First day. I attended our meeting to-day, not so much with an expectation of comfort, as from a sense of real duty, as my bodily indisposition and poverty of spirit still continued; nevertheless, my mind, soon after I took my seat, was opened into a view of the great hurt man has sustained by suffering himself to be led and governed by his external senses. It is through these avenues that he is principally exposed to temptation in this probationary state. And had he watchfully attended to the internal sense and voice of God to his soul, which his dependent state justly required of him, the tempter would have found no more place in him, than he did in the blessed Jesus. Hence the way of our return lies open before us, through the grace of God or Comforter, by which the internal sense of the soul is again arrested, and strict obedience to its dictates required; and if yielded to in uprightness and faithful submission, the external senses are thereby subjected and regulated, and every undue desire and passion subdued, and the creature returns a willing subject to the Creator, and primitive harmony is restored. I had largely to communicate on this subject, and to show to the auditory how wonderfully gracious and merciful the Lord is, who in longsuffering and loving kindness is dispensing to every state, according to its necessities, not suffering even a sparrow to fall without his heavenly notice. The rest of this week was spent in my ordinary vocations. My farming business was very pressing, and it being difficult to procure suitable assistance, my mind was over-burdened with care, which seldom fails of producing leanness of spirit in a lesser or greater degree. First day, the 29th of 8th month. Attended our meeting in silence. Oh! what a precious enjoyment to know both soul and body in humble silence, prostrated at the throne of grace. Second day. Had invitations to attend the funerals of two deceased women Friends on the day following. One of them had been lately, at her request, received into membership by our monthly meeting, but was never able to attend, she living in the town of Setauket, far distant from Friends. We had a meeting at her funeral agreeably to her request. It was a large solemn one. A number of the inhabitants of the town attended, and many, although generally strangers to us, were glad of the opportunity, and appeared well affected therewith. The rest of this week was spent about home in my usual avocations. First day, the 5th of 9th month. Attended the indulged meeting at Jerusalem, which, in the main, I think was a favoured season, although somewhat hurt in the forepart by an unsavoury appearance in the ministry. Second, third, and fourth days. Was occupied in attending to my farming business, which, for want of suitable, faithful labourers, is often attended with much care, and too much bodily labour for my time of life, but which cannot well be avoided without my business suffering.