First day, the 31st of 3d month, 1816. Having returned from my aforesaid journey last evening, sat with Friends in our own meeting to-day. I felt things to be very low in a religious sense, and my mind clothed with much poverty, which appeared to me in the openings of truth, to be occasioned by Friends suffering their minds to be too much overwhelmed with the surfeiting cares of this life, which I was led to open to them in a plain though tender manner. It had a reaching effect on the meeting, and contrited many hearts; may it fasten as a nail in a sure place, is the fervent desire of my mind. Fifth day. Since first day I have been somewhat circumstanced as Mordecai formerly at the king’s gate, waiting and watching in much poverty of spirit, against intervening temptations, while making some necessary arrangements respecting my temporal affairs; being desirous that they may all be so conducted, under the ordering and limitation of truth, as to accord with the will of my heavenly Father, and thereby bring glory to his excellent name. Sat our meeting to-day in silence. Sixth and seventh days. Nothing transpired requiring particular notice. First day. I was led in our meeting to-day, under a sense of the great want among mankind in general of a right concern to become acquainted with their Creator, to set forth the great loss and suffering which must necessarily result to them from this state of ignorance, and want of the true knowledge of God, and of his will concerning them.