WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. NEW-YORK; PUBLISHED BY ISAAC T. HOPPER. 1832. “Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by Valentine Hicks, and Robert Seaman, in the Office of the Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.” PUBLISHED FOR THE PROPRIETORS. NEW-YORK: STEREOTYPED BY REES & REDFIELD. No 216 William-street. Ludwig & Tolefree, Printers, Corner of Greenwich & Vesey sts. N. Y. Among the papers which were left by Elias Hicks, there were several manuscripts,

PREFACE. 3 CHAPTER I. Birth, 1748. Early visitations of Divine grace. Apprenticeship. Trials and temptations. Marriage, 1771. Renewed visitations of Divine love. Appearance in the Ministry. Situation of Friends during the war. Journey to Philadelphia, 1779. Visit to Friends on the Main, 1781. Illness, 1781. Visit on Long Island, 1782. Visit to the meetings on the Main, 1782. 7 CHAPTER II. Visit to Nine Partners, 1783. Visit on Long Island, 1784. Visit to New-York and Staten Island, 1790. Visit t

About the seventeenth year of my age, I was put an apprentice to learn the trade of a house carpenter and joiner, and this by no means placed me in a more favourable situation than before; for my master, although considered an orderly man, and one who frequently attended Friends’ meetings, was yet in an eager pursuit after temporal riches, and was of but little use to me in my religious improvement. We had to go from place to place, as our business called, to attend to our work, and I was thereb

After this we rode to my father’s at Rockaway, on the south side of the Island; and the next day attended a meeting there. The day following attended two meetings at Hempstead South, the latter at the house of our friend John Smith; all I trust, in a good degree, profitable and instructive seasons. Our next and last appointment, at this time, was in the town of Hempstead, the following day. It was a large satisfactory opportunity; wherein divine help was afforded to minister suitably to the stat

The next day we attended the preparative meeting of Ministers and Elders at the Creek, in which much weakness was apparent. The three following days we attended the quarterly meeting at Nine Partners; on the last of which, I was favoured to relieve my mind among them, in a season of close searching labour, by way of communication. After this we proceeded towards Easton, to attend the quarterly meeting there, and to visit the families of Ministers and Elders within the compass of that meeting, wh

The next day, feeling my mind drawn to some of the adjacent towns, we rode about ten miles, to a place called Perquanock, a thickly settled village in the west part of the township of West Windsor. We had a precious opportunity there that evening, in a large school-house. Although the notice was very short, it being late in the afternoon when we came there, yet, when we reached the meeting, which began at the sixth hour, the house was nearly full, and soon after taking our seats was crowded with

After the preparative meeting was over, which was held in an orderly manner, we returned that evening to the house of our friend John Dorland, in Adolphustown, he having kindly accompanied us since we left that place. On fourth day we attended the preparative meeting there. The meeting for worship was large, many of those who were not members came in, and manifested great willingness to hear the truths of the gospel declared; yet too many appeared careless and unconcerned, with regard to the pra

Third day. I was busied most of this day in my common vocations. Spent the evening principally in reading Paul. Found considerable satisfaction in his first epistle to the Corinthians; in which he shows the danger of some in setting too high a value on those who were instrumental in bringing them to the knowledge of the truth, without looking through and beyond the instrument, to the great first cause and Author of every blessing, to whom all the praise and honour are due. Fifth day, 1st of 4th

First day, the 19th of 12th month. While silently musing in our meeting towards the latter part, a subject opened which led to the necessity of communication, wherein that petition in the prayer our Lord taught his disciples, viz: “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven;” was opened to the audience; and the necessity of our individually witnessing it fulfilled in us, as the only medium through which we can obtain salvation, and a preparation for the kingdom of heaven. Thi

What a vast portion of the joys and comforts of life do the idle and slothful deprive themselves of, by running into cities and towns, to avoid labouring in the field; not considering that this is one of the principal sources, that the gracious Creator of the universe has appointed to his creature man, from whence he may derive great temporal happiness and delight. It also opens the largest and best field of exercise to the contemplative mind, by which it may be prepared to meet, when this morta

