iiiiiiilWiliiiPiitiiiiiliiill^ 
 
 ««pi
 
 A 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 L IF E 
 
 O F 
 
 THOMAS STORY: 
 
 Containing, an Account of his 
 
 REMARKABLE CONVINCEMENT 
 
 Of, and Embracing the 
 
 PRINCIPLES of TRUTH, 
 
 As held by the PEOPLE called 
 
 Q^ U A K E R Si 
 
 Andalfo, of his TRAVELS and LABOURS in die 
 
 SERVICE of the GOSPEL: 
 
 With many Other Occurrences and Observations. 
 
 NEWCASTLE UPON T T N E: 
 Printed by Isaac Thompson and Company, at the New Printing-office on the Side. 
 
 MDCCXLVII.
 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 1'Ohn W I l s o n 0/ Graithwak, James Wilson, Willi am Williamson, ani 
 ^ John Wilson, 0/ Kendal, he'ing nominatei and appointed Truftees, hy Thomas 
 Story, late of Juftice-Town, touching and concerning his Eftate and EffeSis in Great- 
 Britain, and Executors of his lafl Will and Teftament^ and thereby empowered to print a 
 Journal of his Life, relating to his Travels in the Service of the Truths written by 
 himfelf\ the Expence and Charge of which to be defrayed out of the Rejidue and Remainder of 
 the Money and EffeSts arifing by the Sales of his MeJfmgeSy Lands, Tenements, and Heredita- 
 ments, and all the Rejidue of his Perfonal Eftate: they the (Survivors of the) faid Truftees 
 have accordingly printed a certain Number of Copies of the faid Journal, to be beftowed 
 ■upon the Publick as the Avtkov.^s'L.y.q plCv % of which Number this Volume is one. 
 
 832207
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER 
 
 IT appears by the Author's fhort Introdudion to the following Journal, 
 that he had two Points in view, which were jointly his Inducement to un- 
 dertake the Performance. The firft was, to have always at hand a faith- 
 ful Remembrancer ofhispaft Life; whereby, at every Opportunity, he 
 might be enabled, with more Certainty, to make a right and ufeful Retrofpec- 
 tion into his own religious Conduft ; and to contemplate and adore the divine 
 Goodnefs and Mercies of G o d, abundantly manifefted in the Courfe of his own 
 Experience and Obfervation in the World. The fecond was, that the Service of 
 this Work might not altogether center in himfelf, but be extended to the Pu- 
 blick, affording LelTons of Inftrudtion and a profitable Entertainment to all fuch 
 as are inclined to enquire into Things of a religious Nature. 
 
 This twofold View, being conftantly regarded by the Reader in perufing 
 the JcunmU will afford a full Explanation and Apology for the Author's Man- 
 ner of relating feveral particular PafTages, which otherwife might feem liable to 
 fome Objeftion : For Inftance, the Times, Places, and Circumftances upon ma- 
 ny ordinary and common Occafions ; and the Names and Charadlers of private 
 Perfons, feem fometimes too minutely infifted upon, for any apparent Ufe or In- 
 formation that can accrue to the Readers in general, efpecially at remote Di- 
 ftances of Time and Place from thofe which the Author frequently mentions : 
 and yet fuch Particulars might both be entertaining and very ufeful to himfelf 
 in the Review of his own Life, as Inlets to the Memory of many other conco- 
 mitant Scenes and Tranfadions, which the Mind is naturally difpofed to recol- 
 left by fuch Helps and Afliftances. Again, in the Narration of what happened 
 in feveral Difcourfes and verbal Controverfies, the Arguments are often drawn 
 out to a greater Length, and the particular Texts of Scripture more fully quo- 
 ted, than it can be imagined the Author could defign for his own private Ufe ; 
 or indeed than the befl Memory could pofTibly recoiled; exadly to have happened, 
 without Notes having been taken down during the Time of fuch Difcourfe or De- 
 bate: In fuch Cafes it mufl be prefumed, the Author had the publick Service in 
 view •, and therefore, after long Difputations and verbal Combats, tho' he might 
 not remember exadly every fmall Circumftance and Part of the Controverfy, 
 yet being at no Lofs as to the full Purport of what had pafTed, and the Strcfs 
 of the Arguments on both Sides, he was able to give a clear and full Account 
 of the Matter ; which he undoubtedly did : and alfo, without any Unfairnefs, 
 might add fuch other corroborating Texts and Obfervations as he judged 
 ufeful to the Support and Explanation of the Truth ; the Knowledge of which 
 it was his principal Cpncern to propagate in the World. In fhort, the. Work be- 
 
 a ing
 
 ii To //j^ R E A D E R. 
 
 ing defigned both for his own private Ufe and Advantage, while living, and a 
 Legacy of the hke Emolument to the Publick after his Death ; however thefe 
 two Purpofes might require different Methods of Profecution, and, being dif- 
 ferent Ends, might vary in the Means : yet, through the whole Courle of the 
 Work it may eafily be obferved, that he kept a faithful Eye to both Points; 
 and where they could not jointly be purfued, he has made no Scruple to drop 
 one to ferve the other. 
 
 It may, perhaps, be objefted, that as the Author's Purpofe with regard to 
 himfelf, muft have been accomplilhed during his Life, and ended at his Death, 
 why have not the Editors fupprefs'd all Parts ot the Work whofe End and Aim 
 had obtained their full Service, and only permitted that to be publifhed which 
 was defigned and calculated for publick Ufe ? The Anfwcr is. That the fcveral 
 Pafts of the Work, though often plainly adapted to ferve different Purpofes 
 and Ends, are yet in moft Places connefted in fuch a Manner, and fo interwo- 
 ven together, that it would be no eafy Tafk (as the Editors conceive) to fcparate 
 them, and new-model the Performance, without doing manifeft Injury to the 
 Author. They, however, dare not prefume themfelves authorized, nor qualified 
 for fuch an Undertaking ; and have therefore thought it prudent to leave the 
 Matter to the Judgment and Candour of the impartial Reader, prefentirg him 
 with the whole. and entire Journal, as the Author left it in his own Hand-wri- 
 ting ; wifhing that a right and profitable Ufe of it may be honeftly made by 
 every one : which appears to have been the Motive and earneft Concern of our 
 worthy Friend the Penman. As to his own Part, there can be no Doubt but 
 that his Labour fully anfwered his Expeftation and Defire ; and that many fe- 
 rious Reviews, and folid Confiderations of his paft Life, were applied to his own 
 unfpeakable Benefit and Satisfadlion : For what Advantage fo great, or what 
 Knowledge fo ufeful, as that which Experience teaches and gives i* And what 
 Confolation can equal the Love of G o d, and the Memory of a well Ipent 
 Time ? • 
 
 There is one Thing more, too remarkable to be paffed over Without Ob- 
 fervation ; which is, that though the Author was known to be a Man ot excel- 
 Jent Underftanding and extenfive Learning, and had particularly applied part of 
 his Time to the Study of Natural Hiftory, and the phyfical Explanation of 
 Things, yet we do not find any Difquifitions, nor Obfervations of this kind, 
 brought into his Journal^ though Opportunities fcem not to have been a- wanting, 
 if he had thought it proper to have made any Ufe of them ; and perhaps fome 
 Readers may be difappointed in not finding fomething of this fort in the following 
 \Vork. But the Author certainly judged of thefe Matters in another Manner, 
 and efteem'd them as Subjects of too light and infignificant a Nature to bear 
 any Part or Mixture with Things appertaining to Religion and the World to 
 come. He was well convinced of the mutable and uncertain State of terrene 
 Affairs ; the limited and narrow Bounds of the prefent Life ; the Shortnefs, 
 Imperfedtion, and Vanity of all temporary Enjoyments ; and the weak and per- 
 plex'd Condition of human Reafon, and the natural Abilities of Man, though aid- 
 ed and improved with all the Arts and Sciences the World can give. With 
 thefe he had compared (or rather oppofed to them) the eternal and unchangeable 
 Manfions prepared in the Heavens for the favoured of G o d ; the wide and un-* 
 bounded Profpefts of Immortality -, the tranfcendent Fulnefs and Duration of 
 celeftial Joys, and the ineffable Light and fure Knowledge, revealed and mani- 
 fefted in the Prefence and Enjoyment of the Almighty. In regard to thefe 
 Views, and under a deep Confideration ot this fort, the World (though Go d's 
 Creation, and, in its Place, perfeftly harmonious, and wifely deiign'd and or- 
 
 der'd)
 
 To the R E a: D E R. 
 
 der'd) he held of fmall Account ; and, with the Apoftle, efteemed it as Droft 
 and Dung in comparifon with divine Riches and Attainments. It feems there- 
 fore to have been his ftudied Care to avoid touching upon every other Subjeft, 
 but what in fome Meafure lean'd towards rehgious Matters, or related to the 
 Work of G o D in tlie Soul of Man : And as he had freely dedicated his Life 
 to this great Purpofe, we do not only find that he has excluded the Amufe- 
 ments of natural Science, and the Curiofities of human Learning from his 
 Work, but alfo mod of the Matters ol Bufinefs and Incidents which fell to his 
 Share in the Courfe of his fecular Affairs and Tranfaftions in the World, whe- 
 ther of a private or publick Nature ; amongft which, it is not a little remark- 
 able, that he has not once mentioned his ever having been in the conjugal State, 
 though 'tis certain that he was married in 1 706 to Anne Daughter of Edward 
 Shippen^ with whom he lived in great Harmony and Affedlion feveral Years, viz. 
 till 171 1 or 12, when he was deprived of that Comfort, by her Death. His 
 not talcing any Notice of a Thing of fo great private Concernment as this, makes 
 it no Wonder that he has omitted many others of a more remote and indiffe- 
 rent Nature ; by which Means there appear feveral Vacancies, or Chafms, of 
 Time, concerning which he has left us no Account ; particularly one of four 
 Years, between 1 705 and 1 709, during which Time he was moftly engaged in 
 the Provincial Affairs of Penfylva7tia, by virtue of a Deputation from his inti- 
 mate Friend, the Proprietor, William Penn. Alfo between 1720 and 27 we 
 have another Vacancy in the Journal^ during which Time the Author was em- 
 ployed in regulating feveral troublefome Affairs, which he could not avoid be- 
 ing involved in, as well as fome vexatious Law Suits ; all which he bore and 
 pafs'd through with great Firmnefs and Temper, and at laft cleared himfelf of, 
 and became again free from the World and the Things thereof, and wholly de- 
 voted to publick Service in the great and interefting Caufe of Truth and Salva- 
 tion ; of which he was an able and faithful Minifter in the Hand of God, thro* 
 Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
 But it is a needlefs Thing for us to attempt any Charafter or Encomkim of 
 our deceas'd Friend •, many living Witneffes remain, even all who were acquaint- 
 ed with him, of his high Value and Merit, as a glorious Inftrument in the di- 
 vine Hand. To their Memory we may appeal, which will undoubtedly fupply 
 abundantly more than it is in our Power, or even in the Compafs of Language to 
 unfold : And as for thofe who never had the Happinefs or Opportunity of an 
 Intimacy with, or perfonal Knowledge of Thomas Story, to them let this 
 Legacy, his Journal, fhew forth what Manner of Man he was ; his own Work 
 will better and more truly charadferize him, and be his Praife, than any Defcrip- 
 tion and Recommendation of ours. 
 
 A s the Manufcript was committed by the Author to our Difcretion, to be 
 perufed by us, and publifhed or fuppreffed as we, upon a due Confideration, 
 mif^ht adjudge it of Service, or the contrary, to Mankind ; we have honeftly, 
 and, we hope, we may add impartially, difcharged the Truft repofed in us *: 
 for, upon a deliberate and attentive Perufal of the Work (which we made, and 
 divers Times repeated with great Satisfadtion) before it was put to the Prefs, we 
 obferved the wonderful Ways and Mercies of Almighty God, clearly manifeft- 
 ed after a moil fingular Manner, in the Convincement of the Author, and in the 
 Courfe of his Experience ; and alfo finding many excellent Expofitions of the 
 
 Holy 
 
 * The Work was perufed by all the Truftees refpeftively, who unanimoufly agreed upon the 
 Publication, though only two of them, miz. James Wilfon and John fVilfon of Ktndal, lived to fee 
 
 it printed. 
 
 Jll
 
 IV 
 
 To the R E A D E R. 
 
 Holy Scriptures, and the Principles of Truth, maintained with a more than com- 
 mon Strength and Clearnefs, eftabliflied upon their own proper and immutable 
 Nature, and exhibited in a Light and Force over all the Perverfion, Confufion, 
 and Sophiftry of ignorant and ill defigning Men, we could not but think the 
 Work highly worthy of Publication, and moft likely to be of excellent Service to 
 Mankind, if they will be perfuaded to read it with zfingle Eye, in the unprejudiced 
 Love of Truth ; which, that every one may, is the fincere Wifh and hearty De- 
 firc of. 
 
 Cemi^ Reader^ 
 
 Thy weil-wijhing Friends, 
 
 Kendal, Fifth Month 24, J A M E S W I L S O N, 
 
 1747. JOHN WILSON. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 3, Line 3, in a few Copies, hi flagrant, teaA fragrant. Page 208, Line I !« concur, read 
 concurs. Page 216, Line z, whether, rfci/ whither. P. 301, Line 10, dele to. Page 331, lajt 
 Line but one, dele back. Page 338, Line 5, them, read\.\icy. Page 370, lajl Line but one, fent, read 
 fet. Page ^()6, lafi Line, t\{\i,readth.\%'P\3.ce. i'af/r ;66, for 556. Page 66y, Line 28, Hidoe, read 
 Haydock. Line 35, Acred, read Ecroyd. Page 688, Line iz, Henry Arden, «iZ(/ Henry Ardern. 
 Page 6ijq, Line 2^, Andrews, read Atd^ra. 
 
 THE
 
 -a 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 THOMAS STORY. 
 
 HAT which I intend by the Following Work, is, to record the 
 tender Mercies and Judgments of the Lord-, to relate my own 
 Experience of his Dealings with me thro' the Courfe of my 
 Life ; and to write a faithful Journal of my Travels and La- 
 bours in the Service of the Gofpel : Which I defign for my 
 own Review ; and likewife for the ferious Perufal of all thofe 
 who may incline to enquire into Things of this Nature. 
 
 I HAVE folid Evidence to believe, that the Lord, in his great Mercy and 
 Kindnefs, had an Eye upon me for my good, even in my Infancy, inclining my 
 .Heart to feek after him in my tender Years : From whence, I may reafonably 
 conclude, arofe that early Inchnation I had to Solitude •, where I fometimes had 
 religious Thoughts, and frequently read in the Holy Scriptures : which I ever 
 loved, and ftill do, above all Books, as moft worthy and moft profitable •, efpe- 
 cially the New Tellament, in which I chiefly delighted. 
 
 In this State, my Mind fuffered many Flowings and Ebbings -, and, as I grew 
 up towards a young Man, I found myfelf under great Difadvantages in Mat- 
 ters of Religion, as I was then circumftanced : For my Father, intending me for 
 the Study of the Law, which being efteemed a genteel ProfelTion, he firft fcnt me 
 to the Fencing-fchool, as a fafhionable and manly Accomplifhment. Flere I be- 
 came a confiderable Proficient in a ikort Time, and obtained the chief Vogue 
 over all my neighbouring Cotemporaries in that Faculty •, by which my Mind 
 was greatly drawn out, and too much alienated from thofe Beginnings of Solidi- 
 ty which I had once known : And, having acquired fome Skill alio in Mufick, 
 the Exercife of that occafioned an Acquaintance and Society not profitable to 
 Religion -, tho' I was hitherto preferved from fuch Things as are generally ac- 
 counted Evils among Mankind. 
 
 o 
 
 After this I was put to the Study of the Law, under a Counfellor in the 
 Country ; thereby to be initiated, with a Defign to be entered, afterwards, into 
 one of the Inns of Court, and to make further Progrefs, and finilh there : 
 But, being much in the Country, and the Family fober and religious in their 
 Way, ol' the moft moderate fort of the Prefbyterians, I had again the Advan- 
 tage of Solitude and little Company, and that innocent ; fo that my Mind re- 
 
 A turned
 
 0* The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 turned to its former State, and further Search after the Truth, And tho* I had, 
 at Times, fome youthful Airs -, yet, through fecret Grace, I was preferred 
 from grofs Evils, and gain'd Refped from all the Family. 
 
 Anno Now, the Difpenfations of God being various, accommodated to the State 
 
 1686. of the Mind in Man's Progrefs through this World, which fuffcrs great and fre- 
 quent Mutations j (for the Lord, willing, in Mercy, to fave the Soul, ispleafed 
 to lult various States with various Means •, and all, at lafl, to that good End :) So 
 he hath, in Times paft, as we may obferve in Holy Writ, awaken'd and in- 
 form' d the Mind, fometimes by Dreams, fometimes by Prophecy, fometimes by 
 Signs, and, at other times, by immediate Revelation •, and fo, in Degree, I 
 have found it in myfclf : For, whilft my Mind was fccrctly looking towards, 
 the Lord, and defiring the Knowledge of his Ways, I had, one Night, a 
 Dream in manner following. 
 
 'D- 
 
 Thought I flood in an outward Court, before the Gates of aCaftle, or 
 Fort ; and there flood one by me that was a great Sinner. And I be- 
 •' held five great Lights in the Heavens -, four whereof were as Moons, greatly 
 *' eclipfed, and of the Colour of Blood ; and the filth as the Sun, under a thick 
 *' Cloud, and hardly to be difcerned. The firll was placed in the South-eall, 
 " or where the Sun rifeth in the Winter Solflice ; the fecond a Degree further 
 " South ; the third. South ; the fourth Moon, a Degree towards the Weft •, and 
 " the fifth, (being the Sun) in the South-weft, or where the Sun fets in Winter. 
 " Whilft I looked ftedfafdy upon the four former with Admiration, the fifth 
 " pafs'd, infcnfibly, below the Horizon, and vanifh'd out of my Sight ; and 
 " then alfo the Clouds departed, and the four fanguin Moons wandered to vari- 
 *' ous and oppofite Points in the Heavens. After which, being violently mo- 
 *' ved towards the Zenith, they met there, and were dafli'd to Pieces, one by 
 " another, and fell to the Earth. 
 
 " After this I fav/ the Stars of Heaven, and they appeared bright and 
 " innumerable ; and, remaining in the Firmament a fhort Seafon, they alfo 
 *' moved fuddeniy, and with Violence, one againft anotlier •, and, being broken 
 *' in Pieces, fell likewife to the Earth, as the falling of Fruit from the Tree, 
 " fhaken by a mighty Hand. And as die Stars fell, they gradually loft their 
 " Light ; and as they approached near the Earth they altogether ceafed from 
 *' fhining. And I alfo beheld the Light of the Candles to be extinguifhed j 
 " and the Fire would not burn any longer ; and total and thick Darknefs was 
 " upon the Face of the whole Earth, and covered the Deep, and was over all 
 " Flefti. 
 
 " And I was afraid with exceeding great Amazement, and fo was he that was 
 *' with me ; for the great Day of the Almighty appeared to be come, even the 
 *' Day of his righteous Judgment : And we fled with Horror unfpeakable and 
 " precipitant Hafte, and in Confufion run towards a Stable; where, hiding us 
 *' under an Ark, we remained in Agony, expefting the Earth fliould be dilToI- 
 " ved, and the Elements melt with fervent Hear, and to receive a Reward ac- 
 *' cording to our Works. 
 
 " But, in the Midft of this Fear, I refigned all to the Will of him who 
 " fhaketh the Heavens, and dilTolveth the Earth, and doth what pleafeth him- 
 " felf in Time and Eternity. And immediately after, tho' all Hopes were gone, 
 " the Sun arofe towards the North-eaft, as in the Strength of Summerj and, all 
 
 " Fear
 
 «c 
 
 It. 
 
 (C 
 
 of T H M A S S T R T. 5 
 
 Fear vanifliing, I came from under the Aric, but faw my Companion no more. Anno 
 And I went out into a fpacious and verdant Valley -, where the Flowers were 1686. 
 many, flagrant and perfeft, and young Men walking in their full Streno-th, 
 " Beauty and Perfeftion, innocent as little Children ; and Women alfo as°the 
 " tender Babes; and difcourling together with Countenances befpeaking a Scnfe 
 of Deliverance ; telling of their Abfence from their own Dwellings, and jour- 
 neying homewards when the Stars fell, and a thick and black Corruption, 
 *' which came from them, fell on their Faces, to their great Hurt, Hindrance 
 " and Annoyance in their Return. But we, being delivered from the horrible 
 " Darkiiefs, by the Return and Coming of the glorious Light, rejoiced too-tther in 
 " unfpeakable Love." 
 
 During my Abode with this Counfil, I was feveral Times with him at Lon- 
 don ; where, by the Fear of G o d, I was preferved from Vice and evil Company, 
 which much abounds in that great and populous City, tho' not without Tempta- 
 tions ; and fome not otherwife to be refilled than by the fecrct Influence of Grace 
 which fupercedes them •, tho' it may not always bi; immediately apprehended by 
 fuch as are preferved by it. 
 
 And tho' I was educated in the Way of the National Church of England, 
 yet I had no Averfion to any Clafs protefllng the Chriftian Name ; but, occafion- 
 ally, heard feveral forts •, and yet did not fully approve any Sed in all Things, as 
 I came to confider them clofely. At Newccijlle upon Tyne I once happened to hear 
 a famous Prefbyterian Preacher : It was in the Reign of King Charles the 
 Second, when the National Laws were againft them, and all other Diflenters 
 from the National Worfiiip •, and they, being cowardly, had their Meeting in 
 the Night, and in an upper Room, and a Watch fet below. I did not go into 
 the Room, but flood on the tiead of the Stairs, expecting to hear fomething 
 like Doftrine from fo noted a Man among them : But all that he entertained his 
 Auditory with, was Suggefl:ions of Jealoufy and Diflike againft the Govern- 
 ment ; and that\\e. delivered in fuch a Way as appeared to me very difagrceable. 
 
 At another Time, I was occafionally at a Friends Meeting, on a Week Day, 
 at Brought on, in the County of Cumberland; where I applied my Mind with as 
 much Diligence as I could to examine what I could difcern in their Way : But, 
 tho' I oblerved they were very grave, lerious, and Iblid, in the Time of their 
 Worfhip, I could gather but little, at that Time, either from their Manner or 
 Dodlrine ; only I took them to be an honefl, innocent, and well-meaning Seft. 
 
 Tow AR D s the latter End of the Year 1687, we came out of the Country, 16S7. 
 and had Chambers in the City of Carlijle : And King James II. being then on tlie 
 Throne, and the Garrifon and Caflle in the Hands of Popifh Officers and Gover- 
 nors, the Proteflants were apprehcnfive of great Danger, and the People much 
 divided in their Sentiments and Intereils : For there was a loofe and treacherous 
 fort among the Protefirants, who approached daily nearer and nearer towards the 
 Papifts, and fell in, generally, with all their Meafures ■, which grieved the flready 
 Part, andjuftly heightened their dreadful Apprehenfions. 
 
 About this Time I went diligently to the publick Worfhip, efpccially to 
 the Cathedral at Carlijle ; where, in time of publick Prayer, we ufcd all, (Male and 
 Female) as foon as that Creed, call'd the Jpoftles Creed, began to be faid, to turn 
 our Faces towards the Eaft ; and, when the Word Jesus was mentioned, we 
 all, as one, bowed and kneeled towards the Altar-table, as they call it; where 
 
 A 2 ftood
 
 4- The LIFE, (^c. 
 
 Anno ftood a Couple of Common Prayer Books, in Folio, one at each Side of the 
 1687. Table, and over them, painted upon the Wall, H. S. fignifying Jesus, 
 Hominum Salvator ; Jesus, the Saviour of Mankind. 
 
 I HAD read and heard many Things of the Popifh Religion; of their manifold 
 Ceremonies, ftrange Tenets and Doftrines ; their Cruelty, Murders, and Maf- 
 facres of all who diftcr'd from them, wherever they had Power : which I 
 thought denoted a Degeneracy below even fallen Nature ; that making 
 Men worfe than this. And as I was frequently concerned to enquire more and 
 more after the Truth of Religion, the Manner of our Worfhip in the Cathedral 
 often put me in mind of the Popifli Religion and Ceremonies, and made me 
 conclude, that the Way we were in retained abundance of the old Relicks ; our 
 Praycs^ Poflures^ Songs, Organs, Cringings and Shows, appearing to be litde 
 elfe than an Abridgment ef the Popifli Mafs, and the Pomp and Show attending 
 it. And then I began to be very uneafy with it ; and tho' I went there a little 
 longer, yet I could not comply with feveral of the Ceremonies -, which being 
 taken norice of, in a familiar Conference with an Acquaintance of the fame way, 
 I afked a little pleafantly. What is that we worfliip towards the Eafl ? And why 
 towards the Altar, more than any other Place, at the faying of the Creed ? 
 The Perfon replied, Sure you are not fo ignorant as you would make yourfelf 
 
 Phil. ii. 10. feem. The Scripture faith. At the Name of Jefus every Knee fhall bow, of 
 Things in Heaven., and Things in Earth, and Things under the Earth. And again. 
 
 Matt. .\.\iv. As the Lightning co-met h out of the Eafl, and ffjineth even unto the IVefi ; fofhall 
 
 ^'^- alfo the Coming of the Son of Man be. 
 
 T o the firft I returned, That our Pagan Anceftors were Worfhippers of 
 the Sun and all the Hoft of Heaven ; and this looked very like a Remain of 
 that ; and could not be certainly grounded on that Scripture, which I can't under- 
 iland to fignify any other, than the gradual Manifeftation of the Power and 
 Glory of Christ unto the World : But if he fhould literally come from the 
 Eaft, in an outward Senfe ; which, confidering the State of the Earth, its Revo- 
 lutions, and Relation to the Sun and other Planets, cannot be in the Nature of 
 Things, (that being Weft to one Place which is Eaft to another) yet that Coming 
 would not excufe our Superftition, if not Idolatry, in the mean time before he 
 fo come : tho' I grant, if he fhould lb come, and we fee him, then, and not till 
 then, may we lawfully and reafonably worfhip towards the Place, or imaginary 
 Place, of his Coming. 
 
 And as to bowing at the Name of Jesus, I underftand it to be in the Na- 
 ture of a Predidion, that in the Fulnefs of Time all Powers in Heaven and Earth 
 fhall be fubjefted and brought under the Power of C h r i st , as the next Verfe 
 imports, which is explanatory of the former, viz. that every Tongue fhall confefs, 
 that Jefus Chrijl is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father : Agreeing alfo with 
 Matt, xxvii. what the Lord Jesus himfelf faith. All Power is given unto me in Heaven and 
 '^- in Earth. And therefore, this bowing towards a Cypher of the Words J e s u s 
 
 the Saviour, painted upon a Wall, whilft the Heart and Spirit of a Man is not fub- 
 jefted to the Power of his Grace, is but a mocking of Christ, a Relick of 
 Popery, and hath fome Shew of Idolatry in it, from which I thought all 
 Proteftants had been thoroughly reform'd. 
 
 This a little ilirprized my Acquaintance at firft, coming from one in whom 
 fo little of the Work of Religion appeared outwardly -, but as I remained in the 
 
 Di-
 
 of T HO M yi S S T RT. s 
 
 Diverfions of Fencing, Dancing, Mufick, and other Recreations of the Uke fort, A n- n o 
 littJe Notice was further taken for a while. 16S7. 
 
 After this I happened to be at a Chriftening (as we caUcd it) of a Relation's 
 Cliild ; on which Occafion I found my Mind agitated in ;in unufual Manner, and 
 a fecret Avcrlion to that Ceremony ; which I perceived was not according to the 
 iloly Scripture, for wc have neither Precept nor Example there for tliat Manner 
 of Praftice. And when the Prieft came to lay the Prayer, which is a Part of 
 tlie Service on that Occafion, a great Fear and Surprize came over my Mind -, 
 (as I gave a more clofe Attention than ufual) lb that I could not pay ihat 
 Regard to it as formerly : For, by way of Introduction and Foundation to 
 the Work, the Prieft reads Part of the Tenth Chapter of Mark's Flillory 
 of the Gofpel, where it is related. That the People brought young Children to Mark x n, 
 Chrij}y that he Jljould touch them ; tha.t his Difcipks rebuked thcfe that brought 14. 15. J^^! 
 them. Butivhenjefus fdzu it, be ive>smueh difpleafed ; atui fc.id unto them. Suffer '"' 
 the little Children to come unto me, and forbid them not ; for of fuch is the Kingdom 
 of God. Verily I fay unto you, JVhofoe-ver floall not receive the Kingdom of God 
 as a little Child, flmll not enter therein. And he took them up in his Arms, put 
 his Hands upon them, and bleffed them . After this they prayed, tiiat God would 
 give his Holy Spirit to that Infant ; that fhe, being born again, and made an 
 Heir of eveilafting Salvation, thro' our Lord Jesus Christ, might continue 
 the Servant of God, and attain his Promife, i£c. And, after fome more Cere- 
 mony, the Prieft faid. We receive this Child into the Congregation of Christ's 
 Flock, and do fign her with the Sign of the Crofs, ^c. Then the Prieft, pre- 
 tending to the Company that the Infant is, by that Rantifm, regenerated and graft- 
 ed into the Body of Christ's Church, exhorts them to Prayer ; the Subftance 
 whereof was this : They thanked Go d that it had pleafed him to regenerate that 
 Infant with his Holy Spirit, to receive her for his own Child by Adoption, and 
 to incorporate her into his Holy Church, i3c. 
 
 Upon this I note, That the Scripture there hath no relation at all to Bapdfm ; 
 much lefs to Sprinkling, which is no Baptifm : For the People brought their Children 
 to the Lord Christ, not to be baptiled, but that he might touch them-, and 
 he anfwered the Faith of the People accordingly, he bleffed them, and declared 
 their Innocence and Aptitude for the Kingdom ot God, without fuch Baptiim ; 
 and did not baptife them : So tliat this Scripture is inapplicable, and all the Con- 
 icquences drawn from it, in this Senfe, null and chimerical. But they, tirft 
 praying that God, in their own invented Way, would give his Holy Spirit to 
 that Child -, and that being taken tor granted, as already done by tliat Ceremo- 
 ny and Prayer, they then receive the Child into the Congregation of Christ's 
 Flock ; (as they fay) acknowledging, that, by that Baptifm, that Cliikl is re- 
 generated, and grafted into the Body ot Christ's Church-, and accord- 
 ingly they make their Addrels oi Thanks to God for doing it. After diis 
 Ceremony was over, I privately asked the Prieft, whether he did believe that 
 that Ceremony, for which there is not any Foundation in Scripture, either for 
 making little Children the Subjefts of Bapdfm, figning them witli the Si^n of 
 the Crofs, promifmg and vowing in their Names, believing and confefi'uig in 
 their Stead, Ipruikling them only with Water, isc. diii really then, or at any 
 Time to come, regenerate thofe Children ? At which he only fmilcd, and faid, 
 No ; but it being an eftabliflied Order in the Churcli, the Praflicc could not be 
 omitted. Why then, lliid I, you do but mock God, in giving him Thanks 
 lor tli.it which you don't ferioufly believe be hath efiedted. And the Sequel of 
 I'hings proves there is no fuch Thing done by thofe Means : For true Baptifm 
 
 B is
 
 \ The I. I ¥ E, c^'c. 
 
 Amn-o is JuftifiCation and Sandtificadon, effected by the Holy Spirit of Chrtst in 
 1688. the Mind; and not by the Apphcation of any outward Element, or external 
 Performance of any P'erfon whatfoever, under any Quahfication. 
 
 Nevj-rtheless I continued in the national "Way of Worfhip, tho', 
 by tlie divine Grace, my Underftanding was ftill more and more cleared. 
 About this Time the Power of King James the Second was at the Height, 
 and all Sed:s v/ere indulged with great Liberty ; when John Scansjield (a 
 noted Qiiaker) having, by Leave, a Meeting on a Firft Day in the Town- 
 Hall, fcveral young Men, amongft whom I was one, went thither to hear \vhat 
 thofc Quakers had to fay. There was a mix'd Multitude, and fome of our Sort 
 and Company rude enough ; but others, and myfelf, were refolved to give the beft 
 Attention v/e could, in order to form a right Judgment. Two CiimhrlaHdFrea.chers 
 fpoke before Jcbn Scansjield, whom fevcral of us knew •, but their Pi-eaching had 
 no other Efi"t6t upon mt, than to confirm an Opinion wiiich I had conceived 
 when I was a Boy ; that as a fort of People I had heard of, called Baptijis, imi- 
 tated John the Baptijl,^ in v/afli;t:g or plunging their Followers in Water, who, 
 I believed, had not any Authority from God for that Practice ; fo the Qu^" 
 kers only imitated the Apoftlcs, in going about Preaching, as they did, but with- 
 out that Power which the Apoftles were accompanied with and travelled in ; and 
 I thought it was great Pity they v/ere not fo endued, fince I heard they took Pains 
 as if they were. One of thefe Preachers (to me) had only a little dry, empty 
 Talk, and the other was more lively ; but ftraining his Voice to be heard over 
 the Multitude, he quickly grew hoarfe, loft his Voice, and fo fat down. And 
 then ScansJjchl, tlic Stranger, from whom we had greater Expeclations, flood 
 up, and made a more manly Appearance than either of the former. The firft 
 thing he did was to reprove the Rudenefs of fome of the Company -, and, in his 
 Preaching, falling upon Baptifm, amongft other things, and alledging there was 
 no Foundation for the Pradlicc of the Church of England, in all the Scripture, con- 
 cerning that, he advanced this Query : Suppofe, faid he, I were a Turk or a 
 Jew, and ftiould afk thee, V/hat is the Rule of thy Praftice in that Point ? and thou 
 fliould fay the Scripture ; and if I fhould defire to fee that Scripture, thou not 
 being able to produce any. What could I conclude other than that thou hadft 
 no Foundation tor thy Religion but thy own Imagination, and fo go away offended 
 and prejudiced againft the Chriftian Religion .'' This agreed with my own former 
 Sentiments, and gave me occafion to give further Attention. But in the reft of 
 his Speech, he firll run down the National Church at a great Rate, and then lilce- 
 wife the Church of Rome : And there being many Irrjh, Popifli, Military Officers 
 prefent, and a Couple of Mufl<:eteers placed at the Door, and the Officers be- 
 having fo tamely, as no Shew of Diflike appeared in any of them ; many 
 fufpecled Scansjield to be a Jefuit, and that his Aim was to expofe and run down 
 the Church ; and what he fiid, againft the Church of Rome, was only the better 
 to cloak his Dcfign : For the King, and his Friends and Accomplices, could fup- 
 port their Religion by the Power of the Sword, and other cruel and forcible 
 iSIeans-, that being their ufual Method and Praftice : but there was nothing 
 then to fupport the Church of England but the Truth of her own Principles, and 
 the Fortitude and Stability of her Members, in the Time of an impending Dan- 
 ger, and approaching Trial. 
 
 Many of us left them when they went to Prayer; yet I was apprehenfive of 
 a fecret Influence ot a divine Power and Prefence, in fome Degree, among that 
 People : But that ImprelTion did not remain long with me, till renewed upon a- 
 nother Occafion ; which will be related hereafter. 
 
 This
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. 7 
 
 This was in the Year i6S8, about which Time came the News of the Anno 
 Queen's being with Child •, and the Papifts, being greatly ovcrioycd there- 1688. 
 at, made Bone-fires in the Market-place, and, in a publick, exalted, and trium- 
 phant Manner, drank Healths to the young Prince : And I being a Spedlator, 
 with many other young Men of the Town, the Officers called fevcral of us to 
 dnnk tlic Health with them ; and then I took occafion to aflc one of the Cap- 
 tains, how tliey knew the Child would be a Prince ; might it not happen to be 
 a Princefs ? No, replied he, Sir, tliat cannot be, for this Child comes by the 
 Prayers of the Church ; the Church has prayed for a Prince, and it can be no 
 otherwife. And, when the News came of his Birth, they made another great 
 Fire in the fame Place ; where they drank Wine, till, with that, and the I'ran- 
 fport of the News, they were exceedingly diftrafted, throwing their Hats into 
 the I'lre at one Plealth, their Coats at the next, their Waiftcoats at a tiiird, and 
 lo on to their Shoes ; and fome of them threw in their Shirts, and then ran about 
 naked, like Madmen : Which was no joyful Sight to the thinking and concern'd 
 Part of the Proteftants who beheld it ; and it brought fuch a Concern upon my 
 Mind that I could not go near them. 
 
 In this Conjunfture, the whole Protcftant Part of the King's Dominions, 
 except the Temporizers, were in great Conlfcrnation, and apprehenfive of a Po- 
 pifli Government, and confequent Oppreffion, and Perfecution to Dclhu6tion. 
 Neverthelefs, whether out of Fear, or other Caufe, as well the Bifliops as inferior 
 Clergy, and the generality of the People throughout the King's Dominions, pre- 
 fented Addreflcs to him on this Occafion, replete with the utmoft Expreflions of 
 Loyalty and Duty that Words were capable of. And the Pulpits generally re- 
 founded throughout the Nation with their King-pleafing, yet ambidexter Doctrine 
 of Pafllve Obedience and Non-refillance ; (but with their own mental Referva- 
 tions, as in ^ the Sequel prov'dj infomuch that he, among them, who could not 
 compofe a Difcourfe on that modilh Subjeft, would beg, borrow, buy, and fteal 
 from the more able, rather than not be faihionable •, which occafioned Jealoufy 
 in many, left the Clergy fliould revert and embrace the old Errors ; from 
 which they, with the People, feem'd to have been reformed. And yet fe- 
 ven of the Bifhops flrood obftinately to their Principles, when the King com- 
 manded them to read, or caufe to be read, his Proclamation for Liberty of 
 Confcience in their refpeftive Diocefles -, which, tho' highly reafonable and chri- 
 ftian, they refilled : Which could not be on any Foundation of Religion, but as 
 contrary to thofe National Laws which perfecuted and fupprcls'd all but them- 
 lelves, and thofe of their own Sedl. 
 
 The Face of Affairs thus fmiling, and flattering the Roman Interefl, they 
 became Zenith-high in their Expeftations and Afilirance ; imperious, inlolenr, 
 fwaggering, and infulting every where -, and the Proteftants more and more fil- 
 led with rational Apprehenfions of impending and approaching Danger and De- 
 ftruiflion. 
 
 Notwithstanding, there were many, both among the Pricfts and People 
 profeffing the Proteftant Religion, as brifli and forward as the Papifts themfelves, 
 to fall into the prefent Meafures, Interefts and Politicks ; which gave others juft 
 occafion to tliink tliey would, in the End, prove themfelves falfe Brethren. 
 
 A SOLID Confideration of the State of Affairs, the Doubtfulnefs and Hazard 
 of the iniic, put me upon a more inward and dole Obfervation of Pcrfons and 
 Things than ever. And one Day, at the Afl"izes at Carlifie, dining at an Inn 
 
 wit! I
 
 8 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno with a mix'd Company, where happened to be two of our Minifters of the 
 i68S. Church of England, a Popifh Gentleman mov'd a Debate concerning Tran- 
 fubftantiation ; pretending to prove, by Scnpture, that, by virtue of certain 
 Words wliich their Priefts fay over a Piece of Bread, or Wafer, there is a fub- 
 ftantial Converfion of it into the real Body of Christ ; the very fame that 
 was born of the Virgin Mary, crucified at Jerufalem, and now glorified in Hea- 
 ven. 
 
 \irk xxtI The Text of Scripture he advanced to fupport this Pofition, was. And as 
 -:6.' they were eating, J ejus took Bread, and blefs'd it, and brake it, and gave it to the 
 
 Difdples, and faid. Take, eat, this is my Body. And his Argument was only 
 this. That ChrisTj being the Word of God, and the Truth, whatever he faid 
 muft be pofitively and literally true -, and therefore there is a real Change of the 
 Bread into the true and real Body of Christ : And this being an Ordinance of 
 God to his Minifters, the fame Power is annexed to that Ordinance ; fince, at 
 the fame Time, he commanded them to do the fame, faying. This do in re- 
 membrance of me. 
 
 During this uninterRipted Difcourfe, my Zeal was kindled, fo that I could 
 fcarce contain it : But being young, and diffident of my own Abilities, and pay- 
 ing Regard and Preference to our two Minifters prefent, and expefting their Ap- 
 pearance againft fo great an Error, and fo oppofite to the Protcftant Religion, I 
 delayed till it became almoft unfeafonable to engage him. But they minding 
 their Plates, and hanging down their Heads, with their Countenances vail'd 
 by their Hats ; and I feeing no Sign of any Anfwer from them to ths. Papift, I 
 took him up upon the Subjeft, thus : 
 
 Sir, You of the Church of Rome take tliefe Words literally ; but we take the 
 whole Form of his Speech at that Time, on that Subject, to be figurative; and 
 that thefe Words, This is my Body, intended no more than. This Bread is a Sym- 
 bol, or Figure, or Reprefentation of my Body, which fhall iTiortly hereafter 
 be broken for you : For we ought not to divide the Sentence or Speech of 
 Christ, and take one Part literally and another figuratively. And you may 
 remember that, at the iame Time, he alio took the Cup, faying, This Cup is the 
 Neiv Tcftament, in my Blood, -which is floed for you : Do you think that that 
 Cup, whether of Gold, Silver, Glais, or Wood, was the New Teftament ? Or 
 can't you fee, that in this latter Part ol his Speech there is a double Figure ? Firft, 
 Metonymia, fubjeffi pro adjiinclo, the Thing containing for the Tiling contained ; 
 and, fecondly, the Wine in the Cup, exhibited under tlie Word Ci{p, as a ti- 
 o-ure, or Reprefentation, of his Blood ; which v/as not then aftually, or literally, 
 fhed, or his Body broken. And feeing he faid, in the prefent Tenfe, This is 
 my Body which is broken (not to be broken) for you \ and this Cup is the Nc-jj 
 Teflamcnt in my Blood, ivhicb is (not which fliall hereafter be) _^ed for you ; you 
 muft either own that Christ advanced a falfe Propofition, which you will not; 
 or that he fpake figuratively in both Sentences -, wliich you cannot reafonably a- 
 void. Befides, the Words utter'd by Christ himillf did not work that EfFcift 
 you imagine -, for no Man can call a I'hing by any Name, denoting its Exift- 
 ence, bctore it is that Thing which it is called : [Then taking up a Plate'] No 
 Man, for inftance, can truly and literally fay, this is a Plate, if it were not a Plate 
 before. Then, by a Parity ot Rcaibn and Truth, Christ could not fay, this 
 Bread is my Body, if it were not his Body before : Therefore thefe Words made 
 no Alteration ■, for if it is was fo before, thefe Words were only declarative of what 
 was before, and not initiatory, or commenfive, of a new Being, which was not 
 
 tiie-re
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. c 
 
 there before : And again, if ever thefe Words had effeded a Tranfubftantiation, Anno 
 they would when Christ himfelf uttered them. Confider then pray, that as 1687. 
 Toon as Christ began to fpeak thefe Words, This is my Body, the Botly of 
 Christ, born of tiie Virgin Mzry, began to ceafe to be his Body, and the 
 Bread began to convert into it ; and that, as foon as the Words were finiflied, the 
 Body, born of the Virgin, altogether ceafed to be what it was before ; and, by a 
 new Way of a corporeal T'ranfmigration, infinuated itfclf into the Bread ; which, 
 by the fame Degrees that the Body of Christ ceafed to be his Body, com- 
 menced, proceeded, grew, and became his Body ; or elfe he liad two Bodies 
 prefent with his Difciples at the fame Time ; and if they eat his Body that Even- 
 ing, what Body was that which was crucified the next Day ? And v/hat Blood 
 then fhed, if, the Night before, the Difciples had drank the Blood of Jesus 
 in a proper and literal Senfc, and without a Figure ? And where now is that 
 fame Cup ? If you have loft that, you liavc, in your own Senfe, loft the New 
 Teftament, and all your Share therein. Now, Sir, if you can perfuade me, and 
 this Company, out of our Senfes and Underftandings, fo as that we may be able 
 to believe againft both, that a Piece of Bread is the Body of Christ, and a Cup of 
 AVine is his Blood, then you may bid fair for our Converfion, or rather Perver- 
 fion, to your Religion : But, till you can do that, you cannot reafonably expeft 
 wc fhould embrace fo great Abfurdities. Upon this, feveral of the Company 
 laughed ; and the Papift fiid, thefe were great Myfterics, and the Subjed copi- 
 ous and intricate, and could not, at that Time, be fully profccuted, but might be 
 more largely difcufted at fome other convenient Opportunity. I replied. Then 
 why did you move it? Could you think we would all fit filent, to hear you pro- 
 pagate fuch Notions, and make no Oppofition ? And fo the Matter dropp'd. But 
 tho' I had thus oppofed him, he fhewed more Refpecl to me afterwards than to 
 any other of the Company. 
 
 Dinner being over, our Minifters retired into another Room, and I went 
 to them •, where, with much feeming Refpeft, they addreffcd themfelves to me 
 after this Manner, " We are very glad to hear you have fo much to fiy in de- 
 *' fence of our Religion, and that you managed the Debate fo as that he got no 
 " Advantage, nor could maintain his Point." But I, being ftill under the 
 Grief and Shame, as well as Refentment, of their Temporizing, Cowardice, and 
 Negligence, quickly returned thus -, " And I, Gentlemen, am very much 
 " griev'd and afliam'd to find that you had nothing at all to fay in defence of 
 *' it, which I very much wonder'd at ; for I fo long expefted one of you would 
 " have engaged the Gentleman, that it was almoft unfeafonable to make any An- 
 " fwer." 
 
 To this they replied, that I might a great deal better, and fafer, do it than 
 they ; for it would have been more taken notice of, and worfe refented in them ; 
 and might have been greatly to their future Prejudice. 
 
 This Reply, from Men of their Profeffion, at fuch a Crifis, when our 
 Religion was apparently in the moft imminent Danger,' bore fuch an Afped; of 
 Temporizing, and was fo fufpicious of a fecret Inclination to apoftatize from 
 their own avowed Principles, and to conform to Popery, then ready to force its 
 Way into FaOiion, that it very much offended me, increafing my former Dif- 
 gtift •, and occafioned fuch a Crowd of Thoughts in my Mind about the Clergy, 
 and the Religion they pretended to propagate, that I faid no moiT to them a- 
 bout it. 
 
 Th 
 
 IS
 
 lO 
 
 Anno 
 
 1688. 
 
 The Prince 
 of Orange 
 landed at 
 Torbay, 
 Nov. 5. 
 
 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 This was towards xh&'E.ndiQi Anguft, in the Year 1688 -, and, not long 
 after, arrived the Prince of Orange •, at whofe Appearance, that Party, which 
 had, but a hrtle before, been fo very high, defpotick, and rampant, were, at 
 once, univerfally difpirited and dejefted to fuch a Degree, that they ftole away 
 from fome Places in the Night, particularly Carlijle ; where there was a ftrong 
 Caftle, and other fortified Holds, and the City alfo furroundcd with a high and 
 ftrong Wall, and well ftor'd with Ammunition ; v/hich made many judge that 
 their Guilt, and the Confcioufnefs of their own evil Defigns againft the Proteftant.', 
 was the main Ground of the Pannick which feiz'd them at the News of the 
 Arrival of that Proteftant Prince •, with whom they had good Grounds to believe 
 the Proteftants had a fecret Underftanding -, and with whom, moft likely, they 
 would quickly join ; which accordingly happen'd at the erefting of his Stan- 
 dard, and diiplaying of his Banners. 
 
 I (being at Carlijle when this furprizing Departure of the Popifh Party 
 happened, and, with them, our great Fears) wrote to my Brother, Chaplain to 
 the Countefs Dowager of Carlijle, and then with her at Hcivard-Caftle, in Tork- 
 Jhire, a full and particular Account of all the Circumftances of it ; which being 
 intercepted, with other Letters, and fent to the Lord Delaraere, then in Arms, 
 in favour of the Prince, it gave him great Satisfadion. But the Noife of Paf- 
 five Obedience and Non-refiftance being ftill frefh in my Ears ; and, thinking 
 the Clergy would oppofe their late Doctrine by a contraiy Pra6lice, I inferted 
 this Sentence in the Clofe of my Letter : " However, I could now wifli, that 
 " thofe who have fo lately been preaching PafTive Obedience to others, may 
 " not be found in aftual Rebellion themfeives." Not being aware into whole 
 Hands It might fall ; nor had I Penetration enough to difcern, or apprehend 
 the lubtle and ambidexter Diftindlions, contrived by the learned Clergy, to re- 
 concile their Praftice to their Dodtrine ; diftinguifliing and explaining it fo as to 
 make it, at laft, Paffive Obedience and no Paflive Obedience. 
 
 But the Sentence above, being then unfafliionable, my Brother was direfted 
 to admonifli me, to forbear meddling any more with that Subject. 
 
 These Things gave me ftill more and more occafion to reflect, and clofely 
 to confider the Foundation of our own Relioiion, and of thofe who feemed 
 and pretended to propagate it: For tho' that Doftrine, rightly ftated, is a 
 Chriftian Doiftrine and Duty ; yet the Failure in Pradice renders that Teftimony, 
 as to them, void, how nicely and fubtilly foever they may interpret themlelves 
 out of the Pradice of what the People underftood, and the Priefts intended 
 they fliould underftand by it at tliat Time. 
 
 But, to conclude thi3 Subjed for the prefent, tho' I was well pleafed with 
 the Revolution of Affairs at that Time, the Circumftances thereof being attend- 
 ed with fufficient Evidence of a very particular Providence of the Almighty, yet 
 I took Offence at the Clergy's appearing fo much in it as they did, who had 
 lately fo vehemently preached up contrary Principles, 
 
 This great and fuddcn Revolution in the Government, feem'd to unhino-e 
 Things for a Time •, and few, if any, knew where they would at laft fix. 
 The Church was divided in Judgment, if not in Intereft ; fome few keeping to 
 the Pradice of their former Dodrine, but the generality receding from it : So 
 that, for my own Part, being young, and only a private Perfon, I could not 
 fee any Certainty in any Thing we call'd Religion, State, or Politicks ; all be-
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. n 
 
 ing fo interpreted as Time ferved ; or as if none of them had any certain or A n ^f o 
 fleady Bottom, or longer continued the fame, than the Humour or Interefl of 1688. 
 Pretenders run that Way : So that as Chriftianity, Heaven, and eternal Life, and 
 the Way thither, were the general Pretences of fo many infincere and empty 
 ProfeiTors of Christ, wholly Strangers to his holy and divine Nature-, under 
 a deep Humiliation in a View of thefe Things, and of my own want of an expe- 
 rimental Knowledge of God, in true Contrition, and bent of both Mind and Bo- 
 dy before him in fecret, I often implored his divine Wifdom and Diredion for 
 my Aid and Conduft, in a Concern of the laft Importance j in which, above all 
 Things, we ought to be moft certain and clear, both as to the Objeft of Faith, 
 in Things to be believed, done and fuffered ; about which there are fo many great 
 and unchriftian-like Contefts in the pretended Chriftian World, and fo little of 
 the wife, innocent, and holy Nature of that divine and heavenly Thing we all 
 talk and mak.e Profefllon of. 
 
 I THINK proper, in this Place, to recount fome of the gracious Dealings 
 of the Lord wirh me from my early Days. I was not naturally addidled to 
 much Vice or Evil ; and yet, through the Converfation of rude Boys at School, 
 I had acquired fome Things by Imitation, tending that Way ; but as I came to 
 put them in Practice, by Word or Aftion, I found fomething in myfelf, at fuch 
 Times, fuddenly furprifing me with a Senfe of the Evil, and making me afham'd 
 when alone ; tho' what I had faid or done was not evil in the common Account 
 of fuch as I converfcd with, or among Men, in a common Acceptation. And 
 tho' I did not know, or confider what this Reprover was, yet it had fo much In- 
 fluence and Power with me, that I was much reformed thereby from thofe Habits, 
 which, in time, might have been Foundations for greater Evils ; or as Stocks 
 ■whereon to have engrafted a worfe Nature, to the bringing forth of a more plen- 
 tiful Crop of grofler Vices. 
 
 Nevertheless, as I grew up to Maturity, I had many Flov/ings and Eb- 
 bings in my Mind ; the common Temptadons among Youth being often and 
 ftrongly prefented : And tho' I was preferved from Guilt, as in the Sight of 
 Men, yet not fo before the Lord; who feeth in fecret, and, at all Times, be- 
 holdeth all the Thoughts, Defires, Words, and Aftions of the Children of Men, 
 in every Age, and throughout the World. 
 
 The Luft of the Flefh, of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, had their Objedls 
 and Subjeds prefented : The Airs of Youth were many and potent ; Strength, 
 Aftivity, and Comlinefs of Perfon were not a-wanting, and had their Share •, nor 
 were natural Endowmicnts of Mind, or competent Acquirements afar off; and 
 the Glory, Advancements and Preferments of the World, fpread as Nets in my 
 View, and the Friendfliip thereof beginning to addrefs me with flattering Court- 
 Ihip. I wore a Sword, which I well underftood, and had foil'd fcveral Mafters 
 of that Science, tn the North, and at Lmidon ; and rode with Fire-arms alfo, of 
 which I knew the Ufe ; and yet I was not quarrelfome ; for tho' I emulated, I 
 was not envious : But this Rule, as a Man, I formed to myfelf, never to oftend, 
 or affront any wilfully, or with Defign •, and if, inadvertently, I fliould happen 
 to difoblige any, rather to acknowledge, than maintain or vindicate a wrong 
 Thing; and rather to take ill Behaviour from others by the bell Handle, dian 
 be offended, where no Offence was wilfully defigned. But then I was determi- 
 ned to refent, and punifli an Affront, or perfonal Injury, when it was done in 
 Contempt, or with Defign : And yet I never met with any, favc once ; and 
 then 1 kept to my own Maxims with Succefs ; and yet fo, as neither to wound, 
 
 nor
 
 la The LIFE, &c. 
 
 A N >r o iicr be wounded ; the good Providence of the Almighty being ever over me, 
 ibSS. and on my Side, as well knowing my Meaning in ail my Conduft. But, in 
 Proceis or Time, as thefe prevalent and potent Motions of Corruption and Sin be- 
 came ftronger and ftronger in me, fo the Lord, in great Goodnefs and Mercy, 
 made manifeft to my Underftanding the Nature and End of them ; and, having 
 a View of them in the true Light, and the Danger attending them, they became 
 irkfome, dilagrecablc, and exceeding heavy and oppreffing to my Mind : And 
 tlien the NecefTity of that great Work of Regeneration was deeply imprefs'd 
 upon me ; but I had no Experience or Evidence of it wrought in me hitherto. 
 This Apprehenfion greatly furprifed me with Fear, confidering the great Uncer- 
 tainty of the Continuance of the natural Life ; and it began to put a fecret Stain 
 upon the World, and all its Glory, and all that I had to glory in ; tho' I kept 
 thefe Tlioughts within my own Breaft, not knowing of any Soul to whom I 
 could llrioufly and fafely divulge them : And indeed none, for a confidcrable 
 Time, difcerned my inward Concern by any outward Appearance ; which, I found 
 afterwards, had been much to my Advantage and Safety. 
 
 It is admirable by what various Steps the Lord is pleafed to kad the Soul 
 of Man out of this World, and the Spirit of it, home to himfelt ; and yet I am 
 apt to think, tliat, in his divine and unlimited Wifdom, he does not talce the fame 
 outward Method and Steps with every one, but varies the Work of his Provi- 
 dence, as their States and Circumltances may beft fuit and bear : For, by an Ac- 
 cident that befcl mc, I was further alarmed to confider my Ways, the Uncer- 
 tainty of Life, my prefent State, and latter End. 
 
 I T was this : Intending to go to a Country Church with an Acquaintance, 
 as we were riding gently along, my Horfe {tumbling, fell, and broke his Neck, 
 and lay fo heavy upon my Leg, that I could fcarce draw it from under him ; yet 
 I received no Hurt : But as we ftood by him a little, I had this Confideration, 
 that my own Life might have been ended by that Occafion, and I did not find 
 myfelf in a Condition fit for Heaven, having yet no Evidence of that neceffary 
 Qualification of Regeneration •, which brought great Heavinefs over my Mind ; 
 which did not totally depart till, through the infinite Mercy of God, I was fa- 
 voured with further Knowledge, and a better State. 
 
 Hitherto I had known the Grace of God in me only as a Manifefler of 
 Evil and of Sin, a Word of Reproof, and a Lav/ condemning and judging thofe 
 Thoughts, Defires, Words, Paffions, Affections, Acfts and Omifiions, which 
 are feated in the firft Nature, and rooted in the carnal Mind ; in which the Sug- 
 geftions, Temptations, and Influences of the evil one work and prevail: By 
 vvhich divine Grace I was, in fo'me good Degree, enlightened, reformed, and 
 enabled thereby to fliun and forbear all Words and Adts thus known to be evil, 
 and moral Rightcoufnefs reftored in my Mind, and thereby brought forth in me. 
 I became then fequefter'd, weaned, and alienated from all my former Acquain- 
 tance and Company ; tlaeir Manners and Converfation, tho' not vicious, (for 
 fuch I never liked) became burdenfome, tedious, and difagreeable ; for they had 
 not the Knowledge of G o d, nor fuch a Converfation as I wanted. And yet I 
 did not know the divine Grace in its own Nature, as it is in Christ; not as 
 a Word of Faith, Sandification, Jnftification, Confolation and Redemption ; be- 
 ing yet alive in my own Nature ; the Son of G o d not yet revealed in me ; 
 nor I, by the Power of his holy Crofs, yet mortified and flain ; being without 
 the Knowledge of the eiTential I'ruth, and in a State contrary to him, and un- 
 reconciled. But the Lord did not leave me there, bur, in his matchlefs Mer- 
 cy.
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 15 
 
 cy, followed me ftill by his holy Admonitions, and more and more inclined my A k x o 
 
 Mind in an earneft Enquiry after himfelf, and his own efiential Truth and Word ; 16S7. 
 
 concerning whom, I did not know of any in all the Earth could teach me, the 
 
 World being univerfally, as I judged, by the general Ways and Courfes of Men, of 
 
 all Forms and Ranks, altogether ignorant of the Lord, knowing only fome hifto- 
 
 rical and traditional Hints concerning him, and of his Dodrine and Ways ; which 
 
 having little or no Effedt or Influence upon the Minds and Converfations of Men, 
 
 it feemed but a dead Knowledge or Image, and they dead whilft they yet 
 
 lived, did not really and favingly believe in the true God, and ChristJesus, , 
 
 of whom they made Profefiion and talked : So that I did not then know that 
 
 the Lord had any People then in the World, own'd, by his Prefence with 
 
 them, as his Flock and Family •, which reminds me of that Saying of the Lord, 
 
 Neverthelefs, when the Son of Man cometh^ fiall he find 1-o.ilh on the Earth ? Luke 18. 8. 
 
 My Mind being truly earnefl with God, thirfling unto Death for the Know- 
 ledge of the Way of Life, he was pleafed to hear the Voice of my Neceffity j 
 tor I wanted prefent Salvation, and the Lord knew my Cafe could not admit 
 of farther Delay : And therefore, being mov'd by his own free Mercy and Good- 
 nefs, even in the lame Love in which he fent his Son, the Beloved, into the 
 World, to feek and fave the Loft, on the Firft Day of the Second Month, in 
 the Evening, in the Year (according to the common Account) 16S9, being alone 1689. 
 in my Chamber, the Lord brake in upon me unexpectedly •, quick as Light- 
 ning from the Heavens, and as a righteous, all-powerful, all-knowing, and Sin- 
 condemning Judge ; before whom my Soul, as in the deepeft Agony, trembled, 
 was confounded and amazed, and filled with fuch awful Dread as no Words can 
 reach or declare. 
 
 M Y Mind feemed feparated from my Body, plunged into utter Darknefs, 
 and towards the North, or Place of the North Star : And being in pcrfeft De- 
 ipair of returning any more, eternal Condemnation appeared to furround and in- 
 clofe me on every Side, as in the Center of the horrible Pit ; never, never to fee 
 Redemption thence, or the Face of him in Mercy, whom I had fought with all 
 my Soul : But, in the Midil of this Confufion and Amazement, where no 
 Thought could be formed, or any Idea retained, fave grim eternal Death pof- 
 fefling my whole Man, a Voice was formed and uttered in me, as from the 
 Center of boundlefs Darknefs, " Thy Will, O God, be done ; if this be thy 
 *' Aft alone, and not my own, I yield my Soul to thee." 
 
 I N the conceiving of thefe Words, from the Word of Life, I quickly found 
 Relief: There was all-healing Virtue in them •, and the Effect fo fwitt and 
 powerful, that, even in a Moment, all my Fears vanifhed, as it they had 
 never been, and my Mind became calm and ftill, and fimple as a little Child -, 
 the Day of the Lord dawn'd, and the Son of Righteoufnefs arofe in me, 
 with divine Flealing, and reftoring Virtue in his Countenance •, and he became 
 the Center of my Mind. 
 
 In this wonderful Operation of the Lord's Power, denouncing Judgment 
 in tender Mercy, and in the tlour of my deepeft Concern and Trial, I loft my 
 old felf, and came to the Beginning of the Knowledge of Him, the Juft and 
 the Holy One, whom my Soul had lunged for. I now faw the whole Body ot 
 Sin condemned in my own Flefli ; not by particular Ads, as whilft traveling in 
 the Way to a perfect Moral State only, but by one Stroke and Sentence of the 
 Great and All-awing Judge of all the World, of the Living and of the Dcicl, 
 
 D the
 
 •J 4 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 ■ A N N o the wliole carnal Mind, with all that dwelt therein, was wounded, and Death 
 16S9. begun ; as, Seli-love, Pride, evil Thoughts, and every evil Defire, with the 
 whole Corruption of the firft State and natural Liie. 
 
 Here I had a Tafte and View of the Agony of the Son of G o d, and of 
 his Death and State upon the Crofs, when the Weight of the Sins of all human 
 Kind were upon him, and v/hen he trode the "Wine-prefs alone, and none to 
 affifb him. Now ail my pail Sins were pardoned and done away ; my own 
 Willings, Runnings, Searchings, and Strivings, were at an End ; and all 
 my carnal Reafonings and Conceivings about the Knowledge of God, and the 
 Myfleries of Religion, were over ; which had long exercifed my Mind, (being 
 then natural) botli Day and Night, and talcen away my Defire of Food and 
 natural Rcpofe : But now my Sorrows ended, and my anxious Cares were done 
 away •, and this true Fear being, to me, the Initiation into Wifdom, I now 
 found the true Sabbath> a holy, heavenly, divine, and free Reft, and moft fweet 
 Repofe. 
 
 This deep Exercife being over, I flcpt till the next Morning, and had greater 
 and better Refrelhment and Comfort than I had felt for fome Weeks before. 
 
 The next Day I found my Mind calm and free from Anxiety, in a State 
 likeil that of a young Child. In this Condition I remained till Night : And about 
 the fame Time in the Evening that the Vifitation, before related, came upon 
 me, my v/hole Nature and Being, both Mind and Body, was filled with the 
 divine Frefence, in a Manner I had never known betore, nor had ever thought 
 that fuch a Thing could be ; and of which none can form any Idea, but what 
 the holy Thing itfelf alone doth give. 
 
 The divine efiential Truth was now felf-cvident ; there wanted nothing clfe 
 to prove it. I needed not to reafon about him ; all that was fuperceded and im- 
 merged, by an Intuition of that divine and truly wonderful Evidence and Light, 
 which proceeded from himfelf alone, leaving no Place for Doubt, or any Que- 
 ftion at all. For as the Sun, in the open Firmament of Fleaven, is not difco- 
 vered or feen, but by the dire£t Efflux and Medium of his own Light, and the 
 Mind of Man determines thereby, at Sight, and without any Train of Reafon- 
 ing, what he is ; even fo, and more than fo, by the overfliadowing Influence and 
 divme Virtue of the Flighcft, was my Soul aiTured, that it was tlie Lord. 
 
 I SAW him in his own Light, by that blcflcd and holy Medium, which of old 
 he promifed to make known to all Nations -, by that Eye which he himfelf had 
 formed and opened, and alfo enlighten'd by the Emanation of his own eternal 
 Glory. 
 
 Thus I was filled with perfedl Confolation, which none but the Word of 
 Liie can declare or give. It was then, and not till then, I knew that G o o is 
 Love, and that perfeft Love which cafceth out all Fear. It was then I knew 
 that G o D is eternal Light, and that in him is no Darknefs at all. 
 
 "O" 
 
 I WAS highly favoured alfo with a View, and certain Demonftration, of the 
 Manner of the Operation of the Almighty, in aflliming human Nature, and 
 clothing therewith his inacccffible divine Light and Glory, even with an innocent, 
 holy, and divine Soul and Mind, homogeneal to the Children of Men : And diis, 
 as with a Vail, whereby the Moft High hath fuited himfelf, and condefcended 
 
 to
 
 of T n O M A S STORT. jy 
 
 to the low Condition of Man, and in whom alfo Man, being refined as the tried Anno 
 Gold, and thereby fitted for the Holy One, can approach to iiim, as by a pro- 1689. 
 per Medium, and therein abide and dwell with the Lo i<.u, and enjoy him for 
 ever. 
 
 From henceforth I defired to know nothing but the Lo r d, and to feed on 
 that Bread of Life which he himfelf alone can give, and did not fail to mmiftcr 
 daily, and oftner than the Morning: And yet, of his own Free-will and Good- 
 nefs, he was pleafed to open my Underftanding, by Degrees, into all the needful 
 Myfteries of his Kingdom, and the Truths of his Gofpcl ; in the Procefs where- 
 of he exercifed my Mind in Dreams, in Vifions, in Revelations, in Prophecies, 
 in divine Openings and Demonftrations. 
 
 Also, by his eternal and divine Light, Grace, Spirit, Power and V/ifdom ; 
 by his Word, he taught, inftrufted, and inform'd my Mind-, and by I'emptations 
 alfo, and Provings, which he fuffer'd Satan to minifter-, that I might ice my own 
 Weaknefs and Danger, and prove, to the utmoil, the Force and Efficacy of that 
 divine Love and IVuth, by which the Lo r d, in his boundlefs Goodnefs and 
 Mercy, had thus vilitcd my Soul. 
 
 B Y all Things I faw and heard in his wonderful Works of Creation ; by my 
 own Mind and Body, and the Connection and Duration of them as one tor a 
 Time -, by their Separation, and the diftin£t Exifhence of each by itfelf, in very 
 difterent States and Modes, as if they had never been in Union, or compoicd 
 one Man ; by the differing States, Ranks, and Underftandings of the Children 
 of Men, tlieir Superiority, Interiority, Olrences and Aids, the Motive of every 
 natural Man to aft regarding only himlclf. 
 
 By the Animals, Reptiles, and Vegetables of the Earth and Sea, their Ranks 
 and Subfervienctsone to another, and all of them to the Children of Men. 
 
 By the Sun, Moon, and Stars, the innumerable Holl of Heaven, and infinite 
 Worlds, and that boundlefs Space which they move and roll in, without inter- 
 fering, or any way annoying one another, as all depending one upon another, as 
 meet Helps and Coadjutors ; ail connected without a Chalm, and all govern'd by 
 the fteady Lav/s, which the Almighty Word and Fiat that gave them Being, and 
 formed them, placed them under, and fettled them in. 
 
 But, as the Diadem of all, and the only true and certain Way, when it pleafed 
 the Moft High, by the Eifufion of his own Goodnefs, to reveal in me the Son 
 of his Love, even his Wifdom and Power, by whom he defign'd and eficclcd all 
 Things, then I was taught to fear him ; then I v;as taught to love him ; then, 
 O ! then, and not aright till then, was my Soul inftrudled and informed indeed. 
 
 But thefe fecret Operations were confin'd to my own Brcafl:, fo th.it no one 
 knew any thing of them ; only an Alteration was obfcrv'd in me, but the Caufc 
 of it was not feen. I put ofi' my ufual Airs, my jovial Actions and Addrefs, and 
 laid afide my Sword, v.hich I had wore, not thro' Dcfign of Injury, or Fear of any, 
 but as a modifli and manly Ornament. 1 burnt alfo my Inltrumcnts of Mufick, 
 and divefted myi'elf of the lliperfluous Parts of my Apparel, retaining only that 
 which was neceffary, or decm'd decent. I dechned the publick Worfiiip, not 
 with a Defign to join myfelf to any other Sect •, for I v/as rather apt to conclude, 
 from v/hat 1 liad then obfcrved, that thcfc Manifcftations were peculiar to me, and 
 
 th.u ■
 
 i6 77j^ L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Anno that there was not any People I might properly affociate with ; and alfo, at that 
 16S9. Time, I was induced to believe, that one Day I Ihould be obliged to oppofe the 
 World in Matters of Religion, but when or how that Ihould be brought to 
 pafs, I did not lorefee. 
 
 Remaining in a Hill and retired State, and the Book of Life being open'd 
 in my Mind, I read what the Lord himfelf, by the Finger of liis Power, had 
 written, and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah had open'd there ; and the Scrip- 
 tures of Truth, written by Mofcs and the Prophets, the Evangelifts and Apo- 
 ftles of Christ, were brought to my Remembrance daily, when I did not read 
 them, and made clear and plain to my Underftanding and Experience, fo far as 
 they related unto my own State, and alio in a general Way ; tho' I lulled not 
 to know any Myftery or thing contained therein, other than the Lor d, in lys 
 own Free-will and Wifdom, thought fit to mamfeft. ^ 
 
 And one Night, being in Bed, and all Sleep and numbering involuntgrily 
 fufpended, and my Mind quiet and eafy, and direded towards the North, a- 
 bout the fecond Hour in the Morning ; and, after a fhort Space, " I beheld a 
 " Storm to arife in the Northern Ocean, towards the North Pole ; and look- 
 " ing ftedfaftly upon it, and the Heighth, Fury, and Force of the mighty Waves, 
 " I law an Army innumerable walking thereon toward the South: And when 
 " they came afliore, they covered the whole Breadth of the IQand of Britain, and 
 " all the Northern Lands •, and the Rear I could not fee, or whence they ilTued. 
 " They were Strangers in the Earth; fuch as have not been known : Their Ap- 
 " parel plain, appearing as if they had come from far, and travelled long : But 
 " 1 faw no Provifion, Baggage, Sword, Spear, or W'eapon of War, but only 
 " Staffs in their Hands, fuiting their Journey. Their Countenances were grave, 
 " fober, and calm, importing Wifdom and Peace ; and they offered no Vio- 
 " lence or Hurt unto any : And yet all Nations, being furprifed and amazed 
 " with great and fudden Fear, fled before them ; and they d;d not purfue, 
 " otherwife than by walking forward in the fame ileady Pace and Order as upon 
 " the ftormy Seas, which had not obftrufted their March. The Inhabitants of 
 " Britain, and of other Lands, of all Stations, Ages, Sexes, Sedls and Ranks, 
 " as diftracted and confounded with Fears, and flying as for their Lives, when 
 " none purfued, fell, many of them by the Way ; and, left they fhould be 
 " overtaken, when no Man gave them chace, they cried out aloud, with con- 
 " fufed Shreaks and Noifcs, raiflng their trembling Hands, and intermitting 
 " Voices towards Heaven, (which they had deeply offended and neglefted be- 
 " fore) to implore Deliverance from the dreadful Army, wliich offered them no 
 " Harm. And when Britain's Children arrived at her fouthermoft Bounds, flie 
 " joined herfelf to the Land of the ancient Gauls. And all Nations thus flow- 
 " ing together, as the Concourfe of the Waters into one Sea, they vanilhed to- 
 " gether, and I lliw them no more." 
 
 2d Mo. Some Weeks after this, having been in a very found Sleep, I was awaken'd in 
 
 '"^ ^" this Manner : " There appeared a City, near the Gates whereof ftood the fairefh 
 " Houfe therein, which was high and magnificent -, into which a Man of low 
 " Stature feem'd about to enter: Fie was habited as a Poll, or Courier, of a 
 " Prince, .bringing great and fwitt Commands and News, with a Trumpet in his 
 " Right Fland, tranfparent as fine polilh'd Chryfl:al, and without Wrinkle or 
 " Wreath, and therewith he founded towards the North, with a ftrong, con- 
 " ftant, equal, and inarticulate Voice ■, and the Breath of his Mouth iffuing 
 " through it, was as a Flkme of Fire, in Form of a two-edged Sword, 
 
 This
 
 of T no M A S ST Rr. 17 
 
 « This Voice ralfcd me from the dead, (for I thought I had been in the Anno 
 *' Grave) and the cogent attraftive Virtue thereof drew me towards him that 1689. 
 " founded ; and, filled with awful Reverence, I ftood on his Right-hand ; tho' 
 " he uttered not a Word, and I was likewife filent. 
 
 " Having finifhed his Sounding towards the North, he took the Trumpet 
 " from his Mouth, and held it in his Right-hand, with his Arm ftretched to- 
 " wards the Eaft, and his Face ftill towards the North, with his Eyes intent 
 *' toward Heaven ; his Right-ear turned upward, reclining toward the Eaft ; 
 " his Mouth a little open, and his Breath glowing therefrom as a lambent 
 " Flame j and as one hearkening, with deep Attention, for frefh Orders from 
 " the King of Kings. 
 
 "But I looked unto himfclf alone ; and, in the Twinkling of an Eye, he 
 " fet the Trumpet to his Mouth again, with Majefty and Zeal ; and, turning 
 " it toward the Earth, the Breath of his Mouth there-through was as a Stream 
 " of Fire and Brimftone ; which pierced the Earth, drove it hither and thither, 
 »'• and melted the Stones before him. 
 
 "The City was then alarmed, and pale Death appeared on every Face; 
 " the Gay of this World were aftonifhed, and the mighty thereof in War trem- 
 *' bled in great Amazement and Fear ; but knew not where to hide them- 
 " felves." 
 
 My Sleep then vanifhing, and being fully awake, the blefTed Effeds of this 
 Voice remained in my Mind, with heavenly Confolation, unknown to the Dead, 
 and the Sons and Daughters ol Men, in the State in which, by Nature, they 
 are. 
 
 A s the Nature and Virtue of the divine effential Truth increafcd in my 
 Mind, it wrought in mc daily a greater Conformity to itlcif, by its own Power ; 
 reducing my Mind to a folid Quietude and Silence, as a State more fit for 
 attending to the Speech of the divine Word, and diftinguifhing of it from all 
 other Powers, and its divine Influences from ail Imaginations and other Moti- 
 ons : And, being daily fed with the Fmit of the Tree of Life, I defired no other 
 Knowledge than that which was given in confequence of the Strength of Mind 
 and Undcrftanding thence arifing. 
 
 And, on the Afternoon of thctwenty-firft Day of the eleventh Month, 1689, .iHi ithMo. 
 Silence was commanded in mc, tho' not by me, in which it was given me to re- 
 main fdl the Evening-, and then that Scripture, John xiii. 10. was brought to 
 my Remembrance ; which I began to write, and proceeded, as Things opened 
 in my Mind, and in Manner following : 
 
 JESUS faith to hwij he that is wajhed needeth not, fave to -ujajlj his Feet, [q],„ ^-^ ,o_ 
 itU is clean every whit. 
 
 The wajhing of the Feet fignifies the cleanfing of the Ways -, and thofe who 
 are wafhed in the Laver of Regeneration, v/ill walk in clean Paths, and bring 
 forth Fruit according to the Nature of the Tree of Life : Such will w;dk in 
 Faith, Love, Obedience, Peace, Holinefs, Righteoufnefs, Judgment, Mercy, and 
 Truth. And whofoever faith he is of the Father, and hath not Chanty, he is a 
 Liar, and the living Word rulcth not in him ; for whofoever hatJi known the 
 
 E Word,
 
 i8 The L I F E, ci^'^. 
 
 Anno Word, and abideth therein, hath the Father, becaufe the Word of Truth bear- 
 1689. eth Witnefs of the Father; and whofoever is born of God will keep his Com- 
 mandments. 
 
 To the S yl I N T S in Z I O N, 
 
 A SONG oj "PRAISE. 
 
 Ei\.R, O ye Mountains, and give Ear, O ye Cedars of Lebanon^ 
 the L o R D, the Light of Jerufakm^ the Life of Saints, hath put a 
 Song of Praife in my Mouth, and caufed me to rejoice in the Valley 
 of Jehofophat. 
 
 I WAS in tlie Defert, and he led me forth by the Power of his Right-hand ; 
 I was fallen, and he ftretched out his Arm, and fet me upright ; yea, I was dead, 
 and, behold, he raifed me from the Grave. 
 
 I WA s alfo an hungred, and he has fed me with the Bread of his everlafting 
 Covenant. 
 
 I WEAKLY fainted in the Way ; but the King of the holy Mountain revi- 
 ved me by the Word of his Promife, 
 
 H E has laid my Foundations with Beauty, with precious Stones of divers * 
 Colours ; and the Superftrudure is all Glory. 
 
 Come fing with me, O ye Vallies, and Flowers of the Plain, let us clap 
 our Hands with Joy ; for the King of the Eaft hath vifited us, and fmiled on 
 our Beauty -, for he fees his holy Name on every Flower, and glorious Image on 
 every lovely Plain. 
 
 Come let us walk after him to the Seat of his Judgment, that we may fee 
 Juilice executed on the Mountains. 
 
 W o unto thee, O Babel^ and unto thy Children for ever ; for the fettled 
 Decree is gone forth againft thee, and the Executer of Juftice comes towards 
 thee with Wings. 
 
 Tremble, O ye Nations of the Earth, who have drank of the Wine of 
 the Wrath of her Fornication •, for ye Ihall be rooted out with her, and caft 
 into the Lake of Oblivion everlafting : There fliall be weeping and gnalhing of 
 Teeth, without all Hope of Redemption. 
 
 Cry aloud, with Tears, O ye Worfhippers in the outward Court; for he of- 
 fered you Peace, but ye have laid hold on War; he offered you Reconciliation, 
 but, behold, ye went on in perfecuting the Saints of the Moft High. 
 
 He called, in the Bowels of his Mercy, Come and enjoy the Fruits of my 
 Love ; and did ye not anfwer. There is no Satisfadlion in thee .-' 
 
 Y E ftood about the Doors of the Sanfluary, and he fent forth to invite you 
 in ; but ye rcfufcd, and with-held others alfo. 
 
 But
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 19 
 
 But thus faith the Right-hand of the Majefty on high, I will arifc in my Anno 
 Fury and come to Judgment ; I will fuddenly tear in Pieces, and there fliall be 1689. 
 none to deliver. Who will avert my Wrath from the Children of Difobedience ? 
 Or, who fhall with-hold my Love from the contrite ones ? 
 
 Light up your Lamps, O Virgin Daughters of Jerufakm ; for the Bride- 
 groom is come to feaft his Guefts with the Oil of Gladnefs, in the Chambers of 
 Love. 
 
 Come ye ragged ones, come fit down before the King ; for he is meek and 
 lowly, and ioveth the humble. Tho' you be naked, he will clothe you with Kigh- 
 teoufnefs ; tho' you be hungry, he will feed you with the Bread of eternal Life. 
 
 Fear not, ye of low Degree ; for with our God there is no Refpedl: of Pcr- 
 fons : Fear not, O ye little ones •, for he iliev/ed you his Loving-kindncfs of old ; 
 and with him there is no Shadow of turninsr. 
 
 'O* 
 
 AwAK E, awake, O ye who deep in TrcfpafTes and in Sins •, for the Trum- 
 pet founds aloud in the City of our King : Be raifed, O ye dead, and ftand 
 upright before him -, for he is true and faithful who fcnt forth his Word. 
 
 CoNQjiER, O conquer, thou holy Love of God, thofe who in Ignorance 
 oppofe thy Mercy. 
 
 Smite thy People with great Third, OLord God of Mercy, that they 
 may drink abundandy of the Waters of thy Salvation. Make them hungry, 
 even unto Death, O Life of the Jufl, that they may eat abundantly, and be re- 
 freflied by the Bread of Life everiailing. 
 
 Call them from the Huflcs of outv/ard Shadows, and feed them with thy 
 hidden Manna, and Tree of Life. 
 
 Take from them the Wine of the Earth, which they have abufed to Abo- 
 mination, and "ive them the P'ruit of the living Vine at the Father's Table. 
 
 o 
 
 Be RE AVE thy People, O mofl: faithful and true, of the Waters which they 
 have polluted -, and walh them in the Laver of Regeneration, by thy holy Spirit ; 
 and cieanfe them by thy righteous Judgments, that they may retain thy glow- 
 ing Love. 
 
 Consider their Weaknefs, O Father of Mercies ; for they are Flefli and 
 Blood, and cannot fee through the Vail into thy holy Habitation, and Holy of 
 Holies, in thy glorious Temple. 
 
 Rend the Vail of carnal Wifdom in the earthly Mind, O thou v/onderf ul 
 Counfellor, and difplay thy Glory in its full Perfcftion. 
 
 Dissolve the great W^orld of Pride, Covetoufncls, Dioinkennefs, Lying, 
 Curfing, OpprefTions, filthy Communications, and W horcdoms ; and eftablilh 
 Ricihtcoufnefs and Peace for evermore. 
 
 'o 
 
 The Meafure of Iniquity is now Brim-full, diat thy W^rath may have a fiill 
 Draught of the Deftruftion of thine Enemies.
 
 lo The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Rejoice with us, O ye that reft in Hope ; for ye fliall fhortly be ra'ifed 
 i68g. into Glory. 
 
 For the Lord has laid hold on the Sword of his wonderful Power, and, bc- 
 liold, \Vrath is gone forth before him to Judgment, 
 
 H E will Ihake the Earth with terrible Plagues, and the Fear thereof was never 
 
 equal!' d. 
 
 All Nations quaked at his awful Look, and Death waxed paler at his glo- 
 rious Prefence. 
 
 The Heavens and the Earth fhall pafs away before his Breath, even the Breath 
 of his Mouth, and fhall be found no more for ever and ever. 
 
 All who hearken unto the falfe Prophet, and give Ear unto the old Serpent ; 
 who break the Commands of the G o d of Jacob, Day by Day, and caft his Laws 
 behind their Backs ; 
 
 Who fet at naught his Statutes, and trample under Foot the Blood of his 
 everlafling Covenant ; 
 
 Who bring the Idols of their Vanity before the G o d of Purity, whofe Eyes 
 can behold no Spot, nor talce Pleafure in their Sins and OpprefTions ; fhall fall 
 before the Prince of Righteoufnefs, and be caft out of his holy Prefence, into the 
 Lake of Wrath, as To-phet of old, prepared for the Devil and his Angels. 
 
 The Apoftate Whore, divorced for her Adultery and Perfidy, who, mounted 
 upon her Beaft of Self-love, Pride, Covetoufnefs, and Envy, rode head-long 
 unto the Abominations and Plealures of Sodom and Egypt, unto the Ocean c^ 
 the Fullnefs of Hell, fhall have her Portion with the Serpent and falfe Prophet, 
 as a full Recompence of Reward for the Fruits of her Doings. 
 
 Rejoice over her, all ye Saints of the Lamb of G o d ; for he who is mighty 
 to lave hath delivered you from her Allurements, and dilcovered unto you the 
 Secrets of his Counfel. 
 
 I WAS filent before the Lord, as a Child not yet weaned; he put Words 
 in my Mouth, and I fang forth his Praife with an audible Voice. 
 
 I CALLED unto my God out of the great Deep ; he put on Bowels of Mercy, 
 and had CompafTion on me, becaufe his Love was infinite, and his Power with- 
 out Meafure. 
 
 He called for my Life, and I offered it at his Footftool ; but he gave it me 
 as a Prey, with unfpeakable Addition. 
 
 He called for my Will, and I refign'd it at his Call ; but he return'd me his 
 own in token of his Love. 
 
 H E called for the World, and I laid it at his Feet, with the Crowns thereof ; 
 I with-hcld them not at the beckening of his Hand. 
 
 Bl-t
 
 of THOMAS STORT. n 
 
 But mark the Benefit of Exchange ! For he gave mc, inftead of Earth, a Anno 
 Kingdom of eternal Peace; and, in heu of the Crowns of Vanity, a Crown of 1689. 
 Glory. 
 
 My God called me from my Father, and I went a-pace ; lie called me his 
 Son, and clothed me with his Garments. 
 
 H E called me from the Wife of my Youth, and I ran in hafte ; he efpoufLxl 
 me to his Son, and I became his near Relation. 
 
 What moved thee to this, O Life of my Soul ! O Glory of thy Saints! 
 For I was become vile with the Blacknefs of Egypt. 
 
 Was it not thine infinite Love and Mercy, thine unalterable Patience, and 
 wonderful Condefcenfion, that brought thee from thy Throne below thy Foot- 
 ftool, in the Likenefs of Vanity, that thou mighteft exalt me above the high 
 Heavens, in thy Kingdom of everlafling Reft ? 
 
 Thou haft m.ade me bold before thee ; thou haft made me confident in thy 
 Sight ; Behold now I fpeak without Reftraint, becaule thy Free-will lias made 
 me free, 
 
 L o, now thy Eleftion is a free Eledion, and thy Call without Difpute. 
 
 THEY gazed upon me •, they faid I was mad, diftradted, and become a 
 Fool ; they lamented becaule my Freedom came. 
 
 They whifpered againft me in the Vanity of their Imaginations ; but I in- Mat. x. 27. 
 clined mine Ear unto the Whifperings of the Spirit of Truth. 
 
 I SAID what ami, that I fliould receive fuch Honour ? But he removed 
 the Mountains out of my Way, and by his fecret Workings prefsM me forward. 
 
 H E gave me a Reward, and behold I had done no Work ; Wao-cs, and I 
 had not wrought in his Vineyard. 
 
 When the Lord quickened mc, I called for Obedience •, he was pleafed 
 with my Defire, and granted my Requeft in the Might of his Power. 
 
 My Lord called, and I heard his Voice, but knew him not ; for the Dark- 
 nefs of Ignorance had caufed Unbelief I anfwered. Who art thou, Lord? 
 And he informed me, by the living Word of his Love and Mercy. 
 
 H E gave me living Faith to lay hold on his Voice ; and fiiving Knowledo-c, 
 to avoid the Voice of the Serpent. 
 
 H E gave me Joy which no Tongue can cxprefs, and Peace which pafTctii 
 Underftanding. 
 
 M Y Heart was melted with the Heighth of Comfort -, my Soul was immerfcd 
 in the Depths of Love ; my Eyes o'erfiow'd with Tears of greateft Pleafure. 
 
 F The.
 
 22 / The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno The Men of the Earth looked, as on a Man forfaken of Hope, given up to 
 16S9. / Fear, and furroimded with Shame. 
 
 They fuid. Behold a Man foolifh in his Imaginations, feeking after Vanity, 
 and given over to believe Lies : But I regarded not ; for I had the Jewel in pro- 
 fpedt, the promifed Land in view. 
 
 I FOLLOWED the Voice of the Shepherd, who gave me Food according to 
 
 my Strength, and found all Things even as he had faid of old. 
 
 H E gave me Power to open my Mouth concerning Things to come, and a 
 
 Name by which I fnall be laved. 
 
 I WILL call for Perfeverance in the Ways of Life ; for the hidden Manna, 
 Day by Day received. 
 
 M Y Comforter alfo taught me to pray, in Knowledge as in Faith : I begged 
 Himself, and he gave me All. 
 
 PI E gave me Power to do Wonders alfo ; to keep his Commandments, through 
 his Holy Spirit, and to walk in the Paths of Righteoufnefs with joyful Songs. 
 
 I wi ll call upon him in the Days of Temptation ; and when I am in the 
 Shadow of Death, the Lo rd Ihall be my Strength. 
 
 Wilt thou wafli my Feet, O Lord, with the Wafliing of Regeneration, 
 that I may tread the Paths of Liie before thy Face. 
 
 R E S T H S E, 
 
 BLESSED art thou, O Virgin Daughter of Jerufalem , for thy Streets are 
 laid with Peace ; thy Walls are furrounded with Power ; thy Gates are 
 adorned with Beauty ; thine Habitations with Purity ; thy Temple is adorned 
 with Glory within and Holinefs without ; and thy Priefts are eftablifhed for 
 
 evermore. 
 
 Thy King, O Z/'ra, is the mighty Lord of Hofts-, the God of all glorious 
 Maiefty ; the Prince of Peace ; the Strength of Jacob ; the Hope of Ifrael ; the 
 Help of the diftrefled ; the Comfort of the comfortlefs ; the Strength of the 
 weak ; the Hufband to the Widow ; the Father to the fatherlefs ; the Feeder 
 of the hungry ; the Cloather of the naked ; the Purifier of the unclean ; the 
 Waflier of the filthy ; the Healer of the fick ; the Raifer of the dead j the 
 Judge of all the World ; and the everlafting Life. 
 
 How canft thou therefore fall, O Virgin Daughter of Z/(?« .? Orhowfliould 
 thy Walls be razed, which are founded upon the Rock of Truth, on the Pillars 
 of eternal Power ? 
 
 Truth bears the Keys of the Kingdom, and a Lie cannot enter therein: 
 For a Lie bears the Image of Darknefs ; it is near a-kin to Ignorance, Bhndnefs, 
 Folly, Superftition, Madncfs, and Idolatry.
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. ^i 
 
 A Lie is the Key of the Bottomlefs Pit, and fets the Gates thereof wide Anno 
 open to the Children of Difobedience and Unbehevers. 16S9. 
 
 A Li E is the Path of Hypocrites, the Way to great Babel; the Streets of 
 Babel are paved with a Lie, Pride, Covctoufnefs, and Envy, Deceit, with Craft 
 and Oppreffion. 
 
 Her Pleafure is everlafting Torment -, her Prince is the God of the Eartli, 
 Jpollyon, the old Serpent ; her Foundations are Falfhood, and Perfidioufnefs for 
 
 ever. 
 
 She burns in hatred to Almighty God, and the Smoke of her Blafpheiny 
 and Torment afcends for ever and ever. Hallelujah. 
 
 T THATCH, O ye Difciples of the Lamb of God, left ye be found fleep- 
 V V ing when your Lord cometh, and be thereby unfitted to enter into 
 his Reft and Glory. 
 
 Watch and pray, left you enter into the Temptation of Self-confidence, 
 and lie on the Beds of Self-fecurity, and the Fire come and devour you up. 
 
 Know you not, that thofe who are fleeping in Tranfgreffions, are thereby 
 unfitted to be fed with the Bread of Comfort ? Becaufe it is as a Dream in the 
 Night, which pafTeth away without Regard. 
 
 Know you not, that whilft you are carnally minded, ye judge according to the 
 Things of the Flefti ? But when ye are renewed in Spirit, ye judge all Things as 
 they are in Righteoufnefs and Knowledge ; yea, through his Love who raifcd 
 you up, you fhall judge Angels. 
 
 Bow down, O ye Mountains of the Eartli, before the Majefty of the Glory 
 of our God, in the Name of Jesus : For it is a Name of Humility, of perfedt 
 and unfpotted Humility •, and he will be your Exaltation, through the Riches 
 of his Love, before the* Throne. 
 
 O ST AY no longer among the Swine of this World, feeding on earthly Plea- 
 lures, ye prodigal Sons -, but leave off the Huflvs of carnal Formality, of Men's 
 Invention, by the Wifdom of this World, and return unto your Father's Houfe, 
 that you may be fed with the Bread of Life, to your everlafting Reconciliation. 
 
 Cry aloud with Joy, O ye Vallies and Plains-, for Christ is your Exal- 
 tation, far above all Heavens, even into Fellowfliip and Union with the Father 
 of all comfortable Mercies. 
 
 Behold, this is the Name by which alone there is Salvation ; the only Name 
 under Heaven by which ye are faved. 
 
 This is he who is your unfeigned Obedience ; your unfpotted Righteoufnefs ; 
 your acceptable Peace-offering ; your Lamb of Innocence ; your Sprinkling of 
 Purity i your Baptifm of Holinefs ; and your full Pcrfcftion. 
 
 He
 
 1^ The LIFE, (^x. 
 
 Anno H e is your Spoufe, in relation to whom ye cry, Abba, Father ; your ever- 
 
 1689. lafting Comfort, and eternal Glory. 
 
 Give Ear, O ye living Temples of the Holy Spirit, and fing Praifes to the 
 God of Life, in his holy Mountain for evermore. Alklujah. 
 
 THIS Writing, being begun about the fourth Hour in the Evening, was fi- 
 nifhed at Twelve that Night : And then going to Bed, I had comfortable 
 Reft till the Morning. And that Day, looking it over fedately, I obferved many 
 Things therein writ in the firft Perfon, which did not belong to my State at that 
 Time -, which gave me fome Uneafmefs, as if I had wrote Things not true : So 
 that I was ready to deftroy the Writing. But being flopped by a fudden Return 
 of Thought, and remembering and confidering the Mind in which it was writ, 
 the fluency of the Matter prefented in my Mind, without any Premeditation, 
 or Contrivance of my own ; but only to write as it came, and on various Subjects j 
 and remembering alfo the undoubted Affurance and Evidence of the divine Pre- 
 fence, and of the Truth of thefe Things at the Junfture of writing them, I was 
 confirmed it was the Mind of Truth, and not my own only ; and that thefe 
 Things were true in that Mind in which they were writ, and dictated ; and might 
 anfwer the States of many I knew not •, and might be my own in time, if faith- 
 ful and obedient : And, examining further, I found it fententious, and in Pe- 
 riods ; and then I reduced it into the Form, as above, and fo preferved it ; but 
 kept clofe to the Root from wlience it fprung, as my only Safety and Guide ; 
 plainly perceiving, that the Holy Scriptures, from time to time, of old, origi- 
 nally proceeded from the Inbreatliing and Di6lates of the Holy Spirit, of the 
 Holy Word, Christ, in different Inffruments, various Ages, and Languages. 
 
 And, about the fame Time the next Evening, being alone in the fame Room, 
 the fame Mind returned, and filled me with great Confolation ; which reffed 
 upon me for fome Time with perfe6t Content, which nothing but himfelf can 
 give ; and, from the Center of that Mind, a Concern arofe in me to write again ; 
 and, from that Fulnefs I perceived reiling in me, was apprehenfive I might write 
 much •, and therefore took a Quire of Paper, and began to write, as Matter be- 
 gan to appear, and with full AfTurance, in Manner following : 
 
 ARISE, arife, O ye who fleep in the Mills of Sin and Folly ; put the 
 Garments of Righteoufneis on your naked Souls : For the everlafting 
 Day is breaking forth ; the Brightnefs of his Glory fliall difperfe the Clouds of 
 Unrighteoufnefs ; and the Abominations of the Earth fliall fill before his Judg- 
 ments, 
 
 Go to ye, who are polluted with the f^efhly Luffs of the World -, wafh ye 
 in the Blood of the Covenant, that ye be not fmitten wlienrhe Deffroyer cometh. 
 
 Rejoice, rejoice, O ye Slaves of the Captivity of Bahel ; for the Time 
 of your Delivery is near at hand. The King fliall command, and none fhall 
 difobey j for his Love is free without relpetSt of Perfons. 
 
 . Flow down, as Wax before the Sun, O ye Mountains of Pride ; for the 
 Prince of Meeknefs has overcome you. 
 
 Fly fwiftly before him, ye Luflis of the Flefli ; for he fliall deftroy you by 
 the Glory of his Prefence. ' 
 . La-
 
 of T H O M A S ST O RT. ly 
 
 Lament, and be exceeding forrowful, O thou Seat of the Beaft ; for he Anno 
 hath a Treafure of Wrath prepared for thee. „ 1689. 
 
 Thou, O City of Whoredoms and Abominations of Hell, fhak be laid 
 wafte ; for who will make IntercefTion for thee ? 
 
 The Meafiire of thine Iniquities is now Brim-full ; yea, overflowing with 
 Abominations. 
 
 Thou haft polluted my People witli thy Witchcrafts ; and thy Sorceries 
 are in all Nations. 
 
 Thou haft exalted thyfelf in the Imaginations of thine own Heart j and 
 caufed my People to adore thine Idols. 
 
 Thou haft made them form Images before me of thy own inventing ; to 
 mount up in Towers of their own building. 
 
 Thus am I provoked to bring Confufion upon the Language of their carnal 
 Imaginations ; that they know not each his Neighbour's Meaning. 
 
 Many are become righteous in their own Eyes, and there are few who value 
 Judgment. 
 
 Instead of the Scepter of Peace, they have laid hold on War, and defpifed 
 the Words of my Kingdom. 
 
 They have contended about outward Things, which fliall be brought to an 
 End ; but my living Way they have defpifed. 
 
 I commanded them to love, but behold they hated ; to forgive each 
 other, but they hatch'd Revenge. 
 
 I c a L L E D for Righteoufnefs ; but the Cries of the Opprefled came up be- 
 fore me from Day to Day. 
 
 I DEMANDED their Hearts •, but they facrificed them to the World, and 
 perfidioufly broke their Covenant. 
 
 I TOLD them that my Gofpel was Truth and Peace ; but behold they have 
 chofen War and a Lie. 
 
 The Whoremongers faid unto the Drunkards, ye are wicked Men ; and 
 thofe of filtliy Communication reproach'd the Scornful. 
 
 The Sodomites were laugh'd to fcorn by the Adulterers ; and the Adulterers 
 hils'd at by the Vipers of Malice. 
 
 Thus every wicked Beaft opprefled another ; and everyone devoured his Prey. 
 
 The Lo rd alfo gave them up to a reprobate Mind, in the Counfel of his 
 Judgment, that their Iniquities might be compleat. 
 
 G But
 
 z6 71je LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno But behold, I have pronounced Sentence, faith the Lamb of God, againft 
 
 1689. thofe who have feduced my People. 
 
 I wi LL bring Hanger on the Land, fuch as was not fince the Foundations 
 of the World were laid ; and all the Earth fhall fear before me. 
 
 They have delighted in the Sword, and the Sword fhall devour them ; even 
 from one End of the Earth to the other. 
 
 I N their Wickednefs they have called for Plagues and Deftruition ; and be- 
 hold it is even at the Doors of their City. 
 
 I WILL rain Fire from Heaven upon all Flelh, faith Almighty G o d ; even 
 the Coals of Fire from off mine Altar. 
 
 r'T'^ H E Heavens fhall pafs away at the Appearance of his Majefty ; and the 
 -L Earth fhall not abide his Glory. 
 
 H E will overfhadow his Spoufe with the Wings of eternal Peace ; and efta- 
 blifh her in his wondcrous Love. 
 
 The Chaff of Pollutions he will confume with Fury ; but the Rock of Truth 
 fhall (land for evermore. 
 
 II E will give his own to underftand his Counfel ; and feed them with his hid- 
 den Knowledge. 
 
 The Fruit of his everlafting Vine fhall they drink new in his Kingdom ; and 
 fit down with him in Joy for ever. 
 
 H E faw their Meeknefs, Humility, and Faith ; and gave them the Land 
 for an everlail:ing PofTelTion. 
 
 H E was found faithful to his Promife of old, in a plenteous Redemption to all 
 Ifrael. 
 
 H E remembered his Covenant with Abraham of old, and eftablifh'd his 
 Peace with Jacob. 
 
 Mat. xvii. 8. He eflabliflied his Tabernacle alone in the holy Mountain j and none affifted 
 — xxvii. 46. in his Offeri N G of Reconciliation. 
 
 Ifa. Ixiii. 3. 
 
 Now, tho' I apprehended, by the Fulnefs of my Spirit, when I began to 
 write, (as I have faid) that I might write much ; yet having wrote the lafl 
 Paragraph, ending with the Word [Reconciliation,] my Concern ceafed, and I 
 could not write any more at that Time, but remained in Peace and Tranquility 
 of Mind ; but fome time then about, in the fame Mind, wrote a Prayer, as 
 foUoweth. 
 
 " f~\ Almighty, incomprehenfible, and infinitely merciful Lord God, 
 " V^ forafmuch as none can enter into thy Reft, unlefs he be regenerated 
 " and renewed, I humbly beg, in the Name and for the Sake of thy Son 
 " Christ, that thou wik be pleafed to waflii me in the Water of Life, and purify 
 
 " my
 
 of THOMAS ST R 7\ 27 
 
 " my polluted Soul with the holy Fire of thine infinite Love ■, that I may live A v n o 
 " in thee, and walk in the living Way of Truth, Love, Peace, Joy, Righteoul- 1689. 
 *' nefs, Holinefs, Temperance, and Patience, fo long as thou art pleafed to con- 
 *' tinue me in this Garden of Labour. 
 
 " And be my Strength, O my Righteoufnefs ! that I go not aftray from jer. xxiii. 6. 
 *' chy Paths, thro' the Frailty of this earthly Taberiiacle ; but give me daily the 
 " Bread of Life, v/hich thou freely holdcft forth to the Hungry all the Day 
 " long. 
 
 " And inafmuch as none can eat of this Bread, but thofe who hunger and 
 " thirft after Righteoufnefs, give me a fervent Dcfire, O my Salvation ! and a 
 " faving Faith, a living Faith, to lay hold on thy moft certain Promilc ; that 
 " I may be made Partaker of the Glory that is laid up for thy Servants in thine 
 " everlafting Habitations." 
 
 The Converfation of Mankind being generally upon Trifles, not worthy of 
 the Thought of rational Creatures, tending much more to Vice than Virtue ; and 
 my Mind being a little renewed by the Influence of the divine Truth, I was 
 much in Silence and alone : And what Thoughts I had being upon other Ohjefts 
 than thofe I had been converfant with before I knew the Truth, 1 wrote alio fomc 
 other Things than thofe aforegoing, as they were from Time to Time prefented 
 in my Mind, without any Search or Labour, and unexpefted ; divers whereof 
 I referved, and are in Manner following. 
 
 o- 
 
 To the Suffering B a b e s 0/ /Z;(? Immortal Seed, 
 perfecuted hy lllimael the Mocker. 
 
 "O E J O I C E aloud, ye fcorned Ones, the Lo rd your God exalted is. 
 
 And hears your woful Sighs and Groans, becaufe your Caufe is furely his : ■ 
 
 The mighty Hoft of God's Right-hand fhall furely fight for Jesus 
 Christ; 
 
 The haughty 5rtZ'^/, built on Sand, fhall fliortly fall, which you opprefs'd. 
 
 Her Popes, her Priefts, her Orders aU, fhall fly before the mighty Wind, {J |^ 9- 
 
 Which from the Mouth of God the Lord, fhall ifTue forth, even unconfin'd. 
 
 Now JudaFi Lyon rbars aloud -, the Key of David now is found, 
 
 The Time is come when Saints muft reign, and with Lo rd J e s u's Law 
 be crown'd. 
 
 The Lord our God /hall ever reign. 
 And we to Egypt ne'er go hack again. 
 
 To
 
 i8 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno 
 
 ^' To the ^ at: lo'iiis afar off, and to their VviiYiCB. s, 
 
 EAR, O ye Nations, and give Ear, O ye Ends of the Earth ; 
 
 The Lord, the Prince of Peace, has forfaken the Proud, and vifited the 
 liumble in tender Love. 
 
 What Nation will now rebel againft the Lord ? Or what Kindred now 
 rejedt his powerful Name ? 
 
 The Trumpet founds aloud in the Ears of the Juft i but, as for the Fools, 
 the Flame is prepared for them ; 
 
 Yea, a Furnace that fhall never be quenched, and a Dungeon where no 
 Light appeareth. 
 
 They exalted themfelves in the Imaginations of their own Hearts, laying. 
 Who is the Lord ; and what are his Laws ? 
 
 A R E not we Sons of Babel the Great ? And is not our Father, ApUyon, the 
 
 Deftroyer ? 
 
 Who then fliall oppofe the Purpofe of our Hearts ? Or who ihall bring us 
 down to Judgment ? 
 
 I s not Levic.than, the Fearlefs, of our neareft Blood -, and Goliab, the Strong, 
 alfo on our Side ? 
 
 Surely we ordy reign in all the Earth ; and, as for the Juft, the Lord 
 
 is become their Portion. 
 
 To the Sufferers under the King of Babel 
 and his Minifiers, his Captains of Thoufands, of tens 
 of ThoufandSy and of Multitudes in7iu?nerahle, 
 
 THE Lord arofe, and gave Battle to all Nations •, the Lo R D threlh'd, 
 and the Nations of the Earth were turned into Blood. 
 
 The Strength of the Earth was cut off at one Blow j the Foundations there- 
 of were fliaken, and Princes brought to nought. 
 
 The Blafphemer came into Remembrance before the L o r d, and was cut 
 off by his all-conquering Sword ; the Adulterer alfo was caft down from his lof- 
 ty Seat. 
 
 Then fang the Saints high Praifes before the Lord, and every Kindred 
 blefs'd his holy Name. 
 
 What Power is to be praifed like that of the Lord our God ? Or what 
 Love on all the Earth like that of a bleeding Saviour ? 
 
 Surely
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. . ^ 
 
 Surely the Power of the World is but Vanity and a Lie, and the Love of A m n- o 
 the World Enmity againft the Lo rd. i68q. 
 
 Now reigns the G o d of Power (our G o d he is) alone : Our G o d is all In 
 all, and in him we are one. 
 
 A T R A T E IL 
 
 " C~\ Lord, take Pity on a pcrifhing Soui, borne down under a Multitude 
 V-/ of vile Affeftions, trodden under Foot by the Infolence of the wicked 
 " One. I i-kint under the Yoke, O thou moll faithful and true ! and have no 
 *' Hope but in thee. 
 
 "My Heart is weary with fighing under Troubles, and my Pains increafc 
 " as a Woman in hard Travel. When fhall my Day come, O Redemption of 
 " the Juft 1 And when fhall I fee the Seal of my Salvation ? 
 
 " O WORK in me the Law of cverlafting Love, and fix my Boundaries there 
 " for ever and ever. O thou, who faidil unto the Worlds, Be ye finillicd, and 
 " it was fo, fay unto my Soul, Be thou perfed, and it fliall be done. 
 
 " Purify me, O G o d, by the Judgments of thy Right-hand, and let thy 
 " Mercies ever be before me : Raifc me, that I may praife thee in the Firma- 
 *' ment of thy Power : Humble me, that I may exalt thy Name in the midft of 
 " the Nations." 
 
 The Humility of Jesus is the Exaltation of the Juft; and the exalted 
 in the Earth are fartheft from the Lord. 
 
 A N O T H E R. 
 
 Lord, do thou, who art the Creator and Difpofer of all Things, 
 create me anew after thine own Image, and difpofe ot nie according to 
 " thy Will i that I may fet forth thy Praife in the midft of the Nations, and do 
 " good, in thy Power, to many People. Raife thy Standard, O Lord, over the 
 " Heighth of the Mountains, and let all Nations flow thereunto ; for thy Children 
 " groan with daily Oppreffions, and the Teeth of the Wicked are made bare 
 " againft them. The Earth alio groans v/ith the Burthen of the Polluted, and 
 " the Seas roar aloud with the Cries of the Wounded ; the Heavens eccho with 
 " the Voice of Deftrudtion, and the Air is darken'd with Smoke from the Pit. 
 
 " Break in, O Lord, as an everlafting Redeemer to thine own Seed, 
 " and as a Fire to deftroy the Works of the wicked One. 
 
 " Prepare thine Arm, make bare thy Spear, fmite home to the quick, 
 " thou mighty One. Divide, O my G o d, between the Good and the Bad, 
 " and make an everlafting Separation between the Juft and the Unjull •, fo fliall 
 " the Nations praife thee, the moft higli God, and every Kindred blels thy holy 
 " Name. Amn." 
 
 H AFTER
 
 30 The L I F Ej ^'c. 
 
 Anno 
 1690. A FTER all this, a deep Confitkration return'd upon, and enter'd into my 
 
 £%. Mind, concerning the States of many Perfons in the National Way of Wor- 
 fhip, as alfo among the Diffenters from it, of divers Denominations •, fome of whole 
 ' Preachers I had occafionally heard, particularly Dr Richard Gilpin of Scakby- 
 cafile^ an able Phyfician, and ancient celebrated Preacher among the Prefby- 
 terians ; and I had obferv'd many others who feem'd to have Sincerity and good 
 Intentions in their refpedive Modes of Worihip ; whence a Queftion arofe. 
 Whether it might not be thro' my own Fault, for want of the true Knowledge 
 of G o D in myfelf heretofore, that I did not enjoy his Prefence among them, as 
 I had done, thro' his Grace, fince I had been vifited by the Lord, and drawn 
 into Retirement by the Comforts of his fecret Prefence ? Upon which I deter- 
 mined to go again and fee, whether the good Prefence of the Lord would be 
 manifefted in me there, as alone in my Retirements. And the Place I went to 
 was that called St Cuthberfs, in the City of Carlijle ; there being ufually Prayers 
 and a Sermon there in the Afternoons of the Firft Days ; but not with that 
 Pomp, Noife, and Show, as at the Cathedral, and therefore I rather chofe it : And 
 being feated there, as I had been often, and my Mind retired inward, to wait 
 upon the Lord, as he himfelf had taught me, die Lord would not own that 
 Worfhip by his fenfible Prefence, (tho' in himfelf omniprefent) nor me in that 
 Place ; but my Mind became filled with Darknefs, and overwhelmed with 
 Trouble, to fo great a Degree, that I could hardly flay till the Time was over -, 
 but, left I fliould do a Thing which might be looked upon as indecent, I con- 
 tinued to the End, and returning to my Chamber in Trouble, I went not among 
 any of them any more. But tho' I thus declined all outward Worfhip, or that 
 which was called fo, determining to follow the Lord whercfoever it might 
 pleafe him to lead me ; yet I found an univerfal Love, Good-will, and Compaf- 
 fion in my Mind, to all forts of People, whether Proteftants of different Denomi- 
 nations, Romans, Jezvs, Turks, or Heathens, But I obferved their feveral Re- 
 ligions, or what they accounted fo, every Man for himfelf, to be moftly the Effedt 
 of Education, Tradition, or Chance. For he who is born and educated among 
 the Proteftants of any Seft refpeftively, is Inch : He who is born and educated 
 among the Remans, is a Roman ; and fo of all the reft, till by Accident, or Intereft, 
 they change from Form to Form ; or fometimes, tho' more rarely, thro' the in- 
 ward Convidlions of the Holy Spirit of God, they obtain a right Underftanding, 
 and worfhip him in Truth. Therefore I ftood ftill, and waited for the further 
 Leadings of the Lord, and die Evidence of his Prefence, what to do, or where 
 to abide ; tho' the Proteftants, in general, cfpecially the National Church, were 
 ftill nearer me than any other Sect. 
 
 Thus the World, in genera!, appearing to me dead v/ith refpeft to the tnie 
 Knowledge of God, (notwithftanding the Truth of Ibme Notions they held in 
 relation to Matters of Fad: and literal Interpretation) and as walking Statues, I 
 did not then fee that the Lord God had any coUedlive Body of People at 
 that Day, who, as fuch, truly worfhippcd him, according to his own Inftitution > 
 or that any one on Earth knew ibme Things, which the true and living God 
 had been pleafed, of his own free Grace, and which I could neither afk or think 
 of, to communicate unto me •, tho' I found, in due TimiC, I had been in this 
 Point miftaken, as the Prophet of old, who thought he had been alone, and all 
 I JJ5 s'"'''' ^M'^ departed from the L o r d. 
 
 A s the Life of the Son of G o d prevailed in me, I became more and more 
 innocent, humble, loving, and charitable to the Poor ; to whom I gave Money 
 
 accord-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 31 
 
 according to my Ability, and without Oftentation, or Expedtation of Reward : A v x o 
 One Inftance of which I think proper to relate, it being attended with fome par- 1690. 
 ticiilar Circumftanccs. 
 
 A T the Time King William the Third was fubduing Ireland^ fome Perfons 
 and Families, retiring from the Inconveniences and Hardfhips of the War, came 
 into England, and, among others, an Independent Teacher, and with him a 
 Youth, his Son ; who being in Want, requefted Charity ; and, coming to my 
 Father's Houfe in Carlijle, where I then was, I gave him Haifa Crown •, which 
 being more than he expected, or had received (as he faid) from any other Peribn 
 in Town, he took occafion thence to enter into Difcourfc concernino; fome Poiius 
 of Religion, and civilly aflv'd of me, what Form of Worfliip 1 attended ? I 
 reply'd, I had formerly frequented the National Worfhip, according to my Edu- 
 cation ; but then, and for fome Time before, had declined it, as alio all other 
 outward Forms, keeping retired, in my Chamber, on the ufual Days appointed 
 tor that Purpole. And, when he heard this, he afked, if his Company, the next 
 Lo R d's Day (as he called it) might be acceptable ■, for the National Worihip was 
 not agreeable to him ? I gave Liberty, and he and his Son came accordingly to 
 my Chamber, where I was fitting alone in Silence, waiting upon the Lord. 
 
 After a civil Reception, and fliortPaufe of Silence, he began to magnify 
 the great Providence of G o d, in re-eftablifhing and advancing that People, 
 (meaning the Independents and Prefbyterians) who had been fo much hated, per- 
 fecuted and fupprelTed, now to be made the chief Inflruments of Deliverance, 
 Reftoration, and Reformation to the right Way of the Lord, and to his own 
 Glory. 
 
 A s he Ipoke, I obferved he was not himfelf upon the true Foundation, nor 
 acquainted with the Mind of the Lord on that Account j but fpoke from his 
 own Imagination, and Partiality to his own Seft, as he and they defircd it fhould 
 have been ; his Mind natural and carnal, and hisVicws outward, toward die Power 
 and Dominion of this World, as the Jeivs were at the Time of the Appearance 
 of Christ among them ; and, as foon as he came to a Period, finding my 
 Mind filled with the Sweetnefs and Meeknefs of divine Truth, I replied, 
 
 " The divine Providence is indeed great over the Children of Men, and ap- 
 *' parently over this Nation and her Dependents at this Day ; and the Neceffity 
 " of a right and thorough Reformadon is very great, and, in the proper Time 
 " and Way of the Almighty, will be brought to pafs : But neither by the Means 
 *' nor Inftruments now in your View; for all the Contenders, one againft another, 
 " by deftruclive Force, are of one Spirit divided againft itfelf, under different 
 *' Forms and Views, in which the ftrongeft will advance themfelvcs and tlicir 
 *• own Way •, but cannot, by fuch means, reform either themfelves or others, 
 *' as they ought to do in the Sight of God, who does not approve or countenance 
 *' Violence, Bloodfhed, and Unrighteoufncfs in one Se6t, and condemn the fame 
 " Things in another -, and will therefore bring about that right Reformation, by 
 " Inftruments of a different kind, and by another Means and Way : As it is writ- Zoch. iv. 6. 
 " ten. Not by Might, nor by Power ; but by my Spirit, faith the Lo'-rd." Mic- iii- 8. 
 
 U 1' o N this the Stranger was much broken in Spirit, and the Tears run down 
 his Beard, and dropp'd upon liis Knee, as he fat by me ; and after that, being 
 filled widi Love, (the fame which had reached him from my Spirit) he em.brac^d 
 mc in his Arms, rejoicing that he had met with me ; (with fome Encomiums I 
 
 re-
 
 D " 
 
 JIjc life, &c 
 
 Ammo don't think proper to write) but faid no more on any religious Subjeft. Soon 
 1690. after he departed, and J faw him no more. I now proceed with the Account of 
 my farther Frogrefs. 
 
 In writing the lail Paragraph of the foregoing Piece, (Page 18.) which I infcribed 
 To the Saints in Zion, i^c. the People called Quakers were fuddenly, and with 
 fome Surprize, brought to my Mind ; and fo ftrongly imprefs'd on my Remem- 
 brance, that thenceforward I had a fccret Inclination to enquire farther concern- 
 irg then;, their Way and Pi-inciples. 
 
 '1 69 1 It was fometime in the Fifth Month, in the Year 1691, when an Opportunity 
 
 was prcfented : The Occafion of it was fome Concerns that I had in tlieWeft Parts 
 of Cumberland, when, lodging at an Inn kept by one of that Profeffion, on a 
 Seventh Day TJight, and enquiring of him concerning fome Points of their 
 Rclio-ion, I perceived no material Difference between his Sentiments and mine, in 
 the Particulars then aflced after ; and he alfo perceived I was nearer them than he 
 (or perhaps any other) had thought, (for I had formerly oppofed the fame Man 
 in fome Things) which gave him occafion to inform me of their Meeting, to be 
 held the next Day, at a Country Village called Broughton. 
 
 A.MD, as I had been defirous to be rightly informed concerning that People, 
 and to fee them as in truth they were, I was pleafed with the Opportunity ; and, 
 the next Morning, the Friend and I fet forward toward theMeeting. And he, be- 
 in-^ zealous to have me further informed, and convinced of the Truth of theirWay, 
 fpakc cf many Things as we rode along, and with a good Intent : But my Mind 
 bcinp compofed, and its Attention direfted towards God, who knew I wanted 
 cnlv to fee the Truth, and not be deceived, I could not take any diftinft Notice 
 of what the Friend faid ; which he perceiving, after fome time, defifted, and 
 faid no more. And then we rode fome Miles together in profound Silence ; 
 in which my Mind enjoyed a gentle Reft and Confolation, from the divine and 
 holy Prcfcnce. 
 
 And, when vve came to the Meeting, being a little late, It was full gathered ; 
 "'" and I went among the Throng of the People on the Forms, and fat ftill among 
 them in that inward Condition and mental Retirement. And tho' one of their 
 Minifteri, a Stranger, began to fpeak to fome Points held by them, and declaim 
 agaiiift fome Things held by others, and deny'd by them -, particularly Pre- 
 deftination, as affertcd by the Presbyterians ; yet I took not much notice of it : 
 for as I did not doubt but, like ail other SecSts, they might have fomething to fay, 
 both for their own, and againft the Opinions of others •, yet my Concern was much 
 rather to know whether they were a People gathered under a Senfe of the Enjoy- 
 ment of the Prcfence of God in their Meetings ; or, in other Words, whether 
 they worfhipped the true and living God, in the Life and Nature of Christ, 
 the Son of God, the true and only Saviour : And the Lord anfwered my De- 
 fire according to the Integrity of my Heart. 
 
 For, not long after I had fat down among them, that heavenly and watery Cloud 
 overfhadowing my Mind, brake into a fweet abounding Shower of celeftial Rain, 
 and the greateft Part of tlie Meeting was broken together, diflblved and com- 
 forted in the fame divine and holy Prefence and Influence of the true, holy, and 
 heavenly L-ord ■, which was divers Times repeated before the Meeting ended. 
 And in the fame Way, by the fame divine and holy Power, I had been often 
 
 fa- 
 
 A: Br
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 35 
 
 favoured with before, when alone ; and when no Eye, but that of Heaven, be- A v n o 
 held, or any knew, but the Lord himfclf; who, in infinite Mercy, had been 1691. 
 pleafed to bcflow fo great a Favour. 
 
 And^ as the many fmall Springs and Streams, defcending into a proper Place, 
 and forming a River, become more deep and weighty ; even fo, thus meetino- 
 with a People gathered of the living God, into a Senle of the Enjoyment of his 
 divine and living Prefence, through that blefled and holy Medium, the Mind of 
 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and Saviour of the World, I felt an In- 
 creafe of the fame Joy of the Salvation of God -, and the more, by how much 
 I now perceived I had been under the like Miftake as the Propliet of God of 
 old ; but now otherwife informed, by a fure Evidence and Token ; by the Wit- 
 nels of the divine effential Truth, in which no living Soul can err, or be miftaken, 
 or deceived ; being fclf-evident and undeniable in all thofe who truly know liim. 
 
 Ovvi Joy was mutual and full, dio' in the Efflux of many Tears, as in Cafes 01 
 the dtepeft and moft unfeigned Love ; for the Friends there, being generally fen- 
 fible I was affeded, and tendered with them, by the Influence of the divine IVutii 
 they knew and made Profeffion of, did conclude, I had been at that Time, 
 and not before, convinced, and come to the Knowledge, or Senle, of the Way of 
 Tnith among them ; and their Joy was as of Heaven, at the Return of a Pe- 
 nitent 1 and mine as the Joy of Salvation from Gou, in view of the Work of 
 the Lord, fo far carried on in the Earth ; when I had thought, not long before, 
 there had fcarce been any true and living Faith, or Knowledge of God, in tlie 
 World. 
 
 The Meeting being ended, the Peace of God, which paffeth all the Un- 
 derflanding of natural Men, and is inexpreffible by any Language but itfelf alone, 
 remained, as a holy Canopy, over my Mind, in a Silence out of the Reach of 
 all Words ; and where no Idea, but the Word himfelf, can be conceived. But 
 being invited, together with the miniftring Friend, to the Houfe of the ancient 
 Widow Hall, I went willingly with them : But the fwcct Silence commanded in 
 me by Michael the Prince, Captain-General of the Flofbs in Heaven, ftill remain- 
 ing, I had nothing to fay to any of them, till he was pleafed to draw the Curtain, 
 and veil his Prefence ; and then I found my Mind pure, and in a well bounded 
 Liberty of innocent Converfation with them. 
 
 And, having ftaid there a fhortTime, I was invited to Dinner, at the Houfe 
 of Richard Ribtsn, an ancient and honourable Friend in the Village ; where I 
 was made kindly welcome, and where I had great Freedom of Converfation. 
 
 And, being now fatisfied, beyond my Expeftation, concerning the People of 
 God, in whom the Lord had begun, and, in a good Meafure, carried on, a 
 great Work and Reformation in the Earth, I determined, in my Mind, that 
 Day, to lay afide every Bufinefs and Thing which might hinder or veil in me 
 the Enjoyment of the Prefence of the Lord, whether among his People, or 
 alone ; or obftrudt any Service whereunto I was or might be called by him ; 
 efpecially Things of an entangling or confining Nature : not regarding what the 
 World might fay, or what Name they might impofc upon me. 
 
 Th e Bufinefs being over which had brought me into that P.art of the Countr/, 
 I returned to Carlijle ; where T had been but about two Weeks, till the Friend of the 
 
 I lv>a
 
 34 ^-^^^ LIFE, &c. , 
 
 Anno Inn before mentioned, coming to Town, informed me of tlieir Meeting for Bufinefs, 
 169 1. and Affairs of their Society ; and invited me to it, being about four Miles diftant. 
 
 At firfl I was a little furprized that he fliould invite me to fuch a Meeting, 
 and hardly thought him prudent in it ; for, tho' Things had happened as above, 
 yet I had not made any outward Profeffion with them, or declared myfelf of 
 rhcir Communion: But, tho' I found fome Averfion, rather than Inclination, to- 
 wards it, yet I yielded to go, that I might fee how, and in what Spirit and 
 Wifdom, they managed the Difcipline and Bufinefs of their Society, in Matters 
 of Rcli'i.ion : 
 
 D 
 
 That I might view them a little more clearly in all Circumftances, before I 
 fliould openly declare for their Way in all Things •, (fome Doubts yet remain- 
 ing, as to fome Points) and whether they thoroughly agreed with the Idea I had 
 conceived in my Mind of the State of the Churchof Christ, t-zz. That they be- 
 lieved in G o D and Christ; were fettled in the Pradtice of Chriftian Morality -, 
 that they were able to fuffer any Perfecution, or Oppofition, for true Religion, when 
 thereunto called, in the Courfe of divine Providence ; that the Charafteriftick 
 Mark of the Difciples of Christ fliould be fairly upon them, to love one ano- 
 ther^ not in Word and in Tongue only, but in Deed and in Truth ; and that 
 they fhould be preferved, by that Love, in Uniformity and Unity among them- 
 felves -, and alfo be loving and kind to all Men, as Occafion might offer; and 
 evince the fame, by doing them Good, and never any Harm. 
 
 These Qualifications I had deemed fufficient to demonftrate fuch to be the 
 Children of G o d ; brought forth in his Image, Righteoufnefs and true Holi- 
 nefs, in the Mind, or inner Man. 
 
 The Meeting being {>t\.^ they had firft a Time of Silence, waiting upon 
 GoD (as I did believe and praftife) for the renewing and ftrenthening of their 
 Minds •, and, after that, they proceeded upon the Bufinefs of the Day. And fo it 
 happened at that Time, that a Matter of great Moment among them was deba- 
 ted, and not without fome Warmth on both Sides ; but the Zeal of both did not 
 arife from the fame Root. 
 
 It was concerning the Manner and Effence of their Difcipline ; which a Sedt 
 among tlicm had oppoied, from the Time of the firft Propofal of any Difci- 
 pline among them as a Society. The Debates arifing pretty high, and they ob- 
 fcrving me to be tliere, and moft of them, I doubt not, having heard I feemed 
 to favour their Way ; and, being cautious left I Ihould take Offence from their 
 Debates, not knowing the State of the Cafe, or, perhaps, not qualified to judge 
 in Matters fo foreign to me, fome of them, prudently, put that Friend, who had 
 introduced me, upon an inofFenfive Way to procure my Abfence ; and according- 
 ly he called me afide into an outer Roomi, offering to difcourfe on fome fo- 
 reign Subjcft : But as my Mind, in time of Silence in the Meeting, had been 
 comforted in the Life of Truth, I rem.ained under the Senfe of it -, having ta- 
 ken little other Notice of what had pafled in Point of Argument, than in what 
 Spirit they managed and contended on each Side. 
 
 But tho' I obferved the Friend's good Intent in calling me out, I could take 
 no Cognizance of what he faid ; for a deep Thought now entered my Mind, 
 whether thefe could yet be the People of God? fince they feemed to be divided 
 
 among
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 
 
 3T 
 
 among themfelves, and treat one another with an Acrimony of Language, which. Anno 
 I thought, could not arife from Love, neitlier altogether fuited the Humility of i6qi. 
 
 Jesus, the true ChPv I ST. 
 
 The Friend, obferving my Silence, and that I was under a deep inward Concern, 
 became filent likewife, and a Trouble alfo feized him, but of another kind ; for I 
 was concerned to know the Truth, and on what Side, if on cither, it might lie ; 
 and he was afraid I had, or might take Offence, and depart from the Beginnino- 1 
 had made among them. 
 
 a 
 
 And thus we remained filent for fonie Time •, during which I plainly obfcrvcd 
 Struggle between two diftinft Powers in the Ground of Nature, working in my- 
 felf, which exhibited two different Ideas, or Conclufions, in my Mind, concern- 
 ing the Matter then in hand, and the Spirits and Peribns concerned as Aoents 
 tlierein, liz. 
 
 That the firft was Truth, eflablifhing himfelf in his own Nature, a Law- 
 giver and Ruler in every Member of his Church and Body, as alone needful un- 
 to them who were truly fo : But as he, who knoweth all Things, did forefec 
 that many would, in Time, come into that ProfefTion, as of old, without any 
 Knowledge of the divine Truth, or Work of it in themfelves, but, as Thieves 
 and Robbers, climbing up fome other Way •, by Education, Tradition, Imi- 
 tation, or finifter Interefls, and worldly Views •, who, not being under the Rule 
 and Law of Grace in the fecond Birth, would aft and lay of themfelves, contrary 
 to the Way of Truth, and Church of the living God : and therefore, in his 
 Wifdom and Power, working in the Minds of the Juft, he had early effablifn- 
 ed, and was yet more firmly eftablifhing, a due Order among his People ; for pre- 
 lerving the Right, and paffing Judgment and Condemnation on the Wrong and 
 Evil-doers ; that fuch as fhould profefs the Truth of God, and yet walk contraiy 
 to the fame, bringing forth Fruits of another kind, might be bounded and confined 
 by outward Moral Rules, adapted to jiunian Rcafon and Underftanding. 
 
 And, fecondly, on the other I land, that the] Spirit of this World had been, 
 and flill was working in the other Sort, to oppofe all Order and Diicipline, and 
 to live loofe as they lift, without any Rule, or Account to the Society, tho' pro- 
 feffing the fame Truth with them •, and to be judged only by their own Light, or 
 what they called fo, and accountable only to the Spirit in themfelves: tho' feverai 
 among that Party were only againft fome Branches of the Difcipline, already e- 
 ftabliflied by the Body of the Society, and not againft the whole. 
 
 And, during this Time of Silence, I clcariy beheld the contrary Natures and 
 Ends of thefe differing Spirits j the one Truth, the other Error-, the one Light, 
 the other Darknefs ; the one for Moral Virtue, and a holy pure Mind, and the 
 other for a loofe unbounded Liberty : and yet, that thefe laft, as Creatures, did 
 not fee the Sophiftry of the evil One, to whom themfelves were Inftrumcnts, nor 
 the Snare, but intended well, in their own View, and Way of conceiving Things. 
 
 And, in proportion and degree, as thefe Diftindtions were gradually made 
 clear in my Underftanding at that Time, the Load and Trouble I was under 
 'abated -, and, at laft, my Mind fettled down again to its own Center in Peace, and 
 became ferene, as before ; which, being i'uUy fcnfible of, I was chcarful, and faid to 
 the Friend, we may now return into the Houfe, for the Danger is entirely over. 
 I knew thy Meaning before we cama out of the other Room ; and commend 
 
 your
 
 3(5 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 A N N- your Care and Caution. With this he was greatly pleafed ; and fo were the 
 1 69 1, reft, \vhen they came to know it. 
 
 AfTizcs at 
 
 • After this I was at feme other Meetings •, but Httle Notice was taken of it 
 by any of my Relations or Acquaintance, till the Time of the Affizes at Carlijle ; 
 Cayh}e. ' ' where fome Friends, being Prifoners in the County Goal, for Non-pay- 
 ment of Tithes, others attended the Aflizes, as their Cuftom was, the better to 
 obviate Occafion of Troubles, or Hurt, to any of the Society, and to minifter 
 Counfel, or other Help, as Need might be ; and thefe went to a Meeting at Scot- 
 h\\ about two Milts from the City j and thither I went alfo. 
 
 DuR iNG the Time of the Meeting, I found a great and unufual Load on 
 my Spirit, and Hardneis in my Heart ; in fo much that I could hardly breathe un- 
 der the Oppreflion ; nor could I fay I had any Senfe of the Comforts of the divine 
 Prc-fence there, but that the Heavens were as of thick Brafs, and the Bars there- 
 of as of flrong Iron. But tho' I had no Enjoyment in myfclf, yet I was fenfible 
 the Prefence and Goodnefs of the Lord was there, and many therein greatly 
 comforted -, and therefore did conclude my Condition of Mind was from fome 
 other Caufe, and not relating to the State of the Meeting in general. And, after 
 the Meeting was over, one of them alked me how I did ; I anfwered. Indiffe- 
 rently. Then he, and fome others, perceived my Spirit was opprefled, and fym- 
 pathiz'd with me therein. 
 
 I COULD not, all this Time, perceive the particular Matter which thus af- 
 fected me, (for I knew not of any Thing I had done or faid to bring it upon my- 
 felf) till that Evening, being returned to my Father's Houfe, very fohtary, li- 
 lent, and inward, there came in one 'Thomas Tod, an Acquaintance of mine ; who, 
 alter fome Compliments of Civility, (for at that Time I had not quite declined the 
 common Modes of Salutation) defired to fpcalc with me apart -, and then told 
 me, that he had a Trial to come on next Day, concerning certain Houfes of his 
 in the Town of Penrith, being the greateft Part of all he had in the World ; 
 that one of his WitnelTes to his Deeds of Conveyance was dead -, another of 
 them gone into Irela7td, and could not be had ; but I, being the third, and 
 having made the Writings, he hoped, through my Evidence and Credit, to 
 gain his jull Point againft his unfair Adverfary : and defired me to be in readi- 
 ■ nefs in the Morning ; for die Trial was hke to come on very early. 
 
 A s foon as he began this Relation, the Word of Life began likewife to work in 
 me, in a very powerful Manner ; and the holy Hammer of the L o r d I fenfibly 
 felt, and law to be lifted up upon that Hardnefs of Heart, which, for fome Time, 
 (as above) had been my State : and it began to be broken, foftened, and diflfol- 
 ved ; and the Senfe of the Love of God, in fome Degree, to be renewed : 
 And then I faw plainly, that this was the hard Thing I had to go through ; and 
 that now was the Time of Trial, wherein I mull take up the Crofs of C h r i s t ; 
 
 Rom. X.I o. acknowledge his Doftrine fully in that Point; and openly, according to the 
 Underftanding given me ; and to defpife the Shame and Reproach, and other 
 Sufferings, which I well knew would enfue quickly ; or I muft forfake the 
 Lord tor ever : For, denying his Dodtrine, in the Senfe I had now plainly 
 feen it, would be a denying of himfelf before Men -, and if I had then denied 
 
 Mat. X. 33. him, I could expeft no lefs, but, according to his Word, to have been imme- 
 diately, and for ever, denied of him, and left under that Hardnefs of Heart, 
 and want of the Enjoyment of his divine Prefence, wherewith I had been favour- 
 ed before, and all the dreadful Confequences of a Beginning fo v/^oful. 
 
 Bur
 
 of T BO M A S ST RT. 57 
 
 But, according to the Advances of the Word and Work of the Lord in Anko 
 me at that Time, my Heart inchned to him : And, as my Acquaintance was 1691. 
 fpeaking, and by the Time he had fully done, I was furnifhcd with a full Refo 
 lution to give him a plain and diredt Anfwer ; which was on this Manner : " I 
 " am concern'd it Ihould fall out fo ; (for I had a real Refpeft for him, and law his 
 " Cafe to be very hard) I will appear, if it pleafe God, and teftify what I know 
 *^ in the Matter, and do what I can for you that Way ; but I cannot fwear." 
 
 This was fo great a Surprize to him, both from the Nature of his Cafe, and 
 Confidence he had of my ready Compliance, he having had no Occafion of any 
 Sufpicion of my prcfent Condition till that Moment, that he broke into a PalTion, 
 and, with an Oath, or Curfe, faid, " What, you are not a Quaker lure!" 
 
 But, tho' I had made Confeflion to Truth fo far, in that Point, and the di- 
 vine Prcfence fenfibly returned and advanced in me ; yet, upon this, I was again 
 filent, till clear in my Underilanding what to anfwer in Sincerity and Truth : 
 For as no Body, before that Time, had called me a Quaker, fo I had not af- 
 fumed the Appellation ; which, being given in reproach, was not grateful ; tho' 
 the Thing, in its proper Senfe, moft delightful. Nor did I then fee whether I 
 had fo much Unity with all their Tenets, as might juftify me in owning the 
 Name, (for in the Unity of divine Love and Life only I had known them) till the 
 Power of that Life of him, who forbiddeth all Oaths and Swearing, arifing yet 
 clearer and fuller in me, opened my Underilanding, cleared my Way, and ena- 
 bled me thereto ; and then I faid, " I muft confefs the Truth, I am a Quaker." 
 
 But, as this Confeffion brought me ftill nearer to the Son of God, his Love 
 increafing yet more fenfibly in me, fo likewife it heightened the Perplexity and 
 Difturbance of my Friend •, whole Cafe thereby became more defperate, in his 
 own Opinion : Upon which, in an Increafe of Heat, and ExprefTions therefrom, 
 ■ fuiting fo obvious a Difappointment, as it then appeared to Jiim, he threatened 
 to have me fined by the Court, and proceeded againil with the utmoft Rigour 
 of the Law ; " What ! mull I lofc my Eilate by your groundlefs Notions and 
 « Whims ?" 
 
 But the higher my Enemy arofe, and raged in this well-meaning, but mif- 
 taken Man, who thus, without Defign, became the Inftrument of my Trial, 
 the fuller and more powerful ilill was the Love of God ; whofe Caufe I had 
 now efpoufed, through his own Aid, and the Power of an cndlcfs Life from him, 
 made manifeft in me : Upon which I replied, in that Calm of Mind, and Refig- 
 nation to the Will of God, that the Life of the Son of God enables to, and 
 teacheth, " You may do what you think proper that Way ; but I cannot coin- 
 " ply with your Requeft in this Matter, whatever be the Ifllie of it." And 
 then he departed under great Diflatisfaflion, with all the Threats and Reproaches 
 his enraged Paffions could fuggeft to him, under a View of fo great Lofs. 
 
 Immediately I retired into my Chamber ; for, perceiving my grand Ene- 
 my to be yet at work, to introduce a flavidi Fear, and, by that Means, fub- 
 jeft my Mind, and bring me again into Captivity and Bondage, I was willinn- to 
 be alone, and free from all the Interruptions of Company -, that I miglit more 
 fully experience the Arm of the Lord, and his divine Inftrudions and Council, 
 in this great Concern and Exercife. 
 
 The Enemy, (being a crafty and fubtle Spirit) wrought upon my Paffions, 
 
 K not
 
 58 Tie LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno not fully fubjefted, and more artfully applied to my natural Reafon, (my Under- 
 1691. Handing not being fully illuminated) as his moft fuitable Inftrument. He urged 
 the Fine and Imprifonment, and the Hardfhips accompanying that Condition, 
 and how little Help I could expedt from my Father or Friends ; who would be 
 highly difpleafed with me, for fo foolifli and unaccountable a Refolution, as they 
 would think it ; and alfo the Scoffings, Mockings, Derifion, Scorn, Contempt, 
 Lofs of Friends and Friendfhips in the World, with fuch other Inconveniences, 
 Hardfhips, and ill Confcquences, as the Enemy could invent and fuggeft. 
 
 During all which Time, from about Eight in the Evening till Midnight* 
 the Eye of my Mind was fixed on the Love of God ; which ftill remaiiied fen- 
 fible in me, and my Soul cleaving thereto in great Simplicity, Humility, and Trufi: 
 therein, without any yielding to Satan, and his Reafonings on thofe Subjefts, 
 where Flefli and Blood, in its own Strength, is eafily overcome by him. But, 
 about Twelve at Night, the Lord put him to utter Silence, with all his Temp- 
 tations, for that Seafon, and the Life of the Son of God alone remained in my 
 Soul ; and then, from a Senfe of his wonderful Work and redeeming Arm, 
 Rom. viii. 2. this Saying of the Apoftle arofe in me with Power, The Law of the Spirit of 
 Life in Chrifi Jefus, hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death. 
 
 And then the Teachings of the Lord were plentiful and glorious ; my 
 Underftanding further cleared, and his holy Law of Love and Life was fettled in 
 me -, and I admitted into fweet Reft: with the Lord my Saviour, and given up 
 in perfeft Refignation to his holy Will, in whatfoever might relate to this great 
 Trial of my Faith and Obedience to the Lord. 
 
 I N the Morning I went up toward the Hall where the Judges fat, expefling 
 to be called as a Witnefs in the Cafe before mentioned ; but, before I reached the 
 Place, I faw my faid Acquaintance approaching me, with an Air in his Coun- 
 tenance denoting Friendfhip and Affeftion ; and, when met, he faid, " I can 
 " tell you good News; my Adverfary has yielded the Caufe; we are agreed to 
 " my Satisfaction." 
 
 Upon this I flood ftill in the Street ; and, reviewing in my Mind the Work 
 of the Lord in me the Night before, as already related, tliis Scripture came 
 Philip, ii. 13. frefh into my Remembrance, in the Life of it. It is God who worketh in you, 
 both to will and to do of his good Pleafure : For I was fenfible it was the Lord's 
 doing, and accounted it a great Mercy and Deliverance •, tho' I was, by this 
 Means, expofed to the View and Obfervation of all ; the Pity of many, (as 
 they judged of my Cafe) and the Scoffs and Cenfures of the bafer and more ig- 
 norant Ibrt, which was for C h r i s t's Sake only ; for none had any Immorality 
 to charge me with. 
 
 'D~ 
 
 This happening at the Time of the AlTizes, and People from all Quarters 
 there, I quickly became the common Subjeft of Difcourfe and Debate : For fev/ 
 could beheve the Report, and many came to fee ; and, during the Affizes, would 
 get together, talking and wondering ; and, when they happened to fee me afar 
 off in the Streets, would come in Crowds to gaze. Some would take off their 
 Hats, and pretend to fhow more than ordinary Complaifance, ialuting me as at 
 other Times ; but I not making any Returns of that kind, fome would fleer, 
 and giggle, and feoff, and grin, and run away in loud Laughter, faying, I was 
 mad : Yet fome others were ftruck with another PafTion ; they turned pale, 
 looked forrowful, and returned weeping : And one, who had been educated at 
 
 an
 
 of T H M A S S T RT. 59 
 
 an Univerfity, to lliew, at once, his Temper, Manners, and Learning, after he A v n o 
 had gazed upon me a while, among the bafer fort, he cried out, as" if he had i6c)i. 
 then been furprized with the Dilcovcry of fome new Syftem, " He knows not a 
 Genus Irom a Species /" when there was not any Thing previous leadino- to fucli 
 an Expreffion : Yet he was miftaken in that ; for I knew very well that Dog is 
 a Genus^ and Cur, Bull-dog, and Blood -hound, are diftind Species of that Ce;ms; 
 and, at that Time, law the Nature and Way of thefe Brute Animals too mucli 
 refembled in that giddy Mob ; tho' I faid very little to any of them, but o-avc 
 them my Face to their fill of gazing. And fome who, but a Day or two be- 
 fore, durft not have difcovered a difobliging Look upon me, now infulted 
 and triumphed ; which put me in mind of a Saying of Job, But mvj the)\ -uoho 
 are younger than /, have we in Derifion ; -aihofe Fathers I -aould haz-e difdained 
 to have fet with the Dogs of my Flock : And likewife of fome Expreffions in 
 that little Piece before inferted ; [Page i8.] which I did not think, at the 
 Time of writing it, would be fo foon, if ever, fulfilled upon myfelf, viz. 
 " They gazed upon me ; they faid I was mad, diftradled, and become a 
 *' Fool ; they lamented becaufe my Freedom came." 
 
 The Fool's pretended Pity and Inftruftions, who could not fee and pity his 
 own miferable Cafe, or knew what himfelf faid, was hardeft to bear : Yet all 
 thefe Things did not provoke, or move me ; for die Grace and Prefence of the 
 Lord was with me, and my full Strength and Prefervation. My Heart was 
 furrounded with a Rampart of invincible Patience, and my Soul filled with divine 
 Love. 
 
 This UHige gave me a much clearer View of the low, mean, miferable, bru- 
 tifh State of many Men, and of the greateft Part of that Mob, than I ever had 
 before, or could have imagined. But I was more civilly ufed by Ibmc Coun- 
 fellors who came the Circuit from London, among whom I had fome Bufincfs ; 
 efpecially Dormer, who was afterwards a Jutlge : They were kind, fami- 
 liar, and without a Scoff or taunting Grin. 
 
 The Bufinefs of the Aflizes being over, fome of my Acquaintance, Gentle- 
 men both of Town and Country, who wifh'd me well, in their own Senfe, think- 
 ing I had been deluded, as they ufually call'd it, by the Quakers, confultetl 
 how to reftore and reclaim me : And feveral Ways were propofed, efpecially by a 
 Meeting and Confultation of fome of the Clergy -, who, they imagined, might 
 folve thofe Doubts I might be under, and but yet wavering ■, fuppofing thofe 
 Sentiments to be but lately embraced by me, and I not yet fettled in them ; tho' 
 I do not think any of them knew what the true Quakers, or their Principles, were. 
 
 The Clergy generally Ihunn'd me, and I quickly obfervcd a particular En- 
 mity in them againft me ; tho' I had no more Averfion to them, as Men, than 
 to others. 
 
 But fome of thefe others, (my Well-wifliers abovefaid) fuppofing me me- 
 lancholy, becaufe reduced from my former Airs and Chearfulnefs, to Silence and 
 Gravity, got together in a Tavern, and my Father with them, intending to liave 
 me among them, to drink a hearty Glafs -, and try f in their Way) v/hcther they 
 could raife my Spirits into a more fociable I'emper, and bring me off from fuch 
 Thoughts. 
 
 -O' 
 
 While they were contriving this Scheme, I was retii-ed alone io my Clum- 
 ber,
 
 40 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno bcr, and favoured with a Senfe of the good and Soul-nourifliing Prefence of 
 1 69 1. the Lord ; but, after fome Time, a Concern came upon me, which gave me 
 to expeft fomething was in agitation concerning me ; and, loon after, an At- 
 torney at Law, of my Acquaintance, came from the Company to me, and 
 mentioned certain Gentlemen who defired to fee me at the Tavern. 
 
 I WAS not hafty to go, looking for the Countenance of the Lord therein, 
 neither did I refufe ; but my Father, and fome others, being impatient to have 
 me among them, came hkewife to me. I arofe from my Seat when they came 
 in, but did not move my Hat to them as they to me : Upon which my Father 
 fell a-weeping, and faid, I did not ufe to behave fo to him. I intreated him noc 
 to refent it as a Fault ; for tho' I now thought fit to decline that Ceremony, it 
 was not in Difobedience, or Difrefpefl to him or them ; for I honoured him as 
 much as ever, and defired he would pleafe to think fo, notwithftanding exterior 
 Alteration. 
 
 But moft of the reft kept up another Air, hoping to bring me into the fame 
 at the Tavern : But I, thro' Grace, faw their Intents, and was aware ; and I 
 had now Freedom in my Mind to go among them : And, when we came there, 
 the Company all arofe from their Seats, and feeming generally glad, put on 
 Airs of Pleafantnefs. 
 
 I N feating tliemfelves again they placed me fo as that I was in the Midft, invi- 
 ron'd by them, and then they put the Glafs round ; and, to relifh it the more, 
 they began a Health to King William. But the fecret Prefence of the L o r d be- 
 ing with me, tho' hid from them, it affeded them all in a Way "they did not 
 expeft ; for fcarce had two of them drank, till their Countenances changed, and 
 all were filenced. The Glafs, nevcrthelefs, went forward, tUl it came to me, 
 and then I told them, I wifti'd both the King and them well, and if I could drink 
 to the Health of any at all, I Ihould more efpecially to the King's, but fliould 
 drink no Health any more; and fo refufed it: And the Glafs never went round; 
 for feveral of them fell a-weeping, and were much broken, and all of them fi- 
 lenced for a Time ; which, when over, fome of them faid, they believed I in- 
 tended well in what I did, and that every Man muft be left to proceed in the Way 
 which he thinks right in the Sight of God : And fo we parted in folid Friendfhip. 
 It was the fecret Grace of God which wrought this ; and to him, the Lord 
 alone, did I impute it. And, the Company difperfing, I returned to my Cham- 
 ber in divine Peace and true Tranquillity of Mind ; with which I was favoured 
 for many Days. 
 
 I H A D not, all this while, converfed with any Friend about their Principles, 
 or read any of their Books •, nor did any of them come near me for fome Time ; 
 for my Father would not then allow them to come to his Houfe : Yet fome of 
 them, not long after, fent me three fmall Books ; which I took kindly, as well 
 intended. But I was favoured of the Lord with fomething to give me Under- 
 ftanding and Support in time of Need, more excellent than Books ; for that Book, 
 wliich had been fealed as with feven Seals, was now, in Meafure, opened by the 
 powerful Voice of the Lion of the Royal Tribe, and by the holy Lamb of God ; 
 even the Book of the eternal Law of God •, the Law of the Spirit of Life from 
 the Father, by Christ the Son, Redeemer of the World, and my Delight 
 was to read Day and Night therein : By which I profited more, in a fliort Time, 
 in the Knowledge of God, and the Things of his holy Kingdom, than if I could 
 have read and underftood all the written and printed Books in the World. 
 
 I 
 
 Rev.v. i.&c.
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 41 
 
 I therefore declined reading thefe till a more proper Seafon ; and then I looked Anno 
 into one of the Books aforefaid, a finall Tradl concerning Prayer : For it muft 1691. 
 be allowed, that the reading of good Books, efpecially the Holy Scriptures, the 
 chief of all, and upon which the IVutli of the reft depends, is highly profitable 
 and commendable. 
 
 Sometime after this Dr G/7/)/», before mentioned, fcnt his Son, a CounfcU ^ 
 lor, under whom I had been initiated into the Study of the Law, and who was 
 one of thofe at the Tavern aforefaid, and ftill retained a great Affeiftion for me, 
 to invite me to his I loufe at Scaleby-Cajile, and defired to fee fome of the Qua- 
 kers Books, fuppofing I had been impofed upon by reading them ; and I fent 
 him, as I remember, all that I had. 
 
 Soon after I had parted with thefe Books, I obfervcd a Cloud come over my 
 Mind, and an unufual Concern •, and therein the two Sacraments (commonly fo 
 termed) came afrefh into my Remembrance, and divers Scriptures and Aro-uments 
 pro and con ; and then I was apprehenfive the DoiSlor was preparing fomething 
 of that fort to difcourfe me upon ; and I began to fcarch out fome Scrip- 
 tures in defence of my own Sentiments on thofe Subjedls : but as I proceeded a 
 little in that Work, I became more uneafy and clouded ; upon which I laid 
 afide the Scripture, and fat flill, looking towards the Lord forCounfcl: Fori 
 confidered the Doftor as a Man of great Learning, religious in his Way, an an- 
 cient Preacher and Writer too, famous in Oliver^?, Time, and a TJirone among 
 his Brethren •, and that he might advance fuch Subtilties as I could not readily 
 confute, nor would concede to, as knowing them erroneous, tho' I mip-ht not 
 be fuddenly furnifhed with Arguments to demonftrate their Fallacy ; and fo mi" lie 
 receive HurtI 
 
 And then it was clear in my Underftanding, that, as he was in his own Will 
 and Strength, tho' with a good Intent, in his own Senfe, fearching the Letter, 
 and depending upon that and his own Wifdom, Acquirements, and Subtilty, 
 leaning to his own Spirit and Underftanding, I muft decline that Way, and truft 
 in the Spirit of Christ, the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures. And as this 
 Caution was prelented in the Life and Virtue of Truth, I refted fatisfied therein, 
 and fearched no farther on that Occafion. \N'hen I went to his Houfe, he entered 
 into a Difcourfe on thofe Subjects •, and had fuch Paflages of Scripture folded 
 down as he purpofed to ufe : And, when I obferved it, I was confirmed that my 
 Sight of him, in my own Chamber at Carlijle, and of his Work, fome Days 
 betore, was right ; and my Mind was ftrengthcned thereby. But, before he 
 began to move upon the Subjcft, he difmifled every other Pcrfon out of the 
 Room J fo that himfelf and I remained alone. 
 
 The firft Thing he faid, was, in a calm Manner, to admoniOi me to be very 
 cautious how I efpoufed the Errors of the Quakers ; for he had lieard, of late, 
 and with Concern, that I had been among them, or feemed to incline that Way. 
 I anfwered, that I had not been much among them -, nor feen any of their Books, 
 but thofe I had fent him ; and knew not of any Errors they held. Yes, 
 faid he, they deny the Ordinances of Christ, the two Sacraments, Baptifm 
 and the Lord's Supper ; and then opcn'd his Book, at one of his down-folded 
 Leaves, where he read thus : 
 
 L Unto
 
 41 Tie L I F E, ^c. 
 
 A N N Unlo the Church of God which is at Corinth^ to them that are fanSiJied'in Chriji 
 1 69 1. Jefus, called to be Saints, i Cor. i. 2. 
 
 ! Cor.xi. 2 7 And, at another folded down Part, he read thus : For I have received of the 
 — 26. Lord, that which alfo I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jefus, the fame Night 
 
 in which he was betrayed, took Bread : and, when he had given Thanks, he brake it, 
 and faid, Take, eat ; this is my Body, which is broken for you : This do in remem- 
 brance of me. After the fame Manner alfo he took the Cup, when he had flipped, 
 faying. This Cup is the New Tefiament in my Blood -, this do ye, as oft as you drink 
 it, in remembrance of me : For as often as ye eat this Bread, and drink thirs Cup, 
 ye do fhew the Lord's Death till he come. 
 
 Upon thefe Scriptures he raifed this Argument, That tho' the Corinthians, 
 at that Time, were fanftified in Christ, and called to be Saints, yet they ftill 
 needed this Ordinance, and were to continue in it, according to the Apofde's 
 Dodlrine, till the Coming of Christ, at the End of the World : And he did not 
 think the Quakers more holy or perfed" Chriftians, than the Corinthians at that 
 Time ; and, confequently, that no State in this Life can render that Ordinance 
 needlefs to them, or overgrow it. 
 
 To this I replied, That tho' fome of thofe Corinthians had obeyed the Call 
 of G o D, and were, at that Time, fanftified by Faith in C h r i s t j yet others 
 of them had not obeyed the Call, but were remaining in grofs Sins and Pollu- 
 tions : But as they had been Heathens, and convinced by the Miniftry of that 
 i.Cor.ii.atid Apoftle, as appears by the Beginning of the fecond and fifteenth Chapters of that 
 Epiftle, he had firft of all preached to them Christ's Coming in the Flefli a- 
 mong the Jezvs ; his Life, Miracles, Doftrine, Death for our Sins, and Refur- 
 redtion from the dead, as faving Truths; but does not fo much as mention 
 this fuppofed Ordinance among them. 
 
 But, confidering their weak and carnal State, and Incapacity then to reach 
 the Knowledge of divine Myfteries, the Apoftle had, in their Initiation into the 
 Chriftian Religion, related to them the Sayings of C h R i s t on that Subje6t ; and 
 they had been in the Praftice, or rather Abufe of it, till the Time of the writing 
 of that Epiftle. Yet, if the Words of that Epiftle, in that Place, be carefully 
 and impartially obferved, without PrcpofiefTion or Prejudice, and compared 
 with other Scriptures, it will appear, that there is not any pofitive Command for 
 it at all, much lefs is it made a ftanding Ordinance ; but left to the Option and 
 Difcretion of his Difciplcs ; to whom it was firft mentioned how often they fhould 
 do it, and, confequently, alfo how long they ftiould continue it ; as appears by 
 die fame Text now adduced, viz. This do, as often as ye do it, in remembrance 
 of me. 
 
 But, to fet this Matter in a clearer Liglit, it is well known, that, at the Time 
 
 of the Redemption of the Jews from their Egyptian Slavery, the Paflbver, with 
 
 Hft f th '■^^ Pafchal Lamb, was inftituted as a ftanding Ordinance, in Commemoration 
 
 Council of of it, until Christ, the Lamb of God, and Antitype of that Figure, fhould 
 
 Trent, 336. come: But as Ifrael, offending the Lord, was afterwards fent into Captivity, 
 
 under the Babylonians, they could not, in that State, and under that Government, 
 
 celebrate it in Form ; and therefore they invented another Way to keep that great 
 
 Deliverance in Memory, which was this : 
 
 The
 
 cf T H M A S S T R T. j.- 
 
 The Father, or Chief of the Family, at the proper Time of the Pafchal Sup- Anno 
 per, took Bread, and bleired it, faying, " Blefftd be tliou, O Lord our God, 1691. 
 " who gives us the Fruit of the Earth ;" then dividing it among the Company, Goodw. Ar.t. 
 in like manner alfo he took the Cup, and, blefling it, faid, " BleiTed be thou, O Tit. Ftop, 
 " Lord, whogivesustheFruit of the Vine." Thisthey did in a folcmnManiier, ■>■ 
 remembring their Egyptian Slavery and Deliverance ; lamenting their prefent 
 State ; acknowledging their Sins, and the Juftice of G o d in their Punifliment ; 
 and Hopes of his Mercy, from his former Icind Dealings, and gracious Promifcs. 
 
 The Jews, being thus initiated into this Praftice, upon fo folemn an Occafion 
 as the Lord's being pleafed to remember them with Redemption a fccond Time, 
 the fuccecding Generations continued it, as incident to the PalTover, until the 
 Lord Christ, the Antitype, (as well of the Pafchal Lamb, as of tlic Bread 
 and Wine) did come ; who, when he appeared, was declared by Jobfi the Bap- John i. 20. 
 tift, to be the Lc.mb of God which taketh away the Sin of the tVorld ; and he 
 declared liimfelf to be the Bread of Life, the living Bread which came down Joii" ^i. 32, 
 from Heaven : proclaiming alio, and that very emphatically, that his Flejh is Meat ~^^^' ^^'~~ 
 indeed, andbis Blood is Drink indeed; that except they ate his FItJh, and drank his 
 Blood, they had ;:o Life in them. A nd all this was meant of the Spirit of C h r 1 s r, 
 and not of his Ilefli ; it is the Spirit that qv.ickeneth, the Fleflj prcfitcth nothing. Ver. 6^. 
 
 'The Time dravVing near, when the Lamb of God was to be flain, and 
 offered as a Sacrifice, declaring the Mercy of God the Father, who fciit: 
 him in Love to the whole World, he then faid to his Difciples, With Be- 
 fire I have dcfired to eat this Paffover with you he fore I fuffer: And, at the 
 Time a£ it, as Father and Chief of his Flock and Family, he celebrated 
 the Pallbver in Form, with this Difference only, that whereas the Jews, until 
 that Time, in the Celebration of it, had looked back to the Type, and outward 
 Deliverance from i:^'//, the Lord now dired:s them to himfeh, as the Anti- 
 type of all Figures •, and tells them, he would not any more eat thereof, (the 
 PalTover) until it fliould be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God; ner drink of the Lukex:;ii. i6. 
 Fruit of the Vine, until that F)ay when be jhould drink it new with them in his Mat.xxvi.29. 
 Father's Kingdom. 
 
 Wh I c h Eating and Drinking, in the Kingdom of G od, cannot relate to ma- 
 terial Bread and Wine ; which can only be exhibited as Symbols of the outward 
 Body of Ch R I s T, and the Blood of that holy Body ; which, to be eat and drank 
 in a natural Senfe, profiteth nothing : but to the all-quickening Virtue and Power 
 of his Floly Spirit ; which is all in all, and true feeding to the Commonwealth of 
 the whole Ifrael of God. And therefore this Paflbver, or any Part or Relative 
 to it, whether Bread, Wine, or any other Matter in it, could be oi' no further Ufe or 
 Obligation to the Difciples of Christ, than till they fliould experience in themfelves 
 his divine and fpiritual Appearance and Coming in them ; and to be the fame to their 
 Souls, or Minds, which natural Food and Drink is to the Body ; its Support, 
 Strength, Nourifhment, and Means of Duration : Which divine Coming of Christ, 
 as fuch, can mean no other than his being made manittll in a fpiritual Adminiftrati- 
 on : for, as he is that eternal Spirit of efllntial Truth, ami Word, Wifdom, and Johnviv. 6. 
 Power of Go D, it is not flridly proper to fiy of him, (in that Senfe) that he fliall '" "' '' 
 come or go any where, but to be made manifcfl: ; for, as fuch, he ever was, is, 1 Cor. i 24, 
 and will be, omniprcfent, and never abfent from any Place or Tiirie. 'i^- 
 
 FI I s Coming then mufl- intend his powerful Manifeflat'on where he already is, 1 Cor. xii. 7. 
 
 and
 
 44 The LIFE, ^c 
 
 Anno and not a loco-motive Coming from where he is, to any other Place where he was 
 1 69 1. not before : For the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him, 2 Chron. ii. 6. 
 
 Seeing then this was only the Pafibver, and the Terms of the Application 
 of it to himfeif not inftitut ive of any new Command or Ordinance, but a Li- 
 berty to do, or not do it, at Difcretion, this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance 
 of me, laid no Obligation upon them to do it any more at all -, it being ended by the 
 Manifeftation of its Antitype; and, in the Nature of the Thing, could be of no 
 farther ObHgation, or reafonable Ufe, wiien Christ himfeif was witneHed in 
 them, to be that eternal, everlafting, never-failing, divine Subftance, 
 
 Rom ix ? But the Apoftlc Paid, whofe Concern for the Jews, and Zeal for the Con- 
 
 Gal ii - verfion of the Gentiles, to whom, in an elpecial Manner, he was fent, engaged 
 „ . , him to become all Things to all Men, that by all Means he might gain fame, recom- 
 
 yc.andx.33'. mended to the Corinthians the Pradtice of the Paffover, with the new Applica- 
 tion of it to Christ, at the Time of their firft believing in him by that A- 
 poftle's Miniftry ; that, being yet carnally minded, they might have an outward 
 Aas .\xi. iS, Communion, till the true Communion fhould be made known ; which their State, 
 trr. XVI. 3. 2J. j-ji^j Time, could not bear : As, in point of Prudence only, hepradliied fome 
 Gal.ii. sTand Other legal Rites, at fome Times •, which, in his Doftrine, he condemned at other 
 V. 2. Times, where the State of the People were able to bear it. 
 
 And it is much more likely, confidering the Nature and End of the Gofpel, 
 and its Excellency above the Law, and all legal and typical Rites, as Subftances ex- 
 cel Shadows ; that the Apollle, obferving how much fome of the Corinthians 
 
 ?nd?H ^2 ''. had abufed the PalTover in Pradtice, and their very carnal State under it, was ra- 
 ther, by that Epiftle, endeavouring to fupercede it, and bring them off to the 
 living Subftance •, where he faith to fuch among them as were already fanftified, 
 
 I Cor. X. 15. and to whom he infcribed his Epiftle, I fpeak as to wife Mm, judge ye what I fay : 
 The Cup of Bleffmg, which we blefs, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Chrift ? 
 The Bread, which we break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Chrifl? For we^ 
 being many, are one Bread and one Body ; for we are all Partakers of that one 
 Bread. 
 
 I T is plain therefore, that the Communion of the fandtified and wife in Co- 
 rinth, ftood not in the Bread which pcriflieth, nor in the Wine of the Grape, 
 which fome of the Corinthians were carnally abufing, but in the quickening Spi- 
 lit and Power of Christ, the true, living, life-giving, and life-preferving Bread ; 
 which daily comes from Heaven, into all the fandlified and faved of the Lord. 
 
 T H I s is that Spirit that quickens and preferves to Life eternal ; the Flelli pro- 
 fiteth nothing : and, fince it is fo, much lefs does any Symbol of the Flefti pro- 
 fit ; but the divine Subftance only. This is that Subftance, of which the Apoftle 
 draws the Comparifon ; we, being many, are one Bread: For, as Wheat confifts of 
 many particular Grains, each containing a diftindl Principle of Life after its kind, 
 and all ot the fame Nature ; which, being broken, and rightly prepared and ordered 
 by the good Hufbandman, become one Bread: even fo is the Church of Christ ; 
 every Member, in his natural State, being alienated from the Life of God, thro' 
 the Ignorance and Darknefs that was in him, and feparated alfo one from another, 
 as without a proper Medium and Condition of Union ; but, being ordered and 
 prepared by the Father of Mercies, thro' Christ his eternal Word, they become 
 one Body, and one Spirit, the Church ; which is his Body ; the Fulnefs of him 
 who filleth all in all. 
 
 The
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 45- 
 
 The Subftance of this was what I obferved to the Doflor, tlio' I have in this Anno 
 Place expatiated fomewhat further upon the Siibjed-, and generally apphed the 1691. 
 Scriptures ; to which he made little other Reply, than by telling me, in a very 
 calm and familiar Manner, that as he had always believed it to be an Ordi- 
 nance of C H K. 1 sr, he had folenfinly ufed it as fuch, and found Comfort in it. 
 
 To which I returned. That I did not doubt but tliat he might have fomc Sa- 
 tisfaction in it, fince he believed it a remaining Ordinance, and did it under that 
 Apprehenfion. Whofoever in his Heart believes any thing to be a Handing 
 Duty in the Church of Christ, which ever had any Countenance in it by 
 Pradfice, and performs it faithfully, according to his Belief and Underftanding, 
 may find a Satisfaftion in it. 
 
 But fince God, in Mercy, is pleafed to afford the living Subfiance, without 
 the Ufe of thofe Means which are fuppofcd to kad to an End already at- 
 tained, they can be no more a Duty to fuch •, and that is the real Cafe among 
 the true Quakers, who love and fear the L,o rd lincerely. 
 
 As to the other Point, viz. Baptifm, he faid but little about it ; for he knew 
 very well, that, in Stri6tnels, they were not fo much as in the Form of Water 
 Baptifm. And I only afked him this Queftion, Whether he did believe it necef- 
 fary to Salvation .'' Pie anfwercd. That he did not think it abfoluttly neceffary. 
 Then, faid I, we fhall not need to fay any more about it ; and fo the whok 
 Matter ended, as to thefe Points. 
 
 Then he faid fomething concerning the Books I had fent him, fpcaking 
 nightly of them -, but thought that about Prayer, writ (I think) by George Keitb, 
 the beft : And faid, that feeing the Quakers pretended, that they did not know, 
 before they went to Meetings, whether they fliould preach or pray, or what Way 
 in either, and yet travelled in ftrange Places, How could they ipeak to the States 
 of the People, or be joined with in Prayer ? 
 
 To this I anfwered. That fuch as went to a Meeting empty of all Things, 
 and waited upon God, were filled with his Holy Spirit, who knows all States, 
 at all Times and Places : And if the Preacher attend to him, as he ought, and 
 delivers thofe Matters opened to him at the Time, the Lord both gives the 
 Word, and makes the Application to every State, in every particular Perfon ; 
 which no Preacher or Inftrument, of himfelf, is able to do. 
 
 And, as to joining in Prayer, all right Prayer is by the Aid of the Spirit of 
 Christ, the Mediator between God and Man ; which, iii that rcfpeft, is cal- 
 led the Spirit of Prayer and of Supplications ; and,, as fuch, is promifed of the 
 Father to the Church, and received by her : And her Unity in Prayer (lands not 
 fo much in the Form of Words, tho' found and pertinent, as in the Nature, 
 Virtue, and Influence of the Holy Spirit of Christ, her holy Head, Life, 
 Law-giver, and Comforter. 
 
 The Doctor did not oppofe this ; but only fiiid, I had given him better Satif- 
 faction, in that Point, than he had found in the Book ; and, afterwards, he was 
 much more free and familiar with me than before, or than 1 expected ; and fo 
 we parted in Friendfliip, and I returned in Peace and Gladnefs. 
 
 From henceforth I was eafy as to every thing any of that fort could fay. 
 
 M And
 
 46 , The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 A fJ" N o And divers Difputes I have had with many of them fincc, in other Parts of the 
 1 69 1. World -, but never began any Controverfy, being always on the defenfive Side ; 
 and rarely enter'd upon any Point in queftion, with any Seft, till I knew the 
 divine Truth over all in my own Mind, and my Will fubjefted by it. And my 
 next Care ufually was, not to provoke my Oppbnent ; for, by keeping him calm>. 
 I had his own Underftanding, and the Meafure of Grace in him, for Truth, and 
 my Point, againft the Error he contended for ; and my chief Aim generally 
 hath been, to gain upon Peoples Underftandings, for their own Good. But when 
 a Man is put into a Paffion, he may be confounded, but not convinced ; For 
 Pafiion is as fcorching Fire without Light -, it fufpends the Underftanding, and 
 obftrufts the Way to it, fo that it cannot be gained upon, or informed : which 
 ouo-ht to be the true Aim, in all Conferences and Rcafoning in Matters of Reli- 
 o'lon i elfe all will end in vain and unprofitable Jangling, contrary to the Nature 
 of the Thing they reafon about, and difpleafe the holy One, and end in Trouble. 
 But two or three Times, at moft, in the Courfe of Tife, and occafional Occur- 
 rences, in fome low Cafes, with meaner Opponents, in too hafly Engagements 
 in my own Strength, and off my full Guard, my Mind hath been ruffled : And 
 tho' I have gained the Point, by Force of Argument, from the Principle of Rea- 
 fon only, and not from the Principle of divine Truth -, yet have not had that 
 Peace and Satisfaftion of Mind which is to be found in the Virtue of Truth 
 alone. And this has alfo taught me to be totally filent, and fometimes even in- 
 fuked by Ignorants, as if I had nothing to fay ; till the Power and Virtue of 
 Truth hath arifen in my Mind, and then it hath never failed, by its own Light 
 and Evidence, to fupport its own Caufe, and juftify me. 
 
 After this I had divine Peace and Confolation in my Mind for fome Time, 
 and was mercifully favoured with the living Bread from above daily •, and I went 
 conftantly to Meetings of Friends, where, in a State of Silence, my Heart was 
 frequently tendered and broken, by the divine Influence of the powerful Truth, 
 to my unfpeakable Satisfaction : A holy Pleafure and Enjoyment, which the 
 World, or any thing therein, can never afford. 
 
 And our Meetings in the North, in thofe Days, were frequently broken and 
 melted in Silence, as well as under a powerful living Miniftry, by the Word ; 
 which gave me occafion fometimes to remember another Saying in my viTitten 
 Piece before mentioned \_Page 18. ] "He gave me Joy which no Tongue can 
 " exprefs, and Peace which paffeth Underftanding." In the mean time my 
 Father began a little to relent, and admit fome Friends to come to my Chamber 
 to fee me ; and he was brought, by Degrees, into a pretty low State of Mind : 
 And, one Day, as I was fitting by him, he read in a Book, intided. Clerk's 
 Lives, &c. (as I remember) when I obferved his Tears to drop upon the Book ; 
 but he did not know that I perceived it : and, alter he had wiped his Face, he 
 turned towards me, and faid, " I fee there have been, in former Times, as great 
 " Fools as you, to leave their Friends and Preferments in the World, for their 
 " Opinions in Religion." 
 
 But he did not remain long in this Condition •, for the Spirit of the World 
 began to work another Way. Some of his Acquaintance, difcourfing with him 
 concerning me, (as I was, for a Time, frequently a Subjedt of common Conver- 
 fation) one Day told him, " We know your Son very well ; tho' young, he's 
 " no Fool : You know the Quakers are an opulent People, and their Principles 
 " lead them to refufe the Payment of Tythes to the Clergy ; which, together 
 " with other Oppofitions they meet wkh from one or other, occafions many 
 
 " Law-
 
 of T B M A S ST R T. 47 
 
 " Law-fiiits, and much Biifincfs : And as they favour one another in all things, A v n o 
 " particularly in Trade and the like, you'll fee he'll have as much Bufinefs foon 1691. 
 " as any Man in England; and will be well paid, without Qucdion." 
 
 This Temptation, being ikilfully adapted, took immediately with him, and 
 entered very deep, the ill Effeds whereof quickly ajipearcd : For he foon got 
 from under that humble State of Mind and Tendernefs he had, in fome degree, 
 experienced ; and tho' his Countenance feem'd very open and chearful towards 
 me, yet it was from that wrong Ground, and worldly View ; which greatly loaded 
 and opprefled my Mind : For, as I clearly perceived the Pradice of the Lav/, and 
 to be frequently in the Suits and Contefts of the World, would be inconfiftent 
 with divine Peace in my own Mind, cxpofe mc to many Temptations, and con- 
 fine me fo as that I could not iollow the Loiid in that Way wherein I under- 
 flood he was leading me, and purpofed to bring me forward ; that is, not only 
 in Sandification and Juftification, for my own Salvation, but alto in a publick 
 Miniftry of that holy and powerful Word of Life ; by which the Lord, of his 
 own free Will and Grace, had called me ; and, to that End, I knew, was v/ork- 
 ing in me Qualifications fuiting his own Purpofe thereby : And therefore my 
 fecret Concern was, how to get rid of that great and dangerous Obll;ru(5Vion ; 
 well knowing it would very much oppofe my Father's Views, heightened as afore- 
 faid, and I was loth to offend hini -, but had no Concern, Profpedl, or Doubt 
 then, as to a Way of living in the World. And, on the other hand, to offend 
 the Lord by Negleft, or Difobedicnce, was jul^ly to forfeit his Mercy and Fa- 
 vour, and cancel the Seal of the Covenant of Life -, depending, on my Parr, 
 upon Perfeverance in moral Rightcoufnefs, and a faithful future Obedience to 
 his holy Calling : For, where the Word of God is given, and become a Law of 
 Life, and an immediate Director, Difbbedience, in that Cafe, is of a higher Na- 
 ture, and more immediately attended with the fenfible and dreadful Condemna- 
 tion of this immortal Law, thus miniflred, than for the Negleft of any moral 
 Command, mediately adminifter'd to Mankind, whilfl; yet in a natural and ra- 
 tional State only. 
 
 Duty to the Almighty, .and the Will and terrene Views of my natural Pa- 
 rent, becoming oppofite, I remained not long in fufpenfe what to do : For as, 
 through Grace, I had been enabled to take up the Crols of C h r i st, in confefiing 
 his holy Name, in the Difpenfation of Goo to his People at that Time •, fo, by 
 the fame Grace, I was likewife enabled, to undergo the Dilplcafure of my Fa- 
 ther, to clofe my Eyes from all worldly Views, and to {top my Ears, for ever, 
 from hearkening to any Preferments there ; and, being furnifiicd with a full 
 Refolution in my Mind to decline the Praftice of the Law, tho' the only Thing 
 defio-ned as a Means of Life, accordingly the next Perfons who came to employ 
 me in Bufinefs of that kind, I refufed in my Father's Prefcnce •, and told them, 
 in his hearing, that I iliould not undertake Bufinefs of that kind any more. 
 
 Upon this the Load went off my Mind 5 but, from that Time, my Fa- 
 ther's Countenance was changed towards me, and his Behaviour quite another 
 Thing •, often afking me, with a fupercilious Brow, how I cxpefted to live in the 
 World ? as if he had feared I Ihould have become a dead Charge upon him. 
 
 This Temptation being overcome, another quickly followed ; The World 
 had formed a falfe Nouon in thofe Days, that our Mmifters, like their Pricffs, 
 were well paid by the Society lor preaching, and generally grew rich by that 
 Means i they not knowing of anv- -j^afonable Motive to fuch an Undertaking, 
 
 ■^ but
 
 48 TLe L I F E, ^x. 
 
 Anno but Lucre only : And fome having told my Father, tliat fuch and llich miniftring 
 1691. Friends, whom he knew, v/ent often abroad preaching, and as often brought home 
 good Sums of Money ; and that his Son, being ingenious, would foon learn to 
 preach among them, get Money, and become rich too : This feemcd to take 
 fome hold, and he would, now and then, pafs a Joke upon me about it •, but I 
 being filent for fome Years after, it afforded him no great Hopes of my livLng 
 by it. 
 
 And this I think proper to remember here, that tho' I had no more Difiike 
 to Priefts than to others, as Men, yet, when any of them and I happened to 
 come into the fame Company, or Place, they ufually fell into fome vifible Difor- 
 der and Uneafinefs, tho' I faid nothing to occafion it ; which I took, therefore^ 
 to arife from a Prepofleffion, and general Prejudice and Enmity againff Friends, 
 fuppofing them Enemies to their Perfons, as to their Errors. And particlarly one of 
 them coming, occafionally, into a Place where I was, all of a fudden, and in a con- 
 fufed Manner, v/ithout any Occafion given to lead to it, cried out, " You deny 
 the Refurreftion." I replied, that he had not heard me fay any Thing on that 
 Subjcft. Then faid he, " The People you have joined yourfelf to deny it." 
 I replied, I did not undcritand they denied the Refurredtion ; and that Christ, 
 
 Mat.xxii. 31. to prove the RefurreCtion, adduced that Scripture, where it is written, But as 
 touching the Refurre5lion of the dead, have ye not read that which was fpoken unto 
 
 Exod. iii. 6. you by God, faying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Ifaac, and the God of 
 Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Ifthen Abraham, Tfaac, 
 and Jacob, had attained the Refurredion from die dead, in Christ's Senfe of the 
 Refurreftion, and yet the Bodies of thofe Saints then remained in the Earth, fome- 
 thing elfe muft be meant by the Refurreftion of the dead than terrene Bodies. 
 
 Then faid the Prieft, " I believe that Abraham, &c. did arife, not only to 
 *' a State of Righteoufnefs in this Life, but alfo to a State of Glory in Heaven after 
 his Death." Then faid I, " Since he .attained a firft and fecond Refurre6tion,he 
 " compleated that State, without the Refurreflion of this earthly Body ; for 
 " of a third Refurredtion we read not, and, of a fecond, by Implication only.** 
 And fo the Matter ended : And, from that Time, we became acquainted, and 
 intimate, fo long as I remained in the Country. 
 
 Another Time there came a Prieft into the Company where I was, and 
 I being filent, and the reft chearftil, in their Way, he, being a wanton, airy Man, 
 and a little in drink, obferving me, cried out, in a fcoffing Manner, " What have 
 " we got here, one of the holy Brethren ?" I returned upon him, " What ! art thou 
 " a Teacher of the People, and fcofFeft at Holinefs ? What canft thou teach, fince 
 *' thou art void of a Quahfication indifpenfibly neceflary to that Work?" Upon 
 which he became fo uneafy, and downcaft, that he could no longer ftay in the Room, 
 but went off troubled. And that Night, being from home, I lodged with another 
 Prieft (at his Houfe) with whom I was acquainted, a fober religious Man •, where 
 I was kindly entertained, and had no occafion of Offence, either by himfelf, or 
 any of his Family. 
 
 % 
 
 Again, having been concerned in writing a Settlement for a Gentleman, 
 upon the Marriage of his Daughter, and at his Houfc in the Country on that 
 Occafion •, after the Ceremony was over, and Dinner upon the Tabic, the Prieft 
 faid what they call the Grace ; wherein he gave Thanks for their Creation, Re- 
 demption, Sanftification, ^c. to which I paid no Refpedt, keeping on my Hat 
 
 . ii all
 
 of THOMAS S T R T. 49 
 
 all the Time, becaufe it was a dead Form ; and that neither the Prieft himfelf, A n k o 
 nor any of his Company, feem'd to have any real Senfe of what he faid. i6qi. 
 
 A s foon as Dinner was over, a Fidler began to play ; and up ftarted the 
 Priefl:, and, taking one of the young Women by the Hand, ftU a-dancing very 
 merrily : But I being in the Room, and under Heavinefs, fome others of the Com- 
 pany could not take all the Liberty the Occafion call'd for, in their Way •, and, 
 cxpcding I would not Hay long, torbore : Nor could the Priefl: make much of 
 his Dance ; for the Load upon my Mind was to be left among them before I de- 
 parted, and I only waited a proper Occafion, which was foon offered ; for the 
 Prieft's Dance going on heavily, he left it, and came to me, where I was fitting quiet, 
 and would have had me dance with one of the young Women : Then I took the 
 Opportunity to tell him, that I had obferved his Grace, and what he had faid be- 
 fore the Almighty and the Company fo very lately, giving Thanks for his Cre- 
 ation, Redemption, Sandtification, ^c. and fo very quickly after, to fall into fuch 
 Behaviour as did not confift with SanftiHcation and Redemption, denoted his ve- 
 ry o-reat Infenfibility of the Import ot his own Words. 
 
 Then he clapp'd himfelf down on a Scat, and began to defend the Ufe and 
 Innocence of Mufick, (which, at that Time, was not the moft offenfive Part) and 
 faid that King David ufcd Mufick, yet was a Prophet, greatly beloved of God, 
 and wrote the Pfalms, own'd by Christ as of divine Authority. 
 
 I R E p L I E D, That David employed his Mufick in holy Hymns and fpiritual 
 Songs to the Lord, according to the Difpenfation then in being ; but that af- 
 terward, Ibme airy Perfons, fuch as the Prieft himfelf, had invented unto themfelves 
 Inftruments of Mufick like unto David's, and ufed them in their profane Revel- 
 ings, as he and his Company were then a-doing : And therefore a Prophet of 
 God, by divine Authority and Diredion, cried out, J^Fo to than that chant to Amos vi. 1,5, 
 the Sound of the Viol, and invent to themfehes Infiruments of Mufick, like David ; 
 and thou, being in that Praftice, the Woe is upon thee alfo. Upon this I was 
 very cafy, and left him fitting filent, and the Comj^any in fome Surprife ; and, 
 wifhing them all well, I departed in Peace and great I'lanquillity of Mind. 
 
 After this I happened to flill into Company with a ftri(5t and rich Prefby- 
 terian, a great Formalift, at a Gentleman's Houfe in the Country ; whofe Daugh- 
 ter he had married, and they lived together in the fame Houfe : And I beincf 
 young, and of few Words, he imagined I was not lb much engaged in the Way 
 of Friends, but that I might be brought off-, and, to fhew his Good- will, he be- 
 gan with Reproaches againll them, faying, they ufed to go naked into Churches, 
 Markets, and other publick Places, pretending to be moved thereto by the Spi- 
 rit of G o d j which could not be true, fince a Thing indecent in itfelf cannot 
 be of God. 
 
 I ANSWE R E D, That whatever God had, at any Tiine heretofore, thought 
 fit to command, in particular Cafes, is confident with him ftill ; and we read in 
 the Holy Scripture, that the Lord commanded Jfaiah, that great and evangeli- 
 cal Prophet, logo andloofe the Sackcloth from off his Loyns; and put off his Shoe Ifa.xx 2,i5V- 
 from his Foot : and he did fo, walking naked and barefoot. And the Lord faid. 
 Like as my Servajit Ifaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three Tears, for a Sign 
 and fFonder upon Egypt, and upon Ethiopia, &c. Now, tho' this Nakednefs was 
 to be a Sign of Shame unto the unhappy Subjefts of the Judgments denounced, 
 
 N ■ it
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 so 
 
 Ai<: N o it w:is not inconfiftent with the Lord to command the Sign ; nor is Nakednefs 
 i6yi. any Indecency in his Sight, fince every Creature comes naked from his all- 
 creatin"- Hand : It idUows then, that 'tis poffible ibme of the Quakers, and ra- 
 tional religious Men coo, as that Prophet was, might be commanded of God to 
 llich Aftions, and to a good End alfo, liz. To roufe the People of this Nation 
 out of their deep Lethargy and Self-fecurity, into a Confideration of their various 
 empty Forms of Religion, which they feverally exerciled, without the Life of Re- 
 ligion, (divine Love and Charity one toward another) too much a Stranger, at 
 this Day, among all Scdfts and Names : And thou canft not therefore make ap- 
 pear, that thofe Quakers were not commanded of God, to do as they did in 
 that Cafe. 
 
 f N the mean time, the Prefbyterian having privately fent for an old Independ- 
 ent Teacher in the Neighbourhood, a great Adverfary of Friends, he came in ; 
 and then a great Cloud of Darknefs came over my Mind, and my Spirit became 
 very heavy, and I was filent for fome time •, and the Gentleman of the Houfe, 
 beino- of the National Church, an honeft fincere Man, and of a good Under- 
 ftanding, fitting dole by me, I perceived he was likewife drawn into Silence, 
 and fympathized with me in it. After a little Paufe, the Prefbyterian began, 
 and faid to the Independent, " Sir, I have had fome Difcourfe with Mr Storyy 
 " concerning ibme of the Quakers going naked, and he alledges the Example of 
 " the Prophet Ifaiah for it ; what is your Opinion in that Cafe ?" He anfwer- 
 ed, that the Prophet did not go naked, fo as to put off all his Garments j 
 but only his prophetical Robes : and then turned to fome Pages of a large 
 Book in Folio, the Author whereof had pretended to explain that, and many 
 other Pafiages of the Holy Scriptures ; and he read feveral of them : And, when 
 he had done, he began to reproach George Fox, and faid he called himfelf the 
 Light within, faying, " I the Light within. Friends, I the Light within." Al- 
 fo, that a Quaker once brought a written Paper to him, and defired him to try 
 it ; to whom (faid he) I anfwered, " Friend, every Work muft be tried by Firei" 
 and fo I put it into the Fire in his Prefence. 
 
 All this Time I fat filent, under the Load of that dark Spirit ; and the 
 Gentleman was filent likewife: But as my Mind was toward the Lord, at 
 length his divine Prefence opened in me, and his holy Fear came over me -, and 
 then I perceived that dark Power overthrown in the Foundation, and the Prieft's 
 Power bound and chained, and my Spirit at Liberty, and in Dominion : And 
 Job\,\.\vli''.2. then I faid, with much Freedom and Authority, Who is this that darkeneth Com- 
 fel by Words ivithout Knowledge ? Thou faift, in oppofition to the plain Text of 
 Scripture, that Ifaiah the Prophet did not go naked, but only put off his prophe- 
 tical Robes. What Authority haft thou to fay he had any fuch Robes ? The 
 Scripture imports quite another Thing : And as to thy Interpreter, he is as igno- 
 rant as thyfelf ; and has left thofe Paflages of Scripture, which he pretends to 
 open and illuftratc, perplexed and confounded, and darker than he found them, 
 by advancing many and various Opinions about them, and determining nothing. 
 
 Then, as to what he had Hiid of George Fox and the other Friend, I appeal- 
 ed to the other two, whether he had dealt candidly and fincerely with them ; for 
 it could not, with any Truth, or Reafon, be undcrftood by fuch a Phrafe, that 
 George Fox (whom I never faw) call'd himfelf the Light within ; but that People 
 fhould eye it ; that is, look towards the divine Light and Grace of C h r i s t in 
 their own Minds, and follow the Teaclfings and Leadings of it, and not look out 
 
 to the Teachings of Men only. 
 
 An
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. n 
 
 And as to his Trial of the Paper, it imported a Levity and Derifion incon- Anno 
 fident with his Pretences to a Chrillian Miniftry •, for the Man might mean well 1691. 
 and religioufly, and there might be fon-^e very good Things in the Paper, which 
 Jie had difdainfully deftroyed : And then the other two blamed him for it. This, 
 being very much unexpected, furpnfcd him, and made him filent -, tho' he had, 
 during die Time of my Silence, triumphed, as if I had not had any Thing to 
 fay ; or, being young, would not take upon mc to oppofe a Man of his Years, 
 and Charafber for a Preacher. 
 
 Then Dinner coming upon the Table, the Preacher would not ftay, but 
 went into another Room ; for he muft have crav'd a Bleffing (as their Phrafe is) 
 if he had ftaid and dined : But Dinner being near over, he returned ; and, when 
 we had dined, they put him upon giving Thanks -, but he refufed, laying, " It 
 " is not proper for me to give Thanks for what I have not received ; I did not 
 " eat :" And fo, to evade his Grace, he loft his Dinner. 
 
 After Dinner they fell again to difcourfe about Religion among themfclvcs, 
 (for my Mind was in great Peace, in a Senfe of the divine Prcfence ftill remain- 
 ing, and I was filent) in which the Independent faid. That, according to his Ex- 
 perience, there was a great deal of Difference between the Performance of relifi- 
 ous Exercifes, as Prayer, i^c. in one's own Strength, and by the Help of the 
 Spirit ; for, without the Spirit, it was like rowing againll Wind and Tide ; goino- 
 more backward than forward. Then faid the Epifcopalian, " I never like fucli 
 " as, in their Prayers to God, ufe Abundance of formal Words, and much 
 " Whining and Cant." Now, this happening to be that Prelbyterian's Prafticc, 
 he took it as done on Purpofe, and was much offended. l"he other averr'd he 
 had no View to him in what he had faid, but, in general, as a Thing he did not 
 think decent in any : But I mediated a Peace, and reconciled them j and fo 
 the Converfation ended. 
 
 M Y eldeft Brother, being Prieft of the Parifh, and likewife Dean o^ Connor, 
 (afterward of Limerick) in Ireland, had one of the Scots Epilcopal Priefts for his 
 Curate, (or Journeyman) who had been turned out at the Eftabliflimcnt of Prcl- 
 bytery as the National Way in Scotland : And this Prieft being poor, my Fa- 
 ther took him into his Houfe for his better Accommodation ; which prov'd 
 fome occafional Exercife to me, we being fo very diftlrcnt in our Sentiments in 
 fome Things relating to Religion. And, one Day, there being a Goofe on the 
 Table at Dinner, he, intending to difoppoint me of a Part, whifpercd to me, lb 
 loud as that all about the Table heard him, " This is a Tythe-goofe ;" and then 
 fleer'd. I replied, " Let him look to the Evil of that to whom it is I'ythe ; but 
 to me it is no Tythe, but a Goofe only •, and, with my Father's Leave, I will 
 take a Share." And, after this, we had much Difpute about die Maintenance of 
 the Minifters of Christ : I alledged, that when Christ fent out his Difci- 
 ples to preach to the People, he laid. Freely ye have received, freely give ; anil 
 did not allow them cither Gold, Silver, nor Brafs in their Purles, nor Scrip, 
 nor two Coats, nor Shoes, nor Staffs, but to depend on divine Providence only 
 for their Subfiftence •, eating fuch 1'hings as Jhould be fet before them -, for the Mat. x. 8, q, 
 JForkman is ivorthy of his Meat. '=• 
 
 To this he anfwercd. That Christ and his Apoftles received Money for 
 preaching, otherwife where did they get the Money they had in the Bag -, for 
 they were poor Men, and had nothing to give, or any other Way to procure 
 Money. Upon this I aflced him. Whence dia: Money came that Christ lent 
 
 Peter
 
 ST- 
 
 The LIFE, er. 
 
 Anno Peter to take out of the Mouth of the Fifli ? Had he not Command over all 
 1691. Things to have what he pleafed ? But you Pricfts, to juftify yourfelves in 
 your Antichriftian Practices, dare accufe Christ himfelf, and his Apoftles, 
 of your own Crimes. He and they preached not for Hire, not for filthy 
 Lucre and Maintenance, but for the Help and Salvation of Men : And, as there 
 is nothing needful to the Labourer in that Work, but the prefent Subfiftence of 
 Food and Raiment, with that they were to be content : And as to v/hat Money 
 they had, it arofe from the fuperabounding Love of thofe who heard liim and them, 
 and believed ; which they did not hoard up, and detain to their own Ufe only ; 
 but alfo gave to the Poor, as they had Occafion : fo fir were they from fitting 
 down in Corners, and forcing Maintenance, even to Luxury, from thofe who did 
 not receive them, as you Priefts do at this Day : By which it appears you are 
 none of his, but rather like Judas the Traitor, who carried the Bag, loved Mo- 
 ney better than him, and was a Thief. At this he became a little afhamed, and, 
 in an abjed Manner, laid, " What I have for my Preaching is but a fmall Mat- 
 " ter :" As if the diminutive Pay and Poverty fhould excufe the Error ; and 
 fo it ended. 
 
 A T another Time my Father had a-mind to difcourfe me on that Subjeft ; and, 
 after he had mov'd it, I defired Leave to afk him a Queftion before I entered 
 the Difpute with him : He granted it ; and then I alked him, " If it were not 
 *' for his Reputation among Men, and the Law of the Land, would he himfelf 
 " pay any Tythc r" Upon this he was filent a little, and then replied, with an 
 Oath, That if it were not for the Laws he would pay no more Tythe than my- 
 felf. Then faid I, There is no Need of any further Difpute : And it ended 
 thus ; for he never offered any Argument about it. 
 
 M Y Delight was continually in the Truth, and I defired no Company but of 
 Friends, and frequented Meetings on all Occafions ; wJiere my Heart was fre- 
 quently tendered by the Truth, and it often reached and affedled others by me, 
 and fometimes very much : fo that I became very dear to Friends, and they to 
 me : And as that Tendernefs was, in its Nature, an involuntary Miniftry, being 
 an Operation of the Spirit without Words, I found, for fome Time, great Sa- 
 tisfaction and Safety in it. 
 
 And, defiring to fee Friends in fome other Places, I went a Ihort Journey 
 
 with Andrew Taylor, a powerful and able Minifter in his Day, of an affable and 
 
 chearful Temper, and one of my particular Friends : And, on the 20th Day 
 
 of the twelfth Month, 1691, we went from Heatherfide, in Kirklinton, in Cu-m- 
 
 Alfton. berland, and that Night lodged at Jofeph Epon's, two Miles beyond Aljloti ; and 
 
 Welgill. thence, next Day, to Joh7i Moor\ at Welgill; on the 2 2d, to Thomas William - 
 
 Walkmill. T^'^'s ; on the 23d, to Francis Shield'^, at JValhnill ; on the 24th, to Archibald 
 
 Steel. Gillefpy's, at Sleel; on the 25th, to John Hunter's of Benfieldfide ; having Meet- 
 
 Bcnfieldfide. ings at feveral of thefe Places. 
 
 Newcaftle. 
 
 Shields. 
 
 1692. 
 Sunderland. 
 
 From thence we went, on the 2 7th, to Newcaftle, and lodged at Jeremiah 
 Hunter's, being at their Meeting next Day ; and, on the 29th we went to Caleb 
 Tenent's, at Shields, and had a Meeting there : And, on the ifl: Day of the firft 
 Month, a Meeting being appointed at Sunderland, we intended to have crofs'd 
 the River Tyne ac Shields, in order to be there ; but Caleb T'enent and we enter- 
 ing the Ferry-boat with our Horfes, and the Wind very high, they were frighten- 
 ed with the Fluttering of the Sails, at our putting off from the Key ; fo that 
 Caleb's Mare, being ftrong and fprightly, jumped over board, and carried him 
 
 along
 
 of T H M y^ S S T RT. t; 
 
 alono- with her, as lie ftrove to flop her by the Bridle, and they went both under Anno 
 the Water, for it was deep -, but, as good Providence would have it, the Mare 1692. 
 came up with her Head towards the Shore, and near it, and he came up behind 
 her at fo little Diftancc, and with luch Prefencc of Mind, that he laid hold on 
 her Tail, and "got on Shore, without any other Hurt than the Surprize and 
 wetting his Cloaths. 
 
 The Meeting being appointed at Siaiderland, to begin about the Middle of 
 the Day, and we now obliged, by reafon of the high Wind, to go round by 
 Nc-Jicaftk, it was put off till the Evening -, which prov'd a very comfort- 
 able Tim&ot the Enjoyment of the good Prcfence ot the Lord; with which 
 my Mind and Heart being plentitully furnifhed, it mov'd by its own divine Force, 
 greatly tendered me, and bathed me in a Flood of Tears, from divine melting 
 Love, and had the like Effect over the Meeting •, and this happened in time of 
 Silence : After which Robert Wardell^ a. miniftnng Friend, at whofc Houfe we 
 lodged, fpoke fome Sentences ; by which, I perceived, he thought I iliould have 
 uttered fome Words, by way of publick Miniftry, at that Time. But I did not 
 apprehend my Time was then come for that Service ; and it had the fame Effeft, 
 and, peradventure, more than if I had uttered Words : For it was a Miniftratioii 
 of the Word, by a more immediate Operation, and a great Myftery. 
 
 After the Meeting many Friends came to me, and exprefled fo much Love 
 and Refpeft as gave me occafion to confider what could be the Reafon of it ; 
 for they were all Strangers to me, and I to them : and, being but a Child in the 
 Knowledge of the invifible Operation of the Word of Trutli, and its Effects, by 
 Inftruments, in a Way of Silence and Sympathy, 1 had looked at its Effeds only 
 in myfelf for my own Strength and Confolation, and yet could not but obferve, 
 that at the fame Inftant as Truth broke in upon me in an eminent Manner, (with 
 which, in other Places, I had been often favoured before) it affected the living 
 Part of the Meeting the fame Way, at the fame Time : And it is clear to my 
 Underftanding, by Experience, that there is a Communication of divine Love 
 through the one Spirit, and that unfpeakable, among the fanctified in Christ, 
 at this Day, as well as in Time paft -, and that in a State of holy Silence, as the 
 Members of Christ fit together in their heavenly Places in him. 
 
 The next Day we were at a Meeting at Shctton, from whence we went to Sliotton. 
 Anthony Robinfon''^, at Hawthorn ; and, next Day, had a Meeting at Durham, ^udiam"' 
 and lodged at JFilliam H/ghington's ; thence to Auckland, and lb on to Robert Auckland. 
 Carney's, at Stockton ; thence to 2^arm, and back to Stockton ; in all which Places Stockton. 
 we had Meetings : From thence to Darlington, at Robert Tniema7ih; and, on the Darlm^ton. 
 loth of the fame Month, to IVilliam Pickering's, at Raby ; thence to Cutherfton ; Raby 
 thence to Henry fViner's, at Bowes ; at all which Places we alfo liad Meetings, 
 and the Lord was with us. And yet, for fome Days after that Meeting at 
 Sunderland, my Mind was very low, and not fo fenfible of the fame Degree of 
 the divine Prefence as fome time before ; and a Queftion polTelled my Mind, 
 Whether I ought not to have uttered fome Words in that Meeting ? But, by de- 
 grees, I attained my former Tranquillity. 
 
 O N the 1 2th we went to Francis Blackeland's, at the Height oH Winder by Scd- Sedberg. 
 
 berg ; next Day to Side, at "John Atkinfon's ; next Day to Richard Harrifon's, at side 
 
 Dent ; next Day to Dent Meeting at Anthony Mafon\ : On the i6rh we went Dent, 
 
 from Richard Harrifon\ to John Dickinfonh, at Beckhoufes, and to the Meeting Beckhoufes. 
 
 _at Grayrig ; next Day to Cirfgarth, at Thomas IVilfonh ; and fo to Crook, at John t^'-^yg- 
 
 O Thompfin'i ; 
 
 Cuthcrllon. 
 Bowcj.
 
 j-r 
 
 Anno 
 1692. 
 
 Mai fhgrangc. 
 
 Bioughton. 
 
 Svvnrthmore. 
 
 Hawk fide. 
 
 RoE;eri<ri'il. 
 
 PardlLaw. 
 
 T/jc L I F E, 
 
 &c. 
 
 Eagkffcld. 
 
 Hundwath- 
 
 hill. 
 
 Cockermoutlx 
 
 Alarbv. 
 
 Holm Cul- 
 
 tram . 
 
 Long-nevvton 
 
 Bouliead. 
 
 Ncwcaftle. 
 Shields. 
 
 Benfieldfide. 
 Hexham. 
 
 Kdfo. 
 
 Thoriipfoiih ; and, on the I'ith, 10 Thomas Lower's, sx Murpgrqnge ; and, the 
 next Day, to Broughton Tower, at [ioger Sawrey's -, and, the next Day, to Suiartb- 
 more ; and, on the aid, to Haivkfuk Meeting ; havhig likewllc had feveral other 
 Meetings in the Way : and, on the 23d, we went to John Bank's, at Roger fgtll \ 
 and, the next Day, to the Meeting at PardJIm-uj : After which we went to the 
 Houfe of Margaret Fawcet, an ancient Widow, having an Eilate of fix or feven 
 Pounds per annum, out of which fhe entertained all IVavclIing Friends coming 
 that Way, befides her own Family, and had always Plenty •, and fo defirous was 
 file to entertain all, that flie was commonly call'd The covetous IFidc-iv of Cum- 
 berland ; and was a Woman truely honourable in the Truth during her Time. 
 
 On the 25th, we went to Eaglesfield ; and then to Jonathan Bell's, at Hund- 
 
 zvath-hHl ; and fo to Cockernionth, and Broughton, at Jonathan Boiv;r.an's ; and 
 
 thence to Alanby, at Elizabeth Dick/nfon's ; and, on the 27th, to Hchn-Ctdiram ; 
 
 and fo to Longnewton and Bowjlcad; having Meetings all along : But I had no 
 
 other publick Miniftry in this Journey, than being frequently much tendered in 
 
 the feveral Meetings, to my great Satistavftion, and the Comfort of many who 
 
 witli'd me well for the Truth's Sake, and dcfired my Profperity therein. And, 
 
 this Journey being finiflicd, I went home to my Father's Houfe in the Evening ; 
 
 and, having taken much Cold, fo that I was hoarfe, I fpoke with Difficulty when 
 
 I went into the Houfe ; yet, thro' a very fenfible Operation of the divine Truth, 
 
 and the healing Virtue thereof, under which I iat in Silence for about half an 
 
 Hour, I was perfeftly healed ; by which I was for ever confirmed in the Belief of 
 
 the Miracles of C h r i st recorded in Holy Scripture. 
 
 A F T E P-. this I remained at my Father's Houfe, tho' under m.any inward 
 Loads and Burdens in the Family, not one Soul of them having any Senfe of 
 Truth ; and, keeping conftantly to Meetings, and living near the divine Truth, 
 I was thereby preferved from the attending Evils and Temptations, till the Lord 
 opened a Way for another Journey -, which was as followeth : 
 
 On the 19th Day ot the eleventh Month, 1692, I went from my Father's 
 Houfe in Cmnberland, and that Night lodged at George Marfloe's, at Healy-Hall, 
 not far from Newcajile upon Tyne, where I met with John Bowftead,, by Appoint- 
 ment, the next Day, and, on the 2 2d, we went to Shields ; and back, the Day 
 following to Neivcajile ; and were, on the 2 4th, at Benfieldjide ; and, en the next Day, 
 at Hexham ; and, on the 26th, again at Benfteldftde ; and back to Neivcajile, on 
 the 27th; having Meetings at thefe feveral Places: and, on the 30th, we fee 
 forward from thence for Scotland, ■ by way of Morpeth, Horjley, FramUngton, 
 Whitiingham, and Wooler-Haugh ; and, next Day, we came to Kelfo, in Scotland, 
 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 On the 2d of the twelfth Month we arrived at Edinburgh, and were at the 
 Quarterly Meeting there on the fame Day •, which being ended, we met with 
 Thomas Rudd, who had, fome Days before, come from England by way of 
 Glafgow, and had been feveral Times through the City and Colleges ot Ediijburghy 
 crying, JVo to the fandy Foundation, with fome other Words of the like Import. 
 And the next Morning, being about to depart the City homewards, John Baw- 
 Jieadand I v/ent with him to take Leave of IFilliarn Miller, at the King's Gardens, 
 and his Family ; where we had been but a fliort Time, till the Concern returned 
 upon Thomas Rudd, to go again thro' the City ; and, after great Exercife and 
 Travel in Spirit, he became willing, and went : And the moft of his Meffage 
 was in thefe Words, Ho ! all People ; O all be warned this Day, to fear before 
 the Lord, the mighty God of Heaven and cf Earth ; and e-vc7-y one turn from the 
 
 Evil
 
 of THOMAS ST P. T. yt 
 
 Evil of your Ways. He had a Voice fuitcd to tlie Meafure of his Words, with Anno 
 an innocent Boldnefs in his Countenance, frequently lifting his Riglit-hand to- 1692. 
 wards Heaven as he paffed along, which was with a (low and grave Pace, lohn 
 Bcivfiead and I, tho' we had a good Will to the Caufe, and perfonal Love to our 
 Friend, fufficient to have engaged us with him in any Service warranted by any De- 
 gree of the hke Concern and Call, and to go with him thro' the City •, yet we were not 
 willing to hazard our Lives, or Liberty, as Intruders into his Concerns, not finding 
 any Thing from the Lo r d fo to do : We therefore went to our Friend Bartholomtii: 
 Gibfon'i., where we lodged, to wait the Iffue of our Friend's Undertaking ; where we 
 had not fat down, till it pleafed the Lor d to give us a more evident Fellow-feeling 
 of our Friend's Concern, in great Brokennefs of Heart, in which we were con- 
 flrained to go up into the City after him, where we found him delivering his 
 Meflage to a great Multitude of People ; fome of whom had thrull him down 
 into a low Shop in the Fligh-ftreet •, trom whence, ever as he attempted to move, 
 the Rabble pufli'd him back : Nevcrthelefs the Power of the Lord was over 
 the Multitude, both in him, and in us ; fo that all Fear of them was removed 
 from us by the protefting Arm of the Lord, who is ever near to deliver fuch 
 as ad in his Council, in the Time of sireateft Danger. 
 
 I N the mean time John Bcwfte{:d, being a bold able-bodied Man, prcfs'd 
 thro' the Crowd, and, taking Thomas Rttdd by the Arm, advarxed him in- 
 to the Street -, where fome of the Multitude pointed at a Stone, by the 
 Crofs, where he m.ight ftand a little above the People, which he did ; and John 
 Bowjlead and I ftood between him and the People, and they were then a little 
 quiet, expecting, as we fuppofed by the Rumours moving in the City, to have 
 heard fome Judgment denounced, or Prophecy declared; hwiThomas having on- 
 ly fome fhort Warnings for them, fome of them mocked, others threw a Pack 
 of old Cards among us, with fome fcoffing Words : Yet others among them were 
 put upon a more ferious Confidcration, What could engage us thus to appear in 
 a Place ot fo imminent Danger ? Others whifpering, faid, " This is he v/ho went 
 *' through London with a MeiTage, and fliortly after there was an Earthquake 
 " there." And, by ftveral Circumftances, wc perceived it became a general 
 Amufement to the Inhabitants of all Ranks ; and many, as well of the greater 
 as IcfTer Quality, would gladly have known the Refult ot the Matter. 
 
 From the Crofs we went down the High-Street and Canongate, till v/e came 
 to the Tolbooth, over againft which ftood feveral Companies of Soldiers, drawn 
 up in Order in the Street ; to whom "■Thomas Riidd fpake fome Words, by way 
 of Warning, as before ; and I did not obferve that any of them offered the leaft 
 Oppofition, cither by Word, Deed, or Gefture : But as we were paffing by 
 them, intending to go to our Lodgings, there came a certain Civil Ofincer from 
 Charles Charteris, Chief Bailie (or Alderman) ol the City, to fummon Thomas 
 Rudd before him. This Officer making known his MefTage in a very civil Man- 
 ner, Thomas went with him into the City : But I told the Officer, that he did 
 not need to lay hold on Thomas Rudd as a Prifoner, for he would go along with- 
 out it ; fo John Bczvjiead, and the Officer and I went before, and Thomas Rudd 
 iollowed after, till we came before the Bailie •, who examined Thomas about fuch 
 Things as he thought fit to objedt againll him, concerning his going through the 
 City, but ViTould not fuffer us to be prefcnt to hear his Examination-, and, in a 
 fliort Time, he was com.mitted to the Tolbooth of the City, and put among 
 fuch as they accounted Traitors and Rebels againft the Government. 
 
 John Bozojicad and I ftaid a little before the Prifon Door, the good Prcience 
 
 of
 
 t6 The LIFE, <^x. 
 
 Anno of the Lord remaining with us, and bearing up our Spirits over all, in Times 
 1692, of moft apparent Danger, we called to the Turnkey to admit us into the Priibn 
 to fee our Friend, and accompany him in his Imprifonment ; which he readily 
 and courteoufly did : And no fooner were we entered, than a Multitude of Pri- 
 foners, and their Friends who were with them, came to fee us in the large Com- 
 mon Hall ot the Prii'on, where they gazed upon us with fceming Wonder; for 
 the Epifcopal Party, at that Time, were under Diflatisfaftion, becaufe of the 
 Suppreffion of their Clergy ; and others alio were not fadsfied with the Govern- 
 ment upon other Scores ; which had excited feveral, of divers forts, to olfenfive 
 Behaviour : So that the Prifon, which is large, was very full. 
 
 After a while the Jailor took us into an Apartment made of Deal, called 
 the ^inkers High-Room^ made by Friends in Time of greater Perfecution, for 
 their own Convenience : There we ftaid till the Evening, where feveral Friends 
 came to us. And Thomas Rudd, being concerned in Prayer at Supper, the People 
 in the Prifon rufli'd towards the Place, and were attentive -, fome of them after- 
 wards exprelTing their Sadsfaftion, to hear us crave a BlefTing (as they phrafe it) 
 at our Meat -, by which, I fuppofe, they had been mifinformed, that we were 
 fuch as would not call on the Name of the Lord, nor crave his Bleffing on 
 fuch Occafions. 
 
 That Night John Bowjlead and I went to our Lodgings, and, in the Morn- 
 ing, returned ; and, undcrftanding that the Bailie aforefaid was keeping a Court 
 near the Prifon, being emboldened by the Prefence of the Lord, we went in- 
 to the Court to him, with a Friend or two of the Town with us, and there ftaid 
 till his Bufinefs was over : And, as he came to the Foot of the Stairs, we began 
 to expoltulate the Matter with him ; and John Bowjlead told him, it would be a 
 great Refleftion upon the Prefbyterians in Scotland, who fo lately themfelvcs had 
 been hardly ufed, as they faid, by the Epifcopalians, fo foon to begin to perfe- 
 cute us, for no other Caufe but difcharging our Duty to God, in fuch Maruier 
 as we were perfuadcd in our Confciences the Lord required at our Hands. 
 
 The Bailie replied. That he had not imprifon'd our Friend malicioufly, but 
 out of Kindnefs to proteft him from the Rabble -, which, faid he, when they are 
 moved, are not eafily fupprefs'd, but will commit Outrages of dangerous Con- 
 fequence, notwithftanding any Power we have over them, when fully enraged : 
 and, faid he, I am willing to fet your Friend at Liberty, provided he will de- 
 part the City without any more Difturbance : And accordingly went into 
 a private Office, whence he had committed 'Thomas Rudd, and fent for him from 
 the Prifon ; and, after fome fruitlefs Endeavours to extort a Promife from him 
 to depart the City, and come no more in the- Streets as before, he gave Orders 
 for his Releafement. Then we went again to the Prifon-houfe, to pay the Victu- 
 aller of the fame for fome Bread and Drink which we had ufed in the Prifon ; and 
 there we met with one John Kerr, an Epifcopal Prieft, who had been lately In- 
 cumbent at Roxburgh, and outed at the Revolution. He had been, the Night be- 
 fore, with Thomas Rudd alone •, who, having been in Prayer, this John Kerr had 
 been fo much affeded thereby, that he promifcd, of his own Accord, that if 
 he was releafed from his Imprifonment, he would come to our Meeting the next 
 Time it fhould be held ; yet he neglefted it, tho' he was releafed according to 
 his own Wifli. Thus the Lord is gracious in giving Men their Defires in 
 Times of Diftrefs ; yet they are apt to forget their Duty, his Mercies, and their 
 own Promifes, when they come where they think diemfelves Icfs obnoxious to 
 Judgment, or the Cruelty of their Adverfaries. 
 
 As
 
 of THOMAS S T R T. s^ 
 
 A s we were in tlie Prifon-houfe together in Silence, we were mucli broken in Anno 
 the good Prefcnce ot the Lord ; and John Bc-Lvjiead h6ng concerned in Prayer, 1692. 
 feveral of the Prifoners, and their Vifitants, came up, in a rude Manner, to hear 
 and gaze ; but the Virtue of Truth affefting them, they ujicovercd, kneeled 
 down, and reverenced that divine Power .;nd Prelence that was with us ; tho' I 
 think themfelves did not know the Caufe of their Subjedion. 
 
 After this, a Difcourfe happened between the laid Jchn Kerr and a Friend, 
 v/ho was a Citizen, concerning Freedom iiora Sin in this Life ; wliich John Kerr 
 aflerted could not be ; and brought this PalTage out of the Epiftle to the Romans, 
 ■which he thought proved it, wz. Fcrthe Good that Iwoidd, I do not ; hut the Evil Rom. vii. ig. 
 which I would not, that I do ; and divers Parts of the fame Chapter throughout. 
 I, being at the other End of the Table, and hearing them, and obfcrvin" where 
 the Prieft erred, a Concern came upon me to take up the Argument, and to en- 
 deavour to inform him better •, and 1 faid, " That the Apoftie, in that Epiftle, in 
 " the firft Place proved, that both Jews and Gentiles were under Sin, the former 
 " as well as the latter, notwithftanding the Law and Ordinances of G o d delivered to 
 *' them, which they had not kept : and that both had Redemption through Faith 
 " in the Lord Chr ist ; by whom they were made free from Sin, even in this Rom. viii. 2. 
 " Life, (which the Law could not cfFcft) as appears by thefe Words ; Knowing Rom. vi. g, 
 ' ' that Chrifi being ra.ifed from the dead, dieth no more. Death hath no more Dotninion ' o> " • 
 " over him. For in that he died, he died unto Sin once : btit in that he liveth, he livetb 
 " unto God. Likewife reckon ye alfo your [eh es to be dead indeed unto Sin ; but alive U7i- 
 *' to God through Jefus Chrifi our Lord, &c. The Apoftie here, taking the Compari- 
 " fon from the Certainty of the Death and Refurreftion ol Christ, infers likewife 
 *' as great Certainty of their being, in this Life, through him, raifed unto Newnefs 
 " of Life; which he corroborates in the iSthVerfe of the fame Chapter, fayino-, 
 " Being then made free from Sin, ye became the Servants of Rigbteoufnefs: And, Rom.vi. 18. 
 " in the2 2dVerie, confirms it further; But now, being made free' frcni Sin, Ver. 22. 
 *' and become Servatits to God, ye have your Fruits unto Holinefs, and the End 
 " everlafiing Life : Where it is apparent, that the Apoftie makes the Service of 
 *' God and Sin inconfiftent, and altogether incompatible: But, rcfumin"- the 
 *' fame Doftrine, under anodier Similitude, in the fcventh Chapter, he there per- Rom. vii. 
 *' fonates the State of the Jews, and of himfelf, whilft only under the Law, and 
 *' without the Knowledge of Christ, and not that State that he (or the Adult 
 *' in the Church) was in, as an Apoftie and Chriftian, at the Time of writing 
 " that Epiftle ; which States are fo different, that 'tis impoffible the Apoftie 
 " could be in both in fo fliort a Time, as between writing Part of the f^venth 
 " Chapter, and the Beginning of the eighth, which might be Ids than half an 
 " Hour ; for, in the 24th Verfe of the 7th Chapter, fumming up all the Weak- 
 " nefles under the Law in a few Words, he cries out, wretched Man that I Rom. vii. 24. 
 *' am, who fhall deliver me from the Body of this Death I And immediately an- 
 " fwers his own Queftion, / thank God, through Jefus Chrifi our Lord; and Ver. 2 5. 
 *' then continues to aflcrt the Chriftian Freedom, and faith, Inhere is therefore Chap 
 " now no Condemnation to them which are in Chrifi Jefus, who walk not after the 
 " Flefh, but after the Spirit : For the Law of the Spirit of Life, in Chrifi Jefus, 
 " bath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death, &c. 
 
 " Thus it appears that the Apoftie Paul was not under the Body of Sin 
 " and Death, at the Time when he wrote that Epiftle ; but was only rccountino- 
 " the various States, both of himfelf and others, under the Law of Mcfes, and 
 " after the Law of Life and Liberty from Sin was come by the Son of God, 
 
 P "and 
 
 vin. I, 
 2.
 
 SS The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Anno " and fulfilled by him in this Apoftle, as alfo in the Adult in the Congregation 
 1692. " of Christ." 
 
 Upon- this the faid John Kerr freely acknowledged, before the Company, 
 that lie had all along miftakcn that Scripture, and that we underftood it right. 
 
 Having paid for our Bread and Drink, and returned the Bed and Bedding 
 to the Friend that had brought the fame, (in Expedtation that Thomas Kurd's Im- 
 prifonment fhould have been longer than it was fuffered to be, through the good 
 and well-ordering Hand of the Lord) and departed out at the Prifon Door, no 
 fooner were v/e in the Street than Thomas began again to fpeak to the People i 
 but John Boivjlead and I, finding no Concern that way for a fhort Time, at firil 
 were not forward to go v/ith him, but went into a Friend's Shop -, where 
 we had not been long till the Power of the Lord came upon us ; and 
 then we went into the Street, where we found Thomas Rudd preaching among 
 the People •, who were more folid than before, concluding, no doubt, that the 
 Magiftrates had found no Fault in him, having fo foon releafed him : But there 
 was a fecret Power over them, which they knew not. 
 
 W E went down the High-Street, near to the Canongate ; and, upon an Out- 
 ftair, within the Gate, Thomas Rudd Hood up and preached to the People, and, 
 after him, John Bozvjlead ; upon which the Multitude became fo ftill as if we 
 had been in a Meeting of Friends ; and many Perfons of the greater Rank, of 
 both Sexes, leaned out at the Windows, and heard the Sound of the Truth : In 
 the mean time I had been a while feparated from the reft by a Coach, and dif- 
 puting in Canongate with a young Man who had alked me fome Queftions, 
 . which I anfwered ; and we parted in Friendfliip. 
 
 Thus the whole Multitude being, as it were, chained by the mighty and 
 invifible Power ot Truth, and our Spirits over them, and at Liberty by the 
 fame, to his Glory and our great Confolation, we went to our Lodgings ; where 
 we had been but a fliort Time, till a Meflenger came from the Countcfs of Kin- 
 cairn^ to invite Thomas Rudd to her Lodgings, in order to have fome Difcourfe 
 with him concerning his Meffage, and to know whether he had denounced any 
 Judgment againft the City ; for the Adverfary, by his Emifliiries, liad invented 
 and fpread a Rumour, that Thomas Rudd had prophefied that in feven Days the 
 City Ihould be deftroycd. 
 
 I N the Afternoon we went to the Countefs, and Thomas Ballantyne with us, 
 a Friend who had been througli the Streets with Thomas Rudd before we came 
 to Town, and continued with us during the whole Time. This Countefs was 
 an ancient Woman, and of a grave and ferious Deportment : She was kind and 
 courteous to us, entertained us with Refpeft, and acknowledged feveral Doftrines 
 of Truth, fo far as we had occafion to difcourfc her. She alfo acknowledged a 
 Senfe of the great Provocations that City had given the Lord to bring fevcre 
 Judgments upon it -, and told Thomas Rudd flie heard he had fpokcn againft 
 the Prefbyterian Church, of which Ihe was : To which he anfwered, th.it he was 
 concerned by the Lord to cry. Wo againjl the famly Foundation ; and if the 
 Preibytcrians were concerned there, they would do well to look to it. 
 
 From thence we went to the Lady Collington\ Lodgings, who, in the Time of 
 Thomas Rudd\ Imprifonment, had fent to him to know if he wanted any Thing ; 
 and had likewife fent her Maid to invite him to her Houfe after he was at Liberty. 
 
 She
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. S9 
 
 She entertained us refpedfully, and dilcourled Matters that occurred ferioufly ; Anno 
 but in the mean time came in a Prieft, and one Dx Sibbahi, a Phyfician •, \Mtli 169:1. 
 whom we had feme Dilpute : The Matter in controverfy with the Doftor was 
 Baptilin ; wc made Ihort Work with him, but the Particulars, not exaftly re- 
 member'd, are thcretore omitted. 
 
 But the Priell, being a young Man, and a little too forward to engage in Mat- 
 ters he did not underftand ; and the Controverly with him being concerning the Mini- 
 ftry, I cited a Pallagc out ot" the iirll Epiftle of John, viz. But the Anointing 'vchich \ John ii. 27. 
 ye have received of him abideth in ycu ; and ye need not that any Man teach you : But 
 as the fame Anointing teachethyou of all Things, and is Truth, and is no Lie ; and 
 even as it hath taught ycu, ye fhall abide in him : And aflccd the Prieft wliat tliis 
 Anointing was, and how the fame taught? To which he was filent, not without 
 bluHiing in the Prefcnce of the Lady, (who was an ancient grave Woman) and fe- 
 veral younger, her Kinfwomen. 
 
 Then I queftioned the Prieft further about his Call to the Miniftry, and by 
 what Authority he took upon him that Office ? To which he anfwcrcd, " There 
 " is an External Call, and an Internal Call." The External I palled over, and 
 afl;ed him v.'hat his Internal Call was, and by what? He replied, " That it was 
 " by the Light ot God's Grace, which was in him." 
 
 I RETURNED, " Take heed how thou afcribeft fo much Power to the I ,ight 
 •' within, left thou be reputed a Quaker," Upon this he defifted to profecute 
 his Argument any farther, and dropp'd the Defence ot his internal Call ; but be- 
 took himfelf to railing Accufations ; and, fpeaking to 'Thomas Rudd, faid, " We 
 " have Minifters here already, fufficient to inftruiSl the People, and need not 
 " you to make fuch Diilurbance in the City." No, unfwered one of the young 
 Ladies, (fo iTie was ftiled among them) it was not they that made the Difturbance, 
 it was your Hearers -, meaning, that the unruly People were, lor the moft Part, 
 of the fame Profeffion with this Prieft. A Paufe of Silence coming over us, and 
 Truth over all, Thomas Rudd faid Ibme few Things to the old Lady, and John 
 Bo-ivjiead to the Prieft and Do6tor, and tlien we departed in Peace with the Lord, 
 and in Favour and Refpe<ft with moft of our Auditory, which were many more 
 than I have mentioned in particular. 
 
 Having finillied our Concerns at Edinburgh, wc went into a Ferry-boat 
 at Leith, on the 6th Day of the fame Month, and arrived at Kinghorn, and next 
 Day to Caliper ; thro' which Thomas Rudd went with the fame Meifage as at 
 Edinburgh, and John Bozuflecd and I went with him. The People came forth 
 as Bees from a fhaken Hive ; fo that the Streets were quickly filled. We went 
 thro' the Town unmolefted, and came back near the Place where we began. Then 
 came two of the Bailie's Officers in Red Cloathing, and fummoned Thomas Rudd 
 to appear before liim, which he did : And the Bailie enquired by what iVuthority, 
 or Power, he preached unto that People ? Thomas anfwered. By the Autho- 
 rity of the Word of G d, nigh, in his Heart, by which a NccelFity was laid upgn 
 him ; as it is written. Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth fpeaketh, 
 and a good Ma7i, out of the good Treafure of his Heart, bringeth forth good 
 Things. 
 
 The Bailie, being a moderate Man, aiul trembling a little whilft he examined 
 Thomas Rudd, tho' in the Prefence of many of the People, ditl not detain him 
 long, but difmini-d him, without the leaft Rebuke or Scurrility ; after wliich, and 
 
 a
 
 6o The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 A K N o a fiiort Exhortation to the People by John Bowftead, and fome few Words to 
 1692. them by myfelf, (being the firft I had ever uttered in a pubhck Manner) we de- 
 parted thence. The two Officers, and a Multitude of the Inhabitants, very 
 lovingly conducing us out of Town to a green Hill a little without, direftir.g 
 us the Way we enquired after, with great Refpeft. And when wc were about a 
 Qiiarter of a Mile gone from them, the tender Love of Truth being much mani- 
 felled in us, we were conftrained thereby to look back, when we faw the Multi- 
 tude ftill Ifanding on the Hill looking after us, and that Love flowed towards 
 them as from an open Fountain : In the Senfe whereof we were tendered and 
 broken, and yearned towards them, as a young Man towards his Beloved, when 
 he takes his Journey from her for a Seafon. 'There '■iuill be a tender People there 
 in lime. 
 
 Dundee. We went to Dundee the fame Day, where Thomas Rudd likewife preached 
 
 thro' the Streets, John Bowfiead and I going along with him. No Incivility 
 was there offered to us, fave only that a Soldier took Thomas Rudd by the Arm, 
 and bid him be filent •, but Thomas Rudd not regarding him, he offered no fur- 
 ther Violence. Being come quite thro' the Town in that Service, the Lord 
 dropped his Peace upon us, and we went on in great Joy and Comfort in his 
 good Prefence, being lovingly diredted on our Way by one of the Inhabitants. 
 The Fields of Dundee are not yet full ripe, hut in due Time there may be a plenti- 
 ful Harvefi. 
 
 Broughty. The Concern came upon us again in the Way as we went from DK;/i/if^ ; and 
 
 at Broughty, a V'illage along the River Side, below the Town, Thomas Rudd de- 
 livered his Meffage (the fame as before) to a fmall People. They opened not a 
 Mouth, (as I remember) but itood as if they had been amazed at the Sound of 
 Truth, which came with good Authority and Power. 
 
 Aberbroth- 
 wick. 
 
 Moneyfeath. A LITTLE farther Eaft, at a Place called Moneyfeath, near an old Bridge and 
 a Water Corn-mill, Thomas Rudd was concerned to cry aloud, as we pafled by 
 two or three Ploufes there, to warn the Inhabitants to turn from the Evil of their 
 Ways i and immediately came forth a Company of idle People, (who had been 
 at a Wedding) with Mufick and Revelling ; and they being in the Height of 
 their Pleafure, little was effefted upon them ; but fome of them feemed furprifed 
 with Fear of fome perfonal Danger. 
 
 That Evening we went to Aberhrothwick ; where we felt a War in our Spi- 
 rits, againfl a foul, dead, dull, fenfelefs Spirit reigning there. We laid, as it 
 were, under it all Night, and, in the Morning, went thro' the Town ; Thomas 
 Rudd warning the People as at other Places. They offered us no Violence, only 
 fome mocked, others gazed ; and the whole (being generally Epifcopal) had 
 little Defire to know Truth. 
 
 Montrofe. O N the 8th Day of the fame Month we went to Montrofe ; where we found 
 
 ourfelves engaged of the Lord to alarm that Place alfo, and to make War 
 againft the Spirit that ruled there : And having on our Armour of the Love of 
 Truth to all Souls, we went into the Streets, Thomas Rudd warning the People, 
 as before. There is much of the Seed of Ilhmael there, and fome alfo cf Ifaac, 
 tho^ oppreffed and much under at prefent ; the Lord God of Ifrael haflen the Time 
 of his Redemption. By that Time we were fully through the Town, and return- 
 ed to the Market-place, there was a Mukitude of People gathered about us •, 
 who, in the main, were indifferent fober, only fome of the younger fort threw 
 
 Dirt
 
 Dunnoter. 
 Stonehaven. 
 
 of T HO M ^ S S T RT. 6i 
 
 Dirt on nomas Riuld's Hat, as we went along the Street ; but he, going into a Anno 
 l-'riend's Houle to wafli himielf, John Bowjlcad preached to the People ; who 1692. 
 heard him with Attention, and departed peaceably. 
 
 A LITTLE after, on the fame Day, the Friends in that Place being come 
 together, we had a Meeting with them ; and fo departed in Peace. And, on 
 the 9th Day of the fame Month, as we were on the Way to 7i7r/;/0':y«-//;7/, where 
 David Falconer lived, Thomas liudd went to a Iloiife on the Welt-fidc of the 
 River from Kirk.'ozvn-Hiil ; where lived a Widow, who had feveral Daughters then 
 at home with her. Ihe Meffage was as at other Places ; and the Fountain of eter- 
 nal Life was largely opened towards them ; and we found Refpcd from them 
 in a good degree, according to their Way of expreffing it. 
 
 The fame Day we went to C/r/V, to the Widow Barclay^ s; and, the next Lne, 
 Morning, were concerned to vifit feveral Villages in tlie Neighbourhood ; as FeS- l-eaercffo. 
 terejfo, Dunnollei; and Stonehaven: And after Thomas Rudd had lieiivcretl his Mcl- 
 lage in the Streets of the Upper Ktrkto-wn of Fetterejfo, John Bowjtead preached 
 in the Grave-yard to a People buried in Ignorance ; who feemed to have no Scnfe 
 of God at all, but only what they dreamed in their publick Form. We under- 
 ftood the Prieft of the Place was, all the Time, looking out at a Window to- 
 wards us; but did not offer the leaft Oppofition, tho' fuch as they account Wolves 
 in Sheeps Cloathing were even in the Midtl of his Flock. 
 
 After we had gone through the Streets of Stonehaven, we came into the 
 Market-place, where John Bowjiead had a very good Time in preaching to the 
 People ; and fomc Soldiers, at hrft, attempting to pull him down, were hindered 
 by others. The People there, tho\ in the main, afar off, yet fame of them are 
 drawing near the Streams of the free Fountain ; zvhich, in the Days of Thrift, baften- 
 ing upon that Nation, may fatisfy their fainting Souls. 
 
 O N the I ith Day of that Month we went to Aberdeen ; and, on the 12th, be- Aberdeen. 
 ing the firll Day of the Week, we were concerned in the Streets, as at otlier 
 Places \. and a Military Sergeant, v ith a File of Mufketcers, came againft us in 
 the Market-place, in a furious Manner, clubbing their Mufliets over our Heads, 
 as if they would have knocked us down, pretending Orders trom the Officer in 
 Chief to put us out of the Town : But we, ftanding in the Power of the Lord, 
 were not afraid, but demanded ot the Sergeant, by what Authority he, beino- a 
 Military Officer, offered to hinder us to do our Duty : At which he, with his 
 Fellows, withdrew, as one confcious of his Error. Thomas Rudd then continu- 
 ing his MeflTage through the Market-place, John Bowfteadvin^ a little after, con- 
 cerned to proclaim the Spring and Dawning of the Day of God's glorious Power 
 to be near at hand upon the Inhabitants of that Place, anil the Country adjacent : 
 And fo, after a good time in the Streets, we retired to our Lodgin"-s. 
 
 On the 14th Day of the fame Month, Thomas Rudd went back towards Kirk- 
 town-Hill; and in his Way, (as he told us) at a Place called Benk-m-Kirktown, he 
 met with a Pritit, who had taken upon him to report to the People, in thofe Parts, 
 after we had pafled tlirough to /Aberdeen, that we were Jefuits in Difguife : But 
 when Thomas Rudd went among them, and to the Place where the Piiell lived, 
 to deliver his Meffage in publick, the cowardly Hireling, like one afliamed of his 
 Slanders, flirunk into his Houfe ; not having the leaft Objedion agaiitft what 
 Thcmas Rudd there delivered, notwithftanding his backbiting Infinuations aforc- 
 fiid; 
 
 Q. In
 
 6i The I. I F E, &c. 
 
 A X \ o In the mean time, viz. on the 1 8th Day, John Bcj^iftead and I went northward 
 1692. to Inveriiry, where we had a good Meeting among Friends ; Robert Gerard, a 
 Invcrury. fober yoiing Man, a Friend of Aberdeen, then accompanying us. 
 
 On the igth, being the Firft Day of the Week, we went to the Meeting 
 KilmucI:. at Kilmuck ; where, about the Middle of the fame, Thojnas Rudd came again 
 
 to us : And from thence we went to Lethenty, to our Friend Robert Burnet's ; 
 Invemefs.. onwards towards Invernefs, which is about 60 Miles North of Aberdeen ; and no 
 
 Friend there : nor had any Friend travelled that Way for about 14 Years before. 
 
 On the 21 ft of the Month we went from Lethenty to Ligetfden, Strathbogie, 
 Elgin. Keith, and Ccjile Gordon, where we lodged j and the next Day we went to El- 
 
 gin in Murray. 
 
 As wc came near Elgin, the Word of the Lord began fecretly to work in 
 us ; and, wlicn we came to the Town, we went to an Inn to refrefh ourfelves •, 
 where we had not drank, till Thomas Rudd became concerned, as at other Places, 
 to go through the Streets with the fame Meflage as before ; and John Boivjlead 
 and I, having a Fellow-feeling of our Friend's Concern, went into the Streets 
 with him. Once we went through the whole Town ; and as we came by the 
 Guard, in the Middle of a Street, where was part of a Regiment of Dragoons, 
 the Officers, ilirred up by the Prefbyterian Magiftrates, flopped us ; and, afking 
 us fome Queftions, called us Jefuits in Difguife : adding, that if we did not in- 
 rtantly retire to our Quarters and refrefh ourfelves, (for fo much Liberty they 
 would feem to allow us) and fo depart the Town, a Drum fhould be fent after 
 us : But John Bowjlead, being bold at that Time, anfwered. That he would hope 
 for better Evidence from them of that Chriftianity they profeffed, than to offer 
 to drown die Voice of fuch as were fent of God, to warn People to turn from 
 Evil, with the Noife of Diums : But fome cried out, " They deferve to be 
 "• hang'd ;" and others had other hard Speeches againft us. But, in the mean 
 time, we went on with our Concern by the^ Guard again ; and, at about 40 Yards 
 Diftance from that Place, 'Thomas Rudd fpake fome V/ords to the People, (by 
 way of Teilimony) who were very numerous, and more quiet than could have 
 been expcdted, confidering the Encouragement they had from the Example of 
 the Soldiers and Magiftrates. 
 
 And, after Thomas Rudd had done, John Bcwjlead began to fpeak to the 
 Multitude, and forthwith came feveral Soldiers from the Guard, by Orders 
 from their Officers, and took us all into Cuftody, and imprifon'd us in the Guard- 
 houfc among th« Soldiers ; where we, for a fhort Time, were mocked and 
 fcoffed at by them : But they, feeing our Patience and innocent Behaviour, foon 
 began to draw near us, and excufe themielves, faying. They did not imprifon us 
 of tiieir own Accord, as having any Thing againft us, or what we were concern- 
 ed in •, but, being commanded by their Officers, they could not but obey : And 
 the Corporal of the Guard feemed much concerned at our Imprilbnmcnt, and 
 lorry for us •, for, faid he, I have Icen Multitudes of your Friends in Ireland at 
 their publick Meetings without Interruption, and never knew of any 111 they did ; 
 and why might not you have had Liberty to do that which you think your Duty 
 here ? But our Officers cannot help it •, for they are put upon it by the Prefbyte- 
 rian Magiftrates. Some of the Soldiers became fo kind, that they fent for Ale 
 for us, tho' we requefted them to forbear it ; yet, feeing the reality of their 
 Kindnefs, in their Way, we taftcd a littl-: of their Drink ; which pleafed them. 
 
 In
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 67, 
 
 I N a fliort Time after, the Power of the Lord began to increafc in us, and Anno 
 we opened feveral Truths of the Gofpel among the Soldiers, as the Lord open- 1692. 
 ed them in us, and gave us Utterance : And they ftanding, with their Backs to- 
 wards the Door, in the mean time came the Officers, and fome of the Magiftrates, 
 as alfo the Lord of the Town ; who, when they heard what we were upon, 
 they were more earnell to put us out of the Guard, than before tliey were to im- 
 prifon us therein : But we, finding that the Lord had wrought our Liberty, and 
 ourfelves being above them in our Spirits, and that Power that wrought in them, 
 we were not hafty to go out -, but remained difcourfing thofe Things which were 
 upon us, till the Officers came beliind us, and, in a Manner, forced us out before 
 them. 
 
 Then I called Lieutenant Drummond afide, he being the chief Officer pre- 
 fe.nr, and gave him to underlland that the Civil Magifirate had impoied upon 
 him i for it did not belong to tiie Military Officer, but to the Civil, to intermeddle 
 with Mattters of that Import. liowbeit, we parted with them in Kindnefs ; but 
 withal they commanded, that we ffiould depart the Town, and fpeak no more 
 to the People > and would have had us promife lb to do, as Conditions of our 
 Liberty, before they abfolutely releafed us. John Boivftead anfwered, that if we 
 could have gone through the Town in Peace with the Lord, without doinfr his. 
 Command to the People, we Ihould not have been their Prifoners ; and there- 
 fore could not make any Bargain with them : Ncverthclefs, through the fecrct 
 over-rulihg Power of the Lord, they fet us at Liberty. All Praife and Re- 
 nown be given to the Name of our God, who liveth for ever. Auien. 
 
 But we were not above 50 Yards from the Guard, till Thomas Rudd fouiul- 
 ed again -, and fo we went towards the Eaft Gate -, and, before we came to the 
 Market-place, John Bowjlead preached to the People. 
 
 From thence we went towards the Weft Gate, (Thomas Rudd proclaiming his 
 MefTage) and, in the Way, a Prefbyterian Prieil fell in with us ; and walking 
 behind John Bcuijiead, put a young Man upon moving fome Difpute with him : 
 And Robert Gerard Sind I, being a little behind them, obfervedtjic Prieft, and his 
 Defign, and went up to him to wait his Propofal to John Bozvflead ; but, in a 
 fhort Time, he afked me by what Authority Thmnas Rudd went through the 
 Town with that MefTage .'' I anfwered, that his Qucftion was not proper to me, 
 fince the Man himfelf was prefent ; but faid I, " Thou thyfelf feems to be a 
 " Teacher, by what Authority doft thou preach .''" 
 
 "We (faid the Prieft) have an External Call, and an Internal Call." " Where 
 " there is a Call, faid I, there muft be a Voice to give that Call : This Call, 
 " thou fayeft, is within ; what therefore is this in thee which calls thee to that 
 " Office ?" Upon this the Prieft demurred a little, and began to tremble, (for 
 the binding Power of the Lord was coming over him) but at length faid, "It 
 " is by the Light of Goo's Grace." " Why then, faid I, doft thou oppofe us 
 " for preaching the Power and Virtue of that Light, which, by thy own Afler- 
 " tion, is able to qualify for the Gol'pel Miniftry ? But withal, do not thou belie 
 " the Grace of God, in faying it liath called thee unto that Office, when, in 
 " truth, it hath not : And beware how thou pretends to preach the Light, as 
 " the Foundation of thy Miniftry, left thou bring thyfelf under the Denoirjinati- 
 " on of a Quaker." Thus, by virtue of that Light, I extorted a I'tftimo- 
 ny to the fame, from him who came to oppofe it, and the Work of ic in us. 
 
 The
 
 (k\. The L I F E, o-'c- 
 
 Anno The Prieft being under this Circiimftance, John Bczvjlead cried aloud to the 
 
 1692. People, hfmg^Obferve theConfufioHof your'Q-xhyXom^i 'Teacher-, and then opened 
 fevera! of their Errors : But the Prieft's Familiars, feeing him out of Countenance, 
 and in Confufion, would gladly have had him out of the Crowd in which we 
 v/ere inviron'd ; and fonie were obferved to weep : Others, being affronted at 
 their Prieft's Confufion, threw Dirt in my Face, which reflefted back on his -, 
 upon which he feemed to fmile, expecting, 'tis like, to be refcued from the juft 
 Hand of Truth, by the Power and Induftry of the Stoners and Bedirtcrs among 
 liis Hearers, from whom he alledged his Outward Call. Then laid John Bow- 
 Jlead, " Art thou a Minifter, pretending a Call by the Light of God's Grace, 
 " which teaches to deny all Ungodlinefs, and yet canft laugh at Wickednefs ; 
 " and lee alio the Fruits of thy Teaching among thy Hearers, who thus offer 
 " \'iolence to Strangers r" Upon which a Party, from the Oucfide of the Crowd, 
 in a Body, prefs'd into the Middle of them, where we were, and fo drove the 
 Prieft quite out to the other Side -, and away he ran. Then John Bcivftead cried 
 aloud after him, The Hireling runs, becaufe he is a Hireling ; and, alter fome Ex- 
 Iwrtation to the People, we went towards our Inn, Thomas Rudd proclaiming his 
 Meffage. 
 
 N o more Violence was offered to us, fave only that a Soldier threw a Piece 
 of hard Earth from the Guard-houfe among us, which fell upon Robert Grrard's 
 Shoulder, but did not hurt him much. The Rage of Satan being over-ruled by 
 the blefted Power of God, (to whom be Praife and Glory for evermore) 
 the Inhabitants of Elgin became very calm ; and we, finding the Concern to ceafe 
 in us, went to our Quarters : But the Concern returning on Thomas Rudd, and 
 reaching me likewife, we went out together towards the Weft Gate ; where he 
 delivered his MefTage, without any Oppofition from any Perfon, by Word or 
 Deed : So wc returned to the Inn, to our Companions ; and, after Refrelhment, 
 we departed in the juftifying Prefence and Peace ot the Lord, and went forward 
 that Evening to Forrefs : The whole Time fpent in Elgin, as aforcfaid, being 
 ;;bGUt three Hours. 
 
 lorrels -^ '^ Fcrrefs we lodged at an Inn kept by Bailie Scot ; who, together v/ith his 
 
 Wife and Family, entertained us with friendly Refpeft. The next Morning, be- 
 ing the 24th, we went through this Town, {Thomas Rudd doing his MefTage, as 
 at other Times) but no Violence was offered by any : And that Day one JVilliffin 
 Falconer, a Relation of David Falconer, came to fee us. He was an Epifccjpal 
 Prieft, and had been difplaced, fome time before, by the Prefbyterians ; He was 
 a comely Perfon, and of an affable Temper ; and I afkcd him why they had 
 turned him out ? He replied. That it was for the original Sin of Epifcopacy. 
 They objefted nothing againft his Morals ; and, for the Maintenance of his Fa- 
 mily, he would have conformed : but, his Father having been a Bifhop, they 
 would not truft him, left Epifcopacy Ihould have become hereditary in him : But 
 more of him hereafter. 
 
 Old Nairn. The fame Day we went forward to Old Nairn, where we were concerned ; 
 
 and, Thomas Rudd warning them to turn from their evil Ways unto the Lord, 
 they gave us full Demonftration there was need of it, by throwing Dirt and 
 Tralh at us, and ufing bloody Speeches : But the Lord preferved us from their 
 Evil, by his blefTed Truth, the greateft Good ; unto whom, for the Riches of his 
 Power, be Honour everlafting. Anen. 
 
 Nairn. Frori Old Nairn vit went to Nairn, where part of a Regiment of Dra- 
 
 goons
 
 of THOMAS S T R r. 6s 
 
 gcons-were quartered; '^nd Thomas 7?z<^/i ddivering his Meflage, as at other Anno 
 Places, many of them followed us through the Streets very foberly ■, one of 1692. 
 whom, (a Corporal as I remember) fo foon as he had ferioufly obferved us, and 
 heard the Meflage, held up his Hand, and, ftretching it towards the People, gave 
 ilridT: Orders that neither Soldiers, nor others, fliould in any ways moleft or in- 
 terrupt us •, which accordingly was obferved, for all were very peaceable toward 
 us. And as foon as Thomas Rudd had done, a Multitude of Soldiers and Town's 
 People followed us to tlie Door of our Inn •, and there being Out-ftairs, amend- 
 ing to an Upper-room, John Bowftead flood upon the fame, and preachi;^! a con- 
 fiderable Time to them ; they generally behaving with friendly Gravity, with 
 Tears gurtiing into leveral Eyes •, and the Teftimony of Truth went freely and 
 openly towards them. And tho' the Lord had not hitherto opened my Mouth 
 in a Teftimony (fo as to be termed a Minifter) of Words, yet my Heart was 
 full of the Word of Life -, and the Love thereof went towards the People, as it 
 were, unrcftrained j as it had done towards many others of that Nation, in that 
 Vifir. 
 
 After Refrefhment at the Inn, we went that Evening to hrcernefs •, where invemefs. 
 fome of the People, taking us for Dutchmen, came to enquire after News, Mar- 
 tial Affairs being then much in agitation between the French ami Conlcderatcs ; 
 but, finding what we were, their Expedtation failed. 
 
 T H E next Morning, being the Seventh Day of the Week, Thomas Rudd 
 walked through the Streets alone, very early -, and, afterwards, we went all up 
 together into the Market-place, where there were many Highlanders in tlieir ufu- 
 al Drefs, and armed •, who, together with the other People, flocking about us, 
 John Bowftead preached unto them -, and the Teftimony of Truth had a fluent 
 Paffage. They were refpedlful above Expeftation ; and when any Boys, or other 
 Particulars, moved the leaft Incivility or light Behaviour towards us, others were 
 forward to corredl and reprehend them : And whenever we v/ent out of our 
 Inn into the Streets, on any Occafion, the People flocked after us. 
 
 O N the fame Day, in the Afternoon, divers young Men, of the better Rank, 
 (as they are accounted) came to dil'courfe us upon fcvera! Points ol Religion ; to 
 whom, in the main, through the Truth, we gave Satislaftion ; only one John 
 Stewart, a Prefbyterian, abruptly darted in a Qiieftion, about the Almighty's 
 decreeing fome Men and Angels to eternal Damnation : And I, being moll 
 concerned, at that Time, in Difcourfe, declined that Subje6l, till other Matters, 
 more fuitablefor the Auditory, were fully difcuiicd-, and then I told him, " That 
 it was more proper and neceflary for him to make his own Calling and Eleclion 
 fure, than to be too curious about Queftions of fo myfterious Import : and with- 
 all, tliat he ought not to wreft the Scriptures, which were, in the main, defigned 
 to remove thefe Conceits of the Jews, that they were the only cholen of God, 
 by Covenant with Abram and the Lathers, and thro' the Mediation of Mofes at 
 Mount Stnai ; by which they flighted Christ, theeleft Seed of God, and the 
 (jofpel of Salvation oftered unto thcmfclves, and the Work of the fame, at that 
 Time, taking place among the Gentiles : Thofe Scriptures in the Epiftlc to the 
 Romans, then adduced, haying no Relation at all to the Decreeof any particular 
 Man, or Order of Men, as fuch, or Angel, or Order ot Angels, to Dcftrudion 
 from Eternity ; for that could never comport with the unchangeable and glorious 
 Attr'ibute of divine Goodnefs, eflrntial to the Almighty :" with fome other Matter 
 fuiting that Point. And the young Man, being fruftrated of his Expeftation, 
 went awuv in a fuUen Rancour ; not like one on the Right-hand, if fuch a Decree 
 
 R hud
 
 66 Tie L I F E, <^'c. 
 
 Anno had been; but the Lord preferved us in the Spirit of Meeknefs and Charity. 
 1692. This gave me occafion to obferve, how hard it is for fuch as are prepofTcffed with 
 Antichriftian Notions and Conceits, to embi-ace the Truth, or apply themfclves 
 to Virtue ; and how the Enemy of their Souls rages in their own Hearts, when 
 any Thing appears to difcover his Deceit in any Meafure ; how, through Envy, 
 (moving the fame in them) does he blind their Eye, and keep them in the dark, 
 to their utter Dellruftion : For no fooncr can one offer to refill that Notion of 
 Predeftination, as they hold it, or form a'n Argument againft it, how clearly, 
 calmly, nationally, and truly foever, but they generally fly up like fiery Serpents^ 
 ready, thro' Rage, if it were in their Power, to fet the very Courfe of Nature on 
 Fire, kindling it with the Fire of Hell. 
 
 O N the Seventh Day, at Night, we remained under fome Exercife of Mind ; 
 and, the next Morning, went into the Market-place, in the Croffings of feveral 
 Streets ; and there, firft 'Thomas Riidd, and then John Bowflead, preached a con- 
 fiderable Time to the People, who were generally to come that Way to their 
 feveral forts of Worfhip -, and many of them (laid, and heard with grave At- 
 tention ; and are a People of an E-nglifh Demeanour and Afpedl. In conve- 
 nient Time we retired to our Lodging ; and, in an Upper-room, had a Meeting 
 among ourfelves, and fome few more : And our Landlady, not having been 
 able to move out of her Chamber for many Weeks before, came up to us, and 
 ftaid during the Meeting ; to her great Refrefhment and Satisfaftion, as flie o- 
 penly declared foon after. Glory be to the Lord, who is ever ready to do good 
 to all who faithfully wait on him for his pure Grace, and the Virtue of it ; which 
 is able to refrefh both Soul and Body, when it pleafes him to move by the fame 
 in his poor Creatures. 
 
 Our Meeting being over, which happened before others came from their fe- 
 veral Worfhips, we were concerned to go to the Steeple-houfe ; but as we were 
 going down the Street, one of the Civil Officers, being at the Door, went in, 
 but fuddenly returned, and placed a Hand on each Side of the fame ; and when 
 Thomas Ritdd, who was foremoft, attempted to enter, the Officer hindered him : 
 Then Thomas Rudd offered fome Arguments to induce him to admit us, but 
 could not prevail, faying, he could not difpute with us, but there we mufl not 
 come ; but gave us no hard Words, nor fhewed any Paffion in his Geilure : They 
 were Epifcopalians, Prefbytery not having overfpread all the North at that Time. 
 
 W E walked to and again in the Street ; and many People came to us, and fe- 
 veral would have had us go to the Prefbyterian Meeting, which was a little below 
 in the fame Street ; but, having no Concern that Way, we took little notice of 
 them : But the Epifcopahans, loon after, coming from their Worfhip, and very 
 numerous, Thomas Rudd moved into the Street before them, with his Arms 
 fpread abroad, as if to embrace them, and fpake to this Effeft, " That fome of 
 the Apoftles of Christ, coming to a certain Place, where other Worfhip than 
 what they then preached was exercifed, had the Priviledge, after fuch Worfliip 
 was over, to preach to and exhort the People ; and why might not we have the 
 fame among ProfefTors of Chriflianity ?" And then went on with other Matter, 
 The People generally ftaid, tho' the Prieft ufed fome ineffeftual Means to make 
 them depart from us -, knowing that if the Truth, and the bleffed Work of it, 
 once affeded their Hearts, his Gain, Power, and Glory, would foon fail, vanifh, 
 and be loft. 
 
 The People were extreme quiet and attentive ; and the Priefl, feebg their 
 
 In-
 
 cf THOMAS ST RT. 61 
 
 Inclinations and Refolutions to flay, went away, with fonic few attending him. Anno 
 widiout offering any Difcourfc to us, or Objedion againft v/hat was delivered. 1692. 
 
 B y the Time Thomas Rudd had done, the Prefbyterians came from their Meet- 
 ing, and were, for the moft part, to pafs along the fame Street ; and, whether 
 they were lb inclined or not, they could not but llay -, for the whole Street was 
 blocked up by the Crowd : And when 'Thomas Rudd had done, John Bci^Jlead 
 fpake to them, in good Authority, but not very long ; and, towards the End, 
 cxpofed the Prieft, and Defign of his Miniftry, to the People ; which, being as 
 a I'rade for Maintenance, would never profit them : And, having cleared their 
 Minds of their Concern for that Time, we went to our Inn without any Molefta- 
 tion. 
 
 And having dined in a large Upper-room, feveral Military Officers, viz. ^ 
 Lieutenant Levingfton, Lieutenant Alexander Frazer, Enfign Cunningham, i£c. \ 
 who kept Garrifon there, dcfiring a little of our Company, came to fee us. At 
 their Entrance into the Room they faluted us in their Manner, uncovering and bow- 
 ing, faying, " Your Servants, Gentlemen :" And, the Prefence of the Lord be- 
 ino- over us, Thomas Rudd anfwered, " Not our Servants, but Servants of G o d, and 
 *' Fcllow-fervants one of another for the Lord's Sake." Then they made an 
 Apology, faying it was their Way of expreffing their Refpedl ; which we per- 
 ceiving to be without mocking, little more was faid on either Side, but all drawn, 
 in an Inftant, into profound Silence, by the invifible Power of God ; and, in a 
 Ihort Space, the Room was full of People, and all fober, like a Meeting of Friends: 
 and Thomas Rudd fpoke to them concerning true Silence, and the Worship of 
 God in Spirit, in the Silence of all Flefli, and the Imaginations and Defires there- 
 of ; with fome other Things of that Import. 
 
 After Thomas Rudd had done, John Bowftead preached to them ; and then 
 Thomas Rudd prayed •, and, after him, John Boivjtead prayed : and fo the Meet- 
 ing ended, all departing in a grave and ferious Frame of Mind : And the Offi- 
 cers took Leave ot us in a friendly Manner, and the Company departed, without 
 any Objedion to what was fiid. 
 
 The next Morning, being the Second Day of the Week, as we were about 
 to depart towards Chanery, on the other Side of Murray Firth, the faid Officers Chanery. 
 came again to difcourfe with us, and take their Leave ; and as Matters of TVuth 
 and Religion were opened to us, which was not fparingly, we opened to them, 
 and they feemed troubled to part with us, and took us by the Hands, prayino- 
 that the Lord might be with us and profper us. About the Firft Hour that 
 Afternoon we arrived at Chanery, but found no farther Concern on that Side ; 
 and after a httlc Refrefhment, we crolTed the River, and that Night lodcred at 
 Nairn. 
 
 But that Night Thomas Rudd became concerned to return to Livernefs, to Invernefs, 
 fpcak to the Pricfl ; and in the Morning he and John Bowftead went to that Place 
 where Thomas Rudd (as they faid) warned the Priefb not to deceive that People 
 any longer •, with fome other Matters of religious Import. The Prieft was indif- 
 ferently patient -, but his Clerk ufed fome light and indecent Expreffions, pre- 
 tending to argue feveral Points with them : But their Bufinefs was not to difpute, 
 at that Time, but to deliver a MefTagc ; which having done they were clear. 
 But the People fiocked about them, as before, with Expreffions of Giadncfs at 
 their Return. 
 
 In
 
 68 The L I F E, ^x. 
 
 Anno I \ the mean time Robert Gerard and I went to Forrefs, where we had ap- 
 1692. pointed to ftay tiil they fhould return to us •, and finding a Concern come upon 
 me, I went to the Houfe of JVilliam Falconer, (the Prieft before-mentioned) and 
 Robert Ceroid with me -, and there Was one that was Steward to a Nobleman 
 with him, and fome others befides his own Family. He feemed to receive us 
 with Refpecl ; neverthelefs in a fhort Time there appeared a Cloud of Darknefs : 
 But I fat quiet and inward a little, and the Truth arofe as a Standard againft it, 
 and the oppofing Darknefs vanifhed, and Truth reigned in me alone ; and then 
 I began to fpeak concerning the many Divifions in the pretended Chriftian World, 
 happening upon the pouring forth of the feventh Phial by the Angel of G o d, men- 
 Rev, xvi. 1 7, tioned in the Book of the Revelation of John : That the pretended Chriftian 
 '9- Churcli, with all her various falfe Notions, Opinions, and Doftrines, is that Baby- 
 
 Ion • That her three great Divifions are the Papacy, the Prelacy, and the Prefby- 
 tery, with their feveral Subdivifions and Confufions ; who, being departed from 
 the Spirit of Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the Spirit of Envy and Per- 
 fccution, were now, and from the Time of that Phial, warring and dcflroying 
 each other, contrary both to the Nature and End of that Religion they proiels, 
 which is Love. I was anfwered, " That the Bifhop of Rome, under Pretence of 
 being the SuccefTor of Peter, and, as fuch, infallible, hath ufurped a Diftatorfhip ^ 
 over the Chriftian World, in Matters of Religion ; and impofed a Multitude of 
 Antichriftian Errors, by unreafbnable Force, upon Mankind : But God, having 
 committed his whole Will unto Writing in the Holy Scriptures, and, in the Courfe 
 cf his Providence, preferved them unto us, we have our whole Duty declared 
 therein, as our Rule and Guide in Matters of Religion ; fo that we are not to ex- 
 peft the Manifcftations of the Spirit, as in Times paft, that Difpenfation being ' 
 now ceafed." • 
 
 I REPLIED, " That what he faid of the Bifhop of Rome was true -, and that 
 the Scriptures are the moft excellent Books extant ; vvhich were given, from time 
 to time, by the Word of the Lord, which is the Spirit of Christ : but Men 
 may read and fpeak the Truths contained in the Scriptures one to another, and 
 the Readers and Speakers remain ftill ignorant of the Word of the Lord, and of 
 the Things themfelves intended to be fignified by the Words ; and, not being fent 
 of God, (as the Scriptures fend no Man) cannot profit the Hearers, but are them- 
 felves TranlgrefTors in fo doing, unlefs they were fent by the Influence, Power, 
 and Virtue of the fame Word that did diftate the Matters of the Scriptures unto 
 the holy Penmen thereof; as appears by the 23d Chapter of the Prophecy of Je- 
 ler. xxiii. :8, retniah : And then I called for a Bible and read ; The Prophet that hath a Dream, 
 — 3-- let him tell a Dream ; and he that hath my JVord, let him fpeak my Word faith- 
 
 fully : What is the Chaff to the Wheat, faith the Lord? Is not my Word like 
 a Fire, faith the Lord ; and like a Hammer that breaketh the Rock in Pieces ? 
 Therefore, behold, I am againft the Prophets, faith the Lord, that fleal my Words, 
 every one from his Neighbour. Behold I am againft the Prophets, faith the Lord, 
 that ufe their Tongues, and fay. He faith ; Tet I fent them not, nor commanded 
 them ; therefore they fhall not profit this People at all, faith the Lord. So that it 
 is contrary to the declared Mind of God, that any fliould ufe his Words to others, 
 as his Miniflers, who are not fent by himfelf fo to do ; for tho' they have been his 
 Words unto others, thofe who ufe them without his Command, are charged by 
 him as Thieves ; efpeciaJly fuch as make Merchandize of them to the People. 
 
 A s to the Difpenfation of the Spirit being now ceafed, I am lorry to hear it is 
 fo •, for I can fliew thee to whom it is fo ceafed, but not to the Church of Chr i s t : 
 
 Then
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 6^ 
 
 Then I turned to the 3d Chapter of the Prophecy of Micah, and read ; Hear, I Anno 
 pray you, O Heads of Jacob, and ye Princes of the Houfe of Jfrael, is it not for 16 (^z. 
 you to knoiv Judgment ? IVho hate the Good, and love the Evil ; who pluck off their Micahiii. i 
 Skin from off them, and their Flefh from off their Bones ; who alfo eaJ the Fief 3 of — +■ 
 my People, and fiea their Skin from off them ; and they break their Bones, and chop 
 them in Pieces as for the Pot, and as Flep within the Cauldron. Then fhall they 
 cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them ; he will even hide his Face from them 
 at that Time, as they have behaved themfelves ill in their Doings. 
 
 Here it appears, that for the Ignorance, Cruelty, and Injufticeof the Princes, 
 or Heads of the People, the Lord would not hear or regard them : As again, 
 in the 9th Verfe, the Lord refumes his Charge againft the great Men in that 
 Day ; They abhorred Judgment, and perverted all Equity : They built up Zion with Micah iii. 9, 
 Blood, and Jerufalem vsith Iniquity : The Heads of that People judged for Reward, —^-. 
 their Priejis taught for Hire, and their Prophets divined for Money ; yet they pre- 
 tended to lean upon the Lord, and fay. Is not the Lord among us ? No Evil can come 
 upon us. But the Lord was not to be mocked by fuch -, his juft Judgments were 
 denounced againft them ; Therefore fhall Zion, for your Sakes, be plowed as a 
 Field, and Jerufalem fhall become Heaps -, and the Mountain cf the Houfe, as the 
 high Places cf the Foreft. This was iulfiUed upon them, and remains over them, 
 as a Monument of the Juftice of God, unto this Day. The Charge of the 
 Lord, and his Judgments againft the Prophets, I left to the laft, viz. They made Micah iii. - 
 the People err ; they bit with their Teeth, and (yet) cried Peace ; and he that put — 7- 
 not into their Mouths, they even prepared War againft him : Therefore Night fa all 
 be unto you, that ye fhall not have a Vifion ; and it fhall be dark unto you, that ye 
 Jloall not divine ; and the Son fhall go down over the Prophets, and the Day Jhall 
 be dark over them. Then fijall the Seers be afhamed, and the Diviners confound- 
 ed ; yea, they fhall all cover their Lips, for there is no Anfwer of God. 
 
 N o w as to thefe Scriptures, faid I, Like Sin, like Judgment. All thefe three 
 Divifions of the pretended Chriftian Church, falling into the Sins of the old Hea- 
 thens, are become hateful, and hating one another; and, through that Hatred, have Rom. i, 29, — 
 perfecuted and deftroyed each other, when and where ever they have had Power : 3 ' • 
 And all thefe, in their Turns, (having deceived and fubjefted the temporal Powers) 
 have perfecuted and deftroyed the Church of Christ among them. They have 
 hated the Good, and loved the Evil : They have exercifed fuch Cruelties upon the 
 Innocent and Juft, as are here figuratively termed plucking off their Skin and 
 their Flefh, and the breaking of their Bones, and the like. The Pricfts of every 
 Form have fleeced the People and the Church of Christ, which they have 
 not fed; they have made Laws, by their own Power, againft them, and thereby 
 made War againft fuch as would not gratify their Covetoufnefs ; they have wor- 
 ried them, as with their Teeth, and yet cried up the Peace of the Gofpel in Words ; 
 they have built and propagated their feveral Se£ts and Parties with the Blood ot 
 others, and of the Saints of G o d ; and have filled their Sanctuaries with Evil- 
 doing and Fraud : Their Heads, who lord over them, have exercifed their Of- 
 fices for Gain and Pay, tha.T Priefts teach for Hire, their Prophets divine for Mo- 
 ney ; yet they pretend the Lord is with them in their various and oppofite Ways, 
 and that no Evil can come upon them. And yet, tho' the Day ol the Gofpel of 
 Christ be dawned upon his Church, and the Sun of Righteoufnefs arifen, and 
 flfining in her, yet the Night of Apoftacy, and Mift of thick Darknefs and Igno- 
 rance is over thefe : They have no Vifion of God ; they cannot divine ; the Sun is ^jj^g}, ;;;_ g_ 
 fet unto them, and the Day is dark over them : For the Light thereof they defpiie 
 and hate, becaufe they are Evil-doers, and to them there is no Anfwer cf Gcd, 
 
 S whs
 
 70 
 
 Anno 
 1692. 
 
 Micahiii. 8. 
 
 The LIFE, <^x. 
 
 who is that Spirit, and fpeaks no more unto them, biit by the Letter, which kil- 
 ieth, and of which they make a Trade and Gaiti. 
 
 But the Church of Christ here fpeaketh anotlier Language ; fhe bears a- 
 nother, a true Teftimony to the true God: Bui truly I am full of Pcn-er, hy 
 the Spirit of the Lord, and of Judg7nent, and of Might, to declare unto Jacob his 
 Tranfgreffions, and unto Ifrael his Sin, 
 
 Here it is apparent from whom the Spirit of the Lord is departed, and 
 to whom he is not now revealed, and in whom he does not refide ; that is, My- 
 jiery-Babylon, with all her Divifions, Subdivifions, and Members, every where, 
 and under whatlbevcr Name : But God is with his People ftilj, as informer 
 Johnxiv. 23. Times, according to the Promife of the Son; If a Man love vie, he is:ill keep 
 my Words \ and my Father will love him., and we will come unto him, and make 
 cur Abode with him." 
 
 Elgin. 
 Fochabers. 
 
 Keith. 
 Kin tore. 
 
 Kilmuck. 
 
 The Auditory lieard what was faid with Patience, and none made any An- 
 Iwer but the Prieft ;, and all that he faid was (and that a little pleafantly) " Such 
 " as you, going about with fuch Chapters, may do much Mifchief." To whom 
 I replied, " That in as much as he was then filenced by the temporal Powers that 
 then were, he would do well never to look after that Employment any more, or 
 think to enrich himfelf thereby ; and the rather, fince he had a competent Eftatc 
 independent of it; which the Lord would blefs to him and his Family, if he 
 difclaimed that ungodly Practice of preaching for Hire, and was filent in the 
 Things of God till the Lord fhould lend him, it it might pleafe him fo to do.'* 
 The Prieft's Wife feemed well pleafed with what I faid to him, and he made no 
 Reply : And fo, a little after, we departed in Peace, and in Friendfliip with them, 
 and went to our Inn. 
 
 Soon after came Thomas Rtidd and John Bowflead back to us from Invernefs ; 
 and, the next Morning, being the ift Day of the Firft Month, we went to El- 
 gin ; and thence to Fochabers, (or Caftle-Gordon) and there we lodged -, and, ia 
 the Morning, Thomas Rudd and John Bowflead went through the Streets, Thomas 
 Rudd delivering his Meflage, as at other Places ; and from thence we went to 
 Keith, where he did likewile. 
 
 O N the 2d Day of the Firft Month, we came to Kintore ; where, in our 
 Road towards Invernefs, we had feen one John Gcllie -, of whom take this Ac- 
 count : He was a Prieft's Son, (by Mary, Sifter of Aidrew Jeffrey, of Kingfwellsy 
 an eminent Friend) and had been convinced of Truth fome Years ; and had be- 
 haved as becomes Truth, fo far as could be obferved by his Neighbours : And 
 Jaron Atkinfon, (a young Man belonging to the Border Meeting in Cumber- 
 land, who had lately come forth with a Teftimony to Truth) being at A7/- 
 muck Meeting, to which John Gellie belong'd, had fome ExprelTions in his Tefti- 
 mony there, by way of Prophecy, That the Lord would raife up fome one 
 Perfon in thofe Parts, who Ihould be inftrumental in tlic Hand of the Lord 
 to bear a more eminent Teftimony for him and his glorious Truth, than many 
 who had lived there before •, and at the fame Time this John Gellie was much af- 
 fected and broken : And, fometime after, in the fame Meeting, he was fo concern- 
 ed, that he cried aloud under the Weight of his Exercife ; and, after t'le Meeting 
 was over, could not be at reft till he called in the moft ancient and fohd Friends, 
 and others coming in alfo, he had what they called a dreadful Teftimony, againft 
 
 the
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 71 
 
 the Payers of Tytlies, and all Collufion, Equivocation, and under-hand DeuUngs Anno 
 in the fame ; with which Friends then preient were generally fatisfied. 1692. 
 
 But there being fome particular Perfons belonging to the Meeting, whom he 
 thought guilty in that refpecSt, he took upon him, in his own Will and Zeal, and 
 not in the Council of God, to fpeak to them concerning the fame ; and they, not 
 regarding what he faid, fo much as he expefted, or defired, he took fuch Offence 
 that he feparated himfelf from the Meeting, calling thofe Friends ylpoftates, and ma- 
 ny other opprobrious and reproachful Names ; and did fome Hurt among theWeak 
 for a Time. But the wife and juft God was pleafed to manifell him, and fo 
 the Weak efcaped the Snare : For, in a fhort Time, he began to utter ridiculous 
 and falfe Prophefies -, and, among others, that, at fuch a Time, his Mother fhould 
 die : In confequence of which fhe, a poor weak Woman, took her Bed at the 
 Time prediiled by her Son, and feveral Perfons attended to fee the Event •, and, 
 at the fuppofed Hour of her Departure, the pretended Prophet laid his Hand on 
 her Bread, and faid, " Come up Soul ;" and fo drawing his Finger all along 
 up to her Throat, " Now, laid he, 'tis departing •," upon which the filly Woman 
 criedout, " Good Lord, receive my Spirit:" Neverthelefs it continued inher; 
 for fhe did not die, but rofe up, afham'd to have been fubjedted to fuch vain 
 Imaginations. 
 
 Afte R this he took a fhort Pipe with Tobacco, and, going thro' the Streets 
 of Kintore, cried out, " This is the Ram's Horn that was founded when the Walls 
 of Jericho fell down to the Ground •," with feveral other fenfelefs Praftices, by 
 which he appeared to be grofsly deceived by the Adverfary. 
 
 When we went to his Mother's Houfe, he was not within, but quickly 
 came to us, and fecmed to receive us in Friendfliip •, but, in a fhort Space, he 
 began to utter his Enthufiaftick Notions, which grieved us : For he affirm'd, 
 that his Soul was removed out of the Place where formerly it refided, and that 
 God occupied the Place where it had been ; and from thenceforth it was not he 
 tliat actuated the Body, (for he had ceafcd from all Aftion for ever) but k was 
 God that afted in it. And he brought this Scripture to prove it, It is not you Mat. x. 20. 
 that fpeak, but the Spirit of your Father which fpeaketb in you. This is the true 
 Ranter. 
 
 Th E n I afk'd him. Who it was that prophefied of his Mother's Death, with- 
 in a limited Time, and which proved falfe ? And does not the Scripture fay, that 
 by this fJmll we know the Prophecy that it is of God, if it comes to pafs ; if not, it 
 is not of God. Then he began to equivocate, faying, " But what Mother did I 
 " mean?" for he would have pretended fome fort of my ftical Mother. Then 
 I told him his A£lions had dcmonftrated what Mother he intended, when his 
 natural Mother took her Bed, according to his Prophecy -, and he laid his Hand 
 on her Breaft, and faid, " Come up Soul." Then he fell into a Rage, and went 
 out of the Room, faying, " Will you reafon againft God ? But now, laid he, 
 I am rcafoning with Brute Bealls." 
 
 We followed him into another Room, where there happened to be ^?/^«w 
 Jeffrey, vfho had made him manifefl to ibme very weak Perfons, who had almolfe 
 been led away after him, becaufe of the Teftimony he had borne before in the 
 Meeting, ere the Adverfary got Advantage and betray'd him. And as foon as 
 he faw Andrew, he left us again •, for he had entertain'd great Difpleafure againfl 
 him : But feeing him in a fpiritual Diftradion, we prevailed on him to return and 
 
 fit
 
 7a The LIFE, c^x. 
 
 Anno fit with us, and, after a fliort Silence, John Bowftead began to fpeak ; and tho* 
 ■I 692. he ufed but a fev/ Words, and with Gentlenels, yet he could not bear them, but 
 was going out, tho' by Perfuafion he ftaid, and then Jndrezv kneeled down to 
 Prayer ; which, fo foon as John Gellie obferved, he arofe from his Seat in great 
 Fury, and ftood over Andre'-jj as he was praying, and cried with a Herce and fu- 
 rious Voice, " O G o D, feal down the curfed Spirit, that would come up in thy 
 " Prefence, to offer an unclean Thing •, roar out of Z/o«, dcftroy the Ac- 
 *' curfed." But a Friend \\t\^ John Gellie off, and yf^'ir^cy continued till he 
 had finifhed what was upon him ; yet afterwards John Gellie feemed more quiet, 
 and endured to be admonillied with more Patience. 
 
 The Occafion of his Overthrow, as I take it, was thus : He was really made 
 Ufe of in the Hand of the Lord, at that Time, in a Tefi:imony againfl the 
 Payment of Tythes, and other Enormities ; but not keeping clofe with that 
 Light and Power which then moved in him, the Adverfary transformed himfelC 
 into the Likenefs of that Light, and deceived him, getting PolTeflion thereby of 
 the Will and Afledions of the Creature, willing and affefting to have divine 
 Power in himfelf, and Dommion, and to be Wifdom and Knowledge to others, 
 and, as Satan, to ufurp the Place of Christ. This W^ill in the Creature, 
 (being violently mov'd againft that which the Power of Truth had been manifeft- 
 ed againft) meeting with Oppofition, he inftantly concludes, that this Oppofition 
 is againft God ; and, being immediately hurried, thro' Jealoufy and a falfe Zeal, 
 into Revenge and Refentment, againft that which he fuppofes is the Enemy of 
 God ; and ftill thinking he is afting under the fame Power that firft moved in 
 him, and never able to fee that he is under the Power of the transform'd Enemy, 
 he remains furious and envious againft all who will not obey his Diftates as the 
 Commands of God ; and, lofing all Charity, he treats them as the Enemies of 
 God, and of his Truth. 
 
 After this John Gellie began to write againft Friends, ftill holding his Pre- 
 tences for Truth ; alledging that one of our own Prophets (meaning Aaron At- 
 kinfon) had foretold us of the great and wonderful Reformation to be wrought by 
 him ; and therefore his Name was changed to John Ifrael^ and he would go forth 
 and reform the Nations ; not confidering that which Aaron Atkinfon then fpake 
 in the Meeting, had Reference to the Power of the divine Light of Christ, 
 which then moved, and not to John Gellie ; who, thro' Luciferian Pride, would 
 have ufurped the Glory to himfelf : and therefore was left to himfelf, to aft in the 
 Will of Satan, that he might be made manifeft : For the Lord will not give 
 his Glory to another, nor the Praife of his Work to the Inftrument of it •, that 
 no Flefh may glory in his Prefence. 
 
 Th I s I have related as an Liftance of the Goodnefs and Juftice of God : Of 
 his Goodnefs, in raifing an Inftrument to teftify againft thofe Things amifs among 
 his People, that they might be reformed 5 of his Juftice, in breaking the Rod 
 of Correftion, when it began to rob the Lord of his Glory, and ufurp Domini- 
 on over his Heritage : From which fatanick Praftice the Lord preferve all that 
 call upon his holy Name every where. 
 
 On the 4th Day of the Firft Month we came back to Urie, where we had 
 a Meeting among Friends ; (as in divers other Places) from whence Thomas Rudd 
 went back to Aberdeen, and John Boivftead and I went on to Edinburgh : But as 
 we were by the Ferry, in order to our PafTage to Leith, there came an inward 
 Concern upon us, and we obferved feveral Perfons, who were to be Pafiengers 
 
 with
 
 0. 
 
 if THOMAS ST RT, 
 
 I i 
 
 with us in the fomc Vcffel : And, as we were putting off from the Shore, fome Anno 
 
 Difcourle was moved by v/ay of Oppofition to us in Matters of Religion. He 1692. 
 
 that managed againft us we found,, by his Way of reafoning, was a Prieft ; who, 
 
 finding us very lliarp upon him, and how httle Impreffion his Reafonings and I- 
 
 magi nations made upon us, he fell into lb great a Rage, that he commanded us 
 
 to be filent, and the Skipper to put us on Shore, for we were not far from it. 
 
 " Thou art under a Miilake, faid I ; thou art not now domineering over a few 
 
 " poor Parifli-people, who dare not fpeak the Truth ; we are not to be filenccd 
 
 " by thee, nor put out of the Vellel by any, fince we have agreed for our Palfage, 
 
 " and are already in PolTefllon." This being faid with the Authority of Jufticc, 
 
 neither he, nor any other, faid any more of turning us out ; but the Conteft was 
 
 renewed in Matters of Religion : And, alter fome Obfervations on the feveral 
 
 Ways of Worfliip in the World, 1 fell upon fome Reflexions on fuch as fhifted 
 
 from one Form to another, and would hang the Cloak on either Shoulder fof 
 
 Advantage and Honour among Men. This proved (tho' an Arrow at adventure) 
 
 to hit the Mark ; after which the rude and boiftcrous Spirit of the Man became 
 
 more humble, and we came over him by the Truth •, who is always near to guide 
 
 and ftrengthen fuch as wait on him for Strength and Diredion : To his Glory 
 
 be all Things. 
 
 A N D as there came a Calm over this evil Spirit, there came a Calm likewife 
 upon the Water ; lb that we were a confiderable Time upon it, and had much 
 Difcourfe of religious Confequcnce : And all in the Boat were quiet and nearer us 
 than at firft ; and the Priell himfelf began to commend Love, and grew very kind 
 to us ; and, when we came on Shore, he took us by the Hand very lovino-Iy, 
 wiiliing us well ; and we likewife parted with all the reft in Friendfhip. 
 
 After this, as we were going up the High-Street of £J/;;^z/r^/;,, towards Edinburgh. 
 our Meeting near the JVeJl-Port, we faw the Prieft again ; and, enquiring of a 
 Friend who he was, he told us his Name was James EngliJJj, who had once been 
 a Preft)yterian Minifter, and had alfo Ihow'd fome Love for Truth and Friends, and 
 had read our Books; but Perfecution riling hot,' in King Charles's K."gn, by the 
 Epifcopalians againft the Preft)yterians, he had thereupon transformed himfelf in- 
 to the Likenefs of an Epifcopalian ; and now, when Prefbytery had ao-ain pre- 
 vailed, he had changed the Cloak again to the other Shoulder, havino- a Kirk 
 without the JFeJl-Port of Edinhiirgb^ not far from the Place of our Meeting -, 
 where, in thofe Days, Change in Government did not alter Mens Behaviour to- 
 wards us, but we were rudely pelted with Stones and Dirt, and otherwife abufcd 
 in our Meetings, and in our Pailage along the Streets to and from the fame, by 
 a miferable wretched Rabble, through the Connivance of the Magiftrates of every 
 Notion and Profcfllon •■, who perverted and mifapplied, or wilfully negleded their 
 Offices. 
 
 Observe then a twofold Transforming : A Transformation of the Adver- 
 fary into the Likenefs of an Angel (or Meffenger) of Light and Truth inwardly ; 
 and of his Minifters into the Likenefs of the Minifters of Truth outwardly. And 
 as Satan will transform every Way, to fave his Kingdom in Man, till, by the 
 Stroke of the Judgment of the Almighty, he be deftroyed in all who believe in 
 God, and in Jesus Christ the Son of God, and obey and keep his Com- 
 mandments -, fo will thofe Pricfts of Antichrift, of every Form and Notion, turn 
 every Way to fave and fupport their worldly Power, Pomp, Grandeur, -^nd un- 
 juft Maintenance, till the Sword of the Mouth of the Lord refcue his People, 
 Servants, and Children from under them, and, by the Breath of his Mouth, tiiey 
 
 T be
 
 74 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Anno be fwept into the Ditcli : For they, the blind Shepherds of Mount Efau, have trcii- 
 1692. hied Jacob, a7id led a fid drove the Stranger out of the Way ; therefore is the Hand 
 of the mojl high God againft them, and the Day of Mourning is near upon their 
 Dwellings. Amen. 
 
 Linlithgow. 
 
 Glafgow. 
 
 O N the 1 3th we went to Linlithgow ; and, that Evening, had a Meeting a- 
 mong Friends there : On the 1 5th we went to Hamilton, and had another there ; 
 and, on the i8th, to Glafgow, and, on the 19th, being the Firft Day of the 
 Week, we had a Meeting with Friends : But the Prefbyterian Provoft, (or 
 Mayor) notwithftanding the Eftabhiliment of Liberty of Confcience in Matters of 
 Rehgion, fent three of his Under Officers to difperfe the Meeting -, but the Power 
 of the Lord being over them, they were over- awed thereby for fome Time, 
 till one of them, more hardened than the reft, laid hold on one of the Friends 
 belonging to the City, and haled him out of the Mecting-houfe ; and then the o- 
 thertwo, by his Example, laid Hands on other Friends, and took feveral more out; 
 and, at length, they laid hold on Hugh Wood, (Gardener to the Duke of Hamil- 
 ton, a grave and religious Man) who they forced towards the Door ; but, fuddenly 
 turning, he twifted himfelf out of their Hands, and fat down where he was be- 
 fore : And then feveral other Friends came in again, and fo the Meeting continu- 
 ed ; and, through the good Prefence of the L,ord, who never fails his People 
 in the needful Time, we were much comforted and ftrengthened againft all their 
 Difturbance : But, when they faw they could not prevail that Way, they ufed. 
 Threats, laying, " It is juft upon the Stroke of Twelve, and the Kirks are ready 
 " to break loofe ; and, if you be not gone before the Rabble come, they will tear 
 " you in Pieces, and we ftiall not be able to hinder them." Then faid John 
 Bowjlead, " Do your Kirks confift of Rabble, that they will come with fuch Vi- 
 " olence fo foon as the Clock or Dial afTigns the Hour ?" 
 
 But the Lord was pleafed to afford his blefied Prefence to us, and there- 
 by to continue our Meeting till their Kirks were broken loofe, and their Rabble 
 came, but were chained by the invifible Power of the glorious God : For they 
 had no Power to hurt us ; for fome were on our Side, tho' others againft us. 
 Then the Meeting went to Prayer along with John Bowflead, and one of thefe 
 difturbing Officers attempted to ftop his Mouth with his Hand feveral Times ; 
 but, being over-awed by a Power of which he was ignorant, he could not. 
 
 When Prayer was ended, we went through a narrow Lane filled with the 
 Rabble, and then through a great Multitude of People in the Street, without any 
 Harm ; fo good was the Lord to us, in preferving us from the Cruelty of that 
 felf-righteous and perfecuting Generation : Yet a better Difpofition appeared in 
 many among them, which was obvious by their Countenances and Behaviour. 
 
 Hamilton. T H A T Afternoon we went back to Hamilton, where we found Thomas Rudd, 
 
 (come after us from Aberdeen) who had been through the Streets with his ufual 
 MefTage the fame Day ; and (as we were told by fome we met in the Way, who 
 were not Friends) the People had abufed him very much. 
 
 A LITTLE after we came to Town the Concern returned upon him •, and, 
 reaching us, with feveral of the Friends there, we went all into the Streets, two 
 by two, (each two at a little Diftance from the other) and Thmnas Rudd proclaim- 
 ed the fame Warning as before ; upon which a Multitude of People ilTued into 
 the Streets, and were indifferent fober, till James Fairy, the Town Officer, came 
 
 in
 
 of THOMAS S T R T. 
 
 in a barbarous furious Manner, and laid hold on Thomas Rudd^ commanding him A n 
 to go to his Quarters, otherwife to the Tolbooth, their Prifon-houfe : And the 1^9- 
 Riidenefs of this Man, in the Prefence of the Multitude, fo encouraged the bafer 
 fort, that they fell upon us, and inhumanly abufed us -, but efpecially Thomas 
 Rudd. T'he moft aitive in this fliameful Work were moftly of tliat i'urious Sed: 
 of Prefbyterians, call'd Cameronians ; and, among others, there were Robert 
 Sat, a Town-Officer, and John and Charles Telford, Sons of William Telford, 
 Deacon of the Prcfbyterian Church at Hamilton. But Thomas Rudd, not having 
 iully delivered his MelTage, (which he always continued every where till the 
 People were quieted) went again down the High-Street : Upon which the Officer 
 put him in Prifon ; and John Bowflead, Hugh Wood, James Miller and I, went 
 with him, with Defign to accompany him in his Imprifonment •, but the Rabble 
 furioufly puflied John Bozvfiead from the Door down the Stairs, pulled off his Hat, 
 and trampled it under Foot ; and fome of them, fixing their Hands in his Hair, 
 dragged, beat, and abufed him, till feveral, touched with Compaffion, cried out. 
 Murder ; and fome young Men, of a more noble Dilpofition, particularly one 
 Thomas Kirkbarns, refcued him from them. 
 
 Also they dragged James Miller, one of their Neighbours, back from the 
 Prifon-door ; and, throwing him upon the Ground, beat, abufed him, and brake 
 ills Nofe, thereby fhedding his Blood : Alfo they puflied, haled, tolled, and a- 
 bufed Hugh Wood very much ; which was the more inhuman, he being an anci- 
 ent Man, a Neighbour, and had not faid any Thing to provoke them, unlefs to 
 perfuadc them to Moderation. Alfo fome of them puflied me from the Priibn- 
 door to the Foot of the Stone Stairs (which were on the Out-fide) with great Fury, 
 and bruifed my Left-fide againft the Stones, tho' I had faid nothing to them. 
 
 I N the mean time John BowJlead called for the Chief Magiftrate, that if he 
 had any Thing to objeft againft: us, we were willing to anfwer him ; whereupon 
 came David Marfhall, Eldefb Bailie, and defired us to go into his Houfe, which 
 was over againfl: the Prifon, till the Rabble difperled : But he did not make any 
 Ufe of his Authority, as a Magiftrate, to dilperfe and appeafe them ; fo far from 
 it, that he fuffered one of his own Servants to be adtive in this Work : The 
 others, who threw Dirt and Stones at us, calling us Dogs, and other reproachful 
 Names, were generally the Wives, Sons, Daughters, and Servants of the Magi- 
 ftrates. Merchants, and Manufacfturers. Thus ended their Sabbath-day's Work ; 
 tho' one of their Pretences for ufing us thus, was. That we had broke the Sab- 
 bath by going through the Town in that Manner. Whether we, who were there 
 on the LoRD.'s Account, to warn them to turn from Evil, or they who thus a- 
 bufed us on that Day, which they call the Sabbath, did more break the Sab- 
 hath, let their Adlions and ours demonfl:rate : And whether Magifl:rates, coun- 
 tenancing Evil, and taking part with it in Evil-doers, be not falfe to the Truft; 
 repofed in them, Pcrverters of the good End of their Appointment, and guilty 
 of all the Evil they ought and might refl:rain, or punifli, we leave to the Lord 
 to determine in his own Time and Way, by his unerring Jufl:ice, againft: that and 
 fuch a Magift:racy. 
 
 The next Morning Thomas Rudd and John BowJlead were concerned to go 
 through the fame Town again, where they met with like Entertainment •, fome 
 of the Rabble taking off Thomas Rudd's Hat, daflied his Eyes, Face, and Head 
 over with Dirt taken out of the ft:inking Kennels •, and having thus deformed 
 him, they cried out, " He looks like a Devil!" Then Thomas Rudd, going in- 
 to the Houfe of James Lyddel, a Friend, waflied himfelf ; and, going down the 
 
 Street
 
 7^ The LIFE, i^-c. 
 
 Anno Stfeet again with the fame Meflage, they renewed their Cruelty as before ; par- 
 1692. ticularly one Robert Hamilton, and liis two Sifters, Anne and Rebecca, gave threat- 
 ening Speeches •, the latter faying, " Slie could find ia her Heart to kill Thomas 
 " Rudd with her own Hands. And this Robert Hamilton, when I defircd to 
 reafon with him, why he, a ProfelTor of Chriftianity, which teaches Love even to 
 Enemies, would fo much abufe us who were their PViends, and come, in Chrifti- 
 an Love, to vifit them, and encourage others alfo in the fame Work, peevifhly 
 turned from me, laying, " He would not converfe with the Devil." 
 
 And, Thomas Rudd going down another Street, the Rabble attempted to put 
 him into an open Well ; but being prevented by fonie, more humane than the 
 reft, they tore his Hair from his Head, and beat him, and alfo the reft of our 
 Friends accompanying him, with great Severity, and dragged them into the Mar- 
 ket-place j where they might have done more Mifchief, but that 'Thomas Edgar, 
 a young Man of commendable Deportment, with fome other fober and well- 
 minded Perfons, of the Epifcopal Way, (I fuppofe) cried out, " Shame on fuch 
 " Aftlons-," and ufed fome Endeavours to reftrain them. Thus we fee the 
 Lord, either immediately or inftrumentally, or both, is ready to deliver from 
 Cruelty, and to bear up the Minds of his Servants, adting in his Will, under the 
 fame : To him be Dominion and Glory for ever and ever. 
 
 The fame Day John Bowjlead and I went to a Meeting at Shatton-Hill, which 
 had been appointed before, leaving Thomas Rudd at Hamilton, from whence he 
 purpofed to go for Ireland; but that Day he went through the Town again, 
 and the Inhabitants became more fober ; and, the next Morning, he vifited them 
 in the like Manner, and they were all ftill, and came not out any more to molefl: 
 him : And then, finding his Concern in that Place to be at an End, he departed 
 in Peace. 
 
 But, before I departed that Town, I wrote a few Lines to the above-named 
 Robert Hamilton, in this Manner : 
 
 Robert Hamilton, 
 
 " T Understand thou art a Perfon profeffing Chriftianity, which is the 
 " JL higheft Excellency named among the Children of Men ; but how far thou 
 " art fhort of that Life of Love, infeparable from every true Chriftian, thy De- 
 " portment to my Friends, the Servants of the Moft High, and alfo t'b myfelf, 
 " in the Streets oi Hamilton, does fufficiently demonftrate." 
 
 And I wrote alfo to the Inhabitants, who had abufedus as aforefaid, in thefe 
 Words, from the Mind of the Lord, viz. 
 
 To the Prefbyterians at the Toion of Hamilton. 
 
 20//:» 0///:'^ Firft Month, 1692. 
 «< y Y o W long will you do wickedly ? How long will you ftone and abule 
 " Jrl the Servants of the Moft High, who are fent to you for Peace and Re- 
 *' conciliation ? How long will you trample under Foot the Blood of the Ever- 
 " lafting Covenant, and adore your own Inventions ? How long Hiall the Woo- 
 " in^s of the Higheft be defpifed ? Shall eternal Judgment terminate your 
 " Wickednefs.? Or wUl you efcape by Obedience to the Gofpcl of Peace ? 
 
 " Anger
 
 ^/ 
 
 THOMAS S T RT. 
 
 " Anger remains in the Bofom of F bols -, and do your Aftions befpeak 
 " you wife ? Has the Lord left you to the Counfcl of your own Will j or is 
 " there yet Hopes of Redemption for you ? 
 
 " Surely the Lord is difpleafed with your Doings, becaufe you hate the 
 Counfel of his Love. How far diftant is Perfecution from die everlafting 
 Gofpel of Peace ? And how evident Demonftration you gave, laft Night 
 and this Morning, that the Prince of the Power of the Air, Jpollyon the De- 
 ftroyer, who reigns in the Hearts of the Children of Difobedience, alfo rules 
 and rages in your Hearts, I leave with you to confider ; that if yet there re- 
 mains any Place of Repentance, you may lay hold of it, and efcape the un- 
 fpeakable Mifery that is haftening upon all the Workers of Iniquity, how well 
 foever covered with a Mafk of ProfefTion. 
 
 / am, through Christ, 
 
 A Lover of the Souls of all, 
 
 whofe Day of Vifitation is not already over, 
 
 THO. STORY. 
 
 On the 21 ft of the Firft Month, John Bowfiead an<M ^cnt from Shat ton- 
 Hill to Bankend, to the Houfe of our Friend John Kennedy ; and, on the 2 2d, we 
 went to Drumlanrig, where we had a Meeting among a few Friends, in the 
 Houfe of James fVood, Gardener to the Duke of ^eenfberry ; and, on the 24th, 
 we went home to our fevcral Habitations -, John Bouojlead to his Family, at Eglin- 
 hy, in Cumberland; and I, to my Father's Houfe, at Jujlice-Town, in the fame 
 County, being fafely conducted and preferved through all Dangers by the Arm 
 of the Lord-, whofe Name is becoming dreadful among the Nations: Unto 
 him be the Honour and Glory of all his great Works and Goodnefs, for ever- 
 more. Jmen. 
 
 About this Time fome of the Parifhioners of Scalehy, in Ciimherland, were 
 convinced of Truth -, and Nathaniel Bowey, being Prieft incumbent there, wrote 
 a Letter to them, containing feveral Inveftives, falie Accufations, and Reproaches 
 againft Friends, and the divine Light we profefs ; as likewife heterodox Opinions, 
 and falfe DoiStrines j which I anfwered : But neither the Letter nor Anfwer were 
 printed. 
 
 And the Time of the County Meeting for Cumberland being come, John 
 Banks, that good, old, and valiant Soldier and Warrior for Truth on Earth, of- 
 fered his Service as a Reprefentative from the County to the Yearly Meeting at 
 London, then approaching ; and the Meeting thought fit to name me for the o- 
 ther, tho' I did not deem myfelf qualified for that Charge : But the Meeting in- 
 fifting upon it, by Perfuafions I yielded ; and the rather, fince I was to go with 
 a Companion fo experienced and able in that Service : And v/e kt forward on the 
 nth Day of the Third Month, 1693 -, and, by feveral Stages and Meetings, 
 went to Waltham- Abbey on the 23d ; and, on the 28th, to the Houfe of our 
 Friend George Barr, in Berry-Street, in Edmonton ; where we had the Satisfadi- 
 on to meet with our eminent and honourable Friend William Penn, which was the 
 firft Time I faw him ; and with whom, at that Time, I contra6led fo near a 
 Friendfhip, in the Life of Truth, and tendering Love thereof in many Tears, 
 as never wore out till his Dying-day -, and in which his Memory ftill lives, as a 
 fweet Odour in my Mind, as a faithful Servant of the Lord, a Man of God 
 
 U indeed 
 
 77 
 
 Anno 
 1692. 
 
 Drumlanrig. 
 
 1%. 
 
 Walcham- 
 
 Abbey. 
 
 Edmonton.
 
 78 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno indeed in his Time, and of whom I fliall have occafion to make further menti- 
 1693. on in the Sequel. 
 
 London. 
 
 CowDallius. 
 
 Cirencefter 
 Briftol 
 
 O N the 4th Day of the Fourth Month we arrived at Lottdon ; and the Lor d 
 ■ gave his Church and People, there afifembled from all Parts of the Nation, and 
 from Scotland^ Ireland^ &c. many comfortable Seafons of his divine Life-giving 
 Prefence, to our great Edification, Confirmation, and Rejoicing ; where I became 
 nearly acquainted with divers of the moft eminent Elders of that Day, both in the 
 City and Country, to my great Satisfaftion, and to theirs alfo ■, for mutual Love 
 and Efteem was not a-wanting, but adorned our Converfation, as in the moll ear- 
 ly and primitive Times. 
 
 And, in a particular Manner, I became nearly united, in the divine Love and 
 Life of Truth, with my much efteemed Friend Thomas IVilfon, then of Cumber- 
 land, and afterwards of Ireland ; who was to me the moft able and powerful 
 Minifter of the Word of Life in the Age -, and whom I had feen but thrice 
 before ; once in Cumberland, before he went the firft Time to America in the Ser- 
 vice of the Golpel ; the fecond Time, at a County Meeting in Cumberland, the 
 lame Day he and James Dichinfon came into that County, in their Return from 
 America tlirough part of Scotland, a little before the faid Yearly Meeting at Lon- 
 don ; and, the third Time, at that Meeting : And James Dickinfon, his ufual Com- 
 panion, being engaged another Way, he accepted of my Company in vifiting the 
 Weft. We fet forward from London on the 24th Day of the Fouith Month, and 
 that Day had a Meeting at Uxbridge ; and, on the 26th, at JFickham ; and fo 
 by Oxford, where we had a comfortable open Meeting ; for tho' many of the 
 Collegians were there, who ufed to be rude in an extraordinary Manner, yet, the 
 invifible Power of the Word of Life being over them at that Time, tkey were 
 quiet under the Teftimony thereof, in the authoritative Miniftry of 'Thomas 
 JVilfon ; whole Voice was as Thunder from the Clouds, and with Words pene- 
 trating as Lightening, faying, " It is the Pride, Luxury, and Whoredoms of the 
 " Priefts now, as in the Days of Eli the High-Prieft, which deprives them of the 
 " open Vifion of Heaven :" Upon which many of them were ftruck with Amaze- 
 ment and Surprize, and their Eyes were filled with Tears •, fo that feveral of the 
 elder fort retired, but in a decent Manner, as if to hide the Effedl of Truth ; which, 
 if they had ftaid, could not have been concealed : but, above all the reft, a young 
 Man, a very comely Youth, who, by his Appearance and Behaviour, feemed 
 to be the Son of fome Noble Perfon, was moft deeply affefted. 
 
 O N the 2Sth, we went to Cownalliiis, to the Houfe of our Friend Gyles Fetty- 
 place, a Gentleman of a confiderable Eftate, who had embraced the Truth in ear- 
 ly Days ; whofe Company, together with his Family, we had, next Day, at a 
 Meeting at Cirencejier ; and from thence, on the 30th, we went by Cuckcrton, 
 Tedbury, Didmartin, and Sedbury, to Brijlol. 
 
 Pfal. civ. 4. 
 Heb. i, 7. 
 
 Here we ftaid till the 2d of the Fifth Month, where the Lord gave us 
 glorious Times, in the fenfible Enjoyment of his divine and foul-melting Prefence, 
 to our general and mutual Confolation : For, in thofe Days, Friends were near 
 the Lord, and one another in him •, and the Canopy of his Love was over us, 
 and we rejoiced together therein, but with holy Fear, and with Trembling ; and 
 had often occafion to fay, concerning the Way of the Lord, as of old, and with 
 refpe£l to his noble Servant, That he vtaketh his Jngels Sprits, and his Mnijlers 
 
 a
 
 of T H M AS ST RT. 
 
 a Flame of Fire : For fo he was indeed, in an eminent Manner, to the Churclies 
 where he came in this ^'i^lt, as generally elfewhere at other Times. 
 
 79 
 
 Anno 
 
 1693. 
 
 O N the 2(1 of the Fifth Month we had a Meeting at Frenchay ; and, that Frcnchay. 
 Evening, returned to Brifiol: And, on the 5th, we had one at Pojfct, in Sotner- PofTet. 
 fetjhire ; and, the fame Day, returned to Briftol, where we remained till the 1 2th, 
 having other Meetings there : And thence went to the Meeting at Belton ; and, Belton. 
 that Night, were at the Houfe of our Friend Richard Vichris, at Chue ; where Chue. 
 we were kindly entertained. He was a Gentleman of a confiderable Eftate, and 
 had, at that Time, a numerous and hopeful Family of Children ; and they were 
 a Family of Eove indeed among themfelves, and to Friends in general : They 
 loved, and were beloved. 
 
 The next Day we returned to Briftol, to the Meetings there ; and, on the 
 15th, went to Bath, and were at their Meeting -, and, from thence, by Phillips- Bath. 
 Norloyi to Warminfter ; where the Lord favoured us with his divine Prefence, Wanninfter. 
 and the Gofpel was preached by my Companion there, in the Dcmonftration of 
 the Wifdom and Power of the Word of Life, to the Admiration of many, who 
 were not of our Communion, and to the Confolation and Edification of the Ga- 
 thered of the Father. 
 
 On the 17th, we went by Bration, to Thomas Beaven's, at Melkjham ; and, 
 on the 1 8th, to Cain \ where we had a large and glorious Meeting with Friends : 
 And, many Strangers being there, they were much fatisfied, in a general Way, 
 with what they heard : And one among them particularly, thinking himfelf a com- 
 petent Judge of Doflrine, and, coming with a Defign to carp, was difappointed •, 
 for he confelled he could not find Fault with one Word ; but, faid he, he expo- 
 fed the Errors of our Se5t to the Auditory. 
 
 The next Day we went by Chippenham and Slattenford, to Marfhfield ; and, 
 
 en the 19th, returned to Briftol, where we ftaid till the 24th, and then had a 
 
 Meeting at Thornbury, in Gloucefterfhire ; and, on the 26th, ztRofs, in Hereford- 
 
 fhlre i and, on the 27th, at Hereford; on the 28th, at Leomiifter ; and, on the 
 
 29th, at Bromyard. 
 
 On the ift of the Sixth Month, we were at the Meeting at Worcefter -, and, 
 next Day, we went, by Bendley, Sturbridge, Newin, Newport, Nanfwich, Mid- 
 dlewich, Northvnch, and Warrington, to Sanky, where we had a Meeting -, and, on 
 the 6th, to our ancient and honourable Friend John Haddock's, at Coppull ; and fo, 
 through Prefton, Garftang, Lancafter, and Kendal, to Penrith ; from which my 
 tender and fatherly Companion went towards Hartly-Hall, and I returned to my 
 Father's Houfe, at Juftice-'Town, 
 
 N o w, as to my own Condition and Circumflances in this Journey, in a ge- 
 neral Way. Before this Time, I was favoured with the Knowledge and Enjoy- 
 ment of the Life of Truth ; I had delighted therein above all Things, and there- 
 by was reduced to a State of Silence ; not willing to interrupt the fweet and di- 
 vine Pleafure of his Prefence, by any needlefs and unprofitable Talk upon mean 
 and trifling Subjefts, which I obferved many were enfnared in ; I was dill fo pre- 
 ferved as in a State of Childhood in the Truth, without the leaft Apprehenfion of 
 any Cenfure : For tho' I ufually fat with my Companion in the Meetings, and 
 was conftantly much broken and tendered with an Efflux, from time to time, of 
 many Tears, not of Sorrow, (which I had known long before) but of Joy and Sa- 
 
 tisfadion 
 
 Melkfliam. 
 Cain. 
 
 Marflifieid. 
 
 Thornbury. 
 
 Rofs. 
 
 Hereford. 
 
 Leominfter. 
 
 Bromyard. 
 
 Worcefter. 
 
 S.inky. 
 
 Coppull. 
 
 Penrith,
 
 Ho The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno tisfaftion unfpeakable •, 1 never confidered what any might think concerning me, 
 ^^SZ- as to the Caufe of my Weeping, or of any Expeftation they might have ot my 
 
 Appearance in a publick Miniftry, often, if not always, accompanied with fuch 
 
 Indications in the Beginning of that Concern. 
 
 And tho' I knew the Lord had called, and begun fuch a Work in me, yet 
 I had never met with any thing fo great a Crofs to my natural Difpofition, as ap- 
 pearing in publick : And, if I might have continued to enjoy the good Prefencc 
 ot the Lord any other Way, or on any other Terms, I had never fubmitted to 
 it : But thofe divine Wages I could not live without ; the Countenance of the 
 Lord was become my All, and too dear to part with ; and therefore, at length, 
 I yielded, without any Manner of human Confiderations or Views. 
 
 But it is not to be forgot, that from the laft Time of our leaving Briftol, every 
 Stage we journeyed northward, my Mind became darker and darker, and the 
 Thoughts of returning to my Father's Houfe became loathfome and burdenfome 
 to me, and even intolerable ; and, before I got thither, I was greatly clouded, 
 as if a thick Fog of Darknefs came over my Mind ; and then I mourned, look- 
 ing back to Times paft, recounting every Step, and the feveral Views and Open- 
 ings of the Things of God and his Counfel, which I had feen andenjoy'd in the fe- 
 veral Meetings in this Journey ; and how the Lo r d, who is a Spirit, exhibits the 
 Matters and Things of his Kingdom in the pure Mind, which is fpiritual, and 
 imprelTes it with a NecelTity of uttering them j qualifying and affifting the Inftru- 
 ment, which he choofes, to bring them forth in an apt and intelligible Manner, for 
 the Information, Help, and Confolation of thofe that hear and believe ; whether 
 in Dodlrine, Expofition of the Holy Scriptures, Reproof, Inflruftion in Mo- 
 rals, or whatfoever tends to the Convincement of Unbelievers, Confirmadon of 
 the Unftable, Edification of the Church and Body of Christ, and perfeding 
 the Sandified in him. 
 
