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CHAPTER VIII.

My journey to Ohio.

For sometime I had felt that it was my duty to go to Ohio, and declare the glad tidings of salvation to the inhabitants of that new country. And having made such preparations for my journey as were practicable, I left my horse with a friend in Hamburg, went to Black Rock on Wednesday, June 12, and engaged a passage in a schooner to Portland, Ohio. In the morning we embarked, and sailing up the Niagara, anchored opposite Buffalo till about four o'clock, P. M.; when we weighed anchor, and before a gentle breeze sailed up the lake. The sun shone beautifully, and the waves rolled gently, as the land of my friends and acquaintance gradually receded. Placing myself at the stern, I fixed my eyes on Buffalo, till night rendered every object indistinct; and I said adieu, to the country that gave me birth-where I have tasted heavenly joys, and seen the glory of God -where dwell many precious brethren and agreeable acquaintances, who have often administered to my necessities and soothed my sorrows. Then turning my thoughts to the land in which I should soon be a stranger, tears stole down my cheeks. But reflecting upon the care my heavenly Father has over his children, I retired to the cabin; and soon sunk into a gentle slumber for the first time on the water, and passed the night in a calm and sweet repose. When morning came, ninety miles lay between us and Buffalo; the sun again shone pleasantly, and the bosom of the lake was peaceful. At the south stretched the Pennsylvanian shores; at the north appeared a vast expanse of water. While gazing on the sublime and beautiful prospect before me, my heart was filled with adoration. A calm succeeding, we advanced but little; and on Saturday were still in sight of Pennsylvania. Being requested, I preached on deck, from John 3:14, 15. Although the crew seemed to listen attentively, the word appeared to have little place in

their hearts. This day I ate the last of my provisions; the weather became unpleasant, and the lake that a little time before was almost unruffled, now became tempestuous; and we were driven upon its rolling billows; sometimes from one side to the other, and sometimes backward.

Monday, June 17, the wind and storm abated. Our voyage having been longer than we expected, and the wind being still contrary, the captain of the vessel, notwithstanding his engagement, now refused to take me to Portland; and after receiving my last money for the passage, he set me with four others on the peninsula west of Sandusky bay, and six miles opposite Portland. Here was a light-house; and be sides the man who kept it, there were no inhabitants on this part of the peninsula. It was now after sunset, and during the last forty hours I had eaten but one meal, which was given me by the captain of the vessel. The man who kept the light-house, had but little provision with him, having been disappointed of an expected recruit in consequence of the unfavourable wind. So without tasting any food, I lay down on the floor, and closed my eyes to sleep, hoping to forget my hunger. But recollections of the kind brethren in New-York, who had often fed and lodged me with willing and joyful hearts, together with the painful contrast of my present situation, crowded into my mind, and drove slumber from my eyes. When the men who landed with me had fallen asleep, the keeper, remembering the poor boy that had come far from a father's house to preach the gospel, brought me a cracker and half a pint of milk. This was a delicious morsel, and I received it with thanksgiving. Next morning the sun rose with splendour, and I walked out to view the surrounding scenery. The waters of Erie lay on the east, west, and north; south, the prospect was bounded by a wood; across the bay, Portland appeared in sight. But I knew no way to go thither, for there was no vessel on this part of the peninsula, and I could not go by land, as the distance was sixty miles, through a marshy wilderness. Going into the top of the light-house, I looked

eastward, and, though my hunger was oppressive, and I could neither see my native land, nor any place where I had formerly travelled, yet I found Christ to be precious, and his love filled my soul. Two of the men who landed with me had each of them a rifle; and going this morning into a wood, they killed a fawn, which we cooked and ate without seasoning, or any other kind of food; and it seemed a delicious morsel as ever was tasted. After this, while walking in the wood for meditation, I came suddenly to a prairie; on which, the grass, that was two or three feet high, was gently waving over the extended plain. Here, nature displayed its lovely charms. I sat down under the shade-gazed on its beauties-and praised their Author.

