Second day, the 12th of 2d month. We returned to Seabrook, to the house of our kind friend Joseph Phillbrick, and had an appointed meeting there that evening. The next day proceeded to Almsbury and Newbury, and had a meeting at each place, the latter in the evening. They were open favoured seasons, particularly the meeting at Almsbury, in which truth prevailed, and ran as oil over all. A ministering friend observed, after the meeting, that he believed the witness was raised in every mind present. It was indeed a precious strengthening opportunity to my own mind: may the honour and praise be all ascribed to Israel’s Shepherd, to whom it is altogether due. How deeply humbling are such continued mercies, dispensed to us poor unworthy creatures. Lay low, O my soul! for thou well knowest that it is the Lord’s power only, clothed in righteous judgment and never-failing mercy, that has raised thee from the dunghill, where thou hadst plunged thyself by thy own follies; yea, it is he who has plucked thy feet out of the mire and clay of sin, and set them on a rock, and strengthened thee in faith to believe, that as thou dwellest in deep humiliation before him, resting on his mercy, until self is fully mortified, and the old man with his deeds is utterly crucified, he will establish thy going, and put a new song into thy mouth, even eternal praises to thy God. Even so be it. Amen. We left Newbury on fourth day morning, and returned to Salem, and attended their meeting, the next day, as it came in course, at which there was a marriage accomplished between two worthy Friends, elders in society. It was a comfortable edifying season, in which I was led to set forth the deep and solemn obligations which mutually attach to the parties entering into the marriage covenant--obligations that can never be rightly and harmoniously fulfilled, so as to render the parties truly happy together, unless they are of one mind and one heart, in all matters of importance, but more especially in regard to their principles of religion and faith; for if these are diverse, it will most likely imbitter their enjoyments, and produce discord in their family, and tend to wound and distract the minds of their children, should they be favoured with any. It therefore bespeaks great presumption and folly in young people to risk the attempt, especially on such slender reasons as are commonly brought forward as a plea, that one of the parties may change their opinion, and come to unite with the other. This, however, is very fallacious, as such change is uncertain; and no man of reason will trust thereto in the most trivial matters, for each generally suppose themselves in the right, and look for the other to condescend and conform; and therefore the breach often becomes greater.