 And, being fully convinced I had fallen fliort of my Duty, by negledting to 
 utter the firft Sentences which had been imprefs'd upon my Mind in feveral 
 Meetings, not thinking them of fufficient Weight and Importance for publick 
 Service •, and now plainly perceiving, that thro' want of Obedience in that which 
 was firft required, I had been precluded from any fijrther Progrefs, the whole 
 depending upon the due Order and Connedion of the Parts: And, in confequence 
 of my Difobedience, having been deprived of all Scnfe of the divine Prefence for 
 many Days, and deftitute of all Comfort, fave a little fecret Hope, that the 
 Lord might mercifully return, I refolved, thatif it might fopleale him, I would 
 then obey : And, deeply mourning for fome Weeks, till all Hope was near 
 vanifhing, the Heavens became as Brafs, and fhut up as with Bars of Iron ; and 
 nodiing remained but a bare Remembrance of former Enjoyments and Things, 
 where the true Idea was wanting ; which nothing can give, reftore, or continue, 
 but the divine eflential Truth himfelf, by his own Prefence and Power. 
 
 But notwithftanding all this, when the Lor o did again unexpededly appear, 
 as divine Love and Light in my Heart and Mind, and new Matter prefented in 
 my Underftanding, I found that State fo comfortable and picafing, that I thought 
 nothing could be added to my Enjoyment by uttering it in Words, while in that 
 Condition ; and fo let the proper Time of moving therewith flip over : And, the Du- 
 ty being a-ncw ncglcfted, I again fell fhort of a Settlement in the divine Prefence j 
 and, when that was withdrawn. Condemnation only remained, as due to my frefli 
 Difobedience and Neglcd ; and then I was furrounded again witli black Horror and 
 Defpair, as if that had been the laft Call of the Lor d, and iattft Offer of Terms 
 
 of
 
 cf T H M .4 S S T RT. 8i 
 
 oi divine Peace and Salvation ; and my Soul mourned again unfpeakably : And Anno 
 then I underltood the Language of the Apoftlc P<r/«//, when he laid, /F«; « K,-i/(? 1693. 
 mc if I prscxh 7ict the Ccftel. i Cor. ix. i6. 
 
 An d while I was in tiiis Condition, my beloved and much efteemed Friend, the 
 albrefaid Thanas IV'ijh;, imparted to me his Intention of vifiting the Churches in 
 Ireland^ deiiring my Company -, but, having fo thick a Cloud over my Mind, 
 and little Love tlicn appearing in me, cither to him or any other Particular, or 
 to Mankind in general, I did not think myfelf worthy, or in a Condition for 
 iiich an Undertaking : And befides, I was at that Time unprovided with Money, 
 and other Neccffaries, for the Voyage, and for fo long a Journey ; and the latter 
 I made Ufe of as an Excufe for the former ; and fo declined it. 
 
 But though this Cloud remained over me for a Time, laying me under a 
 Ncccffity to Hand ftill, to fee v/hat the Lord would pleafe to do ; yet his never- 
 iaiiing Goodnefs and Mercy did not finally leave me, but remained as withdrawn 
 behind the thick Vail, hid from rne only for a Seafon •, for, in another Meeting, 
 m liirklinlon in Cumherlami-, on a Full Day, fome Weeks after, tlie Lord return- 
 ed in Peace and Reconciliation, and his divine Countenance fhined again upon me; 
 whereby I was enabled to refolve, that if the Lord moved any Thing then, as 
 in Times paft, I would obey. 
 
 Soon after that Refolution was firmly fettled in my Mintl, fprang therein 
 rhefe Words, It is a good Day unto all thofe who obey the Voice of the Lord; and as 
 they fettled in my Mind, with the Prefence of the Lord remaining, I ftood up 
 and utr_^red them in his Fear, with a Voice juft fo audible as that the Meeting 
 generally heard : And no fooner v>'ere the Words uttered, than my Soul was in- 
 crcafed in Joy unfpeakable, which was followed with an Efflux of a Flood of 
 Tears from that Root ; and the Meeting, in general, was immediately affedled 
 the fame Way, as a Seal of the Work of the Lord thus brought ibrrh in me; 
 and all were filent under the Canopy of the divine Prefence for fome time : At 
 length John Bozujlc.id, (before mentioned) having had a particular Coiiccrn to 
 come to that Meeting, (about eight Miles from his Houfe at Egliriby) flood up 
 in TeftiiTiony to the Truth of wiiat I had uttered, making it the Subftance of 
 what he laid, to general Edification ; and, as a Father, taking the Weak by the 
 Hand, and helping forward in that Exercife, in which I had been long waited 
 for, and expefted by Friends in general, in thofe Parts : And the Lord favour- 
 ed us with the Enjoyment of his divine Prefence that Day. 
 
 After the Meeting was over I returned to my Father's Floufc, reftored to 
 a Senfe of the remaining Goodnefs ot the L^ord ; and thence forward, from 
 tune to time, appeared with a few Words in Meetings, as the Lord made way, 
 and gave Matter, Strength, and tTtterance ■, but was not forward to vifit any o- 
 thcr Meeting, till I began to be a little lliut up there ; and then I waited on the 
 Lord, to know the Drawings oi his Love to fome other Places, in which I was 
 tavourcd through his divine Goodnefs ; and yet did not make hafte, but was 
 kept under a flow, gentle, and gradual Progrefs. 
 
 But now a Temptation of another kind began to interrupt me ; for, having 
 had a Reputation, in that Country, of an Underftanding at lead equal to my 
 Education and Years, when my Acquaintance, and others, heard of my Appear- 
 ance in a publick MiniRry, they expected fomething more from me than from 
 Ibme others, of whom thev had not conceived the like Opinion ; and I, knowing 
 
 X the
 
 8i The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno the Way of Truth with me was not in the Wifdom and Multiplicity of Words, 
 1693. but in his own Virtue and Simplicity, and in a few Sentences only, was not wil- 
 ling (of myfelf) to yield up my own imaginary Honour on that Account, and 
 be expofed as a Fool, in their Way of judging ; which affefted me fo as that 
 I became backward to appear when fuch were prefent, and fometimes neglected 
 the proper Times of the Movings of the Lord in this Calling: by which I re- 
 tarded my Growth therein, and was in Danger of greater Lofs that Way : Buc 
 the Lord is juft and merciful; and tho' he charged it as a Failure, yet, by de- 
 grees, he helped me forward, tho' it was a long Time before I got over it ; for 
 it laid fometimes as a Block in my Way for many Years after, remaining the un- 
 mov'd Caufe of many a heavy Load ; which none knew, or could cafe me of buc 
 the Lord alone: and, if he had not extended Mercy, I had yet been undone 
 for ever. 
 
 After this, my Uneafinefs in my Father's Houfe increafing, I took aa 
 Occafion, one Morning, to remind him of the Change of his Countenance and, 
 Behaviour towards me, and of the many Hints and oblique Intimations he had 
 thought fit to give, concerning my Way of living in the World, (as if I were 
 like to be chargeable to him) in fome other Way than by the Pradlice of the 
 Law, into which I had been initiated ; having altogether declined it, as noted be- 
 ' fore in this Relation. 
 
 A N D I told him. That he could not charge me with any Aft of Difobedience 
 to him from my Childhood, (nor did he, or my Mother, or any Schoolmafter, . 
 evef corredl me with the Rod, or had any Caufe) or with the NeglecSt of any Du- 
 ty, fave now, at laft, my embracing the Truth of God, as my only Way to 
 Salvation ; in which Cafe he had no Right to command or hinder , but rather to 
 confider his own Ways and State, and how far juft and pleafing in the Sight of 
 God ; to whom I muft anfwer for myfelf, where he could not for me : And 
 then added. That I intended to leave his Houfe in a fhort Time, and make him 
 cafy on that Account. 
 
 This touched my dear Father fo near, that he could not bear it, but wept 
 abundantly -, confeffing that I had ever been a dutiful Child to him, and had never 
 difobliged him, fave in that Thing only ; nor did he begrudge any Thing in his 
 Power to do for me ■, but as he had brought me up to the Law fo far, (which 
 was laid afide) he thought it might have been a Way of living in the World, both 
 plentiful and reputable, but could not now fee any reafonable Means of a com- 
 petent Subfiftence, with that Reputation which my Circumstances required after that 
 Appearance I had begun to make among Mankind, before I efpoufcd thole Prin- 
 ciples I feemed now too much attached to : However, he made me this Propofal, 
 as the beft he could then think of, viz. That I fliould manage his Eftate to the 
 beft Advantage I could, and take all the Incomes to myfelf, fave a reputable Sub- 
 fiftence to himfelf, and my Mother-in-law, his Wife. 
 
 To this I returned him my dutiful Acknowledgement, but told him. It was 
 now too late ; I was fixed in another Refolution, under a View of a diftcrent Na- 
 ture, and could not fubjeft myfelf to fuch a Confinement, if he would, on fuch 
 Terms, give me his whole Eftate for ever : but withal aflured him, that I did 
 not leave him under any Difcontent, or Refentment of any Behaviour he had ufed 
 towards me, which he had Right to do, according to his Views and Meaning •, 
 but that I had an Inducement for my Departure, which, prob:ibly, he could not 
 riglitly apprjthend, or believe, if I fhould declare it ; which was no other, 
 
 in
 
 cf T H M A S S TOR 2: 83 
 
 m n^>- ov.'ii concealed Mind, than more perfect Liberty to ferve the Lord, and Anno 
 his People, in the Way ot the Calling of God, which was gradually iiicreafing, 1694. 
 at that Time, upon me -, and I was now grown a little llronger in the Miniltry, 
 and more experienced in the Exercife ot the Gilt ot God thurein. 
 
 Not long after this Aaron Atkmfon acquainted me with his Concern to vifiE 
 Friends in fome South and Weil Parts of England ; and as we had, from the 
 Time of my joining witli Friends, been very intimate and near in the Truth and 
 Love of it, I was alio willing to travel the fame Way •, but he, being ready Iboner 
 than I could be, went before up to London^ where he ftaid for me. And, on the 
 2 2d of the Eleventh Month, 1694, I took Leave of my Father, and his Fami- 
 ly, and let forward for London^ taking fome Meetings by the Way, as they hap- 
 pened of Courfe to fall out ; for I did not think proper to appoint any, my 
 Thoughts of my own Miniftry being very low ; yet the Lord favoured me 
 with his Goodnefs and encouraging Prefence, and made W^ay for me every where •, 
 4nd gave me feveral open and comfortable Times with Friends in my Journey, 
 tho' altogether a Stranger as to outward Acquaintance with any one ; but the 
 moft fatisfaftory was at Leicejter. It was a hard Froft, and fnowed every Day, Leiceikr. 
 more or lefs during moft of my Journey, with a high Wind for fome Days at 
 firft ; fo that the Lanes and High-ways were generally block'd up by the driven 
 Snow, and few Travellers upon the Road ; tor it was very bad and dangerous 
 travelling, and I was ibmetimes alone riding long Stages : And when I came to 
 Leicefier, having been direfted to the Houfe of honeft John Brookes^ he was the 
 firft Perfon that came to the Door, and looking upon me as I fat on Horfeback, 
 gave me a kind Invitation to alight ; which I did, and was received with Gravity 
 and Kindnefs. 
 
 It was their Meeting-day, the 30th of the Eleventh Month, in the After- 
 noon ; and, being favoured with the divine Prefence, as my only Stay, I had 
 little to fay to the Family in Converfation, but was much in Silence •, in which I 
 perceived I had good Unity with them, for die Son of Peace was there. 
 
 And, after fome Refrefhment, we went into the Mecdng-hovife, where the 
 Meeting was fmall ; and we fat in Silence a confiderable Time before I found 
 my Mind fully qualified to appear in publick -, but being freely open'd at length 
 in the Word of Lite, the Meeting was generally reached and tendered thereby 
 to a great Degree, v/hich was likewife renewed in Prayer : This had its right 
 EfFedt upon the Friends, fo that they were afredlionately kind and loving alter 
 the Meeting •, and mod of them fpent the Evening with me, and v/e were no 
 Strangers one to another any more, but one in the blefied Truth, tho' we had 
 never feen the Faces of each other before ; and from thence forward were near in 
 Friend Ihip, becoming outwardly acquainted alfo, on After-occafions, from that 
 Beginning, in which we had a certain Evidence of the Spirits of each other, as 
 the beft and moft fure Foundation of a lafting and unchangeable Friendfliip. 
 
 The next Day I went forward by Northampton, Newport -Pagnell, &c. and, 
 on the 2d Day of the Twelfth Month, arrived at London ; where, at that Time, 
 was a great Body of good Friends, well eftablifhed in the Truth, and many Meet- 
 ings, and a good Number of great and able Minifters of the Gofpel among 
 them -, as TVilUam Penn, George Whitehead, Samuel IValdenfield, William Bingley, 
 John Vaughton, John Field, Francis Stamper, John Boiaater, James Park, and 
 many others of the younger fort. 
 
 And 
 
 London.
 
 84 
 
 Anno 
 1694. 
 
 The 1. I F E, ^'c. 
 
 And, conficlering the many Talents of the Minifters, their Improvements 
 thereof, Experience, Difcerning, and other Attainments in the Truth, in their 
 Icvcral Degrees ; their Parts and Quahiications as Men ; as alfo the like Qualifi- 
 cations ot Friends there in general ; together with the PoHtcnefs, Knowledge, 
 and Underftanding of the People in that Place, I was kept very low in my Mmd 
 and ciroumfpect -, having no Courage of rny own to appear in publick among 
 them; But the Lord, knowing me altogether, my Weaknefs, Integrity, Sim- 
 plicity, and good Meaning, fupported my Mind under all thefe Confiderations. 
 And Aaron Aikhifon^ my intended Companion, having been in the City fome- 
 time .beibre, and obftrvlng him acceptable in his Miniftry among them, gave me 
 an Occafion of reafoning, that I might alfo, probably, go through the Meetings 
 without Offence ; which was the full Amount of my Expectation or Dcfire there: 
 And that which added much to my Encouragement was, the fatherly Care and 
 Behaviour of the Minifters in general, but efpecially of that great Minifter of the 
 Gofpcl, and faithful Servant of Chp.ist, TFilliam Peim ; who abounded in Wif- 
 dom, Difcretion, Prudence, Love, and Tendernefs of Afredlion, with all Since- 
 i-ity, above moft in this Generation •, and indeed I never blew his Equal : nor 
 were Friends, in general, a-wanting to me in an open and tender Friendfliip. 
 
 V/p.nJ^^^■Ol■Lh. 
 
 Kingl^on. 
 
 Guilufbrd. 
 
 Alton. 
 
 Barmgftoke. 
 
 V/i;;tchurch. 
 
 Andover. 
 
 Inp. 
 Silitbaiy. 
 Torfiing- 
 Dvitb.p. 
 Ringwood. 
 Too!. 
 Lo;te. 
 
 P<;o!. 
 
 V,\yiV.OUtil. 
 
 S;ic'.burn. 
 
 M.-.rnhill. 
 
 £i:-.aJ'brd. 
 
 Bruton. 
 
 Hiulitro. 
 
 Bi-id,)!. 
 
 Bclion. 
 
 Claverhani. 
 VVclk. 
 Ciriiiton. 
 Summfrton. 
 Gregory- 
 Stoke. 
 Taunton. 
 
 1695. 
 Wyvelfcomb. 
 Collompton. 
 Tiveiion. 
 Exeter. 
 
 Totncfs. 
 
 rivmouth. 
 
 Rovvlc. 
 
 Lilcaid. 
 
 Mckon. 
 
 Trygongieve. 
 
 LanJwithen. 
 
 Kcllin!.;to:i. 
 
 I N this City we remained, in the Service of Truth and Friends, according to 
 our fdvcral Mcafures and Attainments, (for Aarcn, as he had been much longer 
 convinced of Trutli than me, and in the Miniftry fome Years before I yielded 
 thereto, he feemed by fo much the better grown, ftronger, experienced, and 
 preferable) until the 30th Day of the Twelfth Month ; and that Day we had a 
 Meeting at IFandfwcrth ; the next Day at Kingfton ; on the 15th, at Guildford ; 
 on the 1 6th, at /llton ; on the 19th, at Bafingftoke \ on the 20th, at Whitchurch \ 
 next Day, at Andover ; next, at Lower-lVallop ; and at Sdisl/W)\ on the 23d; 
 on the 25th, at For ding- Bridge; next Day, at Ringivood; and, on the 27th, at 
 Pool ; where v/e ftaid till the ift Day of tlie Firft Month, and then proceeded to 
 Ccrfe. 
 
 On the 2d Day of the Firft Month we returned to Pool ; and thence, on the 
 4t!;, to IVeymcuth., the Lord prcfervlng us, and favouring us with his good 
 Prefence -, and the Aid of his divine Grace gave us many acceptable Times a- 
 mong his People •, and our Journey and Service was thereby made eafy and com- 
 fortable, both to us and them : And being thus encouraged, we proceeded far- 
 ther, I'/s. on the 7th of the Month, to Sherburn ; on the 8th, to Marnhill; on 
 the loth, X.O Elandford^ and back to Mnrnhill; on the nth, to Brut on ; and 
 lb by Ilnllitro, to Br iflo I on the 12th; and, on the 13th, to Belt on and Chtte, 
 and fo back to Briftol; and, on the 19th, to Bdton and Chue again ; on the 
 20th, to Claverham ; and fo by Wrinton^ on the 21ft, to Wells; from whence, 
 by Clajfenbury and Street, to Grinton^ on the 2 2d ; and, on the 24th, to Sum- 
 mer ton ; and then, by Long[utton, to Gregory- Stoke, on the 25th ; and, on th^ 
 26t\\, to 'Taunton; and, next Day, to Wyvelfcomb ; to Collcmpton, on the 28th; 
 and, on the 29th, to 'Tiverton; and, on the '^ot\\, to Exeter, the Lord ftill fa- 
 vourino- us with his Goodnei's, by which we were preferved and carried on in the 
 Work and Service whereunto we were called by his Grace ; which was ever with 
 us, to the ible Praife of the great Giver, who alone is worthy now and for ever. 
 
 On the ill of the Second Month we were at Totnefs ; on the 2d, at Ply- 
 mouth ; on the 4th, at Rowle ; and thence by Bod-why, .on tiie 5th, to Lijcard ; 
 on the 6th, at Melton ; and, on the 7th, at Trygongieve ; and, on the 9th, at Land- 
 zvitheu; on the loth again at Lifcard; on the nth, at Kcllington ; and, on the 
 
 1 2th,
 
 85- 
 
 Anno 
 1695. 
 
 Kings Bridge- 
 Ufcolm. 
 Spiceland. 
 Collompton. 
 Wellington. 
 Michael- 
 Creech. 
 Street. 
 
 GlafTenbury. 
 Puddymore. 
 Briftol. 
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 
 
 1 2th, back to Plymouth ; and, next Day, to Kings-Bridge ; and (o by Totnefs 
 nnd Exaer to Ufcolm ; and, on the 14th, to Spiceland; and, on the 15th, to 
 Collompton ; and, on the i6th, at IVellington ; and, on the 17th, by Taunton, to 
 Michael-Creech ; and ib, by Grinton, to Street, on the i8th ; and, on the 19th, 
 at Glajfenbury ; and thence to Puddymore ; and, on the 21ft, again to Glajfenbu- 
 ry ; and from thence, the next Day, to Briftol ; where, lodging at our ancient 
 and honourable Friend Richard Sncad's, one Morning the Canopy of the divine 
 . Prelencc came oyer us in the Family, and brought us all into right Silence for a 
 Time ; and then the holy Spirit of Prayer and Supplication came upon us : And, 
 v/hilft we were in that Exercife, PFilliam Penn, who ever loved the Truth in the 
 meaneft, came into the Room, and joined with us ; and, after him, that anci- 
 ent, able, and eminent Friend, and Minifter of the L o r d Jesus, Roger Had- 
 dock, who joined in the fame likewife ; and fome others followinc them, all co- 
 ming to fee us, were favoured with the fame Vifitation and good Prefence of the 
 Lord our God, and the Enjoyment of him together in the Beloved, to our great 
 and mutual Refrefliment, Edification, and Confolation. 
 
 This good Seafon being over for the Time, we had fweet and agreeable U- 
 nity and Converfation together ; which proved a great Strength and Encourao-e- 
 ment to my Companion and me, to be thus favoured in the Sight of thofe El- 
 ders -, who, by their free and fatherly (or rather brotherly) Behaviour towards us 
 then, and from that Time forward, declared a firm and fettled Friendfliip in the 
 Truth, which never waxed old or decayed. 
 
 On the 26th, we were at the Meeting at Marjhfield; and, on the 27th, at Marfiifield 
 Melkjham ; and, on the 29th, at Warminfter ; and, on the 30th, back to Melk- Melkfliam. 
 fham. 
 
 Warminlter. 
 
 On the ift of the Third Month, we were at Cain ; on the 2d, at Bradford; 
 on the 3d, at Broomham-Houfe ; and, on the 4th, back to Melkfljam ; on the 5th, 
 at Seraington, and back to Melkfham ; on the 6th, at Marlborough, and, the fame 
 Day to Newbury ; on the 7th, to Reading ; and, on the 8 th, to London. 
 
 I N this Journey, though we were not without Temptations and Exercifes of 
 divers kinds, yet the Lord was near to preferve us •, and, through his divine 
 Grace, gave us many open, comfortable, and edifying Times, in the AfTemblies 
 cf his People, and in divers Families, as alfo in Converfation ; for the Fear of 
 the Lord was over us, and we did not delight in vain and unprofitable Talk, 
 but were kept folid ; but not caft down, or unconverfible. 
 
 A T London we lodged with our very good Friend Peter Briggins, in Bartholo- 
 mew-Clofe, and there we parted ; Aaron went back into Cumberland, and I re- 
 mained in the City, and entered into Bufinefs there for my neceffary Subfiftence ; 
 for my Father had not bellowed any thing upon me at parting. 
 
 The firft Thing I did was to fell my Mare, which I had rid in my late 
 Journey, for which I got about feven Pounds, and with it I put myfelf into fome 
 better Cloathing; for what I had was much wore out with riding : And Friends 
 in London, knowing my Intention of fettling there, (at leaft for fome time) and 
 that I defired to be employed in Conveyancing, drawing of Settlements, and o- 
 ther publick Writings of all forts, as Occafion might offer ; which was a Bufinefs 
 I was acquainted with, and alio the leaft confining of any I could think of, and was 
 fitted for ; feveral of them were fo kind as to give notice of it in fome Month- 
 
 Cain. 
 Bradford. 
 Broomham- 
 Houfe. 
 Semington. 
 Marlborough 
 Newbury. 
 Reading. 
 
 London,
 
 £6 Tie LIFE, (^^c. 
 
 Anno ly Meetings in the City, and on other Occafions ; and recommended me to 
 1695- liich Friends as might have any Thing to be done in that Way : And IVtlUam 
 Pertn, in a particular Manner, was liberal in his Recommendations, and fncv,'ed 
 himfelf a warm Friend in promoting my Intereft. 
 
 This fuccecded fo well, by the Blefling of God, that, in a fhort Time, I had 
 more Bufinefs than I could do by myfelf •, lb that I often employed Afiiftants : 
 And as I was rather under than over in my Demands for what BuRnefs I 
 • did, fo my Pay was good and lure, and I foon came into a reputable and plenti- 
 ful Way of living ; for which I was truly thankful to the Lord, who thus pro- 
 videtl for m; in a Way I had not forefeen •, but had fully trufted in the Lord, 
 that I fhould not want, tho' without any particular Profpecl; how I fliould be fup- 
 plied when I left my Father's Houfc, to follow the Lord more fully, and en- 
 joy his divine Peace, than I found I could do there. 
 
 R E :.i A I >r I N G fometime in the City, Friends employed me to record all the 
 foreign Sufferings, until then lying in the Manner they had been fent,from all Parts, 
 to the Chamber there ; for which they allowed me a Gratuity : And, after that, 
 put all the Deeds and Writings belonging to the Quarterly Meeting of London 
 into m.y Hands, to perufe and confider ; and in divers of them I found Miftakes, 
 which were rectified : And I made a general Index and Abftracl of them in a Fo- 
 lio Book of Royal Paper, whereby the Purport of any Deed, and what Set of 
 Truflees tlie Title of any Meeting-houfe or Burying-ground was in, at any Time, 
 might be found in a Quarter of an Hour ; for which alio I had a Confidera- 
 tion. 
 
 I KEPT cloie to Meetings and to Bufinefs, in their proper Viciffitudes ; the 
 Countenance of the Lord was with me, and my Bulineis increafed daily to my 
 Satisfa6t:ion •, fo that I had feveral Offers of Clerks, with competent Sums of Mo- 
 ney, both from the North, and m London: But confidering that, as tending to too 
 deep an Engagement in the Affairs of Life, at that Time ; and a Confinement 
 not confifting with the Liberty requifitc in the Miniftry, as I was then ftated, or 
 with my fecret Views that Way, I declined every Propofal of that kind, and did 
 mv Bufinefs with the Help of liich Writing Clerks as I could employ on any E- 
 mero-ency, without further Engagement. 
 
 About this Time George Keith, that infamous and contentious Apoitate from 
 the Truth of God, once made known to him, made great Difturbances in and 
 about London, as he had done before in divers Parts of America ; endeavouring 
 to impofe fome unprofitable, hurtful, and falfe Notions of his own and others 
 upon Friends, contending fiercely about them ; and had alfo obtained fome Re- 
 gard from envious and prejudiced Perfons of divers Sefts and Societies. 
 
 And, as I was going one Day to attend the Lord Chief Juflice, in order to 
 have a Fine paffed upon an Eftate offered in Mortgage for Security of a Sum of 
 Money, there came to me, upon the Pavement near the Office, a Man v/ell dref- 
 fed, and of grave Behaviour, defiring to have fome Converfation with me ; in 
 which I could not gratify him then, being inftantly engaged in the Bufinefs I v/ent 
 about i but when I had finiflied it, and was come out from the Office, I found him 
 waiting ; and, advancing tov/ai-ds me, he began to difcourfe about George Keith, 
 fliying, " That we (meaning the Body of Friends) had miffed our Way in con- 
 " tending with him as we did ; for he, being a Man ot Learning and Knowledge, 
 
 " might
 
 of T H M A S S T O R T. Sj 
 
 " might have bsen very Itrviceable to our Society, in helping us over fome Mil- Anno 
 " takes we laboured under." 1695. 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " That we were nor under any Miftakc about the Chriftian Faith 
 " or Rehgion, or any Part of it ; and did not want Inftruftions from George 
 " Keilb, or any other hke unto him, we being taught of the Lord, and by luch 
 " as he raifes, quahfies, and fends in his own Name and Power ; and thefe we 
 
 ' now, own, and receive, in the fame Love in which they are fent." 
 
 " V 
 
 Then he moved one of George Keith's Notions and Subjeds of Debate, by 
 way of Quefiion ; " Whether v/e beUeve, that Jesus Christ is now in Hea- 
 " ven, in the fame Body in which he fuffered on the Crofs on Earth ?" I repli- 
 ed, " That we believe all that the Holy Scriptures relate concernino- the Lord 
 " and his Body -, that he afcended, until a Cloud received him out of the Sio-ht 
 " of the V/itncfles v/ho faw him afcend ; but as to the Identity, or Samenefs, of 
 " his Body, or the Mode of its Exiftence now in Heaven, as I do not remem- 
 " ber that to be revealed in the Holy Scriptures, 'tis a little too prefumptuous, I 
 " think, in Gecrge Keith, or any other, to take upon him to define or meddle 
 " with it •, being a Myitery of which he hath no Knowledge or Idea, nor could 
 " he transfer the true Notion of it to the Uhderftanding or Apprehenfion of any 
 " other Perfon, if he had any fuch Thing himfelf: Therefore all he pretends to 
 " on that Subject, can be no other than an unprofitable Dream of his own Head, 
 " on a Subject undeterminable by any Mortal, teixling only to Strife and Envy, 
 " as fully appears by his Exercife tlicrein, and its evil Fruits of Divifion and Se- 
 " paiation ; ar,J, if perlifled in, would remain fo to the End of the World; and 
 " is to be declined as a Snare and Temptation of the Adverfary , for Mifchief and 
 " Deftruftion." 
 
 Then he urged, " That the Body of Christ in Heaven muft be a real 
 " Body ; and, if fo, then material, and circumfcribed, as all fuch Bodies are, yet 
 " wonderfully glorified." I replied, " This is like Satan difputing about the 
 " Body of Alo/es : Thefe Words wonderfully glorified, cxliibit nothing to the Un- i^a 
 " derftanding ; tho' I do not intend to enter into a Difquifition concerning Bodies 
 " material, or immaterial -, glorified, or not glorified ; circumfcriptive, or not fo : 
 " But I remember v/hat the Apoftle P(?k/ hath writ concerning the Lord Jesus 
 " in this Point, viz. In that he afcended, what is that but that he alfo firfl defend- Eph.iv-.o, 10. 
 " ed into the lower Parts of the Earth ? He that defended is the fame alfo that a- 
 " fended up far above all Heavens, that he might fill all Things : If then he filleth 
 " all Things, how, and by what is he circumfcribed.-'" 
 
 T o this he anfwered, " That his filling all Things, was fpoken of him as he 
 " is God omniprefent, and not as Man ; who is, as fuch, not omniprefent, that 
 " being an Attribute ol the divine Nature only." 
 
 I returned to this, " That it could not be fpoken of Christ as he is 
 " God, becaufe he who is omniprefent, is fo from all Eternity, and at all Times, 
 " and cannot properly be faid to afcend or defcend into any Place ; for that would 
 " imply his Abfence from thofe Places to which he was faid to afcend or defcend ; 
 " which, in the Notion of it, would oppofe the eiTential and neceflliiy Attribute 
 "of his Divinity, and confound the r.itional Confideration of it : So that the 
 " Apoftle's Aflertion here, I think, mull refer to C h a i st in fome other Way 
 " than as he is the Word of God." 
 
 " Then,
 
 88 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno "Then, faid he, thefe are fccret and intricate Things, hard to be imder- 
 1696. " ftood or defined; fo that it may be proper to dechne any fartlier Procedure 
 " thereon at this Time." " That I grant, laid I, and it was not of my moving-, 
 " nor did I engage in this Difcourfe with any other View, but to demonftrate to 
 " thee how httle Good can be reaped, or expefted, by Contefts on the Subject, 
 " or by any of George Keith's Notions, or of any others about it :" And fo we 
 parted in a friendly Manner, after he had made himfelf known to me under the 
 Charafter of Doftor EngUJh ; a Scotfman by Nation, and a Phyfician by Pro- 
 feffion. 
 
 I N this fame Year I was concerned, in the Love of Truth, to vifit the Meet- 
 ings, in a general Way, in the North of England, and likewife in Scotland ; and, 
 in difcharge of that Duty, fet forward from London, on the 6th or 7th of the 
 Fifth Month, accompanied by Henry Jtkinfon; who was, at that Time, a very 
 tender and hopeful young Man, but had not appeared in a publick Miniftry -, 
 though Trutli was working in him towards it. 
 
 Watford. W E went by Watford ; where I made a Vifit to the Countefs of Carlijle, (intend- 
 
 ing to have feen the Earl, but he was gone to London) and fhe received me in her 
 Clofet with Refpe6t, none being prefent but Helen Fairley, who had been her Gen- 
 tlewoman •, but having been lately convinced, another was then in her Place. 
 The Countefs afked me divers Queftions concerning the Way of Truth as pro- 
 fefled by us ; of the Sacraments, commonly fo called ; of Women's Preaching ; 
 of our Marriages ; and of the Grace of God, i^c. To all which I anfwered in 
 much Plainnefs, and, I believe, to her Satisfaftion, '•jiz. 
 
 " As to the two Sacraments ; the National Church owns. That a Sacrament 
 " is an outward and vifible Sign of an inward and fpiritual Grace ; and, if it is a 
 " Sign, it cannot be the Thing fignified. That Grace, of which thofe Symbols 
 " are called Signs, hath appeared, and doth appear, unto all Men -, as well where 
 " thofe Signs are ufed, as where they are not ufed or heard of: So that there 
 " can be no Advantage in the Ufe of fuch Signs, but in that Grace which, thro' 
 " Christ, is given of the Father unto all Men, being a divine aftive Principle 
 *' and Power, illuminating, inftrufting and guiding the Minds of all that believe 
 *' therein, into all Truth neceffary for the Salvation of the Soul. And the great 
 " God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, is no 
 " Refpeder of Perfons in his Difpenfations of Grace to the Children of Men ; 
 " but gives more or lefs as it pleafeth him, but to every one that which is fuffici- 
 " ent ; and hath no Regard or Difregard therein to thofe Diftinftions, formed 
 " and impofed by Mortals, one upon another, in this World : So that High and 
 " Low, Rich and Poor, Noble and Ignoble, have all Grace fufficient for their 
 *' Salvation, if they believe therein and obey ; as it is written. By Grace are ye 
 " faved, through Faith, and that not of yowfehes, it is the Gift of God : Yet you 
 " who are great in this World are in mod Danger, becaufe of the Cares, Riches, 
 " Plcafures, Honours, and Glory of it : for as the Mofl High regardeth none of 
 " thefe Things, but confiders you only as others of M.inkind, thefe high Stations 
 " and Circumftances delude your Hearts by their glittering Delights, and betray 
 " you into a Forgetflilnefs of God your Creator, and a Negleft of the Gift of 
 " his Grace which is in you, tho' the Lord is not a-wanting to you in his kind 
 " and merciful Admonitions and Reproofs in your own Minds. 
 
 "And though you are fometimes brought thereby into inward and deep Con- 
 " fiderations of your Ways, your latter End, and a future State, as others are ; 
 
 " yet
 
 of T H M yl S ST R r. 89 
 
 "* yet you are under the greater Difadvantages thro' the Eminence of your Sta- Anno 
 
 *' tions and Circumllances in the World, being thereby placed out of the Reach 1696. 
 
 " of the Converfation and Information of the true and fincere Miniflers of the 
 
 " Lord Jesus; who, as they love you truly, thro' his Grace, would deal 
 
 " plainly, yet difcreetly and refpeftfully with you, for the Sake and Redempti- 
 
 " on of yoLi'r precious Souls, without any Flattery, or mean mercenary End, or 
 
 " other terrene View. 
 
 " But it is lamentable to fee and confider, that when the Grace of God, as 
 *' it is the divine Light of his Prcfence through the Lord Jesus Christ, let- 
 *' teth you fee yourfelves, and the Errors of your Ways ; and brings Remorfc 
 *' over you, and a fecret Humiliation and Sadncfs into your Minds, appearing 
 " fometimes in your Afpefts and Behaviour; when none of your Pailimes, En- 
 "• joyments, or Diverfions have any Relifh, or afford any Satisfaftion at all : 
 *' Then (inftead of the Counlel and Help of fuch as have known this Word of 
 " Reproof, and walked in the Path of Life eternal, to direft you in the Way 
 " which leads to the Kingdom of God, and to that eternal and unlpeakable 
 " Glory, the beatifick Vifion of his Countenance, which never ends, as all this 
 *' World, and the Glory and Plcafures of it do, even in a Moment, and are 
 " known no more) you have two ibrts of Men in particular near you, by whofe 
 " Ignorance, Self-views and Flattery, you are in more Danger of everlaflino- 
 *' Ruin than thole in lower Stadons : For, in the Times of llumiliation, when 
 *' you are fitted for the Teachings of God, (as it is written, ne Humble he will 
 •' teacb^ and the Meek he will guide in ^Judgment) then your Priefts i;iy you are 
 " melancholly •, a Ball, or other unchriftian-like Diverfion muft be promoted, 
 " and your Phyficians muft give Phyfick to your Bodies ; when, alas ! the Sick- 
 *' nefs is in the Soul, and they know it not, and can never be cured, but by the 
 " Phyfician of Value, the High Prieft of God, and Saviour of the Soul ; who 
 " firft flays in it the vain and finful Life of the World, in which all the Evils 
 " thereof do dwell, and then breathes into it Life eternal, the Life of Jesus 
 " the Son of God, who never fell. 
 
 " A N D, as to Women's Preaching, it ought to be impartially obferved, that 
 " the Difference of Sexes confifts altogether in various Modifications of Body 
 *' and organical Diftlniitions, and not in any Diverfity of Faculties in the human 
 *' Soul ; the intellectual Powers being alike common to Male antl Female, and 
 *' the Nature of the Mind the fame in both, and confequently fufceptible of the 
 *' like and lame ImprclTions and Impulfes: And accordingly the Almighty, point- 
 " ing at the Difpenfation of the Gofpel by Ji^f/ the Prophet, lakh, I will pour out Jodii. 28,29. 
 *' my Spirit upon all Fleflj, and your Sons and your Daughters pall prophecy. A- 
 *' gain. Upon the Servants and upon the Handmaids^ in thofe Days, will I pour out 
 " ?ny Spirit : And by the Word prophecy is underftood, by all Interpreters, preach- 
 *' ing the Gofpel. And this Prophecy took place in the Church of Christ at 
 " the Coming of the Holy Ghoft (or Christ in Spirit) at Jerufalem, at the 
 " Time of Pentecoll: -, v>'here, if no Woman fpake, (though we have no exprefs 
 " Account that any did) the Apoftle Peter did not apply that Text properly and 
 " without Exception ; which we are not to fuppofe. 
 
 '"And though the Apoftle Paul takes fome Exceptions, and that with Sharp- 
 " nefs, againft- fome Women as to that F.xercife in the Church, yet not againft 
 " all ', for himlelf declares how Women, ufing that Exercife, ought to be cir- 
 " cumftanccd ; and recommends Phebc as a Minifter of the Church which was at 
 *■* Cenchrea : And Philip had four Daughters, all Preachers : And Prifcilla, as well 
 
 Z *'a& 
 
 Afts ii. 1 6- 
 18.
 
 90 
 
 Anno 
 1696. 
 
 The LIFE, i^c. 
 
 as Aquilla her Hufband, was a Preacher in the Days of the Apoftles ; and flie, 
 as well as he, inftrufted Apollo further in the Way of C h r i st, tho' he had 
 been a Preacher before. I conclude therefore, with Truth, that Women both 
 may and ought to preach, under the Gofpel Difpenfation, when the Spirit of 
 the Lord is upon them, and thereunto called, and qualified thereby ; and. 
 many fuch we have now among us, very acceptable in their Miniftry : So that 
 we know by Experience, that they are fent of God, according to the various 
 Degrees ol their Gifts, as well as the Men, and receive them accordingly in 
 the Lord." 
 
 Albans. 
 Hartford. 
 
 She heard what I faid with Candour and Patience, and I took Leave of her 
 with great Satisfadtion in my Mind. And, this Vifit being over, I returned to 
 the Houfe of our Friend Alice Hays ; where I related the Paflage, with o- 
 ther Circumftances here omitted, to feveral Friends there at that Time, which 
 well afFefted them -, and we were all favoured with the divine Prefence on the Oc- 
 cafion, and had a very comfortable Time together in Prayer : after which we de- 
 parted thence towards Albans^ where we had appointed a Meeting tliat Afternoon i 
 after which we went to Hartford. 
 
 The next Day, being the 9th of the Month, we had a Meeting there ; which 
 at firft was very hard and fhut up, bur ended well, in a weighty Senfe of the di- 
 vine Prefence. 
 
 Hare Street. 
 
 Baldock. 
 
 Stilton. 
 
 Wentsford. 
 
 Nottingham. 
 
 Mansfield. 
 
 Balbur-Hall. 
 
 Sheffield. 
 
 Burton. 
 
 Leeds. 
 
 That Evening we went to John Etteridge's, at Hare-Street ; where we lod- 
 ged, and next Day had a Meeting near that Place ; which, at firft, was drowfy, 
 hard, and dry, but, after a while, became as a little River, overflowing its Banks, 
 to the Comfort and Refrefhment of the Friends and us, and to the Honour of 
 the Name of the Lord ; of whom alone is the Power, which he difpenfeth 
 when and where he pleafeth. That Evening we returned to the fame Lodging ; 
 and, the next Morning, there came a Concern upon our Minds, and John Ette- 
 ridge, being much fpent in a Confumption, uttered a few Sentences, concerning a 
 Day coming on a- pace, wherein the Lord would gather many, as from the four 
 Winds, a numberlefs Number, to fit down with Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, in the 
 Kingdom of God, in divine Reft and Peace j and, after Prayer, we departed, 
 greatly comforted ; as alfo were the Friends in the Family. 
 
 That Day we had a Meeting at Baldock; which, for a while, was fmall, poor, 
 and dry, but, in the End a little better. 
 
 The 1 2th, being the Firft Day of the Week, we were at Cambridge ; where 
 came two Priefts, feveral young Collegians, and fome other People ; they were 
 fober, and the Meeting was peaceable : From thence we went, by Huntington, to 
 Stilton J thence to fVentsford ; and fo on to Nottingham ; and, on the 1 5th, fell 
 in with the Meeting at Mansfield, which was fmall and poor ; and, that Evening, 
 went to Balbur-Hall, and lodged with Sir John Rhodes, Baronet ; who, being 
 convinced of Truth very young, embraced the fame under the Crofs -, forfaking 
 all the Honour of this World, and the Friendftiip of it, for that Honour which 
 is of God only, and the Friendftiip and Fellowlhip of the faithful and fanftified 
 in C h Ri sT ; of whom he is beloved and honoured in the Truth as worthy. 
 
 Thence we went to Sheffield ; and fo to Burton, to Francis Harrifon's, where 
 we lodged; thence through Lff^;, and, by feveral Stages, into CKw^<r/W; and 
 
 on
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 
 
 91 
 
 on the 5th of the Sixth Month, being the Fourth of the Week, we were at the Anno 
 Border Meeting, 1696. 
 
 On the 7th Day of the Sixth Month we began our Journey into Scotland ; and, 
 next Day, arrived at Kelfo ; where, the Day after, being the Firft of the Week, '<^elfo. 
 we were at a Meeting in the Forenoon, and another after, to our Satisfaftion -, on 
 the I ith, we were at the Meeting at Edinkirgh ; and, next Day, crofled the Firth, 
 in order for the North ; and that Night, lodged at Couper, in Fife/hire ; where Couper; 
 we could get neither Grafs, Hay, nor Straw, for our Horfes, but only Thirties, 
 for which we paid is. gd. 
 
 On the 13th we lodged at our Friend fFtlliam Napier of Tayck's^ near Mon- Tayck. 
 trofe ; and, (willing to haften to the fartheft Parr of our Journey before the Win- 
 ter came on) on the 14th, at Widow Barclay'^, at Urie ; and were, next Day, at Urie. 
 a Seventh Day's Meeting, at Aberdeen, which went from Family to Family by Aberdeen. 
 Turns. 
 
 The Day following, being the Firft of the Week, we went to a Six Weeks 
 Meeting at JVoodland, (about nine Miles) which was large, but not very comfort- Woodland, 
 able •, but having another Meeting that Afternoon at John Forbes's, we were fa- 
 voured of the Lord with fome more divine Refrelhment in his Prefence ; and 
 there we remained that Night and the next Day ; and, the Day following, we had 
 a pretty comfortable Meeting with a few Friends at Inverury ; and, in the Even- Inverury. 
 ing, we went to Kilmuck ; and, next Day, had a fmall Meeting there ; after Kilmuck. 
 which I was very well and eafy, and that Evening went to Aberdeen ; where we Aberdeen, 
 had a Meeting, next Day, to Satistadion -, and, the fame Evening, had another 
 there. 
 
 The next Day we had an Evening-meeting in the faid Town, at the Houfe 
 of our ancient and eminent Friend Andrew Jeffrey; where the Lord favoured 
 us with his Life-giving Prefence to a good Degree, feveral Perfons of Note in 
 the World being there, efpecially of the Female Sex, but incognito. They behaved 
 very folidly, and I had an open Time among them, through the Grace of God, 
 efpeciaUy in Prayer, to the Praife of the great Giver of every good and perfedt 
 Gift ; who is worthy now and for ever. 
 
 On the 2 2d of the Sixth Month we had another Meeting there, which was 
 very open and tender ; and, after it was over, we vifited Friends in their Families 
 in a general way -, and, the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, we had two 
 more good and open Meetings in the Fore and Afternoon ; and there I took pu- 
 blick Leave of Friends in thofe Parts, Town and Country : but, next Morning, 
 before we departed, the generality of the ancient Friends came to iee us ; and, 
 being together in John Hall's Houfe, where we lodged, the Power of the Lord 
 came upon us, and we were greatly comforted together therein ; and, at that 
 Time, my Companion fpake a few Words, feafoned with Grace, to general Sa- 
 tisfaction i and then I had alio a few Sentences, concerning the Bond of our Unity 
 and Communion, which is the Spirit and Love of Christ; and then had a 
 tender Seafon in Prayer ; after which Andrew Jeffrey likewife prayed ; and fo the 
 Meeting concluded, to our mutual Confolation : and, in the remaining Senfe oi 
 the Love of our heavenly Father, we parted, and that Afternoon went to Urie. Urie. 
 
 Here we ftaid till the 26th, and then had a Meeting, which was heavy for 
 fome time, but ended in a more lively State ; for which we were thankful : and, 
 
 the
 
 <^i The LIFE, i^'c. 
 
 Anno tlic next Morning we had a Meeting in the Family ; where we were mucli com- 
 1696. forted together, in the Springings in of the Love of our heavenly Father ; and 
 greatly were we fatisfied to find his divine Preience fo near them, not only then, 
 but alfo on the Sixth and Seventh Days following ; for they have a Meeting eve- 
 ry Morning among themfelves. 
 
 On the 29th, we went back to William Napier's ; and, the next Day, being 
 Montrofe. the Firft of the Week, we were at the Meeting at Montrofe, Fore and After- 
 noon : In the latter feveral People came in, and I faid many Things to them 
 appertaining to Salvation ; but they did not feem to be weary or heavy laden, or 
 fit for the Crofs of Christ, nor fenfible of any Want. 
 
 The next Morning we went from "Tayck, where we had lodged, and our 
 Friend Williain Napier conduced us feveral Miles, and was very kind, and that 
 Night we lodged at Kenno'way. 
 
 The next Morning, being the ift Day of the Seventh Month, we went to 
 Kincrhorn. Kinghort!^ in order to pafs over to Leith ; where we found a Ferry-boat ready to 
 put: off from the Shore, in which were feveral Paflengers, and, among the reft, 
 an Epifcopal Prieft : And, as foon as he perceived what we were, he fell into a 
 Rage, and endeavoured to keep us out of the Veffel, and difappoint us of our 
 Pafi?tge ; which he feemed more bold in, under the Countenance of a young 
 Gentleman in the "oat ; who, by his Appearance, feem'd to be the Prieft' s Pa- 
 tron, or Benefaftor : But I foon gave him to underftand we were not to be im- 
 pofed upon in that Point ; and, infifting on our Paflage, required the Boatman 
 to take in our Horfes, and we ftepped in after them •, and then his Spirit fell 
 when he law our Refolution and Management, and that the Gentleman did not 
 oppofe us : And the Prieft becoming more calm, fo did the Wind, which had 
 retarded our PafTage. 
 
 A N D, after a while, perceiving the Spirit of the Man to be overcome and 
 quieted, I fpake to him concerning his Paflions, and Enmity'againft us without a- 
 ny Caufe ; putting him in mind how inconfiftent fuch a Behaviour is with Chrifti- 
 anity, of which I fuppofed him to be a Profcffor, if not a profeffed Teacher ; 
 and that Religion requires all the Profeflbrs of it to be kind to Strangers : And 
 that though he was equally a Stranger to us, as we to him, yet fince we were 
 Strangers in his native Country, that Character belonged more properly to us. 
 
 This calm Reafoning with him, in the Grace of G o d, had fo good an Effed:, 
 tlut he confefled his Fault, and defired it might be pafi^cd by ; which was freely 
 granted : And then, as we ftood together by the Side of the Veflel, he became 
 very kind and familiar, and told me he was, by Profeflion, an Epifcopal Mi nifter, 
 but difplaced, and deprived of his Living by the Prefbyterians at the Revolution. 
 
 T H E N I informed him, that I had been of the fame Profeffion of Religion ; 
 that my neareft Relations were fo ftill, and my elder Brother a Dean of the Epi- 
 fcopal Church ; the Manner of my own Education ; my leaving the Profeffion 
 of the Law, as not confifting with the Calling of God in the Concern I was then, 
 about; and yet, cafting myfelf on his Providence, I wanted nothing. 
 
 After which I advifed him, that fince, in the Courfe of Providence, he was 
 divefted of his Bread, in the Way he had chofen for himfelf, he had beft now to 
 lean upon the Arm of the Lord for his Subliftencc, in a Way which might be 
 
 flicwn
 
 of THOMAS S T RT, 
 
 93 
 
 Ihewn him, in Tome honeft Employment, in cafe he fliould look no more back Anno 
 to his former Courfe or Dependence : And all I faid he heard with Temper; and 1696. 
 faid, he believed I wiflied him well therein. 
 
 Then the young Gentleman faid, a little pJeafantly, " He himfelf had a- 
 " mind to difpute with me on the Subjedl of Baptifm." " Then, faid I, be- 
 " tore we begin the Difpute, anfwer me one Queftion ; How many Baptifms 
 " are there in Ufe in the Chriftian Religion?" He anfwered, " There are three." 
 " Then I told him he would make but a poor Hand in the Difpute, that had 
 " mifs'd it fo far in the Entrance -, for whereas the Apoftle Paul faith, There 
 " is one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptifm, thou fayeft there are three Baptifms ; 
 " and, fmce thou oppofell the Apoftle, thou art not fit to be difputed with about 
 " Religion-" And, not being in earneft in what he had propofed, he only 
 finiled, and dropped his Pretenfion. 
 
 Then he addreffed himfelf to the Paffengers, and faid, concerning Friends, 
 " They are a People who give no Honour to any, norfeekany, and yet 
 *' are honoured of all ; being admitted into the Company and Friendfhip of 
 " Men of all Stations and Degrees without Offence, becaufe they make their plain 
 " Behaviour an Incident of their Religion, and Badge of their Profeffion : And 
 *' their Principles leading them to Peace with all forts, and againft Wars and 
 *' Fighting, whilft other Profcffors deftroy one another, and thereby lefTen their 
 *' Numbers, this People are ftill increafing, by propagating their Kind and their 
 *' Principles." This he fpake pleafantly •, and, not feeing Need to reply, or 
 make any Obfervation upon it, I let it pafs ; and fo all that looked like Conteft 
 ceafed, and they continued very fociable till we went on Shore -, and, when we 
 were landed, they invited us to drink a Glafs of Wine with them, but that we ex- 
 cufed, and, parting with them in P'riendfhip, went forward to Edinburgh. 
 
 We refted at Edinburgh the remaining Part of that Day ; and, on the next, Edinburgh, 
 we liad a peaceable, tender, and comfortable Meeting with Friends ; on the Sixth 
 and Seventh of the Week we vifited Friends at their Houfes ; and, on the Firft 
 Day following, were at their Fore and Afternoon Meetings •, and, though fome 
 Rudenefs appeared in a few of the bafer fort of the People, yet the Lord's 
 Power was over all in us, and many of the better fort were very fober and at- 
 tentive. We met with no Rudenefs in the Streets, fave from one big-bodied 
 ftern Man -, who, falling in with me and my Companion, looked furioufly on us 
 as we palfed by, having a great broad Sword with a Balket Hilt, and faid, " Awa, 
 *' the Quakers fliould all be fliot." Upon which I turned quick upon him, and, 
 looking him fteady in the Face, aflced him, " Why fo ? What Hurt have the 
 " Quakers done to deferve Deftruftion ?" To which he made no Reply, but 
 Iheer'd off as one condemned in his own Confcience, 
 
 On the 7th, v/ev/ent to Linlithgow; and, next Morning, the Lord favoured LinUthgow. 
 xis with his Heart-tendering Prefence, with a few of his gathered People there. 
 
 On the loth Day of the Seventh Month we had a Meeting at Garthpere; Gartliiliore. 
 where the Power of Darknefs was very ftrong, through one Andrew Gray, who 
 had been wife and great in his own Conceit ; and, like Viotrephes, had ruled by 3 John 9. 
 his own Authority, which he had alTumed over the fincere and honeft minded ; 
 and, tho' he was become an Apoftate from the Lite of Truth, yet came to Meet- 
 ings, where he ever brought a Cloud with him •, tor his dark Spirit was that Cloud, 
 and Friends could have no Unity with him : Yet the Truth was over all ; and, 
 as he could do us no Hurt, the Meeting concluded wtII. 
 
 A a The
 
 94 
 
 Anno 
 
 Glafgovv. 
 
 Afkeen. 
 
 Hamilton. 
 
 Tbe LIFE, ^x. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting at Glafgow ; where came a great many 
 Collegians, along with a Mob of other People •, they were very rude, both in 
 Words and Aftions, as generally that fort every where are : And it is a lamentable 
 Thing to confider, that People, of the Age of Difcretion as Men, and profef- 
 fing the Name of the true God, and of Jesus Christ the Son of God, the 
 Meffiah and Saviour of the World, fliould be fo blind concerning that Religion, 
 as to think (if they think about it at all) that fuch brntifli Creatures, as thofe Col- 
 legians are, can be Minifters of Christ in that Condition; being commonly 
 promoted brand new, as it were, out of that Mint wherein they are coined, not 
 in the Image of God, but of the Adverfary ; from wallowing in all Manner of 
 Vice and Immorality, to pretend to teach thofe who h^ve' far more Underftanding 
 in Religion than themfelves : Neverthelefs fo it is. But being reproved at that 
 Time in the Word of Life, they were a little more fober for a while -, but, grow- 
 ing rude again, a Soldier, who had been in the Meeting moft of the Time, repre- 
 hended them fharply, frying, " That if any Thing was faid they did not like, 
 " they might let it alone ; but if it was right, why did they not receive it :" And 
 fo ftupid were they that they had nothing to fay in aniwer to the Soldier •, neither 
 to us did they make any Objection : And, towards the Conclufion of the Meet- 
 ing, my Companion exprefs'd fome edifying Matters, in great Humility and 
 Tendernefs, that was acceptable to the fenfible Part •, which was the fecond Time 
 he had appeared that Way : And, after all the rude Endeavours to difturb us, 
 the Meeting ended in divine Peace, and in a Senfe of the Love and Goodnefs of 
 the Lord ; which is a prefent, as well as future Reward, far exceeding all that 
 can be fuifcred for it in this fliort Life and momentary World. 
 
 On the 12th, being the Sixth of the Week, we went to AJkeen, to our Friend 
 William Simfon^s^ where we had a very hard Meeting ; and, the next Morning, 
 went back to Glafgow ; where we ftaid till the Firft Day, and tlien had two very 
 hard and dry Meetings : For tho' thofe who came to die Meetings were outward- 
 ly civil, yet fo flrong was the Power of Darknefs, and fo great Enmity againft 
 the Life of Truth, and little Faith in that Prefbyterian People, that we were that 
 Night greatly loaden in our Spirits, and relied but little. 
 
 The next Morning we went to Hamilton ; and, in the Evening, had a Meet- 
 ing there, which was very poor and low, for Things were then in a declining 
 Condition at that Place ; from whence we kt forward, on the i6th, for Cumber- 
 land ; where we arrived, on the 1 8th following, in good Health, through the 
 Mercy and Goodnefs of the Lord. ' 
 
 I N this Journey through Scotland we were prefented, in feveral Places, with 
 further Inftances of the Irreligion and Cruelty of the Prefbyterians of that Nati- 
 on ; which demonftrated them to be of the fame perfecuting Spirit of their mur- 
 dering Brethren in * New Englatid ; and that they only wanted Power to praftife the 
 
 like, 
 
 * Between the Years 1656 and i66i, a violent and mercilefs Perfecution was exercifed by the 
 Presbyterian Government in A'^iu England; feveral Laws and Declarations being publilhed, with 
 fevere Penalties annexed, againft any Quaker's being allowed to land or live within tiiat Colony : 
 In confequence of which, the Rage of blind Zeal and furious Bigotry rofe as high as in the worfl; 
 and darkeft Times ; fo that a great Number of innocent and peaceful Perfons were cruelly impti- 
 foned, and barbaroufly ufcd, without any Regard either to Sex or Age : Many were llarved in Jails, 
 and inhumanly beat and whipped with knotted Cords arid pitch'd Ropes ; others fufFered by grie- 
 vous Fines, Confifcations, and Lofs of Ears ; and three Perfons, njiz. tl'iUiam Robinjm, Martnaduke 
 Stiiienfcn, and Mmy Dyer, were executed on the Gallows in 1559, and William Lcddra in i66i : 
 None of which appeared guilty of any Fault, but the Excrcife of their religious Duties. Where 
 this hot Periecution would have ended is unknown, had not King Charles 11. interpofed his Royal 
 Authority, and put an End to it by his Letter, dated at Whitehall the 9th of September, 1661 .
 
 of T U M A S ST Rr. . 95- 
 
 like, or greater Deftrudion on Friends and others, differing from their Imagina- Anno 
 lions in Matters of Religion ; a few of which being inferred here, may confirm this 1696. 
 Obfervation, and are as follow ; 
 
 ',1. A Copy of an Act o/^be General Assembly 
 
 0/ the Kirk of Scotland. 
 
 Edinburgh, December 24, foft meridiem, 
 
 " r"r~i H E General Affembly of this National Church, for the preventing of 
 " i the Growth of thofe abominable Herefies of the Quakers, do recom- 
 *' mend to all Provincial Synods, Prefbyteries, Minifters, and Kirk-Seffions, to 
 " ufe all proper Means for reclaiming of them ; and, in cafe of their Obftinacy, 
 " to proceed againft them with the Censures of the Church; and efpecially 
 " againft the Ringleaders, that are Traffickers for the feducing of others." 
 
 2. 'John Gilkfpie, one of the Elders of the Prefbyterian Church at Glafgow, 
 going to the Houfe of George Swan, a Friend, who was an Inn-keeper in that Ci- 
 ty, exhorted and commanded his Wife, fhe being a Prefbyterian, that if any of 
 the Quakers fhould come to their Houfe, fhe fhould beat them ; and her Huf- 
 band too, if helhould encourage them. And in this llie proved obedient j for, 
 in my Prefence, fhe dragged a Friend of the Town, who came to fee us, off his 
 Scat by the Hair of his Head upon the Floor, and trampled him under her Feet, 
 tho' he had given her no other Provocation, than by his coming into the Room 
 (where we were) to fee us, being Strangers among them. 
 
 3 . T H E fame Woman having afked John Pickiethlie, another of their Elders, 
 whether fhe might go to the Burial of a Child of one of our Friends ; or if it was 
 lawful for her fo to do ? He replied, " They ought not to be buried, but burnt 
 ** in the Place where they die." 
 
 4. The faid George Swan, debating fome Principles of Friends with John 
 Hay, another of the Elders of the Kirk, who inveighed vehemently againft 
 .Friends, as if holding damnable erroneous Dodrines ; and, having one of Robert 
 
 Barclay^ Catechifms, requefted the faid John Hay to read it, where he might 
 find the Principles of Frientls illuftrated with Proofs from Scripture : Whereupon 
 the faid John Hay anfwered, " I had rather look the Devil in the Face, than 
 " look upon your Books." 
 
 5. I N further Purfuance of the aforefaid Aft of Affembly, fome of the faid 
 Minifters of Glafgow, in their Pulpits, called us Hereticks, Blafphemers, Deluders, 
 pcjjeffed with the Devil, &c. faying we ought not to be admitted to live among the 
 Inhabitants there ; charging them not to converfe, nor have any Dealings with us ; 
 telling them, that we are as dangerous to come near as thofe who have the Plague. 
 And one of them declar'd in his Sermon to the People, " That he had rather 
 *' converfe with the muckle Devil than with the Quakers." 
 
 6. They have read feveral Papers in the Places of their Worfhip, charging 
 the People not to converfe with the Quakers ; nor lett them any Houfes ; nor have 
 any Dealings with them ; and not to come near their Meetings, fo as to join in 
 
 anything with them, upon pain of Excommunication from their Communion-table. 
 
 7. Many,
 
 96 The LIFE, c§^"c• 
 
 Anno 7. M a n y, both of the Magiftrates and Commonalty, purfuant to thofe Inftruc- 
 1696. tions and Diredions of their Teachers, were in a Rage whenever they faw Friends •, 
 and the People often threw Dirt and Stones at them in the Streets j frequently crying 
 out, " Stone thofe Quakers to Death, for the Minifters have excommunicated 
 " them :" And this fometimes in the Sight of the Magiftrates, without any 
 Reproof from them ; whereby thofe Cruelties were encouraged and eftabliflied. 
 
 8. Some Friends having had occafion to farm Houfes or Rooms in the City 
 or Suburbs, tlie fame were violently talcen from them by the Magiftrates, faying, 
 " There fhall no Quakers be here ;" threatening alfo to turn fuch of them out ot 
 their Houfes as had been Inhabitants there before this Perfecution began. 
 
 9. A N D generally, when any Friends from other Parts vifited thofe in Scot- 
 land, the People were extremely rude and turbulent, abufing them as they lately 
 did two from England, by cafting Stones and Dirt upon them ; as likewife, fince 
 that, three more from the fame Nation, who were going with fome Friends to 
 their Meeting at Glafgow ; whom a great Company of infolent Preft)yterian People 
 followed, cafting Stones and Dirt at them all the Way ; and afterwards broke 
 the Windows of the Meeting-houfe, throwing great Stones, with fo much Fury, 
 as if they would have beat it down. 
 
 10. Sometimes they have ftoned and bedirted our Friends in the very 
 Time of their Prayers to Almighty God ; and Women have been violently 
 thrown down Stone-ftairs, with their Heads foremoft. 
 
 11. At other Times Friends have been dragged down Stairs out of their Meet- 
 ings, and their Blood fhed by the Rabble -, and often they have been thrown 
 down in the Streets, and their Mouths filled with Dirt : And, when they went in- 
 to Houfes for Shelter, the Houfes were befet, and in danger, till they were turned 
 out; and then.they were forely beaten, and otherwife affronted, fcoffed, and abufed 
 by the infolent Rabble. 
 
 12. At other Times, when our Friends have been in their own Houfes, they 
 have thrown Stones in at their Windows, to the Hazard of their Limbs, Eyes, 
 and Lives : And their Elders have gone about among their Viftuallers and Ale- 
 houfes, forbidding them to fell the Quakers either Vi£iuals or Drink j intending, 
 as far as in them lay, to ftarve Friends to Death. 
 
 Many of thefe cruel and unreafonable Praftices, being committed by the 
 People in the View of the Magiftrates, they did not fupprefs, but encouraged 
 fuch Doings, by fmiling upon the Aftors : So that Friends could look upon the 
 Rabble in no other Light than as the Hands of thofe Magiftrates ; whereby they 
 perfecuted them, and, as far as they were permitted, accompliflied their own de- 
 praved and cruel Wills upon them and their poor Children -, contrary to the true 
 and good End of the Inftitution of Magiftracy, as a Terror to Evil-doers ; and 
 not to abufe, but proteft the Innocent. 
 
 And the Condudt of fuch Magiftrates was, both in what they afted and were 
 paflive, contrary to the Commands of God, and to the Injundions and Doc- 
 trine of the Lord Jesus, and the Morality of his Gofpel ; which teacheth 
 us to do unto all Mm as we would have than da unto us. 
 
 It
 
 of T HO M ^ S S r RT. 97 
 
 It was alfo contrary to the King's Mind and Edidls, and deftrudlive of the Anno 
 jiilt Liberty of his Subjefts •, fo that both Priefls, Magiftrates, and People, exalt- 1696, 
 ed themfelves in the deftroying Power di Apollyon and Antichrift -, holding up his 
 Kingdom and Laws, above the Laws of God and the King, and of Civil So- 
 ciety, and a Chriftian Life. 
 
 All which Doings and Omifiions gave Friends Caufe to believe and fear, that 
 what they were informed of by fome among them, more humane and Chriftian 
 than thefe, was true. That there was a Combination of the Priefts and Magiftrates 
 in Glafgow, totally to extirpate our Friends out of the City. 
 
 A N D a Colledlion of the faid Contrivances and Practices being made, with 
 Intent to lay it before the King, the following Addrefs was fubjoined, viz. 
 *' All which we humbly offer to the Confideration of the King, and intreat fuch 
 *' fpeedy Redrefs therein, as the Lord, by his peaceable Wifdom, may open in 
 '■'- thy Mind : And that the God of Peace, the Lord and Giver of Life, may 
 " diredl thee to that Courfe, which may be moft to his Honour, conducive to 
 *' thy own everlafting Peace, the prefent and future Help and Safety of a few 
 *' of the opprefled People of God, loyal and dutiful Subjedls of the King, and 
 " the moft honourable to thofe our Perfecutors ; who thus difhonour the Al- 
 *' mighty, the King, Magiftracy, and themfelves, by their own unchriftian Doings." 
 
 But tho' the faid Addrefs was drawn up, and defigned for the King's View, 
 I do not remember that it was delivered to him ; but rather think it might be 
 poftponed, in Hopes that the Lord, in his Mercy and Time, might convince 
 them of their Errors, and reform them ; which was all our Friends defired, not 
 Revenge. 
 
 Having finiftied what relates to this Journey in Scotland, I return to Cw»- Cumberland. 
 herland ; where, having vifited moft of the Meetings, in the Space of about two 
 Months, we fet forward from thence on the 7th of the Tenth Month ; and, that 
 Evening, went to Jacob Moor's, at Welgill, in Alfton-Moor ; a wild mountainous Welgill. 
 Country, and in a Time of hard Froft and deep Snow. 
 
 O N the 8 th, we were favoured of the Lord with a very open and comfortable 
 Meeting, the Lor d's tendering Prefence being with us ; and, after the Meeting, 
 we went about three Miles further, to Well- Allandale ; where, in the Evening. Wed:- Allan- 
 came to us feveral Friends, and, among others, our ancient and honourable Friend 
 Cuthbert Featherftone : and, as we were converfing together, in that Friendfhip 
 which the Lord begets in thofe who are his, he drew our Minds under the Ca- 
 nopy of divine Silence ; in whicli, remaining for a Time, we had a heavenly 
 Vifitation of his Soul-melting Goodnefs together : And I, obferving the Tears to 
 trickle down from the Eyes of our ancient Friend, through his long white Beard 
 upon his Cloaths, was greatly affefted with Love towards him from the fame 
 Caufe ; and had this Hope and Confidence upon that Occafion, that as I then ob- 
 ferved the Lord was as near his Children in old Age, who had ferved him faith- 
 fully from the Time of their Vifitation, as when he firft revealed himfelf, through 
 his Son the Lord Jesus, in their own Flearts, fo he would be with me alfo 
 in advanced Years, if I proved faithful and true to the Lord, and attained that 
 Degree. 
 
 This Encouragement, in the Beginning of our Journey, by that tender Sea- 
 fon in the Prefence of the Lord, is not to be forgotten, but had in laftingRe- 
 
 B b mem-
 
 98 
 
 Anno 
 1696. 
 
 Eaft-Allan- 
 dale. 
 
 Steele. 
 
 Ivifton. 
 
 NewcaJlle. 
 
 Ravenfwort-h 
 
 Caille. 
 
 Mat. X. 33. 
 Luke xii. 9. 
 
 Rom. X. 10. 
 
 Rev. xviii. 4. 
 
 Rev. xvi. 17. 
 
 The LIFE, ^c, 
 
 membrance, to the Praile of the Lord our God, the Giver of every good and 
 perfecSt Gift, and the Life and Length of the Days of his redeemed and faved 
 People. 
 
 O N the 9th we went to Eaft-Allandale ; where we had a threfhing Meeting, 
 and got fome Corn, which made amends for our hard Labour •, and, the next Day, 
 we went to Steele, where we met with our Friend Archibald Gillefpie, who had been 
 my School-fellow when we were Boys, and had embraced the Prefbyteran Noti- 
 ons in the Time of his Youth; but, being vifited of the Lord, had obeyed 
 from the Heart, and become a fincere and valuable Friend, adorning his Profef- 
 fion by an innocent and upright Life and Converfation : He went with us, about 
 thirteen Miles, to Benfieldfide, where we lodged at 'Thomas Hunter's ; and, the 
 next Evening, we had a Meeting at Ivijion, which was but dull and cloudy : But 
 we had learned, in fome Mealiire, not only how to abound, but alfo how to be 
 content and fubjed under a lelTer Degree ; and to do the harder, as well as the 
 more eafy Pare of the Service of the Lord, our good and righteous Mailer. 
 
 O N the 1 2th, we went to NewcaJlle upon Tyne ; and, being the Seventh Day 
 of the Week, we were at the Meeting there the next Day, and the Lord was 
 with us ; and alfo, on the Second Day, at their Monthly Meeting, 
 
 And Sir Thomas Liddel of Raven/worth-CaJlle, Baronet, having taken notice 
 of me, on fome Account, at his Houfe, before I frequented the Meetings of 
 Friends ; and, hearing of my prefent Profeflion, and being a Perfon of great 
 Civility and Candour, he had defired John Fayrer, a Friend of NewcaJlle, to in- 
 vite me to Raven/worth to dine with him, when at any Time I might happen to 
 come that Way ; which the Friend informing me of, I went accordingly, accom- 
 panied by him and another ; and we were kindly and refpedtflilly received and 
 entertained by Sir Thomas and his Son, with whom we had much Converfation, in 
 a very friendly Manner, till near Night : And, among other Things, he told us, 
 *' He had a great Refped; for us as a People, and liked our Way, being fenfible 
 of that Principle of divine Light and Truth we profefs'd ; but he commonly went 
 to the Prefbyterian Meeting: And then he afked me. Whether a Man might not 
 ferve and worfhip God in his Mind, among any fort of People, tho' he might 
 differ from them in his Sentiments in fome Points, and, in his fecret Judgment, 
 like the Way of fome other People better ?" 
 
 Thus, perceiving he was convinced of the Way of Truth in his Undcrfland- 
 ing, and that he ftumbled at the Crofs, and the Meannefs of the Appearance of 
 Friends, I anfwercd, "That the Lord Jesus Christ {z\^, PFhofoever Jhall 
 ' ' deny me before Men, him alfo will I deny before my Father and the holy Angels : A nd 
 " the Apoftle alfo faith, With the Heart Man believe th unto Righteoufnefs, and with 
 " the Mouth Confejfion is made unto Salvation. 
 
 "And again. Time was when the People and Eleft of G o d were intermix- 
 " ed, in' outward Situation, with the Inhabitants of Myftery Babylon, the Anti- 
 *' chriftian .Church, tliroughout the World, profelTing the Name of tlie true 
 *' God, and Jesus Christ, the Son of G o d and Saviour of the World : 
 " But at length the Voice of the Angel of G o d was heard, laying. Come cut 
 " of her, my People, that ye he not Partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive 
 *' not of her Plagues. 
 
 *' And, upon the pouring out of the Phial by the Seventh Angel, the greai 
 
 " City
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 99 
 
 " City "x-as divided into three Parts, and the Cities of the Nations fell, &c. To At«j n q 
 
 " which the Beginning of the Reformation, (commonly fo called) by Martin Lu~ 16^6, 
 
 " ther, John Calvin, and others their Cotemporaries, may be reaibnably compa- 
 
 " red ; iince the (fuppofed) Chriftian World was thereupon, and foon after, di- 
 
 " vided into three general Parts or Heads, viz. Popery, Prelacy, and Prefbyte- 
 
 " ry ; differing in their feveral Notions and Communions each from the other, 
 
 " but all of one perfecuting Spirit ; not only hating and deftroying one another, 
 
 " being out of the peaceable Spirit of Chri st ; but alfo perfecuting and de- 
 
 " ftroying all befidcs who diflent feverally from them, wherever they have had 
 
 *' Power : And their refpedive Succeffors, in the fame Spirit and Notions, con- 
 
 *' tinue to do the fame Things, contrary both to the Nature and End of the 
 
 *' Chriftian Faith and Religion, which proclaims Peace on Earth, and Good-will 
 
 *' towards all Men. 
 
 "But now, in thefe latter Days, the Voice of the Angel of the Right-hand of 
 " the Majefty on High is uttered, and going over the Nation and Nations louder 
 *' and louder ; and the Elcdl of G o d have heard, and do hear it ; and many 
 " are gathered, and more are gathering into one Body and one Spirit : And it is 
 *' not lawful for them to ftay any longer where they have been, but to defert Ba- 
 *' bylon, the falfe Church thus divided in itfelf, and which cannot ftand, but muft 
 *' fhortly fall, through the mighty Word of G o d ; and Antichrift, who ruleth 
 *' therein, fhall be deftroy'd, by the Brightnefs of the Coming and Glory of the 
 5' Son of G o D. 
 
 "And as for us, who are at this Day fcornfully nick-named ^takers by the 
 " Children of Bahel, it is remarkable, that we became a People by the gathering 
 *' Arm of the Lord, by the Conviftions of his Holy Spirit, and the Aflent of 
 *' the Underftanding to the Teftimony and Baptifm of one Spirit, the Spirit of 
 " Truth, and of C h ri st, which leadeth into all Truth ; and not by any No- 
 *' tions, or Faiths, or Creeds, or Articles contrived by the Art and Will of Man ; 
 *' or by any Subfcriptions, Oaths, or Agreements thereunto ; and yet fettled, as 
 *' it were, at once, in one Uniformity of Doftrine, Principle, Praftice, and Dif- 
 " cipline; which no other People ever did, fo fully, fince the Days of the Apoftles 
 *' of Ch RI ST." 
 
 They heard me with Patience •, but what I faid gave no Countenance to the 
 Way in which this great and rich Man had chofen to conceal himfelf, and his real 
 Sentiments, from the World : But I found it to be my Place and Duty to be 
 plain with him, according to all that was prefented in my Mind on that Occafion, 
 that I might keep my own Peace, which remained in me. He told me he had read 
 fome of (Villiam Penn\ Works, and would willingly ride a Hundred Miles to 
 fee him : And had likewile read fome of George Keith's Books ; and faid, the 
 former wrote in a free, open, natural, and flowing Stile, and gave him great Sa- 
 tisfaftion ; but the Books of the latter were more laboured and artificial, and 
 never afforded him any Relifh of Sweetnefs, tho' the Matter was, in itfelf, true, 
 and his Realbning often ftrong : But as he was fallen away from his Principles, 
 he was not to be regarded ; tho' the Truths he had writ, would remain in their 
 own Weight, whatever became of the Author. 
 
 And in the Evening, when we inclined to return to Newcaflle, he took his 
 Horfe, and accompanied us till we came near the Town, and we parted in free 
 and open Friendfliip, 
 
 The
 
 ;oo The LIFE, i^c. 
 
 Anno The fame Evening I vifited Dr Richard Gilpin, formerly mentioned, having 
 1 6()6. ftill a great Refpect for him and all his Family. He was an eminent Phyfician, and 
 Preacher among the Prefbytcrians at Neivcaftle ; to which Place he had removed 
 from Cumberland after the Revolution. And with him alfo I had fome Difcourfe 
 about Matters of Religion ; in wliich he difcovered more Paffion and Prejudice 
 than becam.e his high Profeffion or Years, and could not bear any Contradidion ; 
 but I advifed him to beware of that Spirit, for it wanted Mortification : and this 
 I did in a calm and refpeftful Mind, which reached the better Part in him, and 
 brought it over the Evil -, and then I left him in a loving Temper : For though 
 he was naturally high, and the mofl; eminent and celebrated Preacher of that Pro- 
 feffion in the North, and, from his very early Days, deeply prejudiced, and al- 
 moft envious againft Friends ; yet he heard me with more Patience (though that 
 was little) than he ever did any other. 
 
 Sliields. On the i6th Day of the Tenth Month we went to Shields, and had a Meet- 
 
 ing ; where the Lord mercifully favoured us with a glorious tender Seafon of 
 the fweet heavenly diftilling Virtue from his Prefence -, to whom be Renown for 
 ever. 
 
 Sunderland. Next Day we had an Evening-meeting at Sunderland, which was pretty com- 
 Stockton. fortable ; 2i\\d.t\\&x\c& v^t vicni, hy Shotton, to Stockton; and, on the 2 2d, had an 
 Yarm. Evening-meeting at 2'arm ; and thence proceeded by Stoxley, Broughton, Gijhrough^ 
 
 and Waterfall, having Meetings in divers Places ; and fo on, by Roupy aqd Hin- 
 Whitby. derwell, 10 Whitby, taking Meetings'- along as we went. 
 
 Scarborough. 
 Burlington. 
 Makon. 
 York. 
 Lincoln. 
 , Wadington. 
 
 Blockfholm. 
 
 Lynn. 
 Colcheftcr. 
 
 Boxtead. 
 
 Kelden. 
 
 London. 
 
 From thence we pafled forward to Staintondale ; and thence to Scarborough^ 
 Burlington, Hajirip, to Langtuft and Malton •, from whence we went to 7~ork ; 
 where, on a Firft Day, we had two Meetings ; and then went on to Shipwith, 
 Selby, Rowcliff, and l^horn ; and fo on to Lincoln: and, on the 13th Day of the 
 Eleventh Month, were at a Burial at Wadington ; where the Lord was pleaied 
 to favour us with his good Prefence, as at many other Times, to our great Re- 
 freflament and Addition of Strength. 
 
 On the 14th, we went to Blockjhohn, to Wi'lliara Thornton's,; he was not a 
 Friend, but, being Brother-in-law to Sir John Rhodes, he received us with 
 Refpeft ; and, after Dinner, we went to Sleajord ; and then, by Spalding, to 
 Lynn, where we were favoured with a comfortable Meeting ; and from thence 
 we went to ^/c^'? ; and thence to Bland and Edmonjlury ; and, on the 2 2d, were 
 at Colchefter ; where we had feveral good Meetings, through the Favour of the 
 Lord, who never fails to comfort and fupport thofe who love, fear, and faith- 
 fully ferve him, his Children and People, according to his high and holy Calling 
 in C H R I ST ; on the 26th, we had a Meeting at Boxtead, and returned that Even- 
 ing to Colchefter ; and, the next Day, were at a Meeting at Kelden ; from whence, 
 on the 28th, we returned to London, with thankful Hearts and Acknowledge- 
 ments to the Lord our God •, who, by the Hand of his good Providence, 
 preferv'd us in this Journey, through many Exercifes and Dangers both of Body 
 and Mind, to his own high Praife ; to whom be Dominion, Glory and Thanks, 
 now and for ever. 
 
 Soon after we arrived at London, I received a Letter from an unknown Hand, 
 upon Subjefts of great Importance ; my Anfwer to which, including the material 
 Part of tlie faid Letter, was as follows ; 
 
 My
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. loi 
 
 Anno 
 My unknown Friend, K, P. 1696. 
 
 ** Qi I N C E I came to London, about a Week ago, I received a Letter from 
 " l3 thee, by my Friend E. F. dated the 5th of December laft, occafioncd by 
 *' one of mine to that Friend •, of which I was glad, by how much I am perfua- 
 *' ded of thy Sincerity, and that thy Intent thereby is good •, and not as a Bufy- 
 " body, to be meddUng in other Mens Matters, but to be fatisfied in Things then 
 " doubtful to thee : And, under that Confidcration, I find Freedom to anfwer 
 *' thy Requeft ; which I could not well do fooner, by reafon of feveral interpo- 
 *' fing Concerns. And tho' this may be lengthened, as well by my tranfcribing 
 *' the feveral Parts, or genuine Purport of thine, as alfo by the Extenfivenefs of 
 " the Subjefls treated on j yet, if thereby I can afiift thee with better Informa- 
 " tion, I fhall think my Pains well beftowed ; having no End in what I fhall 
 '* write, but the Promotion of God's everlafting Truth, and the better-being of 
 *' thy never-dying Soul. 
 
 " I. Thou fayeft in thy Letter, That thou, providentially, (for fo to be 
 " fure it was, fince a Hair of our Head falls not to the Ground without a Pro- 
 *' vidence) met with a Letter of mine to my Friend E. F. and was not a little fur- 
 *' prifed at the reading it, to find fo great a Senfe of the Love of God from one 
 " of my Perfuafion : A People thou always thought to be led away by a Spirit 
 " of Delufion and Vain-glory ; but that thou art now fully convinced, that 
 " whatever the Authors of thefe Suggeftions were, there are many People, called 
 *' by the Name ot fakers, really fearing God ; and that the Perfon I wrote to, 
 *' thou really takes to be fuch an one •, and my being fo thou wilt not queftion, 
 *' my Letter being fo full of pithy ExprefTions of Love to God, and to his Son 
 *' Jesus Christ. 
 
 " 2. T H AT Christ fo loved Mankind, as to die for us, and wafh us in his 
 " own precious Blood. 
 
 " 3. That he took upon him our Nature, that he might know how to pity 
 *' our Infirmities ; and from thence knew what need we had oijirengthening Or- 
 *' dinances ; and, in Love, commanded us to commemorate his Death till he 
 *' came, iSc. 
 
 C( 
 
 " 4. That Christ was baptized of John, and fent forth his Difciples to 
 preach to, and baptize all Nations. 
 
 " 5. That they are accurfed that take from, or add to the Scriptures. 
 
 *' 6. That wholbever breaks any of the leaft of thefe Commandments, (vix. 
 " the Sacraments, the Subjefts there intended) fhall not enter the Kingdom of 
 " Heaven. 
 
 " That fuch as tell of God's Love, and of rejoicing in it, and obey not his 
 ** Commands, (thefe pretended Sacraments) muft be accounted of as confefling 
 *' him with their Lips, but denying him in their Adlions. 
 
 " 8. That thefe Sacraments are better Means of Grace than we will make 
 «' ufe of. 
 
 ♦* 9. That God hath fet me upon feeking the Way to Heaven. 
 
 C c « 10.
 
 101 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno "io. Thou advifeft me to make ufe of my Reafon in fearchingthe Scrip- 
 1696. « tures ; and then to tell thee why I negled thofe two great Ordinances of Bap- 
 tifm and the Lord's Supper. 
 
 (( 
 
 It 
 
 II. Of a finlefs Perfedlion in this Life •, and what Scriptures I have to In- 
 ' duce me to believe I fhall arrive at it ; with thy Scriptures cited againft fuch 
 ' Perfeftion, and thy Realbning therefrom. 
 
 " 12. That if we had no Corruptions to ftruggle with, we fhould be for 
 *' building Tabernacles, and abiding here. • 
 
 " 13. That thou loveft all thofe that love the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 *' rely upon him for Salvation, by the working of his Holy Spirit in their 
 Hearts. 
 
 li 
 
 " 14. That the Garb, Manners, and Converfation of our People, thou 
 " greatly likeft: 
 
 " 15. But wouldft gladly know, what induces us to the above mentioned 
 " Errors. 
 
 "To all which I anfwer in Order. 
 
 "To the jft ; it reminds me of that Saying of Nathaniel, concerning the 
 " Lord Jesus Christ, Can any good Thing come out of Nazareth ! (a mean 
 " defpifed Place it feems) and alfo of the Anfwer, Come and fee : And likewife 
 John i CO " °^ what the Lord faid to Nathaniel ; Becaufe I faid unto thee, I faw thee un- 
 " der the Fig-tree, believefi thou ? Thou fhalt fee greater Things than thefe. So 
 " even I, in the Name of the Moft High God, and Jesus Christ the eter- 
 " nal Son, do write unto thee, that thou, who haft thus believed concerning the 
 " Lord, and thofe who are now hated and contemned for his Name's Sake, 
 " if thou art faithful to the Manifeftation of the Life and Light of Jesus in 
 " thee, fhall fee greater Things than yet thou feeft. Thy Light fhall then break 
 " forth as a Morning without Clouds, and thy Peace Ihall ftime as the Sun at 
 " Noon-day : Then fhall the Subftance take place in the midft of thee 5 and 
 " the Shadows of the Night fhall fly before his Glory. 
 
 " To the rd; That he trod the Path of Regeneration ; died a Sacrifice for 
 " the Sins of the whole World •, afcended above all Heavens, and prepared the 
 " Way for all that fhould believe and obey to the End of the World, is true : 
 " But that he aftually walhed us, almoft 1700 Years before we were polluted, 
 *' or had any known Being in the World, (which thy Words feem to infmuate) 
 " is a Thing worth thy further Confideration : For though they, who had been 
 " great Sinners in that Day, (as we have been in this, though not in the fame 
 " Things) and came to a Senfe and Acknowledgement of them, were wafhed 
 " and purified (he does not fay with Water, but) in the Name of the Lo rd 
 " Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of the living God: And thefe Things we 
 " believe ; yet unlefs we come to be adcually wafhed and purified from our adual 
 " Sins, and the old Root of them too, by the twofold Operation of the fame 
 " Spirit of Judgment and of Burnings, our Belief, though true, of their being 
 " wafhed and fandified in their Age, will not fave us now from the Pollutions, 
 " Power, and Reward of our own Lufts and Corruptions. The Lord open 
 
 " thy
 
 o 
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 103 
 
 " thy Underftanding by his divine Power, and fliine therein by his pure Light, Anno 
 " that thou mayeft iee all I'hings as they are. 1696. 
 
 *' To the ^d; the plain Senfe of this is, that the great End of Chri st's 
 "• taking upon him our Nature is, that he might thereby know how to pity our 
 *' Infirmities ; and, from a Knowledge thereof fo obtained, was moved with fo 
 " great Compaflion, as to give us the Sacraments, as the great Fruits of his Love 
 " and I'endernels, till he fliould come again at the End of the World. 
 
 " This is a great Pervcrfion of the End of his Coming, and highly dero- 
 " gates from the Glory of it •, infinuating, that he was not ftnfible of our Infirmi- 
 *' ties, nor could pity us therein, till he acquired that Knowledge by Experience ; 
 *' reflecting upon his Omrufcience as G o d : For he came that we might have 
 " Life, not only Shadows of it ; and that we might have it more abundantly : He 
 *' came the fecond Time in that Generation, according to his PromifeV to fave 
 ■"■ his People from their Sins, and not in them; to fave them from their Pollu- 
 *■' tions and Corruption, by the wafhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the 
 " Eloly Ghoft, the Spirit of Judgment and of Burning, that eternally burns, as 
 " an Oven, againft all Corruption, and can never be reconcil'd to Sin •, and not 
 " to eftablifh a Shadow only of Cleanfing. He came to finifli Sin, to put an 
 *' End to 'Tranfgreflion, and to bring in everlafbing Righteoufnefs into the Soul 
 " of Man, where it was wanted ; and not fome Shadow of it only. 
 
 "For this End likewife was the Son of God made manifeft, that he might 
 " deftroy the Works of the Devil, which is Sin in the Hearts of Mankind ; and 
 *' not to give fome SigJis of it only : He came to give his Life, the quickening 
 *' Spirit, the true Bread which comes down from Heaven, to revive and preferve 
 *' dead loft Man ; and not only, as thou imagines, to give them thefe poor pre- 
 " tended Ordinances (in which there is no Strength) to ftrengthen them. And 
 " the Lord himfelf, being with his People always, according to his Promife, 
 *' and will be, in his own Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft and Fire, to the End of 
 " the World, they need not any outward Thing to put them in mind ot him : 
 *' And fprinkling of Children, being an Antichrjftian Forgery, is not fo much as 
 *' a pertinent Shadow of the one true Baptifm. 
 
 " Bu T if thou wilt apply thine Heart to the Lord, in Sincerity and Truth, 
 " and take up his Crofs daily, to thy own Will and natural Defires, and embrace 
 " thofe Things he makes manifeft to thee, to be thy Duty to him, and to Man- 
 " kind, he will make thee wifer than thofe who have thus taught and deceived 
 " thee : For great is his Compaflion and tender Regard (as I find by his Grace 
 *' made known in my Heart) towards thee at this Time. 
 
 " That the Lord Christ took a Body of the fame Nature and Kind as 
 " ours, and was like us in all Things, (Sin excepted) ii true : But whether he be 
 " come in us, is the Qiieftion ? Whether that Day be come in and unto us, wherein 
 " we have known, that he is in the Father, and the Father in him, and he in us? 
 " Or that we be yet fo clouded, ftiadowed and benighted, in the God and Spirit of 
 " this World, as not yet to have feen the Lord Jesus in and for ourfelves? 
 " If not, we are Reprobates, falOy covered with a vain ProfefTion of the holy 
 " Name of him we do not know : For every Spirit that confefleth that Jesus 
 " Christ is come in the Flefh, the fame is of Goo ; but every Spirit that 
 *' conieffeth not that Jesus Christ is come in the Flefh, the fame is Anti- 
 « chrift. 
 
 -' Now,
 
 <( 
 
 104 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno "Now, every Antichriftian Spirit in the World, profeiTing Chrlftianky, will 
 
 1696. " confefs, in Words, that Christ is come in thatblefled, fingle, prepared Body, 
 *' born of the Virgin Mary ; yet none can make this true Confefiion, ot Christ's 
 " being come in the Flefli, but fuch only in whom the Spirit of Christ is re- 
 " vealed j and have put on Christ, and are put on of him-, and are become 
 • " Members of him, by his Life that dwells in them, as Bone of his Bone, and 
 " Flefh of his Flefli ; no more than any Man can call Christ truly Lord 
 " but by the HolyGhoft; tho' to call him our Lord Jesus Christ, and our 
 *' Saviour, in Words, is a Thing very cafily acquired, and common among molt 
 " ungodly Profeflbrs, wallowing on ftill in all Manner of Sins and Wickednefs, 
 " and no: faved by him. Confider thele Things fully •, and the Lord fo fhine 
 " in upon thy Heart in Love, and reveal himfelf in thee, that thou mayeft be 
 " able to confefs him before all thy Acquaintance, and the World, 
 
 " Again : As to thofe fuppofed Ordinances of Bread and Wine, and being 
 " fprinkled in the Face with Water in one's Infancy j if there was any Thing 
 " to boaft of in thefe, I alfo might glory, having formerly had the Adminiftration 
 of both ; and the former with great Preparation and Fear, but know nothing 
 of the latter, but by oral Tradition only, being too young then, to know now 
 " or remember any Thing of it ; nor do, or ever did, find any Effect it had to- 
 " wards Salvation. 
 
 " And, in refpefl to the firft, it is true there was fomething lilce a Command- 
 " ment; for it being the Paflbver of the Jews, and to be ended in Christ, the 
 *' Subftance, he faid, T^his do, as often as ye do it, in remembrance of me ; not fimply, 
 *' This do in remembrance of me, but. This do, as often as ye do it, in remembrance 
 *' of me : On which the Apoftle Paul, in his firft Epillle to the Corinthians, makes 
 *' this Obfervation, That as often as they ate that Bread, and drank that Cup, they 
 " faewed forth the Lord's Death till he came. This fhews that it was determi- 
 *' nable upon a certain Contingency, or within a certain Limitation of Time, viz. 
 " //// he came : And, in that Generation, he came the fecond Time, without Sin 
 " unto Salvation, in thofe who believed and obeyed. By which Coming, this, and 
 " all other Types, Shadows, and Figures of him, were put to an End, as to any real 
 *' Obligation from that feeming Commandment, or any other of typical kind. 
 
 " And yet, in Condefcenfion to fome, who had believed in Christ, as to 
 *' his outward Coming, that he is the MelTiah and fent of God, and were yet 
 " weak, and not come to the Experience of his Prefence in themfelves, being yet in 
 *' an intermediate State, fome Eatings and Drinkings (I do not lay any now in ufe) 
 *' might be continued for a time, in fome Places ; though we read of none but Co- 
 " rinth, where they were then in a very carnal State : But that Praftice did not 
 *' make it neceflary for Ages then to come ; efpecially fince Antichrift hath ereft- 
 " ed his Kingdom of Darknefs under thofe Shadows, and forged Idols under 
 " the Cover of them, and thereby deceived the Nations, tho' not the Eleift, who 
 " cannot be deceived: Yet that Pradtice in thofe Days, after the fpiritual Co- 
 " mingofthe Lord Jesus Christ, adds no more Authority for the Con- 
 *' tinuance or Perpetuity of it, than the Pradice of Circumcifion, Vows, Purifi- 
 *' cations, and the like Ceremonies and Types under the Law of Mofes, made 
 *' thefe neceflary, after his Coming both in the Flelh and Spirit ; fome of which 
 *' were not only continued, for the Reafons aforefaid, after the Revelation of the 
 " Spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghoft, in them in that Age ; but fome of them 
 *' arc continued, efpecially in the Church and Kingdom of Antichrift, and among 
 
 " Pro-
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, loy 
 
 '* Profeffors of Chriftianity, unto this Day, as ftill being needful, in their Judg- Anno 
 " menr. 1696. 
 
 " Breaking Bread, and drinking Wine, was a Jewifi Rite, begun in the 
 " Time of the Captivity at Babylon, and continued till the Coming of Christ, 
 " and ufed at the Paflbver and eating of the Pafchal Lamb -, which was a Type 
 " of Christ as the Lamb of God, the true Vine and Wine of the Kingdom, 
 " and Antitype of that Figure •, who made the Application of it immediately to 
 " himfelf, as being the real Subllance. And tho' he was at that Time come, 
 " and prefent with them as born of the Virgin Mary, and the Meffiah outwardly, 
 " according to the Prophets, yet he was then fhortly to come, or be revealed, 
 " according to the Prophecy of Malachi, the laft of the Prophets, and of John the 
 " Baptift, who prophefied of a more excellent divine Coming and Manifeftati- 
 " on of the fame Christ and Saviour, than that was: That is to fay, as the 
 *' Mediator and Meffenger of the new and fecond Covenant, of Light and Life ; 
 " (and he is alfo that Covenant) like a Refiner's Fire, and Fuller's Soap, to fit, 
 " in the Hearts ot Mankind, as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver; to make 
 " Men pure, and purer than fine Gold, feven Times tried in the Fire ; to gather 
 " the weighty and folid Wheat into the Garner of God, to be referved there 
 " for his Ufe, and of which is made the one Bread •, but to burn up the Chaff 
 " of Pollutions with Fire unquenchable, by him who is that Fire, the Word 
 " of Gou ; who baptizeth with the Holy Ghoft, as John did with Water, and 
 " with that divine and holy Fire. 
 
 " As often as ye eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye pew forth the Lord's 
 
 " Death till he come. They therefore who are, at this Day, exercifing them- 
 
 " felves in the Imitations of thefe Things, with their own Additions, Diminuti- 
 
 *' ons, and Alterations thereof, are only fhewing forth his Death until now; where- 
 
 " by they are bearing Witnefs againfl: themfelves, that they are not yet come to 
 
 " knoia hifii as the Relurre£lion and Life, by his Manifeftation in them ; that he 
 
 " is not yet revealed in them ; that they are yet dead unto the Senfe of the Life 
 
 " of the Word of God, and alienated therefrom, through the Ignorance that is 
 
 " in them, and Christ yet crucified in and unto them ; being contented with a 
 
 '* Hear-fay of him; pretending to ferve him in eating, drinking, touching, tafling, 
 
 " and handling ; in 'Shews ; in imperfeft Imitations of fome outward and typi- 
 
 " cal Shadows, once in ufe in their proper Difpenfations of Time, Place, and. 
 
 " People ; and yet deny or negleft the great everlafting Command and Ordi- 
 
 " nance of Love : Love one another ; love your Enemies ; do good to them that 
 
 " hate you ; he perfe£f : By this faall all Men know that ye are my Difciples, if ye 
 
 " love one another : Of thefe they are willingly ignorant. And how little Chriflen- 
 
 " dom (falfly fo called) hath been in the Praftice of thefe Things, the Heathen 
 
 " World has beheld, and has Humbled : And how little flie is in the Pradtice of 
 
 " them Itill, let her prefent Circumllances demonftrate, to all who have Eyes to fee 
 
 " the Bloodfhed and Uncharity, and Ears to hear the Cries of the poor and op- 
 
 " prefied, and Hearts to lament the Mifery and Judgments now on foot, and 
 
 " fwiftly advancing upon all falfe Pretenders ; who arc not only to be more and 
 
 " more vexed, one by the dcftroying Hands of another, but, unlefs they fpeedi- 
 
 " ly repent, and turn unto him, the divine Subftance of all Types and Shadows, 
 
 " (even to that true Light which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the 
 
 " World) they muft furely tafte of the eternal Judgment of the Son of Go d, the 
 
 " great Judge of the Living and of the Dead ; who is now haftening upon all 
 
 " the Kindreds of the Earth. 
 
 Dd "/
 
 Anno 
 
 1696. 
 
 John vi. 48. 
 
 5'- 
 
 55- 
 
 ' — -"" '^ ^* 
 
 60. 
 
 106 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 " I am the Bread of Life, faid the Lord Jesus Christ, the living Bread 
 ' which came down from Heaven. If any Man eat of this Bread, he fhall live for 
 ' ever. And the Bread that I will give is my Flep, which I will give for the 
 • Life of the World. Except ye cat the Flefh of the Son of Man, and drink his 
 ' Blood, ye have no Life in you. My Flcflj is Meat indeed, and my Blood is Brink 
 ' indeed. He that eateth my Flefh, and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in 
 ' him. Then faid the Hearers, How can this Man give us his Flefh to eat! Mn- 
 ' ny therefore of his Difciples, when they had heard this, faid. This is a hard Say- 
 63. " ing, who can hear it? And, to explain his Sayings, he added. It is the Spirit 
 
 " that qiiickeneth, the Fleflo profiteth nothing : The Words that I fpeak unto you^ 
 
 " they are Spirit and Life. 
 
 55 "Yet, from that Time many of his Difciples went back and walked no more with 
 
 " him : And even the twelve Apoftles themfelves feem to have been ready to ftagger 
 " at his Doftrine, (fo far above the natural Capacity of Mankind, and of the Hearers 
 
 67. " at that Time) as appears by his Qiieflion to them in private ; Will ye clfo go- 
 
 . (,2. " away? When Peter, recounting their Experience, replied-. Lord, to whom- 
 
 " floall we go ? Thou hafi the Words of eternal Life. As it is clfewhcre written i 
 Mat. xiii. II. '"'' li is given unto you to knew the Myfteries of the Kingdom cf Heaven \ but to 
 Mark iv. \\. <■<■ them it is 'not given. And even io it is at tins Day : It is given unto thofe who 
 " are awakened our of Sleep, to walk in the Light, and in the Day of God, 
 *' where there is no Night nor Shadow, and to be fed with this living Bread and 
 " everlafting Subftance ; but thofe who arc afleep, and dreaming, as in the Night, 
 " that they are eating and drinking, and are fadsfied ; when they awake in the 
 " Morning, fliall be an hungred : And then fhall they know, that they have 
 " been deluded with an empty Dream, and that real Bread is awanting unto them, 
 *' and the true Wine of the Kingdom they have net tailed. 
 
 " // is the Spirit that qiiickeneth, the Flefh profiteth nothing. The Flefli, or 
 Heb. X. 20. " Body of Christ, is called the Fail, and profiteth nothing -, and feeing that 
 " Fail profiteth nothing, much lefs can (I think) any Shadow, or Reprefentation 
 " of it, profit. And, notwithftanding any Vic of any Shadows, or Signs-vifible, 
 " in the Church of Christ, after his dclcending upon them in Spirit, we find 
 " the true Supper and divine Subftance explained, and the Way to obtain it diredl- 
 " ed to, by the Spirit of Christ, after his Glorification in Heaven ; and of which 
 " we are, at this Day made Partakers, through the infinite Mercy of the Father 
 " in him •, without the Ufa of any Ceremony, Sign, or Shadow; or of any other 
 
 Heb.x4i.5. " Means than thofe of his own diredling: That is to fay ; Js ma-ny as I love I rebuke 
 
 »i- _ '■'■ and chaflen; be zealous therefore and repent. Behold I {land at the Door and knock-., 
 
 ev. 111. fg. 4j ^y ^^^ Man hear my Foice, and open the Door, I will come in to him, and will 
 ■ fup with him, and he with me. Here the Love of God is the firft moving 
 Caufe, and is feen in the Rebukes and Chaftifemcnts of his Holy Spirit, in the 
 Hearts and Minds of Mankind ; and v/e ought to fhow our Zeal and Love 
 to him, by a free and hearty Re[)entance, and forfaking of thofe Things we 
 are reproved for: He will then iland at the Door of fuch a Heart, and call 
 more plainly and powerfully there -, and knock by the Hammer of his Ho- 
 ly Word, which breakeththe Rock in Pieces : And whofoever fnall hear, be- 
 lieve, and obey this Voice, and fliatl open his Heart and Door, and let in this 
 divine Gueft, fhall fit with him at his heavenly Table, and eat of his holy Sup- 
 per, the true Bread which comes down. Day by Day, from Heaven, and fhall 
 drink of the new Wine of Jiis Kingdom, even now in this prefent World ; 
 where their Peace fhall flow as a River, and their Joy in him and the Father, 
 as a mighty Stream : They fhall eat of the hidden Manna, and Fruit of the 
 
 " Tree 
 
 ■2.0.
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 107 
 
 " Tree ot Life, which grows in the Midft of the Paradife of God; and live Anno 
 *' with, and in him, who was dead, and died for them, and hveth for evermore. 1696, 
 
 " And, in all Humility, and Honour to the facred Name of the Lord, be 
 " it confelfed, I am often made Partaker of this Supper, with many Brethren 
 *' and Sillers, Children of one Father, without the Ufe of thefe Means thou 
 " talkeft of, and without any Self-conceitednefs, or blafphcmous and vain Ap- 
 *' prehenfions of our own Wifdom, or being wifer than he ; for he is the Wifdom 
 " of G o D, and the Power of God, and is made unto us Wifdom, Righteouf- 
 " nefs, Sandlification and Redemption ; and by him, the heavenly Subftance, v/e 
 " are led, directed, and redeemed out of all Shadows, Types, and Figures, to 
 *' ferve God in Newnefs of Life ; in Love to G o d, and to all Mankind : Which 
 *' Love is the one great Commandment, upon which depends all the reft ; and 
 " which he, the Lord Jesus, the great Difpencer of it in the Hearts of his 
 " People, is come to fulfil in us by his Eternal Power -, and we are become, and 
 " more and more becoming, the Workmanfhip of the Father in him, unto good 
 " Works, fuch as pleafe him. 
 
 •■' An d, witliout this new and living Commandment, the Obfeivation of Sha- 
 *' dows, tho' once lawtul, (or what Men m.ay invent to themfelves, in Imitation 
 *' or Addition thereto, are as furely an Abomination to the Lord at this Day, 
 *' as the Obfervation ot Things once commanded unto Ifrael ; and, in point 
 •' ot Difpenfation, were then IViU in Force) became as the cutting off a Dog's 
 *' Neck, and offering of Swine's Blood, becaufe of their negleding Righteouf- 
 " nefs, and greater Matters of the Law. 
 
 " Now obferve : Every Type, or Shadow, once inftituted, remained as an 
 " Obligation, and in Force, until Christ, who is the Antitype and Subftance 
 *' of all Types and Shadows, became that Thing to Man, which the Type did 
 " typily or fignify : As, when Christ was offered upon the Crofs, the Jewifa 
 " Offerings were ended ; when he became the High Prieft of the Soul, the Jeivifa 
 " High Prieft's Office was fully ended, i^c. Even fo the Pafchal Lamb, and the 
 " breaking Bread and drinking Wine at that Feaft, as Part of it, was fully ended, 
 " when the true Pafchal Lamb, upon whom the Saints and Saved of the Lord 
 " were to feed, was fully come, fo as ailually and fpiritually to become Meat 
 *' and Drink to their enlivened Souls. And in like manner alfo, fo foon as the 
 "• heavenly Body of the Lord Jesus became, experimentally, that Bread of 
 " Life which came down from Heaven, and his Blood that new Wine of the 
 *' Kingdom, unto the Sandlified and Redeemed in that Day, the breaking of 
 " Bread outward, and drinking Wine, fully came to an End, as to any Obligati- 
 " on that was on any to retain the Praftice of it, any more than waOiing die P'eet 
 " one of another, alio a Je-ivip Rite, and a Thing not lefs, but rather much more 
 " pofitively commanded, and with great Solemnity ; and which, neverthelefs, 
 " hath been little in ufe in the Church of Christ. And, as faid the Apoftle 
 " Paul, I fpeak as to wife Men ; judge ye --johat I fay: The Cup of Bkffing, which i Cor. x. 16, 
 *■' we biefs, is it not the Communion of the Blood of Chrifi? The Bread, which we '7- 
 " break, is it not the Communion of the Body of Chrifi ? For we, being many, are 
 " one Bread, and one Body ; for we are all Partakers of that one Bread: And, 
 " bleffed be the Name of the Lord, fo alfo is it now. 
 
 *' Great hath been the Apoftacy of Mankind from the heavenly Subftance, 
 *' and even from the Shadow alfo ; and all has become unto them as one Sha- 
 *' dow, as the dark Night and Shadow of the Earth : And great Idolatry hath 
 
 " been
 
 jo8 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno " been committed, by the Profeflbrs of the Name of the Lord Jesus, there- 
 
 1696. " in and thereby. And, even at this Day, great is the Apoftacy from the true 
 
 " Subftance, and Superftition committed and reigning in the Imitation of this 
 
 " Shadow, whilft the hving Subftance is ftiU neglefted and decried. 
 
 " I SOUGHT the Lord in this Ordinance, as thou, miftaking, calls it, but 
 " found him not therein ; but, in a Day of deep Diftrefs, and Hour of bitter Af- 
 " fliclion, when Hell opened her Mouth, and eternal Death ftood ready to ce- 
 " vour ; when Terrors unfpeakable laid hold on my Soul amazed, and fudderily 
 " arrefted for a Debt I could not number or pay, and grim Defpair encompafTed 
 " me round about •, then cried I unto the living Lord with exceeding Lamen- 
 " tation, from the Depth of Affliction, and in true Refignation to his holy Will, 
 " and his Mercy fprang in as the Dawning of the Morning. 
 
 "The Day dawning, the Night retires ; and the Subftance come, the Shadow 
 " vanifhes. iVIy dear, though unknown Friend, when the beloved of thy Soul ap- 
 " pears, (if the World, and the Things, and Friendfhip and Glory of it, be not thy 
 " Beloved) thou wilt not then mind his Piflure, if it were his Pidure; nor mind 
 " his Shadow, though he had even faid. Look upon this till I come. 'Tis true, 
 " thou wilt not then contemn his Picture when he is with thee : No more do I j 
 " but have a due Efteem for all he hath commanded, in their Times, Difpenfa- 
 " tions, and Ends : Nor do I lightly efteem thole who ufe that in Imitation, with 
 " a good Intent and fincere Mind, but pity that they are come no nearer the 
 " Kin"-dom ; which, though at hand feventeen hundred Years ago, is not yet 
 " come unto thofe who are fet down contented under the Shade of Night, and 
 " dreaming of Things of which they have no Knowledge or Enjoyment. 
 
 " Now, go into the Sun-fliine, and turn thy Face towards the Sun, and tlie 
 " Shadow will be behind thee ; but turn thy Back on the Sun, and the Shadow 
 " will be before thee ; and the more thou followeft it, the more it will fly thee ; 
 " and the more thou goeft after it, the further from the Sun : And this is the 
 " State of apoftatized Chriftendom at this Day, and hath been for many Ages. 
 
 "The Kingdom of Heaven is within, and ftands not in eating and drinking, 
 " nor comes with outward Obfervation, but in Righteoufnefs and Peace, and in 
 " Joy in the Holy Ghoft ; to which the only true and living God, througli the 
 " inward Revelation of his eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, bring thy 
 " precious Soul : And that is the only Thing that can truly fatisfy, where the Soul 
 " is alive by the Breath of Life from God, and hungry and thirfty indeed i 
 " though I am willing thus to take a little Pains for thy prefent Information. 
 
 " 4,thly, And now as to Baptifm : To John the Baptift, who was the imme- 
 '' diate Fore-runner of Christ, came the Word of God in the Wilderncls, 
 
 Luke iii. i. " commanding him to preach Repentance to the Jews, to whom alone he was fent, 
 ' and to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven to be then at hand ; and to baptize 
 •' the People in Water, directing them to believe in him who was to come after 
 " him, who was Christ the Lord, then among them, though not known at 
 " that Time to be the Meffiah, either by John himfelf, or any other : But John 
 " declared that he baptized with Water, and that after him' was to come one 
 " more worthy and powerful than he, who fhould baptife them with the Holy 
 
 John iii, 30. " Spirit and Fire; and that John muQ: dccreafe, and Christ increc.fi. 
 
 "And when the Lord Jesus Christ did appear, he likewifc preached Re- 
 
 " pen- 
 
 Mat, iii. 1 .
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 (C 
 
 ic 
 (( 
 
 iC 
 
 ii 
 
 Anno 
 1696. 
 
 John iv. I. 
 
 Lukexxiv.47 
 Aas i. 8. 
 
 Mat .xxviii. 
 18, 19, 20. 
 
 Markxvi.15, 
 
 1 6. 
 
 Luke xxiv. 
 
 49 
 
 Aas i. 8. 
 
 4> 5- 
 
 ^/ THOMAS S T O RT. 
 
 pentance ; as alfo did his Difciples, who baptized with the fame Water Bap- 
 tifm that John did, and at the fame Time, but not in the Name of one to 
 come ; teftifying tliat Jesus is the Meffiah, fent of God unto Ifrael. And 
 the Difciples of Christ, being thus in the Pradice of Water Baptifm, co- 
 temporary with John, and the Lord Christ prefent with them, they Con- 
 tinued in that Praftice till after his Refurreftion •, and then he declared and 
 eftabliflied his own proper Baptifm, fo foretold by John as aforelaid, faying. 
 Repentance and Remijfion of Sins mujl be preached in his Name unto all Nations, 
 beginning at Jerufakm. Andye jhall be Witneffes unto me, faid he, in Jerufalem, 
 in Samaria, in all the Countries round about, and to the uttermojl Parts of the 
 Earth. All Power in Heaven and in Earth is giveji unto me ; go ye therefore, 
 teach all Nations, baptizing them into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoji ; 
 teaching them all Things whatfcever I have commanded ycu ; and lo lam with you 
 always, even unto the End of the World. And, to explain what he had thus 
 faid, he further added. Go into all the Earth, and preach the Cofpel unto every 
 Creature. He that believeth, a?id is baptized, Jhall be faved ; but he that belie- 
 veth not, floall be damned. And, behold, I fend the Promife of my Father upon you ; 
 but tarry ye at Jerufalem till ye are endowed with Power from on high : But ye 
 pall have Power, after the Holy Ghofi is come upon you ; for John truly baptized 
 with Water, but ye Jhall be baptized with the Holy Ghofi not many Days hence. 
 
 "By all which Scriptures it is clear, that John baptized with Water only ; 
 that the Difciples of Christ, in his Prefence, baptized with the fame, and at 
 the fame Time ; that John had foretold them of the Baptifm of the Holy 
 Spirit, to be adminiiler'd by Christ; and that Christ declared and ap- 
 pointed the Baptifm of the Spirit, and not any Water Baptifm, where he com- 
 manded them to teach all Nations, baptizing them, &c. And as the Terms of 
 their Miffion were into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghcft, whenever 
 any Water was ufed, of which we have few Inftances, after the Coming of the 
 Holy Spirit, it was not in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghoft, as from 
 that Text, but only in the Name of the Lord Jesus ; which demonftrates 
 it was John's, Baptifm, and from no new Command, but only the Continuance 
 of the Praftice of Water Baptifm they had been in during his Time, before the 
 Commencement of the Baptifm of the Holy Spirit, which initiates into the 
 divine Nature. 
 
 "And when the Churches became able to bear the Myftery and Spirituality 
 
 of the true Baptifm, the Apoftle declared, that there is one Lord, one Faith, and Eph. iv. 5. 
 
 one Baptifm. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body ; the Church, ^ /"'. ^" ^^• 
 
 which is his Body, the Fulnefs of him who filleth all in all. And as John faid 
 
 of his Baptifm, / tnuft decreafe ; and of C a r i st's Baptifm, He muJl increafe : John iii. 30. 
 
 and that which decreafeth gradually comes to an End, fo Water Baptifm came 
 
 to an End many Ages ago ; when the Church of Rome, by her own Wifdom 
 
 and Authority, which is from beneath, without any Inftitution of Christ, 
 
 and being ignorant of the Baptifm of the Holy Spirit, invented and impofed 
 
 Rantifm, or fprinkling of Infants, inftead of the Baptifm of Christ, from 
 
 which they are departed ; and between which there is no Refemblance. 
 
 "And as the Baptifm of Christ muft increafe, without any determinate 
 " Time of being full ; fo that which increafeth indefinitely, never endeth. The 
 *' Baptifm of Christ is an Initiation into, or Beginning of the Manifeftation of 
 " his Power and Kingdom in the Mind of Man ; which Kingdom is not of this 
 " World, nor does it ftand in any of the Elements or Powers of it, but is his eter- 
 " nal Power manifefled in Men : And as we began to know this Baptifm, we be- Rom.vi. 3,4. 
 
 E e " gan 
 
 Mat. xxviii. 
 19. 

 
 no The L I F E^ i^^c. 
 
 Anno " gan> to die to the World, and to all the Vain-glory and Evils of it, and be- 
 1696. " came hated and perfecuted of thole who are after the Fiefh, and are not yet 
 " thus baptized or born of the Spirit, but remain in the Nature and Spirit of 
 *' this World : Yet we are, by Grace, made able to fuflfer all Things, for the 
 " Sake of him who hath loved us, and into whole Name and Nature we were 
 *' baptized by him. 
 
 " And as to thy Notion, that as C h Ri st was baptized with Water by Joht., 
 " fo muft we alfo be baptized with the fame, by his Example : This is not a juft 
 " Confequence, but a common Fallacy, invented by the Letter-mongers and 
 *' Hirclinos -, who pervert the Holy Scriptures for worldly Wealth, Power and 
 " Honour, though to their own Deftruftion, and Ruin alfo of many other Souls : 
 " For as Christ, being born after the Flelh among the Jews^ fubmitted to the 
 Exod.xxix.4. " Law of Mofes^ and was circumcifed, and had Offerings offered for him as others 
 " had, that he might fulfil all the Righteoufnefs of the Law, and end it -, fo he 
 " was likewife baptized of John, to fulfil the Righteoufnefs of that Difpenfation 
 " alfo ; that all Righteoufnefs, being fulfilled and concenter'd in him, he might 
 " become Righteoufnefs, and the Difpencer of it to them that believe, through 
 *' all Generations : As it is written, Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, 
 " and the Government Jhall he upon his Shoulders ; and his Namejhall be called Won- 
 " derful. Counsellor, the mighty God, the everhfting Father, [the Lord our Right e- 
 " oufnefs] the Prince of Peace. Of the Increafe of his Government and Peace there 
 " Jhall be no End. Who of God is made unto us JVifdom, Righteoufnefs, SanSfifica- 
 " tion, and Redemption ; for in him dwelleth all the Fulnefs of the God-head bodily, 
 " And ye are conipleat in him, which is the Head of all Principality and Power. 
 " In whom alfo ye are circumcifed, with the Circuvicifion made without Hands, in 
 *' putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flefli, by the Circumcifion cf Chrifi : Buried 
 " with him in Baptifm, wherein alfo ye are rifen with him, through the Faith of the 
 " Operation of God, who hath raifed him from the dead, &c. Blotting out the Hand- 
 _ 1!!' 6 " writing of Ordinances that was againji us, &c. Let no Man therefore judge you 
 *' in Meat or in Drink, or in refpecl of an Holy-day, or of the New Moon, or of 
 the Sabbath-days ; which are a Shadow of 'Things to come ; but the Body is of 
 Chrifi, &c. Wherefore, if ye be dead with Chrifi from the Rudiments of the World, 
 why, as though living in the World, are ye fubjeSi to Ordinances, &c. 
 
 La. 
 
 ix. 
 
 6. 
 
 Jer. 
 
 xxiii. 6. 
 
 Ifa. 
 
 ix. 
 
 7- 
 
 iCor. 
 
 i. 30 
 
 Col 
 
 . ii. 
 
 9' 
 
 10, 
 
 1 1 
 
 , 12. 
 
 — 17- 
 
 — 20. 
 
 *' Now, obferve from this Doftrine, that Circumcifion, Baptifm, (with Water) 
 *' aiid all religious Ceremonies, refpeding any Thing that may be eat, or drank, or 
 *' Holy-days, or New Moons, or Sabbath-days, and all fuch like Ordinances, 
 " are here ended and fulfilled in the Lord Christ, the ever-living and perdu- 
 " rable Subftancc : So that neither Circumcifion, nor Uncircumcifion, Baptifm 
 *' with Water, or no fuch Baptifm, availeth any Thing, but a new Creature ; 
 *' born of him, the Word of Life, and compleat in him, who is the Perfecli- 
 " on of Beauty, and Head of all Principality and Power : So that if we have 
 *' Christ we have ail, and without liim there is nothing at all in Religion. 
 
 *' To the fifth I anfwer. That this is a Mifapplication of the Scripture fug- 
 Rev. xxii. 18, " gefted in the ExprelTion; for the Words are thefe, / teftify unto every Man 
 »9- " that heareth the Words of the Prophecy cf this Book, if any Man fhall add unto 
 
 " thefe Things, Godfloall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book : 
 *' And if any Man fhall take away from the Words of the Book of this Prophecy, 
 " God fhall take away his Part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy City, &c. 
 " Thus it is teflified by the Holy Spirit ; and the Penalty here is great indeed, 
 *' (and fo is thy Accufation and Charge) but it is upon thole wlio Iiear the Words 
 
 " of
 
 of T BO M A S STO RT. m 
 
 " of the Prophecy of that Book, and Ihall add to, or take away from the Words Anno 
 
 " of that Book. We are not guilty of this Charge, of adding any Thing 1636, 
 
 " to that Prophecy, or taking any Thing from it, or of doing fo to any other 
 
 " Part of the Holy Scriptures ; and fo not liable to this Curfe, or Penalty : 
 
 " But fince Aftions, importing an Addition of any Thing to the Chriftian 
 
 " Faith and Religion, as an Ordinance of Christ, which is not fo •, or fup- 
 
 " prcfTing any Thing as an Error, which is no Error, can be no lefs within the 
 
 " Meaning of this Scripture, in the Nature of Things, than adding or taking 
 
 *' away of Words : Then thefe are deeply guilty, who have detained many ty- 
 
 " pical Things ended by the Coming of Christ, and invented and added to Re- 
 
 " ligion fprinkling of Infants, with many impertinent, fuperftitious, and idola- 
 
 *' trous Things, never commanded or ordained of Christ; but forged in their 
 
 " own Imaginations, and impofed upon the Profeffors of the Faith of Christ 
 
 • ' as his Ordhmnccs, by the Violence of grievous Antichriftian Perfecutions and 
 
 " Murders, by Fire, Sword, and Gallows, and all manner of cruel and inhuman 
 
 " Tortures and Torments : And have detained and taken away the Ufe of all 
 
 " the Holy Scriptures from the People, to whom, as Chriftians, they belong. 
 
 " Then do thou make hafte from among them, left the Curfe, thou art beftow- 
 
 " jng ib blindly upon the Innocent, fall upon thy own Head among thofe guilty 
 
 " Sinners ; who are not Citizens of the New Jerujakm, the holy City of God, 
 
 " but of Babd. 
 
 " The Lord open their Eyes to fee, and give them Hearts to underftand, 
 " and Power to come out of all their Inventions, to the great Baptizer and Feeder 
 " of Souls; that they may be faved from Corruption, and enter thofe Manfions, 
 *' where there is no Want, and where no unclean Thing can come. And the 
 " Lord blefs thee, my unknown Friend, with the Knowledge of his Love, and 
 *' with a right Underftanding in all Things. 
 
 "To the ftxth and feventh : This likewife is a manifeft wrefting and Mifap- 
 " plication of the Holy Scripture, alluded to in this Place ; for the Lord Jesus 
 " was not then fpeaking of any Thing called Sacraments, as Commandments of 
 ** God, but of the moral Commandments in the Law ol Mofes : And I know. Mat. v. 15, 
 *' that while we are breaking the Commandments of God, we cannot rejoice in 
 *' his Love ; but, in that State of Difobedience, are under his Wrath and Reproof: 
 *' But haft thou feen me break any of the Commandments of God .-' What I 
 " wrote in that Letter of the Love of God, was in Truth and Righteoufnefs, 
 " as it then was manifeft in my Soul by the Lord Jesus Christ ; and what- 
 " ever it may be accounted of by fuch as know him not, yet I know it is not 
 " accounted an Oftence before the Lord, to tell of his Goodnefs, but a Duty in 
 " all them that are mercifully favoured with the Enjoyment of it, when thereunto * ■''•^v'"^*? 
 " called by its own Virtue : Nor does the L o r d, the great Judge of the World, 
 " at any Time charge me with the Breach of any of his Commands, either for 
 '* difufing the Bread and Wine of thePriefts, or their Rantilm, wiiich the Lord 
 " never fent them to adminifter ; nor the Pope's Bread, or his Rantifm, and 
 *' other Impert'mences, which the Lord never commanded. 
 
 " And whoarethey that are thus faying, but doing the conti-ary.' Ifthouknoweft 
 " of any that are brealcing the Moral Commands of God, or the new and livino- 
 *' Command of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, daily; and teaching Men 
 «' fo, either by Example of a finful Converfation, or by pleading and wrangling, J° "'^'" ^^' 
 *' in Words, for a Neceffity of it for Term of Life ; loving God with Lip-love ' Cor. i. ao. 
 " only, and ferving him only withTongue-fervice; thou maycft, if free thy felf, ^'^' '^^' '3» 
 
 " re- '^"
 
 IIX 
 
 Anno 
 
 1696. 
 
 Johnxiii. 34, 
 
 35- 
 Johnxii. 36, 
 
 — iii. 3. 
 
 Tit ;i. II. 
 
 — iii. 4, 5,6. 
 John i. 14, 
 16, 17. 
 Rom. X. 1 8, 
 19. 
 
 2 Theff. ill 2. 
 Ifa.xlii. I, 6. 
 
 John i. 9. 
 
 Afts X. 42. 
 Mic. vii. 8. 
 John iii. 19, 
 2©, 21. 
 -^viii. 12. 
 
 — xii. 35,36, 
 46. 
 
 Lukexxiv. 5. 
 
 The LIFE, 
 
 d^f. 
 
 -XVII. 21 . 
 
 John xiv. 6. 
 I John iv. 8. 
 
 Col. ii. 3. 
 
 Mat. xi. 27. 
 
 " reprove fuch as Mockers of God ; but accufe not the Brethren, in whom is 
 " revealed the eternal Commandment, left thou offend the Father, and the Judge 
 " reprove thee in thy own Bofom ; but believe in, and follow and obey the Light 
 " and Life of the Son of God, in the way of Regeneration, if ever rhou thyfelf 
 " expefts to enter his Kingdom ; which thou Ihalt never fee in any Invention ot 
 " the Children of Men. 
 
 "To the eighth : Where doft thou read, or what Experience haft thou, that 
 thefe pretended Sacraments are Means to obtain the Love or Grace of God ? The 
 Grace of God, that bri7igeth Salvation, hath appeared unto all Men, through the 
 Lord Jefus Chrijl ; and confequently to Millions, even the greateft Part of all 
 Mankind, who never heard of thofe fuppofed Ordinances. 'Their Sound is gone 
 into all the Earth, and their Words unto the End of the World: All have heard, 
 but all have not believed or obeyed. And he, by whom this univcrfal Grace is 
 come upon all Men, in order to heal the univerfal Difeafe, is the cleft Seed of 
 God, and Covenant with the Nations; even that true Light, which light eth 
 every Man that cometh into the World ; and is ordained of God to be Judge of 
 ^lick and Dead: By whom in no ways am I condemned for neglefting thele 
 thy Ordinances as Means of his Love ; but, by the Mercy of the Father thro' 
 him, do enjoy it, at Times when it pleafeth him, without any other Means 
 than his own free "Will and Goodnefs. 
 
 "To the ninth : Time was when I was feeking the Living among the Dead, 
 and the Way to God and his Kingdom among the Lo-heres and Lo-theres of 
 the Times •, who were feverally faying, Lo here, in our Liturgy and Ordi- 
 nances ; Lo there, in our Diredory, and the like Ordinances, as we adminifter 
 them ; Lo, in the Pools and Ponds with us, as we perform with a nicer Imi- 
 tation ; and behold yonder, m the Mafs, and Glory, and Pomp of the World, 
 in the great Wildernefs of Antichriftian Ordinances of human Invention : But 
 within is the Kingdom, and there I have found it, through the Voice of him 
 who fpeaketh from Heaven ; and there is made known the Way, ard I defire 
 to walk on in him who is the Way, Truth, Light, Life, and Love, and leads 
 to the G D of Love ; to whom be Renown, Dominion, and Glory, for ever 
 and ever- 
 
 I Cor. ii. 1 o, 
 II, 12. 
 
 "To the tenth : The Scripture faith, The Things of Cod knowetb no Man, 
 " but the Spirit of God, and God hath revealed them by his Spirit ; for the Spirit 
 " (not the Reafon of Man) fearcheth all Things, yea, the deep Things of God. 
 " By Wtfdom the World knows not God, nor does the natural Man receive the Things 
 " of the Spirit of God: for they are Foolifhnefs to him-, neither can he know them, 
 " becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned: But in the Lord Jesus, the Word of 
 " God, are hid all the Treafures of Wifdom and Knowledge ; by whofe Breath of 
 *' divine Life (not by Reafon) is Underftanding given, and the Scriptures opened. 
 
 " None knows the Father but the Son, and to whomfoever the Son will reveal 
 " him ; and none can come to the Son unlefs the Father draw him. Men, by their 
 " reafoning about the Tilings of God, in a natural State, ignorant of God, 
 " have made the Gofpel, to themfelves, of no effedl, as the Jews did the Law, 
 " by their Tradition. 
 
 " Whilst! remained reafoning with Flefh and Blood, I had no true Peace 
 *' or Knowledge of God -, but when it pleafcd him to reveal the Life of his Son 
 " in mcy then I denied myfelf, and the World, with all tlie vain Pleafures and 
 
 " Glory
 
 of THOMAS STORT, 115 
 
 " Glory of it, and likewifc my own Wifdom, and to the World became as a Fool, Anno 
 
 " that from thenceforth I might be Partaker of that Wifdom and Knowledge 1696. 
 
 " difpenfed by him, who is the Fountain and Difpenfer of ail true Wifdom, Knovv- 
 
 " Jedge and Underllanding ; by the Opening and Manifcftation of whofe Holy 
 
 " Spirit, the Scriptures were given forth of old ; and the Matters therein con- 
 
 " tained, being Things of God, are rightly to be underftood, and truly known, 
 
 " only by the Openings and In-fliinings of the Light of the fame divine Word, 
 
 " by which, at firft, they were diftated, or the Matters therein treated of, made 
 
 " known. 
 
 " And upon this Word have I ever depended fince I was favoured with the 
 " Knowledge of God, and not upon my own Reafon as a Man only ; nor upon 
 " any fuppofed natural Parts or Acquirements, which, by themfelves, ought not 
 " to intermeddle with the Things of God, how pregnant focver they may be. 
 
 " A N D now, dear Friend, know, that I am not a Contemner of the Holy 
 " Scriptures, but do love them, and have fearched them from my Youth, and have 
 " often been much comtorted, and my Heart has often glowed within me, whilil 
 " the blelled and holy Spirit ot Christ, which was in the Prophets and Apoftles, 
 " brought the Scriptures to ray Remembrance, and opened the Myfteries there- 
 " of in me : And theretore, to the Word of God, which the noble Bereans 
 *' received with all Readinefs of Mind before they fearched the Scriptures, do I 
 " refer thee -, even to the ingrafted Word, which is able to lave thy Soul, if thou 
 " believeft therein •, that, by the Light and Power of it, thou may eft read and 
 " underftand, and have the Scriptures (as well the divine Law of Goo written 
 " in thy Heart, as the Letter of tlie Book) opened unto thee : And then flialt 
 " thou know the Reafon of my Dilufe of theie fuppofed Ordinances ; till which, 
 " all that can be faid by Man is not able to inform thy Underftanding to the full : 
 *' But, in a plain Affertion of the innocent Truth, thefe Shadows are not of Gop, 
 " as they now Hand and are ufed ; and, being come to the immortal Subftance, 
 " I have no need of them ; but have the Authority of the Lord and Giver of 
 " Life, and the Enjoyment of the divine and everlafbing Siibfiance^ for leaving 
 " them behind. 
 
 " 1 1 //j, T H E Enemy of Man having deceived him, under Pretence of a Friend, 
 *' and wrought Sin and Iniquity in his Heart, and thereby defiled him, and ob- 
 " tained a Place in his Heart, the Son of God, through the Love and Mercy 
 *' of the Father, is made manifeft there, to difcover unto Man the Works of the 
 *' Devil, and to deftroy tliem ; and to create Man a-new in the Image of God, 
 " in Righteouihels and Holinefs, and to bring forth in him a new Life : And Man, 
 " being thus the perfedl Workmanfliip of the Almighty, created a-new unto 
 " good Works by Jesus Christ, his Thoughts, Words, Aftions, and De- 
 " portment, are changed : And as it was natural, whilft in his firft State in this 
 *' Life, to think, do, and fpeak Evil -, fo, in his new Nature, being born of the 
 " Spirit, it is natural to him to think righteoufly, fpeak Truth witliout Guile, 
 " and do Good unto all Men, and no Evil, in Thought, Word, or Adion. 
 
 "And tho' the Lord Jesus clofed his Sermon upon the Mount with thefe -^^ ^ g 
 
 " Words, Be ye therefore ■perfeSf^ even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfe^ ; Eph. iv. 13. 
 
 " yet it was not by the Letter of the Book only that I was firft induced to be- ^'°'' '■ ?^- 
 
 " lieve this Dodtrine of finlefs Perfeffion in this Life, but by the Revelation of ,r"i-^'i8°' 
 
 " Jesus Christ, as he is the Wifdom and Power of God, who condemns 20,22, 
 
 F f « Sin 
 
 vin. 2,
 
 114 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno "Sin in Mankind ; and, by the manifeft Operation of his Power within, con- 
 1696, " demns the Man of Sin, cafls him out, and fpoils his Goods. 
 
 "And though we have many Temptations, from time to time, to ftrive againft, 
 Ja. iv. 7, &c. " y^g f5[^(^ Power in the Spirit of Ch rist whereby to refift and overcome them : 
 " For it is not we alone that ftrive or refift the Evil, but firft the Spirit of C h r i st 
 " in us is hfted up as a Standard and Enfign againft the Enemy, and then we, 
 " through him, become as Co-worlccrs in effefting our own Salvation, by conti- 
 " nuing in Faith, and Obedience in well-doing. 
 
 "If thou confiders only thy own Weaknefs and Infirmities, as in the Nature 
 " and Properties of the Firft Adavi in the Fall, in whom all die, thou wilt hardly 
 " believe the Liberty of the Sons of G o d ; but, coming to the revealed Power of 
 " Christ, the StcondAdam, the quickening Spirit, in whom all are made alive, 
 " thou wilt not only believe, but, through Faithfulnefs to his Power, which work- 
 " eth in thee againft all Sin, may come to attain that Perfeftion of Righteoulhels 
 " and Holinefs which thou canft not now conceive. 
 
 "And tho' we are tempted .as he was tempted, but finned not, yet if we 
 " do not yield, we are not charged : For it is no Sin to be tempted ; but to 
 " confent, and enter into the Temptation, is Sin. And how fliould we know 
 " the Power of the Grace of G o d, or what Degree of Virtue we have thereby 
 " attained, if we were not tempted ? And how fhould we diftinguifh the Voice 
 " of the Tempter, if we knew not the Voice of the Word of Life ? But as Go d 
 " tempteth no Man, nor is himfelf tempted of Evil ; fo he fuffers not any of his 
 " Children, Son or Daughter, to be tried fo as not to efcape the Evil, if they 
 " adhere to his Grace. 
 
 " By a finlefs State in this Life, we do not mean fuch a Degree wherein it 
 " is not pofilble for us to commit Sin ; but fuch a Stability in Christ, in 
 " whom there is no Sin, that we may refift all the Temptations we meet with, 
 " after our old Sins, in Time ot Ignorance, are pardoned, by Faith in the Blood 
 " of Christ, and our whole Man fandified, juftified, and ftrengthened, by 
 " his Power remaining in us, againft the old Adverfary ; who ftill leeks to regain, 
 " by his Subtility, his old Place in us as before, by means of any Paffion or Af- 
 " feftion unmortified or unfubdued. 
 
 21. 
 
 31. 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 John viii. 24. " C H Ri ST faid to the Jews who did not believe. If ye believe not that I am 
 " he^ ye Jhall die in your Sins. Whither I go, ye cannot come. And again, to 
 " thofe who did believe. If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my Difciples in- 
 " deed. And ye fhall know the 'Truth, and the truth fhall make you free. And if 
 " the Truth make you free, then are you free indeed. In this they did not under- 
 " ftand him, as appears by their Anfwer. They thought he had meant fome 
 
 — 34,-6. " outward Freedom ; but he intended their Freedom from Sin, which is a greater 
 " Deliverance than out of Egyptian Bondage, 
 
 " B y this it appears, that if we die in our Sins, we cannot enter the Kingdom 
 " of Heaven. There is then great Need that we come to him in Time, who 
 Mat. i. 21. " alone is able to favc us : As it is written, He fhall fave his People from their 
 " Sins ; but not in them. 
 
 "The more we obey the Difcoveries and Leadings of the Spirit of Truth, 
 « the more he fets us free ; and the more we are Co-workers with Christ, 
 
 " the
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. iis 
 
 " tlie more perfed: we are. And many Things, which have formerly been Anno 
 " Temptations to us, being overcome by Faith in his Grace, given by the 1696. 
 " Word of Faith working in our Hearts by Love, are now no Temptations at 
 " all ; fo that the Work becomes eafier by Degrees. And I know the Lo rd 
 " is able to carry on his own Work, when, and how, and to what Degree it 
 " pleafeth him. And if the Creature refifts him not, and quenches not the Holy 
 " Spirit, by wilful or known finning againft him, his Work of Perfection, as 
 " all his Works are perfeift, can never fail. 
 
 " They who are G o d's Workmandiip in his Son, are perfeft, fo far as he 
 *' hath wrought ; and they who have given way, and been Co-workers with 
 " Satan, fo far are impcrfeft. If then Satan, who is a Creature, was able, thro' 
 " the fubtile working of his Power and Cunning, which is finite, to deprave in- 
 " nocent Man, and betray him into Sin and Death -, much more is G o d, the 
 " Creator of all Things, by his infinite Power and Wifdom, revealed in Man, 
 *' through Jesus Christ, able to reftore Mankind to his firll Innocence 
 " and Image of God, in Righteoufnefs and perfedl Holinefs, to diffolve the 
 " Chains of Death, and fix him for ever in the Bounds of eternal Love, Light, 
 " and Glory ; where no Darknefs, nor Temptation, nor Defilement, can ap- 
 *' proach, nor any Fear of falling, can appear for evermore. 
 
 " Oh, my unknown Friend ! great is the Myftery of the Redemption of poor 
 " loft Man, who, thro' his Ignorance of the Almightinefs of God's faving Arm, 
 " is ready to prefix Limits and Bounds to the immenfe God-, whofe Wifdom 
 " is paft finding out, and incomparably tranfcends all the Imaginations of the 
 *' Thoughts of every Creature, Men and Angels, fallen, unfallen, and reftored, 
 
 " I COULD tell thee many Things, but thou art not in a Condition to hear 
 " them ; and had much rather thou fhould come to the Knowledge of that 
 " Power, which makes perfeft, than write many Things to thee concerning it ; 
 " which, in the State thou art in, might prove a Stumbling-block, inftcad of 
 *' Afliftance, to thee. 
 
 " But tho' it was not the Holy Scriptures that firft induced me to believe 
 " this Doftrine ; yet I have met with many Paffages therein fince, which fully 
 " prove it, fome of which I have before pointed at herein. The great End of 
 " the Coming of the Son of God, being to fave Mankind from the Power of 
 *' Sin, the Caufe of eternal Death, and Separation from G o d j and that Sin bc- 
 *' ing removed, with all its evil EfFefts, which ftood as a Partition-wall, Man 
 " might again have prefent Fellowfhip, in meafure, with the Lord, and w^jlk 
 " with him in Newnefs of Life, and finally be crowned with unfpeakable Gloiy. 
 
 "God is Light, Sin is Darknefs, and betwixt thefe two there can be no 
 *' Fellowfliip : But Sin being pardoned, (as declared) by Faith in the Blood of 
 *' Christ, and the Root thereof done away and deftroy'd, by the Manifefta- 
 " tion of his Holy Spirit, then Men come to dwell in C h r i st, as he dwells in 
 " the Father ; and fo they have true Knowledge of, and FellowOiip with the 
 " Father and the Son, and with one another in him, who is Light, in whom 
 " there is no Sin, nor Darknefs, nor Shadow at all : Which Knowledge and 
 " Fellowfhip is greatly a- wanting among the Pi-ofeflbrs of C h r i st, in this con- 
 « fufed Age of the World. 
 
 "As to that PafTage thou alludes to in an Epiftle of John, where it is faid, 
 
 « If
 
 ii6 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno '^'■Ifwe fay that we have no Sin, we deceive our [elves, and, the Truth is not in 
 
 1696. " lis. If we fay, that wthnYc not finned, we make him a Liar, and his Word 
 
 I John I. 8. ct ^-j jjgi /;j pj_ 'Yht Context proves the contrary to thy Intention : For in the 
 
 " fevcnth Verfe he faith, that if we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we 
 
 " have FellowfJjip one with another, and the Blood of Jefus Chrifi his Son cleanfeth 
 
 r John i, 9. " us from all Sin. And again. If we confefs our Sins, he is faithful and jufl to 
 
 "forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Unrighteoufnefs. 
 
 " The Jews were a People who built much on the Works of their Law, 
 
 Phil. iii. 5, 6. " thinking themfe Ives blamelefs in a ftrift Performance of tliem ; zs Paul was, cir- 
 
 " cumcifed the eighth Day, &c. touching the Righteoufnefs which is in the Law, 
 
 " blamelefs. And it feems, by the Tenor of the Apoftle fohn^s Epiftle, fome 
 
 " fuch there were among the Difciples, at that Time, who were not come 
 
 " rightly to. fee that they were, or had been. Sinners ; and fo could not fee 
 
 " the true Reafon of the Coming of Christ, to malce them righteous and 
 
 " juft, by his inward Work ; which could not be till they came to a real Sight 
 
 «^' of their own finful and degenerate State ; and that all the Works of their Law, 
 
 " which they could work in that natural State, were but as an unclean Thing. 
 
 " And that Apoftle, having laboured to convince them, firft, that they had 
 
 " finned, and were Sinners, notwithftanding their legal Performances, how 
 
 " ftridly or exaftly foever cbferv'd, and tho' as to thefe they might be blame- 
 
 " lefs ; he then proceeds to preach perfed Redemption and Salvation by 
 
 *' Jesus Christ, efpecially by his inward Workings and Teachings in their 
 
 Aftsiv 2-. " Minds, figuratively termed anointing; as it is written concerning himfelf. 
 
 Chap X "S " finiply confidered as Man, That God anointed Jefus of Nazareth with the Holy 
 
 ' " ' ' " Ghofi. 
 
 "And what Man ever more fully preached the Doctrine of Perfeftion in this 
 
 " Life, or fpake of higher Attainments here, than this Apoftle doth in that 
 
 1 John iii q " Epiftle! where he faith, Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin : For 
 
 Chap. V. 4, " his Seed (that is, the Word of God) remaineth in him ; and he cannot fin, he- 
 
 ~'^'.. ^ " caufe he is horn of God. Again, I have written unto you, young Men, becaufe 
 
 J-. ' '■'■you are ftrong, and the Word of God ahideth in you, and ye have overcome the 
 
 — »• 3- " wicked one : And t\\€\r Fellowfhip was with the Father and the Son, in the 
 
 " pure Light, where no Sin can come : And the Apoftles were not only there 
 
 *' themfelves, but were labouring, in the Spirit and Power of Christ, to bring 
 
 " thofe to whom they preached and wrote, to the fame State and Fellowfliip. 
 
 " And, though what I have already faid to this 12th Head here, and to the 
 
 " former, might be a fufficient Anfwer to the Extent of thy Meaning therein ; 
 
 " yet, being zealous for thy Convincement of the Truth, and Converfion to God, 
 
 " I Ihall proceed farther, and add, that I obferve, that the Children of the Flefti, 
 
 " and of this World, Champions tor Sin, and the Kingdom and Rule of Satan, 
 
 " both by Word and Praftice, commonly wreft feveral particular Scriptures, to 
 
 " fuppoit themfelves, and one another, in Sin, to the End of their Days, to their 
 
 " final Deftrudlion: Such as this Expreffion of the Apoftle John, already 
 
 - , . J. " noted, that // we fay we have no Sin, we deceive ourfehes, and the Truth is 
 
 Rom vii" i' " "°^ '" ^^ ' ^^^ where the Apoftle Paul faith. That which I do I allow not -, 
 
 24, 25. " for what I would that do I not, but what I hate, that do I. wretched Man 
 
 " that I am, who pall deliver me from this Body of Death ! From thefe Scriptures 
 
 " fome ungodly Men perverfly contend, that thofe Apoftles, and confequently 
 
 " all the primitive Chriftians, were ftill Sinners at the Times of writing thofe 
 
 " Scriptures, and continued in Sin during Life ; upon a falfe Suppofition, that 
 
 " all
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 117 
 
 " all Mankind are under an unavoidable Neceffity, from the Wcakncls of Na- Anno 
 
 " ture and Conftitution, fo to continue to the End of this Life •, which I oppofe, i6g6. 
 
 " and fay, That as the Apofties, as well as others, had hen Sinners, before they 
 
 " believed in Ch ri st and were converted ; fo it v/as common with them to ufe 
 
 " that condefcending Way of Expreffion, in Terms once apphcable to them- 
 
 " felves as well as to others : As where the Apoftle James alio faith, The Tongue Ja. iii. 8, 9. 
 
 " can no Alan tatne ; it is an tmridy Evil, full of deadly Poifon : Therewith blefs 
 
 " ise God, even the Father ; and therewith curfe voe Men : W hereas, at that Time, 
 
 " this Auoftle was not a Curler of Men, if ever he had fo been : No more were 
 
 " the Apoftlcs '"John and P^z// then Sinners ; but had known, not only Forgivenefs 
 
 " through Faith in the Blood of Christ, but alfo a Sanftification and cleanfing 
 
 " from all Unrighteoufnefs and Sin, by the Wafhing of Regeneration, and renewing 
 
 " of the Holy Ghoft ; and, as thou thyfelf haft expreffed the Thing in the thir- 
 
 " teenth Paragraph, or tiead, but without Knowledge, viz. By the working of 
 
 " the rich Sprit in their Hearts. 
 
 "And thou tnayil fee, that John writes, in that Epiftlc, to three different 
 " States in the Church at that Time, and the fame Diverfity continues ftill : To \ John ii. i, 
 " little Children in Religion, tho' they might be Men in Nature, that they fhould i^- ' 3. '4- 
 " not fin : For he knew Children in the Faith were yet v/eak, and might offend 
 " and IdU j but if they fhould, he inftruded them how they might rife again, thro' 
 " the Mercy of God in Jfsus Christ, declared unto all Men, by the Blood 
 " of his Crofs fhed once for all •.—'To young Men in the Faith, that they Ihould not 
 " lin : Why ? Eecaufe they were ftrong, and eftablifhed in the Faith and Word 
 " of Life, and had already thereby overcome the wicked One, with all his Temp- 
 " tations -, being begotten and born of God, and become his Children, tho' once 
 *' merely the Children of Adam, and of this World : — And to Fathers in C h r i st, _^, ^^ ] ^^ 
 *' and in the Church of G o d, who were come to a more full and mature Know- 
 " ledge of God and Christ, revealed in them as a Light, without the leaft _j .^^_ 
 " Darknefs of any Type, Figure, or Shadow at all -, and to a more ample Per- 
 " feftion in him, through whom they were fo far from Sin at that Time, that 
 " they were become the Light of the World, by the Light of him whofe Glo- 
 " ry fhined in them. 
 
 "Thy other Suggeftion, againft the Power and Efficacy of the Chriftian 
 *' Faith and Religion, arifes from the Words of the Apoftle Paul, before noted, ^^^ ^-^ ^ 
 " or fome other Scriptures mifapplied, which thou doft not underftand. 24, 25. 
 
 "Ho w true is that Saying, The Letter killeth, hut the Spirit giveth Life ? 3 q^^ j^j^ g^ 
 " Men, falling to v/ork upon the Scriptures in their finful State, widi their own 
 *' Reafon, and Wifdom from beneath (not knowing the Scriptures, nor the Power 
 " of God by the Work thereof in their Hearts) have erred from the Trutli 
 " themfelves, and lead aftray others alfo. 
 
 " I s h A L L therefore begin with the Dodlrine of the Apoftle Paul, in the E^ 
 "•• piftle to the Roman:, and obferve the manner of his proceeding in preaching 
 " rheGofpel: He fets forward with Mankind, both Jews m^X Gentiles, as all 
 " once concluded under Sin and Unbelief ; where he faith, IFe have before proved, Rom. iii. 9. 
 " both Jczvs and Gentiles, that they are all under Sin : And yet they were not to 
 " continue therein, but were dead unto Sin by thcBaptifm of the Spirit of Christ: 
 " And then proceeds to illuftrate his Doftrine by way of Comparifon -, that like _vi. 1,3,4, 
 " as CI. rift was raifed up from the dead by the Glory (or Power) of the Father, even 
 " fo we alfo fhould walk in Newnef cf Life : Importing, that as fure as Ch rist 
 
 Go- " was
 
 ii8 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno "was raifed from the Dead ; fo, by the fame Spirit and Power, they who then 
 
 1696. " beUeved, and had been baptized with the Baptifm of the Spirit, had attained a 
 
 Rom. vi. 10. " new Life in him. Again : For in that he died, he died unto Sin once ; but in 
 
 1,. " that he liveth, he liveth unto God : So, by Analogy, Likewife reckon ye alfo 
 
 " yourfelves to he dead indeed unto Sin ; but alive unto God, through Jefus Chrifi^ 
 " our Lord. Who then can deny the Death and Refurrcftion of C h ri st, but he 
 " that will deny any Freedom from Sin in this Life, through the Power of Jesus 
 
 ,, 15. « Christ, our Lord ? And further. Shall icv continue in Sin, that Grace may 
 
 " abound? God forbid: And jh all zvefm, becaufe we are not under the Law, but 
 " under Grace? God forbid. And fmce God hath for ever forbidden Sin, un- 
 " der both the Law and Gofpel, and offered a free Redemption therefrom, with all 
 " its dreadful Effeds, through Jesus Christ, his Son, let us lay hold of it 
 " with all Readineis. Obferving further the Doftrine of this Apoftle in the 
 
 -18,20, « fame Chapter, Being then made free from Sin, ye became the Servants of Righ- 
 
 ^^' ^5' " teoufnefs ; for when ye were the Servants of Sin, ye were free from Righteouf- 
 
 " nefs : But now, being made free from Sin, and become the Servants of God, ye 
 " have your Fruit unto Holinefs, and the End everlafting Life : For the Wages of 
 " Sin is Death, but the Gift of God is eternal Life, through Jefus Chrijt, our Lord. 
 " Read the whole Chapter with Attention. 
 
 "But that which gives occafion to many (who are ignorant of the Things 
 " of God, and yet full of themfelves, and of their own dark Conceivings, and 
 " willing to favour and live in Sin) to miftake or pervert this Dodtrine, andima- 
 " gine that the Apoftle contradifts all this in the feventh Chapter, is this : He, ha- 
 *' ving clofed and finilhed his Doftrine, under the Similitude of Christ's Death 
 " and Refurredlion, in the latter End of the fixth Chapter, refumes the fame 
 " Doftrine in the Beginning of the feventh, under the Similitude of Marriage 
 " under tlie Law -, which he direds in a more particular Manner to them who 
 " were acquainted with the Rules and Cuftoms of it : And, in handling the 
 " fame Dodlrine under that other Similitude, he perfonates divers States, where- 
 " in Men commonly were in a State of Nature, and under the Law, before they 
 *' came to the Knowledge of the Lord Christ, as if then his own-, which to 
 " himfelf, and the Saints cotemporary with him, were then really paft and over, 
 " and he and they arrived at another Degree and Difpcnfation : And he was en- 
 *' deavouring to excite them that were yet fhort, to come further forward in the 
 " fame Way of Life and Salvation ; from State to State ; from their Initiation 
 *' into the fame, by the Baptifm of Christ, till they fhould be perfeft in him. 
 " And, having fpoken of thefe inferior States as in his own Perfon, for Uluftrati- 
 —vii. 24,25- " *^"' ''"'^ "-^ ^^ more intelligible, in the fame Chapter he cries out, O wretched 
 " Man that I am, who fhall deliver me from the Body of this Death ! And, in the 
 " next Verfe anfwers his own Qiieftion, and fiith, / thank God, through Jefus 
 Chrijl, our Lord : And further adds, there is therefore nc-zv no Condemnation to 
 them which are in Chrijl Jefus, who walk not after the Flefh, but after the Spi- 
 rit ; for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrijl Jefus, hath made me free from 
 the Law of Sin and Death. 
 
 <vviu. 1, 2. 
 
 . "Now, neither the Apoftle, nor any other, could be both delivered and not 
 *' delivered, both in Bondage and free, in the Time of the wridng thefe few 
 *< Verfes ; which might all be done in half an Hour. I conclude therefore, with 
 *' underftanding, that the Apoftle here perfonates two oppofite States ; that of Sin 
 " under the Law, in a natural Condition, and that of Liberty from Sin, by Grace 
 *' through Christ ; and that the latter was his own, and of thofe alfo who had 
 " received and obeyed the Gofpel : And the Gofpel, and the Effefls of it, are tiie 
 
 " ilimc
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 119 
 
 " fame, throughout all Generations unto this Day, in and unto all that believe. Anno 
 " receive and obey the fame ; though they that do not, remain as they were by 1696. 
 " Nature, or degenerate more and more to Perdition. 
 
 "And feeing the fame Apoftle laboured to prefent every Man perfe^ in Col. i. 28, 29. 
 "Christ Jesus, he himfcjf was not excluded. And canft thou think that 
 .*' the All-wife and All-powerful God, Lord of Heaven and Earth, fet this 
 " great Apoftle, and the reft of them, upon Labour in vain ; which needs muft 
 " have been, if they laboured to prefent the Believers perfeft in Christ, if it Heb.vi.i. 
 " had not been attainable. 
 
 "And that this blefled Freedom, and glorious Liberty of the Sons of God, 
 *' is not attainable in this prcilnt World, is only a Dream in the Night, which 
 " is yet over the Nations in too general a Way, told and propagated by ignorant 
 " and unexperienced Pretenders in this Age; who meafure the Attainments of 
 " the Aportles and primitive Saints, as alfo of this prefent Time, by the very une- 
 " qual Meafure, and falfc Standard, of their own Corruptions •, and the Wifdom 
 ." and Power of God, by their weak and carnal Knowledge: For which the 
 " Moft High will lliortly rebuke them in Judgment, and call them to Account 
 *' for their great Prcfumption. 
 
 " Now, to the t'^velfth Head : Though what has been faid to the i ith, and 
 " feme Paris of the former, might be fufficient alfo to this ; yet, being defi- 
 " rous to do thee all the Help and Service I may, I proceed upon this likewife 
 " in particular Manner : That we have Corruptions to ftruggle with we are very 
 " fenfible ; our own natural Corruptions, and a fubtle unwearied Adverfary, lurk- 
 " ing and working therein, feeking to entangle us again in the Yoke of Bon- 
 " dage. But we are likewife fenfible, that it is one Thing to be tempted, but 
 " another to remain in Sin: For Christ was tempted, yet without Sin -, tempt- 
 " ed of Satan with the Power, Riches, and other Glories of this World, by which 
 " poor Mortals are commonly enticed, yet overcame the evil One-, tempted by 
 " weak and cunning Men, Children of the evil One, by enfnaring Queftions, 
 " falfe Accufations, Lies and Slanders ; by the rude and impudent Contradictions 
 " of bold and ignorant Sinners : Yet he, being the Wifdom of the Father, put 
 " them all to Silence ; and finally, by Patience and his Crofs, he overcame the 
 " World, and all the Power and Enemies therein: And the holy One, who 
 " thus overcame in his own Perfon, prevails alfo in us, by his own Wifdom 
 " and Power, againft all our Sins and Corruptions ; and againft the evil One, and 
 " all his Subtilties and Power •, and over the Principalities and Powers of this 
 " World, and the Temptations therefrom arifing ; and againft fpiritual Wicked- 
 " nefs exalted in the high Places of the Earth -, as our Eyes are kept open and 
 " watchful tov/ards the Lord, the great Captain-General of the Armies of the 
 "Lord of Hofts, in Heaven and in Earth; Michaely the Prince and Arch- 
 " Angel of the Right-hand of the Majefty on high, as our Confidence is and 
 " remained! in him, and our Faith in his Power and Love. 
 
 " A N D as to that Scripture hinted at, in building Tabernacles here in this World, Mat. .xvii. i, 
 " I obferve. That the Transfiguration of Christ was a Figure of his Glorifica- — ^• 
 . " tion, and alfo a Reprefentation of the then prefent Difpenfation of God, and 
 " Condition of his Church, at that and future Times : There was Mofes, repre- 
 " fenting the Law by him, then not fully ended -, Elias, the Difpenfation of the , 
 " Doftrine and Baptifm of John, then likewife, in fome degree, remaining ; 
 " with Christ, the only Difpenfer of the Gofpel and eternal Subftance, and 
 
 " Me-
 
 110 Tie LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno " Mediator of the new Covenant of Light, Life, and Glory. And after the 
 
 1696. <■<■ Glorification of Christ, neither Alofcs remained, nor Eli as ; the Law of 
 
 " Ceremonies, nor John's, Baptifm •, but Christ alone upo.T the Mount, with 
 
 " his Difciples ; reprefenting his Church, directed by the Voice from the excel- 
 
 " lent Glory, to hear hir.i: And the Soul -quickening Voice of the Son, which 
 
 " brings forth the good Pleafure of the Father therein, is his Holy Spirit ; as 
 
 Rev i- - " ^^ '^ written, He that hath an Ear let him bear what the Spirit fiiith unto the 
 
 " Churches. 
 
 Heb. i. 2. " It is this great and powerful Voice out of Heaven, by which the Worlds 
 
 Rev. XXI. 3. ct ^^^^ made, which faith, Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with Men -, and he will 
 
 " dwell with them ; and they Jhall be his People, and God himfelf Jloall be with them., 
 
 " a7id be their Gsd. The Tabernacle of God is his Church and People, as fay the 
 
 2 Pet. 1. 1 3, cc ^^poftles Peter and Paul ; For we know, that if our earthly Houfe of this Taber- 
 
 zCor.v. 1,4. " nacle were d'ffolved, we have a Building of God, an Houfe not made with Hands., 
 
 " eternal in the Heavens : For we, that are in this Tabernacle, do groan, being 
 
 " burdened ; not for that we would be uncloathed, but cloathed upon, that Mortality 
 
 " might be fwallowed up of Life. 
 
 " We have no Caufe therefore to erect Tabernacles here of our own invent- 
 " ing, fince a far more glorious Degree is to be received hereafter, by all thofe 
 " who hold out to the End of the Race •, which made not only fome then, but 
 " others alfo nov/, defire to be diflblved, that they might be with Christ alone, 
 *' in the Fulnefs of that Love, Light, and Glory, which our Souls have, in mea- 
 " fure, been made Partakers of; to the eternal Praife of him who lives for ever 
 " and ever ; and becaulc he liveth, we live alio in and by him. 
 
 Rev. .\iii. " And though the true God, and his holy Name, and this his Tabernacle, 
 
 *' and thofe who dwell in Heaven, may be blafphemed for a Time, by the Beaft 
 
 w— ii. 9. " and Dragon, and the Worlhippers of them •, and by the Synagogue of Satan, 
 
 — HI. 9. « ap^ci of j^is Tabernacle, who live in Sin and Uncleannefs, or rather are dead 
 
 " therein, in the Darkncfs of the Earth, and Spirit and Life of this World : Yet 
 " he, who pitcheth his Tents in his Saints, fhall fhortly vvipe away all Tears 
 
 — .\xi. 4. " from their Eyes -, and there fhall be no more Death unto them, neither Sor- 
 
 " row, nor Crying, nor Pain. 
 
 " I'^th, A N D I can aflure thee, if thou canft believe me, that all true ^takers 
 
 " truly love the Lord Jesus Christ, and rely upon him alone for the Com- 
 
 " pletion of that Salvation which he hath begun in us, by the working of the Holy 
 
 " Spirit in our Hearts ; but fay alfo, that we muft be Co-workers with him in 
 
 " our Salvation, with Fear and Trembling : And, by reafon of that Trembling, 
 
 " arifing from a true Dread of his awful Prefence, whilft not fully reconciled, 
 
 " we have received that Name of Contempt and Scorn, by fuch as have feen the 
 
 " Effeds fometimes, when the Caufe has been hid from their Eyes. And 
 
 " whatever may befal thee, for want of Obedience to thy Convictions in time to 
 
 " come, I can lincercly wifh the Increafe of that Love in thee, and that thou 
 
 *•' mayil teflity it before the World, in God's appointed Sealbn -, remcmber- 
 
 Mat. X. 32, " irig '^hat Saying of our Lord Jesus Christ, IFhofoever therefore fhall con- 
 
 33- . . " fefs me before Men, him will I confefs alfo before my Father which is in Heaven : 
 
 ar-viii.3 , „ 2ut whofoever fl-jall deny tne before Men, him alfo will I deny before my Father 
 
 Lukc.\ii.8,9. " "if^hich is in Heaven. He that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receivetb 
 
 " me, receiveth him that fen t me.
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. iii 
 
 " i^h. The Garb, Manners, and Converfotion of our People thou greatly Anno 
 «' likeft. O my beloved Friend, the Lord is come near thee, and haft thou 1696. 
 " confidered it ? In the Love and Fear of the Moft High I write unto thee, that 
 " thy Sincerity fhall be tried in this very Thing •, for the Lord God qH Sabaoth 
 " fhall demand thy Garb, thy Manners, thy Converfation, thy Crown and thy 
 " Glory, that he may give thee a Garb, Manners, and Converfation ; and, upon 
 " thy Refignation and Obedience fhall depend thy Peace and thy Glory •, which 
 « the Lord God of never-changing Love fliall crown thee with, or not, ac- 
 " cording to the Integrity, or Deceit, of the inmoft of thy Soul. 
 
 " And the Lord God of Life, Truth and Peace, be merciful to thee in the 
 " Midft of Judgment, and bear up thy Mind in the approaching Trial, iaith the 
 " Soul of him who is deeply concerned for thee on that Account, in the univer- 
 *' fal Love of him, the Father of Mercies, manifefted by our Lord Jesus 
 *' Christ; through whom, unto the invifible, juft, merciful, and all-powerful 
 "God and Father, be offered and afcribed eternal Honour and immortal Praifesj 
 *' for he is worthy of all Love, Obedience and Renown, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 "The I c^th Head is anfwered in the whole, and needs no further. Try all, 
 " hold the heft. Farewcl," THO STORY 
 
 After this, the fame Summer, I had an Interview and Conference with the 
 fame Perfon, who was convinced of the Way of Truth ; but being engaged in 
 Eledtion of Marriage, could not decline that, nor embrace the Crofs of Christ, 
 and defpife the Shame ; and fo fell back, and never made any ProfefTion with us. 
 
 a' 
 One Firft Day about this Time, came 'thomas Kent, Preacher to the feparate 
 Meeting at Harp-Lane, London, and Arthur Ifmay, another feparate Preacher out 
 of the Country, to our Meeting in Whitehart-Court, in Grace-Church Street, and 
 many of the Separates of Harp-Lane Meeting with them, with Intent (as appear- 
 ed by their Management) to impofe themfelves and Preachment upon our faid 
 Meeting, which was very large. And Ifmay, being of a large Body, and a bold 
 and unmortified Soul, with a loud ftrong Voice, began early, before the Meeting 
 was half gathered -, and went on with Abundance of ranting Matter, fuch as he 
 ufed to vent, and held it till near the Time to break up the Meeting ; and then 
 Thomas Kent fnatched an Opportunity to pray ; in which he made many Protefta- 
 tions to the Almighty of his Innocence, in Things of which feveral Perfons there 
 prefent knew him to be guilty. But as his own Difciples, and feveral other weak and 
 inadvertent Perfons, together with fome Strangers, not of our Communion, mo- 
 ved their Hats in Pofture of Prayer at the fame Time ; though Friends generally 
 kept their Hats on, and fome reproved Thomas Kent in the mean time, for his Im- 
 pofition on the Meeting : And I being there, and under a very great Concern, 
 by reafon of tiiis Attempt and Ufurpation, as foon as the Meeting was broken 
 up over his Head, I called to the People to flay, and hear me a few Words ; 
 which generally they did : And then I laid, " That coofidering the Difturbance 
 " and Confufion, which had then happened •, where, when one goes to Prayer, 
 " or pretends to pray to the Almighty, as if he were the Mouth of the AfTem- 
 " bly in that Exercife, fome feem to join with him, fome reprove and forbid liim 
 " in the mean time, and the greater Part rejeft him and his Performance, as not 
 " having any Unity with him therein ; (which might perplex many, and be offen- 
 " five to feveral fober Perfons there prefent, who could not know the Rea- 
 *' fon of fuch Conduft) I therefore put them in mind of the Direction of our 
 
 H h " Lord
 
 I IX The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno "Lord Jesus Christ, where he faith, If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar^ 
 1696, " and there remember efi that thy Brother hath ought againjl thee^ leave there thy 
 Mat.v.23,24. it Qiji; igjore the Altar, and go thy "way, firjt be reconciled to thy Brother, and then 
 " come and offer thy Gift. 
 
 " Now, by this we may obferve, that the' the Gift may be fuch as may, in 
 " itfelf, be proper to be offered, yet there is a Qualification neceffary in him that 
 " offereth, before he ought to offer ; and that is, Reconcihation to a Brother juft- 
 " ly offended by him : You are therefore to know, that this Perfon and his Ac- 
 " comphces have given juil Caufe of Offence, not only to one Brother, but to 
 " the Community, by fetting up and continuing a feparate Meeting, in Oppofi- 
 " tion and Contempt of his Brethren at this Time ; and have thus impofed them- 
 " felves, and infulted this Meeting, where they ought not to have come in this 
 " Manner. Since then he that offereth an Offering unto God, as he who pray- 
 *' eth doth, or pretendeth to do, is not acceptable until he be reconciled, even to 
 " a fingle Brother, if juflly offended, fuch an one muft needs alfo be unaccept- 
 " able to the Almighty, whilft he ftandeth in oppofition to the whole Commu- 
 " nity and Body of his Brethren, throughout this Nation and elfewhere ; contra- 
 " ry to the Order of Christ, in whofe Name alone he ought to pray. And 
 " this is the Reafon of the Behaviour of them, who have thus publicldy denied 
 *' him, and teftified againfl him, and his Performance, at this Time -, left, by 
 " joining with him, as now ftated, they fliould make themfelves Parties to his 
 " Sin before the Moft High." 
 
 This plunged him and them into a furious Rage, and they began (many at the 
 fame Time) to bawl out aloud fome Pretences to a Juftification of their Condu6t 
 herein ; but the Multituc ^ immediately difperfed, and would not hear them, and 
 they were then like Mad-men. I faid no more to any of them, but went immedi- 
 ately into the Paffage that leads out of the Court, in order to face them as they came 
 out of the Meeting-houfe ; where Thomas Kent, coming towards me in a great 
 Rage, faid, " I had charged him with more than I could prove." I looked upon 
 him, and faid, " I both could and would prove all that, and much more to his 
 " Difadvantage, if, by contending, he would make it needful:" And then he 
 fhrunk, and went off grumbling. 
 
 Then I went to Theodore Eccleflone's, where I was invited to dine, and in 
 o-reat Peace in my Mind ; but foon after that Peace withdrew, and a very great 
 Uneafinefs appeared : This remained but a very fhort Time till my Peace re- 
 turned ; and, in that my Mind fettled with great Confolation, And then I ob- 
 ferved, that the Uneafinefs and Dilfatisfaftion was the State of thofe Oppofers ; 
 and. my Peace confirmed me that I had done my Duty ; and that it was my pre- 
 fent Reward for that Work the Lord had required and enabled me to perform, 
 for his Glory, and the Juftification of his People at that Time. 
 
 This had fuch EfFeft upon Thomas Kent, that he came the next Day to the 
 
 Morning Meeting •, and, feeming in a very low and humble Mind, defiring to be 
 
 reconciled to Friends ; and offered to bring back moft of his faid Meeting. But 
 
 one of the Friends of the Morning Meeting aflced him, If he expefled to return 
 
 as a Preacher among us ? And he owning that he did, the fame Friend then faid, 
 
 *« That he could not be received as fuch, till he had given ample Satisfaftion for 
 
 " his Outgoings, and what he had done, in teftimony of his fincere Repentance :'* 
 
 Which he did not comply with at that Time ; but never troubled our Meetings 
 
 any more, as I remember, 
 ' And
 
 of THOMAS S T Rr. lag 
 
 A N D, continuing in London, my elder Brother, who was Dean of Limerick, in Anno 
 Ireland, defired my Company in a Vifit to Robert Ccnfiable, a Juftice of Peace ^697. 
 in Goodman' s-Fields, and our near Relation ; and, when we came to his Houfe, 
 we met with his Brother George, who was likewife a Priefl •, and, with him, ano- 
 ther Prieft, (a Stranger to me) and fome other Company. This ftrange Prieft, 
 not knowing the Relation among us, and looking upon me as a Bird of a differ- 
 ing Feather, began to peck at me by feveral four Hints, which fhowed his Dif- 
 like of my Company •, which, for Converfation's fake, I pafled by : But, my 
 Forbearance and Silence encouraging him to be a little bolder, at length he mo- 
 ved a plain Accufation, and faid, " You deny the Ordinances of Christ, Wa- 
 " ter Baptifm and the Lord's Supper." 
 
 I replied; " Thou haft not heard me fay any Thing on thefe Subjeds ; 
 " how doft thou therefore know what I deny or affirm ?" Then, faid he, " I 
 " perceive you are one of that Seft that does deny them." " What Authority 
 *' haft thou, faid I, for V/ater Baptifm ?" He was ready with that much mif- 
 taken Text, Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptizittg, &c. " This, faid I, 
 " was a Commandment given by Christ to his Apoftles ; but doft thou think 
 " this is a Command to thee; (for thou feems to be a Teacher of the People) 
 *' haft thou any Authority by this Text?" Upon this he hefitated a little, 
 and the Juftice began to fmile : The Paufe being over, the Prieft anfwered. Yes. 
 *' Then, faid I, how many Nations haft thou travelled through in this Work ? 
 " how many taught and baptized ?" His Countenance began a little to alter, and 
 then he replied, " I have never been out of England." My next Queftion was ; 
 *' How many Counties of England haft thou travelled in this Service ?" He an- 
 fwered, " He had not travelled in any on that Account." " Then, faid I, thou 
 " wicked and unfaithful Servant, out of thy own Moiith fhalt thou be judged : 
 *' Thou haft here affirmed, before thefe WitnefTes, that the Lord Jesus Christ 
 " hath commanded and fent thee to teach and baptize all Nations, and thou art 
 *' fet down in a Corner, and haft not baptized any one : For thou muft under- 
 *' ftand. Friend, that fprinkling an Infant is no Baptifm, either in Mode or Sub- 
 *' je6t." Upon this the Counfellor laughed outright, (for fo he was as well as 
 a Juftice) and the other Priefts fmiled. Then, faid the Juftice, " Sir, This Gen- 
 " tleman is my near Relation, a Coufin-german', you will get nothing by med- 
 *' ling with him on thefe Subjefts." And fo the Matter dropped, and we en- 
 tered on fuch Matters as occurred, and more natural for Converfation among Re- 
 lations and Acquaintance. 
 
 At this Time Peter the Great, Czar of Mufcovy, being in London incog, and Gil- 
 bert Molly fon {Robert Barclay's, Wife's Brother) having heard that a Kinfman of his 
 w as in the Czar's Service ; and, being defirous to increafe the Knowledge of tlie 
 Truth, requefted me to go with him, in queft of his Kinfman, to the Czar's Re- 
 fidence, a large Houfe at the Bottom of Tork- Buildings, in order to prefent him 
 with fome of Robert Barclay's Apologies in Latin ; hoping that, by tliat Means, 
 they might fall under the Czar's Notice, and be fubfervient to the End propofed : 
 And accordingly we went one Morning ; and, when we came to the Place, Gil- 
 bert enquired of the Porter after his Coufin ; but could not hear any Thing of 
 him in the lower Apartments, but was defired to ftay till further Enquiry was 
 made in the Houfe ; and a Servant went up Stairs to that End, and, when re- 
 turned, invited us up. The Head of the Stair-cafe, on the firft Floor, brought 
 us to the Entrance of a long Paflage, which went through the Middle of tlie Houie, 
 and there ftood a fingle Man at a large Window, at the further End next the Ri- 
 ver Thames, to whom we were diredled for Intelligence : And, as we pafTed 
 
 along.
 
 124 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno along, we obferved two tall Men walking in a large Room on the Right-hand ; 
 1697* t)Ut we did not flop to look at them, only tranfiently as we moved : For, fuppo- 
 fing one of them to be the Czar, of whom I had heard that he was not willing 
 to be looked upon ; and, careful not to offend him, we behaved with Caution, 
 and went diredly to tlie Perfon Handing at the Window, of whom Gilbert Mol- 
 lyfon enquired after his Kinfman ; and he told us, that fuch a Perfon had been 
 in the Czar's Service, but was dead. 
 
 In the mean time came the Czar and the other to us; the other, I fup- 
 pofe, was Prince Menzicoff., his General. Our Backs were towards them, and 
 our Hats on ; and when they approached, the Perfon with whom we had con- 
 verfed looked down upon the Floor with profound Relpedt and Silence ; but we 
 flood in our firft Pofture, with our Faces towards the Window, as if Ave had 
 not taken any Notice of them. The Perfon we had converfed with was an 
 Englijhman, a Mofcovy Merchant, known to the Czar in his own Country, un- 
 derftood his Language, and was his Interpreter. Then the Czar ipoke fome- 
 thing to him, which we did not underftand. Upon which he alked us, " Why 
 *' do you not pay Refpeft to great Perfons, when you are in their Prefence ? '* 
 I anfwered, " So we do when we are fully fenfible of it, elpecially to Kings and 
 *' Princes : For tho' we have laid afide, and decline all vain and empty Shows 
 " of Refpeft and Duty, and flattering Titles, whereby they are generally de- 
 " ceived, by infincere and defigning Men, who feem to admire them for their 
 " own Ends ; yet we yield all due and fincere Refpeft and Duty to fuch, and 
 *' all in Authority under them, by giving ready Obedience to all their lawful 
 *' Commands : But when, at any Time, any of them, either through Tyranny 
 " or Ignorance, or ill Counfel, happens to command any thing contrary to our 
 '* Duty to the Almighty, or his Son Christ our Lord ; then we offer our 
 " Prayers and Tears to God, and humble Addreffes unto fuch Rulers, that their 
 " Underftandings may be opened, and their Minds changed towards us." 
 
 The Czar gave no Reply to this, but talked with his Interpreter again, who 
 then afked, " Of what Ufe can you be, in any Kingdom or Government, feeing 
 " you will not bear Arms and fight ? " 
 
 To this I replied, " That many of us had borne Arms in Times pafl, and 
 " been in many Battles, and fought with Courage and Magnanimity, and 
 " thought it lawful, and a Duty then, in Days of Ignorance ; and I myfelf 
 *' have worn a Sword, and other Arms, and knew how to ufe them : But when 
 *' it pleafed God to reveal in our Hearts the Life and Power of Jesus Christ, 
 *' his Son, our Lord, who is the Prince of Righteoufnefs and Peace, whofe 
 *' Commandment is Love, we were then- reconciled unto God, one unto ano- 
 " ther, unto our Enemies, and unto all Men. And he that commandeth 
 " that we fhould love our Enemies, hath left us no Right to fight and deftroy, 
 " but to convert them. And yet we are of Ufe, and helpful in any Kingdom 
 " or Government : For the Principle of our Religion prohibits Idlenefs, and ex- 
 Ifa. ii. 4. " cites to Induftry ; as it is written, They Jhall beat their Swords into Plough- 
 « Jhears^ and their Spears into Pruning-hooks : And we, being Hufbandmen, 
 « concerned in all manner of Hufbandry and Improvements, as likewife in 
 " Manufadtories and Merchandizing, with the Bleffing of Heaven upon our 
 « Labours, do not want, but rather abound. And though we are prohibited 
 *' Arms, and fighting in Perfon, as inconfiftent (we think) with the Rules of 
 " the Gofpel of Christ ; yet we can, and do, by his Example, readily and 
 « chearfuUy pay unto every Government, in every Form, where we happen to 
 
 " be
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. irs 
 
 " be Subjefts, fuch Sums and Afieffments as are required of us, by the re- Anno 
 
 " Jpedtive Laws under which we hve. For when a general Tax was laid by the 1696. 
 
 " Roman Czar upon his extcnfive Empire, and the Time of Payment came, the 
 
 " Lord Jesus Christ, whofe Kingdom is not of this World, demanded of 
 
 " Peter, Of ivhom do the Kings of the Earth take Cuflom or Tribute 1 Of their Mat.xvii.25, 
 
 " own Children, or of Strangers? Peter faith unto him. Of Strangers. Jcfus ^^' '7- 
 
 *' faith unto him. Then are the Children free. Notwithftanding, left we fbould 
 
 " offend them, go thou to the Sea, and cafl an Hook, and take up the Fijh that firjl 
 
 " Cometh up : And when thou hafi opened his Mouth, thou fhalt find a Piece of 
 
 " Money -, that take, and give unto them (the Tribute-gatherers) for me and 
 
 " thee : Thus working a Miracle to pay a Tax, where yet it was not ftrictly 
 
 " due ; we, by lb great an Example, do freely pay our Taxes to Cafar, who, of 
 
 " Right, hath the Direftion and Application of them, to the various Ends of 
 
 " ^Government, to Peace or to War, as it pleafeth him, or as Need may be, ac- 
 
 " cording to the Conftitution or Laws of his Kingdom •, and in which we, as 
 
 *' Subjedts, have no Direftion or Share : For it is C^far's Part to rule, in Juftice 
 
 " and in Truth ; but ours to be fubjeft, and mind our own Bufinefs, and not 
 
 " to meddle with his." 
 
 Upon this the Czar took feveral Turns in the Gallery, or Paflage, and then 
 came and looked ftedfaftly upon us, though we did not feem to mind him, or 
 know that it was he. Then I faid to the Interpreter, " That we underftood 
 " there was a Perfon of great Dignity and Diftindtion in that Place, a Stranger, 
 " very infpeftious into the State of Affairs and Things in general -, and, no 
 *' doubt, might be alfo inquifitive into the State of Religion •, and we (being a, 
 " People differing in fome Points from all others, and fo much mifunderftood 
 *' and milreprefented in our own Country, that even our Neighbours themlelves 
 *' did not know us) lefl that great Prince fhould be mifinformed, and impo- 
 *' fed upon concerning us and our Religion, had brought him fome Books, 
 " dedicated to the Sovereign of our native Country ; by which he might pleafe 
 *' to fee a full Account of our Principles." — We then produced two of the 
 *' Apologies in Latin. 
 
 Then the Czar talked again with the Interpreter, who afked us, " Were 
 *' not thefe Books writ by a Jefuit ? It is faid there are Jefuits among you." 
 To which Gilbert Mollyfon replied, " That is a Calumny, and proves the Ne- 
 " celTity of our Endeavours, in that refpedl, at this Time. We have no Jefuits 
 " among us. Our Religion and theirs differ very widely. This Book was writ 
 " by a near Relation of mine, who was not a Jefuit, but fincerely of thofe Prin- 
 " ciples afTerted and maintained in the Book, as our whole Community is." 
 
 And then the Czar and Interpreter talked together again; after which the 
 latter took fome Gold out of his Pocket, and offered us for the Books. But I 
 told them, " We were no fuch Men as to want any thing for the Books, or 
 " otherwife. They were a Prefent to that great Prince, and given freely ; and 
 " all that we defired was, that they might be acceptable ; and that in cafe any 
 " of our Friends fhould, at any Time hereafter, come into his Country, and 
 " preach thofe Principles contained in the Books, and if they fhould meet with 
 *' Oppofition, and be perfecuted, by any OfEcers or Perfons in Power under 
 *' him, for the fame, he would pleafe to afford them Protedtion and Relief." 
 Then they talked together again, and the Interpreter kept the Books •, and the 
 Czar and Prince Af^»2zVo^ retired into the Room from whence they came. 
 
 I i They
 
 iz6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno They being gone, we aficed the Interpreter, " If that was the Czar ? He 
 
 1696. " faid he was. Then v/e afl<;ed him, If he had told the Czar the Subftance of 
 " what we had faid ? And he faid he had. Then we defired, that if he aiked 
 " him any more Queftions about us and our Rehgion, not to mention to him 
 " any of thofe rude Calumnies thrown upon us by ignorant and malicious Per- 
 " fons, but the Truth, to the beft of his Oblervation and Information •, and he 
 " promifed he would." Then he told us, that the Czar did not underftand the 
 Latin Tongue •, but only his own Language and High Butch. Then Gilbert 
 Mollyfon gave one of the Apologies to the Interpreter, (for he had feveral with 
 him) and fo we departed in Peace and Satisfaftion. 
 
 This was about the Beginning of the Week, and the next Firft Day the 
 Czar, the Prince, and a great Company of his other Attendants, came in the 
 Morning to our Meeting in Grace-Church Street, all in Enghfi Habits, like 
 Englijh Gentlemen, and the fame Interpreter with him. I happened to be 
 there in the Gallery, and the firft I knew was Menzicoff. Robert Haddock had 
 begun to preach a little before they came in, upon the Subject of " Naaman, the 
 " Captain General of the Hoft of the AJJyrians, going to the Prophet for Cure 
 " of his Leprofy -, who, directing him to dip himlelf fevcn Tmies in the River 
 " Jordan, the General, defpifing the Means, as too low a Thing, expedting fome 
 " Ceremony or Aftion from the Prophet, was about to return without a Cure, 
 " till, being perfuaded by his own Servant to make a Trial of the Means prc- 
 " fcribed, he found the End accomphfhed, by happy Experience." 
 
 From which Robert drew this Obfervation, as from a Type of a more excel- 
 lent and general Nature and Confequence, faying, " The Nations of this World 
 " being deiiled and difi:empered, as with a Leprofy of Sin and Uncleannefs, no 
 " Cure or Help could be found, untill the Almighty, in his infinite Goodnefs, 
 " fent his Son J E s u s Chp.ist into the World, to die for Man, as a Propitia- 
 " tion for Sin ; through whom alio he hath fent forth his divine Light, Spirit, 
 " and Grace upon all Mankind, in order for the compleating of that Cure ; which 
 *' nothing lefs can do, and to which all Mankind are directed by the Servants of 
 " Christ; and as many as have believed and made Trial of this excellent 
 " Means, have found the blefled Effedts thereof ; they have been healed, cured, 
 " and cleanfed. 
 
 " Now, faid he. If thou wert the greateji King, Emperor, or Potentate upon 
 " Earth, thou art not too great to make life of the Means offered by the Almighty 
 " for thy Healing and Refloration, if ever thou expe£t to enter his Kingdom, into 
 *' which no unclean Thing can come." 
 
 And the Czar and his Interpreter were often whifpering together in the Time, 
 though Robert Haddock knew nothing of his being in the Meeting ; and thus he 
 llaid very fociably, till obfcrving the People crowd up before him to gaze, f which 
 he could not endure) he retired on a fudden, along with his Company, before the 
 Meeting was quite over : For fome People in the Streets had feen him as he came, 
 and, by fome Means, had dilcovered who he was, and crowded after him to fee 
 him more perfedly. 
 
 After this he went incognito to Deptford, to improve himfelf in the Art of 
 Ship-building, and there wrought at it with his own Hands : And Gilbert Molly- 
 fon and I acquainting fome Friends how we happened to fee him, and had given 
 him fome Books, and that he underftood the High Dutch, IVilliam Pcnn, George 
 
 White-
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. izy 
 
 Whitehead, and fome other Friends, went to Deplford, and waited on him private- Anno 
 ly, and prefented him with more of the fame Books in tliat Language -, which he 1697. 
 accepted, and afterwards was fometimes at our Meeting there, behaving as a pri- 
 vate Perfon, and very fecial ; changing Seats, Handing or fitting as Occafion 
 might be, to accommodate others as well as himfclf. 
 
 W H E N this great Prince had, in a good degree, furnifhed himfelf with ufeful 
 Knowledge in natural Things, neceffary for the civilizing and improving the bar- 
 barous People of his Kingdom and Nation, he returned thither, accomplifhed 
 with Experience in many Particulars, to the great Advancement thereof in gene- 
 ral. But, fince I may have occafion to make mention of him again, in proper 
 Time and Place, in the Sequel of thefe Accounts, I (hall leave him at prefcnt, and 
 proceed to fome other Matters. 
 
 During my Continuance in London, I employed myfelf in Conveyancing, 
 and the like ; and, having more Bufinefs than I could manage alone, I had feve- 
 ral Clerks, or Apprentices, offered, both in Londo'n, and from the North, and con- 
 fiderable Sums of Money with them -, but could not accept of any, left it fhould 
 prove too great a Confinement from my Calling in the Truth : For though I was 
 willing to take Pains for my neceflliry Support, and the Charges of my Travels, 
 yet I fuffered much in my Mind, by reafon ol Confinement -, fince the Calling 
 ot God cannot be rightly and luUy anfwertd by any one, too much entangled in 
 other Concerns, though lawful and gainful, and, to the View of Reafon, need- 
 ful. And here I ftaid, attending the City Meetings, and fometimes vifitingthofe 
 of the Neighbourhood in the Country, until the Year 1698 ; when, having a 1698. 
 Letter from William Penn, then at Brijlol, defiring me to meet him and John 
 Everot at Holy-Head, in Wales, at a Day certain, in order to go for Ireland, I ac- 
 cordingly fet forward from Z-oW^K, on the 28th of the Second Month -, and, 
 that Night, v/ent to Brickhill ; and thence, by Daventry, Coventry, Litchfield, Stone, 
 Namptwich, and Chejler, to Aberconway, in Wales ; meeting, in the Way, with 
 a great Shower of Snow, high Wind, and loud Thunder, very unufual Conco- 
 mitants at that Time of the Year, (the 3d of the Third Month) : But the Incon- 
 venience of that was foon forgot ; for, in about halt an Hour, reaching Conway, I 
 there met with my Friends aforefaid, to our mutual Satisfaftion -, and from thence 
 we went to Holy-Head, in the Ifle of Anglefea, where we arrived the next Day 
 about the loth Hour in the Forenoon ; and, the next Day, about Two in the Af- 
 ternoon, we fet Sail, and arrived in Dublin Bay, in about 24 Hours ; for which we, 
 were thankful. 
 
 A T the Time of our landing, there was a Ship in the Bay, with a great ma- 
 ny Friers, going for France, being fent out of Ireland, by virtue of a Law lately 
 made there : And John Everot having fomething to fay in fome Meetings, after 
 we landed, againft feveral Tenets, Opinions, and Pradices of the Papifts, a Report 
 was raifed, that William Penn had preached among thofe Monks and Friers at 
 our landing, and had converted fome of them ; one of whom, being more zea- 
 lous than the reft, was now with Williatn Penn, preaching mightily againft the 
 Papifts, meaning John Everot. 
 
 This was rcverfe to a Report formerly invented againft William Penn, that 
 he himfelf was a Jefuit, and died fo in Penfylvania many Years ago ; and not on- 
 ly reported, but printed and publiftied ; and alfo confuted by his appearing foon 
 after in England. 
 
 On
 
 ii8 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Anno On the 6th of the Third Month we went to Dublin; and, on the 8th, being 
 1698. the Firft of the Week, was the Half-year Meeting there ; where we were great- 
 ly comforted, not only in the Enjoyment of the blefled Prefence of the Lord, 
 but alfo in obferving the Unity, Mildnefs, and Order which appeared among 
 Friends, in the Management of the Affairs of the Church on that Occafion. 
 
 Great was the Refort of People of all Ranks, Qualities, and Profefllons, to 
 our Meetings, chiefly on account of our Friend William Penn ; who was ever fur-^ 
 nifhed by the Truth with Matter fully to anfwer their Expe£l:ations : Many of 
 the Clergy were there -, and the People, with one Voice, fpake well of what they 
 heard : And, of the Clergy, the Dean of Derry was one ; who, being there feve- 
 ral Times, was afked by his Bifhop, Whether he had heard any T'hing but Blaf- 
 phemy and Nonfenfe ; and whether he took off his Hat in time of Prayer, to 
 join with us ? He anfwered, " 7"hat he heard no Blafphemy nor Nonfenfe, but 
 " the everlaftipg Truth •, and did not only take off his Hat at Prayer, but his 
 " Heart faid Amen to what he heard :" Yet he proved lilce the ftony Ground, 
 and brought forth no Fruit. He faid, " Though he could die for the Principles 
 " of Religion the Quakers profefs'd ; yet, to lofe his Living and Charafter for 
 " fome Incidents they are tenacious of, as plain Language, plain Habits, and 
 " other diftinguifliing Particularities, he did not think thefe of fufficient Weight, 
 or reafonable:" And fo came no further in the Way of Truth, but proved un- 
 faithful in the Day of fmall Things. 
 
 I N the Intervals of Meetings, William Penn vifited the Lords Juftices of Ire- 
 land, and Chief Miniflers of Government there ; in which he was very ferviceable 
 to Truth and Friends. 
 
 But the Envy of Satan foon began to work againft the Truth and us, in fuch 
 Tools as he then had -, for one John Plympton, a Journeyman Woolcomber, and 
 Teacher among a few General Baptifts, foon after we came there, publiflied an 
 abufive Paper againft Friends in general, and William Penn in particular ; where- 
 in he treated him with Language much below common Civility, calling him a 
 wilful and defperate Liar, i^c. 
 
 Upon this feveral of us went to the Chief Elders of that People, and afterwards 
 to their Meeting, and enquired whether this Work was by their Confent ; and 
 they, in a very modeft Manner, and with Concern, anfwered, that it was altoge- 
 ther his own Work, in which they had no Hand, but difowned him therein : And, 
 finding him an impertinent Wrangler, of little Confequence, we took no further 
 Notice of him at that Time, but afterwards publilhed a Sheet, call'd Go/pel 'Truths ; 
 drawn up chiefly by William Penn, and fign'd by himfelf, and feveral others, of 
 whom I was one. Plympton alfo publiflied a Paper, which he called A ^laker 
 no Chrijlian ; which William Penn anfwered by another, intitled. The ^laker a 
 Chrijlian. He alfo reprinted the 8th and 9th Chapters of his Primitive Chrijlia- 
 nity revived ; which gave the People a general Satisfadlion that Plympton' s Charges 
 were groundlefs. And as William Penn's Travels through the Nation at that 
 Time, made the Envy of the Priefts to boil againft the Truth and us, the Bi- 
 fhop of Cork wrote a Book againft the above Sheet intitled Go/pel Truths; which 
 gave occafion for much Controverfy, and many other Books to be writ. 
 
 W E had feveral very crowded Meetings at Dublin in the mean time, and the 
 Lord was with us; and many, I believe, were touched by the Virtue of Truth; 
 efpecially through the Miniftry of William Penn, upon whom were the Eyes of the 
 
 People
 
 of THOMAS S T RT 
 
 People in a more particular Manner ; and John Everot had alio good Service : 
 But, juftly preferring them before mylelf, my Spirit was weakened by bearing too 
 much, and I became very uneafy ; but they taking a Turn into the Country about 
 VAcklo'u) for fome Days, I had Opportunity, at Dublin, to clear my Mind to 
 Friends and others in feveral Meetings. 
 
 William Penn returning to Dimm, we went thence, on the 27th of the Third 
 Month, towards the County o^ tVexford; and that Night lodged at an Inn in 
 BallymorenJliSy feveral Friends accompanying us thither. 
 
 129 
 
 Anno 
 1698. 
 
 Dublin. 
 
 Ballymoren- 
 
 ftis. 
 
 Next Day we went forward to our Friend Johi Wdtfon's, where we ftald 
 fome Flours -, and from thence to Lambftown, to our Friend 'Thomas Cubage^?., Lambllown, 
 who came with us from Dublin -, and, in the mean time, John Evcrot vifited fome 
 Meetings alone in thofe Parts ; but V/illiam Penn and I had a large and good 
 Meeting at Lambftown on the 29th, the divine Prefence being with us, to the Praife 
 oi: his holy Name ; and, the next Day, we refted there, where came to us Co- 
 lonel Butler ; who, though an Irifiman^ and a Papift, had been kind to the En- 
 glijh in general, and to our Friends in parucular, in time of the late Wars in that 
 Nation : And, on the 31ft, we vifited our Friend John Tatenham and his Fa- 
 mily in the Neighbourhood, and ftaid with them till the Evening, returning then 
 tp Lambjtown ; where came to us John Everot, and fome other Friends. 
 
 On the ift of the Fourth Month we had a Meeting at Wexford, wliich was Wexford, 
 -very large and open ; after which a Jufl:ice of Peace for the County and his Wife 
 dined with us, being very near the Truth, and loving •, and, that Evening, we 
 returned to Lambftown ; where, the next Day, we wrote the following Epiftle to 
 the Yearly Meeting at London, viz. 
 
 Dear Friends and Brethren, 
 
 T is not the leafh of our Exerclfes that we are thus far outwardly fepara- 
 
 ted from you at this Tim.e of your holy and blefled Solemnity ; but, 
 
 " becaufe we have great Reafon to believe it is in the Will of God, we humbly 
 
 " fubmit to his ordering Hand ; and, with open Arms of deep and tender 
 
 " Love, embrace you, our living and loving Brethren •, who are given up to 
 
 *' ferve the L o Pv d in your Generation, and that have long preferred Jerufa- 
 
 *' km, and the Peace and Profperity of her Borders, above your chiefcft Joy. 
 
 " The Salutation of our endeared brotherly Love in Christ Jesus is unto 
 
 " you •, defiring that he may richly appear among you in Power, Wifdom, and 
 
 " Love, to guide your Judgments, and influence your Spirits, in this weighty 
 
 " and Anniverfary AlTembly-, that fo nothing may appear, or have place 
 
 *' among you, but what fingly feeks the Honour of the Lord, the Exaltati- 
 
 " on of his Truth, and the Peace and Edification of his Heritage : For this, 
 
 " Brethren, you and we know, has been the Aim, End, and Praftice of thofe, 
 
 " whom the Lord hath made willing to forlake and give up all for his Name's 
 
 " fake; and, through various Exercifes and Tribulations, yea, in the Way of 
 
 " the daily Crofs, and through the Fight and Baptifm of manifold Affliclions, 
 
 " to have their Converfation and Sojourning here below upon the Earth in 
 
 *' Fear and Love-, looking for their Reward in the Heavens, that fnall never 
 
 " pafs away : who have not been lifted up by good Report, nor caft down by 
 
 *' evil Report, from their Love to the Lord and his precious Truth-, but 
 
 *' held on their Way : and v/hofe Hands, being clean of evil Things towards 
 
 " all Men, liave waxed ftronger and fbrongtrin the Lord : Wherefore, dear 
 
 " Brethi'en. let us alfi? be found in the {ame Steps, and walking the fame Way -, 
 
 K k not
 
 I go The LIFE, &c,' 
 
 Anno "not being high-minded, but fearing the Lord, that we may ferve him thro' our 
 1698. " Generation, in Diligence and Faithfulnefs, and lb enter into the Reft tiiat Goi> 
 " liath referved for his true Travellers, and Labourers in his Vineyard. 
 
 " And now, dear Brethren, know, that the L o r d hath brought us well irv 
 " to this Kingdom of Ireland, and given us many large and blelfed Opportu- 
 " nities in feveral Parts-, Meetings being crowded by People of all Ranks and 
 " Perluafions, efpecially at Dubl'm; who, for any Thing we have heard, have 
 " o-iven the Truth a good Report : And indeed the L o r d hath mightily ap- 
 " peared for his own Name, and owned us with a more than ordinary Prefence, 
 " fuitable to the Occafions, and made very heavy and hard Things eafy to us, 
 " becaufe of the Glory of his Power, with v/hich he alTifted us in our needful 
 '" Times ; for which our Souls bow before him, and blefs, reverence, and praife 
 " his holy and worthy Name : So that, dear Brethren, we have good Tidings 
 " to give you of Tnith's Profperity at large ; and more efpecially in the Church, 
 " having had the Comfort of the General Meeting of this Nation, confifting 
 " of many weighty Brethren and Sifters from all Parts thereof, which was 
 " held in the City of Dublin, in much Love, Peace, and Unity, for feveral 
 " Days ; wherein we had occafion to obferve their commendable Care for the 
 •' Profperity of the bleffed Tnith, in all the Branches of its holy Teftimony, 
 *' both in the general, and in the particidar ; improving the good Order that 
 " is pradtifed among the Churches of C h r i s t in our Nation. 
 
 " Indeed their Simplicity, Gravity, and Coolneis in managing their 
 " Church-affairs-, their Diligence in Meetings, both for VVorfhip and Bu- 
 " finefs-, their Difpatch in ending Differences, and Expedience to prevent 
 " them ; but efpecially their Zeal againft Covetoufnefs, and Indifferency in 
 " Truth's Service, and an exemplary Care to difcourage an immoderate 
 " Concern in purfuit of the Things of this Life, and to excite Friends 
 " to do good with what they are poflefs'd of, while they have it, and Time 
 " to do good withal-, thefe have very greatly comforted us : And, in the fweet 
 " and blefied Power of C h r i s t Jesus, the Meetings ended, and Friends 
 " departed. The Lord grant that you may alfo make the fame Purpofe the 
 " Travel of your Souls, and End of your Labour and Service of Love, as not 
 " fecking your own Things, but the Things of Jesus Christ, in this your 
 " folemn General Meeting. And, dear Brethren, we muft tell you, here is 
 " Room enough for true Labourers in Goo's Vineyard; and cannot well for- 
 " bear to recommend the Service of Truth in this Nation to your ferious Con- 
 " fideration, if happily the Lord may put it into the Hearts of any faithful 
 " and weighty Brethren to vifit it, in the Word of eternal Life; for we cannot 
 " but fay, the Harveft appears to us to be great, and the Labourers, in Com- 
 " parifon, but few. 
 
 " S o, in that Love wliich many Waters cannot quench, nor Diftance wear 
 " out of our Remembrance, and in which we defire to be remembred of you 
 " to the LoR D of our Houfhold, we dearly and tenderly falute and embrace 
 " you, and remain Tottr loving and faithful Brethren, 
 
 WILLIAM PENN, 
 JOHN EVEROT, 
 THO. STORY. 
 
 C( 
 
 p. S. F Ri E N DS here have been very zealous and liberal in printing and 
 re-printing, and freely diftributing great Quantities (and to very good Pur- 
 pofe) of Tcveral Books and Papers, writ in Defence of the Truth, and for 
 
 In-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 151 
 
 ■'■ Information of the Simple and Mifinformetl ; which, weliope, will alfd fall Anko 
 " under your Confidcration." 1698. 
 
 Before we departed from Lamlftozon, I found my Mind deeply engaged 
 in fome heavy Work, and much laden •, but as I did not know the Caufe, or 
 what the particular Matter might be, I conceal'd my Concern from every one. 
 And on the 3d of the Fourth Month, (being the 6th of the Week) we fet 
 forward for IVaterford, where was a Meeting appointed to begin at the 5th 
 Hour Afternoon that Day, and my Concern continued till we came to Rofs, Rofs. 
 where we dined. And after Dinner we took a Boat to crofs the River, in or- 
 der for Waterford ; but as we were about to enter the Boat, about half a Dozen 
 Dragoons ftepped in before us, and forced off the Boat from the Shore ; which 
 William Penn obfcrving, he went to fome of their Officers and Gentlemen ftand- 
 jng on the Key, reafonably expefting they Ihould fo refent the Abufe, as, at 
 leafl, to reprove the Soldiers j which, when they neglected, we perceived it 
 was done by their Direftion, to prevent our Paflage. Then PFtlliam Penn faid 
 to them, v/ith a fuitable Freedom and Refentment, What! are you Gentle- 
 men and Officers, and will fland here and fufi'er fuch Infolences in your open 
 Viev/ ? And then the Load went off my Mind, and my Spirit was at Liberty, 
 and over them. 
 
 Th E Cafe was thus : In order to difcourage the evil Purpofes of Papiils, 
 the Parhament of Ireland had made a Law, that no Papift Ihould be allowed 
 to keep a Horfe of the Value of L. 5, 5 s. or upwards ; and, to make the fame 
 take EfFeifl, the Horfe of any Papift, being deemed worth fo much, any Per- 
 fon, being a Proteftant, might difcover, or make Information of it upon Oath, 
 beiore two Juftices of the Peace, the Mayor, or chief Magiftratc of any City, 
 or Tov/n corporate -, and the Horfe to be brought before fuch Magiftrate, 
 and the Informer to pay, or tender, to the Owner or Poflefibr, before fuch 
 Magiftrate, L. 5, 5 s. and the Property of the Horfe to be altered after tender 
 of the Money, and vefted in the Informer, ^c. And all to be deemed Papifts, 
 who ftiould refufe to take the Oatlis, and fubfcribe the Declarations, upon 
 tender thereof, i^c. And tho' this Law was not intended againft Friends, 
 yet it was put in Pradtice againft us. 
 
 The chief Informers were. Lieutenant Alexander Wallis, of Major Stewart^ & 
 Regiment, and Cornet Robert Montgomery, of the Lieutenant Colonel's Troop 
 of Colonel Ecclin'% Regiment •, who, we then perceived, had feized feveral of 
 our Horfes in Town, by this Law, whilft we were at Dinner 5 and thefe Dra- 
 goons feized our Boat, to detain us there till they could have Opportunity to 
 tender the Money. The Warrant by which they feized the Horfes rim thus : 
 
 Ccuniy of 7 '\'KJ Hereas feveral Perfons, whofe ISlames are unknoimi, now in the 
 ■Wexford. S y^ 5"oK>-« 0/ Rofs, are Papifts within the Conjlruifion of the late 
 A£i, having now in their Cuftody in this 'Town, feveral Horfes, of the Value of 
 L. 5, 5 s. each Horfe : And requeft king made unto me, by Alexander Wallis and 
 Robert Montgomery, Prot eft ants, informing of the fame, for Warrants accord- 
 ing to the faid ASi to be granted -, thefe are therefore to will and require you, to 
 make diligent Search, according to the faid A£f, for the Perfons and Horfes, and 
 then bri?!g them to me, to be dealt with according to the Law and true Meaning of 
 of the faid Aa. 
 
 New Rofs, May 3. JOHN WIAKWORTH, Sv.ff. of Rofs. 
 
 1698. TotheConftablesoftheTownof^Q-^Kok. Thefe. 
 
 An d
 
 1-1 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno Aj^ d as fome of our Friends returned from the Key into Tov/n, they met 
 
 1698. thefe Informers in Pofleflion of four of our Horfes, viz. l^yiiam Penn's, and 
 
 his Son's, and two more. The two kit they returned by Intreaty, being 
 
 worth Httle more than L. 5, 5 s. each > but the two firft they detained, being 
 
 of much greater Vahie. 
 
 William Venn and 'John Everot in the mean time had got over the River, 
 and feveral other Friends with them, and took the Horfes that had been got 
 over before the Seizure, and went on to Waterford, to anfwer the Meeting -, 
 and our Friends Jofeph Pike of Cork., and Thomas Cubage of Lambjiozvtt, and 
 fome other Friends, ftaid to fettle the Matter about the Horfes which were in 
 Cuftody : And they, going to the Sutteran of the Town, who granted the 
 faid Warrant, (before whom alfo appeared the aforefaid Lieutenant and Cor- 
 net) took out a Replevin, whereby they gained Pofleffion of the Horfes ; 
 which fo difappointcd and enraged thefe covetous and unreafonable Officers, 
 that they were upon the Point of forcing them again from the Friends by tlieir 
 Soldiers •, but not adventuring on that Method, they ftormed, and boafted 
 what they would expend in Law to regain them : But in tlieir Seizure they 
 were fo precipitate and inconfiderate, that they had omitted feveral materia] 
 Points direfted by the Statute, which gave us great Advantage againft them. 
 The Replevin being taken out, and Bond given hy Thomas Cubage to proceed 
 Waterford. therein, we left them and went to IVaterford that Afternoon to the reft of our 
 Friends ; but the Meeting was over before we arrived, which was all the fur- 
 ther Hurt they could do us. 
 
 But thefe rude difingenuous Pcrfons had not their Ends of us ; for PFilliam 
 
 Penn wrote to the Earl of Galloway and the Marquis of , then Lords 
 
 Juftices of Ireland, complaining of the Abufe -, and they ilTued an Order, 
 whereby they confined thefe Officers to their Chambers, and commanded 
 them to decline the Suit •, and there they were detained feveral "Weeks, till they 
 made Application to Lieutenant Colonel Purfel, Governor of Waterford., to 
 make "Way for them by fonie of our Friends at Cork, to William Penn, and 
 (being then gone thither) to intreat him to write again to the Lords Juftices 
 for their Releafement, and that they might not be broke : For the firft they 
 did not expeft, till it fliould be efFe£led by his Means, and the latter they m.uch 
 fearM would happen, unlefs he fignified his Satisfaftion -, which they had en- 
 deavour'd to obtain, by paying all Charges, and difcharging the Suit at Rofs : 
 And William Penn, who was not a Man of Revenge, but of Juftice and Mercy, 
 fo foon as he found their Requeft was made in a due Senfe of their Error, 
 delay'd not to folicit for them accordingly ; upon which they were releafed 
 and forsiven, for which they appeared very thankful and much humbled. 
 
 The Meeting at Waterfcrd was very large, and well -, and it was faid the 
 Biiliop of the Place, and feveral of his Clergy, were in his Garden, where they 
 might hear-, but we heard of no Objeftion, Willi aiu Penn having had the 
 whole Meeting, or Service of it, upon him. 
 
 Clonmell ^ ^ ^^''^ 4^'^ "f ^^^^ Fourth Month, we went from Waterford to Clonmcll ; and 
 
 the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, were at the Province Meeting 
 there, which was very large -, and had another there next Day, on tlie After- 
 noon of which v.erc the Men and Womens Meetings. 
 
 O N the 7tli we went forward for T'oughall, tho' not without fome Danger, 
 
 of
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 133 
 
 of which we were not then aware : For we were told afterwards, that the Rap^ Anno 
 parees ufually haunted fome wafte Places we had pafTed over ; and that there 1698. 
 had been about fourteen of them in Ambufh under a Hedge, on the Side of a 
 Mountain in our Way, to have fet upon us : for they faid, if they could feize 
 Mr Penn, they fhould have a Hatful of Guineas. But it being a heavy Rain, 
 and fome of us ftaying behind, on occafion of that and removing our Horfes 
 Shoes, our Company was divided into feveral Parties, riding at certain DiftanceS 
 one from another ; and feveral of the Rapparees knowing fome of our Com- 
 pany belonging to 7'oughall, they did not attack us, or appear : But whether 
 for fear that fome who knew them might efcape, and make Difcovery who 
 they were, or that our Number (though unarm'd) over-awed them, or 
 (which is nioft likely) the Lord by his Power reftrained them, I fhall not 
 determine ; but, through his good Providence, we went all fafe to Youghall Youghall. 
 in the Evening. 
 
 The Lord is good to them that love him, and near to preftrve thofe 
 that truft in him, and mean no Hurt ; and all thofe can praife his never-failing 
 Power. 
 
 A T Youghall we ftaid one Night, and had a fmall Meeting with Friends 
 there ; it being ufual for them to meet at our Friend iVilliam FenneW?,, as on 
 that Afternoon. 
 
 On the 7th we went into the Barony of tmokilley, where lies greai: Part of imokilley. 
 William Penn\ Eftate in that Kingdom, fome of which he view'd, and we 
 ftaid thereabout till the loth; and being at the Caftle of Shannigary, belong- Shannigary. 
 ing to him, a Gentlewoman, of good Senfe and Charafter, related to me the 
 following Paffage, viz. 
 
 '*' That flie, being in the City o^Cork when it was invefted by King William^ 
 *' Army, and having a little Daughter of hers with her, they were fitting 
 *' together on a Squab ; and being much concerned in Mind about the 
 *' Danger and Circurriftances they were under, fhe was feized with a fudden 
 *' Fear, and ftrong Impulfe to arife fi-om that Seat, which fhe did in a pre- 
 *' cipitant Manner, and hafted to another Part of the Room ; and then was 
 *' in the like Concern for her Child, to whom fhe called with uncommon 
 " Earneflnefs to come to her, which fhe did -, immediately after which came a 
 " Cannon Ball arid ftruck the Seat all in Pieces, and drove the Parts of it about 
 *' the Room, without any Hurt to either of them." 
 
 From this Relation I took occafion to reafon with her thus : " That In- 
 *' telligencer which gave her Notice, by Fear, of the Danger they were in, mufl 
 " be a fpiritual Being, having Accefs to her Mind (which is likewife of a fpi- 
 " ritual Nature) when in that State of Humiliation, under thofe Circum- 
 " fiances ; and muft alfo be a good and beneficent Intelligencer, willing to 
 " preferve them, and furnifhed alfo with Knowledge and I^orcfight more than 
 *' human. He muft have known, that fuch a Piece would be fired at that 
 " Time, and that the Ball would hit that Seat, and infallibly deftroy you both, 
 " if not prevented in due Time, by a fliitable Admonition ; which he fug- 
 <' gefted by the PaflTion Fear, (the Paflions being ufeful when duly fubjefted) 
 " and by that Means faved your Lives. And feeing that the Paffions of the 
 " Mind can be wrought upon for our Good, by an invifible, benificent Intcl- 
 
 L I " legencer
 
 154 . 
 
 Anno 
 
 1698. 
 
 Coik. 
 
 Bandon. 
 
 Tbaune. 
 Barryroe. 
 
 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 " ligenccr in the Mind, in a State of Humiliation and StlUnefs, without any 
 " exterior Medium, Is it not reafonable to conclude, that an evil Intelli- 
 " gencer may have Accefs likewife to the Mind, in a State of Unwatchfulnefs, 
 " when the Paffions are moving, and the Imagination at Liberty to form 
 " Ideas deflruftive to the Mind, being thereby depraved and wounded ? And 
 " when fo, Is it not likewife reafonable to think, that the Almighty himfelf, 
 " who is the moft pure, merciful, and benificent Spirit, knowing all Events 
 " and Things, doth fometimes, at his Pleafure, vifit the Minds of Mankind, 
 " through C H R I s T, as through or under a Vail, fo as to communicate of 
 " his Goodnefs and Virtue to a humble and filent Mind, to heal and inilrucl 
 *' him in Things pleafing to himfelf, and proper for the Conduct of Man 
 *' in his Pilgrimage through this prefent World, and lead him to the next in 
 «' Safety?" 
 
 This coming immediately upon the Inftance ftle had given, took with her 
 and the Company ; who readily granted it might be fo, and fome of them knew 
 it J and this Converfation feem'd agreeable to us all. 
 
 On the loth, in the Evening, we went to Cork; and, on the 12th, being 
 the Firft of the Week, we had a large Meeting there, both of Friends from fe- 
 veral Parts, and others in great Numbers ; and the divine Truth was over all. 
 
 O N the 16th, (leaving John Everot at Cork) Vfe went to Bandon; and, from 
 thence, next Morning, accompanied by feveral Friends, into the Barony of 
 3aune, and Barryroe, to view the reft of TVilliam Penn's Eftate in thofe Parts, 
 and fpent two Days there to and again •, and, on the 1 8th, came back to Bau- 
 don, where next Day John Everot came to us with many Friends from Cork, 
 and, being the Firft of the Week, we were favour'd with a large good Meet- 
 ing ; which was much crowded with Perfons of all Ranks, Religions, and 
 Qiiahties, of both Sexes. 
 
 Skibberecn, 
 
 Here v/e ftaid that Night, and the next Day John Everot went Weft to 
 Skibbereev, and JVilliam Penn and I, with feveral Friends, returned towards Cork, 
 though IVilliam Penn turn'd off to the Right-hand to Shannon Park, to vifit the 
 Lord Shannon at his Houfe there. 
 
 But whilft we v/ere thus in the Service of Truth, according to the feveral 
 Degrees of the Difpenfation thereof unto every one of us, Satan was bufy in 
 his evil ^^''ork at London : For we had Letters about this Time from thence, 
 importing, that fome Perfons, profeffing Truth, and fetting themfelves up 
 in the Society as no fmall Dictators, and fome of them in the Miniftry, 
 being filled with Envy, and iinwifely emulating that Glory and Dignity 
 the Lord was pleafcd to put upon IVilliam Penn, for the Exaltation of 
 his own holy Name, had made very unworthy and unchriftian Attempts 
 againft his Charadler in his Abfence, and even in the yearly Meeting, to the 
 great Grief of all the right-minded among them : But this was done by a 
 Ihamelefs and implacable Party. The fame Week, on the Third and Sixth Days, 
 We had full and edifying Meetings at Cork, John Everot being alfo returned. 
 
 And, on the Firft Day following, another very large and much crowded 
 Meeting there : And that all who were made privy to thefe Suggeftions ftir- 
 ring at London againft IVilliam Penn, might be afllired tliey were from a falfe 
 and evil Root, the Lord was mightily with him that Day, cloatliing him with 
 
 Ma-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 13^ 
 
 Majefty, holy Zeal, and divine Wifdom, to the great Satisfadlion of Friends 
 there, and Admiration and Applaufe of the People ; even increafino- in that 
 unfought popular Praife of which fome did much begrudge liim-, whofe Years 
 and Pretences to Truth, might have fliewn forth a better State of Chriftianity and 
 Wifdom ; and who, by attempting his Charadier unjuftly, greatly loft their own. 
 
 ig 
 
 Here we had fpent fome Days ; and on the 28th I was at a Meetino- at 
 Skibbereen, accompanied by our Friend George Rook from Dublin, he havino- 
 come to us at Cork. The Meeting was fmall, by reafon of a Fair that hap- 
 pened the fame Day at that Village ; yet the Proniife of the L o r d was made 
 good unto us, being met in the Virtue of his holy Name and Prefence, which 
 he was pleafed to afford us together. 
 
 From thence we went that Afternoon, and were next Day zt Bando7i^ 
 where we were favoured with a good Meeting ; and that Evening we returned 
 to Corky where we had another Meeting. 
 
 On the 3d of the Fifth Month IVilliam Penn ?indi' John Everot had a large 
 and good Meeting at Charlynill^ which might have been much larger, but that Charlynill. 
 the Priefl there proved too cunning for fome of his Hearers, (though not for 
 his own Son;) for, beginning his Sermon fooner than ufual, and our Meetings 
 there commonly not beginning till others have done, he continued his Dif- 
 courfe till our Meeting was near over •, in which he ufed (as we heard) many 
 Inveftives againft Friends, and our Principles in general, and againft JVillia;n 
 Penn in particular : Though fuch was the Report which they that heard car- 
 ried of the Meeting-, that it foon wiped off all the Prieft's Lies and Re- 
 proaches ; and thofe of his Hearers, who had beenfo impofed upon by his lon^ 
 Preachment, when they heard of our good Meeting in a general Applaufe, 
 fpoke contemptibly of him ; and one who had been at the Meeting, went to 
 the Prieft and told him, to his Mortification, that Mr Penn preached much 
 better than he. 
 
 That Evening they had another Meeting near that Place, where came fe- 
 veral Perfons who had been tendered in the other Meeting, and were again 
 well fatisfied. 
 
 The fame Day George Rook and I ftaid at Cork, where the Lo r d likewife 
 favour'd us with his good Prefence, in a large and good Meeting of Friends 
 and others ; and the next Day, accompanied by feveral Friends, we went to 
 Limerick, where we were glad to fee William Penn, John Everot, and many 
 other Friends, fome of whom had accompanied them from Cork. 
 
 O N the 5th, being the Third Day of the Week, we had a great Meeting 
 at Limerick, of a mixed Multitude, over whom was thick Darknefs tint might Limerick; 
 be felt. It was a hard Meeting ; and from thence I came with a heavy Load, 
 not having had any Time therein ; yet it cleared up towards the End, and 
 fome Service vv^as done therein, as I believe. 
 
 That Afternoon we viewed fome of the Effedls of the late Siege there, 
 and obferved the Walls of fome Houfes, as well as of the City, had been 
 much fhatter'd, with many large Cannon Shot, and that groat Breaches 
 had been made at the late Siege by King William's Army, in which I had 
 two Brothers ; one of which, an Enfign, was killed before, at the Siege of 
 
 Charly-
 
 1^6 
 
 Anno 
 1698. 
 
 7yje LIFE, 
 
 &c. 
 
 Bin-. 
 
 Rofcanalles. 
 
 Mountmel- 
 lick. 
 
 Charlymount ; and the other, being Chaplain to a Regiment under Command 
 of Sir Thomas Gower, a Relation of ours, furvived all the Wars, wrote 
 the Hiftory of them, and afterwards was made Dean of Limerick, in which 
 Station he died. We viewed alfo the Ruins of the Befiesced's Out-works 
 and Bafbions, and divers unrepair'd Defolations and Ruins, as fo many Cha- 
 racters of the Indignation of him, who juftly gives Men up to the Deftrudtion 
 one of another, in furious WarSj when they like not to retain G o d in their 
 Thoughts, nor really to embrace his Son, the Prince of Love, Peace, and 
 Concord ; though in Words they confefs him. And yet we had occafion 
 here, to obferve the kind and protefting Hand of divine Providence, over 
 thofe wlio love and fear the Lord: For we had a certain Account, from our 
 Friend Thomas Pearce, an Apothecary in that City, that in the Time of the 
 Siege, a Bomb fell into his Yard, clofe by the Window, when divers Friends 
 were with him in the Houfe ; which, if it had broke, might have deftroy'd 
 them : but falling into a Ciftern full of Water, the Fufe was quenched, and 
 it did not break at all. 
 
 The next Day, accompanied by our Friends Samuel Randall from Corky 
 Thomas Pearce from Limerick, and feveral other Friends, we went to Birr, to 
 our Friend Thomas Winjloe'?,, where we ftaid that Night, and next Day had a 
 good Meeting in the Town-hall; which the chief Magiftrate, at the Inftance of 
 William Penn, let us have for that Purpofe. To this Meeting came the Prieft 
 of the Parifh, and feveral Perfons of Quality thereabout, and were all civil : 
 And in the Evening came the Pritft to fee William Penn, with whom he had 
 fome Converfation, praifing his good Sermon, and Soundnefs of Doctrine ; to 
 ■whom William Penn gave a little Book concerning our Principles, which he 
 thankfully received, and took a very refpeftful Leave, and departed. 
 
 Somewhere hereabouts we obferved an old-fafhion'd Piece of Super- 
 ftition, and Antichriftian Figment, viz. a Stone Crofs, on the Side of a Way, 
 raifed on a Pedeftal of maily Steps, with this Infcription thereon, Orate po 
 ardma Petri Lincei, 
 
 Next Morning we' fct forv/ard for Rofcanalles, to fee our ancient and ho- 
 nourable Friend William Edmundfon, where we arrived about the fecond Hour 
 Afternoon, and there refted fome Time, and refrefhed ourfelves plentifully ; 
 and there ftaid William Penn, John Everot, and fome Friends with them ; and 
 fome others went on with me to Mountmellick, and that Evening we vifited 
 fcriie Friends there in Town, and near it, and next Day refted there. 
 
 On the loth, being the Firft of the Week, William Penn and his Company 
 came to us, and we had a very large Meeting at Mountmellick, (being moft of 
 us Friends) and the Lord was with us in general : But as I had greater Re- 
 gard to the Services of William Penn and John Everot thail my own, I had, 
 at Limerick, under that Confideration, neglefted my own Gift, till the proper 
 Time of the Exercife thereof was over, and fo had come from thence greatly 
 loaden in my Mind. And here, at Mountmellick, fearing to do the like, and 
 add to my Burthen, (too heavy already to bear) I ftood up to fpeak too foon ; 
 and that I might not be in the Way of thofe I preferred, I fpake too faft, and 
 thereby went before my right Guide ; fo that my Burden remained on that 
 Account, though not fo heavy as before : For the Lord, who is merciful, 
 knew it was not wilful, but out of Weaknefs. 
 
 y E T by this Condudt I obtained further (though expenfive) Experience i 
 
 that
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 137 
 
 that neither too much Regard nor Difregard to any Perfon, neither fhort nor Anno 
 
 over, ftaying behind our true Guide or going before, ought to be •, but in and 1698. 
 
 with the divine and hving Truth, and the Motion and Operation of it is 
 
 G o d's Time ; and then only can Men preach the Gofpel. Time is diftinrruifli- 
 
 ed by Motion, and when he moves, then is his Time to be obferved ; and 
 
 that, and no other, fooner or later, fliould be made our Time -, though fome 
 
 Difappointments there are, not properly our own Fault, but occafioned by the 
 
 Unskilfulnefs and Hade of others, taking a wrong Time, and intruding where 
 
 they ought not ; in which there is a great and hidden Myftery of Evil, and 
 
 the Gofpel of Christ thereby greatly hindered, often out of the View of 
 
 the unskilful Inftruments afling or omitting to a£i: therein. 
 
 The fame Afternoon was tlieir Meeting for Bufinefs, where Things were 
 managed with a juft Severity againfl: every Appearance of Evil, to the great Com- 
 fort of the Upright, and Difcouragement of evil Doers ; a great Inftrument of 
 exaft Difcipline being that ancient and worthy Friend of Truth William Ed- 
 mundfon, who lived within the Precinfts of that Meeting : For whom not they 
 only, but alio all Ireland^ may give Thanks to the Lord, for due Obfervation 
 of Order in the Churches of C h r i s t in that Kinsrdom. 
 
 'ty- 
 
 N E X T Day we went to Edmderr)\ where we met our Friends Samuel Wal- Edenderry. 
 devfidd and John Vaughtmi, from Loftdojt, of whom we had an ample Account 
 of the Concern moved againft William Penn in the yearly Meeting at hondon 
 in his Abfence ; and by whom, and to what Purpofes, and on what Foundation 
 chiefly begun and profccuted ; being only the Fruits of Emulation and Envy of 
 fome who wanted that Honour the Lord was pleafed to put upon him, and 
 could not have it. 
 
 Here alfo we were favour'd with a large and full Meeting of Friends 
 and others, divers Perfons of Quality being there, and two Epifcopal Priefls ; 
 one of whom (an ancient Man) was tendered in the Meeting by the Teftimony of 
 Truth, to which he confefled. The Lord was good to us that Day ; and 
 when the Meeting was ended, we had comfortable Society together in his Love, 
 who never fails to be with all thofe from Age to Age, and will be to the End 
 of the Wotld with them, that love one another in him, according to his new 
 and bleffed Commandment. 
 
 In the Evening we went along with the London Friends, and fome others j 
 to "John Barcroft'%^ where we ftaid that Night ; and next Morning the Lon- 
 don Friends went towards Carlow, and we (about thirty-one in Company) kt 
 forward towards Lurgan in the North •, but the greateft Part, being Dublin 
 Friends, went thither ; and William Penn^ John Everoty Samuel Randal, 'Thomas 
 Pearce, Thomas Winjloe, myfelf, and fome young Men from about Edenderijy 
 went that Night to Ardee, and lodged at an Inn. 
 
 Our Way to Lurgan was through a very wild mountainous Country ; but Lurgan: 
 being met by feveral Friends about eight Miles from thence, and well received 
 while there, we were frefh and eafy next Morning, when we had a very large 
 Meeting -, the Majority about two Parts Friends, and of others fome were Per- 
 fons of QuaHty. 
 
 The Lord glorified his own Arm that Day, to the lafting Honour of his 
 own Name. I had a fliort Concern in the Beginning of the Meeting •, then 
 John Everot much larger ; and, though flow a confiderable Time, and of no 
 
 M m great
 
 igS The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno great Appearance, (for he made no Flourifli) yet in the End of his Labour 
 
 1698. Truth v/as over all, in the Virtue and Power of it, andfo remained: For by 
 
 that Time he had done, William Penn was full, as a new Bottle with new Wine ; 
 
 and he who filled him therewith, by him dilpenfed the fame liberally to all thac 
 
 were a-thirft. 
 
 Many Frofeflbrs among the Sedtaries were there, who now underftood Friends 
 had been much wronged by falfe Reports concerning our Principles, Doftrines, 
 and Manners. The Lord was good to us, and the Meeting ended under a fo- 
 lid Senfe of his holy Prefence : and that Afternoon we relied, and had the Soci- 
 ety of Friends ; and, the next Morning, about Seven, had a feleft Meeting, in 
 great Sweetnefs, among Friends, and then departed thence towards Dublin. 
 
 l)uiidalk. W E lodged that Night at Duadalk ; where we had Opportunity to fee the Place 
 
 of the late miferable Camps, where fuch Numbers had died in great Diftrefs : 
 Here we faw many Sites of Huts, and other Proofs of the Mifery many Souls had 
 endured in Time of Sicknefs, in a cold and wet Winter Seaibn •, but that which 
 moft of all gave occafion tor companionate Refleftion on the Miferies and Cala- 
 mities of War, by Men profeffing, on all Hands, the peaceable Saviour, was the 
 Sculls and other Bones of human Bodies, of the fame Flefli and Blood with us, 
 (for God made of one Blood all Nations) vho never had received human Burial; 
 but their Flelh had been, no doubt, rent trom their Bones, by the wild Beafts 
 and Dogs, and Fowls of the Air. 
 
 Dublin. The next Day, in the Evening, we arrived at Duhlin -, and, notwithftanding 
 
 our obfcure Entrance, (being late, and the Seventh Day of the Week) we had, 
 next Day, two large and living Meetings, many Strangers being there -, and here 
 we refted as private as could be till the 20th, and then had another Meeting there ; 
 
 Kilcock, and that Afternoon we went to Kilccck, about twelve Miles from Dublin, accom- 
 panied by feveral Friends and others, and there we lodged that Night ; and from 
 
 Carlow. thence, next Day, toCarlow ; where, on the 22d, we had a large Meeting. 
 
 And thus we travelled through the Country vifiting Friends and Meetings 
 as we went, till wc came up towards the South Parts -, where I left the Compa- 
 Clonmell. ny, and went to Cloamell, in order to fee my Brother George, then Dean of Li- 
 merick, and met with him at Thomas OJhorn'%, (eldefl; Son of Sir Thomas Ojborn) 
 whofe Wife was my Brother's Wife's Aunt : He had been fent into France for 
 Education, and there had embraced the Romijh Religion. 
 
 When I came to the Houfe, I found him of a frank and familiar Temper, 
 and in lefs than an Hour he defired me to take a Turn with him in the Gar- 
 den ; and, being there, he opened a Back-door into an Avenue, and made the 
 Door faft that none might difturb us •, and, walking there together, he aflved me 
 Ibme Queftions concerning our Principles, and more particularly of our filent 
 Meetings, and of what Advantage they were to us ; for he did fuppofe they 
 were of fome Ufe, elfe we would not continue in the Praftice of them. 
 
 I ANSWERED, "That WC had been, as other Men, fubjeft to common 
 Infirmities, and ignorant of God, as to any Experience of his Prefence and 
 divine working in us, till it pleafed him, in his own Goodnefs and Mercy, to vi- 
 fit us by the Spirit of his Son Christ; through which we had known a Time 
 of Condemnation and Humiliation for Sins pall, and true Repentance and 
 Forgivenefs ; and, believing in him, through the Work of his Spirit and Power 
 in our Minds, he, with the Light and Life of his Son, became the Objeft of 
 
 " our
 
 (C 
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 159 
 
 our Faith ; by which alfo he fanftified our Hearts, and reconciled us unto him- An n o 
 feJf : So that the Enmity being Ilain, and we made Temples of the Holy GhofV, 1698. 
 we now worlhipped the Father through the Spirit of his Son, in a State of Faith 
 and Obedience •, whereby we draw near unto him, even through that blelTed 
 Medium which himfelf hath appointed, partaking of the Nature of Man ; not 
 of Flefh and Blood only as the Son of Man, but alfo being cloathed with a ho- 
 ly human Mind, by him we are made Partakers of the divine Nature as the 
 Sons of G o D ; as it is written, Hejhall take of mine., and give it unto you : And 
 the Father being made manifeft in him, we have Infl:ru6i:ions in Wifdom, and 
 Enjoyments in the divine and blefTed Prefcnce, of which the World, in a State 
 of Nature, is not aware, and not more fo than in a State of true Silence ; where 
 all the Faffions, Affections, and natural Defires of the Heart are filenced, by 
 the all-commanding Voice and Power of the divine Word ; who hath faid. 
 Let the Worlds be, and it was fo." 
 
 H E heard me with Attention, and replied, " That he firmly believed what 
 I had faid ; that we were fuch a People, and confequently the happieft in the 
 " World ; over whom the Almighty hath a particular Care." And then he 
 began and told me a Paflage concerning himfelf, faying, " That he and fome 
 " other Gentlemen, being occafionally at Clonmell fome time ago, they heard that 
 
 " one of our Meetings was to be there that Day, appointed by , one 
 
 " of our Preachers from the Weft of England, and they agreed to go to it : And 
 " after they had been there about half an Hour, the reft all tired, and ^yould have 
 " had him away with them ; but he was fo much fatisfied with what he felt there, 
 " that he could not go with them, but ftaid the Meeting to the End ; having 
 •' never met with the like Satisfaftion any where elfe." 
 
 B Y the Time tliis Relation was finifhed, he began to be apprehenfive that his 
 Prieft might mils us out of the Company, and be in queft of him, (for he kept 
 a Popifh Prieft in his Houfe under the Appearance of a Gentleman) and fo it 
 proved ; for we were but got back into the Garden till he came to us : And the 
 Prieft beginning to afk me fome Queftions about Religion, he withdrew ; for the 
 Priefts will feldom permit, if they can avoid it, that their People fliall hear any 
 Debates between them and Proteftants, left they fhould be infefted with what 
 they call Herefy ; unlefs where they think they fnall have manifeftly the Advai^- 
 tage in the Argument upon the Subjedl. 
 
 The firft Queftion he afked me was, " Whether we believed Predeftination ?'* 
 I anfwered, " No-, but that the Grace of God, through our Lord Jesus 
 *' Christ, is univerfal, and free to all Mankind." Then he faid, "They were 
 " of different Opinions on that Subjedl: ; fome one Way, and fome another :" 
 And then aflced me, " What we thought of Excommunication ; what Effect it 
 " is of in the Church r" 
 
 I ANSWERED, " That it ought to be applied to fuch as deny the Faith in exprefs 
 •' Words ; or, if not in Words, yet by Aftions, by committing and perfifting in 
 " any immoral or finful A6ts •, or declining the common and ftated Rules of the 
 " Community, or Terms of Chriftian Communion among them : But that Ex- 
 " communication ought not to affect Life, Liberty, Property, or the Perfon of 
 " any one, but only to deny him Chriftian Communion till reformed." 
 
 " T H I 3, he faid, was not of fufficient Force to awe Offenders, or to induce 
 " their Return, where the Motives to their Offences were ftrong and cogent." 
 
 Ire-
 
 HO The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno I replied, " That to be denied Communion by any real Chrlftian Congre- 
 
 1698. " gation, of which one is a Member, is a Matter of great Weight and Confe- 
 " quence : For certainly God is with and in his own Appointments ; and who- 
 " foever is denied by the Church of Christ, is denied by himfelf: Forasfheafts 
 " in and by his Spirit, which is ever in her, and prefent with her, it is his Aft by 
 " her ; and, in that refpeft, fhe is called the Ground and Pillar of Truth : And 
 *' Offenders, fo denied, undergo, even in tlus Life, a Burden more finking than 
 *' fhe Lofs of all they have in the World -, whereby Life itfelf becomes a Load 
 "' and tedious : But where any Form of Excommunication is invented only by 
 " the Wifdom or Policy of Men, from fecular Views, with Punifhments of their 
 " own contriving annexed, the Lord doth not co-operate there, nor own that 
 *' Ordinance ; fo that the Puniftiments awarded, which are often inadequate, 
 *' cruel, and unjuft, are all that the excommunicated fuftain : not for the Salva- 
 " tion of the Soul, but fatisfying the Ends of Power, Pride, Covetoufnefs, and 
 *' Envy, to the Deftruftion of the Character, Eftate, Body, and Family, "if not 
 *' Ruin of the Soul, by complying (under fuch grievous Temptations) with he- 
 *' terodox Errors in Opinion, and Pradlices immoral, idolatrous, and antichri- 
 " ftian; Fruits of the Inventions of apellate and tallen Spirits, by whom the 
 " Children of Men are deceived." 
 
 What he would have replied to this, or whether any Thing, I do not know j 
 but, being then near the tloufe, we were called to Supper ; and, during the 
 Time thereof, we were very peaceable ; but, that being over, he began to in- 
 troduce other Matter of Controverfy. 
 
 First he falutcd me with fome Encomiums, to tame me, (though I was 
 very peaceable, and my Spirit over him in myfelf) that he might call his Net 
 with greater Certainty and Succefs : " Sir, faid he, I have heard a very good 
 *' Charadler of you, both as to your Underftanding, and other Qualifications and 
 *' Accomplifliments ; from which I conclude, it muft have been Ibmething ex- 
 *' traordinary, or very particular, which hath induced you to embrace a Religion 
 *' and Opinions, fo much and fo generally exploded by Men of Senfe and Pene- 
 " tration ; and as fufficient Realbns, to yourfelf at leail, for what you have done 
 *' on that Account, cannot be a-wanting to a Man of your Repute, I beg Leave 
 *' to afk you fome Quellions, that I may be better inform'd than yet I have 
 " been, concerning the Religion you now profels. 
 
 " D o y ou believe there ever was fuch a Man in the World asjEsusCnRisT?", 
 This Queftion looked fcurrilous and fmiting ; yet, perceiving he meant to lay a 
 Foundation for fome further Superftrudure, I anfwered, " Yes, we believe all 
 " that is written in the Holy Scriptures concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
 *' Christ, and upon as good a Foundation and Evidence, if not better, than 
 " any who have pretended to fufpeft us on that Account.'-' Then he went on ; 
 " Do you believe, that Jesus Christ made choice of twelve Perfons, called 
 " his Apoftles?" I anfwered. Yes. Again, faid he, "Do you believe that 
 *' Christ commanded his Apoftles to go teach all Nations, baptizing them in 
 " the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft?" I anfwered, " Yes, with 
 " fome Reftriftions and Obfervations, now to be noted, we do." He continu- 
 ed to interrogate-, " Do you believe that the Apoftles of Christ did go and 
 " preach and baptize, according to this Command?" I anfwered, as before. Yes, 
 " Then, faid he, how can you be Chriftians, or Difciples of Christ, who deny 
 *' this Baptifm, and do not at all pradlife it ?" 
 
 Th 
 
 EN
 
 of THOMAS S T R T. 141 
 
 Th E N I afked him, " If he did belieVe, and tliofc of his Communion, that Anno 
 « the Lord Jesus, at that I'lme, thereby inftituted Water Baptifm ? He 1698. 
 " anfwered, They did beheve, that C h ri st did by thefe WordSj at that Time, 
 " inftitute Water Baptifm." 
 
 Then I anfwered, " That if they were not ChriRians who declined the Ufe 
 " of Water Baptifm, I would prove, that neither himftif, nor the Pope, nor any 
 " of his Communion, are Chriftians, not being baptized at all in the Praftic'e 
 " of what C K RisT commanded or infbituted, at that Time, on that Account, 
 " as folioweth. 
 
 " John the Baptift, being commanded by the Word of God to baptize the 
 " Jetvs in Water, foretold them of another Baptizer much preferable to 
 " himfelf, and of a Baptifm fuperexcelling his, being of another Nature, and 
 " more powerful and efficacious, with the Holy Ghoft and Fire : And this Bap- 
 " tizer is Christ ; who, having been circumcifed, in obedience unto th.eOrdi- 
 " nance of the Law of Mcfes, under which, as Man, he was born into this 
 " World, and fulfilled, in his own Perfon, all the Righteoufnefs thereof incum- 
 " bent upon him, according to the Prophets, he was alio bapdzed of Jobn with 
 " Water ; thereby not only fubmitting to that Difpenfition, as an Ordinance of 
 *' God for the Time beings but alio fulfilling all Righteoufnefs in his own 
 " Perfon ; that being declared from Pleaven to be the Son of God, he might, 
 " from thenceibrth, through the divine Anointing poured upon him above all 
 " his Brethren, and v/ithout Meafure, be the Difpenfer of all Righteoufnefs and 
 " Truth unto all Generations. And from thenceforth he preaclied Repentance 
 " to the Je'ws, as John did, and by his Difciples (but not in his own Perfon) 
 " baptized likewife with Water, as an intermediate Difpenfation between the Law 
 " and the Gofpel : But with this Difference, Johi baptifcd for a Time, without 
 " direfting the Subjects of his Baptifm to any certain Objed: of Faith, faying, 
 '■• they muft believe in one that was to come after him ; (for he did not then 
 <' know that Jesus was the Christ) but the Difciples of Christ, as alfo 
 " John, from the Time of the Bapnfm of Jesus, having believed in him as he 
 " is the Meffiah, preached not only Repentance, but alfo that Jesus is the 
 " Christ and Saviour promifed of G o d unto iyriji'/ ; and confequently direfted 
 *' them unto him as the true Objedt of their Faith, and baptized in his Name, 
 " and by his Authority whilft yet prefent with them : And yet Water Baptifm is 
 " but Water Baptifm, whether adminifter'd by Christ himfelf, or by any other 
 " he may command •, nor d\d Jobn, or the Difciples of Christ, adminifter 
 " Water Baptifm in that Day to any but the JrJi^s, or Profelytes among them. 
 
 " But after Christ had been crucified, and arifen from the Dead, and his 
 " Difciples with him, a little before he afcended into Heaven, he faid unto ■ 
 " them, (the eleven) y/// Po^ver is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth. Go Mat. .wTiii. 
 " ye therefore and teach all Nations^ baptizing them into the Name of the ^'^■ 
 " Father, So;:, and Holy Ghcft, &c. Go ye into all the Worlds and preach the Mark.-tvi.ic, 
 " Gofpel to every Creature. He that bcUeveth and is baptized, fljall be faved -, hut i6. 
 " he that belicveth not, floall be damned. But do not depart from Jerufalem ; but ^ihi 4 c 8. 
 •' wait for the Pron'.ife of the Father, ivhich ye have heard of me. For John truly 
 *■' baptized volth Water ; but ye floall be baptized with the Holy Ghofi, not many 
 " Bays hence. But ye fl:all receive Power after the Holy Ghofi is come upon you ; _ ^'^26 
 '■'■ and ye fmll be Wiincffes unto me, both in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, and in 
 " Savurria, and to the utter.r.cfi Parts of the Earth. And teaching them all Things 
 '* whatfoever I have comma7tded you. And lo I am with you always, even unto 
 " the En.: of the World. 
 
 N n " I/?,
 
 14-1 The L I F Ej ^r. 
 
 Anno " ijl. The Lord Jesus declares his own Power, and fufEcient Authori- 
 
 169 8. " ty to inftitute this Baptifm ; All Power in Heaven and in Earth, idly. The Ex- 
 
 " tent of it, To all Nations \ to preach the Gofpel to all the World ; thereby 
 
 " difcipling, or initiating, all that believe and obey, into the divine Nature ot Fa- 
 
 Aasx;44. " ther. Son, and Holy Ghoft: And the Aft of baptizing is chiefly by preaching 
 " in the Power and Wifdom of the Spirit of Chri st, and fometimes by laying 
 
 — xix 6* " ^^ °^ '•'^^ Hands of his Minifters, as moved thereunto by the lame Spirit. 
 " 3^/y, The Advantage to be reaped by believing their Meflage, and being bap- 
 " tized with this Baptifm, They fiall be faved ; which Salvation cannot be impu- 
 " ted to Water Baptifm. ^thly. The Judgment denounced againft fuch as would 
 " not believe the Meffage of his Minifters and WitnefTcs, thus qualified and fent; 
 " They jJjall he damned, ^thly. The Apoftles themfelves were not to enter upon 
 " that Work, nor could they perform it, (notwithftanding this verbal Command 
 " from his own Mouth) but under the immediate Influence of the Ploly Ghoft, 
 " and by his Power only ; being no other than the Spirit of Christ promi- 
 
 Luk:exxiv.49 " fed to them before he was crucified. Gthly, It was not Water Baptifm ; 
 
 Join XIV. 1 , 41 £-^j. ^.j^^j. j^^ j^^^^ contradiftinguiflieth from the Baptifm of die Holy Ghoft, 
 " and afcribes it to John, faying, John truly baptized with IFater, as a Thing 
 " already over, at leaft in point of Obligation ; and then Baptilm of the Holy 
 " Ghoft alone is here appointed, as thus diftinguifhed by the advcrfitive Part He • 
 *' but ye fhall be baptized ivith the Holy Ghojl not many Days hence: Here Water 
 " Baptifm was already over, or near an End, and the Spirit's Baptifm not yet 
 " adually commenced, but only promifed ; and very foon after took place aC- 
 " cordingly. "thly. This Baptifm is fuch as cannot be performed without thC 
 " immediate Power of the Holy Ghoft ; and accordingly he is here mentioned to 
 *' that End : And it cannot be Water Baptifm, becaufe any Man can baptize with 
 " Water without the Holy Ghoft ; and all Mankind who now ufe it do lb, with- 
 " out any Influence at all of the Holy Ghoft, or any Command from him to that 
 " Purpofcj if at all they have any real Knowledge of him. ^thly. And fincB 
 " no Power on Earth can give this Qualification, but Christ alone ; and that 
 " no Man can be a true Witnefs unto him, be his Minifter, or preach him and 
 " his Gofpel, but by the Power and Influence of the Spirit of Christ, imme- 
 *' diately upon him in the Time of preaching ; and that they only, who are fo 
 " qualified by him, have Right or Power to preach the Gofpel, (and that is in all 
 "Parts of the World) they ought not to be hindered or molefted by any earth- 
 " ly Power : And fuch as do obftruft them are Oppofers of the Work of him 
 " who hath all Power, and fliall furely fuffer by that Power, in this or another • 
 " World -, or in both, if they do not, in due Time, repent in this, ^thly. The 
 " Matter and Subftance of their Teachings, (after having borne witnefs to him- 
 " felt and his Sufferings) All Things whatfoever he had before commanded them : 
 " Fi/'Jl, the old Commandment, which they had heard from the Beginning, viz. 
 " The Righteoufnefs of the Moral Law, briefly exprefl"ed in thefe Words, Thou 
 *' ^alt love the Lord thy God with all thy Soul, and with all thy Strength, and thy 
 " Neighbour as tbyfelf. And, fecondly, the nev/ and Gofpel Commandment, That 
 *' they Jhouli love one another, as the true and certain Charafteriftick of their Dif- 
 " ciplelhip. lothly. And, in this Gofpel, and this Practice, he promifed to be 
 " with them, and all thofe who fliould fucceed them, in this Faith and Pradlice, 
 " to the End of the World : So that, as his true Minifters can do nothing with- 
 " out him ; yet, as he is always with them, they are, by him, enabled to do all 
 *' Things, v/hatibcver it pleafeth him to work in or by them, or require of 
 " them : And whofoever fct themfelves at Work, pretending to cxercife any 
 *' Ordinance of C h r i s t, without his Spirit and Power fenfibly with them, they
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 14.5 
 
 " are Antichrifts and ImpofVors ; and thereibre tliey have nor, nor can they pro- Anno 
 *' lit the People, but miflead them. 1698. 
 
 " And as to thofe Inftances from whence thou feems to coUeft, that the Apo- Aas.xix.i,— 
 ',' ftles baptized with Water after the EfFufion of the Holy Ghoft upon them ; ''• 
 f that was only a Continuance of the fame Water Baptifm they had been in prac- 
 " tice of in John's Time, and not from that Command and MilTion, Mat. xxviii 19. 
 
 " And as to the Continuance of Water Baptifm in the Church unto this Day, 
 " that is a great Miftake : For, firji, I obferve what \^''ater Baptifm is in the 
 " Aft of it ; that isj a going into Water, and being wafhed and dipped there- ]Vlat.iil.6 16 
 " in, and not rantized, or fprinkled only. And, fccondly, note alio, that what Afls viii. 38. 
 ^V W^ater Baptifm was adminiftcr'd in the Apoftles Days, was always only in the 39- 
 " Name of the Lord Jesus, and not in the Name of the Father, Son, and 
 *' Holy Ghoft •, which Ihews it was not from that Command, Mat. xxvm. 19. 
 " for then they would have purfued thefe Terms of Inftitution ; which they ne- 
 *' ver did, by any Thing I can find in all the Scriptures, 
 
 " Now, I fay again, that if they are not Chriftians, who are not under the 
 " Adminiftration of Water Baptifm, then you yourfelves are no Chriftians, ha- 
 *' ving been out of the Praftice, eVen of that Water Bapnfm, for many Genera- 
 *' tions; inventing to yourfelves fprinkling of Infants, never commanded by 
 " Christ, nor praftifed by his Apoftles ; and is no Baptifm at all, but Rantifm ; 
 *' and is an Error from both the Mode and Subjects of Baptifm: And therefore 
 ** you only prophane and take in vain that holy Name, in which you exercife 
 " this your own Invention." 
 
 Upon this the Prieft was totally filent; and, knowing him bound, I challen- 
 ged him three Times before the Company, to anfwer me on that Subjedt if he 
 could ; and yet he never did, nor faid any Thing at all on any other Subjed: 
 that Night, 
 
 Then my Brother (feeming to be concerned for his Brother Prieft, tho' of 
 another Form) l^iid " I ought not to think the Gentleman could fay no more 
 " beeaufe he was filent." To whom I anfwered, " That I would not have him 
 " pretend to cover him -, for I knew where he was, and that he could fay no 
 ■" more ; and added, That if himfelf had any Thing to fay on that Subjedt, I 
 " was ready for him too : For though I regarded the Dean of Limerick as in an 
 " Office among Men, and as my elder Brother ; yet, being now in Defence of 
 *' Truth, I could regard no Man fo as to decline it on any Account or Confide- 
 " ration whatever." And then he and all the Company being filent, I told 
 them, " That the Papifts, Epifcopalians, Prefbyterians, Independants, Baptifts, 
 •' and all their Subdivifions, were of one Spirit, and from one Root, and would 
 *' have like Judgment in the End ; having perfecuted and deftroyed each other 
 " in their Turns, as they have had Power ; and all of them perfecuted and op- 
 " prefled the Innocent, and ftill continue to do fo where they can." 
 
 This being on the Seventh Day at Night, and now vci-y late, I took Leave 
 of my Relations, intending to meet JVilUam Penn and John Everot, and Samuel 
 Waldcnfield and John Vaughton from London, next Day at a Meeting at Cafiel : 
 And, propofing to go to Reft, the Gentleman of the Houfe would not fuffer a 
 Servant to attend me to my Chamber, but would go himfelf: and, when there, 
 he told me, " Th.it he had never heard thole Things fo explained before ; that 
 
 " he
 
 Anno " he was very gbd of the Occafion ; and that he was of the lame Mind with 
 1698. " me therein : That he would gladly go with me in the Morning to hear Mr 
 " Penn^ but that iny Brother and Sifter had not been at his Koufe betbre tb.at 
 " Time fince their Intermarriage, and it would look as if he negledced them, 
 " if he {hould go with me : And befides, faid he^ this Perfon, with whom you 
 " difcourfed, (as I hinted in the Garden) is a Prieil, who I keep in my Houfe -, 
 " and I know he would take it ill if I fhould go to your Meeting, and leave our 
 " own Devotion. 
 
 ARELATioNof mine^ concerned in the Excife, happening to be there, and 
 Caili'l knowing the Way, we itt forward early next Morning for Cajioel -, where we ar- 
 
 rived before the Meeting was gathered, to which came a great Multitude of People 
 of all Notions and Ranks thereaway : And, the Meeting being fet, the Mayor of 
 the Town, with Conftables, i^c. came, by Direction of the Bifhop of the Place, 
 and, in the King's Name, commanded us to difperfe, though he could not get 
 into the Body of the Meeting for the Throng. 
 
 Then John Vaughton, having been preaching in the Meeting, turned to the 
 Mayor, and faid, " That he, with fome others of our Friends, had been admit- 
 " ted into the King's Prefence, on a certain Occafion, before he came from En- 
 " gland; and the King was pleafed to afk, if we had hill Liberty in all his Domi- 
 " nionsto exercife our Religion, without Mokftation? and we, not knowing any 
 " Thing to the contrary, anfwered, That, through the good Providence of the 
 " Almighty, who had placed the King on the Throne, and the King's kind In- 
 " dulgence, we had now more Liberty than before ; for which we were thank- 
 " ful to God and the Kino-." 
 
 'O" 
 
 To which the King was pleafed to reply, " That if any did difturb us in the 
 " Exercife of our religious Liberties, make it known to him, and he would pro- 
 " vide for us therein, and proreil us. And here thou difturbs our Meeting, 
 " and commands us, in the King's Name, to difperfe, as if we were TranfgrelTors : 
 " But whether we fhould obey thee without Law, or believe the King's Word, 
 " and accept of his Royal Protcftion according to Lav/, let all that hear judge." 
 
 The People did not all feem to be concerned at the Mayor's Appearance in this 
 Manner, but kept their Places ; and then I flood up and Ipoke among them fuch 
 Things as I believed my Duty at that Time ; and, in the mean time, the Mayor 
 reached over the half Space from an Entry, or Paliage, where he flood in his Accou- 
 trements, with Cap and Sword, to have taken me by the Arm, to pull me down, 
 or haul me out of the Place -, but he miffed his Catch, and I went on : And, 
 near the Conclufion of what I faid, I remarked to the People, " That the High 
 " Priefts, Scribes and Pharifecs of old, were the greateft Enemies of Christ 
 " and his Apoftlcs and Difciplcs j and that gencivally, where Mifchief appeared 
 " in any Nation profefling Religion, that Set of Men, in every Form, v.ere at 
 *' the Bottom of it ; and fo it is flill to this Day : They would ever ride Man- 
 " kind, and rule over them as a Property to themfelves, and of them ferve their 
 " own Lufls of Self-love, Pride, Envy, and Domination, Covetoufnefs, Wealth, 
 " and Power, under a falfe Pretence of femng God •, and as if, by divine Autho- 
 " rity from the Lord, they were appointed to take Care and Cure of the Souls 
 " of other Men, whiifl they are in the Fligh-way to ruin and lool'e their own ; 
 " but were now made rnanifeft, and would yet be more fo, and the People re- 
 " deemed from under their heavy Yoke." 
 
 TlIL
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. i^s 
 
 The Mayor did not relifh this, but could not come at me for the Crowd ; Anno 
 and William Penn, who was not yet come into the Meeting, fending to fpeak 1698. 
 with him in a Chamber near by, he went immediately ; for I believe he was 
 weary of that Office, which had been impofed upon hiin by the Bifliop of Cajhel 
 asainft his own Inclination, 
 
 IVilliam Perm treated him with the Rcfpeft due to his Office, but defired him to 
 retire, and let the Bifliop know that he would fee him at his own Houfe after the 
 Meeting was over, defiring the Bifhop's Patience till then ; and the Mayor did 
 accordingly : And then ?Vtlliam Pmn came into the Meeting, for he had been 
 writing Letters of Importance whilfl the Meeting was not full gathered ; which 
 was fo large at lad that the greateft Part could not get in. The Lord favour- 
 ed us that Day with his good Prefence, fitting every Inftrument for the Work 
 required ; and the People were generally fatisfied with what they heard and felt, 
 to the Honour of God, and Comfort of his People. 
 
 The Meeting being ended, William Penn took two or three ancient Friends 
 of that Country with him, and went to the Eifhop ; and, afteran Interchange of 
 fome Tokens of civil Refpeft, (each in his own Mode) expoftulated with him 
 concerning that Tranfaftion, in fending the Mayor to the Meeting in that Man- 
 ner, as above ; and told him, " It looked a little extraordinary, as the King's 
 *' Dominions and the Laws were then ftated, and a general Liberty granted to 
 *' all his Subjeds, and nothing new there that Day, (being the ufual Time and 
 ♦' Place of our Meeting) unlefs it were that he himfelf was there, which mi"ht 
 *' excite the Curiofity of the People to fee what fort of a Creature he was ; fince, 
 *' one Way or another, he had been reprefented as fome Monfter, or uncom- 
 *' mon Thing to be gazed at." 
 
 The Billiop could not maintain what he had done, but treated William Penn 
 friendly, and told him, " That he went that Morning to Church, to perform 
 " his Office (of Preaching) as ufual ; and, when there, he had no Body to 
 *' preach to but the Mayor, Church- Wardens, fome of the Conftables, and 
 *' the Walls, the People being all gone to your Meeting ; which, I confefs, 
 *' faid the Bifliop, made me a little angry, and I fent the Mayor and Conftables 
 " with that Meflage, in hope, by that Means, to have a greater Auditory •, 
 " though I have no Ill-will to you, or thofe of your Profeffion." And fo, 
 after fome Tokens of mutual Refpedl, they parted in feeming Friendfhip ; but 
 the Bifhop had another Defign. The Friends prefent with them at this Inter- 
 view, related to us this PaiTage when they returned to our Company. 
 
 But the Bifliop recoUedling, when the hot Fit was over, what Noife fuch 
 
 an Aftion might make in the Nation, that fuch a Meeting fliould be fo difturb- 
 
 ed by his Conunand or Infl:igatioji •, and which could not be iuftified, unlefs 
 
 the Meeting had been attended with fome extraordinary and unlawful Circum- 
 
 ftances ; he therefore wrote to the Earl of GaUoivay, and the other Lord Ju- 
 
 ftice of Ireland, and inform.ed them, though unduly, " That Mr Penn and the 
 
 " Quakers had gathered together in that Place, that Day, fuch a vaft Multi- 
 
 " tude of People, and fo many armed Papifts, that it ftruck a Terror into 
 
 " him and the Town ; and, not knowing what might be the Confequence of 
 
 " fuch an Appearance, he had fent the Mayor and other Magillrates to difperfe 
 
 " them •, but, feeing they had taken no Notice of him, or the Civil Powers 
 
 *' there, he thought it his Duty, to lay the Matter before their Lordfliips, tliac ■ 
 
 O o " flich
 
 1^6 The LIFE, C^c. 
 
 Anno " fuch Remedy might be applied, as in their Wifdom they might think pro- 
 1698. " per, to obviate the Danger and ill Confequences of fuch Ali'emblies." 
 
 ■From Cajhel, IFUliam Penn, John Everot, and I, went towards Cork, taking 
 Meetings in our Way, (the other Friends purfuing their Vifit in other Parts 
 of the Nation, as it laid before themj) and, when we came there, -fVilliam Penn 
 went to fee the Lords Juftices, who had a very great Friendfhip for him, and 
 were got there before us •, and, after mutual Salutations were interchanged, the 
 Earl of Galloijoay gave the Bifhop of CciJIoer^ Letter to WtUiam Pcnn to read; 
 which, when done, he related all the Particulars to them •, telling them, " That 
 " he did not fee any armed Perfons there, unlefs here and there a Gentleman 
 " might have a Sword, as ufual •, but knew nothing of what Religion they 
 " were." And then the Earl faid of the Bifliop, " Old Dotard! why fhould 
 " he make all this to do on fuch a common Occafion ?" And that was all 
 this forward Man got for his Mifreprefentation of us in that Manner. 
 
 W E ftaid at Cork, and thofe Parts, having Meetings there and in the Coun- 
 tryi till the 1 9th Day of the Sixth Month •, and then we fet Sail from Cork, in 
 Minehead. ^^ Jane of London, and landed at Minehead on the 21ft Day of the fame, in 
 good Health, and in Peace ; for which we were thankful to the Lord, and 
 Giver of all our Mercies. That Night we lodged at Thomas Hokvay\, having 
 had a Meeting there that Evening, and another we had next Day ; and from 
 thence we went to Brifrol -, where I lodged at William PenrCz, and ftaid fome 
 Weeksj till he had finiflicd his Ailfwef to the Bifliop of Cork's Book ; in which 
 I aflifted in tranfcribing his Sheets, fearching the Scriptures, i£c. wliich being 
 finiflied, I returned to London, on the 5th of the Eighth Month, preferved. 
 through all Dangers, and in Peace -, to the fole Praife of him who liveth and 
 reigneth, and is worthy of all Adoration and Glory for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 I N o w turn my Face towards America, and think proper to go back in point 
 of Time, in order to relate how my Concern for that Part of the World began 
 in me and increafed. 
 
 I N
 
 of T HO M A S STORY. 147 
 
 An n o 
 
 IN the Year 1693, towards the latter End of Autumn, as I was riding aloiie i6g^. 
 in an Evening, in Cumberland, the Power of divine Truth moved upon Cumberland, 
 my Mind, and my Heart was greatly tendered before the Lord-, and the Word 
 of the Lord opened in me, faying, " Behold, my Vifitation cometh over the 
 *' Weftern Parts of the World, towards the Sun-fetting in the Time of Win- 
 " ter." And I was greatly comforted in the Words of his Holinefs. 
 
 From henceforth I was often tendered in Spirit, in remembrance of the 
 Weftern World, in a Senfe of the Love and Vifitation of G d to a Peoule 
 
 ^ J. 
 
 therei whom I had never feen -, which was more and more renewed and fettled 
 
 upon my Mind, in frequent Tenderings and Brokennefs of Heart, under the 
 
 holy Influence of the divine Prefence, until the Year 1695 -, when, at the Houfe 1695. 
 
 of our Friend John Whithig, at Wrenion, in the County of Somerfet, upon a Wrcmonr. 
 
 Vifit to Friends in thofe Parts with Aaron Atkinfon, looking occafionally upon 
 
 a Map of the World, efpecially upon the South-wefterly Parts from England, 
 
 the Power of the Lord fuddehly feized my Soul, and his Love melted me 
 
 into a Flood of tender Tears : But hitherto I knew not that the Call of the 
 
 Lord was to me to vifit thofe Parts • though, from henceforth, I began to 
 
 be afraid of it; 
 
 A N D in the Time of the Yearly Meeting at London, in the Bull and Mouth, London. 
 Aaron Aikinfon, being concerned in Prayer, among other Petitions to the Lo r d, 
 prayed for the Weftern Countries, and Places beyond the Seas, " That the 
 ** Lord vrould pleafe to fend forth his Minifters, in the Pow'er of his Word, 
 "" to publifh the Day of glad Tidings more and more among them :" Upon 
 which the Power of divine Life moved fenfibly in my Heart ; and the Con- 
 cern, fecretly begotten in my Soul, now began to anfwer and appear; and, af- 
 ter that, great Heavinefs and Fear came over nle. 
 
 The fame Day, after the Meeting, feveral Cumherland Friends and others 
 being togethei- after Dinner, upon occafion of mentioning fome of thofe Coun- 
 tries by one of the Company, the Word of Life moved powerfully in my 
 Soul, with open Afflirance of the Call of the Lord to me to vifit fome of 
 th.t American Countries : but, though I was exceedingly broken, to the tendering 
 alfo of moft of the Friends there, yet I was filent as to the particular Matter, 
 being willing to conceal it as long as I could, fince no Time was then pre- 
 fixed when I fhould move forward therein : And being young, and weak 
 in the Exercife of the Miniftry ; and having no Opinion of my own Abilities 
 of any kind, I urged it before the Lord, as a reafonable Plea, as I thought., 
 asrainft it at that Time. 
 
 o" 
 
 A T London I remained for fome time, and entered into fome writing Bufi- 
 nefs for neceffary Subfiftence •, but, before the Year ended, I fuffered much 
 in Spirit, by reafon of my Confinement thereby ; fince this Calling of G o d 
 cannot be anfwercd by any one too much entangled in other Affairs, though 
 the Employment in itfelf be very lawful, and, to the Reafon of Man, feeming 
 needful : but, though loth to leave all, (for it was no lefs than Life, and all 
 that was near and dear in the W^orld) yet, finding my Concern remain and in- 
 creafe, I yielded at length, in the fecret of my Mind, to anfwer the Call of 
 the Lord to that Part of the World ; and wrote the following. Letter to my 
 Father concerning it. 
 
 Dear
 
 148 The LIFE, e-c. 
 
 Anno Dear Father, London^ i^th of the Seventh Month, 1697. 
 
 1697. cc T Received thy Letter of the 13th inftant, wherein thou art pleafed 
 " X to exprefe thy great Diflike of my going to Penfylvania, in fuch Terms 
 " as import an Impoffibility of thy being ever reconciled thereto •, which I 
 " hope, upon fecond Thoughts, may prove otherwife : For I prefume thy 
 " Concern arifeth chiefly from an Apprehenfion of the great Danger that may 
 " attend fo long aVoyage and Journey, through Seas of a thoufand Leagues ; 
 " through vaft Woods, Deflirts and Wilderncfles on the other Side, among 
 " wild Beafts, Serpents, and the untamed Natives of the human kind there : 
 " All which I am not unapprehenfive of, nor fliall I lightly undertake the 
 " Thing ; but he that is G o d of the Land is alfo of the Sea, and made of 
 " one Blood all Nations •, and his Power is able to tame the moft favage Na- 
 " ture, whether of Man, or of any other Creature : He that laid unto the 
 " Worlds, before tliey were, Commence ye Being, and it ivas done, and fixed the 
 " Sun in the Center of the Deep, and upholdetb the Earth as on the Wings of the 
 
 Job xxviii. " Open Mther, and who bindeth the Sea as in Swadlings; 'tis he that is the Con- 
 " du6l of all that move in his Counfel, and who may fay unto him. What doft 
 " thou ? He noteth all the 'Thoughts of the Heart of Man, and keeps a Record of 
 " all his Doings : It is he, the Lord of Hofts, that glorious Majefty on high, 
 
 ifa. xliii. 6. " ^hat is faying to the North, Give up, and to the South, Keep not back, that my 
 " Purpofe and Determination may come to pafs, in the Fulnefs of mine appointed 
 " Seafon. 
 
 "The Breath of Life from God is entering into the Inhabitants of many 
 " Lands, and the Lord is making inftrumental whomfoever he will ; and 
 " blefied are all they that go when he fends them, and yield when he de- 
 " mands their All. 
 
 " Thou haft feen fomething of the Effedls of the working of the Power 
 " of G o D in me in Time paft, before I knew this People, but didft not know 
 " the Caufe. Thou haft partly feen my Dejeftion, and fome Fruits of my in- 
 " ward Tribulation and deep Vexation of Soul. Thou haft alfo known my 
 *' Innocence from a Child, and that no Vice prevailed to ftain my Credit ; yea 
 " all my School-fellows, Neighbours, Country-men, and Companions, with 
 " whom I was acquainted^ and knew me, know my Converfation to be 
 " harmlefs among them ; and none of them convinced me of any Evil: Ne- 
 " verthelefs I was not juft before the Throne of the Majefty on high ■, who 
 " feeth the Heart before the Thought enters therein, and fearcheth the Reins 
 " before they do conceive: It is he that difcovers the very Root of Sin in and 
 " unto Man-, and revealeth the Nature thereof, ere 'tis brought forth into 
 " Word or Action. His Glory was as Fire againft the Root of Tranfgrcffion 
 " in me, and his Zeal kindled as Brimftone in my Bones. Was this for my 
 " own Sake only, who was fhort of many in Evil, (yet not without Sin) or 
 " was it likewife for the Sake of thofe who the Lord will alfo gather ? Thofe 
 " who are Minifters of God, are not lb by the Will of Man, nor by their 
 " own Choice -, neither may they appoint the Place of their Service. O that 
 " thou couldft fee the deep Travail of my Soul ; and whence the Caufe there- 
 " of, and what its End ! O that thou hadft Experience of the wonderful My- 
 " ftery of God in Christ Jesus, and the prefent Difpenfation of his Glo- 
 " ry! Then could I open my Heart freely ■, then couldft thou fee it, as thou 
 " haft feen the Vifage of my Face -, then fhouldft thou feel the Depth of my 
 " Soul's Concern ; and then fliould thy groundlefs Fears ccafe, and all thy Sor- 
 ♦' rows vaniili. 
 
 <' This
 
 of T HO M yi S S T RT. 149 
 
 " This, I hope, I may freely fay, that I have always been dutiful to thee 5 Anno 
 " and whatfoever Apprehenfions thou haft had, occafioned through the Effedls 1697, 
 " of the manifold Tribulations thou haft feen in me, in the Way of my Rcge- 
 " neration and Redemption ; yet I can fay, to the Praife of G o d, that my Un~ 
 " derftanding, as a IVIan, is no ways leflened, though my Concern and Defire 
 " for natural Things has been much abated ; and the Faculties of my Soulj 
 " being changed, have been accordingly employed on divine Subjefts. 
 
 "The Gofpel of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the publifliing thereof, is 
 *' no Way inconfiftent with Duty and natural Affedion ; but tlie natural Pa- 
 " rent, if not careful, may place Duty where it ought not to be, and give way 
 _*' to fome effeminate Paflion inftead of a generous Afix-ftion and Love. 
 
 "But whatfoever may come to pafs, through Obedience to the Power of 
 " God in any Cafe, and his wonderful Workings in the Soul, this is always 
 " to be remember'd, as the Saying of our LordJesusChrist, He that Mat. .x 37. 
 *' loves Father or Mother, Hotifes or Lands, Wife or Children, better than wck is Mark x 20. 
 " }2ot worthy of me ; which lliews a greater Duty and Preference due to him 
 " than to all the reft. 
 
 "And as it may pleafe him, by his blefTed Light and Life, to wit- 
 " nefs tor me in thy own Confcience, that I was never undutiful to thee in all 
 " my Life, in any Thing confiftent with his holy divine Will, and the work- 
 " ing of it in my Soul •, fo thou wilt be pleafed accordingly to be careful, not 
 " to impute that to any Difregard or Difefteem of thee, or want of that Love 
 *' which is due by every Chriftian to a Parent, but give me up to the Lord 
 *' in all Things ; and I am perfuaded, in fo doing, he who hath been kind to 
 *' us, more than we can eafdy fee into, will be thy Comfort concerning me: 
 " And that we may, in fome Senfe, requite his Love and great Forbearance 
 *' in Mercy, by a godly and reverent Life before him the remaining Part of 
 " our fhort and troublefome Days, ought to be our gVeateft Concern. 
 
 "And now, dear Father, though I thus AJj^ite, I do not yet fully know 
 " whether I fliall go over thither for forhe Time ; but if it fliould pleafe the 
 *' L o R D to draw my Soul after him to the uttermoft Parts of the Earth, and 
 *^ place my Peace with him in my Obedience there, I might not exped: it 
 " otherwife : And who can live without the Comfort of his Prefence, that has 
 *' been favoured witjj it ? For his Prefence is Life to all the faithful and obe- 
 *' dient, but Death and Condemnation to fuch as rejedl his Counfel; which. 
 " the Lord preferve us from, for all our Time to come, to the full End of 
 *' our Days, is the Defire of him who prefers thy Love before much Riches, 
 " but not to the Love of God, my heavenly Father, the Riches of his Grace 
 " and his Salvation ; and, faving my Duty to him alone, I am 
 
 Jhy ever-loving and dutiful Son, 
 
 THO. STORY. 
 
 And here it may be regular to mention my Companion Roger Gill, and, i6g8. 
 how we came to be concerned together in this Work and Service of the Go- 
 fpel. Sometime about the Firft Month in this Year, before I went into Ire- 
 land, we being together at a Meeting at the Park, in Soiith-joark ; and each of 
 us having had fome Service there, I found my Mind very free and open to- 
 wards him, and difcovered fomething of my Concern to him for America, a3 
 
 P p we
 
 ISO The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno we went together into the City ; and asked him if he knew of any miniflring 
 1698. Friend concerned for thofe Parts, for I wanted a Companion : To which, be- 
 ing filent for fome Time, he repHed, " It is now long fince I was firil con- 
 " cerned that Way, and tlie laft Night, in my Sleep, was as if making all 
 *' Things ready for my Voyage." To which I replied, " Is it no more but 
 " a Dream yet r " And fo we left it for that Time. 
 
 Afterward, going to a Meeting at Enfield, he overtook me in the Way ; 
 and we, having fome more Difcourfe on that Subjeft, he told me it would be 
 the Seventh Month at fooneft before he could be ready •, for he had his Wife 
 and Family to put in a Way of Living, not knowing whether ever he might 
 fee them any more. We had not much more Difcourfe of it at that Time ; 
 and, foon after, I fct forward for Ireland, as before related. 
 
 A T my Return to London from Ireland, Roger Gill was waiting at my Lod- 
 ging for me, and faid, " He had made fome Progrefs for America ;" For the 
 Thing abiding with him, he had acted in all Things as though we had pre- 
 fixed the Time before I went for Ireland. 
 
 And, after I had vifited fome Meetings in London, I became greatly loaden 
 and concerned in Spirit, and prefs'd to move forward on my intended Voyage •, 
 and hearing of a Friend that was to fail in a fhort Time for Virginia, viz. Wil- 
 liam Cant, Commander of the Providence of London, my Companion and I went 
 together on board, to view the Ship and Accommodations : At which Time, 
 being retired in my Mind as we fat in the Round-houfe, the divine Love and 
 Life of the Lord Jesus moved gently in the Center of my Soul, and fweet- 
 ly comforted my Fleart; whereby I was confirmed in my Calling and Under- 
 taking : fo that, for that Time, all the Loads and W^eights were removed. 
 
 And, having made our Concern known to the Brethren, at the Morning 
 Meeting, London, they encouraged us ; and Provifion being made, both by 
 the Body of Friends and many Particulars, of every Thing needful for our 
 Voyage and Journey, on the ^th Day of the Ninth Month, in the Evening, 
 we went on board, n^ar Deptford, in the River Thames, accompanied by feveral 
 of our dear Friends and Brethren, viz. John Field, John Butcher, Robert Atkin- 
 fon, (he being, a little before, brought up to London by Procefs in the Court of 
 Exchequer, for impropriate Tythes, at the Suit of pcrfecuting George Fletcher 
 of Hutton-Hall, in Cumberland) Henry Goldney, John Tomkins, Francis Plum- 
 ftead, Edward Singleton, Daniel Phillips, John Dazvfon, and feveral others ; and, 
 foon after, came to us, William Penn, Jofcph Wyeth, and fome more. 
 
 And, being together in the Great Cabin, the good Prefence of the Lord 
 commanded deep and inward Silence before him, and the Comtorter of the 
 Jufh brake in upon us by his irrefiflible Power, and greatly tendered us toge- 
 ther in his heavenly Love, whereby we were melted into many Tears : Glorious 
 Avas this Appearance, to the humbling of us all, and Admiration of fome there 
 who did not underfband it. And, in this Condition, we remained for a confide- 
 rable Seafon •, and then William Penn was concerned in Prayer, " For the good 
 *' and Prefcrvation of all, and more efpecially for us then about to leave them ; 
 " with Thankfgiving alfo for all the Favours of G o d, and for that holy and 
 " precious Enjoyment, as an Addition to his many former BlelTings :" And 
 when he had finiflied, the Lord repeated his own holy Embraces of divine 
 Soul-melting Love upon the fdent weeping Afiembly ; to the full Confirma- 
 tion
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. lyi 
 
 tion of us more immediately concerned^ and furtlier Evidence to the Brethren A n n o„ 
 of die Truth of our CaUing. 1698 
 
 I N this Love unfeigned, and tender Condition of Soul, we embraced each 
 other, to our mutual Satisfaftion •, for the fame powerful Love of Truth that 
 makes us loth to depart from the Friends and Brethren of our own native Land, 
 drawing us to remote Parts of the World, and remaining in our Hearts, gives 
 Courage and Strength alfo to leave all, and follow the Lord, even whercfo- 
 ever he will. 
 
 W E looked after them, fo long as we could fee them •, not with Minds to 
 go backwards, or Hearts with any Defire now to return, but in the Comfort of 
 divine Love-, which neither Diftance of Place, nor Number of Years, fhall ever 
 be able to obftruft or deface, as we keep true to the Lord in ourfelves. 
 
 That Night, with a gentle Breeze and Tide, we fell down only to Black- 
 •walU and there dropped Anchor, but did not arrive at Gravefend till the 1 2th 
 of the Month ; and, that Evening, went on Shore there •, and, next Morning, 
 took Coach for Rochefter, accompanied by the Mafter of the Ship, and fome 
 other Friends -, and there we had a large and comfortable Meeting with Friends 
 and many others. 
 
 In the Evening we returned to Gravefend, and the next Day went on 
 board, but did not arrive in the Downs till the iSth; and, that Night, the 
 Wind came contrary, and very high, fo that we remained on board till the 20th ; 
 which being the Firft of the Week, and we willing to have a Meeting at Bed, 
 the Mafter took the Boat and Hands, with a Sail, to put us on Shore, and we 
 drove about a Mile towards the Goodwin Sands, and then our Maft broke ; but, 
 betaking us to our Oars, through the Mercy of God, we got fafe on Shore, 
 about two Miles from the Town, to which we walked, and arrived there about 
 Mid-day, and there had a Meeting : But having no Opportunity of giving No- 
 tice of our Coming, the Meeting was very fmall ; yet the Lord did not de= 
 fpife our little Number, but was with us. 
 
 Next Day we went to Dover with our Friend Edward War'ie, and, the Day 
 after, had a Meeting there, which was likewife fmall ; yet feveral of the Epi- 
 fcopalians and Prefbyterians being there, they fpoke well of the Meeting, as 
 we were inform'd. 
 
 The Wind remaining contrary, we ftaid at Dover that Night and next Day ; 
 and, on the 27th, being the Firft of the Week, we went to Folkftone; where 
 we were favoured of the Lord with a bleffed Meeting with Friends and fome 
 others •, and here we had alfo another Meeting : and from thence returning to 
 Dover, we had another Meeting there ; which was larger than the former. 
 
 Spending the next Day with Friends there, and the Wind coming fair 
 on the 29th in the Morning, we hafted to Deal, and, in the Evening, went on 
 board our Ship ; and, the next Day, about Three in the Afternoon, fet Sail 
 from the Downs, and fo proceeded on our Voyage ; in which we had various 
 Weather until the 1 8th of the Tenth Month, being the Firft Day of the Week, 
 when, till Eight in the Morning, we had a very hard Gale of Wind at Weft ; 
 and then, it falling lels, we hoifted our Fore-yard and Mizen-yard, thougli 
 hard Squalls and Rain, with Lightening towards the Eaft. 
 
 At
 
 1S^ The LIFE, ^-c. ^ 
 
 Anno At Nine In the Morning we bore up to the Northward, and foon after low- 
 
 1698. er'd our Fore-yard and Mizen-yard, and, at Noon, the Main-yard, the Wind 
 at South Weft, which increafed to an exceeding great Storm •, fo that all the 
 Yards were brought down upon the Gunnels, and the Helm laflied and made 
 fall, and the Ship let drive before the Wind: And we, being met together in 
 the Great Cabin and Steerage, to wait upon the Lord, as at other Times, he 
 was pleafed to appear in the needful Time ; for the Tempeft increafed, with 
 Thunder and Lightening, and Rain, to that Degree, that few there, if any, 
 had ever feen the like. 
 
 And, in waiting upon the Lord, I became concerned in Prayer-, and, 
 being in a mighty Agony, and wreftling in Spirit with the Lord, I received 
 Hope that we fhould not perilh •, and having concluded for that Time, and my 
 Concern returning, I prayed again •, and then fome ftout Hearts were broken, 
 and the Lord's Power was glorified, and we greatly comforted: " For I 
 " prayed unto the Lord, who is God of the Seas as well as of the Earth, 
 " and of the Winds, the Creator of all Things vifible and invifible, that 
 " he would be pleafed to fend forth his Word, and conunand the Winds as of 
 *' old ; and that if there was any oppofing Spirit that ftood in our Way, to 
 " hinder our Progrefs, the Lord would pleafe to drive him away :" And 
 tlien I was eafy, having fully overcome ; and my Companion, and fome others, 
 were alfo greatly tendered : And as foon as I arofe I took the Friends by 
 the Hands, and fome others alfo, and, in full Afiurance, told them the worft 
 was over for that Time •, and the Words were fcarcely out of my Mouth, and 
 I fet down in the Cabin, till the Storm abated, and the Weather became mo- 
 derate for fome Time after ; and we had no more great Storms after it to that 
 Degree, 
 
 Here we faw the Effefls of the mighty Power of God ; how he enrageth, 
 and again, at his Pleafure, ftilleth the Seas. He that createth the Winds, and 
 bindeth the Ocean as in Swadling Bands, and holdeth the Deeps as in the Hol- 
 low of his Hand, and worketh in the Heavens above, and in the Earth beneath, 
 and in the Waters under the fame, whatfoever he will ; the God of Truth is 
 his Name for ever, 
 
 H E r E I received Affurance of Safety. From henceforth the fucceeding Storms 
 (fo'r we had many) were made eafy to what they had been before. But at one 
 Time, being ready to murmur, that fo very many of them fliould be fuff"ered to 
 rage upon us, to fuch a Degree, the Anfwer of G o d was on this wife : " Though 
 " the Storms were as great as the Seas were able to bear, and the Difturbance 
 " fuch as Mortals, of themfelves, could not endure; yet fince I the Lord am 
 " prefent with thee, and proportion my Power and Strength in thee to the 
 " greateft Hardfliips I fufFer to come. Why fliould any Complaints arife ? In 
 " the greateft Extremity is the Might of my Power moft feen ; and in the 
 " Time of Diftrefs my Mercy and Tmth alfo appcareth, in all thofe that call 
 *' upon my Name, and obey my Will." 
 
 Thus we fee both our own Weaknefs as Men, and Strength in the Lo r d, 
 and the Lord's great Condefcenfion to his poor Creatures : And therefore, to 
 the Lord of Life, the God of everlafting Truth and Confolation, be Honour 
 and Dominion ; for he is worthy for ever and ever. 
 
 A s to the W^onders of the Deep, what appears to Senfe is natural and ufual ; 
 and therefore not wonderful to the Children of Men, wlio cannot penetrate the 
 
 My-
 
 of T HO M A S ST R T. 
 
 Myftery of the Being and Structure of any Creature; which, if known, would 
 be greatly to be admired. But the Depth of the Power, Wifdom, Love, Mer- 
 cy, Juftice, and Goodnefs of the great God, the Creator, Upholder, and Go- 
 vernor of all Things, is truly wonderful, and abundantly manifefted both on 
 the Land and in the Sea ; and particularly the lall, as we fully experienced 
 in this Voyage ; which, at Land, we could but have had an imperfeft No- 
 tion of. 
 
 Anno 
 
 1698. 
 
 Having failed tlirough many and great Storms, variable and uncomfortable 
 Weather, over moil of the great Weftern Ocean, under the Protcftion of the 
 divine Providence •, and all the Ship's Reckonings being out, on the 7th Day 
 of the Twelfth Month, the next Day, about Four in the Evening, we ftruck 
 Ground with the Lead at nineteen Fathom Water. 
 
 This was glad Tidings to us all -, and being in our Latitude we ftood iti 
 towards the Land all Night, and the next Morning we faw the Capes on either 
 Side of the Bay of Cbefapeak, and were ftanding right in, as we could have de- 
 fired ; and that Afternoon we came to an Anchor in Mockjack Bay, a little above 
 Point Comfort. 
 
 On the nth of the Tv/elfth Month, about Sun rlfing, (the Seventh Day of Penfylvania. 
 the Week, and exceeding cold) we fet Sail in the Long-boat tor ^een's 
 Creek in l^ork River •, but the Wind coming contrary, we, with one of the Men, 
 went on Shore about two Miles below Ghucejler, and went up thither on Foot, 
 and foon after went on board our Friend William Dotvell's Ship, lying at Anchor 
 in that River, to write Letters for England ; after which he fent fome Hands in 
 his Boat with us to Sateen s Creek, being about twenty Miles •, and fetting out 
 about Eleven in the Night, and very cold, (being a hard Froft and Snow) it 
 was troublefome to find the Entrance of the Creek ; and, often running upon 
 Oyfter Banks and other Shoals, it proved very fatiguing and dangerous. 
 
 But thither at length we got, about Five in the Morning, viz. to the Houle 
 of our Friend Edward 'Thomas at Bangcr-houfi^ but with fome Difficulty alter we 
 landed -, for our Men not knowing the Place, we went to feveral other Planta- 
 tions in the Woods before we found it. When we came to the Houfe and cal- 
 led, Edward arofe out of his Bed and came to us, concluding before, that we were 
 Friends from England, (for he had had Ibme Apprehenfion that Way in himfelf, 
 a little before, but knew not who in particular) and he and all his Family made 
 us kindly welcome •, and having a good Bed provided, we refted comfortably 
 till about Nine in the Morning. And our Friend Edward, being zealous for 
 Truth, and the Good of his Neighbours, gave Notice of us, and of a Meeting 
 to be there that Day •, where the Lord owned us, and gave us a very comfort- 
 able Seafon of his Goodnefs with the Family and a few of the Neighbourhood ; 
 who, though not Friends, were, feveral of them, much tendered : which was 
 the firft Fruits of our Miniftry in that Country, and good Encouragement. 
 
 Here we remained to refrefli ourfelves, and put our Things in Order till 
 the 15th Day of the Month, and then had a Meeting about fixtecn Miles 
 off, at Tianiel AkehurjVs, at Warwick River ; which was a good Meeting, but 
 fmall. 
 
 Returning next Day, we bad a Meeting at Martinis Hundred, in the 
 Houfe of Robert Perkin in James\ City County, and returned that Evening with 
 Edward Thoma!. 
 
 Q^q On 
 
 Queen's- 
 Creek. 
 
 Warwick- 
 River. 
 
 Martin's 
 Hundred. 
 
 Jamcs'b City 
 Couiily.
 
 if^ Tie L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Anno O n the i 9th Day of the Twelfth Month, we had another Meeting at Bofi^or- 
 169 8. toy?, v/hich was large, and many much tendered. A blefled Meeting it was, 
 ^^houfe ^"^' '^^^ ^^°P^^ generally fatisfied. 
 
 Here we flaid till the 21 ft, and then had an appointed Meeting at the 
 Sdmmino. Houfe of John Bates, at Scimrmno in I'crk County, where no Meeting had 
 been before -, and though he was not a Friend by Profeffion, yet very forward 
 to provide Seats ; faying, his Houfe, he feared, would be too fmall for the Meet- 
 ing, but had Room fufficient in his Heart. The People were generally tendered 
 and humbled, and we comforted in a Senfe of the Love and Vifitation of God 
 towards them. And the concluding of the Meeting falling upon me, among 
 other Requefts and Acknowledgments to the Lord, it was upon my Mind to fay, 
 in the Spirit of Prayer, " That fmce fuch as fliould give a Cup of cold Water 
 " only to any of his, in the Name of a Difciple, were not to loofe their Reward ; 
 " the Lord would be pleafed to reward thofe who had fo readily and openly 
 " received us, and a Meeting of his People in their Houfe, with the Knowledge 
 " of his blefied Truth." And at that Inftant both JoJm Betes and liis Wife 
 were convinced of Truth, and from that Time profefled the fame with us. 
 
 That Evening wc returned to Bangor-houfe, and in our Company TViUiam 
 Xllayhorn, Captain of the Militia, and fome others. This is a Grandfon of that 
 Colonel Clayborn, who fubdued the Emperor of the hdiam of thofe Parts, 
 and his People, between the Rivers Mattopany and Pcwmunkie, now the two 
 Branches of York River. 
 
 Next Day we had another Metting at the Houfe of Daniel Akehtirft's, which 
 was confiderably large, and many were humbled and tendered by the Word and 
 Power of Truth, and departed in a folid Frame of Mind ; " we having 
 " preached to them the free and univerfal Grace of God, through Christ, 
 " for Life and Salvation ; endeavouring to turn them thereunto ; that through 
 " Faith therein they might come to know the full End of the Sacrifice of the 
 " Blood of Christ flied at Jerufakvi of old: And how that fuch as rejedl 
 " this Grace and Spirit of Christ in their own Hearts at this Day, have not the 
 " Benefit of that Work and Sacrifice ot Christ then made maniteft ; but cru- 
 " cify to thcmfelves the Son of God afrefli." With many other Things of 
 Weight, which the Lord opened jn us, and by us to the People, to our 
 Comfort and their Edification, and to his Praife. 
 
 Th e next Morning we went down to nomas Gary's, towards the Foot of 
 the Creek. He had been lately convinced, but not then at home ; but his Wife, 
 having been likewife lately convinced, fo foon as we entered the Houfe the 
 Lord's Power tendered us, and we were much comforted together ; and his 
 Brother Miles Gary, and his Wife, coming thither to fee us, were made Partakers 
 of the fame Vifitation, 
 
 By the Time this fatisfactory Vifir was finiflied, came three of our Friends, 
 with fome other Affiftance, and took a Boat, and fet us over James'?. River to 
 Chuckatjc. Chtickatuc ; which being a long Way, and Night coming on, we run feveral 
 Times on Ground, fo as that it was late in the Night before we arrived at our 
 defired Port ; which was at the Houfe of our ancient Friend Jchn Copeland, 
 where we were openly and cordially received and entertained, though they 
 knew nothing of us till we entered the Houl'e. 
 
 We flaid there that Night, and were much fatisfied every Way ; and, upon 
 
 fome
 
 Anno 
 1698. 
 
 Derafconeck. 
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, 
 
 fome DIfcourfe with our Friend, I found he was one of the firll of thofe wlio 
 had their Ea,rs cut by tlie Prcfbyterians (or Independents) in New-England^ for 
 the Teftimony of Truth, in the firft pubhfliing thereof to that bloody and re- 
 bellious Generation ; and, at my Requeft, he fhew'd us his Right Ear, yet bear- 
 ing the Badge of their Anti-chriftianity ; whofe uncircumcifed Hearts and Ears 
 are, to this Day, hardened (it may be judicially) againft the Teftimony of J e sus, 
 and his holy Life, then lb much perfecuted in his harmlefs Meffengcrs and 
 Members. 
 
 The Wind coming contrar)', and rainy Weather, the Friends ftaid with us 
 next Day, and in the Evening came feveral other Friends thereabout to fee us ; 
 and it pleafcd the Lord to vifit us together, and a tender Seafon of his Love 
 we had, and then, having alfo fupped together, they departed. 
 
 Here we ftaid til! the 26th, and being the Firft of the Week, we took Boat 
 to Chuckatuck Meeting, about fix Miles ; but becaufe of the great Rain, the 
 Meeting was but fmall ; and returning that Evening to John Copeland's, we had a 
 Meeting on the 28th at Derafconeck, at our Friend RatcUff'%^ where came feve- 
 ral Neighbours, who had not been at any Meeting before, and feveral of them 
 were tendered •, and that Evening we return'd to John Copeland's. 
 
 Next Fourth Day, (being the i ft Day of the Firft Month) we went again, 
 by Water, to a Monthly Meeting at Chuckatuck, where came our Friend Eliza- 
 t>eth JVehb, from Glcucejlerjloire in England, who had been through all the 
 Englijh Colonics on the Continent of America, and was now about to depart for 
 England. The Meeting was large, and the Sheriff of the County, a Colonel, and 
 fome others of Note in that Country, were there, and very fober and attentive. 
 
 That Evening we v/ent home with our Friend Thomas Jordan, about a 
 Mile from the Meeting-houfe -, and the Friends who came with us over- James"?, 
 River, went back with John Copland. 
 
 Next Day we had a Meeting at Thomas Page's, at IVejlern 'Branch, which Weflem- 
 was pretty large and tender, the People folid ; and feveral confefled, that what Branch* 
 they heard was the Truth : and that Night we went home with our Friend William 
 Scot. 
 
 On tlie 3d of the Firft Month we had a Meeting at Southern Branch, at Southern- 
 the Houfe of our Friend Dorothy Bujkin's,, which was large, confidering the ftiort Branch. 
 Notice, and Elizabeth Webb was alfo there; and the Grace of God was plenti- 
 fully with us, to our great and mutual Confolation ; and the People were tendered, 
 and the Meeting ended in the Dominion of Truth. 
 
 O N the 5th of the fame Month, being the Firft of the Week, we had a Meeting 
 at the Houfe of our Friend William Newell, at Barbican, being the laft Meeting Barbican, 
 at Virginia towards Carolina : It was pretty large, though exceeding cold Wea- 
 ther. 
 
 The People thereabout had a Prieft, who, being taken with an Infirmity in 
 his Tongue and Limbs, had not preached much for five Years ; and they be- 
 ing juft, in fome fort, to their own Intercft, paid him only as often as he exer- 
 cifed his Faculty -, but yet were exceeding liberal, confidering how little they had 
 for their Pay, for they gave him a Hogfhead of Tobacco for ev^ry Sermon: 
 But the laft two Years, he being wholly filent, they akogethcr withdrew their 
 
 Pay:
 
 15-6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno Pay: So that, as among feme fort of Hirelings and their Employers it is, N» 
 1698. Pefiny, no Pater-nofter; here, on the other Hand, it is No Paier-ticjier, no Penny. 
 
 Those People feemed wholly ignorant of the Teftimony of Truth, and 
 little acquainted with Holy Scripture ; and when the Truth was declared among 
 them, fome were amazed, others furprifed -, fome afraid, and fome a little afFefted 
 with the invifible Power of Truth. 
 
 That Night we lodged at our Friend Nathan Newhy^s, and had fome Dif- 
 courfe with him concerning the Indians, and what Sentiments they have about 
 Heaven and heavenly Things. He told us, " Many of them came frequently 
 " to his Houfe, to employ him (being a Smith) to mend their Guns, and he had 
 " difcourfed with them on fuch Subjedls : And as to the divine Being, they think 
 " there is one that made all Things, and that he always beholds all the Indians 
 " as if they were comprehended together in a fmall Circle; and that all bad /;;- 
 " dians, who will lie, fteal, cheat, and do other ill Things, when they die, go to 
 " a cold Country, where they are always hungry, cold, and in all Manner of 
 " Diftrefs they can imagine : But the good Indians, who will not do fuch Things, 
 " go to a warm Country, where they have fat Boar and Roafting Ears all the 
 " Year long ; thefe being the moft excellent Food they can imagine." Roaft- 
 ing Ears are Indian Wheat (or Maze) before it be full ripe ; which, roafted in the 
 Fire, eat very fweet, like Afparagus, or green Peafe. 
 
 I T feems thefe are the greateft Enjoyments known to them, or that their Ima- 
 ginations can reach : And as they believe Rewards and Puniftiments in another 
 World, they think they muft confift of fuch Things as are agreeable or difagree- 
 able to their Senfes in their prefent State. 
 
 But, though their Notions be Igw and fenfual, yet I do think, that if many 
 thoufands that profefs the true God and Christ, were to give their Sentiments con- 
 cerning future Rewards and Punilhments, and wherein they do confift, they would 
 not mucii exceed the Indians tlierein ; fince many of them are fo far from any 
 Senfe or Relifli of the holy and divine Earneft, and Tafte of the true Bread of 
 Life, which comes down daily from God out of Heaven, and, as Manna, is 
 daily rained about the Tents and Dwellings of the whole Ifrael of God, that 
 they do not believe it. 
 
 The Indians are juft, loving, courteous, (in their Way) and harmlefs to all 
 that are fo to them ; but, if wronged or abufed, revengeful : But what Immo- 
 ralities, as Drunkennefs, Swearing, and the like, are among them, they have 
 learned of our own Countrymen ; who make greater Pretences to Religion and 
 Knowledge, and yet are worfe in Practice. 
 
 The God of Truth open the Eyes of boafting and vain- glorious Chriftendom, 
 to fee how far fhort fiie is of true Chriftianity ; and that till her Inhabitants ex- 
 perience a Change by the Workings of the divine Nature in them, they are yeC 
 but praftical Heathens, in the Nature of the firft and fallen Adam, and fo efteem- 
 ed in the Sight of the Lord -, whofe Love is likcwife, and furely, towards the 
 Indians ; which fliall be publiflied in them in the Fulnefs of his appointed Time. 
 
 The next Morning wc went hence towards North Carolina, through the 
 Wildernefs ; and, there being no Houfe in all that Way, about the Middle of it 
 we made a great Fire by the Side of a Brook, (the fame Place where James 
 Dickinfon, Jacob Fallovsfield, and fome other Friends, had formerly baited) and 
 
 there
 
 of T HO M yi S S T RT. 15-7 
 
 there we ate fome Bread and Cheefe, which Nathan Ne-ivhy carried in his Wal- Anno 
 let, and drank of the Brook ; and we were well rcfreflied and content: Having 1698. 
 given our Horfcs fome Indian Corn, we held forward towards Gabriel Newky's^ 
 Brother of Nathan, at tiie Head of Picqumon'& Creek, in Carolina ; where we ar- P'cquimon's 
 rived about half an Hour paft Three Afternoon •, and he gave Notice that Even- Carolina, 
 ino to fome of the Neighbourhood, of a Meeting to be on the Fourth Day fol- 
 lowing ; and, next Day, we went to the Houfe of our Friend Francis Toms, 
 on the fame Creek. 
 
 Here we had the Meeting propofed ; which was large, and feveral Per- 
 fons of Note in thofe Parts, of both Sexes, were there : But the Noifes and 
 Elevations of fome profefling Truth, occafioned their Admiration, and was 
 hurtful to them •, though they had, before that, been very folid and attentive 
 to my Companion's Teftimony ; who had the whole publick Concern in the 
 Meeting that Day. 
 
 O N the 9th we went forward •, and, being accompanied by Francis Toms^ 
 (who was one of the Provincial Council) and feveral other Friends, from Virgir- 
 nia, and other Parts thereaway, we went with them to Court ; where we were 
 refpedfully received and entertained by the Lieutenant Governor, and others of 
 the Council, I having brought Letters to the Governor from England. 
 
 I N the Evening we went over Little River, and lodged that Night with our Little River. 
 Friend Thomas Simons ; and, next Day, had a Meeting over the Creek, at our 
 Friend Henry White's ; which was fmall, by reafon of the Court, (which ufually 
 holds feveral Days) but well and tender : The Lord was with us. 
 
 O N the 1 2th we had a Meeting at Stephen Scot's ; and afterwards went home 
 with Thomas Simons. 
 
 N the 1 3th we had a pretty large Meeting ; where feveral were tendered, among 
 which were fome Negroes. And here I fhall obferve, that Thomas Simons having 
 feveral Negroes, one of them, as alfo feveral belonging to Henry White, had of late 
 come to Meetings •, and, having a Senfe of Truth, feveral others thereaway were 
 likewife convinced, and like to do well : And the Morning that we came from 
 Thomas Simons' s, my Companion, fpeaking fome Words of Truth to his Negro 
 Woman, fhe was tendered ; and, as I pafled on Horfeback by the Place where 
 fhe flood weeping, I gave her my Hand ; and then flie was much more 
 broken: And, finding the Day of the Lord's tender Vifitation and Mer- 
 cy upon her, I fpake encouragingly to her, and was glad to find the poor Blacks 
 fo near the 7'ruth, and reachable : She flood there looking after us, and weeping, 
 as long as we could fee her, I had enquired of one of the Black Men how long 
 they had come to Meetings ? And he laid, " They had always been kept in Igno- 
 *' ranee, and difregarded, as Perfons who were not to expeft any Thing trom the 
 " Lord, till Jonathan Taylor, (who had been there the Year before) difcour- 
 " fing with them, had informed them, that the Grace of God, through Christ, 
 " was given alfo to them ; and that they ought to believe in, and be led and 
 « taught by it, and fo might come to be good Friends, and faved as^well as 
 " others; of which they were glad : And, on the next Occafion, which was 
 " when William Ellis and Aaron Atkinfon were there, they went to Meetings, 
 " and feveral of them were convinced." Thus one planteth, and another water- 
 ed!, but the Lord giveth the Increafe. 
 
 1 CALLED one of the Negroes afide after the Meeting, and exhorted him 
 " to be inward with the Lo r d ; and that he and the reft fliould wait to know 
 
 R r " the
 
 it8 
 
 Anno 
 1698. 
 
 TLe LIFE, 
 
 &'c. 
 
 " the Work of the Power of God in themfelves, to change their Minds froni 
 " a State of Nature and Sin, to an heavenly Condition." To this he was at- 
 tentive, and faid, " He and thofe other Negroes that were convinced, had dif- 
 " coiirfed with others of them, and had told them what they were come to un- 
 " derftand and believe •, and that Ibme were inquifitive after Truth, but fome 
 " others of them feemed to take little Notice : But, faid he, every Tub muft 
 " ftand on its own Bottom ; and the Negleft of others, we hope, fhall not dif- 
 " courage us to prefs forward, in that which we are perfuaded is the beft.'* 
 
 O N the 1 3th, at Night, we pafled over the River, and lodged with Francis 
 Toms ; and, next Day had a good Meeting, where many were tendered, my 
 Companion efpecially being very powerful that Day in his Teftimony ; to the 
 Praiie of the Lord, of whom alone is the Power, and to whom be all Glo- 
 ry for ever. 
 
 Great Sound. W E paflfed the Great Sound next Morning, and went to a Meeting at the 
 Widow Anne Wilfon's ; which confifted, for the moft part, of Friends, and 
 was a very tender and open Meeting ; and, when it was over, we went to Ga- 
 briel Newiy's, and lodged there. 
 
 T H E Morning following we fet forward for Virginia •, and^ alighting at the fame 
 Brook, where v/e had been as we went into Carolina, there we again refreihed 
 ourfelves and Horfcs as before, and then fet forward, and accomplifhed our 
 Journey to Dorothy Bii/kiuh about Sun-fetj and next Day, had a Meeting 
 there. 
 
 We refled there the iSth-, and, on the 19th, had a large good Meeting at 
 Chuckatuck. Chuckatuck, both of Friends and others •, and, that Night, lodged with Thomas 
 Jordan, fenior ; and, the next Day, we went to Benjamin Small's-, and- there I 
 had a good Seafon in the Meeting, where Friends were comforted, and divers 
 of the People tendered, and generally humbled under the Teftimony of the 
 blefled Truth •, which that Day was large, and reigned both in Word and 
 Power ; to the everlaft:ing Glory of him that liveth and reigneth, and is wor- 
 thy for ever and ever. 
 
 Elizabeth's 
 River. 
 
 Southern 
 Branch. 
 
 On the 21ft we had a good Meeting at Alice Hallozvay's, near Elizabeths Ri- 
 ver; but fmall, by occafion of fome Member of Council to be elefted that 
 Day in thofe Parts. 
 
 Next Day we had a pretty large Meeting at Southern Branch, at the Houfe 
 of Robert Burgefs : He was not a Friend by Profefiion, but a Juftice of Peace, 
 and of 2:ood Account in thofe Parts. 
 
 There had never been a Meeting thereaway before ; yet the People were 
 generally folid, and feveral of them tendered ; and, after the Meeting, the Ju- 
 ftice and his Wife were very refpeftful, and treated us with Beer and Wine, 
 and would gladly have had us to. have eaten with them, and lodged in their 
 Houfe that Night ; but, being otherwife engaged in the Courfe of our Ser- 
 vice, we departed in much Kindnefs, both on their Parts and ours. 
 
 W E returned that Evening to Alice Halloway's ; and, next Morning, fet for- 
 ward for ElizahetbS Town, about three Miles by Land, and feven more 
 by Water : We went by the Houfe of Thomas Hodges, a Juftice of Peace, who' 
 lent us his Boat, and was Verv courteous 5 but the Wind being contrary, we ar- 
 
 rivei
 
 of THOMAS STORT. is^ 
 
 rived not there till about the Middle of the Day. The firil Thing we did Ann o* 
 
 was to view the Houfe where the Meeting was to be-, in which, finding no 1698 
 
 Seats, we were at a L,ofs on that Account : But another Friend and I went 
 
 to the High Sheriff's Houfe to acquaint him of the Meeting, who being ab- 
 
 fent, we informed his "Wife and Family •, to whom alfo applying for Planks 
 
 for Seats, we readily had them -, and fhe, with feveral of their Daughters, were 
 
 at Meeting, and were civil and tender. 
 
 There is no Meeting of Friends in that Place, nor any dwelling there, Elizabeth's 
 but a very rude fenfelefs People, devoid of all Relifh of Tnith, and of the Town. 
 Fear of G o d in general ; yet to the Meeting many of them came : Some were 
 civil, others tender •, but the Bulk of them, airy, wanton, and Scoffers ; fome- 
 times rufhing into the Meeting, and leering under their Hats, and then again 
 running out of the Houfe, mocking at what they had heard •, both to the great 
 
 Difturbance of the few who were fober, and us who went to vifit them in 
 
 the Goodnefs of God, 
 
 Many Things of great Moment were declared unto them, both of the 
 Mercy and Judgments of G o d -, and the Lord gave us Power to clear our 
 Confciences to them at that Time ; and I am perfoaded the Lord hath a Seed 
 among them. 
 
 From the Meeting we went to the Houfe of one who had been there, and 
 kept an Ordinary, and there we had a little Cyder •, which having paid for, I 
 took that Opportunity (he having been light, airy, and a Scoffer in the Meet- 
 ing) to tell him, " That though IJlomael was the firft born of Abraham^ yet, 
 " being of the bond Woman, he was not to inherit ; and, fcoffing at the 
 " Birth of Ifaac, was extruded from the Houfe of his Father ; which, under 
 " that Typical Difpenfation, being a Figure of the two Seeds now inwardly 
 *' revealed, there is no Scoffer can enter the Kingdom of God, unlefs he be 
 *' firft born of another Spirit." Upon which he was afhamed, and fell under; 
 and we left him to think further of what was faid. There we took Boat, and 
 went back to 'Thomas Hodges ; who entertained fix of us that Night with good 
 Accommodations. 
 
 The next Morning we came back to Benjamin SmalPs, and ftaid there {bme 
 Hours ; and, being at the Creek-fide, accompanied by fome Friends, and rea- 
 dy to take Boat, the good Prefence of the Lord came upon us, and fweet- 
 ly tendered us together, and my Companion firft, and then I, had fome Time 
 in Prayer -, where we parted with thofe Friends in tender Love, and then 
 went over the Creek, and crofs a Neck of ^Land, and fo over Chuckatiuk Creeky 
 to John Copeland^s. 
 
 W E refted there that Night ; and, next Day, we had a fmall, but heaven- 1699. 
 ly Meeting, about three Miles off, at our Friend Daniel Sandborn^i. i and re- 
 turned in the Evening to John Copeland's. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting at Pagan Creek, alia?^ Levy-Neck; where Pagan Creek, 
 we had a large Affembly, moft of whom were not Friends -, and the Power of 
 the Lord was glorioufly with us, and the Truths of the Gofpel were opened 
 to general Sacisfadlion, fo far as we could perceive by their Behaviour. 
 
