praised who is alone worthy, saith my Soul.

9th.

Feeling a draught in my mind to go and visit a Clergyman named Perkins

in West Hartford who
had shewn some bitterness towards friends; and although some thought
it was likely he would treat me with contempt, I was most easy to go,
being accompanied by two friends: when we went to him, he treated us
friendly beyond our expectation, saying he had attended at one one Mee-
ting, and was well satisfied with what I said: I replied, if thou wouldest
lay aside forms and ceremonies, I think we shall be likely to agree in
the parts which are essential: he then said, he believed the Scriptures to
be the only rule of faith and practice, and that revelation had ceased. I en-
deavoured to open my Sentiments to him in freedom, That the Scriptures
appeared to be a sealed book, and the true meaning of many parts not to be ob-
tained, except thro' the assistance of the same Spirit which gave them forth,
That the divine principle of Light and Grace which we preach up, and
testify unto, is that, which if attended to, brings to the knowledge of
God; That the Spirit of Wisdom which inspired the Penmen who
wrote the Scriptures, is surely to be preferred before that which was
written under its' Influence, &c, altho' he said he believed in free grace
yet he continued to urge the Scriptures being the only Rule, other Con-
versation followed, yet it appeared he was loth to yield to any Sen-
timent different from what he had been accustomed to endeavour to
uphold, according to their Creed: I let him know before we parted, that I
thought he knew better than he spake.

10th.

The next day I had a Meeting with Friends of Hartford

by them-