«► HI MAY 5 1919 Divin I o n *C^ ^ — 'v — . Section C5lf\0- A N UT AY U lp ACCOUNT OF THE Life and Travels I N T H E Work of the Miniftry, O F JOHN FOTHERGILL. To which are added, Divers Epistles to Friends in Great Britain and America, on various Occafions. • The Second Edition. LONDON: Printed and Sold by Mary Hinde, at N° 2, in George-Yard^ Lombard- Street , 1773. [ iii 1 THE PREFACE JT was not till within a few Tears before the Author'* Deceafe, that he entertain d a Defign to leave behind him a Memorial of this Nature : But being requefled, about the Tear 1742, to turn his Thoughts this Way, by one of his Sons who had been much lefs under his immediate Tuition than the reft of his Children, and con- fequently lefs acquainted with many Particulars of his Life, replied, that tho' he had been moftly eafy, in relation to writing any thing by way of Journal of his Labours, as fome other Friends had done ; yet it had not wholly pafled unat- tended to, nor without Thoughts often darting into his Mind concerning it, and fo frequently of late, as to have fomewhat turned his In- clinations that Way. From this Time it fixed more clofely upon him, a?id he employed great part of his leifure Time, when Health permitted, in drawing up the firft Part of the ejfuingMemo'irs, which extends only to the Time of his Return from his firft Vifiit to America, and was fnijlSd but a few Weeks before his Decea/e tinder great Weaknefs of Body, But the plain, fenfible, and lively [ iv ] lively manner, in which this Account is drawn up, occafions the deeper Regret, that he had not earlier engaged herein * and that the many inte- refling and infiruclive Obfervations, that mull have occurrd during the remaining part of his Life, are new loft irretrievably. ' The fucceeding Part of this Collection has been compiled jrom the Jhort Notes he kept of his feve- ral Vifits, and fome other Papers and Lietferis^ as it were providentially preferved : And as tins Part required fome Care in digefling, as well as Labour in tranfcribing, the Work has been re- tarded longer than was agreeable to the Editors, or the Publick, jor whofe Satisfaction, as well as Benefit, they were not unconcerned. It was not without Heft at ion, that fome Parts of the following Collection were committed to the Prefs ; fuch as the fummary yournals of fever a I of his Vifits. Neverthelefs, as even the/e /hort Hints may pofjibly occafion, in the Minds of di- vers who remember thofe Vifits, and his Labours therein, Jo me ufeful Confiderations, it was thought moft proper to retain them. A painful, deep, fear ching, laborious Minifiry : was oftentimes the Author'* Portion ; accom- panied with a zealous Concern, that all might come to the certain Knowledge, ' and inward Ex- perience of an holy, living Principle operating in the Hearts of Mankind j in order to lead them from [ v ] from "Error and Unrighteoufnefs, into all Truth, and into the Practice of every Chriftian Virtue : And to thoje who read with a View to profit, not barely Amufement ; and in order that they may both be informed of, and animated by Example, to come up in their refpective Duties, the Perufal, we hope, will be beneficial. This was the general Tendency of his La- bours in the Mimfiry, as many now living can teftify ; and in the following Sheets the fame im- portant Doctrine is Jlrongly and frequently in- culcated, and is now earnejlly recommended to the Reader, with Defires, that the many Truths herein delivered may have a due Effect upon every Mind ; and that thofe e/pecially, who have been Witneffes of his Zeal and Fervency, may, in calling his Services amongfl them to their Remembrance, be incited to follow him, as he followed Christ, and thus fecure to them/elves the Benefits he dilige?itly laboured for, and at the fame time pay the moji exprefjive Regard to his Memory. A N [ I J A N ACCOUNT OF THE Life and Trave l s O F JOHN F0THERG1LL. I Was born in Wenjleydale in Yorkflrire y 1676, of Parents not only convinced of the Welled Gofpel Difpenfation of God to Mankind, in fending the Spirit of Chrift to enlighten and reprove for Sin, and to lead the Believers in it into Truth and Righteoufnefs, as testified unto by the People called Quakers ; but alfo, who endeavoured carefully to feel after, and live up to the powerful Principle of Truth, whereby they were both inftrudted and enabled to be exemplary in Life, and in a religious Concern to attend Meetings for the Wormip of God ; and in an humble, fteady, diligent waiting upon him for the Appearance of his enliven- ing Prefence and Power, to enable them to worfhip acceptably. This alfo led them into B a godly t 2 ] a godly Care to train up their Children in the Fear of the Lord, and to take them to reli- gious Meetings frequently, both on Firft-days and other Days of the Week, which they feldom failed in attending ; efpeeially my Mother, whofe Care herein, and her fpiritual, reverent Travail of Soul in Meetings, often in Silence, for the Sacrifice of a broken Heart to be prepared in her by the Lord, had, very early, a deeply affecting Impreffion in my Confideration : So that I was convinced fully, when very young, both of the Exiftence of an all-mighty, holy, all-knowing Being ; and that there is a Part in Man that is immortal ; and from hence arofe a Fear to offend him in Word or Deed. I have made this mention of my Parents, and the Benefit accruing to me through their religious Life, as well as of fome other Friends, manifeftly exercifed in Spirit towards the Lord, and feeling after his humbling Love and Life to renew their Strength from Time to Time, for this End chiefly ; to inftruct our Youth, who have religious Parents or Tutors, to prize fuch Privileges, and to confider, that if luch Advantages be difregarded and made light of, thofe who fo do have much more to anfwer for, and will have heavier Condemna- tion to bear, than thofe who have not had fuch convincing Opportunities. And Secondly^ To ftir up Parents and others profeffing the holy and bleffed Truth, to labour carefully to feel [ 3 ] feel after and obey it for their own Advantage ; and alfo to be good Examples and certain Way-marks before their Offspring and the Youth, who may fee them both in Meetings and out of Meetings. For as I have had to remember divers of the Elders, and the Inftruction which their Con- duct afforded me in my very young Years ; fo it hath often brought a frefh Care, and inward Concern of Soul upon me, that I might be fuch a Light, and fuch an Inftance of Diligence, as might carry fome true Demonftration with it to my Children and others : And in this Concern of Mind we are often renewed in a Capacity to pray, or defire for others, with fome Accefs. And I am not eafy without leaving this Testimony behind me, that I fully believe one great Hinderance to the Growth of our Youth in true Godlinefs, is the Want of that true Spiritual-mindednefs which ought to be re- garded by all, but in an efpecial manner by the elder and more knowing. From this Fear to offend the Lord, which I mentioned above, to be early raifed in my Heart, I loved religious Meetings and true Minifters ; and as many fuch Minifters, who travelled in the Service of Truth, often lodged at my Father's Houfe, I greatly loved to be near them, and to remark their Conduct and Converfation, which hatn often been beneficial to me, both then and in the after Part of my B 2 Life : [ 4 ] Life : It hath likewife made me glad to fee the like Inclination in Youth, and taught me to be careful to converfe with, and behave before them with godly Prudence. But although inward Fear and Care, with fome heavenly Touches of the Life of Truth, enabled me to live more felf-denyingly and gravely than fome others of like Years, which my Mother particularly noted to herfelf with fome comfortable Hope, and mentioned it to fome in private j yet (he was removed by Death when I was about eleven or twelve Years old, which was a great Lofs to me : For though my Father's Care continued, yet being mere from under his Eye, and he being obliged to have other Houfe- keepers, who were not duly feafoned with the Truth ; fome of them, with other Servants, proved Inciters to Airinefs and a loofer Conduct, inftead of being Examples of a religious and godly Sobriety : And fo the evil Power took Advantage of my natural Activenefs and Propenfity to Sports and Play, and often ftifled the heavenly Defire and Care towards God, which I ought to have re- tained. And fo I became more thoughtlefs about my Soul's Intereft, and fubject to be led into Folly ; which yet was often made a Burthen to me, and an occafion of Sorrow fecretly, which caufed me to beg Mercy for my Negligence, and to make Covenants to be more watchful againft Temptations $ but alas ! I