Mr. Carman's communion, where there was a large congregation, a great many applications to preach were soon pressed upon me. A young Baptist at Morristown gave me a call. This with many others so interrupted my studies, that I was compelled to give up a regular course of study, and turn my at tention entirely to divinity.

I soon after made Morristown a temporary home. The church, or rather the members of it, were but few, and much scattered through several Presbyterian congregations; viz. in Baskinridge, Mendham, Morristown, and Pasaic. I was kept constantly employed in my attendance, on Lord's days, at those places, alternately; and once a week in preaching, where I put up, with Mr. Jones. We also held meetings at private houses, in the respective towns beforementioned. also often visited Black-river, where there was a young and destitute church, which employed so much of my time, that my studies were much interrupted. On Lord's days, large assemblies of young people attended from the

I

different neighbourhoods aforesaid. They were open and familiar in their conversation: yet there were no very promising appearances of reformation.

In this state, I continued, till the next association; when an application was made from Opocken, for assistance: some difficulty subsisting between the church and their minister, which they could not settle. The church at Blue-ridge applied for a person to administer the ordinances. As no ordained minister could be found, that could go, I was urged to I accept the ordination, and undertake the journey. I pleaded my youth and inexperience; but the messengers from those churches expressed their wishes that I should be sent. I objected in vain, and was prevailed on to accept ordination, and to undertake the journey. I tarried there much longer than I meant to have done, when I set out; having an intention of being married on my return home. When I arrived at Opocken, the Lord opened the way, and the difficulty appeared amicably adjusted to mutual satisfac

tion, and the wound healed. I then went to Kotockton, and preached; and appointed a meeting, the next Lord's day, at Mr. John Cozzin's: the Lord's day following, I was appointed to administer the Lord's supper to them.

On the Saturday preceding, Mr. Thomas baptized the wife of one John Hail, who was a vain man, and brought up a Quaker.Hail was so much disgusted, that he deter mined to sell all he possessed, and quit her entirely. While settling his affairs, the thought struck him, what should be done with his children. He observed that his wife's economy in the house, was as good as before; her tenderness and attention to the family remained the same. He told her, if she would promise not to go there to meeting any more, he would try to live with her. She informed him that any thing she could do in conscience, she would; but could not make that promise. Mrs. Hail had taken into her family a young woman, who was on the point of being married. Hail was indu

ced to come to meeting, to get me to publish and marry them. I told him, I could publish them and give a certificate, if he would come on the Saturday I was to be there; and then I could determine, whether I could go to his house, to marry them. This brought him again; and to induce me to go, he plead the destitute state of his neighbourhood with regard to preaching; and wished me to preach on Monday. I about this time understood something of what I have before related, but he informed me more fully afterwards. I told him, if he would go home and warn the people, and come the next day and conduct me to his house, I would go and marry the couple, and would endeavour to preach. He came, and I accordingly went. I took this opportunity of conversing plainly with him upon the necessity of the new-birth. He became strongly convicted, which, I trust, ended in his soul's conversion.*

I then proceeded to comply with a pressing request from one Mr. Numan, which he left

* I returned the next Spring, and baptised him.

I

with some acquaintance of his at Opocken. This determined me to visit the Jersey settlement in North-Carolina; and by taking the road above the mountain, I should go near Mr. Numan's. On my way; I preached and meant to have arrived there on Saturday. I arrived at the first fork of Shenandoah. desired to stay at a house on the bank, as I was a stranger, and did not know where to ford. The master of the house told me, I could not stay, as there had been a great freshet, which almost ruined him. I, however, informed him of my ignorance of the place, and the situation I was in; and he finally consented to my stay, provided me with a pilot, and put me in the route to Numan's. This man sent and gathered the people together, and I preached to them. I continued preaching, with intermissions, for several days; and the congregations continued to increase. The people appeared to have a conviction, which, at least, produced a change in their lives.