THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2013 
 
 http://archive.org/details/lifeofelderbenjaOObuzz_0 
 
THE • W'^^M 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O-F 
 
 ELDER BENJAMIN RANDAL 
 
 TRIXCIPALLY TAKEX FROM 
 
 DOCUMENTS WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 
 
 BY JOHN 1 C 
 
 4< Being dead, yet speaketh." Hcb. xi. 4. 
 
I 
 
 DISTRICT OF MAINE, ss. 
 Be it Remembered, That on this nineteenth day of 
 June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred 
 and twenty-seven, and the fifty-first year of the Independence 
 of the United States of America* Mr. John Buzzell of the 
 District of Maine, has deposited in this Office, the title of a 
 Book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the words 
 following, viz : 
 
 " The Life of Elder Benjamin Randal. Principally taken 
 " from Documents written by himself. By John Buzzell, M. G. 
 " 4 Being dead, yet speaketh.' Heb. xi. 4. Limerick : pub- 
 " lished by Hobbs, Woodman & Co. 1827." 
 
 In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United 
 States, entitled, '* An Act for the encouragement of learning, 
 by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the 
 authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times there- 
 in mentioned ;" and also, to an act, entitled," An Act sup- 
 plementary to an act, entitled, an act for the encouragement 
 of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, 
 to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times 
 therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the 
 arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other 
 prints." 
 
 J. MUSSEY, Cterk of the District Court of Maine. 
 A true copy as of record — Attest, 
 J. MUSSEY, Clerk B, C. Maine. 
 
To the header. ...In compliance with the solicitations of 
 many of my brethren in the ministry, the frequent and repeated 
 importunities of the peculiar friends of Eld. Randal, as well as 
 with a view of paying, in a small measure, the debt of love 
 which I owe to the memory of the man, who, in the hand of 
 God, was made instrumental of the salvation of my soul ; I 
 have, though with much diffidence in my own abilities, at- 
 tempted the following work. 
 
 My principal view in publishing it is, that the following 
 memoir may be preserved in the church, and prove an ever- 
 lasting blessing to the Connexion. That all the ministers and 
 members belonging to it may be favored with a concise and 
 correct account of its founder, and have on hand a few im- 
 portant sketches of his very useful and profitable life, and be 
 excited thereby to imitate him in grace, in love to God and 
 man, in zeal for the promotion of pure religion in the world, 
 and in labors for the spreading of the gospel of Christ, and 
 building up of Immanuel's Kingdom among men. Finally, 
 that thousands vet unborn, into whose hands this work may 
 fall, may read, and by his example be influenced to embrace a 
 free salvatiox, and receive Christ as their only Savior, 
 and take his word as their only rule of faith and practice. 
 
 I have, therefore, taken the utmost pains to select and set 
 in order those things, which, in the course of his public life, 
 appear to me to be the most interesting to posterity ; while r 
 have passed over a multitude of occurrences, which concerned 
 his temporal business and domestic affairs, lest I should swell 
 the volume to too great a size. 
 
 In penning the following pages, I have had special recourse 
 to documents written by Eld. Randal himself, and have made 
 copious extracts from his writings, with as little alteration as 
 possible, so as to render the sense plain, and the phraseology 
 consistent. 
 
 It will, doubtless, be recollected by many, who were ac- 
 quainted with the circumstance, that at the time of the Eider's 
 funeral seven years of his Journal,, about the middle of his 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 public life, by some means or other, were not to be found, ana 
 has never since come to hand ; but as God in his providence 
 overruled it, it so happened that I commenced travelling with 
 him about the beginning of the time where the Journal was 
 lost, and continued to travel with him on about all his lengthy 
 journies, during the seven years above mentioned ; and was an 
 eye witness of the principal events which took place in the 
 course of that time ; and from my own knowledge, and by 
 special reference to the quarterly and yearly meeting records, 
 kept by him, I have been enabled to fill up the vacuum, in a 
 concise manner, and unite the whole together. 
 
 I have, in a few instances, inserted some interesting events, 
 which I received from his own mouth, and the mouths of oth- 
 ers, who were witnesses of the scenes. In these cases, the 
 circumstances are related according to my best recollection. 
 
 I have written the whole in a state of bodily affiiction, and 
 have endeavored to perform it with a single eye to the glory 
 of God, and with a desire for the promotion of his cause in 
 the world. Should any error be discovered in the work, the 
 reader may be sure that it was inadvertent and not designed. 
 
 As the work is designed for general benefit, I have made 
 use of a plain and easy style, and of words easy to b« under- 
 stood. Should any critic complain of it on that account, 
 if a professor of Christianity, I would thank him to compare it 
 with the style of Moses and the Prophets, Christ and the Apos- 
 tles, who always uttered by the tongue words easy to be under- 
 stood, and used great plainness of speech. 
 
 With the above remarks, and my most fervent prayers that 
 it may prove a general blessing to mankind, I dedicate it to 
 the- candid and careful perusal of all those who are, or wish 
 to be the faithful ministers of Christ ; and all who are, or wish 
 to be his humble and genuine followers. If God shall please 
 to smile on my weak endeavors to promote his cause, and 
 shali bless the work to the quickening of any of his ministers, 
 or the comforting of any of his people, or the conversion of one 
 soul, his name shall have the praise for ever. 
 Parsonsjield, Me JOHN BUZZELL 
 
- 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 It jRT?5 parentage, birth, education, and 
 occcupation. 2. His experience of 
 grace. 
 
 Benjamin Randal, the subject of 
 this memoir, was the eldest son of Capt. 
 Benjamin Randal, and was born in New- 
 castle in the county of Rockingham, state 
 of New-Hampshire, February 7, 1749. 
 In early life he was seriously disposed, 
 even from a child ; and seemed to possess 
 a great degree of the fear of the Lord, 
 and a deep sense of his dependence on the 
 Divine Being for support and protection. 
 He states in his Journal, that at the age 
 of five years, he seldom closed his eyes to 
 sleep, without praying to God in such 
 language as would best express the feel- 
 ings of his heart $ and that in those exer- 
 cises he was frequently so affected, that 
 
 mi 
 
6 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 he could not refrain from weeping. He 
 also says, that from that time forward he 
 ► •practiced secret prayer, and was always- 
 led to pray upon his knees, or prostrate 
 on his face, although he had never seen 
 any person pray in that attitude, nor heard 
 that it was ever enjoined as a duty. He 
 attributes those exercises to an operation 
 of the Divine Spirit on his mind ; and con- 
 cludes, although his ideas of the Divine 
 Being were at that time altogether local 
 and quite circumscribed, being a child, 
 yet he supposes that the Divine Spirit op- 
 erated on him as it did on Samuel, an- 
 ciently, when he was a child. The prob- 
 ability is, if his situation had been similar 
 to that of Samuel, and had he been fa- 
 vored^ with similar religious instruction,, 
 he might have become acquainted with 
 the Lord as early as Samuel did 5 for he 
 not only continued those devotional exer- 
 cises, but also discovered an early taste 
 for religious instruction. He paid great 
 attention to reading, and took much de- 
 light in attending religious meetings. 
 
 His advantages for education were not 
 great, but by the assistance of his parents, 
 
BE>"JAMI>" RANDAL. 
 
 his own industry and close application to 
 study, he acquired what was then consid- 
 ered a decent mercantile education. He 
 followed the sea with* his father from the 
 age of nine, till he was nearly eighteen ; 
 but as he never could bear to hear pro- 
 fane language, a seafaring life was very 
 disagreeable to him. Therefore,, at his 
 request, his father put him as an apprentice 
 to a gentleman in Portsmouth, N. H. by 
 the name of Tripe, to learn the art of sail- 
 making, where he continued till he was 
 twenty-one. 
 
 Through all those vicissitudes, he vig- 
 orously maintained his forms of religion, 
 by keeping up his regular duty of prayer 
 and fasting 5 excepting at certain inter- 
 vals, when, for diversion, he suffered him- 
 self to join with those who were then con- 
 sidered, in his neighborhood, the best sort 
 of christians, in what they called civil 
 recreation 5 such as dancing, revelling, 
 &,c. Those things, he said, he consider- 
 ed no harm, as long as he kept up his form 
 of religion 5 for, he said, he knew of no 
 church members who did not allow of, or 
 practice dancing 5 and that even the min- 
 
& 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 isters themselves would often plead for 
 it ? under the above plausible name. He 
 finally remarks, " The last dance I ever 
 attended was with church members.*" 
 Yet, he says, 66 When I gave way to those 
 practices, at times, I used to feel dread- 
 ful condemnation, and while under those 
 solemn exercises, my fabricated religion 
 would fall like lightning to the ground. 
 Sometimes I was ashamed to attempt to 
 'pray.., and would for a season omit the du- 
 ty, till by pleading the above examples, I 
 lulled my conscience, and then I would 
 pray so much the oftener ; so that by Sab- 
 bath-day-night, I had prayed as many 
 times as to have my accounts equally bal- 
 anced. 55 He also observes, that with 
 the increase of years, he advanced in 
 pride, and became extravagant in dress, 
 as far as his ability would admit. This 
 he considered harmless, as such dress was 
 highly approved by the church; especially 
 on sacramental days. They considered 
 it an honor to the table. 
 
 It, however, appears by his remarks, 
 that in the course of his juvenile years, he 
 was several times under pungent convic- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 f 9 
 
 tion, and had fearful apprehensions con- 
 cerning the state of his soul. At some 
 periods, the distress of his mind was so 
 great, that for a season, he could not bear 
 to see or converse with any person. He 
 quotes B uny an : "I got out on that side 
 next to my own house, and got well by 
 my eld medicine. " In one of his remarks^ 
 he observes, u It might well be said of 
 me, that being ignorant of God's righ- 
 teousness, I went about to establish a 
 righteousness of my own." Yet it ap- 
 pears, by his narrative, that this righ- 
 teousness was so calculated, that for the 
 most part it entirely satisfied his con- 
 science, and rendered his mind tranquil, 
 even in times of. imminent danger 5 for he- 
 mentions a time when he was sick at sea, 
 and all on board despaired of his life ; yet, 
 he says, " I thought I loved God, and 
 that if I died I should be happy." While 
 speaking of those things, he exclaims, ' O, 
 my God, how ignorant I have been ! O, 
 what a stranger to the way of life and sal- 
 vation by Jesus Christ ! 5 
 
 2. The circumstances attending his con- 
 version^ he states in about the following 
 
10 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 words. Xi In 1770, the year that I was 
 twenty-one, the God of heaven sent that 
 flaming preacher, George Whitefield, 
 through these states. He arrived at Ports- 
 month, N. H. on the 23d of September. 
 But O, how disgustful to me was the 
 news of his arrival ; for I was much op- 
 posed to all travelling preachers, who in 
 those days, by way of derision, were call-' 
 ed Newlights ; and in short, to all, except 
 the settled congregational clergy, and to 
 every thing but form, so that the power 
 of God was even a torment to me. Where 
 there was any power in the preaching, I 
 thought it was all delusion and enthusi- 
 asm 5 and that all such preachers were 
 turning the world upside down — breaking. 
 
 up churches frightening the people — 
 
 that their earnest and loud preaching was 
 all affected, and designed to make the peo- 
 ple cry out, and make a noise— and that 
 they preached only because they would 
 not work. I felt enough of the spirit of 
 persecution to have had all such preach- 
 ers whipped out of town $ though I should 
 not like to have been seen in it my- 
 self, yet I should have been willing to 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 11 
 
 nave seen others do it." Here he adds, 
 " Believing there are many others^ of the 
 same disposition, I mention this with grief 
 and shame, that if any such should ever 
 read it, they may take warning, and cry to 
 God to change their hearts, and give them- 
 selves no rest, till they feel the disposition 
 removed. O, how dreadful to have a pro- 
 fession of religion, a form of godliness, 
 yet deny the power ; to belong to a visible 
 cliurch, eat and drink in Christ's name, 
 yet hate his spiritual appearing ! O, what 
 a hell I should have found, had I died in 
 that state. O, persecuting pharisees, 
 Cliristless professors, take warning, I pray 
 you, before it be too late. 55 
 
 To return to my narrative. Although 
 Mr. Whitefield 5 s coming was so disgustful 
 to me, yet as almost every body else turn- 
 ed out to hear him, I likewise went ; but 
 more as a mere spectator, than with a de- 
 sire to reap any benefit ; for I was resol- 
 ved that his preaching should have no 
 effect on me. I heard him for the first 
 time on the 24th of September : he spake 
 from Rev. ii. 4, 5. The power with which 
 he spake was a torment to me. When 
 
12 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 lie began to be engaged, and his blessed 
 soul to be inflamed with love, and his 
 heart with grief and pity to poor sinners, 
 and began to expand his arms, and the 
 tears began to roll down from Ins eyes, 
 it immediately raised an evil spirit within 
 me. Ah, thought I, you are a worthless, 
 noisy fellow ; all you want is to make the 
 people cry out ; my good old minister 
 does not do so, and he is as good a man 
 as you, and much better. 
 
 The next day I heard him again, at the 
 great meeting-house in Portsmouth. He 
 spake from Luke xv. 2. His preaching 
 had much the same effect on me as before. 
 The last time I heard his blessed voice 
 proclaim the glorious gospel was on the 
 28th of Sept. — Friday before the Sabbath 
 on which he died. He spake from Mark 
 xvi. 15, 16. O, how wonderfully he spake! 
 as one having authority, and not as the 
 scribes $ but, it still raised a dreadful 
 spirit of opposition within me. But O, 
 the mercy of God .! that he had not let me 
 drop into hell. O, stupendous love ! O, 
 what an eternal wonder it will be of long- 
 suffering patience, that I, after all this. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 15 
 
 and much more, have found forgiveness 
 of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 Glory> glory, everlasting glory be to his 
 name. 
 
 The next Sabbath, Sept. 30> 1770; 
 that memorable day ! that blessed day 
 to Whitefield ! that blessed day to me ! 
 The minister of our town went to Ports- 
 mouth to preach at the great meeting- 
 house, and I went with him. At noon, 
 as I went from the place of worship, I 
 stopped with an acquaintance at Packer's 
 corner 5 and a man came riding along, 
 and as he rode, he cried, " Mr. White- 
 field is dead. He died this morning at 
 iXewbury, about six o'clock." As soon as 
 his voice reached my ears, an arrow from 
 the quiver of the Almighty struck through 
 my heart 5 and a mental voice sounded 
 through my soul, louder than ever thun- 
 der -sounded through my ears. The 
 first thoughts that passed through my 
 mind were, Whitefield is now in heaven, 
 I am in the read to hell. I shall 
 never hear his voice any mere. He was 
 ti iyiru of God;, and I have reviled him, 
 said spoken reproachfully of him. Pie has 
 
14 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 taught me the way to heaven ; but I re- 
 garded it not — O, that voice is now silent 
 in death*; I would sacrifice any thing if 
 I could but hear it again* But ah ! 
 never, never more shall I hear it in this 
 life. O, with what a loss I have met ; 
 but it cannot be recalled. He will be a 
 powerful witness against me in the judg- 
 ment of the great day. I trembled. Every 
 part of my body was affected, as well as 
 my mind. I thought, O, that I could be 
 hid, that no one might know how I felt ; 
 for I felt nothing but shame, hell and con- 
 demnation. I tried to conceal my feel- 
 ings till I got home. I then took my 
 room, and kept my distress as much as 
 possible to myself; for I thought no per- 
 son ever felt such horror as I did. My 
 former religion appeared altogether worth- 
 less, and fled from me as though it never 
 had been. It seemed as if there never 
 was any person so vile as I, nor any one 
 possessed of such heart alienation, and 
 enmity to God in all his nature, and to 
 the manifestations of his spirit and power ; 
 no one that felt such unreconciliation to 
 God, in every sense of the word. A query 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, to 
 
 would sometimes arise in my mind,— Why 
 should I be so distressed ? I have never 
 been so bad as such and such people— I 
 have never cursed and sworn like them. 
 But I would soon think again, Ah, their 
 sins were all outward ; they never had 
 such a heart as mine. 
 
 I sometimes felt a little calmed, and 
 wrote a little, and made some remarks on 
 the preaching of Mr. Whitefield ; for in 
 the time cf EJ di^r esfi r a11 his preaching 
 was brought to my remembrance ; and 
 then my distress would roll again upon my 
 mind like a flood ; and I became so dis- 
 tracted, that I rose from my seat, walked 
 the floor, and was ready, seemingly, to 
 pull the hair out of my head. If any thing 
 like comfort came into my mind, I could 
 not, I would not have it ; for it appeared 
 impossible that it could be for me. Yet 
 I believed God was merciful enough to 
 save me and every body else ; but how it 
 could be possible for him to be just and 
 save me, I could not see. Notwithstand- 
 ing my distress, I felt as if I could not 
 hear that any of God's attributes should 
 be infringed upon. O, that blessed " Just 
 
16 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 God and a Savior" was such a mystery 
 to me, that I could not get any discovery 
 of it. At length I came to this conclu- 
 sion, viz. that it would be better for me 
 to be damned, than that God's justice 
 should be infringed. Mind, I do not say 
 that I felt willing to be damned. Some 
 say that a soul can never be converted,, 
 until they are willing to be damned. But 
 I do not believe the idea ; for if the scrip- 
 tures b^ ? I berie?e ihey are, God 
 is not willing that any should perish ; and 
 he never required that any of his crea- 
 tures should will that which he himself 
 does not will. I was never willing to be 
 damned, but I felt as if it would be better 
 for me to be damned, than that the glory 
 of God should be eclipsed. 
 
 I continued in this unutterable horror 
 more than two weeks 5 in which time, by 
 experience, I could say, 
 
 « Weeping, wo, and lamentation, 
 Vain desires and fruitless prayer, 
 Shame, and hell, and condemnation, 
 Doubt, distraction, and despair," 
 
 were all I felt. For I despaired of ob- 
 taining salvation from any, or all of my 
 
 £ " " • ■ Si 
 
BENJAMIN ilANDAL. IT 
 
 former duties — of obtaining help from any 
 created power. I even despaired of the 
 mercy of God, unless there could be a 
 way that he could have mercy on me con- 
 sistent with his justice ; for I was con- 
 vinced that he was a just God, as well 
 as a Savior. In this situation I had no 
 one to whom I could tell my trials, or 
 from whom to receive any advice. 
 
 One day I had a little calm on my mind, 
 and while sitting and musing on my state, 
 the following train of thoughts fell into 
 my mind. — Once I was company for al- 
 most any person, but now I am company 
 for nobody. There was a time when I 
 took pleasure in the world, but now there 
 is nothing earthly that is desirable to me, 
 —all things are tasteless and insipid. O, 
 that I had never been born, was the lan- 
 guage of my heart, for nothing will again 
 be agreeable to me. I shall never feel 
 any more satisfaction in company. I, who 
 used to pray so much and so constantly,, 
 cannot now offer one petition ; for it 
 seemed as if I did not pray at all ; yet, 
 upon a recollection, I believe I breathed 
 prayer all the time ; and that all my sighs 
 2*' 
 
18 
 
 THE LIFE GP 
 
 were, " God be merciful to me a sinner;** 
 for I kept breathing, or repeating the fol- 
 lowing lines: 
 
 " O God of mercy, hear my call, 
 My load of guilt remove, 
 Break down this separating wall 
 Which bars me from, thy love." 
 
 While I was thus musing, the words 
 ©fthe apostle (Heb. Ix. 26) passed through 
 my mind, "But now once in the end of 
 the world hath he appeared to put away 
 sin by the sacrifice of himself." But I 
 was in such deep meditation, that they 
 seemed to pass through my mind without 
 notice. The same words occurred a see*- 
 ond time ; but still I took no thought up- 
 on them. They came to my mind a third 
 time r and I began to think, What can 
 these words mean? "But now once in 
 the end of the world hath he appeared to 
 put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" 
 As I was meditating on this passage, my 
 toad and burden of sm went off ; and I 
 began to feel calm and peaceable in my 
 mind. This affrightened me ; for I fear- 
 ed I was losing my concern, and shouhl 
 turn back into my old state and be as bad 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 10 
 
 or worse than ever. I cried, O Lord, I 
 had rather remain in this distressed state, 
 till I am as old as Methuselah, could it 
 be possible, than to turn back again to 
 folly. I then tried to make myself feel as 
 I had felt before, by thinking of what a 
 bad state I was in, but I could not again 
 obtain that feeling and distress. I then 
 concluded that the spirit of God had de- 
 parted from me, and that I was left to 
 myself, and given up to hardness of heart 
 and blindness of mind. But still in all 
 this, I could not feel that distress which I 
 had before felt. 
 
 At length, I began to reason with my- 
 self, in the following manner : What does 
 this mean ? What state was I in, when I 
 was taken with this distress ? I was in 
 love with the world and its vanities. In 
 what state has it left me 1 The world and 
 all its vanities are now loathsome to me — 
 I hate sin and folly, and have no relish 
 for any earthly good. What do I love ? 
 I know I love God, and long after righ- 
 teousness. What then is this, but a 
 change, wrought by the power of God in 
 my soul ? This is conversion ; this is 
 
20 THE LIFE OF 
 
 what I read of in the scriptures, being 
 born agahiy fyc. As soon as I believei 
 this, I gave glory to God ; and O ! what 
 love, joy, and peace, filled my soul ! Now 
 I saw a just God and a Savior; and, in 
 Christ, I beheld a blessed sacrifice for 
 sin, to the full satisfaction of Divine Jus- 
 tice. O ! how the character of Jesus 
 shined in my soul. O ! thought I, Jesus 
 is precious tome — " My transport and my 
 trust." My soul kept crying, Jesus, Je- 
 sus, and it was all I could say for some 
 time. Ah, it seemed if I had ten thou- 
 sand souls, I could trust them all with 
 Jesus. I §aw in him a universal love, 
 a universal atonement, a universal call 
 to mankind, and was confident that none 
 would ever perish, but those who refused 
 to obey it. Now I saw that God had 
 ever been my friend; and that he had 
 ever been waiting to be gracious to me. 
 My joy became unspeakable and full of 
 glory. My soul was inflamed with love to 
 God, as my great Creator and Preserver ; 
 to Jesus Christ, as my only Redeemer ; 
 and to the Holy Ghost, as my Reprover 
 and blessed Comforter. O, what love I 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 21 
 
 felt to all mankind, and wished 4hat they 
 all might share in that fulness, which I 
 saw so extensive and so free for them alL 
 O, what pity flowed into my soul for 
 poor sinners, whom I saw in the gall of 
 bitterness and bonds of iniquity. 
 
 In this heavenly frame of mind, I walk- 
 ed, and leaped, and praised God, with 
 ineffable joy, while no creature was wit- 
 ness to my happiness. Thus I continued 
 for some time. But, as I had never seen 
 afiy person in such raptures before, I 
 thought that no one could conceive any 
 thing about it, and that every body, with 
 whom I was acquainted, were strangers 
 to it. I, therefore, thought it would be 
 best to keep it all to myself, lest I should 
 be laughed at, and ridiculed for it. How- 
 ever, I soon discovered that this was a sug- 
 gestion of the enemy, and that it would 
 prove a snare to me^ for I found that in 
 order to keep my religion secret, I had in, 
 some measure to conform to the world, 
 and could not reprove the ungodly much." 
 
 The subject of this memoir experienced 
 the above change, October 15th, 1770, 
 being 21 years and 8 months old. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 1. His acquaintance with experienced 
 christians in Neivcastls and Ports- 
 mouth. 2. His journey to Marblehead 
 and Salem, and stay there. 3. His 
 return to JYeivcastle — His marriage. 
 4. Induction into the congregational 
 church , and christening his first child, 
 
 1. Mr. Randal now commenced a life 
 of secret devotion, and in a private man- 
 ner began to try to find out whether any 
 of his acquaintance had been converted. 
 He observes that he found a number of 
 elderly persons in his neighborhood, who 
 had experienced a change in what was 
 called "the old Whitefield reformation." 
 But they had kept their light so much 
 under the bed and bushel, and had lived 
 under such lifeless preaching, and had be- 
 come so much conformed to the customs 
 of the times, that the only distinction be- 
 tween them and the wicked, was, that the 
 former were a little more moral than the 
 latter ; but nothing was said among them 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 23 
 
 ftbout experimental religion. He also re- 
 marks, that he found a number of liv- 
 ing christians m Portsmouth ; especially 
 among Mr. Brown's followers 5 but these 
 being a persecuted and despised people, 
 especially by the people with whom he 
 w as connected, he had previously formed 
 a, very unfavorable opinion of them 5 but, 
 being now convinced of their sincerity 
 xmd piety, he began, in a private manner, 
 to form some personal acquaintance with 
 those whom he had once despised, which, 
 doubtless, was for their mutual comfort. 
 But, as those people were still held in de- 
 rision by his favorite sect, he endeavored, 
 as much as possible, to conceal his ac- 
 quaintance with them, lest he should suf- 
 fer the same fate. 
 
 2. In the year 1771, he made a journey 
 to the west, and spent the principal part 
 of the summer at Marblehead and Salem, 
 working at his trade as a journeyman ; 
 during which time, he constantly attended 
 meetings of worship w ith his favorite sect, 
 and endeavored to live a watchful and 
 prayerful life, though he carefully con- 
 cealed his experience from all his acquain- 
 
21 
 
 THE LIFE 0F 
 
 tance. He mentions that a good offer was 
 made him at Beverly, which, had he ac- 
 cepted it, would have made him a man of 
 business and property ; but he could not 
 be prevailed upon to accept ; while at the 
 same time, his refusal appeared even 
 strange to himself. He., however, after- 
 wards concluded, that he was overruled 
 in this instance by divine Providence, God 
 having designed him for another and more 
 noble work. 
 
 3. In the month of October, 1771, he 
 returned to Newcastle, hired a sail-loft 
 and sat up his trade, and on the 28th of 
 the ensuing November, was married to 
 Joanna Oram, youngest daughter of Capt. 
 Robert Oram of Kittery, Me. of whom 
 he wrote as follows, " I believe she was 
 the gift of God to me, and that there 
 never was a woman more suitable for the 
 place in which she had to stand. May 
 God have the praise." 
 
 The new-married couple, having pre- 
 viously agreed to live a religious life, the 
 very first night they kept house together, 
 they reared the family altar, and offered 
 their prayers to God for his guidance, 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 26 
 
 support and protection through all the 
 vicissitudes of life. A practice which I 
 believe they ever continued, until death 
 parted them. This is an example worthy 
 of imitation by all married people ; espe- 
 cially those who profess the christian re- 
 ligion. 
 
 4. Previous to the birth of their first 
 K>hild, they considered it tlreir indispensa- 
 ble duty to join the congregational church, 
 that they might be in a suitable prepara- 
 tion for its christening. Accordingly, 
 Mr. Randal visited the minister, told his 
 business, and made known their resolu- 
 tion to join the church. Upon which the 
 minister replied, " Well, Mr. Randal, I 
 am glad you have come to a sense of your 
 duty, I will propound you next Sabbath;' 5 
 and was going out of the room, when Mr. 
 Randal, having an awful sense of what he 
 was about to undertake, earnestly prayed 
 him to stop and sit do*,vn, and wished 
 him to answer to such questions as he 
 should propose^ and also entreated the 
 minister to instruct him, and to ask him 
 all needful questions on the subject; but 
 fee said, the minister did not ask him one 
 3 
 
THE LIFE 
 
 question, that he could recollect. After 
 pausing awhile, Mr. Randal told him, in 
 short, what the Lord had clone for his 
 soul ; to which, he said, the minister 
 made no reply, but looked on him as if 
 he thought it was strange. Mr. Randal 
 then desired to see the covenant which he 
 would propose to them; and wished him 
 to explain it article by article, that he 
 might have a true understanding of what 
 it contained. To this the minister con- 
 sented, and let him take the copy of it to 
 carry home to show his wife. This cove- 
 nant, Mr. Randal and his wife consider- 
 ed a very solemn instrument 5 they read 
 it over and over again, and fasted and 
 prayed ; and then, in the most solemn 
 manner, subscribed their names to it. — 
 Hence it appears, that they acted sincere- 
 ly, and according to the best light they 
 had. Accordingly, in the month of No- 
 vember, 1772, they were propounded, and 
 joined the congregational church 5 and 
 the child being born on the third day of 
 the ensuing December, they lost no time 
 in having the ceremony performed. The 
 very next Sabbath, the child was car- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 ried to the meeting-house, and Mr. Ran- 
 dal, in a most solemn manner, held up 
 the child to the minister, and the minister 
 baptised it, as they all then thought. The 
 meeting being closed, Mr. Randal re- 
 turned with his babe, and acquainted his 
 wife with what had transpired 5 and after 
 offering up their evening sacrifice upon 
 the fajniiy altar, they took a quiet repose 
 under a conscientious belief that they had 
 done their duty to the child. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 1. Randal awakes — Views the church in 
 disorder — Sees sinners in danger — 
 Sleep departs from him — Talks icith 
 the church members — agrees to hold 
 meetings^ and obtains consent of the 
 minister. 2. Hears a stranger at 
 Portsmouth — Invites him to Newcastle 
 — The minister accepts the invitation^ 
 but is treated disrespectfully . 
 
 fe Mr. Randal having now become a 
 regular member of the church in New- 
 
2$ THE LIFE OF 
 
 castle, soon became acquainted with the 
 brethren and sisters who composed it, and 
 began to discover that the church, he had 
 so lately joined, was ail in disorder, — that 
 $ome of its members were men of intem- 
 perance, and of corrupt and ungodly lives, 
 and without reproo were suffered and al- 
 lowed to come to the communion table 
 every month. These things, together 
 with a view of the state of the non-pro- 
 fessing part of the inhabitants of the town, 
 so affected him, that he began to be in 
 great distress *of soul — his food became 
 unpalatable, sleep departed from him, and 
 in the silent watches of the night, while 
 the ungodly on every hand were sleeping 
 on the verge of ruin, he was lamenting 
 their case, walking the streets, and pray- 
 ing to God for them. Sometimes, he 
 said, he was ready to cry aloud and warn 
 them to flee from the wrath to come ; for, 
 he said, he viewed them running down 
 into the sea of God's wrath, as the swine 
 anciently ran down into the sea and were, 
 choked.* Yet, he^said, the fear of man 
 was so great upon him, and he was so 
 bound by tradition, that he dared not speak 
 
gfctfjAiriN RANDAL. 
 
 a word to any person, even in private, 
 about those things for some time. 
 
 About this time, however, the summer 
 of 1773, being exceedingly pressed in 
 spirit, he began to break his mind in a 
 private manner to a few of the brethren, 
 who appeared to be somewhat tender, and 
 were willing to hear him converse on 
 those subjects, with which his mind was 
 so deeply impressed. The first instance- 
 of this kind he mentions in about the fol- 
 lowing w ords, " I went to a certain house 
 upon business, where the woman and her 
 mother were both church members, and 
 appeared to be very sensible people. I 
 believe they were saints^ As they were 
 free in conversation, I thought I would 
 say something to them about Jesus. As 
 I began to talk, their ears and probably 
 their hearts were opened, and the more I 
 said, the more I felt to say, and I left 
 them in great tenderness^ 5 He mentions, 
 that soon after this, he became acquainted 
 with Mr. John Trefethren and wife, who 
 were also church members, and were soon, 
 after brought to rejoice in the Lord. All 
 these things w ere kept private, 
 3* 
 
THE LIFE Or 
 
 Those small beginnings of a revival^ 
 greatly strengthened Mr. Randal's faith, 
 and increased his trials in the same pro- 
 portion for he well knew that in order 
 to obtain the end, the means must be used, 
 and he knew well enough that the lot 
 would of course fall on him. Although 
 he had no idea at that time of being a 
 preacher, yet he loved souls, and longed 
 for a reformation, and was convinced that 
 under existing circumstances, the best, if 
 not the only way of obtaining it, would 
 be to set up a little meeting, and get a 
 few of the old brethren together, and let 
 them have the liberty of improving their 
 gifts. Therefore, being deeply impressed 
 with these ideas, he took an opportunity 
 and visited the- above named people, with 
 some others of the same description, and 
 mentioned his impressions to them ; upon 
 which they readily agreed to unite with 
 him to hold a meeting every Sabbath and 
 every Thursday evening, for the purpose 
 of singing, praying, and reading a sermon 
 or some other good book. Having agreed 
 on the time of their first meeting, before 
 ■the time arrived* to take off all occasion. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 31 
 
 Mr. Randal made his minister a visit, told 
 him their proposal, and asked his consent. 
 The minister appeared to be pleased with 
 the measure, and said he would sometimes 
 meet ivitk them. This gave Mr. Randal 
 great encouragement, and they met ac- 
 cordingly for the first time in the month 
 of May, 1774. He, however, observes, 
 that the minister never attended but one 
 meeting with them, and the probable rea- 
 son why he did n*>t attend more, might be 
 that he heard the old Whitefield sound 
 among them. 
 
 These meetings w T ere, however, con- 
 tinued and soon produced a great stir 
 among the people. Many attended, and 
 there appeared to be signs of a general 
 revival. For sometime no outward oppo- 
 sition appeared, only the cry was goings 
 "Randal ivants to be a pi^eacher^ 
 
 Under these circumstances, Mr. Ran- 
 dal felt no abatement of his trials, but the 
 distress of his mind was rather increased ; 
 for y notwithstanding the attention of the 
 people was considerably called up, there 
 was no particular out-pouring of the spirit 
 of the Lordj such as he desired to see. 
 
THE L I F'E (TF 
 
 He, therefore, went mourning about, and 
 crying to the Lord in secret for a refor- 
 mation; and finding no food for his soul, 
 at the meeting-house, where he usually 
 attended, he began to go from place to 
 place, to see if he could find any more 
 lively preaching, or such as would feed 
 his soul : — but he generally kept among 
 the people of his own denomination. This 5 , 
 however, excited a jealousy in the mind 
 of his minister, who began to treat him 
 with great coolness. 
 
 2. In March, 1775, a minister from the 
 old country, appointed to preach in Ports- 
 mouth, in what was called the Separate 
 meeting-house, and Mr. Randal hearing 
 of the appointment, went to the meeting ; 
 he said, it was as the beginning of days 
 to his soul, and that he should have reason 
 eternally to praise God for it. The cir- 
 cumstances were as follow ; When the 
 minister arose to address the assembly, it 
 was so ordered by divine Providence, that, 
 he named for his subject the same words 
 which had been the means of Mr. Ran- 
 dal's conversion, Heb. ix. 26. u 'But now 
 once in the end of the world hath he ap~ 
 
33 
 
 peared to put away sin by the sacrifice of 
 himself." Mr. Randal said, the moment 
 the man read the text it brought all his 
 former experience fresh to his mind; and 
 it seemed to be as new to him as though 
 he had that moment experienced it. In 
 this situation, he said* his soul was so rav- 
 ished, that he arose on his feet, to declare 
 what he felt 5 but recollecting himself, he 
 thought it would not be right to interrupt 
 the man; so he sat down again. But 
 all the while the man was preaching, he 
 so exactly described the feelings of his- 
 heart, that, he said, he thought there was 
 something more than human in his preach- 
 ing) that it must be the Lord speaking 
 through the man. He adds, " I was rais- 
 ed far above all traditions — I thought I 
 was converted anew. I covenanted anew, 
 with the Lord 5 and, O how my soul long-., 
 ed for the poor starving people in ou? 
 place; for, I thought, if they could only 
 hear such preaching* they would all be 
 converted and turn to the Lord." 
 
 As soon as the meeting was dismissed, 
 Mr. Randal went up to the pulpit stairs, 
 and met the man, and took him by tha 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 hand, with an intent to have spoken soft- 
 ly to him, and to have told him something 
 of bis happiness ,• but, his soul being filled 
 like an old bottle fall of new wine, he 
 burst out, and with a loud voice told, be- 
 fore the whole congregation, what he felt ; 
 and asked the man to come over and 
 preach at Newcastle, telling him that 
 there never was a people more needy than 
 they were. The man readily consented, 
 and accordingly made an appointment, 
 and desired Mr. Randal to try to have the 
 meeting house opened for him. Mr. Ran- 
 dal went home rejoicing in God 5 and 
 freely told to all around him, how he felt, 
 and what glorious preaching he had heard, 
 and that this wonderful preacher was com- 
 ing to Newcastle to preach. However, 
 this wonderful manifestation proved a 
 means of opening a new scene of trouble 
 to Mr. Randal. He soon met with trials 
 enough to try the grace he had so lately 
 received ; for when he, with his brother 
 Trefethren, having their hearts filled with 
 joyful anticipations, went to their minister 
 to ask his consent, that the meeting house 
 might be opened for the new preacher, the 
 
BENJAMIN RASPAL. 
 
 35 
 
 minister with his wife, shewed great re- 
 sentment, and utterly refused to open the 
 house for the stranger. However, when 
 the time came for the meeting, the select- 
 men of the town opened the meeting 
 house, and the man preached a sweet ser- 
 mon to Mr. Randal, and probably to 
 other new-born souls 5 but this, also, re- 
 sulted in another trying scene ; for while 
 the man was preaching, a man belonging 
 to the church, who was much given to in- 
 temperance, brake in upon the minister 
 and abused him, called him a da mn l dfool, 
 and the like 5 and made such disturbance 
 in the meeting, that some of the congre- 
 gation were obliged to carry him out, yet 
 neither the minister of the place, nor the 
 church members present, took any notice 
 of him. 
 
 The reader may judge what Mr. Ran- 
 dal's feelings must have been on such an 
 occasion. He says, u My soul was in tri- 
 als, and what to do I did not know 5 for 
 then I had no knowledge of any church 
 discipline. I went to the minister and en- 
 tered a complaint against The man for dis- 
 turbing the meeting, but the minister was 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 Very short with me, and told me, that lie 
 had no right to take any notice either of 
 me or him, unless I would bring a formal 
 complaint against him in writing. I said 
 every thing I was capable of, but all to 
 no effect. I received nothing from him 
 but hard language, and got nothing from 
 him afterward but grievous treatment. 
 If I met him in the street, and bowed and 
 spake to him, he would even turn his face 
 from me and look the other way. I pe- 
 titioned to the church for a hearing, but 
 they took no notice of me ; all I got from 
 them, was what I considered railing. At 
 length, communion day drew nigh, and 
 my soul was in distress ; for I knew not 
 what to do. I thought I would go once 
 more to the minister, and accordingly 
 went. As I passed his window, I saw 
 him standing by it ; but when I entered 
 the room he was gone. When I asked 
 for him, I was told that he was in his 
 study, and was not to be spoken with. I 
 tarried till nine o'clock in the evening, 
 and then returned without seeing him. 
 The next morning, I visited the man who 
 had been the cause of my trial by disturb- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 nig the meeting. The man wept, while 
 I told him his conduct, and thanked me, 
 and said, " I was the only person who 
 had ever mentioned these things to him. 
 He also appeared very tender, and prom- 
 ised to reform, which was all the satisfac- 
 tion I could reasonably expect from him. 
 It then came into my mind to go to the 
 communion, and as the minister would 
 not speak to me in the street, nor give me 
 an opportunity to converse with him at 
 his house, and the members with a few 
 exceptions were railing at me, I thought 
 they would forbid me from coming to the 
 table, and then I would demand of them 
 to give me a hearing, and labor with me 
 in a scriptural line." Having formed the 
 above resolution, Mr. Randal went to the 
 communion, but was greatly disappoint- 
 ed ; for instead of being forbidden as he 
 expected, they handed him the elements 
 as they did the rest, without any re- 
 marks. 
 
 This proved another very serious trial to 
 him. However, he said, he examined 
 himself, and then ate of the bread and 
 drank of the cup in commemoration of this 
 4 
 
38 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 body and blood of Christ as a single mem- 
 beij but not in fellowship with them. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 1. Randal separates from the church ; oth- 
 ers follow his example — Meetings kept 
 up in time of danger. 2. Randal feels 
 impressions to preach — Moves his fam- 
 ily to Kittery ,• removes back — Enlists 
 as a soldier, but enjoys the Divine 
 presence. 3. Is convinced of believers' 
 baptism, yet condescends to have his 
 child christened to please his wife. 4. 
 He is called to preach — Is baptised. 
 
 A new scene now presents itself. In 
 May, 1775, Mr. Randal, having been treat- 
 ed in the manner before described, came 
 out and separated himself from the con- 
 gregational church, and met with them 
 no more. He was not cast out, but so 
 oppressed that he came out. It appears 
 by his narrative, that this church in some 
 respects resembled the city of Laish, 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 39 
 
 which was without gates or bars ; all who 
 had a mind to come in, came in, convert- 
 ed or unconverted, and those who were 
 disposed to go out, went out, without la- 
 bor or discipline. Or, it might be said to 
 resemble the world itself, where the wheat 
 and the tares are both suffered to grow 
 together. Soon after Mr. Randal came 
 out, several others were convinced, and 
 followed his example ; and they w ith him 
 held a constant meeting by themselves, 
 and soon became the subjects of reproach 
 and ridicule for so doing. But, though 
 they were few T in number, and their adver- 
 saries many, they trusted in the Lord and 
 kept up their meetings, and the Lord own- 
 ed and blessed them, and increased their 
 number. This, however, was a time of 
 deep distress, being at the commencement 
 of the revolutionary w ar. 
 