often failed in performing them. Yet [ 5 1 Yet divine Mercy, by renewed Convictions and awakening Vifitations, ga /e me to fee and confider my Unfaithfulnefs and Weaknefs in fuch a manner, that I often with fecret La- mentation bemoan'd myfelf under his Judg- ment, much fearing that I mould not be re- garded in Mercy any more ; nor durft I make any more Promifes, as 1 had done, left I mould by failing inereafe my Soul's Bondage. Yet as I was kept for a Time thus low and watchful to this heavenly Principle of Truth, which let me fee my Sin, and the Danger of it, I was favoured with Springings of Hope for Mercy and Salvation ; and then my Cry was frequent and ftrong to be purged throughly, whatever I had to bear, if the Almighty would but enable me. Thus I wreftled feveral Years, and durft not believe that I gained any ef- fectual Victory ; and as the Baptifm of Chrift by his Spirit had begun to operate in me, to bring a Death to Sin, and the Lufts of the Flefh, that thro' Faith, and a diligent Attend- ance to his Power, I might live to him in Newnefs of Life, I had fome Hope that the Fan in his Hand would throughly purge me, which was the very earneft Cry and Longing of my Soul. But the winnowing, refining Work of the Spirit of Judgment, and of Burn- ing, now kindled to take away my Drofs, was fo heavy upon me, that I was often tempted to conclude I was forfaken of Mercy, and that Judgment and Darknefs were to be my t 6 ] my Portion. Under fuch Apprehenfions the Enemy of Souls would have turned my Heart againft the righteous Almighty, or prevailed upon me to give myfelf a Loofe into piefent fleihly Pleafure ; but oh ! blefled Regard from on high was near, to manifeft the wicked Defign of the evil Spirit, and the Tendency of his Suggeftions. A Refolution, in a Degree of living Faith was firmly fixed in my Heart, to endeavour to lie and to wait as at the Almighty's Footftool, if haply he might re- gard me in Mercy to Salvation, and if not, but that I muft perifh, I would periih as near it as I could get. And as this Defire after divine Favour and Mercy, and Devotednefs of Heart to lean to- wards, and wait for his Arifing for my Salva- tion, was of his own begetting ; fo he was gracioufly pleafed to ftay my Mind in humble Resignation, until he brought forth Judgment into Victory hy degrees, and caufed the Sun oJEj Righteoufnefs at Times to arife upon me, with Healing in his Wings : Yet he often faw meet to hide his Face from me again, and to tfrip me, not only of any Senfe of his Favour, but even of Hope of obtaining a Place among the Redeemed. At this Time the Scripture which faith, It is good to hope, and quietly wait, to fee the Salvation of God in the Land of the Living ; and fome other like Sentences was brought to my Remembrance, accompanied with Glimpfes of heavenly Goodnefs, which gracioufly t 7 ] gracioufly helped to ftay me in fome patient Hope under the heavenly refining Hand, which fometimes, as it were, fet me upon my Feet a little, and withdrew again : And fo I was left in a Senfe of Weaknefs, Fear and Sorrow. But the blefied Prefence of the Saviour of the World, which at Times filled and over- shadowed my Soul, in my thus following him, though mourning, is never to be forgot by my Soul. This was about the feventeenth Year of my Age. But I am not eafy to proceed much farther in this Account, without making mention of fome few Cafes refpecting my younger Time j and though they may feem little in fome Readers Thoughts, yet I cannot but think they may be of Service to others, and at lead Hand as a Teftimony to the Purity, and Spi- rituality of the blefied and glorious Gofpel Difpenfation of God, in pouring of his Spirit upon all Fleih, and writing his Law in Men's Hearts. When I was between fix and feven Years old, as near as I can collect, being at fome little Play with another Boy, through the Force of a fuddain Temptation, I fwore an Oath, which notwithstanding it was to a Truth, yet fuch fecret Conviction of the Evil of fo doing in the Sight of the almighty God, fo affected my Mind with Sorrow and Remorfe, as made a lafting Imprefiion on my Judgment ; and alfo imprinted that Warning and Fear in my Heart [ 8 ] Heart in this Refped, that I never did the like fince on any Occafion. Wherefore as I cannot but believe that the pure Law of God, which is Light, makes its Appearance againft Evil in all, and often in tender Years ; fo if a careful Regard were yielded in Youth to this Infhining of the Day of God in fecret, many evil Practices and de- filing Liberties would be prevented, and would never get that room in the Mind, and in Ufe, which with Sorrow we too often obferve they do. Another Thing I am inclined to mention is, when I was about twelve or thirteen Years old, which was after my Mother's Deceafe, a ftrong Inclination took Place in me to have a Coat made with fome more Refemblance of the Mode or Fafhion of the Time, than in the plain manner which I had, with other Friends, ufed, and prevailed upon my Father to grant it ; but I was made fo uneafy in it, almoft at the firft wearing it, and the more fo in ufing it, feeling the certain Reproofs of the Spirit of Truth, for my fo leaning to, and joining with the vain and reftlefs, flefh-plealing Spirit of the World, and turning from the fleady Plainnefs of the unchangeable Truth j that I was indifputably fatisfied, both that the Enemy of all Good work'd in the earthly Affections of thofe wherein he could get place, to draw out the Mind at times, of the Youth efpecially, after the unfteady Corruptions of i 9 ] of the depraved World, in its changeable and vain Fafhions in Drefs and Cloathing, in order to lead into the broad Way, and by degrees into the wide World, one Step making way for another. And on the other hand, I was in meafure then, and have been fince more immoveably allured, that the Light of the Gofpel-day, the Spirit of Truth doth appear againft, and reprove the very Conception of fuch vain Defires and Inclinations ; and would lead and prefeve out of them, if People did but attend thereto, and labour honeftly to bear the Crofs of Chrift in this refpect : Which as it hath done before our Age, hath alfo in our Time, blefled be the Name of the Lord there- fore, faith my Soul, crucified many to the World's Spirit and Ways, in thefe enticing and adulterating Fafhions, as well as to others of its Evils. And oh ! well would it be (and for this End hath it been with me to mention it) if Youth would duly confider thefeThings, and learn to bear the Yoke of Chrift in their tender Age, while they are teachable and innocent ; before many wrong Liberties harden the Mind, and darken the Understanding, and embolden in a Difregard to that one ever blefled Spirit in the Heart, which only doth and muft lead Man to God and true Godlinefs. Another Thing is frefh in my Remembrance, which I am not eafy without mentioning : There was in our Meeting an ancient and truly valuable Minifter j and when I was about fix- C teen t 16 ] teen or feventeen I was often affected with difcouraging Reafonings in myfelf, How we jhoidd do ? And what would become of us when he died t Under this anxious Thoughtfulnefs 1 was induced to confider, how and by what Means he was made fo valuable and fervice- able : That it was through his Faithfulnefs, his waiting to feel after, and adhering to that Manifeftation of divine Power and Life from almighty God, whereof he declared j that this Principle, to which he laboured to turn and gather Peoples Minds, appeared in all : And as hereby he was made truly ferviceable, fo that heavenly, living Principle was well able to help, feed, fit, and preferve all who truly fought to know and be fubjedt to it, and make them truly ferviceable alfo. Which Confider- ation both inftructed and encouraged me to look to the Lord, and beyond outward Inftru- ments : And I have reafon to believe, the like Thoughts affected fome others of our Youth in that Meeting alfo to Advantage. For as the laid Minifter was taken away by Death in about a Year after, the heavenly and merciful Springings of divine Life, fo owned and relieved many of us, in our humble Hun- gerings after it, though much filent in our Meetings, that there foon appeared a lively and truly religious Growth among us j and in little more than two Years after the aforefaid Friend's Deceafe, there were Five of us engaged by the Truth to open our Mouths in the Miniflry of the [ U 1 the Gofpel,. to the Satisfaction and Comfort of the Meeting. So that inftead of a Decay and a Decleniion, about which I had been diflrefTed with Fear, our Meeting increafed in Number and in true Godlinefs. Now as difcouraging Thoughts, from feve- ral Sorts of Profpects, may at times attend even fome welldifpofed Minds, and