1755 October 14 (Tuesday). Rain Still a.m. About noon It began to Clear So that I undertook my Journey to Mr. Samuel Wheelocks in Shrewsbury to assist in the Exercises of a Fast there on the Account of his Melancholly. The assembly (which there was) met at Lieutenant Stones. Prayer was over before I got there, and the last Syllables of the Psalm were singing when I went in. Yet Mr. Cushing would not excuse me from Preaching. Text was Rom. 11.33. N.B. Although Mr. Wheelock would not Suffer the Exercises to be at his House, neither could I obtain to see him before I went to meeting. Yet after we had done, he sent his son to desire me to go to him and Pray with him: only with this Caution that nobody must go with me. I went and pray’d with him, but could hardly keep him with me. He thinks there is no Such Sinner as he is — that he has Committed the Sin unto Death; and this was the Reason why he was against the Exercises — because it is added “I do not say You Shall Pray for it.” My Visit to him was Short. Mr. Cushing, his Wife and I stop’d at Mr. Braggs[1] (They went first and waited for me). There we had Some refreshment — which I needed, for I had had a very wet and worrying Journey. I return’d home before I slept; my Wife’s Circumstances forbad my Staying. My Daughters, Forbush and Lucy and Mr. Manning went over to Mr. Martyns and lodged there; though they were also Sopp’d with the Rain. N.B. It was Training to Day, at Lieutenant Brighams, but his Invitation was too late for me to attend it. I was pre-engag’d to go to Shrewsbury.
[1]Ebenezer Bragg, an early resident of Shrewsbury, was a carpenter.