Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/174

164 gave me, upon the succeeding morning, a letter to Mr. N. Brown, of Providence, for which place I departed. Mr. Brown received me with much civility, and distinguished me by many acts of kindness. The Rev. Mr. Snow's meeting-house was thrown open; the congregations in Providence were large, I acquired many respectable friends, and my visit was truly pleasing. I contemplated extending my tour as far as Boston, but the season being far advanced, I postponed my purpose, and hastened back to my pleasant home. Visiting my friends upon the road, I did not reach the dwelling of my patron, until the winter was at the door. This enduring friend began to fear he should eventually lose me; and in truth the pressing calls, made upon me, allowed me but little leisure to tarry with him. In the course of this winter, I made many visits; but my little stock of money was nearly exhausted. Had I consented to the mode of collecting, then in practice, such was the zeal of my hearers, that I might have amassed large sums; but I had no family, I did not want money, I believed I should be less obnoxious as a preacher, if I levied no taxes upon the people; and I was ambitious of being able to ask, Whose ox, or whose ass have I taken? Still, as I proceeded, the rancour of the clergy pursued me; this pained me to the soul, and I have passed many agonized hours, originating from this inveterate source. I, however, veiled those scenes of sorrow from the eye of the many; in fact, when engaged in conversation, I so unreservedly enjoyed my friends, that I ceased, for the time being, to reflect upon my enemies or their enmity. I never left home, without increasing both the number of my friends and my enemies; and they were, individually and collectively, very much in earnest, while every attempt to oppose the progress of truth became, in the hand of God, subservient to the purpose of opening the eyes of the people.

I think it was in the January of 1773, that a most importunate solicitation drew me to Philadelphia; and, having frequently visited that city, I had many opportunities with strangers, collected there. Many bore with them to their respective homes, such an account of my doctrine and my manner, as excited much curiosity. I was repeatedly and earnestly urged to proceed to Maryland; an eminent physician, by repeated letters, reiterated his solicitations. A sense of duty imperiously insisted, upon my accepting every invitation of the kind, to the extent of my power, and I consequently determined upon an immediate commencement of my journey to Maryland; accordingly my horse was produced at the door, when it occurred to me, that I had no money. Well, and what then? said I. "You will not think of a journey in such