which the evil Spirit may be bufy in making Ufe of to their Hurt, and weakening their Faith ; (o it is neceiTary to endeavour to watch againft him, and call to mind with {incere Devoted- nefs, wherein the alone Sufficiency of God's People is : And by duly feeking to witnefs divine Help and Succour from Chrift the good Shepherd, even one Perfon, tho' poor and often dejected, may become inftrumental to excite and encourage others in a rightly religious Ap- plication, drawing down more of divine and truly ftrengthning Help ; by which Means many People and Meetings have been revived and helped, and have become more fruitful, to the Praife of God. For as I have fometimes heard Complaints, or a Bemoaning of the State of fome Places, for the Fewnefs of Minifters and truly reli- gious Helpers in the Churches, and I believe not without Caufe ; yet it hath long been my Judgment, that this is principally owing to too many of our Brethren (in Profeffion) indulging themfelves, in neglecting a proper Labour to improve the Gift or Manifeftation of the Spirit C 3 of t 12 ] of Truth, given to every Man to profit with ; and fo hold their Profeffion of the Doctrines ot Truth, in a barely rational Apprehenfion and carnal Underftanding ; which as our Saviour Jefus Chrift taught in the Parable of the unpro- fitable Servant) was attended with taking away that which he had, and fo came on a dark, reftlefs Condition : While thofe who diligently regarded the Giver's Direction, to attend upon the Gift, improved it, and more was given : And it is promifed to the faithful in the little, that more fhall be entrufted to them ; which often hath been, and yet will, I believe, be fulfilled to the honeft, diligent and fpiritual- minded. Thus as many Perfons and Meetings, by labouring to be found in their Duty, feeking their Souls Interest, have been regarded ; and by degrees, thro' the humbling Operation of the Power of Chrift, the blefTed and everlaft- ing high Prieft, fitted for, and engaged in the Service of the Lord in his Wifdom ; fome in one Station and fome in others, to the Edifica- tion of the Body, and the building up and beautiiying his City Zion in the Sight of Na- tions. And oh! that this right Thoughtfulnefs and Application of Heart, which is both the Duty and certain Intereft of Mankind, may more and more prevail when I am no longer here ; and be a Means of fuch Fruitfulnefs in Righttoulnefs and heavenly Qualifications, to (hew forth the Praife of God in the Earth, that Multitudes may ice and flock to Zion with everiafting [ *3 ] everlafting Joy upon their Heads. Amen, Amen. When I was about the eighteenth Year of my Age, a nearly affecting Exercife befel me ; my Father being profecuted on Account of his Chriliian Teftimony againft: Tithes, and car- ried to Prifon at Tork y forty Miles from our Dwelling ; and I being the eldeft he then had living, both the Care of three other younger Children, and our Bufinefs and Servants fell upon me ; this with my Father's Imprifonment at fuch a diftance, and he in a poor State of Health, brought a deep and heavy Concern upon me, that Things might be well outwardly; and I well remember a Kinfman (not of our Society) came to fee me, labouring to improve the Thought of our prefent Difficulties, and urged me ftrongly to give him Liberty to agree with my Father's Profecutor, and that I would reimburfe him the Money ; which when I confidered a little, my Underftanding was of a fudden fully fatisfied, that it was the Mind and Caufe of God that this Teftimony againft Tithes in this Difpenfation fhould be born, and that what Suffering foever might attend our Faithfulnefs to him, he could readily make up, and I then believed he would ; as on the other hand, that he could foon blaft and confume any feeming Advantages that might be hoped for, by giving way to felfiih Reafoning, or fhrinking from the faithful and reverent bear- ing of that Teftimony, Thus Truth itfelf, as it E «4 ] it were in a Moment, both cleared my Judg- ment, and brought a holy Boldnefs, with hea- venly Comfort over my Soul ; in which I an- fwered the Man fo, that he went no farther in the Cafe. I am the more ftrongly induced to mention this, in order to leave an additional and expe- rimental Teftimony to the Nearnefs and Clear- nefs of the Infhining of the Light of the Gofpel, the true Light that enlightens every Man, to convince the Underftanding of what is evil, and to lead into the Practice of Truth j and I fully believe, that as a truly innocent and honeft Derlre hath due Place in the Mind and Soul to know, and be enabled to do the Will of the Lord our God, the ProfefTors of the bleffed Truth efpecially, would have their Judgments rightly open'd and clear'd, refpecting this Chri- fiian Teilimony againlt paying Tithes in any fhape ; and would find it to be their Duty, and be encouraged in themfelves, in feeling the Arifing of divine Life and heavenly Power, to iland firmly and act chearfully with their faithful Friends, in confeffing Chrift before Men in this refpect, in Actions as well as Words. That as it is an everlafting Truth that God is One, and his Way is One j io the People profefiing the One Truth, may walk and act coniiftendy with that One Way in all Things. During my Father's Imprifonment, for want of his flaying, guarding Eye, and prefent Help to [ i5 ] to watch againft and refift Temptations to hurt- ful and deadning Liberties, I fuffered fome Lofs inwardly ; and as it was chiefly by regarding Company too loofe and airily difpofed, parti- cularly fome of our Servants, I again earneftly deiire, that all poffible Care may be exercifed by Parents who have at Heart their Childrens Growth in Godlinefs, to keep them from cor- rupting Company, and the Dangers they are expofed to from irreligious Servants. The want of which hearty, zealous Care, having certainly been an Inlet to many ruinous Temptations, often deftructive both to Religion and Morality ; the Senfe of my own Lofs, and the Danger I was in of fuffering more, induceth me to leave this Remark, both as a Caution to others, and with deep and awful Reverence to acknowledge the merciful Goodnefs of God, in fecretly dif- quieting and bringing a Dread over my Heart, to deter me from Liberties, which though not generally condemned, yet the Lord would not allow me in, mercifully following me at times with heavy and fevere Reproofs ; and as I endeavoured to fit down under his chaftifing Hand and Power, revealing itfelf againft the Remains of the Lufts of the Fleih, he was pleafed to deal gently with me, mix- ing Mercy with Judgment, and filling my Soul again and again with reverent Hope, as well as humble Supplication, that he would throughly purge me, and fpare nothing alive in me that was offenfive to him. Thus was my f i6 ] my Heart often excercifed both by Night and by Day, in the Fields alone and in Company, often likewife when about my Bufinefs j and fometimes the Brightnefs of the Salvation of God, and Enlargings of his Love were fo abun- dant in my Soul, that I could fcarce (nor did I always) keep from falling down upon the Ground to adore and worlhip his glorious Pre- fence. And at fome Times I apprehended it might be required of me, to open my Mouth for the Lord in the Congregation, which was an exceedingly humbling matter to me to think of. My Father being releafed from Prifon after about fix Months Confinement, I had fome outward Eafe, though I had a deep mournful Travail inwardly, often feeling little living Comfort, but a heavy humbling Weight, which at times I ftill feared was in Difpleafure : But as ncthing but divine Favour could give me any real Satisfaction, fo a fteady Submifiion to bear his purging Hand was my Defire and fecret Hope. When I was about the Age of nineteen my Father was removed from us by Death, which again increafed my Exercife in divers refpe&s ; but as I endeavoured to feek the Favour and Counfel of the moft high God, he was pleafed to remember me with merciful Help many Ways : And I believe he open'd my Way to have lefs temporal Bufinefs, which was not only fome Eafe to my Mind, but more fafe in feveral refpe&s, [ '7 ] refpecls, it giving Opportunity for more un- difturbed Retirement of mind to feel after the Salvation of God. And now in my twentieth Year I was often more apprehenfive, that fomething of the Mi- niftry of the Gofpel would be laid upon me ; and fome Words and Matter would often come before me, in waiting attentively upon the Lord in our Meetings : But I was very much afraid of being miftaken, as well as backward about fo weighty a Work, and put it off one time after another ; but I was often exceedingly diftrefled after Meetings, under a Thought that I had refufed to anfwer the Requiring of God, and had thereby incurred