The next day, being weary of waiting for a passage, one of the men and myself caulked an old skiff, that had been washed upon the shore, and set off for Portland. The skiff was so small, that our weight sunk it nearly to the top; and it leaked so fast, that it kept me busy in lading out the water with my shoe, which I used for want of something better. After rowing along the shore about two miles, we changed. our course directly across the bay for Portland. The wind was against us; and when about one mile from the shore, the waves ran three or four feet high, and frequently came over the top of the skiff. As we could not swim, we now began to view ourselves in danger; but having no wish to return, we faithfully endeavoured to make our way through wind and waves. Every moment our situation grew more perílous. The wind increased, so that we made but little progress; and we determined to return if possible. On turning the skiff about, we were in danger of falling into the troughs; but we succeeded so well, that not more than a pail full of water ran into our vessel; and we reached the shore at Sand Point, about two miles from the light-house. I was glad to get on the land again, though I suffered with hunger, in addition to being both wet and cold. Nature itself seemed to frown; the sky was lowering; the cold northwest wind rustled among the trees, and the water in

billows dashed the shore. Having eaten nothing but fresh venison, without salt or other provisions, my stomach became disordered, and brought on weakness and stupidity. I walked along the shore; and while my former condition, when I enjoyed plenty beneath the parental roof, or among kind brethren, was contrasted with my present situation, in which I had not even the privilege of entering the houses of strangers, I wept bitterly. Falling on my knees, I called on the name of the Lord. My soul was soon happy and joyful; and, though I knew no way to get off the peninsula, or after getting off, to succeed among strangers without money, I repented not my having come into this country.

Soon we met with a man, who had come to the peninsula in search of cattle, and was waiting the arrival of a vessel. I gladly warmed myself by the fire he had kindled; and he gave us some bread and pork; but my stomach was so out of order, I could eat but little. In the afternoon, we were gladdened by the sight of a vessel, coming from Portland; and on its arrival, we solicited a passage. As their business would not permit them to land us at Portland, they took us across the bay to Cedar Point. Taking our portmanteaus on our shoulders, we walked nine miles on the beach of the lake, before we came to any house; and being very thirsty, were glad to drink some poor water. After travelling three miles further into Milan, I found brethren, who received me affectionately. Blessed be the Lord for all his

goodness.

In this town, a Free-Will Baptist church had been gathered three years before, by Eld J. N. Hinckley; and from that time it had been visited by only two or three preachers of the Free-Will Baptist order; yet, they had continued their meetings, and in a good degree maintained a gospel walk. Thursday, June 20, I had the privilege of preaching to them.

After this, I attended meetings with some appearance of success in the towns of New-London, Clarksfield, and Danbury. In the latter, a backslider, at the age of seventy, was called to exchange worlds.

When viewing himself about to go into eternity, he remarked, that although he did not then enjoy religion, he knew he once had; and therefore, it was impossible that he should be lost; for he doubted not, that all who had once experienced pardoning grace, would be saved. So, quieting his mind thus in his last moments, to all human appearance, he left the world without concern. In compliance with a request, I preached the funeral sermon. Soon after the people had collected, two sons of the deceased entered the house. They came to visit their aged sire, ignorant of the sad tale. But disappointment and anguish filled their hearts, and their lamentations rendered the scene still more solemn and affecting. We followed him to the silent tomb, the house appointed for all living; then each went his way, and the mourners returned to their habitation, weeping.

Elder Collins of New-York, and myself, appointed a general meeting, to be holden in Milan on the 29th and 30th of June. Brethren attended from three small churches, in Milan, Greenfield and Clarksfield; which were the only Free-Will Baptist churches in this part of the country. On the first day, our number was about twenty; and truly, the form of the Son of God was in our midst, to the great joy of our hearts. A quarterly meeting was this day organized, called Huron Quarterly Meeting. On the Sabbath, about one hundred and fifty met in a barn. I spoke to them from Isa. 33:16, 17: " He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks," &c. Being requested to preach again in the afternoon, I spoke from Jeremiah 17:11: "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." Eld. Collins delivered a discourse from Heb. 4:9: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." We then ate the bread, and drank the cup in remembrance of our Lord's body that was broken, and his blood that was shed for us. Several animating exhortations followed; many tears were shed; the children of the King rejoiced; and many, we trust,

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