 They had fightings w ithout, and fears 
 within. A large British ship of war 
 was then lying near the town, and they 
 were in constant expectation that the 
 troops would land, or that they should 
 share the fate of Falmouth, and other 
 maritime towns, which were wanton?y 
 
m 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 laid in ashes the same year. In this time 
 Of danger, the little flock, not only con- 
 stantly attended their regularly stated 
 meetings of worship, but frequently ap- 
 pointed special meetings for fasting and 
 prayer. It is not impossible, but He, who 
 heard Jehoshaphat on a similar occasion, 
 might hear this little company of despised 
 believers, and avert the impending judg- 
 ment with which the place was then 
 threatened, for notwithstanding their de- 
 fenceless situation, the attention of the 
 enemy was turned another way, and the 
 place and people were preserved. 
 
 2. Mr. Randal here records a solemn 
 impression which he felt on his mind the 
 first of June, in the same year. He says, 
 as he was walking alone in a solitary 
 place, remote from all creatures, and was 
 mourning and crying to God for poor sin- 
 ners, something seemed to drop into his 
 soul, as if he heard a voice powerfully 
 saying, "Why dont you warn them? 55 
 upon which, he was immediately impres- 
 - sed with the idea that the Lord intended 
 to use him as a preacher ; but, he says, 
 he felt great opposition to the idea, and 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 11 
 
 thought it a thing impossible at that time ; 
 and used every argument of which he was 
 capable in his own mind against it ; and 
 thought he should even rather die than to 
 attempt it. He, however, observes that 
 these impressions followed him, and added 
 much to his trials, white; he kept them a 
 profound secret. 
 
 In October, the same year, the inhabit- 
 ants of Newcastle, through fear of the 
 enemy, chiefly moved back into the coun- 
 try ; and Mr. Randal, in condescension 
 to his wife moved to the upper part of 
 Kittery ; but a sufficient body of troops 
 being sent and stationed on the Island, to 
 guard the place, he removed back in No- 
 vember following. He then enlisted as 
 an assistant commissary, and at the expi- 
 ration of >the ^ime,, he enlisted for three 
 ijionihs, as a sergeant under Capt. Calf. 
 How much longer he continued in the ser- 
 vice of his country, the author is not able 
 to say. But Randal observes, that all 
 the time he was a soldier he enjoyed much 
 of the Divine presence, and that lie never 
 lived nearer to God than he did while a 
 soldier. 
 
 4*" 
 
42 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 3. About this time, by a diligent and 
 critical examination of the scriptures, he 
 was convinced that believers were the 
 only proper subjects of baptism 5 and that 
 the practice of sprinkling infants, and call- 
 ing it baptism^ was a tradition of man, 
 and no where authorized by Christ or his 
 apostles, neither by precept nor example. 
 He says, " Although it was like taking 
 away a right hand to give it up, yet I 
 dared not to hold it, while I found not a 
 "Thus saith the Lord for it." Yet he 
 kept this thing as a secret in his own 
 breast, for a season, lest he should wound 
 the tender feelings of those with whom he 
 united in the worship of God. But it 
 seems by hi^ narrative, that this secret 
 plan did not work very well 5 for it soon 
 led him into a snare, or in other words, 
 measurably laid him under a necessity of 
 acting contrary to his conscience. 
 
 May 4th, 1776, then- third child was 
 born, and Mrs. Randal was remarkably 
 anxious to have it christened, and not 
 knowing of any change in her husband's 
 mind respecting baptism, urged him to 
 the performance of that as a duty, which 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 48 
 
 he considered not a duty ; but consider- 
 ing the delicate situation and tender feel- 
 ings of his wife, did not like to tell her, 
 in direct terms, that he doubted the au- 
 thenticity of the ceremony, but answered 
 evasively, and sometimes made one plea, 
 and sometimes another, which neither an- 
 swered his own conscience, nor satisfied 
 her mind. At length, the minister of 
 Greenland came to the place to preach, 
 and Mrs. Randal was very urgent to have 
 the child christened^ and wished Mr. Ran- 
 dal to carry it to meeting and have it 
 done. He told her it would do no good. 
 Upon hearing this answer, she appear- 
 ed to be affrighted, and said, < C I don't 
 know what you will become ! " He then 
 told her the minister would, of course, 
 ask him if he belonged to the church 5 and 
 that he should tell him that he did not 5 
 and that the minister would refuse to do 
 it. She then said, " If you will ask the 
 minister,, and he denies, I will not blame 
 you.' 5 Mr. Randal, therefore, went to 
 the meeting, and in the intermission ask- 
 ed the minister if he would baptise a child 
 for him. The ministeV answered in the 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 affirmative, without so much as asking his 
 name. Accordingly, Mr. Randal in con- 
 descension to his wife, held up the child, 
 and the minister sprinkled it. But Mr. 
 Randal afterwards often regretted it, 
 and resolved never to have another child 
 sprinkled. While passing -through all 
 these scenes, he was still in great trials 
 about preaching. These impressions were 
 still increasing on his mind. 
 
 4, He mentions a day when he was at 
 work in his chamber, and bewailing the 
 state of the ungodly, that he felt the pow- 
 er of the Lord impress it on his mind, to 
 go out and warn them. And while he 
 made every remonstrance that he was 
 capable of making, in respect to his pedi- 
 gree, the smailness of his gift, the insuffi- 
 ciency of his natural and acquired abili- 
 ties ; the following words, came suddenly 
 with weight upon his mind, " Set them 
 before them. 55 Whereupon, he immedi- 
 ately left his work, and opened his bible ; 
 the first words upon which he cast his 
 eyes, were, Mark vi. 41, " And when he 
 had taken the five loaves and the two fish- 
 es , he looked up to heaven, and blessed 
 
BENJAMIN RAH DAL. 
 
 45 
 
 and break the loaves, and gave them to 
 his disciples to set before them ; and the 
 two fishes divided he among them all. jr 
 And when he had read the paragraph, and 
 considered how the disciples remonstrat- 
 ed, because they had so little, and how 
 Christ multiplied it, and made it enough 
 for the multitude, it silenced all his 
 pleas. * af v , 
 
 About this time, he was also con- 
 firmed in his own mind, that it was his 
 duty to be baptised by immersion, but 
 was affraid to reveal it to his brethren* 
 lest it should prove a trial to them, and 
 occasion a breach of fellowship. He con- 
 cluded, therefore, to go to Stratham and 
 be baptised by Doct. Samuel Shepard, 
 who practiced believers' baptism, and 
 thought he would not let it be known at 
 home. However, before the premedita- 
 ted time arrived to go, he concluded he 
 could not be baptised without the know- 
 ledge of his brother Trefethren. Accord- 
 ingly, one evening he sat off with an 
 intent to acquaint him with his resolution ; 
 and it so happened that his brother Tre- 
 fethren met him about half way, who was 
 
40 THE LIFE OF 
 
 coming to visit him for the same purpose. 
 Soon after meeting, Mr. Randal told his 
 errand, and Mr. Trefethren also told his. 
 Both were surprised at the remarkable 
 occurrence — both were overjoyed ! None, 
 but those who are believers, can antici- 
 pate the emotions of their friendly hearts, 
 their reciprocal congratulations, and mu- 
 tual exultations ; for their joy was un- 
 speakable and full of glory. This inter- 
 view confirmed them both in their duty, 
 and greatly strengthened their faith. They 
 now resolved to make an inquiry among 
 their brethren, with respect to this duty, 
 and see how their minds stood affected 
 concerning the same. They, therefore, 
 attended the next private fast meeting, 
 and when Mr. Randal had cautiously in- 
 troduced the subject, the question was 
 put to each individual, and every one an- 
 swered in the affirmative, namely, that 
 they were all convinced of the propriety 
 and necessity of believers 9 baptism. 
 
 Here all were astonished at the wonder- 
 ful works, and mysterious dealings of the 
 invisible and only wise God, viz. that 
 notwithstanding they had kept all their im- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 4f« 
 
 pressions and views hidden from each oth- 
 er, it evidently appeared, that they had all 
 be^n at one school, and were disciples 
 of one Master, and were all led by one 
 Spirit. Their little humble fast, was of 
 course, turned into a great and glorious 
 feast ; and there are no words that could 
 better describe their feelings, than the 
 following, written by Mr. Randal himself, 
 a how did oar souls rejoi ee together ; 
 we leaped and praised God, for his won- 
 derful mysterious ways ; and for the in- 
 crease of our union and fellowship.' 5 It 
 was their intention then, to have sent for 
 an administrator, and to have been all 
 baptised together ; but before they had an 
 opportunity to send, Mr. Wm. Hooper of 
 Madbury, N. H. was ordained 5 and Mr. 
 Randal and Mr. Trefethren attended 
 the ordination ; and they with two others 
 were baptised by Mr. Hooper, immedi- 
 ately after the solemnities of the ordina- 
 tion were over. Here 1 must not omit 
 to record a remarkable event, which took 
 place in respect to the four persons then 
 baptised. They all afterwards became 
 ministers of the gospel ? and I believe ser- 
 
48 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 vants of the most high God. Another' 
 curiosity might be added, viz. Benjamin 
 Randal and John Trefethren were of gen- 
 eral sentiments ; and the two latter, Na- 
 thaniel Lord and Ephraim Foss, were of 
 particular sentiments. Divided in senti- 
 ment, but united to exalt the name of the 
 Redeemer and to oppose sin, the common 
 foe. What does the most honor to the 
 christian cause, I believe they have all, 
 by well ordered lives, walked worthy of 
 the vocation wherewith they were called 5 
 and I charitably hope, they will all meet 
 in that happy world where there will be 
 no difference of opinion, and where those 
 that turn many to righteousness shall shine 
 as the stars forever and ever. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 1. Randal returns from, baptism rejoicing, 
 but is again under grsat trials about 
 preaching. 2. Undertakes to read a 
 chapter, and preaches from the first 
 verse. 3. Makes a covenant vnth thf 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 Lord, and preaches his first sermon 
 4). Is threatened^ but continues preach- 
 ing ivith success. 
 
 1. Mr. Randal, after being baptised, 
 returned home rejoicing and praising 
 God 5 but was still under strong impres- 
 sions to preach the gospel \ and although 
 he had been clearly convinced that it was 
 his duty, his reluctance and natural aver- 
 sion to it were such, that he resisted the 
 impression, till he was reduced almost to 
 a skeleton $ and many of his acquaintance 
 thought he was in deep consumption, and 
 he said himself that he almost believed it 
 to be the case. He often prayed that God 
 might take him out of the world 5 but 
 said, he wanted to be happy after death, 
 and was convinced that none could be so 
 in disobedience. 
 
 He still kept up his meetings, and con- 
 tinued them in the same form that was 
 "first proposed, viz. by praise, and prayer, 
 and reading sermons. One evening, af- 
 ter their meeting closed, one of the little 
 company said to him, " Brother Randal, 
 F am tired of hearing you read old ser- 
 5 
 
50 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 mons — If you will not preach to us, de 
 leave off reading old sermons, and read 
 the bible." The words, "If you will 
 not preach," took deep hold of Mr. Ran- 
 dal — he thought he was betrayed ; that is* 
 that others knew he was called to preach, 
 as well as himself; which, he said, he 
 knew as well as he knew any thing. 
 
 2. After much consideration, he con- 
 cluded not to preachu, but thought he would 
 read a chapter in the bible. 
 
 Accordingly, at their next meetings 
 when the time came to read, he took the 
 bible and stood up, and opened to John 
 xiii. 1, and began to read, " JYoiv before 
 the feast of the passover, when Jesus 
 knew that his hour was come, that he 
 must depart out of the world unto the Fa- 
 ther, having loved his own which were in 
 the world, he loved them unto the end.' 9 
 Here he paused ; and instead of reading, 
 he began to explain what he had read, and 
 thus went on for some time, without con- 
 sidering what he was about ; but recol- 
 lecting himself, be found he was preach- 
 ing, and immediately sat down. Here 9 
 he says, I found the meaning of that mys- 
 
BENJAMIN SMDAL. 
 
 m 
 
 terious expression, Jer. xx. 7, " O Lord, 
 thou hast deceived me, and Itvas deceived: 
 thou art stronger than I, and hast pre- 
 vailed ; I am in derision daily, every one 
 mockeih vmJV He supposes the prophet 
 meant, that the Lord had led him contrary 
 to his expectation^ or as though he had 
 said, " O Lord, I had no expectation of v 
 being led as thou hast led me. I intend- 
 ed to have done otherwise than I did." 
 This, he says, was his case; for he in- 
 tended at the next meeting to have read 
 a chapter, instead of reading a sermon^ 
 but he had no thoughts of preaching a 
 word. The probability is, that Mr. Ran- 
 dal's feelings at that time, were somewhat 
 similar to the feelings of Jeremiah, ex- 
 pressed in the 9th verse of the same chap- 
 ter. 6i Then I said I icill not make men- 
 tion of him, nor speak any more in his 
 name. But his word ivas in mine heart 
 as a burning fire shut up in my bones \ 
 and I was weary icith withholding, and 
 I could not stay. ' 15 
 
 When a man is really qualified and 
 called to preach God's word, he will find 
 hard work to hold his peace ; and should 
 
62 
 
 THE LIFE 6P 
 
 he at any time open his mouth to say a 
 little, he will be likely to say more than 
 he is aware of; for of the abundance of 
 the heart the mouth speaketh. When 
 Mr. Randal looked over his evening's 
 work, he was much mortified, and the next 
 day his mortification was much increased \ 
 for, he said, it was noised all about the 
 town, " Randal preached last night! 5 ' 
 He thought every body pointed at him. 
 
 He then concluded not to read the bible 
 any more in meeting, lest he should again 
 get to preaching. However, when the 
 evening came for the next meeting, he 
 took the bible and a volume of Dr. W atts 9 
 sermons, and laid them together by him. 
 When the time came to read, he got up, 
 and laid his hand first on one, and then 
 on the other, several times ; ' but, at last, 
 took up the sermon book, and began to 
 iread. As I read, he says, I began to die, 
 as to the springs of life in my soul 5 and 
 the more I read, the more I felt my life 
 departing. At length, I thought if I 
 dared to read one line more, the Lord 
 would depart from me, and give me up to 
 hardness of heart and blindness of mind. 
 
B ETN JAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 56 
 
 0, how I felt ! I threw down the book, 
 ami broke out into a confession, and cried, 
 and told the people that the Lord I ad 
 made it manifest to me, for two years past, 
 th a it was rny duty to preach the gospel, 
 and that I had been like Jonah, who fled 
 from the presence of the Lord. I have 
 been many times in the belly of hell, but 
 now, by the grace of God, am resolved 
 to be obedient, and give myself up to his 
 service, as long as I live. 
 
 3'. The next day he made a covenant 
 with the Lord, in which he made a f 11 
 surrender of himself and family to God, 
 in about the following words : " Dear 
 Lord, here I am, I am thine, thou hast 
 made me, and I have been the care of thy 
 kind providence continually, though most 
 unworthy. Lord, take me, and use me 
 as seemeth good in thy sight.- If it is thy 
 will that I should preach the gospel. Lord, 
 take ine, and send me where thou wilt, 
 only go with me, and let me have the as- 
 sistance of thy Spirit, for thou knowest, 
 Lord, and thy Spirit hast made me kno w, 
 tto I am not able to do anything of my- 
 self, but through thee I can do -all things 
 5* 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 Lord, I do not count my life dear to my- 
 self, so that I may win souls to Jesus 
 Christ. I will, by thy grace, wear out 
 my life in thy cause ; and my greatest 
 happiness shall be to die a martyr for the 
 gospel of Christ. Here, Lord, is also my 
 dear wife and children, I give them up to 
 thee. I know not what will become of 
 them, or how I shall provide for them 5 
 but, O Lord, thou knowest, and I cast 
 them on thee. Now, O Lord, accept of 
 this hearty surrender, which I make for 
 Christ's sake. Amen." 
 
 After making the above covenant, he 
 was greatly strengthened, and waxed bold, 
 and at the next meeting, he took the bi- 
 ble, and preached boldly from Rev. iii. 12, 
 " Him that overcometh will I make a pil- 
 lar in the temple of my God, and he shall 
 go no more out ; and I will write upon 
 him the name of my God, and the name 
 of the city of my God, which is New Jeru- 
 salem, ivhich came down out of heaven 
 from my God ,• and I ivill write upon him 
 my new name." i 
 
 He spake with great freedom, and felt 
 much assistance. The saints were much 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 55 
 
 comforted and edified, but he was im- 
 mediately plunged into greater trials than 
 ever ; for the town was all in commotion, 
 and some said one thing, and some anoth- 
 er. He was threatened, but still was 
 preserved, and, in a manner, w ent on fear- 
 less. He preached every evening, and 
 frequently in the day time, for several 
 w 7 eeks. ' He says, " I preached fourteen 
 times in a week, and worked w r hen I 
 should have slept, to maintain my family 5 
 for I had no way to maintain them, but 
 by hard labor. I was brought to great 
 straits, and had no freedom to mention my 
 needs to any person, lest they should think 
 I wanted pay for preaching. At that time 
 too, the confusion was so great, I scarcely 
 knew my friends from my foes." After 
 preaching in this way for several weeks, 
 and seeing no particular effect, save that 
 the saints w ere quickened, and comforted ; 
 he began to question his call ; for, as he 
 observes, he thought if the Lord had cal- 
 led him to preach, he should see more 
 effect of his labor. This threw him into 
 a great trial, and he was about to give up 
 preaching. But hearing at that juncture 
 
50 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 that a great reformation had taken place- 
 in the town of Lee, N. H., he concluded 
 to go and see the work ^ and intended to 
 notify his brethren of his departure the 
 next Sabbath, and to go the week follow- 
 ing. However, he was happily disap- 
 pointed. The next Sabbath, April 20, 
 1777, while speaking to the people from 
 Titus ii. 14, " Who gave himself for us, 
 that he might redeem us from all iniquity, 
 and purify to himself a peculiar people 
 zealous of good works," the power of God 
 followed the word, and the people were 
 much affected ; but nothing was said vo- 
 cally till the meeting was dismissed, and 
 the people had gone out, when to his great 
 astonishment, he heard an outcry in the 
 street ; and going to the door, he found 
 the street full of people, and (locking from 
 every quarter. He ran into the midst of 
 the throng to find if possible the occasion 
 of d«e outcry. He found a poor widow 
 in great distress of soul. The moment he 
 approached her, she exclaimed, " O, Mr. 
 Randal, what shall I do ? I am a miser- 
 al \ undone sinner f?? Mr. Randal took 
 her by the hand, saying, " Come in, and I 
 
BE X J A Ml ^ RANDAL. 
 
 51 
 
 wiU tell you, ? 5 So she went in, and im- 
 mediately three others began to cry vo- 
 cally for mercy, and also inquired what 
 they must do to be saved. This extraor- 
 dinary event had a most powerful effect 
 on the whole congregation. Every one 
 appeared to be affected in a greater or less 
 degree. Some were mourning for sin, 
 while others were praising <3od, and giv- 
 ing glory to him for the wonderful dis- 
 plays of his power, and for his goodness 
 in visiting Newcastle ! In short, the pow- 
 er and glory of God seemed to fill the 
 house. Mr. Randal, now found no time 
 to go abroad; he had work enough at 
 home, and work too in which he delight- 
 ed. The work was so marvellous for a 
 while, and the opposing party were thrown 
 into such confusion among themselves, 
 that there was but little apparent opposi- 
 tion. People of all ranks flocked to 
 meeting to hear the new preacher. 
 
THE LIFE 0F 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 1. Randal preaches — Many are cut to 
 the heart — The poor widow is convert- 
 ed. 2. Persecution begins — Randal 
 highly threatened— JYarroivly escajies 
 death — A plot laid to tar and feather 
 him, but he escapes. 3. An armed mob 
 of forty men raised, who threaten to kill 
 him, but let him pass unmolested. 
 
 L Mr. Randal was now much encourag- 
 ed, while he saw the people flocking to his 
 meetings in crowds. At the next meeting, 
 he preached from Matt. xiii. 3 — 8, " And 
 he spake many things unto them in para- 
 bles, saying, behold, a sower went forth 
 to sow ; and as he sowed, some seeds fell 
 by the way side, and the fowls came and 
 devoured them up 5 some fell on stony 
 places, where they had not much earth ; 
 and forthwith they sprang up, because 
 they had no deepness of earth : And when 
 the sun was up, they were scorched ; and 
 because they had no root, they withered 
 away. And some fell among thorns ; and 
 
"BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 59 
 
 the thorns sprang up, and choked them. 
 But others fell on good ground, and 
 brotfght forth fruit, some an hundredfold, 
 some sixty fold, some thirty fold." 
 
 These morels were so suited to the oc- 
 casion, and so well applied, that the dis- 
 course had a marvellous effect on the 
 hearers, and many were cut to the heart 5 
 and quite a number were praying that 
 they might be like seed in the good ground. 
 
 The next day, he preached from Mark 
 -xii. 41 — 44, And Jesus sat over against 
 the treasury, and beheld how the people 
 cast money into the treasury 5 and many 
 that were rich cast in much. And there 
 came a certain poor widow, and threw in 
 two mites which make a farthing. And 
 he called unto his disciples and saith unto 
 them 5 verii) I say unto you, that this 
 poor widow hath cast more in, than all 
 they which have cast into the treasury. 
 For all they did cas* in of their abun- 
 dance, but she of her v ant did cast in all 
 that she had, even all her living.'" 
 
 This passage, was not less appropriate 
 than the above, and was attended with a 
 similar blessing. The poor widow, above 
 
THE LIFE 01 
 
 named, who cried for mercy in the street* 
 being present, arose, and made a public 
 offering of herself, soul and body, to the 
 Lord. The work of the Lord was won- 
 derful, and daily increased till about thirty 
 persons were hopefully converted. By 
 this time, however, those which had re- 
 ceived the seed by the way side, on stony 
 places, and among thorns, had almost 
 worn off their conviction, and the old 
 dragon lost no time in mustering his dis- 
 astered forces, and soon had them paraded 
 in their usual order. 
 
 2. The spirit of persecution now evi- 
 dently appeared in many ; and all the en- 
 emies of liberty and equality in the re- 
 gion were alarmed, and Mr. Randal was 
 highly threatened. Drums were beaten 
 for volunteers — mobs raised — tar and fea- 
 thers prepared, &c. 
 
 Here I must not omit to record several 
 instances which are stated in an extract 
 of his life, written by himself not long be- 
 fore his death. 
 
 He says, 66 Now persecution grew very 
 hot, and there was such threatening lan- 
 guage given out, that I really felt in dan- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 til 
 
 get of my life ; but I gave myself to pray- 
 er, and the Lx>rd very marvellously pre- 
 served me. As I was walking the street 
 one day, some one threw a large piece 
 of brick at me which brushed my hair, 
 on the back part of my head, and was 
 thrown with such violence that when it 
 struck the board fence, it broke to pieces. 
 Had I been but two inches further back 
 it must have split my head. O, may eter- 
 nal praise be given to him who shielded 
 my life. I looked, and saw the brick 
 when it struck the fence, and was about 
 to turn my head to see where k came 
 from, and who sent it, but a thought 
 struck my mind, I wont ; I don't want to 
 know. -Now I can pray, " Lay not this 
 sin to their charge. 5 ' If I should know, - 
 it may be, when I see them, I may feel 
 some hardness. One evening, a num- 
 ber came to my house and stood before 
 the door. They railed at and cursed me, 
 and said they would throw me into the 
 river. These, I believe, were chiefly 
 from a neighboring town. Once, I ap- 
 pointed a meeting in Newcastle on the 
 mainc; where a number collected. One 
 6 
 
THE LIFE 0F 
 
 of the selectmen of Rye, and one of thfc 
 selectmen of Newcastle, each having a 
 number of men with him, met at a gate, 
 where they thought I should pass, and 
 brought a bucket of tar, and a hanker- 
 chief full of feathers, in order to tar and 
 feather me ; but it so happened that I and 
 my. company went by water to the place 
 where the meeting was ; and the mob 
 knew it not, till after meeting was begun. 
 They were so exasperated at their disap- 
 pointment, that they tar and feathered the 
 two posts, and the beam of the gate from 
 end to end, and there it remained for a 
 long time, for a memorial of their folly. 
 Many that passed by had them in derision. 
 
 3. After recording the above, he men- 
 tions another very trying scene, through 
 \vhich he had to pass the same summer ; 
 but for some reason, conceals the name 
 of the town, where the affair took place ; 
 and only mentions the circumstances at- 
 tending, and the final result, which were 
 in substance as follows, viz. He was in- 
 vited by an individual to preach in a cer- 
 tain town, at a private house, and previ- 
 ous to the day appointed, he was frequent- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 63 
 
 ly told that the people of the town had 
 said, if he came there to preach they 
 would moh him. On the evening before 
 the appointment, one of the brethren came 
 to inform him, that it would not do for 
 him to go, for the town was all in an up- 
 roar. He, however, concluded that the 
 Lord had called him there to preach, and 
 accordingly went. As he was about enter- 
 ing the town, he called on an old friend, 
 who appeared to be very glad to see him, 
 but told him that the people were very 
 much agitated, and that they haci been 
 around the day before with a drum, beat- 
 ing for volunteers 5 Jhat they had raised 
 as many as forty men, who were then col- 
 lected at a tavern, which stood by the 
 road where he was to pass, to go to his^ 
 appointment 5 and also that he understood 
 that a certain man had offered them a bar- 
 rel of rum, if they would kill him. After 
 hearing the above, and much more to the 
 same purpose, Mr. Randal answered with 
 his usual firmness and aptness, , u that is 
 the devil's old regiment. He raised forty 
 men once before to kill brother Paul, but 
 he missed it, and I believe he will be dis- 
 
04 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 appointed now. I believe God has called 
 me to preach in the town, and I am re- 
 solved to go. I have no life, nor wife, nor 
 children, nor name, nor cause, but the 
 honor and cause of the blessed Jesus 5 and 
 I had better die a great many times over, 
 than to desert that cause and bring a re- 
 proach on it. All who came in, said all 
 they could to hinder him, and told him he 
 had better not venture. 
 
 He says, " I had none to encourage me, 
 but my blessed Master. 55 To form the eli- 
 "urnX lii aiscouragement, ine woman of the 
 house where the meeting was appointed, 
 eame a cross way tp meet him, and came 
 in crying, and said, " Mr. Randal, I have 
 come to tell you that it will not do for yon 
 to go to our house to day, for they will 
 kill you, and they threaten to do us much 
 harm. Mr. Randal replied, " Do not be 
 afraid, woman, you shall not be injured 
 by me. I must go into the town to preach 
 the gospel, and I don 5 t want a house to 
 preach in. I am willing to stand under a 
 tree, and speak to any who will hear me ; 
 I 5 11 run the risk of their harming me. 55 
 He and his friends then went on, and pas^- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 65 
 
 M the tavern, and although the mob was 
 there sure enough, not one of them ap- 
 peared, and there was not a dog to move 
 a tongue. At length they came to the 
 house where the meeting was appointed, 
 and finding the man calm and not affrigh- 
 tened- by their threatenings, they con- 
 cluded to have the meeting in the house. 
 After waiting awhile to see if the mcb 
 would come, Mr. Randal began his meet- 
 ing. He spake from Acts xiii. 46, " Then 
 Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, 
 it was necessary that the word of God 
 should first have been spoken to you : But 
 seeing ye put it far* from you, and judge 
 yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo ? 
 we turn to the gentiles. ?r 
 
 After a short introduction, as he was 
 about entering upon his doctrinal points, 
 behold, the mob appeared. This pro- 
 duced some disorder in the meeting. The 
 women being affright ened, ran out. The 
 men, however, kept their seats, and Mr. 
 Randal continued his discourse, and in- 
 stead Gf being intimidated at their appear- 
 ance, like Paul and Barnabas, he ivaxed 
 bold, and attended regularly to the exj>i&«- 
 6* 
 
66 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 nati on of the important subject . He says* 
 " As soon as I saw them I felt a most 
 blessed degree of the power of God drop 
 into my soul, and it appeared to me that 
 it would be impossible for them to touch 
 me ; and if they should pull down the 
 house, it would be impossible for them to 
 pull one stick of k upon my head ; for I 
 felt shielded all around with the power of 
 God." 
 
 The mob marched up to the corner of 
 the house y where they halted and formed 
 a line. It was so ordered by Divine 
 providence, that a remarkable shower 
 arose, and while Mr* Randal was loudly 
 blowing the gospel trumpet within, to the 
 waiting audience, the mob without wit- 
 nessed a scene somewhat similar to that 
 anciently witnessed by the stifTnecked He- 
 brews, near the base of Sinai, while Mo- 
 ses their inspired leader was talking with 
 God in the mount. He says, " It soon 
 began to thunder and rain very fast the 
 thunder was very heavy, and the lightning 
 was very terrible ; but there they stood 
 till the meeting was ended." This mar- 
 vellous shower, lasted about as long as- 
 
BEN /A MIS RANDAL. 
 
 6t 
 
 Mr. Randal's meeting. When the cloud 
 had passed over, he dismissed the assem- 
 bly and went out to the men, and sev- 
 eral of them shook hands with him, and 
 not one of them gave him an unhandsome 
 word. The mob then retired 5 and Mr. 
 RandaPs friends, supposing the danger to 
 be over, left him to go home alone. Mr. 
 Randal, after taking some refreshment, 
 between sunset and dark went on to an 
 evening appointment, which was on his 
 way home 5 and when he had rode about 
 a quarter of a mile from the 4 house, he 
 found the mob standing two abreast in the 
 road, which was surrounded by a thicket 
 of pine bushes. He rode up to them, and 
 as he approached, they parted to the right 
 and left, and gave him the path ; and as 
 he passed through them, they bowed and 
 wished him good night. " This," he says, 
 " was all the mobbing I got. O, the 
 infinite goodness of God, to unworthy me I 
 What shall I render to the Lord for all 
 his goodness ; I will take the cup of salva- 
 tion, and call upon the name of the Lord. 5 * 
 Here the candid reader will see that 
 Mr. RandaPs faith was brought to a fair 
 
G8 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 trial, and notwithstanding bis persecutors 
 were not suffered to lay violent hands on 
 him, yet it appears by every circumstance 
 that it was their intention either to have 
 done him corporal harm, or to have af- 
 fright one d him, and prevented him from 
 delivering the message, which God had 
 given him to deliver in that place. Had 
 he, under these impious threatenings and 
 appearances of danger, sought to have 
 saved his natural life, he must of course, 
 have lost his spiritual life, and brought a 
 reproach on the cause of the blessed Re- 
 deemer, strengthened the hands of the 
 wicked^ and probably emboldened his per- 
 secutors to have committed greater out- 
 rages. But, knowing his calling to be of 
 God, he committed his All to him, as un- 
 to a faithful Creator ; and with a firmness ' 
 and holy boldness, worthy of an ambassa- > 
 dor for Christ, he steadily pursued hi^t 
 journey, and delivered his message ; in 
 doing which he offered his life upon the # 
 gospel altar, as Abraham offered his son 
 on mount Moriah. And as Abraham, 
 when sufficiently tried, found k a ram for a 
 burnt-offering, caught in a thicket by the 
 
BFNJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 69 
 
 Horns ; so our gospel hero, after passing 
 through every trial relative to this alarm- 
 ing affair, found the mob in a thicket, with 
 as little power, and probably with as little 
 inclination of doing harm, as Abraham" s 
 ram. 
 
 How evident it is from the above, that 
 he who seeks to save his life shall lose it ; 
 but he who will lose his life for Christ's 
 sake and the gospel, shall find it 5 and that 
 they who trust in the Lord shall never 
 be confounded. Ministers should never 
 count their lives or any thing else dear to 
 them, in comparison with Christ and his 
 cause. But if in danger, should say like 
 the pious Psalmist, " At what time I am 
 afraid I will trust in the Lord. 5 ' Mr. 
 Randal now left the scene in gospel tri- 
 umph, having a deep and enlarged sense 
 of the goodness of God, and his divine^ 
 protection. He was now if possible more 
 confirmed in his mission than ever. His 
 faith was greatly increased and his strength 
 renewed. He says, " I felt the word of 
 the Lord, like fire shut up in my bones ; 
 I had kept back till I was weary with re- 
 pining, and my time appeared very short \ 
 
70 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 for I was so weak that I could hardly go 
 about, yet I used to preach every day, 
 and sometimes three times a day." Fi- 
 nally, it appears by his narrative that he 
 spared no pains to win souls to Christ, 
 and his gospel reward was in proportion 
 to his labors. He sowed much and reap- 
 ed much. He went forth weeping, bear- 
 ing precious seed, and came again with 
 rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him. 
 
 ~>*«@®«« 
 CHAPTER VII 
 1. Randal preaches in the country — Is in- 
 vited to New-Durham — Passes through 
 Bailing ton — Sees great effect of his 
 labors — Is persecuted, or rather re- 
 proached and railed at. 2. Great mov- 
 ing at JYeiv -Durham — A day of fasting 
 agreed on, to inquire of the Lord wheth- 
 er it would be right for him to settle in 
 the town. 3. His removal. 4. The 
 Baptists in JXeiv-England all in union. 
 5. Randal called upon to tell why he 
 did not preach the doctrine of election. 
 
 I . Mr. Randal now began to travel in- 
 to the country, and preached part of the- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 n 
 
 time in Madbury, N. H. and in other 
 places adjacent, and saw much of the 
 glory of God in the conversion of souls, 
 and increase of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 About this time, several men from the 
 town of New-Durham, heard him preach, 
 and invited him to make them a visit, ear- 
 nestly entreating him to come and preach 
 in the town where they lived. A way be^ 
 ang opened t>y the providence of God, he 
 soon after went. On his way he passed 
 through Barrington, N. H. where he at- 
 tended several meetings, and saw much 
 fruit of his labor. He says, * It was a 
 wonderful journey. Wherever I went, 
 my blessed Master was with me. The 
 power of God fell on old and young ; and 
 sinners were crying for mercy, and many 
 were rejoicing in God all through Bar- 
 rington ; but some opposed me with great 
 rage, and called after me, and railed, and 
 threatened, but the Lord preserved me. 
 
 2. When he came to New-Durham, 
 and had preached the word there, he found 
 a great moving on the minds of the peo* 
 pie in general, and several of the inhabit- 
 ants were urgent to have him move his 
 
THE LIFE Of 
 
 family into the town, but he gave them no 
 encouragement. He, however, made them 
 another visit the ensuing fall, and finding 
 them still urgent, he told them -if he could 
 know that it was the will of the Lord, he 
 would come. It was then thought propt- 
 er, by him and them, on an occasion so 
 important, to hold a day of fasting and 
 prayer, and so inquire the mind of the 
 Lord, with respect to this thing. This 
 being done, all were satisfied that the thing 
 proceeded from the Lord. Accordingly, 
 a respectable committee were appointed, 
 and sent with proposals of settlement to 
 Mr. Randal, who having become satisfied 
 that it was his duty to go, answered them 
 in the affirmative 5 but told them that he 
 could hear nothing -about proposals, for 
 he never intended t© be confined to any 
 people, but meant to be every person's 
 minister. However, he said, " I have a 
 family, and am not able to move them 
 mny further than I can carry them by wa- 
 iter ; and if you will carry them and me to 
 your town, I don't expect you will let us 
 lie out doors, but I expect you will find 
 me a house, and I mean that these hands 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 «f mine shall administer to my necessi- 
 ties. 9 
 
 3. Thus the business was soon con- 
 cluded 5 and on the 23d of March, 1778, 
 Mr. Randal with his family left Newcas- 
 tle, and on the 26th of the same montk 
 arrived at New-Durham. 
 
 This year was remarkable for reformat 
 tions ; the work of the Lord spread much 
 in several towns, particularly in Gilman- 
 ton, Loudon and Canterbury, N. H., and 
 many were brought to rejoice in the 
 Lord 5 and several were called into pub- 
 lic testimony, Mr. Randal spent his 
 time chiefly in preaching and travelling 
 the country, and mentions that he had 
 many afflictions to pass through. 
 
 4. Here I would just remark, that 
 from the time of Mr. Randal's baptism to 
 this time, nothing had transpired or 
 place, to cause any division or dis 
 among the Baptist brethren in New-Eng- 
 land. All were in love and union. Ail 
 were in harmony ^ unanimity pervaded 
 the whole. Mr. Randal, to be sure, was 
 of general sentiments, and did not know 
 but that it was the case with all his breth- 
 
n 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ren. All were engaged to exalt the name 
 of Christ, and to describe to their fellow 
 mortals their undone situation without 
 him, and the way of life and salvation by 
 him. The Baptist ministers, at that time, 
 made a very humble appearance, and ob- 
 served the strictest rules of temperance. 
 They considered Christ as their only ex- 
 ample, and his apostles as their learned 
 guides. They were exceedingly tenacious 
 ©f scriptural doctrine, scripture words, 
 and scripture rules. They used a very 
 common diet, and appeared in very mod- 
 est and plain apparel. Their very ap- 
 pearance seemed to command the respect 
 and reverence of every candid beholder. 
 I recollect, when I was a youth, that they 
 used to pass by .my father's, in companies, 
 to attend their great meetings, and the 
 sight of them always put me under con- 
 viction. I thought they looked like the 
 apostles of Christ ; and notwithstanding 
 they were held in derision by the people 
 with whom I was connected, and I was 
 also in my sins ; yet there was a testimo- 
 ny in my conscience, similar to that an- 
 ciently expressed by the soothsaying dam- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 75 
 
 sel : " These men are the servants of the 
 most high God, that shew unto ns the way 
 of salvation." 
 
 It would have been considered almost 
 a crime, in those days, for a Baptist min- 
 ister to appear in the desk in a black 
 coat, with black-balled boots, or in a dry 
 warm day with gloves on his hands, an^ 
 an umbrella over his head, to keep the 
 sun from shining on him. Such an one, 
 would have been considered rather a mer- 
 chant of Babylon, than a follower of the 
 despised Nazarene. 
 
 Nothing had been said about Calvinism 
 or Armmianism. Mr. Randal says, "As 
 the doctrine of Calvin had not been in 
 dispute among us, I had not considered 
 whether I believed it or not. But as the 
 Lord had shewed me an universal atone- 
 ment, and fulness enough in Christ for ail 
 men — the appearance of g race to all men 
 — that the call of the gospel was to all, 
 and that God was not willing that any 
 should perish — that same love constrained 
 me to go forth, and call upon all men to 
 co ne to Christ and be saved. 99 Mr. 
 Randal was, at that time, a regular mem- 
 
THE I.IFE OF 
 
 ber of Berwick church, and for any thing- 
 that he knew, in good standing. He went 
 on preaching from place to place, as he 
 thought he was led by the Spirit. The 
 reformation increased, converts were mul- 
 tiplied, and love and harmony prevailed 
 among the brethren. But alas ! the 
 scene soon changed, and trials succeeded. 
 
 5. Mr. Randal soon found himself in a 
 place too strait for him. He was one 
 day very unexpectedly called upon by 
 one of his old brethren in the ministry in 
 a public assembly, to tell why he did not 
 preach election, as Mr. Calvin held it. 
 Mr. Randal replied, " Because I do not 
 believe it." Upon hearing this, the min- 
 ister fell into dispute with him, and the. 
 longer they conversed on the subject, the 
 more they differed ; and, finally, a com- 
 plete separation "was the result. Bat not 
 without several more sharp trials, which 
 will be described in the sequel. 
 
 Previous to this, Mr. Randal had con- 
 sidered the scriptures to be the oracles of 
 God, and read them for the sole purpose 
 of knowing what they testify concerning 
 Him, and what duties He requires of men*, 
 
benjamin Sandal. 
 
 if 
 
 together with the rewards promised to the 
 obedient, and punishments denounced up- 
 on the disobedient; without inquiring 
 particularly into their systematical con- 
 struction. But the above attack put him 
 upon thinking ; and he began now to 
 study more deeply upon the subjects con- 
 tained in the bible, and to theorize on 
 what he read. The more he read and 
 thought on those things, the more he was 
 established in his first principles, i. e. the 
 principles with which his mind was so 
 deeply impressed at the time of his con- 
 version. For although there were sever- 
 al texts in the writings of St. Paul, whiqfe 
 are hard to be understood, and which he 
 at that time was not able to construe* 
 being young, and not historically ac- 
 quainted with the circumstances which 
 existed at the time those things were writ- 
 ten. Yet, finding the tenor of scripture 
 in his favor, he concluded that as all 
 scripture was given by inspiration of God, 
 they must all be right, and all consistent 
 with each other ; and of course these 
 texts, if rightly understood, must contain 
 a sense coincident with the rest of the bi- 
 
78 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ble. He also concluded that as God had 
 led him to understand many other passa- 
 ges, He would also in due time, lead him 
 to understand these. He says, " The 
 more any one disputed with me, the strong- 
 er I grew in my sentiments ; because it 
 made me search the scriptures more, and 
 pray more earnestly to God, for a right 
 Understanding of them." 
 
 «+»©@®«— 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 1. A meeting appointed at Gitmanton— 
 I Randal called upon to answer for him- 
 self and his antagonist publicly de- 
 clares that he has no fellowship with 
 Mm, in his principles — Randal's reply. 
 2. He is again called xipon to answer 
 for his errors, and is dropped tcithout 
 rejection or dismission — Much public 
 excitement. 3. Randal becomes a 
 member of a separate church, and is 
 ordained. 4. Church embodied at 
 JYew-Durham. 
 