his Difpleafure fo as not to be forgiven. Under thefe Toffings and Fears I often concluded in my Heart, that if I was but certain that it was the Requiring of the Lord, I would endeavour to obey, what- ever was the Event. Thus I often concluded both* out of Meetings and in Meetings ; and fome Matter would often be before me, but in a more tranfient manner, or lefs certainly diftinct and pofitive, than what I reverently and (incerely begged for. And after this poor, diftreffing, fifting man- ner, I waded near about a Year ; but when ■the Time came indeed, that I was to open my Mouth in a few Words for the Lord among his People, it was fo indifputably clear, that I had no Scruple of its being certainly the holy Requiring : And yet in fear I reafon'd it away D one [ 18 ] one Meeting, to my deep Sorrow. But the all-feeing One knew it was from an innocent Fear, and not a rebellious contemning his fmall Appearance, and therefore he gracioufly owned me again ; and in another Meeting fhortly af- ter, a frefh, ftrong Motion, or Concern, came upon me, and I broke forth in a few Words, but fcarcely durfl ftand up upon my Feet : And after the Meeting I got quietly away, with iome Eafe and an holy Peace of mind, but thought I fhould perhaps never be farther con- cerned that Way : Yet now and then a Ne- ceffity came upon me to fpeak a little again, which I moftly endeavoured to anfwer, but with great Fear and Care not to enlarge be- yond the Requiring ; which Fear often pre- vailed upon me, fo as haftily to deliver a fmall Part only of what was fet before me, by which many times I got but little Eafe and Satisfaction ; fo that I was ftill ready to fear, and fometimes to conclude, I was wrong fome way, but knew not wherein : And under thefe Apprehenlions I was often much dejected, and humbled in deep travail to be, and to do what Truth would have me, be the Event as to my- felf what it might ; which hearty Care and Fear I was made feniible, was favourably re- garded by the all-wile Being, by the humbling Senle of his awful Prefence being near, not- withstanding the threatning Danger of being overfet by lore Tollings lecretly, and various Temptations which the evil Spirit was per- mitted [ '9 ] mitted to afTault me with ; fo that for fome Months I could not either eat or fleep much, but was often alone in the Fields both Day and Night, mourning under a Load of inward Sor- row and deep Fear, left I mould yet become a Caftaway ; but by degrees I was brought to a Deiire after Stilnefs, and a patient waiting for the laving Help of God to appear ; that if happily the bleffed Saviour might arife and re- buke thofe diftreffing Waves which lay heavy upon my Soul,, occafioning a vifible Declenfion in my Health. But in thus labouring after Stilnefs, and thro' Submiffion to the Day burning as an Oven, one Difficulty after another, and the difturbing, afflicting Uncertainties and Imaginations where- with I was befet during this dark Time, gra- dually vanifhed, and more powerful and living Light, with an humbling yet joyful Hope fpread in and over my Soul ; which, as on one hand the fenfe of the Mercy, and a feeling in degree of the Salvation of God, was made the more unutterably glorious and precious to my Soul j fo I was, on the other, more preffingly and clearly inftrucled and warned to be fearful and watchful both againft unrighteous vain Self, and againft Self creeping in, and acting in the fhape or (hew of Religion. Thus it was given me to fee and confider, that the holy One was not only fetting up his Judgments in the Earth for condemning Sin and obvious Evils in the Flefh, that the Righteoufnefs of the Law might D z bs t 20 ] be fulfilled in me ; but that he would over- turn, overturn all Relts or Dependencies meerly human refpecting Religion, that he the Lord in whom alone is Sufficiency, might rule and have the Pre-eminence in all things ; and in a fpecial and particular manner, in the Minifters of the Gofpel. And I am concerned to obferve this farther, in relation to the uncertain manner in which fome Matter and Expreffions were before me in Meetings, as is hinted above, at times for near a Year : When the clear and evident Time and Requiring came, I then faw diltinctly (and I have often considered it fince) it was a Trial fufTered to attend me, whether I would venture to act in the Uncertainty, (though a meafure of the Prefence of Truth was about me for my own Help to worfhip) and by bringing forth untimely and unripe Fruit, foon fall to De- cay, and become rather hurtful than llrength- ning to others. But tho' the Lord our high Prieit furTered this exercifing Trial to attend me, he did not leave me to iall and mifcarry here, but he renewed Fear and Refolution to do my bell:, to wait for distinct AlTurance of his Injunction, if I mult be fo concerned : Which as it was and is my Duty, fo I believe it to be the Duty of others alfo, and acceptable to the Lord, who fails not, nor ever will fail to manifeft his Mind, as he is duly fought unto, for Understanding to do what he requires. But [ 21 1 But I am not without fear, that fuch a due Attention for diftind Certainty of the imme- diate Call or Requirings of the Word of Life, hath not always been fuitably pradifed j and for want hereof, fome have appeared as Mi- nitowers before ripe, and have brought forth Fruit of very little Service, if not detrimental ; becaufe none can give what they themfelves have not : Whereas if thefe had waited with proper Diligence for the living Word to open and engage, in the entire Subjedion of Self, they might have been great and good Inftru- ments, as Clouds filled by the Lord with hea- venly Rain. And as the divine and certain Requiring of Truth, is the only right Entrance into the Miniftry, becaufe the Lord faid, Some run and I fent them not, therefore they fhall not "profit the People : So it is only his frefh and renewed Requiring, not only opening Matter to fpeak, but engaging to fpeak it at this Time, whereby the Church or Particulars are edify 'd, as our Father would have his Children edify 'd. Thefe Obfervations refpeding the Entrance into, and proceeding in the Miniftry of the Gofpel, I could not be eafy without leaving behind me, believing they will afford In- ftrudion and Encouragement to fome low and careful Travellers ; and likewife afford fome neceffary Caution to fuch as may be in more danger of being too adive. I may now proceed farther to mention, that tho' I was nearly try'd, and had many hidden Sorrows [ " ] Sorrows under the weight of the heavenly re- fining Hand ; yet a degree of living Hope was often revived that I might in time, through humble Attention and godly Care, be fet more at liberty in the Freedom of a Son ; and thro' a true Labour to wait carefully for the diftinct Openings of the Light of Life, and being faith- ful thereto, I mould gather Strength to discharge myfelf to more Eafe and Satisfaction, in the little Appearance in publick I was engaged in : But I had fo many difcouraging Views, and was often almoft wholly caft down after fome little Spring of Eafe and Comfort in the Love and Peace of God, that I often thought I had furely more Drofs and Refufe in my Nature than other Men, and therefore I muft go oftner into the Furnace, and be melted down again and again : But I often begged the Lord not to fpare any thing in me that was ofTenfive to him, how low foever I was brought, fo that he would but deal with me in Mercy and not for- fake me : And gracious Goodnefs was pleafed to vouchfafe regard, and flaying Help, as a tender and wife Father, knowing me better than I did myfelf, and acquainting me feelingly with my Nothingnefs, and with the abfolute Neceffity of his own Power to enable me both to live, and efpecially to act in Religion, on any Account truly to his Praife. About this time I found my Mind drawn to vifit fometimes one neighbouring Meeting, fometimes another, tho' much afraid to go becaufe [ 23 ] becaufe of the Expectation that would be to- wards me, thro' a fenfe of my own Weaknefs, and a fear left I mould do more hurt than good : But as I thus endeavoured to anfwer fuch Drawing, I was, beyond my Expectation often owned, and ftrengthned by and in the Word of Life to fpeak a little with that Demonftrati- on, which was edifying to others and eafy to my Spirit ; begetting humble and living Reverence in my Soul, with fecret worfhip and praifes to the almighty Helper : Yet it was exceedingly awful to me, and what I could not readily get to obey the Truth in, to open my Mouth in Supplication to the infinite holy One in pub- lick Aflemblies, tho' I was often full of Praifes to his mighty and glorious Name : But as he faw the reafon of my putting off fome ftrong Motions to call verbally upon the Lord, fo