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that Jesus was hers and she His, and that Mr. Bassett’s preaching had been the
means of her conversion. 634 She also showed great affection and gratitude unto
me for the many good things she had been taught. I prayed, for and with her, for
restoring mercy, and yesterday evening I found her much better, and more
composed, when in the morning, being feverish, she expressed her expectation of
an immediate departure and going to Christ, and she comforted me and assured
me that I and my little flock would also come and be there. I felt myself much
affected and could not help reflecting “What a mercy and happiness, when sick
and almost flighty, that grace prevails,” and rejoices in the hope of glory. 635 May
her precious life be spared and also my dear wife be restored from her present
disease. I desire to wait on Thy mercy. O, God of our health and salvation, pity
and pardon, Father of mercies, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
26. Blessed be the Lord, this morning I hear Mrs. W=dll was more composed last
night and this morning. May her impaired senses and “sweet reason” (as she
herself expressed it yesterday) be graciously restored and this affliction be
sanctified to the family and others, and oh, may the Father of mercies keep and
preserve all His people from the Evil One, and in an evil day make them more
than conquerors through Jesus Christ. I desire to wait on the Lord, and pray for
wisdom, strength, and direction, in every case and circumstance. May my health
be renewed, and my family and people live in His service and to His glory! Fain
would I wait patiently on His mercy, and be found in the way of duty and
gratitude. I have promised to preach next week in the Boght and to dedicate the
new church there. Though I feel indisposed, yet I would look up for grace and
Divine assistance. Oh, may I live to perform my engagements also to the
congregation at Red Hook. 636 Father of mercies! Pity and pardon my
backslidings, and renew strength out of weakness to all Thy ministering servants
that are weak and sickly! Spare them for a blessing and comfort to Thy Churches
and their families, and prepare us and them for Thy beatific presence in glory.
Amen.
N.B. Dominee Hardenbergh, 637 Dominee J. Romeyn, 638 and Light. 639
28. These two last nights I was very much afflicted by pains in my bowels. May
infinite love and mercy remove the present disease, and restore poor me unto more
strength of body and mind, and oh, may my disordered soul be also sanctified and
634
Although Bassett’s tenure was controversial after Westerlo’s death, their mutual feelings seem to
have been positive. Upon Bassett’s installation in Bushwick, NY, in 1811, it was reported that “while
he especially recalled the revered memories of Westerlo and Johnson [= Rev. John Barent Johnson,
Westerlo’s successor – RN], the cheek of fervent piety was bedewed with tears” [Stiles 1869:357].
635
Romans 12:12.
636
Red Hook, NY, org. 1788, had Peter De Witt as a minister then, but Red Hook Landing, NY, or Old
Red Hook (Lower Red Hook), org. 1766, seems to have had no minister between P. De Witt (1788-89)
and Jeremiah Romeyn (1794-1806). John H. Livingston was minister here during the War, from 1781-
1783.
637
Dominee Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, then minister at Marbletown, NY, Rochester, Accord, NY,
Warwarsing, NY, and First, New Brunswick, NJ, and president of Queen’s College (now Rutgers
University). Died Nov. 2, 1790 [see entries of November 16 and 28, 1790.]
638
Dominee Jeremiah Romeyn, then minister at Linlithgo, NY.
639
Dominee Peter Leydt (1763-1796), Lic and Ord Synod of Dutch Ref Churches, 1788, and then
minister at Ponds, NJ. Did Westerlo refer to the “weak and sickly” in this N.B.? He did not mention
Dominee Brandt Schuyler Lupton, who might have died by then.
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