 After this Meeting, my Conipanion returned to John Copelano'i. ; and 
 from thence over James''^ Rivcr^ and went up the other Side, to alarm the 
 .f People
 
 i6o The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno People there, and to meet us that Day Week farther up: And Richard Gove 
 
 1C99. and I went that Night to our Friend William Brajie^s, at Levy-lSfeck ; and, next 
 
 Lion'sCreek. Day, Richard and I had another Meeting at Lion^s Creek, at Robert Lacy^s : It 
 
 was fmall, by reafon of the fhort Notice, (a Note having mifcarried) but 
 
 otherwife pretty well. 
 
 Next Morning, very early, we fet forward towards Burleigh, on the South 
 Side of James's River ; and, being very hot, and no Houfe of Entertainment by 
 
 Stony-run. the Way, and but few others, we alighted at a Brook called Stony-rufi ; and, 
 having fome Bread we brought with us, and Drams, Sugar, and Nutmeg, we 
 made Punch in a little Horn Cup •, and fo had good Entertainment for the 
 whole Company, and nothing to pay : and, having likewife fed our Horfes 
 with fome Ltdian Corn brought on purpofe, we remounted and proceeded to 
 
 B.-.ileigh. James John's ; where we arrived at Three in the Afternoon, having rid about 
 3S Miles : There Richard Gove and I lodged, and the reft went on farther for 
 Lodgings. 
 
 W E had not been long in the Houfe till I perceived a Concern in my Mind 
 in the Truth •, and, feeing two Indian Men-fervants and a Negro Woman 
 about the Houfe, I found my Concern was on their Account-, for the Love of 
 God was towards them : But our Hoft being deaf, and very talkative, was 
 troublefome in asking many Queftions, and in commenting upon the Scrip- 
 tures, in his Fafliion ; and interpreted them to us, as he imagined : But, as foon 
 as I could, I took an Opportunity to retire into the Woods, for the more free 
 Exercife of my Mind in the Gift of God alone, and to fee what might be the 
 IfTue of my inward Concern, 
 
 Remaining there till the Evening, as finding no Way for it that Night, 
 the next Morning I fent for thofe Servants, and had the Family and them toge- 
 ther in the Hall ; where I publifhed to them " the Day of the Vifitation of G o d ; 
 *' direfting their Minds to the Light and Grace of G o d in their own Hearts ; 
 " that as it reproved Sin in them, and in all Men, fo it teacheth all that will re- 
 " ceive it, to deny Ungodlinefs and worldly Lufts, and to walk godly, right eoujly and. 
 " foberly, in this frefent World ; and thereby Men, efcaping the Corruptions that 
 " are in this World through Luft, are received into everlafting Joys in the 
 " World to come : But fuch as are not led and governed by the Grace of God 
 " here, they are to be condemned unto everlafting Fire, in the great Day of 
 " the Judgment of Almighty God; which is coming upon all the World : 
 " and that though Men there ftiould defire to die, they could not ; neither is 
 " there any End of their Torments ; with fome other Things, importing both 
 " the Judgments and Mercies of God : And, perceiving them touched in fome 
 " degree, I did my beft, according to that Underftanding the Lord gave me, 
 " to fet their Minds upon the prefent Truth, as an inward Objeft. 
 
 " I ALSO exhorted them to wait upon the Lord in Stilnefs ; who, being a 
 " holy, invifible Spirit, appears only in the Hearts and Minds of Men, and 
 " not to the outward Eye and Sight : and that whatfoever Things are reproved 
 " in Mens Hearts here, in this World, will be condemned in the Day of Judg- 
 " ment ; but if they repent of their form.er evil Deeds, and, for the Tim.e to 
 " come, join and unite with the Spirit of C h r i st, which difcovers and con- 
 " demneth all Evil in them, the Lord will not only forgive and forget their 
 *' former Sins, but be their exceeding great Comforter in this Life ; and, in the 
 *' World to come, they ftiall fing everlafting Songs of joyful Praifes to the great 
 '' God, in the Kingdom of his Glory, in the fweet Company of innumerable 
 
 " An- 
 
 Tit. ii. 11,12.
 
 of THOMAS STORT. \6i 
 
 "' Angels, and the Spirits of juft and good Men in a State of Perfeftion ; where Anno 
 " there is divine Pleafure unutterable and everlafling." After this, I having 1699. 
 prayed, and Robert Gove having ipoken fomething among them, we concluded, 
 and I had great Peace in the Lord. 
 
 O N E of the Indians had wept much ; and, there being a Meeting the fame 
 Day at our Friend "Thomas Chapper?,, about two Miles from this, they both came 
 after us thither ; and, though the Meeting was fmall, it was tender and well : 
 But what EffeiSt it had upon thofe Indians^ I did not perceive, becaufe, by reafon 
 of their Modefty, as I thought, (being purchafed Slaves) they fat in a Place by 
 themfelves out of Sisht. 
 
 That Night we lodged with Thomas Chafpell ; and, having given Notice, in 
 the Meeting before, of another next Day, about a Mile and a Quarter off, at our 
 Friend Peler [Fyke's, there we had a fmall Meeting, but very comfortable. 
 
 And, the next Day, we had a like Meeting, eight Miles off, at our Friend 
 James Bedford's, in the Precinfts of Merchants Hope : There were feveral of the 
 People there ; and Things opened to their States, and we had a comfortable 
 Time with them and Friends -, thefe loving, and thofe refpeftful. 
 
 The next Day, being the Firft of the Week, we were at another Meeting 
 tl^ere ; but it proving very rainy, with a great Guft of Wind, and Lighten- 
 ing and Thunder till Mid-day, the Meeting was fmall j but feveral of the People 
 
 feemed folid and tender. 
 
 That Evening we returned with James Benford; and, next Day, croffing 
 James's, River, we went to our Friend Jane Pleafant's, at Curies ; where we were Curies, 
 kindly received : and there we met with my Companion, and feveral other 
 Friends i to our mutual and general Satisfadion. 
 
 On the 4th we had a Meeting there j which was indifferent large, and well. 
 My Concern therein was, for the moll part, about Marriage, and the Difpleafure 
 of G o D againft his own People in the old World, and all Ages of this, againfV 
 mixed Marriages between them and the World ; for I had heard fome Hints that 
 Jane Plea/ant's Daughter had married one that was not a Friend, and gone quite 
 off from the very Form of Truth •, and that her Son Jofeph was tlien likewilc 
 about to take a Wife that did not profefs the Truth. 
 
 This Concern I bore long in the Meeting, under Fear left it fhould arife from 
 the hearing of the Ear only ; but at length,, feeing my Way clear, I dilcharged 
 my Confcience in that Matter ; and the young Man was, for that Time, brought 
 to a Senfe of his Error. 
 
 O N the 6th we had a Meeting at our Friend JVilUam Porter's, a comfortable 
 Time ; and, that Evening, returning to Jane Pleafant's, we had, next Day, ano- 
 ther Meeting there ; and, on die 8th, being the Seventh of the Week, we went to 
 Black Creek, to the Houfe of our Friend Charles Fleming ; and, next Day, had a Black Creek. 
 large Meeting at the Mceting-houfe ; and the Power and Goodnefs of the Lo r d 
 was plentifully with us, and many were tendered thereby •, and that Night alfo 
 we lodged at Charles Fleming's. 
 
 T K E next Morning, accompanied by our faid Friend, and two more, we fee 
 forward for our Friend George IVilfon's, towards the upper Part of Mattapany Ri- 
 
 S f W>'3
 
 i6z The LIFE, ^'t-. 
 
 4 
 
 Anno "^^er, fwimming our Horfes over Powmiinky River, by two at a Time, one on each 
 1699. Side of a Canoe •, and got fafe thither about the Fourth Hour in the Evening. 
 
 I T is a Wildernefs Place every Way •, no Meeting fettled there, but the Friend 
 and his Wife, through the Mercy of God, preferred alive in the Truth, but 
 theii- Children in Danger to be loft from it •, one of their Daughters, being mar- 
 ried by a Prieft, neither flie or her Hufband making any Profeffion now with us. 
 
 W E had a Meeting there next Day larger than could have been expected -, fe- 
 veral were tendered, and generally fober. The Friend's Daughter and her Huf- 
 band were there ; whom we admonifhed and exhorted, and they were humble 
 and pretty tender. We lodged there that Night aUo ; and, in the Morning, kt 
 forward for Powmunky-Neck, to the Plantation of IViUiam Clayhorn, formerly men- 
 tioned ; where our Friend John Kftigbt, of Cork, was building a Ship for fome 
 Friends of Brijlol ; and he had come on purpofe to meet us at George IFilfon^s. 
 
 We had a good Paflage over the River by the Ferry ; and, on the other Side, 
 went into a Houfe, for it came on much Thunder and Rain ; and there we heard 
 of an Indian Town, about a Mile off, on the Side of the River Mattamny ; and 
 we went to fee them. 
 
 Cliickaho- T H E Y are the Chickahomine Indians -, and, as to their Town, it confifted of 
 
 ™''''^- about eleven Wigwams, or Houfes, made of the Bark of Trees, and contained 
 
 lb many Families : We were diredled to their Sagamor, or Chief ; and, when 
 we went to his Door, he came out with a Piece of Cloth about his Middle, but 
 otherwife all naked, and invited us in ; and, we being fet down, feveral of his 
 People came to look upon us, and, among them, one who could fpealc fome En- 
 glijh. 
 
 After a Time of Silence, and the Company increafed, we afked him if they 
 were all there, for we defired to fee as many of them together as we could j 
 which being interpreted to tlie Sagamor, who was a grave, ferious, and wary old 
 Man, he feemed to be under fome Sufpicion of us, and what we might mean 
 by defiring to fee them all together ; we being wholly Strangers to them. 
 
 Then I, falling under fome Concern in my Mind, and obferving a Fear in 
 them, informed them by the Interpreter, " That we did not come among them 
 " for any Hurt to them, or Gain to ourfelves -, but, being lately arrived from En- 
 " gland, had a Defire to fee them ; for we loved Indians, and had fomething to 
 " fay to them concerning the great God, who made the Heavens, the Sun, 
 " Moon, Earth, and all that dwell therein, EngJiJJr,nen, Indians, and all Nations; 
 *' that he loves all good Englijfj, and good Indians, and other good People 
 " every where." 
 
 And then they feemed a little more calm and fettled in their Countenances ; 
 and my Companion fpake to them concerning the Immortality of the Soul -, " and 
 " that God hath placed a Witnefs in the Heart of every Man, wliich approves 
 " that which is good, and reproves that which is evil." 
 
 The Sagamor then pointed to his Head, and faid, " That was treacherous, 
 " or fallacious ; but, pointing to his Breaft, faid, it was true and fweet there :" 
 And then he fent forth his Breath, as if he had poured out his Soul unto Death ; 
 and, figning up towards Heaven with his Hand, railed a bold, chearful, and loud 
 
 Hey
 
 of THOMAS S T R Z j6^ 
 
 Hey, as if the Soul alcended thither in a triumphant Manner : and then, point- Anno 
 ino- to his Body, iiom thence put his Hand towards the Earth, to demonftrate 1699, 
 his Opinion, that the Body remains there, wlien tlie Soul is departed and afcended. 
 
 A N D I beheve we might have had a more fatisfaftory Time with them, bu£ 
 that there came in two young Englifimen ; who lived fomewhere thereabout, and 
 underftood the Indian Tongue : They undertook to interpret for us -, but we 
 found them not quite honcft in it : for wlien my Companion fpoke further to 
 them, which was concerning " the Righteoufnefs and Impartiahty of God •, 
 " and that he hateth Drunkennefs, Whoredom, Lying, Cheating, and all 
 " Evil, as much in an Englifiman, as in an Indian,'" the Indians were fet into 
 a Laughter. 
 
 •o* 
 
 T H E N I defired one of the EngliJJjmen to tell the Indians, tliey fhould not be 
 light, efpecially on fuch Occafions •, and ertquired of the Indian Interpreter what 
 the Englijhrnan had faid ? And he replied, " That he had mentioned fomething 
 " of their being too free with one another's Wives, and in fuch a Manner as had 
 « that Effea." 
 
 T H E N I defired one of the young Men to fl^y as from me to the Indians^ 
 " That the great God, Maker and Upholder of ail Things, hath Right to the 
 " Obedience of all Men i and hath placed a Law in every tleart, and alio ap- 
 '* pointed a Time wherein he will bring all Men to account for their Deeds done 
 *' here in this World ; and as he is all-feeing and omniprefcnr, he always beholds 
 " all Mens Thoughts, Words, and Deeds, and at laft will reward every Man 
 *' ;is his Thoughts, Words, and Aftions have been ; the good, whether Englifo 
 " or Indians, he will reward with everlafting Happinefs, and unfpeakable good 
 " Things j and the bad, whether Engliflomen or Indians, he will condemn to 
 " everlalVing Fire, and Torment undeclarable." 
 
 But, inftead of telling the Indians thefe Things, he faid, " They had for- 
 *' merly told them fome of them -, and others he himfclf did not underftand, nor 
 " could he find Words in the Indian Tongue to reach them." They told us 
 alfo, " That the Indians had been great Idolaters; but fmce the Englip inhabi- 
 *' led thole Parts, they v/ere much reformed." 
 
 But if the ProfefTorsof Christ have done the poor Indians any good, tliey 
 have done them much Harm alfo ; for they have taught them, by Example, to 
 be drunk, lie, ileal, fwear, whore, (for the Indians are naturally very chafte) 
 cheat and diflemble •, and often defraud them in barter for their Skins, which is 
 tlicir Living, by mixing Water with the Rum which they give in Exchange : And 
 when an Indian becomes drunk, as fome of them will, then, fwearing, ranting, 
 and blafpiieming, he'll cry aloud, I am now all one Englifhman. 
 
 I T is reported of this Sagamor, that he was never feen to be drunk but once, 
 and that was when young •, which had prov'd fo troublefome to his Mind, and 
 virtuous Inclination, that he always thereafter fhunned every occafion of the like 
 Evil. We took them by the Hands, one by one, beginning at the Sagamor j 
 and they feemed well pleafed with our Vifit. 
 
 A s to the Converfion of the Indians of all, or any Nation and Nations, to the 
 Truth, I believe the Lord will call them, after the Power of Antichrift is over- 
 thrown i but it feems to me, that Learning, or the hiilorical Part of Religion, or 
 
 their
 
 i54 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno their own Language^ (which is very barren of pertinent Words) will not be much 
 1699. inftrumental in it; but the Word of Life, whole Divine and Lite-giving intel- 
 leftuai Speech is more certainly known in the Mind, will tender their Hearts, in 
 a filent State and Retirement, by Means of fome Inftruments that the Loru 
 will raife up and qualify for that Purpofe •, who fliall not confound them with a 
 long fruitlefs Hiftory of needlefs Things : But when the Lord (hall fend forth 
 his Word, the Light of the Gentiles, the quickening Spirit of Jesus, into and 
 upon any of them in holy Silence, or in Prayer, their Minds Ihall be directed to 
 the Spirit himfelf, as the prefent Objedl of their Faith, Obedience, and Love, and 
 Author of their prefent Joy and Salvation : and lb, believing in the Light, fliall 
 become Children of that Light and Day of God, and Heirs of eternal Life in 
 him : And then the Hiftorics in the Bible, the Prophecies of the Prophets of 
 God, and the fulfiUing of them ; the evangelical Account of the Conception, 
 Birth, Life, Dodrine, Miracles, Death, Refurredlion, Afcenfion, Glorification, 
 Mediation, IntercefTion, and Judgment of him, who is the Subftancc ot all, and 
 Jo]in i 9. that true Light which lighteth every Man that.cometh into the World, will be the more 
 clearly received by the Indians, when the Almighty fhall think fit to acquaint 
 them therewith. 
 
 That Evening we arrived at the Dock where the Ship was building, and 
 lodged that Night with Captain Clayborn \ and, next Day, had a Meeting at the 
 Dock, near the Place ; which was fmall, but comfortable : And, being weary 
 with hard Travel, (but efpecially our Horfes, for want of Food, or Forage) we 
 determined to ftay there till after the Firft Day ; and, intending another Meeting 
 at the Dock, we gave notice of it to the Country. 
 
 Queen's 
 Creek. 
 
 W E had a Meeting accordingly, which was large and well ; the People being 
 generally Ibber, and feveral tendered, and, after the Meeting, exprefled their Sa- 
 tisfaftion ; and fome of Note among them faid, *' That fince we had fo good 
 " Things to publifli, they were in hopes we would not finally leave thofe Parts 
 *' without more Meetings thereaway"; feveral of them adding, " That welhould 
 be welcome to their Houfes, and the beft Entertainment they had, though we 
 had laid open their Priefts to the loweft Capacities, and elpecially their Pfeudo- 
 Baptifm. 
 
 The next Day, accompanied by Edward Thomas of Bangor-hcufe, on ^ieenh 
 Creek, and his Son, and fome other Friends, who liad come up, and given us 
 their Company fome Days, we fet forward for Slueen's Creek ; but, in our Way, 
 had much Thunder and Rain -, and, though it was very dark in the Night in the 
 Woods, through the good Providence of God, we got well to that Journey's 
 End. 
 
 Next Day we refted there-, and the Day after, went to a Fourth Day's 
 Meedng, at Daniel Akehurji^s,, fixteen Miles off ; where we had a fmall, bur good 
 Meeting •, and returned that Evening with Edward Thomas and his Wife to 
 ^een''s Creek. 
 
 Hickery- 
 Neck. 
 
 On the 20th we refted; and, next Day, had a Meedng about nine Miles 
 from thence, at a Place called Hickery-Neck, at the Houfe of one Edmund Brewer, 
 not a Friend, nor had ever a Meeting been there before : It was pretty large, 
 and fome ot the People tendered ; and, tliough fome Perfons were a litde 
 airy, yet, being rebuked by my Companion in his 'I'eftimony, tliey became 
 
 more
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. i6s 
 
 more quiet and fedate : and, after the Meeting, we returned, with feveral Friends, Anno 
 to ^wen's Creek ; where we refted again next Day. 1699. 
 
 On the 23d, being the Firft of the Week, we had a Meeting at l^'ork City, York City, 
 at the Houfe of one Thomas Bonder, a Preaclier among the General Baptifts -, 
 and it was the lirll Meeting of our Friends that had been there : The People 
 were very rude, and fenfelefs of all good, and the Teftimony of Truth was fliarp 
 accordingly ; cipecially in my Companion, declaring the heavy Stroke of the 
 Hand of the Lor d upon them, it they did not fpeedily repent, and turn unto 
 him ; and they were at laft brought pretty well over. 
 
 That Evening we went home with our Friend Akehiirft^ about eight Miles ; 
 and, next Day, refted there ; and, on the 25th, had a Meeting, about feven Miles 
 from thence, at the Houfe ot Thomas Nichols^ at a Place called Pocofon ; where Pocofon. 
 there never had been a Meeting before : It was large, though the People, till my 
 Companion began to fpeak, did not generally come in ; but then crowded much, 
 and a good Meeting we had ; fome being tendered, and generally humbled : 
 BlefTed be the Lord for his Power and Goodnefs to us. "We refted there that 
 Night; where we were entertained, in much Friendfliip and tender Refpeft, by Tho- 
 mas Nichols and his Wife, but by her efpecially •, who, though a Muletto by L::- 
 tradtion, yet not too black, or tawny, for the divine ftiining Light of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the Light of the Gentiles, and Glory of the whole Ifrael of God, 
 through all Ages of the World : And of this true Light, and the Power and 
 Virtue of it, is this poor Soul truly begotten •, and, to a good Degree, filled with 
 that unfeigned Love, which ever attends thofe that believe in, love and obey that 
 true Light, which light eth every Man that comet h into the World : The Lord is 
 with her, and hath made her inftrumental for the Furtherance of his own Glory 
 in thofe Parts wheixin fhe liveth. 
 
 O N the 26th we had a Meeting at George Walker's, at Kickatan : It was fmall, Kickatan. 
 yet' many Things were opened of great Moment ; and the Lord gave us a good 
 Time together. And, after this Meeting, I i'ound myfelf under a particular 
 Concern tor the Reftoration, if poffible, of the Wife of George Walker the younger, 
 who was one of the Daughters of that unhappy Apioftate George Keith: I ob- 
 ferved her to have a good natural Underftanding, but much out of that innocent 
 adorning, both of Body and Mind, ufual among our beft Friends, and I fpoke to her 
 alone on that Subjedt, in much Tendernefs •, and, though fhe was of a quick Temper, 
 and naturally high-minded, yet I obferved the Love of Truth was toward her, 
 and a Time of Vifitation ; and exhorted her therein to be humble and moderate 
 in all Things, fearing the Lord. At firft, as I thought, flie was jealous I had 
 done it reproachfully, or to affront her, confidering the Circumftances of her Fa- 
 ther and Mother, and would have made Excufes and Evafions -, but nothing ap- 
 pearing in me but true Refpedt, Friendfliip, and Tendernels, Die began, in a fliort 
 Time, to change Colours, and that was followed with gentle Tears ; under which 
 I took leave of her, being full of Companion in the Love of Truth towards her ; 
 and in whiqh alio I greatly defired the Return of all that had gone out from the 
 Truth that Way ; And, as I had taken leave of her, came my Companion Ro- 
 ger Gill and Daniel Akehurfl ; and, when Roger Gill took her by the Hand, fhe 
 broke out again into a Flood of Tears : By all which we had fome Hope, that the 
 Lord might rcftore her from under thofe Prejudices begotten in her Mind by the 
 Apoftacy of her lapfed Parents. 
 
 I N the Evening, about Six, we took Horfe, and went that Night with Daniel 
 
 T t Jkehurji,
 
 1 66 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno Akehnrfi about twenty-five Miles, and were very weary. And next Day went 
 1699. to ^(een's Creek, fixteen Miles, and there refled till the Seventh Day Morning -, 
 and then went forward toward Remuncock, where our Friend John Knight, 
 aforementioned, was building a Ship, and where we had appointed a Meeting 
 to be next Day, (being the Firft Day of the Week) and in our Way called at the 
 Houfe of John Bates at Scmndno, formerly mentioned, who, with his Vv^ife, were 
 become Profeffors of Truth fince our Arrival in that Country -, but had been at 
 leveral Meetings with us, and had been convinced in their Minds before, but had 
 not Strength to own it. But though one foweth and another reapeth, yet we are 
 all the Servants of one Lord; and therefore to him alone be the Glory of 
 his own Work, in which the beft and ftrongeft of the Children of Men are 
 only inftrumental in him who worketh all in all. One begetteth into the Faith 
 through the divine Word ; another nourifheth through the Virtue of the 
 fame ; and another confirmeth and eftablifheth by the fame Wifdom. The 
 Wifdom and Power of G o d is one. 
 
 They had heard Daniel Jkehiaj}, and were afFefted by his Teftimony. 
 William Ellis and Aaron Atkififon they loved •, and the Truth, the Author of 
 tliat Love, they now own, by Means of our Minifbry, of which my Companion 
 (T fuppofe) had the greateft Share. John Bales was at home, ready to go with 
 us, his Wife being gone before, with her fucking Child, to the Houfe of the 
 Widow ; who had been under the fame Circumftances of Convincement, and, 
 by fome, accounted a Qiiaker in her Heart before we came. And a Concern 
 coming upon our Minds at her Houfe, my Companion pray'd, and they all, 
 with three Daughters of the W idow, were tendered ; after wliich we proceeded 
 in our Journey, and arrived at Remuncock that Evening. 
 
 Remunccck. The next Day we had a Meeting, according to Appointment, which was large 
 and open. Many Perfons of Note in thofe Parts were there -, as, Major Pahier^ 
 Captain Clayborn^ Dodtor Walker, and others ; and all were very fedate, and fome 
 broken, and generally fatisfied ; the Lord favouring us with his divine Pre- 
 fcnce, and aiding us by his Grace. The moft noted Priefts in thofe Parts were 
 one Backer, and another, Monro, a Scotfman. This Backer had formerly boafted, 
 that no Qiiaker was able to difpute with him ; he could run them down at 
 Pleafure. And this Major Palmer, hearing of the Meeting, had invited him thi- 
 ther •, but he evtided the Matter, by telling him, " The Quakers were not 
 " worth his while to difcourfe with, for they deny the Refurreftion : " (though 
 we own the Refurreftion, but not in his Senfe) And Monro, though Prieft of 
 that Place, had an Errand to the Governor at the fame Time. 
 
 That Night we refted there, and next Day fet forward for our Friend 
 George Wilfon^s, in our Way to Maryland ; but calling at Doftor Walker'' %, he 
 prevail'd with us to flay with him that Night, where we were kindly enter- 
 tain'd -, and next Day arrived at the Place we intended, and where we expefted 
 a Meeting the Day following : But fome Miftake having happen'd in the 
 Notice that had been fent, we could not have one till the 4th of the Month, and 
 then it was a very fmall, hard, dark, and dull Meeting, occafioned (as we con- 
 ieftur'd) by the great Rains •, after which the People were bufy planting To- 
 bacco, and thofe that came to the Meeting left their Minds behind them in 
 that Bufmefs ; yet the Lord was with us in fome comfortable Meafure, and 
 we departed thence in Peace the next Morning. 
 
 About Two in the Afternoon we came to the River Rappahanock -, and 
 
 having
 
 of T H M A S S T RT. .i6y 
 
 having a ready PafTage, we called at a Houfe on the other Side belonging A n n o. 
 
 to a Widow Woman-, of whom we aflced fome Corn for our Horfes, for 1699. 
 
 which we offered to fatisly her. She replied. Corn fhe had, and we fhould Rapahanock 
 
 have fufficient ; but flie would not fell us any, (though it was very fcarce at ^^'^'^'^• 
 that Time;) and flie likewife gave us fuch Provifion for ourfelves as fhe had 
 ready ; and would alfo have provided better, if we could have ftaid for it. 
 
 From hence fetting forward, we went that Evening to the Houfe dtjchn 
 Harvy, a friendly Man, and his Wife a Friend. It was on Upper Matchodock Upper Mat- 
 Creek, upon Potomcck River ; where we were kindly cntertainM that Nio-ht chodock 
 having rid fifty Miles, none of us knowing the Way fully. 
 
 Creek. 
 
 The next Morning our Friend John Knight, (lie having all this Time re- 
 mained with us) and another Friend, took a Boat, and went fome Miles down 
 the Creek and River, to fome Ships, {hdngBriJlol Men) and borrowed a Flatt 
 ■ to fet us over, (for there was not, at that Time, any Ferry allow'd of, being 
 between two Governments ; ) and fo we paffed over the great River Potomock 
 to Cedar-point, about three Miles, at that narrow Place. Cedar Point 
 
 This being the Seventh Day of the Week, and not knowing of any Meet- 
 ing we could reach the next Day, (there being none between that River and 
 Patuxent) we called at the firll Plantation we came to, which happened to be 
 one William Herberts \ where we enquired, if there we^e any of the People 
 called Quakers in thofe Parts ? And being invited to alight and refrelh ourfelves, 
 we did fo, and were told there was one of our Friends had appointed a Meet- 
 ting at a Houfe about two Miles off, who had had feveral Meetings before, 
 and many went to hear him. We afl^ed his Name, and where he came from, 
 (thinking it might be fome Friend from England) and were told his Name 
 was William, and that he came from Virginia. Tlien we apprehended him 
 to be one William Morton, who had been denied by Friends there, and went 
 Vagrant up and down, under the Name of a Quaker. 
 
 W' E lodged there that Night, and were kindly entertained ; and, next Day, 
 about the Tenth Hour, with our Landlord, and moft of his Family, went 
 to the Meeting, where we found a confiderable Number of People •, and, in a 
 iliort Time, the Man flood up and prayed Handing : The People pulled off their 
 Hats, but fat on their Seats, and we fat with our Hats on, in teftimony againft 
 him and his Prayer ; in which he ufed a few imperfedt Scraps of the National 
 Common Prayer, and fome nonfenfical ExprefTions, expofing his own grofs 
 
 When he had ended his Prayer he began to preach •, but, affirming that the 
 Lord JesusChristIs married to tlve whole World, my Companion faid it 
 was falfe, and bid him prove his AfTertion if he could, before he faid any more ; 
 but he went on with fome more confufed Sentences, and then faid he would not 
 take up all the Time, but give way to thefe Strangers. Then my Companion 
 ftood up, and had a very good Time among the People ; feveral of whom 
 were tendered, and all very fober : And when lie had done, the Man flood up 
 again, and would have made fome Oppofition to what my Companion had faid, 
 as if he favoured Self-righteoufnefs and long Prayers, though he had faid no- 
 thing that might give him Ground for fuch a Charge. 
 
 Them
 
 i6S The LIFE, d^■c. 
 
 Anno Then finding my Mind engaged by the Tnith, and Authority therein, I 
 
 1699. flood up, and bid him be filent; and he gave way. 
 
 " T H E N I began with the univerfal free Grace of G o d, through Christ, 
 " unto all Men ; and yet, though Christ hath died for all Mankind, and 
 " the Grace of God, by him, be come upon all, thofe only are faved who 
 " believe in the Sufficiency of that Grace •, and, in that Faith, deny all Un- 
 " godlinefs and worldly Lufts, and walk uprightly in this prefent World-, For, 
 " after Christ had done and fuffered all Things which are written of him in 
 *' the Floly Scriptures, yet John, v/ho had the Vifions of God, even to the 
 " laft and great Day of his Judgment, faw every Man rewarded at laft accord- 
 " ing to his Works-, and that, notwithftanding the Offering of our Lord 
 " once on the Crofs, for the Sins of the whole World, yet at laft Christ 
 " will fet the Sheep on his Right-hand, and the Goats on his Left ; and will 
 " fay to the former, Con2e ye blejfed, and to the latter. Go ye cur fed: But if 
 " his dying for the Sins of the whole World were fufficient of itfelf, without 
 " Mens Faith in, and Obedience to the Grace come by him, there could not 
 " be any Room left for fuch a Diftinclion at the laft Day •, but as all have re- 
 " ceived Grace by him, thofe who believe therein, and obey the Diftates rhere- 
 " of, come to be faved-, as it is written. By Grace we are [aved through Faith \ 
 " // is not of oiirfelveSy it is the Gift of God. 
 
 Tit.ii. 1 1,1 ^. '■' A G AiN ; the Grace of God, which bringeth Salvation, hath appeared unto 
 " all Men, teaching us, that drnying all Ungodlinefs and worldly Lujis, we fhould live 
 " foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent World; but thofe who do not 
 " believe in this Grace, and the Sufficiency of it, cannot be faved by it : For 
 " though, in Words, they confefs the Lord JesusChrist, yet, in Works, 
 " they deny him -, and then that Saying becomes true in them. His Servants ye 
 " are to whom ye yield y our f elves Servants to obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or of 
 " Righteoufnefs unto Life eternal : So that there is an abfolute Neceffity ftill 6f a 
 " holy Lite, and due Obedience to the Law of G o d ; for Christ is not 
 " come to give Liberty to Sin, but to redeem Men from Sin, and to give us 
 " Power to do the Commands of G o d ; that Man, being redeemed from the 
 " Caufe of eternal Death, which is Sin, might alfo be faved from the Eftefts 
 *' thereof, that is, eternal Condemnation." 
 
 Having thus finifhed my Teftimony to the Truth, I then proceeded to 
 lay that Man open to the People as an Impoftor -, that he was not at Unity 
 with us, nor received as a Minifter among our People, being guilty of fome 
 Things utterly inconfiftent with our Profeffion. Then my Companion conclu- 
 ded the Meeting in Prayer ; and the divine Truth was over all, and the People 
 well fatislied: And we departed, after good Service for the Lord; of whom 
 is the Power, and to whom be the Glory for ever. 
 
 After the Meeting we returned with William Herbert to his Houfe, where 
 came to us a trading Perfon from Lotidon ; and he, being fitting with us near the 
 River, it came into my Mind that he came for difpute -, and he, and William 
 Herbert and his Wife, going into the Houfe, we followed them ; and, as I paf- 
 fed the Window, I perceived he was reading a Pafiage to them out of a Book ; 
 and, when we went in, found it was concerning the Inftitution of Circumcifion, 
 which was to be adminifter'd on the eighth Day of the Age of the Male Infant -, 
 afiTerting that Baptifm (he meant fprinkling of Infants) was now as neceflary as 
 
 that
 
 of T RO M A S S T RT. 169 
 
 that was then: And then he began to alledge againft my Companion, that he Anno 
 had uttered fomething in the Meeting concerning Baptiim, v/hich he could not 1699. 
 maintain by Scripture ; that is, " That the Baptiim now ufed, (he meant by 
 " the National Church) was never inftitutedof God by any Evidence appear- 
 " ing in Scripture, nor any Precedent there for fprinkling Infants •, nor any 
 *' Water Baptifm commanded fmce the Baptifm of John was put to an End." 
 
 The firft Part we owned my Companion had fpoken, which the Stranger 
 oppugning we put him upon his Proof-, and, after a fhort Difpute, my Com- 
 panion brought him to confefs, that he could not defend it by Scripture : And 
 tlien he went to the fecond Part, viz. " Nor any V/ater Baptifm commanded 
 *' fmce the Baptifm ofjohnvfas put to an End." 
 
 T H I s we denied to have been fpoken by my Companion, as he ftated it -, 
 but fince he had confefTed himfelf a Mem.ber of the National Church, my Com- 
 panion infifted tliat he had nothing to do with Baptifm with Water, till he fliould 
 come into the Praftice of it. 
 
 H E replied, " You mentioned the Thing in the Meeting, and the Quefti- 
 " on is not, whether I or another be of the Baptifls Opinion and Praftice, but 
 " whether any Water Baptifm was inftituted after John's Baptifm ? But my 
 Companion having put him to Silence, as to fprinkling ; and, denying his 
 Charge as to the other Part, faid little more then to him. 
 
 B u T a Concern remaining upon me, left this Man fnould go away boaft- 
 ing, I entered into the Argument with him upon the Subje6t at large ; and that 
 fince he had aflerted that Christ inftituted another Water Baptifm than that 
 of Job?;, I put liim upon the Proof of it. 
 
 Then he cited that Text in M/^i. xxviii. 19. Go teach all Nations, haptizing 
 them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, &c. 
 
 I R E p L ! E D, " That this Text was not to his Purpofe, for Water was not 
 *' fo much as mentioned in it ; and if the L o r d C h R i s t had intended Wa- 
 " tcr, as the Inftrument of this Baptifm, he would have expreffed it." 
 
 To this he alledged, " That the Praftice of the Apoftles, purfuant to this In- 
 " ftitution, determined that it was Water Baptifm -, for from this Time they 
 " baptized with Water in divers Inftances, and particularly in that oi Philip' ^ 
 *' baptizing the Eunuch." 
 
 A N s w E R, " The Practice of the Apoftles doth not determine it to be Water 
 " Baptifm, becaufe they pra6lifed Circumcifion, Vows, Shavings, Purifications, 
 " and other Je-zvifi Rites ; which, in point of Obligation, were all ended by 
 " the Comijig of Christ in the Fleih, and futfering for all Mankind; and 
 " io was V/ater Baptifm by the Coming of the Holy Ghoft : But, for the bet- 
 " ter underftanding of this Command, obferve, that John the Baptift was com- 
 <' manded by the Word of Go d to preach Repentance unto Ifrael, and to bap- 
 " tize them in Water, direding them to the true ObjetT; of Faith, then about 
 « to be made manifeft -, that is, C h R i s t the L o r d, the true Meffiah and fent 
 " of G o D, though not linown to John himfelf at that Time •, and of whom 
 " he faid, I indeed baptize (or have baptized) jo^f loith Water, but he fljall bap- Mat.iii. n. 
 " tize yon tvith the Hr,h Ghofi, and -ivith Fire ; which fliews there was a Bap- 
 
 U u " trfm
 
 170 The L I F E, ((^c. 
 
 A N N b " tiim of a more excellent and efficacious. Nature then to coine, and by an Ad- 
 1699. " miniftrator incomparabl)- fuperior to Jo/:)/;, that is, Christ j who, when he 
 " appeared in the Flefh to Ifrael his People, preached to them the fame Doc- 
 " trine of Repentance as John did •, and his Difciples alfo preached the fame, 
 " and baptized them with the fame Baptifm as John did, differing only in this 
 " Circumftance of Adminiftration, John baptized them, faying they fhould be- 
 '' lieve in Christ then to come-, whereas the Difciples of Christ baptized 
 " in the Name of the Lord Jesus, declaring him to be the true Mefliah 
 " that Mofes and the Prophets had prophefied of. 
 
 " Now, here is Water Baptifm transferred from John to the Difciples of 
 " Jesus, (for Jesus himfelf baptized not with Water) who made and bap- 
 " tized more than John did; and, John being foon after martyr'd. Water Bap- 
 " tifm remained under the Adminiftration of the Difciples of Christ only : 
 " and, until the Refurreftion of C h ri st, we hear no more of the Baptifm of 
 " the Holy Ghoft, (as I now remember) foretold by John as aforefaid : Nor 
 " was the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft declared as a Difpenfation to the Belie- 
 " vers and Difciples of C h r i s t, till a little before his Afcenfion •, nor efta- 
 " blilhed as fuch, till the Coming of the Spirit of Christ upon them at Je- 
 " rufakm, 
 
 "No w, as to the Introduftion and Terms of this Baptifm and Difpenfa- 
 Mat x5cviii. " tion, they lie thus in the Floly Scriptures : All Fcjoer in Heaven and Earth 
 J S, 19, 20. " /^ given unto me^ faith the Son of G o d ; Repentance and Reniijfion of Sins muji 
 " be preached in my Name unto all Nations, beginning at Jerufalem ; and ye Jljall 
 " be PFitneffes unto me in Jerufalem^ in Samaria^ in Jtidea, in all the Regions round 
 *' about, and to the uttermoji Parts of the Earth : Go ye therefore, teach all Na- 
 " tions, baptizing them in (or rather into) the Name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 " and of the Holy Ghofl ; teaching them to obfcrve all Things whatfoever I have 
 *' commanded you ; and, lo, I am with you akjjays, even unto the End of the World. 
 
 " A N D, to obviate any Mifapprchenfion the Difciples might be incident to, 
 Markxvi.15, *' tlie Lord adds, Go ye into all the Earth, and preach the Gofpel unto every 
 '6- " Creature : He that believeth, and is baptized, .fhall be faved; but he that belie 
 
 *' veth not floall be damned : But tarry ye at Jerufalem till ye have received Pozver 
 " from on high. But ye ftmll have Poiver after the Holy Ghofi is come upon you: 
 " For John truly baptized 'with Water, but yc fhall be baptized with the Holy Ghofi 
 " not many Days hence, 
 
 "No w, here is Water Baptifm plainly afcribed to John, and the Difciples 
 " of C h R I s T already in the Praftice of it ; and the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft 
 " as clearly diftinguiflied from it, as being the permanent Difpenfation of G o d 
 " unto all, who fliould believe in Christ and the Holy Spirit, to the End 
 " of the World, by the preaching ot the Gofpel by his own Power ; which 
 " accordingly began at the City of Jerufalem, at the Time of Pentecofl, as by 
 " the TeftJmony of Holy Writ. 
 
 " B u T, to fliew how little poor Mortals underftand of the Things of G o d, 
 " though ever io plainly told us by the hearing of the Ear, without the Spirit 
 " of C h R I s T revealed in ourfelves, the Difciples, who had been fo long with 
 " him, and heard him fpcak as never Man fpake, being yet unconverted, tlio' 
 " convinced, replied to all that he had then laid on thofe divine Subjcfts of 
 
 " the
 
 of T H M A S S T R T, 171 
 
 *' the higlieil: Importance, IVilt thou, at this 1'me, reftore again the Kingdom nn- A x n o 
 " to Ijrael? i6c)q. 
 
 ALh. i. 6. 
 
 "And the Words of Christ, though fo plain as to the Nature of this 
 " Baptifm, that is, with the Holy Ghoft ; and as to the Extent of it, that is, to 
 " all Nations, to all the Earth, and to all Mankind-, yet the Apoil:lcs did not 
 " underftand as to either, but ftill thought themfelves confined to the Jews, 
 *' till Feter was fent to Cornelius and his Houlhold, who were Gentiles. 
 
 " It is not to be admired therefore, that the Apoflles, or fome of them, 
 " might adminifter Water Baptifm in fome Inftances, (though few plainly to 
 " be proved) fmce it was about eight Years after the Inftitution and Com- 
 " mencement of the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, as a Difpenfation, before they 
 " underftood the Nature or Extent of it ; and no Man knows any more of 
 *' the Things of G o d by the Holy Ghoft, than he opens or manifefts to him, 
 
 " And it is alfo obfervable, that wliat Baptifm any of the Difciples admi- 
 " nifter'd with Water, after the Coming of the Holy Ghoft, was not from that 
 " Command mentioned Mat. xxviii. 19. but from their Praftice of John's Bap- 
 " tifm before, and in his Time, as appears by the Manner of Adminiftration -, 
 " for it never v/as in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, the Terms 
 " of Inftitution in that Text, but only in the Name of the Lord Jesus, or 
 " Name of the Lop.d, being the fame. 
 
 "But when your Prieft faith to a Child of eight Days of Age, or the like, 
 *' / baptize thee in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, he uttereth a 
 " filfe Propofition •, for he doth not baptize, but rantize, or fprinkle, and ta- 
 " kcth the Name of tiie Lord in vain, ufing it where the Almighty hath not 
 *' commanded it to be ufed or named." 
 
 After this my Opponent faid no more but only this, " That he could not 
 *' believe but that fome Water Baptifm was ftill neceflary:" And fo this Con- 
 ference ended in a friendly Manner ; and I faid to him as he departed, " May 
 " he, whofe Word of Wifdom alone can give Underftanding in the Things of 
 " God, and fpeak forth Knowledge in the fecret of the Heart, anfwer that; 
 " for it is not in the Power of Man:" And fo he bowed in good Manners^ 
 in his Way, and departed. 
 
 The next Morning we fet forward, taking in our Way the cold Springs-, Co!d Springs. 
 where we found many poor People, fome lame, fome blind, fome deaf, others 
 infefted with noiibme Sores, and fome with Stitches and with Pains in their 
 Bones -, and feveral there were who faid they had received, fome their Sight, fome 
 their Limbs, fome cured of Ulcers, all by virtue of the Waters, by drinking and 
 bathing, (the Water is calibiate) and among thefe poor People we had a Meet- 
 ing in an old Tobacco-houfe, where many of them lodged; which was very 
 noxious in the hot Weather ; yet my Companion had a very open Time among 
 them i the L o R D favoured us with his comfortable Prefence : And, one blind 
 Woman, complaining for want of Bread, we gave her Money to buy fome, 
 and departed in Peace. 
 
 But, in our Way to thofe Springs, IVtlliam Morion overtook us, (of whom 
 before) andj paffing by me in a Fret, rode up to Roger Gill, my Companion, 
 and would have taken him by the Hand ; but he, looking fternly upon liim, 
 
 refufed :
 
 171 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno refufed : Then laid William, " I have done wrong in what I have been about ■,'■' 
 1699. and fo began to mnke large Acknowledgements of his Errors ; and then Ro- 
 ger Gill took him by the Hand ; which Acknowledgements Roger Gtll wai 
 communicating to me, when IVilliam Morton came to offer me his Hand : I 
 alio received him ; and then he told us the whole Matter, vi-z. " That he v/as 
 " a Tanner by Trade, and lived in Virginia^ and had been wel-1 efteemed among 
 " Friends there ; but, having a fmall Eftate in Goods, ventured it all in one 
 " VelTel to the Wcfi Indies, contrary to the Advice of Friends; which being 
 " cafh away, be was thereby difordered in his Mind •, and, perceiving Friends 
 " frown upon him, he was never reconciled, but had, contrary to our Order 
 " and Difcipline, gone on in that Practice of preaching among the People in 
 " Virginia and Maryland till now -, but had never Hiid any Thing againft Friends 
 " any where, but only had preached out of Unity, and hoped he lliould do fo 
 " no more : And though we had been hard upon him, his Heart had earned 
 " after us, and would gladly have fubmitted to us in the Meeting -, but ftill 
 " felt Obftruftions, and could not ; but would now do any Thing we would 
 " advife him." 
 
 Then my Companion advifed him to return to the Place where the Meet- 
 ing had been -, and, when the People were there gathered, (for he had told 
 them he would be there that Day Week) confefs his Errors before them, and 
 preach no m.ore, but exhort tliem to fear God. All which he promifed to do ; 
 and alfo to come to the enfuing Yearly Meeting in Maryland, and there do as 
 Friends lliould advife him •, which being certified to Friends in Virginia, it might 
 make way for his Reconciliation with them : And, in a full Rcfolution of do- 
 ing this, (as he faid) we left him near the Wells aforefaid. 
 
 That Afternoon, paffing tlic River Patuxent, about a Mile over, at Bene- 
 '■iv„v„ ^^^ I'c'ivn, v.'e came to the Houfe of our Friend, the Widow Elizabeth Hut- 
 chins ; and, being weary, ftaid there that Night ; and, next Morning, went to- 
 wards our Friend Abraham John's, and there dined -, and, in the Evening, went 
 CI11T5. to his Father Richard Johjt's, at Cliffs, and there remained till the nth-, 
 
 ratu.xent. '■^^^ thence went to Patuxent Meeting, where was a Marriage •, and v/e had 
 fome Service, and returned that Night to Richard Johns^s ; and there, and at 
 his Son Abraham'' s, remained till the 14th-, and then, being the Firft Day of 
 the Week, were at another Meeting at Patuxent : After which we returned to 
 the Cliffs, where we remained till the 1 8th •, and, in the mean time, had a fmall, 
 but comfortable Meeting there ; where came to us our ancient and honourable 
 Friend in the Truth, 'Thomas Everndor,, from the Eaftern Shore. 
 
 On the iSth we went to our Friend the Widow Elizabeth Talbot'' %, at the 
 Rido-e Ridge ; where was a Meeting on otcafion of a Marriage, in which we had 
 
 good Satisfaftion -, and, that Night, lodged with our Friend Nchcmiah Birkit j 
 and, the Day after, being invited by our Friend Richard Harrifon, to dine at 
 liis Houfe with the new-married Couple, we did fo ; and then went to vific 
 our Friend Samuel Chew, and his Family, where we lodged that Night ; and, 
 next Day, returned to Nehemiah Birkit's., where we refted a little •, and fo on, 
 by the Widow Talbot's, to our Friend Samuel Galloway's-, where we refted 
 that Night, and were very eafy and well •, his Wife Anne being the only mini- 
 ftring Friend at that Time in all thofc Parts ; a very honeft, innocent, lively, 
 and honourable Friend in the Truth, and every where acceptable in her Ser- 
 vices ; and the next Day, being the Firfi: of the Week, wc had a large Meeting 
 
 at
 
 of THOMAS sr RJ\ 173 
 
 at the Meeting-hoiife there ; but tlie hardeft and mofc fiiiit up tliat we had h n- n o 
 been at before in America. 1699. 
 
 The Yearly Meeting there for the JVeJlern Shore approaching, in the mean 
 time we vifited fome FamiHes of Friends in thofe Pares, as Samuel Cbew's, on 
 the 24th i where, or near it, we had a fmall, but comfortable Meeting •, and, 
 from thence, to Nehemiah Birkit's ; and, next Day, to Richard Harrifoii'?, ; 
 where we met with our Friends Dr Griffith 0'u:en, from Fhiladclphia, and, with 
 him, Aaron Atkiufon, from England, and, lodging there that Night, we went all 
 next Day together to Samuel Galloway''^, near which Place the Yearly Meeting 
 was to begin next Day. 
 
 The Meeting began accordingly ; and, on the firft and fecond Days, was 
 very full and peaceable, and the good Prefehce of the Lord was with us ; but, 
 on the tliird Day, came one Henry Hall, a Prieft of the Church of England, and, 
 with others of his Notions, evefdroped the Meeting, but came not in •, and, af- 
 ter the Forenoon Meeting, we being gone into an upper Room, he was heard 
 to mutter fomething among the People, by way of Exception to fome Part of 
 what Aaron Atkinfon had laid in the Meeting concerning Predeftination : and 
 fome of them fent Word to us, that the Prieft defired to fpeak with him, or all 
 of us, about it-, and we went down to him among the People. At firft he 
 was a little furprized, and feemed to deny that he had any Thing againft us -, 
 but, regaining his Courage a little, own'd he had fomething to objeft againft 
 him that fpake about Predeftination : Then we invited him into the Floufe, and 
 into tlie Gallery with us, that he might have like Advantage of being heard ; 
 and the Houfe was quickly filled with People, many of whom were his own 
 Hearers : And the Matter of his Objedlion was, " That Aaron Atkinfon had 
 " greached againft the Doflrine of Eleftion, as held by the Church of England; 
 *' and faid he would defend that Dodlrine againft us, and fliow us to be errone- 
 " ous in holding the contrary." But the Prieft not being in the Meeting-houfe 
 when Aaron Atkinfon had fpoken there, had miftaken what he faid, and fo brought 
 a wrong Charge ; for Aaron Atkinfon did not fpeak of Eleftion alone, as held 
 by tlie Church of England, but againft Eleftion and Reprobation, as taught by 
 the Independants and Presbyterians of New England, where he had lately tra- 
 velled; and that their Doftrine, touching that Point, was erroneous ; and re- 
 hearfed to the People the Subftance of what he had faid in the Meeting upon 
 that Subjedl : Upon which I obferved to the People, " That the Prieft's Charge 
 " at firft was. That we deny Predeftination ; which, by the common Accep- 
 " tation of the Word, includes both Eleftion and Reprobation •, though now, 
 *' Ihifting his Terms, he reftrifts it to Eledion only : And whoever accufeth 
 " us of Error for oppofing Predeftination, doth himfelf thereby affert that 
 " Doftrine, and muft prove it if he can i" which he would not attempt : After 
 which I defired the People to confider, whether they had an Epifcopalian or Pref- 
 byterian to pay as their Minifter. 
 
 The Prieft was then filent as to that Point, and, in an angry Manner, af- 
 firmed, That we, as a People, deny Christ -, and pretended he could prove 
 it, being furniftied, as we perceived, with his pretended Proof out of that ly- 
 ing, perverting, fcandalous Book, called, The Snake in the Grafs •, which, as we 
 were informed, he ufed to read often among his People : And his pretended 
 Proof amounting to no more than falfe Accufation, we rejefted and expofed it 
 as fuch. Then his laft Shift was, to call upon us for a Confeffion of our own 
 Faith-, and diredled his Demand to our Friend Richard Johns in particular, 
 V"itli whom he was acquainted. 
 
 .X X We
 
 174 ^'^^ LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno We denied that he had any Authority to make any fuch Demand from nsj 
 
 1699. nor flaould we, on his own Account, take any Notice of him therein, he ap- 
 pearing as an Adverfary and Perverter-, but, for the Sake of the People, were 
 willingtofay what might be fufficient to fatisfy fuch as were not prepoflefled or 
 prejudiced againfl; us : And then Richard Johns began, and proceeded after this 
 Manner; " We beUeve that the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of the Vir- 
 " gin Mary, being conceived by the Power and Influence of the Holy Ghoft, is 
 " the true Meffiah and Saviour ; that he died upon the Crofs, at Jerufaletn, a 
 " Propitiation and Sacrifice for the Sins of all Mankind ; that he rofe from the 
 " dead the third Day, afcended, and fitteth on the Right-hand of the Maje- 
 " fty on high, making Intercefiion for us ; and, in the Fulnefs of Time, fhall 
 " come to judge both the Living and the Dead, and reward all according to 
 " their Works:" All which, being more fully i^dken to hy Roger Gill, we 
 afked the People, " If they were fatisfied with that Confeffion ?" and they ge- 
 nerally, from all Quarters, anfwered, " Yea, yea, yea ; it is full, no Man can 
 " deny it.'* 
 
 The Prieft being difappointed in his Expeftations, and his wicked Purpofe 
 of expofing us as no Chriftians, fruftrated, the next Day he came again, and 
 brought one of his Brethren with him •, and they again evefdroped the Meet- 
 ing : But my Companion being in his Teftimony, and, apprehending they were 
 within hearing, cried aloud to them to come forth out of their Holes and Cor- 
 ners, and appear openly like Men ; and, if they had any Thing to fay, after 
 the Meeting was over they fliould be heard ; and, a little after, they came in- 
 to the Meeting-houfe, one at one Door, and the other at the other j and many 
 crowded in after them. 
 
 My Companion having done, it fell to my Lot to fpeak next; and, having 
 opened feveral Things concerning the Coming of Christ in the Flefli, I had 
 fomething alfo concerning Water Baptifm, as ufed by John the Baptift ; which^ 
 though once a Difpenfation of G o d to the Jews, and then of Ufe to them, 
 yet it is long fince abolilhed ; in the Conclufion whereof I informed the Au- 
 ditory, that as for fprinkling of Infants, it is foreign to Scripture, and I could 
 look upon it to be no other than a Popifli Relid; and fince the National 
 Church had efpoufed it, and aflferted it as an Ordinance of Christ by Prac- 
 tice, and fome of her Minifters there prefent, I requefted them to make it ap- 
 pear, if they could, when the Meeting was ended, that Christ ever inftitu- 
 ted or commanded that Baptifm, or pretended Baptifm, which they now ufe j 
 and, coming foon after to a Conclufion of what I had to fay, Aaron Atkitjfon 
 concluded the Meeting by Prayer; and the blefied Truth was over all to gene* 
 ral Satisfadtion, efpecially to Friends, who were filled with divine Confolation. 
 
 « 
 
 The Meeting, as to Friends, ending in Peace that pafleth the Underftand- 
 ing of all Priefts who preach for Hire, one of them, viz. Hetiry Hall, flood up, 
 and pretended to prove fprinkling of Infants, as ufed by the Church of £;z- 
 gland, to be an Ordinance of Christ; and, many Juflices of Peace, and 
 others of Note of both Sexes, being prefent, he began with a Preamble ; in 
 which he fo rambled from the Matter propofed, that he ended in a Pretence to 
 prove the Right of the Priefts to Tythes, or fome other national legal Main- 
 tenance ; as if that were the Sum of their Religion, and all they meant by their 
 ProfefTion : Which Impertinence I noting to the People, the Prieft was juftly 
 interrupted, and called back to make good his firft Propofition ; which he 
 evaded, faying, " He did not propofe to do it then, but would another 
 ^'■' Time." 
 
 Then
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 175- 
 
 Then we appealed to the People, many of Uiem having come that Day Anno. 
 far and near, and great part of them the Hearers of thofe Priefts, concerning the 1699. 
 State of the Matter, and whether the Prieft had proved what he had underta- 
 ken ; and they generally granting he had not, we held him to it, as moft rea- 
 fonable and profitable to be done, if he could, in the fame Auditory -, and fo 
 he, utterly evading it, fell under the Cenfure of the People ; wlio, feeinc their 
 Weaknefs, generally contemned them : And though all Matters and CiTcum- 
 ftances would be too tedious to infert, yet fome further Hints may be worth 
 
 notino;. 
 
 When the invincible Truth came thus over their lofty and felf-confident 
 Heads, and their Spirits were fallen under their own Party and Hearers, I then 
 put them to prove their Call to the Miniftry •, which they taking upon them to 
 do, only told us, " That Christ called Apoftles, and they ordained others, 
 " and they again others, in Succeffion to that Time. 
 
 T H E N I called for their Proof, " Who they were that the Apoftles ordain- 
 *' ed, and who, from Age to Age fucceffively, that were fo ordained •, where- 
 *' in if they failed, they were juftly to be rejefted as no Minifters of C h r i s t, 
 *' fince they had refted the Matter on fuch a Succeffion and Credentials." And 
 one of them repeating the fame Aflertion only as before, I returned it upon him 
 as his own prooflefs Say-fo only. Many of the People then, feeing their Igno- 
 rance, reviled them more and more to their Faces : Some faying, " We'll pay 
 *' you the Tobacco, being obliged thereto byL,aw, (that is, forty Pounds ofTo- 
 *' bacco for every Negro Slave) but we will never hear you more." 
 
 Then, to lay them more open, '' demanded their Proof as Minifters of 
 the Church of Engla7td; and, one of them ftanding up to prove himfell fuch, I 
 defired to fee his Orders. He faid, " He had indeed Orders, but the Inftru- 
 "' ment was at home-, but he would bring it To-morrow." Then I noted to 
 the People the Imprudence of their Minifter, to ftand up To-day to prove his 
 Calling, and talk of bringing his Evidence To-morrow 5 which gave a little 
 Diverfion to the Auditory. 
 
 Then Henry Hall, the other Prieft, being likewife called upon for his Proof, 
 confefled alfo that his Orders were not there, but he could prove he was in Or- 
 ders by one there prefent ; and accordingly called his Mr (fuch an one) 
 who coming before us, I afked him " What he knew of Henry HalPs having 
 *' Orders as a Minifter of the Church of England?" He anfwered, " He had 
 *' feen it under the Hand of the Bifhop of London." 
 
 " Didst thou fee the Bifliop of London fign it ? No j but faw it had been 
 *' figned by him. 
 
 " Dost thou know the Biftiop's Hand? No. 
 
 "Then thy Evidence ought not to be taken ; thou haft neither feen the 
 " Biftiop fign any Orders, nor knoweft his Hand:" Upon which the Mart 
 (though of an honeft Countenance) bluftied, and fculked behind, as afhamed 
 of his Undertaking. 
 
 T H E N I noted to the People, that their Priefts had pretended to prove 
 fprinkling of Infants, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, to be 
 an Ordinance of Christ, and could not-, and themfelves Minifters of 
 
 Christ^
 
 176 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno CkriSt, but fell fliort-, and of the Church of £?z^/^»<;f, and failed in that 
 1699. likewife ; and that therefore they had no Reafon to follow them, or pay them 
 any more. 
 
 And while we were yet In the Gallery, one of their Hearers, who was climbed 
 up into a Window, cried out with a loud Voice to Henry Hall, " Sir, you have 
 " broken a Canon of the Church : You have baptized ftveral Negroes, who, 
 
 being Infidels, Baptifm ought not to have been adminifter'd to them." 
 
 cc 
 
 At this the Prieft was enraged, but made no Anfwer to the Charge ; only 
 frown'd, fretted, and threaten'd the Man to trounce him. Then I obferved to 
 the People, " That if thofe Negroes were made Chriftians in their Senfe, and 
 " Members of Christ, Children of God, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of 
 " Heaven, received into the Body of the Church of Christ, as their Lan- 
 *' guage is at the Time of Sprinkling, How could they now detain them any 
 " longer as Slaves.'' " 
 
 'cr 
 
 I N t!ie Conclufion of the whole Matter, feveral of the Juftices of the Peace 
 there prefent, being afliamed of their Priefts, Aid out of the Meeting as un- 
 obfervable as might be •, and the People in general openly contemn'd them as 
 fuch, who behind the Backs of the Quakers had greatly reproach'd and belied 
 them, but Face to Face were utterly baffled and fubdued by them. And that 
 Night feveral of the Juftices, lodging with our Friend Samuel Chew, exprefs'd 
 their Sentiments altogether in our Favour ; and that their Priefts were really ig- 
 norant Men in Matters of Religion. 
 
 The next Day alfo, being only the Meetbg for Difcipline and Bufinefs, 
 came abundance of People ; and finding no publick Meeting forWorlhip, many 
 remained till they law no Hopes of any : And the next Day likewife came many, 
 (the Meeting continuing a Day longer than was expeded) who remaining till Bu- 
 iinefs was over, we had a comfortable Time together in the Preience and Love 
 of G o D j in which our Meeting concluded, to our great and mutual Satisfaftion, 
 and the Praife of the Lord, who alone is worthy. 
 
 We went that Afternoon to the Bay of Chejfapeek, and many Friends, and 
 lome of the People with us, to fee us embark. We were all Night upon the 
 Water, (viz. Griffith Owen, Aaron Atkinfon, my Companion, and myfelf ) and 
 went home, about the Break of Day, with our Friend William Sharps in wliofc 
 Veflel we had come over, and refted there that Day and the next ; and in the 
 mean time I hatl fome Dilpute with one Jofcph Mollifon, a perverfe Perfon, 
 about Baptifm. He would not confefs what Profeffion of Religion he made ; 
 but I deem'd him a Popifti Prieft : But Truth came over him, though a crafty 
 Sophifter. On the 4th Day of this Month, (being the Firft of the Week) we 
 had a large and good Meeting, at a Meeting-houfe near the Place, where we 
 had the Company of many People befides Friends ; and alter the Meeting we 
 went forward with a Friend, whofe Floufe was on our Way, where that Night 
 v/e lodged. 
 
 From thence we went next Morning, and the Day proving wet, it was a 
 little uncomfortable : But the Rain ceafing about Noon, we alighted in the 
 Woods, near a little Rivulet, and made a Fire ; and fome of us having hard 
 Bifcuit, fome Drams, and fome Neats Tongue, we eat to Satisfaction, and drank 
 Water. And remounting, we went that Eveining to the Houfe of a Friend, a 
 Widow J where, finding the Son of Peace, we were well entcrtain'd, and re- 
 
 frefhed
 
 of T H M ui S S T RZ 177 
 
 fredied next Morning with her and the Family in a comfortable Seafon in the Anno 
 
 Truth. 1(^99- 
 
 Ads i. 6. 
 
 It lighten'd, thunder'd, and rained exceedingly that Night; but being a fair 
 Morning, we fet forward for our Friend Edward Gib's, where wc arrived in the 
 Atternoon, but were wet by a great Shower that overtook us in the Way ; but 
 being kindly received, and well entertained^ we took no Hurt. And tlie next 
 Morning Griffith Owen, my Companion, and I, fet forward for Newcnjlk upon 
 Delaware ; but Aaron Atkinfon remained in order to vifit fome Meetings there- 
 away. 
 
 At Newcajik wc met with our good Friend Samuel Carpenter, his Wif&, and Newcaftle 
 fome other Friends of Philadelphia, and we were kindly received to Lodging with "P°" 
 him. And next Day (being the Filth of the Week) we had a large Meeting 
 there, and were much comforted in the blcffed Truth among Friends ; and Hay- 
 ing over the Firft Day Meeting, and the Third Day following, we had a Meeting 
 at Myrion, with the PFelp Friends, on the 1 5th, among whom I was much fatif- Myrion. 
 fied : For feveral of them appearing in Teftimony in the BritiJJj Tongue, which 
 I did not underftand ; yet being from the Word of Truth in them, as Inilru- 
 ments moved thereby, I was as much refreflied as if it had been in my own 
 LanGiuace : which confirmed me in what I had thought before, that where the 
 Spirit is the fame in the Preacher and Hearer, and is the Truth, the Refrefhment 
 is chiefly thereby, rather than by the Form of Words or Language, to all that are 
 in the fame Spirit at the fame Time : And this is the univerfal Language of the 
 Spirit, known and underftood in all Tongues and Nations, to them that are born 
 of him. But, in order to the Convincement of luch as know not the Truth , 
 for the begetting of Faith in fuch as do not yet believe therein -, for the opening 
 of the Underftanding, by the Form of Dodrine, and Declaration ot the neccflary 
 Truths of the Gofpel and Kingdom of God, intelligible Language, uttered un- 
 der the im.mediate Influence of the Spirit of Truth, is indifpenflbly neceflary ; 
 as alfo for the edifying of the Church, the Body of Christ, in general. 
 
 That Evening we returned to Philadelphia ; where we fl:aid till the 1 7th Day Philadelphwi. 
 of the Month, and then went to Bridlington, in IFcJl New-Jerfey, accompanied 
 by Samuel Carpenter, Ifaac N orris, Abraham Hardiman, James Fox, Edward Pen- 
 nington, and fome others, and lodged with our well-known, and very hofpitable 
 Friend, and able Minifter of the Gofpel, Samuel Jennings ; and, the next Day, 
 being the Firft oi the W^eek, had a large and good Meeting there. 
 
 On the 19th we had a Meeting at Crofwicks, in Jerfey, about 15 Miles to- Crofwicks. 
 wards New-Tork, and lodged that Night with our Friend Francis Davenport ; 
 and, next Day, we travelled through the Woods, about 30 Miles, to an Inn cal- 
 led Tnion's ; and, next Day, in the Afternoon, we arrived at Elizabeth Town, in 
 Eajl- Jerfey ; where we took Boat about Eleven at Night, and landed at New- ^few-york. 
 Tork about Four in the Morning ; and, next Day, had a fmall Meeting there ; 
 and, on the 24th, being the Seventh of the Week, we went thence by Water, 
 accompanied by our Friend Dr John Rodman, and fome others -, and, that Night, 
 lodged with our Friend Thomas Steven/on, on Long-IJland. 
 
 And, the next Day, pafling over the Sound to Wejl-Chefter, upon the Main, Well Cheller, 
 we fell in opportunely with a Yearly Meeting, about 20 Miles from New-Tork ; 
 and lodged that Night with our Friend John Pbarres, at Eajt-Chejler. 
 
 On the 26th, we fet forward hvRhode-IJland, about 200 Miles by Land, ac- 
 
 y y com-
 
 178 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 A K N o comoanied by Horfeman Molineux and Samuel Pdnier^ to Stanford, in the Colo- 
 1699. ^y o'i ConneSlicut . It is a confiderable Village ; and we coming in before Night, 
 Coaneaicut. inclined to have a Meeting there. We acquainted the Widow Weed, our Land- 
 lady, with our Intention, and defired of her the Liberty of her Houfe for that 
 Purpofe ; which flie readily granted, fo far as it was in her Power : for their 
 Laws and Magiftrates were very ftrift and fcvere againft Friends, of whom 
 there was not one in all that Country. To fecurc the good Woman from any 
 Hurt, by her Good-will toward us, we went to a Juftice of the Peace, and in- 
 formed him of our Intention. He was an ancient Man, and moderate in liis 
 natural Temper, but worfe for his Religion. He qucfticned the Sufficiency of 
 our Calling to that Service. What Call, faid we, doll thou think is neceffary 
 in that Cafe ? The Call of the People, faid he. Our Calling is of God, faid 
 we -, and if the People hear us, let the Truth in their Hearts (to which we defire 
 ro be made manifeft) judge whether we be called of God ; and any other Calling 
 we do not regard. Then, faid he, I will not tolerate you. We do not come 
 for thy Toleration, faid I, ye being Prefbyterians or Independents ; but only to 
 acquaint thee with our Purpofe, as thou art a Magiftrate, and we being Stran- 
 gers, there might be no Surprize by fuch a Concourfe of People. Then he 
 gave us a Hint, that he would ufe Means to deter them from coming to hear 
 us ; and lb we returned to our Inn, 
 
 And when there, we met with fome People come in as though to refrefh 
 themielves, but rather to fee us : For generally they are either afraid of us, as 
 if we were Deluders and Deceivers ; or they are fo much under their Priefls and 
 Laws, that they dare not be feen with a Friend. And their dead Faith and Re- 
 ligion depend fo much upon their Priefts, that they fcarce dare look toward the 
 Truth, or hear any but them. Yet that Evening we had Converfation with 
 fome of them, concerning the occafion of the coming of their Anceftors out of 
 England into that Country (then a Wildernefs) upon account of Religion, for 
 which they had been perfecuted there ; which feemed a new Thing to feveral of 
 them. And, Supper being ready, I had fomething in Prayer before we ate, 
 and the People were ftill and attentive, and feemed pleafed to find the falfe 
 Accounts they had received, refuted, vix. That Qiiakers receive the Mer- 
 cies of God as the Brutes; never craving a Blefling, nor returning the Lord 
 Thanks. And we informing them of our Intention of having a Meeting there 
 next Morning, at the Ninth Hour, they departed friendly. 
 
 The Time came, and many of the People ; and, whilft we fat in Silence, 
 came a Conftable, and another to affiil him, with a Warrant from one John Sil- 
 lick, the Mayor of the Town • in which were feveral Inve£lives and falfe Char- 
 ges againft us, as Flereticks, Blafphemers, Deniers of Christ, and the like ; 
 dictated (as we conjeftured from fome Circumftances) by their Prieft, who went 
 out of the Town and left his Flock. 
 
 The Warrant being read, I ftood up and acquainted the People with the 
 Law of Toleration in England, the Moderation of the King, and Temper of 
 the Government and People there toward us ; and that they of ConneSiicut ought 
 not (by their Charter) to have any Law there to the contrary ; But the Conftable 
 and his rude Afilftant replied. They did not depend upon the Laws of England, 
 but ftood upon their own Foundation •, and they had a Law, that no Quakers 
 fhould have any Meeting among them, and none there fhould be ; and then 
 commanded us to be gone. 
 
 But my Companion, being filled with Zeal, ftood up and fpake to the People ; 
 
 and
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 179 
 
 and the Conftable commanded him to be filent ; of which he took no Notice, An n o 
 
 but went on : Then the Conftable came clofe up to his Face in an angry Manner, 1699. 
 
 repeating his Command: but my Companion, continuing his Speech, recounted 
 
 to the People the Wickednefs of that Antichriftian Spirit in New England ; who 
 
 had whipped, and many ways abufed and perfecuted our Friends there ; cutting off 
 
 the Ears of fome, and hanging others, becaufe they were Quakers, and came into 
 
 their Country ; though they came in Love, as the peaceable MefTengers of God 
 
 to them : That the fame Spint was yet alive among them in ConneSiicut, and would 
 
 be at the fame cruel Work ftill, but was over-ruled by a better Power. 
 
 The Conftables, not being able to effed their Purpofe upon us, commanded 
 tiie People to difperfe ; fome of whom ftill remaining, they at laft commanded 
 our Hoftefs to forbid us her Houfe ; which fhe did with trembling ; and then 
 we went into the Streets, and through them, my Companion crying with a loud 
 Voice all along, Wo, zvo, wo,, to the Inhabitants of this Place, who profefs God 
 and Chrijl, without the Knowledge of God, and void of his Fear, with fome fuch 
 other Words, in that Power and Dread that amazed many of the People •, and 
 we going back towards the Inn, and ftanding before the Door in the Street, ma- 
 ny came about us j and there he had a pretty full and good Time among them. 
 
 When this was over we went into the Inn, where feveral of their Elders and 
 Champion Difputants came to dilpute with us, and one of them as a kind ot Cheat, 
 in meanCloachs ; and he fat dowji in the Chimney Corner, and fmoaking Tobacco, 
 leer'd from under his old Hat like an Idiot : But his Defign was, as we appre- 
 hended, all of a fudden to break out in fuch Wifdom as fiiould furprize us in lo 
 mean an Appearance ; yet he came oft' as meanly as he appeared. 
 
 The firft Matter pitched upon was the univerfal free Grace of God to all 
 Men, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; which we afferted, and fully main- 
 tained over them ; v/hich being contrary to their beloved and falfe Do6trine of 
 perfonal Predeftination, it occafioned a Difcourfe on that Subjedl ; which they 
 afterted, and we oppofed : And then the unlikely Difputant came and placed him - 
 felf at the Head of the Table, and cfpoufed their Caufe •, and, the Proof being 
 incumbent upon them, he, with great Confidence, afterted, " That God faid, 
 " before Jacob and Efau were born, that he loved Jacob and hated Efau ; and 
 " that it was the Pleafure and Decree of God -from everlafting fo to do, with- 
 " out any Caufe in either of them, being before they had done good or evil. 
 
 " T H E N I called for one of their Bibles, and told him, " Fie and they all 
 " were in a great Miftake concerning that Scripture ; for G o d did not fay, be- 
 " fore the Children were born, Jacob have I loved, and Efau have I hated ; but 
 " faid, Two Natio?is are in thy PFcmb, and two Manner of People floall be feparated Gen.xxv. sj* 
 " from thy Bowels ; and the one People Jloall be flronger than the other People, and 
 " the eUcr fhall fervc the younger. Here the Anfwcr of God, being a Predifti- 
 " on, had no refpeft to the Perfons of Jacob and Efau ; nor was it ever fulfilled 
 " perfonally in them : For Efau, who was the elder, never ferved Jacob in Perfon ; 
 " but, on the contrary, Jacob did Obeifance to Efau, and called him his 
 " Lord, Gen. xxxii. 4, 18, 20. 
 
 " Thi'3 Prediftion then was written concerning the differing Pofterity of 
 *' Efau and Jacob, and not their Perfons ; and was fulfilled in the Edomttes of 
 " Mount Seir, who came of Efau, and Ifrael, who came of Jacob : And the 
 " Difpleafure of God againft the £(i«;z/to, was not from any Fore-hatred, or 
 " Decree of God from Eternity, as ye fuppofe -, but the moral Caufe of his 
 
 " Dif-
 
 iSo The L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Ani4o " Difpleafurc and their Ruin was, their great Sins and Wickednefs, as declared 
 
 1699. " by the Prophets of God ; and firft by Ezekiel, Behold, O Mount Seir, I am 
 
 Ezek.xxxv.5. " againfi thee:, becatife thou hafi had a perpetual Hatred, and hafi JJoed the Blood of 
 
 " the Children of Ifrael by the Force of the Sword, in the Time of their Cala- 
 
 " mity, &c. 
 
 Amos i. ti. " And likewife by Jmos ; Bccaiife he did purfue his Brother with the Sword, 
 " and did cafi off all Pity, and his Anger did tear perpetually, and keep his Wrath 
 " for ever. 
 
 Obad, 3, &c. tc And alfo by Obadiah, againfh Efau, that is, Edom, For the Pride of thine 
 " Heart; for thy Violence againfi thy Brother Jacob, Shame JJoall cover thee, and 
 " thoupalt be cut off for ever. 
 
 Mai. ii. 3. "And lafl of all by Malachi, who hath it thus, JVas net Efau Jacob's Bro- 
 
 " ther, faith the Lord -, yet I loved Jacob, and hated Efau, and laid his Moun- 
 " tains and his Heritage wafte, &c. which was for his Pride, Obitinacy, and Op- 
 " pofition, perfifting in final Rebellion, Impenitence and Contradidlion : All 
 " which is ftill concerning Edom and Ifrael, and not the Perfons of Jacob and 
 " Efau ; the laft of thole Prophets having wrote about 441 Years alter the Pre- 
 " didtion of God to Rebecca, concerning their Pofberity. 
 
 Rom. ix. II. "And the Apollle, in his Epiltle to the Romans, where he faith, as it ii 
 " written, Jacob have I loved, but Efau have I hated, refers to that oi Malachty 
 " as above, about 457 Years after Malachi wrote that Prophecy. And in that 
 " Chapter the Apoftle was labouring to convince the Jews, that they are not the 
 " true Seed, or Eled; of God, (as they feem to have imagined) becaule they 
 " were the Defcendants of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, after the Flefh : But Efau, 
 " being a rough, wild, hairy Man, was a Figure of the firft Birth of Man alter 
 " the Flefli, as a Son of the Firft Adam in the Fall, who, in that State, cannot 
 " inherit the Kingdom of God •, and Jacob, a Figure of the fecond Birth, orre- 
 " generate State of Man, in C h r i s r the Second Adam ; who never fell, nor 
 " could fall: For, faith the Apoftle, they are not all Ifrael, who are of Ifrael', 
 " neither, becaufe they are of the Seed of Abraham, are they all Children ; but in 
 
 licb. a. 18. u jj^^f- pj^ii ti^y ggicl be called: That is, they who are the Children of the Flefh, 
 " thefe are not the Children of God ; but the Children of the Pvomik are counted 
 " for the Seed. 
 
 "Now, fay I, the Promife is C h r i s t, the MelTiah, the Elefl and promifed 
 " Seed of God •, of whom it is written, / and the Children which thou hafi given 
 " me: "Which Ciiildrcn are all that believe in him, as he is the Man Christ 
 " Jesus, the Son and Word of God, and Light of the Gentiles ; and are born 
 " of him, by the Influence of his Holy Spirit, working in them. 
 
 " A N D as the Edomites hated and perfcci:ted Ifrael, and took all Occafions 
 " and Advantages againft them to do them Hurt, till, for lb doing they were cut 
 " off, and for their other Sins, when full ; fo likewife the Jews hated, rejefted, 
 " and perfecuted Christ, the Eleft of God ; for which they alfo were cut off, 
 " and remain Infidels to this Day : And they alfo now, as in all Ages, who are 
 " born only after tlie Flelh, and not after the Spirit, do hate, pcrfecute, and, as 
 " much as they can, deftroy them who are born of the ele6t Seed of Gop, af- 
 " ter the Spirit •, for which, if they repent not in Time, they will likewife be cue 
 " off, and perifli evcrlaftingly." 
 
 Thi s
 
 of THOMAS STORT. i8i 
 
 This weakened one of our Opponents, and his Spirit fell much, and the bet- Anno 
 ter Part came a little up, and in View ; but the foolifh-like Difputant, inftead 1699. 
 of appearing in Wifdom, a6ted like himfelf, in a precipitant, ungovernable, furi- 
 ous Zeal ; and, ftarting up in the Spirit of Edom, faid, " I affirm, that all the 
 *' the Sins Efau ever committed, were the Effeffs of the eternal Decree of God, 
 " and Hatred againft him, before he was created, and not the Caufe of that Wrath 
 *' and Fore-hatred:" And lb, in a Rage, would have run away, but I kept 
 clofe to the Table, (he being behind it) and hindered him •, and, looking him 
 in the Face, replied, " I affirm ! Who art thou ?" looking upon him till his lofty- 
 Spirit fell under ; and then I, repeating the Affertion, demanded his Proof from 
 the Scriptures •, but none could be had. 
 
 Then I returned it upon him, as a falfe, blafphemous, and unjuft Charge 
 againft the Almighty ; under which he remained filent : and the other afking me 
 a Queilion, to be informed concerning the Light of Christ in Man, which he 
 confeffed he knew nothing of, he flunk away in the mean time through the Crowd 
 of People on the other Side of the Table, and made off out of the Houfe ; and 
 the Truth came over all, and I believe feveral Underftandings were, in fome de- 
 gree, opened on that Subject, and Ibme other Points ; for we had no further Di- 
 fpute, but the other Opponent, and the People, parted with us in a friendly Man- 
 ner; the better Part being fenfibly reached and above: And then we departed 
 in the Peace ot our Lord Jesus Christ •, to whom be the Praife of all ; tor 
 of him is the Underftanding and Power now and for ever. 
 
 That Evening we went forward to Fairfield, about 20 Miles, and lodged at the 
 Houfe of one Philip Lewis : He told us there was to be a great Meeting of their 
 People, and a Quarterly Ledlure, in that Place next Day, to the Inhabitants of feven 
 Townfhips and all their Minifters. We took notice of it, but faid nothing ; but, in 
 the Morning, my Companion told me, he thought he could not go clear from thence . 
 if he did not go to the Lefture ; at which I was well pleafed, for I had likewife 
 a fecret Inclination to be at the Meeting -, but, not having feen clearly a fufficient 
 Warrant in myfelf for fuch an Undertaking, I was not forward to engage, or 
 fpeak of it : but, walking into a Field, I fat down upon a Stone on the Top 
 of a little Hill, and the Word of Truth began to work in me more fully and 
 clearly 5 aixi then I received not only free Will, but likewife Power ; yet ftill 
 kept the Thing to myfelf: And, returning to my Companion at the Inn, thither 
 came the Prieft of Stanford, before mentioned, to enquire privately of our Land- 
 lord, whether we intended to appear at their Ledture ; which he not knowing, 
 but as he conjectured by our flaying, told him he would enquire of us ; and then 
 we were free to tell him, it might fo fall out •, which he told the Prieft; who took 
 it for granted, and returned to the reft : And their firft Bell being rung. Notice 
 was given not to ring the fecond till an Flour after the ufual Time ; by which we 
 reafonably conjectured they held a Confultation in the mean while what to do if 
 we came ; and prepared, or altered the Sermon, to fuit the Occafion. 
 
 Wh e n the Time came we went to the Meeting-houfe, and they had begun 
 their Prayer ; v>?hich wc perceiving as we approached the Door, did not then 
 enter, left we fliould oflend them with our Hats, for we did not intend to inter- 
 rupt them in their Worfliip ; but, going afide, we fiit down upon the Green, 
 v/here we could hear the Voice of him that prayed, tho' not diftinguilh his Words : 
 He made a very long Prayer ; which being ended, they fang a Pfalm of David ; 
 and we ftaid till that was over, and then entered as the Preacher was gi- 
 ving out his Text, wliiph v/as from the firft three Verfes of the fifty-fifth Chap- 
 ter of the Prophecy of Ifc.iah, in tliefe Words, Ho every one that thirjletb, 
 
 X z come
 
 i8i fke LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno come ye to the Waters •, and he that hath no Money, come ye, buy and eat •, yea, comt 
 i6^g. hiiy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price. Wherefore do ye fpend 
 Money for that zvhich is not Bread -, and your Labour for that which fatisjieth not ? 
 Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your Soul delight it- 
 felf in Fatnefs. Incline your Ear and come unto me ; hear and your Soulfhall live ; 
 and I will make an everlajling Covenant with you, even the fure Mercies of David, 
 
 This Text we were well pleafed with ; for he could hardly have taken one 
 more apt againft himfclf, and all others, whofe Ground of Preaching is their 
 own Gain and Livelihood, and for their own Honour, Intereft, and Advance- 
 ment in the World. He divided his Text into four Heads ; and then into feve- 
 ral Branches and Subdivifions. His Sermon would be too tedious to recite, nor 
 can I, verbatim ; but, in the handling of the Matter, he aiTerted, " The univer- 
 " fal free Grace of God in Jesus Christ •, and that he is offered to all, but 
 " many rejedl him for the Trifles of this Life ; and confequentiy their Damna- 
 " tion is of themfelves, i£c." 
 
 And here I think proper to infert the Names of the Minlfters, the Town Ju- 
 ftice and Conftables : For the Townfhip of Stratford, Ifrael Chancy, who made 
 
 J'airiield. the Sermon -, for Woodbury, Walker ; for Fairfield, where we then were, 
 
 Jojeph Webb ; for Stanford, mentioned before, John Davenport ; for Norwalk, 
 Stephen Buckingham ; for Danbury, Seth Shove ; for Paquanock, Charles Chancy -, 
 Nathan Gould, Juftice j Conftables, Jofeph PFakeham, Daniel Frojt, Dougal 
 Mackenzie. 
 
 The Sermon being overj the Minifter went to Prayer ; which being finiflied, 
 'the Priefts and People began to move away ; which was fcarce difcernible, till 
 Roger Gill, my Companion, ftood up on a Formj and began to fpeak, faying, 
 *' We have patiently heard what hath been declared; and, having fomething like- 
 *' wife to fay, we expeft the like Moderation from you :" Upon which the 
 People halted, and would have heard ; but, in a Moment, five of the Preachers, 
 who were in a Gallery, defcended from thence, and the other two arofe from 
 their Seats, and called to the People to depart -, and fome of them cried aloud for 
 the Powers : But he that had preached took Roger Gill by the Hand as he ftood 
 on the Form, and prayed him to come down •, and Roger urging the Reafonabje- 
 nefs of our Liberty to fpeak, fmce they had done, the Prieft of Stanford cried 
 out, " Sir, you are not qualified ; you have no Call from the People as we 
 " have." 
 
 T o which Roger replied, " Have you your Qualifications and Call only from 
 *' the People ? Our Call is from God, and we recommend our Teflimony to 
 " the Confcicnccs of the People : Through the Grace of G o D we call them to 
 " the Faith and Obedience of Christ, and not they us." 
 
 Then the Pricll rejoin'd, " That their Qualifications to preach were of God, 
 *' but the Call of the People was alfo neceilary ;" and then cried out. Where 
 are the Powers ? Upon which Nathaniel Gould, their Juftice, commanded the 
 Conftables to take us into Cuftody ; one of whom arifuig from his Seat, his next 
 Neighbour pulled him down, many being defirous to hear us ; but, foon after, 
 feveral of them came and haled us away : Then I called to tlie People, and told 
 them, " They were not from thenceforth to pay any Thing to their Mini- 
 *' ftersfor preaching, fince they had made open Proclamation, that all was now 
 " to be without Money .or Price;" at which many of them fmiled : But I 
 had not faid any Thing before. The Conftables took us out from among 
 
 them.
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 185 
 
 chem, to the further Side of a large Street ; and then I demanded a Sight of their Anno. 
 Warrant, and they confefled they had none but the Juftice's Command : Tlien I 1699, 
 toolc their Names in writing, and admonifli'd them "^ to beware of falfe Imprifon- 
 " ment ; for they themfclvcs knew that I had neither done nor faid any Thino" 
 " againft any Law." They repfied, " We were not in Prifon ;" " But, faid I, 
 *' Cuitody is Imprifonment by the Law of England." Then they wtre a little 
 furprifed, and my Companion went from them back to the People, mod of whom 
 were remaining about the Meeting-houfe ; and tliere he had a good Opportunity 
 to clear himfelf among them. 
 
 A N D, while he was fpeaking, a Predeftinarian (for he fpake againft that Te- 
 net) came to interrupt him ; but another of their own Party pull'd him away, 
 and faid, " The Man fpake Truth :" And I alfo kept feveral of them off, by 
 giving them foft Words, and defiring them to be patient till he had done, and 
 then to objeft if they had any Thing againft him : but he met with no Oppofi- 
 tion in the End ; for, after a while, they were generally very fober, and fome 
 tender. 
 
 When he had Hniftied, I did not find any Thing upon me for the People, 
 but afked them where their Minifters were, for I had a-mind to fee them ; and 
 feveral were forward to fhow us they were gone to the Houfe of the Minifter of 
 the Town, and we went thither ; where, when we came, we undcrftood they 
 were at Dinner ; and, the Mafter of the Houfe coming to us, I told him, " We 
 " defired to fpeak with them ; but, feeing it was then unfeafonable, we would call 
 " after they had dined." He kindly invited us to eat with them, and faid we 
 fhould be as welcome as any there : but we returned to our Inn ; and, after Re- 
 frefhment, we went back to them ; where they were fmoaking Tobacco. 
 
 "When we enter'd the Room, they generally arofe from their Seats to tender 
 their Civilities -, only the Preacher, being old, and weary with the Work of the 
 Day, and lying upon the Bed, did not arife, but fpake kindly to us. And Seats 
 being fet, I fat down upon the Bed's Foot, at the Feet of the Preacher, and the 
 feft with my Companion, fat round ; and Ibme of them urging me to take a Chair, 
 as a better Seat, I told them I took that Seat for the better Advantage of feeing 
 them all at once. Then, being a Ihort Time filent, " I began and proceeded 
 *' to expoftulate Matters with them, and about their Treatment of us in their 
 " Meeting-houfe ; reminding them of our Behaviour and Patience •, adding, 
 " that we came not to difturb them, but, in Chriftian Love and Good-will to 
 *' them and the People •, urging their Duty to us as Strangers, and the Order of 
 *' the Gofpel. I recounted alfo to them the Occafion of the Coming of their 
 " Anceftors (if not of fome of themfelves, being ancient Men) into thofe Parts of 
 *' the World, then a defolate Wildernefs, viz. for Confcience Sake, as Diflenters 
 " from the National Worftiip of England. That it looked unaccountable that 
 " they there, being hated, imprifoned, plundered, and divers Ways pcrfecuted 
 *' for that which was, or feemed to be. Matter of Confcience to them, fliould 
 *' now ufe the like Practices, againft fuch as for Confcience Sake were now 
 *' appearing againft fome Things yet unreformed among them and their People, 
 " both in Dodrine and Practice ; among which, a Neceffity of being called 
 *' by the People to minifter to them, is one." 
 
 This brought that Point again into Queftion -, and John Davenport being, 
 as we fuppofed, the moft learned, and bcft' Orator among them, undertook it ; and 
 
 affertedj
 
 1^4 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno aflferted. That "Christ called and ordained twelve Apoftles, and they or- 
 1699. " dained others, and thofe again others fucceffively unto this Day." 
 
 " That Christ ordained twelve Apoftles, we granted ; but denied that 
 " any, at this Day, were in a lineal Succeffion from the Apoftles fo ordained, 
 " and put him upon his Proof-, and that they themfelves were fo ordained by 
 " fuch Succeffion •, but he could make nothing of it." All he could fay for 
 Proof amounting to no more than his Say-fo, or a Repetition of the AfTertion. 
 And he alfo flunk from the Queftion about the Call of the People to their Mi- 
 nifters. 
 
 Then faid I, " But if it were poflible to prove fuch a Succeffion, Who are 
 " ye ? How like are you to the Apoftles ? How doth it appear that you are 
 " fuch ? How and what do you fucceed them in .'' You greatly err in your 
 " Praftice from the Apoftles of Chri st. For where do you find, that ever 
 " they fat down in little Corners of the World, and received Maintenance from 
 " the People for themfelves and Families ? And of fuch too as were not able or 
 " willing to pay them ? As your Cafe is ; (for fome of them had, by a Law, taken 
 the very Wearing Apparel of fome poor People that could not pay them) " to 
 " take from tliem their Goods and Apparel ! " 
 
 Then their Champion, being in a Rage, fplutter'd out a Mouthful or two 
 of Greek, fignifying, " That Paul the Apoftle had robbed other Churches^ 
 " taking Wages of them to fupply the Wants of the Corinthians, to whom he 
 " then wrote •, and, thou Jhalt not muzzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out 
 " the Corn:' 
 
 To which I replied, " That their Sed, as well as others, had juftly blamed 
 " the Papifts for having their Service in an unknown Tongue •, and I fufpefted 
 " that the ufing of it then was for the like End, that the Auditory might not 
 " underftand ; (for there were many People, and of the greater fort among them, 
 •' prefent) fo that they might have an Opportunity, after we were departed, to 
 " fay they had overcome us. I tlien bid him repeat thofe Scriptures in EnglifOy 
 " that the People might hear they were nothing to his Purpofe ; " which, alter 
 feveral Evafions he did, firft faying, after a fcoffing Manner, " If you be a Mi- 
 " nifter of C h rist, inspired of the Holy Ghoft, furely you know the Tongues.'* 
 
 I REPLIED, " It is not a Sentence or two of Grft"/:, or of any other Lan- 
 " guage, that renders a Man knowing in thofe Tongues ; nor is that an eflential 
 *' Qualification to a Minifter of Christ. The Prophets of God, of old, fpake 
 *' to the People by the Spirit of Christ, but in their own Language ; and fo 
 " did the Apoftles too, notwithftanding the Gift of Tongues, which every Mi- 
 *' nifter had not ; and chat Gift was alfo to ceafe, and is ceafed, though Inlpi- 
 *' ration remains •, and no Man is either a Minifter of Chri st, or a Chriftian» 
 *' without it. He that hath not the Spirit of Cbrijl, is none of his. And where 
 *' a Minifter fpeaks in a Language underftood by the People to whom he is fent, 
 " it anfwers the End of Speech, to all Intents, though neither he nor they un- 
 *' derftand any other. And I am of the Mind of the Apoftle, who faid, / had 
 *' rather fpeak five JVords with the Spirit and Undcrflanding, than Five Thoiifani 
 *' in an unknown Tongue ; yet thou doft not know what I underftand of Greek, 
 " or any other than that in which I now fpeak. But, to invert thy own Terms, 
 *' Art thou a Minifter of Christ ? And haft thou thy Tongues by Infpiration > 
 *' Or art thou a Scoffer at Infpiration, and a Minifter of Christ, without it! " 
 
 To
 
 of T H M A S STORY. i8t 
 
 To which he was filent ; and I went on to fhow to the People, " That the Texts A k n o 
 " he, had cited were nothing to his Purpofe, and that he and liis Bretluen had i6c)2. 
 " nothing to do with them. For, in the firft Place, they could not prove their 
 " Succeffion as Miniftcrs of Christ, as they had propofed ; and, failing in 
 *' that, they had no Right to claim Advantages due only to fuch. In the fe- 
 *' cond Place, what the Apoftle there received, was not for the Maintenance 
 " of himfelf and Family, but for the Service of the Congregation in a Time of 
 *' general Want. 
 
 " And as to the treading out of the Corn, he had not yet proved, tliat he, 
 " or they, were of thole Oxen, or that they trode out that Corn ; and therefore 
 *' the Scriptures which might be applicable to the Apoftles and Minifters of 
 *' Christ, were but wrefted, as applied to him and them, and their Cafe : 
 " For the Apoftles never had fuch a Maintenance as theirs ; but wrought with 
 *' their Hands for their Support, and the Help of others alio, which was not 
 " their Praftice." 
 
 He then betook himfelf to Railing and Abufe, and gave us fcurrilous Lan- 
 guage and Names -, calling us Grafs-hoppers, Schifmaticks, Hereticks, Deceivers, 
 and the like ; and pretended to prove his rude Charge by a Syllogifm, which 
 he formed thus : 
 
 " What People foever deny the Lord Jesus Christ and hisOrdinan- 
 *' ces, and let up the Light of the Devil in themfelves for a Saviour, areHere- 
 " ticks : But the Quakers, ever fince George Fox blafpliemoufly preached up 
 " that Light in thcmltlves for the Saviour of the World, have denied the true 
 " Christ and his Ordinances; therefore the Quakers are Hereticks and 
 " Blafphemers." 
 
 T H E N I looked upon the People round about, and faid, " Do you think 
 *' that this Man behaves like a Minifler of Christ? Is this Lansuage be- 
 " coming fuch a one .'' What Spirit do you think is he of? And from whom 
 *' proceeds this Behaviour? Upon which fome fmiled, and others blufhed." 
 Then I proceeded to anfwcr him, " That we do not, nor ever did, deny 
 " the Lord Jesus Christ, nor any of his Ordinances, in their various 
 *' and proper Difpenflitions and Seafons : But fay, God is Light ; and fo like- 
 " wife is Jesus Christ the Son of God, the eternal Emanation of the 
 " Father's Glory. He is the Word, Wifdom, and Power of God ; the Word 
 " that was made Flefh, both of the Virgin Mary, and dwelt among his People, 
 " xhtJewSy under the Name of Jesus Christ; which is alfo that true 
 *' Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World. And neither 
 " George Fox, nor any other Minifter of Christ among us, nor we, ever 
 " preached any other Christ or Light but this, which one of your Minifters 
 " here calls the Devil. Let him therefore look at his own Herefy and Blaf- 
 " phemy, and repent." 
 
 Then turning to this red-hot blafpheming Prieft', I told him, " His Syllo- 
 *' gifm betray 'd his Ignorance, and his Paffion his prepenled Malice ; being 
 " only an Affirmation of the fame falfe Charge twice in differing Terms, and a 
 " Stratagem of Satan to aniufc the Auditory, divert the Qiieftion, and introduce 
 " foreign Matter; and fo to give him an Opportunity to fhrink from the Point 
 " in hand undifcovered, under the Fog of his own raifing." I then obferved 
 to the People, " That their Minifters were utterly unable to prove any Call they 
 
 A a " had
 
 1 8(5 The LIFE, c^c. 
 
 Anno " had to a Gofpel Miniftry ; as they might plainly perceive by what had then 
 1699. " paffed between us." And my Companion was, all this Time, keeping the 
 reft in Order, that they fhould not break in upon us with other Matter, till that 
 was difcuffed, as they often attempted. 
 
 " As to the other pretended Proof, that we are Hereticks, it is, he faith, 
 " becaufe we deny the Ordinances of C h r i s t, as he calls them -, and, by the 
 " Ordinances of Ch ri st, he and they mean Water Baptifm, and Bread and 
 " Wine •, and, by Baptifm, they mean the fprinkling of Infants in the Face 
 *■'■ with V/ater, in the >Jame of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft ; as by their 
 " frequent Pradtice is evident to the World. Then I told them they had de- 
 " ceived the People, in adminiftering that to them for an Ordinance of C h ri s t 
 " which he never commanded ; and that whoever fet up, and adminifter for 
 " Ordinances of Christ what he hath not commanded, are liable to the 
 " Curfe : For if G o d will add the Plagues written in the Book, to fuch as 
 " fhall add to, or take away from the Words of the Book ; and if their Part 
 " fhall be taken out of the Book of Life, how much more may not the Lord 
 " one "Day, infii6t his juft Judgments and Condemnation upon fuch as prefume 
 " to add any Thing, or take away from any of his Ordinances, or any Thing 
 *' com.manded by him ? 
 
 " You fay, in your Catechifm, That Baptifm with Water is an Ordinance 
 *' of Christ, neceffary to Salvation-, and what you mean thereby is plain, 
 " as before : I therefore demand your Proof, that fprinkling Infants is an Ordi- 
 " nance of Chri st, neceflary to Salvation j and that they are Hereticks who de- 
 " cline the Prailice of it. This gave all the Priefls very much Difturbance, 
 *' but the People were grave and filent ; and they earneftly preffed, firft to prove 
 •' Water Baptifm an Ordinance of Christ, and then they pretended to prove 
 " the other : But we infifted, that they had nothing to do with Baptifm, but 
 " to prove the fprinkling of Infants, as they ufed it, to be an Ordinance of 
 " C h r I s T ; for this is a Day wherein every Man (and Se6t too) muft be judged 
 " according to their Works, and not by the Works of other Men : Then 
 " we obferved to the People, that their pretended Proof of Water Baptifm, 
 *' was only a Subtilty to alter the State of the Queftion, and introduce another 
 " Thing, (as they had done before in the other Cafe) which they have no 
 *' Right to maintain till they praftife it. Let them firft be baptized themfelves, 
 " and then we may reafon with them on that Subjefl : For when we talk with 
 " Baptifts we know what to fay •, (and to them too, if it were proper) but 
 *' fprinkling is their Point to prove, or nothing." 
 
 Then John Davenport changed Colours, grew very red, though naturally 
 pale-, and, arifing from his Seat, 'turn'd his Back upon the People, and pre- 
 tended to prove Infant Baptifm an Ordinance of C h r i st : But we ftill infift- 
 ed on fprinkling, not baptizing, of Infants, as their proper Talk ; and, at 
 length he undertook it, and began thus : 
 
 " i/. That Christ {2^.6., Suffer little Children to come unto me^ and forbid 
 *' them not. idly., That the Jailer's Family, as we read in Scripture, were all 
 " baptized, and there might be Children among them. 3^/)', And that the 
 " Commiftion was to baptize the whole World ; and furely there were Chil- 
 *' dren there." 
 
 T o tliis I replied, " That what he had advanced for a Proof was altogether 
 
 " fal-
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 
 
 fallacious •, for, frjf, the End the People had in bringing their Children to 
 Christ was, not to fprinkle, nor baptize them, (tor he baptized none) but 
 that he might lay his Hands upon them, and blefs themj in which he an- 
 fwered the Faith and Expedtation of the People, faying. Of fuch is the King- 
 dom of Heaven. The Son of God therefore having thus bleffed them, and 
 declared their Innocence, being yet neither baptized nor fprinkled, let us leave 
 them fife in his holy Arms, and under his Care, Protedtion, and Bleffing -, 
 where they are fully happy, without any Thing you can add to their Condi- 
 tion. 
 
 187 
 
 Anno 
 1692. 
 
 " 2dly, A s there might be Children in that Jailer's Family, fo likewife there 
 " might be none ; and where the Scripture is filent as to Facts, we ought not to 
 " prefume to fpeak •, and, from a bare Poffibility, to affert a Fa£t, efpecially 
 " in a Thing of this Moment, is not good Reafoning : But, befides, it is plain 
 " there were no Children in the Jailer's Family •, for they all believed, which 
 " Children cannot do ; and, to keep to the Point, thofe Believers were bafti- 
 " zed, not fprinkled. 
 
 "And 3i^/v, as to that Text alluded to, with other concomitant Scripture?, 
 they lie thus : Repentance and Kemiffion of Sins fJoculd be preached in his Name 
 among all Nations, beginning at Jerufalem : That all Poiver is given unto him, 
 in Heaven and in Earth : Go ye therefore, faid he, and teach all Nations, bap- 
 tizing them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoji ; teaching them tc 
 cbferve all Things ivhatfoever I have commanded you, &c. Go into all the World, 
 and preach the Gofpcl to every Creature ; he that believeth and is baptized fljall 
 be favcd ; but he that believeth not foall be damned : And that they fJjould be 
 Wit7ieffes unto him of thefe Things ; of his Life, Dodlrine, Miracles, Suffer- 
 ings to Death on the Crofs, Refurrection and Afcenfion, both in Jerufalem., 
 and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermofi Parts of the Earth. 
 
 Luke xxiv, 
 
 47- 
 
 Mat. xxviii. 
 iS, 19, 20. 
 
 Markxvi.ij," 
 16. 
 
 Luke xxiv. 
 
 48. 
 
 Ads i. 8. 
 
 *' T H E Subjefts of this Baptifm (not Rantifm) are fuch as have finned, and 
 *' are capable of being taught or difcipled ■, of believing -, of Repentance ; of 
 " obferving all his Commands, to do them ; of receiving their Tcftimony and 
 *' Dodlrines of the Gofpel in all thefe Particulars, on pain of Damnation ; of 
 *' which Children are not capable, and therefore not included in the Intent and 
 " Nature of this Commiffion, though living in the World. 
 
 "The Word BAnxn, of which jJairli^w, in the Greek Language, fignifies, 
 to drown, or fink in Water -, to dip ; to overwhelm -, to plunge -, to thruft 
 in, or to go into Water ; to fleep, or infufe ; to dye, or colour ; to tindlure, 
 or, as it were, to impregnate one Thing with the Nature of another; as if 
 the Subjedl of Baptifm, which is dipped,, fhould be intinged or impregna- 
 ted with the Qualities of the Inftrument of Baptifm, into which it is dipped, 
 or wafhed : But when the Greeks would exprefs the Thing Sprinkling, which 
 is a different A61 from wafhing or baptizing, they do it by the Word fa»1i^ir ; 
 which, in its various Modes, is always ufed, as Heb. ix. 19. where it is, 
 
 "Efpa'»Tio-i ; and Heb. X. 22. Xii. 24. I Pet. i. 2. PwIio-jaov aifiaT®- 'iJiiTS XfifS, 
 
 £i? afperfionem fanguinis Jefu Cbrifli, and fpr inkling of the Blood of Jefus Chrift. 
 See Heb. ix. 21. Tppaviio-c, afperfit, he fprinkled, &c. -So that rantizing; or 
 fprinkling of Infants, as an Ordinance of Christ, and that they are He- 
 reticks, or Schifmaticks, who decline it, is yet to be prov'd, and is a falfe and 
 unchriftian Charge." 
 
 <( 
 
 (C 
 
 •' He
 
 i88 The L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Anno He wafe loth to yield the Point liefore the People, being a Matter of great 
 i6^g. Importance to their Function, and therefore rejoined thus •, " The Reafon of 
 " Things in this, as in all other Matters, ought to have fome Confideration 
 " and Sway in this Cafe : The baptizing, or dipping of Children in cold 
 " Countries, might hazard their Lives ; and, for that Reafon, may be indul- 
 " ged with fprinkUng only, as thereby rendering the Ordinance more fafe and 
 " commodious." 
 
 To this I replied, " That though this was fufficiently anfwered irt what 
 " had pafTcd before, yet I would give it a more particular Return : That the 
 " greateft Part of the habitable World lies in the torid and two temperate 
 " Zones. In the firft it is f.ifficicntly warm at all Times, without any Hazard 
 " of Infants taking Cold by Baptifm, or Wafliing ; fo that, if they were the 
 " Subjefts of Baptifm, as they are not, the Mode need not be altered from 
 " wafhing to fprinkling on that Pretence : and in each temperate Zone it is 
 " likewife fufficiently warm great Part of the Year •, and never fo cold as to 
 " hazard the Life or Health of a Child, by dipping in cold Water, (and they 
 " are not forbid to warm it:) For the common Praftice of the Indians upon 
 " their Children, in the coldefl Parts of the habitable World, proves it ; where 
 " they wafh their Children in cold Water immediately upon their being born 
 - " into the World, the better to harden them to the Climate they are in, witli- 
 " out any fuch Effects : On the contrary, it renders them more hardy and 
 " healthy. 
 
 " And befides, the Lord Jesus, knowing all Objeftions, makes no 
 '• Exceptions; which infinite Goodnefs and Wifdom would have done, if pro- 
 " per in his Sight, and wanted no Affiftance in the Manner or Extent of his 
 " Ordinances, from the ignorant, and weak, yet too bold and prefumptuous 
 *' Reafonings of poor Mortals, how high, lofty, and conceited foever they 
 " m.ay be in their own eartlily Wifdom and Imaginations: And thus, err- 
 " ing from the Truth, in Mode, Subjeft, and Inflrument of Baptifm, you 
 *' have none at all •, but are deceived yourfelves, and have deceived the People.'* 
 And thus, being tied down to their own Pra6tice, by the fecret invifible Power 
 of Trutii, he was totally filent ; and they did not offer any further Argument 
 upon it. 
 
 T H E N I addreilcd myfelf more particularly to the People, and told them 
 again, " They had no Baptifm, but were only in the Praftice of a Reliifl of 
 " Popery, inPcead of an Ordinance of C h r i s t : For the Antichriftian Cliurch 
 " of Rome, imagining Children to have original Sin, and that fomething fhould 
 " be done to clear them of it, they thought upon Vv^ater Baptifm as the effcc- 
 " tual Means ; which accordingly they adminifter'd : But afterwards they de- 
 " clined Baptiiiii, and fubftituted Rantifm, or Sprinkling, fii-ft to fick or 
 " weakly Children, and afterwards extended their new Invention to all Chil- 
 " dren: So that Water Baptifm was wholly dropped, and John the Baptiff's 
 *' Prediccion fulfilled, / mnft decre^.fe, (that is, his Baptifm) hnt he (that is, 
 
 Christ, and his Baptifm with tlie Holy Ghoft) muft increafe. 
 
 (( 
 
 " And, to their nev/ Invention, they added feveral fupcrflitious and ridi- 
 " culous Actions and Ceremonies : TJiey appointed God-fathers and God- 
 " mothers ; the Prieft breathes in the Cliild's Face ; fio;ns him on the Breafl 
 " and Forehead with the Sign of the Crofs ; (but without any remaining Mark) 
 " puts Salt in his Mouth, and Spittle upon his Ears and Noftrils ; and afl<s him, 
 
 " (though
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 189 
 
 " (though he iinderftands nothing) if he will renounce the Devil and all his Anno 
 " Pomps; anointshim with Oil on the Head, Shoulders and Breafti and gives 1699, 
 " him a white Cliryfom, and puts a hallowed Candle in his Hand. 
 
 " And the Effefts they afcribe to all this are, i/?, It makes the Subjedls 
 thereof Children of God, and remits both original and adtual Sin. 2dly, 
 It infufeth juftifying Grace into the Soul, with Habits of Faith, Hope, and 
 Charity, and all fupernatural Gilts and Virtues, ji/y. It makes a fpiritual 
 Mark or Charader in the Soul, which fliall remain for ever, either to their 
 great Joy in Heaven, or Confufion in Hell. 
 
 "But when the Lutherans and Epifcopalians in England reformed a little 
 *' from Rome, they laid afide the fuperftitious Part, except God-fathers, God- 
 *' mothers, and the Sign of the Crofs on the Forehead, which they ftill retain ; 
 " and afcribe the like Effects to their Aft of Sprinkling, and the Ceremonies and 
 " Prayers they ufe on that Occafion : And when your Predecellbrs, the Pref- 
 " byterians and Independants in England^ reformed and diffented from them, 
 " they rejefted the Sign of the Crofs, God-fathers, God-mothers, and Forms 
 " of Prayer ufed by the Church of England, as Popery and Superftition : but 
 " their Eyes being but once touched, they faw Men as Trees •, not perceiving 
 " that fprinkling of Infants is Popery, an antichriftian Invention as well as the 
 " other; which remaining unreformed by your firfl Reformers, hath paffed 
 " unto you of this prtfent Age by Tradition, unexamined and unreformed : 
 " And fo ignorant, or wilfully blind are your Minifters, that we are here brand- 
 *' ed before you as Hereticks, Schifmaticks, and Deniers of the Ordinances cf 
 " Christ, for teftifying againft Popifli Inventions and Relifts." 
 
 But while I was upon this, feveral of the Priefts, very willing to cover 
 tliemfelves from, their People, ftarted up; and he, and he, and he, every one 
 had fomething elfe to offer: But my Companion, being a bold Man in the 
 Caiife, kept them back and told them, " Their leveral Somethings elfe being 
 *' foreign to the prefent Subjeft, ought not to be admitted, till this fhould be 
 *' fettled ;" which concluding as above, he then challenged all the feven Mini- 
 fters, " That if they would call a Meeting of all the People of their feven 
 " Townfhips to that Place, we would ftay, if it were fome Days, and difcourfe 
 " with tliem on what Points they pleafed openly before them " but they refu- 
 fed, and fo their Somethings elfe came to nothing. 
 
 In the mean time, while he was thus challenging them, I fat down again 
 on the Bed's Foot by the old Minifter, and the reft of them ; and. People generally 
 in Motion, he arofe and came to me, and took me by the Hand ; and, whi- 
 fpering, faid, " Pray Sir, cannot you pafs quietly along, and let thofc Things 
 *' alone ; for though there is little in them, the People have a Belief thertm; 
 " they think well of them ; they are innocent Things, and do them no Harm.'* 
 
 T o which I anfvvered, " That they and their Fore-fathers have faid, and do 
 " fay, they were confciencious in difcovering and rejefting the Errors and Su- 
 " perftition of the Papifls and Epifcopalians, in this and other Points, and irt 
 " expofing them to the People ; fo are we, in our Time, confciencioufly con- 
 " eerned for the Love of Truth and Souls, without any other Confideration, 
 *' to expofe to the View of Mankind fuch Errors as yet remain among them, 
 *' wherever we come, and are enabled by divine Grace to do it: And this 
 " Matter of fprinkling of Infants, though of little Account in itfelf j yet, as it 
 
 B z " is
 
 i^D. The LIFE, <^"c. 
 
 Anno " Is fet up as an Ordinance of Christ, which it is not, it Is no indifferent 
 i6g^. *' Matter, but hath been, and is of pernicious Confequence to the Chrifrian Re- 
 " hgion, the People being taught to beheve they have Chriftian Baptifm, when 
 " in Deed, and in Truth, they have none at all ; and therefore are fet down 
 " fhort, and fecure in a falfe Reft, and feek no further for the true Baptifm 
 " of Chr I s T ; which is only by the Holy Spirit, and without the Knowledge 
 " whereof no Soul can be faved." And fo we concluded •, I arifing in order 
 to our Departure, being then eafy and willing to proceed on our Journey, and 
 they were likewife willing vve ihould -, for they had fome Things, they faid, 
 to difcourfe and fettle among themfelves, refpefting the Affairs of their Society, 
 which had been interrupted on that Occafion. 
 
 But our Landlord in Town, having the Night before informed us, that 
 the Inhabitants had among them a veiy large Flock of Sheep, under one Shep- 
 herd -, and that they, in their Turns, had the Flock folded on their Lands, at 
 a certain Price each Night, thereby to manure them •, by which they raifed 
 as much Money as paid their Minifter, and difcharged fome other pubhck 
 Expences btfides ; which gave my Companion occafion to fay to thofe Mini- 
 fters, " That he had read in the Scriptures of fome who fed themfelves v/ith 
 " the Fat, and cloathed with the ^^'^ool, and fed not the Flock ; but the like 
 *' of them he had never heard of before, who fed both of the Flock, and the 
 " Dung of the Flock." 
 
 ti 
 
 T H E N tlie Minifter of the Towri faid, " He could not fave ten Shillings 
 a-year our of his whole Income." 
 
 " How ! faid my Companion, Eighty Pounds a-year Salary, and a Houfe 
 " and Land worth ten Pounds a-year more, and not ten Shillings a-year to 
 " fpare ? Thou and thy Family muft live more moderately." 
 
 Then he offered us a Glafs of Cyder, (for we were in his Houfe) and pro- 
 pofed it firft to me ; but I refufed it, faying, " I did not fo out of any Preju- 
 *' dice or Diflike to his or their Perfons ; but, left we might feem to juftify by 
 *^ Practice what, by Words, we had condemned •, for they had nothing to give 
 " but what they obtained by that unlawful 'Trade oi Preaching for Hire" 
 
 After this I reafoned the Cafe with the Town Juftice, " Why he had 
 " ordered us into Cuftody -, feeing, by the Law of England, we had Liberty as 
 " well as others, and they could have no Law to the contrary •, and befides, 
 " we gave them no Difturbance in the Time of their Worftiip, unlefs our being 
 " there might do it •, at which they ought not to have been offended, for we came 
 <f in Good-wiU to you all, and have nothing elfe in us to any of you : How- 
 " ever, it was falfe Imprifonment, I think, upon me, for I had not faid any 
 " Thing till after I was in Cuftody by thy Command ; and what I then faid 
 " could not give juft Offence to any." He bluftied, and faid, " He could 
 " juftify what he had done." I replied, " He could not by any juft Law; 
 " but that what I faid was only in Friendftiip, left at any Time hereafter he 
 " might run himfelf into a Snare, and the Country too." 
 
 And then I exhorted them all " Not to be averfe or aftiamed to reform, 
 
 " though late, from thofe Things wherein they could not juftly deny but that 
 
 " they were amifs." And finding my Antagonift, Daz-enpori, very calm, and 
 
 3n a better Mind than in the Beginning, I took him by tlie Hand, and bid him 
 
 " Be-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 191 
 
 *' Beware for the future how he boafted before-hand over Strangers (for he liad Anno. 
 greatly vaunted, and infultcd us before the People when we began this Con- 1699. 
 teft, as before, and how he would prove us Hereticks ; and I had advifcd him 
 not to boaft till he had put off his Armour) " and not to follow fuch little Crea- 
 *' tures as Gralshoppers too far among their hidden Places, left the thick Grafs 
 " might entangle his Feet, and he fall upon a Stone he could not fee." And 
 added, " That I now found a better Part in him, and was glad it was fo :" 
 But he was filent, and had not faid any Thing from the Time I had finifhed 
 my ^Argument, as aforefaid. And the invifible Power of the divine everlafting 
 Tnith of God being over all, we took them kindly by tlie Plands, and they 
 us, with mutual good \Vi!hes on both Sides ; and fo we parted with them in 
 Friendfliip, and in great Peace in the Lord; to whom be the Honour now 
 and for ever, 
 
 A N D as we went along the Street from the Houfe, there came afide of us a 
 Juftice of Peace ; who, fmiling, faid, " Gentlemen, you have had a whole 
 " Body of Divinity to encounter To-day." I anfwered, " That if we had 
 " met with more Humanity upon the whole, it would have been more fatif- 
 *' fadtory to us." And, walking a little further, another Juftice on Horfeback 
 overtook us -, whb^ faluting us with Refpeft, faid, " He underftood we were 
 " going his Way, and if we pleafed to ftay a little at our Inn he would call 
 " upon us •," to which we alTented : And, at our Inn, we found fome of the 
 People, to whom we further improved the Text, Ifa. Iv. i, 2, 3. to the Ad- 
 vantage of Truth, '■'■ That from thenceforth they ought not to pay any more 
 " for Preaching, fince they might have the Wine of the Kingdom, and the 
 " Milk of the Word, without Money or Price •, but if they would have for 
 " their Teachers,^ and pay fuch as fold what they call the Word, and would 
 " not receive the free Grace of G o d for their Teacher •, then they would be 
 *' num.bered among thofe who heap to themfelves Teachers after their own 
 *' Hearts Lufts -, having itching Ears, ever itching and hearkening after Sm 
 *' Term of Life^ and fuch other falfe Doftrines as pleafe the carnal Mind of 
 *' fallen Man : But remember, that both Buyers and Sellers were ftiut out of 
 *' the Bridegroom's Chamber at laft." 
 
 The Juftice came, and we went together feveral Miles, and had much Dif- 
 courfe about Points wherein they and we differ, viz. Baptifm, the Supper, the 
 Word of G o D, ^c. concerning the two firft I took fome Pains with him ; but 
 as I found him under great PrepoffefTions and Prejudices, and long inured and 
 accuftomed to a cai;nal Way of thinking on fpiritual Subjefts, he could not 
 readily apprehend the Force of my Arguments ■, though he was not perverfe, 
 but willing to be informed : But as to the latter, though we acknowledged, 
 " That the Holy Scriptures, being given by divine Infpiration, are of divine 
 *' Authority •, and yet not the prime, bux fecondary Rule ; nor properly the 
 *' Word of G o D." In which my Compdnion fatisfied him after this Manner : 
 
 " In the Beginning was the Word ; but the Scriptures were not in the Begin- 
 *' ning : and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; but the Scrip- 
 " tures are not G d : and the iVord was made Flejh ; but the Scriptures were 
 *' never made Flefti ;" And tins he could fee, and was fatisfied. 
 
 H E was fo pleafed with our Company, that he invited us to his Houfe -, and, 
 at our firft Entrance, his Wife was ftiy of our Company, not being at all ac- 
 quainted
 
 I9X The LIFE, ^-c. 
 
 An NX) tjuainted With our unmodifli Behaviour-, but obferving the Refpeft of hel* 
 •1609, Hufband towards us, flie likewife altered her Conduft, and became more fo- 
 cial ; and, by Degrees, began and aflced fome Queftions -, that is, about Baptifm, 
 the Light of Christ in Man, and that wild and fooHfli Seft aptly cairdi?rt;z/frj; 
 a Meeting of them being at that Time remaining in Long-IJland ; and fome of 
 them liad, from time to time, gone into that Country of Conne£ficut, under the 
 ' Name of Friends •, and, by their wild and unaccountable Behaviour, had fcan- 
 dalized the Truth, and brought Reproacii upon Friends : For the People in that 
 Colony, till we went that Way, had generally thought all Friends were the 
 fame with thofe Ranters -, though they had a Law, of an old Date, diftinguifh- 
 injr them. 
 
 o 
 
 As to the divine Light of Christ being in all Men, I advanced feveral 
 Scriptures, proving "That God is Light, and Christ is likewife Light, 
 " the Word and Manilefter of the Father •, the fame Light that is the Word 
 " is G o D manifefted in the Flefh, and the true Light that lighteth every Man 
 *' that Cometh into the World ;" with which fhe was fatisfied, 
 
 . A N D as to Baptifm, I obfcr\'-ed to her, " That when John the Baptift bap- 
 " tized the People with Water, he told them of another Baptizer and Baptifm, 
 " more excellent than himfelf and his, and that was Christ ; whofe Baptifm 
 " is not with Water, but the Holy Spirit: and that is the one only true re- 
 " maining Baptifm, by which Men are inwardly wafhed, purified and initiated 
 " into one Body, and one Mind •, the Church of Ch r i s t, which is his Body, 
 " the Fulnefs of him who filleth all in all :" And, informing her that fprink- 
 ling of Infants is no Baptifm at all, flie was fatisfied in this likewife. 
 
 And as to the Ranters ; " That they held abfurd and blafphemous Opini- 
 " ons : That God had taken their Souls out of their Bodies into himfelf, and 
 " he occupied the Place in their Bodies where their Souls had been ; fo that 
 " it was no more they that afted or faid any Thing, how ridiculous or abfurd 
 " loever, but God in their Bodies -, and he, not being fubjeft to any Law, 
 " but his own Pleafure, whatever he afts or fays is good : So that when they 
 " were rude, immoral, and ridiculous in Words and Praftice, fometimes go- 
 " ing on their Hands and Feet on the Ground, barking and grinning like 
 " Dog3, they faid. See how God laughs thee to Scorn ; blafphemoufly charging 
 " their own Wickednefs and Folly upon the Almighty. 
 
 "And they frequently come into our Meetings, and rant, fing, and dance,' 
 " and acl like Anticks and Mad-men, throwing Duft in the Faces of our Mi- 
 " nifters when preaching: And though they profefs the Truth, and are called 
 " Quakers, and have Meetings of their own as we have, yet they have no 
 "■ Difcipline or Order among them ; but deny all that as carnal and formal, 
 " leaving every one to do as he pleafes, without any Reproof, Reftraint, or 
 " Account to the Society in any Thing, how inconfiftent foever with Civility, 
 
 Morality, and Religion ; and are in mere Anarchy : And therefore we bear 
 "' witnefs againft them in Word, Writing, and Praftice ; we being fettled un- 
 " der the moft concife, regular, and reafonable Conftitution of Difcipline that 
 « ever v.-as eftabliilied in the World. 
 
 " A N d as they go under the Name of Quakers, as the World calls us, and 
 
 " often come into our Meetings, and adl fuch Things, and many more the 
 
 like, other People, who do not know the Difference, tliink we are all ahke :■ 
 
 " And
 
 of T H M A S S T R T. 193 
 
 " And fince we cannot oppofe them by Force, they continue to impofe upon Anno 
 " us in that Manner." Though their Number in that Ifland is much kflened 1699. 
 of late, and few now remain any where but there. 
 
 And this alfo gave the Juftice and his Wife full Satisfaftion as to the 
 great Difference between the Ranters and us, as quite Oppofites in Principle and 
 Pradlice ; though the World includes us both under one Denomination. And, 
 at their Requeft, I gave them alfo a Relation of my own Convincement, and of 
 the working of the Power and Spirit of G o d in me, in fecret, before I knew 
 the Quakers-, and of the inward Judgments of God againft Sin, that it may 
 become exceeding fmful, unto true Repentance, Forfaking and Amendment •, 
 and of fhedding abroad of the Love of G o d in the Heart, and the Confo- 
 lation that afterwards enfues ; and the Enjoyment of the good Prefcrice of 
 God in a State of fenfible Reconciliation with God, through Jesus 
 Christ, our Lord, even in this Life : All which feemed to give them Sa- 
 tisfadion. 
 
 Here we ftaid as long as the Time would allow, having feveral Miles to 
 go to the Inn to which we intended that Night, and departed in Peace, and 
 left them in Love and Refpedl to us ; they often intreating us, that if we 
 Ihould come back that Way, we fhould be fure to call-, for they would be 
 glad to fee us. 
 
 T o the Inn we went at Stratford ; and, next Day, by Milford, to New- Stratford. 
 haven -, where, alighting for a Refrefhment, I had a Concern to pray before we Newhaven. 
 ate; whic":! ft-Vv'nd Perfons in the Houfe took Notice of, to the Advantage of 
 our Pvofellion ; they, as many others, having been mifmformed, that we never 
 prayed, or gave Thanks on fuch Occafions : And, being defirous to have a 
 Meeting there, I made Requeft to our Landlord for the Liberty of his Houfe 
 for that Purpofe. To which he replied, " That without Leave of the Magi- 
 *' ftrates he could not." Then we went to have fpoke with the next Juftice 
 of Peace about it, but he was not at home ; and neither we, nor the Inn-keeper 
 himfelf, could have the Liberty of his Houfe for a Meeting. 
 
 And as we were going away, at the other End of the Town, we called at 
 the Mayor's Houfe, and told him, " That the Inn-keeper would let us have 
 *' a Meeting in his Houfe, provided we had the Aftent of a Magiftrate." And, 
 though he was very fmooth at firft, he foon alter told us, " He could not, nor 
 " v/ould he give way to any fuch Thing, fince they had already a Miniftry 
 *' of their own, and did not want any Thing of vis ; for they underftood we 
 *' denied Christ, and were heretical ;" with fome other opprobrious Lan- 
 guage, and falfe Accufations. 
 
 T o this I replied, " That we own Christ, and believe him to be the Sa- 
 *' viour of the World ; and would gladly have an Opportunity to undeceive 
 *' People concerning Christ, and thole Things wherein they are in Error 
 " about the Lord and us ;" but by no Means would he confent. Such is the 
 great Bondage and Slavery that People are in to their hired Preachers ; who 
 h;:.d noofed them into a Law of their own making, deftruftive of the Liberty 
 of their Confciences and civil Rights : So that neither Magiftrates nor People 
 durft do any Thing, but according to the Wills and feparate Interefts of the 
 Prieft. 
 
 A Copy of which Law here followeth, viz, " To prevent the Danger Per- 
 
 C 2 " fon*
 
 194 The L I F £, c^r. 
 
 Anno " fons are in, of being poifon'd in their Judgments and Principles, by HeretickSi 
 
 1699. " whether fakers. Ranters, Adamites, orllichhke, i^c. be it emBed and or- 
 
 " dained, by the Governor, Council, and Reprefentativcs, in General Court ailem- 
 
 " bled •, and it is hereby enailed and ordained, by the Authority ot" the fame, 
 
 " Tliat no Perfons in this Colony fhall give any unneceflary Entertainment unto 
 
 " any Quaker, Ranter, Adamite, or other notorious Heretick, upon Penalty 
 
 *' of Five Pounds for every fuch Perfon's Entertainment, to be paid by him that 
 
 " fo entertains them ; and Five Pounds per Week fliall be paid by each Town 
 
 •' that fliall fuffer their Entertainment, as aforefaid. 
 
 " j4nd be it further ena^ed by the Authority aforefaid^ That it fliall be in the 
 " Power of the Governor, Deputy-Governor, or Affiftants, to order, that all 
 *' fuch Hereticks, as aforefaid, be committed to Prifon, or fent out of this Co- 
 •' lony ; and no Perfon fliall, unneceflarily, fall into any Difcourfc with fuch 
 *' Hereticks, upon the Penalty of Twenty Shillings. 
 
 " And farther, it is enabled hy the Authority aforefaid. That no Perfon within 
 •' this Colony fliall keep any ^takers Books, or Manufcripts, containing their 
 *' Errors, (except the Governor, Magifl:rates, and Elders) upon Penalty of Ten 
 *' Shillings fer Time for every Perfon that fliall keep any fuch Books, after Pub- 
 *' lication hereof, and fhall not deliver fuch Book to fome Magiftrate or Minifter. 
 
 " And it is alfo enabled by the Authority aforefaid. That all fuch Books, when 
 *' and wherefoever they are found, (except as before excepted) fliall, by the Con- 
 " ftable, be feized and delivered to fome Afliftant, or Juftice of the Peace, to be 
 *' kept by him until the next County Court in that County ; and then the faid 
 *' County Court fliall take Care and full Order, that all fuch Books as aforefaid 
 *' be utterly fupprefied. 
 
 *' And it is further enaEled by the Authority aforefaid. That no Mafter of any 
 •' Veflel fliall land any Hereticks in this Colony ; which, if he do, he fliall be 
 *' compellable to tranfport them again out of this Colony, by any one Afliftant, 
 " or Juftice of the Peace, at his firft fetting Sail from the Port where they 
 . *' are landed, upon Penalty of Twenty Pounds, to be paid by the faid Mafter 
 *' who fliall refufe to tranfport them, as aforefaid." 
 
 Killinsf- From Newhaven v^t '^tnx. to Xz7//»g/ie;(7r/^, about twenty-eight Miles, and 
 
 worth. that Night at the Inn had fome Difpute with our Landlord, and the Prieft of the 
 
 Town's Sons, and others, concerning Freedom from Sin in this Life •, which we 
 
 maintained againft them, by the fixth and eighth Chapters to the Romans, and 
 
 Rom.vi.i,— firft Epiftle of 7o/?'«, where it is written. What fhall lue fay then? Shall ive con- 
 
 6. tinue in Sin that Grace may abound? God forbid : How floall we that are dead to 
 
 10,11, Sin live any longer therein? For in that he (C hkist) died, he died unto Sin 
 
 12, 13. ofjce : But in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewife reckon ye alfo yourfelves 
 
 to be dead indeed unto Sin \ hut alive unto God through Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 
 1 8, 20. Being then made free from Sin, ye became the Servants of Righteoufnefs. For when 
 
 ye were the Servants of Sin, ye were free from Righteoufnefs. But now being tnade 
 free from Sin, and become Servants 0/ G o d, ye have your Fruit unto Holinefs, and 
 the End cvcrlafting Life. For the Law of the Spirit of Life, in Chrijl Jefus, hath 
 made r)ie i'ree from the Law of Sin and Death. 
 
 — vm. 2. 
 
 I hni 8 Q If we fay we have no Sin, we deceive ourfelves, and the "Truth is not in us. If 
 we fay we have not finned, we make him a Liar, and his Word is not in us. If 
 
 we
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 
 
 "iVS confefs ciir Sins, (that is, unto the Lord who convinceth us of them) he is 
 faithful andjufi to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Unrigliteoufnefs. 
 But if we "Walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have Fellowfhip one with 
 another, and the Blood ofjefus Chriji his Son (that is, the Son of G od) cleanfeth us 
 from all Sin. I have written unto you, young Men, becaufe ye are firong, and the 
 Word of Gov> abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. And every 
 Man that hath this Hope, (that is, to be hke him, and fee him as he is) purifieth 
 himfelf, even as he is pure. Whofoever abideth in him, finntth not : Whofoever 
 finneth, halh not feen him, neither known him. He that committeth Sin is of the 
 Devil ; Jor the Devil finneth from the Beginning. For this Purpofe the Son of God 
 was manifefled, that he might deftroy the Works of the Devil. Whofoever is born 
 o/GoD, doth not commit Sin; for his Seed (that is, the Word Christ) re~ 
 maineth in him : And he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of God. 
 
 195- 
 
 Ann 6 
 1699. 
 
 John i. 7. 
 
 — 11. 12,13, 
 
 "4-.. 
 
 — iii. 3. 
 
 6. 
 
 — 51 
 
 Having thus, and with other Arguments deduced from thefe and other Scrip- 
 tures, maintained the Doftrine of Truth againft their talfe and pernicious Doc- 
 trine of Sin Term of Ltfe ; we then fent the Prieft of the Town word, that if he 
 would fummon his People (for they had boafted that their Minifter could have 
 faid great Things, and anfwered all if he had been there) by fuch a Time in the 
 Morning, and give us Notice, we would meet him and them in Conference, about 
 this and other controverfial Points : But no Anfwer came. 
 
 We departed thence next Morning, and went on to Seahrook Ferry, ten 
 Miles, and from thence to New London, eighteen Miles, and there refrefhed 
 ourfelves -, and paffing the Ferry, vrcnt to an Inn about fourteen Miles farther. 
 
 and lodged there that Night. 
 
 The next Morning we fet forward for Rhode-Ifland, and in our Way called 
 at a little Ordinary, where there was an Indian Woman fpinning upon a Wheel; 
 and after a while I found a Concern for her in my Mind, and made her flop her 
 Wheel, and then fpake to her of the Witnefs of God in her, which difcover'd 
 to her Good and Evil, that didlates the former, and reproves the latter. To 
 which fhe contefied, and faid, with Tears in her Eyes, that flie knew better than 
 fhe praftifed, and was very humble. And after fome farther Inftrudlions and 
 Refrefhmcnt, we went forward to theHoufe ot our Friend Rowland Robinfon in 
 Narraganfet, where we were kindly received and retreflied, and from thence to Narraganfet.i 
 our Friend Jofeph Mory^s, in Cannonicut, and there lodged ; from whence we 
 fent Notice that Evening to Nezvport on Rhode-Ifland of our coming •, and next Rhode-Ifland 
 Day (being the Firft of the Week) were at their Meeting, which was not very 
 large, becaufe of a new Monthly Meeting for Worfliip that Day begun in Narra- 
 ganfet, to v/hich many Friends in thofe Parts were gone. There we flaid till the 
 Third Day, and then had a Meeting at Cannonicut -Ifland, and returned that Cannonicut- 
 Evcning to Rhode-Ifland; and next Day had a large Meeting at Newport, and -nt 
 the Day after another fome Miles off from thence. And next Morning we fet 
 forward for Bcfton, and that Night lodged at a poor Inn in Brantry, where we 
 could have nothing to eat, nor to drink, but a very mean fort of Beer. 
 
 And the next Day, accompanied by fome Friends, we went to Bojlon: 
 near which, on a Green, we obferved a Pair of Gallows ; and, being told 
 that was the Place where feveral of our Friends had fuffcred Death for the 
 Truth, and had been there thrown into a Hole, we rode a little out of the 
 Way to fee it ; which was a kind of Pit near the Gallows, and full of Water, 
 but two Foils at each End, which had been fet there by means of Edward Ship- 
 pen 
 
 Boflon:
 
 19^ The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno pen of Philadelphia^ a reputable Friend, formerly of Bofton ; wli5 would Iiave 
 1699, erefted fome more lafting Monument there, with Leave of the Magiftrates,' 
 but they were not willing ; fince it would too frequently, and long, bring to 
 Remembrance that great Error of their Anceftors, which could not now be re- 
 pair'd •, fo that he had only Leave to put down thofe Polls, to keep the Place 
 in remembrance, till fomething further might be done, at a Time when it 
 might be lefs obnoxious. 
 
 W H I L E we fat on Horfeback by the Pit, we were drawn into right Silence, 
 by the awful, yet Life-giving Prefence of the Lord; which there graciouQy 
 and unexpedledly vifited us together, and tendered us ; which fo railed our 
 Minds, though in deep Humility before the Lord, over that evil Spirit 
 which murdered our Friends, (yet too much alive in Bojlon) that, for my own 
 Part, the Inhabitants were no more than as the Duft in the Streets, as we rode 
 through among them : Arid though they gazed upon us with Looks denoting 
 the old ApoUyon yet alive in them ; yet we could fee them as far below that di- 
 vine Truth we faced them in, as the Earth is the Heavens ; remembring, that 
 where Truth hath fuftered. Truth will triumph in all the Faithful, and will 
 arife one Day in Glory, to the utter Condemnation, Shame, and Conflifion of 
 all his Enemies. 
 
 But though I (for one) rode into the Town, in this inward and holy Tri- 
 umph ■, yet, in a fhort Time, I myfelf was fo inwardly weak and caft down, 
 that I was as the Dirt under the Feet of all ; fo that I could not look even 
 their Childi-en in the Face for a time : But, being raifed again by the Truth 
 into my former Condition, I then perceived that the State of Triumph I had 
 been in, reprefented to me the State of Glory, which the Lord Jesus and 
 his Saints, with thofe our Friends, and others, are now in; and that low 
 State reprefented the Condition of the Seed of Life in that People, ftill fuffer- 
 ing under all. We lodged with our Friend Daniel Zachary, and had a fmall 
 Meeting there next Day, (the Firft of the Week) there being few Friends in 
 the Town, or near it ; but, in the Evening, we had one much larger, the Houfe 
 being crowded ; and the Lord flavoured us with his good Prefence, and Things 
 were well and comfortable : but the People were like Creatures wild by Nature, 
 untamed, and yet tameable : For the Meeting-houfe being in a narrow Tho- 
 rough-fare-lane, many of them came as if paffing that Way occafionally ; and, 
 feeing fome Perfons in the Meeting, flopped as if it had been to look upon 
 us but at a Diftance ; yet, flanding a while, they came nearer and nearer, and, 
 at length, in ; and, by degrees, fat down, and were very fober. 
 
 ^.^^ O N the Second Day we went to Lynn ; where, hearing of a Meeting ap- 
 
 pointed by our Friend Judadiah Allan, about two Miles thence, we went to it ; 
 and lodged that Night with our Friend Richard Eftis, at Lynn ; and had a Meet- 
 Salem. ing the next Day after at Salem ; and, that Night, lodged with our Friend Mat- 
 
 Hampton. thew Eftis ; and proceeded next Day to Hampton, 40 Miles, and lodged at 
 Abraham Greenes, and had a Meeting there on the 13th, being the Fifth of the 
 Week, among a confiderable Number of young convinced Friends ; who had 
 embraced the Truth, for the mofl part, by the Gofpel Miniflry of Jonathan 
 'Taylor, who had been in thofe Parts fome time before us ; and the Lord gave 
 us a comfortable Seafon among them, and others there afTembled ; and, that 
 Night we lodged with our Friend Jofeph Chafe. 
 
 The next Day we went to Dover, about fifteen Miles farther, and lodged 
 at John Pinkam'i ; and, next Day, had a fmall Meeting at Cachecha, about 
 
 tliree
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 197 
 
 three MiJes further, at tlie Houfe of our Friend Thomas Hanfon : And this was Anno 
 the farthefi: we went in that Country, for we were informed by fome of our ^^99- 
 Friends and the People there, that in the late Indian Wars, the Country, for above 
 loo IVIiles farther North -eaft, formerly inhabited by the Englijh, was at this 
 Time laid wafte, by the Prevalence of the Indians ; one of whom, in thefe lafl: 
 Wars, being able to chafe fcveral Engliflo ; whereas, formerly, it was much 
 more on the contrary. Many Floufes had been laid wafte and ruined •, and the 
 Owners were at this Time beginning to return, but many not yet bold enough 
 to lodge out of fome Garrifon ; feveral whereof were in thofe Parts, being only 
 the ftrongeft Dwelling-houfes, moft commodioufly fituated in the Country 
 Places, impaled with fmall TreeSj fharpen'd like Stakes at the upper Ends, and 
 higher than tlie Indians could climb over, and the Houfes fortified with Imbat- 
 tlements ot Logs at two of the reverfe Corners, fo as that thereby they could 
 command each End, and each Side, by Shot from thence. 
 
 I D I D not hear of any of our Friends that carried Arms when abroad, or 
 in tlieir Bufinefs, but two, and thefe the Indians had killed ; but moft went 
 into Garrifons to lodge in the Nights, and fome not, but trufted in the Lord; 
 and we kept clear of all Garrifons, always lodging without their Bounds, and 
 Pi oceftion of their Guns or Arms; 
 
 The People in thofe Parts were willing to hear us ; and fome had been con- 
 vinced by Jonathan '■Taylor^ who had been there in the Time of War, when in 
 Diftreis ; and then (if ever) are People apt to receive the Lord and his 
 Truth, when their Minds are humbled by his Judgments. 
 
 O N the 1 6th, being the Firft of the Week, we had a large open Meeting at 
 Dover ^ and Things were well ; and, that Night, lodged there again ; and, next 
 Day, returned to Hampton ; and, on the 1 8th, had a Meeting at Jofeph Chafe's, 
 where we had the Company of many of the People : And my Companion, com- 
 paring their Priefts to the Serpent, who, by fome Things true, and fome filfe, 
 beguiled Eve ; and to Satan, who upholds his Kingdom by Lying, and other 
 Sins ; (for thefe Men, as his Minifters, preach to the People, Sin Term of Life^ 
 and Heaven in the End ; not regarding the Holy Scripture, where it is faid. He 
 that commits Sin is the Servant of Sin ; and his Servants ye are to niuhom ye obey, 
 whether of Sin unto Death, or of Obedience unto Right eoufnefs -,) in the mean time 
 he was oppofed by a rude Peribn, who called him a Liar : But my Companion 
 being over him, bid him be filent till he had done, and he would anfw^r any 
 Objeftion ; but, before the Time was half over, he ilipt away, and the Meet- 
 ing ended well, and in Peace. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting at Salifhury •, and there having been a Re- 
 port, that the Minifter of the Place, one Major Pike, and one Jofeph Ring (all 
 great Oppofers) intended to be there, it was very large ; yet none of them 
 came but Ring ; who did not oppofe, but flunk off towards the Conclufion ; 
 and the Meetmg was held, and concluded in Peace, and the blefled Truth was 
 over all. 
 
 That Night we returned to Hampton -, and, next Day, to Salem, about \o 
 Miles, and got to their Week-day Meeting ; and, the Day after, to Lynn, where 
 we likewife had a Meeting •, and from thence to Bojlon, where we had two 
 Meetings the next Day •, the latter whereof, being in the Evening, and the 
 Firft of the Week, was large. 
 
 t) ^ At
 
 198 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno At Saiem, having difcovered my Inclinations to return towards Hampton and 
 
 1699. Dover, and to have I'ome Meetings where we had not yet had any; acordingly 
 I went back from Bojlon ; and my Companion, intending to go to a Yearly Meet- 
 ing at Providence.) towards Rhode- IJIa7id, went towards Scituate: That Day I went 
 Salem. to Lynn ; and, the next Day, had a Meeting with Friends at Salem ; where Part 
 
 ot my Teftimony was againft a fleepy State in Ibme, and a wandering Spirit in 
 others ; which I perceived infefted and hurt that Meeting, and hindered the 
 Growth of feveral. It was a tender comfortable Meeting ; and I was told after- 
 wards there was great need of fuch a Teftimony : and one ancient Friend con- 
 fefled, with Tears, that he had received great Hurt in Meetings by a wander- 
 ing Spirit ; which draws away the Mind from a true and fincere waiting upon 
 God, by infenfible Degrees, and hinders the Progrefs of the Mind in the Truth, 
 and the true Worfliip. 
 
 On the 26th, I went towards //^ot/j/o;/, accompanied by my kind Friend 5a- 
 muel Collins, oi Lynn ; and, as we were near Ipfwich, one of his Acquaintance, 
 not a Friend, overtook, and invited us to his Houfe ; where. Meat being fet be- 
 fore us, I was concerned in Prayer before we ate, and they were well affefted 
 with it •, and, before we parted, I had much Difcourfe with them concerning 
 the Things of G o d, and opened many Things to them, as the Lord revealed 
 them in me ; in which they were well fatisfied, and very loving. 
 
 Hampton. That Afternoon we went to Hampton ; and, next Day, had a pretty large 
 
 Meeting there •, the Sum of my Teftimony being, as in the Meeting at Salem., 
 " againft that drowfy, lukewarm, indifferent Spirit which had overtaken fome-, 
 " with an Exhortation to the old convinced, not to reft in that Condition, left 
 *' they might loofe their Crowns, and become Stumbling Blocks in the Way 
 " of the Weak, then under Convincement : And to the Young, that they ftiould 
 " mind the Lord alone ; and that if they ftiould efpy any Thing in any one, 
 *' who had for a long or ftiort Time profefled the Truth, either in Converfation, 
 " or in Meetings ; whether in the Vanity of the one, or Indifference of the other; 
 " or in coming to Meetings, or Negligence when in them, they ftiould not 
 " look out at the Failings of others, but to the Lord for Help ; to whom 
 " we muft all ftand or fall, and anfwer for ourfelves, and not for another." 
 And though at firft my Concern was a little hard, we had a tender Time in the 
 melting Truth •, feveral, both old and young, being broken ; and I went away 
 well and eafy : Bleffed be the Lord for ever. 
 
 That Night I lodged with Jofeph Chafe ; and, next Day, went? to Cachecah^ 
 to 'Thomas Hanfon's,, where I remained till the 30th ; which being the Firft of 
 Dover. ^^^ Week, I went to the Meeting at Dover • and therein, among other Things, 
 
 exhorted Friends " to re-eftablifti and continue their Week-day Meetings, in 
 " whicli they had been deficient ; and to be watchful againft an indifferent, eafy, 
 " and lukewarm Spirit and State :" And feveral, both Friends and others, were 
 tendered in the divine Prefence ; which was mercitully with us that Day ; to his 
 own Praile, who fent forth his Word. 
 
 I T was an extreme wet Time ; and I, with fome other Friends, ftaid at Dover 
 that Night : The Rain continued till about the fifth Hour next Day, and then 
 we departed in great Peace with the Lord ; but, coming late to the River, and 
 the Wind high, we could not make the Ferry-man on the other Side hear, till 
 the Sun was near fetting ; and then he came with no better Velfel for us and our 
 Horfes, than a fniall Gundalo and Canoe, laftied together with Sticks and Strings ; 
 yet, through good Providence, we got fafe over, and to our Friend Jofeph Chafe's 
 
 before
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 199 
 
 before Midniglit, though ready to fwim upon our Horfes in the Way, the Floods Anno. 
 were fo very high. 1699. 
 
 The next Day, being the firft of the Sixth Month, I had a large good 
 Meeting at Aimjhury, in the Houfe of one Samuel Weed, a friendly Man ; and Aimfbury. 
 many Things were opened, through the Grace of God, to the Satisfadlion of the 
 People in general ; but fome Particulars were not pleafed, becaufe the Teftimony 
 of Truth was againft their Ways and Sentiments ; the Prieft's Son, and other • 
 Oppofers, being there. 
 
 But that which occafioned the Meeting to be fo large, was this : There was 
 one Jofeph Ring, (formerly mentioned) a bold, confident Ad verfary ; who, from 
 time to time, had challenged Friends, not only in thofe Parts, but alfo travelling 
 Friends, to difpute with him ; but, being of no good Fame, they had generally 
 declined it ; upon which he had boafted greatly, and had done much Hurt to 
 fome weak Perfons, who had been at our Meetings, and under Convincement, ■ 
 by perverting the Scriptures, and by unlearned Queftions ; which, in their weak 
 State, they could not anfwer : And, about the Time we had been in thofe Parts 
 before, this Jofeph Ring had written the following Letter to Jacob Aloril, a 
 Friend. 
 
 Salijhury, July 17. 1699. 
 
 HAVING divers Times heard and difcourfed thofe People called Qua- 
 kers ; and, notwithftanding I have heard many good Things from them, 
 yet there are fome Things they do hold which I have not received for Truth j 
 but, on the contrary, do not believe to be true ; which I would gladly have 
 cleared up by them, at fome one of their Meetings : To name no more than 
 thefe two ; 
 
 " iji, T H A T their Preachers, as they fay, have an infallible Spirit. 
 
 " 2dly, That Christ doth dwell in them ; and what they mean by that I 
 " know not, becaufe fome fay one Thing, and fome another. If you pleafe to 
 " give me an Opportunity to difcourfe you on thefe Points, it will much oblige 
 *' me ; and give me timely Notice where. I have long defired this Requeft. I am 
 
 Tour Friendy 
 
 JOSEPH RING. 
 
 *' P. S. Pray communicate thefe Lines to the next Preaching Quakers, as 
 *' you have Opportunity ; and if they will gratify me with a Difcourfe, let it be 
 " at your Houfe ; and I will attend it, having fome Notice of it before-hand.'' 
 
 This being about the Time we were there before, he had wrote it on pre- 
 tence to have a Difpute with us ; and we had feen it, and fent him word we were 
 to have a Meeting at that Place on a Day certain •, and that, if he had any Thing 
 to objeft after the Meeting, we would endeavour to fatisfy him ; and accordingly 
 he came, (as before hinted) but went away before the Meeting was over. 
 
 Now, when I returned to Hampton, as before, the Friends told me, that this 
 Man had greatly boafted, when we were gone, that we durft not give him a 
 Meeting, (and this Friend he had writ to had not been long convinced) left our 
 Errors fliould appear to the People j making fome lying Excufes for his abrupt 
 Departure out of the Meeting aforefaid, and declining to difcourfe us ; and fo 
 
 was
 
 aco The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno was going on in his former Courfe, when he thought we were gone out of the 
 1699. Country : Therefore they defired me, if I was free, to give him a Meeting i 
 for they thought it might be of Service ; to which, after fome Confideration, I 
 yielded, and fent him word of this Meeting to be at Aimjhury, before I went to 
 Dover the fecond Time, as before related ; fo that he had full Time to prepare ; 
 and to the Meeting he came accordingly. 
 
 After the Meeting was ended, and before I fat down, I enquired if there 
 was one Jofeph Ring in the Place ? He ftarted up, feeming to be furprifed, and 
 faid. Here am I. Then I called him into the Place where I ftood, and lie came 
 with his Hat off, and his Hands trembling : I looked fteadily upon him, but he 
 could not look upon me ; fuch was the Enmity of his Spirit againft the Truth 
 and us. 
 
 T H E N I afl-^ed him, " Art thou he that wrote to one of our Friends, purport- 
 " ing thy DiiTatisfaftion about fome Things we hold in Religion ?" He anfwered, 
 tc I am." " What are thy Objeftions ?" Upon which he puU'd out a Paper, 
 and read them : " i/, Your Preachers, as you fay, have an infallible Spirit, ■zdly, 
 *' That Christ doth dwell in them: And of thefe Things I want to be fa- 
 *' tisfied." " What Satisfaftion wouldft thou have ?" " I would have you de- 
 " monftrate to me, and prove thefe Things to be true, if you can -, for I deny 
 " them." " What Demonftration or Proof wouldft thou have ?" " From plain 
 *' Scripture ; which I think you cannot do." 
 
 Seeing what Spirit I had to deal withall -, that he was not d, confciencious 
 Enquirer, but a bitter, perverfe, and prefumptuous Oppofer of the Truth, I then 
 farther afked him, " Art thou a Member of any Society of People profeffing 
 " Christ? Art thou a Papift, or Epifcopalian, or Prefbyterian, Independent, 
 " or Bapdft; or doft thou reprefent any of thefe in what thou doft ?" " No ; 
 *' but I can hear all thefe, and the Quakers too, and objedt againft any Thing I 
 *' like not in any of them." 
 
 " But I fufpeft thou art put upon this by fome others, who would not be 
 " feen in it themfelves ; be plain, tell me the Truth, is it fo?" " No j it is only 
 " of myfelf, to be fatisfied." 
 
 T H E N I put the Queftion to the People •, " Doth this Man reprefent you in 
 
 " this Undertaking?" Several of the chief of whom replied, " No-, we will 
 
 " not be concerned with him." " But I ftill fufpeft there is a Spirit among 
 
 " you that would triumph in his Viiflory, if he might have it : " And then I 
 
 proceeded thus : " I now perceive I have one to deal with who is ignorant of 
 
 " Chriftianity, tho' as a feeming Enquirer ; I therefore begin with that Point of 
 
 " Infallibility. People, it is neceftary, in this Cafe, that you ftiould clearly un- 
 
 " derftand what is intended by an infallible Spirit : We do not mean thereby fuch 
 
 " a Spirit, whereby to know what Weather it will be To-morrow, or the good 
 
 " or ill Fortunes of Mankind in this World, or the like -, but mean only the Spi- 
 
 " rit of Truth ; that is, the Spirit of Christ, who is the Truth, and infalli- 
 
 " bly difcovers Sin in Men, Good and Evil, Right and Wrong, in Matters of 
 
 *' Religion-, and infallibly leads into all Truth, and out of all Error, in all Things 
 
 " refpefting our own Salvadon, as the fame is received, believed in, and obeyed: 
 
 *' And not only fo, but thofe who are made Minifters of this Spirit, by its 
 
 " powerful working in them, may thereby, but not otherwife, infallibly declare 
 
 *^ the Mind of G d to the People, being themfelves perfedly aflured by the 
 
 " Spirit
 
 of T HO M A S STORY. loi 
 
 « Spirit, of the Truth of what they deliver ; and yet do not pretend to impofe Anno 
 
 " their own Senfe, though infalhble to themfclves, upon any others, but as they 1699, 
 
 " alfo are fatisfied of the fame Truths by the fame Spirit : And that as fure as 
 
 " Men can diftinguifli, and be certain of outward Objefts, by die Eye and Lio-ht 
 
 " of the Sun in the Firmament of Heaven, fo fure Men may be in Matters (Tf a 
 
 " fpiritual Nature, by the InHiining of the Light of the Spirit of C h ri st into 
 
 « the Underftanding. But if Mankind will not fully believe, follow and obey, 
 
 *' and chadily and attentively wait upon the Spirit in their Hearts, they may, and 
 
 " do err, both in Doftrine and Praftice ; and this is the Caufe why fo many and 
 
 " great Errors are in the World." And then I turned to my Opponent, and 
 
 " queried, " Doft thou beheve that the Spirit of C h ri s t is an infallible Spirit ?" 
 
 H E anfwered. Tea. " Well then, fince thou haft agreed to be determined in 
 *' thcfe Points by the Holy Scriptures, I prove the Spirit of Christ is in all 
 " Chriftians : And, jirft, in his Minifters ; At that Day ye Jhall know that I am in John xiv. 20. 
 " my Father, and you in me, and I in you : And, fecondly, in all others; Now if ^o""- '*'''"• ^- 
 *' any Man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his : And // C h r i s t be "'" 
 
 " in you, the Body is dead becaufe of Sin. Thefe Words, any Man, in the Text, 
 " are indefinite Terms, fignifying every Man, Male and Female •, I, thou, he, 
 " (he, they, (pointing to the People all round) all People. And fince thou hall 
 *' confefled this is an infallible Spirit, and the Scriptures fay every Man hath it ; 
 *' as it is written, The Manifcfiation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit 
 " tvithall, then thou and I both have the Spirit of Christ, or have once had it; 
 " and if we are not infallibly led by it in the Way of Truth, we have not profit- 
 _*' ed ; and it is then our own Fault and Lofs," 
 
 This much weaken'd him as to that Point, for he could not get over thefe 
 Scriptures -, yet would have been at another Argument, which he could not form, 
 for the Diforder and Confufion he was in : It was this, " That none who deny 
 *' the Ordinances of Christ can be led by the Spirit of Christ: But the 
 " Quakers deny the Ordinances of C h r i st ; that is, they do not baptize with 
 *' Water ; therefore are not guided by his Spirit." But this not being fairly ftated 
 by him, but by myfelf, in order to an Anfwer before the People, I prefently fol- 
 lowed it with this : " That what he meant by Baptifm was fprinkling of Infants, 
 *' which Christ never inftituted •, therefore we may omit it, and yet be led by 
 *' the Spirit of Christ into that Omifilon, as aTeftimony for him againft it: 
 " And that at the fame Rate he would unchriftian all the People there, and him- 
 " felf too, and likewife all who profefs Christ at this Day throughout the 
 " Worid : for none are in the PracSlice of Water Baptifm, but a few called Bap- 
 " tifis ; who only imitate John''?, Baptifm as near as they can, and that by their 
 " own Ailumption and Authority, without any Miffion by Christ on that 
 " Account : And the fprinkling of Infants I maintained to be only a Popifli In- 
 *' novation and Inftitution, and no Ordinance of Christ, as I had before more 
 " fully opened it in the Meeting : And added. That we do not deny, but believe 
 " that Water Baptifm was commanded of God to John the Baptift, and pradi- 
 " fed upon the Jews only, as an Ordinance of God, in its Difpenfation of 
 " Time, Place, and Subjeds ; but that it is fuperceded, and, in point of Obliga- ■ 
 " tion, ended, by the Inftitution and Introduiflion of Christ's fpiritual Bap- 
 " tifm with the Holy Ghoft : and there is now remaining in the Church of Christ 
 " only one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptifm ; for by one Spirit are we all bap- Eph. iv e 
 *' tized into one Body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the i cor.xii. 13, 
 " Body is not one Member, but many. The Church which is his Body ; the Fulnefs ^\ 
 *' of him that filleth all in all. And therefore his Imagination, that we could not Col. i. "s. ^' 
 
 3 E " be '
 
 aoi The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno "be led by the Spirit of Christ, for omitting fprinkling of Infants, is unrea- 
 1699. " fonable, andnot ajuftConfequence." 
 
 B Y this Time he was weai7 of his Undertaking, and filent as to any farther 
 Argument on the firft Point ; and fo we proceeded to the other, viz. " That 
 " Christ dwells in his People." 
 
 John XX. 25, To prove the Abfurdity, as he thought, of this, he brought that Scripture, 
 
 ^7- where nomas and the Apoftles, doubting of the bodily Appearance of Christ 
 
 after his Refurreftion, the Lord faid to them, A Sprit hath not Fleflj and Bones 
 
 as ye fee me have. " Now, faid he, fince Christ hath Flefh and Bones, as we 
 
 " have, how can he be in every one of you ?" 
 
 Upon this I defired the People to be ftill, and told them, " This Man's Tma- 
 " gination, concerning Christ's being in his People, is very grofs, carnal, and 
 
 —• i. g, " foolifli, and not at all as we underftand it ; for we fpeak of the Light and Spirit 
 
 " of C H R I s t, in the Senfe mentioned above in the other Argument, and not of 
 " his human Body : But as the Body of the Sun is at a great Diftance, in the 
 *' open Firmament, yet his Light and Influence fhines over and affefts all the 
 •' Earth, and into many thoufands of Houfes and Places at the fame Time ; 
 *' and in what Proportion the Light fhineth into any Houfe, by the fame r'ro- 
 *' portion is the Virtue, Influence, and Power of the^Sun there difpenfed : And 
 *' fo, and infinitely more, it is with Christ; whofe holy Body, though far 
 
 — i. I, 9. *' remote from us, yet his Spirit is every where, in all Hearts •, and he is the 
 " Word of God, and true Light, that light eth every Man that cometh into the 
 
 Col. i. 26,27. " World. The Myftery which hath been hid from Ages and Generations, but noia 
 " is made manifeft to his Saints: To whom God would make known what is the 
 " Riches of the Glory of this Myfiery amotig the Gentiles, (of whofe Offspring we 
 " are) which is, C h r i s t in you, the Hope of Glory." 
 
 Then, being in a great Fret, he turned to the fecond Epiftle to Timothy, the 
 third Chapter, and read on to the ninth Verfe incluflve, pretending to apply all 
 that Scripture to us ; but I bid him " read homewards, (which the People took 
 " notice of, for they knew him to be a wicked one, on feveral Accounts) mind 
 " thefe Words in the Text, Boaflers, Blafphemers, unholy, Falfe Acciifers, fierce, 
 *' Defpifers of thofe that are good, heady, having a Form of Godlinefs, but denying 
 *' the Fewer thereof, ever learning, and never able to come to the Knowledge of the 
 *' Truth, and confider how far they may relate' to thyfelf ; for thou dofl: not well 
 *' in applying that Scripture to us ; we, through the Grace of God, are not fuch : 
 *' But I will tell thee to whom they belong, even to thofe, who, pretending a 
 *' Call, by Tradition from the Apoftles, to preach to all Nations, and yet fit 
 *' down in Towns, and particular Houfes and Places, and there preach up Sin 
 *' Term of Life, for fuch Hire and Pay as filly Women, and filly Men too, laden 
 " with all the Sins mentioned in that Scripture, will agree to pay them : And in 
 " fuch Preachers and Hearers is that other Scripture fulfilled, where it is written, 
 2Tim.iv.3,4. " For the Time will come when they will not endure found DoMrine ; but, after 
 " their own Lufls, fljall they heap to themfelves Teachers, having itching Ears : And 
 " they fhall turn away their Ears from the Truth, andfhallbe turned unto Fables. 
 
 " But I have fomething more to fay of C h r i s t's being in Men : It is no 
 
 " new Thing for fuch perverfe Men as this to oppofe the Truth ; and no won- 
 
 *' der it falls thus to our Lot now, fince the like Objeftion was moved to the 
 
 t Cor. xiil. 3. <■<■ Apoftle Paul, and by fuch too as had finned, feeking a Proof of C h r i s t's 
 
 " fpeaking in him ; and all the Proof he thought fit to give them was, to bid 
 
 " them
 
 of T HO M A S S T Rf. 103 
 
 ' them examine tiiemfelves ivhether they were in the Failh ; Prove your own An n o 
 
 ' felves: Know ye not yowx q^nw Iclves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, 1699. 
 
 ' ar<?/^j^ Z'^ Reprobates," zCor. xiii. 5. 
 
 M Y Adverfary quickly turned to the Place, and I bid him read it to the People; 
 and, faukering much as he read, and trembling, I noted to them how blind he 
 was with Envy and Confufion ; and then laid to him, " Now, thou art the Man 
 " feeking a Proof of C h R i s t's being in us : I fiiall therefore, fince thou doft 
 *' it perverfely, treat thee as a Vagabond in Religion, and as one having none at 
 " all : Haft thou examined thyil-lf on that Account ? Tea. Haft thou proved 
 *' thyielf ? Tes. What haft thou found ?" Then he, perceiving what the Con- 
 clufion was like to be, would have evaded and fhuffled : " No, but, faid I, 
 *' give me a plain and pofitive Anfwer •, haft thou found Christ in thee?" 
 But he would not anfwer. Then I obferved to the People ; " He confeffeth, 
 *' you fee, that he hath examined and proved himfelf, but dares not fay he hath 
 *' found Christ in him j therefore the Text is conclufive upon him, he is a 
 " Reprobate ; and, as fuch, I fet him afide, as not worthy to be talked with any 
 *' more in Matters of Chriftianity." And he faid no more, but, foon after, 
 flunk away out of the Company. This ftruck an Awe upon the People-, tor 
 the Lord was with me, and was my Direftor, to his own Glory-, and prefently 
 came to me a young Man, in a Confternation, and faid, " Ah, Sir ! I would 
 " not have been before you To-day, as that Man was, for the whole World." 
 He imagined, I fuppofe, that he was reprobated to all Eternity. 
 
 Immediately upon this came another fober young Man to me, and faid, 
 *' I have heard what you faid this Day in the Meeting ; and many Things I 
 *' liked, which you explained beyond what I ever heard from any of your Per- 
 *' fuafion ; but one Thing I am not fatisfied in -, that which you call Spiritual, I 
 " call Natural." " What is that, faid I ?" " You faid. That which reproves 
 *' Sin in Mankind is fufficient for Salvation, provided it be believed in, and 
 *' obeyed ; which I cannot receive : For that Scripture which you mentioned 
 *' will be againft you ; where you faid, When the Gentiles., which have not a Law^ Rom, ii, 14: 
 *' do, hy 'Nature, the Things contained in the Law ; thefe, having not the Law, are 
 " a Law unto them/elves ; which fiew the Work of the Law written in their 
 *' Hearts: Now, faid he, that which reproves Sin the Gentiles had before 
 " Christ came, even from the Beginning : How then can that be the Spirit 
 " of C H R I s T, but only the Law, the fame that reproves Men now ? It is the 
 " Remains of that Righteoufnefs that was in Adam, in his State of Creation, be- 
 " fore he fell." 
 
 I ANSWERED, " That if he rightly confidered that Righteoufnefs which 
 *' was in Adam before he fell, it is the fame that the Saints and People of G o d 
 *' now have, after they are reftored out of the Fall. The better to underftand 
 " this, let us obferve what 7(?^« the Evangelift faith concerning Christ the 
 " Word of God : In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, John i. r, 4; 
 " and the Word was God. In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men. 
 *' And the Light fhineth in Darknefs, and the Darknefs comprehended it not. That 
 " was the true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World. 
 " And the Word was made Flefh and dwelt among us, .(and we beheld his Glory, the 
 " Glory as of the only Begotten of the Father) full of Grace and Truth : And of 
 *' his Fulnefs have all we received, and Grace for Grace. For the Law was gi- 
 " -ven by Mofes, hut Grace and Truth came hy Jefus Chrifi. 
 
 "The Word, Wifdom, and Power of G d therefore, cloadied and vailed 
 
 " with 
 
 5,9, 14, 16, 
 
 »7-
 
 ao4 
 
 Anko 
 
 1699. 
 
 The LIFE, d^'c. 
 
 " with a reafonable Soul, and human Flefli, is Jesus Christ, born into this 
 " "World by the blefled Virgin Mary : This Word is the Righteoufnefs of God, 
 " which was Light and Wifdom in Adam before he fell; and by whom God 
 " judged and condemned Adam for Sin, in diibbeying and departing from this 
 " Word, Light, and Life, through Unbelief and aftual TranfgrefTion : It was 
 *' by the Light and Life of this Word, that God, the Father of all, ftrovewith 
 " the old World to reclaim them, as by a Law written in them, and againft 
 *' which they likewife rebelled ; whereby the Almighty was provoked at length 
 " to deftroy them by the Flood, fave righteous Noah (who had not offended) 
 " and his Family. 
 
 " And, after the Flood, the fame Law of Light and Life was ftill with and 
 " in the Poilerity of Noah and his Family, by which they had the Knowledge 
 " of God, of the Creation, and of moral Righteoufnefs ; and to which, being 
 " obedient, they were ruled and governed thereby for a Time : It was by this 
 " divine Nature in their Hearts, and not by their own fallen and corrupt Nature, 
 " that they did the Things contained in the Moral Law ; but, by degrees, they 
 " likewife degenerated, as the old World did, and departed from the Law of 
 • " Light which gave them that Knowledge ; Becaufe, that ivhen they knew God 
 " they glorified bint not as God ; neither were thankful^ but became vain in their 
 " Imaginations, and (departing from that Light) their foolijh Hearts were darkened ; 
 Eph. V. 8. « and they became Darknefs. 
 
 Rom. 
 
 Rom. i. 22, 
 
 24, 28,— -,2. 
 
 ^2. «< 
 
 E.wd.xxxii. 
 
 
 22. 
 
 (C 
 
 Gal. iii. 19. 
 
 (C 
 
 Exod. xxxi. 
 18. 
 
 (C 
 
 — xxxii. 6, 
 
 cc 
 
 16, 19. 
 
 cc 
 
 — xxxiv. 1,4, 
 
 
 6, 28. 
 
 (( 
 
 
 (( 
 
 
 <c 
 
 
 <l 
 
 
 (( 
 
 
 C( 
 
 VVM? ■? 
 
 t' 
 
 . x.viv. 3 
 
 " And, departing from the Wifdom of this divine Word, they became Foolsy 
 and vile Idolaters ; and therefore God departed from them, ^n^ gave them up 
 " to their own Hearts Lufts, and to believe and follow Lies, and vile AffeHions. 
 •' And even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge, God gave them 
 *' up to a reprobate Mind, to do thofe Things which are not convenient ; being fil- 
 " led with all Unrighteoufnefs, Fornication, JVickednefs, Covetoufnefs, Malicioufnefs^ 
 *' full of Envy, Murder, Debate, Deceit, Malignity, IVhifperers, Backbiters, Ha- 
 " ters of God, defpiteful, proud, Boafiers, Inv enters of evil Things, dif obedient to 
 " Parents, without Underflanding, Covenant-breakers, without natural Affection, 
 " implacable, unmerciful. And though they knew at the fame Time, by that 
 " Law of Light, that the Judgment of God was againft them for thefe Things; 
 " yet they did them, and took Pleafure one in another therein : And therefore 
 "God left them under the Power of their own Sins, in this miferable State, for 
 " many Ages. 
 
 " And, in the mean time, God made choice of Abraham and his Pofte- 
 rity, in whom to reftore this Law of Light and Life : For the Children of If- 
 rael being in Bondage, and a State of Slavery in Egypt, were alfo degenerated 
 and become Tranfgrefibrs ; and therefore God added the Law of Moral 
 Righteoulhefs, by the Mediation of Mofes, his Servant, written on Tables of 
 Stone by the Finger of God; which, for the Tranfgreffions of the People, 
 were broken by the Mediator of that Law, on the Side of the Mountain before 
 which they were : But the Mercy of God returned unto them, and he com- 
 manded Mofes to prepare other Tables of Stone, on which to write the fame 
 Law : which Thing, though Matter of Fad, is alfo an Allegory : For the 
 Law of Light and Life, being written in the Hearts of Men from the begin- 
 ning, was broken and blotted out by their Sins ; but the Moft High, in Love 
 and Mercy to loft and degenerate Mankind, provided a more excellent Medi- 
 ator than Mofes, and of a better and more powerful Law ; which I may far- 
 ther fpeak of in the Sequel : And though this Law was given by Mofes, by the 
 
 " Com-
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. lojr 
 
 " Command of God, and the People received it as realbnabic and good ; yet, A k n o 
 " being inwardly departed from the Light and Life of the divine Word, that 1699. 
 " outward Law could not give them Life, but Condemnation ; for they could Exod.xxi\'.3. 
 " not keep it in the State they were in : And therefore the Almio-hty, in Tuftice !f^' '*'"'■.. ^'^- 
 " and Mercy, reftored to them a Manifeftation of the fame Word, and Light, s, 9. 
 " and Lite in him. This is the eternal Word and Commandment of God 
 *' preached by Mofcs in that Day unto Ifrael in the Wildernefs, of whom he faith, 
 " TbiS Cor/ima}{dwei?t vjhich I command thee this Day, it is not hidden from thee ; Deut. xxx. 
 " neither is it far off : It is not in Heaven, that thou fhouldfi fay. Who floall go up "> ^■<^- 
 " for lis to Heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it? Neither 
 " is it hey end the Sea, that thou fJiouldfl fay. Who fhall go over the Sea for us, and 
 " bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it? But //^^ Word is very nigh 
 *' unto thee, in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, that thou ntayefi do it. 
 
 "In dfis Manner was Christ preached by Mofes many Ages before he came 
 " in the Flefli *, and^ after he did fo come^ was preached in the fame Way by 
 " the Apoftle Paul j for the ftme that Mofes preached as the Commandment, and 
 " the ^Fiiri:/, the Apoftle calleth Ch R I ST, a.nd the Word of Faith, which they Rom.vi.j-g. 
 " preached ; and which they knew no more after the Flefli, after they had tho- 2 Cor. v. i6. 
 " roughly preached him come in the Flefh ; but, confequently, as he is the 
 " Word of Gcd, Light of the World, divine Truth, and quickening Spirit. 
 
 " And again, Jll Ifrael did eat the fame fpiritual Meat, and did all drink the i Cor. x. 3, 4. 
 " fame fpiritual Drink, (for they drank of that fpiritual Rock that follo-wed them, 
 " and that Rock was Chri st :) And this is alfo the fame of which he fpeak- 
 *' eth, where he faith, Whofoever drinketh of the Water that I floall give him, floall John Iv. 1 4. 
 " never thirfl -, but the Water that I fhall give him, floall he in hira a Well of Wa- 
 " ter fpringing up into everlafling Life. 
 
 " And, to make this necefliiry Point yet plainer, obierve. In the laft Day, John vii. 3;, 
 " that great Day of the Feaft, jcfus flood and cried, faying. If any Alan thirjl, S^j 39- 
 " let him come unto me, and drink. He that helieveth on 'me, as the Scripture hath 
 " faid, out of his Belly fhall flow Rivers of living Water. But this fpake he of 
 " the Spirit, which they that believe on him fhoiild receive : for the Holy Ghofl was 
 " not yet given, hccaufe that Jefus was 7iot yet glorified. 
 
 " But the Jcsas alfo rebelled againfl the Light, Spirit and Word of G o d, Ifa. i. 2. 
 " fo preached unto them by Mofes aforcfaid ; and therefore the Law without 77'^'"'" "^' 
 " could not fave them : yet the righteous and moft merciful Creator did not 
 " forlake them for ever, but opened a Door of Hope, by his gracious Pro- 
 " mifes aforehand, that they might believe and obey when they came to pafs ; ifa. xlii. 9. 
 " and therefore faith, Behold the Days come, faith the Lord, that I will 'make a Jer-xxxi. 31, 
 *' nero) Covenant with the Houfe of Ifrael, and with the Houfe of Judah -, but this ^^' ^^' ^^' 
 " Jfoall be the Covenant, I will put my Law in their inward Parts, and write it in Je1-.xxxii.40. 
 " their Hearts, and will he their God, and they floall be my Pccple. Again •, I 
 '■' will put my Fear in if /^i?/r Hearts, that they floall not depart from me. 
 
 "And the Almighty, of his fuperaboimding Mercy and Kindnefs, remem- 
 " ber'd likewife the apoftate and benighted Gentiles, promifing unto them al- 
 " fo the fame Law and Covenant of Light, by the fame Mediator -, I the Lord Iia- xhi. 6. 
 " have called thee in Righteoufnefs, and will hold thine Hand, and will keep thee, 
 " and give thee for a Covenant of the People, for a Light of the Gentiles. And _xlix. 6, 
 " he faid. It is a light Thing that thou froculdft he 'my Servant, to raife up the Tribes 
 
 3 F " of
 
 ic6 
 
 Anno 
 
 1699. 
 
 Mali. II. 
 
 — iii. I. 
 
 Ifa. vii. 14. 
 
 — xlii. I 
 
 T/je LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 *•' of Jacob, and to rejlore the preferred of Ifrael ; Tivill alfo give thee for a Light 
 " to the Gentiles, thai thou mayeji be my Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth. 
 
 " Now, this Covenant, and the Mefienger thereof is the fame, who the Moft 
 
 " High defcribcs aforehand ; to the Jeiv firfl, and alfo to the Gentile : To the 
 
 " Jew he faith, 'Therefore the Lord himf elf JJmll give you a Sign •, behold, a Vir- 
 
 " gin Jball 'conceive, and bear a Son, and jhall call his Name Jmmamtel. And to 
 
 " both Je-ws and Gentiles he faith, Behold my Servant vohotn I uphold, mine 
 
 •■' Eie6l, in "xhom my Soul delightetb. I have put my Spirit upon him, he Jhall 
 
 " bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles. This is he, of whom it was laid, feven 
 
 — ix. 6. " hundred and forty Years before he came. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is 
 
 " given, and the Government JJmU be upon his Shoulders. This is he who fpake 
 
 Heb. X. J, 7. " unto the Father in Spirit, faying. Sacrifice and Offering thou ivouldejl not ; but 
 
 Pial. Ix. 7. " a Body haji thou prepared me. This is he who received that holy Body of 
 
 " human Flefli, with a reafonable Soul, the compleat Nature of Man. This is 
 
 " the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary ; who, by Command 
 
 " of the Father, wrought all thofe Wonders attributed to him in the Holy 
 
 " Scriptures. 
 
 ■ " Th I s is he who offered liimfelf upon the Crofs, at Jerufalem of old, a 
 
 " Propitiation for the Sins of the whole "World. This is the Light of the Gen- 
 
 Mat. x!i. 21. <c /^-/^r, in v.'hom they are to believe and truft: The Mediator of the New Co- 
 
 ^\. ' ' " venant, not of Works, but of Light and Life from God;, not that which 
 
 XII. 2 1 
 
 " is natural, but eternal. This is the true Witnefs of God ; the Finger and 
 Jia Uii. 3,4. <t Power of Go D, by which he writeth and reftoreth the Law of Righteouf- 
 Rom. viii. I, " nefs •, the Law of the Spirit of Life, which makes free from the Law of 
 
 2» 3- " Sin and Death ; and which the Law without, given by Mofcs, could not do. 
 
 " This is the Law and V/ord of Life that was in Adam before he fell. 
 
 John xvi. 7, " This is the divine, immortal, and unchangeable Truth of God, which 
 8, 9. 4c reproves the World of Sin, of Righteoufnefs, and of Judgment ; that reproves 
 
 " and manifefts Sin in all Mankind : And, for want of Faith, Love, and Obe- 
 " dience to this divine Law, Light, and IVord of God, the faithlefs and difobe- 
 " dient World remains in Condemnation by that Word : For, till they do fo, 
 " both Jews and Gentiles remain, and are concluded under Sin : As faith the 
 
 .tohn iii. 18, " Son of G OD, He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believetb 
 
 '9- " not is condemned already, becaufe he hath not believed in the Name of the only 
 
 " begotten Son of God. And this is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the 
 
 " World, and Men loved Darknefs rather than Light, becaufe their Deeds were 
 
 36. " evil. He that believeth on the Son hath everlafling Life ; and he that believetb 
 
 " not the Son, floall not fee Life ; but the Wrath of God abideth on him. 
 
 zThef. li. -. "An d, as the Myftery of Iniquity began to work in the Days of the 
 I John ii. 18. <.<. Apoftles, fo there Were many A ntichrifts, even then, in the World •, which 
 " were neither Jews nor Heathens, but Profeifors of the Name of the true God, 
 " and of Tesus Christ the Son of G o d, and Saviour of the World ; and 
 " they went out from the Apoftles, and their Doftrine, and from the teaching 
 " of the Grace and Spirit of God ; the holy anointing which teacheth all 
 " Things : They turned their Ears from the Truth, and gave ear to Fables \ 
 " heaping to themfelves Teachers after their Hearts Lufts, having itcliing 
 " Ears : They went back under the Law of Types, which was ended by the 
 *' Law of Liberty, through Christ Jesus our Lor 6. 
 
 «' And 
 
 IV.
 
 cf T H M AS ST O R 7. 107 
 
 • " And, as great is the Myflery of Iniquity, it hath fo wrougiit in the Anno, 
 
 " Chriftian World, that the fame that is fo callcil, is degenerated as the old 1699. 
 
 " World, and as the old GenllUs, the Heathen and apoftate Je-ws, and become 
 
 " Antichriftian, and in utter Darknefs and Confufion : They once, in the Days 
 
 " of old, fpake one Language, from the one Word and Voice of G od, fpeak- 
 
 *' ing divine Wifdom, and the Knowledge of the one true God, and of J e s u s 
 
 " Christ the Son of God, in every living Soul ; but, by their Apoftacy 
 
 " from the divine Light and Spirit of God, and from his Wifdom, Grace, 
 
 *' and Power, they followed their own Spirit and Wifdom, v/hich is Dark- 
 
 *' nefs, into many evil Inventions ; and multiplied their Supcrftitions, and became 
 
 " miferable Idolaters, worfhipping a Piece of Bread for their God, and wallowing 
 
 " in all the Sins of the Gentiles and Heathens of old : So that their Language, 
 
 " as at Babel, is confounded, and they are no more one, but fcattered, and 
 
 " fliall unite no more, till they return by him from whom they are fallen -, to 
 
 " the Covenant of G o d, even that true Light of his Son, -which Ughteth every 
 
 " Man that cometh into the World ; of whofe Fullnefs, all thofe who now believe 
 
 " in him, and behold his Glory, as of the only and firft begotten Son of God, 
 
 " have now received^ as they did of old, and Grace for Grace : And this Grace Tlt.ti. 11,12. 
 
 " bringeth Salvation, and hath appeared to all Men ; teaching us., that denying 
 
 " Ungodlinefs and worldly Lnjls, ive Jlwitld live foberly, right eoujly and godly in 
 
 " this prefent World. By this Grace iae are faved, through Faith:, and that not Eph. ii 8. 
 
 " of otirfelves, it is the Gift of God. From all which Proofs it is plain. That 
 
 " the fame that reproves Sin in Man is the Spirit of Christ, the Word Jo^n xvi. 7, 
 
 " of G o D ; which in the Beginning was the Light of Men : and it is not na- ; '^' 
 
 " tnral, but fpiritual, and the Myllery that lay hid in the Gentiles from the Foun- Col.i. 26, 27. 
 
 " dation of the World ; though they were Darknefs, and this Li^rht had not ^F*^- ^- ^• 
 
 *' oeen comprehended by them. 
 
 During the Time that pafled on thefe Subjects, the People were very fo- 
 ber ; and the young Man, being deeply under the Effefts of a wrong Educa- 
 tion and Tradition, replied, " That Faith in this Light cannot be fufficient ; 
 " for, except a Man be born again, he cannot fee the Kingdom of Heaven." 
 
 " That is true ; but feeing we mull be born again, we cannot do that of 
 " ourfelves ; there is none can do it for us but God: And he doth that great 
 " Work by the Word of his Wifdom and Power, which is Christ, the 
 " Light of the intelleftual World ; the Sun of Rigliteoufnefs, and glorious 
 "• Luminary of the Mind : And we are to believe in him, that we may be born 
 " again of him, who is the Stcond. Adam, the Lord from Heaven, the quick- 
 " ning Spirit •, as it is written. While ye have Light, believe in the Light, that ye John xii. 36. 
 " may be Children of the Light. And if Children, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and Rom.viii.17. 
 " joint Heirs with Chrift. But it reafonably followeth, that if no Faith in this 
 " divine Light, then no Children of God through him who is that Light, and Luke ii. 32. 
 " eleft Seed of God ■, and if not Children, then not Heirs of God, nor of ifa. xlii. 1,6. 
 " his Promifes -, which are all unto this divine Seed, and all true in him : And 
 " if we do not believe in the Word of God, we cannot pleafe him, nor be Heb. xi. 6. 
 " created a-new unto good Works by him -, which are indifpenfible to every %1^- 'v- 20, 
 " Child of G o d, as the Evidence of that Faith, and Work of Regeneration j^ni'^j"; ,4^ 
 " in the Mind •, and to be ca7'naUy minded is Death, but to be fpiritually minded is 17, &c. 
 " Life and Peace, through Jefns Chrift our Lord. ^°"'- ^"'- ^• 
 
 "Christ teftifieth of himfelf, that he is /Z'<? L?^^/ o///:)^/'Fcr/^; and the johnviii. 12. 
 *« Apoftles of Christ were fent by him, to teftify that God is Light, and — i. 4, 
 
 -' to 
 
 ^•
 
 io8 The LIFE, c^c. 
 
 Anno "to turn Mankind from Barknefs to that Light ; from the Pctt/er of Satan unto 
 
 1699. " God: from that Darknels and Ignorance which had covered the Earth, and 
 
 AiSsxxvi. iS- " from that grofs Darknels which had covered the People, unto the Son of 
 
 Ifa.k.1,2,3. <■<■ God, and unto the Father by him. 
 
 "So then, in order to our being born from above, there mull firft be Faith 
 " in C H R I s T, as he is the divine Light, and fecond Covenant of G o d : i^ nd 
 
 John iil. 19, cc the f^i.(]- ^vork of this Light in Man toward that Faitli, is the Manifeftation, 
 
 20. c> 
 
 — viii.iz. " Reproof, and Condemnation of Sin in the Heart, JMind, and Underftanding 
 Epli. V. 1 3. " of Man : For all Things that are reproved are made manifefi by the Light ; for 
 " (after the Manner of Men) ixshatfoe^cer doth make r.ianifefi is Light. 
 
 " Thus the Tefl:imony of the Holy Scriptures concur clearly to the Proof 
 Piov.i.z3,S.-c " of this moft needful Doftrine, That the Reprover of Sin in the Mind and 
 " Underftanding of Man, is not Man himfelf; neither is it the E>il one, who 
 " tempts Man to Sin : For then he would be both Tempter and Reprover, and 
 " divided againft himfelf ; and, even that Way, his Kingdom and Power could 
 " not ftand : But it is the divine Light and Spirit of C h r i s t, that Sin may be 
 " mariifefted, reproved, become exceeding finhil, and condemned ; and, 
 " through Faith in the Manii'efter and Reprover, be forfaken, pardoned, re- 
 " mitted, and, by the Work of the Holy Spirit of Christ, fully removed, 
 Mat. V. 14. " aiid the Minds of Mankind purified, and made lucid as the Day, and form- 
 " cd into Light in the Lor d." 
 
 I K' tlic Conclufion of this I ftlt the Weight removed from off my Spirit, 
 and the Love and Goodncfs of Truth to arife towards the young Man ; and 
 he took me kindly by the Hand, and faid, " He had other Points to have 
 "■ difcourfed, but would now leave them." But I believe the main Objeftion 
 was removed, and the Mark hit -, for he departed chearful : and fom»e others 
 ;dfo, who feemed to have had fomething to fay, when they had heard thefe 
 Things, were filent ; and all ended in Peace, to the Gloiy of the Lord; 
 ^hofe Service and Honour, and comm.on Good of Mankind, through the 
 Grace of G o d, we only aim at in all thefe Things. 
 
 T H E Meeting being over, there came a Wofinan, (being introduced by fome 
 Women Friends) and told me, " She was much troubled with a Spirit of Blaf- 
 "■ phemy, which often uttered in her Blafphemies againil: God-, and that fhe 
 " was vexed with it, and abhorred herfelf becaufe thereof •, though fhe no way, 
 " in her Dcfires, afiented thereto." I rephed, " That the Lor d often fuller- 
 *' ed fuch to be tempted, in whom he purpofed to make known his Pov/er ; 
 " but it is no Sin to be tempted, for Christ was tempted, and yet without 
 " Sin ; hut Satan's End in thefe great Blafphemies, (which were of his own 
 " uttering in her Imagination) was this, that when he had wearied and weaken- 
 " ed her, he would try to make her believe fhe had finned againft God, and 
 " fo bring her to defpair :" But I exhorted her to be ftill, refift him in Faith 
 towards Christ, and not join with him, and he would fly and vanifli ; and 
 fhe went away eafy. 
 
 I T being late before all thefe Things were ended, I went only one Mile from 
 the Place that Evening -, and, the next Day, had a Meeting at the Houfe of 
 Jofeph Paifley, in Haverhill : It was not large, by reafon of the Throng of Har- 
 veft ; but a very good Time the Lord afforded us, and we ^vere comforted 
 
 together
 
 of T H M AS ST RT. 109 
 
 together in him -, feveral of tiie young convinced, and fome of the elder Anno 
 Friends from Salijhury, being there. 1 699. 
 
 That Night I lodged there ; where fome that were not Friends ca,me and 
 remained witli us till it was late, difcourfing, but not oppofing, feveral Points of 
 Religion, and Dotlrines of Truth ; and, the next Day, being the Fifth of the 
 Week, I went to Ly}tn, about 26 Miles, and lodged that Night with Samuel Lynn. 
 Collins ; where I was kindly entertained. 
 
 And here I fliall obferve what I have heard in that Country, that one Part 
 of the Scheme of Religion invented by the Preachers among the Preibyterians and 
 Independents, is, That a Preacher, unprovided with a Living, or wanting a better, 
 goes and preaches a Sermon, or more, to the People he would beget im:o a good Opi- 
 nion of himfelf •, and, if they like him, he muft firft have a Call from that People 
 to whom he hath preached, before he can be their Settled Miniiter : The Meanin''- 
 of which is, that he may have an Opportunity to bargain with them for fo much 
 a-year as they can agree, before he will obey the Call, fo as to be their Settled 
 Preacher ; and, when the Price is fixed, the Leading Elders give him Security for 
 Payment, and they raife it by Subfcription : But the Preachers in that Country 
 being dry and formal, and the People cold in their Love, many Townfhips were 
 filent, and no Voice of Calling heard from them ; fo that the Preachers multiply- 
 ing, and many of them wanting Employment and Maintenance, they, and tiieir ''"- 
 Friends, influenced the Legiflature (which are ufually of their own Seft, as 
 mofl numerous in that Country) to make a Law *, " That the Inhabitants of 
 " each Town within that Province fhould be provided with at leaffc one able, 
 " learned, orthodox Minifler, to dilpenfe the Word of God to them ; which 
 " Minifter fhall be fuitably encouraged, and fufficiently fupported and maintain- 
 *' ed by the Inhabitants of fuch Town ; with Provifion for levying .proporti- 
 " onable Rates upon fuch as fhould refufe to pay, i^c" 
 
 Pursuant to this Law, the Towns who had no Minifters made choice of 
 fome by Votes of the Inhabitants ; yet others, looking upon it as an Impofition 
 upon them, contrary to their religious Liberty in calling, or not calling, any Mi- 
 nifter, eluded the Force of it, by nominating feveral of our miniftring Friends, 
 and returning their Names as the Choice of the People. They were anfwered, 
 " Thefe \yere not Minifters in the Intent of the Law." It was replied, " They 
 " were the People's Choice, and fuch as the Law required ■, they were able, 
 *' learned, and orthodox Minifters of the Gofpel, and would appear to be fo 
 " upon proper Examination 5 and they could not return any other." The 
 Friends thus chofen by the People, did fome times vifit them, and had Meetings 
 among them, as they found Liberty in the Truth, and were very acceptable in 
 that Service ; which they did freely, without any View to Maintenance or filthy 
 Lucre : Yet, by this Law, Friends fell under Sufferings, their Goods being di- 
 ftrained and forced from them, to maintain a falfe Miniftry they could not own j 
 the Teftimony of G o d bearing witnefs againft them in their enlighten'd Under- 
 ftandings. And feveral Friends being under Sufferings at this Time on that Ac- 
 count, Samuel Collins went with me to Boftony where we made Application to Lofton, 
 Lord Bellomonty then Governor of the Country, for Relief, and' were very favour- 
 ably received, and our Requeft granted ; fo far as it was in his Power we had 
 Relief, by difcouraging that Practice. 
 
 And here I alfo met with a Copy of a Letter, of that able, orthodox, and 
 
 3 G faith- 
 
 * Sec the Law in a Book printed at Bopn, 1692, Jntitled, Several Aas and Laivs, &c. P. 34, '
 
 iio 
 
 Anno 
 1699. 
 
 Lynn, 
 
 Scituate. 
 
 The LIFE, d^'r. 
 
 faithful Minifter and Martyr of the L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t, tVilliam Lcddra ; 
 who fufFf red Death for the Word of God, and Teftimony to the blefled Truth, 
 under thofe bloody Tyrants, the Prefbyterian and Independent Perfecutors in 
 this Country, being one of thofe formerly mentioned to be thrown into a Pit near 
 the Gallows; which, being already in Print, I forbear to tranfcribe. 
 
 Beiijg returned to Lynn, where I had a pretty large Meeting, the next Day I 
 went to Bcfion, and lodged at Daniel Zachary's ; where, Notice being given, I 
 had two Meetings there the Day following, being the Firft of the Week; the 
 formef of whic;h was fmall, but the latter, being in the Evening, was very large, 
 and the Truths of the Gofpel opened clear, the Lord's Power being with me. 
 Some were tciadered, though but a few Friends inhabited there at that Time. 
 
 O N the 7tJi, I went to Scituale, to the Houfe of our ancient Friend Edward 
 JVa^iton, and there remained till the loth Day, and then had a pretty large Meet- 
 
 ing 
 
 and, tlsat Evening, went home with Robert Barker. 
 
 The D.'iy following I rode 30 Miles, near to Sandwich ; and, being very 
 ■v'-et with Rain, lodged that Night at Daniel Butler's ; where we were much ten- 
 f lered in th e Family : and there hearing that my Companion and Samuel Jenings 
 were to haVe a Meeting next Day at Dartmouth, about 35 Miles off, after Ibme 
 Concern and Confideration, I refolved to go thither, elfe I could not well have 
 reached tht; Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia, where we intended ; and accordingly, 
 in the Morning, about the break of Day, fet forward, and arrived at John 'Tucker's, 
 three Miles from the Meeting-houfe, about half an Hour after the ninth Hour. 
 Here we refted a little, and then went to the Meeting, and were there before my 
 Companion ; who, when he came, was glad to fee me, for the Meeting was large, 
 and he had almoft loft his Voice by a great Cold : The Beginning of the Meet- 
 ing fell to my Lot, and my Companion afterwards had a good Time ; though, 
 at firft, his Voice could fcarce be heard over the Meeting, yet mended by Exer- 
 cife ; and the Lord favoured us with a good Seafon : But Samuel Jenings was 
 not there. 
 
 That Night we went to Abraham Tucker''^, about three Miles ; and, confi- 
 dering the Shortnefs of the Time for Philadelphia, and there being fome Places 
 about Fairfield, and other Villages in the Colony of Connecticut, formerly men- 
 tioned, where we defired to have Meetings, if we could ; and, not having had 
 any on Long-IJland as we went, I rather found Freedom to pafs by two or three 
 Meetings hereaway, than, by ftaying behind, bring Excrcifes on my Companion 
 and Samuel Jenings, who had ftaid on purpofe for me till I returned from the 
 Eaft, and ftraiten us all another Way. 
 
 The next Day, dining at Jofeph Wanton\, and pafTing a Ferry there, we 
 Rhode-Ifland Went to Gideon Freeborn' %, on Rhode- Ifland ; where we met with Samuel Jenings, 
 and there lodged that Night. The next Dciy, being the F'lrft of the Week, I went 
 Portfmouth. to the Meeting at Portfmouth, in that Ifland ; and they went to Seconet, to a Meet- 
 ing they had appointed fome Days before. The Meeting I was at was large ; but, 
 during the Fore-part thereof, I was much burthened by the Unconcerned nefs of 
 many there : For the generality of People in thofe Parts coming to Meetings, 
 there being no others near, and being perfuaded notionally of tlie Truth of our 
 Dodrines, and yet not living in the Life of Truth, are rather worfe to meet 
 among than fuch as never heard the Teftimony of Truth ; but having thefe two 
 Points, Baptifm and the Supper, given me to fpeak to, I had a good Meeting, 
 
 thous^h
 
 of THOMAS STORT. an 
 
 though it was fome time before I got through that idle, drowfy, lukewarm Spi- Anno 
 rit, by expofing and reproving it in the Fore-part of the Meeting : But Things 1699, 
 ended well : alter which I went home with Jacob Mot^ and lodged there that 
 Night; my Companion and Samuel Je'/tings flaying at Jofeph IVanloii's, on the 
 other Side of the Sound. 
 
 The next Morning we all met at Gideon Freeborn's, and went thence to Y)v Tho- 
 mas Rodman's ; where we dined, and remained till towards the Evening ; and then 
 went to Newport, to our Friend Walter Clark's. ; and, next Day, had a large and New'port. 
 good Meeting there ; and fo tarried in Town till the next Morning, and then 
 took Boat for Cannonicut-JJland : But, the Wind being high, the Waves were 
 great in the Channel ; lb that the Veflel, pitching againft them, fome of them 
 broke over us, and one of our Horfes was thrown down, and the reft much dif- 
 ordered ■, and, feveral of us being apprehenfive of Danger, the Water coming 
 over the Side of the Veflel, at length the Man at the Helm bore away to the 
 Leeward, in contradiftion to the Maftcr, who ftrove too much againft the Sea ; 
 and prefently we were in a fafer Condition, only our Way by Land was about a 
 Mile lengthened, in taking another I.>anding than at firft we aimed at. 
 
 Being on the Shore we took Horfe, and went to our Friend John Hull's^ 
 about three Miles, and there breaktafted ; and the Wind continuing high, and 
 the Sea raging, we went to fee what we could do to get over the Water to a 
 Meeting, which had been appointed for us at Greenwich^ in Narraganfet, about 
 five Miles on the other Side : And, becaufe of the Smalnefs of the Veflel, and 
 Horfes to be carried, we were under Confideration whether or no to venture ; 
 but, in the mean time, came our Friend Ehenezer Sloccm to us, and I then came 
 to a Conclufion to go, and he went with me, and m.y Companion and Samuel 
 Jenings ftaid behind: And though the Waves run high, fetting in upon the 
 Shore where we were, which gave us great Difficulty to get our Horfes into the 
 Boat ; yet, v/hen got fome Diftance upon the W^ater, the Waves were not fo 
 high, and we had a good Paffage about fom- Miles over, and thence went to the 
 Meeting-place ; where we found the People had been in great Expeftation of Greenwich, 
 \is, and blamed the young Man who gave the Notice, as having been miftaken 
 in the Day •, but our going, though an Hour after the appointed Time, put 
 all to Rights : And the Publick Service of the Meeting falling to my Lot, the 
 Lord opened many Things in me for the Information of the People, about 
 the Fall of Man in the Firft Adam, and rifmg again by Faith and Obedience to 
 Christ, the Second Adam ; and about Baptifm ; with other Matters about 
 Church Fellowfliip, ^c. and I heard of nothing but a general Satisfaftion. 
 
 Next Day, my Companion and Samuet Jenings coming to uS;, we had a 
 large Meeting at fniliam Gardner's, at Kingfion ; from whence we went that 
 Evening to Jofepb Hoxie's, about nine Miles on our Way to Narraganfet, and 
 tlierewe lodged that Night ; and, next Morning, fet forward on a long Jour- 
 ney, through the Colony of Connefiicut, (the Way we had come) in which there 
 was not one Friend -, and, that Evening, we reached Neiv London^ and lodged NewLon- 
 at an Inn : and, foon after we lighted, we afked the Landlord, whether he don. 
 would let us have a Room for a Meeting the next Day ? which he readily 
 granted in Words ; and told us, thaf he and his Servant fhould afllft us in any 
 Thing that might contribute to the facilitating thereof, but he proved deceitful : 
 For the Governor of the Colony having his Refidence there, and hearing of us, 
 fent for fome one of u-, in the Morning to fpeak with him, and we all went 
 to wait upon him •, and, after he had f.iluted us, in his Way, with much Ci- 
 vility,
 
 Hi The LIFE, drc. 
 
 Anno Vility, he began and told us, " He had been at our Meetings in the City of 
 1699. « London, and obferved how peaceably they were held, and that none molefted 
 " them ; and that he thought it was not well for any one fort of People to 
 " difturb another in their WorflVip, i^c." By which we perceived he, and tlie 
 Preacher of the Place and Inhabitants, fufpected that we purpofed to be at their 
 Meetino- the Firft Day following •, having, we conjeftured, heard what we had 
 done before at Fairfield ; but in this they miftook : And when I perceived 
 what he aim'd at, I faid, " It might feem iVrange and unreafonable to fuch as 
 " could fee no otherwife than by the common and natural FacA.iltics of Men, for 
 " any to come into the Aflemblies of others, and interrupt them in the Aft of 
 " their Worlhip, or what they called fo •, and we were always cautious to give 
 " as little Ofl'ence that Way as might be : But to go to hear any, and be ftill till 
 " they have done, and then make reafonable and Chrifi:ian Objeftions, if any 
 " arife,' cannot be hurtful, if the Objeftors are confciencious in what they do •, and 
 " not oppofc out of Humour, or for Oppofition's fake, but for the Information 
 " of Mankind, in any Thing wherein they have been in an Error: Forthe Apo- 
 " ftles, in tlieir Day, though charged as Turners of the World upfide down, 
 " ufually wenttothe Synagogues of the J^cyj, and fome Publick Places of others, 
 *' and both difputed and taught, contrary to both Je-K'S and Heathens ; and 
 " the Lord is the fame ftill, and may influence his Servants now to the like 
 " Praftice, when and where it may pleafe him." 
 
 Then Samuel Jcnivgs gave him a Hint, that we purpofed to ftay in Town 
 till after the Firft Day, in order to clear the Truth of thofe falfe Suggeftions 
 which had been caft upon it and us, as well here as in other Places : But, tho' 
 we had no Intention to go to their Meeting, yet, not knowing how we might 
 afterwards be engaged, we did not refolve him in that Point, or lay ourfelves 
 under any Reftriclion that way -, but departed, with civil Refpeft on all Sides, 
 according to our different Ways of exprefling it. 
 
 Our deceitful Landlord tarried behind with the Governor, and we faw him 
 no more that Day ; and , notwithftanding his Promifes, we could not have fo 
 much Favour from him as a Boy to give notice in the Town of a Meeting at 
 cur Quarters, but fcnt our Friend, Ro'-xland Robhifon, who came with us from 
 
 Nan-aganfet, to one Fox, who was a Seventh-day Baptift, and lived three 
 
 Miles off : He and his Wife came to us, and alfo one John Rogers, their 
 Teacher, with whom we had much Difpute about Baptifm, too long here to 
 relate, and found him dark and carnal ; and, by their Means, fome more No- 
 tice was given of our intended Meeting next Day, being the Firft of the Week ; 
 which, when come, we were under great Heavineis •, but, feeing two Boats 
 full of People coming over the River to the Prefbyterian Meeting, we went 
 and invited them to ours, to begin that Afternoon, but not with defired 
 Succefs. 
 
 And, about the fourth Hour in the Evening, came John Rogers, and his 
 Difciples, and fome other People ; but the Meeting was fmall, the People 
 being extremely in Bondage, in thofe Parts, to the Minifters of their own call- 
 ing and maintaining •, and yet pretty many came to the Windows and Doors 
 in the Dulk of the Evening, and the blefied Power of the Lord was with us ; 
 and John Rogers and his Friends were well fatisfied, and parted friendly with 
 us, declaring their Senfe of the divine Prefence among us ; fome of them ha- 
 ving been tendered in the Meeting : And, after all was over, our Landlord 
 
 came
 
 of T HO M yi,.S S T 6 RT. 113 
 
 carae fawning again, having as many fair an3*sdeceitful Words as before ; but A w n o 
 we cook litcle nodce of him. - 1699. 
 
 The next Day we went on to Killhigf-joorth ; where I and'iiiy Companion had Killingf- 
 had fomc Uifcoin-fe with fome Perfons as we went into New England; and worth, 
 were fcarce now alighted -till our -Landlord began to tell us, " Thabhe had re- 
 " ported to their Minilter wliat had then been difcoarfed ; and that he incli- 
 " ned to confer with us on the fame Things, if we iliould happen to return 
 " that Way ; and alked if we were willing to go fpeak with hirii on that Ac- 
 " count?" 
 
 W E gave our Landlord this Anfwer, " That we were then weary •, but if their 
 *' Minifter would call his People together in the Morning, to their Meeting- 
 " houfe, we would there meet him at the Ninth Hour :" which, when he heard, 
 he began to flag, and faid, " He would not fend him that word, unlefs we 
 " would write it :" And accordingly I wrote to their Minifter thus, viz. 
 
 fr/Vwi Abraham Pearfon, Killingfworth, iifi Six Month, 1699. 
 
 p O R 2\ S M U C H A S fome of us, the People call'd, in Scorn, Quakers^ 
 pairing this Way fome time ago, and lodging at the Sign of the Hart 
 " here in Killingjworth, the Landlord, with other Perfons, perceiving what we 
 " were, moved fome Difcourfe concerning certain Points refpefting the Chri- 
 " ftian Religion, 17'.=. Freedom from Sin in this Life, andBaptifm; and they not 
 " being able, as we thought, to refift the Scriptures, and Arguments we urged 
 " againft them, in defence of \shat we hold therein, I think our Landlord, if 
 " not alfo fome of the reft, told us, That though they could not, yet their Mini- 
 " fter (meaning thyfelf) was able to confute the Errors, as they called them, 
 " which we hold therein : Whereupon we, or one of us replied. That if their 
 " Minifter would conveen his People, or a competent Number of the more 
 " difcreet of them, we would meet him, to hear and anfwer his Arguments 
 *' againft us in thofe Points v/herein we differ from him and them : And we, 
 *' returning this Way this Evening, lodge at the fame Inn, and are willing to 
 " defend the Principles and Dodlrines we hold, and to meet thee To-morrow 
 " Morning, about the Ninth Hour, at thy Meeting-houfe, provided thy fober 
 " Neighbours and People be there conveened : In the mean time, defiring thy 
 " fpeedy Anfwer, we remain thy loving Friends, Sign'd, on behalf of myfelf 
 " and the other two, by T H O. S T O R Y. 
 
 This being fcnt him, he return'd this verbal Anfwer ; " That we fhould 
 " be welcome to his Houfe, or he would come to our Inn ; but thought the 
 " Meeting-houfe not convenient:" And, in the Morning, about the Eighth 
 Hour, came to our Qiiarters •, and, being feated in a Chair when we were ab- 
 fent, 1, coming in before my Compajiion, fat down by him ; and, after an In- 
 terchange of fome Civilities, in ouf difiercnt Ways of Exprefiion, and a Paufe 
 of Silence, he took out the Letter, and began to move about the Contents of 
 it, viz. Freedom from Sin in this Life, and Baptifm ; the Points propofed to be 
 conferred upon. 
 
 I N the firft Place I asked him a previous Queftion, viz. " Whether he ap-' 
 " peared there as a Minifter of Christ, or only as a Minifter to a particular 
 " People there?" But, perceiving I would put him upon his Proof if he came 
 as a Minifter ol Christ, he evaded tliat, and moved the other, about a finlefs 
 .'^rate in this Liie ; and, in the mean time, came in Samuel Jenings and my 
 
 ? II Com-
 
 a 14 *r^'^ LIFE, e^r. 
 
 Anno Companion Roger Gill, the Prefbytcrian Minifter having feveral of his Hearers 
 1699, with him ; and all the People in thofe Parts were generally of that Sect : Then 
 I moved for a State of the firfh Queftion in writing ; which was fettled thus : 
 
 " Whether it be an Error, from the Dodrlne of C h ri s t and his Apo- 
 " ftles, to believe that Mankind may be free from Sin, whilll living in this 
 " World, or on this Side the Grave ? 
 
 " Abraham Pearfcn afilimes to prove, it is an Error, from the Doclrine of 
 " Christ and his Apoftles, to believe that Men may be free from Sin whilft 
 " living in this World, or on this Side the Grave.'* 
 
 The firft Queftion, thus ftated and agreed upon, he began his Proof after 
 this Manner : " That which God hath not, at any Time, promifed unto Man, 
 " we have no Ground to believe is attainable by Man ; but God hath not, at 
 " any Time, promifed that Men fliall be free from Sin in this Life ; therefore 
 " we ought not to look for it." 
 
 D 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " Friend, thou art to prove thy affirmative Aflumption !n the 
 " firft PLice, viz. That it is an Error, from the DoCtrine of C h r i st and his 
 " Apoftles, to believe that Men can be free from Sin whilft living in this World, 
 " or on this Side the Grave ; and here thou only offers a Subtilty to evade it, 
 " z'iz. That God hath not, at any Time, promifed that Men fhall be free 
 " from Sin in this Life : The Qiieftion is not what God hath promifed, or 
 *' not promifed -, but whether it be an Error, from the Doftrine of Chri st 
 " and his Apoftles, to believe that Mankind can be free fr9m Sin in this Life, 
 " or on this Side the Grave.'' And thou haft afllimed upon thyfelf to prove, 
 " that it is fuch an Error fo to believe ; which thy other AlTertion, viz. That 
 "God hath not fo promifed, i^c. doth not at all prove." 
 
 " No, faid he, but you fliall not draw me from my Argument, and run 
 " away to other Things, as your Manner is -, I will hold to my Point, till you 
 ^' prove that ever God promifed to make Men free from Sin in this Life." 
 
 I r E T u r X E D, " That I am not going from any Point in queftion •, nor have 
 " I faid that God never promifed fo : But thou haft afllimed, in the firft Place, 
 ■" to prove, it is an Error to believe as in the State of the Queftion •, and now, 
 " in the fecond Place, afl'erted negatively, that God never promifed fuch a Frce- 
 " dom : I infift therefore upon thy Proof of thy AflTumption in the State of the 
 " Queftion, and of thy AfllTtion that God never fo promifed : for thy aflerting 
 " the fame Thing twice over in difl^erent Terms is no Proof; fo that thou art 
 " ftill to be held to thy firft Point." 
 
 The People all this Time were very filent, and Truth over them ; and here 
 I held their Minifter, liis own People not looking upon what he had faid to be any 
 Proof ot what he had undertaken ; as it was no other than a fubtle Invention to 
 exclude the plain Teftimony of Holy Scripture in the Cafe. 
 
 T H E N Sdwucl Jenings faid, " That the greateft Promifc God ever made to 
 " Mankind was, to lend his Son Christ, who had preached Perfection to the 
 Mac, V. 4S. " People, Be ye perfeuf, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect 
 " Therefore we have Ground to expeft it." 
 
 But tlie Prieft havipig afilimed upon himfelf to prove, as in the State of the 
 
 Queftion,
 
 of T HO M A S STORf. ris 
 
 Queftion, I infilled Upon his Proof, not thinking it proper yet to offer Proof on Anno 
 our Side ; and my Companion, in the mean rime, called out, " Keep him to 1699. 
 " the firil Point." 
 
 Then he brought forth his Scriptures for Sin 'Term of Life, viz. For there is Ecdef vii.20. 
 " net ajiift Man upon the Earth that doth good andjinneth not" 
 
 Ailsxxvi. 18. 
 xxxix. 40. 
 
 1. 22. 
 
 I A N s w E R E D, " This was writ in the Time of the Law, and rnuft intend 
 
 *' a legal Jufbicc, as by the Works of the Laiu jhall no Flefh be juflifed: But to Gal. ii. 16. 
 
 " be evangelically juft is another Thing ; they are fandtified through Faith in _ 
 
 " Christ Jesus, and by him alfo they are juftified and faved from their Sins, Mat 
 
 " hy thewafhing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghojl." Tit.iii. 5, 
 
 Then he advanced their common Plea for Sin Term of Life, as being wrote 
 in the Time of the Gofpel, viz. If we fay we have no Sin, we deceive our [elves, i Johni. 8: 
 and the Truth is not in us ; and there he flopped, being rather willing to flop the 
 Mouth of Truth, than that his falfe Doftrine fliould be expofed^ and the flrong 
 Holds of Sin and Satan pulled down, and demoliihed. 
 
 I REPLIED, " That the Apoftle began there with Men in their natural State, 
 *' as Children of the Firft Jdam, and faith. If we fay we have no Sin, we deceive 
 
 " ourfelves, and the Truth is not in us. If we fay we have not finned, we make ,0: 
 
 " him a Liar, and his Word is not in us. But though we have finned, mufl we 
 
 " continue therein ? No •, for if we confefs our Sins, (to him who convinceth us g- 
 
 " of them in our own Hearts) he is faithftd and juft to forgive us our Sins, and John xvi. 8. 
 
 " to cleanfe us from all Unrigbteoufnefs. And if we walk in the Light, as he is in i John i. 7. 
 
 " the Light, (that is, in G o d, ver. 5.) we have Fellowfhip one with another, and the 
 
 " Blood of Jefus Chrift the Son of God cleanfeth us from all Sin. And he that _ ;;. 6, 13, 
 
 " faith he ahideth in him, ought himfelf alfo fo to walk, even as he walked ; which ' 3. H- 
 
 " cannot be in Sin : For he never finned, nor' was ever any Sin in him ; and he 
 
 " is feparated from Sinners. The Sins of the little Children are forgiven for his 
 
 " Harness Sake. The Fathers have known him who is from the beginning: And 
 
 " the young Men arefirong, and the Word of God abideth in them, and they have 
 
 " overcome the wicked one. IVhofoever abideth in him finneth not -, whofoever fin- _ jji. 5, 8. 
 
 *' neth, hath not feen him, neither known him. He that committeth Sin is of the 
 
 *' T)evil; for the Devil finneth from the Beginning. For this Purpofe the Son of 
 
 " God was -manifefted, that he might defray the Works of the Devil. 
 
 " Except a Man be born again he cannot fee the Kingdom of God: And whofo- johniii. j. 
 
 " ever is born of God, doth not commit Sin •, for his Seed (the Word of G o d) re- • Joh" '"• 9- 
 
 " maineth in him, and he cannot fiin, becaiife he is born of God. And as he is, fo -^^ ^' 
 
 " are we in this World; and if fo, then not in Sin. 
 
 " Again, the Apoftle P^/.'/, in his Epiftle to the Romans, preacheth the Rom.xvfii.32 
 
 *^' fame Doctrine: He firfl proves both Jews and Gentiles all under Sin once, — iii.9.— 19- 
 
 " (and if they had not finned, there had not been any need of a Saviour to fave ^^ /'''"'■ *^' 
 
 " them from their Sins-, ) and then preacheth Salvation, both to Jews and Gen- Mat.i. 21. 
 " tiles, by C H R T sT, and Freedom from Sin, by him, even in this Life; where 
 
 " he faith. What fwdl we fay then? Shall we continne in Sin, that Grace may Rom.vi. i,-, 
 
 '^abound? God forbid: How flmll we that are dead to Sin, live any longer there- 3i- 
 " in ? Being then made free from Sin, ye became the Servants of Righteoufnefs ; 
 " for when ye were Servants of Sin ye were free from Righteoufnefs, but now being 
 *' made free from Sin, and become Servants of God, ye have your Fruit unto Holi- 
 
 " ncfs.
 
 11(5 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno " nefs^ and the End everlafting Life: But if ive go on in Sin, iveJhaH die ht our 
 
 1699. " Sins ; and if we die in our Sins, "ii'hether he is gone ive cannot come. But the 
 
 Johnxviii.2!, " Laijn of the Spirit of Life in Chrifl Jefus, faith the Apoftle, perlbnating every 
 
 f,+- .... " true Member of the Church of C h r i s t, hath made me free from the Law of 
 
 " Sin and Death. A glorious Liberty indeed! 
 
 Then faid the Prieft, but moft perverfely, as an Enemy of all Righteoufnefs, 
 
 " Yea, that is true ; we are to be made free from Sin, but not in this Life." 
 
 Then Samuel Jenings afked the Prieft, fince he had acknowledged a Freedom 
 
 iChron.xxiii. from Sin, but not in this Life, " When, where, and how mud it be effected, fince 
 
 1,9- " no unclean ^hin? can enter the Kingdom?'''' 
 
 Rev. XXI. 27. ^ "^ 
 
 T o which he replied, " We are drove to a NecefTity to confefs, it is not 
 " done in Heaven ; and in this Life it cannot be: Therefore it muft be at 
 " the very Point of Death, as the Soul departeth from the Body. 
 
 " Well then, faid I, let us fee thee fplit a Hair, and fliow what Diflance 
 " there is between the utmoft Point of Time, and the Beginning of Eternity : 
 " For if done in the lafl Point of Time, it is in this Life ; and if not till its 
 *' Entrance into Eternity, then the unclean Thing enters the Kingdom •, which 
 " is already granted cannot be. Where then is this Freedom ?" Which Queftion 
 Samuel Jemngs preffing upon him, he then affirmed, " The Soul is cleanfed. 
 " from Sin in its Way between Earth and Heaven ; for there is (faid he) a 
 " confiderable Space between." 
 
 Then, faid Samuel Jenings, " This is fuch a little Prefbyterian Purgatory 
 " as I never heard of before." And though the Preacher had hitherto feem'd 
 to have Command of his PafTion •, yet upon this he grew very angry : For we 
 then expofed him to his own People. 
 
 I F the Soul were freed from Sin after it departs from the Body, in its afcend- 
 ing from Earth to Heaven, (fpeaking in an outward Senfe, according to his 
 Apprehenfion) it is flill in Time, and on this Side the Grave •, unlefs he can 
 demonftrate, that the Body is always interr'd before the Soul is fully afcended: 
 And if the Soul be fully enter'd into Heaven before the Body be interr'd, then 
 there is a Freedom from Sin on this Side the Grave : But this only to the Man 
 in his own Way. 
 
 Being reduced to this Condition before his People, he then began to ac- 
 cufe us falfely : That we came from Rome, &c. Upon which, and having 
 all along obferved his falfe Glofles, Evafions, falfe Covers, and Perverfi- 
 ons of Scripture, together with his falfe Accufation before the People, I re- 
 turned the Accuiation upon him as a Lie ; and that raifed, or rather brought 
 forth, the pre-conceived Wrath of fome of his Hearers-, and they gave us ill 
 and threatening Language : But we being over them in the Truth, I irififted, 
 " That it is the Language of Truth to call all Things by their proper Names, 
 " and according to their Nature •, and that which in itfelf is a Lie, Truth can- 
 " not call it othenvife : And that if it were harfli and unmannerly, in their 
 " Senfe, to turn his falfe Accufation upon him as a Lie, What could they 
 think ot him who was the Author of it, fince the Infinuation, and what was 
 " couched under it, touched our Lives, if it had been true ?" And fo we fcood 
 over them in the Dominion of l^ruth, as to the Point difcuffed -, but as to the 
 orncr, of Baptilm, it was not much entered upon ; for they grew fo angry, that 
 
 one
 
 of T H M ^ S ST RT, 217 
 
 one of them faid to Samuel Jeniiigs, " He deferved to have his Plead broke with Anno 
 " his own Cane;" the Man, at the lame time, having a naked Knile in his 1699. 
 Hand. 
 
 Samuel replied, " They had been formerly at greater Mifchief than that, Tmean- 
 " ing the hanging of our Friends in Ne-iv England) and he perceived tliey want- 
 " ed no Will for as bad at this Day." 
 
 The old Prieft having his Members now pretty well fitted to his evil Purpofe, 
 began to keckle and laugh ; and, fetting his Rufticks to mock us, faid, he would 
 tell us a Story of a Merchant in London; intending thereby to raife Levity, and fo 
 take off all Senfe of what had been faid, (for there were fevera! of the People ve- 
 ry fober and attentive all the Time:) But I fharply reproved him, and faid, 
 " That he manifefted himfelf, to all that had Eyes, in a Thing ill becomino- his 
 " grey Hairs, and much worfe his Profeffion, and leall of all the Matter in Hand, 
 " touching the everlafting Life or Death of Mankind :" And fo utterly fup- 
 prefled his Jell, and crurhed it as a Cockatrice in the Shell ; and then fummed up 
 the whole Matter in fhort, and noted to the People, " That touching this Point 
 " he had undertaken to prove, viz. To believe Freedom from Sin in this Life, to' 
 " be inconfiftent with the Dodtrine of Christ and his Apof!:les, he could not ; 
 " and we had adduced feveral plain, applicable, and unanfwerable Texts of Scrip- 
 " ture, proving that Freedom from Sin, in this Life, is the Doftrine of Christ 
 *' and his Apollles, and had left the Truth over his Head." 
 
 By this Time it was about Mid-day ; and we were willing to depart, and our 
 Antagoiiifh as defirous we fliould ; for he fweated much, and often fighed deeply ; 
 which gave me occafion to think he argued againft his own Underftanding : Yet 
 we had a fhort Touch on Baptifm, or rather Rantifm -, for I held him to fprink- 
 ling Infants ; which, though no Baptifm, yet being their Pradice inftead of Bap- 
 tifm, they mufl: be determined by it : And accordingly I informed the People in 
 fliort, " That they were, and are, all wrong about Baptifm, both as to Manner 
 ** and Subjcft -, the Manner being a wafhing in Water, (not fprinkling v/idi Water) 
 *' by wading into it, or being immerged therein, or dipped all ovei* ; and the Sub- 
 " jeds were aduk Perfons, capable of believing and being taught in the Myfte- 
 *' ries of Religion, which Infants are not ; that the whole Ceremony is extra- 
 *' fcriptural, and only a Popifh Invention and Relift, and prefumptuous Im- 
 " pofition of Antichrill: :" And fo we left them, and went to Dinner. 
 
 And here, among my own Memorials, I think proper to infert the Foundati- 
 on of Infant Baptifm, or Rantifm : A Controverfy, and a hot one too, arifing 
 
 among the Learned profefTing Religion, (by whom, in all Ages, the greateft Er- 
 rors and Mifchiefs have been introduced, contefted, propagated, and impofed 
 upon the reft of Mankind) concerning Originaf Sin ; and the ruling and ftrongeft 
 Party, blindly concluding that little Children were guilty of it, fo as to affect 
 their State in Eternity, they imagined fomcthing muft be done (by them) to 
 free Children from that Guilt, and effedl Regeneration in them, and pitched upon 
 Water Baptifm as the Means : But, confidering the tender Condition of Infants, 
 and the Hurt which might arife trom dipping or wadiing them in Water, efpe- 
 cially in cold Countries, they laid that afide by Degrees, and praftifed Iprinkhng 
 only inftead of Baptifm ; declining that which they pretended to believe was an 
 Ordinance of Christ, they eftabliflied their own Ordinance : For which I re- 
 fer to the fecond Edition of D'Anvcrs, a learned and elaborate Traft on that Sub- 
 
 3 I j'^^.'
 
 ii8 The LIFE, O'o. 
 
 Anno ie6l, Page 105, 1 06 -, from which I tranfcribc thus, beginning with the 5th Ccn- 
 1699. tury, viz. 
 
 " Dr Taylor, {■i'Xh.D''Anvers^ in his Book 01 Prophecy, Page 237, gives 
 " a true, brief, and notable Account, which you may pleafe to receive in his 
 " own Words : And the Truth of the Bufinefs is, faith he, as there was no 
 " Command in Scripture to oblige Children to the Sufception of it, (Baptifm) 
 " fo the Neceflity of Pedo-baptifm was not determined in the Church, till the 
 " Canon that was made in the Milevilan Council, a Provincial in Africa ; ne- 
 " ver till then. I grant, faith he, it was praftifed in Africa before that Time ; 
 " and they, or foms of them, thought well of it : and though that is no Ar- 
 " gument for us to think fo, yet none of them did ever pretend it to be necef- 
 " lary; none to have been a Precept of the Gofpel. St Aujlin was the firft 
 " that ever preached it to be necelTary, and it was his Heat and Anger 
 " againfi: Pelagius, v/ho had fo warmed and chaffed him, that made him inno- 
 " vate herein : .Thus hr 'Taylor. Then, faith U Anvers, this Milevitan, or Mi- 
 " litan Council, was celebrated by 92 Bifhops, Aufelm, the Pope's Legate, and 
 " Aujlin prefidiiig, in the fifth Year of Arcadius, and firft of Pope hnocentius, 
 ** in tiie Year 402, as Magdeburg, Cent. 5, P. 835. The Occafion of the Coun- 
 " cil is expreffed to be about the Difference that had happened between Pela- 
 " gius and Celeftius., Aujiin, and others, refpefting original Sin, baptizing Cliil- 
 " dren, i^c." 
 
 " And, among other Canons made in this Council, we find this, liz. That 
 " it is our Will, that all that affirm, that young Children receive everlafdng 
 " Life, albeit they be not, by the Sacrament of Grace, or Baptifm, renewed •, 
 " and that will not that young Children, which are new-born trom their Mo- 
 " ther's Womb, ffiall be baptized, to the taking away original Sin, that they 
 " be anathematized," 
 
 Thus this furious Auftin, and his Party, out-voting the other Side, curfe 
 them bitterly : Yet that doth not at all alter the Cafe, or determine the Points, 
 v/hether Children are condemnable for original Sin, or whether Baptifm in Wa- 
 ter frees them, if they are, and effefls the great Work of regenerating them ; 
 which, according to the Holy Scriptures, and common Senfe, are both falfe. 
 
 " Afterwards, faith ly Anvers, the fifth General Council, at Carthage^ 
 *' in the Year 4 1 6, did decree to the fame Purpofe, in thefe Words : 
 
 " W E "Kill, That whoever denies that little Children, by Baptifm, are freed 
 *' from Perdition, and eternally faved, that they be accurfed." 
 
 B Y this, and other Innovations in this Age, it plainly appears, that the Spi- 
 1 John ii 18, ri'^ "f Antichrift, which began to work in the Days of the Apofties, had made 
 great Advances and Progrefs in the World in four hundred and odd Years 
 Time, and greatly clouded and obfcured the Chriftian Faith and Religion, by 
 many Inventions and Impofitions •, which were no other than the Works of 
 Satan, by influencing the Imagination, Pride, Pafiions, and lufrful Wills of am- 
 John Q bitious and domineering Men ; efpecially of the wife and learned of this World 
 among them, ftriving for Maftery, to the dividing and ruin of the Church : 
 For whereas the Decrees of the Apofties and Elders of old, were made in this 
 Afis.w. 28. humble and dutiful Stile, It feemed good unto the Holy Ghoji and to tis ; but here, 
 thefe imperious, infulting, and impofing, Antichrifts, exhibit their Decrees, 
 (founrded u.pon notorious Errors, of in^puting the Sin of Adam to all little Chil- 
 dren,
 
 of THOMAS ST R T 219 
 
 dren,- fo as to affecl tlicir eternal State) in a Stile quite contrary to the Way of Anno 
 the Primitives, who had the Mind of Christ in what they did : // is our 1699. 
 Will J and zdc zvill, and all who opfofe our Will, let them be accitrfed : And it is un- 
 der this Will, and that curfing Spirit, which cannot blefs, that all the Sprink- 
 lers in the World at this Day do act on that Behalf, and not in the Name of 
 the Lor d, which is his Power, though they prophanely ufe the Words, Father^ 
 Son, and Holy Ghcfi ; but in vain. 
 
 Returning now to my Journal, I proceed : And fetting forward that 
 Afternoon, we went that Evening to Newha-ven, 28 Miles, and lodged at the 
 Sign of the Rofe. 
 
 The next Day we went on to Milford, 10 Miles •, arid thence to Stratford, 
 four Miles •, and fo to Fairfield, eight Miles, and there we alighted at an Inn, FaiifieU; 
 the Houfe of one Burr ; where, after; fome Refrefhment, we requefted the Li- 
 berty of his Houfe for a Meeting-place for that Time, but could not obtain it, 
 he being an old, zealous, or cowardly Independent or Presbyterian; (for many 
 of themfelves know not which) for in thofe Parts, though many could be wil- 
 ling to hear Friends, yet fuch is the Bondage they are in to the Minifters of 
 their own calling and maintaining, and their Elders and Magiftrates, and one to 
 another, that they dare not attempt it in the Day-time. 
 
 W E took Horfc again tliat Evening, and went on to Norwalk, ten Miles, 
 and lodged there that Night : But as we went to this Place, we fell in with a 
 neighbouring Man, who told us many Things, as Fruits of what had palTed at 
 Fairfield, before related, viz. That many of the People were much diffatisfied 
 with the Meafure we met with at Fairfield, in being hindered to fpeak to them, 
 feeing we had not interrupted their Minifter, nor offered to fpeak till their Ser- 
 vice was over : 
 
 That the Pried of Fairfield, next Sahhath Day, as he call'd it, took his 
 Text in 2 'Tim. iii. 5. From fuch turn away ; (that whole Chapter, and the next, 
 being applicable to themfelves, and not to us) upon which fome of the People 
 faid am.ong themfelves, " Their Minifter could now talk much againft .he 
 " Quakers behind their Backs, but. Face to Face, had very little to fay." And 
 fome of them told him, that the Quakers made feven of them together fay and 
 own what they pkafed ; and that feme of the People had been wifhing our 
 Return, ^c. 
 
 I N the Morning we went on to Horfeneck, 1 7 Miles, where we arrived about 
 Noon, when it began to rain heavily, and continue till near Night ; fo that we 
 lodged there, where fome of the Inhabitants came to fee us ; but we had not 
 much Difcourfe with them. 
 
 The next Day we went forward, and, in our Way, heard of a Qiiarterly 
 Meeting to be the Day after, at Weftbury, in Long-Ifland ; and therefore we went, 
 that Evening, over the Sound, to Samuel Bowni. -, where we had a comfort- 
 able Lodging after fo long a Journey, where our Accommodations had not been 
 extraordinary: For the publick Innkeepers, in fome Places, feeing what we 
 were, and they being Presbyterians, would hardly entertain us at all for our 
 Money. 
 
 On the 26th, we went to Weftbury, about 16 Miles, where we had a good Weflbuiy. 
 Meeting with Friends-, and, next Day, being the Firft of the Week, had another 
 very large Meeting tlierc. 
 
 Ok
 
 no 
 
 Anno 
 1699. 
 
 Tinnirig. 
 
 The LIFE, S'C' 
 
 On the 2Sth we had a Meeting at Tinmrig, on occafionof a Marriage, about 
 nine Miles from thence : To this Meeting came fome of the Ranters of Oyjier- 
 Bny ; and, during the greateft Fart of the Time, were pretty ftiU, fave only an 
 old Man, who Ibmetimes hooted like an Owl, and made a ridiculous Noife, as 
 their Manner is : And the Marriage being folcmnized, he flood up, and bare his 
 Teflimony, as he called it, againfl; our ict Forms -, and cried for Liberty to the 
 opprelled Seed, which, faid he, is opprelTed with your Forms, meaning the Man- 
 ner of the Celebration of our Marriages j generally approved by Mankind as the 
 moll decent of all. 
 
 Jerufalem. 
 liamftead. 
 
 I Cor. XV. 45. 
 
 ■ — ^-| 
 
 Now, that which thofe Ranters would be at, is a Liberty to all that profefs 
 Truth to do what they lift, without being reproved, or accountable to any Per- 
 fon or People : For, fay they, to be accountable to Man is Bondage -, and for 
 Man to judge is vain, fince thofe Aftions he may cenlure may be done in the 
 Motion of the Holy Seed and Spirit of Christ ; under which Pretence they 
 would cover many lewd and vile Pradices, by reafon whereof we had fometimes 
 been upbraided and reproached in Coimeuiiciit Colony ; where fome of them, in 
 Times paft, had appeared, in their extravagant Ravings, under the Name of 
 Quakers. We faid not much to them. Truth being over them -, and the Meet- 
 ing ended well. That Evening we went to Jericho, eight Miles, and lodged at 
 die Widow Mary Wiliit's. 
 
 The next Day we went from Jericho to Jerufalem, and had a pretty good 
 Meeting at Benjamin Sman's ; and thence, that Evening, to Hamjiead, to Na- 
 thaniel Pearfons., fix Miles •, and, next Day, had a Meeting there ; where came 
 a Prieft, or Teacher of a Seft, and fome People with him, and he began to 
 write after my Companion ; who, in a fliort Time, fell fo expofingly and 
 heavily upon the fort he was of, that the Teacher ceafed from writing, and de- 
 parted the Place, without offering to defend his expofed Profeffion. . 
 
 But one among ourfelves, who had profcffed.the Truth about 20 Years, took 
 
 Exception againft fomething Roger faid concerning the Refurre6tion of the Body j 
 
 for in his Teftimony he laid, " He had once believed, that if the Body of a 
 
 " Man were burnt to Afhes, and thofe Afhes fifted through a Sieve over all 
 
 " the Earth, Sea, and Air, yet, at the laft Day, the fame Duft fhould come to- 
 
 " gether again, and the fame Body fhould then arife ; but, faid he, I now be- 
 
 " lieve otherwife :" and then cited the Words of the Apoftle to the too curious 
 
 and captious Enquirer, Thou Fool, thou -fozveft not that Body that fljallhe, but hare 
 
 Grain, &c. And this Man coming into the Friend's Houfe after the Meeting, 
 
 made his Objections in publick, laying, " He believed the Refurreftion of 
 
 " the very fame Body ; for, faid he, the Apoftle faith, // is fiwn a natural Body ^ 
 
 " it is raifed a fpiritual Body, &'c." And Roger difcourfed with him on the Sub- 
 
 jeft, and adduced Arguments fufficient to have fatisfied any fober Enquirer ; 
 
 and yet he continued to cavil : Then, for the fake of the People, and others that 
 
 might be weak among us, I called for the Bible, and read that Part to them, viz. 
 
 That ivhich thou [civeft, thou fo'-jjejt net that Body which jhall be, but hare Grain, it 
 
 may chance of Wheat, &c. " Therefore the fame Body doth not arifc ; but as 
 
 "■ the Grain of Wheat dies to its prefent Form of being, by fending forth a Blade, 
 
 " (being no other than the one Grain expanded) and that Blade a Stalk, and 
 
 " often many ; and that Stalk, or Stalks, an Ear, or many, with other Grains, 
 
 " but not the fame individual Grain) of the fame Nature, Shape, and Kind: 
 
 " So argues the Apoftle for the Refurreftion of the Body, that that which is 
 
 " fown arifeth no more, but God gives it a Body as it pleafeth him ; though 
 
 " no Comparifon will hold in every Circumftance." Upon clus he was fdent j 
 
 and
 
 of THOMAS STORT. m 
 
 and fd the Matter ended. Bur, upon our Enquiry what this Man was, he ap- Anno 
 peared to be one of thofe the People call JFet ^-^uakers: No wonder then he re- 1699^ 
 main'd lb carnally minded, though fo long a ProfelTor of the Truth -, for it is 
 not Profeffion only, nor Confeffion alone, that the Almighty regards, but Faith 
 which works by Love, to the Converfion of the Mind to the Will of God, 
 through the Sanftincation of the Spirit. 
 
 Now, though we fully believe the Refurrection of the dead, both of the Jufl: 
 and Unjuft, yet wc take not upon us to determine the Mode of Exigence in that 
 State, or with what Bodies they fhall come -, but leave it with the Almighty to 
 give unto us Bodies as may belt pleafe him. 
 
 But there is a wonderful Myflery in this Thing, far out of the Sight of the 
 natural Man ; but bkjj'ed and holy is he that hath part in the firji Rcfiirre£lion ; Rev. xx.6, 
 m fuch the fecond Death hath no Power, &c. And the. Son of Go d hath faid 
 / am the RefurreSlion and the Life ; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, Johnxi. 25, 
 yet flmll he live •, and whofoever livelh, and believeth in me, fhall never die : So ^'^' 
 then they who are truly in him, and he in them, are arifen with him, and live 
 in and with him, to the Praife of his own Arm j who reigneth in Glory for ever 
 and ever. 
 
 After this we went with Samuel Brown and his Wife to Flujhing, where we Flufhing. 
 had a glorious Meeting next Day •, and, the Day after, had a pretty large Meetino- 
 at Jamaica, about four Miles from thence •, and, that Evening, we return'd to Jamaica. 
 Flujhing. About this Time my Companion and I confidered between ourfelves, 
 in what Order, as to Time and Place, to vifit the Meetings in Jerfey and Pen- 
 fylvania before the Yearly Meeting at Philadelphia, and fettled it ; and, that Even- 
 ing, he went toward New York, in order for a Quarterly Meeting there the Firft 
 Day following. 
 
 The next Day I went ovei* the Sound, accompanied by feveral Friends, to 
 V/efl Chejler ; and the Day following, being the Firft of the Week, had a large Weft.chefter 
 open Meeting there, many Friends coming from Long-IJland, and Abundance of 
 People from all Quarters round, and fome as far as Horfeneck : The People were 
 very ftill, and many affefted with the Teftimony of Truth. After the Meet- 
 ing we returned over the Sound in a Canoe, and lodged that Night at Thomas 
 Stevenfon's. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting at Newtown, three Miles off, to which came Newtowa 
 John Rodman and my Companion trom Tork: The Meeting was not laro-e, but 
 much affected with Trouble at the Account Roger publifhed in his Teftimony, of 
 many being taken away at Philadelphia, by a pcftilential Fever, then greatly pre- 
 valent, ten being buried in one Day, and four died on the fame •, feveral of them 
 being good Friends : And his Teftimony was by way of Warning to Friends in 
 that Meeting, to be prepared to meet the Lo r d, if peradventure the Stroke of 
 his Hand might reach tliofe Parts. 
 
 And then Samuel Jenings reminded the Meeting, that it was no new nor ftrano-e 
 Thing for the People of G o d to fuffer in common Calamities ; but the Love and 
 Favour of G o d being aflured to them, whether Life or Death enfued, as it mio-ht 
 belt pleafe the Lord, there was no occafion of Fear, or to be difmayed at fuch 
 Things, efpecially to thofe who were prepared, as the Apoftle, when he faid. For to Phil. i. 2 r 
 ms to live is Chrijl, and to die is Gain : A nd that fince a Tranflation throu.o-h Death 
 to Life 1% the exceeding great Gain of the Saints, we have no Ground to repine at 
 
 '^ the
 
 Ill The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno the Lofs of their Society here, though moft grateful, but ratlier patiently and 
 1699. diligently wait upon the Lord, till it may become our own Lot. 
 
 But from this Time my Companion could never fully fettle his Mind to 
 flay any longer in tliofe Parts ; but faid, if he had Wings he could fly to Phi- 
 ladelphia to the diftreffed Friends: But I kept to our fettled Purpofe, ftipulated 
 before we heard of their Condition and Exercife. 
 
 That Night Samuel Jenings and I lodged with Robert Field, and Roger GiU 
 
 New York, and John Rodman returned to New-Tcrk -, where, next Day, we had a Meeting, 
 
 and each of us a good Opportunity therein among the People •, who feemed to 
 
 have good Undcrftandings geiierally as Men ■, and Friends were well fatisfied, 
 
 there being pretty many from the Ifland. 
 
 A N D, after the Meeting, at my Requeft, we had another appointed at the 
 Houfe of one 'Thomas Roberts^ a convinced Man in the Fleart of the City : I'he 
 Room was large, and all about the Doors and Windows were full of People. 
 I had a great Weight and Exercife upon my Mind, but Roger Gill ftepped in 
 between, and took up moft of the feafonable Time, till my Spirit almoft funk 
 under the Load ; and while it was working up the fecond Time after he fat 
 down, Samuel Jenings ftood up and took the reft -, and then I totally tell under it, 
 and was greatly oppreffed in Spirit ; though I bore it undifcerned, I fuppofe, 
 unto any one. 
 
 That Night we lodged at John Rodman's, and my Spirit was heavy and 
 forrowful all Night j and, the next Morning, we took Boat, and, in the Even- 
 ing, canie to an Anchor in the Entrance of the River that goes up to Elizabeth- 
 Town, and there waited for the Tide till about the tenth Hour ; and then 
 weighing, v/e came to an Inn at Elizabeth Point, about one in the Morning, 
 where all the Beds were taken up : fo that we had little Reft that Night : For, 
 as foon as it was Light we fet forward, and got t(5 PFoodbridge about ten of tlie 
 Clock, and had a Meeting there that Afternoon ; which, though fmall, I was 
 pretty well rtfrelhed in it; to the Praife of him whofe Prefence is Life, and at 
 whofe Right Hand is Fulntfs of Joy for evermore. 
 
 That Evening we fet foi-ward to an Inn, about 1 5 Miles further, being con- 
 duced by William Lane, a young Man from Aberdeen, in Scotland ; who rode firft 
 over the River Raritan, (being about a Qiiarter of a Mile, and in the Night) 
 and gauged it, and then returned, and conduced us to the other Side ; but when 
 We came to the Inn near the Shore, all was full, and no Attendance but a fuper- 
 annuated Negro, that could do but little for us -, fo that we were obliged to take 
 Care of our own Horfes, and fetch them Hay a confiderable Way off: And that 
 Night I lay with my Cloaths on, upon a narrow fhort Squab (in the Entry or 
 Paffage through the Houfe, out of which four Doors open'd) which being co- 
 vered with a courfe Carpet, I WTappcd it about me, and flept very well : For 
 where the Lord fubjefts the Mind, and makes it content, all Things are eafy -, 
 and, next Day, we went about 2,5 Miles, to Crofswicks, and had very good Ac- 
 commodations with our Friend Francis Davenport ; which recompenfed our for- 
 mer Difadvantages in that rclpcft. 
 
 The Day following we went toBurlington, being met in theWay by fome Friends 
 from thence, and lodged with Samuel Jenings ; where we heard more and more 
 of the fid Efil'fts of the peftilential Diftemper ftill prevailing at Philadelphia -, 
 
 a«d
 
 of THOMAS ST lit. 115 
 
 and the next Day, being the f irft of the Week, in the Morning, my Coinpaiiiuii Anno 
 fell under a great Concern to go to the Meeting that Day at Philadelphia^ and 1699. 
 asked my Thoughts upon it : 1 anfwered, " That it was a Cafe too difficult for 
 " me to advife in, as Things were then circumftanced ; bur, for my own Part, I 
 *' did not fee any Caufe to recede from the Meafures of our Proceeding formerly 
 " fettled, but left him to the Concern and Liberty of his own Mind ; and that 
 " fince Notice had gone abroad of our Intentions of being that Day at Burling- 
 *' ton, I thought it my Place to ftay there ;" which I did accordingly, and he 
 haften'd to Philadelphia ; where he arrived, as he faid, before the Morning Meet- 
 ing was ended, though 20 Miles off, and he had the great River Delaware to 
 crofs by a Ferry. 
 
 The Meeting at Burlingto7t was very large, but not fo open as in fome other Burlington, 
 Places, for which I knew no particular Reafon ; but the next Day I refted there, 
 and, on the 12th went over the River into Penfylvaniay to a Meeting appointed 
 at the Falls ; where were Samuel Jenings, and moft of the Friends in and about Falls, 
 Burlington and Crofiwieks, and the PrefenCe of the Lord was tenderly with us ; 
 and that Night I lodged with our honourable Friend in the Truth, Phineas Pem~ 
 her ton, and refted there next Day. 
 
 On the 14th we had a pretty large Meeting at NeJJjamminy, and very tender, Nefhamminy 
 the L o R D being good to us •, and from thence departed Samuel Jenings, his Wife, 
 Daughter, Edvoard Pennington, and feveral other Friends, to Burlington ; but I 
 went home with Jofeph Grcwden. 
 
 The next Day I had a Meeting at Pcqiiejfink, but not very broken, yet a good PoqnefTink. 
 Meeting -, and I came away in Peace, and rid very hard, being late, to Philadcl- Philadelphia,' 
 phia that Evening ; where my Soul, for fome time, had defired to be •, and where 
 I found my Companion well, but many Friends on their fick and dying Pillows; 
 and yet never c(5uld be more of the fetded remaining Prefence ot the Lord 
 with them, or fcarce any where, than was with them at that Time : Such is the 
 Goodnefs of G o d to his own People, that in their bodily, or any other Afflic- 
 tions, his holy Prefence greatly abates the Exercifes of Nature by its divine Con- 
 folaticn. O the Love that flowed in my Soul to feveral in the Times of my Vi- 
 fits to them ! in which I v/as lifted over all Fear of the Contagion, and yet not 
 without an awful Regard toward the Lord therein. 
 
 The lirft I vifited was Aaron Atkinfon, then at Edward Shippen's ; of whofe 
 Recovery I was glad, both from perfonal Refpe£t, and for the fake likewife of 
 his Services in the Churches •, and Edward and his Wife were alfo well recovered. 
 
 I N this Dillemper had died fix, feven, and fometimes eight a-day, for feveral 
 Weeks together ; and the Yearly Mcedng being to begin there next Day, we 
 had fome Exercife and Confultation about it, arifing from the Prevalency of the 
 Diftemper in the City at that Time •, and yet not much m the Country. 
 
 For fome Friends had writ from Burlington to Friends at Philadelphia, Propo- 
 fals to adjourn the Meeting till a cooler Time ; to which it was anfwered. That till 
 " the Meeting was come together, they had no Power to adjourn v but thought 
 « it might do well to difcourage, in all Places, the great Numbers of young 
 " People and Servants that ufually come to Town on thofe Occafions •, and fuch, 
 " only to come as were neceffarily concerned in the Service of the Meetings, be- 
 " caufe of the great Infeftion, and Incapacity of Friends and Inns in Town, at 
 
 " fuch
 
 124 The LIFE, <^x. 
 
 Ax N- o " fiich a jundure, to lodge and entertain them, there being few (if any) Houfcs 
 1699, " freeof the Slcknefs." 
 
 I N the Morning Meeting of Miniftcrs and Elders, on the Seventh Day of ti^e 
 AVeek at Philadelphia, we were under great Concern about holding of the Meet- 
 ing in the ufual Time generally known, or whether better to fufpend it -, and as. 
 wc waited on the liORD for Counfcl, the Teftimony of Truth went generally 
 againft the Adjournment, or Sulpenfion ; and the Lord's Prefence was greatly 
 with us to the End, though fome Oppofition we met with from the prudential!/ 
 wife Men among us then pi'efent, who confulted their own Reafon, but not the 
 Truth i who hath all Power, and can do and prevent what he pleafeth. 
 
 And accordingly the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, the Meeting 
 A\'as held, and was large, all Circumftances confidered ; and the Lord lo evi- 
 dently appeared with us, that there was no Room left for doubt, but that it was 
 his Will we (hould hold our Meeting, and ferve God therein, as well in Times 
 of Adverfity and Afflidion, as in Prolperity and lefs feeming Danger. 
 
 Friends were generally much comforted in the divine Truth, and the Fear 
 of the Contagion was much taken away, and the Teftimony of Truth was exceed- 
 ing gbrious in feveral Inftruments, and over the Meeting in general, and fo con- 
 tinued to the End ; which was the Firft, Second, and Third Days for Worftiip, 
 and t'le Fourth for Bufinefs ; which was managed in Wifdom and Unanimity, and 
 ended in Swettnels and Concord ; as becomes all Meetings of the People of G o d 
 every where, 
 
 B u T that which was very remarkable, was, that though the Diftemper 
 was very raging and prevalent all the Week before, yet there was not one 
 taken ill during the whole Time of the Meeting, either of thofe who came 
 tiiere on that Account, or of the People of the Town, that could be remember'd 
 by fuch Friends as made the Obfcrvation ; and yet prefently after there were ma- 
 ny taken ill thereof in Town, and feveral died, but few in comparifon to what 
 had died before ; and, a little after that, it was finally ftopped by the good Hand 
 of divine Providence. 
 
 Mv Companion and I both remained in Town till the 23d of the Month, vi- 
 fiting the fick Friends from time to time, as we found neceflary or expedient : 
 And great was the Prefence of the Love of God with his People, in the Midft 
 of this trying Vifitation •, which gave us occafion to fay. Good is the Lord, and 
 greatly to be feared, hied and obeyed; for though he fuffers AfRiftions to come 
 upon his own chofen People, in common with other Men ; yet that, which other- 
 wife would be intolerable, is made as nothing, by how much the Senfe thereof is 
 fwallowed up and immerged in his divine Love. O the melting Love ! O the 
 immortal Swcetnefs I enjoyed v/ith feveral, as they lay under the Exercife of the 
 devouring Evil, (though unfpeakably comforted in the Lord :) Let m.y Soul re- 
 member it, and wait low before the Lord to the End of my Days ! 
 
 K 
 
 Great was the Majefty and Fland of the Lord ! Great was the Fear that 
 fell upon all Flefh ! I faw no lofty or airy Countenance -, nor heard any vain Jeft- 
 ing to n-iove Men to Laughter ; nor witty Repartee, to raife Mirth -, nor ex- 
 travagant Feafting, to excte the Lufts and Delires of the Flelh above Meafure : 
 But every Face gathered Palenefs, and niany Hearts were humbled, and Counte- 
 nances fallen and funk, as fuch that waited every Moitient to be fummoned to 
 the Bar, and numbered to the Grave. 
 
 But
 
 cf T H M A S ST RT, ±%s 
 
 But the Juft appeared with open Face, and walked upright in the Streets, Anno 
 and rejoiced in fecret, in that perfect Love that cafteth out ail Fear ; and fang 1699. 
 Praifes to him who liveth and reigneth, and is worthy for ever, being refigned 
 unto his holy Will in all Things •, laying. Let it be as thou wilt, in Time, and in 
 Eternity, now and for evermore : Nor Love of the W orld, nor Fear of Death, 
 could hinder their Refignation, abridge their Confidence, or cloud their Enjoy- 
 ments in the Lord. 
 
 O N the 23d, my Companion went to Burlington, to be at the Meeting there next 
 Day, (having pafled it as we went to Philadelphia, as before) where Nonce was o-i- 
 vcn, and fome Meetings appointed for me the fame Week on tiiat Side the River, 
 being in fVeJi Jerfey ; and he returned, on the 25th, to Philadelphia ; and the 
 fame Evening he appeared to be under Symptoms of the common Diftempcr. 
 We difcourfed togedier concerning our further Proceedings in our Service, accor- 
 ding to the Meafures fettled between us in Long-IJland, which I ftill purfued j 
 but he told me he did not fee his Way any further to any Meeting at all. 
 
 That Night we lodged together, and he fweated very much, and next Morn- 
 ing arofe, but foon took Bed again ; and then, at his Requeft, I took an Account 
 of fome fmall Things he had in America -, upon which he afked me how his Ef- 
 fefts there, and in England, would be diflributed among his Wife and Children 
 if he fhould die inteftate ? in which I refolved him. The Meetings being ap- 
 pointed, I could not flay with him ; and when I took Leave of him he told n'le, 
 he was pretty eafy, and not very ill : Yet I departed under a very great Load 
 upon my Spirit, and fufpefted the worft ; for he had prayed in the Yearly Meet- 
 ing, with great Zeal and Earneftnefs, " That the Lord would be pleafed to 
 *' accept of his Life as a Sacrifice for his People, that a Stop might be put to 
 " the Contagion •," and I had thought in the mean time he would be taken at 
 his Vv'ord, though no fuch Sacrifices, in fuch Cafes, are required ; only therein 
 appeared his great Love and Concern for Friends, whom he had come fo far 
 to fee. 
 
 That Evening I went to Burlington ; and, next Day, had a pretty large Burlington" 
 and good Meeting at John Shin's ; where was a new Meeting-houfe, about fix 
 Miles from Burlington, in the Woods ; and Samuel Jenings, and mofl of the Bur- 
 lington Friends, were there ; and, that Evening, 1 went home with John Wills, 
 about five Miles -, and, next Day, had another Meeting at John Adam's, about 
 feven Miles farther down the River ; where many People were gathered. In 
 the Beginning of this Meeting my Mind was greatly concerned about going to 
 the Yearly Meeting, to be in the Eighth Month, at Choptank, in Maryland; which 
 being yielded to m fecret, I then had a pretty open Time ■, and Samuel Jenings be- 
 ing there, he likewife appeared in publick ; and the Meeting ended well : But he 
 having ufed fome Expreflions in his Teftimony, concerning evil furmifing and 
 falfe cenfuring, I enquired of him after the Meeting, Whether I had mified in any 
 Expreffion that might be juftly cenfured ? To which he anfwered, " He was 
 *' well pleafed with the Meeting, and what had pafled in it ; for fooner or later 
 *' all was clear : And he had alfo given a general Caution in the Meeting, that 
 *' all fhould be careful to know in what Spirit, and to what End they judged or 
 *' cenfured others, left they judged others in the fame Spirit in which they them- 
 *' felves had committed greater Evils than thofe they judged in others j and fo in- 
 *' cur greater Condemnation." 
 
 But when I came to the Bottom of the Matter, I underftood, that as I had 
 
 3 L been
 
 rr6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno been concerned in fome other Meetings, to expofe fome of the falfe Doftrines of 
 1699. the Apoftate George Keith, which had obtained a Place among many in tliofe Parts, 
 fome of that Sort had invited a very critical Keithian to this Meeting, in hope to 
 o-et fome Advantage, or Matter for Difpute and Contention •, in v/hich he and 
 they more delighted, than in the Praftice of any Chriftian Duty toward God or 
 Man : And the rather they had this Hope, by how much I had, in fome former 
 Meetings in thole Parts, been concerned about the Sufferings of Christ in the 
 Flefh among the Jews, and his powerful and effedlual Baptifm by the Spirit ; 
 but in this Meeting I had little on thofe Subjects, favc a fhort Introduftion as to 
 the Coming of Christ in the Flefh, but rather the bleffed Effeds and Confe- 
 quences thereof i his divine and fpiritual Manifeftation, as he is the Word of 
 God, and Light of the Gentiles, in whom, as fuch, we ought to believe ; and 
 by which Faith in this divine Light, and Obedience thereto, we have Remif- 
 fion of Sins, and the full Benefit of his Death and Sufferings : So that thofe 
 contentious apoftate Spirits were not gratified ; who ufually, and falfely, charged 
 us with neglefting, and even disbelieving Christ's outward Appearance, and 
 too much preaching the Light ; which they hated, and at which they ftumbled, 
 and were offended i and of whom it may juftly be faid, When they knew God, 
 they did not glorify him as God, hut turned afide into Envy and vain Jangling ; in 
 which there is no Honour to Christ, nor Life to the Soul : But none of them 
 made any Objedlion to any Thing that was delivered in the Meeting that Day. 
 
 Philadelphia. The fame Evening I izt forward for Philadelphia ; where I arrived about 
 the Ninth Hour, and found my Companion very ill, and feveral dead, and 
 bthers taken ill in the few Days I had been abfent. 
 
 O N the 29th was a Monthly Meeting at Philadelphia -, which was but fmall, 
 yet the Lor d was gloriouQy with us •, Aaron Atkinfon was likewife there : And, 
 in that Meeting, I acquainted Friends, that I intended to leave them for fome 
 Time -, and that there were fome there I fhould never fee more in that Meeting : 
 And before the Meeting was ended, John Bujhy, a Friend there, was taken ve- 
 ry ill, and violently handled ; and, when at home, he fent for Aaron Atkinfon ; 
 and I went with him. The Friend was in a tender Condition of Mind, and 
 ufed fome lively ExprelTions of the Goodnefs of God, and afterwards in Prayer; 
 and we were comforted in him : And then I was concerned in Prayer alfo ; 
 and we were much refrefhed together in the Lord : And from thence Aaron 
 and I went and vifited feveral other Friends, who were in the like Condition. 
 
 M Y Companion remaining ill, and my Concern for the Yearly Meeting in 
 Maryland increafing, it came very near to me to leave him under thefe Circum- 
 ftances : But having duly confidered every Part, and finding I could not be of 
 much Service to him ■, and that he was among Friends, who could do more 
 than I in that Cafe, on the 30th of this Month, being the Seventh of the Week, 
 in the Morning, I took Leave of him : But my departing prov'd to be an Oc- 
 cafion of greater Tendernefs than I expefted ; for I had not been fo much affect- 
 ed fince I came from England, weeping exceedingly, and irrefiftibly, fo that 
 my Tears ran down upon the Floor. He then defired me to leave him, (for 
 he had not been fully willing before) and that the Lord might be with me ; 
 " for, faid he, thou breaks my Heart ; I cannot bear it any longer:" And, in 
 a fliort Time after, I left him, uneafy and reftlefs in Body, but otherwife well 
 and comfortable. 
 
 About the Eleventh Hour Aaron Atkinfon and I, Edward Shippen and his 
 
 Wife,
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 117 
 
 Wife, Samuel Carpenter, Ifaac Norris, Griffith Owen, and fome other Friends, An n o 
 fet forward ior Maryland, and that Evening went to Bartholomew Coppick' i, ; 1699. 
 where mofl of us lodged that Night ; but fome returned. 
 
 The next Day we went to Cbejler, where we had a large Meeting •, after Cheller. 
 which we went to Caleb Pufey''s and lodged there that Night -, and, next Day, 
 Jar on and I, with fome others, went forward about 46 Miles, and lodged at 
 an Inn. 
 
 O N the 3d Day we went to George Warnerh, a Friend, who lived on the 
 Side of the Bay of Chefapeak, eight Miles below Turkey-point, where we were Chefapeak. 
 kindly entertained; and the Lord's comfortable Prefence was with us in that 
 Family. 
 
 Next Day we went to Cecil, and had a Meeting there, about feven Miles Cecil. 
 off-, and, that Night, went to Chcfier-River, to our Friend Henry Hofter^, twelve Che(ler-Ri- 
 Miles, and had a Meeting there next Day ; and the good Prefence of the Lord '^^^• 
 was with us in both thefe Meetings, to the Praife of his own holy Name, who 
 liveth, and is worthy to reign for ever. 
 
 On the 6th we fet forward for our Friend John Fitt\, at King's Creek, in 
 Great Choptank ; and, at the Ferry, I had the affliding News of the Death of 
 my Companion, Roger Gill, at Philadelphia ; at which my Soul was greatly bow- 
 ed, and my Heart tendered, and the Ground whereon I fat was watered with my 
 Tears ; in the Conclufion whereof I was fully fitisfied he had obtain'd'a Crown 
 of everlafbing Peace with the Lord, and that his Memory fliould not rot, nor 
 his living Teftimony fall in thofe American Parts, wherein we had laboured 
 together, from Carolina to New England; where many Hearts had been ten- 
 dered by him, and Souls comforted, and fevefal convinced ; and all through 
 that divine Power by which he is now raifed to Glory, to fing Praifes to him 
 who fitteth on the Throne, and rulcth and reign eth, and is alone worthy, for 
 ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 This Occafion afforded me Matter of deep HumiHation and Confideration, 
 how long and often the Lord had fpared me, and to what End -, fmce I have: 
 no Intereft in the World, nor any Thing, for the Enjoyment whereof I could 
 defire to live ; but that it may pleafe the Lo r d and Giver of Life to fpare mine, 
 till I may be more fit to appear with my Accounts before him. 
 
 And fo, having rid about 30 Miles, we arrived at our Friend Pitt's Houfe 
 in the Evening •, and, the next Day, we went to the Yearly Meeting at Choptank ; Choptank, 
 which was not large that Day, being the Seventh of the Week, and the People 
 not gathered ; and that Evening we returned to John Pitt's. 
 
 Next Day the Meeting was large and well, and ended peaceably ; and, that 
 Evening, we went to the Houfe of Widow Elizabeth Bury, at Thread-Haven, 
 about four Miles diflant, for Convenience of Lodging. 
 
 The next Morning we returned to the Meeting-place, with a heavy Load 
 upon our Spirits ; but did not know the Caufe till the Meeting was well afTem- 
 bled, and then came an Epilcopal Prieft, and with him feveral Juftices of the 
 Peace, a Colonel, and a great Company of Gentry, of both Sexes j and a mighty 
 great Crowd of People there was. 
 
 Whilst
 
 ai8 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno Whilst Aaron Atkinfon was concerned the Prieft came not into the Houfe, 
 1699. nor many of his Friends ; nor did I know any Thing of liis being there, till a 
 little before Aaron Atkinfon had finifhed -, and my Concern being next, as foon 
 as I flood up they came in ; and then I faw whence came the Load of Dark- 
 nefs in the Morning, which, by that Time, the Truth had, in a good Degree, 
 overcome, and driven from before me as Smoke before the Wind. 
 
 Many Things opened in my Mind, which there I delivered : Of the Fall 
 of Man through Temptation, Unbelief, and Difobedience : Of the Love and 
 Mercy of God ftill towards him : Of the various Difpenfations of God for the 
 Reftoration of Man, viz. the Manifeftation and Strivings of the Spirit of God with 
 the old World •, the Law of Mofes ■, the ceremonial, m.oral, and judicial or civil 
 Parts of it : Of C h R i s T, the Antitype of all tfie Figures, and Fulfiller of them ; 
 and of the whole Law firfl in himfelf, and then in all who believe in him, and 
 obey : Of the Life, Death, Sufferings, Rcfurreftion, Afcenfion, Glorification, and 
 Interceffion of C h R i s t : Of his dying as a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole 
 World : Of univerfal faving Grace by him : Of the Faith of the Gentiles in him, 
 the Word that took Flefh, and is the true Light that lighteth every Man that cometh 
 into the World ; that makes a Difcovery of Sin in the Underftandings of Mankind^ 
 and reproves them for it in fecret, when no Man can accufe : Of the Eaptifrn 
 oijohiy and of Christ's Baptifm -, the former with Water t>nto Repentance, 
 propofing Christ, not then made manifefl, as the Objeft of Faith, when come 
 or manifefted ; and the latter with the Holy Spirit: How the Apoftks of Christ 
 fell in with John in the Adminiflration of Water Baptifm ; not in the Name of 
 one to come, or unknown, but in the Name of Jesus, who they declared to 
 be the MefTiah, for the RemifTion of Sins ; with many other particular Things 
 for the clearing of that Subjedl : During all which the Prieft and his Company 
 were very flill and attentive ; and the Meeting ended in Peace without Inter- 
 ruption. 
 
 When the Meeting was over, Richard Jones of the Wejiern Shore told me, 
 the Prieft, whofe Name was John Lillingftone, defired to have fome Conference 
 with me •, and that he had afked him, if he had any Thing to objeft againft 
 what he had heard? and he faid. No: And, when I went to the Prieft, I afked 
 hjm the fame Queftion -, but there being many of the People about us , he then 
 infinuated, by f nuendoes. Shrugs, and other Geftures, that he had fomething to 
 objeft, but was loth to expofe me, but would difcourfe me in private, with two 
 or three of my Friends, and as many, or fewer, of his. 
 
 To which I anfwered, " That if to what I had faid in that great Auditory 
 *' he had any Thing to objeft, I was ready to anfwer in the Face of the fame ; 
 *' and defired him to go into the Meeting-houfe (which was very large) as the 
 *' moft proper Place -, and that was the moft proper Auditory, that had heard 
 " fo lately what I had dehvered •," but he refufed, and began to abufe me, fay- 
 ing, " I was a cunning Sophifter, and had deluded the People •/' which I chal- 
 lenc^ed him to prove before them if he could •, but he went on railing, and al- 
 ledged, " That I had afferted, that none of the Apoftles ever baptized with Wa- 
 " ter after the Coming of the Holy Ghoft :" And, calling a young Man to wit- 
 nefs, he confelTed, " That I had challenged the Priefts to prove by Scrip- 
 " rure, that any of the Apoftles ever bapdzed with Water, in the Name of the 
 " Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft •, and if they could not, then any Baptifm they 
 " ufed with Water after the Coming of the Holy Ghoft, was only the fame they 
 ** adminifter'd in Joh?i'i Time, before that, in Mat. xxviii. 19. was inftituted; 
 
 '* where
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 119 
 
 ** where it is faid, Go ye therefore, end teach all Nations, baptizing ihem in the Anno 
 " Name of the Father, and of the Son, a^id of the Holy Ghofl, &c. lor if any of 1699. 
 " thie Apoftles liad baptized with Water from that Text, they would have pur- 
 " fued the Terms of it in that Adion ; which they never did : And therefore, 
 " fince no Water is mentioned in the Text, nor any Inftance can be given, where 
 " the Terms of it were ufed by any of the Apofties, it follows, that the Bap- 
 " tifm intended there was not with Water, but the Spirit, as alone proper to the 
 " Difpenfation of Christ, the Son of God, and not to the Servant." 
 
 H I s Witnefs thus witneffing againft him, he raged, but would not engage any 
 further in the Difpute, being on Horfeback. Then I fent for a Form out of the 
 Meeting- houfe, on which I flood up, and informed the People of the Prieft's 
 Miflake ; upon which he rode off, almoft without hearing; and, placing himfelf 
 at fome Difrance, with a rude Company, flood gazing, bluftering, and calling us 
 Names, and then departed. Many were offended at his Management ; fome lay- 
 ing they had come 20 Miles, and were difappointed : And, before he went off, a 
 "Woman call'd to him aloud, and faid, "• M^ Lillingftone, You refufed to baptize 
 *' my five Children, unlels I would give a Hoglhead of Tobacco for every one 
 " of them ; and, nov/, I don't care one Farthing for your Baptifm." Several 
 others of the People likewife fpake with Contempt of their Prieft, being fatisfi- 
 ed with the Meeting -, and we departed in divine Peace and Confolation ; to 
 the Praife of the Lord, in whofe Service we were there afTembled. 
 
 The Priefl and his Cofnpany being gone, we were told by fome who obfer- 
 ved it, that the Juflices and Prieil, before they parted, held a Confultation to 
 have drawn up a Warrant againft me, for fpeaking againft the Common Prayer, 
 but could not find how to make it bear ; for I had faid fomething againft the 
 fprinkling of Infants as no Ordinance of Christ, as they pretended : But the 
 Lord defeated their mifchievous Defign ; and, that Night, we went back to 
 the fame Lodging. 
 
 The Meeting for Bufinefs being there the next Day, it held late in the Af- 
 ternoon ; fo that feveral of the People who had come far, in expedlation of 
 another Meeting for WorHiip, went away before we had done : But, Bufinefs 
 being ended, we were favoured with a tender Seafon together, and our Meeting 
 ended in the pure holy Love of our Lord Jesus Christ, our holy Head, 
 Life, and Comforter -, who is ever near, to the End of the World, to ftrengthen 
 and fupport his own in the needful Seafon, and to bind up his holy Body, the 
 Church, with the Joints and Sinews of divine Love, that cannot be broken ; 
 againft which the Gates of Hell never can prevail. 
 
 And, taking Leave of the Friends of the IVeflern Shore, we returned that 
 Evening to John Pitt's, about eight Miles, and refted there the next Day till 
 near Night -, and, in the Evening, went home with our Friend James Riddel, 
 who came thither on purpofe to conduft us, we having appointed a Meeting 
 near that Place next Day •, and, in our Way, parted with feveral Penfyhania 
 Friends, who had been with us at the Yearly Meeting. 
 
 According to Appointment, we held the Meeting next Day at Tuccaho, Tuccalio. 
 ■\vhich was pretty large and well, the Whip of fmall Cords being well employed^ 
 to fcourge the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple ; and there was likewife 
 clean Water to wafh the Tables and cleanfe the Steps : And, all ending well, we 
 went that Evening, about nine Miles, to William Trouth's ; who had been 
 ^eatly indifpofed, but was much refrefhcd by our Vifit to him. 
 
 3 M On
 
 i^o The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno On the 1 3th we went thence to Choptank-River Meeting, near M'llliam Ste- 
 
 i6gg. venfon's, about ten Miles off; wliere tiie Lord gave us a comfortable Tiaie; 
 
 Choptank. and, that Evening, about Sun-f.t, William Stevenfon fct us over the River to 
 
 the Widow Stevenfon' St where we llaid writing lietters, and putting our Tilings 
 
 in order. 
 
 On the ifth, being the Firft of the Week, we went to a Meeting at the Wi^ 
 Little Chop- dow Alice Kennerly^s, at Little Choptank^ about fix Miles off-, and, in the Way, I 
 tank. found my Mind much loaden, not knowing the Caufe till we came to tlie Place j 
 
 and there we received a Meflage from one Thomas Hoivell, an Epifcopal Prieft, 
 that he intended to be at our Meeting, and defired us to ftay for him, that he 
 might hear us. This Meflage incrcaied my Concern to fee what the Lord 
 would be pleafed to direft •, and being favoured with a Scnfe of the gentle Ope- 
 ration of his Power, and my Heart much comforted in his divine Prefence, I 
 did not then doubt but we fliould have Underftanding and Power fufficient for 
 the Day. 
 
 W E were not hafty to go into the Meeting, nor found we Freedom to delay, 
 but began it near the uiual Time ; and the good Prefence of the Lo r d was ten- 
 derly with us, and I felt my Spirit thereby over that Spirit that was coming to 
 oppofe us. 
 
 Jarcn Atkinfon had his Concern firft in the Meetings and the Prieft delaying 
 longer than the Time he had appointed, Aaron had done before he appeared ; and 
 a Concern being upon me likewife before he came, I had gone through fcveral 
 Things concerning the Fall of Man, and the Promifes of God tor his Reftora* 
 tion ; and that C h r i s t is come accordingly, and has died for all Men ; and 
 that the Grace of G o d is come upon all Men for their Salvation, upon Con- 
 dition of their Faith in him. Repentance, Amendment, and Obedience -, and this 
 Grace is that fpiritual Power that reproves Mankind for Sin in their own 
 Hearts, ^c. 
 
 1 N the mean time came the Prieft, his Wife, feveral Juftices of the Peace, 
 two Lawyers, and many People ; who rufhing in, it occafioned fome Unfettied- 
 nefs in the Meeting, and altered the State of it, fo that the People were not, for 
 fome Time, in a Condition to hear with Attention ; and therefore I ftood a little 
 while filent, finding the Operation of the Word of Truth to abate, as to that Mat- 
 ter. After which I exhorted them to be ftill, not only as to their Bodies, but 
 alfo their Minds, that haply they might reap fome Advantage by what they might 
 hear ; and then I began to recount, in fhort, what Points I had gone through- 
 before they came, ro the End they might perceive the entire Scope of my Ttfti- 
 in ony : And then the Power ot I'ruth began again to work,- and therein I quick- 
 ly came ovtr both Prieft and People in myfelf ; and the People were generally 
 fober and attentive, which made the Prieft very uneafy : And at length as I 
 came to treat of Baptifm, he fell into a Paffion, and interrupted me ; but I kept 
 my Authority and Matter, and went on^ 
 
 That which feemed to touch him moft, was about fprinkling of Infants -,• 
 when I told the People it is extrafcriptural, an antichriftian and Popifti Innova- 
 tion, he then fired upon me with an Objedlion ; but I bid him be filent, for ouF 
 Meeting was not ended -, and he forbare till I had done : and then Aaron Atkin^ 
 fon concluded the Meeting in Prayer ; upon which the Prieft and Juftices 
 went out,
 
 of THOMAS STORT. a^i 
 
 T H E Meeting being ended, they came in again, and the Prieft was big with Anno 
 his Objection, which he had conceived from a Miftake of a Text of Scripture. 1699. 
 
 It was thus : " You, faid he^ have fpoken much againft Water Baptifm, as if 
 " it were not obhgatory at this Day -, but the Scripture faith, Unkfs a Man be 
 " baptized luith tVater and the Holy Ghojt^ he cannot fee the Kingdom of God." 
 
 I PASSED by his Miftake for the prefent in mifrendering that Scripture, 
 and faid, " There is no Necefllty to believe,' that the Lord Jesus fpake 
 *' then of elementary Water ; but as there is a twofold Operation of the Holy 
 *' Spirit, the one compared to Water, which is for the waOiing away of the Pol- 
 *' lution of Sins paft before Convidtion, and the other to Fire, for deftroying 
 *' the Root of it in us -, as it is prophcfied of Christ, He is like a Refiner's Mat.iii. 2. 3. 
 *' Fire^ and Fuller's Soap ; and hefiall fit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver, and 
 *' he f}jall purify the Sons of Levi, and purge them as Gold and Silver, J&cc. Again, 
 *' the Baptifm of C h r i s t makes thorough Work -, for his Fan is in his Hand, Mat. iii. 1 2. 
 *' and he will thoroughly purge his Floor, and gather the Wheat into the Garner ; but 
 *' he will burn up the Chaff with unquenchable Fire. And in another Place it is John vii. 38. 
 »* written, that Christ laid, He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath faid, 
 **• out of his Belly flmllflow Rivers of living Water : But this fpake he of the Spi- 
 *' rit, which they that believe on him fhould receive, &c. 
 
 *' The Spirit of Christ is thus compared both to Water and Fire, arid 
 *' theirdifferentEffedts and Operations, to exprefs the Baptifm of Christ, and 
 "• Work of Regeneration, as begun, carried on, and perfedled by him : And 
 ^' it is alio written. By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, and have been iCor. xii. 13. 
 ** all made to drink into one Spirit. 
 
 Then I afked the Prieft, " That fince the Spirit of Christ is thus cotn- 
 *' pared to Fire, as well as Water, why he did not think elementary Fire was 
 *' to be ufed in Baptifm as well as Water ?" To which he was filent. 
 
 I having entered thus far ii^to the Argument for the Sake of the People,- 
 Jarcn Atkinfon told them, " There was no fuch Scripture as their Prieft had 
 " alledged •, for it is. Except a Man be born of Water, and of the Spirit ; and John iii. 3. 
 " not baptized with Water and the Spirit ;" which the Prieft could not deny -,- 
 and then the People faw him wrong. 
 
 The Prieft being foil'd in this, he recurred to the Text in Matthew, Go ye -^^^ ^j- 
 therefore and tench all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of 19- 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft ; and alledged from hence, " That thefe Words, 
 *' Go teach all Nations^ baptizing them, &c. Ihow, that Teaching and Baptizing 
 « is one Aft." 
 
 " Thou fayft v/elJ, faid I ; w'e have all along maintained that againft our 
 ^' Adverfaries •, why then doft thou oppofe us.'' For if Teaching and Baptizing 
 *' be the fame Aft in the Senfe'of that Text, Water Baptifm, as to any Com- 
 «' mand from thence, is excluded." He then faw his Miftake, and was aflramedj 
 and many of his People were fo too, and went out of the Room. 
 
 A T length he pulled a Book out of his Bofom, and would have ftiewn us 
 what his Author had faid about Baptifm : He was not willing to fhow the 
 Title, or the Author's Name, but I perceived it was the Stiake in the Grafs y 
 and then I expofed it as a very falfe Piece, and Charles Lefly, the Autlior, as a 
 
 , For-
 
 151 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Forger ; and that his Book had been fully anfwered, and his Arguments repel- 
 i6^S. led, by one of our Friends, Jofeph IVyeth : And then I advifed the Prieft to 
 be baptized himfelf, if he thought Water Baptifm was neceffary, or elfe he had 
 no Right to difpute about it •, for Sprinkling is not Baptifm. 
 
 T o this he replied, " That though they did not ufe walhing in Water, but 
 " fprinkling, that ought not to be alledged as a Ground for us to reject the 
 " whole." 
 
 t ANSWERED, " We have fufficient Authority, without that, to decline all 
 *' Water Baptifm, as no Ordinance of Christ •, but it muft needs be very per- 
 " verfe in any to contend with others for a Neceffity of any Thing in Religion, 
 " which themfelves will not praftife." By this Time moft of the People were 
 o-one out ; and, after fome more Difcourfe about Tythes, and fuch Preachers 
 as, in Times paft, preached for Pieces of Bread and Handfuls of Barley, as fome 
 now for Money, fome for Corn, and fome for Tobacco, we all went out of the 
 Houfe ; and I then exhorted the Prieft to give way to the Manifeftation of 
 Truth in his own Confcience, and it would lead him out of all Error and evil 
 Things •, and {o we parted in a friendly Manner. 
 
 A Justice of Peace and a Lawyer ftaid longer, and we had fome more 
 Difcourfe with them on fome other Points : We informed them further con- 
 cerning our Principles, and particularly of our Sentiments concerning human 
 Government : Of our Loyalty and inoflfenfive Demeanour under all Govern- 
 ments, in any Form, giving always either aftive or paflive Obedience •, and that 
 where the former could not be yielded, when any Thing contrary to our Religion 
 and Confciences, and Duty to God, was commanded or required by any Law, 
 then the latter was never a-wanting, nor refufed, though to the Lois of all. 
 
 tJ p o N this an Attorney at Law aiTerted, " That all Men were bound in 
 " Confcience to give aftive Obedience to all Laws made by the Lcgiflature of 
 " any Government where they lived •," but offered no Reafon for his Opinion. 
 
 I ANSWERED, " That, according to this, all the faithful Primitives were 
 " wrong, who never complied with the Laws of the Heathens made againft 
 " them and their Religion ; but fuffered cruel Deaths, in confefling the true 
 " God, and the Lord Jesus, efpecially under the two Emperors, in the tenth 
 " o-eneral Perfecution ; and thereby he condemned all the Proteftants, and others, 
 " as worthy of thofe Punifhments inflifted upon them by Papifts, on account of 
 " their religious Sentiments, being contrary to their National and Ecclefiaftical 
 " Laws •, to which thofe Sufferers could not, becaufe of their known Duty to 
 "God and Christ, give any active, but only paffive Obedience and 
 " Non-refiftance, though inflidled by Force of the Statute de heretico combu- 
 " rendo ; whereby many of the People of the Nation, who were then of the 
 " lame Religion of the prefent National Church, were deflroyed : And if they 
 " ouo-ht to have giverl a<5live Obedience to that, and fuch other perfecuting 
 " Laws, then their Blood was upon their own Heads, being juftly flied tor their 
 " Difobedience ; which would be a very fevere and unchriftian Opinion, and 
 " therefore to be rejedled ; and being attended with fuch Confequences, thou 
 " would do well to lay it afide, and entertain it no more." 
 
 That Night we lodged at the Widow Kemierly's, and the good Prefence of. 
 the Lord was comfortably with us •, and great was our Reward of Peace in him 
 after that Day's Work : And as I never have obferved any one to undertake 
 
 with
 
 of T H M A S ST RT igg 
 
 with fo much Confidence, and come fo meanly off as this Pricft did, fo I be- Anno 
 licve he made himfelf Work for Repentance. 1699, 
 
 The next Day, accompanied by Jofepb Kennedy^ his Brother, and fome other 
 Friends, we went to Chichi nacomoco^ to "Thomas Hicks's, and there locigpd ; and, 
 next Morning went forward to a Meeting appointed at Naniiccke River, at Ed- Nanticoke 
 •ward Fijber'% : The Meeting was fmall, but comfortable ; and we lodged there 
 that Night. 
 
 I N the Morning we made fome hafte to get over the River, the Tide being; 
 upon the ebb •, but before we arrived at the other Side, the Tide was fo far 
 fpent that we could not get on Shore, but ftuck in the Mud two or three Oar 
 Lengths off, and could make no nearer ; for neither Man nor Horfe could wade 
 without finking : We wrought a long Time with our Oars and Setting-pole, but 
 in vain, till at length we efpied a Boat coming from a Ship that anchor'd be- 
 low, rowing faft towards us ; and then we liad Hope we fhould get to Shore 
 before the next Tide of Flood ; which would not have been till Three oi- Four 
 in the Afternoon, and now about Nine in the Morning. 
 
 When the Boat came, the Commander prov'd to be Peter Senhoufe, Mate 
 of the Charity of IVhitehaven, in Cwnherland ; who, looking out at the Cabbin 
 'V\'indow, had providentially feen us ; and having been at our Meeting the Day 
 before, perceived who we were, and came on purpofe to help us, though not 
 perfonally acquainted ; but told us he had Relations who were Friends, and 
 that Leven Denwood, of Minny-Creek, in that Country, had once been bound for 
 him ; which Kindnefs he could not forget. 
 
 H E fixed a ftrong Rope to our Boat, and got on Shdre, as we all did by the 
 Help of him and his Men, and then we dragged the Boat and Horfes through 
 the Mud clofe to the Bank ; and, as the Horfes came out, mine miffed his Step, 
 and fell under the Bank upon one Sidcj and tumbled upon his Back ; but, with 
 fome Difficulty, \<re got him up without any Hurt. We offered a Recompence 
 for this opportune Help, but ^le would not receive any ; and, throwing fome 
 Money into the Boat to his Men, we fet forward on our Journey ; and, after 
 two Miles riding, fat down upon a Log on the Side of the Wood, and fed our 
 Horfes with Indian Corn, or Maze, and ate fome Provifions we had likewile 
 for ourfelves ; it being too loon in the Morning to eat when we fct out. 
 
 W E rode ten Miles further, and came to another Ferry, at Wiccocommco, 
 where we had a good Paffage ; and, that Evening, we arrived at Levm Den- Minny- 
 wood's, before mentioned -, where we lodged : And there we mcf with one they Creek, 
 called the King's Attorney, an ill-fpirited Man, with whom we were not eafy ; 
 and, after fome Time, a Difcourfe arofe between him and Aaron Atkinfon, and 
 he foon dilcovered a bad Difpofition towards us in general as a People. ' * 
 
 The Matter they were upon was, about C h r i st's Satisfadlion made upon 
 the Crofs for the Sins of Mankind, which he pretended to magnify ; but with a 
 View, as it might feem, to the Exemption of Men thereby from the Neceffity of a 
 holy and righteous Life ; and Aaron Atkinfon endeavour'd to inform him, that 
 Mens Belief only of the Things which Christ did and fuffer'd in this World 
 without a Conformity to his Life, is not fufficient for Salvation. 
 
 In the mean time the Attorney, as he fpake of thefe Things, behaved liim- 
 fclf in fuch an overly infulting Manner, that I perceiv'd he had no Regard to 
 
 3 N ttid,
 
 i34 ^^^^ LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno the Dignity of the Matter, nor Senfe of the Things he talked of •, and there ford 
 1699. I told him, if Men would take upon them to fpeak of fuch Things, it ought to 
 be done in a Spirit of Meeknefs and Humility, and with Underftanding 01 the 
 Thino-s they treated of. This a little cooled him for a Time -, and then I took 
 occafion to mention to him the Promife of G d concerning the New Covenant, 
 which is inward, in the Heart •, a Covenant of Light, Life, and Power •, of which 
 C H R I s T is the Mediator ; and the great Effeft of his Coming in the Flefli ; the 
 Fruits whereof are Peace, Love, and Good-will unto all Men : Under which 
 Difpenfation Men are to heat their Sivords into Plo-w-pares, and their Sfears into 
 Prmiing-hooks ; Nation is not to lift up Sivord agaitijl Nation, nor to learn JVar 
 any more. 
 
 Now much of the Prophecies of the Prophets being already come to pafs, 
 we look for the fulfilling of this alfo, by the inward Revelation of the Spirit of 
 Christ ; who is the Prince of Peace, of the Increafe of whofe Government 
 there is no End. 
 
 But, faid he, that is not Uke to be in our Time. Why, faid I, if it be ful- 
 filled in thee and me, we fhall have the Advantage of it, as to us, though it be 
 not in general in our Time : As it is evident it is not yet come to pafs among 
 thofe Nations profeffing Christ, who have been fo lately in Wars one againft 
 another -, and yet it is come to pafs in a People at this Day, in whom the Lord 
 hath begun this great and good Work : For we have not ufed the Carnal Wea-= 
 pon fince we were a People ; nor can we, becaufe the Life of C h r i s t in us 
 is ao-ainft and contrary to it. And unto the fame Principle of divine Light, 
 Life, and Love, will Goo, who is the fame, bring all Nations in his own ap- 
 pointed Time. 
 
 H E replied. You fay it is fulfilled in you ; but how doth that appear, fince 
 you have not yet been tried as a People in any Governincnt where you had lull 
 Power ? And I have heard, that in Penfylvania, where you have a Government 
 only under another, you have ufed the Carnal Weapon, in refcuing a Sloop 
 which fome piratical Perfons had ftole from a Wharf at Philadelphia -, by which 
 it may be fufpefted you would ufe it further in fome other Cafes, which might 
 touch you if you had an Independent Government ; though I cannot charge 
 them in Penfylvania with any tiling of that kind but what I have heard. 
 
 I T h E N afked him, if he had heard the Defence of the Perfons charged 
 v/ith the retaking of that Veflel ? And he faid he had -, but did not know whe- 
 ther or no it was true. It feems tliou canft not charge but upon Hear-fay. 
 Does it not then difcover a partial Inclination in thee, to think us guilty, fince 
 thou cannot receive a Defence upon Hear-fay as well as a Charge ? 
 
 Then I inform'd him, that v/e had been greatly abufed by the falfe Re- 
 ports and Mifreprefentations of fome envious Apoftates and their Abettors on 
 that Account •, with an evil Defign, not' only to dtilroy our Characters, as if we 
 had afted as Llypocrites, contrary to our Religion ; but to lefi^en and decry the 
 Efficacy of that Principle of divine Light, Life, and Truth we make ProfefTion 
 of. But if the Report had been true as Rated, as it was falfe, yet the Weak- 
 nefs or Prefumption of fome obfcure particular Perfons, profening the fame Re- 
 ligion, is not, by any Juftice, to be charged upon the whole as a People, and 
 much lefs upon their Principles of Religion : For it was not the Government, 
 but fome particular Perfoijs, who took upon themfelves privately to bring back 
 
 that
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 135- 
 
 that Sloop, which they effcded by iurprizing the Thieves, and without any An n o 
 Bloodftied, or Ad of Violence. 1699. 
 
 And it is ftill more unjuft: to fuggeft againft us as a People, that if we had 
 Power we would take up Arms and fight upon Occafion, contrary to the Re- 
 ligion we now profefs ; yet this is no other, in efFeft, than what I have heard 
 fuggefted, by Men of thy Principles, againft the Apoftles of C h r i s t and the 
 holy Primitives : That the Reafon why they did not make fuch Laws as are now 
 in force, for the Payment of Tythes, and other Maintenance, for the aggran- 
 dizing themfelves at other Mens Coft, and perfecuting and fupprefling of others, 
 as the Priefts and Clergy of all forts, and their Supporters, now do, was hecaufe 
 they had not Power. Thus blafpheming thofe that dwell in Heaven, they give 
 the Lye to the Saviour of the World, who faid. All Power in Heaven and on 
 Earth is given ttnlo me, after he had finiflied his Teftimony in this World. And 
 how would it look to thyfelf^ if any one fliould fixy, thou wants nothing but 
 Power, to rob on the High-way, to break Houfes in the Night, to murder, 
 and deftroy the Lives of others, for Gain, or of Envy or Revenge ; or, that if 
 thou had Power, thou wouldil extirpate and deftroy all the Quakers in the 
 World ? Would this look like a juft or reafonable Charge ? 
 
 Th e n Aaron Atkinfon faid to him, thou art certainly an Enemy to us in thy 
 Heart, though thou would fain cover it. This he took ill, (being in a Fa- 
 mily where he would gladly have appeared otherwife) and ufed fome ill-natur'd 
 Expreffions to Aaron Atkinfon -, upon which the Friend of the Houfe told him 
 he was an impertinent and conceited Man, and that it was not the firft Time he 
 had taken upon him to be abufive in his Houfe, and bid him begone about 
 his Bufmefs, for he had none there ; which he did accordingly, and fo the 
 Matter ended. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting there, which was pretty large and com- 
 fortable. We had the Company of feveral Store-keepers and Merchants from 
 Cumberland, very fober ; and that Evening Aaron Atkinfon had a Service in the 
 Family, and we ftaid that Night alfo. 
 
 On the 20th, (being the Sixth of the Week) we fet forward near Nine in 
 the Morning, and paiTed a Ferry on Pocomoke River, about twenty Miles from 
 our Lodging, and there we fat down and ate fome Vidluals we had brought with 
 us, and drank Water out of a muddy Well •, and Aaron Atkinfon''s Horfe being 
 fick and like to fail, it laid us under fome Concern, having about twenty-five 
 Miles more to ride that Day, and no Lodging by the Way, and the Nights 
 then beginning to be cold : But the Lord was near to bear up our Minds ; 
 and after our Horfes had graz'd a little in the Wood, the fick Horfe grew 
 better -, and before it was quite dark, we arrived at the Widow Mary John- 
 fton^s, at Muddy-creek, where we were entertain'd to the beft of her Ability, (be- 
 ing poor) and were refrefhed, and refted well that Night ; and next Morning 
 her Son John Johnflon, and George Brewett of Mulberry Grove, wlio had been 
 our Guide, went each cf them a fundry Way, to give Notice of a Meeting to 
 be at the Meeting-houfe about three Miles off, on the Firft Day following, and 
 we refted there that Day. 
 
 The Meeting was large, (the Houfe being full, and many more than it Muddy- 
 could admit) but hard in the Beginning of it : For the People are apt, in thofe t:reek. 
 Parts, to keep out of the Meeting-houfcs till they hear fome begin to fpcak ■, 
 and then they frequently rufli in rudejy, and fo difturb the Meetings •, though 
 
 thty
 
 zt6 TI:e L I F E, ^c. 
 
 A K N- o they do not intend any IVIoleftation by it. Many Things were opened that Day, 
 1699, in the Wifdom and Authority of Tnath ; and the Meeting proved better in the 
 End, and feveral Perfons were tender, and the People generally humbled un- 
 der die Authority of Truth. The Neceffity of the Work of the Holy Spirit 
 in the Heart, Regeneration, Faith in C h r i s t the Word of God, and good. 
 Works, being greatly prels'd upon the Audience, and Holinefs, without which 
 there is no entering the Kingdom, nor feeing the Glory of God. 
 
 That Night we went horns with Thomas Fooks to Anancock, about twelve 
 Miles, where we refted well and eafy ; and Aaron Atkir.Jon was twice concerned, 
 in Prayer for his Children, being twelve in Number. 
 
 Nifwadock's 
 Creek. 
 
 The next Morning we fet forw ard for Thomas Brown^s, at Nafpadocli% 
 Creeks about 25 Miles off; where we arrived about Three in the Afternoon^ and 
 ftaid there that Night -, and next Day had a large Meeting, at the Meeting-houfcj 
 about three Miles from thence : But Things being much out of Order in thofe 
 Parts, Friends intermarrying and intermixing with the World, we were loaden in 
 our Minds, and uneafy ; and therefore appointed another Meeting there, to be on 
 the 2 6th Day following : In the mean Time we were concerned to preach Truth 
 in the Family where we lodged, by which we were greatly eafed and comforted 
 in our Spirits, and the glorious Reward remained upon us all Night ; and the 
 next Day we were favoured with a better Meeting than before. Truth being over 
 all ; and we came away clear, and in much Satisfaftion ; and that Evening we 
 went home with IVilliam Kjiox, about 20 Miles, to Alaichaprague ; where we 
 were kindly enteruined. 
 
 Onancock. 
 
 Muddy- 
 Creek. 
 
 O x the 27th we had another Meeting at Onanccck, at Thomas Pcok'?, ; where- 
 in we were well fatisfied. Truth being over all : The People were fober, and 
 went away low and humbled. We fb^d there that Night, and next Day went 
 to Widow Mary Johnjlon's, about 15 Miles, and there lodged that Night. 
 
 On the 29th, being the Firft of the Week, we had a large Meeting, in the 
 Meeting-houfe at Muddy-Creek, and that Evening returned to Mary Johnjioii's, ; 
 and next Morning, aft:er a very tender Seafon at Table, we departed thence, and 
 rode about 45 Miles, to Geci-ge Truet's ; where we ftaid, being very weary, till 
 the Firft of the Ninth Month, and then had a Meeting there. 
 
 The Day following we had a Meeeting at Nafwadock'z, at the Houfe of one 
 Walter Lcue, about 1 5 Miles off-, whofe ^^'ife was a Friend, but himfelf not one. 
 The Meeting was fmall, by reafon of a Court held near the Place at the fame 
 Time -, but the Countenance of the Lord being with us, all was well : and 
 after this we rode about 1 5 Miles more, to our Friend Thomas Evernden's, at 
 Anncnejficks ; where we ftaid near two Days, and had fome Service in the 
 Family. 
 
 O N the 4th we went to Richard TVaters'i, about four Miles over the Creek ; 
 and next Day, being the Firft of die Week, had a Meeting there ; which was 
 hard and dry in the main, though we were eafy after it, and had fome good 
 Times in the Friend's Houfe ; he and his Wife, not having been long convin- 
 ced, were tender and innocent. 
 
 The next Day, about the Tenth Hour, Aaron Atkinfon went on board a. 
 Sloop, accompanied by Thomas Evernden, in order for the IVeJlern Shore, and I 
 
 went
 
 of T E M A S ST R T. 237 
 
 went with them to the VelTcl, and there we took Leave of each other ; and I A x \- o 
 returned in a Boat, with foine other Friends, to Thomas E'vernden's ; and there ^^99- 
 met with Ibme more, who accompanied me to George Tr/c^/'s, about ''o Miles 
 where I lodged that Night, and partetl tenderly with them the next Mornino- ; 
 and, being accompanied by our Friend Jacol? Taylor, of Peafylvaiua, afterv/ards 
 Surveyor-General, and Job}! Gocdiiig, of Maryland, we rode about 35 Miles, 
 to Cedar-Neck ; ar.d, calling at the Floufe ot one JJ^dliam Atkinfon^ a poor Plan- 
 ter, (not a Friend by Profellion) and he informed us that the Tide was hicrh, 
 and no paffingthe In-kt, which was ftven Miles further-, but invited us kind- 
 ly to Hay with him that Night -, which, after fome Confideration, we con- 
 fented to do : and it was a great Kindnefs, for we could not have had any o- 
 ther Lodging. The Houfe was fmall, and feveral Children, yet they made a 
 Shift to get us Beds, and fufficient Eatables, and good Milk and Water to 
 drink : And, at Supper, I was concerned to call upon the Name of the Lo rd ; 
 and both the Man of the Houfe and his Wife were touched with a Senfe 
 of the divine Virtue ot Truth, and praifed God that I came under their 
 Roof, as having been made inftrumental for their good : And the Woman, be- 
 ing devout in the Way of the Church of England, took her Children, (as it 
 feemed was her conftant Praftice) before they went to Bed, and made them fay 
 fome little Catechifms and Prayers ; which, when fhe had done, I opened to her 
 many Things about Baptifm and the Supper •, which Ihc gladly received, and 
 afked me many Qiicftions about other Points, which I refolvcd to her Satisfac- 
 tion ; and her Hulo.tnd v/as likewife well pleafed. In the Morning we ate and 
 drank again, and then aflced what we had to pay ; but they would not re- 
 ceive any Thing, either for ourfelves or for our Horfes ; and befides, the 
 Man went with us over the In-let, about feven Miles, and put us in the Way 
 to Leiois, in the County of Sujfex, in the Territories of Pcnfylvania ; where v/e 
 arrived in the Evening late, having rode, according to Computation, about 50 
 Miles •, and alighting at our Friend William Clark\, he fent out that Night to 
 give Notice of a i^^Ieeting to be there next Day ; which accordingly we had : 
 It was not large, there being no fettled Meeting there, but comfortable, the Lewis. 
 Lord mercifully owning us with his good Prefence. 
 
 The Meeting being over, I found a Concern upon my Mind for another 
 there •, and fo ftaid till the Firfl: Day following : This was larger than the for- 
 mer, and 1 was well fatisfied in it •, for Truth and its Teftimony was over all, 
 and many Things were opened to the Satisfadlion of Friends and People. That 
 Night alio I remained there, and was well recruited in my Strength •, which had 
 been much exhaufbed by frequent Meetings, and long Journeys. 
 
 The next Morning, accompanied by Samuel Prefton o^ PBiladelphia, I went 
 on to Mufpillicv, to Jcfipb Booth's, ; where we had a Meeting the Day after. Mufpillion, 
 He did not prolefs v.'ith us, but was friendly ; and he aflced me many Qj_iefl:ions 
 concerning Baptifm, the Supper, Perfedlion, &c. all which I anfwered to his Sa- 
 tisfaction-, and, next Day after the Meeting, he expreflcd his full Convince- 
 ment in what he had heard : But I found he ftuck at the Crofs ; he could not 
 fubmit to the plain Language of thou and thee to. a n.-igle Perfon, nor become 
 unmodifh in keeping on the Hat, and declining the cuftomary Ways of Addrefs, 
 cor break off that Hcathenifli Cuftom of calling the Days and Months by the 
 Names of their imaginary Gods, which he thought too low for Matters of Re- 
 ligion i concerning all which we difcourfed next Morning, as he fet us on our 
 Way -, and in Ibme of thefe Points he was better fatisfied before -we parted : 
 Yet the Crofs was h.ird for him to bear in thefe fmall Things -, and v.'hy ? Be- 
 
 "X O caufe
 
 238 The LIFE, c^'c. 
 
 Anno caule fubmitting to the Praftice of them, immediately fubjecls a tVIun to ail the 
 1699. Scoffing and Contempt with which we are treated by the World at this Day, 
 no-way agreeable to the natural and carnal Mind: And that which rendered 
 Thino-s harder to him was, the Station and Character he iupported in the World •, 
 for he was a Juftice of the Peace, and the moll fober and knowing Perlbn in 
 thofe Parts. 
 
 After that Meeting many exprefled their Satisfaftion therewith, efpecially 
 with what Was faid conc'erning Baptifm, though it was more difficult to make 
 that Point clear to the Underftandings of the People, efpecially the weaker fort, 
 at that Time than it might have been at fome other : For there was then a ro- 
 mantick Paper handed about, falfely relating, " That in Holland had lately 
 " been obferved by fome Travellers, a certain gri?at Stone by the Way-fide, with 
 " this Infcription, Blejfed is he that turns me over ; upon which the Travellers 
 " eflayed to do it, but could not •, and many People being about it trying, but 
 " in vain, till there came one unknown, in the Form of a little Boy, of about 
 " four Years of Age, and, making the Crowd give way, turn'd the Stone with 
 " Eafe ; under which was found a Letter, pretending to be wrote by the 
 " Lord Jesus Christ, intimating. That he purpofed to come fnortly to 
 '' Judgment •, and ftriftly commanded the keeping of the Sabbath., and that 
 *' they fliould baptife their Children. 
 
 Copies of this forged Letter v/ere induflrioudy fpread about in Maryland^ 
 and in thofe lower Counties and Territories of Penfylvania, not without fome 
 Sufpicion of Prieft-craft -, for about that Time fome of them went about, as 
 Tinkers in tlieir Trade, afldng the People if they had any Children to chriften ? 
 And thofe who would pay for it, might have them made as good Members of 
 Christ, Children of God, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, as the 
 1^ Prieft was able, for fo much Money, Tobacco, or other Reward or Barter as 
 
 they could bargain for : But the Work going on flowly and heavily, there want- 
 ed fomething to quicken the Zeal of the People •, and to that End this miracu- 
 lous Event was reported before-hand, as the moft proper Meflenger to prepare 
 the Way of the Priefls before them : And that which was to have made the 
 People's Negleft in the Cafe the more to be dreaded, fuch as fliould be negli- 
 gent herein were not to thrive in the World ; for neither their Cattle, Hogs, 
 Corn, or any Thing elfe, were to profper. 
 
 The Priefts of Maryland., whence this Report and Paper came, had it read 
 in their Churches ; in which alfo they had another End, viz. to over-awe the in- 
 confiderate People into the Pradtice of fprinkling their Children, the Invalidity 
 whereof had, all over thofe Parts, been fo lately before expofed, as no Ordi- 
 nance of Christ, but a Popifli Remain. 
 
 The Wife of Jofeph Booth., before mentioned, was fully in the Belief of this 
 new-coin'd Miracle -, and what I had both argued before and preached in this 
 Meeting againft Sprinkling, and Water Baptifm in general, was extream hard 
 tor her to bear ; fo that Hie went out of the Meeting into another Room, and 
 I had not her Countenance any more while I ftaid in the Houfe : But her Huf- 
 band, being refolvcd to confefs Tnith, fo far as he was convinced, reafoned with 
 her, and faid, " That feeing he was fo fully fatisfied, by my Means, of the Truth 
 ♦' ot our Principles, if fhe found him grow any worfe for his owning them, 
 " flie might then have Caufe to be troubled •, but, till then, Hie would do 
 " well not to murmur." 
 
 On
 
 of T HO M yl S S T RT. %i,^ 
 
 On the Fourth Day, being the 15th of the Month, we went forvvard to Jc- Anno 
 feph England^, about 45 Mile?, and there lodged; and, next Day, to our 1699. 
 Friend Edward Gilo's, about 26 Miles -, and there I ftaid till the 1 Sth, and 
 then went forward to Rolert AjJoton^^ about five Miles; and that F.vening over 
 the River Delazvare, and lodged that Night with Richard Darkine, at Salem, in Salem. 
 Weji Jerfey ; and next Day, being the Firft of the Week, was at the Meeting 
 there ; but the Tcftimony of Truth running, for the moil part, toward the 
 World, and agaiaft Apoilates, I had not fo much Comfort therein as in Ibme 
 others •, yet Things were well. 
 
 On the 20th I went to Cohanzie, and lodged at Jofeph Brotvn\; and, next Cohanzle. 
 Day, had a fmall Meeting there; but the Promife of the Lord was fulfilled 
 in us, for feveral were melted and comforted in his Prefence, and I returned in 
 great Peace : That Night proving very rainy, I went home with Jc^ab White, 
 near Alloijoay'% Creek, and there lodged. 
 
 Next Day I had a Meeting, about two Miles over the Creek; wherein I 
 had Service, and afterwards was comforted in the Truth; and that Evening came 
 back with Rothsra Morris, ot Elfenhcrongh, near the River Dclazvare, where I 
 was kindly entertained ; and the next Morning, it being a hard Froft, and very 
 Cold, and the Wind pretty high, we failed crofs the River Delaware, in a fmall 
 Boat, and up George^i Creek, to Robtrt JJJotonh, being accompanied by Rothera 
 Morris, Richard Darkine, and Gabriel IVyeth. 
 
 On the 2.|th v,'e had a Meeting at Edward GIF?; which was very fmall, 
 but comfortable ; and ti:ere I Itaid till the Firft Day following, and had ano- 
 ther Meeting, which was larger, and greatly tendered ; and therein I was much 
 comforted in tlie Prefence and Power of the Lord. 
 
 On the 27th I went to John Eluzie^, about 20 Miles, and lodged there that " 
 
 Night, and had fome Service in the Family, in which I had great Peace. Next 
 Day, the Froft continuing, I had a fmall Meeting at Nezvcafile upon Delaware ; NewcaHIe. 
 which would have been lefs, had it not been the Expectation feveral were in of 
 feeing William Penn, Proprietor and Governor of Penfylvania,^x.\\Qn in the River 
 in his Voyage from England, in order to exercife his Government in Pcrfon, 
 having been abfent many Years : But he did not land there. 
 
 The Meeting being over, I lodged there that Night ; and, the next Day, 
 had a Meeting at Valentine Hcllingfworth\ ; which, though not large, was very 
 comfortable, and Friends, for the moft parr, much tendered. That Night I 
 lodged there; and, next Day, was at Chichefter Meeting, which was large and 
 comfortable, the Power of the blefled Truth beirtg over all ; and, after the 
 Meeting, I went with Philip Rumvnond, about three Miles, to his Houfe upon 
 Delaware ; and being informed tlut tiie Governor v/as under Sail near that 
 Place, and defired me to meet him that Evening near Chejier, I took Florfe af- 
 ter Supper, and went to our Friend Lydia Wade's, by Chejier, and there waited 
 till he came up in his Barge, which was within Night : And as we had parted 
 in England in much Tenderael>, my Satisfadion was alfo great to meet him i'o 
 well and fale in his own Province ; and that Night we lodged together, and 
 difcourfed on divers Subjefts, efpecially on Matters of Government. 
 
 T Fi c next Day, being the firfl of the Tenth Month, we went over Chejier ChefteiCreek 
 Creek, in a Boat, to the Town ; and as the Governor landed, fome young 
 Men, officioufly, and contrary to the expreis Command of fome of the Ma- 
 
 gillrates.
 
 240 The LIFE, ^r. 
 
 Anmo giftrate?, fired two fmall Sea-pieces of Cannon-, and, being ambitious to makf5 
 1699. three out 01 two, by firing one twice, one of the young Men darting in a Car- 
 tridge of Powder before the Piece was fpunged, had his Left Hand and Arm 
 {hot in Pieces •, upon which a Surgeon being lent for from on board a Ship there 
 riding, an Amputation of the Member was quickly refolv'd upon by Hr Grifitb 
 Oiuen, (a Fnend) the Surgeon, and fome other fKiliul Perfons prefent-, which ac- 
 cordingly was done without Delay : But as the Arm was cut off, fome Spirits 
 in a Bafon happened to take Fire ; and, being fpilt upon the Surgeon's Apron, 
 fet his Cloaths on Fire -, and there being a great Crowd ot Spt-ctators, fome of 
 them were in the Way, and in Danger of being fcalded, as the Surgeon himfelf 
 was upon his Hands and Face ; but, running into the Street, tiie Fire was quench- 
 ed ; and fo quick was he, that the [-"atienc loll not very much Blood, though left 
 in that open bleeding Condition. 
 