 1. In July, 1779, a meeting being ap- 
 pointed for that purpose, at the Baptist 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 79 
 
 meeting-house in Gilmanton, Mr. Randal 
 was called upon to answer for himself 
 before a public assembly. A debate en- 
 sued which continued the greater part of 
 two clays 5 and at the close, the minister, 
 who had been principal in the debate, 
 arose, and made a public declaration in 
 the following words, " I have no fellow- 
 ship with brother Randal, in his princi- 
 ples." Upon hearing this, Mr. Randal 
 stepped upon a seat, and said, 44 It makes 
 no odds with me, who disowns me, as 
 long as I know that the Lord owns me.'* 
 ? And now let that God be God, who an- 
 swers by fire ; and that people, be God's 
 people, w hom he owneth and blesseth." 
 
 2. Soon after this, he was called upon 
 again to answer for what they called his 
 errors, before another public assembly, at 
 Madbury meeting-house. Also, a broth- 
 er by the name of Daniel Lord, was call- 
 ed to the same meeting on the same oc- 
 casion. He records nothing very partic- 
 ular of what transpired at that place; 
 only says, " They had us in a great meet- 
 ing-house, before a great assembly, and 
 disputed with us as long as they saw fit J 
 
so 
 
 THE LIFE Q F 
 
 and then let us go, without either owning 
 or disowning us. He adds, u I applied to 
 the church to which I belonged, for a 
 discission, but they would never grant it. 
 Neither was there ever a committee ap- 
 pointed by the churchy to labor with me, 
 that ever I knew of 5 and so they let me 
 alone. 59 
 
 These public and sharp labors with Mr. 
 Randal, had no conciliating effects ; but 
 rather tended to increase the division. 
 Much was said about Randal and his 
 doctrine, and the public excitement was 
 very great. Almost every body was 
 searching the scriptures, to see what doc- 
 trine they contained, and what principles 
 to adopt 5 and as fast as they got satisfi- 
 ed, they took a stand on one side or the 
 other, and a visible separation began to 
 take place through all the region. 
 
 3. About the beginning of 1779, a 
 church, embodied by Eld. Edward Lock, 
 in Loudon and Canterbury, N. H., sep- 
 arated themselves, and protested against 
 Calvin election. In August, the same 
 year, the brethren in Barrington who had 
 been considered a branch of the Berwick 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 Si 
 
 churchy being of general sentiments, em- 
 bodied into a church, and became sepa- 
 rate 5 and Eld. Toser Lord, who having 
 been previously ordained at Lebanon 5 
 Me., by.Br. Samuel Shepard and others, 
 separated himself from the Calvinistie 
 church, and the same fall, became a 
 member of the church in Barrington. In 
 31 arch, 1780, Mr. Randal was received 
 into the fellowship of the same churchy 
 and on the 5th day of the ensuing Aprils 
 he was publicly ordained, at New-Dur- 
 ham, to the work of an evangelist. 
 
 The ordination was performed in the 
 following manner, viz. Elder Toser Lord 
 preached a sermon suited to the occa- 
 sion, from Acts xiii. 2, 3 ; " As they 
 ministered to the Lord and fasted, the 
 Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas 
 and Saul, for the ivork ichereunto I haw 
 called them, and when they had fasted, 
 and prayed, they laid their hands on 
 them, and sent them away." Elder Lord 
 also gave the charge. Elder Edward 
 Lock gave the right hand of fellowship. 
 Here Mr. Randal took the title of Elder 
 Randal. A title which I shall frequently 
 
82 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 make use of in the sequel, instead of Mr. 
 Randal, being more familiar both to me 
 and the people of the connexion. 
 
 4. Elder Randal now began his gos- 
 pel career, and laid the foundation of the 
 connexion, now extending over a great 
 part of North America, commonly known 
 by the denomination of Free Will Bap- 
 tist. 
 
 The circumstances attending this mem- 
 orable event, he records in about the fol- 
 lowing words, u There being a consider- 
 able number of brethren and sisters in 
 New-Durham and its vicinity, we had it 
 in contemplation to embody as a church 
 by ourselves, and were still of opinion 
 that there must be some written articles of 
 faith, and a written covenant for us to 
 sign ; although we concluded that the 
 scriptures of truth were the only rule of 
 faith and practice. 
 
 It was, therefore, agreed that I should 
 write such articles and such a covenant as 
 I thought would do, and lay the same be- 
 fore the brethren for them to judge of. I 
 accordingly wrote thirteen articles which 
 may be seen by referring to the church re- 
 
 I 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. S3 
 
 cord, vol. i. I also wrote the following 
 covenant, which I here insert for the sat- 
 isfaction of those who may wish to know 
 how this denomination first embodied. 
 
 The Covenant. 
 
 " We do now declare that we have 
 given ourselves to God $ and do . now 
 agree to give ourselves to each other in 
 love and fellowship 5 and do also agree 
 to take the scriptures of truth for the rule 
 of our faith and practice, respecting our 
 duty toward God, our neighbors, and our- 
 selves. 
 
 We do promise to practice all the com- 
 mands in the New Testament of our Lord 
 and Savior Jesus Christ, so far as they 
 are now, or shall be made known to us 
 by the light of the Holy Spirit of truth, 
 without which, we are sensible, we can- 
 not attain to the true knowledge thereof. 
 We also promise to bear each other's bur- 
 dens, and so fulfil the law of love, which 
 is the law of Christ. We do further agree 
 to give liberty for the improvement of the 
 gifts of the brethren, and to keep up the 
 worship of God, and not to forsake the 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 assembling of ourselves together, as the 
 manner of some is. We do likewise fur- 
 ther agree not' to receive any person into 
 fellowship, except they give a satisfactory 
 evidence of a change in life and heart ; 
 and also promise to submit to the order of 
 the Gospel as above. Amen." 
 
 " After the above named articles, and 
 covenant were drawn up and laid before 
 the members, on the 30th of June, 1780. 
 we all, in a solemn manner, by prayer 
 and supplication to the Lord, covenanted 
 together in the fear of God, and signed 
 our names to the above instrument. This 
 is the beginning of the now large and ex- 
 tensive connexion, called Free Will 
 Baptist." 
 
 Here, the candid reader will see how 
 God owned this good man, and blessed 
 his labors in the gospel, notwithstanding 
 his brethren considered him to be in great 
 errors. However, he was now pleasant- 
 ly situated, and surrounded with a compa- 
 ny of loving brethren, of his own senti- 
 ments, and, as we may say, with a table 
 furnished before him in the presence of his 
 
#. t • 
 
 BENJAMIN RANDAL. 85 
 
 enemies. Yet he was almost continually 
 laboring under peculiar trials in his own 
 mind ; for although he was confident that 
 God had converted his soul, and had call- 
 ed him to preach the gospel, there were 
 several passages of scripture which he did 
 not fully understand, and as he was now 
 placed as the mark of opposition, his op* 
 posers would often throw those passages 
 in his way, in order to confute hi n, viz. 
 siclf as Rom. viii. 29, "Whom lie did 
 foreknow, them he also did predestinate," 
 £lc. Eph. i 4, "' According as he hath 
 chosen us in him, before vhe foundation of 
 the world." And Ro:n. ix. 13, "Jacob 
 have I loved, and Esau have I hated." 
 " Many .are called, but few are chosen," 
 &lc. When any of his ojrposers threw any 
 of those passages in his way, he would 
 not pretend to construe them, but confess- 
 ed that lie did not fully know the meaning 
 of them, and at the same time would tell 
 them, that they would prove nothing for 
 them ; and that he believed that if fuljy 
 understood they contained a sense which 
 run parallel with the universal call of the 
 gospel. 
 8 
 
J * 
 
 86 THE LIFE 0*£ 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 1 . Randal is brought to a stand — Expe- 
 riences a remarkable manifestation of 
 light. 2. Anecdote — His first visit to 
 Little-falls — success in preaching. 3. 
 Opjjosiiion ttt the time of baptism. 4. 
 The church embodied at Tamivorth and 
 ano ther in Barring ton JV. H. 
 
 1. After preaching a while, Elder Ran- 
 fell into a great trial, in respect to the 
 meaning of those controverted subjects. 
 At length his trial so increased, that he 
 was brought quite to a stand, and said he 
 fen? as if he could not preach, unless he 
 could have those subjects opened to his 
 mind. Soon after this he was thrown into 
 great distress of soul, in which time he 
 cried constantly to the Lord to be taught. 
 He said, he felt no freedom to search any 
 Writings to get the opinions of men ; he 
 even felt forbidden to do it. 
 
 Here he relates an extraordinary mani- 
 festation, which he experienced in the end 
 of his trial, and which proved satisfactory 
 
BENJAMIN KANDAL. 
 
 87 
 
 10 him in respect to the meaning of those 
 passages. He says, " Sometime in July, 
 1 780, I was in great trial of mind, on ac- 
 count of the above texts ; and in order 
 that I might not he discovered by any, I 
 walked into a remote place, where I had 
 a piece of corn growing, and went into 
 the midst of it. My soul was in great 
 agony, I sat down upon a rock and was 
 praying to my heavenly Father to be 
 taught. All at once, it seemed as if the 
 Lord denied to teach me. This increas- 
 ed my trial, and I cried, Lord, why may 
 I not be taught ? And the answer was, 
 " because thou hast too many right hands, 
 and too mmiy right eyes." I said, "Lord, 
 what are my right bands, and right eyes V 9 
 And it appeared to me that they were my 
 tradi-ions, which I still held, and my 6^d 
 brethren whom I had come out from 5 for 
 although I had left them, I was too much 
 filing upon them, and had not fully re- 
 nounced their doctrines and opinions. I 
 sa w too, that I was too much incumbered 
 with natural connexions. I saw that I 
 needed much purifying and refilling; I 
 said, Lord, here I am, take me, and do 
 
THE LIFE «P 
 
 with me as thou wilt. I freely surrender- 
 ed my seif, that moment, into his hands; 
 and O ! the flaming power, which instant- 
 ly passed through my soul. It would be 
 impossible to give any person an adequate 
 idea of it, unless they had experienced the 
 same. It was so amazingly powerful, and 
 began to strip away every thing frtfm me, 
 in such a manner, that I thought I was 
 going to lose all I ever had. I began to 
 hold back a part ; but immediately some- 
 thing whispered in my soul, saying, Didst 
 thou not resign up all ? I said, yea, Lord, 
 and here I am. The power then increas- 
 ed in my Soul until it stripped me of eve- 
 ry created thing, as to my affections. I 
 tried to recollect my brethren and connec- 
 tions, but I could not get any feeling sense 
 of them. I had no feeling of any thing, 
 but the great and awful, terrible and 
 dreadful majesty of God, which sunk me, 
 as it were, into nothing. When I was 
 thus stripped, it appeared to me that I 
 saw a white robe brought and put over 
 me, which covered me all over. I looked 
 down all over me, and I appeared as white 
 as snow. A perfect calm, an awful rever- 
 
BENJAM'IN RANDAL. 89 
 
 ence, and solemn Tear of God, pervaded 
 all my soul. A bible was then presented 
 before the eyes of my mind, and I heard 
 a s • ill small voire, saying look therein. 
 I looked in at the beginning of Genesis, 
 and looked out at Revelation. I saw all 
 the scriptures in perfect harmony ; and 
 those texts, about which my opposers 
 were contending, were all opened to my 
 mind ; and I saw that they ran in perfect 
 connection with the universal love of God 
 to men — the universal atonement in the 
 work of redemption, by Jesus Christ, who 
 tasted death for every man — the universal 
 appearance of g race to all men, and with 
 the universal call of the gospel; and, glo- 
 ry to God ! my soul has never been in 
 any trials about the meaning of those 
 scriptures since. Afcer passing through 
 the above, the scene was withdrawn. I 
 came to myself, and was sitiijig on the 
 rock, and all flowing with sweat, and svas 
 so weak that I co lu hardly sit up. I ob- 
 served the sun, and found I had been in 
 this exercise as much as one aud a half 
 hour. I never could tell whether I was 
 in the body or not," 
 8** 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 It would doubtless have been gratifying 
 to my readers, if Elder Randal had given 
 a short specimen of his extraordinary view 
 of the construction, and plain meaning of 
 those controverted subjects, to which he 
 alludes. All candid christians, no doubt, 
 will admit that the scriptures of truth are 
 in perfect harmony ; and if rightly and 
 fully understood, contain no paradoxes. 
 Yet good men of different persuasions, 
 have different views of the meaning of 
 scriptures, and are naturally apt to put 
 such constructions on them, as will best 
 prove their favorite systems, and promote 
 their favorite objects. 
 
 The partizans of all denominations are 
 lo dly proclaiming, that the scriptures are 
 all in unison with their sentiments, and go 
 to prove their doctrines. Some men pre- 
 sume that if they can select as many sim- 
 ple verses, or half verses as there are ca- 
 nonical books in the bible, and can by 
 any mode of alligation without any re- 
 gard to their connections, put them in such 
 order, as to make them appear to prove 
 some darling doctrine, whi h they may af- 
 fect to hold, under any pretext y\ hatever ? 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 91 
 
 they will even dare to affirm, that all the 
 bible goes to prove their system. 
 
 Elder Randal, however, was not of the 
 above description : but was quite the re- 
 verse. He ever appeared to entertain the 
 highest sense of the authenticity of the ho- 
 ly scriptures, He believed they were 
 written by holy men, inspired by God for 
 that purpose 5 and that they contain every 
 thing necessary for us to believe and prac- 
 tice. He also considered it to be almost 
 an unpardonable sin, for any one wilfully 
 to add to, or take away from that sacred 
 book. He considered any man eq mlly 
 obnoxious, who should dare to wrest any 
 part of the scriptures, for the sake of 
 maintaining or supporting any favorite 
 tenet. He also considered it gross pre- 
 sumption for himself or any other mfin, 
 in the capacity of a public teacher, to of- 
 fer an explanation upon any passage of 
 scripture, unless he was led understand* 
 ingly into the same, by the spirit of 
 God. 
 
 It might further be remarked that El- 
 der Randal was not one of those disrip'cs, 
 who keep their light under the bed or 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 bushel 5 but at all times and on all occa- 
 sions, he ever appeared to be willing to 
 set his light on a candlestick^ that it might 
 give light to all who came into the house. 
 Neither was he like those preachers who 
 strive to please every body, and accom- 
 modate their discourses to the opinions of 
 those who hear them; bat he zealously 
 maintained his opinions at hone and 
 abroad, before his friends and his foes, his 
 admirers and persecutors, without seeking 
 the applause of the one or fearing the re- 
 proach of the other. I recollect of hear- 
 ing him say/ not long before his death, 
 that he defied any man to prove that ever 
 he preached any more than one doctrine 
 wherever he had travelled. 
 
 2. The Following anecdote will give 
 the reader a specimen of his manner of 
 dealing with those v^hom he thought han- 
 dled the word of God deceitfully. A min- 
 ister in high standing having an occasion- 
 al call to preach in New-Durham, Eider 
 Randal with others, turned out to hear 
 him ; and he invited the preacher to snp 
 with him. S pper hem? over, the follow- 
 ing conversation look place. 
 
BENJAMIN RANBAL. 
 
 M. Brother Randal, I preach as free 
 as yon do. I have to-day. 
 
 R. I know you tried to, hut I could see 
 your bare spots. However, I believe a 
 great deal of what you have said to-day \ 
 and should have said Amen, if I had 
 thought you believed it yourself ; but 
 there was something in me, that kept say- 
 ing ail the while you was preaching, " He 
 is a hypocrite — he is a hypocrite. He has 
 a mitten for either hand. When he is 
 with the Predes'inarians, then he is a 
 preat Predesiinarian ; and when he is with 
 the Free Wiilers, then he is a great Free 
 Wilier. 55 
 
 M. Weft, brother Randal, I believe 
 there is no one that will ever be able to say m 
 that of you ; for I believe when you are 
 with those who think differently from you, 
 you sway the harder up'on your principles. 
 
 R. That I do, indeed. And I do it, if 
 possible, to convince them of their errors. 
 
 This manner of plain dealing often stir- 
 red up Elder Randal's enemies 5 and 
 caused them to speak reproachfully and 
 diminutively of him 5 but, at the same 
 time, procured him a great many friends ; 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 for it often happened that those who were 
 his most violent opposers, by hearing his 
 plain and pointed discourses, were convin- 
 ced, and became his most loving breth- 
 ren. His honest zeal and assiduous labors 
 were often rewarded with large companies 
 of new -born souls ; w hile others, of more 
 acquired abilities, have died without see- 
 ing much fruit *of their labors. Elder 
 Randal now felt his heart greatly enlarg- 
 ed, and began to feel impressions on his 
 mind to travel more extensively. The 
 same year, he travelled east as far as Sa- 
 co river, and made his first visit to Little- 
 Falls, (now called Hollis.) A reforma- 
 tion took place, and spread in that region, 
 m till a church was embodied consisting of 
 one hundred members. But here, as well 
 as in other places, he met with opposition. 
 
 3. One day as He was about to adminis- 
 ter baptism to a number of candidates, and 
 for that purpose repaired to a small mill- 
 pond, it being the most convenient place 5 
 the man who owned the pond, feeling great 
 opposition to Randal, resolved to deprive 
 him of the privilege of baptising in it. He 
 ran immediately to his mill, and hoisted 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 So 
 
 both gates to draw off the water, and so 
 disappoint him. Randal observing that 
 the water was fast falling, without know- 
 ing the intention of the man, said, " Our 
 heavenly Father has given us water to 
 baptise in, and we must improve it while 
 we have it and began to baptise. The 
 man finding himself disappointed, ran wi th 
 great violence to the bridge, and taking 
 up a club in his hand, threw it at Randal 
 as he was baptising ; but some of the peo- 
 ple caught hold of his arm, and stopped 
 its force, so that it fell short and dropped 
 into the water. Several clubs were af- 
 terward sent ; but the mischief was pre- 
 vented in the same manner. Randal ob- 
 served that clubs were falling into the wa- 
 ter, but being solemnly engaged, he made 
 no inquiry, until the candidates were all 
 baptised ; when coming up out of the wa- 
 il ter, and seeing a tumult among the people 
 on the bridge, he inquired the cause of it. 
 Upon which he was told that there was 
 a man on the bridge, who had been try- 
 ing to kill him while he had been baptis- 
 ing. " Where is the dear soul," said 
 Randal^ " Let me go and speak to him." 
 
pi 
 
 so 
 
 THE LITE Q P 
 
 Crowding through the people, he came t© 
 the man, and began to address him in the 
 most loving manner. But the man see- 
 ing Randal, immediately setting his brow 
 as brass, and his neck as an iron sinew, 
 drew back his arm, and directed his fist 
 at Randal's face ; and no doubt the blow 
 might have proved painful, had it not been 
 for the all-preserving hand of God, through 
 the interference of several friendly persons 
 who were standing by, and suddenly prill- 
 ed Randal out of the man's reach. " Why 
 did you not let him strike me V said Ran- 
 dal, "it might have been the means of the 
 conversion of his dear soul." He never 
 appeared to value what he suffered, if he 
 could but see souls converted. This same 
 year, the work of the Lord spread in a 
 very rapid manner through the country 
 roi.nd about, and many were hopefully 
 converted. 
 
 4>. The ensuing February, 1781, he es- 
 tablished a church in Tamworth, N. H., 
 and the work of God spread in a wonder- 
 ful manner through that region, which was 
 then a wilderness, but thinly inhabited. 
 The same year, also, another church was 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 97 
 
 embodied inBarrington, N. H., consisting 
 of a large number of members. These 
 events greatly encouraged Elder Randal. 
 He exerted himself to the utmost, anl 
 spared no pains to spread the news of free 
 salvation to his perishing fellow mortals. 
 The times were hard, money very scarce, 
 the people poor, and he in indigent cir- 
 cumstances, having now a wife and five lit- 
 tle children, and no salary, only w hat the 
 people pleased to give him, which was 
 very little. But he arose early, sat up late, 
 and ate the bread of carefulness, working 
 w hen-he could for the maintenance of his 
 family 5 but, making preaching his main 
 business, he often went hungry himself 
 for the sake of feeding others with the 
 bread of life. 
 
 ~»*©@©<«*- 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 J. Randal makes his ftcst visit to Kenne- 
 beck — Preaches at Parker's Island and 
 Woolwich. 2. Meets with opposition — 
 Preaches on a grave. 3. Embodies a 
 church at Woolwich, and returns. 
 1. Elder Randal now began to feel 
 
 powerful drawings in his mind to travel 
 9 
 
98 
 
 THE LIFE *F 
 
 eastwardly, and says, "I had very great 
 impressions on my mind to travel eastward 
 as far as Kennebeck river 5 but felt op- 
 posed to the impression, as I thought it 
 appeared impracticable under the existing 
 circumstances 5 for it being then about 
 the close of the revolutionary war, money 
 was very scarce, and I had but little, and 
 knew if I went, I must be altogether a 
 stranger in a strange country 5 and be- 
 sides, it was then a new thing, in this 
 country, for ministers to travel from place 
 to place, to preach 5 and that such were 
 considered the common disturbers of The 
 peace, breakers up of churches, &lc." But 
 having been under those impressions for 
 some time, he says, " On the last day of 
 September, 1781, I set out alone, and 
 travelled as far as Saco river, where I 
 found a brother who was willing to ac- 
 company me to the end of the journey. 
 The Lord granted us his presence, and 
 prepared our way before us, and we met 
 with much kindness on the way. 55 
 
 They crossed the Kennebeck river at 
 Georgetown, and held their first meeting 
 or* Parker's Island. Here they were 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 greatly encouraged. The people were 
 very solemn, and desirous again to bear 
 the word. They, therefore, appointed to 
 preach at the same place the next day. At 
 this meeting they received still greater en- 
 couragement. The power of the Lord 
 was manifested among the people 5 many 
 were stricken under powerful conviction, 
 and the work resulted in a very glorious 
 reformation. 
 
 The next day, Oct. 2, 1781, Elder 
 Randal made his first visit to Woolwich, 
 Me., where he found a number of pre- 
 cious christians, who were longing for the 
 coming of the Lord with power. He 
 preached his first sermon, from Solomon's 
 Song i. 7, 8 5 " Tell me, O thou whom my 
 soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou 
 makest thy flock to rest at noon ; for why 
 should I be as one that turneth aside to 
 the flocks of thy companions ? If thou 
 knowest not, O thou fairest among wo- 
 men, go thy way forth by the footsteps of 
 the flock, and feed thy kids beside the 
 Shepherd's tents." When he mentioned 
 the words, the power of . God seemed to 
 accompany them to the hearts of the 
 
100 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 saints, and a marvellous season ensued. 
 The children of God appeared like so 
 many sheep, hearing the voice of their 
 shepherd and running to meet him, and 
 leaping into the pasture where he feedeth* 
 and where he inaketh them to rest. The 
 followers of the Lamb seemed unable to 
 contain their joys, and as Gideon's men 
 every one broke their pitchers, and cried, 
 "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon ;' ? 
 so these praised God and the Lamb in a 
 wonderful manner. 
 
 This marvellous display of Immanr.ePs 
 power, excited almost universal attention, 
 and the people of all ranks turned out to 
 hear the new preacher. The next day, he 
 preached again at the same place, from 
 Philip, ii. 9 ; " Wherefore God hath high- 
 ly exalted him, and given him a name 
 tvhieh is above every name : Thai at the 
 name of Jesus every knee should boiv, of 
 tilings in heaven, and things in earth, 
 and things under the earth ; and that 
 every tongue should confess. Jesus Christ 
 to be Lord, to the glory of God the Fa- 
 ther. V This also was a day which will 
 long be remembered. Hundreds attended, 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 101 
 
 many of whom upon hearing the discourse 
 were solemnly convinced of their duty, 
 and being pricked in their hearts, be?an 
 to do as every body should do, (i, e.) bow 
 the knee to Jesus, and confess him to be 
 Lord to the glory of God the Father. 
 The most carnal were struck, and cried 
 for mercy, and the work spread with 
 mighty power throughout the vicinity. 
 
 At the close of this meeting, another 
 new scene presented. A number offered 
 themselves for baptism, and he repaired 
 to the water and bap-ised five. He says, 
 64 although there were about three hundred 
 persons present, there were no more than 
 throe that ever before saw baptism ad- 
 ministered by immersion." He observes, 
 that as far as he co;dd learn, this was the 
 first instance of the kind which had then 
 taken nlaoe east of North-Yarmouth. I 
 would here remark, that Mary Savage 
 (now Mary Card) was one of the above 
 n v and although blind from her birth, 
 she has ever been blessed with spiritual 
 eve-si ^ht, and has been a very useful niem- 
 hev, and yet remains a mother in Israel. 
 
 2, By this time, however? the ministers 
 9* 
 
102 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 and members of the old churches in that 
 region had become much alarmed. Some 
 said one thing and some another, and not- 
 withstanding they were generally strong 
 Calvinists, believing that God for his osvix 
 glory, had foreordained whatsoever comes 
 to pass ; they were quite unreconciled 
 to this dispensation, and manifested great 
 fear that it would result in the destruc- 
 tion of their doctrine, and the overthrow 
 of their churches. 
 
 One instance will suffice as a specimen 
 of the opposition with which he met. I 
 was told by hiui and by others, that he 
 was invited to preach in a certain meet- 
 ing-house in the region, and attended at 
 the time appointed. When he came to 
 the place, a large congregation of people 
 had gathered before the meeting-house^ 
 and the parson of the parish was among 
 the rest, who stepped up to Randal and 
 demanded of him to tell by what authority 
 he did these things, viz., to go and appoint 
 meetings in parishes which were not his 
 own. Randal very readily informed him 
 that he was called and authorized of God, 
 tg go into aJl the world, and preach the 
 
BENJAMIN K A N DAL. 
 
 103 
 
 gospel to every creature. The parson 
 upon hearing this flew into a viole it pas- 
 sion, and demanded him to work a mira- 
 cle as a confirmation of his word 5 and 
 pointing at the whip which Randal held in 
 his hand, lifted up his voice with a com- 
 manding tone, saying, "I demand of you, 
 in the presence of this congregation, to 
 turn that rod into a serpent." A gentle- 
 man of the town, who was standing by, 
 said, " I think if he was to, you would be 
 the first man that would run from it." 
 By this time, the people were in an uproar. 
 Some were for having Randal go into 
 the meeting-house, and some were for 
 keeping him out-. Randal desired silence 
 and said, " The Most High dwelleth not 
 in temples made with hands 5" and step- 
 ping upon a grave, said, u I will have this 
 grave for my pulpit, and the heavens for 
 my sounding board." He then began to 
 preach to the people, and although the 
 jxirson and several others went away dis- 
 gusted, yet many of those who tarried 
 found it to be a time of refreshing to their 
 souls, and went away praising God for the 
 glorious truths they had heard, 
 
104 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 3. Notwithstanding the opposition, the 
 people in general were much awakened, 
 and the reformation spread in different di- 
 rections. Many were hopefully converg- 
 ed. Elder Randal returned to Parker's 
 Island, and to his unspeakable joy, found 
 that the work had there begun to spread 
 rapidly 5 and that many had experienced 
 delivering grace. The Sabbath fallowing* 
 he went hack to Woolwich, and was very 
 unwell. It was thought by some, that he 
 wo ild not live 5 but the Lord rebuked his 
 complaint, and raised him up, so that he 
 preached in the afternoon, and God bles- 
 sed his labors. Several experienced a 
 change of heart in that meeting. At the 
 close of the exercises, he w ent to the wa- 
 fer* and baptised several more ; and then 
 r irned to the house, and embodied a 
 church. After giving them suitable in- 
 structions, with respect to church dis :i- 
 pline, he gave them the parting hand for 
 that time. I must, however, remark that 
 this visit laid the foundation of what is 
 now called the Edgcoinb quarterly meet- 
 in ; for, soon after this, a chur h was 
 embodied in Georgetown, and another in 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 10S 
 
 Bdgcomb in the same region ; and, not-, 
 withstanding the numerous trials through 
 which they have passed in the course of 
 their spiritual warfare, and the vicissitudes 
 experienced by others, they have constant- 
 ly maintained their profession, and kept 
 up the worship of God, and have from 
 time to time, heen favored with revivals 
 and additions. Elder Randal was gon© 
 from home, on this journey, 37 days ; trav- 
 elled about 400 miles, and attended 47 
 meetings. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 1. Randal visits Qorham, £?c. — The Con? 
 nexion much increased — Monthly meet- 
 ings established — The lihle given to 
 each as their only book of discipline, 
 2. Modest apparel and temperance 
 recommended. 3. The church in Gor- 
 ham added-RandaP s wife/s father dies^ 
 4. Loudon and Canterbury churches? 
 join the Shakers — Randal is called to 
 gather the scattering members. 5. He 
 visits the church in Woolwich, fyc. 
 1. Elder Randal, after remaining a 
 
 short time with his family, by request of 
 
106 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the people, visited the towns of Gorhaui 
 and Scarborough, Me. and saw much of 
 the work of the Lord ; especially in the 
 latter. He says, " many were hopefully 
 converted and baptised." Nothing seems 
 more astonishing, than the rapid increase 
 of this infant Connexion. It appears by 
 documents written by Elder Randal, that 
 in the short term of 18 months, they in- 
 creased to 9 churches, viz., 1 in New- 
 Durham, 2 in Bar ring ton, 1 in P arson s- 
 field, 1 in Liitle Falls, 1 in Woolwich, 1 
 in Georgetown, 1 in Little River planta- 
 tation, and 1 in Gray and New- Glouces- 
 ter. In each of these churches, he estab- 
 lished a monthly meeting, in which the 
 members all met to relate their experience, 
 and give and receive advice from each 
 other. 
 
 These meetings were appointed on dif- 
 ferent days, and so arranged, that when he 
 ^visited the churches, he could convenient- 
 ly attend all their monthly meetings ; and 
 they, if they pleased, could by their mes- 
 sengers often visit each other. To all those 
 churches, he also gave the holy scriptures 
 n& their only rule of faiih and practice, 
 
BE5TJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 ioy 
 
 and strenuously enjoined it on them to use 
 the bible as their only book of discipline, 
 telling them that no one had a right to 
 make laws for the church, but Christ him*- 
 self, and the apostles who w ere his imme- 
 diate followers, and were baptised with 
 the Holy Ghost and with fire, and inspk> 
 ed by him for that purpose. 
 
 2. He labored much to convince hit 
 brethren and sisters, of the necessity of 
 coming out from the spirit and superfluous 
 practices of the world, in eating, drinking 
 and dressing. He wished them to be 
 transformed in the spirit of their minds, 
 and comply as much as possible with the 
 examples of Christ and his apostles in 
 those things. He himself was an eminent 
 example to the flock. I have heard him 
 say, that he made it his rale, to eat, 
 drink and wear such things as he could in 
 faith ask God for, and give thanks when 
 he had received them. In his dress, he 
 was remarkably neat, but suitably plain 
 In eating and drinking, he was very tem- 
 perate, and in sleeping, he was particu- 
 larly so. I travelled with him, a consider- 
 able part of the time for seven years 9 
 
 i 
 
108 
 
 THE LIFE 0F 
 
 and his general rule was, to sleep abaut 
 four hoiirs in twenty four. The rest of 
 the time he spent either in praying, in 
 reading, or in preaching the word 5 or in 
 visiting the sick, or in church labors ; or 
 in working with his hands for the support 
 of his family. He never seemingly spent 
 a moment idle. He considered it an 
 abomination for a professor of religion to 
 be slovenly or sluttish. He often remark- 
 ed, that " Holiness becomes God's house 
 forever, 9 ' and that u No unclean thing, can 
 enter the kingdom of heaven ! " He also 
 considered it a great sin, for a brother or 
 sister to mispend their time. He thought 
 that a slothful or lazy man or woman, was 
 as culpable as a covetous one, and as 
 much deserved the censure of the church. 
 
 S. He remarks that in 1782, the church 
 of Gorham was added to the Connexion ; 
 which, he says, was a body of respectable 
 members, and living brethren. He fur- 
 ther remarks, that in the first part of the 
 same year, he was deprived of travelling, 
 by reason of sickness in his family. His 
 wife's father, Capt. Robert Oram, who* 
 lived with him, after a distressing illness 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 109 
 
 of about five months, with a consumption 
 and dropsy, closed the mortal scene on 
 the 21st of July, being in the 86th year of 
 his age. Capt. Oram was a native of 
 England, and was born in Topsham, Feb. 
 14th, 1897. 
 
 4. This same year, the then large and 
 flourishing church in Loudon and Canter- 
 bury, N. H. with a very few exceptions, 
 joined with the people called Shakers, 
 which caused great trials and much labor 
 to Elder Randal. For, although this 
 church was considered independent, not 
 of Elder Randal's Connexion, but under 
 the special charge of Elder Edward Lock, 
 yet, being of the same sentiments with 
 Elder Randal, when this awful concussion 
 took place, the few brethren who were 
 not carried away with the Shaker delu- 
 sions, but maintained their first principles^ 
 readily called on him for succor. Though 
 the scene was to him exceedingly trying, 
 it finally resulted in a more universal 
 spread of the gospel, and opened a wider 
 ^oor for an enlargement of the new Con- 
 nexion. It may not be amiss here to 
 observe, that the Shakers having succeed- 
 10 
 
110 
 
 THE LIFfc 01? 
 
 ed at Loudon and Canterbury, and being 
 reinforced by their late proselytes, were 
 much emboldened, and endeavored, by 
 every means in their pewer, to propagate 
 their doctrines and discipline, and to make 
 proselytes every where they could. 
 
 Randal and the ministers in the Con- 
 nexion, at the same time, were not idle. 
 They exerted themselves to the utmost to 
 confute them, to uncover their hypocrisies, 
 and to undeceive the people. What seem- 
 ed the most remarkable was a fast, which 
 was holden by the new Connexion on 
 the 13th of the ensuing October, which 
 was proclaimed in their general epistle in 
 the following words : " Under a deep and 
 sorrowful consideration of the prevalence 
 of errors of every kind, in this our day, we 
 agree and most earnestly recommend to 
 our christian friends, to keep Wednesday^ 
 the 13th day of October next, as a day of 
 fasting and prayer to almighty God, for 
 Jesus Christ's sake, that he would scatter 
 and consume this smoke, with the breath 
 of his mouth <md brightness of his appear ~j| 
 ing, and unwind satan in all his serpentine*^ 
 schemes, and delusive charms, and shortly 
 
BENJAMIN SANDAL. 
 
 ill 
 
 bruise him under us." This fast was 
 accordingly kept by all the churches, and 
 the Shakers made no more inroa*ds upon 
 them. 
 
 5. Elder Randal on visiting what hb 
 called his new vineyard, that is, the 
 churches in Woolwich, Georgetown and 
 Edgcomb, Me., found them in good stand- 
 ing, and the reformation still spreading. 
 He tarried with them a number of days, 
 preached several times, attended several 
 church meetings, and assisted them in set- 
 ting apart their church officer^. In Wool- 
 wich, they ordained Ebenezer Brookings 
 to the office of Deacon, and Ebenezer 
 Brookings, Jim. to the office of Ruling 
 Elder. They also appointed John Dun- 
 ton Ruling Elder at Edgcomb, and Da- 
 vid Oliver Ruling Elder at Georgetown. 
 Elder Randal then returned home, and 
 spent the remaining part of the year in 
 preaching the word from place to place. 
 He says, " The work spread blessedly 
 through all the eastern country, 55 (i. e.) 
 in the state of Maine. 
 
i\2 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 1. The scattered brethren in Loudon and 
 Canterbury send for help — Eld. Ran- 
 dal complains of false brethren — Is 
 eonfined by sickness, but happy in 
 mind, 2. Is in indigent circumstan- 
 ces — Works hard to redeem time to 
 preach. 3. Randal sent to Barring- 
 ton. 4. Goes on an eastern tour — ac- 
 count of 
 
 1. In Jan. 1788, the scattered brethren 
 in Loudon, being in great distress of mind 
 on account of their broken situation, sent 
 a very pressing and affecting letter to the 
 church of New-Durham for help. The 
 brethren sent them what they could, and 
 endeavored to assist them in getting into 
 order. 
 
 Elder Randal, however, in his journal 
 complains of false and disorderly profes- 
 sors, and says, that the beginning of this 
 year was a very trying season to him ; 
 " Glory to God," says he, u I was carri J 
 ed through by his almighty power* I 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 113 
 
 found him a very present help -in trouble." 
 On the second day of M^rch, he was vio-, 
 lently seized with a fever, which ran so 
 high, that his life was despaired of. He 
 was confined over two months, and be- 
 came so weak that he could not lift up his 
 head, nor turn himself in bed for several 
 weeks. Yet, he says, "through the whole 
 illness, I enjoyed a heavenly calm. I 
 found my faith strong in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and felt no choice, but the Lord's 
 choice, either in life or death. I laid 
 basking and solacing in divine consolation, 
 and felt the streams of heavenly love flow- 
 sweetly into my soul ; so that I never felt 
 one restless thought, but felt all my af- 
 fections taken from things below, and set 
 on heavenly things." 
 
 2. After Elder Randal recovered of his 
 sickness, he still felt a great desire for the 
 salvation of souls. "Although," s ? ys 
 he, " I was in very low circumstances, as 
 to temporal things, and had to work hard 
 to maintain my little family, yet I have 
 very often worked all night, to redeem 
 time to travel and preach Jesus to poor 
 sinners. Glory to God ! I had sweet en? 
 
114 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 couragenient 5 for souls were brought to 
 rejoice in the Lord from place to .place, 
 where I travelled*" 
 
 3. The church which had been embod* 
 ied in Barring ton, by Elder Edward Lock, 
 with respect to order was scattered and 
 broken to pieces, when he joined the Sha- 
 kers. They, therefore, in their trouble, 
 applied to the church of New-Durham for 
 help. Accordingly, the church answered 
 their request, by sending Elder Randal to 
 assist them. On the 5th of July he re-em- 
 bodied them, and received them into con- 
 nexion. 
 
 4. The time having now arrived for him 
 to commence his eastern tour, on the 26th 
 of September he sat off and visited all the 
 churches, which had been gathered by 
 him, and the ministers of the Connexion, 
 in the District of Maine. He attended all 
 their monthly meetings, and found the 
 brethren steadfast in the faith, and increas- 
 ing in numbers. In some places were 
 large additions. He found love and un- 
 ion generally prevailing. Being deeply 
 impressed to go farther east, he proceeded 
 tg Newcastle, which lies ou Daraariseottij 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL* 
 
 115 
 
 river. In this place the spirit of convic- 
 tion attended the preaching of the word, 
 and a reformation took place among the 
 people. From thence, he crossed over to 
 Bristol, and preached to the inhabitants 
 of that place. Here he also saw the fruits 
 of his gospel labors in the conviction 
 and conversion of souls. After laboring 
 a short season, he returned homeward. 
 On his way, he stopped in Brunswick, at 
 a place called New-meadows. On the 
 evening of his arrival, he preached a ser- 
 mon at Maj. Larrabee's, and there ap-, 
 peared to be an open ear. The next day, 
 he preached at the meeting-house, and 
 the minds of the people appeared to be 
 much impressed with a sense of eternal 
 things. He was desired to stop over the 
 Sabbath. To this wish of the people he 
 assented, and appointed a meeting that 
 evening at deacon Isaac Snow's. The 
 house was large and well filled with peo- 
 ple. The power of the Lord was present 
 to heal. There was scarcely one in the 
 assembly but what was either crying 
 " God be merciful to me a sinner ; * ' or 
 
 * What mm I do to be saved VI or 
 
116 
 
 THE LIFE- OF 
 
 praising God for redeeming love, saying, 
 u Glory to God in the highest V Sever- 
 al of the mourners experienced delivering 
 grace before the next morning. This was 
 a feast to Elder Randal, but he had a 
 mournful fast the next day for when he 
 came to the meeting-house, the minister 
 of the parish met him, much displeased, 
 for making such a noise, and so much dis- 
 turbance among his people, and said he 
 had amazed them. He would neither con* 
 sent to let the Elder preach, nor sit with 
 him in the desk. He therefore took a seat 
 among the people, and heard the minister 
 all day. This, however, was a dry time 
 to Randal ; and the people were much- 
 disgusted at the conduct of their minister 
 toward the stranger. Had he delivered 
 ever so good words, they w ould have found 
 no place in the hearts of his parishioners ; 
 for they could view him in no other light, 
 than an open enemy to pure and undefiled 
 religion. Indeed they all had a dry time.- 
 In the evening, Elder Randal preached 
 again at deacon Snow's. The house was 
 so filled with people that there was n@' 
 room for seats. When the exercise began^ 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 117 
 
 the power of God so fell on the congrega- 
 gation, that all appeared to be affected, 
 and were either crying for mercy, or prais- 
 ing God with loud voices, and the minis- 
 ter, being present, was also affected, and 
 cried out among the rest. The exercises 
 continued till two or three o'clock in the 
 morning. To crown the solemnity of this 
 memorable scene, he mentions an instance 
 which he considered an incontestable proof 
 of the work and power of God at the time. 
 He says, " There was a man there who 
 was born deaf and dumb, who was then 
 more than forty years old, that was struck 
 under conviction the preceding evening. 
 At this meeting he was in great distress, 
 and, by signs, gave as clear an account of 
 his wretched state as any one present ; 
 and when he received the remission of his 
 sins, and felt the pardoning love of God, 
 he in the same manner, gave as clear an 
 evidence of his change, as could be ra- 
 tionally desired of any one." Elder Ran- 
 dal mentions the above, as an evidence of 
 the inward teachings of the Spirit, which 
 leads into all truth, that tells men all 
 things, and brings them to their rem em- 
 
118 
 
 THE LIFE QE] 
 
 brance 5 and translates the soul tmm 
 bondage into the liberty of the sons of 
 God. 
 
