[ 83 ]
ever friendly, and are so until this day, and it is no uncommon sight at present, on the first Sabbath afternoon of every month, for many of them to be found worshipping in this Church; but, however, all things considered, it must be allowed that the prospects of the church were discouraging, to say the least of it; but, my readers, there were strong men in the old church; there were Boanerges there, men of God, valiant men, men whose hearts were full of love to God, and full of zeal for His glory in the church, and considered no labor too great, no sacrifice too dear, and no discouragement so gloomy, as to deter them from laboring on, and laboring ever, to build up their Zion; there was that stanch old man, Quamany Clarkson, the early and tried colaborer with Mr. Gloucester, and no less so Peter McNeal, in spirit like unto Peter; there, also, was Jacob Craig, another faithful elder of the church; and of the trustees, Messrs. Robert Douglass, Ezekiel Harmon, Abr. Depee, Wm. Hollis, with many others, all strong men, full of faith and energy—with them labor was no task, duty no load; therefore, they harnessed themselves for the battle, and went forth depending upon the Lord from Heaven for final success. They well understood that Scripture, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not which shall prosper, either this or that;" they took courage from the promises of God, and worked on in hope. From the records in my possession there does not appear to have been many additions to the church by persons either through profession of faith or certificate, yet I find everything as peaceable and calm as under the peculiar circumstances of the case we could reasonably expect, if, during these three years, as