 And fuch is tlie Unrcalbnablenefs of Envy, and of thofe that are exercifed 
 therein, that fome fuch would gladly have blamed the Governor, becaufe the Mat- 
 ter happened on that Occafion, though he could not be any Way accellory there- 
 unto, the Aftion being without his Knowledge, and contrary to tlie Command 
 of the Magiftrates •, and fome alfo in the Country reported, that the Accident 
 had happened on tl>e Governor himfelf: But as he was above the Reach of his 
 Enemies, their Envy and Calumnies could not hurt him. 
 
 That Night I lodged at our Friend Robert Barber''?,, in Chejicr, the Gover- 
 Ccncord. nor and his Attendants going on board, in order for Philadelphia; and, the next 
 Morning, I went to our Friend Rchcri Pile's, about eight Miles, and there lodged 
 Xhat Night -, and, on the 3d Day, being the Firft of the Week, I went to Concord 
 Meeting, about four Miles : It was large and well ; but, being kept out of my 
 Exercifc too long beyond my proper Time^ by one who ought not to have fpoken 
 at that Time, I had not full Satisfadion in that Meeting, The Meeting being 
 • ended, I went home with Nicholas Pyle, and dined •, and thence to George Pcarce's, 
 
 about two Miles off, and there lodged ; and the next Day to Jojeph Baker's. 
 
 O N the 5th I had a Meeting at John Bcwaier's, about three Miles off, which 
 was very good and tender ; lor the Lord was with us, and we parted in much 
 • Love ; and that Night I lodged at Thomas Minjhall' s, about two Miles from that 
 Meeting-pkce. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting there, which was large, and feveral were 
 tendered by the Virtue of Trutii -, but I had not fo much Satisfadlion therein, as 
 in that before, yet it was well ; antl there I lodged again that Night. 
 
 O N the 7th Day I had a Meeting, about four Miles from thence, at Bartho- 
 lomrco Ccppick's, which was pretty iaige, and very tender •, after which I was ve- 
 ry eafy, and much comforted in the divine Truth ; and there I lodged. 
 
 The next Day I went to Philadelphia, about 1 2 Miles ; and, having vifited 
 .the Governor, and fome Friends in Town, that Afternoon, I lodged at Samuel 
 Carpenter'?,, as ufual, and ftaid there till the 13th. 
 
 On the 13th I went with the Governor to Chejler, to their Quarter Sefiions of 
 the Pence -, and we lodged that Night at Lydia U'ade's ; and the next Day ^'e 
 had a Meeting at the Town, which was large and open : We dined with Caleb 
 Pufey, about tv.'o Miles off-, and from thence we went, eiglit Miles, to John 
 Blmijlcn's, and there lodged -, and the next Day wc returned to Philadelphia, 
 
 where
 
 of T H M A S ST O RT T41 
 
 wliere I ftaid till the 20th Day of the Month ; and then went to a Fourth Day's Anno 
 
 Meeting, which tell in courfe at Haverford-Wefi^ among the Weljlo Friends ; and 1699. 
 
 Griffith Owen was with me : 7'he Meeting was fmall, no Notice being given^ Haverford- 
 but comfortable •, and that Night we lodged with John Beavan. 
 
 Weft. 
 
 T H t next Day Radnor Meeting falling of courfe, we went to it : It was Radnor, 
 fmall for want of Notice of our Coming, and becaufe of the Badnefs of the Wea- 
 ther -, for it rained and froze at the fame Time, and the Fields were as Cakes of 
 Ice, and the Trees of the Woods as if candied : The Meeting was indifferent 
 well J and that Night we lodged at Richard Orra's 
 
 The Day following we took Mirion Meeting alfa in coUrfe : It was large and Mirion, 
 heavenly ; for Friends had heard from the former Meetings, that we were going 
 tliat Way, and feveral from thence met us there likewife ; but our chief Rejoi- 
 cing was in this, that we met with the the Lord. Many important Truths of 
 the Gofpel were opened, and we were comforted in the bleffed Truth, and mu- 
 tually one in another therein : After the Meeting we went with John Roberts, 
 and lodged at his Houfe that Night ; and the next Morning returned to Phila- 
 delphia, and were at the Meetings there the Firft Day following. 
 
 On the 25th I went to a Monthly Meeting at Frankfort, about nine Miles Frankfort. 
 from Philadelphia ; and, being late by an Accident, a Weljh Friend was fpeaking 
 when I went in ; and, before he concluded, I was under a great Concern to ap- 
 pear in Teftimony as foon as he had done : But immediately after there ftarted 
 up one of the fame Meeting and took place ; and, when he had done, another •, 
 and, after him, another •, and then one of them prayed : and fo the Meeting 
 concluded in this kind of Hurry, to my very great Oppreffion and Exercife: For 
 the Weight of the Service of the Day was laid upon me ; but I could not have 
 any Time to difcharge it for thofe Praters, who had no Authority in the Truth 
 to meddle at that Time : For I would not break in upon any of them, but rather * 
 chofe to facrifice my Peace than break thro' a fettled Order, That no one fliall inter- 
 rupt another in his publickService -, which, tho' very good in itfelf, when rightly ap- 
 pHed, is but too often attended with bad Confequenccs, by the unfeafonablc Intcrpo- 
 fitions, fometimes of forward, ignorant, felf-feeking, and felf-advancing Preten- 
 ders •, at other Times of wilful, defigning, antichriftian Spirits, who ftart up 
 on purpofe to difappoint the real Service of the true and qualified Minifters of 
 God, the Edification of his People, and Convincement of Mankind, by their 
 divine and fpiritual Miniftry : For which the Lord, in his own Time and Way, 
 provide an effeftual Remedy ; which hath not yet fully appeared in this Difpen- 
 fation, for want chiefly of a due Application. Neverthelefs tliefe, being reproved 
 by fome of the faithful Elders after this Meeting, made their Excufes, as not 
 feeing me. come into the Place; by which it appeared they were guided therein 
 by the Sight of their Eyes, and not by the Mind of Christ, of whom it is 
 written. He jhall not judge after the Sight of his Eyes, nor reprove after the hear- Ifa. xi. 3; 
 ing of his Ears ;" But that Reproof did not relieve me from under the Load of 
 Oppreffion, or afford any Confolation to my Mind. 
 
 On the 27th I was at a General Meeting not far from thence; where I was 
 much refrefhed in the Truth, and eafed of my Burthen received in the Meeting 
 before, and that Night lodged at Samuel Cart's ; next Day I returned to Phila- 
 delphia, where I remained till the 2d of the Eleventh Month ; and then went in 
 Company of the Governor, and other Friends, to a General Meeting at Haver- HavcrforA 
 ford, among the IVelJh ; wherein we met with great Refreftxment and Comfort 
 
 3 P m
 
 14'2' 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno 
 1699. 
 
 Germantown 
 
 in the o-ood Prefence of the Lo r d : After the Meeting the Governor returned to 
 Philadelphia, and I ftaid at a Friend's Houfe, accompanied by my very near 
 Friend, Dr Griffith Owen j who, with our valuable Friend Hugh Roberts, and 
 fome others, went with me, the next Morning, to a Meeting appointed at Ger- 
 mantozm, which was large and comfortable ; and feveral Friends from Phi- 
 ladelphia being there, fome of them went up with me to the Falls of Delaware ; 
 but that Night we went only to Samuel Cart' s, a few Miles, and, in the Mornirg, 
 Nefhaminny. went to a Meeting at Nepa-minny, about ten Miles off-, where the Lord favour- 
 ed us with a comfortable Time in his good Prefence. Hugh Roberts was there, 
 but Griffith Owen returned to Philadelphia, by reafon of an Indifpofition occa- 
 Tioned by Cold ; for it was Froft, fo that we had paffed over the River Schuyl- 
 kill upon the Ice, leading our Horfes thereon ; and that Evening we went with 
 William Byles, of the Falls, five Miles. 
 
 Fallsi The next Day we were favoured with a good Meeting at the Falls ; and 
 
 that Nio-ht I lodged at Jojeph Growdon's, about eight Miles from the laft Meeting ; 
 and the Day following, being the Seventh of the Week, we returned for Phila- 
 delphia ; and, in the Way, accidentally fell in with Daniel Zachary, from Bojlon -, 
 Tobias Dimock, from Rhode-If.and; John Rodman, junior, from ISIew Tork; and 
 Thomas Steven/on, from Long-IJland, and went to I'own in Company. 
 
 The next Day, accompanied by Hugh Roberts, and fome other Friends from 
 Philadelphia, I went to the Meeting at Frankfort ; which was fmall, (no Notice 
 having been given) but fatisfaftory ; and, that Evening, I returned to Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 H E R E I remained until the loth of the Month, and then went to the Week- 
 ©arbj. Day Meeting at Darby ; which, though there was a great Snow, and no Notice 
 
 o-iven, was pretty full. All that I faid by way of Teftimony was, " The 
 " Lord filleth the hungry with good Things, but the rich and full he fends 
 *' empty away :" For that was the Cafe in that Meeting ; but I had a fatisfafto- 
 ry Time in Prayer ; and, that Night lodged with our ancient and honourable 
 Friend John Blunjion, of that Place. 
 
 Burlington. 
 
 The next Day I went to a Marriage at Randal Vernon's, in Company with 
 fome Friends from Philadelphia, where we were favoured with a good Meeting 
 on that Occafion •, and, that Evening, I returned to John Blunjion' s, and, next 
 Day, to Philadelphia. 
 
 On the 13th Day, the Governor, accompanied by feveral Friends, fet forward 
 for Burlington, in PVeJl New-Jerfey, and I alfo went with him: And, coming 
 late to the Ferry, about four Miles below the Town, and the River Delaware 
 very broad, and full of driving Ice, the Boat could go but once over that Even- 
 ing •, fo that feveral of the Company were left behind, but came next Day after 
 us to Burlington, where we were favoured with a fatisfaftory Meeting. 
 
 O N the 1 5th we relied at Burlington, at our Friend Samuel Jening's ; and, on 
 the 16th, being the Marriage-day of two of his Daughters, we had a large and 
 good Meeting on that Occafion ; and, on the 1 8th Day, we went down to the 
 Ferry, in order for Philadelphia : But the River proving impaflablc, by reafon of 
 the Ice and Floods by the mighty Rains upon a great Snow, we returned to Bur- 
 lington; and the Day after went down again, and a great Company there was: 
 and tlie Froft being fet in extream hard the fecond Time, we cut a Way through 
 
 the
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 243 
 
 the Ice which the Tides had left upon the Shore and the River, and, with much Anno 
 Labour and Difficulty, got over about Sun-fet •, and, that Night, went about i6 1699. 
 Miles to Philadelphia, where we arrived about the tenth Hour. 
 
 I ST A I D at Philadelphia till the 23d, and then returned to Burlingica, in or- 
 der tor New-York, Long-IJland, ShrezvJJjury in Eajl-Jerfcy, and Parts thereaway, 
 and got in good Time to Samuel Jenivg"?,, where I ftaid till the 25th-, and then, 
 accompanied by Ifaac Marriot, entered upon my Journey through the Jer- 
 feys, viz. by Crojwicks, 15 Miles, to Francis Davenport's ; thence to Cranbury- 
 brock, 15 Miles, to an Inn ; thence to John Inionh, an Inn upon Raritan Ri- 
 ver, 20 Miles; and, on the 26th, crofs the River by the Ferry, two Miles; 
 thence to If^codbridge, ten Miles-, thence to Eliznbeth-'Tcwn- Point, ten Miles; 
 and, the lame Night, took Boat there, and landed in Long-JJland in the Morn- 
 ing, about the fifth Hour, 2 1 Miles ; and thence to Neivtown, to Robert field's 
 nine Miles ; and, the lame Evening, to Thomas Stevenfon's, three Miles ; and, 
 the next Day, being the Fail Day of the Week, we went by Water to Flujhing; Flufhing. 
 where the Lor d gave us a good and comfortable Meeting; and then I relied 
 at Samuel Bown's till the 30th. 
 
 On the 31(1 we had a Meeting at Hampftead, 12 Miles off, and that Evening 
 returned to Samuel Boivn's ; and, the ift of the Twelfth Month, I was at the 
 Monthly Meeting at Flujhing ; where feveral Marriages were prefented, and the 
 Countenance ot the Lord was over us for good; and, the next Day, I was at a Newtv/on. 
 Marriage at Nezvtown, where we were favoured with another good Meeting ; next 
 Day, I went to New Tork, and lodged with Dr John Rodman ; and, the Day follow- New York, 
 ing, I was at the Meeting there, which was indifferent large, though the Tcfti mony 
 of Truth hath feldom any great Prevalence in that Place : Yet, at the Conclufion of 
 the Meeting, I appointed another, to be held there the next Day in the Evening, at 
 the Houfe of Thomas P^oberts ; where I had been difappointed of my proper 
 Time when laft there, and my Concern remaining in fecret till now. This Meet- 
 ing being large, I had a full and open Time therein, and then was fully clear 
 and ealy : And, intending to go from thence toward Eajl Jcrfey the next Day, 
 we were block'd up, and detained by an exceeding hard Froft ; but took occa- 
 fion to appoint another Meeting at John Rodman's, on the 7th ; which was alfo 
 large and open. 
 
 Here we ftaid till the 9th in the Morning, and then went to the Narrows 
 on Long-IJland, about ten Miles, in order for Straton-IJland ; but the Faffage be- 
 ing full of Ice, Part of our Company only got over that Night, and I and ibme 
 others ftaid, where we had but very mean Accommodations ; and, the next 
 Day, about Three in the Afternoon, we got over, but with Difficulty : For the 
 River is about three Miles over, and we were often in ^Danger ot being inter- 
 locked among the huge Cakes of Ice, and carried to the Sea ; but, by good 
 Providence, landing fafe on Straton-IJland, we lodged at an Inn. 
 
 I N the Morning we went on to the Ferry at Jmboy ; and the Sound being full 
 of Ice, we ftaid at Captain Philips'^ till Afternoon, when the Ice was taken away 
 by the Tide ; and then we got over in Canoes to Amhoy, in Eajl Jerfey ; and that Amboy. 
 Evening we had a Meeting there, and the Company of feveral ot the People ; 
 and Things were comfortable and well. The next Day, in the Evening, we had 
 another good Meeting at Woodbridge ; and, the Day following in the Evening, Woodbn'dge. 
 another at Pifcatna ; and, on the 14th, we went over the Raritan River on the Pilcatna. 
 Ice, and then, through the untrodden Wildernefs, about 30 Miles, to our Friend 
 Judadiah Allan's, in Shrewsbury ; where we were favoured with a large and shrewftury. 
 
 com-
 
 M4 
 
 Anno 
 1699. 
 
 Crofw'icks. 
 
 Mount- hope. 
 
 Burlington. 
 Nefliaminny. 
 
 Haverford. 
 Weft Jerfey 
 
 Germantown 
 
 Newtown. 
 Philadelphia. 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 comfortable Meeting next Day ; and, on the i6th, we went to Francis Daven- 
 port's,, at Crofxvicks, about 40 Miles •, and, on the i Sth, being the Firft of the 
 Week, we were favoured with a large and comfortable Meeting there ; where 
 the good Prefence of the Lord was with us, as at many other Times and Places, 
 to his own Praife. 
 
 O N the 1 5th, accompanied by feveral Friends, I went from Shrewjhury and 
 Crofwicksy to Burlington, where we met with William Penn, to our mutual Sa- 
 tisfadfioh-, and, on the 21 ft, to a Three- weeks Meeting, at Joflma Humphrey' %y 
 on Northampton River, about fix Miles off, and returned that Evening to Bur- 
 Ungton, with Samuel Jenings, who commonly entertained all Strangers in a free 
 and plentiful Manner ; and here I remained till the 25th, and, being the Firft 
 of the Week, was at the Meeting there ; and, on the 26th, I went to a Quar- 
 terly Meeting, at William Beedle's, at Mount-hope : It was large, and the Lord 
 wa5 pleafed to own us with his good Prefence. And, at this Meeting, a "Wo- 
 man, who had beeen deceived by George Keith, and followed him in his Apofta- 
 cy from the Truth, acknowledged her Out-going with many Tears, and her 
 great Lofs of the Confolation fhehad formerly enjoyed in the good Prefence of 
 the Lord among his People; and, in great Humility, Tendernefs, and true 
 Repentance, defired to be reftored, and accepted again into Unity with Friends ; 
 and fhe was accepted accordingly, and reftored in the Spirit of Meeknefs and 
 Love, to her great Satisfaftion, and likewife that of Friends : That Evenins; I 
 returned to Burlington, where was a Youths Meeting next Day, which was 
 large and comfortable ; and William Penn being likewife there, we tarried till 
 the 29th, and then went to a Quarterly Meeting at Nejhaminny, in Penfylvania ; 
 which, though not large, was well •, and, that Evening, we went, about 20 Miles, 
 to Philadelphia ; where I remained till the 5th of the Firft Month, and then 
 went to a Monthly Meeting among the Welfi Friends at Haverford ; which was 
 very large, open, comfortable, and edifying ; and, that Evening, I reuirn'd to 
 Philadelphia ; and, the next Day, I was at a Marriage there. 
 
 The next Day I went over the River into Weft Jerfey, at the Requeft of a 
 Coroner's Jury, who were to fit upon the Body of a Friend who came to an 
 uncommon Death ; and I put them into a Way of Management in the Cafe, to 
 general Satisfadtion j and, that Evening, I returned to Philadelphia. 
 
 O N t:he I oth, being the Firft of the Week, I went to the Meeting at German- 
 to-iV}i, about feven Miles from Philadelphia, and returned the fame Evening ; 
 and, on the 1 2th, went over the River into Jerfey, with the Governor and Sa- 
 muel Jenings, to vifit the Widow of the deceafed Friend aforefaid and Family ; 
 and returned that Evening to Philadelphia, and was at their Meeting on the 14th. 
 
 O N the 1 7th I had an appointed Meeting at Neivtcwn, in Jerfey ; which was 
 large and open, the Lord being with us ; and, that Evening returned by 
 Water, and the next Day was at the Youths Quarterly Meeting at Philadel- 
 phia ; which was very large and well ; and, on the 1 9th, I was at an appoint- 
 ed Meeting at our Friend John Adam's, in Jerfey, about 13 Miles by Water, 
 and that Night lodged at Widow Spicer's -, and, the next Day, returned to Phi- 
 ladelphia, though in fome Danger upon the River, but preferved by good Pro- 
 vidence •, for which we were thankful. 
 
 At Philadelphia 1 remained till the 24th, and was at their Meetings ; and, 
 ©n the 31ft, at Darly ; and, that Evening, returned to Philadelphia again. 
 
 Having,
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. i^s 
 
 Having, through the Grace of God, thus finiflied the Vifit to Friends and Anno 
 others in thofe northern Parts of Englifi America, which had been incumbent 1700. 
 upon me for fome Years before I came from Europe^ and ready to return to En- 
 gland, my true and honourable Friend William Penn, finding the Afi^airs of his 
 Province very much embarralTed and perplexed feveral Ways •, and the Refpedt 
 he bare me as a Friend, fuggefting to him an Opinion of greater Abilities in fuch 
 Matters than I was endued with, he became very importunate with me to remain 
 there for fome Time, to make him what AlTiftance I could therein : And to the 
 like Purpofe I had Letters irom feveral judicious Friends of my Acquaintance, 
 both in England and Ireland; who were concerned for the Honour of Truth, 
 with regard to the juft and reputable Settlement of Affairs in Penfylvania ; which 
 had been in much Diforder a long Time, by reafon of the Abfence of the Pro- 
 prietor -, occafioned by the many and great Perfecutions and Troubles he had 
 been under^ on various Accounts, for many Years, not only in England, but 
 likewife in his own Province, by falfe Brethren, and an apoftate Company ; who 
 deferted the Truth of God, and Equity, with that antichriftian and wilful 
 Tranfgreflbr, George Keith. 
 
 I HAVING a very great Love and Refpefl for the Proprietor, and his Regard 
 likewife fo to me, and not under any Engagement in myfclf to return immedi- 
 ately to England ; and feeing I might probably be of fome Service there, and 
 elfewhere in America, on feveral Accounts, by flaying for fome time ; and the 
 Friends in the Country being alfo generally defirous I fhould, and my Compani- 
 on alfo being departed this Life, I confented to ftay fo long as I might lee it my 
 Place. 
 
 And being altogether tranfient, and unengaged in any Bufmefs, and a proper 
 Subfiftence necefTary, the Governor appointed me to be a Member of the Coun- 
 cil of the State of the Province ; but, as there was not any Income or Advantage 
 arifing thereby, but Lofs of Time, and divers Fatigues, Exercifes, and Troubles 
 attending that Place of empty Honour, he made me Keeper of the Great Seal, 
 Mafter of the Rolls for recording of all Patents, and of the other Office, for the 
 enrolling of Deeds, and one of his Commiffioners of Property^ for enquiring in- 
 to and confirming of old Rights, and granting Lands upon new Purchafes ; with 
 Provifo in my Patent for thofe Offices, to have Deputies therein refpedtively, 
 when and fo often as my Calling in the Truth, and Service thereof, might re- 
 quire it ; and the reli of the Commiffioners of Property, being honourable Per- 
 fons of Integrity, were always to be my Deputies in the Ofhce of the Seal : And 
 though I was a Stranger in the Country, as to any Bufmefs there before, the Go- 
 vernor, knowing me himfelf, did not infill upon any other Security from me 
 than only my own Word, to be faithful in thofe feveral Polls, and to execute 
 thofe Offices truly : And, under thefe Circumftances, I fettled there for a Time ; 
 and fell alfo into much Eufinefs in my own Way of Conveyancing, to which I 
 had been enured in England : And befides, before the Proprietor remrn'd to En- 
 gland, which was in about two Years after his x'\rrival in the Country, he grant- 
 ed a Charter to the Inhabitants of Philadelphia, and thereby ereiled the Town 
 into a City or Corporation, with divers ample Privileges, and appointed me the 
 Firfl Recorder thereof in the original Patent ; but, being averfe to that Station, I 
 refign'd it as foon as the Corporation was regularly fettled, and habituated to their 
 Bufinefs. 
 
 These Offices not obliging me to any clofe Confinement to the various Bu- 
 fmefs of them, I vifited the Meetings, from time to time, in Town and Coun- 
 
 3 Q. try, 
 
 »•
 
 14^ "I^he LIFE, c^t. 
 
 A >f N o try, and alfo in the Jsrfeys, as Opportunities offered, and Need required, until 
 1702. the 15th of the Filth Month, 1702-, and then went ivova Philadelphia, in order 
 for Long-TJland ; and, that Night, lodged at Burlington with Samuel Jenings -, and, 
 the next Day, had a good Meeting with a few Friends there ; and, that Even- 
 ing, went forward to Francis Davenport'' %, at Crofwicks, in fFeJi Jerfey, and lod- 
 ged there ; and, next Day, to Judadiah Allan s, about 35 Miles, to Shreivf- 
 bury. 
 
 The Day following, being the Seventh of the Week, I refted ; and, the Day af- 
 ter, had a large Meeting at their Meeting-lioufe ; and, the next Morning afrer 
 that, fet forward {ox Amboy, 25 Miles through the Woods; but, in the Way, 
 called to fee one John Read, who, with his Family, had gone off from us with 
 George Keith. When I went to his Houfe I had nothing in my Mind but only 
 an Opennefs to fee them, having heard his Wife remained a little friendly ; but, 
 being there, it came in my Mind to afli him a Qiicftion, viz. " Whether he had 
 " ever been really convinced of the Principle of Truth we make Profcflion of?" 
 Eut he being fubtle, prefently faw the Tendency of it, and evaded a direct Anfwer 
 a long Time, by many Twiftings and Windings, as the Nature and Manner of that 
 Spirit is : But I, requefting a plain fincere Anfwer, at length he faid, " He 
 " had once been fo deceived as to imagine he was convinced of what we call 
 " Truth ; but now he found, tliat it was nothing but our great and high Pre- 
 " tences to extraordinary Revelation by the Spirit of God, and his great Defire 
 «' to Iiave it {'J, that deceived him into a Belief, that thefe Things were really 
 " fo ; and, having once received thofe Opinions, and being young, and under 
 " that Frofelfion, he durfh not from thenceforth examine whether they were 
 " true or nor -, being utterly prohibited the reading of any other Books, where- 
 " by he might have had better Information, but only the Books of our Friends: 
 " By which Means he was kept, and more entangled in thofe Errors, until the 
 " Lord had made Way for better Information." 
 
 I R E p 1. 1 E D ; " John Read, thou knoweft better Things concerning us, and 
 " in thy own Confciencc, that we are no fuch People, as to prohibit the reading 
 " of any good Books whatfocver : But it is very like, that fuch, under whofe 
 " Care thou wert in thy Youth, if they faw thee read any hurtful or unprofitable 
 " Book, might admoniOi and advife thee otherwife, as all Parents and Guar- 
 " dians ought to do -, but, as for any Prohibitions upon us, as a People, to read 
 *' what we picafe, thou knoweft there are none : But, as to thy Talk of Delufion, 
 " how doft thou knew, fince thou makes light of Revelations, or Manifeftati- 
 " ons of the Spirit, by which alone there can be any AlTurance, but that thou 
 " art nov/ under a real Delufion and Deception, and gone from the Truth, once 
 " made known in Mercy unto thee?" 
 
 Upon this he was very froward, and uttered feveral Inveftives, both againft 
 us and the Light of Truth, as teftified of in the Scriptures : Then I ufed fome 
 Means to quiet him a little, and [\\\s, Wife and two Daughters being prefent) 
 opened unto him the Myftery of the outvvard and inward Coming of C h r i s t, 
 fo far as he could bear it : And fo long as I was about what was outward, he 
 fccmed well pleafed, and faid, " He liked it well ; and that he had never heard 
 " the like from any Quaker before ;" but when I came to fpeak of the inward 
 Appearance of C h r i s t, he grew pettifh, and faid, " I was as good a Qua- 
 " ker as the beft of them -," and broke in with a Diicourfe about the Body of 
 Christ in Heaven ; the Manner of the being of it there as the fame Body; 
 
 and
 
 of T HO M yl S S T RT. 247 
 
 and his Coming at the laft Day to Judgment in tlie fame •, about which George Anno 
 Keith generally amufcd his Followers, conducing little to Amendment of Life j 1702. 
 and about which we had no Controverfy with him or them. 
 
 And feeing him fo fiir remote from the prefent Difpenfation of G o d to his 
 People, and his Mind gone to the End of the World, puffed up with carnal 
 Notions, and conceited, I mentioned a Scripture concerning the Afcenfion of 
 the Body of C h r i s t -, to turn his Mind into another and more fpiritual Way 
 of thinking on that myfterious Subjed, and to fhew him, that it was a Thing 
 cut of the Reach of his Underftanding, and hard to be comprehended. The 
 Scripture was this, Noiv that he afceiided, '•jjbat is it but that he alfo defceiided Ephiv,9,io, 
 firfi into the lower Parts of the Earth ? He that descended is the fame alfo that 
 afceiidcd up far aho-ce all Heavens, that he might fill all Things. Now feeing it 
 was the Body of Christ which afcended in the Sight of Men and Angels, 
 Was it not the fime that firil defcended from Heaven ? And how did it de- 
 fcend, fince the Scripture faith it was born of the Virgin ? And if it afcended 
 above all Heavens, that it might fill all Things, How then is it in the fame 
 Manner in Heaven as when it afcended from the Earth ? 
 
 Then he broke out as in a Mock-admiration, faying. What ! Do you fay 
 the Body that was born of the Virgin Mary came down from Heaven, and now 
 fiUeth all Things ? This is fuch Dodriue as I never heard before. 
 
 't>^ 
 
 N o, (fiid I) I fay nothing, but repeat a plain Text of Scripture, and neither 
 affirm nor deny any thing about it, but aflc thee a Queflion. And he would 
 further have perverted my Words •, as if I had faid, the Body of C h ri st was 
 every v/here, according to that old Abfurdity falfely charged upon us by other 
 Adverfaries ; as that the fame Body of Christ which afcended was in every 
 one of us, and in all Men •, and that the fame Body of C h r 1 s t, that was born 
 of the Virgin, defcended from Heaven (as a Body) into her Womb, and fo 
 was born. 
 
 When I faw him thus perverfe, I replied, that though I had not faid fo, 
 yet it might well be undcrflood, that even the Body of C h r i st, in a proper 
 Senfe, though not in his, came down from Heaven, fince the Word of G o d is 
 in Heaven, and cannot be fcparated from it. And this Word or Power of God Pfal.cxlx.8g. 
 appeared, and was manifefted, by the wonderful Operation of itfelf, in the Lukei.35. 
 Womb of the Virgin, and there affumed that Body, of the Seed of Abraham, 
 (of whom Mary came :) For the Word was made Flefi, faith John the Evangelift. John i, 14. 
 And the Word which is in Heaven, having thus aifumed Flefh, and alfo a rea- 
 fonable Soul, came into the World, (and yet was in Heaven at the fame Time) _ iii. 13. 
 and wrought Wonders in that Body ; which Body being crucified, was raifed Rom. vi. 4- 
 by the fame Word, and afcended, and by the fame Almighty Power is difpofed 
 according to the Will of the Father : But after what Manner it exifteth, we de- 
 fire to kavc with him, as a hidden Secret, to whom it belongs, looking rather 
 for what the Son promifed, viz. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. And I jo],„ ^;y j -^ 
 will pray the Father, and he flmll give you another Comforter, that he may abide 
 •with you for ever. Even the Spirit of Truth, whom the World cannot receive, he- 
 caufe it feeth him not, neither knoweth him : But ye knew him, for he dwelleth 
 with you, andfhall be in you, &c. As to any other Coming of the Son of G o d, 
 and the Manner and Time of it, we leave it to the Almighty, being fully f;uif- 
 fied in the Comforts we enjoy by the Revelation of his Holy Spirit and Power 
 in our own Hearts, to 9ur great Salvation. 
 
 Th e n 
 
 ■ 20.
 
 I4S The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Annto Then I told him, I did not think it ftrange that George Keith and his Dif- 
 
 1702, ciplcs, a lapfed Seft, did now and heretofore lb much and falfely accufe Friends, 
 behind their Backs, to the Work!, as if they had faid and written very grofs 
 Things in Matters of Religion, and denying Christ himfelf, feeing, to my 
 Face, he could have the Affurance to impofe a Senfe or Confequence of his own 
 inventing upon lb plain a Text of Scripture -, and then accufe me ot his Deduc- 
 tions, as if they were my Sentiments upon the Place and Point, (a Senfe I never 
 thought of) and fcarce gave me Leave, though in his own Houfe, to explain 
 my Meaning •, which the Friends who were prefcnt, and likewife his Wife, 
 blamed him for, and owned that I had cleared the Point to their Satisfaction ; 
 and then he and his Family were all friendly to outward Appearance. 
 
 Th I s is a moft unjuft, perverfe, and falfe accufing Spirit, that pofleffeth that 
 apofkate People. It will forge its own Confequenccs h'om the Sayings and Wri- 
 tino-s of others, and bring its own falfe Conclufions, which they never meant, as 
 Charges againft them. And being deaf to all Equity and Truth, it will not 
 hear any thing a Man can advance in his own Vindication, though ever fo right ; 
 but iViU goes on with Lies and falfe Charges ; and denying that ever it was con- 
 vinced of Truth, calls the Work of the Holy Spirit a Delufion of Satan, though 
 at the fame Time it knows to the contrary. That Spirit hath certainly finned 
 againft the Holy Ghoft, and lieth under the Sentence of juft Vengeance for 
 
 ever. 
 
 That Afternoon we went to Amhoy, and lodged there at an Inny and the 
 next Day went over the Sound into Stratton IJland, and through it to the next 
 Ferry -, but the Ferryman being abfcnt, we went along the Shore fceking another 
 Boat, but could not find any : But returning to the fame Place, there came a 
 Boa: from the o^htr Side of the Sound, which could carry two Men and their 
 Horfes, but not three. I then perfuaded the two Friends who came with me 
 from Shrezojhury, to return, and I went into the Boat with the Ferryman, and 
 ■we fail'd up the Entrance of the Sound at Elizabeth-Tcwn-Point, to gain the 
 -Wind more fairly. And being gone into Hudfon''^ River, the broad Paflage 
 over to Long-IJland, there came on a very thick Fog -, fo that we loft Sight of 
 the Shores on both Sides, and had but a fmall Breeze of Wind, which, and the 
 Fog increafing, the Boatman was afraid : But I encouraged him, believing we 
 fliould be fafe ; and foon after there appeared an open Sky, fo that we faw 
 both Shores ; and tho' the Wind had fliifted whilft the Fog was over us, we 
 were ftanding right for our intended Landing-place. The Fog quickly returned -, 
 but we had taken fuch Aim and Mcalures, when it was clear, that we got fafe 
 over, but within Night. We landed near a fmall Houfe of a poor Dutchman, 
 who had only one Bed, and he laid me down a Coat on the Floor, and a little 
 Chair at one End of it, with a little Pillow upon it ; which was fo thin, that the 
 Staves of the Chair were very difcernible through it, and the Place was likewiie 
 too fliort ; fo that I lodged but very indifferently : Befides there were Fleas and. 
 Muflittoes plenty, my Companions in the Night, not very agreeable. However, 
 I was very well contented, the Prefence and healing Virtue and Goodnefs of 
 the Lord being with me. 1 got good Water to drink, but little Viduals ;• 
 and in the Morning ftt forward, and miffed my Way feveral Times, they 
 being generally DtUch People in that Part of the Ifland, whofe Diredions in 
 the Ways I could not well underftand. About Mid-day I got well to Widow 
 Stephen's at Nezvtcwn, where I dined, and refted fome Hours, and in the Even- 
 ing went to Thomas Stevenfon's, where I lodged more comfortably that Night. 
 
 The-
 
 of T H M yl S, S T RT. -^49 
 
 The next Morning we went by Water to a Meeting at FluJJmg -, to which Anno 
 came likewife our Friends Samuel Jenings '^xom Burlington, ■Xi\i\ Griffith O-w en 1702. 
 
 ivoa\ Philadelphia, and we had an indifferent good Meeting there. TJiat Nj»lit Fkfhing. 
 v.-e all lodged with Samuel Bown at Flujhing ; and next Day liad another -'ood 
 
 Meeting at Wefi-Chefter on the Main ; and that Evening they returned over WeftChefter 
 the Sound to Samuel Bozvit's, and I went with "Thomas Stevenfon. 
 
 The 26th, being tlie Firft Day of the Week, we had a large Meetino- near 
 Ncvjtcwn, where it is kept oncc^^ a Year ; and that Night I returned to the Widow Newtown 
 Charity Stephen'?,, and tlie next Day back to FluJJjing, (the other two Friends re- 
 turning homeward) and on the 28th had a good Meeting at Hanipftead, where Hampftead. 
 I (laid that Night -, and next Day had a Meeting at 'Jericho, and that Evening Jericho, 
 returned to Flufoing ; the next Day I was at their Week-day Meetino-, which 
 was hard and ihut up at iirft, but ended comfortably ; and on the 31ft I vifited 
 feveral Families, and returned in the Evening to Samuel Bo'W}i\, where next 
 Day I wrote divers Letters. 
 
 On the 2d Day of the fixth Month, (being the Firfl Day of the Week) I 
 had a large Meeting at IVcft-Chejier upon the Main ; from whence, being accom- 
 panied by feveral Friends, I fet forward, on the Second Day Morning, towards 
 Fairfield, where I had formerly had a Difpute withieven Frelhyterian and Inde- 
 pendent Teachers, in order for a Meeting there, if a Place could be had to 
 meet in. 
 
 That Night we arrived at Stanford, and endeavoured for a Meeting -, but Stanford. 
 could not obtain a Place : For, though feveral of my Company had Relations 
 there, who would entertain them, and be very kind in other refpefts, yet a 
 Meeting in their Houfes theydurft not .admit; fo miferably are they in Bondage 
 to their Minifters. 
 
 The next Day we vvent to Fairfield; and, that Afternoon, took confiderable 
 Pains with fome other Relations of feveral of my Company there, for a Place to 
 meet in ; but in vain : At length we agreed with our Landlord, Philip Lewis, 
 for a large Room, for two Days Time, to make what Ufe of it we pleafed •, 
 and, though he knew our Defign, yet he was willing to wink at it, though he 
 was Brother-in-law to the Town Preacher. 
 
 The next Morning, calling for a Reckoning, we p.aid our Landlord for the 
 PvOom beforehand ; and tliat Day went to Stratford, about eight Miles further ; Stratford, 
 where, fending for IFilliam Bickley {JFilliam- Bickley's Son of New Tork) to the 
 Inn ; who (though gone from the Profefllon of Truth, in which he had been edu- 
 cated, yet retained a Refpeft for Friends, and profefled no other Religion) 
 came readily to us, and was very kind, and willingly let us have his Houfe tor a 
 Meeting-place, and went himfelf, and alio fent his Servant about the Town, and 
 invited the People -, many of whom, though bufy about their Harveft till near 
 Night, came to the Meeting. 
 
 A T firft there were but few came in, we fitting in Silence a pretty w^ile -, and 
 fbme of them, who did not underftand there could be any Worihip perform'd 
 to God in that Condition, went out again : But a little after, finding fome Things 
 begin to open upon my Mind, I flood up, and began to fpeak ; and, as foon as 
 they heard my Voice, they came fo faft in that they quickly filled the PLice, 
 and were very quiet and orderly : The Meeting was very comfortable, the Good- 
 
 3 R ■ nels
 
 ^S0 The LIFE, d'c. 
 
 Anno nefs of the Lord being with us -, and feveral necefTary Trutlis of the Gofpe! 
 1702. were delivered among them, and no Offence taken at all, by any Thing that 
 appeared. 
 
 The Meeting being ended, I flood up again, and fignified unto them, " That 
 " feeing I had no outward Knowledge or Acquaintance of any of them, the 
 '• Love of God to tlieir Souls was the only Motive I had to vifit them •, and 
 " if any Thing had been delivered, which they did not underftand, or had any 
 " Thinc^ to objeft in Sobernefs, and not for Contention, I would do my beftto 
 " fatisfy them •, but if they did not then, while Things were frefli in Memory, 
 " but, after I was gone, it would not be kind, if juft;" but none anfwered a 
 "Word : And they not being hafty to go away, I exhorted them, that if ever they 
 came to any of our Meetings again, to ftay with Patience until the Time of our 
 fpeaking fliould come, and to come to Meetings as near the Times appointed as 
 they could ; fince it is a Difadvantage to one that is fpeaking, and to a Meeting 
 already fettled, to have frefli People coming in ; who thereby incommode others, 
 and cannot readily perceive whereabout the Preacher is in the Matter he is 
 hamllino-, or have the Benefit of the whole, as thofe who come in proper Time -, 
 and that they would do well, not prefently after the Meeting to run into much 
 Talk among themfelves, but weigh the Matters in their Minds, and compare 
 them with the Scriptures, and let them have a due Confideration in their Hearts : 
 And then defiring, that the Love of God might be with them, and preferve 
 them, many of them made a refpcftful Bow, and fo departed in Siknce and 
 in Peace. 
 
 That Ni^ht we ftaid in the Town, where we were informed, that feveral 
 of the Members of the Independent Congregation were at the Meeting ; and 
 one of them told William Bickky, that he came to have heard Singing, and feen 
 Dancing and Sport, (for they had taken us to be Ranters, who ibmetimes had 
 gone in thofe Parts from Long-Ifland, under the Name of Friends, and, by their 
 fcandalous Behaviour, had brought a Reproach upon the Truth and us) but his 
 Mind was quickly changed ; for he foon faw that we were quite another fort of 
 People. 
 
 The next Morning IFilUam Bickley's, Wife, being a fober young Woman of 
 the Independent Way, and a young Man of the lame, aflced me fome Queflions 
 about Baptifm and Perfeftion, or Freedom from Sin in this Life ; and the Lord 
 brought i'uch Things to my Remembrance, and fo opened my Underftanding, 
 that in both Points they were fatisfied •, for I iliowed them feveral Scriptures for 
 the latter, both out of the Romans, and the Epiftle of Joh/i ; and that there is 
 only one Baptifm remaining in the Church of Christ, which is the Baptifm of 
 Christ himfelf by his Holy Spirit ; and that Sprinkling, ufed by their Teach- 
 ers, is no Baptifm, but is an old Popifti Invention and Relift •, for which there 
 is no Colour in Scripture ; and by which both themfelves and their People are 
 deceived. 
 
 Fairfield T H E fiime Day we returned to Fairfield, where the Report was arrived before 
 
 us, of tlie Satisfadtion of the People of Stratford with the Meeting there ; which 
 raifed a general Talk, and Defire in them of Fairfield oi coming to the Meeting 
 appointed that Evening •, and their Minifter and Juftice Gould faid they would 
 come alfo: But they concealed their End therein, which was not for good, but 
 evil i for, towards the Evening, when they and their Accomplices faw that the 
 People were in earneft to come to the Meeting, they held a Confultation how 
 
 to 
 
 Rom. VI. 4, 
 
 II, M, iS, 
 
 22. 
 
 1 Julin vii. 9. 
 
 — ii. 6, 14. 
 
 _v. 18. 
 
 Eph. iv. ;. h 
 
 I Cor. xii. 13.
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. iji 
 
 to diFappoint both us and them -, and, in order thereto, fent for our Landlord, An n o 
 and reprehended him for letting us the Room ■, but he excufed liimfelf, alledging, 1 702. 
 That as he kept a Houfe of Entertainment, and we were Strangers, and fo ma- 
 ny of us as might well occupy that Room, and might defire to be by ourfelves, 
 as 2 quiet religious People, differing from others in our Manners and Behaviour, 
 he let us have the Room, not at all queftioning us ^Vhat we intended to do with 
 it : But yet they fo far difcouragcd him, that, if we had not paid him behirehand, 
 we could not have had a Meeting by all Appearance -, for when he law us ma- 
 king Seats, and other Preparations for the Meeting, he came to difcourage uf, 
 faying, " Why fliould you trouble yourfelves about fuch a Thing, fince none 
 " dare come to hear you for Fear of the Minifter, and others in Authority V 
 But of this we took little Notice. 
 
 None of the People came to us till near Sun-frt, and then but few in the 
 Room, but many about the Doors and in the Court ■, and Things beginning to 
 open in my Mind, I waited for the fuller gathering of them, till they who were 
 there began to be uneaiy, lb that fome of them went out : But I ftanding up, 
 and my Voice being heard, (for none of my Company were publick) many came 
 in, and the Room was quickly full, and fome Hundreds about the Doors and 
 Windows ; and their Minifter, and the Juftice and Conftables among them : 
 and Things opening clear, and my Voice railed more than ordinary, I had a good 
 Time among them ; though I found there was War in the Spirit ot the Prieft, 
 and his Company, againft us and the Truth, at the Bottom. 
 
 The Words which I began with were thefe : " For the JVord of God is quick Heb. iv. 12, 
 *' and poiverful, and parpe-r than my tzvo-edged Stoord, piercing even to the divi- '3- 
 " ding af under' of Soul and Spirit, and of the Joints and Marrow ; and is a Dif- 
 " cerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart : Neither is there any Creature 
 " that is not jnanifejl in his Sight ; but all Things are naked, and opened unto the 
 " Eyes of him with whom we have to do: That this Word is C h r i s t, in his 
 " divine and fpiritual Appearance in the Hearts of Mankind; of whom the 
 *' Evangelift bears Teftimony, that he was in the Beginning with God, and was John i. t, 3," 
 *' God: Thzl all Things were made by him : ThM in him was Life, and the Life -I'^g' 'o> '4» 
 *' was the Light of Men : That he is the true Light, 'which lighteth every Man 
 " that Cometh into the JForld : That he was in the World, and the World was made 
 '• by him, and the World knew him not : And that this divine Word was made Flefh, 
 " (or affumed the proper Nature of Man, a reafonable Soul and human Body) 
 " and dwelt among them, full of Grace and Truth : And of his Fulnefs have all 
 " we received, and Grace for Grace. This is the only begotten Son of G o d, 
 " to whom all Mankind are dircfted by the Father, according to the Prophet 
 " of old, where he faith. Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Ele£t, in whom jj-^ ^^- ,_ 
 " my Soul delighteth : I have put my Spirit upon him •, he fhall bring forth Judg- 
 " ment to the Gentiles. Thus faith God the Lord, he that created the Heavens, _ y. 6. 
 " and flretched them out; he that fpr cad forth the Earth, and that which cometh 
 *' out of it ; he that giveth Breath to the People upon it, and Spirit to them that 
 " walk therein ; I the Lord have called thee in Right eoufnefs, and will hold thine 
 " Hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the People, for a Light 
 " of the Gentiles. This is he, the fame who was crucified in the Flefh at Jeru- 
 " falcm, according to the Teflimony of Holy Writ, and as a Propitiation for 
 *' the Sins of the whole World. This is he, who, being thus promifed a Light 
 " to the Gentiles, and all direfted unto him as fuch, as to the faving Objcft of 
 " their Faith, and Covenant of Light and Life with the Father, all muft believe 
 " in liim, obey and follow him in the Way of Regeneration, or clfe they cannot ■:" g^ "'"'''"' 
 
 " have
 
 i)'i The L I F E, e^'c. 
 
 A H N " have Salvation by him : As it is alfo written. By Grace ye are fnved, through 
 
 1 702.. " Faith ; and that not cf your/elves, it is the Gift of Gcd. Not by V/orks of Righ- 
 
 tph. ii. 8. " teoufiefs -ivhich we have done, but according to his Mercy he faved us, by the -j.-ajh- 
 
 Tit. in. ;, 6. ,, -^^^^ ^jr ^ggg,jgy^ijg„_^ ^nd renewing of the Holy Ghojl -, zvhich he fJjed on us abun- 
 
 " datttl)\ through Jefiis Chriji our Saviour. And this is the prefent Difpenlation 
 
 " of God unto us, now icornfully and contemptuouQy call'd Quakers; to 
 
 " whom this great S:dvation is come in our Day, as well as to them in that 
 
 " Day, clear from all Shadows, Types, and Figures ; without any Reprefentati- 
 
 " ons, or Commemorations of C h r i s t, as if abfent, but as ftnfibly prtfent, 
 
 " as the divine L,ight, Love, and Life from God the Father. 
 
 These v/tre fome Heads of what I had to fay among them •, and the reft 
 . was after this Manner : " That no Name of DilVinction or Contempt among 
 " Men, of their own inventing, through Ignorance or Envy, would (land any 
 " of us in ftead at the laft Day ; nothing would do then but the Name, Virtue, 
 " and Power of the L o r d of Life, the Lo rd Jesus C h r i s t, the quicken- 
 " ing Spirit, and to have Life eternal by him : That we fliall not be afked in 
 " that Day whether we had been named, or called, Papifls, Epifcopalians, Pref- 
 " bytcrians, Independants, Baptifts, Quakers, or by any other Name of that 
 " kind i but. What have been thy Thoughts, Words, and Deeds in Life ? 
 " How haft thou lived ? Flaft thou done unto all Men as thou wouldft they 
 " fliould have done- unto thee ? And as the Son of God hath already tokl us, 
 Mat xii. - -, " that a good Man, out of the good Treafure of the Heart, bringeth forth good 
 36, 37. ' " Things; and an evil Man, out of the evil Treafure, bringeth forth evil Things. 
 " But I fay unto you, that every idle Word that Men fhall fpeak, they fhall give Ac- 
 " count thereof in the Bay of Judgment : For by thy J Fords thou floalt be juflified, 
 " and by thy Words thou fl) alt be condemned: And all at laft muft be judged ac- 
 " cordino- to their Works. Let us therefore take the Advice of the Apoftie, 
 " where lie faith, het no corrupt Comnmnication proceed out of your Mouth, but 
 " that which is good to the Ufe of edifying, that it may minijler Gi'ace unto the 
 " Hearers ; and do likewife that which is good in the Sight of G o d and good 
 - " Men." 
 
 T n E Minifter ftaid (as fome of the People told us afterwards) until he heard 
 what Subjeft I was upon, and had gone on fome time, and then retired, faying, 
 " He heard nothing that was hurtful." Things going on well, and the People ge- 
 nerally very ftill and attentive, in came the Juftice at one Door, and two Conflables, 
 v/ith a Warrant, at the other : The Juftice commanded the People to difperfe, afk- 
 ino- them if they did not underftand that the Law was againft fuch Meetings ; and 
 that they might be fined every Man ten Shillings, and the Houfe five Pounds ? 
 And then he began to take down fome Names, pretending to fine them : Some of 
 them were weak and cowardly, and retired, and fome hid their Faces •, but others 
 were ofi'ended with their Magiftrates, faying, " If they were fined on that Ac- 
 " count, they would Hand one by another, and oppofe any who fhould pretend 
 " to levy it." Others cried out, " We have not Liberty of Confcience." And 
 the Tumult increafing, and the People no longer in a Condition of hearing to 
 profit, and the Truth withdrawing as to that Exercifc, I was filent. 
 
 Then fome of thofe Oppofers (as the Manner of Satan and of fuch com- 
 monly is) accufed me of making a Tumult : I replied, " That it was them- 
 " fclves that had done it, contrary to the Laws of England, and the Nature and 
 " End of the Chrirtian Religion ; for I and the People were quiet, as likewife 
 " my Friends, untill they difturbed us in our hired Houfe, where we were 
 " publickly and peaceably met in a Chriftian Exercife, in which we ought not 
 
 " to
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 15^ 
 
 " to have been difturbcd : But if any of them had any Thing to have objedled Anno 
 " againft v.'hat was delivered in the Meeting, they fliould have been filent until 1702. 
 " it had been ended -, and I would, by the Grace of God, have given them an 
 " Anfv/er, and reafonable and Chriftian Satisfaftion." 
 
 Then one of the Confrables took out a Warrant, fign'd^by Juftice Gould, 
 purporting, " That whereas it is fuppofed one under the Name ot a Quaker is 
 " at fuch a Houfe, preaching, or pretending to preach ; if any flich be found 
 " there, he is ordered to be apprehended, and taken to the Confcable oi Nor- 
 " ivalk, about eight Miles otf ; and from thence to be conduced from Con- 
 " {table to Conftable, out of the Government." 
 
 Upon this I flood up upon a Form, and told them openly, " That I was 
 " the Man that had faid all that was fiid, by way of Preaching, in that Meet- 
 " ing ; and that I was ready to obey the Warrant, if they thought proper to 
 " execute it, for we are fubjeft to Government; only I defired a Copy of it." 
 The Conftable refufed to give me a Copy, and faid, " He did not believe that 
 " I was the Man :" Then fome of tlie People told him, I was. Then laid the 
 Conftable, " FIl believe none of you ; nor do I fee any Body here that our Law 
 " takes hold of ; thefe are not fuchQiiakers as our Law is againft." Then the 
 other Conftable would have had the Warrant, pretending he would execute it, but 
 the firft would not give it him. Then we perceived they did all this to hinder 
 our Meeting, left the People fiiould receive the Truth ; and, in reality, they 
 had no Law to juftify their Proceedings. Then I exhorted the People not to be 
 cowardly, nor remain Slaves to their Minifter ; who was of their own making, 
 their own Creature-, who I fufpefted might be at the Bottom of all this, and 
 might have a particular Reafon of his own for going away fo foon, which they 
 did not fee : And then I and my Companion went out into the Street among 
 the People, the Juftice being flunk away in the Dark : They were very nume- 
 rous, and I fpoke what was further in m.y Mind among them ; and found them 
 generally difTatisfied with their Magiftrates for that Difturbance. 
 
 I T OL D them, " That their Anceftors were a religious People in their Day, 
 " and perfecuted in Old England, their native Country, for their confciencious 
 " difienting from the National Church, and the Ceremonies and Worlhip of it, 
 " and worfhipping and ferving God, according to what was then made mani- 
 " feft in their Confciences •, and, being weary of thofe Hardftiips, and willing 
 " rather, under Providence, to hazard thofe of an uncultivated Wildernefs, 
 " they procured a Charter of Liberties from the Government of Engltiud that 
 " then was : For, knowing the great Value of Liberty of Confcicnce in Matters 
 " of Religion, and the juft Right that all Mankind have thereto, by the Lav/ 
 " of G o D and Nature, they had that in their Charter for themfelves, and all 
 " that Ihould fettle under the fame, as one of their main Inducements to un- 
 " dertake the Hazard of themfelves, and all that was near and dear to them, 
 " in that Expedition -, both to the Danger of fo great an Ocean, and all the con- 
 " comitant Hardftiips thereof-, as alii) of the barbarous Natives of that rude 
 " Land they came to poftefs : But nov.' I perceive, faid I, that your Rulers in 
 " this Generation are not of the fame Sjfirit of the former, though under the 
 " fame Name and ProfcfTion ; but of the Spirit, and in the like Work of thofe 
 " who perfecuted your and their Anceftors : And yet there is a young Genera- 
 " tion, to whom is the Love of G o d in a tender Vifitation ; who being, with 
 " us, deprived of Liberty of Confcience this Evening, your Charter is thereby 
 *' in a Manner broken, and the Foundation of your Government ftiaken ; which, 
 
 ' S " if
 
 114 The L 1 I* Ej ^c. 
 
 Anno " if we were to take Advantage or ir, may work other Effects than your Ufi" 
 1702. " wary Magiftratcs and Minifttrs are apprehenfivc uf: But as we are a peaceable 
 " people, ar.d came among you only for your good, we fliall not be hafty to 
 " make an unkind Ufe of it." 
 
 And none of the People offered to juftify their Magiftrates, or blame us, but 
 generally condemned them: And we were not awanting to tell them, " That 
 " their Minifter, being of tl.eir ov/n chufing, calling, hiring, and paying, he 
 " ought to ferve but not to rule them ; and fince their Magiftrates were like- 
 " wife of their own chufing and appointing, for the good and common Weal 
 " of the People, they ought not to be infulted and tyrannized over by their 
 " Rukrs, as if they were their Slaves and Property, and, as fuch, were made 
 " for their Magiftrates : But as the Magiftrates are made fuch by the People, 
 '■' and for their Utility and Safety, fo they ought to rule them by iuft Laws made 
 " and agreed to by the People themfeives, in Matters relating to Liberty, Pro- 
 " perty, and the Safety of their Perfons; and all, both Magiftrates and People, 
 " ought to keep and obey thofe Laws when fo made and fettled •, and not that 
 " their Magiftrates fhould rule over the People as they pleafe in their own Wills, 
 " and lord it over their Minds and Confciences in Matters of Religion, and 
 " the Worftiip of the Almighty ; which is a diftind Jurifdiction referved unto 
 " the Lord him-felf, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords only, and not 
 " given to any Civil Magiftrates or Rulers of this World -, nor is it concerning 
 " the Things of the World, but the Things of G o d and his Kingdom only." 
 To v/hat was faid no Reply was made, and all ended in Peace. 
 
 Many of thofe People at that Town di Fairfield^ from time to time, ever 
 fince I had that Difpute with the feven Minifters there, will fpeak of the Difpute 
 in our Favour, and againft their Minifters ■, and their Opreffions in taking away 
 their Arms and Weapons of War ; by which, they fay, they ftiould defend them- 
 feives. Families, and Country, from Enemies, and alio their very wearing Ap- 
 parel, for their Maintenance : But yet, when thofe People are tried, they are all 
 fo much over-awed by their Minifters, that they dare do nothing to difpleafe 
 them -, not fo much as to permit a Meeting to be in their Houfes, though in 
 themfeives they incline to it. 
 
 The next Morning there came unto us feveral of the People, and again ex- 
 prelTcd their Diflatisfaftion with the Conduft of their Magiftrates in that Adlion ; 
 and, after fome farther Difcourfe v/ith them, having refreflied ourlllves, we took 
 Horfe Ibr our Journey, and called at Juftice Gculd'?. Door, with Intent to have 
 reafoned the Cafe with him, about his unchriftian and illegal Behaviour unto 
 us, both as Strangers and Subjects of the Crown of England ; but we could 
 not fee him. 
 
 And fo, having ftt holy Fire and Sword from the Lord in the Bowels of 
 the Town, we left it in Flames, but not to Deftruction, every Man againft his 
 Neighbour and Brothers-, which may it never ceafe, till the Prince of Peace be 
 known to reconcile them unto himfelf and the Father, and to govern in them. : 
 To him be Dominion and Praife, to whom alone it is due, for ever and ever. 
 
 Stanford^ T H E fame Day, after fome fruitlefs Endeavours to obtain a Meeting at Stan- 
 
 ford, we came back, about 40 Miles, to Samuel Palmer''^, where we lodged that 
 
 Long inand. Night ; and, on the 8t!i, reached Long-Jjland: That Night I lodged with Wil- 
 liam Laurence, and the Day following, being the Firft of the Week, was at the 
 
 Meeting
 
 of T HO M AS ST RT. lyy 
 
 Meeting at FluJJjing, wliich was not very open ; and, that Night went home Anno 
 with Dr Rodman : And, having appointed a Meeting at Oyftcr-Bay on the i ith, 1 702. 
 John Rkhardfon, from 7'orkJJjire, and James Bates, from Virginia, comino- tlie Flufting. 
 Day before from Rhode-IJland, came to me at my Lodging, and we went too-e- OyflerBay. 
 ther to the Meeting ; wliich was fmall, but comfortable, the good Prefence of 
 the Lord being with us. 
 
 O N the 1 2th we were at the \Veek-day*s Meeting at Jericho ; which was pret- Jericho; 
 ty large, and an open good Meeting the Lord gave us together in his Pre- 
 fence : That Evening we went all to FluJIoing, to Samuel Bown\, and were at 
 their Meeting next Day ; and, on the i/i-tli, we had a large good Meeting at 
 Jamaica, a Place about tour Miles trom thence ; anci a Court for Civil Affairs Jamaica. 
 being at the fame Place that Day, feveral Lawyers, and other Company, came 
 to us, all very fober and attentive •, and, that Evening, we returned to Samuel 
 Bcwn's, where we refted till the Firft Day following, putting our Things in 
 Order. 
 
 O N the 1 6th we went to Great-Neck, in that Ifland, to the Houfe o^ William Great Neck. 
 Mott, a young Man lately convinced by the Miniftry of 'Thomas Thomfjon ; 
 where we had a large Meeting, there being many of other People with us, and 
 all very fedatc, and the Truths of the Gofpel of Christ well opened ; and 
 that Evening we went home with Dr John Rodman. 
 
 O N the 1 7th v/e went to Neivto-wn, and lodged with Robert Field, and, next Newtown.' 
 Day, had a Meeting there, which was very open and well ; and that Night 
 lodged at the Widow Stevenfon's. 
 
 O \f the 19th we went to York, accompanied by feveral Friends; and, in our 
 Way, met v/ith one Jofeph Molly foa, with whom I had, fome time before, had 
 a Difcourfe in Maryland, about Baptifm ; which he had mifreprefented in Long- 
 JJland, and elfewhere. He began, as we rode along, to recount fome of the 
 Pafiages •, but, mifrendering them, I reprehended him ; upon which he was an- 
 gry, and faid I fcolded him -, which one of the Company contrad idling, con- 
 firmed what I faid to be due : But, finding this Man full of unprofitable Talk, 
 and a mere contentious Wrangler, and that it would be but prophaning of ho- 
 ly Thmgs, and ufelefs, to difcourfe with him upon them, I propofcd, that if he 
 would ftate his Quellion in Writing, I would anfwer him ; which he promifed 
 to do, and to which I again urged him at the next Inn ; but he evaded it, fay- 
 ing, " He would fend it to Philadelphia, when I iTiould be returned thither;" 
 but, he repeating it, I took it in writing in his Prefence, which was thus, viz. 
 
 Position, Baptifm is an Ordinance of Chrifl committed unto Men. 
 
 *' ^ How do you underftand it ; and how are you in the Pradlice of it ^ 
 " That Baptifm is fuch an Ordinance, and fo committed, appears by C h r i s t's 
 *' Words to his Apollies, Go leach all Nations, baptizing them, &c." and upon 
 this the Difcourfe ended : But though he would never own what Religion he 
 was of, only that he was a Chriftian, and I had fufpedted him to be a Popifh 
 Prieft in Difguife, I was now confirmed in my Conjefture, his Qiieftions being 
 the fame I had met with long before by fuch an one in Ireland ; who I had con- 
 futed and filenced on the fame Subjeft. 
 
 Arriving at I'ork, we had a fmall, dark, heavy Meeting there ; and, York, 
 next Morning, accompanied by feveral Friends, we crofled over Hudfon'a River 
 
 to
 
 rs6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno tq Shatton-JJland, to the Houfe of John Shadwell, he, with his Brother and one 
 1 702. more, having been lately convinced of Truth ; and, on the 2 ill we had a Meet- 
 
 Shatton- \^g- there, where none had been before : The Meetina; was well, and the People 
 very quiet -, but, after it was over, there ftood up one Captain Mannings, and 
 objefted to fomcthing John Rkhardfcn had faid againft Water Baptifm, and it 
 fell to my Lot to anfwer him -, which having done, \'o as to leave two Scrip- 
 
 1 Cor.xii. 1 2, tares upon him unanfwered, viz. For as the Body is one, and hath many Mernbersy 
 
 * ^> nnd all the Members of that one Body, being 7nany, are one Body \ fo alfo is Chriji : 
 
 For by one Spirit are ive all baptized into one Body, whether ive be Jews or Gen- 
 tiles, whether we be bond or free ; ■ and have all been made to drink into one Spirit : 
 And where Peter, fpeaking of the faving of Noah and his Family by Water, 
 (or rather by the Ark from Water, and the Deilru6bion made upon the reft of 
 
 iPet.iii. 21. the World by it) Cdith, The Antitype of which Figure, even Baptifm, doth alfo 
 >icw fave us, (not the putting away the Filth of the Flep, but the Anfwer of a good. 
 Confcience towards God) by the Refurre£fion of Jefus Chrifi. 
 
 T H E N I demanded his and their Authority for fprinkling of Infants : This 
 pinched him fo clofe, that he grew very angry, alledging that I laughed at him ; 
 (which I never did, either then, or on any other like fcrious Occafion) but if I 
 had, I told him, it was what the Thing in itfcif deferved-, being only an old 
 Popifli Remain, fct up by them under a falfe Notion of an Ordinance of 
 Christ: His Anger then increafing into Kage, he went away, and I went 
 along by him, confirming what I had faid : At length, getting out trom among 
 the People, he alledged that Scripture for Sprinkhng, where Christ faith. 
 Suffer little Children to come unto me, &c. which I rejected, as no way appli- 
 cable to the Cafe, there being nothing, either expreflfed or implied in that Text, 
 either for Sprinkling or Baptizing. Upon this he went into the Houfe, and, 
 foon after, his Spirit fell, and he became very calm •, and then began to tell 
 what Kindnefles he had formerly done to Friends at Salem, in New England: 
 and his Wife, having been pretty tender in the Meeting, made an Apology 
 for her Hufband's Paffion ■, and fo all ended in Love and Friendfhip. 
 
 York. That Evening we returned towards York, and got there about Twelve at 
 
 Night, and remained there the next Day ; and tho' there was a Ptftilential Fever 
 then raging in the Town, fo that feventeen Perfons lay dead that Day there, 
 yet Notice was given of the Meeting to be on the 23d, being the Firft of the 
 Weik, and was held accordingly ; and, tliough very thin, yet was the beft and 
 moft comfortable that ever I was at in that hard and dark Place ; for the Minds 
 of the People were humbled with Fear of the Sicknefs, and by feeing and hear- 
 ing of fo many and hourly Inftances of Mortality, and fo near ; by which they 
 were more fufceptible of Truth, and docile. 
 
 T H A t Night we lodged with the Widow Mary MaJters ; and, on the 24th, 
 vifuted a Friend that was fick, and then took Boat back for Flufoing, about 16 
 Miles by Water, and lodged with Samuel Bown ; and, on the 26th, we had a 
 
 Weft Cheikr Meeting at IVefl-Chejler, over the Sound, and returned to Samuel Bown's in the 
 Evening-, on the 27 th, were at their Week-day Meeting axFluJbing; and, that 
 Evening, went home with John Rodman, where we ftaid till the 2 9tii; and then, 
 
 \^'ettbury. accompanied with many Friends, we went over the Plains to (Vejibury, to a 
 Quarterly Meeting, where we had good Service j and the Bufinefs of the Meet- 
 ing being all iinifhed that Day, the next, being the Firft of the Week, the 
 Lord, in the Kiches of liis Goodneft, gave us a glorious Meeting in his Pre- 
 fcnce, in a new Meeting-houfe fitted up on that Occafion ; and many Hundreds 
 
 of
 
 of T H M AS ST RT, -isi 
 
 of Friend?, and Abundance of other People were there^ and generally fatisfitd, Anno 
 many Things of Importance in Religion being clearly opened by the Wifdom 1702. 
 and Power of Truth that Day ; to the Praife of the holy Name of the livin"" 
 Lord, who alone is worthy for ever : The Meeting being ended, there cam'e 
 over the Plains with us at leait 100 Horfe to their feveral Habitations in that 
 Quarter •, and, that Night, we lodged again with John Rodman. 
 
 On the 310: we v/ent to Samuel BoKvn's, vdiere we lodged that Night-, and^ 
 on the I ft of the Seventh Month, were at the Marriage oi' IVilliam Haige and 
 Mary Mafters, at FluJJjing ; on which Occafion we were favoured of the Lord 
 with his good Prefcnce, and an open fatisfaftory Meeting •, and, that Evening, 
 went, about 1 1 Miles, to our Friend John Wef%, where we lodged. 
 
 I N the Morning we were going towards York Ferry, to fee for a Boat to go Fluihing. 
 over to Elizabcth-T'oivn-Point , in Eaft-Jerfey ; but, being met in the Way by 
 WilUafn Bickley of I'ork, with an Account that there was none to be had there, 
 we went forward to the Narrows, about 1 2 Miles, accompanied by fome Friends, 
 and, with Difficulty, procured a fmall Boat of a Dutchman, that could carry one 
 Horfe only at a Time, which made our Pafiage (about two Miles over) very 
 tedious as Well as dangerous ; and my Horfe, never having been in a Boat be- 
 fore, leaped over-boafd, and returned upon the Boat with his Feet, and might 
 have overfet or ftaved it •, but being juft putting off from the Shore, we return'd 
 to Land, and, taking down the Sail, quieted him, fo that he kept in the Boat 
 the fecond Time, but with much Difficulty, till we got over. 
 
 Being all got well over to the Other Side^ none of us knew the Way to 
 the Point, (being obliged to go that Way for the Horfes of fome of our Com- 
 pany) nor could we have any Guide but a Maid from a little Houfe we met 
 with on the Side of the Sound where we landed. One of our Company took 
 her on behind him, and we got well along till we came to Captain Manning's 
 Houfe, (with whom we had had the Difpute before tnentioned) where both he and 
 his Wife were very kind to us. After we had drank, we went forward, about 
 a Mile, to a Dutchman'' & Hoiife -, who fent his two Sons, one with a Canoe, and 
 fome of the Company and Things ; and the other, with the reft of us, through a 
 boggy Marfh to a Point of Land, from which we fwam our Horfes by the Sides 
 of the Canoe we ourfelves were in : And, this being about Sun-fet, we had the 
 other Friends Horfes (left there before) to take up and pay for •, which done, 
 we went that Night, (having a Guide) about 12 Miles, to IVoodhridge, and 
 lodged with our Friend Nathaniel Fitzrandal. 
 
 O N the 3d we fet forward for Shrcwjhury ; where \^t arrived about Five in 
 the Afternoon, about t,o Miles, and lodged that Night with our Friend Juda- 
 diah Men, and, next Day, had a Meeting there ; and, the Day following, went shrewftury. 
 to Crofwicks, in IFeft-Jerfey, 40 Miles, and ftaid that Night with Francis Daven- Crofwkki. 
 pert ; and, on the 6th, being the Firft of the Week, had a very good Meeting-, 
 and, that Evening, went to Burlington, and, on tlie 7th, to Philadelphia. 
 
 Having further ordered my AfHiirs zt Philadelphia, vifited fome Meet- 
 ings in the Country, and attended the Service of the Yearly Meeting, I went, 
 in Company with fome other Friends, from thence to Burlington, back to the 
 Yearly Meeting at Sbrnvjlwy, in Eajt-Jerfey ; to v/hich came a Meflage, in 
 W rinng, from that mifcrable Apoftate, George Keith ; who, partly for Bread, 
 and the better, and the mqre fecurely and effeftually, as he might imagine, to 
 
 2 T be
 
 ^SS The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno be revenged of us as a People, for juftly denying him for his Turbulences, &c. 
 
 1702. had applied to a Bifhop of the National Church, that he might be made a Prieft 
 among them : And they, thinking he might be of Ufe to ibme Purpofes of 
 theirs ; and, being cunning and fubtle, might ferve as a Tool to pervert fome 
 weak and unliable Perlbns among us, and bring them back vainly to glory in ; 
 or he, having been long among us, might haply dilcover ibme il-cret Things, 
 of which they might make Advantage to our Hurt, if any hidden Evil had 
 been among us ■, they put him into their Deacons Orders, not being willing 
 to truft one, fo unliable in every Shape, with further Orders, till they had better 
 Proof of him, by doing fome Service for them : And, as a Deacon in their Way 
 may preach, but not adminifter their Sacraments, they fent with him one John 
 Tall^oi, a High Church Prieft, of low Confequence, to baptize, (as they mifcall 
 Sprinkling) and give Bread and Wine to fuch as Gecj'ge Keith lliould pervert. 
 And as they had begun in New England, and come along the Coafts in that 
 Work, (but to little Purpofe, for they made but very few Converts in all their 
 Journey) they came to Shreiufiury, at the Time of our Yearly Meeting, to mako 
 Difturbance, and, as much as they could, to hinder the Service of our Meeting: 
 And accordingly, on the firft Day of it, being the 24th of the Eighth Month, 
 George Keith lent the Prieft with a Paper, purporting, " i/, an Advertifement, 
 " that he purpofed to have a Meeting at the Houfe of one in Town, to begin 
 " about the Eleventh Hour the next Day, (being in the middle Time of our 
 " Meeting) then and there to detect, out of the Books of our approved Au- 
 *' thors, divers vile Errors, contrary to the Chriftian Faith, and fundamental 
 •' Principles of tlie Chriftian Religion, 
 
 2. " As alio, to be ready to vindicate the Truth of any or all the Quotations 
 " out of the printed Books of our approved Authors, contained in his feveral 
 •* printed Narratives. 
 
 ^5. " To anfwer to any of our Objeftions we fliall maliC againft him •, in order 
 *' to which he defired us to be then and there prefent. 
 
 4. " That if we were not willing to meet him at the faid Time and 
 " Place, he would meet us at any Time and Place we ftiould appoint Jiim at 
 *' Shre-wjbury, (on timely Advertifement) betwixt the 26th and 29th of that 
 " inftant. 
 
 5. " W I T H a Poftfcrlpt, fignifying, that if we did not come, he would judge 
 " we acknowledged the Quotations to be true, and a Demonftration to all intel- 
 " ligent Perfons that he had not wrong'd us in them ; but that our principal 
 " Friends (with whom we joined) have, and do hold, moft grofs and damnable 
 " Errors, to the great Hurt of our Souls, and Scandal of the Chriftian Religion." 
 
 This being direfted to two of our Minifters in particular, and to the reft in 
 general, I afked his Meftenger, 'Talbot ^ Whether George Keiih fent this Challenge 
 as one formerly caft off and rejefted by us as a People, for his Mifdemcanours, 
 or as a Minifter of the Church of England? Which Qucftion being put into 
 Writing, and figned by me and two other Minifters, and fent to George Keith, 
 he returned a long and ill-natur'd Anfwer, the Subftance whereof was thus, viz. 
 
 " A s to your two-horned Queftion, I pofitively anfwer, I fent you my Chal- 
 " lenge, both as a Perfon caft off and rejefted by you moft unjuftly, for what 
 " ye call falfely, as well as illegally, my Mifdemcanours, and alio as a Mini- 
 " fter of the Church of England." 
 
 To
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 
 
 To this we replied thus : " George Keith, We ha^'■e received thy peevifli and 
 fcofiing Anfwer [for lb it was] to our Queftions. And fince thou givelb thy 
 Advertiftmcnt and Challenge, both as a Perfon caft oft' and rejetfted by us, 
 and alio as a Minifter of the Church of England, we let thee know, that the 
 latter alters not the Cafe of the former with us : And therefore, as an Hea- 
 then Man and a Publican, we continue to rejeft thee -, defpiling all thy Works 
 of Envy and Revenge -, to the Blame of all which, and the Conltquences 
 thereof, as well as of thy manifold Dillurbances of our Meetings in America y' 
 thou hail alfo intirled that Mlniltry as Partakers, till tliey publickly difown 
 thee therein : But as thou haft begun in Print, we fliall (as hitherto) an- 
 fwer thee that Way ; which we think is beft for general Information, and 
 leaft liable to Mifunderftandings, Mifreprefentations, and Exceptions." 
 
 ■11 
 
 Anno 
 
 1702. 
 
 y 
 
 This implacable and reftlefs Adverfary continued in his evil Work of Envy 
 and Falfhood there, and afterwards at Burlington in Weft Jerfey, and at Phila- 
 delphia ; but we took no further Notice of him in that Way : But our Friend 
 Caleb Pufey, (who formerly anfwered him effeftually out of his ov/n Books j 
 making George Keith the Quaker anfwer the fame George Keith the Apoftate, fo 
 as that he could never make any reafonable Reply) anfwered him in Print foon 
 after ; and all forts of People becoming weary of him and his Work, and flight- 
 ing him, he became as the Salt which had loft its Savour •, and returning by 
 ■way of Virginia for England, he became a Parifli Prieft, and died very poor and 
 miferable. 
 
 After the Meeting at Shrewpury I returned to Philadelphia, and re- Philadelphia, 
 mained in my Bufinefs, and, at proper Times and Seafons, attended the Meet- 
 ings in Peafyhania and IVeft-Jerfey, as I found Concern and Ability, until the 
 29th D;}.y of the twelfth Month, 1703-4, and then began a Journey from Phi- 1703. 
 ladelphia for New-England on the Service of the Truth ■, and that Night lodged 
 with Samuel Jenings at Burlington ; and the next Day was at a Nine Weeks Burlington. 
 Meeting there, and the Day after at a Monthly Meeting at Crofwicks ; and on Crofwicks. 
 tli^ I hjd Day I went thirty-four Miles to Amhoy Ferry, where I was Wind- 
 bound two Nights and one Day •, and on the Fifth Day Morning got over the 
 River Raritan to Amhoy, and thence to Woodhridge, where, being the Firft of Woodbridge. 
 the Week, we were favoured with a good Meeting. 
 
 The next Morning I went to Elizabeth-Town,-^\\trt I hired a Boat for Tork, 
 and got well thither that Afternoon, and on the 8 th had a fmall Meeting there ; 
 and that Evening went into Long- I/land, and lodged at John Wey's, and next 
 Day was at the Meeting at Fluftjing ; and on the 12th, being the Firft of the 
 Week, I went over the Plains to JVefthury, where the Friends of feveral Meet- Weftbury, 
 ings were together, and there we had a large and open Meeting. 
 
 And this Year our Friend Samuel Bownas, a young Man, being come over 
 from England to vifit Friends in America, in his Teftimony in that Ifland had 
 fpokcn againft the Error of fprinkling Infants, and fomething againft the Bread 
 and Wine of the Priefts, which they call Sacraments •, of which the Lord Corn^ 
 bury, (afterwards Earl of Clarendon) being then Governor of New-Tor k and 
 Long-lfland, having been informed, and George Keith's Work of Envy remaining 
 frefh in Memory, he had arbitrarily put Sa^nuel Bownas in Prifon at a Place cal- 
 led Jamaica in that Ifland, where he was unjuftly confined, withoift any Law, J^"^^'*^** 
 about twelve Months ; and at this Place I had a Meeting appointed, -and held 
 on the 14th of this Month, which was large, very open, and \^ell. 
 
 Oh
 
 i6o - The L 1 F £, ^^c. 
 
 Anno On the 1 6th I was at Flujhlng Week-day Meeting, to which came fomc 
 
 ^703. Strangers. The Meeting was- very open and bright, and man^/' Truths of 
 
 Flufning. the Gofpel were. declared in the Authority of it, to their Satisfadlion. And the 
 
 Newtown. next Day had a Meeting near Neivtown, to which came feveral Preltyterians, 
 
 their Minifters being arbitrarily filenced by the Lord Conikiry, and 'gone out 
 
 of the Way, or abfconded ; and Things were largely opened concerning the 
 
 Pafibver, and Bread and Wine, aS being a Part of it, i3'c. 
 
 After the Meeting, as we rode along, one of the JufciceS of the Peace 
 that coinmitted Samuel Boivnas to Prifon by the Governor's Order, viz. Jonathan 
 Whitehead., fell into Converfation with me ■, upon which I told him I had ob- 
 ferved he had been at moft of the Meetings where I had been in the Ifland, and 
 afk^d him if he had any thing to objeft. To which he anfwered, that he had 
 riot any thing, but was well fatisfied ; and alfo expreffed a confiderable Diila- 
 tisfaftion in himfelf, that he had fign'd the Mittimus againft Samuel Bczvuas. 
 He was loving and refpeftful, and under fome more than ordinary Concern of 
 Mind, and went out of his Way to accompany us along the Road toward 
 Flujking., to which we return'd that Evening. 
 
 On the iSth I refted at Flujhing., and wrote Letters ; and on the 19th, being 
 the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting •, which was large, many People 
 being there from feveral Parts of the IQand where I had been before. The 
 blcfied Truth was over all ; and many Things were opened in the Authority 
 and Dominion of it, to the Praife of the Lord, and general Satisfadion of 
 Friends and People. 
 
 ^'h E next Day I vifitcd Samuel Bownas, in Prifon at Jamaica, and that Even- 
 
 Vv'tft-Chefter '"S returned to Flujfjing ; and the next Day had a Meeting at Wejl-Chejler, 
 
 which was more open tlian ufual in that Place ; after which I was very eafy, 
 
 and inwardly comtorted in the divine Truth •, and that Night I lodged with 
 
 Edward Grij^th on that Side the Sound. 
 
 On the 22c1, (accompanied with our Friends Stephen Hicks and William Bur- 
 ling) I fet forward for FLhode-IJland ; (Edward Griffin and Charles Morgan going 
 with us about ten Miles) and that Night lodged at Ncrthiualk, where we had 
 much Difcourfe with our Landlord, and two Strangers, all of the Prefbyterian 
 or Independent Way, (who are often well furnifli'd with Tongue and Lip Re- 
 ligion) about the Principles of Truth, and Things were opcn'd well and clear j 
 fo that all their Objeclions were anfwered. 
 
 Fairfiekl. The next Day we went on to Fairfield, where, by fome Difcourfe with our 
 
 Landkjrd, Pbil.'p Lewis, and fome others of the Town, we underftood that fe- 
 veral of them were diflatisfied with their Minifter for his Pride and Infolcnce •, 
 and that they were willing to exchange him with their People at Stratford, for 
 their Minift-r, and give them One Hundred Pounds in Exchange, the latter 
 bcincr a modeller Man, and more diligent in his Office. We called at IFilliara 
 Bickley's at Stratford, where I had fome Difcourfe with one v/ho began v/ith me 
 about Bread and Wine : But feeing him an Apifli Mimick, afls-ing Queftinns, 
 and then rambling to other Points before he would hear an Anfwer, I aflced 
 him if ever he had taken that which he called a Sacrair.ent ? And he anfwered. 
 No. Then, laid I, thou haft no Right to argue about it : Neither did I think 
 it proper to diicourfe religious Matters with one fo much of the Temper of 
 Pont:us Pilate, afkirg Qucilions and not ftaying for Anfwers ; with fome other 
 
 Words
 
 of T H O M ^ S ST RT. i6i 
 
 Words of Reproof, and then he quickly fell under. And from thence we went Anno 
 forward to Neivhaven, and lodged at an Inn ; and the Court fitting there, and 1703. 
 n:any People in Town on that Occafion, they were generally civil and courteous, 
 and we had no Difpute with them. 
 
 In the Morning we fet forward and baited at Guilford, where I had fome Dif- Guilford. 
 Gourfe with three Strangers about Predeftination, and fome other Points. One 
 of them managed the Difcourfe on their Part, and the reft were fiJent ; and at 
 Jength he was filenced, and foon after retired out of the Room. They were not 
 bitter, but rather inquifitivt ; and Things opening clear in a Senfe of divine 
 Grace, I hope they were profited -, for, feeing them again in the Street as we 
 took Horfe, we parted with them in a friendly Manner. And fo we went for- 
 ward to Killingf-worth, where I once had a Difpute (together with Samuel Jenings 
 and Roger Gill) with an old Prefbyterian Teacher, one Pearfon, and, I think. 
 Regent of a College there, and yet living. The Landlord quickly remember'd 
 me, and began to fpeak of that Difpute in the Audience of feveral Strangers ; 
 which gave me an Opportunity to reprove him tor mifreprefenting that Difpute 
 to feveral Friends who had travelled that Way, as well as to fome others ; which 
 put him much to the Blufli : And then I repeated, in his and their Audience, 
 the State of the Queftion ; and alfo the Regent's Arguments and ours : And 
 neither our Landlord, who heard the Difpute, nor any of the Company, oflfer'd 
 to gainfay, or undertake to anfwer thofe Scriptures cited by me to prove the Pof- 
 fibility of a finlefs Pcrfedlion on this Side the Grave •, which was the Subje<5l the 
 Regent and I had been upon before. The Scriptures are thefe, viz. If we walk i John i. 7, 
 in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have Fellowfoip one with another, and the ^.•. 9» 'o 
 Blood of Jefus Chrift his Son cleanfeth us from all Sin. If we fay that we have no 
 Sin, [or have not finned] we deceive ourfelves, and the 'Truth is not in us. If we 
 confcfs cur Sins, he is faithful and juji to forgive us our Sins, and to clcanfe us from 
 all Unrighteoufnefs. Again, For this Purpofe the Son of God was manifefted, that — iii, 3, 6, 7, 
 he might defray the Works of the Devil. Whofoever is horn of God, doth not com- ^' 9 
 mit Sin : For his Seed remaineth in him, and he cannot Jin, becaufe he is born of 
 Cod. 
 
 b. .3, 
 
 14. 
 
 V. li 
 
 The n, all in hafVe, a little hot Man broke in as at a Broad-fide, with his 
 Notions about Predeftination ; affirming, that God, from Eternity, hath 
 pre-ordained fome Men perfonally to Deftrudtion ; and that the Number is fo 
 certain and definite, that not one can be added or diminiflied ; and that Ch rist 
 did not die for them, but for the Eleft only. To which I anfwered. That 
 Christ himfelf is the Eleft Seed; and is the Propitiation, not for himfelf, for La. xlii. i. 
 he had no Sin, but for the Sins of the whole World. This he denied. Then 
 I told him he denied the Teftimony of the Apoftle John in that Point, where 
 he faith. He is the Propitiation for our Sins ; and not for ours only, hut alfo for the i John ii. 2. 
 Sins of the whole World. For all have finned and fallen fjort of the Glory of God. 
 And if there had been fuch a Decree, or perfonal Fore-ordination, it muft be 
 the Will and Defire of God that it fhould be fo : And feeing Christ fuf- 
 ttred as a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World, he futfered for thole 
 who were determined to Dcftru6lion, (if fiich there had been) as well as for 
 thofe ordained unto Life ; but to no Purpofe as to the former, and God doth 
 nothing in vain. But that God doth not will or defire the eternal Death of any, 
 appears under the higheit Credentials, where the Lord faith. Have I any Plea- Ezek. xviii. 
 fu7-e at all that the Wicked pould die, faith the Lord God ? and not that he fhould ^3, 3°. 3'. 
 return fr an his Ways and live. Say unto them. As I live, faith the Lord God, I _lxxxiii 11, 
 have no Pleafure in the Death of the Wicked, hut that the Wicked turn from his 
 Way and live : Turn ye, turn ye from your evil JFays \ for why will ye die, Houfe 
 
 3 U ■ of
 
 i62 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno of Ifrael ? When the Righteous turnetb from his Rightecufnefs, emd commit teth 
 
 1703. Iniquity, he fioall even die thereby. But if the Wicked, turn from his Wickednefs, 
 Ezek. xxxiii. ^^^d do that which is lawful and right, he fljall live thereby. Here, and in many 
 
 >y. '9- other Places in that Prophecy, the Lord places the Deftruftion of Man upon 
 his own Will, and not upon any Aft or Decree of G o d -, where he likewile faith, 
 Hof. ,\iii. 9. o Ifrael, thou haft dejlroy'd thyfelf; but in me is thy Help. And again, it is tefti- 
 I Tim. ii. 3, fied by an Apoftle of Christ, that God our Saviour will have all Men to be 
 4' iiS "■ faved, and come unto the Knowledge of the 'Truth ; and that Jefus Chrifi gave him- 
 felf a Ranfom for all, to be teflified in due Time. Therefore I believe God, and 
 deny that Predeftination, as falfe Do<5frinc, alTert it who will •, as it is alfo writ- 
 ten. Let God be true, and every Man be a Liar, in this Dodtrine, as in all other 
 Things wherein bold and ignorant Men do contradi£t him, and, with the old 
 Gen. iii. 4. Serpent, give him the Lie. 
 
 Upon this the Man was fo enraged, that he abufed us much with reproach- 
 ful Language, without Rebuke from the reft ; which gave me occafion to re- 
 prove them all ; him, for his irreligious Abufes, and them, (being his Supe- 
 riors) for fuffering it in their Prefencc, without exprefling any Dillikc •, and fo 
 placed it upon them all, one as Aftor, and moft of the rell as Approvers and 
 Abettors of it •, and yet fome among them were more friendly. And having fur- 
 ther rebuked the Folly of this rude Perfon, we departed in Peace, with an 
 elderly fober Man in our Company, with whom I had fome friendly Difcourfe 
 upon the Subjedt of Baptifm, in which he made no Oppofition ; but confeffed 
 he had not heard fuch Things before, and laid he would confider them further 
 another Time ; and we parted in Friendfliip. 
 
 That Evening we paffed over the great River Seabrook, or Co7ine5ficut 
 River, at the Ferry, and lodged that Night at an Inn kept by one Richard 
 Lands, an Independent by ProfelTion, a fober Man -, where fome young People 
 were finging, fiddling, and dancing when we went to the Door, but as foon as 
 they faw us, they defifted, and departed •, which gave occafion for fome Dif- 
 courfe concerning the State of that People when they firft came into that Country, 
 and the Degeneracy of this Generation ; which he very readily confefs'd was 
 their unhappy State. 
 
 1704. On the 25th of the Firft Month, 1704, we fet forward, and, that Night, 
 Stonington, lodged at one Sexton's, at Stonington -, and, in the Evening he began fome Dif- 
 courfe about their Sacraments, afking our Reafons for the Difufe of them ; 
 upon which 1 gave him feveral, viz. " The Bread and Cup being Incidents of the 
 " Jewijh Paflbver, and typical of Christ himfelf, who is the Antitype, and 
 " the true living Bread which comes down from Heaven, as foon as Men expe- 
 " ricnce him to be fo in their Hearts, all Obligations ceafe as to our Continuance 
 " any longer in the Figure, as it is written, Js often as ye eat this Bread and 
 " drink this Cup, ye JIjcw the Lord's Death till he come. 
 
 " Now the Qiieftion arifes. What is meant by his Coming ? We underftand 
 " it of his fecond, inward, or fpiritual Coming, without Sin unto Salvation, 
 " in all them who beheve and wait for him, in all Ages: And this we, through 
 " the Goodnefs and Mercy of God, do experience to be true, that he is come 
 " in that bleffed and laving Manner in us ; and therefore the Obligation of the 
 " Ufe of the Bread and Cup, in the Senfe in which ye now ufe it, being at 
 " an End to us, we difufe it : And moreover, as it was the Jews PafTo- 
 " ver, never incumbent on us the Gentiles, and fulfilled by Christ, it is not 
 I Cor.xi^ 26. *' obligatory upon us. And befides, as the Apoftle faith. As often as ye eat this 
 
 " Bread,
 
 26. 
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. iCi 
 
 " Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do Jhcw the hordes Death till he come : Seeing Anno 
 
 " then all thole who continue in tliefe Shadows are only fhewing forth his 1704. 
 
 " Death until he come, they bear witnefs againft themfelves, that they are yet 
 
 " dead unto him, and that he is not yet fo come unto them unto this Day; 
 
 " and, being ignorant of his Life, they are not rifen with him, but are yet in J°^" ^- ^S» 
 
 " their Sins, and in a State of Death. Befides, we do not find that this was a 
 
 *' Command to all the Difciples oi Christ at that Time, or that any more 
 
 " were then v/ith him but the twelve Apoftles •, much lefs can it be fuppofed 
 
 " extenfive to all v/ho fliould come to be his Difciples afterwards. 
 
 *' And, as it was the laft Paflbver, and fulfilled by him, when he gave them 
 " the Cup, he faid. Take this and divide it among yotirfehes ; but did not com- 
 " mand them to give it, or the Bread, to others. And further, as the Apoftle 
 " Paul was a true Miniftcr of Ch r i s t, to all neccITary Intents, not one whit 
 *' behind the chief of the Apoftles, and yet was not fent by C h r i s t to bap- 
 " tize with Water, but to preach the Gofpel ; fo likewife, though we, in our 
 " Day, have a Difpenlation of the fame Gofpel, in fome Degree, committed 
 " unto us of the Lor d, to preach his inward Coming, yet we have no Com- 
 " mandment from him to adminifter either fuch Bread or Cup, or Water Bap- 
 " tifm in any Form ; nor do we believe that any others have it at this Day : and 
 " therefore we juftly and reafonably decline either to adminifter or receive them." 
 
 And, as he could not oppofe us herein himfelf, he brought out a Bible printed 
 with Notes ; and, having read the Annotations on the laft Chapter of Matthew, 
 about Baptifm and Sprinkling, they appeared fo impertinent that himfelf would 
 .not aflert the Truth of them, or infift upon it ; but, after fome time, was filent 
 on the Point, I having proved to him that there is but one only Baptifm remain- 
 ing in the Church of Christ, and that is, his Baptifm by his Holy Spirit. 
 
 In fome further Difcourfe I had occafion to fpeak of their Minifters, and 
 how they were made and fent by one another only, and not by C h r i s t ; and, 
 though called by the People, not always by their Inclinations, but by the Sub- 
 tilty and Management of thofe Minifters, and their Aiders, Accomplices, and 
 Parties ; and that their firft View and general Aim was, to live upon them ; 
 and that when they had Places, they would exchange them for better, without 
 any Regard to the People : though they commonly deceive the weak and ig- 
 norant with an unreafonable Pretence of a Miffion from Christ, by the 
 Words in Mattheiv, where he faid unto the eleven Difciples, Go ye therefore and. 
 teach all Nations, baptizing them in (or rather into) the Name of the Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghoft, &c. And though it doth not appear that the Lord ever 
 commanded thofe Men-made Minifters, yet they run, and, according to the Ex- 
 tent of the Words of Chri st unto his Apoftles, pretend a Call from him to 
 preach unto all Nations, and to baptize them ; though they commonly take up 
 at the next Town that will entertain them for Hire and Pay, and baptize none, 
 but only fpnnkle little Children, who do not need it, nor does it them any good 
 at all : So that they do not anfwer their pretended Call in any refpeft. 
 
 This put our Landlord to a Stand, and made him filent, being a fober 
 Man ; and we had little more Conference on thofe Subjefts, but all ended in 
 Friendfhip -, and we found afterwards that one of thofe Minifters had married 
 his Daughter, and was in the Company when we began to difcourfe, but flunk 
 away into another Room, not caring to fay a Word in his or their Vindica- 
 tion. 
 
 On
 
 164. 
 
 Anno 
 
 1 704. 
 
 Narraganfet. 
 
 Newport. 
 
 7lje LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 On the 26th we rode 25 Miles to a Meeting, at the Houfe of cilr Friend 
 Ro'ujland Robinfon in Narraganfet^ which concluded well, though heavy in the 
 Beginning ; and, that Evening, we went five Miles farther with that Friend to 
 another of his Houfes, where we lodged •, and, next Day, we went over the 
 Sound into Camnkut-ljland^ and lodged that Night with our ancient and honour- 
 able Friend, and able Minitler ol the Gofpel, Ebenezer Slocomb ; 'and, on the 
 28th, we went over the Sound into Rhode- IJland, to the Monthly Meeting at 
 Nezvport, and that Night lodged at Thomas Cornweir Sy a Friend of the Miniftry, 
 and of Note among Men. 
 
 Dan. vi. 5. 
 
 ■Brlilol. 
 
 Now, for the better underftanding of what may follow in the Profecution of 
 this Relation, I think proper to obferve here, that this being in the Time ol the 
 Reign of Queen yinne, when fhe, the Emperor, the Dutch, iic. were Confe- 
 derates, and at War vjith. Lewis XIV. King oi France, the Government ot New- 
 England was preparing to invade Canada, a French Colony on the fame Conti- 
 nent •, and there being many Friends at that Time within that Government, 
 who they knew could not bear Arms on any Account, as being contrary to our 
 Confcience, and Sentiments of the End and Nature of the Chriflian Religion ; 
 which teacheth nottodeftroy, but to love our Enemies : and this People oi'Nezv 
 England-, old in Enmity and Cruelty againft us, and willing to take Advantage of 
 the Occafion to opprefs us, (as the Babylonians againfV Daniel oi old) made a Law 
 to this Effeft, " That fuch of the Inhabitants of that Government, as, being 
 " qualified, or able to bear Arms, and regularly fummoned, fhould refufe, they 
 " fhould be fined •, and, retufing to pay the Fine, fhould be imprifoned, and fold, 
 " or bound to fome of the Qiieen's Subjects within that Colony, for fo long a 
 " Time as by their Work they might pay their Fines and Charges." 
 
 On the 29th of this Month we went to an appointed Meeting at Brijicl, on 
 tJie Main, where two of our young Men, viz. John Smith and 'Thomas Alacamore, 
 were Prifoners ; being imprefs'd, by virtue of this Law, to fight againft the French 
 and Indians, under the Government oi Bojton : The Meeting was in the Prifon, 
 and feveral of the People came in, and fome of them were a little tender ; and, 
 after the Meeting, having exhorted the young Men to Faithfulnefs, we went, in 
 the Evening, bark into Rhode- JJland, and lodged with Thomas Cornwell, junior, 
 and, the next Day, to Newport, to their Week-day Meeting, where I was much 
 comforti-d in the divine Truth in my own Mind, but had no publick Exercife. 
 
 On the 31ft I refted there; and, going to fee one Benjamin Newbury, a Man 
 in Reputation for Wifdom, and his Wife a Friend, having fome Difcourfc with 
 him on various Subjefts, and more particularly about War, (a Topick on which 
 the Minds of the People were much exercifed at that Time) he was filent at laft: 
 I then took him by the Hand, and advifed him not to think to be too wife for 
 the Truth ; and fo left him, and went away, in great Peace, to a Friend's 
 Floufe in Town ; where came fome Friends I had left there, who told me, that 
 Benjamin Newbury fat filent fome time after I came from his Houfe, and then 
 aflced fome of them. How a Man could be too wife for the Truth.'' To which 
 the Friend anfwcred, " That the Wifdom of this World being Foolifhnefs with 
 " God, and the carnal Mind Enmity againft him, Men might be fo full of it, 
 " as, confultirg therewith, they might difobey the Truth; thinking the Ways 
 " thereof too mean and contemptible to be embraced and followed ; and there- 
 " by neglcft the Time of their Vifitation, being too wife, in the Wifdom of 
 " this World, to embrace Truth in the Simplicity of it ; and yet the 7'ruth, 
 " in itilU, is willr and iironger than all, both Men and Angels." 
 
 And
 
 of T E M A S ST RT, r6s 
 
 And, that Evening, v/e had a Meeting at Walter Clark's, the Deputy Go- Anno 
 vernor, which was large j for, being the Time of a Court, many People were in 1704. 
 Town from divers Places ; and fome Truths of the Gofpel opened well, and 
 in a good Degree of the Authority of it, to general Satisfaction. 
 
 On the ill of the Second Month, being the Seventh of the Week, I went, 
 accompanied by feveral Friends, to vifit Daniel Gould, an ancient Friend of the 
 primitive fort, beaten Gold, well refined, having been perfecuted in time paft 
 by the Presbyterians and Independents of New England, and now confined by 
 Lamenefs and other Infirmities of Age. Some of his Family were likewife ill of 
 a Diftemper then infefting that Ifland, which to many prov'd mortal : In rela- 
 tino- fome Paffages of Truth, his Heart was fo warm'd with Zeal for the Profpe- 
 rity of it, that we had a comfortable Time therein together, he declaring feve- 
 ral found Truths in the Life of it among us : From hence we went to vifit his 
 Son's Widow, who was under great Exercife, by the Lofs of a tender Husband, 
 a young Man generally efteemed in thofe Parts •, and there I had a good Time 
 in declaring fome Things for her Help and Confolation ; and, Samuel Freeborn 
 having prayed, we returned to Newport. 
 
 The next Day the Meeting there was large, and many Strangers prefent : The Newport. 
 Subject given me was Baptifm, whicli opened largely and clearly, with fome 
 other Matters and Things -, and I heard of none difpleafed, but feveral, of di- 
 vers Notions, well fatisned : On the 3d I vifited fome Friends near Newport, 
 and returned that Evening to Thomas Cornwell's ; and on the 4th, in the Even- 
 ing, had another Meeting in Town, at Walter Clark's ; which was large, and 
 many Strangers there, as well in the Houfe as at the Windows •, and I heard of 
 rone diffatisfied fave one Man, who, being a Papift, took Offence at my fay- 
 ing, " The Crofs of C h r i s t is not a Crofs of Gold, or Silver, or other 
 " Metal, or of Wood, or Stone, to be taken up in order to follow him •, but 
 " the Wifdom and Power of G o d, reproving and crolTing the Wills and Lufts 
 *' of Mankind in their own Hearts •, and the Way to take it up is, to believe 
 *' in it, and follow it in its Manifeftations : But as to thofe invented Croffes, 
 " how neat foever, and prettily contrived, or richly adorned they may be, they 
 " are of no Value in Religion ; for the Evil One will tempt Men, and prevail 
 *' over them too, though they crofs themfelves with their Fingers ever fo much, 
 " or wear fuch Croffes ever fo many." He bare it fo as not to fliew any Un- 
 eafinefs in the Meeting, but told a Friend afterwards, " That he liked all very 
 " well except that, but hated fuch damned Refledlions." A Friend telhngme 
 of it next Day, I fent him word, " That I knew nothing of him in the Meet- 
 " ing, nor of his Crofs ; and therefore defired him to confider the Thing fur- 
 *' ther, and not to blame me for doing my Duty, feeing it might be for his In- 
 " formation. Reproof, and Reformation, rightly received and ufed." 
 
 The next Day I was at the Meeting at Portfmouth, and, the Day after, at Portfmouth. 
 Newport Week-day Meeting again, which was well and comfortable •, and, on 
 t\\t 7th, I v/ent towards Briftol, on the Main, where the two young Men were 
 Prifoners for refufing to bear Arms, in order to have had a Meeting there ; but, 
 the Wind being very high, we could not get over the Water : That Night I 
 lodged at Gideon Freeborn's, and, the next Morning, accompanied by feveral 
 Friends, I v/ent to vifit his Son and Daughter, near the Place ; where we had 
 a very comfortable Time in the divine Prefence and Love ; and from thence 
 we went to Jacob Moll's, to vifit the Family -, and thence to Abraham Anthony's, 
 to vifit his Wife and Son, both ill -, and there we were favoured with a good 
 
 3 X Sea-
 
 i66 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 .Anno Seafon likewife. We afterwards vifited Awe Bull, an ancient Friend, and, that 
 ^7°4- Night, lodged at yOung Thomas Corn-weW^; and, the next Day, being the Firll 
 Newport. of the Week, we had a large open Meeting at Newport; the People being ge- 
 nerally latislied with the Dodtrine and Teftimony of Truth delivered among 
 them, in the Autliority of it ; and the Governor of the Ifland having been at 
 this Meeting, I went to vifit him the next Morning, and found him very re- 
 fpedful •, and, after feme Converfation on various Subjefts, I took Leave, and 
 then vifited feveral Friends, the Place at that Time being fickly; and, that 
 Evening, had a Meeting at Thomas CorinveW %, junior, about five Miles from New- 
 port \ where we were favoured with a Senfe of the good Prefence of the L o r d, 
 and a frefli open Time ; and that Night I lodged again at Thomas CornweWs. 
 
 Briftol. 
 
 On the t ith, accompanied hyTho^nasCorfrdvell, fenior, and fome otherFriends, 
 I went to Brijiol again ; where the two young Men aforementioned were Pnfon- 
 ers, having been notified, as they call it, to appear in Arms againft the French 
 and Indians in the prefent War -, which they, for Truth's fake, refufing, were 
 fined each five Pounds •, for Nonpayment whereof they were imprifoned in that 
 Place, where they had remained about nine Weeks. 
 
 Being in the Prifon with them, and many other Friends prefent, we were 
 favoured with a good Time in the Prefence and Love of G o d together ; and, 
 the lame Evening we had a large and good Meeting in Town^ at the Houfe of 
 one Job Rowlands : The Chimney happened on Fire twice in the Beginning of 
 the Meeting ; but Friends generally keeping their Places, and moft of the refl 
 by their Example, it made but little Dillurbance -, Truth was over all, and the 
 People generally fatislied : For I heard of no Objeftion to what was delivered, 
 but from the Man of the Floufe, about Baptifm, fome few Things having been 
 faid on that Subjeft ; upon which I had fome Difcourfe with him the next Day, 
 and then he feemed pretty well fatisfied : and alfo by a Woman, who faid, 
 " She liked all well, both Sermon and Prayer, only I did not pray for Forgive- 
 " nefs of Sins ; and fhe had heard ({he faid) we never did." She did not fpeak 
 to me herfelf, but I anfwered the Perfon that informed me of it, " That it 
 " might be remembered, that I gave Thanks unto God on Behalf of my own 
 " Community there prefent, for his great Mercy in fending his Son C h r i s t for 
 " our Redempdon, and for his great Goodnefs in forgiving and palTing by many 
 " Sins andTranfgrelTions in and through him -, and that it might pleal'e the Lord 
 " to preferve us in Time to come, by his Grace and good Spirit, that we might 
 " not trelpafs againft him any more ; but that the reft of our Lives might be 
 " pure and holy, to the Honour of his great Name: For the Lord having 
 " forgiven all our Sins pafl* for his Name's fake, and teftified the fame in us 
 " by his Holy Spirit, we afl<; not Forgivenefs any more for what he hath alrea- 
 " dy pardoned, but render unto the Lord the Thanks and Praifes due for fo 
 " great a Work and Mercy." 
 
 The Prifoners not being called before the Court that Day, Thomas Cornwell 
 and I went to the Floufe of Colonel Nathaniel Byfield (about a Mile from the 
 Town) next Morning : When we went in he was very boifterous, reproaching 
 Friends in general as a fort of People not worthy to live upon the Earth ; par- 
 ticularly thofe of Rhode-IJland and Nczv England, who would not go out, nor 
 pay their Money to others, to fight againft a common Enemy fo barbarous as are 
 the Indians ; wiflring us all in the Front of the Battle until we had learned bet- 
 ter -, charging us with many Errors and Herefies in Religion by the Lump ; in- 
 ftancing only in refufing to fight, and believing a finlefs Perfedion in this Life. 
 
 When
 
 xi. 48. 
 
 of T HO M A S S T Rr. %6j 
 
 When he had a little vented his Fury, I, being over him in the Truth, re- Anno 
 turned upon him, and faid, " I was lorry we fliould find him in that Temper, 1704, 
 " and that too in his own Houfe, cfpecially on fuch an Occafion ; when we, 
 " being Strangers, were come only to requeft a reafonable Favour of him, he 
 " being Judge of the Court ; and that was, to defire him to confider the Cafe of 
 " our Friends as a Matter of Confcience towards God, and not of Cowardice, 
 " nor of Obftinacy againfl Rulers or their Laws:" Upon which he flounced 
 out again, with repeated Charges, faying, " That the Apoftle Paul, a better 
 " Man than any ot us, cried out of a Body of Sin and Death j and that when 
 " he would do good. Evil was prefent with him." R0m.vm.2i; 
 
 Upon this I called for his Bible, and offered to prove out of the fame E- 
 piftle he hinted at, " That the Apoftle was, at that Time, preaching the Doc- 
 " trine of Freedom from Sin in this Life ; for though he proves, in the fame 
 " Epiftle, both Jews and Gentiles under Sin, yet he preaches Freedom from Sin — Hi. 9. 
 " through Christ, to both, even in this prefent World ; and alfo that War — '^'"- '2- 
 " and Fighting is contrary both to the Doftrine of C h r i s t. End of his Co- Marv.'44. 
 " ming, and Nature of his Kingdom ; and that it was upon his (this Judge's) Luke vi. 27, 
 " Principles, that the Jewifi State crucified the Saviour of the World." , ?5- 
 
 T H E N he flounced all about the Room again, and faid, " He could not fl:ay, 
 " for there were a hundred Men waiting for him, and he muft be going :" Yet, 
 foon afttfr, growing a little calm, he aflced us if we had eaten any Thing that 
 Morning ? And we confefling we had not, he called for Viduals and Drink, and 
 would have us eat with him ; and faid, " He could be content to fee us another 
 " Time at his Houfe, to difcourfe Things, but could not then -," yet ceafed not 
 to repeat and multiply his Charges againfl us : But we did not abate him any 
 Thing ; for, finding he was lb violent againft us for not fighting, I afked him, 
 " Seeing he was fo keen of War, why was he not among the reil in the Expe- 
 " dition then on foot againft the Indians ; for, if he had Courage to his Stature, 
 " he might do fomething more than meerly talk againft the Infidels: but 
 " it is eafy and fafe to fleep at home thylelf." Then he faid, " He had no 
 " Commiffion on that Account." To which I replied, " That might be his 
 *' own Fault, if it was any ; for, no doubt, he might have one if he defir'd it, and 
 *' durft venture his Life in a Caufc he accounted fo necelTary and honourable." 
 
 This he did not feem at all to take amifs ; but, as we were fitting down to 
 eat, he faid, " He would not offend us in ufing any Ceremony, (meaning what 
 " they commonly call their Grace before Meat) knowing we did not like it." I 
 replied, " That though we did not rufh into fuch Exercifes towards God in our 
 " ownWills and Time, without due Confideration and Fear, without any Senfe 
 " of the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication upon us ; in •which State we could not 
 " txped: to be heard in our own Name: yet we never receive the Mercies of 
 "God but with due Reverence and Acknowledgement in our Hearts unto 
 " him, the great Author and Giver of them •, but that we dare not prefume to 
 " pray unto the Almighty, till we have a Senfe of the AiTiftance of the Spirit of 
 " his Son, the L o R D J E s u s C H R I s T, the only IntercefTor and Mediator be- 
 " tween God and Man ; fince the moft holy Man that ever was ought not to 
 " bow in his own Name or Power, but in the Name, Virtue and Power of J e- 
 " su s :" And fo we fat a little while in Silence, and then ate and drank with 
 him i and he made us freely welcome. 
 
 When we had done, he walked to the Town with us; and, in the Way, 
 we converfed on various Subjefts ; and he faid, " He thought it might be well, 
 
 " if
 
 i68 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno " if we (Friends) were al! fetted inaPlacebyouifeIves,wherewecouldnotbetrou- 
 1704. " blefome unto others by our contradicliousW ays." To which I replied, " That 
 " if they fliould fend us out of all Countries where we at prefent refide, into one by 
 " ourfelves, if fuch an one could be found, that would not eafe them ; for more 
 " would fpring up unavoidably in our Places : For what would the World do 
 " if it fhould lofe its Salt and Leaven ? it would be in great Danger of total 
 " Corruption." At this the Judge looked a little furprized, but made no 
 Anfwer -, but his Anger being much over, he became more calm and friendly, 
 and told us what he intended to do with the young Men, our Friends ; and that 
 was, to fend them to the Governor at Bofton, that, leeing they would not fight, 
 nor pay their Fine, they might work at the Fort till they had paid it by their 
 Labour. We faid, " That was hard, it being only a Cafe of Confcience with 
 " us, in which we ought to obey God and not Man, whatever may be the Con • 
 " fequence of it." We had heard before this, that his Determination was not 
 according to their own Law by which he was to judge ; which provided. That 
 the Prifoners fhould be difpofed of, or fold to fome of the Qiieen's Subjefts 
 within the Colony, or bound Servants for fo long Time, as by their Servitude 
 they might pay the Money and Charges. 
 
 T H u s, converfing together, we walked into the Town ; and, notwithftand- 
 ing his former Paffion, being now much altered, he took us kindly by the Hands 
 m the Street, before many People, when we parted. 
 
 After this we went to the Prifon to fee the young Men, and acquainted 
 them, that we could find little Ground to expedl any Favour ; at which they 
 feemed altogether unconcerned, being much refign'd to the W^iU of Go d at that 
 Time -, and we ftaid with them in the Prifon the moft of that Day, they not be- 
 ing called into Court till the next Afternoon. 
 
 W M E N the Goaler was commanded to bring the Prifoners into Court, iri 
 order to their Sentence, there came two Captains to guard them ; and I hearing 
 one of them fay to a Friend, >' Could fo many wife Men, as were in Bojion Co- 
 Luke xvi. 6. " lony, who made that Law, be all miftaken ? and are you wifer than they ?" 
 Eev.xvii. I. To whom I replied, " Seeing all Nations were once drunk with the Wine of 
 — xviii. 3. " the Wrath of the Fornicadon of the great Whore, that Woman drunken with 
 " the Blood of the Saints, and Martyrs of Jesus, it was no Wonder to fee fo 
 " many drunken Men fo much miftaken, as to make fuch deftruflive perfecu- 
 *' ting Laws." This put the Captain to Silence ; and fo I left him. 
 
 The Prifoners being brought into Court, Thomas Cornzvell and I, and many 
 other Friends, went in with them ; and tho' we had our Hats on, the Judge 
 was neverthelcfs fo far indulgent, as to order us Seats, but that our Hats fhould 
 be taken off in a civil Manner by an Officer •, and fiid, " That if he thought 
 there were any Religion in a Hat, he would have the largeft he could purchafe 
 for Money. 
 
 I REPLIED, " We did not do that with any Difrefpeft to him or the 
 " Court ; (neither did any of us at any Time) but our Hats being part of our 
 " Cloathing, we knew not any Harm, nor intended any Affront to the Court, 
 " by keeping them on : And though Religion be not in the Hat -, yet where 
 " it is fully in the Heart, the Honour of the Hat will not be demanded, or 
 " willingly given or received, by the true Diiciples of him who faid, / receive 
 John V. 41, <■<• not Honour from Men. But I know you, that ye have not the Loie of God in 
 
 " you.
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 1^9 
 
 " yen. Hew can ye believe, which receive Honour one of another, and feek not Anno 
 " the Honour that ccmeth from God only ?" 1 703. 
 
 The Prifoners being at the Bar, the Judge afked them the Reafon of their 
 Obftinacy, (as he called it) running again into feveral high and undue Charges 
 againft us as a People ? The young Men modcftly replied. It was not Obftinacy, 
 but Duty to God, according to their Confciences and religious Perfuafions, 
 which prevail'd with them to refufe to bear Arms, or learn War. But the 
 Judge would not, by any Means, feem to admit there was any Confcience in 
 ir, but Ignorance, and a perverfe Nature ; accounting it very irreligious in any 
 who were perfonally able, and legally required, to refufe their Help now in 
 Time of War, againft Enemies fo potent and barbarous as the French and In- 
 dians ; with repeated falfe Charges againft us as a People, faying, " Since we 
 " could pay to publick Taxes, which we knew were to be applied to the Ufes 
 " of War, Why could we not pay thofe which were by Law required of us, 
 " inflead of our perfonal Service, and to excufe us ? " 
 
 Then I ftood up, and defired Leave of the Court to fpeak, which was 
 granted ; and faid, " If the Judge pleafed to keep to the prefent Bufinefs of 
 " the Court, concerning the Prifoners, I would, with Leave, fpeak to the 
 " Point of Law in the Cafe ; but if he thought fit to make it his Bufinefs to 
 *' continue to charge us as a People with Errors in Matters of Religion, not 
 " properly before him, I fliould think it mine to anfwer him in the Face of 
 *' the Court; publick and undue Charges laying a NecefTity for, and excufing as 
 " publick Anfwers." Adding, " That though what he had faid of our pay- 
 " ing one Tax, and refufing to pay another, was gratis diSlum -, yet I could 
 " give the Court a full Diftinftion and Reafon, why we could pay the one, 
 " and yet not the other." Which the whole Court, except the Judge, v/as 
 defirous to hear, and he too was filent. 
 
 " I BEGAN with the Example of Christ himfelf, for the Pa yment of a 
 " Tax, though applied by Cafar unto the Ufes of War, and other Exigencies 
 " of his Government -, and was going on to fhow a Difference between a Law 
 " that diredly and principally affefts the Perfon in War, requiring perfonal 
 *' Service, and a Law which only requires a general Tax, to be applied by Rulers 
 *' as they fee Caufe, and atfeds not the Perfon : For though we, as a People, 
 " readily pay fuch Taxes, impartially aflefied •, yet, as the Kingdom of Christ John xviii. 
 " is not of this World, his Servants will not fight, thougli they may and ought ^' 
 " to pay Taxes, according to the Example of Christ their Head." 24, &c. 
 
 The Judge, perceiving how inconfiftent this would prove to their prefent 
 Purpofc, interrupted me, faying, " I would preach them a Sermon two Hours 
 " long, if they had Time fo hear me :" but feveral of the Juftices were dif- 
 pltafed with what he faid ; for they defired to liear me. 
 
 Then Thomas Cornwell, a Friend of good Repute and Intereft in Rhode-IJland, 
 defired them to be careful what Precedent they made upon this Law-, fince neither 
 he, nor any of us knew what might be the Effects of it, or how foon it might be a- 
 ny of our Cafes •, and that it would be very hard upon us to be fold for Servants. He 
 then demanded a Precedent, where, at any Time, in any other of the Qiieen's 
 Dominions, any of her Subjcfts ever fold others of them, for the Payment of 
 Taxes laid by their Fellow Subjc6ts, on any Pretence whatfoevcr, where Con- 
 fcience and Dutv toward God, and Christ the Lord, was the only Caufe 
 
 3 Y of 
 
 XV)1.
 
 170 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno Oi" kefufal ? Adding, that he could never pay any of thofe Taxes, though he 
 1703. fhould be fold for Payment of them. 
 
 Truth came gradually over them, and Things grew very heavy upon them, 
 though they ftill perfifted in their own Way : And John Smith, one of the Pri- 
 foners, faid to Judge Byfield, " That he alio muft come one Day to Judgment, 
 " before a greater Judicature ; and therefore defircd him to be careful what he 
 " did :" "Which the Judge feemed to take as a Charge, or Imputation of In- 
 juftice ; but pafTed it by without further Refentment. 
 
 Some Time being fpent in this Manner, the Court adjourned till towards 
 the Evening ; they, as we thought, being unwilling either to ufe Severity, or be 
 conquered by us, and give away the Caufe once tor all ■, as a Releafe of the 
 young Men might have proved to all who fhould be in like Circumftances for 
 the future: However, at our Departure, I acknowledged the Civilities we 
 had met with from the Judge and Court, for fo it was in the main ; and, our 
 Hats bting delivered us, we accompanied the young Men back to the Prifon ; 
 where, being fet down together, the Prefence of the Lord was fenfibly with 
 us, and I had fome Things to fay concerning Faithfulnefs unto God, and the 
 great Reward of it here and hereafter; and one of the Prifoners, and fome 
 others, were tendered : And having likewife prayed, and about to depart, we 
 found the Prifon Door was locked, by which we were detained a fliort Time af- 
 ter ; for the Goaler having been reproved for fuffering us to have Meetings in 
 the Prifon, and had Injuniftions that no more fliould be allowed of, was fearful; 
 and therefore had lock'd the Door, and left us. 
 
 And now followeth an Abftraft of the Judgment of the Court at their next 
 
 Sittins;, viz. 
 
 B' 
 
 Bristol, fl". " A T her Majefty's Court of General SefTions of the Peace 
 " /~\ for the County of Brijiol, on the fecond Tuefday of 
 " ^pril, 1704, Nathaniel Byfield, Y^ia^^ PveCident, John Brown, fhmnas Lemiardy 
 " Ebenezer Brent on, Nathaniel Paine, Joseph Churchy Henry Mackintojh, Efqrs. 
 " (reciting the Proceedings) order. That the faid Smith and Maccomber be re- 
 " turned to her Majtfty's Goal in Brijiol, there to remain in fafe Cuftody, until 
 " fome Perfon or Perfons appear to pay the faid Sums, {vix. Smith the Sum of 
 " Seven Pounds Four Shillings and Ten Pence, and Maccomber Seven Pounds 
 " Four Shillings and Two Pence) in full for Damage and necefiary Charges 
 " arifing by their Default ; or fome Perfon or Peribns fliall tender to take the 
 " faid Offenders in Service, for fuch reafonable Time as her Majefty's Juftices 
 " within the Town of Briftol, or any three of them, together with the Sheriff 
 " of this County, fliall think meet and reafonable ; or until a Warrant from the 
 " Governor fhall be direfted to the Sheriff of this County, requiring their being 
 " removed down to the Caflle -^saxBcfton, as aforefaid, (viz. in the Recital of the 
 " Proceedings) where they are to work as Pioneers for fuch Time, undl, by 
 " their Service, they pay and fatisfy the Sums above-mentioned, now due, with 
 " other Cliarges that fhall become due ; which, being fully accompliili'd, the 
 " faid Smith and Maccomber to be releafed," A true Copy. Attefts 
 
 JOHN CAR Y, Clerk. 
 
 Parting with the Prifoners, and others that Evening, in much Love 
 and divine Peace, Thomas Cor}iwell and I went the flime Evening over two Ferries, 
 to Ji^fi'ph irantcns, and there liada Meeting-, which was fmall, by reafon of 
 the Shortnefs of the Notice, and not very lively, confifling, for the moll part, 
 
 of
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 2.71 
 
 of labouring People, newly come from their Work -, yet the Lord was good Anno 
 to us, being prefent with us before we parted. 1 704. 
 
 The next Day we had a Meeting at Seconet, which was very hard and dull, Seconet, 
 little appearing in Teftimony but Reproof and Judgment ; and that Evening 
 we return'd heavy to Jcfeph JVanton'^ where I remained as it were dead and 
 comfortkfs till the next Morning : But fitting down a little with the Family, and 
 the Friends who were with me, and waiting upon the Lord, his blefTed Pre- 
 fence overfhadow'd us, to our general Comfort ; fo that thofe Friends of Rhode- 
 IJland there prefent went chearfully home, and I with the Company that went 
 Vv-ith me, departed thence in like F-njoyment, to the Praife of our living Lord, 
 the Fountain of all our Mercies. 
 
 That Night we lodged with Peleg Slochum^ where we were very eafy and 
 well ; and next Day (being the Firft of the Week) went to the Meeting at Dart- Dartmouth. 
 mouth ; which was large, and the blefTed Truth was over all, to the Glory of his 
 great Name, who liveth, and reigneth, and is worthy for ever and ever. After 
 the Meeting, we went to vifit Eliezer Smith, (Father to one of the Prifoners 
 before-mentioned) and having dined, went to John Tucker's,, where we lodged 
 that Niojht. 
 
 o 
 
 Th e next Morning we called at the Houfe of one Daniel Shepherd, whofe 
 Wife had been at fome Meetings, but neither of them profeffed Truth. She 
 was very ill of a Fever, and made many Promifes, that if it might pleafe the 
 Lord to reftore her to Health, flie would be more faithful : For though fhe 
 had not been guilty of any great Evil, (as fhe faid, of her own Accord •,) yet fhe 
 had not been fo faithful and diligent in following the Lord as fhe ought, ac- 
 cording to what had been made known to her. We fat down, and the divine 
 Truth began to work, and, after fome Time, I was concerned in Prayer •, which 
 being over, I took the Woman by the Hand, and fhe was full of the Love of 
 Truth, and faid, fhe never had been fo comforted in this Life before, giving 
 me many Thanks for it. I bid her give the Glory to God, and no Thanks to 
 me ; for it was his Love and Power which comforted her, and I was only the 
 Inftrument of it for her Good •, and, exhorting her to retire inward to the Lo rd, 
 to feel more and more after his divine Prefence in herfelf, we departed thence. 
 
 And, as we went forwarJ, we called at the Houfe of our Friend Samuel 
 Jenings, where a Prefbyterian Teacher had been offering fome Difcourfe to his 
 Wife, in his Abfence, about Religion ; fuggefting fome Errors therein on our 
 Part, and boafling of his own Abilities •, and flie told us he was newly gone 
 to have his Horfe fhod near that Place. We told her we had nothing to fay to 
 him •, but if he wanted any thing with us, we would ftay for him, if he would 
 come quickly. He had no mind himfclf to come ; but one Samnel Spooncr, a 
 Baptift, being with him, urged him, and he came to us, and told the Friends and 
 Baptift it was to let them lee he was not afraid to meet us -, but having the Tooth- 
 ach, as he pretended, and being all muffled up about his Face, he fhow'd an 
 Unwillingnefs to any Difcourfe, not being awanting to blaze his Malady, and 
 the Pain and Trouble of it ; defirlng of the Friend fome Oil of Pennyroyal, as 
 a Medicine, which fhe gave him. Then I told him, I had heard he wanted to 
 be rightly informed concerning our Principles, (for fo the Friend had likewife 
 told us) and if he pleafed to tell me what Points he wanted to be f^xtisfied about, 
 1 would endeavour to do it \ but he not defiring Information, and I not feeing 
 any one there to receive Information by any Difcourfe with him, nor any Good 
 
 in
 
 171 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 A N K o in impofmg any, did not ofifer it, neither did he ; but though my Heart was full 
 1704. of the Goodneis of God, during all this Time, yet it did not relate unto him, 
 but proved to be for another Service : For the Presbyterian being gone, the 
 Baptift began to talk about Bapdfm ; on which Subjcft, having aalwered all 
 his Arguments and Allegations, and likewiie about a finlefs Perfeftion in this 
 Life, and manifefted the Inconfiftency of War and fighting, with the Chriftian 
 Religion, Doftrine of C h r ist, and Nature of his Kingdom, and put him. to 
 Silence, we departed thence in Peace ; and I heard afterwards that he was much 
 fatisfied, faying, he had never before heard thofe Things fo plainly and fully 
 opened. 
 
 Rochefrer. T H A T Evening we went to Sippycan, (otherwife called Rochefter) and lodged 
 
 with our Friend Aaron Barlozv, and next Day had a Meeting there : It was 
 
 Sandwich. fmall and hard, but ended well ; and, after the Meeting, we v/ent to Sandwich, 
 and lodged with our Friend Daniel Allen. That Night, though late, cams to us 
 One Capt. William Bajfett^ a Man of good Temper and Underftanding as a Man, 
 the greateft Difputant in thofe Parts for the Presbyterians, againft all others, and 
 (in the State he was in) even againft the Truth itfelf, according to the preient Di- 
 fpenfation of it to his People, having often difputed with Friends concerning War 
 and Fighting ; who being come, at that Time, to fee a Copy of the Judgment 
 againft the young Men before- mennoned, (for not training, nor going to War 
 againft the French a.n<^ Indians) I took occafionto fay, " That Chriftians ought not 
 
 Ifa, ii-2,— 5. " to fight, or learn War. And that whereas God hath faid by his Proph.ts, li 
 " fiall come to pafs in the lajl Drys, that the Mountain of the Lord's Hcufe Jhall 
 " be ejiablijljed in the 'Top of the Mountains, and floall be exalted above the Hills ; 
 " and all Nations JImH flow unto it. And many People fhall go and fay. Come ye, 
 " and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the Hcufe of the God of Jacob, 
 " and he zvill teach us of his Ways, and lae ivill walk in his Paths : For, cut of Zion 
 " fljallgo forth the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerufalem. And he 
 " fhall judge among the Nations, and flioll rebuke many People : And they fhall 
 " beat their Swords into Plow-fhares, and their Spears into Pruning-hocks : Na- 
 " tion fiall not lift up Sword againft Nation ; neither floall they learn War any 
 " more. O Hcufe of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the Light of the Lord. 
 
 "Now all tliis the Law of the Government of Bofton contradifts, where it 
 " faith in exprels Words, //// above Sixteen, and under Sixty Tears of Age, fhall 
 '• appear in Arms, and be trained up in War. And upon thefe Scriptures I ob- 
 " ierve, that the Nations, or any of them, fo long as they will continue to re- 
 " jeift the Lord J e s u s C h r i s t, the true Light which lighteth every Man 
 " which cofneth into the World, (in which the Houfe of Jacob, the true 
 " Church, walketh) and follow their own Corruptions, Lufts, and Laws made 
 " by themfelvcs, to fupport them therein, they will, from Age to Age, go on 
 " in War and Deftruction one of another, as well after the Coming of Christ 
 " in the Flefli as before : Yet the true Difciples of Christ, his Church, (which 
 " is not national) are thofe who fpeak the Language of thofe Prophecies in their 
 " Actions, as well as Words and Dotilrine •, they will not fight now in Defence 
 " of the Religion taught by Christ and his Prophets and Apoftles, more than 
 " his Difciples in the Days of his Flelh would fight for his Perfon •, Fighting, in its 
 " Root and Nature, being oppofite to C h r i s t and the End of his Coming, who 
 " teacheth us to love Enemies, and not to deftroy them, and came not to deftrcy 
 " the Lives of Men, hut to favethcm. The Language of his Followers, the fa- 
 " ved of the Lord, is. Come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, 
 " to the Hcufe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his Ways, and we will 
 " walk in his Paths. And, O Houfe cf Jcccb, come ye, and let us tvalk in the 
 
 Light
 
 ^ ■> 
 
 lb 
 
 of T H O M A S S T R T. z 
 
 " Light of the Lord. For all People will walk every one in the Name of his God., Anno 
 " arid ive will walk in the Name of the Lord our God, for ever and ever. And 1 704. 
 " the Nations of them that are faved fhall walk in the Light of the Lamb." 
 
 A X D, at the fame Time, we had fome further Conference about Juftification 
 and Sanftification, and Freedom from Sin in this Life. ■, wherein I informed 
 him, " That the Lo r d's Way of Sanftification and Juftification, is, to make 
 " Men jiift, who were not fo, and holy, who were bctore defiled by Sin : As it 
 " is faid. Either make the 'Tree good, and his Fruit good; or elfe make the Tree Mat. xii. 23. 
 '■'■corrupt, and his Fruit corrupt : For the Tree is known by his Fruit. For wc are Eph. ii. lo^ 
 " his IVorkmanfoip, created in Chrift J efts unto good Works, which God hath be- 
 " fore prepared, that we fhould walk in them. And have put on the new Man, '"°'' '"' '"' 
 " which is renewed in Knowledge, after the hnage of him who created him. Tlie 
 '■■'• Lord Jesus Christ came not to five Men in their Sins, (that cannofc 
 " be) but from them, and all the dreadful Eflfefts of them, and to bring them Mat. i. 21. 
 " into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God." Eoni. 8. 21. 
 
 The Subftance of all thefe Things the Captain heard with good Temper 
 and Solidity, and feem'd pretty well fatisfied ; and I heard he fpake afterward 
 in Commendation ot that Difcourfe, unto feVeral Perfons of his own Perfuafion, 
 on Hihdry Occafions : But before we parted, I faid unto him, " That I fliould 
 " be glad to fee fome of the more moderate fort of their Magiftrates and Mi- 
 " nifters, and to difcourfe with them about religious Matters •, for I fufped we 
 " are not rightly underftood in divers Points of Religion by them :" which, by 
 the Sequel, he bore in Mind, though at that Time he faid not much to it. 
 
 The next Day, being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meeting-day, we 
 ftaid at Sandzvicb ; and that Evening went to Succonefs, and lodged at John 
 Gifford's. 
 
 The Day following we had a fmall, hard, drowfy Meeting there, and re- Succonefs. 
 turned in the Evening to Sandwich, and lodged at the Widow Mary Perry's. 
 
 Th e next Day we had a Meeting at Tarmoiith, and that Night returned to Yarmouth; 
 Sandwich, and lodged at John Wing's. 
 
 On the 2 2d we refted at Sandwich ; and next Day, (being the Firft of the 
 Week) had a Meeting there, which was large, and indifferent well. And here 
 I fhall note a Paflage with the Prieft of that Place* 
 
 ^D^ 
 
 Having had fome occafional Conference with Capt. Baffett, one of the 
 Juftices of the Peace of that Place, as above hinted^ a Friend told him on the 
 Seventh Day before our laft Meeting, that I purpofed to call at his Houfe on 
 the 24th, about Nine in the Morning, wh.ich I accordingly did, where I found 
 affembled a great many Friends and others ; for my Intentions of calling occa- 
 fionally being known, they on both Sides expeded a Difputc, of which I had 
 no Notion or Apprehei-Xion : But foon after we had enter'd the Captain's Houfe, 
 and drank a Glafs of Cyder, he made a fliort Speech to me, in the Audience 
 of as many as could throng into the Room, to this Purpofe^ viz. " Sir, You 
 " told me upon our laft Conference, that you could be glad to fee fome of the 
 " more moderate fort of our Magiftrates and Minifters, and to difcourfe with 
 " them on religious Subjects ; here are feveral of our Magiftrates prefent, 
 " (pointing to them) and this Gentleman (pointing to one in the Room) is our 
 " Teacher." 
 
 ^ Z To
 
 174 '^^^^ LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno To this I anfwered, by giving them a Relation upon what Occafion and 
 1 5^04. Subjefts the Captain and I had been dilcourfing -, and that what I had faid con-' 
 cerning their Magiftrates and Minifters, was with refpeft to them at large in 
 the Province, as I might have Occafion, and not in that Place only, my Incli- 
 nations being to endeavour to perluade them to more Moderation concerning 
 our Friends, now in the Time of War, and to give them a more diftinft Know- 
 ledge of our Principles than I perceived they hitherto had ; but had not any 
 Thought of fuch a Gathering •, that befides, there was only one of their Mini- 
 fters there : Plowever, feeing fo many People had heard ah-cady what Subjefts 
 the Captain and I had been upon, I was willing we fhould refume them in their 
 Audience. And upon my mentioning that Point of Freedom from Sin in this 
 Life, their Minifter (whofe Name was Rollon-God Cotton) anfwered. That " ic 
 " is the Duty of every true Chriftian, to afpive alter Freedom from Sin in 
 " this Life." 
 
 I REPLIED, " That feeing he acknowledged that to be a Duty, he muft, 
 " of Confequence, own it poiTible ; and that therefore there was no need to 
 " fay any more about it." 
 
 lev. xix. 2 To this he replied, " It is faid, Ye fhall he holy ; for I the Lord your Gcd am 
 
 " holy : And yet who will prefume to fay, he is as holy as G o d ?" " 1 hen, 
 
 — vii. 8. " faid I, the Scripture faith, Sanctify yourfehes therefore, and be ye holy : Fcr I 
 
 " mi the Lord your God. And ye floall keep my Statutes, and do them : I am the 
 
 " Lord which fan£fjfy you. Seeing therefore it is the Lord who fanftifies, his 
 
 " Work is perfeft, he doth it fully; and what God hath fan<51:ified, let no Man 
 
 Adi X. r ^. " call common or unclean. And G o d's People (who are fo indeed) are a holy 
 
 Dcut.vii. 6,7. " People : As it is written. For thou art a holy People unto the Lord thy Gcd : 
 
 — XIV. 2. (J cf^^ j^^^^ ^^^ Q^^ y^^j^ chofen thee to he a fpecial People unto hmfelf, above all 
 
 " People that are upon the Face of the Earth. The Lord did not fet his Love upon 
 " you, nor chufe you, hecaufe ye were more in Number than any People, (for ye were 
 " the fewejl of all People ;) but hecaufe the Lord loved you, &c. 
 
 I ADDED further, " That we fpake not of Degrees of Holinefs, as compa- 
 " ring Man with God therein, otherwife than the Lord himfelf hath done : 
 " But as God is abfolutely perfeft, and infinite in all eflential Attributes, mo- 
 " ral and divine ; fo there is a Holinefs applicable to Man as a perfefl: Creature 
 Gen. i. 2-'. " of G o D : For in the Beginning Gcd created Man in his own Image, in Righteotif- 
 " nefs and true Hcli-nefs ; and yet we do not fay that Man was equal therein 
 " to G o D : Even fo, Man may be truly reftored by G o d, through Christ, 
 
 — V. S. " to the fame Holinefs, and may, .and ought to confefs it, to the Honour of 
 
 '^ God, without any Prefumption •, feeing that fince the Fall of Man, and 
 " before the Coming of Ch rist in the Flefh, God hath thus faid to his 
 " People, Be ye holy, for I am holy ; which the Lord would not have faid, if 
 " like Hohnefs with his own had not, through his Word, been attainable by 
 " them. And fo likewife of God's Righteoufnefs, as well as his Holinefs, 
 3 John iii- 7- " '^^here it is Cai^Little Children, let no Man deceive you : He that doth Righ- 
 " teoufnefs, is righteous, even as he is righteous." 
 
 Upon this their Minifter was filent -, but the Juftices and People being de- 
 fiFous that fome other Points ftiould be moved and debated, Capt, Baffett, ha- 
 ving great Sway among them, propofed that we fhould adjourn from his Houfe 
 to their Meeting-houfe, (near by) where I might (if I could) make out the 
 Matter more fully, With what elfe might occur, before the People. To this 
 the Minifter was averfe ; but the Captain, being feconded by the reft of the Ju- 
 ftices,
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 177 
 
 itices, the Minifter was over-ruled, and to the Meeting-houfe we went, and the Anno 
 People followed us. It was fome Time before their Minifler pitched upon a Point 1 704. 
 upon which to oppcle us ; but at laft, (notwithftanding what had pafTed before) 
 he moved this Queftion, (as thinking himfelf ftrongeft in that Point, in the com- 
 mon Opinion of the People, into which the Pricfts of every fort have deceived 
 them) viz. 
 
 "Whether there be a State of Freedom from Sin attainable in this Life ?" 
 And I, being willing, as the Lord might enable me, to make our Doftrine, 
 in that Point, plain to the People, affiimed the Affirmative ; and my Opponent 
 afllimed the Ne2;ative. 
 
 "o 
 
 The Affirmative being mine, I was to prove it ; and accordingly began and 
 proceeded after the Manner of the Apoftles Paul and John : Firft to prove, 
 " That all Men comnnonly fm in this Life in a State of Nature, or are liable 
 " thereto by Temptation ; and then, that the Offers of Salvation are made by 
 "God the Father unto all Mankind in Christ the Son of G o d •, and that 
 " wliofoever does accept of thofe Offers in G o d's Way and Time, may not 
 " only be faved at laft, but freed from Sin in this prefent World. 
 
 "The Apoftle Paul, m his Epiftle to the Romans, proves the Gentiles (of 
 
 " whofe Lineage are all Nations, the Jews excepted) to be Sinners, by break- 
 
 " ing the Law of God written in their Hearts, whereby they became confci- 
 
 " ous of Sin, and guilty before God. And the Jetvs likewife, according Rom. ii. 14, 
 
 " to the Pfalms of David, where it is written concerning them, There is none 'S-... 
 
 " righteous, no net one : There is none that doth Good, no not one. And again, ~ ""' ^' ' 
 
 *' God hath concluded them all in Unbelief, that he might have Mercy upon all. — xl. 32. 
 
 *' And again. The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin, that the Promife by 
 
 '•' Faith of Jefus Chrifi might be given to them that believe. 
 
 "The Apoftle having thus proved all to be Sinners, both Jews and Gen- 
 " tiles, he proceeds to preach Salvation to all by the L o r d J e s u s Christ, 
 " faying. Being jufiificd freely by his Grace, (which hath appeared unto ail Men) —111.24,252 
 " through the Redemption which is in Jefus Chrijl : Whom God hath fet forth to 
 " be a Propitiation, through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Rrghteoufnefs for 
 " the Rcmijfion of Sins that are paji, through the Forbearance of God. Which 
 " Faith niuft be obtained in this Life, or never. 
 
 "The fame Apoftle, in another Place, proceeds to fet forth Freedom 
 " from Sin in this Life likfiwife by the fame Saviour, faying. As by the 
 ■ " Offence of one. Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation ; even fo, by — v. i8.' 
 " the Rightcoufnefs of one, the free Gift came upon all Men unto JuJlification 
 " of Life. This free Gift is the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation, and Tit.ii, 11,12; 
 " hath appeared to all Men ; teaching us, (efpecially ail who believe therein) 
 " that denying Ungodlinejs and worldly Lujts, we fhould live Jfij^erly, righteoujly, 
 " and godly in this prefent World : ThMwhere Sin once abounded,Grace might much Ron, v 20 
 *' more abound : That as Sin hath reigned unto Death ; even fo might Grace reign thro* z \ . 
 " Righteoufnefs,untoeternalLifc,by Jefus Chrift our Lord. What fhallwe fay then? _vi. 1,2,6, 
 " Shall we continue in Sin, that Grace may abound? God forbid: Hew fhall we who 7»8,9, 10. 
 " are dead unto Sin live any longer therein ? Knowing this, that our old Man is cru- 
 " cified with him, that the Body of Sin might be dejiroyed, that henceforth we fhoidd 
 " not ferve Sin. Knowing that Chrift being raifedfrom the Dead, dieth no more j 
 " Death hath no more Dominion ever him. For in that he diedy he died unto Sin 
 
 once :
 
 ^7^ T^he L I F E, c^c 
 
 Anno " o)m: But in that he liveth, he Uveth anto God. Likewife reckon ye alfo your- 
 1704. " felves to be dead indeed unto Sin, but alive unto God, through Jefus Chriji our 
 Rom. vi. 1 1, " Lord. Being then made free from Sin, ye became the Servants pf Rrghteoujhrfs j 
 I S, 20, 22. ic j-gf ^heji ye were the Servants of Sin ye were free from Right eoufnefs : But now, 
 " being made free from Sin, and become Servants to God, ye have your Fruit unto 
 " Holinefs, and the End everlafting Life. Again, after this Apoftle had brought 
 " this Doflrine of Freedom from Sin in this Life to a Period, under the Simi- 
 " htude of the Death and Refurrctlion of Christ, and thereby eftabliihed 
 " the Certainty of it, he refumes the fame Doftrine in the Beginning of the fe- 
 " venth Chapter, under another Simihtude, and brings it to the hke Conclufi- 
 ■— vii.4,5, 6. " on ; For when we were in the Flefh, the Motions of Sins (or Paffions) which 
 " TC-i?rif (difcovered) by theLaw, didworkin cur Members,- to bring forth Fruit unto 
 " Death ; but new we are delivered from the Law, that being dead (or being dead 
 " to that) wherein we were held, that we fhould jerve (God) in Nezvnefs of Spi- 
 " rit, and not in the Oldnefs of the Letter. That ye fljould be married to ano- 
 " ther, even to him who is raifed from the dead, (whd is without Sin) that we 
 " flmdd bring forth Fruit unto God. They being dead unto Sin, and the carnal 
 " Mind, which is Enmity againft God, in which, (a State of Nature) they 
 " had been held, they then became as pure Virgins, efpoufed unto him who had 
 " died for them in divine, pure, and matchlefs Love (who cannot be joined to 
 " any unclean Thing) in the new Covenant of everlafting Love, Light, and 
 '' Life eiiernal, that they, by him, might bring forth Fruit unto God; which 
 " is Flohnefs, Righteoufnefs, Truth and Peace, and not Sin or Evil. 
 
 "And a third Time the Apoftle proceeds, and infifts upon the fame Doc- 
 " trine, and finally eftabliflieth it unalterably the fame Way : Firft, fetting 
 '" forth the Power of Sin iii the Flefh, (notwithftanding the moral Precepts of 
 " the Law, which proves infufEcient until we come unto Christ, or until 
 " his Power be inwardly revealed, by whom alone full Freedom and Delive- 
 " ranee from Sin in this Life, and eternal Salvation from the Wages thereof in 
 " another World, is come) the Apoftle, fpeaking concerning himfelf and the 
 *' Church of C H R I s T at that Time, and the State they had been in before 
 " they believed in him, faith, When we were in the Flefh, the Motions of Sins 
 ^ _ ^ " did work in cur Members, as above : That the Knowledge of Sin comes by 
 
 _ , " the Law : That Sin brings fpiritual Death •, and, being difcovered by the 
 " Commandment, becomes exceeding finful : That the Law is fpiritual, but 
 " Man, in his natural and fallen State, is carnal, a Slave to his own Cornipti- 
 " ons, Lufts, and Sins : For though the Law (which is Light, and the Com- 
 " mandment, which is as a burning Lamp) difcovers to Man his Duty, what 
 " he ought to do, and leave undone ; yet, through the Weaknefs of Nature in 
 " its fallen State, and the Suggeftions of the Eval One in the Imaginations and 
 " carnal Mind, (no good Thing being in the Flefh) the Apoftle, and others under 
 " the Law, were held captive, and under a long and hard Struggle for Liberty 
 " and Vidtory, but could not obtain it by all the legal Precepts, or rational Af- 
 " fent unto them, nor by his own Learning or natural Powers. He delighted 
 " in the Lav/ of God in his Mind •, yet, ieeing another Law in his Members, 
 " (to be underftood as the Temptations of the Evil One, working in the Lufts 
 " and Corruptions of the carnal Mind) warring againft the Law of his Mind, and 
 " bringing him into Captivity to the Law of Sin, which was in his Members ; 
 " and feeing no Way of Deliverance, by the Law of Mofes, from Sin, he cries 
 " out, as It wei-e aloud, under a Senfe of the whole Weight, Power, Force, and 
 " Body of Sin, and faith, wretched Man that I am, who pall deliver me from 
 '* this Body of Death ! 
 
 Now, 
 
 H- 
 
 .iS. 
 
 24.
 
 of T B M AS ST R T. -77 
 
 " Now, though the Apofile, in all this, fpcaks as in the firfi Perfoni (fetting Anno 
 " forth the State he had once been in, or rather the State in which the Jetis i7°4' 
 " were who had not believed in Christ; for this Apoftle had been, 
 " tcuching the Righteoufnefs of the LorjOy blameless) yet it is plain, that neither P'^il-"'- fj- 
 " the Apoftle himfelf, nor the true Believers and Followers of C h p. i s t in that 
 " Day, were in that State of Sin at that Time, but redeemed from it : For in- 
 " fcantly, after the Apoftle had thus cried outj Who fhall deliver me from the Body Rom. vii. 2 ;. 
 " of this Death ! he immediately, and moft comfortably anfwers, / thr.nk God, — vin. i, 2. 
 " through Jcfus Chrift cur Lord ; and adds, There is therefore now no Condem- 
 " station to them which are in Chriji jefus, "tsho -walk not after the Flefi, but af- 
 " ter the Spirit; for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrijt Jefus., hath made me 
 " free [rem the Law of Sin and Death. 
 
 " Now, feeing the Apoftle fpeaks of a State of Captivity and Bondage un- 
 " der the Law, or Power of Sin and Death in this Life, and of a State of Re- 
 " demption and Freedom from that Law alfo, in this prefent World, by Christ, 
 " including the Apofllc himfelf, and every living Member of the true Church, 
 " neither he, nor any other of them, as fiich, could be in thofc two oppofite 
 " States at the fame Time, or in fo flioi t a Time as he was in writing that Part 
 " of his Epiftle ; which, in an ordinary \N'ay, might be in lefs than two Hours : 
 " but Sin being reproved and condemned in them, by the Manifeftation of the 
 " Floly Spirit of C h r i s t, and the Righteoufnefs of the Law fulfilled in them, 
 " and they become the Sons of God thereby, they were gradually led out of — iv. 14. 
 " Sin into all Truth, according to the Promife of Christ; whofe Word is 
 " Truth, and fure for ever unto all who believe, love, and obey him. John xvi. 7. 
 
 "And alfo, in another Place, this Apoftle confirms the fiime Doflrinej 
 " with refpeft to the prefent Salvation, State, and Attainments of the true Dif- 
 " ciples of Christ in that Day ; where he faith, For we ourfehes alfo were Tir.iil. 3— 6, 
 " feme times foolijh, dif obedient, deceived, ferving divers Lujls and Pleafiires, living • ^'or vi. 1 1. 
 " in Malice and Envy, hateful, and hating one another-, but after that the Kind- 
 " nefs and Love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared, not by Works of 
 " Righteoufnefs which we have done, but according to his Mercy he faved us, by 
 " the waflding of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft, which he fjed on 1 Pet. i. 2, 3.' 
 " us abundantly, through Jefus Chrift our Saviour; which mail be done in this Jolmm. 3. 
 " Life, or elfe there will be no entering the Kingdom of G od ; for no unclean 
 " Thing can enter there. 
 
 *' The Apoftle Paul having thus, in this Epiftle, fully preached the glorious 
 " Dodlrine of Liberty from Sin in this Life, through Jesus Christ, the 
 *' Word, Son, Wifdom, and Power of the Father, as he likewife preaches the 
 " fame in divers Places of others of his Epiftles, not neceflary to be mentioned 
 " at this Time, I proceed to prove the fame Doftrine, by the Authority and 
 " Teftimony of the Apoftle John, who preached it after the fame Manner, that 
 " it may be eftablilhed from the Mouths of two fo great and faithful Wit- 
 " ^effes. 
 
 " First, That all have finned and wanted Salvation :, z^/y, ThatCnRisT 
 " died for all Mankind : And, '^dly. That all who believe in the L o r d J e s u s 
 " Ch RisT, and follow him in the Regeneration, are not only freed from all 
 *' Sin in this Life, but eternally faved in that which is to come. 
 
 " In the firft Place the Apoftle reminds the Church, what was the Teftimo- 
 " ny of the Apoftles unto them from the Beginning of their preaching of the 
 
 4 A Go-
 
 17^ The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 A N M o ■' Gofuel, and the Certainty of it, as what they had beard, feen^ and handled of 
 
 1704. " the JVord of Life ; lb that they certainly knew, and were Witnefies of the 
 
 1 Johni. I, " Truth they dehvered unto others, I'hat God is Light, and in him is no Dark- 
 
 3' 5- " ?;e/j at till. 
 
 — 3, 9. "In the next Place, that they had formerly, in their natural State, beenSin- 
 
 " nets ; but having confeflld their Sins unto the Holy One, who, in Love and 
 
 Rev. :ii. 19. " Mcrcy, convinceth and reproveth the World ot Sin, then his Faithfulnefs and 
 
 Jonnxvi. i-S. li Juftice was made maniteft in them, not only in the Forgivenefs of the Aifts 
 
 ' of their Sins againft his Law, but likewife in cleanfing them from all the ia- 
 
 ' ward Pollution of Sin and Unrighteoufnefs. 
 
 — 7.9- 
 
 — i. 7, 8, 9, 
 ic, 1 6. 
 
 10. "If they had faid they had not finned, they would then have given God 
 
 Mat. i. 31. " the Lie, who fent his Son to fave them trom their Sins : but though all have 
 
 John iii. 16. " finned, yet God, in infinite Love, Mercy, and Goodnefs, hath fent his Son, 
 
 Tf .j'?-"' "■ " the Lord Jesus Christ, to be a Propitiation for the Sins cf the ivhole 
 
 Johiiiii! M, " World; thereby declaring his Mercy and Goodnefs in him unto all Mankind, 
 
 19- " to be teftified in due Time. And the Sin and Condemnation of the World 
 
 {lands in this ; That Christ is come into the World, not only as Man and 
 
 lifted up, but alfo as he is the true Light, ixjhich light eth every Man that cc- 
 
 •' meth into the World \ but the World neither knoweth him, nor believeth in 
 
 " him, (as that Light) nor loveth him, but Men rather love themfelves, and 
 
 " Darknefs, wherein to aft their own Wills, and hide from themfelves their 
 
 " ov/n evil Deeds. 
 
 " And although this divine eternal Light reproveth and condemneth all Sin 
 " and Evil in Mankind, yet FaitTi therein doth not only reftore and preferve 
 I Tim. iv. S. " ^™"'* ^^'^ Perdition, but hath the Promife of Life eternal: And, on the con- 
 " trary, he that believeth not is under prefent Condemnation, not for Afts of 
 " Sin and Evil only, but becaufe he hath not believed in the Name of the only le- 
 " gotten Son of God. I'hus is Faith in the L o r d Jesus Christ, the Son 
 " of God, as he is lifted up and crucified, and likewife as he is the true and 
 " divine Light, (and that Faith accompanied and evidenced with good Works) 
 " iiecefifary and effectual for Redemption, and preient Reftoration of unbelie- 
 " ving, finful, polluted Mankind, from under their prefent Condemnation, and 
 " lor their Prefer\'ation unto Life eternal. 
 
 " And ieeing God the Father, through Jesus Christ the Son, hath 
 " given a faving Gift of his divine Light, Spirit, Grace, and Truth, (which is 
 " one and the fame) unto all Mankind, to lead, direft, and guide them, as an 
 " ever-living, infallible Teacher unto all, that whofoever fhall believe therein, 
 " and repent of their Sins, and obey him in his Manifeftations in their Hearts, 
 " Minds, and Underftandings, fhall be furely led into all Truth, and confe- 
 " qucntly out of all Untruth and Error •, which mull be in this Life, where 
 " Sin, Untruth and Error only are. The Caufe of fuchthe Lord Jesus will 
 1 John ii. I. " advocate before the Father. 
 
 ^ii. 3, 4, 9. " And as the Knowledge of G o d and Christ is eternal Life; fo the 
 ^ •■ " Evidence of that Knowledge is the keeping of his Commandments, and the 
 
 " Love of the Brethren : And whoever pretendeth to that Knowledge, and 
 " kecpeth not his Commandments, is a Liar, and Christ, who is the Truth, 
 " is not in him ; he is a Reprobate, and his Sins remain upon him, notwith- 
 " Handing the Sufficiency of the Propitiation in its own Nature, and to its ge- 
 — ii. -. " neral and proper End : But whofoever keepeth his Word, in him is the Love 
 
 " of
 
 — I. 
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 27^ 
 
 " of G o D perfefted ; whereby fiich fandified Souls know, not only that their Anno 
 " Sins are forgiven them, but that they are in him that is true, in whom there 1704. 
 " is no Sin -, and fuch walk in the Way of Faithfulnefs and Obedience to the i 1 •• <: 
 " Father in all Things, even as Christ himfelf walked, who never finned -, ' " " ' 
 " which finlefs walking muft refer to the Chriftian Conduft in this World, in 
 " order to be fettled at laft in the Kingdom of Glory ; where nothing fmlul or 
 *' unclean, while fo, can come. 
 
 "And this Apoftle clearly diftinguifheth three feveral States and Orders in 
 " the univerfal Church of C h ri st at that Time ; that is to fay. Little Chil- 
 " dren, young Men, and Fathers : And it hath ever been the fame from that 
 " Day unto this, and ever v/ill be, from Age to Age, and Generation to Ge- 
 " neration, to the End of the World. He writes firll unto little Children in 
 "Christ, that they fhould not fin : For this Apcftle, as all the reft, ha- 
 " ving once been fuch, knew the Danger they Vvxrc in of being enticed 
 " by the Evil One, myfterioufly working in their own natural Propenfities, 
 " Affe(5lions, Paffions, and Defires, even after they had known fomething of 
 '• the Beginning of the Work of C h r i s t, the Word of G o d, in them ; and 
 " yet, if fuch fhould fin, he (to prelerve them from defpairing of the Mercy of 
 " GoD, through a Confcioufnefs of Sin, and the Accufations of the Evil One) 
 " remarks the Provifion which is made for their Safety, faying. If any Man Heb. 9, 
 " Jin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jcfus Chrift the Righteous. Their ' J"'"" "• '' 
 " Sins were forgiven them, and they knew the Father. 
 
 13. '3- 
 
 " ^dly, The Apoftle writes unto the young Men in Christ, not that 
 ' they fhould not fin, (they having attained a further Degree of Growth and 
 
 • Eftablifhment) but becaufe they were ftrong through the abiding and in-dwel- 14. 
 
 • ling of C'hrist, the Word of God, in them, and had thereby overcome 
 
 • the Wicked One -, and there was nothing then to lead them into Sin, but 
 ' they were preferved from the Sins and Evils of the World through the Prayer 
 
 ■ and IntercefTion of C h ri st, untill they attained a further Degree of Know- 
 
 ■ ledge of G o D, and in due Time became Fathers. 
 
 " idly, H E v/rote unto the Fathers of the Church, not as to Children, that 
 they fhould not fin ; nor as to young Men, who were not yet perfed in 
 Knowledge ; but becaufe they had known him who is from the Beginning : 
 They were come to the certain infallible Knowledge of G o d and Christ, 
 as fure as (and more fo than) they could know the Certainty of any Objedt, — i. 2. 
 knowable by hearing, feeing, or handhng thereof : They knew Christ, not 
 only as theMefiiah, fent of the Father into the W^orld in human Nature, but 
 as he is the Word of Life, manifefted unto them, and in them : And that was 
 the MelTage of the Apoftlcs to the Church (the Congregation of God) from 
 the Beginning of the Publication of the Gofpcl, in order to true Church-fel- 
 lowfhip -, that as C h R i st is the Word ot Life from the Father, fo G o d 
 
 is Light, and in him is no Darknefs at all. And this Meflage was thus de- ?, 
 
 dared, by the Apofdcs and MefTengers of Christ, unto the univerfal 
 
 Church of God, that they might have Fellowfhip with them, whofe Fel- ■ 3. 
 
 lowfhipwas with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ; which plain- 
 ly implies the Prefence of the Father and Son divinely and fenfibly in then], 
 and in every true and living Member of that holy and faved Body ; where 
 no Sin, Uncleannefs or Unrighteoufnefs can remain or come : For they who 
 
 live in Sin, live in Darknefs, and are dead unto God while they live in the 5, 
 
 World i and when they pretend to Fellowfliip with God and C h r i st in 
 
 " his
 
 i2^ Tie L I F E, &c. 
 
 ANNd " his Church, they Ue, and do not the Truth, but continue in Sin, and haVd 
 1 704. " only a Church and Fellowfhip therein of their own inventing and compofing, 
 " and not of the Lord : For as the Father and Son are one, a divine and 
 ■" eternal Light, in whom there is noDarknefs •, good Works are the Evidence 
 " of true Faith in him •, and even fo, v/alkiiig and having Converfation in and 
 ■" through this prefent World of Darknefs, in and by that Light, is the true and 
 " only Teft of Fellowfliip with God and C h ri st, and the univerfal Church 
 " of Christ, wherever hidden, difperfed, or vifible in the World -, all the 
 1 John i. 7. " Members of this holy Chriftian Fellowfhip having not only all their Tranfgrei- 
 Heb ix. 14. « f,o,^5 pardoned, but are alio cleanfed, by the Blood and Spirit of Christ, 
 " from all Sin. 
 
 Rev. i. V. 
 
 " T H o u c H I have been long upon this necelTary and important Dodrine 
 
 " of the Apoftles of Christ, let your Patience bear a litde longer, till I add 
 
 " Ibme more Texts cut of the fame Epiftle of the latter, in further Confirmation 
 
 I Julm iii. 3, " of the fame Doctrine •, where he faith, Every Man that hath this Hope in him, 
 
 5. 6. 9- " (that is, of feeing the Lord as he is) purifieth himfelf even as he is pure -, 
 
 " and in him is no Sin. Whofoever ahideth in him, finneth not •, ivhofoever finneth 
 
 " hath not feen him, neither kno-wn him. IVhofoever is born of God doth not com- 
 
 " n-jit Sin ; for his Seed rcmaineth in him, and he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of 
 
 " God. It is therefore evident, that as many as receive the Word of God, by 
 
 John i. 1 , 10, " whom the World was made, to thera he gives Power to become the Sons of God, 
 
 '"' '^" " even to them that believe on his Name : Who are born not of Blood, nor of the 
 
 " mil of the Flejh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. 
 
 " N o w, I wouW have the Auditory to obferve, that this Epiflle of John 
 
 " was written chiefly to preferve the Church of God from being feduced from 
 
 " the Teachings of Christ, the Word of Life, (of which they were born) 
 
 " by the Antichrifts in thofe Days; who attempted to draw them therefrom. 
 
 Gal. i. 6. " back into the Rites of the Law of Mofes ; efFedually ended by the Coming 
 
 '"■ ■ " and Manifefbation of C h r ist the L ord, as appears by thef^j Parts of the 
 
 I John ii, 1 3, " Epiflle, where it is faid. Little Children, it is the laft Time, (or Difpenfation) 
 
 19, 20, 2 J, tc ^^^^ as you have heard, that Antichrifi fljall come, even now are there many An- 
 
 " tichrifls ; whereby we blow it is the lafl Time. They went out from us, but 
 
 " they were not of us ; for if they had been of us, they would, no doubt, have 
 
 " continued with us : but they went out, that they might be made manifeft that they 
 
 " were net all of us : But ye have an UnBicn from the Holy One, and ye know all 
 
 " Things. Thefe Things have I written unto you concerning them that feduce you: 
 
 T^,_^ ^.^.. _ " but the Anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not 
 
 8,13. ' '■'■ that any Man teach you : but as the fame Anointing teacheth you of all Things, and 
 
 " is Truth, and is no Lie ; and even as it hath taught you, ye fhall abide in him. 
 
 "And the SucccfTors of thofe Antichrifls, and their Supporters, (who have, 
 " from Age to Age, even until now, formed and compoied unto themfelvcs 
 " Images, and LikencfTes of Religion and Worfhip, from miftaken, wrefled, 
 "•'• and mifiipplied Texts and Portions of the Holy Scriptures, intermixed with 
 " many and various Inventions and Imaginations of their own, and impofed and 
 " obtruded their Forgeries, by Violence of Pcrfecutions, upon the Church of 
 " Christ and Mankind) are ftill, under various Names, Forms, Communi- 
 " ties and Powers of the Earth, the chief Oppofers that Christ, and his true 
 " Minifters and Docbrine (which in itfelf is the fame now as then) do meet 
 " with in this Generadon. Thofe Antichrifls had once been ProfefTors of 
 
 C HRi ST, and many of thtm then v.'ere, as to his outward Coming in the 
 
 Flefli, 
 
 2 Cor. i. 2 1 

 
 28 1 
 
 Anno 
 1704. 
 
 I John ii 
 
 22. 
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 
 
 " Fltfh, but had gone out, and apoftatized from the Spirit of Christ, the 
 
 " holy Anointing, and from the divine Light of G o d, and the Fellowfhip of 
 
 " the Faithful therein -, denying thereby the L o r d who bought them -, attempt- 
 
 " ing to draw the Church of God after themfelves and their falfe Teachings, 
 
 " and to eftabhfli the Rites and Righteoufnefs of the Law of Mofes, in their 2 Tim. iv. 3 
 
 " own erroneous Senfe ; together with their own heterodox Sentiments concerning 
 
 " the Faith of Christ, impofed by Perfecution and A ntichriftian Violence : 
 
 « And fo it is now, by the fame Spirit, in like mercenary Members ; who come 
 
 " in their own Names and Wills, and not in the Name, Will, and Power of the 
 
 *' Lord, and feek and propagate their own Intereft, Honour, Power, and 
 
 " Glory only, and not the Lord's, nor the good of Mankind; but to make 
 
 **• a Prey, Gain, and Advantage of them unto themfelves." 
 
 These Things having pafied after this Manner, I drew to a Conclufion 
 thus : " That though by Nature, as we are the Offspring of the Firft Adaniy 
 " we have a Seed of Evil or Sin in us ; which fpringing up, and we acting ac- 
 " cording to its Motions, (being influenced by the Evil One) become guilty be- 
 *' fore G o D ; yet, as we receive and believe in, and unite with Christ, the 
 *' Word of God, the Second Adam^ the Lord from Heaven, the quicken- 
 " ing Spirit, and are Witnefles of his Work in our Hearts, we become born 
 *' of him, (that Seed) who never fell, or could fall. Children of God, and 
 *' Heirs of his precious Promifes, Partakers of the divine Nature, and have 
 " prefent Redemption from under the Power of Sin and Satan." 
 
 During all this Time, which held above an Hour, the People were very 
 ftill ; but their Minifter was fretful, and interrupted me often, for he faw what 
 1 faid took with them : But feveral of the Juftices reprehended him openly di- 
 vers Times, and he was much down and difcouraged. 
 
 W H E N I had done, he anfwered, " 'fhat there is not a jujl Man upon the Ecclef.vii.20. 
 Earth that doth good and ftnneth not ; and that if we fay we have no Sin we ' Kings viii. 
 
 " deceive ourjelves ;" with fome fuch Things in favour of Sin, very fhort, and 
 fo fat down. 
 
 46. 
 2 Chron. vi. 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " That I had already repeated one of thofe Texts of Scripture, i John 1. S. 
 *' and fome others to the fame Purpofe ; (for I intended at firft to anticipate 
 " him in what they ufually alledge in favour of that pernicious Dodtrine, of Sin 
 " Term of Life) and that whatfoever was written in the Law, was to them who Rom. iii. 19. 
 *' were under it. It is true, while Men were under that Law, which gave the 
 " Knowledge of Sin, but did not redeem from it, all thefe Things were true _ viii. 3. 
 *' as to th.em : For the Law made nothing perfedt ; but the bringing in of a better J°hn vii. 19. 
 " Hone doth : which Hope is Chrijl in us, the Hope of Glory ; the Law of the '^,g ^"' ' '' 
 *' Spirit of Life by Christ, which, received and believed in, woiketh in us Col. i. 27. 
 *' a. Cc.nformity to the Will of G o d ; which the Law of Mofes could not do, 
 " as I liave already proved." 
 
 This Oppofer was very angry at all this, and feveral Times broke out in- 
 to opprobrious Language, and falfc Charges againfl us as a People ; but feveral 
 of the Magiftratts reproved him : And Captain Baffet alledging fcill, that the 
 Apoflle Was in that finiul and wretched State when he wrote that Epiflle, un- 
 dertook the Argument, but advanced nothing new, only the Weaknefs of Na- 
 ture fince the Fall, and how eafily we are prevailed upon to fin. Whereupon 
 I took the Bible again, and fliowed him, in the fame Chapter, " That the Apo- 
 
 4 B " file
 
 iSi The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno " file fpeaks only of a State under the Law, (but was not in tliat Condick)ii 
 
 1 704. " himfLlf at that Time) in thefe Words, For when we were in the Fiefo, the Mo- 
 
 Rom.vii.5,6. " tims of Sins which were by the Law, did work in our Members to brin^ forth 
 
 " Fruit mto Death ; but now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead 
 
 " whe^-ein we were held, that we fhoiild ferve in Newnefs of Spirit., and not in the 
 
 " Oldnefs of the Letter. Here it is evident, that the Apoftle fpeaks of tv/o verr 
 
 " differing States ; of Sin, in which they had once been, whilft in the Fkfh, or 
 
 *' carnal Mind, and of Freedom from Sin in the Spirit ; and they could not 
 
 " be in thofe two oppofite States at the flime Time. By the Law is the Law 
 
 " or Power of Sin made manifeft, or difcovered, reproved, and condemned in 
 
 " the Mind and Underftanding-, but Sin is not thereby, or can by any outward 
 
 " Law, be fubdued and flain, until Man believe, repent, receive, follow, and 
 
 — VIM. 2. <.<. obey the Y.XN of the Spirit of Life ; which doth not only reprove and con- 
 
 *' demn for Sin, but deftroys it. 
 
 — vii. 6. " Now, that wherein we are captivated, and held in our firft and natural 
 
 — viii. 7. *' State, is our carnal Mind ; which being Enmity againjt God, neither is or can 
 
 " be, as fuch, fubjefb unto his Law •, but that Enmity being flain and crucified 
 
 — vi. 6. " by the Crofs of Christ, the Grace and Spirit of Gou, and the Body of 
 John viii. 24. " Sin deftroyed, that henceforth we fliould not ferve Sin, then the repro- 
 
 34- ^ " ving and condemning Power of the Law ceafeth to work in the Soul ; for 
 
 — ii. 20. " they who are C h r i s t's have irucified the Flefh, with the AffeEiions andLufis. 
 
 4- 
 
 " A N D though they who are in the Flefli cannot pleafe God, yet the Apo- 
 
 " ftle, by the Flelli, doth not mean the natural Body, but the carnal Mind ; 
 
 Rom. viii. S, " for he faith. But ye are not in the Fkfh, but in the Spirit, if fo be that the Spi- 
 
 ^ '^' " rit of God dwell in you. Now, if any Man have not the Spirit ofChriJl, he is 
 
 " }wne of h;s." 
 
 B Y this Time the Truth being in fome Meafure over the People, they were ge- 
 nerally calm and filent ; and being aflied. If they were fatisfied ? they made no 
 Reply •, only one pettilh Juftice, of the old envious fort, a Friend of Sin, with 
 an Air of Rancour, faid. No: And Captain Baffet, being defirous of further 
 Difpute, faid, " He could not yet believe that Mankind could be freed from Sin 
 " in this Life:" But neither of them afligned any Foundation orCaufe for their 
 Unbelief. And then their Minifter, taking frefh Encouragement from them, 
 bluftered out feveral harfh and falfe Charges, and railing Accufations againft 
 us as a People ; which I took in writing, and put him upon his Proof, viz. 
 
 " ijl, TiiAT the Qiiakers hold lying and damnable Principles. 
 
 " idfy. That the Scriptures of the Old and NewTcftament are the Ground 
 " of Fakh, and Rule of Life." 
 
 Both- which I denied, and put him upon his Proof-, v.-hich he undertook, and 
 began thus, viz. " The Words of the Charge fecm harfli, but I cannot help it ; 
 " the Nature of the Thing requires it, and it is not I that bring the Charge, but 
 I John ii. 4. "Go D, upon their own Difobedience : For, as it is written, he that faith I know 
 " him, and keepeth net his Commandments, is a Liar, and the Truth is not in him. 
 " Now our bkiTed Lord hath commanded, as you will find it written in the 
 " zSth Chapter of Matthew, at the 19th and 20th Verfes, Go ye therefore and 
 " teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, 
 " and cf the Holy Ghoft ; teaching them to ob ferve all Things whatfoever I have 
 
 " com-
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 183 
 
 " ccmiiaiidcd ycu : Jnd, Jo, lam -jsith you always, even unto the End of the World. Anno 
 
 " Now, thefe People, living in the avowed Negled of this great Commandment, 1 704. 
 
 " and yet pretending to know God and the Way of G o d, they are Liars, and 
 
 " the Truth is not in them : Therefore all fober Chriftian People ought to 
 
 " beware of them, and fhun them as Deceivers." 
 
 T o this I anfwered, " That if by this Scripwre he underftood Water Bap- 
 " tifm, as I apprehended he did, he miftook it ; for every Inftitution of C h ri s t 
 " is plain and explicit, and Water not being mentioned there, he muft prove it, 
 " if he could, fome other Way : But if it were Water Baptifm, then he himfelf, 
 " and all of his Communion, living in negleft of this Commandment, (as he 
 " imagines it to be, are equally, if not more guilty ; not being in the Praftice 
 " of any Baptifm ever inftituted by Christ, or in ufe in his Church in the 
 " Days of his Apoftles, or for fome hundreds of Years after, either as to the 
 " Manner, Inllrument, or Subjecls of Baptifm : For Sprinkling is no Baptifm, 
 " nor are Infants the Subjefts of it ; for the Words of the Text are, T'each all 
 " Nations, baptizi)7g them in (or rather into) the Name of the Father, and of the 
 " Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, teaching them to obferve all likings whatforoer I 
 " have commanded ycu, &c. 
 
 " The Inftrument of Baptifm here, according to your Minifter, was Water, 
 " and the Manner of applying it, as is well known, and as the Word itfelf fig- 
 " nifies, was by going into the Wati:r and wafhing (particularly the Feet) there- 
 " in : The Subjefts were not Infants, but fuch as were capable, not only ot be- 
 " ing taught, or made Difciples and Believers, but likewife of obferving and 
 " doing all Things which Christ had taught his Difciples -, of which Infants 
 " are not capable : And if C h R i st had commanded his Difciples to baptize 
 " with Water, and they had only fprinkled, they had not then obeyed him, but 
 " acled another Thing, in their own Wills, and made themfelves Tranfgreffors. 
 " And if Ch RiST had fcnt his Difciples with fuch a MefTage, (as is plain he 
 " did not) what is that to this Man, or any fuch ? Who fent them to do fo?'*. 
 
 Then the Prieft replied, and faid, " He did not fprinkle Infants." I an- 
 fwered, " What doft thou tiien .'' Doft thou pour Water on their Faces off thy 
 " Hand .'' Or doll thou wafli their Faces with it ; for it feems thou doft not 
 " baptize them ? If not, thou doft not obey the Commandment in thy own 
 " Scnfe, if it were a Command to thee : But this is only a low equivocal Eva- 
 " fion." 
 
 H E replied, " You have no Baptifm at all ; and the Queftion is not, whe- 
 " ther we are in the right Mode of baptizing, but whether you do, or not, break 
 " C H R I s t's Command in the Neglect of it in any Form ? And feeing you do 
 " negleft it, you are Liars, and hold lying Principles." 
 
 Th en, directing my Anfwer to the People, I faid, " The Queftion on this 
 ' ]-Iead is equally applicable. Who is in the Right, or who is in the Wrong? 
 ' and not only whether you be in the right Mode of Water Baptifm, but whe- 
 " ther you have any at all •, (and it appears, as above, you have not) and whe- 
 " thtr that be Water Baptifm in the Text, where Water is not mentioned, as 
 " your Minifter hath fuggeftcd, but not proved, and only begged the Queftion, 
 " which I have not granted ? And whether they who negled, or omit Water 
 " Baptifm, be Liars, and hold lying Principles? And as to us, whom he thus 
 " accullth, we havi\ through the Mercy of God, the true Baptifm herecom- 
 
 " mandedj 
 
 C{ 
 
 (C
 
 i84 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " mandcd, whicli is that: of the Spii-it -, of which this Man is no competent 
 i 704. " Judge, being ignorant of that great and faving Work of the Baptifm of tlie 
 " Son of God. And I add one Quefticn more. Who fent him, and fuch as 
 " him, either to baptize or fprinkle ? It doth not appear that they are fent of 
 " Christ: But if he hath fent them to baptize, and they do not fo, but on- 
 " ly rantize, then they break his Command by their own Rule ; and when 
 " they fay to a Chiki, I baptize thee, or to others prefent, I baptize this Child in 
 " the Name of the Father, So;:, and holy Ghoft, they then he in and unto that great 
 " Name of the Holy One, and before the People ; who are yet fo blind as not 
 " to fee they are afting upon falfe and lying Principles. 
 
 " Th e Lord gave a Command to his Eleven Apoilles to preach unto, 
 " and difciple and baptize all Nations : But what is that to thefe Men now, 
 " who affume upon themfelves a bare, imperfedt, and miftaken, or vicious Imi- 
 " tation of it ; in which they fend one another with temporal, carnal, and cor- 
 " rupt Views, in both the Senders and Sent ; without any Command from 
 " God, but from Men ; who know nothing of the Mind of God, nor at all 
 " feek it therein •, nor have any Power from him in what they do ? For a Com- 
 " mand of that Nature to the Apoftles, is none to any one elfe, unlefs he be 
 " likewife qualified, endued, and fent by the fame Power : For if this was 
 " Water Baptifm, (as it is evident it was not) then it would have been a Com- 
 " mand and fufficient Miflion to the Apoftle Paul, who, though not behind 
 2Cor.ii. -. " the Chief of the other Apoftles, as to any Gift or Qualification whatfoever 
 
 — xii. II. " nccellary to a Gofpel Miniller, and laboured more than they all, allures us, 
 
 — xv. 10. jj j.]^^j. Qj^yiji: j-^yjj: f^ifji, jjgj: (g baptize, but to preach the Gofpel And as he was 
 Rom. xi. 13'. " in a particular Manner the Minifter of the Gentiles, and Meflenger of the Pro- 
 Ads ix. 1 5. <.<. n-,ifg of G OD unto them, to turn them from Darknefs unto Light, and from the 
 
 — x^xvi. 17, ^^ pQ<i^^r of Satan unto God, none can fucceed him in baptizing with Water who 
 
 " had it not by Command from Christ himfelf And, as that great Apoftle 
 " could not juftly be accufed and ftigmatized as a Negledler and Breaker of the 
 " Command of Christ in that Cafe, or a Liar, and holder of lying Principles, 
 " when he thanked G o d he had not proceeded any further than he did, in a 
 " Pradlice for which he had no Command or Authority -, neither can or ought 
 " we : But being in fo good Company therein, and having no Command from 
 " Christ to baptize, or fprinkle, or pour on Water, or any way at all to ufe 
 " it herein, we cannot honeftly be charged with any Negledt of it, nor call'd Liars 
 " therefore, nor holders of lying Principles, nor void of Truth ; but Men of 
 " Truth, affuming nothing to ourfclves, but what we have freely received from 
 " the Lord, the Gift of his Grace, in which we minifter freely, without Money 
 " and without Price •, and therefore all fober Chriftians ought rather to receive 
 " us, and our Chriftian Teftimony, for Truth, and to fhun the mercenary Hire- 
 2 Tim. lii. 3. " lin<TS of the Times, of every Form, and beware of thofe as Deceivers, who 
 Mat. X. 40. " falfcly accufe and calumniate us : For it is written. He that receiveth you, re- 
 John.f.iii.2o. <■<■ ceiveth me ; and he that receiveth me, receiveth hitn that fent me. 
 
 " Seeing then thefe Men fay, they are fent of C h r i s t, by thefe Words 
 " in the Text, to teach and baptize all Nations ; and the Lord hath not fent 
 " them thereby, nor by any other Miflion, and they every one fit down where 
 " they can deceive the ignorant People out of a Maintenance, and do not baptize 
 
 — viii. 21. " any, but only fprinkle -, and confirm their Difciples in their Sins for Term of 
 
 " their Lives ■, and thereby exclude them from the Kingdom of G o d at laft ; 
 " they are Liars againft God and to Mankind, and the Truth is not in them : 
 " The powerful Name of the Father, Son, and Holv Ghoft they are ignorant 
 
 " of.
 
 ofTHO M AS ST RT, clSt 
 
 " of, and prophane it ; and therefore all fober Chriftian People ought to be Anno 
 " aware of them, and Ihun them as Deceivers. 1 704. 
 
 "Then I told the People that there was a Fallacy in his Argument, which 
 " they might eafily perceive : For the Apoftle John was not then writing of any 
 " Commandment of that Nature, (being only minifterial) but of the Moral 
 " Commands of God, which were given to that People, the Jews^ from the 
 " Beginning of the Difpenfation of G o d unto them by Mofes ; where it is writ- 
 " ten. Thou jhalt not hate thy Brother in thine Heart : Thou Jhdt in any wife rebuke ^^^- ^'•'^- ' 7» 
 " thy Neighbour, and ?iot fuffer Sin upon him. Thou Jhalt not avenge, nor bear 
 " a7iy Grudge againji the Children of thy People ; but thou fJoalt love thy Neigh- 
 " lour as thyfelf. 
 
 " And the Lord Jesus Christ, who came not to deftroy the Law, 
 " but to fulfil it, faid unto his Difciples, the fame Night in which he fufFered, 
 " A new Commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another ; as I have Jonn xiii. 34, 
 " loved you, that ye alfo love one another. Uy this flmll all Men know that ye are 35- 
 " my Difciples, if ye have Love one to another. And the Apoftle John faith, i Johnii.7,5. 
 " Brethren, I write no new Commandment unto you, hut an old Commandment which 
 *' ye had from the Beginning : The old Commandment is the Word which ye have 
 *' heard from the Beginning. And whofo keepeth his V/ord, in him verily is the 
 " Love of God perfcilcd : Hereby know we that we are in him. By the PFord ]o^^ '■ '• 
 " here may be underftood the whole Commandments of God, moral and 
 " divine, as the Root and Perfection of all -, and, by the old Commandment, 
 " may be underftood the fame preached by Mofes unto that People in the Wrl- 
 " dernefs in the Beginning ; where it is written. This Commandment which I com- Lev. xxx. 1 1, 
 " mand thee this Day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is net in 
 *' Heaven that thou fhculdefl fay. Who floall go up for us to Heaven, and bring it un- 
 " to us, that we may hear it, and do it ? Neither is it beyond the Sea, that thou 
 " fl)ouldeft fay. Who faall go over the Sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we 
 " may hear it, and do it ? But the Word is very nigh unto thee, in thy Mouth, and 
 " in thy Heart, that thou mayft do it. 
 
 ir., 13, 14. 
 
 "By this Word G o d commanded y^iaw, that he fhould not eat of the Gen. u. 17. 
 
 " Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil ; by the fame he fpake unto Noah, y.i^. ,^' 
 
 " Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, Solomon, Elijah, Ifaiah, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, — xxxi. n. 
 
 " and, from Time to Time, unto all the Prophets of God, in their feveral ^?J"' '^^^ .'°' 
 
 , I ls.inffS-\vi.li 
 
 " Ages, according to the Doflrine of the Apoftle Peter, who exprefly calls this _ xvii. 2, 8. 
 
 " Word the Spirit of Christ; where he faith. Receiving the End of your 2Kingsxx.4. 
 
 " Faith, even the Salvation of your Souls. Of which Salvation the Prophets have j chr xx'ii'o ' 
 
 " enquired, and fearched diligently, who prophefied of the Grace that fhould come Jer. i. 2, 4. 
 
 " unto you. Searching what, or what Manner of Time the Spirit of Chrifi ^^^.^- '• 3- 
 
 " which was in them did fignify, when it teftified before-hand the Sufferings of iPet.ix. 10 
 
 " Chrifi, and the Glory that fhould follow. Ji,i2. 
 
 " This is the Word by which God fpake unto Mofes, and appeared in a £ ^.^ j j- 
 
 " manner fo tremendous, that Afij/c-i hid his Face; tor he was afraid to look 6,14. 
 
 " upon God. — '^• 
 
 " This is the fame Spirit and Power given unto the Seventy Elders, by >}„,„ ^i ,5 
 
 " which they preached in the Camp of Ifrael in that Day -, as it is written. The 17, M. 25. 
 " Lord came down in a Cloud, and fpake unto Mofes, and took of the Spirit that 
 " was tip on him, and gave it to the Seventy Elders : And it came to pafs, that 
 -t- 4 C " when
 
 
 An MO 
 
 17c-;.. 
 
 John V. iq. 
 — viii. zS. 
 
 — XV. ;. 
 
 ! Cor. i. 24, 
 
 Heb. i. z. 
 
 jolin i. 3, 10, 
 
 14. 
 
 T/je L I F E, ^'c. 
 
 " when the Spirit reftedupcn them, they propehfted, and did not ceafe. So that un- 
 " til this Holy Spirit come upon Mankind, unto that Purpofe, from God, they 
 " neither ought nor can preach ari^^ht to the Profit of the People. 
 
 " This eternal, unchangeable, Almighty Word, is theWifdom and Power 
 " of G o D, by which he made the Worlds ; which, in the Fulnefs of Time, he 
 " cloathed with human Nature, under the Name and Character of Jesus 
 " Christ, the Mefiiah and fcnt of the Father-, who was born, lived, died, 
 " rofe from the Dead, and afcendcd into Heaven, and was firft preaclied as 
 " flich, by his chofen Witnefies, Apofcles, and Minillers ; and afterv/ards (in 
 
 Dcut.xxx.12. " like Manner as the fame Word and Commandment had been preached by 
 " Mcfes and the Seventy Elders in their Day) by the Apoftle Paul, in his evan- 
 
 Rom. X. 6. " gclical Doftrine ; where, fpeaking of Ifrcel, he faith, The Rightecufnefs ii-hich is 
 " of Faith fpeaketh on this wife: Say not in thine Heart, U'ho foall cfcend into Hea- 
 " ven ? (that, is to bring Chrifi down from above:) Or who fhall defcend into the 
 " Deep? (that is, to bring up Chrifi again from the dead:) But what faith it ? The 
 " Word is nigh thee, e-ven in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart ; that is the IVord of 
 " Faith which we preach. 
 
 John xiv. 26. "And this is the fame which the Apoftle John calls the Anointing, the Spi- 
 I Johuii. 20. n j^j. QjT Truth, which teacheth all Things pertaining unto our Duty to G o d, 
 ^^' " and one to another in him : And as they had declared unto the People from 
 
 — i. 5. " the Beginning of their fpiritual Minill:ry, that God is Light, and in him is no 
 
 " Darkncfs at all; fo he writes of tliis divine Light, as of the new Command- 
 — 11.8,9,11. cc nienr, the Evidence and Fruit whereof is divine and brotherly Love : But he 
 
 " who hateth his Brother is in Dai'knefs even until now ; he is not come to 
 lia. xlii. 6, 7. " Christ, the Gofpel-light of the Gentiles, and Covenant of God with them, 
 H ''.■ f ^ " but remaineth where Barknefs covcreth the Earth, andgrofs Darknefs the People, 
 Mat.iv.V6. " under the Region and Shadow of Death, where the Life of the Secondi Adam, 
 
 " the Lord from Fleaven, the quickening Spirit, is not yet known. 
 
 Mat. xxviii. "And let me obferve to you once more, that this Command in the Text 
 
 19-^ " is only miniftcrial and perfonal, as are all thofe Gifts of the Holy Spirit of 
 
 " Christ; fuch as Wifdom, Knowledge in the Things of G o d. Faith, Heal- 
 " ing, working of Miracles, Propmcy and preaching the Gofpel, difcerning of 
 " Spirits, divers kinds of Tongues, the Interpretation of Tongues ; but all thefe 
 " worketh that one and the f elf -fame Spirit, dividing to every Man fever ally as 
 " he will: By which God hath let in his Church, firft, Apoftles; fecondly, 
 " Prophets-, thirdly. Teachers-, after thefe. Miracles, then Gift,^ of healing, Helps, 
 " Governments, and Diverfitics of Tongues: Are all Apoftles ? Are all Prophets ? 
 'all Teachers? Are all ff^crkers of Miracles, &c. Follow after Charily, and 
 " dejire fpiritual Gifts, but rather that ye may prcphefy. He that prophefieth 
 " fpeaketh unto Men to Edification, and Exhortation and Comfort. I would that 
 " ye all fpake with Tongues, but rather that ye prophcficd ; for greater is he that 
 " prophefieth than he that fpeaketh with Tongues, except he interpret, that the 
 12.30. " Church may receive edifying. Forafmuch as ye are zealous of fpiritual Gifts, 
 " fcek that ye may excel, to the edifying of the Church. Wherefore, Brethren, covet 
 xii. 1 2. " to prophefy, and forbid not to fpcak with Tongues. Thus every one is to be 
 " cxtrcifed in his own Gift, to general Edification and Comfort, without any 
 " Eir.ulation or Strife, to the hindering or lefiening ot the Llelps and Services 
 " one of another, and creating and promoting of Schifms, and quenching of 
 " Love -, which is the divine Life and Cement of the Body. 
 
 Thus 
 
 Cor xii. 
 
 29. 
 
 — xiv. 1 . " Are . 
 
 — 3- 5-
 
 of T HO M A S S 7^ RT. 187 
 
 " Thus you may obferve, that all thefe, and like Gifts of the Spirit, are Anno 
 " minifterial and perfonal, for the Edification of the Body of Christ, the 1704- 
 " Church : Therefore, if he that hath Wifdom do not excrcife it in the Church 
 " to Edification and Elelp, he who hath the Gift of Prophecy is not to be 
 " blamed, becaufe he whc hath Wifdom doth not ufe it to its right End : Antl 
 " if he who hath Knowledge doth not ufe it to the End for which it is given 
 " him, he who hath the Gift of Faith is not therefore to be blamed : And if 
 " he who hath the Gift of Prophecy, or preaching the Gofpel, (for thefe are 
 *' all Gifts of the Spirit, in all Ages of the Church, and not human Acquirements) 
 " do not duly attend upon his Miiiiftry, they who have the Gifts of Wifdom, 
 " Knowledge, or difcerning of Spirits, are not to blame, nor ought they to be 
 " accufed as holding lying Principles for his Ncgleft j nor for not ufing of the 
 " proper Gifts one of another, but for their own only : No more are we wor- 
 " thy of being charged as holding lying and damnable Principles, in declining 
 " to ufe Water Baptifm, feeing Christ hath not fent or commanded us to 
 " do it ; but fomc of us to preach the Gofpel, others to teach the Way of 
 " Truth by Word or Writing; and all to behcve in God and in Christ, 
 *' in every Difpenfation and Manner of Appearance, whether in the Flefh among 
 " the Je"j}S, or as divine eternal Light, or as he is the Holy Spirit of Life, the 
 " Lord and Giver of Life eternal, to all that believe in him and obey his 
 " Voice. This Charge therefore upon us, by your Minifler, of holding of ly- 
 " ing and damnable Principles, is a manifcit Pervcrfion and'Mifapplication of 
 *' the Holy Scripture ; a falfe Glofs and Inference, not at all due unto us, but 
 " rather unto himfelf, as an Advocate for Sin, and a Minifler of it. 
 
 " And though it is not incumbent upon me, as the Qiieftion or Difpute is 
 " ftated, to prove, that Water Baptifm was not commanded in that Text, but Mat. xxviii. 
 " upon your Minifter, and he hath not done it ; yet, for your Sakes, and of '9- 
 " my Friends prefent, I find my Mind engaged to endeavour to make it mani- 
 " feff, that it was not Water Baptifm, but the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft ; the 
 " firft being the Baptifm of John, and the latter of Ch r i s t. 
 
 " John the Baptift was fent of G o d to preach Repentance to the Jews, and — iii. i, 2: 
 " to baptize them with Water, faying, that they fliould believe in one to come ^°^^ '" 33' 
 " after him, who he did not then know, but that he was among the People, and 
 " ready to appear: That he was a Baptizer fuperior to himfelf, and fliould Mat. iii. 11. 
 " baptize them with a more excellent Baptifm •, and that was Christ. John 
 " was the Servant, and his Baptifm was with Water, and was to decreafe, and 
 " confequently come to an End ; but Christ is the Son of Goo, and his 
 " Baptifm is with the Holy Ghoft and divine fandifying Fire, and increafeth 
 " and remaineth until the End of the World : And as Christ fulfilled all the 
 " Righteoufnefs of the Law of Mofes in his own Perfon •, fo likewife as John's 
 " Baptifm, in point ot Time, came before his, and the Time of his publick 
 " Appearance, (though he needed no Repentance, not having finned) it was 
 " incumbent upon him to fulfil the Righteoufnefs of that Difpenfation hkewife; 
 " and therefore he was baptized of John as others were : And thus concenter- 
 " ing in himfelf all the Righteoufnefs of the typical Difpenfations of God, he 
 " became from thenceforth the fole Difpenccr of Righteoufnefs unto all Nati- 
 " ons and People, tliroughout all Generations unto the End of the World ; and 
 " he himfelf is that eflential Righteoufnefs in his own Nature : And tlierefore, 
 " as foon as he had fulfilled all that Righteoufnefs, he began to be made manifefl, 
 *' and to preach Repentance to the Jc^s, as John did, (that beino- mofb ncccf- 
 " fary to their finful State) declaring the Kingdom of G o d to be at hand to 
 
 " that
 
 2.B8 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " that People ; (for he was not fent at that Tune, nor in that Manner, to the! 
 
 1704. " Genliles) and calhng Diiciples, he lent them forth among the Je-zvs, declaring 
 
 " hull to be the Mefliah, and preaching in b.is Name the fame Doftrine, and 
 
 " baptizing with the fame Baptiim, as to the Mode and Inftrument of it, but 
 
 " with this Diftinftion as to the Application and End of it, John with Water 
 
 " unto Repentance, but with no Objecl; of Faith certain, not in any Name de- 
 
 " clarcd, but in him who was to come after, or to be made manifefl: ; but the 
 
 " Difciples of Christ preached the fiime Doftrir.e, and baptized with the 
 
 " fame Baptifrn, but in the Name of the Lord Jesus, as the true Objeft of 
 
 " Faith ; declaring him to be the Meffiah, of whom Mofes and the Prophets 
 
 " wrote, now already come and made manitefl: ; not unto Repentance only, but 
 
 " for Remiffion of Sins repented of, in the Name of him who was fhortly to 
 
 " be offered up unto God, a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World. 
 
 John iv. 1,2. " A N D it is faid, that Jesus made and baptized more Difciples than JoL-n 
 " did; yet he did not baptize any in his own Ptrfon ; that was below the Di- 
 " fpenfation of the Baptifm John had afcribed unto him, and committed unto 
 " his Adminiftration by the Father: which is a Difpenfation of eternal Sub- 
 " fbance, of Light, Life, Virtue and Power, and not of Shadows or Symbols, 
 " for the Time that then was, until they were capable of higher Attainments 
 " and Services. 
 
 " The iVpoftles and Difciples of Christ being thus in the Praftlce of 
 " Water Baptifm, and other Services of that Day, the Lor d, when they were 
 " able to bear it, plainly told them who he was, that is, the Way, the Truth, 
 " and the Life; and forLtold them of his Sufferings, a little before it came to 
 " pafs ; of his Departure from them ; that he muft go away as to his bodily 
 " Prefence, but fhould come again in Spirit, by which he fhould be in them as 
 " their Comforter : And this Promife he made in the Father's Name, which 
 " was to come to pafs as the Effeft of his own Prayer and Interceffion. 
 
 " And accordingly, after he had fuffered, and finiflied his Teftimony on 
 
 " Earth, and was rifen ii-om the dead, he appeared to his Difciples, and gave them 
 
 " feveral infallible Proofs of it : And the Apoftles being prefent with him, in 
 
 " a Place appointed, a little before he afcended into Heaven, he faid unto them. 
 
 Mat. xxviii. " Jll Power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth, and Repentance and Re- 
 
 iS, 19, 20. <.<. jjiijion of Sins muft be preached in my Name unto all Nations, beginning at Jerii- 
 
 h&i\^%' '^~ " M^^ '■> ^^"^ y^' fi^^'^ ^^ Jf^itnejfes unto me, hoth in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, 
 
 " and in Samaria, and unto the utter moft Part of the Earth. Go ye therefore, teach 
 
 " all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
 
 " t he Holy Ghoft ; teaching them to obferve all Things ijohatfcever I have command- 
 
 Markxvi. i ;, " cd you : yhid, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the End of the World. Go ye 
 
 • &■ «' into all the World, and preach the Gofpel to every Creature ; he that believeth, 
 
 John vv. zo. " and is baptized, foall be faved, but he that believeth not flmll he damned. And, 
 
 — xii.4S. " behold, I fend the Promife of my Father upon you : But tarry ye in the City of 
 zThef.ii. 12. ^^ Jerufalem, until ye be endued with Power from on high. But ye pall receive 
 Lukexxiv.49 " Power after that the Holy Ghoft is come upon you. For John truly baptized with 
 Aih i. 4, 5,8. ic Ji'^iic- J l/iit ye ftoall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft not many Days hence. 
 
 " Here their Miffion and Work were greatly enlarged; for, before, 
 yt ., „ " they (as well as himfelf) were confined to the Jews only, until he had 
 
 — X. 56.' " finidied his Teilimony unto them on Earth; but now they arc fent unto 
 
 " all Nations under Heaven, to the uttermoft Parts of the World. They 
 
 " had
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. 289 
 
 " liaJ been before baptized with John's Water Baptifm ; and they had baptized Anno 
 " many in the Name of the Lord, without any other Power from on high, i704' 
 ♦' with the fame Baptifm : But now they themfelvcs were to be baptized with a Mat. iii. 5. 
 
 " more excellent Baptifm, (foretold by John) the Baptifm of Christ; "• 
 
 " which was with the Holy Giioft, and divine, holy, Soul-cleanfing Fire : And 
 
 " then, and not before, they were to go out, in that glorious, wonderful, and 
 
 " powerful Name, in that Soul-faving Work and Service : For after the 
 
 " Lord had given them this Command, to go teach all Nations, baptizing 
 
 " them, &c. he retrained them by a fubfequent Order Irom going by virtue of 
 
 " that Command only, until they were aftually endued with Power from the 
 
 *' Father, faying. But ye pall receive Power after that the Holy Ghoft is come Aas i. 8. 
 
 *' upon you; for John truly baptized with IVater, but ye pall be baptized with ~' 5- 
 
 " the Holy Ghoft not many Days hence. Now, by all this, it is clear, that the 
 
 " Lord Christ fpake all thefe Things, at one and the fame Time, unto 
 
 " his Apoftles, and with good and plain Connexion, very intelligible to any 
 
 " unprejudiced or unprepofielled Underftanding •, though they are difperfed in 
 
 " the Scripaires, and fome part recorded by one Evangelift, and Jbme by 
 
 " another, and not entirely by any one of them : And that he diftinguifh- 
 
 " eth between the Baptifm of John with Water, (then in pradtice, and fhortly 
 
 " to be fuperfeded, and ceafe in point of Obligation) and the Baptifm of 
 
 " Christ himfelf by the Spirit •, which, as it is the Gofpel Baptifm and Di- 
 
 " fpenfation, was not then commenced, nor could be, until Christ afccnded, 
 
 " and was glorified with the fame Glory that he had with the Father before the John vii. 30. 
 
 " World w^as made : And the Lord Christ doth not mention in all this, '^"' ' ' ' ' 
 
 " any other Water Baptifm but that of John, in Diftinftion to the Baptifm of 
 
 " the Spirit; v/hich he eftablifhcth alone, as his permanent, necefTary, and fa- 
 
 *' ving Baptifm to the End of the World : Nor is it at all probable, or any way 
 
 " likely, that Ch ri st would re-inftitute Water Baptifm, which they were al- 
 
 " ready in the practice of, by his own Authority and Countenance, that had its 
 
 " Time and Ufe already, and not fo much as name Water in all the Words of the 
 
 " Inftitution, but by way of Cqntradiftindtion and Precaution; left they fliould 
 
 " fo far miftake, in fo great and neceflary a Point, as to think he inftituted ano- 
 
 *' ther Water Baptifm: And, though they were Apoftles of Christ, and Mat.x. zo. 
 
 " had received fome Degree of the Spirit, and were thereby fandified, fo far — ^:_ 22. 
 
 " as to be fitted for the Services to which they had been hitherto called, yet '""" "* 
 
 " they were not at this Time fo thoroughly converted, or their Underftandings 
 
 " fo tar opened, as to know either the Nature of this Baptifm, or Extent of 
 
 " their Commiflion therein : For worldly Views had prepofTelfed their Minds, 
 
 " and anncipated and mifguided their Judgments for the prefent, until the ho- 
 
 " ly Thing declared itfell unto them ; till the Holy Ghoft came and was mani- 
 
 *' fcfted in them, by its own divine and powerful Influence and Work : For 
 
 " unto all that Christ faid unto them on that Subjeft, they anfwered him 
 
 " like Men deeply prepofieffed with Views and Sentiments, of Christ and 
 
 " his Kingdom, quite contrary to the Nature of it, and the Truth ; after a car- 
 
 " nal Manner faying, Lord, wilt thou at this Tune reftore again the Kingdom to Ads i. 6. 
 
 " Ifrael? 
 
 " I t ii not to be admired therefore, that none of them underftood Christ 
 *• either as to the Nature or Extent of their MifTion, at that Time, until Peter 
 " was fcnt to the Houfe of Cornelius, (who was a. Gentile) which was about — '^■34. 3J; 
 " eight Years after this Command ; for till then, notwithfl:anding the plain 
 " intelligible Words of Ch r i st, they ftill thought Salvation was confineci un- 16, 18. 
 " to themfelvcs, the Jews only; until Christ himfelf demonftrared the 
 
 4 D " con- 
 
 44- 
 
 — xj. 14, ij,
 
 t^t> The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 A N M o " contrary by Matter of Faft^ in baptizing Cornelius and his Houfhold with 
 1704. " the Holy Ghoft, by the Miniftry of Peter ; and then his Underftanding was 
 " opened and enlarged; and the reft hkewife, who had yet remained ignorant, 
 " were, by his Relation of the Fafts and Circumftances of the whole Matter, 
 " convinced and fatisfied, both as to the Nature and Extent of their Commif- 
 " fion, that it is a fpiritual Baptifni and Difpenfation, wherein Salvation is of- 
 " fercd, through Christ, unto all Nations and Ages, and from Generation 
 " to Generadon to the End of the World. 
 
 John xiv. 16, "But though the Spirit of C h Ri st, which is efiential Truth, and cloathed 
 26. ^ <c ^j^i^ a human Mind, kadcth thofe who believe and follow him, into all Truth i 
 ' yet not all at once, but as we poor, low, weak Mortals are made able to bear, 
 ' from one Degree of Convincement, Illumination, Sanftification, Underftand- 
 
 XV. 26. 
 
 — xvi. 12. 
 
 — xvii. 1 7, 
 19,20,21, u j^g^ Experience, and Knowledge, to another, under the Conduft of the 
 
 1 Ccr. ii. 6. " Spirit, until we arrive at as great Perfedion as our Nature is capable of 
 
 — xiv. 20. 
 Col. i. 28. 
 
 2 Cor. vii. I. 
 
 in this prefent World : which is no fmall Degree •, in order to be compleatly 
 fitted for a far greater Glory, and full Eftablifliment, in a more excellent and 
 Eph.iv. 12. " permanent World to come, in Life everlafting." 
 
 Now, it is an eafier Matter for any Man of tolerable Senfe, in a few Sen- 
 tences, to puzzle any Caufe, or perpkx any Truth or Point ot Doftrine of the 
 Gofpel, before incompetent Judges, than for the moft fincere, Ikilful, and 
 competent Miniftcrs of it, to difentangle the Matter, lb as to make it clear 
 to common Capacities, and thereby command the AfTtnt of their Under- 
 ftandings -, efpccially when fuch Auditors are prepoffeffed and prejudiced a- 
 gainft the Trutii, by a Series of Pradices and Habits to the contrary, undei' 
 a falfe Apprehenfion of their being in the right : And therefore my Opponent 
 replied, " That notwithftanding all 1 had faid on that Head, it muft ftill be 
 Mat. xxviii. «' Water Baptifm which was commanded in that Text •, for feveral of the 
 '9- " Apoftles and Minifters in that Day, baptized with Water, after the Coming 
 " of the Holy Ghoft -, and their Pradice is the cleareft Way to determine what 
 " is the Mind of Christ herein. For Inftancc, when Pete}\ being filled with 
 " the Holy Ghoft, at the Time of the firft Eftufion thereof, anfwering this 
 .A.cU ii. 37, " Queftion of the Jeios^ Men and Brethren, tab at jh all ive do ? Said unto themj 
 3^' " Repent^ dnd be baptized every 07ie of jou, in the Name of Jefus Chrijl, for the 
 " Rejnijfion of Sins, end ye foall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghofl. Here it is 
 " plain, that Peter adviftth them who believed, to repent and be baptized in 
 " the Name of J esus Christ, as a necefiTary Qiiahfication, both for the Re- 
 " miffion of Sins and Gift of the Holy Ghoft : And this cannot be undcrftood 
 " of any other Baptifm but that of Water ; for this is to prefede, and the Holy 
 " Ghoft to fucceed upon it, the former as a Condition, in a manner, of the 
 ^1. " latter ; and accordingly, Ihey who gladly received his Word, were baptized. 
 
 " Again, when Peter preached unto Cornelius and his Houfliold, after they 
 
 X. 47,48. " had received the Holy Ghoft, he commanded them to be baptized ; which 
 
 " could not be any other than Water Baptifm. And Paul bapdzed twelve 
 
 xix. -. " Difciplcs at Ephefus -, which muft have been with Water, for they received the 
 
 — viii 12, " rioly Ghoft afterward. And when P/:;///^ preached unto the >9j;ff«n'/^;w, they 
 I-).' 5''^''' 7- " beheved him, and were baptized, both Men and Women. 
 
 viii. 30. " And Philip baptized the Eunuch ■, and Saul was baptized ; and Lydia and 
 
 " her tloufliold were baptized ■, and the Goaler and his Floufhold were bap- 
 
 xviu. «/ ' " tized ; and many of the Corinthians were baptized. And all thofe Inftances, 
 
 — IX. I S 
 •^xvi.ic,33 
 
 " being
 
 of THOMAS STORT. ipi 
 
 " being after the Coming of the Holy Ghofi:, they fhow, that it was Water Anno 
 " Baptifm which was commanded in the Text ; and all Ages fince having been i704» 
 " in the Praftice of it, declare they have ever fo underftood it, from that Time 
 " until now." 
 
 To this I anfwered, " Though I have fufficiently fpoken to this Point al- 
 *' ready, and diftinguilh'd between Baptifm with Water by John, but not iii^ Mat. iii. 5,6, 
 " any Name certain ; and the fame Water Baptifm by the Difciples of C 11 rist ^J' j^ ■ o 
 *' in his Name, which was certain -, and the People of Ifrael'i being generally 
 " baptized by John, only unto Repentance, and not for Remiffion of Sins : Be- 
 " caufe he in whofe Name alone Remiffion of Sins is, was not then made mani- 
 " feft, nor had fuffered for our Sins, it was necefiary they fliould be baptized 
 *' with the fame Baptifm, in the Name of the Lo r d Jesus, as foon as he was 
 " made manifeft, for the Remiffion of Sins, when repented of. And though 
 " there were fevcral Adminiftrators of Water Baptifm at the fame Time, John 
 " and the Difciples of C h r i s t, to feveral Purpofes •, yet it was the fame Bap- 
 " tifm : For Water Baptifm is but Water Baptilm, whoever be the Minifter ; 
 *' and can no more reach to the Infide, to the purifying of the Mind, than could 
 " the Blood of Bulls. And though there are fome Inftances of the Admini- Heb.x. 4J 
 " ftration of Water Baptifm, after the Commencement of the Miniftration of 
 " the Baptifm of the Spirit ; yet they arc but very few, and of thofe now men- 
 " tioned fevcral are uncertain, whether the Subjedts were baptized with Water 
 *' at all or not ; and thofe which are certain confirm my Afllimption, that it 
 " is not Water Baptifm which is mentioned by Matthew in that Place ; but is 
 " the Baptifm of the Spirit only, they being generally diftinguifhed in every 
 " Inftance : That with Water in the Name of Ch r i st only ; and that with 
 *' the Spirit, in the Name, Power, and Authority of the Father, Son and Holy 
 *' Ghofr, as comprehenfive of all the Pvighteoufnefs of G o d, and the fulfilling 
 " of all his Promifes unto IVIankind through his Word. For when Peter faid 
 " unto them who heard and believed his Dodtrine, Repent, and be baptized 
 " every one of you, in the Name of Jefus Chrifl, for the Remiffion of Sins, and ye Ifa. xliv. ji 
 " fhall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghofi ; the Evangelifl adds, ^hen they who Aftsii. 41, 
 " gladly received his IFord, were baptized. 
 
 " This Faith and Baptifm were effeifled in them by the hearing of the Jofin viii. 44; 
 " Word by which Peter preached the Gofpel ; as may well be explained by 
 
 " thefe Texts of Scripture, where it is faid. Now ye are clean through the Word xv. 3. 
 
 " which I have fpoken unto you. And again. For their Sokes I fanSfify myfelf, — ''^"- '7. 
 
 " tJJat they alfo might he fan Eli fed through the Truth. Neither pray I for thefe ^2l^^'"% lo 
 
 " alone, hut for them alfo which fhall believe in me through their Word. And it 
 
 " is to be ccnfidered, that though the Jews were generally baptized by John 
 
 " unto Repentance ; yet they repented of their Repentance, fo far as after- Mat. iii. ;. 
 
 " ward to deny, reproach, vilify, and crucify the Lord and Christ of Lukevil. 29. 
 
 " God. This cannot be underftood of thofe Jews who had believed in ^"•^3'3 
 
 " Christ, in the Days of his Flefh, and publickly acknowledged him as the 
 
 " MefTiah, by being baptized by his Apoftles in his Name ; but of them who 
 
 " had not believed in Christ, notwithftanding their Baptifm by John, nor 
 
 " had brought iorth Fruits meet for Repentance •, but, as a Generation of Vi- 
 
 " pcrs, had blafphemed the Lord and Giver of Life, fent of the Father, in 
 
 *' eternal Love and Mercy, to fave them : It was therefore necelTary that they 
 
 •' fliould firft believe in him, and repent again of all their Sins ; efpecially of 
 
 " that great Sin of denying and crucifying the Lord, before they could be 
 
 " baptized with the Holy Ghoft, or know the fweet Movings, Runnings, Flow- -^o^" ^" S^^i
 
 5-9^ *rhe LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 A N N " ings, and divine Confolations tliereof in their Hearts, as the faved of the 
 1704. « Lord. 
 
 '* Again, John the Baptift was fent to the JrjDS only, and not to the Gen- 
 " tiles, with his Baptifm •, nor was Christ himfelf lent, in the Flefh, to any 
 " others but the Jews; nor were the Difciples of Christ fent, in that Day ; 
 " nor with any other Baptifm than John's, Water Baptifm ; nor was there ever 
 " any other Water Baptifm inftituted by Christ : Then it follows, that as 
 ^'■John's Baptifm was to decreafe, and Christ's to increafe, as foon as 
 " Ch rist's Baptifm commenced, obtained, and took efFeft, as a Difpenfation 
 " of Life and Salvation to them who believed, Water Baptifm ceaied, in point 
 " of Obligation, and is effedually ended, though imitated by fome in Praftice 
 " unto this Day. 
 
 " But, as the Rites of the Law of Mofes were never incum.bent upon the 
 
 " Gentiles, nor Christ fent unto them in the Flefli, the Miffion of the Apo- 
 
 " ftles unto them was of a divine and fpiritual Nature, a Difpenfation of Light 
 
 John iv. 42. " and Life from God, through Jesus C h r i st, the Saviour of all Nations 
 
 I Tim.H. 6. c^ under Heaven -, fo the Baptifm of Christ to them is likewife fpiritual •, 
 
 Heb.x!i, 2, " not with elementary Water, which cannot effeft any more in Time of the 
 
 3, 4- " Gofpel, than legal and outward Inftitutions could in Time of the Law of 
 
 " Mofes ; but with the Holy Ghoft, the Spirit of C h r i s t : whereby the Mind, 
 
 " being thereunto turned, and believing therein, is inwardly taught and in- 
 
 " ftrucSted in the Things an^i Knowledge of G o d, fanftified, juftiiied, and ettr- 
 
 Ifa. xlii. 6. « nally faved -, bring thereby united, as in a Covenant of divine Love and Life, 
 
 ■[°^'"''7"' '"' " "r^to hirr' who fanftifies, and liveth ior ever-, and then becaufe he liveth, we 
 
 " live alfo in him, and he in us. Work! without End. Amen. 
 
 11 -y ■} 
 
 " And as to that Paffage, where Peter commanded that Cornelius and his 
 Afts X. 48. " Houfhold fhouid be baptized in the Name of the Lord ; the Cafe was this, 
 — xi. 14. " He was fent only to tell them Words whereby they were to be faved, and he 
 " preached unto them accordingly ; in the Conclufion v/hereof he faid. That 
 through the Name of C h r i s t, whoever believeth in him fhall receive Re- 
 miffion of Sins : And as he began to /peak, or while he yet fpake, the J'FordSy 
 the Holy Gbcfi fell on all them who heard the Word, as on the Apojlles in the Be- 
 ginning : Then Peter remembered the IVord of the Lord, (with Underftanding) 
 how that he faid, John indeed baptized with Water, but ye foall be baptized 
 with the Holy Ghoji. 
 
 x. 43,44. 
 xi. 15. 
 
 — ij. 4, 
 
 — i. J. 
 
 — X. 2.43 
 
 " H E r E it is remarkable, \fl. That no more is needful for the RemifTion of 
 ' Sins, or to fit Mankind for the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, but Belief in 
 ' G o D, a good Life, a charitable Difpofition, and Faith in the Lord Jesus 
 " Christ: But I obferve here, as in fome other Places of Scripture, a Dif- 
 " ference between the Speech of the Apoftle, and the Word by which he did 
 " fpeak ; and that Men may hear the one, and not the other -, for the Holy 
 " Ghoft fell on them only who heard the Word : And Christ himfelf faid 
 , ... ^ <■<■ to the Jews, IVhy do ye not underjiand my Speech ? Even becaufe ye cannot hear 
 " }ny ll'crd. 
 
 " 2dly, T h A T the Coming of the Holy Ghoft upon fuch as believe, is the 
 " Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft ; and that neither Peter, nor the reft of the Apo- 
 " fties, till that Time, (when Peter preached to Cornelius, &c.) underftood the 
 " full Meaning of Christ, when he commanded them to go teach all Nations, 
 " baptizing them ; for, till Peter's Undei-ftanding was opened by the Vifion he 
 
 " had
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 295 
 
 "• had to that Purpofe, he did not know that the Genliks, beheving in C h ri s t, A w n o 
 
 *' were to be faved as well as the Jews. 1 704. 
 
 " ji/y. This further demonftrates, that where Christ faid, Go teach all 
 ■■' Nations^ baptizing them, this Baptifm is effefted in preaching C h r i st by the 
 
 " Power of the Holy Ghofl:, as in one and the fame Aft ; For as Peter began Afts i. 8. 
 
 " to fpeak, or while he yet fpake, the Holy Ghofl fell on them who heard the '': 44- 
 
 " IVord, agreeable to fome Words in their general Commiffion, that he that be- Markxvi.i6. 
 
 " lieveth and is baptized, flmll he faved : And, again, Te Jhall have Power after Lukexxiv.49 
 "' that the Holy Ghojt is come upon you. 
 
 Aasi. 18. 
 
 " ^thly. Where the End is obtained j all Means conducing to that End na- 
 turally ceafe, and cannot be any further needful to that Purpofe : Here Pe- 
 ter is fent to preach Words unto Cornelius and his Houfhold, by which they 
 fhould be faved j he did preach, they believed, and the Salvation of God^ 
 the faving Power of the Holy Ghoft came upon them; and confequently 
 there could not be any Need, as to them, of being baptized afterwards with 
 Water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ-, feeing they were al- 
 ready baptized into the Name, Word, Power, and Life of the Father, Son,> 
 and Holy Ghoft, by the Spirit of Christ, without ufing that Form of 
 Words. 
 
 " ^thly, A G A I M, as to Peter's faying. Can any Man forbid Water, &c. it is — x. 47; 
 to be confidered, that the Jews were a People blindly zealous, and obftinately 
 tenacious of every Thing that once obtained with them, as well after they 
 believed in C h r i s t, as before, many thoufands of them being ftill zealous 
 for their Law, and Water Baptifm, in the Name of Jesus Christ, ha- 
 ving been fo lately accuflomed to it ; and fix of them, from Joppa, being with 
 Peter^ and flill remaining under their former Prejudices againfl the Gentiles, 
 as if they were not to be regarded of God, or faved, were aflonilhed, becaufe 
 they perceived, that on the Geiitiles alfo was poured out the Gift cf the Holy — — 45: 
 GhoJi : And Peter being but newly convinced himfelf, by a Vifion from God, 
 (notwithftanding the Extent of the Gofpel to all Nations) that the Gentiles 
 were to be faved ; and thofe believing Jews, feeing the Effefts of the Doc- 
 trine oi Peter, but not yet knowing the Purpofe of God tor the Salvation of 
 the Gentiles by C h r i s t ; and left thefe,. and the reft of the beheving Jews, 
 fliould think that Cornelius, and his Houfhold, being Gentiles by Nature, fliU 
 wanted to be baptized with Water in the Name of the Lord Jesus, as 
 they themfclves had been, he faid unto them. Can any Man forbidlVater, that ——.47,48. 
 thefe JJoould not he baptized, who have received the Holy Ghoft as well as we ? 
 and he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. 'Then prayed 
 they him to tarry certain Days. 
 
 " Can any Man forbid Water ? Here Peter (peaks cautloufly and faintly ; as 
 if he had faid, It is not prohibited •, therefore, to prevent Offences, it may be 
 permitted. And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord, 
 which fhews ftill that he meant the fame Baptifm they ufed in John's Time, 
 and not into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, the Terms ufed 
 in the Account by Matthew. And as Baptifm with Water was no Part of 
 
 " Peter's MifTion to Cornelius and his Ploufe, but only to preach unto them; 6, 22, 
 
 "' neither did he, in all his Defence, and Recital of the Paffage, fo much as once 33- 
 "■ mention this Baptifm, againft thofe who accufed him at Jeriifalcm, as if he 
 *' had been in an Error, and broken the Law of Al^fes, or ftated Cuflom of _ xi, z, *. 
 
 4 E " the 
 
 • — 34. 
 
 • — 28. 
 
 (C 
 
 (C
 
 1 
 
 194 '^^^^ LIFE, ^r. 
 
 Anno '• the Jev:s, by going into the Houfe of Cornelius, and eating with them : whicli 
 1704. " ftill fliews, that neither Peter, nor any of thok Believers with him, ncrthoie 
 " at Jerufalem, had any Apprehcnfion of the Salvation of the Gentile::: And 
 " that although the Holy Ghoft, the Spirit of C h r i s t, leadeth into all Truth, 
 " yet not all at once, but gradually, as weak, ignorant, and fcarce docile Man- 
 John xvi. 12. " kind, are able to bear: Nor were the Apoftles themfelves opened at once 
 1 Cor. HI. 2. « jj^jQ ^ij ^i^g Truths of the Gofpcl, left they might publifh them too loon, and 
 1 Pet. i. 10. " unfeafonably unto the People, betore they could uaderftand or believe them ; 
 " and fo offend rather than fave them. 
 
 " Now, to conclude upon this Head, though Peter did command them 
 *' to be baptized, not in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, (the 
 Afts X. 48. " Terms of the Baptifm in Matthe'vo) but in the Name of the Lord ; yet it doth 
 " not appear to whom he gave that Command ; nor that Cornelius and his 
 " HoufTioId, or any of them, were fo baptized : For then frayed they him to tar- 
 " ry certain Days ; in which Time they might deliberate, it bting a new Cafe, 
 *' whether they fhould be fo baptized or not ; and it is moft probable they 
 " were not, feeing Peter, in his Defence at Jerufalem, doth not fo much as once 
 " mention any Thing of it. 
 
 — XI. 2. 
 
 " And, as to that Inftance at Ephefus, the Apoftle Paul, finding feme Per- 
 " fons there under the Charafter of Difciples -, and, not taking notice of any in- 
 " termcdiate State, or Difpenfation, between believing in Christ, and rccei- 
 " vino- the Holy Ghoft, as the Fruit and Confequence of Faith in Christ, 
 " afked them this Queftion, Have ye received the Holy Ghoft fince ye believed? 
 *' To which they anfwered, That they had not ft much as heard '■juhether there be 
 " any Holy Ghoft. This Anfwer feems to have furprized the Apoftle at their Ig- 
 " norance ; and he, having no other Baptifm in view but that of the Holy 
 AasxK.2,3. " Ghoft, replied. Into 'j^hat then ivere ye baptized? And they [aid. Unto Johi's 
 " Baptifm ; which demonftrates, that though they had been baptized of John, 
 *' and direfted to believe in one to come after him, yet they had not hitherto 
 " believed in Christ, and confequently were wholly ignorant of the Difpen- 
 *' fation of his Holy Spirit ; and therefore Prt«/ preached Christ unto them, 
 
 — — 4. " as the true and certain Objeft of their Faith, faying, John verily baptized ■v^ith 
 
 *' the Baptifm of Repentance, faying unto the People, that they fmuld believe on him 
 " "who ftjould come after him, that is, on Chrift Jefus ; declaring him openly to 
 " be the Perfon of whom John had fpoken obfcurely. And when they heard 
 " this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jefus, not in the Name of the 
 " Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft: And this is a like Phrafe of Speech with 
 " what is faid before concerning Cornelius and his Houfhold at the Preaching 
 
 — X. 44- " of Peter: JFhile he yet fpake the Words, the Holy Ghoft fell on all them who 
 
 — xix. 6. " heard the Word. And yet here, the Apoftle Paul, in the Counfel of God, 
 
 " being directed to further Means, after the Manner of the Law, laid his Hands 
 " upon them, the Holy Ghoft came on them ; and then they were endued witli 
 1C0r.xiv.22. " fome fpecial Gifts ; they fpake with Tongues and prophefied : they became 
 Eph. IV. 7. ct Minifters of the Gofpel, as I underftand it : But it doth not appear they were 
 " baptized with Water ; but, being initiated into the Grace of God by Faith in 
 " Christ, through the Miniftry of the Apoftle, they received a greater Degree 
 *' by his laying on of Hands. 
 
 Aasxviii.12. "As to that Inftance, when the Samaritans believed PZ'/7//», the Deacon, 
 " preaching the I'hings concerning the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jefus 
 " Chrift, they were baptized, both Men and Women. This was but the next Year 
 
 " after
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 295- 
 
 " after Christ was crucified, and is of the like Nature and Import of that AVj n o 
 
 " PaiTage before, by the i^.poftle Paid at Ephefus ; for, luhen they believed Philip 1 704. 
 
 " preaching, they ivere baptized, both Men and Women ; which was about feven 
 
 " Years * before P^/^r preached to Cornelius and his Houfhold, as before obfer- 
 
 " ved : By Faith in Christ they received an Earnefb of Grace, as a Seed of Mat. xlii. 19. 
 
 " divine Life : They were initiated, by his Doftrine, into a Senfe of the Be- ■ ^"""i '^ 5- 
 
 " ginning of the Work of the Spirit, in order to their Sanftification ; becoming ^^' '^' ' ''" 
 
 " thereby clean as the new Bottles, prepared for the new Wine of the Kingdom 
 
 " of the Holy Ghoft in greater Meafure : For when the Apoftles Peter and 
 
 " John had prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghoft, they Aasviii. 1-' 
 
 " laid their Hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit accordingly. i/- 
 
 " B u T, in the mean time, between the preaching of Philip, and their recei- 16, 
 
 " ving the Holy Ghoft, they had been baptized in the Name of the Lor d 13. 
 
 " Jesus, (profeffing the true God with the Jeivs) as was alfo Siinon Magus; 
 " in which feveral Things are obfervable. 
 
 " ift. This Baptifm being only in the Name of the Lord Jesus, was 
 " not that Baptifm declared in Matthew, which is in the Name of the Father, Mat. .xxviii? 
 " Son, and Holy Ghoft, but the fame they were in praftice of in John^i, Time, 
 " as before noted. 
 
 9- 
 
 " tdly. That the Apoftles were the inftrumental Minifters and Difpenfers 
 " of the Holy Ghoft unto others, his Power and Prefence being with them, johnv.ig-'6 
 " and they co- working with him therein, under his own immediate Counfel — viii. 28, 
 *' and Direftion, as in all other the Parts and Means of the Salvation of Man 
 *' kind ; for without him they could do nothing. — xv. 5, 
 
 " -^dly, Simon Magus'*?, believing and being baptized, demonftrates, that a 
 " bare Belief that Christ is the Meffiah, or Perfon of whom Mofes and the 
 " Prophets prophefied, neither iaii<5titieth or qualifies for receiving the Holy 
 " Ghoft, in a Gofpel-fenfe ; but that Men may be in a State of grofs Sin and 
 *' Uncleannefs notwithftanding : And therefore let all fuch fuperficial Believers Eph. ii. 8; 
 *' beware : for true Faith is the Gift of G o d, and comes into the Heart by the ''°'- ^- '-< 
 " Operation of the Spirit of Christ •, which is the Holy Ghoft, by which eve- 
 " ry Minifter of Christ preacheth the Gofpel of the Kingdom of God; 
 " and fomctimes by the immediate inward Work of the Spirit without any 
 *' Inftrument. 
 
 " A s to that Inftance of Philip''?, baptizing the Eunuch; it was very early Afts viii. 3-; 
 " in the Year of C h r i s t, 34, the next Year after he fuffered -, and as Philip 38. 
 " preached Christ unto the Eunuch, in which, by the Sequel, it is moft 
 " probable he mentioned the Baptifm of John with Water, and the fame Bap- 
 " tifm praftifed by the Difciples of C h r i s t in his Name ; and the Eunuch being 
 " but inftantly convinced, and believing that Christ is the Perfon the Pro- 
 " phet wrote of, and what he had faid of Water Baptifm in his Name ; he 
 " therefore propofed to be baptized by Philip ; who permitted it, but not 
 " until he had examined his fincere and full Faith in Christ, and was fatisfied 
 " in it, faying. If thou believeft with all thine Heart, thou mayeft. And here it 
 *' is remarkable that Philip did not fay to the Eunuch, Thou muft be baptized, 
 " by way of NecefTity -, but, ^hou mayft, as by way of Permiflion, not Duty ; 
 *' And his F'aith was exprcffcd in a few Words, I believe that Jefus Chrift is the 
 " Sen of God. It is plain then, that this was ftill the fame Water Baptifm be- 
 
 " gun 
 
 * Third Day in Vintecoji, Anno Domini 34, and Peter went to tiie Houfe of Cornelius in 41.
 
 29^ The LIFE, ^v. 
 
 Anno «* gun by John indefinitely, without affigning any certain Object of Faith, and 
 
 1704. " carried on, for a Time, in rhe Name of J e s u s C h R i s t, as the Objed: of 
 
 " tiie Faith of all that come unto G o d by him ; through which Faith, the Be- 
 
 Afts XX. 32. " hevers being fandified, and prepared as clean Vefleis of Honour unto God, 
 
 R^^xv 'fe " ^^^ afterwards receive the Baptifm of C h r i s t •, they are filled with the 
 
 iCor. vi! \i. " Holy Ghoft; of which we do not find that Philip faid any Thing to the 
 
 " Eunuch. 
 
 Aftsix. I J. — " A s to that Inftance concerning Saul, it is to be obferved, that what Christ 
 "' " faid unto Ananias of Saul was this. Go thy Way, for he is a chofen Vejfel u;i!o 
 
 " me, &c. And what Ananias faid unto Saul was only tliis, putting his Hands 
 *' upon him, Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jefus that appeared unto thee by the 
 *' Way as thou camejl) bath fent me, that thou might receive thy Sight, and be filled 
 " "jjith the Holy Ghojl. And immediately there fell from his Eyes as it had been 
 " Scales ; and he received Sight forthwith.^ and arofe and vjas baptized. 
 
 " Now, here is not any Thing predicated of Water Baptifm, nor any Thino- 
 " like it in the Ad:ion, nor the Name of Jesus Christ ufed therein, as was 
 " common in Water Baptifm ; nor any Tiling faid by Ananias, as his Mifilon 
 "- from Christ, but that Saul might receive his Sight, and be filled with the 
 *' Holy Ghoft. It cannot, therefore, be reafonably underftood to be Water 
 " Baptifm, but the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft ; for that only is predicated in 
 *' the Miffion of Ananias ; which was performed by laying on of his Hands, 
 " (in the immediate Counfel and Power of the Holy Ghoft) being the Means 
 " by which the Holy Ghoft was often given in thofe Days, but never ufed in bap- 
 " tizing with Water only. Again, if this had been Water Baptifm, the principal 
 *' Part of the Million, and the tnie End of it had remained unperformed ; for 
 *' nothing is otherwife faid of Saul's aftually receiving the Holy Ghoft, without 
 " which he could not perform the great End of his Calling, "To bear the Name 
 '■'■ of the Lord before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the Children of Ifrael ; or to fuf- 
 " fer fo great Things (even Death at lajl) for his Name's fake. This, therefore, 
 " was not Water Baptifm, (which many have received with Simon Magus, and 
 " yet have been, and ftill remain, as great Perfecutors of J e s u s as Saul was 
 *' before his Converfion) but the Baptifm of C h r i s t himfelf, by Ananias as 
 *' his Inftrument, by his Holy Spirit. 
 
 — XV). 14, 
 
 " A N D as to that Paffage concerning Lydia ; when the Apoftle Paid, and 
 •' others, had preached unto certain Women by a River Side, Lydia, who was 
 ■' before a Worftiipper of God, (as Cornelius had been before he beheved) and 
 " her Houihold, were convinced by die Miniftry of that Apoftle, and were 
 " baptized •, but it is not faid with Water, nor in any Name : and where the 
 " Scripture is not exprefs, we may take it, and I think we ought, as in other 
 *' Places of like Import, and here conclude it was the Baptifm of Christ by 
 *' the preaching of the Gofpel only, in the Power and Wifdom of the Floly 
 " Ghoft, by Paul as the Inftniment of it : Or, if it might be fuppofed to be 
 " with Water, it muft be concluded to be the fame in ufe from the Beginning 
 " of John's Time, and the fame with his ; and not from that Inftitution, or De- 
 " claration in Mat. xxviii. ig. 
 
 — — 30 ^i " An D, as to that Inftance, where the Goaler and his Houfe are faid to have 
 
 33. ' " been baptized ; the Paffage is thus. At the preaching oi Paul and Silas the 
 
 " Foundation of the Prifon was ftiaken, and their Bonds taken off, and the 
 
 " Prifon Doors opened by the mighty Power of G d i upon which the Goaler 
 
 " faid
 
 of T H M A S S T R T, 197 
 
 " laid unto them, ^bai miiji I do to he faied? Their Anfwer was. Believe on Anno 
 " the Lord Jejus Chrijt and thou Jhalt be faved, and thy Houfe. [This was 53 1704. 
 
 " Years after the Birth of C h r i s t.] And they fpake unto him the Word of the Afts xvi. 30, 
 
 " Lord, and to all that were in his Houfe ; and he was baptized, and all his ^^' 
 *' Houfe ftraightway, believing in God with alt bis Houfe. 
 
 " It is here to be obferved, that the Apoftles do not exprefs any other Con- 
 *' ditions of Salvation to them, but to beheve on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 *' and fay nothing of Baptifm on that Account ; but as the Apoftles fpake un- 
 " to him and his Family the Word of the Lord, (which could not be but by 
 *' the Power of the Holy Ghoft) it is moft probable that this Baptifm was the 
 *' Coming of the Holy Ghoft at the fame Inftant when the Apoftles preached ; 
 " for they were baptized ftraightway, (before he brought them out of the Place 
 *' where they preached, into his Houfe ;) which, being a little after Midnight, 
 *' and in the Prifon, it is no way probable they were baptized with Water -, but 
 *' the Fniits of their Miniftry were, that the Goaler and his Houfe rejoiced, be- 
 " lievingin God : But if there can be yet any Room to think of Water Bap- 
 "*' tifm here, it could be no other than the fame the Apoftles praftifed in John'^ 
 •' Time ; for as no Name is mentioned wherein they were baptized, it is moft 
 " reafonable to think it was in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 *' fince he was propofcd as the Objedl of their Faith by the Apoftles -, and con- 
 *' fequently was the fame Baptifm which the Difciples of C h r i st ufed in John's 
 ■*' Time, and not any new Inftitution mentioned by Matthew ; which was not 
 *' in the Name of the L o r d J e su s only, but in the Name (Virtue and Power) 
 *' of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft -, that is to fay, both into the holy Hu- 
 *' manity, or human Nature of Christ, who never fell, and into his divine 
 " Nature likewife by the Holy Spirit, which partaketh of both ; which no 
 " outward Water, in what Manner, or by what Adminiftrator foever applied, 
 *' can poffibly effecl, (being altogether an inward, fpiritual, and invifible Work of 
 *' Christ upon the Heart and Mind) no more than the Blood of Bulls and 
 *' Goats could purify the Confcience, or take away Sm. ^^°- ^- 4- 
 
 " And as to thofe Corinthians mentioned in the AcSts of the Apoftles, Paul, Acls xviii. 8j 
 *' reafoning or difputing in the Synagogue every Sabbath, perfuaded the Jews 
 " and the Greeks, and teftified to the Jews that Jesus was C h r i s t ; but 
 *' being oppofed by the Jews, he went to the Gentiles : Yet Crifpus, the chief 
 " Ruler of the Synagogue, with all his Houfe, and many of the Corinthians, 
 " hearing the Apoftles, believed in C h R i st, and were baptized. And what 
 *' Baptifm this was, appears by the Firft Epiftle of Paul to the Corinthians, 
 " about five Years after -, where, though he direfted his Epiftle unto the j, £>. ^ j; 
 *' Church of God which was at Corinth, (and more particularly to the moft wor- 
 " thy among them) to them zvho were fan£lified in Chrijl Jcfus, called to be 
 *' Saints, with all who in every Place called upon the Name of Jefus Chrijl, &c. 
 *' yet, in the Sequel of his Epiftle, he calls them Babes and carnal, not able at i Cor. iii. t, 
 " that Time to bear, or underftand the Spirituality of the Doftrine of the ^' 3- 
 " Apoftles concerning God and Christ the Lord: Which iTiows, that 
 " many of them, if not the greateft Part, had not been baptized with the Floly 
 " Ghoft •, tho' they had fo far believed in C h r i st as that he is the Mefllah, 
 " (and were like the Samaritans before they received the Holy Ghoft) having 
 *' been baptized with Water only, the fame continuing in Pradice from John's 
 " Time, and being the fame, and not by the Spirit, which fuperfedes it •, not 
 " in the Name, Nature, Virtue and Pov/er of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, 
 
 *' but in the Name of J n s u s C h r i s t, or the L o r d, only •, and many of . 
 
 " them hy Paul, who ingcnuoufly confefieth that he had no Authority from 17, ^' 
 
 4. F " Christ
 
 apS The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Anno "Christ (as I have faid before) for fo doing; nor do we find that any 
 1704. " other had, though they mention feveral Minifters as Inftruments of their 
 *' Faith, about whom, and other Matters, they were divided, envying and 
 *' Arriving one againft another ; and would have had the Apoftles and Minifters 
 *' of C H Ri ST as fo many Sett Mafters over them, as all the carnally minded 
 *' and unconverted ProfefTors of C h r i st do at this Day ; which demonftrates, 
 " tliat neither thofe of the CorinthumSy nor thofe at this Day, either were, or 
 " are, baptized with the Holy Ghoft. 
 
 *' B u T when the Church and Churches were further advanced, and grown 
 
 *' in the Knowledge of G o d and of our Lord Jesus Christ, and more 
 
 *' capable of the Doftrines of the Gofpel, and Spirituality of them, and the 
 
 " Apoftles themfelves further opened and inftruded therein by the Spirit of 
 
 *' Christ, they were now more explicit and plain in this Doctrine of Eap- 
 
 " tifm, than at firft, as well as others : For though there had been divers inter- 
 
 " inediate Baptifms, before that of John's, under various Difpenfations, they all 
 
 Eph.iv. 4, 5. " concentered in one at laft ; where the Apoftle faith. There is one Body and one 
 
 " Spirit, even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling ; one Lord, one Faith, 
 
 " and one Bap tifm ; one God and Father of all, is:ho is above all, and through all^ 
 
 1 Cor.xii. 1 2, " and in you all : For as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Mem- 
 
 i3> '4- " i>ers of that one Body, being many, are one Body, fo alfo is Chrifl : For by one 
 
 " Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whe- 
 
 " ther we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit ; for ths 
 
 Eph. i. 20, •' Body is not one Member, but many. And Chrifl is given of the Father to be the 
 
 22, 23. tc i^gad of all Things to the Church, which is his Body, the Fulnefs of him who 
 
 Col,.. 18,24. ..jiii,ihallinall. 
 
 Heb. ix. 6. "And the fame Apoftle confiders Watef Baptifm as of a legal original Na- 
 
 lo. «' ture,and ranks itamongthe typicalRitesof theLaw, faying,/«j{>//« (Christ) 
 
 • "• 9) tc dwelleth all the Fulnefs of the Godhead bodily, and ye are compleat in him, who is 
 " the Head of all Principality and Power ; in whom alfo ye are circumcifed, with 
 " the Circumcifion -made without Hands, in putting off the Body of the Sins of the 
 " Flefli by the Circumcifion of C h r i s t. Buried with him in Bapdfm, where- 
 *' in alfo you are rifen with him, through the Faith of the Operation of God, who 
 *' hath raifed him from the dead, &c. Let no Man therefore judge you in Meat, or 
 " Drink, or in refpe£l of an Holy Day, or of the New Moon, or of the Sabbath 
 *' Days, (or, fay I, by a Parity of Truth, and of the Reafon of Things, of IFate-r 
 " Baptifm) which are a Shadow of Things to come, but the Body (or Subftance) is 
 " of Chrifi, &c. Wherefore, if ye be dead with Chrifl from the Rudiments (or Ele- 
 " ments) of the World ; why, as though living in the World, are ye fubjedl to Or- 
 " dinances ? Touch not, tafie not, handle not (which all are toperiffj with the ufing) 
 " after the Commandments and Doctrines of Men, &c. 
 
 " A G A I N, the Baptifm of the Holy Spirit of C h r i s t hath EffetSls follow- 
 
 *' ing it, which no other Baptifm. ever had, hath, or can have : That is to fay, 
 
 " thofe who happily obtain it througli Faith in that Holy Spirit, by which alone 
 
 Rom. vi. 2, " it can be adminiftered, are dead unto Sin, and walk in Newnefs of Life ; and 
 
 3. 7- " thenceforth do not ferve Sin. And as 7nany of you as have been baptized in- 
 
 Garii'i°2 7 " to C H r I s T, have put on Chrifi. The old Man, in fucli, is crucified, and the 
 
 " Body of Sin deftroyed •, and therefore they do not ferve Sin, being freed 
 
 " from it as if they were naturally dead; and that as certainly as Christ 
 
 *♦ died, and as fully as he arofe again from the dead. And therefore confider, 
 
 " O Prieft and People, what all your Waftiiiigs, Sprinklings, Touchings, 
 
 " Taftir.gs,
 
 of T H O M A S S T RT. 199 
 
 " Taftino'S, Eatings, Drinkings, Sabbaths, Holy Days, and others your carnal An n o 
 " Ordinances and Rites, have done for you, left, notwithftanding all thefe, you 1704. 
 *' die in your Sins ; and then he who is Truth hath faid, If ye believe not that Johu.viii. 21, 
 " I am he, ye pall die in your Sins ; and whither I go ye cannot come. And though ^^' ... , 
 " the Almighty Father of the Univerfe hath lent his eternal Son as a divine John 1.1,4,9". 
 " Light into all the World, according to his Promifc, I doubt ye do not, as fuch, 
 " believe in him, or, by Faith, receive, obey, and follow h.im, as the immediate 
 *' Objeft and Condudtor of your Minds; and if you die in that State of Unbe- 
 " lief and Difobcdicncc, the Confequence, you may fee, is dreadful. 
 
 " Now, having fct forth what was the Practice of the Apoftles of Christ 
 *' concerning Water Baptiim, and the true Foundation of it •, and that there was 
 " no new Inftitution of any other Water Baptifm by Christ, at the Time 
 " mentioned by Matthew^ or any where elfe, but diat the Lord fpeaks there 
 " of the Baptifm of the Spirit only ; I now proceed to take notice of what your 
 " Minifter hath laid. That all Ages, fince the Days of the Apoftles, have been. 
 " in the Praftice of Water Baptifm, which declares they have ever fo under- 
 " ftood it, from that Age until now. This is a fallacious Pofition, adduced as a 
 " Foundation for a wrong Inference and Conclufion ; whether wiltully to im- 
 '•' pole upon you and me, and continue and confirm you in Error; or ignorant- 
 " ly, as knowing no better, I fhall not determine : For Water Baptifm hath not 
 " been fo praclifed, but was early laid afide and neglefted ; and another Thing, 
 *' which is no Baptifm, introduced, pradtifed, and continued, inftead of both it 
 *' and the Bapdfm of the Holy Ghoft : fo that they have indeed had no Bap- 
 *' tifm at all : For there is no Account of Infant Baptifm in all the Holy Scrip- 
 *' tures, that it was ever inftituted by Christ, or praftifed by any of the 
 *' Apoftles ; but was pretended, by its Inventers and Impofers, long alter the 
 " Time of the Apoftles, to have been an Apoftolical Tradition from about the 
 *' fevciititth Year of the firft Century : And as the true Church became more 
 *' and more obfcured, by the dark Inventions of Antichriftian Profeilors and 
 *' Pretenders to Chriltianity, the worldly-minded and learned among them in- 
 *' troduced many Errors into the Chriftian Profeflion, quite oppofite and incon- 
 *' fiftent with the Nature of it, and Infant Baptifm among the reft ; which the 
 *' worldly-wife firft talked and difputed among themfelves •, and then, as the 
 *' poor dark People were gradually prepared to receive thofe Errors, the In- 
 *' venters thereof publickly preached them up as proper and neceilary, until 
 *' their Party became numerous, and of fufficient Power to impofc them even 
 " on fuch as did fee thofe Errors, and rejefted them ; which was not done till 
 *' about the Beginning of the fourth Century ; when, at a Council held at Me- 
 " levitan. Original Sin, baptizing Children, and other Matters were moved, and 
 " hotly debated among the worldly-wife and humanly-learned ol that Age, (who 
 " are always the Diilurbers, Diftemper and Fever of the Church) it was deter- 
 *' mined by Ninety-two of them only, in thefe Terms, It is our Will, that all who 
 " ajfirm that young Children receive eierlafting Life, albeit they be not, by the Sacra- 
 *' ment of Grace, or Baptifm, renewed ; and that will not that young Children, which 
 ** arc new-born from their Mother's Womb, floall be baptizedy to the taking away 
 " Original Sin, that they be anathematized : that is, accurfed. Which, in anotlier 
 " like Council at Carthage, in the Year 416, was confirmed in thefe Words, 
 " (as they are tranflated into EngUfh, in Henry D'Jnvers's Treatife of Baptifm, 
 *' fecond Edition, Page 106.) We will, that whoever deny that little Children^ 
 " by Baptifm, are freed from Perdition, and eternally faved, that they be accurfed. 
 
 *' N o w. People, here is the mere Will of an ignorant curfing Club, of who 
 
 " knows
 
 300 The LIFE, C^r. 
 
 Anno " knows who, calling themfelves a General Council, and Reprefentatives of the 
 1 704. " whole Church of C h r i s t, afting under manifcft Errors about Original Sin, 
 " as if it affcded the eternal State of all Infants •, and that they, by their own 
 " Contrivance, could prevent it and lave them ; introducing and eftablidiing, by 
 " their own Authority, a falfe Doftrine and Pradlice -, calling it an Ordinance of 
 " Christ, though foreign, and a Stranger and Strangers to the Holy Scrip- 
 " tures, both as to Do6i:rine and Praftice ; without any Foundation but the 
 " mere Will and Pleafure of a Majority only of this curfing Company •, whofe 
 " Behaviour and Language herein clearly demonftrates, that the Counfel of 
 " Christ did not prefide there : But their Decree, being afterwards confirm- 
 " ed by the Bifliop of Rome, (who had, by this Time, affumed great Autho- 
 " rity and Power) the Errors took place fo long ago, and have continued among 
 " them, and their SucceiTors, ever fince, (but not in the Church of Christ;) 
 " with this Alteration, that though, for fome time, they baptized the Children, 
 " yet, finding fome Inconvenience in that Manner of doing it, they altered ic 
 " to rantizing, or fprinkling ; though many, in the moft early Times of thofe 
 *' Innovations, and through all Ages, have oppofed them in this, as well as in 
 *' many other Errors : For which tlipfe Witnefles to the Truth have, from Ge- 
 " neration to Generation, been martyr'd and deftroy'd, by that willul, curfmg, 
 *' antichriftian Hierarchy, and their Succeflbrsj and ftill are unto this Day, in 
 *' one Part or other of the World. 
 
 " This being a true State of the Cafe, upon what rotten antichriftian Foun- 
 *' dation the PraSfice, not of Baptifm, but Rantifm, is erefted and eftablifhed ; 
 *' not wafliing, or dipping in Water, but fprinkling, and that only the Face ; 
 " not of all Ages fince the Days of the Apoftles, but thus begun in the fourth 
 " Century, not by the pure Church of Christ -, which, under him, and in his 
 " Counfel, is the Ground and Pillar of Truth ; but by a degenerate, apoftatized 
 " Company of Antichrifts ; by whofe Doings, and Eftablifhments in their own 
 " JVills^ the fucceeding Ages have been impofed upon, and many ftill are until 
 " now : And therefore this PraSlice, thus founded, is no Proof at all for the 
 " Support of fprinkling of Infants, or baptizing in Water at tliis Day ; nor are 
 " we Breakers of any Ordinance or Command of C h ri st on that Account. 
 
 Th E Prieft gave many unmannerly Interruptions during this Time ; but was 
 fometimes reproved by the Juftices, efpecially by Capt. Bajfet, who had great 
 Sway among them, though one of the youngeft Men among them, but of good 
 
 ^ Temper and Underftanding. His Reafons for interrupting me (he faid) were 
 
 thefe : " That if he did not anfwer Things as they were moved, he would for- 
 " get great Part of them, and fo they might pafs unanfwered, and take with the 
 " People." However, I came at length to inform the People how this Error 
 of Sprinkling came to take place in New-England, viz. " By the coming over 
 " of fome of the ancient Puritans, Independants, and Prefbyterians, into that 
 " Country, not then, in that Point, fully reformed from the Church of Rome, 
 " the Original and Maintainer of that pernicious Error ; by whom it was con- 
 " tinued. And feeing Sprinkling is no Baptifm, you have none at all, but an 
 " old Invention and Relick of the Church of Rome. Wherefore I exhort you 
 " to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that you may be 
 " baptized of him, and faved ; fince he himfelf hath faid, as on Holy Record, 
 " He that believeth and is baptized, Jhall be faved ; but he that believeth not, Jhall 
 
 Markxvi.i6. „ ie damned." 
 
 The Prieft ftormed much at this, faying to a Friend as I was fpeaking, 
 
 " See
 
 of T B M A S S T R T. 301 
 
 ■■' See how fmooth he goes, and makes all look as even as he pleales ; let him Anno 
 " alone, and the People will take all this for granted -, " and then arofe violently 1704- 
 from his Seat and interrupted me, fo that I could not finifli that Part as I intend- 
 ed :' And yet I thought much of what I had laid remained with the more intel- 
 ligent fort of the People. 
 
 Then, faid the Priefl, " I dare appeal to yourfelf, if you know any tliino- 
 *' of the Greek Language, whether the Greek Word there tranllated baptize, doth 
 " not fignify to -joajh with Water T " If fo, faid I, it is againft thee ; for thou 
 " doft not wafh Infants, but fprinkle them, or pour Water upon them. But 
 " as to the Greek, though I do not profefs to to be learned in that Lan- 
 *' guage, yet I think I have acquired a competent Knowledge of it fo far 
 *' as the Point in queftion is concerned therein. The Word Baptifm is a 
 " Greek Word anglified. In the Greek it is Badio-f^a, which comes of the 
 *' Word BAnrn, which in Latin is Mergo, qitafi in mare ago, vel in aquam 
 " eo, to drown or fink in Water, to dip, to overwhelm, to plunge, to thrult 
 " in, to go into Water, to dive, to baptize, to wafh. And Eft(?awlo comes of 
 " B A n T n, Intingo, and is much the fame with b a n t i s n -, and ajfo fignifies to 
 " dip into, to fteep, or to infufe, to dye, or colour, or to intindure, or, as it 
 " were, to impregnate one thing with the Nature of another, or with its Ac- 
 " cidents ; and therefore a proper Word whereby to fignify Baptifm with or 
 " in the Spirit, as well, or rather than in W.iter. And though the Word B^^-lif'u 
 " fometimes in Authors fignifies to fprinkle ; yet I have never found it in Scrip- 
 *' ture to fignify fprinkling, but always dipping, going into, or overwiielming 
 " in Water. And feeing Christ himfcif faith. That he that is wajhed necdeth John pdii. 10." 
 *' not, fave to wajh his Feet, but is clean every whit, it is moft probable, that, con- 
 *' fidering the Multitudes baptized by John, and other Circumftances, going into 
 *' the Water and having their Feet wafhed, was the moft proper and true Form 
 " ufed in that Day : But Baptifm having been generally (though not univerfally) 
 *' laid afide, and Sprinkling introduced and impofed, as I have already faid ; 
 *' thofe pious Reformers from the Church of Rotne and her manifold Errors, 
 " taking the Word Baptizono fignify to overwhelm or plunge ; and, comparing . 
 " it with that Scripture, where it is faid. We are buried with him (Christ) Rom. vi, 3; 
 *' by Baptifm into Death, might reafonably enough fall into that Manner of bap- 
 *' tizing, as thofe called Baptifts now ufe ; fince neither in thofe Days, nor 
 " hitherto, they faw, or do fee, that all Water Baptifm, in every Mode, is 
 *' eflfeftually ended, in point of Obligation, by the Manifeftation and Eftablilh- 
 " ment of the Baptifm into the Holy Spirit, the eternal and permanent Subftance. 
 
 
 Again, as wafliing is a different Thing from fprinkling, and a different 
 Way of applying of Water (or other Fluids) to various Purpofes, is nted- 
 *' ful -, fo the Greeks, as well as we, had different Words whereby to exprefs 
 " thofe feveral Afts, Applications, or 1 hings done with Water, or other Liquid 
 *' or Fluid •, and the Word Baptize is commonly applied to wafhi; g, i^c. (as I 
 *' have faid before) Water being the common Inflrumcnt of it among Mankind. 
 *' But there are feveral other Hiings wherewith wafhing and cleanfing inay be 
 *' performed ; and therefore the Word Baptizo, fignifying to wafii, is moft 
 " proper and indefinitely ufed, as not implying Water neccifarily or only : For John vii. 38, 
 *' the Spirit of C h r i sr, by whicli his Baptifm is performed, is txprefly called ?^' .. 
 " living Water by Christ himfcif And the Almighty is pleafed to call —xvii.'V?. 
 " himfelt the Fountain of living Waters. And tiicre is a Baptifm, or wafhino- Mat. iii. u. 
 " [cleanfing] with Fire. And there is a wafiiing in the Blood of the Lamb oi Ket'f'"'^'^ 
 " God. All which arc no other than one and the fame Thing, exprefled in —vii. 14. 
 
 4 G " va-
 
 ?) 
 
 501 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno " various Terms and Phrafcs •, tlut is, the Baptifm of the Holy Spirit of 
 J 704. " Christ, and nothing elfe. 
 
 " An d as to the Word p«i'l'i^« or ra...v, it figni&es in Lat'in^ afpergo ; to fprln- 
 " kle, wet, ormoiften, to mix finely, to mention briefly, to interlace, to pow- 
 " dcr, to infeft. And though the Word j? Anxi-n is taken fometimes, as I 
 " have faid, for fprinkling, it is never fo applied in Scripture, that I can find •, 
 " hut whenever the Thing Iprinkling is intended to be expreffed, the Word 
 " Ta,^^; in its various Moods and Tenfes, is always ufed, as being the proper 
 " Greek Word for fprinkling •, and not BaTrl.^o., which fignifies dipping. 
 
 "In Heh. ix. 19. it is Ipfamss. Heb. x. 22. Chap. xli. 24. and i Pet. i. 2. it 
 " is pvT.cTf/.oi' aif^ar'^ u^a Xf.j-S, afperfmum fanguinis Jefu Chrijli, and fprinkling 
 " of the Blood of Jesus Christ. And, Heb. ix. 13. pa>1.jH<7a -. And, Chap. 
 " ix. 21. ippavTiff£, afperfit., he fprinkled. By all which, as by many other Places, 
 " both in the Old Tellament and in the New, it is evident, that though the 
 " Word, TiaAaw, by fome, is held to fignify, to fprinkle, as well as (x-n^ac-, (by 
 " which they would ferve their own perverfe Turn and mercenary Ends, and 
 " make Sprinkling and Baptizing to be the fame ;) that it never can be fo, 
 " unlefs they can change the Nature and Order of Things. 
 
 "And now, to fum up the whole Matter on this Head, and juftly apolo- 
 " gize further for our omitting Water Baptifm : As the Apoftle Paul was, in a 
 " particular Manner, fent by the Com.mand of Ch ri st from Heaven, to 
 " preach the Gofpel and Kingdom of God to the Gentiles, and yet not fent by 
 " him to baptize (much lefs to rantize) them with Water ; and as his Miniftry was 
 " effeftual, to all the great Ends of the Gofpel, without it : So we likewife have 
 " a Degree of the Miniftration of the fame Gofpel (for there is not another) com- 
 " mitted unto us, by the Spirit of Christ, (who is the fame now as then) to 
 • " the Offspring of the Gentiles, though v/e have no Authority from the Lord 
 " either to baptize or rantize any with elementary Water •, and therefore do not 
 " pradife it in any Mode, left it fhould be faid unto us by the Lord at laft, 
 Ifa. i. 12. " ^ho hath required it at your Hands ? And that they ran, and I fent them not: 
 Jet. xxiii. 21. " Teaching for Do^rines the Traditions of Men •, making the Doftrines and Bap- 
 Mac xv 16. tj j.j^j^ of Christ of none Effeft to this Generation, as the Scribes and Pha- 
 Maik vii. 7, rrii 111- T i^T- J 
 
 g^ Q. " rifees or old unto that, by their own Inventions and Traditions ; and not pro- 
 
 " fiting the People at all thereby, but deftroying them : And therefore v/e are 
 " not Breakers of the Command of C h r i s t on that Account, as here flilfely 
 " charged upon us, this Day, by this your Teacher, as olten likewife by others 
 " fuch as he is." 
 
 "To all this my Opponent made no Reply, but began to maintain his Charge 
 " as well as he could, " That the Scriptures of the Old and Nev/ Teftament 
 " are the Ground of Faith and the Rule of Life." He attempted firft to prove, 
 that the Scriptures are the Word of G o d •, and that, as fuch, they are the 
 Ground of Faith, and Rule of Life, thus: " Christ, reproving the Scribes 
 " and Pharifees concerning their Traditions, told them. They had made the Word 
 " of God of none effect thereby ; and, feeing he here exprefly calls the Scriptures 
 " the Word of God, confequently they muft be the Ground of Faith and Rule 
 " of Life." 
 
 To which lanfwered, " That the particular Subjeft there treated of is the 
 " fifth Commandment, not the Scriptures •, where the Lord Christ char- 
 " geth them with laying afide the Commandment of G d, and giving contra- 
 
 " ly 
 
 1^.
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 305 
 
 " ry Commandments of their own -, rejecling the Commandment of G o D, that Anno 
 
 " they might keep their own Tradition : So that what is called the IVord of 1 704. 
 
 " God in the 13th Verfe of that Chapter, is the fifth Commandment, and not 
 
 " the Scriptures: And the Evangelift Matthew, writing of the fame PaiTage, M^'-xv. 5, 
 
 " calls it the Comtnandment all along throughout the Chapter, and never calls it 
 
 " the Word of God ; nor doth the Scripture any where call itfelf the Word 
 
 " of God, but gives that Title, juftly, properly, and only to Christ, in his 
 
 " fpiritual Appearance, both in the Old and New Teftament : Firfl: in the Old, 
 
 " where it is written. For this Commandment, zvhich I command thee this Day, it Deut.'xxx.ii. 
 
 " is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off, &c. hut the Word is z-ery nigh un- ''^■ 
 
 " to thee, in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, that thou may ft do it. 
 
 " This Vv-as not any of the Ten Commandments, written on Tables of Stone, 
 " (though indeed the Root of all the Commandments of God) nor was there 
 " much of the Scripture then written ; but this was the Spirit of C h r i st be- 
 " fore his Incarnation •, of whom Peter teftifies, That he was in the Prophets, 
 " and teftified before-hand his Sufferings, (in the Flefh, and that many hundred 
 *' Years before his Manifcftation therein) and the Glory that fhould follow : Of 
 " whom the Apoftle Paul likewife bears Teftimony, in thefe Words, The Righ- Rom.x. ^ 
 " teoufnefs which is of Faith fpeaketh on this wife. Say not in thine Heart, who 
 *' fjall afcend into Heaven ? (that is, to bring Chrifi down from above :) Or who 
 " J/jall defend into the Deep ? (that is, t»- bring up Chrifi again from the dead:) 
 " But what faith it ? The JVordis nigh thee, even tn thy Mouth, and in thy Heart : 
 " that is the ITord of Faith which we preach. And the Word We, in this Place, 
 " fliows, that it was not the Teftimony of that Apoftle only, but likewife of 
 " all the reft of the Apoftles and Minifters of Christ in that Day, That 
 " Christ himfelf is the only Word of the Father eflentially ; and there is not 
 " another. 
 
 " Again, the Evangelift y^^^ teftifies of C h ri st after this Manner, /« Johni.t,2;3; 
 " the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and theV^ ovdi was 'o* H- 
 *' God. AU Things were made by Him, and without him was not any Thing 
 *' made that was made. He was in the World, and the World was made by him, 
 " and the World knew him not. And the Word was made Flefh, and dwelt among 
 " us, &c. Now thefe Things cannot be truly (or with any Senfe) faid of the 
 *' Scriptures ; for the Spirit of C h r i s t is not the Scriptures, though they te- 
 " ftify of him : The Scriptures never afcended into Heaven, neither did they 
 " defccnd into the Deep, and rife again : Neither is the Scripture the Word of 
 " Faith ; neither vvrere they in the Beginning ; nor are they God-, nor was any 
 " Thing at all made by them : But all Things were made fome Thoufands of 
 " Years before there were any Scriptures in the World •, which was not (any 
 " now extant) until the Days oiMofes, who writ but a fmall Part of them : Nor 
 " do the AVorld now know God, or the Word of G o d, by the Scriptures j 
 " nor were they ever made Flefh : They arc not therefore the Word of God, 
 " and, confeqviently, not that Rule, by your Minifter's own Way of Reafon- 
 " ing ; but, as tlie Apoftle Peter teftifies. That no Prophecy of the Scripture is 
 " of any private Interpretation : for the Prophecy came not in old Time by the Will 
 " of Man i but holy Men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. 
 
 zPet.i. 20,21 
 
 " And, concerning thofe Scriptures which P^/«' fpeaks of, (the Scriptures 
 " of the New Teftament not being then written) the Lord Jesus faid to the 
 *' Jews, who had them, though they did not underftand them, or know him by 
 " them, Te have not his (the Father's) Word abiding in you ; for whom he hatb ■f°^" ^' 38» 
 
 39, 40.
 
 304 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " fent, h'm ye believe not. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eter- 
 7 104. " nal Life ; and they are they which teftify of me ; and ye will not come to me that 
 " ye may have Life. Here Christ, the Word of God, is again diftinguiflied 
 " from the Scripture •, they are not that Word, but bear Teftimony of him : 
 *' and fo do the Scriptures of both Teftaments ftill, and will, through Ages to 
 " come : But, I befeech you, be you alfo aware, left, while you fcem to mag- 
 " nify the Scriptures, as the Jetvs did, you likewife fall into the like Errors, and 
 " they become of none effeft alfo unto you, through your own vain Inventions 
 " and Traditions, and fall fhort of eternal Life, as they did, through a wilful Ne- 
 " gled of the Manifeftations, Admonitions, and Operations of the Spirit of 
 " Ch RisT, the Word of God, in your own Hearts; the Grace of God gi- 
 " ven unto you, in you, as a free and conftant Teacher in the Way of Truth 
 " and Salvation ; and left you be found of the Number of thofe at laft, of 
 . ... <■<■ whom it is prophefied in the Holy Scriptures, where it is faid. The Time will 
 ' " come when they will not endure found Do£frine, but, after their own Ltifts fhall 
 " they heap to t hem f elves Teachers, having itching Ears : Jnd they fhall turn away 
 " their Ears from the Truth, and fhall be turned unto Fables. 
 
 Then I faid to the People " 1 was willing to carry the Subjeft and Argument 
 " this length for your Information, becaufe I fully defire the Welfare and Salvation 
 " of every one of you ; but your Teacher, unaware, gave up his own Cairle in his 
 " own Way of Reafoning : For, upon a wrong Suppofition, that the Scripture is 
 " thjsWcrd o^GoT), he grounded his Pofition, That it is the Ground of Faith, 
 *' and Rule of Life ; whereas the Scripture itfelf faith. Faith is the Gift of God, 
 " and, confequently, not acnuired by reading or hearing the Scriptures % which 
 *' the Jews had, and highly efteemed, as much as you can do, and yet did not, 
 *' by all the Evidence of them, believe in C h r i s t the Saviour of the World. 
 
 " I SHALL now invert this Aflertion, and eftabUfli the Point contrary to his 
 
 *' Dodlrine, in a few Words, and fay. That what, or whoever is the IVord of 
 
 " God, the fame is the Ground of Faith, and Rule of Life : But the Lord 
 
 Cd.i. 16,— " Jesus Christ, and not the Scriptures, is the ^or^ of God, in whom 
 
 i9-.. " dwells all the Fulnefs of the Godhead fubftantially : He is the Wifdom and 
 
 — 11. 9. ^ „ Power of the Father, and therefore is the Ground of Faith, the Faith of the 
 
 Col. ii. J 2. " Operation of G od by him, and the Rule and Ruler of that Life, which him- 
 
 2 Cor. iii. 6. « feif is the Author and Giver of." 
 
 T H E N I informed the People, " That we ever had a great Efteem of the 
 *' Scriptures, as believing them to be given by divine Infpiration, (the Prieft 
 " having, in our Difcourfe, urged that Pallage, where it is faid, The Scripture 
 " is able to make thee wife unto Salvation ; leaving out, through Faith in Chriji 
 " jefus, which is the main Point) but make wife only through Faith in C h r i s t : 
 Lukexxiv.45 " So that Faith muft go before •, and the Apoftles had believed before their Un- 
 " derftandings were opened to know the Scriptures." 
 
 M Y Opponent gave me feveral Interruptions during this Time ; yet I am per- 
 fuaded divers of the People underftood, and received in their Minds the Truth 
 of much of what I delivered. The Difpute held about feven Hours, and, by 
 this Time, it v/as near Sun-fet -, fo that we adjourned to Captain Bajfet's Houfe, 
 to which we were invited ; where v/e had fome more Difcourfe about the Call 
 to the Miniftry, and their Maintenance ; wherein the Prieft faid, " That Christ's 
 " Minifters had a Command from him, in Mat. xxviii, ig. to teach and baptize 
 " all Nations." 
 
 I
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 307 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " That Command was not to any others but the Apoftles In A n- n o 
 " that Day ; and the Call to the Miniftry, and Qiialifications of the Minifters 1 704. 
 " of C H R I s T, is a new Work of the Holy Spirit of C h r i s t, in all Ages of 
 " the World trom that Time, and ever will be ; and never can be by Tradition 
 " or Imitation, how nicely foever counterfeited : and if he had no other Foun- 
 *' dation for his Miniftry than that, he had none at all in a Gofpel Senfe : But, 
 " feeing he had alledged that Text for his Miniftry, and a Command thereby 
 " from Christ, to teach and baptize all Nations, he feemed to be greatly de- 
 " ficient in his Obedience and Performance •, fince, I perceived, he had been 
 " long in that Place, if not all the Time of his Miniftry, and had not travelled 
 " through, or in any one Nation on that Account, and taught but a tew, nor 
 " baptized any at all ; for fprinkling of Infants is no Baptifm. 
 
 Then he ti.irned the Qiieftion upon me, and afked, " If I had been In any 
 " Nation, but one, on that Account, in our Way ?" To which I anfwcred, 
 " That Qvieftion is not fo proper to me on that Subjeft, feeing I do not pre- 
 " tend to have had my Miniftry from that Command, but by the immediate 
 " Work and Manifeftation of the Spirit of C h r i s t in me ; being opened, 
 " drawn, led, direded, and governed thereby in the Love of it, in my Mini- 
 " ftry, from Time to Time, and Place to Place, as it pleafeth him, and not in my 
 ♦' own Time and Will-, and yet not confined, or limited to any, or reftrained : 
 " Neverthelefs, to anfwer thy Qiieftion direifbly, I have travelled through moft 
 " Parts o'i England, Scotland, Ireland, and many Colonies oi America, in the Ser- 
 *' vice of the Lo rd Jesus Christ, and the Gofpel, and that freely, and 
 " without Charge to any, fave to eat and drink, in the Courfe of my Travels, 
 " fuch Things as were freely ftt before me, by fuch as received my Miniftry 
 *' in the fame Love of C h r i s t in the Gofpel, in which I have travelled and 
 " laboured •, which is the Way of our Minifters in general every where : But I 
 " have not baptized any with Water ; for C h R i s t fent me not to baptize that 
 " Way, but to preach the Gofpel according to the Meafure given me : Adding, 
 " that a Maintenance in a particular fettled Place, as Ireafonably could fuppofe, 
 *' might be all he aim'd at by his Miniftry." 
 
 H E replied, " He was, according to the Advice of the Apoftle Paul, to give i Tim.iii. ij; 
 
 *' Attendance to Reading, to Exhortation, to DoStrine ; to meditate upon thefe Things, 
 " to gii:e himfelf "K-W/y up to them, that \\\% profiting might appear to all; wliich 
 " he could not do without a reafonable Subftftence." 
 
 T o this I anfwered, " Thefe Scriptures and Advice belong to a Minlfter of 
 " Christ, as 'Timothy was ■, but they are nothing to fuch as are not in Timo- 
 " thf^ Condition : And thou haft omitted to mention the main Point there ex- 
 
 " horted to -, that is, NeglcSl not the Gift that is in thee, &c. without which all 4, 
 
 " thy Miniftry will be dead, and thy Reading of no Value to the End of a Go- 
 " fpel-miniftry : For the Apoftle doth not there write of the Studies of our 
 " modern Mafiers of Arts, as they call themfelves, as appears by thefe Words^ 
 " Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy Trufi, avoiding prophane and _yj ^o 2.1 
 " vain Bablings, andOppofitions of Science, falfely fo called; which fame profeffing 
 " have erred concerning the Faith (for my Opponent had, in the Meeting- houfe, 
 " talked of Syllogifms, and fuch like Learning-,) but the particular Things Ti- 
 " mcthy was to ftudy, were thefe, (though he was but a young Man) To be an — iv. 12, 16. 
 " Example of the Believers, in Word, in Converfation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Fait h^ 
 " in Purity ; to take heed unto himfelf, and unto his Doctrine, to continue in them, &c. 
 " And that Reading muft relate moft, if not only, to the Holy Scriptures, fince 
 " he excludes fuch Science : and, in his next Epiftle, knowing that without 
 
 4 H- " the
 
 -o6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno " the Opening of the Gift of the Spirit of Christ, reading of the Scriptures 
 
 1704. " would not be rightly profitable or underftood, \\z fxhons, Timothy, That he 
 
 2 Tim. i. 6. " Jlir up the Gift of God ivhich -was in him ; and, afterwards, further exhorts 
 
 — iii. 14. 15. tc hipj,^ X.O continue in the Things which he had learned, and had been affiired of, 
 
 ■^' " knowing of whom he had learned them : And that from a Child he had known 
 
 " the Holy Scriptures, which were able to make him wife unto Salvation, through 
 
 " Faith which is in Christ Jesus, (which Faith is the Gitt of God, and 
 
 " not acquired by reading.) All Scripture is given by Infpiration of God, and is 
 
 " profitable for Do^rine, for Reproof, for CorreEiion, for Infiru£iion in Right eotif- 
 
 " nefs, that the Man of God may he perfect, thoroughly furnifhed unto all good 
 
 " Works. But all this is attained by believing in, and adhering to the Gift of 
 
 " God, and the Work of it within, and not otherwife -, and therefore I exhort 
 
 " thee, and all thefe People, to believe in the Grace of God in yourfelves re- 
 
 " fpedively, that you may all be taught and perfected thereby, and finally fa- 
 
 " ved •, which I heartily pray unto God for every one of you. 
 
 I Cor. 916. " A N D, as the Apoftle Paul faith concerning himfelf and his Minifiry, Though 
 " I peach the Gofpel, I have nothing to glory of, for Neceffity is laid upon me ; yea, 
 " wo is unto me if I preach not the Gofpel: For if T do this Thing willingly I have 
 " a Reward; but if againft my JVill, a Difpenfation of the Gofpel is committed 
 " u?ito me : What is my Reward then ? Verily, that when I preach the Gofpel, I may 
 " make the Gofpel of Chrifl without Charge, that I abufe not my Power in the Go- 
 
 Aasxxviii.30 " fpel: And accordingly he dwelt two whole Tears in his own hired Houfe, and 
 " received all that came in unto him ; and appealed to the Church at Ephefus, 
 
 —XX. 33, 34, " That he had coveted no Man's Silver or Gold, or Apparel ; yea, ycurfelves know, 
 
 35- " that thefe Hands have minifiered to my Necejities, and to them that were with me. 
 
 " I have floewed you all Things, how that, fo labouring, ye ought to fiipport the 
 " weak ; and to remember the Words of the Lord Jefus, how he faid. It is more 
 '' blejfed to give than to receive. 
 
 " T H u s the Apoftle exercifed his Miniftry in its full Extent; and, no doubt, 
 " had done all thofe Things himfelf to which he exhorted Timothy : So that an 
 " honeft Employ to live by, that the Gofpel may not be chargeable, is very 
 " confiftent with it. And as to the Words, wholly to them, in his faid Epiftle to 
 " Timothy, it can mean no more than that he fhould not negleft any Time to 
 " do thefe Things in every Opportunity ; the Gift there fpoken of being fully 
 " fufficient of itfelf to every Thing there exhorted unto, fave only Reading ; 
 " which might well be done, without any Hinderance to a neceffary bodily La- 
 " bour, for his own Maintenance at leaft. But in all this we do not find any 
 " Thing of Bargain and Sale of the mere dead Letter of the Book •, which, with- 
 " out the Life of him who firft gave it forth, killeth; or any human and falfe 
 " GlofTes thereon, in the Will and natural Abilities of Man, fold at a dear Rate 
 " to the People for Gofpel, which it is not ; nor any mercenary Preliminaries 
 " fettled before-hand, as Conditions of preaching thole fallacious Medleys for 
 " Gofpel ; or of any Security to be given for the Performance of fuch blind 
 " Bargains ; nor of procuring, or making human Laws, by the Violence where- 
 " of to extort them, and from fuch too as are neither Parties nor Privies to 
 " fuch Works ; nor is there any Thing in thofe, or other Scriptures, of any 
 " Contributions previoufly fettled, and without which no Preachment ; accor- 
 " ding to the Proverb, No Penny, no Pater-nofier : There is nothing of all this, 
 *' nor of the Nature and Tendency of it, in all the Holy Scriptures, or Go- 
 " Ipel of the Lord Jesus." 
 
 This nettled my Antagonifl much ; and, at the Conclufion of it, I took 
 
 Paper,
 
 of T HO M A S ST P. T. 307 
 
 Paper, and g:;ve him In writing wliat I had affirmed, and maintained be- Anno 
 fore, viz. 1 704. 
 
 " That a State of perfedc Freedom from Sin is, through the Grace of G o d, Rom-^izz. 
 " attainable in this Life." —7.'" '" ^' 
 
 And likevvife of what he had aflerted, viz. " That the Qiiakers held lying 
 " and damnable Principles •, and that the Scriptures of the Old and New Te- 
 " {lament are the Ground of Faith and Rule of Life :" Telling him before the 
 Chiefs of the People ftill remaining with us, " That I had, in the Meeting- 
 " houfe, fufficiently proved my Pofition, but he had failed in his ; and there- 
 " fore left them upon him as falfe AfTertions, till he had (it he could do it) 
 " prov'd them in Writing, fince he had in Conference given me fo many 
 " rude Interruptions ; and then he might expedt an Anfwcr, cither a Re- 
 " futation or Acknowledgement : for the latter whereof I fee no Caufe, nor 
 " ever fnall, I am well affured." And thus this long Contell ended for 
 that Time, but without any perfonal Rancour, I believe, on either Side : For 
 in all Contefts of this Nature which I have hitherto been engaged in, I have, in 
 the firft Place, looked for the fcafoning Grace of G o d in my own Heart, to 
 qualify me with a right Temper of Mind for fuch Provocations as I might meet 
 with, and for Underttanding and Fortitude, fo as that the Truth might not fuf- 
 fcr by any Weaknefs or PafTion of mine : and my Aim hath ever been much 
 more to gain upon the Underftandings of my Opponents and Auditories, than 
 the vain Glory of Conqueft ; and have ever fucceeded beft when preferved in 
 full Charity, wherein the divine Light, which giveth Underflanding, dwelleth -, 
 when I have fo behaved to the Oppofers of Truth as not to provoke thenj into 
 any PafTion, but keep them calm as much as pofTible ; they having the Mcafure 
 of the fame Light in themfelves, (for he is in all Mankind) and their own Un- 
 dei-ftandings as reafonable Creatures, on my Side, with me againft their Errors, 
 or Miflakes -, (for my Contefl is not with Men, but their Errors, which hurt them) 
 for PafTion and Anger, (and Malice much more fo) is Darknefs, and involves 
 the Mind therein ; and while that is uppermofl in the Heart of Man, and he 
 prepofTefTed againfl the Truth, he is not capable of Information, but oppofeth 
 with Fury and ill Language what he does not underftand, though the ne- 1 Cor. 11,14, 
 ceflary Truths of the Gofpel : For that is a true Saying, The natural Man re- 
 ceiveih not the Things of the Spirit of Cod, for they are Foolifhnefs unto him ; nei- 
 ther can he know them., becaufe they are fpiritually difcerned: Much lefs is he ca- 
 pable in the Time of Anger, when he is not reafonable •, nor is it prudent to 
 difcourfe with him on fuch Subjefts at fuch Times : And yet when an Oppofer, 
 though a little warm, keeps within reafonable Bounds, he may be convinced of 
 his Miftakes in his Underffanding, and yet not publickly own it, becaufe of his 
 imaginary Honour : For, being in Reputation for a Man of Underftanding, Parts 
 and Ability, (and perhaps a Teacher) in his Way, he is afhamed to be overcome 
 before an Auditory, or own the Truth to be on the other Side ; yet it may be 
 reafonable to difcourfe with fuch an one, and profitable to the Audience, though 
 himfelf may have the leafl Share : But this I have ever endeavoured in fuch 
 Cafes, to part with every Oppoier in as much Friendfhip as could be obtained, 
 that, if pofTible, no Rancour might remain. 
 
 Now, if I had not known that the invifible Power of Truth was over that 
 People at that Time, confidering their former Enmity againfl us and the Truth, 
 I had run a great Rifque (humanly ipeaking) of perfonal Injury by fome of them -, 
 but, through divine Goodnefs both to them and mc, I did not obferve a Frown 
 on any Brow, or hard Word from any, fave only one before mentioned : For 
 
 which.
 
 308 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno 
 
 1704. 
 
 Kantasket. 
 
 Exod. XX. 5. 
 
 Jer. xxxi. 29. 
 Ezek.xviii.2, 
 
 which, unto the only true God and Saviour, be DominiOTi and Praifes now and 
 for ever. A?nen *. And now, to return to my further Progrefs in my Jota-ncy 
 and Travels : 
 
 That Night I lodged with my Friend Zechariab Jenkins, near that Place ; 
 and the next Day I went to Sdttiate, and lodged with Thomas Coleman ; and their 
 Meeting being on the 26th at Nantafket, I was there ; where fome Strangers 
 came in, and were fober, and the Lord gave us a comfortable Meeting. 
 
 On the 27th of the Second Month I had a Meeting appointed at Scituate; 
 where came oceafionally a young Man from Ccnne£ricut, who took fome Excep- 
 tions againft what I faid in the Meeting, about Infants, and their Salvat'on by 
 Christ, and about Baptiim -, and, as we rode towards Edward U'anicn's, one 
 told me of it -, and I defired the fame Perfon to tell the young Man, (being a 
 Presbyterian or Independent) " That if he pleafed to go to the Houfe of our 
 " Friend with us, I would endeavour to fatisfy him -," and he did lb. There 
 I told him, " I underilood he was not fatisfied with ibmething I had faid in the 
 " Meeting concerning Infants j and therefore asked him, what he believed con- 
 " cerning them.''" 
 
 H E faid, " He believed they were all damned who died unbaptized." Then 
 I asked him, " If he believed all of them were faved that were baptized, as he 
 " called it .'" He anfwered. No. " What then, faid I, makes the Difference ?" 
 Tiien, after a Pauie of Silence, he replied, " That they were all damried, and. 
 " that many Millions of them, not a Span long, were hanging in Hell." I 
 asked him why he thought fo ? Fie anfwered, " Becaufe they cannot believe 
 " in C H R I s T." I replied, " Neither can they commit Sin ; nor can they be- 
 " lieve who are baptized and faved, as thy firft Anfwer implies, though thou 
 " haft receded from it fince." Then faid he, " They finned in Adam." I an- 
 fwered,' " That as in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift Jhall (the fame) all be made 
 " alive." " But, faid he again, they cannot believe in Ch ri st." Then faid 
 I, " Doft thou not believe, that many Ages and Nations of People fell under 
 " fome Difadvantages by Adam's Sin, who never heard of him outwardly ?" 
 He faid, l^'es. Then faid I, " Why may not they, through the boundlefs Mercy 
 " and Goodnefs of God, manifeftcd by Christ, have the Advantage by the 
 " Death and Works of C h r i s t, who never heard of him outwardly ?" To 
 this he was filent ; though, in one Part of the Difcourfe, he faid, " He believed 
 *« there were Millions of Children hanging in Hell not a Span long :" And then 
 I went on and preached to the Auditory, (fome others being prefent) " That 
 " where there is no Law, there is no Tranfgrejjion ; and little Children, being in- 
 *' capable of any Law but that ot Nature, which they cannot break, confequently 
 " they cannot fin : And that tho', for fome time under the Law, and firll Covenant 
 " with the Jews, [1491 Years before C h ri st] the Sins of the Fathers were to be 
 " vifited upon the Children, not for ever, but only unto the third and fourth Gene- 
 " ration ; not fuch as loved God, but fuch as hated him ; upon which a Proverb 
 " arofe among the People, that the Fathers have ate a fewer Grape, and the Childrens 
 " Teeth are fet on Edge: But this Proverb was to ceafe, and was annulled of 
 " God, as by the Teftimony of two of his great Prophets, by v/hom it is 
 " written, in the Name of the Lord: Firft, by Jeremiah, [606 Years before 
 " C h R I st] who faith. In thofe Days they Jhall fay no more. The Fathers have 
 " eaten a fower Grape, and the Childrens Teeth are fet on Edge ; but every one 
 
 " Jhall 
 
 * Many of the Scriptures and Authorities, mcntiotied at this Time, could not be then looked in- 
 to (though lome of them were) which would have given too much Interruption and Delay, bat were 
 added at large at the tranfcribing of the Notes.
 
 of T H M A S S T R T, 309 
 
 " Jhall die for his own Iniquity-; every Man that eateth the [oiaer Grape, his Teelh Anno 
 
 *' pall be fet on Edge. And this was to be under the new Covenant, come by 1 704. 
 
 " the Lord Jesus Christ, now in Force. Secondly, by Ezekiel^ [about Rzek. xviii. 
 
 "112 Years after] who hath it much more at large, thus, IVbat mean ye, that ^' 3> 4- 
 
 " ye life this Proverb concerning the Land of Ifrael, faying, 'The Fathers have 
 
 " eateii fewer Grapes, and the Childrens Teeth are fet on Edge ? As I live, faith 
 
 " the Lord God, ye fljall not have occafion any more to ufe this Proverb in Ifrael : 
 
 " Behold all the Seals are tnine, as the Soul of the Father, fo alfo the Soul of the 
 
 " Son is mifie ; the Soul that Jijinetb, it flmll die. And there are many Conditions 
 
 *' in this eighteenth Chapter of Ezekiel, refpedling the Life and Death of the 
 
 " Rigliteous and Wicked, and the Changes which may happen to both, troni 
 
 " State to State, by their own Adfs, or Omiffions of known Duties, from which, 
 
 " in the Nature of Perfons and Things, little Children, as fuch, are exempted •, 
 
 " and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new Covenant, (by 
 
 " which the firft is ended) hath fuffered for them, with all Mankind, and de- i John ii. 2. 
 
 " clarcd them innocent, by taking them in his Arms, blefling them, and faying, 
 
 *' that of fuch is the Kingdom of He avert. And the Apoftle faith. That Sin was Mark x. 13, 
 
 " in the "World before the Law, but it was not imputed: So that, though ^' ' 
 
 *' there be a Seed ot Sin in Children, which in time may Ipring up, unto which, 
 
 " if they join by any finful Aft, as Mankind too commonly and univerfally do, 
 
 *' they are thereby brought under the Law, or Power of Sin ; not by the Tranf- — vi. 16, 
 
 *' greffion of Adam, the common Father of all after the Flefh, but by their own, 
 
 " as Adam was : yet, until Children be capable ot the Knowledge ot Good and 
 
 " Evil, by the Law of the new Covenant of Light and Grace, Sin is not impu- 
 
 " tedv and there being nothing to condemn them until they have finned, con- 
 
 " fequently they are all faved -, and therefore fprinkhng them under thefe bare 
 
 " Words, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, without the Power, is falle in Faft, and 
 
 " a Profanation of that Holy Name, though under Pretence to take away Ori- 
 
 " ginal Sin, and fave them ; which is an Aft of great Ignorance, or wilful Su- 
 
 " pererogation -, to no Purpofe, but to bring Reverence, Honour, and Gain un-> 
 
 " to proud, covetous, vain-glorious, impofing Pnefts ; and is no Ordinance of 
 
 " Christ, but an antichriftian Forgery, and Popifli Relift." After this the 
 
 young Man was filcnt as to any Reply on the Subj r'ft •, but contciTed he now 
 
 believed, that there could not be any little Children in Hell, but that all of them 
 
 are faved ; and he parted with us in a very friendly Manner. 
 
 That Night I ftaid at Edward Wanton\ -, and, the next Day, went to Boflon, Bofton', 
 and lodged at Daniel Zachary's, ; and the Day following, being the f irft of the 
 Week, had a fmall Meeting there •, and, on the 29th, arrived a Sloop from Bri- 
 Jlol, near Rhode- Iflajid, with John Smith and Thomas Maccomber, before mention- 
 ed ; and they had Leave of the Governor to come to us to Daniel Zachary'?, ; 
 where they remained as long as I was there. 
 
 On the ift of the Third Month, the Third of the Week, Daniel Zachary, Sa- 
 7nuel Collins of Lynn, and I, went to the Governor, Colonel Dud.y, and requelled 
 him to releafe our Friends. He received us refpcfttully, and lecmed to lament 
 our Condition, as a People, that we fhould expofe ourfelves to fuch Sufferings. 
 I anfwered, " That it was not in our own Wills, but in Obedience to the Doftrine 
 *' of C H Ri s T ; who faid unto his Difciples, Except your Righteoufnefs Jhall exceed Mat. v. zo, 
 " the Righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees,ye fhall in no Cafe enter into theKing- 21, iz. 
 " dom of Heaven : Te have heard, that it was faid by them, of old Time, Thou fhalt 
 •' not kill; and whofoever floall kill fhall be in danger of the Judgment: But I fay 
 '* unto you, that whofoever is angry with his Brother without a Caufe, fljall be in 
 
 4 I " Danger
 
 310 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 A N NO " Danger of the Judgment. Again •, Te have heard that it hath been faid, ^hoH 
 1704. " faalt love thy Neighbour^ and hate thine Enemy \ but I fay unto you. Love your 
 
 Mat.v. 43, " Enemies. 
 
 44. 
 
 " Nova, feeing Anger without a Caiife, and Hatred unto Enemies, is the 
 " Caufe of killing, and both condemned-, and Love, whicli is contrary there- 
 " unto, recommended and commanded ; then they, who beheve and obey this 
 " Doftrine, cannot kill any •, no, not even Enemies. It is not therefore lawful 
 " unto us, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and obey his Dodrine, 
 " in hopes of eternal Life in his Kingdom, which is not of this World, to go 
 " to War, kft we fhould forgo and forfeit our Portion in him, and become i.n- 
 " worthy of Life in him, by Difobedience to his manifeft Will under the Di- 
 " fpenfation of his Gofpel." 
 
 The Governor anfwered, " That he was no Difputant about Religion ; but, 
 " to tell you the Truth, faid he, feeing the Judges have given fuch a Judgment, 
 " I cannot tell how to difpenfe with it •, efpecially now in the Time of War, 
 " when every Body thinks there is both fo much Need of Help, and jufl Caufe 
 " of War." 
 
 Ifa. ii. 4. I u R G E D again the Prophecy, That they floall beat their Swords into Plctv- 
 
 fhares, &c. " That Day, faid he, is not cornxj for you fee many Nadons are 
 '< at War at this Time." 
 
 I R E PL I E D, " That proves, that though that Dilpenfation of Peace is come 
 " in point of 'I'ime, yet thoie who are in Wars are not in the Life nor Do(5trin3 
 " of C H R I s T, but in the Firft Adam and fallen Nature -, but this Difpenfation 
 " is effedluaily begun in fome, and will go on, and over all in Time -, and what- 
 " ever it may be to you who have not embraced it, though offered unto you, 
 " it is not lawfulfor us to whom it is come, (fince we have received it) to fight: 
 " We defire, therefore, we may not be required to fight, but left to our Chri- 
 " flian Liberty, to do, or forbear, as we are perfuaded in our Confciences is 
 " beft, and moft fuitable to the Doftrine and Pradlice of our great Lord, Ma- 
 " fter, and Example, the Captain of our Salvation ; who came into the World, 
 " not to deftroy the Lives of Mankind, but to fave them." 
 
 Then faid the Governor, " It would be better if all were fo ; but if I fhculd 
 " releafe your Friends, I ihould be much blamed by the Country-, who have 
 " formerly been very hard upon me as well as upon you : But I endeavour to 
 *' forget it, and fo would I have you." 
 
 Ianswered, " We have no Enmity againfl that People for any Thing 
 " they have formerly, or now, done to us ; but rather defired they might be 
 " brought into a Condition of Forgivenefs by Amendment." And added, 
 " That fince the Judges had given Judgment otherwife than the Law directs, 
 " and Execution already performed further than their own Lav/ reacheth, or can 
 " flipport them in, it was in the Governor's Power, as I apprehended, to re- 
 " leafe the young Men." 
 
 "The k, faid he, you may have Remedy by Law, if you are wronged." 
 " But, faid I, we fue for Favour and Juftice at the Fountain-head, in this Coun- 
 " try, and not to be at the Trouble, Delay, and Expence to fend to England about 
 " it ; and the Jufticcs were told at the fame Time, and Colonel Byjield, Chief 
 " Juftice, in particular, before Sentence, That this was more than the Law could 
 
 " juftify
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 311 
 
 •' juftify them in, he having told us what he intended ; and being poor IVIen, Anno 
 " and not having wherewithal to appeal from Court to Court, in a legal Pro- ^704. 
 " cedure, which would be very chargeable ; and befidcs, what Remedy could be * 
 " expedled from Men, who had afted arbitrarily and contrary to their own Laws 
 " already : We therefore defire their Releafe. 
 
 The Governor replied to the hke Effeft as before, "That the Country 
 " would be about his Ears if he fhould do that ; but, faid he, it is a harmlefs 
 " Thing to work at the Caftle -, they need not light there." 
 
 " B u T, faid I, that is an Ereftion for War, and we cannot be aftive in fuch 
 " Works as may be thought necellary there." And fo, finding notliing could 
 be done at that Time, we fell into fome Difcourfe on fome other Subjefts ; and 
 he invited me to Dinner with him, which I excufed ; and fo we parted -, and we 
 returned to Daniel Zachary\ Houfe, and there immediately I wrote to the Go- 
 vernor ; which Daniel and I fio-ned, viz. 
 
 o 
 
 May it pleafe the Governor., 
 
 NCLOSED is a Duplicate of an OfRce-copy of the Judgment of Court, 
 with an Obfervation and Note thereon, Iiumbly offered to thy Perufal 
 " and Confideration, with fubmiffive Requeft, that if the Prifoners may not be 
 " freely releafed, which is moft of all defired, they may, at leaft be remanded 
 " to the Prifon at Brijhl. Defiring this Application may be favourably inter- 
 " preted and excufed, we remain 
 
 ^/jy refpeSlful Friends, 
 
 THO STCTRY. 
 DANIEL ZACHARY. 
 
 With this Letter we fent the Governor a Copy, as above, in thefe Words : 
 
 Bristol if. " \ T her Majefty's Court of General Seffions of the Peace 
 " i\. for the County of BriJloJ., on the fecond 'Tuefday of 
 " Jpril, 1704, Nathaniel Byfield, Efq-, Prefident, ^c. [See the Names of the 
 '* Juftices., P. 270.] Whereas John Smith and Thomas Maccomber, both of Dart- 
 " mouth, within the County of Brijlol, on the 14th Day of January laft pafl, 
 " before Nathaniel Byfield and Ebenezer Brenton, Efqrs. two of her Majefty's 
 " Juftices of the Peace for the County aforefaid, upon the Complaint of Lieu- 
 " tenant Colonel Benjamin Church., Captain of the Military Company of the 
 " faid Dartmouth, had Sentence pafs'd againft them to pay unto the faid Benja- 
 *' min Church, the Sum of Five Pounds each of them, for Damages, for not at- 
 " tending her Majefty's Service againft the Indian Enemy, being lawfully requi- 
 " red thereunto as the Law direcfts; and alfo Twenty-three Shillings, each of 
 " them, for Cofts and Charges, to be paid, as abovefaid, unto the faid Com- 
 "• plainant : For the Recovery of which faid Damage and Charge, being Six 
 " Pounds three Shillings in the whole to each of them, two feveral Writs of 
 " Diftrefs were granted under the Hands and Seals of the faid Juftices, bearing 
 " Date the firft Day oi February, 1703 ; which, for want of Goods, Chatties, 
 " or Money, were levied on tlie Bodies of the faid John Smith, and Thomas 
 " Maccomber, and both committed to her Majefty's Goal in Brijlol, in the Coun- 
 " ty aforefaid, and there have continued until this prefent Court j who, upon 
 " Call, appearing before her Majefty's Juftices, were told. That they, paying 
 *' the feveral Sums above mentioned, with other Charges due to the SheriiF 
 
 " and
 
 ^1% The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno " and Keeper, 'they fhould have their Liberty ; the which they utterly refufed 
 1704. "to do. 
 
 " WrtEftEUPON the Juftices publickly declared, that if any Perfon would 
 " come and defire the Service of the faid Smiib and Maccoinber, they were rea- 
 " dy, according to the Direftion of the Law, to agree with them, and to dif- 
 " pofe of the faid Smith and Maccomber in Service to them (being fome of her 
 " Majefty's Subjeds within this Province) for fuch reafonable Time as this 
 " Court fliall hmit and order, for fatisfying the above mentioned Sums, with 
 " Charo-es abovefaid, to be paid to the faid Benjamin Church, and to be difpofed 
 " of as the Law direfts. It was further confidered, that if no Perfon did ap- 
 " pear during the Sitdng of the faid Court, for the End abovefaid, that foraf- 
 " much as his Excellency the Governor had difcovered his Mind in that Mat- 
 " ter, %'iz. That the faid Smith and Macco;nher be employed in her Majefty's 
 " Service in and about the Caftle, on Cajik-IJland, near Bofton, there to work 
 " as Pioneers. 
 
 "The Juftices of this Court do therefore think fit, and order. That the faid 
 " Smith and Maccomber be returned to her Majefty's Goal in Briftol, there to 
 " remain in fafe Cuftody, until fome Perfon, or Perfons, appear to pay the faid 
 " Sums in full for Damage and necelTary Charges arifing by their Default ; or 
 " fome Perfon, or Perfons, fhall tender to take the faid Offenders in Service for 
 " fuch reafonable Time as her Majefty's Juftices within the Town oi Briftcl, 
 " or any three of them, together with the Sheriff of this County, ftiall think 
 " meet and reafonable -, or unril a Warrant from the Governor fliall be dirtded 
 " to the Sheriff of this County, requiring their being removed down to the 
 " Caftle, near Bofton, as aforefaid ; where they are to work as Pioneers for fuch 
 " Time, until, by their Service, they pay and fatisfy the Sums above mentioned: 
 *' That is to fay, the laid John Smith the Sum of Seven Shillings and ten Pence, 
 -" and the faid Thomas Maccomber the Sum of Seven Pounds ten Shillings and 
 *' two Pence, now due, with other Charges that fliall become due ■, v/hich, be- 
 *' ing fully accomplifiied, the faid Smith and Maccomber to be releafed. A true 
 " Copy, attefted by J O H N C A R Y, Clerk. 
 
 The Obfervation Inclorfed on tins Copy of the Judgment. 
 
 " r~x-^ H E Law direfts, that the Prifoners fliall be difpofed of by the Court 
 " X_ unto fome of the Qvieen's Subjefts within the Colony, but fiith not 
 " any Thing of an Order from the Governor in the Cafe ; or that the Judg- 
 " ment fliall be direded by his Inclinations •, (for fo the Juftices recite in the Pre- 
 " amble ot the Judgment, which the Governor had excufed to us, as only ha- 
 " ving been fome tranfient Difcourfe with fome of them in private, not intcnd- 
 " ed by him as any Foundation or Dire£lions for an Order or Judgment of 
 " Court nor that the Prifoners fliould ferve the Queen in fuch Service : And 
 " therefore, they being now under an Execution, already extended beyond the 
 " Law, we humbly conceive the Governor may lawfully releafe the Prifoners 
 " from that Service which the Law of the Country does not oblige them to." 
 
 And, to obviate another falfe Suggeftion made to the Governor, to induce 
 him to make fuch an Order, we likewife entered another Indorfoment on the 
 •" fame Paper, vi%. " Whereas we underftand Application hath been made to 
 " the Governor, that th- abovefaid Prifoners might be removed from Briftol to 
 " the Caftle, to the End they might not be further chargeable to the faid Town ; 
 " tlie faid Prifoners fay, they have not been hitherto chargeable to the faid 
 
 *' Town.
 
 of THOMAS STORT. gig 
 
 " Town ofBriJiol, having been all along fiippJied by themfelves, or Relations, A n no 
 " with all NeceiTaries." 1704. 
 
 T o tl.is Letter we had no Anfwer whilft I flaid there, but we heard that the Go- 
 vernor had given an Order the Day before, that the young Men flioiild be taken 
 to the Caftle, though bimfelf had told us he had not given any Order at all 
 for bringing them from Brijlol ; but the Captain who brought thtni from thence 
 would not have any Hand in taking them to the Caftle, nor any Thing more 
 to do with them : So that they were at Bofton when I went thence, on the Fifdi 
 Day following, and at Liberty, on their own Words to be ready upon Call. 
 
 This Afternoon we had a Meeting at Bojlon ; where came feveral of the Bofton. 
 Town's People, and many Boys, who were exceeding rude, but reprehended by 
 fome of the older. The Meeting was indifferent well. Things being intelligibly 
 cleared on feveral Subjefts. On the 2d of the Third Month we had another 
 Meeting there ; which was very full of a fober People, both from Bofton and 
 Charles-'Town : The blefled Truth was over all, and many Doftrines were opened 
 to general Satisfaftion : Infant Rantifm was dilcovered to be upon a falfc Foun- 
 dation : That the Anceftors ot that People in New- England were once a religi- 
 ous People, according to the Degree of Manifeftation and Reformation that then 
 ■was : That they left their native Country, and Advantages therein, for the Li- 
 berty of their Confciences in Matters of Religion and Worfhip of God •, but 
 that fome among them quickly degenerated, though others, I believed, being 
 faithful to what they knew, held their Integrity, and were entered into Reft •, 
 but that many in this Generation have only the Image and Out-fide ot the Re- 
 ligion of their Anceftors, without the Virtue and Life of Religion ■, which many 
 of them were in PofielTion of, and enjoyed. I then exhorted them to turn to the 
 Lor d J e s u s C h r I s t, in the Difpenfation of divine L-ight and Life ; which 
 now is clear from all Types, Shadows, and Symbols: For as their Anceilors 
 lived in the Dawning of the Day, they did not fee plainly, but as it were Men 
 as Trees ; and therefore had retained a Popifh Invention and Relift inftead of 
 an Ordinance of C h r i s t, viz. fprinkling of Infants ; which is as much Popery, 
 and as much without Scripture-foundation, as God-fathers and the Sign of the 
 Crofs. After which I obfervcd a Diftinftion between the Difpenfations of G o d to 
 the Jews and Gentiles, though by the fame Saviour. Under all which they were 
 exceeding patient and attentive ; many of them looking furprized and amazed at 
 the Opening of Things ; Truth having great Authority over the People at that 
 Time in general : And it was by much the beft Meeting I ever was at there, or 
 in all New-England before. 
 
 On the 3d we had a Meeting at Charles-Toian, over the Sound; to which Charles- 
 came feveral People from Bofton, who had been at the Meeting there : This Town. 
 Meeting was not lb large as the other, being a much fmaller Town, but very 
 open and well; and feveral People of both Sexes took us kindly by the Hands, 
 and departed in a very folid Manner. 
 
 T H AT Afternoon we went to Lynn with Samuel Collins -, where we ftaid that 
 Night and next Day ; and, on the Seventh of the Week, the Fifhermen being 
 ufually more at home on that Day than any other of the Week-days, we had a 
 Meeting at Alarble-Head ; where there is not a Friend : The Meeting was pretty Marble- 
 large, and the People fober. The Creation of Man, his firft State of Innocence, Head, 
 his Fall, prefent State of Nature, and Reftoration by C h R i s t the Second Jdam, 
 were Subjefts of the Teftimony ; and the divine Truth had good Dominion over 
 the People ; who, after the Meeting, were loving, and behaved rather with awful 
 
 4 K Rcfpca
 
 514. The LIFE, S'c. 
 
 Anno Refpeft than light Chearfulnefs, or Famiharity : And that Evening we returned 
 1 704. to Lynn. 
 
 Lj-nn. On the 5th we had a Meeting there- where, there being no Strangers, 
 
 Things opened to the State of a convinced profeffing People, and the Danger 
 of fitting down in any Form of Religion and Worfliip, without the Life and 
 Power, as well in our Meetings as others ; for there is but either Life or Death, 
 I'ruth or Error, in every Form, or outward Appearance of Religion : and where 
 Christ appears in the Midft of an Aflembly, there is Life ; and where he doth 
 not appear in any Degree, Death reigns, and G o d is not worfhipped there. 
 That Night, and next Day, I remained at the Houfe of our Friend Samuel 
 Collins. 
 
 O N the 7th of the Month, being the Third of the Week, we were at a Mar- 
 Saleiii. riagc at Salem, which had been delayed fometime on purpofe ; but the Day pro- 
 
 ving very rainy and ftormy, the Meeting was not fo large as otherwife it might 
 have been ; but feveral of the People, of both Sexes, being there, were gene- 
 rally fober, and fome broken in Heart. 
 
 At Salem I remained until the 9th; and, being the Day of their Monthly 
 Meeting, it was large •, feveral of the People being there, were well fatisfied with 
 the Teftimony of Truth therein : and Lydia Norton, Mary Dczv, Ejlber Palmer, 
 and Sufannah Freeborn, all living Minifters, came to that Meeting : The next 
 Ipfwkh. Day we had a Meeting at Ipfwich, where thei'e are no Friends : It was indiffe- 
 rent large, feveral of the People tendered, and generally fatisfied ; fome oi them 
 giving particular Demonftrations of it. 
 
 The Meedng being ended, I flood up and faid to the People, " That fome 
 *' Things might perhaps not have been well underftood, and Doubts might re- 
 " main ; but if any were diffatisfied with any Thing which had been faid, or doubt- 
 " ful in any Point, I would do my beft to explain Matters unto them :" But none 
 appearing we departed in Peace ; and, that Afternoon, we went forward to 
 Newbury ; and. Night coming on, I would have tarried there till the Morning, 
 but there was no Provender to be had for my Horfe, fo that I went over the great 
 River with fome Salijliury Friends, who had been at the Meeting ; and wc went 
 together to our Friend Henry Dow''s, and lodged there, though it was in the 
 Time of War, and not under the Proteft ion of any Garrifon. 
 
 And feveral Perfons having been killed a little before by the Indians, who 
 were for the French againft the EtigliJIo, I found the People in thofe Parts under 
 great Fear and Danger ; and the Weight of their Condition and Circumllances 
 came heavy upon me. 
 
 The nth I refted there; and, in the Morning, went alone up a Hill, not 
 far from the Houfe, and flood upon a Stump of a Tree, where 1 could fee to 
 a Garrifon, fome Diftance off ; and thought, in the mean time, that if any In- 
 dians were in Ambufh there, I might be a fair Mark for them to fhoot at •, upon 
 which I retired from thence and defcended the Hill, and, near the Foot of it, 
 fat down under the Side of a Fence ; where my Mind was fenfibly filled witli 
 divine Goodnefs, which ftaid me there for fome time ; and, when I returned, 
 I found the Friends had been a little thoughtful where I could be, and that I flaid 
 {o long -, and when I told them I had been on the Top of the fame Hill, they in- 
 formed me, that was the Place where the fculking Indians fometimes came, to 
 fpy for Advantages againfl the People, efpecially againft the Inhabitants of the 
 
 Garrifon,
 
 of T HO M A S S T Rt. 515- 
 
 Garrlfon, if they could fee any of them come out any Diftance from it, as a Prey Anno 
 unto them who thirfted for their Blood. 1704- 
 
 TH e fame Day Henry Dow gave notice in the Neighbourhood of my being 
 come, and of the Meeting to be next Day at the Houfe of Thomas Nichols, in 
 the upper Part of the Town. It was a tender Meeting, the Minds of the People 
 being low for fear of the Indians, their cruel Enemies, and by rcafon of the great 
 Diftrefs m.any were in otherwife on that Occafion. It was a difmal Time indeed 
 in thofe Parts ; for no Man knew, in an ordinary Way, when the Sun fet that 
 ever it would arife upon him any more ; or, lying down to fleep, but his firfl: 
 waking might be in Eternity, by a Salutation in the Face with a Hatchet, or 
 a Bullet from the Gun of a mcrcilcfs Savage ; who, from Wrongs received, as 
 they too juftly fay, from the Profeflbrs of C h r i s t in New-England, are to this 
 Day enraged, as Bears bereaved of their Cubs, fparing neither Age nor Sex : Nor 
 are they capable of any Intrcaty, but, on the contrary, by the Examples fet them 
 in the Deftruftion of their Ancellors, by the pretended Majfachufet Chriftians, 
 promifing Life and Friendfliip, they frequently murder their Captives in cold 
 Blood ; roafting fome alive in Times of their Triumph and Merriment, as Ob- 
 jects ot their Revenge, Laughter, and Scorn. 
 
 The People in thofe Parts, at this Time, were generally in Garrifons in the 
 Night-time ; and fome profeffing Truth alfo went into the fame with their Guns, 
 and fome without them : But the faithful and true, trufting in the Lord, nei- 
 ther ufed Gun nor Garrilon, Sword, Buckler, nor Spear •, the Lord alone be- 
 ing their ftrong Tov/er, and Place of Refuge and Defence ; and great was their 
 Peace, Safety, and Comfort in him. That Evening I had great Peace as at 
 any Time in my Travels before ; many Things were opened fuiting the States 
 of the Meetings and People : and at Night I lodged with Thomas Nichols. 
 
