and cannot be sin." This he called me to defend. This ended our former dispute.

Princeton College, was at that time kept in Newark, New-Jersey; and governed by President Burr, with whom I was a great favourite. I frequently attended their public examinations, and had encouragement from the President, that I might enter college if I chose, when found upon examination to be fit for it. I found my advantages great, not being confined to any particular class, but was at liberty to make all the progress I was able to, in any branch of study. I intended, when I did enter, to enter the senior class; but unfortunately I was taken sick, before I had made but very little progress in the classics. My sickness was probably owing to my too close application to study, and the want of exercise. The doctors and my friends, advised me to take a journey, and relax my mind from study.

Mr. Miller, of Scotch Plains, and Mr. Thomas, of Montgomery, were appointed by

the association to travel into Virginia, pursuant to two applications;-One from Opocken, where one Loveall, an Arminian preacher, had baptised a number of persons, and had established a church. But he being licentious in his life, was turned out of the church, and went off. When they discovered themselves destitute, and without fellowship, they applied for advice and assistance to the association; and promised that they would comply with any direction. Mr. Miller, had formerly visited these people in some of his journies; and God had blessed his labours, by the conversion of several souls.

The

other application was from a young church, constituted by Mr. Thomas, which had no ministerial assistance; and which wanted the ordinances administered. A Mr. Sutton, from Old-Town, and myself, accompanied the minister, as far as the Potomac, where the roads separated;-one to Opocken, the other to Blue-ridge, or Kotockton. Here the ministers concluded to separate for the present. Mr. Sutton, to go with Mr. Miller, and myself to go with Mr. Thomas. We

were to spend the next Lord's-day in separate towns, and the Wednesday following to meet at Opocken.

Mr. Miller, appointed a meeting in the evening. We put up at a tavern, where there was a noisy profane company. It being in the evening when we arrived, I called for the landlord, and asked if we could have a room apart from those people. He said we could; I asked him to shew us the room, and then gave orders respecting our horses. Through favour to us, he stopped into their room to still them, which so offended them, that they instantly burst into our room, and one of them demanded, with some imprecations, if we were New-lights. I told him we were civil travellers, and neither wished to disturb them, nor be disturbed ourselves. He held his fist over my head, and pointed to one of his comrades, and said, that man can beat any one in the room. I replied, that he looked much more like a man, than he acted; and that I dared to say, he and the rest of the gentlemen were ashamed of

I

his company and conduct. At this instant the landlord came in. I immediately desired him to turn that fellow out of the room, that we might converse with the others. He did so. I then began with the others. told them, that in that man, we had a striking instance of the depravity of human nature. That it could not be possible, as we came from the hands of God, designed for sociability and mutual good will, that we possessed a propensity to make one unhappy. They all sat decently and heard me out, and then got up, gave us their hands, and wished us a good journey. This brings to my mind an instance which happened some time before..

In going from school to visit my parents, who lived about forty miles distant, night overtook me. I missed my road, and was

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insensible of it; till stopping at the door of a tipling house to make some inquiry, the land. lord informed me of it. The door being open, I saw a number of men playing cards, One of them observing me, came instantly to the door, and offered to pilot me. Disliking

the motion, but much more the appearance of the man, I told him there was no occasion for it; I could find the way on being informed. He persisted, and said he would go with me as far as one Culls, who kept a public house on the road, that I ought to have gone by. This Cull I knew to be a magistrate. I rode off, and he soon overtook

We

I conceived the man had some bad design; and I knew I had some thick woods to pass through. I told him if he would pilot me to the tavern, I would treat him. soon got into the right road; and I knew we soon had to pass another house of evil fame.. When we arrived at it, he asked me to stop, for he must. I told him, no, I knew the way. He said he would soon overtake me. I rode some distance, stopt, and observed his mōtions. He called out a man from the house, and whispered to him. The man went in, and soon returned with a large coat, which he took, together with something which he put under the coat. Ithen pushed on, he overtook me, and began to converse. He ask ed me if I did not sometimes meet with diffi