better than men, and have a greater knowledge of
God before their eyes, which preserves them from intoxi-
cation, and other evils, that the men are liable to be over-
taken with, when they are deprived of their reason by
strong drink. I told my friend Kirkland that I had
taken my leave of the Oneida Indians, but was willing to
go again in case they might be benefited. We parted,
and I rode with a sick head-ache to the Centre, six miles
off, and the first salutation I received was, that Many
were determined to hinder me of preaching, declaring a
woman had no right to preach. I was very still, and kept
silence till the way opened of itself, without my making
one effort to promote it; for the Lord stirred up a goodly
number, who positively said, I should preach, and if I
could not be accommodated with the Presbyterian church,
I should have the schoolhouse, as it was free for all. I
had no companion, and knew not one soul among all this
confusion: therefore I relied on the Arm of Jehovah, my
strong defence, and saw satan once more defeated by the
God of Jacob; for I had patiently waited for the Lord to
put him to flight who had rose up an host against me, to
cause me to be confounded before my opposers.
As I had made the best of it that I could, strength
was given to me to
evidence to all present that I feared none
but the Living God, saying in the
midst of my subject,
Wo! be to me if I preach not the
gospel, feeling as my
day of suffering was, my inward peace and
power abound-
ed, which was a fresh manifestation of the Father’s
Love
unto me, and confirmation that I still moved in the line of
my
duty.
When the meeting closed, six persons came unto me,
to request I would go with
them, each having a horse; but
I was as much at a stand to know how I should
dispose of
myself after meeting! as to comprehend how I should
obtain
admission among them! One cried out, You must
go with me,
another, She shall go with me, and my
friend Samuel Kirkland, missionary to the Oneida Indians,