 O N the 1 3th we had a Meeting at Salijlniry ; where there was a Garrifon in Salisbury; 
 fome Part of the Town, (for the People garrifoned any convenient Houfe, in 
 Town or Country, they thought moft proper for a common Good and Safety, 
 as they reckon'd) but I had not Liberty in myfelf to lodge near the Garrifon that 
 Night ; but, after fome Difpute with a Townfman, Brother-in-law to a Prieft, 
 returned, late in the Evening, to Henry Dow's, a Place of as much feeming 
 Danger as any, being within Piftol-fhot of a great Swamp, and Thicket, where 
 Indians formerly inhabited, and there I lodged ; where there was neither Gun 
 nor Sword, nor any Weapon of War, but Truth, Faith, the Fear of God, and 
 Love, in a humble and refigned Mind ; and there I refted with Confolation. 
 
 And here I think fit to remark a particular Paflage, viz. The Mother of 
 Hefiry Dow's Wife, being a Friend of a blamelefs Life, and living in this 
 fame Houfe with them, let in Realonings againft their continuing in a Place 
 of fo much apparent Danger, and frequently urged them to remiove into 
 the Town, where the Garrifon was, that they might lodge there in the Night 
 lor moral Safety, as many others, and fome Friends did -, which her Daughter 
 could never be free to do, believing, that if they fhould let in any flavifli Fear, 
 or diflruft in the Arm and Proteftion of the Lor d, fome very hard Thing 
 would befal them ; till at length her Mother faid to her. That if fhe could fay 
 fhe had the Mind of the Lord againfc it, (.being a Minifter, though young) 
 fne would reft fatisfied •, but nothing lefs than that could balance fo rational 
 Fears in fo obvious Danger : But the young Woman, being modefl, cautious, 
 and prudent, durft not alTume pofitivcly to place her Averfion to their Remo- 
 val
 
 Ii6 The LIFE, (f-r. 
 
 Anno val fo high ; but at length flie and her Hufband complied v/ith the Mother, 
 
 1 704. and they removed to the Tovvn, to a Houfe near the Garrifon •, where the 
 
 youna Woman was conftantly troubled with frightful furprizing Fears of 
 
 the Indians ; though, while at the Houfe by the Swamp, flie was free from it, 
 
 and quiet. 
 
 But the Mother, having left fome fmall Things in the Houfe by the Swamp, 
 was f^oing early in the Morning to fetch them, and, by fome Indians in Am- 
 bufh near the Town in her Way, was killed : And the fame Morning, a young 
 Man, a Friend, and Tanner by Trade, going from the Town to his Work, 
 with a Gun in his Hand, and another with him without any, the Indians fhot 
 him who had the Gun, but hurt not the other ; and when they knew the young 
 Man they had killed was a Friend, they feemed to be forry for it, but blamed 
 him for carrying a Gun : For they knew the Qiiakers would not fight, nor 
 do them any Harm ; and therefore, by carrying a Gun, they took him for aa 
 Enemy. 
 
 And the Garrifon and Neighbourhood, being alarmed by the Guns of the 
 Indians, fome Inhabitants of fome few Houfes near m.ade fuch precipitate Hafte 
 thither, that they left a little Boy behind them, whofe Brains the Indians dafhed 
 out againft a Plough, and made Prey of as many Goods as they could carry 
 witli them. 
 
 Newbury. 
 
 And, when the Town was alarmed, the young Woman concluded her Mo- 
 ther was flain, (but it was not by Shot, but a Blow on the Head) but did not 
 go into the Garrifon, but took one of her Children in each Hand, and went 
 with them into a Swamp, or Thicket, full of Reeds, near the Place ; where all 
 her tormenting Fear left her, and fhe was then greatly comforted and ftrength- 
 ened in the Prefence of the Lord, and confirmed in her Thoughts, that they 
 fhould not have left their Houfe for her Mother's Fears, though reafonable in 
 human View, feeing that Confequence had attended ; after which fhe returned to 
 her Houfe by the Garrifon with her Children. 
 
 The Lofs of the Mother was much lamented by the Son and Daughter, 
 and others ; but, as foon as her Body was interred, they went back with their 
 little Children to the fame Place by the Swamp ; where I lodged v/ith them 
 when they gave me this Relation. 
 
 O N the 14th of the Third Month, we had a Meeting at an Inn in Ne--j^bury : 
 There are not many Friends there, but probably may be in due Time ; tor 
 the Meeting was veiy large, and feveral Perfons much broken under the Teftimo- 
 ny of Truth. The Meeting continuing long, and the River being between that 
 Place and Salijbury, I went late that Night with Henry Dow and his Wife, and 
 feveral Friends. 
 
 Hampton. 
 
 O N the 1 5th we had a Meeting at Hatnfton, at the Houfe of Jofeph Chafe ; 
 where we had the Company of feveral of the People, and the Truths of the Go- 
 fpel were largely opened-, but fome of them were very fenfelefs, fcoffing and 
 foolifh -, and yet feveral others were fober, ftill, and attentive; and the Lord 
 gave us a good time. 
 
 Staying there that Night, we were, next Day, at their Montlily Meeting ; 
 where many were tendered in the Time oi WorHiip ; which being over, we 
 
 went
 
 of THOMAS ST CRT. 317 
 
 v.'ent upon the Bufinefs of tlie Meeting, which was very fmall ; for it was but Anno 
 of late (when Tho'mas Thomfon was there) that they had any Meeting of Difci- 1 704. 
 pfine, the elder People being of an old feparate fort, and againft it; but the Difci- 
 pline and Order being now fettled, the younger, and more living fort, are gene- 
 rally zealous for it. I had many Things to fay touching the Neceffity of Order 
 in the Churchy and the great Advantage and Safety of it to Chriftian Society ; 
 fo that fome oppofite Spirits were fretted in themfelves ; but the generality of 
 the Meeting received all with Pleafure •, and fome of them, alter the Meeting 
 was over, expreiled their great Satisfadion with what had pafTed therein \ and 
 all ended in g;reat Confolation. 
 
 D' 
 
 Three Friends from Dover were at this Meeting, and they, and feveral 
 others from Hampton, went with me the next Day, about 16 Miles, through dif- 
 mal Swamps, and Thickets of young Pines and Buflies, and Trees ; where Troops 
 of Indians might have fculked in Ambufti undifcovered, until they had fired 
 upon us : But the good Providence of the Almighty prefcrved us, and we did 
 not fee any hurtful Thing \ \o that we arrived fafe at Bover •, and that Night I Yio^^\ 
 lodged with Thomas JVbitehcufe, from under the Proteftion of the Garrifon there; 
 which was always my Choice every where. 
 
 On the iSth, being the Seventh of the Week, was their Monthly Meeting 
 at Dover ; where we were comforted together in the Truth. 
 
 The Day after, the Meeting there was pretty large, confidering the great 
 Danger the People thought themfelves in by coming there ; the High-ways 
 and Paths being often ambufcaded by the Indian Enemy, who would creep un- 
 der Hedges and Fences to wt a Shot at a Man, as at a Goofe or a Deer : But 
 many Truths were opened there to general Satisfaftion ; and it was a good 
 Meeting. 
 
 O N the 20th, accompanied by fome of the moft fteady and concerned Friends 
 of the Place, we went to vifit feveral others at their Houfes ; and, among the 
 reft, Peter Varney, a fubftantial Friend, at a Houfe he had a little Way in the 
 Woods, and much in Danger of the Enemy : And we all beingunder the Weight 
 of the State of Things, and efpecially myfelf, under the Confideration, that if 
 I fhould appoint Meetings at Places in the Woods, and any Perfon happen'd 
 to be killed or hurt in coming to, or going from them, great Blame might 
 be call upon me as accefibry to it, if not the Caufe, and the Way of Truth like- 
 wile reiltcled upon by my Means ; and we had very few Words (and none need- 
 lefs) among us; and I could not fee my Way concerning any Meetings, or 
 Places for any : But, in this State of Mind, this Saying prefented itfelf before 
 me. He that ivalketh in Darknefs knoweth not whither he goeth ; hit to him who 
 walketh in the Light, there is no Occafion of Jlumhling: And when this entered, 
 every Doubt and Fear vaniihed, my Mind was clear, my Countenance cheered, 
 and the fame invilible Power reached tlie Company likev/ife ; fo that they were 
 all cheered up, and we were in one Mind : Then I faw my Way clear to appoint 
 Meetings for the Week, with their Concurrence, at feveral Places where for- 
 merly they had been-, all Reafonings from the apparent Danger of the Times 
 being fully filenced in my Mind, and I had no farther Doubt about it : And, 
 going to Dinner, we were favoured of the Lord with a very full and open 
 Seafon of his divine Goodnefs together ; to the Glory of his great Name. And 
 the Meetings were appointed accordingly, as foUoweth : That is to fay, 
 
 A L Qui
 
 3i8 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno On the 21ft, at Dover -^ which was fmall and hard in the Beginning, but 
 1704. ended well. 
 
 Oyfter-River On the 22d, at Oyfter-River ; which was not large, but open and well. 
 
 O N the 23d, at Dover again -, which was fmall, and, in the Beginning, drow- 
 fy ; but, through divine Goodnefs, ended well. 
 
 Kittery. O N the 24th, at Kittery -, which was alfo fmall and hard, but I was very ea- 
 
 fy after I returned to Dover. 
 
 Cachecha. On the 25th, at Cachecha, to which I walked on Foot, about two Miles 
 
 tlirough the Woods, with feveral other Friends ; where the Lord was with us, 
 and gave us a precious Meeting ; where his bleffed Truth was over all. 
 
 O N the 26th, being the Firft of the Week, we had a large Meeting at Do- 
 ver, and very open, many Things being cleared to moft Capacities, about the 
 Supper and Baptifm, and feveral other Points. 
 
 But the Indians having committed feveral Murders, and done other Mif- 
 chiefs in thofe Parts, in a cowardly clandeftine Manner, many were ftruck with 
 great Fear of them •, and feveral profefTmg Truth fell under that Temptation, fo 
 far as to take up Arms, and go into Forts and Garrifons •, and alfo to take 
 their Guns with them when they went about their Occafions, to the Difhonour 
 of Truth : And a few ftanding faithful in the Simplicity of it, keeping their Ha- 
 bitations therein Day and Night, trufting in the Lord, and willing rather to 
 lofe their natural Lives for the Lord's lake, than offend him, or give Occa- 
 fion to the Enemies of the blefled Truth to triumph, there happened Debates 
 among them ; the Unfaithful, not being content in their Unfaithfulnefs, nor 
 fatisfied in their Forts and Guns, fought to juftify themfelves in that unworthy 
 Pratftice, condemning the Faithful as wilful and prefumptuous. 
 
 I H A D therefore much to fay in every Meeting on that Subjeft, to convince 
 them of their Weaknefs, bring them forward, and fortify them in their Teftimo- 
 ny -, and efpecially to charge them, that feeing they had not full Faith in the Arm 
 of the Lord, they fhould acknowledge it to be their own Weaknefs, and be 
 humble; and not feek to juftify themfelves therein, left the Lord Ihould 
 blaft them as to his Truth, and they find themfelves. alfo difappointed of the 
 Arm of Flefh, in which they had trufted. 
 
 But it is commonly the Way and Praftice of fuch as are unfaithful in any 
 Part of the Teftimohy of Truth, under the Influence and Condudl of the Ad- 
 verfary of Souls, not only to ftrive to juftify themfelves in their Errors and Apo- 
 ftacy, as if they were true and in the right, but with an infulting Air of Domi- 
 nation and Inveteracy, to contradict, oppofe, condemn, reproach, vilify, and 
 contemn the Juft and True ; who facrifice their All for the facred Teftimony of 
 Jesus, and follow the Lamb wherefoever he goeth and leadeth •, through Life, 
 through Death, over Principalities and Powers in the Earth, and of Hell and 
 the Grave, to the Throne of fij^ Dominion and Glory. 
 
 The next Morning I had a Meeting at Dover with the Friends of the Mi- 
 niftry in that Place, which was the moft comfortable of all ; and many profitable 
 Tlvings were opened in the Love of Truth, to our mutual Comfort, Edifica- 
 tion,
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 519 
 
 tion, and Eftablifhment -, and that Afternoon I went with Jabes Jenkins through Anno 
 the Woods, and the Lord, to his fole Praife, preferv'd us fafe to Hampton. 1 704. 
 But alighting at Jofeph Chafers by the Way, his Wife (not a Friend, but a very Hampton, 
 good-natured Woman) told me, their Minifter, John Cotton, a Prefbyterian, ha- 
 ving heard of nie, had a great Defne to fee me ; and fne perfuaded me to call 
 at his Houfe as I went, being near the High-way ; which accordingly I did. 
 
 H E was very civil, and we had about two Hours Conference concerning fe- ' 
 vera! Points, (the Town Major being prefent) efpecially Baptifm and the Sup- 
 per ; the Obfervation whereof, in their own Way and Modes, feem'd to be tlie 
 Sum of their Religion : yet, I believe, his Underftanding was reached as to fe- 
 veral Points of Dodlrine ; but he feemed unwilling to own it. 
 
 Among other Things, I exhorted him, " Not to fit down under thofe 
 " imperfeft, inadequate and dark Shadows, fliort of the divine Subftance, nor 
 " perfuade the People to reft there ; for you have no Baptifm inftituted by the 
 " Lord Christ •, for the o?dy Baptifm remaining in his Church, is that by 
 " his Holy Spirit : And as to the true Supper, it is the Flefh and Blood of 
 " Christ, the Soul-quickening Spirit and Life from God ; which whofo- 
 " ever eateth and drinketh dwelleth in C H R i s t, and Christ in him ; the 
 " Miniftration whereof is in the Words of Christ, the Word of God -, by 
 *' whom Mankind are quickened, railed from Death unto Life, and live in him 
 " and by him for ever •, which cannot be effefted by any other Minifter or Mi- 
 " niftration : And if Mankind could, by any Means, eat the Flefh and drink 
 " the Blood of Christ, in a literal or fymbolical Senfe, that would not pro- 
 " fit them ; for it is the Spnit only, by the working of his Almighty Power in 
 " the Soul, which quickeneth it, the Flejlo profiteth nothing ; for C h r 1 s t him- 
 *' felf placeth the Sum of that whole divine Matter upon the Spirit." John Cot- 
 ton was a mild and temperate fpirited Man ; and we parted in Friendfliip after 
 Day was gone, and came to Mo[es Swett's before they were gone to Bed ; and 
 there I lodged. 
 
 On the 28th we had a Meeting, in the Meeting-houfe at Hampton ; which 
 was not large, by reafon of the fhortnefs of the Notice ; and I was hindered 
 and kept out of the publick Service, though under the Weight of it, great Part 
 of the Time, by one Thomas Chafe, an old felf-conceited, felfprefcrring, dead, 
 dry, and confufed Preacher, of that Place, and an Enemy to the Difcipline of the 
 Church ; whom, after I ftood up, I reproved in an occult, and yet intelligible 
 Manner ; fo that at laft the divine Life of Truth came over all, and we had a 
 good and comfortable Meeting, all the living being well fatisfied. 
 
 The great Hinderance, DifTervice and Mifchief, which the Adverfary doth in 
 the Church by fuch dry and dead Preachers among us, (who, being full of tliem- 
 felves only, can and will Ipeak in their own lime, without any Regard to the 
 Life of Truth, or to any Minifter of Truth, though a Stranger in the Place) is, 
 that their Time being always, and what and when they will, and the true Mini- 
 fters waiting only upon the Lord, as having no Miniftry at any Time but 
 immediately from lum •, when the Lord's Time is, and the real Concern 
 comes from him upon the true Minifter, the faife one is in the Way, hindcrino- 
 the true Work and Service of the Miniftry and Meetings many Times, as one 
 who would ravifh and defile the Spoufe of Christ, to the invifible, yet un- 
 fpeakable ilurt, loading and grieving of the true Miniftry, and their Work and 
 Service in the Lord, and all the living and fenfible Members in an AfTembiy ; 
 
 and
 
 310 
 
 A N X o 
 
 17C4. 
 
 Salisbury. 
 
 Jamaica. 
 
 Haverell. 
 
 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 and fiich oppveffing Perfons and Things are fuffered, to prevent Confufion ar.d 
 other hurtful Conlequences which might enfue upon the open forbidding or re- 
 proving of fuch Perfons in an AfTembly : For I have never yet feen any one fo 
 much out of the Way of Truth, or any Thing fo unwortliy or abfurd in itfclf, 
 but this would have a Party and Supporters, and that Votaries and Efpoufcrs, to 
 vindicate them, and contend to further Evil and Mifchief. 
 
 That Night I lodged again at Henry Dow's; and, on the 29th, I was at 
 another appointed Meeting at Salijhury •, which was not large, but good and 
 comfortable. 
 
 O -v the 30th I was at their Week-day Meetirig at Jamaica ; which was pretty 
 laro-c, and very open and fatisfadlory, both to Friends and People -, for the di- 
 vine Truth was over all, to the Glory and Praife of his own Arm, which giveth 
 Viftory to the Weak, Humble, and Needy -, and Salvation and Redemption un- 
 to all, who in Sincerity and Want call upon his Holy Name. 
 
 On the ift of the Fourth Month we had a Meeting at Henry Dow's ; which 
 was alfo comfortable and edifying, and feveral of the People much tendered : 
 But this Meeting alfo was hurt in the Beginning of it, by a forward Perfon, who 
 prayed a long Sermon to the Almighty, with many Accufations in it againft the 
 People and their Ways. 
 
 Greatest Part of this Time I had lodged with Henry Doiv, in a Place 
 of the mofl apparent Danger in thofe Parts, as formerly obferved ; yet the Lord, 
 in his o-reat Goodneis, preftrved us, and often, from Time to Time, overcame 
 for us, and in us, our rational Doubts and Fears, and fettled our AfTurance, by 
 the working of his Holy Spirit : All which his mod gracious and tender Deal- 
 ings with us, I heartily dcfire may not be forgotten by me, nor any of us. 
 
 On the 2d, being the Seventh of the Week, we went up to Haverell from 
 Salijhiry ; and, the next Day, had a Meeting there ; which, being near the Pref- 
 byterlan Meeting-houfe, feveral of them came to us in the Time between their 
 Forenoon and Afternoon Meetings, and fome of them v;ere affeifted and tender- 
 ed, and others very fober and attentive to what was delivered ; who, though de- 
 fired by ibmc of the ruder fort of their own ProfefTion to leave us, they would 
 not ; and then the others endeavoured to hawl them away by Force : But the 
 Lord gave us a good Meeting notwithilanding this Treatment ; for his power- 
 ful Truth reigned over all, to his own Glory, and our Satisfaftion and Comfort, 
 
 That Night I went to Jamaica^ and lodged with Thomas Nichols, partin 
 with fome Dover Friends in the Road near that Place. 
 
 After this Meeting Jacob Moral of Salijhury informed me, that he had 
 been with feveral Perfons in that Town, in order to have a Meeting among them, 
 but they generally refufed •, the old Stock of Perfecutors, ftill ruling there, being 
 much againft it ; but the younger People were, for the moft part, for it : And 
 that at laft he had gone to one Major Pike, (an ancient Man who had been very 
 contentious, fo that every Man's Hand had been againft him, and he againft eve- 
 ry Man) and defired his Confent that we might have a Meeting in their Meet- 
 ing-houie, to which the Major alfented ; and faid alfo, " That if we could not 
 " have their Meeting-houfe to meet in for once, we fhould have his Houfe :" 
 And accordingly Jacob Moral had given Notice of a Meeting to be there the 
 next Day. 
 
 Friends
 
 c/THOMyiS S T RT. 311 
 
 Both Friends and others went to the Place about the Tenth Hour next Anno 
 Morning, and the Major feemed very open and free ; and Seats being ranged, 1 704. 
 and many People fet down, all of a fudden, and witb.out any Provocation, fave 
 from the Evil One in himfelf, the Major began to be very turbulent and abu- 
 Jfive, faying, " Friends, if I may call you fo, what is your Bufinefs here? 
 " What means all this Concourfe of People ?" To which Jacob Mcral anfwer- 
 ed, " We are come here to have a Meeting, according to the Liberty thou 
 " haft given us." Then faid he, " You told me of a Man that had a Meffiio-e 
 " from Heaven to the People •, v.'hich, if he hath, let him % on : but, for my 
 " Part, I did not expeft fuch a Multitude, neither did I intend any fuch Leave 
 " to fuch a People as ye are." Then he gave us much ill and abufive Languao-e, 
 faying, " \Ve were led by the Spirit of tlie Devil." 
 
 At length I ftood up and told him, " That I was the Perfon Intended in 
 " what had been faid ; but as for a Meflage from Heaven, in his Senfe, I had not 
 " pretended to it; but in the Love of God, though a Stranger, deflrcd to have 
 " a Meeting among fuch of the People as were free to come-, and had been 
 " credibly informed we had obtained the Liberty of his Houfe for that Purpofe, 
 " or elfe we fhould not have given him that Trouble.*' 
 
 Then Jacob Moral cleared the Matter, affirming in the Audience of the 
 People, " That he never faid any Thing of a Meflage from Heaven, but only 
 " that a travelling Friend, in the Love of God, had a-mind to fee them in a 
 " Meeting ; which the Major had given Leave fhould be there in his Houfe." 
 
 Notwithstanding this, the Major perfifted in his Abufes, alledging 
 that Scripture againft us, and applying it unduly, Try the Spirits, believe not eve- 
 ry Spirit, Sec. I afl<?d him, " By what Means are Spirits to be known .''" He 
 replied, " By the Word of God, the Rule," meaning the Scriptures. I re- 
 plied, " That the Scripture itfelf could not be the Rule in that Cafe; for 
 " it could not be rightly underftood or applied without the Spirit of God, by 
 " which it was given forth; and that by which the Letter of the Book 
 " came and was given, mull, in common Senfe, be more excellent than the 
 " Letter, and a fuperior Rule : yet we highly efteem the Holy Scriptures, and 
 " ever have done, as the beft Iccondary Rule in the World, as fubordinate to 
 " the Holy Spirit, £ind as opened and applied by him : But feeing the Scriptures 
 " tell us of fome who conlefs Christ with their Mouths, or in Words, but 
 " in their Works deny him ; and that the Tree is known by its Fruit ; thou 
 " thyfelf looks like one of thofe evil Spirits, who are to be difcerned, known, 
 " and tried by their evil, reproachful, and contentious Words and Works ; even 
 " by thy falfe Accuflitions, Abufes, and unworthy Treatment of us at this Time; 
 " who are come, not in our own Names, but in the Name and Grace of the 
 " L o R d J E s u s Christ, to vifit this People ; and more efpecially by thy 
 " denying and blafpheming againft the Spirit of C h r i s t ; by which we are 
 " led into all Trutli, and not by the Evil One, as thou haft falfly accufed us : 
 " But the Scripture wliich thou haft hinted at, and mifapplied, is this. Beloved, i Johniv. i, 
 " believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits v:h ether they o.re of God ; becaufe ma- 2> 3- 
 " ^'y f^V^ Prophets are gone out into the World. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God i 
 " Every Spirit which confcffcth that Jefus Chrijl is come in the Flefh, is of God ; 
 " and every Spirit which doth not confefs that Jefus ChriJi is come in the Flefh, is 
 " not of God: And this is that Spirit of /Intichrifi, whereof you have heard that 
 •' it fhould come, and even now already it is in the World, 
 
 4 M " Now,
 
 ^11 
 
 Anno 
 
 1704. 
 
 1 John :■•'. 1 
 
 Rom 
 
 16. 
 
 via. 9, 
 
 The LIFE, d^'c. 
 
 " N o w, thou haft not heard any of us deny that JesusChristIs come 
 " in the Flefli -, and I do not doubt but every one here beUeveth and confef- 
 " feth it, unleis thou thyfelf be the Exception. 
 
 " A N D yet a verbal Acknowledgement only, of the Coming of Christ in his 
 
 " Body of Flefh in that Day, is not intended in this Place ; for the Devils alfo 
 
 " believe that and tremble, and yet remain Devils ftill : But this Confeffion muft 
 
 " arife from Experience of the working. Revelation, or Manifeftation of the Spi- 
 
 " rit of Christ in the Heart and Mind of him who thereby believeth in 
 
 " C H Ri St, to prefent Salvation ; according to the fame Apoftle, a little below, 
 
 " where he faith, Hereby know we that we dwell in him^ and he in us, becaufe he 
 
 " hatJj given us of his Spirit. Again, faith the Apoftle Paul, 'The Spirit itfclf 
 
 " beareth Witnefs with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God. And again, 
 
 *' If any Man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his. Whofe then art 
 
 " thou?" 
 
 This made the old Perfecutor mad with Rage for a Time, and he began to 
 rub up his old nifty Tools of Perfecution, aflving me whence I came ? and 
 threatened to order me into Cuftody : But, finding Truth over his Spirit, and I 
 above him therein, I replied, " That if he had thought fit at firft to have refu- 
 " fed us his Houfe to meet in, we could not have blamed him •, but fince he 
 " had once granted it, and now ufed us ill, it was unbecoming a Man of Ho- 
 " nour, his Ofiice, and a Chriftian." 
 
 Then the invifible Pov/er of the divine Truth bound his unruly Spirit, and 
 he began to fall and grow more calm, and ofi^ered us his Orchard to meet in : 
 But I replied, " That feeing he had fo fpitefully reproached the Spirit of 
 Christ, in whofe Name and Grace we had come there, by his own Con- 
 ceffion, to worfliip God, vifit the People, and, in his Love, to intorm and 
 inftruft them ; and had broken his Word fo evidently, and abufed us fo very 
 much, though Strangers, and that too in his own Houfe, without any Provoca- 
 tion by any of us, we fhould not accept it, but teftify againft that Spirit, which 
 ruled fo lately in him, and againft his unchriftian Praftice and Behaviour in 
 and by it, deipifing his Orchard, and all he had : Adding, that he fhould 
 remember, that he had that Day rejefted the Truth, and thofe who dwell 
 therein." And fo we went out, leaving hirn foaming and filent in his Chair. 
 
 I w E N T then immediately into the Street ; where, feeing a Parcel of Logs of 
 Wood near the Side of a Houfe, I went in and aficed the Woman of the Houfe 
 (the Goodman being abfent) Leave to fet the Logs in order, and fit upon them ; 
 and flie was very willing, and faid, " The Street is free for all ; and as for 
 *' the Logs ye cannot hurt them, ufe them at Pleafure." And, befides 
 thefe, we procured fome Deal-boards, and other Things fit for Scats, and fat 
 down in the open Street by the Houfe-fide ; which proved a far more conveni- 
 ent Place than the Major's Houfe, for a Multitude of People came thither ; and 
 though fome were very light, airy, and rude, moft of them were fober, 
 and feveral tender. I had a large Time in Teftimony among them ; and fcve- 
 ral other Friends alfo of both Sexes appeared in publick: And while I was at 
 Prayer (as I was informed) feveral of the People were more broken than at any 
 Time before. 
 
 The Truth was over all, and many Things were opened, In the Wifdom 
 and Authority of it, to the Glory of God, and Information and Edification of 
 
 the
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 313 
 
 the People, as well as Comfort of Friends, and to general Satisfaftion : And It Anno 
 
 being ended, I ftood up upon a Form, and informed the Auditory, " That I i7°4* 
 
 " had travelled in this Service, through fcveral Nations of the Britijh Domini- 
 
 " ons, and many of the American Plantations, and had feen feveral forts of People 
 
 " of other Countries, both rude and civil, and alfo both Blacks and Indians at our 
 
 " Meetings -, and, though the generality of the People there that Day had be- 
 
 " haved themfelves very foberly, commendably, and like People protefling the 
 
 " Chriftian Name -, yet fome among them had behaved themfelves much be- 
 
 " low all others, both Negroes and Indians, that I had ever feen on fuch Oc- 
 
 " cafions." 
 
 This prov'd a fore Reproof upon the Perfons concerned, the Application 
 being plain to many of the Auditory •, but though feveral muttered in private, be- 
 ing afliamed, they appeared not openly to excufe themfelves. And I further 
 " added. That if any one had any Thing toobjeft, it might be moft proper to 
 " do it before we parted." 
 
 Then there appeared one, who faid, " He had fomethingto objeft againft 
 " what the Woman (Lydia Norton) faid in the Meeting." I afked him 
 " what it was ? Then faid he, " I went away as fcon as flie began to fpeak, 
 " not thinking it fit to hear a Woman." I replied, " How canft thou objeft 
 " againft what thou didft not hear ?" At this he was confounded, and filent a 
 while ; but, recovering himfelf a little, he then faid, " He had not heard all fhe 
 " faid." I replied, " Thou firft faid, thou went away as foon as Ihe began to 
 " fpeak, and therefore could not make any Objeftion ; and now, to qualify 
 " that Blunder, thou fays. Thou didft not hear all that fhe faid. How couldft 
 " thou hear all, if thou went off and would not hear any ? Or, if thou hadft 
 " heard any Thing at all diftinftly, and not the whole, yet to objeft is un- 
 " fair ftill ; for how doft thou know but that the latter Part of her Speech 
 " might qualify the former, fo as not to leave any Room for Objedtion V Then, 
 being again confounded and afhamed, and the People deriding him, he made his 
 Objeftion at large againft Womens' preaching at all, faying, " That the Apoftle 
 *' Paul laid to the Corinthians, I will that Women keep Silence in the Church.'^ 1C0r.xtv.34, 
 I anfwered, " That the Apoftle faid. Tour Women only, and not Women inde- 
 " finitely, without Exception;" which he denied: Then one offered him a 
 Bible to look into the Place ; which he refufed, and went off, pretending to go 
 into a Houfe to fetch one ; but never returned. Then I opened that Point 
 more fully to the People, faying, " That no Interpretation of Scripture 
 " ought to be advanced, or admitted, which makes it contradid itfelf, or one 
 " Part of it another -, or one Apoftle oppofe another, or contradift himfelf or 
 " any of the Prophets, or the Matters of Fa£t recorded in Holy Writ, relating 
 " to the publick Miniftry of holy Women in the Church of Christ, or 
 *' otherwife. 
 
 " 1/ T H E N, you may obferve what Joel the Prophet faid, (many Ages be- 
 " fore the Days of the Apoftles) relating to the Difpenfation of the Gofpel in 
 " this Point, and the Pubhfhers of it. And it Jhall come to pafs afterward, that I Joelii. 28,29; 
 " will pour out my Spirit upon all FleJI}, and your Sons and your Daughters /Jjall 
 " prophefy, your old Men Jhall dream Dreams, your young Men Jhall fee Vifions : 
 " And alfo upon the Servants and upon the Handmaids in thofe Days will I pour cut 
 " tny Spirit. 
 
 " The Apoftle Peter^ being filled with the Holy Ghoft, declares this Pro- 
 
 " phecy
 
 ;i4 The LIFE, ^r. 
 
 Anno " phecy to relate to the Difpenfation oi the Gofpel, and to begin at that Time 
 
 I ;704. " of the great and glorious EiTufion of the Holy Spirit of Christ at Jeru- 
 
 Acls ii. 1 6 " falem, faying, ms is that which was fpoken of by the Prophet Joel, And it pall 
 
 17, iS. " come to pnfs in the left Days, faith Gcd, I will pour ozt of my Spirit upon all 
 
 " Flefh ; and fo repeats the Prophecy at large. 
 
 " Now, it is reafonably and morally certain, by a juft and undeniable Con- 
 " fequence, that the Spirit of Christ came, at that Time, upon the holy 
 — i. 14. « Women prefent ; and that the Women, or fome of them, preached Christ 
 " to the IVIultitude, as well as the Men, having been his Witnefies as well as 
 " they ; or otherwife the Application Peter made of that Prophecy to that 
 " Inftance, could not have been adequate, and without Exception, or a reafon- 
 " able Objcfticn : For, if no Women had fpoken, or .preached Christ there 
 " at that Time, it might have been faid, that the Prophet mentions Women as 
 " well as Men, Daughters equal with Sons, but here only Sons appear in this 
 ''• Difpenlation and Occafion ; and therefore that Prophecy cannot relate to it ; 
 "• But no Objedtion of this Nature appearing, it ftrongly follows, that fome Wo- 
 " men preached there as well as the Men at that Time. 
 
 " 2dly, I F Daughters were not to preach as well as Sons, Handmaids as 
 " well as other Servants, this Prophecy could never be flilfilled, and confe- 
 " quently muft be falfe •, which, to fay or think, would be prophane and 
 " blafphemous, and cannot be admitted in any wife. 
 
 iCorxIv.M. " 3'^b-> The Apoftle P^k/ faith in that Place, Let your JVomen keep Silence 
 " in the Churches, (that is, in the Meetings or Congregations) for it is not permit- 
 " ted unto them to fpeak ; but they are conmanded to be under Obedience, as alfo 
 " faith the Law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ajk their Hufbands 
 " at Home : For it is a Shame for Women to fpeak in the Church (or Congre- 
 *' gation.) 
 
 I Tim ii 1 1 ^^^■'h-> S A I T H the fame Apoftle elfewhere, on another Occafion, Let the Wo- 
 j2. ' " man learn in Silence with all Subje5iion. But I fuffer not a Woman to teacby 
 
 " nor to ufurp Authority over the Man, but to be in Silence. 
 
 "By all which it appears, that the Apoftle was not prohibiting Women in 
 
 " general, when infpired by Christ, and thereby qualified for fuch Services, 
 
 " to preach or pray publickly in the Congregation ; but fuch only as were im- 
 
 " perious, infulting, ignorant, untaught, and unlearned in the Way of Christ 
 
 " and Religion •, and alfo talkative, afking bold and impertinent Queftions in 
 
 " the Congregations, occafioning Debates, Heats, Contentions, and Confufion. 
 
 " Such were not to be fuffered in fuch evil Work, but to be obedient to their 
 
 *' Hufbands, (for he aimed at fome married Women) and learn of them at home 
 
 " in modefl: and decent Silence ; it being a Shama both to the Women them- 
 
 " felves, and the Congregations of the faithful, that fuch Women fliould be 
 
 " permitted to fpeak in that Manner in a publick Way, to difturb them, and 
 
 " hinder their Devotion, and the publick Service and Miniftry of fuch of either 
 
 " Sex as were duly qualified and fent in the Wifdom and Power of the Holy 
 
 " Spirit : And we, as a People, are of the fame Mind, that neither fuch Wo- 
 
 " men (nor Men) ought to be fuffered in fuch deffruftive Work ; but to be 
 
 " filent, and learn there, behaving therein with Modefty and Bafhfulnefs be- 
 
 " coming their Sex, and the Nature and End of what they undertake ; and 
 
 " not with flrutting mafculine Airs as Heroines, which in the Female Sex is 
 
 " blame-worthy and fliamcful, and not decent in the Males.
 
 of T HO M yi S S T RT. giy 
 
 « giMj, And as to Matters of Fad, proving that Women preached pub- Anno 
 " lickly in the Chriftian Congregations in the Days of the Apollles, P^ul re- 1704. 
 " commended Pbek, a Sifter in C h r i s t, to the Congregation then at Rome, Rom, jjyj_ , 
 " as Minifter, Servant, and Deaconefs of the Church at Cenchrea; and in the 2, 3. 
 " fame Place mentions Prifdlla with great Refpeft, (placing her before Acojiilla 
 " her Hufband) as his Helper in Christ Jesus as well as he ; which Help 
 *' can refer to nothing elfe but the Work of the Miniftry, in which they were 
 *' all jointly and feverally concerned and engaged, 
 
 " dthly. And though Apollo was a Man of Eloquence, and mighty in the 
 " Scriptures, and had been inftrufted in the Way of the Lord in fome Mea- 
 " fure, and had taught the Things of the Lord zealoufly and diligently, 
 " (knowing only the Baptifm of John) Prifdlla, as well as Acquilla, expounded A(asxviii.24i 
 " unto him the Way of God more perfeftly. 25, 26. 
 
 " And, in the Second Epiftle to Timothy, fhe is again mentioned by Paul 2Tim.iv. 19, 
 " himfelf before Acqidlla her Hufband ; which could not be by the Order of 
 " Nature, with which that Apoftle was fo well acquainted, but as Ihe was pre- 
 " ferable in her Miniftry. 
 
 " ']thly. These Inftances therefore wherein that great Apoftle fo much 
 *' approves the publick Miniftry of thefe holy and Infpired Women, plainly de- 
 *' monftrate, that he was not againft Womens' Preaching in general ; for then 
 " he muft have wrote C'ontradidions in the Name of the Lo r d, which would 
 " have deftroy'd the Authority of his own Miniftry ; fmce no Man, fpeaking 
 " or writing by the Holy Ghoft, the Spirit of Truth, fpeaketh or writcth cori- 
 " trary Things •, and they cannot both be true, but the one or the other muft 
 " needs be falfe, and fuggefts a reafonable Sufpicion that both are fo : which 
 " cannot be thought of any Apoftle of C h ri st, or his Miniftry. 
 
 " Again, Paul direfts how Women ought to be adorned, as well as Men^ 
 " In the Time of the publick Exercife of their Miniftry, or Preaching -, and if 
 *' he had been againft all Womens' Preaching, and yet given Diredions con- 
 " cerning that Circumftance, he would not have been confiftent with himfelf 
 " therein, nor one Part of his Miniftry with another ; for he faith. Every Mail ^q^^^^ , ,; 
 *' fraying or prophefying, having his Head covered, di (honour eth his Head ; but 
 " every Woman that prayeth or prophefieth with her Head uncovered, dijhonoureth 
 " her Head; and more in the fame Place to that Purpofe : Which ftill further 
 " proves, that the Apoftle was not againft Womens' Preaching in the Congre- 
 " gations, but fully allov/ed it-, only he endeavoured to reform fome of them, 
 " in fome Circumftantials and Incidents pertinent to their Miniftry j in which 
 " they were awanting at that Time, as fome probably may be now. 
 
 Aasxxi.S.g. 
 
 " And alfo Philip, an Evangelift, one of the feven Deacons, and an able 
 Minifter of C h r i s t, had four Daughters, Virgins, who did prophefy ; that _ viij. 5,6^ 
 is, they all preached the Gofpel : And feeing they were Daughters of fo emi- 12, 35- 
 nent a Minifter of C h r i s t as Philip was, without all reafonable Contradic- 
 tion, not only Philip himfelf, but the Churches of Christ wherever 
 they miniftered, approved them therein: Then, if Paul had been againft 
 all Womens' preaching and praying publickly in the Church, and Phi- 
 lip for it, they would have, in that Cafe, contradifted and oppofed each other, 
 to the confounding of the People, by a contradictory uncertain Miniftry; 
 which cannot be admitted by Men of Truth, and finccre Lovers of C h ri st, 
 
 4 N " and
 
 3 
 
 i6 The LIFE, 6^0. 
 
 Anno "and fuch as honour the Chriftian Religion •, who, upon the whole, muft needs 
 1704. " conclude, that Women, as well as Men, may, and ought to prophefy, preach, 
 " and pray publickly in the Church and Churches of Christ, wlien thereunto 
 " quahfied and called by Christ, under the immediate Diredlion and Influ- 
 " ence of his Holy Spirit and Power, as thofe holy Women were ; without 
 " which neither Male nor Female, under any other Qualification or Pretence 
 " whatfoever, ought to intrude themlelves, or meddle, left that Queftion, un- 
 " der the Frown and Difpleafure of the Almighty, be aflced of fuch, IVbo hath 
 " required this at tly Hand? and incur a jufl: Punilhment in the End." 
 
 During all this Time the People were generally attentive, and feemingly 
 pleafed •, but, juft in the Clofe of the Matter, I was attacked, all of a fudden, 
 by a jolly brifk Perfon, who brake into the Crowd behind me on Horfeback, 
 and, by his Garb, look'd like a Paftor of the People, (and, upon Enquiry af- 
 terwards, I found he was fo) whofe firft Salutation was after this Manner : " Are 
 " you not afhamed thus to delude the People, impofing upon them falfe Glofies 
 " on the Scripture ? I am a Stranger on the Road, and, drawing near this 
 " Multitude to know the Occafion of it, cannot but appear in defence of Truth 
 " againft your Perverfions : 'Tis true, you have a fmooth Way, a gaining 
 " Countenance, and advantageous Mein j but, Sir, you look, in all this, the 
 " more like an EmifTary." 
 
 This, being fudden, was a little furprizing at firft; but, Truth being up- 
 permoft, I quickly replied, " That he rather look'd like a falfe Teacher of the 
 " People; and challenged him to inftance any Particular wherein I had impofed 
 " upon them." 
 
 H E inftanced only in this, where I had faid Phehe was a Minifter of the Church ; 
 he faid, " She was not a Minifter, but a Servant, as appears by the Text itfelf 
 " in that Place ; and it will not bear to be tranflated Minijier, as you fay." 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " Servant and Minifter are fynonymous Terms, and the Word 
 " there ufed may be better tranflated Minifter : And if fhe was a Servant, in what 
 *' other refpeft to the Church, if not in a publick Miniftry, as a Preacher ? For 
 *' Theodore Beza, in his Latift Tranflation from the Greek, (from which owcEngliJh 
 *' Tranflations are made) hath it Minifter, and not Servant, Miniftra Ecclefiis 
 " Cencreenfis; and, in the Gr^^/i- Teftament, it is aikxovm ; x}n2it\i, Minifter, ox Ser- 
 " vant." And I afked him before the People, " If he would fay, upon his 
 *' Reputation as a Minifter, as he profefled himfelf to be, that it might not be 
 " properly rendered Minifter-," which he refufed : and then, in Abundance of 
 AlTurance, faid openly, " That I was no Quaker ;" but, in a flattering Way, 
 added, " I had more Senfe than to be a Quaker •, for I had an ingenious Coun- 
 " tenance, and a Mein importing a better Education." I rejedted his Flattery, 
 and replied, " That he might have had better Education, and ought to have 
 " had more Juftice, than falfcly to accufe one whom he never faw before;" and 
 put him upon his Proof in that and feveral other Things, in which he had over- 
 fhot himfelf, in the Apprehenfion of moft of the People who heard him. 
 
 A N D I obferved to the People, who did not generally underftand the Meaning 
 of the 'WordEmift'ary, that as it was unduly applied by him, it imported a very 
 high, as well as falfe Charge ; and, as fuch, I return'ditupon him. 1 hen he began 
 to charge Jonathan Taylor (then in England) with being a Jefuit (he having been 
 in that Country feven Years before, and inftrumental to convince many in thofe 
 
 Parts,
 
 ofTHOMAS STORT. ^17 
 
 Parts ; and thereby had greatly enraged the Priefts, and their envious Company, Anno 
 
 againft him -, which they had not forgot:) And there flood up Hkewife another 1704. 
 
 Man, and faid. The Charge was true : But I oppofed them, telhng the People, 
 
 " I very well knew Jonathan Taylor ; and that he was no Jefuit, nor any Thing 
 
 " hke one in any refpeft ■" putting the Prieft in mind of what danc^erous 
 
 Confequence it might be to himfelf to charge me, or any other innocent Perfon, 
 
 in that P'/Ianner •, fince, by Law, it touched the Life of the Accufed, and was 
 
 highly punilhable in the Accufer, if not legally proved : Then he, wheeling his 
 
 Horfe about, faid, " He could not ftay any longer -," and, in the turning of 
 
 his Horfe, he prov'd refty, and ran back upon a Log, and his hinder Parts fell 
 
 down, (which fome would have made a Judgment upon him;) but the Pried 
 
 being a brilk nimble Man, kept upon his Back, and had no Harm, but rode 
 
 haftily out of the Crowd, and went off. 
 
 The Oppofition this Prieft and the others made, being for the moft part 
 confident and notorioufly falfe Aflertions and Charges, without any Proof, ex- 
 pofed him and themfelves to the juft Cenfure of the People, and rather confirm- 
 ed them in the Truth of what we had delivered, than hurt the Caufe of Truth ; 
 which we, in fome Meafure of the Wifdom and Power of it, had defended againft 
 them. 
 
 I T was now near Night, and began to rain ; and, with fome other Friends, 
 I took Horfe, and rode to Henry Dow's ; being all well fatisfied, that there had 
 not happened any further Conteft-, which might have unfettled the Minds of the 
 People from the Effed: of thofe Truths, fo largely and plainly that Day deli- 
 vered among them ; and from that Senfe of the divine Power of the Word of 
 Life, of which fome of them had, in fome Meafure, tafted. 
 
 On the 5th, in the Morning, we had a Meeting of miniftring Friends aC 
 He77ry Dovi's, at which moft of the Minifters in thofe Parts were prefent -, and 
 the Prefence and Power of the Lord was eminently with us, to the Glory of 
 his own Name ; and many Things were brought to Remembrance, and opened 
 to our mutual Edification and Confolation ; for they being for the moft part 
 young in that Exercife, Things opened in me to my own Admiration ; fo that 
 it was one of the beft Meetings I had been at in thofe Parts : And that Evening, 
 accompanied by feveral Friends, I went again to Haverel. 
 
 O N the 6th we had a Meeting there ; where fome of the People came in, and Haverel. 
 pretty many Friends from Salijbury, Jamaica and Aimjbury ; and the Lord 
 was with us : Many Things were opened, and Truth came over all ; yet feve- 
 ral of us had felt a hard inward Trouble and Exercife : And as foon as I fat 
 down, I obferved a Man in the Entrance of the Door, who, I thought, look'd 
 very ill-natur'd and furly ; and, looking at me, faid, " You have fpoken fe- 
 " veral true Things -, but by what Authority did you fpeak ?" I anfwered, 
 " By the Authority of Truth ;" and then told him, " Our Meeting was not 
 " ended, and bid him be filent till it was •, and then, if he had any Thing to fay, 
 " he might be heard." Upon which he was filent ; and, foon after, L>'i/« A'br/o^ 
 ftood up, and feveral of the People went out in contempt of her Sex, (though 
 fhe had a Miniftry as affefting and fatisfadory as moft Women or Men either) 
 and, when flie had done, I concluded the Meeting in Prayer, and Truth was 
 over all contrary Spirits in the Ground, though I felt yet fome further Exercife 
 and Oppofition a-hatching ; but faw likewife that the End would be to the Ho- 
 nour of G D, and his all-conquering Truth, 
 
 The
 
 5i8 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno The Meeting being ended, up ftarted a Man, who had fat fo ffill as if he 
 
 J 704. had approved all that was laid, and pulkd out a Letter, direded to John Keefer, 
 
 the Friend of the Houfe then prefent, which he began to read, it being open ; 
 
 but I put it by a while, finding my Mind againft it, though I knew not 
 
 the Tenor of it, but expefted no Good from it ; but at laft 1 fuffered him to 
 
 read it, and it proved to be a Difcharge from an Inn-keeper at Andover, (fome 
 
 of whole Family, in his x^bfcnce, had given us Leave to have a Meeting in his 
 
 Houfe, being an Inn) telling us we might have Entertainment, but no Meeting 
 
 there. < 
 
 This we took as a Contrivance of this Man, and others of like foi t, to 
 hinder us to have a Meeting there : However, we intended to have gone thither 
 the next Day, and, if we could not have had a Meeting at the Inn, to have had 
 one in the Streets -, but it proved fo very rainy in the Morning, and continued 
 fo all Day, that we did not go thither, the Houfe being denied us by the Owner, 
 and a Meeting in the Street imprafticable ; as if Providence (the L o r d knowing 
 their Unworthinefs) had difippointed them of that Good which otherwife they 
 might have reaped by a Vifit which we intended in the Liberty of Truth, and 
 in Good-will to their Souls, (as defiring the Salvation ef all Men) if they had 
 been found worthy. 
 
 « 
 
 This Letter being read, this Man openly charged John Keefer, that he 
 fhould not have any more Meetings in his Houfe ; fpeaking reproachfully of 
 us, and our travelling on fuch Accounts abroad in the World. I then, in the 
 Authority of Truth, demanded of him, " Who art thou that afllimes upon thy- 
 '' felf this Domination." He replied, " He was Foreman of the Grand Jury." 
 *' Foreman of the Grand Jury ! faid I, what then ? Go about thy Bufinefs, for, 
 *' as fuch, thou haft none with us, or we with thee." We thus defpifing his 
 Charge, the young Man told him, " He fhould take little Notice of it, fince 
 " we had the like Toleration as all the Queen's Subjefls enjoyed in all her 
 " Dominions." 
 
 Then he began to cavil againft feveral Things I had faid in the Meeting, 
 concerning the Scriptures, and the Light of Christ; but the Lord being 
 with me, I came clear over him ; and then it appeared and fettled in my Mind, 
 that he had been convinced of Truth in his Heart, and had rebelled againft it : 
 and then I went to him, where he fat upon a Form, (many People being in the 
 Room) and clapped him on the Shoulder with my Hand, and, looking in his 
 Face, faid to him, in that Boldnefs which Truth gave me, " That he had been 
 *' convinced of the Truth of God in his Heart, and had refifted and rejefted 
 *' it, and therefore was now become an open Enemy, and Oppofer of the Truth 
 " in others alfo -, and that therefore God would rejedt him for ever, if he did 
 " not furceafe from his wicked Praftice on that Account, and turn to the Lord 
 " by fpeedy Humiliation and Repentance unfeigned." 
 
 This funk in him, as the Stone in the Face of Goliah, and filenced him at 
 once ; and he remained as a Man amazed all the Time he ftaid in the Room af- 
 ter that, which was above an Hour, whilft I was anfwering other Adverfaries, 
 and opening Things, as the Lord afTifted me, to feveral fober Enquirers ; and, 
 when he went away, I renewed the Matter openly to him in the Audience of all ; 
 but he made no Anfwer, but went off as one deeply fmitten in his Con- 
 fcience. 
 
 Another of thofe Oppofers raifed fome frefh Cavils about Womens* 
 
 Preaching ;.
 
 of THOMAS STORY. 319 
 
 Preaching •, which I having anfwered for the Sake of the Auditory, and he rai- Anno 
 ling new Cavils about iViatters of fmall Confequence, I rebuked him lliarply as 1704. 
 an unworthy, unruly Spirit, and neglefted him. 
 
 And having fhown more Gentlenefs to feveral others, and anfwered them 
 fully, all ended, with the Day, to the Honour of Truth, and our great Satif- 
 faction. 
 
 The next Day proving rainy, (as I laid before) and feveral of us ftaying there 
 moft part of the Day till the Evening, we were divinely comforted together in 
 the Love of G o d ; in which we had many tender Seafons together, as at other 
 Times and Places; to the Praife of his great Name, who is God worthy for 
 ever. 
 
 The Friends who came with me, viz. Jacob Moral, Henry Doiv and his 
 "Wife, Lydia Norton, Thomas Dozv, and fome others, departing, I went, at the 
 Requeft of John Keefer, (a young Man who had not been long convinced) with 
 him to the Prieft of that Town, (a. moft imbittered Enemy to the Way of Truth, 
 and all that walk therein in this Difpenfation) who had defired to fpeak with him 
 about his difienting from him and the common Prefbyterian Way. 
 
 At our firft Entrance into the Houfe, this Prieft look'd very furly, haughty, 
 and ill-natur'd, and, in an imperious Gefture, bid us fit down, which we did ; 
 and John Keefer told him, " He had heard he defi red to fpeak with him, and 
 " was now come to know the Matter." Then he began and faid, " John, I 
 " have had a-mind to fpeak with you a long Time, to know your Reafons for 
 " negleftlng the publick Worlhip, and deferring me, who have Charge over you, 
 *' to follow the Errors of the Quakers ; who deny Salvation by Jesus Christ, 
 " and follow their Light within : But I could not meet with you, though I came. 
 " to your Houfe on purpofe." 
 
 John Keefer replied, " I heard of it, and am now come to hear what thou haft 
 " to^fay." Then faid the Prieft, " You are a perverfe Fellow; I wanted to 
 " fpeak with you alone, in order to reclaim you from the pernicious Errors of 
 " the Qiiakers, who deny Juftification by Christ; affirming. That to ex- 
 " pedl to be juftiiied by the Works of Christ without us, is a Dodrine of 
 " Devils." 
 
 Then faid I, " Friend, if thou haft any Thing to fay to the young Man, 
 " relating to any Thing he hath done or faid, I am here, at his Requeft, to 
 " hear it ; but if thou goeft on thus to refleft againft, and falfely accufe that 
 " People, I am one of them, and ftiall oppofe thee, as I do return upon thee 
 " thy falfe Accufations already uttered ; in which thou haft fhown thy great Li- 
 *' juitice, Unworthinefs, and ill Nature : For we do not expeft Salvation by any 
 " other than theLoRojEsusCHRisT and the Father ; and I challenge 
 " thee to produce any Author, approved by us, that denies the Work of the 
 " Lord Jesus Christ, done without us, and its Efficacy, for its proper 
 " End and Purpofe, in the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind." 
 
 T H E N the Pneft's Wife came into the Room with an Air of Rancour, and 
 faid, " Husband, Do not talk v/ith thefe Men without Witnefles ; for, when 
 " they are gone, they will tell Lies of you." Upon this I faid to the Prieft, 
 •' If thou haft any Authority in this Houfe, let us be rid of this Din :" And 
 
 4 O he
 
 330 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno he defired her to withdraw, which flie did •, but we obferved the Effefts of hef 
 1704. Relentment afterwards in the Sequel. 
 
 T H E N the Prieft faid, " JFilliarn Pemi, in one of his Books, had calied the 
 " Doftrine of Juftification, by the Coming of C h r i st without, (in the Flcfh) 
 " the Doftrine of Devils." I aflved him, " If he had ever feen that Book ?" 
 and he confeffed he had not. Then I aflced him, " How he could charge M^'tl- 
 " Ham Penn with fuch a Pofition ?" He replied, " He had feen it quoted out of 
 " the Book by Mr Biigg and Mr Keith." " Francis Bugg and George Keith., 
 " faid I, once knew the Ti'uth in ibme Degree, and made Profefflon of it with 
 " us ; but took Offences, firft againlt fome particular Perfons, and then againil 
 " the whole Body, and became Apoftates, open Enemies, filled with Envy im- 
 " placable ; and it is neither fafe nor wife in thee to take any Thing upon Truft 
 " from them againft us, or any of us, they having been, and ftill are notorious 
 *' falfe Accufcrs, Perverters, and Mifreprefenters of us, our Books, Doftrines, 
 " and Principles : But I know William Penn, and his Sentiments on that Sub- 
 " jedt, and have read the PalTage aim'd at ; which, to the beft of my Remem- 
 " brance, (not having the Book here) is to this Effed ; "To teach that Men are 
 *< jujlified before God, by the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, as wholly without us., ivhiljt 
 " Sin is yet reigning in us, is a Doilrine of Devils." 
 
 T H I s the Prieft did not deny, but afked me how we hold it.^ I faid, " I 
 " fliall firft premife fome Things by way of Introduftion, before I proceed to 
 *' a direft Anfwer to the Queftion, intending thereby to make it more plain in 
 " the Conclufion : I begin then with the Purpofe of G o d to make Man, be- 
 *' fore he had any aftual Being as fuch, and according to what Model, and find 
 *' that it was a gradual Work ■, that the Matter of which the Body of Man was 
 *' formed was pre-exifting Earth, and when he was perfefted as natural Man, 
 '' he was a rational intelligent Animal in that State, carnally, or naturally mind- 
 " ed, knowing only the Things of Nature, obferved from without ; into whom 
 *' God breathed the Breath of Life from himfelf; whereby Man became fpiri- 
 " tually minded ; alive in G od who is a Spirit ; like unto G o d in his Mind, 
 " or inner Man ; the Image of him who created him in Righteoufnefs and true 
 " Holinefs : In which State God did not make any Covenant with Man, but 
 *' (as a reafonable intelligent Creature, knowing God, and acquainted with the 
 " intelledtual Voice and Speech of his Word) gave him a pofitive Command- 
 " ment, not of Attion, but Abftinence, annexing Death and Difobedience to- 
 *' gether. 
 
 " I CONSIDER then, ijl. What that Breath of Life was, wliich G o d fo 
 *' breathed into Man. 
 
 " 2dly, What was this Death in itfelf, fo threatened in cafe of Difobedience, 
 
 "An d', ^dly. How, and after what Manner that Death could, in any re-^ 
 " fpeft, juftly affeft the Pofterity of the Firft Man. 
 
 " And I find, frjt, (according to the Teftimony of Holy Writ) That this 
 " Breath of Life, as I underftand it, was not the natural or animal Life, (for he 
 " had that before, by Creation, as efTential to him;) but the Breath of Life from 
 " G o u was not elfential to Man, as fuch, nor conftituent of his Being, but 
 *' was fpiritual and divine, and breathed into the Heart and Mind of Man ; re- 
 *' vealed, or manifefted in him as a Law and a Light to his Condudl in his Duty 
 *' towards Goo his Creator; according to the Evangehft, where, writing on 
 
 this
 
 9- 
 
 of THOMAS STORT. n^i 
 
 " this Subjefl, he faith, In the Begmning was the Word, mid the Word was with Anno 
 " God, and the Word was God. The fame was in the Beginning with God. Jll 1704. 
 "■ Things were made by him ; and without him was not any Thing tnade that was i^u ■ 
 " made. In him was Life^ and the Life was the Light of Mm. That was the 
 " true Light, which lighteth every Man that comet b into the World. 
 
 " T H u s, in the Beginning, before the Fall of Man, the Life of the divine 
 " Word was the Light and Guide of Man. 
 
 " idly, A s natural Death is nothing in itfelf, but the CeiTation of the natural 
 " or animal Life, the Body being incapable ot detaining it any longer, it be- 
 " comes dead to all Senfe, and una6live, corrupteth after its kind, and return- 
 " eth unto Earth, of which it is a Part -, lb the Departure of the divine Light 
 " and Life of the divine Word from the Heart of Man, leaves it in a State of 
 " Death, and fenfelefs with refpedl: to the real Knowledge of God, and En- 
 *' joyment of his divine Pfefence and Goodnefs ; and then it corrupteth more 
 " and more unto Perdition. 
 
 "The CefTation of Life from the Body is the Effeft of fome Diftemper, or 
 " Accident, incident to human Kind in a State of Nature, by the Appointment 
 " of G o D ; but the Departure of the divine Life and Light from the Mind of 
 " Man, was and is the natural Confequence of his departing from the Faith, 
 " and of his Dilbbedicnce-, the Word of God taking effed in Man by his 
 " own Aft, and not by the Aft of GO0, 
 
 " Man, in the Beginning, by the Voice of God, knew the Command 6f 
 " God, and his Duty to him thereby ; and believed the Word of G o d for a 
 " Time, which is the divine, eternal, effential Truth ; and as long as Man con- 
 *' tinued in the Faith of the Word, he lived in the divine Life and Light of itj 
 " flood and remained in the moral Image of God, righteous, holy, uncorrupt- 
 " ed, and undefiled. 
 
 "But when the Mind of Man, through Temptation, disbelieved the Word 
 " of G o D, in which he at firft believed, and adhered unto another Voice, which 
 " was falfe and a Lie, the Mind of Man thereby became corrupted, and in- 
 " capacitated to detain and enjoy the Life and Light of the divine Word any 
 " longer; according to the Word of God, which faith. In the Day thoueateji 
 " thereof thoufhalt furely die. 
 
 "And 3^/)', as to the Effeft which this Offence had upon all the Pofterity 
 " of Adam, the firft Man •, in general, I obferve further, that it may be confi- 
 " dered after this Manner : Adam, being a rational Animal in his firft Creation, 
 " Produftion, and State, became a Son of God by the in-breathing of the 
 " divine Life (which was an Aft of G o d in which the Man was paffive) 
 " into his Mind, by which he had lived in G o d in holy Fcllowfhip with 
 " him, and was his Image; and by the Light of which in-breathed Spirit of 
 " Lite, the Man was led and governed for a Time, fo long as he continued to 
 " believe therein; but, through Unbelief, Difobedience, and Sin againft the 
 " Light of the divine Word, the Life thereof was quenched in him, as to him- 
 *' felf, and departed from him; and then he became corrupted and defiled, and 
 *' incapable, in that State, of that divine Fellowfhip ami Enjoyment, and effaced 
 " that divine Image in him ; and fo relapfed back into his rational animal Con- 
 *' dition : And then, in that State, and not in his beft State, he begat Cain, his 
 
 Firft-
 
 55 - 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " Fiift-born, in his own fallen, reiapfcd, and animal Likenefs, being now only 
 1704. " carnally minded, natural or animal i and net in the holy Likentfs, which he 
 " had and was in whilft he flood faithful, and remained in the Likenefs and 
 " Imao-c of Go D : For the divine Nature, as fuch, contributes nothing to the 
 " Production or Multiplication of Man, in his Generation, as effential unto 
 John iii, 2. " him, or conftituent of his Being ; for that which is born of the Flepj is Flejk, 
 " and that which is bcrn cf the Spirit is Spirit. Thus, in the Firft Adam, all 
 " fell through Unbelief, Difobedience, and Sin, and died. 
 
 " Thus the Fall of Man, being his Departure from the divine Life and 
 " Light of the eternal Word of God, his Wii'dom and Power, the Redcmp- 
 " tion of Man is his Reftoration (and more than Reftoration) to the Knowledge 
 " of it, and being re-united with it. 
 
 " And as the Love, Mercy, and Companion cf God was Hill tov/ards 
 " Man, he gave him a Promife by the fame Word, That the Seed of the Woman 
 " (ihe having been inftrumental in the ¥2i\\)fhould bruife the Serpent's Head, or 
 " that fubtle Spirit which had betrayed her -, fo that, in the Fulnefs of Time, 
 " the W^oman (hould be inftrumental in the Reftoration ; which accordingly is 
 " mercifully fulfilled: For when the Angel of God was lent to Mary the holy 
 
 I.uke. i. 2S. " Virgin, he faid. Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee ; 
 
 __5i,33. " blejfed art thou among IVomen. And, behold, thou palt conceive in thy Womb, 
 " and bring forth a Son, and flmlt call his Name Jefus. He foall be great, and 
 " fhall be called the Son of the Highefi ; and the Lord God flmll 'give unto him 
 " the Throne of his Father David: And he fhall reign over the Hmfe of Jacob 
 " for ever, and cf his Kingdom there fhall be no End. 
 
 "But Mary, reafoning as a Woman, did not at firft believe the Angel, and 
 
 ' 54' 55' " faid unto him. How fl:all this be, feeing I knczv not a Man ? And the Angel an- 
 
 38- «' fwered and faid unto her. The Holy Ghoft flmll come upon thee, and ihe Power 
 
 " of the Highefi flo all overfhadcw thee: therefore alfo that holy Thing, -which fhall 
 " be horn cf thee, pall be called the Son of God. And Mary faid. Behold the Hand- 
 " maid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word. And the Angel depart- 
 *' ei from her. 
 
 " Here it is obfervable, that fo long as Mary followed the Dicbates of her 
 " own Reafon, from the common State of Nature in the Cafe, Ihe withftood 
 *' the MefTengcr of G o d, and did not believe his MefTage was pofllble ; but 
 " when fhe heard it was to be brought to pafs by the Holy Ghoft, the Power 
 " of the Higheft, then flie believed, and it came to pafs accordingly : So that 
 " as Sin, and all the deadly Confequences of it, entered Eve through Unbelief j 
 " even fo, through Faith, Mary conceived (as to the Body of Christ) that 
 " holy Seed -, which, being the Wifdom and Power of God, was to bruife the 
 " Serpent's Head, deftroy his Wifdom, Subtilty, and Falfliood, and overcome 
 " his Power in thePofterity oi Adam; efpecially in all them who believe in the 
 " fame Word. 
 
 " A N D the Goodnefs and Mercy of G o d appeareth ftill further in this, 
 " that, in the Fulnefs of Time, many i^ges after that firft Promife, the Lord 
 " added other Promifes to Mankind, both Jews and Gentiles, even unto all Na- 
 Ifa. vii. 14. " tions, the whole Pofterity of Adam; where, unto the Jew, he faich. Therefore 
 " the Lord himfe/f f/jall give you a Sign, behold a Virgin fhall conceive and bear a 
 " Son, andfljall call his Name Lnmanuel. And, unto both the Jew and Gentile 
 — .xlii. 1, 6. " he faith, Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Ele£i in whom my Soul delight' 
 
 " ethi
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 353 
 
 " eth; I have put my Spirit upon him, he Jf jail bring forth 'Judgment to the Gen- Anno 
 " tiles. Again ; / the Lord have called thee in Righteoufnefs, and will hold thine 1 704. 
 " Hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the People, for a Light Ifa. xlii, 6, 7. 
 " of the Gentiles. To open the blind Eyes, to bring out the Prifoners from the Pri- 
 " fon, and them that fit in Darknefs out of the Prifon-houfe. Which was fulfilled 
 " unto the Jews, to whom alone he was fent, and appeared in the Days of his 
 " Flefh ; where it is faid, The People who fat in Darknefs faw great L^ght ; and Mat.iv. 56. 
 " to them who fat in the Region and Shadow of Deaths Light is fprung up. 
 
 " And, that it might be certainly known, in the Fulnefs of Time, unto all 
 *' Mankind, who this facred Perfon is, and what is the Manner of his Coming 
 " and Appearance, both to Jew and Gentile, he was to be made manifeft un- 
 " to the Jews firft, under the Name and Charafter of J e sus, (a Saviour) and 
 " being anointed of God, with all the divine in-dwelling Fulnefs, is thereby 
 " called Christ; and, under both, is called Jesus Christ, the anointed 
 " Saviour, propofed as the Objeft of Faith unto all Nations : Firft, unto the 
 " Jews in the Flefh, as born of the Virgin ; and, fecondly, unto the Gentiles, as 
 " the true Light, who light eth every Man who cometh into the World. 
 
 " iy?,THETefl:imonyofgoodold5z>;7C(JKconcerninghim,thro'theHoIyGhof{:, Lukeii. 25, 
 " is, that he is a Light to lighten the Gentiles ; and, in that refpcdl, thtir Light and — S^- 
 " Salvation, according to the Promife of the Covenant of God aforegoing. 
 
 " 2^/y, The Evidence oljohn-, where he is full and exprefs, faying. In the john i. 16. 
 " Begimmig was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 
 " In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men. That was the true Light 
 " which light eth every Man who cometh into the World. And the Word was made 
 "• (or aiTumed) Flefh, and dwelt among us, (and ine beheld his Glory, the Glory as 
 " of the only begotten of the Father) full of Grace and Truth. And of his Fulnefs 
 " have all we received^ and Grace for Graces 
 
 
 ]dly. The Wicnefs of Christ himfelf, where he faith, / am the Light — . vlii. 12; 
 " of the World; he that followeth me, fhall not walk in Darknefs, but fhall have 
 
 *' the Light of Life. Again ; J efts faid unto them. Yet a little while is the Light — xii. 35, 36 
 
 " with you ; walk, while ye have the Light, left Darknefs come upon you : for he ^^^' ^' ^' 
 " that walketh in Darknefs knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have Lights 
 *' believe in the Light, that ye may be the Children of Light. 
 
 " And, as the Father hath promifed and offered his Son as he is that Light, 
 " and as his new and everlafting Covenant with Mankind, in order to their Re- 
 " ftoration and Eftablifhment, not of Works, but of Life ; fo, whoever will enter 
 " into this Covenant with God, muft firft believe in him whom God hath fent, 
 " and in theWay and Manner in which hehath fent him, according to his Promifes. 
 
 "Now a Covenant is not on one Side only, but on two, at the lead ; and 
 " therefore God, who is divine eternal Love, infinite in Goodnefs and Mercy, 
 *' is pleafed, of his own Nature, and Love to Mankind, thus to fend his Son, 
 '" the Lord Jesus Christ, into the World ; who, by a voluntary Death upon 
 " the Tree of the Crofs, according to the fore-determined Council and Purpofe of 
 " the Father, declared his Mercy, and free Pardon of the Sins of the whole 
 " World, upon Terms fuiting the State, Reafon, and Underftanding of Man- 
 " kind : That is to fay, upon Faith in G D the Father of all, and in Jesus 
 " Christ the Son of God, (as I have already declared) and Repentance 
 " from dead Works, as the reafonable and neceflary Terms required of Man- 
 
 4 P " kind,
 
 534- 
 
 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno " kind, on our Side or Part of this Covenant •, that we may be re£lor;d to the 
 
 1 704. " Knowledge of G o d, and the L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t his Son, and made 
 
 " capable of being united unto God, through Christ the Mediator between 
 
 "God and Man in this Covenant, by and through whom we are brought 
 
 " into it, and ftand therein ftedfaft and immoveable for ever. 
 
 " W E muft then receive the Saviour in the Way in which he is fent and pro- 
 " pofed unto us -, not only as he is offered upon the Crofs, for the Expiation 
 " of the Sins that are paft •, but alio as he is the divine Light, enlightning our 
 " Minds and Underftandings, as diredled by C h r i s t himfelf, where he Ikith, 
 John xii. 36. " While ye have Lights believe in the Lights that ye may be the Children of Light ; 
 " that is, Children of God, who is that Light : So that as Adara fell from the 
 " true Knowledge of God, and Senfc ot his divine Love, Prefence, Goodnefs, 
 " and other Attributes, through Unbelief, we, his Fcfterity after the Flefh, 
 " may all arife and be reftored by Faith in Christ, the Second Adam, the 
 " Lord from Heaven, that quickening Spirit; not into the Animal Life, 
 " which by Nature we already have, and in which we are averfe to G o d and 
 " all his Ways, but unto Life eternal ; that we may all know what that Word 
 I Cor. XV. 22. " meaneth, As in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift Jloall all he made alive. And, as 
 Rom. V. 18. „ ^^ ^^^ Offence of one. Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation : Even fo, 
 " hy the Right eoufnefs of one, the free Gift came upon all Men unto Juftification 
 " of Life. 
 
 " Again, as to the plain Indication and Charadler which the Holy Scrip- 
 " ture hath put upon this divine Light, whereby we m,ay know it, even as 
 " natural Men, by its Effefts, the Evangelift faith, that the Comforter, which 
 
 John xvi, S. " is the Holy Ghoft, the Spirit of Christ, who is that Light, ijohen he is 
 " come, (or made manifefb) he will reprove, or convince, the World cf Sin, and 
 
 Eph. V. 13. " of Righteoufnefs, and of Judgment. KnA, idiith. xht A^o^\t, All Things ivhicb 
 " are reproved, are made manifefl by the Light : For whatfoever dcth make mani- 
 
 John iii. 18, " f^fti " Light. Again, "This is the Condemnation, (of the World) that Light 
 
 19- " (even this Light) is come into the World, and Men loved Darknefs rather than 
 
 " Light, hecaufe their Deeds were evil. 
 
 " This is he, that divine eternal Light, to whom John the Baptifl: and the 
 " Apoftles of C H R I s T bore Teftimony -, and in an efpecial Manner the A poftle 
 " Paul, who was fent by C h r i s t to the Gentiles, to open their Eyes, and turn 
 Aasxvi 17 " ^^^^fr"''" Darknefs to Light, (even unto himfelf who is that Light) and from 
 — xxvi. 18. " tl^e Poiver of Satan unto God; that (being fo turned) they might receive For- 
 " givenejs of Sins, and an Inheritance among them who are fan£fijied by Faith in 
 " him, the Lord." 
 
 During all this Time the Prieft gave me many rude Interruptions ; fo that 
 I perceived he was not worthy to know thefe Things, neither could he, being 
 deeply prepoffeiTed againft the Truth, and the Light of it ; what I faid there- 
 fore was principally for the Sake of the young Man with me, who had not been 
 long convinced of Truth, and to leave the Prieft without Excufe : But I having 
 mentioned this Light according to the Evangelift, as the true Manifefter of Sin 
 in Mankind, he oppofed that as a great Error, and faid, " That Light which is 
 *' in every Man gives no Knowledge of divine Things, but only of natural, as 
 *' to diftinguifli between one Plant and another, and that five is more than three, 
 " and the like ; and that there is no Knowledge of Sin, or of G o d, or of 
 *' Christ, or of any divine Things, but by the Bible." 
 
 *' The
 
 of T H M A S STORT, ^is 
 
 I RE p L I E D, " The Bible itfelf Taith otherwife, and that is, " No Man knoweth Anno 
 '' the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any Man the Father fave the Son, aiidbe to 1 704. 
 " whomsoever the Son will reveal him. But read Tome Verles of this firil Chap- Mat. xi. 27. 
 " ter ot John the Evangchft, fo as to put the Bible in the Place of the Father ^"l^^^- 22. 
 " and Son, as tliou doll, and fee how it will read, thus, In the Beginning was John i. i,— - 
 " the Bible, and, the Bible ^vas with God, and the Bible was God. 'The fame '+• 
 " (Bible) was in the Beginning with God. All Things were made by the Bible, and 
 " without the Bible was not any Thing made that was made. In the Bible zoas 
 " Life, and the Life of the Bible was the Light of Mai. The Bible was the 
 " true Light which Vghteth every Man who cometb into the World. The Bible was 
 " in the IVorld, and the World was made by the Bible, and the World knew not 
 " the Bible. And the Bible was made (or affumed) Flejh, and dzvelt among them, 
 " full of Grace and Truth. The Law was given by Mofes, but Grace and Truth 
 " came by the Bible, according to thy Doctrine. 
 
 " But, to return to the true Doftrine in the Scripture, feeing that God is the 
 " Word, and the Word is God, and the lame h the. true Light, whith 
 " lighteth every Man who cometh into the World, and afllimed Flefli, it followeth, 
 " that God, who is omniprefent, is in all Mankind ; and Christ, the Light 
 " of the Father, as infeparable from him in that refpeft, is in all Men." 
 
 About this Time rufh'd in feveral of the Prieft's rude Company -, who, we 
 thought, had been fent for by his Wife, in refentment of the Affront given her, 
 by being difmifs'd the Room •, and, at the Sight of this Company, the Prieft 
 fell into a fudden Tranfport of Rage ; and, llarting up as red as Fury, faid, 
 " That is Blafphemy. O horrid Blafphemy !" appeaHng, by his mock Geilures 
 of Admiration, to his dark ignorant Crew. 
 
 I B E I N G a little moved at this fudden Charge before fuch Witneffcs, who 
 might fwear any Thing againft me which their enraged Teacher might diftate, 
 I replied, " What doft thou call Blafphemy ?" " What you faid is Blafphemy." 
 *' What did I fay I" " You faid, that the Light which is in all the Heathens, 
 « is God." 
 
 I REPLIED, "I defpife thy wicked Attempt, and Witnefles too, and retort 
 " thy falfe Charge juftly upon thy own Head." Then I repeated fome of my 
 own Words, " That the Word is God ; that the fame lighteth every Man 
 " that cometh into the World ; and that all Heathens, being Men, have in them 
 *' the fame Light ; but though this Light fliineth in that Darknefs, it is not 
 " comprehended thereby: And the Saints and Faithful in Christ had once 
 *' been Darknefs, and yet became Light in the Lord, and walked in that %''•'''... ^. 
 " Light as Children of it, though fome of them had been Heathens before this ^at^. v.' 1+. 
 " Light was revealed in them ; and they were called out of Darknefs into this 
 " marvellous Light, and thereby became the Light of the World. Now, thou 
 " denying this, muft needs hold the contrary, that this Light and Word is not 
 *' G o D ; which is direftly agaiijfl: the Scripture, and plain Blafphemy." 
 
 Upon this the Prieft grew a little more calm, and his Company, feeming 
 furprized, ftood filent, looking ferioudy upon him and me -, and then he replied, 
 *' That the Light wherewith every Man is enlightened is a Creature, as much 
 " as a Houfe or a Tree is a Creature :" And added, (whether ignorantly or 
 fubtilly I Ihall not determine) " That the Illumination wherewith every Man is 
 " illuminated is a Creature." 
 
 I RE«
 
 33^ ' ' The I. I F E, <^x. 
 
 Anno I r e pli e d, *' I am not fpeaking of the Ilhmiinaticn., which is an Aft 
 
 1704. - " of the Illuminator^ but of the Illuminator himfelf: For there is the llhimina- 
 " tor, who is God-, and there is his Light, wherewith he enlighteneth -, and 
 " there is his Ukimination, which is his Aft of enhghtening in Man, who is a 
 " Creature, and is thereby enhghtened. I do not fay the Aft of God, in en- 
 *' lightening of Man, is God, but that the Light, which enlighteneth Man, is 
 " God." Then he faid again, " That the Light, which enlighteneth Man, 
 " is a Creature as much as a Houfe or a Tree." I replied, " That he did not 
 " rio-htly diftinguifh ; for though a Tree be a Creature ot God as well as 
 " himfelf, (and his Doftrine was very wooden) yet a Houfe, as fuch, is no 
 " Creature, but an Effeft of human Wifdom and Art •, and his Diftinftion be- 
 " tween God and his Light was blind and heterodox : Adding, That leeing 
 1 Johni. 5. " G o d is Light, and in him is no Darknefs at all, and he enlighteneth Man- 
 " kind by his own Light, how doft thou diftinguifli between God, and the 
 "Light of God?" 
 
 •d'' 
 
 Then he told me, " I had before afferted the Light to be C h r i s t, as the 
 « Doftrine of the Qiiakers; and to call that Light Christ, is to deny the 
 " true Christ." Then I repeated the Words of the Text, infilling, " That 
 " I had all along fpoke of G o d the W o r d, as that true Light •, that the fame 
 " alFumed a Body of Flefli, and was Christ, as plain and full as any Man 
 " could fpeak from the Text ; and that Light he had denied to be God or 
 "Christ; which is a denying of the true God, and Jesu s Ch rist the 
 " Son of G o D, who is Light." 
 
 T H E N I afked him, how the true Christ is conftituted ? He replied, 
 " That the hypoftatical Union of the divine and human Nature in one Perfon, is 
 " Ch Ri ST." Then faid I, " Left we Ihould mifunderftand one another in 
 " the Apphcation of Words Varioufly, as is often the Cafe, What doft thou 
 " mean by human Nature?" This put him a little upon a Paufe, and then he 
 replied, " That by human Nature he meant the Body of Christ born of the 
 *' Virgin Mary, conceived in her by the Power and Influence of the Holy 
 " Ghoft." Then laid I, " If the fubftantial Union of the divine Word and 
 " the human Body be C h r i s t, I prove that fince Christ once was, there 
 " was again no C h r i s t : For, when Christ was upon the Crofs, and faid 
 " to the Thief, This Day jhalt thou be with me in Paradife, what was this thou 
 " in the Thief, and this mem Christ that Day in Paradife, fince the Body 
 " of C h R I s T was laid in a Sepulchre, where it remained until the third Day, 
 *' and the Body of the Thief was broken upon the Crofs, and difpofed of after 
 *' the Manner of Criminals ? For if it be the fubftantial Union of the divine and 
 " human Nature (according to ihy Definition of human Nature) which confti- 
 " tutes Christ, and that Union diflblved by Death, there was no C h r i s t 
 " at all." 
 
 This made the Prieft blufli, and grope in the Dark for an Anfwer ; and at 
 length he brought out this, "God occupied the Place of the Soul (tho' he had 
 *'. forgot the Soul in his Definition) during that Separation, in whom the Body 
 " and Soul of Christ were in divine Unions though otherwife feparated, and 
 " were united in God's Purpofe, though aftually feparated." 
 
 " Christ's Soul and Body, faid I, were in Conjunftion, in the Purpofe of 
 " God, long before he came in the Flelh; and therefore, by this Anfwer of 
 " thine. Time hath been fince the Incarnation of Ch rist, that he was no 
 
 " other-
 
 *rT 
 
 of T H M yJ S STORT. 337 
 
 " ocherwife Christ than before his Incarnation ; and t.herefore it cannot be the Anno 
 " actual Conjundion that conftitutes the true Christ, according to thy firlT: "* 1704. 
 •■' Afiertion : And how is it pofTible there can be a divine Union and a human 
 " Separation in the iame Perlbn, at the fame Time ? Explain this Myftery." 
 
 This Dilemma put the Pr^ft to Silence •, and then I told him, " That I did 
 " not want to know of hira.licniv:t-lie.!trxxe ~.C h r i st is conftituted ; nor was I 
 " about to alf.rm or deny any thing in that:<§p6ft-i<)n,' having been long, fatisfied as 
 " to both the divine and human Nature of C h r i st, and glorious hypol^atical 
 *' Union of both, by the Operation and Demonftration of the Holy Spirit "of 
 " Christ in my own Perfon ; but had put him upon anfwcring thefe Qiiefti- 
 " ons, that he might fee the Inconfiftence and Uncertainty of his own Aifer- 
 *' tions ; and the Injuftice in accufing us talfely, as Deniers of the true Christ 
 *' of God, only for rcjefting the unlearned Opinions of human learned Men ; 
 " who know nothing of God or Chri st, but by reading the Scriptures in John v. 39, 
 " their own natural Light, ("whereby they fcarcely know one Plant from another) 4°' 
 " and the unlearned Opinions of other Animal Men concerning him." 
 
 The Pricft being thus brought under, his Wife returned into the Room j 
 and fome of the Company, being angry, faid, " It is in vain to talk with tht m, 
 *' for they will never be convinced." I replied, " Neither he nor you have 
 " any Thing to convince us with ;" and fo we left them. It was now about 
 tlie tenth Hour at Night -, and when we went out feveral of the Prieft's Com- 
 pany came after us, (having none with me except John Keefer, on whole Ac- 
 count I went there) and we v/ere as two Sheep among many Wolves •, for they 
 looked angry ; and he told me, as foon as we came out of the Houfe, That 
 one of thefe Men, being a Member of that i^^ricft's Congregation, had faid to 
 the reft, while I and the Prieft were difcourfing together, " This is a cunning 
 " Fellow •, he is no Quaker ; he was a Merchant in London, and, through ill 
 " Living, fpent all, and v/as broke, and run away in great Debt •, and, 
 " coming into thofe Parts, hath cheated the Qiiakcrs, talQy pretending to be one 
 " of them, to get Money from them to make up his Defiaencies, and then 
 " he will defert them." Upon this, John Keefer fliowing me the M;in, I went 
 and reproved him for his Falfhood, and fo ready Invention of it ; and his Folly 
 therein, confidering -how pubhckly I am known in divers Parts of the World, 
 and even in that Country : But he did not ftand to juftify himfelf, but rtieer'd 
 off muttering ; and we v/ere thankful to divine Providence that we had no per- 
 fonal Hurt Irom them, for it was now ahr.oft dark by the clowdy Evening. 
 
 This envious Teacher, and blind Leader of the Blind, had fome Time be- 
 fore this, appointed a Faft and Prayer for his Congregation agiinft three gr.at 
 Plagues or Evils : Firfi, Becaule of the cold and backward Sj_.n.ig Sealb 1, wlvch 
 threaten'd the with-holding ot the Fruits of the Earth, and Famine. Seccnd'y^ 
 Againft the Lidians, that they might not prevail agaii.ft them, as they had done ; 
 ftveral of the Inhabitants of that Town having been fome time before killed, 
 and others (about nineteen in all) taken Captives by thofe Savages. Thirdly, 
 (and above all) For the Prevention of the coming abroad, and prevailing of the 
 Quakers, ffevcral of his Hearers having been convinced of Trutli, aiid left him not 
 long before) which he had faid was a far worfe Plague or Judgment than cither 
 of the other; tor they only affected the Body, which, though deltroy'd, the 
 Soul might be faved ; but the latter affefted the eternal Well-being of the Souly 
 wnich is of infinitely more Value than the Body. 
 
 4 Q^ But
 
 558 The LIFE, i^x. 
 
 Anno But mark the End of this ignorant and envious Man : For (,as I have been 
 
 i 704. aniired fince) there came a Party of Jndicns to that Town, and, before the dawn- 
 ing of the Day, placing themfclvL-s two at leaft at each Door of every Houfe, 
 and knocking foftly as if they had been Neighbours, as foon as any open'd the 
 DoorSj the Indians ruflied in and killed" the tirft them met with their Hatchets, 
 and then the reft, and many of them in their Beds ; and this Teacher happen- 
 ing to be one who open'd his Door at this Time, an Indian killed him with a 
 Hatchet ; at which I did not rejoice when I was informed of it, though I could 
 not but remember his Faft and Prayers. 
 
 Some time after this Journey, and thofe and other Difputes in other Places, 
 and our frequent preaching the Spirit of C h r i s t as the univerfal Light of the 
 intelkclual World, with refpeft to the Knowledge of G cf d and Things divine, 
 fo dangerous and deftruftive to the Kingdom of the Darknefs of this World, and 
 the Minifters and Powers thereof, thofe Minifters became fo exceedingly irritated 
 againft the divine Light, and envious againft the Minifters of the Spirit and 
 Light, that they printed a Book in Neiv England, wherein they aflerted, " That 
 '" the Light, which lighteth every Man who cometh into the World, is a Crea- 
 " ture; yea, it is a dark, and a feeble, and a finful Creature :" Perverting, for 
 a blind and impertinent pretended Proof, that faying of the Lord J e s u s, Take 
 Lvicxi. 3;. heed that the Light ivhich is in thee be not Darknejs ; a direft Caution to thole 
 very Men, if they could fee it : For though this divine Light be in them, in 
 common with Mankind, yet they do not know it, but follow the Light (or ra- 
 ther Darknefs) of their own Minds, as fallen, dark, feeble, and finful Creatures ; 
 which, in comparifon of this divine Light, is Darknefs, whereby they only know 
 one Plant from another, or three from five, and the like ; and yet, in a very 
 important Cafe, they are apt to put three for one, and one for three : And when 
 I fxw that Book fome time after in Penfylvania, I faid to fome Perfons then pre- 
 fent, " That the falfe Teachers in Nezv England had now openly and avowedly 
 " renounced the true God, under that cfTential Attribute, liight -, and Jesus 
 " Chris t, the Son of God, who is Light, the eternal Emanation of the PV 
 " ther's Glory ; and thereby declared themfelves Infidels, ignorant ot the Chri- 
 " ftian Faith and Religion-, and muft ftand condemned as fuch by the Tefti- 
 " mony of that Light and Truth, until they believe therein and repent, turn 
 " thereunto, and be faved ; for he who helieveth not^ is condemned alrcadyj" 
 
 Our Day's Work above mentioned being over, to the Glory of the vidtori- 
 ous Truth, and our Peace in him, I rcfted there that Night, and, the next 
 g -jgj^ Morning, went to Salem, about 22 Miles, and there had a good and peaceable 
 
 Meeting ; feveral Strangers being prefcnt, and generally fatisiied. 
 
 Marblehead. ^^ ^^^ 9^^ ^ ^^'^ z Meeting at MarMe- Head; where feveral Hearts were 
 broken and tendered by the Truth and Teftimony of it, and no Objeftions 
 
 made. 
 
 On the roth I was again at the Meeting at Salem; and, being the Firft Day 
 of the W^eek, fome Strangers were there, and generally well fatisfied. 
 
 On the i ith, at a Meeting at a Friend's Houfe in that Town, we had the 
 Company of many of the Priell's People; who were generally fober: But I 
 heard the Prieft of that Place had been railing againft Truth and us in his 
 Preachment ■, whereby he had offended feveral of the more fobcr fort of his 
 Henrers. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 339 
 
 O N the 1 2th I went to Lynn, and was at their Week-day's Meeting the Day , Anno 
 after ; where came fome Friends from Salem, and thofe Parts ; and we had an 1 704. 
 indirfcrent good Time. Lynn, 
 
 On the 14th, in the Evening, v/e had another Meeting at L)7?«, to which 
 canr.e a good Number ot People •, who behaved well, being very filent and quiet; 
 and, the next Day, I returned to Bojion, and lodged at Daniel Zacharfs ; and, Bofton; 
 the Day following, he and I went to Caftle-IJland, to fee the two young Men, 
 John Smith and Thojnas Maccomber, before mentioned, ftill kept there as Prifo- 
 ncrs ; where they were very chearful, having been well ufed beyond Expeftation : 
 For they, refufing to work at the Caftle, none offered to force or threaten 
 them about it. 
 
 W E went to fee the Captain of the Fort, to acknowledge his Civility to ouf 
 Friends •, ai:d he was very rel'peftful to us : But, in the mean time, came leveral 
 Merchants from Bofton^ and fomc Members of the Afiembly, and the Chaplain 
 of the Caftle, one of the Members, by ProfefTion a Baptift ; who foon bef^an to 
 bring falfe Accufations againll the Quakers, and rail againft the Light ; pre- 
 tending to give a Defcription of the Faith of the Quakers, and prove it errone- 
 ous, allowing tis to be moral Men, but no Chriftians. Upon which I took him 
 up fharply, and faid, " That a falfe Accufer of Men, and Railer ao-ainft the 
 " Light ot Christ, could not be either a moral Man, or Chriftian; and that 
 " it was nnmodeft, rude, and unreafonable in him, to pretend to give an Ac- 
 " count of other Mens' Faith, and talfdy too, in Contradiftion to thcmfelves, 
 " when any of them were prefcnt ; and that we were not to be impofed upon 
 " by fuch confident Pretenders." 
 
 This furprized him a little -, and then I cited out of the Erft Chapter of 
 John the Evangeiift, a Text, that the Word is God •, that he is Light, tne true 
 I>ight, which lighteth every Man who cometb into the World ; and that the fame 
 Word was made (or affumed) Flefh, and was, in that Manifeftation, called Jesus 
 Christ, the anointed Saviour: This Light is that true Light in whom the 
 Quakers believe ; and therefore thou art falfe and injurious to affirm, (as he had 
 then done) that we believe in the falfe Light of our own fallen Nature. But it 
 growing late, and we having about a League by Water to Bofton, and not Time 
 to proceed upon that Subjeft, there the Matter ended, and we landed at Bofton 
 after Sun-fet. 
 
 O N the 1 7th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at our Meeting there, which 
 was but fmall at firft, by reafon of the fliort Notice ; but, towards the latter Part 
 of it, there came in many out of a Meeting-houfe of the Prelbyterians, after 
 they had done with their Worfhip ; and Things then opened to their Condi- 
 tions : But my Concern foon turned upon their Way of making their Mini- 
 fters, and their bargaining with the People before-hand about their Mainte- 
 nance, being contrary, both to the Way of Chri st's making Minifters, and 
 their Maintenance, and the Way of the ancient Puritans, their Anceftors in Re- 
 ligion •, v.'hofe rvlinifters were often called among themfelves. Gifted Brethren, 
 profefTmg to preach by a Gift, or Manifeftation of the Spirit of Christ: 
 Upon this fome of them went out ot the Meeting ; but the greateft Number 
 remained in a folid fettled Condition, and very attentive : But I underftood af- 
 terwards, that thofe who went out did not go in diflike to what they had heard ; 
 but, being moved with the Defcription of the Bargain and Sale between the Priefts 
 and People, about preaching for fo much a-year, and fo much Wood for the 
 Minifter's Fire, the better to enable him to ftudy in the Winter Time, witli 
 
 other
 
 340 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno other Perquifites, by v/^hich it might look hke a wooden Miniftry, they went 
 1 704. out only to cover the Pleafantnefs of their Countenances ; which they might 
 think not fufficiently grave in fuch an AfTcmbly. 
 
 N the 2 ofh Day of this Month we had a Meeting at Cambridge, (where they 
 have a College for the Education of Youth, and where many of them arc fitted 
 for an artificial and mercenary Miniltry in their Way) fome Friends having ob- 
 tained Liberty at an Inn for that Purpofe ; where many Friends and others came 
 at the Time appointed : But the Prieft of the Town, and one that had been 
 Sheriff, or fome Officer, in Bofton (a Fibre from the old perfecuting Root of 
 Bitternefs) did what they could to difappoint us. 
 
 The Prieft fending for the Inn-keeper, laid before him the great Evil, as he 
 call'd it, of llich a Meeting •, and, at the fame Time, vvas made apprehenfive of 
 the Danger (as himfelf told me) of loGng his Licence for that Employment, by 
 which he had his Livelihood. This Sheriff likewife went about the Town, 
 difcouraging the People from coming to our Meeting. When I came to the 
 Houfe there were pretty many People, but feveral gone away, feeing the Stir 
 which had been made, and no Likelihood of a Meeting ; but fome Friends fit- 
 ting together in a Room, the Sheriff came there-, and, having intimidated the 
 Inn-keeper, he diicharged us of his Houfe, as to a Meeting. 
 
 This grieved me -, but I faid little at that Time, till the Sheriff took upon 
 him to give his Reafons, why we fhould not defire to ufe any religious Exer- 
 cife there, it being a Place, as he faid, to drink Flip and Punch in, and not to 
 worfhip God in. 
 
 1 A N s w E R E D, " That I perccivcd the fame perfecuting murdering Spirit of 
 " Cain was yet remaining alive in them, as heretofore; and thatth ey wanted only 
 " Power to a6t their old bloody Scene upon us; but. Thanks be to God, your 
 ■' Horns are cut, that you cannot pufh, and your Teeth broke, that you cannot 
 " worry •, yet you fnap your Chops to fliow your W'ill : And added, That we 
 " were glad to accept of fuch Places as we could have in Peace ; and an Inn 
 " might be as fit now as heretofore : bidding him remember the Place where 
 " Christ was born ; and that he and his Difciplcs ate the Paffover in a Gueft- 
 " chamber ; which was a publick religious Adc m that Difpenfation." 
 
 The nominal Sheriff made no Anfwer to this, but urg'd the Inn-keeper to 
 difmifs us from his Houfe. Then I aficed the Sheriff, " Haft thou any Publick 
 " Office .'' For, if thou haft, we will take Notice of thee accordingly •, but if nor, 
 " we fhall look upon thee as a Bufy-body, and a Tool v/orthy of Reprehcn- 
 " fion." Then he confeffed he did not come there as a Publick Officer. Then 
 I faid unto him, " Meddle thyfelf with thine own Affairs; thou haft no Bufi- 
 " nefs with us, and we Ihall not regard thee." And to the Inn-keeper I faid, 
 p " Since we are thus difappointed of thy Houfe, once granted, yet we fhall not 
 
 " altogether impute it to thee, but to the Envy of fome others', and muft now 
 " take our next Courfe ;" which was to fearch out a Place in the Street, where 
 we might fit together without Difturbancc, that being as free for us as for any 
 others. 
 
 N o Objeftion was made to this, for they fiiw we were over them ; and accord- 
 ingly we went into the Street, not knowing where to pitch •, and there being a 
 large old Meeting-houfe on one Side of the Street, as we went along, fome of 
 
 the
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 541 
 
 the People propofed tliat we might fit down under the Shade of it, but I refufed. Anno 
 faying, " We fhall not take Slielter under tiieir Shadow." Some of the Stu- 1704. 
 dents would have us fit down in the College Orchard, which was dry and fuffi- 
 ciently fhaded. I acknowledged the Civility •, but not having Licence from their 
 Superiors, we might have been liable to Uifturbance, and fo deciin'd it. But 
 proceeding along the Street, we came to a fair dry Green, before the Build- 
 ings of the College, where was a large fpreading Oak ; and, under the Shade 
 of that we fat down upon the Ground, and abundance of People came and fat 
 down with us. 
 
 Samiel Ga/kin of Salem flood up firfi:, and fome of the meaner fort of the 
 People were a little rude in their Behaviour, and airy a while, but much more 
 moderate and calm before he had done. I flood up next, and, being a Stranger, 
 they feem'd ftill more attentive : And many of the Students of the College be- 
 ing there, they were fent for by the Prefident, and fome of them went to him ; 
 but others of them remained in the Meeting, and feveral of thofe who went out 
 returned before the Meetino; was ended. 
 
 't) 
 
 Various Matters were opened concerning the State of Man in the Fall ; 
 the Neceflity of Freedom from Sin in this Life, by the Manifeftation of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who appears in us the Ofispring of the Gentiles, ac- 
 cording to the Promifes and Covenant of God, by his divine Light, Grace, 
 and Holy Spirit in our Hearts -, and that Christ is that true Light, which light- John i. g: 
 eth every Man that cometh into the World, as well as he is the Propitiation for the 
 Sins of the whole IVorld. 
 
 And as to the Way that God makes, raifes, qualifies, and fends his Mint- 
 flers in his Church, and unto Mankind in this Difpenfation, it is the fame as in 
 the Days of the Prophets ajid Apoflles, and ever will be ; (for God changeth 
 not, neither doth his Way change) not by human Learning, or in the Wit and 
 Wifdom of Man, but in and by the Word and Wifdom of G o d 5 fome of the 
 Prophets of old were learned among "vkn, as Ifaiah, but geni rally unlearned, 
 as Amos, Elifoa, Joel, and the reft : And fome of the Apoftles likewife were 
 learned, zsPaul; but. generally unlearned, as Peter, James, John, and moft of 
 the refl. The Word of God, which was in the Beginning w.th God, carne 
 unto the Prophets of G o d, by which they declared tiv> Mi .d of G od unto his 
 People, and the Judgments of God againft the School Prophets, who were 
 Liars, and fpoke falfe Things from their own Imaginations, and not from the 
 Lord-, and fometimes flole theWords of the Lord by the true Prophets, and 
 fpake as if the Lord had fcnt them, and, by their falfe Doftrine and Lies, 
 made the People err -, but the Lord denied thefe Prophets, and reproved them 
 by his true Prophets. 
 
 And the Apoflles of C h r i st were not appointed or ordained of Men, but 
 by Christ himfelf, by whofe Holy Spirit liiey were iiUed, being the Wifdom of 
 God, and the Power of God, by and from which they preached, and reproved 
 the Rabbies of the Age, and expofcd their evii Ways and Fnors unto the 
 People: And yet human Lturning, where the Mind is fully fubjecfted unto die 
 Spirit of Truth, and fubfervicnt to it, may be ufeful, as in Paul, but not to be 
 preferred as the chief Qualification in that Service ; urto which, through the 
 Pride and Vain-glory or the carnal unmortiticd Minds of felf-cxaiting Men, it 
 hath more frequently done much more Harm than ever it did Good. And, as 
 faith the Apoftie to the Gentiles, For ye fee your Calling, Brethren, how that not i Cor. i. 26. 
 
 4 R many
 
 34^ The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno many wife Men after the Flefh, not niany mighty, not many noble, are called \ hut 
 1 704. God hath chofen the foolifh "Things of the IForld to confound the ivife, and God 
 hath chcjen the weak Things of the IVorld, to confound the Things which are migh- 
 ty ; and bafe Things of the JVorld, and Things which are defpifed, hath God chofen^ 
 yea, and Things which are not, to bring to nought Things which are, that no Fkjh 
 Jloould glory in his Prefence. 
 
 A N D as no Fountain can fend forth fweet and bitter Waters at the fame Time 
 and Pkce, I exhorted the Students not to fin againft God, by depending upon 
 their Qiiahfications and Acquirements in that their Fountain of human Learning, 
 and run when God doth not fend them ; and fo imbitter the Minds of the 
 People, by fowing of Tares, a talfe and evil Seed, prepofieffing them againft the 
 Truth ; pointing to them fome Paflages in Jeremiah the Prophet, where it is 
 Jer. xxiii. 16. faid, Thus faith the Lord of Hofis, hearken not unto the Words of the Prophets 
 that prophefy unto you ; they make you vain ; they fpeak a Vifion of their own Hearty 
 and not out of the Muuth of the Lord: They fay ftill unto them who defpife me. The 
 Lord hath faid, ye fhall have Peace ; and they faid unto every one that walketh after 
 the Imagination of his own Heart, no Evilfloall come upon you ; with great and ter- 
 rible Threatening againft the faUe Prophets, and then adds. In the latter Days ye 
 'fhall confider it pcrfeHly : Defiring that their Fountain might be fo feafoned with 
 the Salt of the (Covenant of Life, that they might efcape all thofe Evils ; and 
 that they might come to drink of that living Fountain, which, as a River of li- 
 ving Water, iffueth out of the Bellies of all thofe who rightly beheve in the 
 Lord Jesus. 
 
 I OBSERVED alfo unto them. That their Anceftors who firft came into this 
 Country, and the ancient Puritans of whom they came, were a religious People, ac- 
 cording to the Degree of Manifeftation they then had, depending upon the Gift of 
 G OD in their Miniftry, and not upon human Literature : For, though fome of 
 them had Learning, many of their Minifters had not, but were called Gifted Bre- 
 thren ; and that thofe were the Men who gathered the Congregations in thofe 
 Days, the Bees who gathered the Honey, on the Dregs and Decays whereof 
 the prefent Drones are now feeding ; and that the Glory is departed from their 
 Ifrael, which ftiall never be reftored in the Form and Image left of their An- 
 ceftors, but in the Life of the Lamb, whom this Age have too much rejected : 
 But fince their Anceftors did it ignorantly, it fhould not be imputed unto them 
 their Offspring, but only as they rejected the fame Life: But if they would receive 
 the Truth in the prefent Difpenfation of it, that is, of divine Light and Grace 
 revealed in the Heart, the Glory ftiould yet return to New England, and fliine 
 brighter than ever, and more and more unto the perfect Day : but if they re- 
 fufed, then all the Blood, both of Chriftians and Indians, flied by their Ancef- 
 tors, fliould be vifited and recompenfed upon them in the Courfe of the Provi- 
 dence of G o D in Juftice : Concluding the Meeting in Prayer to G o d for them 
 all, both Magiftrates, Minifters, the College and People ; and all ended in Soli- 
 dity and Peace, to the general Satisfadtion -, for I did not obferve a light or difia- 
 tisfied Countenance. And I muft fay this for thcfe young Students, that they 
 did behave themfelves better, and much more like a moral Education at leaft, 
 nay more like Chriftians too, than at Cambridge or Oxford, in Old England, or 
 at Edinburgh, Glnfgow, or Aberdeen, in Scotland ; fome of them being very folid, 
 and, generally, very attentive : Whereas thofe others commonly behave like 
 the Scum of the Earth, the Refufe of Mankind, from, whom little can be ex- 
 pefted, other than the Depravity of a Nation. I hope this Meeting was of fome 
 
 Service among tliem ; and that was all we defired there. 
 
 The
 
 of T HO M A S STORY. 545 
 
 The fame Inn-keeper and his Wife having been at the Meeting, we returned Anno 
 to the Inn with them, and refreflaed ourfelves, and that Evening returned to 1704. 
 Bojlon ; from whence fome People had come to the Meeting here. 
 
 The next Day I was at an appointed Meeting at Bojion, which was large arid Bofton. 
 comfortable; and^ on the 23d, we had another Meeting between Ly?m and Bo- 
 Jlon, which was fmall and heavy : And, that Evening, in our Return to 5(j/?ra, we 
 met with John Ufocr, Governor of New HampJJjire, near his Houfe ; and, upon 
 his Invitation, went in and ftaid about an Hour ; and he was very civil and re- 
 fpeftful to us. 
 
 On the 25th, being the Firft of die Week, I was again at the Meeting at 
 BoJloK ; which was large, and the Truths of the Gofpel opened well and clear ; 
 feveral of the Students from Cambridge Vv'cre there, and were very fober and at- 
 tentive. 
 
 And all the Fore-part of the next Day, I had a great Load upon my Spirit, 
 but did not then fee the Caufe of it, till after Dinner that a Friend told me, the 
 Lieutenant-Governor at the Caftle in the Ifland had been informed, that I had 
 fpoken againft the Government, and againft him in particular, in our Meeting 
 the Day before at Bojion, becaufe of their imprifoning thole young Men at the 
 Caftle for refufing to bear Arms ; and he had told the Friends of it there, and 
 they fent me word, that I might fet the Matter in its proper Light. Then I 
 perceived this to be the Caufe of my Trouble, and quickly took a Boat and 
 went to the Caftle, accompanied by Daniel Zachary, and fome other Friends. 
 When we arrived, the Captain, the Lieutenant Governor of the Caftle, was in 
 Company with fome other Officers -, and, at the Entrance into the Room, or- 
 dered us Seats with them : Then I told him. My laft Vifit had been to my 
 Friends, but this to him -, and, mentioning theOccafion, faid, I was come to clear 
 It, and remove the Prejudice, if any had taken place ; defiring him to relate be- 
 fore that Company what he had been informed of on the Subjedt. The Cap- 
 tain anfwered, " That he had been told, that I had, in our open Meeting, ut- 
 '' tcred feveral hard Things againft the Government, of their Cruelty to our 
 *' Friends ; and particularly of their hard Ufage by him, calling him the Fat-^ 
 *' gutted Captain at the Cajlle." 
 
 But, before I had any Time to reply, one of the Company, a Stranger to me, 
 and, I think, an Officer, anfwered, " There could not be any Thing in it; for I 
 " did not look like a Man that could be guilty of fo mean a Thing :" The Cap- 
 tain himfclf likewife faying, " Fie did not believe it, but was willing I fliould 
 " know it." And the whole Company ridiculing the Thing, as not to be cre- 
 dited, I alfo aft'ured them " It was all falfe ; for I underftood the Nature and End 
 " of Government better than to vilify it : and that when at any Time we fuffered 
 " for Religion under any Government, either through the Tyranny or Mifunder- 
 " landing of the Rulers, we took better Methods than that to make them fenfible 
 " of it ; ufing our beft Endeavours to convince their Underftandings of their Mi- 
 " ftakes, and our Innocence ; but did not rail or rebel againft them : And as to the 
 " Captain, he had been kind and civil to our Friends, and to myfelf alfo; fo 
 " that not any difrefpedful Thought had entered me of him: But the Tenor 
 " of what I had fiid in the Meeting, that any Perfon could take occafion by, 
 *' was foniLthing by way of Apology for our not giving perfonal Affiftance in 
 " Arms, now in the Time of War; when, in common Reafon, it might look 
 " hard, that other Men fliould fpend their Time, Blood, and Eftates, in defence 
 " of us and ours, as they call it, and v/c do nothing, either for them or ourfelves, 
 
 " on
 
 344 
 
 Anno 
 
 1704. 
 
 Nanta&et. 
 
 Scituate. 
 
 Marflifield. 
 
 Sandwich. 
 
 The LIFE, (^c. 
 
 " on fuch important Occafions •, but yet it was not any flubborn Humour in us, 
 " as fome might be apt to tiiink, or Cowardice, that we refufed to bear Arms, 
 " but becaule we take War to be contrary to the Dodlrine of C h ri s t and the 
 " new Covenant, and the Tenor, Nature, and true End of the Goliptl; and 
 " dare not fight or learn War for that Reafon." The whole Compar.y being 
 fatisfied of the Falfhood of that Report, and civil to us, after fome further fmall 
 Touches upon the Subject of War, and the ill Effedls of it in the V-Zorld, efpeci- 
 ally among Chriftians, one againft another, we took Leave, and I went away, 
 very eafy, to Bojlon. 
 
 And that Evening there came to me a young Man, who had been at the 
 Meeting at Cambridge, and never at one before : He feemed to liave been fatif- 
 iied with Things in general, but could not undcrftand the Doftrine of the Light; 
 but Things opening pretty clear in Difcourfe, he feeni'd fatisfied both in that, 
 and alfo about the Sacraments, concerning which he had aiked me fevcral Que- 
 ftions. He was tender and humble in difcourfing, not oppofmg, but enqui- 
 ring ; and departed very loving. 
 
 On the 28th, we fail'd down the Bay to Nantafiet, to a Half-year Meeting : 
 We were late, the Wind being contrary, and a Fog ; but were favoured with a 
 good Meeting : and, parting with Friends of Bojlon there, I went that Evening 
 to Scituate^ and lodged with Abraham Booth. 
 
 On the 29th we had a Meeting at Robert Barker""?, ; which, in the Beginning, 
 was heavy, being a very hot Day, but ended well. 
 
 O N the 30th we had a Meeting at Arthur Howland's, at Marflofield \ and 'Tho- 
 inas Chalkley was alfo there, and perfuaded us to go to Robert Barker's after that 
 Meeting was over ; and we had a good Time. 
 
 A T this Place I heard, by Daniel Allen of Sandwich, who had come to ac- 
 company 'Thomas Chalkley, that Rollon Cotton, the Prieft of Sandwich, had re- 
 ported, that I had run away from that Place, after the Difpute I had with iiim 
 there, and that I would never return any more : And that fometimes he had 
 magnified me as a very learned and fubtle Man, and a great Lawyer ; and {q 
 much concerned in the Affairs of Government in Penfylvania, that they could 
 not do any Thing of Moment without me •, and that they had fent for me home : 
 And yet, notwithftanding all this, he himfclf had been too hard for me, and 
 worfted me in that Difpute. 
 
 Thus that Prieft would have magnified me above what I am, to exalt him- 
 felf above the Truth •, hoping, without all doubt, never to have feen me any 
 more : For he had been at Bojlon whilft I was in the Eaft, and had made Enqui- 
 ry after me ; but none could give him any Intelligence where I then was ; and, 
 flaying longer than was ufual for our Travelling Friends, or expefted, lie conclu- 
 ded I had gone homeward fome other Way •, and therefore he had affumed the 
 Liberty to heap many Falfities upon me during my Abfence : But the next 
 Day, being the ift of the Fifth Month, we came to Sandwich; and, to con- 
 vince the Prieft, that I was neither run away, nor afraid of him, I called at his 
 Houfe as I pafted along that Way. 
 
 H E came to the Door, but would fcarce know me ; but, being made fenfible 
 who I was, I then afked him, " If he had made any further Attempt to make 
 " out his falfe Charges in writing, whereof he had fo much fiiil'd in the Dif- 
 " pute we had.^"_ He anfwered, " No ; that was needlefs, fince the Auditory 
 
 " was
 
 
 (C 
 
 of T H M AS STORY, 34^ 
 
 - was already latislied about it." " 'Tis true, faid I, doubtlels all the intilli- Anno 
 " gent Part of that Auditory are iatisiied, as well of the \'alidity of my Ar- 1704. 
 guments in proving the Doctrine of a finleft Perfection in this Life, by the 
 Grace of God, to be apoflolical, as of the Weakp.efs and Sophifhry of thy 
 " Arguments to the contrary, or to prove thy falfe Ch.arges then exhibted againft 
 " us as a People •, the Particulars whereof I left with thee in writing at that Time, 
 " that, at thy Leifure, thou might do thy beft to prove them, and expeft an 
 *' Anfwer and Refutation." He infifted, that it was not neceffary, for the Rea~ 
 fons aforefaid. I replied, " That it was neceffary fomething further fhould be 
 " done, feeing he had already mifreprefented Matters in my Abfcnce, in fome 
 " other Parts of the Country as well as there ; and might do fo ftill, to the 
 *' perverting of the Truths of the Gofpel, and Continuance of Error, and great 
 " Damage of the People ; and tlierefore did not think it fit to let the Matter 
 " reft fo precarious, without a Re-hearing. 
 
 He waved it; but began again about Freedom from Sin in this Life, fay- 
 ing, " That they (his Party) did believe, that Men may be free in this Life, 
 " not only from the reigning Power of Sin, but alfo from the Aft and Pollu- 
 " tion of Sin ; but that yet the Being of Sin remains during this Life." 
 
 This, I thought, was a Diftincftion fo nice, that it might be worth while to 
 have him explain it ; and accordingly defired him to give me a Definition of the 
 Being of Sin, without its reigning Power, Aft, and Defilement. 
 
 This Demand he pretended to think was fo unlearned and unneceffary, (the 
 Anfwer being fo eafy) that I had much a-do to extort a Reply •, but, infilling 
 upon it, at length he faid, " ALas ! do you not know what the Apoftle faith, 
 " To -will is prefent with jne, but how to perform that which is good, I know 710 1 ;" Rom. vii. 18. 
 referring to fome other Verfes to the 21ft inclufive. 
 
 I REPLIED, " The Apoftle fpeaks there of an unconverted State under the 
 *' Law, not under Christ (as I had proved in our Difpute before;) But what 
 •' is f'-'is to the Queflion, or Matter in hand ? What Confidence is there between 
 " doing Lvil, the Indwelling of Sin, or Prefence of Evil, and at the fame Time 
 " tc be free from the reigning Power, Aft, and Pollution of Sin ? He who com- 
 *' mits Sin, is the Servatit of Sin ; and no Man can ferve two Majters, Christ 
 *' and Sin at the fame Time : and that Soul who would pretend to ferve both 
 *' by VicifTitudes, is a Whore : And where there is Evil-doing, and Prefence 
 *' of Sin, there likewife is the Being of Sin, if it hath any Being at all." He 
 ■was then very angry, but made no Reply. I then reproved him again for his 
 falfe Rumours about my running away after that Difpute ; which, not being 
 able to evade any longer, he attempted to juftify them, thus : " That whereas 
 " there was a Meeting appointed by the eternal Spirit, (this he faid in Derifion) 
 " to be here at Sandwich, that Day that you went away ; and fo extraordinary a 
 " Thing, that it could not be deferred till the next Day, which was your ufual 
 " Mccting-day, and fcvcral of your Friends to be there, who were to go along 
 " with you, would you have gone and left fuch a Meeting as this, and your Friends 
 " alfo, if you had not been apprehenfive of fome Lofs the Day before in that 
 " Difpute, and did not care to face the Difcredit of it ? And bcfides, you told me 
 " yourfelf before we parted, that you would never come here any more." 
 
 This occafioned a Smile from feveral in the Company, for there happened 
 to be fix in all, three on each Side of the Conteft ; But I replied, " This is a 
 
 4 S " fur- 
 
 21.
 
 146 The L I F E, <^-c. 
 
 Anno " further Inftance of Rollon Colicns Confidence and injurious Praclices, and 
 ■ 1704. " fhews how Uttle he is acquainted with the eternal Spirit, and its '\A'ork and 
 " Leadings, which he ought not to deride : For it is well known here, and by 
 " feme prefentj that I, having been at all our Meetings round the Diftrift ot 
 " Sand'jiiicb, and, at two feveral Times, in that Town -, and having clear'd 
 " myfelf for that Time, of the People there, and of thee too, had refolved- 
 " upon going towards Sdltiafe, in my Way to Bojlon, that Day, before v/e 
 " heard thofe Friends were to be at Sand"jsich ; and I had told the Friends of the 
 " Place of it •, and was going that Way before I engaged with thee in that Dif- 
 " putc ; and went accordingly to a Half-year's Meeting there: ButtheMeet- 
 " ino- that Day appointed at Sand'svkh afterwards, (which, in Derifion, and to 
 " drav/ a falfe Confequence, thou fays to have been by the eternal Spirit) v/as 
 " at the Inftance of Janus Maffey, Jcfiua Puttingto7i, Lydia Norton, and 
 " Mary Dow ; who were coming from Salijbury, and thofe Parts in the Eaft of 
 " Bofto;i, where they live, to vifit Friends all along the Country, as far as Rhode- 
 " Ifiand ; and were not to go with me homeward, nor I with them backv/ard, 
 " but quite contrary Ways : So that the Report and Suggeftion is altogether 
 *' falfe and abufive. 
 
 " And, as to thy Infmuations, that if a Meeting had been appointed by the 
 " eternal Spirit, I would not, nor ought not to have left fuch a Meeting on any 
 *' Account-, it was my Bufinefs to do what Services the Lord required of 
 " me, and in fuch Times and Places when and where he drew me : And it doth 
 " not follow, as thou ignorantly imagines, and haft unjuftly reported, that 
 *' becaufe there was fuch a Meeting lb near, that therefore I ought to be at 
 " it, thouo-h appointed on the Account of others after I had done, for that 
 " Time, in thofe Parts-, but rather to go where I was led or drawn by the 
 " Holy Spirit, to the Work required of me, was my Bufinefs and Duty ; 
 " and not to intrude into the Work and Labours ot others, whereunto I 
 " was not called or fent at that Time. 
 
 " A N D as to my faying, I would come no more there, that is thy Miftake; 
 " for I only told thee, I did not know whether I fhould or not -, there being 
 " apparent Danger by Indians, and other Accidents, I had fpoken cautioufly, 
 " left any Thing might be permitted to hinder my Return at all, and not for 
 " Fear of thee, fo impotent -, never having been afraid of any of thy Fraternity, 
 " nor all of them, fmce the Time that, in the Days of my Youth, I withftood 
 " one of the ancienteft, moft fubtle and crafty among them, through that Spi- 
 " rit thou fo flily derideft. 
 
 " A N D as to thy falfe Suggeftions about that DIfpute, I had good Grounds 
 " to think, that many of thy own Hearers were of Opinion, that I had fully 
 " proved, by the Teftimony of the Holy Scriptures,a finlefs Perfedlion attainable, 
 " through the Grace of God, in this Life; which was all I had taken upon 
 " me in that Difpute, and which thou haft now confefs'd, though in indiredt 
 " Terms, fince, where the reigning Power, Aft, and Pollution of Sin is taken 
 " away, nothing can remain : But, as thou haft not proved thy Charges and 
 " Accufations againft us, viz. That the fakers hold lying and damnable Prtn- 
 " ciples ; and that the Scriptures of the Old and New 'Teftament are the Ground 
 " of Faith, and Rule of Life; I am now here, either to difcourfe the Matters 
 " again before the People in the fame Place, or to receive tliy Proofs in wri- 
 " ting, if thou haft any to advance." I then propofed the Second Day fol- 
 lowing, this being the Seventh, as the fitteft Time for it. 
 
 This
 
 cf T H M A S S T RT, 347 
 
 This nettled the Pileft, and he did all he could to evade it ; and fiiid, "Fie Anno 
 " was to be at Cambridge at a Commencement the fFednefday following, as he 1704. 
 " called it, and muft be at Plymouth the Sabbath Day by Midnight ; and thcre- 
 " fore could not attend a further Difpute." To which I anfwcred, " I fup- 
 " pofe there is no Neceflity of thy being there, it may be only Matter of Curi- 
 " ofity, but this is of Moment ; for if thou canft prove that the Quakers hold 
 " lying and damnable Principles, thou wilt do thy Party much more Service 
 " here than thou canft do at Cambridge." 
 
 Then faid he, " I have a Negroe to pay for at Bqftcn next Week, I muft 
 " be there on that Account." I anfwered, " This is a Trifle, thou mayft 
 " write to fomc of thy Friends there to anfwer that Matter, rather than lofe an 
 " Opportunity of fo great Service." He faid, " I have none to fend by." I 
 anfwered, " It is like there may be fome of thy Brethren hereaway not yet 
 " gone to the Commencement, v/ho probably may call on thee, being in the 
 " Way; thou mayeft prevail with fome of them to manage that Point." He 
 " faid, " They are all gone already," Then faid I, " When doft thou think 
 " to return ?" He anfwered, " On Thurfday Night." Then faid I, " Wilt 
 " thou afTure me to be here then .'' If fo, the next Day may do." No, faid 
 " he, I cannot aflTure you of that neither ; but if you will ftay till Monday come 
 " Se'nnight, you may expe£l me at home." " That is a long Time, faid I, and 
 *' it is unreafonable to expeft my ftaying till then ; but, fmce thou cannot now ftay, 
 '' and I cannot well do it till then, I have another Expedient, and that is, fincc 
 " thou haft here a good Houfe, and thou and it maintained by the Town, I 
 " fuppofe thou haft Leifure enough to write, efpecially on fuch a Subjeft, fo 
 " neceffary on this Occafion, confidering thy ProfefTion and Engagements ; it 
 " therefore thou wilt write thy Proofs of thy Charges, if thou haft any, thou 
 *' mayft expeft an Anfwer." 
 
 Then, faid he, " You lie, in faying I have a Maintenance from the Town •, 
 " for you do not know it." I rephed, " That Rollon Cotton had had Oppor- 
 " tunities for better Education than that, to give me the Lie, efpecially when 
 *' the Thing is fo apparently true, and himfelf knows it ; but if Cambridge had 
 *' afforded no better, his Time, Pains, and Charge, was greatly loft : and yet I 
 " could not think but there might be better Examples and Inftruftions there to 
 *' a docile Mind ; having met with better Manners there myfelf but lately." 
 
 This Reprehenfion made him filent for a fhort Time, and I proceeded, 
 " That I had as good Reafon to know, that he had a Maintenance from the 
 " People of Sandwich, and thereabout, as he had to know the Truth of any 
 " Thing he could preach to the People, of which himfelf was no Witnefs ; or 
 " that he was Rollon Cotton, fince he could not know that but by Report of 
 " others." 
 
 H E replied, " I was born of Parents of that Name." But, faid I, thou 
 " was not Rollon till baptized, as ye call it." He faid, " I was never Rollon, 
 " nor Rollon Cotton ; for I was called Rollon-God Cotton." " That is fuch an 
 " odd Name, faid I, as I never heard of before, giving occafion to prophane 
 " the Name of G o d, and take it in vain, as often as thou art named, and given 
 " thee too in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, as your Manner 
 " is in giving of Names : But I am morally afllired thou haft a Maintenance 
 " from that People -, but, it I fliould be miftaken in it, thou thyfelf haft con- 
 " tributcd much to it, and likewife Captain Bajfet, both of you having told me, 
 " at the Time of the former Difpute, that thou had a voluntary Contribution 
 
 " from
 
 3+B The h I F E, ^'c. 
 
 An' NO " from the People, but no forced Maintenance; nor hadft thou ever charged 
 1704. " any of our Friends with fuch a Thing, or offered to force any Thing from 
 " any of them on that Account •, nor ha.ift thou made any Bargain with the 
 " People, but only received what they thought fit to give thee : But thy de- 
 " dining to force any Thing from our Friends, when thou hadft no Power, is 
 " no Virtue." 
 
 This put him again into a Rage ; but I added, " That he miferably ne- 
 " glecled his pretended Call of Go teach all Nations, baptizing them, by fitting 
 *' down there in a little Townfliip, and not baptizing any one ; but only ranti- 
 " zing a few Children, incapable of being taught, or of believing -, and not 00- 
 " ing into all Nations, nor any other Nation." 
 
 " Y E A, faid he, I do preach in other Parts befides this of Sandzi^ich, and to 
 " other Nadons too." " That, laid I, muft be a Job for feme of thy Bre- 
 " thren for a like Turn." " No, laid he, I preach to Indians." " Upon what 
 " Foundation, faid I, art not thou well paid for it.' 'Tis a JMoney Matter ftill ; 
 " and that is the Bottom of thy Call, and End of thy Miniftry :" For I had 
 been credibly informed that Day occafionally, that he had Part of a Sum of 
 Money fent yearly from England lor Converfion of the Indians, and that he ought 
 to preach for his Pay about fi.\ Times a-year ; but puts them off, Ibmetimes 
 with thrice, and feldom above four Times ; and hath often but half a Dozen of 
 Hearers, and about ?.o 1. yearly for that Service. 
 
 This {o enraged him again, that he furioufly faid, " Your Principles are 
 " of the Devil." " Thou accufeth us falfely, laid I ; but, feeing thou art a 
 " a Man of fo little Temperance in thy Speech, thou art not worth difcourfing 
 " in religious Matters ; and I return this Charge upon thee to prove." " I can 
 " prove it, faid he, out of your own Books here in the Houfe, by Francis Biigg, 
 " and fome others." I anfwered, " Francis Bugg is' an Apoftate from the 
 " Truth and us, and his falfe Charges are no more Proof againft us than thine : 
 " Where are thefe thy Authors ?" Then faid he, " It is almoft Sun-fet, and I 
 " cannot trim me after it is down :" And, afking us if v,'e would drink a Cup 
 of his Beer .-' " We will, faid I •, for all thy ill Nature, thy Beer may be good j 
 " let us have it:" fo we drank: And, fuppofing his Beer to be his Way to 
 rid himft If of us, we left him almoft as ibwre as we found him. 
 
 One Paffage I have omitted, that is, When we were fpeaking about Free- 
 dom from Sin in this Life, he faid, " You are no Quaker ; for I have a Paper 
 " in the Houfe, printed under the Hands of many of you, denying the Doc- 
 • " trine of Perfed:ion ; faying, JFe are weak, frail, and mortal Men : Can Flejh 
 iCor.viii.n. " ^-^^d Blood lay Claim to fuch Attainments? No; ive kftoiv in fart, and are 
 " liable to be tempted and overcome all cur Days." Then faid I, " Show 
 " the Paper, with fufficient Credentials that it is ours •, for I fufpeft it by thy 
 " Account of it ■, for we never faid Flefh and Blood (which cannot inherit the 
 " Kingdom of Heaven) can be otherwife perfeft, than afi:er its kind, as it is 
 " Flelli and Blood ; and though we be liable to be tempted and overcome, it docs 
 " not neceilarily follow, that all who are tempted are overcome, and yield un- 
 " to Temptation; for Christ himfelf, the Captain of our Salvation, was 
 " tempted, and yet did not fin ; and it is no Sin to be tempted, unlefs we yield 
 " and enter into the Thing unto which we are tempted, whether it be evil Word 
 " or Deed : But thou thyfelf haft faid enough already to fliow, that (if fuch 
 " there were) they were fpeaking of one foit ot Perfecftion, and I of another ; 
 
 " I
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. ^49 
 
 •' I fpake of a perfeft Freedom from Sin in this Life, the PofTibility of it A n no 
 
 " through the Grace of G o d, come, by the Lord Jesus Christ, upon 1 704. 
 
 " all Mankind : but thou fpeaks, as by that Paper, (or fuppofed Paper) of a 
 
 " Perfc'ilion in Knowledge, and a Poffibility of finning through Temptation, or 
 
 " wilfully : That I never denied, nor did my Friends, (though they, and I 
 
 " with them, have ever held, with the Apoftles of Christ) that Freedom 
 
 " from Sin in this Life, is not only attainable, through Christ Jesus our 
 
 " Saviour, but necelTary, in order to enter into his Kingdom ; where no unclean 
 
 " Tiling can come :" And he not producing the Paper, the Matter thus ended, 
 
 I FOUND, upon further Enquiry after the Charafter of this Man, that 
 he was a conftant Slanderer of us ; and, like Satan, and other fubtle Adver- 
 faries, endeavoured to fct us one againft another by Lies ; telling fuch Friends 
 as he could meet with privately, efpecially the weaker fort, " That the moil fub- 
 " ftantial of our Minillers durft not let the younger fort, in this Age, know 
 " our real Principles, nor the Principles of the old and primitive Quakers, but 
 " only fome new Things, wherein we were come nearer unto them :" And when 
 any Friend (a Stranger) came into thole Parts, who feem'd to have good 
 Place among Friends, and fome of the People, then he afted the old Serpent, 
 and faid, " Thefe are not Qiiakers, but cunning Men, who deceive them :" 
 and yet he had his Indiati young Man whipped feverely for reporting, that he 
 had preached ieveral Sermons ftolen out of the Quakers Books.- 
 
 After all this Difcourfe, which held about an Flour and a half, we went 
 that Evening to our Friend Mary Perrie's ; and, the next Day, being the Firft 
 of the Week, we had a large good Meeting at Sandwich ; fome of the Prieft's 
 Hearers being there. 
 
 And the Day after we had a Meeting at Mary Perrie's,, Ihe being ancient 
 and fick, and not able to go to the Mecting-houfe ; and it was the beft Meet- 
 ing I ever had at Sandwich, the Love, Life, and Wifdom of Truth, being over 
 all ; to the Glory of his great Power, who is wotthy for ever. 
 
 O N the 4th I went to Dartmouth, (having had an open Time in the Love of Dartmouth, 
 Truth in Prayer with a few Friends, at the Houfe of Zachary Jenkins) and lod- 
 ged that Night with John 'Tucker ; where I met with Jacob Mott, the younger, 
 returned from Virginia, Maryland, and Penfylvania ; of whom I had an Account 
 of our Affairs there within the Compafs of his Travels. 
 
 O N the 5th, I was at their Week-day Meeting at Dartmouth ; which was open 
 and well ; and that Night lodged at Abraham -Tucker's. On the 6th I went 
 again to John Tucker's ; where I refted that Day. 
 
 O N the 7th, I had an appointed Meeting, at the Houfe of one Thomas Hada- 
 way, at a Village called Cujhnet, North of Dartmouth : He was Enfign to a Com- Cuflmet, 
 pany of Militia; but both he and his Wife were ready to admit ot a Meeting, as at 
 fome other Times before ; There were many People at the Meeting, and gene- 
 rally fober, and fome alfo tender. 
 
 Here meeting with a Man, with whom I had had fome Conference about Bap- 
 tlfm, and other Points, at the Floufe ot Samuel Jcnning, as I went Eaftward ; 
 " he afked me. Whether RoUon Cotton had faid to me, his Name was Rollon- 
 
 4 T " Cod,
 
 ;to 
 
 The LIFE, dye. 
 
 Anno ''■ God, before it was Rollon Cotton?" I laid, " He did fay fomething 'to that 
 1704. " Efte6t, but I did not readily underftand what he meant." Then came a Ju- 
 ftice of the Peace, who had been in the Meeting that Day -, and, hearing us on 
 that Subjeftj, explained it thus : " His Father, in his Infancy, named him Rol- 
 " Ion-God, but he hath fince ailumed Ravlandi, inftead of Rollon.'''' Then I 
 replied to the Juftice, " That it was not my Bufinefs to fay any Thing con- 
 " cerning him in his Abfence, but only to anfwer that other Perfon a Queftion •,'* 
 fo that Matter ended : And, the fame Evening, after fome Refrefhment had at 
 Samuel Jenning'%, we returned to John Tucker's. 
 
 O N the 9th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at Dartmouth Meeting again ', 
 which was very large, and a good Meeting : and, that Evening, I went with 
 Peleg Slocomb ; v/here I ftaid till the Second Day in the Evening, and then went 
 home with Stephen IVilcox ; who came on purpofe to conduft me to his Houfe. 
 
 O N the I ith I had an appointed Meeting near that Place, being between Dart- 
 mouth and Seconet ; which was large^ and indifferent well -, only a zealous Bap- 
 tift Woman was offended at my faying, " We had no Scripture exprefly for 
 " Dipping, nor any which neceffarily implied it, but only for going into the 
 " Water, orwalhing-," and for my Hiying, " I knew of none now who wafh- 
 " ed the Feet one of another, as a religious Duty ; only the Pope, who, I had 
 " been credibly informed, did, once a-year, wafh the Feet of fome Perfons, 
 " out of a vain Shew of voluntary Humility, or Pretence of Compliance with 
 " that Saying of C h r i st. If your Lord and Mafter have wafoed your Feet, ye 
 " alfo ought to waJJo the Feet one of another.'' The Woman muttering about 
 this after the Meeting, I went to her, and difcourfed with her on the Subjed: : 
 She had been very angry, as they too frequently are, but went away more calm 
 and friendly : We had fome Difcourfe about Bread and Wine alfo. And that 
 Night I returned to Peleg Slocomb's. 
 
 T II E next Day I was again at the Meeting at Dartmouth ; which was large 
 and well, many Hearts being melted and tendered ; and that Evening I return- 
 ed to Peleg Slocomb' s. 
 
 Before I proceed, I think proper, firft to give a general Relation of the 
 State of the People in the Ifland of Nantucket, (where I went next after this) with 
 refpeft to Religion at this Time. This fmall Ifland lies about 20 Leagues from 
 the main Land of New-England, inhabited by a mixed People of various No- 
 tions, and fome among them called Chrifbian Indians, but no fettled Teachers of 
 any kind : And as poor Hirelings fcarch all Corners tor fettled Maintenance, 
 fevcral fuch, from time to time, had made their Attempts upon this People on that 
 Account, but were difappointed ; for there was in this l([and one Nathaniel Star- 
 buck, whofe Wife was a wife difcreet Woman, well read in the Scriptures, and 
 not attached unto any Seft, but in great Reputation throughout the Ifland for 
 her Knowledge in Matters of Religion, and an Oracle among them on that Ac- 
 count, infomuch that they would not do any Thing without her Advice and 
 Conilnt therein : So that when at any Time fuch Hirelings came to preach 
 among them, and attempted to have a fettled Maintenance, ffie always oppofed 
 it with folid Arguments, as being contrary to the Praftice of the Apoftles and 
 Primitives, and the Nature of the Maintenance of a Gofpel Miniftry •, but would 
 confent fu hir, as that when any Preachers came among them that they liked, and 
 ffaid fome Time, and took Pains among them, every Family might give unto 
 fuch what they pleafed, for the Help of themfelves and their Families, if they had 
 
 aiiv.
 
 of THOMAS STORT. ^si 
 
 any, as Indian Corn (Maze) or other Grain, Meal, Flefh, Fifli, or fuch other Pro- Anno 
 vifions as they happened to have at the Time to fpare ; and Wool, &c. for Cloath- 1 704. 
 inc, but nothing certain or fettled : For Minifters of Christ ought to travel 
 abroad in the ^^^orld in that Calling, and not to fit down in one Place, unlefs 
 they have Families to take Care of, and cannot leave them. 
 
 An d, fomc Time before this, John Kii-fey, one of our Minifters from Pbila- 
 delpbia, had been to vifit them with good Acceptance, and had good Service for 
 Truth among them ; and had been inftrumental in the Hand of the L,ord, to 
 beget a good liking in them to the Way of Truth, but received nothing from any 
 of thtm (for that is not our Way) on account of his Miniftry : And I finding 
 a like Concern at this Time, and accompanied by feveral Friends of both Sexes, 
 we, on the 1 3th Day of the Fifth Month, about the tenth Hour in the Morning, 
 fct Sail tor the faid Ifland, in a Shallop belonging to our Friend Pekg Slocojnb, be- 
 fore mentioned-, which, under divine Providence, he himfelf chiefly condufted, 
 and landed there the next Mornintr about Six. 
 
 *o 
 
 A T our landing, we went up to the Houfc of the Widow Mary Gardner % 
 where, after fome Refrefliment had, came to us A^aibam'el Starl/uck (Husband of 
 Mary Starluck, before mentioned) and his Son of the fame Name; and we pro- 
 pofed to them to have a Meeting that Day •, but there being a Court to fit 
 then by fpecial CommifTion upon an Indian, accufed for murdering his Wife, 
 we found it improper at that Time ; and fome of our Company went home 
 with Nathaniel Starhuck, the elder, and others with his Son ; where we were 
 kindly entertained, tho' Strangers, and they, at that Time, not in the Profeffi- 
 on ot Truth with us. 
 
 O N the 1 5th we had a Meeting at the Houfe of Nathaniel Starhuck, the 
 elder ; which was pretty large and open, feveral of the People being tendered, 
 and generally fatisfied with what they heard and felt of the Goodnefs and Mercy 
 of God. 
 
 On the i6th, being the Firft of the Week, we had another Meeting there; 
 which was not fo large as was expefted, by reafon of two Priefts, an elderly 
 Man, and a young one -, the firft from the Ifle of Showks, and the other from 
 Martha's Vineyard, who had a Meeting near us ; the former being come to try 
 if he could obtain a fettled Maintenance among that People : And feveral being 
 curious to hear this new Preacher in the Preft)yterian way, it made our Meeting 
 fotnething lefs than otherwife it might have been ; yet it was confiderably large, 
 very open and encouraging ; tor the good Prefence of the Lord was with us. 
 
 Many of the Inhabitants of this Ifland are convinced of the Truth of fome 
 Points of the Dodrine of Truth, and fome of them have been reached by the 
 divine Virtue and Power of it ; but fome other Things they do not yet fee ; 
 and, if there were no Crofs, would, in all Appearance, come generally under 
 our Profeflion : Some few are for a Prieft, and to allow him fome certain Main- 
 tenance, (for they walk not by Faith but Sight;) but the Majority is againft it: 
 So that one of thefc, not being able to cffed his Purpofe, went home in a few 
 Days, but the other ftaid a little longer. 
 
 O N the Second Day Morning came Captain TVilUam Bajfet, o{ Sandwich, before- 
 mentioned, being a difcrete Man, alfable, of a good natural Temper and Un- 
 derftandingi who, with Jufticc Scift, and fomc others of that Town, (where I 
 
 had
 
 §5"^ The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 •Anno had the Difpute with Rollon-Cotton as aforefaid) were commiffionated to ti-y the 
 1 704. Indian aforefaid, to advife with me what to do in the Cafe, it being diiRcult to 
 them j for they inclined to lave the Man's Life for fome Reafons, though the 
 ■Evidence was fuH againft him •, but they had not yet given Judgment in form. 
 I told them, " That feeing the Evidence was fo full as they related, and the 
 " Crime heinous and mortal, if they gave Sentence, they were obliged, by the 
 " Law, to do it according to Evidence and Verdidt of tlie Jury, and could not 
 " difpenfe with it as Judges -, but if!, for any good Caufe, they inclined to Mer- 
 " cy, they might fufpend their Sentence, if the Nature of their Commiilioii 
 " would admit of Delay, till they could procure a Pardon for him \ or, they 
 " might give Sentence according to Evidence, and fufpend the Execution by a 
 " Reprieve, until a Pardon could be had from the Governor i who, I prefumed, 
 *' had Power to grant one, according to the Charter and Conftitution of tiiac 
 " Governi'nent." They thanked me for my Advice, and took the former 
 Method. 
 
 That Afternoon we went about vifiting feveral People at their Houfcs, and 
 the)"- were generally very well pleafed, kind, and refpeftful ; but one Juftice 
 Gardifer. an ancient Man, who had much Sway in the Affairs of the Govern- 
 ment of the Ifland, ibon after we went into liis Ploufe, (as his Manner was) ut- 
 tered fome Inveftives and Reproaches againll Solomon Eccks, George Fox, and 
 others of our Friends, (departed this Life many Years before) urging feveral 
 falfe Accufations againft them -, as, they denied the human Nature of Christ^ 
 and the hypoftatical Union, letting up a Light within inftead of Chri stI 
 
 I, SUSPECTING that the Juflice fpoke parrotically, and did not underfland 
 the Word hypojlatkal; and, feeing him one of the old envious fort, I inclined 
 to confound him before the Company, and afked him what he meant by hypo- 
 ftatical Vnton ? of which he could give no Account : By which all might fee he 
 haci afferted he knew not what. Then I afl<ed him, " Seeing thou haft char- 
 " ged George Fox and Solomon Eccles with denying Christ, and intended an 
 " injurious Reproach upon us too on their Account, what doft thou mean by the 
 " Word Ch Ri sT ? How is Christ conftituted r" He replied^ " The di- 
 " vine and human Natures in one Perfon, is Christ." Then I aflced him, 
 " What doft thou mean by Human Nature? How conftituted ? What is it that 
 " vionftitutes a proper perfeft Man in a State of Nature, as Man fimply.?" This 
 was too hard, and put him upon his Demur -, at length he repeated fome Ex- 
 kal. cxx.'ii.'c. pi'effions of King Bavid out of the Pfalms ; v/here it is faid, I wilfpraife theSy 
 \\. for I arii fearfully and wonderfully made : but could not give any further Account 
 
 about it. " 'Tis true, faid I, Man is wonderfully made, but this does not an- 
 " fwer the Queftion -, and fince thou doft not underftand what human Nature 
 " properly is, or what conftitutes a Man, how fhouldft thou know what the 
 " divine Nature is, and how Christ is conftituted, or what Manner of Union 
 " makes the true Christ ? Thy charging any Man with denying the true 
 " Christ is therefore invalid and unreafonablc, thou thyfelf not havrj^any 
 " true Knowledge of C h r i s r, or wJiat thou aftirmeft." 
 
 This fretted the old Juftice confiderably, and made him fweat -, but to re- 
 cover himfeli-, and, as well as he could, to hide his Imperfedions, he laid them 
 further open ; telling us, '" Tliat thirty or forty Years fince a Qiiaker at Salem 
 denied, that the Body of Jesus Ch rist ever role from the dead." I re- 
 pHed, " That is nothing to us, feeing we hold no Rich Error, nor ever did, as 
 " a People, but deny all fuch Holders, and their Tenets.", Then Sufamiah 
 
 Freeborn^
 
 of THOMAS ST CRT. ^sz 
 
 Freeborn, one of our Company, informed us what gave occafion to tliis Re- Anno 
 
 port, and that it was one who had been denied by Friends before that Time ; 1 704. 
 
 lo that we were not accountable for his Error. Then I find to the Juftice, " I 
 
 " perceive thou haft long been convinced of Truth •, but, not liking the Crofs, 
 
 " thou haft laid hold on fuch trifling Occafions and Pretences as thefe, as Ex- 
 
 " cufes for thy Difobedience -, which will not cover thee in that Day which is 
 
 " haftening upon thee, when no fuch Fig-leaves will hide thee from the Face 
 
 " of an all-feeing, all-knowing Judge j" and, advifing him to repent and return 
 
 to the Truth, if not already too late, I left him : But Peleg Slocomb, a grave 
 
 elderly Friend, went alfo to him, and faid, " If thou haft wronged George Fox 
 
 " and Solomon Eccles, it will be well to own it, and repent, that thou may find 
 
 " Mercy •," and fo we left him : But his Wife (an ancient Perfon) was much 
 
 grieved at the Ill-nature and Behaviour of her Husband towards us, who were 
 
 Strangers, and come to vifit them in Chriftian Charity ; and flie wept much whilft 
 
 we tdkcd tos;cther. 
 
 '» 
 
 This Evening we afcended towards theupper Partof thelfland, to 'JohnSwainSy 
 (one who came to our Meetings, and there was only one more, that is, Stephen 
 llujjie, in all that Ifland under our Name) and there we met with a great Compa- 
 ny oi Indians and other People together, having been raifing a Timber Houfe 
 for him ; and the two Priefts were among them, one ot whom had been wreft- 
 ling with a> young Indian, and came into the Houfe with his Coat rent-, and 
 fome there looking upon the Aftion as too mean and vain for a Man of his 
 Pretences, to excufe it, he faid, We muft all wrejlk with Flejh and Blood ; and Eph. vi. i*^ 
 fo made only a Jeft of it : But I replied, " If ever thou overcome Flefli and 
 " Blood in the beft Senfe, and according to that Scripture which thou feems to 
 " hint at, and the Powers there mentioned, thou muft wreftle in another Power 
 " than thy own, or elfe thy Wreftling will be in vain •, thou will never over- 
 " come:" And then, in a few Minutes Time, they left the Room, and the Com- 
 pany departed ; for they did not like our Gravity, nor we their Lightnefs. 
 
 O N the I Sth we had a large good Meeting there among the People -, and, 
 that Evening returned to Nathaniel Starkuk's, the younger, and there lodged. 
 
 O N the 1 9th we had another large good Meeting at Nathaniel Starbnck's, the 
 elder, his Wife, Mary, as before hinted, being the firft in that Ifland who had 
 any Regard to the W'ay of Truth as among us ; but now her three Sons and 
 Daughters, and Sons Wives, are all in a hopeful Way to the Knowledge of Truth, 
 and Liberty of the Sons of God, with feveral other tender People at this Time 
 in that fmall Ifland. 
 
 T this Meeting came Thomas Weft, the elder of the Priefts aforefaid, and 
 ftaid till I had done, though many Things had been opened concerning the Hire- 
 ling Priefts, the Merchants of Babylon, their DoiTtrine and Maintenance ; yet I 
 heard after the Meeting, that he faid, " There was a good Life and Power in 
 " that Meedng : But I having fpoken of the univerfiil Grace of G o d, through 
 Chrisj-, unto Mankind, he could not receive that Part, being prepofleffed 
 by falfe Principles againft it. 
 
 The next Day we went from Houfe to Houfe, vifiiing the friendly People 
 all about the Neighbourhood ; and they were well pleafed with it, being very 
 open, tender and kind. 
 
 r 
 
 On the 21ft we had a Meedngat Stephen Huffie's; which, in the Beginning 
 
 4 U of
 
 354 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno of it, was a little hard •, but, the Lord favouring us with his good Prefence, fe- 
 1704. veral were melted and tendered under the Influence of the Power of Truth, be- 
 fore it was over •, ar.d it was a good Meeting. After which I was prefcnted 
 with a Paper from 'Thomas IVeft aforefaid, but not diredled to me. That Night 
 I lodged there, with fome other Friends, and obferved the Woman of the Houfe 
 full of Queftions and fault-finding. Her Hufband was under the Name of a 
 Friend, and then out of the Ifland •, but fhe was a very rigid and ignorant Pref- 
 byterian. The firft Thing fhe began with, was an Expreffion of mine flie faid I 
 uttered in fome former Meeting, viz. " To fay that Man may be laved in his 
 " Sins, by a bare Belief of Christ's outward Coming in the Flefh, is aDoc- 
 " trine of Devils." I did not remember the Expreffion, but own'd the Thing 
 to be true -, and prov'd to her before tlie Company, That without the inward 
 Work of the Spirit of Christ, nothing elfe can compleat our Salvation : But 
 the next Morning fhe had folded down many Leaves and Places of Scripture 
 about Predeftination •, wliich I confuted, as to the Senfe that Seft commonly put 
 upon them ; fhewing her how flie mifunderftood and mifapplied them, and that 
 fhe was feeking a falfe Reft in her Sins, and Christ without his Crofs, and 
 Knowledge without Life : and anfwered all her Queftions, contrary to her De- 
 fires or Expectations ; removing thofe Perverfions Ihe had received upon divers 
 Scriptures, both of the Old Teftament and the New : At length, finding herfclf 
 hedged round, and her Way blocked up on every Hand, fhe burft out into a 
 very great Degree of weeping ; and, endeavouring to hide it, went away a while, 
 but came again, and we had fome more Difcourfe -, but fhe could not fay much 
 then, being immerged in a Flood of Tears again : and, ftill unwilling to t>e feen 
 in that, and loth to fubmit to the Crofs of Christ, Ihe went and came feve- 
 ral Times, ftill ftriving againft the Truth in herfelf and me, and at laft was filent, 
 and fighed deeply -, till being quite ftill, as one dead for a Time, and new Life 
 fpringing in her Soul, fhe became very gentle, loving, and fweet fpirited, and 
 would have had us ftay longer : But, being otherwife engaged, we returned that 
 Forenoon to Nathaniel Starbuck's, the elder ; and, that Evening, I heard that 
 the two Priefts, before mentioned, had reported, that I was no Quaker ; for I did 
 rot preach the Light, and other Dodlrines, as other Quakers. I anfwered the Per- 
 fon informing, " That they did that only to abufe me, and fo far as they could, to 
 " hinder my Service, feeing I had fome Place among the People; who, if they 
 " followed my DocStrinc, would not pay Priefts, nor hear them, but would turn 
 *' to the L o R D Christ, and he would teach them freely, and to better Pur- 
 " pofe ;" and lb I flighted their Reports as idle and fenfelefs -, for the People 
 themfelves knew their Falftiood. This Evening I began an Anfwer to the 
 Prieft's Paper, and compleated it the next Day, as follows : 
 
 Nantucket, 2 3 J Fifth Month, \ 704. 
 T AVING received a Paper laft Sixth Day, after a Meeting at Stephen 
 A Huffie's, lubfcribed Thomas JVeft ; and i'uppofing the Author, expefts 
 " an Anfwer ; in order thereto, I fhall tranfcribe it verbatim, that it may appear 
 " T Iiave not wronged him : For it is ill writ, ill fpelled, unlearned, and (I think) 
 " ill defigned. It is thus; 
 
 " Whether there be not a more abundant Meafure of Grace given to fome than 
 " others ; feeing Man, in his natural Eft ate, is contrary to God, although he may 
 " be convinced of Sin againft the Latv, yet have no Power to change his Will; for 
 " thy People Ihall be a willing People in the Day of thy Power : But all Men 
 " are not God's willing People ; therefore all have not the fame Power of Grace 
 " given unto them. From your Friend, 
 
 THOMAS WEST. 
 The
 
 of THOMuiS STORT. ^ss 
 
 ''The whole of this, as here laid down, is fiich a Piece of Confiifion as I have Anno 
 " hardly before met with, in fo fhort a Writing, from any one pretending to com- 1 704. 
 " mon Underftanding in Matters of Religion. Its feveral Parts are thefe : 
 
 " i/, A Qu E s T I o N, Whether there be not a more abundant Meafure of 
 " Grace given to fome than others? Though, by what he immediately adds, he 
 " feems to mean, (according to their known Sentiments on that Point) that 
 "God hath not given iaving Grace, or a fufficicnt Degree of it, unto all Men ; 
 " yet, left I fhould miftake his Meaning, I anfwer the Queftion according to 
 " the obvious Terms of it, and fay j 
 
 " i/, T H A T though the Almighty, through his infinite and fuperablindant 
 " Mercy, declared by Christ the Lord, hath given faving Grace, and a Suf- 
 " ficiency of it, unto all Mankind, yet not the fame Meafure or Degree unto 
 " all : For to one he hath given five Talents, to another two, and to another one, 
 " (thefe three Degrees comprehending the whole Body of Mankind-,) which 
 " were all of the fame Nature and kind, and given by the fame Hand, but not 
 " in the fame Degree or Meafure-, yet every Degree capable of Improvement, 
 " in proportion unto the Degrees firft given : and the Reward is the Confequence 
 *' of the proportional Improvement, and not of the Degree of the Gift given, 
 " nor of the arbitrary Will of the Giver : So that if he who hath the leaft Mea- 
 " fure of Grace, Ihall improve his Talent, fo as to gain another thereby, he 
 *' fhall have the like Acceptance and Reward as the other two : For there is a 
 *' Manifejiation of the Spirit given to every Man to profit wit hall ; and he who 
 " hath net the Spirit of Chrifl is none of his -, and work out your own Salvation 
 " in the Fear ot God, and in tremenduous Awe before him ; and the Grace of 
 " God, which bringeth Salvation, hath appeared unto all Men ; and in fuch Mea- 
 *' fures too, whereby it teachetli all who believe therein, to deny Ungodlinefs and 
 *' worldly Lujls, and to live foberly, right eoufly, and godly in this prefent World. 
 
 " Though faving Grace is here declared to be given unto all, as a Gift 
 " from God ; yet that Salvation is not obtained but by Faith in that Gift, and 
 *' Obedience thereunto, through the fenfible Operation of it in the Heart : For Eph. ii. 5, 8^ 
 " by Grace are ye faved, through Faith j and that not of yourfelves, it is the Gift 
 " of God. Again; As by the Offence of one. Judgment came upon all Men to 
 " Condemnation ; even fo, by the Righteoufnefs of one, the free Gift came upon all 
 *' Men to Jttjlification of Life. 
 
 "The fecond Part of this Letter imports, i/. That Man, in his natural 
 " State, is contrary to God. idly. That although he may be convinced of 
 " Sin againft the Law, yet he hath no Power to change his Will. Thus char- 
 " ging the Depravity of the Will of Man, and the Continuance of it, on G od 
 *' himfelf, as not having given Power unto Man to change his Will, for want 
 " of a fufficient Degree of Grace ; which is falfe DocStrine : For, 
 
 ift, "Although the Corruptions and Defilements of Man, in his fallen 
 " and natural State, be contrary to G o d, who is altogether righteous, holy, juft, 
 " and good •, yet Man, as a Creature of God, is not contrary to him, but 
 " fafhioned, both in Body and Mind, according to the Will and Wifdom of 
 " God, and no Sin imputed unto him, until he yields to Sin, commits it, and Rom. vi. 16. 
 " obeys it. 2dly, 1 hat which convinccth Mankind efie£lually of Sin, in an evan- J°''" "'.''■ 34- 
 " gelical Senfe, is not the Law oi Mofcs; for that Law, as written, was confi- Heb^'vii '^" 
 " ned to Ifrael after the Flefh -, and though it difcovered Sin unto them, it did — x. i. 
 " not take it away, or overcome it : But the Law of the Spirit of Life from 
 
 "God
 
 5^6 Tie LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno "Goo the Father, through C h r i st the Lor d, the Mediator of the fccond 
 
 i 704. " and new Covenant, is extended unto all Mankind ; and fufficiently powerful 
 
 Jer.xxxi. 51, "in itfelf to give the Knowledge of God, and to anfwer the bleffcd Ends 
 
 5 ^, 54; . " propofed of G o d thereby ; even the Salvation of all who believe therein, and 
 
 — x/i'r!! '°' " obey the fame, in the Manifeftations and Condufl of it in their own Hearts : 
 Ifa. xlii. 6. " For it is the Holy Ghoft, the Spirit of Christ, who is the Truth, which 
 Johiixiv.^16. ,, convinceth the World of Sin •, and we are convinced of Sin, becaufe we, by 
 
 -^^'•7. .9- ,^ jsT-^tui-e, or in that State, do not believe in him who doth convince us, (and 
 " tvithcut this Faith it is ivipoffihle to pleafe God:) But unto as many as believe in 
 
 Johiii. I. " Christ, as he is the Word, Wifdom, and Power, and the true Light of 
 " God, inv/ardly made manifeft and revealed •, by whom we fee ourfelves 
 " and our Sins as we are, become weary and heavy loaden with them, believe 
 " in him, as he is that Light, repent and forfake our Sins, we then know them 
 " to be forgiven, through him who is the Propitiation for the Sins of the whole 
 
 — xli.-;,-,36. " World: And fuch as thus believe want not Power to do the Will of God ; 
 
 — 1. 13. « jTqj. ^jj^^q ^u £-yj,]j fyg ^-^gj Power to become the Sons of God; who are led, not 
 
 " by Sin, nor by the evil one, the Author of it, but by the Spirit of G o d, out 
 " of all Sin, and into all Truth. 
 
 B u T nomas Weft chargeth the Failure of Man in his Duty towards God, 
 " upon God himfelf, as fuppofing he hath not furnifhed Man with flifficient 
 " Power to ceafe from afting according to his own Will, and to do the Will of 
 " God, and yet exafts it as a Duty from Man, upon pain of eternal Damna- 
 " tion; which is an implicite Charge at leaft, oflnjuftice and want of Mercy 
 " and Goodnefs in God, and renders him a hard Mafter indeed-, contrary to 
 " the very Nature and Being of God, as he is Love; and to his Attributes 
 " of infinite Goodnefs, Righteoufnefs, Jufbice, Mercy, and Truth. 
 
 "The Day of the Power of G o d is the Difpenfation of the Gofpel ; which 
 " is not in Word or Talk only, but in Power, the Revelation of Christ the 
 " Gofpel Light ; who is alfo the Wifdom and Power of God: And though 
 " I'uch as believe in him be Children of that Light and Day of God, and the 
 *' Light of the World in him ; yet it happeneth unto fuch now, who do not 
 " thus believe in him, as unto them of old, to whom it was faid, Thus faith the 
 ?.Tirali iii. 5, " Lord coKcenmig the Prophets that make my People err ; tvho bite with their Teeth., 
 ^'> ■'■ " ajid cry Peace; and he who piitteth not into their Mouths., they even prepare 
 
 " IVar agai'Aft him : Therefore Night fhall be unto you, that ye fhall net have 
 " a Vifion, and it f}jall he dark unto you that ye fhall not divine, and the 
 " Sun fid all go down over the Prophets, and the Day fhall be dark unto them. 
 Again ; The Heads thereof judge for Rexvard, and the Priefts thereof teach for 
 H:re, and the Prophets thereof divine for Money ; yet will they lean upon the Lard, 
 " and fay. Is not the Lord among' us ? None Evil can come upon us. And, like 
 " Sin, like Judgment: The Priefts and Teachers of every Nation at this Day, 
 " who make the People err, preach againil, and vilify fuch as will not follow 
 " them and feed them •, teach tor Hire, and divine for Money ; the Night is 
 " come over them, and rtmaineth ; the Blacknefs of Darknefs covereth them; 
 " they fee rot the Sen of G o d -, tl^ey have no Vifion of him, nor of the Things 
 " ot G o D by him ; his divine Light is fet unto them, and hid from their Eyes 
 " by their own Darkneis ; and the Gofpel Day, and Power thei-eof, for want of 
 " Faitlr therein, is not known unto them, though they live in this World in the 
 " Times of the Difpenfation of it to Mankind. 
 
 Kof. xi;-. 9. " G D faid unto his People of old, Tfrael, thou haft deftroyed thyfelf, but in 
 
 " mc 

 
 of THOMAS, ST R T. 
 
 tr.e is thine Help : So that though Mankind, in their own perverfe Will?, fin 
 againft God, and thereby deftroy their own Souls, yet G od mercifully 
 helps them ; lor there is no Help in any otlicr. Wifdom crieth unto Fools ; 
 Tiini ycu at my Reproof; behold I will pour cut my Spirit unto you; I will 
 make known my Words unto you. Becaufe I have called^ and ye refufed, I have 
 fir etched out my Hand., and no Man regarded : But ye have fet at naught all my 
 Ccunjel, and would have none of my Reproof : I alfo will laugh at your Calamity ; 
 / will mock when your Fear cometb. Thus their UnwilRngnefs to hear the Voi ce 
 of Wifdom, and obey it, was the Reafon that they were not the People of 
 GoDi but remained Fools ftill under the Dcrifon of Wifdom in the Times 
 ot their Diftrefs, and not for want of a Call. 
 
 5n 
 
 A M xo 
 
 1704. 
 
 Prov.i.23. — 
 
 26. 
 
 (C 
 
 " AxD we find a like Phrafe in the Book of the Prophet Ifaiah; Therefore Ifa. Ixv, 12. 
 will I number you to the Sword, and ye floall all bow down to the Slaughter: Be- ~ ''''!l' +• 
 caufc when I called, ye did not anfwer ; when I fpake, ye did not hear, but did Evil Ezek. xvni. 
 before mine Eyes, and did chufe that wherein I delighted not. All thofe Scrip- 21, 24. 
 tures fhew, that it was ftill the Obftinacy of the Will of Man, in contradiftion 
 to the Will and Call of G o d, which wrought his Ruin, and not any want 
 of the Favour of G od to\vards him. Again; the Call of G od is unto all 
 Mankind, though all are not willing fo to hear as to obey: Look unto me, ifa. x!v. 22. 
 and be ye faved, all ye Ends cf ihe Earth \ for I am God, and there is none elfe. 
 Here all Mankind liave a Call from G o d to come unto him and be faved ; 
 and as many as are willing, and obey, become the People of G o d ; but fuch 
 as will not hear, nor obey, remain in Darknefs under Condemnation, and are 
 not his People : But Thomas JVeft gives his Reafon for it in his Dodlrine, 
 That God hath not given them a fufficient Degree of Grace to enable them 
 to obey the Call ; which ftill retorts the Caufe of Man's Difobedience upon 
 God himfelf, and not on Man. Again, God called unto his finful and 
 
 rebellious People to repent; and, if they were willing and obedient, they ,-. ,q. 
 
 fljoidd eat the Good of the Land: But the Tenor of the Dodrine oi Thomas 
 Wefi is fuch. That God did not enable them, nor make them willing, and 
 therefore they could not obey; the Condition was impoffible to them, and 
 confequently the Promifes void. The Apoftle, who had the Mind of G od, 
 faith, God will have all Men to be faved, and to come unto the Knowledge of the i Tim. ii. 4. 
 Truth : But, according to the Doftrine of Thomas Weft, all Men are not 
 Go d's willing People, for want of a Sufficiency of Grace from G o d ; there- 
 fore they are not willing to be faved : It then feems to follow, that if God 
 be willing that Thomas Weft, and fuch as he, fhould be faved, it muft be a- 
 gainft their own Wills if they are faved. 
 
 " B u T as it was with many of old, fo it is now ; when the Almighty hath 
 ufed all Means proper and reafonable for t^e Reftoration and reclaiming of 
 Mankind, great Part of us ftill remain obftinate and rebellious : For, after 
 the Lord Jesus, in the Will and Couficil of the Father, had fo walked, 
 preached, and wrought moll; ftupendious Wonders among the People of that 
 Day, as were fufficient to prove unto every rational unprejudiced Soul, who 
 he is, and the Truth cf his Miffion, yet they remained ftupid and infenfible 
 of fo great Goodnefs, Condefcenfion, and Mercy, until the Day of Redemp- 
 tion and Salvation was over and loft unto them ; and then the Holy One, be- 
 ing ftill the liime merciful Saviour in himfelf, broke forth into this compaffi- 
 onate Lamentation over them, a little before his fuffering once for all, fay- 
 ing, Jerujalem, ferufcdem^ thou that ktlleft the Prophets, andftoneft them which Mat. xxiii. 
 are fent unto thee, how often would J have gathered thy Children together, even 37- 3*^- 
 
 4 X " as
 
 55-8 The LIFE, e"^. 
 
 Anno "■ as a Hen gather eth her Chickens under her JViiigs, and ye "xotdd not ! Behold 
 1704. " your Houfe is left unto you defolate. And again ; IVhen he -was come near the 
 zChr.xxiv.20 " City, he beheld it, and wept over it, faying. If thou hadfi known, even thou, at 
 leafi in this thy Day, the Things which belong unto tijy Peace! but now they 
 
 zEidrasi. 28. 
 
 L11ke.xix.41, "■ i^re hid from thine Eyes 
 
 ' ^ "So then it is the Will of God, that all Mankind fbould be gatliered iin- 
 
 " to himfelf, and faved ; and the Father, by his Holy Spirit, and by his Son, 
 " Chri ST the Lord, and by his Prophets, Apoftles, and Minifters, fecketh 
 *' them to be faved : But, alas ! it may be juftly laid ot too many now, as well 
 " as then, They will not. 
 
 " Some Men hate the divine Light, by which the Will of G o d is known, 
 " and bring not their Deeds thereunto, becaufe it reproveth them : They quench 
 " every Motion of the Holy Spirit, by which they might be fan<5lificd and fa- 
 " ved ; and, in their carnal Conceivings, refift it -, and, not learning of it, be- 
 " come unliable in all their Ways, and wreil the Scriptures to their own De- 
 " ftruftion, and Hurt likewife of many others ; and greatly add to and aggra- 
 " vate their Wickednefs, in laying the Blame and Caufe of their Perdition upon 
 Job, i 22. " God •, and charging him foclifhly, who doth not, by his Almighty Power, 
 
 — ii. 10. cc force their perverfe Wills to a Compliance with his own moft holy Will ; but, 
 Ifa.lxii. ;. " according to his Goodnefs, wooeth them, ;is a young Man wooeth a Virgin, 
 
 — liv. 5. <■<. j-ha^t they might love him ; but doth not fay he will force them by his over- 
 Cant, i. 3, 4. ,, ID 
 
 ^ " ruling rower. 
 
 " Novf all this Pains have I taken, through the Grace of God, not for the 
 *' Sake of this perverfe Pcrfon only, for he is not worthy, but for the Sake of 
 " others alfo to whom this Relation may come; feeing he is not alone in his 
 " defi:ru6live Notions concerning the Things of God, the Chriftian Faith and 
 " Religion." 
 
 On this 23d of the Fifth Month, being the Firft of the Week, we had ano- 
 ther large open Meeting at Nathaniel Starbucks, fenior ; where feveral were 
 tendered and comforted ; but it was a little bodily exercifmg and painful to me, 
 lor, having a fore Throat, and not willing to fpare myfelf, I fpit pretty much 
 Blood in the Time of my Miniftry -, alfo EJlher Palmer and Snfannah Freeborn 
 being there, and with us all the Time, had good Service : For as they were 
 living Miniflers, and their Teftimonies reaching and affefting to the People, all 
 Objeftions were removed at once againft Womens' Preaching, without the La- 
 bour of Difpute, or Hurt of ("ontention or' Jar about it. The Meeting being 
 ended, we lodged there, and in the Neighbourhood, that Night ; and, before 
 we went off the Ifland, I left the abovefaid Anfwer to the Prieft with Nathaniel 
 otarbuck, the younger -, but have not heard of any Reply : But, one Night before 
 we returned from this Illand, my Sleep was taken from me, under a Concern of 
 Mind for the Settlement of a Meeting there : And though there were two Men 
 under the Profcflion of Truth among them, they had not been faithful, nor of 
 good Report, but as Stumbling-blocks in the Way of the Weak ■, for they could 
 not agree between themfelves ; and one of them was at odds with many of his 
 Neighbours : fo that they were fet afide, and the chief Inftrument pointed to 
 in my 'Thoughts, by the Truth, for this Service, when we fhould be gone, was- 
 Mary Stcirbuck, betcre mentioned, to whom I made it known ; and, in the Open- 
 ing and Mind of Truth, laid a Charge upon her to endeavour to have a Meet- 
 ing eftabliflied in their Family, once a- week at leaft, to wait upon the Lo r d, 
 
 witli
 
 of T H M A S STORZ 3^9 
 
 with all who were convinced of Truth in the Neighbourhood, and in the IdanJ, Anno 
 as they had Conveniency. i 704- 
 
 Th is llie received with Chriftian Gravity •, and it afFefted her much, and 
 became her Concern. Having firfb mentioned it to the Friends who were with 
 me, I propofcd it hkewifc to her Children, (her Hufband being freely paffive 
 oniy in fuch Things, and naturally good temper'd) who were all difcreet young 
 Men and Women, moft of them married, and hopeful ; being all convinced of 
 Truth, they were ready to embrace the Propofal. Then I advifed them to 
 wait fincerely upon the Lord in fuch Meetings; (for they had no inftrumental 
 Teachers) and allured them, that I had a firm Confidence in the Lor d, that 
 he would vifit them by his Holy Spirit in them, in his own Timo, if they were 
 fciithful, held on, and did not faint, or look back. 
 
 And accordingly, fome time after we departed the Ifland, they did meet, 
 and the Lord did vifit them, and gathered many there unto himfelf ; and they 
 became a large and living Meeting in him, and feveral living and able Minifters 
 were raifed by the Lord in that Family, and of others -, to the Honour of 
 his own Arm, who is worthy for ever. 
 
 On the 24th of the Fifth Month we went on board our VefiTel, in order to 
 our Return, accompanied thither by feveral of our new and tender Friends ; who 
 provided plentifully for our Voyage, and parted with us, and wc with them, 
 with great Reluftance and Tendernefs : And, being under Sail, there came on 
 a great Fog, and the Wind abating, it was almoft dark before we arrived in the 
 Channel near Old Toivn, in Martha s Vineyard, an Ifland between Nantucket and 
 the Main; and, the Wind ceafing, and Fog remaining, we anchored there that 
 Night. 
 
 In the Morning we v/ent up to the Town ■, and, after fome Refrefhment, had 
 a Meeting there in the Afternoon : It Was fmall, but pretty open ; and, flaying 
 there that Night, we had another Meeting next Day : the Tri^ths of the Gofpel 
 opened well in the Life and Power of it, in good Degree ; and the People, 
 though not Friends, feem'd well fatisfied •, only one Man, prefently after the 
 Meeting at the Inn, affirmed in Company, that I had faid in the Meeting, That 
 Water was the only Thing proper for I'aptifm -, but his Neighbour, who re- 
 membered the Matter better than he, oppofed him therein •, for I had not faid 
 fo : and, meeting with him, I informed him what I had faid, " That Water Bap- 
 " tifm is properly wafhing with Water, or going into Water -, but Water Bap- 
 tifm being ended, by the Beginning., or Manifeftatlon of the Baptifm of the Ho- 
 " ly Spirit, as the Difpen^;^tion of C h r i s t in his Church ; that only remains in 
 " Force to the End of the World :" which none of them oppofed. 
 
 That Evening, after the Meeting, we fet Sail under a fair and frefh Gale, 
 and, before it was dark, arrived fafe in Tarpalling Cove; where we had good 
 Harbour till next Morning, and then fet Sail for Dartmouth -, where we arrived Dartmouth, 
 about the firft Hour Afternoon, and lodged that Night at Pdeg Slocomb's, ; who 
 was one of our Company all this Time, and affifting us with his own Veflel, 
 which he navigated. 
 
 O N the 28th we went to PFarwick, to a Yearly Meetit;g, which was to be- Warwick, 
 gin there the Day following, at the Houfe of Benjam-n Barton ; and continued, 
 by Adjournment, to the Meeting-houfe at Providence the next Day, being the. Providence. 
 Firft of the Week. 
 
 On
 
 360 
 
 Anno 
 
 ^ 1704- 
 
 GrEenwich. 
 
 The LIFE, ^c, 
 
 O N the 3 ift I was at Greenwich, at another Meeting •, where I was concern- 
 ed to fpeak againft divers Enormities, and efpecially Whifpcring, Backbiting, 
 traducing, and vihfying, as Works of the Evil One, and of the Fleih; and, af- 
 ter the Meeting, feveral Perfons went to Ebenezer Slocomb, an honourable and 
 able Minifier of Truth, and made Confeflion of Things they had unjuftly report- 
 ed againft him, afking him Forgivenels. 
 
 Bcfton Neck. This Evening I went to Rowland Robinfon''s, at Bafton-Neck ; and, on the 
 firft of the Sixth Month, had a Meeting at a new Meeting-houfe in Narragan- 
 fet : It was not large, but fonie Perfons well latisfied and confirmed in their Un- 
 derftandings againft the pernicious Dodbrine of Predeftination, and for the fole 
 Baptifm of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Narraganfct. 
 
 Canonicut. O N the 2d we had a Meeting in Canonicut ; which wasfmall, but tender and 
 
 comfortable ; and, that Evening, I went over the Soiuid from this Ifland to 
 Newport. Newport on Rhode-IJland, and lodged at 'Thomas Cormli's. 
 
 O N the 3d I was at their Meeting, where likewife was Thomas Chalkley, and 
 the Lord gave us a comfortable Time in his good Prefence ; and there I reft- 
 cd two Days : and, on the Firft Day of the Week following, we were both there 
 again ; and the Meeting was, in the main, well : But an inconfiderate Bufy-bo- 
 dy, living thereabout, ftarted up to preach when he ought not, and thereby al- 
 tered the whole Courfe of the Meeting, and hurt the true and full Service of it; 
 to the Grief ot many, and my great Burden in particular ; fuch ignorant, blind, 
 and felf-preferhng Novices, being much more the Agents of theAdverfaryinfuch 
 Work than themfelves are aware of; and have done, and are like to do, un- 
 fpeakable Hurt in the Church of God among us, in this prefent Difpenfation ; 
 which calls aloud for effectual Remedy and Redrefs, through the Care and Appli- 
 cation of the true Minifters and Elders, in the Wifdom and impartial Autho- 
 rity of the Truth of God: That Evening I went to Gideon Freeborn^ ; and, 
 Vi kcopinfit. on the 7th, had a Meeting at Wiccopinfit ; after which feveral Perfons came to 
 me to the Friend's Houfe where I lodged, to enquire about Baptifm and the 
 Supper, who went away indifferently well fatisfied. 
 
 Taunton. On the 8th we had a Meeting at Taunton, at an Inn, a Friend having ob- 
 
 tained Leave of the Inn-keeper the Day before ; and, feveral Friends comino- 
 with me to the Place, we found the Juftice of Peace there, as the Tool of the 
 Prieft, labouring with the Inn-keeper to refufe us liis Houfe : But he proved to 
 be a Man of his Word ; telling the Juftice he had promifed us his Houfe for a 
 Meeting-place for that Time ; and feeing he did not know of any Law ao-ainft 
 it, he would not diliippoinc us. The Prieft was very angry, and threatened the 
 Inn-keeper; and he and the Juftice did what they could to hinder us : And the 
 Prieft having boafted fome Times before, how lie would confute the Ouakers 
 if any of them fliould come there, one Teajdak, a young Man of the Town 
 having a Love for Friends, invited the Prieft to the Meeting; tellino- him 
 That, if he could, he had now a fiir Opportunity to confute us; which he did 
 on purpofe to expofe the Prieft- in his Cowardice. 
 
 The Meeting being fet, there came a Company of the bafer fort of the 
 People, into the Porch and Entry of the Houfe, and behaved themfelves rude- 
 ly, by talking loud, and attempting to read fome fcurrilous, falfe, and libelous 
 Matters, in an Almanack, wrote by one Daniel Leeds of New Jerfiy, a rude in- 
 vidious Apoftatt ; but, at my Requeft, one in the Room, being a Lawyer, went 
 to them, and invited them in, deiiring tliem to con\e and hear witli Attention; 
 
 and
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. ^6t 
 
 and if they had any Thing reafonably and Ibberly to objcft after the Meeting, Anno 
 they niight do it, and be heard ■, but that it looked rude and unmannerly to 1 704. 
 Hand cavilling there, and oppofing they knew not what •, for they had not yet 
 heard any Thing to objeft to : The more fober fort came in, and flaid in the 
 Meeting, and the Landlord would not fuffer the reft to come in to read the Al- 
 manack •, but told fome of them, who inveighed againft him for letting us have 
 a Meeting in his Houfe, That we had befpoke a Dinner, and it was makinr^ 
 ready ; and if we had a-mind to exercife fome Devotion in the mean time, be- 
 ing a devout religious People, what was that to him, or them ? The Meetinc- 
 being full gathered, in came the ancient, grave, and weak Juftice, with a Mef- 
 fage from the Prieft, if not with Words put into his Mouth by him ■, and, be- 
 ing uncovered, addrefled himfelf to me to this Purpofe : " Sir, I. do not ap- 
 " prove of this ; we have a Paftor of our own, we need not Strangers to teach 
 " us ; neither ought any Stranger to teach here, without his Leave, among his 
 " Flock." 
 
 Then faid the Lawyer, who was much our Friend, " If they break any 
 " Law, you may profecute them by the Law •," but he knew they had no Law 
 then againft our Meeting. Then faid I to the Juftice, " We know nothing of 
 " any Paftor here, and we force none to hear us." He replied, " We cannot 
 " help your Ignorance." I anfwered, " A Man may be ignorant of that, and 
 " know more of the Things of God than your Paftor: But as to the other 
 " Point, where there is no Laiv, there is no TrmifgreJJion ; if we break any 
 " Law, thou may ufe thy Authority in profecuting us : but if there is no Law, 
 " thou oughteft not to be difpleafed with us, nor difturb us ; for the Law ought 
 " to be thy Pleafure in all thy Office, fo far as it is juft according to the Will 
 " of God i nor ftiouldeft thou meddle without it." 
 
 Upon this the Juftice was willing to be going, faying, " I cannot difpute. 
 Then I acknowledged his Civility, in retiring fo peaceably, which was only in- 
 to a Clofet, adjoining the Room where we met ; where he ftaid all the Time 
 of the Meeting. Many Things were opened to the People, and feveral of them 
 were tenderly affefted under the Teftimony of Truth : But, in the Time of 
 the Meeting, came in a very angry bigotted Member of the Prieft, and violent- 
 ly forced his Son, being a Youth, out of the Meeting, with a rude Voice •, but the 
 Power of Truth being over all, fo it continued to the End, and over the Head 
 of all Oppofition: and, the Lord being with us, gave us a comfortable Time 
 in his good Prefence ; the hireling Paftor never appearing to fave his Flock. 
 The Meeting being over, the Lawyer gave me Thanks, as their Manner is, for 
 the good Counfel given, as he called it ; and went away very well fatisfied. 
 
 Then came in an ancient Man, and afked me, " What Scriptures have 
 " you for Womens' Preaching.'" (fome of our Preachers of that Sex being 
 there.) I aflced him again, " What is the Reafon of thy Queftion ? Doft thou 
 " afk it as prefuming there is no Authority for Womens' Preaching, or to be 
 " better informed about it?" Upon this he was a little down-, but, recoverino- 
 his Affurance, he faid, " Paul permitted not a Woman to fpeak in the Church." 
 
 I R E PLi E D, " That we ought not to interpret the Apoftle's Words in that 
 " Place fo as to make him contradift them in another •, for that would de- 
 " ftroy his Authority, and render his Teftimony null: But feeing he told the 
 " Difciplcs in that Day, how Women, as well as Men, ought to be qualified 
 ^' and tircumftanced, and how to behave themfelves in the Time of their pu- 
 
 4 Y • " bhck
 
 l6z The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno " blick Exercifes of preaching and praying in their Congregations, he cotild not 
 1704. " be againft all Womens' Preaching in the Church •, but only againft luch who 
 " themlclves wanted Inftruftion : Befides, if Women were not to appear fo in 
 " the Church, the Prophecy of Joel could not be true and fulfilled ; which 
 " Confequence all Chrillians ought to guard againft, and be cautious how they 
 " oppofc the Miniflry of Women more than of Men, being alike included in this 
 " Prophecy :" Upon this the Man was filent, and fat down. 
 
 But two of his Sons being prefent, one of them afked me, " How do you 
 " know that it is not a Spirit of Dclufion which you are guided by, feeing 
 "God fends fucli a Spirit upon Men, as well as a good Spirit ?" I anfwered, 
 " That if he had known the Spirit of Truth, which leadeth into all Truth, he 
 " would have known him to be a moft felf-evidencing Spirit; and when he 
 " appears in the Heart and Mind of Man, cannot deny, but afient that he is 
 " Truth ; and that the Things which he manifefts, and requires his Servants 
 " to declare, are true : But that thofe who afked fuch Queftions knew him not, 
 " but were in Darknefs." Then I afked him, " By what Medium does thou 
 " difcover the Sun in the open Heavens?" His Brother perceiving the Intent 
 of my Queftion, faid, " Brother, you are gone ;" but he made me no An- 
 fwer : Then I continued, and faid, " That as the Body of the Sun is not ta 
 " be feen or known but by his own I-ight, and fully feen by that-, neither is 
 " the Spirit of Truth, which is divine, eternal, eflential Light, known, or 
 *' knowable but by himfelf-, but is felf-evident unto every Eye which he hath 
 " opened, though the Children of the Darknefs of this World do not know 
 *' him: He who believeth hath the Witnefs in himfelf-, and he who hath not 
 " the Spirit of C h R i s t, who is that Truth, is none of his. But as to G o d's 
 " fending a falfe Spirit to deceive Men, I know what thou means, as all fuch Ig- 
 " norants do. That none can be certain by what Spirit they are led, whether 
 " Truth or Error -, which is the fame as to fay, that all Mankind are in utter 
 " Darknefs, and muft ever fo remain :" Then 1 demanded his Proof He inftan- 
 ced in the falfe Prophets, mentioned in the Firft Book of the Kings of Ifrael i 
 I Kin'^s xxii. where it is faid. Who Jhall perfuade Ahaby that he may go up and fall at Ramoth 
 20,-23. Giliad? And there came forth a Spirit, end flood before the Lord, and faid, I wilt 
 perfuade him : And the Lord faid unto him, JVherewith ? And he faid, I will go 
 forth, and I will be a lying Spirit in the Mouth of all his Prophets. And he faid. 
 Thou fhalt perfuade him, and prevail alfo : Go forth and do fo. Now therefore 
 behold, the Lord hath put a lying Spirit in the Mouth of all thefe thy Prophets ; 
 and the Lord hath fpoken Evil concerning thee. " Here, faid he, is a plain In- 
 " ftance where God fent a lying Spirit into the Mouths of all the King's Pro- 
 " phets, to delude and deceive him ; and what hath been may be : Plow then 
 " can you be certain whether you are deluded or not ? Whether led by a right 
 "' or wrong Spirit ?" 
 
 I A N s w E R E D, " Abab was a very wicked King, and did Evil in the Sight 
 
 *' of the Lord, above all who went before him, and yet the Lord fuffer- 
 
 " ed him to reign in his Courfe : And the King of Affyria making an unjuft 
 
 — XX. I, 3, " War againft him and the People of Ifrael; and, trufting in his great Army 
 
 10, 13. «c jnj f^iig Gods, and defpifing the only true God, the Lo r d, for the Illu- 
 
 26. " ftration of his own Power, the Convincement of Ahab, and Confirmation of 
 
 " Ifrael, that the Lord alone is God, and that the Idols of the Heathens 
 " were no Gods, and could not fave nor deliver their Worftiippers ; for the 
 
 " Confutation of the Errors of the Heathen King and his People ; for the Pu- 
 
 ^1. ' " nifli.ment of his Luxury, Treachery, Ingratitude, and Blafphemy of him and 
 
 " hits
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. a^3 
 
 " his People, and for the Safety of the People of the Lord; arid alfo tor Anno 
 
 "• the Puniniment of Ahab for thcNegleft of his Duty in his Office, in not ex- 1704. 
 
 " ccuting the Will of the Lord upon Benbadad, a wicked, boafting Blafphe- iKingsxx42 
 
 " mtr, the Man the Lord had appointed to utter Deftruftion, for his Pride, 
 
 " Injufticc, and Wickednefs. And ylhali killing Naboth, and continuing in 
 
 " Idolatry, filled up the Meafure of his "Wickednefs ; and then the Lord, 
 
 "• by the Prophet Elijah^ denounced his heavy and juft Judgments upon him. — xxi.19,26 
 
 " And that the Word of the Lord might be fulfilled upon Jhab^ who truft- 
 
 " ed in Ins four hundred lying State Prophets, he fuffered a lying Spirit to de- 
 
 *' ceive them all, and himfelf alfo, to his final Deftruftion. 
 
 XXII. 2C • 
 
 23. 
 
 " And as fuch falfe State Prophets are always Flatterers, and Deceivers of 
 " Kings and great Men of the Earth, having their Perfons in feeming Admi- 
 " ration, becaufe ot the Interefts, Preterments, and Advantages to thcmfclves'i 
 " fo here we liave a notorious Inftance ot it, and in the Behaviour of Zedekiah, 
 
 " the moft impudent and chief-like of all thefe Impoftors, to Micaiah, the Pro- i'j24> 
 
 " phet of the Lord, fmiting him on the Cheek, with a Lie in his Mouth, 34»3 • 
 " before two Kings, without Repfoot from either of them, efpecially not from 
 •' Ahab his own Prince ; which partial Indulgence and Approbation is com- 
 " mon with fuch rebellious Perfecutors, throughout all Generations to this 
 " Day. 
 
 "But this being a particular Cafe, it noway follows, that God fends a 
 *' falfe Spirit to deceive fuch as fincerely feek unto him for Help, Diredion, 
 " aiid Counlel, in the Way of Life and Salvation ; but, on the contrary, invi- 
 *' teth all Mankind to look unto the Lord himielf, as he is the only true God, ^^^- ^v- 22. 
 " for Salvation. 
 
 " Again, the Apoftle Paul, fpeaking of the Gentiles^ and the Means which Rom.i.21,— 
 "God had atforded them for the Knowledge of himfelf, and by which alfo 28. 
 " they had once known the Lo r d, hath declared. That when they knew Gody 
 " they did not glorify hiw as God, neither were thankful ; but became vain in their 
 *' Imaginations, and their foolifh Heart was darkened, and they degenerated into 
 " miferable Idolatry : Wherefore the Lord gave them up to their own Lufts and 
 " vile AffeSlions ; and even as they did not like to retain God in their Knowledge, 
 " God gave them over to a reprobate Mind, to do thofe Things which are not con- 
 " venient ; and then enumerates a large black Catalogue of monftrous and mor- 
 *' tal Sins, as the Confequences of their Apoftacy from God, and Knowledge 
 " of the Lord, v/hich once they had. 
 
 "It was not therefore, nor is it, by any Adl of G o d, or fending a Spirit 
 " of Delufion into Mankind, or any of them, that they are deluded, deceived, 
 " or mifguided ; but it is the natural Confequences and Fruits of their own Ne- 
 *' glefts, Adts, and Doings : For the Lord Jesus Christ gives Encou- 
 " ragement unto all to come unto the Father for Help -, for after he had rea- 
 " foned tenderly with his Hearers, ^fter the Manner of Men, he draws this 
 " gracious Conclufion, If ye then being evil, know how to give good Gifts unto Lukexi. 13. 
 " your Children ; bow much more pall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit 
 " to them that ajk him. 
 
 "By all which, duly confidered, it appears, that the Lord doth not fend 
 " a Spirit of Delufion upon Mankind, or any of them, to deceive them, with- 
 " out a Caufe in themfelves, efpecially thofe who believe in him, and feek un- 
 " to him for the Help and Guidance of his Holy Spirit ; but for the Punifli- 
 
 " meat
 
 5(^4 '^^'^ LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno " merit of the Wicked and Ungodly, leaving them to themfelves and their own 
 1704. <' Lufts for their Punifhment and Dcftrudlion, when they have forfaken the 
 " Lord-, and not that the Lord fends a lying Spirit to deceive any before 
 " they have griveoufly offended him, as thou hail falily fuggcfted : but as for 
 " fuch as fcek the Lord in Sincerity and Truth, defire after him and love 
 " him, he hears their Prayers, and grants them the greateft of all Blefilngs, the 
 " Manifeftation of his Holy Spirit, to lead and direft them out of all deluding, 
 " Soul-killing Evils and Errors, into all Righteoufnefs, Truth and Salvation. 
 
 " Bu T as it was of old, fo it is now; there is a Generation, who, chufing 
 " their own Ways, and refufing the Way of the Lord, rejeft fuch as are fent 
 " of t!ie Lord to inftruA them, and heap to themfelves 'teachers after their 
 " own Hearts Lufls, having itching Ears ; not fent of God, but of Men ; not 
 " infpired by the Holy Spirit of God, but running in their own Wills and 
 " Time, arc deceived, and deceive others thro' the lying Spirit of this World j 
 " running for Rewards •, teaching, and that falfly, for Hire •, for the Love of 
 " Money to fupply their Bellies, and not for the Love of Souls and of Truth : 
 "• Such know not the Truth, neither do their Followers ; and it is juffc with 
 " the L o R d to fuffer the fame lying Spirit, the God of this World, to blind- 
 " fold them, that both the Blind and the Leaders of them may fall into the Ditch 
 " of Errors and Confufion, as already they are at this Day, retufing to be helped 
 " by the Grace of God, come and offered unto them in and by Christ, 
 " the powerful and peaceable Saviour." And, finally, recommending this Per- 
 tCor.xiii. 5. vcrter to the Confideration of v/hat the Apodle wrote to the Corinthians, Ex- 
 amine yourfelves whether ye be in the Faith ; prove your cwnfelves : Know you 
 not your own felves, how that Jefus Chrifl is in you, except ye be Reprobates, the 
 whole Matter ended ; to the Honour of Truth, and Satisfaftion of many pre- 
 fent : And, after refrefhing ourfelves at the Inn, we went back that Evening 
 " EG Wiccopinfit . 
 
 Canofticut. O N the 9th, we went into the Ifland of Canonicut, and lodged at William 
 
 Anthony's, : but, calling at Samuel Hicke's in our Way, we were ftaid there by a 
 Shower of Rain, and, in the mean time, came in a Baptift Teacher ; who, en- 
 quiring after News from the Army gone into the Eafl towards Canada, againfl 
 the French, took occafion to tell us, with Ibme Oftentation, he had two Sons 
 there ; and, by Degrees, we fell into Converfation upon the Subjedt of War : 
 He pleaded the NeceiTity of the temporal Sword in general, and the Continu- 
 ance of it under the Gofpel, as well as before, under tlie Umbrage of the Sup- 
 prefTion of Robbers, Thieves, Murderers, and other Evil-doers ; and that when 
 any one Nation would unjuilly invade another, and her Rights, Properties, and 
 Privileges, it is as Murder, Theft, Rapine, Pyracy, and the like : So that fince 
 the Magiftrate (and the King as Chief) beareth not the Sword in vain, it is not 
 
 Rom. xiii. 4. wholly taken away by the Gofpel, fo long as Magillracy, and the Caufe and 
 Ufe of it remain. 
 
 T o this I anfwered, " That the Sword there mentioned is not, as I appre- 
 " hend, the Sword of Deftruftion, Nation againft Nation, nor the NecefTity 
 " of the Ufe of fuch a Sword in the Civil State ; but rather the Sword of Civil. 
 " Juftice, in execution of Civil, Temporal, and Righteous Laws ; whereby the 
 " Civil Magiftrate is, or ought to be, a Terror to the Evil-doer, and a Safeguard 
 " and Praife to them that do well." 
 
 He replied, " That if Force by Arms were not to be ufcd, in apprehend-
 
 of T H M .d' S ST R T. 
 
 ^6s 
 
 '■' ing Thieves, Robbers, and the like, they would not fubmit to be apprehended Anno 
 
 " End brought to Jiiftice, but go on by Force to dotliofe Mifchiefs." 
 
 1704. 
 
 (C 
 
 <c 
 
 <c 
 « 
 (I 
 c< 
 <c 
 <( 
 <l 
 
 To this I replied, " That Magiftracy being God's Ordinance, to that and 
 other good, focial, ' and lalutary Ends, the Countenance of God is with 
 the Civil Officer in his juft Profecution and Execution of his Office •, and the 
 Almighty having Power over all Spirits, ibr the moft part ftrikes a Terror 
 into Evil-doers, when they are only difcovered and accufed ; fo that it is very 
 rare that any luch refill: the Powers by Force, but by Stealth only : Flowevcr, 
 Force may be allowed in this Cafe, in the Fland of a proper Officer, whofe 
 Bufinefs and Duty it is to apprehend and bring to Juftice furious and incorri- 
 gible Tranfgreffors of righteous Laws and Ordinances of Men, tor the juft 
 Rule uf Countries and Nations. But here I mufh diftinguifli bctv^een the 
 Kingdom of Christ, and the Kingdoms of this World, in order to bring 
 this Matter to a right Underftanding and Period: The Lord, by feveral ot 
 his Prophets, hath foretold, that he pall judge among many People, and rebuke Ifa.ii. 4. 
 Jlrong Nations afar off; and they fljall heat their Swords into Plow-Jljares, and M'cah iv. 3; 
 their Spears into Pruning Hooks ; Nation Jhall not lift up a Sword againfl Nation, 
 neither flwdlthey learn War any more. This is to come to pafs under the New 
 Covenant, of which Christ the Son of G o d is Mediator ; whofe Dodtrine 
 rends to the fulfilling of it, in all who believe and obey the Gofpel: For he 
 faitli. Ye have heard that it hath been faid, T^hou Jhalt love thy Neighbour and Mat. v. 43, 
 hate thine Enemy; but I fay unto you. Love your Enemies, blefs them that curfe 44- 
 you, and do good to them that hate you ; and pray for them who defpitefully life — 22,28,48, 
 ycu, and perfecute you ; and that we Ihould not be angry without a Caufe, 
 nor luft : and fo preaching Perfeftion, which being accomplifhed in the Heart, 
 by the holy and powerful Spirit of him who preached this DoiStrine, all Luit 
 is taken away and deftroyed ; whether it be the Luft of the Flefh, the Lufb 
 of the Eye, of Vain-glory, of Power, Domination, Self-exaltation, Covetouf- 
 nefs ; the Luft of Envy, Revenge, Prehcminence, and the like ; which are the 
 Ground and Caufe of Wars and Fightings among carnal Men, as faith the 
 Apoftle James, From whence come Wars and Fightings among you? Com-e they y^^gj ^^ , 
 not from hence, even from your Lujls that war in your Members? Te luft and 4, 5. 
 have not ; ye kill and defire to have, and cannot obtain ; ye fight and war, yet 
 ye have not, hecaufe ye afk not ; ye afk and receive not, becaufe ye ajk amifs, that 
 ye may confume it upon your Lufts : ye y^dulterers and Ad-ultereffcs, know ye not 
 that the Friendfhip cf the World is Enmity with God. Now, though the Kings 
 and Kingdoms of this World may be at War, and do and will make War 
 one againft another for a Time, until the Kingdom of C h r is t fhall prevail 
 over all, yet the Kingdom of C h r i st is not of this World, as he faid unto 
 Pilate, If my Kingdom were cf this World, then would my Servants fight, that Johnvviii.36. 
 I fhould not be delivered to the Jews-, but now is my Kingdom not from hence. ''^ 
 
 T o this he anfwered, " That was only at that Time that they would not 
 fight ; for if they had fought, he had not been delivered to the fews to be 
 crucified ; and fo his Death, and ail the Advantages of it to Mankind, hin- 
 dered ; But upon any other juft Occafion they might, and ftill may fight." 
 
 To this I replied, " That this Interpretation, or rather Perverfion, of the 
 Scripture, would deftroy the Kingdom of Ch ri st in the Nature, Infancy, 
 and End of it •, denying Chrift to have a Kingdom on Earth, but only du- 
 ring his bodily Prefence with his Difciplcs, and v/ould obftruft the Way for 
 the accomplilhing the Prophecies of the Prophets before mentioned, and op- Ifa ii. 4. 
 pofs the whole Tenor and End of the Gofpel: For the Proclamation of the MicaJiiv. 3: 
 
 4 Z « Ce-
 
 366 The L I F E, d^'c. 
 
 Anno " Cekftial Harbingers of the Prince of Peace, in notifying the Birth of the Firft- 
 
 1704. " born into the World, for the Salvation, not Deilruftion, of the Lives of 
 
 Lukeii. 13. " Mankind, was alter this Manner, Glory to God in the higheft, and, en Earthy 
 
 H- ... " Peace, Gocd-ivill towards Men. And as he was fent into the World in the 
 
 jo 111 111. I . j^ j^ove of the Father, lb the whole Tenor of his Doclnne, and Example of 
 " Life, was for Peace and Love ; and in that Love, and the Power and divine 
 
 Heb. ii. 9. " Virtue of it, he yielded up his Life and Body on the Crofs, an adequate Pro- 
 
 1 JO nil. 2. ,j pitiation for the Sins of the whole World, and to declare the Mercy of God 
 
 " to all Mankind. And it is evident that the Je-ns crucified Christ, in de- 
 *' fence and lupport of this fame political Principle and DoiStrine, of Self-de- 
 " fence by War and Fighting, for the Prefervation of their State againfl the 
 " Remans; though their Policy prov'd their utter Ruin in the Sequel : for, faid 
 John XI. 47, ct they, after Christ had raifed Lazarus from the dead, What do we ? For this 
 lifts iv. 1 6. " ■'^^f-« doth many Aliracles •, ' if we let him thus alone ^ all Men will believe on him, 
 " and the R.mans fljall come, and take awiy both cur Place and Nation ; which 
 " plainly demonftrates, that the Difciples and Followers of C h r i st were not 
 " of fighting Principles, but otherwife taught by him to love even their Ene- 
 " mies ; and his whole Dofhrine tended to Mercy, Peace, Truth, and Love. 
 " And the Apoftle faith concerning theMembers and Subjefts of the Kingdom of 
 
 2 Cor. X. 5, "Christ in this W^orld, For though we walk in the Flejh, we do not war 
 4« 5- " after the Flefh -, for the Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty 
 
 " through God, to the pulling down of flrcng Holds, cafiing down Imaginations, [or 
 *' Reafonings) and every high 'Thing which exalteth itfelf againft the Knowledge of 
 " God, and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Cbrijt. 
 
 Eph.vi.io,— " Again; Finally, my Brethren, be flrong in the Lord, and in the Power of 
 
 18. " his Might : Put on the whole Armour of God, that ye mcy be able to fland againft 
 
 \7Y^' ^. ^' " the JVAes of the Devil; for we wrefile not againft Flefh and Blood, but againff 
 
 '' '■'■ Principalities, againfl Powers, agairfi the Rulers of the Darknefs of this World, 
 
 " againft fpiritual IFickcdncfs in h-gh Places : Wherefore take unto you the whole 
 
 " Armour of God, that ye may be able to withftand in the evil Day ; and having done 
 
 " (or overcome) all, to ftand. Stand therejcre, having your Loins girt about with 
 
 " Truth; and having on the Breaft-plate of Rightcoufnefs, and your Feet fhod with 
 
 " the Preparation of the Gofpel of Peace : Above all, taking the Shield of Faith, 
 
 " wherewith ye fhall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked ; and take 
 
 " the Helmet cf Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; 
 
 " praying always, with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, and watching 
 
 " thereunto with all Perfeverance, and Supplication for all Saints. 
 
 " As the Kingdom of Christ is not of this World, he governs by his 
 *' Holy Spirit, in and over fuch as are not of this World, but are given him 
 " out of the World -, over whom, in all Ages and Succeffion of Time, he hath 
 " ruled in Righteoufnefs, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoft; and Ihall yet 
 " reign, till, by Degrees, the Kingdoms of this Wcj'ld fhall all become the King- 
 " doms of our God and his Chrift : and then (hall be an End of all Rule and Do- 
 " minion, but only of God, and the Lord Jesus; who fhall be all in all 
 " among the Children of Men : But until this be finiflied by Degrees, as it is 
 " now begun and proceeds, the Kingdom of Christ on Earth is, and fliali 
 " be, as at the firft, a holy Nation, a Royal Priefthood, a peculiar People, zea- 
 " lous, not to fight and deflroy, or to meddle with the Kingdoms or Rule of 
 " the World, but of good Works ; againft whom there is no Law, founded 
 " upon Righteoufnefs and Truth : But, until this be accomplifhed. Nation will 
 " lift up Sword againft Nation, and they will learn and exercife War; but as 
 
 " to
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, 5,^7 
 
 " to us, wc, through the Mercy and Goodnefs of G o d, are of thofe in whom this Anno 
 
 " Prophecy is begun to be fulfilled, and we can learn War no more: For as 1704. 
 
 " a Nation iTiall not be born in one Day, fo this Prophecy Jhall not be fulfilled" 
 
 " in one Generation, but in feveral; but, being fulfilled, fhall not fail any more 
 
 " for ever : But as for you, who are yet in Wars and Fightings, how are ye 
 
 " his Subjefts, or Members of his holy Nation, his Royal Priefthood, or peculiar 
 
 " People? Or how can you, until you obey his Dodrine, to love God above 
 
 *' all, to love one another in him, to love your Enemies, do good unto them who 
 
 " hate you, and pray for them who dcfpitefully ufe and perfecute you ? 
 
 " And as for us who do not fight with carnal Weapons, we meddle not 
 " with you who do, othcrwife than to perfuade you to leave that off, and be 
 *' enlifted under the fliving Banner of the Prince of Peace ; to believe in the 
 " divine Light of the Son of God -, to come out of the Spirit of this World, 
 *' in which is all Trouble, into the Spirit and Kingdom of Christ, in whom 
 *' there is perfeft Peace ; which, if ye will not do, we muft leave you to fight 
 " one with another, untill you are weary, and have the Recompence of it, one 
 " by another, in the natural Confequences of that deftrudive Evil ; with this 
 " Caution of the Apoftle neverthelefs. That if you bite and devour one another, 
 " take heed left ye be deftroyed one by another : And I defire you to leave us to 
 *' the Lord, to ferve him unto whom we belong, and fight in his Name, un- 
 *' der his Banner, againft the implacable and immortal Enemy of our Souls i 
 *' againil whom we find Warring fufficient, and Fighting enough daily, though 
 " we war not among you to Deftrudion, nor one with another to the Breach 
 " of Peace." 
 
 By this Time the Spirit of my Opponent was overcome, and he was much 
 under for a while ; whereof being afliamed, and thinking to regain his Ho- 
 nour, by drawing me ofi" this Ground into the Water; thither he fled, and 
 I followed him: for he began a Difcourfe about Watrr Baptilm, in which I 
 found him pretty fubtle, but not weighty. We went into the Water, and out 
 of it; under the Water, and above it-, through Jfi^w's Water Bapt.fm, and 
 Antichnftian Rantifm-, through Dipping to Sprinkling-, and from the whole 
 to the one only permanent Baptifm of Christ by the Holy Ghoft, into one 
 holy Body the Church-, -which is his Body, the Fulnefs of htm who fiileth all in 
 all: The Particulars whereof I omit here, having writ largely upon that Sub- 
 je£t on feveral Occafions before -, but clofed this Difpute on this Manner : " That 
 " fince the Apoflle Paul was the Minifter of the Gofpel to tiie Gentdes, and 
 *' compleatly turnifhed with every Qualification neceffary to a Gofpcl Mimfler 
 " in fo great an OfKce, and yet had no Commiffion to baptize with Warr, it 
 *' is great Vanity and Prefumption in any one in this Age to pretend to it.'* 
 This ftrikirig at the Foundation of the Image, he could not bear any longer -, 
 but, being then fair Weather, haded away, and wc parted friendly ; which I 
 ever endeavour to do, after every Contefl for the Faith and Dodrine of C h ri s r, 
 with all Men ; my chief Aim being to convince and open the Underftandings 
 of Oppofcrs, and the Auditors, and not only Conquefl; this than that being 
 a much more noble and Chnftian End. 
 
 On the loth I was at a Monthly Meeting for Worfliip, at Fortfmotith: It Portfmouth" 
 was an open and good Meeting ; wherein the honeft Minded were comforted, 
 but tlie Hypocrites rebuked. 
 
 On the I itli I lodged at Jacob Moti'-i -, the Day following we had an ap- 
 pointed
 
 9^8 TJje LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno pointed Meeting at Jofepb Wanton's ; which was not large, being a very rai^y 
 1704. Day, but a pretty good Time we had through divine Goodnefs ; and that 
 Night I lodged there. 
 
 On the 1 2th I went to fee June Bull, (an ancient Friend -, who, in Time paft, 
 had gone with Mefiages to King Charles II. on behalf of Friends) and feveral 
 other Friends ; and that Night 1 lodged with T'bomas Cornell, junior. 
 
 On the 1 3th, being the Firft of the Week, I was again at the Meedng at 
 Newport. Newport ; which was large, and the beft and moft tender I was ever at there : 
 The Dodlrine of the Gofpel opening large and clear, and Truth in full Domi- 
 nion, and reigning over all, many Hearts being broken, fome of whom were 
 bold and hardy Commanders of Privateers •, to the great Honour and Glory of 
 the L o R D J which happened at this Expreffion in the Authority of Truth, 
 " That many there be, who arc fo courageous as Men, that they dare go on 
 " undaunted in the Face of great Ordnance and Cannon Shot, as contemning 
 " Death, and yet are fubducd and laid proftrate, by the foft and melting 
 " Reaches of that divine Love in their Hearts, in which the Lord Jesus 
 " laid do\7n his precious Life for the Redemption of their Souls." 
 
 Eofton-Neck. On the 14th I went oVer to Bojlon- Neck, to Rcivhnd Rchinfoti' s ; where I 
 met again with Thomas Chalklcy, who this lall Week had been vifiting Narra- 
 ganfet ; and we, having a Meeting appointed a little in our Way homeward, 
 were there the Day after : It was an open good Meeting, wherein many were 
 comforted and confirmed in the Truth ; and after this we went on our Way, 
 about ten Miles, to Samuel Perry's, and there lodged. 
 
 On the i6th we went thence to the Carpenters' Arms, an Inn near Seahrook 
 Ferry ; where we lodged that Night : and the Day following proving very 
 rainy and heavy riding, we put in at the Hart in KillingfwDrth ; (where, in my 
 firft Journey I had a Difpute with an old Prieft) but had no Difcourfe with any of 
 the People at this Time, they all being now filent : The Day becoming fair for" 
 a while, we fet forward ; but the Rain returning, we put in again at the White 
 Horle in Guildford, about the third Hour Afternoon ; where being made fen- 
 fible of the Operation of Truth, and the Love of it fpringing in my Heart, I 
 waited to know the Mind of the Lord therein, and found a Concern for a 
 Meeting in that Place, which I acquainted Thomas Chalkley with ; who liking 
 the Propo.fal, I told the Inn-keeper, we defired to fee fome of the more fober 
 fort of the People of the Place, and have a Meeting with them ; but he appre- 
 hending that the Magiftrates, by means of their Minifter, might blame him, 
 and do him fome Injury, for letting us have a Meeting in his Houfe, as is com- 
 mon with them in fuch Cafes, I defired hun to put Ibme he could truft upon 
 giving Notice among the Neighbourhood, that there were fome Quakers there, 
 and that would draw them, and fo we might have an Opportunity with them -, 
 for though as to ourfeives we feared not any Thing they could do, yet we were 
 cautious left we fiiould drav/ our Landlord into Blame, or Hazard of his Licence 
 to keep an Inn ; which they might have deprived him of on that Account. 
 This took with him, (for he was a frank-temper'd Man, and no Enemy to us) 
 and accordingly there came pretty many young Men in the Evening, and I put 
 the Landlord upon acquainting fome of them privately with our Inclinations to 
 have a Meedng, to which they were very ready ; and then I ftood up and in- 
 tormed them openly what we defired, and rhey were all willing : Then I told 
 them our Way is to fit in Silence, to wait upon God, until he might pleafe to
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 369 
 
 open fomething in our Underftandings for the Auditory ; and fo we all fat ftill : Anno 
 And the Lord having prepared my Heart, I was quickly ready, and had a 1704. 
 very open acceptable Time among them ; but not being long, Thomas Chalkley 
 concluded mc Meeting in Prayer, to our general Satisfadlion •, and feme of the 
 People in particular declared openly their Satisfaction with what had been faid •, 
 and we had great Peace in the Lord. We lodged there that Night ; and, on 
 the I Sth, went forward to StratfieU -, where, at the Inn, in the next Room to 
 us, was a very rude Company of the Profeffors, Independents or Presbyterians, 
 ot that Place, who kept almoft in continual Laughter and Folly ; but as we were 
 at Supper, our Landlady and a young Woman came in, and the youno- Wo- 
 man, addrefiing htrfelf very modeftly to us, faid, " I have often heard of your 
 " People and ProfelTion, but have never feen any of you before, and I would 
 " be heartily glad to have fome Difcourfe with you about your Principles ; for 
 " I defire to know the Truth, and to follow it." Then faid I, " Remember 
 *' what the L o R D C H R I s T faid. Wo unto them that laugh noii\ for they JJjall 
 " mourn : And what the wife Man faid, // is better to go to the Houfe of Mourn- 
 " ing than to the Houfe of Laughter: Adding, that God was about to turn the 
 " World upfide down, that that which is uppermofl; may be brought undermoft, 
 " and that which is loweft may be exalted above all ; and this put them both 
 " to deep and folid Silence. There are a fort of People in the World, who, pro- 
 " fefling to believe in C h r i s t the Son of God, yet live jovial, airy, wan- 
 " ton, unconcerned, unmortified Lives, during their whole Courfe in this Life ; 
 " and know no Crofs to their own Wills, but live and die in their Sins -, and yet 
 *' dream oi Salvation at laft, though under Woes from Christ, the Saviour 
 " of all who believe in him, follow and obey him : And as Man's own Lufts 
 " reign in him, in his natural State, and the Evil One ruleth him therein, and 
 " is uppcrmoft •, fo the Lamb (lain from the Foundation of the World, and cru- 
 " cified in Sodom and Egypt, the dark, ignorant, and depraved Hearts of wicked 
 " and ungodly Mankind, lies undermoft in themfelves ; but the Father of all, 
 " by his divine Light and Almighty Power, is com'e, and coming more and 
 " more, to dcftroy the Kingdom of Darknefs and Ignorance, and the Power 
 " of it, and to advance and eftablifli the Kingdom and Reign of C h r i st the 
 " Lord in the Hearts of Mankind •, of the Increafe of whofe Kingdom, Go- 
 *' vcrnment, and Peace, there Ihall be no End :" But it growing late, we foon 
 after retired to our Bed-chamber, recommending them to the Lord. 
 
 O N the 1 9th we Went on to Maranock, where we arrived late in the Even- 
 ing ; and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, we came in time to the 
 Meeting at fVefl-Chefter ; which was fmall, but comfortable : After which we 
 •went to vifit John Forrefi's Family, his Wife, Son, and Daughter being all ill of 
 a Fever and Flux; and that Evening we went over the Sound into Long-IJland, 
 and lodged at Dr Taylor's. 
 
 On the 21ft we went to Samuel Bowneh, at Fluf/jing; where, being well re- 
 ceived, and kindly entertained, as he commonly did all travelling Friends, we 
 ftaid till the next Day, and then had a Meeting at Jamaica ; which was fmall, 
 but comfortable: And here we went to vifit our Friend Samuel Bownas, ftill a 
 Prifoner for the Teftimony of Truth, by the lawlefs arbitrary Impofition of that 
 Government under the Adminiftration of Edward Hyde, commonly called Lord 
 Cornbury, an unreafonable and unjuft Perfecutor ; and that Night we lodged ac 
 Hugh Coper thvjait'^. 
 
 On the 23d we returned to Samuel Bowne's, and there ftaid that; Night, and 
 the Day after were at their Week-day Meeting at Flujlmg , which Avas large 
 
 5 A and 
 
 Wcft-Chefter.
 
 3"/0 The L 1 F Ej ^c. 
 
 Anno and well; and that Evening we went to Dr Rodman'' i; and, on the 25th, to 
 1704. William Moit's, at Great-Neck, where the Lord favoured us v/ith a comfort- 
 Great-Neck, able Meeting •, and that Night lodged at the Widow Pfar/ow's : and on the 26th, 
 being the Seventh of the Week, we were at the Quarterly Meeting at Weftbu- 
 ry ; which held two Days, and was very large and well, only lome of the 
 Ranters in that Ifland came and made a howling and hideous Noife, as is com-^ 
 mon with them, and thereby gave the Meeting fome Uneafinefs •, but all ended 
 in great Quietnefs and Peace ; and that Evening I returned to Samud Bovjue's, 
 at Flujhing. 
 
 New- York. O^ ^^he 28th I went to New-Tork -, and, the Day after, had a good and 
 comfortable Meeting there •, and though I had heard, two Months before I 
 went from home, that the Lord Cojiibury had threatened, that if ever I ihould 
 come into his Government he would confine me, for Ibme Words faWy alledged 
 to have been fpoken by me in my Teftimony, fome Time before in Maryland, 
 (with which he had no Bufinefs at New-Tork) about the National Church of 
 England, her Sacraments, Order, and Catechifm ; yet I did not go one Step 
 out of my Way, nor at all fliun him about it, either in my going into New- 
 England, or now in my returning, though the common Talk in thofe Parts was, 
 that a Warrant was lodged in the Sheriff's Hand againft me, at whole Houfe I 
 was feveral Times ; yet the Lord preferved me free, to the Service and Ho- 
 nour of the blefled Truth. 
 
 On the 30th we fct forward for Philadelphia, and the fame Day got over at 
 Amboy Ferry, into Eajl Jerfey, where we lodged at an Inn ; and, the next Day, 
 we rode 50 Miles, to Burlington, in IVeft Jerfey, and lodged that Night at Pe- 
 ter FrettveWs ; and the next Day, being the ift of the Seventh Month, to Phi- 
 ladelphia; where that Evening, and the next two Days, I felt more Opprefiion 
 of the Seed of Life in my Mind, than in all my Travels among the blind Pro- 
 felTors and Savages of New England ; the Caufe whereof may the Lord him- 
 felf difcover, reprove, judge, and amend, as in his Wifdom and Goodnefs it may 
 pleafe him, to his own Glory : To whom, for his mighty Aid, many Preferva- 
 tions, and great Love in this Journey, be immortal Honour, faith my Soul. 
 Amen. 
 
 Having finiflied my Journey to New-Tork, Long-IJland, Rhode-IJland, and 
 New-England, on the ill of the Seventh Month, 1704,, I fettled to the Bufinefs 
 of my Offices at Philadelphia ; in the mean time vifiting Meetings in Town 
 and Country, and in JVeJi Jerfey, as Occafion offered, until the r4th Day of the 
 1705. Second Month, 1705; and then I went from Philadelphia, about the third 
 Hour Afternoon, in order to vifit Friends in Maryland, Virginia, and North Ca- 
 rolina \ and that Night lodged at our Friend Caleb Pufey's, near Chefter ; and 
 Concord. next Day was at CoKcor^ Meeting; where the Truth was over all, and Things 
 were well i and that Night lodged at Robert Way'%. 
 
 The next Morning I fet forward, accompanied by George Harland, Jonathan 
 Cockfhall, Michael Harland, Evan Roberts, and feveral other Friends, and went 
 that Day over Stijquahannah River, and lodged at Thorhas Brown's; where, 
 though coming in late, and neither he, nor any of his Family, Friends, yet we 
 were kindly entertained. 
 
 O N the 1 7th we fent forward from thence, and arrived at William Pecket\ 
 in the Afternoon i who, though not under the Profeffion of Truth, yet was 
 
 zealous
 
 of T H M A S S T RT, 571 
 
 zealous for it : He received us kindly ; and, after fome Difcourfe with him a- Anno 
 bout a Meeting to be next Day at his Houfe, he was very willing v/e Ihould, 1705. 
 and fenc his Servants feveral Ways to give Notice in the Country : and in the 
 mean time he told me of fome Difcourfes which had happened am.ong the 
 People in thofe Parts fince I had been there before : For in a great Meeting on 
 that Side the Bay, I had, in a particular Manner, reminded the Members of the 
 National Church of England there prefent, (fincerely wifhing the eternal Salva- 
 tion of all who bear that Name) of what they call their Baptifmal Vow and 
 Promife, made in fo folemn a Manner before God and Man, when they are 
 fprinkled ; which they think is their Baptifm : for then they promife and vow 
 three great Things, by themfelves or Sureties ; 1/, To renounce the Devil and 
 all his Works, the_.Pomps and Vanity of this wicked World, and all the finful 
 Lulls of the Flelh. ?.dh. To believe all the Articles of the Chriftian Faith, And, 
 3^/>', To keep G o d's holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the fame all 
 the Days of their Lives ; and this they are taught, by their Priefts, to believe is 
 their Duty ; and as, by their publick Confeffion, they had broken all thofe Pro- 
 mifes and Vows-, and, from being made Members ot Christ, Children of 
 God, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, in their Baptifm, have fo far 
 renounced it, and are fo far fallen and degenerated from that State, as to have 
 erred and ftrayed from the Ways of the Lord like loft Sheep ; followed too 
 much the Devices and Dcfircs of their own Hearts ; offended againft the holy 
 Laws of Go D ; left undone thofe Things which they ought to have done ; and 
 done thofe Things which they ought not to have done ; fo that there is no Health 
 in them, but are milerable Sinners; and fo, from Time to Time, Year to Year, 
 to the End of their Days, ftill go on in the fame Way, and yet call Christ 
 the Son of God their Lord and Saviour, and God their Father-, though 
 they live and die in their Sins, and are not faved from them, if this Confeffion 
 be true: And therefore it might juftly be charged upon them by the Almighty 
 Creator, and Judge of the World, as Perjury in his Sight; and for that Caufe, 
 and in zeal for their Salvation, and, if poffible to awaken them from this deep 
 Sleep of Sin, I had cried aloud in that Meeting, " O finful Nation ! O perjured 
 *' People ! how greatly doft thou provoke the Moft High, by fo great Apoftacy 
 *' and Departure from the living God? How canft thou anfwer the Lord in that 
 *' Day which is haftening upon thee as the Wrings of a glorious Morning?'* 
 Exhorting them to repent, amend, return to the Lord, and perform their 
 Vows, with all Diligence and Sincerity, that io their great Sins might be pardon- 
 ed, blotted out, and remembered no more. And William Pecket informed me, 
 that John Hall, a Man of Eminence in that Country, and a Member of the Na- 
 tional Church ac that Time, and fome others, had been at that Meeting, and 
 offended with what I had faid ; and that he had invited him to this Meeting, 
 which was held at William Pecket^s, on the 1 8th Day of this Second Month, ac- 
 cording to Appointment ; where all were ftill and attentive, and we v/ere favour- 
 ed with divine Goodnefs. 
 
 After this Meeting I enquired of John Hall, What it was he and fome 
 others had takenOftence at in that Meeting fome Time before ? And it was chiefly 
 what is before related ; and that they thought I had faid, " If a Man was once 
 " in a good State, it was impoffible to fall from it." As to the firft I had faid 
 no more in effedt than William Perkins, a learned Minifter of the Church of 
 England had written, (William Pecket happening to have the Book by him) in 
 his Expofition of Chris t's Sermon upon the Mount, Page 151. which ap- 
 pears in thefe Words -, " Having fhewed what Perjury is, with the kinds there- 
 *' of, let us fee whether we be free from it : After Examination it will appear, 
 
 that
 
 371 The L I F E, ^'c 
 
 Anno "• that Mens' Lives are full of Perjury ; for where there is much Swearing ufii- 
 1705. " ally, there cannot but be much Perjury ; becaufe they who fwear in their com- 
 " mon Talk do forget their Oaths, as they do their Communication: But, fay 
 " we are clear from Perjury, yet are we in Danger of G od's heavy Judgments, 
 " for the Breach of our Vow in Bapiifm -, wherein we promife to believe in 
 " Go D, to ferve him, forfaking the World, the Flefli and the Devil : Now, 
 " the Breach of this Vow is as ill as Perjury ■, for therefore may Baptifm be 
 " called a Sacrament, becaufe of the Oath and Vow which a Chriftian maketh 
 " to God therein: For the Word Sacrament properly betokeneth the Oath 
 " which a Soldier maketh to his Captain for his Fidelity *. The breaking of 
 " JcJJ.ma's Oath unto the Gihionites, by Saul, caufed three Years Dearth, and 
 " was not fatisfied, but with the Blood of feven of Saul'i Kindred : And Zede- 
 " kiah's Perjury to the King of Babel, was one Caufe ot the Lord's fierce 
 " Wrath againft Jerufakm and the Princes thereof. Nov,-, fhall one Man's Per- 
 " jury caufe fuch Judgments, and fhall we not think, that, among other Sins, 
 " this our Perjury unto God, in breaking our Vow in Baptifm, bringeth upon 
 " us God's heavy Wrath, by Plague, Famine, and unfeafonable Weather ? 
 " Wherefore, let the Confideration hereof perfuade us to Temperance, and a 
 " more confcionable Care of performing our Vow unto God." 
 
 " Thus this learned and religious Author of the Church o^ England, makes 
 " the Breach of their Baptifmal Vow, plain Perjury, or full as bad, incurring 
 " the Wrath and Judgments of God ; and if fo then, O perJHr'd England! 
 " In laying whereof, you may fee I faid nothing in that Meeting, on that Head, 
 " but what a famous Minifter of your own Church had faid and written long 
 " before -, and you are not yet reformed, but ftill remain the fame, or like mi- 
 " ferable Sinners. 
 
 " A N D as to your alledging I faid, If a Man was once in a good State, it was 
 " imfoffible to fall from it, I did not fay lb ; for that would have contradifted 
 " what went before •, and 1 have ever been of another Judgment : And befides, 
 " that would have been contrary to the known Teftimony of the Scriptures \ 
 " for Adam and Eve were once in a good State, yet fell from it : And the Au- 
 
 Heb.vi.4,5,6. " thor to the Hebrews teacheth. That // is impoffible for thofe who were once en- 
 " lightened, and have tafted of the heavenly Gift, and were made Partakers of the 
 " Holy Ghofl, and have tafted the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World 
 " to come, if they floall fall away, to renew them again unto Repentance ; feeing 
 
 _ ^ " they crucify to themfehes the Son of God afrefh, and put him to open Shame. And 
 
 ' " ao-ain •, For if ye fin wilfully, after that ye have received the Knowledge of the 
 
 I Cor X 1 2 " 'Truth, there remaineth no more Sacrifice for Sins, but a certain fearful looking 
 " for of Judgment and fiery Indignation, which fhall devour the Adverfaries: So 
 " that you have all miftaken what I delivered in that Meeting, and have not 
 " done well to lie under it lb long, but fliould have told me of it then." They 
 owned that, and I added, 
 
 " ]/, That if Mankind, in their Infancy, were Members of Ch ri st, they 
 " were without Sin ; for he is hcly and feparated from Sinners ; and is not Head 
 *' of a finful unclean Body, but of a pure holy Body, the Church, which is his 
 " Body, the Fulnefs of him, who fillet h all in all. 
 
 " idly, H E who is a Child of God, is born of G o d ; and he who is born 
 
 " of 
 
 * Militias facrati propter juramentum dicebantur milites, P'a-gctius de re milil.
 
 of THOMAS S T RT 575 
 
 *' of God finmth not, nor can do ; for the Seed of God remaineth in him, and he Anno 
 " cannot fin. ^lo^. 
 
 " o^dly, H E who renounceth the Devil and all his Works, at the eighth Day 
 " of his Age, or fooner, according to yovlr Canon, renounces all Sin ; tor all 
 " Sin is of the Devil : And if he forfakes all Sin at that Age, he never fins at 
 " all, if this be true. 
 
 " ifthly. He who keeps God's holy Will and Law, and Commandments, 
 *' and walkt'th in the fame all the Days of his Life, never finneth : And if all this 
 " be done, it is Perfciliou indeed. 
 
 " ^thly, H E who believeth all the Articles of the Chriftian Faith, cannot err 
 " in Faith; but feeing Faith is not Man's Acquifition, but the Gift of God, 
 " no Man can procure it for himfelf, much lefs can hd procure, or fafely engage 
 " it for another: But if it were true that all this were had upon your Baptifm, 
 " as ye call it, in your Infancy, then fee what miferable and dreadful State ye 
 " are fallen into -, for after all this, even in your old Age, inftead ot renouncing 
 *' the Devil and all his Works, you have erred from the Way of G o d like 
 " loft Sheep ■, and it is the Spirit of Error, not of C h r i s t, which leads Man- 
 " kind aftray from G o d ; for the Spirit of Christ leadeth into all Truth. 
 
 " 6thly, Yt3u have offended againft the holy Laws of G o d, you fay •, and 
 " fuch Offences are not of Chris t, but of Antichrift : You have left undone 
 " thofe Things which you ought to have done, and done thofe Things which 
 " you ought not to have done -, and, from Members of Christ and Children 
 " of G o D, you are become miferable Sinners : fo that if that be true which ye pre- 
 " tend to in your Baptifm, how great is your Fall ! for he who is an Inheritor, 
 " is in PoffefTion of the Inheritance, and enjoyeth it, as he who is only an Heir 
 " waiteth in Expeftancy, until the Time of inheriting fhall come : If then ye ■ 
 " had been Inheritors (that is, Poffeffors) of the Kingdom of Heaven in your 
 " Infancy, with Christ and his Holy Angels, ye muLl now needs be fallen from 
 " Heaven, and from Christ, and the Company of the Holy Angels of 
 " GoD, with the apoftate Angels, and in Communion with them, by your 
 " own Affertion. How then fhall you be reftored ? being as the withered 
 " Branches, out of your own Mouths condemned, cut off from the Body of 
 *' Christ, from being Members of him : For the Members of Chris t, 
 " while fuch, are not miferable Sinners, but are redeemed from all Iniquity, by 
 " the Life of Christ, and purified as a peculiar People unto God, zealous 
 " of good Works, and not devoid of faving Health ; but healed by him, who 
 " is the Health of all Nations, to be teftified in due Time ? But the Dodtrine 
 " ye are taught cannot be true •, ye are not regenerated nor born again in your 
 " Rantifm, as you ignorantly and miferably imagine-, your dark and blind Lea- 
 " ders have caufed you thus to err, and lead you thus aftray, for if you had 
 " then been born again of the incorruptible Seed of the Word of G o d, fo ma- 
 " ny grofs Sins would not now be reigning in you, as now appear •, fince he that 
 " is born of God finneth not." 
 
 To this Purpofe was what I had faid, and now repeated unto them •, who did 
 not contradict any Thing, but were very kind -, and John Hall in particular told 
 me, that though he had been blamed for fuffering a Meeting in his Flouie, yet 
 he had flood his Ground over them who did fo -, having Right to entertain in' 
 his own Houfe, fuch fober Perfons and Neighbours as he thouglit fit : And fo 
 
 ^ B I
 
 g74 ^Z^^"- L I F E^ csyc. 
 
 Anno I parted with the Company in very good Friendfhip, after fome more Conver* 
 1705. faticn with other Strangers, who had alfo been in this Meeting. 
 
 That Evening we v/ent forward and lodged at Jchn Hay^s, he and his Wife 
 Patapfco. being friendly •, and, on the 19th, had a Meeting at Patapfco : We were favour- 
 ed with a ienfible Degree of divine Life with us, but not ii. fuch Aboundmgs as 
 at lome other Times and Places. There had been leveral lately convinced in 
 thofe Parts, and particularly Richard Cromwell^ who had been a Juftice of the 
 Peace •, and having been convinced of Truth the laft Time I was that Way, (lands 
 nobly, having diveiled himfclf of all thofe Troubles attending that Office, and 
 divers other Incumberances in the Way of true Religion. He invited us to his 
 Houfe •, where we lodged that Night, and were kindly entertained : On the 20th 
 we went forward to Dr MorJccai Mocr's ; where we lodged that Night, and 
 Weft River, ftaid next Day; and on the 22d, being the Firft of the Week, were at IVeft-Ri- 
 ver Meedng ; which was fliut up and hard in the Beginning of it -, but at the 
 Pleafure of him who openeth, and none can fhut, and when he fhutteth, none 
 can open the Way and Fountain of Life, Truth broke through at laft, and all 
 was v/ell and comfortable : After the Meeting we went up to Samuel Galloway' Sf 
 his Wife lying very ill •, with whom, and the Family and fome Friends, we had 
 an open comfortable Time in Prayer, the Love of G o d, and his good Prefence, 
 being plentifully with us ; and fhe was much refreflied, faying. That though the 
 Lord had not been wanting to her, yet flie had not had fuch a Seafon of his 
 Goodnefs for about fix Months before, during the Time of her Illnefs hitherto. 
 At her Requeft we ftaid there that Night, and were very well, eafy, and com- 
 fortable. 
 
 O N the 23d we went to Richard Sno'wdoii'%, and had a Meeting there the Day 
 after ; and from thence I went home with Dr Moor^ where I ftaid tliat Night ; 
 and, on the 25th, wrote Letters to Philadelphia and England. 
 
 O N the 26th, T went to TF'^-iJ/^'fr Meeting, which was veiy open and com- 
 fortable -, and that Evening went home with Samuel Chue to Herring-bay. 
 
 Herring- O N the 27th I had an appointed Meeting at //ifmw^-Crff^ ; which was like- 
 
 wife very open, and Friends generally fatisfied -, and from thence I returned with 
 Samuel Chue, and the next Evening went back to Dr Moor's. 
 
 On the 29th, being the Firft of the Week, we had a Meeting at one of the 
 Doctor's Quarters, beyond the ^lYtr Patuxent; where no Meeting is fettled, 
 nor had there been any in that Place but once before : Our Meeting was indif- 
 ferent large, being at an Out-fettkment, and was quiet and well. That Evening 
 I went back to Lyon-Creek^, to Richard Harrifon's ; where I ftaid that Night, 
 and the next Day. 
 
 CliiFa. On the ift of the Third Month, the Quarterly Meeting being at Samuel Chue' s, 
 
 we were there : It was well and open -, and thither alfo came Jojeph Glaijler, from 
 Cumberlandy and with him Jacob Simcock, from Penjylvania, they having been 
 in Virginia. That Night we ftaid at Samuel Chile's ; and the Meeting holding 
 part of the next Day alfo, we were there-, and the Day following I went to Jlra- 
 ham Jones at the Cliffs; where we ftaid till the 5th, and then returned to Ri- 
 chard Jones's i and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, we had a com- 
 fortable Meeting, at the Meeting-houfe at Cliffs, the powerful and blefled 
 
 Truth being over all. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. i^^ 
 
 O N the 7t!i wc went to Patnxent, and lodged with Daniel Rawlings ; and Anno 
 the Day following had a Meeting at the Meeting-houfe there; and that Even- 1705- 
 ing vve returned to Richard Jones''?,. On the 9th we had a Meeting at Cliffs Pi-tuxenc. 
 Meeting-houfe ; and that Night went back to the Widow Hutcbins ; v/here 
 we lodged. On the loth we had a Meeting about three Miles beyond the Ri- 
 ver Patuxent, near Benedi£i Town ; where there had not been any before, nor 
 any where near it, many of the People in thofe Parts being Papifts. It was 
 not large, nor open, but rather fluit up, dark and heavy ; yet quiet, and many 
 Truths of the Gofpel were delivered unto them, as the Lord gave Utterance, 
 and we leit all friendly. 
 
 Henry Child having come with me as my Companion from the Cliffs, we 
 fet torward alter this Meeting, accompanied by fcveral Friends, about half an 
 Hour alter Three, in order tor Virginia, Jofeph Glt^ijlcr going back towards the 
 Cliffs : h rained fall all the Way, with Lightening and Thunder ; and we got 
 a Houfe near Cedar-Point, on Pcwtowmack River, about Eight in the Evenings 
 and all thoroughly wet, and weary with our heavy Cloarhs ■, but, having very 
 good Quarters, we were well refrefhed by the Morning ; and though plentiful- 
 ly entertained, our Cloaths dried, and Horfes taken Care of, yet the Mafter 
 and Miftrefs of the Family would not receive any Recompence from us for it: 
 And he added to this Civility -, for this hofpitable Perfon, by himfelf and Servants^ 
 fet us over the River next Day, about feven Miles, and up a Creek, in his 
 own Boat ; and all free, only what we could perfuade him to fuffer his Servants 
 to receive, as a Gratuity for their Pains extraordinary. We landed at the Houfe 
 of Francis Thornton, who had married an ancient Woman, who had come to 
 our Meetings many Years, and had been feveral Times married, but never fo 
 fubjed to Truth as to marry among us, but accepted of fuch as fhe thought fit; 
 but always of good Morals, and hofpitable. 
 
 H E R E we ftaid till the ijthj and, being the Firft of the Week, had a Meet- 
 ing about a Mile and a half in our Way, at the Houfe of one Benjamin Berry- 
 man : It was not large, but Truth was over all, and the People were very lo- 
 ving and refpeftful ; and that Night we lodged with Peter Skinner, a Friend ; 
 who fent one with us next Day to guide us to our Friend Elizabeth IVilfon's, 
 about 40 Miles : Our Guide not being perfedl in the Way, we milTed it feve- 
 ral Times, and were almoft fwamped twice ; but, through good Providence, 
 we arrived fafe there in the Evening ; where we had good Reception and Ac- 
 commodations that Night. 
 
 *o' 
 
 T H E 1 5th proving very wet, we ftaid till about the fecond Hour Afternoon, 
 and being then fair we fet forward, with a Guide to Matapony River, about four 
 Miles, and on the other Side we mifs'd our Way •, but enquiring at a lingle 
 Houfe in the Woods, the Owner thereof fet us right, and from thence we tra- 
 velled through an unknown Wildernefs, fometimes milTing our Way, and rain- 
 ing all the Time -, but a little within Night, about Nine, we arrived fafe at 
 Charles Fleming'?,, beyond Powminkie River, about twenty fix Miles in all, where 
 we were kindly received ; and the next Morning he fent Notice all about of a 
 Meeting to be at the Meeting-houfe there, called Black-Creek. Black Creek 
 
 We rcfted there the i6th; and, according to Appointment held the Meet- 
 ing there the Day after : It was not large, being wet Weather, nor open ; but, 
 appointing a Meeting there the next Day, it was larger, and a good Meeting, 
 the Truths of the Gofpel opening fully, to general Satisfadion . 
 
 That
 
 37^ The LIFE, i^-c. 
 
 Anno That Night we ftaid at Charles Fleming^; and, on the 19th, went to a 
 
 1 705. Monthly Meeting at William Porter' %, and had fome Service tliere concerning a 
 Marriage that was in Agitation, between a young Man, not in the Profeffion of 
 Truth, and a Friend's Daughter who did profefs with us ; and her Father having 
 given Confent, with Provifo, that if the Meeting would agree to it, and fome 
 weak Friends likewife having countenanced it, the more fubftantial Part of the 
 Meeting had been weakened therein : But our appearing there in the Teftimony 
 of Truth againft it, ftrengthened the better Part, fo that it did not pafs the Meet- 
 ing : That Evening we went home with the Widow Jane Pleafant. 
 
 Curies. o N the 20th, being the Firft of the Week, we were at Curies Meeting, which 
 
 was large and well •, and that Night and the next we relied at Jane Pleafani'% : 
 On the 2 2d we had a Meeting at James Howard's, which was pretty large ; and 
 Things opening well, and the People fober, we had a comfortable Time among 
 them •, and that Nio;ht we lodged there. 
 
 '&"- "^ A^v-D^ 
 
 On the 23d, in the Morning, we fet forward with a Guide to James's Ri- 
 ver, and got well over at Merchant's Hope, about Nine in the Morning -, from 
 whence proceeding, we mifs'd our Way about fix Miles ; but growing uneafy 
 in our Minds, and obferving the Courfe of our Way to alter, we turn'd into a 
 Bye- road •, and, coming to a Plantation, found our Error ; but being direfted. 
 by a Planter, we got well that Evening, about Seven, to Benjamin Chapman's^ 
 near 56 Miles : On the 24th we had a Meeting there ; which, for the Time, 
 was pretty large, and very open and well. 
 
 Levy-Neck. O n the 25th we had a Meeting at Levy-Neck ; but not large, nor very open ; 
 and that Night lodged at Matthew Jordan's : On the 26tli we went to John Jor- 
 dan's, about feven Miles ; and lodged there. 
 
 Ch-jckatuck, On the 27th, being the Firft of the Week, we went to the Meeting at Chuck- 
 atuck, which was indifferent large and open -, but as I was fpeaking, there came a 
 very ftrong and fudden Blaft of Wind upon the Broad-fide of the Houfe ; and the 
 Door being open, the Houfe was thereby the more in Danger, and fenfibly mo- 
 ved by the Violence of the Storm : Many of the People were furprized and 
 difordered, and fome went out ; but the Power of Truth being over all Fears 
 at that Time in me, I continued fpeaking, advifmg the People to be ftill ; and 
 the Meeting being quieted and fettled, toe Truth came over all the Aflembly ; 
 The Storm abating in a fliort Time, many drew nearer, and were very attentive ; 
 for the Matter was weighty, it being concerning the Coming of C h r i s t in 
 the Flefh, his Office, and End of his Coming, both outwardly and inwardly, 
 as a Sacrifice for Sin, and Deftroyer of the Kingdom of Satan in all who believe ; 
 and the Meeting ended comfortably. Several Trees were broken by the Vio- 
 lence of the Storm, but no other Hurt done there. That Night we lodged at 
 the old Widow Jordan's. 
 
 On the 28th I went to vifit Thomas Jordan, eldeft Son o^ "Thomas Jordan of 
 Chuckatuck, (who had ten Sons, all Men, and living at the fame Time) now 
 gone off trom Friends into the World, the Way of Truth becoming too narrow 
 for him, as his Defires alter the Way of the World increafed : Upon my realbn- 
 ing the Cafe with him, he could not fay any Thing againft the Way of Truth, 
 in which he had been educated, but had taken Occafion againft the Behaviour 
 of fome ot his Brothers, and Ibme Friends; who, thinking he did not ftrictly 
 come up in the Teftimony of Truth, in his Behaviour, were fo unkind to him, 
 
 as
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 377 
 
 as openly to reftife him their Hands, with fome fuch like other Excufes -, and Anno 
 yet was very refpeftfiil to me, and took my Vifit kindly. That Evening I re- 1 705. 
 turned to his Mother's. 
 
 O N the 29th we had a Meeting at the Weftern Branch of Nancemond ; which Nancemond. 
 was pretty large and very open; and that Night we returned with Robert Jor- 
 dan over Nancemond River. 
 
 O N the 30th we had a Meeting at the Southern Branch ; which was not large^ 
 but open : There Henry Child, who had hitherto been with me from Maryland, 
 returned homeward •, and I went that Evening with Nathan Neivby, onward to- 
 wards Carolina: On the 3d we had a Meeting at his Houfe ; which was not Carolina. 
 large, but comfortable : and I remained there that Night alfo. 
 
 Piciiimmons. 
 
 O N the I ft of the Fourth Month I went thence to Carolina, about 50 com- 
 puted Miles, to Gabriel Newby's ; where I arrived about half an Hour atter 
 Two Afternoon ; and there I refted that Night and next Day : On the 3d Day 
 following, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Piquinmcns ; 
 which was large and comfortable. I'hat Night I lodged at Francis Tomin's, 
 where I refted next Day ; and, on the 5th, had a Meeting at our Friend John 
 Barrow's, at Tawpin, beyond the River ; and that Evening returned with Fran- 
 cis Tomins. On the 6th, being very rainy, and exceeding bad Way, I went down 
 to Little-River, and lodged that Night with Thomas Simons: On the 7th we had 
 a Monthly Meeting at Caleb Bundle's, at New-begun-Creek, in Pajquotank ; where New-begun- 
 the Lord gave us a very open and comfortable Time in his good Prefence ; 
 and that Night I ftaid there. 
 
 On the 8th we had another Meeting-, which was likewife comfortable. On 
 the 9th we went over the Creek in the Morning, to Emanuel Low' s, and return- 
 ed thence to Jofeph Jordan's, (where I had lodged the Night before) in order 
 to fettle a Meeting-place ; which being done by the Concurrence of feveral of 
 the moft competent Friends, we returned to Emanuel Low's, where v/e met 
 with yZ'fl/w^j Gzrv, the Governor o{ North Carolina; with whom I had much 
 Difcourfe about Matters of Government, and informed him of the Methods ta- 
 ken by fome other Governors, in other Governments, concerning our Friends, 
 and in favour of us againft the Severity of fome Taws ; and found him like- 
 wife very inclinable to favour us fo far as in any Conftruftion could be coiififtenc 
 with his Office ; and that Night I lodged there. 
 
 On the loth, being the Firft of the Week, we went over the River Pafquo- 
 tar.k, about four Miles, to a Meeting at the Houfe of our Friend William Rofs ; 
 which was large, many of the Country People being there, who v/ere generally 
 fobcr ; and the Lord opened the Truths of the Gofpel very clear, and with 
 Authority. That Evening I went about feven Miles in a Canoe with Caleb Bun- 
 
 die ; where I lodged that Night. 
 
 On the nth I went to the W'ldovf Elizabeth Nixofi's, at Little-River ; where 
 the Lord favoured us with a very open comfortable Meeting : That Evening 
 I went home with Francis Tomins, in an exceeding great Rain, which took us in 
 the Way •, by which we were both very wet and weaiy before we got there. 
 
 O N the 1 7.th we had a Meeting at Upper Piquimmons -, which was the beft 
 and moft powerful Meeting I had in that Country. That Night I lodged again 
 at Gabriel Ne-ivbfs; and, on the 13th, accompanied by him, we went back in- 
 
 5 C to 
 
 Upper -Pi - 
 qiiimmons.
 
 373 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno to Virginia, go Miles, to his Brother Nathanh, being exceeding hot Weather, 
 i7°5- and no Inn, nor Houfe in the Way, to entertain us. 
 
 Chuckatuck. On the 14th I was at the Monthly Meeting at Ctoyl'fl/ivcy^ ; which was very 
 large, and the whole publick Exercife of it fell on me. That Night I lodged 
 at Widow Jcrdati's. 
 
 O X the 15th we had another Meeting there, which was alfo large-, and many 
 'Things opening in my Teftimony concerning Government, and the Duty of 
 Magiftrates, according to the Holy Scriptures, I underftood afterwards there 
 were three in that Station in the Meeting, who came to me after the Met ting 
 was over, and were very refpeftful -, though the Priefts and People, who buy 
 and fell, and merchandize concerning Matters of Religion, were fharply repri- 
 manded : And to this Meeting came alfo Jofeph Ghiijter, Ffibcr Palmer, and 
 Mary Law/on, from Maryland. That Evening 1 returned to Widow Jordan' % ; 
 and the next Day went over Nancemoud River, to Robert Jordan^ % ; and there 
 lodged. 
 
 ■'o"- 
 
 O N the 17th, being the Firft of the Week, I went back to Nathan Newby'Sy 
 about twenty Miles, to a Meeting appointed there •, which was large and open. 
 Truth being over all, to its own Glory. After this Meeting, in our Return to- 
 wards Robert Jordan's,, the Company v/as taken with the greateft Storm of 
 Lightening, Thunder, and Rain, that ever I remember I had been in before j 
 in lb much that the Fire and Water feem'd to be commix'd in their defcending 
 iipo'" us, and the Thunder fo fharp and fonorous, and fo near as if it had been 
 Bombs fplittmg among us ; fo that I, being the fecond in the Company, looked 
 back feveral Times, to lee it any were flain behind •, and it was attended v/ith a 
 llitling Smell of Sulphur: The Storm abating a little, it was quickly renewed 
 with equal Shew of Terror; ib that we had it along for the Space of about 
 eight Mil'rs in the firft, and three in the latter, in a very dreadful Manner-, but 
 the Lord preferved us from all Harm : And though I was a little concerned 
 at the firft Approaches of fo terrible Threatenings by an irrefiftible Power, 
 though from natural Caufes ; yet feeling the Creator near, who ordains it, and 
 that his ail ruling Authority was above and over it and all Things, I was much 
 comforted in him, in the Time of the moft apparent Danger : For which I was 
 greatly thanklul to the Lord, and for our Prefervation -, for we obferved that 
 feveral great Trees had been fhattered to Pieces by it -, and fo we got fafe to 
 Robert Jordan^ that Evening : But another Storm, with much Thunder and 
 Rain, coming on in the Night, awakened the Family, and fome of them were 
 much terrified, the Thunder breaking out near the Houfe -, but upon my reti- 
 ring inward, I had great Peace in the good Prefence of the Lord, and his 
 holy Love ejedled all Fears. 
 
 On the iSth I refted there, and wrote Letters for England; and, the Day 
 following, had a Meeting at Benjamin Small's, near that Place ; which was large 
 and open, feveral Points of Doftrine, efpecially Baptifm, and Redemption from 
 Sin in this Life, being cleared to Demonftration -, and feveral Magiftrates be- 
 ing there, all was quiet and fimsfaftor}'-, without any Objeftion. 
 
 Dirafco- O N the 20th I was at a Meeting at Dirafco-Neck ; which was pretty large, 
 
 '^'^^ but, in the Beginning of it, fomething hard and dark, till the divine and power- 
 ful Truth arofe as the Sun, and difpeiled the thick Clouds and Fog. In the 
 Time ot Silence my Mind having been exercifed about the Multitude of Religi- 
 ons profefled by Mankind at this Day, and how remote they are all, fave one, 
 
 from
 
 of T H M AS ST RT. 579 
 
 from the Truth, the firft Thing I had to fay, was this ; " What Religion art Anno 
 " thou of. Friend ?" And my Face being dircftcd at the Time towards a Per- '^I'^S- 
 fon of fome Diftindtion, feveral thought I had fpoken only to him •, but upon 
 this followed proper Matters, and a Diftindion between Names and Things ; 
 That falfe Names are often impofed upon true Things, and good Names given 
 to bad Tilings, with refpeft to Matters of Religion : And, among other Mat- 
 ters, I had occafion to fpeak of a Necefllty of Freedom from Sin in this Tife, 
 in order to fit us for the Kingdom of G o d. As foon as I fat down, the fame 
 Man flood up, and offered Ibme Oppofition to fome Part of what I had faid : 
 But I defired him to be filent at that Time, for our Meeting was not over ; 
 and he fat down quietly. Then another Friend flood up, and preached Truth •, 
 and, during that Time, I perceived this Oppofer was as a Snake in fair Colours, 
 lying as hid in the Grafs, to wait an Opportunity to bite and vent his Venom : 
 And the Friend having finifhed, I concluded the Meeting in Prayer. Then this 
 Oppofer flood up again, and, diredling to me, faid, " Sir, I have heard you 
 " with much Attention, and you have delivered many very good Things : Do 
 " you mean by Freedom from Sin in this Life, fuch a Freedom, as that a Man 
 " never fins after he hath embraced the Chriftian Religion .'"' 
 
 I ANSWERED, " No ; for as all are liable to be tempted after they have be- 
 " lieved in Christ, and known fomcthing of the Work of Converfion, a Man 
 " may fin, if he adheres to the Temptation of the Adverfary-, but if he conti- 
 " nuethto follow the Spirit of Truth, which leadeth into all Truth, he finneth 
 " not after he is converted ; but through the Grace of G o d, come by Christ 
 " the Lord, may live a holy, righteous, innocent, and finkfs Lite, to the 
 " End of his Days in this World. 
 
 *' I ASK you then, fiid he, did ever the Apoflle Taul fin after he was a Mi- 
 " nifler, and converted?" 
 
 I ANSWERED, " That is not a proper Qi_ieflion to afk me concerning a Per- 
 " fon fo eminent, departed this Life lb many hundred Years ago, and to whofe 
 " fecret Failings, if any he had, I was never privy ; but if I may judge of him 
 *' by his Dodlrine, as I think I ought, and that he was one in Converfation and 
 " Attainment with what he preached unto others, I may juflly conclude, he li- 
 *' ved free from Sin, from the Time of his Converfion to his dying Day." 
 
 H E replied, and faid, " I prove out of the Word of God, (pulling out a 
 " Bible) and from the Apoflle's own Words, that he was a Sinner, after he was 
 " an Apoflle." Then faid I, " Who art thou ? Of what Communion pro- 
 " feffing the Chriftian Religion?" for I perceived by his Accent he v/as a 
 Frenchman by Nation. Fie replied, " I am in Communion with the Church 
 " of England, and am a Minifter of that Church." Doft thou then, laid I, 
 " here in tiiis Auditory, many of whom are of the fame Communion with thy- 
 " fell", charge the Apoflles of C h r i s t with Sin ?" " Yea, faid he, the Apoflles 
 " were Sinners after they were converted, and at the fame Tmie when they 
 " were Minifters of C h r i st, as I fliall prove by the feventh Chapter of Paul's 
 " Epifllc to the Romans, and firft Chapter of the firfl Epiftle oi John." Then 
 lie read, " For we know that the haw is fpiritiial; but I am carnal, fold under -^^^ ^.^ 
 " Sin : For that which I do, I allow not ; for what I would, that do I not ; but 15. 
 " what I hate, that do I. Again; If we fay we have no Sin, we deceive cur- \ Johni. 8. 
 " felves, and thel'ruth is not in us." 
 
 I
 
 58o The L I F E, ^'c. 
 
 6^ 
 
 5- 
 
 II. Z-, 
 
 Anno I a n s w e r e d, " It is not to be admired that the People are fo ignorant, 
 
 1705. " who have fuch Wind Guides: But the Saying of C h r i st is no\^ again ful- 
 " filled in this Generation, as it was among the Je.'ws wlio crucified him ; If the 
 " Blind lead the Blind, they Jhall both fall in the Ditch. I have told the Audi- 
 " tory already, in the Teftimony I have borne among you, that the Apoftle, in 
 " that Epiftle to the Romans, was not fpeaking of the State which himlcU, or 
 " any of the Apoftles, were in at that Time when he was writing it •, but per- 
 " fonatlng and reprcfenting the State of the Jews under the Law, and of Man- 
 " kind in general under the Fall of the Firfl Adam, (in whom all Mankind were 
 " virtually included at the Time of his Tranfgrefiion) before they came to the 
 " Belief and Knowledge of the L o r d J e s u s C h r i st, the Second /idi.:m, 
 " and Saviour of all: For in that Epiflle the Apoftle proves, that both Je-ws 
 
 Rom. i:i. 9. " and Gentiles were under Sin •, the Gentiles by breaking the Law writ in their 
 5- " Hearts, and the Je-uss by trangrefTing the Law of G od by Mofes : So that the 
 " tranfgrciTing Jc-ivs and Gentiles were all alike Sinners in the Sight of God, the 
 " Creator and Judge of the "World : and more efpecially the Jews, as having had 
 " the Knowledge of the Law of God, both inwardly and outwardly, and had 
 " tranfgrefTed both Difpenfations, by which their Sins were aggravated •, fo that 
 
 — Ill- 19- cc every Mouth is flopped, and all the World become guilty before God: for 
 
 — iii. 22". "God hath concluded them all in Unbelief, that he might have Mercy upon 
 
 " all. Again ■, the Scripture hath concluded all under Sin, that the Promife by 
 " Faith of J E s u s Christ might be given to them who believe. 
 
 " But are Mankind flill to remain in their Sins, to the End of their Days, 
 
 John vin. 21. n ^^^] inherit the Kingdom of Go d at laft .' No furely ; for if ii;e live and die 
 
 2, ' "^' <■* in our Sins, whither Chrifc is gone ive cannot come: But though all have finned, 
 
 " and come fhort of the Glory of God, yet being juffified freely by his Grace, 
 
 " through the Redemption which is by Je s u s Christ, vjhom God hath fet 
 
 " forth to be a Propitiation, through Faith in his Blood, to declare his Righ- 
 
 " tcoufnefs, for the RemifTion of Sins that are pafl, through the Forbearance 
 
 " of G o D : And this Redemption is not, by any Means, confiftent with Sin, but 
 
 Mat. i. 2 1 . " contrary to it ; for Christ came not to fave us in our Sins, but from them ; 
 
 " and Sin being the Caufe both of Defilement and Condemnation, until that is 
 
 " taken away, there can be no Redemption or Salvation. 
 
 Rom. ii. 1 3. " F o R it was not the Hearers of the Law only who were juft before G o d ; 
 " but the Doers of the Lav/ fhould be jufuiied; and by their Fruits Men are 
 Mat. vii. 20. " to be known : And faith Christ the Lord, Not every one that faith unto 
 ^'^' " me Lord, Lord, Jloall enter into the Kingdom cf Heaven, but he who doth the 
 
 " Py^ill of my Father ivho is in Heaven. The Workers of Iniquity, though they 
 " have prophefied in his Name, and caft out Devils, and done many wonder- 
 " ful Works, will be difowned at lafl, and commanded to depart : And it is 
 " the Hearer and Doer of the Sayings of Christ who fliall ftand upon the 
 " Rock, when the Time of Trial fliall come -, and every one who heareth the 
 " Sayings of Christ, and doth them not, is on the fandy Foundation, and 
 " all his Building fhall fall, and be deftroyed with great Deftrudlion in the End. 
 
 James i. 22. "And the Advice and Doftrine of the Apoftle James is. That '•jve be Doers 
 
 — ii. 14, 17, " of the Word, and not Hearers only, deceiving cur c-jan fclves : And, Faith -with- 
 
 Mat V 10 " "'^' ^'^"'^^ " ^^''■^- ^^'^ '^'"'^ ^°" of God hath faid, (fpeaking of the Law 
 20. ' " ^"^ ^' '^-^- Prophets) Whofoever therefore fhall break one of thefe leafi Command- 
 
 48. " ments, andft:>aU teach Men fo, he fhall be called the Icafl in the' Kingdom of Hea- 
 
 " ven ; but lahofoever ffoall do, and teach them, the fame fo all be called great in the 
 " Kingdorr. of Heaven. And he clofcth that Chapter cf his excellent and moft 
 
 " moral
 
 of T H M Jl S STORY. 581 
 
 ♦' moral Doftrine, with this preceptory Exhortation, Be ye therefore perfe£I, even Anno 
 " as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect. Such therefore who are perfc6led, 1705. 
 " through the eternal Word who preached this Doctrine, fhall be fettled and 
 " eftablifhed in him, and with him, for ever in Heaven ; when fuch as afTume 
 " to teach others, and ad: contrary to the Doftrines they preach, or teach Man- 
 " kind to fin againft God, and break the leafb of his Commandments, either 
 " by Doctrine, Difputation, or evil Example, fliall be condemned and ex- 
 " eluded." 
 
 This enraged the Prieft to a great Degree -, and then he repeated his 
 Charge againft the Apoftle Faul with Vehemence, faying, " He fpeaks in the 
 " prefent Tenfe, / am, I do, I do not : I am carnal, fold under Sin ; for that ^°^- ^'"- ' S- 
 *' -which I do, I allovj not ; for ivhat I would, that do I not ; hut what I hate, 
 " that do I ; and fo on to the End of that Chapter : So that it is clear tliat the 
 
 " Apoftle was in Sin at that Time. So then, faith he, with the Mind, I myfelf 25. 
 
 " ferve the Law of God; hut with the Flefh, the Law of Sin." 
 
 — V. 12. 
 
 — 10, 1 1. 
 
 — 20, 22. 
 
 To this I anfwcred, "That though the Apoftle, according to the Holy 
 " Scriptures, convinceth all Men of Sia ; yet, in great part of that Epiftle, he 
 " preacheth perfed and abfolute Freedom from Sin, through Christ, even 
 " in this preftnt World : for in the Beginning of the fixth Chapter of that E- 
 " piftle, he faith. Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound? God forbid : — vi. i, — S 
 *• How fhall we, who are dead to Sin, live any longer therein? And then, allu- 
 " ding to the Death and Refurrc<5bion of Christ, which was abfolute and 
 " perfect, he draws this Comparifon, 'That like as Chrift was raifed up from the 
 *' Dead by the Glory of the Father, even fo we alfo foould walk in Newnefs of Life. 
 *' Knowing this, that our old Man is crucified with him, that the Body of Sin might 
 " be dejlroyed, that henceforth we fhould not ferve Sin. For he zvho is dead is freed 
 " frcm Sin. And, ftill profecuting the lame Doftrine throughout all that Chapter, 
 " he adds. For in that he (Christ) died, he died unto Sin once ; but in that he liveth, 
 " he liveth unto God. Likewife reckon ye alfo yourfelves to be dead indeed unto Sin ; 
 " hut alive unto God, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Again, IVhen ye were the Ser- 
 " vants of Sin, ye were free from Right eou fiefs ; but now, being tnade free from Sin, 
 " and become Servants of God, ye have your Fruit unto HoUnefs, and the End ever- 
 *' lafting Life. In all which he fpeaks in the prefent and Preterperfedl Tenfe, 
 " as of a State already attained by many of the Difciplcs of C h r i s t, throuc-h 
 " Faith in his holy and powerful Name, 
 
 "And the Apoftle, ftill proceeding in the fame Doftrine, in the Beginnino- 
 " of the llventh Chapter (but under another Similitude, alluding to Mar- 
 " riagt) faith, IVLerefore, my Brethren, ye alfo are become dead to the Law by — vii.4, ^,6. 
 *' the Body of Chrift, that ye ftoould be married unto one another, even unto him who 
 *' is raifed frcm the Dead, that we fhould bring forth Fruit unto God : For when 
 " we were in the Flcfo, the Motions of Sins which were by the Law, did work in 
 " cur Members, to bring forth Fruit unto Death : But now we are delivered from 
 " the Law, that being dead wherein we were held ; that we fhould ferve in New- 
 ^^ nefs of Spirit, and not in the Oldnefs of the Letter. And, in the next Chapter, 
 " he further explains this, where he faith, The carnal Mind is Enmity againft —viii. 7,8,0. 
 *' God; for it is not fiihjc£l to the Law of God, neither indeed can be : So then 
 " they ihat are in the Flefh cannot pleafe God ; but ye are not in the Fleftj, but in 
 " the Spirit, if fo be that the Spirit of God dwell in you . Now, if any Man have 
 ♦' not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his. 
 
 "The Apofdc, having clearly finifacd the glorious and moft comfortable 
 
 5 D Dodrine
 
 , Q ■« TV 
 
 ^ The LIFE, e>^' 
 
 Anno " Doftrine of prefent Redemption from Sin, he refiimer, in the feventh Chap-'- 
 1 705> " ter, to fpeak of the State of the Je^JJS (as hath been faid) under the Law only, 
 •' and not of the Condition, either of himfelf, or of any other under the Go- 
 " fpel : In the firtl Place, in the latter End of the feventh Chapter, he gives 
 " I'hanks unto God for his Deliverance from the wretched State of Sin, and Eo- 
 " dy of Death, through J e su s C h R i st our Lord: And, fecondly, con- 
 Rom, viii, I, " firms his Doctrine, in the eighth Chapter, faying, '■Jherc is therefore noiv tw 
 '~'^- " Condemnation to them who are in Chrift Jefus, tvho walk not after the Flefh, hut 
 
 " after the Spirit : For the Law of the Spirit of Life, in Chrift Jefus, hath made 
 " me free from the Law of Sin and Death -, for what the Law could not do, in 
 " that it was voeak through the Flefh, Ccd fending his own Son, in the Likenifs 
 " of fmful FlefJj, and by a Sacrifice fcr Sin, ccrJamied Sin in the Flefh, that the 
 " Rjghtecufnefs of the Law might be ftilfilkd in us, who walk not after the Flrfjj, 
 " but after the Spirit : for to be carnally minded is Death, but to be fpiritually 
 " minded, is Life and P^ace. Now, whofoever contradifteth himfelt in Tefti- 
 " m.ony, deftroyeth his own Credit, and renders his Evidence void : If there- 
 " fore the Apoftle fliould, in the feventh Chaprer, contradidt the Doctrine he 
 " preaches in tiie fixth and in the eighth, he would have rendered his Doftrine 
 — VII. 1.^,23, <.<. ,,^j||^ J.Q all Men of underftanding, diftinguifliing Things that differ : And to 
 " be fold under Sin, and under Captivity to the Law of it, and to be free from 
 " that Law of Sin at the fame Time, is a Contradiftion in Matter and Terms ; 
 " and ought not to be admitted, in favour of Sin, by any Chrillian^ againfl fo 
 " great an Apoftle and Miniftcr of the Lord Jesus: But fuch Impoftors 
 " and Deceivers as plead, wrangle and difpute, and contend for Sin Term of 
 " Life, and Salvation in the End, cannot themieives be innocent ; but even there- 
 " in fin againft God-, and, as far as they can, propagate and advance the 
 " Kingdom of Satan, in Oppofition to the Kingdom of C h ri st, in Mankind, 
 " to the End of the World, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the Power of 
 " G o D ; and wreft fome Places of this feventh Chapter to the Romans, and 
 " other Scriptures, not only to their own Deftruftion, but of thofe alfo, who, 
 " through the Lufts of the Flefh, Eyes, and Pride ot Life, believe and follow 
 *' them, as in this Inflance now prefent : For the Apoftle, in this Chapter, is not 
 " preaching up the Power of Sin, which hath no Power in itfelf without the 
 " Law, but the Weaknefs of the Law againft Sin; which it only difcovers, 
 " but cannot deftroy." 
 
 The Prieft was again in a Rage, therein repeating his Charge againft the 
 I John i. S. Apoftle John, where he faith. If we fay that we have no Sin, we deceive our- 
 felves, and the 'Truth is not in us ; but did not offer any Comment, or Argu- 
 ment upon this Text, as fuppofing it fufficiently cogent of itfelf to prove his 
 Charge ; which he again and again infifted upon and repeated. 
 
 T H E N I replied, " Thou haft already brought thy Charge, and we all un- 
 " derftand it without Repetition-, it is to maintain Sin Term of Life, by a mif- 
 " applied Text of the Firft Epiftle of the Apoftle John ; and that no Man ouohc 
 " to pretend to obtain Freedom from Sin while in this World: And thou haft 
 " brought in the Apoftles of Christ, (the beft and moft perfect of Men) 
 " not only guilty of Sin, but living in it, and preaching it ; that thereby thou 
 " mayft fortify and eftablifli thyfelf in thy own Sins, againft the plainefi Con- 
 *' viftions of Truth in full and plain Contradiftion to thy falfe Charges. Eut 
 " Itt this Apoftle be heard fcr himfelf, and Truth." 
 
 T H E N I obferved to the Auditory, *•' That this Ai^oftle. in his General F.^ 
 
 piftle
 
 of T H M yl S S T R Z 383 
 
 " piftle, begins finlv/lchtlicTefiimony which himfelfand the rcftoftheApoilIes Anno 
 
 " had borne of God to the People, wiien firft fcnc unto them-, that is, to 1705* 
 
 " the Word ct I,ife, which is Christ in Spirit, and to God, ihat he is 
 
 " LJgbi, and m hivi is no Do.rkncfsatc.il: And then, fecondly, he proceeds 
 
 " to i'et Ibrth the finfiil and ignorant State Mankind were in when the Apoftles 
 
 " were firfl fent unto them, as in this Do6lrine, If ijoe fay -we have no Sin., we 
 
 " deceive ourfelves, and the Truth is not in us ; which is explained in the tenth Verfe 
 
 " thus. If 1VS fay that we have not finned, wemake b'.m a Liar., and his Word is 
 
 " not in lis : That is, as we arc Men under the Fall, in the Finl Adam., before we 
 
 " know Christ the Second Adam, and Redemption from Sin by him -, if 
 
 " in that State we fay we have no Sin, or have not finned, we deceive ourfelves, 
 
 *' and lie againft the Truth, and give God the Lie too, who hath declared, j johnv ic 
 
 " he hath lent his Son to redeem and fave us from our Sins, if we had not finned 
 
 " at all : But the Apoftlc proceedeth, and faith. If we confcfs our Sins., he is 
 
 " faithful and jufi to forgive v.s our Sins, and to deanfe us from all Unriglueouf- 
 
 " ncfs. And, to fet forth the Liberty of the Sons of God, and Freedom from 
 
 *' all Sin and Evil, both in this W^orld, and in that which is to come, the Apo- 
 
 " ftlc further adds in the Sequel of this Epiftle, faying. He that faith he abide th — ii- 6'. 
 
 " in him, (C h r i s t) ought himfelf alfo fo to walk, even as he walked : And wilt 
 
 " tliou fay that Christ walked in any Sin ? 
 
 " Again, I have zcritten unto you. Fathers--, becaufe ye have known him 14. 
 
 " that is from the Beginning: I have written unto you, young Men ; becaufe ye 
 
 " are firong, and the Word of Gcd abide th in you, and ye have overcome the Wicked 3. 
 
 " One. Fathers in Christ are not in Sin, as luch ; for the keeping the 
 " Commandments of God is their Evidence and Afllirance that they know 
 " him : neither are yourg Men in him overcome of Sin, when they have over- 
 " come the Wicked One, the Author of it, through the divine Power ot the 
 " Word of Life, which abideth in them ; Let that therefore abide in you, which 
 " ye have heard from the Beginning. If that which ye have heard from the Beginning 
 " fhall remain in you, ye alfo faall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And 
 " as there is no Sin in the Sen ; nor have Sinners, while fuch, any Communica- 
 " tion with them; icr he is feparated from Sin?iers ; {o the Father is of purer Eyes 
 " than to behold Iniquity, with Approbation : And if ye know that he is righte- 
 " ous, ye know that every one who doth Righteoufnefs is born of him. And 
 
 *' every Man that hath this Hope in him, (to fee God as he \s)purifieth himfelf even 3. 
 
 *' as he is pure ; and thou wilt not venture to fay that God is not pcrfeft in Purity : 
 *' i* nd be ye holy, for I am holy, faith the Lord ; and tliey could not be holy 
 " and Sinners at the fame Time •, for thefe two States are full oppofite one to 
 " another. And the Apoftle carries this Dodlrine, of Freedom from Sin in this 
 
 " Life, yet further, and faith, Wbofoevcr abideth in him, ^mnexh not: lVh"fo- 6,8,9. 
 
 *' ever finneih hath not feen him, neither known him. He that committeth Sin is of 
 *' the Devil ; fcr the Devil finneth from the Beginning : For this Purpofe the Son 
 " of God was manifcfled, that he -might deftroy the Works of the Devil. Whojo- 
 " ever is born of Cod doth not commit Sin; for his Seed remaineth in him; and 
 " he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of God. Thou therefore who art pleading and 
 " wrangling for Sin Term of Life, which is the Work and Kingdom of Satan, 
 " ait therefore bewraying and proclaiming thy own benighted State, that tliou 
 " haft not abode in C h r r s t, if ever thou haft, in any Degree, known him ; 
 " and that though he is the true Light, which lighteth every Man who cometh 
 " into the World, and the new and everlafting Covenant of God, thou haft 
 " neither feen him, nor known him : Thou mayft ice by this Dodrrine of the 
 " Apoftlc, which thou art oppofing, v/hofe Son thou art •, and that the Son of 
 *' God is not ir.anifeftcd in thee, fo as to deftroy the Work of the Devil; 
 
 " which 
 
 24. 
 
 ■m. 5.
 
 384 The L I F E, c^'T. 
 
 Anno " which thou art fupporting with all the Might and Subtilty he hath givcrt 
 1705. " thee; and that thou art not a Child of God, but overcome of the Worldj 
 " and of the Evil One who rules therein." 
 
 The Prieft, being very angry and impatient to fee the Apoftle juftified by his 
 own Doftrine from thofe falfe Imputations, vehemently repeated his Charge, 
 " That the Apoftles had Sin at the fame Time when they were Minifters of 
 " C H Ri ST, and preaching Salvation to the reft of Mankind by him : If we fay 
 " we have no Sin we deceive ourfelves, &c. Here he plainly includes himfelf, and 
 " the reff of the Apoftles and Primitives, in the prefent Tenfe." 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " That the Apoftle likewife fpeaks in the Prefent Tenfe, and 
 " Preterpcrfedt Tenfe, in handling that Doftrine-, Every one who doth Righteouf- 
 " nefs, is born of him. Every Man who hath this Hope pirifieth himfelf: And 
 " fo of the reft of the Texts I have mentioned before, and many others in the 
 Johnxiv. =6. " fame Epiftle, of like Import : And the Apoftle, being led into thofe Truths 
 " of the Gofpel, could not contradift one Fart of his Epiftle by another ; only 
 " thou doft not underftand him, nor mind the Context. And befides, as the 
 " Apoftles had been born after the Flefli, and been Sinners as well as others j 
 " and, by Nature, Children of Wrath ; and, in that State, not Children of Go D 
 " more than others, they fometim.es condefctnded in the Manner of their Ex- 
 Rom, ix. 8. " prcITion, to the States and Weaknefs of tlie People ; as, for Inftance, the A- 
 " poftle Paul faith, that he became all Thijigs to all Men, that he might by all 
 __ .^j- " Means fave feme ; unto the Jews he became as a Jew ; to them who were un- 
 
 " der the Law, as under the Law, as before in his Epiftle to the Romans; to 
 " them who were without Law, (in a religious Senle) as without Law: To the 
 *' weak he became as weak, that he might gain them alfo. 'Timothy was circum- 
 " cifed under that Confideration ; and he baptized feveral with Water, though 
 " no Part of his Miffion, and preached the Law of Life and Salvation unto the 
 " Gentiles ; who, at that Time, were not under the Power of the Law of God, , 
 " but without God in the World, and fubjeft to wild and unreafonable Idola- 
 " try : And yet the Apoftle did not condefcend fo far as to fin, in any Degree, 
 " with Sinners ; for that would have brought him under Condemnation, and 
 " rendered his Teftimony of none Effeft, and would not have tended to the 
 " Salvation of his Hearers, but to their Deftru6tion ; as doth thy falfe Dodtrine 
 " to fuch as hear, believe, and follow thee. 
 
 " Again, the Apoftle James condefcendeth to the Weak, In the like Man- 
 Jamesiii.S, — ^' ner of Expreffion, where he faith, TheTongue can no Man tame-, it is an un- 
 " ruly Evil, full of deadly Poifon : Therewith blefs we God, even the Father ; and 
 " therewith curfe we Men, who are made after the Similitude of God. Out of the 
 " fame Mouth proceedeth Blejfing and Curftng. My Brethren, thefe Things ought 
 " not fo to be : Doth a Fountain fend forth, at the fame Place, fweet Water and 
 " bitter? Can the Fig-tree, my Brethren, bear Olive-berries? either a Vine, 
 " Figs ? So can no Fountain yield both fait Water and frefh. Here this Apoftle 
 " likewife, as the Apoftle Paul, fpeaks in the firft Perfon, and Time prefent j 
 " and who, unlcfs thyfelf, in favour of Sin, will fay, that the Apoftle was at 
 " that Time, if at all in any Time of his Life, a Curfer of Men? And fo far 
 " was he from indulging Mankind in Sin, that lie teacheth. That if ye have 
 refpeSl to Perfons, ye commit Sin, and are convinced of the Law as Trangreffors : 
 " Fcr whofoever fhall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one Point, he :.- 
 " guilty of all." 
 
 " Thek 
 
 12.
 
 of THOMAS STOUT. 585- 
 
 Then, in his uRial Pairion, he moved another Charge againft us, " That we A x n o 
 " never pray for Forgivencfs of Sins ; and confequently, we never confefs we 1 705. 
 " have been Sinners." 
 
 I A N s w E R E D, " It is not to be admired tliat thou charged us falfiy, feeing 
 " thou haft made fo bold with the Apoftles of Christ and Primitives ; for 
 " though we do not think it our Duty to confefs our Sins to any Prieft of any 
 " Kind or Order, who might be as finful, or more fo than ourfelves, yet we 
 " confefs them unto God-, who knows us as we are, with all our Infirmities •, 
 " and who, we know, by happy Experience, is faithful and jufl to forgive us 
 " our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Sinj which no Prieft, but the High 
 " Prieft and Biftiop of Souls is able to do; and who, through infinite Mercy 
 " and Goodnefs, hath freely done fo to many penitent and humble Ones in 
 " this Age, as well as in Times paft, to his own Glory." And I proved him 
 falfe in this alfo, appealing to the People prefent, whether, even in that Meet- 
 ing, I had not, in Prayer, given Thanks unto God, in behalf of our Commu- 
 nity, for his gracious Pardon thro' Christ, of our many Sins and Failings ; 
 and for his great Love alfo fince \ and for the Flowings of it in the Hearts of 
 the Sincere among us, even at that Time : But fince we were favoured with the 
 Evidence of the Spirit of the Son of God, that the Father, tlirough him, had 
 pardoned all our Sins paft, there was no Need, nor was it proper, to pray for 
 what, through Grace, we had already obtained ; and yet I had prayed then alfo, 
 "that if the Lord (who feeth in fecret) faw any Sin or Evil lurking in any of us, 
 that it might pleafe him to difcover it unto us, and do it away. And thus his 
 falfe Charge, in that Point alfo, was turned upon him. And then I repeated his 
 Charge againft the Apoftle Pauly and his Reafon for it, w'z. Becaufe he fpake in 
 the prefent Tenfe, and read the fecond Verfe of the eighth Chapter to the 
 Romans^ where he faith, 'The Lain of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, 
 hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death ; which is not the Law 
 of Mofes, the Mediator of the firft Covenant, which was of Works, but of 
 eternal Life, freely given us of G o d the Father, thro' Christ our Lord, 
 who is the only Mediator of this Covenant, And here the Apoftle, fpeaking 
 in the Preterperfeft Tenfe, as of a Thing already accompliftied, it was once 
 more fully conclufive againft him -, fince it is impoflible that the Apoftles could 
 be in thefe two quite repugnant States, at one and the fame Time, when wri- 
 ting thofe two Parts of that Epiftles, fo near as a very few Verfes, or Lines, one 
 to another. 
 
 T o this he gave no Anfwer, but vehemently repeated the fame Verfe as 
 before, out of the firft Chapter of the firft Epiftle to John, and the eighth Verfe, 
 " If we fay that we have no Sin, we deceive oitrfelves, andtheTruth is not in us." 
 Then I read the tenth Verfe of the fame Chapter, as it is thus, " If we fay that 
 " we have not finned, we make him a Liar, and his Word is not in us." Then 
 he cried out, " You falfify the Scripture in reading it -, for he doth not fay, 
 " If we have not finned we make him a liar, and his Word is not in us ; but if we 
 " fay,«;^ have no Sin, Sec." "I fay I do read right," and read the tenth Verfe, 
 which went before in the eighth •, and then I read it again. Then faid he 
 " You do rot read right /' and I read it again. And yet he had the Afluranceto 
 charge me again with falfe Leclion, to impofe thereby upon the People. Then 
 faid I, " Read it thyfelf ; here, take thy own Bible, (for I had it in my Hand 
 " and had read in it) left thou fliouldft pretend, that when I read it in an- 
 " other, that it was a ^laker's Bible, and corrupted to our ov/n Sentiments • 
 " (as fome have falfiy accufed us) and then I will read it again, and thou flialc 
 " compare thine with the other, wliether they be the Hime ;" and fo read the 
 
 5 ^ Verfe
 
 386 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno V'trfe in the other as before. If we fay we have notjinned, i^c. When he faw 
 1705. this, lie pretended he meant of the eighth Verfe. I anfwered, " How could that 
 " be ? for I read that at firft, and told thee, this was fubfequent, to explain 
 " and give the full Senfe of the former." And lb I went on to clear the 
 Apoftle's Doftrine fully, according to the true Intent of it as above-, and chiefly 
 by the 4th and 6th Verfes of the fecond Chapter, and the 13th and 14th of the 
 fame. And Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 
 
 Then this Prieft (being the moft perverfe and wilful obftinate Perfon I 
 
 had ever met with) raged again like a Mad-man, interrupting me often, as he 
 
 had done all along-, upon which, with a fuitable Afperity, I rebuked him, faying, 
 
 " Tliou Advocate of Satan, and for his Kingdom, Thou Minifter of Sin, be 
 
 " filent, and hear a full Anfwer, once more, and Refutation of thy falfe Charges 
 
 " againft the Apoftles of C h r i s t, and their divine Soul-faving Doftrine :" 
 
 But he, forgetting both his former Charge, and my Anfwers, as deaf to all Truth, 
 
 Rom vi 17. ran raving on with further Charges, and Pleas for Sin : Then I repeated a Text 
 
 — 23. out ot the fixth Chapter to the Romans, viz. When ye were the Servants of 
 
 Sin, ye were free from Righteoufnefs ; but being made free from Sin, and become 
 
 Tohnviii -4. ^^^ Servants of God, you have your Fruit unto Holinefs, and the End is ever- 
 
 lafliitg Life. Again, he that commits Sin is the Servant of Sin, 
 
 Then, in another raging Fit, (for Satan is always angry when his King- 
 dom is oppofed) he fuid, " That a Man may commit Sin, and not be a Servant 
 " of Sin ; for, a Servant cannot properly be called a Servant, unlefs he obey in 
 " all Things." Anfwer, " According to this, thou may commit Murder To- 
 " day, Fornication To-morrow, and Theft the next Day, and yet not be a 
 " Servant of Sin." No, faid he, " If a Man commit Sin once a Month, or 
 *' fix Weeks, he may yet not be a Servant of Sin. And again. That a Man 
 " may live in Sin twenty Years together, and yet not be the Servant of Sin. " 
 
 After three Times repeating this, I defired it under his Hand ; which he 
 offered to have done, but was hindered by fome of his own Party, who, I fup- 
 pofe, were afliamed of this Monfter. I then repeated two Texts of Scripture ; 
 one being the Words of C h r i s t, and the other of the Apoftle Paul: He that 
 commits Sin is the Servant of Sin ; and his Servants ye are, to whom ye yield 
 yourfclves Servants to obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or of Righteoufnefs unto Life 
 eternal. And here both Christ and the Apoftle fpeak of all Sin, indefi- 
 nitely, as well the leffer as greater Evils, without any Reference to Time or Fre- 
 quency, or Diftinclion, or Kinds, or Number of Sins. Then his own Party, 
 feeing him in Confufion, and alTerting fuch horrid Impieties, urged him to de- 
 part ; which he did accordingly, with fome mumbling Inveftives againft me, 
 and fliaking his Head and Fift, in reply to fomething I had faid in the Meet- 
 incr ao-ainft Ccnfubflantiation, as being as unintelligible and heterodox as Tranfuh- 
 fiantiation : by which I conjeftured he was a Lutheran Prieft -, and fo he de- 
 parted in a Fume. 
 
 T H I sConteft detaining us late, we went (withinNight) to Matthew Jordan^?,, 
 and the 21ft we had a large good Meeting a.tLevy-Neck, alias Pagan-Creek ; where 
 Levy Neck, alfo came Jofeph Glaifier ; and that Evening we went together, with feveral 
 other Friends, to Benjamin Chapman's in Surry. 
 
 Lyon's- On the 2 2d we had a Meeting in his Houfe, called Lyon's-CreekM.tQtxr.g, 
 
 '-'■«^^- which was very open and well ; and the next Day, being the Seventh Day of 
 
 the Week, we croffed James' %- River, at fames' %-Town Ferry ; and feveral of us be-
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. 387 
 
 m<y over before the reft, when the laft came over they told u?, That Anno 
 
 Monro, a Scots Prieft (with whom Jofeph Glaijter had had a Difpute before) and ^T^5- 
 the faid French Prieft, had been, two Days before that, at the "Widow Jordan 5, 
 'z great Way backward from the Places which we were goirg to) and had left 
 Notice with her Servants, in her Abfence, that they expe<5lcd we fliould not 
 depart out of thofc Parts till they had had another Hearing with us. 
 
 This at firft raifed in me fome Concern and Thoughtfulnefs, being fo cir- 
 cumftanced as rather to defire to go homeward-, but in a few Minutes a Wil- 
 iino-ncfs was wrought in me, and a Readinefs to return to fee what thofe Priefts 
 had further to fay, and upon what Subjefts. And that Evening we went to 
 the Houfe of our Friend Ed-:vard Thomas at ^een' s-Creek, the firft Houfe I 
 was in when we landed in this Country Irom England. 
 
 O N the 24th, being the Firft Day of the Week, began the Yearly Meet- 
 ing there, and held the next Day alfo. It was indifferent open and comfortable •, Queen's- 
 but a wanton Company of both Sexes from Williamjhurg, (the chief Town in the 
 Country, tho' fmall, and the Seat of the Government) and from other adjacent 
 Places, by their open and rude Levity among themfelves in the Meeting, were 
 troublefome, and fome Exercifc to Friends, and other fober Pec^ilc, and a 
 Hinderance to the right Concern and End of the Meeting ; (which was to wor- 
 fhip God, and propagate the Gofpei among them for their Salvation) the 
 Adverfary having many evil Inftruments in his Service, and wanton, airy, lafci- 
 vious Women, not the leaft : But the Meeting concluded well, the divine 
 Power, Virtue, and Goodnefs of God, came over all before we parted. 
 
 On the 26th, we went down towards the Widow Anne Jkehurft^Sy m 
 
 order to repafs James' %- River, to meet the Priefts ; and in our Way I called at 
 
 Williampurgh (taking one Friend only with me) to fee Colonel Nicholfon, then 
 
 Governor of that Country of Virginia, who was kind beyond Expedtation : For 
 
 he, underftanding that fome other Friends of my Company, and fome Women 
 
 Friends of another Company, were gone paft, he fent immediately after them, 
 
 and called them back, and treated us with various Sorts of choice Wines and 
 
 Fruits, and much Refpeft. And on that Occafion the Governor and I dif- 
 
 courfcd for fome Time on various Subjects : One Point whereof was. Liberty 
 
 of Confcience in Matters of Religion •, and that it is moft reafonable, that all 
 
 People who are of Opinion they ought to pay their Preachers for preaching, 
 
 and their Preachers be of the fame Mind, every Seft fhould pay their own, and 
 
 not exad: Pay from others, who do not employ them, nor hear them ; and 
 
 concerning Tythes, and the ill Ufe of the Application of them at this Day ; and 
 
 about human Government, and the Nature and End of it as an Ordinance 
 
 of God, and the great Safety and many Advantages accruing thereby unto 
 
 Mankind, under a due Adminiftration of it ; and of the Kingdom of Chrift en 
 
 Earth, which is not of this World, tho' in the World ; and the Difference be- 
 
 Uvccn that and the Kingdoms of Men, and their various Services on Earth ; 
 
 and the Kingdoms of Men ought not to intermeddle or interfere with the Kino-- 
 
 doms of C H R I s T, as he, while on Earth, never interfered with theirs, but was 
 
 fubjeft according to the Station the Father had placed him in on Earth : And tho' 
 
 he had ever been deeply attached to the National Church, and that Intereft, he 
 
 heard with Candour, and took no Offence. 
 
 This Converfation being ended, the Governor ordered the Prefident of the 
 College for the Time being, to fticw us the Buildings of it ; and he beino- of a 
 plealant natural Temper, he told us, wlicn he came into their Chapel, that that 
 
 was
 
 ^88 The LIFE, <^-c. 
 
 Anno ".Vas the mofc ufeful Place in all the College •, for, faid he, " Here we fometimes 
 1705, " preach and pray, and fometimes we fiddle and dance ; the one to edify, and 
 " the other to divert us." And being civilly treated here we returned to the 
 Governor, to whom we made our Acknowledgements ; and he had ordered 
 feveral Sorts of portable Fruits, as Cocoa-nuts., Lemons, i£c. for us to take v.'ith 
 us -, and repeating ftveral kind Expreffions, took us all by the Hands when we 
 departed. All which was the more remarkable, feeing he hath formerly been 
 rather an Adverfary to our Community on account of the National Church, to 
 which he hath heretofore been rather bigotted than indifferent. 
 
 Departing from hence we lodged that Night with our Friend Anne 
 Acres., and in the Neighbourhood ; and had a Meeting there on the 27th, 
 where we had the Company of the moft reputable People in thofe Parts ; and 
 the L o R D gave us a comfortable Time among them. 
 
 O N the 28th we refted there, and in the Evening niade a ViHt to Miles Cajy, 
 Secretary of the County -, who being abfent, his Wife, a Friend, prevailed with 
 us to flay Supper -, upon Occafion whereof we had a comfortable Time in the 
 divine Prefence, in Prayer, before we ate, to the tendering of the Hearts of feve- 
 ral of our Company, and efpecially the Friend of the Houfe who invited us. 
 For which efpecially, and the Provifion before us, we were humbly thankful 
 to the great and gracious Giver of all good Things ; and our Entertainment 
 there being nnifhed, we returned to our Lodgings. 
 
 Kicquotan. On the 29th we went to A'zVjao/^;/, (about Twenty- Eve Miles) where we 
 
 had a Meeting, at our Friend George Walker's Houfe ; to which came Colonel 
 Brown, one of the Provincial Council, and feveral Commanders of Ships, and 
 others of Note, who were generally well latisfied witli tlie Meeting. But Jofepb 
 Glaifier, having fome time before had aDifpute with James IValkce, the Prieft of 
 that Place, and given him a full Overthrow, in the Senfe of all or moft of his own 
 People then prefenr, the Prieft being angry and revengctul, wrote to George 
 Walker before the Meeting -, a Copy whereot foUoweth, viz. 
 
 Mr Walker, June iSth, 1705 
 
 " T Did expeft to have heard of this grand Meeting before this Time, when 
 " A my Alfairs call me abroad, by a former Appointment. It is in vain to 
 *' talk with illiterate Men, where Noife prevails : The fpeaking Cobler (I know 
 " not his Name) has ftrong Lungs and a Memory, both which are requifite to 
 " accompany his Nonfenfc, and to give an Emphafis to his Words. I do not 
 " defign to talk again with Jiim -, but I dare him, and all your Friends, to an- 
 " fwer in Writing plainly and direftly to any Argument. I defire their Anfwer 
 " to Dr Lancdjler's Queries to the London fakers. Anno 1695. I offer to 
 " prove from your printed Books, that ift. You make yourfclves part of God. 
 " 2d, Equal with God. 3^, That you deny the Holy Trinity. 4/Z', The Hu- 
 " manity of C h r i s t. ^th. And the Divinity of J e s u s. 6th, The Rcfurrec- 
 " tion of the fame Body, ph. That you ailert a finlefs Perftfton, and a great 
 " many more horrid Tenets, too tedious to relate. It follows. That Quakers* 
 " Principles are blafphemous, and Antichriflian •, which I am ready to prove. I 
 " dare him, or any other, to put any thing he can fay in Writing, that all Men 
 " may judge who has the better of it. This I o'Ter, to fave my People from 
 " the Poifon of ^lakcrifm. I hope you will take it well •, if not, I have my 
 " Aim, and 'tis the fame thing to your Friend, and Soul's Well-wiflier, 
 
 JAMES WALLACE. 
 " P. S.
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 389 
 
 " p. S. I dare hhn (the Cooler) to anfwer my laft Letter to you, if he Anno 
 *' dare or can. I defire you to read this Letter in your Meeting. And '^7^^, 
 " when you pray, confefs your Sins, and give God tiie Glory." 
 
 Having read this foolifli, fcurrilous Piece of Railery, and falfe Accufation, 
 •we did not think fit to make any R-pIy to it then, (having too little Time) and 
 the rather fince the Voice of the People were generally againft this Prieft, in re- 
 lation to the Difpute already had •, but I anfwered it afterwards : And befides, he 
 was at the fame Time under Profecution in Court, by one of his own Flearers, who 
 had made Oath, That he took him lying upon a Woman in Bed ; which he did 
 not deny, but pleaded (in extenuation of the Fad: prefumed from fuch a Pofture) 
 he was only meafuring which of them was talleft : But in fome Difcourfe with 
 George Walker and others in Company, concerning the Premifles, he jogg'd 
 George Walker on the Elbow, and whifpered him, faying, " I have meafured 
 " that which this Man wjio fwore againft me knows nothing of; which, if he 
 " did, he would be loth to fwear it. But the Judges may determine the Truth 
 " or FalOiood of thefe Charges." 
 
 'o^ 
 
 That Night we lodged there, at George Walker's, and had much Difcourfe 
 with his Wife about Matters of Religion, fhe being one of George Keith's Daugh- 
 ters, and following him in his Apoltacy and Enmity, and naturally fubtle like 
 himfelf ; but we kept the Teftimony of Truth over her, fo that fhe got no Ad- 
 vantage in any Thing, but confeffed, after the Meeting, that we were orthodox^ 
 preaching undeniable Doftrine ; but cavilled at fome Expreffions in the Books 
 of fome of our ancient Friends ; which fhe fetched and fliewed us. One was 
 concerning our Sufferings, making them greater than the Suff'erings of Christ 
 and his Apoftles : And the other, of making ourfelves equal with God. Both 
 which we explained to her and the Company, fo as to take off" that Odium cafb 
 upon oar Society therefrom, by our implacable Adverfaries ; we being anfwerable, 
 not for their perverfe Senfe impofed upon our Writings, but for that Senfe they 
 wrote, and we received them in, as they had, from Time to Time, been publick- 
 ly explained in Print. This thwarting her Defire of bringing them in guilty 
 of Errors, fhe grew uneafy ; but was forced to remain filent under it. 
 
 And, the next Morning, fhe bringing forth, in Print, an Expofition of their 
 Creed, we objefted againft fome Parts of it ; and then fhe began to explain it 
 further in her own Way : Upon which Jofepb Glaijler told her, " Thou and our 
 " Adverfaries take Laberty to explain both our Writings and your own, but 
 " will not allow us (if they could hinder it) to do either :" This put an End 
 to moft of her Wranglings for that Time : However fhe was, in all other refpedts, 
 very civil to us, entertaining us courteoufly. 
 
 This Day, about Nine in the Morning, being the Seventh of the Week, 
 we fet forward from Kicqmtan by Water, towards Nancemond -, and, continuing 
 rowing till we came near Pig-Point, then came up a Guft of Wind right a-head, 
 and the Tide turning, the Waves became high, and alio againft us : We ftrove 
 a while, but in' vain, and then let Sail towards the Shore, in order to row and 
 drag along under it ■, which we did, and, by that Means, accomplilhed our 
 Voyage to Nancemond Town about Sun-fet ; and, Horfes being provided, we 
 rode about three Miles to our Friend Benjamin SinaWs, and there lodged. 
 
 On the ift of the Fifth Month we went to the Meeting at Chiukatiick ; where chuckatuck. 
 came Colonel Bridges, (one of the chief Inhabitants of the Country) and fome 
 other Strangers ; and the Lord favoured us with his good Prefcnce. Here 
 
 5 1'" we
 
 
 The LIFE, <^x. 
 
 Anno we had a full Account of the Challenge before mentioned ; which amounted to 
 1 705. thus much, viz. That James Burtell^ the French Prieft, had been at our Friend 
 the Widow Jordan's, the next Day after he and I had difcourfed as aforefaid, 
 to enquire when and where there would be another Meeting, he being defirous 
 to come to it, and to difpute with me, or any of us, as there might be Occa- 
 fion ; he having alfo boafted, as if I had not anfwered his laft Challenge in the 
 former Meetins; : which was not true. 
 
 'D • 
 
 And Andrew Monro, the Scots Prieft, had been likewife there, but not 
 at the fame Time, to enquire after Jofeph Glaijler, in order to fome further 
 Conference, as he pretended, with him ; but the Widow and her Son being both 
 abfent, no intelligible Account could be had from the Servants -, fo that Benjamin 
 went to Andrew Monro to know what was the Matter, and to get fomething un- 
 der his Hand, both of a Challenge, and alfo the Heads of his Propofals ; but 
 all he could have was only as foUoweth*, without any Heads of Matter, either 
 for Difpute or Conference, viz. 
 
 Mr Glaijier, June 26. 1705. 
 
 " A FTER my Service heartily recommended, thefe are to requeft you, 
 " jLjl when you come back to our Side of the River, to fend me Word by 
 " whom you pleafe (I think by none better than your Friend, and my good 
 " Neighbour, Richard Jordan) of your Return, and I hope we fhall have an a- 
 " micable and fair Conference. I reft 
 
 Tour well-wiping Friend, 
 To Mr Jofeph Glaifter 
 
 this Note prefent. AND. MONROE. 
 
 This Night we lodged at the Widow Jordan's ; and, on the 2d, Benjantin 
 Jordan went from Jofeph Glaifter, to acquaint the Prieft he was come to know 
 what he meant by his Conference ? whether a Difpute ? and if fo. Upon what 
 Subjeft ? When and where ? The Prieft anfwered, " That it was nothing from 
 " other Mens' Books, but from himfelf ;" and defired it might be at Colonel 
 Bridges (where they had difputed before) next Thurfday ; but would not fend 
 any Account upon what Subje6t : Yet Jofeph Glaifter alTented under all thefe 
 Difadvantages. 
 
 "a^ 
 
 In the mean time we had appointed a Meeting at the Weftern Branch, on the 
 Third Day, of which I fent the French Prieft word, that he might be there, if 
 he thought fit; where I fhould be ready to anfwer what he had to fay againft 
 me, or any Thing I had faid, or might fay, or held ; and that Day we refted 
 there. 
 
 Weftern- O N the 3d we held the Meeting at the Weftern Branch ; which was large and 
 
 Branch. peaceable, many Truths of the Gofpel being opened to good Satisfaftion, both 
 
 concerning the Sacraments, fo called, and finlefs Perfeftion through Christ 
 
 the Lord, in this Life. After the Meeting I received a Note from the French 
 
 Prieft, but not direfted to me, or any one in particular, nor according to the 
 
 Tenor of the former Notice he had left at the Widow Jordan^s, before we went 
 
 back over James's-River, to the Yearly Meeting on that Side •, but was in thefe 
 
 Words : " This is to give Notice, that next Thurfday (if it pleafe God) I in- 
 
 " tend to go to the Church which is by Major Jordan's, in order to defend our 
 
 " Religion againft the new Preachers I fpoke with at Mr Ratcliff^s Houfe; and 
 
 « i 
 * This was before we went over Jamfs's-Ri'ver to the Yearly Meeting,
 
 of T H M A S ST R T. 39i 
 
 " I define my Friend John Murda to acquaint them tliat love the Religion of Anno 
 " Christ, wicli my Dcfign ; wherein he will oblige his Friend, 1 705. 
 
 J. BUR TELL. 
 
 -That Evening we returned to Widow Jordan'' s ; where I wrote to this 
 Prieft as followeth : 
 
 James Burtell, Cbuckaiuck, 3^ F/fib Month, 1 705. 
 
 I DO hereby remind thee, that on the 20th Day of the Fourth Month laft^ 
 thou came to our Meeting, at Richard Ratdiff\ Houie ; which beino- 
 ended, thou and I had much Difcourfe on feveral Points of Religion ; which, 
 I prefume, thou haft not forgot : but, after I was gone over Jamesh-River^ 
 in my Journey homeward, I received an Advertifement from a Friend, that 
 thou hadft left a Challenge at the Widow Jordan's Moufe, to difpute me a- 
 gain; whereupon I returned on purpofe; and am informed, at the fame 
 Houfe, that thou there faid, That thou would come, at any Time, to any of 
 our Meetings, if we would fend thee Word, or if any of us would come up to thy 
 Place of JVorfiip, thou "ujouldft difpute us : And though it be not our Manner 
 to rulh into Difputations in Matters of Religion, with fuch as will ufe the Force 
 of human Laws and Perfecution, rather than proper Arguments; yet, that 
 thou might not take any Occafion to boaft in my Abfence, (as I hear thou 
 haft already done) I fent thee Word laft Firft Day from Chuckatuck, that we 
 intended to have a Meeting this Day at the WeJiern Branch ; where, if thou 
 thought fit, thou might be prefent, and make thy Objeflions, if any fhould 
 arife ; and that I vv-as ready to defend my DoiSiirine and Principles, in any pu- 
 blick Auditory, upon Agreement of Time, Place, and other neceflfary Preli- 
 minaries, or to impugn the Principles of any who fhould give me juft Occa- 
 fion ; but, inftead of coming to our Meeting, according to Expedtation given, 
 thou haft lent only this random and uncertain Note, by which the whole State 
 of the Matter is inverted: For this fuggefts, as if I had propofed to come to 
 one of the Worftiip-houfes of the Church of England on a certain Day, and 
 there to oppugn thy Religion; and thou to be only Rcfpondent, or Defen- 
 dant : But as 1 have not yet taken that upon me ; fo neither do I grant thee 
 any fuch Preheminence, as thus to prefcribe to me either Time or Place j 
 but if thou haft any Thing further to fay, other than vain Repetitions, on thofe 
 Points already debated, or againft- any Doftrine I have delivered in thefe Parts, 
 or the Principles I have embraced or hold, I am ready, through the Grace of 
 God, to defend them, or attack any Afl"ai!ant in his, if I fliall fee Caufc fo 
 to do ; provided I may have my juft Privilege of Agreement to Time, 
 Place, Subjedl, State of the Queftion, and other neceffary Preliminaries ; but 
 otherwife am not to be impofed upon by any forward and felf-aflfuming Perfon 
 whoever : But that I cannot well anfwer that Time nor Place, if I would, 
 know, that Andrew Monro had, by a Note received by my Friend Jofepb 
 Glaijler, on the tirft- Day of this Week, (and before I knew any Thing of 
 thy ChallengL-, or Appointment) invited him to an amicable Conference ; and 
 to which he had agreed, to be held at the Houfe of Colonel Bridges, on the fame 
 Day thou haft appointed as aforefaid : At which Conference 1 being concerned 
 and pre-ingaged to be prefent, and Notice given thereof already to the People, 
 who may incline to be at both, if on different Days ; and not yet having made 
 myfclf Party to thy arbitrary Appointment, find no Obligation upon me to at- 
 tend it ; but if thou tliinks fit to defer it, and be at the other intended Confe- 
 rence, there we may fettle Preliminaries, and agree on Matters and Subjedls, and 
 State of each Qiicftion, as well as on Time and Place ; which I think is moft 
 pradicable and reafonable, and may beft anfwer every Circumftance." 
 
 THO. STORY. 
 This
 
 39^ The L I F Ej ^c. 
 
 Anno 7' h i s I v. rote, to the End that the Matter might be brought upon its proper 
 
 1705. Hir.ge, and that whatever miglit be the Ifllie of the Dilpute, it might appear in 
 the Eye of the Government, I was not the Beginner of it -, or, if there fhould 
 be no Dilpute, he might have nothing to boaft of: But my Letter being prefent- 
 ed him, when he had read a few Lines, he threw it back to the Meflenger, with 
 an x\ir of intuiting Pride, faying, " I have other Bufmefs than to mind every 
 " idle Fellow's Papers." 
 
 The next Morning Jofeph Glaijler received a Note from Andrew Monroe, 
 d firing him to prevail with me to defer the Appointment with my Antagonift, 
 a Copy whereof followeth, viz. 
 
 Mr Glaifter, 7«6' 4- 1705. 
 
 " D ENJAMIN JORDAN, your Subftitute, and I, have pitched upon 
 " To-morrow, the 5th Day of this Month, to meet at Colonel Bridges. It 
 
 " is expefted not by thee and me only, but by your Friends, and thofe of our 
 " Communion, that we faulter not our Word and Appointment. I heard Ye- 
 " fterday, that your Friend Mr Siory and Mr Bur tell are to meet on the fame 
 " Day at Chuckatuck Parifh Church. Mr Glaifter, I would have you urge to 
 " your Friend Story, to adjourn his Meeting with Mr Burtell till next Day ; 
 " that is, Friday, the 6th of this current -, and it will be very obliging to all 
 " your and our Friends ; for, without all peradventure, the fame Perfons would 
 " be at both Places. If your Friend Story and Mr Burtell meet on Friday the 
 " 6th of this Month, Mr Burtell cannot take it amifs to adjourn his Meeting 
 " till next Day : For why fhould one Meeting fmother and fupprefs the other ; 
 " as it cannot be avoided if both happen on the fame Day. So much at pre- 
 " fent from 
 
 Tour Friend and Servant on all good Occq/ions, 
 
 A.M. 
 
 Chuckatuck, The fame Day we had a Meeting at Chuckatuck % where feveral Strangers were 
 prefent, and Things were open,- and a good Meeting and very comfortable, 
 through the good Prefence of the Lord, which was with us: After which we 
 drew up ibme particular Heads of Matter to difcourie the Priefts upon, we having 
 as much Right to propofe and infift upon Matters for Debate, and the Manner 
 of Proceeding, to them, as they had to do fo to us ; with a Method of Proceed- 
 ino-, ift. That each Queftion fhould be firft agreed on by both Parties, and 
 fairly ftated in Writing, and fubfcribed by both ; one aflerting, and the other 
 oppofing. 
 
 idly. That the Arguments on both Sides fhould be taken in Writing, and 
 fubfcribed by both ; that fo all Mifunderftanding might be prevented, and every- 
 one left to judge of the Validity of the Arguments of both at his own Leifure, 
 when made fo publick as the Nature of Things might require, 
 
 Q^dly, That, to prevent Confufion, no Perfon be fuffered to intermeddJe in 
 any Point in Debate, but thofe only immediately concerned. 
 
 Th E'feveral Heads we propofed to be gone upon are as follow : 
 
 " ift. Whether any Man can be a Minifter of C h r i s r, while under 
 " the Praftice of any Thing, which at any Time heretofore hath been con- 
 " demned, or fpoken againft as an Evil by the Spirit of God, according t.o 
 " the Teftimony of Holy Scriptures ? 
 
 « 2dly,
 
 of T HO M AS ST R T. 59.^ 
 
 « 2dly, Whether can Mankind^ by any Means, be free from Sin on this Anno 
 " Side the Grave ? 1 70 s> 
 
 " 3^/y, Whether fprinkling Infants in the Face with Water, the Admi- 
 " niftrator iifing the Wbrds, Father^ Son, and tioly Ghojl, crofling them on the 
 " Face with his Finger, or Side of his Hand, with God-fathers and God-mo- 
 " thers; making them promife and vow, as ye do, in the Adminiftration of 
 " what ye call Baptifm^ be neceflary to their Salvation? 
 
 " 4//&/yj Whether can Man live always free from Sin, from the eighth 
 " Day of his Age to the eighteenth Year of the fame j or for his whole Life, 
 " be it longer or fhorter ? 
 
 'D 
 
 " c;thly. Whether doth fprinkling Infants as aforefaid, bring forth the 
 " Work of Regeneration in them, and make them Members of Christ, 
 " Children of G o d, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven ? And whether 
 " can any, once in that State, (in a Gofpel, or Evangelical Senfe) fall from it ? 
 
 " 6ihfy, Whether is there any Example in the Scripture, where any 
 " Apoftle of C H R I s t ever forced or received any Maintenance, either by any 
 " human Law, or without fiich Law, from any who did not receive their Mi- 
 " niftry, or from fuch as did ? And how is fuch Force confiftent with that doc- 
 " trinal Precept, Do unto all Men as you would they Jhould do unto you ? 
 
 " 'jthly. Whether any Man, whilfl he is a Liar, Murderer, Whore- 
 *' monger, Drunkard, Proud, Prophane, Swearer, Extortioner, Reviler, Cove- 
 " tous, Wanton, Lafcivious, Falfe-accufer, Envious, Vain-boafter, Implacable, 
 " Scoffer, Injurious^ Fighter, Litigious, or Perfecutor, can be a Minifter of 
 " Christ at the fame Time ? 
 
 •' ithly. Whether ^ny Man can be in a State of Regeneration, and in a 
 *' State of Sin at the fame Time ? 
 
 *' ^thly. Whether Tythes be appointed as a Maintenance for any Go- 
 " fpel Miniftry, by any divine Authority ? Or whether Christ, whofe King- 
 " dom is not of this World, ever gave any Power to any of the Princes of 
 " this World over his Church, or to meddle with the Affairs of it, orany Com- 
 " mand or Permiffion to any of his Apoftles, or Minifters, fo to entangle them- 
 »' felves in the Concerns and Affairs of Princes, or Potentates of the Earth, as 
 " they could not fully attend the Duty of their Callings, in relation to the 
 " Kingdom of Christ and divine Things ? 
 