 After he had finished his visit in this 
 town, he went to Harpswell, and was 
 kindly received. He preached every 
 day, for several days, in their meeting- 
 house. His preaching was attended with 
 great success. A reformation began, 
 which resulted in the conversion of quite 
 a number, who were baptised before he left 
 the place. He now shaped his course 
 for home, preaching from place to place 
 as he travelled, and says that in all places 
 where he preached, he saw the displays 
 of ImmanuePs power. On his way home 
 he attended a convention at Little Falls, 
 for the purpose of drafting a plan for quar- 
 terly meetings, to be holden in future in 
 the Connexion. The first was appointed 
 to be holden at the same place on the firsts 
 Saturday of the ensuing December. He, 
 was absent from home on the above jour- 
 ney, 57 days ; travelled about 500 miles, 
 and attended 61 meetings. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 119 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 1. Elder Randal attends the first Q. M. 
 — Their agreement — Returns, and is 
 taken sick — Recoils — Attends the Q. 
 M. %n March, June and September. 
 2. Goes to Crownpoint — Ordains Jo- 
 seph Boody — Attends Q. M. at Edg* 
 comb— Ordains John Whitney — Attends 
 Q. M. at Gorham. 3. Some trials in 
 New-Durham church — Attends Q. M. 
 at New- Gloucester and Kennebeck. 4. 
 Revival at New-Burham-Naih an Mer- 
 rill and James M' Corson ordained. 
 
 Elder Randal after continuing a short 
 time with his family, returned to Little 
 Falls, and attended the first quarterly 
 meeting ever held in the Connexion. This 
 meeting was held Dec. 6, 1783, They 
 then entered into a mutual agreement to 
 hold four such meetings every year. At 
 Little Falls, the first Saturday in De- 
 cember ; at New- Gloucester, the first 
 Saturday in March, and the first Satur- 
 urday in June ; at Woolwich, the first 
 Saturday in September,, until the Con- 
 
120 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 nexion should judge it necessary to alter 
 the arrangement. After returning from 
 the above meeting, Elder Randal was ta- 
 ken sick, and was confined for several 
 weeks. He, however, recovered his health 
 so far as to be able to attend the quarter- 
 ly meeting at New-Gloucester, in March. 
 At this meeting he enjoyed much conso- 
 lation. He says, " It was a most marvel- 
 lous and wonderful meeting. Sinners 
 were awakened, and saints rejoiced in 
 God." After mentioning some sore tri- 
 als, which he endured on account of some 
 disorderly members in the church at New- 
 Durham that year, he says that many 
 souls were added to the Lord the ensuing 
 summer. He attended all the quarterly 
 meetings through the year ; visited all 
 parts of the Connexion, and to his un- 
 speakable joy, found the brethren much 
 engaged, and great additions to the 
 churches. It appears, by his journal, 
 that in 1784, he travelled over a thousand 
 miles on journeys in the cause of truth $ 
 and attended above three hundred meet- 
 ings of worship, besides many meetings 
 of church business. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 12k 
 
 5. In the year 1785, after attending 
 much church Jabor in New-Durham, he 
 visited the church in Barrington, at Crown 
 Point, and assisted them in regulating 
 their affairs. He attended the quarter- 
 ly meeting, holden at New-Durham, in 
 June; and after attending to his usual 
 ministerial labors among his flock, and 
 the cares of his family at home, on the 
 22d of August, he went again to Barring- 
 ton and assisted in ordaining Joseph Boo- 
 dy, senior, to the office of Biding Elder. 
 He then went east, and attended the quar- 
 terly meeting at Edgcomb. On the 7th 
 of September, he assisted in the ordina- 
 tion of John Whitney to the office of 
 Teaching Elder. This, he says, " Was 
 a most marvellous day of the power and 
 love of God, on ac count of the rejoicing of 
 saints, and mourning of sinners." Elder 
 Whitney proved to be a very humble and 
 useful minister ; his labors were remark- 
 ably blest, in winning souls to Christ. 
 He endured hardness as a good soldier of 
 Jesus -Christ, and continued to the end. I 
 think he was in the ministry over thirty 
 years, and died in the triumphs of faith. 
 11 
 
122 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Elder Randal, after attending the above 
 meeting, went further eastward, and then 
 returned home, having been gone 45 days, 
 travelled 490 miles, and attended 58 meet- 
 ings. After continuing about home a 
 short time and laboring as usual, he set 
 off, with his usual courage, to attend the 
 December quarterly meeting, which, by 
 mutual consent, was removed from Little 
 falls to Gorham; that place being more 
 central. He closes the narrative of this 
 year, by saying, u I have travelled this 
 year above 1200 miles in the service of 
 truth, and have attended above 300 meet- 
 ings. My soul doth magnify the Lord, 
 and give glory to his great name." 
 
 3. In the beginning of 1786, he experi- 
 enced some severe trials in the church at 
 New-Durham, on account of the disor- 
 derly walk of some of the members ; sev- 
 eral of whom were laid under admonition, 
 for immoral conduct ; but says he, "Eies- 
 sed be the Lord, I did not feel in the least 
 dis; fours ged ; but felt resolutely deter- 
 mined, by grace, to persevere and 
 adds, " 1 have ever found the service of 
 the Lord sweet, and his reward better 
 
Benjamin randal. 
 
 123 
 
 than silver, and his revenue than choice 
 gold." No heart ever appeared to be 
 more susceptible of joy or grief than his, . 
 When a revival took place, and souls ex- 
 perienced God's grace, his harp was al- 
 ways in tune. He was ready to join with 
 angels, and rejoice over the repenting 
 sinner 5 and nothing seemed too much for 
 him to do for their encouragement, and 
 for the promotion of the cause. If a de^ 
 clension took place, he was as ready to 
 mourn, and to spend and be spent, and 
 use every endeavor to reclaim them 5 but 
 if after all, they remained refractory, he 
 would withdraw his fellowship, and turn 
 his back upon them, and pursue the nar- 
 row way. 
 
 Feb. 10th, Mrs. Oram, his wife's moth- 
 er, died ; and after attending the funeral, 
 and getting things regulated at home, he 
 visited the churches in the westerly part 
 of Maine, and attended the quarterly 
 meeting in New-Gloucester. He found 
 the church in that place very low, which 
 caused him grief ; but he was much com- 
 forted by the reports from other church- 
 es: 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 He then returned and attended the quar- 
 terly meeting in New-Durham, in June ; 
 and was again much encouraged by re- 
 freshing accounts brought from different 
 parts of the Connexion. After this, he 
 visited Newcastle, the place of his nativi- 
 ty, and found the brethren well engaged, 
 and had a refreshing season with them, 
 both in preaching and communion. In 
 August, following, he took another jour- 
 ney east, attended the quarterly meeting 
 in Edgcomb, and visited the churches in 
 that region, especially those situate on 
 the Island near the mouth of Kennebec 
 river, and further east. He observes 
 that he found the brethren well engaged, 
 and that multitudes flocked to hear the 
 word. He says, "I found great freedom 
 in preaching — the truth prevailed, and the 
 people through all that country appeared 
 to be awakened. The Calvinistic vail 
 which had been so long over their hearts, 
 seemed to be rent in twain from the top 
 to the bottom, and the people were ena- 
 bled to look into the perfect law of liber- 
 ty. 55 He closes the narrative of this jour- 
 ney, in about the following words, " Glo- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 125 
 
 ry ! Everlasting glory be to God ! O 
 Lord Jesus, thou conquering King, ride 
 on from conquering and to conquer. 0$ 
 sink the whore of Babylon, like a mill- 
 stone. O consume error, by the bright- 
 ness of thine appearing." He travelled 
 in this journey about 500 miles, and at- 
 tended 60 public meetings. 
 
 4>. About the beginning of 1787, a revi- 
 val took place in New-Durham, which 
 was much to his consolation ; but he was 
 taken unwell, and was so indisposed, that 
 he was unable to attend the quarterly 
 meeting in March. It appears, by his- 
 journal, that he spent the greater part of 
 the ensuing summer in New-Durham, and 
 its vicinity. 
 
 On the 2d of the ensuing October, he 
 assisted in ordaining Nathan Merrill of 
 Gray, Me. to the office of Teaching El- 
 der-y and on the 4th of December follow- 
 ing, he assisted . in ordaining James Mer 
 CQrson of Gorham to the same office. 
 11* 
 
126 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 1. Randal visits the churches — Attends 
 the Q. M's., fyc. 2. Randal is oppos- 
 ed — Q. M. removed from JY. Glouces- 
 ter to Parsonsjield — Revival in Par- 
 sonsjield — Randal 9 s labors and consti- 
 tution. 3. Great declension in JYetv- 
 Durham — Randal is sick — Buries his 
 father — Preaches his funeral sermon. 
 
 1. In the year 1788, after taking a short 
 journey to the west, and making proper 
 arrangements at home, Elder Randal de- 
 voted his time, as usual, to the preaching 
 of the word, and visiting the churches. 
 In the course of the year, he visited nearly 
 all the churches in the Connexion. He 
 also attended all the quarterly meetings, 
 excepting that in March, holden in New- 
 Gloucester, and mentions that great revi- 
 vals took place that year. He says, 
 u The messengers came to the quarterly 
 meetings, as Noah's dove came to the 
 ark, with the olive leaf in their mouths.' > 
 The same year, there was a church em* 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 127 
 
 bodied at Canaan, and one at Bristol, and 
 another at Seguntercook, Me. 
 
 2. He mentions that he was much op- 
 posed by some rigid Calvinists, but they 
 generally gave back. He likewise re- 
 marks, that by a vote of the quarterly 
 meeting, the March term was removed 
 from New- Gloucester to Parsonsfield, Me, 
 
 They held their first quarterly meeting 
 in Parsonsfield, March, 1 789. This meet- 
 ing was attended with a remarkable bles- 
 sing. It resulted in a glorious revival. 
 Elder Randal was present, and preached 
 two sermons 5 the first, from Eph. iv. 30, 
 and the second, from Heb. x. 3. He says, 
 "The power of the Lord was wonderfully 
 displayed in the convi tion and conversion 
 of souls. Perhaps nothing ever exceeded 
 it in these latter days. A great number 
 were pricked in their hearts, and cried 
 like one anciently, "What mast I do to 
 be saved ?" While the saints, unable to 
 contain their joys, broke forth in accla- 
 mations of praise to God, for redeeming 
 love and saving grace. 
 
 He attended all the quarterly meetings 
 in the course of the year., but he mentions 
 
12$ 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 nothing very special, excepting that they 
 altered the time, of holding the Gorham 
 quarterly meeting, from December, to 
 November, and that they had considerable 
 addition to the Connexion. 
 
 The writer, however, presumes that the 
 attending of those general meetings, and 
 performing those lengthy and circuitous 
 journeys, which Elder Randal annually 
 performed, was not more than one third 
 part of his labors. The other two thirds 
 were devoted to preaching in his own 
 town, attending church meetings, visiting 
 the sick,* attending funerals, &c. If he 
 was not specially called to ministerial la- 
 bors, he was always acting the part of a 
 husband and parent, in providing for his 
 household. No husband was more be- 
 nevolent, no father was more affectionate 
 than he. The stranger who reads the 
 above sketches will naturally conclude^ 
 that Elder Randal must have been a man 
 of remarkable strength, of a robust con- 
 stitution, and of a very strong and fruitful 
 mind. The latter he certainly posses- 
 sed ; but how surprised he must be, when 
 he is told, by one who was familiarly ac- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 129 
 
 quaint ed with him, that he was a man lit- 
 tle of stature, of a very slender body, and 
 of a delicate constitution, and subject to 
 pulmonary complaints. He was seldom 
 entirely free from oppressed lungs, and a 
 hacking cough. Yet he generally drove 
 through all weathers to attend his appoint- 
 ments, without consulting either his own 
 ease or health. When any one asked 
 him why he thus exposed himself, he 
 used to answer, " Because I love. heaven ; 
 and if I cannot get there, I want to get 
 as nigh to it as I can ; and, therefore, I 
 always try to get to meeting." He con- 
 sidered a meeting of saints, to be a pre- 
 lude of immortal glory 5 and often at 
 those interviews would repeat and sing 
 the folio wing lines ; 
 
 " Lord, what a heaven of saving grace, 
 Shines through the beauties of thy face/' &c. 
 
 3. The year 1790 was a season of 
 great trials to Elder Randal. A very 
 great declension took place in the church 
 of New-Durham. Many departed from 
 the truth, and he was almost at his wit's 
 end, to know what to do, and how to pro- 
 ceed. He says, " T continually cried to 
 
130 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Lord for a revival of religion. ' 5 He 
 attended the quarterly meeting at Par- 
 sousneld, in hopes to get some strength 
 there; but the travelling being very diffi- 
 cult, n few only attended, and those few 
 brought news of declension in the church- 
 es to which they belonged. This added 
 much to his trials, and he returned with a 
 heavy heart. Still, to increase his afflic- 
 tion, in the month of May, he was violent- 
 ly seized with the Influenza, a distres- 
 sing disorder, which was then prevailing 
 through the country, and he was brought 
 very low, and remained very weak, till 
 after the quarterly meeting in June. 
 
 To close the afflictive scene, before he 
 quite recovered, on the 21st of June, a 
 messenger came to inform him that his fa- 
 ther was nigh unto death, with the same 
 disorder, and desired to see him before he 
 died. He, therefore, sat off, weak as he 
 was, and arrived at Ossipee, where his 
 father lived, a distance of about 22 miles, 
 about sunset ; but to his great grief 
 found his father speechless. He died 
 about nine o'clock the same evening. 
 The next day, the Elder took his remains ; 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 131 
 
 on a horse-bier, and conveyed them to his 
 own house at New-Durham. The day 
 following, June 24>th, the funeral solemni- 
 ties were attended. The Elder himself 
 delivered a sermon on the occasion, from 
 Ps. xxxvii. 37. u Mark the perfect man, 
 and behold the upright ; for the end of 
 that man is peaccS 3 He was wonderful- 
 ly assisted and supported through the 
 whole scene. A large number of rela- 
 tives and friends attended, and the remains 
 were deposited in his awn burying ground, 
 which he had previously selected for the 
 interment of himself and family. He, 
 however, remained very weak in body 
 through the summer, but was strong in 
 faith giving glory to God. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 1. Eld. Randal attends the Q, M*s at 
 Edgcomb and Gorham. 2. The de- 
 clension in New-Durham '0 os i^orse. 
 
 3. The living members coveto ni anew. 
 
 4. The covenant. 5. The inhabitants 
 are alarmed, and a revival succeeds* 
 1. In August, 1790, Elder Randal sat 
 
 Gut on another eastern tour, and attended 
 
132 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the quarterly meeting hoi den in Septem- 
 ber at Edgcomb. He visited about all 
 the churches in that region, and, notwith- 
 standing he was still in a low state of 
 health, he enjoyed the Divine presence, 
 and found the journey profitable. He 
 likewise attended the quarterly meeting 
 at Gorham in November, and visited the 
 churches in that vicinity ; after which, he 
 returned home, being comfortable both in 
 body and mind. He closed the year with 
 his family, and in gospel labors in his own 
 town. 
 
 2. In the year 1791, he passed the win- 
 ter in great trials. The declension in the 
 church of New-Durham still continued, 
 and was daily increasing, and growing 
 worse and worse, Q,uite a majority of 
 the members had become so luke-warm 
 and indifferent about the duties of religion, 
 that they wholly neglected their church 
 meetings ; and many of them had so back- 
 slidden, that they had become a public 
 reproach to the cause. The ways of 
 Zion mourned indeed ! but few came to 
 her solemn feasts. Elder Randal now 
 wept between the porch and the altar, 
 
 # 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 133 
 
 saying, " Spare thy people, O Lord, and 
 give not thy heritage to reproach." He 
 laborednight and day to reclaim them, 
 hut al*m)st in vain. He asked the Lord 
 for wisdom to direct him. At length, he 
 went round and visited the living mem- 
 bers, and conversed with them on the 
 subject. They finally concluded that it 
 would be best to re-embody, and to re* 
 ceive none into fellowship, only such as 
 were willing to take the Bible as their ar- 
 ticles of faith, and book of discipline, and 
 to walk by that rule. Accordingly, on 
 the 13th of April they met for the above 
 purpose. After much conversation on the 
 necessity of coming out from the spirit 
 and practices of this wicked world, and of 
 living up to the rule given by Christ, they 
 unitedly arose and gave each other the 
 right hand of fellowship, publicly declar- 
 ing that they came out from all disorderly 
 walkers, and that those professors who 
 were disorderly were no more of them. 
 They then subscribed to the following cov- 
 enant. 
 
 " We whose names are under written, 
 having fellowship with each other, as 
 12 
 
134 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 brethren of one family, and children of 
 one Father, do now, in the most solemn 
 manner, and in the fear of God, covenant 
 together; and promise to walk together 
 in the ordinances and commandments of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, as we do or shall 
 understand them. We also agree to take 
 the scriptures of truth, for the rule of our 
 duty towards God, our neighbor, and our- 
 selves ; for the rule of our conversation 
 and business. If any of us shall be con- 
 victed of not walking according thereto, 
 or of violating the same, such shall be 
 deemed transgressors, and be dealt with 
 as the aforesaid rule directs. Amen. 5 '* 
 
 5. This being done, the inhabitants of 
 the town were much alarmed. Much 
 was said for and against the procedure. 
 Some were of opinion that Elder Randal 
 had done exactly right 5 others thought 
 he had done wrong, and concluded that 
 the Connexion would all fall to pieces. 
 
 * Notwithstanding this new embodying resulted in a very 
 glorious revival, the writer is of opinion, that it would have 
 been better for the brethren to have stood by their first cove- 
 nant ; and used timely labor with transgressing members, ac- 
 cording to scripture rules. He thinks they would have expe- 
 rienced, an equivalent blessing. 
 
It however to rmin ated in a very glorious-" 
 revival. Elder Randal felt in his mind* 
 some measure freed from the embarrass- 
 ment under which he had long labored, 
 and commenced preaching wich fr.esh.cauj:* 
 age : and the attention of the people being 
 called up, many attended his meetings, 
 and heard with candor. On the Sth of 
 Slay, he held a meeting in New-Durhanij 
 and while he was preaching the Lord 
 blessed the word .-to. the conviction of ma- 
 ny. The next day he preached with still 
 greater success. "As many as fifty per- 
 sons,- says he, "-were deeply affected; 
 many were vocally crying for mercy, while 
 others were praising God for redeeming 
 love. From this time the work began to 
 spread in different directions in a very 
 rapid manner. Meetings were held most 
 every day, and sometimes every evening. 
 People gathered from all quarters to hear 
 the word, to see the converts, and hear 
 them praise the Lord. New cases of 
 conviction and conversion daily occurred, 
 which afforded new subjects of wonder 
 and astonishment. The most haughty 
 *vere humbled, and the lowly were exalted. 
 
136 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Ik* 
 
 A short specimen of Elder Randall 
 daily account, will furnish the reader with 
 some idea of the progress of this glorious 
 work. June 8th, he baptized two ; name- 
 ly, John Buzzellj* and Simon Pottle. 
 June 10th, he baptized two. June 1 1th, 
 he baptized one. June 13th, he baptized 
 seven. June 14th, he baptized five. Juno 
 16th, he baptized one. August 4th, he 
 baptized three. Thus the work continu- 
 ed to go on, and in about three months 
 sixty seven were added to the church. In 
 the course of the same time he preached 
 at Harrington with great success, ^ind 
 baptized a number there. He also per- 
 formed his usual tours*to the east ; and 
 the same fall, in company with others, em- 
 bodied a church in Waterborough, Me. 
 at a place called Ossipee Hill. 
 
 * The authctr of this work 
 
 I 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 137 
 
 CHAPTER XVI, 
 
 I. JMew Year's Sermon — Randal visits 
 the churches in Piltsfield and Barring- 
 ton — P reaches ) $c. at Middleton. 2. 
 Makes a new arrangement of meetings 
 —form of. 3. First Y. M. 4. Randal 
 Buzz ell visit Vermont. 5. Randal 
 attends Q. M. at Barnsiead, and Y. M. 
 at Edgcom^^ 6. John Buzzell and 
 Isaac TowWmd ordained. 
 
 4} Jan. 1st, 1792, Elder Randal preach- 
 ed at .New- Durham, from Ezra vii. 9. 
 " Upon Vae first day of the first month* 
 began he to go tip from Babylon." His 
 remarks on the subject were attended 
 with astonishing effect. The saints were 
 much edified, and sinners much awaken- 
 ed. Several manifested a desire to go up 
 from the spiritual Babylon, and to com- 
 mence their pilgrimage for the heavenly 
 Canaan, on that first day of the first 
 month. Elder Randal then continued 
 preaching in New-Durham, till the first 
 of March. He then visited the churches 
 12* 
 
138 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 in Pittsfield and Barrington ; and Iron* 
 thenee returned. In April he went to 
 Middletan, preached several times, and 
 baptized six. This was a time of refresh* 
 ing from the presence of the Lord. It was 
 the first time that baptism was performed 
 by immersion in that town. A multitude 
 attended, though but a very few who ever 
 before saw baptism administered. 
 
 2. About this time Elder Randal 
 viewing the extensiveness of the Connex- 
 ion, and the necessity of establishing and 
 perpetuating their union, drew a plan, and 
 recommended a new arrangement of meet- 
 ings, which he considered conducive to 
 that end ; viz. Monthly, Quarterly, and 
 Yearly meetings. Monthly and quarter* 
 ly meetings had been already established 
 as the reader has seen. He recommend- 
 ed that the quarterly meetings then estab- 
 lished, should be considered a yearly 
 meeting, holden four times a year ; and 
 that the doings of those sessions of the 
 yearly meeting should be duly recorded 
 in the old quarterly meeting record, by a 
 standing clerk, to be chosen for that pur* 
 pose 5 and that iWvv quarterly meetings 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 139 
 
 should be established in different parts of 
 the Connexion ; to be hold en at stated 
 times, between the monthly and yearly 
 meetings, so that the churches, from their 
 monthly meetings, might by their mes- 
 sengers and minutes, be represented in the 
 quarterly meetings ; and the quarterly 
 meetings, by their messengers, and min- 
 utes, or letter, be represented in the year- 
 ly meeting, so that the state of the whole 
 Connexion might be known, at least, four 
 times a year. This arrangement was adop- 
 ted by all the churches, and although in 
 process of time there seemed to be an im- 
 perfection in the system,* at the time it was 
 adopted it was attended with the best of 
 consequences, for the meetings were so ar* 
 ranged as to keep the ministers almost con- 
 tinually travelling, and spreading the news 
 of free salvation, and accounts of the won- 
 derful works of God from one extreme of 
 
 * The imperfection to which the writer refers, is that of 
 holding a yearly meeting four times a year, and yet having 
 but one record, and calling it but one yearly meeting. That 
 difficulty is now removed by considering each session a 
 yearly meeting, and adding an annual conference to the 
 above system, the clerk of which is to hold the old yearly 
 jfteeting record^ 
 
140 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Connexion to the other. These meet- 
 ings^ also, called the attention of thou- 
 sands to hear the word of God, who per- 
 haps would have remained ignorant of 
 those things if their attention had not 
 been excited by these means. I have 
 known persons of respectability to travel 
 nearly twenty miles to attend a monthly 
 meeting ; and have seen as many as a 
 hundred spectators to a church confer- 
 ence, when the church consisted of only 
 ten members. At quarterly meetings, I 
 have often seen thousands flocking from 
 different parts to hear the word ; and 
 when we have been under the necessity 
 of repairing to groves for the want of 
 room, I have frequently seen them even 
 climb the trees, like Zacheus, to see and 
 hear, and as I may say, hazard their 
 lives for the sake of information ; yet T 
 never knew any person receive any harm 
 on these occasions. But many who have 
 attended these meetings, and have come 
 to them in a state of nature, have return- 
 ed new creatures, praising God for re- 
 deeming love, and saving grace. The 
 yearly meetings have also been attend- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. HI 
 
 ed with an equivalent blessing. Hundreds 
 of souls, that now belong to this and 
 other denominations, have dated their ex- 
 perience in our monthly, quarterly, and 
 yearly meetings. 
 
 3. The first yearly meeting was holden 
 at New-Durham. It commenced June 
 9th, 1792, and continued three days. It 
 was a time that will be long remembered 
 by those who witnessed the scene. The 
 reformation still continued. The hands 
 of the ministers were strengthened by the 
 prayers of their brethren. They preached 
 the gospel in its simplicity — saints rejoic- 
 ed, and sinners trembled. They receiv- 
 ed refreshing tidings from the churches 
 through the medium of the several newly- 
 established quarterly meetings. Eld. Ran- 
 dal seemed like one on the wing for glo- 
 ry. He was now confirmed in the belief, 
 that his new arrangement would termi- 
 nate in the enlargement of the Connexion, 
 and increase of the Redeemer's kingdom. 
 The day following the yearly meeting he 
 baptized five. 
 
 4. July 25th, he sat out in company 
 with John Buzzell for the state of Ver- 
 
142 
 
 THE LITE OF 
 
 mont, in answer to a request made by a 
 number of the inhabitants of the town of 
 Strafford, in t he county of Orange. After 
 arriving at the place, Elder Randal 
 preached the word, and was well received; 
 He also baptized two, (the rest having 
 been baptized before, by ministers of Cal* 
 vinistic sentiments,) he with others^ at 
 their request, embodied a church $ but 
 the members were of mixed sentiments f 
 viz. part were of general sentiments, like 
 himself, and part were of Calvinistic sen^ 
 timents ; they all loved each other then, 
 and chose to be embodied together; but, 
 finally, could not walk together because 
 they were not agreed. Elder Randal^ 
 however, enjoyed great freedom in preach- 
 ing the word, through the whole journey; 
 On his return, he preached in Salisbury, 
 N. H. to good effect. A revival began 
 under his preaching, which resulted in a 
 very glorious reformation ; but as he im- 
 mediately left the place, the converts 
 were baptized by a minister of another 
 denomination. This journey was at- 
 tended with some expenee, and a great 
 deal of fatigue, both to him and his young 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 companion. They (ravelled the whole 
 route, about 300 miles, on horse back, 
 and a great part of the way through the 
 wilderness, and very rough travelling. — 
 And the weather being very hot and sul- 
 try, they suffered much from the heat in 
 the day time, and sometimes by reason of 
 hard lodging in the night ; for in those 
 days the people in the back country were 
 poor, and the weary traveller generally 
 had to put up with a lodging on the floor. 
 When they returned, they found their 
 skin worn off in a number of places, and 
 their linning stained with blood. Before 
 they parted, the Elder examined his purse, 
 and found that in the course of the jour- 
 ney, he had received, by donation, four 
 whole pistereens ; which he divided be- 
 tween him and his companion, who was 
 very loth to take any part of the mon- 
 ey. Randal crowded two of the pieces 
 into his hand, saying, "you shall have it. 
 Take it and carry it to your wife." 
 
 5. After recruiting a few days, Elder 
 Randal attended a quarterly meeting at 
 Barnstead, N. H. where his soul was 
 much refreshed. He,then> on the 16th 
 
144 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of August, by request, visited Wolfbor- 
 ough, N. H. preached, baptized, embodi- 
 ed a church, and administered the Lord's 
 supper. It was a most glorious time. 
 He baptized again on the 26th and 27th 
 of August. On the 28th sat out for Ken- 
 nebeck. In this route, he attended the 
 first yearly meeting that ever was holden 
 in Edgcomb. This meeting continued 
 four days, and was very edifying. He 
 then visited the churches in that region, 
 as usual, and returned and attended the 
 October quarterly meeting in Barnstead. 
 
 6. October 24, 1792, Elder Randal 
 with several others by a previous agree- 
 ment, sat in council at Middleton, N. H. 
 and after a very lengthy and public exam- 
 ination, ordained the above named John 
 Buzzell, to the work of an evangelist.— 
 Elder Randal preached a sermon, from 
 2. Cor. v. 20. " Noiv then we are ambas- 
 sadors for Christ, as though God did be- 
 seech you by us, we jiray you in Chris Vs 
 stead, be ye reconciled to God." The 
 charge was given by Elder Samuei 
 Weeks ; right hand of fellow ship by El- 
 der John Whitney $ concluding prayer by 
 
Eider Joseph Boody. The whole exer* 
 cise was solemn and affecting. The ser- 
 mon was admirably adapted to the occa- 
 sion, and delivered in demonstration of the 
 spirit and with power ; some thousands at- 
 tended, and it was hoped that some good 
 vvas done. The next day, October 25, 
 Eld. Randal with the same council, went 
 to Wolfborough, and ordained Isaac 
 Townsend to the work of an evangelist. 
 A sermon was delivered on the occasion 
 by Elder Samuel Weeks, the charge was 
 ^iven by Elder Randal, the right-hand of 
 fellowship by Elder Joseph Boody, con- 
 cluding prayer by Elder Whitney. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 1. Randal attends Y. M. at Gorham. 2. 
 Attends Q. M. $ Y. M—Goes to Straf- 
 ford, Vt. — the church is divided — Buz- 
 zell visits them. 3. Randal visits Ber-. 
 tvickj lyc. 4. Daniel Lord ordained. 
 5. Randal attends Q. M. $ Y. M.~ 
 church embodied at Farmington, Me, 
 
 1. Elder Randal attends yearly meet- 
 ing for the iirst time in Gorham, No- 
 ° 13 
 
J46 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 member 3, 1792. In the course of his 
 journey he baptized a number, and enjoy- 
 ed much consolation^ but as he was re- 
 turnhig home, his horse fell under him, 
 and so fractured his shoulder that it ruined 
 him. Randal, however, escaped unhurt, 
 which he considered as a remarkable in- 
 terposition of divine providence. The 
 horse was very valuable, but the Lord 
 provided another for him. He states that 
 he travelled in the course of that year 
 1138 miles, and attended 340 meetings. 
 
 He closed his journal for that year ? 
 with the following poem : 
 
 w God, to thee, my soul aspires, 
 
 With grateful thoughts and warm desires, 
 
 To praise thy glorious name : . 
 
 O ! tune my heart to sing thy praise, 
 
 Thou God of love— thou God of grace— 
 
 Thou glorious, great " I AM." 
 
 My soul's enraptur'd with thy love, 
 
 All my affections soar above, 
 
 To thee, my God, to thee ; 
 
 There's nought below the spacious sky, 
 
 My thirsty soul can satisfy, 
 
 ? Tis all too small for me." 
 
 2, Jan. 7, 1793, Elder Randal, after 
 attending the monthly meeting in New- 
 Durham, went to Barnstead and attend- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 147 
 
 ed quarterly meeting. On the first Satur- 
 day in Feb., he attended the yearly meet* 
 ihg at Parsonsfieid. After returning 
 home, on Feb. 16th, he sat out to visit 
 the church in Strafford, Vt. ; but to his 
 grief found them so divided in their sen- 
 timents, that it was rather a house of con- 
 tention than a house of prayer. He 
 therefore advised them to separate into 
 two bodies, and each to enjoy liberty of 
 conscience ; but to love each other as 
 brethren, and not to treat each other as 
 enemies. Accordingly, those who were 
 of Calvinistic sentiments, drew off into a 
 church by themselves, and of course the 
 rest were left in a scattered situation. — 
 Elder Randal returned home, and stat- 
 ed their condition to his young compan- 
 ion, John Buzzell, and advised him to go 
 immediately and try to put them into gos- 
 pel order. He accordingly sat off on 
 foot, a distance of about 110 miles, ac- 
 companied by another young man. — 
 When they arrived, they found the breth- 
 ren, not only scattered, but weak and dis- 
 heartened. They had sunk under dis- 
 couragements, on account of the severe 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 trials through which they had passed, 
 while trying to walk together in disagree- 
 ment. However, after * visiting them 
 from house to house, and attending sev- 
 eral meetings of worship and conference 
 with them, by the help of the Great 
 Head of the church, they organized a 
 small church consisting of nine members 
 only, which from that time continued in 
 fellowship, and have ever since been in- 
 creasing in number, and spreading into 
 different parts. Ministers have been raised 
 up, churches embodied, quarterly and 
 yearly meetings established ; till, finally, 
 from this small beginning, the Connexion 
 has spread, not only through that state 2 
 but into the upper part of New-Hamp- 
 shire, the Canadas, New- York, Pennsyl- 
 vania, Ohio, &c. So that we may say, 
 with the utmost propriety, behold, how 
 great a matter a little of the heavenly fire 
 has kindled ! 
 
 S. To return to my narrative. Elder 
 Randal, after returning from Vermont, 
 by request, visited Berwick and Kittery, 
 Me. and collected a small society, but 
 thought it not proper to embody a church 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL 
 
 U9 
 
 Returning from thence, he attended a 
 quarterly meeting at Pittsfield, N. H., 
 and baptized a number in that place 
 From thence he returned home, and con- 
 tinued in his own neighborhood till af- 
 ter the yearly meeting. The yearly 
 meeting convened on the 8th of June at 
 New-Durham, and continued four days. 
 This was a time of refreshing from the 
 presence of the Lord. A great multi- 
 tude attended, and it was hoped that 
 much good was done in the name of Je- 
 sus. 
 
 4. On the 11th of June, being the third 
 day of the meeting, Daniel Lord of Kit- 
 tery was ordained as an evangelist. Elder 
 P. Tingley preached from Mark xvi. 15, 
 a short but pithy discourse. Elder Ran 
 dal gave the charge, and Elder Samuel 
 Weeks gave the right-hand of fellowship. 
 * The scene was interesting, the saints 
 were much edified, and heavenly joy 
 seemed to fill the assembly. Baptism 
 was administered every day while the 
 meeting continued 5 seven new members 
 were added, and the ministers and mes?> 
 sengers returned praising God, 
 13* 
 
150 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 5. In the forepart of .August, Elder 
 Randal visited the church in Canterbury, 
 and baptized seven persons in that place. 
 August 21, he attended the New-Dur* 
 ham quarterly meeting, which was then 
 holdenat Barrington, N. H. Much busi- 
 ness was done, and great harmony exist- 
 ed among the members. Sept. 7, he at- 
 tended the yearly meeting at Edgcomb, 
 Me., and after the close, visited the 
 churches in that region. From thence 
 he went to the upper settlements on the 
 Kennebeck river, a distance of about 100 
 miles, and in the course of this tour, in 
 company with others, embodied a church 
 at Farmington, Me., and established a 
 monthly meeting. This laid the founda- 
 tion of what are now called the Farming- 
 ton and Exeter quarterly meetings, which 
 now consist of nearly 50 churches. The 
 church above named was embodied Sept. j 
 21, 1792. Elder Randal, after visiting 
 all the towns in that vicinity and seeing 
 much of the work of God, returned 
 home, attended the monthly meeting 
 in New-Durham, and the New-Durham 
 quarterly meeting ; and on the 2d of No* 
 
BENJAMIN KANDAL. 
 
 151 
 
 vember attended the yearly meeting at 
 Gorhain, which was adjourned to Gray on 
 account of some special business. From 
 thence he returned home, and spent the 
 remainder of the year with his family, aad 
 brethren in New- Durham. It appears 
 by his Journal, that he travelled that year 
 in the service of truth, 1172 miles, and 
 attended rising of 300 meetings, besides 
 attending to the cares of his family. 
 
 He closed his account with the follow- 
 ing poem : 
 
 " Here I raise my Ebenezer, 
 
 And acknowledge hitherto, 
 
 That the Lord is my preserver; 
 
 In Him I now my choice renew, 
 
 O, my glorious, great Creator, 
 
 I am thine, by precious blood, 
 
 Use me, though a worthless creature^ 
 
 'To proclaim thy truth, my God" 
 
163 
 
 THE LIFE Of 
 
 CHAPTER XVIir 
 
 t. Randal visits Vermont—returns — vis- 
 its Canterbury, fyc— attends a Q. M, 
 and Y. M. 2. Visits Berwick, fyc. 
 3. Goes on an eastern tour. 4. Visits 
 a criminal in Poivnalborough jail— 
 stays at night at a tavern- — a ball 
 broken up, §e. 
 
 1. Jan. 1, 1794, Eider Randal the 
 third time sat off for Vermont, and visit- 
 ed the church in Strafford. He found 
 the brethren in general steadfast in the 
 faith, and well engaged in the cause of 
 Christ. After tarrying with them a short 
 season, he returned to his family, much 
 satisfied with his visit. Jan. 23, he bap- 
 tized a goodly number, and at the water 
 side, sung the following lines ; 
 
 " Christians, if your hearts be warm, 
 
 Ice and snow can do no harm ; 
 
 If by Jesus you are priz'd, 
 
 Now arise and be baptiz'd," &c; 
 
 He never appeared to fear cold water 
 when duty called him to follow his Sav- 
 ior. I have *een him step down into 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 153 
 
 the water up to his middle, and pull away 
 the ice with his hands, and then re- 
 ceive the candidates one after another, 
 and baptize them 3 while the spectators 
 were shuddering and trembling with the 
 coli At the same time he and the can- 
 didates were praying and singing prais- 
 es to God, and appeared as comfortable 
 as at mid-summer. Feb. 1, he attend 
 ed the yearly meeting at Parsonsfield, Me.; 
 and on the 26th of the same month, visit- 
 ed the church in Canterbury, N. H., and 
 administered the Lord's supper ; and 
 says, u I had a blessed season with them. 55 
 April 30, he visited the church in Gil- 
 manton, N. H., and administered baptism 
 and the Lord ? s supper in that place- 
 May 15, he attended the monthly meet- 
 ing in New-Durham, where he enjoyed 
 himself exceedingly well. " It was, says 
 he, a most wonderful season : the shout s 
 of the camp of Israel made the garrison 
 of the Philistines to tremble !" 
 
 " Melting streams of love divine, 
 Flow from Christ the living vine, 
 "Warms our hearts with heavenly fire. 
 Raising every pure desire/' 
 
154 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 May 21, he attended the quarterly 
 meeting at Pittsfield, N. H., and was 
 highly gratified in seeing the good order 
 that existed among the brethren, and in 
 hearing good news from the churches. — 
 June 14, he attended the yearly meeting 
 in New-Durham which continued four 
 days. Love and harmony still prevailed 
 among the members, and the accounts 
 from all the quarterly meetings were very 
 refreshing. " Here, says he, we experi- 
 enced the fulfilment of the ancient proph- 
 esy, ' Zion shall lengthen her cords, and 
 strengthen her stakes ; she shall break 
 forth on the right hand, and on the left. 55 3 
 
 2. In the month of July, after attend- 
 ing the monthly meeting in New-Durham, 
 he visited Berwick, Kittery, and York, 
 Me., and Newcastle, N. H,, and assisted 
 .the churches in those towns, by setting 
 in order those things that were wanting 
 among them. After his return, he went 
 * again to the west and visited Canterbury, 
 preached the word, and assisted them in 
 regulating their church affairs ; he also ad- 
 ministered the Lord's supper. This vis- 
 it was attended with a great blessing — 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 155 
 
 H« remarks, " many were struck under 
 pungent conviction, which were after- 
 wards Drought to rejoice in the Lord. ? - 
 August £0, he attended the quarterly 
 meeting in Barrington. " My soul, says 
 he, was filled with gratitude to God, to 
 see the harmony and order, and to hear 
 of the increase of the work of God 
 through the land $ also to hear of the 
 great numbers that are daily added to 
 Christ's kingdom. " 
 
 "When souls the storm of wrath do see., 
 L>ke clouds before the storm, they flee 
 To Jesus, who for them did die, 
 As doves that for a shelter fly ; 
 Glory to the pure spotless Lamb, 
 Who bore the sinner's guilt and shame, 
 That they might find a hiding place 
 From wrath, and be renew'd by grace." 
 