he dealt tenderly with me, and renewed Strength to comply with the Motions of Life in this refpedt, but with inexpreffible Fear and Awe- fulnefs : Which holy Dread and due caution I beg may ever be properly renewed upon all Hearts from time to time, in the Exercife of this folemn Duty. A Concern at this Time (being then about the twenty-fecond Year of my Age) came upon me to vifit Friends in Scotland, and I acquainted fome of our Friends, the Elders eipecially, therewith, who chearfully encouraged me in it ; and I hearing of iome other Friends like- wife fo concern'd, I gave up to go along with them, [ 24 ] them, with their free Confent ; and the monthly Meeting approving my Propofal, gave me a Certificate according to good Order : And fet- ting forward in much feat* and lownefs of mind, 1 met the other Friends at Carlijle, and travelled with them into the Weft of Scotland, to Glajgow and fome other Places, where we had fatisfactoiy Meetings, and came to Edin- burgh : From thence we went into the North, vifiting the Meetings of Friends to Aberdeen, and where any Meetings were fettled : Friends every where appearing glad of our Vifit ; and being eafy thereaway, we return'd by Edinburgh, and To by Kelfo into Cumberland. We travelled together in true Unity and Comfort, divine Regard, and frefh heavenly Help being graci- oufly afforded us, from place to place, ena- bling us to perform the Service for which we were drawn thither : And tho' we met with abufive Treatment in feveral Places, efpecially at Glafgow and Edinburgh, by the mobbim part of the People difturbing Friends Meetings, by calling Stones or any other matter at hand amongft them ; which was a very frequent prac- tice and continued many Years, yet we were preferved from any material Hurt : And for my own part, as I had nothing to depend upon, but as it might pleafe the Lord our God to open and fupply with his own Hand ; fo at- tending patiently upon him, that his Will might be done, he failed not to afford both daily Bread to live upon, and often Help and En- gagement I 25 ] gagement to labour in the Miniftry, which teemed much to Friends Satisfaction, and very- much more to my own than I dared to hope for, (o that I returned with Peace and En- couragement humbly to trufr. in God, and to follow the Drawings of his divine Love. I had given up Houfe-keeping fome time before this Journey, yet kept a little Ground in my own hands for fome neceflary Employ, which I loved and believed was good for me, both for the Body, and a beneficial Stay to the Mind. Yet being much alone, I had often comfortable Retirements, through the mer- ciful regard of divine Goodnefs, opening hea- venly Inftruftion, and increafing clear Difcern- ment betwixt the transform'd and betraying Suggeftions of the evil Spirit, and the fteady, pure, heavenly Openings and Motions of the Word and Spirit of Truth. But fome farther Concern and Drawings to ' leave home coming upon me, I thought it beft to difpofe of that Land and Bufinefs alfo j yet for Employment I work'd often for fome others, both for a living, and that my Mind might not be too much difengaged from fome temporal Concerns ; wherein there appeared to me then, and more fo fince, a danger of being tempted to be eafiiy drawn abroad (after having been fomewhat engaged to travel) even before or without that diftinct Requiring of Truth, both to go and return^ in which only the Mi- nifters of Chrift move in true Safety, and to E right t 26 ] right Edification : And by indulging fuch an Inclination, may be in danger of miffing or loling the clear Knowledge of the pure Re- quirings of the everlafting high Prieft ; and fo make way for Formality, a barren Miniftry and unprofitable Labour, whereby fome have hurt themlelves, with refpect to real Service in the Church, and true Efteem among the living and fenfible Part of the People. And yet on the other hand I was afraid (and fo mould all Minifters) of being involved in temporal Concerns fo much, as to hinder me from true inward retiring often to feel the Life of Truth, for the daily Supply of my Soul, and where I might underftand when he called to Service abroad ; and made willing and ready to leave any thing to follow the Lord's Drawings. Some Months after the aforefaid little Jour- ney, I found it my Concern to vifit more of our own County, and the County of Durham^ and afterwards ieveral other Northern Counties: And it pleafed the Lord, the bleiTed Fountain of Wifdom and all truly fufficient Help, not only to engage me in that Service, but to fur- nifh with Supply for inward Life and publick Labour, to my humbling Admiration before him, 1 being altogether poor and empty, but as he renewed Help afrefh in my careful wait- ing upon him for it. And indeed his goings forth in my Miniftry in that Vifit, were often wonderful to me, both becaufe of the humbling and [ 27 ] and encouraging Effect that my Labour had upon the better minded, the younger efpecially, and which was not forgot by many while they lived ; and likewife the terrible and awakening Calls to fome bold Libertines, and thofe who were fitting down in the deadnefs of Formality. Though this Labour was like a Fire to the houfe of Efau> and therefore unpleafant to fome ; yet the inward and living among the People were relieved and made glad in the Lord, whofe Favour and Peace often filled my Heart with awful Reve- rence toward him, with ftrong Defires purely to know, and be helped to do his Will faithfully. About this Time feveral were convinced in the Northern parts where I was drawn to vifir, and were gathered into the Knowledge of Truth ; of whom fome became valuable Mink- fters of the Gofpel. But I ftill loved to be as much at home with our own Friends as I could with eafe, and to labour with my hands in the Creation, though fome Concern was growing upon me towards part of the South j which as I kept ftill in my mind, defiring to fee my Duty clearly, both Places and Time were fet plainly before me, and a haftning to go forward. So with the Approbation of our Friends at home, I fet out in a poor low frame of Spirit, full of fear, and reverent Defire after heavenly Help, and went through mod of the Meetings in the Weftern E 2 fide [ 2 8 ] fide of the Nation, and to London : And after fome Weeks flay and Labour there as Truth gave Ability^ I travelled Weftwards, through the feveral Counties to the Land' s-end in Corn- wall i then back by Briflol to their Yearly- meeting, and fhortly after that turned into Wales, vifiting (as 1 remember) all the Meet- ings of Friends there, alio in Cheflnre and part of Lancafoire j and fo home again with Glad- nefs and Thankfulnefs of Heart for many Rea- ibns, having been about nine Months on that Journey, though I travelled diligently : My Health being preferved almoft to me wonder- fully, though as I came through Somer/etfljire, I was for fome Days very ill, but prefled for- ward in the Service to Brijlol, and the Day I got thither after the Meeting, the Meajles ap- peared upon me, on which Occafion I kept houfe only two Days ; and being clear of the Place, in a few Days more I let forward again. For an earned Defire and Care was very early imprinted upon me, and hath continued to this Time, to occafion as little Trouble and Charge to Friends, in my Travel as could be, which I believe is but mine and every other Minifter's Duty. This Journey afforded various Occafions of profitable Inftruction to me : Sometimes divine Goodnefs and heavenly Life was gtacioufly and plentifully opened in my Soul, both for my own feeding and renewing of Strength to wor- ihip ; and furnifhing me with Matter and rower [ 2 9 ] Power, to minifter prevalently to others, that the Name of the Lord our God might be felt and glorified : Yet at fome other times Accefs to Food was much more reftricted, and with Patience as well as Diligence to be wreflled for : Sometimes it was longer before any thing was given to minifter to others, and the Open- ings were with lefs Clearnefs for a time, and not fo ftrong, nor Engagements fo lively or fenfibly to myfelf as I much loved : But often as I attended upon the Lord in due Stilnefs and Refignation of Mind, at fuch Times hath he opened a Supply of Food, though lefs plenti- ful, and fomething, though fmall in appear- ance, to offer to the People ; which I found my Duty to feek for fatisfadtory Evidence, that it was a degree of the Word of Truth, before I durft open my Mouth, and then contentedly to labour according to the meafure of prefent Ability : Yet fome fuch Seafons, through the merciful, though gradual Arifings of heavenly Greatnefs and Wifdom, were made both com- fortable and ftrengthning to me, reverently to truft in the Lord j and fignally beneficial and memorable to the