 " lothy Whether aftive Obedience ought to be given to all, or any hii- 
 " man Laws, refpedting the Religion of C h r i s t on Earth, Faith in him, and 
 " the Chriffian Religion ? 
 
 " wth. Whether all Women are abfolutely prohibited to fpeak minifte- 
 " rially in the Church of C h R i s T on any Occafion ? 
 
 " I ith. Whether any Woman,though immediately under C h r i s t, can 
 " be the fuprtam I lead, on Earth, of the Church of G d ? And whether or no 
 " can any Woman, under any Qiialification whatfoever, make and appoint Bi- 
 " fliops in that Church ? And if {he may, according to the Nature, Tenor, and 
 
 5 G " End
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 394- 
 
 Anno " End of the Difpenllmon of the Gofpd, whether fuch a Woman may not both 
 1705, " fpcak and a6l minifterially in her Church, as well as any of her Bifhops ihe 
 " appoints therein f 
 
 Mat. xxviii. " 1 5/^^ Whether thefe Words, Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, 
 " baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, aitd of the Holy Ghofi j 
 " teaching them to obferie all Things whatfoever I have commanded you ; and, loy 
 " / am with you alway, even unto the End of the World, be a fufficient Miffion 
 " and Commiffion for every, or any Minifter of C h r i st, or any afluming to 
 " be as luch, to baptize with Water, and rantife Infants, in the verbal Name of 
 " Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl, according to the prefent Ufage of the National 
 " Church of England ? 
 
 " 14//&, Whether any of the Apoftles of C h r i s t ever conjoin'd any 
 " Perlbns in Matrimony, making them fay after him, JVith this Ring I thee 
 " wed, with my Body I thee worjhip ; and fo on, according to the known Ufage 
 " in the fame Church? 
 
 " is^th. Whether the Sins of any Perfon, confefied to a Prieftofany 
 " Notion, Order, or Form, and abfolved by him, by thefe Words, Father, Son, 
 " and Holy Ghoji, be really pardoned tliereupon, and done away, fo as that 
 " fuch Peribn hath no further Anfwer or Account to make or give for the fame 
 " before God?" 
 
 On the 5th, being the Time appointed for the Conference, -we went accor- 
 dingly, and met in Colonel Bridge' % great Hall, where we had a large Auditory 
 of all Ranks of People in the Country ; fix Juitices of the Peace, feveral Colo- 
 nel?, Majors, Captains, and other Military Officers, Lawyers and others. My 
 Friend Jcfeph Glaijler and I were very low, inward, and humble in our Minds ; 
 the Multitude being generally againft us, and the Honour of Truth concerned 
 in the Management and Iffiie of this Engagement on our Part ; yet the Lord 
 was on our Side. And, on the other Eland, Andrew Monro, the Prieft, being 
 the Peribn more immediately engaged, as Jofeph Glaifier on our Side, he would 
 not enter into any Conference upon thefe Heads which we had drawn up and 
 propofed, but only in his own Way ■, yet Jofeph Glaifter, having the Mind of 
 Truth, engaged him under fome feeming Difadvantages in the Cafe ; which in 
 the firft Place he hinted, in fhort, to the Audience : and chiefly, that his Anta- 
 gonift had not made known to him what he intended to confer about, as to any 
 Matter or Subjeft. To which Andrew Monro fcoffingly anfwered, " You have 
 '• the Light always in you, and can never be furprized ; therefore it is not ne- 
 *' ceffary that you fliould know that." For which he had a juft Reproof to 
 begin with. 
 
 Then the Queflion was put by Andrew Monro ; whether the Text in Mat- 
 thewxxvm. 19. is to be underfbood of outward vifible Baptifm with Water ; or 
 of the invifible Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft ? 
 
 To this State of the Queftion Jofeph Glaifter objedled, in that the Terms there- 
 of were too general for the Prieft's Praftice ; leaving him at Liberty to play the 
 Baptifi rather than the Epifcopalian ; and that it is unequal and difhonourable in 
 any Man to attack another, but only upon his own profeffed Principles and 
 Pradice : And therefore infilled, that the State of the Queftion Ihoukl include 
 the prefent Praftice of the Church oi Enghvid in the Point i his Adverfary being 
 a profeffed Minifter of that Church. 
 
 Andrew
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. 395- 
 
 jfji-Jretv Monro anfwered, " That his Principle was dipping aswell as fprinkling. Anno 
 " and therefore ought to be anfwered on that Principle." Jofepb Glaifter replied, 1 705. 
 " That xho' yhdrew Monro had that in his Canon, he did not pra6life it; and fo 
 " was inconfiftent with Iris own Rule as well as with the Holy Scriptures; hisPrac- 
 " tice being the moll certain Indication of his real Principles, in any Cafe. And 
 " Infants are not proper Subjcdls of Water-baptifm." 
 
 Th ts-h Andrew Monro, after muchNoife andRudenefs by fome of his Party, 
 faid, "That by this Text, together with other Texts proving' outward vifible 
 " Baptifm, I take upon me to Hand by the Praftice and Principles of the Churcli 
 *^ oi England. And then the Queftion was ftated thus." 
 
 Where Christ faid to his Difciples^ All Po'wer is given unto me in Heaven and 
 in Earth ; go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing them into the Name of 
 the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghofl. Is Water-baptifm here infti- 
 tuted, or commanded ? Or is the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft here intended ? 
 And is this Text an adequate and fufficient Foundation for the Baptifm now ufed 
 in the National Church oi England, with the concomitant Circumftances and Cere- 
 monies deemed needful, and thofe Effefts and Confequences afcribed thereunto 
 neceflariiy attending .'' Andrew Monro affumed the Affirmative, and Jofeph 
 Claijter the Negativ^e, and both figned. 
 
 The Proofof the Affirmative being incumbent upon ^Kir^-K; MoHro, the firft Markvii. 5. 
 
 he offered was from that Text, where it is faid. The Pharifees, and all the fetus, 4- 
 
 except they wafh their Hands often, they eat not, holding the Tradition of the Elders." 
 And faid, " The fame Greek Word is here ufed for wafhing, as in the other 
 " Text in the Queftion; and as it properly fignifies wafhing, fo nothing is pro- 
 " per to waffi in but Water ; therefore Water is intended in the Text, idly, 
 *' As the Apoftles had the Spirit of Christ, they were the beft Judges, and 
 " accordingly they baptized with Water ; (for they could not baptize with the 
 *' Holy Ghoft) inftancing in Philip'^ baptizing the Eunuch ; therefore Water 
 *' was intended in the Text." 
 
 Jofeph Glaifler anfwered, " That even as the Scribes, Pharifees, and other 
 " Hypocrites in thofe Days, made the Commandments of G o d of none Effect 
 " by their Traditions, fo do ye ; through Covetoufnefs and Craft : They eluded 
 •' the Filth Commandment efpecially, fo do ye the Inftitution and Command of 
 ** C H R I s T, as thou thyfelf will underftand it •, for tho' the Greek Word there fig- 
 " nifies wafhing, and the fame is in the Text in queftion ; and tho' Water, in 
 " general, be the moft proper Inftrument for wafhing : yet fprinkling and 
 " wafhing arc different and diftinft Afts, tho' by the fame Element, varioufly 
 "applied: And if Christ had commanded his Apoftles to wafh with 
 " Water, (and which yet is no Command to you) and ye only fprinkle with 
 " Water, ye do not the Command of Christ, but your own Work : Flow 
 " then are you the Difciples of C h r i s t ? And feeing wafliing and fprinkling 
 " are two different Adls and Things ; he who only fprinkleth a Child, in 
 " that facred Name, and faith, I baptize thee, doth not he utter a Falfhood 
 " in that great Name ^ Yet the Words in the Text in queftion, have relation 
 " unto the Floly Ghoft itfelf, according to the Prediftion of John the Bapdft 
 " concerning this Baptifm, He (Christ) fhall baptize you with the Holy Ghcfl Matt 
 " and with Fire: And it being the faving Work of Christ, by his holy 
 " Spirit, to clcanfe and fandlify the Infide, (which none elfe can do) as Water 
 " only the Outfide •, it is a figurative Inftitution or Command, fignifying an 
 " inward Waftiing of the I leart and Mind ot Mankind, wiio believe in the 
 
 " Son 
 
 in. n.
 
 g96 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Ann 6 "Son of Gt)D, wherein the Holy Spirit itfclf is compared to Water, accor- 
 
 t'705. « ding to that Saying of C h r i st, //f that believeth in me, cut of his Belly Jhdl 
 
 Johnvii. 38. "■ Jlo--^ Rivers of living Water ; but this fpake he of the Spirit, which they who 
 
 " ii-ere to believe flmild receive. Bui if in that Place the Word fignifies hap- 
 
 Matt XV. 1. " tixing., why did not the Tranflators of the Bible fay, the Pharifees and 
 
 —g. '<■ Scribes faw the Difciples eat with unbaptized Hands. Tht Jews^ except 
 
 " they baptize their Hands often, they eat not. Baptizing Cups, Pots, bra- 
 
 " zenVefTelSjfj'f. 
 
 " A N- D, as to the PraAice of the Apoftles in one or two Inftances, that is 
 
 " no fufficient Warrant for you at this Day, feeing they praflifed feveral legal 
 
 " Rites, as Circumcifion, Vows, Shavings, Offerings, and the like-, with many 
 
 " other Arguments from feveral Texts of Scripture, in fupport of the Baptifm 
 
 " of the Holy Spirit, exclufive of all others ; the laft whereof was this. There is 
 
 Eph. iv. ;. " one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptifm ; by one Spirit fnot by one Water; are we 
 
 1 Cor.xii. 13. " all baptized into one Body.— -The Church, which is his Body, the Fulnefs of him 
 
 £ph. i. 23. „ ^hojilleth all in all. " 
 
 Andrew Monro replied, " That this one Baptifm, Water and Spirit, which 
 " make that one Baptifm, (but had denied before that any Man could admini- 
 " iler the Spirit) confifteth of two Parts; the one outward, with Water, the 
 *' other inward, with the Spirit: That with Water is the outward Sign; that 
 " with the Spirit is the Remiffion of Sins, or inward Subftance." 
 
 Jofeph Glaifier returned, " That this overthrew his Antagonift's own Caufe, 
 " for two Reafons ; i/?, in that the Queftion is alternatively ftated, viz. Whe- 
 " ther Water or Spirit, then not both intended, in the State of the Cafe, to 
 " make up one. idly. Seeing no Man can, according to him, baptize with, 
 " or adminifter the Spirit, then no Man can thoroughly baptize, but in part, 
 " by his own Confeffion, feeing the Spirit is effential to true Baptifm ; which 
 " cannot be half done, and half undone : And feeing your own Definition of 
 *' Baptifm is, that one Part of it is, an outward and vifible Sign, and the other 
 " Pa'ft, an inward fpiritual Grace, a divine invifible Subftance; which no Man 
 " being able to adminifter^ nor to remit Sins, (as Andrew Monro confefs'd) there 
 *' can be no fuch compound Baptifm:" To which neither the Prieft, nor any 
 other, gave any Anfwer : Upon which they proceeded to another Queftion, viz. 
 
 « Whether any Man can, by any Means, be abfolutely free from Sin in 
 " this Life ?" 
 
 t( 
 
 Andrew Monro affirms, " That no Man can be free from Sin, until the 
 Time of Separation of Sowl and Body." 
 
 Jofeph Glaifier aficrts, " That a Man may, by the Grace of God, be free 
 " from Sin, before the Time of his Death." 
 
 Rom.iii. 2-. Andrew Monro urged the Text, where it is faid. All have finned, and comt 
 Jhort of the Glory of God. 
 
 Jofeph Glaifier anfvvered, " I grant that all have finned ; but fuch as obey 
 
 " and truft in the Son of God, do not continue and go on in Sin as long as 
 
 — V. 20, 21. " they live in this World : for the fame Apoftle alfo faith afterwards, that where 
 
 " Sin aboiinded, Grace did much more abound ; that as Sin hath reigned unto Death, 
 
 " even fo might Grace reign through Righteouftiefs unto eternal Life, by Jefis 
 
 '■' Chrifi,
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. 597 
 
 " Chrifti our Lord. What Jhall '•joe fay then? Shall we continue in Sin that Grace Axntn o 
 '■'■ may abound? God forbid : How floall we who are dead nnto Sin live any longer 1705. 
 " therein? Again, When ye were the Servants of Sin, ye were free from Righ- Rom. vi. 1,2. 
 
 " teoufnefs; but now being made free from Sin, and become Servants to God, ye 20,22. 
 
 " have your fruit unto Holinefs, and the End everlajling Life: So that the Ser- 
 
 " vanrs of God, the Difciples of C h r i s t, though they may have been Sin- 
 
 " ners in divers Inftances of Life, and fome very great Sinners, and greatly dc- 
 
 " filed thereby, are yet reftored and redeemed in this Lite, as appears by the 
 
 " fame Apoftle's Dodrine and Teilimony to the Corinthians; where he iaith, 
 
 " Knozv ye not that the Unrighteous fjall not inherit the Kingdom of God. Be nut ' Cor. vi. 9, 
 
 " deceived ; neither Fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor ^^' "' 
 
 " Abufers of themfelves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, 
 
 " nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, fhall inherit the Kingdom of God. And fuch 
 
 " were fome of you; but ye are wafhed,iut ye are fanBified, but ye are jujtified, in 
 
 " the Na-me of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God.'' Then the Pricft 
 
 cited another Text out of the firft Epiftle of John, in Support of Sin, whofe 
 
 Servants they are, viz. If we fay that we have no Sin, we deceive ourfelves, and , joim i. S. 
 
 the Truth is not in us. " Here the Apoftle fpeaks not only of the Believers, to 
 
 " whom he wrote this general Epiftle, but likewife inckideth himfelf, and con- 
 
 " fequently the reft of the Apoftles and Primitives: And are you, or we, or 
 
 " Mankind, better than they ! 
 
 . Jofeph Glaifter anfwered, " That the Apoftle was not in Sin at that Time^ 
 " neither were the reft of the Apoftles, nor thofc to whom he then wrote, nor 
 " the Primitives, as abundantly appeareth by the Context of the fiime Epiftle ; 
 
 " for in the very next Verfc to that which thou haft repeated, he faith. If we 9.' 
 
 " confefs our Sins, he is faithful and jufi to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us 
 " from all Unrighteoufnefs. And again. The Blood of Jefus Chrift his Son clean- 
 
 " feth us from all Sin : And they could not be in Sin, and cleanfed from it at 7 
 
 " the fame Time. And befide, where the Apoftle faith. If we fay we have no 
 
 " Sin, we deceive ourfelves, he explains it in the tenth Verfe, thus, If we 10. 
 
 " fay we have not finned, we make him a Liar, and his Word is not in us. And, 
 
 " to leave this Point without all Doubt to all who love God, Ch r i st, the 
 
 *' Chriftian Faith, Morality, and Religion, the fame Apoftle further faith, in the 
 
 *' fame Epiftle, I have written unto you. Fathers, becaufe ye have known him that is i John n. i.^. 
 
 *' from the Beginning ; I have written unto you, young Men, becaufe ye are firong, 
 
 " and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the Wicked One. 
 
 " And again. He that committeth Sin is of tbe Devil ; for the Devil finneth from — iii. 8, 9. 
 
 " the Begimiing. For this Purpofe the Son of God was manifefled, that he might 
 
 " deftroy the Works of tbe Devil. Whofoever is born of God doth not commit Sin ; 
 
 " for his Seed remaineth in him, and he cannot fin, becaufe he is born of God. The 
 
 *' Scripture being thus plain againft Sin Term of Life, it is as plain, that whofoever 
 
 " promote Sin by Word aiul Doftrine, they are the Servants of Sin, Promoters 
 
 " of the Work of the Devil, againft Christ, whofe Work and Manileftation 
 
 " is to deftroy it-, and proclaim themfelves not to be the Children of God, but 
 
 " ignorant of that great and faving Work of Go d by C h rist the Lord; Tit. 111.3— 6. 
 
 " that is. Regeneration." 
 
 Then they proceeded to the third Qiieftion, moved by Jofeph Glaifler ; 
 which was, " Whether Christ did ever give Command or Power, to any 
 " ot his Apoftles or Minifters, to force Maintenance, or any Thing towards it, 
 " from any who did not receive them and their Miniftry freely? And wiiether 
 " or no is fuch Force agreeable to the Nature and End of the Gofpel, or a 
 
 5 H " Breach
 
 3o8 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno " Breach of the righteous Law and Command of Christ, which faith, Ba 
 1705. " ye unto all Men, as ye would that they JboiiU do unto you?" 
 
 This Andrew Monro would not enter upon, but faid, " Mr Glaijler, You 
 " are a much younger Man than I am, and ftronger, and can hold an Argument 
 " longer: I confefs you have a clofe Way of Rcalbning, though I think I hav^ 
 " the Truth on my Side, but can hold cut no longer." And, being hot Wea- 
 ther, and he an elderly Man, grew fo weary, weak, and faint, that he could 
 fcarce be heard ; but called for a Pipe of Tobacco, and a Tankard of Ale, for 
 his Refrefliment : and fo it ended, on his Part, in Drink and Smoak. 
 
 Then one came and told me the French Prieft was going from thence-, fo 
 that if I had any Thing to fay to him, muft do it quickly : Whereupon I went 
 from the Table, and found him with fome People about him, and fpake to him, 
 in their hearing, concerning our Meeting upon his Chalk-nge. This put him in- 
 to a frefn Rage ; but would not hear of any further Difpute : pretending he had 
 appointed that Day for it, and I did not go ; and therefore he was at Liberty. 
 I replied, " Neither did thou go there ; and thou ought not to decline meeting 
 " me, fmce, upon thy own Challenge, I came back trom beyond James's-Ri- 
 " ver, with fome Difficulty, Charge, and Hazard, on purpofe, and am ready 
 " to meet thee, at thy own Place, To morrow." But he utterly refufed it, in 
 ill l,anguage; and yet, by Degrees, we came upon the fame Point, of finlefs 
 Perfeftion in this Life, or Sin to the End, and further debated it ; in which I had 
 ? John iii. 9. occafion to repeat that Scripture, where it is faid, IVhofcever is born of Gcd doth 
 not commit Sin ; for his Seed remaineth in him, and he cannot fin, becauje he is 
 born of God. 
 
 T o this he anfwercd, " That the fame Apoftle diftinguifheth upon the Word 
 
 — V. 16, 17. " Sin, where he faith, If a Man fee his Brother fin a Sin which is not unto Deaths 
 
 " he fhall ajk, and he pall give him Life for them that fin not unto "Death. There is 
 " a Sin unto Death : I do not fay that he fhall fray for it. All Unrighteoufnefs is Sin-, 
 " and there is a Sin not unto Death. Now, faid he, this Sin, which is here faid 
 " to be a Sin unco Death, is not intended as to every Sin, or of any other but 
 " the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft ; which is never to be forgiven, neither in this 
 " World, nor in that which is to come." 
 
 I REPLIED, " That the Apoftle could not mean the Sin againft the Holy 
 
 , 17, 18. " Ghoft only ; for in the fame Place he faith. All Unrighteoufnefs is Sin, (inde- 
 
 " finitely) and we know that whofoever is born of God finneth not-, but he that is 
 " begotten of God, keepeth himfelf, and that Wicked One toucheth him not. He 
 " therefore who fo keepeth himfelf, that the Wicked One toucheth him not, 
 " neither finneth againft the Holy Ghoft, nor any other Sin ; for fuch can fay 
 
 — XV. 17. " in Truth, as he is, fo are we in this IVmid. But for the better underftandino- 
 
 " of this Point, let it be confidered what Christ himfelf faith concernino- 
 " Sin in general, and of the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft in particular : The 
 " Law of Mofes did not impute Sin unto any, where no Act of Sin was commit- 
 " ted, or known Duty omitted ; but the Morality of the Gofpel, by the Lord 
 " Jesus Christ, being more divine, excellent, and perfed than that of the 
 " Law, chargeth the Defire and Will with Sin, where there is no adtual or le- 
 
 i\Lit. V. 20. "■ g'll Tranfgrcfiion : For Inftance, Christ faid to his Difciples, Except your 
 " Righteoufnefs fkall exceed the Righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye fhall 
 
 27,28, " ^"^ "° ^^-fi ^"^^^ ^nto the Kingdom of Heaven. Te have heard that it was faid 
 
 " by them of old Time, thou flmll not commit Adultery ; but I fay unto you, that who- 
 
 " [ocvcr
 
 of r H M AS ST R T. 399 
 
 " foe'ver Iccketh en a Woman, to lufi after her, hath commtted Adultery with her Anno 
 " already in his Heart. ^J^^S' 
 
 " Now, here is Sin charged upon the Lufl, or Defire of Evil, arifing from 
 " the Root of Evil in the Heart, where the Will is fubjefted thereto by that 
 " Defirc, though the Atl be not committed ; yet fuch Defire and Will, though 
 " finful in the Sight of G o d, who is perfeft in Holinefs, it is not mortal or 
 " deadly, till afted : For the Apoftle James, by his Dodtrine, explains this ; 
 " where he faith. When Luft hath conceded, it bringeth forth Sin; and Sin, ja. i. ,^: 
 " when it is iir.iflied, bringeth forth Death. Here, under the Word Lufi, is 
 " comprehended every finful Defire incident unto Human kind, whereby we fin, 
 " or can fin againft God-, the Conception and Purpofe whereof in the Pleart 
 " is Sin, and defileth ; but, until finiflied by Words or Aftion, is not fo mortal 
 " as to feparate the Soul for ever from the Life of God -, whether it may be 
 " Murder, Adultery, Covetoufnefs, which is Idolatry, or any other mortal Sin. 
 
 *' And --dihofoever pall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one Point, (even fo n. c), ic. 
 
 " much as to refpeft Perfons in Matters of Religion) he is guilty of all : But 
 
 " though he v/ho thus finneth againft God, brings Death over his Soul as a 
 
 " ncceflary Confequence of it, and lays himfelf liable to eternal Judgment and 
 
 " Punifhment; yet thefe are not Sins againft the Holy Ghoft, as Christ de- 
 
 " fines it : For all Manner of Sin and Blafphemy pall be forgiven unto Men ; but Mat. xii, 31, 
 
 " the Blafphemy againft the Holy Ghoft pall net be forgiven unto Men. Andwho- 
 
 " foever fpeakcth a Word againft the Son of Man, it ftoall be forgiven him ; but 
 
 " who foever fpeaketh againft the Holy Ghoft, it ftoall not be forgiven him, neither 
 
 " in this World, nor in the IVcrid to come. By which it is evident, that the Sin 
 
 " againft the Holy Ghoft is committed by the Tongue, and confifts in attribu- 
 
 " ting the wonderful Works of God, by his Holy Spirit, efpecially in the 
 
 " Redemption of Mankind, unto that Evil One, the Devil, or unto any other 
 
 *' Power, than the Wifdom and Power of the Almighty only : But if the Chil- 
 
 " dren of G o d, who arc born of his divine and eternal Word, may, as fuch, 
 
 " fin any Sin, except the Sin againft the Holy Ghoft, (as is the plain Senfe of 
 
 *' thy, and your Doctrine and Reaibning) then they might be guilty of any, or 
 
 *' all other Sins, and ftill be Children of G o d, in an evangelical Senfe, inno- 
 
 " cent and undefilcd ; which is aContradiftion, Inconfiftency, and Impoffibility ; 
 
 " and, in the Nature of it, blafphemous." 
 
 This Prieft, being exceeding loth to yield up this beloved Doctrine of Sin 
 "term of Life, and the Kingd.om of Heaven at laft, ftruggled yet a little furtlier : 
 and, upon my faying, That no Man can ferve two Mafters, nor God and Sin 
 at the lame Time ; he replied, as in our former Difpute, " That a Man is never 
 " properly a Servant, unlefs lie obey his Mafter in all Things : fo a Man can- 
 " not be a Servant of Sin, unlefs he obey it in all Things." 
 
 T H E N I urged, " That if none can be the Servants of Sin, unlefs he obey 
 " in all Things-, lb, by a Parity of Reafon, one may fiiy, none can be the Ser- 
 " vant of God, unlefs he obey in all Things : And then none of you, Pricfts, 
 " who plead for Sin '•Term of Life, pretending to fei-vc God and Sin at the fame 
 " Time, can be Servants of G o d, or Miniftcrs of C h R i s r ; fince ye do not, 
 " by thy own Ccnfcfiion, obey him in all Things, if in any one Thing." 
 
 S o many of the People as were prefent, being generally very quiet during 
 the Time ; and, for any Thing that appeared to the contrary, were fatisficd ; 
 and, it growing late, we at laft parted friendly, my Adverfary taking me by the 
 
 Hand
 
 ^.oo 
 
 The LIFE, d^'c. 
 
 Anno Hand, called me Brother, and faid, " All the Hurt I wifli you, light upon my 
 1705. " Wife and Children i and lb Farewell." Several of the People were very kind. 
 Truth having Dominion over all in the End ; to the lailing Praife of his own 
 Arm, to whom alone it is due, now and for evermore. And many being now 
 well fatisfied concerning the Way of Truth, who had not been fo before, we re- 
 turned that Evening to the Widow Jordan'^. 
 
 On the 6th we went over Nnncemond River, to Benjamin SmaW?, ; and refted 
 there that Night : But, in our Way near the Ferry, we heard that James Biirtell 
 had left a Note there, advertifing a new Challenge for a further Difpute with me : 
 And as we were conferring what could be the Meaning of it, we efpied him juft 
 puttino- off tiom the Shore in a Boat a little before us, and we made hafte to- 
 wards him -, and, calling, he ftaid till we came up, and enquired what he meaned 
 by it ; for I thought he had been fatisfied before. 
 
 He replied, " As for my own Part I have no more to fay, but fome Gentle- 
 " men of my Communion were very defirous of fome further Satista6tion in fome 
 " Points ; fo I defire we may meet upon it this Day Week." I objefted againft 
 the Length of Time -, that it was not reafonable I fliould be fo long detained 
 in rhofe Parts about it, feeing I had, at his former Requeft, returned over James's- 
 River to meet him, as before. Then he fpoke very calm and fair, and faid, 
 "God forbid, Brother, that I fhould do any Thing to your Hindrance: I do 
 " not defire your Stay to your Hurt, or Inconvenience-, fo that, if you pleafe, 
 " we will let it drop." 
 
 I REPLIED, " That fince there had been fo much Notice taken of it, as 
 " there muft be by leaving Word at the Ferry-houfe, and thofe of thy Com- 
 " munion exped it, I will not decline to meet thee-, but the Time is too re- 
 " mote." He anfwered, as before, " I do not defire it, but the People of my 
 •" Communion fo much requeft it, that I cannot fairly evade it ; and, being to 
 " preach, next Lord's Day, 30 Miles off, I cannot well attend it fooner." 
 At lafl he agreed to the Third Day following ; but, though often urged, he 
 would not difcover what were the Points thofe Perfons defired further Satisfadion 
 in -, and yet, left any Refleftion fhould fall on the Truth, by my declining to 
 meet him, I condefccnded under thefe Difadvantagcs : And then we paffed the 
 River, and lodged at Benjamin SmalPs. 
 
 O N the 7th we went to Robert Jordan'% -, where we lodged that Night : 
 On the 8th, being the Firft of the Week, we went to the Meeting at Chiicka- 
 tuck ; to which came feveral Colonels, Majors, Juftices of the Peace, and ma- 
 ny People, (for the Country was much alarmed by our being among them) and 
 a good open Meeting the Lord gave us in the main; yet I, for my own part, 
 came not fully eafy from it, but rather under a fecret Burden from fome un- 
 known Caufe. That Evening we returned to Benjamin Small's; and, on the 
 yth, went to Robert Jordan's; where we lodged that Night. 
 
 On the loth we returned over the River to Major 'Thomas Jordan's, to di- 
 fpute the French Prieft, (for he had there appointed it) where many People were 
 affembled on that Occafion. The Time appointed was Nine in the Morning, 
 and he came not till Twelve •, fo that many of his Party feemed to doubt his 
 -Coming, and were troubled ; they having great Dependance upon him as their 
 only remaining Champion in thofe Parts : But, at length, he came ; and the 
 iirft Saluation I gave him was a gentle Reproof for delaying fo long after the 
 
 Time
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 401 
 
 Time appointed by himfelf, which he endeavoured to excufe ; though the real Anno 
 Meaning of it was taken to be, to fliorten the Time, fo that Night at leall might 1 705. 
 end the Controverfy, into which he had been fo unwillingly brought. 
 
 Along Table being placed in the Middle of Major Jordan\ Hall, and one 
 of us on each Side, we were quickly furroundcd by a crowding Multitude ; and, 
 being very hot Weather, we were ready to be ftiflcd : But though I had at 
 that Time a great Pain in my Right Side and Breaft, fo that I could not well 
 draw Breath, but with fliarp Stitches, the Day before, and that Morning •, yet 
 the Lord gave me Eafe, at that Time, and Strength to my own Defire. 
 
 M Y Antagonift, being very volatile, made his AfTault inflantly, without a 
 Word of any Preliminaries, or State of any Qiieflion, and thus attacked me : 
 " Why do not you, the People called Quakers, ufe the Lor d's Prayer in your 
 " Allemblies? I prove that C h ri st taught his Difciples this Prayer, (offer- 
 " ing to read it) and commanded them to pray lb ; and I alfo prove that they 
 " who do not ufe it are no Chriftians : but you never ufe it; becaufe, if you 
 *' did, you mull then pray for Forgivenefs of your Sins, which your own fup- 
 " pofed Righteoufnefs will not allow : You are therefore none of his Difciples: 
 " You are no Clirillians." 
 
 Upon this I gave the Auditory a fliort Relation of the Occafion and Cir- 
 cumftances of that Engagement, and of the firft Meeting he oppofed me in, and 
 of the Proceedings fince to that Time, to the End they might know the true 
 State of the Matter ; and that the Magiftracy (many of them being prefent) 
 might be fatisfied, whatever might be the Ifilic, that not I, but my Opponent, 
 was the firil Mover and Contriver of it: That fo no Blame might appear on my 
 Part on that Account ; and that I might check and avoid the Liberty he alTu- 
 med, to impofe Qiieftions at his Pleaiure, without my Aflent to a regular fta- 
 ting of them, fo as to relate to the known Principles and Praftice on each Side. 
 This difpleafed my Adverfary for two Reafons : i/?. In that he imagined I had 
 intended to renew the whole Matters and Queftion concerning Freedom from 
 Sin, in which he had been fo fully worfted before •, which I did not mean, 
 though his Manner of proceeding, in part renewed it again. And, zdly, Becaufe 
 he thought I intended thereby to evade his Queftion and Matter ; wherein he 
 imagined he had fo great Advantage : and therefore he interrupted me, laying, 
 " What is this to the Purpofe?" 
 
 I REPLIED, " Though it is nothing to thy Purpofe, it is to mine: And 
 " now I anfwer direftly to thy Queftion, and fay. That the Charge is founded 
 " upon a falfe Suggtftion ; for though we do not frequently ufe the very Words 
 " of that Prayer in our Meetings, as the Manner of fome is, yet we fometimes 
 ufe it verbatim, and often the Sum of it in other Terms •, and we often like- 
 wife explain the Nature, End, and Subftance of it in our Meetings, for the 
 Information and Edification of the People •, and how can we explain it, and 
 not firft rchearfe it ? And how canll thou fay we never repeat it, having been 
 at \o very few of our Meetings ?" He replied, " I never heard you •, and 
 v^ho elfe here ever did ? Then arofe a Voice and Cloud of Witneffes, both 
 Friends and others, faying, " I have; I have-, I have :" and, amongft the 
 reft, a Lawyer faid, " I have heard Jofeph Glaifter, now prefent, in particu- 
 lar, ufe it, and others alio." " O then, faid the Prieft, I have no more to 
 lay on that Account." 
 
 Then I informed the Auditory, " That tholigh we fometimes ufed that 
 
 5 I - ^' Prayer 
 
 «.
 
 401 
 
 The LIFE, e'c. 
 
 Anno ^' Prayer In Form, and often the Subftance of it in other Words, in our Slip- 
 
 1705. " plications to the Almighty ; yet it was not proper for the State of every Man 
 
 " to life it, nor to be done in Mens' own Wills and Times ; when, and as often 
 
 " as we pleafe : for there is a Qualification neceflary to be known in them who 
 
 " ufe it rightly with Acceptance : For though all Men be the Children and 0ft- 
 
 " Ipring of G o D by Creation •, yet none can call God Father truly, in an evan- 
 
 " gelical Senfe, but fuch who have the Evidence of the Spirit of God, that 
 
 " they are, at leaft, begotten of him, by the Influence of his divine Word and 
 
 " Holy Spirit ; and muft be come to a good Degree of Righteoulhefs, and Holi- 
 
 " nefs alfo, by the fenfible Operation of the Holy Spirit, in their own Hearts : 
 
 " And as to the praying therein for the Forgivenefs of Sins, (as he hath fuggefted 
 
 " that v.e reckon ourfelvcs lb perfed and righteous, that we do not need to pray for 
 
 " Forgivenefs) that is not neceflary to every State ; for as the Apoftles, though 
 
 Lukexxii.32. " called of Chri st unto that great Work, yet were not thoroughly convert- 
 
 Mai X. 20. tc g^ ^j jjj^j. -pj^g ^[^gj^ ^Q taught to pray, and might have fome finful Tnfirmi- 
 
 — vi. 52. " ties remaining, not perfeftly fubdued ; yet as they knew the L o r d Jesus 
 
 Luke ix. 41, " to be the Mefliah, the Propitiation for their Sins, and had the Evidence of his 
 
 4-'. 54. 55- 'c Floly Spirit that all their Sins were already pardoned, and could juftly call him, 
 
 Jer. x.xiii. 6. '■'■ ^e Lord OUT Righteoufiiefs ; wonderful Cotmfellor ; the mighty God; the ever- 
 
 Jia. ix. 6. 44 laftiug Father ; the Prince of Peace ; there was no Rcafon for fuch to pray 
 
 " for the Forgivenefs of their Sins, having already obtained it of God the Fa- 
 
 " ther, through his infinite Goodnefs and Mercy in C h r i s t the L r d ; and 
 
 " even lb it is now. 
 
 I added, " That there had been much bitter Contefl among Protefl:ants, 
 " and others, about that Prayer ; feveral Sedts of DiiTenters from the National 
 " Forms, both Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptiits, arguing. That if Men 
 *' ufe the Subftance of it, though in other Words, it is fufiicient ; making it ra- 
 " ther, as it were, a Text for Prayer, than a proper Prayer in all Cafes, or ne- 
 *' ceflary to be ufed in fo many Words : And the Variety of Forms of Prayer 
 " in your oyinCotmnon-pr oyer Book, fhews that you yourfelves do not think it is. 
 " And, notwithflianding that Form of Prayer, the Apoftle Paul, who was not ig- 
 " norant of it, faith, long after it was given, Likezvife the Spirit alfo helpeth our In- 
 " fir mi ties ; for -joe kno-u) not 'what zve fhould pray for as we ought ; but the Spirit 
 " itfelf maketh Intcrcejflon for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered : And he 
 " that fearcheth the Hearts, knoweth what is the Mind of the Spirit ; becaufe he 
 " maketh Interceffion for the Saints according to the IVill of God. So that here it 
 " is evident, that as this Form of Prayer efpecially, and other Forms, as Fruits 
 *' of the Holy Spirit, may be of Ufe unto Men while they are not thoroughly 
 " fan6lified ; but being fanftified, then the immediate Influence and Afiiftance 
 " of the FloIy Spirit of Chri st, the only Mediator and Interccflbr between 
 "God and Man, is moft to be waited for and relied upon, in all our Duties 
 " toward God, whether Prayer, Praifes, Preaching, or any other Part of di- 
 Mat vi.;— 8. " vine Worfhip and Service : And ye profane even that Prayer itfelf, by fo ma- 
 1C0r.xiv.15. " ny vain and needkfs Repttitions of it, without either the Spirit, or underftand- 
 " ing what you fay; or ib much as Belief of the Poffibility of obtaining what 
 *' you would Teem to pray for therein ; and what is not of Faith is Sin. 
 
 " Now, as to the Introdudion, or Addrefs of that Prayer of Prayers, .it is 
 " to the Almighty, as he is the Father of all; with Acknowledgement that his 
 " Habitation is in Heaven, above all. And the firll Petition is, That his Name 
 ♦' (or by what Word foever the divine Being is meant, exprefTed, or defigned) 
 " may be mentioned with Reverence and Awe, as the moft holy Thing ; and 
 '* not blafphemed, lightly ufed, profaned, or taken in vain. And the fecond 
 
 " Pe^
 
 of THOMAS STORY. 405 
 
 ^^ Petition is, That his Kingdom, Rule, Dominion, and Government, may come, Anno 
 
 " be made manifeft, and eftablilhcd over all the Earth, and every boul therein, 1 705. 
 
 " throughout all Generations, as explained by the next Words therein ; that is 
 
 " to fay. Thy IVill be done on Earth as it is in Heaven ; which implies the highefl 
 
 "•' Degree of Perfecbion and Exaltation human Nature is capable of in this Lite: 
 
 " For, if the Will or Law ol God is to be done on Earth as in Heaven, then 
 
 " there can be no more Poffibility of Sin, Unrighceoufnefs, or }£vil, among the 
 
 " Children of Men, to the End of the World ; for the Expreffion is unlimitedj 
 
 " including all Perfons, Ages, and Times : And all the holy Angels of G oiJ 
 
 *' in Heaven, and the Spirits of the Juft made perled:, continually and for ever 
 
 " do the Will of God to all Perfe6tion, in which alfo ftandeth their Life eter- 
 
 " nal : And we are here taught to pray, that it may likewife be the fame here 
 
 " on Earth. And the next Petition in this divine and moft perfedl Prayer, re- 
 
 " gardeth ourfelves, with refpedt to our prefent perfonal divine Nourifhment 
 
 " and Suftenance while here on Earth, and for ever ; and that is. Give us this John vi. 32,; 
 
 " Day our daily Bread ; even the true Bread which the Father giveth from Hea- — 5'« 
 
 " ven, the Bread of Life, which giveth Life unto the World, of which Man- 
 
 *' kind may eat and not die ■, the living Bread which comes down from Hea- 
 
 " ven, of which whofoever fliall eat, he Ihall live for ever -, which is likewife 
 
 *' that Flefli which Christ giveth for the Life of the World ; and unto him 
 
 *' whofoever fhall come fhall not hunger nor thirft any more. This is that ever- 
 
 " living and heavenly Bread which giveth Life unto the World : This is the 
 
 " hidden Manna, more excellent than that in the Wilderntls : The Tree of 
 
 *' Life, which is in the Midft of the Paradife of Goo. By the breaking of this Rev. ii. 7. 
 
 " Bread is the Sen of G o d made manifeft unto him who eateth thereof, to be that Lukexxiv. 35 
 
 •■' Meat which end..reth unto everlafting Life. This is the fame heavenly Bread ^'^ "^'' ^'^' 
 
 " which the Apoflles and Primitives loved, defired, and prayed for, that they 
 
 *' might be continual Partakers of it -, and which we alfo have prayed for, do 34. 
 
 " pray for, and have been, and ftill are, mercifully and gracioufly heard of the ^^'- ^'- ^• 
 
 " Holy One, unto whom we do pray. By this Bread we grow and increafe 
 
 " from State to State, from Stature to Stature, and from Strength to Strength, 
 
 " unto eternal Life, and everlafting Eftablifhment and Perfeftion in Glory, in 
 
 " and with him who liveth and reigneth over all, in all, and above all, and is 
 
 ** worthy for evermore. 
 
 "The next Petition is. Forgive us cur Trefpajfes, as we forgive them who 
 " trefpafs againjl us. This Petition alfo is fuited to general or univerfal Com- 
 " munion : For as all have fmned., and come Jloort of the Glory of God, all, and 
 " every one ought, being convinced of Sin by the Holy Spirit, to confefs their 
 " Sins unto him who convinceth them, and to defire Forgivenefs > whether of 
 *' God, for Sins committed againft him, or for Trefpafies done, one againft a- 
 " nother : and, in both Cafes, Confeffion is to be made unto the offended, and 
 " Forgivenefs requelted, before we can reafonably expeft it, whether of G o d 
 *' or Man. For as to our Sins againft God, it is faid. If we confefs our Sins, he 
 " is faithful and juft to forgive us our Sins, and to cleanfe us from all Unrighteouf- 
 
 " nefs and Sin. And as to our Trefpafies one againft another, it is faid. If thy ^viii 1 - 
 
 *' Brother Jh all trefpafs againjl thee, go and tell him his Fault between him and thee 21,22. 
 '■'■ alcne ; if he fljoll hear thee, thou haft gained thy Brother, ^c. Or, ao-ain. If Lukexvii.3,4 
 " thy Brother trefpafs againft thee, rebuke him ; and, if he repent, forgive him. 
 " And as G o d is merciful unto all, fb he would have us all merciful one to 
 *' another ■, and therefore Christ the Lord commcnteth upon this Petition 
 " in an efpccial Manner, faying. If ye forgive Men their Trefpaft'es, your heavenly 
 " Father will alfo forgive you •, but if ye forgive not Men their Trefpajfes, neither Matvl 11 k 
 " will your heavenly Father forgive your Trefpaft'es. In all which the Lord ' ' +' 5 
 
 " teacheth
 
 404- Th^ L I F Ei ^c. 
 
 Anno " teacheth us to be like himfv;lr", full of Goodncfs, Mercy, and foclal Virtue^ 
 
 1705. " doing the Will of the Father on Earth as it is done in Heaven, in a State ot 
 
 " Reltoration, Redemption, Righteoufnefs, and true Holinefs, the End where- 
 
 " of is Life eternal ; which is oppofice to a State of Sin, in the Nature of Things, 
 
 " and the End of the Coming and Manifcltation of tlie Son of G o d. 
 
 "The next Petition is. Lead us not into 'Temptation, hut deliver us from Evil. 
 
 Matt. Ill- 16, "Jesus, when he was baptized, went up ftraight-way cut of the Water ; and 
 
 iv! I. ' " lo, thetieavens were opened unto him, andhefaw the Spirit of G oo defending like 
 
 " a Dove, and lighting upon him ; and lo, a Voice from Heaven, faying, This is my be- 
 " loved Son, in whom I am well plea fed. Then was Jefus led up of the spirit 
 " into the Wildtrnefs, to be tempted of the Devil. Mankind, in general, 
 " being already in Sin, and under Condemnation in the firft Adam, and Jesus 
 " the S A V I o u R only free, being the Lamb of G o d, without Spot or Blemifli ; 
 " it was neceflfary, in the Council of the Father, that he fliould be tempted of 
 
 ' " the evil One, the common Enemy and Tempter of Mankind ; that thereby, 
 
 " even as Man, he might have a Fellow-feeling of our Weaknefs and Infirmi- 
 " ties, and be the Supporter ol fuch as fliouId believe and truft in him, and be 
 " tempted of Evil ; which Petition is alfo obtained by thofe wlio are his thro' 
 " Faith in his Nailie : For as G o d tempteth no Man, nor is he himielf tempted 
 " of Evil, thofe who are tempted are led afide of their own Lufts, and enti- 
 
 I Cor. X. 13. <« ^^^ . f-Q }^g fuffereth none of his to be tempted above what they are able^ 
 " hut will with the Temptation alfo make a Way to efcape, that they may be 
 " able to bear it, (and it is no Sin to be tempted unlefs we yield -,) whi.ch Temp- 
 " tations are fuffered upon thofe who believe, and are thereby become the Chil- 
 " dren of God, that they may have full Trial of the manilold Grace of G o d 
 " towards them ; their Faith, Patience, and Love toward God, and one toward 
 " another in him ; and experience his Bleffing upon them, and come forth from 
 " under the Weight and Burden of Temptations, as from the Furnace of Af- 
 " flidions, as pure Gold feven Times tried therein ; and not as reprobate Silver 
 " or Drofs, remaining as we are by Nature, in a finful, fenfual, pointed Condi- 
 *' tion ; ever learning, and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth, 
 " or Salvation by him. 
 
 "The laft and concluding Part is, a juft and fincere Acknowledgement linto 
 " the Father, that we can do nothing without him, but by him ; for his is the 
 " Kingdom, and the Poiver to enter therein, by which alone we can do all thefe 
 " Thino-s, and our whole Duty unto his holy Requirings, whether with re- 
 " fpedl unto the Lord himfelf, or one toward another, as we ought : And 
 " therefore, as we have no Power, or Self-fufficiency of our own, no Glory or 
 " Praife belono-eth unto us for the Work required and wrought, nor for any 
 " Works of Supererogation, or imaginary Self-additions, either during our 
 " Condudl and Abode in this World, or in the World to come." And fo this 
 Matter refted without Reply. 
 
 " N o w, {iiid I, It is my Right to propofe the next Subject Matter to difcourfe 
 " upon -, and therefore I aflc thee this C^ieftion, 
 
 " W H E T H E R or no did C H R I s T, or any of his Apoftles, demand, force, 
 " or receive any Maintenance or Thing, from anyPerlbn or People, who did 
 " not receive, or own them and their Miniftry ? And when did the Son of G o u 
 " crive Power unto any of the Princes or Powers of the Earth, to concern thcm- 
 " fclves, or intermeddle with the proper Affairs of his Kingdonii which is not 
 
 " of
 
 of T H M yl S S T R T, 40^- 
 
 '• of this World ? Or to ordain Minifters in his Cluirch ? Or appoint, dircft, or Anno 
 *■" afiign them any Support or Maintenance ?" 1 705. 
 
 James Bitrtell aiTumes the Affirmative, and Thomas Story denies it : And 
 agreed, that the Matters (hall be determined by exprefs Scripture-proof only, or 
 by fliir, natural, and unforced Confequences deduded from thence. 
 
 "James .5;/r/(r// having alTumed the Affirmative, offered his Proofs as followeth. 
 ' The Apoftles and Miniilers of Chnft, being fent to preach the Gofpel, were i Cor. ix. 7, 
 ' to live and be maintained by it ; as plainly appeareth by the Doftrine of the ">' 2,1 3,14. 
 ' Apoftle Paul on that Subjed:, where he faith. Who goe.th a Warfare any time 
 ' at his own Chart^es .? Who planteth a Vineyard, and eateth not of the Fruit there- 
 ' of ? Or loho feedeth a Flock, and eateth not of the Milk of the Flock ? Thou 
 ' fhalt not muzzle the Mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn. Again, If we 
 ' havcfown unto you fpiritud Things, is it a great Thing if "doe fliall reap your car- 
 ' nal Things ? Do ye not knozv, that ihey who minijlcr about holy 'Ihings, live of 
 ' the Things of the Temple -, and they who wait at the Altar, are Partakers with the 
 ' Altar : And thofe Scriptuns tlie Apoftle exprefsly applieth to the Mainte- 
 ' nance of the Apoftles and Minifters of C h r i s r, in preaching the Gofpel, and 
 ' exercifing their Miniftry, in the various Branches thereol, according to their 
 ' feveral Callings and Gifts, And this they claimed, not only as voluntary 
 ' Contributions, or Donations, at the Option of the People, but of Right, by 
 ' virtue of the Power they had over thcin, and as an Ordinance of the Lord, 
 ' that they who preach the Gofpel fliould live of the Gofpel." 
 
 I ANSWERED, " This is a fophiftical Way ol Reafl.ining, and doth not anfwer 
 " the firft Parr of the Qiieftion tur which he adduceth it, nor proves his Aflump- 
 " tion therein : For that Part of the Queftion is, Whether Christ or his Apo- 
 " files did ever demand, force, or receive any Maintenance from any, who did 
 " not receive or own them and their Miniftry ? (which is the Cafe between your 
 " Minifters and us •.) And nor whether any Supiport or Maintenance at all, be 
 " due of right, to the Apoftles and Minifters of Christ, from the People 
 *' who receive them as fuch, and believe in Christ as the Me ss i a h and 
 " Saviour of the World. But he only attempts to, prove, that fome Sup- 
 " port or Maintenance (but faith not what, or how) is due to the Apoftles and 
 *' Minifters of C h r i s t in preaching the Gofpel, (which we have never denied ;) 
 *' by which he would elude that Part of the Queftion, and impofe upon us a 
 " lalacious and pretended Proof of what is not therein : For thefe Texts of 
 " Scripture do not prove fuch a Maintenance due, even to the true Minifters 
 " or Christ, or to be had by fuch Means as your Minifters now demand, 
 " exaft, and receive them ; not only from fuch as believe they are Minifters of 
 " Christ, but likewife from us, and others, who do not believe it; beino- af- 
 " fured, that no fuch Wages, Hire, or Maintenance as they demand, is due 
 " unto any Minifters of Chi; is r, and much lei's to them, by any Command 
 " or Ordinance of C n r i s t, or DoClrinc or Example of his Apoftles : For, Ads i. S. 
 " when Christ firft fent forth his twelve Apoftles, it was in the Power and '^^''k"'- Hj 
 " Wifdom of his own Spirit \ in which they had Power to preach, to heal Sick- Luiceix i ' 
 " ncffcs, and caft' out Di vils and unclean Spirits. 
 
 " And, as to their ProtLClioii and Maintenance, they were to depend iinme- Mat. x. 9. 
 "diatelyand abfolutely upon the Providence of G o d, and travel in that Work 
 *' under great natural Difadvar.tages : For they were not to provide before- 
 " hand, either Gold, or Silver, or Brafs, in their Purfes, nor Scrip, or two Luke ix i: 
 " Coats a-picce, nor Shoes, nor Stafts, (except one only) nor Bread. ' 
 
 5 K " And 
 
 J
 
 4d6 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno "A^d when the Lord appointed other Seventy, and lent them likewile by 
 
 1705. " two and two, they alio were prohibited to carry with them, either Purfe, or 
 
 lukex iv. " Scrip, or Shoes. And as to any Reward from Men, either for preaching, 
 
 " heahng, or any other Part of their Work, they were not to liave any, favc 
 
 Mat. X. 10. " their Meat-, for as the Power v/as, and is, of God only, they were not to 
 
 " make an Advantage or Gain of it to themfelves -, and therefore he faid unto 
 
 _ ver. 8. " them, freely ye ha-jc received, freely give; yet the Workman is worthy of his 
 
 " M^at. Neither v/cre the Seventy to have other Wages from thofe to whom 
 
 Luke X. 7. " they preached, or healed, than the Twelve had •, that is, to eat and drink fuch 
 
 " Things as they to whom they preached gave or let before them. And when 
 
 — xvii.19. " they returned to give .account of their Service, the Lord increaied their Power, 
 
 " as a furtner Encouragement in their Labour. 
 
 " Neither were they to have Protection from any Temporal Power, (fuch 
 
 " Powers being univcrfally againft them ;) but, on the contrary, were ft nt forth 
 
 Mat. X. 16, " as Sheep among Wolves, and cautioned againft the Cruelties of Men: Nei- 
 
 17- " ther were they to premeditate what to fay, v/hen brought before Governors 
 
 ver iS iq " "'""^ Kings for the Sake of Christ, and his Teftimony, but to depend 
 
 20. ' ' " upon the immediate Affiftance of the Spirit of God in themfelves. By all 
 
 " which it is evident, that the Apoftles and Minifters of C h r i s t were not, and 
 
 " are not, to demand, force, have, or receive any other Maintenance or Thing 
 
 " from any, fave only their Meat, Drink, and perfonal NecefiTaries, during the 
 
 " Time of their Miniftry ; which clearly explains the Doftrine of the Apoftle 
 
 " Paul in all thofe Texts now adduced by your Minifter : That is, that no other 
 
 " Way of Maintenance is ordained or allowed to the Apoftles and Minifters of 
 
 *' C H R I s T, or to live of the Gofpel, than their Me.at, Drink, and reafonable and 
 
 " necefTary Suflenance, in the Exercife of their Miniftry; and from the.m only 
 
 " who receive them as Minifters of C h r i s t, and give it freely. 
 
 " But, tho' this be a Privilege given and due to the Apoftles and Minifters 
 " of C H r I s T, what is that to thee and you ? Who hath made you Minifters 
 " of C H R I s T ? Who fent you .'' And to do what ? (for they who run 
 " when GoD fendeth them not, do not profit the People, in the Thingsof G od 
 Mat. X. 10. " at all). Whofe Workmen are ye? And who hath afiigned unto you Wages.' 
 " and what? What have you freely received ; and from whom? And what can 
 
 _ " you freely give ? And unto what Cities or Towns have you travelled in the 
 
 1 Cor. ix. 7. " Service of the Gofpel of Christ? What Warfare are you in ? What Vine- 
 9,10. " yards have you planted? And what Fruit do your Plantations yield? And 
 
 " what Flocks do ye feed ? And what Corn, or Tares, do ye tread out ? And 
 " what Corn have you threfhed, or Fields plowed ? and what fpiritual Things 
 " have you fown; and unto whom ? For if you reap where you do not fow, ye 
 " are not Servants of Christ, but hard Mafters, ufurping Domination over 
 " the Servants of Christ, and the reft of Mankind -, extorting, though by 
 " a Law, carnal Things, where you fow no Spirituals; and from thofe too who 
 " do nat receive you, nor your Miniftry : from whom ye ought to receive no- 
 Mat. X. 14. " thing, if you were Minifters of Christ, but to fhake off the Duji cf your 
 " Feet, as a Teftimony againft them. 
 
 "And what holy Things do ye minifter? And to whom ? And in what 
 iCor.ix. 13. " Temple? And what Altar do ye ferve? And what Gofpel do ye preach; 
 " and by what Authority ? For the Words or Talk of the Gofpel, though true, 
 " are net the Gofpel ; for the Gofpel ftands not in Words only, but in Power : 
 " And why fhould you live of the Golpel, (or fomc Words of it mix'd witli 
 " your own, which ye call fo) feeing the Apoftles, and true Minifters of Christ, 
 " were not othervvife to live thereon, (as to Temporals) than as I have related.
 
 of 
 
 T HO M .4 S S T Rr. 407 
 
 " according to the Teftimony of the Holy Scriptures? And why do not you, Anno 
 
 *' as the Apoftles did, work with your Hands, that the Goipel might not be 1705- 
 
 " chargeable? And under what NecelTity are you to preach? And who laid it 'Cor. ix. i6> 
 
 " upon you? And are you under any other Wo, but from the Voice of your "-^' 
 
 *' own importunate Bellies, if you preach not fomething? And are ye willing 
 
 " to be Servants unto all, that ye may gain many unto God ; or much rather 
 
 *' to domineer and infult over all, that you may gain Abundance ot the Riches, 
 
 •' Preferments, Honours, Glory, and other carnal Things ot tliis World ; and 
 
 *' under falfe Pretences to the Gofpcl, and by evil Example of Lile, and falfe 
 
 " Doftrine of Sin Term of Life, and Heaven in the End., lead fucli as will follow 
 
 " you into final Perdition." 
 
 James Burtell replied in fliort, " Notwithftanding what hath been faid, this 
 " Apoflle, and confequently the reft, muft have had Support from the Believers 
 *' in thofe Days-, for he faith, I have robbed other Churches, taking IFages of zCor. xi. 8. 
 " them to do you Service." 
 
 " I ANSWERED, "It is to bc obfctved, that the feveral Churches or Con- 
 " gregations in thofe Days, had certain common Publick Stocks, or Funds, out 
 " of which the neceflary Charges of the Miniftry in preaching the Gofpel, were 
 " defrayed, and the Needs of the poor Saints fupplicd ; which arofe from the 
 " Love, Good-will, and Charity of the Believers in C h r ist ; every one gi- — ix. 7; 
 " ving, without any other Law or Compulfion, according to his own free Will 
 " and Purpofe-, which began in Christ, and his Twelve Apoftles, by the 
 " Love and Gratitude of thofe who had been great Sinners, or under perfonal 
 " Maladies, and forgiven and healed by him: For it is teftified by Lk/('^ the Luke viii. 2,3 
 " Evangelift, that certain Women, who had been healed of Evil Spirits, and Infir- 
 *' mi ties, Mary called Magdalene, out of "whom -went feven Devils, and Joanna, the 
 " IVife of Chuza, Herod's Steward, and Siifannah, and many others, minijlred unto 
 " him of their Subftance: And they had a common Furfe, or Bag, which was 
 " carried and managed by the moft unworthy among them, by Judas, the Thief 
 " and Traitor -, out of which they fometimes, as they had occafion, bought Bread 
 " and Neceffaues for themfelves, and likewife gave to the Poor: but nothing 
 " was particularly appropriated, either to Christ himfelf, or any of his 
 *' Apoftles, fave what covetous and unfaithful Judas might rob them of, and 
 " ileal. And as the Difciples increafed and multiplied in Number, fo did this 
 " Order and Ufage, with refpedl both to giving and receiving, and to the fame 
 *' happy Ends and Purpofes, for the Promulgation and Propagation of the 
 " Gofpel of Christ, and Salvation unto Mankind by him, and Exercife of 
 " Charity as a great Fruit of his Coming ; and not to appropriate any Part to 
 " any particular Pcrfon, like Judas, greedy of filthy Lucre, or Balaam, who 
 " loved the IVages of Unrighteoufnefs, to the enriching of themfelves and Fami- 
 " lies, at the Expence ol the Church; as happened among them, in procefs of 
 " Time, and remaineth among you, by Succeffion, unto this Day. 
 
 " And as to the Apoftle's robbing other Churches, and taking Wages of 
 " them, to fcrve the Corinthians, it is only an Elegancy of Speech, (for he was 
 " learned, and an Orator) and no way importeth that he appropriated to his 
 " own feparate Ufe any Thing he received on account of his Miniftry ; but 
 " that v/hen he firft preached unto them of Corinth, he was not chargeable to 
 " any Man, but did it freely, as to them; his NecefTities, and Charges of his 2Cor,xi.7,9; 
 " Travels to them, and his Miniftry, being, at the fame Time, fupplied and 
 " fuftained at the Charge of the Church in Macedonia -, which had been fettled 
 " before them, or by fome Brethren who came to him from thence : And as in 
 
 "all
 
 4.03 , The L 1 ¥ E, &c. 
 
 ASiNO " all Things he had kept himlelf from being burdenibir.e unto them, fo he 
 1705. " refolved to continue to keep himfelf; intending thereby to cut ofi' all occafu 
 2Cor.xi. 13. " on of Reproach by certain falfe Apoftles then among them ; (as there were 
 " " ^ « many fuch, of the Jetvijh Race, in other Churches, or Congregations, like- 
 " wife ii: thole Days, in whom the Church of Antichriit, or Synagogue of Satan 
 " then began) who wire deceitful Workers, transforming themlelves, as many 
 " do at this Day, (fucceeding them in the fame Way and Works) into the Like- 
 « nefs of the Apoftles of C h r ist, the Minilters ol Righteoufnefs. And the 
 " Apoftle Paid was fo far from receiving any Thing unto himfelf, or for his 
 " own private feparate Ufe, for, or in refpedl of his Miniftry, or Exercife of it, 
 " that he commonly wrought with his Hands to that End, being a Tent-maker; 
 " and, towards his latter End, taking his laft and folemn Leave of fome Elders, 
 " who had the Overfight of the Flock of C h r i s t in thoie Parts, and, in Ap- 
 " peal to their Knowledge of him, and his Conduft on that Account, and to 
 Ailsxviii. 3. " excite them by his Example to the like Praclice, he faith, / have coveted no 
 —XX- 3 3, 34- « Man's Silver, or Gold, or /Ipparel; yea, ye ycurfelves know that thefe Handi 
 35- tc }^^rj;g minijlered unto my Necejities, and to them who were with me : I have /hewed 
 
 " you all Things, how, that fo labouring, ye ought to fuppcrt the Weak -, and 
 " to remember the Words of the Lord Jefus, how he fa/d. It is more bleffed to 
 " give than to receive: Which were the laft, and, as it were, the dying Words 
 " of the Apoftle to them." 
 
 To this the Prieft anfwered, " I do affirm. That where the People are fo 
 " cold and unreafonable, that they will not contribute willingly to the Support 
 " of the Miniftry, it is the Duty of all Emperors, Kings, Princes, and Powers, 
 « to force them to contribute and pay •, and to afford them a proper, plentiful, 
 " and honourable Maintenance, for themfelves and Families." 
 
 I ANSWERED, " Do I hcat thee right ! Doft thou fay, that thofc Temporal 
 " Powers of the Earth are obliged to force, and compel fuch to pay and con- 
 »' tribute to the Support of a Miniftry, in Matters of Religion, they cannot, 
 «' and do not receive, hear, nor believe?" " Yea, faid he, v/ith a continued 
 " hauo-hty, prieftly Air, all within their Dominions, v/hether they will hear, or 
 *' no : And befide, where Eaws are made by Governments, you, and all Men 
 *' there under, are obliged, in Confcience, to obey and perform them." 
 
 I REPLIED, " But remember, that I do affirm, tho' ever fo warmly pronoun- 
 " ced, is no Proof from the Scripture, nor reafonably deducible from thence. That 
 " all Laws made by Temporal Powers and Governments are binding upon Mens* 
 *' Confciences in Matters of Religion •, or that Emperors, Kings, and Princes, or 
 *' any Form of Legiflature whatever, have any Power from God to make any 
 " Laws concerning the Church of Ch ri st, or the Chriftian Religion, to be 
 " binding upon the Confcience of any-, for the Church of Christ, being his 
 " Kingdom in this World, though not of the World, is independent, as fuch, 
 " on them and their Laws, in Matters of Religion, (though fubjeft unto them 
 " and their juft Laws, in Matters meerly of Civil Right) ; but it ftandeth firm 
 " for ever, upon its own immoveable Foundation, the eternal Rock of divine 
 " Truth, under the fole and immediate Rule of the Holy Spirit of the Son of 
 «' God." 
 
 T o this he offered no other Reply, than to repeat his Aflertion in like Terms, 
 " Ihat the temporal Powers have full Authority and Right in the Cafe; and 
 " upon them, faid he, we will leave it.'' 
 
 I
 
 L X N O 
 
 of T no M A S ST RT. 40^ 
 
 I ANSWERED, " This I perccive is t!ie plain Englijh of tiic Matter, That A x 
 '' the arbitrary Authority of temporal Powers is your only {landing Argument ; 
 *' which you will no longer infift upon than where thofe Powers favour your 
 " own Interefts : But I oppofc a Negative to this thy Pofition, "That all Laws 
 "' made by Emperors, Kings, Princes, Poienlaies, Powers, end LegfUilures of '.he 
 " World, ccncernitig Matters of the Chriftian Faith and Religion, neither a) e, or 
 •' ever were, binding upon the Confciences of the true and faithful Members of the 
 " Church of Chrijt. 
 
 " For, 17?, in the Cafe of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, when he ereft- 
 " ed a golden Image, and dedicated it to his falfe God, before the Prince's, 
 " Governors, Captains, Judges, Treafurers, Counlellors, Sheriffs, and all the 
 " Rulers of his many Provinces, and they flood before it, v.-hcn a Herald made 
 " Proclamation to the People of the Nations and Languages, under this miglity, 
 *' arbitrary, defpotick King, that, at the Sound ot^ his Inflrumcnts of Mufick, 
 " they fliould all fall down and worfhip that Image, on Pain oi being caft in- 
 " to the Midft of a burning fiery Furnace : And accordingly all his People * 
 " obeyed and worfhipped the Image. 
 
 " An d as the Children of this World, born after the Flefli only, in a natu- 
 " ral State, have, through all Ages, envied, hated, and perfecuted the Chiklren 
 " of Light ; fo Informers of fuch kind foon informed the King of the Dilobe- 
 " dience of Shadrach, MefJjach, and Abednego, Children of the Captivity, and 
 " faithful Servants of the only true and living God ; who boldly and nobly re- 
 " fufed to worfhip the Image, which this proud, powerful, furious, fclf-exalt- 
 " ing, and blafphemous Tyrant had fet up : telling him to his Face, they were 
 '• not careful to anfwer him in that Matter ; though they were fome of his Chief 
 " Miniflers of State, and in great Reputation with him in the Affairs of his Ci- 
 " vil Government -, but loving, fearing, and honouring their God, and trufl- 
 " ing in him, who they knew was able, and that he would deliver them, and 
 " yet in humble SubmilTion and Refignation to his Will, in Cafe the L o a d 
 " fhould not think fit to do it, they, with a Magnanimity becoming the Servants 
 *' of tlie Almighty, anfwered the King in plain Terms, Be it known unto thee^ 
 " O King, that we will not ferve thy Gods, nor worfhip the golden Image which 
 *' thou hafi fet up : And they, being faithful in their Trial, the Decree of the 
 " Tyrant was executed upon them ; wherein they had the Honour of the di- 
 " vine Company of the Son of God, and his Proteftion ; by whom they were 
 " delivered from the voracious Fury of an enraged King, and intenfe l-orce of 
 " an aggravated Furnace, to the Surprize, Aftonifhment, Admiration, and Hu- 
 ■" miliation of the King, and Wonder and Regret of his Advifers, their Enemies. 
 
 " And, being thus delivered, they then obeyed the lawful Command of the 
 " King ; they came unto him when he called them ; and then, by the Faidi- 
 " fulnefs of thefe Worthies, the moft powerful King in that Day, (and few, if 
 " any, ib great fince) gave Glory to the only true God, faying, Blejfed be the 
 " God of Shadrach, Meflmch, and Abednego, who hath fent his Angel, and deliver- 
 " ed his Servants who trujted in him, and have changed the King's Word, and yield- 
 " ed their Bodies, that they might not ferve nor worfoip any God, except their own 
 " God: And therefore he made a Decree, that every People, Nation, and Lan- -q^^ j; ^„ 
 " guage, which fhould fpeak any Thing againft the God of Shadrach, Me- — iii. toihe 
 " jhach and Abednego, fliould be cut in Pieces, and their Houfes made a Dun"- ^"'^• 
 " hill ; becaufe there is no other God who can deliver after this fort. And fo 
 " far were they from lofing the King's Favour by their Faithfi.ilnefs unto God, 
 " that they were further promoted by him in the Aifairs of Babylon. 
 
 5 L- "Here
 
 410 The L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Anno " H e r e is a very clear and ar.thentick Inftance, where Confcience towards 
 
 1705. " God, in his faithful Servants, oppoied the Law, Command, and Decree of 
 " one of the greateft Kings, to the Glory of the King of Kings, whofe Counfel 
 " they obeyed therein. 
 
 " Again, idly, Daniel, becaufe of his Wifdom and Integrity, being prefer- 
 " red to the firft State of the Kingdom by Darius, above one hundred and 
 " twenty Princes, and two other Prefidents, was envied by them ; who, fecking 
 " occafion againft him concerning liis Office, and finding none, they contrived 
 
 vj • "a Way to come at him concerning the Law of his God, and, by their fubtle 
 
 " Counfel, to deceive the King, fo as to ejiahlifn a Royal StatiUe, and make a firm 
 " Decree, That whofoever Jhould ajk a Petition of any God or Man, for thirty Days, 
 " fave of the King, f/jould he cajl into the Den of Lions. And Daniel, though he 
 " knew of thisDecree, was not deterred thereby from doing his Duty to his God -, 
 " and therefore went into his Houfe, and his Windows being open in his Chamber 
 " towards Jeriifalem, he kneeled upon his Knees three Times a Day, and prayed, and 
 " gave Thanks before his God, as he did afore-time : And his Enemies watching, 
 " found him fo doing ; and then they informed the King of his Difobedience, 
 " and aggravated it unto him, fo that Daniel might be deftroyed; and the King, 
 " too late, perceived how he had been circumvented and deceived by his Princes, 
 " Nobles, and Counfellors, to make that Decree in Envy againft Drf«;V/, which 
 " neverthelefs was executed upon him ; and yet, through Faith in God, the 
 " Mouths of the Lions were fhut, fo that they could not hurt him : But his 
 " Enemies being juftly caft unto the fame Lions, they were quickly devoured 
 *' as a proper Reward of their Envy and Cruelty againft an innocent Servant ot 
 " the true God; who, in the Conclufion of all, was magnified above all, by a 
 " publick Decree of that great King, That over all his Do-minions Men JJjouldfear 
 " and tremble before the God of Daniel: So that in this great Inftance alfo, Mens* 
 " Confciences towards God are not bound by the Laws of Men; yet the fame 
 " Perfons, who, at the Hazard of their Lives, dilbbey the unjuft Laws of Men, 
 
 Rom. xiii. " readily obey and execute the Laws and Ordinances of Men when they are 
 " juft, and for the common Good, and that alfo for Confcience Sake. 
 
 " And, 7,dly, The Lord Jesus Christ himfelf fuffered under Pre- 
 " fence of a Lav/, againft whom there was no Law ; for he obeyed all the righ- 
 " teous Laws, both of Jews and Romans, fo far as his Condition in the World 
 *' fubjefted him to them : For though he was and is the peaceable Saviour, and 
 *' came not to deftroy Mens' Lives, but to fave them ; yet, in obedience to the 
 *' Laws of Men, where not oppofite, or interfering with the Law of God, he 
 " wrought a Miracle to pay a Poll-tax ; where, in Striftnefs, the Law did not 
 " require it of him, nor of his Difciples: for, having TJom/^w Privileges by vir- 
 ♦' tue of an old League between the Jews and Romans, whereby they were as 
 " Children, and not Strangers ; neverthelefs, to obviate all occafion of Offence, 
 " he fubmitted to it, though only an Ordinance of Men, and his Apoftles like- 
 *' wife, as an Example to his Church, through all Ages then to come. 
 
 Aflsiv 28 " And the Apoftles and Minifters of Christ bare Witnefs unto him, 
 
 19. " and preached the Gofpel, contrary to the Laws, Cuftoms, and Ordinances, 
 
 — V. 39, 40. « \,ot\x of Jews and Gentiles; by which they fuffered all Things for his Name''^ 
 
 j;vico2i. " Sake, as thoufands have done through all Ages fince that Day, and ftill do 
 
 xvii. 13, 14, " until nov/; though no Magiftrate, in the Days of the Apoftles, if any fince, 
 
 «5» '°- " fo rightly and plainly diftinguiflied between what was, and is properly cogni- 
 
 " zable before the Civil State, and what was not, as GaUio did ; who laid unto 
 
 " the Jews, in the Cafe of their great Uproar againft Paul, If it were a Matier 
 
 " of
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 411 
 
 cf Wrong, or zikked Lcucdnefs, O ye Jeivs, Reafon tocttld that I Jloould lear with Anno 
 you; but if it be a S^ieftion of Words and Names, and of your Lew, (a Matter ^^°5'^ 
 touching your Religion only) look ye to it ; for I will be no Judge of fuch 
 Matters. And be drove them from the Judgment Seat. 
 
 " Again, ^thly. When D/oc/ty?^?;/, M^zx/wz/Vr;;, thofe defpotick i?ow^H Hea- 
 then Em>pcrors, and their defar's Colleagues, began the Tenth Perlecution 
 againll: the Chriftians, and ifTued their arbitrary Decrees and Edidls againft them, > 
 and the Chridian Faith and R.eligion ; determining to root out the very 
 Name and Thing Chrijiian from under Heaven, and to reftore their own 
 falfe Gods and Idolatry-, requiring ail to renounce the true God, and Jesus 
 Christ, the Son of God, and Saviour of the World ; and to deliver up 
 into their Hands, all the Books, Writings, Goods, and Things belonging to 
 the Chriftians in thofc Days, and their Worfliip ; and to worfliip the falfe and 
 imaginary Gods of the Heathen: yet, though thefe Tyrants were lawful Ru • 
 lers of the Roman State, according to the Conftitution thereof, as then efta- 
 blifhed, and had the Exercife of the Civil Government, and the Chriftians 
 th.roughout the Emipire were fubjeft to them therein, as well as their own 
 Heathen People-, yet when thefe Tyrants made Laws, Decrees, and Edidts, 
 contrary to the Chriftian Faith and Religion, no true Chriftian thought him- 
 fejf bound in Confcience to obey them ; and therefore all the faithful in thofe 
 Days reiufed it, and were therefore pcrfecuted and deftroyed with unfpeak- 
 able Cruelty -, under which the true and living God, and Jesus Christ 
 his Son, whom they worftiipped and obeyed, fuftained them, to the total Over- 
 thro'.v of all thofe Adverfaries of G o d and his People, and that Government 
 and Power in the End, and to the Gloiy of G o d and our Saviour. 
 
 " Bu T it is obfervable, that great Part of the Chriftians themfelves, of all Or- 
 ders, at that Time, (or fuch as were under that facred Name) were in a State 
 of Degeneracy when that Perfecution began -, and fuch, not being upon the 
 true Foundation, could not ftand fo great and lafting a Storm ; in which the 
 greateft Part of them who were tried, efpecially thofe who had placed them- 
 felves in the higheft Stations in the Congregations, as the Bifhops and Elders, 
 apoftatized and complied with thofe Laws and Edifts, and openly renounced 
 the true God and the Lord Christ, and treacheroufly delivered up un- 
 to the Heathen whatever was in their Cuftody, Truft, and Power, to yield ; 
 whereby they did not only bafely and cowardly fave themfelves from the De- 
 ftrudion and Defolation which the Faithful fuftained, but thereby brought 
 the Load fo much the heavier upon them : And yet, when the next fucceeding 
 
 ' Emperor, Conjiantine, came upon the Throne, and declared himfelf a Chriftian, 
 and reftored their Privileges, with many Additions and Immunities, thofe de- 
 tcftable Hypocrites and Apoftatcs, unjuftly and unreafonably ufurped, and re- 
 fumed, by Force of Numbers, the Stations, Offices and Places, which they for- 
 
 ' merly had in the Congregations : And being oppofed therein by the Faith- 
 
 ■ ful, who branded them with a Name of Diftinftion, fuiting their Aftions, 
 
 ■ calling them I'raditors, would have no Communion with them ; but they be- 
 ' ing much more numerous than the Faithful, and more fubfervient to the Ends 
 
 ■ of human State, by receding from the ftrift Rules of the Spirit, Church, and 
 ' Kingdom of Christ, they united themfelves with the i?«««« Temporal 
 ' Power : And as the grcatclt Part of all fallen natural Men, as well as the 
 = Pcinces among them, do ardently luft after Power and Dominion, and the 
 
 ■ boundlefs Increafe of it to themfelves, they prevailed with Conjiantine (who 
 ' at that Tijne knew little or nothing of the Conftitution of the Church of 
 ' Christ, with which he ought not to have meddled, not being under his 
 
 " Ju-
 
 41 X The L I F E^ ^c. 
 
 Anno " Jurifdidion and Rule, as fiich) to call a Genera! Council of the Chriftians 
 1705. " throughout the Empire, there never having been a General, but only Provin- 
 " cial Councils, before that Time ; in which Council the apoftate Company of 
 " Hypocrites, under the Power and Authority of a Temporal Prince, who, as 
 " luch, had no Power in the Church ot Christ, being moft numerous, felf- 
 " aflliming and audacious, they thereby outvoted, llipprels'd and opprels'd the 
 " Faithful i and fo began, fet up, and gradually eftablifhed an united Tempo- 
 " ral and pretended Spiritual Power and Kingdom in the Earth, under the Name. 
 " and Pretence of the Church and Kingdom of Christ; but was really and 
 " indeed the firft vifible and open Appearance of the Kingdom of Antichrift : 
 " which, under the Umbrage, and Difguife of the ufurped Name of the Church 
 " and Kingdom of C h r i s t, hath afted and perpetrated the moft cruel Mur- 
 " ders and Deftruftions againft the faithful Servants of Christ, in all Ages 
 *' fince i not fhort of, but rather exceeding thole of the moft barbarous Heathens, 
 " even until this Day ; and that not without tyrannical antichriftian Laws, Ca- 
 " nons, and Ordinances, Pretences, and Edicts, of their own inventing and form- 
 " ing: Witnefs their Cruelties and Murders of the Jll/igenfes, ff^aUenfes, IVick- 
 " lififts., Lolards, and by whatfoever Names of Reproach their Envy prompted 
 " them to call the Faithful in all Ages and Countries fince: And likewifc the 
 " more Moderns, as Lutherans, Cahinijls, and other Proteftants, in the Ages 
 " wherein they feverally arofe. In France, under that King, thouHinds were 
 " murdered : In Englard, under King Henry VIII. and Queen Mary, many 
 " Thoufands were mafiacred by Papifts; and all by Laws and Edicts made by 
 " the Murderers themfelves, upon Pretence of Religion, contrary to the true 
 " Nature and End of that Religion they falfly pretended to fupport and pro- 
 " pagate. 
 
 " And, laft of all, we who are called, in Scorn, fakers, have, in this pre- 
 " fent Age, and laft Century, been cruelly perfecuted under the Ufurpation of 
 " Oliver Cronrjoell, and his Priefts; and fome hang'd at Bojlon, in New-England, 
 "by the Preftjyterians : And in the' Reign of King C^^sr/ej II. the luxurious 
 " Head of the National Church of England, many Thoufands of us were deep- 
 " ly perfecuted there, in our native Country, (where we had and have natural 
 " Rights as other Men) by Laws for Baniftiment, Imprifonment till Death, 
 " fpoiling and conlifcating of Goods, and Eftates in Lands, Beatings, Scour- 
 " gings, and cruel Mockings and Abufes, by the Magiftrates in the Exercife of 
 " their Offices, perverted and mifapplied upon us ; only for our Teftimony to 
 " the only true God, who is eternal, intelleftual, divine Light, and to the Lord 
 " Jesus Christ, the Word and Son of G o d, the Second Jdajn and quick- 
 " ening Spirit ; the true and faving Light, which lighteth every Man who cometh 
 " into the World. All which Violence was exercifed upon us by the Inftigation 
 " of the Priefts of that Monarch, and their Votaries and Creatures-, the Faith- 
 " ful, in all Ages and Places, under what Name foever, patiently fuffcring cruel 
 " Punifliments and Abufes for their Confcience towards God, and Christ 
 " the Lord, by the Spirit and Power of Antichrift, ruling in the Priefts of all 
 " Sorts and Names ; whereby, and Subtilty thereof, they deceived the Rulers, 
 " and excited them to make unrighteous Laws concerning Religion •, which is 
 " not their proper Bufinefs, nor Work, as relative to the Kingdom of C h r i s t 
 *' and another World ; but civil Rule and Government only, as an Ordinance 
 " of G o d in the Kingdoms of Men, for the better Rule of this World. 
 
 "But thofe Laws, made on Pretence of Religion, are generally for the gi- 
 " ving, increafmg, advancing, and eftabliftiing of Power in the I?riefts of all 
 " Nations, and their Dominion over the Confcienccs of Mankind, and their In- 
 
 " creafc
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 41 3 
 
 " crcafe in the Riches, Honours, Pleafures, and Glory of the World, and not Anno 
 
 " for the Honour and Glory of God only: The Suirerings of the Faithful in 1705. 
 
 " Christ therefore, in all Ages, have not arofe from the Breach of any Laws 
 
 " relating only to Civil Government, which they do readily obftrve and confci- 
 
 " enciouily obey ; but in a Teftimony for God, and the Kingdom of C h r i st 
 
 " on Earth, againft all Antichriftian Prieftcraft, Power, Domination, and Impo- 
 
 " fitions, m every Degree and Form ; and that the divine Power of the Chriftian 
 
 " Faith and Religion may be reftored in its Purity ; the Civil Powers divefted 
 
 " of, and freed from the Cunning and fubtle Wiles, Defigns, Impofitions, and 
 
 " ruinous Practices of A ntichriftian Prieftcraft; and that Equity, Juftice, Truth, 
 
 " and Tranquility, may be rcitored and fettled on Earth among the Children of 
 
 " Men: which never can be whilft Prieftcraft, in any Form or Pretence, rules, 
 
 " and is exalted in the World •, and dierefore ought to be fully and finally extru- 
 
 " ded, and fecluded from every Form of L-egiflature in the Earth, That God 
 
 <' and his Christ may rule alone in the Kingdoms of Men, by his Wifdom 
 
 " and Power ; that the Earth may regain her Sabbaths, and the People their 
 
 " Reft, in the divine Love and Goodnefs of God 5 in which all Nations, People, 
 
 " and Tongues may be united, as in that holy and univerfal Language, which 
 
 " fneaks the fame Thing, and is well underftood of all, and in all : and fo it 
 
 " niuft be in the proper Time and Way of the Almighty ; not hy Mighty nor Zech I 6 
 
 •' ly Power ^ (of Man) but my Spirit, Jaith the Lord, will I bring this Wonder ta 
 
 " pafs in the Earth. 
 
 "To conclude. The Civil Rulers and Magiftrates are ordained of God, Rora.xiii.3,4. 
 " not as a Terror to good Works, fuch as are brought forth in Mankind 
 " by the Power, Influence, and Teachings of the Grace and Holy Spirit 
 " of Ch Ri st; but to the evil Works, Words and Fruits of the Spirit of An- 
 " tichrift, and of this World : For the Civil Magiftrate is the Minifter of G o d 
 " for Good unto all; but the Evil-doer ought to be afraid, and commonly is, 
 " of the Ruler and Minifter of Juftice ; who beareth not, nor ought to bear, the 
 *' Sword thereof in vain: for, as the Servant of God, he is a Reveno-er ap- 
 
 " pointed of him to execute his Wrath and Vengeance upon him who doth Evil : •• 
 
 " Wherefore all muft needs be fubjeft, not only for Wrath or Fear, but alfo 
 " for Confcience Sake. 
 
 " A N D as there always is, and muft be in the Nature of Things, a great and 
 " neceflary Charge attending Government, a Kingdom, or State, being but as 
 " one great Houle, or Family, (and no private or particular Family can fubfift 
 " without Charge) ; lor that Caufe all are to pay Tribute, as juftly impofed by 
 " the Legiflature ; becaufe the Magiftrates are G o d's Miniftcrs, felefted by his 
 
 " Providence to attend continually upon that very Thing : And as their Atten- xiii. 6,— . 
 
 " dance in their Offices is, and ought to be, continual or diligently, they cannot 9- 
 " attend the Support of themfelves and Families by other Means and Applica- 
 " tions ; and therefore all the Subjefts are to render to all, their Dues, 'Tribute to 
 " -whom Tribute is due, Cnjtom to whom Cujlom, Fear to whom Fear, Honour to 
 " whom Honour. 
 
 " O F, and in what Things therefore have thofe Servants of G o d Cognizance 
 " and Power ? but over the fame Things which they ever lud fince their firft 
 " Inftitution, againft all Immoralities, and evil Deeds and Words among Man- 
 " kind; whereby they can, and do any Hurt, or injure one another; as Adul- 
 " tery, Murder, ManQaughter, Theft, falfe Witnefs, Covetoufnefs, and every 
 " publick Offence againft the moral Charafter, Attributes and Law of G o d : 
 " And thofe Magiftrates and Powers the Apoftle there writes of, were not Chri- 
 
 5 M " ftian.
 
 414 TJ^'^ LIFE, c^T. 
 
 Anno " ftian, but Heathen, and yet the Servants of G o d in their Stations and Places; 
 
 1.705. " but liad nothing to do to meddle in the Chriftian Religion : and certainly there 
 "• is not a Grain of Prieftcraft in all this, nor are fuch concerned herein : But as 
 " the Gofpel is a divine ipiritual Power, not fubjecl to the Kingdoms of Men, 
 " but Christ himfelf is King, Lawgiver, and Ruler in his Kingdom, and hath 
 " Idle Power to feleft, qualify and appoint his own Minillcrs, to attend and do 
 " his own Work on Earth ; to teach Mankind, when, and where they are fent, 
 " to fear and love God above all, and our Neighbours as our felves-, and to 
 " excite and recommend all to turn to the Power and Influence of divine Grace 
 " and Love-, which worketh no 111 to the Neighbour, but fulfilleth the whole 
 " Law. 
 
 " Now, this is the Sum of the whole Matter in a few Words more : The 
 " Civil Magiftrates and Rulers among Men, have been enflaved by the Spirit 
 " of Antichrift, and impofed upon by his Priefts and Minifters, to execute all 
 " their Tyranny, Injuftice, and Cruelty, againft the true Church and Servants of 
 *' Christ; who have ever exercifed the Teftimony of a good Confcience to- 
 " wards God and Christ, and the Chriftian Faith and Religion, until now ; 
 " and though fubjeft unto Laws made only for Civil Rule, in the Civil State, 
 " in every Form and Age, yet never unto any contrary to their own Confciences, 
 " Sentiments, and Teftimonies in Matters of Faith and Prattice, in the Things 
 " of G o D and the Chriftian Religion: And until it may pleafe the MoftHigh, 
 " by his own Spirit and Power, to fubdue the Pride, Ambition, Luft of Power 
 " and Dominion, and other Lufts of the Rulers and great Ones of the Earth, 
 " that Error cannot be reftified ; nor can there be any lafting Peace on Earth, 
 " or the Kingdom of Christ eftablifhed therein, in its extenfive Glory." 
 
 During the Time of the depending of this Point, fome of the People were 
 uneafy, and others interrupted ; but the greateft Number were filent and atten- 
 tive: which being ended, the Prieft immediately moved another Subjeft of De- 
 bate -, which, I fuppofe, was the main Point which the People were moft defirous 
 to hear fully argued, and was thus : 
 
 " Our Lord and blefied Saviour Jesus Christ commands his Dif-^ 
 " ciples to go teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of 
 " the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft ; but ye, the People called Qiiakers, do not 
 " obey him therein ; therefore ye are none of his Difciples ; ye are no Chri- 
 " ftians." 
 
 I answered, " What is that to thee and you what Christ commanded 
 " his Apoftlcs in their minifterial Charafter ; for ye are no Apoftles ? And if 
 " the Negled, or OmifTion of the Performance of that be a Proof, that fuch 
 *' are no Difciples of Christ, and no Chriftians, then you yourfelves are no 
 " Difciples, and no Chriftians ; for ye do not praftile any Thing here inftituted, 
 " or commanded, in any proper Senfe, but an Invention of your own under Pre- 
 " tence of it." 
 
 Then I fignified to the Auditory, " That as that Perfon had propofed a 
 " Difcourfe, and I had accordingly met him, yet it did not follow that he ought 
 " to aflume to ftate any Qiieftion in his own Method, and draw thence his 
 *' own Arguments and Conclufions, in favour of his own Nodons; nor ought 
 " any Queftion at all to be ftated, but what Ihould relate to the known Prin- 
 " ciples and Praftice of both Parties.'* 
 
 U 
 
 PON
 
 of r H M A S ST R. T. 415- 
 
 Upon tYi\% Andre-Txi Monro, the confuted Prieft aforementioned, ftarted up, Anno 
 preffinc to be heard, pretending to expofc fome grofs Errors out of our ancient 1705. 
 Friends' Books ; and thcFrencbmr.7'., my Antagonill, was very ready to give him 
 Way; burl utterly retufed it; and, with my Friend Jcfeph Glaijtcr, fupprcis'd 
 it. Then flood up Major Jordan, and declared unto the Auditory, That med- 
 iing with old Books was contrary to die Terms of that Difpute, as offered by the 
 l<'rencb Miriifter to a Friend, who had accepted his Challenge on rny Behalf, 
 in his hearing ; and that it ought not to be infifted upon, nor fuffered : for it 
 could not be reafonably expefted that we, in itinerant Circumftanccs, and upon 
 fuch a Surprize, could be prepared for a proper Defence. That quieted them a 
 little ; and then I o&red a State of the Qiicftion on the Text mentioned, v/hich 
 might include the Principles and Praclice of both ; for we own Baptifm as well 
 as they. 
 
 T M I s he and his Party would Jiave evaded, and clamouroufly oppofed ; but 
 feveral of the J uftices faid it was fo reafonable, it could not be denied ; and yet 
 the Prieft, and his raging Parry (for fome few fuch there were) rudely prefs'd 
 for fuch a State of the Queflion, as might bring it wholly relative to our Prin- 
 ciple, of the Baptifm of the Spirit, of which they were no proper Judges, or 
 only upon Water Baptifm in its greateft Latitude, which they do not praftife j 
 and not to be confined to Sprinkling, which is their only Pradice, or to Words 
 necciTarily including it. 
 
 T H E N I made a fhort Harangue to the Auditor)', and obferved to them 
 the Evafions of their Minifters, and the Reafon of it ; that is, left their own 
 Pradlice fhould be detedled, and made appear to be extrafcriptural : And then 
 urged him, over and over, to eftablifh fuch a State of the Queftion as might 
 comprehend both our Principles and Sentiments, and his Praftice upon the Sub- 
 je£t ; and the greateft part of the People alfo, at laft, requiring it as very juft, and 
 more particularly one of the Magiftrates, who faid openly, " That if they could 
 " not defend their Baptifm now in ule, it was high Time to look for a better," 
 at laft he conceded, but with much Reluftancy ; and then the Queftion was 
 ftated thus : 
 
 ,j. " What Baptifm is intended in thefe Words, Go ye therefore and teach all Mat.xxviii. 
 f* Nations, baptizing them in (or into) the Name of the Father, and of the Son, 19. 
 
 . and of the Holy Ghofi ? Is it Water Baptifm only, or the Baptifm of the Holy 
 " Ghoft? And is fprinkhng of Infants on the Face only, in thofe Names, with 
 " Water, fign'ng them on the Foreheads with a Sign of a Crofs, where no Sign 
 " remains ; with God-fathers and God- mothers, making them promife and vow, 
 " as in the Catechifm of the National Church of England, commanded and war- 
 " ranted by that Text V 
 
 " James Burtell affirms and afTumes, That Water Baptifm only is command- 
 " ed in tiiat Text ; and that the prelent Praftice of the Church of England, as 
 " relative thereunto, is included and fupported by that Command. Signed, 
 
 JAMES BURTELL." 
 
 " Thomas Story denies that Water Baptifm is commanded in that Text ; but 
 '.' that the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft is there intended. Signed 
 
 THO. STORY." 
 
 M Y Opponent having thus afTumed, That Water Baptifm only is commanded 
 in the Text, I put him upon the Proof of it ; which he elTayed thus, viz. " There 
 
 " is 
 
 iC
 
 4.16 The LIFE, (^-c. 
 
 Anno *' is Tome Baptifm commanded here to the Apoftles; and thatBaptifm muft be 
 1705. " llich as they were capable to perform: they were not capable to perform the 
 " Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, but with Water they could baptize : I'herefore 
 " Water Baptifm only is there commanded." 
 
 I A N s V,' E R E D, " You may obferve here, that the Force of your Miniftcr's 
 " Argument lies in this, that the Apoftles of C h r i s t could not baptize with 
 " the Holy Ghoft, but only with Water •, and therefore it muft be Water Bap- 
 " rifm. That the Apoftles could not baptize with the Holy Ghoft at their own 
 " Pleafure, when, and whom, and where they would, in their own Wills, (as 
 " your Minifters can, and do adminifter what they call, and have taught you 
 " to believe snd think is Christ's Baptifm) I grant ; but that the Apoftles 
 " could not inftrumentally baptize with the Holy Ghoft, I deny: For that In- 
 Mat, xxviii. " ftitution is introduced after this Manner, And Jefus came a:id fpake unto tbem, 
 1 8, 1 9, -o. tt faying, All Pciner is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth : Go ye therefore and 
 " teach all Nations, baptizing them in (or into) the Name of the Father, and of 
 " the Son, and of the Holy Ghofi ; teaching them to obfei've all Things whatfoever 
 " / have commanded you ; and, lo, I am with you alivay even unto the End of the 
 Markxvi. 15, " JVorld. And he faid unto them, (at the fame Time) Go ye unto all the 
 i5. " World, and preach the Gofpel to every Creature : He that believeth and is bapti- 
 
 John XII. 2S. ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ faved ; but he that believeth not pall be damned. And that this was 
 " not Water Baptifm plainly appeareth by what the Lord further commanded 
 Luke5reiv.4g " his Apoftles at the fame Time, that they fliould not depart from Jeritfalem, 
 Johnxiv. 26. n ijyj ^y^jj fyj. fj^g Promife of the Father, which he had told them of before he 
 ■ ' " fuffered ; For John truly baptized with Water, but ye fhall be baptized with 
 " the Holy Chojl net many Days hence. 
 
 " This Baptifm here commanded is not Water Baptifm-, for the Apoftles were 
 
 " in the Pradtice of Water Baptifm in John^ Time, before the Inftitution of this 
 
 " Baptifm ; and is here contradiftinguiihed, as belonging to John's Difpenfation, 
 
 " and which fome praftifed, (tho' we have fo few Inftances of it, that it can hardly 
 
 " be called Practice W\i\\ Propriety) after the Beginning of the Miniftration of the 
 
 " Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft •, which none can adminifter v/ithout the immediate 
 
 " Prefence and Power of the Holy Ghoft (the Spirit of C h r i s t) given to that 
 
 " End ; but fome Apoftles both could, and did adminifter Water Baptifm, in 
 
 " the proper Difpenfation of it, without the Power of the Holy Ghoft, (which 
 
 " was not then given as a Difpenfation) and which any bold and bufy Underta- 
 
 " kcr at this Day, both can and do adminiiler, by the ordinary Powers of Na- 
 
 " ture, without the AfTiftance of the Holy Ghoft on that Account ; which they 
 
 " neither know nor believe in : But the Baptifm here commanded, neither the 
 
 " Apoftles themfelves could, nor much lefs any elfe can adminifter, but by the 
 
 " immediate Power of the Holy Ghoft, co-working in them, with them, and 
 
 Ads i. 5,8. " by them i and therefore C h r i s t promifed that they ihoxM receive Power 
 
 " after that the Holy Ghofi was come upon them ; and then, and not till then, they 
 
 " were his proper WirneiTes, but could not baptize with the Holy Ghoft, until 
 
 " they themfelves were baptized therewith: And as he, who hath all Power in 
 
 " Heaven and in Earth, promifed to be with them, by that Power, alway, in- 
 
 " ceiTantly, in that and all other Works of the Gofpel Miniftry, to the End of 
 
 Markxvi. 20. " ^^ World ; fo they went forth and preached every where, the Lord working 
 
 " with them, and confirming the IVord with Signs following : And this Promife 
 
 " relates not only to them then prcfent, but to all the true Minifters of Ch r i st, 
 
 " according to tlieir various Gifts, Degrees, and Services, from thenceforth 
 
 " throughout all Ages ; yet, as a juft Check and Prohibition to all the bold, 
 
 " forward, prefumptuous Spirits, among blind human kind, it is alfo written 
 
 " con- 
 
 — 11.4.
 
 of T HO M A S S T R T. 417 
 
 " concerning the Flcly Ghoft, that he fhall not /peak of himfelf, but whatfoever Anno 
 " he pall hear, that f/oall he fpeak; and he will Jhezv you Things tu come. ^7^5- 
 
 John xvi. 13. 
 
 " A N D as C ti R I s T himfclt' is tlie Truth, and, in the Days of his FlcOi, was _ ,^^^ ^ ^^ 
 " always llibjecl unto the Father, and under his Direction, and imputed all his 12. 
 " Words and Works unto him ; by this Text it appears to be lb ftili, and ever ~''^":^' 
 
 " will be, in all the Work of the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind. Then ^^ , r 
 
 " what and who art thou, O dark, carnal, finfulj pointed Man, of all thy fallen 
 
 " kind, wlio dareil a fill me upon thyfclf to intermeddle with the Things of G o d, 
 
 " which thou doft not undcrltand, nor lb much as believe, that the Holy Gholl 
 
 " is now to be given, and waited lor, as the immediate Guide, Leader, and Di- 
 
 " redcor in the Things of G od, and Work of the Gofpel? Thou art an Un- 
 
 " believer, and therefore in a State of Condemnation -, thou art not faved thy- —)'■'■ iS. 
 
 " felf, and how then canfl; thou be a Saviour upon Mount Sion; inftrumentally Qu-d'^' ^'"' 
 
 " to fave others, in the Spirit of him who is the great Saviour ot all ?" 
 
 Andrew Mcnro, the other Priefb, being vexed at what had been faid, he, and 
 a Pot Companion of his, one Luke Havil, a Phyfician, brake in upon us rudely 
 and abruptly, clamouring againfl our Friends' former Writings, not to the pre- 
 fent Bufinels, till one of the Juftices, between whom, on the Frenchman s, Part, 
 and a Friend on mine, the Terms of the Controverfy had been fettled, gave 
 them an open Rcprehenfion ; and certified the Auditory, that nothing of our 
 former Books was to be meddled with in that Difpute, nor any other Books but 
 the Holy Scriptures, which were to decide the Controverfy in Point ot Proof'. 
 And then the Juifice gave the Doftor a private Hint, (as himfelf told me) that 
 if he did not furceafe from that clamourous and mobifli Behaviour, tending to 
 the Breach of the Peace, he Ihould find himfelf obliged to exert the Laws and 
 his Authority thereby upon him ; and lo fiknced them. 
 
 Then James Burtell queftioned, whether there is fuch a Text in Scripture 
 as, that John truly baptized with Water^ but yc flmll be baptized with the Holy Ads 1.5. 
 Ghoji not many Days hence ; but my Companion, Jofeph Glaifler, who was very 
 ready that Way, producing the Place, the Prieft was then filent as to that. 
 
 Then I infifted, that fince I had been interrupted before I had finiflied the 
 Point I was then upon, it was but reafonable and fair, that I might, without far- 
 ther Interruption, proceed to finifli it ; and fo proceeded thus, viz. 
 
 " Having proved that the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, and not Water 
 " Baptifm, is inftituted, as in the Text and Context in queftion •, and the full 
 " Capacity of the Apoftles and Minifters of C h r i s r to perform it in his Spirit 
 " and Power, I now proceed to prove, that they did baptize with the Holy 
 " Ghoft accordingly : But, before I proceed any further, that we may not beat 
 *' the Air through any Mifunderftanding, or different AppUcation of Words to 
 " Things, favour me with thy Definition of the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, 
 " and what thou underftands by it, that I may know whether we, by the fame 
 " Terms, mean the fame Things." 
 
 He anfwered rightly, " That the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft is the defcend- 
 " ing of the Holy Ghoft into the Hearts of thofe who believe and wait for his ' 
 " Coming." " Very well, faid I ; but is this all ?" And, upon a lliortPaufe, 
 he anfwered, " No, he worketh in Mankind the Work of Regeneration ; and 
 " this is his compleat Baptifm." 
 
 5N
 
 ■Xl.IJ, 
 
 — X. 34, — 
 
 418 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno 1 a n sw e r e d, " Well, then I nO'w prove, that the ApoiHes, in the Wif- 
 
 1705. " dom and Power of the Spirit of Christ, were inftrumenral Minifters of 
 Aftsx. 44. " this Baptifm : Firft, when Peter preached to Cornelius and his Houfliold, the 
 " Holy Ghofi fell on all them -which heard the JFord. And, in his Relation of the 
 " Paflage, in his Defence before the Apoftles and Elders, before whom he was 
 " accufed, as if he had committed an Error, and broken the Law or Cuftom of 
 " the Jews, by preaching to the Gentiles, and eating with them, (though their 
 " Miffion was exprefly to all Nations) he defines the falling of the Eloly Gholl 
 " upon them, to be the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, mentioned by Christ 
 in the Text in queftion, or Context, in thefe Words, Jnd as I began to fpeak^ 
 the Holy Ghojl fell on them as on us at the Beginning ; then remembered I the 
 
 ■ IVcrd of the Lord, how that he faid, John indeed baptized with Water, but ye 
 
 ■ fhall be baptized with the Holy Ghojl. 
 
 " Here the Apoftle applies this Event to the Terms of the Text, which 
 
 ■ faith. Go teach (or dilciple) all Nations, baptizing them ; wliich fhows, that 
 ' this Baptifm is fometimes adminifter'd in the Time and Aft of Teaching, in 
 
 • the Power and Wifdom of the Holy Ghoft, whereof the Tongue is chiefly in- 
 
 • ftrumental ; as if teaching and baptizing were one and the fame Aft, emble- 
 ' matically fignified by the Likenefs of cloven Tongues of Fire fitting upon the 
 ' Apoftles, at the Time of the firft defcending of the Holy Ghoft upon them ; 
 ■• which is more exprefly illullrated, where it is faid, that while Peter yet fpake thefe 
 
 43' ' " Words (viz. which he preached) the Holy Ghoft fell on all them which heard the 
 
 " Word: And, according to the Meflage of the Angel to Cornelius, in direfting 
 *' him to Peter as his Minifter, he fhould tell him Words, by which himfelf and 
 " all his Hoiifldold pould he faved, and not by Water Baptifm : For, though Pe- 
 " ter himfelf, who (with the reft of the Apoftles and Elders) had but fo lately 
 " underftood the Meaning of Christ in that Inftitution, and the reft of the 
 " Apoftles and Elders not at all hitherto, (though about eight Years after) faid 
 " to thofe believing Jews who came with him from Joppa, and for their Sakes, 
 " (the Jews being always pertinacious of all Types and Shadows, in negleft of 
 " the Subftance) Can any Man forbid Water, that thefe (Gentiles) fhould not be 
 " baptized., which have received the Holy Ghofi as well as we ? (for which there 
 " could be no other Reafon but to obviate any Offence thofe Jews might have 
 " taken at thofe believing Gentiles, if they had wanted any Circumftance which 
 " they imagined neceftary, and John's Baptifm, which the Jews had generally 
 " been baptized with, being at that Time remaining in Reputation •,) yet it 
 " doth not appear by the Text that they were fo baptized, nor could there be 
 " any real Need of it, feeing they had received the Words of Salvation, and 
 *' Gilt of the Holy Ghoft ; whereby alone the great Work of Regeneration 
 
 Tit.iii. 4.^7 " and Salvation is begun, carried on, and perfefted : For, after that the Kindnefs 
 " and Love of God our Saviour toward Man appeared, not by Works of Right eon f- 
 " nefs which we have done, but according to his Mercy he faved us, by the Wafh- 
 " ing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghofi, which he fhed on us abun^ 
 " dantly through Jefus Chiji our Saviour ; that being juflified by his Grace, we 
 '* fhould be made Heirs according to the Hope of eternal Life : So that hence it 
 " follows clearly, that the Baptifm of the Spirit is well defined, and that the 
 " Apoftles were Minifters of it, and Christ himfelf by them : for this Bap- 
 " tifm is the Promife of the Father to the Son, (not of Water, as John) by the 
 " Holy Ghoft; and, by the Son, doth he baptize his Minifters by the fame 
 " Spirit : and when they have been baptized by the Holy Ghoft, and received 
 " Power in him, then are and fliall they be Witnefl:es unto the Father and the 
 " Son, by the Holy Ghoft, unto the uttermoft Parts of the Earth; and then 
 'f- Ihall they go and t.each (or dilciple) all Nations, baptizing (or wafhing) them 
 
 " in 

 
 of THOMAS S T R T, 419 
 
 " in the Name (or Power) of the Father, and of the (eternal) Son, and of the Holy Anno 
 '■'■ Ghoft. In him ivas Life, and the Life was the I, ight of Men. That tvas the true "^jo;^. 
 " Light 'which hghieih every Man that corneth into the I For Id. And tlien alio can they J"*^" '■ 4' 9- 
 " teach (or difciple) to obferve all Things which Christ himfcU h;uh com- 
 " manded them, and to be with them alway, not only in that Age, but iikewife 
 " in all Ages in Succcffion, in the lame Work, and to the End of the World. 
 
 " Again, for Illuftration, remember what is faid by Christ, / have ma- — xvii.6, 14. 
 " nifefled thy Name unto the Men which thou gavcfi me out of the World: Thine 
 " they were, and thou gavefl them me ; and they have kept thy Word. As thou haft 
 " fent me into the World, even fo have I alfo fent them into the World. And alfo, 
 *' He that believeth on vie, as the Scripture hath faid, out of his Belly fhall flow Ha. xliv. 3, 
 " Rivers of living JFater-, but this [pake he of the Spirit, which they that believe ■'°^ u-zo- 
 " on him fhould receive : For the Holy Ghoft was not yet given, becaufe that Jefus 
 " was 'not glorified. Again, We are able Minifters of the New Teftament, not of ^ Cor iii 6 
 *■' the Letter, but of the Spirit ; for the Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life. A£ts viii. 14, 
 " And the Apoftles frequently laid their Hands on the Difciplcs, and they re- 
 " ceived the Holy Gholl. And Paul laid his Hands on certain Difciples, and the 
 *' Holy Ghoft fell on them. 
 
 — xix 1,6. 
 
 " By all which it plainly appears, that though the Lord Jesus is the on- 
 *' ly Baptizer of Souls, by his own Authority, having all Power in Heaven and 
 *' Earth from the Father, and in whom all Fulnefs of the Godhead dwells fub- 
 *' ftantially ; yet that the Apoftles and living Minifters were, and are Inftru- 
 " ments of the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, no Man who believes the Scriptures, 
 " and underftands them, can doubt, nor fupport thy Reafon for the Continuation 
 " of Water Baptifin in the Church ; which 1 leave to the Auditory to confider." 
 
 " Then faid Andrew Monro, " Where you mentioned. Out of his Belly fhall 
 " few Rivers of Water, there is nothing of Baptifm mentioned, nor has it any 
 " Relation to it." 
 
 *' 'Tis true, faid I, the Word Baptifm is not mentioned in that Text, but I 
 *' recite it as a collateral Text, as a Comparifon between Water and the Spirit ; 
 *' and that it proceeded from the faithful Miniftry in the Aft of miniftnng; and 
 *' here is the Promife of the Spirit, upon Faith only, without Water Baptifm (as 
 " any Means of it J to be firft admimftered: But thou art not the Perfon I have 
 *' to deal with, thou haft had fufficient already, and mayft have more ftill." 
 And then he defired Leave of the other for an Hour, whicii he confented to; but I 
 perceived it was only to unhinge the Matter in queftion, and confound the Caufe, 
 fo that the People might lofe the Matter, and nothing be brought to bear, as he 
 had attempted feveral Times before. Then the Frenchman advanced a frefli 
 Argument for Water Baptifm only, without the Spirit, in the Text, thus : 
 
 *' A s this Commandment was to the Apoftles of C h r i s t, fo they either 
 " underftood it, or they did not underftand it : To fay they did not underftand 
 " it, were to make the Commandment of none Effeft, by pradfifing another 
 " Thing, and omitting the Thing intended : But that they underftood Water 
 " Baptifm to be commanded, is clear from their frequent Pradice of it, after 
 " the Coming of the Holy Ghoft ; as I prove by feveral Inftances. 
 
 " \ft, W H E N Peter preached the Gofpel to the Jews, and they enquired what 
 *' they fliould do, he advifed them to Repentance, and Baptifm in the Name of ^-.- ,0 
 " }i.sx!%CHv.\iT, forthcRemijlfionoit\\ar Sins, andthcy ih.o\\\Areceive theGift 41/ ^ ' 
 
 " of
 
 410 The L I F E, ^'c. 
 
 Anno '■'■ of the Holy Ghcft : For the Promife was to them, and to their Children, and to all 
 1705. " that were afar off, even as -many as the Lord our Godfootild call; then they that 
 Ifa. xliv. 3. «' gladly received his IVord were baptized. 
 
 " Again, idly. The Eunuch was baptized by Pi»/% (and here >»zw 5z^?-- 
 Afls viii. 3S. <.^ tell read the Paffage) See, here is Water, what doth hinder me to he baptized? 
 " And Philip -faid. If thou belwc eft with all thine Heart, thou mayft, &c. and hi 
 " baptized him. So that you may fee two clear Inftances of Water Baptifm by 
 " the Apoftles after the Coming of the Holy Ghoft; and that Praftice fliews 
 " fully what Baptifm was intended in the Text in qutftion." 
 
 I ANSWERED, "In the firft Placs, I obfcrve one Thing from thefe two 
 " Texts, which I dtfire thee to remember anon, upon the fccond Part of the 
 " AlTumprion •, that is, that thofe convinced by peter, and alio the Eunuch, were 
 " firft to believe and repent, before they were baptized; which Infants are not 
 " capable of. 
 
 zdly. That the Baptifm was not in the Name of the Father, Son, and Ho- 
 " ly Ghoft, but in the Name of Jesus Christ only •, and Ihews it was no 
 " other but a Continuance of John\ Water Baptifm, of which they were in 
 *' Pradlice before Christ fuffertd, and before the Command in Mat. xxviii. 19. 
 " That it lias no Reference to Infants, though the Word Children is there : for 
 " all Ifrael, young and old, are called the. Children of Ifrael, as one Generation ; 
 " the aged as well as Infants, are the Children of their Anceftors : And the Pro- 
 *' mife there mentioned has no Relation to Water Br^Jtifm, but to the Gift of 
 
 Ifa.xliv. 3. «. the Holy Ghoft, promifed of God by the Prophet Tfaiah to Ifrael, I will 
 " pour my Spirit upon thy Seed, and my Bleffmg upon thine Offfpring, &c. And 
 " I deny thy Conclufion barely from the Practice ; for the Apoftles praftifed. 
 " Circumcifion, Vows, Shavings, i^c. and were in the Praftice (as faid) of Wa- 
 
 iCor. ix. 22. " ter Baptifm, before this Command was given. The Apoftle to the to^^^ ^Jf- 
 " came as weak; to all Men all Things, that by all means he might gain fome: 
 " Bur his Pradlice in all he did is no Warrant to others to follow him ; for he 
 ' ' baptized with Water, and yet confeiles fairly he was not fent of Christ 
 " to do it; So that neither his Praftice, nor that of the other Apoftles, is cogent. 
 
 " But, to be more plain and full on this Subjeifl, let the Auditory riote, 
 " That fohn the Baptift was only fent to the Jews ; as the L o r d himielf alfo 
 
 Mat. XV. 24. " faid, I arn not fent hut to the left Sheep of the Houfe of Ifrael, (that is, as to 
 " that Adminiftration in the Flefli) -, for God had promiltd Salvation, by 
 " Christ, both to Jews and Gentiles, but in two different Adminiftrations : To 
 
 Ifa. vii. 1 .1. " the Jews he faith, A Virgin fhall bring forth a Son ; and this Son was Christ 
 
 Luke ii. 32. " '" l^hs f'lefli : but to the Gentiles he faith. He ftjall be a Light to lighten the Gen- 
 " tiles, &c. And as to John'% Adminiftration, it was with Water, faying, They 
 " fljould believe in one to come ; but the Apoftles of C h r i s t, believing in Jesus 
 " Chris t, and that he was the true Meffiah, baptized with Water in his 
 " Name, and that before the Inftitution of this fpiritual Baptifm ; for, whilft 
 
 John iv. 1,2. " John was baptizing, Jefus made more Difcipks than John, though he himfelf 
 " baptized not, but his Difciples. 
 
 Mat. iii. 5,6. " And as the Jezvs, who had, generally fpeaking, received John's Baptifm, 
 
 believji-.g in one then to come, had rejedhed him when come, and crucified him 
 
 as an Impoftor, and incurred that great Guilt of his Blood ; fo they were again 
 
 " to receive him and own him, by being baptized in his Name, and foconfefs G o d's 
 
 " Promife fulfilled in fending the -Son of the Virgin, before they could receive the 
 
 " Re-
 
 of T HO M A S ST R T. 411 
 
 " Rcmiffion of their great Sins, in rejedling him as they did •, and accordingly they A m n o 
 
 " were baptized in his Name, which the Apoftles did upon that Foot they bap- 1 705. 
 
 " tized upon in Johns, Time, and not in the Text in queftion : For it is not vc- 
 
 *' ry hkely that Christ would inftitute a Baptilm alter his Refurrection, that ° 
 
 " they were in Pra6lice of before his Death. And farther, there is not one In- 
 
 " fiance in all the New Tcfbament, where any Apoftle baptized, or command- 
 
 " ed any to be baptized with Water, in the Name of the Fatlier, Son, and tio- 
 
 " ly Ghoft; but, where any Water is ufed, it is only in the Name of Jesus ^as viii. 16, 
 
 " Christ, and, for the moll part, to the Jews. 
 
 " For, as the Jcivs v/ere to have Remiffion oi Sins by Faith in Christ, jfa. vii. 14. 
 " as born of the Virgin, and the Spirit, upon that Faith, is a gradual Manifef- ^'^^'- '■ 23- 
 " tation ; fo the Gentiles were to have Remiffion of Sins by Faith in him, as he 
 " is the true Light -which lighteth every Man who cometh into the PForld : So that J^^" '• 9- 
 " Baptifm was no Means to them of receiving the Spirit, whatever it might be 
 " to the Jews, or Jewijh Profelytes. 
 
 I Cor. i. 1 7. 
 
 Mat. 
 
 " Again, you may note. That the Apoftle VauU who was font to the Gen- 
 *' tiles in a particular Manner, denies that Baptifm with Water was any Part of 
 " his Commiffion ; for he faith exprefly, Chrift fent me not to baptize, but to 
 " preach the Gofpel. Now, fince this great and firft Minifter of the Gentiles had 
 " no Commiffion to baptize with Water, we may juftly conclude it was not 
 " neceflary to that Work -, and, if not to our Forefathers, then not to us : And 
 " if he had no Commiffion, tlien none could fucceed him in a Commiffion ; and 
 " then the Pretences of all to baptize the Gentiles is vain." 
 
 James Biirtell replied, " Here you fay, that there is no need of V/ater Bap- 
 " i\\'m zmo\\gt\vc Gentiles : Your two chief Reafons are, /;y?, that neither Jc/w, il^^'^^''^^'.^' 
 " nor Christ, were fent (in that Adminiftration) but to the Jews-,, and that 
 " the Apoftles were to fucceed in Water Baptifm to no others, ififtancing PauP^ 
 " Commiffiion, I prove from J^s x. 47. that Gentiles were to be baptized with 
 " Water •, Can any Man forbid Water, that thefe floould not be baptized, which 
 " have received the Holy Ghojl, as well as we: And Cornelius and his Houfe 
 *' were Greeks, i. e. Gentiles. 
 
 " 2dly, As to St Paul, that Place imports no more, than that he was not cn- 
 " ly fent to baptize, and not that he had no Power at all from Christ; for he 
 " did baptize Crifpus, Gains, and the Houftiold of Stephanus; and we cannot 
 " think he did it of his own Authority, without Commiffiion from Christ: 
 " And though he feems here to be pofitive, that he was not fent to baptize, yet 
 " fuch a Manner of Speech you may obferve in Gen. xlv. 8. where Jofeph faid 
 " to his Brethren, it was not they, but the Lord that fent him into Egypt .; 
 " whereas it is plain they fold him -, but they only or chiefly did it not, for the 
 " Lord was alfo concerned in it: And fo it is here, Christ fent not the 
 " Apoftle to baptize only, or chiefly, but alfo (and more eminently) to preach 
 " the Gofpel." 
 
 I REPLIED, " 7'he Apoftle Peter, 'tis true^ in that Place aftcs a Qiicftion, Who 
 " can forbid Water? and commands it : But the Text is not exprefs in the Point, 
 *' that ever they were baptized, but may imply as well that they were not, as that 
 " they were ; for, immediately upon theCommand, 'tis laid, they defired him to tarry a(x%. x. 48. 
 " with them certain Days ; and that might be to confider whether it was neccffary 
 
 " or not : Befidcs, the Apoftle had been but, in a Manner, inftantly, or newly con- 28, 
 
 " vinced himfclf, concerning the Salvation of the Gentiles by C h r i s t ^ and might 
 
 r O " no:
 
 411 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " not then fully know all that was nccefiluy, or unr.cceflary for them on that 
 1705. " Behalf, as it is very clear the reft of the Apoftles (though as much Apoftles by 
 
 Aftsxi. 3. " CommiiTion z% Peter) did not then think the Gentiks were to be fo much as 
 . " Lived, or that he ought to 'lavc preached to them, nocwithftanding the exprefs 
 " I'erms of the Commiffion, Go teach all Nations, &c. by calling him to an 
 " Account about it as a Breach of the Law : and, in all his Relation of the 
 " Matter to them in his Defence, he faith nothing of V^ater Baptifm, but hints 
 " clearly, that till then he had not fully underftood Christ, when he faid, 
 
 — >• S- " Ye pall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft not many Days hence: So that this In- 
 
 " ftance hath no Force in it for Water Baptifm to the Gentiles. And again, the 
 " Apoftles condefcending to the ^Veaknefs of the Jeii'S in feveral Cafes, there 
 " might be fometliing of it here; for there were divers believing vvich Peter, who 
 " all along continuing an Averfion to the Gentiles, (even after their Converfion) 
 " might have thought thefe Converts to' be ftiort of them, being not baptized, 
 " and yet not able to fee how httle it was needful, o<; how little effential to 
 " Chriliianity, the great Subflance whereof diey had already received, viz. the 
 " very Spirit of C h r i s t, who is the great Subftance of all. 
 
 " As to the Apoftle Paul's Commiffion to baptize, and the Scripture cited 
 
 " as a parallel Exprefllon, to force it upon him, I take it to be of no Weight 
 
 " at all •, nor is there any Parallel between thefe two Texts: For, Jirjl, they are 
 
 *' concerning Things of a quite different Nature ; and, fecondly, each of them 
 
 " fully explains itfelf without the Help of the other. In that of Jofeph, and 
 
 " his Brethren, it is clear from theContext, that the Thing was of the Lord ; 
 
 " and that they v/ere not only Inftruments in the fecret Hand of God, in bring- 
 
 " ing his Purpofe to pafs, but alfo really guilty of the Evil: And in this other, 
 
 I Cor. i. 14, " refpefting PauVs Commiffion, it is alfo plain by the Context, (and muft be 
 
 ''""• " wreftcd by this Iteming Parallel) that the Apoftle had no Command from 
 
 " Christ to baptize ; for he, in thzfirfi Place, recounts the Particulars bap- 
 
 " tized by him. idly. He thanks God that he proceeded no further in that 
 
 " Practice ■, which, if it had been any Part of his Commiffion, or necefTary for 
 
 " them, he would not have done -, nay, rather than he would hazard fuch a 
 
 " Surmifc, that he had baptized in his own Name, he rather left it off: Where- 
 
 " as, it it had been necefTary, or any Part of his Commiffion, he would not fo 
 
 " much have minded what any would fay, as to negleft his Duty in any Mat- 
 
 " ter of Salvation ; for he pall through good Report and bad Report in other 
 
 " Cafes. But, ^dly. The very Text itfelf is fo full, that nothing can be more fo ; 
 
 " for it ffiews both negatively and pofitively what he was not fent to do, and 
 
 " what he was fent to do; Chrijl fent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gofpel: 
 
 " And this being fo clear, can never be wrefted to another Meaning to Men of 
 
 " Senfe ; though weak People may be blinded by falfe GlofTes, having rarely 
 
 " the Purity of the Scriptures, but falfe Interpretations impofed upon them, as 
 
 " the Rule of their Faith, Pradlice, and Manners. 
 
 " And as to his doing any Thing without exprefs Authority, we have di- 
 " vers Inftances of it from himfelf, fometimes by Revelation, fometimes by 
 " Dreams, by Vifion, by Commandment, and fometimes by Permiffiion ; and 
 *' that was the Cafe here: As alfo in condefcenfion to the Weak, fometimes 
 it was, Thus faith the Lord ; and fometimes, nus fay I, and not the Lord. 
 So that what one Man may do prudentially, (in his own Opinion) is no Pre- 
 cept, or cogent Example to any other, and fometimes not a warrantable Ex- 
 ample : For though Paul baptized by Example of others, and was not con- 
 demned for it. being well ini'ended ■, yet thole that attempted to caft out De- 
 
 *' vils 
 
 -vii. I — 12.
 
 of T H M AS S T R T. 4.25 
 
 '4' vils in the Name of C ii r i s t, and not invefled with Lis Power, were over- Anno 
 •' come of thofe evil Spirits. ^7^5- 
 
 I A nv Lv further, my Advcrfary being almoft on Ground, " That tho' the 
 >' Apoilics did baptize fome, efpecially of the Jews, and it maybe fome others, 
 " in the Beginning of the Gofpel Dilpcnfiition ; yet it does not follov/ that there 
 " was any Nccefnty for its Continuance : For as Christ faid, / have yet many J°hn xvi. 12. 
 " Tbi/^gs to fay, but yen are not able to bear them; fo alfo the Apoftle, I could not ' ' '~' 
 
 ^'^ write uvto ycu as unto fpiril Hal, but as unto carnal: I have fed you with AiHk, 
 " and not rxiith Meat \ for hitherto you were not able to bear it, nor are ycu yet able. 
 "• And. fo foon as the Church was able to bear this Dodtrine of Baptifm in its Spi- 
 "•' rituality, the two great Apoftles, Peter and Paul, both explained it unto them. 
 "• And as for a Time, and under divers Adminiftrations, there had been divers 
 *' Baptifms, yet at lafl all centered in one Baptifm ; for John was to decreafc, Johniii. 30. 
 " and Christ to increafe : That v/hich decreafes comes to an End, but that 
 *' which increafes never ends: John has decreafed near 1700 Years, and is come 
 *' to an End, and Ch rist hath increafed as long to fome, though the Begin- 
 " ning of his Kingdom is not yet known unto many. Paul, or the infpired 
 " Author of the Epiftle to the Hebrczvs, fpeaks of Baptifms -, but to the Ephcjians Heb. vi. ?.. 
 " heia.ith,'There is one Lord, one Faith, a}id one Baptifen; and what that one Bap- Eph-iv.5.^ 
 " tifm is, he alfo informs us in his Epiftle to the Corinthians, We are all baptised by H,ph. i. 21.^' 
 " one Spirit into one Body, the Church ; -which is his Body, the Fulncfs of him that fil- i I'et. iii. 2 1.. 
 *' leth all in all. Again, Peter faith, 'Tis not the putting azvay the Filth of the FlefJo, 
 *' but the Anfwer of a good Confciencc towards God, by the Refurrelfion (i.e. Reve- 
 " lation) of Jefits Chrift. Here it is both negatively and pofitively defined, 
 *' what it is not, and what it is •, // is not the putting away the Filth of the 
 " Fleffj, then not Water, which extends no farther, but the Anfwer of a good 
 " Confcience ; which never can be but by the Work of the Holy Ghoft de- 
 " fcending into us, (as my Adverfary hath defined the Spirit's Baptifm) and 
 " fanftifying our Hearts, working the Work of Regeneration, and a holy 
 *' Conformity to the Will of God, even through that Power that raifed up 
 " J ejus from the dead, by the Glory of the Father, fo alfo fmiild we walk in New- 
 •' 7iefs of Life: And this is the infeparable EfFcfts of the one only fpiritual and 
 " permanent Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft •, in which Christ is with his Mi- 
 " niftei-b, unto all that are quahfied to receive it, to the End of the World." I 
 had Room enough by this Time, and that made me more large; but my An- 
 tagonill to this made me this unexpefted Return : 
 
 " It is true there is one Baptifm, but that Baptifm hath two Parts ; the one 
 " is Water, the other Spirit : for as the Body and Soul make one Man, fo Wa- 
 " ter and Spirit make one Baptifm." 
 
 T o this I demanded his Proof out of Scripture, wherever the Spirit and 
 Water made up one Baptifm, or concurred in the Aft of baptizing, as the Holy 
 Ghoft, and preaching the Gofpel in the Power and Wifdom of the Spirit, had 
 done. 
 
 PI 1; anfwered, " That wherefoever Johns Baptifm was duly adminifter'd, 
 " the Holy Ghoft was given at the fame Time ;" which being fo palpable an 
 Error, I greatly admir'd at this Anfwer, and return'd, 
 
 " I w 1 1, r. prove the diredt contrary by plain Scripture, (though it is thy Part 
 " to make good thy Aflertion, if thou canft) viz. ABs xix. where the Apoftle 
 " aO'ied certain Dilciplcs, whether they had received the Holy Ghoft /wee they be- 
 
 " lieved?
 
 4-14 ^^-"^ LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno " licied? And they faid. We have not fo much as heard lahslher there he any 
 
 1 705. " Holy Chcji: And the Apcllle replied. Unto izhat then vjere yen baptized? They 
 
 Aasxix.2, 3. " faid only, Unto John's Baptifm: So that they had duly received JcZi/z's Bap- 
 
 " tilm, (/. e. Water Baptifra) and were lo tar from receiving the Holy Ghoft 
 
 " at the fame Time, that they had not fo much as heard whether there was fuch 
 
 " a Thing; in beins:. 
 
 Aas viii. 13, "Again, Simon Magus had Water Baptifm duly adminiftered, and yet had 
 20, 21. « neither Part nor Lot in the Holy Ghoft. 
 
 " And alfo (though it is net neceflliry to prove a contrary, where no Proof 
 — ii. 41. "is offered for a Pofition) I prove, by feveral Inftanccs, where Water was with- 
 Johu iv. 39, a Q^j ^i^f. Spirit, and the Spirit without Water •, the forriier in the Cafe of the 
 las vJii. 2c " t^hree thoufand, and in the Samaritans ; and the latter, in the Cafe of Cornelius.'" 
 
 My Adverfary being thus at length on Ground, and utterly gravell'd, only 
 repeated his Affertion, " That as the Body and Soul make up one Man, lb the 
 " Watef and Spirit one Baptifm." Thus, like a Door on the Hinges, he Ihifted 
 to and again, without proceeding forward one Jot. 
 
 Upon which I faid, " Friend, thou art in utter Confufion and Self- contradicti- 
 on •," and noted to the Auditory, " That his laft Pofition was againft the State of 
 " the Queftion, and his firft Allumption : For the Qiieftion is. Whether it is 
 " Water Baptifm only^ or the Spirit's Baptifm ; and the firft he has aiTumed." 
 
 Then he twice denied that the Qiieftion was fo, or that he had fo afTumed, 
 (not knowing what he had faid) till I produced it upon the Table, having kept it 
 in my Hand all the Time -, and further noted, " That the Queftion, was alterna- 
 " tively ftated, whether Water only, or Spirit ; and or being a Disjunctive, it 
 " could not be both, but one or the other intended : and therefore his lafl: 
 " AlTtrtion was only a fruitlefs Shift, and did not help him." 
 
 All the Reply he made to this was, " That if I would not receive what he 
 *' faid upon it, he would proceed no further." 
 
 Then I noted to the People how fliort he was fallen as to Water Baptifm 
 at large; and then put him upon his Proof of the fecond Part of his AfTump- 
 tion, viz. " That the prefent Pradtice of the Church of England (fprinkling of 
 " Infants, Sign of the Crofs, God-fathers, Vows and Promifes in their Name) 
 " was fupported by the Text." 
 
 T o this he offered little Anfwcr, but began to make away from the Table, 
 Mat. .xix. 14. through the Crowd, only mentioning that Text, Suffer little Children to come to 
 jne, &G. 
 
 T o this I replied, " That as in the Text Mat. xxviii. the Subjefts of Baptifm 
 " are fuch as are capable of being taught, and of obfcrving whatever Christ 
 " had before commanded them ; which Children are not: fo in this latter Text 
 " 'ds plain there is no Reference at all to Baptifm of any kind ; for the People, 
 " having Faith in Christ, brought their Children, that he might lay his Hands 
 " on them •, which he accordingly did, and blefled them ; teftifying to their 
 " Innocence and Purity, faying. Of fuch is the Kingdom of Heaven : And if fo, 
 " then they need not any Thing to qualify them to enter, nor to take away 
 " original Sin, as ye fupjiofe : For though, under the Law, the Lord laid, /
 
 of T H M AS S T RT. ^if 
 
 " -jjill lifit the Sins of the Fathers upon the Children ; upon which arole a Pro- A ^' n o 
 
 " verb in Ifrael, that the Fathers have eaten foiver Grapes, and the Childrens' 'Teeth 1 705. 
 
 " are Jet on Edge : that is, the Fathers have finr.eci, and the Children are pu- Ezek.wiii. 
 
 " nifhed for it: Yet, under the Gofpel, God gives more Grace, and laith. As -.— -°- 
 
 " Hive, faith the Lord, this Proverb fuall ceafe ; he that eateth the foiver Grape, 
 
 " his Teeth fuall he fet on Edge ; the Soul that fins ffjall die. Now tlie Apoftk- 
 
 " faith. That "inhere there is no Law, there is no Tranfgrcffion : Sin was in the Rom. iv. 15. 
 
 " World before the l,aw, but Sin is not imputed where there is no Law. Little 
 
 " Children, though they have a Seed of Sin in them, as defcendliig from Adam^ 
 
 " the common Father of all, yet that is not imputed; becaufe Christ is a 
 
 " Propitiation for the Sins of the -whole World : And as many fuffcr under the i Johnii. 2. 
 
 " Effcdts of Jdamh Fall, who never heard of it, fo many receive Benefit by 
 
 " Christ that never heard of him : Js in Adam all died, fo in Chrijl all are 
 
 " made alive : And Children being incapable of any Law, are alfo of Tranfgref- 
 
 " fion, and confequently of Sin : fo that there is nothing to condemn them ; 
 
 " for offuch is the Kingdom of Heaven." ^^"^ ^- ' ^• 
 
 This pafled ofF without any Reply ; and then the Frenchman flunk out of tlie 
 Company ; but, forgetting his Gloves, came back to fee for them, and then I 
 afked him if he was going, and he faid Tea : So we parted friendly, wifliing one 
 another's Welfare ; all the Company being very grave and fiient. 
 
 During this Contefl Andrew Monro had been very troublefome, at Times^ 
 prcffing to be heard read fome Quotations out of our Adverfaries againfl us -, 
 and the Difpute being over, I afked him, " Pray thee, Friend Monro, what is 
 " this great Matter thou haft been fo big with all this Time ?" (though Jofeph 
 Glaifter had kept him down, fo as that he did not much Harm among the People) 
 and prefently came many about us to hear •, and he quoted fomething out of 
 William Smith, (I think it was) where he fpeaks of their imagined God above thd 
 Stars, and their carnal Chri st, i£c. Then I looked round upon the People, 
 and fmilcd •, and, turning to Andrew Monro, faid, " Is this the great Matter 
 " thou haft been lb full of? A certain Perfon (as the Fable hath it) alledging 
 *' a Mountain to be pregnant, which was to bring forth on a certain Day, it 
 " occafioned a Multitude to attend and fee the IfTue : bljt as they drew near with 
 " great Attention, out came a Moufe from the Side of the Mountain •, and that 
 " was all the Anfwer to their great Expedations : And this of tiiine is fomcthino- 
 " parallel ; (this made the People fmile) for the Author is not here denying 
 " Go D to be above the Stars, nor calling Christ carnal -, nor do we receive 
 " him in any fuch blafphemous Senfe (not being anfwerable for Principles that 
 " are nor ours, nor for the wrefted Senfe of other People upon any Paffage in 
 " our Books, but for the Senfe we have ever, and do take them in •,) for he is 
 " only writing againft the carnal Imaginations of fome People concerning God 
 " and Christ : As it is plain, whofocver forms to himielf any Idea, or Ima- 
 " gination of G o d, otherwife than he is in himfelf, that Imagination may be 
 " called very ]p\-o^ex\Y\\K imaginary God: And whofoever, in his carnal and un- 
 " regenerate State, fliall form any Thing in his Thoughts concerning Christ, 
 " and his Body, otherwile than Christ and his Body really is, that Formation 
 " is but a carnal Image ; and this is the Sum of what this Author here intends." 
 This feem'd to take with the People, and Monro made no Anfwer : And fo, 
 with fome friendly Conferences among the People, the Matter ended to our great 
 Satisfaflion, and the Good-liking of many, both Friends and others, 
 
 T H r Method I took with the Frenchman in this Difpute was, to let him have 
 his full Time in every Qucftipn before I replied, ufually aiking him if he had 
 
 5 P done. 
 
 \
 
 4^6 TL-c LIFE, (ifc. 
 
 Anno done, before I anfwered -, (chough he fometimes interrupted me) and priuling a 
 1 705. httle between, that neithrr he, nor any for l-.im, might hereafter fay, he was over- 
 borne and drowned by Words •, which gave ibme of the lefs intelhgcnt fort occa- 
 fjon to imagine, that during all his Diicourfe I had nothing to Hiy, or was pinch- 
 ed for an Anfwer -, biit others, ot the wifer lort, took it as it was, (that all m.ighc 
 be fiiirly and clearly debated) and were much more fiitisfied, than if I had broke 
 in with my Anfwers before he had fully done -, and they had the lefs to fay of 
 any unfair Dealing, or that he could have faid more, if he had had Liberty from 
 Interruptions, ^c. 
 
 The v/hole Difpute being ended, we kept the Field ; and having dined, or 
 rather fuppcd, with Major Jordan, who kindly entertained us, vve returned 
 that Night over Nancemcnd Ri\'er, to Robert Jordan\ \ where I ftaid next Day 
 writing Letter?, and fome Part of the Difpute. 
 
 Chuckatiick. O N the 1 2th, being the Fifth of the Week, we were again at Chuckatuck 
 Meeting-, which was large and well : and the Court-houfe being in our Way, 
 we called there, and all the Magidrates were kind to us, as well thofe who had 
 I'eem'd rough and zealous tor their Priefts at the Difputes, as thole who had fhewn 
 us Favour and Countenance-, and Major Jordan and his Son left the Bench, and 
 walked with us half a Mile, till a Shower of Rain occafioned their Return, parting 
 with us in oreat Refped: : But, as we walked along, he told me, that he had heard 
 lince the iall: Difpute, that we had fifty to one on our Side among the People, 
 and that it was thought moft of them were turning Quakers. I told him, I was 
 clad to hear it; but thought I had rather heard they were turned, than turning ; 
 tor the Crofs is too hard for many there, as ellewhere, who are truly convin- 
 ced, but not obedient, bccaufe of the Glory and Friendfhip of the World : That 
 Nio-ht we returned over Nancemond, to Benjamin Small's, and lodged there. 
 
 O N the 1 3th, in the Morning, I fet foward for Kicquatan, and went to Nancc- 
 i-Mtid Town ; and, the Boat being upon the River coming down, there came a 
 Guft, which brought up a Storm right a-head, and a great Sea-, fo that we re- 
 turned to Robert Jordan's, that Night. And 
 
 On the 14th, in the Morning, we fet forward again, and went off from Nan- 
 cemcnd Town about Eight. The Wind being flill high, and againft us, we rowed 
 over the River, and fo down under the Lee Shore, and got to a fifliing Stake fet 
 in the River, where we ftaid Ibme Hours, not being able to get on Shore for 
 Shoals and Mud : But, whilft we ftaid, we caught about 20 Crabs ; and, ac 
 hich Water, rowing a little farther up, we got on Shore ; and, making a Fire, 
 roafted our Crabs, ate heartily, and drunk of a good Spring near us -, and, 
 about fix in the Evening, fet torward, the Wind a little abating, tor Pig-pcint, 
 on the other Side-, where, with fome Difficulty and Danger, (the Wind being 
 ftill full high, and meeting with the Ebb in the Channel, there run a mighty Sea; 
 we arrived about Sun-fet. It being then near low Water, we were forced all to 
 oet out of the Boat, about a Quarter of a Mile from the Shore, by reason of the 
 Shoals, and hale it near the Shore; and then made ourfelves a Tent with one of 
 the Sails and fome Pine Tops, under the Bank of the River, and laid more Pine: 
 Tops under the other Sail, upon the Sand, and a Fire at a Diftance on each 
 Side -, and there we lay (but I flept little) till about Two in the Morning : Then 
 the Tide making, we took our Boat, the Wind being down, and let forv.ard over 
 the River, about 12 Miles ; and, being in the Channel, the Wind iVefliened as 
 Day broke, and the Waves were high enough, to think ourll Ives fate ■; but the 
 
 L. o 11 1?
 
 of T H M A ^ S r R T. 417 
 
 1, o R D preferved us, p.nd we arrived at George Wdkcr's,, at Kicqtialc.n, about Six Anno 
 in the Morning. ^ * T^S' 
 
 I T being the Firft Day of the Week, and no Notice given of any Meeting, 
 we could have none ; ar.d fo I went to Bed, and rcfted above two Hours : and, 
 about Eleven, came a Captain, Lieutenant, and Purfer, of one of tlie Men of 
 War riding there forConvoy of a Fleet ^or England ; and we entered into Difcourfe 
 f" which they occafioned) about Minifters of C h r i s t, and their Maintenance, 
 and about Freedom from Sin in this Lite, and other Points, and I read them fe- 
 veral Scriptures relating thereto •, and they were very civil : and, after we liad 
 dined together there, I itt forward, after three, and went about 25 Miles that 
 Evening, to our Friend AnJie ylirey's, where I ftaid feveral Days : But, before I 
 departed from George IValker''^, he told me, that the People there were generally 
 difpleafed with their Prieft, Wallace^ wlio had been very bufy in his Pulpit againlt 
 us, ever fince Jofeph Glaifter had difputed with him, calling us Deceivers, De- 
 vils, &c. infomuch that one of his Hearers, one Day after Sermon, had taken him 
 to Taflc about it, teHiiig him, that they went to Church to worfliip God, and hear 
 fomething that miglit be for Edification in Matters of Religion, and not a Par- 
 cel of Railery againft honeil People. 
 
 O N the 1 6th I wrote Letters for England ; and, the Day following, had a 
 Meeting at yh?ie Airey\ Houfe ; which was not large, but a good Meeting. 
 
 On the i8th, I had a Meeting at William 'Trotter''^, about ten Miles over the 
 ^ccJz; which was not large, (the generality of the People being gone down to 
 Kicquata7t Court, to hear the Trial between the Governor, Plaintif, and James 
 JVallace, the Prieft, Defendant, concerning his being found in Bed upon a Wo- 
 man, fworn againft him by one who laid he faw the Thing ; but the Prieft had 
 excufed the Matter at the firft Trial, by faying, he had only been meafuring 
 which of them was longed, and denied the Fa6l fuggefted in the Pofture •,) but 
 the Meeting was open, and the People very ftill and quiet, and fome tender : 
 That Night T returned with Anne Airey, and writ the following Anfwer to Wat- 
 lace\ Letter to George Walker, concerning Jcfeph Glaifter, and Friends in general. 
 
 James Wallace, War-wick River, i Zth Fifth Month, 1 705. 
 
 " 1 HAVE occafionally feen a Letter of thine, dated 7z/w£' 28. 1705. direft- 
 " JL ed. For Mr George Walker, the Purport whereof is fuch, that I find 
 " myfelf concerned to take Notice of it -, and do accordingly remit a Copy of 
 " it, in Sedions, to thy Review and further Confideration, with fome fhort Ob- 
 " fervations concerning fome of them, and my juft Demands touching odiers. 
 *' Thou begins, 
 
 Mr Walker, 
 " 1/, 1 D I D expeft to have heard of this grand Meeting (meaning one of 
 " ours thereabouts, at George Walker'^ Houfe) before this Time, when my Af- 
 " fairs called me abroad by a former Appointment. 
 
 " id. It is in vain to talk with ilhterate Men, where Noife prevails. 
 
 " 3^, The fpeaking Cobler of Gloucefter (I know not his Name) has ftrono- 
 " Lungs and a Memory -, botli which are requifite to accompany his Nonfenfe, 
 " and to give an Emphafis to his Words.
 
 418 The LIFE, d^'c. 
 
 ArJNO « 4^th, iDonotdefign to talk with him; but I dare him, and all your 
 
 1 705, " Friends, to anfwer, in Writing, plainly and direftly to any Argument. 
 
 " 5/^, I DESIRE their Anfwer to Dr Lancajler''^ Queries to the London 
 " Qiiakers, amio 1695. 
 
 " 6//', I OFFER to prove from your printed Books, That, ^ft, you make 
 " yourfelves Part of God. id. Equal with God. 3^, That you deny the 
 " Holy Trinity, ^th. The Humanity of Christ. c,th. The Divinity of 
 " Jesus. 6th, The Reiurreftion of the fame Body, jth. That you affert a 
 " finlefs Perfedion. ^th. And a great many more horrid Tenets, too tedious to 
 " relate. 
 
 " ytb. It follows, that Qiiakers Principles are blafphemous and Antichrifti- 
 " an j which I am ready to prove. . 
 
 " ^th, I D A R E him, or any other, to put any Thing he can fay in Writing, 
 " that all Men may judge who has the better of it. 
 
 " ath, T H I s I offer, to fave my People from the Poifon of Quakerifm. 
 
 " loth, I H o p E you will take it well •, if not, I have my Aim, and 'tis the 
 " fame Thing to your Friend and Soul's Well-wifher, 
 
 J. WALLACE. 
 
 " P. 5. iith,l viAKi him (the Cobler) to anfwer my laft Letter to you, if 
 " he dare, or can. 
 
 " 11th, I D E SI RE you to read this Letter in your Meedng; and, when 
 " you pray, confefs your Sins, and give God the Glory. 
 
 " Answer, ifi. This Excufe may be real-, but I may juftly fufpeft the 
 " Sincerity of him that can be the Author of fo much Scurrility, falfe Accufa- 
 " tion and Detradlion, in fo fmall a Compafs. 
 
 " 2i, T H I s guilty Excufe will not mend the Matter, James, nor repair the 
 " Lofs of Reputation fuftained in that Undertaking. An illiterate Man, (if he 
 " were fo) to out-do a Mafter of feven liberal Sciences, fo far renders thofe Arts, 
 '' and that fort of Wifdom, (if really acquired) not fo abfolutely neceffary to 
 " the Knowledge of divine Things, as fome Men have dreamed, and impofed 
 " upon the World, under thofe vain and falfe Pretences ; but that the Noife of 
 " the more intelligent Part of the Auditors of that Difpute, in the Relation of 
 *' it, has fo far prevailed in thy Opponent's Favour, that thou art not like, by 
 " this Method, to filence it, is very apparent. 
 
 " 3^/, This is a fcurrilous Dctradlion •, befides, he is not a Cobler, ei'^o, nor 
 Mat. xiii.jj. " the Cobler of Gloucefter: But as our Lord was called tiie Carpenter's Son, 
 " in Contempt, or with Detradion, fo 'tis the fame Spirit that calls his Servants 
 " below their Employments, to kflln tlieir Reputations, though it juflly reiiciSls 
 " upon, and ecchocs tlie Mcannefs ot its Author. As to a Memory in divine 
 " Things, that is not always, if at all, to be imputed to a Faculty in Nature ; 
 *' fince we have a Promife, that the Spirit of Truth fliall bring all Things to 
 " our Remembrance •, and Stephen had in him a Spirit and Wifdom (that might 
 " look like Lungs and Memory to tlic learned ignorant Rabbics) that all his 
 
 *' Enemits
 
 of T E M yl S ST RT. 4^-9 
 
 «' Enemies could not withftand, tliough, through Envy, and by ftoning, ihcy Ax no 
 " were too hard for his Perfon. But ftrong Lungs, Memory, Nonfenfe, and 1705- 
 " Emphafis, in Words jumbled together, is no great Inilance of Rhetonck, 
 " nor Indication of Science. O poor Revenge! O felf-complaifant Refent- 
 " ment ! Thou lliouldft: not have been angry in being outdone, lor tb-yielf began 
 " the Contcft. 
 
 «' 4lh, The firft Part I readily believe; but to dare us to anfwer a Non- 
 " entity, is no learned Challenge. 'Tis Time enough to annver in Writing, 
 " when any Principle or Praftice we hold, or are found in, is oppofed in W ri- 
 " ting, or any Argument advanced that Way againft us ; which, if thou thinkefb 
 "• thy wifeft Way to undertake, if it meet not with an Anfwer, then triumph 
 " over our Silence : But now it is too early. 
 
 " ^th, LancaJlcT?, Qiieries ought to be, and, I think, are anfwercd long ago 
 " to Lcwcafter himfclf, by the London Quakers, as thou calleft them ; and it 
 " would be as endlels, as needlefs, to anfwer every new Caviller the flime Things : 
 " But if thou haft: any pertinent Qiieries of thy own, not ftole from Lancafter^ 
 " or fome other Bufy-body like him, let us hear them ; and, if tending to Edi- 
 " fication, and the Glory ot God, they may be accordingly confidered. 
 
 " 6/^, A s to the five firft Heads, and alfo the eighth, compriz'd in the fixth 
 " Sedlion, they are injurioufly falfe -, and, as fuch, I return them upon thee, poft- 
 " ing thee as an unworthy Slanderer, till thou haft: made good thy Charo-e ; 
 " which I know isimpoffible: And as to the fixth of thefe eight Heads, if, how 
 " are the dead raifcd, and with what Bodies do they come, be thy Queftion, 
 " thou art anfwered already by the Holy Ghoft as thou oughteft ; nou Fool, 
 " thou foweji not that Body which Jhall be : But if by this thou means, that we 
 " deny the Refurreftion of the Dead, according to Holy Writ, I deny thy 
 " Charge, and return this alfo with the former. And as to the feventh and 
 *' eighth -, we do hold a finlefs Perfedtion, and have largely made it appear to 
 " be Orthodox, Apoftolick, and Scriptural, as well in feveral publick Difputes 
 " in the Face of the Country, (of which thou art not ignorant) as in Dodlrine in 
 " our open AflTemblies : And whcnlbever thy Arguments fhall appear in Writino- 
 *' againit that Pofition, thou mayft exped a full Refutation. 
 
 " jth. Such as are the Premifies, fuch alfo is the Conclufion ; and a more 
 " abfurd and fenfelefs one I never yet beheld. From thy falfe Charo-e of Prin- 
 " ciples, and Errors which we do not own nor hold, to conclude us Blafphe- 
 " mers and Antichrifts, is unworthy and bafe Treatment, as well as a ridiculous 
 " Nonfequitur : But to prove the Charge is thy Task and Difficulty -, and I do 
 " hereby provoke thee thereto, and require it of thee, or elfe thy publick Ac- 
 " knowledgement of this notorious Wrong, and Injullice done us. 
 
 " 8/^, A N D is the great Boaft of Goliah at length dwindled to this .? We are 
 " dared, in the fourth, to anfwer an imaginary Argument, and here to put our 
 " Sentiments in Writing : The State of the Matter is changed, and the Oppo- 
 " nent become Refpondent. Jofeph Glaijler had fo far the better of it in Di- 
 " fputc, (if common Fame be not a Liar) and that already fo fairly written in the 
 " Underftandings and Memories of many, that neither he, nor any on his Behalf 
 " need to write any more about it : But if it were only Noife, and not alfo 
 " Truth, Scripture, and Reafon, that prevailed at the Conference, then ft:ate 
 " all the fame Queftions fiirly and impartially in Writing, ailvance thy Argu- " 
 " mcnts for fuch as thou afl'umell, and thy Scriptures and Rcafons againft fuch 
 
 5 Q- ' "di
 
 450 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 A N K o " as thou oppugns ; and, fo far as they are relative to our Principles or Pradices, 
 1705. " they fliall be duly confidercd at a proper Seafon. 
 
 " C)th, Daring, detrafling, boafting, and falfe Charges, thy Method to pre- 
 " ferve thy People, as thou calls them, (but, if they be God's People and the 
 " Qiieen's, how are they thine?) from that thou fcurriloufly and blalphemoufly 
 « calls the Poifon of Qiiakerifm ? May this have no better Succefs or Impref- 
 " fion than thy late Dlfputations againft it, or thy late Preachments alfo againft 
 " VIS,-— a juft Rebuke and open Contempt from fome of thy Auditors. 
 
 " loth. This denotes Anger and Difdain, unbecoming thy ProfeiTion; but, 
 '' as Charity begins at home, fo fliould thy good Wiflies for thy own Soul be 
 " evidenced in better Conduft for the future. 
 
 Mat. xii. 3 3 . " 11//', ^'he "Tree is hicwn by its Frv.it. Out of the Jbundance of the Heart the 
 34- ... " Mouth fpeaketh, (and the Pen alfo writeth). Thi fame Fountain fends not 
 
 James 111. 11. ^^ forth fweet and bitter Waters at the fame Place. This daring, detrafting Spi- 
 " rit, favours not of the Lord Jesus, nor hath any proud Boafter learned of 
 " him : But as to the Letter, it is in my Cuftody ; and, by the fuperficial View 
 " I have taken of fome Parts of it, I fufpeft it of feveral heterodox Notions, 
 " and notorious Errors •, which, at my Leifurc, I may, through the Grace of 
 " God, further examine and expofe, if, in the mean time. Matters of greater 
 " Moment do not interpofe and divert me- 
 
 " i2th. Our Meetings are appointed for better Purpofes, for the Worlhip 
 " of the one only true and living God, by his Son Jesus Christ, in his 
 " Holy Spirit, the Edification of his Church and People, the Information of 
 " Men, and detefting of Impoftors, and not for reading of unchriflian Scribbles ; 
 " nor receive we the fcornful Didlates of fuch with relation to Prayer, but wait 
 " Jbr the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication to raife them in our Hearts (and not 
 *' in our Pockets) : But whether we be Sinners, or not, it becomes not any mi- 
 *' ferable Sinner to accufe us further than he is able, upon his own certain Know- 
 " ledge ; and, if he hath feen any Man fin, let him bear Witnefs of it : but if 
 " he meafure another Man's Stuff by his own Yard, let him beware left he be 
 *' found unequal ; and remember that the Lord heareth not Sinners, but that 
 " Spirit that makes IntercefTion with Sighs and Groanings that fometimes cannot 
 " be uttered: Nor do we, his People, at all regard the fcoffing and fmiling 
 " Suggeftions and Infinuations of an inveterate and implacable Adverlary, other- 
 " wife than juftly to rebuke him. 
 
 •' T H u s I have anfwered thy Letter, in Terms, I judge, fuitable to its Na- 
 " ture and End; and, if thou haft any Thing to reply, diredt to me at Phila- 
 " delphia, in Penfylvania, whither I am now going. 
 
 " N o w, notwithftanding the Terms of my Anfwer, extorted by thy Abufes 
 " of us in thine, I wifti thee a better Underftanding in the Things of God^ 
 " and alio of our Principles and Religion ; and then, I am not fo uncharitable 
 " but to think, that thou wouldft acknowledge them more confiftent with Truth 
 " and Righteoufnefs, than hitherto thou haft imagined. 
 
 "Let not the Efl^ds of a Difpute (not very warrantable in itfclf on thy 
 " Part, as to the Time and Place of it, and, by thy own Motion, impofed upon 
 " my Friend) make thee fo very uncafy, as to feek unjuft Revenge on the Re- 
 
 *' putations
 
 of T B M A S S T RT. 
 
 " putations of the whole, Jeft it return upon thy own Head, fo as that thy own 
 
 " be juftly ruined in the Conflift, befides t'at Difpleafure of Heaven, which, 
 
 " peradventure, thou mayfi: incur in the End. Let this laft Caution take fome 
 
 " ImprefTion in thy Thoughts, from 
 
 Thy unknown Friend and JVell-wiper, 
 
 THO. STORY. 
 
 Anno 
 
 1705. 
 
 Ox the 19th I fet forward, and went to ^^ecii's Creek, to Edward Thomases, j 
 
 and there lodged. 
 
 On the 20th I had a good Meeting at James Bates's Houfe, at Skimino 
 that Night lodged at his Brother JoLni's. 
 
 and 
 
 Skimino. 
 
 On the 21ft, I went about 35 Miles, to James Howard'%; and the Day fol- 
 lowing, being the Firft of the Week, had a Meeting there : There being but ^ 
 few Friends, and many People, and they very dark, and hard, the Meeting was 
 not very open, but ended well, and I was eafy ; and, that Evening, travelled 
 about 1 1 Miles, to Jane Pleafnnt\ ; where I ftaid that Night, and the next Day ; 
 and the Day following had a Meeting there •, which was large and well, and I 
 had great Peace ; and, returning to Jane's, lodged there that Night. 
 
 O N the 25th I went to Charles Fleming's, and ftaid there that Night ; and Black Creek 
 the next Day had a Meeting at Black-Creek. 
 
 O N the 27th, the Morning being rainy, I fet forward, and arrived at the "Wi- 
 dow Elizabeth Wilfon's in the Afternoon -, where I ftaid that Night and the next 
 Day. On the 29th I had a Meeting there, being the FirO; of the Week; which 
 was pretty large, and a good Meeting, confidering that there is no fettled Meet- 
 ing in thole Parts, for 50 Miles on one Side, aiid 25 on the other. 
 
 O N the 30th, about the fixth Hour in the Morning, I fet forward for Poto- 
 mack, and arrived at our Friend Peter Skinner's, about Three in the Afternoon, 
 being about 50 Miles ; and, that Evening, fent Notice about the Neighbour- 
 hood ot a Meeting to be there next Day. 
 
 On the 31ft we had a Meeting accordingly, which was very large for the Potomack. 
 Time, and very open, though there are but a few Friends in thofe Parts, and 
 thefe but weak. The Meeting being over, I went that Night with Major 
 Thornton. 
 
 n the I ft of the Sixth Month, I had a Meeting at Benjamin Berryman''s ; 
 •where were feveral Strangers, and a very open Meeting, to the Ible Honour of 
 the Lord, who alone is worthy: That Nig'it I returned to Major Thornton's, 
 where I v/as ever kindly entertained. 
 
 1 w A s fet over the great River of Potomack next Morning by Major Thornton'^ 
 Servants, in his Boat, himfelf and Peter Skinner accompanying me-, but, having 
 no Company on the other Side, nor any to enquire ot tor fome Time, I mifled my 
 Way at leaft above fix Miles, a fecond Time about half a Mile, and a third Time 
 about a Mile. Afterwards, being dircfted by a Perfon I met with in a Bye-path, 
 I kept right many Miles alone, till I fell in with a Couple of Papifts, a Prieft 
 and a Layman, and they direfted me to the Ferry at Patuxent; where I arrived 
 
 in
 
 431 The LIFE, c^^. 
 
 Anno in the Evening almoft faint for want of Water, having found none for many 
 1 705. Miks, and extream hot •, but there I got a little, and fo paffed the River, where 
 I was forced to row over, all the People being abfent but one-, and, in the 
 Landing, my Horfe funk in a Quickfand, fo that I had near loft him, his Head 
 being under Water fcveral Times -, but, giving a ftiong Spring, happened to 
 get his Fore-feet on the Gravel, and fo got out : That Night I arrived at the 
 Widow Ilutchins,, where I was well rcfreilicd after fo tedious a Journey. 
 
 On the 3d, in the Morning, I went to Abrahdm Jcnes's ; and, in the Even- 
 ing, to fee his Father and Mother, both ill ; and fo returned and lodged with 
 Ahraknm that Night, and the next. On the 5th, being the Firft of the Week, 
 I was at their Meeting, about five Miles off, which was a good open Meedng •, 
 and that Night returned with Abraham, and alio vifited his Parents. 
 
 On the 6th I fet forward to Sainuel Chew's ; and, calling at Pbilip Cole's by 
 the Way, found him, and his Son, and feme other Friends there •, and, on our 
 - Way to his Houfe, gave a Vifit to Colonel William Holland ; and fo that Night 
 lodged at Samuel's. 
 
 O N the 7th I was at the Quarterly Meeting there, which held alfo the next 
 Day, and were large and good Meetings both Days, through the Goodnefs of 
 the Lord, who is not a- wanting to his People in all their Affemblies. Colonel 
 Holland was there the fecond Day, and fcveral other Strangers ; and, after the 
 latter Meeting, I went forward and lodged with Samuel Galloway. 
 
 Wtft River. On the 9th, we had a Mcalng zt IFefl- River Meeting-houfe; which was 
 
 not very open, but ended well. That Night 1 went with Dr Moore, where I 
 ftaid that Night, and the next Day: On the nth I went to Patuxent, accom- 
 panied by Dr Moore, Nehemiah Birket, and feveral other Friends ; and that 
 Night lodged at Richard Cromwell's; in whofe Convincement I had been inftru- 
 mcntal about two Years before. 
 
 P^tuxenf. O n the 1 3th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting there; which 
 
 was pretty large, and an open Meeting -, and that Night returned to Richard 
 
 Cromwell's. 
 
 O N the J4.th we went to William Picket's, through fome Difficulties, the great 
 Rains having raifed the Rivers and Brooks, and the next Day had a Meeting 
 there •, where there are few Friends, but feveral friendly, and generally fober 
 and fatisfied ; and that Evening went to John Hall's, where we had kind Enter- 
 tainment. 
 
 O N the 1 6th, in the Morning, I fet forwards, accompanied by Thomas Pre- 
 ficn, Nehemiah Fitzfimons, Thomas Cromwell, and John Harper, who returned 
 at Sufquahannah R iver : That Day I, being alone, went through the Woods, by 
 Jericho, and baited at William Brown's ; and that Night lodged at Michael Har- 
 land's, about 51 Miles. 
 
 On the 17th, in the Morning, I fet forward from thence, and arrived 
 Philadelphia, f^ife and well at Philadelphia that Evening, to the Praife of the great Name of 
 the Lord ; who was with me in all my Exercifes, in his Mercy and Loving- 
 kindnefs, and by his holy Arm fuftained me in Tilings too hard for me: To 
 whom be Thankfgiving, through Christ Jr. sus my Saviour, for ever and 
 ever. Jmen. 
 
 A
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 455 
 
 A JOURNAL of 7ny VOYAGE to BARBA- ^i^'i'^ 
 DOES, arid the IVefkrn JJles, m the Tear 1708-9. 
 
 A VING had a Concern upon my Mind for feme Years to vifit Bar- 
 hadoes^ Jamnka, and fome ether Illands in the Weft Indies, in the 
 Service of Truth •, and the Lord having wrought a Willingncfs 
 in me, and, in the Courfe of his Providence, made Way through ma- 
 ny Difficulties -, on the 1 8th of the Eleventh Month, 1708-9, I failed from P/j/- 
 ladeiphia, in Penfylvania, about the tenth Hour that Morning, aboard the Sloop, 
 the Unity of Philadelphia, C&^^tdxn Henry Stephens, Mafter; and that Evening, 
 about Seven, we arrived fafe at Nezvcaftk, through fome Quantity of Ice then 
 in the River. It having fnowed moft of the Day, and a ftrong Gale, with much 
 Rain in the Evening, we anchored at Ne-wcajlle ; and, the next Morning about 
 Eight, went on Shore, and flaid there that Day, to fee if the Weather would 
 fettle: And, on the 20th, at Eight, we fet Sail, and arrived at Ready-JJiavd a- 
 bout Twelve -, where we anchored, and went on Shore to increafe our frefh 
 Provmons. 
 
 O N the aifl", being the Sixth of the Week, we fet Sail with a fmall Breeze at 
 North Eaft, about Seven in the Morning-, but the Wind being (lov/, and 
 continuing in that Point, the Mafter did not think fit to defcend into the Bay, 
 but came to an Anclior above Bumhy-hook -, where we went on Shore again to 
 increafe our Provifions, and returned on board about Twelve, the Wind about 
 that Time coming North-Weft in a gentle Breeze ; which lulling again, we re- 
 mained at Anchor till the next Day at Ten -, and then came up Captain Brown 
 and Captain Read, in two other Sloops for Barbadoes ; and, the Wind being at 
 South-Eaft, we all went on Shore ; and, about One in the Afternoon, returned 
 on board, the Wind coming at North- Weft, but gentle •, and, falling away, we 
 remained at Anchor till about Five •, and then falling down with the Tide, and 
 a fmall Wind at North-Weft, in about an Hour it came up at North a good 
 Breeze, with which, and the Tide, we fell below Btanby-Hook ; and there an- 
 chored about Seven in the Evening. 
 
 D* 
 
 On the 23d, being the Firft Day of the Week, we weighed Anchor about 
 Six in the Morning, the Wind near North, and, with a frefli Gale, entered the 
 Bay ; but about the Middle of it, near Twelve, the Wind falling away, we came 
 to an Anchor again, where we remained till the next Morning-, and, about 
 Eight, weighed Anchor, the Wind fpringing a good Gale at North- Weft. With 
 it we entered the Main -, and, continuing feveral Days, and generally full for us 
 in all its Veerings, by the good Providence of God we arrived fafe and well 
 at Barbadoes, our defired Port, on the 9th of the Twelvth Month : So that we Earbadoes 
 had but about 1 5 Days Paflage from the Capes to the Ifland ; for which I was 
 truly thankful to the Lord, the Over- ruler of all Things. 
 
 Landing about the ninth Hour In the Morning, Iwaswelcom'd by my 
 good Friend Edward Singletcn, who came on board to that End, and invited ro 
 the Houfe ot our Friend John Grove, where I was openly and kindly received ; 
 and two Meetings falling of Courfe that Day in Bridge-Town, where we landed, Cridge-Town 
 I had the Advantage to be there, to my great Con-jfort and Satisfaclion in the 
 Lord, who was pleafed to give me a full Confirmation in myfflf concerning 
 my Call thither; though he did not appear much by me then, other than in 
 greatly tendering my Spirit before him in Silence, and fending forth an Eeiii.Y 
 
 5 R of
 
 434 T^^^^ L I F. E, ^'c. 
 
 Anno of many Tears at feveral Times, during thefe two Meetings j for I had but a 
 1 70S. Sentence or two to fpealc in each. 
 
 Being well refreflied every Way, the next Morning arrived our Friend Sa- 
 muel Wilk'nifon, who had been at Penfylvania from Ireland; and another Meeting 
 falling of Courfe, we were there, and had feme Service, the Lord being pleafed 
 in fome Meafure to concern us to minifter among them ; and Things were well 
 and comfortable, though the Meeting was but fmall; and of them feveral were 
 Strangers. 
 
 O N the 1 3th, being the Firft Day of the Week, we had another Meeting at 
 Bridge-Town -, which was larger than before, and a good Meeting, many Str<ui- 
 gtrs being there, and Thirgs well opened. 
 
 On the 15th, being the Third of the Week, we had another Meeting at the 
 Bridge-, which v/as alio a good Meeting: That Evening, accompanied by our 
 Friends John Grcie, his Wife, and ibme others, we went into the Country, 
 where we lodged with our Friend Jofeph Gamble. 
 
 Spring. O N the 1 6th we had a Meeting at Spring Meeting-houfe ; where we had fe- 
 
 veral Strangers, and generally fatisfied : After this iVIeeting, not being aware of 
 the Nature of the Climate, I took Cold, which afterwards proved exercifing; 
 and, returning to Jcfeph Gamble'' i, we lodged there that Night. 
 
 On the ijth we dined at our Friend Francis Gamble'^; and, that Evening, 
 Spikes. went to Spikes, to our Friend 'Thomas Jackman^s : but, before we got tiiither, 
 
 my Cold increafed upon me to that Degree, that my Body was fore all over 
 witli an aking in my Bones, fo that it was with fome Difficulty I reached the 
 Place •, and that Night, taking fome Sage Tea, (having firft felt a fecret Work 
 of Truth to overcome the Root and Power of the Diftemper, to which alone I 
 have great Reafon to afcribe my Recovery) I tell into a very great Sweat j which 
 took off much of the Load of the Fever and Cold out of my Flefli, but left 
 great Pains in my Bones, and reduced me in fo fliort a Time to fo great a Weak- 
 nefs, that I could not go next Day to Meeting, though within a little Way of 
 the Place, but continued fweating for feveral Days \ which, with fome cordial 
 Things adminifter'd by my good Friend Jofeph Gamble, who pra£bifed Phyfick, 
 gradually carried off the Diftemper, but was not able to attend any Meeting for 
 fome Time: And finding the Air at Spikes, and the Noife in Town hurtlul, I 
 removed thence, on the Second Day, back to Francis Gamble^?., three Miles j 
 where I ftaid till the Fourth Day following, being there taken with a fainting 
 Fir, which I never had known before, but was much comforted after it in the 
 blefled Truth ; which I have ever found to be the richeft and beft Cordial. 
 
 On the 23d, in the Morning, we went back to Jofeph Gamble'' 5, (he being de- 
 firous to have me at his Houie, tor the better Conveniency of adminiftring luch 
 Things as might be proper in cafe of Neceffity) but took the Spring Meeting in 
 our Way, where I had fome few Things to lay ; which, for want of Strength, 
 were faintly delivered, but well accepted. 
 
 H E R E I ftaid till the 2 7th (Samuel going to Bridge-Town) which being the 
 Firft Day of the Week, I went again to Spring Meeting-, where I had fome 
 Concern, and a little ftronger than before (tor my Strength came flowly, 
 though I had been but little fick in all this Time). That Night I returned to 
 Jofeph Gamble's ; where I ftaid till the 2d of the Firft Month ; and then again 
 
 went
 
 of T H M AS ST R T. 4^- 
 
 went to the Spifig Meeting; where were fevcral Stmngers, and an indifl'ercnt Anno 
 good Meeting: After which I returned to Jofeph Gambk'%. 1708. 
 
 On the 3d, in the Morning, I went to Francis Gaml'L''s, where I ftaid that 
 Ni^^ht ; and the next Day, being the Sixth of the Week, I werit tliree Miks, to 
 a Meeting at Spikes; where there were feveral Strangers, and generally well [a- 
 tisfied ; and, after the Meeting for Worfliip, we held the Monthly Meeting for 
 Eufinefs: And all being well ended, I went to Spikes, to our Friend '■Thomas Jack- 
 wan s, where I dined; and thence, that Evening, returned to our Friend Samuel 
 Richard'?, Houfe ; where I lodged that Night and the next, and was kindly 
 entertained. 
 
 O N the 6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at another Meeting at Spikes's 
 Town V which was large, and many Things opened for Information, efpecially 
 to the Jews, (fome few of them being there) concerning them and the ten 
 Tribes : which Meeting being over, atter fome Refrefhment at IVilHam Berry's 
 at Spikes, I went to the Bridge, and took my Lodging, as before, with our Friend 
 John Grove; where I had open and courteous Entertainment. 
 
 On the 8th, v/e had a good Meeting at Bridge-Tczvn, feveral Strangers being 
 there; and fo refted till the loth. ' 
 
 On the loth, being the Fifth of the Week, we were there again; and, after 
 another good Meeting, returned to our Qiiarters; where we ftaid till the Firft 
 Day following, having the Company of feveral Friends, in whofe Converfation 
 V!t had Comfort and Refrefhment. 
 
 On the 13th, being the Firft of the Week, we had another Meeting there at 
 the Bridge; which was alfo large and well, many Things being opened to the 
 States of the People, and generally well fatisfied. 
 
 On the 15th we returned towards Spikes, accompanied by feveral Friends- 
 and that Night lodged with our Friend Samuel Richard, near Spikes. 
 
 O N the 1 6th, being the Fourth of the Week, we were at a Qiiarterly Meet- 
 ing near that Town, and had good Service, many Things being opened ; and 
 the Meeting ended well. 
 
 o 
 
 O n the 1 7th we were at another Meeting in the fame Place, beino- alfo a Meet- 
 ing for Bufinefs, and had good Service, Things being open and comfortable: That 
 Evening we returned to Samuel Richard' i; where we ftaid till the 1 8th Af- 
 ternoon, and then went to Spikes to Thomas Jackman's; where we tarried till 
 next Mornin";. 
 
 'D" 
 
 O n the 1 9th we went nine Miles to our Friend Olive Pe/ers Houfe, near 
 Champion-Grcund; v/here we lodged that Night, (having dined in our Way 
 with our Friend Bridget Piercy) and had a Meeting the Day followin"-, beino- 
 tlie Firft of the Week, at the Meeting-houfe at Pumkin-Hill; and then returned PumkiuHiU, 
 to Olive Peter'%. 
 
 On the 21ft, being invited by Colonel Lambert to his Houfe, we were there 
 courtcoufly and liberally entertained ; and from thence, that Evening, we re- 
 turned to Spikes, to cur Friend Thcmas 'Jackman'% ; and next Day were at their 
 
 Meet-
 
 43<> The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno Meeting, which was large and well ; and that Evening lodged with our Friend 
 lyoS-. Jofepb Gamble.^ at Sprmg. 
 
 On the 23d, being the Fourth of the Week, we had a Meeting at Spring; 
 which Was large, and the Truth in good Dominion -, and then returned to my 
 Lodging aforefaid, where I refted diat Night ; and the next Morning, to re- 
 move the Remains of my late Illnefs, took a little Phyfick, by Advice of my 
 ^7°9- courteous Phyfician, J ofeph Gamble; where I ftaid till the 27th, in the mean 
 time going down to Black-Rock, vifiting feveral Friends. 
 
 Cliff". On the 27th, being the Firft of the Week, we had a Meeting below Cliff, 
 
 at the Houfe of George Foficr ; who, though not a Friend, Vv^as very courteous 
 and refpeftful to us, and we had a pretty large Meeting, moft of them being 
 Strano-ers, and generally civil, and fome tender. After Dinner we called at Co- 
 lonel John Holder's (to whofe Houfe we had alfo been invited to Dinner, his 
 Wife being at the Meeting) ; and, after fuch courteous Entertainment, as the 
 Circumftances of the Time would admit, I went feven Miles with Joh7i Grove 
 to his Plantanon. 
 
 O N the 28th we went to our Friend Abigail Brcithtvaite^, where we lodged 
 that Nisht -, and next Day went a Mile, to Mercy Evan's, with whom we ffaid 
 feveral Days. 
 
 Windward. On the 30th, being the Fourth of the Week, we had a Meeting at TFind- 
 
 ward; which was poor and low, there being but a few, and Things very flat 
 and dull •, yet fome pretty well pleafed •, and that Day returned to the fame Lod- 
 ging- 
 
 On the 31 ft, accompanied by my Friend John Grove, I went to fee General 
 Codrington, at his Houfe about three Miles off; but, not being at home, we hap- 
 pened to fee him at the Houfe of Mary Walrond, an ancient Widow, and an 
 Acquaintance of John Grove's ; where we had called in our Return, and there 
 had fome fliort intervenient Difcourfe with him ; who, though of a mean Afpeft, 
 appear'd of a great Mind, and confiderable Thought and Learning; and, after 
 fome Expeftation given him of a Vifit at his own Houfe another Time, we part- 
 ed, and returned that Night to our former Lodging. 
 
 O N the Firft of the Second Month, we had a Meeting at a private Houfe, by 
 the Courtefy of Major Henry Evans, and Captain Palmer, (in Right and Abfence 
 of Nathaniel Curtis) which was a larger, and much better Meeting than at the 
 Meeting-houfe before, moft being Strangers, there being few Friends in that 
 Part of the Ifland ; and that Evening we returned to the Houfe of our Friend 
 Mercy Evans. 
 
 O n the 2d I went, accompanied by my Friend John Grove, to have feen the 
 General; but, fending one before to fee if he was at home, he happened to be 
 abfent ; and, meedng the Meffenger, we returned to our Friend Abigail Braitb- 
 ivaite's, and there dined ; and that Evening went again to Mercy Evans. 
 
 On the 3d, being the Firft of the Week, we had another Meering at the 
 Meeting-houfe there -, which was larger than before, and a better Meeting, tho' 
 not to full Satisfaftion to me, and yet to moft : That Evening we went to the 
 Houfe of our Friend Jojlnia Get tings; where we ftaid till the next Morning. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, 437 
 
 O N the 4th we went from thence to Bridge-Town, to our firft Lodging, and Anno 
 next Day were at their Meeting ; which was a very open and comfortable JMeet- 1 709. 
 ing, though fmall, by reafon of want of Notice in Town of our being there ; for BridgeTown, 
 Friends being but a few, the People feldom come, unlefs they hear of Strangers. 
 
 That Evening I went to Spring, to Jofipb Gamblers ; and on the 6th we Spring, 
 had a very good Meeting there, Notice having been given two Days before j and 
 in the Evening returned to the Bridge. 
 
 O N the 7th we had another Meeting there ; which was not large, but good. 
 Truth being over all in Judgment and Mercy. 
 
 O N tlie loth, being the Firft of the Week, we had two Meetings there, one 
 in the Forenoon, and the other in the Afternoon ; and fo ftaid in Town till the 
 15th, having been at the Six Weeks Meeting there on the Fourth and Fifth 
 Days of the Week : On the Sixth, in the Evening, we went to Sp-ing to 'Jfofepb 
 Gamble's. 
 
 O N the 1 6th I went to Spike's, (alias Heathcoat\ Bay) and that Night lodged at Spikes. 
 William Derry's. 
 
 On the 17th, being the Firft of the Week, I went thence to Pumkin-Hill, Pumkin-Hill. 
 (alias Champion-Grcund) where we had a hard laborious Meeting ; and that Even- 
 ing returned to William Derrie's, at Spikes, in great Heavinefs, under a Senfe 
 of a Spirit of Apoftacy and Uncleannefs in that Fart of the llland, more than I 
 had felt in fome other Places. 
 
 A T Spikes I ftaid till the 1 9th, and had another Meeting there ; which con- 
 fifting for the moft part of fuch as come to Meetings, the Teftimony for that 
 Day, after a long and heavy Time in Silence, went againil fuch as had profefted. 
 Truth, and were not faithful ; but rather fecrctly encouraged their Children in 
 fuch Things as the Teftimony of Truth is gone forth againft in this Generation, 
 in mixed Marriages, in the Glory ot the World, and Love ot it, and in training 
 unto Arms with luch as know not Truth, nor regard its Ways : After the Meet- 
 ing I went, indifferent eafy, to Jofeph Gambled ; where I lodged that Night. 
 
 O N the 20th we had a large Meeting at Spring; which w^s much more open 
 than the other: And Colonel Richard Parfons being there, and alfo his Wife, 
 they invited me, John Grove, Edwai'd Singleton, and feveral other Friends, 
 with them to Dinner ; where accordingly we went, and were courteoufly and 
 liberally entertained ; and, after a general Invitation to their Houfe on any Oc- 
 cafion that Way, we went in the Evening to Jofeph Gamble's ; and on the 2 ift 
 went to John Grove's Plantation, where we lodged that Night. 
 
 On the 2 2d we went to the V^'idoy/ y^bigail Braiihwaite's, vifiting in oiir 
 Way the Widow Deborah Waldern, noted for a Perfon of great Underftanding 
 and Experience in Politicks, having been in many Managements on various Oc- 
 calions; and as her Station and Circumftanccs in the World had laid fuch Things 
 in her Way, fo I perceived her fit for great Matters, both from her innate Senfe 
 and loiig Experience, being now above fixty -, and accordingly reminded her of 
 the great Divifions among the In!;abitants of that Ifland, and the ill Confequences 
 of thern; adding my Requeft to her to ufe her Intereft and Endeavoyrs for 
 Peace and Reconciliation among thcmfelves (for our Friends are not concerned 
 in it) •, with all which flic feemed well plcafed, only feem'd to think me mifta- 
 
 5 S ken
 
 458 Tie LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno ken in her Abilities, as to any Part of fuch an Undertaking: But, after fome 
 1709. further Difcourfe among us of Perfons and Methods for fuch a Work, we took 
 Leave, and proceeded on our Journey. 
 
 From the Widow Braithwaite's we went that Afternoon to fee our Friend 
 Nathaniel Curtis, who at that Time was very weak, and not hke to recover ; 
 and, after fome Time with him, returned that Evening to our Friend Braith^ 
 voaite'i,. 
 
 On the 2 3d, being the Seventh Day of the Week, we went to make a Vific 
 to Colonel Fr^er^ who entertained us with much Courtefy and Freedom, being 
 open with us upon thofe Points of Reconciliation before hinted, and of Perfons 
 and Methods for it \ being himfelf a civil Perfon, and a Man of Peace, defiring 
 to contribute his Share, to his utmoft Ability ; we ourfelves having no other 
 Share in it, than only to mention the Thing as we law Occafion, to move them 
 that Way for their own mutual Peace, and the Benefits accruing by it. This 
 Vifit beino- over, we returned to our Friend Braithwaite\ ; and from thence, in 
 the Eveniny, repeated our Vifit to Nathaniel Curtis, with whom we had fome 
 Time in Prayer-, after which he exprefs'd great Satisfaftion, and laid, " It is in 
 " vain to make Promifes to the Lord, confidering the Weaknefs and Frailty 
 »' of Man •, but if it may pleafe the L o r d to reftore my former Health, I hope 
 " to be more circumfpeft, and fpend the Remainder of my Days more to his 
 " Glory. He is a merciful God, and has been near to help in fome Times 
 " of o-reat Extremity," with feveral fuch like ExprefTions, in a very weak 
 and broken Condition of Body and Spirit : and fo, after fome ExprefTions of 
 Refpeft on both Sides, we parted-, and that Evening went to the Widow Mary 
 Ei-an'% Houfe ; where we were kindly received and entertained. 
 
 O N the 24th we had a Meeting at the Meeting-houfe ; which was but fmall, 
 by reafon there are very few Friends in thcfe Parts ; and being the Time called 
 Eafter, the People were more particularly curious to be at their own Worfhip, tho' 
 the Meeting was comfortable, and more open than the former there : And fo 
 returning with Mary Evans, there we dinetf -, and that Evening went with our 
 Friend Joh?} Grove to the Bridge-Town. 
 
 BridgeTown. On the 25th we were at the Six Weeks Meeting there i where Friends fign'd 
 me a Certificate, being then inclined to take the firfl Opportunity for Antigua. 
 
 On the 26th I was at their Third Day's Meeting, which was comfortable and 
 well -, and there I continued until that Day Week, the 3d Day of the Third 
 Month -, being, in the mean time, at their Meeting at the Bridge the Firft Day 
 between i which was large and well. 
 
 O N the 3d Day of the Third Month we had a Meeting at the Houfe of the 
 Widow Sufannah Holder, one great in the World •, who received us readily, and 
 entertained us kindly after the Meeting •, v/hich was very open and well, and 
 many People there, where Truth was over all. After this Meeting I went tp 
 Jofeph Gamble's, and there lodged that Night. 
 
 Sprin<T O ^' '^'^^ 4^^^ ^ "^^^ ^^ ^^^ Spring Meeting -, which was not large nor fo open as 
 
 at fome other Times, there being few of the Neighbours there, and feveral Pro- 
 feffors of Truth who had not been faithful -, fo th.at the Teftimony of Truth 
 went by way of Judgment, and yet it was a good Meeting to the Right-minded. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 4^9 
 
 O N the 5th I returned from thence to Jofeph Gamhk\, and there lodged ; Anno 
 and, next Day, to his Father Francis Gamble''^, where I tarried that Night. 1709. 
 
 O N the 6tli I was at the Meeting at Spikes, which was likewife a little hard 
 by the above Reafon ; and the Monthly Meeting being held afterwards, I was at 
 that alfo •, and, after it was over, went to the Town ; where, before we alighted 
 from our liorfes, we heard of a Packet Boat come into Bridgc-Toiun that Morn- 
 ino- : So that after we had eat and refreflied ourfelvcs, we went thither to John 
 Grove's, and there lodged that Night, and the next Day I took my PalVage in 
 the faid Packet Boat. 
 
 O N the 8th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Bridge Meeting 5 
 which was large and well, many Friends being defirous to fee me before my 
 Departure •, and a great many of the World's People, who had frequented the 
 Meetings during my Time there, were at that Meeting; where the bleffcd Truth 
 was over all i and we parted in the Love and Good- will of it, I believe, on all 
 Sides. 
 
 After the Afternoon Meeting, came one Gordon., a Scot/man, (a Minifter of 
 the Church of England, and of confiderable Regard among them) to make me a 
 Vifit ; who, as he came not for Contention or Difpute, was accordingly civilly 
 received, and courttouily entertained at my Lodging, by us all ; and, in due 
 Time, departed refpeftfully : But one Ja77ies Burtell, a FrenchmaUi of the fame 
 ProfelTion, with whom I had formerly had a Difpute in Virginiii, being come into 
 this Ifland, having been difcarded for fome namelcfs Deeds in Virginia, and now 
 taught a French School inftead of a religious Society, had reported, that I had for- 
 merly, in Virginia, favoured the Popifh Doftrine rather than the Proteftant; 
 which I being advertifed of, took fome Notice of it, though few, I believe, 
 who knew me, gave any Credit to it : To fome he alio reported me to be a Je- 
 fuit -, and that he would take his Oath he had feen me in France ; though I ne- 
 ver had been there. 
 
 Edward Singleton, a Friend, taking with him George Knight, went and enqui- 
 red of this Burtell, Whether he had reported as aforefaid ? TJie firft he could 
 npt well deny, but the latter altogether. Then they aflced him. If he would give 
 me a Meeting about it ? But he went from them in a Fret, laying, " He had 
 *'.,,i?othing to fay to me :" And, after they had reproved him for the Injury, 
 they left his Houfe-, and, being on the Second Day of the Week, and in hafte 
 to make ready to go on board, I had not Time to purfue the Matter any fur- 
 ther that Way ; but, for the clearing of Truth, run over the following Narrative^ 
 and left it under my Hand, to obviate any further Calumny in my Abfence. 
 
 Barbadoes. 
 
 FORASMUCHAS one James Burtell, a Frenchman, hath reported in 
 this Ifland, that he hath heard me, fometime heretofore in Virginia, 
 " either in Conference, or doftrinally, maintain certain Popifh Tenets •, and ra- 
 " ther juftify the Papifls than Proteftants in fome Things, efpecially in Tranfub- 
 flantiation: Or fomething to this Effeft he hath reported; and that he will 
 give his Oath upon it ; (for fo he had faid with relation to the firft Charge.) 
 
 " Now, for clearing of the blefTed Truth I profcfs, the Honour thereof bcin^ 
 fmote at through my Reputation, by this injurious Reporter and Calumniator" 
 1 think necefTary to leave this impartial Narrative of the Occafion and Tiiino-^ 
 to the Satisfaftion, I hope, of all ibber Perfons concerned, viz. °' 
 
 " This 
 
 ((
 
 ^4o •> The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno "This Jatnes Burtelly fome Years fince, as a Miiiifter of the Church of 
 
 1 709. " England, had a Place, and officiated under that Notion, in or near Elizaheth- 
 " TozvH^ in Virginia ; and I going into thofe Parts, from my known Refidence 
 " in Philadelphia, in Penfjhania, to vifit my Friends in their pubhck Places of 
 " Worfhip, this James Bur tell, accompanied with fever al others of his Notion, 
 " came to one of our Meetings, (as I remember, at the Houfe of Daniel Sand- 
 " burn, in Derafco-Neck, near Chuckatuck) and, after the Meeting, made fome 
 " Objeftions; which, I thought, had been fully anfwered, and my Doftrines fup- 
 " ported, and confirmed by the Authority of Truth and the Holy Scriptures, 
 " both at that Time, and alfo at two publick Difputes and Conferences held 
 " afterwards, the one in Colonel Bridges's Hall, and the other at Major Jordan^ 
 " in that Country. 
 
 " As to the particular Point of Tranfubftantiation, the Thing was thus : In 
 " the Courfe of my Miniflrry at Daniel Sandburn's,, I laid down. That the Word 
 " of Truth, the Grace of G o d, being come upon all Men through Ch ri st, 
 »' this is the bcft and fafefl Teacher -, which being one in all Men, Ages, and 
 *' Nations, taught the fame Things to all, in the various Difpenfations of it -, 
 *' and they that are now taught by it, fpeak the fame Things, and are as one 
 " Body and one Mind : Whereas, on the contrary, the learned and wife Men 
 " of this World, following their own Wifdom, and not the Spirit of Truth and 
 " Wifdom from God, had greatly erred, both from the holy Example and 
 " Doftrine of Christ and his Apoftles ; and being greatly divided among 
 « themfelves, about certain intricate Opinions, they had been too much the Oc- 
 *' cafion of the Divifion of the People who followed them therein : So that the 
 " prefent ProfelTors of the Chriflian Religion look rather like a confiifed Babel 
 " than the Body or Church of Christ. 
 
 *« T H E Pope, and his Followers, hold TranfubJla^Uiatien ; that is, the fub- 
 " ftantial Converfion of the Bread, or Wafer, in their Sacrament, after the Words 
 " of Confecration, into the Body and Blood of C h r i s t, the very fame that 
 " was crucified i and that nothing remains but only the Accidents of Bread, that 
 <* is, the bare Appearance qf it; and that he that eats it, eats the whole Christ. 
 
 " Martin Luther held Confubjlantiation ; that is, that after the Words of Con- 
 " fecration, there was in their facramental Bread the whole Body of C h r i s t, 
 " and alfo the Bread, both Accidents and Subflance ; which, aflerting two di- 
 *' flinft corporeal Subftances, under the Accidents of one, at the fame Time 
 " and Place, was as unintelligible, and as irreconcilable to Truth, Reafon, and 
 *' Senfe, as the Doftrine of Tranfubftantiation. 
 
 " John Cahin, and his Followers, held. That Christ was not in the 
 *' Sacrament, either Tranfubftantially or Confubflantially, and yet was facramen- 
 *' tally prefent there; which being a Pofition importing little in itfelf without 
 " Explanation, and that often done fo as only to heap one Abfurdity upon ano- 
 " ther, has had little other Effeft with many, than to heighten the Confufi- 
 " on, &ff. 
 
 " With feveral other Errors and falfe Doftrines, then and there by me de- 
 *' tefted and overthrown. 
 
 <' M Y thus naming Tranfubftantiation and Confubftantiation together, gave 
 " James Burtell occafion to accufe me, and fay. That I blamed the Proteflants 
 
 ♦1 as
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 441 
 
 " as much as the Papifts, efpccially the Church of England, who generally fol- Anno 
 " lowed Luther. i jo^. 
 
 " T REPLIED, No; I was not (peaking of the Church of England; but 
 " fince he had blamed me for denying Confubftantiation, he mud hold the con- 
 " trary Opinion to mine, and confequently be for Confubftantiation, and then 
 " not orthodox, even according to the Church of England., of which he prctend- 
 *' ed to be a Minifler: for though Luther once held that Opinion, and the 
 ♦' Church of England had followed him in fome Things, yet never in Confub- 
 " ftantiation, that I had heard of-, and even Luther himfelf at laft retracted it as 
 " an Error. 
 
 " Since then James Bur tell, as a Minifter of the Church of England., char- 
 " ged me with Error in rejefting Confubftantiation, he muft, at the fame Time, 
 " as fuch, hold Confubftantiation •, or elfe why blames he me for denying it, if 
 " himfelf does fo like wife ? If he does hold Confubftantiation, (which his bla- 
 " ming me for denying it does import) then he condemns the Church of En- 
 " gland therein, who alfo deny it : So that in this Particular he cannot be an 
 " orthodox Minifter of that Church. 
 
 " And as he was formerly an Incumbent of a Church in Virginia, and has 
 " lately, in Barbadoes, betaken himfell to a much lower Employment, (teaching 
 " the French Tongue) it may juftly occafion the curious to enquire, Whether 
 " he has been degraded there.'' and whether for fuch Errors, or what other Rea- 
 " fons.'' But though I have a ftirewd Conjedture of the Truth of the Matter in 
 " my own Thought, fhall fay little of it upon this Occafion, unlefs he will per- 
 " fift in his injurious Accufations againft me-, and then I Ihall think myfelf at 
 " liberty, in my juft Vindication, to procure Certificates from Virginia of the 
 *' Caufe of his departing that Country ; which I believe will make his Reports 
 *' have little Credit, if, in the mean time, his Deportment here do not render it 
 *' needlefs by a like Condufb *, to bar and obftruft any new Reputation or Cre- 
 *' dit he might otherwife acquire. That the Subftance of this is true, witnefs my 
 *' Hand in Bridge-Town, in Barbadoes, the 7th of the Third Month, 1 709. 
 
 THO. STORY. 
 
 This being finiflied, accompanied with many Friends, I went on board the 
 Refolution Packet-boat, Robert Hales, Mafter, that Evening about Nine, 
 
 On the 10th, about Two in the Morning, we fet Sail for Antigua -, and on 
 the nth, towards Night, faw a Veflel, with all her Sails down, lying bye under 
 the Walce of the Sun ; which hid her from us till we were within about four 
 Miles of her. We fufpefted her to be a Privateer by her Pofture, and the Cap- 
 tain ordered all to be made ready for Defence ; having 1 2 Guns, 30 Men, and 
 fuitable Ammunition. They knew I would not be adive in fuch Defence, but 
 defired me to keep with the Doftor, and make him what Help I could, if any 
 fhould be wounded ; which t was very free to have done ; But, retiring inward, 
 I faw no Fear, though I faid nothing to them -, only was chearful, my Truft 
 being in the Lor d, and not in Arms. That Night I refted very well ; and, in 
 the Morning, we had left our Adverfary, and faw him no more. 
 
 O N the 1 2th, in the Afternoon, we faw Antigua, and in the Evening came Antigua. 
 +- 5 T near 
 
 * He is faid to have offered too great Familiarities with fome Females that came to learn of him.
 
 4r- 
 
 The LIFE, ^r. 
 
 Anno hear the Coaft •, but feeing a Vefiel put out from behind a Point of L,ancl, and 
 1709, fee out to Sea in our Road, about two Leagues to Leeward-, and, after lome 
 Time, return the fame Way, and go behind the fame Point, and ftay lome Time, 
 and then com.e out again, and return a fecond Time •, we becam.e fufpicious 
 of her, and fo lay bye that Night ; and in the Morning, with a frefn Breeze, fet 
 Sail for the Bay at jDbi'i.-T'civn : But as we were running along the Shore, 
 we fpicd another Veffel fet out from it in our Way ; which the Captain fufpccc- 
 ino- to be a Privateer, the fame we had feen thereabouts in the Evening, he or- 
 de'red all to be made ready : Accordingly they loaded their Guns (f.icli as had- 
 been unloaden) and fmall Arms, and brought up their CutlalTcSi and the Com- 
 mand was to fire briskly like Men-, and if the Enemy fliould attempt to board 
 him, then clap them clofe under the Waift of the VcfleJ, and cut it out with 
 them like Men of Courage ; for he did not thu-Jc to betake himfelf to clofe 
 Quarters. 
 
 I N this Pofture they continued feme Time, till they difcovered the Veffel 
 more plainly, which then appeared only a Shallop belonging to the Illand, 
 which we were all very well pleafed with ; and, continuing our Courfe, we ar- 
 rived in the Bay about Ten in the Morning. 
 
 Our Friend William Ilaige met me on the Wharf, and from thence conduft- 
 ed me to his Houfci where 1 ftaid till the 15th, being the Firft Day ol the 
 Week, and then had a Meeting in Town ; which was indifferent large and good, 
 the bleffed Truth being in good Dominion, and the People very fober. 
 
 O N the 1 6th I went into the Country to fee our ancient Friend Jonas Lang- 
 ford, being now above 80 Years of Age, and without natural Sight; but other- 
 wife hearty : He met me at the Door in the Porch, and, as I took him by the 
 Hand, he looked upward and faid, (taking off his Hat, in reverence to that Name 
 he was about to take in his Mouth) " Bleffed be the Lord, who gives unto the 
 " Righteous the Defire of his Soul :" And fo, without any more Words be- 
 tween us for fome Time, keeping me by the Hand, we fat down together in the 
 Hall; and, after fome Time in Silence, we difcourfed of fuch Things, and Af- 
 fairs of Truth as then occurred -, and, being freely received, and openly enter- 
 tained both by him and his Wife, there I remained till the Fourth Day follow- 
 ing, being, in the mean time, vifited by ftveral Friends. 
 
 John'sTown. ^^ ^^^ ^^^^■> '^^^"§ ^^^ Fourth of the Week, I went to John's-Tozvn, where 
 the Meeting fell in courfe : It was not large, nor very open ; yet many Thino-s 
 opened clearly, and the Meeting ended indifferent well: After which I returned 
 to William Haige's ; and from thence that Evening to Jonas Langford's, where 
 I ftaid till the 20th-, and the Meeting falliijg there in courfe, was at it ; which 
 was very fmall, but open and well. 
 
 Continuing here till the 2 2d, being the Firft of the Week, and the Meet- 
 ing being there again of courfe, it was larger than before ; and the Bleffm^ of 
 the Lord was plentifully among us, to the Praife of his holy Name, who is 
 worthy for ever. 
 
 O N the 23d I went to Johns-Town, and lodged that Night at JViHiam Haige''%\ 
 and the next Morning went to fee General Park, then Governor in Chief of the 
 Caribbee IJlands -, who was very refpedlful and free with me on feveral Heads. 
 The Packet Boat being then in, and being free in my Mind, i took mv Paffage 
 
 in
 
 4-43 
 
 N N O 
 
 of THOMAS, S T R r. 
 
 m her for Jamaica i, but tarrying till the 25th, about Six in the Evening, we A 
 then Itt Sail for Montjerrat ; where we arrived next Morning about Seven, ha- 1 709. 
 vino- had a Meeting with Friends at Antigua the Day before we fail'd thence. Momlenat. 
 
 At MoiUferrat we arrived well, and there tarried till the aSth, in the Morn- 
 ing, and thence fet Sail for Nevis ; where, with a ftrong Gale, we arrived half Nevis. 
 an Hour after Eight the fame Morning. 1 Icre I went afliore ; and, meeting with 
 James Boydcn, he invited me to his Lodging in Town, tor I knew no Inhabitant-, 
 where 1 was kindly entertained at the Houfe of John Hern, a Merchant there -, 
 who, though not a Friend, yet was very rcfpedful. After Dinner we went to 
 fee fomc hot Springs near the Town ; which are fo hot that we could not hold 
 QUr Hands in the Water, nor fcarce put them in without fcalding •, and the Sand 
 where the Water iffued was fcarce to be touched, it being fo hot, and yet the 
 Water plcafant to drink, when a Httle cool'd. 
 
 H E R E I tarried all Night ; and the next Morning, being the Firft Day of the 
 Week, we went into the Country, about eight Miles off, the worft Way for 
 Stones that ever I rode, to the Houfc of ALiry IFilfon, an honeft Friend ; where, 
 in a Meeting of about eight or nine Perfons, (ibr fince the French Invafion of that 
 Place few Friends are left in the Kland) the Lord was pleafed to give us a com- 
 fortable Seafon of his Love together, to our great Refrefliment. 
 
 After the Meeting, having dined, we returned to Town, (Plymculb) and 
 that Evening went on board •, and, on the 30th, in the Morning, let Sail for St 
 Ch-ijlopbers : but in our Pafiage a ftrong Gale fprung up, with much Rain, at 
 South, (a very unufual Thing in thole Parts at that Time of the Year) by 
 which we came up with our intended Port ; but the Harbour being open, 
 and the Wind ftanding right in, the Captain did not think proper to come to 
 an Anchor, but fent off" the Mail by his Long Boat, and fo ftood off to Sea all 
 that Day and Night, and the next Day till near Six in the Evening. About 
 that Time came up a Sloop as from Nevis, which behaved fo that we took 
 her for a French Privateer, ftanding right after, and endeavouring to weather us : 
 LTpon whicJi our Captain turn'd about the Ship, to gain the Weather-gage ; and 
 by that Time he came within our Shot, and the Captain fired -, but the other 
 neither ftriking, nor giving any other Signs of Friendfhip and Submiffion, our 
 Captain fired again (tho' the firft came not near) and came very near his Quarter; 
 upon which he lowered, and flieered off, and lb we parted : But the next Morn- 
 ing he returned, and v/e found it was a Privateer Sloop belonging to that Iftand, 
 with a few Hands, which ftood out for fear of a Storm, the Wind being fo high 
 that feveral Veffels had been ftaved the Day before in that Road. 
 
 After this Brulh we came to an Anchor in the Road, where we rid that 
 Night -, and the next Day, (being the ift of the Fourth Month) about Six in the 
 Evening, fet Sail for Janiaica •, where we arrived fafe about half an Hour after janiaica. 
 Four in the Evening, on the 8th following, having made the Land of Hifpaniola, 
 about St Domingo, on the 5tli, and the Eaftward of Jamaica on the 7th in the 
 Evening:. 
 
 Being come to an Anchor, I took the Names of the Officers, viz. William 
 Smith, Captain-, William Button, Firft Mate; John Reviclds, Second Mate; 
 Thomas Weak, Doftor; Jofeph Smith, Gunner ; William Broztm, Steward ; James 
 'Tudman, a Banker's Son in Lombardjlreet, London, and Ed-ward Slaney, a Mer- 
 chant's Son in the fame Place, PafTcngers. 
 
 Soon
 
 444- 57/(? LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno Soon afeer our Arrival came on board our Friend John fPWd, and with him 
 
 1709. I went on Shore, and lodged at his Houfe that Night; and the next Morning, 
 the 9th, viewed the Town and Forts •, where I faw great Effefts of the dreadful 
 Earthquake ftill remaining, though the People were gradually filling up divers 
 deep Places with Stones, in order to raife new Buildings •, mcft of the Ground 
 being already built upon what was left by the Earthquake in that Point. The 
 Earthquake here was fuch as has fcarce been paralelled in any Age or Country j 
 and was followed by a dreadful Fire, which fcarce left a Houfe in all the Town 
 unconfumed ; but left the Stocks, Pillory, and Ducking-ftool entire, as if the 
 Deftroyer had been ordered to leave them, as Inflruments of Juftice, for the fu- 
 ture Punifhment of the miferable Inhabitants; which the Orderer of all Things 
 forefaw they would dcferve, notwithftanding his Judgments : For fuch are their 
 ■wicked Expreffions, their Oaths, Blafphemies, Profanations of the Holy Name of 
 Almighty God, their Curf;s, Damnings, Sinkings, and rude Expreffions in all 
 their Converfation, even amongft both Sexes, that fober Men, v/ho never heard 
 them, would hardly believe, if it were told them, that human Nature were capable 
 of fo great Degeneracy ; in fo much that it looks as if, when funk into the Earth, 
 tliey had been baptized in Hell, into the very Nature and Language of it ; whofe 
 ExprelTions I will not defile my Pen to repeat, though dipped in bitter Gall: 
 and yet I believe the Day of G o d's Mercy is not quite over to fome among 
 them. O that they might fee it, in the remaining Time of it, to their great 
 Redemption ! 
 
 This View finifhed, I went on board Charles PFager, Rear-Admiral of the 
 Blue, of whom there have been great Accounts in the publick Prints, and of his 
 great Atchievements in martial marine Affairs : My Bufinefs was only a civil Vi- 
 fit ; where I v/as courteoufly received, he being a Perfon of a calm, fedate Tem- 
 per, naturally courteous, and no way elevated. As he is a Man ot War, we dif- 
 courfed on that Su!)jeft ; and, as I am a Man of Peace, we converfed religioufly 
 and not martially ; he for the Punifhment of Privateers and Pyrates, as Dogs, 
 Wolves, Lyons, Bears, and Tygers, and Invaders and Breakers of the Peace, 
 and Robbers ; but I was rather for faving the Life, that poor Sinners might have 
 Time to repent, and be faved : though what pafs'd between us, was with the 
 grcateft Civility and Temper; the Meeknefs of Chriftianity being more appa- 
 rent in his Deportment, than any martial Harlhnefs. Having ftaid fo long as 
 I thought fuited our Circumftances on both Sides at that Time, and received Invi- 
 tations from him to further Acquaintance, I returned on Shore ; and that After- 
 noon went, by Water, up to Kingfton ; and was entertained kindly there by our 
 Friend Stephen V/eb^ with whom I took up my Quarters. 
 
 On the loth we had a Meeting there at Stephen IVeFs Houfe ; which was 
 very fmall and poor, there being but three or four Friends in Town. 
 
 On the 12th, being the Firft Day of the Week, we had another Meeting at 
 the fame Place; which was a little larger and better ; though at that Time I was 
 under fome Indifpofition of Body, which appeared much more after the IMeeting, 
 being griped, laxative, and feverifh ; but was better the next Day. 
 
 On the 13th I went to Anne Pennock's, where I was that Night, and the 
 next Day had a Meeting there ; where were feveral People, and moft of the 
 Kingfton. Friends of Kingfton and thofe Parts, and Truth came over all : But being very 
 weak alter the Meeting, I went up Stairs to lie down on a Bed to reft ; and fal- 
 ling into a Slumber, there came up feveral wild young Men with AnnePennock\ 
 Grandfon, (and Heir to her great Elhite) and fell to play at Chefs; fo that I 
 
 could
 
 of T H M A S S T Pvr. 447 
 
 could nor reft for them : And this fhe feemed to countenance, tlioilgh flie had Anno 
 protl-fs'd Truth many Years, and fuffered for it; and not in this only, but alfo 1709. 
 in fcveral other Pradiccs, tar from what llie profelTed, though flic had had the 
 Education of him, who was ftill under Age. Being thus difturbed, I went to Spa- 
 wp-Tcivn^ about twelve Miles ; where, tliough very weak, I got fafe in the Even^ 
 ing, and that Night lodged with John Grijfitbs, who went with nie from A,me 
 Pennock's. ; and in the Morning made a \'ilit to the Governor, Thomas Handa- 
 fide; who was refpetttul beyond Expectation. 
 
 O N the 1 5th I went to Jeffe Noble' %, in the fame Town, who ufually enter- 
 tains Friends there ; and, on the i6th, was at their Week-day's Meeting at 
 Spanip-'Tcimi ; where we had a pretty hard Meeting, there being at it about SpanifliTown 
 eight Perfons in all. 
 
 ■o' 
 
 T H E 1 9th, being the Firll; Day of the Week, I was at another Meeting there -, 
 which was no larger than the former, and a poor Meeting every way. On the 
 20th I returned to Kingjhn, accompanied by John Griffiths, to Stephen V/eh\. 
 
 On the 22d we had a Meeting at the Houfe of Captain Hewit, at Port-Royal; Port-Royal, 
 who, though not of our Communion, readily gave up his Houfe (as he had writ 
 in his Letter) to the Service of God: For, being at his Plantation, a Friend writ 
 to him about it; and he ordered his Coufin, a Friend, who looked after the 
 Houfe, to make Preparation for the Meeting; which being done, the Meeting 
 was pretty large, a.nd very well, the Lord opening Things clear, and People 
 were generally fatisned, and fome much pleafcd, as they fignified afterwards. 
 The Meeting being over, my Company and I dined at the Captain's Houfe, by 
 his Kequeft ; and that Evening returned to Kingfton. 
 
 O N the 24th we had another Meeting at Kingfton ; which was very fmall, but 
 indifferent well: but none but fuch as make fome Profeflion of Truth being 
 there, it was harder than the other Meeting. 
 
 On the 26th, being the Firft Day of the Week, we had another Meeting at 
 the iame Houfe at Port-Royal; which was much larger than before, and many 
 Things clearly opened; and the People (though one of the rudeft and moft 
 wicked Places I know of in America) very fobcr, attentive, and affecftcd, and ' 
 
 fome of them pretty much reached : And, leaving Things to a pretty general 
 Satisfiaftion, to the Honour of the Lord, the Author of every good Word and 
 Work, I returned witli ieveral Friends to Kingfton ; where I lodged that Night. 
 
 On the 27th, in the Evening, expefting to go on board, in order for my 
 Voyage to Penfyhania, I went again down to Port-Royal; and, putting my Pro- 
 vifions in, returned that Night to Kingfton. 
 
 Early the next Morning I went down again, and the Veflel (viz. the Hap- 
 py Return., a Sloop, Jonathan Dickinftn, Owner, and James JVilkinfon, Mafter) 
 being put out to Sea, and lying bye for the Owner and Mafter, then on Shore, I 
 went on board, about Seven in the Morning; and they, with Mary Dickinfon, 
 foon after coming on board, we failed about Nine, with the Kingfton Man of 
 War, and five Sail more, to which, with this Veflel, he was appointed Convoy, 
 beins all under Sail at fome Dillance. 
 
 'o 
 
 The Wind coming frcOi a Sea Breeze, we kept nearer the Shore than 
 the reft; and, making better Way, tlic next Morning we got up as far as the 
 
 5 U Yellows ;
 
 44^ The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 AnKO Tellows; and, in the Afternoon, reached Pcrt-Morant ; where we put in tcJ 
 1709. water: And the Winds increafing, and Weather turning bad, we tarried there 
 for the reft, two of which coming in with the Port near Night, put out to Sea 
 again, as we thought, to look for the Convoy and Company, being all to Lee- 
 ward ; but liiw no more of any of them whilft we remained in that Port, only 
 we heard of fome of them feen off there on the ift of the Fifth Month, as we 
 lay at Anchor, by fome of the Inhabitants. 
 
 Having ftorcd the Veffcl with Wood and Water, and the Weather grow- 
 ing better, on the 3d of the Fifth Month, about Six in the Evening, we weighed 
 Anchor again, and itt Sail towards the Halt End of the Ifland of Jamaica^ in or- 
 der for the Windward Paffage, having heard no further of the reft at that Time. 
 
 O N the 6th, at Break of Day, we were in Sight of the Weftermoft Parts of 
 Hifpanisla; and, having a fmall Breeze, we fpied two Sail right a-head -, which 
 at firft we took to be two Brijlol VefTcIs, that came out with us, plying to 
 Windward •, bur, after fome Time, perceiving they came down upon us, we were 
 ready to form other Conjeftures in our own Favour •, but at laft finding them 
 ftill purfue us in all our various Courfes, we then feared an Enemy, which gave 
 lis fome Difturbance, in which I endeavoured to be retired in my Mind, and was 
 inwardly concerntd ; but not fo much as I thought I fliould be, if a real Enemy, 
 liaving had the open Countenance of the Lord in fome good Meafure, at our 
 laft fetting Sail, and much comforted in his Prefencc the Day before this hap- 
 pened : At length they coming nearer and nearer, fome of our Company called to 
 Mind two Privateers, fitted from Jamaica^ cruizing in thole Seas, and concluded 
 that thefe were they-, but ftill under Fears. When we faw we could not efcape 
 them, we put forth Englijh Colours, and fo had they : but it being fo common 
 lor Men of thtir Employ to deceive each other that Way, we could give no 
 Truft to fair Colours on either Side : When they came almoft within Shot, we 
 ky bye, and Ihorten'd our Sail, and then they feared a warm Reception -, but to 
 try us a little farther, they let fly one Shot, which flew over our Stern: Upon 
 which, concluding before who they were, we gave a further Signal that we 
 did not oppofe them : upon which they came up and hail'd us •, and fo the Mat- 
 ter ended to our Satisfaftion, though they weredifappointed of another expefted 
 Prey : For it was one of rhcfe Privateers from Jamaica^ who had taken a rich 
 French Merchant Ship, with 12 Guns, and about 26 Men, two Days before-, 
 and the Captain coming on board gave us an Account of the Channel to the 
 Eaft of Cuba, in our Road •, and that there were feveral of the Enemy's Priva- 
 teers cruizing, but none of any great Force ; and advifed us how to fteer, in 
 greater Probability to efcape them : So that the Thing at laft ended to our Ad- 
 Vantage in fome Degree, 
 
 After they departed, we were becalm'd in Sight of Hifpaniola, and a fmall 
 Ifland to the Weftward ; but in the Evening made a little Way witli a fmall 
 I Breeze, and lb proceeded on our Voyage. 
 
 Om the 1 2th, in the Evening, with a frefli Gale, we turned the Eaftermoft 
 Point of Cu.hai and ftood our Courfe all that Night, and the next Evening came 
 near certain vifible Sands, called the Hog-fties \ and, being among feveral Iflands, 
 fhorten'd our Sail that Night j and, in the Morning, lb foon as we could fee 
 about, found ourfelves on the South Side of Long-IJland, and near the Shore 5 
 though we did not think it had been that, for we aim'd at Crooked- Ijlani, fur- 
 ther to the Eaft ; but, by reafen of the Currents, were infenfibly drove thither. 
 
 But
 
 ofTHOMJS S T A r. 44y 
 
 But this was not the worft ; for foon after we fpied a Sail to the Wind- Anno 
 ward; and, after a fmall Time, perceived it came down upon us, and flood the 1709. 
 lame Way. We were a while in doubt and fufpence what kind of VclTel fhe 
 was, but, in a few Hours, were convinced to our great Exercife and Damage ; 
 for, coming within Gun-fhot, we faw his French Pendant, and foon after he fired 
 one of his Guns to fummon us. 
 
 Our Captain being of fighting Principles, and his Men likewife, hoifted the 
 Eiiglip Enfign, and returned his Salute, (having two Guns only mounted, tho' ten 
 on board in the Hold) but no Lofs happen'd on either Side. They quickly perceived 
 how the Matter ftood with us, that we were not capable of any greac Refiilance; 
 and therefore quickly advanced within the Reach ot fmall Arms, and gave us 
 one Volley : and the Mafter having only two fmall Arms on board, and but 
 about ten fighting Men, foon yielded to her ; who was but a fmall Sloop, with 
 four fmall Guns, about 30 Men, and commanded by Captain Lewey, a French- 
 man^ and fitted out from Martinico. 
 
 We being, by God's Pcrmiffion, fallen into their Hands, the Captain fent 
 on board his Lieutenant, one Captain Cornelius^ a Dane, as he faid -, who, fpeak- 
 ing good Englijh, told us not to fear, for we ihould fare no worfe than he ; fo 
 that they did no perfonal Harm to any of us, but were very kind all along as 
 we failed to Port-a pee, on the North Side of Hifpaniola ; where we arrived on 
 the 17th in the Evening, and came to an Anchor. 
 
 Our Captors, in the Time we were failing, fuhg feveral Ave Marias, and 
 were very devout and very merry, and mighty importunate with us to difco- 
 ver what we had but little of, viz. Money -, for I had but about Two-pence 
 on board, being two French Pieces we call Black Dogs, and there was not much 
 more among the reft ot the PafTengers : However, having a Cheft of Provifions, 
 and a fmall Box with fome Linen, they ftill had a Jealoufy that I had morej 
 but were civil in their Carriage all this Time. 
 
 O N the 1 8th the Officers came on board, viz. Le Sieur Danzel, the Judge, 
 
 Dannize, Procurator pro Rege, or the Kings Attorney, and De la Grand- 
 
 maifon, Grefier, or the Secretary, as they term'd them •, and, having a little La- 
 tin among us, we made a Shitt: to underftand one another, fo as no Body elfe 
 knew what we faid. They examined me what Goods, i£c. were on board, of 
 which being ignorant, made my Anfwer fhort and cafy : Upon the whole, they 
 all feemed to be forry, though Subjedts of France, that we had fallen into the 
 Hands of fo mean Perfons as thefe Privateers. 
 
 Before they departed on Shore, they feal'd down the Hatches, left any of 
 the Goods' fhould be embezzled, and fo the Admiral of France be defrauded of 
 his Right. 
 
 The next Day the Captain that took us went in a Boat towards Cape Fran- 
 cois, to fpcak with fome of their Owners concerning the Prize •, but ftill having 
 a Jealoufy that I had Money, he ordered me to be fearched, but found only my 
 Silver Spoon, my Watch being gone before ; fo that I faved only two Shirts, 
 and fome little fmall Linen, and what Cloaths I had on •, which were but mean, 
 being provided on purpofe for my Voyage : However they were otherwife kind ; 
 and the Man that fearched me defircd my Forgivcncfs, fince he did it by Com- 
 mand,
 
 .44S The LIFE, 6-^c. 
 
 Anno mand, not Inclination ■, and fomc of them laid they would not have done it on 
 1 70"9' any Account. 
 
 On the 19th we were fent for on Shore by the Officers aforefaid, and very 
 kindly treated by them -, but Jonathan Bkkinfon and I were under great Exercifc 
 in Spirit, not yet feeing the particular Cauie j which afterwards appeared to be 
 this : 
 
 It feems the Laws of France require an Oath of the Owners and Maflcrs of 
 Veflels in iiich Cafes, the better to difcover the Value of Vefiels and Things ; 
 which they adminifter by holding up their Hands, then imprecating God to 
 their Lofs of their Part in him, in cafe of Fahhood, but true Anfwer to make 
 to every Qiieftion. 
 
 The Mafler, being no Friend, was fworn, (there being a Man among them- 
 felves underftanding £;;_§///), by whom they afted) and they examined him llridlly j 
 and, when they had finifhed with him, propofed it next to Jonathan Dkkh/fcli, 
 but he rcfufcd -, which was a gireat Surprize upon them, and fome oi them be- 
 gan to be a httle heated and zealous : Then I told them in Latin, " That we were 
 " a People differing from all Proteftants in feveral Points of Religion -, and that 
 " we never fworc, neither in Judicature nor Converfation : That we had fuffer- 
 "• ed great Flardiliips m former Times in England (or refufing to fwear-, and 
 " many of us had died in Prifon for that Caufe: That King James had given 
 " us fome more Favour than any before him ; and that King William in his 
 " Time had pafs'd an A(ft of Parliament in our Favour, in the Cafe of Oaths ; 
 " and that I believed King James (to whom we were well known) had given 
 " the King of France an Account of us in that Particular, when in his Court, in 
 " time of his Exile." 
 
 They teplied, " It was a difficult Cafe, their Law being very exprcfs in the 
 " King's Books ;" and looked into a printed Book often on this Occafion. My 
 Spirit being under great Exercife all this Time, (efpecially whilft they were thus 
 ftriving with Jonathan Dickinfon, who Hood firm againft Swearing) at laft I 
 found great Eafe and Comfort in that holy, bleffed and over-ruling Truth, whofe 
 Teftimony we were thus called to bear againft fo great a Power as the French, 
 then an Enemy, and we their Prifoners ; and very loon after they took his Te- 
 ftimony, without fwearing, or any other AJfeveration, fave only a bare and fober 
 Relation, by Promife only to anfwer truly. 
 
 After they had begun their Examination of him, the Comfort of our bleA 
 fed Lord, whofe Prefence and Shield was with us, fo increafed in my Heart, 
 that my Spirit was broken in a Confidcration of his Goodnefs and Faithfulnefs 
 to us, though I had a full Recoinpence tor all I had fuffered : And, fome Tears 
 running down as I fat bye, one of them obferved it v and, being in a Surprizs 
 and Admiration of it, they enquired the Rcafon by the Interpreter ; but I made 
 them a Sign of Silence, which they all took, and were ftill a fiiort Time, and 
 then proceeded in their Examination. Then I told them, when that was over, I. 
 •Would relate the Caufe of tholi- Tears. 
 
 The Examination being over, which was done both with all Gentlenefs and 
 Striftnefs, then they enquired the Caufe of my Brokenncfs ; to which I anfwered : 
 
 " That tliough it had pleafed C! o D to permit us to fall into t\\- Hands of 
 " thcfe Men, and bring us under fo great a Power, under many Dangers -, yet, 
 
 " per-
 
 of T H M AS S T R T. 449 
 
 " perceiving he had been pleafed to infpire them with lb much Gentlencfs and Anno 
 '" Favour towards us, my Spirit was lb broken as they obiervedj in humble 1709* 
 " Thanklulnels to the Lord, who was thus kind to us in a Time lb needtul ; 
 " and for their Favour we were hkewife grateful :" All which they heard with 
 o-reat Attention, and bowed thcmfclves, when they underftood it, with Gravity, 
 and a fcrene and gracious Afpcft. 
 
 Things thus ended to our great Eafe and Comfort in this Point, they 
 took us with them to Dinner in Town ; where they were kind beyond com- 
 mon Friendfhip, in all Manner of Freedom and kind Expreffions •, fo that, fave 
 the Lofs of Goods and Time, our Confinement did not feem lb grievous as 
 might well have been expected. They often wifh'd that Peace might be .pro- 
 claim'd while we were with them ; and one of them, viz. Judge Danzell, had 
 Jonathan Dickinfon., his Wife and Family, to his Houfe, about three Miles ofFj 
 where they were kindly entertained. However, we went on board again after 
 this Time, they giving us Leave to be on Shore, or on board as we pleafed, faying, 
 it fliould coll us nothing either Way : But the Vcfill unloading here, I went on 
 board on the aift; and, the next Morning, coming on Shore in the Boat with 
 fome of the Goods, our Captain's Boy was coming along alfo •, but fome of the 
 Privateer's Men fufpecling him of fome Money belonging to fome of our Men, 
 left in the Veflel, and could not be found, ftopp'd him-, and, in his going back 
 over the Waift of the Sloop, they faw the Money tied up in his Pocket. This 
 drew a Sufpicion on me alfo ; fo that as foon as I came on Shore, they ordered 
 me to be fearchetl in a Room on the Shore, before the Secretary ; but they find- 
 ing no Money, nor any Thing of theirs, nor any Thing valuable, they feem'd a 
 little afhamed of their Treatment, though a little of that goes far with them •, 
 but the Officers feem'd troubled : And then I fiiid to one of them a little chear- 
 fully. Nee habeo, nee eareo, nee euro, ft panem t? aiuam turn feitis haheo. He an- 
 fwered, Panem habehis, & eihian, & potiim ; and fo recommended me to the 
 Floufe where we had feveral Times dined together before, and then told the 
 Privateer's Men what I faid ; upon which they look'd a little down upon it : and 
 fo I departed to the Houfe, where I found fome of Jonathan''^ Family. It was 
 the Houfe of one Beauehamp, whole Wife had been taken by fome Englijl:) Pri- 
 vateers into Jamaiea, and, having been well ufed, did not forget that, nor her 
 former Afflidion. 
 
 On the 2 2d, in the Afternoon, Le Pere Daniriehe Jeftieta Mijpionarius de Ser- 
 vans Eecleftam Parcchlakin Porto Paris, (fo they gave his Name and Stile, being 
 of the Family of the Duke of Lorrain) came to the Inn where I was. This Je- 
 fuit and I had fome Difcourfe in Latin ; in which, though I had been long cue 
 of Ufe of it, and his Dialeifb and mine much differing, we made a Shift to un- 
 derftand one another pretty v/ell •, and he, being a Mafter of the Language, was 
 a Help to both. 
 
 I HAVING a Latin Bible, (Old and New Teftament) by Beza, and an En- 
 glijh Concordance, (for I had my Books and Papers given mc by the Privateer's 
 Men) I quoted feveral PalTages to him out of both-, fllewing Christ to be 
 the true Light that was promifed as fuch, as the Object of Faith, in the firft 
 Place, to the Gentiles, and then as a Sacrifice for their Sins : That though it was 
 the Hime Christ offered to the Jews, yet under another Atlminiftration, viz. 
 as born of the Virgin Mirry, according to God's Promife to them ; and that 
 this is the true Light which lightetb every i\^an that cometh into the World: All John i. ix. 
 which he could not deny. t 
 
 'J 
 
 X After
 
 450 
 
 The J. I F E, d^•c. 
 
 Anno After this he began with their common Notions about Peter, quoting. 
 
 i7oq. MaLxVi. 18. where Christ fays, Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I 
 build my Church, &cc. " That Peter, being the Head of the Church, the Popes 
 " of Rome had fucceeded him until this Day, and were, in his Place, C h r i s t's 
 " Vicars here on Earth, and ought to be regarded accordingly in all Things." 
 
 To this I replied, " 'Tis true that our blefled Lord, taking occafion to 
 Mat. xvi. 1 3, " aflc his Difciples, Whom do Men fay that I the Son of Man am F fome faid one 
 — 18. cc Thing, and fome another, but Peter faid, Thou art Chrift the Son of the living 
 
 " God; upon which Christ replied, Simon, Son of Jona, FlefJj and Bloodbath 
 " not revealed this unto thee, but the Spirit of my Father: Thou art Peter, (i. e. 
 " a Rock) and upon this Rock I will build wy Church, and the Gates of Hell Jhall 
 " not prevail againjl it. In all which I do not underftand that Christ pro- 
 " mifcd to build his Church on Peter; but on the Spirit, Power, and Wifdoni 
 " of the Father, which opened and revealed that great and neceflary Truth to 
 " Peter: For though his Name fignifies a Stone, or Rock, outwardly, yet fuch 
 " a Rock is too weak to bear fo great a Weight as the Church of Christ; 
 " but the Power of the Father being almighty, his Spirit all-quickening, and 
 " Wifdom vM-k\'^Q\cv\t,' the Gates of Hell, that is, the Wifdom, Council, and 
 " Power of Hell, (for here he alludes to the Kings, Elders, and People of the 
 " Jeivs, who often held their politick and warlike Councils in the Gates of their 
 " Cities) fljall not prevail; but the Council, Wifdom, and Power of God. 
 " And Chri sT himfelf, being the Wifdom, Power, and Word of God, the 
 " elecft and precious Stone, the Head of the Corner, and binding Stone of all 
 " the Building, the Apoftle Paul does accordingly afcribe to him the Headfliip, 
 Eph. i. 22. " only? 'ind calls him exprefly the Foundation, viz. He is given to be Head over 
 i Cor. iii. 11. " ^^^ Things to the Church: And another Foundation can no Man lay than that 
 " ivhich is already laid, -which is Jefus Chriji : But, continued I, if it had been 
 " true that Peter had been that Rock, Head, and Foundation of the Church, as 
 " we fee he is not, how did they prove that the Popes of Rome had fucceeded 
 *' him in that Station ? And who was Peter's SuccefTor, when there were two 
 " Popes in Rome at one Time, both pretending to be Peter's SuccelTors ?" This 
 Queftion I found was not grateful; and, confifting of two Parts, he anfwered 
 only to the latter, and that by another Qiieftion, viz. " When King James and 
 " King IVtlliam became Competitors about the Cro'^n of England, how did the 
 " People know which was in the Right?" To this I replied, " Nullum fimile 
 *' currit quatuor : That though I underftood his Intent and Drift by this Que- 
 " ftion, yet there was no Parallel ; for this was wholly an human Affair, and 
 " Men ufually, in fuch Cafes, follow the Diftates of human Underftanding, con- 
 " fulting chiefly their own Safety and natural Intereft : but, in Matters of Reli- 
 " gion and divine Things, it is quite otherwife-, for good and truly religious 
 *' Men, following the Example of Christ and his Saints, facrifice all to the 
 " Caufe of Religion, though contrary to Senfe and human Realon.ing •, therein 
 " follov>?ing the Revelation, Dilates, and Openings of the holy Spirit ; which 
 " is never awanting to the True and Faithful in all fuch great Cafes, as the 
 " Head and Foundation of the Church of C h r i s t, and his SuccefTors; which 
 " are only they who follow C h r i s t in a holy, innocent Life." All this the 
 good old Man (for fo I thought he v/as) heard with great Patience, and without 
 any Shev; of Anger ; but made no Reply to the Matter, only faying it was near 
 Mafs-time, and he mnft attend, and that we might have fome further Difcourfe 
 another Time; but I faw him no more, tho' we tarried long enough tlitre for if, 
 if he had defired it: And, for my pnrt, as I had come ofi" pretty iafe, after all 
 this Plainncfs, '^for I had no fVar of iiini' T had nothing in my Mind to feek 
 
 after
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 45-1 
 
 after him; though I had feveral Dilcourics with many otliers, who had alfo a Anno 
 little Latin ; and all ended peaceably, thtfe Things being generally new to them. 1 709. 
 
 In my Difcourie with the Jefuit, and frequently with others, when I brought 
 Scriptures home upon them, and againft their Sentiments, or for ours, they told 
 me, " This Bible of yours is not truly rendered trom the original Languages ; 
 " there are many OmiiTions and undue Verfions in it." Then I delired one of 
 theirs to compare them ; but could not have one among them all : For tho' they 
 iaid, that Pcrlbns of any Account among them might read the Scriptures, being 
 only prohibited to the ignorant and mean fort, yet none of them could lay they had 
 any Scripture, but generally referred me to the Father, viz. the Jefuit, for one -, 
 except once, that one of them had a New Teftament in Latin, in which I could 
 not obfcrve any DitFerence from mine-, thougli he was averle to compare them, 
 having had it, as I fuppofe, from the Jefuit. 
 
 Jonathan Dickinfon and his Family, as has been faid, being entertained by 
 
 Judge Danzell, I remained at the Inn, at Beauchamp's ; where I had good 
 
 Entertainment, and always dined with the Officers aforenamed, who were very 
 open and free in all civil Deportment and Difcourie, being there every Day about 
 condemning the Prize, and fettling that Affair, 
 
 On the 23d, being the Seventh Day of the Week, came Colonel Lazurens^ 
 who was Governor of the Fort here, and of all the Precinds ; and, at Table, 
 taking Notice of me, enquired more particularly after me and my Circumrtaaces, 
 and then gave me an Invitation to his Houfe, about two iVIiles off; which I ac- 
 cepted : He ordered me a Horfe next Morning for that Purpofe when he eame to 
 Town to Mafs. 
 
 That Day, being the Firft of the Week, (as we were told by feveral of 
 their own People, both m Latin and EngliJIj, there being feveral that fpoke Englijb 
 among the Privateer's Crew) the above Jefuit made us, our Principles, and 
 Deportment, the whole Subjeft of his Sermon; and faid, " That we were 
 " an innocent, religious People, differing in many Points, both of Dodlrine and 
 " Praftice, from all other Proteftants, and feemed to have a right Faith in 
 " Christ; only we feenjjd too diffident concerning the Saints, our Duty to 
 " them, the Church's Power, and the like : But, in the End, exhorted his People 
 " to keep firm in tlieir own Religion ; and as this People were thus caft among 
 " them, to fliow their Chriltianity and Rcfpedl to them:" And fo they gene- 
 rally did, more tlian could liave been expefted ; and leveral of them laid, though 
 too lightly, " The Qiiaker Preacher had converted their Minifter." 
 
 I N the Evening I went with the Governor to his Houfe, where I was very libe- 
 rally and courteoufly enturtaineJ by him, and all his Family ; who were free with 
 me every way, behaving not as to a Stranger, but a Friend. He told me, that fince 
 that Port, with the Fort and Prccinfts, had been taken by the EngtiJJj and Spaniards, 
 under the Conduft of Admiral Bcnho, they had never recovered it, but moft People 
 lived very poor: That tho they made a little Sugar and MololTes, it was fo mean 
 it would hardly fell ; and, being altogether confined to the French Merchants, 
 they had but very little for it, only a little Cloathing, iJc. and that at very dear 
 Rates, and had nothing to make Money, which was very fcarce : But their In- 
 dico, which was very good, did them fome more Help; yet, confined to Fra«c<? 
 in that alfo, from wliom tluy had fome Flour, but generally mufly, and now 
 and then a Prize witli Flour, Beef, Pork, iBc. but that moil of their frcfli Pro- 
 vifions were wild Hogs, and Beef from the Ifland of Tortuga, (or Turtles) about 
 
 three
 
 4.s^ TLe L I F E, ^x. 
 
 Anno tiirse Leagues fioin that Port. He was pleafcd with the Relation I gave him 
 1.709. oi' Penfylvania, its Settlement, Name, People, Situation, and way ot Uving v 
 often wifliing for Peace, that he m:g!it come and fee it, hoping there might bs 
 Trade between us. 
 
 H I s wifliing there might be Peace, occafioned a Difcourfe between us about 
 WaV, and the Caufe of it; wherein I Ihewed him, that as Christ is the 
 Prince of Righteoufneis and Peace, fo Iiis Kingdom differs from the Kingdoms 
 of Men, being no worldly Kingdom-, and as he had commanded his Followers 
 to love their Enemies, and thereby taken from them all Caufe of Fighting, fo 
 
 ]ohnxvili.36 he alfo faid^ My Kingdom is not cf this IVorld; for if my Kingdom were of this 
 TFcrld, then ivotdd^ny Servruiis fight-, hut my Kingdom is not from hence. And 
 
 Ja. iv. I. that the Apoftle alfo faid, From ijuhenie come IVars and Fightings among you? 
 Come they not from hence, even cf your Lujis that war in your Members ? To the 
 Truth of all this he afiented, but replied, " That it was not they that defired 
 " the War, for they were generally much hurt by if, but the King ; and that 
 " as G o D had fet a King over them, they were bound in Confcience to obey 
 " him •, who was anfwerable for all the Evil, if any, and not they : fo that they 
 " ought to give aftive and pafTive Obedience to all his Commands, whatever 
 
 Dan I'ii. 16. " they were." I then inftanced Shadrach, Mefhach, and Abednego; who, tho' 
 in OfRce under the King, and loyal in their Duty, as Officers in the Civil State, 
 would not obey the King in any Thing contrary to God. Then he faid,. " That 
 " was a Heathen King, and commanded Idolatry •, but theirs a Chriftian, and 
 " gives only Chriftian Commands; fo ought to be obeyed." 
 
 I REPLIED, " That fo far as Iiis Commands were Chriftian, they ought to 
 " be obeyed ; but we fee he has commanded many Things, which many of his 
 " Subjefts, not thinking confiftent with their Duty to Christ, had difobeyed, 
 *' to the Lofs and Sacrilice of many of their Lives, and others were fled, and 
 " many thoufands of them in the Queen of Great Britain's, Dominions, to the 
 " great depopulating and weakening of his Kingdom." 
 
 All this he bore without any Appearance of Refentment ; and, in the End, 
 own'd, that Liberty of Confcience is no unreafonable Thing •, but feem'd ftill 
 to be tenacious of their Way of Paflive Obedience and Non-refiftance ; which 
 reminded me of the State and Tendency of Dofthnes and Affairs in England^ 
 in a quondam Reign. He ftiewcd me after this the Confelfion of Jugufiine, and 
 the Imitation of Christ, in Latin and French; in which I obferved many 
 good Sayings. 
 
 He was fo free one Day as to fliew me his Commiflion, which was under the 
 King of France's own Hand, and Great Seal, thus dirc&td, CommiJJIcn de Celonel 
 dc Alilice, an Port de Paix, Pour k Sieur du Laurens ; and the Body of the 
 Commifljion began as ours in England commonly do : The King figns not at 
 the Top as ours commonly do, but at the Foot of the laft Line, about the 
 Middle of the Parchment, and, towards the Left Hand, the Secretary of France 
 figns, and the Seal, (which was lefs than that of Penfylvania) with yellov/ Wax, 
 was fix'd at the lowcft Corner, to the Riglit, with a Piece of the fame Parch- 
 ment being flit into the Corner, and fo left entire v, ith the reft. 
 
 Here I tarried till the 28th, being the Fifth Day of the Week, ufually co- 
 rning once a Day to Town with him ; and h.e fevt nil Times told me I was not a 
 Prifoner, but a tree Man •, in cue mean time lending lo.e Linen, till my own fmall 
 
 Remnant
 
 of T HO M AS ST RT. 45-3 
 
 Remnant (for I had but two Shirts, and a little fmall Linen) was walhed ; which Anno 
 was done very neatly : But the Vefltl intending to Hiil from hence to Port Fran- 1709. 
 cois, on the 29th, I went on board on the 2 8tli, in the Evening; and, on the 
 29th, being the Sixth of the Week, we let Sail, and turn'd it up againft the 
 Wind, to the Head of the Ille of Tcrtuga, where we were almoft run upon the 
 great Rocks witli a fredi Gale ; but, efcaping that Danger, we loon after efpied 
 a Sail right ahead, but far diftant. I'he Privateer's Crew, being willing to 
 hold what they had, did not think fit to fee what he was, but prefently bore 
 down right before the Wind ; and fo, in a few Hours, arrived at Anchor again 
 at Port Paix^ and there we tarried three Days : But they would not fuffer us to 
 go on Shore again ; which I fuppofe was only to fave Charges, for they were fo 
 kind, that we lived as well, or better than they •, and they and we were as friendly 
 as if no ungrateful Things had paft amoi.gft us, the only Qiiarrel being our Goods, 
 which having poflefs'd themfelvcs of, they had no Enmity againft us-, and we 
 had fo much Grace from God, as to be able to forgive them, and Power a- 
 mong them in the Truth, as to reprove them for fwearing and ill Words, 
 and to argue with them, and even againft their prefent ill Employment. Seve- 
 ral of them would move their Hats, and thank, me for my Admonitions; and 
 Jugujl.ne Cornelius^ the Lieutenant, (who was by Nation a Dane, as he faid, and 
 fpoke good Englijh, having been formerly kidnapped, when a Boy, into Virgi- 
 tiia) would fomctimes ferioufly fay, that if he got fafe home to Martinico this 
 Time, he would take up another Way of Living ; but, at other Times, he would 
 talk wildly, and off: However, I had much Difcourfe with him on various Oc- 
 cafions, and he feldom could refill: the Principles of Truth when opened to 
 him : and many Places of Scripture we examined on thefe Occafions ; but fomc- 
 times, when it came clofe, then he would fay our Bible and theirs differed ; 
 which Notion, I perceive, is fatal to many of them, being all Roman Catholicks: 
 However, I offered (as I had often done to the Officers) to write them a whole 
 Scheme of Doftrinc, according to our Principles, if they would procure me their 
 own Bible ; but could not have one : and I found, that what Pains foever I 
 might take that Way, it was all liable to this Perverfion, viz. It is not according 
 to our Bible, However, I drew up fome Heads about the Light ; that Christ 
 is that Light ; that he lightens all Men, and is the fame Word that was made, or 
 adlimed Flefh, iSc. which the Secretary, who underftood Latin, cafting his Eye 
 upon, defired me to permit him to read it, promifing to return it ; but he did 
 not, and I faw it no more. 
 
 On the Firft of the Six Month, being the Second of the Week, we fet Sail 
 again for Cape Francois, near Night ; and, the next Morning, were up with the 
 Head of I'ortuga, and fo ftood along till about Three in the Afternoon, when 
 we efpied another Sail ; upon which we immediately tacked, and ftood again 
 for Port Paix : but, in about half an Plour's Time, they perceiving it only to be 
 a Canoe, they retacked, and ftood for the Cape ; where they arrived next Morn- 
 ing, being in all 14 Leagues : But, foon after the Sun appeared in the Horizon, 
 we faw another Sail coming right down upon us before the Wind ; and though 
 we were within half a League of the Town, they were in much Concern, fearing 
 an Englijh Privateer ; and this Place was more dangerous than all before, the 
 Entrance into the Haven being very critical, by reafon of the Shoals on each 
 Side ; fo that their Concern incrcafed, by how much the Veffel approached, 
 they having a Sea Breeze, which brought them in, and we a Land Breeze, which 
 kept us out; upon which we fired three Guns fucceflively for a Pilot, but none 
 came; at laft the Lieutenant of our Veffel, being bolder than the Captain, ven- 
 tured in: and fo we came fafe to an Anchor before the Town about Ninj in CapcFrancois 
 the Morning. 
 
 5 Y At
 
 4H ^-^ LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno At Cc.pc Francois we found Ibme Difnciilty in getting on Shore ; which we 
 
 1709. did not till the next Day, they ftill thinking I had Gold about me ; and the Lieu- 
 tenant informing me of the People's Conjeftures, I told him very freely, That 
 it was unreafonable to keep us on board under that Apprehcnfion : For as they 
 had fearch'd me twice before, and I had been on Shore fo long at the other 
 Port, it was not fair to trouble me any more; but that as 1 had told them the 
 Truth before, rather than be detained on board, they might fearch me once 
 more : but they did net •, and foon after let us go on Shore. 
 
 The Town is generally built of fplit Cabbage Trees, or Palms •, It lies along 
 the Coaft behind the Cape-, has a dry Situation -, is of an oblong Square -, the 
 Ends of the Streets to the Sea, and others running acrofs, after the Manner of 
 Phihidelphia. There were feveral Jefuits there, but I had no Difcourfe with any 
 of them. 
 
 The Place is not healthy, by reafon of their brackifli Water, which gene- 
 rally has a laxative Operation upon the Inhabitants, and in a few Days I was ta- 
 ken ill of a violent Fever; which, in one Night's Time, caufed a Queftion in 
 my Mind, whether I might furvive it .'' But we finding out a Widow's Houfe, 
 of IriJIj Parents, called Margaret Connel, formerly taken off Crab-IJland, flie gave 
 me the bell Entertainment Ihe could; and it pleafed the Lord to reftore me 
 to -my Health very quickly : But not having any Means to clear myfelf of the 
 Effefts of it in my Blood, it was of ill Confequence to me after this. 
 
 But though we were not made Prifoners at any Time, but at Liberty to 
 go where we pleafed, their Forts excepted, yet we did not find the Inhabitants 
 of this Port fo courteous as the former: For here we were left to fliitt for our- 
 felves, our Liberty excufing their Allowance-, though fome of them, who had 
 been Prifoners with the Englijh^ were affable. 
 
 W E found fome Proteftants, but incognito^ among them -, and fome, who 
 could fpeak a little Englijh^ would curie the Jefuits, faying, " We were free 
 " till thcfe Devils came among us •, but now we are taxed and fpoiled to fup- 
 "" port them in Idlenefs and Luxury." There is one great Man there, who lias 
 ingrolTed all the Meat and killing of Cattle in Town, and none may do it be- 
 fides ; fo that Meat is fcarce, and very mean, they not ordering it aright. The 
 Governor and Fathers (fo they term their Priefts) muft be firft ferved, then the 
 other great ones, and the reft in order ; and, if any faft, it is the Poor ; though, 
 in fuch forced Fafts, their Prayers are Anathemas againft them that force their 
 Faft : And as with Meat, fo with Fifli on all their mock Faft Days, which are 
 many, the Poor come laft, and often fall in good earneft, not of Choice, but 
 NecefTity. One Day they fired many Guns, and feemed to hold fome great 
 Solemnity, and a high Day of Worfliip and Shews. We afked the Occafion, 
 and fome of them faid the Queen of England was dead, and it was a Day of 
 Thankfgivfng. I told them I lliould be forry to hear it ; but if fo, they did 
 not need yet to rejoice, fince the Power of England would not die with her: 
 But an old Englijh Woman told us the Truth, viz. That the Chief Governor's 
 Wife had died fome Time before, and Orders were come, v;ith a Sum of Mo- 
 ney, to pray her out of Purgatory : but, faid the old Woman, (being of a 
 fierce Temper, and of their own Religion) " She was a wicked proud Woman, 
 *' and never came into Purgatory, but went ftreight to Hell; and every one of 
 " thefe Guns do but thump her the deeper into it : For all their Prayers fignify 
 " nothing, Ike is damned for ever." This had a harfh Relifli, and we fifid little 
 
 ro it. 
 
 On J'
 
 of T HO M AS S T RT. ^ss 
 
 One Day one of the Jefuits, in his Pontificals, with Bells, Crofs, and fuch Anno 
 Formalities, pafling along with many others, one of our Company af!<ing what they J joc). 
 meant ? was anfwered. That there was a Man in Town very fick, and the Fa- 
 ther was going to adminifter God unto him; (he meant the confecrated Bread " 
 they call the Sacrmvent) and whilft the Prieft prayed within, the People prayed, 
 or feemed to pray, in the Street, kneeling. 
 
 A s we had occafion to pafs the Streets, the People often viewed us with great 
 Serioufnefs, and feldom derided us. I never faw any feem to do it but once, 
 as I was palTing along, two young Men coming out at a Door as I went by, 
 moved their Hats ; and I not anfwering them in tlie like kind, (though I let thtm 
 know I took notice of their intended Civility) fome on the other Side fmiled, 
 and told them I was a Qiiaker •, then they obferved me more intently as I went 
 along, and fome of them were not without a real Refpcft. I often had occafion 
 to pafs by the Place of the Jefuits ; but they never feem'd to take any Notice. 
 
 We had little Money, and fared but poorly; and yet had no Want, I 
 often retired alone into a deep Valley, a Mile off the Town ; where there were 
 fevcral Springs and Pools of Water, which I mixed witli the Juice of frefli Limes, 
 there growing, and fo drank it, and eat fome wild Fruits I found there ; and, as 
 often as I had occafion, waflied my Linen ; which Ncceffity had tauo-ht me 
 (though unufed) to do indifferently well : One Day, buying a little Loaf of 
 Bread, intending to eat it there, it proved very bad, and lay upon my Stomach, 
 though I ate but little of it ; fo that I was not fo well whiltl there as I had been 
 before. 
 
 W E ftaid in this Port about 45 Days, and were in a great Strait what to do • 
 for it is rare to find any Occafion of Paflage, or Correfpondence, to any other 
 Place, fave Old France, or Martinico : The firft was not our Way ; and, befides, 
 'tis rare any Occafion happens diredlly thither: fo that we were forced to folli- 
 cit a PafTage in the fame VefTel we were taken in, where we had already been 
 fully weary of fo very uniliitable Converfation ; and it was not without fome 
 Difficulty we obtained it for Pay. 
 
 From hence we failed on the 17th of the Seventh Month; but they being 
 all Commanders, and none to obey, when we were fome Way off at Sea, on the 
 19th, we returned near the fame Port for more frefli Water, and next Morning 
 failed again : But, reckoning their PafTage before-hand to be only about two 
 Weeks, they proceeded accordingly ; but when we were far from all Land 
 and much Time fpent, having had fmall Winds, we were at laft becalmed fgr 
 about ten Days together ; and our frefh Provifions being near fpent, and no 
 Profpeft of proceeding on our Voyage, or of any Relief, we came to Allow- 
 ance of Water, which v/as a Quart in 24 Flours; which, not being good at firfb, 
 was now muddy and ftinking, and fometimes we found Worms in it. 
 
 Th I s Was afflicting to all, efpecially to Mary Dickinfon and me, for fhe was 
 delivcr'd of a Daughtt^r at the Cape three Days before we failed, and I was taken 
 ill oi a violent Flux, fometimes bloody, and the Piles to a great Deo-rce foon 
 after I came on board ; by which, and want of fuitable Accommodations I was 
 reduced to a weaker Condition than at any Time fince I can remember: But 
 when they faw how ill I was, the Captain (one Pkkato, o'i Martinico, then com- 
 manding) allowed me a Sufficiency of Claret and Ruflv, fo long as he coukl fpnre 
 it, and what Water I had occafion for, without Limitation; wJiich I fometimes 
 
 mix'd
 
 4^6 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno mixM with a little four Oat-meal, and Ibmetimes infuled Orange-peel, and fo 
 1709. drank it. 
 
 W E had Cajfaz-er Bread and Irijh Beef fufficient on board, and had no want 
 of fiich Provifion-, but fait Meat being againft my Diftempers, and too 
 ftrong tor my weak Condition, my Diet was moftly that Bread and ftinking 
 Water : Befides, my lying in the Hold among the fcabbed Crew of Blacks and 
 Whites, in a mixed and nafty Company of rude and blafpheming Wretches, 
 where we could not fit upright, and clofe as a Stove in that hot Climate, was 
 no fmall Aggravation of my lUncfs. And befides, I was forced by my Diftemper 
 to rife five or fix Times commonly in the Night, and fometimes in the Rain, and 
 
 00 upon the Deck in the Night Air, out of that Stove ; fo that at lafl I grew fo weak 
 
 1 was not able to do it, but lay upon the Deck, in the open Air, and often wet with 
 Rain, Due, and the Spue of the Waves •, and at lall my Legs fwelled fo big, that 
 the Skin would fcarcely hold, with divers aggravating Circumftances I forbear to 
 add : Which had been far too hard for all my own Strength, if I had not been 
 upheld and fupported by the never-fiiiling Arm of the L o r d ; who never left 
 me wholly to myfelf in all my Affliftions, and in whofe blefled Vifitations my 
 Soul reioiced in remembrance of fome of my neareft and deareft Friends; who, 
 by this Time had looked long for us, and were ready to give us over for loft j 
 and yet, through the Grace of God, I was fully religned to his blefled Will, in 
 dying or fuffering, in Death or Life. 
 
 A T length it pleafed G o d to give us a fair Wind, alfo a little to abate my 
 Diftempers, and we fell in between Antigua and Mottfen-at, with the French 
 Ifland Giiardalufe right a-head •, and there they put in for frefti Water, and other 
 Refreftiments. On coming to an Anchor, the Governor of the Ifland heard 
 of us, and fent us word, that there was a Flag of Truce, belonging to Antigua^ 
 then at Martinico, which he expefted at Guardalupe in a few Days, and advifed 
 us to come on Shore and ftay for the Flag; and fo we did, being extream glad 
 and furprized at this unexpefted Deliverance, expecting little more here tJian a 
 Belly-full of frefli Water. 
 
 From the Shore we went to an Inn, I leaning on two of our Men, the Cap- 
 tain and another, not being able to walk alone ; and ftaid about a Week before 
 the Flag came, and we were much refreflied, the People being kind. 
 
 The Flag being come, commanded by Captain Birmingham, we made known 
 our Condition to him, and he was very kind, giving us confiderable Credit with 
 the French for our Paflages and Expences ; and, on the 26th of the Eighth 
 Month, we fet Sail for Antigua, by way oi Montferrat ; and, on the 29th, near 
 Night, arrived fafe in the Harbour. That Evening, being a little cheered in 
 my Spirits to meet with fome Friends, and again returned among our own Na- 
 tion, I went to Jonas Langford's ; where I was kindly and openly received and 
 entertained, and nothing omitted in order to my Recovery, being much over- 
 run by this Time with a fcorbutick Humour over my Body, efpecially my Legs ; 
 from which both my good Friend Jonas and his Wife took great Pains to reco- 
 ver me, and with good Succefs; though I got not fully clear for fome Time 
 after.
 
 of T H DMAS S T R T. 4^7 
 
 - ^JOURNAL from P E N S Y L V A N T A Uj ^7^^h 
 B A R B A D O K S, &c. m the Tear 1714. 
 
 N the 3d of the Second Montih, 1 7 1 4, taking Leave of fomc of my 
 mod particular Friends and Acquaintance, under a fuitable Concern 
 on all Sides, I fet Sail from Philadelpkia, in the Hope Galley, John Rich- 
 moid, Commander, and that Night arrived at Nr.vccjlk upon Ddaivare; Newcaftle 
 and next Day, being the Firft of the Week, v.-as at a Meeting there ; where it "P°^ ^*^'*' 
 plcafed my great Lord and Maftcr to favour me with his good Prefence, and 
 the Confolation of it ; which I received as a Teftimony and Confirmation, that 
 the Lord was pleafed with that Undertaking-, and, Jpending the remaining 
 Part of the Day with feveral Friends and Acquaintance, both from Philadelphia 
 and of that Place, the next Morning we fell down to Eljenburgh, and went on 
 Shore for fome irelTi Provifions i and, being Wind-bound, were at a Marriage 
 there on the 7th ; and, on the loth, fell down to Levsis ; where, the Winds be- 
 ing contrary, and bad Weather, we ftaid till the 15th, about Two in the Morn- 
 ing ; and then fct Sail in order for Barbadoes. 
 
 The Winds ftanding foutherly, and about the Tropick of Cancer, becalmed 
 fome Days, it was the 15th of the Third Month before we faw the Ifland of 
 Barbadoes, and that Evening landed at the Sr/^?"^ our de fired Haven •, where I Barbadoes. 
 met with a kind Reception from my Friends, and fome others of the Inhabitants 
 there, and took my Lodgings at my dear Friend John Grove's; where I had 
 been fo kindly entertained in my former Vifit to that Ifland. 
 
 On the i6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting in that 
 Town i where divers forts of People appeared, and fome Jews, and all were Bridge, 
 generally fobtr-, and Things well and comfortable. 
 
 O N the 1 8th I was at another Meeting there •, where were many of the Inha- 
 bitants, and I found rather an Increafe of the Teftimony of Truth ; and Things 
 were plain and well, Truth being over the Minds of the Auditory in a "eneral 
 Way, and feveral broken and comforted. 
 
 On the 20th, being the Fifth of the Week, I was at the Monthly Meetin-^- 
 at the Bridge -, which was open and well, and my Certificates were read there. 
 
 On the 23d, the Firft of the Week, I was again at the Bridge. The Meet- 
 ing was large, and fome Jews there; and Things clear and well, the Lord's 
 Power and Prefence being with us. 
 
 On the 25th I v.-as at the fame Place, and feveral of the Inhabitants at tlie 
 Meeting-, v/hich was open, and fome broken and tendered by the divine Power 
 of Truth. That Evening, accompanied by our Friend John Grove, and others, 
 (John Oxley not being yet returned for Penfylvania, was there alfo) I went up to the 
 Spring Mecting-houfe, and the next Day was at the Meeting there -, wh.ich was 
 
 5 Z but 
 
 • The Reader will here obfcrve a Cliafm in die Journal of near Jtz>c Tears ; of whicJi Time the 
 Editors have fojnd no Account amongft the Author's Papers, except by a Letter to his Wiu- w^jt 
 from Antigua; wherein he mentions his Dcfign of getting a Paflage to BarbaJoes, and thence to re- 
 turn home ; which probably would not take up many Months. 
 
 In this Period alio, the Editors fuppofc, (from certain Circum.lanccs) that the Author buried his 
 Wife, and was moftiy erragcd in publick Bufmefs, till 1714 ; when he found a Concern to vifit 
 Barbadoet again, and whae the Journal commences a -new as above. 
 
 Spring
 
 4 5-8 The LIFE, ^x . 
 
 Akno fmall, but divers Strangers there. After the Meeting I went to Colonel Par- 
 17 14. fw/'s Houle, being kindly invited thither both by him and his Wife-, and that 
 Niglit I lodged there •, where fcvcral of us were generoufly entertained. 
 
 On the 2 '7th I went to vifit our ancient Friend, Francis Gamble, and Family, 
 •where we dined -, and, in the Afternoon, called to fee Samuel Richards, and Fa- 
 mily •, and that Night lodged with -Thowtis Jackman, at Spight's-Town ; where 
 Spight's- we were kindly and well entertained, and the next Day was at their Meeting 
 'itwn. there; which was but fmall, yet well and comfortable. 
 
 O N the 29th we went with our Friend Edward Harrifon, to vifit his Mother, 
 Brother, and Sifter, the two Women being under fome Convincement •, but his 
 Brother being a Major, and young, feemed not much apprehenfive of the Way 
 of Truth -, but yet was courteous, and made us very welcome : And my Spirit 
 was much comforted in a Senfe of the Love and Vifitation of God towards 
 his Mother and Sifter -, and my hearty Defire and Prayer to G o d was, that they 
 might embrace the merciful Oifers of the Lord, whilft he was pleafed to con- 
 tinue them ; of v/hich I was not without Hopes, confidering how near they were 
 to Truth ; waiting at home in Silence together for the L o rd's Teachings, and, 
 in fome Meafure, then fcnfible of it. 
 
 On the 30th in the Evening, returning from thence, I went back to Thomas 
 Jackman\, and there refted that Night; and, next Day, Was at the Meeting at 
 that Place ; which was larger than before, and pretty many Strangers ; the 
 Lord affording his bleflcd Prcfence, and the Teftimony of Truth coming pretty 
 clofe home to feveral of them : That Evening I returned with John Grove 
 to his Houfe at the Bridge. 
 
 Next Day was their Six Weeks Meeting; where I was prefent: But being 
 rather a Meeting of Bufinefs, and but few left in the Ifland talcing Cognizance 
 of the publick Affairs thereof, it was very fmall. 
 
 The 1 ft of the Fourth Month, being their Week-day's Meeting of courfe, 
 I was alfo there : It was fomething heavy in the Forepart ; but Truth wrought 
 through in fome Meafure, and I had Comfort in it. 
 
 Here I remained till the 3d, on which was another of their Week-day 
 Meetings (for they have two each Week). It was fmall, but living ; and feveral 
 Strangers being there, were touched, and ieemed fatisfied. 
 
 O N the 4th I was at an appointed Meeting, about five Miles from the Town 
 at the Houfe of our Friend Bridget Peirce; which was for the moft part made 
 up of young People, and generally fobcr, feveral being a little affeded. 
 
 On the 6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at another appointed Meet- 
 ing at Jlice Thorpe's ; which was larger than expefted, and Things opened ful- 
 ly ; and fome were reached and touched with the Power of Truth. 
 
 ipnr.g. 
 
 O N the 8th, being the Third of the Week, I went to the Quarterly Meet- 
 ing at Spring, which held till the Fifth of tlie Week, inclufive: It was very 
 open, and feveral of the Gentry there, and generally fatisfied. We being kindly 
 invited by Colonel Parfons to his Houfe, dined and lodged there feveral Times, 
 
 and fome of us all the Time of the Meeting 
 
 On
 
 of T H M A S S T RT, 45-9 
 
 On the nth, being the Sixth of the Week, we went to our Friend Mercy AnnO 
 Evans's Houle, and tlience to the Windward Meeting on the Firft Day follow- *7i4- 
 ino-; which, as ufual, was Imall and heavy, there being no conilant Meeting at 
 that Place, Mercy Evans and Amie Gettings being the only Friends there -, whereas 
 in Time paft there was a large Meeting, and the Houle will hold Ibme hundreds : 
 So great is the falling away there, as alfo in all Parts of the Ifland. 
 
 On the X5th, being the Third of the Week, I was again at the Bridge; Bridge, 
 where the Meeting was fmall, no Notice being given -, but it was comfortable, 
 the Lord being near the Right-minded. 
 
 'O 
 
 I REMAINED thcrc this Week, aiid was at their Meeting again on the 
 Fifth •, which was alfo fmall, but comfortable. 
 
 On the 20th, being the Firfl: of tlie Week, I was at an appointed Meedng in 
 Scotland, at the Houfe of the late Colonel John Holder, now under tlie Manage- Scotland. 
 mcnt of our Friend IJrael Lewis. The Meeting was pretty large and well, many 
 Strangers being there, and fome of them tendered, and generally fatisfied. 
 
 On the zift I returned from hence to Major Daniel Hoofer's,, accompanied 
 by John Grove, Ifrael Lewis, their Wives, and fome other Friends ; and there 
 had fome Difcourfe on various Points of Religion, efpecially about the Sacra- 
 ments; which ended to my Satisfaftion, and, I fuppofe, theirs alfo, as to the' 
 main of what pafTed; v/hich was all in Moderation. 
 
 Lodging here this Night, where we were kindly and courteoufly enter- 
 tained, we went thence to the Bridge next Day, to the Meeting there ; which 
 was fmall and filent, but comfortable. 
 
 On the 24th, being their Monthly Meeting, I was there^ and Things were 
 well and fatisfaftory. 
 
 O N the 27tli, being the Firft of the Week, I was again at the Bridge ; where 
 the Meeting was large and well, many Strangers being there, and, for any Thing 
 I could obferve, well fatisfied. 
 
 On the 29th, being the Third of the Week, I was at the fame Place; the 
 Meeting, moftly Friends, being fmall but comfortable. 
 
 O N the 30th, we had an appointed Meeting at James Clement's Houfe ; which 
 was pretty full, and a good Meeting, Things opening clear to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Fifth Month, being the Sixth of the Week, we were at 
 Spight' s-'Tcwn Meeting -, where Things came clofe upon fuch as defpife the Day Spight's- 
 of fmall Things, ncglefting the plain Language, plain Apparel, is'c. and fuch Town, 
 as bafely equivocate about the Priefts Dues, and appear in Arms on training 
 Days, and the like ; which was of Service, as I heard fince, fome being guilty 
 of all thefe Thir.o;s. 
 
 o 
 
 O N the 3d, we were v/ith our Friend Edward Harri/on at Dinner ; and, in the 
 Evening, went to our Friend Olive Peter's Houfe, where we lodged ; and the 
 next Day we were at Ptimkinhill Meeting; which, being the Firft of the Week, Pumkinhin, 
 was large and open : That Evening wc returned to Spight' s-Town with our 
 
 Friend
 
 l/« 
 
 4^0 The LI F E, c^' 
 
 Anno Friend Thcmas Jackman; and lodged there that Night, and next Day returned 
 1 7 14. to t\\Q Bridge. 
 
 O N the 7th, being the Fourth of the Week, we were at their General Meet- 
 Bridge, ng at the Bridge; which was the fmaller by reafon of the Paucity of Strangers j 
 bur, holding two Days, was open and well. 
 
 O N the I ith, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Bridge again-, where 
 the Meeting was large: In the Afternoon (there being always two Meedng5 
 there on that Day) the Feint of Bread and Wine was iuily fpoke to-, to which 
 I heard net any Objtdions fir.cc, though many Strangers, ufing that Sacrament, 
 were prefent. «^ 
 
 Om the 13th I was there again, being a fmall, but quiet and comfortable 
 Meeting. 
 
 o- 
 
 On the 15th I was again there, and the Meeting was larger. John Oxley, 
 who had been with me from my Landing, then took Leave in order for Anti- 
 gua^ and failed on the 1 7th. 
 
 Om the i6th, in the Morning, I went to pay my Refpeds to Sharp, 
 
 Prefident of the Ifiand, in company of my Friend John Cro-ce^2x\^ we were kindly 
 received ; and that Day dined with Stephen Thcmas, my Ship-mate from Antigua 
 to Tcrk, in a former Voyage, where we were kindly and plendfully entertained j 
 and, after Dinner, had fome Difcourfe on religious Things with him, and 
 fome others, liz. Captain Vanbrook, of a Man of War, Captain Holland, &c. 
 were there on the fame Account ; and all to our mutual Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the i8th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Bridge-, where, by 
 reafon of the Rain, the Meeting was fmall and heavy in the Morning ; but, in 
 the Afternoon, though fmall, was very frefh and lively. 
 
 On the 2Qth I was there again, and fo continued from thence till the 22d; 
 where the Meeting was well. About this Time happened a Funeral of an an- 
 cient Woman Friend; on which Occafion many People being gathered, I had a 
 good Time at the Grave-yard ; and fo continued in Town till the 27th of the 
 Sixth Month, the Meetings being generally fmall, by reafon of the great Rains i 
 but fometimes larger, and for the moft part lively and well, and attended with 
 pretty many Strangers. 
 
 Thkkets. O N the 29th, I went up to the Thickets to Mercy Evans's, and was at their 
 
 Meeting on the 31ft, being the Firft of the Week; and that Meeting beino- al- 
 moft wholly loft, I went from Floufe to Houfe among them, exhortino- them 
 • to more Diligence, and they promifcd Amendment. 
 
 Sridge. On the 31ft I returned to the Bridge, having lodged the Night before at 
 
 Charles Edgerton's. 
 
 On the 3d of the Seventh Month, being the Sixth of the Week, we had a 
 Elack rock. Meeting at Bridget Pierce's, at the Black-rock ; which was fmall, but indifterenC 
 well. 
 
 O N the 5th v;e had a Meeting at JVilUam Howard's, within two Miles of 
 that Place ; which was larger, and an open good Meeting, Truth being over aU. 
 
 On
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. 461 
 
 O N the 6th I went up to the Thickets, accompanied with our Friends Ed- Anno 
 •wardHarrifon and John Oxley ; and, on the 7th, 8th, and 9th, we were at the 1714. 
 iQiiartcrly Meeting there; where wtre feveral great ones of the World, and Thickets. 
 Truth was over moft of them : The Meetings were well and coml'ortable, tho' 
 great Heavinefs ufiially in the Beginning of them. 
 
 On the 9th, at Night, I returned to the Bridge; where I ftaid till the 2 2d, Bridge. 
 and had fome private Conference with one Jcourt, an Epifcopal Pricft:, who 
 aflerted. That the Church of England had Power to work Miracles ; and gave 
 this Inftance, viz. " That the A)-chbifliop of Canterbu;-y, having this Power, 
 " (as the reft of the Bilhops) and laying his Hands upon the King or Qiieen, 
 " (or anointing them) devolved that Power on them." This being an Allega- 
 tion I had never met with before, my Curiofity led me to afk fome Queftions 
 upon it, 
 
 " i/. What kind of Miracles thefe were ? 
 
 " 2i, Wh E T H ER that Bifhop, and the reft of them, could work the fame 
 •' Miracles.?" Butalllcould find in this was curing of that Diftemper, commonly 
 called the King's Evil; which none of the King's Biftiops of England, I prefume, 
 will pretend to cure by Miracle : and then Nemo polejl plus in ahum transferre quant 
 in fefe habet, an virtualiter, an formaliter : What he hath not in himfelt he can- 
 not transfer to another. What mean Shifts will Men fly to in fupport of a bad 
 Caufe ! For the Queftion was. Whether they were Minifters of C h r i st ? He 
 affirmed they were, and had their Power by laying on of Hands ; being the 
 fame Power that the Apoftles had : and confequently, as he fuppofed, were 
 obliged to affirm working of Miracles, neceflary to that Calling. He faid 
 alfo, " That the Church oi Rome is a true Church, though corrupt-, and that 
 " Minifters made by the Pope, and that Clergy, are true Minifters : That the 
 " Church of Rome was calumniated, and not fo bad as reported : That they had 
 " excellent Things among them; and that our Martyrs of the Church of En- 
 " gland had no Need in thcfe Days to infift 'lo much on thefe Points as they 
 " did ; but that many of them might have faved their Lives by juft Conde- 
 " fcenfion-," with more to this Antiproteftant Purpofe. To which I anfwered, 
 " That it was apparent which Way they were driving •, but now God had 
 " been pleafed to throw a Block in tlieir Way, which would ftop their Career :" 
 the News of the Acceffion of King George I. having been come a little before 
 this. 
 
 We touched alfo on Baptifm. He allcdgcd, that the Text in Mat. xxviii. 
 in the Greek, is moft properly rendered. To baptize all Nations, teaching them, &c. 
 Putting Baptifm firft, to anfwer their own Ufage of Infant- fprinkling, or Ran- 
 tifm ; which being confuted by Edtvard Harrifon, (being preient at the Confe- 
 rence) I had no occafion to fay any Thing to the Language, but to note to my 
 Friend Acoiirt, " That fuch little Shilts rather ruined than advanced their Caule ; 
 " and that the due Application of the Element, in the Mode of Baptifm, was 
 " to be regarded by all thofe \^ho apprehend Water to be meant, as well as 
 " the proper Subjefts of Baptifm ; in all which Christ was only fufficient, 
 " and left nothing to be amended in any Inftiturion of his in his Church, by any 
 " Succcffor or Reprefentativf, or Pretender of that kind." I put him upon 
 proving their Praftice, viz. " Whether Christ had at any Time inftituted 
 " fprinkling Infants in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, figning 
 " them with tiie Sign ot the Crofs, with Godfathers, i£c. and obliging them to 
 " promife as they do ; and annex Regeneration to this as a neceiVary Confe- 
 
 6 A " quence : 
 
 j'»
 
 4.61 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno " quence ?" Which not being able to do by Scripture, he fled to the'Power and 
 1 7 14. Tradition of the Church in fuch Cafes •, which being only their own Pretence, 
 for what they pleafe to impofe in their Way, as the Church of Rcme in theirs, 
 was juftiy rejeifled as unfcriptural ; and fo Matters ended. 
 
 Spring. O N the 2 2d, being the Fourth of the Week, I had a Meeting at the Spring -, 
 
 which was pretty large and well. 
 
 SpightsTown On the 24th I was at a Meeting at Spights-Town: It was fmall, but well in 
 the End, though heavy in the firft Part; there being fome unfaithful flill in point 
 of Sufi'erings on account of Priefts Pay and Training. Here I ftaid till the- 2 6th, 
 which being the Firft of the Week, the Meeting was pretty large, in which were 
 fome Jews, to whofe State Things opened much, and we had a good Meeting ; 
 but the unfaithful were judged with great Sharpnefs. That Evening I returned 
 to the Bridge. 
 
 Bridge. A T the Bridge I flaid till the 1 7th of the Eighth Month ; which being the Firfl: 
 
 of the Week, and about to take Leave of the Ifland, the Meeting was large, 
 open, and free, and Truth in full Dominion to general Satisfaction : And as ma- 
 ny of different Perfuafions had frequented the Meetings during my Abode there, 
 io divers exprefs'd their Concern at my Departure ; among whom was Captain 
 Vanbreck, Commander of the AJpftance Man of War, and feveral with him, who 
 came to fee me after this laft Meeting, as they had fometimes before; and I 
 parted with them all in Peace and Love; leaving the End of all my Labours 
 among them to the L o r d, for whofe Sake I was fo long there. 
 
 On the i8th I took Leave of Friends at the Bridge; and that Day, accom- 
 panied by Stephen Thomas., and feveral of them, I went to Samuel Richard'^ 
 Houfe, near Spights-Town, and the next Morning went thither; where I met 
 with my dear Friend Edward Harrifcn, old Francis Gamble, and feveral other 
 Friends; and lodged with TiJ'o???^^ 7«f^??2^« that Night. 
 
 O N the 20th, about Four in the Afternoon, I took Leave of the Friends 
 there in tender and mutual Love, and immediately embarked on board the Bond 
 Frigate, Captain Peter Blackfton^ Commander, for London. 
 
 After as good and comfortable a Paflage as could reafonably have been 
 expefted, tlie Time of Year confidered, the Wind falling away we were be- 
 calm'd about Two in the Morning, on the 25th of the Ninth Month; and as 
 - foon as the Day afforded a Sufficiency of Light, we found ourfelves to the North 
 of the Land's-End, and between that and the Ifles of Scilly, and both in View; 
 and being almoft calm all that Day, in the Evening we got into the Chops of 
 London. the Channel : but by reafbn of contrary Winds, landed not at London till the 
 
 6th of the Tenth Month, and lodged at John Crouche's, in Crown-Court, in 
 Grace-Churc h-Street. 
 
 T H E L o R D having been v/ith me, to comfort me, and bear up my Mind, thro' 
 divers Exercifes, arifing from Weaknefs of Body, and the Fatigues of my Voyage 
 thro' the great Ocean, his Goodnefs continued with me, and tendered my Heart 
 after I arrived at this great City, both in my Retirements, and alfo in Meetings ; 
 where I declined to appear in publick, as long as I could be ftill in Peace, but 
 fuffered under the Burden of the Word of Truth, and a right Concern in it, 
 by re.'.tbn of fome forward Spirits ; \'A\o, having accuftomed themfelves to talk 
 of the Things of God, in their own Power and Wills, left me no Room in 
 
 fome
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. 4.6^ 
 
 fome Meetings, to difcharge my Mind of thofe Things incurnbent upon me ; A n n o 
 though Friends who had formerly known me were very kind, and we were mu- 1714. 
 tually comforted one in another, both in Converfations and Meetings ; the 
 Lord's Prefence being glorioudy with us in fome Meetings, to the Honour of 
 his own h.oly Name, and our Confolation. 
 
 Now, as I returned into my native Land, in the Drawings of the Love of 
 God, and Power of his holy Commandment, in the Simplicity of the bleflld 
 Truth, I appeared as the Lord was pleafed to make way for me, being recon- 
 ciled unto God and to all Men, anci unengaged in their various Feuds, Strifes, 
 and Etnulations; which I found to be many. On the 12th, being the Firft ot 
 the Week, in the Meeting at Grace-Church-Street, in the Morning, I prayed for 
 the King, as my Concern was at that Seafon; from which fome made this Re- 
 mark, That I was no Jacobite, (a Diifinftion now on foot, it feems, among 
 fuch as concern themfelves in the States and Kingdoms of Men, and are in Emu- 
 lation in their Minds who fhall rule, and who iTiall not) flippofing me, as I may 
 colleft from hence, to concern myfell, as too many, even among our own fclves, 
 iinwifcly do, in die Advancement or Difappointment of particular Perfons un- 
 to the Thrones and Dignities ot this World ; which I never took to be my Bu- 
 finefs, but to leave it to G o d, and pray for thofe he advances in the Courfe of 
 his Providence, that they may rule in moral Righteoufnefs and Truth, and we 
 be protefted, relieved, and detended by them, againft all thofe who would op- 
 prefs or injure us, in Things pertaining to this prefent World. 
 
 • Onj the 15th, being the Fourth Day of the Week, accompanied by John 
 Crouch, with whom I lodged, I went to Rufcomb, to vifit William Perm and his Rufcomb: 
 Family. He was then under the lan^entable Effedts of an apopleftick Fit, which 
 he had had fome Time before : for his Memory was almoft quite loft, and the 
 Ufe of his Underftanding fufpended -, fo that he was not fo converfible as for- 
 merly-, and yet as near the Truth, in the L,ove of it, as before: Wherein ap- 
 peared the great Mercy and Favour ot G o d, who looks not as Man looks : For 
 though, to fome, this Accident might look like Judgment, and no doubt his Ene- 
 mies fo accounted it i yet it will bear quite another Interpretation, if it be confider- 
 ed, how little Time of Reft he ever had from the Importunities of the Affairs 
 of others, to the great Hurt of his own, and Sufpenfion of all his Enjoyments, 
 tfll this happened to him -, by which he was rendered incapable of all Bufinefs, 
 and yet fenfible of the Enjoyment of Truth, as at any Time in all his Life. 
 
 Whe N I went to the Houfe, I thought myfelf ftrong enough to fee hini 
 in that Condition-, but when I entered the Room, and perceived the great De- 
 feft of his ExprefTions for want of Memory, it greatly bowed my Spirit, under 
 a Confideration of the Uncertainty of all human Qualifications -, and what the 
 fineft of Men are foon reduced to by a Diforder of the Organs of that Body, 
 with which the Soul is connefted, and a6ls during this prefent Mode of Being. 
 When thefe are but a little obftru6led in their various Functions, a Man of the 
 cleareft Parts, and fineft Expreffion, becomes fcarce intelligible. Neverthelefs, 
 no Infanity or Lunacy at all appeared in liis Aftions -, and his Mind was in an 
 innocent State, as appeared by his very loving Deportment to all that -came near 
 him : and that he had ftill a good Senfe of Truth was plain, by fome very clear 
 Sentences he fpoke in the Life and Power of Truth, in an Evening Meeting we 
 had together there ; wherein we were greatly comforted : fo that I was ready to 
 think this was a fort of Sequeftration of him from all the Concerns of this Life, 
 
 which
 
 4^4- 
 
 x'\ NNO 
 
 I 714. 
 
 Reading. 
 
 The LIFE, ^€. 
 
 which fo much opprefs'd hun ; not in Judgment, but in Mercy, that he might 
 have reft, and not be opprefs'd thereby to the End. 
 
 On the iSth, being the Seventh of the Week, I went thence to Reading, 
 and lodged that Night at William LambeWs, and was at tiieir Meeting nextDay^ 
 Forenoon and Afternoon-, which was a pretty good Meeting. That Evening 
 I returned to William Perm's, and, on the Third Day following, returned to 
 London; where I ftaid till the 6th of the Firft Month, b^ing the Firft of the 
 Week, and was accompanied by fcveral Friends from thence to Winchmorehill 
 Meeting; v/hich was large and well. That Night I went to Bujh-Hill, to Sa- 
 muel WakleiifieW's; and jdm Fream and Thomas Goldney being there at their 
 Country Houfes, and Heriry Goldney flaying with me, I tarried there for their 
 good Convcrfation, and tf.c Advantage of the Air, being then under the Af- 
 Hartford. fliction of a great Cold, till the 9th ; and then went to the Meeting at Hartford. 
 
 Winchmore- 
 hill. 
 
 The Meeting was not large, no Notice being given, but comfortable and 
 well. That Night I lodged at John Prior's ; where I was courteoully and well 
 entertained. 
 
 Balduck. 
 
 On the 10th, being the Fifth of the Week, I went to Hit chin, where I was 
 at their Week-day Meeting -, which was likewife fmall, for the fame Reafon : 
 For the Occafion of my going down into the North at this Time was on account 
 of my Father; who, hearing of my being in Britain, had writ earneftly for me 
 to come to him, he being then about the 84th Year of his Age, had loft his 
 Sight, and ill of an Afthma, and very defirous to fpeak with me before he de- 
 parted this Life ; which he expcdted would be quickly; fo that I took Meetings 
 as they fell in my Way, not appointing any: But here we had a f re fti Meeting; 
 and that of Balduck beirg the next Day, I fent word thither of my Intentions to 
 be there; but that Night tarried at Hitchin, at the Widow Sufannah Turner's. 
 
 On the nth, being the Sixth of the Week, I went to Balduck; where the 
 Meeting was a little larger, by reafon of the Notice, and was indifferent well ; only 
 fome too much under a dull htavy Spirit, of which I admonillied them, as greatly 
 hindering the Growth of all that give way to it. That Night I lodged at the 
 Widow Izard's; where, being ftill a little bad, and the next Day proving wet, 
 I ftaid the Meeting on the Firft Day following ; where Thomas Thompfon all* 
 was from Hitchin. The Meeting was large and open, and generally well fatif- 
 fied, the Love of Truth being with us, and Things clear and well. 
 I v/as at the fame Place. 
 
 That Night 
 
 On the 14th, calling ztAmpthill, at Jofeph BarherH, I went on to Apleygyfe, 
 and that Nij^ht lodged at Thomas How's ; where I tarried till the i6th : For a 
 Miftake happening by fomc Account from Hitchin, of my Intentions of being 
 here on the Firft Day, many had come under that Apprehenfion ; which pro- 
 ving a Dilappointment, I was willing to ftay fo long, that the fuller Notice 
 might be given, aild the Difidvantage of that Miftake repaired as much as 
 
 might be. 
 
 Hocknymc. 
 
 Ne-.vport- 
 
 O N the 1 6th, being the Fourth of the Week, I was at Hcckjlyme, near Apkgyfe; 
 where the Meeting was nor large, and at lealt half not Friends ; but Things opened 
 pretty well, and we had a good Meeting ; and that Night I went on to Newport- 
 Pagnal, and lodged at Thomas Cowper's, and nextDay was at their Meeting; which 
 was but fmall, but open, and fomc, not O'f our Communion, w'ere touched, 
 and generally well fatisfied ; the Teftimony coming againft Covetoufnefs, and
 
 of T U M A S ST RT. ^6s 
 
 a drowfy Spirit. That Evening we had a large Meeting at Sherrington, where Anno 
 iv.oft were Strangers; and many Things being opened among them, tending 1714- 
 to Convincement and Faith in the divine Light, all were very ftill, attentive 
 and folid ; and I departed in Peace, and lodged in that Town at John Ba- 
 I'ington's. 
 
 On the 1 8th I fet forward for Northampton ; where arriving by Ten, I alight- 
 ed at SimojT PackzucoJ's, and refreflied myfclf- and that livening went on to 
 Harborcugh, and lodged at Sarcih Smith'?,; and went thence, next Morning, 
 to Leicefter, to Jchn Brooke's ; where I was very courteouQy entertained by Anne 
 his \Mfc; having been requefted by him, at London^ before I came from thence, 
 to take up Lodging at his Lioufe. 
 
 On the 20th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting there ■, which Leicefter, 
 was open, large, and tender-, and many Strangers coming in, feveral were pret- 
 ty well atfcded with the Tellimony of Truth. 
 
 O N the 2 1 ft I departed tlience, and at Night was at Nottingham, where I lodged 
 at John Johnfon's, and was kindly entertained, and very well. Next Day I was 
 at their Meeting ; which was pretty large, and feveral Strangers prefent ; but Nottingham. 
 attended, in the Forepart of it, with a heavy drowfy Spirit •, which being over- 
 come, the latter Part was clear and free, feveral Things well opened, and fome 
 broken and tendered, fo that it vvas generally a good Meeting ; and I tarried 
 there that Night. 
 
 On the 23d I went to Mansfield, nccom^mitAhy Wiili am Thmnpfon zn^ Wil- 
 liam Davis, and alighted at Richard Marriot's ; and it being their Week-day Mansfield. 
 Meeting, I ftaid ; which was fmall, by reafon of the Ihort Notice-, and, the' 
 very heavy in the Forepart of it, a drowfy Spirit being too much over fome, 
 yet proved an open good Meeting in the End, and Friends were very loving 
 and free after it : After I had refrefhed myfelf at the faid Richard Harriot'?,, I 
 went that Evening to Balber-Hall, to Sir John Rhodes's, and IVHliam Thompfcn 
 with me •, where I was kindly received by him, and the old Lady his Mother. 
 Here I ftaid feveral Days, and had good Converfation with them, being very 
 open-minded and courteous, and of a good Underftanding in the Things of 
 God. He was convinced when young, and held his Integrity thro' many Temp- 
 tations : But his Circumftances differing from moft among us in fome refpeds, 
 he lived unmarried, having a great Averfion to all that were wanton, light, or 
 vain ; and being of nice Sentiments, both as to Virtue, Temper, Education and 
 Parts-, all thcfe (as I fuppofe) he has not found to concur fo pertedly in any one 
 agreeable Perfon, as both to pleafe the Delicacy ol his own Judgment, and fuit 
 the Good-liking of his Friends; which probably may have rendered his Life left 
 fatisfaftory, having, for the moft part, little agreeable Society ; and though very 
 fenfible of thefe, and many other Difadvantages in this World for the Sake of 
 Truth, yet he Hands Ready and true, preferring the Simplicity of Trutli, and 
 the Enjoyment of it, before all other Things. 
 
 n^5- 
 
 On the 27th, being tlie Firll of the Week, he went with me to the Meeting 
 at Hanfworth-Woodhonfe, (the Meeting he belongs to) and afterwards to x\\s w r 
 Houfe of Michael Milner ; where I lodged that Night and the next ; but he >Aoodhoufe. 
 returned home. The Meeting was not large, by reafon of tlae Rain and bad 
 Ways. They are mofl^ly a young fort of People, and fome of them not much 
 acquainted witli Truth ; but though my Exercife was a little laborious, yet we 
 Iiad a pretty good Meeting, and feveral were tendered. 
 
 6 B On
 
 ^66 The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno On the 29th I went forward to Burton, and {laid that Night there with Francis 
 
 J715. Harrifon; where I had great Peace and Comfort in the bleiTed Truth; and 
 where I had a Secret opened to me by my dear Saviour, which my Soul humbly 
 defires of him may be recorded in me for evermore. And though I was plea- 
 fed with Francis Harrifon'' % innocent and loving Society, the Circumftances of my. 
 Journey (preffing for the Yearly Meeting at Kendal) would not admit of longer 
 Leeds. ftay ; and therefore, on the 30th, went on to Leeds, and lodged at Benjamin 
 
 Horner\. It was the Fourth of the \^'eek, and their Meeting ; which was very 
 open and tender to many, and a very good Meeting. Here I met with my old 
 Friend and Companion Jaron Atkinj'on, and we were glad one of another in the 
 Truth; and Friends Hearts being opened, feveral came to fee me after the 
 Meeting : That Night, and the next, I lodged at Benjamin FIorner''% ; and, on 
 the ift of the Second Month, accompanied by Aaron, and feme others, I went 
 forward to the Widow iV'/)'fr's ; where I ftaid that Night ; and the next Day 
 called at Skipton, and thence to Settle that Night, and lodged at William Birkck's. 
 
 Benihain. On the 3d, being the Firft of the Week, I went on to Bentham Meeting; 
 
 and, being a cold rainy Morning, got Cold, which was a little troublefome ; but 
 after the Meeting, which was but fmall, though pretty well, I went forward to 
 Gail with John Moore ; where I ftaid that Night. Here I met with feme other 
 Friends going towards Kendal to the Yearly Meeting. 
 
 Kendali O N the 4th, in the Morning, we went to Kendal; where I was at the Yearly 
 
 Meeting of Miniftring Friends, and had fome Time in publick therein ; which 
 was acceptable, and I was eafy and well, and fo ftaid the Meeting ; which was 
 very large, but not fo thoroughly feafoned as might have been, by reafon of the 
 Forwardnefs of fome ; which is too otten the Cafe of fuch Meetings, where 
 thofe of leaft Weight and Service are often in the Way, obftrudling the Service 
 of fuch as have the real Cpncern, and are better qualified tor the Work; a Di- 
 ftemper the Church labours too much under in many Places at this Day, and hath 
 been of great Hurt ; but in the main we had a good Meeting, the Lord be- 
 ing near the Faithful ; and I having a little Time therein one Day, was pretty 
 eafy. 
 
 The Meeting ended on the 7th, being the Fifth of the Week, and I went on 
 to Penrith next Day, accompanied with my old Friend and Companion John 
 Bcwjlead; who, with many other Cumherland Friends of my Acquaintance, and 
 ethers raifed up fince my Departure, were come to the Meeting; and we were 
 mutually glad of each other. 
 
 Penrith. I LODGED with John Benfon that Night ; and next Day had a Meeting there, 
 
 which was very fmall but lively; and being refrefhed in the Truth among them, 
 we went that Night to John Bozvftead's, to Aglionby, and there lodged. 
 
 O N the 9th I went to Carlijle, to Ifaac Huntington's ; where I was kindly en • 
 tertained, and where- feveral of my old Acquaintance came to fee me with Re- 
 fped ; which they exprefs'd as fully as I could receive it in their Way, and more. 
 
 Notice being had of my being at the Meeting there the next Day, the 
 Curiofity of many drew them thither, and Things were indifferent well in the 
 Forenoon ; but there was a greater Gathering in the Afternoon, and greater 
 Opennefs, and the Truth came over them in a good Degree ; and, being much 
 fpent in the Meeting, I ftaid there that Night. 
 
 On
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. ^6^ 
 
 O N the I ith I vifited fome old Acquaintance, and then went to JuJike-'Town Anno 
 to vifit my Father; who was very aged, and without Sight, but exceeding glad 1715. 
 of my Arrival, and very kind. 
 
 H E R E I (laid till the 1 3th, being the Fourth of the Week, and then went 
 to the Meeting at Solport ; which was not very large, being their Seed-time, Solport. 
 but indifferent well ; and that Night I lodged at Mofs-Side, at John Irwin's, 
 
 On the 14th I went to fee my Sifter at Kingfield, and ftaid one Night there; 
 and then returned to Jiiftice-Town to my Father, and there ftaid till the Firft 
 Day Morning, and then went to Kirklmton Meeting ; which was large, but not Kirklintort. 
 fo open as I could have defired, the Expedtation ot the People being too much 
 outward. 
 
 That Night I ftaid at Chriftopher Story's, at Righead; and, on the Second 
 Day, returned to Carlijle, and thence back to Juftice-Town; where I ftaid till 
 the 20th, and then returned to Carlijle, to their Week-day Meeting; which 
 was fmall, no Notice being given, but quiet, and pretty open. 
 
 On the 21ft I went to the Moorhoufe Meeting; which, alfo being without Moofhou^, 
 Notice, and happening on the High Court Day at Brougb, the Meeting was 
 fmall, but open and tender, and Things were well. That Night I returned to 
 jfuJlice-Town. 
 
 On the 2 id; being the Sixth Day of the Week, I returned to Carlijle, to Carlifie; 
 their Monthly Meeting ; which was large, open, and Friends generally fatisfied. 
 After the Meeting I returned to my Father's, at Juftice-I'o'wn. 
 
 The next Day I took Leave of my Father in great Tendernefs, who was 
 much troubled to part with me ; but, having overcome that Difficulty, I went 
 that Afternoon to Carlifie, and ftaid there that Night at IJaac Huntington's. 
 
 O N the 24th, being the Firft Day of the Week, I went to Wtgton, and lod- 
 ged at John Senhoufe's. At this Place lived iVilliam Robinfon, and his Brother 
 John, who, with Job Pearfon, and his Brother Lot, and fome others, their wicked 
 Accomplices, were become the moft violent and brutifti Oppofers ot us in our 
 Meetings that have ever yet appeared ; occafioned by their being denied for their 
 ill Behaviour, and contentious and imperious Spirits, as appears by the Minutes 
 of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting againft them. 
 
 The Meeting was large, there being Ffiends from divers Parts, but not fully 
 gathered, till John Robinjon and his Wife began in the Meeting, with hideous 
 and Bedlam Noifes, and falfe Accufations againft Friends in general, to make 
 exceeding great Difturbance ; accufing me alfo as a Perfecutor, like Bonnp; be- 
 fore I faid any Thing in the Meeting, the Woman being altogether a Stranger 
 to me, and I had been but little acquainted with the Man, and not feen him for 
 about 20 Years; but their implacable Rage is againft the divine Truth, and all 
 that dwell therein, or name it ; and I had only at this Time a Tafte (tho' a great 
 Surfeit thereby) of what Friends have there, and elfewhere, endured from thefe 
 wicked People. 
 
 Henry Atkinfon ftood up firft to fpeak, and at the fame Time, clofe crowding 
 by him, ftood this Woman, the moft hardened and impudent of any I ever faw 
 in human Shape : As foon as he began, ftie fct up htr Noife, which was very 
 
 loud ;
 
 ^m The I. I F E, S'c- 
 
 Anno loud ; and in the fame Time he uttered every Sentence, flie alfo uttered thefe 
 1 7 15. Words, perfecuting fakers, with fome others at feme Times, containing Re- 
 proaches againft fome of the Magiflrates by Name •, fo that much of what he 
 faid could not be heard. When he had done I flood up-, and, though I had 
 not given her the leaft Provocation, flie ferved me the fame Way -, but my Voice 
 being ftronger than hers, and finding out the Time flie kept in her Words, I 
 fpoke in the Intervals of hers, and fo difappointed her in fome Degree, being 
 rather better heard than Henry : For all their Defign was, to vex and grieve us in 
 our Meetings, fo as that our Minds might not be exercifed in the Virtue of Truth, 
 and to drown our Voices, tliat the People might not hear ; often furioufly repeat- 
 ino- thefe blafphemous Words, "Tbe ^lakers' God is the Devil: Thus fhe continued 
 the o-rcatefl part of all the Meeting -, but when at any Time flie ceafed, then her 
 Hufband began to prate, pervert Scripture, and utter many falfc Accufations a- 
 f^-ainft us -, which ufually he did in Times of our Silence, having but a low Voice. 
 
 And Richard JVait praying towards the Conclufion of the Meeting, fhe roared 
 
 out aloud all the Time, in the fame Strain of wicked and diabolical Language 
 
 as before; but, notwith Handing all the Rage of Satan, in thefe his fuming In- 
 
 flruments, the L o r d's blefTed Prefence was with us, and, in the main we had a 
 
 « good Meeting. 
 
 I N the Afternoon, the Meeting being gathered, was Very large, and more 
 People of the World there, and fhe adled the fame Part againfl Henry Atkinfon 
 and mci but my Voice, and his alfo, being above her, and Truth over the 
 Meeting, her Voice was little minded ; fo that in the main the Lord gave us 
 a comfortable Meeting, and honoured us with his holy Prefence, to the great 
 Rage and Torment of thefe Furies. After I had done I gave the People an Ac- 
 count of them, and why they were thus enraged, faying, " That all the various 
 " Sedls and Profeflbrs of C h r i st in the World had certain and refpcdfive Rules 
 " yrf Difcipline, and Terms of Communion, that all their feveral Members were 
 " flibjed: to, whilfl of that Communion, or Sedl-, which Rules, or Terms, be- 
 " ing tranlgreflfed by any, wliilft of the ProfefTion, fuch TranfgrefTor was dealt 
 *' with, and proceeded againft according to their known and flated Rules ; but, 
 '" perfifting in the Offence, was denied Communion till reformed. 
 
 Mat.xviii.15, " That Christ had commanded, that if a Brother offends^ tell him of it 
 1 6, 17, 18. «c -^(tixieen him and thee; and if he hear thee, (that is, leave off the Thing of- 
 " fending) thou haft gained thy Brother ; (gaining him being the true End of 
 " deahng with him): If he hear thee not , (if he perfift in his Offence) then take 
 " one or two more with thee, that in the Mouths of two or three JVitneffes every 
 " JVord may he eftablifhed ; and if he will not hear them, tell the Church ; and if 
 " he will not hear the Church, then let him he unto thee as an Heathen Man, and a 
 " Puhlican: That is, to deny him Chriftian, or religious Communion; which, 
 " by fome, is called Excommunication. 
 
 " Now, we have our Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meetings, in which 
 " we negotiate all the Affairs of our Community; as touching the Poor, the 
 " Difcipline, the Chriftian Rule and Order of our Society ; that all may be pre- 
 " ferved in a due Decorum and Deportment, in all Things becoming our holy 
 " Chriftian Profefhon ; that nothing immoral, uncivil, or unrighteous, or of 
 " evil Report, or Tendency, may rake place among us : and thefe Men main- 
 " taining Practices which fome were oflxnded at, have been proceeded againft 
 " according to our faid Method ; and, perfifting in their Offences, we have 
 feen Caufe to deny them Communion, as not being of the fame Spirit and 
 
 Prac-
 
 of T H O M ^1 S S T R T 
 
 •' Practice with us •, which Excomnuinication, tho' it extends not cither to Lite, A m x o 
 
 " Limb, Liberty, Property, or good Name, other than as the Matters of Facb ^y^S- 
 
 *' they have done are irreputable in their own Nature ; yet the evil Spirit that 
 
 " rules in them, is (o enraged, and they by it, that they have, troni Time to 
 
 " Time ever lince, behaved themfelves in this violent and wicked Manner, aS 
 
 *' you have this Day obierved, and abundantly worfe at many Times and Places ; 
 
 '' all which was borne for Ibme Years with great Patience, till our peaceable 
 
 " Meetings v/cre not only by their Means turn'd into Stages ot Contention and 
 
 " Dilhirbance, but great Violence done by them to many ot us, elpccially our 
 
 " Minifters, in the Titne of their Miniftry ; by which their tk-alth hath been 
 
 " impaired, and even their Lives, by confequence, endangered, till the Civil 
 
 " Magiftratc taking Cognizance ol' them, exerted his juft Authority for their -— 
 
 " Suppreflion, in Aid of the Civil Peace, and Security ot our Perlbns trom their 
 
 "• Violence -, to which we have Right with all other Subjedts ot the Kingdom, 
 
 " as Members of it ; upon which thele Agreflors bawl out, Pcrfecution, Perfe- 
 
 " cution, as you have now heard, though they themfelves are the only Perfecu- 
 
 *' tors in all thefc Things. 
 
 o 
 
 "Now obferve, if this were the Cafe of the Church of England, or Pref- 
 *' byterians, or Papifts, or Baptifts, to be thus uled by Perfons excommunicated 
 " by them refpeftively, how would it relifli to any ot them? Would they think 
 " themfelves obliged to fit ilill under llich Violences, without any Regard had 
 *' to the civil Peace of Mankind, thus invaded on the moll folemn Occafion ? 
 " I do not believe they would. V/hy then lliould we, who are equally privi- 
 " leged to the Proteftion ot the Civil Magiftratc, who is ordained of God as 
 *' a Terror to Evil-doers, and a Praife to them that do well ? I think no rati- 
 *' onal confiderate Perion can blame us, if we have, or yet fhould, excite the 
 " Magiftratcs againft all fuch, notwithftanding any unjuft Clamour of Pcrfecu- 
 " tion againft them and us for lb doing, fince thefe People's Ceffation from 
 " Violence will releafe them, whenever they think proper to be quiet." 
 
 Having fpoke thus, moft of the People feemed quiet and pleated ; but 
 the meaner and mobbilh ibrt, that take Plealure in 7'umults and Dilquiet, were 
 diflatisfied, not being gratified in a Difpute they expefted, feeing John Robin fon 
 fcand up on a Table pretending to anfwer ■, but Henry Atkinfon going to Prayer, 
 the Meeting ended, and Friends departed, to the further enraging ot thofe bru- 
 tifh Advertaries : But Dr Huiithigton., and Ibme others ot the young Men, flaying 
 ■with feme of the People, entered into the Merits of the firll Occafion of the Of- 
 fence given by thefe Tranfgreirors, (which was about one ot them impofing him- 
 felf indecently upon his Wife and Women, in the Time of her Labour) and 
 expofed them much before fuch as remained in the Meeting-houfe : And fo 
 Things ended at that Time. 
 
 That Evening a j"riend's Child in Town died, and was buried next Day ; on 
 occafion whereof this Robinfon'% W^ife, repairing early to the Grave-yard, placed 
 herfelf in the moll convenient Place near the Grave, tor the greater Advantage 
 of Annoyance by her Noile, in cafe any lliould be concerned to fpeak to the People ; 
 which lulling to my Lot, flic behaved in the fame Manner as the Day before ; but 
 being over her, I was heard intelligibly, and Things were pretty well : And all be- 
 ing ended, I told her, the bell Way of Reafoning with her was by a Ducking- 
 ftool, or a few good Rods at the Tail of a Cart, frequently ufed with Scolds, and 
 Perfons of her Behaviour, in fevcral Parts of the Evglijlj Dominions : But this had 
 no other Eflcd:, than giving her a LJandle, and occafion for greater Abufe, and 
 for raging the more finioCifiyi lb there we left hef. 
 
 6 C Th at
 
 470 The L 1 F E, d^'^^ 
 
 Anno That Evening I went to Lawrence-Holm-, ard lodged with my honou-^ 
 
 •.J 1 5. rable Friend Rclert Atkinjcn, a clear and faithtul Minifter of the Gofpel of 
 
 L.wrci.ce- Pe^ce, and a great Sufferer on account of Tythes, and greatly hated and abu- 
 
 Holni. fed by thefe Perfons, being an Oppofer of their ungodly Proceedings-, and, 
 
 accompanied by him the next Day, I went to Holm Meeting; which was not 
 
 large, but a good open Time the Lo rd gave us together, and Things opened 
 
 c1l.u- relating to the Affairs above faid, to general Satisfaftion ; and that Nighc 
 
 i lodged at J(fepb OJiU's, near the Mecting-houfe. 
 
 Allanby. On the 2.7th, I was at the Meeting at AUanhy, which was alfo fmall, but 
 
 very frefh and open, and Things further opened on thefe Accounts : for here- 
 away s had much Difturbance been, thefe Perfons living near, and belonging for- 
 merly to Holm Meeting. Th;tt Evening I went to Cockmncuth, and lodged at 
 
 jcb;i T'ijpii's. 
 
 Pardfay-Crag On the 2 8rh I was at Pardfay-Crag Meeting-, which was pretty large, but 
 not very open, though, in the main, a good Meeting. That Night I went with 
 James Bickuifon, who was lately returned from I\vrtb Juierica, from a Vifit to 
 Friends in thefe Parts. 
 
 JBroughton, On the 29th we went together to Broughton ; where the Meeting was but 
 
 fmall, but enlarged in the Enjoyment ot Life; Ibr it v/as very open, and Things 
 clear and well. That Night and the next I ftaid there, at the Widow Mary 
 Bowman's, Relifl to Jonathan Bowman ; who, to his dying Day, entertained 
 Strangers, and other Friends, on all Occafions-, which honourable Pradice is al- 
 fo continued by her, he having left her a Competency, which Ihe applies that 
 Way with all Readinefs and Alacrity. 
 
 On the ift of the Third Month, being the Firft of the Week, I returned to 
 Cockermouth CoLkermov.ih ; where the Meeting was large, and pretty well, there being great 
 Mixture and Variety of Spirits and States, but, in the main, well in the Fore- 
 noon, and better in the Afternoon. That Night I lodged again at JchiiTfJiii's. 
 
 On the 2d I went to Whitehaven, and alighted at an Inn-, from v/hence let- 
 ting my old Friend and School-fellow, John Gilpin, a Merchant in that Place, 
 know of my being there, he quickly came to me, and kindly invited me to his 
 Floufe, to take up my Qiiarters vvhilft I Itaid there ; which I readily and kindly 
 accepted, for I always loved him: And, after we had paid a Vifit to his Bro- 
 ther, a Counfellor and Juftice of tlie Peace, (under whom 1 made my firlt Be- 
 ginnings of the Study of the Law) where I was very refpedtully received, we 
 went home to his Houfe ; and his Wife, being a difcreet religious Perfon in their 
 Way, (being Presbyterians of the moft moderate fort) I was very eafy and free. 
 They were Sons ofDv Richard Gilpin, oi Scaleh-Ccrjlle, in Cumberland, a famous 
 and learned Phyfician, and alfo a Superin.tendant among that People in Oliver's 
 Days. 
 
 W ftfid- ^ ^ '•'"'^ i^ ^ ^"*'^'^'- *■" '■'^^ Meeting at IFcJffnle, about three Miles from TVbite- 
 
 haven; where came John Gilpin., his Wife, their Prefbyterian Minitler, (Thomas 
 'Dixon) Juftice Gilpin\ eldeft Son, a very difcreet Youth, and feveral others of 
 that fort, and alfo of the Church oi England: And tliough I had at that Time 
 a great Cold upon me, and my Voice more afttifttd th.ercby than in all my Life 
 belore, yet Things opened pretty clear, and I was intelligible to them, and much 
 better as I proceeded in my Excrcife -, and it was a pretty good Meeting. We 
 all returned that Evening to JVkilehavcn ; bur I had feme Si:\\^z upon my Mind, 
 
 that
 
 of T H O M A S S T R T 47 
 
 that tfic Prcfbyterian Minifter was not pleafed with fome Things, though he had Anno 
 been very quiet in the Meeting, and laid nothing. Tlie Points I had moft in i7^5- 
 hand were Freedom from Sin in this Life, the Neceflicy of it, andBaptifm-, fet- 
 ting forth the general Fall of Man, and Redemption by Christ, oiFered to all 
 in the Grace of God come upon all tlirough him -, and fetting forth the Bap- 
 tifm of the Spirit, as the only true, permanent, and faving Baptifm -, and that 
 fince every Apollle of Chri st had every Qualificanon necefiary to lo great 
 a Work, without any Dependance on any other in any Part of his Miniftry i 
 and as the great Apoftle Fdul was not one whit behind the chief of them, and 
 fcnt in a more efpecial Manner to our Forefathers, the Geniiles, and exerciled his 
 Miniftry where Christ had not once been named, yet this great Apoftle con- 
 I'eflcth Christ fent him not to that Work of Water Baptifm ; by which it ap- 
 pears it was not neceftary, nor any Part of the Gofpel Difpenfation : And fince 
 he, the lirft great Minifter, thus peculiarly fent to them, had no Authority from 
 Christ to baptize with Water, no Man could fucceed him in what he had not 
 himfelf : And therefore all Pretences of that kind at this Day are vain and 
 groundlefs ; with many Scriptures to the fame Purpofe. 
 
 The next Day the above Prieft wrote me a Letter, which, fome Days after 
 I departed thence, was delivered me by my Friend John Gilpin, at Brou^hton- 
 Towcr, in Lancofhire ; fo that I had no Opportunity to fpeak with him upon it. 
 It was in thefe Words, viz. 
 
 SIR, JVhitehaven, May 4. 171 5. 
 
 " ryn H E fincere Regard I bear to one of Christ's Inftitutions, is the 
 *' X Rcafon of my giving you this Trouble. It was no fmall Grief to me, 
 *' when I heard you teach the People Yefterday, That Water Baptifm was no 
 " Part of the Commiftion, which we find Mat. xxviii. 19. 
 
 " I shall offer you two undeniable Inftances to prove, that the Apoftles 
 " did baptize with Water by virtue of their Commiftion : The firlT: is in A£fs 
 •' viii. 38, 39. They ixient down both into the Water, both Philip and the Eunuch, 
 " and he baptized him. And ivhen they were come up out of the Water, &c. 
 *' This was a Fad done near upon two Years after the Date of the Commiffion 
 " in Mat. xxviii. 19. and almoft fo long a Time after the Effufion of the Spi- 
 " fit, who was promifed to lead the Apoftles into all Truth ; and, I believe, 
 " you won't fay, they were left for all that Time under a Miftake about the 
 " Meaning; of their Commiffion. 
 
 o 
 
 " The fecond Inftance, which I would earneftly recommend to your ferious 
 " Confidcration, is in ARs x. 47, 48. Can any Man forbid Water, that thefe fiould 
 " not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghofi as well as we ? And he 
 " commanded ther,j to be baptized, &cc. Upon this Inftance of Facl, I would 
 " ofter you the following Remarks : 
 
 " ij?. This Faft was done near upon eight Years after the Date of the 
 '.' Commiffion in Mat. xxviiiv 19. and after the Apoftles had received the Pro- 
 " mife of the Spirit, who was to lead them into all Truth : And I believe 
 " you will think it too abfurd to fay, they were all this length of Time in the 
 " Dark about their Commiffion, which it moft highly concerned them to know. 
 
 " 2r/, I o B s E R V 1; that Water Baptifm was, in that Inftance, judged necef- 
 " fary after thefe Gentiles had been baptized by the Holy Ghoft ; as you find, 
 " A.^s X. 44, 45, 46. For Proof of tlfis look alio forward to y/t/j xi. 15, 16. 
 
 " where
 
 ^7i fbc LIFE, C^'c. 
 