Seventh day. Attended to some necessary repairs about my farm and tenements. For as I am much from home attending to my religious engagements, when I feel a liberty to be at home, I find it needful to be industriously employed, to keep my temporal concerns in order; so that when I leave home on truth’s account, my mind may be at liberty, without thinking much about them. First day. Attended our own meeting, mostly in silence. The rest of this week was principally taken up in preparing for and at

I was under considerable bodily indisposition most of this week. On fifth day, so much so, as almost to give up the prospect of getting to meeting; but I put on my usual resolution and went, and was glad in so doing, as there I met with that peace of God that passeth all understanding, which is only known by being felt. I had to declare to my friends how good it is to trust in the Lord with all the heart, and lean not to our own understandings, lest they fail us. On sixth day I attended the fune

On sixth day we proceeded to Epping, where, by previous notice, we had a meeting in the evening, in which the Lord’s power and presence presided in a very eminent manner; and his truth raised into victory over all, and ran as oil, quieting and solemnizing every thing that stood in opposition to its pure holy influence. I scarcely ever was at a meeting, wherein all were so swallowed up in a profound solemnity, that when the meeting closed, it was sometime before any removed from their seats. Sure

The rest of this week passed away without any thing worthy of remark, except great poverty of spirit being almost continually my attendant. First day, the 7th of 7th month. My mind was opened and enlarged in communication in our meeting to-day, on the subject of the universal love of God to the children of men. For he not only extends his gracious call to all, but causes them to hear it; yet, agreeably to that scripture testimony, “all have not obeyed the gospel.” There are also many other plain

On fifth day of this week, was our monthly meeting, at which we had the company of a Friend in the ministry from one of our upper quarterly meetings. He preached the truth to us in a pretty correct manner; but I thought I never saw, with greater clearness than at this time, that ministers might preach the literal truth, and yet not preach the real gospel: and herein is witnessed the truth of that saying of the apostle, that “the letter ,” however true, “ killeth ;” “but the spirit ,” and the spi

Second day. I attended the funeral of a neighbour. It was a promiscuous gathering of different societies of professed Christians. I was largely led forth among them to declare of the things concerning the kingdom of God, and to open to the people in a clear and impressive manner, the way and means by which we may come to have an inheritance therein, and that nothing short of our coming into a passive state without a will of our own, as a little child, agreeably to the doctrine of our Lord, will

First day the 10th. We attended Friends’ meeting at Croton in the morning, and at Peekskill in the evening. Both were full meetings, in which the power of the gospel was felt to preside, furnishing with wisdom and strength to divide the word, to the several states present, in a way which seemed to give each his due portion, and none sent empty away, but those who refused to take their own part. Many hearts were broken and contrited, and the honest-hearted comforted; and the Lord’s name and power

After the meeting I made a short visit to a sick woman, who appeared to be drawing fast toward her close. She was comforted in the visit, and when I parted with her, appeared in a quiet resigned state of mind. Her bodily affliction, which had attended her for a considerable time, had, I believe, wrought a good work in her. After this opportunity we proceeded immediately on our journey, which we continued the four following days, through a number of towns and villages, where no Friends live. We a

In the early part of 1827, with the unity of my friends, I entered into the engagement of making a religious visit to the families of Friends within our own and Westbury monthly meeting, and I was favoured to go through this arduous service to the satisfaction and peace of my own mind. Having felt an exercise and travail of spirit in the course of last year, to make a religious visit in the love of the gospel, to Friends and others in some parts of our own yearly meeting, and in the compass of t

On fifth day, the 4th of 9th month, we had an appointed meeting at a place called Stillwater. It was a very large comfortable meeting, and I had a full opportunity in an effective testimony, to ease my exercised mind among them, to the comfort and apparent satisfaction of the people, both Friends and others. The next day we rode back to Mount Pleasant, and the day following being the seventh day of the week, and 6th of 9th month, the yearly meeting opened with a meeting of Ministers and Elders.

These scripture testimonies give a true and correct description of the gospel state, and no rational being can be a real Christian and true disciple of Christ, until he comes to know all these things verified in his own experience, as every man and woman has more or less of all those different animal propensities and passions in their nature; and they predominate and bear rule, and are the source and fountain from whence all wars, and every evil work proceed, and will continue as long as man rem