Congregation. And thus I was made a Witnefs, what it was to abound, and how to fuffer want ; and taught to be re- iignedly content with the various Difpenfations, and Operations of the heavenly Power : Nei- ther in more plentiful Seafons to forget God the bleiTed Author and Giver thereof j nor in times of Poverty to put forth a hand to ileal : And [ 3° ] And oh ! good and gracious was that divine Arm of Power, which engaged my Spirit in that Travel, in many refpects mewing me plainly many Dangers and By-ways, which Youth efpecially are liable to fall into ; and that our Safety only confifted in keeping in watchful Fear, and in carefully feeling after, from day to day, the Influences of divine Life in the eternal Word, wherein is the Light of Men for all Stations and religious Services through- out all Generations. And as it was made, through divine Mercy and Help, a teaching, ftrengthning, encouraging Time to myfelf; fo the Lord of Mercies, by the Attendance of this Power renewedly, made the Labour I was engaged in, profitably awakening and relieving to many : Several were convinced and ga- thered to the Truth, in this Joarney ; fome of whom, in time, were made zealous and ufeful Minifters in the Church. I was now eafy, and comfortably glad of being at home among my Friends, as they were alfo therewith : And here I continued moftly vifiting adjacent Meetings, as I foand Draw- ings thereto, and attending our Monthly and Quarterly-meetings, which for fome Years I had had an honourable Efteem for; being often indifputably fatisfied, that the Lord God in his Wifdom and Power had directed to, and eftablifhed them in Love and Mercy to his Church ; inafmuch as I was livingly fenfible, in fitting reverently behind the Elders in Meetings [ 3« ] Meetings for the good Order and Difcipline of the Church, that the divine Wifdom and Pre- fence of the Higheft was often with Friends for Counfel and Strength, enabling them to lift up a Standard againft the Enemy of all Godlinefs, when likely to prevail through the various evil Liberties of the Flefh. In about a Year after, I found a frefh Con- cern growing weightily upon me, to vifit Friends in Scotland again, and likewife in Ire- land ; with the Approbation of my Friends, and (having a Certificate from our Monthly- meeting) I fet forward in the fixth Month 1701, with humble delires of Soul before the Lord for his Prefence and Wifdom to guide and en- able me : I went thro' Cumberland, to Edin- burgh, and fo to the North of Scotland, vifiting the Meetings of Friends every where in thofe parts, and return'd by Edinburgh to Glafgow, and the Meetings thereaway : Being in many Places truly comforted with Friends, and they encouraged and glad in a living Senfe of the continued fartherly Regard, and Extendings of the Love of God toward them in that Nation, amongft a hard, felf-conceited, and in fome Places an envious People : And ftill a wicked Spirit prevailed with the mobbiih People both in Edinburgh and Glafgow, to delight in dif- turbing Friends in almoft all their Meetings ; fometimes throwing Stones, &c. whilft others with all the Noife and vain Sport they could invent, efpecially endeavoured to drown the Voice [ 32 ] Voice of any who were concerned to minifter publickly among them : Yet at times the Power and Authority of Truth arofe over thofe wicked Endeavours, and the evil Spirit was overborne and fo weighed down, that fome of the worfl would go away, and others lend fome Atten- tion to the Teftimony of Truth ; and Friends were the more edified, and their Faith and Hope in God ftrengthned. This difturbing, envious, perfecuting Spirit, was fuffered to ex- ercife the Faith and Patience of Friends there, in that manner, during many Years : But a Cafe happen'd at Glajgow, when I was there, fomewhat remarkable ; on a Firft-day of the Week, the People had very much difturbed us, in the afternoon Meeting efpecially, in their ufual wicked and vain manner, and fol- lowed Friends after Meeting along a large open Street, where their Number increafed, fome fhouting and fcorning, others throwing Stones and Dirt ; one Stone of fome pounds weight patted with great force very near one of my Legs, which if it had been hit, muft, I be- lieve have been broke by it ; yet we were pre- ferved from much harm : Whilft the People who were gather'd in great Numbers about their Doors, and faw what patted, feemed ra- ther to be pleafed with the abufive Behaviour of the Mob towards us, than to offer any Dif- couragement to them : Whereupon a Soldier, an E?iglijhma?i, began to cry aloud three times, as if he had fome publick Proclamation to make, t 33 1 make ; and when he had thereby drawn the Peoples Attention to him, he called aloud again, Behold the godly Town of Glafgow, how they entertain Strangers ! and repeated it three feveral times. Which Reproof made the Peo- ple fo aihamed, that they moflly took to their Houfes and got out of fight j and the more grown People drawing away, the reft foon left us and made off likewife, fo that we had no farther Difquiet that Day ; and I heard, when I was at this Place fome Years after, that the People had never offer'd the like Disturbance again, either in their Meetings or in the Streets. From hence I went down the River Clyde for Ireland, and landed near Belfa/l, and thence went to Lijburn where feveral Friends lived, who received me lovingly. I began to labour di- ligently amongft: Friends, hoping to get clear of the North part of that Nation before the half- year's Meeting in Dublin in the ninth Month, which I was enabled to anfwer, in a good meafure to my Satisfaction. At Dublin there was gather'd a large body of Friends, not only in a very confident and grave Appearance ; but a living and truly religious Concern and Zeal for the Truth was upon many of them, and great Harmony amongft them. Here I met with our ancient and honourable Friend William Edmund/on, whom I had a great defire to fee, having a deep and reverent Value for him from feeing him before in England, tho' he knew little cr nothing of me. For I believed, if I F was [ 34 ] was not what I iliould be, he would not only obferve wherein, but would deal plainly with me : I went with fome other Friends to fee him at his Lodgings, where he looked fternly and earneftly upon me, and faid little j I fat down, and little was fpoke amongft us, but I obferved he often caft his Eye upon me : But when we parted from him, he feemed more free and chearful to me ; and in feveral of the publick Meetings I was concerned to teftify for the Truth among them, which both he and other Friends gave free way and time for, and fo openly manifefted his Regard to, and Satis- faction with me, as made my way eafy among Friends through the reft of the Nation j and had a deeply humbling, and yet encouraging Effect upon my Heart, to feel carefully after divine Help and Wifdom, which alone can fufficiently qualify for real Service, and preferve in the Way and Work of the Lord. I then vifited the Meetings of Friends thro* the other parts of the Nation with diligence ; but forgetting natural Ability too much, I fell into a dangerous Ilnefs from a violent Cold, which forced me to flop about ten Days at Mount melick j I fet forward again in the Work I was engaged in, though before fome Friends thought it was fit for me, but got well along till I was clear of the Nation at that Time : My Labour in the Gofpel Power and Word of Life being chearfully received, and made profitably awakening to fome, reviving to the Living ; [ 35 ] Living ; and a means of divers of the Youth amongft Friends being inwardly affected with the Power of Truth, to their lafting advantage, and the Churches comfort. And fo with the Love of my Friends, and an humble and thankful heart before the Lord of all true Help, I took leave of Friends at Cork, and went over to Minehead in SomerfetJJjire^ having fome- thing remaining upon me to a few places there-away, and about Briftol-, and from hence came pretty directly home again, with reverent Awe towards the ever blefled Helper. And now I ftaid moftly about and near home with my Friends, in true Comfort, (for we were made and preferved truly dear one unto another in the Love and Life of Truth) employing myfelf in bodily Labour with dili- gence, which I ftill loved, for the reafons above-mentioned : But in lefs than a Year after, a Concern came upon me to vifit the Eaft-part of the Nation ; I fet forward through Lincoln- /hire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Effex, and went over the Thames, and through Kent and Sujfex, re- turning through Surry to London, and through the middle part of the Nation home, as I re- member, in about five Months, the fupplying Prefence and Power of Chrift being mercifully