 Anno " where Pete;\ in his Defence before the Apoftles and Brethren, ufed thefe 
 1715. " Words, And as I began to /peak, the Holy Ghoft fell on them as on us at the Be- 
 " ginning : then remembered I the IVord cf the Lord, how that he had /aid, John 
 « indeed baptized ivith Water, but yoa Jhall be baptized with the Holy Gbcft. 
 ■<■ Hence it is undeniably plain, that Water Baptilm was fuperadded to the Bap- 
 " tifm of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 " 3^, I REMARK, that the Apoftlcs at Jerufakm, when Peter\ Conduft 
 *' came to be examined, did not blame him for exxeeding his Commiffion, whta 
 «' he ordered the converted Gentiles to be baptized with Water ; and confequent- 
 " ly we have their iuint Concurrence and Approbation of Water Baptifm. It 
 " cannot be thought Peter would have Wanted a Reprehenfion irom them, had 
 " he been in the wrong. 
 
 " /ifth^ I REMARK therefore upon the whole, and in the Fear of God, that 
 " you do what, in Peter's Words, no Man can lawfully do ; z. e. you withold 
 " Water, and permit not the Ufe of it, though Christ has appointed it. I 
 " wifh I could not fay alfo, in Peter's Language, Ji'is xi. 1 7. That you with- 
 •« Jland God. 
 
 " Though Water Baptifm does not fave any more than Circumcifion, yet 
 " that is no Reafon to rejeft one oi C h r i s t's Appointments. I mull: beg of 
 " you in the Name of G o d, and as you regard his Truths, that you would im- 
 " partially confider this Letter, and fee whether you have not maniteft Rea- 
 " fon to fear their Guilt who break one, tho' it fhould be the leaft of C h r i st's 
 " Commandments, and reach others to do fo too ; and that confequently you're 
 *' in danger of being the leaft in the Kingdom of God. I am, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 2'cur fine ere Friend and Servant ^ 
 
 THO. DIXON. 
 
 O N the 4th I appointed another Meeting at John Nicholfon's, about a Mile 
 from IVhitehaven ; where went John Gilpin, his Vv ite and Servants, Juftice Gil- 
 pin's Daughter, and fome of their Servants, and many People from the Town ; fu 
 that there was a confiderable large Meeting, and moll of them not of our Com- 
 munion ; and a good Meeting it was. Truth being over them, and Things 
 largely and clearly opened to them ; fo that I did not hear of any Objedion, 
 though there was prefent one Gail, who, I have heard, writ fome fcurnlous 
 Things againft us fome Time fince : but I have not heard he faid any Thing, 
 only, that I was no Quaker -, but for what Reafon I know not. The Meeti.Tg 
 ending in a folid Frame, I returned that Night with John Gilpin. 
 
 The next Day, though very rainy, cold, and ftormy Weather, he accompa- 
 nied me to Pardjpy Meeting, which was very open and well; and that Niglit he 
 went with me to Peter Fearn's. Here it was that he told me of the Letter 
 above, but that he was not to deliver it till he had taken a Copy, rhe A.uthor 
 pretending he had not any himftlf, being done in hafte. 
 
 On the 6th, in the Morning, we went from thence, and, that Night late, ar- 
 rived at Brctightcn-rower, at the Widow Anne Sawro's, Sifter to John Gilpin, 
 and an old Acquaintance; but being long abfent, and not thought of Hie did 
 not know me tor ibme Time ; but was courteous, and, when known, very 
 refpefttul. 1 liere I ftaid two Nights, and had fome Difconrfe with the Family 
 
 on
 
 of T H M y^ S ST RT. 475 
 
 nh feveral Points; as, Baptifm, the Supper, Infpiration, the Maintenance of Anno 
 Miniflers, t?r. She was an ingenious and wife Woman, and her two Sons, ^T^S- 
 voung Men, very fober and hopeful, and her Daughter alfo : I left them all 
 with much Affeftion and Refped:. 
 
 O N the 8th, being the Firft of the Week, I departed thence to Sivarthmore Swarthmore. 
 Meeting, where I was not expedled -, and the Meeting was pretty large and 
 open. That Night I ftaid with Daniel ALraham, at Swarthmore- Hall. 
 
 O N the 9th, in the Afternoonj I went to TVilliam Rawlinfofi's., at Graithwdit ; 
 and fo to Ha-^'kfide Meeting on the loth; which was not large, but very open Hawkfide. 
 and well-, and the Widow Sawrey came thither, and fcemed well fatisfied. Af- 
 ter the Meeting we all returned to IFilliam Raivlinfo7i' s,, Dr Ifaac Huntington 
 coming to me at Hawkftde^ in order for London. 
 
 On the I ith we went to the Meeting at Height ; which was fmall, but very Hdglit, 
 open and tender. That Night f lodged at IFilliam Barrow's, at /Ifet 
 
 The next Day we went thence to Telland ; where was a large Meeting, and Yelland. 
 pretty open -, and fome Friends from about Kendal were there. It being a rainy 
 Day, we ftaid that Night at the Widow Mary Hubberjlead'%. 
 
 O N the 1 3th we went to Lancajlcr ; where the Meeting was fmall, but open, Lancafier, 
 the Truth bearing rather an Authority than Teildernefs -, though feveral were 
 tendered, and it was a good Meeting. After it I went to IFilliam Stout's. 
 
 That Afternoon we went forward to a Place near the Road-fide, called 
 Slaugaker, and lodged with John Corhijhley, a Farmer there ; and, on the 14th, 
 went to 5aw%, T\fix Warrington^ and ftaid there ax Gilbert Tbompfon's; their Sanckey. 
 Meeting being pretty large next Day, and indifferent open. 
 
 O N the 1 7th we went thence to Franley ; where the Meeting was fmall, but Pranley. 
 very frefli and tender. That Night we lodged wiih Richard Starckey, near that 
 Place. 
 
 O s the 1 8th we went to Middlewich ; where the Meeting was very fmall, Middlewich. 
 but frcfli and open. After the Meeting we dined at George Becket's, he and his 
 Wife being very kind; and that Evening went forward to Stonylow, and ftaid 
 that Night with Richard 'Timmis, a Farmer there 1 where we were kindly en- 
 tertained. 
 
 On the 19th we went on to Stafford, where we expefted a Meeting; but, 
 the Notes mifcarrying, we went to Wolverhampton,, and lodged with Charles Wolver- 
 Ojhorne. hampton. 
 
 On the 20th, being the Sixth of the Week, we had a large Meeting there: 
 For Notice being given privately, that there was a Stranger from America, and 
 Rumour magnifying me above what I was, raifed a Curiofity in many both to 
 fee and hear me ; fo that the Place was crowded with Perfons of fome Rank 
 not of our Communion, and the Lord was pleafed to condefcend to them, io 
 as to open fome great Things, in a Degree of Power and Ligiit, fitisfaftory to 
 moft; which fome of them were heard to declare as they pafs'd the Streets; 
 a.nd Friends alfo were pleafed and comforted. 
 
 6 D 
 
 The
 
 474- 
 
 The LIFE, c^-c. 
 
 Anno The Day following we went on to Birmingham, and lodged with John Pern- 
 
 1715. berton, where we were courteoufly entertained ; and the next Day had two Meet- 
 Birmingham, ings there : That in the Morning confifted moftly of Friends, and was pretty open •, 
 but Truth appeared in Majefty and Dominion, Imperial rather than Sweetnefs, but 
 not without a full Degree of that to its proper Objeas •, and, in the Afternoon, 
 Thino-s were largely and clearly opened, in the Wifdom and Dominion of the 
 Power of Truth •, and many Strangers being there, were generally brought un- 
 der, and Truth in Dominion, and the Hearts of Friends very open. 
 
 Warwick On the ajd we went to Warwick, and lodged with William Berry ; and the 
 
 Day following had a Meeting there •, which was as large as ufual, and pretty 
 frefli and open. That Evening we went forward with Samuel Overton to Grove- 
 field, about three Miles, where we lodged. 
 
 Banbury. On the 25th we went to Banbury; and that Evening had a pretty large 
 
 Meeting there ; which, though hard and dry in the Beginning, yet was open and 
 free in the End. Here I met with Daniel Bell and John Clofe ; and t!iat Night 
 we lodged with Edward Willis. 
 
 On the 26th, being the Fifth of the Week, we were all three at a Meeting 
 
 Hook-Nor- at Hook Norton ; which was but fmall, by reafon of a Fair at Banbury, but a good 
 
 ton. Meeting : After fome Retrcfnment at John Parke's, where we alighted, we went 
 
 in the Evening, forward to Henry Clarke's, to Chipping-Norton, guided by our 
 
 Friend E 5- , a Perfon of great Innocency and Sweetncls, whofe un- 
 
 defigning Deportment was pleafingly attrafting: This was the firft of our Ac- 
 quaintance, but under a due Diilance and Guard on either Side, Circumftances 
 every way commanding it •, and there we had an Evening Meeting, not large, 
 nor very open, but, in the main, of Service, and well. 
 
 On the 27th we went on to Whitney, and lodged at Jeremy Warings that 
 Night, having a Meeting in the Evening •, which was very hard and dull during 
 the preateft Part of it, but well in the End to mofb. 
 
 On the 28th, being the Seventh of the Week, we proceeded to Oxford, and 
 lodged with?7jc;«fij Nichols, jun. and that Afternoon went to moil of the Colleges 
 in the City, and viewed the Buildings and Gardens, which, in their kinds, are 
 pleafant and commodious •, but that very great Load and Power of Darknefs which 
 I felt (not the like in all South Britain) was fo much an Overbalance to any 
 Satista<3:ion I had therein, that I think I {hall never fee them any more : Ana 
 which Power foon after fhewed itfelf by its Fruits ; for, in tiie Evening, a great 
 Mob of the Scholars and others, arofe and gutted (as they called it) the Presby- 
 terian Meeting- houfe; that is, they broke all the Windows, Doors, Benches, 
 Wainfcots, and Seats, carrying them away, and burning and deftroying them ; 
 which made a great Uproar in the City. 
 
 On the 29th I was there at the Meeting; which, in the Forenoon, was not 
 large, though feveral Scholars and others came; and the Scholais were fiuftuat- 
 ing and unfettled, but did not make any great Diflurbance in the Morning Meet- 
 ing : However, Friends having hean.1 that they intended to ufe our Mceting-houfe 
 as they had done that of the Presbyterians, an Advertifement thereof in Writing- 
 was drawn up, direfted to the Mayor, and fent by a Friend ; but the Mayor being 
 abfent at the Time, it was left with his Servant, wlio promiied to give it him as 
 foon as he came: It contained alfo a Requrfl to tlic Mayor to proteft us againft 
 
 the
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 47;- 
 
 the intended Violence, as the Prime Civil Officer of the City ; but we had no Anno 
 Benefit by it, as the Sequel proved. 171 5* 
 
 In thb Afternoon the Meeting was large, and mdny of the Scholars there : 
 A few came at firft, and ibme of them wearied in the Time of Silence, but 
 others ftaid; and, after I had fpoke a while, more came, and generally ftaid •, ar.d 
 tnany Things were opened to them, which feemed to reach their Underftandings, 
 and take them •, and other People of fome Fafhion in the World came alfo, and 
 all were very civil and quiet to the End of the Meeting, the Scholars taking 
 ufY their Caps in the Time of Prayer ; fo that the Meeting was very com.fortable, 
 and of good Service : And after the Service was over, they not being hafty to 
 depart, I made a fliort Speech to them, and faid, " That I had fcen fevera! 
 " Colleges and Scholars in divers Parts of the World, and much Rudenefs a- 
 " mong fome of them •, but as Civility becomes all Men of Learning and Wif- 
 " dom, fo their Deportment that Day had engaged my good Opinion of 
 " them:" But I knew the Truth was at that Time over moft of them, and 
 kept them quiet. 
 
 After the Meeting we returned to our Qiiarters; and, about Nine in the 
 Evening, licaring a great Noife of the Mob at a Diftance, we had foon after an 
 Account, that they were ufing our Meeting-houfe as they had done that of the 
 Presbyterians the Night before : They broke in by Violence, and took away 
 all the Forms and Seats that were loofe, and fuch as were flxft round the Houfe 
 they broke and defaced : They took away the Doors alfo off the Hinges, and 
 burnt them, with part of the Wainfcot, in their Bonfire : They broke alio all 
 the Windows and Stanchers ; and the Room next the Meeting-houfe they alfo 
 abufed and deiaced ; fo that the whole was all ruined and deftroyed, except the 
 Walls and Tyling. Yet all this did not cool their Rage; for they broke into 
 the Dwelling-houfe of our ancient Friend Thomas Nicholses Daughter, then a 
 Widow, where Thomas alfo was ; and, under Pretence of fearching after a young 
 Nobleman, who they faid was murdered and hid there, or fome where thereabouts, 
 (though there was no iuch Thing at all, only they put on this fenfelefs Cover for 
 their Wickedncfs) thiy broke all the Windows, and threw in fome hundred 
 Weight of Stones ami Dirt, covering the Beds therewith, breaking feveral Things 
 in the Rooms, and making great Deftrudion, and alfo fheding fome Blood. 
 From thence they went to the Baptifts' Meeting-houfe, and gutted that alfo, as 
 their Term is : and as they came up Street from that Piece of Service, I lodgino- 
 with young Thomas Nichols, we cxpedled the fame Ufage as the Widow his Sifter 
 had met with, and therefore got for Safety into the Stair Cafe, he and his Wife 
 and little Children, and my Companion and I; and there fat on the Stairs, and 
 about, out of the Way of the Scones: and as they came up to the Houfe, they 
 kt fly their Volly, and broke all the Windows, and fo went along without do- 
 ing us any further Hurin : But this I obferved, that as Satan raged in them be- 
 fore they came up to the Houfe, blowing them up by his iiifernal Breath into a 
 Temper fit lor the Atflion, Truth in our Minds moved his divine Love, and 
 filled us With heavenly Confolation and L-ife-, fo that we were without any Fear 
 or Amazement of Vv'hat they could do forther. By the Time all was over it 
 was about Two in the Morning ; and there came in ibme of the fober Neigh- 
 bours, who gave us fome of this Mob's unrcafonablc Reafons for their Vio- 
 lence and Opprefiion, as they had coliedted them, in difcourfing with fome 
 of them. They faid, that fome of the Low Party, on the Seventh Day Af- 
 ternoon, being at a Tavern in Town, there drank Healths and Confuiions, 
 talking ot burning the late Queen's Picture and SacheveraVs ; and, in revenge of 
 
 this.
 
 ^76 The LIFE, d^'c• 
 
 Anno thi.r, they gutted the Presbyterian Meeting-houfe : and their Pretence for tifing 
 1^15. us in the lame Manner was, bccaufe we voted for the Low Members of that 
 prefent Parhament. 
 
 The next Morning we went to fee the Ruins of our Meeting-houfe, and that 
 of our Friend Nichols'^ ; and, as we were at the former, I flood upon a fmall Emi- 
 nence, and looking about over the Place, (many Scholars and People being there) 
 faid pretty loud, lo that they might all hear, Caji thefe be the Effetts of Religion and 
 Learning! upon which fcveral of the Scholars hung down their Heads, but none 
 hnfwered. Then young T'homas Nichols made a fliort Speech, but very clofe, 
 putting them in mind of Scdojn and Gomorrah ; and that this was the fame evil 
 Spirit which wrought in that wicked Generation, upon whom came Deftruflion, 
 that now wrought in them ; and that if they continued in fuch Evils, the fame 
 jufl: God might bring like condign Punifhment upon them. To which they 
 made no Reply, but that the Mob had done it, and it was ill done ; fo would 
 have excufed themfelves: but fomc others faid, they themfelves were that Mob, 
 and would be met with one Day. After fome Time we returned to our 
 Friend's Houfe, dnd fo departed that wicked Place. This is one of the blind 
 Eyes of this poor Nation ! This is one of the filthy Fountains of their Religion 
 and L.carnihg, from whence the whole Land is poifoned and undone. Can fweet 
 ahd bitter Waters ifilie from the fmie Place ? Or can Religion flow from hence 
 to the Nation, where the Life of Religion is fo remote from thefe vain Preten- 
 ders .^ And what Learning can they have, who are deflitute of all Principles of 
 Civil Behaviour.' 
 
 T H AT Night we went to Richard Richard/on^ !^, near Uxlridge ; and,- on the 
 i-onuon. jiii;^ to London, being about a Week before the Yearly Meeting; which, 
 
 in the main, was much more comfortable, through the great Mercy of God, 
 than many expected : For as the Affirmation^ from the Beginning of it, had oc- 
 cafioned much Difturbance in the Cliurch, fome being for, and fome againft it; 
 fo thefe Divifions had ever been very opprefTivc to my Spirit,, as knowing no- 
 thing could hurt us more than that, or give Satan or evil Men more Advantage 
 againd us : But though, from its firft Birth, I never liked it^ yet I ever kept 
 true Charity to thofe Friends who were for it, as believing they faw no Hurt in 
 it, tho', I thought, I did ; and, at my coming over to London, I laboured among 
 them, to regain and keep a right Temper one towards another ; and, as they talk- 
 ed of a farther Solicitation concerning it, (the late Act being ready to expire) I 
 advifed fevcral leading Men on both Sides to proceed in one joint Intereft as one 
 People ; for tho' we could not all agree about the Definition of an Oath, or in 
 what relation the Affirmation ftood to an Oath, yet we all were as one Man If ill, 
 that an Oath is not conliflent with Christ's I^oftrine-, and accordingly they 
 did both follicit for a plain Affirmation, without the facred Name at all: But 
 that could not be obtained ; all that the Parliament would do, was to perpetu- 
 ate the former, adding fomc Claufes for the levying of Tythes. When tiiis 
 came to be difcourfed in the Meeting, the Minds of fome on both Sides beinc; 
 heated. Things were like to run high; but the Lord was near, and, by his 
 blelTed Wifdom and Power, prefcrved us in Unity. Some few of thefe who 
 were for the Affirmation inclin.-d to have it rftabl.fhcd over all, a^ the Teai- 
 mony of Truth by the Yearly Meeting; and fomc othci-s, on the otlier Side, 
 were refolved to rejecT: it, and teaify againfl it, as fliort of the Teftimony of 
 Truth : But feeing the Tendency of fuch a Divifion, I and fome others la- 
 boured for Pence; and, with much Long-fufFering, Patience, and I about in the 
 Love and Wifdom of Truth, ami as he opened and made wav, Tliingr, came 
 at laft to this good IPfue, That furh as could take the Affirmation! might 
 
 h'a-^r
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 477 
 
 have the Benefit of k without Cenfure of their Brethren, and fuch as could not Anno 
 take it, fhould not be reproached by them; but that the Meeting for Suffer- 1715. 
 ings fliould continue their Care and SoHcitations, togetlier with the DifTatis- 
 fied, for further Eafe in that Point, at a fit Seafon : And with this Conclufion 
 both Sides were at laft eafy, and the Meeting ended in more Peace and brother- 
 ly Kindnefs than for fome Years before, and to a more general Satisfaftion -, for 
 which my Soul was truly thankfiil, with many more. 
 
 The Meeting being thus well over, on the 1 7th Day of the fourth Month 
 I went with fome Friends from London that Night to Eraintree., and lodged with 
 John Bangs; where next Day Afternoon I writ good part of an Anfwer to 
 "■Thomas Dixoii's Letter-, and, on the 19th, being the Firfl of the Week, was 
 at their Meeting, both Forenoon and Afternoon. The Meetings were large, and Braintree; 
 filled with Strangers, who were generally fatisfied. 
 
 On the 20th I went to Cokhefter, to the Quarterly Meeting, and lodged at Colchefter. 
 Benjamin Dike's ; and the Third and Fourth Days being their Yearly Meeting, 
 I flaid there •, where the Lord gave us a comfortable Time, fetting his bleflfed 
 Truth and its Hving Teftimony over all ; and Things were open and clear. 
 
 On the 22d, being the Fourth of the Week, after the Meeting, I went 
 thence to Edmundshury, and lodged with the Widow Dikes; and, on the 23d, Edmunds-' 
 was at their Meeting ■, which was very dry and barren, but yet had fome Ser- ^^^' 
 vice and Comfort. 
 
 On the 24th I went forward to Thetford; where the Meeting was fmall, but Thetford; 
 a little opener than the other : That Night I proceeded to Brandon with Thomas 
 Brewftery and lodged there. 
 
 On the 25th 1 went on to Great ElUngham, and lodged with the Widow 
 Mary Dykes, being nearer the Meeting next Day, which was to be at Hingam, Hingam; 
 to which I went accordingly ■, and it was a large and good Meeting, being their 
 General Meeting, many of divers Perfuafions being there. That Evening I 
 went with Richard AjJjhy to his Houfe. 
 
 On the 27th we went together to the Quarterly Meeting at Norwich, (I lod- Norwich; 
 ging at Jofeph Curney's) and on the two Days following was their Yearly Meet- 
 ing, which was very large, efpecially the lafl Day ; when came Abundance of 
 People of all forts, and Things were full and plain : The more particular Mat- 
 ters wherein I was concerned, being about the Kingdom of C h r i s t, the King- 
 doms of Men, and the Kingdom of Antichrift, with his Prieftcraft and Fallacy ; 
 which reached many Underftandings, and affedled the People as welt as Friends ; 
 and Truth gained among them to our mutual Comfort. 
 
 On the ift of the Fifth Month, being the Sixth Day of the Week, I was at 
 a Meeting at Tisborough, appointed by Benjamin Bangs ; which was not large, TlsborougJi. 
 but pretty wdl. I ftaid there tliat Night and the next, and lodged with Tho- 
 mas Gooch ; where I was well and eafy, 
 
 O N the 3d, being the Firfl of the Week, I was at a General Meeting at 
 Titfil; which was large, and many of the World's People there; and Truth Titfil. 
 ihined over all. In this Meeting I had an Opening conci-rning that Creed, com- 
 monly called the Apofiles Creed, and took fome Exceptions to fome Terms of 
 
 6 E it.
 
 ^n^ 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno it, v/z. Christ'j defcer.dmg into HeU, and the Holy Catholick Church, as 
 1715. they call it ; the former importing more than the State of the Dead -, and the 
 latter fhewing plainly what Church (and not the Apoftles) was the Author of it; 
 and I did norobferve or hear of any uneafy, but fatisficd. Tl:at Evening I re- 
 turned to Thomas Gooch's. 
 
 On the 4th I went back to Nor'-ivich, where I ftaid that Night; and, on the 
 Day following, went by Water, accompanied by Johti Gurney, and feveral other 
 Friends, down to Yarmouth, expefting a Veffel to fail next Day for Holland, in 
 which I'intended to go; but the Wind proving contrary, we appointed a Meet- 
 Yarmouth, ing at Yarmouth. The Meeting of itfelf was very fmall ; but there came many of 
 the People, and a loofe airy Company generally they were, though fome fober 
 Perfons were among them ; and in the main Things were well. 
 
 On the 7th we returned to Nor-jokh; where. I ftaid till the nth, being at 
 their Meeting on the Firft Day ; which was very large in the Afternoon, and 
 Things opened fully. 
 
 O N the I ith, being the Second Day of the Week, I went back to Yarmouth 
 on the fame Account as before ; but the Wind proving contrary again, we had 
 another Meeting there on the 12th; which was far larger than before, but fome of 
 the People more rude, and yet in the main it was a good Meeting, feveral being 
 tender, and many brought down under a Senfe of the Weight of Truth. This 
 Time alfo I lodged at Mary Low's, where I remained till the 1 7th, and finifhed 
 and fent my Anfwer to Thomas Dixon's Letter from Whitehaven ; which was 
 as follows : 
 
 Friend Thomas Dixon, Yarmouth, i%th Fourth Mo7ith, 17 15. 
 
 " rx~i H I N E of the 4th of May, as thou calls it, was delivered me by 
 *' \. my reipefted Friend John Gilpin, at Brought on-To'-Joer, fome Days after 
 " I departed from Whitehaven ; but have not fince had any Time to anfwer it, 
 " till now it recurs to my Rememibrance at this leifure Hour : Nor Ihould I 
 " now, if I were out of all Hopes to inform thy Underftanding; or could be- 
 " lieve thou hadft no other End in writing than Controverfy. For though I 
 " have no Reafon to fear any Man, or Sedt, on this Subjeft, yet to anfwer many 
 " particular Perfons in writing, (each that can raife an Objeftion having the 
 " iimie Right) would protraft too much of that Time, which I am more obli- 
 " ged to apply to the general ; and had much rather, in convenient Time and 
 " Place, have difcourfed with thee on this great Subjedt, in a publick Auditory ; 
 " where fuch as were at that Meeting, as alfo many more, might have had the 
 " Benefit, pro and con, arifing by fuch a Conference. 
 
 " I SHALL, in the firft Place, tranfcribe thy Letter, left thy Copy may be 
 " miflaid, or loft, and then fubfcribe a full and fliir Anfwer; in which I fhall aim 
 " at thy Satisfaftion upon the true Foundation of impartial Truth: In reading 
 " whereof I intreat thee, as thou tendereft thy own good, and that alfo of thofe 
 " thou teacheft, lay afide all Prepofteftlons and Prejudices, arifing from Edu- 
 " cation, and human Acquifition, or Intereft, and difpofe thy Mind to receive 
 " the Truth in its own Simplicity, as it is in J £ s u s. [^Here Thomas Dixon'.? 
 " Letter was infer ted, which fee Page 471.] 
 
 " Considering thy Readinefs to go to that Meeting in my Company, 
 " and thy civil Behaviour in it, which I was pleafed with, together with the 
 
 " Cha-
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 479 
 
 " Charaifter I had of thee, by fome of thy own People I can well credit, I will Anno 
 
 " not think thou came there on Purpofe to watch for Evil, or Qiiarrcl ; yet 17^4' 
 
 " confidering alfo thy Capacity, as a Man, and how clear and diftindt Things 
 
 " were then opened, notwithftanding the Difadvantage I laid under, by reafon 
 
 " of that great Cold and bodily Weaknefs, I could not reafonably have expeft- 
 
 " ed fuch (or any) Objedtions on this Subject •, which, how weighty foever in 
 
 " thy Scales, in thofe of the Sandtuary, and mine, have little in them. 
 
 " The Subftance of thy Letter is in two Parts; ly?, A Pofition, That 
 " Christ inftituted Water Baptifm, when he faid to his Difciples, Go ye there- 
 " fore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of 
 " the Son, and of the Holy Ghojl, &c. Mat. xxviii. 19. 
 
 " idly. To prove this, thou advances feveral Scriptures, where fome of the 
 " Apoftles did baptize with Water, or commanded it -, even fome that had re- 
 " ceived the Holy Ghoft, as well as fome others who had not: concluding 
 " hence, that it muft be Water Baptifm which was inftituted as aforefaid. 
 
 " I OWN the Matters of Faft according to Scripture, but deny the Confe- 
 " quenccs drawn from them in thy Letter, viz. That Water Baptifm was in- 
 " ftituted in thcfe Words, Mat. xxviii. 19. or that they baptized with Water, 
 " by any Commiflion thereby given them. 
 
 "The firft Thing I put thee upon is, to examine diligently the Sincerity 
 
 *' of thy Regard to this Inftitution, even in thy own Senfe -, for I cannot think 
 
 " thou art ignorant that the Word, from which we take the Word Baptize, fig- 
 
 •' nines, to go into Water, to wafh, or immerge, or go under Water, coming 
 
 " of the Word Bapto, to tinge, or dye, or colour, by dipping, or immerging: 
 
 *' Whereas thy Pradlice is (if thou art of the Presbyterian Mode, as I am in- 
 
 " formed) only to rantize, or fprinkle Infants. If then it had been Water Bap- 
 
 " tifin which was there inftituted, or if it was fo in thy Apprehenfion, how 
 
 *' canft thou be fine re, to lay afide Water Baptifm, and ufeonly fprinkling In- 
 
 " fants; which is an Error, both from the Mode and Subjed, and no other 
 
 " than a Re lick of the pretended Baptifm of that Church, which ufes Salt, Spittle, 
 
 " Cream, (iod-fathers, the Sign ot the Crofs, Vows, Promifes, a Covenant of 
 
 " Works, ^r. and hath not kept it ? Where did any of C h r i s t's Apoftks 
 
 " fprinkle Infants with Water at all, or wafli or dip any other in or with Wa- 
 
 " ter, in t'le Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft? If they had taken 
 
 " that ir.lbtution, for a Commiffion for Water Baptifm, they would have pur- 
 
 " fued it ill the Terms, Mode, and Subjcdls of it: But I do not find they ever 
 
 " baptized any with Water in that Name, either before or after that Command; 
 
 " therefore not by virtue of it, but upon fome other Bottom, cuftomary or pru- 
 
 " dential -, much lefs fprinkle Infants. 
 
 "For the better underftanding of C h r i st's Command, and the Doftrinc 
 " and Diftiniition of Baptifrris, and the Nature and End of his one divine, Ipiri- 
 " tual, and permanent Baptifm, I begin with John's, Baptifm, and obfcrve, 
 
 " ifi. That when the Word of G o u came unto John in the Wildernefs, t i, - • 
 " commanding him to baptize Ifrael, and preach Repentance to them, (for he 
 " was not fcnt to any other) we do not read that he baptized in the Name of the 
 " Father, Son, and rioly Ghoft, nor in the Name of the L o r d, or in the Name 
 " of the Lord Jesus, but exhorted them to believe in him that was then Afts.Kix. 4. 
 
 li 
 
 to
 
 480 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno "to come; Christ not being at that Time made manlfefl unto Ifrael, tho' 
 17 15. "he was among the People: But as C h ri st was born a Jca', and was cir- 
 Jolini 26,33. " cumcifed, and Debtor to the Law to fulfil it, which alfo he did-, fo the Di- 
 Lukeii 21. <.<■ fpenfation oi John immediately preceeding Ch ri st's, it was incumbent on 
 Mat. ui. 15. ,, j^.^^ ^^ ^-^jj^j ^j^^ Righteoufnefs of that alfo-, thereby complcating all Righ- 
 " teoufnefs of this kind in himfelf : and concentring the Subftance of all Difpen- 
 C0l.ii.11.12. " fations in one, he became thenceforward the Difpenfer of Righteoufnefs unto 
 " all who believed, followed, and obeyed him : But as Ifiael was at that Time 
 Mat. iv. 16, " hi a State of Darknefs and Degeneracy from G o d, the Lo r d treated them 
 17. " even as Strangers profelyted; who, under the Law, were not admitted to the 
 
 " Privileges of the Children of that Covenant, till firft baptized. Obl'erve then, 
 " that Christ, entering upon his Miniftry foon after he had received Water 
 " Baptifm, went on with John, both as to Water Baptifm, and fuch Doftrines 
 Mark i. 14. " as might excite the People to Repentance, being the Thing then moft necef- 
 " fary to a further Manifeftation of Christ ; and in which Doftrines and 
 Mat. XV. 24. " Baptifm Christ alfo was only fent to Ifrael; not miniftring Water Bap- 
 John IV. 2. <,t j.j|-j^.j jj^ i^jj Q^i^ Perfon, being below him, but countenancing his Difciples 
 " therein upon the firft Foundation by John: And it is no-way likely that John 
 " (to whom Christ had at this Time been fo fully manifefted, that he point- 
 " ed to him, as with the Finger, as the Lamb of G o d, the tiue Meffiah, taking 
 — i. 2g, 36. " away the Sins of the World) would now baptize in the Name of one to come, 
 " or exhort them to believe in one to come, but in the Name of him whom he 
 " had thus declared to the People to be the very Christ-, nor that the Dif- 
 " ciplcs of Christ, who alfo baptized with the fame Baptifm, and at the 
 " fame Time, and preached the fam.e Doflrine, did it in the Name of one to 
 " come, but of their Lord and Mafter, in whom from the Beginning they had 
 " believed : and upon this Foundation and Beginning (and not upon that Com- 
 " mand. Mat. xxviii. 15.) was the Praftice of Water Baptifm continued-, as 
 " in J/^s ii. 38. viii. 12, 16. xix. 5. and i Cor. i. 13. in all which, or in any 
 " other Place of Scripture, that I can find, where any Name at all is ufed, 
 " there is not any Baptifm with Water in the Name ot the Father, Son, and 
 " Holy Ghoft, but in the Name of the Son only -, which manifefts it to be ftill 
 " the fame Baptifm o'i John, in its Mode and End; at firft without any diftindt 
 " Name, and afterwards in the Name of Jesus the Mefllah, the true Sub- 
 " ftance and Antitype of all Fi.gures. 
 
 " Again, obferve nicely, that whilft this Baptifm of John was yet on foot, 
 " he foretold them of another Baptifm, by another Adminiftrator, to take place 
 " afterwards, faying, I indeed baptize (or have baptized) you with Water unto 
 ill. II. " Repentance, (or Amendment of Life) but he that cometh after me is mightier 
 than I, the hatchets of whofe Shoes I am not worthy to fioop down and unloofe ; 
 he it is that baptizeth (or fhaU baptize you) with the Holy Ghoji, and with Fire. 
 " This was whilft John was yet in his Miniftry, and before Christ was cru- 
 " cified ; and of which Baptifm with the Holy Ghoft Christ alfo fpake at 
 " that Time mentioned. Mat. xxviii. 19. which was after his Refiirreftion, and 
 " a little before his Afcenfion; and was no other Thing than the Coming of 
 " the Holy Ghoft, or Spirit of Truth (or C h r i s t in Spirit) with Power, upon 
 " diofe who had believed, and looked for his Coming : For Christ intro- 
 " duced this Inftitution with a Commemoration of the Promife he had made them 
 betore ol the Spirit of Truth, before he was crucified, after this Manner, faying, 
 John.viv. 16, " I will pray the Father, and he flmll give you another Comforter, that he may a- 
 — 20. " bide with you for ever : Even the Spirit of Truth ; whom the World cannot re- 
 
 ceive, becaufe it feeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he 
 " dwelleth with you, and fhall be in you. I will not leave you comfortlefs; I will 
 
 *' come 
 
 Mark 1 
 Lukeiii. 16.
 
 of T H M A S ST RT, 
 
 come to you. Tet a little zvhile, and the JVorld feeth me no more: hut ye fee we; 
 becaufe I live ye flmll lii-e cilfo. At that Day ye jhall know^ that I am in my 
 Father^ and you in me, and I in you. And of this Proniifc, I fay, he remind- 
 ed rhem, and renewed it to them after his Refiirreftion, and a little before 
 his Afcenfion ; leading them as it were Step by Step, as they were able to 
 go, faying, That (as was the Tenor of his firft Miniftry, repent and believe 
 the Gofpel) Repentance and Remijjion of Sins Ihould be preached in his Name 
 among all Nations, beginning at jeriifakm. And, behold, I fend the Promife 
 of my Father upon you, faid he, --ji-bich you have heard of me (for which they 
 were to wait) : For John truly baptized with Water, but ye fhall be baptized 
 ivith the Holy Ghoft not many Days hence. All Pozver is given unto tne in Hea- 
 ven and in Earth : Go ye therefore and teach all Nations , baptizing them into the 
 Na-me of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Chojl ; teaching them to 
 obferve all Things whatfoever I have co-mmanded yon ; and, lo, I am with yoil 
 alway, even unto the End of the IVorld. And, as if he had explained what he 
 intended by this Baptifm, and made it the fame with preaching the Gofpel, 
 he alfo faid, Go ye into all the World, and preach the Gofpel unto every Creature : 
 He that belicvcth and is baptized fjall be faved ; but he that bclieveth not fhall 
 be damned. But tarry ye in the City of Jerufilem until ye be endued with Power 
 from on high. But ye fhall receive Power after that the Holy Ghoft is come upon 
 you; andye fJjall be Witneffcs unto me, both in Jerufalein, and in all Judea, and 
 in Samaria, and unto the uttcrmoft Parts of the Earth. Now I obferve, that 
 though thefe Texts are difperfed in Holy Scriptures, yet they were all fpoken 
 by C H R I ST at the fame Time^ on the fame Subjefts, and relate to the fame 
 Things ; one Part being written at one Time, and another Part at another, 
 by the feveral Evangelifts : From which I clearly infer, that there are two 
 diftincT: Baptifms •, the one with Water, afcribed to John ; and the other 
 with the Holy Ghoft, afcribed to Ch r i st •, and the latter by him that hath 
 all Power in Pleaven and in Earth, commanded to the Apoftles •, promifing 
 that they fiiould have Power by the Holy Ghoft, and to be with them there- 
 in (that is, to preach the Gofpel in the Power of the Father, Word and Spirit, 
 which three are one) to the End of the World -, annexing Salvation to true 
 Faith in its right Objeft, and this Baptifm, and Damnation to Unbeliet of 
 this Gofpel : The Myftery whereof the Apoftles were lb far from underftand- 
 ing at that Time, that they anfwcred to all this by a foreign Queftion, viz. 
 Lord, wilt thou at this Time reft ore again the Kingdom to Ifrael ? Tike fome 
 others now in this Day, thirfting after temporal Rule, and an earthly Domi- 
 nion, looking for a Day when they fhall have it, being not well apprifed of 
 the Nature of the heavenly. 
 
 " A s to the Practice of the Apoftle in the Inftances given, where they both 
 went down into the Water, and he baptized (that is, wafloed, not fprinkled) 
 him, though at firft View there feems to be fomething in it, yet, upon a tho- 
 rough Obicrvation, thy Deduftions and Conclufions therefrom are only iup- 
 pofititious, uncertain, not fairly or fafely deducible, or confequential : For, 
 \ft, there is not any Water mentioned in the inftitutive Words, but as afcri- 
 bed to John only, and in Contradiftinftion to C h r i s t's Baptifm with the 
 Holy Ghoft and Word, which is as a Fire, ^dly. If the Apoftles had bap- 
 tized with Water from that Text, they would, no doubt, have purfued the 
 Terms of it, which were, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft: 
 But no fair Inftance can be given from Scripture, where any of them baptized 
 with Water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, but in the 
 Name of the Son only, where any Name at all was ufed ; therefore that Text 
 was not the true Ground of that Baptifm. Again, as Practice is not Inftitu- 
 
 6 F " "on. 
 
 481 
 
 Anno 
 
 Marki. 15. 
 
 Luke xxiv. 
 
 47. 49- 
 Acts i. 4, 5. 
 
 M?.t. xxviii. 
 10, 19. 
 
 Markxvi.i5,- 
 
 16. 
 
 Luke xxiv. 49 
 Ads i. 8. 
 
 — 6.
 
 481 The LIFE, ^x . 
 
 Akno " tlon, fo their Praftice, if fo it had been, can be no Rule or Warrant to me,> 
 
 1 715. "to imitate them in this, more than in Ibme other PraSlices; which, how pru- 
 
 " dential Ibever in that Day, the Reafons not holding perpetually, the Obliga- 
 
 " tions ccafe alio -, as the Praclice of Peter, and others, upon the believing Gen- 
 
 " tiles, for the Sake of the believing Jews : In which wrong aiid blameable 
 
 Gal.ii.3,9, " Praftice P^«/ withftood him to the Face, and, by the Spirit of Truth, re- 
 
 11,14. " cords him blame- worthy, and that long after the Holy Gholl: had come upon 
 
 Aasxvi.^3. „ 1^^^]^ ^^ ^^j. ^JJ^ ^j- j.j^^^ p^^^j praftifcd Circumcifion on Tmahy ; and yeC 
 
 ' " the fame Paul, at another Time, tells them, that if they were circumcifed, 
 
 " Christ fliould profit them nothing. And after he had preached the Go- 
 KoHi.x. 4. " fpel many Years, and Christ the End of the Law for Righteoufncfs to all 
 Ads XV. 10, " tliat believed; and they had all declared againit Circumcifion •, yet, hy Prac- 
 '9- " (ice of legal Rites, and that by Advice of Jai/ies and the Elders, he contra- 
 
 —:ix.zo,&:c. " difts his Doctrine: So that this is no Obhgation onus to follow him or them 
 " at this Day, in thefe and the like PraSlices. 
 
 " And though the Holy Gheft fell on them according to Promife, yet they 
 " did not thereby become omnifcient, (though the Holy Ghoft is lb) or were let 
 " into the whole Council of G o d at once, or knew any more at all of the My- 
 " fteries of God thereby, than he in his own Time, and from Time to Time, 
 " and one Degree after another, and as they were able to bear it, opened : And 
 " as Peter all this Time, til! prepared by a Vifion, had not underftood fo much 
 
 — x. II, 34. " as that the Gentiles fliould be laved by Christ, 'tis no Wonder to me he 
 " fhould ask that Queftion on Water Baptifm fo foon after, in Terms by no 
 " means implying any Command for it, but as a Thing formerly in ufe, as I 
 " iiave flievvcd, and then not fully decreafed •, or, by decreafing, ended, accor- 
 
 John iji. 30. " ding to John's Predi(9:ion •, //^(Christ) nnijl increafe, but I muji decreafe. 
 " That which decreafeth indefinitely cometh to an End, though at a Time un- 
 " certain (and fo did that Water Baptifm); but that which increafeth indeter- 
 " minatdy (as doth C h r i st's Baptifm) never endeth: And of the Increafe of 
 
 Ifa.ix.6,7,8. " that heavenly Kingdom and Government, begun in Christ's fpiritual Bap- 
 " tifm, theri fhall be no End. But though Peter did ask that Queftion, and 
 " command them to be baptized, 'tis plain, from his Repetition of tlie Matter 
 
 Adsxi. 14. " in his Defence before the Apoftles and Brethren, that it was not by Water 
 " Baptifm, but by the Words of the Go/pel preached by Peter, from the Word 
 " of Life which wrought in Peter, that Cornelius and his Houle were faved, as 
 " Repentance and Rem^Jfion oi' Sins was to be preached: and as clear alfo. That 
 
 15.16. " Peter there applies Christ's Words, in his Inftitution, or declaring of 
 
 " the Baptifm of the Spirit, to the falling, or coming, of the Spirit on thofe 
 
 " that heard and beheved ; faying. Then (at the fame Time, and in the very Ad: 
 
 " of Preaching) reraembered I the JFord of the Lord, how that he faid, John in- 
 
 " deed baptized with Water, but ye Jhall be baptized with the Holy Ghoft : 
 
 " they not in all the Scripture ever mentioning any other Water Baptifm than 
 
 " Jcbn'^, but ftill continuing the Diftincfion between Water Baptifm and the 
 
 " Spirit's Baptifm, and applying the former to John, as the firft Minifter of it, 
 
 " and the otner to C h ri s t ; who, I fay, is ftill the only true and ever-living 
 
 " Baptizer, prime and potential Agent, though the Apoftles then were, and 
 
 C H r I s t's Minifters now are, inftrumental in his Hand therein, by their living 
 
 " Miniftry to all that believe : * [And, which is very remarkable and cogent, 
 
 " the fame Peter, long after all this, when both himfclf and the Churches were 
 
 " come to a greater Grov/th, and more able to bear and apprehend the Know- 
 
 " ledge of the Myfteries of the Kingdom of Ch ri st, gives a plain Negative 
 
 " to 
 
 * This beiwecn [ ] was not in the Copy fetit to Th:,,:,'! Dixon, nor in that afterwards fent to 
 Jumci Uxkinfon. 
 
 ■ x. 44.
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 48,^ 
 
 " to tiiat Baptifm, (-viz. Water Baptifm) which extends only to the putting away A v n o 
 
 *' the Filth of the Flcfli ; and as plainly aflerts and affirms that Baptifm, (viz. the i / 1 5- 
 
 " Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft) which gives the Anfwer of a good Confcience to- 
 
 " wards God, to be the only remaining Baptifm-, which is otherwife called the i Ttt. iii. zi. 
 
 *' Laver of Rcgetieralioti; wlierc he is lull and home to the Point, faying. Not by Ti:. iii. 5,6. 
 
 " f Forks of Righteoufnefs which we have done, l/ut according to his Mercy he favcd 
 
 *' us, hy the wafhing of Regeneration, end renewing of the Holy Ghoft ; "which he 
 
 *' fhed on us abundantly., through Jefus Chriji our Saviour. '\ But as to the Reproof 
 
 " of the reft of the Apoftles and Brethren upon Peter, in cafe he had gone be- 
 
 *' yond his Commiffion, 'tis very plain they were all as ignorant at that Time of 
 
 *' the Mind of the Spirit, touching the Salvation of the Gentiles by Ch ri st, 
 
 " as Peter had been, till now they were convinced of it by Matter ot Faft, re- 
 
 *' latecl by Peter in his Defence, when they ignorantly called him to an Account 
 
 *' about it as an Evil; where Peter gives them no occafion to reprove him for 
 
 " what he had commanded about Water Baptifm, or exceeding his Commiffion 
 
 " therein ; for it was of fo little Moment that he fays nothing of it there : So 
 
 " that there cannot be any Thing in that but uncertain Conjedture ; too (lender 
 
 *' a Foundation, or Support, for any Thing that would acquire the Name of 
 
 " an Ordinance of the Lord Jesus. And, as 1 told the Auditory in the 
 
 " Meeting, if Water Baptifm had been there a Command to all the Minifters of Mat. xxviii. 
 
 *' Christ to the End of the World, it would have been fo to the Apoftle >9- 
 
 " Paul; who was not one whit behind the chief of them -, fpake with more 2 Cor. xi. 5. 
 
 " Tongues than all the Corinthia?!s ; in whom the Grace of God wrought iCor. xiv 18 
 
 " mightily •, who preached the Gofpel fully from Jerufalew to Illyricumy and Oal ii. 8, 9. 
 
 " ftrove to preach, not where Christ was named, left he fliould build on ^'^"■"•^v- '9' 
 
 " another Man's Foundation ; and yet had not any Command from Christ \ ^or. i. 17, 
 
 *' for Water Baptifm, hnt pra£fijing it upon fome without any Command; I 14,16. 
 
 *' may conclude, without Violence to any Text, or Derogation from the Digni- 
 
 " ty of any of the Apoftles, that as this great Minifter of the Gentiles did not 
 
 " think that Text, Mat. xxviii. 19. any Command to him-, neither did the 
 
 " other Apoftles -, nor did they praiStife Water Baptifm from it, or as a Thing 
 
 " neceftary in the Church to the E.nd of the World. And I do tell thee, that 
 
 *' though I havea Difpenlation of the fame Gofpel, in fome Meafure, committed 
 
 " unto me, by the Power of the fame Holy Spirit, yet I have no Comm.and 
 
 *' for Water Baptifm ; but rather to deteft the Fallacy and Ignorance, as alio 
 
 " the Prefumption of fuch as ufe fomcthing they falfely call Water Baptifm ; 
 
 " being no Inftitution of C h r i s t, but their own Invention ; by means where- 
 
 " of, with other fuch like Things, People being deceived, as if they were come 
 
 " to the Inftitution and Baptifm of C h R i s t, are held in Darknefs, and under 
 
 " the Egyptian Slavery of Antichrift, and his Emiftarics, in various Forms ; ma- 
 
 " king Gain and Merchandize of them •, glorying in their Flelli through their 
 
 " own carnal Ordinances, and not in the Lord. 
 
 " And as to thy Remark upon the whole, t?<r. Peter's, Words, Who can 
 " forbid Water, &c. are, as I have faid, far from importing any Inftitution herc^ 
 " or Praftice of Water Baptifm from the Text alledged. Mat. xxviii. 19. but,- 
 " very probably, from a prudential Confideration of the State of thofe believing 
 " Jews, then with Peter, and fome others who had received 'John's, Baptifm 
 " (all accounting him a Prophet, and highly efteeming him, and what he did 
 " in his Day) -, who, otherwife, being yet as Children in the Truth, might have 
 " thought the New-converted wanted fomething they lliould have had, as many 
 »' of the believing Jews were ftill zealous for the Law, after they had believed, Aasx.\i 20. 
 " though it was fully at an E.nd in point of Obligation, by the one Offering ; 
 
 " but
 
 4rk The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " but they not being able to underftand it, were indulged in fome Rites of the 
 1 7 15. " Law, and in John'^ Baptifm, for a Seafon ; both which wore off gradually 
 " by the Advancement of the divine Subftance of all Shadows : But the Prac- 
 " tice of Circumcifion, and other Rites of the Jews, after the Coming of the 
 " Holy Ghoft, did not perpetuate them -, no more does their Pra^ice eftablilh 
 " Water Baptilm. I therefore fay. Who is he that does praftife it at this Day, 
 " where he hath no Command from C h r i s t for it, if he truly fears God? and 
 " who is he that, believing this to be a Command of Christ, dares decline the 
 " Pratlice, both in Mode and Subjeft, and obtrude on Mankind another Thing? 
 " .For Sprinkling is no Baptilm, nor Infants Subjcds of thatfuppofed Ordinance. 
 " Pray then confider. Do not fuch as will thus pradife, diftate to Christ, 
 « and impofe the Inventions of Men in Will-worfhip, and Self-agency and Ad- 
 " vanccmcnt, inftead of his Appointments? But I having the Mind of God, 
 " both in declining Water Baptifm, and perfuading the People to believe in the 
 " Son of God, and to wait for his fiery Baptifm, as he is the Word of God, 
 *' as well to cleanfe them thoroughly from their own Sins, as alfo to initiate 
 " them into the Divine Natiire of the Son, by the Power and Virtue of his Holy 
 " Spij-it, that they may fin no more againft him, through their own fallen Na- 
 " turc, and the Temptations and Workings of Satan, that old Enemy, therein, 
 " I am in no Fear at all of what here is fuggefted from (in the moft favourable 
 " Scnfc) a well intended Zeal, fhort of a real Knowledge of the Way of God, 
 " . in his prefent Difpenfation to the Nations -, and yet I withold not Water from 
 " thefe who will needs be dabbling, though Christ has not appointed it, fince 
 " every Man nuift at laft account for his own Doings : Nor can I be reafona- 
 " bly thought to withftand G o d, in declining the Ufe of Water Baptifm •, or 
 Afljxi.i-. " that Text applicable to me on that Account, fince it hath no relation to with- 
 " ftandingGoD about Water Baptifm, but the Gift of the Holy Ghoft, and 
 " his Baptifm, for the Salvation of the Gentiles, miniftered by Peter'' s Preaching j 
 *' for which I am nov/ perfuading thee to wait, being thyfelt a Gentile. 
 
 " A s to thy laft Head : If that had been Water Baptifm which Christ 
 
 " fent his Apoftles with, it had been indifpenfibly neceffary to Salvation, being 
 
 Mat.xxvrii.' " commanded by him that hath all Power, and fubfequently annexed to true 
 
 '2' , " and favin"; Faith, and the Promife of Salvation ioined to both, viz. He that 
 
 x6. " ' '■'■ helieveth, and is baptized, Jfoall be faved: But fince, where true Faith goeth not 
 
 " before, in the proper Subjefts of this fpiritual Baptifm, there can be no fuch 
 
 " Baptifm; therefore he added, in the fame Place, He that helieveth not P:iall be 
 
 Aclsxi. [-, " damned: And accordingly, as Peter was preaching the Gofpel, the Holy Ghoft 
 
 tC. " fell on all that heard (tJiat is, believed) the Word; it being probable that fome 
 
 — ^■•34,3S- « heard the Wcrds, and not the Word. And this Gofpel is, that God is no Re- 
 
 " ffeSer of PerfonSy but in every Nation he that feareth him, and worketh Righte- 
 
 " oufnefs, is accepted with him; that the Word which God fent to Ifrael v/as 
 
 Lukeii. 14. " Peace by Jefus Chrift; which Word was even the fame which Christ fpoke 
 
 '^~- " of, and accordingly came through ^WJudea, beginning in Galilee, after the 
 
 " Baptifm which John preached ; how that God anoiiued J e s u s ot Nazareth 
 
 " ■with the Holy Ghoft, and vvith Power, i^c. Him God raifed up the third 
 
 " Day, and he commanded us to preach to the People, and to teftify that it is 
 
 " he that is ordained of Go d, a Judge of the Quick and Dead, iic. To him 
 
 " alfo gave all the Prophets witncls, that through his Name, all that believe in him 
 
 " fli.al! receive Remiflion of Siiis. In ali which he no way inculcates any Water 
 
 " Baptilm, but mentions only that of John occafionally ; placing the whole 
 
 " Weight upon this, that through his Name (that is, his Virtue and Power) all 
 
 *' that believe in him fliall receive Remifiion of Sins : Agreeing with J£^s iv. 12. 
 
 " where he laith, There is 710 other Name under Heaven given among Men, lahere- 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Ads i. 8
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 485- 
 
 " ly we mujl be faved. Whereas, if he had intended to adminifter Water Bap- An tv o 
 
 " tifm as an Inftitiition of Christ, 'tis more than probable he would have i7i5' 
 
 " faid fomething there of it to engage them to embrace it. What he faid at- 
 
 " terwards in that Queftion, TVho can forbid IVo.ter? being .no part of his Go- 
 
 " fpcl, or Sermon, whilft under the immediate. Power and Operation of the 
 
 " Holy Ghoft and Word ; nor i'pokcn to the new Converts, but of them to 
 
 " the Jcwiji:) Believers. Nor does it appear that they were at all baptized with 
 
 " Water, notwithftanding that Commandment, though I fhall not contend it ; 
 
 " but do fay. That in the very Aft oi Peter'' % preaching this Gofpel, the Holy 
 
 " Ghoft fell on all that heard (that is, believed and received) the JVord; which 
 
 " Falling and Aft of the Holy Ghoft and Word, is truly that Baptifm, Mat. 
 
 " xxviii. 19. and not W^ater Baptifm. From all which I will obfcrve to thee 
 
 " thefe two great Points -, i/. That there is a Baptifm (viz. of the Spirit) re- 
 
 " ally and indifpcnfibly neccflary to Salvation. And, 2dly. that there is fome- 
 
 " thing to be preached, and alfo to be believed, on Pain of Damnation, by thofe 
 
 " that hear it-, which is, in a few Words, comprifed in the Miffion of that great 
 
 " Apoftle, who was not fent to baptize., but to preach the Gofpel; the Sum of ',^°''''','^;.. 
 
 " which Golpel and MifTion was, to turn them (our Anceftors, the Gentiles) from jg_ ' " 
 
 " Darknefs to Light, (that is, to Ch ri st, who is that Light, even that true — viii.12. 
 
 " Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World) and from the J°hn '■ 9- 
 
 " Power of Satan unto God, in order to obtain that great and neceffary End, viz. (^.^|' |j_ ^^' 
 
 " an Inheritance among them that are fanoiified by Faith, which is in Chrift Je- jolm xii. 46. 
 
 " fus; which Faith overcomes the W^orld, and Nature and Spirit of it, in all Attsxx. 32. 
 
 " thofe who come to this living Faith of the Operation of G o d, and have the ^ 
 
 " Son and Word of God for the faving Objeft of it, as he is Light, in their 
 
 " own Hearts : which great and faving Myftery, that it may efteftually be 
 
 " made manifeft in thee, my well-meaning Friend, is my fincere Defire and 
 
 " Prayer to the God and Father of my dear Lord Jesus. 
 
 "Further, if Water Baptifm had been a ftanding Commandment of 
 " Christ to the End of the World, it had been made thereby neceffary to 
 " Salvation; becaufe every Breach of any Command of God is Sin : for Sin is a 
 " TranfgreffionoftheLaw, and the Commandment is that Law to him to whom it 
 " is given : But Water Baptifm was not fo commanded, as appears by what 
 " I have above written. But if Water Baptifm had been the Thing there com- 
 " manded, and yet not faving now, any more than Circumcifion was in its Time, 
 " but to be praftifed only becaufe commanded, how doft thou efcape the Force 
 " of that Commandment in ncglefting Baptifm, and fubftituting Rantifm ; and . 
 ** of that other, where he faith, If I then, your Lord and Maftcr, have voafhed Johnxiii. 14, 
 " your Feet, ye alfo ought to wafh the Feet of one another'^ But if Humility, and '^* 
 " a brotherly and charitable Care one over another's Ways, to their walking in 
 " the clear Way and Path of Truth and Life, will excufe this Praftice, as to the 
 " formal Aft of wafliing one another's Feet, Why may not a real inward Sanfti- 
 " fication, through Faith in the Word, Light, Grace, or Spirit of Christ, 
 " excufe from the Ufe of Water, without any Danger at all, either of refifting 
 " God, or fearing the Guilt of thofe who break, and teach the Breach of one, 
 " thouo-h the leaft of C h r i st's Commandments ? But though the Command- Mat. v. 17,18 
 " ments there intended were not of this ihadowy kind, but the moral and per- '9- . 
 " manent Commandments of God, couched in the great Two, comprehending ~ ■■^t— 
 " the whole Law and the Prophets.'' yet he that Jiakes Water Baptifm to be 
 *' one of Christ's Inftitutions, and neglefts and praftifes fome leffcr Thing 
 " in pretence of it, which Christ hath not inftituted, taketh away trom that 
 " Ordinance-, and if his Share that taketh away trom the Prophecy of the Book Rcv..xxii. iSy 
 *» Ihall be taken out of the Book of Life, hath not he, who thus embezzles an Or- '9- 
 
 6 G " dinance
 
 ■/'-^■''r 
 
 486 The LIFE, ^ 
 
 Anno " ciinancc of C h rist, reafon to fear the feme Judgment? Pray then make 
 
 1 7 1 ^. « hafte, reform, and efcape it : Thus ad hcmimni. But if Water Baptifm does 
 
 " not fave any more than Circumcifion, which I readily grant, then we need net 
 
 " be fo hot about it, as to want Water to quench it ; fince neither Circmncifton^ 
 
 " ncr Uncircumcifion (Eaptifm, or Rantifm with Water, or no Baptifm with Wa- 
 
 Gal vi ic " ter) availeth any Thing, but a neiv Creature, and keeping the Commandments 
 
 ! Cor! vii. 19. " of G o D ; which cannot intend Commandments of this kind, tor Circumci- 
 
 " fion was one ot them. 
 
 "To conclude, I do already, through the Grace of God, regard his faving 
 " Truths with all my Heart ; 2nd am, by the fame Grace, a Minilter of Truth, 
 " in fome Meafure ; (of which, when fubjefted to that holy Name, Nature, and 
 " Power, of which thou here fpeakeft in Words, thou wilt not be ignorant) and 
 " have impartially confidered the Tenor of thy Letter-, and, upon a full, clear, 
 " and folid Confideration of all thcfe Things, many Years ago, as alfo again on 
 " this Occafion, I perfectly know, and fully underftand, by the Mind of my 
 " dearcft Lord, that I have no Reafon at all to fear the Guilt aforefaidj but 
 " have as great Encouragement as any Mortal ought to expeft, both in Promo- 
 feph.i. :n.:5 " tion of the one Baptifm of the one Spirit, which baptizes every living belie- 
 — iv.4, 5.^ cc vipp Member into the one holy Church and living Body-, and expofmg the 
 0r.x11.i3. ^^ pgii^j^-y of Antichrift, and his Minifters, of every Form and Transformation, 
 " in what they fixlfely call the Ordinances and Commandments of Christ; 
 " and which God never fent them to perform, whatever fome well-meaning 
 " Pcrfons among them, like thyfelf, may fuppofe or dream of: and yet have fo 
 " learned of the L o r d, as not to expeft any other Reward in his holy and glo- 
 " rious Kingdom, than what he fliall pleafe freely to give, as if I had not wrought 
 " in his Vineyard. 
 
 " And now, dear Friend, I recommend thee to God-, exhorting thee to 
 " believe in his Grace given thee through Christ Jesus the Lord; even 
 " in the ingrafted W^ord, which is able to fave thy Soul; and that without any 
 " fuch Means as fprinkling with Water, in the Name of the Father, Son, and 
 " Holy Ghoft, or any other Mode of ufing elementary Water : for through 
 " Faith in the true Light, and walking therein, is not only the true Church Fei- 
 " lowfhip, but alfo there, and not otherwife, doth the Blood of Christ the 
 J John!. 7. " Son cleanfe from all Unrighteoufnefs: \A'hich Salvation, that it may be thy 
 " fpeedy Experience, as to the Commencement of it in this Life, and Com- 
 " pletion thereof in that which is to come, in the Glory and Kingdom of my 
 " deareft Lord, is the repeated, fincere and earneft Supplication (to him who 
 hath all Power in Heaven and Earth, and alone is able to efteift it in all) of 
 
 Thy true ami loving Friend, 
 
 to ferve thee as far as I may, in Ckrijl Jefus, 
 
 THO. STOFv-Y. 
 
 " P. S. This was begun, and much of it done according to the Date; but, 
 " by reafon of my tranfient Way of living, was not finifhed till lately. I. 
 " have been waiting here fome Days for a Paflage to Holland, where I am 
 " now going, and fhall be glad to hear from thee at my Return; which 
 " I hope will be in two or three Months; and if thou wilt favour me 
 " with a few Lines, direft to be left with John Crouch, Upholfterer, in 
 " Crown Court, in Grace-Church-Street, London. If fo directed, though 
 " before my Return, ic will come fife to hand." 
 
 I 
 
 IC
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 487 
 
 I WROTE al(b to John Gilpin^ in which I inclofcd the above; which was Anno 
 
 as follows : 
 
 Bear Friend, Jehu Cilphu Tarmouth i^th Fifth .Month, 1715. 
 
 " '" I ' H E inclofcd is an Anfwer to that of my Friend "Thomas Dixon^ where- 
 " X in I have taken more Pains than was precifely neceffary for the Refu- 
 " tation of his Miftake of the Text, Mat. xxviii. 19. which I could have done 
 " in a tew Lines; but, for his full Information, I have enlarged on the Subjed, 
 " and can fay more ftill, if any Objedlion fliall yet remain with him, or any of 
 " you that may read it ; and Ihalj, through the Grace of G o d, be willing to take 
 " any Pains for his, or any of your real Service or Information, in that, or any 
 " other Point the Lord may make me inilnimental in for your good: In 
 " which, though I have, and may write bold and fliarp in fome Parts, the Na- 
 '• ture ot the Thing requiring it, yet I have nothing in me but real Friendlhipj 
 " and upon the bed Foundation, to all that are called by the Name of the 
 " Lord Jesus ; and can fay, that nothing could give me more folid Satis- 
 " fadion, than that the Gentilt-s profeffing Christ every where, might really 
 " embrace him in the prefent Way of his Coming in them; and efpecially you 
 *' and fome others I love in a more particular Manner. And fince my Friend 
 " Dixon thought fit to hand his Letter to me by thy Means, I think none more 
 " proper to hand him this Anfwer, which I defire he may take in good part; 
 *' for I am filled witli many good Defires for him, in which thyfelf and thine 
 " are not the leaft Sharers: fince I can fay freely, that not only thy late Civi- 
 " lities and good Wife's, in my Vifit at M^hitehaveji, but fomething more in- 
 *' ward and divine obliges to it ; in which I would now alfo embrace the whole 
 *' Family, of which thou art a Member, whom I now love as well as ever, and to 
 " whom pleafe prefent my Refpedls, as Occafion may offer, as if all named. 
 
 " I A M Debtor to my Friend at Brcughton-Tower, and would falute her in a 
 •' few Lines, with my Acknowledgements, but know not how to direfl ; of 
 " which pray inform me. 
 
 "The fetting in of the Evening allowing me little more Light, haftens me 
 " to a Conclufion of this with that of the Day, which is in very fincere Relpedts 
 " from. 
 
 Dear Friend, 
 
 "Thy very loving Friend, 
 
 tho. story. 
 
 iREMAiNEoat Tarmouth till the 1 7th of the Fifth Month, being the Firft 
 Day of the Week, and the People generally at their own Worfhip, and no No- 
 tice of my being there, the Time of failing fo uncertain, the Meeting was more 
 felcft, and much quieter and more comfortable, the Lord being with us, and 
 a few fober People alfo well fatisfied who fat with us. The Afternoon Meeting 
 
 being ended, the Wind came fair, and Notice being given me by Gymer, 
 
 Mafter of the Vefrcl, the Eagle of Yarmouth,' I went on board about Six in the 
 Evening. 
 
 I 
 
 7^5- 
 
 A
 
 488 The LIFE, ^'c, 
 
 ^I'^l ^ JOURNAL from ENGLAND to HOL-^ 
 LAND, FRIEZLAND, and GERMANY, 
 
 in the Tear 171 5". 
 
 A V I N G embark'd on board the Eo.gle of Tarmonth^ on the 1 7th of the 
 
 Fifth Month, in the Evening, with a fair Breeze, we arrived well the 
 
 next Day, about Two in the Afternoon, in Sight of the Gcree, off" 
 
 from the Maze, and fet in towards the Sands, and the firft two Buoyes 
 
 placed there; but no Pilot coming out, we anchored further out that Evening; 
 
 V/here a brisk Gale took us in the Night, and raifed the Sea, but we fuftaincd 
 
 no Damacrp; and, in the Morning, weighing Anchor, a Pilot came out to us, 
 
 and conveyed us up the River to the Bril, from whence we continued our 
 
 Courfe direftly ior Rotterdam; where, through the Goodnefs of the Lord, 
 
 we arrived well about four in the Afternoon, on the 19th, and I took up my 
 
 Lodging with my Friend and old Acquaintance, Robert Gerard, formerly of 
 
 Aberdeen^ in Scotland^ who, for fome Years had liVed there, occafioned by his 
 
 Matriage; where I v/as kindly received and entertained. 
 
 On the 20th, being the Fourth of the Week, I was at their Meeting ; which 
 is very fmall, there not being above four fmall B'amilies, and not all under a 
 Profeffion of Trutli : but the L o r d, who is not confined to Number, but open- 
 ed the I .aw and the Prophets to the two Difciples going to Emails, was pleafed 
 to vifit us together, tender our Hearts by the fame Word of his Grace, and 
 make them burn within us, to our folid Confohtion. 
 
 Here I tarried fome Days, and wrote fome Letters, particularly one to 
 "James Dickenfon, (in which I inclofed a Copy of my Anfwer to Thomas Dixon, 
 the Presbyterian Minifler, at Whitehaven, in Cumberland) which was as follows : 
 
 r. 7- ■ J ^ T\- I.- r Rotterdam, 2 Kth Fifth Month, ijiK. 
 
 Dear Friend, Ja?nes Dicbnfon, ' -^ ■' ■> 1 o 
 
 " HOU wilt perceive, by the Contents of the inclofed Copy, that when 
 I was in Cumberland, Thomas Dixon, a Presbyterian Minifler at White- 
 " haven, came to a Meeting which was at Weftfule ; where he took fome Excep- 
 " tions to what I faid on the Subjeft of Baptifm, and writ me a Letter upon it, 
 " which I had no Time to anfwer till after the Yearly Meeting at London: But 
 " having lately finilhed it, I fent it from Yarmouth laft Week, where I then was ; 
 " and judging it proper that fome Friend in Cumberland fliould have a Copy, 
 " left I fhould be mifreprefented in my Abfence, and Truth fuffer, I would 
 " have fent it from thence, but the Wind coming fair in the Afternoon of the 
 " laft Firft Day, after the Meeting, I was obliged to depart thence before I could 
 " finifli it : And thinking thyfelf the moft proper Perfon, I fend it herewith to 
 " anfwer the End aforefaid, hoping thou wilt not begrudge the Charge; and I 
 " defire thee to make ufe of it as occafion may offer. 
 
 " I COULD willi a Meeting- houfe could be had at V/hitehaven-, for there is 
 '' an Opennefs in fome of the People, and will be more in Time ; of which 
 " 1 hope Friends there in the County are fcnfible, and will be mindful. 
 
 "The Yearly Meetings at Colchejler and Norwich were both very large and 
 " pretty open, efpecially to the People, and feVeral reached and affeited ; but 
 " in fome other Places in thefe Counties oi Effex, Suffc'k, and Norfolk, where 
 
 " the
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. 489 
 
 " the Meetings were mofl of Friends, Tilings were but very lean and dry •, the Anno 
 
 " Reafon whereof, by the Tenor of the Teftimony, is Unfaithfulnefs and Eafe, 1715- 
 
 " efpecially in a fecret and colliifive Way of paying Priefts; of v/hich too 
 
 " many are guilty, and Ibme of them lately made more fenfible of the Evil 
 
 " than before : It being upon me to tell them, in the open Yearly Meeting at 
 
 " Norivich, That fuch as are Profefibrs of Truth, and fupport an Antichriftian 
 
 " Priefthood, are guilty of High Treafon againif his divine Majefty, the Lord 
 
 " of Lords, and King of Kings ; which fome taking hard, and telling me of it, 
 
 " the Lord fupported his own Teftimony, and brought one of the fliff ones 
 
 " under, fo as to own his Miftake. The Lord is at work in many Places, 
 
 " and great Openncfs among the People of divers Notions in thefe Eaftern Parts 
 
 " of England^ and here and there one comes forv/ard to own the Truth ; but 
 
 " where Friends are not come up to that Stature therein, where they might 
 
 " have been for the Time, this is, ever was, and will be a Stumbling-block in 
 
 " the Way of the Weak. I find Things pretty quiet about the Affirmation, 
 
 " the Point long defired by fome being gained ; and, I think, the more tender 
 
 " fort that are for it, fully defirous of a further Sollicitation, tlie ftiffefl of all bc- 
 
 " ing about London and Brijlol; and, I believe, not half the Number they have 
 
 " boafted of in the World, are, in their own Judgments, really for it; but many 
 
 " have been milled by Pradice and Management; whofe Eyes the Lo rd will 
 
 " open in his own Time, and make all conclude to his own Glory •, it being no 
 
 " lefs than his Counfel that brought Things to fo good a Conclufion at our lafl 
 
 " Yearly Meeting -, tho' many have ftill the Load of a further Travel on them, 
 
 " which yet is much better than an open Divifion •, which would have been ftill 
 
 *' a greater Snimbling-block in the Way of the Nations, the Eyes of many beincr 
 
 " ftill upon us. I departed from Yarmouth on the laft Firft Day, about Six in 
 
 " the Evening, and, after a comfortable Voyage, arrived here well on the Third, 
 
 " about four; where feveral Friends came on board in a few Minutes, and ac- 
 
 " companied me to the Houfe of our Friend Robert Gerard^ forrherly of Aber- 
 
 " deen^ where now I am in as good Health as fince I came to Europe; for which 
 
 *' I am thankful. I have been but at one Meeting, which was laft Fourth Day, 
 
 " and very fmall, tho' feveral Mailers of VefTels, l£c. from England -wtict at it, 
 
 " there being but three or four Families in Town, and fome of them fcarce un- 
 
 " der a ProfefTion, and but few in the Form of the Teftimony, in Speech, Ap- 
 
 " parel, and Behaviour, but moral and civil : and yet, O the Mercy and Kindnefs 
 
 " of the Lord! his tendering Prefence was with us, and we were comforted 
 
 " therein. John Padley was here fome Weeks before me, and is now at Amjterdam, 
 
 " where he ftays for me, and whither I ini;end to go, as the Lord may make 
 
 " way, about the next Fourth Day ; but expeft little but Exercife in all thefe 
 
 " Parts, feeing at how low an Ebb Things are every where ; fome of the An- 
 
 " cients, who were as Pillars, are gone into Whims, and the young ones to the 
 
 " World, and the Ways of it, without Reproof-, nay, by Encouragement from 
 
 " their Parents, whilft they themfelves continue to profefs the holy Truth : And 
 
 *' yet, to the Praift of his blefied Grace, for whom are all Things, there is ftill 
 
 *' a fmall Reijinant alive, to whofe Number and Strength the Lord will yet 
 
 *' add, in his own full and appointed Seafon. 
 
 " I SHOULD be glad of a Letter from thee, (which will come fafe-by the way 
 " of London) and to hear of thine and Wife's Wclfiire. Wc had little Time at 
 " London^ Things being heavy, and all bufy and troubled, but better Times may 
 " come ; which, when lb allotted, will be acceptable, as thy Society and Friend- 
 " fhip hath ever been to Thy truly loving Friend and Brother^ 
 
 in the beft Relation, THO. STORY. 
 
 " My kind Love to Friends your Way." 
 
 6 H " On
 
 49 o 
 
 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno On tlie 26th, being the Third of the Week, I fet forward by Belft^ Leyden, 
 1 71 5. and Harlaem, by Water; and, flaying a little at Harlaem, at our Friend Peter 
 Leonard's, to refrefh us, where I met with John Padley, from London, we went 
 that Evening to Amjierdani, where the Meeting falling of courfe the next Day, 
 was fmall, and in the fore Part of it very heavy and dull, under the Temptation 
 of a fleepy Spirit, which prevailed on feveral ; there being rather a Lukewarm- 
 nefs and DeclenOon in this City, than a going forward : but the Lord was 
 pleafed to make way for us, through this Vail of Darknefs ; and the Meeting end- 
 ed in fome Degree of Life, and Things were pretty well. Here Jacob Clans 
 intcrprett'd for me, as Archibald Hope had done in Rotterdam ; which being a 
 Thing I had not been acquainted with, was a little ftrange at firfl, but, as I gain- 
 ed Experience, it became more eafy, and my Spirit more at Liberty in that Ex- 
 ercifc. 
 
 The next Day we returned to Harlaem, where we had an appointed Meeting: 
 for tho' they have formerly had a fettled Meeting there, moft of them are be- 
 come fo cold, that they have wholly dropped it, and fome of them fo weak as 
 to go among the Menifts to hear them. There having been pretty good No- 
 tice given, the Meeting was pretty large, moft of them Menifts, and fome Pref • 
 byterians, and one Minifter, the publick Preacher in that Town. Things opened 
 large and clear among them, and Truth was in good Dominion in the Life and 
 Power of it. They were generally very quiet, and fome of them pretty much 
 reached by the Power of Truth, and tendered -, and were loving after the Meet- 
 ing, and departed in a very folid Condition from the Place. That Night we 
 lodged at Peter Leonard's. 
 
 On the 29th we went to the Houfe of Simon Bevel, to have made him a Vi- 
 fit: He had once known a pretty good Condition j but marrying a Menift, 
 ftie had drawn him afide with her •, and he coming to this Meeting, was reached 
 and affefted, which drew fome Notice from us : When we went to his Houfe, he 
 happened to be gone to Anfterdam ; however, his Wife received us courteoufly, 
 and invited us into an Arbour in the Garden, and brought thither fome of her good 
 Things, fuitable to the Time and Occafion, to compleat her Civilities •, but we ha- 
 ving a greater Eye upon the Lord than thefe, and more towards her good than her 
 Entertainment, the Lord was pleafed to draw us into a fweet Silence -, and, being 
 about half a Dozen in all, gave me a few Words to her in particular, whkh alio 
 reached all ; and then John Padley prayed, and we had a very tender and divine 
 Seafon : After which we departed in great Love and Peace, fhe inviting us thither 
 again in our Return that Way, if it fhould pleafe the Lord fo to order it. 
 
 Having finiflied this fatisfaftory Vifit, we returned that Forenoon to Am- 
 fierdani, and were at their Firft Day Meeting; which, in the Forenoon, was 
 pretty well filled with Strangers, fome fuppofed to be young Princes, or Nobles, 
 • by their Garb and Retinue: Things opened clear and well concerning the Way 
 of Truth, and I was interpreted bymiliam Sewel; and the People were very quiet, 
 and many of them feemed concerned, and in fome Meafure reached by the Truth. 
 In the Afternoon their Meetirg is ufually more fekft ; which being known to 
 the Inhabitants, it was fmaller, but more Strangers than commonly : Befides, in 
 this Country, they make fo little of the Firft Day, that many buy and fell in the 
 Shops in the Afternoons, and are thereby detained from all Worfhip, and others 
 go a pleafuring in Walks, Gardens, Coaches, Boats, and the like; fo that all 
 I'Jaces of WorGiip, I am told, are very thin at fuch Times. Our Meeting was 
 open and comfortable, the Lord being with us, to the Praife of his holy Name, 
 who IS worthy for ever. 
 
 Here
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 491 
 
 Here we remained till the 2d of the Sixtli Month, being the Third of the Anno 
 Week, and about Nine in the Morning went thence, Peter Leonard being witli ^J^A- 
 lis as our Companion and Interpreter ; and, in the Afternoon, arrived at Horn, in 
 North Holland, and went thence that Evening in a Waggon belonging to Peter 
 Hornfon, a Friend, to Twisk, and lodged at the Houfe of Hfiijans Grootevjall, a Twiflc. 
 Friend. On the 3d we had two Meetings there, one about Nine in the Morn- 
 ing, and another about half an flour after Six in the Evening : The firft was 
 pretty well filled, and open and well, but the fecond not fo full, the People 
 being about their Cattle and Bufincfs -, but the Meeting was open and well, and 
 feveral tendered and comforted in the Truth ; whofe blefled Power was over 
 all. That Night we flaid there. 
 
 On the 4th we went back to Horn, to the Houfe of John Williamfon- Horn, 
 Flajhbloom, (a Menift, but convinced of Truth) and were well entertained there. 
 Here we had a Meeting in the Menifts' Meeting-houfe ; which was not large but 
 pretty open and well : Several of their chief Men were there, and were very 
 fober, though, I fuppofe, not pleafed ; for there are a Scdl among them called 
 Collegians, who deny the Divinity of Christ, or that the Spirit of G o d is 
 now to be expeded as of old; and that Men may, if they will, keep all the 
 Doftrines and Commandments of Christ, and in fo doing are faved. And 
 the Teftimony of Truth that Day went againft them in all thefe Points ; but 
 we did not meet with any Oppofition, for the Truth was over them. 
 
 That Afternoon we went by Waggon to Enchuyfin ; where we lodged at 
 an Inn, and went to fee one Martin Daniel, a Baker, who is conv inced of Truth, 
 but has not Strength to profefs it: He and his Wife were very kind, and invi- 
 ted us to lodge there •, but we put it off, left we fliould be burthenfome to them, 
 only being there at Dinner : I having fomething to fay on that Occafion, they 
 were reached, and their Hearts ftill more open ; and we exhorted them to be 
 noble, and take up the Crofs freely, and defpife the Shame, which now, as well 
 as of old, attends the Profefiion of the Lord Jesus, according to the prefent 
 Difpenfation. The Weather being bad, we ftaid there till the 6th, being the 
 Seventh of the Week, about half an Hour after Three in the Morning, and then 
 fet Sail for Harlingen, in IVejl Friezland j where we arrived about Eleven Fore- 
 noon. 
 
 O N the 7th, being the Firft of the Week, we had two Meetings at Harlingen, Harlingeis; 
 in a Room which Friends have for that Purpofe, being but two or three fmall 
 Families, and feveral of the Collegian Menifts came thither ; but I believe our 
 Doftrine, though found and good according to Holy Scripture, witnefTing to 
 the Son of G o d, the divine Word, a reafonable and holy Soul, and human Body, 
 fubftantially and truly united, and now glorified together, did not pleafe fome of 
 them ; though others of the Menifts were well fatisfied, and feveral of them 
 came to fee us at our Friend, the Widow Ametie Joejten''?, Houfe, where we lod- 
 ged : The Lord was with us, and all was well and comfortable, feveral being 
 touched with a Senfe of Truth. 
 
 Next Morning early we departed thence in a Draw-boat, and, by the Way 
 of Franckar, Lewwarden, (the Prince of Friezland'^ Seat) and Donum, to Groenin' 
 gen ; where we arrived about Nine at Night, and lodged at an Inn. 
 
 About half an Hour after Three the next Morning we fet forward hence, 
 in a Draw-boat, towards Delf-Zell; and from thence over the River, and up 
 
 the
 
 4-9 ^ 
 
 The LIFE, c^'c. 
 
 Anno the Shore o^ Eaji Friezland, to Embden ; where we arrived before Night: and 
 1715. there being only one poor old Widow remaining in that City under the Profef- 
 Embden. fion of Truth, called Hejier Jans, we went to an Inn ; and, after fome Relrefli- 
 ment, went to vifit li£r ; which llie took well, and was rejoiced to fee us : Af- 
 ter that we walked through much of the City, and round good part of the Banks; 
 but were all of us greatly loaden in our Spirits, in a Senfe of the Power of Dark- 
 nefs, whicii is great there. Returning to our Inn under this Senfe, it pleafed the 
 Lord to vifit us together in a Time of holy Silence, and make us all fcnfible 
 of his divine Love to a People there ; in which our Spirits were releafed from the 
 other Load, and became now freighted with a Burden of Love, in order to a 
 Vifitation of fome of them : And accordingly, next Day, we had a Meeting at 
 the Widow's Houfe, which, being but fmall, was well filled ; fo that feveral 
 went up into an upper Room, where they could hear, and many in the Street 
 about the Windows, and were generally fober, and pretty many well aflFcdted j 
 and, the Lord being with us, we had a comfortable Time, and the Principle and 
 Dodrine of Truth clearly opened in a good Degree of Life and Love, and the 
 People departed in a vifible Solidity, in a general Way : So tliat I have Hopes 
 of the Place, that the Inhabitants will receive Truth, and entcrtam it better thaa 
 heretofore ; for there were feveral Friends there formerly, but, being greatly 
 ptrfecuted, fome went from the Place, and others died : But this City (as all 
 other perftcuting Cities and Kingdoms muft) falling into a very fenfible De- 
 cay, and the Burghers refiefting upon their former Behaviour to Truth, and its 
 Followers, began to be fenfible in fome Meafure of their Error, and would now 
 gladly receive any Friends that would fettle among them : and who knows but 
 that, if they continue humble, and in th.it good Mind, the Lord may both 
 fend, and alfo raife many among them, to his own Glory, and their great Com- 
 fort in him. 
 
 After this Meeting we reigned over all in the Lord -, who, when and 
 where he is pleafed to arife in his great Power, foon fubilues and puts all Things 
 under him : So that, as in the Evening b.-fore we had been greatly burdened, 
 we were now as much rejoiced in him ; to whom be Rule and Dominion for ever. 
 
 Being returned to our Inn, we had a Meflage from Hendrick Zwart and 
 his Wife, a conhderable Merchant in that City, to invite us to Dinner •, but being 
 provided for in the Inn, we, acknowledging the Civility, declined the Proffer, but 
 gave them to expeft a Vifit as we pafiTed that Way, intending on our Journey 
 that Afternoon; and accordingly were very kindly entertained, fhe being rela- 
 ted to Peter Leonard'"'', Wife -, and told us, that they did not know of the Meet- 
 ing till it was almoft over, elfe had both been there-, and we parted with much 
 Refpeft on all Sides, being invited to take our Lodging there at our Return that 
 Way. Thus we departed that City, t!ie People in the Streets fhewing no Dif- 
 like, but rather CiviUty, as we palTed along; and that Night pafiTed by Waggon 
 to Leere, and lodged at an Inn. 
 
 O N the I ith, early in the Morning, we went from hence to Detran and Jpen^ 
 and lo to Oldenl^urg ; where we were Hopped a little at the Gate, and exami- 
 ned whence we came, and what we were, but nothing uncommon impofed upon 
 us ; and that being the Waggon Stage, we refrcflied ourfelves at the Inn, and 
 were fenfible of a great Power of Darknefs in that City, of which we fpoke one 
 to another, and foon departed thence, being again examined as we paiTed out at 
 the Gate by tlie Commander of the Guard, and our Names again taken, as they 
 had been at the Gate where we entered, lb that they were very ftrift in their 
 Way; and, finding no Contradiction or Fault in us, we pafied thence in the 
 
 Wag-
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. 495 
 
 Waggon to Telhoife, an Inn on the Baiik of the River ; where we arrived with- Anno 
 in Niglit, going with Horfes and Waggon into the Hoiife, where there were a i7^5' 
 Coach and Chariot before, all on the fame Floor, and the People, and Fire, and 
 all their Affiiirs in one View, the Horfes being fet on each Side, all within the 
 fame Walls (though they have fome Chambers apart); which, though flr.ingc and 
 odd to us, yet is the common Way in that Part of the World throughout our 
 Journey ; and look'd fomethinglike Noah's Ark, where all Kinds were together. 
 
 O N the 1 2th, early in the Morning, we f;t forward in an open Waggon (they 
 being altogether fo in that Country, and not by much lb commodious or com- 
 fortable as in Holland, the moft regular People in many Things I ever yet obfer- 
 ved) ; and, being fome Rain, it was a little unpleafant, and fo palTed on by 
 Delmenborji to the City of Breme; and there, dinir.g at an Inn, we heard that 
 the Plague was at the City oi Altena (within a M^\\eoi Hamburgh, whither we were 
 going) ; and that it was fhut up and guarded on all Sides, about 600 Soldiers 
 being appointed by the Haniburghers, by Confent of the King of Denmark, to that 
 Service. This gave us fome Exercife ; tor, at firft hearing, it look'd, to human 
 Reafon, a little dangerous to proceed towards a Place fo circumftanced, and by 
 other Towns and Places too, where, being Strangers, we mufl: expeft ftrift Ex- 
 aminations, befides our own perfonal Danger of the Sicknefs : but, after fome 
 inward Retirement, our Way was cleared up through all Difficulties, and we re- 
 folved to proceed on our Journey and Service. Here we fpoke with Sarah 
 Schreders, a friendly Woman, and loving the Way of Truth. She told us of 
 fome others there who alfo tavoured it; that there was great Divifion among 
 the People about Religion ; and that one of the publick Preachers, having come 
 near the Doftrine of Truth, telling them that outward Baptifm, and Bread and 
 Wine without the Subftance, would not do, was filenced by a prevailing Party, 
 but had ftill many on his Side ; and teeling fome Degree of Opennefs in my Mind 
 to the Inhabitants, I kept the Place in remembrance, intending that Way in our 
 Return. From hence we departed about Five in the Evening, and that Night, 
 about Eleven, arrived at OUerherg, and lodged at an Inn. 
 
 Departing early in the Morning, as we rid along a Caufeway, one of the 
 Waggon Wheels came off, and the Waggon fell down, but no further Harm 
 happen'd to any ; and it being put to rights, we proceeded ; and, by the Way of 
 Cloyfierfeven, we went to Buxtybude ; where we dined at an Inn, and heard fully 
 how Things were ztAltena and Hamburgh ; the former clofely fliut up, fo that tlie 
 Soldiers had ftridl Orders to fire upon any Perfon who fliould attempt to come 
 out; but the latter was yet clear and open. We went that Afternoon over the 
 River Elfe, to a Place called Blankenefs ; where we lodged, being too late to 
 reach Hamburgh before the Time of fliutting up the Gates. 
 
 On the 14th we went early to Town, and were ftrldlly examined by the Out- Hamburfl> 
 guards ; but (having a Certificate from our laft Inn, teftifying that we had come 
 over the River thither in the Evening, and we letting them know that we had 
 come diredly from Holland) had Admittance into the City, and were kind- 
 ly received and entertained by our Friend "Jacob Hagen, with whom we ftaid that 
 Day ; but could not have a Meeting, becaufe tiie People were generally at their 
 Worlhip, and none there under a Profeffion ot Truth but himfelf, and but few 
 inclinable that Way : But the next Day, being the Second of the Week, we 
 had a Meeting at his Houfe ; and he being acquainted with moft Merchants and 
 Perfons of Account, and refpefted in the City ; and having given Notice to fuch 
 as he thought religioufly inclined, th.cre came, among others, Dcpelir.s, Chan- 
 
 6 I cellos
 
 494 
 
 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno cellor and Counfellor of the King of Denmark, Heycrmn, a Counfellor of the 
 1 7 1 5. Duke of Ploen, near Lubeck, Dr Spreeckelfen, Dr Wiegers, alfo a Merchant from 
 Riga, and divers other Merchants of his Acquaintance. They were all Men ot 
 Appearance in tlieir Way, and promiied little towards the Comfort ot a Meet- 
 ing, rather like Perfons of Curiofity than Religion-, and fome of the Mer- 
 chants at firft a little light, talkative, and bufy with their Snuff-boxes am.ong 
 themfelves; and my Spirit was much down, and under Heavinefs, till about 
 a Quarter of an Hour had paft, the Truth began to work, and foon arofe 
 in me over their Spirits-, and then I had Courage and Strength, and Things 
 opening much to the inward Appearance of the divine Word, they were brought 
 under in fome Degree ; and it was a good Meeting -, and moft of them took 
 us kindly by the Hands after the Meeting was over, and paflfed away very fohdly. 
 The Friend told us afterwards who they were -, and that the above Chancellor 
 of the King of Deimark was an Enemy to all Priellcraft, and had writ and pu- 
 blifned fome very fmart Things againft the Lulheran Pritfts, which had much 
 galled them ; but being a very clear Writer, and fober Perfon, they lie under it. 
 He is a Man of a good and manly Afpeft, and behaved very foberly and in- 
 wardly in theMeeting. 
 
 Remaining here till the^iext Day Afternoon, Jacob Hagen related the fol- 
 lowing Pafiage, viz. " In the Year 1712 the Czar of Mufcovy, being in the 
 "■ City ot Frederickftadt, in Holftein, about two Days Journey from hence, with 
 " 5000 Soldiers to affift the Danes againft the Swedes, after he had quartered 
 " his Men, enquired of one of the Biirgomafters, whether there were any of 
 " the People called Quakers there ? The faid Officer told him there were a tew. 
 " Then the Czar afked him if they had a Meeting in that Place? The Officer 
 " told him they had. Then the Czar bid the Officer let the Friends know, 
 " that if they would appoint their Meeting that Forenoon, being the Firft Day, 
 " he would be at it. The Officer replied, that there were 30 of his Soldiers in 
 " the Meeting-place ; fo that there could not be any Meeting in it. When the 
 " Czar heard that, he was angry that they had put Soldiers there, and fent an 
 " Order by one of his own Captains, that they fhould all be put out forthwith, 
 " and that Notice fhould be given to the Friends by the Captain, that if they 
 " would appoint their Meeting, he would come to it -, and accordingly the Of- 
 " ficer gave Notice thereof to the faid Jacob Hageii, then at Frederickj'iadt, and 
 " Philip Defair, a publick Friend, who lived there ; and not only ordered the 
 " Soldiers out of the Room, but made them take away all they had brought 
 " thither : And, the Place being made ready, they had their Meeting at the fe- 
 " cond Hour Afternoon ; to which the Czar came, and brought with him Prince 
 " Mtnzikoff, oi Mufcovy, the General Dolgorucky, and feveral other of his Dukes, 
 " Generals, and Secretaries of State, and other great Men; and, a great Crowd 
 " following, he ordered the Door to be fhut, as foon as a competent Number 
 " were in to fit comfortably ; and many more came to the Windows, and all 
 " about : And, after fome Time of Silence, Philip Befair preached the Dodtrine 
 " of Truth among them, and all lat very quiet, but efpecially the Czar-, ^\•ho 
 " fat very gravely all the Time of Silence, and all the others, being awed by 
 " his Ex^.mple and Prefence, did folikewife: But t\\c Mufcovite Lords and 
 " Generals not underftanding the Language, and the Czar himfelf underftandint; 
 " it pretty well, interpreted to them what was declared, with much Gravity and 
 " Serioufnefs ; commending what he heard, faying. That whoever could live ac- 
 " cording to that Dodrine would be happy. The Meeting ending, Jacob Ha- 
 *' gen was about to fpeak to the Czar, but one who had been a Lutheran Prieft 
 " then out of Office, who had farmed of Friends the reft of the Houfe, of wliich 
 " the Meeting-houfe is partj and it appearing to the Soldiers when' they had 
 
 " en-
 
 of T H M ^ S S T R r. 
 
 49 :r 
 
 " entered it, as one Houfe, he had fliewed them the Meeting-room as being a Anno 
 
 " Part of the whole, as if it had been his, and fo had faved his own Part clear 1715. 
 
 " of the Soldiers: This Prieft, fearing the Confequence, if his Deceit had appear- 
 
 " ed to the Czar, craftily and deceitfully flept to him in the mean time, and, 
 
 " feignedly thanking him for freeing the Place of the Soldiers, requefted that 
 
 " he might have Leave to put up a Paper on the Houfe Door, to fignify that 
 
 " it was a Church, or Place of Worfliip, the Czar having ordered that all 
 
 " Churches fhould be free from his Soldiers ; and though the Czar did not 
 
 " anfv/er him, yet he put up a Paper, and the Soldiers came no more there: 
 
 " But by this means our Friends were prevented at that Time from fpeaking 
 
 " to the Czar; who, whilft there, went to feveral other forts of Worfliip, but 
 
 " did not feem to be pleafcd with any but our Meeting : A Friend after this 
 
 *' prefenting him with Rokri Barclay's Catechifm and Apology in High Butch, 
 
 " he faid he would have them trandated, and printed in his own Language." 
 
 O N the Third Day after Dinner I had a fccrct Work of Truth in my Mind, 
 and we were all drawn into Silence, and, after fome Time, to Prayer, and we 
 were comforted together : And this being a little over. Notice was given to 
 Jacob Hagen, that there was an Order come from the King of Denmark to fiiut: 
 up the City ol Hamburgh, as Altena was, he being informed that the Plague was 
 alfo among them. We being prepared by fo good a Seafon, were not furprized 
 at it ; but, having no farther Concerns there at that Time, and intending for- 
 ward towards Frederickfiadt the next Morning at fartheft (having ftaid that 
 Morning at J. Hagen's Requeft) we were advifed, left the Place fhould be fhut 
 up, and we detained there, to depart that Afternoon on our Way ; which we did 
 accordingly, though fome of us could have been very free, and rather have ftaid 
 longer. It was near Five in the Evening before we fet forward, and it began to 
 rain as we departed the City •, and, being in an open Waggon, we were much 
 wet ■, and which was worft of all, we had an idle ill-natured Driver, who, be- 
 ing hardy himfelf, and able to endure the Weather, would hardly go out of a 
 Foot-pace ; fo that it was very late before we reached the Inn : and, when there, 
 had but mean Accommodations, fome of us lying only on Straw, and covered 
 with wet Cloaths. 
 
 O N tlie 1 7t]i, early in the Morning, we again fet forward, it ftill raining, and 
 went about the fame Pace as before, till we came to another Stage, where we 
 dined : And there we had the Satisfaction to change our Waggon-driver; and 
 though it rained ftill, yet wc were much better ufed, and proceeded more chear- 
 fully, for this went a good Pace ; and we fhortened our Journey a great deal 
 that Afternoon, but very wet ftill, and all of us had taken Cold. 
 
 The next Morning, being fair and clear, we kt out early ; and, driving at 
 a good Rate, and the Weather continuing good, our Cloaths dried as we rid 
 along, and we were a little more chearful, and about Eleven Forenoon we arrived 
 at Frederickfiadt; and, coming to the Houfe of our Friend Cyfinond Outerloo, 
 who married Elizabeth, Daughter of Thomas Dell, of Kenfington, we were joy- 
 fully received, and kindly and plentifully entertained with them, and his Father 
 and Mother, they all living together : And, having Things fuitablc, the Cold we 
 hatl taken went off gradually, and, being comforted together in the Love of 
 Truth, we foon forgot the Fatigue of our Journey; which, in the Time of it, 
 was a little exercifing. Here they confirmed to us what I have written above 
 of the Czar; and related many other Things of him of a good Tendency; one 
 of which was this, " That he uied quite anothcrWay with his Officers, and otiiers, 
 
 " than
 
 496 The LIFE, &c . 
 
 Anno " than had been reported of him when in his own Country ^ for he was fo fi- 
 17 15. " miliar, that he would have them call him fometimes by his Name, and ieem- 
 " ed better pleafed with that Way than his former Diflance ; only in Times of 
 «' their Worfhip, which they fometimes held in the Market-place, he would 
 " then, as is ufual at home, refume great Dignity on him j and one Time, be- 
 " ing rainy Weather when they were at it, he, wearing his own Hair, pulled off 
 " the o-reat Wig from one of his Dukes, and put it on himfelf, to cover him 
 " fronTthe Ra!i° making the Owner ftand bare-headed the while : for it feems 
 " he is fo abfolute, that there muft be no grumbling at what he does. Life and 
 " Eftate being wholly at his Difcretion." 
 
 Frederick- On the 19th, being the Sixth of the Week, we had a Meeting in Town, 
 
 ihdt. where came many of the Inhabitants, and fome of the beft Rank, in common 
 
 Acceptation : Things opened full and clear, and they were generally fatisfied, 
 
 and fome tendered, and Friends much comforted ; and we were glad together 
 
 of our Vifit. 
 
 O N the Firft Day following we had two Meetings there ; which were both 
 large and open, and the People generally well afteded. The Teftimony of Truth 
 was clear, and fome made in a Meafure fenfible of the Power of Truth, and 
 tendered. After the Meeting in the Afternoon was over, I fpoke thus to the 
 People before they departed, " That fince there was fo much Difference between 
 " our Englip Language and theirs, that the flmie Matters delivered in the for- 
 " mer, could not be fo quickly delivered in all refpeifts to the fame Advantages 
 " in the other, they might probably not well apprehend every Thing according 
 " to the true Intent of it •, and our Teftimony, by that means, might fuffer Lofs, 
 " and fome might not have the full Benefit of it : And therefore I told them, 
 " that if any Scruples arofe, we were ready, at any convenient Time and Place, 
 *' to explain every Thing, or remove any Objeftion." But we heard of none 
 any where among them. 
 
 On the 23d we went with feveral Friends, by Waggon, to the City of 7z/- 
 tiing, about nine EngliJIj Miles from Frederickjiadt, to try if we could have a 
 Meeting ■, and feveral were fpoke to, but none would entertain a Meeting in their 
 Houfes, being afraid of their Prielt (they are generally Lutherans) ; which fome 
 of our Company confidering, went to the Prieft's Houfe, and aflced him if he 
 would let us have a Meeting in his Houfe : This he did not refcnt, as might 
 have been expefted, but was pretty civil in the main-, and told them he could 
 not confent to it, he being a Preacher among a People of other Principles, it 
 would look ftrange in him' to admit fuch a Meeting in his Houfe : But he fend- 
 ing for two more of his Brethren, one of them was more warm and averfe: how- 
 ever they parted pretty friendly on allHands. After this we walked throu^-h 
 the Streets, and all about the Town ; but had nothing to fay to the People 
 there. They took great Notice of us, but offered no Uncivility. After this we 
 went to the Houfe of the Chief Burgomafter, to have fpoke with him about a 
 Meeting in Town ; but were told he was gone to Court, but might be fpoke 
 with between One and Two of the Clock Afternoon : We went ac^ain at that' 
 Time ; but they faid he was gone to Court again, fo that we did not fee him. 
 Then returning to our Inn, we gave Notice in Town from thence that we in- 
 tended a Meeting next Day at Frederickjiadt ; and thither we returned that 
 Evening. 
 
 And here I think it not improper to relate what I had from feveral Friends 
 toncerning a former Vjfit to this by Chriflophcr Midek wlio fometimes had been 
 
 " Preacher
 
 of T H h4 A S ST RT. 497 
 
 Preacher to the DiZ».yZ» Chappcl, ^t IVdl-Clofe, msx Ratclijf, Lcndmi; but, be- Anno 
 ino; convinced of Truth, and taithful, had received a Part of this Minillry i I7i5« 
 and it was after this Manner, viz. " About feven or eight Years ago, Chriftopher 
 " had come to this City of Tuning, then under the Command of the Swedes^ 
 " and preached the Truth in the open Streets; and fome were affeftcd with his 
 " Innocency and Doftrine : But the Magiftrates fent Soldiers to apprehend him, 
 " and take him out of the City, and all the Centinels were ordered not to fuf- 
 " fer him to come in again ; fo that lie lay two Nights without the Gates, one 
 " in the Fields, and another in a Farmer's Houfe : But tho' the Soldiers could not 
 *' fufter him to go into the City, yet they were very refpeftful to him, and he 
 " fpoke much of the Way of Truth among them ■, which feemed to take place 
 " with feveral in fome Meafure. At length he fent to the Governor of the City, 
 " who was alfo the chief Military Officer, defiring to fpeak with him ; and 
 " the Governor came to him, to whom Chriftopher made known his Cafe, de- 
 " firing he might have Liberty to clear his Mind to the People. The Gover- 
 *' nor was refpcftful to him, and told him, that if he had applied to him firft, 
 " before he had been put out of the City by Order of the Magiftrates, he could 
 " have anfwered his Requeft ; but fince they had done it, if he fliould nowpro- 
 " tecr him againft them, it would raife a Difference, which he thought was not 
 " proper at that Junfture of Affairs there. And after they had rcafoned the 
 *' Cafe fully, the Governor took out a handful of Money, which he would have 
 " prefented to Chriftopher, fuppofing, being a Stranger and Traveller, he might 
 " want, to bear his Charges : But Chriftopher refufed it, with Acknowledgements 
 " of his kind Offer; and let him underftand that he was not under any Neceffity 
 " that way; and fo departed from that City." But we may obferve how the 
 Lord orders Things in the Courfe of his Providence ; this City afterwards, viz. 
 in the Year 1 7 1 2, being befiegcd by the Czar and King of Denmark, fell into 
 their Hands ; and thefe Banks, Ditches, Gates, and Bridges, which had kept 
 out this Servant of the Lord from declaring Truth in the City, are now fo 
 levelled, filled up and demoliflied, that a Stranger can fcarce difcern where they 
 have been, but as fliewn by others that knew them before: And yet the Inha- 
 bitants, being guided by their Priefts, (as remote from the Truth, in Nature and 
 Spirit, as thofc from whom they are a little reformed in Notions) do ftill con- 
 tinue their Averfion to Truth, the only Way by which they can have true 
 Peace and Safety. 
 
 I N o w return to Frederickftadt ; where, on the 24th, we had a large Meeting, Frederick- 
 where the Magiftrates of 'Tuning, and fome of the chief of the Inhabitants, made '^^^'^• 
 fome Amends for their Remifsnefs the Day before at their own City ; for both 
 the Burgomafters came to the Meeting, and alfo the Secretary, or Town Clerk, 
 with many of the Inhabitants, as alfo many of the chief, as well as others the In- 
 habitants of Frederickftadt, and Places adjacent, and many others, with feveral 
 Priefts and Teachers of different Sefts ; and were generally very fober, and feveral 
 well affedled ; and the bleffed Truth reigned in Majefty over all, to his own 
 Glory; and I believe many were touched with a Senl'e of the Virtue of it, and 
 their Undcrftandings in fome Degree opened. The Matter, in the main deli- 
 vered, was concerning the Law written in the Heart; the Light of the Gen- 
 tiles, and the Univerfality of it; the Necefllty of Faith in that Light, and Ad- 
 vantages arifing thereby ; that though this Law of the Spirit of Life, come by 
 J E s u s C H R I s T, makes free from the Law of Sin and Death, where it is truly 
 opened and revealed, yet this, being compared to a Eook in the Hand of the 
 Angel, there is none in Heaven, or Earth, or under the Earth, can open it, hut the ^^y y , 
 Lion of the Triie of Jtidah, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, who came 
 of that Royal Tribe ; and therefore 'tis in vain to depend upon the Learned, who 
 cannot open it, bccaufe it is fealed, or the Unlearned, becaufe they arc fo; nor 
 
 6 K upon
 
 498 The LIFE, c^-r. 
 
 Anno upon the Princes or Potentates of this World, who alio are unable; but upon 
 1715. the Lord alone: For as none hioivs the Things of a Man, but the Spirit of a 
 Cor.ii.io,ii. Man which is in him; fo no Man knows the Things of God, hit by the Spirit of 
 God; and the Spirit fearchcth all Things, even the deep Things of God : And that 
 as the Vail was (and is flill) over the Heart of the Jew whilft the Law was read 
 unto him; and he, in hearing of the Letter, is ftill ignorant of the Spirit; even 
 fo the Gentiles, though the Law is written in them, // is even in their Hearts, 
 but yet fealed : fo that though they read the Holy Scriptures, which teftify of 
 the true and living G o d, and alfo of his Son Christ Jesus, and alfo hear 
 the Things of G o d plainly and fully declared by the hearing of the outward 
 Ear ; yet fo long as the I^aw is fealed up in the Heart, they neither underftand 
 the Scriptures, which are fome of the Things of God, nor what is declared un- 
 to them, though in the Wifdom and Demonftration of his Holy Spirit. I ex- 
 horted them therefore to believe in the Son of God, the Light of the Gentiles, 
 who once had appeared to the Jews in that holy Body ; and, fulfilling the Will 
 of the Father therein, is alfo come in Spirit according to his Promife; and by 
 whom all are taught that believe, and have a divine L^nderftanding by him : but 
 the Wife and Learned in this World, by all their Wifdom, know not God ; 
 but one giving one Conjefture and Opinion, and another giving another, con- 
 cerning the Myfteries in the Ploly Scriptures, they have led thofe that followed 
 them into great Confufion ; and being departed from the Spirit ot the Lord 
 Jesus, the Prince of Righteoufnefs and Peace, they are gone into Wars and 
 Dcftruftion, making outward as well as inward Defolation ; in which they have 
 proceeded to that Degree, that profelTed Chriftians have commixed the Blood 
 one of another with the Blood of Horfes and Cattle in the open Fields. O great 
 Abomination before the Lord! with many more clofe Things, which that Day, 
 in the Authority of the living Truth, were delivered among them ; fo that fome 
 of them feemed to ftand in Admiradon, and all were ftill and folid ; and I heard 
 of none but one Prieft that muttered, who thought I bore too hard upon the 
 Learned, and left them too little Share in the Knowledge of the Things of G o d ; 
 wherein he miftook i?ie: for though their Learning without the Spirit doth not 
 qualify them to teach the Things of God, they are not unquahiied only by ha- 
 ving it ; but, as fubfervient to Truth, it may be, and is really ufeful. But he 
 only talked foftly at a Diftance, fo that I had no Opportunity to confer with him 
 on that Subject ; and, in the general. Things were very well, and well taken. 
 
 On the 25th we were at their Monthly Meeting at Frederickfladt, which was 
 altogether of Friends; who, tho' few in Number, the Lord was near, and we 
 v/ere tendered and comforted together in his holy Love ; which alone edifies the 
 whole Body, Vv-hich is one in all Lands. 
 
 And, being invited the Day before by one of the Burgomafters to dine with 
 him, we v.-enu accordingly after the Meeting ; where we were kindly and plenti- 
 fully entertained. His Wife had been at the Meeting the Day before, and fpoke 
 well of it at Table ; where I alfo had fome Words in Prayer before we ate, which 
 was frelh and open. He was very free and open with us, being himfelf a Me- 
 nift : And after fome Hours Time after Dinner fpent in Difcourfe, on Matters 
 chiefly about Religion, wherein v/e had no Difierence, we departed thence, and 
 vifited the Widows and Fatherlefs among Friends in Town, there beinc- feven 
 Widows in all, and one with feven fmall Children, their Hulbands having died 
 in a great Sicknefs (like that at Altena) fome Time before. 
 
 That Afternoon feme Friends went to a neighbouring Village to try if a 
 Meeting could be had ; and, among others, fpoke with a Priefl, who was a Lu- 
 theran ;
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. 499 
 
 theran *, who gave them a very civil Anfvver, faying, " My Hoiife fhould be Anno 
 " open on that Account ; but I being a Preacher myfelf in the Place, and put in 1715* 
 " by the Magiftrates, I do not know how they may refcnt it, if I fliould admit 
 " Strangers of other Principles to preach in my Ploufe :" and fo excufed hini- 
 felf ; but faid he would be glad of a Vifit from us. 
 
 On the 26th we had another Meeting at Fredcrichftadt ; at which were feve- 
 ral Priefts and Miniflers ot different Perfuafions, and one of the Regents, or Fel- 
 lows, or ProfefTors of the College at Keel, the Seat of tlie Duke of Iloljiein, and 
 feveral again from 'Tuning, &c. for it was their Market-day, and after their Eu- 
 fmefs therein was much over. The Meeting was open, and many Things cleared 
 to them, and all very quiet ; and moft of Friends and 1 took particular Notice 
 of the ftill and innocent Behaviour and Countenance of the Teacher of the Ar- 
 menians in Frcderickjladi; then in the Meeting -, who feemed to be affefted with 
 Truth, and inwardly reached by it. This alfo v/^as a good and comfortable 
 Meetino'. 
 
 The Firft Day following, being the 28th, we were again at Frederickjladt ; 
 where the Meeting was large and open, both Forenoon and Afternoon ; and 
 there came many of the fame People, and fome othei;s, who were generally 
 ftill, and the Way of Truth and Life was plainly opened to them, and feveral 
 afFefted with the Power of it in fome Meafure : And Truth being over all in 
 the Majefty of it, had Honour and Praife, and is alone worthy. 
 
 And there being a Marriage intended between a Couple of Friends, Notice 
 was given thereof largely before-hand, and it being appointed the next Day, viz. 
 the 29th, there came a great Crowd of all forts ; fo that many, who came a 
 little after the Hour appointed, not being able to come fo near as either to hear 
 or fee, went away -, but as many as could crowd into the Houfe, and about die 
 Doors and Windows, and Lane, ftaid -, the Novelty of the Marriage inducing 
 many that were not concerned about Religion. The Lord was pleafed to fa- 
 vour us with his Prefence, and open Things fuitable to the Occafion •, and, I be- 
 lieve, fo as moft of them had never heard before on the Subjeft of Marriage : 
 For when that of the Marriage Supper and ten Virgins came up in the Wifdoni 
 and Authority of Truth, fetting forth the Enjoyments of the five wife, and Mi- 
 fery and Difappointment of the five foolifh, the v/hole Auditory were brought 
 under the Awe of it, and became as frill as the moft fedate Meeting of Friends; 
 and the Lor d's Power was over all magnified, and the Buyers and Sellers of 
 Oil, or what tliey may fo call, expofed. There were many affefted at this Meet- 
 ing with a folid Senfe of the Virtue of Truth; and I obferved the ProfelTor above- 
 faid was there, as he had been, I think, at every Meeting, and alfo the Arme- 
 nian Preacher, very folid. We went to Dinner .after Meeting, with the new- 
 married Couple ; where came alfo fome oi the more fober of the Neighbourhood ; 
 and all ended in a decent Manner, and to common Satisfaftion ; the Lord ho- 
 nouring his own Name among his little Family there, and drawing, feveral into 
 a good-liking of his holy and living Way. 
 
 On the 30th, in the Afternoon, being the Third of the Week, we had a fe- 
 led Meeting with Friends .at Frederickjladt, and the Lord was pleafed to vifit 
 us together, and afl'ord us a comfortable Scafon and Pardng : But though in- 
 tended for Friends alone, and in our Lodging at Gilbert Otterloo\, yet fome 
 others found us out, and came thither ; not diminifning, but adding to our Sa- 
 tisfadtion, being made fenfible of the Power of the blefTed Truth, then eminently 
 among us to his own Glory ; and, among the reft, was Jacob Van-Mafeick, s 
 
 Wine
 
 5CO The L 1 F E, d^c. \ 
 
 Anno Wme Merchant of tlwt Place •, who had been at moft of our Meetings there ♦, 
 17 15. and, T think, fully convinced of Truth, having own'd himielf fatisBed on the 
 Point of Baptifm at the fecond Meeting we had there. 
 
 After Meeting we went to take Leave of Nicholas Ovens, the Burgomafteri 
 who had been friendly to us ; but, not being within, his Wife entertained us with 
 Friendihip, repeating her Satisfaftion with a Meeting fhe had been at, and alfo 
 wicli what had pafTed at their own Table when we were there : But though we 
 had not the Opportunity of feeing him at his own Houfe, he came a little after 
 to our Lodging, and brought us a Pafs under his Hand, and the Seal of the City, 
 very necefliiry in thofe Parts, by reafon of the great Sicknefs at Jltena, and the 
 Sufpicion on Hamburgh on that Account •, and, after Ibme free and religious 
 Converfation, and good Wiflies on all Sides, he departed, fliewing us Refpeft* 
 and made the Pafs without any Charge. 
 
 O N the 31ft, in the Morning, we fet forward from Iience, accompanied to the 
 River by moft of the Friends there, and fome others already named, and parted 
 with them near the River on the Bank •, leaving them in much Love, in which 
 we had been drawn to vifit them. It was a folid, but not altogether forrowiul 
 Parting, though not without Tears ; for we bear in our Breafts, on all Sides, I 
 believe, that which will make our mutual Remembrance comfortable in diftant 
 Places and Times. We had tlie Company of our Friends Gilbert Otterloo, and 
 John Van-Campen, as far as the Ferry-houfe on the Elfe, near Bninsbottle ; where 
 we arrived in the Evening about Sun-fet. But one Thing I obferved at the 
 Town of Mildorp, in our Way, where we tarried to rehcfli ourfelves, which I 
 think fit to note here : " There was a Church (fo called) in Town, about 400 
 " Years old, as they faid, into which I and Peter Leonards went, being open ; 
 " and there we faw feveral Piftures and Images (they call) of C h r i s t, in fe- 
 " veral Conditions ; as, in his Office, upon the Crofs, rifen again, i^c. and 
 " one of a golden Colour all over •, which, I may fuppcfe, was moft bowed be- 
 " fore, becaufc of its Refemblance to a Metal fo defirable to moft of fuch Image- 
 " preachers. Flere were painted and wooden Chrifts in Statuary and Image- 
 " ry, painted Heaven, painted Hell, painted Saints, and the damned in Paint ; 
 " and all this among Profellors of Christ, pretending Reformation from that 
 " Church, (or pretended Church) condemned for Idolatry and for fuch Worfhip i 
 " and all juftly condemned by the Holy Scriptures, (which thefe falfely fay is 
 " the Rule of their Faith, Manners, and Worfliip) being without any Relem- 
 " blance to it, and condemned by it, and by the Pradtice of the Saints in all 
 " Ages. This Place, though Lutheran People, is much more bepiftured 
 " and imaged than the Jcfuits' Church at Port-a-Paix, in Hifpaniola, or any 
 " of the fame fort I faw at Cape Francois, in that Ifland. We faw alfo their 
 " Font, or Fountain, in which they baptize, their little Infants, who do not want 
 " it; .wherein was Water, (not from a living Spring, arifing in that Fountain) 
 " reprefenting the living Water, of which they, poor Souls, were too ignorant ; for 
 " it ftunk, as all fuch dead Forms and Inventions of foolifh Men do, in the No- 
 " ftrils of the Lord. Upon this Fountain were Images of little Babes, in divers 
 " Poftures, and one with a Ladder in its Hand to climb up to Heaven with. 
 " Their Altar alfo, where their Sacrifice of Bread and Wine is ufually confecra- 
 *' ted, was all full of the fame fort of Images, and dead Refemblances ; which 
 " gave me occafion to think thefe Worfhippers and Communicants have 
 lohnvi G-- " "° ^^iicerning of the Body of the Lord; for it is the Spirit that quick- 
 ' " eneth., the Flefo profit etb nothing. And fince the real Flefli itfelf, in compari- 
 " fon of the living Word and quickening Spirit which dwelt therein, did not 
 " profit, if they could really have cat it in their own carnal Senfe, when die 
 
 " Lord
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. jroi 
 
 " Lord uttered that myflciious and divine Saying among that Generation ; Anno 
 
 " much lels does any Symbol, or Reprefentation of eating that Body, now pro- 1715- 
 
 " fit fuch as are occupied therein ; their Ecclefiaftical Bagpipes being not li- 
 
 " ving, but dead Organs ; their Candlefticks, and, in fliort, their whole guildcd, 
 
 " painted, and antick Finery, appeared more like the vain-glory of Dives^ 
 
 " who was there depidted in Hell, crying aloud (in a Speech fcript from his 
 
 " Mouth) unto painted Abraham, v/ith painted Lazarus with him, in their paint - 
 
 *'. ed Heaven, than Inftrumcnts of the Worfhip of him who made Heaven and 
 
 ** Earth, and all Things therein ; who is that glorious and holy Spirit, who is 
 
 " only worfhipped in Spirit and in Truth, and by the only Mediation and Me- 
 
 *' dium of him who is that Truth." 
 
 I OBSERVED the People in the Inn, as foon as the Clock ftruck, fuddcnly , 
 to change their fcveral Poftures, and feem to be very ferious and filenr, 
 and every where enter upon fome feeming Devotion, as when they fay what 
 they call their Grace ; fome pulling off their Hats, and fitting dill, as if at Prayer, 
 and others turning to the "Windows and Walls in like Serioufnefs : which gave 
 me occafion to enquire the Meaning of it ; and I was anfwered, it was the Cu- 
 ftom of that Place, that as foon as the People heard the Clock ftrike Twelve, 
 they all went to Prayer: But I obferved the Ceremony did not iaft long, nor 
 did any of them pray with an audible Voice. 
 
 They feem'd neverthelefs a People ready for the Reception of better Things ; 
 and, I believe, the Lord will, in his own Way and Time, vifit them. I afked our 
 Landlord, or HofV, why they had fo many Images of C h r i s t in their Churches 
 andHoufes? He anfwered, " It is to put us in mind of Ch r is t." I replied, 
 " It feems you do not love Christ fo well as you fhould, fince you want fo 
 " many outward Mementos of his outward Appearance : But the Primitives 
 " had the Mind and Spirit of C h r i st •, they bore in their own Bodies the dy- 
 *' ing of the Lord, and wore his Crofs in their Hearts-, by which they were 
 " crucified to the World, and the World unto them, with all its empty Show 
 *' and vain Glory: And this Crofs is that living Virtue and Life of C h ri st, 
 " appearing in Mens' Hearts now as well as in thofe Days, working the fame 
 " Effcfts in all who believe, follow, and obey it, being the faving Grace and 
 *' Light of Christ unto all People." This feemed ftrange and furprizing 
 to him, as appeared by his Countenance ; and, I believe, it anfwered his Con- 
 fcience, for he made no Reply ; and I felt the Love of Truth to him, and the 
 People there, but nothing for a Meeting at that Time. 
 
 From thence we proceeded in our Journey, and in the Evening came to the 
 Ferry-houfe by the River, but could not get over till after Twelve in the Night, •^ 
 
 the Tide not ferving before •, and about that Time, or a little after, parting with 
 our Friends at the River Side in much Tendernefs, we embark'd, but not without 
 fome Exercife ; for the Ferry-man had, in the Night, taken on board 116 Hogs 
 in the fame Boat •, and tho' there was a Place apart to be in, yet it was only a Par- 
 tition of Boards, with wide and open Chinks ; fo that the ftink of the Hogs was 
 very noifome and afflifting, the Hatches being down for the Convenicncy of failing 
 the Veflel : To complain of this to thefe boorifh People, would only have raifed 
 their Temper to give us further Trouble ; fo that we fat down with it in Pa- 
 tience, obfcrving the Temper of the Men fomewhat refembling thefe their Com- 
 panions. The Wind coming againft us as we entered another River, on the 
 other Side the Elf, this was continued the longer upon us ; but turning up a- 
 gainft it, we came 10 the Fcrry-houfe about Eleven j where, being provided with 
 
 6 L a
 
 3X1 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno a Waggon, we fet forward about Twelve, and that Night, about Eight, arrived 
 at an Inn about 24 Miles from thence. 
 
 The next Morning, being the 2d of the Seventh Month, about One in the 
 Mornino-, being Moon-light, we fct forward from thence in an open Waggon, 
 and in tlie Evening arrived at Breme, and lodged at an Inn, where we had been 
 before, and wtre kindly received : But I having taken Cold, and lying in a 
 nuifty Bed, between two Feather Beds (their Way of lodging, and they have 
 no other) an intermitting Fever, to which I had of late been fubjeft, returned 
 upon me, and I fwet exceedingly, which much impaired my Health and 
 Strencth. 
 
 'J 
 
 Brerae. 
 
 ■'0 
 
 In the Morning we fpoke again with Sarah Schrcders, with whom we had 
 converfed as we went to Hamburgh ; and we found Things were at a low Ebb 
 among them relating to Truth, hardly any of them having Courage to enter- 
 tain a Meeting, fhe herfelf having no Houfe, but being with her Brother-, who, 
 though he had pafled under that Name in that City Ibme Years, was ftill very 
 weak and underly : And he and another, who was alfo friendly, (but fometimes 
 went to the publick Worfliip) came to the Inn, but could not give us any Hopes 
 of a Meeting with them ; for they feared the Magiftrates and Priefts, there be- 
 ing both Lutherans and Calvinifts in their publick Churches, and the People 
 generally of thcfe two Sefts. I was under a Burden in my Spirit after they were 
 gone from us, (though I had faid many Things to induce their Compliance) and 
 was ready to depart under it ; but John Padley v/as rather defirous to flay a little 
 longer, and go to fome of their Houfes -, which we did : and, fome more of 
 them being together, they took Courage, (efpecially by means of Sa7-ah Schre- 
 ders) and confented to a Meeting the next Day : and then we were a little eafier. 
 
 O N the 4th, being the Firft of the Week, about Nine in the Morning, we 
 met in Hcndrick Schreders-, Sarahs Brother's Houfe, in a back Room; where 
 came more than we expedted, and the Lord was pleafed to be with us to our 
 Help and Comfort: But fo cowardly were moft of them, that as my Voice 
 began to be raifed, fo as to be heard further than the Room, or Houle, they 
 could hardly fit for Fear ; which both hindered themfelves much of what other- 
 wife they might have received, and alfo made my Exercife the greater ; and yet 
 they ftaid till I concluded : but as John Padley flood up to fpeak, feveral went 
 into the other Room in hafte, fome knocking at the outer Door, frightened 
 them ; but it proving only fome that defired to come in, and Sarah Schreders 
 going out to themi, they came into the Room again, and ftaid pretty quietly the 
 reft ot the Meeting ; which, notwithftanding this Weaknefs, was pretty com- 
 fortable, and feveral of them were broken and tendered ; and they were gene- 
 rally very loving when we parted with them after the Meeting. 
 
 Before we went from the Houfe, we had a MefTage from one Peter Fre- 
 derick Detry, the Prieft, of whom we had heard fomething before, who defired to 
 fee us at his Floufe ; v/hich we alfo had defired, but had heard he was under 
 Exercife of Mind, and was fo retired that he did not care to converfe with any 
 Body. When we went in, he received us at the Entrance of the Door very re- 
 fpeftfully, and took us into an inner Room •, where being placed, we were filent a 
 while •, and fome Things opening in my Mind fuiting his Condition, I fpoke them, 
 wherewith he was v;ell fatisfied : and, after I had done, he fpoke a few Words, 
 by which I perceived he was in a good Degree illuminated by the divine Truth ; 
 and, in a Senfe of a frefli Spring of Love and Life at that Time in my Soul, I 
 was much broken, which alfo reached him-, and, after fome Time in that Con- 
 dition,
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. 50^ 
 
 iiition, we were bowed in Prayer, where I found my Spirit much mcjre at Li- Anno 
 berty than in the Meeting, and the Lord gave us a divine Seafon of his Love, iT^B- 
 and a Vifitation thereof together, at that Time. VVIk n this was over we fell in- 
 to fome Converfation ; wherein he was very open and free, and gave us to un- 
 derftand, that he had in his iirfb Concerns in the World followed Merchandize, 
 wherein he had gained well : But a Defire entering his Mind to be helpful to 
 Mankind in a better Concern, he went to the College, (having fome Learning 
 already) and ftudicd about Five Years-, when, finding himfclf fufficiently quali- 
 fied, as he thought, for tlie Work he aimed at, which was to be a Teacher a- 
 mong the Calvinius, he took that Fundtion upon him accordingly, and had 
 been very acceptable among that People there : But it pleafuig G o d to open 
 to him the Emptinefs of the Priefts, and all outfide Shev/s and Formalities in 
 Religion, he had accordingly publilhed his Sentiments openly in his Sermons, 
 efpecially the Infufficicncy of human Learning, without the Spirit of C h r i st, 
 in a Miniftry ; and that fuch a Miniftry could never profit the People, but great- 
 ly hurt them ; and much to this Purpofe : And added, that he expcfted very 
 quickly to be caft out from among them, for this and other Doftrines he had 
 preached am.ong them, contrary both to their Principles and Praflices -, but be- 
 ing clear in his Underftanding, and having Peace with the Lord in what he 
 had done, and not needing thtir Favour on account of a Maintenance, for the 
 Lord had bleft him with a Competency, he v/as refolved, by the Grace of 
 G o D, to maintain his Dodrines againll: them, and ftand his Ground, let them 
 do what they would. This was very acceptable to us, and he was thankful to 
 the Lor d for our Vifit ; which he faid was a Strength and Confirmation to him ; 
 and thofe Things I had faid to him were agreeing to what was in his own Mind; 
 and he had that Text ready before him, how that many believed in Christ, 
 but durll not own him for fear of the Jeivs, and being caft out of the Syna- 
 gogues : which he knew at that Time, he faid, was the State of a great many 
 in that City, who were convinced of the Way of Truth, but were not yet able 
 to confefs it in an open Manner •, but was in Hopes the Lord would give them 
 Strength in Time to own him freely : and this was alfo our Apprehenfion of 
 that People. We intending that Afternoon to proceed in our Journey, ftaid not 
 fo long as otherwife we Ihould, in conference with him -, but, at our parting, he 
 embraced us with much Affeftion, wifliing us a profperous Journey, defiring we 
 might remember one another in the Lord. 
 
 'D' 
 
 W E were alfo told by fome of thcfc friendly People, that this young Man, (for 
 he feemed not above 30 Years of Age) being more fervent and fpiritual in his 
 Dodfrine than any of all the reft in Town, was much admired and followed by the 
 People •, which raifed the Emulation and Envy of all the Priefts, and they watched 
 Occafion againft him : But being of a holy Life, and much preffing that in his 
 Miniftry, they could not find any that Way, till he fct forth the Necefiity of 
 Infpiration and the Spirit of C h r i st in a Gofpel Miniftry -, and that all that 
 v/ere made Minifters only by Men, without the Power of C h r i st, which alone 
 could make a Minifter, and that without any Help, Power, or Authority from 
 Man, were only Intruders and Pretenders, and no true Minifters : nor were the 
 Minifters of C k r i s t to teach for Hire, but freely : And this was what they 
 had now againft him, and had him at this Time under dealing, having admo- 
 rdilrcd him twice, and the third Time at hand, in order to caft him oft" and fi- 
 Icnce him-, which he feemed refolved to bear, rather than recant his Chriftian 
 Doiftrine : For though he had gone to the College with that Intent at firft, being 
 now better informed, he had leaned upon the L o r d for Strength and Wifdom, 
 and not upon his Learning, in which he was not inferior to any of them. We 
 heard alfo of fome others, in other Places, caft off" for the fame Rcafons : So that 
 
 the
 
 )-04- The L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Anno the Lord is at work in many Hearts againft Antichrift and his Minifters in 
 1 7 15. fevtral Parts of the World •, and that Day drawing near, wherein, alas! alas! 
 with wringing of Hands, mud be the Condition and Cry of all the broken Mer- 
 chants of Babel; for their old rotteii Ware will fell no longer, becavife there is 
 Wine and Milk, yea, all Dainties and delicate Things, to be had freely at the 
 Rev. xxii. 17. Table of the Lord, in his Holy City, without Money and without Price: For 
 the Spirit and Bride fay. Come ; and he that heareth faith. Come ; and ivhofoever 
 will come may come, and drink of the Water of Life freely. 
 
 We fct forward from this City about Three in the Afternoon, but were flop- 
 ped about a Qiiarter of an Hour at the Gate, till their divine Service, as they 
 imagine it, was ended ; that being their Order to their Soldiers : But this is not 
 the only Piece of Superftition which Martin and John ufe here; for, having Op- 
 portunity to fee moll of their Churches in the Infides, the Calvinifls have many 
 Pictures and Images, though not fo many as the Lutherans, and are generally 
 fome hiftorical Parts of Scripture, reprefented in Paint, or Imagery ; as the lafl: 
 Supper, as they call it, or giving the Sacrament by Christ, and the like; but 
 have as large, coftly, and gay clerical Bagpipes, to lilt out their high Praifes, 
 and play over David's Pfalms, or what they fing, as the Lutherans : which, I 
 prefume, was a great Article with their Brethren in England againft that Church, 
 which came nearer the Lutherans in their Reformation in that Nation : By which 
 one might be ready, and naturally enough, to think, that if upon any happy 
 Turn of Affairs in England., they could once more get hold of thefe fine Houfes 
 and Whiftles, they might be very like to congratulate their own good Fortune in 
 fome merry Hymns, under the fecure Enjoyment of thefe fat Benefices they 
 have io long gaped tor : But Martin has been too hard for John, and will yet 
 hold them a little longer ; being glad of a Confirmation, though at the Expence 
 of a ftanding Army, if his Prince can truft himfelf and the Nation under fuch 
 defigning and felf-feeking ambitious Protedors. 
 
 A T laft the Gates were opened, and we departed in Peace, though much 
 gazed at as we fat in the Waggon, becaufe they direfted to us their formal Sa- 
 lutations, and had not the like formal Returns ; but did not abufe us. That 
 Night we rid till about the Tenth Hour, and then lay down on Straw on the 
 Floor; where alio ftood the Waggon and Horfes, and Cattle, tied on each Side; 
 and in the Night I was waken'd by a Couple of Hogs, which grabbled at our 
 Feu to find fome Corns of Rye fcattered in our Bed-llraw, 
 
 O N the 5th, early in the Morning, after a Dram of Brandy, we fet forward 
 Oldenburg. '" ^ S'"'^^'^ ^°S i '^^^^ coming to Oldenburg, were there flopped at their Gates» 
 by the Military Formalities, for about half an Hour, whilft our Pafs was fent 
 by a Centinel to the fuperior Officer of the Guard, and from him to the Chief, 
 aiid fo back to us ; and, entering the City, after fome Refrefliment we pafTed 
 Leer. ^" ^^ ^^""' ^'''^'^^^ ^^ arrived about Ten at Night: After fome Refrefliment, 
 
 going to Bed, I had the Fever all Night (as every Night from that at Breme); 
 and, by much Sweating, and Fadgue of the Journey in their open and joftling. 
 Waggons, was much weaken'd, but not fenfible of any Pain or Sicknefs. 
 
 In the Morning there came to us one who had formerly been a Teacher in 
 that Place among the Baptifts, and very acceptable to them, being of a -ood 
 Converiation; but through an inward Convidion, that he had taken upon him 
 what the Lord had not called him to, he had left it ofi; and lived retired, and 
 not in Communion with any, but loving all that were honeftand fpintual-minded ; 
 and we tcund him pretty near the Truth, both in Notion and Spirit: And de- 
 
 firing
 
 of T H M A S S T R t ;ot 
 
 firing to have a Meeting there, this iVIan went witli us to have fpoke with the Anno 
 Baptifl: Teacher in Town ; who being abfent, we went to the Houfe of one of 171 j. 
 the Elders, by whom we underftood we could not have a Meeting in their Meet- 
 ing-lioufe, as fome of our Friends had had the Year before : For a Presbyterian 
 (or Calvinilt) Minifl:er had come from Embden fince we paiTed that Way, and 
 had preached in that Town, that the Wars and other Plagues were in the Coun- 
 tries, becaufe of the tolerating fo many bad Sefts of Religion (fmiting more efpe- 
 cially at them and us) ; like the Presbyterian Prieft of Haverhill, in Ntiv En- 
 gland, (they are bloody and falfe every where) who had preached after the liime 
 Manner, but, not long after, was himfelf deftroyed in his own Ploufe by the In- 
 dians : And they themfclves having Liberty only by Connivance, and Payment 
 of Money, tlie Meeting our Friends had there before had drawn their Liberty 
 into queftion ; and, Complaint being made againft them, the Matter was now 
 depending before the Court, and they knew not how it would ifTue, or whether 
 they fliould not all be baniflied the Town on that Account ; and therefore were 
 not willing to commit the fame Crime to aggravate the Magiftrates : for none 
 have Toleration there, by the Emperor's Order, but Papifts, Lutherans, and 
 Calvinifts. Upon this I told them, we were not come there to add to their Suf- 
 ferings ; but were forry it fhould happen fo on that Occafion, which was not 
 intended for their Hurt, but the Good of all ; and I took this Opportunity to in- 
 form them, that we in Britain, and elfcwhere^ profeffing Truth, had been perfe- 
 cuted from the Beginning : Some of us had fuffered Banifhment from our native 
 Country, for our Ttftimony to the Lord Jesus, and his divine Light and 
 Grace made manifeft in our Hearts ; and yet had experienced the Goodnefs of 
 God even in that : for fome had obtained greater Riches in the World, in thofe 
 Parts to which they were banifhed, than they had before : Others had fuffered. 
 long and hard Imprifonments, even unto Death, in dirty and ftinking Dungeons j 
 fome, fpoiling of Goods and Lofs of Lands, with cruel Whippings, Scourgings, 
 Derifion and Mockings; and fome had alfo been hanged, and thrown into Pits^ 
 denied Burial for theTellimony of Jesus, which we were now preaching in thefe 
 Countries. But the Lord was with us ftill in all this, and was our Support 
 and Comforter, or elfe we had not been able to endure what we had met with 
 from falfe Chriftians, and cruel Perfecutors, for his holy Name's fake -, but the 
 Lord had now made Way for us, and we had as much Liberty as any others. 
 I told them alfo, that the Lord had vifited a People in France ; but they being 
 yet weak, and flying the Crofs, left then- native Country, and fell fhort of that 
 Teftimony given them to bear; but the Lo r d being ftill at Work among tiiem, 
 they would at length ftand as we had done, and come up in the fame Thing, 
 though in another Name (for the World, being ignorant of the Work of God, 
 give Names as they lift, and all in Contempt and Dcrifion). And I alfo obfervedj 
 that there were many here in Germany, and the Countries about, convinced in 
 their Hearts of the fame Truth and divine Principle of Light ; who being yet 
 weak, and fearing Perfecution, were not willing openly to own it ; which might 
 prove to their own utter Ruin :' for Christ, who is the Light of the World, 
 laid. He that confepth me before Men, him will I alfo confefs before my Father and Mat.x-.3;,33. 
 the holy Angels ; but he that denieth me before Men, him will I alfo deny before my Lukexii 8, 9. 
 Father and the holy Angels: And fo I proceeded, there being feveral of tliem 
 prefent ; and the Man having many Children, and grown up to young Men and 
 Women, his Wife called fome of them, at firft abfent, and they were reached 
 and folid ; and we had a comfortable Time among them, without any other 
 Appointment, or Talk of a Meeting. This being over, we parted with them 
 lovingly on all Hands •, and, returning to our Inn, I enquired for an Apotlie- 
 cary to have fomething proper for the Fever and exceflive Sweating, which had 
 weakened me as to my natural Strength -, and being direded to one, that hap- 
 
 M pcned
 
 3-o6 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno pencd not to have what I wanted, he direfled me to another, a Widow, who hap-' 
 1715. pened to have the Things •, and, ordering theMedicine to be made up, we went to 
 the Inn : Peter, our Interpreter, going for it, the Woman told him, (lie perceived 
 we were of thofe People called Quakers, and faid flie had a great mind to be 
 at one of our Meetings, and knew of many more of the fame Mind, who would 
 have been f.t our Meeting laft Summer when there, but could not get in for the 
 Crowd, the Room being fmall ; and that there was a Woman in Town, Wife 
 of one of the Judges in Court, who alfo would be glad of a Meeting ; and ac- 
 cordingly this Woman went to her to enquire. In the mean time we had an Op- 
 portunity to converfe with fome of her Family concerning Truth, and the di- 
 vine Nature and Work of it in Mankind. This Woman had feveral Children, 
 young People, and one Daughter more remarkable than others •, for we found 
 her of a clear Underftanding in the Things of God, her Afpeft innocent as a 
 Child, and of confiderable Beauty of Perfon and Complexion, of mild and grave 
 Behaviour, without any Manner of Art or Affeftation, fpeaking with Reve- 
 rence and Fear, and all fhe faid well guarded ; and yet free and open with us, 
 as without Sufpicion of any Guile, treating us with Chrifiian Regard and Re- 
 fpefl, and fully own'd the Truth as we declared it to her i and I had fome clear 
 Openings of the Things of God among them. Her Mother returning, told 
 us, That the Perion fhe had been with would have been well pleafed with a 
 Meeting, but at that Time fhe was in fuch a Condition, fhe could not venture 
 to go in a Crowd, being with Child, and near her Time. Then we defired 
 the Woman to enquire further in Town if any would entertain a Meeting, and 
 if any would then give us Notice thereof to Embden by a Letter, (intending to 
 go thither, where we thought to ftay fome Days) •, and, b^ing but twelve Englijh 
 Miles, we would come back, if a Meeting could be had among them: And fo 
 taking Leave of them, with Refpecfl on all Sides, we departed, and that Even- 
 Embden, ing came to Enildeii. 
 
 Soon after we alighted from the Waggon, we went to fee our ancient Friend, 
 Efther Jans, and to have a Meeting appointed the next Day ; and fhe told us, 
 that there was a Widow, Mother of Simon Dock, in Town, who had a large 
 Granary, in a convenient Place there ; which, fince we had the laft Meeting, 
 fhe had, of her own accord, offered, in cafe we fliould return that Way : Ac- 
 cordingly we ordered it to be made ready, and on the 7th, at Three in the Af- 
 ternoon, had a Meeting there ; it being between the Sign of the Red-hand and 
 Diftrejfed IVcrld. The Meeting was pretty large, and many in the Street ; and 
 Things opened pretty full and large, but the Work fomething hard, the People 
 being greatly ignorant of fpiritual Things-, and yet fome of them, reached by 
 the Truth, were tender. The Meeting being ended, we retired to the Inn, and 
 had fome Thoughts of departing in the Morning for Weft Fnezland ; but defi- 
 ring to be further helpful to the feeking Ones among them, and hearing that 
 feveral would be glad of another Meeting, we did accordingly appoint one in 
 the fame Place, at Two in the Afternoon the next Day. 
 
 This Meeting was almoft as large as the other, and pretty open, and the 
 Way of Truth further fet forth among them ; and we parted with them in Peace 
 and Love. After v/e returned to our Inn, w^e went to fee Hendrick Zzcarf, the 
 Merchant who had invited us to his Houfe as we paiTed that Way to Frederick- 
 ftadt : For though we did not judge it proper to trouble his Houfe and Family 
 fo kng, to lodge there, yet to acknowledge his Kindnefs was fuitable ; havino- 
 alfo had Icvcral Invitations now fince our Return. He was very open and free 
 with us, and incUnable to difcourfe on Matters of Religion, which fiiited us belt -, 
 
 and
 
 of T E O M A S S T R T. ^07 
 
 and we found him ready to own the Truth in all Things wc opened to him, Anno 
 which were many ; and we had a fatistadory Time, and were handfomely en- i/i^- 
 tertained at Supper •, on which Occafion I had fome Words, which feemed very 
 acceptable. This Vifit being finiflied, with mutual Regard we took Leave, and 
 returned to our Inn. 
 
 O N the 9th, about Six in the Morning, we departed from this City ; and 
 the Wind being pretty high, and not very fair, and the Weather fliowery, we 
 arrived not at Delfzel till about Two in the Afternoon ; where, after a little Re- Ddizel. 
 frefliment, we took the next Traftfhute, or Draw-boat, for Croeningen ; where Gioeningen. 
 we arrived that Evening, and pafled through the City near the further Gate, to 
 an Inn, for the Convenicncy of another like Boat when we fhould remove from 
 thence. 
 
 W E had now increaled our Company •, for Henry Jchnfcn of Twijk had 
 come to meet us as far as Embden, and Jacob Nordyke from Harlingen had 
 tarried at Groeningen, to try for a Meeting-place when we fhould come thi- 
 ther; which was accordingly done: for one Rudolph Hiiefer^ a fober Perfon in 
 Town, having a large upper Room above a Prefs-houfe, and the Room below 
 alfo empty at that Time, he was ready to let us have it : And Notice being gi- 
 ven that Night to as many as could be, and others the next Morning, we had 
 a Meeting about the ninth Hour -, to which came pretty many Menifts, and fome 
 others alfo ; antl the Lord was pleafed to be with us ; and many Things con- 
 cerning the Light and Spirit of C h r i s t, and the Word of God, were plainly 
 and fully opened to them ; and, I do think, to general Satisfadlion, though ma- 
 ny Things were diredtly againft that Doftrine which many Menifts hold, againfh 
 the Divinity of Christ, which was fully proved. This Meeting being well 
 ended, it was in my Mind to propofe another to them ; which they generally 
 and readily agreed to, and defired it might be at the third Hour Afternoon ; 
 which was held accordingly, and was about as large as before, and very open, 
 though I there fet forth largely the one divine Baptifm of C h r i s t, the Word 
 of God ; and yet did not hear that any of them took Offence, but fome were 
 well fatisfied v/ith it. 
 
 I N the Clofe of this Meeting I did, as before, propofe a third, to begin at 
 Nine in the Morning; which was alfo held : And being the Firft Day of the 
 Week, fome of our Company thought the Meeting would be very fmall, be- 
 caufe they would generally be at their own Worfliip: but it prov'd otherwife; 
 for it was rather larger than any of theother ; and the Lord was pleafed to fa- 
 vour us with his Prefence, and to open fuitable Things; and we had a good Time 
 among them. There was a Lutheran at all thefe Meetings, a Man of fome Ac- 
 count in the City, and was more reached than many others, and tender in the 
 laft Meeting, taking Leave of us with Tears in his Eyes ; and had offered his 
 Houfe for a Meeting, but v/e had been provided before. 
 
 There was an ancient Apothecary in Town alfo, about 73, who was at all 
 the Meetings, and well fatisfied, and invited us to take a Difli of Coffee with 
 him one Morning, at his Houfe ; where he confefTed freely, that Water Bap- 
 tifm could not be that commanded, Mat. xxviii. 19. but prafbifed for fome 
 time, in fome Places, in Condefcenfion to the Weaknefs of the People, and upon 
 its firft Bottom in John's Time, as was Circumcifion, and other legal Rites. Llis 
 Son and Daughter were alfo at the Meetings. 
 
 o'^ 
 
 In the Afternoon, about the firft Hour, we departed the City in a Draw- 
 boat -
 
 5o8 The LIFE, c^v. 
 
 Anno boat •, and, as we paffed ofF a Baptift Preacher was heard to fay, hfe believed we 
 1 715. had had a Meeting that Day, becaufe theirs was fo tliin ; their People, he fup- 
 pofedj had been with us. 
 
 l)ockum. About Ten at Night we arrived at Dochm ; where we had a Meeting 
 
 next Morning about Ten. It was in the Baptift Meeting-houfe, and with them 
 only •, for they are not willing, in fome Places, to let it be publickly known, left 
 Advantage fhould be taken againft their own Liberty. They are generally young 
 raw People, but fome Ancients, of whom the moft noted is their Teacher ; who 
 fwayed t!ie reft, as alfo did his Daughter, in procuring the Opportunity for us : 
 He was very kind to us after the Meeting; which was not large, nor fo open 
 as that at Croeningen, 
 
 Holfert. That Afternoon we went to Holfert, near the Sea Coaft, where we prevailed 
 
 with the Menifts to have a Meeting in their Houfe ; which was large, and fome 
 ot feveral Sefts at it, and fome of the Town Officers. This Meeting was much 
 opener than the other, and feveral Things of Confequence cleared to them : but 
 after the Meeting was ended, one of them, as is ufual in their own Meetings, 
 read a Verfe of the 75th Pfalm, (as I was told by one of our Company who un- 
 dcrftood the Language) and they fell a finging before we got out ; but many of 
 them did not ftng, and one of their Teachers went out of the Houfe. I found 
 myfelf eafy to ftay till they had done ; for there was foon fomething in my 
 Mind to fay to them on that Occafion ; and the other Friends ftaid alfo. 
 
 The Song ended, I defired to be heard a few Words, which was granted ; 
 and I fpoke to this Effeft, " That I had once been among a People who ufed 
 " to fing Pfalms -, and it was a Cuftom among many ftill : But I defired them 
 *' to conlider the Foundation of their Singing, whether it was any Part of the 
 " Worftiip of God, or that he required it of them as fuch ; and alfo whether 
 " they all fung their own Conditions : for Things might be true in the Pfilmift, 
 " which were not fo in them : As, for Inftance, a high-minded, proud Man's 
 " finging that he behaves himfelf as a weaned Child in Silence and Reft, is not 
 " true, nor can any fing in that State •, though I did not accule them of Pride, 
 " but this for Inftance " I proceeded further, and faid, " That the Apoftle 
 iCor.xiv. 15. " Paul fays, I will pray with the Spirit ^ and with the JJnderfianding alfo, and 
 " fing alfo in like Manner -, and fpeaks of making Melody in the Heart to the 
 " Lord in Hymns and fpiritual Songs ; but nothing of finging other Mens' Pfalms 
 " without the Spirit: And that I had obferved in thofe Countries, among thofe 
 " who think themfelves reformed, a great deal of Images, Pictures, and out- 
 " ward Shew, and alfo high and lofty Inftruments of Mufick; which had not 
 " been duly confidered in their Reformation." 
 
 This laft fome of them feemed not to reliOi io well as the former Part ;. 
 but none made any Anfwer: and, in general, we had the full Countenance and 
 Approbation ot Ibme of their Teachers ; and we parted with them in Fricnd- 
 Ihip. 
 
 Dracliten. This Afternoon we rode crofs the Country to Brachten, where we arrived 
 
 in the Evening ; and my Fever being returned upon me fome Days before, and 
 alfo a grievous fore Bile, in a troublelbme Place near my Seat ; what with thefe^ 
 and the Exercife of Meetings, I was very low in my Body, but my Mind ftrong, 
 in the Grace of G o d •, which is a fure Stay to all that truft therein. This Even- 
 ing we fent to the Menifts there, to defire a Meeting with them, which they rea- 
 dily granted i and about Nine, on the 14th in the Morning, it begun. Several 
 
 of
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. J09 
 
 of their Teachers were there, and a great and large Gathering of feveral Torts^ 7\n n o 
 but mofl Menifts; having, we fuppoled, their whole Meeting. The Lord 1715. 
 was kind to us together, and advanced his bleffed Truth over ail in the Wifdom 
 and Power of it ; and many Things were opened and cleared to them to a gene- 
 ral Satisfaftion •, and feme were well affcfted with the Power ot Truth. After 
 the Meeting was over, fome of their Preachers fhewed us Kindnefs, declaring 
 their Unity with our Doftrine-," and one of them faid, " I hope we fliall all 
 one Day meet in the Kingdom of Heaven ; and ib we parted in Peace and Love. 
 This is as hopeful a Meeting as any among them I have yet feen. 
 
 After Dinner v/e fct forward towards Goredyke; which was hard enough Coredykc. 
 for me, having fwet much in the Night by the Fever, and my Strength being 
 fpent in the Meeting, together with the Pain ot the Bile, and the Trouble of 
 it in the hotching Wao-gon ; but the L o r u enabled me by his Grace to bear it, 
 for his bleffird Name and Truth's Sake, and for the fpreading and Advancement 
 thereof among the People. 
 
 W E arrived here about Four, and had a Meeting, about Six in the Even- 
 ing, with the Menifts, in their Meeting-houfe-, and fome others were there. In 
 this Meeting I had Strength beyond Expedlation •, for though I could hardly 
 walk to the Place through Pain and Weaknefs of Body, and my natural Spirits 
 much exhaufted by the Fever, Travel, and Pain ; yet the Lord was good, and 
 gave me full Strength in a large Exercife in that Meeting; and the Truth was 
 over all, and the People, both Teachers and Hearers, were loving and pleafed ; 
 and we parted with them in Love : But after this was over, and we returned to 
 our Inn, I found myfelf weaker than before •, and that Night had the Fever, but 
 not fo as at other Times, tho' I got no Reft : and fome of the Company, for fome 
 temporal Ends, haftcning beyond all Reafon, we were to fet forward the next 
 Morning, at Six, for Heerveen : But as I was putdng on my Cloaths, my Weak- 
 nefs and Pain was fo great that I fainted ; which I perceiving betore it fully 
 came, attempted to call to the reft in the Room •, but they did not hear me, my 
 Voice being cut off by the Fainting: But one of them happening to fpeak to 
 me, and having no Anfwer, put bye the Curtain, and found me in the Fit; and 
 they ufed what Means they could on that Occafion. After a fliort Time I re- 
 covered out of it, but found a great Alteration; the Bile was broke, and I be- 
 came very drowfy, and my Spirits more at reft, and lefs ot the Fever; and, af- 
 ter fom.e Refrefliment, went into the Waggon, none offering to ftay, or give 
 me any Reft or Eafe that way, and the fame Perfon ftill driving home : (O the 
 precipitant Hafte of this World, and the Hardnefs of the Heart that ii overcome 
 thereby!) But that only which prevailed with me to concur in this prefumptive 
 Cruelty againft myfelf, was the Confideration of a Meeting, which we expeded 
 was appointed in the Mcnifts' Meeting-houfe, at the Place whither we were go- 
 ing; lor one of the Preachers of Goredyke going thither as we arrived, he laid 
 he would procure one tor us; but when we came there, about the ninth Hour, 
 there was no Appointment, the People being generally at a Fair at another Town : 
 However, I was a little eafier, the Motion of the Waggon having forced oft" 
 much Corruption and Blood from my Sore; but left 1 fhoukl take Cold, 
 and wrong my Body too much, and moll: of all to try for a Meeting, I ftaid at 
 that Place the remaining Part of that Day, and the Night following ; but with 
 much Uneafmefs and impertinent Reafoning from fome in the Company, who 
 took too much upon them, having no Senfe ot the Weight of fuch a Concern : 
 At laft I made Ufe of the Authority I had in the Truth to fdence them, bid- 
 ding them go home about thofe Trifles they fo much heu'd atter; for if it was 
 not their Bufinefs then to ftay with me, I had none with them : and then they 
 
 6 N were 
 
 Heerveen.
 
 jio The L I F E, d^'^. 
 
 Anno were Hopped. That Evening we had Liberty of the Menifts for a Meeting in 
 1 7 15. their Houle, at Nine in the Morning-, which was accordingly held. 
 
 This Meeting was not large, but open and frefh ; and many Things of great 
 Confequence were made plain beyond Expeftation •, which made me look a little 
 at the People, they not leeming, by outward Appearance, like fuch as might 
 have a Capacity to take what they heard -, but what opened was declared. In 
 the I'ime of the Meeting came in a Perfon, who, by iiis Garb and Behaviour, 
 look'd like a Gentleman, (as fuch are ufually called among themfelves) and he 
 was very modeft and fcrious. After the Meeting was done, and we retired to 
 our Inn, our Hoft informed us, that he was in an outer Room, in the Entrance 
 of the Meeting-houfe •, where feveral Perfons of more than common Note had 
 
 placed themfelves to hear us -, among whom was Greujion, a confide- 
 
 rable Military Officer, often mentioned in the publick News Papers, and fome 
 with him : Our Hoft invited them in, but they declined it ; becaufe they fup- 
 pofed it might be fome Surprize upon the poor People, and make fome Difor- 
 der in their Meeting, which was already fettled and quiet. This was civil, good- 
 natur'd, and genteel, if that was their true Reafon; which I have no Caufe to 
 doubt. 
 
 One Point opened in the Meeting was to this Purpofe, fo as I never had be- 
 fore, viz. " When our blefled Lord, in the Days of his Fkfh, on a certain 
 Johnvi. 53, " Time was preaching to the Jews, he faid, Except ye eat the Flejh, mid drink 
 &c. •' the Bleed of the Son of Man, ye have no Life in you. Again, He that caletb 
 
 " my Fleflj, and drinketh my Blood., the fame dwelleth in me, and I in him. This 
 " Doftrine greatly offending the Multitude, they faid. How can this be? Haa 
 " can this Man give us his FlefJ} to eat, and his Blood to drink ? This is a hard 
 " Saying, •u:ho can receive (or bear) // ? And from that Tim.e they went back, and 
 " followed him no more. And fo great was the Myftery of this Saying, that the 
 " Apoftles themfelves fccmed (at leaft fome of them) to be ftaggered at it ; which 
 " gave the Lord occafion to fliy to them, Will ye alfo leave me ? But Peter, who 
 " often fliewed more forwardnefs than the reft to anfwer, faid. Whither fhall we 
 " go? Thou hafl the Words of eternal Life. Signifying, that he and the reft had 
 *' tafted of the divine Virtue that accompanied his Doftrine to fuch as believed : 
 *' Agreeable alfo to C h r i st's own Words, where he faid. My Words they an 
 " Spirit, and they are Life. Now Christ here alfo told them, that it was given 
 " unto them to underftand the Myfteries fpoke to others in Parables. What then 
 *' was the Myftery ot this Saying, Except ye eat the Flefh, and drink the Blood of 
 " the Son of Man, ye have no Life in you? This is the Meaning of it ; "Tis the 
 " Spirit that quickens, the FlefJ^ profiteth nothing : That is as if he had faid. If ye 
 " woukl eat my Fleflr and drink my Blood in your carnal Senfe, and as ye li- 
 " terally take it, that eating and drinking of my Mefti and Blood would profit 
 •' you nothing •, but the Subftance is my Spirit, whicli makes alive, and alfo 
 " ftrengtheneth and nourifheth all who partake of it. Now, there are certain 
 " People, whom I dcfire not to name, for I would not willingly offend anv, 
 " who ilippofe and believe, that as loon as their Priells have uttered certain 
 " Words of Confecration, as they call them, over a Piece of Bread, or Wafer, 
 " or a Cup of Wine, that this Bread is tranfubftantiated into the very Body of 
 " Christ, even the fame that was crucified witliout the Gates of Jerufalcm 
 " almoft feventeen hundred Years ago, and that Cup into the fame Blood thai; 
 " was then fhed. Now, fuppofing this was really true, as 'tis plain to common 
 "" Senfe it is not, yet this eating and drinking this Flefli and Blood would pro- 
 " fit them nothing: therefore 'cis great Pity that ever fo mucli Bloodflied, fo 
 " much Fire and Faggot, and cruel Deftruclion, fhould have been made under 
 
 « Pre-
 
 "/ 
 
 THOMAS STORT. . ni 
 
 *' Pretence of that, which, in Comparifon of his quickening Spirit, profiteth no- Anno 
 " thing: But this Blood muft yet be reckoned for, and the Day haftens." And 5 7^5- 
 though I was full thus plain at that Time in the open Meeting, and it was inter- 
 preted unto them, I iieard of no Diflike or Objedtion in any : And, I think, it 
 is very hard to be anfwercd, ftriking at the very Root of that ftrange and mon- 
 fti-ous Idolatry, committed under that falfe Notion, and all the Chain of hide- 
 ous Abfurdities confequential to it. 
 
 One remarkable Thing was here related to us, which I thought worth no- 
 ting, viz. one Talken Corjlen, a Meaift, who lives at a certain Town called Mackcm, 
 in Friezlajtd, told us, " That fome Years ago, our Friend Sarah Collier being 
 *' in thefc Parts, defircd a Meeting with them in their Meeting-houfe, which 
 *' they refufed her ; but he himfelf had a fecret Defire of a Meeting, having 
 *' never been at one, and accordingly gave her the Liberty of his Houfe •■, where 
 " a Meeting was held accordingly, and many were there, and well fatisfied: 
 " After the Meeting, Sarah Collier having a-mind to fee his Wife, who then 
 *' lay ill of an Iflue of Blood, which had then been upon her for about twelve 
 ** or thirteen Years, was condudled into the Chamber where flie lay -, and, atter 
 *' fome Time, Sarah was concerned to pray bye his Wife, and for her Help and 
 " Deliverance from her Malady, and great Exercife of it •, and, to his great Ad- 
 " miration, and alfo his Wife's, and all who had Opportunity to obferve it, his 
 " Wife recovered prcfently upon it, and has been well ever fince: And he ear- 
 *' neftly defired we would come to that Town, promifing that he would let us 
 " have a Meeting in his Houfe, if the Menifts would not: and told us he had 
 " left them, they having fome way blamed him about the former Meeting." 
 
 Having finidied here as aforefaid, we went from this Town, on the i6th, 
 about Two Afternoon, towards Jever., where we arrived about Four; and the Jever, 
 Menifts, being apprized of our Coming before-hand, they were ready and open 
 for a Meeting ; which began about Five : And there being feveral People in 
 the Town, befides the Inhabitants, (being the latter End of the Fair) the Meet- 
 ing was large and crowded, and the Lord was pleafed to manifeft his Truth 
 and Way in a good Degree among them ; for the Way of Life was plainly fee 
 forth in Dodrine, and many under fome Senfe ot the Peace of it. This being 
 over, we had the Thanks and Approbation of their Teachers ; which, of how 
 little Value foever in itfelf, yet fhewed their Good- will ; which is no fmall Step 
 towards gaining of themfelves and Hearers; and, under that Confideration, was 
 very acceptable. 
 
 O N the 1 7th, in the Morning, being the Seventh Day of the Week, we fet 
 forward for the Town of Oudeboone by Waggon, having detained one with us Oudcboone. 
 all this Week fince the Second Day Morning ; and being a little recovered, both 
 of my great Bile, (which went off at once, contrary to the Nature of fuch Things) 
 and alfo of my Fever, I found myfclf now more able to bear the Journey, which 
 we began about Six ; but, about Eight, our Waggon Beam breaking, I walked 
 on Foot about a Mile ; in which I found myfelf very weak and feeble. Having 
 fome Help from fome neighbouring Houfes, we repaired our Lofs, and they 
 overtook me in the Way, "'Jacob Nordyke, a Menift, and friendly Man, having 
 been with us all this Time, and gone before on Foot, when the Waggon broke, 
 to prepare a Meeting at that Town. 
 
 Arriving there about Eleven, wc had a Meeting in the Menifts' Meet- 
 ing-houfc at One. The Meeting was not large, but open and frefti, feveral 
 
 being
 
 yiz ^ The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno being touched with the Power of Truth -, and their Teacher was alfo kind, wirfi- 
 171 5. ins; us a profperous Journey, and Succels in our Labours. 
 
 From thence we departed about Five in the Evening, and came within tw^o 
 Grow. Miles and a halt" of Grc-iv, to which we intended, about Six •, but could come 
 
 no nearer, either on Horfeback, Waggon, or Boat, but only on Foot, and could 
 have no Lodging at the Inn, to winch the Waggon brought u?, being all taken 
 up already. This was a little troublefome-, but finding it fo, we made no He- 
 fitation, but quickly refolved upon the only Shift left us, and went on Foot thro' 
 the Grafs and Dew, and came, without any Damage, thither about Seven. Soon 
 after we arrived, we fent Jiiccl> Nor dyke to the Menifts, to fee for a Meeting 
 n^xt Day, being the Firll Day of the Week ; and they fent us word they were 
 glad we were come, and that we might have had their Meeting in the Forenoon, 
 but they expefted one of their ov/n Minifters, to whom they had fent to another 
 Place ; but if he did not come, we might have the Meeting llilU and if he did 
 come, we might have the Meeting at One Afternoon ; and if we were not then 
 fatisfiedj we might have another in the Evening at Five •, which accordingly fell 
 out. Thar beginning at One was large and open, and many Things opened to 
 them, and feveral of them were reached by the Power of Truth; though, be- 
 fore any Thing was faid, one of them raifed a Pfalm, and they fung fome few 
 Vcrfes, and then had done ; but they did not all concur, fome fitting filent, with 
 their Hats on, and pulled down, as if they had not been pleafed. This we bore 
 for Truth's Sake, not joining with them •, which they plainly faw. The Meet- 
 ing being over, I defired another, as they had propofed ; and then Hemine GoJfeSy 
 their Preacher, came to us ; and taking me by the Hand, he embraced me, and 
 falutcd me with feveral KiiTLs; which 1 readily anfwered : for he expreiled much 
 Satisfaftion before the People, and received us gladly, inviting us to take a Difli 
 of Tea with him ; which we accepted : We iound his Wife alio in the fame 
 Mind with him, open-hearted and kind. He fhewed us his Garden, and gave 
 us of his Grapes, of feveral kinds ; but firft of all a Dram, left we lliould take 
 Cold after the Exercife of the Meeting : and thus he continued his Entertain- 
 ment till the next Meeting. This Meeting was not fo large as that before, fe- 
 veral living out of Town, but very open ; and feme other fort cf People alfo 
 came among us, and all as ftill as a Friends' Meeting, many Things clearly and 
 freihly opening among them. The Meeting being ended, their Teacher in- 
 vited us again to his Houfe, and there treated us as if he had been a Friend ; 
 from which he is not far, having been as tender as any in the Meeting. When 
 we took Leave of him, he embraced us freely, and we had a great many good 
 Wifhes along with us from that honeft fincere Man ; which we alfo returned in 
 true Love, leaving the Door wide open for thole who may come next : and (o 
 we retired to our Quarters. 
 
 On the 19th, about Five in the Morning, v/e fet forward from thence, by 
 I.euwardcn. Water, for Lewccarden, where we arrived about Nine ; and, fending out Jiico^ 
 Nordyke among his Acquaintaces, the Menifts, to fee if we could have a Meet- 
 ing, they readily confented to have one with us, to begin at the Firft Hour : In 
 the mean time we took a Turn to view the City, and particularly the Prince's 
 Gardens -, where we faw fome foreign Plants, rare and curious, and alfo many 
 Orange Trees, and feveral with ripe Fruit, being forced with Stoves; but not 
 comparable with what the fame forts are in their native Soil. 
 
 The Meeting was larger than we expefted, and very ftill, and many Things 
 were opened to them in the Wifdcm and Pcv/er of Truth ; efpecially the Fall 
 
 of
 
 of THOMAS STORT. ^ 513 
 
 of die Firft Alam, with his Poftcricy ; the Temptations and Viiftory of the Sc- Ann 0. 
 cond Adam^ and the Overcoming and Salvation of all who believe and obey him, 1715 
 but the final Lofs of all who uisbelicvc and difobey him : For he is the fame 
 Word who was in the Beginning ; and in whom was Life, and that Life the John i. 4. 
 Light of Mm; and by whom that Prohibition came^ "Thou (halt not eat ; for in Cien. ii. 17. 
 the Bay thou eatejt thvu fhalt furdy die : And, eating, they died unto that Life, 
 and became blind alfo unto that Light, and fo fell from God who is that Light : 
 and therefore the Pofterity of the fallen Man rnuft again believe in the fame 
 Word, Light, and Life, and alfo obey and follow him ; or elfe he rcmaineth in 
 Death and Condemnation : and fo departing this Life (having a Day of Vifita- 
 tion by this Light, which is the true Light which lightcth every Man that cometh John i. 9, 14. 
 into the Worlds and that once was made Flef}j, and dwelt among them) are conclu- 
 ded under Death and Darkncfs for ever: Lor he faid to the Jews, He that — iii. is. 
 helieveth not is condemned already : that is, whofoever hath finned, as the Firft 
 Adain did, though not in the iame Thing, is under Condemnation and Death ; 
 but true Fa-.th coming by the Word of Lite in him who hath it, and juftilying 
 the Sinner trom his Sins, maketh him holy, juft , and true ; for this Faith 
 purifies the Heart, works by Love, and overcomes the World: Then Inch are 
 free, and live to G o d, and no more to Sin : Then they keep that great Saying 
 of Christ, As I have kept my Father'' s Commandments, and abide in his Love, _xiv. 15. 
 even fo do ye keep my Commandments, that ye way abide in my Love : And then he — ^v. 10. 
 that hath the Son hath the Father alfo, and he that hath the Son he hath Life indeed, 
 even Life eternal, &c. with much more of this kind, which I cannot now remember. 
 
 This Meeting ending about Four, the Countenances of the People were 
 open and free •, but, being in hafle to take the Boat, (the laft for the Day being 
 ready to put off) we had no Converfation with any of them, but only ll^opke 
 Claufes, and his Wife -, who kindly embraced us in the Meeting-houfe, as foon 
 as the Meeting was over, and invited us to their Houfe : but giving them to 
 underftand our Inclinations to depart in the Boat, they law there was no Tim.c 
 for it, and he went with us to the Boat, and fhe alfo near it ; we coming a back 
 Way out of the Meeting-houfe, which he took us, being nearer the Boat, and 
 out of the Crowd. He is a Ruling Elder of that Congregation ; and they ex- 
 preffed their Satisfaftion with the Meeting, believing it was fo to all ; and, wifli- 
 ing us Profperity, and embracing us at the Water-fide, there we parted. 
 
 That Night, about Nine, we got well to Harlingen, to the Houfe of our Harlingen. 
 Friend Amitie Joejlens; where we were before, and now alfo readily received 
 and kindly entertained by her. Here alfo we found another Friend, viz. Cor- 
 nelius Jacobs, who came from ^wisk, in North Holland, to meet us. 
 
 Notice being given of our Arrival that Night, there was a Meeting ap- 
 pointed next Day, the 20th, to begin at Four in the Afternoon •, which was ac- 
 cordingly held. It was fmall, being the Market Day, and not very open -, as 
 few Meetings were any where, where that Sed: called Collegians had any confide- 
 rable Sway :° though feveral of them were there, and fome neceffary Truths clear- 
 ly opened; efpecially the Divinity of Christ, which they commonly deny; 
 and alfo his Bapnfm with the Holy Spirit, of which they are alfo ignorant. 
 
 At the Clofe of this Meeting another was appointed to begin at Nine the 
 next Day, in the fame Place (being a little Room Friends have there ; for they 
 have a Meeting, though very few in Number) : This was larger than the other, 
 and opener ; which being ended, a third was appointed, to begin at Three Af- 
 ternoon; which was rather the largeft, and molt open; So that Truth leemed 
 
 6 ^o
 
 An n o 
 1715- 
 
 Dockum. 
 
 to gain 1 
 
 The LIFE, &x. 
 
 upon them, and we heard of no Objedtion made by any of them. Things 
 
 thm ending well and peaceably, we departed thence, on the 2 2d, about Seven 
 in the Morning, and, about Nine, came by Waggon to a Town on the Coaft, 
 called Dockum ; and Jacob Ncrdyke being ftill with us, he went to the Menifl 
 TLMchcr's, and he let us have their Houfe, in which was a Meeting appointed 
 for us, beginning at the Tenth Hour. This Meeting was not large, but moft 
 of the Heads of them there, and very fober, hearing attentively feveral Things 
 of moment opened to them -, one of which was, " That it is not our embracing 
 " true Principles and Notions doftrinally, and lb fitting down under thefe, and 
 " an Imitation of good and godly Men, that will bring us to Heaven, unlefs wc 
 " be alio in the fame Life and Virtue in which they were ; nor can any inherit 
 " the Kingdom of Heaven, unlefs they be in the Nature of Heaven -, which can- 
 " not be but by Regeneration by the Word of God •, the fame that was made 
 " Flefli, and now appears a quickening Spirit." This they feemed to receive 
 well, though their Meeting was not very open as to Lite, but laborious ; yet 
 folid, and °nded well in free and open Prayer. After the Meeting we vifited 
 the Woman, who was healed as above mentioned, her Hufband not being 
 returned •, and fhe, and two or three more who came to the Houfe, who are 
 under a Convincement, are pretty tender ; and, after a fhort Prayer with them, 
 (though they had been at the Meetirg) we exhorted them to meet together, 
 and wait upon the Lord by themfelvcs in Silence. One of our friendly P""olk.s 
 in this Tov/n going to the Calvinift Teacher, to invite him to the Meeting, 
 he faid, " If their Meeting had heen in a private Houfe, I would have come, 
 " for I defire to hear them ; but, being in the Menilb' Meeting-houfe, if I 
 " fhould go there, it would be taken Notice of by my own People, weaken me 
 " and my Party, and ftrengthen'the Menifts :" but was very friendly. 
 
 Kenkven. T H I s Afternoon we pafled along the Coaft to Henleven ; where arriving before 
 
 Night, we procured a Meeting with the Menifts (that Seft called Collegians) in 
 their Meeting-houfe ; which began about the Sixth Hour. It was pretty large 
 confidering the Time, and but a fmall Town, and moft of their chief People 
 there, and alfo one of their Preachers. This was the openeft Meeting we had 
 on that Coaft, and many Things of great Weight were made plain and clear to 
 the Underftandings of feveral, and efpecially one of their Teachers ; who ex- 
 ' preffed his Satisfadion, though the Divinity of Christ was fully fct forth, 
 and proved according to Scripture : Shewing them, that the divine Nature is 
 not the human Nature ; neither is the human Nature, (abftraftly confidered) 
 the divine Nature ; but the divine Word, afTuming a realbnable Soul, by an in- 
 feparable Union, and cloathing that Soul and Word with that holy Body, born 
 of the Virgin Mary : This is the true Christ, and fo appeared to the Jews ; but 
 the divine Word, cloathed with that holy Soul as a Vail, now appears to us. 
 Gentiles^ as he is Light ; not appearing to us in the Brightnefs of his Godhead ; 
 for fo we cannot behold him in the State we are in : but being thus vailed by a 
 holy Soul homogeneal to us, being of our own Nature, here we bec^in to per- 
 ceive him, till by Degrees we are changed, fo as to behold him in future and 
 more excellent Glory, as to Degree of Manifeftation. This Meeting ended in 
 much Sweetnefs in Prayer, and I had great Peace after it, and was very eafy, as 
 if I had done on that Side the Sea. 
 
 Malkwara. The next Morning we went forward to Malkzvara, by Water; where 
 
 we expeded a Meeting : But a Perfon of Note among the Menifts being 
 departed this Life, and fome of their chief People bufied about the Prepa- 
 rations for the Funeral, to be next Day, and others out of Town, we could 
 r.ot have a Meeting, unlefs we would ftay till the Firft Day following, 
 
 and
 
 of THOMAS STORT. sis 
 
 and not then certain ; fo that we departed thence without any Meeting, and paf- Anno 
 fed on by Water to Slaver a, an ancient City near diat Place : But here alfo they 1 715. 
 were otherwife concerned ; for feveral of them were out of the Town, and others 
 making Preparation for a Fair to be tliere the next Day ; fo tliat we could have 
 no Meeting, unlefs we fhould ftay in hope till the Firft Day, this being the Sixth : 
 But, being otherwife engaged, and none ol the Company inclining to ftay, I be- 
 ing alfo eafy to pafs over to Enclmyfin, after fome Time and Confideration, find- 
 ing a Spring of Peace in my Mind, we embarked, about Two Afternoon, in 
 order for Enchuyfm ; where, through the Goodnefs of G o d, our great Protec- 
 tor and Saviour, we arrived fafe and well, and in great Peace with him, about 
 . Seven in the Evening ; and, having fatistied the Skipper for our PafTao-e, we 
 went to the HouTe of Martin Daniel, the Baker, a friendly Man, to anlwer the 
 kind Invitation he had given us as wc went that Way before ; and he and his 
 Wife received us freely : But, after Supper, difcourfing with him about a Meet- 
 ing, he told us there was hardly any in all that great City which inclined to come 
 to a Meeting, they being generally Calvinifts, full, and wanting nothing ; but the 
 next Morning he had confidcrcd it further, and faid, " If you will ftay till the 
 " A.ftcrnoon, I will tell all whom I can have any Expcdation will come, 
 " (who are but two or three) and let you have my Houfe to meet in :" But 
 we finding Things fo cold, and expefting better Service elfewhere, did not think 
 proper to ftay upon fo uncertain a Ground. Before we departed, I exhorted 
 them to be true and faithful to the Lord, according to the Degree of Manifef- 
 tation they had, and then they might exped: more ; and, after a tender Time of 
 Prayer, whereby they were both much reached and tendered, we parted in Peace 
 and Love, he conducting us to the Gate of the City. We departed from thence 
 about the Tenth Hour, by Waggon, and, in our Way, called to fee Dirrick 
 Minderfen, at Bennawifent, a Village between Enchuyfm and Twijk, having heard Bennawifent; 
 he defired it; for his Daughter was at Horn at the Meeting we had there, and' 
 had told him of us. He had been a Menift, but, for fome Time, had withdrawn 
 himfelf from their Worfliip, and remained alone ; but his two Daughters incli- 
 ning to our Meetings, he had given them their Freedom, and himlelf alfo had 
 an Inclination to Truth. He received us very kindly ; and, after fome Time 
 of Silence after Dinner, John Padley had fome Words in Prayer, I alfo having 
 had a fecret Concern during the Time I had been there ; and, when John had 
 done, I then fpoke to this Effect, " That the Lord was at work in many 
 *' Hearts to draw Men under his own bleffed Teachings ; and the Voice of the 
 " Angel of tlie Covenant of Life was now calling unto the People of G o d yet 
 " in Babylon, to come out of her ; not to be Partakers with her in her Sins, left 
 " alfo they fhould partake of her Plagues : and fo exhorted him to be true and 
 *' faithful unto the Lord in what he knew, and the Lord would foon make 
 " him wifer than all his former Teachers, i^c." I then kneeled down in Prayer ; 
 in which we had a very tender and comfortable Seafon, though there was only 
 himfelf and one of his Daughters at home, his Wife and the other being gone be- 
 fore us towards Twift:, intending to be at our Meeting there next Day. He went 
 with us, about a Quarter of a Mile, to the Waggon, and his Daughter went to 
 Twisk with us -, and we parted with him in much Tendernefs, he heartily em- 
 bracing us. That Afternoon we went from thence to -'T-dnisk, with our Friend Twist' 
 Hind (or Henry) Jon/en; where we were kindly received by him and the reft of 
 our Friends. 
 
 The next Day, the 25th, we were at their Meeting, which was not large 
 of itfelf ; but there being feveral of the fober Neighbours at it, the little Place 
 was full:' But here, wherp we might have expedted more Opcnnefs than in many 
 other Places, being moft of them fuch as make fome ProfefTion of Trudi, I was 
 
 very
 
 Si6 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno very fenfible of as great a Power of Darknefs as in any Place we had been in 
 1715. all this Journey, and the Meeting was accordingly hard, dull, and dry a long 
 Time in Silence, and hard to be wrouglit through in Teftimony ; but the Lord 
 beinp- with us, gave us Victory and Dominion in the End, and feveral were 
 tendered and comforted. The Meeting being ended we went to Henry Jen- 
 fen's ; and moft of the Friend?, who may be ib accounted, came to us, expeft- 
 in^c fome further Comfort and Edification in our Society : But, as in the Days 
 of Job, Satan came alfo to hinder; lb there was one of that Place, a Man of 
 fome Account (as a Man) among them, who had for feme Time met with them 
 and profefled Truth, and yet full of Self-conceit, and Self-contrivance : He, at 
 firft, had cppofed their Week-day Meetings, and then, falling in v.'ith them, 
 would fleep gveat part of the Time, and then fland up to preach ; and fomc- 
 timcs, in the End of a filer.t Meeting, would propofe that all fhould kneel down 
 too'tther in the Meeting in filent and mental Prayer, before they parted ; and 
 this mental Prayer he pretends to perform every Night, laying himfclf all along 
 the Floor, on his Belly, as the moft humble and acceptable Pofture : He 
 is alfo for the Continuance of Water Baptifm, and the Bread and Wine. By 
 thcfc Whims he has been hurtful to the Friends arrd others in this Place, they 
 being but yet Children in the Way of Truth-, and fome he partly draws with 
 him -, he and they keeping to Meetings under all this, and thereby laying a 
 greater Load upon the right-minded. Thefe Things btirg largely fpoken to 
 in the Meeting, vvith a Caution to Friends to keep clofe to the Power and Vir- 
 tue of Truth, which is the Subftance of all-, and to beware of fuch as would 
 draw them off that, and back into the Rudiments of the World ; which had not 
 profited thofe who had been excrcifed therein, who now, as of old, wanted fome- 
 triing to glory in, in their Flefli, and in an outward Show ; being ignorant of the 
 Life of Christ; and where that took place, fuch were of no Account : but 
 ■where they could continue in Imitation of Shadows, therein they magnified them- 
 felvcs, and boafted, fcfr. This had galled him much, and he feemed fullen af- 
 ter the Meeting-, but faid nothing till now he came to the Friend's Houfe, and 
 brought another with him, a Stranger, from Groenitigen., who had been among 
 the Reformed, (that is, the Presbyterians) but of late gone among the Menifls ; 
 being of that fort who wear their Beards like the German Jezvs. This Stranger, 
 foon after they came in, began flily and fmoothly to move fome Conference a- 
 bout Matters of Religion, and more efpecially drew on towards the Subjeft of 
 Baptifm ; but being aware of them, as feeing their Defign, we were upon our 
 Guaid ; and the Controverfy falling to my Share, it held not long: For as his 
 chief Allegation was. That Christ inftituted another Water Baptifm, diftinft 
 from John's Baptifm, urging Mat. xxviii. 19. for Proof, I repeating that, and 
 the other Texts uttered by C h r i s t at the fame Time, explaining that in Mat- 
 ihe-ix;, which is but a fmall Part of what the L o r d then faid ; in all which there 
 is no Water Baptifm mentioned, but only John's, and that by way of Diflinc- 
 tion to the Baptifm of the Holy Ghoft, the true Baptifm of C h r i s t there let 
 forth. This put him. to the common Reply, 172. to a Conjefture that it was 
 Water Baptifm, from common Circumflances ; which being ballanced by other 
 Circumftances to the contrary, and over-ruled by the Apoilles Doftrine, where 
 
 '■ "■ '^' /;)' one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, bond or 
 free ; for we have all been made to drink into one Spirit. This is the Spirit 
 of Truth, even of J e s u s C h r i st, who is that one Spirit of Truth and eter- 
 nal Lite ; into whom whofoever drinketh, and continueth to drink, is a true 
 and living Member of that one holy and living Body, in which that holy Spirit 
 dwelkth as a living and holy Temple, and of whom he is the Life, and only 
 Eph.i 22,23. ^'•'^'^'^ 3nd Head ; e-en the Church, which is his Body, the Fulnefs of him whofilleth 
 
 aU
 
 of T H M A S S T RT. siy 
 
 all in all: The Church cf the Firft-horn, written in Heaven \ the true Spoufe i Anno 
 'Bone of his Bone, and Flejh of his Flefl: ; of one Spirit, Life and Nature with him . 1715- 
 He was then at a Paufe, and lb grew a little hot : which I reproved him ior, 
 and cautioned him againft it •, telling him, if he let that Fire arife in him, it would 
 darken liis Underftanding, being from the Root of Evil. 
 
 Then his pretended Friend (hewed himfelf, and alledged fome infignificant 
 Things in the fame, or mure Heat than the other-, fo that v/e concluded he had 
 brought the other on purpofe, ior he had come from Amjlerdam the Evening be- 
 fore. Then they own'd that Water Baptifm was not faving of itfelf ; but only, 
 being a Command, fliould be complied with, becaufe commanded. But this being 
 only a begging of the Queftion, 1 again infifted on Proof. Then he alledgedP^/^r's 
 Queflion, IVho can forbid Water, &c. I afked him who Peter fpoke to in tliat Aflsx. 47. 
 Queftion? And it appeared he fpoke to a few believing Jews then with him : 
 And as a Queftion is no Command, fo there were prudential Reafons for what 
 Feter thought beft at that Time, as Things were then circumftanced : For thefe 
 "Jews, being always tenacious and bigotted to Ceremonies and Shadows, even af- 
 ter they had believed, if Cornelius and his Houfe had not been baptized, (or at 
 leaft an Offer made of it, for it does not appear they were baptized) thefe Jews, 
 and others who might hear of it, might think thefe Gentiles Hill wanted fomething 
 they Ihould have had to make them compleat, and fo deny them Communion ; 
 which, when all was done, they were too apt to do, being always felf-conceited 
 of thcmfclves, and a Tinfturc of the old Bitterncfs, and Contempt of the Gen- 
 tiles ftill remaining after they had believed in the fame Saviour. And to this I 
 added, that the Apottle Peter, in all his Defence before the Apoftles and Elders, 
 did not fo much as mention this Paflage about Water Baptifm -, but on the con- 
 trary, places the Command and Baptilm of Ch rist, in Mti.t. xxviii. altoge- 
 ther upon the Holy GhoO. And I alledged alfo, in the proper Part of this Con- 
 ference, That it is not the putting away the Filth of the FleJIi, but the Anfwer of i Pet. iii. 2 1 . 
 a good Confcience towards God; and therefore not that Baptilm, which extends 
 only to the Outfide, and an outward cleanfing of the Body, as Water can only 
 do ; but that inward Baptifm and cleanfing of the Mind and Confcience by the 
 Holy Ghoft, and Fire of the Word of God, and Spirit of C h r i st : For, not Tit. iii. 5. 
 by Works of Righteoufnefs which we have done, but according to his Mercy he fa- 
 %-ed us. But how ? By the waging of Regeneration, and by the renewing of the 
 Holy Ghcfl. And this Baptilm is known l)y its Effects ; for, by this Baptilm, 
 we are buried with Chrift into his Death ; who, in that he died, he died unto Sin Rom. vi. 4, 
 mce, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God: fo that they that are thus bapti- '°> "• 
 zed, and thus buried, are dead indeed unto Sin, but alive unto God, through Jefus 
 Chrift our Lord, the Second Jdam, the Lord from Heaven, the quickening 
 Spirit : That like as he himfelf was rai fed from the Dead, by the Power and Glory 
 cf the Father, (which was a full and perftft Refurreftion) even fo alfo all thole 
 that then were, now are, and hereafter fhall be fo baptized, are, and fhall be ^o 
 raifed, as they keep with that holy Word of Life, and divine Power and Na- 
 ture, v^hich effefts this great and truly wonderful Change ; which common Ob- 
 fervation and Experience teacheth, in all Ages, Water Baptilm could never do, 
 or can do, by whomfoever adminifter'd, though even by Peter, Paul, Philip, or 
 any other, or all of the Apoftles, And I further urged. That fincc Paul was 
 the Apoftle to the Gentiles, and not one whit behind the chiet of the Apoftles; 
 and fince that Command in Mat. xxviii. was given long before his Converfion 
 and Call to the Miniftry and Apoftlefliip, if that had been a Command tor Wa- 
 ter Baptifm to any, and all who Ihould have a Part in the Miniftry and Apo- 
 ftleflVip, then it would have been a Command to the Apoftle Paul: But he did 
 not think he had any Power from that Text, or any other Way, to baptize with 
 
 6 P Water;
 
 jiS The LIFE, c^c. 
 
 A N N' o Water •, for, long after this, he faith, Chrijl fent me not to hc.ptize, lut to preach 
 1 71 5. the Gcfpel; which was to open the blind Eye, unftop the deaf Ear, and to turn 
 I Cor. i. 17. thew from Darkncfs to Light, and from the Po-wer of Satan unto God: That is. 
 Acts XXVI. iS. j-^.yj.|^ j]jg gpj|.|^ ^i^j Power of the Prince of this World, and of all the Ungod- 
 ly, who is the Prince of Darknefs, and blinds the Eye of the Ungodly •, and unto 
 1 Johni. 9, the Prince of peace, the true Uight, zvho Ughteth every Man that cometh into the 
 World. 
 
 This almoft filenced them, and then they fretted ; and the Stranger replied, 
 " That fince it had once been in ufe, what Hurt could it do to any, though fuch 
 " had already received the Holy Ghoft, having been once adminiftred to fuch ?" 
 
 I RETURNED, " That fo had Circumcifion, yet not fit at this Day. But 
 ♦' this is not all : Water Baptifm is impofed as a Command of Chri st from 
 " that Text, where there is no Command for it, and is Will-worfhip ; made a 
 " Fart, and a great Part too, of the Chriftian Religion ; and not by C h r i s t's 
 " Authority, but by the Errors of Men : not being of the true Nature of the 
 " Kingdom of C h r i s t, which is fpiritual, but a Shadow, in which Antichrifh 
 " hath wroUj^ht in a Myftery ; all Shadows being of the Nature of Darknefs, 
 " and, continued beyond their due Bounds, become hurtful: And this having 
 " been as a Garment, or Cover, to the Ungodly for many Ages, God hating 
 " the Garment fpotted by the Fltfli, cannot approve of Men in their unwar- 
 " rantable Imitation of any Shadow, at any Time in ufe in the Church; but 
 " has railed WitnclTcs againft them, and for the ever-living Subftance: with- 
 " out which, all that Man can do or imitate, is but as C^zk's Sacrifice, of no Ac- 
 " ccptance." 
 
 Upon this they grew impatient, and wanted to be going-, and, after a 
 few foft Words to them by John Padley, in a Teftimony to the l>ife and Sub- 
 itance ; telling them, that we were furely come to it, without the Ufe of any 
 Shadows; and therefore he exhorted them to wait for it in themfelves, they 
 went away under a Difappointmcnt : But though we, by their Means, were 
 alfo difappointed of the Comfort we expefted with thefe few tender and living 
 Souls, who in Love came to vifit us, yet this afforded fome Satisfadtion and 
 Confirmation to them. 
 
 Horn. The next Morning they all went with us to Horn ; where we had a far more 
 
 open and comfortable Seafon togetiier in the Menifts' Meeting-houfe; which 
 began at Nine in the Morning. 
 
 After the Meeting w^e were invited to Dinner by Vlmblome, and 
 
 kindly entertained ; and then we went into the Trackfcoit about One, and that 
 Amftcrdam. Night about Seven, arrived fafe at Amflerdam ; where our Friends were glad of 
 our Return, and received us kindly. 
 
 H E R E we ftaid till the 28th, being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meet- 
 ing-day. The Meeting was fmall and cloudy, but Truth in fome more Domi- 
 nion than in the Meetings before in this Place. 
 
 On the 29th was tlieir Quarterly Meeting; which was fmall and dull. 
 
 llarlaem. . ^^ ^^'^^ 30"^!^ we went to Harlaeni; and that Evening at Five had a Meet- 
 ing there ; which was both larger and opener than that we had before in this 
 Place, many Things relating to Truth being clearly opened, and the Truth in 
 
 good
 
 of T Fi M yl S S T O R r. siq 
 
 good Dominion, and the People generally fatisfied, and Friends comforted ; fo Anno 
 that this made up in fome meafure the Want commonly at /Imjlerdam: For there 1715. 
 is a Cloud ufually over that Meeting, not eafily to be removed. 
 
 This Night we lodged ^\-'nh. Peter Leonards, and returned next Day, in the 
 Afternoon, to Amficrdam. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Eighth Month, being the Firft of the Week, we were again 
 at the Meeting at yhnjlerdam •, which was larger and opener than on any other Day, 
 both Forenoon and Attemoon : For feveral Perfons coming in when they hear of 
 Strangers, there is, lor the moft Part, a frelh Vifitation to them, which makes 
 Things more lively and open •, though the Meeting was not fo large as fome 
 Friends expefted, by Rcafon of the Rain that fell that Day. 
 
 O N the 3d the Friends from Twijk, taking their Farewell of us in much Ten- 
 dernefs, departed homeward •, and at the lame Time we went over to Surdam; 
 and, calling at the Houfe of one John Cornelius Gejlart, a Menift of fome Note, 
 (one ol our Company having fome Acquaintance with him) •, and, he not being 
 at home, his Wife entertained us courteoufly, and invited us to dine with her : B ut 
 we excufed ourfelves, other Concerns there at that Time interfering-, and having 
 a-mind to try for a Meeting, we alfo mentioned it to her, which fhe feemed well 
 pleafed with ; and which we alfo mioved to fome others : but no convenient Place 
 prefenting, and the Chief of the Menifts being over at Jtnfierdam, we could not 
 make it bear at that Time; and fo returned to Amfterdam in the Evening. 
 
 On the 5th, being the Fourth of the Week, we were at their Meeting •, which 
 was fmall, dark, and hard in the Forepart of it, but Truth prevailed in fome 
 good Degree belbre it ended. That Evening there came a dark and heavy Load 
 upon my Spirit, from a Caufe then unknown, as to any Thing which outwardly 
 appeared, and fo continued till the Sixth Day; when, after fomeDifcourfe with 
 an ancient Friend, concerning certain Offences and Mifunderftandings between 
 fome of them about little Things, I found myfelf much eafier. 
 
 O N the 8th we vifited feveral Families of Friends in Town to our mutual 
 Satisfadlion. 
 
 O N the 9th, being the Firft of the Week, we were there again •, and, being 
 fair Weather, the Meeting was large, and many Strangers; and the Lord was 
 pleafed to condefcend unto us, and give me a good Time to the clearing of my 
 Mind fully among them ; and Truth was over all and exalted: But in the Af- 
 ternoon (the People then ufually going a-pleafuring in fair Weather) the 
 Meeting was not lb large ; but pretty frelh and open, elpecially towards the 
 End of it. 
 
 W E ftaid there the loth all Day, and vifited fome Friends; and on the i ith, 
 taking Leave of them in much Love, and pretty eafy in our Minds, we went to 
 Harlaem; and that Evening had a Meeting there about the Sixth Hour, which was 
 large and very open. Several Teachers of different forts were at this Meeting, and 
 generally fatisfied, fome of the Menifts expreftmg it freely and openly. Return- 
 ing to Peter Leonard'^ Houfe after the Mecnng, we lodged there, and were very 
 cafy and comfortable in our Minds, and well entertained by them. 
 
 On the 12th, about Ten in the Morning, (accompanied by our ancient Friend 
 Jacob Claufe, an old Servant of Truth, and of the Miniftry, as an Interpreter above
 
 5-20 The LIFE, ^-c. 
 
 Anno thirty long and laborious Journeys) we departed hence in the Dr<iw-boat, and ar- 
 1715. rived at Rotterdam that Evening about Eight; and Rohcrt Gerard meeting us 
 in the Way, took us with him to his Houie ; where we were well and openly 
 entertained, 
 
 llotterdam. N OT 1 c E being given of our coming, we appointed a Meeting the next Day 
 
 at Five in the Evening ; where wc had the Company of fome People of diffe- 
 rent Feribafions, as Prefbytcrians, Baptifts, Papiifs, and one Menift Teacher, 
 tho' we knew not what they wtre till after the Meeting. Truth was declared 
 plainly and fully to them; during which they were Very ftill, and feemed touch- 
 ed with fome Senfe of the Power of G o d, which reigned in the Meeting ; tho' 
 the fame Thing, as formerly, opened about Tranfubfl:antiation, I'ix. " That if 
 *' the Bread, atter Coniecration (as they call it) were really tranfmutcd into the 
 " very Body of Christ, retaining only the Accidents ol Bread, and were re • 
 " ally eaten in that Senfe, which fome People take it in ; yet even that eating 
 «' of his Flefh and drinking of his Blood would profit nothing : For we have the 
 " Authority of C h r i s t himfclf againlf all the World, that his real Flefli and 
 " Blood profiteth nothing to be eaten and drank in the Senfe of the People, 
 " who carnally conceived fuch an eating and drinking h'om his Words; by which 
 " he intended a being quickened by his Spirit, and living unto God by him, 
 " who IS the Rcfurredtion and the Lite, the Second Adam, a quickening Spirit." 
 This was a good Meeting, and the L o r d's Name was honoured by it. 
 
 On the i6di, being the Firft Day of the Week, we were there again, both 
 Forcncon and Afternoon ; and People of feveral Notions were at the Meeting, and 
 Things opened largely and with good Authority, concerning Christ as God 
 and Man, and the Objeft of the Faith of the Gentiks, as he is Light and Life, 
 being lb promifed of the Father unto us. The Meeting being over, we had the 
 Comfort ot the Society of Friends at our Lodgings ; where we had fome Dif- 
 courfe and Converfation concerning Truth and divine Tilings. 
 
 O N- the 1 9th, being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meeting-day, we were 
 there again ; and, being a fcleft Meeting, altogether of Friends, it was fmall : 
 but the Lor D'was gracioufly pleafed to vifit us together in his tender Kind nefs 
 and Mercy, and opened Things fully to the States of all ; and it was a good 
 Meeting. 
 
 On the 2 2d, John Padley embarking for London, and no Opportunity offer- 
 ing for Yarmouth, where I intended, I was there alio the next Day ; and, be- 
 ing the Firft of the Week, the Meeting was full, both in the Forenoon and Af- 
 ternoon: and many Things were fully and plainly opened, and they generally 
 fatisficd ; and, the Lo rd's Prefence being with us, it was a good Meetino-. 
 
 The Winds {landing contrary, and generally flormy or foggy Weather I 
 continued here longer than otherwiie I would have done, but was from Time ta 
 Time with Friends at their Meeting ; and the Lord was pleafed to comfort us 
 together, and condefcended to be with us therein. During this Time I enquired 
 more particularly into the State of the Meniils in thofe Parts, and found, that 
 all along, their Minifters had preached freely, till of late fome here and' there 
 had begun to receive Hire, but were moderate therein; and though they ftill 
 keep up their old Teftimony againft fighting and fwearing, yet they are not 
 fo lively in their Woilhip, nor fo near the Truth as they were in their 
 firft Appearance: and I was informed that their Minifters are, for the moft 
 but weak and dry in their Miniftry ; and fometimes their Hearers had 
 
 rather
 
 cj- T H M yl S ST R T. ni 
 
 rather Tome of them v/oiild be filent than preach, though grc.tis. If thus it be, it A >i n' o 
 
 hath fared with them as with many others, who, having Iiad a Day of Vilitation i/ 1 J- 
 
 from the Lord, and obtained a Repiuaticn through his Gcodiiefs among them, 
 
 and by that holy and innocent Converfarion they have had through Jiis Grace; 
 
 yet fome becoming more loofe, and not keeping in the Grace of God, and 
 
 the Virtue and Power of it, have ended in meer Formalifts ; and then, in a 
 
 Generation or two, little has appeared but the Outfide and Form of God- 
 
 linefs, .which the Power of Grace brought forth in thofe v«'ho went before ; and 
 
 fo, in a great Meafure it is wiih them : and yet, in the niain, they are prcferved 
 
 from the grofs Evils of the World ; and I hope the Lord hath a Vilitation of 
 
 Life and Power yet in ftore for them. Among other Things I obtained the 
 
 Form of Words ufed by them inflead of an Oath ; which is thus : /;; the Words 
 
 ofTriith., injlead of a folemn Oath, I declare, &c. 
 
 If We in Britain had waited the Lord's Time for fuch a Form as this, we 
 had been more happy in a fuller Teltimony than they in fome otlier Things ; 
 and, in the Lo rd's Time, might have had the like Teflimony trom the Ruler, 
 and Rulers, in Britaiii and her Dependencies, as this People have of late had from 
 the States General of the United Provinces. 
 
 The Wind at length coming fair, and I inclining to take the firft likely 
 Opportunity, on the 13th of the Ninth Month, about Six in the Evening, after 
 two good Meetings, being the Firft of the Week, accompanied by Robert Ge- 
 rard, his Wife, their Sifter Bethia, and their Brother-in-law, John Davifon, I 
 went to the Bril in a Scoit, and there we lay at an Anchor that Night % and the 
 Wind being high all next Day, we ftaid there till the 15th, about Eleven . 
 in the Morning ; when, departing from my Friends^ I embark'd on board the \ ■ 
 John of Tarmoi'.th, Michael Bailey Mafter, the Wind being eafterly, and a fteady 
 and line Gale, but very cold -, and through the good Providence of God, arri- 
 ved fafe in the Harbour at Yarmouth on the 1 7th, about Nine in the Morning : 
 For v/hlch, and all the Prefervations of the Lord through fo many Danger?, 
 I defire to remain thankful unto him only. 
 
 6a
 
 Anmo 
 1715' 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Lammas, 
 
 CONTINUED at 2'armouth, lodging with my Friend M^yy Lc-u;^ 
 till the 20th', and, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting; 
 which, though imuU, was open and well; and, in the Afternoon came Jo- 
 frph Giwney and Gregory Springell from Norwich, en purpofe to accom- 
 pany mc thither ; and wc all lUid the Afternoon Meeting. It was larger than 
 in the Morning, and alfo more open. 
 
 On the 21ft, about Eleven Forenoon, we went on to Norwich, and got well 
 thither in the Evening: I lodged at Jofeph Gurney'%; where I was kindly and 
 fully entertained. 
 
 The 23d, the Fourth of the Week, was their Meeting-day, and we had a good 
 and open Time together •, for the Lord was with us, and was very gracious 
 to me in this City. 
 
 He RE I ftaid till the 27th, being the Firft of the Week, and was at their 
 Meetings Fore and Afternoon. Their Meeting was large of Friends, and 
 there were many Strangers there in the Afternoon; and Things opened fully, 
 particularly concerning War and Fighting, and the Inconfiftency thereof with 
 the Nature and End of the Kingdom of Christ-, and we had a good Meet- 
 ing to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 O N the 29th I had a Meeting at Laynmas, and nine or ten Friends were with 
 me from Norwich; and the Lord was pleafed to give us a good Time there. 
 That Night, being wet and cold, I went home with John Baxter^ about five 
 Miles. 
 
 Holt. On the 30th I had another appointed Meeting at Holt; which was fmall, 
 
 but a lively Meeting. That Night (together with Thomas White, who met me 
 there) I lodged with Joht Southgate, at Cloy. 
 
 Welk. On the Firft of the Tenth Month we had a Meeting at Wells; which was 
 
 not large, but a very good and tender Meeting: That Night we lodged there 
 with Matthew Wild. 
 
 Fakenham. On the 2d I had a Meeting at Fakenhani; which was but fmall, but a good 
 
 tender Meeting. That Night I lodged with Jofeph Peckover ; and the next Day 
 
 Lynn. proving cold and rainy, he, and his Son Edmund, accompanied mc to Lynn; 
 
 and we lodged at Jacob Thier dens' s. 
 
 O N the 4th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting, both Fore 
 and Afternoon ; which was not large, nor very open in the Forenoon, but 
 better both ways in the Afternoon : I remained there that Night alfo. 
 
 O N the 5th, in the Morning, I fet forward, and, in the Afternoon I came to 
 Stake. Stake, and that Evening had a httle Meeting with the few Families there ; which 
 
 was open and comfortable. That Night I lodged with George Philips, where I 
 
 was v/ell provided for. 
 Weather. 
 
 having taken Cold the Week before in Time of ill 
 
 Brandon. O^ the 6th. I vjent to Brtindon; and there meeting mth Richard J/Ijl>y, who 
 
 had come on purpofe to lee me, we had an Evening Meeting ; which was pretty 
 large and open, and I obfcrved feveral about the Doors and Windows with Lan- 
 
 thorns.
 
 of T HO M A S ST R T. j-i^ 
 
 thorns, who did not come in-. I'hat Night we lodged with Thomas Brewjier; An nO 
 where I found my Cold increafed, and I was feverilh, and in Danger; but the 17 ^5' 
 Lord wrought in me to my Help and Comfort, and preferved me. 
 
 O N the 7th, accompanied by my Friend Richard J/hh, Thomas Brewjier, and Milder.hall. 
 one of his Sons, we went to MUdenhall; where we had a large and good Meet- 
 ing that Afternoon. Thar Night I lodged with Simon Bitrgefs ; where I was well 
 entertained, (but they returned to Brand) and had fomething for my Cold, which 
 proved efFcdual ; and the next Day, being much eaficr, I went to Livermore^ 
 and lodged with Jofeph Nun. 
 
 . O N the 9th I had a Meeting appointed at Ickfworth ; which was fmall, and, Ickfworth. 
 for fome Time poor and low ; but the Lord quickened us together in fome 
 good Degree, and the Meeting ended well. 
 
 That Night I ftaid there, and lodged with John Turpin ; where I was freely 
 entertained : The next Day he accompanied me to D//}, and there I lodged with Difs. 
 the Widow Siifannah JVells ; where I was alfo very well, only a Bile, which had 
 been gathering fome Time before, was a little troublefome. 
 
 O N the I ith, being the Firft Day of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Difs; 
 which was a large and open Meeting, many Strangers being there, and generally 
 fatisfied, Things opening lull and clear to the Underftandings of many. 
 
 O N the 1 3th I had an appointed Meeting at Rickinghall; which was pretty RickingfliaU, 
 large, and alfo open, and many of the Neighbourhood there, and likewife fatif- 
 fied. That Night I lodged with Jonathan Simons. 
 
 O N the 1 4th I called at Charles Harrifon\ and took Breakfaft ; and then went 
 on to Needham, and lodged at Samuel Alexander's, they receiving m.e gladly in Needhacj. 
 much Fricndfhip. 
 
 O N the 1 5th I was at their Meeting, which was appointed on purpofe. It 
 was larger than ufual, and pretty open. 
 
 On the i6th I was at the Meeting at Ipfivich; which was pretty large con- Ipfwich; 
 fidering the Time of the Year, being very cold Weather, and a very open Time 
 the Lord gave us •, but my travelling about this Time was a little troublefome 
 to nie, by reafon of a Bile in the Infide of my Left Thigh. This Night I lodged 
 with our ancient and honourable Friend, EJlher Mclfop ; who was as a Mother 
 to me, and gave me occafion to mention that Saying of our Lord, He that Mat.xix. 29. 
 leaveth Father, Mother, &c. for my Sake, and the Go/pel's, Jhall receive in this Life 
 an hundred-fold, &c. 
 
 On the 17th I went to Woodbridge, and lodged at John Finder''?,; where I W'oodbridze; 
 was well and freely received and entertained. 
 
 On the 1 8th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting, both Fore 
 and Afternoon ; which was very open, efpecially the latter, which was much 
 larger. 
 
 O N the 20th I returned to Ipfwich ; where the Meeting was larger than be- 
 fore, and a good Meeting. That Evening I returned to Woodbridge, and was 
 again at tlicir Week-day Meeting on the 23d ; whicji was alfo a large good Meet- 
 
 ing,
 
 J -T 
 
 Thi^ L 1 F E, d^-c. 
 
 Anvo incr, tho'jc-h a very cold, windy, fnowy Day. That Nighr I went home %vith 
 1 7 1- Nathaniel Keehle, to his Houie at rurp.ll, about feven Miles, the ,Lanes being m 
 ""' fome Places altnoft blocked up with Snow, which had drove much all thut Day. 
 
 Lafon. T H E next Day I wen: to an appointed Meeting at Lafcn ; which was larger 
 
 than could be expefted, and the greateft part Strangers: but the Lord was 
 kind to us, and gave us a good Tune, many Things opening, tending to Con- 
 vinccmenr, and informing of the Underftanding. That Night I went home 
 with Peter Crofs, formerly of IFooSridge, but now of Ke!JI:ell; where I was well 
 received and entertained. 
 
 On the 25th I was at a general Meeting at the Widow P^^^jWs •, which, by 
 reafon ot the very great Snov/ and Cold, was fmall, but pretty open : Eefides, 
 by the Mifcarriage of a Letter, no Notice had been given. 
 
 On the 26th I returned to IVoodbridge to my former Quarters, and ftaid thera 
 
 that Night. 
 
 O N the 2 7th 1 went to Ipfidch, and was at their Meeting, and fome Friends 
 with me from JVocdbridge. The Meeting was fmall, for the Reafon above, but 
 pretty open. I tarried there that Night with the Widow Melfcp ; but found my- 
 felf under a great Load of Cold, and my Inwards much afFefted, and took fome 
 Thin"s I thought proper for it ; but it was got too clofe to be eafily removed, my 
 Inwards being touched with Ibmething of a fcorbutick Humour, in which the 
 Cold fettled, as I imagine, in the Nature of Chilblanes on the Outfide; and, 
 Colcheftcr. dtfiring to get nearer Loudon, I went the next Day to Colchefter, and lodged at 
 my old Quarters, with Benjamin Dikes •, where I was provided with every Thing 
 tkouaht proper for me, by him and his Son Benjamin, and his little Daughter 
 Jnne, who were all very carctul of me. 
 
 Here I ftaid till the Firft of the Eleventh Month, being the Firft of the 
 Week, and, being a little better, was at their Meeting •, which was not hrge in 
 the Forenoon, and I had nothing to fay among them : but in the Afternoon, ac 
 the Great Meeting- houfe, were a great many, both Friends and others ; and I 
 had a long Time among them, and was enabled to hold it out beyond Expec- 
 tation, and, I believe, to general Satisiaction ; being upon the Subjedi of War, 
 and the Nature of the Kingdom of Christ, the Kingdoms of Men, and the 
 Kingdom of Antichrift : But after the Meeting I found myfelf much weaken'd, 
 and the next Day yet more fenfible ot my inward Decay, liaving alio had an in- 
 ward Fever, and my Sleep taken away fome Days before : But the Lord was 
 near in all this, and his Prefence'was the bell Help and Cordial, and Fcicnds aifo 
 were very kind and comfortable to me ; fo that on the Third Day I was much 
 better, and linifhed fome Obfervations which I had begun upon a late Law-Yor 
 the Prefervation of the King's Perfon and Government. 
 
 D 
 
 Finding myfelf ftill weak within, and not fit for pubJick Service; and 
 knowing, if I flaid there, fome would come to Meeting with an Expectation, 
 which could not be anfwered, and might liurt tlicm ; and, willing to be where 
 I might be more retired, and lefs in the Way of the Inconveniency of Vifits, I 
 went on the fourth Day following to Kelden, and ftaid that Night with Dr John 
 Fijh, who gave me fome Things which proved helpful : But his Houfe beino- in 
 the Town, I went from thence next Day to Jchn Ofgocd's, ,near Ccgflmll; where, 
 being received and entertained as at home, I ftaid two Weeks -, in which Time 
 I was at fcvcral Meetings, viz. on the 5th, at Cogfljall: On the Stii, bein^ the 
 
 Fu-ft
 
 cf THOMAS ST RT. 
 
 515" 
 
 Firft of the Week, there again -, where the Meeting was large and open, there Anno. 
 bein? feveral Friends from Co/d>6(f/?£T.* On the 1 2th, there again •, when the Meet- ^7^5 
 jng was fmall and filent, but, to me, very ftrengthening and refrefhing: And, 
 on the 13th, at Braintree; where, though a fmall Meeting, yet the Lord was Eraintree. 
 good to us. The next Day I returned to my Lodging, being much recovered. 
 
 O N the 1 5th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Kelden ; Kelden. 
 which was large and very open, there being many Friends from Colchejier, and 
 my Friend John Crouch from London^ and, with him, Clement Plumftead from 
 Penfyhania^ v/ho brought me feveral Letters from Friends there. After the 
 Meeting we dined at Dr Fip'^, and that Night I returned to my Quarters with 
 John Ofgcod; from whence Clement Phnnfiead returned to London (having Bufi- 
 nefs) on the i 7th, but John Crouch and I ftaid till the i 8th, being the Fourth Day 
 of the Week, and then went on to Chelmsford, and lodged at Thomas JVyai''s ; Chelmsford. 
 where I had every Thing fuitabJe to my Condition. 
 
 The 19th, being their Week-day Meeting, I was there. The Meeting was 
 fmall, but open. I, defiring to fee fome of the People of the Town, and Friends 
 more generally, and alfo being but weakly to travel, ftaid till the 2 2d, being the 
 Firft of the Week. 
 
 The firft Meeting was pretty large, and for the moft part of Friends, tho' 
 fome few ProfelTors: And, appointing an Evening Meeting, there came a great 
 many of feveral forts; but moft of the Church of England, and of thofe called 
 the High Church ; where Things were opened fo among them, that I have heard 
 they were generally fatisfied : And this I obferved in the Meeting, that Truth, 
 and the Teftimony of it, was fully over them, to his own fole Glory. 
 
 On the 23d, accompanied by my good Friends, John Crouch and Thomas 
 Wyat, I arrived well zx. London, (the Way being very dangerous through the London, 
 great Snow, the greateft that ever I had feen, partly melted, and the Road broke 
 in feveral Places) and lodged, as before, with my Friend, John Crouch. 
 
 Continuing weakly and indifpofed, I ftaid at London fome Time, and 
 the Lord was pleafed to make my Services acceptable to his People there in a 
 general way, and many good 7"imes we had together in his bleffcd Prefence. 
 During my Stay about this City I alfo vifited fome of the neighbouring Meet- 
 ings-, as, Ryegate, Winchmorehill, Phjlcw, &c. But the Yearly Meeting at Brijlol Ryegate. 
 approaching; and, having fome Drawings thither, in order thereto, on the 14th Winchmore- 
 cf the Second Month, 1 7 1 6, being the Seventh ot the Week, I fet forward from pj^^jjH'^ 
 London, and that Night lodged at Rufcomh, with our Friend IVilliam Penn ; where 
 my Company was acceptable, and we were mutually comforted one in another. 
 
 The 15th, being the Half-year Meeting zt Reading, I was there. It was 
 large, and as open as could well be expefted, confidering how long tiiat old Se- 
 paration had continued among them, and moft of the feparate Party prefcnt ; but 
 the Gofpel being preached, and nothing dropped like Refledlion, but rather for 
 healing. Things were well and comfortable, the Lord being with his People. 
 The Meeting held till tiie Second Day Afternoon, and then, in the Evening, I 
 returned to Rufcomh, and ftaid there all the Third Day. 
 
 1 7 1 6. 
 
 Read 
 
 ing. 
 
 On the i8ta I went to the Meeting at Henley, but giving no Notice of my Henley. 
 Coming, being willing to fee them as they were, and rather defiring Retirement, 
 the Meeting was fmall but comfortable : And, after fome Stay at John Tuiy's, 
 
 6 R I
 
 \ 
 
 P_6 The L I F E, ^c. 
 
 Anno I returned in the Evening to Riifcomh ; and, on the 1 9th in the Evening, went 
 1 716. to Reading, to iVilliam LamheV^, where I lodged before. 
 
 Newbury. On the 20th I went from thence to Neiohury ; where a Meeting was appoint- 
 
 ed, at which were fome of the feparate People, there being a few remaining 
 ftill at that Place, but moft of them gone either to the Publick, or become loofe 
 and irreligious. The Meeting was a little ftiff in the Beginning of it, but better 
 in the End, being comforted together in the Lord. 
 
 That Night I lodged with the Widow Mary Evlin •, and the next Day, 
 Marlborough being the Seventh of the Week, went on to Marlborough, and lodged at our 
 Friend Daniel Smith's. 
 
 The next Day I ftaid there ; where their Meeting was very fmall, and very 
 dull, but a little comfortable in the End -, and, in the Afternoon, was a little 
 enlarged, both as to Number and Life : For having fome Concern to fpeak more 
 freely to them than in the Morning, and my Voice more raifed, pretty many 
 People as they paffed from their feveral Worfliips came, and heard, and hearing, 
 {laid, and Truth feemed to reach feveral of tlicm •, and they were generally ftill 
 and folid. 
 
 Calne. Ox the 23d I went to Calne, accompanied with Daniel Smith, and that Even- 
 
 ing had a pretty large and open Meeting there among Friends : And obferving 
 the Teftimony of Truth run fharp againft fuch as underhand colleague with 
 Priefts, and fupport them by Payment of Tythes, i£c. I heard afterwards fome 
 there were guilty ; and the honefu-minded were comforted, in that the Reproof 
 was full and plain from the Teftimony ot one who was fo great a Stranger to 
 any of their Conditions in particular. That Night I lodged at Jofeph Serjeant's., 
 Son-in-law to Daniel Smith. 
 
 Charlecot. ^ ^ the 24th I had a Meeting at Charlecot % which was fmall, by reafon of 
 
 the fhort Notice, and not very lively, but comfortable, the Lord's Prefence, 
 
 Chippenham, in fome meafure, being with us. That Night I went to Chippenham, and lodged 
 with Adam Goldney. 
 
 O N the 25th I was at their Meeting ; which was pretty large, it being their 
 Meeting-day, and a little Notice, but not very lively, though feveral were ten- 
 der, and it ended well. That Afternoon I went to Caleb Dickenfon's, at Monks, 
 near CroJ/jam ; where I ftaid that Night. 
 
 Croftiam. On the 2 6:h I was at Crojham Meeting; which was fmall, there being no 
 
 Notice of my Coming, and very heavy in all the Forepart of it ; but the Lord 
 was pleafed to favour us in the End, and it concluded well. That Night and 
 the next I ftaid with Caleb Dickenfon. 
 
 Eriftol C)^' tlie 28th I went to the City of Briftol, and lodged with Brice Webb ^ 
 
 where I ftaid during my Abode at that City, and was kindly entertained. 
 
 The 29th was the Beginning of their Yearly Meeting, and I had fome pj- 
 bhck Concern among them ; which took fome Impreffion, and my Spirit was 
 unloaden in fome Degree : for I went thither in great Heavinefs. 
 
 O N the 30th, in the Morning, was the Meeting of Miniftring Friends ; which 
 was not fo large (they faid) as fome Times formerly; but it was a very open 
 
 com-
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. nn 
 
 comfortable Meeting : And having fome publick Concern therein, I was much Anno 
 eafed, and we were mutually ftrcngthencd and refrtfhed in the Lord. That 17I6. 
 Afternoon was their Meeting for Enquiry into the Affairs and Profperity of Truth 
 within the Limits of that Meeting j and Things were well and hopeful in the 
 main. 
 
 The next Day Forenoon, being the ift of the Third Month, was a Time of 
 publick Worfliip-, in which I was filent, hut much comforted in the Truth and 
 ilrengthened. That Afternoon I went to the Meeting for Bufinefs ; where I 
 ftaid a little while, and then went to the Womens' Meeting : There I had fome 
 Time in Teftimony ; and, being well fatisfied, retired, and left them to their 
 own Concerns in the Church. 
 
 The next Day In the Forenoon, being the parting Meeting, it was very large 
 and full, both of Friends and Strangers ; and, after feveral Brethren, I had a 
 publick Concern, in which the Lord was pleafed to raife his Truth and Wifdom 
 over all to his own Glory, and the general Satisfaftion of his People, and others: 
 For it is not Man but the L o r d that works effeftually, and the Honour is due 
 to Go D only, though the weak are too apt to look to an Inftrument; whkh, in 
 itfelf, is nothing. 
 
 An ancient Friend concluding the Meeting in Prayer, it ended in much Love 
 and Comfort; FViends being generally refreflied in the Life of our dear Lord, 
 as much as at any Meeting for fome Years there ■■, as wc had our Enjoyments 
 together therein, fo we alfo parted. 
 
 O N the 3d I went to Frenchay Meeting ; to which came many from the Frenchay.; 
 City i and it was both large, and, through the Goodnefs of the Lord, a good 
 Meeting. That Evening I returned to Brijlol. 
 
 On the 4th I went to Bath; where, about Five In the Evening, we had a Bath. 
 Meeting: But pretty many Strangers being there. Things opened in the ABC 
 of Religion; as,/;/, concerning the Holy Scriptures; their Original, by the 
 Spirit of C H R I ST, the Word of God ; and their divine Authority : And, fe- 
 condl)\ concerning the divine Word, which, in Time of old, came to the Pro- 
 phets, laying fo and fo, as in the Scriptures of the Prophets ; and his being 
 made Flefh, or afTuming the whole human Nature ; and afterwards declared, by 
 the Scriptures of the New Teflament, to be the true Lights that light eth every John i. 9. 
 Man that cometh into the World ; and that all ought to believe in this Light as 
 manifeflied in their own Hearts, i£c. And though this Meeting was not attend- 
 ed with fo much of the Overflowings of Life, as fome others, yet it was to me, 
 and feveral other Friends, a comfortable Meeting : And our Friend Samuel Bow- 
 iias, that able and experienced Minifter of the Gofpel, being there, I was alio 
 com.forted in his Miniftry, (having fome Time, after me) as were many more 
 both there and at Brijlol; where we alfo had his Help in the Lord. This 
 Meeting ended well, and that Night I lodged in Town with our Friend Ihomas 
 Cingel. 
 
 On the 5th I dined with our Friend John Andrews, who was come up from 
 Brijlol ibr his Health, and that Afternoon returned to Brijlol. 
 
 O N the 6th, being the Firfl of the Week, I was again at the Meeting at 
 Brijlol; which was large both Forenoon and Afternoon, but not fo Lirge at the B;i.1ol. 
 Great Meeting-houfe in the Afternoon, by reafon of the Meeting in the other 
 Place : But Things opening with good Authority about the Kingdom of C h ri st, 
 
 the
 
 Ti8 
 
 Anno 
 1716. 
 
 Nailfworth. 
 
 Cirencefler. 
 
 Witney. 
 
 Oxfoid. 
 
 The L I F E, c!^'^. 
 
 the Kir.o-doms of Men, and the Kingdom of Antichrift, as at Norwich laft Year, 
 I was carried through the Matter with good Evidence and Clearnefs, to general 
 Information, Confirmation, and Satisfaction. The Meeting concluding well, I 
 went afterwards, and vifited fome Families of my more particular Acquaintance, 
 who had bore Regard to me for the Sake of Truth. I found my natural Strength 
 very much exhaulled, which was gradually reftored by the Refrelhrnents I partook 
 of among my Friends. 
 
 I refted that Night in the lame Lodging. 
 
 Thornbury. 
 
 O N the 7th, accompanied by feveral Friends from Brifiol, I was at a Monthly 
 Meetino- at Thcrnhiry, which was pretty large ; and having Ibme Things tender- 
 ly declared among them, we were comforted together, and a tender good Time 
 it was to moft. After fome Kefrefliment at John Thtcrjion's, I proceeded that 
 Ni"ht about i 5 Miles ; and the Evening being chill in the high Country, after 
 we went from the Valley, I took Cold, which proved fome Lett to me next 
 Day in the Meeting. That Night 1 lodged at Henry IVilkhis's, at Ninsfield. 
 
 On the 8th I was at the Quarterly Meeting at Nailfworth ; which was large 
 and well in the main, but a little hurt by an unflcilful Hand ; and not having fo 
 full a Time with them as I dcfired, I let them know in the Meeting, that I in- 
 tended to Hay their Week-day Meeting, which fell the Fifth Day following of 
 courfe, at the fame Place. I, wanting fome natural Reft and Recruit of Strength, 
 flaid at the Widow Elizabeth Smith's ; where I was refpeftfully entertained, as 
 m'any others, on the like Occafions, had been by herfelf and late Husband, and 
 Father ; the Father being (as Friends told me) as right and honourable a Friend 
 as any in thofe Parts in his Day ; and as he had entertained Friends out of a 
 good Income the Lord had afforded him in the Courfe of Providence, and an 
 honeft Induftry, fo he had left his Son in fuch a Way, as continued it in his Time, 
 which was not long after him ; and now continues in his Widow, as well good 
 part of the Eftate, as the like Hofpitality and plentiful Entertainment to Friends 
 on all Occafions, 
 
 The Fifth Day's Meeting was larger than ufual ; and, though heavy in the 
 Beginning of it, fome being fet down in an empty, drowfy, dead Form and 
 State, yet, after fome Time and Labour of Love, the Lord was pleafed to break 
 in, and give us a good Seafon ; and the Meeting was generally comforted, though 
 Things were terrible againft the Unfitithful, efpecially fuch as connive in paying 
 Tythes, and fupporting the Priefts of Antichrift. After this Meeting I was great- 
 ly comforted in the bleffed Truth, and Friends were under a Weight of Iblid 
 Love and Peace : And, after fome Stay among fome Particulars of them at the 
 Friend's Houfe next the Meeting, 1 returned to my Quarters, where I ftaid 
 that Night. 
 
 O N the I ith I went to Cirencejler, and that Evening had a Meeting there -, 
 which was thin, and one of tire heavieft dulleft Meetings that I had been at in all 
 Englmid, but a little better in the lind. That Night I ftaid there at the Widow 
 Townfisnd'^, an honeft Friend of a meek and quiet Spirit. 
 
 On the 12th, being very wet and lieavy Weather, I went from thence to 
 Witney^ to Jeremy Worney's,^ jiin. where I (taid a while, and fo on, in the Rain, 
 that Night to Oxford, to 'Jbomcis Nichols's. 
 
 On the 13th, being the Firft of the Week, T was at their Forenoon Meet- 
 ing; and tiiere being Soldiers in Town to overawe the. Oxonians, much prone 
 to Rebellion in that *• Reign, fome of tliem, and aho of the Students of the Uni- 
 
 verfity, 
 
 '' King Cfcioi- ].
 
 of T H M yl S STOP. T. 519 
 
 verfity, came to the Meeting; but the former were civil, and the latter rude: Anno 
 Formoft of them that came (being but few in all) flood fleering, grinning, and 1716. 
 fcoffing all the Time they fbaid •, though fo fluftuating were they whilft 
 there, that they could not reaibnably take any Matter delivered, under any Con- 
 fideration, fo as to form a Judgment ; but, like IJlrmael their Father, mock'd 
 at what they could not prevent, though to their own Difappointment : for fe- 
 veral Things were delivered againft the very Foundation of their Craft, and End 
 of their Eftablifhments ; which they did not otherwife oppofe : And yet, to di- 
 ftinguifh fairly, there were fome of them very fober and attentive, and feemed 
 aftcfted with Truth in feveral Degree ; as were feveral fober People alfo. 
 
 I N the Afternoon the Meeting was larger •, but, as there were more of the 
 Scholars, there was more Rudenefs-, fo that I thought if they could fee their 
 own Folly and ill Behaviour, as it was expofed to others, they could not but be 
 afhamcd •, but the greateft part feemed void of Sight, and Senfe ; though fome 
 were of better Deportment, as well the Collegians as others ; and, in the main, 
 over all that the Enemy in thefe Tools could do, the Lord gave us great Relrefli- 
 ment, and kept our Minds above that evil Spirit that moved in them ; and v/e 
 were comforted together in the Lord. That Night I ftaid at Oxford, and the 
 next Day I faw their fomous Library, ftored v/ith a Multitude of Books of all or 
 mofi: kinds, and, without all Doubt, many of good Ufe, if not abufed in ungodly 
 Hands, and perverted to evil Ends-, and I faw alfo mofl of the Rarities of the 
 Univerfity ; none of the Scholars fliewing any Rudenefs whilft we were tlicre, 
 but fom.e of them were very civil, 
 
 Havin G finifhed this Curiofity, I went, on the 15th, to High-JFiccomb, and HighWic- 
 lodged thz.t'Ni^x.w'wh Abraham Barber; and, next Day, being their Meeting- 
 day, I ftaid there till it was over : It was fmall, but very open and comfortable. 
 That Afternoon I went to Bangor'' s-Hill, to Richard Richardfon's, and ftaid there 
 that Night. 
 
 O N the 1 7th I went to London ; where I arrived at my former Lodging London; 
 with my Friend Crouch, about Two Afternoon; the Lord having made this 
 Journey in fome good Meafure comfortable to me, and alfo to Friends. 
 
 The Yearly Meeting coming on, I tarried there during the Time ; and tho' 
 we had fome good Times in our Meetings for Worfhip, yet, in our Meetings for 
 Bufinefs, the Affirmation, and what arofe from thence, miniftred great Occafion 
 of Grief to many Souls, efpecially fuch as love the Truth, and the Brethren there- 
 in. It was chiefiy owing to fome rude and forward Spirits -, who, taking Boldnefs 
 from the Connivance and Indulgence they had met with from fuch as had all 
 along ftrenuoufly contended to lorccthe Affirmation upon all, and charged all the 
 ill Confequences of Divifion upon fuch as could not comply with it: but tho' the 
 Comfort of our Meeting was greatly kffcned and hindered by that Means, yet 
 the impofing Dtfigns of thefe v/ere fruftrated, and the Body preferved together 
 and entire, by eftabliflring a juft Liberty •, which thefe Peribns, in their Temper 
 and Praftice have ever denied, to the unfpeakable Exercife of the Church through- 
 out the World. 
 
 O N the 8th of the Fourth Month, the Summer being thus far advanced, and I 
 inclining for Ireland to vifit Friends there, in order thereto I fet forward from Lon- 
 don, and went that Niglit to Marflj-gate, to "fames 'Taylor' %, and next Day to Ruf- 
 lomb, to William Pemi's; who I found in the fame Condition he had been in for 
 
 6 S fome
 
 5-30 The L I F E3 (2^•c. 
 
 Anno fome Time, viz. full of Love and Swectnefs, but not able to cxprefs himfelf as 
 1716. formerly before that Apoplectick Fit, which had fo much impaired his Memory. 
 
 Reading. O N the I oth, being the Firfl; of the Week, I went to the Meeting at Reading ; 
 
 which was not large, little Notice having been given. That F-,vening, after the 
 Atternocn Meeting, I returned to Rufcomb. 
 
 O N the I 2th I returned to Reading, being their Meeting-day ; and there the 
 Lord gave us a very open Time, and I was much comforted, having never 
 had io fatisfliciory a Tim.e there before: And having had fomc Thoughts before 
 of endeavouring to bring the Remnant of thefe Friends back, who formerly, by 
 means o( John Story and John Wilkivfon, &c. had feparatcd themfclves: and fe- 
 veral of them having been at this Meeting, I v/ent to iome of their Houfes -, 
 where I was kindly received, and fpoke to them about it, anfwering their Ob- 
 jeftions as Things were with me-, and I found them not averfe to return, but 
 loth to make any Acknowledgement of any Fault in feparating and keeping off, 
 unleis th.c Friends there would take Blame alio, and fo make a Ballance ; which 
 I could not by any Means yield to : For they had gone off under a Jealoufy, that 
 Friends were Apoftatcs and Innovators, according to the Accufations in William 
 Rogers's, Book-, and, being off, had long coi'.tinued in that Error and Schifm; 
 and being now fatisfied that they had been miitaken, and that Friends were not 
 fuch, (as feveral of them own'd) I thought they might well own their Miftake, 
 and fo be reconciled ; for they could not defire to be reconciled with Apoftates 
 and Innovators, but with a Chriitian People. But I found one main Obitrufti- 
 on was on Account of their Preacher IVilliam Saundy -, and therefore I fpoke with 
 him the next Day, and laid Things open and plain before him, and found him 
 condefcending: but Aftairs could not then be brought to a Conclufion, he ha- 
 ving a-mind to confult the reft; but told me, he had moved to them the Day 
 before, that tliey lliould all come to our Meeting, and he would go with them, 
 and moft went; but fome Haying at their own Meeting, he ftaid with them. 
 Alter a full Time with him, we parted in Peace ; and I was very eafy and com- 
 forted in the Lord, after a full and hearty Endeavour for their Reconcili- 
 ation; having nothing in view but the Honour of Truth, and their own Good 
 in it. 
 
 Bkeb.ry. 
 
 Charlow. 
 
 Nailfworth. 
 
 Panfwick. 
 
 Having been two Nights at William Lamhel'^, on the 14th I went to Vi)- 
 tcn, and lodged at Jane Stanton's.; and, the next Day, had an appointed Meet- 
 mg at Bluebury ; which was not large, being Hay-harvefl:, and a Market near, 
 but a good open Meeting in the main, moft being Strangers of the Neighbour- 
 hood. Tliat Evening I went to Little Chadoiv, and lodged with the Widow 
 Elizabeth Vokans; where I was very cafy, comfortable, and well. 
 
 T H E I 7th, being the Firft of tlie Week, I was at Charlo'-jo Meeting; which, 
 being a Monthly Day, was large, and many Strangers, who were generally fa- 
 tisfied ; ior their Creeds and the Lord's Prayer, were fo opened and applied 
 as they had not heard before, as was colledifd by what feveral of them faid after 
 the Meeting. 
 
 On the iSth I went down to Nailfivorth, about 28 Miles, and lodged with 
 the Widow Elizabeth Smith, my former Q^iartcrs; where I was freely' and re- 
 fpcftlully entertained. 
 
 On the 20th I went to the Week day Meeting at Panfivick, and alighted 
 
 at
 
 of THOMAS STORT. s^i 
 
 at T'hofnas Lovedafs. The Meeting was not large, but larger than ufual, and A n n d 
 pretty open. That Night I returned to Nailfworth. 1716, 
 
 On the 2ift I was at their Week-day Meeting; which was pretty large (be- 
 ing one of the largeft of Itfelf in the County) : and having heard, by Lettet 
 from Br ice IVebb, that thefe Veflels were gone for Ireland from Brijicl, by which 
 I intended to have gone over thither, if I had reached them in time, and that 
 anot'.ier would be ready in ten Days •, and in the mean time my Mare falling blind, 
 and not fit to travel, I ftaiti their Meeting at Nailfwcrtb the Firl): Day following: 
 and though it proved very rainy Weather, the Meeting was large, both Fore- 
 noon and Afternoon; and many Things were opened to general Information 
 and Edification, and the People very folid and fatisfied. 
 
 Tarrying here till the 26th, being the Third of the Week, I went to 
 their Meeting at Tzii^a?^-, which was fmall and heavy, but ended well. That I'idbuiy. 
 Night I lodged at Hopewel Fokan's, 
 
 On the 27th I went to Bath, and lodged, as before, at'Thomas Gingeir^; and gath. 
 the next Day, being the Fifth of the Week, and their Meeting-day, I flaid with 
 diem ; where we had a pretty good Meeting. 
 
 On the 29th, in the Morning, I went down to Brijlol, to my former Quar- Bi-jfj^j 
 ters, and was at their Meeting on the Firfl Day following ; which was large, both 
 Forenoon and Afternoon, and Things very open and comfortable. 
 
 O N the Third and Sixth Days following I was there alfo, and had comfort- 
 able Times with Friends, both in Meetings and Converfation ; for the Lord 
 was with us, and Love abounded. 
 
 The Firfl Day following I was there again •, and, in the Forenoon, at the 
 Friers, the Meeting was large and open, and in the Afternoon, over the River 
 at the other Houfe, the Meeting being crowded by reafon of a Funeral, Things 
 opened fully concerning Death, the Kinds and Definition of it, and the Refur- 
 redlion from the dead, £5?^. and, after the Meeting, I had another Time at the 
 Grave- Yard ; where there was a great Multitude, and generally very fober. 
 
 O N the I oth, being the Third Day Meeting, I was there again, and alfo on 
 the Sixth Day following ; wheie Things were well and comfortable. 
 
 O N the I 5th, being the Firfl of the Week, I was at Batb, Forenoon and Af- 
 ternoon ; where the Meeting was large and open, and Friends and Strangers ge- 
 nerally fiitisfied. The next Day I returned to Briftol; where I heard, by Letters 
 from London, and other Parts, that the feparate Friends at Reading had laid down 
 their Meeting, and returned to Friends; which gave me great Satisfaction. 
 
 O N the I 7th I was at their Meeting; which was very open and comfortable : 
 and therein I took Leave of them, being bound for Ireland, and the VefTel in- 
 tending to fail that Elvening; but the Wind coming againft us, we failed not 
 till tht; 2cth, about Seven in the Evening, from Ktng\-Koad, with an Eafterly 
 Wind, which came up jufl as we fell down thither with the Tide. 
 
 O N the 2 1 11, about Seven in the Morning, we were a little below Minehead, 
 and, about Ten, anchored further down, the Wind coming up Weflerly, and 
 a- head. About Five in the Afternoon we weighed Anchor, and fell down 
 
 with
 
 sv- 
 
 Anno 
 1716. 
 
 Minehead. 
 
 Tie L I F E, ^(7. 
 
 with the Tide ; and a frefli Gale arifing in the Night, we turned it down til! we 
 came in fight of Limdy Ifland : But being very wet hazy Weather, and a trefhGale 
 a-head, we returned back to Minehead; where we anchored about Four Afternoon, 
 and there went on Shore with John Davis, the Commander of the Veffel, the Friend- 
 foip of Briftol; where I ftaid till the 24th, and then had a Meeting at that Place ; 
 which was fmall and dull, by the Negled: of due Notice, and Coldnefs of Ibme 
 Profeflfors ; but Truth wrought through, and it ended in ibme Comfort. 
 
 Cork, 
 
 T H r. Wind continuing Wefterly, here I remained till the 26th, and about Nine 
 in tlie Morning, fet Sail about the turning of the Tide, and the next Morning 
 we were near Liindy ; where, by reafon of a Calm, we hovered that Day till 
 near Sun-fet ; and then a gentle Breeze arifing from the North-Eaft, and increa- 
 fmg, we were in Sight of Ireland, about Four in the Afternoon next Day, and 
 in the Mouth of Cork Harbour that Night. 
 
 Bandon. 
 
 T u R N I N G up next Morning within about feven EngJiJh Miles of the City, 
 the Tide failed ; and there being no Boat fit to carry my Mare on Shore, I 
 walked on Foot, willing to get at lealt to the Afternoon Meeting at Cork -, which 
 I accompliflied, accompanied by Roheri Davis, the Mafter's Son ; but found 
 myiclf much fatigued with the Heat and Duft, befides the Walk, which proved 
 hard enough, havhig been fick at Sea, and but weak otherwife : But going to the 
 Houfe of my good Friend Jofeph Pike, he gave me a kind and open Reception, 
 and, after fome Refrefliment, went to their Afternoon Meeting-, which being 
 pretty open and well, I found my Strength return a little. 
 
 O N the 30th I was at their Mens' Meeting in Town, 
 
 O N the 3 ift I was at their Week-day Meeting ; which was larger, I fuppofe, 
 by reafon of the Notice gone about, of my being the Dean of Limerick's Brother, 
 who was well known in this Nation, as having writ the Hiftory of the late Wars 
 there, and lived long among them In that Station -, and though it made my 
 Work the harder, their Minds being outward, and their Expedlations high and 
 off from the true Objeft, and their Obfervations more particular-, yet my Mind 
 being only to the Lor d, he was pleafed to anfwer, and Things were pretty well. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Sixth Month, being the Fifth of the Week, I went to Ban- 
 don ; and that Evening had a Meeting there, where came many of the Inhabi- 
 tants : 
 
 and we had an indifferent 2:ood Meeting. 
 
 That Night I ftaid there. 
 
 O N the 5d, early in the Morning, we returned to Cork, and were at their 
 Meeting-, v»fhich was open and well. 
 
 The 5th, being tlie Firft Day, was their Province Meeting : I was at their 
 Morning Meeting of Miniftring Friends ; which was fmall and heavy, the Load 
 of th.e approaching Meeting being upon us; but the Lord own'd us with his 
 good Prefence in Ibme Degree. The Meetings that Day, both Forenoon and 
 Afternoon, being very large, the L o r d was with us in his Power and Wifdom, 
 and many Things were opened to general Satisfadion ; and a good Time it was 
 to Friends and others. 
 
 O N the 6th, in the Morning, we had alfo a good Time -, and, in the After- 
 noon, being for the Infpettion of the Affairs of Truth, Things were well and 
 peaceably managed, and ended in Comfort. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. si 
 
 N the 7th was a Meeting more feled for the young People, in which I had Anno 
 a very open and full Time to them in the Love of Truth, and many of them 1716; 
 were much reached -, and the Lord gave us a good Meeting and Seafon of his 
 
 Love and celeftial Showers together, to his own Praife, and our great and mu- 
 tual Confolation, Help, and Edification. 
 
 I T being the Time of the Affizes, many of the higher Rank were in Town on 
 that Occafion, and divers ot our Friends being acquainted with feveral of them, 
 one Day came to my Friend John Pike's to Dinner, the young CounCcfs of Kil- 
 dare, and her Maiden Sifter, and three more of leffer Qiiality of the Gentry: 
 Upon this Occafion we had fome free and open Converfition together, in whi-ch 
 this Lady, and the reft, commended the plain Drefs of our Women, as the moft 
 decent and comely, wifning it were in Fafnion among them. Upon this I told 
 her, " That flie, and the reft of her Quality, ftanding in Places of Eminence, 
 " were the fitteft to begin it, efpecially fince they faw a Beauty in it ; and they 
 " would be fooner followed than thofe of lower Degree." To this fhe replied, 
 *' If we fuould drefs ourfelves plain, People would gaze at us, call us Quakers, 
 " and make us the Subje<5t of their Difcourfe and Town-talk; and we cannot 
 " bear to be made fo particular." 
 
 1 ANSWERED, " Thc Caufc is fo good, being that of Truth and Virtue, 
 *' if you will efpoufe it heartily upon its juft Foundation, a few of you would 
 *' dafh out of Countenance, with a fteady and fixed Gravity, Abundance of the 
 *' other Side, who have no Bottom but the vain Cuftoms of the Times ; and 
 " you will find a Satisfacflion in it, an Overbalance to all you can loofe, fince the 
 *' Works of Virtue and Modefty carry in them an immediate and perpetual Re- 
 *' ward to the Worker." This feemed not unpleafant, being faid in an open 
 Freedom : But then, alas ! all was quenched at laft by this ; they all of them al- 
 ledged, " That our own young Women of any Note, about London and Briftol, 
 *' went as fine as they, with the fineft of Silks and laced Shoes ; and when they 
 " went to Bath^ made as great a Show as any." Not knowing but fome Par- 
 ticulars might give too much occafion for this Allegation, it was a little quench- 
 ing ; but, with fome Prefence of Mind, I replied, " I have been lately at Lon- 
 *' don and Briftol, and alfo at the Bath, and have not obferved any fuch •, but 
 *' at all thefe three Places generally indifferent plain, and many of them, even 
 *' of the younger fort, very well on that Account : But fuch among us who take 
 *' fuch Liberties, go befide their Profeflion, and are no Examples of Virtue, but 
 *' a Difiionour and Reproach to our ProfeOlon, and a daily and perpetual Exer- 
 *' cifc to us ; and I hope you will not look at the worft, fince, amongft us every 
 " where, you may find better and more general Examples of Virtue and Plain- 
 *' nefs." This they did not deny, and fo that Part ended ; though we had 
 much m.ore free and pleafing Converfation in the Garden, to which we adjourn- 
 ed from Table, and fpent good, part of that Afternoon together on like agree- 
 able Subjects ; there being the Family, and but one Friend more in the Com- 
 pany. 
 
 O N the 9th I went to Kin/ale, in Company with nine or ten Horfe, fctnng 
 out in as great a Shower of Rain as moft [ have feen. The Meeting was con- 
 fiderably large, and moftly Strangers •, ior there is no fettkd Meeting, only Friends 
 have built a Houfe, on purpolL^ to accommodate Meetings when any Stranger in- 
 clines to have one for the Sake of the People-, who otten come on Notice gi- 
 ven. Things opened beyond Expectation, and Truth was over them, and a 
 good Time we had ; I being as eafy, and as much fatisfied after this Meeting, 
 as any I had yet been at. 'I'hat Evening we returned to Cork. 
 
 6 T On 
 
 Kinfale.
 
 5-34, The LIFE, ^'c. 
 
 Anno On- the loth I was again at the Meeting at Ccrk; which was alfo a good 
 1 716, Meeting. 
 
 O N the 1 2th, being the Firft of the Week, I was there again, the Meeting, 
 both Forenoon and Afternoon, being large and well ; and People very fober, and 
 generally fatisfied, and Friends comforted and helped. 
 
 On the 14th I was there again, and had fome Time in the Meeting-, but af- 
 terwards there came fome Heavinefs over my Spirit, which I did not then fee the 
 Reafon of, but was only the Forerunner of fome bodily Exercife that afterwards 
 enfued, and Weight of the Work before me in other Places. 
 
 CharleviUe. On the 1 5th, being the Fourth of the Week, we went to Charki-ille, and lod- 
 ged with our Friend Nicholas Harris, and had a Meeting there the next Day 
 about Ten-, which confifled moftly of Strangers and Friends from Cork: And 
 though I had both a Fever and feveral Biles upon me, all was made very eafy, 
 and the Lord gave us a good Meeting ; Truth, to his own Praife, being over 
 us and the People. That Afternoon, under the Feverj and great Pain ot thefe 
 
 Limerick. Sores, I went forward to Limerick, where we arrived in the Evening •, but I 
 found myfclf much fpent, and very weary : But one of my Biles breaking, and 
 my Friend Thomas Pearce, where I lodged, being an Apothecary, and skilled 
 both in Surgery- and Phyfick, providing fuitable Things, I was better in the 
 Morning, and went to the Meeting ; which was large, the People expeding my 
 Comins, and v/anting to gaze at the Dean's Brother, a Rarity to fee fuch an 
 one a Quaker ; and many Notions and Fancies they had about me : but Curio- 
 fity, not Truth, drawing them thither, I had not much Comfort among them ; 
 though Things were well, and without Exception. 
 
 On the 19th, being the Firft Day of the Week, both Forenoon and 
 Afternoon, the Meeting was crowded, and Things opened well, and Truth 
 was over them : But the greateft Part having no want of Truth, but drawn by 
 Curiofity, I had not fo much Satisfadtion in them as in fome other Places, where 
 their coming had not the fame Inducement : However, Things were in the 
 main well, and I was generally cafy, contenting myfelf partly with this, that tho' 
 they took the more particular Notice of me on my Brother's Account, yet 
 they had no Advantage, or any Thing they could juftly or fairly mifapply, or 
 objedl to : But, after all, they had conceived a Notion, as I heard, that I was 
 for High Church and the Pretender •, the Reverfe to my Sentiments on thefe 
 Affairs : For fo far as ever my Thoughts have been on them, (and that as little 
 as moft Men) I have ever left thefe Things to Providence, being always con- 
 tent with what the Lord orders therein, without murmuring or meddling : and 
 this has been great Peace to me ever fince the beginning ot the Revolution. 
 
 On the 2 ift I was at the Meeting there again; which was well, confidering 
 it confifled moft cf Strangers, of like fort as before : but being the Time of the 
 Aflizes, fcvtral were taken off about the Affairs thereof, fo that we were lefs 
 crowded. 
 
 O n the 2 2d, being out of Order as to my Health, and attended with Biles, 
 I took Phyfick-, which working kindly, I found feme RtUef by it, and the 
 Feverifhnefs abated. 
 
 On the 24th, being the Sixth of the Week, I was at the Meeting again-, 
 which being moftly of Friends, and few Strangers, was more comfortable 
 
 than
 
 of T B M yf S S T R I. sis 
 
 than before ; and a good Time the Lo p. » gave us together, and fome of the Anno 
 Strangers were alfo tendered. 1716. 
 
 I continued here till the next Firfi: Day, wlien the Meeting was again crowded, 
 both Forenoon and Afternoon, and Things opened well and full on feverai Points; 
 efpecially concerning Freedom from Sin in this Life, and the NecefEty of it ; in 
 which I urged the Catechifm of the Church of England, (quaji ad bomincm) and 
 the great Vows and Promifes therein mentioned : That the Compofers thereof 
 either believed the Poffibility of the Attainment, or they did not ; if they did, then 
 they taught a Perfeftion higher than ever we had done, '■jix. that Men may live 
 from the eighth Day of their Age ^their Canon requiring Baptifm to be then admi- 
 nifter'd; to the eightieth Year, if fo long they live, and never fin : For he that re- 
 nounces the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this World, and 
 all the finful Lulls of the Flefli; keeps God's holy Will, or Law, and Com- 
 mandments, and walks in the fame all the Days of his Life •, and, finally, believes 
 all the Articles of the Chriftian Faith ; never fins, or errs, in Faith or Practice : 
 But if they did not beheve the Attainment, and yet enjoined and promifed the 
 Thing, then they committed great Sin in fo doing ; for what is not of Faith is 
 Sin. But, alas ! though defpifing the Covenant of Grace, they have thus in- 
 vented to themfelves a Covenant of Works, they have not kept it, being, by 
 their own ConfefTion, m.iferable Sinners, leaving undone thofe Things they 
 ought to have done, and doing thofe Things they ought not ; and fo in the 
 State of the fallen Angels who were once in Heaven, but kept not their 
 firft Station, but fell by Tranfgreffion. I directed them therefore to G o a's Co- 
 venant of Light, being Gentiles, and that Grace come by Jesus Christ; 
 (which, though they mention it in their Catechifm, yet they regard it not in Prac- 
 tice, but commonly difpute, that no Man can be free from Sin in this Life) 
 as the only Means to attain that Freedom, and perform thofe Vows; which, 
 though they made fo very light of them, would be exacted to the utmoft Far- 
 thing, in a Day that was haftening over all Nations, when all muft give an Ac- 
 count before the great Judge of all the \\'orld, and every one be rewarded accord- 
 ing to his Works. All which they feemed to bear with Patience : but in the 
 rejedting Purgatory as a fatanick Invention, to elude the End of the Coming of 
 Christ, (which was to deftroy the Works of the Devil, to finifli SLn, put art 
 End to Tranfgreffion, and bring in everlafhing Righteoufnefs) and render poor 
 weak Mortals fecure in their Sins, in vain Hopes of Purification after Death ; there 
 went fome of the Papifts out of the Meeting : being obftinately bent againft all 
 that is good and true, and mean nothing but Murder^ and the Slavery of Sin, 
 Satan, and Prieft-craft to the End of the World; which Gou will difappoint 
 and deftroy by the Brightnefs of his Coming and Glory, now advancing as the 
 rifing Sun, through the thickeft Darknels ; and none fhall be able to hinder or 
 delay him. 
 
 On the 2Sth, being the Third Day, I was there again ; and the Crowd being 
 now well over, and the Meeting more feledl, it was ver)- open to Friends, and the 
 Lord gave us a baptizing Seafon of his Love togedier; and Things ended 
 here to general Satisfac'tion. 
 
 On the 29th, having hfid a kind Invitation by my Brother and Sifter to their 
 Koufe at Biibca, I went thither, accompanied by Jofepb Phelps, George Peafe, and 
 my Coufin Charles Story, one of the Prebends of Limerick. This was an uncom- 
 mon Mixture, but no occafion of Offence given or taken on any Hand, but all 
 free and friendly : And my Sifter being a Peribn of excellent natural Temper, 
 and very difcreet, and my Brother alfo well pleafed with our Companv, we were 
 
 fully
 
 yi6 
 
 Anno 
 1716. 
 
 Birr. 
 
 Greenogue. 
 
 Oldcaille. 
 
 Cout hill 
 
 Monafthan. 
 
 TJje LIFE, ^-c. 
 
 fully and kindly entertained : The next Day, after he had (liewed us his Deer- 
 park, and fome of his Fields, with Ibme other Entertainments, the two Friends 
 went back to Limerick, but I ftaid till the ift of the Seventh Month; and, be- 
 in<^ the Seventh Day Morning, my Brother and Coiifin went with me, about 
 
 five Miles, to the Houfe ot IVcMer ; where the fame Friends and fome 
 
 others met me from Limerick : That Evening we went to John JJhtcn's, with- 
 in five Miles of Birr. 
 
 Here we had a large Meeting next Day, but not very open: In the Even- 
 ino- I went to Birr, vmh Thomas Wiiijloe ; where I was kindly entertained by 
 him and his. 
 
 O N the 3d we had a Meeting there ; where came many People, and fome Of- 
 ficers and Soldiers : All behaved civilly, and Iruth was over all, and it was a 
 good Meeting. 
 
 On the 4th v.'c fet forwards, accompanied by 'Thomas Winjloe, and fome o- 
 thers : That Night we lodged with Jcft)ua Cliburn, at the Mote of Grcenogtie ; 
 where we had a large Meeting next Day, but not very open ; there being many- 
 young People in it, not yet arrived at a fufficient Senfe of Truth -, and, tho' under a 
 Profefiion of it, many of them have little Defire after it, but think themfelves fafe -, 
 iiaving had their Education in the Form, think all is well, and want nothing: and 
 fo it is in many other Places. That Night we ftaid there again, and the next 
 Day went near to Oldcajlk, to John Freeman's ; where we lodged. 
 
 O N the. 7th, being the Sixth of the Week, we had a fmall, but open and ten- 
 der Meeting at O/Jcfi//^: That Night I returned to John Freeman's; where I 
 was freely entertained. 
 
 O N the 8 th I went to Ccut-hill, and lodged at Ifaac Davenport'' s. 
 
 O N the 9th, being the Firft of the Week, we had two large Meetings, which 
 were filled, efpecially in the Afternoon, with many Strangers, there being great 
 Opennefs among the People thereaway; and Things were very well. 
 
 On the loth, in the Morning, we went forward to Monaghan; where there 
 were three or four Friends: and, as there had been fome Times before, we got 
 a Meeting at the Bull-Inn, in a large upper Room. To this Meeting came a 
 Crowd ot Papifts, Epifcopalians, and ibme Presbyterians-, and fome of the 
 younger fort, efpecially Papifts, were a little wanton and airy at firft ; but Truth 
 arifing, they were generally tamed by the Power and Wifdom of it, though they 
 did not know what did it; and the Meeting continued fober to the End, though 
 fome two or three Papifts withdrew, when I had cxpofed the Infignificancy of 
 their Doctrine of Tranfubftantion : but the Meeting ended well, to the Honour 
 of our great Lord; of whom is the Power and Wifdom. 
 
 That Night we lodged at the fame Inn, where John Barecroft and liis Wife 
 had come to us from the North, in the Time of the Meeting ; and the next 
 Charlemont. I^^y ^ went on near to Charhnont, to our Friend V/illiam Whitefu\e'%, jun. who 
 made me very welcome. 
 
 On the 1 2th was their Meeting, where I was; but, though laro-e, w^as not 
 very open, there being fome Contention among them about a Maniacs too near 
 of Blood ; where fome fided one Way, and ibme another ; there being icarce 
 
 any
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. sin 
 
 any Thing fo bad but that one or other will t-fpoufe it, to their own Hiii t and Anno 
 Exercife, and Hurt of others alfo; but, in tlie main, Tilings were well. That 171 6. 
 Night I returned to IFilliam IFhitefide's,. 
 
 On the 13th I went to the Meeting at Ballyhagen; which was not very large, Ballyhagen. 
 but pretty open and well. That Night I lodged at William Gray's, bye the Meet- 
 jng-houie ; where I was made very welcome. 
 
 O N the 14th I returned to William Whitefide\ ; and, on the 1 5th in the Even- 
 ing, went to Brenagh ; and that Night lodged at George Gregg's. 
 
 On the i6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting; which, 
 by Turn, fell out about a Mile off, at Toberhead. The Meeting was pretty large Tcberhead. 
 and tender, and Friends and others generally fatisfied. That Night I returned 
 to George Gregg's, and ftaid there till the next Day, and then went to Dun- 
 claudj, to the Widow Henderfon's. 
 
 On the i8th, the great Rains having raifed the Waters, we had but a fmall 
 Meeting at Dunclaudy ; but a very broken tender Time it was, and we were ge- 
 nerally comforted. That Evening I went forward, about ten Miles, to ya7nes 
 Moors at Ballimtiny, but his Wife being ill he diredled us to his Son James's, 
 about a Mile farther ; where we ftaid that Night. 
 
 O N the 19th I had a Meeting near James Moor's, the elder- which was fmall, 
 being Harveft, and wet Weather, and not fo open as the laft ; and yet a good 
 Meeting. That Evening I went over the River again to Ely Crocket's. 
 
 O N the 20th I went forward to Tanee, near to Portlanone, and lodged at James 
 Starrat's. 
 
 Dunclaudy. 
 
 On the 2ift I had a Meeting at the Ship Inn, near the Bridge over the Band^ 
 at Portlanone aforefaid ; where came many People and Friends from feveral Portlanone. 
 Places : Many Things were opened in the Word of Life to general Satisfaftion ; 
 and it was a good Meeting ; which being over, after we had dined, I went on 
 to Grange, and was entertained kindly by our Friend Walter Clarke ; but we 
 were much wet by the Rain before we arrived there. 
 
 On the 22d I was at their Six-weeks Meeting in that Place; where fome Grange. 
 Strangers came : and, among others, one Mofes Cleck, who had received his E- 
 ducation at Glafgow, in Scotland, was a good Scholar, and had commenced Mi- 
 nifter among the Presbyterians, to whom he had often preached, and was in 
 good Repute among them ; but having fallen in with one of our Meetings pro- 
 videntially, fome Years before, was reached by Truth, under the Miniftry of 
 Hugh Hamilton, and afterwards by John Salkeld, though he flill continued in his old 
 Way till the Week before this, v/hen he had, before their Presbytery, difclaim- 
 ed his Miniftry, and left them ; though they had taken great Pains to reclaim 
 him, and offered him his Choice of feveral Parifhes, or Places ; but in vain : 
 For he own'd himfelf convinced ot Truth as profefs'd by us in many Things; 
 though not in all at that Time. We had a good Meeting; but he took Ex- 
 ceptions at fome Things I delivered, there being fome of the old imbibed No- 
 tions ftill, as a Vail of Darknefs, over his Underftanding. After the Meeting 
 he difcourfcd with me upon them ; and I fatisfied him, by explaining tliem ful- 
 ly, fo that all ended well ; and he ftaid with me there till the Third Day fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 6 U The
 
 5"38 The h 1 F E, ^'c. 
 
 Anno T h c 2 3d , being the Firft of the Week, I was- at their Meeting again ; which 
 
 1716. was large, and a good Meeting: tho' feme were difappointed, by receiving ?. 
 
 Report of this young Man, that he was coine among us, and was to preach in 
 
 our Meeting that Day •, but thougli they mifs'd of that, tliey were generally fa- 
 
 tisfied with what they heard. 
 
 Antriin O N the 2 sth I fet forward to Antrim ; where the Meeting was that Day : 
 
 And the fame Expeftations being got among the People there alfo, many came 
 to the Meeting ; but fomc of the Presbyterian Se£l being difappointed here al- 
 fo, went out before it ended, though moft ftaid ; and the Truth fhining bright 
 that Day over them, they were generally fatisfied -, and it was a good Meeting 
 to Friends alfo. Having alighted at Lewis Ray ford'?., I went thither again after 
 the Meetino-; and, after fome Stay and Refrefliment there, he accccmpanied me 
 that Evenino- to the Widow Mary Byce's, zt Ballaiidary ; where I ftaid that 
 Night. 
 
 On the 26th I was at their Mens' Meeting at that Place ; which was a large 
 and good Meeting. That Evening I went to L/Jburn, with Rokri Richard/on ; 
 where I lodged that Night. 
 
 O N the 2 7th I had a Meeting there •, and feveral Towns People came in, and 
 were orderly, and fome affeded with the Teftimony of Truth, which was large 
 and free that Day •, and a good Time we had. That Night I alfo ftaid there. 
 
 O N the 28th I vvas at the Meting at Hilborough ; which was alfo pretty large, 
 and indifferent open. That Night I ftaid there at Alexander Seton's ; and, in 
 the Morning following, I went on to Lurgan, and lodged at John Hoop's. 
 
 On the 3Cth, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting ztLurgan; 
 which was very large in the Forenoon, and alfo (the' not quite fo full) in the Af- 
 ternoon ; and it was a good Meeting, Truth being over all, and many Things 
 largely opened, to the fole Glory of him who hath the Key of David; who opens 
 and no Man JImts, and Jhuts and no Man opens. 
 
 Being a little wearied, and worn out with my Journey and Service, and wil- 
 ling to take a little Reft, efpecially where I found the moft Service, I ftaid here 
 till the 3d of the Eighth Month, and was at the Meeting again -, which was an 
 open and comfortable Meeting, and feveral Strangers were there, and affefted. 
 
 Monallin. ^^ '^'''^ 4*^^ ^ ^'^""^ ^^ "^^^'^ Meeting at MonalUn; which was not large, but 
 
 open and free, and feveral Strangers reached by the Power of Truth, and bro- 
 ken, and it was a good Time. That Evening I went again to Ballyhagen, and 
 lodged with my old Friend William Gray : For, intending to ftay the Province 
 Meeting at Lurgan, I was willing to fpend fome Time more in fome Meetings 
 about ; and accordingly on the 5th was at the Meeting there -, which was a good 
 Meeting, and more open than the laft Time I was there. That Night alfo I ftaid 
 there. 
 
 Dallandary. 
 
 Lisburn. 
 
 Hilborough. 
 
 Lurgan. 
 
 O N the 6th I went to William Whitejide's, and lodged there that Night. 
 
 Grange. ^^ ^^^ 7^^-> being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Grange^ 
 
 by Charlymount ; which was large, and an open good Meeting -, after which I 
 was as eafy and much comforted as at any Jiitherto in Ireland. I had a long 
 Time in it, and many Things were fully and clearly opened : One was concern- 
 ing
 
 of T 11 DMAS ST R T. r,9 
 
 ing fuch Teachers and Priefls as pretend to have Pov.cr, by the IVxt In Alal- Ammo 
 ihew xxviii. 19. to teach and bajitizc all Nations, and yet fie down at the firft 171 6. 
 Parifh or Town where they can have a Prefcnration, or make a Bargain for fo 
 much a Year, and never go into hall", or a thoufandth Part of their own Nation, 
 and baptize no Body, for Sprinkling is no Baptifm ; 'tis neither dipping, wafli- 
 ing, nor wading into Water; nor arc Infants Subjefts of Baptifm: And, be- 
 fides, the Apoftles themfclves, who had the immediate Command of C h r i s t, 
 who has all Power in Heaven and Earth, by whom thefe Priefts and T^jachers 
 pretend to derive their Authority fuccefTively, as they were not to proceed upon 
 that Command barely, without aiftual Power by th.e Spirit ; fo none elfe can have 
 Power but by the fame Spirit: Since then thefe have not the Spirit, by their own 
 ConfelTion, they have no Power from God ; but through Covetoufnefs, and as 
 mercenary Hirelings ior Bread, run when they are not fent, and do not profit 
 but deceive the People •, who, neverthelefs, loving to have it fo, the Buyers and 
 Sellers (as in the Parable of the ten Virgins) are excluded together, (s'c. This 
 Meeting being over, after fonie Retrefhment at the Widow IVbiieJde's, I return- 
 ed that Evening to the fame Lodging, and the next Day, the 8th, back to 
 Lurgan. 
 
 On the loth, being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meeting-day, I was Lurgan. 
 there again, and Things pretty open. 
 
 On the 13th, the Seventh of the Week, was their Province Meeting, being 
 for Worlhip in the Forenoon, and Bufinefs in the After. It was large and open, 
 and I had fome Time alter the Meeting for Bufinefs ; which was very fatisfadory 
 to all, being fomething of my own Experience in my Convincement, and the Sa- 
 tisfaftion I had in fecret in thefe Meetings for Bufinefs, before I found myfelf 
 at all qualified to meddle in them •, which was not till my Peace began to lelfen, 
 by reafon of my Averfion and Negledl : for if I could always have had Peace, 
 and the Enjoyment of the good Prefence of the Lor d, without either preach- 
 ing, or anfwering the Concerns incumbent on me from him in Matters of Dif- 
 cipline and Affairs of the Church, I had much rather never have meddled in it, 
 obferving the Tempers of fome Men profeiTing Truth, and what spirits they 
 are of that are for the moft part to be dealt with in it : And that though the Dif- 
 cipline now in ufe in the Church was of God, through the Openings of his 
 Wifdom, and Diftates of his Spirit ; yet it may be faid now of Difcipline, as Paul^ 
 perfonating that State, faid of the Law, the Law is fpiritual, holy, righteous, 
 juft, and good, iut I am carnaU fold under Sin : The Difcipline is fettled to great 
 and glorious Ends •, but as Satan regards not what be the Law, if he can be 
 Judge to pervert it, fo, even in this Age, the Myftery of Iniquity has fo wrought, 
 as that ungodly Men, in fome Places, have advanced themfelves into the Seat 
 of Judgment, whofe Spirits and Ways are for Judgment and Condemnation ; 
 who, by that Means, being unfeen of fome, and awing others, turn the Edge of 
 Judgment backwards, and pervert all Right, put Truth for Error, and Error 
 for Truth ; which being the higheft Abomination and Indignity to the Lord, 
 he will fhortly arife every where, to the Difcovery and Overthrow of all fuch, 
 with their evil Work, throughout the World : For, till that Day come, as a few 
 are eafier brought to a Settlement, through debateable Points, than a Multitu^'e ; 
 fo, when Things are fully fettled in the Church that now is, whilfl but lew ; fuch 
 as fliall be added will fooner fall in with what is eftabliflicd before their coming 
 in, than if they were to be fettled after: And this is one great Caufe why the 
 Lord delays bringing in the great Multitudes yet to be gathered. 
 
 On the 14th the Meeting was large, (hardly any feen there larger) and I had 
 
 a
 
 3-40 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno a full Time in the Forenoon, many Things being opened to general Satisfaftion, 
 1 716. though there were many Strangers, as well Epifcopalians and Presbyterians, as 
 Papills : And in the Afternoon, as pretty many PViends who lived remote, went 
 home after the firft Meeting, io many more Strangers appeared there ; fo that 
 the Evening Meeting was almoft as large as that in the Morning, and the blef- 
 fed Truth reigned over all, to the Praife of his own Name; of whom is the 
 Power, and to him be the Glory from every baptized Soul, now and for ever. 
 
 The Province Meeting at Lurgan being over, on the 15th I proceeded to 
 Eailinaliinch. Alexander Seicn's, and the Day following had a Meeting at Ballinahinch, a Vil- 
 lao-e where there is no fettled Meeting, but had it at an Inn kept by an Epifco- 
 palian, though the People are generally Presbyterians. Having great Peace 
 and Comfort in the Truth after this Meeting, we went that Evening to Dcwn- 
 Dowr.patrick fatrick^ and lodged with our Friend John Beck, he and his Family being all the 
 Friends that were in Town. Next Day we had a Meeting there, which was 
 pretty large and open. 
 
 Ralphryland. O x the 1 Sth we had a Meeting at Ralphryland ; and the People having No- 
 tice, fcemed inclinable to come -, but the Presbyterian Prieft, one Robert Gordon^ 
 and one Robert Little, one of his Elders, went about to forbid their Party, and 
 hindered them generally to come to the Meeting, they two ftanding in the Street 
 to that End, their Sc6t not daring to go to Meeting in their Sight: But their 
 Envy extended further than this-, for, after we were fet down in the Meeting, 
 there came a great Company of big Boys, and made a Noife near the Door -, but 
 being difcouraged by fome Friends that went out to that End, then they threw 
 I3irt, Stones and Turf, and difturbed the Meeting that Way, feveral of that 
 Seft of Envy, looking on and abetting them. Our Peace neverthelefs remained 
 in us, and we were comforted in him -, and after a while, John Turner of Lur- 
 gan, with fome other Friends being there, went out into the Street, there being 
 many People in the Shops and Houfes, as near the Meeting as they could -, and. 
 I going after him, having the fame Thing alfo in my Mind, he ftood by the 
 End of a Houie, which had a View feveral Ways, and fome Shops and Houfes 
 on the oppofite Side, and there he preached to them a pretty while ; and by 
 that Time he had done we had a far greater Auditory than the Meeting- 
 place could have contained : After him I ftood up •, and then the Friends 
 came to us out of the Meeting, and there I had a full Time among them : But 
 all the Time we fpoke to them, the Boys made a Noife, and threw Stones, Dirt, 
 and Turfs ; and though fometimes fome of the People would reprove them, and 
 drive them off, yet others gave Countenance, and encouraged them ; and fome 
 others, who, by the Diftance they ftood, muft be ftronger than Boys, threw 
 Turf and fome Stones over a Houfe, ftanding out of Sight behind it, among us 
 moft part of the Time, one Stone hitting me on the Right Breaft, but falling 
 dead, did little Harm : But though this Manner of throwing Stones, if any had 
 been killed, would have rendered the Throwers guilty of Murder by the Law 
 di England, and they did it in that Mind-, yet the Lord preferved us from 
 their Violence, fo as no great Harm was fuftained by any of us. 
 
 This being over, having had a full and open Time among them, we retired 
 to the Meeting, where fome of the People came, and we had fome more Time 
 there: But the Work of that Spirit of Envy in thcfe brutifli Presbyterians was 
 not yet at an End ; for they renewed their Difturbance, and one Fellow came 
 into the Meeting withWater, and, in a fcoffing Manner faid, " The Preacher muft 
 " needs be very dry by much fpeaking, here is Water for him ;" and feemed to 
 intend to throw it among us by fume Motion he made; but a Perfon in the 
 
 Meeting
 
 of T H M A S ST RT. s^i 
 
 Meeting tiirn'd him our, and fome Boys alio that were with him-, and at laft Anno 
 
 Things ended peaceably, and we were generally comforted: But one Thing I 1716. 
 
 think fit to mention lure, v.hich was with nic to fay to the Multitude in the 
 
 Street, vi%. " That it could not be childiih Behaviour only in thofe Children 
 
 « that fcofFed the Prophet of old, that provoked the great and mcrciiul God 
 
 " to bring (or fuffer) that Deftruftion upon them by a flie Bear out of the 
 
 " Woods ; but as, without all doubt, they had been taught and countenanced by 
 
 " their Parents^ fo they were puniflied in their Children: So, in like Manner, 
 
 " we impute not this to them only, but to thofe that fet them on, and abet 
 
 " them, being well apprized of the Root of this evil Treatment, wherein thofe 
 
 *' miferable Parents and Abettors are but laying in thole Children a Foundation 
 
 *' of a more dreadflil Deftrudtion •, for, being thus debauched in their very In- 
 
 " fancy, and improving therein as they increafe in Years, their End muft needs 
 
 *' be miferable, and their Damnation fure." 
 
 The Day's Work being over, we went to the Inn to refrefh ourfelves -, and 
 then going out of the Town, the Rabble of Boys followed us along, ftoning us, 
 and faying, " We will drive them out of the Town like Dogs." Upon which 
 I rode back till I met with fome of the Inhabitants, and told them v/e under- 
 ftood the Meaning of all that, and where to place it •, not only on thofe poor 
 Children, who were thus depraved, and ruined by their wicked Leaders and 
 Abettors, but were certainly informed that their Presbyterian Prieft, and Little, 
 their Elder, had hired them, by giving them Money for that evil Service of 
 them and Satan -, and therefore they muft anfwer for it in Time. But the faid 
 Prieft being at his Door as we were riding that Way, and I intending to have 
 fpoke with him on that Subjeft, he feeing me, flunk away into the Houfe ; and, 
 in a Minute's Time, they in the Hcufe faid he was not within, though I was at 
 the Door by that Time he got out of it. I made this Obfervation on thefe Pref- 
 byterian People in the North of Ireland., That as their Party in Scotland exercife 
 their Church Tyranny there over all not of their Way, and many of the Teachers 
 of that Seft in Ireland, either coming from Scotland, or having their Education 
 there, forgetting, through Pride and a felf-exalting domineering Spirit, that they 
 are in another Nation where they themfelves are but only DilTenters as well as 
 we, begin to exercife the fame Cruelties which they do at home, and would do 
 every where if they had but Power-, which they are now gaping for as upon 
 their Tiptoes, as if they were faying, " Lord, wilt thou at this Time deliver the 
 *' Kingdom again to Ifrael?" But as there is nothing a- wanting to the blind 
 Leaders of that unhappy People but Power, to make the Nations once more 
 fwim in Blood from their murdering Hands -, fo I hope the merciful God has a 
 more favourable Afpeft upon the poor deceived Inhabitants than ever to gratify 
 their Lufts therein, or give Power any more to fuch, who, when invefted with it, 
 ufed it fo ill; exercifing the antichriftian Cruelty of their Religion and unnatu- 
 ral Tempers, upon fuch whom the Grace of God had taught to fear hin^, and 
 deny their wicked Ways : For they are of the fame Principles and Temper ftill, 
 and, like all the Ungodly, fhall never be renowned. 
 
 That Night we went forward to Newry, and lodged at an Inn, the Plume Newry, 
 of Feathers, Henry Gardner, Landlord, an Epifcopalian ; and having, at Times, 
 remembered that Place ever fince I had been there, about 1 8 Years before, 
 and, defiring to have a Meeting, the Landlord, who was alfo Senefchal of the 
 Town, readily accomodated us with a long Malt-houfe -, which being made ready 
 in the Morning, (the fecond Day of the Fair which then happened) we had a 
 Meeting of fome hundreds of People of fevcral forts, but m;iny of them Prcf- 
 byterians -, and wc had a very open good Meeting, the People being generally 
 +- 6 X fober
 
 5-42 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno fober and fluisfied •, which gives me occafion to remember that true Saying, the 
 
 1 7 1 6. Leaders of the People caiife them to err : For, in the other Place above, where they 
 
 were under the Eye and Influence of their Prieft and Leader, they were full of 
 
 Fury and Ill-nature ; but here, where they had not fuch an Abettor, they behaved 
 
 like other fober People there. 
 
 That Evening, the 19th, we paflTed the Mountains, and came within Night 
 Dundalk. to Dundalk, and lodged at an Inn, miliam Seweli Landlord. A little after we were 
 alighted, having a-mind to have a Meeting, I enquired of him where a Place 
 might be had for that Purpofe, and he immediately proferr'd his own Houfe ; 
 which was a new building, and not a fmall one : But expefting a pretty large Ga- 
 thering, (no Meeting having been there or at Newry for many Years) we tried to 
 have had the Court- houfe ; but one putting it off to another, we found the Magi- 
 ftrates were not willing, and fo we prepared the Inn next Morning, being the 
 Seventh of the Week. 
 
 The Meeting gathered about the Tenth Hour, and was as large as feveral 
 Rooms together could accommodate, and many in Entries, Stairs, and other 
 Places, a great Concourfe of divers Sefts, and many Papifts. Things opened 
 very fuitably to them, and a very open Meeting it was to general Satisfadion, 
 the Tendency of what was delivered being moftly for their Convincement of the 
 Principle of Truth, its Being, Nature, and Manner of Operation and Appearance. 
 
 Dunker. The Meeting being ended, we went that Afternoon to Dunleer, and lodged 
 
 at an Inn. 
 
 Drogheda. 
 
 Dublin. 
 Timaho. 
 
 Edenderry. 
 
 BallytOl-e. 
 
 N the 21ft, in the Morning, we went to Drogheda, where there is a fmall 
 Meeting of Friends •, but the Notice being fhort after we arrived before the Meet- 
 ing, it was very fmall, and but a dull Time, till fome People without, hearing me 
 fpeak, came in, and then Things quickened a little, and the Meeting ended pret- 
 ty well. After fome Refrelhment at the Inn, we went that Night to Dublin, and 
 I lodged with my old Friend and Acquaintance, Amos Strettk ; where I was 
 kindly received and generoufly entertained. 
 
 1 REMAINED at DubUn till the 29th, and then went to Timaho, upon or near 
 the Bog of Alien ; and, on the 30th, had a Meeting there: After which, I, with 
 John Bearcrojt, and fome other Friends, who came over the Bog on purpofe to 
 that Meeting, went a-crofs the Bog, and lodged that Night with John Bear croft. 
 
 The 31ft, being the Meeting-day at Edenderry, I went thither. The Meet- 
 ing was pretty large and open ; and that Night I went home with Thomas J-Fil- 
 fen, who lived about two Miles from thence ; where I was well and eafy. 
 
 The next Day, being the ift of the Ninth Month, he, (Tho-mas Wilfon) with 
 fome other Friends, went with me to a Meeting at John Stephenfon's ; which was 
 not large, but an open good Meeting; for the Lo rd comforted us together. 
 
 O N the ?A we went on to Ballytore, a Place belonging to Abel Strettk; where 
 there is a fmall Meeting ; but it was larger than ufual, and a free open Meet- 
 ing. That Night and the next Day we ftaid there at Abel's Houfe, a good re- 
 tired Place. 
 
 Caftleder- 
 mon:. 
 
 O N the 4th, being the Firft Day of the Week, I went thence to the Province 
 Meeting at Cajlkdermont ; which held that Day and the next. It was a large 
 
 good
 
 of T B M A S STORY. 5-45 
 
 crood Meeting ; and thither came alfo George Gibfon and Edmund Peckover, from Anno 
 Norfolk. On the Second Day Evening we went back to Bally tore. 1716. 
 
 O N the 6th we had a Meeting at Stephen fFilcox^s, a Friend's Hoiife, in three 
 low Rooms opened together -, and being moftly Strangers, and the Meeting pret- 
 ty large. Things opened accordingly for Convincement, and we lud a pretty 
 good Time among thL-m ; George Gihfon and Edmund Peckover being alfo there. 
 That Nisht we went towards Dublin., and lodged at an Inn at BleJJington. 
 
 O N the 7th we returned to Dublin, the Half-year's National Meeting be- Dublin, 
 ginning the Day following ; where I was in all the Concerns ot it, both in the 
 Miniftry and Difcipline: And all the iVffairs of it were carried on with great 
 Eafe and Unity, and much Sweetnefs ; which gave me, and fome other Stran- 
 gers, occafion to remark. That it were happy, and greatly to the Benefit and 
 Growth of the Church, if the Affairs of the Yearly Meeting at London could be 
 fo unanimous and peaceable ; which could not well be expected till fome Men 
 are removed, and others regulated -, who have crept in unawares under the Wings 
 of others, who were never true Members of the living Body, or ever qualified tor 
 the Stations they have affumed by the Connivance of fuch as ought to have been 
 more vigilant, and kept them at a due Diftance. 
 
 Finding an Opennefs at Dublin, and many People of divers forts frequent 
 our Meetings, efpecially in the Afternoons, I ftaid there till the 20th of the 
 Tenth Month, where I had Services of feveral kinds : And, being fully reco- 
 vered, (for I was a little out of Order of a Cold at one Time there) I went thence 
 that Day to Ballytore, Amos Strettle and fome other Friends being with me. 
 
 On the 21ft we had a Meeting there, which was not very large, but pretty 
 open. That Night we went to Gregory Rujfel's, he being at the Meeting with us. 
 
 O N the 2 2d, being the Seventh of the Week, we went to the Province Meet- 
 ing at Ccrlow; which held that Day and the Day following, and was a good open Caiiow. 
 Meeting, and many Strangers there on the firft Day ; and Matters opened fjit- 
 able to them, and Things ended to general Satisfadtion. That Evening I went 
 home with James Lackie -, where I was kindly entertained. 
 
 On the 24th I went to Samuel JVatfon's, at Kilionnore, and the next Day had Kilionnore. 
 a Meeting there, being the Third of the Week, and that Day fuppofed to be 
 the Nativity of C h r 1 s t, commonly called Chrijlmas. 1 here were pretty many 
 Strangers in the Meeting, and very full it was ; and the Lord was with us, to 
 the Comfort of Friends. In this Meeting it was upon me to let forth the Word 
 of God made Flefh, (or appearing in Flcfli) born of the Virgin Mary, fent to 
 the Jews in that Manifeftation, according to the Foreknowledge, Purpofe, and 
 Promife of God; but they (fave a Remnant of them) rejected and crucified 
 him-, and yet at the fame Time were magnifying Alofes, and garnifliing the 
 Tombs and Sepulchres of the Prophets, and boafting themfelves ot them, but 
 refufing the Son of God himfelt, Lord of all the Prophets: And that even 
 fo now are the nominal Chriflians of feveral Notions, that whilll they keep Feaft- 
 ings and Revelings, under Pretence of Honour to Christ, in Commemora- 
 tion of his Birth, behave themfelves fo as rather to reprefent a Triumph of Sin 
 and Satan, rejedling his divine Light and Grace in themfelves ; crucifying to 
 themfelves the Son of G o d a-frelh by wicked Works j in which they abound- 
 ed efpecially at that Time. It was a grave Meeting, and ended to Satisfadiion, 
 
 That
 
 T44- 
 
 Anno 
 1716. 
 
 Ballycaine. 
 
 The LIFE, &c . 
 
 That Evening I returned to James LacUe'%; and, the Day following, ac- 
 companied by him and Samuel IFatfon, I went through the Mountains to IVil- 
 liam Eve's, being late within Night before we got there, and wet cold Weather. 
 
 On the 27th we had a Meeting at Ballycaine; which was not large, but an 
 open Meeting, and Friends rsfrefned together in the Truth, who was near to fe- 
 Veral. After the Meeting, rtfrefhing ourfelves at Joh-a Feiirofe's, near the Meet- 
 
 Efcontinna. ing, I went that Evening to William Errot's at Efcontbma. 
 
 *£.' 
 
 O N the 28th we had a Meeting there •, which, though fmall, yet open, feveral 
 Strangers being there; and a good Time we had, the Lord feafoning us to- 
 gether by his Grace. William Sandwith fending his Son Jeremiah, and another 
 Friend with him, to meet me, I went that Evening after the Meeting to Cowry, 
 William Errot and fome other Friends being alfo with me, and flaid at the Inn 
 together that Night. 
 
 O N the 29th we went forward to Ballancarring., to William SandwilFs ; where 
 we {laid that Night, 
 
 The 30th, being the Firfl: of the Week, I went to the Monthly Meeting at 
 Lambftown. Lamhjlcwn ; which was large, confifting of feveral neighbouring Meetings. It 
 was, in the Beginning of it, heavy, the Ears of the People being outward for 
 Words; but, the Lord condefcending to us, was pleafed to appear after fome 
 Time, and the Way of Life was opened clearly and fully, and many were reach- 
 ed, and Truth over all ; but a laborious Meeting, many Things being thorough- 
 
 ly handled in the Word of Truth. 
 with. 
 
 That Evening I returned with William Sand- 
 
 On the Third Day following, being the ift of the Eleventh Month, com- 
 Wexford. monly called New-year'' s Bay, I went to a Meeting at Wexford; which was large 
 and open, the Truth appearing in his divine Majefty : And therein I had to de- 
 clare to the People, the Abomination of Ireland in her different Parties, covering 
 her Fields with the Blood one of another ; the Earth receiving the Blood of pro- 
 feffed Chriftians at the Hands one of another, mixed with the Blood of the Bcafts 
 and Cattle of the Earth ; the Inconfiftency of it with the Nature of that Love 
 through which Christ died for all, whilft yet Enemies-, the Ingratitude of 
 Ireland to the L o r d for her many Deliverances ; and the Threatenings of the 
 Lord of further Punilhments yet to come, in cafe of Continuance in Wicked- 
 nefs, by the Sword, Plagues, Peftiknce, Fire and Famine. In the Delivery 
 whereof all were bowed, and fome amazed, and the Meeting concluded in a 
 weighty Frame univerfally. That Night I flaid at Henry Hillary's, who has 
 been an old Entertainer of Friends there ; where I was kindly entertained. 
 
 O N the 2d I returned to William Sandwiih's, and had a Meeting there ; which 
 was pretty large, confidering the Day was wet and windy, and the Lord was 
 good to us, the Meeting being pretty open, efpecially in tlie latter End of it. 
 That Night I flaid there. 
 
 New-Rofs. On the 3d I went to New-Rofs ; and the Day following, being the Sixth of 
 
 the Week, had a Meedng at John Elly's, where I lodged, about Three in the 
 Evening. TheMeeting was in his Houfe ; and many of the Inhabitants coming in, 
 it was a large Gathering, in feveral low Rooms, befides many who could not croud 
 in. The Lord feafoned my Heart with his Grace, and renewed his holy Spirit in 
 me; for I had been fomev,'hat low in my Mind that Day : And many Things open-
 
 of T HO M .-i S S TO R T. S4-? 
 
 irg to their Conditions, with fomewhat alfo relating to the Abomination aforefaicl, Anno 
 they were generally weighed down under the Teftimony of Truth, and Friends 1716. 
 were comforted ; fome being there from feverai Places. That Night I tarried 
 there ; and next Morning, accompanied by Hcfiry Hillary., and fevcral others, 
 I went on to fValcrford, and lodged at Francis Aivjlef^, 
 
 O N the 6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting at Water- Waterford. 
 ford. It was not large in the Morning, tho' fome Strangers were there, but very 
 open and comfortable, many being bowed under the bleffed Truth, and ibnie 
 fweetly broken and melted ; and a comfortable Time the Lord gave us, to his 
 Praife. In the Afternoon we had a large full Meeting, many Strangers being 
 prefent-, and Things opened fully and with good Authority, and the Lord exalted 
 his own Name and Truth over all, the People being generally fettled and bowed 
 down under the Weight of it ; and Things palTed to the Honour ot the Lord, and 
 the Confolation of the Faithful there. I had alfo fomethino; in this Meetina; about 
 Tranfubflantiation, and the Unprofitablencfs of fuch eating and drinking ot the Bo- 
 dy and Blood of C h r i s t, if really true ; which I could not grant, but oppofe. 
 
 O N the 8 th, being the Third of the Week, I was there again, and the Meet- 
 ing was pretty large and open, many of the Inhabitants of all forts being there, 
 (tho' but a few Friends belong to the Meedng) and generally fatisfied. 
 
 I STAID till the Tenth, and had another Meeting, which was larger than 
 before, the People being a litde awaken'd by the former Meetings, and Things 
 opened clear in the Authority of Truth-, which was plainly over them. 
 
 On the nth I had an appointed Meeting at Thomas Barnes's,, about four 
 Miles out of the Town •, v/hich was crowded, the Place being but fmall : Hither 
 came feverai Officers of the King's Cuftoms, who were civil, and the Meeting 
 was well and open ; and feverai of the meaner fort of the hip Papifts, and others, 
 were well fatisfied, tho' Things tended, in fome Part, to expofe their Priefts and 
 their Deceit. After the Meeting we were invited by a Baptiil and his Wife, who 
 were at the Meeting, to their Houfe, near the Place ; where we were kindly 
 entertained. That Night I returned to JVaterford. 
 
 Here I ftaid till the 13th, and, being the Firft of the Week, had two more 
 Meetings : That in the Forenoon was large, and an open Meeting, the People 
 being reached and brought down ; but that in the Evening was much larger, filled 
 with People of all Sorts, and Truth reigned over all in Wifdom and Power, to 
 his own lafting Praife ; and I believe many will remember that Day fo long as 
 they live. I was concerned here to open to the People that called the Apoftles 
 Creed; which came very clear in my Underftanding at that Time, as at fome 
 other Times : But as to that Article, He defcended into Hell, I took Exceptions 
 to it, thus ; " His being dead and buried, lets forth he was in the State of the 
 " Dead; and his defcending into Hell, as they fuppofe, muft mean another 
 " Thing, as if he tafted of tl^e State of the Damned •, which cannot agree with 
 " what he faid to the Thief on the Crofs, viz. 'To-day jhalt thou be with me Lukexxiii.43 
 " in Paradife. The Word thou, refpecfing the Thief, being intended of his 
 " Soul only, (for the Body of the Thief was broken and buried, or difpofed of 
 " after the Manner of Criminals, and not in Paradife) and the Word nie, re- 
 " fpefting Christ, muft intend his holy and innocent Soul, in an infeparable 
 *' Union with the divine Word (for fo it was from the Beginning) to be in Pa- 
 *' radife, (a State of divine Pleafure) at the fame Time when the Body lay dead 
 " in the Sepulchre : And fince the Body was in the Grave, and Soul in Paradife, 
 
 6 Y " what
 
 5-46 The LIFE, ^c. ' 
 
 Anno " what was there of C h r i s t to be hi Hell ?" Which I recommended to their 
 1716. further and ferious Confideration. Another Point alfo fell in my Way, viz. 
 Predeftination •, wherein the Presbyterians Hty, " That God, from all Eternity, 
 " hath decreed foine Men and Angels unto Life and Salvation, and others unto 
 " Damnation, or Deftrudion ; and the Number is fo certain and definite, that 
 " not one can be added or diminiflicd ;" referring, for the more Certainty 
 of Words, to the Greater Catechifin of the Presbyterians made at Weftrninfter. 
 Upon which I thus remarked, among other Things, " That 'tis a Contradiftion 
 " in the Terms in which they have laid it down: For the Aft of the divine Will, 
 '' moving to a Decree, muft have a Beginning in order to efFed: that Decree; 
 " and therefore cannot be from all Eternity, or without Beginning; which is 
 " all one: And if God had at all made fuch a Decree, whether before or fmce 
 Exek. x\iii. " the World began, he had not then left any Room for that Saying, As I live, 
 23. 32- « faith the Lord, I defire not the Death of a Sinner, (whether it might be Man or 
 
 " Angel) but rather that he fhould turn from hisJVickednefs and live: But fo the 
 " Lord hath laid long fince the World began, and fince the Time of the fup- 
 " pofed Decree ; and therefore he had not made any fuch before at all. And 
 " again, when God, by his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, offered 
 " Salvation to all the People of the Jews, efpecially at Jerufalem, and they (mofl 
 " of them) refufing it upon the Terms offered, at laft he wept over them, fay- 
 Mat.x.\iii.37. " ing, O Jerufalem, &c. thou that killeft the Prophets, &c. how often would I have 
 Lukexiii. 34. tc gathered thy Children, as a Hen gathereth her Chickens, &c. but thou wouldll 
 " not. that thou had ft known, in this thy Day, the Things that belong to thy 
 " Peace, but now they are hid from thine Eyes. Now, if G o d had decreed thefe 
 " to Deftruftion, v/hy did he then offer them Salvation, and charge it upon them- 
 " felves as an Aft of their own Wills to refufe it? It cannot confift with any 
 " Notion of Juftice that God hath given unto rational Mortals , that he fhould 
 " decree any to Damnation, (without either Forefight of Faith, or Condition of 
 " Works) and yet offer Terms of Salvation to the fame Perfons, (as in this Cafe) 
 " and feem to rejeft them for Noncompliance, when he that is almighty hath 
 " determined they fhalJ never comply." With much more to the fame effed:, 
 too long to be inferted here. 
 
 Carrick. ^^ ^^^ '^^^^ I departed hence to Carrick, and lodged at anlnn, Francis Ain- 
 
 Jley, Jofeph Jacobs, and feveral other Friends being with me, and next Day had 
 a large and open Meeting there. There is no fettled Meeting, and but a Friend 
 or two in the Place ; and yet Truth came over them in fome good Degree, molt 
 of any Note in Town being there, and generally well fatisfied ; and the Lord 
 comforted us in his Service. Thar Night we went on to Clonmell, and lodged 
 with Stephen Collet, who came to us at Carrick. 
 
 Clonmell. On the 1 6th we had a Meeting at Clonmell, about Ten in the Morning; 
 
 which was large and pretty open ; and, the grcateft' Part being Strangers, Things 
 opened for Convincement, and much concerning the true Church, what it is, and 
 how conftituted ; and the People were generally fatisfied. 
 
 Yougliall. O N the 1 7th we went to Toughall, and lodged at Gabriel Clarke'' % ; and, on 
 
 the I Sth, in the Evening, had a Meeting there ; which was very large and open, 
 though but few Friends; and the People were very open and well fatisfied. 
 
 Cork. O N the 1 9th I went to Cork ; and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, 
 
 and their Province Meeting, it was pretty large and well, and held two Days. 
 The 2 2d, being their Third Day Meeting, I was there alfo, and fo ftaid till the 
 25th, and was at their Week Day Meeting again, conlifting for the mofi: part of 
 
 Friends ;
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, 547 
 
 Friends ; where I had Opportunities to fpeak to fome Things more peculiar Anno. 
 to their States than in thole mixed Meetings. 1710. 
 
 The Firft Day following, being the 27th, accompanied with many Friends 
 from Cork, I was at a Meeting at Kmfale ; which, in the Morning was not very Kinfale. 
 large, but pretty open ; but in the Evening was greatly crowded by People of 
 ail Ranks and Sorts, and many Things v/ere declared to general Satistaftion; 
 though Errors, both of Papifts and Proteftants were laid plainly open : But the 
 Crowd was fo great that many went away, who, coming late, could not get in, 
 and not being able to abide the Cold, or (land lb long without Doors. This was a 
 good Meeting, and Truth over all, and the People generally, both Officers, Sol- 
 diers, and others, were very civil to us ; elpecially the next Morning as we palTed 
 the Streets, wifliing us well as we went thence towards Cork again j where wfe ar- 
 rived about One in the Afternoon. 
 
 O N the 29th I was again at their Week-day Meeting at Cork ; and alfo on 
 the Sixth Day, being the ill ot the Twelfth Month. 
 
 O N the 3d, being the Firft Day, I was again there •, where the Meeting in the 
 Afternoon being put off" till towards the Evening, and the Town's People having 
 pretty general Notice, it was one of the largeft that had been feen there, and 
 very open, being crowded with People of all Ranks there in Town ; and, for 
 any Thing we could learn, they were very well fatisfied. Truth being over all to 
 his own Glory. 
 
 There being a Couple of Friends to be married the Third Day following, 
 I ftaid the Occafion -, and the Meeting was greatly crowded, the Novelty of the 
 Thing drawing fome, who otherwife might not have come, and many could not 
 get in for the Crowd. Matters opened full and clear to feveral Points, and the 
 Meeting was open and fatisfaftory, and many fpake well of the Way of the 
 Lord, to whom only belongs the Praife of all his own glorious Works; for 
 of him is every good Word and Work. Here I refted till the Fifth Day fol- 
 lowing, and then went forward to Malo; where we had a large Meeting, the MaloJ 
 Town's People being generally there, and fome out of the Country adjacent. 
 Many Things were opened to them, but not in that Degree of the Power of 
 Truth as at fome other Places, they being greatly Strangers to Truth, and unfit 
 tor the Streams of Life till further fanftified: and yet Things were well, confi- 
 dering their State, and they were generally fatisfied ; for I had the Thanks of 
 the Town at the Inn next Morning, for the good Sermon, (as it was called) by 
 an Attorney, who took upon him to be their Mouth : But I told him, if any 
 good was done, they ought to thank God, the Author ot it. 
 
 O N the 8th we had a Meeting at CharkviUe ; where pretty many People Charleville. 
 came: Some of them were a little raw, and whifperiag a while •, but as 1 ruth 
 arofe, it came over them, and we had a good Meeting, the People being very 
 folid in the End. That Night I lodged again with my refpefted Friend 
 Nicholas Harris. 
 
 O N the 9th, in the Morning, we fet forward, accompanied by feveral Friends 
 from Cork, viz. Edward Fain, Samuel Randal, junior, JcJJjua Wyat, Francis 
 Pyke, &c. and arrived at Limerick in the Evening, the Roads being bad at thar Limerick. 
 Sealbn of the Year : And having had Letters of Invitation from my Brother George 
 Story, then Dean of Limerick, and alfo from my Sifter, his Wife, to lodge there 
 at their Houfe, I accepted of it, and was with them during the 1 ime I ftaid in 
 
 Town.
 
 ^48 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno Town. They were very kind, and invited my Company one Day to Dinner, 
 1 716. and entertained us freely and plentifully: But in a (hort Time I found my Spi- 
 rit under a very great Load, which rendered my Stay there very uncomfortable, 
 though Things, to outward View, were all agreeable; till at length I perceived 
 they were under a deep Prejudice againft the Truth, being poifoned by the invi- 
 dious and wicked Writings ot Lcfly, that implacable and venomous Rattle Snake -, 
 and this cccafioned fome ungrateful Rubs: For I found a Difpofition in them to 
 take Advantage (if they could have had any) of .every Word they could at any 
 Time wreft to a Senfe never intended in the fpeaking of it. As for Inftance, one 
 of them, in fome f.rious and private Difcourfe, commending the Satisfaction to 
 be reaped in Prayer; and I, in the mean time, having an Eye upon the Refuk 
 and End of all Prayer in a State of Paradlfe, happening to fay, " It was true 
 " in all them, who addrefled themfelves to God in the Spirit ot Prayer; but 
 " that 'tis much better to be in a State where there is no need of Prayer ; that 
 ',' which was once needful to be prayed for being now obtained, and become the 
 " Enjoyment of him that prayed for the fame before he obtained it." This was 
 wrtfted, as if I had faid, " We (the Friends) were in fuch a high State in this 
 " Life, as that we had no Need of Prayer at all." Again, I happened to fay 
 in Difcourfe, " That as the Apoflles, living long after the Days of the Prophets, 
 " and having the fame Spirit, faw fome Things clearer than the Prophets them- 
 " fclves did, relating to their own Prophecies, as faith the Apoftle Peter; fo 
 " we, in our Days, having the Advantage of near 1700 Years Time and Expe- 
 " ricncc of all thofe Ages, might fee fome Things writ (obfcurely) by fome of 
 " the Apoflles, clearer than they themfelves did." This was immediately wreft- 
 cd to intend, " That we were wifcr, and had more Knowledge than the Apo- 
 " files, i^c." And thus perceiving what kind of Snares were all around me, 
 I from thenceforth converfed as little with them as I could during the reft of that 
 tedious and burthenfome Week I ftaid there ; though in every Thing elfe they 
 made me very welcome. As they had mentioned theie Books, I procured the 
 S-witch, wrote by Jofeph Wyeth, and left it with them, if, peradventure, it might 
 be inftrumenta! to expel fome of that Poifon, but too willingly drank in from 
 the other; whofe wreftling and uncharitable Spirit fo plainly appeared in the 
 above mentioned, and fome other like Paffages that happened : But, after all, I 
 parted with them under a great Burden and Load, being much troubled to fee 
 them under thefe Prejudices, and in a State, where 'tis next to impoffible they 
 fhould ever have any reconciling Thoughts of Truth ; but take Meafures of 
 Truth, ot me, and Friends in general, by that falfe Rule they have thus efpoufed. 
 
 During my Stay at Limerick^ finding Tilings thus with my Relations, I 
 was as much as well I could in the Converfation of Friends, as much more eafy 
 and comfortable, my neareft Pvclation being to thofe who dwell in the Truth, 
 though not otherwife related. I was at the Meeting on the Firft Day Morning ; 
 which was pretty large, and fomething open ; and, in the Afternoon, very large, a 
 great many coming outof Curiofity, hearing I was the Dean's Brother ; which was 
 alfo a Crols to me, by their Gazing and Obfervation : However, Things were 
 pretty tull and open ; and fo I ftaid, being at their Week-days, and, after, their 
 next Firft Day's Meetings ; the Jaft being alfo large and pretty open: fo thaC 
 I was preferved, that they Jiad no Occafion againft me. 
 
 Tipperary. ^^ ^^^e i8th I departed from thence, and that Night went to Tipper ary, and 
 
 lodged at - Cherry's, Thomas Pear.ce, Edward Fern, and George Peafe beino- 
 
 with me, and the next Day had a pretty large Meeting tliere ; which was indi^ 
 ferent open, the Load of Limerick being partly caft off and overcome. That 
 Night we went to Jojhua Fennel'^, 
 
 On
 
 of T E M yi S ST RT. 5-49 
 
 N the 20th, being the Fourth Day of the Week, we had a Meeting at Jof. A n x o 
 Fennefs; which was fmail, but open, and my Spirit more at Liberty. After the 17 16. 
 Meeting we went to Cloitmelli and lodged at the Houfe (if our Friend Jofeph 
 
 Collet. 
 
 On the 21 ft, being their Meeting Day, which ufually is in the Forenoon, Clonmell. 
 they appointed it in tlie E'.vening, at the fourth Hour, for the Sake of the 
 People i whom we had a Defire fhould be at the Meeting, Things frequently 
 opening moft tully when many of them were there. The Meeting was very 
 large, and many Things of Weight were opened to them, and Truth prevailed 
 over all. The Mayor of the Town was there, with the Badge of his Office, and 
 Ibme Military Officers, and all very fober and iatisfied ; and Things were well 
 and comlbi table. 
 
 Ox the 2 2d we had a Meeting at John Bozvle^s at IVoodhoufe; where moft of Woodhoufc. 
 the Gentry (lb called} in thofe Parts adjacent, and others, were prefent, and four 
 of them Juftices of the Peace. The Meeting was open, and Truth over them, 
 and generally fatisfied : But one of the Juftices, an ingenious Man, after the 
 Meeting, in fome free and pleafant Diicourfe with John Bowles^ faid, " The 
 " Dodrine was good ; but that Part againft War, (though according to the 
 " Scripture) was too hard, efpecially at this Time when an Invafion was expeft- 
 " ed: Would you have us lay down our Arms, faid he, and fufter the Preten- 
 " der to take PoffefTion of us?" But he faid nothing to me, nor any Thing in 
 Difpleafure. 
 
 1 STAID there till the 24th-, and^ being the Firft of the Week, went thence Calhel. 
 to Cajhel, lodging at IJaac Ne-wbotvles'^. The Meeting, both Fore and After- 
 noon, was very large, efpecially the laft ; and the Truths of the Gofpel were fully 
 
 and largely opened to them ; many People of all Ranks being there, and gene- 
 rally fatisfied or filenced ; and a good Time it was to many, who fpoke well of 
 the Way of Truth. 
 
 O N the 25th we had a Meeting at the Town of Thirles, iri the Court-houfe -, Thirles, 
 where came together a great Concourfe of People, it being generally a Popifh. 
 Town ; but the People were civil in the main, except fome of the bafer fort, 
 who were a little light-, and many were reached by the Wifdom and Power of 
 Truth, and well fatisfied: But the Curate of the Town, one Thomas Sharps 
 though he did not give us any Interruption in the Meeting, yet, in the mean 
 time, put up a Paper on the Market Crofs, a Copy whereof followeth, viz. 
 
 February 25. 1716-17. 
 *' ALL religious Afiemblies which diflent from the eftabliflied Church in 
 " jL\. this Kingdom, ifc. are fchifmatical, and contrary to Law ; therefore, 
 " to go to a diflenting Congregation for any other End than to oppofe and fup- 
 " prefs fuch a Meeting, is finful. 
 
 "To go with a Defign to join in the Worfhip of it is lb ; bccaufe this is to 
 " have Fellowfliip with that which is Sin, and partake in the Iniquity of it. 
 
 "Or for Diverfion, bccaufe it is not lawful to make a Mock at Sin; and they 
 *' are Fools, i. e. prophanc and wicked, who do fo. 
 
 " Or for Curiofity, becaufe this is in order to know and be acquainted with 
 •' Sin. 
 
 6 Z « Or
 
 5-yo The LIFE, <&c. 
 
 Anno " O r for want of better Employment, and out of Amufement only ; becaufe 
 
 1716. ■" no one ought to be fo idle, or fo ill employed, as to pay Attendance to any 
 " Thing which is fmful : This is to fliew aRefpedi: and Countenance to it. 
 
 T H O. S H A R P, Curate of Thiiles. 
 
 After we went to the Inn, I had begun to write an Anfwer to this Paper ; 
 bur, in the mean time, came the Prieft himfelf, and one Oliver Grace, a Gentle- 
 man in the Country, and a Lieutenant of Horfe, to our Inn ; and, feating them- 
 ftlvcs in a Room, delircd to fee me. I went accordingly to them, and two 
 or three Friends with me -, and, after fome Civilities, we began upon the faid Pa- 
 per. I obfcrved to them, That all thefe fuppofed finful Confcquences depended 
 upon the Proof of the firft Pofitlon, viz. " That all religious Aflemblies, which 
 " diiTent from the eftabliflied Church in Ireland, &c. are fchifmatical, and 
 " contrary to Law ;" which I denied, and put him upon his Proof: But firfl, 
 fully to eftablifli the Terms of his Propofition, I defired him to explain the 
 Meanino- of this &c. For as there were once in England a fort of Men who 
 fwore with an i^c. including pro or con, to be explained as they might think 
 moft conducing to their Intereft, or Advantage, afterwards •, fo in this ^c. might 
 be included many forts of National Churches in other Countries, and fome quite 
 contrary to that now in Ireland. Fle anfwered, "I mean the Church of £72- 
 o-land only." Then I aflced him, " How is that Church eftabliflied more than any 
 other in Ireland^' He faid, " The Clergy of Ireland being, in Time paft, met in 
 " Convocation, agreed upon certain Articles of Religion, 39 in Number, which 
 " were afterwards confirmed by the King and the Great Seal of England." 1 
 asked him, " Hov/ does it appear that this is fuch a Church, as that all are Schif- 
 " maticks and Sinners that diflent from her ? For the true Church is hid with God 
 " in C H R I s T, the Ground and Pillar of Truth, the Ne^'u^ Jeriifalem, the Church 
 " of the Firft-born, and Mother of Saints ; and built on C h r i s t J e s u s, the 
 " true Foundation, Rock of Ages, and chief Corner Stone : But a Church efta- 
 " bliflied by human Authority, is the Creature of that Authority: which the 
 " Church of Christ never wanted, or will want, to eftablifli her ; being fet- 
 *' tied already by his own Power, to his fole Glory. And if Schifm and Sin be 
 " Marks of an irreligious Affembly, pray then, why are they in England and 
 " Ireland fo divided among themfelves, as that one Part is in Rebellion againfl: 
 " the Government that eftablifhed them, and the whole miferable Sinners, as by 
 " Law eftabliflied .'' Can it be any Schifm or Sin to diffcnt from, or meet toge- 
 " ther, otherwife than among miferable Sinners .'"' Some of his Company being 
 rude, and more fubtle than himfelf, would have brought him oif, by giving ill 
 Language, and fo making a Confufion 5 for they faw where it was like to land : 
 but he could not take the Hint. " For if it were Schifln to diffent from a Na- 
 " tional Church, why did they, in Queen Mary'% Time, ^c. diiTent .' And if 
 " that was a Schifm, why do you continue it ? Is that the Reafon you are mi- 
 " fcrable Sinners ?" 
 