 3. About the last of August, he sat out 
 again for Kennebeck, and on the 6th of 
 Sept. attended the yearly meeting at 
 Edgcomb, which continued till the 10th ; 
 much business was done. The Edgcomb * 
 and Farmington quarterly meetings were 
 both established at this meeting, and their 
 respective limits stipulated. The Edg- 
 comb quarterly meeting was to extend 
 
156 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ivest as far as Brunswick, and up the 
 Androscoggin river as far as Little river 
 and Lewiston — southward all along the 
 seashore, including the adjacent islands 
 - — eastward as far as Camden and Cana- 
 an on the Penobscot bay, and northward 
 until it meets the bounds of the Farming- 
 ton quarterly meeting, including all the 
 churches in the Connexion within those 
 limits. The Farmington quarterly meeting 
 was to extend east as far as Twenty-five 
 miles Fond — north as far as there were any 
 settlements on the Kenneheck river, and to 
 the upper settlements on the Sandy river ; 
 including all the churches in the Connex- 
 ion within those limits. The accounts 
 given in at this meeting were very re- 
 freshing. The messengers brought tidings 
 of great revivals and large additions to the 
 churches. After the close of the yearly 
 meeting, Elder Randal visited George- 
 town, Bristol and Woolwich, and held a 
 number of very profitable meetings in each 
 of those places. He then sat out for the 
 upper settlements on the Sandy river, ac- 
 companied by myself and several others 
 who were bound the same way. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 157 
 
 4. As we passed through Pownalbor- 
 <ough, Me., we were informed that a col- 
 ored man, by the name of Edmond For- 
 ds, was in jail, and condemned to die for 
 committing a rape on the body, and mur- 
 dering a girl thirteen years of age. Af- 
 ter hearing the circumstances, Eld. Ran- 
 dal expressed a great desire to see the 
 criminal. We were accordingly admit- 
 ted, and a considerable number were ad- 
 mitted with us. It was the first time that 
 I ever was in a prison ; and the first time 
 I ever saw a man who was condemned to 
 be hung. It was, therefore, to me, an 
 awful scene. It would be impossible for 
 words to describe the ideas and views, 
 with which my mind was impressed. 
 The Eider, however, improved every mo- 
 ment in discoursing with the prisoner. — 
 He questioned him much in respect to the 
 horrid crime, for which he was condemn- 
 ed to die.' The criminal frankly owned 
 the whole, and told every circumstance, 
 which made my blood chill in my veins 
 He, however, expressed a hope that God 
 had forgiven him. But Eider Randal 
 -dealt very plainly with hi-n, and told him 
 
 n 
 
156 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 he was afraid he was deceived, and en- 
 treated him to cry mightily to God for a 
 clearer evidence than he then had. The 
 criminal desired prayers. Elder Ran- 
 dal prayed in a most solemn manner, that 
 he might know the worst of his case, and 
 the reality of the pardoning love and mer- 
 cy of God in his soul. The criminal wept, 
 and also the spectators. Finally, it was a 
 weeping time. We then proceeded up 
 the Kennebeck river on the eastern side, 
 when night came on before we found an 
 inn. At length, however, we found one ; 
 but as we drew nigh we heard the sound 
 of a viol, which was unpleasant to us, es- 
 pecially to me at that season, having so 
 lately visited the prison and contemplat- 
 ed the wages of sin, and seen one con- 
 demned to die. I said to one of the com- 
 pany, " I cannot stay where that viol is." 
 He answered, "trust in the Lord, and 
 your enemies shall flee before you seven 
 ways." The landlord led us into the room 
 where the viol was, it being the best in 
 his house, where we found a large com- 
 pany of respectable looking folks engag- 
 ed in dancing,- while an old negro was 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 159 
 
 playing a tone on his fiddle. One of our 
 c ompany spoke very solemnly, and with 
 some christian authority, said, " I don't 
 like to hear that fiddle. 55 The negro im- 
 mediatiy left the room, and fled into the 
 kitchen, and the young gentlemen and 
 ladies, his employers, soon followed him. 
 We then took our seats, and after a sol- 
 emn pause of 3 few minutes, I sung the 
 following lines : 
 
 "My days, my weeks, my months, my years, 
 Fly rapid, like the whirling spheres 
 
 Around the steady pole 5 
 Time, like a tide, its motion keeps, 
 Till I shali launch that boundless deep> 
 
 Where endless ages roll. 
 
 The grave is near the cradle seen, 
 How swift the moments pass between f" 
 
 And whisper as they fly — 
 '•- Unthinking man remember this, 
 Thou, midst thy sublunary bliss, 
 
 Must groan, and gasp, and die." 
 
 These lines had a most solemn effect 
 on the young company, and also on the 
 family. Many of them sighed while I 
 sung, and as soon as the hymn was clos- 
 ed the fiddler passed out, and bade us 
 
 good night," and his company follow- 
 
160 
 
 THE LIFE OE 
 
 ed. We then enjoyed a comfortable sea - 
 son in religious conversation and prayer. 
 The landlord then lighted us to bed. We 
 enjoyed a comfortable repose. We arose 
 early in the morning to goon our journey, 
 and called on the landlord to make out 
 our bills, which he did ; but in a most af- 
 fectionate manner entreated us to stop 
 and pray with his family, saying he was 
 sorry we found him with such company 
 and conduct in his house. We conde- 
 scended, and the family being called into 
 the room, Elder Randal prayed most fer- 
 vently for the landlord, and his wife, and 
 children, and hired servants 5 and espec- 
 ially that there might be room for Christ 
 in that inn. When he closed, the land- 
 lord thanked him, and desired us all to 
 call on him, if ever we came that way 
 again. The whole family appeared ten- 
 der, and one of them told one of our com- 
 pany that they had frequently entertain- 
 ed ministers, but that none of them had 
 ever before said any thing to them about 
 religion. 
 
tmSAMli* RANDAX, 101 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 1. Randal visits Uppertown. 2. A month- 
 ly meeting established— Randal visits 
 Farrningtoa — returns home — attends 
 Q. M. 3. Attends ¥. M. at Gorham— 
 Goes to Raymond — Z. Leach ordained 
 — Randal returns home, <§*c. 
 
 I. After taking our leave of the family 
 above named, we proceeded on our journ- 
 ey, crossed the Kennebeck at Hallo well, 
 and went on to Chesterville, and tarried 
 that night with Elder Edward Locke. 
 
 The next day we proceeded to Upper- 
 town, but while we were stopping for re- 
 freshment, about four or five miles short 
 of the house at which we intended to put 
 up, a messenger came in, and informed 
 us that a lad belonging to the family 
 where we were going was thought to be 
 dying with the billions, cholic. It was 
 also stated by the messenger, that the 
 doctor had given up alt hope. On hear- 
 ing the above, the company mounted their 
 horses and rode about as fast as they 
 could, till they arrived at the house where, 
 U* 
 
162 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the lad was sick. When they entered, 
 they found the house filled with people, 
 who had come to sympathise with the af- 
 flicted family. A number of whom were 
 standing around the bed, expecting every 
 moment to see the lad breath his. last ; 
 while the surrounding relatives were bath- 
 ed in tears. Upon seeing this, one of the 
 ministers pressed through the crowd to 
 the bedside, and asked, " do you think, 
 friends, that this lad is dying ?" The an- 
 swer was, " O yes, the doctor has given 
 him over." The minister said, " this lad 
 is not dying. 55 This sickness is not unto 
 death, but for the glory of God ; and turn- 
 ing from the bed, took a seat with two 
 other ministers 5 one of whom said, " let 
 us pray," and kneeling down, he address- 
 ed the throne of grace in a most fervent 
 manner, for the life of tike child. The 
 others, one after another, continued the 
 supplication. When prayer was ended, 
 another of the ministers prepared a little 
 weak lie from the ashes on the hearth, 
 and gave the same to the lad. This be- 
 ing done, he immediately revived and 
 grew better. The next day he was able 
 
BENJA&UN RANDAL. I&3 
 
 to Sit up. What is still more worthy of 
 remark is, I have been credibly informed, 
 that the lad from that day forward, 
 brought forth fruits meet for repentance. 
 The name of the youth I think was Gree- 
 
 2. The day following, Sept. 25, we 
 attended a meeting with the church in 
 the same house. 
 
 Here we found the wilderness blosom- 
 ing like a rose. We were informed that 
 every adult in the town was hopefully 
 converted. After much profitable conver- 
 sation, we established a monthly meeting 
 in the place, to be holden on the second 
 Saturday in every month. The next day 
 we attended a meeting of worship, and 
 the administration of the Lord's supper. 
 This was a time of refreshing indeed. To 
 see most all the people in a newly settled 
 town, aged, middle-aged, and blooming 
 youth, surrounding the Lord's table, is a 
 sight that is seldom witnessed. 
 
 Sept. 27, Elder Randal returned to 
 Farmington, and the next day, being Sab- 
 bath, preached and broke bread to the 
 brethren in that place* The same day I 
 
164 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 preached in Starks r to a crowded a&serrr* 
 bly, and witnessed a blessed revival, 
 which resulted in a very glorious reforma- 
 tion. The converts however, I under- 
 stood, joined the Methodist Society.— 
 The day following, we left that region, 
 and proceeded homeward, having seen 
 much of the work of the Lord through all 
 the journey. 
 
 Elder Randal, after returning home, 
 and paying some attention to his family 
 affairs, and attending to the concerns of 
 the church in New-Durham, attended the 
 quarterly meeting. On the 1st day of 
 the ensuing November, he went to Gor- 
 ham to attend the yearly meeting. From 
 thence, by appointment, he went to Ray- 
 mond, Me., and assisted in the ordination 
 of Zach. Leach; Elder Randal preached 
 the sermon from Ezek. xxxiii. 7. "So 
 thou, O son of man, I have set thee a 
 watchman unto the house of Israel $ there- 
 fore thou shall hear the word at my mouth, 
 and warn them from me." The dis- 
 course was both instructive and quicken- 
 ing. Elder John Buzzell prayed at the 
 laying on of ha»ds> and gave the charge. 
 
EE NJA MI>' E A If DAL. 165 
 
 Elder Samuel "Weeks nave the right- 
 hand of fellowship, and made the conclud- 
 ing prayer. The scene was truly solemn 
 and delightful , 
 
 Elder Randal then returned home, la- 
 den with the experience of God's good- 
 ness, He spent the residue of the year with 
 his family and friends in X evv-Durhaim 
 
 CHAPTER. XX. 
 
 I, Randal attends Q. M. at Middleton 
 and Wolf borough — F. M. at Parsons- 
 field and M Durham. 2. Ordination 
 of David Knowlton, sen. —attends Edg- 
 comb Y. M c e ^ Attends F. M. at 
 P ar sons fiiei /, and Y. M. at JV. Dur- 
 ham, 4. Attends Y. M. at Edgcoml 
 and Gorham. 
 
 1. January 21 and 22, 1795, Elder 
 R and al attended a quarterly meeting in 
 Middleton. N. H., and delivered a very 
 weighty discourse from Song v. 1. "Eat, 
 O friends , drink, yea, drink abundantly, 
 O beloved." Feb. 7, he attended the 
 yearly meeting at Parsonsfield, and en 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 the 20th of May, attended a quarterly 
 meeting at Wolf borough; Jane 13, he- 
 attended the yearly meeting in New- 
 Durham, and preached an excellent dis- 
 course from Philip, ii. 3. " Let nothing 
 be dons through strife or vain glory ; but 
 in lowliness of mind let each esteem oth- 
 ers better than themselves?* In all the 
 above meetings, it appears by the minutes, 
 that much business was done., and much 
 consolation enjoyed 5 and a considerable 
 number added to the Connexion. 
 
 2. Aug. 12, Elder Randal and oth- 
 ers, agreeably to an appointment of year- 
 ly meeting, went to Pittsfield, N. H., and 
 ordained David Knowlton, sen. to the 
 work of an evangelist. \ Eider Daniel 
 Lord made the first prayer Elder John 
 Buzzeli preached the seraion, from 2 Tim. 
 iv. 5. "Do the work of an evangelist, 
 make full proof of thy ministry?* Eld. 
 Randal prayed at the laying on qOiands, 
 and gave the charge. Eldey^Voseph 
 Boody, sen. .nave the right hand of fellow- 
 ship, and made the concluding prayer. 
 
 Elder Randal, having performed the 
 above appointment, returned home and 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 167 
 
 made arrangements for another eastern 
 tour. On the 5th of September he at- 
 tended the yearly meeting at Edgcomb. 
 At this meeting he was much comforted 
 in reading the letters and hearing ver- 
 bal reports from the different quarterly 
 meetings, which brought tidings of love 
 and harmony among the churches. On 
 the Sabbath, A. M., he preached from 
 Psalms xxiv. 3. " Who shall ascend into 
 the hill of the Lord ? and who shall stand 
 in Ms holy place ?" P. M. Elder Isaac 
 Townsend preached from Isa. lv. 1. " Ho 
 every one that thirstethS* fyc. Many 
 weighty exhortations were delivered by 
 others. At the close of the exercise, they 
 administered the Lord's supper. Eider 
 Randal, after making his usual visits in 
 those parts, returned, and by an appoint- 
 ment of yearly meeting, visited the church 
 in Raymond, Me. After which he return- 
 f ed home, and attended a quarterly meeting 
 at his own house. 
 
 October 21, he went with others to 
 Canterbury, N.H., and gave the right-hand 
 of fellow ship to the church in that place as 
 a .branch of the church of New- Durham. 
 
168 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Returning from thence, lie immediately 
 sat off for yearly meeting, which was hold- 
 en in Gorham on the 7th, Sth, and 9th of 
 the ensuing November. After making 
 his usual visits in that vicinity, he return- 
 ed home, and probably closed the year 
 with his family and friends in his own 
 neighborhood. 
 
 3. Jan. 20, 1796, he attended anoth- 
 er quarterly meeting at his own house. 
 On the 6th of Feb. he attended the year- 
 ly meeting in Parsonsfield. On the 18th 
 of May following, he again attended quar- 
 terly meeting in New-Durham. June 28th 
 he went to Canterbury, and assisted in or- 
 daining Winthrop Young to the work of 
 the ministry ; and David Kent to the of- 
 iiceof deacon. Eld. John Whitney made 
 the first prayer — Eld. Randal preached 
 from Eph. iii. 8. u Unto me, who am less 
 than the least of all saints, is this grace 
 given, that I should preach anion?; the 
 Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ^ Eld. John Buzzell prayed at 
 the laying on of hands, and gave the 
 charge — Eld. Joseph Boody gave the 
 right-hand of fellowship, and Eld. Randal 
 closed the solemnity by prayer. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 4. June 11, he attended the yearly 
 meeting in New-Durham, ami served as 
 moderator ; and on the 17th of August at- 
 tended the New-Durham quarterly meet- 
 ing, and served as clerk. Sept. 3, he 
 attended the yearly meeting again at Edg- 
 comb. Me., and after the meetino^losed, 
 he visited the churches in that r^lSbn, as 
 usual, and assisted in the regulation of 
 their gifts, and setting in order those things 
 which were wanting among them. He 
 then returned home, and on the 19th of 
 October attended the New-Durham quar- 
 terly meeting, which was a very glorious 
 season indeed. Many attended. Sinners 
 were awakened and saints comforted. 
 
 Nov, 5, he attended the yearly meet- 
 ing at Gorham, and then returned, and 
 spent the rest of that year with his family, 
 and in gospel labors in that region. 
 
 15 
 
no 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 1. Randal embodies a church at New field, 
 2. Visits Newcastle — attends Y. M. at 
 Woolwich. 3. Extraordinary revival 
 at N. Durham. 4. Ordination of Bal- 
 lard, 4»c. 
 
 1. Jan. 18, 1797, Elder Randal at 
 tended the New-Durham quarterly meet- 
 ing, and being appointed with others for 
 that purpose, went to Newfield, Me., and 
 embodied a church on the 6th of March. 
 This church was small at that time, but 
 has ever been increasing from that time to 
 this, and is now a large and flourishing 
 church. The ministers who assisted him 
 in embodying them, were Elders Pelatiah 
 Tingley and John Buzzell. June 10, 11 
 and 12, Eld. Randal attended the- year- 
 ly meeting at New-Durham. The day 
 following, he baptized Daniel Shakley 
 and Simon Emery of Berwick, Me. Will- 
 iam Allard and Polly Jackson of Roch- 
 ester, N. H. Paul Otis and Mary Foss 
 ®f Barring ton, N. H. 
 
 2. July 30, he went to Newcastle, N. 
 and baptized Thomas Bell, Joshua 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 171 
 
 Hooper, Nancy Mitchel, Betsey Bell. 
 Dorothy Yeatcn, Polly Tarlton, and Ab- 
 igail Amerzine. July 31, he baptized 
 John Bell, Mary Amerzine, Abigail Neal, 
 and Mary True. From thence, he re- 
 turned, and attended the New-Durham 
 quarterly meeting, which was holden at 
 his own house, on the 18th and 19th of 
 October, and was a very glorious season. 
 It was now a time of general revival in 
 New- Durham, and in several other towns 
 in that vicinity. He had full employ 
 about home through the remaining part of 
 the year, and the ensuing winter. The 
 minutes of the New-Durham quarterly 
 meeting, holden Jan. 17 and 18, 1798, 
 state, that they received accounts of love 
 and harmony among the churches $ and 
 that revivals were taking place in almost 
 every direction. The Macedonian cries 
 were frequently heard, " Come over and 
 help us." The Elder spared no pains to 
 answer them. 
 
 3. June 9, the yearly meeting com- 
 menced at New-Durham, and continued 
 four days ; and from the commencement 
 to the elese* was one of the most extraor- 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 dinary scenes I ever witnessed, or per* 
 haps that was ever witnessed in New- 
 England. About one thousand persons 
 were present when the meeting began ; 
 and a large number of ministers from all 
 parts of the Connexion, were also present. 
 About as soon as the people were seated^, 
 there appeared a more than common de- 
 gree of solemnity resting on the assembly, 
 and the power of God seemed to fall upon 
 them, in some measure, as it did on the 
 disciples on the day of Pentecost. The 
 whole assembly appeared to be shocked ; 
 and it was difficult to tell who first felt the 
 shock. The first person that I heard 
 speak, was a young man, who arose, and 
 in a most feeling manner, confessed his 
 disobedience to God, to his parents, and 
 to those who had been his instructors 5 
 and asked the forgiveness of all present, 
 who knew him. He then stated, that God 
 had forgiven his sins, changed his heart, 
 brought him up out of an horrible pit and 
 miry clay, set his feet on the rock of ages, 
 established his goings, and put a new 
 song in his mouth, even praise to God. 
 H© then, in a most powerful manner, ex* 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 173 
 
 liorted all, both old and young, male and 
 female, to w Come taste and see that the 
 Lord is good." While he was thus speak- 
 ing, a large number of youth, in different 
 parts of the assembly, began to weep ; 
 and a number fell on their knees, and be- 
 gan to cry vocally for mercy; and the 
 cries so increased, that in a few minutes, 
 it was difficult to distinguish one voice 
 from another, unless any one spake very 
 loud. Several of the young preachers 
 left their seats, and dispersed through the 
 assembly, and conversed with and prayed 
 for those in distress. Thus the exercise 
 continued through the day, and a number 
 were hopefully converted. The work was 
 go extraordinary, that it proved a trial to 
 many of the ministers present. Some of 
 the subjects of the work, would cry aloud 
 for mercy, and then would fall, and lay 
 motionless for a considerable time — some 
 longer and some for a shorter time — per- 
 haps, some for the space of an hour, like 
 one in a fainting fit, and then would sud- 
 denly come to themselves, and brake out 
 in acclamations of praise to God, and 
 would speak with the tongues of the learn- 
 15* 
 
 f - - * : s ' ' % :/. i, . 
 
174 THE LIFE <5f 
 
 ed 5 while others would burst into liberty 
 without passing through those exercises. 
 Eld. Randal was one of those who was 
 tried with the work ; and from his own 
 feelings, aided by the entreaties of others, 
 who were in the same trial, he went in 
 among them, who were thus exercised, 
 and desired them to desist. Accordingly, 
 there was some cessation for a short sea- 
 son. But the Elder was soon convinced 
 that he had done wrong ; and arose, and 
 confessed his fault, in the presence of the 
 whole congregation 5 and said he had been 
 like old Uzzah, who attempted to steady 
 the Ark, and was struck dead. He asked 
 the forgiveness of all present, and asked 
 the prayers of all the saints, and then went 
 into the work himself. The others who 
 had been tried, seeing and hearing Elder 
 Randal, began also to be convinced that 
 the work was of God ;' and fell in with the 
 same, when it became more general. The 
 second day about two thousand persons 
 attended, and the exercise continued in 
 about the same manner ; and was stiH in- 
 creasing. The third day it was thought 
 that about three thousand attended, and 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 175 
 
 
 the assembly being large, it was thought 
 best to repair to a field, where a sermon 
 was delivered by Eld. Isaac Townsend, 
 which was calculated to inform the under-,, 
 standing in respect to the way of salva- 
 tion. In the mean time, meetings of wor- 
 ship were holden in different parts of the 
 town $ and new cases of conviction and 
 conversion were almost continually taking 
 place. The fourth day, by previous ap- 
 pointment, they assembled at the water, 
 and Elder Randal baptized a number. 
 Here the Lord displayed his power in a 
 marvellous manner among the spectators. 
 The work continued on the ground near- 
 ly all day. Many stout-hearted sinners 
 were cut down, and cried aloud to God 
 for mercy ; while others were praising 
 God for redeeming love 5 so that it was 
 sometimes difficult to distinguish the noise 
 of them that wept, from the noise of them 
 that rejoiced. Language, however, fails 
 to describe the scene. Let it, therefore, 
 suffice to say, that in the course of these 
 four days, at the least calculation, as many 
 as one hundred scarlet-red sinners, ap- 
 peared to become snow-white saints. The 
 
ITB THE- LIFE OF 
 
 subjects of this work were principally 
 strangers in New-Durham, being from 
 different and distant parts. This circum- 
 stance was favorable to a general spread ; 
 for the meeting being closed, they affec- 
 tionately took their leave of each other, 
 and returned to their respective homes, 
 declaring to their friends and acquaint- 
 ance, what great things the Lord had done 
 for them. From this, the reformation 
 took almost an immediate spread. New 
 doors were daily opened for preaching — 
 Young preachers raised up to shew the 
 way of salvation- — New churches were 
 frequently embodied, and the Connexion 
 was daily increasing. These things seem- 
 ed to put new life in the old preachers, 
 and many of them exerted themselves to 
 their utmost, for the advancement of the 
 cause. 
 
 4. July 2, 179$ Eld. Randal, having 
 been appointed with others for that pur- 
 pose, went to Unity, N. H., and ordained 
 Jeremiah Ballard to the work of the min- 
 istry. Eld. Randal preached a sermon 
 from Col. iv. 17. "Say to Jlrchippus, Take 
 heed to the ministry which, thou hast re- 
 
BENJAMIN KAKDAL. 177 
 
 ceived in the Lord, that thou fulfil it." 
 The discourse was weighty and instruc- 
 tive, and the scene was glorious. The 
 same council also embodied a church in 
 that town, and there was an appearance 
 of a general reformation in that section of 
 the eountry. Eld. Ballard was a very 
 ingenious and flowery preacher, and his 
 preaching was attended with uncommon 
 success. Hundreds of souls were struck 
 under conviction by his preaching. How- 
 ever, he soon run into many religious ex- 
 travagances, for which he was afterwards 
 rejected. Such as kissing, loud laughing, 
 and screaming in meetings of worship, 
 &c. &,c. 
 
 He soon after removed from Unity to 
 one of the southern states, and it has been a 
 matter of some consolation to hear that he 
 has since abandoned the most of those ex- 
 travagances, and become regular in his de- 
 votion. It ought, how ever, to be remark- 
 ed that those extravagances did not imme- 
 diately die out of the Connexion, by Eld. 
 Ballard's rejection 5 for they had taken 
 such deep root in a number, that the la- 
 boring part of the Connexion found hard 
 
178 
 
 THE MFJi OF 
 
 work to suppress them. The writer is of 
 opinion that the separates, afterward call- 
 ed the Angel Society , took their first rise 
 from the same seed. Although he regrets 
 to sully these pages with a recital of such 
 facts, yet he hopes that the narrative will 
 serve as a barrier against such extrava- 
 gances 5 and as a caution to all preachers 
 to keep humble, and not to be lifted up 
 with their gifts. u Humility goeth before 
 promotion, and a haughty spirit before a 
 fall." 
 
 Elder Randal, having returned from 
 his tour to Unity, found the reformation 
 wonderfully spreading in New-Durham. 
 Several of his old neighbors had become 
 aew creatures. Aged, middle aged, and 
 youth 9 were praising God for his loving 
 kindness. 
 
 It appears by the return of the New- 
 Durham church to the next quarterly 
 meeting, that, in the short time of about 
 two months, ninety souls were hopefully 
 converted in that town. 
 
BENJAMIN BANOAL. 
 
 179 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 1. Aspect of New-Durha m Q. M. 2. A. 
 BuzzeWs wife dies, $c. 3. The work 
 in New-Durham continues — Eld. Ran- 
 dal attends to the work. 4. Attends 
 Gorham Y. M. 5. Attends Y.M.at 
 ¥ arsons field. 
 
 I. August 15, the New-Durham quar- 
 terly meeting convened at Eld. Randal's 
 house, and exhibited one of the most glo- 
 rious scenes which had ever been witnes- 
 sed in the country. A large number of 
 chosen brethren, from the churches, were 
 present, accompanied by many others who 
 came as volunteers for the meeting, and 
 in addition to these, about 200 converts 
 who had within three months experienced 
 a work of divine grace. These all being 
 filled with the love of God, and a deep 
 sense of his unmerited goodness to them 
 and others, the whole day was spent in 
 praising God. Eld. Randal says, "it 
 appeared the most like heaven upon earth, 
 and glory in the bud, of any thing we have 
 ever experienced. 55 The 2d day of the 
 
180 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 meeting, no business was done, excepting 
 to call and adjourn. The whole time be- 
 ing filled up with the most animating ser- 
 mons and exhortations, and heart-felt as- 
 criptions of praise to God and the Lamb. 
 
 2. On the 3d day of the meeting, which 
 w as the 17th of Aug. 1798, they had sor- 
 row to mingle with their joys. Eld. Aaron 
 Buzzell now of Strafford, Vt., was at 
 that time a candidate for ordination, and 
 was on the stand for examination. Just 
 as he concluded, a messenger arrived with 
 the melancholy tidings of the death of his 
 wife, who had died suddenly that morning, 
 as she was coming to the ordination. But 
 it seems there never was a man better 
 prepared for such a stroke than he ; for 
 he had but, as it were, a moment before, 
 made a public offering of himself, and all 
 that he had to God. He bore the shock 
 with christian fortitude, and with a pa- 
 tience becoming a minister of Christ 
 Although he very sensibly felt his loss, 
 and mourned much for the wife of his 
 youth, yet he sorrowed not as those who 
 have no hope. She was a pious w oman 
 — *i loving companion — much beloved by 
 
BENJAMIN KANDAL 
 
 181 
 
 her acquaintance, and well calculated to 
 draw with him in the gospel yoke. His 
 loss was great, but what was loss to him, 
 was gain to her. The meeting now clos- 
 ed — his ordination was postponed — and 
 arrangements were made for the funeral. 
 
 3. The reformation still continued to 
 spread in New-Durham, and places ad- 
 jfeung ; and it seems by the records that 
 mc calls for gcspel labor were suchj that 
 Eld. Randal was unable to leave the 
 ground. For there is no mention in the 
 the minutes of his attending the Edgcomb 
 yearly meeting, as usual. But it seems 
 that, he devoted himself, for several months 
 about that time, to the concerns of the 
 church of New- Bur ham, and of what was 
 called the New-Durham quarterly moot- 
 ing. He attended that Q. M. in October, 
 and served as clerk. It is stated that 
 more than a hundred and twenty persons 
 in the vicinity of New-Durham, had pro- 
 fessed experimental religion since the 9th 
 of June then past ; and that twenty-nine 
 of them had been baptized. 
 
 4f. Eld. Randal attended ■ the yearly 
 meeting in Gorbam, which began on the 
 46 
 
182 
 
 THE LIFE 3P 
 
 3d of Nov. following ; and on the last day 
 of the same meeting, assisted in the ordi- 
 nation of Ephraim Stinchfieid of New- 
 Gloucester, Me. The ordination was 
 performed in the following order. The 
 candidate delivered a weighty testimony 
 from Isa. liii. 5, which was to general sat- 
 isfaction. Eld. J. Buzzell made the pre- 
 vious prayer—- Eld. Randal gave 
 charge — Eld. Tingley gave the right mmcl .1 
 of fellowship — Eld. Z. Leach made the 
 concluding prayer. The scene was sol- 
 emn and refreshing, and we afterwards 
 learned that one soul experienced a hope 
 in Christ, in consequence of hearing the 
 above testimony. 
 
 5. Jan. 16* 1799, Eld. Randal at- 
 tended quarterly meeting in Canterbury, 
 N. H., and served as clerk. Feb. 2, 3 
 and 4, he attended the yearly meeting 
 at Parsonsfield, and delivered a very well 
 adapted and powerful sermon, from Song 
 viii. 5. " Who is this thai cometh up from 
 the wilderness leaning upon her beloved." 
 This meeting was attended by many of 
 the late converts, from the west ; and it 
 being a time of great revival in Parson* 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 field, the season was very glorious. 
 There were hundreds present, who could 
 say that Christ was their beloved; and 
 that they were coming up from the wilder- 
 ness of sin, leaning upon him. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 I. Randal attends Q. M. and Y. M. at' 
 JV. Durham. 2. Attends Y. M. at Edg- 
 comb — attends Q. M. at JV. Durham — 
 M. Otis, S. Potter, J. Jackson, J. 
 Boody, jr. and D. ShacMey ordained. 
 3. Attends the Gorham Y. JVJ.-J. Blais- 
 del and G. Lord ordained. 4>. Goes 
 to Canterbury, $c. 
 
 1. May 15, 1799, Elder Randal at- 
 tended the quarterly meeting in New- 
 Durham ; but, I believe, nothing very 
 special took place. June S, 9, 10 and 
 
 II, he attended yearly meeting in the 
 same place, which was a very glorious 
 scene, somewhat similar to that witnessed, 
 in the town the year before on the same- 
 occasion. A multitude attended, and a 
 
I8i 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 great solemnity rested on the people. 
 Many shouted in praises to God 5 while 
 others were pleading with Him for a par- 
 don of their sins. On the 3d day of the 
 meeting, thirteen souls professed to expe- 
 rience delivering grace. He also attended 
 the quarterly meeting at New-Durham, on 
 the 21st of the ensuing August: and, at 
 the close of the meeting, assisted in the 
 ordination of Joseph Hall of Barrington 
 to the office of Ruling Elder, and William 
 Sanders of the same place to the office of 
 Deacon. 
 
 2. After the close of the above meeting. 
 Eld. Randal sat out again for Kennebeck, 
 and on the 7th of September, attended 
 the yearly meeting at Woolwich, Me. 
 At this meeting, after much consultation 
 on the subject, it was unanimously agreed 
 to hold an Elders' Conference at Parsons- 
 field, Me.,"HDn Friday before the lost Fri- 
 day in the same month, at the dwelling 
 house of Eld. John Buzzell, for the pur- 
 pose of deliberating on the affairs of the 
 Connexion ; and more especially for the 
 examination of public gifts, and giving and 
 receiving such instructions as relate to 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 185 
 
 public improvement, both in preaching the 
 word and discipline of the churches. 
 
 Eld. Randal, therefore, after perform- 
 ing his usual visits in the eastern country, 
 returned to Parsonsfield, and attended 
 the Elders' Conference. This was the 
 first Elders 5 Conference held by the Con- 
 nexion ; and finding it profitable, -and a 
 Bktime of refreshing, it was agreed to hold 
 ^^one annually at the same place, on Friday 
 after the first Saturday in November. This 
 place then being considered nearly in the 
 centre of the whole Connexion. These 
 meetings have since been kept up, tftotigij 
 not held every year at Parsonsfield, as 
 was at first contemplated ; but alternate- 
 ly at Parsonsfield and Gorliam, or Bux- 
 ton, near where the yearly meeting is 
 held a-t^hat season of the year. It was 
 also contemplated and intend^ at first, 
 that this should have been & general Year- 
 ly Conference, (i. e.) that all the Elders iii 
 the Connexion should meet annually at 
 this place for the above purposes ; but 
 soon after this appointment, it was thought 
 proper to annex an Elders' Conference to 
 every quarterly and yearly meeting 5 and 
 16* 
 
186 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Elders in each section, attended to 
 their own Conference, and of course this 
 was no more general than the rest. But 
 we have since appointed a General Year- 
 ly Conference, in which all the yearly 
 meetings, by their messengers, are to rep- 
 resent themselves 5 and it is hoped that it 
 will prove a long and lasting blessing to 
 the Connexion. To return to my narra- 
 tive. Eld. Randal returned from Par- 
 sonsfield to New-Durham, and on the 
 18th of October attended the quarterly 
 meeting in that town, and assisted in the 
 ordination of Micajah Otis of Barring ton 
 — Simon Pottle of Middleton — Dr. James 
 Jackson of Eaton — Joseph Boody of 
 New-Durham, to the work of the minis- 
 try 5 and Daniel Shackley of Berwick, to 
 the office of Deacon. 
 
 Eld. Randal delivered an appropriate 
 discourse cm the occasion from 1 Cor. ix. 
 16. " For though I preach the gospel, I 
 have nothing to glory of, for necessity is 
 laid on me yea, ivo is me if I preach not 
 the gospel." He also gave the charge. 
 Eld. Daniel Lord prayed at the laying on 
 of hands, and gave the right-hand of fel- 
 
BE N J A M I Pf R A N D A L . 
 
 !owship. Eld. John Shepherd made the 
 concluding prayer. 
 
 3. Nov. 2, Eld. Randal attended the 
 yearly meeting at Gorham, and after the 
 meeting closed, being previously chosen 
 with others for that purpose, he returned 
 to Lebanon, Me., and on the 20th of the 
 same month assisted in the ordination of 
 iJohn Blaisdel and Gershem Lord, both 
 of that town. Eld. Randal preached from- 
 Mark xvi. 15, 16. " Go ye into all the 
 world, and preach the gospel to every 
 creature ; He that belie veth and is bap* 
 tized. shall be saved; but he that beli v- 
 eth not shall be damned." He likewise 
 gave the charge. Eld. Aaron Buzzell 
 made the first prayer. Eld. Daniel Lord 
 prayed at the laying on of hands, and gave 
 the righkhand of fellowship; and Eld. M. 
 Otis made the concluding prayer^ 
 
 4. Jan. 15, 1800, Eld. RandaTwent to 
 Canterbury, and attended a quarterly 
 meeting ; where he attended to much bus- 
 iness, and was much refreshed from the 
 presence of the Lord $ after which he re- 
 turned home, and as it appears by his 
 record, attended to the reformation wjpch 
 
THE LIFE 01? 
 
 was then gloriously spreading in the re- 
 gion where he lived. On this account he 
 did not attend the yearly meeting in Feb- 
 ruary? which was held that year in Anson, 
 Me. It appears, however, that he soon 
 after took a journey to Vermont, and on 
 the 10th of the ensuing March, embodied 
 a church in the town of Hard wick, county 
 of Caladonia. Returning from thence, he 
 attended the May Q. M. at New-Iiamp- 
 ton, N. II. j and from thence returned 
 home, having seen much of the goodness 
 of God in the journey. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 1. RandaPs tour to Marshfield, Mass. 
 2. Goes on an eastern tour — attends 
 Y. M. at Woolwich, $c. 3. Attends 
 Q. M. at N Durham, and Y. M. at 
 Gorham. 4. Visits 'New-Bradford and 
 Fishersjleld, fyc. 
 
 1. July 28, 1800, he sat out on a south- 
 ern journey, accompanied by Samuel 
 Avery. They stayed the first night at 
 Por^moutb, N, H., and the m&fc day 
 
B E N J A M I N R A N D A L . 
 
 189 
 
 went to Newcastle and attended a meet- 
 ing of worship, and tarried till the 30th. 
 From thence they went to Scabrook, and 
 stayed with Mr. Richard Smith, where 
 they were very kindly entertained. In 
 the evening they attended a meeting with 
 Elias Hull, a Methodist, and enjoyed 
 much consolation. July 31, after attend- 
 ing prayer with Mr. Smith and family, 
 they proceeded to Newburyport, and be- 
 ing stopped by reason of a great rain, they 
 providentially fell in with some religious 
 friends at Rowley, where they enjoyed 
 a wonderful season in conversation and 
 prayer. After the rain abated they pro- 
 ceeded to Lynn, where they tarried all 
 night. The next morning they pursued 
 their journey, and made some stop in Bos- 
 ton. From thence they proceeded to 
 Marshfieid, and tarried the first night with 
 deacon Hatch. They spent the evening 
 in prayer and thanksgiving. The next 
 day, Aug. 2, they held a meeting at the 
 dwelling-house of Nathan Thomas. Eld. 
 Randal preached from 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9. 
 " We had," says he, 4; a refreshing time.'* 
 4ug. 3, being Sabbath, he preached at 
 
¥HE LIFE Of 
 
 the dwelling-house of deacon -Hatch, from 
 Acts xvi. 30, 31. This he says, " was a 
 very tender, melting season.- 9 Aug. 4», 
 in the forenoon, they visited several fami- 
 lies ; and in the afternoon, he preached at 
 Capt. Luke Ball's, from Heh. iv. 7. 
 " Jlgain he limiieih a certain day, saying 
 in David, To-day, after so long a time ; 
 as it is said to-day, if ye ivill hear his 
 voice, harden not your hearts." Here 
 he says, " The word was quick and pow- 
 erful. Great solemnity rested on the peo- 
 ple, and almost the whole assembly ap- 
 peared to be melted into tears ; several 
 stout-hearted sinners were struck under 
 solemn conviction." Aug. 6, he attended 
 monthly meeting with the church in that 
 place. After hearing the members relate 
 their experience, deacon Prince Hatch, 
 who had previously been a deacon of a 
 Calvinistic Baptist church in the same 
 town, publicly offered himself, and w as re- 
 ceived as a member of the Freewill Bap- 
 tist church. 
 
 Aug. 7, in the fore part of the day Eld. 
 Randal was very unwell, but in the af- 
 tor part, so far recovered, a&to preach> 
 
BENJAMIN RANfiAL. 
 
 191 
 
 He spake from Heb. v. 9. " And being 
 made perfect, he became the author of 
 eternal salvation unto all them that obey 
 him." Aug. 8, he preached again, from 
 Psalms Ixxxix. 15. " Blessed is the peo- 
 ple that know the joyful sound : they shall 
 walk, O Lord, in the light of thy counte- 
 nance." He then repaired to the water, 
 and baptized Scoble Baker. 
 
 Aug. 9, he spent the day in visiting the 
 families in the vicinity, and in the evening 
 attended a prayer meeting, which contin- 
 ued till two o'clock the next morning 
 This meeting was at Abel Thomas'. 
 Here he also remarks, that he had a very 
 comfortable interview with Capt. Isaac 
 Porter, he being under great impressions 
 in respect to the cause of God, and trav- 
 ail of Zion. Aug. 10, they met for wor- 
 ship and communion. He mentions in 
 his journal, that as soon as the people as- 
 sembled, the power of God fell on all pres- 
 ent ; and the brethren fell on their knees, 
 and continued in prayer one after another, 
 for a considerable time. After which, sev- 
 eral of them spake very pointedly and 
 powerfully by exhortation, He then 
 
W2 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 preached from Mat. xxv. 6. u And at mid- 
 night there teas a cry made^ Behold, the 
 bridegroom cometh $ go ye out to meet 
 him." In the afternoon he spake from 
 Rev. xxii. 17. "And whosoever will) let 
 him take the water of life freely^ He 
 say% c * We then sat down at the commun- 
 ion table, and had a very melting season. 55 
 Aug. 11, he preached from Heb. ii. 9. 
 " But we see Jesus, who for the suffering 41 
 of death, crowned with glory and honor ; 
 that he by the grace of God should taste 
 death for every man." Here, he observes, 
 that the power of God was also displayed, 
 sinners trembled, saints rejoiced, and one 
 soul experienced saving grace. Aug. 12, 
 he went to Scituate, a neighboring town, 
 and attended a meeting at Abijah Brown 5 s, 
 and in the evening another at the widow 
 Northey 5 s 5 but nothing special took 
 place. 
 
 Aug. 13, he returned to Marshfield, and 
 attended an evening meeting, in which he 
 says, " We enjoyed some comfort. 55 Aug. 
 
 14, he spent in visiting the people. Aug. 
 
 15, in the afternoon^ he preached from 
 ] John iv. 9. " In this teas manifest the 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 19$ 
 
 love of God towards us, because that God 
 sent his only begotten son into the world, 
 that we might live through him." Aug, 
 16, he spent chiefly in writing. Aug. 17, 
 he preached from Isaiah vi. 11. They 
 then took their leave of the brethren at 
 Marshfield, and went to Scituate. They 
 attended a prayer meeting that evening at 
 Abijah Brown's, with a number of tender 
 people ; and the next morning, Aug. 18, 
 they sat out for home. They arrived that 
 eight at Andover, and on the 19th, arri- 
 ved at Brentwood, where he had an agree- 
 able interview with his old friend, Doct. 
 Samuel Shepherd, the minister of that 
 place. From thence, they went to Not- 
 tingham, and tarried with Moses Davis. 
 Aug. 20, they proceeded to Pittsfield, N. 
 H., and attended a quarterly meeting, 
 which continued two days, and which 
 u Was a remarkable season, on account 
 of the manifestation of divine power. 9 ' 
 Aug. 22, in the afternoon, he returned 
 home, and found his family ail well. 
 
 2. Elder Randal now stayed what he 
 called at home, ten days ; In which time, 
 it appears by his diary, he attended nine 
 17 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 public meetings, and spent the greater part 
 of the intermediate time in visiting his 
 flock. On the 2d of September he sat out 
 on an eastern tour, and on the 6th of the 
 same month attended the yearly meeting 
 at Woolwich, Me., a distance of about 120 
 miles. At the close of the meeting, they 
 had a communion. He preached from 
 2 Cor. iii. 17. "Now the Lord is that 
 spirit, and ichere the spirit of the Lord is 3 
 there is liberty." He then performed his 
 usual visits in that region, and returned. 
 He was gone from home one month and 
 three days ; travelled 574 miles, and at- 
 tended 61 meetings. 
 
