"But cease, my heart, no more complain, For Christ has said 'tis his command; Those who from pleasures here refrain, 'I'm with them till the world shall end.'
"Then shall I say to friends, Farewell! Whilst they may heap their golden toys, Christ's beauties to the world I'll tell, And seek for heaven's substantial joys.
"And when the sun and moon shall fall, And Nature's beauties each decay, Christ's merits I will then extol, When all my tears are wiped away.
"Transporting thought of joy sublime, This prompts my soul to spread His fame; Oh, come, my friends, unite in time, And love the glorious Saviour's name.
"At Alton I preached Sunday, the 12th inst., baptized one young man; on the 17th inst. (Feb.), I baptized two others in the same place. Our meeting, we thought, was glorious, and as we repaired to the bank and beheld the pleasant stream gently pursuing its native channels, the streams of life did sweetly flow to cheer our drooping souls. The 22d, on a pleasant moonlit evening, I baptized another young man, after making a few remarks on the ready submission to this ordinance, as illustrated in the instances of the eunuch and the jailer.
"March the 3d, 6th, 25th, and 27th, were seasons of baptism. I then returned to Alton, found the saints steadfast, again preached, and on April 4, baptized two others. I then returned to Gilmanton, baptized brother John Page,[18] Jr., on the 6th, and Joseph Cogswell on the 16th. The glory of God seemed to shine around us. Then returning to Alton, we again had happy seasons from the refreshing Fountain of Life. Two more were here baptized. Oh, what happy, what blissful seasons my soul has known in these earthly regions!--seasons that cannot be otherwise than had in everlasting remembrance by many. The trials, though great, are past; but the hope of meeting the loved ones in God's holy realms, fills my heart with lively joy."
About this time, letters from him appeared in the Herald of Gospel Liberty, the first religious newspaper published on the continent of America, and it is believed to have been the first in the world that was exclusively devoted to religious ends. It was published in Portsmouth, N. H., by Rev. E. Smith. It was ably edited, and was devoted to Religious Liberty, and to the independent discussion of Religious Truth.