renewed for Affiftance from time to time, Yet a deeply exercifing Trial for about two Weeks was fuffered to attend me, by a heavy weight of Trouble and diftreffing Doubts lying almoft continually upon me day and night, F % efpecially [ 36 ] efpecially out of Meetings, which brought very narrow Searching of heart, and much fear of being forfaken of all-faving Help, and left I mould thereby become a Reproach to the glori- ous Name I had made mention of : Yet I was not left void of fome hope in his Mercy, who is all-knowing. This fo far affected my Beha- viour, that I could not conceal my Sorrow in mourning alone, and converting little, though unexpected Relief and Supply moftly attended in Meetings. But as I was brought to endea- vour and defire after a thorough Search, to know the caufe wherein I had offended, or miffed the right way in any cafe, and to double a watchful waiting and walking ; fo I was ftrengthned in a Refolution, or Delire at leaft, to labour to be duly devoted to follow T the Almighty's requir- ing, if he would but give a clear underftand- ing thereof, with neceffary Help, whatever it was to do : And by degrees Life fprang up in my Soul through death ; and a peaceful De- voted nefs, with a chearful, yet awful Truft in the almighty Searcher of hearts, overfpreading my whole inward man, imprinting Inftruction upon me not to be forgotten. And not long after this, a Concern, which had been at times moving in my mind, but at fome diftance, to vifit the Churches in Ame- rica^ now grew more conftant and weighty upon me ; and my late exercifing time had contributed to bring me into the more quiet and ready yielding to follow the Truth any way, [ 37 1 way, if it was but caft up to me clear ; fo that when the matter was frefh before me, I endeavoured to be duly ftill and devoted ; and when it feemed almoft out of fight, or gone away, I was pleafantly eafy therewith ; which Resignation and Quietnefs I have found to be my Duty, and the fafeft way to attain a clear difcerning of the Motions of Truth in thofe cafes, and alfo of the Time ; for I am very fenfible the Lord directs as to Time, as well as the Thing in this refpect. This was in the fore part of Summer, and the next fecond Month feemed to fix with me to be the Time, though I yet kept the thing moftly to myfelf ; but as it feemed to remain fettled with me, I grew inclined to acquaint fome particular Friends, fome efpecially who had been engag'd in that Travail, with the Concern I was under, who encouraged me to be given up properly in that refpect ; and a young man of our County, 'viz. William Ar- miftead, finding his Mind likewife drawn that way, gave up to go along with me. And I having fome Acquaintance with a Friend, who was Matter of a Ship, who ufed to go to Ma- rylandy I had a thought of going with him, and wrote to know when he expected to fail, and had Anfwer, he intended to go about the twelfth Month, (1705) which account put me out of expectation of that Opportunity, becaufe I durfl not move before the Time that ap- peared to me the right one. But as the matter remained t 38 ] remained with me I continued to make myfelf ready, and having the Approbation of, and a Certificate from our Monthly-meeting, and the Meeting of Minifters and Elders at the Quar- terly-meeting, we fct out in the fecond Month towards London ; when we came thither we foon heard that the above-mention'd Ship and Matter were not failed, and tho' near ready, yet we had a feafonable Opportunity of more than two Weeks to vifit Friends in the City before we departed. This Circumftance I mention becaufe it af- forded me matter of fecret Encouragement, both in confirming me that it was the Lord's requir- ing, alfo that it was his Time j and likewife that this was the Veffel order'd for us to go in : I had therefore the ftronger Hope we might be preferved. All which Confederations humbled my Heart before, and revived my Hope in the Lord ; and the more relievingly, as it was at that time War between England and France, and the French had abundance of Privateers out at Sea. This occasioned us to be longer in the Channel than ufual, that the large Fleet might get together, being three Weeks e're we parted from the Land's-end, and we were ten Weeks more in getting to our Port in Patuxen River in Maryland j yet we had a fafe and good Paf- fage tho* long : And the exceeding Difficulty ariiing to me from fo long a Confinement with little bufinefs (having been much accuftomed to be flirring) was abundantly eafed, and render'd often t 39 3 often joyful to me, by the gracious Regard and comforting nearnefs of the heavenly Prefence to my Soul, never I hope to be forgot. After we had ftaid a few Meetings with Friends thereabouts, who receiv'd us with great Chearfulnefs, rinding our Minds drawn towards Philadelphia, and fo northward to New-Eng- land, we crofled Chefapeak Bay and had fome Meetings with Friends on the Eaftern-fhore of Maryland, and fo into the lower Counties of Penjilvania ; we got to Philadelphia before the Yearly- meeting there, which was large and comfortable to us and Friends, by the gracious and powerful Influences of the Love of God, whofe glorious Name was worfhipped and praifed for his Mercy and Salvation. We fet out for Long- I/land with fome Friends who came from thence to this Yearly-meeting, and iho' I had an Intermitting Fever upon me, which diftrelTed and weaken'd me very much, yet being defirous to be forward in the Work we were there upon, I was not willing to be hinder'd by it, whilft I could any way avoid it. After flaying a few Meetings on Long-1/land we fet out for New-England, having near tw© hundred Miles to travel by land through the Colony of Connecticut ; in which Space there were few or no "'Friends, and the People generally very (hy of us, and partly by reafon of fome fevere Laws then in force there, they were afraid to converfe with Friends ; though I was enabled to bear the Journey, yet it was not [ 40 ] not without difficulty and being much weak- ened j having almoft no Appetite to any Food : But getting to Rhode-IJland, we were gladly received by our Friends there to our Encou- ragement ; after a Week's reft, and the trial of fome Medicines, tho* to little effect, I refolved to go forward in the Service, in the Ability that Truth would be pleafed to afford ; we vi- fited the Meetings down to Sandwich, and thence through Plimouth Colony to Bo/ton, be- ing favour'd with the Prefence and Help of Truth, often to our own and Friends Comfort and Encouragement in the Lord. We went forward by Salem, and to the fartheft Meetings of Friends that way, and had feveral Meetings about Dover, It was then a very exercifing and trying time with Friends here, by reafon of the bloody Incurfions that the Indians then frequently made upon the Englijh, being hired by the French about Quebeck, which lies behind New-England to the North- weft ; fo that many of the Englijh Inhabitants were frequently murder'd in their Houfes, or (hot, or knock'd down on the Road or in the Fields j fome were carried away Captives ; and thofe whom they killed, they cut with their great Knives round the Head about the Skirt of the Hair, and then pulled the Skin off the Head ; and for every fuch Skin, which they call a Scalps they were to have a Sum of Money. Thefe Barbarities caufed many People to leave their Habitations with their Families, and retire into Garrifons, t 4* ] GarrifonS, which the People built in many places for their greater Security. Yet that which was forrowful to me to obferve, was that few of them leemed to be affected with due Confi- deration, fo as to be awakened to think rightly of the Caufe of this heavy Chaftifement, and be induced to feek the Almighty's Favour, as they ought. But it was a profitable, humbliBg time to many of our Friends, who generally flood in the Faith, and kept at their ufual places of Abode, tho' at the daily hazard of their Lives : And it was very remarkable, that fcarce any who thus kept their Habitations in the Faith, were fuffer'd to fall by the Indians, tho' few Days patted but we heard of fome of their cruel Murders, and deftroying Vengeance. We were in thefe parts backwards and for- wards a confiderable time, having many Meet- ings, before we could be clear to leave them $ which thro' the merciful Regard and fuccouring Nearnefs of the almighty Power and Prefence, was fatisfadory to us, and very flrengthning and comfortable to Friends ; we and they be- ing all gracioufly preferved though in the open Country, and we lodged feveral times at one Friend's Houfe, at fome diftance from the Garrifon ; and we had reafon to believe a Party of Indians was for fome time about it, the Marks of their Feet being plainly to be feen next Morning, but