 S. October 15, he attended the New 7 - 
 Durham quarterly meeting, and on the 
 1st day of November attended the yearly 
 meeting at Gorham. This meeting con- 
 tinued three days. The first day, they 
 attended to business — the second, to wor- 
 ship. He preached from Rom. viii. 6. 
 " For to be carnally minded is death $ but 
 to be spiritually minded is life and peace." 
 The third day he assisted in the ordina- 
 tion of Thos. Wilber. From thence he 
 returned home, and continued in his own 
 region about one month. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 195 
 
 4>. December 9, he sat out on a journey 
 to New-Bradford and Fishersiield, N. EL 
 being accompanied by Joseph Hall and 
 Wm. Sanders of Barrington. He was 
 gone from home on this journey twenty 
 two days only ; in which time he rode 
 about 200 miles, and attended 15 public 
 meetings. In New-Bradford, on the 15th 
 of December, he baptized David and 
 Lydia Fisk, and Gardiner Palmer. Af- 
 ter performing the above journey, he re- 
 turned, and on the 25th of December at- 
 tended a meeting at his own house. He 
 then continued about home 26 days, in 
 which time, he went one journey to Ports- 
 mouth, N. II., and attended 19 public 
 meetings, besides repeatedly visiting the 
 sick. 
 
 From the above sketches, the candid 
 reader will have some faint idea of the 
 indefatigable labors, and unwearied pains' 
 of this good man, to spread the knowledge 
 of salvation among his fellow men ; and 
 to build up the kingdom of the blessed 
 Immanuel in the world. The writer pre- 
 sumes, that if all those who are called 
 the ministers of Christ, were to feel the 
 
196 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 same love to the cause, that he did, and 
 to possess the same zeal for its promotion, 
 and in proportion to their abilities, exerted 
 themselves to the same degree that he 
 did, in public and private, the world would 
 soon be evangelized. But, alas ! we 
 -3 well too much in our ceiled houses. , 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 1. Randal attends Q. M. at Gilmanton, 
 fyc. — attends Y. M. at Parsonsjield. 
 2. Makes a tour to the east. 3. Preach- 
 es at Wolf borough, <fyc. 4. Visits the 
 churches in the lower towns. 
 
 Jan. 20, 1801, Elder Randal sat out 
 to attend the quarterly meeting at Gilman- 
 ton, and rode through a most violent 
 storm, but was wonderfully preserved by 
 the providence of God. This meeting 
 continued three days, and was considered 
 by him a time of refreshing from the pres- 
 ence of the Lord. Jan. 24, he returned, 
 and continued about home till the 2d 
 of Feb., in which time he attended four 
 meetings, besides making several visits 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 197 
 
 among his neighbors. Feb. 3, he sat out 
 for Portsmouth on business, and return- 
 ed home on the 5th. On the next day, he 
 left home to attend the yearly meeting at 
 Parsonsfleld. He sat in the meeting the 
 7th, 8th, and 9th of Feb; $ and in the 
 time preached at Amos Blazo's an inter- 
 esting discourse. Feb. 10, he left Par- 
 sonsfield and went to Limington, where he 
 preached that evening at a Friend .Jack- 
 son's, and the next day at a Br. Strom/ s. 
 From thence, he rode to Standish, tarried 
 two days and preached twice. From 
 ' thence he went to Gorham and attended a 
 meeting at the widow Sarah Thombs', 
 The next day being very stormy, he was 
 detained from travelling, and went to work 
 at his trade and made a garment for one 
 of the family. In the evening, lie attend- 
 ed a meeting of worship. Feb. 17, he 
 visited several families, and in the evening 
 attended a meeting at Daniel Baker's. 
 Feb. 18, in the evening he attended a meet- 
 ing at George flundscom's, which, says 
 he, " Was a powerful season ; both saints 
 and sinners were much affected." Feb. 
 19, he returned to Standish, and in the 
 17* 
 
198 
 
 Till! LIFE OP 
 
 evening preached at Sargent Shaw's. A 
 great number of people attended, and 
 great conviction appeared to be on the 
 minds of many. He then returned to Gor- 
 ham. On the 20th, he attended another 
 meeting at Wid. Thombs'. Feb. 21, he 
 went again to Standish, and on the 2£d, 
 being Sabbath, he again preached at Sar- 
 gent Shaw's. In the forenoon he spake 
 from John v. 3. " Search the Scriptures y 
 for in them ye think ye have eternal life i 
 and they are they which testify of me."— 
 In the afternoon from Rev. xxii. 17. "And 
 whosoever will, let him take the water of 
 life freely." — In the evening from Mat. v. 
 6. "Blessed are they which do hunger 
 and thirst after righteousness : for they 
 shall be filled." The word had a won- 
 derful effect on the hearers. Feb. 23, he 
 left Standish and returned to Limington. 
 Here he tarried one day, and then return- 
 ed home, praising God for his preserving 
 mercies, and abounding goodness to the 
 children of men. 
 
 2. March 6, he sat out on another jour- 
 ney to the east, to> attend the marriage of 
 his son Benjamin. He arrived on the 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 199 
 
 10th, and the marriage was solemnized on 
 the 12th of March. He then visited the 
 churches in that region, and preached at 
 Edgcomb, Squam Island and Woolwich. 
 On his return, he stopped in Gorham and 
 preached twice. He remarks, that as he 
 was returning through Newfield, it being 
 night, and there having been a great rain, 
 he came to a long causeway, which was 
 afloat^ and he and those that wero witk 
 him, had to wade about in the water for 
 some time before they could find the way 
 over. They, however, got over at last, 
 and went to Esq. Drew's, where he was 
 always kindly received, and well enter*- ' 
 tained. March 24, he arrived at his own 
 house, and found his family well. 
 
 He tarried about home 15 days, in 
 which time, he preached the gospel to the 
 inhabitants of that region, visited the side, 
 &,c. He particularly mentions Mother 
 Runnels, and a Susan Willey, who were 
 very sick at that time ; but remarkably 
 happy in their minds, and desiring for their 
 eternal home. 
 
 3. April 9, he went to Wolf borough 
 and attended a monthly meeting with the 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 church in that place. April 10, he at- 
 tended a meeting of worship in the fore- 
 noon, and in the afternoon, a religious 
 conference. In the evening he preached 
 at Eld. Townsend's. April 11, he preach- 
 ed at a hrother Jones 5 . April 12, he 
 preached in New-Durham. April 13, he 
 went to Pittsfield, and attended a meeting 
 with the church in that town. April 14, he 
 preached in their meeting-house ; after 
 which, he repaired to the water and bap-, 
 tized Hannah Moulton. In the evening- 
 he attended a meeting at Jabez Tucker's, 
 April 15, he went to Nottingham and at- 
 tended a meeting of worship at Moses Da- 
 vis'. April 16, being public fast, he went 
 to Northwood and preached, and baptized 
 David Sawyer of Deerfield. He then re- 
 turned to Pittsfield, and the next morning, 
 April 17, he went to the water and bap- 
 tized Sarah Marston and Jane Clough. 
 At two o'clock, P. M. he again attended 
 a meeting in the meeting-house, and in 
 the evening had a meeting at John True's. 
 April 18, he returned home. April 28, 
 he visited Susan Willey, found her very 
 low in bodily healthy but said she appear- 
 
BE ST J A M I N K ANDAL. 
 
 30* 
 
 ed to be the most in heaveirof any person 
 he ever saw upon earth. 
 
 4. April £9, Elder Randal, having 
 made the necessary arrangements at home, 
 sat out to visit the churches in the lower 
 towns, viz: Portsmouth, Newcastle, Ber- 
 wick and Somersworth. He preached in 
 all those places in the course of the jour- 
 ney, and attended a church meeting in 
 each. He remarks, that he saw much of 
 the power and glory of God in all the 
 meetings he attended. May 9, he return- 
 ed ; and being informed of the death of 
 the above named Susan Willey, who di- 
 ed the 3d day of the same month, and also 
 of the death of a colored man by the 
 name of Sambo, who lived in the same 
 town, and died the same day ; the next 
 Sabbath, he preached a sermon adapted 
 to the occasion, from Luke xvi. 22. " And 
 it came to pass that the beggar died, and 
 was carried by angels m/o Abraham? s bo- 
 
 mm.** 
 
202 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 1. Randal attends New-Hampton Q. M. 
 
 and witnesses an extraordinary season $ 
 — after visiting several towns ^ returns 
 home. 2. Visits Gilmanton and Not- 
 tingham — attends F. JVI., 3. Visits 
 Sandwich^ fyc— preaches at Middleton^ 
 tyc. 4. Visits Springfield and Weth<~ 
 ers field, Vt. and embodies 2 churches — 
 attends Q. M. at Gilmanton. 
 
 1. May 14, Eld. Randal went to Gil- 
 manton, and attended a monthly meeting 
 with the church in that place. The next 
 day he preached in the Baptist meeting 
 house, with some good effect. May 18, 
 he sat out for New-Hampton, in order to 
 attend the quarterly meeting. He tarried 
 the first night with Eld. Joseph Young, of 
 Gilmanton. May 19, he proceeded to 
 Meredith, and took dinner at a brother 
 Crocket's, where he met about 40 breth- 
 ren, bound to the same meeting. After 
 dinner they rode as far as Benjamin 
 Pease's, where they attended a meeting 
 in an orchard- The next morning, May 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 20, they proceeded to the meeting, They 
 rode in regular procession. There were 
 about 80 horses, which carried about a 
 hundred persons — all professors of reli- 
 gion, and probably of the same sentiments. 
 As they drew near to the meeting-house, 
 they united in singing an appropriate and 
 very solemn hymn, winch had a surprising 
 effect on the beholders. Many of the 
 spectators were so struck with the scene, 
 that like Bart emu s 9 they cried, " Jesus, 
 thou sen of David, have mercy on me!" 
 While many of the lovers of Jesus, who 
 were collected, being filled with ecstatic 
 joy, praised God for redeeming love. Be- 
 ing collected they sat for business, and al- 
 though there were as many as 500 mem- 
 bers present, and a great multitude of 
 spectators, the most beautiful order was 
 observed through the whole. On the 2d 
 4ay of the meeting, May 21, they assem- 
 bled for worship and communion, " The 
 scene," says he, was " indiscribably glori- 
 ous." He closes his account of the meet- 
 ing with the following lines. 
 
 " If here so sweet — if here we prove 
 
 Seraphic joy — celestial love ; 
 
 In heaven what will be found ?" 
 
SHE LIFE 09 
 
 May 22, he went to Bridgewater, ex- 
 amined their church records, and preach- 
 ed twice. May 24, he returned to New-* 
 Hampton, and it being Sabbath, he 
 preached from Acts xvi. 30, 31. 66 And 
 brought them out, and said, sirs, what 
 must I do to be saved ? And they said, 
 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
 shalt be saved, and thy house." This 
 was also a time of refreshing. May 25, 
 he went to Meredith, preached at B* 
 Pease's ; and again in the evening at the 
 same place. One soul professed to expe- 
 rience delivering grace at this meeting. 
 May 27} he went to Gilmanton, preached 
 at John Bean's ; and on the 28th, preach- 
 ed at Joseph Osgood's ; and at the close 
 of the meeting, baptized James Buzzell, 
 May 29, he went to Loudon, and preach- 
 ed at Thomas Swett's. On the 30th he 
 returned home, praising God for his good- 
 ness, and his wonderful works to the chil- 
 dren of men. 
 
 2. Eld. Randal, having tarried with his 
 family two days, returned to Gilmanton, 
 and attended a church meeting at or near 
 Eld. John Shepard'fij and mentions that 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 205 
 
 one of said Shepard's daughters was hope- 
 fully converted. June 5, he went to Not- 
 tingham, and attended the funeral of An- 
 na, wife of Moses Davis, a valuable mem- 
 ber of the church of Christ. June 13, 14, 
 and 15, he attended the yearly meeting 
 in New- Durham 5 and on the 16th, bap- 
 tized Daniel Stevens, who is now the dea- 
 con of that church. 
 
 June 24, he made another visit to Gil- 
 manton, and preached at Eld. John Shep- 
 ard's. He spake from John v. 25. " Ver- 
 ily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is 
 coming, and noiv is, ivhen the dead shall 
 hear the voice of the Son of God ; and they 
 thai hear shall live." This discourse was 
 remarkably sanctified to the audience. 
 Many of the brethren were quickened, 
 and bore public testimony to the truth 
 they had heard, and exhorted their neigh- 
 bors, in a most powerful manner, to 
 hearken to the voice of the Son of God, 
 June 25, he went to Loudon, and preach- 
 ed at Thomas Swett ? s. He spake from 
 Mat. xx. 6. " And about the eleventh hour 
 he went out, and found others standing 
 idle, and saith unto them? Why stavid ye. 
 18 
 
206 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 idle all the day?" "This," he says*, 
 6 i was a very glorious day." The word 
 took great hold on those who had been 
 neglecters of the great salvation, and also 
 proved^quickening to In ke- warm profes- 
 sors. June 26, he returned to Gilmanton, 
 and attended a church conference $ and 
 on the 27th, preached in the Baptist meet- 
 ing-house, in the east part of the town ; 
 from thence he returned home. 
 
 3. Eld. Randal now tarried with his 
 family two days, and on June 30, went to 
 Sandwich, and on July 1, attended a 
 church meeting with the brethren in that 
 place. July 2, he preached at Nathaniel 
 Weeds ; and the day following at Sand- 
 wich meeting-house. July 4, he went to 
 Burton, and preached at deacon Daniel 
 Head's. July 5, being Sabbath, he 
 preached again at the same place, and 
 baptized Hannah George; after which he 
 returned to the place of worship, and ad- 
 ministered the Lord's supper, and washing 
 of the saints' feet. July 6, he went to 
 Eaton, and preached from John vii. 37, 
 with very good effect. July 7, he return- 
 ed home. He remarks in his diary., that 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 207 
 
 hi all the above mentioned places he saw 
 much of the power and glory of God, both 
 in the awakening of sinners, reclaiming of 
 backsliders, and comforting of God's peo- 
 ple. July 13, he preached at Middleton 
 meeting-house, and at the close of the 
 meeting baptized Thomas and John York. 
 July 19, he preached at Somersworth, 
 and from thence visited Dover, Ports- 
 mouth, Newcastle, &c. But mentions 
 nothing very special which took place in 
 the journey. 
 
 4. Aug. 5, he commenced a western 
 tour, in which he visited Louden, Can- 
 terbury, Sutton and Unity, N. H. He 
 preached in all those towns, as lie passed 
 from place to place. Aug. 9, he attended 
 a church meeting in Unity. Aug. 10, he 
 crossed Connecticut river, and preached 
 in Weathersneld, Vt. Aug. 12, he went 
 to Springfield, Vt., and embodied two 
 churches 5 one under the charge of Eld. 
 William S. Babcock, consisting of 75 
 members ; the other under the charge of 
 Eld. Stephen Place, consisting of 21 
 members. Aug. 13, he returned to Uni- 
 ty, and attended another meeting 'with 
 
208 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 them, which was a very comfortable sea- 
 son. Aug. 14, he went to Fishersfield, 
 N. H., visited Eld. Timothy Morse, and 
 preached a sermon from Ps. xci. 1, but 
 says, " I had a very lean and barren meet- 
 ing." The next day, he went to Brad- 
 ford, N. H. and attended their church 
 meeting 5 after which he preached a ser- 
 mon, and at the close baptized seven per- 
 sons. " This," he says, " was a blessed 
 season." Aug. 16, he preached at the 
 south meeting-house in Sutton, after which 
 he baptized one. The next day, he at- 
 tended their church conference; and in 
 the afternoon held a meeting of w orship, 
 and enjoyed great freedom in speaking. 
 Aug. 18, he left Sutton, and on the 19th 
 and £Qih, attended the quarterly meeting 
 in Gilmanton ; and on the 21st, attended 
 the Elders' Conference, which he consid- 
 ered a very profitable season. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL 
 
 209 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 1. Randal attends Y. M. in Belgrade- 
 preaches in several towns. 2. Visits a 
 sister on her death-bed, fyc. — Visits 
 Parker's Island and Bristol. 3. Re- 
 visits Squam Island and Woolwich- 
 returns home. 4. The ma rriage of his 
 daughter , fyc. 
 
 I. Sept. 1, 1801, Eld. Randal sat out 
 on another eastern tour in order to attend 
 the September yearly meeting, which was 
 holden that year at Belgrade, Me. He 
 arrived on the 4th, and the meeting com- 
 menced on the 5tb, and continued three 
 days. Sept. S, he preached at Sidney, an 
 adjacent town ; but I believe nothing very 
 extraordinary took place. Sept. 9, he 
 returned to Belgrade, and attended the 
 Elders' Conference ; and from thence 
 went to Halloweil, and attended a meet- 
 in; in a school-house, at a place then 
 called Balling Hill. From this place he 
 proceeded to Woolwich, and preached at 
 John Card's. Sept. 12, he went to Edg- 
 comb, and preached in the meeting-house 
 18* 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 at Squam Island, and in the evening, a* 
 Eld. D. Hillard's. Sept. 14, he went to 
 Parker's Island, and preached at Capt. J. 
 Barter's. " It was a blessed tender sea- 
 son." Sept. 15, he preached at Boothbay 
 in the forenoon, afternoon and evening. 
 u It was a very wonderful meeting. Many 
 souls were much awakened — backsliders 
 returned — sinners cried to God for mercy, 
 &,c." Sept. 6, he preached in a school- 
 house at Edgcomb, from Rev. iii. 20. 
 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock $ 
 if any man will hear my voice, and tvill 
 open the door, J will come in to him, and 
 will sup with him, and he icith me.'* 
 Here he also observes, that the power of 
 the Lord was greatly manifested ; and 
 that many souls were awakened, and that 
 almost every person in the assembly was 
 in tears. It is hoped that some, who never 
 before opened the doors of their hearts to 
 Christ, opened them to him that evening. 
 
 2. Sept. 17, he visited several families^ 
 and among others, visited a sister Welch, 
 a very pious woman. He found her in 
 the struggles of death. He, therefore, 
 prayed with the afflicted family? and re 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 211 
 
 paired to Wesibrook Knight's, where he 
 attended a prayer meeting with the people 
 in that neighborhood, in which they en- 
 joyed much consolation. Sept. IS, he 
 went to Cape Newaggen Island, then so 
 called, and preached at Robert Reed's. 
 In this meeting one soul professed to ex- 
 perience refreshing grace, which gave him 
 great joy. Sept. 19, he returned to Edg- 
 comb and attended the funeral of Sarah 
 Welch. He preached from Job xiv. 14. 
 u If a man die, shall he live again ? all 
 the clays of my appointed time will I wait) 
 fill my change comes." 
 
 Sept. 20, he went to Parker's Island, 
 it being Sabbath, and preached three ser- 
 mons, under which many were pricked in 
 their hearts, and cried to God for mercy. 
 Some obtained witness that he had forgiv- 
 en their sins. The next morning, very 
 early, the people assembled at the same 
 place, and two that experienced a change 
 of heart, and were brought to the banquet 
 of grace the night before, came and offer- 
 ed themselves for baptism ; namely, Wid, 
 fsarah Cooms and Wid. Joanna Marrs. 
 He then repaired to the water and baptiz- 
 
212 
 
 THE LIF£ OP 
 
 ed them. u It was a joyful season." The 
 same day, Sept. 21, he went to Woolwich, 
 and preached at Josiah Brooking' s. Here 
 he met three men that were brothers, who 
 had come with a vessel from Bristol, to 
 carry him to that place, a distance of 
 about 31 miles, and they refused to return 
 without him. He, therefore, next morn- 
 ing, Sept. 22, like Peter on a similar oc- 
 casion, went without gainsaying. He ar- 
 rived at Bristol that evening 5 and the 
 next day, Sept. 23, he attended meeting 
 all day at a school-house; and says, " It 
 was a comfortable refreshing day," In 
 the evening he went to Ratherford's Isl- 
 and, and preached at Miles Thompson's. 
 This he considered a very comfortable 
 season. Sept. 2i, he preached at the 
 school-house in Bristol, and administered 
 the Lord's supper, and the saints washed 
 feet 5 all of which was attended with ev- 
 ident manifestations of divine power. 
 Saints shouted for joy, and sinners trem- 
 bled under a view of their deplorable con- 
 dition. In the evening, he went to Pen- 
 nequid Island, and preached at Col. Mc 
 Intire's. Sept. 25, he went to Boothbay 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 213 
 
 barber, and held a meeting at Mr. Nor- 
 wood's^ where he also saw the wonderful 
 work of God, in the conviction and con- 
 version of sinners. 
 
 3. Sept. 28, he returned to Squam Isl- 
 and, and preached. " It was, 55 says he, 
 u a time that will be long remembered. 55 
 Sept. 27, he west back to Woolwich^ 
 where he preached in the forenoon, after- 
 noon and evening. Sept. 28, he went ta 
 Brunswick, and from thence the next day 
 he went to Gorham, and the day following 
 he went to Limington, and called to see 
 Mrs. Lions, a natural sister. He found 
 her in great trouble, having lately buried 
 her husband. After spending a short 
 time with her-, he proceeded to Newfield, 
 and put up with Elijah Drew, Esq. The 
 next day, Oct. 1, he arrived at his own 
 house, and once more, through the abound- 
 ing goodness of God, found his family all 
 well. He then tarried at home, or about 
 home, six days, preaching and visiting 
 among his neighbors. Oct. 8, he went to 
 Dover, the next day to Portsmouth and 
 Newcastle, and the day following return- 
 ed home, He then tarried about home 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 ten days 5 but spent the principal part of 
 the time in preaching, and visiting his 
 flock. Oct. 21, he went to Gilmanton 
 and attended the quarterly meeting, which 
 continued till the 24th. 
 f 4. Oct. 29, he had a meeting of wor- 
 ship at his own house, in the course of 
 which, he solemnized the marriage be- 
 tween Mr. Stephen Parsons of Edgcomb, 
 Me. and Miss Margaretta Frederick Ran- 
 dal 9 his second daughter. This scene was 
 truly solemn and joyful ; all the connec- 
 tions being highly pleased with the matri- 
 monial contract. The nuptials being sol- 
 emnized by a most affectionate parent, 
 who not only pronounced the legal cere- 
 mony with emphasis, but in the most fer- 
 vant manner implored the divine blessings 
 of the upper and nether Springs, to rest 
 upon the newly married pair; and to be 
 perpetuated to their offspring for ever. 
 These prayers, I trust, have been heard, 
 and the blessings thus far conferred. Nov. 
 4, having made ready for the removal of 
 his daughter, he accompanied her to Do- 
 ver, where a schooner was waiting to re- 
 f eive her goods. He tarried with her till 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 215 
 
 the vessel sailed, which was not until the 
 10th. He then took his leave of his 
 daughter, and after making several friend- 
 ly visits by the way, returned home. The 
 reader must, however, understand that 
 the writer has necessarily omitted a great 
 many things, noted in the Elder's diary, 
 relative to short journies and friendly vis- 
 its, where he enjoyed many precious sea- 
 sons, lest he should swell the volume to 
 too great a size, and weary the public 
 wiih a lengthy detail of minute circum- 
 stances attending the travels of this inde- 
 fatigable gospel laborer ; and has attend- 
 ed most particularly to the accounts of 
 iiis lengthy tours, and more public acts, 
 which he considers of the most importance 
 to the community at large 5 and the most 
 interesting to his peculiar surviving 
 friends. And as the writer expects that 
 the name of Randal, as an instrument 
 of so great a revival, and founder of so 
 large a Connexion, will probably be found 
 among those of other reformers in the 
 pages of ecclesiastical history 5 to the end 
 of time ; so he ardently hopes, that all 
 those who have already^ and may hereaf- 
 
216 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ter enter into, and enjoy the fruits of his 
 gospel labors, will endeavor to pattern all 
 his virtues, and follow all his pious exam- 
 ples, till the knowledge of free salvation 
 shall spread through every realm ; God's 
 name be one — His people one — His wor- 
 ship one — and His glory cover the heav- 
 ens, and the earth be full of His praise, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 1. Randal afflicted with the cholic — at- 
 tends monthly conference, $c. 2. Has 
 u great sense of God' s goodness — goes 
 to Barnstead — attends Q. JVI., fyc. 3. 
 Visits Bafrington, and several other 
 towns. 4. Attends meetings at New- 
 Hampton and Gihnanton. 
 
 1. Dec. 5, 1801, Eld. Randal sat oul 
 with a view to attend a meeting at Alton 
 meeting-house, and rode as far as the 
 Wid. Willey's, a distance of about two 
 miles, when he was violently seized with 
 the cholic, a disorder with which he was 
 frequently afflicted in the latter part of his 
 life. The doctor was immediately called. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 217' 
 
 and every probable means resorted to for 
 relief ; but for twelve hours all proved 
 ineffectual. His life was about despaired 
 of, but at length God gave him relief. 
 After two days, he so far recovered as to 
 be able to ride home. He says, " O, I 
 felt my soul filled with love and gratitude 
 to God." His outward man was severely 
 afflicted, but his inward man was renewed. 
 *'AI1 things work together for good to 
 them that love God." 
 
 Dec. 8, he remained weak in body, but 
 strong in faith and happy in mind. The 
 next day he so far recovered as to be 
 able to attend the church conference. 
 66 It was," says he, " a most glorious day 
 of God's power !" In the close of his 
 journal for that year, hs says, " I have 
 travelled this year in the cause of truth, 
 2723 miles, and have attended 313 public 
 meetings, besides private religious visits, 
 weddings, Slc." What an example of 
 gospel industry is this for his succes- 
 sors! 
 
 2. Jan. 1, 1802, he says, " I had a ve~ 
 ry great sense of the goodness of God to 
 me and all mankind. I gave myself up 
 19 
 
218 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 anew to his service." Jan. 16, he went 
 to Barnstead, and attended the funeral of 
 his niece, Betsey Randal, and came home 
 the same night. Jan. 19, he went to Har- 
 rington, and attended the quarterly meet- 
 ing, which continued four days. From 
 thence he returned, and continued ahout 
 home till the 8th of March, and preached 
 and visited in that region. March 9, he 
 went to Portsmouth on business, and re- 
 turned on the 11th, and continued about 
 home till the 4th of April. April 5, he 
 Went to Gilmanton, and assisted in the 
 ordination of Joseph Young, Benjamin 
 Weeks, and Malachi Davis to the office 
 of Ruling Elders ; and Noah Weeks, Ja- 
 cob Runlet, and John Smith to the office 
 of Deacons. April G, he preached at 
 Gunstock meeting-house to a very large 
 assembly, from Acts xvii. 80. " And the 
 times of this ignorance God winked at 9 
 but now commmandeth all men every 
 where to repent.*" 
 
 3. April 7, he returned ho ne, and con- 
 tinued in that region till the 26th. April 
 27, he went to Barrington and preached 
 at the dwelling-house of Eld. M. Otis, 
 
BENJAZuiN RANDAL, 
 
 219 
 
 and the next clay preached again at the 
 same place. April 29, he preached at 
 Samuel Berry's. From thence he went 
 to Deerfield, and May 2, preached at 
 their meeting-house, and says he enjoyed 
 great freedom. May 3, he attended a 
 church conference at Esq. Ladd's ; and 
 the day following preached again at the 
 meeting-house, with great apparent suc- 
 cess. May 5, he went to Raymond, and 
 preached at T. Budly's, and says, " It 
 was a wonderful season!" May 6, he 
 went to Eppiag, and preached at the 
 dwelling-house of Joseph Genness, and 
 baptized Mary Pike. May 8, he attended 
 a church conference at Somersworth. 
 May 10, he preached at Caleb Jackson's, 
 in Rochester ; and on the Ilth, returned 
 home. 
 
 4. May 19, 20 and 21, Eld. Randal at- 
 tended the quarterly meeting in New- 
 Hampton, and says, a It was a very glo- 
 rious and profitable season. 55 May 22, 
 he went to Meredith, an adjacent town, 
 and attended the funeral of a sister Blake, 
 who died in the triumphs of faith. May 
 23, being Sabbath, he returned and at- 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 tended meeting at New-Hampton, and on 
 the next day attended the church confer- 
 ence, which was very edifying ; and at the 
 close, administered the Lord's supper and 
 washing of the saints' feet. " A very large 
 number communicated, and the scene was 
 truly awful and glorious ! delightful and 
 dreadful !" The same evening he preach- 
 ed at Meredith, and the next day at Jo- 
 seph Osgood's in Gilmanton, and the day 
 following at Eld. J. Shepard's, from 
 whence he returned home. The time now 
 drew near for the June yearly meeting. 
 He, therefore, was engaged in making 
 every necessary preparation for the recep- 
 tion of his distant brethren, and the stran- 
 gers that might attend. They convened 
 June 12; many attended, and it was a very 
 good season, both in business and worship. 
 
 June 24, he sat out with his wife and 
 Eld. N. Marshal to visit their friends and 
 brethren in the lower towns. They tar- 
 ried the first night in Somersworth, at a 
 Mr. Horn's. The next day they went 
 to Portsmouth, and from thence to New- 
 castle. The next day, June 27, being 
 Sabbath, they attended meeting in pfe 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 221 
 
 meeting-house. Eid. Marshal preached 
 in the forenoon, and Eld. Randal in the 
 afternoon. June 29, he preached in Kit- 
 tery at Capt. Parson's, "Where, 95 say« 
 he, " there were many hearing ears and 
 tender minds. 55 June 30, he preached at 
 a school-house in Portsmouth. Many 
 people attended and behaved with decen- 
 cy, but nothing special took place. July 
 1, they left Portsmouth, and went to New- 
 ington. From thence his wife returned 
 home with Eld. Marshal, and he went to 
 Stratham, and held a meeting at Andrew 
 Wigg in's. July 2, he preached at Jacob 
 Low's; the next day at Samuel Pottle's^ 
 The day following, being Sabbath, he 
 preached twice at the Baptist meeting- 
 house. He remarks that at all those 
 meetings he enjoyed a measure of free- 
 dom, and discovered a degree of tender- 
 ness in the people. July 5, he went to 
 Raymond, N. H. and tarried at Joseph 
 Dndly's. July 6, he preached at Deer- 
 field in the Baptist meeting-house, embod- 
 ied a church, and received them into con- 
 nection with the N. Durham quarterly 
 meeting. July 7, after finishing the busi- 
 19* 
 
222 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ness with the church in Deerfield, he wens 
 to Allenston, N. H. and preached at E. 
 Burgan's, and the next day at a school- 
 house in Epsom. July 8, he returned to 
 Allenston, and preached at Samuel Ken- 
 nison's ; but nothing special took place. 
 July 10, he preached at Pittsfield, and 
 says, " It was a glorious season." Sab- 
 bath, July 11, he preached at Pittsfield 
 Baptist meeting-house, and at the close 
 baptized John True, Mary True and Ab- 
 igail True. July 13, he returned home, 
 praising the Lord for his goodness. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 1. Randal Visits Gilmanton & Lebanon^ 
 JV. H.—Goes to Hartford, Vt. $c. 2. 
 Journey to Kennebeck, <§ c. 3. Visits 
 Sqaam Island, <£c. 4. After visiting 
 several towns, returns home. 
 
 Y. Eld. Randal having now tarried 
 about home for nearly half a month, on 
 the first day of Aug. 1802, he commenced 
 a journey to the west ; and the same day 
 preached at Eld. J. Shepard'sin Gilman- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 22$ 
 
 ion, and administered the Lord's supper 
 to the church in that place. Aug. 3, in 
 the evening he preached at J. Kent's in 
 Canterbury. Aug. 4, he arrived at Leb- 
 anon, N. H. and at six o'clock, P. M. 
 preached at a brother Bucks'. The day 
 following, he preached at a school-house 
 in the east part of the to wn ; but nothing- 
 special took place, or at least, nothing 
 more than what might have been expected : 
 he called on a man who was a professor 
 of religion, and a w arm advocate for Cal- 
 vinistic tenets, who told him that he was 
 a false prophet. But, says he, " It did not 
 move me in the least." Aug. 8, being 
 Sabbath, he preached to a crowded as- 
 sembly in the same town, and says, " The 
 word had a powerful effect on the hear- 
 ers." At the close of the exercise, he 
 administered the Lord's supper to a large 
 number of communicants. Aug. 9, he 
 went to Hartford, Vt. and preached to a 
 large assembly, who met in an orchard, 
 and appeared very attentive and solemn. 
 Aug. 11, he went to Springfield, visited 
 Eld. Babcock, and in the afternoon, 
 preached at a brother Spencer's, and the 
 
224 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 day following at another brother's to ft 
 large assembly, who were chiefly profes- 
 sors. Aug. 14, he went to Unity, N. H. 
 and preached at Eld. Ladd's. The next 
 day, being Sabbath, he preached in Unity 
 meeting-house, to a very large congrega- 
 tion, and the same evening at A. San- 
 born's. Aug. 16, he attended conference 
 with the church and had a long and lov- 
 ing labor w ith the members ; and to his 
 unspeakable joy found quite a number 
 steadfast in the faith, while to his great 
 grief, he found others still adhering to the 
 innovations introduced among them by 
 Eld. Ballard, before described. Eld. 
 Randal then left Unity, and went to Brad- 
 ford, and attended a meeting of business 
 with the church in that town. From 
 thence he went to Fishersfieid ; and on 
 the 18th and 19th, he attended a quarter- 
 ly meeting. Aug. 20, he returned to Lou- 
 don, and the day following returned home 
 and held another thanksgiving with his 
 family. He stayed at home four days, and 
 worked at his trade. 
 
 2. Eld. Randal having now made suit- 
 able preparations for the journey, Aug. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 225 
 
 31, 1S02, sat out to visit his brethren in 
 the Kermebeck region. He rode as far 
 as Liming ton the first day, but before he 
 reached the place where he contemplated 
 to put up, it being in the evening and dark, 
 as he and several others were passing 
 over a bad bridge, one of the horses broke 
 through. The Elder immediately step- 
 ped up to help the creature in distress, 
 when a plank was unfoitunately tipped, 
 the rising end of which took him up and 
 cast him forward, and he fell on his face, 
 and was wounded severely. He, however, 
 concluded that he had sufficient cause of 
 thankfulness that the result was no worse. 
 He tarried that night at a Friend Clark's, 
 where he was kindly received and hospit-. 
 ably entertained, but was very sick, and 
 had much pain in consequence of the 
 wounds he had received by the fall. The 
 next morning, Sept. 1, he felt anxious to 
 pursue his journey ; and notwithstanding 
 his illness, made a shift to ride a short dis- 
 tance to his sister Lion's, where he tarri- 
 ed, till the afternoon ; when feeling a little 
 better, though still very unwell, he sat 
 #ut and rode as far as Gorham. Sept 2 % 
 
226 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 he rode to Brunswick, a distanec of about 
 40 miles, and put up at Joseph Morse's, 
 where he was joyfully received, and kind- 
 ly entertained. Sept. 3, he rode to Edg- 
 comb, and put up with his son-in-law, 
 Parsons, and found him and his w ife com- 
 fortable and happy. The evening was 
 spent in friendly congratulations, and 
 thanksgiving to God. The next morning, 
 Sept. 4, he went to Woolwich and at- 
 tended the yearly meeting, which contin- 
 ued till the 6th, and was a very extraordi- 
 nary season from the beginning to the end. 
 Love and unanimity prevailed among the 
 members — business was attended to in or- 
 der, and done with despatch — the preach- 
 ing was clear and powerful, and sanctified 
 to the hearers — saints were abundantly 
 comforted; and many poor sinners were 
 awakened to see their need of a Savior. 
 Sept. 7, he spent the day in religious vis- 
 its, and conversation with those w ho were 
 mourning for sin, and in the evening 
 preached at a brother Hodsdon's, where 
 the power of the gospel w as w onderfully 
 displayed in the conviction and conversion 
 of souls. Sept. 8, he went to Parker's 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 221 
 
 Island, and preached at Samuel Hink- 
 ley's. This was also a refreshing time, 
 on account of the displays of gospel pow- 
 er. Among other wonderful events which 
 took place at this meeting, he remarks the 
 following, " Two sisters, being twins, 
 seventeen years of age, while hearing the 
 word were convicted, and the same day 
 experienced the new-hirth. Twins by na- 
 ture became twins by grace. He also re- 
 marks that the meeting continued, with a 
 little cessation, till midnight, in which time 
 many of the congregation were crying to 
 God for mercy, while others were prais- 
 ing Rim for redeeming grace. Sept. 9, 
 in the morning he attended a meeting at 
 a brother Manson's, which was also a 
 very solemn and powerful season. In the 
 afternoon of the same day, he attended a 
 meeting at a brother Hunt's, which contin- 
 ued till late in the evening. Here the 
 stoutest hearted sinners were brought to 
 bow to Christ — plead guilty — cast them- 
 selves upon His mercy, and sue for par- 
 don ; while others who had experienced 
 justification, were shouting aloud for joy. 
 Sarly next morning, before Eld. Randal 
 
2:m 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and his company could get away, a num- 
 ber collected at the house where they lodg- 
 ed, inquiring, like the trembling jailor, 
 " What must I do to be saved V- He, 
 therefore, stopped and prayed with them, 
 and advised them to believe on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ. He then took his leave of 
 them. This was an affecting scene ; for 
 a number of those distressed mourners fol- 
 lowed him to the water side, weeping as 
 they went. 
 
 3. Sept. 10, Eld. Randal proceeded to 
 Squarn Island, where he preached in the 
 afternoon, but nothing special took place. 
 Sept. 11, he went to Bristol by water, 
 and had a very agreeable passage. Sept. 
 12, he preached two sermons in the same 
 place. Sept. 13, he went to Pemaquid 
 fort, and preached at Col. M ? Int. ire's. 
 Sept. 14, he left Bristol, and went to 
 Thomaston, a distance of about ten 
 leagues ; and being in a small open canoe, 
 and the weather being rough, the voyage 
 was attended with considerable danger, 
 A very heavy shower came up, and the 
 wind being boisterous they were compel- 
 led to go ashore on an uninhabited island. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 22$ 
 
 where they took shelter under the clift of 
 a great rock, and enjoyed a happy season 
 in prayer till the shower was over. They, 
 ho v*- ever, did not reach Thomaston till 
 nearly midnight. Sept. 15, he preached 
 at James Brown-s to a large congrega- 
 tion, but with little effect 5 for the inhab- 
 itants, with a very few exceptions, were 
 very much bound by Calvinistic senti- 
 ments, and were not to be alarmed by the 
 warning voice of a General Baptist . After 
 the meeting closed he went to Camden, 
 and the next day attended a conference 
 with the the church in that place, but ob- 
 serves that he found no great satisfac- 
 tion. ..-S:-...^-< e - :Jr) 
 
 1. Sept. 17, he went to Canaan, but 
 found the passage rough and difficult. 
 When he arrived he found a very kind 
 reception at Isaac HeaPs. Sept. IS, lie 
 attended a meeting at a brother Nason ? s ? 
 and a church meeting in the evening at 
 the same house. The next day being 
 Sabbath, he attended meeting all day at 
 a brother LarmVs. Many people attend- 
 ed, and many sinners were awakened to 
 see their danger, and inquired what they 
 20 
 
230 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 must do to be saved. Sept. 20, he went 
 back to Camden, and preached at Water- 
 man Heart's. Sept. 21, he went from 
 Camden to Bristol, and the next day 
 preached again at Col. M'Intire's. The m 
 day following he went to Townsend, and 
 stayed all night at John Norwood's. Sept. 
 24, he went to Back-river, and in the day 
 time, preached in a school-house, and in 
 the evening at John Southward's. The 
 day following he preached in Squam Isl - 
 and meeting-house, and says, " We had a 
 very lively, comfortable time." Sept. 26, 
 he preached at Woolwich to a very crowd- 
 ed assembly, and at the close, broke 
 bread, &c. The next day he again preach- 
 ed in Squam Island meeting-house. Sept. 
 28, he took his leave of his friends at 
 Edgcomb, returned to Woolwich, and 
 preached at John Card's. Sept. 29, with 
 much christian affection, he gave the part- 
 ing hand to his friends in Woolwich, and 
 set his face for home. He dined in Bath, 
 and lodged the same night in North- Yar- 
 mouth, at Mr. Prince's, who treated him 
 very kindly, and would take nothing for 
 his trouble. vSept. 30, he went to Gor- 
 
B E I* J A :> II _\ R A N D A L 
 
 231 
 
 ham, and in the evening preached at Sam- 
 uel Crocket's. Oct. 1, he returned to 
 Newfield, and put up with Elijah Drew, 
 Esq. his old well tried friend, where he 
 was always kindly received and w r ell en- 
 tertained^ and invited to call again. Oct, 
 2, he arrived at his own house. He found 
 his family in good health, for which he 
 gave glory to God. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 1. Randal attends Q. M.—Y. M. at Gor~ 
 ham — Elders 9 Conference at Parsons- 
 field. 2. Journeys westward. 3. Re- 
 mark on the manner of his support — 
 his maxim. 4<. Dedicates himself anew 
 to God — Visits Portsmouth, $c. 
 
