After this, we rode that afternoon to Oblong, and the next day attended the monthly meeting there. In the meeting for worship, the Lord’s power was eminently exalted, and truth was raised into dominion; the season was deeply instructive and edifying. The day after we had an appointed meeting in the town of Patterson, where no Friend resides. It was held in a school-house, and proved, through divine favour, an instructive baptizing season. From thence we proceeded to the Valley, and the following day had a precious strengthening opportunity with Friends and others, in Friends’ meeting-house there. We then rode to North Salem, and the next day being their meeting day in the middle of the week, we attended it: and notice being given that we were there, it was considerably enlarged by a number of the neighbouring inhabitants coming in. The forepart of the meeting was exercising: my mind, in silent waiting, was dipped into a deep sense of poverty and darkness, and as I sat patiently under the impression, I was led gradually into a view of the cause, which appeared to be too much creaturely activity and a froward will. As light began to arise and expel the darkness, there was brought to remembrance these expressions of Solomon: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil:” and also, “But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” These were opened in a way that led to communication, in which I had to show the very hurtful tendency of creaturely activity in matters of religion and religious worship, and the absolute necessity of a complete redemption from self, and all self motives, in the great work of our salvation. As I proceeded, the life rose, and truth prevailed and spread over the meeting in an eminent manner. After this favoured meeting, I found there was sufficient cause for my exercise; and I was glad that I was altogether ignorant of it from any outward information. The next day we had an appointed meeting at Amawalk. It was favoured with the Lord’s presence and power; and many hearts were contrited and made thankful, under a sense of his continued mercy.