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of mercies, hear my prayer, and pity me. I thank Thee for the comfortable rest of
last night. Be with me this day, direct and instruct and bless my endeavors, both
for Church and school. May the rising generation love and serve the Lord, and the
vacant congregations be supplied with the public ordinances. Restore health to
my wife and myself and friends here and everywhere. Spare us together and pity
my native land, remove the dark cloud of civil war, and grant Thy people peace.
Revive Thy own work, and may the whole Earth be filled with Thy knowledge
and resound of Thy praises. Spare Thy servants and Church, and may this
continent be preserved from discord, and enjoy Thy blessings in mutual harmony
and universal piety. Amen.
4. This morning I wrote to Dr. Livingston, to forward his answer respecting the
call of Mr. Bassett, and also to inform Mr. Louw that I had heard nothing certain
of the neighboring congregations, but just now I heard that they of Schodack and
Greenbush have already written him and made him an offer. I could wish all
things were done decently and regularly, and have so much dropped to N.V.R. 341
that probably the matter will go better. But my present bodily strength is little,
and a new malady of the hemorrhoids returning. Oh, may the Father of mercies
pity me, and restore as well as direct His unworthy servant, who desires to be
found so doing. May my family be remembered in mercy, and we obtain help and
assistance in every time of need. I wrote to Dr. Stiles, 342 and would fain continue
correspondence with that man. May his endeavors for the promoting of pious
literature be blessed, and my letters be acceptable to him and others. The Lord
bless also the students who are to be examined, and grant me life, health, and
strength to forward Zion’s prospects.
5. This morning a case happened which may probably be of some consequence,
and therefore I would commit the whole to writing as far as I remember. Last
Friday morning when busy with entering the names of the children, came at my
house one Mrs. ___, and after the parents were gone, she requested of me a
dismission, to join with the meeting, intimating that Mr. McDonald 343 would
rather receive her with a certificate. I asked for what reasons, since she was of a
Dutch extraction, answering that her husband was desiring her to do so. I replied
that in my opinion this was not a sufficient reason for me to dismiss her from
under our care, and intimated that she being a member of the Dutch Church and
having received benefit and edification there, which she was able to enjoy further,
it was neither her duty nor interest to leave that communion, but if she did
persevere in her purpose and leave us, she must do it at her own adventure and
time.
Yesterday afternoon her husband accosted me in the street, and I told him he
might tell me what he pleased to confer upon with me there, Mr. Hun 344 being
present. He repeated his wife’s request, and told me that the intention was to keep
341
Probably Nicholas Van Rensselaer, captain in the American army who was dispatched by General
Gates to carry the intelligence on the Battle of Saratoga to Albany, 17 October 1777.
342
The Reverend Ezra Stiles (1727-1795), Congregational clergyman; president of Yale College, 1778-
1795. Westerlo and Stiles never met, but corresponded (in Latin). Stiles came to Albany in 1786.
Westerlo was not home the day he visited, however
343
This woman’s husband was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Albany.
344
Thomas Hun, former deacon and elder.
139