Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
months. However, I thought the time long in going to my supposed banquet. I also
wished much for the company of these friendly men; their company pleased me
much; and I thought the gentleman very kind in asking me, a stranger, to a feast;
but how singular did it appear to me, to have it in a chapel! When the wished for
hour came I went, and happily the old man was there, who kindly seated me, as he
belonged to the place. I was much astonished to see the place lled with people,
and no signs of eating and drinking. There were many ministers in the company.
At last they began by giving out hymns, and between the singing, the ministers
engaged in prayer: in short, I knew not what to make of this sight, having never
seen any thing of the kind in my life before now; Some of the guests began to
speak their experience, agreeable to what I read in the Scriptures: much was said
by every speaker of the providence of God, and his unspeakable mercies to each
of them. This I knew in a great measure, and could most heartily join them. But
when they spoke of a future state, they seemed to be altogether certain of their
calling and election of God; and that no one could ever separate them from the love
of Christ, or pluck them out of his hands. This lled me with utter consternation
intermingled with admiration. I was so amazed as not to know what to think of
the company; my heart was attracted, and my aections were enlarged; I wished
to be as happy as them, and was persuaded in my mind that they were dierent
from the world “that lieth in wickedness,’ I John v. 19. Their language and singing,
&c. did well harmonize; I was entirely overcome, and wished to live and die thus.
Lastly, some persons in the place produced some neat baskets full of buns, which
they distributed about; and each person communicated with his neighbour, and
sipped water out of dierent mugs, which they handed about to all who were
present. This kind of Christian fellowship I had never seen, nor ever thought of
seeing on earth; it fully reminded me of what I had read in the Holy Scriptures of
the primitive Christians, who loved each other and broke bread; in partaking of
it, even from house to house. This entertainment (which lasted about four hours)
ended in singing and prayer. It was the rst soul-feast I ever was present at. This
last twenty-four hours produced me things, spiritual and temporal, sleeping and
waking, judgment and mercy, that I could not but admire the goodness of God, in
directing the blind, blasphemous sinner in the path that he knew not, even among
the just; and instead of judgment he has shewed mercy, and will hear and answer
the prayers and supplications of every returning prodigal;
O! to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrain’d to be.
After this I was resolved to win heaven, if possible; and if I perished, I thought
it should be at the feet of Jesus, in praying to him for salvation. After having been
an eye-witness to some of the happiness which attended those who feared God, I
knew not how, with any propriety, to return to my lodgings, where the name of God
was continually profaned, at which I felt the greatest horror; I paused in my mind
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