 1. Eld. Randal having returned from 
 his late eastern tour, tarried about home 
 16 days, which time he spent chiefly in 
 attending meetings of public worship and 
 conference, and in visiting the sick and 
 attending funerals. Oct. 20, 21 and 22, 
 he attended the quarterly meeting in Pitts- 
 field, N. H Oct 23, he returned home, 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 and the next day sat out to visit tin. 
 churches in the lower towns. He visited 
 Rochester, Somersworth and Dover, and 
 preached in each town, and then returned, 
 nnd tarried at home 7 days. Nov. 5, he 
 commenced another journey, for yearly 
 meeting at Gorham. He went the first 
 day to -Newfield, and in the evening preach- 
 ed at Esq. Drew's, and says, " We had 
 a wonderful meeting. 59 He left an ap- 
 pointment for another meeting when he 
 returned. He then proceeded to Gorham, 
 and sat in yearly meeting four days ; and 
 then returned to Farsonsfiekl, and attend- 
 ed the yearly conference ; which he con- 
 sidered an instructing, comforting, and 
 edifying season. Nov. 10, he preached 
 at George Bickford's in Parsonsfield. 
 He exclaims, u It was a wonderful meet- 
 ing, the King was present !" Nov. 11, 
 he returned to Newfield, and fulfilled ins 
 appointment at Esq. Drew's, of which he 
 says, " It was a refreshing, comfortable 
 time." Nov. 12, he preached in Brook 
 field, N. H. at Waldren Kenison's. Nov 
 13, he preached at Middleton in a school- 
 house, after which he returned home... 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 233 
 
 2. Dec. 3, he commenced a journey to 
 the west, and it being a very stormy day 
 and the wind very heavy, and having to 
 ride a considerable distance through the 
 woods, he came nigh being killed several 
 times, by the falling of trees, limbs, &c, 
 but was wonderfully preserved. Dec. 7, 
 1,802, he sat in council with others, at 
 Abraham Drake's in New-Hampton, and 
 the next day assisted in the ordination of 
 Josiah Magoon, and Doct. Simeon Dana 
 to the office of Teaching Elders ; and 
 James Hawkins and Nathaniel Perkins 
 to the office of Deacons. Dec. 9, he 
 went to Bridgewater, N. H. and attended 
 a meeting of worship ; the next day re- 
 turned home, and continued about home 
 till the close of the year. According to 
 his account, he travelled in the course of 
 the year 1802, 2,341 miles, and attended 
 225 public meetings. 
 
 3. It will doubtless be inquired by some, 
 how this indefatigable, evangelizing min- 
 ister, who travelled and preached so inces- 
 santly as stated in the foregoing accounts, 
 fbund means to support a wife and eight 
 children at home, and money to defray all 
 
 20* 
 
231 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 his necessary expenses abroad, while he. 
 had no stipulated sum for preaching, cither 
 by the year or day, and while many oth- 
 ers who scarcely go over their town or 
 parish lines, having large salaries, and 
 less families th an lie na d, find hard getting 
 along, and some have even to leave their 
 parishes for want of support, and go into 
 other professions or avocations for a liv* 
 ing, because they cannot live by preach- 
 ing. As it respects Eld. Randal, the 
 saying of David was a maxim with him, 
 "Trust in the Lord and do good, and 
 thou shalt dwell in the land, and verily 
 thou shalt be fed. 5 ' In early life he learn- 
 ed to live by faith in the promises of God^ 
 and always afterwards chose to live so. 
 He considered the promises of God to 
 hir% far superior to town or parish secu- 
 rity, and even better than national bank 
 notes, because all these might fail, but 
 His word can never fail. Eld. Randal 
 considered himself, like Paul, debtor to 
 all men, in a gospel point of view; and 
 thought himself under the strongest obli- 
 gations to preach the gospel, freely, to all 
 who would hear him ; and left the care of 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 233 
 
 himself and family, altogether with God* 
 who had qualified and called him to preach 
 hi? word. He therefore made no com- 
 plaint to man, but made known his re- 
 quests to the Lord. He believed that 
 God would support him and all his faith- 
 ful ministers, and never let them suffer 
 more than enough to wear off the rust, 
 and keep them bright. He thankfully 
 received of those who heard him what- 
 ever they thought it their duty to give, 
 and praised God for the same. He stren- 
 uously supported the idea, that Christ was 
 able to govern his own kingdom without 
 the aid of human laws, and that the gos- 
 pel of Christ would support itself and 
 them who preached it, agreeably to 1 
 Cor. ix. U. u Even so hath the Lord or- 
 dained, that they which preach the gospel 
 should live of the gospel." Also, that it 
 is the indispensable duty of those who are 
 taught in the word, to communicate to 
 him that teacheth in all good things. He 
 concluded, that the gospel w as a free gift 
 of God, and ought to be preached freely 
 to all mankind ; and that when received, 
 it will lead those who possess it to com- 
 
2m 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 Bianicate freely. ly to John viii. 
 
 36. " If the Son, therefore, shall make 
 you free, ye shall be free indeed;" i. e. .not 
 only to be free from the curse of the law. 
 and bondage of sin ; but disposed them to 
 liberal and charitable acts, for the good 
 of the cause in which the) 7 are engaged. 
 I think it probable, however, that Eld. 
 Randal sometimes passed through some 
 pretty strait places, and knew what it 
 was to be abased 5 and at other times 
 abounded in the comforts of life, as seems 
 to have been the lot of all who have been 
 the faithful ministers of Christ, and have 
 been willing to spend and be spent in His 
 cause. 
 
 4. Eld. Randal having now closed 
 1802, on the first day of January, 1803, 
 arose very early, and dedicated himself 
 anew to God 5 praised him for his great 
 goodness, in preserving him and others to 
 see the close of the last, and the beg in- 
 ning of a new year. He prayed earnestly 
 that he might begin the year with God, 
 and spend it in his holy service. He then 
 went to Alton and attended a church 
 meeting with the brethren in that place. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 Jan. 2, in the forenoon he preached at 
 Jonathan McBuffee's, from Ezek. xviii. 
 20. " The soul that sinneth, it shall die." 
 In the afternoon, from Isa. 1. 3. " Incline 
 your ear, and come unto ?ne, hear and 
 your soul shall live." "This," he says, 
 "wag a day of the power and glory of 
 God.*' In the evening he preached at 
 James McDuffee's, and the word was at- 
 tended with similar effects. Jan. 3, he 
 spent the day in religious visits, and in 
 the evening returned home. He then con- 
 tinued about home till the 12th, which 
 time he spent in preaching, and in relig- 
 ious visits. Jan. 13, he sat out on a jour- 
 ney to Portsmouth, N. H. and returned 
 on the 15th. Here he witnessed the des- 
 olation which had been made by what was 
 called the great fire in Portsmouth, and 
 exclaimed, " O, how uncertain are all 
 things here below 1 ** 
 
2m 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 I. Randal attends Q. M. — Preaches the 
 funeral sermon of a child. 2. Visits 
 Barring ton, tyc. 3. Attends the funeral 
 of B. York — goes to Lebanon. 4. At- 
 tends yearly fast. — Attends Q. M. at 
 Meredith, fyc. 
 
 1. Jan. 20, 21 and 22, Eld. Randal at- 
 tended the quarterly meeting in New- Dur- 
 ham ; and on the 25th, went to Gihnanton, 
 and assisted in the ordination of H. D. 
 Buzzell, which he considered a day of 
 God's power. He returned home the 
 same night, and in his usual manner 
 preached and visited in his own vicinity 
 till the 27th of Feb. Oh that day, being 
 requested, he went to Farmington, and 
 preached the funeral sermon of a child of 
 Mr. Hallibut, who was moving from the 
 west to Portland, Me. Eld. Randal- 
 preached from Luke xviii. 16. At the 
 request of the hearers, the sermon was 
 afterwards printed, and has lately been 
 re-printed at Limerick. 
 
 2. March 15, he wont to Barringten oa 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 239 
 
 church business, and also held a meet- 
 ing of worship, and the next day returned. 
 March 24, he went to Middleton, and 
 preached from Rev. xxii. 14, after which 
 he baptized Robert Mathes, March 26, 
 he went to Somers worth, and attended a 
 monthly meeting. The next day he 
 preached twice in a school-house, and in 
 the evening at Jacob Hanson's. March 
 
 28, he preached at Wm. Horn's. March 
 
 29, he went to Dover, and returned to 
 Rochester, and preached at a school- 
 house near Esq. Dame's. March 31, he 
 w ent to Farmington and married a cou- 
 ple. April 1, he preached at Anthony 
 Peavy's, after which he returned home. 
 
 8. April 3, after delivering a lengthy 
 discourse in his own desk, he went to 
 Middleton, and attended the funeral oi 
 Benjamin York, an old friend of his. In 
 the evening, he preached at a school-house 
 in the same town. April 4, he preached 
 at Eld. John BlaisdePs, Lebanon, Me. 
 The next day he attended a monthly meet- 
 ing, and the succeeding day returned to 
 Middleton, and sat with the church in 
 their monthly conference. From thence 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 he returned home, sick. Who can won* 
 der that he was sick ? if they consider 
 how much fatigue he had in so short a 
 time, while at the same time, he was much 
 oppressed with a distressing cough. He 
 never spared himself. He used to say. 
 u Ministers are immortal till their work is 
 done 5 and I had rather wear out than 
 rust out.' 5 
 
 4. April 7, being the yearly fast, not- 
 withstanding his illness, he turned out and 
 met with his congregation, and preached 
 from Isa. lviii. 3. " Wherefore do ice fast 
 and thou seest not ?" From the above 
 passage, he delivered a most powerful 
 and soul-searching discourse, after which 
 he returned home, giving glory to God. 
 April 8, he remained very unwell, hardly 
 able to set up. April 9, he remained 
 much the same, but says, " I felt a hies- 
 sed degree of calmness in my mind." 
 April 10, being Sabbath, he turned out 
 again, met his congregation, and preached 
 from Songs v. 9. u What is thy beloved 
 more than another beloved ?** Here he 
 tried a medicine* which he often recom- 
 mended to other complaining ministers, 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 241 
 
 A jmlpit sweats He gave a most live- 
 ly and striking description of [Christ] the 
 believer's beloved, and by a great variety of 
 circumstances and inferences, shewed that 
 He very far exceeds any other beloved, 
 which a soul might affect to choose. He 
 took such an interest in the subject him- 
 self, and was so affected with the ravishing 
 beauties of Christ, that he almost forgot 
 his sickness, and in fact, in some measure, 
 he renewed his strength, and went home 
 pretty comfortable. However, the next 
 morning, he was quite weak and sick ; but 
 in the afternoon went out on a visit ; and 
 continued to visit and preach in the vicin- 
 ity, till the 16th of May. May 17, hfe 
 rode to Meredith, N. H. and attended the 
 quarterly meeting, which commenced on 
 the 18th, and continued till the 20th. He 
 considered this a refreshing season, and 
 in his journal, mentions a number of pre- 
 cious seasons which he enjoyed in visiting 
 liis friends on the way. May 25, he went 
 to Wolf borough, and preached at the 
 dwelling-house of Isaac Jones. May 26, 
 he married Mr. Wm. Rust to Mrs. Su- 
 sanna Malvel, and preached a sermon at 
 21 
 
 m 
 
243 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the close, from John vii. 6. 66 But your 
 time is always ready." From thence he 
 returned home, and continued in his own 
 neighborhood preaching and visiting till 
 the first of June. June 3, he went to 
 Barnstead, spent the night with Eld. Wil- 
 son, and next day went to Canterbury, 
 and preached at a Mr. Hain's to a large 
 assembly and to very good effect. He 
 stayed that night with Dea. L. C lough. 
 June 6, he returned home. June 11, the 
 yearly meeting convened at his house, and 
 continued till the 13th, and was a very 
 glorious season from the commencement 
 to the close. June 1 7, he made a tour to 
 the sea-board, and was gone till the 6th 
 of July. He visited Rochester, Somers- 
 worth, Kittery, Newcastle, &c; and 
 preached twice in Newcastle, twice in 
 Portsmouth, and once in Kittery, besides 
 making several religious visits in those 
 towns. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. JU>- 
 
 CIIAPTER XXXII. 
 
 1. Randal visits Somersicorth — Attends 
 Q. M. Beerfield—Y. M. at Woolwich, 
 2. Attends Q. M, at Bradford, and ¥. 
 JIT. at Gorham. 3. Dedicates himself 
 again to God — Attends Q.M. at Sand- 
 ivich. 4. Returns home, sick. 
 
 I. Eid. Randal having made suitable 
 arrangements at home, Aug. 7, went W 
 Sx>merswbrtli 5 a distance of 18 miles, and 
 preached three times the same day, and 
 once in the evening. Aug. 8, he went to 
 Dover, did considerable business with the 
 printer, and from thence went to Ports- 
 mouth and preached the same evening. 
 Aug. 9, he rode home a distance of about 
 35 miles. Aug, 15, he went to Barring- 
 ton- and preached at the dwelling-he use 
 of Eld. M. Otis, which he considered a 
 very happy season. From thence he went 
 to Deerfield and attended a quarterly 
 meeting, which convened on the 17th of 
 Aug., and continued till the 19th. He 
 then returned home, after performing the 
 above journey i he tarried at home 8 days. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 Aug. 29, he commenced a tour to the east 
 to attend the yearly meeting at Woolwich, 
 lie was gone on this journey only 27 days, 
 ^in which time he visited Lebanon, Saco, 
 Portland, Brunswick, Georgetown, Squam 
 Island, Boothbay, Bristol, &,c, and at- 
 tended 25 public meetings, and travelled 
 322 miles, and saw r much of the work of 
 the Lord in the conviction and conversion 
 of souls, Oct. 6, he visited the brethren 
 in Newcastle, N. H. and preached in their 
 meeting-house, and returned on the 7th. 
 
 2. Oct. 17, he commenced a journey to 
 the west, and on the 19th and 20th, at- 
 tended the quarterly meeting at Bradford. 
 This he considered a very wonderful 
 meeting, on account of the displays of the 
 power of God. Oct. 21, he attended an 
 Elders' Conference in the same town, 
 The Sabbath following he preached at 
 Bradford meeting-house, and in I he even- 
 ing at Edmund Creasey's. From thence 
 he came to Kearsage Gore, and attended 
 a meeting at Abner Watkin's. The word 
 w as made quick and powerful to the hear- 
 ers. He also attended a meeting the 
 game evening at Abijah- Watson's, which 
 
fifiNJAMIN RANDAL. 24>5 
 
 was likewise attended with a blessing, 
 He then returned to Canterbury and 
 preached at a brother Kent's ; and the 
 day following at the \V id. Sleeper's in 
 Loudon. In the evening he preached at 
 Thomas Procter's, the next day at John 
 Lougee's in Gilmanton. From thence 
 returned home, and praised the Lord that 
 he found all well. He now tarried with 
 his family three days^ and then took a 
 tour east, to attend the yearly meeting in 
 Gorham. It convened Nov. 5, and con- 
 tinned till the 7th. Nov. 8, he sat in 
 Elders' Confer ence, and experienced 
 great satisfaction. Nov. 9, he preached 
 in Pepperelborough, the next day in Old- 
 orchard at John Pritham's. Hiis, he 
 says, was a very powerful season, and 
 mentions that a woman by the name of 
 Bachelder cried much for mercy. Prom 
 thence he went to Hollis, and preached at 
 Z. Gordon's in the afternoon and evening. 
 Nov. 12, he returned to New-Durham, 
 and found his concerns all icell as usual. 
 He spent the remaining part ef the yea? 
 in New-Durham in preaching the gospel 
 among his neighbors-— visiting the sick 5 
 21* 
 
24B 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and attending to the cares of his family- 
 It is worthy of observation, that in tracing 
 his journal through all his circuitous tours, 
 that he always remarks when he came 
 home, he found his family well. It ap- 
 pears that while he was assiduously en- 
 gaged in the public cause of God, God 
 took special care of his family, agreeably 
 to his faith. He said, " If ministers would 
 do their duty in all respects and preach 
 the gospel in its purity, they would always 
 be provided for ; but that those who are 
 slothful and negligent must expect to suf- 
 fer," 
 
 3. Jan. 1, 1804, being Sabbath, he 
 arose early and dedicated himself anew 
 to God, and asked His grace to enable 
 him to spend the year in His fear and ser- 
 vice ; and that he mi^ht live more to the 
 glory of God, than he ever had done. He 
 then prepared for irieetirig and went to the 
 place of worship. He preached from 1 
 Kings x. 8. "Happy are thy men, happy 
 are these thy servants, ivhich stand con- 
 tinually before thee, and that hear thy 
 wisdom." In applying the subject, he 
 expressed his wish that all his congrega- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 247 
 
 tion might be truly happy ; he labored to 
 shew them wherein true happiness con- 
 sists, how 7 they might obtain it, &,c. The 
 discourse had a very solemn effect on the 
 hearers ; and he returned home very hap- 
 py himself. Jan. 18, 19 and 20, he at- 
 tended the quarterly meeting and Elders 5 
 Conference in Sandwich; and on the 
 21st, assisted in the ordination of Daniel 
 Elkins of Adams, N. H., and preached a 
 sermon from Mark xvi 15. " And he said 
 unto them j Go ye into all the ivorld and 
 preach the gospel to every creature." 
 
 4. Jan. 22, being Sabbath, Eld Ran- 
 dal preached at Sandwich meeting-house 
 from John xiv. 6. In the evening he 
 preached at Dea. Rice's, Many appear- 
 ed deeply affected under the word ; and 
 quite a number were convinced of the ne- 
 cessity of being born again. Jan 24, he 
 returned home and continued to preach 
 and visit in his vicinity in his usual man- 
 ner, till the 7th of February, which was 
 his birth day. On that day he was 55 
 years of age. He therefore offered his 
 yearly sacrifice of thanksgiving on the 
 family altar, and then sat out for Kenne- 
 
24B- 
 
 THE LIFE OP 
 
 beck, accompanying his daughter, Mrs? 
 Parsons, with her husband and children 
 towards their home, they having previous- 
 ly made him a visit. He was gone seven 
 days, and on his return took a violent cold. 
 He was now weak and low, and was un- 
 able to travel for several months. He 
 however attended meetings of worship 
 with his flock, and preached as much as 
 his strength would admit ; he also fre- 
 quently attended their conference meet- 
 ings, and when unable to go abroad he 
 had the meetings appointed at his own 
 house. In his daily account, he frequent- 
 ly remarks that he enjoyed much divine 
 consolation in his soul in the course of 
 his illness. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 RandaPs first letter to the Q. Meeting, 
 Eld. Randal being low in bodily healthy 
 and unable to attend the New-Durham 
 quarterly meeting, wrote the following 
 epistle. 
 
 New-Durham, July 31, 1804. 
 Dearly beloved brethren and friends y — 
 Although I w rite with a weak frame and 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 249 
 
 trembling hand, yet, glory to God, I write 
 with a soul inflamed with love to him 
 and to you, my dear and precious fellow 
 travellers to eternal glory. May the grace 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ be and abide 
 with you all, and all that wisdom be given 
 you which you need. 
 
 I take this method to appear in quar- 
 terly meeting, being so reduced in bodily 
 strength, that I am not able to attend 
 any other way ; neither do I ever expect 
 to sit with you again in public meeting, 
 until we sit around the great white throne; 
 unless the Lord unexpectedly raises me 
 again, w hich, if he should, will be mirac- 
 ulous. I had a cough settled on me the 
 first of last March, which has been in- 
 creasing ever since, so that I have been 
 hindered from travelling from that time 
 to this, excepting I attended the quarterly 
 meeting in May, but was very weak and 
 low. Once I went to Nottingham, but 
 ail tended to increase my complaint. The 
 first of this month I thought I felt a little 
 revived, and myself and others thought it 
 might be profitable for me to go toward 
 the sea-shore. Accordingly, I went to 
 
2m 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Portsmouth and Newcastle, but I gravy 
 worse from the time I started til! I re- 
 turned. I arrived at home on the 20th 
 instant, and am so weak that it is with 
 great difficulty that I handle my pen, or 
 sit up long enough, to write to you. Had 
 not this been the case I should have sat 
 out the first of the present month, and 
 have visited Richmond, and so gone up 
 the Connecticut river through all our 
 Connexion in that quarter, and have at- 
 tended this meeting. But farewell ! fare- 
 well ! You must henceforward do with- 
 out me. As to the stato of my soul, I 
 feel strong in the Lord and in the power 
 of his might, and think I have no choice 
 but the Lord's choice. As to my faith, 
 it remains unshaken. I am more and 
 more established in the doctrine I have 
 always preached ; I know that I received 
 it not of men, neither was I taught it but 
 by the revelation of Jesus Christ. I only 
 regret that I have been no more industri- 
 ous and laborious in my Master's vine- 
 yard. O, my fellow laborers ! I tremble 
 for some of you, fearing you are too neg- 
 ligent, and make our Master's work too 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 251 
 
 much a by-business. O, for Christ's sake, 
 be more laborious if you would with con- 
 fidence receive your penny when your day 
 is ended. 
 
 I am strong in the belief of the univer- 
 sal love of God to all men in the atone- 
 ment ; and in the universal appearance of 
 the light, love and grace of God to all 
 men ; and that the salvation or damnation 
 of mankind, turns upon their receiving or 
 rejecting the same. I know from God 
 that the doctrine which teacheth that 
 it is impossible for any of those for 
 whom Christ tlied to sin themselves to 
 hell, is a doctrine of error, invented to de- 
 stroy souls ; and do now in my last mo- 
 ments, bear my testimony against it 5 and 
 also against that shocking, inconsistent, 
 Calvinistic doctrine, of eternal election 
 and reprobation. I rejoice much to see 
 how fast Christ is consuming it, by the 
 breath of his mouth, and the brightness of 
 his appearing. I am strong in the belief 
 of the blessed ordinances of the gospel, as 
 we find them recorded in the scriptures, 
 and as we now practice them ; and also in 
 our order and discipline. 
 
252 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Now, brethren, I am going to leave the 
 Connexion with you, and I know not on 
 whom my mantle will fall ; I tvill it to 
 whom the Lord will ; I hope it will fall 
 On some one a thousand times more fit 
 for it than ever I was. The thing I most 
 fear^ that will hinder the advancement of 
 the cause, is, "Who shall be the great- 
 est ? M I have discovered so much of it, 
 I have, and do greatly fear. O my breth- 
 ren, " Humility goeth before promotion, 
 and a haughty spirit before a fall." Let 
 nothing be done among you through strife 
 or vain glory, but in holiness of mind, 
 let each esteem others better than them- 
 selves. There is in some branches, and 
 in some members in this Connexion, I 
 think, a great inclination to mingle with 
 the world ; and this I fear will cause a 
 great deal of trouble. O, beware of it, I 
 pray you ; for we are called out from the 
 world, and from every people under hea- 
 ven ; and our prosperity wholly depends 
 on our following our heavenly Leader £ 
 and if we do not, God will raise him an- 
 other people, and we shall siiik as others 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 256 
 
 have done before us,* I have many things 
 to say, but I forbear now, and hope the 
 Lord will enable me to leave my charge 
 to the whole Connexion. I here end, 
 sending my love to the meeting, to all my 
 friends, my enemies, and to all my fellow 
 men. 
 
 From your dying servant and brother 
 in our Lord Jesus Christ. Farewell. 
 
 B. Randal. 
 
 * Some unstable persons, from the above words, have stated 
 that. Eld. Randal prophesied that the Connexion would fall ; 
 and f;om that pretext have endeavored to draw ofF parties, 
 and set up new orders, but all have hitherto failed, and it is 
 likely they always will, so long as the Connexion follows their 
 heavenly Leader. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 L Eld. Randal recovers— attends Q. M. 
 2. Attends Y. M. at Parsonsjield. 3. 
 Presides hi Elders' Conference, 4~c. 
 4. Commences a new year— attends Q. 
 M— visits Vermont. 
 
 1. Eld. Randal recovered. his health in 
 some measure in the month of Sept ember, 
 and although very weak, on the 23d of the 
 same month went out to hear Eld. Wilson 
 
 99 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 preach ; which he considered a great fa* 
 vor, and expressed great satisfaction in 
 the Elder's improvement. Sept. 30, he 
 went out again to hear Eld. Townsend, 
 and says, " I found it to be a glorious 
 season to my soul." After this, his health 
 continued to improve. His cough, how* 
 ever, was troublesome for some time ; yet 
 he made several visits, and attended meet* 
 ings of worship and conference with the 
 brethren, and occasionally preached. Oc- 
 tober 16, he had so far recovered his health 
 that he ventured to set out for quarterly 
 meeting, which convened at Canterbury, 
 N. H. on the 17th of the same month. 
 He delivered a sermon at this meeting 
 from Isa. lxi. 1. " The spirit of the Lord 
 God is upon me, because the Lord hath 
 anointed me to preach good tidings to the 
 meek ; he hath sent me to bind up the bro- 
 ken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the 
 captives, and the opening of the prison to 
 them that are boimd." He remarks, that 
 he found great freedom in speaking of 
 gospel liberty, and that it was a most glo- 
 rious day of God's power. Sabbath day, 
 Oct. 21, he preached in Gilmanton meet- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 ing-foouse. A. 31. from Heb. iv. 9, There 
 reraaineth) therefore, a rest to the people 
 of God" P. M. from Mat. xi. 28, 29. 
 K Come unto me all ye that labor and are 
 heavy laden and I will give you rest. 
 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me ; 
 for I am meek and loicly in heart and ye 
 shall find rest to your souls." These dis- 
 courses were also attended with an extra- 
 ordinary blessing. Saints were much ed- 
 ified. Oct. 22, he preached at Eld. Wil- 
 son's, from Acts xxii. 28. " But I was free 
 born." From thence he returned home, 
 laden with the experience of God's good- 
 ness. 
 
 2. Eld. Randal, having rested a few 
 days with his family, Nov. 1, sat out for 
 yearly meeting, which convened at Par- 
 sonsficld on the 3d day of the same month. 
 He served as moderator in the meeting of 
 business, and preached twice in the course 
 of the meeting, and administered the 
 Lord's supper ; all of which was attended 
 with the divine blessing. The love of God 
 appeared to How from heart to heart. At 
 the close of the exercises two school dames, 
 namely, Ruth Merrill of Buxton, ?.nd 
 
256 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Naomi Carter of Fry burg, Me. were bap- 
 tized. They related their experiences of 
 grace in the public assembly, in presence 
 of about 1000 or 1£00 people. They did 
 it in a very deliberate, though a flee ting 
 manner. Many in the assembly were 
 deeply affected with their narratives, and 
 the scene was truly glorious. The young 
 women had never before been acquainted 
 with each other, and lived about thirty 
 miles apart 5 yet they both left their homes 
 about the same time, with a view of fol- 
 lowing their Savior in this ordinance, 
 which excited much admiration in the 
 hearers. The scene at the water, was al- 
 most indescribable. The rejoicing Gf 
 saints, and mourning of sinners, remarka- 
 ble candor of the spectators, together 
 with the ecstatic joy, and ineffable love 
 and union of those strangers, presented a 
 scene not unlike that of which Dr. Watts 
 speaks, " A young heaven, on earthly 
 ground, and glory in the bud." 
 
 3. Nov. 6, Elders 5 Conference conven- 
 ed at Dea. Samuel Moulton's. Eld. Ran- 
 dal presided $ and notwithstanding, it was 
 a refreshing season on many accounts, jrt 
 
SEZfJAMIN RAMAL, 
 
 2&I 
 
 was quite a trying season to him, on ac- 
 count of his having to announce the rejec- 
 t-ion of a preacher by whom he had for- 
 merly set much. He always expressed •• 
 much grief on such occasions ; and ever 
 manifested great tenderness towards trans- 
 gressing members ; although he corrected 
 them sharply, yet he always oiled* the rod 
 with tears of grief, and seemed rather to 
 pity their condition, than to rail at them or 
 talk to them in what he called a hard spirit. 
 He was quite an example of long-suffering. 
 He took every scriptural means to reclaim 
 them, whether they were public or private 
 members, and if after all they proved re- 
 fractory, when he came to declare them 
 rejected members, he would perform it 
 with great cancer, I never knew him to 
 perform it without first supplicating the 
 throne for grace to support him through 
 the scene. He considered it an awful 
 thing, for a member to be rejected from 
 the communion of saints on account of 
 sinful conduct. He often on such occa- 
 sions repea- ed the words of the Savior, 
 ^ What is bound on earth is bound in 
 heaven^ and what is loosed on earth i^ 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 loosed in heaven." Nov. 8, he returned 
 home, and continued preaching and visit- 
 ing in the region round about till the close 
 of the year. 
 
 In the close of his annual account he 
 remarks, that having been sick so much, 
 "lie had not been able to attend only 170 
 "meetings, and travelled but 1387 miles. 
 An amount of labor in tbe cause of truth, 
 which probably far exceeded what many 
 of his brethren had done in the same time, 
 in a state of health. But he considered 
 the preaching of the gospel his main busi- 
 ness, and exerted himself to the utmost to 
 iulfil his mission. 
 
 4. Eld. Randal now commences a new 
 year. Jan. 14, 1805, he sat out for New- 
 Hampton, to attend quarterly meeting. In 
 which and in the Elders' Conference he sat 
 three days. Jan. 19, he went to Bridge- 
 water and attended the funeral of Polly 
 Terrill, a member of the church in that 
 place. The next day, he preached in 
 Bridgewater meeting-house, and the same 
 evening returned to New-Hampton, and 
 tarried with Eld. Magoon. Jan. £0, Iw 
 preached in the meeting-house twice> and 
 
•BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 259 
 
 in the evening at Win. Marston's. Jan, 
 21, lie preached at a brother Racket's, and 
 returned again to Eld. Magoon's. Jan. 
 22 and 23, the weather being inclement, 
 he was prevented from travelling. Jan. 
 24, he commenced a journey to the north 
 part of Vermont. The first day, he rode 
 as far as Warren, W. H. and put up at 
 Clement's tavern. Jan. 25, he pursued hts 
 journey, called on Dr. Ross Coon at Ha- 
 verhill corner, where he was respectfully 
 received, and kindly entertained. From 
 thence he rode the same day to Peaeham, 
 Vt. and put up at El kins' tavern. Jan. 26 f 
 he went to Hardwick, Vt., and attendee! 
 a quarterly meeting, which, with the ad- 
 dition of an Elders' Conference, continued 
 three days. Jan. 29, he went to Green- 
 borough, and attended a meeting where 
 quite a number of persons were pricked 
 in their hearts, with a sense of their un- 
 done condition as sinners, while the saints 
 were much quickened. He then returned 
 to Hardwick, and in the evening attended 
 a meeting at Dea. Mark Norris' . Jan. 
 30, he attended a meeting at Peter Page's, 
 Feb. 1. he went toWaldron, Vt. and vis- 
 
360 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ited a sister Gilman, who was then sick 
 with a dropsy in the cavity of the body, 
 and had been tapped the same day, which 
 was the twelfth time she had undergone: 
 that operation ; and says, that in all, he 
 was informed, she had seventy gallons of 
 water drawn from her. He remarks, that 
 he found her very comfortable in her mind. 
 Feb. 3, A. M. he preached in Harduick, 
 from Josh. xxiv. 15., and P. M. adminis- 
 tered the Lord's supper ; all of which ap- 
 peared to be attended with a divine bless- 
 ing. Feb. 4, he sat out for home 5 but 
 the road being badly drifted, and the 
 weather inclement, he rode but 12 miles. 
 The day following, the travelling being 
 difficult and himself unwell, he tarried 
 with Benjamin N orris. Feb. 6, he rode 
 to Haverhill Corner, N. II. and in the 
 evening preached at Doct. Ross Coon's, 
 but says he was unwell. Feb. 7, he 
 stayed all day with the doctor and in the 
 evening attended a meeting at Piermont 
 in company wi h Eld. Jones. Feb. % he 
 went up the river to Concord, and at end- 
 ed a conference with the church in that 
 place ; after which be went to Landaff, 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 m 
 
 and put up with John Cogswell. Here 
 he found a church in one house, Mr. Cogs- 
 well with his wife and children all profes- 
 sed to be new creatures, and were well 
 engaged in religion. Feb. 9, he again 
 went to Piermont, and attended a church 
 meeting with the brethren in that place. 
 Feb. 10, being Sabbath he preached again 
 at Doct. Coon's, to a very crowded and 
 attentive assembly. Also administered 
 the Lord's supper. In the evening, he 
 preached in the same place ; and the pow- 
 er of God attended the word. Feb. 11, 
 he w ent to Warren and preached at Jona- 
 than Clement's. The next day he pro- 
 ceeded to Holderness, and put up at the 
 Wid. Baker's. The day following, he 
 reached New-Hampton, and from thence 
 he went to Gilmanton and put up with 
 Eld. J. Young, and Feb. 16, through the 
 abounding goodness of God, he arrived 
 at his own house, and again found his 
 family all well 5 but was very unwell him- 
 
 *3l£ - 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 1. Eld. Randal visits Canterbury, 
 2. Randal is unwell — makes a journey 
 to the sea — attends the funeral of his 
 niece. 3. Attends Q. M. at Somers- 
 worth, and Y. M. at Woolwich — visits 
 Alton and baptizes 20 persons. 
 
 1. Eld. Randal having now rested a 
 few days with his family, March 1, made 
 a visit with his wife to Canterbury, and 
 was gone 6 days, and attended several 
 meetings ; but was very unwell, and re- 
 turned very sick. However, he soon re- 
 vived, and attended to his usual visits 
 and meetings in his vicinity. April 30, 
 he took a tour towards the sea, and visited 
 Somers worth, Portsmouth and Newcas- 
 tle. He prea bed twice in Eld. Smith's 
 meeting-house in Portsmouth, and attend- 
 €d several meetings in Newcastle. May 
 6, he preached in So mors worth at Moses 
 Baker's. May 7, he went to Farmington, 
 N. H. and attended the funeral of Samuel 
 White ; after which he returned home and 
 found bis concerns all well. It appears,.- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 2m 
 
 by his daily account, that about that time 
 It was very sickly in the region where he 
 lived, and that quite a number died. He 
 mentions a great many cases of sickness, 
 and instances of death, and frequently 
 mentions that he visited his old friend, 
 Eld. Samuel Runnels, who it appears 
 had a long confinement the fore part of 
 the same year. He remarks, that he vis- 
 ited him on the 3d of June, and preached 
 from 2 Cor. xii. 9. " My grace is suffi- 
 cient for thee," and says it was a refresh- 
 ing season. June 5, he was called to at- 
 tend the funeral of his natural sister, (first 
 wife of John Buzzell of Effingham,) who 
 died suddenly by reason of a fright, as 
 was judged. 
 
 2. June 8, 9 and 10, he attended year- 
 ly meeting in New-Durham, which he 
 considered a very glorious season indeed, 
 especially at the time of communion. June 
 20, he was very sick, and w as not able U> 
 set up much. July 11, having recovered 
 so as to be able to ride, he took a journey 
 toward the sea, in company with his wife 
 and Eld. S. Runnels, having so far re- 
 covered from his illness* as to be able to 
 
264 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 be abroad. They were gone ten days ; 
 in which time they visited Portsmouth, 
 Newcastle, Kittery and Somersworth. 
 Eld. Randal preached from place to place, 
 and they enjoyed very happy seasons 
 among their friends. July 24, he went to 
 Barn stead, and visited Polly Randal, his 
 niece. He found her extremely low, and 
 just gone with a consumption, but much 
 resigned. Her affections were taken off 
 from things below. She said to him, 
 " Uncle, I have nothing here — I have 
 given all away- — I. am a poor beggar, and 
 mean to die a beggar — I have nothing but 
 Jesus." 
 
 The Elder was much affected and de- 
 lighted with her remarks. She died Aug. 
 3, 1805. She rejoiced much at the ap- 
 proach of death, and sweetly breathed out 
 her soul into the arms of her blessed Je- 
 sus, with whom she longed to be. The 
 Elder attended her funeral as a mourner. 
 Eld. George preached a sermon suited to 
 the occasion, from a text previously se- 
 lected by herself, (Rev. xiv. 13.) Eld. 
 Randal now left the house of mourning, 
 and returned homeland continued visiting 
 
BENJAISflN RANDAL 
 
 and preaching as usual, but was very un- 
 well. The seeds of mortality began to ri- 
 pen in him apace. Aug. 13, he was seiz- 
 ed with another violent fit of cholic, which 
 lasted six hours without intermission, and 
 seemed to resist every means of relief. 
 His physician and friends exerted them- 
 selves to their utmost, and his life was 
 despaired of, but when all hope was gone, 
 help came, the cause was removed, and 
 ease obtained, to the great joy of all his 
 friends. 
 
 3. Aug. It, weak as he was, he rode 
 two miles to attend the church conference,, 
 and says " It was a glorious day of the 
 Lord's power." He had several ill turns 
 afterwards, but made a shift to keep about 
 and perform his usual tours. Aug. 21, 
 22 and 23, he attended quarterly meeting 
 at Somersworth, which he considered an 
 extraordinary interview. He also at- 
 tended the yearly meeting at Woolwich^ 
 which convened the 7th of the ensuing 
 September. He carried LIo with him, 
 and visited about all the churches iiftnai 
 quarter, and returned Oct. 4th. He then 
 made another visit to Portsmouth an d 
 
266 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Newcastle. Oct. 25, he went to Alton* 
 N. H. in company with Eld. H. D. Buz- 
 zell and baptized 20 persons, and embodi- 
 ed a church. Nov. 3, 4 and 5, he attend- 
 ed the yearly meeting and Elders' Con- 
 ference in Gorham. Dec. 3, 4 and 5, he 
 preached in Berwick, baptized a number 
 and administered the Lord's supper to 
 the church in that place. Here he closes 
 his account for 1S05, in which he says, 
 " I have travelled this year in the cause 
 of truth 2090 miles, and attended 283 
 meetings, exclusive of attending weddings, 
 visiting the sick, &,c. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 1, A summary account of Eld. Randal 3 s 
 travels and labors in 1806. 2. Ran- 
 dal visits a sick woman — attends Q.M. 
 at Sutton, and Y. M. at Wilton — visits 
 Bid, Knowlton, attends his funeral, fyc. 
 3. Preaches at Barrington Hills, and 
 at Hopk*» f nn^, 4. Visits Ashby, Mass. 
 ™~jj'mes with Gen. Starks, fyc. 
 
 1, Jan. 1, 1806, Eld. Randal preached 
 at Deft, J. Fox's, and spake of the neces- 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 sitj of beginning the year with God, and 
 spending it to his glory. Jan. 5, he visit- 
 ed his old friend, Win. Wingate, and saw 
 him breathe his last. Jan. 7, he attended 
 his funeral, which was a very solemn day. 
 But as time would fail to give a detail of 
 all the events remarked by him in his ac- 
 counts for that year, I shall only give my 
 readers a summary of the w hole. Let it 
 therefore suffice to say, that he spent al- 
 most every day in the year in the public 
 service of God. He attended three quar- 
 terly meetings, one in Gilmanton — one in 
 Sandwich — one in New-Hampton ; also, 
 attended all the terms of the yearly meet- 
 ing — visited the principal churches in the 
 Kennebeck region — attended to much 
 church business ; and in addition to his 
 usual tours, in the month of October, went 
 to Ashby, Mass. and preached in a num- 
 ber of towns in that region. The number 
 of mites he travelled in the course of the 
 year, are not recorded by him, nor the 
 number of meetings he attended ; but I 
 should say, by the appearance of the ac- 
 county he travelled as much if not more 
 »Hn in any former year of his life. De<\ 
 
■■■(SS 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 31, he writes, " Not able to sit up, nor 
 torn myself in bed without help ; so I end 
 the year in pain ; but to the glory of God, 
 can say, I enjoy a steadfast faith, and 
 a heavenly calmness in my soul. 5 ' 
 ■ 2. Jan. 1, 1807, Eld. Randal was very 
 unwell, and unable to dress himself; he, 
 however, soon began to amend, and on 
 the 4th day so far recovered, as to be 
 able with a little help to get on his horse 
 and ride to meeting. He preached from 
 John iii. 5. u Verily, verily, I say unto 
 thee, except a man be born of water, and 
 of the spirit, he cannot enter into the king- 
 dom of God J 9 He enjoyed great freedom 
 in speaking on the subject, and the word 
 had a good effect on the hearers ; but his 
 anxiety was such for their salvation, and 
 his mind so much stronger than his body t 
 that he exerted himself beyond his ability, 
 so that the next day he was unable to go 
 .broad. This was often the case with 
 him in the decline of life. Jan. 7, being 
 helped on his horse, he rode four miles to 
 visit a -sick woman, who was nigh her end, 
 and desired to see him. After this, he 
 gradually grew bettor, ai*d attended to 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 2GS 
 
 preaching and visiting as usual. Jan. 2$ 
 and 22, he attended the quarterly meeting 
 in Sutton, N. H. after which he returned 
 home, and on Feb. 2, he sat out to attend 
 the yearly meeting in Wilton, Me., but 
 was prevented by a most violent snow 
 &tQrm. He, however, w ent on as far as 
 Lewiston, but finding it impracticable to 
 go through, he calmly yielded to Provi- 
 dence, and stopped among his friends in 
 that place, and attended several meetings} 
 after which he sat out for home, but the 
 travelling being very difficult, he had 
 to stop from place to place, and finally .did 
 not reach home till the 21 st of the same 
 month. March 9, he went to Pittsiield, 
 to visit Eld. David Knowlton, juu. and 
 found him very low in body, and near 
 eternity $ but very comfortable in mind, 
 strong in faith, giving glory to God, and 
 longing to depart and be with Christ. 
 The scene, however, was very affecting to 
 Eld. Randal. Eld. D Knowlton was a 
 very promising young man, and an excel- 
 lent preacher ; beloved by all his acquain- 
 tance, and admired hy hose who heard 
 fun*. He died March 11, 1807. and was 
 23* 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 Juried March 14. Eld. Randal preached 
 his funeral sermon, from Num. xxiii. 10. 
 
