I could walk the short distance, to the meeting house with you. "Well, I confess," added he, "that the Lord can make hard things easy. another preacher, the day before, I had proposed the question,-"Will you consent, that one of your daughters shall bear me company abroad, for the good of souls." Oh," ," returned he, "I dont know how I could: if she must go, I should wish to go myself, to take the charge of her."

The

Fare

But it was, the parting with those at home, I usually felt; and especially at this time. Apostle once could bear a stoning, or a beating, with joyfulness: "but," said he, to friends with whom he must part, "What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart?" I could not say, well," it was more than I could bear! neither Could I give the parting hand. But with a smie I said, "Good-bye, to all!" My mother, however, followed me to the door-took my hand, and said, Farewell: may God go with you: I may never see you more!" "O yes," said I, "let us never borrow trouble: in a little while, I shall be here again."

My dear sister Lydia, brought me on my way to Newburyport: where, oh, the sad thought, of leaving her behind! But I took the mail-stage, and could only cast a look after her, and soon was out of sight. I reached Salem, and spent the night at J. Needham's: when the words revolved much in mind,“ Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn." I enquired for the words, and found that the preeeeding sentence read thus: "No weapon formed against thee, shall prosper," &c. I remarked to

my friends: The words were spoken to the House of Israel; and I feel, especially, that I can claim them, as my own." From that time forward, in that peculiar promise of the Lord, I felt that I could place, unshaken confidence. "They that trust in the Lord, shall never be confounded!""

From Salem, I came to Boston, and was obliged to wait one day, for the stage In two days I was at Albany: from thence, in four days, by the canal, I was at Buffalo: six hundred miles from home. I was invited to preach on board of the canal-boat, by the way; which I tried once to do; besides praying once a day, with as many as chose to hear.

At Buffalo, I was very cordially received by the Methodist preacher, from whom I received the following note:

Miss Nancy Towle, on her arrival in Buffalo, N. Y. was made known to me by sundry respectable vouchers, as a worthy woman, and useful laborer in the Lord's Vineyard: on which she was very cordially invited to occupy our chapel whenever she pleased. Which she also did, speaking to crowded assemblies; both on Sabbath, and other evenings: in all, five or six timesmuch to our edification and comfort. Should Divine Providence open the way for subsequent visits from her, they would be received with great satisfaction, by not a few in this place.

WILBER HOAG,
Minister of the
M E. Church,
Stationed in Buffalo.

At B- -, I had the joy of meeting again, my dear Elizabeth Venner. She was still residing with her brother at Geneva; but had come, at my request, a hundred and sixty miles, or more, to meet me here. The privilege of seeing her again, I esteemed very great: after having been assailed, by so many storms, of grief and pain: and for a moment, I forgot all sorrow. But I dared, never more to look for earthly comfortsthese were transitory. All my expectation, was from the Lord of Hosts.

My health being still low, in comparison to what I had once enjoyed; I thought it might be beneficial, to travel down Lake Erie. A water voyage, though debilitating at first, has usually, with myself, a favorable termination: and serves to invigorate the system, more than any other means I am able to employ.

To the State of Ohio, I desired to go, however: from other considerations than this. A very singular people (both of origin and practice,) had attracted my attention: whose particular place of gathering, at this time, was there. I had heard much of the people: and in many places, the excitement I found considerably in their favor; but many were halting between two opinions, respecting them; and wishing to be informed. What I had learned, I imagined, if real, was of no small moment, either to myself or others. But if not, the things should be duly investigated, (even of such as were skillful to discern,) and exposed as a warning to those, who were liable to founder, upon the same quicksands. My first impression of them, was, that they were a deluded people;

and their writings, were a long time at my side, before I thought them worthy of my notice.Wherefore, on seeing some of my acquaintance, if an error, carried away of that error; I began to think it high time, to look into the things, and to know for myself, what that error was.

Accordingly I took the steam-boat in company with Elizabeth, and we travelled down the Lake, and landed at Painsville, (Ohio.) From thence we went directly to Kirtland, where we met with the people, referred to above; and were entertained of E. Marsh, from the city of Boston. Just as we reached the place, (which appeared providential,) all of their chief Elders arrived home: so that we had every opportunity of informing ourselves respecting them, which was desirable. Aš there are few, comparatively, who have had any knowledge of the Sect, so recently arisen, I will here take the liberty to subjoin some brief hints, in regard to, both them, and their persuasion.

A young man by the name of Smith, is the principal among them; who was trained, in the State of New York; and is now, about 28 years of age. He professes, about four years since, to have seen, and held communion with, an angel from God. That he was lying upon his bed, at a certain time, (having just been reclaimed from a back-slidden state) and the room, of a sudden, became light as day when a beautiful person, presented himself, who required that he, (Mr S.) should go to such a place; as he had something wonderful, he wished to reveal. He accordingly went; and was directed by the angel to a certain spot of ground, where was deposited a "Box"~~~

and in that box contained "Plates," which resembled gold; also, a pair of "interpreters," (as he called them,) that resembled spectacles; by looking into which, he could read a writing engraven upon the plates, though to himself, in a tongue unknown. These were delivered to him, as he asserts, to publish to the world. And when the things were committed to paper, "the box, &c. were to be sealed up, and deposited in the earth, from whence they were taken."

All these things, he moreover, professes to have done; (though with the assistance of others, being himself, an illiterate youth,) and that the box, according to commandment, is sealed up, and to be seen of him, no more. The Book, consequently, taken from the plates, is regarded as the "Word of Inspiration:" and which contains the names of a considerable number of witnesses; that had been since esteemed, men of both intelligence, and veracity.

That book, I have both seen, and read--which is very voluminous. It pretends, for itself, to shew-by whom, and at what period, it was concealed in the rock. 66 By Jews," according to its own testimony,) "of the ten tribes of Israel, in the 5th century, of the Christian Era.Who for liberty of conscience, left the Old World in a ship of their own construction; and sailed over the 'Great Waters,' they knew not whither, until they reached land:-and that, a number of centuries, anterior to the day of Christ.

It shews, furthermore, what darkness prevailed over all the country! how the earth shook,--and what strange phenomenon, was represented to