a sense of their misery and undone estate, for relief and everlasting salvation.――――And to shew them the abundant encouragement the gospel proposes to, perishing, helpless sinners, so to do.