 Let me die the death of the righteous, 
 and let my last end he like his." Six El- 
 ders bore him to the grave — one walked 
 with, and supported the mourning widow 
 — about 1000 people followed in proces- 
 sion. The scene was solemn, and many 
 tears were shed over the remains of this 
 amiable minister. His life was useful, and 
 his death gainful. He left an agreeable 
 companion — a pious father and mother, 
 as well as an affectionate brother and sis- 
 ters to feel and mourn his loss 5 a] so an 
 extensive religious connexion to whom he 
 was very dear.* 
 
 March 15, being Sabbath, Eld. Ran- 
 dal tarried and preached, A. M. from 
 Ezek. xviii. 20. " The righteousness of 'the 
 righteous shall he upon Mm, and the icicle- 
 edness of the wicked shall be upon him J* 
 P. M. Eld. Eben. Knowlton, brother to 
 the deceased, preached a very affecting dis- 
 course. March 24, Eld. Randal preach- 
 ed at Barnstead, and baptized Meribah 
 
 * Eld. David Knowlton's father and only brother, were or- 
 dained ministers in the Connexion. 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL 
 
 271 
 
 Foss, wife of John Foss, and Enoch and 
 Daniel, their two sons. March 25, he 
 preached at the house of Eph. Holmes.— 
 March 26, he preached at a school-house 
 in Barrington, at a place called the Hills. 
 March 27, in the evening he preached at 
 David Drew's in Barnstead, and rising of 
 50 persons either prayed publicly, or spake 
 by exhortation, chiefly young men and 
 boys. March 29, he preached at a school- 
 house where the late Eld. David Knowl- 
 ton used to preach, and spake from Heb. 
 xi. 13. " These all died in faith, not hav- 
 ing received the promises, but having seen 
 them afar off, and were persuaded of 
 them, and confessed that they were stran- 
 gers a n d pilgrims on e a rth." 
 
 3. March 30, he went to David 
 Youno's, in Barrington, and there being 
 a remarkable snow-storm, he was blocked 
 in for several days ; and as he could not 
 travel, he cut out a number of garments 
 for the family and went to rnakin j them. 
 He never could be idle, and if any thing 
 turned up, that he could not preach, if he 
 could sit up, he would certainly he to 
 work; and sometimes when speaking of 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 the necessity of diligence in duty, or of 
 making the gospel as much as possible 
 without charge, he would glory a little, 
 like Paul, and shew his little hands and 
 say, " These hands of mine have minister- 
 ed to my necessities. 5 ' However, on the 
 Sabbath, being at David Drew's, the peo- 
 ple in the vicinity had knowledge of his be- 
 ing there, and collected at the house. He 
 therefore began a meeting, winch result- 
 ed in a very comfortable season. April 8; 
 he made out to get homeward as far as his 
 son Hall's, and the day following lie ar- 
 rived and found all well. But the road 
 was so drifted, that he was obliged some- 
 times to take out his horse, and draw his 
 sleigh by hand. After this he spent his 
 time in preaching and visiting about ho ne 
 till the 18th of May. May 20, he sat in 
 quarterly meeting at Canterbury, and 
 preached from John hi. 7. " Marvel not 
 that I said unto thee ye must be born 
 again." May 24, he went to Hopkinton, 
 N. H. and preached in the Baptist meet- 
 ing-hoase, from Acts xvi. 30. and Rev. 
 xxii. 17. June 13, the yearly meeting 
 opened at his house, and continued three 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 v days, and was a time of refreshing from 
 the presence of the Lord. June 17, he 
 was taken unwell, and continued so for 
 several days, but went out some — preach- 
 ed a little — attended church meetings — 
 visited the sick, and attended a little to his 
 family concerns. 
 
 4. July 27, he was weak in body, but 
 being still strong in faith, he commenced 
 a journey to Ashhy, Mass. and arrived 
 there July 30, a distance of about 100 
 miles. Sabbath day, Aug. 2, he preach- 
 ed twice in Ashby, and once in Ashburn- 
 ham, after which he went to Dea. Gib- 
 eon's in Fitchburgh. Soon after he ar- 
 rived at the deacon's, he began to bleed 
 from his lungs, and continued bleeding 
 moderately all night; he became very 
 weak. The people were very kind, sat 
 up with him, and did what they could for 
 hi in. Aug. 3, he spit blood ail the fore- 
 noon, and sat up but a little, but in the 
 afternoon he attended the ordination of 
 Stephen Gibson — preached the sermon — • 
 gave the charge, olc, but with weak lungs. 
 Aug. 5, he left Ashby, and on the 7th ar- 
 rived ai Derryfield, N, H. and dined with 
 
1?HE LIFE' OP 
 
 Gen. St arks, the revolutionary patriot, 
 whose name as a hero, will ever be dear 
 to Americans. They had much conver- 
 sation on the subject of religion. The in- 
 terview was very interesting to Eld. Ran- 
 dal. He availed himself of the privilege 
 of opening his mind freely, and labor- 
 ed much to shew the general his views 
 of the w ay of salvation, and of the neces- 
 sity of regeneration. The general being 
 affected with the remarks^ exclaimed, 
 " You are not what formalists and bigots; 
 call a christian ! " " And," continued he, 
 " If it was not for four things, which 
 those called christians hold, namely, an- 
 archy, avarice, superstition and tradition 9 
 I should be a christian." " Why, sir," 
 replied the Elder, " I hate all those 
 things, and yet I am a christian." The 
 general, in a flood of tears, exclaimed, 
 u God bless you ! God bless you ! God 
 bless yon I" and said, " I am an old man 
 of eighty years, and shall stay here but a 
 little while, but my wife is younger than I, 
 and will probably out live me, and I shall 
 charge her and my son, ever to receive 
 you ; and treat you respectfully.." Tfta 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 275 
 
 Elder thanked him, and gave him the part- 
 ing hand, but not without shedding some 
 tears. He came from thence to Epsom, 
 N. H. and attended a meeting in a school- 
 house, at a place called Short falls ; he 
 spake from Rom. viii. 17. He stayed the 
 same night with Josiah Knowles, where 
 he was kindly entertained. Aug. 8, he 
 came to Pittsfield, and took breakfast with 
 Eld. Knowlton. From thence he return- 
 ed home. He remarked, that he had left 
 blood in a number of places in every town 
 beiween Ashby and New-Durham, and 
 yet had great reason to bless God. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 Eld. RandaPs last written advice to the 
 Connexion, in a letter, of which the fol- 
 loiving is the substance. 
 
 Eld. Randal being now in a very low 
 state of heja.lt h, and not able to attend the 
 August quarterly meeting, wrote as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 "New-Durham, Aug. 15, 1807. 
 Dear and well beloved, in our Lord 
 Jesus Christ,— It is with a degree of trial 
 
£?6 
 
 fHE LIFE OP 
 
 and 'pleasure, that I salute you in this 
 manner : trial, that I must write to you 
 instead of appearing in bodily presence, 
 which I have much longed for 5 but pleas- 
 ure, that I have this one resource left me, 
 that, though unable to be bodily present, 
 I may write to you, and bless you in the 
 name of the Lord. O, my brethren, the 
 cause of God is mine. My souPs care 
 and delight is to see it prosper. I mar- 
 ried this Connexion in early life, and in 
 that sense it is my spouse ; and when 
 able, I have spared no labor, either of 
 body or mind, night nor day, cold or hot, 
 far or near, for the advancement of the 
 same. And, glory to God, I have the tes- 
 timony of my conscience ; but my labors 
 are almost over, and I am about to re- 
 ceive my crown. My body is now too 
 weak to go to Adams ; but I bless the 
 Lord, that I can be there in spirit, and by 
 letter-; and shall take the freedom to give 
 a word of advice, as a father to his chil- 
 dren, though with humility and respect. 
 First, to my dear brethren in the minis- 
 try. I feel much on my soul on your ac- 
 count. Your lot is a particular lot, and 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 271 
 
 much, very much depends on you, as to 
 the promotion or destruction of the caase £ 
 We are on an eminence in a certain sense, 
 like a city on a hill ; all eyes are on us. 
 We profess to be the representatives of Je- 
 sus Christ. O, let uis consider what an 
 example he sat for his ambassadors to 
 follow. What humility ! what meekness ! 
 what holiness ! what godliness ! what 
 temperance ! what self-denial ! what sep» 
 aration from the world ! ye?., and every 
 thing that is amiable and lovely he hath 
 exhibited in his life, for his ambassadors 
 to follow. Let each of us, therefore, ask 
 ourselves the question. How much a n I, 
 or do I strive to be like him ? When I 
 ask myself the question, I blush, being 
 sensible of my o wn unli&eness to him. I 
 have been in the ministry thirty years last 
 March, and have been making observa- 
 tions on the ministers of all denominatiousj 
 our own as well as others, and have ob- 
 served much, which has, and still do: a 
 cause much grief Although many 5 when 
 they first come into the ministry, tee! st>me 
 good degree of humility ; yet how sou : 
 they begin to feel seif-impcrtani, think 
 " g4 
 
8,?fi THE LIFE OF" 
 
 themselves to be something great, con- 
 form to the world, seek after worldly in- 
 terest and honor, rabbyings, greetings, 
 uppermost rooms, chief seats, and want to 
 be considered first and greatest! They 
 get to be heady, high-minded, lovers of 
 pleasure more than lovers of God — mak- 
 ing a by-business of preaching, reclining 
 in the sun-beams of worldly pleasure, and 
 desiring to walk to heaven in golden slip- 
 pers on sunshiny days. O, what a mel- 
 ancholy portrait ! God forbid that any 
 feature of it should belong to us, my breth- 
 ren. But O, let us watch for we are irt 
 danger. O, how many, and some even 
 of our own, have already made shipwreck, 
 and are wholly destroyed, become scan- 
 dalous and useless. O, my soul trembles. 
 Bear with me, being such an one as Ben- 
 jamin the aged. For Christ's sake, my 
 brethren, let us be little, humble, cross- 
 bearing disciples See to it, that we do 
 not get any new-fangled, heady, wordy, 
 tonguey doctrine of men, which leads from 
 Christ instead of leading to him. But let 
 our doctrine be such as comes from Christ 
 into our hearts, and that will lead to his 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 279 
 
 ■spiritual appearance and terminate in bis 
 glory. O, beware of schisms and rents; 
 be not of such as cause divisions 5 but 
 mark such, and turn away from them. 
 United w e stand, but divided we fall. My 
 dear brethren, follow this advice, and 
 walk in the examples of Christ, and 
 when the chief Shepherd shall appear, 
 then will you also appear with him in 
 glory. 
 
 A w ord to all in general. Dearly be- 
 loved, I have before said that I w as early 
 married to this Connexion, and that when 
 able have spared no pains in promoting its 
 prosperity and happiness. I bless God 
 that although I have got to be enfeebled 
 in body, my care for the cause is still the 
 same ; my mind still travels to every part, 
 and I feel thankful when I look back to 
 the year 1780, the year in which this Con- 
 nexion was first embodied, and see w hat 
 the Lord hath done for us between that 
 time and this. My soul cries out with as- 
 tonishment, " O ! come, let us magnify 
 the Lord together ; let us exalt his name 
 for he is worthy.'' O, my brethren, we 
 have become a numerous people, and I 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 am afraid we are not so humble as 
 should be. Let us, I pray you, have a 
 strife among us, not " Who shall be the 
 greatest ?" but who shall be the least of 
 all — who shall be the humblest — who shall 
 be the most of a servant — who shall lay 
 the lowest at the feet of Jesus— who shall 
 bring forth the most fruit to the glory of 
 God ? O, my brethren, let us keep the 
 unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
 I feel afraid of a division in doctrine and 
 tenets, for there is a scattering spirit 
 abroad in the w orld. " Lo, here is Christ, 
 and lo, there is Christ.' 5 O, beware of 
 human inventions ; for there is much 
 pleading for those things. Human disci- 
 plines, platforms, creeds, covenants, and 
 forms for ordinances, which are not to be 
 found in the scriptures of truth. Well may 
 it be said to many, as Christ said to source^ 
 " Full well ye reject the commandments 
 of God, that ye may keep your own tra- 
 ditions.' 5 O, reject these things alto- 
 gether, and cleave to the scriptures. Make 
 them your only rule of faith and practice, 
 both in temporal life and for the govern- 
 ment of the church. I have too nianf 
 
B E NJ A M I N I? A X D A L . 
 
 tilings to say, to write them with pea an J 
 ink, and must therefore forbear. 
 
 I long to be with you, but bodily in- 
 firmities Forbid, I have been very weak 
 ever since last March, and was not able 
 to go any lengthy journey until the last 
 of July, when, in much weakness, I went 
 to Ashby, to perform business appointed 
 me by the quarterly meeting. But the 
 journey proved too hard for mo, which 
 caused me to bleed from my lungs very 
 much, and I have not ceased to bleed a 
 day since. I am also lame, so that I dare 
 not ride, but must lie still awhile, and if 
 I get so as to ride in a carriage, I shall 
 try to go to the yearly meeting in Sep- 
 tember. O, my brethren, pray for your 
 unworthy brother and servant for Christ's 
 sake. B. Randal, 
 
 2-k* 
 
282 THE LIFE Of 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 |. Eld. Randal is very low in health, buf 
 continues to preach. 2. Visits Edg- 
 comb — presides in Y. M. 3. Preaches 
 at New-Durham — visits Deer field — 
 returns — is seized with the cholic— vis- 
 its Portsmouth, fyc. 4. Attends Y. M. 
 at Gorham — goes to Gilmanton — has 
 another Jit of the cholic — closes the year. 
 
 1. Aug. 9, 1807, Eld. Randal having 
 recruited a little, attended meeting with 
 his flock at New- Durham, and preached 
 from Amos iv. 12. " Prepare to meet thy 
 GodV He then rode to Eld. Runnel's, 
 with his companion, where they tarried all 
 night. About 8 o'clock he began to bleed 
 again from his lungs, and bled so exces- 
 sively that he became very weak and faint. 
 He, however, after resting through the 
 night, and taking a little refreshment in 
 the morning, visited several families, in the 
 nei hborhood, and sat out for home, But 
 as they were returning, he unluckrily up- 
 Set his chaise and wounded himself very 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 much, so that He renamed lame, as well 
 as other use unwell for several days. 
 Aug. 16, he rode to the meeting-house 
 and attended the funeral of his townsman, 
 Jereuiiah Folsom, which he says was a 
 very solemn day. After this he continued 
 to preach and visit, though very weak and 
 unwell. 
 
 2. Aug. SI, he sat out for yearly meet- 
 ing at Edgcomh, accompanied by Eld. E, 
 Kno vlton and o hers-. He arrived on the 
 4th of September. Sept. 5, at the re- 
 quest of the members present, he presided 
 in the yearly meeting for the last time. 
 Sabbath, Sept 6, he was q nle unwell, he 
 
 towever sat in meeting several hours, and 
 /as delighted with bearing the vord. 
 Sept. 8, 9, 10 and 11, ho was exceedingly 
 distressed for breath, and afflicted with a 
 violent ^ough, and had but little expecta- 
 tion of living, but through the supera- 
 bo v "V liii-u; goodness of God, obtained some 
 relief. Sep . 14, he attended meeting at 
 Squam Island, but was unable to preach 7 . 
 He spake a little on lo^i. it. 6 Sept. 
 
 16, he was "00 weah to o abroad. Sept. 
 
 17, he attended a meeting at Br; Sweat's, 
 
THE LIFE 01 
 
 but was hardly able to speak. Sept. 10, 
 he expected to set out for home, bat it 
 being very rainy, he tarried at his son 
 Parsons'. Sept. 20, being Sabbath, he 
 went to Woolwich, and delivered his last 
 sermon to the church in that place, and 
 closed ths scene by administering the 
 Lord's supper, and washing of the saint's 
 feet. He says, " It was a comfortable 
 day, but I was exceedingly weak and 
 sick." Sept. 2i, he gave the parting 
 hand to his dear brethren in that region, 
 and turned his back upon what he for- 
 merly called his new-vineyard, to meet 
 with them no more upon earth. He pro- 
 ceeded to Brunswick, and tarried for the 
 last night with his much respected brothj 
 er, Joseph Morse. From thence he pro- 
 ceeded to Portland, Saco, Berwick, Som- 
 ers worth and Rochester, and from thence 
 home. He arrived Sept. 26, but was 
 very unwell. He, however, made aishift 
 to keep about, and continued preaching 
 and visiting the most part of the time. 
 
 3. Oct. 18, being Sabbath, he preach- 
 ed to his flock in New-Durham from Pro v. 
 Xii. 1, and Mat. xi. 28—30, and says, " I 
 
BE > T J A M I X R A N D A L, 
 
 265 
 
 felt the blessed flames of love in my soul, 
 and a sweet freedom in speaking." Oct. 
 19, he sat out for quarterly meeting at 
 Deerfield. He arrived on the 20th. Oct. 
 21 and 22, he sat in quarterly meetings 
 and on the 23d attended Riders' Confer- 
 ence at Eld. Moses Bean's in Candia. 
 Much business was done, and the mem- 
 bers w ere much united, and he was much 
 pleased with the unanimity which appear- 
 ed through all the meeting. He then gav£ 
 them the parting hand for the last time, 
 and returned. Oct. 25, he preached again 
 to his flock from Isaiah i. 16, and had a 
 comfortable season. Oct. 28, he was 
 seized with a violent fit of billious cholie, 
 and remained in the utmost distress about 
 five hours. The next day, Oct 29, he- 
 started for Portsmouth, N, H. He tar* 
 ried that night at Jacob Hanson's in Sorn- 
 ersworth. In the evening he was taken 
 with fainting fits, and it was sometime be- 
 fore they could bring him to himself, bet 
 after taking some comfortable things ho 
 grew better, and the next day, Oct. 30^ 
 he rode to Portsmouth, and from thence 
 tp Newcastle, and tarried that night with 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 Thomas Bell. Nov. 1, he went to the 
 meeting-house, and heard two sermons 
 by Eld. Hooper, after which he went back 
 to Portsmouth, and in the evening preach- 
 ed with Eld. Smith's people. This I 
 think was the last time they heard his 
 voice in that region. Nov. 3, he returned 
 home, but was very low in health. Nov, 
 5, he sat out for Gorham, to attend the 
 yearly meeting. It commenced on the 
 7th, and closed on the 9th, and was a re- 
 freshing season. Nov. 10, he attended 
 the Elders' yearly Conference, for the 
 last time. The meeting was holden at 
 Jacob Clement's, and was one of the most 
 profitable seasons I ever witnessed. Eld. 
 Randal enjoyed himself remarkably well, 
 seemed to renew his strength, and gave 
 many good instructions to the Elders, and 
 made fervent supplication to God for his 
 blessing on the Connexion. His little 
 delicate body was much emaciated ; his 
 countenance pale but lovely, surrounded 
 by his silvery locks, which hung in ring- 
 lets about his neck. His dress was re- 
 markably smooth and neat ; and he ap- 
 peared, I thought, more like an angel 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 28/ 
 
 than a man. He appeared to me, the most 
 like a stone suspended and supported in 
 the air, a spark alive in the midst of the 
 ocean, or a hush burning with fire, and 
 unconsumed, than any thing I ever saw. 
 When he spake to us, it seemed as if he 
 was all voice ; or like the voice of one, 
 crying in the wilderness, saying, Prepare 
 ye the way of the Lord, &,c. Nov. 11, 
 he took his leave of Gorham for the last 
 lime, and went to Portland to make his 
 last visit there. Nov. 13, he arrived at 
 his own house, felt more comfortable him- 
 self, and found his family all well. Nov. 
 17, he went to Gilmanton on church busi- 
 ness, aiid on the 18th was seized again 
 with another fit of cholic, whim lasted 
 about eight hours before he obtained any 
 relief. Nov. 21$ he returned home, but 
 was very unwell. Nov. 22, being Sab- 
 bath, he preached in his own neighbor- 
 hood, from 2 Pet. iii. 9, and in the even- 
 ing, held a meeting in his own house. 
 Nov. 26, he attended the anniversary 
 thanksgiving. Nov. 28, he visited Joseph 
 Buzzell, an aged brother in the church, 
 who had ever stood high in Eld. Randal's 
 
THE LIFE ©F 
 
 esteem, on account of his piety and use* 
 fulness in the public cause of God, being 
 at that time sick and near his end. He 
 found him weak in body, but strong in 
 faith, and without an intervening cloud 
 between him and his Savior. He rejoiced 
 much in the Lord, and said, "I have been 
 acquainted with Christ for 64 years, and 
 I have never forsaken hi n, and he has 
 never forsaken me $ and I long to be with 
 him!" He expired the next day, in a 
 tery calm and easy manner. "Mark the 
 perfect man and behold the upright, for 
 the end of that man is peace." His fun- 
 eral was attended Dec. 1st. His friends 
 lamented the loss of his company and use- 
 fulness ; but were comforted by a hope of 
 his future blessedness. 
 
 This was the last funeral that Eld. 
 Randal attended. He retired from the 
 mournful scene, went home, and spent the 
 few remaining days of the year with his 
 family. He closed his annual account in 
 the following words : " Here ends my 
 journal for 1807, having travelled only 
 2593 miles, and having been so much un- 
 well, I have attended only 203 public 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 289 
 
 meetings, besides weddings and funer- 
 als." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 1. Eld. Randal is seized tvith a cough— 
 his friends entertain a hope — he is 
 much resigned — keeps a daily account. 
 2. Searches the scriptures-is much con- 
 cerned for the prosperity of the Connex- 
 ion — urges the necessity of being true 
 disciples. 3. Warns against irregu- 
 larities , false doctrine. 4. Enjoys great 
 presence of mind in his sickness. 5, 
 Death and buriaL 
 
 1. In the year 1808, Eld. Randal con- 
 tinued to perform his labors and visits as 
 usual, till about the middle of Feb., when 
 he was seized with a violent cough, and 
 other hectical symptoms, which gradually 
 increased upon him, till he closed the 
 mortal scene. In the first stages of the 
 complaint, the best medical aid was call- 
 ed, and every probable means administer- 
 ed for his relief. At times, when he ap- 
 peared a little better, his friends enter- 
 25 
 
290 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tained hopes of his living, and exerted 
 themselves to their utmost for his recove- 
 ry : but their hopes were generally soo# 
 blasted, by the returns of his complaints, 
 and increased symptoms. He, however, 
 exercised almost unexampled patience 
 through all his distresses, and manifested 
 great resignation to the Divine will. When 
 he could sit up a little, he paid great at- 
 tention to his daily account, and minuted 
 the distresses he had gone through in his 
 body, and the particular exercises of his 
 mind under them ; and often blessed God 
 for the enjoyment of his sensible presence, 
 in the midst of those distressing scenes. 
 
 2. When able to read, he took great 
 pains to search the scriptures, both of the 
 old and new testament, and minuted all 
 the principal passages, generally adduced 
 by the disputants of the various sects, in 
 support of their favorite doctrines ; and 
 sat them down in such order, as to satisfy 
 himself of what was the aggregate mean- 
 ing of the whole, when impartially com- 
 pared together. This he did several tim es 
 over, that he might be correct in his the- 
 ological calculations. He seems to have 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 been led to this painful task, by a consid- 
 eration of the great variety of prepossessed 
 notions of religion which men have imbib- 
 ed in a state of nature, either from the 
 mere prejudice of education and tradi- 
 tion<, or from their natural proneness to 
 embrace and propagate such doctrines as 
 appear to exculpate them from blame, and 
 justify them in walking in the way of their 
 own hearts, and which promises them sal- 
 vation, while living agreeably to their own 
 fallen nature. The result of his deliber- 
 ations was that no doctrine would do, 
 either to live by or die by, that would 
 give allowance to sin, and that the only 
 safe doctrine to believe and preach, is that 
 which inculcates repentance towards God, 
 true faith in Christ, and leads to holiness 
 of heart and life, 
 
 Notwithstanding the weakness of his 
 body, his mind was remarkably exercised 
 with a care for the prosperity of the Con- 
 nexion. He often expressed a fear, that 
 when they grew popular, they would con- 
 form to the world, and by that means fall 
 into a state of formality, as other denom- 
 inations had done* from the same cause: 
 
S9B THE LI FEJ OF 
 
 He also feared that by imwatchfulnessw 
 they might let in among them, and hold 
 fellowship with those who hold and preach 
 doctrines inconsistent with the tenor of 
 scripture. In a letter to the quarterly 
 meeting at Andover, N. H., dated May 
 14, 1808, he urged the necessity of being 
 Christ's disciples indeed. 
 
 3. In the same letter he also urged the 
 necessity of adopting measures to correct 
 those irregularities and prevailing disor- 
 ders, which were then existing in some 
 parts of the Connexion. He also men- 
 tioned the inconsistency of holding forth 
 the impossibility of falling from grace, 
 which he considered a doctrine danger- 
 ous to souls. He also mentioned a doc- 
 trine, then lately propagated in the coun- 
 try, called "The end of the wicked," 
 which inculcates the idea that at the day 
 of judgment the wicked will be burnt up^ 
 Soul and body, and be no more. This he 
 also considered an unscriptural and dan- 
 gerous doctrine, and gave it as his opin- 
 ion, that such as preached it ought not 
 to be holden in fellowship, or rather, that 
 they ought to be noted as not belonging 
 
E&NJAMltf RANDAL. 
 
 to the Connexion. In the close of his let- 
 ter, he animadverted warmly on the con- 
 duct of those preachers, who being fond 
 of novelty, lay hold of any new doctrine 
 which is presented, and without examin- 
 ing it by the bible, fall in with it # 
 and recommend it to others, and try to 
 make every body believe it. And when 
 another new doctrine is presented, the 
 former is given up as erroneous, and the 
 latter is embraced as truth, and propa- 
 gated with the same zeal as the former. 
 In their own opinion, such preachers have* 
 been always wrong before, and right now 
 but they, being still unstable, may tell us 
 a few days hence that they are wrong 
 now. As an antidote for this disorder^ 
 he recommends, 1. Submission to God. 
 2. A constant learning of Jesus. 3. A 
 steady perseverance in the commandments 
 of God. He gives it as his opinion, that 
 none but such will ever rightly und er- 
 st and the mystery of godliness, or havo 
 the testimony of their consciences that 
 they please God. 
 
 4. Through all his sickness, he enjoyed 
 great presence of mind ; and when able 
 
 * 25* 
 
294 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to converse, his mind appeared to be a# 
 fruitful of resources, as when in perfect 
 health. In the month of June I made 
 him a visit, with several other ministers. 
 I found him extremely weak in body, but 
 strong in faith and happy in his mind. I 
 observed to him, that I had often been de^ 
 lighted and edified by his improvement as 
 a preacher; that I had now come to see 
 him upon his death -bed, and wished to 
 know if the doctrine he had propagated in 
 life, would support him in death. He an- 
 swered in the affirmative, with great em- 
 phasis, and said, " I am more and more 
 confirmed in it.' 9 I then questioned him 
 upon all the fundamental points of his doc- 
 trine separately, to which he gave satis- 
 factory and scriptural answers. I asked 
 him if he did not think that he had been 
 loo zealous in propagating those points ? 
 He answered no; and added, " If I had 
 |ny life to live over again, I would be 
 more zealous than I ever have been." 
 He beim: now almost exhausted, I waiv- 
 ed the subject for a while, and attended 
 to personal experience and prayer. After 
 he revived a little, I asked his opinion of 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. #fi# 
 
 the doctrine of annihilation, or what is 
 called "The end of the wicked." To 
 which he answered, "It is a doctrine of 
 error, and I have found three hundred 
 texts in the bihle, expressly to the con* 
 trary of it." Before we parted, he re- 
 lated to us the following dialogue, which 
 had a few days before taken place, be- 
 tween him and a minister of Calvinistic 
 sentiments, who made him a visit. 
 
 Min. " Brother Randal, dont you some- 
 times long to die, that you may get into 
 heaven V* 
 
 Ran. " No ; for I am in heaven now, 
 and have been through all m) sickness : I 
 have enjoyed the presence of God through 
 it all, and that is heaven to me." 
 
 Min. " But dont you think that you 
 will enjoy a greater measure of happiness, 
 after you leave the body, than you can 
 enjoy in it ?" 
 
 Ran. " Yes ; but I am full now, and 
 I shall only be full then ; when a vessel 
 is fill, if is fall : and if a vessel is f«ll, if 
 it dont hold more rhan a gill cup, ft is ae 
 happy in its measure} as if it was as big 
 as a gallon-pot," 
 
2m 
 
 fHS Li FE OF 
 
 JUin. " Dont you expect that when you 
 leave this body, you will be rewarded for 
 all your labors here below 1" 
 
 Ran. " No, blessed be God ! the Lord 
 is not in debt to me. I expect to go to 
 heaven when I die, but I dont expect to 
 enjoy heaven as a reward for my labors. 
 I have had my reward all the way as I 
 came along, and expect the joys of heaven 
 will be gratis !" 
 
 He always believed it his duty to 
 serve Cod, and that the reward was in 
 doing the commandments, and not for 
 doing them. He believed his salvation 
 was entirely of grace. Free grace was 
 his theme living and dying. In the 
 course of his confinement, he had a great 
 many visits of brethren and friends from 
 different parts, who were delighted with 
 his conversation, and contributed to hie 
 necessities. The church, at his request, 
 frequently appointed their conferences and 
 prayer oieetinjs at his house, and nothing 
 delighted him so much, as to see them en* 
 gaged in the cause. 
 
 At his request, I appointed a meeting 
 for preaching at his house, and observing 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 his extreme weakness, I thought the usu- 
 al exercises of a public meeting might 
 overcome hirn, I therefore asked him if 
 he thought he could bear the exercise of 
 .singing ? He answered " Yes. If you 
 sing with the spirit and understanding 
 also, you may sing as much as you please, 
 Glory to God ! I can bear to hear any 
 body praise Him. I expect soon to join 
 with the singing millions above," I then 
 proceeded in my u&ual manner, and no 
 one in the assembly appeared to take so 
 much interest in the exercise, as he did. 
 He followed the discourse clear through, 
 and when I ended, he was able to recapit- 
 ulate all the leading ideas, and in a most 
 solemn and impressive manner recom- 
 mended the whole to the consideration of 
 the audience. His outward man gradually 
 decayed and perished, while his inward 
 man was renewed day by day. Previous 
 to his dissolution, he, in a most cool and 
 dispassionate manner, settled all his tem- 
 poral concerns — made every arrangement 
 in respect to his funeral— ordered how his 
 grave clothes should be made, and saw 
 them cut and made— ordered the form of 
 
THE LIFE UP 
 
 his coflin, all in the plainest and most <?e-- 
 cent manner ; and, finally, composed a 
 hymn to be read to the spectators, when 
 the corpse should be opened — appointed 
 the man to preach his funeral sermon ; 
 and even planned the order of the proces- 
 sion, and the way and manner they should 
 march to and from the grave. 
 
 5. He died Oct. 22, 1808, after a con 
 finement of about nine months with the 
 consumption. Just before his exit, being 
 asked by a friend how he did, he answer- 
 ed, " Ail I wait for is my Father's com* 
 mand, and my soul will then leave this 
 body." And in a few minutes he breathed 
 out his soul into the arms of his blessed 
 Jesus, with whom he longed to be. 
 
 His wife lost a kind and benevolent 
 husband — his children an affectionate pa- 
 rent — the church a faithful servant and 
 minister of the gospel — the town an ami- 
 able member of society — the state of New- 
 Hampshire one of its most useful and re- 
 spected citizens ; and this poor benighted 
 world, a burning and shining light. He> 
 lived upon earth 59 years, 7 months, and 
 26 days. About 31 years, and 7 months 
 
BENJAMIN R A ?f D Al. . 233 
 
 he spent in public testimony; laboring 
 day and night for the salvation of fallen 
 men. He always appeared ready to 
 preach the word. He was instant in sea- 
 son and out of season, to reprove, rebuke, 
 exhort, with all long-suffering and doc- 
 trine. He was often opposed by men ; 
 but constantly supported by God. God 
 testified of his gifts, by blessing his \n ] »rs. 
 Hundreds of souls have dated their expe- 
 rience of grace under his ministry. Al* 
 though a layman, he was one of the best 
 of preachers. Dyer says, " He is the b est 
 preacher, who does the most good and 
 wins the most souls." He was a man 
 subject to like passions as we are ; but 
 in ail his addresses he was remarkably 
 tender and affectionate. In doctrine, he 
 was clear and decisive — in argument, 
 pointed and powerful. 
 
 His remains were decently interred, 
 October 26. Agreeably to his request, a 
 sermon was delivered on the occasion, by 
 the writer of this work, from 2 Tim, iv. 7, 
 8. "I have fought a good fight, I have 
 finished my course, I have kept the faith ; 
 Henceforth, there is laid up for me a 
 
3oo 
 
 THE ElFE 01* 
 
 croivn of righteousness , which the Lord, 
 the righteous Judge, shall give me at that 
 day ; and not to me only, . but unto all 
 them also that love his appearing." 
 
 Seventeen ordained ministers were pres- 
 ent. The six eldest were appointed bear- 
 ers — one walked with, and supported the 
 widow— ten -followed as mourners next to 
 the near kindred — the church members 
 followed them in procession — his physi- 
 cians and town dwellers each followed in 
 their proper places, together with a nu- 
 merous train of spectators, who followed 
 in a solemn and orderly manner. The 
 whole exhibited the most solemn scene I 
 ever witnessed 5 and reminded me of the 
 funeral mentioned Acts viii. 2. "Devout 
 men carried Stephen to his burial, and 
 made great lamentation over himP 
 
 " Blessed are the dead which die in the 
 Lord, from henceforth; yea, saith the 
 Spirit, that they may rest from their la- 
 bors, and their works do follow them," 
 
BENJAMIN RANDAL. 
 
 Since the decease of Eld. Randal,. 
 marble slabs have been placed over his 
 grave, by the Connexion, with the fol- 
 lowing inscription thereon: 
 SACRED 
 
 TO TEE MEMORY OF 
 
 ELDER BENJAMIN RANDAL, 
 
 THE FOUNDER OF THE FREEWILL BAP- 
 TIST SOCIETY IN AMERICA. 
 
 HE LABORED IN THE MINISTRY 
 THIRTY YEARS. 
 
 He died October 22, 1808, 
 Aged 59 years, 7 mo. 
 and 21 days. 
 
 26 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 6 
 
 •His parentage, birth, education, and occupation. 2. His 
 experience of grace. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 22 
 
 His acquaintance with experienced christians in Newcastle 
 and Portsmouth, 2. His journev to Marblehead and Salem, 
 and stay there. 3. His return to Newcastle — his marriage, 
 4. Induction into the congregational church, and christen- 
 ing his first child. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 27 
 Randal awakes — views the church in disorder — see3 sinners 
 in danger — sleep departs From him — talks with the church 
 members — agrees to hold meetings, and obtains consent of 
 the minister. 2. Hears a stranger at Portsmouth — invites 
 him to Newcastle — The minister accepts the invitation, but 
 is treated disrespectfully. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 88 
 
 Randal separates from the church — others follow his exam- 
 ple — meetings kept up in time of danger. 2. Randal feels 
 impressions to preach — moves his family to Kittery — removes 
 ba^k — enlists as a soldier, bur enjoys the Divine presence. 
 3. Is convinced of believers' baptism, yet condescends t© 
 have his child christened to please his wife, 4. He is called 
 to preach — is baptized. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 48 
 Randal returns from baptism rejoicing, but is again under 
 great trials about preaching. 2. Undertakes to read a 
 chapter, and preaches from the first verse. 3. Makes a cov- 
 enant with the Lord, and preaches his first sermon. 4. Is 
 threatened, but continues preaching with success. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 58 
 Randal preaches — many are cut to the heart — the poor 
 widow is converted. 2. Persecution begins — Randal highly 
 threatened — narrowly escapes death — a plot laid to tar and 
 feather him, but he escapes. 3. An armed mob of forty 
 men raised, who threaten to kill him, but let him pass un- 
 •nolested. 
 
304 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 70 
 
 1. Randal preaches in the country — is invited to New-Durham 
 — passes through Barrington — sees great effect of his labors 
 —is persecuted, or rather reproached and railed at. 2. 
 Great moving at New-Durham — A day of fasting agreed on, 
 to inquire of the Lord whether it would be right for him to 
 settle in the town. 3. His removal. 4. The Baptists in 
 New-England all in union. 5. Randal called upon to tell 
 why he did not preach the doctrine of election. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII, 78 
 
 1. A meeting appointed at Gilmanton — Randal called upon to 
 answer for himself, and his antagonist publicly declares that 
 he has no fellowship with him, in his principles — Randal's 
 reply. 2. He is again called upon to answer for his errors, 
 and is dropped without rejection or dismission — Much public 
 excitement. 3. Randal becomes a member of a separate 
 church, and is ordained. 4. Church embodied at New- 
 Durham. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 86 
 1. Randal is brought to a stand — Experiences a remarkable 
 manifestation of light. 2. Anecdote — His first visit to Lit- 
 tle Falls — success in preaching. 3. Opposition at the time 
 of baptism. 4. The church embodied at Tamworth and an- 
 other in Barrington, N. H. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 97 
 I. Randal makes his first visit to Kennebeck — Preaches at 
 Parker's Island and Woolwich. 2. Meets with opposition — 
 Preaches on a grave. 3. Embodies a church at Woolwich, 
 and returns. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 105 
 
 L Randal visits Gorham, &c. — The Connexion much increas- 
 ed — Monthly meetings established — The bible given to each 
 as their only book of discipline. 2. Modest apparel and 
 temperance recommended. 3. The church in Gorham added 
 — Randal's wife's father dies. 4. Loudon and Canterbury 
 churches join the Shakers — Randal is called to gather the 
 scattering members. 5. He visits the church in Woolwich, 
 &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 112 
 1. The scattered brethren in Loudon and Canterbury send for 
 hulp — Eld. Randal complains of false brethren — is confined 
 by sickness, but happy in mind. 2. Is in indigent circum- 
 stances — works hard to redeem time to preach. 3. Randal 
 sent to Barrington. 4, Goes on an eastern tour — a/ count 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XIII, 119 
 1 Eld. Randal attends the first Q. M. — their agreement — re- 
 turns, and is taken sick — recovers — attends the Q. M. in 
 March, June and Septembei. 2. Goes to Crownpoint — 
 ordains Joseph Boody — attends Q. M. at Edgcomb — ordains 
 John Whitney — attends Q. M. at Gorham. 3. Some trials 
 in New-Dir: ham church — attends Q. M. at New-Gloucester 
 and Kennebeck. 4. Revival at New-Durham — Nathan 
 Merrill and James M 'Corson ordained. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 126 
 1. Randal visits the churches — Attends the Q. M's., &c. 2. 
 Randal is opposed — Q. M. i emoted from N. Gloucester to 
 Parsonsfield — Randal's labors and constitution. 3. Great 
 declension m New-Durham — Randal is sick — Buries his fa- 
 ther — Preaches his funeral sermon. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 131 
 1. Eld. Randal attends 4 he Q. M's. at Edgcomb and Gorham. 
 2. The declension ;n New-Durham grows worse. 3. The 
 living members covenant anew. 4. The covenant. 5. The 
 inhabitants are alarmed, and a revival succeeds. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 137 
 1. New Year's Sermon- -Randal visits the churches in Pitts- 
 field and Barrington — Preaches, &c. at Middlcton. 2. Mal es 
 a new arrangement of mee^ ;ngs— form of. 3. First Y. M. 
 4. Randal & Buzzeil visit Vermont. 5. Randal attends Q. 
 M. a f Barnstead, and Y. M. at Edgcomb. 6. John Buzzell 
 and Isaac Townsend ordained. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 145 
 1. Randal attends Y. M. at Gorham. 2. At^nds Q. M. &Y. 
 M.— Goes to Strafford, Vt. — the church ided— -Buzzell 
 visits them. 3. Randal visits Berwick.. &e. 4. Daniel Lord 
 ordained. 5. Randal attends Q. M. & Y M.... church em- 
 bodied at Farmington, Me. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 152 
 
 1. Randal visits Vermont. ...returns....* sits Canterbury &e.... 
 attends a Q. M. & Y. M. 2. Visit Berwick, &c. *3. Goes 
 on an eastern tour. 4. Visits a cm;; nal in Pownalborougk 
 jail. ...stays at night at a tavern.. ..a ball broken up, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 161 
 
 1. Randal visits Uppertown. 2. A mon-1 !y rnee;ing es f ab= 
 lishec. ...Randal visits Farmington. . . .ret f ; r s hon e mds 
 Q. M. 3. Attends Y. M. at Gorham... .Goei ,o Raymond-.. 
 Z. Leach ordained.. ..Randal returps home. Stc. 
 
. ltf lllc \^umit:.Yicm. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIN. 2 82 
 
 " o E1 v-# an J!J iS VG u y l0W in health ' but continues to preach 
 2. Visits Edgcomb....presides in V. M. 3. Preaches at N 
 Durham-visits Deerfield-returns-is seized w The ■ choHc 
 -vjsits Portsmouth, &c. 4. Attends Y. M. at Gorham- 
 goes to Gilmanton-has another fit of the cboHc-ctse* the 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 2 S9 
 
 " £!i ^ ndd iS SG T d With a cough— his friends entertain a 
 hope— he is much resigned-keeps a daily account. 2 
 neSv of ffc ^ CM P tu r es -" is m «<* concerned for the p^ 
 penty of the Connexion— urges the necessity of beina true 
 dxsejp es. 3. Warns against irregularities, false doSrine 
 and burS P reseace of ™i»d in his sickness. 5. Death 
 
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