they went away without doing any Damage, tho' it was but a mean little timber Houfe, and eafy to break into. G We [ 4* ] We alfo got a few Meetings in fome Towns where few Friends lived -, but not many People durft come to them, becaufe of the Laws of the Country then unrepealed, which had been made to prevent the Spreading of Truth, and alfo becaufe of the dark and envi- ous Induft ry of their Preachers to hinder them, by monftrous Mifreprefentations of Friends : Yet fome did come, and behaved with Atten- tion, and the Love and Power of Truth being meafurably with us, they carried fuch fatis- faclory Accounts to their Neighbours, as tended much to beget more favourable Sentiments with regard to Friends and the Doctrines of Truth : Yet I often thought that a thick Cloud feemed to be over the Country, and efpecially about Boflon and Parts near it ; tho' Light feemed to me to be breaking through in feveral Places, and I fully believed would more prevail after the Remains of that wicked and perse- cuting Generation was gone off the ftage. We had neverthelefs in Boflon fome blefled Meet- ings with a few innocent Friends there, and fome others, who would often come, in the Evenings efpecially. From Bojlon we travelled back up the more Wefiern - parts, towards Providence, having Meetings with Friends j and I was not eafy without going up to fome of the later fettled Towns, to fee if we could have fome Meet- ings among them ; the People there-away be- ing little acquainted with Friends, or their Principles. [ 43 ] Principles. We accordingly went to feveral Towns, being accompanied with two Friends, and fought for Liberty to have fome Meetings among them, but the People were afraid either to grant Room, or to come to a Meeting ; yet we found feveral willing to converfe with us, (aiking Queftions, and receiving A nfwers) and who feemed pleafed to be better informed. Several grofs Mifreprefentations concerning Friends and Truth, which had been fpread amongft them, were confuted and cleared away ; with which many feemed well pleafed in feveral places ; fo that we returned in Peace and Satisfaction, believing we were in our Duty, and that our Labour there-away was of fome Service. We came back to Rhode- Ifland, and after having a few Meetings on that Ifland and near it, (where there is a good and valuable body of Friends, with whom we were comforted in the heavenly Father's Love and Regard) we came back to Long-ljland and New-Tor k y and had fome large and heavenly Meetings there- away j where fome were convinced of the Truth, and joined honeftly with Friends. We alfo had Drawings to vifit fome Towns to- wards the Eaft-end of that Ifland, being fome Days Journey from the Places where almoft any Friends dwelt : We accordingly went to feveral Towns, and procured Liberty to have fome Meetings, though there was a rigid Pref- bfterian People there-away ; and at one Town G z the [ 44 ] the Preacher and the Juftice confulted together while we were at a Meeting in the Evening, and contrived to give us fpme Trouble : And next Morning the Juftice (whofe Name was Hubbert) Tent forth a Warrant to bring us be- fore him : We went, and many of the Town's People hearing of it, gathered about us, and went in. He began to examine us of our Names, Places of abode, and our Bufinefs there, to which we gave him Anfwers, fo that he feemed to be at a lols what farther to fay to us ; but he bethought him to examine u$ about taking the Oaths ; we defired to know what Oaths he meaned, but he was as much at a ttand to tell us, nor could he find them in his Book, which he turned over carefully, but met with nothing to his purpofe ; whilft the People who were there, feemed pleafed to fee him fo faft, and in a manner confounded. Then another Juftice of the peace came in : The nrft being behind a Table, Hood up and laid, Come Mr. Wheeler, pleafe to come here, this is a Part of your Bufinefs : To which he replied fternly, J know not that it is, or yours either ; and fo they fell to argue the cafe one with another with fome heat, we (landing ftill with an innocent Chearfulnefs j for the Love and Preience of Chrift was meafurabiy with us, and much beyond our Expectation com- forted us ; the People were pleafed to fee the poor, dark, envious Man, who gave us this Trouble, confounded. Then the other Juftice who [ 45 ] who came in, faid j I have been at our own fleeting three Sabbath-days one after another, and did not hear Chrift named from the Pul- pit ; and I confefs I was at the Meeting with thefe People yefternight, and heard Chriil preached truly. A pretty deal more patted be- twixt the Juftices, and fome of the other People alfo began to (hew their Diflike of him and his Proceedings with us, fo that he feemed much to want to have the Difcourfe over, and us gone, though we were then in no hafte : But after a little be difcharged us, and fet us at liberty, though he had threatned us with a Prifon be- fore. So after fome time fpent fatisfactorily, among the more friendly difpofed People in fhe Town, we being eafy in our minds, left that part and returned up the Ifland, having fome Service, and feveral Meetings in other places, till we came again to where Friends were fettled. But we could not find ourfelves clear without returning again to Rhode- JJland, tho'a long Jour- ney, in order to be at the Yearly-meeting held there for that Government and New-England, which we got to, through fome Hardships in travelling ; there we faw Friends from moil Parts of thofe Provinces, it being an exceeding large Meeting, and very eminently comfortable to many, through the ftrong and lively fpread- ing of the Love and Power of God therein for feveral days ; and the edifying Accounts brought from the feveral Parts belonging to this [ 46 ] this Meeting : Friends generally keeping their Places and Habitations in the Faith, and were eminently preferved in that diftreffing, bloody Time, when the Sword, like a Scourge, afflicted the Country. We then were free to go from thofe Parts, and return toward New-York> we took our Leave of Friends in much Nearnefs of heart, under a Senfe of the Lord's blefled Pre- fence and Fatherly Care, and with holy and hearty Rerurns of Thankfulnefs, and Praife to the almighty Deliverer. As we patted through the Colony of Con- neBicut, we found fome Concern upon us, to endeavour to have a Meeting in New-haven^ the chief Town in the Government : We en- quired at the Inn if we could have a Room, or where we could procure one to have a Meeting in ; but were told, that none in the Town durft allow fuch a thing, and that but very few would dare to come to one of our Meet- ings, except the Minifter (as they call their Teachers) firft gave leave : One Man in the houfe feem'd defirous that we fhould have a Meeting, and faid he hoped the Minifter would not deny it, if he were fought to for it j and offer' d himfelf to go with us, if we defired to fpeak with him, which I found my Mind in- clined to : We went accordingly to the Prieft's Houfe (his Name was Pierpoint) he fpoke to us civilly, and invited us in ; I told him, that as we as a People, and our Doctrine had in many places been very much mifreprefented, and [ 47 ] and unjuftly reproached ; we were often de^ firous of Opportunities that People might hear us, and fo be the better able to judge for them- felves ; and that we defired to have fuch an Opportunity in that Town, but did not find the People durft allow it, unlefs he would con- fent thereto, and the Qccafion of our coming to him was to make, that reafonable Requeft : But he fmoothly excufed himfelf from giving fuch a Liberty, with divers Allegations, but af- ter a feeming civil manner ; for by this time a pretty many of the Upper- fort of the Towns- people were gather'd in : 'fhen he was told, that we had nothing in our Hearts towards them, or any elfe, but the univerfal Love of God : On which Expreflion he began to ob- ferve, that he fuppofed they did not underftand the Love of God to be univerfal in the manner that we did ; To which I retum'd, That feeing the Scripture is pofitive that Chrift our Saviour gave himfelf a Ranfom for all Men, and by the Grace of God tajled death for every Man ; and that he became a Propitiation not only for their Sins (viz. the Believers at that time) but for the Sins of the whole World ; and alfo, that he fpiritually enlighten d every Man coming into the World \ that a Manife/lation of the Spirit was given to every Man to profit withal ; and that the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation^ hath appeared to all Men : From hence we had good reafon to believe the Love of God in Chrift to be univerfal j and defired him if he thought tit, [ 48 ] fit, and could, to (hew from Scripture the C6n