 Then he recurred to the Sacraments, and faid, " They that deny the Sacra- 
 " nients and Ordinances of C h r i st are Schifmaticks." I asked him, " What 
 " does thou mean by thefe Terms r" He faid, " Baptifm and the Lord's 
 " Supper." I afked him, " What Baptifm .?" He faid, " Water Baptifm." 
 I replied, " If all are Schifmaticks that decline Water Baptifm, you yourfelves 
 »♦ are fo; for fprinkling Infants is no Baptifm: 'Tis an Error both from Mode 
 " and Subjeft. Then he recurred to the Authority of the Church-, which be- 
 ing a plain Handle for turning the Schifm where it fhould be, the above 
 Officer, one of his Company, threw in a Diverfion, by accufing me of being the 
 Leader of thofe Bullocks, as he called the Friends there. I told him, " They 
 
 and
 
 of T HO M A S S T G P.T. ssi 
 
 " and I have all one Leader, and I am far from affuming any fuch Charactf.r; An\o 
 
 " which is very inju:-ious and fcornful in thee to offer." Then we proceeded upon 1716. 
 
 the Argument of Baptifm : He alledged the Text, Go teach all Nations, bafti- Mat. xxviii. 
 
 zing them, &c. and faid it was Water Eaprifm. I laid, " Water is not mention- 19- 
 
 " ed, but in another Place, by way of Diftinftion ; fliewing it was not Water, 
 
 " but the Holy Ghoft, thus : For John truly baptized with IVater, faid our Lord Ads i, j. 
 
 " Christ, but ye Jhall be baptized ivith the Holy Ghoft not many Bays hence." 
 
 He faid, " The Apoftles did baptize thefe with Water who had before received 
 
 " the Holy Ghoft-, therefore it was Water they underftood by the Text." I 
 
 replied, " That is no fair Deduction, or Confequence •, for fome were alfo cir- 
 
 " cumcifed after they had received the Holy Ghoft, which eftabliflied the one 
 
 " as well as the other; but indeed neither : Befides, if the Apoftles had bap- 
 
 " tized with Water from that Text, they would have purfued the Terms ot it, viz. 
 
 " In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft: but they never baptized any 
 
 " fo with Water ; therefore not from that Text." Then he faid, " I can 
 
 " prove they did ;" alledging that Text, Who can forbid Water, &c. I an- Afl: x. 47. 
 
 fwered, " It does not appear by that Text that thefe were baptized in the Name 
 
 " of the Father, iSc. and, in other Places, it was in the Name of Christ the 
 
 " Son only -, not upon this Text in Mat. xxviii. but upon the fame Foot on 
 
 " which they baptized in John's Time, before the giving out of this Text; 
 
 " -where: Jefus \\\mk\'i baptized not, but his Diftiples : But that the Apoftle John iv. z. 
 
 " has put out of all queftion, where he fays. There is one Lord, one Faith, and Eph. iv. 5. 
 
 " one Baptifm ; which one Bapnfm muft either be Water Baptifm without 
 
 " the Spirit, or the Spirit alone without Water, or the Spirit and Water 
 
 " muft make up that one Baptifm. It is not Water aione; t'ov Simon Ma- Afls viii. 13. 
 
 " gus was baptized with Water, and yet had neither Part or Lot in the Holy '6- 
 
 " Spirit. Again, the Samaritans had been baptized with Water in the Name of 
 
 " the Lord, but had not received the Spirit; and fome were baptized that 
 
 " had not heard of it: Therefore, the Spirit and Water not going together, they 
 
 " are not one Baptifm. But the Apoftle is clear in the Point, where he faith, 
 
 " By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body, for we have all been made to i Cor.xii. 13* 
 
 " drink into one Spirit : And this makes Members of the Church, which is his 
 
 " Body, the Fulnefs of him who filleth all in all; which is not a Body of mife- £ph. i. 23. 
 
 " rable Sinners, but of Saints and faved of the Lord." They could not hear 
 
 this, but with divers Interruptions ; and he would have evaded it by fome poor 
 
 Glofles upon fome Texts, viz. " It was to be underftood by the Authority of 
 
 *' one Spirit, ^c." which Irejefted. Then this Oliver Grace (faid to be a late 
 
 Convert from Popery) began to be further abufive, and faid, " You have no 
 
 " more Religion than my Horfe." I afked, " What has thou ieen or heard 
 
 " by me to provoke thee to fuch an Expreffion ; which thy Horfe, if he had 
 
 " had like Faculties as thyfelf, v/ould hardly have ufed, where no Occafion was 
 
 " given." I told them, " I am now difappointed in you; I expefted, when 
 
 " defired and invited into your Room and Company, at leaft a rational Confe- 
 
 " rence on the Points propofed : but to be thus hors'd and bullock'd was ano- 
 
 " ther Thing;" and fo departed the Room. I lociged alone in a low Room, 
 
 in one End of the Houfe : but, before I went to Bed, I double-lock'd the Door, 
 
 and kept the Key within. After I went to Bed, I found my Spirit much loaden ; 
 
 which, after fome Time, went off, and I fell afleep in much Sweetnefs : but, in 
 
 lefs than an Hour, was in much Trouble in my Sleep ; which occafioned me 
 
 to awake : and I found a great Struggle with a violent Power, that I perceived 
 
 came by their Spirit: For they were drinking in a Room at the other End of 
 
 the Houlc, the People being Protcftants, ai.d civil, having fo contrived it, that they 
 
 might not difturb us. There they ftaid the greateft Part of the Night, and the 
 
 Prieft witli them, till they could hardly know which End was up : But in the 
 
 Morning
 
 y^z The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Morning I was told, that this Oliver Grace would needs come to me in the Night, 
 
 17 16. in that Condition, to difpute about Religion, as he pretended; by which I faw 
 
 the Caufe of my firft Trouble, the latter Part, after my firft awakening, relating 
 
 to another Thing -, which, at that Time, I did not particularly fee, but, by the 
 
 Nature of the Exerciie, I lufpefted it to be in my Way. 
 
 KiFienny. The next Morning, the 26th^ we fet forward for Kilkenny, where we arri- 
 
 ved in the Afternoon, and lodged at the Swan Inn, Thoraas Dale, Mafter. That 
 Evening we procured a Place of one in the Black Abbey ; which being a long 
 Malt-houfe, we had wdl furniflied with Seats that Evening and the next Morn- 
 ing. At that Place, it is to be noted, was, at that Time, a very high and lording 
 Prelate; v/ho, having alfo a temporal Title, Sir Thomas Veazie, is, in that re- 
 fpcft, in a Manner amphibious. This high, and Haman-like Man, had, ever 
 lincehe mounted the Dignity, (about three Years before) fhewn a particular A- 
 vcrfion to Friends; and feveral of our Meetings in that Town had, from time 
 to time, been difturbcd and hindered by his Regifter, one Robert Connek an Al- 
 derman in that Town, and fuch others as he could procure to officiate in fuch 
 evil Work. They two exercifed their Violence and Difturbance upon Elizabeth 
 Jacobs once, and another Time upon Margaret Hoare and Abigail Craven, and 
 hindered the Meetings; which Friends had bore for the Sake of Peace, without 
 any Complaint to the Government : But now they proceeded more violently ; for 
 as wc were met according to Appointment, on the 27th, about the lecond Hour 
 in the Afternoon, and many of the Town's People with us, fome Time after I 
 had ftood up, in came Arthur Webb and Robert Shervington, and made Diftur- 
 bance, bidding me be filent, and the People difperle. I did. not mind them for 
 fome Time, but went on, till they had fo difturbed the Meeting, that the People 
 were not in a Condition to hear ? Then I ftopped, and afked who they were, and. 
 by what Authority they did that ? They anfwered they were the Church War- 
 dens. I replied, That the Church Wardens, as fuch, had no Bufinefs with us, or 
 Power to liinder us ; and defired them to defifc, and fit down quietly as others 
 were. They leeing that would not fright us, as they had imagined, then began 
 to fpeak to Particulars of their own fort, threatening them with the Bifhop's 
 Court, and Excommunications, and fuch like frightful Things, and began to 
 take ibme Names in Writing ; which fome being afraid of, went out : but the 
 greateft Part ftaid, and fome were much troubled at the fpoiling of the Meeting ; 
 for it had begun well: But the Envy of Satan, and Pride of ungodly Men ri- 
 fing higher, whilft we v/ere at this Work, in came one Jofeph JVorley, one of 
 the Mayor's Serjeants at Mace, and a Conftable with a W^arrant ; and I being 
 iVilI (landing, and fometimes exhorting the People as well as I could in fuch Di- 
 fturbance, they bid me come down and go with them, for they had a Warrant 
 from a Juftice of the Peace to apprehend me, and difperfe the Meeting. Then I 
 faid, we were well known to be an innocent People, readily fubjedl toGovernment, 
 either aftively or pafTively ; but defired them to have a little Patience till I had 
 cleared myfelf among the People: and they did not leem very forward to take 
 me away, till fome of the fuperior Perfecutors towards the Door cried out, 
 " Kow well do you execute your Warrant!" and then they took me, Edward 
 Cc-d)pcr, Henry Ridge-way, and John Harris, away in Cuftody up to the Juftice's 
 Houfe : But he would not be feen, being much troubled that he had fign'd the 
 Warrant, it being ready drawn by Robert Connel, the Bifhop's Regifter, and fent 
 to the Juftice by the Bifhop, defiring him to fign it ; which he had done with 
 great Rcludancy. They then took us from Place to Place to find a Juftice; 
 hut none cared to fee us, till at laft we were brought before the Mayor and this 
 Connel, who, being one of the Aldermen, is alfo a Juftice of the Peace for the 
 City ex officio. They were a little rough, and pretty high upon us ; but the 
 
 Lo RD,
 
 of T H M yl S S T R T, 5r, 
 
 Lord, for whofe Name and Caiife we were there, kept us over their Spirit Anno. 
 and Power. John Bo-ivles, John Lackey, Sr.muel IFatfoi, Thomas Prin, John lyiO, 
 Prin, junior, and other Friends, continiiing the Meeting, and many of the People 
 with them, the Ofncers alfo brought away thofe Friends laft named before the 
 Mayor at the fame Time. They charged iis with a riotous and unlawful Af- 
 fembly. I told them they thenifelves did not believe it to be a riotous Af- 
 ftmbly ; and there were many WitnelTcs that we were peaceable, till the 
 Church Wardens and their Officers difturbed us. Then Robert Connel himfelf 
 confefs'd we were not making any Difturbancc ; but faid it was an unlawful Af- 
 fcmbly, the A(5t of Toleraticn in England not extending to Ireland. I anfwered, 
 " lliat Aft, being for the Liberty of the Subjeft, extended every where in Ire- 
 " laiid, and other Countries where the Subjcfts of England are fettled under the 
 " Crown of England.'^ Then they demanded Security for our Appearance at 
 the Affizes, and for our good Behaviour in the mean time. We told them, we 
 were not of ill B(?haviour, and therefore needed not to be bound ; but, feeing 
 their wicked Defign, we all refufed. Then they wrote a Mittimus, pretending 
 to fend us to Jail ; but at laft they told us we might go where we pleafed, on- 
 ly they charged us, upon Pain of what fhould follow, not to have any more 
 Meetings there; for if we did, they would take more fevere Meafurcs with 
 us. Then they, having a full Bottle of W ine upon the Table, would have gi- 
 ven us fome ; but we all refufed it ; at which they were angry: So we lett them, 
 arid went down to Thomas Dates' i, at the Swan; where many of us lodged: 
 And pretty many Friends being together there alter Supper, we concluded to 
 have another Meeting next Morning, and fome Friends were appointed to give 
 Notice to the Mayor, fome to the Jullices, fome to the Soldiers, and fome to 
 the People of the Town. 
 
 On the 28th, about Nine in the Morning, we went to this fecond Meet- 
 ing, where the People did not gather much till about Ten, and I had flood up 
 about half an Hour •, when in came the fame Church Wardens, and made the 
 like Difturbancc as before, taking Names, and threatening the People with the 
 Bifhop's Court and Excommunication, frightening fome : but moft did not feem 
 to mind them, and I went on for fome Time over them, till alfo came two of 
 the Mayor's Serjeants at Mace and Conftables, and a great Mob after them ; 
 and they commanded me to be filent, and the Meeting to difperfe. Some of the 
 meaner fort went out of the Houfe as faft as they could, being fearful ; but many 
 ftaid to fee the Iflue •, and they taking me into Cuftody, I went with them, 
 but they took no other Friend. The Mayor, this Alderman Connel, and fome 
 others, being together, I was had before them without any Warrant. They 
 were very angry, and gave me fome threatening Language. 1 told them 
 they were not to infult the King's peaceable Subjefts, nor exercife their own 
 PafTions upon them -, but if I had broken any Law, I was fubjeft to the Law, 
 either aftively or paftivtly ; and if they afted without Law, they alfo were 
 punifhable by the Law. They were very angry ftill •, and the Mayor faid, " I 
 *' had aftembled myfelf with others, contrary to Law -, and demanded Security for 
 " my Appearance at the next Affizes, the 16th of next Month, at the City of 
 " Kilkenny ; and in the mean time to be of good Behaviour." Then I faid, 
 *' What Law have you here in Ireland againft our Meetings ?" Said the Mayor, 
 " There is no Law for them here." Then, faid I, " There is none againft 
 " them ; and where there is no Law there is no Tranfgreffion. The Aft of To- 
 " Icration in England gives us, as well as all others the King's Proteftant Dif- 
 " fenting Subjefts, Liberty every where in his Dominions." Then they wrote 
 a Mittimus as folio weth, viz. 
 
 7 A By
 
 yyj, The L I F E, c^c. 
 
 Anno 
 1 716. iJj John Birch, Efs; Mayor of the /aid City, and Robert Conn ell, Eff^ 
 one of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace of the faid City. 
 
 City of ) /T- " TA7 E herewith fend you the Body oi 'Thomas Story, he iin- 
 Kilkenny. 5 ' " V V lawfully afiembling himfelf with feveral other Perlbns, 
 " and refufing to find fufRcient Security for his Appearance next AfTizes, and for 
 " his good Behaviour -, and him in fafe Cuftody to keep, till thence difcharged 
 " by due Courfe of Law i And for fo doing this fhall be your Warrant. Givea 
 " under our Plands and Seals this 28th Day of February, 17 16. 
 
 To the Keeper of his Majefty's John Birch, Mayor. 
 
 Goal of the faid City. Robert Conn ell. 
 
 The following is a Copy alfo of the firft Warrant, viz. 
 
 ifjvEBENEZER Wa r r e n, Efq; one of his Majejlfs Jujlices of the Peace for 
 
 the faid Counties. 
 
 Com. Kilken. £5? Com. ? fp " T^THereasComplaint hath been made unto me, 
 Civit. Kilken. J ' " V V that a Set of People called Quakers are 
 
 " riotouPy afiembled: Thefe are therefore, in his Majefty's Name, to will and 
 " require you, and every of you, on Sight hereof, to difperfe the faid Qiiakers; 
 " and, in cafe of Refiftance or Refufai, to apprehend the Bodies of the feveral 
 " Perfons fo refufing or refilling, and them fo apprehended to bring before me, 
 " or fome other of his Majefty's Juftices of the Peace in the faid Counties, to 
 " be dealt with according to Law : Whereof fail not at your Peril •, and for fo 
 " doing tliis fliall be your Warrant. Given under my Hand and Seal this 27th 
 " oi February 1716. 
 To the feveral Conftables and Officers E B E N. WARREN. 
 
 if! and through the faid Counties. 
 
 This Juftice Warren having all along in Parliament (for he was a Member) 
 been friendly, and kind to Friends in all their Concerns 5 and being inad- 
 vertently precipitated into this by the Bifhop, we were better fatisfied that we 
 had this fecond tiandle to proceed upon, than to have any Occafion for his Name 
 in the Conteft: And fo I was fent to the common Jail of the Town, among 
 Thieves in Irons-, where I ftaid not long in the Cuftody of the Jailer, till An- 
 thorty Blunt, the Sheriff of the City, a very civil young Man, and loyal to King 
 George, came to me, and Ihewed his Refentment fufficiently at their Doings ; 
 for he not only called for the Mittimus, that we might have a Copy of it, (which 
 the Jailer had refufed, being an Irifh Papift) but left it in my own Hand till he 
 returned, going immediately to fome of the Juftices, {Warren for one) to have 
 their Opinions and Concurrence in taking me to his Houfe; which he readily had : 
 and accordingly took me with him, and provided me a very good Room in his 
 Houfe, and agreeable Accommodations, to the Difappointment of that great 
 Epifcopal Envy thus levelled againft me. All this I obferved to be the L r d's 
 Doings, for the Furtherance of the Gofpel and his own Glory -, and the L o r d 
 was with me in a good Degree, to my great Comfort, and as my only fureHelp. 
 
 O N the Sixth and Seventh Days came Friends from feveral Parts to fee me, 
 and many ftaid in Town till the Firft Day^ being die 3d of the Firft Month ; 
 and, in the Forenoon, we had a Meeting in the Sheriff's Houfe ; where his Wife 
 (a very good-natur'd fober Woman) and Family were prefent, and many of the 
 Neighbourhood. We had a good open Time •, wherein I had an Opportunity 
 to expofe Antichrift and his Minifters j which, I am apt to think, went to the Bi- 
 
 fhop's
 
 of THOMAS S T RT, sss 
 
 fliop's Ears, as it did quickly through the Town •, the People wondering at our A n n o 
 Boldnefs, not knowing our Foundation. I716. 
 
 The next Day, the 4th, I went to take the Air in the late Duke of Omoiid's. 
 Gardens there, and Ibme Friends with me, and feveral People came to us; and, 
 among others, fome French Proteftants, and an Irijb Papift : He feemed friend- 
 ly, and repeated fome Verfes againft fuch as feemed to be religious, but aim'd 
 at nothing but Promotion, and worldly Honour and Glory by it. I guefled 
 what he was, and gave him the following Lines, which he took on a Piece of 
 Paper with a Pencil. 
 
 Natural Religion was fimple firft and plain, 
 
 Tales made it Myftery, Offerings made it Gain; \ 
 
 Sacrifice and Shews were at length prepar'd. 
 
 The Pricfts ate roaft Beef, and the People ftar'd. 
 
 H E feemed pleafed with the Verfes : Then I told him, fome People's Reli- 
 gion made them worfe than their natural Temper ; which could not be right : 
 for the End of true Religion is an Improvement upon Nature, and Reftoration 
 from the Fall, even in this Life, and rendering Men more fociable and fafe ; but 
 that Prieftcraft of many kinds, tending to an evil End, had, as to great part of 
 Mankind, eluded all the Means hitherto offered for the Help of Man, and made 
 a Prey of him, inftead of that Aid defigned : For though there is nothino- 
 more plain than Religion in its native Simplicity-, yet the Priefts, the better to 
 effedl their own Defigns, had invented Abundance of lyirig Myfteries, to con- 
 found and amufe the People, and perfuaded them, that Offerings of many kinds 
 were Effentials of Religion ; which Offerings were ever at the Prieft's Difpofal, 
 and for his Gain and Advantage : And, taking Advantage of the natural Pro- 
 pcnfity of the People to admire Tricks and Shews, much of that had been in- 
 vented to gull the People •, fctting them a-gazing at Shews, which are of no 
 Value, whilfl the cunning Priefts eat up the Roaft : For they love dearly to have 
 the ruling of it; and in whatever they differ, in this they all agree, with feigned 
 Words to make Merchandize of the People -, and who to have them, for their 
 own Gain and Promotion, is the great Bone of Contention ; which will ever con- 
 tinue till the People receive the Lord Jesus, and turn to his Light and 
 Grace as their true Teacher. 
 
 I N the mean time, as we were at this fort of Converfation, in came Juftice 
 
 JVarren^ Alderman Haddock^ and Clarke, the Colleftor of the Kind's 
 
 Cuftoms, and fome others ; and, entering into Converfation with us, fome told 
 thtm of the Verfes, and they defired me to repeat them; which I did to their 
 Satisfaction : and, by Degrees, they fell to difcourfe upon my Confinement ; 
 which they all did with confiderable Refentment ; and fome of them obferved, 
 that to make a Shew, now after the People had talked fo broad in the Streets, 
 the Mayor, and that Party, had fhut up the Mafs-houfes, which before had been 
 connived at ; and alfo how angry they were with our Meeting the Day before, 
 but could not help themfelves ; fince I being a Prifoner, could not be hindered 
 from fpeaking to fuch as came to me ; and very friendly they were. 
 
 And, in the mean time, in came the Mayor and Alderman Connel, greatly 
 chaffed ; which was heightened to fee thefe Perfons with me, converfing fo friend- 
 ly together. Their Bufinefs was to perfuade Jtiftice Warren, Alderman Had- 
 dock, and who they could befides, to join with them to fend me out of the Coun- 
 ty, from Conftable to Conftable ; for I becoming very burthenfome to them, 
 
 they
 
 y66 The LIFE, ^r. 
 
 Anno they had fallen upon this Contrivance to get rid of me; and their Power extend^ 
 1716, ino- no farther than the Town, they could not fend me out of the County, but 
 out of the Town only, and then they feared I would come in again imme- 
 diately; but if out of the County, being fome Miles, 'tis like they imagined I 
 would not take the Pains : But in this, inftead of helping themfelves, they were 
 worfe ; for, as they advanced towards usj I began to fpeak to thofe Perfons 
 with me above mentioned, concerning the Grounds upon which my Adverfaries 
 built all their Stru6ture, viz. upon a Suppofition, that the Toleration A6t 
 extended not to Ireland: But I told them " They were miftaken ; for all Men by 
 " Nature are free, till that Freedom is taken away, either by Policy or Force : 
 " Some penal Laws then, made by an antichriftian Policy, and applied by ty- 
 " rannical Force, having obftrufted the Liberty of the Subjects ol England for 
 " a Time, yet that Liberty was not deftroyed ; but that Force being removed, 
 " Liberty revived, and tiu'ned into her natural Channel : For there are many 
 " Statute Laws in England, in which there are feveral Terms and Claufes 
 " of enafting, that, in reality, arc not initiatory of new Matter, or new Laws 
 " or Privileges never before claimed, or enjoyed by the People, of Right ; but 
 " declaratory only of Rights and Privileges in PofTeffion by them and their An- 
 *' ceftors, before endangered by evil Counftllors to Kings and Princes •, who, 
 " for their own Advancement in Favour, are too frequently the wicked Inftru- 
 " ments of tyrannical and enflaving Counfels, where they meet with any Degree 
 " of Propenfity in the Tempers ot their Princes biaffing them that Way : and 
 " of the like Nature is this Toleration Aft in England: Which native Rights and 
 " Piivileges all Englifi Men carry along with them into all Regions of the World 
 " where they fettle under the Regimen of the Crown of England ; now upon 
 " a very worthy Head, who declares for Liberty to all his Proteftant Dif- 
 " fenting Subjeifts throughout his Dominions the World over ; and that InJul- 
 " gence they enjoy every where but here. The A(5l of Toleration then ex- 
 " tends to Ireland, America, and all the King's Dominions ; being declaratory, 
 " in its own Nature, not only of Englijh, but alfo of Gofpel Liberties ; and which 
 " we now infill upon againft the unjuft Force of fuch as oppofe themfelves here. 
 " And that this is, and ever hath been, the Mind of the King and his Predecef- 
 " fors fince that Law was made, is plain, by extending that Liberty and Indul- 
 " gence here, as likewife to all his Englijh Dominions. And not only thus, but 
 " the King has given us his Royal Word for his Protedfion, upon feveral Ad- 
 " drelTes on fundry Occafions ; aiid particularly upon one from our laft Yearly 
 " Meeting at London, the 26th Day of the Third Month, 1716 ; and another 
 " fince, from our laft National Meeting at Dublin, here in Ireland; to which 
 " he was pleafed to anfwer in thefe Words, viz. I thank you for the JJfurance of 
 " BuLy and Affcoiion to my Per/on and Government, contained in thisAddrefs ; and 
 " you may always depend upon my Prote£lion ; I myfelf being prcft-nt, with many 
 " more, when the King received us with this firft Addrefs in his own Bedcham- 
 " bcr: So great was his Condefcenfion and Regard to his loving and peaceable 
 " Subjeds. But it feems the Mayor and Magiftrates here think it their 
 *' Intereft to infift upon an Opinion quite of another Nature, at the Hazard of 
 " what may follow •, for you may afliire yourfelves we are as jealous and tena- 
 " cious, both of our Gofpel and natural Liberties, as any Body here can be bent 
 " to deprive us of them." 
 
 This being finifhed, the Mayor and his Party fhewed a great deal of Rancour, 
 but could not help themfelves; and immediately after, the Mayor and Connel 
 made Application, as aforefaid, foi" Affiftance ; for their Envy had made them 
 both mad and bhnd : But inftead of that the Juftice at once refufed it, and told 
 them he had done too much of this Drudgery for them already, and would do 
 
 no
 
 of T H M A S S T RT ssi 
 
 no more, but would leave tlieni to their own Meafures. This vex'd them hearti- Anno 
 
 ly, and occafioned Ibmc more Words, which were pretty warm on both Sides, till 1 7 16. 
 
 rlie Juftice, and the reft that were I'or the King and Indulgence, asked them " How 
 
 " come you to connive at fo many Mafles in view, and befo furious upon theKing's 
 
 " Friends and peaceable Subjefts ? Pray, Mr Mayor, faid he, what Notice have 
 
 ♦' you taken ot the fcditious Sermon you heard Yefterday Afternoon in the little 
 
 " Church r You can bear fuch with Pleafure, whilft you treat thefe loyal Subjcds 
 
 " with fo much fevere Ufage. Did you, Sir, demand that Pcrfon's Notes, and 
 
 " bring him to account for what he had done ?" To which the Mayor anfwer- 
 
 ed, " That is my Tord Bifhop's Bufinefs, not mine." Then they replied, " If 
 
 " it was not your Bufinefs, being a Matter of Religion, pray, how comes it to be 
 
 " fo much your Bufinefs to mieddle with thofe People, who have given you no 
 
 " other Occ:\f!on but in refpeft of their religious Opinions-, to which they have 
 
 " equal Right and Liberty with all others his Majefty's Protcftant diflenting 
 
 " Subjedts, and are much more ufeful to the Government than fome that you 
 
 *' connive at? And, pray, from whom arifts the common Danger?" 
 
 W E heard them thus far, but Things rifing higher and higher, thought befl: to 
 withdraw and leave them, the Difpute turning favourable on our Side; which 
 we did : But in the Evening the Sherilf told me, that they ended in Pleat ; 
 and that the Mayor and Alderman Covnd, finding they could not have any Aid 
 of the others, were refolvcd, as they pretended, to fend me cut of the Town next 
 Morning by the Confiablcs; and that if I came again they would put m^e in the 
 Stocks. I told him I did not fear them •, let them run the Length of their Chain : 
 For tho' they thought to frighten me with their Threats, I knew the Laws better 
 than they imagined ; and that they could not do it but by illegal Violence. 
 
 The next Day, the 5th, the Mayor was much cooler ; and, intending to go 
 out of the Town the Day following to meet the Judges at Wexford.^ (being De- 
 puty-Clerk of the Crown) he took up the Mittimus^ and fent me Word by the 
 Sheriff^, that I was at Liberty, and might go when and where I pleafed \ and 
 faid alfo, That he would not have done what he had done againft us, but that the • 
 Clergy, as one Man, greatly urged him to it, faying, they had thought him a Man 
 for the Church; but to find him fo remifs in fupprefTing the Quakers, looked 
 quite othtrwifc : And added, that for his own part he did not care what Meet- 
 ings we had ; but intended to get out of the Way of it, and leave Alderman 
 Connel in his Place (as he ouglit ot Couvfe) till he returned ; hoping all would 
 be over in his Abi'ence. 
 
 Upon this Meffage I told the Sheriff, That they had committed me publick- 
 ly by a Mittimus till the Afilzes, as if I had done fomc heinous Crime ; and as 
 on the one hand 1 could not accept of a private Difchargc, fo, on the other, this 
 Difcharge was not legal : which was an Indication they were either ignorant or 
 arbitrary ; for they ought to have returned their Proceedings before the Judges, 
 that the Matter might be heard at the Afllzes : But in Cafe of a Difcharge be- 
 fore that, it ought to have been by a Liberate in Writing under their Hands 
 and Seals, or of fome other Jufticcs: and therefore I remained with the She- 
 riff; which difpleafed my Adverfaries worfe than before, and heighten'd their 
 Rage. 
 
 Many Friends vifited me from divers Places, on the 9th, being the Se- 
 venth of the Week; and confidering together of a Meeting next Day, we 
 fpoke to the fame Perfon about the fame Place we had before, and he rea- 
 dily granted it: fo all was prepared, as Seats, tJ'f. and Notice was given by 
 
 7 B fome
 
 ;r58 The LIFE, i^^yc. 
 
 Anno fome Friends to Aldeiman Connel (now Depiity-Mavor) and the Jufticcs, 
 '1716. of what we intended; but he faid he would diiperfe us again, and that we 
 Ihould not have any Meeting there : However, we went to Meeting -, and tho* 
 I had fome Things in my Mind to lay in the Meeting, before I found the pro- 
 per Time to ftand up, one of the Church Wardens came and began the Di- 
 fturbance; and foon after eame the Mayor's Serjeants at Mace, commanding 
 the People to difperfe ; and the Church Wardens took down Nam.es, and threaten- 
 ed the People with the Bilhop's Court. Then I reafoned the Cafe a httle with 
 the Conftablcs and Serjeants •, and they feem'd troubled that they were put upon 
 lifing usfoi but couid not help it, being under Authority. After a while I 
 went with them, having firft made lome Remarks on Things to the People, and 
 they put me in Jail the fecond Time; where I was hardly well entered, till they 
 brouo-ht IP^illiam Brcokfield of Dublin thither alfo : For fome Friends from thence 
 coming to fee me, and he among others, and the Meeting continuing after they 
 had brought me away, JViUiam had ftood up to fpeak, and fome of the Con- 
 ftables took him down, and brouglit him to us. 
 
 We had been in Prifon but a fmall Time, till the Sheriff came and took us 
 home to his Houfe ; where the other Friends came to us after the Meeting was 
 over ; which they held, notwithftanding all the Dillurbance, till it regularly 
 ended. 
 
 But the Deputy-Mayor being come from his Worfliip, fent for me before 
 him, and fccmed very angry; and afked me how I came to appoint another 
 Meeting, being in Cuftody ? Then faid the Sheriff, " Sir, The Gentleman was 
 " not in Cuftody, for Mr Mayor took up the Mittimus before he went out of 
 " Town, and told me he was at Liberty ; only he would not go out of Town 
 " till he himfclf thought fit, being free, as he apprehends, to go or ftay at his 
 " own Eleftion." Then faid I to the Deputy-Mayor, " Thefe Proceedings 
 " are very arbitrary: What have I done now to deferve Imprifonment .'" " Did 
 " not I tell you. Sir, faid he, that I would difperfe you, (for I had met him in 
 " the Street as we went to the Meetings and that you fhould have no Meeting 
 " here ?" " 'Tis true, faid I ; but fmce there is no Law againif our Meeting, 
 " thou hadfl: no Right to l;iy fo, nor was I obliged to take Notice of it, being 
 " without Law ; but, befides, the Gofpel muft be preached, and God muft be 
 " worfliipped according to his own Appointment, whoever will make Laws to 
 " the contrary, or apply an unjuft and illegal Force to reltrain it." 
 
 Then faid one of the Serjeants to the Deputy-Mayor, " Sir, This Gentle- 
 " man faid nothing in the Meeting; he was not preaching." He immediately 
 laid hold on that to get rid of us, (for he wanted his Dinner, then flaying for 
 him) and laid, " I cry Mercy, I thought you had;" and fo difmilfed me. But, 
 before we parted, I told him, " That notwithftanding thou haft ufed us fo ill, 
 " I have a fecret Apology in my Mind for it; but cannot be pofitive wlicther 
 " thou deferves it: and that is, I conjefture that thou does not aft altogether 
 " from a native Spring of Diflikc in tliy own Mind, but as excited by fome 
 " other Perfon or Perlbns, for fome other Reafons than perhaps thou careft to 
 " exprefs or own." Upon this he iaid, " I liave no Enmity againft Friends; 
 " but have, upon occafion, forgiven fome of them P^es (being Regifter to the 
 " BUhop's Court) to the Value of fcvcn Pounds." And fo we were difmiflcd 
 without any further Conditions. 
 
 About Three in the Afternoon we went to Meeting again in the fame Place ; 
 and the Biiliop hearing of it, and walking in the Tolfel, tofd one of the Serjeants, 
 
 if
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. sS9 
 
 if we met again, he would have us put in the Stocks till he came from Church : Anno 
 But, being let, many People came to us-, and the Lo rd, who never tails nor iyi6. 
 forfakes his own, was with us, to our great Comfort, whilft Envy and Rage tor- 
 mented our Enemies. I had fomething to fay, and had gone on fome Time, the 
 People being greatly defirous to hear, and many ftill and latisfied with what they 
 heard, till in came the Conftablcs and Serjeants again ; but fo faintly, and with A- 
 pologies, that they could hardly touch me : But, after fome Time, one of the Ser - 
 jeants named the Bilhop to be concerned in it -, which I laid hold of, and told the 
 People, we had not been without Apprehcnfions all this Time who was at the Bot- 
 tom ; but now they heard plainly it was the Bifliop : and, after fome further Re- 
 marks, viz. " That what our Lord faid to his Difciples, Soine of you Pail Satan 
 " cafi into Prifon, was now alio fulfilled in us : For though that evii one cannot 
 " caft any into Prifon by himleh, as he is a wicked deftroying Spirit; yet, as un- 
 " godly and wicked Perfecutors are excited, inftigated, and hurried to that evil 
 " Work by Satan, he, as the firft Mover, is faid to do it •, fo that they might plain- 
 " ly fee on what Bottom they were who thus auufed us." The People, nay, even 
 " many of the Papifls who came there to hear and fee, were generally difplea- 
 fed with them ; and the Truth reached them through our Works and Patience, 
 and expofed our Enemies to the juft Ccnfure of all. 
 
 The Serjeants and Conftables taking me away^ many of the People followed 
 calling out. Shame, and blaming the Magillratcs; but we defired them to avoid 
 Difturbance, left fome Advantage might be taken. And the Officers became fo 
 troubled and afiiamed, that they intreated me to walk up to my Lodging till the 
 Church was done: but I told them I was in their Cuftody, and could not go 
 but where they took me -, and they went with me to the Sheriff's Houfe ■, where 
 they exprelTed their great Concern, that they fhould be in Offices that fubjefted 
 them to Actions fo much againft their Inclinations. But the Meeting continu- 
 ing after I was brought away, William Brcckfield had a good Time in a fhort 
 Teftimony among them ; and though fome Conftables were there, ' they flood 
 without, as if they had no Mind to underftand or hear any Thing : and the 
 Meeting ended in Order, and Friends were generally comforted. 
 
 In the Evening the Deputy-Mayor fcnt mcWord by the Sheriff, that he would 
 wait on me by and by at my Lodging about that Afternoon's Meeting. I re- 
 plied, " That was not fo proper; but if he had any Thing more to fay, that re- 
 " quired my Anfwer, I would wait on him where he pleafed." The Sheriff told 
 him what I faid •, and he fcnt the Sheriff to ask me if I intended to go out of 
 Town the next Day ; and, if I did, he had no more to fay : but if I did not go 
 out, he would put me out. 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " That if the Mayor had fent fo afk me that Queflion, with- 
 " out any Threats annexed, I would have anfwered him freely and plainly as 
 " to my Intent-, but was not to be frighten'd, being at my own Liberty to flay 
 " or go as I pleafed." 
 
 This the Sheriff told him: And then he made the Sheriff take it down in 
 Writing ; which he did. The Mayor then bid him let his Hand to it ; which 
 he did : but told the Mayor, he would keep it in his own Cuftody ; and 
 accordingly fhowed it me. I fuppofe the Mayor thought to frighten me by this 
 poor little Shift. Then I told the Sheriff, I intended to go out of the Town in 
 the Morning, to take fome Meetings in the Country, and return there again at 
 the Affizes, in the latter End of the Week. 
 
 Then
 
 ^Co TJje LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Then itie Sheriff told me, the Bilhop was very angry with him, and fo 
 
 17 16. were all his Creatures, for letting me have Liberty, and had fent for him that 
 Morning; but that he v/ould not go till we were out of the Town. I told 
 him he had beft go then, left the Eifliop miglit take fome Advantage, as it he 
 did not regard him ; bur, as for us, v/e did not fear any Thing he could do to 
 us: However, he went not fo long as we ftaid-, which was till about the Ele- 
 ven.th Hour, I going to fee feveral ot the Alderm.en who had fliewn us Coun- 
 tenance, and alfo Colonel U^arrcn, before named, before we took Horle; 
 and went openly through the greattfl: part of the Town, telling the People oa 
 every Occafion, I intended to fee them at the Affizes, as in the Firft Day Even- 
 
 in'i- 1 had told Sanford, the Colonel's Son-in-law, (whom they had put 
 
 into the jpiihop's Court on this Occafion) when he aflccd me about it; which he 
 approved much; " Eecaufe, fiid he, they wantonly to be rid of you, being 
 " fuch A Torment to them by ftaying, they know not what to do, and v/ould. 
 " liave you away at any Rate; but when thty know you intend to come again 
 " at the Affizes, it will perplex them the more." 
 
 On the nth we fet forward about the Eleventh Hour; and feveral Friends 
 being in Company, on comparing Things, we found we had all had a Share ot the 
 Burthen ; but were very eafy and comfortable in ourSpirits, concluding, that as we 
 had come laden thither, and left our Burthen behind, it was gone upon thofe who 
 had oppofcd Truth, and would be heavier and heavier on them, till they funk 
 under it, or yielded : And lb we law the Hand of the Lord in the whole, and 
 rejoiced : together in him. That Day I went home with Edward Cooper ; who 
 had been with us all this Time. 
 
 On. the lath we had a Meeting at Samuel fFatfon's; which was a large opea 
 Meeting,,,and the People, as well as Friends, were well fatisfied. 
 
 Cailow. On the 13th we had another Meeting at Carlow; which was alfo vyell filled 
 
 with People of feveral Ibrts, and they were alfo very quiet and fober in Time 
 of Silence. I had taken Cold in the Tranfaftions at /C/Z/^ra^y, and, upon that 
 had taken a Fit ot the Loofenefs incident to Strangers in that Country of Ireland ; 
 which had weakened me as to my natural Strength: but the Lord ftrength- 
 tned me fo as to m.ake me inftrumental to deliver many Things to Edification, 
 Information, and Comfort; and it was a good Meeting to fome, and the People 
 were generally fatisfied, and Ibme much pleafeJ. That Night I went home 
 With John Lackey, about a Mile from Carlow, back towards Kilkenny ; where I 
 was v/ell entertained, and had fome Things proper for my Diflemper, as I had 
 had the Day before, at my Friend Samuel Watjon^. 
 
 The 14th being wet and ftormy, I ftaid there till the Afternoon ; and Edward 
 Cooper comwi^ from his Koufe on Purpofe, I went home with him that Evening; 
 where I ff aid till the 1 6th, being the Seventh of the Week ; and Patrick Haiderfoyi, 
 Samuel Braithwait, Ed%vardFawcet, and Pauljohnfcn coming from Dublin, and 
 fome others, we went together to Kilkenny, to fee what they had to fay to me 
 at the Affizes, to which I had been committed by the Mittimus aforefaid ; not 
 thinking it honourable in the Truth to take Liberty by Word only, left, being 
 abfcnt, they might pretend I had given them the Slip ; to which I never had 
 any Temptation from firfl to laft. 
 
 O N our W ay we fell in upon the Road with fome Perfons going to Town ; and 
 one of them offering feme Difcourfe about Religion, I perceived, after a while, 
 lie was a Roman Catholick ; and, after ibme other Points, we came upon that 
 
 of
 
 of THOMAS ST R T. s6i 
 
 of Tranfubfirantiation. He urged the Words of Christ; wliere he faid, con- Anno 
 
 cerning tlie Bread, 'Take, eat ye all of it % this is my Body which is brokeii for you : iyi6. 
 
 And again, concerning the Cuj), This Cup is the New Tejlament in my Blood, which Mark \-iv.z2, 
 
 is feed for you, &c. " This, faid he, is lb plain and diftinft, that there can be -3> =+• 
 " no Miftake in it: This is my Body; This Cup is the New Tejlament, &c." 
 
 I ANSWERED, " This is 3 figutativc Speech : This Bread fignifies my Bo- 
 " dy, which fhall fhortly hereafter be broken for you : And this Cup ; that is 
 " to fay, the Wine, or Liquor contained in it, fignifies, or fymbolizes, the New 
 " Teftament in my Blood : For it it Were a proj^er Speech, without any Figure, 
 " many Abfurdities would tollov/, againlt both Senfe and Reafon ; whereas 
 " Christ and his Apoftles fuit their DoeT:rine and Miracles to both. For in 
 " working of Miracles, if the Senfes were not infallible, (as they are concerning 
 " their proper Objefts, where the Senfe is not impofed upon by falfe Mediums, 
 " or any Depravation in itfelf-, for all Mankind will conclude a Man to be a 
 *' Man at firft Sight, though they may exprefs that Thing, or Man, by diffe- 
 " rent Names ; as a Man, liz. Anlropos, Homo, ^c.) then it could not be cer- 
 *' tainly known whether fuch a Thing (as raifing the Dead, making the Lame to 
 " walk, opening the Eyes of the Blind, &'c.) was done at all. And as to Rea- 
 " fon, Christ often ufes it -, No Man can ferve two Majlers, &c. No Man Mat, vl. 24. 
 *' goes to build, hut firft counts the Cofi, &c. He that goes to War firft confiders Luke.xiv. 28^ 
 *' whether he is able with 10,000 to encounter his Enemy with 20,000, i^c. ''' 
 *' And again, faith Reafon, 'Tis impoffible that both the Body of C h r i st and 
 " the Bread can occupy one and the fame Place, at one and the fame Time ; for 
 " when the Body is prefent, the Bread muft be abfent; and when the Bread is 
 " preknt, the Body muft be abfent. 
 
 "And again td the Sehfes : The Apoflle John fays, That we have heard i Johni, 1,2. 
 *' with our Ears, feen with our Eyes, and our Hands have handled of the good Word 
 " "I -^(/^; alluding to the infallible Certainty of Senfe in preaching the Gofpel ; 
 " for the Life was made manifefi, and we have feen it : So that as certain as is 
 *' Senfe in fenfible Subjefts and Objefts, fo certain, and yet more, were and are 
 *' all the true Minifters of C h R i s t of thole faving and divine Truths they de- 
 " liver from the Spirit, or effential Truth and Life manifefted in them, in its own 
 *' Power and Virtue ; and fo certain alfo may the Hearer be of the Truth of 
 " the Miniflry, by the Manifeftation and Anfwer of the fame Spirit working in 
 " him." 
 
 I further urged that it was a figurative Speech, for this Reafon ; " Be- 
 *' caule he faith, This Cup is the New Tejiament, were it of Wood, Stone, Earth, 
 " or Metal : That Cup, whatever it was, was the New Teftament, according 
 " to thy and your Notion. Where then is that Cup ? If the Cup be loft, then 
 " aJfo is the Teftament, if the Cup be the Teftament." 
 
 This was a little pinching, and drove my Antagonift to this Reply, viz. 
 " This Speech of C h ri s t hath two Parts : The firft is proper, concerning his 
 " Body ; but the fecond is figurative, concerning the Cup." 
 
 Then faid I, " Friend, pray give me thy Reafon for the Difference. 
 
 *' Because, faid he, it was impoflible to drink the Cup, but only that 
 *' which was in it." 
 
 " I T is a good Reafon, faid I, Friend, and holds as well the other Way ; 
 
 7 C ♦' for
 
 y6z The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno "for if that muft be figurative refpeding the Cup, becaufe of the Impoffibility 
 I7i6. "of drinking the Cup itfelf, to common Reafon ; evtn fo, for the fame Rea- 
 «' fon, deduced from the ImpouibiUty of the Thing, I juftly conclude there is 
 " no Tranfubftantiation. 
 
 " But if it had been fo, then this, and many other Hke Abfurdities would 
 " have follov/ed, viz. Whilft C h r i st fat at the Table, and faid of the Bread, 
 " This is my Body, the Body which brake it, and called it his Body, muft ceafe to be 
 " that Body, and the other (the Bread) muft commence and begin to be his 
 " Body, (which it was not before) and be really fo, before he could properly 
 " and truly call it fo, or elfe there muft be many, nay innumerable fame Bodies 
 " at the fame Time, and yet all but that one Body ; which is abfurd and un- 
 " reafonable. 
 
 " Again, if whilft Christ fat at the Table with his Difciples, they all ate 
 " the whole entire Christ the Evening before he was crucified -, pray, then, 
 " who was left uneaten to be crucified next Day ? And if the firft to whom he 
 " gave a Piece of Bread had all the whole Christ, what remained for all the 
 " reft ? I think nothing at all." 
 
 jhn vi c 
 
 33" 
 
 :4at. xiii. 1 1. 
 
 Then he faid, "Christ told the People, That except ye eat the Flejh., 
 " and drink the Blood of the Son of Man, ye have no Life in you : There muft 
 " then be fome Way of eating and drinking, to make good that Saying; which 
 " is alfo very plain in its own Nature, the FleJIj and Blood in a proper Senfe." 
 
 T o this I anfwered, " That Christ did fay fo, and the People took him 
 " to mean properly, and without a Figure, as ye now do, looking upon the 
 " Impoffibility of the Thing, as it really is, in the Senfe they and you take it; 
 " but when they were all offended, and gone, he turned to his Difciples, and 
 " explained it to them, for they Teemed not rightly to underftand him -, Will ye 
 " alfo leave me? 'Tis given to you to underjland the Myfteries; but to them (the 
 3hrivi."63." '^ Work]) in Parables. What then was the Parable {or My'ik&xy)^ "Tis the Spi- 
 " rit that quickens, the Flefh -profiteth nothing : And thus it is in your own Bible 
 " as well as ours. 
 
 I F u rt M H r added, " That if therefore the Bread were really tranfubftan- 
 " tiated, after the Words faid, and were the true Body and Blood of C h r i s t ; 
 " and if they really ate and drank the fame Flefti and Blood which then they 
 " beheld, it would profit them nodiing." 
 
 Then he faid, " 'Tis true the Flefh and Blood by itfelf, without the Spirit, 
 '' does not profit; but when we eat the Flefli and Blood together, we eat the 
 " Spirit alfo, and that quickens as we eat it." 
 
 This was a deep Fetch, and the laft Shift ; which I anfwered thus, vix. 
 " This cannot be C h r i s t's Meaning ; for he does not only diftinguifti, but 
 " divide between the Flefti and Spirit. ^Tis the Spirit that quickens: Here is 
 " the whole Work of quickening afcribed to the Spirit; and the fime that 
 " quickens, alio continues Life in him who is quickened ; tor from the Spirit 
 " came Flefli, Blood, Bread, Wine, and the whole Univerfe, and all that in it 
 *' is ; and are all continued by the fame Spirit, the Subftance of all Things. But 
 " the FleJI:) profiteth nothing: Here it is fct a-part from the Spirit in the lame 
 " Sentence,. and profittth nothing to be eaten. And, for further Interpretation 
 Mat iv 4 " of this, obferve, i/, The Words of C h r i st to Satan, Man Jhall not live
 
 of THOMAS STOUT. ^6^ 
 
 " hy Bread alone > lut by every Word that proceedeth cut cf the Month of Gcd: Anno 
 " The Words which proceed out of the Mouth of G o u arc Spirit and 1 .itc ; as 171 6. 
 " faid the Lord Christ, who is that Word, My M^ords they are Spirit, and John vi, 63. 
 " they are Life; which Words the Apoftles knew, by Experier.ce, to m.:ke them 
 "• alive, and prelerve them ; as appears, 
 
 " idly, B Y the Anfwor of Peter at the fame Time, Whither fhall we go, thou — ^i- ^^'• 
 *' haft the Words of eternal Life? So that this quickening is not by this fo grols 
 " and carnal eating and drinking here imagined-, but by receiving of the Spirit, 
 " through the Words of C h r i st, abftradtd and a-part from that holy Body, 
 " and all other Corporiety or Body. And for the further underflanding of 
 " Sayings of this Nature, obferve. That when the Difciples of Christ were 
 *' fhewing him the Temple at Jerufalem, and the Beauty of it, he faid to them, 
 " Deftroy this Temple, and I tvill raife it up in three Days. The Temple at Je- Mat.xxvi.6i. 
 " rufalerd was the Objeft of their Eyes, and SubjeiSl of their Difcourfe, which ^^^'^^-'"^■5 • 
 " gave them juil occafion, as Men, to fuppofe he meant that Temple-, luhich, 
 *' they faid, iicas forty Years in building, and could he raife it in three Days? Tlu y 
 *' admired at his Saying: But yet, in the Sequel of Things, they underftood 
 *' afterwards, though not at the Time, that he fpoke of the Temple of his Body. 
 " Again, in like Manner, where he faith, I am the Vine, ye are the Branches, &c. johnxv. <:,. 
 *' tliis may well explain that other Saying, / will drink no mere of the Fruit of M.it..\xvi.2g. 
 " the Vine, till I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom ; which can mean 
 " no other, than as his coming in the Flefh confecrated the Way, and was pre- 
 " vious to the Coming of the Spirit; fo his drinking new Wine in the King- 
 " dom of God, muft intend the Community of Spirit, intended in the Words ,Cor.xii. 13. 
 " of the Apoftle afterwards, concerning the whole Church, We have all been 
 *' made to drink into that one Spirit." 
 
 M Y Opponent by this Time being weary of the Subjeft, advanced a Qiie- 
 ftion concerning the Spirit itfelf, viz. " How do you know that Spirit from a- 
 " nother Spirit, fince Satan is transformed into an Angel of Light? May it not 
 " be that evil one, and not the Spirit of Christ?" 
 
 I R E PLi E D, " That the divine effential Truth is felf-evidencing-, that the 
 " quickened Soul is affured of him by his own Nature, and quickening Power 
 *' and Virtue; as faith the Apoftle, Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the ,johniii. 34. 
 " Spirit which he hath given us: And he that is in a State of Doubting is in a 
 " State of Condemnation, and Reprobation, and hath not yet known the Spirir, 
 " but is in Death and Darkncfs, and ignorant of God and Christ; and in 
 " fuch Satan is transformed, and not in thofe that are quickened, or regenerated : 
 " For fuch as wanted a Proof of Christ's fpeaking in and by the Apoftles, 
 " were, by Paul, referred back to themfclves ; Know ye not your own fehes, how . Cor. xiii. 5. 
 *' that Jefis Chrifl is in you, except ye be Reprobates. And again, The Spirit it- 
 " felf helpeth our Infirmities with Sighs and Groanings which cannot be uttered; 
 " and fearcheth all Things, even the deep Things of God.'" By this Time we Rom.viii.26. 
 drew near the Town, and then he faid, " No doubt but you have a good In- i Cor. ii. 20. 
 " tent in what you do, in travelling fo in the World ; but you muft have fome 
 " good Confiderations for it, as our Priefts have Gold and Silver:" And men- 
 tioned about 300 Guineas for that Time. I told him, " No; we whom God 
 " had raifed up, and qualiiied in fome Degree, in this Age, to that Service, 
 " were advanced above any fuch mean, bafe, and mercenary Confiderations, as 
 " to take any Thing from Men for this Labour ; which we beftow freely in the 
 " Love of God, and by his Commandment, for the common Good of Men." 
 •' Why, laid he, the Apoftles were but poor Men, and wanted Neceflaries, and 
 
 *• muft
 
 ;tJ4 ^^^^ LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " muft have received of the People, or wanted." " True, faid I -, but then they 
 
 1716. " lay, Havhig Food and Raiment, let us be therewith content: And where that is 
 
 1 Tim. vi. 8. " really the Cafe, fuch as are poor among us we would not begrudge them that-, 
 
 " but It is very feldom, or never fo among us ; but rather, with Paul, we can 
 
 Aftsxx. 3-4 " generally fay, Thefe Hands of mine have minijlered to my Necejftties; having no 
 
 " befire that any fuch Thing fliould be done unto us; and we generally have 
 
 " fufficient of our own." 
 
 Then faid he, " But in cafe your Friends, after fome very good Sermon, 
 ♦' that pleafeth a great Congregation well and generally, Ihould offer you a Purfe 
 *' of 2 or 300 Guineas, would not you accept it, being freely given ?" 
 
 I R E p L I E D, " No •, I hope it would be no Temptation, if fo it were •, which 
 " never can be as long as they and I abide in the Truth we profefs, either to give 
 " or receive that Way : I fhould rather be greatly troubled to fee fo great a 
 " Degeneracy, as to fubjecT: them to fo great an Evil." " Well, faid he, I can- 
 " not tell ; you fay well, and I am apt to believe you -, but if you would not, 
 " there are many would be glad of the Offer, and make no Bones on't, but re- 
 " ceive it v/ith both Hands." 
 
 " I BELIEVE it, faid I ; for there are too many mercenary Hirelings in the 
 Mat. xxviii. " World in this Age •, who, though they pretend a MilTion to^o teach andbap- 
 " tize all Nations, yet, as unfaithful Servants, (if they were fcnt at all) fit down 
 " where they can have the firft Maintenance, and never move till the Voice of 
 " a better cry in their Ears ; and then, and not till then, they run where God 
 " does not fend them." 
 
 " There is too much of it, faid he :" And fo we parted in Friendfhip, 
 with good Wilhes on all Sides. 
 
 Coming to Town, and many other Friends from other Parts, It was foon 
 known, and many were looking what would be the IfTue of Things : And JVil- 
 liatn Sandwith being there, he and fome others went to the Judges, and apprized 
 them of Matters, and the Cafe, and how Friends and I had been ufed by thefe 
 High Church Perfecutors, efpecially the Bifhop, and Offery, now here at Kilken- 
 ny : And /Imos Strettle, and ibme Friends at Dublin, procured a Letter from 
 one of the intended Lords Juftices to one of the Judges, (in his private Capaci- 
 ty, not being yet fworn) to fee that Juflice fhould be done us : For the Govern- 
 ment favoured us-, but our Enemies and theirs, proceeding under a Pretence 
 of Law, that was not to be over-ruled, but inclined to do all they could in Ho- 
 nour and Safety ; which was all we defired of them. 
 
 They fent for the Sheriff to fee the Calendar-, and, not finding the Mitti- 
 mus return'd, they faw our Adverfaries had no Mind to meddle againft us, but 
 were willing to drop it -, which they rather advifed us to over-look for that Time, 
 fince we might in Time have our Meetings free -, which was all we defired. But 
 that Evening one of the Judges faid in open Court, when he gave the Charge, 
 " That it was Treafon in any to pull down or deface any publick religious 
 *' Meeting-houfe -," which going quickly through the Town, many rejoiced on 
 ovir Account, it being a great Stroke to our Adverfaries: and I made this Con- 
 ftruftion of it. That as the Houfe was a Circumftance and Accommodation to 
 the Meeters, who were of more Regard than the Houfe, and it only regarded 
 for their Sakes, if it were Treafon to deface the Houfe, hpw much more fo in 
 
 thus
 
 of THOMAS S T RT. s6s 
 
 thus difturbing and abufing thole that met therein ; which fome laying hold of, An n 
 inculcated it among the People, to our further Advantage upon our Enemies. 17 16. 
 
 On the 17th, being the Firft of the Week, we appointed another Meeting 
 in the fame Place, (for we were for the fame Caufe ftill, the Liberty ot the Go- 
 fpel, without Fear of any) and went accordingly ; and a full Meeting it was, and 
 very comfortable and quiet to all outward Appearance: But I had felt all the 
 Night before an inward Load and Sting from fome Corner or other, and cxped- 
 ed another Bout •, and fo it happened : Lor Patrick Henderfon kneeling down to 
 Prayer, in the mean time came in the Mayor's Serjeants; but as civilly as could 
 be defired, and made no Difturbance during the Time of Prayer-, and one of 
 them went out foon after, but the other ftaid. A little after Prayer was ended. 
 I ftood up and fpoke a while •, but had not got well into the Matter in my Mind, 
 till the other Serjeant ftood up, and, with great Reluftancy (for we all believed, 
 it was much againft his Will) and low Voice, faid, " I am lent of the Mayor 
 " to command you, in the King's Name, todifperfe:" But quickly added, 
 " But if you will not, I cannot compel you, nor have any Orders to force ;" 
 and fo went civilly away. Then I proceeded in my Teftimony, many Things 
 opening to tiie State of the People ; particularly relating to the Duty of a Chriftian, 
 not to believe only, but alio to fuller when thereunto called : After which I fet 
 forth the Nature and Ground of Perfecution, Satan the Caufe, and wicked Men 
 his Inftruments in it, as Cain, Jezebel, the High Priejls, Popes, and Prelates; 
 as they might now fee in this prefent Cafe, though but a Shadow to what we 
 had met with ; not always by plain and open Violence, but more generally 
 under the fpecious Pretext of Law and Right: and then I concluded the 
 Meeting in Prayer. After the Meeting was over, we heard that one of the 
 Church Wardens had been there •, and he, and the Serjeant which difturbed us 
 (for the other faid he had been troubled in Confcience fince the firft Time) were 
 lent for by the Bifhop ; who, in the Hearing of the Judges, (they dining there) 
 examined them about the Meeting, what we were doing, and what we laid. 
 They told him, " A good-like black Man (meaning Patrick Henderfon) was 
 " at Prayer when they came in, and prayed heartily and devoutly for the King 
 " and him (the Bifhop) too, and all of them :" For he prayed for all in Au- 
 thority under him.' 
 
 Then the Bifhop afl-ced them if I preached ? And the Church Warden faid, 
 I did : Upon which the Bifhop tendered him his Oath, it being me his great 
 Spight and Envy was bent againft chiefly. Then he had the A£l of Uniformity, 
 of the 14th of Charles II. in England, (but the 17th in Ireland) brought before • 
 him, and difcourfed upon it with the Judges ; he thinking it reached us, and 
 would have pumped the Judges, and had their Opinion on it : but they were 
 wifer than he, and faid nothing> but let him take his own Way : For they were 
 ftaunch Friends to the King's Intereft, and were our Friends, as knowing our 
 Integrity to the King and his Government. And fo the Bifhop's Rage and 
 Envy blinding him, (it he could at all underftand the Aft) he firft gave a War-^" 
 rant and Mittimus in his . own Name, direfted to the Sheriff of the Town, to 
 arreft and commit me to the common Jail for three Months, without Bail or 
 Mainprize •, where this Antichriftian Judge (for there are many now as of old 
 in the World) intended I fhould lie until the full Time was expired, without any 
 Liberty as before, if either, by Hardfliip, or otherwife (for I was then but weak 
 and tender) he had not murdered me in the mean time : For he had, before I 
 went out of the Town, fent for the Sheriff and reprimanded him fliarply for let- 
 ting me go abroad in Town upon my firft Commitment, threatening to have him 
 before the Houfe of Lords the next Seffion of Parliament. 
 
 7 D Our
 
 y66 The I. I F E, d^'c. 
 
 Anno Our Afternoon Meeting this Day being over, whicli was very peaceable, (for 
 
 17x6. now we had conquer' d him fo far, as that none difturbed us) I found a fecret Sting 
 as I went to the Inn with the Friends imm Dublin, who lodged there -, and we were 
 there but a fhort Time, till I was told there was another Warrant and Mittimus out 
 ao-ainft me from theBifliop : then I halted to my Qviarters at the Sheriff's Houfe, 
 where I expetled it, and found that fuch a Warrant had been directed to the Mayor, _ 
 and fent to the Sheriff by him to be executed -, but it not being direc1:ed to the 
 Sheriff, he would not receive it, but fent it back to the Mayor : Then the Bifhop, 
 Mayor, and Alderman Cornel, and fome more, confulted further, and found 
 their Error, as to the Bifhop's giving a Warrant himfelf : For all the Act re- 
 quires in the Cafe for which it was made, is. That the Billiop, as Ordinary, 
 fliould certify the Offence (only relating to thofe of his own Seft) to any two Ju- 
 (tices, or Mayor, ^c. and then they to grant a Warrant and Mittimus -, which 
 now the Mayor granted accordingly, a Copy whereof foUoweth, -viz. 
 
 By John Birch, Efq; Mayor of the City. 
 City ofirp" T/f/ HEREASI received a Certificate, under the Hand and 
 Kilkenny. S " V V Seal of the Right R everend Father in God, Thomas Lord 
 " Bifliop of Offery ; in which he certifies. That Thomas Story, a Qiiaker, did this 
 " Day preach in the faid City of Kilkenny, contrary to the J£t of Uniformity^ 
 " made in the 17th Year of the Reign of King C/;«r/cj II. 
 
 " T H E s E are therefore, in purfuance of the faid Ad: and Certificate, to will 
 " and require you, on Sight hereof, to apprehend the Body of the faid Thomas 
 " Story, and him fo apprehended, to convey to the common Jail of the faid 
 " City, there to remain for the Space of three Months, without Bail or Main- 
 " prize-, whereof tail not at your Peril, and for fo doing this fhall be your 
 " Warrant. Given under my^Hand and Seal this 17th Day of March, 1716. 
 To the feveral Conftahks and J O H N B I R C H, Mayor. 
 
 Officers of the faid City. 
 
 This Warrant the flime Serjeant which came laft in the Forenoon to difturb 
 our Meeting brought to the Sheriff's Houfe now in the Evening, but delayed 
 Execution for an Hour ; and, in the mean time, fome Friends advifed with fome 
 Counfellors of their Acquaintance, in Town at the Affiies ; and fome of them 
 faid it was in the Nature of an Execution, fo that it might be more dangerous 
 for the Sheriff to give Liberty, or let me be in his Houfe, than before; fo 
 that Things look'd a little harder : But as I had not read the A6t for a long 
 iTime, and not remembering tlie Tenor ot it, thought there muft be fomething 
 in it to juftify their Proceedings, or elfe they would not have done it ; and fu 
 was refigned in my Mind to fubmit to it for the Truth's Sake, and was very 
 eafy, being in more Danger of too deep a Refentment of their bafe and wicked 
 Ufage of me, than of repining at the Lofs of my Liberty •, for I had a View of 
 fome Things to employ my Time in, which would have made my Confinement 
 much more uneafy to the Bifliop (who now I faw, and fo did every Body there, 
 to be the Author of all this Perfecution upon us) than to me-, for the Lord 
 was with me. Alter fome Time the Serjeant came into the Room, (for we let 
 the Door be open on purpofe) and ferved me with the Warrant : but the She- 
 riff faid, I fhould not go out of his Houie that Night however, come on't what 
 would-, and fo I ftaid there: But the Truth arifing in me, I obferved the In- 
 dignation thereof againft the Bifhop, but no Enmity in me againft liim as a Man ; 
 and, after a little inward Concern that way, I fent for the Aft, and read it care-, 
 fully, and faw they were all quite miftaken : for the Aft had no Relation to us, 
 or our Meetings or preaching ; but to themfelves, the Priefts and Bifiiops only : 
 
 F'or
 
 of T BO M A S ST RT. ;^7 
 
 For after the coming in of King Charles II. there were many Priefts, who, in 0- A n n d 
 /wifr's Days, had been in the Benefices, (the Bone of Contention they ever ftrive 1716. 
 for) and, finding the Sweet of them, would fain have held them, and yet could 
 not readily fwallov/ the Common Prayer and Services of the others, which they 
 had furioudy oppofed and rejcfted fo lately before, till this Law forced them ; 
 which they generally complied with, rather than lofe their Gains: which refpeft- 
 cd only their own Priefts, to bring them all to one Scantling, or Uniformity of 
 Prayers and Worfhip, or Image of it •, but concern'd no other. 
 
 Then, after a while, I told the Sheriff it was falfe Imprifonment, and defi- 
 red him and others to take down in Writing what Time I was arrefted, becaufe 
 there might be occafion for their F.vidcncc. The Sheriff feemed a little furpri- 
 zed at it, that the great Bifliop and his Counfcllors fhould mifs it fo far ; but took 
 Account of the Time. 
 
 That Night I had a ftrong Exercifc in my Spirit, and chiefly with the im- 
 perious Spirit of this Diotrophian Bifhop ; but, in the Night, faw and felt him 
 fully overthrown, and laid under Chains of Darknefs to the Coming of the Great 
 Day of G o D, and his Judgment and Doom let and fixed : Then I was pretty 
 eafy and tell afleep. 
 
 The next Morning before I arofe^ (for I laid till Eight, being a little fatigued) 
 feveral Friends had been with the Judges, and they had given their Thoughts 
 freely how much this v;as againft the Mind of the Government to difturb our 
 Meetings; and did not doubt but this would do us Service in the End : How- 
 ever, they advifed, that feeing how Times flood, (the Talk of an Invafion by 
 the Swedes not being over, and that Town a dangerous Place to be in Prifon in) 
 if the Bifhop would fet me at Liberty, they would have chufed that rather : But 
 I had heard nothing of this ; nor would Friends give any ear more than I to 
 make any Application to the Bifhop: for that he wanted. 
 
 About Nine in the Morning, whilfl I was at Breakfaft, came the fame Ser- 
 jeant that arrefted me, with a Mefliige from the Mayor, that he had taken up the 
 Warrant and Mittimus, and I was at Liberty to go where I pleafed, if I would 
 accept of it. I told the Serjeant, " He ought to fend me a Liberate under his 
 " Hand and Seal -, and not think I was wholly at his Difpofal, to tofs in and out 
 " of Prifon as he pleafed, but had my Remedy by Law againft him and them 
 " who had ufed me thus." 
 
 Then alio came feveral Military Officers to fee me, and exprefs'd their great 
 Diflike in their foldiery Way •, fome of them, among themfelves, drinking 
 Healths to King George, and all his loyal Subjects, and Damnation to the Pope 
 and all Rebels : But I difcountenanced that, faying, we did not wifh Hurt to 
 the Souls or Bodies of any, though we were greatly engaged to love and ho- 
 nour the King, and be thankful to God, as we truly were, for the Liberty we 
 enjoy'd under him. " In all Places, faid one of the Officers, except in this Jaco- 
 " bite Popifli Town of Kilkenny, with whom we hope to be even ere long, for 
 " all their Affronts to the King and Government." 
 
 A LITTLE after this came the Mayor himfclf to my Lodging, to tell me I 
 was at Liberty ; for he had taken up the Mittimus, and deffroyed it. I then 
 told him, " Since that Violence, by which my jufl Liberty had been obftrufted, 
 " was removed, it was now returned into its own natural Courfe, and if I could 
 " find it confifling with what I profefs'd, I fliould confider of Ways and Means 
 " how to do myfelf Juflice againfl fuch violent and illegal Proceedings ; but as 
 
 "it
 
 S6S 
 
 Anno 
 1716. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 " it was a Wrong done me for the Sake of my Religion, 1 miglit probably beax it 
 " with Patience for that Reafon ; being fenfible enough of the Advantages I had 
 " of my Enemies." He made very little Reply, but civilly departed. 
 
 After this I went to feveral Places in Town, to take Leave of fuch of the 
 Magiftrates as had been friendly -, for all the King's Friends were fo, and fome 
 Papifts were troubled, as working no good for them by theie Proceedings. 
 Truth was honoured, and gained by all this-, and the Eyes of many were open- 
 ed to fee the Bifhop, and his Spirit and Party, and what many might exped:, if 
 he and they fliould prevail ; and many Tongues were let loofe, after their feveral 
 Ways, to fpeak their Sentiments : By all which our Perfecutor and Perfecutors 
 greatly loft Ground, and fell clear Ihort of their wicked Defigns. 
 
 But, before I departed the City, 1 met with Robert Connel, the peevifti Tool 
 of this proud Bifliop, and told him I was at Liberty; which he pretended to be 
 furprized at : But I told him, " If I had ftaid longer, fome of you might have 
 " had the more to pay; for it was falfe Imprifonment, the Adl you went upon 
 " being about your own Priefts." He defired me to go to his Houfe, being near, 
 and fee the Aft. I told him I had feen it already. Then faid he, " I have as 
 " good Counfil as any in Ireland., that fays it does affcft you." I replied, " I 
 " will debate it with all the Counfil in Ireland, that it has no Relation to us 
 " at all." Then he wifhed me well, when he could do me no more Hurt ; and 
 fo I left him. 
 
 That Afternoon, about Three, I left the Town, moft Friends being gone, 
 feeing the Thing at an End, and went that Evening home with Jofepb Firth to 
 BallinakilL 
 
 Eailinakill. 
 
 Mountrath. 
 
 Mountmel- 
 lick. 
 
 The next Day, the 1 9th, we had a Meeting there ; which was not large, 
 but a good open Meeting, the Lord being near to comfort and refrefh us af- 
 ter fo much Fatigue ; for many Friends from Places round had come to vifit me- 
 in my Confinement, and Ibme or other always with me, and feveral from this 
 Place. The Earl oi Dcnnegal was in this Meeting, and behaved more foberly 
 than he had ever done before ; being apt to be reftlefs and troublefome at fome 
 other Times. That Afternoon I went home with John Harris, at Mountrath ; 
 who had been feveral Times with me at Kilkenny ^ and now feen the Conclufion. 
 
 On the 2 ift was their Meeting Day, the Fifth of the Week : It was a large 
 open Meeting, many of the Neighbourhood, Papifts and others, being there ; and 
 a good Time the Lord gave us together. 
 
 On the 23d 1 went to Mountmellick, lodging at the Widow Mary Beal's ; 
 and next Day had a Meeting there in the Forenoon, which confifted moftly of 
 Friends, and was not very open ; but larger in the Afternoon, fome of the Neigh- 
 bourhood coming in, which I generally obferved frefhens Meetings ; and many 
 Things were opened in the Authority of Truth, to Edification, Confirmation 
 and Comfort. 
 
 1717. 
 Dublin. 
 
 Here I tarried till the 26th-, and, in the Afternoon, fet forward for Dublin., 
 That Night I only reached Kildare, and the next Day arrived iafe in Dublim 
 where I was kindly received, and lodged at my old Quarters, with my Friend 
 Jmos Strettle, and was at the Meeting the Sixth Day following, the 29th : It 
 was a frelh and open Meeting, and we were comforted together in the Truth ; 
 which, as the Heavens tranfcend the Earth, exceedeth all other Enjoyments. 
 
 Hearing
 
 of T H M A S ST O R T. 5-69 
 
 hearing of a Veflel going for Cbcjler, and I intending for the Yearly Meeting Anno 
 at that Place, took timeiy Care to I'ecure my Paflage in it ; but the Wind not 1717- 
 anfwering, I ftaid there till the Firft Day following, the 31ft. The Meetings 
 were very large, efpecially ax. Sycamore-Alley in the Afternoon -, where came toge- 
 ther a great Concourfe of People, hardly a greater Meeting fecn there : and 
 Things were open and well, and the bleifed Truth over all ■, who is worthy 
 above all for ever. 
 
 The Wind continuing contrary, I ftaid ftill at Dublin^ and was at their Third 
 Day Meeting ; where I had fome Time, Things opening to many States very 
 clofe; and I came away very eafy, leaving the better fort under good Satisfac- 
 tion. Many came to fee me before I went off; and, among others, Captain 
 Smith. He had been in Military Offices ; bur, being under fome Convincement, 
 was at that Time under great inward Struggles: for, having a Commiflion for 
 being a Captain of Dragoons then offered him, he would gladly have fecn it 
 lawful for him, and confiiling with Truth, to accept the Commiffion, and fell it, 
 not intending to aft by it ; bur, upon fome private Difcourfe with him, he was 
 more ftraitened about it, and was very tender and humble ; and we parted in 
 Love and Friendfliip, he owning his Satisfaftion in that Conference. 
 
 Having finifhed my Vifit in Ireland, on the 4th Day of the Second Month» 
 1 71 7, being the Fifth of the Week, accompanied by feveral Friends, T fet off 
 from Dublin Bay about the Second Flour in the Afternoon, with a fair and frefli 
 Gale about Weft -, and the next Day, about the fame Time, arrived at Park- 
 gate, on Chefter River, but went not on Shore till the Evening, (the Waves be- 
 ing high on the Beech) and ftaid at an Inn there till next Morning; and then 
 went up to Chejier, and lodged at the Golden Talbot, an Inn. 
 
 On the 7th, being the Firft of the Week, and the Day before the Yearly Meet- Chefter. 
 ing for the North, we had a Meeting in the Meeting-houfe in the Morning, 
 which was not large but pretty good ; and Notice being given therein of ano- 
 ther Meeting to be in the Afternoon, in a large Place called the Tennis Court, 
 (being the Place provided for the Yearly Meeting) it was held accordingly, and 
 was much larger and opener than that in the Forenoon, and in a good meafure 
 made way for further Service. 
 
 The Day following we held our Meeting of Miniftering Friends, which was 
 pretty large, there being fome of both Sexes from Ireland, Cumberland, JVefi- 
 moreIa',idi Lancajhire, Chejhire, TorkJInre, Hartfcrdjhire, Wales, &;c. 
 
 The next Day the publick Yearly Meeting was begun in the Forenoon, and 
 was very large and open, that great fpacious Place being crowded, with two 
 Galleries alfo erefted for that Purpofe, as likewife a large upper Room, with 
 Windows opening into the Court, where were Military Officers and fome others ; 
 who, tho' willing to hear and fee, did not think it fafe or proper to be in the 
 Meeting, with regard to fome Laws then in Force, which might have affefted 
 fome of them. The Lord appeared with us, to the Glory of his own Name, 
 and Com.fort of his People, and to the general Satisfaftion of moft People there ; 
 for there were prefent of moft forts and Sefts in the Nation : And in the After- 
 noon it was crowded alfo, fo that many could not get in ; though fome Con- 
 ftables, who attended without, kept out the bafcr fort of the Rabble and Children, 
 who are apt to take up Room, and make Difturbance in fuch Cafes. 
 
 The next Morning fome feleft Friends and Elders had a Meeting of Confe- 
 rence about the Affairs of Truth, enquiring of one another how it profpered in 
 
 7 E thejr
 
 1717. 
 
 Rixham. 
 
 Delobran. 
 
 T/je LIFE, &c. 
 
 their feveral Qiiarters ; where fome comfortable and encouraging Accounts were 
 oiven : That Afternoon there was another publick Meeting, where was fuppoled 
 to be near Four thoufand People ; and Things were well, and Truth over all, 
 to general Satisfaftion, and the Glory of our great Lord i whofe Honour, 
 and°the Good of his People, and of Mankind in general, is what we aim at 
 in all thefe Things. That Evening the Meeting ended, we having increafed 
 from Time to Time, both in Number and Opennefs -, the People being more 
 and more ready to hear, and feveral were convinced, fo as to come to Meetings, 
 and own Truth openly. 
 
 Intending hence, tlirough ff-'aks, to the Yearly Meeting at Bripl, I went 
 next Day, the nth, with Sarah Lloyd, (Wife of Charles Lloyd oi Delobran) and 
 her Son and Daughter, to Rixham. That Night I lodged with my Friend John 
 James ; who received me kindly. 
 
 O N the 1 2th I had a Meeting appointed there •, which was not large, for want 
 of due Notice ; but many Things opened full and large, and the People were 
 much fatisfied : and fuch as heard of the Meeting were troubled they were not 
 there, when the Report of it went among them. I ftaid that Night there again, 
 being too late to reach Delobran ; where we went the next Day, about twenty four 
 Miles. 
 
 On the 14th I was there at their Firft Day Meeting ; which was not large, 
 but pretty open; and, on tiie i6th, was at their Monthly Meeting. 
 
 O N the 1 7th Charles Lloyd accompanied me to New-Toivn, in the County of 
 Montgomery. Montgomery ; where we had a Meeting appointed, which was fmall, but pretty 
 open, fome of the People being reached and affefted with Truth, Things open- 
 ing full and clear, and the L o r o vouchlafing to vifit us together. The Yearly 
 Meetins; of Wales has fome time been here -, but no fettled Meeting in die 
 
 Place. 
 
 That Night we lodged at an Inn in the fame Town. 
 
 Laneedlefs. 
 
 Radnor. 
 
 O N the 1 8th we had another Meeting appointed eight Miles further at La- 
 needlefs, and kept at an Inn. It was fmall, and, in the Beginning of it, hard ; 
 but better in the End, fome Perfons of Account being there, and fome of them 
 much broken. That Night we lodged there at the fame Inn. 
 
 O N the 19th we went fome Miles out of our Way to vifit our ancient Friend 
 Edward Jones. That Evening we went to Evan Hughes's., about four Miles from 
 New-Radnor, and there lodged. 
 
 O N the 20th I fent to appoint a Meeting at Radnor ; where the Yearly 
 Meeting was to be the Week following, in the Place intended for it -, which was 
 in a Barn belonging to the Prieft of the Parifli, which he had granted to Friends 
 for that Service : A rare Inftance of Condefcenfion in a Man of his Funftion ! 
 But being a moderate, good-natured Man, when they made their Requeft, he 
 faid, " Since we preached Christ, and endeavoured to reform the People, 
 " and aim'd at the Honour of G od, he could not refufe it, though he expefted 
 " Cenfure for it from his own People." 
 
 The firft Meeting on the 21ft was not large-, but pretty open, confidering 
 the State of the People, ignorant of the Way of Truth, and made way for lar- 
 ger Gatherings ; for Things had opened plain and full, and a Good-liking begot 
 in feveral, who gave a good Report to their Neighbours. That Night we 
 lodged there at an Inn. 
 
 0\-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. sii 
 
 On the 22d, being the Second of the Week, we went aboirt four Miles to Anno 
 fee the Widow Price (an ancient Friend) and her Family i where we met with 1717. 
 fome other Friends, and ftaid there that Night. 
 
 O N the 23d we returned from thence to Radnor: For, hearing that the Coun- 
 try People about had miftakcn our Yearly Meeting-day, (expefting it to be on 
 the Third, which was alfo their Market-day at Radnor) left any lliould be dif- 
 appointed, we appointed a Meeting in the Afternoon, on purpofe to anfwer them ; 
 and it was very full and large, and of good Service: for the People being raw, 
 and a little rude, efpecially the meaner fort, they were a litcle cultivated and fet- 
 tled by it, and the better prepared for the following Meetings. This Meeting 
 we held in the Town-hall •, for fome of the Magiftrates, hearing we had the 
 Barn, and that it was too little and incommodious, were fo fivourable as to give 
 us fome private Hints that we might have the Hall for the Service, if applied 
 for : and it was accordingly granted us. 
 
 On the 24th began our Yearly Meeting-, which proved fo large that the 
 Hall was too little, there coming feveral People of Note, and a great Concourfe 
 from divers Places •, and a good Time the Lord gave us, for his blefied Power 
 was over all, and honoured : But in the Afternoon there was two Meetings, one 
 at each Place, and both full and well. 
 
 On the 25th the Meeting for Bufinefs was in the Forenoon, and at the fame 
 Time a Meeting for Worfliip at the Barn •, whicli was large and full, and fer- 
 viceable, keeping the People together, and off from our other Meetings j artd 
 there were fome Magiftrates in hearing, though they were not \\\ the Place, the 
 Laws prohibiting them. That Afternoon, being our laft and parting Meeting, 
 it was in the Hall, and very full, and ended well. 
 
 After this Meeting a certain Widow Lady, who, with divers others of fuperi- 
 or Rank, had been in the Meetings, and well fatisfied in the main, defired fome 
 Conference with me, for further Satisfaftion, about the Refurreflion, and what 
 we held in that great Point: For I had gone through moft Points in that Creed, 
 commonly, though not juftly, afcribedto the Apoftles-, but fhe only mentioned 
 that of the Refurreftion, owning the Thing in general. She was a grave elderly 
 Perfon, religious, and apprehenfive : And I being willing to inform her, I ftated 
 the Matter thus, viz. 
 
 "In order to open this Myftery to thy Satisfadion, let me firfbftate and fettle 
 " the Terms. Fzr/?, Of Death, as it is applicable to the laying down, putting 
 " off, or departing out of thefe mortal Bodies. 2^/y, As applicable to the Mind, 
 ••' or Soul dwelling therein. And Q,dly^ Of the Refurreftion of both, and how 
 " applicable. 
 
 " By the Death of the Body, I mean the Ceflation or Departure of the Soul 
 " out of it i by which it is left in a State of Corruption and Diftblution, as we 
 " fee by common and daily Experience. And though the Soul is of a fpiritual 
 " Nature, and immortal, as to her Duration, yet mortal, or corruptible, as to 
 *« her true Life and primitive State ; being capable of lofing it by her own Adt, 
 " and of departing from her firft State of Innocency and Virtue, and yet living 
 " in an animal and fenfual Mode. And this laft being of the higheft Confe- 
 " quence, and rightly underftood and fettled, makes Way for the underftand- 
 *' ing of what may be needful in the other, I fhall firft proceed upon it. For 
 " the better underftanding of what I call the Death of the Soul, I confider her 
 " firft State of Life, and what that was. Man in his firft State, as to his Soul, 
 
 or
 
 57^ The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno "or Mind, was innocent, righteous, and truly holy, in the Image of God: 
 1717. " For as G o D is the holy, righteous, juft, and true G o d, fo Adam was a holy, 
 " righteous, innocent, juft, and true Man •, and as G o d is a Spirit, fo was Mam 
 " fj^ritually minded: but as to his Body, it was of the fame Mould and Form 
 " of other Men, his Pofterity and Offspring. In this State the Life of the di- 
 " vine Word, and Son of God, was the Light and Law of the Life of Man, 
 " his Guide and Rule •, through which Word God gave unto Man a Law 
 " of Abftinence from the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, 
 
 Gen. ft. 1 7. " annexing this Threat and fure Prophecy, that m the Day thou eateft thereof _ thou 
 '■'■ f/ialt furely die. So long as Man continued in the Faith and Belief of this 
 " Word, he remained in his firft State ; but as he departed from his Faith there- 
 " in , and believed another Voice (viz of the Evil One) then he died : But how ? 
 " Not a bodily Death -, for he continued in the Mode of his Being, as to that, 
 " according to its firft Intention, living 900 and odd Years, and begot Sons and 
 " Daughters ; but as to his Soul, though that is not fo mortal as to be fubjed 
 " to the Diffolution of the Mode of its Being, as the Body is, yet departing from 
 " the Law and Life of the divine Word, fo remains in a State of Separation 
 " from that Life ; which, after its kind, is a Death unto it, and expofes it 
 " to real and everlafting Mifery. And this may be further colleded from fome 
 " other Scriptures; as, 
 
 John xi. 25, " 17?, Where Christ, who is that Word, faid unto Martha, I am the 
 26. " Refurrc£fion and the Life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet Jhall 
 
 " he live ; and he that liveth and believeth, pall never die. 
 
 " And, zdly, where the Apoftle faith. We v:ho were fometimes dead in Tref- 
 ^ ■ "■ ' " pajfes and Sins, us hath he quickened. 
 
 "In the firft Part of this Saying of C H r i s t, the ^\'ord Life is explanatory 
 " of the Word Refurre£lion, that Life being the Caufe and Power of it, and 
 " muft intend a Refurreftion from the fame Death here intended ; which could 
 " not be of the Body, but of the Soul, or Mind of Man, in a State of Death in 
 " the Body : For thefe Words, He that believeth in me, though he were dead yet 
 " JImU he live, intend a Capacity and Poflibility of Faith in the interim, and fame 
 " Time of this Death ; which a State of Death, and Difiblution of the Body, 
 " will not allow : for Man is then gone paft a State of Faith, or beginning to be- 
 " lieve to Salvation, and concluded lor ever under the EiFedts of his Faith or 
 " Unbelief whilft here below : And not only fo, but the Life here fpoken of is 
 
 John vii. 5S. " intended as an immediate Confequence of that Faith, as where he alfo faith. He 
 " that believeth in me, out of his Belly floall flow Rivers of living Water; and this 
 " fpoke he of the Spirit, which they that were to believe fhould receive, fignifying 
 " the Abundance of the Life of the divine Word to be made manifeft in all true 
 
 V. 26. " Believers. And thefe Words, He that liveth and believeth fhall never die, 
 
 " cannot be intended of a natural Life, or any Life, to continue a Believer 
 " for ever here, or give him a Tranflation into Glory without a natural Death : 
 " For the Apoftles and Primitives were all then alive, and they all believed, 
 " and yet all died a natural Death ; yea Lazarus, though once railed from the 
 " Dead by the Power of the Refurredlion, hath again paid the common Debt 
 " appointed of God to all Men. Have the Words and Doftrines of C h r i s t 
 " therefore failed ? No, they are true for ever -, but not in a natural Senfe : 
 " For, though the Saints and juft Ones of God are departed this Life, they 
 *' are alive in God, through the Work and Mediation of him whom God 
 " hath fent to quicken the Dead, having believed and obeyed, and obtained 
 " eternal Life, in and through the fame divine Word, whom Adam disbelie- 
 
 ^ ving
 
 of THOMAS STORT. s^ 
 
 *' ving and difobeying, fell from, into Death, and all the Miferies attending that Anno 
 " unhappy Condition. ^7^7- 
 
 *' And this Refurredlion, as I have obferved, is alfo expreffed in thefe Words 
 " of the Apoftle, as a Thing already attained, We who were fometimes dead in Eph.xi. i. 
 *' Trefpajfes and Sins, us hath he quickened. Awake to Rlghteoufnefs, and Jin not. ' *"°'^' ^^' 34' 
 " Js Jefiis Chrijl was raifed up by the Glory (or Power) of the Father, fo alfo are 
 *' we raifed to Newnefs of Life. 'The Life which I now live is by Faith in the Son Rom. vi. 4, 
 " of God. The Faith of the Operation of G o d, which works by Love, wrought 
 " by him the Word of Faith, even the ingrafted Word which createth a-new 
 " unto good Works, and is able to fave the Soul. 
 
 " Now, as to the Refurreftion of the Body, we have never found that fo 
 " much our Concern to inculcate ir, being generally received already by the 
 " ProfefTors of Ch ri st in every Nation; but oppofing fome carnal Notions 
 " of ignorant Men about it, and others being intereil:ed againft us, as Enemies 
 " to their filthy Gain and Ways, have falfly accufed us as Deniers of the Re- 
 " furredtion of the Dead : whereas we believe the Refurreftion of the Dead, 
 " both of the Juft and Uniuft : But as to that forward and foolifli Queftion, 
 " How are the Bead raifed, and with what Bodies do they come? as fecret iCor.xv. 35, 
 '*' Things belong to G o d, fo we do not prefume to explain it, or anfwer other 3 • 
 
 " than the Holy Scriptures have iaid ; but are fatisfied in this, that God gi- 
 *' veth it a Body as pleafeth hira, and to every Seed his own ; and are rather in 
 " the firft Place concerned how to attain the Refurredion of the Juft, and Right 
 " Hand of the Father, tlirough the Life of him who is the Refurredion and 
 " the Life, than to gratify a Luft of Knowledge of divine Myfteries, rather per- 
 " taining to another State, than fully underftood, or to be at all known by the 
 " Sons of Jdam, as fuch only, here in this World." To this Effed I laid Things 
 before her; and fhe anfwered, " That whilft we are low and carnally minded, 
 " we have Ideas and Apprehenfions accordingly -, and being ufed to thefe Bo- 
 " dies, and unacquainted with abftraded Ideas of fpiritual Beings, were tenaci- 
 " ous of bodily Appearances, till thefe Apprehenfions were removed by more 
 " divine Knowledge : For if in the Refurredion we are to be as the Angels of 
 " God, who are all miniftring Spirits, we fhall have a more excellent Mode 
 " of Being than we can eafily conceive in this Life, or can confift with any 
 " Corporeity of any material Form." And flie aflced me, " Have you read 
 " Mr Locke on that Subjed, who I think has done it well ?" I replied, " I have 
 " feen fome Part of what he wrote againft the Biftiop of JVorcefler, but never 
 *' read it all." What pafTed was to the mutual Satisfadion of ourfelves and fome 
 others in Company : But before fhe retired, I underftood flie had been fome- 
 times converfant with the Bifliops Burnet and Hoadley, and having a little Book 
 with me of the latter in Vindication of the Revolution, I prefented her with it v 
 and, after fome more Converfe on fome other Subjeds, (for ftie had a general 
 Underftanding) fhe took Leave and departed, feeming to be well pleafed, and 
 faying fhe believed we had been much mifreprelented in many Things. 
 
 We heard alfo, that there was a Dodor of Divinity in one of our Meetings 
 difguifed in a blue Coat ; but not of any Objedions made. He lived not 
 in that County, but fome Way diftant ; and fome thought he was atfeded with 
 fome Things that paffed in the Meeting. 
 
 U PON the whole it was a large open Meeting, and of great Service, as many 
 
 thought ; for Truth was over the People, and many were broken and tendered, 
 
 and Friends comforted in the TrutJi, an^l in one another in him ■> and the L or d 
 
 p had
 
 ^74 
 
 Anko 
 
 1717. 
 
 Haverford- 
 Weft. 
 
 James's- 
 Town. 
 
 Swangill. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 had due Praife From many humbled and watered Souls -, who alone is worthy 
 for ever. J-men. 
 
 On the 26th I fet forward for Haverford-TFeft, at Night lodging atNew-Iitnt 
 and next Day arrived there, and lodged at Lewis Mufgrave'%. 
 
 On the 28th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting; which 
 was not laro-e, and alfo heavy. The Matters which concerned my Mind in Silence, 
 were the Leaven of the Kingdom, and of the Fharifees ; their Difference in Na- 
 ture, Operation, and End •, and the different States of Souls at laft finally center- 
 ing in the one or the other. I had Comfort in the Lord, but not much in the 
 Meeting -, for fome Things were very fharp and plain to the States of feveral, 
 which I did not know how to apply to particular Perfons -, but had fome Hints 
 afterwards that Things fuited well. And, ilippofing the People would come in 
 more fully in the Afternoon, the Meeting was put off" till Four •, yet not large;, 
 there being little Concern in that Place for the Life of Religion, the Generality 
 being dead under dead Forms. 
 
 On the 30th I had another Meeting there at Four in the Afternoon, being 
 willing to try them farther -, that was alfo fmall, and very heavy in the Be- 
 ginning -, bi'.t ended a little more lively : Alfo, by the Exercife of my Mind, 
 I found Things at a very low Ebb among them, as to the Life and Nature of 
 Truth i but fome alive. That Day and the next I ftaid there, being a little 
 weary with my Journey ; but for the moft part under an inward Heavinefs, and 
 had little fpiritual Comiort. 
 
 On the 2d of the Third Month, being the Fifth of the Week, I had a Meet- 
 ing at James' s-Town ; which was fmall, but pretty well. That Evening I went 
 about two Miles back, for Conveniency of Lodging, to James Scoaie's ; who 
 next Morning went with me to a Village on the Sea Coaft, called Laigbren ; where 
 we had a Meeting that Evening. It was fmall, but more lively than any of the 
 former in thofc Parts. 
 
 On the 4th I went to Sivan^; where I was kindly entertained by Sylvanus 
 Bevan ; and next Day, the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting. In the 
 Forenoon it was not large, nor very open ; but larger and more open in the Af- 
 ternoon ; yet fome heavy Thing lay at Bottom. 
 
 I STAID there the Day following, and had another Meedng in the Evening 
 at his Brother's Houfe •, which was much more open, there being feveral People 
 
 there, and in hearing about the Houfe. 
 
 Bridgend. 
 
 O N tlie 7th I came to a Village called Bridgend, and that Evening had a Meet- 
 ing at the Houfe of Fluelling Jenkins^ a Friend ; who lately fettlino- there a- 
 mong a profefTing People, had fometimes litde Meetings, and many came in. 
 Things opened much about the Light of the Gentiles, and againft that pernici- 
 ous Dodfrine of Predeftination ; by which their Foundation was much fliaken, 
 and fome convinced •, which I hope will ftand : This made amends for fome hard 
 Times in JVafes before. Truth came over the Meeting in general ; and thouo-h 
 feveral Presbyterian Elders were there, no Objeftion was made that I heard of. 
 This was a good Meeting, to the Praife and Glory of Go d, and Comfort of 
 feveral. 
 
 Trieverig. ^^ the 8th I went forward to Trieverig, to my old Friend Johi Sevan's 
 
 Houfe,
 
 of T H O M A S ST O RT. sis 
 
 Hoiife, with whom I had been well acquainted in Penfylvania. He received me An v o 
 kindly, and the Day following I was at their Meetings which was fmall, but 171 7. 
 pretty open, and fome People well fatisfied in feveral Points. 
 
 On the loth he went with me (though above 80 Years of Age) to Ponta- Pontapool. 
 pool, about 16 Miles, and that Evening we had a Meeting among a few Friends 
 there ; whicli was open and comfortable. He (poke in IVelJh ; and thoucrh I 
 underftood not the Language, yet was much comforted in the Truth all the 
 Time ; by which I perceived his Miniftry was from that Ground. His Speech 
 flowed very free and fmooth, carrying a Proportion and Satisfaftion to the Ear, 
 not eafily exprefs'd : For though the Languages of Men differ very greatly, yet 
 the Language of Truth, as to the Comfort of it, is one in all Nations ; but the 
 Matters receive various Forms as the Languages differ. 
 
 I STAID here till the 12th, being the Firfl: of the Week; and the Meet- 
 ing being at Pontamoylt\ I walked thither, about half a Mile, with my Land- Pontamoyle. 
 lord Elijha Beadle, &c. In the Forenoon the Meeting was pretty large and 
 open, fome of the People coming in ; but in the Afternoon was much larger, 
 and clear both to Friends and People, to pretty general Satisla6lion ; and I was 
 very eafy, the good Prefence of G o d feafoning our Flearts together. 
 
 O N the 13th I pafTed over the Severn, and fell in tliat Night at the Houfe of 
 Nathan Sturges, about four Miles from Thortihiiry, intending only to enquire Thombury. 
 the Way of him thither -, but he finding out who I was, gave me a kind Invi- 
 tation to Hay with him that Night ; which I did. The next Day he went with 
 me to Thornhury Meeting; which v/as as large as could well be for the Time, 
 and very open ; and I was greatly comforted in the Love of Truth, both then, 
 and all the Time I ftaid at T". Thurftonh after. That Evening I went on to- 
 wards Frenchay, to Abraham Lloyd'?, ; where I lodged that Night. 
 
 The 15th was their Meeting-day; and Notice being given that John Eve- Frenchay. 
 ret and Patrick llcnderfon would be there from Brijtol, (who came accordingly) 
 it was a little larger on that Account ; but Ihut up and heavy to us all from fome 
 unknown Caufe, but yet not quite dead. That Evening I went to my former 
 Lodgings, at my Friend Erice IFebb's at Brijtol. 
 
 O N the 1 7th I was at their Meeting ; which was a little larger than ufual, Briftol. 
 becaufe of feveral Strangers come to the approaching Yearly Meeting ; which 
 began the fecond Day after. 
 
 The 19th, being the Firfl of the Week, the Meeting was very large, both 
 Forenoon and Afternoon ; and the L o r d was near, and many reached by his 
 blefled Truth. 
 
 O N the 20th was the Meeting of miniftring Friends ; where were fome from 
 divers Parts, and much Counfel opened in the Wildom and Power of Truth 
 among us, to our mutual Edification and Comfort. 
 
 On the 21ft, in the Forenoon, was the publick Meeting of Worfhip; which 
 was very large and open. In the Afternoon was the Men and Womens' Meet- 
 ings a-part, for Conference and Enquiry into Affairs of Truth ; and Things 
 were in a good way in the main. 
 
 On the ,2 2d, being the Fourth of the Week, was the Parting-meeting; 
 
 which
 
 ^76 
 
 Anno 
 1717. 
 
 Bath. 
 
 Cirencefter. 
 
 Farrington. 
 
 Bifhop's- 
 Tovvn. 
 
 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 which was very full and open, and the Lord's bleffed Power came over all, 
 to general Edification, and great Comfort of many Souls ; and the Lord, as 
 is only due, had Praife in exalting his own Name and Glory. Amen. 
 
 O N the 24th I was at their Week-day Meeeting again •, which was alfo a 
 comfortable Meeting, and I came away in great Peace and Love with all Friends. 
 
 O N the 2 ^th I went to Bath, accompanied by my Landlord IVebb and his 
 Wife, and lodged at l^homas Cingles's. 
 
 On the 26th I was at the Meeting there, both Forenoon and Afternoon. It 
 was large both Times, efpecially the latter ; for they faid it had not been much 
 larger tt any Time, and hardly ever fo quiet in that Place ; for being a Re- 
 fort of fuch a Mixture of People, they ufed often to be rude, but were now very 
 ftill ; and a comfortable and a very good Time we had, and ended very weighty 
 and folid. 
 
 On the 27th (to fliorten my Journey, and pay my Regards to fome Friends 
 I expei5led there) I went to Nail/worth ; where I ftaid that Night. Patrick Hen- 
 derfon, and fome others meeting me there, we went together the Day following 
 to the Qiiarterly Meeting at Cirencefter. The Meeting was not large, confider- 
 ino- the Extent of it, nor very open -, yet in the main well and edifying : But one 
 Thing I obferved very unufual, and not of good Confequence -, for in their Meet- 
 ing for Bufmefs, fome introduced a Letter, direfted to the Meeting, from a Per- 
 fon who intended to ftand Candidate to ferve as a Member of Parliament for the 
 County of Gloucefter, or to folicit for fome Friendof his that way. It was read in 
 the Meeting, purporting as aforefaid, and in a friendly Stile, well adapted to the 
 Intent. I obferved fome of the younger fort to be much tickled and pleafed 
 with it ; but the wifer fort were not fo. Then finding a Concern on my Mind 
 to caution the Meeting, I told them, " That the Apoftle Paul, on a certain Oc- 
 " cafion, made ufe of a i?«;M7; Privilege, on account of ReHgion ; and I thought 
 " it was not unlawful for fuch among us, who had native ErigUjh Privileges, to 
 " ufe them according to their true Intent : But as our Meetings are altogether 
 " of another kind, refpefting Religion and the Worfhip of God only, and fuch 
 " Things as relate thereunto, and not Matters of human Policy or State, it might 
 " be of ill and dangerous Confequence many ways to introduce fuch Things 
 " or Precedents there, or in any of our Meetings ; but rather let fuch Things 
 " be concerted by Particulars concerned, with fuch Perfons as they thought 
 " moft proper for Reprefcntatives in that Station, having regard to the Integrity 
 " and Abilities of the Perfon, and a publick Good." Several fell in with this, 
 and the reft were filent ; and all ended in Peace. That Night Patrick Hender- 
 fcn and I went home with John Sellers. 
 
 On the 29th, at Four in the Afternoon, we had a Meeting at Farrington ^ 
 which was fmall and heavy in the Fore-part, but ended pretty well. That Night 
 we lodged at Thomas Withers^ there. 
 
 O N the 30th we had a Meeting at BiJJjop^ s-Town, in a Barn, where fome of the 
 Town's People came in ; but, to me, the Meeting was very dull and dead a 
 long Time : and after fome Friends had fpoke what was in their Minds, the 
 Meeting was filent a while, and then I flood up and told them, " That there 
 " had not been more Mifchief done among the Children of Men by any one 
 " Thing, in moft Ages of the World, than by Mens' running in the Name of 
 " G o D, as his Mefiengers, when he did not fend them ; who not only did not
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 577 
 
 " profit the People at all, as fct forth in the 23d Chapter of Jeremiah, hut t!icl Anno 
 
 " much Hurt by mifguiding them : And though it might look ftrange to fomc ' 7' 7- 
 
 " that a Meeting being appointed, and the People invited, that I faid nothing-, 
 
 " yet as no Confidcration arifing that way ought to prevail with me ro run in 
 
 " my own Will, to fpeak of the Things of God among them; fo it might 
 
 " be better, both for them and me, I were filent, than do it: For though the 
 
 " Apoftle was come to fo clear a Diflinftion in himfelf, as to be able to fliy, 
 
 " This fay I, and not the Lord; and again, Thus faith the Lord, and not I: i Cor. vii. 
 
 " this /, without the Lord, having in many others done fo much Hurt, I '2- 
 " would rather at that Time hazard their Cenfure, and what might follow from 
 " thence, than be too bufy with the Things of God where he did not concern 
 *' me: For though, the Day before, and many other Times, I had beeu rightly 
 " concerned from the Lord ; yet it did not follow that I might employ my- 
 " felf that Day when the Lord did not fir me, and require it at my Hand, 
 " left, inftead of Comfort, I fliould procure Reproof from him ; and, in 
 " feeking my own Honour, difhonour the Lord, and fo become a Tranf- 
 " greffor :" And fo, recommending them to the Teachings of the Grace ot 
 G o d, I fat down for a little Time ; and tlien flood up, and faid, " I would not 
 " have any tliink I have fmote at any of my Brethren here who have been con- 
 " ccrned in the Meeting-, I have only fpokcn what was fimply with me, as relating 
 " to my prefcnt State." And being fet down again, I was broken in Spirit by 
 the Income ot the Love of Truth, which reached feveral •, and, in fome Time, I 
 was concerned in Prayer, and the Meeting ended well. That Night we went 
 about nine Miles with the Widow Vokins to her Houfe; where we lodged. 
 
 On the jift we came to Ncjubury, and had a Meeting there; which was Newbury 
 pretty large and open, and Things were comfortable. After the Meeting we 
 went to the next Village with the Widow Jane Stainton, where we tarried that 
 Night •, and the next Day, being the ift of the Fourth Month, went to Reading. 
 
 Those and their Pofterity, who had formerly feparated themfelves from 
 Friends at Reading, being, fince I was here laft Year, returned and become 
 one Meeting, I found it confiderably larger-, and, in the Morning, I was 
 much comforted in it, and had an open Time among them : but yet afterward 
 found a fecret Load ; which increafing till the Afternoon Meeting, remained 
 for fome Time -, but at length Truth came up, and in fome Degree dilperfed it, 
 being a dead and dark Power : and after that I had fome Time in the Meeting, 
 much about Predeftination and Baptifm, many People of different forts being 
 prefent, and generally quiet and brought under. One particular Pafiage concern- 
 ing Baptifm came thus, "jiz. " That could not be Water Baptifm mentioned in 
 " thefe Words, Go teach all Nations, baptizing them, &c. for if that had been Mat. x.xviu. 
 " Water Baptifm, and if theApoflles had had Power thereby to baptise with Wa- 
 " ter, and that Power and Commiffion devolvable on all fucceeding Minifters 
 " and Apoftles to the End of the World, then certainly upon all rather who 
 " were cotemporary with the twelve Apoftles : but the Apoftle Paul was an 
 " Apoftle, cotemporary with them, and not one whit behind the Chief of them, 
 " and yet Christ fent him not to baptize, but to preach the Gofpel; which ' Cor.i. 17. 
 " Gofpel was fufficient without Baptifm with Water, fince Repentance and 
 " Remiffion of Sins was to be preached in Christ's Name unto all Nations. 
 " If then it was no Commiffion to Paul, it was none to any other ; and fince 
 " he had no Power thereby to baptize with Water, none could fucceed him in 
 " any : So that all this Pretence to SuccefTion is vain and falfe ; and a Man m.ay 
 " be a true Minifter of C h r i s t, and thoroughly furniflied without it ; fince 
 *' the Subftance of the Gofpel, in a Minifter, is to twn them from Darknefs ta Aftsxxvi. i^. 
 
 7 G " Light,
 
 T78 
 
 Anno 
 1717. 
 
 Rufcomb. 
 
 London. 
 
 Hartford. 
 
 Hitchin. 
 
 Bolduck. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 " Light, and from the Tower of Satan unto God, who is Light-, and, in the 
 " People, to believe in that Light, v/alk in it, and obey it, and fo become 
 " Children of it, and Heirs of eternal Life, in him who is Heir of all Things, ^c."" 
 And fo I became much eafier, and was kindly received by Friends there of all 
 Deo-rees ■, all old Things being laid afide, and not once named among them, as 
 I had before advifed them, in the Mind and Wifdom of Truth ■, through which 
 I had been opened to that End the Year before. That Night I ftaid there at 
 my old Quarters. 
 
 N the 3d I went to Rufcomb, to fee our ancient and honourable Friend 
 PFHliam Penn, ftill remaining under the Effeds of a Fit of the Apoplexy, much 
 hurt as to his Memory and expreffive Faculty, but ftill living in the better Part. 
 I ftaid there that Night, and next Day returned to Reading to their Week- day 
 Meeting •, which was pretty comfortable: After dining with Robert Peacock (one 
 of the returned Friends) and his Family, I returned to Rufcomb; where I ftaid 
 till the 6th in the Morning, and went from thence, that Day, to London, to my 
 former Quarters. 
 
 The Yearly Meeting coming on, it was confiderably larger, and more peace- 
 able than for many Years paft : For thofe Friends who had fo much ftruggled 
 for the Affirmation (the common Occafion of Strife) having obtained their End, 
 were now quiet on that Side ; and thofe who could not forConfcience receive it, 
 continuing in Chriftian Patience, bore the Yoke willingly, though alone, and more 
 heavy than before, upon that Bottom were quiet : and befides, many fatisfied 
 Friends fympathizing with them, and the Intention of Solicitation for further 
 Eafe to the whole being kept on foot. Things were quiet. It was a crowding 
 Time ; and I rather being willing to be ftraitened, than to ftraiten any, fuffered 
 much in my Mind and Spirit, for want of Opportunity to clear myfelt •, there not 
 being, for the moft part, one Minute's Time between the End of one Teftimo- 
 ny and the Beginning of another, an Indecency I have ever didiked : however. 
 Things in the main were pretty comfortable. At the Meeting for Bufinefs (be- 
 ing requefted by the Meeting) I gave them a Relation of my Travels fince the 
 lalt Yearly Meeting -, which I obferved gave fome Satisfadion. 
 
 1 STAID fome fhort Time in the City after the Meeting, and was at fevera! 
 of the City Meetings ; where I found my Spirit more and more at Liberty whilft 
 I ftaid: But the Summer Time being fitteft for Travel, and having fome other 
 Places before me, I departed the City on the 2d of the Fifth Month ; and that 
 Night went to Hartford, and lodged with John Miles. 
 
 O N the 3d I was at a Yearly Meeting there -, which was pretty large and 
 open. 
 
 O N the 4th I went to Hitchin, and was at their Meeting that Day. Tlie Be- 
 ginning of it was very heavy and dull, a dead Spirit being over feveral •, but in 
 the End the Lord quickened us together, and the moft were comforted and 
 helped, and the reft reproved. That Night I lodged at the Widow burner's. 
 
 O N the 5th I was at a Yearly Meeting at Balduck ; which was pretty Jaro-e 
 and open -, but attended with a Spirit of Heavinefs in fome, though the Doc- 
 trines of Truth were clearly publifhed in the Authority and Wifdom oi it, by 
 feveral Brethren. 
 
 Lodging at John Izard' ^ I ftaid here till the 7th •, and, being the Firft of 
 
 the
 
 Of THOMAS S T RT. si^ 
 
 the Week, had a Meeting that Day at Royfton ; which was the largeft had been Anno 
 fcen there, and the greateft Patt not Friends. It was a very open good Meet- ^T^7- 
 ing, and many Things the Lord difclofed to general Information and Satis- Royfton; 
 fadion i and Friends were comforted together in our dear Saviour, and in a 
 Senfe of his frefli Vifitation to many. 
 
 This Night I lodged vj\t\\ Robert Izard, and next Day went to C«»2^nW^f Cambridge, 
 with him and fome other Friends. The Meeting of itfelf is fmall -, but what 
 feme Perfon or other had faid to the Scholars of me I know not, but many of 
 them came, fo as Friends had never feen the Hkc, and filled the Houfe above 
 Stairs and below, and many crowded without. They were generally wild and 
 wanton, their Countenances airy, talking, whifpering and laughing among 
 themfclves, and rude with the Women ; which obferving foon alter I went in, 
 and finding my Spirit over them, I laid to them, " Ye look like Gentlemen ; 
 " and if ye are, then behave accordingly : Be ftill, and if you hear any good 
 " Thing, make the befl Ufe of it-, but if you do not like it, then let it pafs 
 " for nothing with you: 'tis not impofed but offered." They were much 
 quieter for a Tmie. What I began upon was, fome Qualifications both in 
 Preacher and Hearer, neceflary in preaching the Gofpel : The Teacher, as the 
 Oracle of God, being qualified by him with Underftanding and Power, not ac- 
 quired by the Creature, but given and inlpired by the Creator ; and the Hearer 
 ought to be ftill, fedatc, and unprejudiced, free from Enmity and Paflion, that 
 taking Things into his Underftanding, he might judge aright ot what he heard: 
 And then proceeded to the Nature, End, and Advantage of true Silence, as com- 
 manded of G o D by the Prophet of old, and confifting alfo with a State of Glo- 
 ry in Heaven: with the Difference between outward and inward Silence-, the 
 former from 'VN'ords and Noifes, and the latter from all evil Thoughts, Imagina- 
 tions, and Defires ; where Sin has its Beginning in the Creature, fo as to be charge- 
 able with it in the Sight of God. Then Things opened clear concerning the 
 Law, both as given by Mofcs to the Jezvs, and alfo as written in the Heart by 
 Christ, the Mediator of the fecond and more excellent Covenant; and how 
 both Jcvj and Gentile became guilty before God, by the Breach of this Law, 
 to whom one Saviour Jesus Christ is fent: but under a twofold Admi- 
 niftration ; to the Jew, as born of the Virgin, according to G o d's Promife to 
 them; and, to the Gentile, as a Light and Covenant to the People: That 
 the Jezvs who received him in that Adminiftration, knew him alio in a greater, 
 by the Work of Regeneration, through v/hich they became the Children of G o d ; 
 but they that rejefted him, v/ere alio rejefted of God, as the main Body of 
 that People were, and have not been vifited any more, now near 1700 Years; 
 but remain as Monuments and Examples of the Severity of God upon all 
 the UnbeHeving and Difobedient : And that fo many of us the Gentiles as re- 
 jeft Chrift as he is Light, and fo promiled of G o d unto us for Salvation, are 
 alfo rejefted of him, and of the Father : But as all have finned, fo yet the 
 Love and Mercy of God is to all in Christ, to give them Grace by him; 
 that believing in him and obeying him, and the Teachings of his Grace, they 
 may be faved ; For, as he faid. Repentance and Remiffion of Sins mift hs preached Luke xxlv. 
 in my Name unto all Nations ; by which, as it appears, all at one Time or other 47- 
 want Repentance and Remifiion, through the Breach of the Law of God: 
 fo alfo it is plain, by the Holy Sciipturcs, that there are two Parts of Sin, as 
 v^'ell as a two- fold AdminifLraticMi of Christ. The one is the Adt, afted 
 acrainft the Law and Will of (jod •, and an Aft once done can never be undone to 
 all Eternity, but remains an Att for ever : the other is the Eftefb of that A61 in- 
 wardly in the Heart or Soul of him that afts Evil ; that is, the Stain, Polution, 
 or Defilement, and Death it effefts there : As C h r i s x faid, // is not that which Mat. xv. 1 1. 
 
 goeth
 
 ^8o The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno goeth into the Man that defies hint, hut that which proceedeth from him ; for out 
 1717. of the Heart proceed Murder, Fornication, &c. but C h r i s t being ofFered upon 
 the Ciofs, is a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World, fo far as they are 
 Ads ao-ainft the Law, but appHcable and efteflual only as Men believe in that 
 Light,'^and walk alfo in him •, that is, in obedience to the Rule of his Light 
 and Grace, inwardly made known and revealed : For, faith the Apoftle, If ye 
 
 I John i. 7. walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, then (that is, in that Cafe) ye have 
 Fellcivfljip one with miother, aiid the Blood of Jefus Chrifi, his Son, clean feth us 
 from all LTnrighteoufnefs. And this alfo fhews, that the Stain and Polution of 
 Sin is done away by the inward Appearance of Christ by his Holy Spirit. 
 
 Mal.iii. 2. 3. 7\nd again, as faith the Prophet Malachi, He fJmll fit as a Refiner and Purifier 
 of Silver; he fljall he as Fuller'' s Soap: all which fignifya perfcdl and thorough 
 cleanfing, as well as Pardon ; and without which cleanfmg. Men cannot enter 
 G o d's Kingdom, for there is no unclean Thing can enter there : — with many 
 other Things of great Lmportance, too long to be recoileded here. And 
 thoucrh at fome Times a Fit of Laughter would pafs ajs through their whole 
 Company, being a Thing of courfe among them, yet I perceived fome of them 
 very folid, and truly afFe6ted with Truth-, which filenced and quieted moft of 
 them before the Meeting ended : and in the main I was well fatisfied with the 
 Meeting, and fo alfo were Friends, who did not look too much at their Be- 
 haviour; which they rather do wagciiilily and wantonly, and as what fome of 
 them think they ought to do of courfe at a Qi^iakers Meeting, than in Malice or 
 Wickednefs ; and I hope Things will fo ftick with fome of them as that they 
 will not be able to fliakc them cafily cif. 
 
 Hadnam. That Night I went home with John Wehh and his Wife to Cottingham, and 
 
 the next Day, about fix in the Evening, had a large open Meeting at Hadnam; 
 the People, having finiflied their Labour, cam.c in fully, and the Lord manifefted 
 himfelf to us, and opened the Myfteries of his Kingdom largely; and Friends 
 and People were fatisfied. That Night I lodged with Francis Goody. 
 
 Chatterifs. On the loth I went on to Chatterifs; where the Meeting was pretty large 
 
 and open : but there being a Perfon there, (v.hich I knew nothing of till alter 
 it was (;ver) who was fitting himfelf to be a Prieft, and fome of his fort with 
 him, (as fome Tim.es he had ufed to come, but only to find Fault) Things open- 
 ed very clear concerning Antichriil, and his Minifters and Kingdom : That he 
 begun to work in the Days of the Apoftles, and in fome who were profefs'd Mi- 
 nifbers of Christ, viz. Diotrephes, a high, proud, infulting, domineering Man, 
 who threw Men out of the Church by his own Authority ; and Danas, who having 
 a Miniftry, forfook it and the Apoftk for the Love and Lucre of this World. 
 And fuch as preached up the Law, Circumcifion, and outward Ordinances, to 
 glory in outward and flefhly Things ; who in Time alfo, according to the A- 
 poftle, did not only make Merchandize of the People for filthy Lucre, but ex- 
 alted themfelves over Kings, Emperors and Princes, and alfo lorded it, as at this 
 Day, over the Heritage of God, and Church of the Lord Jesus; who 
 hatl from that Time hitherto fuftered by them : But that the Time is now near 
 wherein that evil Spirit, and all that fhall in that Day be found in him, as Mem- 
 bers of him, whether as lording Diotrephes, covetous Demas, or legal and cere- 
 monial Formalifts ; who, negleftingthe Subftance, glory in Shadows, and in their 
 own Inventions, together with all their Company and Employers among the 
 People, fliall be confounded : For as the Days are now come, fpoken of of old, 
 wherein Men will not endure found Dodtrine, but have heaped, and do heap to 
 themfelves, Teachers after their own Hearts Lulls, having itching Ears ; but that 
 Day fhall clcanfe the Earth both of the Buyer and Seller, of that Teacher and his 
 
 Em-
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. :f8i 
 
 Employer and Hearer : For as the Son of God faid, All the Blood that has been Jhed, Anno 
 from the Blood of righteousAbel, to the Blood of Zacharias, ivham theyjle-w between the '717- 
 ylltar and the JVall, foall be required of that Generation (being ot tlut Evil One Mat. i.\. 35. 
 their Father the Devil, who had done it all along) ; even fo alio are the Days 
 haftening upon apoftate Chriftendom, wherein all the Blood which hath been 
 filed, from the holy Blood ot the blefled Son of G o d upon the Crois at Jenifa- 
 km, to all that Hull be Ihcd to the coming of that Day, Hull be required of tiiat 
 wicked Generation, v/ho call themfelves Chriftians, and are not ; but do lie, and arc, 
 and will be of that evil one, Antichrift, their Father-, whofe Works of Murder and 
 Deftruclion they will do, till that Day of the Lord fhall dedroy them, v, here- 
 in J E s u s C H Ri ST ihall be levelled from Heaven in Flames of Fire a^ainft 
 him and them all, and fhall leave th?m neither Root nor Branch •, for they flial! 
 be turned into Hell together, and punifhed there for ever and ever. With ma- 
 ny other Particulars not now to be recolleded ; which fome Friends, after the 
 Meeting, laid, were fo clofe to him and them as if done on purpofe. It was u 
 good and open Meeting, and the intended Prieft made no Objection that I heard 
 of. I lodged that Night at Peregrine Doilcfs,. 
 
 On the i ith I went to Ramfay, and had an Evening Meeting there about Six-, Ranifay. 
 which fome Friends thought the moft proper Time, it being their Fair-day, and they 
 expecting fome of the People might come in after the Fair was over -, but they 
 were fo taken up with the Fair and Bufmefs, (which was fmall) and the Vanity 
 thereof, (which was great) and had fo little Defire after Good, that we had few but 
 Friends : but the Lord was pleafed to vifit and comfort us together in his Love ; 
 and it was a good Meeting. That Night I lodged at John Peacock^. 
 
 O N the 1 2th I went on to Huntington, John Everet being with me, as at the Huntington. 
 two laft Meetings -, and there the L, o r d gave us a very open and comfortable 
 Time, there being few except Friends, but of thele from ftveral Parts about where 
 I had been, and fome from Royjlcn. That Night I lodged with Elijha Lowell, jun. 
 having fome Acquaintance of him and his Wife -, tho' Friends ufed to lodge witli 
 his Father, a worthy Man of Truth and Integrity. 
 
 On the i4.th, being the Firftof the Week, I went to Ives; where we had a Ives, 
 large good open Meeting, many Friends and Profeflbrs of feveral Denominations 
 being there. That Evening 1 returned to Huntington. 
 
 On the 15th I v/cnt to JFellingbcrough, and lodged that Night with Emanuel Wellingbo- '. 
 Dewsbury, and the Day following had a Meeting there, about Six in the Even- rough. 
 ing. It being the Hay-.harvefV, People could not well attend fooner. It was 
 late a-gathering ; but, in the main, a good Meeting, the People being generally 
 folid and fober, and a confidcrable Number. 
 
 On the 17th I had an Evening Meeting at Northampton; which, though Northampton 
 not large, was an open good Meeting. That Night I lodged at Thomas Binyan's. 
 
 O N the 1 8th I was at their Week-day Meeting at Bugbrook ; which was fmall Bugbrook. 
 by reafon of the Hay-harveft -, but an open good Meeting. That Night I lod- 
 ged with Jofeph Adams. 
 
 O N the 19th I was at a Meeting at Kingjircp ; which was a large open Meet- Kingftrop. 
 ing, and many reached by the Truth, and well fatisfied. There had been one 
 or two Meetings in that Town before, and at the laft was John Fallowfield, which 
 was held in the Court-houfe ; but the Prieft being filled with Envy, and pre- 
 
 7 H tending
 
 S^t 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno tending to be a Freeholder by his Gain in that PariHi, and confequently intereft- 
 1717. ed in tlie Houfe, ufed Means to hinder us of it -, fo that we had our Meeting in 
 . a Friend's Houfe, licenfed for that Purpofe, there being no other Friend in 
 Town. That Night I returned to Northampton. 
 
 O N the 20th, being the Seventh of the Week, I returned to IVelUngborough, 
 to my old Quarters. 
 
 Burton. O N the 2 ift I was at a Meeting appointed at Burton ; where there had lately 
 
 been a Difpute betwixt fome Friends and Baptifts, which had not come to any 
 o-reat Matter on either Side. The Meeting was very large, being held in a 
 o-reat Barn, and confiderable Opennefs among the People. The Lord open- 
 ed my Underftanding upon feveral Subjeds, and gave me Utterance •, parti- 
 cularly with refpeft to Faith in the Lord Jefus, Repentance from dead IVcrks, 
 the DoSlrine cf Baptifms, laying on of Hands, the RefurreSlicn from the Bead^ 
 eternal Judgment, and full Perfetlion ; what it is here, and what alfo regards ano^ 
 ther World. It was an open profitable Meeting, and many were iatisfied con- 
 cerning the Truth ; and there being Friends and People trom many Places, this 
 gave a general Alarm throughout the Country, and was helpful, on that account, 
 to the following Meetings. 1 was much fpent in this Meeting j but, after 
 fome Refrefliment, went back to Wellingborough that Evening. 
 
 JIham. On the 2 2d, in the Evening, I had another Meeting appointed at IfJjam-y 
 
 where came feveral of the contending Baptills, as they had been ai Burton; but 
 made no Objeftion, though fome of the Points they had contended with Friends 
 were there fpoken to, as Baptifm, the Scriptures, ^c. It was a good Meeting, 
 and the People generally fatisfied. That Night I went to Thingdon, and lodged 
 at Henry Smith's, though himfelf was at that Time in Northampton Jail for 
 Non-payment of Tythes. 
 
 Wilby. On the 23d, in the Evening, I had a Meeting at Wilby, a large Mile from 
 
 Wellingborough. There had been but one Meeting held there before bjJohnFal- 
 lowfield : This being after the People had done their Day's Work, they came 
 pretty generally, and were very quiet ; fo that we had a good open Time, 
 That Night I returned to Wellingborough. 
 
 Moulton. O N the 24th, about Six in the Evening, I had a Meeting appointed at Moul- 
 
 ton; where came a few fober People, and fat down with fome Friends, and o- 
 thers flood behind the Corners, and all about at a Diftance ; and finding fome- 
 thing in my Mind to fay among them, as foon as my Voice was heard, they 
 came in fully, as is frequent in new Places ; fo that we had a large Meetino- ; 
 And the LoR D was pleafed to open many Things for their Edification and Con- 
 vincement, and to the opening of the Underftandings of feveral in fome Def^ree ; 
 and it was a good Time to many ; but I found my Strength much fpent, and my 
 Spirits very low afterwards, the Weather being hot, and my Love much to the 
 People in the Truth : But the L o r d, who never fails, foon repaired my Wants, 
 both fpiritually and temporally ; for, after fome Refrefliment at our Friend Wil- 
 liam Summerfeld's, where I lodged, and had a good Night's Reft, I was very 
 much comforted next Morning ; and then went to Northampton Fair, in order to 
 buy a Horfe, that which I rid being fallen lame. That Evening I returned to 
 Wellingborough, as being moft in the Center of thofe Towns I had before me to 
 vifit, and had vifited. 
 
 Arthingbo- A M E E T I N G being appointed to be on the 26th at Arthingborough (about 
 
 three
 
 of T H M A S S T RT. 
 
 three Miles off) in the Evening, it was pretty large and open. There I was 
 concerned about Infants, their Salvation, and the Ignorance and Prefumption of 
 fuch as affirm'd there were Thoufands of them, not a Span long, in Hell ; and 
 the Wickednefs of that pernicious Doftrine of perfonal Predeftination and Re- 
 probation. Next Morning I heard that a Presbyterian Teacher had, not long 
 before, been preaching fuch hideous Things among them ; from under whofe 
 heavy Yoke fome were that Evening relieved. That Night I ftaid at Thomas 
 Woolwich'' i,. 
 
 :r83 
 
 Anno 
 
 1717. 
 
 On the 28th, being the Firfl of the Week, we had a large open Meeting at 
 Thingdon ; where feveral Points opened to general Edification and Satisfadion, Thingdon, 
 That Night I ftaid at H. Smith's. 
 
 O N the 29th I had another appointed Meeting at Ranee : It was not large. Ranee, 
 and a Uttle heavy. Presbytery prevailing there, and the People dead ; but Ibme 
 were a little awakened, and it ended well. 
 
 O N the 30th I was at an Evening Meeting at Bridgefiock : It was not large, Bn'dgeftock. 
 but very open, and the People fatisfied. That Night I lodged at Jervis K/iight's. 
 
 On the 31ft I was at the Meeting at Kettering, where it fell to my Share to Kettering, 
 cxpofe that killing and deftruftive Dodlrine of perfonal Reprobation from Eter- 
 nity, with Sin Term of Life, and Salvation in the End ; the Infignificancy of 
 Religion where fuch Tenets take place ; and the grievous Error of fuch as rejedl 
 the Covenant of Light, and forge to themfelves a Covenant of Works, which 
 they never keep, but are miferable Sinners to the End of their Days. Things 
 came with good Authority, and a good open Meeting it was to many. 
 
 On the I ft of the Sixth Month, being the fifth Day of the Week, I was again Northampton 
 at Northampton in the Afternoon ; where we had a large open Meeting, the 
 People being very folid and fatisfied. 
 
 O n the 2d I was again at Bughrook •, where we had a large and good Meet- 
 ing : Many Things were opened to the People ■, as, 17?, A State of Sin in all 
 Nations. 2. Repentance and RemifTion ftill to be preached in every Age, in the 
 Name, Virtue, and Power of Christ •, and all to be direded to him as the Light, 
 and God's Covenant to the Gentiles, and believing and walking in him who is 
 that Light, may have holy Fellowlhip one with another, and the Blood of 
 Christ, in that Cafe, to cleanfe them from all Unrighteoufnefs. 3. Againft 
 the Minifters of Antichrift, their rifing in the Days of the Apoftles, and among 
 them: Their going out, and who they were-, {a.ys John, They went out from 
 us, &c. ijiz. Demas, the Covetous -, Diotrophes, the proud, lofty, and imperious ; 
 with fuch others as drew the People with feigned Words to the Ceremonies of 
 the Law, and made Merchandize of them j and whilft they promifed them Li- 
 berty, themfelves were the Servants of Sin : But as the beft Security againft fuch 
 Seducers, the Apoftle direcfts all to the Anointing •, that is, to the Spirit of Christ 
 in their own Flearts. 4. Againft Tythes, and all among ourfelves who have 
 not been true on that Account, or in other Suff'erings ; that they are de- 
 parted from the Faith, and are as the ftony Ground, fruitlefs and lifelefs ; and 
 though they may hang on in outward Communion, as coming to Meetings, &c. 
 yet not of the fame Spirit with the Faithful. This was a folid Meeting, and the 
 People fatisfied, though Things came exceeding clofe, efpecially at laft; where 
 I remark'd that both the Buyers and Sellers of the Oil in the Parable of the ten 
 
 Vir- 
 
 Bugbrook.
 
 584 
 
 Anno 
 
 1717. 
 
 Harborough. 
 
 Dcsboroudi. 
 
 Norton. 
 
 Mat. xviii. 20 
 
 The LIFE, i^c. 
 
 Virgins were excluded together whilft tliey were at that Work. The next Day 
 I went to Dinghy, near Harborough, and lodged that Night at John Jlkn's. 
 
 On the 4th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at Harborough; where wc 
 had a large open Meeting, there being Friends from feveral other Places where 
 I had been, and many of the Town's People of feveral Sefts; and the Name of 
 the Lo R D was exalted over all. That Evening I returned to Dingley. 
 
 On the 5th we had an appointed Meeting at Desborough, at the Ploufe of a 
 Farmer, in a large Hallj where came a confiderable Number of People, and 
 Things opened full and clear to their States, and we had an open good Meeting 
 to general Satisfadlion. That Evening I returned to Dingley. 
 
 O N rlie 6th I was at a Meeting at Norton ; which was fmall, by reafon of the 
 Harveft, confiding only of a few Friends; but the Lord was good to us, 
 fulfilling that Promife, JVherefoever tivo or three of you are gathered together in 
 my Name, there am I in the Midft of them. That Evening I went about two 
 Miles further to a Farm-houfe. 
 
 Leiccller. O N the 7 th I went to Leicejler, and was at their Meeting. It was fmall, con- 
 
 fifting only of Friends, and heavy in the Beginning, fome giving way to a drow- 
 fy Spirit ; but the Faithful continuing in a true Concern, we were quickened by 
 Degrees, and the Lord gave us a good Seafon together in the End. There I 
 ftaid at my old Friend John Brookes'^ Houfe till the Sixth Day ; when fell out 
 their General Meeting. 
 
 O N the 9th of the Month, being the Sixth of the Week, was the Meeting 
 accordingly; which was fmall, and much as the other before: but fome of the 
 Town's People were there, and a little afFefted with Truth. 
 
 Cileby. On the nth, being the Firft of the Week, I went thence to Cileby, to ano- 
 
 ther General Meeting (that is, feveral Meetings in the Country, ufually meeting 
 at certain interchangeable Places); which was pretty large and well. After fome 
 Refrefliment at Abraham Smith's, where I went after the Meeting, I fet forward 
 
 WimefwoLld. to IFiinefwould, and lodged that Night with Samuel Fox. The next Day I had 
 a Meeting there ; which was very fmall, but open and lively in the main. 
 
 Nottingham. Qn the 13th I went to the Week-day Meeting at iVc///«^/5'rt;« ; which was 
 pretty large, and a good Meeting, though feveral of them were very drovvfy in 
 the Fore-part of it. That Night I lodged at John Johnfon's. 
 
 MaesfieM. On the 14th I was at their Week-day Meering at Mansfield; which was 
 
 fmall, and very heavy in the Beginning ; but the Lord gave us fome Re- 
 frefliment together in the End, and tliat made it a good Meeting. That Night 
 
 I lodged there. 
 
 Chefterfield. Qn the 15th I went to the Week-day Meeting at Chefterfield; which was 
 imall, and fome of them drowfy ; but in the End very open ; and a good 
 Time the Lord in Mercy gave us together. That Evening I went to Balber- 
 Hall, to fee Sir John Rhodes ; where I ftaid till the i Sth. 
 
 Sheffield. O N the 1 8th, being the Firft of the Week, I went to a Meeting at Sheffield^ 
 
 which was large ; but confifting for the moft part of young People, brought 
 up in a Form of Truth, and many of them unacquainted with the Power of it, 
 
 and
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, 
 
 S^S 
 
 and my Concern therein being doccrina!, and out of their Reach, (having been Anno 
 rather ufed to Ibme mufical Noiles affefting the Paflions, than to any rational 1717- 
 Dodrine reaching the Underftandingj it did not feem to have much EfFedt u- 
 pon feveral : But there being a more grown People among them, they v/ere 
 well fatisfied ; and it Vv'as in the main a good Meeting, the Lo rd's good Pre- 
 fencc being over the fame. That Night, after the Meeting, I lodged at John 
 Jldam's, about a Mile from thence. The next Day I went about nine Miles 
 to Caleb Dickenfon's. 
 
 On the 20th I was at an appointed Meeting at Highflats, which was large Highflats. 
 and pretty open, there being feveral People of the Neighbourhood of various 
 Notions prefcnt, who were generally fatisfied ; and that Evening I went about 
 three Miles with Daniel Broadhead, where I ftaid till the 2 2d, it proving very 
 rainy and ftormy Weather ; and then went by Pennyftoi^ and fo from thence 
 to near Burton. 
 
 On the 23d I fell in with a Meeting at Burton., appointed by Jeremiah Gritn- Burton. 
 fljaw ; and that Afternoon went thence to Leeds, and lodg'd with my Friend 
 Benjamin Horner. 
 
 On the 25th (being the Firll of the Week) T was at the Meeting at Leeds Leeds. 
 Forenoon and Afternoon, where I had a comfortable Time with Friends ; and, 
 in the Afternoon, fome People of the Town coming in. Things were full and open 
 botli to Friends and them. 
 
 Here I ftaid till the 28th ; and then went to the Meeting at Weatherhy, which Weatherby. 
 was fmall, but open, and well ; and that Night lodged there at "John Burklgh\. 
 
 The Fall of the Year now drawing on, and intending for Scotland, I there- 
 fore began to travel more direftly along the Road j and accordingly went the 
 Day following to Northallerton, and lodg'd at an Inn. 
 
 From thence next Day to Durham, and on the 3 ift to Newcaftle, and on the Newcaftle. 
 Firft of the feventh Month was at their Meeting Forenoon and Afternoon ; and 
 it was pretty large, and open, and tlie Lord refreflied us together in his 
 Goodnefs. And here I ftaid at Joflma Middleton\ ; where I lodged, and vifited 
 fomepf my old Acquaintance and Friends till the fourth Day Morning j and 
 then went to Alnwick Abbey to John Doubleday's, where I lodg'd ; and on the 
 5th was at their Meeting at Emelton, which confifted of about eight Perfons : Emelton. 
 iand yet the Lord's antient Promife was, in fome Degree, made good in us. That Mat.xviii.^e. 
 wherefoevcr tivo or three of you are gathered together in my Name, there I am in 
 the Midft of you ; for we had a comfortable Time in his good Prefence. And 
 on the 6th I went to Kelfo, and lodged with my old Friend, Charles Ormjlon, 
 
 On the 8th (being the firft Day of the Week) I was at their Meeting Fore- 
 noon and Afternoon : There were a few pretty honeft Friends, and fome Per- 
 fons of the better Sort of the People in the Forenoon, and in the Afternoon a 
 larger Number -, and feveral Things of Moment opened, and a good Day the 
 Lord gave us; : And the Pr^Zy/tT/jw Church-government, and the Manage- 
 ment of tlieir Priefts, or Minifters, not fitting fo eafy on the Shoulders of 
 fome of the People as they defired, they were (fome of them) about this Time 
 looking out fome better Way i and feveral of them were afteded in the 
 Meeting. 
 
 7I 
 
 The 
 
 Kelfo.
 
 yS6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno The next Day, accompanied by my old Friend, Samuel Robinfon^ I pro- 
 
 1717. ceeded on to Edinburgh; and the Day following had a Meeting there with 
 Edinburgh. about Half a Dozen Friends ftill remaining, and fome more fober Perlbns that 
 came in : It was in the Houle of (Villiam Miller, junior, (where I lodg'd) 
 and was comfortable, tho' fmall ; the Lord being with us in fome Meafure, 
 to his own PraLfe, who is only worthy. But tho' that City hath often been 
 vifited, and warned from the Lord by his Servants, yet there appears not any 
 Inclination in them towards Truth, or the Way of it •, but the contrary, fo 
 far as I can fee, or learn from thofe Friends converfant among them ; tho' 
 rome few fober People there are, who in due Time may come forward. 
 
 On the i ith I crofTed the Firth of Forth, and went that Night to Kerrjaay, 
 and the next to the Ferry at Montrofe; but the Winds being high, could not 
 pafs over that Night ; and in the Morning following I went to Tayck, to the 
 Widow Napier'i, where I ftaid that Night, and next Day went to Urie, to 
 my Friend Rokri Barclay's, where I ftaid but that Night, tho' weary and 
 feverifh by the Fatigue of my Journey : For the Courfe of the Meetings fell 
 out fo as that Aberdeen was moft convenient the Day tcliowing -, and being 
 the Firlt of the Week, Robert Barclay and I went thither ; and the' too late 
 Aberdeen. for the Forenoon Meeting, were v/ith them in the Afternoon. There was a 
 large Congregation of People -, and having travelled far in the Good-will and 
 Love of God to fee them, a little after I entered the Place I was much broken 
 in that Love Vvfhich reaches over Sea and Land, and engages in the greateft 
 Fatigues and Labours for the Good of Souls -, for whom Christ died thro' 
 a never-fading Love, not of Man, but of God alfo. I had a good Scafon in 
 the Meeting, and ievcral were reached, and Truth was over all. 
 
 On the 17th I lodged at Widow Hall's (my old Lodging when formerly in 
 this Country) where I was very eafy, and comfortably entertained ; and the 
 EfFefts of my Journey remaining a little upon me, fhe was very careful and 
 iielpful to me, being an honeft Friend, of an excellent natural Temper, and 
 Kinefwells prone to do Good. And on the iSth I went to Kingftvellj, and had a Meet- 
 ing at Alexander Jeffrey's, where I lodged that Night ; and the next Day- 
 returned to ylberdeen to their Week-day Meeting, which was fmall (com- 
 paratively) but an open Meeting : And the Day following being their Meet- 
 ing for ibme Affairs of the Church, I was there alfo, and a good open Time 
 the Lord was 'pleafed to afford us together. 
 
 Achquhor- On the 20th I went to Achqiihcrthles, to John Forbes' s, where the Day after we 
 
 *'"• had a fmall Meeting, and pretty open ; where alfo I faw John Anderfon, who 
 
 formerly had been taken, with me and John Dickenfon, by a French Privateer, 
 
 into Hifpaniola ; bur, after fome Hardfhips in France, had arrived here in his 
 
 nadve Country, and fettled. 
 
 On the 22d (being the Firft pf the Week) I was, in the Forenoon, at the 
 
 Kilm'jck. Meeting at Kilmuck, which was a large Meeting -, and the Truths of the Gofpel 
 
 and Kingdom of our dear Lord, were fully opened, and we comforted together 
 
 Inverury. in his Pretence. And in the Afternoon I was at another Meeting at Inverury^ 
 
 where came People of feveral Sorts, and Things were open and well j and 
 
 that Night we went to Lethinty, where now lives Skecue, who is friendly, 
 
 but not under the ProfelTion of Truth. We were courteoufly entertained ; and 
 the next Day returned to Aberdeen, and the Day following back to Urie with 
 Robert Barclay, who had given me his very acceptable Company all this Time. 
 
 He RE
 
 of THOMAS STOUT. 5^87 
 
 Here I ftaid till the 25th, and had a Meeting with Friends there, and of Anno 
 Stonehaven^ and fo fpent thcWetkin the Family (his Mother being ftill living) ; 1717. 
 where I had all neceflary Rttrefliments and Help, being then under the Exer- Urie. 
 cife of a great Cold, which affected both my Head and Lungs : But, above all, 
 the Help of the Lord was near, and made all Things eafy and well. 
 
 On the 29th, being the Firft Day following, I was again at a Six Weeks 
 Meeting at Urie in the Forenoon, which was large and open ; the Lord was 
 with us to our Comfort and Help : and in the Afternoon, the fame Day, I was at 
 the Meeting at Stonehaven, which was alfo a pretty large open Meeting •■, and 
 jn the Evening returned to Urie. 
 
 On the 31ft, having fome remaining Inclinations to fee the Friends and 
 People once more at Aberdeen, I returned with Alexander Jeffrey, to King/wells, 
 (John Hall in Company) and there I ftaid till the fifth Day Morning Kingfwells. 
 following, being at tv/o Meetings there in the mean time ; and my Friend 
 Chrijtiait, Wife of the faid Alexander, and Daughter of Robert Barclay deceafed, 
 being delivered of the ninth Son whilft I was there, jn Refped to me, and the 
 Service I came about, they named him Thomas. 
 
 O N the 3d of the Eighth Month I went from thence to Aberdeen to their Aberdeen, 
 Monthly Meeting, where we had a comfortable Time in the Lor d's Good- 
 nefs ; and on the 7th Day following was at a Meeting at the Old Town of 
 Aberdeen, and that Afternoon returned to the Widow Hall's at New Town 
 with Andrew Jeffrey. 
 
 O N the 6th I was again at the Meeting at Aberdeen Forenoon and Af- 
 ternoon. It was a large and open Meeting ; and many Things were opened of 
 great Moment concerning the Law of the Spirit, and its Strivings with the old 
 World, and alfo with Ifracl ; as likewife with the Gentiles, and now with the 
 nominal Chriftians •, and all guilty, by Neglefl: aud Oppofition to this Spirit, 
 and all Means and Additions propofed •, but fuch jullificd as believe and obey, 
 to whom the fame becomes a Law of Ufc, and makes Jree from the Law of Sin Rom. viii.z, 
 add Death. This is that Book and Law written in the Hearts, fealed with kvcn 
 Seals, which none in Heaven, or in Earth, or under the Earth ; neither Angel, 
 nor Spirit of Man made perfeft there, nor Emperor, King, Prince or Poten- 
 tate, Pope, Prelate, Pricft, or Prefbyter, Satan, or any in the State of the 
 Dead, can open or explain ; but the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant, and Writer and 
 Giver of this Law ; whofe Law is Light, and his Commandment as a Lamp 
 that burneth, and whofe glowing Warmth comforts all who read therein, and 
 are inftrudted of him who opens the Seals, i£c. The Meeting was folid and 
 large, but not fo full as at fome other Times before I came •, for from the 
 Time of the Rebellion, in which fome of the Epifcopal Priefls had concerned 
 themielves, till the Aft of Pardon by the King, the Epifcopal People there had 
 generally come to our Meetings, rather than go to the Prefbyterians, whom 
 they look'd upon as their mortal Enemies ; but, fince the faid A6t, had oone 
 back again to their own Preachers, who, like Frogs after a Shower of Hail 
 were now returned to preach among them. However, fome of the People had 
 conceived fuch a Liking to the Way of Truth in the mean time, that they 
 continue to come at Times, and may at length come farther : And their being 
 at our Meetings has had this good Effcft generally, that it hath removed, in 
 great Mcafuce, the old Prejudices the People lay under, by reafon of the many 
 Lies and Calumnies the Priefts of all forts had caft upon Truth, and us. 
 
 On
 
 ^83 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno On the 7th I went again to King/wells, and (laid that Night, Robert Ecr- 
 17 1 7. clay\ his Wife and Sifter, being alfo there ; and next Day we went all to Urie, 
 where I ftaid with them till the rzth, and was at their Week-day Meeting 
 in the mean time, which was very fmall, by reafon of ftormy Weather. 
 
 The fume Day, accompanied by i^oi'fr/ 5,«r<r%', h^^s, Son Robert, Ale-^arJer 
 
 Tayck. Jeffrey, and John Hall, I went to Tayck ; and next Day was at the Meeting 
 
 at Montrofe, Forenoon and Afternoon : There came in fome People, and they 
 
 behaved pretty foberly, being moft of the Epifcopal Sedl ; and that Night I 
 
 r^iturn'd to -Tayck. 
 
 On the 14th I fet forward towards England, Robert Barclay, and his Son and 
 Servant being with me, and chat Night we lodged at Dundee. The next Day ws 
 palTed thro' the Carfe of Gozvry, (a very rich and pleafant Country) and lodg'd 
 at the Bridge of Aim, where we went to tafte fome bitter phyfical Waters, 
 good againft the Rheumatifm, Scurvy, and fome other Diftempers : And 
 next Day, in our Road, called to fee Sir ^Thomas Bruce-Hope, at his Houfe at 
 Kinrofs, near Loch-Leven. He was rehgioufly'inclin'd, and entertain'd us very 
 courteoully. His Houfe there, is of well-v^-ought white Free Stone, . large, 
 and well contrived ; and near it, in a little Ifland in the Loch, is yet ftanding 
 the old fquare Tower wherein Mary Queen of Scots (afterwards beheaded by 
 Elizabeth Qiieen of England) was fome time Prifoner. And that Evening, 
 after Sun- fet, we pafTed over the Firth of Forth at the ^.eens-Ferry, where we 
 lodg'd that Night. 
 
 On the 17th we went all together to the Houfe o^ Archibald Shaw, a Friend 
 near Hopeton-Houfe, belonging to the Earl of Hopeton, where we ftaid together 
 that Day ; and our Friend being Gardiner there, we had the Opportunity to fee 
 the Gardens, and Houfe alfo, which were very neat and convenient. 
 
 On the iSth we parted there with confiderable Reluctancy j but as Men 
 are varioully fbated in this World by Providence, which feparateth the neareft 
 Friends, our differing Concerns obliging to it, we were made eafier to part, by 
 the fame who firft made us acquainted in the Time of our Youth. That 
 Night I went on to Falkirk •, for, being the Sixth Day of the Week, and their 
 Market-Day at Lithgciv, I found no great F.ncouragement for a Meetino-. 
 And the next Day I paffed on to Glafgow, and lodged at my old Friend George 
 Szuan's, where I was kindly and freely entertained, his Wife ftill livino-, 
 (mentioned in my former Journey thither) but now very loving and courteous, 
 all the old Enmity being flain, but ftill in Communion with the Prejbyterians. 
 
 Glafgow. O N the 20th (being the Firft of the Week) I was at their Meeting. In 
 
 the Forenoon it was fmaller (they faid) than for fome Time before, but quiet 
 and open ; but in the Afternoon a little larger, and feveral important Truths 
 were fet forth in a good Meafure of the Power and Wifdom of Truth. And 
 in the Evening we had another Meeting at George Swan's Houfe, which was 
 full as large as any of the other, and open, and the People generally fatisfied. 
 And I obferved, that tho' the Prejlyteria-ns have the Government there, the 
 People feem more moderate than formerly ; whether arifing from the many 
 Divifions now on foot among themfelves, or Confiderations of the Lenity of 
 the Government in England, or that there is a fecret Work of God towards their 
 Redemption, or a general Reformation, I fhall not determine ; but had rather 
 the latter were the Truth of the Cafe, if the Day of that furious People be not 
 ■• paft.
 
 of THOMAS STO Rr. 
 
 T89 
 
 paft, as that of the Jews was, when the very Tears and Lamentation of Anno 
 Ch R IS T did not fave them. ^7^7- 
 
 On the 2 2d I went back to Badcow, and that Night lodg'd there, at Robert 
 Gray's, and the Day following had a Meeting at Gar/^ijr^-, which was very Garthfliore, 
 fmall, but in fomc Opcnnefs, and Things were to pretty good Satisfaftion, as cir- 
 cumftanced. 
 
 On the 24th I went to Hamilton; where there is now remaining but a very Hamilton, 
 fmall Number of Friends, poor and honeft, and but one or two of the old Stock. 
 The next Day was their Monthly Meeting ; which was very fmall, but open 
 and comfortable, the Lord owning us together. 
 
 On the 26th I went to Cmnherhead, to the Houfe of my Coufin Andrew Lat- Cumberhead, 
 timer, a lonely Place among the defolate Mountains ; which being near the Way 
 to Cumberiand, and a Meeting kept there on Firft Days, I ftaid with them ; and 
 the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting -, and, though 
 there were but two or three Perfons befidcs the Family, yet the blefied Promife 
 was in fome Meafure a-frefli fulfilled, That wherefoever two or three of you are Mat.xviii 20. 
 gathered together in my Name, there am I in the Midjl of you. 
 
 O N the 2Sth I went forward for Ciimherland, accompanied by my Coufin Lat- , 
 timer. He took me to the Houfe of one fohn WilUamfon, his Kinfman by Marri- 
 age, and a great Presbyterian-, with whom falling into Difcourfe, he, with all 
 his Might, maintained Sin Term of Life (as that Seft commonly does) in Op- 
 pofition to the plaineft Scripture, and End of the Coming of Christ-, per- 
 verfly alledging, that the Apoftle Faid, at the Time of the writing of his E- 
 piftle to the Romans, was in that miferable State of Sin he fpeaks of in the feventh 
 Chapter: And, after much Pa'ns which I took to inform him, that the Apoftle 
 had, in the Beginning of that Epiftle, fet forth the general State, both of few 
 and Gentile; that all had finned; that Christ is the Saviour of all-, that 
 he faves all who believe and obey, from Sin, not in it -, that the Apoftle brings 
 his Doftrine of Freedom from Sin in this Life to a Refult, or Period, in the 
 latter End of the fixth Chapter, and refnmes the fame Doftrine in the Begin- 
 ning of the feventh, under another Similitude, viz. of a Woman bound by the — 
 Law to her Husband fo long as he liveth, but he being dead ftie is free to take 
 another, l£c. and then brings the fame Doftrine to a like Conclufion in a few 
 Verfes ; and the third Time, in the fame Chapter, profecuting ftill the fame Doc- 
 trine, in the Forepart of the eighth Chapter, eftabliflies this great Point in thefe 
 Words, The Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrifl Jefus hath made me free from the 
 Law of Sin and Death, &c. where 'tis evident, that as a Man cannot be in thefe 
 two oppofite States at the fame Time, fo the State of Liberty from Sin was not 
 only the Condition of the Apoftle himfclF, who preached the Doftrine, but of 
 many of the Saints at that Time in the Church, to whom he preached it. I fay, 
 after all this, and much more to the fame Efteft, this Perfon ftill perfifted in de- 
 fence of Sin, as being moft fuitable to a depraved State, and the Prejudice of 
 his Education : However, his Good-nature, and Civility of Temper, fo over- 
 balanced the Rancour commonly attending that Principle, which ufually rather 
 depraves than improves Nature, that he was yet converfible on other Subjedls, and 
 entertained us kindly in his Houfe that Night. 
 
 Rom. vi. 
 vii. 
 
 On the 29th we went to Wankckhead, where there are fome Lead Mines r^ , , 
 
 lately managed by Lee, who had died a little before this, and fhis Widow head. 
 
 and Children remaining there till the Conveniency of Removal ; and that Even- 
 
 K 
 
 ing
 
 ^(^o The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Ing had a very comfortable Time m the Family, the Lord's good Prefence 
 
 1717. beTng freely with us together. Next Morning I went on my Journey, and 
 
 the Day following arrived at my Father's Houfe in Cumberland, where I found 
 
 him alive and well, (but dark) being about 87 Years of Age -, and there I ftaid 
 
 fome Days. 
 
 On the 3d of the Ninth Month I went from my Father's Houfe at Jiifiice- 
 
 BorderMect- "Town, to the Border Meeting ; which was pretty large and open, feveral of the 
 
 i"g- ancient Friends being ftill alive. That Evening I was again at their Evening 
 
 Meeting, and that Night lodged at Righead with my old Friend and Kinfman, 
 
 Chrijlopher Story, and the next Day return'd to Juftice-To-wn. 
 
 On the 6th I went again to their Week-day Meeting. Calling to fee Ju- 
 flice Jpplehy and his Wife, the Daughter of Counfellor Gilpin, they both went 
 to Meetino-, he running the Hazard of the Aft of Parliament then in force 
 againft it. We had a good Meeting, and Things opened well -, and they pref- 
 fing me earneftly, I went with them to Dinner after Meeting, and the Juftice 
 went with me after Dinner to Scdeby Caftle to fee Richard Gilpin, the Counfel- 
 lor's eldeft Son, a fober good-natured young Man •, and Dr Huntington, a 
 Friend, meeting me there, we went that Night to Carlijle, and lodged at his 
 Father Ifaac Huntington^ ; where, being ill of a Pain in my Stomach, I took a 
 fmall Dofe of Phyfick of his Prefcription, and flaid their Meeting at Carlijle 
 on the I-'irft Day. We had a good and comfortable Time in the Forenoon ; 
 but in the Afternoon, Satan, who ever envies the People of God, gave us fome 
 Difturbance by thefe unhappy Inftrumcnts and Servants of his. Job Pearfon and 
 Ifaac his Brother ; who, flipping out of the Jail, (which was kept by one not 
 well affefted to us) came into the Meeting, and, in the Time of Silence, ufed 
 many unfavoury, rude, fcurrilous, and provoking ExprelTions : but none gave 
 them a Word again, till after fome Time, Dr Ifaac Huntington giving the Go- 
 vernor of the City a private Hint of their Behaviour, he fent a Corporal and a File 
 of Mufketeers, and took them away : And, fome Time after, I had an Opportu- 
 nity to fpeak to the People, and to lay open the Kingdom of Christ, the 
 Kingdoms of Men, and the Kingdom of Antichrift ; their different Natures, 
 Jurifdiftions, and Ends : the divine and fpiritual Nature of the firfl, with the 
 Subjeftion of the Members thereof in this Life in temporal Affairs to the fecond ; 
 how far they ought, and where they ought not to obey : the great and good. 
 Ends of the fecond ; for the Suppreffion of evil. Support and Proteftion of the 
 Jufl and Innocent, againff the Violence and OpprefTion of the unruly and un- 
 godly •, and the wicked and unrighteous Power of the lafl, gained by the Sub- 
 tilty of Satan in ungodly Men, under Pretence of the Chrilf ian Religion, de- 
 ftroying it in all Ages ; having deceived the temporal Powers, and made them the 
 Inftruments of the greatefl Cruelty againft the innocent Children and Subjefts 
 of the Kingdom of Christ; till the L o r d, in Mercy, is in thefe latter Days 
 beginning to arife, difcovering Antichrift, undeceiving the Powers of the Earth, 
 and direfting them to a more juft and equal Application of their Authority, 
 For the Encouragement of the Well-doer, and Corredion of the Ungodly, ^c. 
 The Meeting being over, I returned to Ifaac Huntington's ; where I ftaid till the 
 Third Day following, vifiting fome Friends in Town, and fome old Acquaintance. 
 
 On the 12th I went (accompanied by Br Huntington, Richard fFaite, &c.) to 
 
 ^Ifton-Moor. John Ne-wton\ in Alfton-Moor, about 22 Miles from Carlifie, and, on the 14th, 
 
 had a Meeting there ; which was very open and broken, there being feveral 
 
 new-convinced Friends there; among whom was Thomas Arejkine, lately aBap- 
 
 tift.
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 391 
 
 tift Teacher ; a very hopeful young Man, and of good Repute among the A ^f n o 
 People. ^7^7- 
 
 O N the 1 5th, in the Evening, we had another Meeting at Jacol' Moor's, at 
 IVclgill, about two Miles further up the Dale, and it was far larger than the Welgill. 
 former, many Strangers being there, and very fedate and fober -, and Things 
 were well and fatistadory to all in general. 
 
 O N the 1 7th, being the Firft of the Week, I was again at John Newton'' s, ; 
 where the Meeting was very open and broken ; the Lo rd's good Prefence be- 
 ing with us to our general Comfort and Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the i8th I had a Meetms. at Eaft-Allandak; which was alfo lars;e and Eaft Allans 
 
 very open : and the fame Evening had another about three Miles off at 
 
 Sparhes ; where came a confiderable Number both of Friends and others : We 
 had a good Meeting there alio -, for in thofe Parts art that Time there was con- 
 fiderable Opennefs in the People towards Truth. 
 
 On the 19th we went back to AJkerlon, and lodged at James Appleby's. The Askerton. 
 Day following I fell in with Solport Meeting ; which, though fmali, having had 
 no Notice, was a comfortable Meeting, the bleffed Truth being over all : But 
 my Diftemper returning, through Cold and hard riding to reach the Meeting, 
 I was much pain'd at Times in the Meeting, and even in my Exefcife, being 
 occafioned by Wind in my Stomach and Bowels ; and going to John Irwin's 
 after the Meeting, though caretully provided for there, was very ill mod of that 
 Night ; but towards the Morning the Lo r d encouraged me with a little Help, 
 which proved very effedual : it was by the Operation of his Power in my Heart; 
 by which all the Pains for that Time were overcome and quieted, and then I had 
 Eafe and Reft all that Day. I having alfo a great Cold, and my Lungs a little 
 affefted, I ftaid there till the Second Day following ; but was at the fame Meet- 
 ing again on the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, which was much larger, 
 and very open -, and fome Strangers, being touched with the Virtue of Truth, 
 ipoke well of the Meeting afterwards. 
 
 On the. 25th, going down to my Father's Houfe again, I ftaid there (alfo vi- 
 fiting fome of my old Acquaintance in the Neighbourhood) till the 28th; and 
 that Evening went to Carlijle. 
 
 On the 29th I was at a Six Week's Meeting there; which was pretty large q^^Yi^^ 
 and very open, being compofed of the Members of all the particular Meetings 
 of the Monthly Meedng. The fame Afternoon I was alfo at at a feledt Meet- 
 ing of Miniftcrs and Elders, for Enquiry after the Profperity of Truth in thofe 
 Precindls. 
 
 O N the ift of the Tenth Month I was again at the Meeting at Carlifte ; which 
 was frefli and open, both Forenoon and Afternoon ; and being a little out of 
 order in my Health, I ftaid the Fourth- day Meeting following; which was a 
 tender good Meeting. In the mean time I vifited feveral of my old Acquain- 
 tance and Fellow Citizens, among whom was the Mayor and Ibme of the Al- 
 dermen, and old Counfellor Jglionby, the Recorder; who had often fhewed Kind- 
 nefs to Friends on occafion ; efpecially in that very abufive Cafe of the Pear Jons : 
 For, though they were the vileft of all Men, and unfpeakably abufive, fome of 
 the worft fort among the Priefts, influencing fome of the weaker fort upoji the 
 Bench, they were fome Times connived at by fuch, in vain Hopes, that by their 
 
 coji-
 
 ^cix The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno continual Outrages in our Meetings, and the Violences done upon us there both 
 1 71 7 bv Word and Aftion, they would wholly lay wafte and fupprefs them. I alfo 
 vifited the Dean, nomas Tully, who had been long Chancellor, and kind and 
 iuft to Friends in that Office (and now alfo as Dean) upon all Occafions. I faw 
 alfo the Remitter, Richard Aglionby, Brother of the Recorder ; and the Pearfons 
 and Rohinfans having made themfelves infamouQy notorious by their Violence 
 a<^ainft Friends, I found none in Office, or of Senfe and Sobriety, but what con- 
 demned them ; and yet, by the Connivance of a wicked Jailer, they were often 
 fo at Liberty as to exercife their Violence and noify Difturbances upon us in our 
 Meetings, above 20 Miles diftant, at Times. 
 
 ^ V. c On the Fifth Day following I was at the Meeting at Moorhoufe, which was 
 
 Moorhoue. ^^^ ^^^^_^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^ Marriage, and a pretty open Time the Lord gave 
 
 us ; for many were well fatisfied, amongft which were fome Strangers. That 
 Evening I returned to Carlifle, and on the Seventh Day went to irigton^ and 
 lodged at the Houfe of Daniel Senhoufe. 
 
 Wigton. The Day following (being the Firft of the Week) I went to their Meeting ; 
 
 and tho' pretty early, yet, as 'tis faid, the Enemy rifes with the Light, John 
 i^c/^iK/o« was got thither before, (his rude and wicked Wife, and Troubler of 
 the Friends, being confined at Home at that Time by a Baililf ) and before the 
 Meeting was a quarter Tart gathered, as foon as he perceived that Truth began 
 to move in the Meeting, (for they once in fome Meafure having known Truth, 
 do ftill retain a Memory of it, and know its Effefts in others) he began to 
 fhew his Malice againft it and Friends, and againft me in particular, as fup- 
 pofing I, as a Stranger, might have fomething to fay •, and fo direfted Abun- 
 dance of rude, talfe, railing, and impertinent Accufations to me, both againft 
 myfelf (which T knew to be falfe) and Friends, which I believed to be falfe 
 alfo. But I anfwered him not a Word ; nor did this at all provoke me, tho' it 
 was very abufive. Truth being over my Spirit. But when I ftood up and fpoke 
 to the Meeting, taking no Notice at all of him, and Things opening fuitably 
 and well, in the Wifdom and Authority of Truth, we had a good and open 
 M eeting, the Lord being with us, to J. Robinfon's great Torment ; for in Time 
 ot Prayer his Envy raged fo, as that he read fome Paflage (as he faid) out of 
 Robert Barclay's, Apology all the Time, which he imagined was for him and his 
 few Accomplices againft Friends and Truth : But none regarded him ; and 
 •foon after Prayer the Meeting ended in Comfort, over the Head of this oppo- 
 fing Apoftate. 
 
 Bolton. T K E Day following I had a Meeting appointed at Bolton (two Miles from Wig- 
 
 ton) where this Robinfon came again, and after fome Time ftood up to preach to us, 
 beginning with the Royal Law, That all Jhould do as they would be done by : But be- 
 fore he proceeded any further, a Friend that knew his Circumftances in the World, 
 bid him fit down ; for we could not receive that Doftrine, or any other, from him 
 who was not in the Thing, having defrauded many others in the Country, and 
 detained from them what was their own, whereas himfelf would not want what was 
 his from fuch as owed him ; and fo ftopt his Preaching : But then he fell a railing, 
 reproaching, reviling, and falfly accufing Friends. Then I defired him to fit down 
 and be quiet (he railing at me firft, and preffing by the other Friend to come to- 
 wards me, as if he would have offered Violence, being in a Rage). I faid fome 
 more Words to him, and he was ftill worfe. Then I told him, " Thou art di- 
 " ftrafted, and fitter for a Houfe of Correftion than any Civil, much lefs Chriftian 
 " Society." He ftill raged more and more; fo I faid nothing further to him, 
 knowing that Spirit is fed by Anfwering, and deftroyed by Negled: and Silence. 
 
 After
 
 of T H Myl S S T O R T. S9S 
 
 After a little more Time in Silence, I flood up and fpoke to the M eeting over Anno 
 
 him, he railing in the mean time, and making all the Noife he could to hinder ; 171 7- 
 
 but he often running himfelf out of Breath, and my Voice being raifed over him, 
 
 many Things opened to the State of Perfons and Things : and Truth was over 
 
 all, to our general Satisfadion, and his Grief That Night I went home with 
 
 my old Friend and Acquaintance Thomas Drury ; where I was made kindly 
 
 welcome. 
 
 The loth, being a rainy ftormy Day, I went down to the Holm to Jonathan Holmk 
 OJile's, and next Day was at their Meeting ; which was indifferent large and 
 very open: for, as the Lord ordered it, none of the Troublers were there i 
 this Meeting being frequently, above many others, the Stage of their ftrange, 
 ancick, rude, and brutifh Behaviour. The Meeting was much tendered, and ma- 
 ny Things opened concerning the Principle of Truth, and that evil Spirit which 
 had oppofed it from tiie Days of the Apoftles, both in the old Heathen Empe- 
 rors and People, and moft and worfl of all by fuch as both profeffed and preached 
 it in Words-, of which fort v;ere thefe Pearfojis and Robbifons, and their unhappy 
 Accomplices, ^c. The Meeting ended well, under a Senfe of the Love and 
 Goodnefs of God. That Night I fbaid at Thomas JFilkinfon''?,; where fome 
 Marks of the Violence of thefe Men were ftill remaining on the Houfe : for as 
 this Friend had much oppofed them from the Beginning, fo their Envy and 
 Rage was fo much the greater, and more particular againft him ; neither himfelf. 
 Family, or Houfe, efcaping the Effcds of their Rage. 
 
 O N the 1 2th he went with me to Allanhy \ where the Lord gave us a tender Alknby, 
 Seafon with Friends there, being their Meeting Day : Many Things were opened 
 ■there confirming the Weak among them againft that wicked and Antichriftian 
 Spirit of the Pearfons ; and the Meeting ended in Peace and Comfort in our dear 
 Lord Jesus, whofe blelTed Power was over all. That Night, after the 
 Meeting, I went on to Great-Broughton, and lodged at the Widow Mary Bow- 
 inan'Sy as I did when laft there. 
 
 The 1 3th being their Meeting Day, I was with them, and the Lord ex- 
 alted his own holy Name in the Midft of us, to his own Praife; who alone is 
 worthy : And I not having been at this Meeting on a Firft Day for many Years, 
 confidering it was tlie Place where I firft knew Friends to be the People oi God, 
 was willing to have a little more Time among them ; and fo ftaid till the 1 5th : 
 which being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting there in the Forenoon. Great- 
 It was open and well, but not many Strangers prefent •, lo that, defiring to fee as Broughton, 
 many of the People as I could, an Evening Meeting was appointed at Mary 
 Bowman's, where I lodged, which was the largeft they had feen there; and 
 Things opened clear, and to general Satisfadion. 
 
 On the i6th I went to IFJntehaven, accompanied by Dr Huntington, who came Whitehaven.' 
 to me at Broughton ; and, alighting at an Inn, had an Invitation by Juftice Gil- 
 pin to lodge at his Houfe ; which accordingly I accepted of, his Brother John's 
 Houfe, where I was before, being unfit, becaufe of the Meafles in his Family. 
 We werecourteoufly and freely entertained there; but defiring to have a Meet- 
 ing in Town next Day, we could nor procure a convenient Place, and fo ap- 
 pointed one at our Friend John Nicholfcn's, about a Mile oflf; to which came 
 the Juftice's Wife, eldeft Son, and another, and two Daughters, John Gilpin his 
 Brother, and many others of the Town, though it was a very raw, wet, dirty 
 Day. James Dickinfon alfo met me there, and we had a very good Opportu- 
 
 7 L nity
 
 ^p^ The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno nlty among them -, the Power and Prefence of the L o R d was with us/ and the 
 1 717. People were generally fatisfied, and feveral tendered. 
 
 I RETURNED that Evening to Juftice Gilpin's, and met with nothing but 
 continued and open Friendfhipi and, tlie next Morning, calling at John Gilpin's 
 Houfe, he gave me a Letter from their Presbyterian Minifter, Thomas Dixon, m 
 anfwer'to one I had writ above two Years before, in reply to one of his when I 
 was there laft. After that I went to JVefi-ftde (or Crofsfield) Meeting ; which 
 fell in courfe that Day, and was a very good open Meeting, and many tendered. 
 That Evening I went back to John Nicholfon' s, inclining to fee and convcrfe with 
 my old Friends and Acquaintance at Whitehaven a little more ; and accordingly 
 went thither next Morning, and that Day dined with my old and hearty Friend 
 John Gilpin and his Family, being in better Order than before, I lodged there 
 alfo that Night, and tarried all the Day following in Town, vifiting my old Ac- 
 quaintance, meeting with nothing but Refpeft among them : Among the reft I 
 vifited Thomas Dixon before mendoned, who received me civilly, (John Gilpin^ 
 one of his chief Hearers, and Dr Huntington being with me) and I had fome 
 fmall Difcourfe with him upon fome of the Points in controverfy between us: 
 But obfervino- by his Letter he did not incline to difcourfe publickly, and having 
 no Intent to impofc that upon him, we parted in Friendlhip, I intending to re- 
 ply to his Letter fo foon as I had an Opportunity for it ; and accordingly began 
 it a few Days after at James Dickinfon'%. Having finifhed my Vifits and Con- 
 Verfation at IVhitehaven, I returned in the Evening to John Nicholfon's. 
 
 On the 2ift I went to Pardfay, and lodged that Night at John Robinjon's. 
 
 PardfayCrag On the 2 2d, being the Firft of the Week, I was at Pardfay-Crag Meeting- 
 which was very large and open, and the Lord gave us a good Seafon together, 
 
 Mefer-Gate. being moftly Friends. That Night I went to Mefer-Gate ; where we had an 
 Evening Meeting at the Widow Fa'tvcet's Houfe, which was but heavifome at 
 firft, but ended pretty well. That Night I lodged there at my Coufin John 
 Latimer's. 
 
 On the 23d I went to James Dickinfon's, and began an Anfwer to Thomas 
 Dixon's Letter -, but by many Interruptions by Converfation, could not finilh 
 it but by Degrees. 
 
 The 24th was their Monthly Meeting at Pardfay-Crag, and we went thi- 
 ther; where was alio a feleft Meeting of Minifters and Elders, for infpefting 
 and promoting the Affairs and Concerns of Truth : and the Lord being with 
 us, gave us a good and open Seafon of his Love and Counfel together, to his 
 own Glory and our Help. That Evening, after the Meeting, I went to Cocker- 
 mouth, and lodged at John Tiffin's, my former Quarters. 
 
 Cocker- On the 25th we had a Meeting there, being that they call Chrijlmas Day; 
 
 "^°"' and the Lord was with us to our Comfort, being for the moft part Friends; 
 
 and a good Time we had. 
 
 On the 26th, though very rainy and cold, I went to Pardfay Meeting again. 
 That Night (continuing very wet and cold) I lodged at Peter Fearn's ; where 
 I ftaid two Nights, and added a little to my Anfwer to Thomas Dixon: but could 
 not do much for Converfation, nor add fuch Scriptures as I had Ufe for, for 
 want of a Concordance. 
 
 On
 
 of T H M y4 S S T R T. S9S- 
 
 On the 28th, in the Evening, I returned to Cockermouth ; and the next Day, Anno 
 in the Forenoon, was at their Meeting; which, though a very rainy cold Day' 1717. 
 was very large, moftly of Friends from divers Parts of the Country ; and an 
 open Time we had : But not many of the Town's People being there, we ap- 
 pointed another Meeting to begin at Five in the Evening-, which, in good part, 
 had the defired Succefs, for it was much crowded by the Town's People ; and 
 Things opened free and large, and the Lord's Power and Truth was over all, 
 to the Giory of him who alone is able and worthy lor ever. That Night I ftaid 
 at Cockermouth. 
 
 Ok the 30th I went to Bridgend, and lodged at Jchn Scoi^s. 
 
 On the Day following I was at I/ell Meenng, which was a fmall but com- IfeL 
 fortable Meenng; and that Evening had another appointed at John Scot's 
 Houfe, for the Sake of the People ; whicli, tho' fmall, by reafon of the Ne"-li- 
 gence of the Perfun employed to give Notice, was pretty open and well, the 
 People fitting ftili, as if tied, long after the Meeting was ended. 
 
 On the iff of the Eleventh Month I went to Kefwick, where I expefted a Meet- 
 ing had been appointed from Cockermouth ; but die MelTenger proving like Nimjhi 
 with his uncertain News of a Tumult, no Appointment was made ; fothat neither 
 Friends, nor People, knew any Thing of a Certainty about it : and Thomas Arejkine 
 (the late Baptift Preacher) having had a Meeting the Day before in the Market- 
 place there, I cali'd together the few Friends in Town, who, with thefe who 
 went with me, made up a little Meeting ; which being pretty comfortable, we Kefwick. 
 loft not the End of our going : But that Evening going forward to Mofsdale, 
 where a Meeting was appointed next Day, and the Froft very hard, and Snow 
 blown in deep Wreaths, in many Places we were in great Danger, and much 
 harraffed and fadgued before we got thro', and often almoft out of Breath with 
 wreftling thro' the Snow : For our Horfes could not keep their Feet, but often 
 ftumbled in it ; fo that we went moftly on Foot thro' the Snow; which, with 
 our Boots and heavy Riding-cloaths, made it very exhaufting, and wafted our 
 Strength greatly : But God's good Providence carried us through thefe Dan- 
 gers, as thro' many more of like and other Kinds I have met with on fuch Occa- 
 fions in Times paft ; and that Evening, a little within Night, we arrived at 
 George Mark\ Houfe : And I having been acquainted with him and his Wife 
 at my firft Convincement, and been often well entertained at their Houfe 
 when they dwelt at the Moorhoufe, I found as good Entertainment now upon 
 this needful Occafion ; lor the Lord having bore up our Minds over all 
 Fear of Mifcarriage in the Way, our natural Strength was foon repaired by 
 means of thefe comfortable Supplies we met with from our Friends here. 
 
 On the 2d the Meedng was held, according to Appointment -, and being Mofsdale. 
 moftly of Friends, the Lord gave us a comfortable Seafon of his Goodnefs toge- 
 ther. I ftaid at George Mark's till the 4th, and then went to George Peacock's^ 
 about a Mile off, where I lodged that Night, and next Day went to the Meet- 
 ing zlColdbeck ; and (being the Firft Day of the Wepk) it was large and open, Coldbeck. 
 and Truth over all : And that Evening, through much Snow and Cold, I re- 
 turned to George Peacock's, being within Night before we got thither. 
 
 On the 6th I went to Penrith, and lodged with a Widow (a Daughter Penrith. 
 of Robert Ben/on) ; and the Day following, in the Evening, had a Meeting 
 there ; which was large, by reafon of the People that came in (being but fmall 
 
 of
 
 S^6 The LIFE, ^x. 
 
 Anno of itfelf ) and a good open Time we had. Here I ftaid for Company till the 
 1 717. Ninth. 
 
 On the 9th I went from hence towards Newcaftle, accompanied by John 
 Benfon^ and his Son James -, but could not pafs over the Mountains for the 
 Snow, but by the common Road from Brampton: and the firft Night we lodged 
 at an Inn in Haltwhijlle, and the next Day proving rainy in the Afternoon, it 
 was within Night before we reached Newcajfk ; and tho' very wet and cold, 
 I foon forgot the Fatigue, being kindly received and entertained by my old 
 Friends Jopua Middletcn and his Wife, where I lodged. 
 
 Newcaftle. On the 12th (being the Firft of the Week) I was at their Meeting at New- 
 
 cajlle, both Forenoon and Afternoon •, and it was a large and open Meeting 
 feveral Strangers being there, and Things pafled to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 'o> 
 
 On the i6th I was there again, the Meeting being moftly of Friends; and 
 the Lord was with us in his Love, and divine Virtue: by which many were 
 tendered and comforted, to his own Praife, and our mutual Help and Edi- 
 fication. 
 
 North Shields On the iSth I went to Nortb-ShieUs, and lodged at the Widow Tenant''?, % and 
 the next Day (being the Fini of the Week) was at their Meeting, which was 
 pretty large both Forenoon and Afternoon, and Things opened well : But tho' 
 the Doftrines of Truth appeared pretty clear in Wifdom, yet not fo much 
 Life accompanied us as at Neivcajlk, but rather laid more under, as fome way 
 fuffering more there in the Ground from fome hidden Caufe j but in the main 
 Things were well, and to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 Sunderland. O N the 20th I went to Sunderland, Dr Huntington being with me, who had 
 
 accompanied me through moft of Cumberland, but leaving me at Penrith had 
 come to me again at Newcajtk ; and the Day after had a Meeting there, 
 which was pretty large, and very open and comfortable : But I found myfelf 
 under great Inconveniences, by reafon of Cold I had taken before ; in which I 
 had good Help from my kind Friends Lancelot Wardale and his Wife, where 
 I lodged, who were very kind and courteous, as were alfo other Friends 
 there. 
 
 On the 2 2d, James Bickinfon coming up, there was another Meeting ap- 
 pointed there for him, where I was alfo ; and having no publick Concern 
 therein, I was much renewed in my Strength both of Body and Mind : For 
 tho' I had been ill all Night, and had little Reft, by reafon both of a great 
 Cough, and Pain in my Stomach, and fo much indifpofed in the Morning after 
 I arofe that I could not go to Meeting till about Half an Hour after the 
 Time ; yet, within a few Minutes after I was there, I found my Heart bound 
 up and furrounded with the Girdle of Truth, fo clofe and faft, that the heal- 
 ing Virtue thereof overpowered every other Power in me both of Body and 
 Mind ; fo that I had no prefent Senfe at all of any Ailing : And tho' the Dif- 
 temper afterwards appeared again in my Body, and had its Courfe, yet this 
 Work of Truth did not only fet my Mind over all Apprehenfions of Danger, 
 (tho' both Head and Lungs were much affefted) but facilitated the Evacuation 
 and Difcharge of Matter, fo abfolutely neceflary to Bodies on fuch Occafions ; 
 fecunng alfo the natural Spirits from too great an Expence in my Exercife in 
 the following Meetino-. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. s^y 
 
 On the 23d we went together to Shotton Meeting, which was pretty large. Anno 
 and indifferently well ; but my Exercile therein was a little heavy, yet a good 1717. 
 Meeting in the main. That Night we went together about three Miles fur- Shotton. 
 ther towards Durham^ and the next Day had a Meeting there, which was large; Durham, 
 and a good open Time the Lord gave us together, and we were entertained at 
 John Dodgfo7i'%. The next Day James Dickinfon went to Stockton, and I to 
 Bijhop- Auckland, where I lodged that Night with the Widow Tunjtall. 
 
 On the 26th, (being the Firft Day of the Week) I was at their Meeting at 
 Bijhop- Auckland; whicli was pretty large and open as to Doftrine, and fome BifhopAuck- 
 Reaches of Truth now and then ftirring among us, but fome fecret Suffering of "^" ' 
 the Seed ftill there., tho' in the main a good Meeting. That Evening I went 
 home with John Walton (an honeft Friend, well fkill'd in fpiritual and natural 
 Things) and his Wife, whcfe Maiden Name was Helen Fairlow: She ferv'd 
 the Countefs of Carlijle, as her Gentlewoman, at the Time of her Convincement ; 
 in which, by the Grace of God, I alio had been in fome Degree inftrumental be- 
 fore I went to America. They liv'd at a Village near Auckland, called Shildon. 
 
 On the 28th I went to an appointed Meeting at Raby, which was large, and Raby, 
 very open, and fome Strangers well affefted therein ; and that Night I lodged 
 with Caleb Grainger there, who is alfo a Friend of the Miniftry. 
 
 On the 29th I went to Cockerton, and lodg'd at Robert Goldborough's, and the 
 Day following had a large open Meeting at Darlington. There being pretty Darlington, 
 many Strangers, Things opened clear and free, and the Power and Wifdom of 
 Truth was over all, to the Praife of the Great and Mafter- Workman, the 
 Lord himfelf, who worketh all, in all of his People and Servants; many of 
 whom were much broken and comforted in that Meeting : and that Night I 
 lodged at William Singleton's, in the fame Town. 
 
 On the 31ft I went to Stockton, about nine Miles, and there had another ap- Stockton; 
 pointed Meeting, which was pretty large, and very open ; and many being 
 broken and tendered, were alfo edified and comforted together in the Love of 
 our heavenly Father, which plentifully flowed among us, to his fole Glory. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 I LODGED with my old Friend Nicholas Cockfield, where I ftaid till the Se- 
 cond of the Twelfth Montli; and (being the Firll of the Week) I then went 
 forward to Tarm to their Meeting, in its ufual Courfe and Time. This Meet- Yarm, 
 ing was not large, but open and living, the Life-giving Prefence of the Lord 
 being gracioufly afforded unto us. I lodged at Ralph Reed's that Night. 
 
 O N the 3d I went forward to Stoxley, and lodged at John Pennitt's, where stoxley. 
 I was very agreeably entertained ; and his Son Thomas went with me to feveral 
 Meetings. 
 
 'b" 
 
 On the 4th I was at their Meeting at Ay ton, which was open and comfort- Ayton; 
 able ; and that Evening called to fee old Maurice Lijle, then Prieft of Kildale, 
 to which I had feveral Inducements. Firjl, His eldeft Son, of the fame Name, 
 having come over into Penfilvania, and been my Clerk for about four Years, had 
 been convinced in the Time, and was now among Friends there. Secondly, This 
 Maurice, the Father, had all along been civil and tender to Friends in his Way ; 
 not fuing, nor imprifoning any for his Parifh Wages, as has been too common 
 in others of his Profeffion, and ftill is, in this Nation. He and his Family kindly 
 
 7 M received
 
 Anno 
 
 1717. 
 
 Gisborough. 
 
 Moor(ham. 
 
 Roxby. 
 
 Whitby. 
 
 598 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 received my Vifit, and we parted in pretty open Friendlhip •, and that Night I 
 went with Simon 2'eik to his Houfe near Gijborough. 
 
 On the 5th I was at Gijborough , where the Meeting was not large -, but 
 Truth was exalted over all, and we were comforted together ; and feveral of 
 the Town's People coming in, were quiet, and fome of them pretty tender. 
 
 Next Day I was at the Meeting at Moorjham, which was a fmall and heavy 
 Meeting-, yet the Lord owned us in fome Meafure by his Life and Prefence, 
 which was not afar off to feveral there ; and it ended well. That Night I 
 lodged near the Place, at the Houfe of John Stonehoufe, who went with me 
 next Day to Roxby^ to a Meeting there, which was fmall and heavy in the Be- 
 einnin^ ; but the Lord in Mercy vifited us together, and we had a very com- 
 fortable Time. That Night I ftaid there, at the Widow Jnne Furbank's. 
 
 Om the 8th I went to Whitby-, and took my Lodging with John Kiichinman, 
 a Mailer of a Veffel, with whom I had been acquainted in Holland, and at 
 London ; and the Day following (being the Firft of the Week) was at their 
 Meeting in the Forenoon, which of itfelf is large, there being a fine Body of 
 Friends in that Place, and was open and comfortable ; and I had feveral good 
 Openings among them, and the Teftimony of Truth had a free Pallage. And 
 the Meeting was alfo very comfortable in the Afternoon. 
 
 They have two Week-day Meetings, the one en the Fourth, the other on 
 the Sixth •, and being alfo at them, I found them open and comfortable ; and 
 flaying till the Firfl Day following, being the 16th of the Month, the Meeting 
 in the Forenoon was large and open, but not many Strangers : And being defirous 
 to fee the People, the Afternoon Meeting was put off till Five in the Evening, 
 and Notice given, which fully anfwered the Intent ; for there was fuch a Crowd 
 as the Friends there had never feen in that Place, and many Things opened to 
 them in the Wifdom and Authority of Truth, to general Satisfaftion. I do not 
 fee but, at this Day, in all Places where Friends are diligent to draw People tO' 
 Meetings, the Truth appears mofl freely, and Things are moft lively •, but where 
 Friends, themfelves, are fet down contented, without any fuch Concern, Things 
 are cold and heavy to themfelves alfo, and little Appearance of Truth but in 
 Reproof and Dillike. 
 
 O N the 1 8th, being the Third of the Week, I went forward to a Meeting 
 at Staintondak, which was of itfelf a fmall Meeting, but augmented by Friends 
 that went from Whitby, and was open and comfortable •, and that Evening I went 
 to Scarborough, and lodged with Peter Garbut, an ancient Friend there. They 
 have alfo at Scarborough two Week-day Meetings, viz. on the Fourth and Sixth. 
 I was at them both ; but the firfl was a little fhut up, efpecially in the Beginning, 
 and the fecond more open. On the Firft Day Forenoon the Meeting confift- 
 ed, for the moft Part, of Friends, and generally young People, and indifferent 
 open ; but being put off in the Afternoon till Five in the Evening, it was very 
 large, and crowded with People of feveral Sorts. Truth came over them witli 
 good Authority, many Things fuitable being clearly opened among them ; and 
 the Meeting ended in a very Iblid Manner, to general Comfort and Edification. 
 
 Burlington. O n the 24th I went to Burlington, and lodged at Hugh Travis's Houfe ; and 
 
 the next Day had a Meeting there, which was very large : for the Friends havino- 
 taken Care to invite the People, they came fully, and the L r d was with us, 
 
 and 
 
 Staintondale. 
 Scarborough.
 
 of T BO M A S ST RT S99 
 
 and honoured his own Name among them -, for his blefied Truth was over all, Anno 
 and Friends were generally fatisfied. ^7 '7' 
 
 The next Day I was at a Meeting at Hornfey, which is very fmall -, but fome Honifey. 
 from Burlington and other Places made it up pretty well, and it was open and 
 tomfortable. That Night I lodged with Peter Acklonie there, but had a fecrec 
 Load on my Spirit, not knowing the Reafon of it. 
 
 On the 2*^th I was at a Meeting at Ouftwick, where came fome Friends from Ouftwkk. 
 feveral Places about : but little Notice being given to the People, the Meeting 
 was not large, nor very open ; and I was alfo heavy in my Spirit fome Time al- 
 ter this Meeting, but knew no Kcafon then for it in myfelf. 
 
 I LODGED that Night at Ifaac Starr's, and on the 28th he went with me to 
 Hull ; and that Evening we had a Meeting there. They are but few of thcmfelves •, Hull, 
 but fome Notice being given to fome of the People, the Meeting was pretty full, 
 and Things opened largely, both for the Encouragement of the faithful, and 
 Rebuke of the Backdiders ; efpecially the unfaithful concerning Tythes, as a main 
 Branch of tlie Teftimony of Truth, in our Day, againft Antichrift and his Mi- 
 nifters : for which, I heard afterward, there was too much Reafon in thefe Parts. 
 Here I lodged with John Huggettci. 
 
 O N the Second Day of the Firft Month, being the Firft of the Week, I went 
 to Beverly, where we had a large Meeting of Friends and others, and very open, Beverly, 
 many being reached in it by the Power of Truth ; and that Evening I went with 
 Robert Turner and his Wife to their Son-in-law Thomas Anderton''s, at Ellerton, 
 who had come to meet me at Beverly on Purpofe. 
 
 On the 4th Day I went to an appointed Meeting at North-Cave, where came North-Cave; 
 People of feveral Sedls, as Papifts, Epifcopalians, Presbyterians, i^c. and there 
 being a Burial at the fame Place, Things opened largely, and to general Satisfac- 
 tion ; and the Lord gave us a good and comfortable Time. After the Meet- 
 ing, I went that Evening home with Nathaniel Wells, to Cotnefs ; where, on the 
 6th, I had a Meeting, not large, nor much in the flowing of Life, but fome 
 Things of great Moment were moving : as, the firft Eftablilliment of the Wor- 
 Ihip of God in Spirit, before there was any Church in Afia, or the Gofpel at 
 all preached at Rome ; the Rife of Antichrift in the Apoftles Days, his Progrefs 
 in the fame fort of Minifters, his Heighth in the Papacy, and approaching 
 Downfal in the fame, and in all others the like, in all Lands, and in all Forms ; 
 the Truth, and its Teftimony and Followers, perfecuted in this Land from the 
 Beginning ; the great Reward and Triimiph of its faithful Witnefles, and the 
 mean and bafe Spirits of thofe who were vifited, and were unfaithful •, and their 
 Reward of Infamy and Death : and in the main it was a good Meeting. Being 
 a little out of Order by reafon of a Cold I had taken, and the Friends being 
 both kind and of very agreeable Converfation, and giving me a kind Invitation, 
 I ftaid here till the 9th, in the Morning. 
 
 This being the Firft of the Week, I went to Raivcliff; where the Meeting Rawcliff. 
 was large and open, there being Friends from feveral Meetings about, and fome 
 Strangers: and the Lord gave us an open and free Time. That Evening we 
 had another Meeting there, which is ufual ; but no Notice being given to the 
 People of the Town, nor I knowing any thing of it till too late, (for I ftiould 
 have defired their Company) we had but a heavy lime ; as I ever obferved, in 
 all my Travels, where the Profeflbrs of Truth arc fet down by themfelves, 
 
 without
 
 6oo The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Anno without a due Concern for others. Things are but heavy and dead even to them 
 1 71 7. that are lb : and yet, after a confiderable Time in Silence, the Lord conde- 
 fcended to comfort us together, and the little Meeting ended well. That Night 
 I lodged with William Whitfide there. 
 
 On the 1 1 th I was at an appointed Meeting at Selh, where came fome few 
 of the Town's People, and Friends from fome other Parts, and we had a pretty 
 open Time and good Meeting ; and at that Place having lodged with Zacchius 
 Canb)\ I went, after the Meeting, home with Richard V/ard jun. to his Houfe 
 in Ilillam. 
 
 On the 12th I went to PontefraSf, where we had a fmall Meeting, but in- 
 different open, there being few but Friends, and fome ot them young, and not 
 much acquainted with the Work of Truth, as it is too much in moft other Pla- 
 ces : But, being prcferved pretty generally from the grofier Evils of the World, 
 and keeping orderly, there is good Ground of Hope the Lord will efteftually 
 reach them in his own Time ; as, bleffcd be his Name, he hath already blefTed 
 many of them with the Knowledge of his Way and Truth, to the Comfort of 
 their own Souls, and all that are concerned with tliem. I ftaid, after the Meet- 
 ing, at Robert Clarkfcn\^ an ancient Friend of the old Stock, and faithful. 
 
 On the 1 3th I v/as at an appointed Meeting at Wahejield., which, happening 
 on the Monthly Meeting Day at Builon, was but fmall ; but there came in Ibme 
 fober People of the Town, and Things were very open to them : But a Parcel 
 of giggling, rude, raw, fleering 7/?)OT«e///«, coming alio, we had fome Difliiir- 
 bance by their unchriftian and uncivil Behaviour -, v;hich put me in mind of the 
 juft Refentment of that good and patient Man Job, who, recounting tlie ill 
 Behaviour of fome bafe and mean Spirits to him in the Time of his Humiliati- 
 Jobxxx. I. on, broke into this worthy Refleftion, Whofe Fathers I would bave dikhintd ta 
 have fet -with the Dogs of my Flock ; expofing their indigent Pedigree fully in 
 the fame Chapter -, of which I alfo reminded thefe : and yet, for the fake of 
 the fober and well-inclined, Things opened clear and full -, and Truth being in 
 Dominion over all, the rude Company could not live under the cutting Reproofs 
 of it, but retired, and then we had a good Seafon : And enquiring of Ibme 
 Friends, what and who they were, I found they were a Parcel of Scholars, 
 belonging to a School in Town, with fome their like Abettors : which 
 gives me this Occafion to obferve, that we have but a melancholy Profpeft of 
 this rifing Generation, to fee the Youth of the Age every where lb corrupted, 
 efpecially at all the Colleges and Schools in the three Kingdoms, (generally fpeak- 
 ing) where young Men have the Rudiments of that Learning and Education 
 which fliou Id qualify them for the Services of their own Families and Country. 
 Hence arife the great Milchiefs (after the Manner of Men, and nationally fpeak- 
 ing) in Church, in State, in all the Offices and Officers, Civil, Military and 
 Ecclefiaftical -, in Pride, in Covetoufnefs, in Emulation, Strife and Envy ; in 
 Lull of Dominion, Pre-eminence and Rule -, to that Degree that the whole Bo- 
 dy of the People of England is thereby in great Danger of utter Ruin : which 
 furely will come, if they continue to negleft fo great Salvation as the Lor d, 
 in infinite Mercy, yet condnues to offer to them : In fending forth his Light and 
 Truth fo freely and plentifully among them ; in which he will be clear in that 
 Day, when their great Sins will make their deep Humiliation fo neceflary to 
 them. The Meeting ended well ; and that Evening I went to Leeds to Benja- 
 min Florner's. 
 
 The 14th was the Week-day Meeting at Leeds ^ which was pretty open and 
 
 well -,
 
 Anno 
 
 York. 
 Leeds. 
 
 of T HO M ^ S ST RT. 601 
 
 ■well ; where I ftaid alfo till the Third Day following. On the iSth I went to 
 2''ork to the Quarterly Meeting, which was large ; and a very open Time the 
 Lord gave us, and Things opened clear to the State of Friends and People : 
 and there I ftaid at Roger Shakleton's till the 20th : Returning thence to Leeds 
 with Benjamin Horner, I lodged with him, and was kindly entertained, under a 
 great Cold, with a Pain in my Stomach, wherewith I had been taken after that 
 Meeting ^x. Wakefield : but my good Friend Chrijtiana Horner adminiftring fuit- 
 able Things, I recovered pretty well before I departed thence ; which was not 
 till the 27th, when I went to Gilderjhara, about four Miles from thence, to a Gilderlham. 
 Meeting ; where came feveral of the Neighbourhood, fome Ancinomians, Pref- 
 byterians, Epifcopalians, &c. and atter a confiderable Time in Silence, the Lor d 
 gave us a good Seafon, and opened many Things to the State and Underftand- 
 ing of the People. That Night I went home with Samuel Dickinfon in the fame 
 Village-, and, the next Morning, fet forward for Kendal, in order for the Year- 
 ly Meeting there. That Night I lodged with William Birbeck in Settle, and thfi 
 next with Thomas Elwood, at Kendal. 
 
 O N the 30th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting in the Kendal. 
 Forenoon ; where there were few but Friends, and pretty open ; but not fo full 
 as I could have defired : But the Afternoon Meeting, at my Requeft, being put 
 off till the Fourth Hour in the Evening, and Notice given to the People, there 
 came a great Company, and the Lord opened many Things for their Con- 
 vincement, in the Demonftration of his Wifdom and Power ; and many were 
 tendered, and generally very fober. It was a large and good Meeting, to the 
 Honour of the Lord, who alone can make it fo. 
 
 On the 31ft, in the Afternoon, began the Yearly Meeting ; the firft Meeting 
 being for miniftring Friends, feveral being there from Cumberland, IVeftmorelandy 
 Northumberland, Durham, LancaJJnre, Torkfiire, and Chefinre. Many Things 
 ■were opened among the Brethren to general Edification and Comfort. In the 
 mean time was a Meeting of Elders a-part, to confer about fuch Affairs of Truth 
 as came under their proper Cognizance: and, before the Meeting of Minifters 
 ended, the Elders defiring Admittance to fit with them, as is ufual, they were 
 readily received accordingly ; and then we had fome Time together, and all con- 
 cluded to Satisfaftion. 
 
 The next Morning about eight, being the ift of the Second Month, we had 
 the publick Meeting for Worfhip -, which was very large and open, confifting 
 moftly of young and middle-aged Friends; but not of many other People^ 
 confidering the Occafion. 
 
 On the 2d, in the Forenoon, we had a Meefing of Conference, by Minifters 
 and Elders from all Parts, to confer about the Affairs of Truth in general, and how 
 it profpcred, and what was yet to be done for the Honour of God, and fpread- 
 ing of the bleffed Truth ftill more and more on Earth ; which is the whole End 
 of thefe Meedno-s: in which alfo we had Peace and Comfort in the Lord, and 
 one in another in him. That Afternoon we had a parting Meeting; which was 
 laro-e and comfortable : So all ended to our mutual Satisfaftion, and without the 
 leaft Contradiftion from any Stranger ; and the Meeting was then adjourned to 
 the 14th of the Second Month, the Year following, to be held then at Liver- 
 fool in Lancajloire. 
 
 On the 5th, there happening to be a Marriage in that Town, (the Woman a 
 Grand-daughter of Robert Barrow ; who, with others, fuffered fo much at Flo' 
 rida, &c.) I had an Inclination to be at it, as I was alfo requefted to be by feve- 
 
 7 N fal
 
 Lancafler. 
 
 Penketh. 
 
 Cor The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno ral Friends ; and a Marriage among the Quakers being a Novelty there, and 
 1718. the publick Meetings having ftirred up the People, more of them came than to 
 the other Meetings: and the Lord was pleafed to look upon us in his Good- 
 nefs; for his bleffed Truth was over all to his own Glory, and the Comfort of 
 many. The publick Exercife faUing to my Share, the Lo rd opened Matters 
 of Moment relating to Marriage, and fome other Things •, and the Meeting end- 
 ed well, Benjamin Bangs concluding it in Prayer. 
 
 That Afternoon I went forward to Lancajier, and lodged at Rokrf Law- 
 fort's i who had fent his Son with an Invitation to me for that End, at Kendal. 
 
 On the 4th I was at their Quarterly Meeting ; where alfo the L o r d appear- 
 ed in Love, and we had a good Seafon thereof together : But, preffing forwards 
 for Shrewsbury, I (laid not the Meeting for Bufinefs ; but Benjamin Bangs, Ri- 
 chard Slarkey, and I, with fome others, went home with the Widow Rigiy, about 
 1 5 Miles, towards Prefton ; and, next Day, joining other Friends on the Road, 
 we were about 18 or 20 in Company. Falling in with Gilbert Thompfcn and 
 his Witf, I went that Night home with them. 
 
 On the 6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting at Penketh ; 
 where alfo came Benjamin Bangs ; and we had a large open Meeting. Dining 
 at Gilbert's, we went afterwards to Warringtm ; where we had a large Even- 
 ing Meeting, moftly of the Town's People of feveral Perfuafions, who were ge- 
 nerally fober and pleafed ; for the Lord was with us, and did us good toge- 
 ther. That Night we lodged at Enoch 'Tomlinfon'' s there. 
 
 O N the 7th we went to Richard Starkie's. That Day we refted, refrefhing 
 ourfelves, and putting our Things in order. 
 
 On the 8th we had a pretty large Meeting at Frenchay, which, though a 
 little heavy for a Time, the Sun at laft broke through and difperfed the Clouds; 
 and we had a growing Seafon in the End, to the Praife of the great Diredlor of 
 all our Seafons of divine Love and heavenly Enjoyment. 
 
 O N the 9t!i we had a Meeting at Newton ; which was alfo large and cloud- 
 ed in the Beginning ; but ended well, and to general Satisfadlion, there being 
 pretty many People, as there were alfo at Frenchay, where were feveral Bapcifts -, 
 and Things opened on that Subjedl at Frenchay without Objedion. That Even- 
 ing we went to John Merrick's, about three Miles. 
 
 Namptwich. O n the 10th, Benjamin Bangs having received a Letter that one of his Daugh- 
 ters was taken ill, returned home, and I went to Namptwich ; where a Meeting 
 had been appointed. The Sheriff of the County living there, let us have an 
 empty Houfe to meet in ; for we have no Meeting-houfe there, being but few 
 Friends in thofe Parts. It was a large Meeting, and Friends from feveral Places 
 about, and many People; fo that ail the Rooms were crowded: and though 
 many of them came in with light and fleering Countenances, yet, before the 
 Meeting was ended. Things opening clear, and the Vifitation of the Lord be- 
 ing to them, feveral were tendered, and generally fober and grave; and the fo- 
 lid Truth was over them : It was a good open Meeting. That Night I went 
 about four Miles with the old Widow Haywood. 
 
 On the i ith I went to Shrewsbury; where meeting with Thomas Harvey, and 
 Charles Lloyd from Wales, met to confult about a Place for the Yearly Meeting, 
 their Company made fome Amends for the Fatigue of that Day. That Evening I 
 
 went 
 
 Frenchay. 
 
 Newton.
 
 of T HO M ^ S S T O RT. (^03 
 
 went home with Thomas Harvey; where I ftaid till the Firft Day Morning, and Anno 
 then went to the Meeting at Shre-wsbury: which was not large in the Forenoon, 171 8. 
 nor very open, tho' fome other Strangers were there. Shrewsbury. 
 
 In the Afternoon the Meeting was as large as the Houfe could well holdj 
 and a pretty good Meeting ; but there being no miniftring Friend belonging to 
 the Meeting, except one who hath but a few Words, Things iook'd a little ftrange 
 to fome. Having a kind Invitation after the Meeting by my Friend John Fow- 
 ier^ to lodge with him, I accepted of it, and was kindly entertained at his Houfe 
 all the Time of the Yearly Meeting; which, from that Time, was once or 
 twice a-day till the Sixth Day following. 
 
 There were feveral miniftring Friends prefent 5 as, Aaron Atkhfon^ from 
 Leeds, John FallowfielJ, from Hertford, Daniel Bell, from London, Gilbert 
 Thonipfon, from Penketh, i^c. And fuch Meetings being new there, a Multitude 
 ot People of all Ranks flocked thither, from one Day to another; and the 
 Lord was evidently with us, and opened many excellent Truths of the Go- 
 fpcl to general Satisfadtion ; and Truth was over all^ the Meeting being prefer- 
 ved in a good Decorum from firft to laft: But I, having occafion to fpeak of 
 the Neceflity of Freedom from Sin in this Life ; and citing the Catechifm of the 
 Church of England, among other Things, to prove it, (for it is held there that 
 People may live all the Days of their Lives, and never fin) fome or other had 
 mifreprefented what I fiiid to a Prieft ; who, after the Meeting, fent to fpeak 
 with John Fallowfield and Daniel Bell about it, not knowing my Name : and 
 they had fome Difcourfe about it, his chief Objection lying againft our naming 
 their Catechifm ; and faid, we ought to confine ourfelves within our own Com- 
 munion, and fay nothing that might have any Tendency to draw any of ano- 
 ther Communion to our Way : but finding him unrcafonable, they foon came 
 over him, and he was running away in a Rage ; but they ftaid him till that was 
 over: Then he would have had them come in the Morning, and fmoke a dry Pipe, 
 as he called it ; but they declined the Invitation, and left him to perform that 
 Burnt-offering in his own Way. But as the Locufts eat up every green Thing, 
 fo this Prieft had met with a young Man and Woman, who both were under 
 Convincemenf, and had been much reached in fome of the Meetings, and had 
 told them the Quakers were in the Way of Damnation ; and therefore caution- 
 ed thefe young People, in private, to fly from us as from a Serpent or the Plague: 
 which they difcovering to John and Daniel, they treated him accordingly, and 
 expofed him before thefe People, and feveral others at the Inn. 
 
 O N the 1 8th, (being the laft Day of the Meeting, and our parting Time, the 
 Lord being ftill with us) in the Forenoon I had a large open Time: and tho' 
 I was very weak, and ill of a great Cold I had taken a Week before, yet the 
 Lord gave me Strength and Utterance; fo that many Things were opened 
 to general Satisfadtion. One Thing happened fomewhat remarkable in it: 
 For, as I was concerned to fpeak of the Crucifixion of Christ, and mention- 
 ing the large Incifion in his Side by the Spear, whence iflued Blood and Water; 
 which clearly evinced he was wounded to the Heart through the Pericardium 
 which held that Water : and that this being for the Sins of Men, without which 
 that would not have been put upon him, I myfelf was fo much affefted with it, 
 as alfo the Auditory, that I could not go on ; but, being much broken, ftopped 
 and flood ftill till my Spirit was a little unburdened by an Efflux of many 
 Tears, and the whole Auditory was bowed, and many furprized, and generally 
 broken and melted ; fo that many confeflTed the Truth, and that they had never 
 known the like: And, after fome Time, I went on further with the Matter j 
 
 which
 
 <5o4 
 
 Anno 
 
 1718. 
 
 The L I F E, '^c. 
 
 which opened fo full, as, I believe, nothing ftood in the Way before all was end- 
 ed. As this was the Lord's Work, and his Hand plainly in it, (for at firft I 
 was very weak to the Sight of all, by reafon of the Cold and Hoarfenefs, but 
 tny Voice grew ftronger than common, and clear) fo to him only be the Glory 
 and Thanks now and for ever. Amen. 
 
 '.' The Meeting ended in Prayer, and to general Comfort-, and 1 have not 
 known many Meetings hold fo many Days, and fo v/ell throughout ; which 
 was alfo the Obfervation of many more : And fo Friends returned to their va- 
 rious Places with great Satisfaftion •, and the People were generally humbled, and 
 fpake well of the Truth : But fome were angry that there was no Power to fup- 
 prefs us ; though they were very few, partly of High Church and partly Pref- 
 byterians, who would foon be at their old murdering Work, (I mean, a fort of 
 Rulers among them) if they had but Power. 
 
 I STAID here the Firft Day following -, but my Cold increafing, and a 
 Fever attending, by my Concerns in the Meetings before, my Speech was whol- 
 ly taken away, fo that I could only whifper; but Samuel Overton^ from I Far- 
 wick Meeting, flaying alfo, and many People coming in, the Meetings were well 
 and comfortable. That Evening I went home with Thomas Harvey, where I 
 ftaid till the 2 2d: and being fupplied with all Neceflaries for my Recovery, 
 the Lord's Bleffing on their Care was fo effedtual, that I regain'd my Speech, 
 fo as I could be heard. That Day, in the Afternoon, I went to Wolverhampton^ 
 about 20 Miles, and lodged at Charles Osborn's; but ftill weakly., 
 
 Wolver- O N the 24th, being the Fifth of the Week, I was at their Meeting -, which 
 
 hanipton. ^^^ fmall, becaufe I was not free, as circumftanced, that any Notice fhould be 
 given on my Account. 
 
 Birmingham. On the 26th I went to Biriningham, and lodged at Richard Park'' s ; and the 
 next Day was at their Meeting, Forenoon and Afternoon. The firft was not 
 large, but indifferent open ; but the latter was larger and more open. My Con- 
 cern therein, efpecially in the Afternoon, having much weakened me, and the 
 Air being much changed, I took fome new Cold that Evening; fo that I ftaid 
 there till the 29th. 
 
 Sturbridge. That Day I went to Sturhridge % where having fome occafional Notice, we 
 
 had a large open Meeting, many of the chief of the Town being therein ; and the 
 Lord favoured us with his Wifdom and Power, which was apparent there to 
 the reaching of feveral. That Night I ftaid there with old Ambrofe Crowley, 
 then about 80 Years of Age, and of a Countenance innocent as a Child, and yet 
 not childifli •, but very fenfible, and pleafed with our Company. 
 
 Eicmfgrove. On the 30th I went thence to Bromfgrove, to their Meeting; which, by rea- 
 fon of the fliort Notice, was not large ; but feveral of the Town's People there, 
 and pretty open. That Night I lodged with Thomas Farmer. 
 
 "V^^orceftcr, O n the ift of the Third Month I went forward to the City of Worcefter, and 
 
 lodged with James Par do. The next Day I was at their Week-day Meetino-; 
 •which confifted moftiy of Friends: and the Lord gave us an open comfortable 
 Time together, affording to us his comfortable Prefence. 
 
 Tarrying here till the Firft Day, I was again at their Meetino- ; which, 
 in the Forenoon, was well filled with Friends, pretty open, and a c^ood Meetino- .• 
 but, in the Afternoon, was much larger, and a great many People there ; and 
 
 Things
 
 of T H MA S ST RT. 
 
 Things were very open and clear, and Friends and the People generally fatisfied: 
 but I found my natural Strength much fpent, and my Spirits exhaufted. 
 
 Anno 
 1718. 
 
 O N the 5th I went to TeukJJmry, and lodged at Jofeph Clarke's, and the Day Teuksbury. 
 after had a Meeting there ; wliich was pretty large and open, and many reached 
 by the Power of '1 ruth, both Friends and others, and well fatisfied, the blefled 
 Prcfence ot the Lord being over all in the Meeting : There were alfo prefent 
 feveral Scholars of one who taught academical Learning in the Place, who were 
 very fober and folid in their Behaviour. 
 
 O N the 7tli I went to the City of Gloncefler, where there is a fmall Meeting, Gloucefter. 
 and not many Strangers came in : befides, it was heavy, and drowfy -, but, 
 after a confiderable Time in Silence, the Truth working off and through the 
 Cloud and Power of Darknefs, I had a pretty open Time among them ; and 
 afterwards iearn'd the Rcaion of the Hardneis : for there were feveral unruly and 
 fhattered Perlons among them. I logded with Edward Prichard. 
 
 O N the 8th I went to Nailfwcrth, being their Meeting-day. The Meeting Nailfworth. 
 was fmall and heavy. I had no publick Concern in it : but there being feveral 
 other Strangers going alfo towards Briftol, feme of them were concerned ; and 
 Things ended well and comfortable. 
 
 O N the I oth I reached Briftol^ and was at the Yearly Meeting, which was large Briftol. 
 and open j and, among many others, (for there was a large Appearance ot mini- 
 ftring Friends) I had fume Concern in the Meeting, viz. touching the Sins of the 
 old World, and God's Long fuffering towards them for fo many hundred Years, 
 and their Deflruction for Sin at laft : the re-peopling of the Worlds and their 
 Degeneracy alfo ; the Difpenfation of God to the J^wj-, their Apoftacy, and 
 many Sins and Provocations for many Ages, and their Deftruftion alfo : and, 
 lajily, the Vifitation of God, his Oifers of Salvation by Christ, and his Light and 
 Grace unto all Nations : the Rife of Antichrift in the Apoftles Days, not a- 
 mong the Jews nor Gentiles^ but among the Chriftians -, who they were ; their 
 Progrefs, Heighth and Infults over Mankind, fubjeding all other Powers to 
 themfelves, perverting the good Ends of Civil Power, and turning the Edge 
 of Juitice backward againft the innocent, and indulging the ungodly : the Ap- 
 proach of the final Downfall and Ruin of that Power in all Nations, wherever 
 it has been in the World ; under a Profefiion of the Chriftian Religion, longer 
 than either in the old World or the Jews ; and cannot efcape condign Punifh- 
 ment, for the Ocean of Blood fhe hath fhed, having the fame righteous and 
 Almighty Judge to anfwcr before, and the Word of his Mouth already gone 
 forth againft her, in many Prophecies of her final and perpetual Defolation : 
 and the Tranquility of the Nations and People after that, to the End of Time, 
 under the Reign of the Lo r d J e s u s, by his Holy Spirit. 
 
 On the i8th I went out of the City to a Place, about Five Miles off, called 
 Parjbury, where the Prieft of the Place had been preaching againft the King and Parsbury. 
 Government, and taken to Taflc about it. The fober People were weary of 
 him ; and, having Notice of it, I found Freedom to go thither, where alfo 
 came many Friends from Briftol, and Places adjacent : and, notwithftanding the 
 Rain and bad Weather, we were about five hundred together, in a laro-e Barn; 
 and the Lord appeared in his Love and Wifdom, and opened many Thino-s 
 inftrumentally, to general Satisfadtion : and that Evening we returned to 
 BriftoL 
 
 jO 
 
 On
 
 6o6 
 
 Ann o 
 
 1718. 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Winkfield. 
 
 Stains. 
 
 The L I F E, c^c. 
 
 On the 19th I went to Nail/worth again, and was at the Qiiarterly' Meeting 
 for Gloucepr County, held there. Being a little wearied and fpent, I Ibid there 
 the Fifth Day's Meeting ; and on the Sixth Day (the 23d of the Month) went 
 forward to Uxton, near Bluebury, where I ftaid that Night with the Widow 
 Jane Stainton ; and, the Day following, went to Readivg to miliam Lumkl's. 
 
 O N the 25th I was at the Meeting at Reading. In the Forenoon it was not large, 
 nor very open, but rather heavy -, nor found I any thing to fay amongft them, only 
 a little in Prayer: bur, in the Afternoon, on occafion of a Burial, the Meeting 
 was large, and much more open ; where I had fome Concern to expofe the 
 Kingdom of Antichrift, in fome Degree, and fay fomething alfo about the Re- 
 furredion of the Dead -, and Things were pretty well in the main. That Even- 
 ing 1 went with Hannah Penn and Family to Rufmnb, where I found her Huf- 
 band Hill weak, but very open to receive me ; which he expreffed feveral Ways, 
 There I ftaid till the Third Day, and returned to Reading to their Monthly 
 Meeting j which being feleft and quiet, we had a tender Time together in 
 waidng upon the Lo rd ; where I alfo had fomething in Teftimony, and after- 
 wards we proceeded to the Bufmefs : and fo all ended in Peace. That Evening 
 I returned again to Rujcomb, where I ftaid till the 29th, and then went to a 
 Monthly Meeting at Winkfield, held at John Finch' ^ ; which, though fmall, was 
 vciy open and well. That Night 1 went home with Jofeph Hales to Stains. 
 
 O N the 30th we had a fmall Meeting at Stains ; and the Day following, be- 
 ing the Seventh of the W^eek, I went to London to the Yearly Meeting, 
 
 London. 
 
 Clielmsfoid. 
 
 Coggeihall. 
 Braintry. 
 
 London. 
 
 This Meeting was large ; but fome Debate happening therein concerning 
 the Manner of dealing with Perfons accufed of publick Slander, occafioned by 
 fome Satyrical Libels printed the Year before, the Meeting was fomewhat 
 dirturbed on that Occafion -, but yet the Lord was near, and Things ended 
 pretty well and comfortable. 
 
 O M the i4tli I went to Chelmsford, and next Day to Colchejier; and, being 
 the Firft of the Week, and the Day before the Yearly Meeting of that Place, 
 we had a large Appearance of Friends and others, and an open Time. The 
 Yearly Meeting which enfued was large, and the L o r d's good Prefence was 
 there ; and many weighty Things were, through his Grace, opened in the Meet- 
 ing, to general Edification and Comfort. 
 
 On the 19th I returned to Coggejhal, being their Meeting Day; where the 
 Lord's Prefence was with us, and a good Meeting we had. That Night I 
 lodged with John Ofgood, a Mile from thence, and the Day following had a 
 Meeting appointed at Braintry ; whither came Friends from feveral Parts adja- 
 cent, and Thino;s were well. 
 
 On the 21ft I went back to Chelmsford, and was at their Meeting the Day 
 following; which was large, and pretty open in the main. Friends from divers 
 Parts round being there : and in the Evening, about the Sixth Hour, I had ano- 
 ther Meeting, more particularly for the People ; but, for want of due Notice, it 
 was not large: yet thofe who came in being quiet and orderly, many Things' of 
 great Weight opened ; and we had, through the Goodnefs of the Lord, a 
 good Meeting. On the 23d I returned to London with mv Landlord John 
 Crouch, who had met me at Chelmsjord. ' ' 
 
 H AVI N G vifitcd Meetings in Town for fom^Time, and writ and anfwered 
 
 many
 
 of T H O M ^ S S T RT. 6oy 
 
 mmy Letters botli to and from Jmmca, Scotland, Holland^ and North of En- AtitiQ 
 gland, I left the City again upon the 24th Day of the Fifth Month, in order 171 8. 
 for Brijicl ; and that Night went to Rufcomb, where I ftaid till the Firft Day 
 of the Week following. 
 
 On the 27th I went to the Meeting at Reading, which was pretty open both Reading. 
 iForenoon and Afternoon -, and that Night Itaid there at William LambeVs. On 
 the 28 th I went to Marlborough, and lodged with Daniel Smith \ and next Day 
 went to Briftol, and lodged with Brice Webb : where, (laying till the 31ft, I re- 
 ceived a Letter from Hannah Penn, of the Deceafe ol" her Husband, our ancient 
 and honourable Friend William Penn ; who departed this Life on the 30th, be- 
 tween Two and Three in the Morning, of a (hort Sicknefs, of which he had 
 no Symptoms at my Departure thence. 
 
 I was much broken in my Spirit on reading the Letter, confidering how near- 
 ly we had been acquainted and united in the Truth ; and a Concern taking hold 
 of my Mind, to be at the Interment of his Corpfe, I fet out that Afternoon, 
 about Three, from Briftol, accompanied by his Son John Penn, and one Ser- 
 vant ; and that Night I lodged at Cain. 
 
 On the ift of the Sixth Month we arrived at Rufccmb, late in the Evening, 
 where we found the Widow and moft of the Family together. Our coming 
 occafioned a frefh Remembrance of the deceafed, and alfo a renewed Flood of 
 many Tears from all Eyes. A folid Time we had, but few Words among us 
 for fome Time ; for it was a deep baptizing Seafon, and the L r d was near at 
 that Time. 
 
 H E R E I ftaid till the 5th, and that Day accompanied the Corpfe to the 
 Grave, ax. Jordan's Meeting-place in the County of Bucks, where we had a large 
 Meeting of Friends, and others, from many Places : And as the Lord had 
 made Choice of him in the Days of his Youth, for great and good Services, 
 and had been with him in many Dangers and Difficulties of various Kinds ; fo 
 he did not leave him in his laft Moments, but honoured the Occafion with his 
 blelTed Prefcnce, and gave us a happy Seafon of his Goodnefs, to the general 
 Satisfaffion of all, the Meeting being well fpoken of by Strangers afterwards. 
 That Night I returned to Rufcomb with the Family, where I itaid till the loth •, 
 and being prefent at the opening of his laft Will, had occafion to advife the Fa- 
 mily touching their various Interefts therein, as I thought moft conducing to E- 
 quity, and their general Peace and Good, as became their Relation to, and Ho- 
 nour of the deceafed . 
 
 On the icth I went to the Meeting at Reading, and that Evening returned 
 to Rufcomb, being folicited thereto by the Family, in order to fome further Ad- 
 vice concerning their Affairs •, being of great Moment, and accompanied with 
 many and conftderable Difficulties. 
 
 O N the 1 2th I returned to Reading to their Meeting ; and on the 13th was at 
 the Meeting .at Newbury, where the Friends who formerly feparated themfelves, Neyybury' 
 v/ere now (after the Example of Reading) returned, and become one with Friends 
 again : and tho' for fome Time a Spirit of Heavinefs was over feveral, yet the 
 Lord condefcended to arife for our Help, and Things opened to the State of 
 the Meeting -, which concluded in a more living Condition. That Evening I 
 went to Marlborough.
 
 ^o8 
 
 Anno 
 
 1718. 
 Monks. 
 
 Bath. 
 
 Bedford. 
 
 Bath. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 On the 14th I appointed a Meeting thercj which, tho' fmall, was open and 
 comfortable ; and that Afternoon I went forward to Monks, where I was l<.inf.iy 
 received by my Friends Caleb Dickinfon and his Wife ; and there I ftaid till the 
 16th, being much fatigued in thcfe late long Journies in the Heat of the Wea- 
 ther, which had been extreme at Times this Summer. From hence 1 went to 
 Bath on the Seventh Day in the Evening. 
 
 On the 1 7th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Bath ; 
 where many People being come to drink the Waters, the Meeting was full both 
 Forenoon and Afternoon, and Things were open and well. Finding fome Re- 
 mains of the EfFc<5ls of my late Journies, I had Freedom to ftay a little to try 
 the Bath, and drink the Water ; and yet not without an Eye to the Good of 
 the People who reforted thither, and frequented our Meetings rather there than 
 in their refpeftive Countries, as being lefs under the Obfervation of their Neigh- 
 bours. 
 
 N the 19th we had an appointed Meeting there, which was of fome Service, 
 People of feveral Notions in Religion being prefent, who were generally fatisfied. 
 
 On the 2 1 ft was the Meeting-day of courfe ; but having had a Meeting, as 
 before, and no Notice given the People, they were not appriz'd of it, fo that 
 we had lefs Company of them than before : but a good Seafon it proved to 
 thofe who were prefent ; for the Lord was with us in his Love and Goodnefs. 
 
 On the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at this Meeting again, 
 where came Friends from Brijlcl and fome other Places, and fome Strangers in 
 Town ■, fo that the Place was filled both Forenoon and Afternoon : and the 
 Lor d was near, both to comfort his own, and alfo to invite others, opening 
 many Things to that End, which feemed to be fatisfaftory in general, by the 
 fober Deportment of the People. 
 
 Finding fome Opennefs, and the Bath conducing a little fo my Health, 1 con- 
 tinued here yet longer ; and on the 28th went to a Marriage near Bedford, 
 where came many Strangers, with Friends, and the Lord gave us a tender 
 and open Seafon of his Love ; and the Doftrine of the Kingdom of Christ 
 dropped as the Dew, to the refrelliing of many, and to general Satisfadion ; 
 efpecially in the Repetition of Things relating to our dear Lo r d Jesus, and 
 his Sufferings upon the Crofs for the Sins of the whole WorlJ, and his Appea- 
 rance as a Covenant of Light and Life to all Mankind. That Evening I re- 
 turned to Bath, and was at their Meeting the Day following ; which had been 
 put oft till then, feveral Friends being out of Town at the Marriage aforefaid : 
 but this Meeting was fmall, being out of Courfe, and not due Notice given 
 to the People ; yet a comfortable Time we had before it ended. 
 
 1 continued here till the 2d of the Seventh Month, being partly induced by the 
 Concern I had for the Countefs o'i Ranelagh, a good-natur'd and affable Perfon, and, 
 at that Time, religioufly inclined ; who having Lodgings at my Friend Thomas Gin- 
 geU\, on account of the Bath, and I lodging there alfo, fhe had heard fome Report 
 of me-, and, being defirous to fee me, invited the Friend, his Wife, and me, one 
 Evening not long after flie came to Town, to an Entertainment fhe had provided 
 for us. This begun an Acquaintance, which was followed with fome other In- 
 terviews on like Occafions, which fhe was pleafed to repeat: Tins gave me Op- 
 portunity, on her mentioning fome Matters of Religion, to difcourfe upon feveral 
 Things, which I found not ungrateful to her •, particularly upon the Subieds of 
 
 Baptifm
 
 of T HO MA S STO RT. 6og 
 
 Baptifm and the Supper : The former flie readily owned themfelves to be wrong Anno 
 in, as praftifing a Thing not inftituted : and to confirm her therein, I produ° 1718. 
 ced her two old Canons made in the Time of the Apoftacy ; the firft in the 
 Mikvciaii Council in Africa, Anno 402, in thefe Words : 
 
 " It is our Will, that all who affirm young Children have everkfting Life, 
 " which are not baptized, to the taking away original Sin, that they be anathe- 
 *' matized." As by Dangers, Page 105. 
 
 The fecond, in the fifth Carthagenian Council, 416, runs thus: 
 
 " \V E will, that whofoever denicth that little Children by Baptifm are not 
 " freed from Perdition, and eternally faved, that they be accurfed." 
 
 And this was firft confirmed by Pope Innocentius and Augufiine, with feventv 
 Bifliops. 
 
 These ignorant and prefumptuous Men, upon an Imagination that little 
 Children are guilty of original Sin, fo as to be damned for it, invented thefe 
 Curfes ; wherein their Language is. It is our Will, and We will, and not a Word 
 of the Will of G OD j as to be fure the divine Wifdom was never the Author 
 of it. 
 
 A N D as to fprinkling, inftead of baptizing, I obferved it was introduced by one 
 Cyprian, fometime Bilhop oi Carthage, by the Suffrage of the People ; who, from 
 the Danger and Inconveniency, as he thought, of baptizing the Sick, reafoned for 
 their being fprinkled with Water, inflead of being baptized; and for fprinkling 
 Prifoners, converted in Prifon, for want of Conveniency of Water to baptize 
 them ; and, by Degrees, they brought it in for fick Children, and then for all 
 Children : So that here is the proper and true Ground of fprinkling and bapti- 
 zing Children, introduced in Time of Apoftacy and Blindnefs, and continued 
 among the Papifts till the Time of the Proteftant Reformation -, and they find- 
 ing with it a great Mixture of other Things, as Salt, Spittle, Cream, the Sign 
 of the Crofs, Godfathers, Vows, i3c. they iaw fome of thefe Things to be fu- 
 perftitious Innovations, but could not reform the whole at once : They reform- 
 ed as to Salt, Spittle, i£c. but either could not or would not fee, that Inflints are 
 no Subjefts of Baptifm, nor Sprinkling the Mode of it ; or that the Sio-n of 
 the Crofs therein, with Godfathers and Vows, were not in any Inftitution of 
 Christ, or Pradtice of the Apoftles, iSc. with all which this Lady feemed 
 fully to acquiefce, owning freely, that fprinkling is not the Mode, nor Infants 
 the Subjedls of Baptifm : But as to the Supper, flie was not fo clear, and confe- 
 quently more tenacious, and yet with much Modefty and Condefcention ; but 
 being too late then to go fully into that Subjedl, it was declined, by Confcnt, for 
 that Time : But, before I departed from Bath, I had more Converfation with her 
 on thefe and other religious Subjedls ■, and found her of a very good Underftand- 
 ing, and no way tenacious of what feem'd amifs in Notion or Pradlice. 
 
 I CAME from Bath on the 2d of the Seventh Month to Brifiol, and next Day 
 went to the Meeting at Chew ; which was not large, but pretty open. Lod- Chevfi 
 ging that Night with my long acquainted Friend, the Widow Fickris, I returned 
 to Brijlol the next Day, and was at their Meeting the Sixth Day ; and the Firft 
 and Third Days following at two Meetings and a great Burial. 
 
 On the 10th I was at Frenchny, on the Jith at Olfon^ and on the 12th at Frenchay; 
 
 7 P " ^h(ir„. Olfon.
 
 6io 
 
 Anno 
 1718. 
 
 Thornbury. 
 Briftol. 
 
 Clareham. 
 
 Sidcot. 
 
 The L I F E, i&d^ 
 
 Thornbury. The laft was a large open Meeting, as alfo were moft of the reft, 
 I lodged with fhomas Sturges ; where I was freely entertained. 
 
 O N the 1 3th I returned to Brijlol, vifiting the Widow Cool at Wejlbury, in my 
 Way, and on the 14th was at their two Meetings, which were very large and 
 open. I was at their Meeting again on the i6th-, where we had a very tender 
 Seafon, and the Hearts of Friends were opened, andfome Strangers alfo reached. 
 During my Stay at Brijiol, I wrote feveral Letters to the Countefs of Ranelagh, 
 
 O N the 1 7th I went to the Meeting at Clareham., where I met with Georgt; 
 Bowks., who had come down that Way to vifit Friends -, and he being an able 
 Minifter of the Gofpel of C h r i s t, and the Lord with us, we had a large 
 and good Meeting : for the Doors were opened by the Key of David, both of 
 Utterance and Entrance •, and it was a happy Day to feveral. That Night I 
 lodged at Arthur Thomas'^, at Cleve. 
 
 On the 18th I was at an appointed Meeting at Sidcot., where we fat a long 
 Time before the L.ord was plealcd to open himfelf ; but he condefcended at laft, 
 and his Reward came with him ; for we had an open Time : and William Jen- 
 kins, a Schoolmafter and Friend there, bringing with him all his Scholars, (many 
 of them Gentlemens Sons about the Country) I had fomething to them in par- 
 ticular ; which being ended, I dined with William Jeyikins., and that Evening 
 returned with Arthur Thomas, to Ckve. 
 
 Poffet. 
 
 Portbury. 
 
 On the 19th I had an appointed Meeting at Toffet., which was fmall, but 
 pretty open and well -, and that Night lodged with John Thomas., where I ftaid 
 all the next Day. The Day following (being the Firft of the Week) I was at 
 another Meeting at Portbury, which had been appointed in the fame Barn in 
 which we had one before ; but the Landlord, being one of the high fort, threa- 
 tened the Tenant who poITefs'd the fame : fo we had a Grant of another near ; 
 which proving too little for the Concourfe of People, we held the Meeting in 
 an Orchard adjoining. The Meeting was large -, and many Truths were decla- 
 red in the Power and Wifdom of it, and fome of the People touched, and ge- 
 nerally fatisfied ; but being a raw and fomewhat rainy Day, it was a Difadvan- 
 
 tage to us. 
 
 Glaflenbury. 
 
 Street. 
 
 Summerton. 
 
 That Evening I returned to Pojfet., and Samuel Bownas with me, who had 
 come on purpofe to the Meeting, and to accompany me to fome other Meetings 
 in thofe Parts, having full Knowledge of the moft advantageous Places for 
 Truth's Service. On the 2 2d we went to Glajfenbury, and lodged with William 
 Hopkins. Next Day we had a Meeting there, about Five in the Evening ; and 
 a Burying happening about the fame Time, the Meeting was large, and very 
 open and well. 
 
 O N the 24th we had anotlier Meeting at Street, which was a good Meetino- • 
 and that Night we went to Sumtnerton, whfre I lodged with Thomas Hund. 
 
 The 25th was die Quarterly Meeting there for the County of Sower fct; 
 which was large and open. Mere we reconciled a Difference that had been 
 long depending between a Friend and a Monthly Meeting, which had done, 
 and was like to have done much Hurt among tliem ; and all ended in Peace and 
 Satisfaftion. That Night I ftaid at the fame Place. 
 
 On
 
 tf THOMAS ST RT, 6ii 
 
 O N the 26th I had another Meeting ; which was very open, after fome Time Anno 
 pf Hardnefs. That Night I went home with Samuel Bownas to his Houfe, ac- 171 8. 
 companied alfb by John Andrews of Brijlol, and Alexander jirfcot of the fame 
 Place ; who had been at the Quarterly Meeting with us. 
 
 Here I refled the Seventh Day ; and on the 27th (being the Firft of the 
 Week) was at their Monthly Meeting for Worfhip ; which was large, and held 
 lilent a long Time ; but, at length, I had an open Time among them, and 
 Samuel Bownas fome good Time after : and then I concluded the Meeting with 
 Prayer -, and all ended well and comfortable. That Night we went together to 
 Chard, and lodged with our ancient Friend Elias Osborne, who was very glad 
 to fee us, with his whole Family. 
 
 O N the 29th we went about 26 Miles to Exeter, (in order for the Quarterly* 
 Meeting of Devonfiire) and I lodged with John Coleswortby. 
 
 O N the 30th we went to Totnefs, to T. El[worthy\ ; and from thence, in ve- 
 i-y rainy "Weather, to Kingsbridge, to the faid Quarterly Meeting ; which was Kingsbridge. 
 fmall, by rcafon of the ill Weatiicr, and the Remotenefs of the Members con- 
 ftituting it : but we were well rewarded for all our Travel and Pains ; tor the 
 Lord was with us, and gave us a good Seafon of his comfortable Prefence to- 
 gether. 
 
 The next Day we had alfo a good Time before we entered upon the Bu- 
 finefs of the Meeting; which being over, I returned with Henry Cane, and fome 
 other Friends from Plymouth, to Jacob Philips's Houfe, where we had been the 
 Night before : It was very wet and windy Weather, and we had been moft part 
 of thefe two Days in our wet Cloaths. 
 
 Plymouth. 
 
 O N the 3d of the Eighth Month I went with Henry Cane, and fome other 
 Friends, to Plymouth, about 20 Miles, in very wet and windy Weather, and 
 was at their Meeting that Afternoon about Two; which, by reafon of the ill 
 Weather, was fmall, and long filcnt •, but, in the End, I had fomething to fay 
 to them, to ftir up the Carelefs to their Duty : and the Meeting ended well. 
 That Night I lodged with Henry Cane. 
 
 On the 5th, being the Firft of the Week, I was again there both Forenoon 
 and Afternoon : The Meetings were large and pretty open. We had alfo a 
 little Evening Meeting in Henry Cane's Houfe with a few Friends. 
 
 W E fet out from Plymouth on the 6th, in order for the Quarterly Meeting at 
 Falmouth ; and the Wind being very high, and Rain with it, we could not pafs 
 at the Lower Ferry -, and when we came to the Upper, we were twice repulfed 
 by the Storm -, but, at the third Effay, got over ; and that Night got to St Au- 
 Jlel near Frigingeave, and lodged at Samuel Hopwood^s. On the 7th I arrived at 
 Falmouth before the Meeting was half over, and was opened into fome Things palmouth. 
 of Moment ; and had a good Time among Friends there. Next Day, being 
 their Meeting for Worfliip, we had a good Seafon of the blefled Prefence of 
 the Lord, and an open Time, fome of the Town's People alfo coming in. 
 I lodged with Francis Croyn, and ftaid in Town till the loth; and then was 
 at their Week-day Meeting, being the Sixth Day : It was larger than -ufual, 
 fome of the Town's People coming in •, and we had a good Time. 
 
 On the 1 2th I went back to Key Meeting i which 'twas fuppofed would be large. Key. 
 
 being
 
 6ii 
 
 Anno 
 
 1718. 
 
 Auftel, 
 
 Le Heard. 
 
 Siicklepalh. 
 
 Exeter. 
 
 Topfliam. 
 
 The LIFE, c^c 
 
 being a Monthly Meeting (compofed of feveral Meetings for Worfliip). It was 
 a heavy Meeting for the moft part ; and yet ended well. That Night I lodged 
 at 'Thomas Giddey's. 
 
 The next Day I went to Auflel, and on the 14th had a Meeting there ; and 
 though it was the moft ftormy and rainy Day I had obferved fince I came into 
 Europe, yet we had a large Meeting, moft of them being of the Town's People, 
 and generally fober. A good Time we had together -, and the People were 
 generally fatisfied. ^ 
 
 On the 15th we had a Meeting at Lejiard ; which was very open, and Truth 
 over all in good Dominion, and many tendered. That Night I ftaid there at 
 Gabriel RimdeWs. 
 
 O N the 1 6th, In Company with Peter Williams of Exeter, I went to Sticklepatb, 
 and lodo-ed at the Widow Hannah Hawkin's. 
 
 On the 17th we had a Meeting there ; which was very fmall, but open and 
 comfortable : and next Day returned to Exeter. 
 
 On the 19th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting ; which 
 was large in the Morning, by reafon of a Marriage, that drew many, who 
 were curious, to obferve it : and a good open Time we had. The Report of 
 this Meeting in Town made the Afternoon Meeting large : It was more open, 
 and to general Satisfadion. 
 
 On the 22d I was at the Meeting atToppam; to which, upon Notice, came 
 fome Presbyterians : and we had an open Time ; many Things falling in Tefti- 
 mony very fuitable, though I did not know what Seft they were of till after 
 the Meeting, 
 ther with John Colfworthy. 
 
 That Evening, with many Friends from Exeter, I returned thi- 
 
 wliere I lodged. 
 
 Cuhinton. 
 
 On the 23d I was again at the Meeting at Exeter ; where we had a good 
 Time. I ftaid there till the 25th, and then went in the Evening to Cuhinton^ 
 and lodged that Night with Thomas Frye. Next Day I was at their Meeting ; 
 which, being a Monthly Meeting for Worlhip, was very large and open. 
 
 On the 27th I fjaid their Monthly Meeting for Bufinefs ; in which I had fome 
 Service. That Night I went home \i\t\i Arthur Davis. 
 
 Spiceland, On the 28th I went to the Meeting at Spiceland; which was pretty large, 
 
 and, though heavy for fome time, ended well. Truth coming up in good Do- 
 
 minion. 
 
 That Night I went home with Edward Ellis. 
 
 Wellington. 
 
 Taunton, 
 
 Bridgewater. 
 
 On the 29th I was at their Meeting at Wellington', which was pretty large 
 and open. That Night I went home with John Govet, about a Mile hence, 
 
 O N the 30th, being very rainy Weather, I went to Taunton, and was at their 
 Meeting ; which was large and open. That Night I lodged with Robert Butiqn, 
 
 On the 3 ift I went to Bridgewater, where we arrived about half an Hour after 
 Twelve, being very wet with Rain ; and there being but two or three Families of 
 Friends in Town, they had no Meeting-houfe ; and, expedting more Company 
 than ufual, they applied to a Baptift Teacher and fome of his Elders for their 
 
 Meeting^-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. Ciz 
 
 Meeting -houfe, which v/as readily granted. We met at Two in the After- Anno 
 noon ; and, confidering the Time, we had a pretty large Gathering, moll of i 7 1 8, 
 them Baptifts -, and their Teacher himfelf was there, and behaved very civilly. 
 We had a good open Time, and Things were well ; ind many who heard a good 
 Report of the Meeting after it was over, faid they would have been there if 
 they had known of it. That Night I lodged at Thomas Holwell'% 
 
 On the ift of the Ninth Month I returned to Jobtt Covet'' s ; and the Day Wellington. 
 Following, being the Firfl: of the Week, I was again at Wellington ; and it being 
 a Monthly Meeting for Worlhip, many Friends and others came from all the 
 Country round; and it was a very large Gathering: Saniiiel Bozvms being alfo 
 there, we had an open fatisfaftory Time : and Things were very well. I'hat 
 Night we went again to John Govet's. 
 
 O N the 3d we went to Chard, to Elias Osi/om^Sy and ftaid that Night, being Chard. 
 very wet Weather. 
 
 On the 4th, about the Fifth Hour in the Evening, we had a very large Meet- 
 ing, being the largcll that any had ken there, and very open : There was pre- 
 fcnt a Baptill Teacher, and fome faid an Epifcopal Prieft alfo. 
 
 O n the 5th I went to Mdmhury, where the Meeting was long in gathering, Malmburj'. 
 and not large, and but heavy and flat moft of the Time-, but ended pretty ficih. 
 That Night I lodged there, at the Widow Sarah Sfmth's, and John Nichols of 
 Bridport with me, Samuel Bcwnas being gone home from Chard. 
 
 O N the 6th we had a Meeting at Lyme, about Five in the Evening-, to which 
 came a few of the meaner fort of the People, fome others, and a few Friends : 
 The People were low in underftanding, fo that it was hard to minifter to their 
 States, there being little to lay hold of in them ; yet, in the main, it was a good 
 
 Meetin 
 
 o- 
 
 That Night I lodged with the Widow Hannah Poole. 
 
 Lyme. 
 
 O N the 7th, about Five in the Evening, we had a Meeting at Bridport -, Bndport. 
 which was pretty full and open. I had many Things to fay to them in the 
 Openings of Truth ; which had a good Reach upon fcveral of them. That 
 Night and the next I lodged with John Nichols ; who had ftaid with me till I 
 came thither. 
 
 On the 9th I went from Bridport to the Meeting at Thorncomb; and, being Thorncomb 
 the Firft of the Week, the Meeting was large-, and the Lord gave us an open 
 and comfortable Time, many Strangers being there, and fome much broken. 
 That Night and the next 1 ftaid with Samuel French, near the Meeting-houfe. 
 
 On the nth I was at an appointed Meeting at Crewkern; which was not Crewkem 
 large, there being but few Friends belonging to it ; but fome fober People co- 
 ming in, we had a good Meeting, feveral of the Strangers being touched by the 
 Power of Truth. That Night I lodged at the Houfe of Widow Barbara Prior. 
 
 O N the 1 2th I went to Longfutton Meeting -, where alfo came John Irwin and Longfutton. 
 tlenry Atkinfon of Cumberland : The Meeting was pretty full, but not fo open 
 as could have been defired. That Night we went together to IVilliam Perry's, 
 near the Village. 
 
 On the 13th I was at their Week-d.iy Meeting at Limingten, held in Samuel Liminston. 
 
 7 ^ Bownas\
 
 6i4 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Bewnas's Mak-houfe -, which was well filled, and a pretty good Meeting : bur, 
 1 718. by feme Cold I had taken, being a litth worn out and weakly, with ibme Rheu- 
 matick Pains, I was put into a Fever -, which going off, after an ill Night, 
 the Pain fettled in my Neck, and hinder Part of my Head •, (o that I was dif- 
 abled from the Service of the Meetings till the 20th : but then, through the 
 Lo R d's Goodnefs, extended both immediately and alio inftrumentally, in the great 
 and afFeftionate Care of my loving and refpe6tful Friend Samuel Botvnas, and like- 
 wife of his honeft good Wife, (at v/hofe Houfe I ftaid) I was enabled to go to 
 Mudfori Mudford, being their Week-day Meeting, and that Evening alfo an appointed 
 Yeovel. Meeting at Teo-cel; where came many of the Town's People, and Friends all 
 
 about: It was an open Meeting, and I had a full enlarged Time in it ; and there 
 were People of feveral Sefls there. That Night, being fomewhat rainy, and a 
 great W;nd, we v/ent to Thomas Penny's, with his Wite, (Samuel Bowiias being 
 with m.e) where we were freely and comfortably entertained. 
 
 Shciburn. On the 21ft we had an appointed Meeting in the Evening, at Sherbuniy 
 
 which was very large ; and, though confiding moftly of other People, they 
 were generally very fober. That Night I lodged at Friend William Raw's j 
 and on the 2 2d went to Limington with Samuel Bownas. 
 
 On the 23d, being the Firfl of the Week, we had an appointed Meeting in 
 
 Ivilchefler. the Town Hall of Ivikhefter ; which was very large from all the Parifhes round ; 
 
 and the Lord was not a-v/anting to us in his Goodnefs, but gave us an open 
 
 Time, to general Satisfa6lion. That Night I returned again with Samuel Bownas. 
 
 Sumcrton, On the 24th, in the Evening, we had an appointed Meeting at Sunierton, 
 
 which was large -, and many Things opened to Information, Edification, and. 
 Comfort. I had a large and full Time ; and that Night went to Longfuttcn^ to 
 Robert Bantori's. 
 
 Hambridge. On the 25th I went to the Funeral of a Friend at Hambridge, where many 
 People appeared on the Occafion : and the Lord was pleafed to make it a 
 comfortable Time to us ; and the People, being generally fober, were well fa- 
 tisfied. 
 
 Longfutton. On tiic 26th, at Evening, I returned to Longfutton -, and the Day after was at 
 their Monthly Meeting : That Evening I had a very large Meeting there ; where 
 Things opened freely, and the Truth was much over the People, to the Praife 
 of him without whom we can do nothing. 
 
 Langport. 
 
 Erid^ewater. 
 
 On the 27th we had a Meeting at Larigpcrt, in the Presbyteri.in Meeting- 
 houle ; where Samuel Bownas and I fat in the Pulpit, as the mod convenient 
 Place to be heard. The Stand where the Hour-glafs ufed to be fet, was upon 
 it ; but we had no Occafion for tliat. Many of that People came to the Meeting, 
 and, among others, the Elder who granted us the Houfe, and were generally 
 fatisfied ; Things opening clear and full to feveral weighty Points. This Elder 
 was lb well plealed, that, after the Meeting, he afilired Friends there, that we 
 fhould have their Houfe for that Service as often as v/e had occafion -, which we 
 looked the more at from him, by how much fome of that Seft have formerly 
 behaved in a quite differing Manner towards our Friends, in fome other Placed 
 but we were glad of this Condefcenfion, both for their Sakes, and the prevail- 
 ing of Truth, in fome meafure, among the People. 
 
 On the 28th we had a Meeting at Bridge-water, in a W^are-houfe of Thomas 
 
 Ilolwell
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 6is 
 
 Holwell and Jofeph Ball, two Friends, young Men, who had lately gbne Anno 
 there to live : For a certain high Man among the Baptifts had been much difguft- 1 7 1 8. 
 ed againft their Preacher for letting us have their Meeting-houfe the Time be- 
 fore, threatening to withdraw his Contribution from the Minifter ; but the young 
 Man bearing it with Patience, another of his Hearers, who had been fatisfied 
 with the Meeting, faid, if the other detained what he ufed to contribute, he 
 would make it up % fo that they came over the other, and the Preacher came to 
 no Lofs, fo far as I heard : But, left the poor Man might fuffer for his Good- 
 will and Civility to us, we did not put him upon it the fecond Time •, hoping 
 he will not lofe his Reward for what he did for Truth's Service, tho' he may 
 lofe the Favour of fome of the angry fort. 
 
 The Meeting was very large and open, and the People generally reached ; 
 being, after fome Time, fober and attentive. The Lord gave us a good 
 Time among them, Samuel Boiz'nas being alfo there. I have fome Hopes that 
 the Lord will raife a People yet in that Place, and thereaway, to his own Glory. 
 
 On the 29th we went to Grinton^ to Philip Watf?,, and the Day after (being Grinton.' 
 the Firft of the Week) were at their Meeting ; and Notice being given all about, 
 it was a large Meeting, and pretty open. 
 
 On the ift of the Tenth Month I went to Glaffenhury, and the Day after had Glallenbury, 
 an Evening Meeting at that Place •, which was not large, nor very open, but, 
 in the main, well. 
 
 O N the 3d I went to Brijlcl ; where I ftaid till the 4th of the 1 2th Month Briflol. 
 following. Here I had many good Opportunities among Friends, and often 
 among others, who ufually came to our Meetings on Firft Days. I was alio, 
 during my Stay here, at the Meeting at Kin^fwejton, and at a Funeral at Fren- KingfwedonJ 
 chay ; and Samuel Bownas and I took much Pains to reconcile thefe Friends to 
 the Body at Briftol., they having fet up a feparate Meeting by themfelves, under 
 Pretence that Friends there, efperially the Men's Meeting, were gone from 
 Truth into the grofleft Evils, as Whoredom, Lying, Swearing, Drunkennefs, 
 Partiality and Injuftice ; and yet would not accufe any Particular of any one 
 Crime. They faid, they and Friends of Brijlol were of two different Spirits, 
 and, 'till they came to be of one, there could be no Reconciliation -, and to be 
 fure they meant the better to themfelves. Vv''e could make but little ImprefTiorl 
 upon them, the Women who govejn'd them being very high, and very conceit- 
 ed of themfelves, and laid all upon God, as his Requirings : putting them- 
 felves in the Place of the Righteous in former Ages, the Prophets, Apoftles, 
 and Martyrs ; and Friends of Brijlol in the Place of Cain, Niiiirod, Nebtichad- 
 vezzary Heathen Perfecutors, Papifts, and Queen Mary ; and themfelves as 
 differing all thofe Cruelties : and all this Ijecaufe the Men's Meeting could not 
 fee any Re.ifon for their feparate Meeting, defiring them to let it alone as a Thing 
 unprofitable, as Ihings were ftated at that Time in that City. I alfo tried a 
 fecond Time before I came away ; but they fecmed ftill more and more averfe, 
 under the Pretences abovefaid. During this Stay I was generoufly and freely 
 entertained by my Friend Brice JFebb and his Wife, and often invited by otiier 
 Friends to their Houfes •, and yet, at Times, was under great Heavinefs from 
 the Effedts of the Separation, and other Sufferings of the Seed of Life in that 
 City. 
 
 O N the 4th of the Twelfth Month, accompanied by my old Friend and long 
 Acquaintance, Walter Neiv.l)ury, of Bqflon in New- England, I went from thence 
 to uainfiami Brice Webb and his Wife, George Whitclmd oi Brijiol, Thomas Da- Kauiftuunj 
 
 niel
 
 6i6 
 
 Anno 
 
 1718. 
 
 Bath. 
 
 Mafhfxld. 
 
 Bradford. 
 
 Melkdum. 
 
 Devifes. 
 
 T/je LIFE, ^c. 
 
 niei and his Wife, and fome more, being with us. That Evening we had 9. 
 pretty open Meeting there, the People coming in, and being very fober. 
 
 O N the 5th we fell in with their Week-day Meeting at Bath ; whicli was 
 pretty large and open. That Night we lodged at Thomas Gingers. 
 
 On the 6th we went to MaJhfieU, and had an Evening Meeting there ; which 
 v/as very open and well.- I lodged that Night with the Widow Wkkam. 
 
 On the 7th we went to Bradford; and the Day following, being the Firft of 
 the Week, we had three Meetings there: that in the Morning was not large, but 
 indifferent open, confifting for the mofl: part of Friends. In the Afternoon it 
 was large and more open to the People-, and, in the Evening, greateft Part of 
 the more reputable People of the Town being there, it was very large and very 
 open; and the Lord gave us a good Time, and opened, through our Mi- 
 niltry, many Things of Moment: and Truth was over all. Many went away 
 who could not get in, the Throng was fo great in that large Houfe. That Night 
 alfo we lodged with Dr Clark. 
 
 O N the 9th we v/ent to vifit our Friend Caleb Dickinfon^ who was ill of the 
 Gout. My Friend Walter Newbury was ill at the fame Time ol an Ague, which 
 had fcized him after the firft Meeting at Bradford. 
 
 On the lotli we had an Evening Meeting at Melkfloavt ; which was alfo an 
 open and large Meeting. That Night 1 lodged with young "Thomas Beavan. 
 
 Next Evening we had another Meeting at the Devifes ; which was large 
 and open. That Night I lodged at Thomas Beavan's, fcnicr. 
 
 Marlborcugh O N the 1 2th we had an Evening Meeting at Marlborough ; where came 
 fome of the People, and Things were pretty well: But they having only a fmall 
 Room to meet in, and wanting Accommodations for any confidcrablc Number 
 of People, few came in that Place. 
 
 Newbury. O ^ the 1 3th we had an Evening Meeting at Newbury ; which was not large^ 
 
 but open: for we coming in late, by reaibn oi J Falter Newbury's Illnefs, there 
 could not be much Notice. 
 
 Readinc 
 
 Henley ujion 
 Thames. 
 
 London 
 
 . O K the 14th we went to Reading ; and next Day were at their Meeting, and 
 alfo on the Third Day following, and then went to the Widow Penn's at Ruf- 
 comb; where we (laid till the 26th, when Walter Newbury went to London, and 
 1 returned to Reading to the Funeral of the Widow Buy ; where many of the 
 Neighbours appearing, we had a good Meeting. That Evening I returned to 
 Rufcomb. 
 
 O n the 2 2d I was at Henley upon Thames ; where wc had two as open Meetinc-s 
 as I had known for a long Tmie before. The latter in the Evciang was ve^ 
 large, a great Number of the Town's People coming in, and great Opennefs a- 
 mong them. That Night I lodged at John Toovie's ; and my Friend and Land- 
 lord, John Crouch of Lcndo?i, being ib kind as to invite me there, we went to- 
 gether next Day to London ; where I found great Opennefs, both among Friends 
 and others, many coming to our Meetings on Firft Days. 
 
 DiraiNG my Stay at London, which was from the 23d of the Twelfth 
 Month, to the 16th of the Seventh Month, 17 19, I vifited Meetings there, and 
 fome Meetings adjacent, and was at the Yearly Meeting; which was more 
 
 peace-
 
 of T E M ^ S S T RT, 6iy 
 
 peaceable than at fome other Times; and, in the main, we had a good and com- Anno 
 
 tortable Time. 
 
 T N this Meeting John Gurtiey, jun. of Norwich^ a young Man of good na- 
 tural Parts and Diibnftion, though fatisfied with the Affirmation as it then 
 Hood, moved for a lurthcr Solicitation to the Government, for Eafe alfo to the 
 l^ifilitisfied Friends in that Cafe ; which was feconded by John Ecclcjlov, and 
 followed by Richard Aphy, and fome others on that Side : And whilft Things 
 run in that Channel, there was a confidcrable Glory over the Meeting, and the 
 peaceable and divine Truth comforted many ; and his peaceable Wildom pre- 
 vailed with moft of the Meeting to aifent and acquiefce : But as there were fome 
 particular Perfons there, who, having more Regard to Party than Unity, and to 
 themfelves, and what they had procured and fet up, than the Peace of the 
 Church ; (dtfigning to fet the Affirmation as it then was, over all, and not O 
 at all in any other Terms) in their ufual Subtilty raifed feveral Objedtions, and 
 a palpable Cloud of Darknefs over the Meeting, and a great Uneafinefs in the 
 Minds of many ; which, after fome Time, being difpelled, -and that Spirit made 
 manifeft and repuifed, the Meeting concluded for a frefh Solicitation the next 
 Seffion of Parliament, if Things fliould continue till the faid Seffion as they 
 were. 
 
 One particular Paflage, which happened whilft I was at London^ I think 
 proper to infert here, fince it fell out lb much to my own Satisfaftion : 
 
 When the prefent Earl of Carlijle was a Boy, he was at that City with his 
 Grandfather, then Governor of the Caftle there, and I was, at the fame Time, 
 at School in that City •, which occafioned my being admitted into the Ac- 
 quaintance and Favour of this young Nobleman : And as I had then a ftrong 
 Affeftion for him, it did not wear out all this Tradt of Time, notwithftanding the 
 feveral Changes both in him and me, and our differing Circumflances -, fo that I 
 had an Inclination to fee him, and fpeak with him, which I had not done in many 
 Years: Accordingly, taking Dr Gilbert Heathcote in my Company, partly to in- 
 troduce me, he being Phyfician to fome of the Family, and known to the Earl, 
 I went one Morning, about Nine, to his Lodgings in Greek-fireet ; when the 
 Dodor and I were called up into his Chamber, where we found him undrcfled, 
 in his Gown and Slippers. 
 
 The Earl received us refpe«5lfully, though I was then become an utter Stran- 
 ger to him ; for he did not at all know me, nor did I prefently make myfelf 
 known. He ordered a Couple of arm'd Chairs to be placed for us, and bid us 
 fit down by him -, which when done, and fome occafional ExprefTions pail be- 
 tween him and the Doftor, I being filent, and my Mind inwardly exercifed at 
 the fame time, and waiting an apt Opportunity for Matters of fome other Con- 
 fequence, the Earl and I fell into Difcourfe after this Manner. 
 
 "Mr Story, faid he, are you any thing related to the Story s in Cumberland? 
 " Yes, faid I, Thomas Story of Jufiice-Town is my Father. Did you know Mr 
 *' James Appleby, a Friend of yours, who lived on a Farm of mine at AJherton ? 
 " Yes, very well. I have the bad News to tell you, that he is lately dead. He 
 " was a good induflrious Man, and improved that Eflate much fince he had the 
 «' Management of it ; and, I think, your People are generally fober and induftri- 
 « ous, and few of you poor. We ought to be fo, f^d I, for our Principles lead 
 « us both to Sobriety and Induftry. 
 
 7R 1'The 
 
 1718.
 
 -c. 
 
 ^18 The LIFE, &c 
 
 Anno "The great End of the Chriftian Religion, faid he, being to mortify and 
 
 1 71 8. " fubdue the PafTions, irregular Defires and Appetites of Men, I fee no People 
 " in the World come up to that as you do-, but cannot apprehend by what 
 " Means you arrive at thefe Attainments : It cannot be any Thing preached 
 " among you that works fuch Effefts; for I have been atfome of your Meet- 
 " ings, and heard feme of you preach, but could not make any Thing at all of 
 " it ; and have alfo read fome of your Books, but could not make much more 
 " Senfe of them than of your Preaching : fo that I am ftiU at a Lofs what to 
 " think of you in Matters of Religion. I knew a young Man in the North of 
 " England, whom, perhaps, you might alfo know, a Brother of Mr Appleby's^ 
 " as wild a young Fellow as was in England; bur, by fome Means or other, 
 " turning Quaker, was no fooner under that Profeffion than he became a very 
 " fober good Man. 
 
 o^ 
 
 "No doubt, faid I, but thou haft read the Scriptures, and mayft remember 
 
 John xvi. 7. " what Christ faid to his Difciples a little before he fuffered-. It is expedient 
 
 XIV. 16. cc j-g^ yg^ fj^^j J ^g ttw a^j', foT if I go tiot uw u^j /^f ComfoTter "jjUI not come: 
 
 '■'■But if I go away, I will pray the Father, and he floall fend you another Comforter, 
 
 " even the Spirit of Truth, which the Father will fend in my Name ; he flmll lead 
 
 " you into all Truth, and bring all Things into your Remembrance, whatever I 
 
 " have faid unto you. Again, I laill not leave you comfortlefs ; I will come again 
 
 " unto you. Here is the Spirit of Truth promifed, which is no other than the 
 
 " Spirit of Christ; and is the fame which was promifed of God by his 
 
 Ifa. xlii. 6. " Prophet, where he iaith, I will give him a Light to the Gentiles, and a Covenant 
 
 John i. 9. " (0 the People : and as the Holy Scriptures elfewhere teftify, he is that true Light 
 
 " imhich lighteth every Man that cometh into the fForld: and of whom the A- 
 
 xii. -6. " poi\ik faith. Believe in the Light, that ye may be Children of the Light; and, 
 
 " if Children, then Heirs. Now, though we, in and of ourfclves, have been 
 " like other Men, incident and fubjeft to many Failings and Weakneflcs ; yet, 
 " it being given us to believe in the Lord J e su's, not only as he came in 
 " the Flefh in that Day, but alfo as he is the Light of the World, we do not 
 *' only find that his Spirit, as he faid, reproved us for our Sins, but is alfo be- 
 " come our Comforter and Supporter, as we have repented and left them off; 
 " and, according to his Promife, by Degrees, leads into all the neceflary Truths of 
 " the Gofpel, and out of Evil into Righteoufnefs ; giving us alfo to experience 
 " the End of his Manifeftation, the Deftruftion of the Works of the Devil, 
 " the Mortification of our Lulls, Appetites, and PafTions, and to be created anew 
 *' to good Works, through him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: 
 " And what Difference there is between us and other Men, and in our prefent 
 " from our former State, it is the L o r d that hath done it, and not ourlelves ; 
 for we have nothing to boaft of but the Mercies of G o o in him." 
 
 (( 
 
 'o 
 
 Then, faid the Earl, " If the Spirit of C h r i st and his Light be all one, 
 and that Light be in all Men, why does it not work the fame Eff"eft in all 
 Men ? Why have not I Power over my Inclinations, as well as you over 
 
 yours?" 
 
 Then, faid Dr Heathcote, " Iwas once in my Time wild enough; I would 
 have done fourteen Exercifes with any Man in England; but, when it pleafed 
 God, by the Manifeftation of his divine Light, to convince me of the Va- 
 nity of thefe Things, and the Error of my Courfe of Life, through Faith in this 
 Light, and Obedience to its Difcoveries, I am now reformed and got over 
 thole Lulls and Appetites of many kinds, which onrc were over me; and as 
 I keep to that Light, and not otherwife, I am daily preR-rved : And the true 
 
 " Reafon
 
 of T H MA S S T RT. 61^ 
 
 " Reafon of Mens' being overcome by Evil is, becaufe they believe not in that Anno 
 
 " divine Manifeftation, whicli manifefts it to be evil, but go on to aft the fame 171 8, 
 
 " Things after they do fee them to be wrong : but as when Men leave off Evil 
 
 " when they fee it, through the Power and Virtue of the Difcoverer, then they 
 
 " have further Manifeftations of that Light that difcovers it, and greater Power 
 
 " over their Corruptions, till all be difcovered, and all fubdued ; and then there 
 
 " is a Liberty and Enjoyment in the Truth, which far exceeds all the Enjoy- 
 
 " ments of this World, and a Satisfaction which nothing elfe can give : And 
 
 " therefore, if thovi wouldft be rid of any Thing thou finds amifs in thyfelf, 
 
 " thou muft not aft again the fame Thing thou haft once ken to be evil, or 
 
 " elfe there never can be any Reformation." 
 
 Then faid the Earl, (of his own Accord, and without any Thing particular- 
 ly introdu(51:ory thereto by either of us) " You are a very ufeful People in the 
 " Nation, and, I think, deferve Encouragement as well as any in it. I knovv . 
 " your People are not generally fatisfied with the Affirmation-, becaufe I have 
 " been often applied to for Relief of fuch as have fuifered that Way, and have 
 " always done what I could to relieve them, and have helped many : But as the 
 " King and Government look upon you favourably, it were better you were 
 " relieved by Law ; and if you will move the Parliament for further Relief, 
 "• you Ihall not want any Help I can make you ; and, I know, many are incli- 
 " ned to favour you on that Account : And what do you want befides this?'*j 
 
 Th E N I faid, " We are very fenfible of the good Intentions of the Govern- . 
 " ment in what they have already done on that Account; but as thou has been 
 " picaied to obferve, (though we are not come at this Time to make any Com- 
 " plaint about it) we were not generally eafy in it: And as the King and No- 
 " bility, in fome other Cafes, have been as Fathers and Supports unto us, fo we 
 " were glad to fee their good Inclinations ftill, and hoped we fhould not defire 
 " any unreaibnable Thing, there being one wherein we yet want your further 
 " Aid-, and that is, to be further relieved againft the Tyranny and Opprcflion 
 " of your Priefts -, and I hope, faid I, (by the way) the Legiflature of Great Bri- 
 " tain will, in due Time, take Care, that it fliall never more be in the Power 
 " of the Clergy to juftle the Throne." 
 
 Then faid the Earl, " You would not have us, I hope, break in upon the 
 *' Laws, and deprive the Minifters of the Maintenance the Law provides them ! 
 " at leaft till we can lee as you fee." 
 
 " N o, faid I, we are very far from defiring any Thing that may bring the 
 
 " leaft Refleftion, or any juft Imputation of Blame, upon any of you -, but are 
 
 *' as careful of your true Honour as you yourfelves can be: Nor do we defire 
 
 " to lead you into any Inconveniency, or blame-worthy Thing, if it were in 
 
 " our Power ; and lb far are we from fetting up any new Craft, under any 
 
 " new Umbrage, that we would have all Men to fee with their own Eyes, and 
 
 " not to undertake any Thing, but upon fure and certain Grounds : But 
 
 «< as the Legiflature, with very good Intent, have made Laws for the more eafy 
 
 " Recovery of what you call their Dues, thefe Laws prove very opprefTive to 
 
 ** many poor, honeft, induftrious Families : for fo mean- fpirited are fome of 
 
 " your Country Juftices in divers Parts of the Nation, and under the Influence 
 
 »' of the worfe-natured fort of your Clergy, that where the Demand may hap- 
 
 " pen to be but a Groat, Six-pence, or a Shilling, fome of them will award the 
 
 *' higheft Fees the Law allows, which is ten Shillings-, which, though a fmall 
 
 " Sum among you great Men, is much to thofe who mtift earn it with the 
 
 Ssveat
 
 6io The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " Sweat oF their Brows, at Two-pence, Four-ptnce, Six-pcncc, or Twelve- 
 171 8. " pence a-day: And, befides this, the former dcftrudive Ways of proceeding 
 "in the Exchequer for Tythes being ftlll left in the Power of your Pnefts, ma- 
 " ny of them dechne the more gentle Way which the Law provides, and make 
 " choice of this, if, peradventure, they may at leaft rum and deftroy feme of 
 " us ; which we hope may not be unworthy of the further Confideration of 
 " our Superiors, fo inclinable to Equity in our Favour." 
 
 " Now, faid he, you fay fomething; which, as you fay, may bear fomc 
 " further Confideration : and I know fome of your People have fuifered by cx- 
 " orbitant Fees; for, as Complaint has been made to me, I have relieved kve- 
 " ral on that Account : But, pray, on this Occafion, upon what Ground do you 
 *' refufc to pay Tythes ; were they not commanded of G o d ?" 
 
 " W E do not deny but that they were commanded of G od ; but they were 
 " made payable to the Tribe of Lm, and located in the Land of Canaan only, 
 " a Country at the Head of the Mediterranean Sea, in Afia ; but, by the Co- 
 *' ming of Christ, there is an End of that Law by which Tythes were gi- 
 *' ven, and an End of that Tribe, (though your Clergy ftill pray for themfelves 
 *' under that Name, the better to infinuate their pretended Right) and the 
 " Land itfelf where they were payable, now in the Hands of the Turks ; fo that 
 *' the Reafon of the Thing failing, the Thing itfelf alfo fails : And fince God, 
 *' by the Death of his Son, the great Fligh Frieft and Bilhop of the Soul, harh 
 " rejected that Tribe, and that Service, and eftablifhed a new one, to whom he 
 Mat. X. S. " hath faid. Freely ye have received, freely give; we do not find he hath im- 
 " powered any of the Princes of the Gentiles to aflign any Maintenance for his 
 " Minifters : but as they have been deceived by the Subtilty of the Craft to im- 
 " pofe upon Mankind by Laws on that Account, fo by that Wifdom, which, in 
 •' due Time, will arife among them, they will yet be inftrumental to undo what 
 " they have done, and leave Religion and the Gofpel upon its own Bottom -, 
 *' which needs no other Helper than its own Author, or Maintenance for its Mini- 
 *' fters, but what itfelf commands -, and they are really fuch as labour with all their 
 " Might to make the Gofpel they preach without Charge: So far are they from 
 « deftroying the People for the Maintenance of their Bodies, that they have 
 " no other Reafon or Inducement for what they do, but Obedience to the Cal- 
 " hng of G o D, and the Good of Souls ; whereas the End of Hirelings, though 
 *' fupported by Law, is their own Bellies." 
 
 " Well, faid he, you don't like our Minifters-, but, after all, I think you 
 " want but one Thing to make you a very compleat People ; that is, to bear 
 " Arms. Pray what would have become of this whole Nation t'other Day when 
 
 the Spaniards were coming to invade us, if we had all, or greateft parr, been 
 " of your Religion ? No doubt we fhould all have been deftroy ed or enflaved." 
 
 To this I anfwered, " It was upon this very political Confideration that the 
 ,;*' Jews crucified Christj for as he had raifed Lazarus from the dead, it 
 *' greatly awakened the People concerning him, and many believed in him \ in 
 " fo much that the Rulers began to fear, that if he continued to preach his Doc- 
 " trines among the People, and work Miracles, the Body of the People would 
 " follow him : and the Confequence of that would be, the State would not have 
 " Soldiers or People enough to defend them againft their Enemies : For as it wa.-; 
 " F^Ph'^'ied, that, under the new Covenant, they JJmtf beat their Swords into 
 " f^o^S^-fi^res, and their Spears into pruning Hooks ; and that Nation flmll not 
 " lift up Sword againjl Nation, neither fiall they learn War any more: fo 
 
 Christ
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 6ii 
 
 " Christ being the Mediator of that Covenant, preached Doftrines condvl- Anno 
 
 *' cing to that End : Lcve your EnemiUs ; do good to them that hate you ; pray 17! 8. 
 
 " for them that defpitefully tife you and perfecute you. And, to take away all Su- Mat. v. 44: 
 
 " fpicion of any DiOoyalty to Cafar, or Danger of the State from his Kingdom, 
 
 " (which was their Pretence againft him) he faid to Pontius Pilate, My Kingdom Jol>nxviii.35^ 
 
 " is not of this World : For if my Kingdom were of this World, then would my 
 
 " Servants fight, that I fhould not be delivered to the Jews -, but my Kingdom is 
 
 " not of this IVorld. Here he declares his Kingdom not to be of this World, 
 
 " being divine and fpiritual, and that his Servants will not fight : For if they love 
 
 " their Enemies, they cannot fight with them, much lels their Friends 5 and if 
 
 " they do good to them that hate them, they cannot fight with them neither; 
 
 " and if they pray for them that defpitefully ufe them and perfecute them, nei- 
 
 " ther can they fight with them ; and if they do not as C h r i s t teacheth, they 
 
 '• cannot be his Difciples : For then are ye my Friends, or Difciples in deed, faid viii. 3!, 
 
 " the Lord, if ye do whatfoever I command you. Now, Christ laying the 
 
 " Foundation of fuch a Kingdom, which is not ef the World, though in the 
 
 " World, and declaring his Subje£ls will not fight, it is in this Kingdom, which 
 
 " is a Kingdom of Righteoufnefs, Truth, and Peace, in which the Prophe- 
 
 *' cy before mentioned is begun to be fulfilled -, and of this Kingdom Christ 
 
 " himfelf, the Prince of Righteoufnefs and Peace, is only King, Ruler, and Law- 
 
 " giver; and which no way interferes with the Kingdoms of this World : For 
 
 " as Ch RiST himfcif, being born a few, and they, at that Time fubjedl, in 
 
 " fome fort, to the Romans, paid Tribute to Cafar, and thereby giving an Ex- 
 
 " ample to all his Difciples, in all Countries and States, and in all future Ages, 
 
 " as well as that Time: fo the Difciples of Christ, though they may noc 
 
 " fight, they pay Taxes and Tribute to civil States, as well by the Example 
 
 " of their Lord and Mafler, as the Doftrine of the Apoftle, in the 1 3th Chap- Rom. xiii. 
 
 *' ter to the Romans ; where he fets forth clearly, that Civil States and Powers 
 
 " are of G od, and that their End is, to be a '■Terror to Evil-doers, and a Praife 
 
 *' to them that do well. Since then the Kinscdom of Christ is not of this 
 
 O 
 
 " World ; neither is it National, but Spu-itual : And it cannot be fuppofed that 
 " any one Nation will ever be the Church of Chri st, which is not National, 
 " and fo fubjefted to the Violence of any other Nation: But God, by whom 
 " Kings reign, and Princes decree Jiijlice, having ordained Government and Rule, 
 " entrufls it with whom he pleafts; and the temporal Sword, as well of Civil 
 " Magiltracy, as Military Force, being in the Hands of Kings and Rulers, to 
 " exercife as Need fliall be, they, and not the Difciples of Christ, muft ap- 
 " ply and adminifter accordingly, till, by Degrees, the Kingdom of Christ, 
 " the Prince of divine Peace, have the Afcendant over all Kingdoms: not by 
 " Violence, for his Servants can offer none : Not by Might nor by Power, but 
 " by my Spirit, faith the Lord. It will not be by human Force or Policy, but 
 " by Convidion ; not by Violence, but Confent, that the Kingdoms of this IVorld Rgv. xi. 13.; 
 " will become the Kingdoms of God, and of his Chrift : Nor will the Kingdoms 
 " and Powers in this V/orld ever ceafe, (being Go d's Ordinance in natural and 
 " civil Afiairs) till the Reafon of them ceafe ; that is, till all Violence and In* 
 " juftice ceafe, and Evil-doing come to an End, by the Advancement of Truth, 
 " Righteoufnefs, Love, and Peace, over all Nations; which is the true End of 
 " the Coming of the Lord Jesus, and Nature of his Kingdom here on 
 *' Earth: So that as the Kingdom of Ch ri st can offer no other Violence to 
 " the Kingdoms, or States, of Men, than that of Love and Truth ; and his 
 *' Subjects may not fight, but pay Taxes, Cuftoms, Tribute, Fear, and Honour 
 ** to all Kings, Powers, and States, in all Nations where they are chofen of God 
 *' out of the World to ferve him, and bear Teflimony to his Name ; neither J^w 
 *' nor Greeky Barbarian^ Cythian, Mahometan ^ Infidel^ or nominal Chriftian, can have 
 
 7 S *.' any
 
 5i% The LIFE, cJc- 
 
 A N N,o " any reafonable Jealoufy of the true Chriftian, whore Pradice is according to 
 1718. " theDoflrineandCommandmcntsof his Lord and Mafter Christ Jesus: 
 " and whoibever falls Ihort of that ceafes to be his Difciple, and reverts to the 
 John XV. 18, " World : But to his Difcples he faith, I'e are not of the World; but God hath 
 \?- " chcjen you out of the World. If ye were of the World, the World would love you ; 
 
 " for the World loveth its own : But ye are not of the World, therefore the World 
 ',' batetbyou. But marvel not that the World hateth you ; for it hated me belorc it 
 " hated you. So that, upon the whole, this Nation is not in danger of the Spani- 
 " ard, or of any other Nation, by reafon of our Principle, or for want of our Help 
 " in fio-htino-; which we have not declined, becaufe we durft not, or could not 
 »' ufe the Weapons of War : For many of us have been Fighters ; and I myklf 
 " have wore a Sword, and knew very well how to ufe it: but being convinced 
 " of the Evil, by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, working in us a Contormi- 
 " ty to the Will of Go d, and fubjeding us to himfelf, as Subjeds of his peace- 
 " able Kingdom, 'tis neither Cowardice in ourfelves, or Rebellion or Difloyalty 
 " to Kin"-s or Rulers, whom God, in the Courfe of his Providence, advances 
 " in Nations, but Confcience towards God, and Obedience to his dear Son, 
 " the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus, which make 
 " us decHne fighting. 
 
 To this EfFeft, and much in the fame Words, was my Anfwer to the Earl ; 
 who heard me with great Patience and Candour, and then replied, " 'Tis true, 
 " faid he, fo long as you behave peaceably, are loyal to the Government, and 
 " pay your Taxes, as you do, I think, when all's done, there is not an abfolute 
 " Necelhcy for your perfonal Service in War, fince his Majefty may always 
 " have Soldiers enough for Money, as h? may have Occafion." 
 
 " True, faid I, and there are but few, in Comparifon of the whole Body 
 " of the People, that ferve perfe-nally in War ; and, without all Doubt, Vo- 
 " Junteers, of all others, are fitteft for that Service ; where no Man jeopards 
 " his Life but by his own Confent, Choice, and Inclination, and has no Man to 
 " blame but himfelf in the Confequences of it, with refpedl either to Body or 
 " Soul, fince both may be in hazard, as Men may be ftated in fuch Undertakings."^ 
 
 Some Time being fpent in what I have here related, and Things feeming to 
 fit well on this great Man's -Mind, I was willing to withdraw; and then rifing 
 upon my Feet, I laid further unto him, " Confidering thy Station and Refort, 
 " we may trelpafs, though undefign'd, on thy Time, which may be neceflarily 
 " employed on publick Services; but if I might have Liberty to wait on thee 
 " at leilure Times, I do not doubt but to make all thefe Points we have gone 
 " upon, and all others wherein we diifer from other ProfcITors of Chriftianity, 
 " as clear as the Sun at Noon-day, in favour of our ProfefTion •, and that the 
 " fame Thing which now goes under the reproachful Name of ^.akerifm and 
 " Error, is no other than primitive and improved Chriflianity." 
 
 To which he replied, " I fhall be glad to fee you at any convenient Time. 
 " My Hour is about Nine or Ten in the Morning ; and if I Ihould happen to 
 " be indifpofed, or otherwife engaged, I will let you know it, and expeft you 
 " another lime;" which accepting as a Favour, I proceeded thus : 
 
 " I took Notice of what thou faid, in this Difcourfe, concerning our Preaching 
 " andWritings, that they feemed both aukward and unintelligible : I luppofe thou 
 " mayft remember fomething of one Jmnes Wilfon, who has waited on thee 
 " fome Times to folicit thy AfTiftance for Rehef of feveral of our Friends." 
 
 "This
 
 of T H O M A S ST RT. 6%% 
 
 " This is, faid he, Wilfon o^ Weftmor eland, an honeft good Man." " 'Tis Anno 
 " the fame, faid I. Thou was plcafed to admit him to fome Difcourfc with 17 iS. 
 " thee on fome Points of Religion, on fome of thofe Occafions; and he then 
 " promifed to fend thee a Book, which would clear up fome of thofe Matters 
 " more than could then be done by him •, and he hath accordingly requefted 
 *' me to prefent thee with it :" And fo I gave it him, being one of Robert Bar- 
 clay's ylpologies, and faid, " If thou pleafes to read this Book over with Atten- 
 " tion, I hope it will give thee fome more Satisfadlion, both concerning the 
 " Principles we believe and fufFer for, ourfelves, and our Writings." He readily- 
 received the Book, and faid, " I will perufe it." Then, in a moving Pofture, 
 I faid further, " It is below the Earl oi Carlijle to be flattered, and inconfiftent 
 " with me to do it; but this I can fay with much Freedom, I have often re^ 
 " membered thee and thine, with many good Wifhes, when far remote, in ano-^ 
 " ther Part of the World •, and, fince I returned to Europe, have, from Time 
 " to Time, defired to fee thee -, but the Circumftances of my Concerns would 
 " not allow me till now. I am glad of this Opportunity, and thy Condefcenfion 
 " lierein, and may make ule of the Liberty given me, in fome other convenient 
 " Time ; and, in the mean time, wifli thy Happinefs and Profperity :" And 
 fo we departed with great Satisfaction. 
 
 O N the 1 6th of the Seventh Month, being the Fourth of the Week, I went 1 7 1 9- 
 from London, in order for Bath, and that Evening lodged at Rufcomh, at the 
 Widow Penn's ; where I met with my Landlord Brice JFebb, of Brijlol, and his 
 Wife ; who were on a Vifit there, being Relations. 
 
 O N the 1 8th I was at the Week-day Meeting at Reading. That Evenin^- I Reading, 
 went back to Rujcomb •, wlierc flaying till the 20th, being the Firft of the Week, 
 I was again at the Meeting at Reading. In the Evening I returned to Rufcomb ; 
 where I ftaid till the 22d. We then fet forward together for Newbury, where Newbury, 
 arriving before Night, Notice was given of a Meeting to be there next Day, at 
 Ten in the Morning; which was accordingly held, and it was a good Meeting. 
 That Afternoon we went on to Marlborough. Marlborough 
 
 O N the 24th, being the Fifth of the Week, my Friends fet forward for Bri- Bath. 
 ftol, but I {laid at Marlborough ; where we had a fmall Evening Meetino-. 
 
 On the 25th I went to Bath, and lodged v/ith my Friend Thomas Gingel; 
 where 1 was kindly received, and made very welcome. 
 
 On the 27th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting at Bath- Bathford. 
 ford in the Forenoon, tlie Meeting falling in courfe there, and at Bath in the 
 Afternoon. At the laft were feveral Strangers, and Things were very open. 
 It being the latter Seafon of the Year for the Bath, many of the Nobility and 
 Gentry were in Town on that Occafion, and fome of them at the Meeting. 
 
 On the ift of the Eighth Month, being the Fifth of the Week, I went to 
 Marjhfield; where we had a pretty large Evening Meeting, and the People were Mar(hfield. 
 quiet and attentive. 
 
 O N the 2d I returned to Bath, to their Week-day Meeting, where we had Bath; 
 an Increafe of the Company of thofe Strangers ; and Things were very open and 
 clear, and feveral of them well affedted in the Meeting with what they heard. 
 
 On the 4th I was there again. In the Forenoon we had but few Strangers, 
 
 but
 
 6a4 ^/-^^ LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno but a pretty Meeting of Friends ; there being feveral Families from Bipol, afid 
 1 7 1 9. fome from London. 
 
 I N the Afternoon came a great Company of the Nobility and Gentry •, fo that 
 the Houfe could not hold them, and all the Yard before the Door was filled : 
 And though, in the Beginning of the Meeting, fome of them (as they are ufed 
 in their own Worlhip) were a little airy and pleafant among themfelves, expeft- 
 ing fomething to make them Diverfion, being wholly unacquainted with Truth, 
 an'd the Way of it, and lying under the Prejudices of falfe Rumours; yet, in 
 a fliort Time, many of them began to change Countenance, and look with ano- 
 ther Afped: for God, who wills the Good of all Men, favoured the Oppor- 
 tunity, and gave me feveral Matters of Moment to declare among them, to the 
 Surprize of lome, and general liking of moll, if not all of them, except fome few 
 Papifts, and their Favourers -, whofe Principles and Errors were a little expofed 
 in that Meeting. And finding Truth over all, and Love towards them, after 
 the Service of the Meeting v/as over, I told the Auditory, that we were to have 
 another Meeting there on the Fifth Day of the Week, (which they call Tburfday) 
 and we fliould be glad of their Company there with us ; and they feemed gene- 
 rally pleafed with it : But, for fome Reafons, the Meeting being put ofl' a Day 
 longer, we gave Notice accordingly, and it had the defired EfFedl ; for there was 
 fo great a Concourfe, efpecially of the Quality, fo called, that the Houfe could 
 not hold them, and many were without in the Yard •, but as the Ladies and 
 Women were generally preferred to the Seats, feveral of the Nobility flood great 
 part of the Time with great Patience and Attention, fuitable Things being o- 
 pened to them •, and the Meeting held between two and three Hours. That 
 Day Truth gain'd Ground confiderably •, for as many of them had before odd 
 Notions of us and our Way, they now began to fee we were a People greatly 
 abufed by falfe Rumours, and the World impofed upon concerning us, our Way, 
 and Worfliip ; and were generally well fatisiied. 
 
 O N the 7th, being the Fourth of the Week, I had an Evening Meeting at 
 
 Bradford. Bradford; which was pretty large and open. That Night I lodged at Dr Clark's, 
 
 Coftiam. '^nd the next Day was at a Meeting at Co/ham ; which, though not large, was 
 
 an open good Meeting. That Afternoon I went to Monks with Caleb Dickiti- 
 
 fon; where I ftaid Dinner, and that Night returned to Bath. 
 
 g^.j,^ On the nth I was there again-, and as many Perfons of Rank, and others, 
 
 were by thefe feveral Meetings generally alarmed, we had more than we had 
 Room for, efpecially in the Afternoon -, and many went away out of the Yard 
 and Lane, who could not bear the Weather, and to (land fo long a Time. A 
 good Seafon the Lord gave us to general Satisfaftion ; for the blefled Truth 
 was over all, and many of them reached, and went away with foHd Counte- 
 nances. 
 
 Chew-Mas- ^^ ^^^ ^^"-^ ^ ^^"^ ^^^^^ ^'"■^^^ Dickinfon to Chew- Magna, to the Marriage of 
 na, Martha Vickris, (youngeft Daughter of Richard Vickris, who, in his Day, was 
 
 an honefl: Friend, and a Gentleman of good Senfe and Reputation) and Robert 
 Button of 'Taunton; which was folemnized on the 15th, at the Meeting-houfe 
 there : where many of their Relations, and generally the Neighbourhood, were 
 prefent ; and, among others. Sir IFilliam Cann oi Bujleton, (whofe Sifter had in- 
 termarried with Robert Vickris'?. eldeft Son, and Heir of the fiiid Richard) with 
 whom I had much Diicourfe afterwards on many Points of Religion to Satisfac- 
 tion -, he and his Lady, with fome others of fuch fort, having been well pleafed 
 with the Meeting, both with the Manner of the Celebration of our Marriages, 
 
 and
 
 of T HO M A S ST O RT. 6zs 
 
 and what they heard ; and he obliged me to call at his Houfe, if I fliould come Anno 
 that Way. The Day before the Marriage I was at their JVFeeting sX Beltcn, ^7^9- 
 two Miles from CJbew ; which, though fmall, was very open and comfortable. 
 
 On the i6th I returned to Balb; and, on the i8th, being the Firft of the Cath, 
 Week, we had the Lord Carpenter (General of the Forces in Scotland) 
 and his Son, at Meeting in the Forenoon, and fome other Strangers : The 
 Subject Matter was concerning Christ the Foundation, and that P^/^r could 
 not be fo. I do not remember I was ever clearer opened upon it than at 
 that Time ; nor did I ever obferve any Ferfon more grave and attentive than 
 he, during the Time of it •, and, I thought, fometimes afFeded with the Power 
 of Truth, and what he heard. It was a good Time to Friends, and we were 
 thankful to the Lord that gave it. 
 
 Some Time before this there were divers poor People came up to Bath, in 
 order for Help by the Waters againft their feveral Difeafes, who had not where- 
 withal to procure Accommodations for fo long Time as was needful for their 
 Cure, and were not permitted to beg in publick, the City being often opprefled 
 by the Refort of common Beggars ; who rather make a Trade of their real Dif- 
 tempers than come there for Cure, and too often make falfe Pretences of Ail- 
 ments, to deceive, where there is nothing real ; yet being willing to relieve 
 the truly necefllrous, proper Notice had been given the Week before in our 
 Meeting of fuch an Intention, and Friends defired to come prepared for a Con- 
 tribution that way at this Meeting •, the Thing being diftindtly ftated, left any 
 fliould think it was for our own Poor, or for any other fecret or particular Pur- 
 pole, of which fome might be jealous. The Meeting was very large this Af- 
 ternoon, and feveral of the Nobility of both Sexes, and others, prefent. Good 
 Part of what I had then to fay was concerning that Creed commonly called the 
 Jpejiles' and the Interpretation of it ; fome Things concerning the State ot both 
 Jews and Gentiles at the Coming of C h r i s t ; the grofs Idolatry of the latter, 
 and Apoftacy of the former ; and that great Part of the fuppofed Chriftian 
 World now at this Day is under as great Idolatry •, inftancing, in the Worfhip 
 of a Piece of Bread, or an infipid Wafer, in the Roniijh Church, and the Incon- 
 fiftency of Tranfubftantiation both with Senfe and Reafon ; both which are, and 
 ought to beufcd in the Chriftian Religion, and both helped and improved : but 
 falling in alfo againft Deifm, (fo much at this Day prevaihng) I faid, Reafon is not 
 to be the fole Guide of Man, but the Light and Spirit of C h r i s t ; which being 
 above Reafon, and the true Illuminator and Reftifier thereof, is the fure and. 
 unerring Guide unto all that believe and truly follow him. This was a great and 
 glorious Meeting ; where many of the Nobility and Gentry were prefent : But 
 that which was the Crown and Glory of all, was the Pefence ot the King of 
 Kings, and Lord of Lords, among us ; whofe Truth was over all, in the Demon- 
 ftration of his Wifdom and Power, to his own Glory ; and many were that Day 
 fenfiblc of it. This Meeting was moft generally fatisfaftory to all forts, and as 
 it was our parting Meeting, a general Solidity and Awe being over moft of the 
 Audience of all Ranks. The Meeting held near three Hours, till it began to 
 be duskifli •, and I was concerned in Teftimony about two Hours and a half 
 of the Time : and though many of the Quality, as well as others, ftood moft 
 of the Time, I did not obferve any ot them exprefs any Wearinefs or other 
 Diflike. 
 
 The Meeting being ended, we proceeded to the Colle6tion ; and before we 
 began John Ecclejlon of London (who being there for his Health, had been very 
 ferviceable in procuring fome great Perfons to come to our Meetings, and in an- 
 fwering Queftions among them, where any Thing had not been well underftood) 
 
 7 T made
 
 6r6 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Anno made a fliort Speech to this EfFed : " That though this CoUedion was intend- 
 1 719. " ed wholly in our own Connmunion, yet being for poor People not of 
 " our own fort, we were not fo narrow, or tied up to ourfelves on fuch Ac- 
 " counts, but that the charitable Contributions of others would be acceptable 
 " to that End." Upon which feveral did contribute liberally with us : And, 
 left any fliould, thro' Malice or evil furmifing, pervert our good Intentions, 
 v/e defired that fome one or more of their fort might be concerned to fee the 
 Diftribution according to the Intent, which was accordingly done : but notwith- 
 flanding all our Precautions, this charitable Adion was perverted, as I afterwards 
 heard, by fome who made an injurious and perverfe Remark upon what John 
 Ecclejlon faid, that we had firft drawn People to our Meeting as if we had ex- 
 peftcd nothing from them, and when there, obliged them to a Contribution, by 
 another Speech, to the Support of our own Poor, or worfe : all which I had an 
 Opportunity to clear, 
 
 I WAS there again on the 25th, being the Firft of the Week, where the 
 Meeting was not large, great Part of thofe who ufually came to us being out of 
 the Town •, but fome other Strangers being there, we had a pretty good 
 Meeting : and finding myfelf clear, I now began to think of fome other Pla- 
 Eradford. ces ; and accordingly, on the 27th I went to Bradford, where we had an Even- 
 ing Meeting, pretty open and well ; and that Night lodged at the Widow 
 Tiler's. 
 
 Warminfter. On the 2 8ch I went to Warminfier % but happening to be their Fair-day, the 
 Friends there gave no Encouragement for a Meeting that Evening, faying, the 
 People would be attending the Puppet- fhows, iSc. which ufually came to Fairs ; 
 and as for themfelves, there would be but two or three out of two Families at 
 Meeting, if we had one -, but if I would have one the next Day, they thought 
 I might. Finding Things thus, and Notice of a Meeting at Froom being al- 
 ready given to be the Evening following, I pafTed them by, though with fome 
 inward Trouble. 
 
 Froom. On the 29th I went to Froom; and that Evening had a full open Meeting 
 
 there, in a large new Meeting-houfe of the General Baptifts, which they readily- 
 lent us for that Occafion -, our own Place being too fmall to accommodate the 
 Number expefted. There was a Pulpit therein, finely carved and fet off, 
 which might have been free for me, but I declined ir, and took a Seat with two 
 or three Friends in a Place under that, inclofing their Communion Table ; and 
 when I found my Time to begin to fpeak, though the Table was the moft 
 convenient Place to ftand upon, yet I declined that, left I m.ight offend fome 
 of the weaker fort of their People ; moft of whom, with many others, were 
 preient. The Subjed was, G o d's univerfal free Grace through Christ unto 
 all People : and I do not remember I was ever more fully or clearly opened 
 upon it. A good Time the Lord gave us, not only to the Satisfadion of 
 Friends, but of all in general. 
 
 The Meeting being over, as I came out of the Pew, an ancient grava 
 Woman (a particular Baptift, as I luppofe) asked me this Queftion, " That i^ 
 " Christ died for all, why were not all faved, fince there could be no In- 
 " fufHciency in the Blood of C h r i s t to anfwer the End propofed .? " I an*. 
 fwcred her, " Tiiat if fhe had taken good heed to the whole of what was faid 
 " in the Meeting, that Point had been made very plain and clear to her Un- 
 " derftanding •, but fince flie had nor, I further faid, That there is no Infuffi- 
 « ciency in the Offering or Offerer, but in Mankind, that do not believe and 
 " obey : For this is the Condemnation of the World, that they have not believed in 
 
 " the
 
 of T H M u4 S S T RT. 6in 
 
 " the only begotten Son of God. -Again, I am the Light of the Worlds (faid Anno 
 
 *' Christ the Lord) whofoever followeth me fhall not abide in Darknefs. ^7^9- 
 
 " And again, This is the Condemnation of the JVorld, that Light is come into the John vili. 12, 
 
 " World, but Men loved Darknefs rather than Light, becaufe their Deeds are Johniii. 19. 
 
 *' evil. And again, IVhatfoever Things are reproved are made manifejl by the 
 
 " Light ; for ivhatfoever makes manifejl is Light. All this is laid of Christ, 
 
 *' who is that one Propitiation for the Sin, not of the Apoftles and thofe that had 
 
 *' already believed only, but alfo for the Sins of the whole World, who at that 
 
 " Time had not yet believed, but were flill in Unbelief; which Offering being 
 
 " on God's Part, in Difcharge of his Promifes before by his Prophets, the 
 
 " Way that the Promifes become efFedual unto us is, to believe in this Light, 
 
 " that we may be the Children of God in him. And firfi: believing in this 
 
 " Liglit, and walking in him, (that is, in Obedience to his Manitefbations and 
 
 " Difcoveries) then the Blood of C h r i s t cleanfeth from all Sin, and the Pro- 
 
 " mifes are fo applied : but the unbelieving and difobedient are under Condem- 
 
 " nation ftill, rejefting him (the Light of the Gentiles) in whom the Covenant 
 
 " is, and who is that Covenant, and is altogether fufHcient and compleat in 
 
 " himfclf, though we may fail by our own Negledt." 
 
 Th I s Anfwer flie received, and was filent, and went away with fome Signs 
 
 of Refpedt. That Night I lodged with Oakbourne, and the next Day he 
 
 accompanied me to Bath ; where I ftaid that Night. 
 
 Brillol. 
 
 On the 31ft I went to Briftol; and flaid there fome Time. From thence I 
 vifited fome ancient Friends in the Country near, and alfo feveral Meetings, as Frenchay. 
 Frcncbay, Portfljcad, Claverham and Sidcct : and havirig an Invitation by Sir IFil- Portfliead. 
 Ham Cann to his Houfe, I went thither one Day from Briftol -, but he being gij^ot """" 
 from Home, his Lady, being a very civil good-temper'd Perfon, obliged us 
 
 to ttay Dinner with her. In the mean time came Cobb, Efq-, and his 
 
 Wile, and a young Maid a Coufin of her's •, and, after fome Civilities on all 
 Hands, we fell into Difcourfe on various Subjedls and Points of Religion ; 
 where I had an Opportunity to clear feveral to them ; and alfo that Afperfion 
 mentioned before relating to our Colle6tion for the Poor at Bath, whereof I found 
 fome of them had received falfe Notions •, and all ended ia Civility and good 
 Temper on all Hands. We returned that Evening to Bnjiol. 
 
 There are at this Time in that City a young People, the Offspring of 
 Friends, a confiderable Body, who love Truth when preached to them in the 
 Life and Demonftration of the Wifdom and Power of it ; but many of them, 
 not yet much acquainted with the powerful Work of Truth in themfelves, are 
 not apt to relifh the harfh and unwary Difcourfes of fome among themfelves^ 
 (fuch as Sarah Dixon and her Difciples and Accomplices) who very unwarran- 
 tably and falfly apply unto them, and even to the Men's Meeting there, all the 
 Woes and Judgments againft old Ifrad in their mofl degenerate State ; of which 
 thefe young People and others, knowing themfelves not to be guilty, though 
 perhaps in fome Things they want Amendment, are greatly offended and hurt ; 
 judging the prating of fuch to arife from no other Ground than their own Ill- 
 nature, heightened by fome private Offences taken at fome Particulars, againft 
 whom they cannot have their Revenges in their own Way. 
 
 I H A d fome open and good Times among them in the Love of Truth, the 
 Vifitation whereof, I know, is towards them. Many important Truths were 
 opened among them -, and the Way of Satan's Temptations in the Thoughts 
 and Imaginations of Mankind, expofed to the meaneft Capacities > and the Ne- 
 
 cefTity
 
 Glaffenbury. 
 
 Grinton. 
 
 6iS The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno cefllty of Regeneration, by the holy convincing Power and Spirit of the Lord 
 ^7^9- J r. s u s, inculcated and enforced ; ufing all decent Plainnefs with them concerning 
 their prefent State : And as it was in the Love of Truth, they received it in the 
 fame Ground : and my Miniftry reaching their Underftandings, and not their 
 Afftd'tions only, I hope it may be ferviceable to many of them ; obferving that, 
 as I came in Love among them, they generally paid me a Regard arifing from 
 the fame Ground ; though they defpife the doftrevian Infults of thofe who know 
 not their own Spirits, or Ground of their own Miniftry ; which gives no Tefli- 
 mony for Truth, nor afcends higher than its own Fountain, begetting harfh 
 Ideas like itfelf, but nothing that is fweet or lovely. 
 
 On the 2 id of the loth Month I departed thence, leaving them in mutual 
 Love and Friendfhip, accompanied by my good Friends John Andrews and Jk- 
 xander Arfcot ; and chat Night we lodged together at an Inn in Wells ; and the 
 next Day, in the Evening, I had a good Time in a miniftring Friend's Meeting 
 (mixed with Elders) at Glaffenhury : where the Quarterly Meeting being next 
 Day, I was there alfo ; and the Lord gave us a comfortable Meeting. 
 
 On the 25th I was at an appointed Meeting at Grinton. Our Friend Philip 
 JVatts, Landlord of the Parifh, of a confiderable Eftate, being in Ivilchejler 
 Prifon for Non-payment of Church-rates, (fo called) by the malicious Profecu- 
 tion of an ill-natured Perfon in the Neighbourhood, and, I fuppofe, one of 
 his own Tenants ; who, being inftigated and fupported by fome of the Mem- 
 bers of the Ecclefiaftical Court at Wells, (and others of that fort) an old Anti- 
 chr ftian Engine of great OpprelTion upon Mankind, had been thus very mif- 
 chievous and wicked -, which our Friend bore with Chriftian Patience, tho* 
 feparated from the Comforts of his new-married Wife and Family, and necef- 
 fary Concerns of Life : All which I was concerned to take fome Notice of that 
 Day in iny Teftimony •, which was very open in the Love of Truth to the faith- 
 ful. Many Truths opened to the People for their Information and Help ; and 
 we had a good Seafon, to general Satisfadion. 
 
 longfutton. I STAID there that Night ; a.nd oxwht i6t)\yjen\.to Lojigfutton. The Day 
 
 following (being the Firft Day of the Week) I was at their Meeting in a large 
 new Mecting-houfe ; where we had the Company of fome Plundreds of People: 
 and two very open Meetings we had that Day, one about the Middle of the 
 Day, and the other in the Evening. 
 
 Sumerton. O N the 30th I was again at their Week-day Meeting ; which was frefh and 
 
 well : and that Evening had a large good Meeting at Sumerton : tor though their 
 Meeting be fmall of itl'elf, the People came in fully, and we had a good Time, 
 Things opening freely to the State of the Meeting. That Night I returned to 
 Longl'utton. 
 
 On the 31 ft I went thence with my Friend Sainuel Bownas, (who, in Friend- 
 fhip, had been witli me at Sumerto/t) and ftaid at his Houfe that Night. 
 
 Ivil. O N the ill of the Eleventh Month I was at a Funeral at Ivil; where we had 
 
 a large Meeting on the Occafion, and, I believe, to general Satisfadlion : for the 
 Truths of the Gofpel opened freely, with great Authority and Demonftration. 
 After fome Refrefhment I returned that Night with Samuel Boivnas to Liming- 
 ton; where I ffaid till the Firft Day following, and then had a large open Meet- 
 ing in the Town-hall at Ivilchejier^ both fuller and opener than laft Year. That 
 Night I returned to Limington. 
 
 O N
 
 of T H O M A S S T RT 619 
 
 On the 4th I went to Grinto7t^ upon the Occafion of the Death of the Wi- Anno 
 
 dow PoweU Mother of Philip Watts-, who was then Prifoner at Ivilchefier for lyig- 
 
 Church Rates, and had Leave to go home on that Occafion. We went toge- Grimon. 
 ther, and next Day had a large open Meeting at Grinton, at the Funeral. 
 
 And being informed by fome Friends from Glajfeijbury, that two Friends 
 were deceafed there ; and the Friends of that Place hearing of my being at 
 Grinton, defired my Company at the Funerals ; which they had contrived to be 
 next Day with that View : and accordingly I found Freedom to anfwer their Re- 
 queft, and went that Evening with them to Glajfenbury. 
 
 O N the 6th the Meeting was very large on that Occafion, the Town's People Glaffenbury. 
 coming fully in, and a very open and comfortable Time the Lord gave us, to 
 his own Praife ; which, I bL'licve, many will remember. That Evening Samuel 
 Bownas and I went to Puddymoor, and I lodged at James Salter's. 
 
 O N the 7th we had a Meeting there ; which was open and well, though not Puddymoor. 
 large. That Night I remained at the fame Friends. 
 
 On the Sth we ha.l a Meeting at JFeJion Ramfield; which, though laborious, Wcfton Bam- 
 I believe was of Service : for tiiere were feveral Strangers there, not obftrved ''^''^• 
 to have been at Meetings before -, and Things opened fuitai)le and clear. That 
 Night I lodged at the Widow Pain's. 
 
 On the 9th I went to Sherbourn; and next Day, being the Firft of tlie Shcrboum. 
 Week, we had a large open Meeting there, many of the People coming in, 
 and Friends from the Meetings all round the Country. That Night I lodged 
 
 there. 
 
 On the I ith I called to fee Samuel Penny.) a Friend, and dined there -, and, 
 in the Afternoon, went to Bridport, and had two Meetings there on the 1 3th ; Bridport. 
 one about Eleven, being more feledl among Friends, which was a very folid and 
 comfortable Meeting, and the other at Five in the Evening ; where the People 
 came fully, and Things opened well in order to their Convincement : but they 
 being as the ftony or rocky Ground, my Time was fomething laborious -, tho' it 
 was a good Meeting. And perceiving the People willing to hear, we appoint- 
 ed another Meeting on the 15th, being the Sixth of the Week, about Five in the 
 Evening; which was largtr and more open than tiie former: but (faying over 
 Firft Day, we had two Meetings more-, one in the Forenoon, not large, being 
 of Friends for the greatt ft Part, and the other in the Evening, which was very 
 large ; fo that the Houfe, though lately enlarged, could not contain them : and 
 they were very fob^r and attentive, many Things opening to them, both by Sa- 
 muel Bcivnas and me, fuiting their Condition •, and, fo far as I could obferve, to 
 general Edification and Satisfadion, 
 
 Here I ftaid all the next Day -, and, on the 19th, leaving Samuel Bonvnas 
 there, his Occafions calling him back, I went to Dorchefter ; where we had a Meet- Dorchefter, 
 ing, beginning about Eleven. There are but a few Friends belonging to that 
 Meeting; but Notice being given in the Town, there came fome of the People; 
 who looking in, and feeing but a few mean-like Perfons, went away ; but, af- 
 ter a while, came again, and fome others alfo. I found a Concern in my Mind ; 
 but fo few being come, I delayed as long as I well could : and perceiving fome 
 without, waiting till they could hear fome fpeak, I at length ftood up, and be- 
 ean to fpeak fome few Sentences; which, when they heard, many more rufli- 
 V 7 U ed
 
 (^go The LIFE, (^x. 
 
 Anno ed in, and, 'in half an Hour, the Place was full crowded ; and we had a Meeting 
 1719. much more open and large than I expefted : And though many of them, being 
 Strangers to Truth, and our Way, were, at fuft, airy and wanton, yet Truth 
 coming over them, moft of them were very folid before the Meeting was over j 
 which, when done, fome of them, as their Manner is, gave me Thanks for my 
 good Sermon, and gave me alfo their good Wilhes. 
 
 After fome Refrelhment at the Inn, being accompanied by our ancient 
 Friend John Nichols of Bridport, I went that Evening to fVeymouth, and lodged 
 at William Herbert'' s. 
 
 Weymcuth. O N the 20th we had a Meeting there, beginning about Five in the Evening, 
 
 It was not large ; but folid and pretty open. 
 
 On the 2i{1: I went into thelfland of Purbeck; and that Night lodged with 
 Jofepb Baker. 
 
 Cotf. On the 22d I had two appointed Meetings at Corf; which were not very 
 
 full : but that in the Evening the largeft, and pretty optn. 
 
 Pool. From thence I went on the 23d to Pool, and lodged at Smnud VaUaJfe'i: 
 
 and on the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting; which 
 was large and open in the Forenoon ; but, on occafion of a Fur.eral, was n^uch 
 larger in the Evening, and very open, there being many Strangers at the Meet- 
 ing of feveral Notions. Here I ftaid till the 26th, and had another good Meet- 
 ing that Evening, many of the Inhabitants being there, who did not ufually 
 come to Meetings. 
 
 Rjngwood. On the 27th I went to Riugwood, and lodged with Martin Be?ice,jun. and the 
 
 Day following was at their Meeting; which was fmall, and Jieavy in fome 
 Part, the Life of Truth not having, for fome Time, a free Pafiage ; and fome 
 Terms of Correftion and Reproof were uttered in my Teftimony : but at length 
 Truth making its own Way, we had a good Meeting. 
 
 Fording- O N the 29th we had another Meeting appointed at Fordingbridge, about Five 
 
 bridge. in the Evening ; to which many of the Inhabitants coming, and the Truths of 
 
 the Gofpel opening freely, in the Demonftration of the Wifdom and Power of 
 
 the Lor d, we had a very open good Time. That Night I lodged there with 
 
 Mofes Harris. 
 
 Salisbarjr. O N the 30th I went to Salisbury, and lodged with John Moore; and the 
 
 Day following, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting; where, in 
 the Forenoon, came feveral Friends from Fordingbridge ; and the Lord gave 
 us a good Time together: There were alfo fome of the Town's People with us. 
 I was greatly comforted in this Meeting in Silence, and had an open Time in 
 Teftimony : but in the Afternoon the Place was crowded with all forts, the Con- 
 troverfy being then warm about tlie Trinity, and fome being willing to hear 
 what might be faid on that Head, or relating to it : But I rather fet forth 
 Christ the Light of the Gentiles., and Obj-2d: of Faith that way ; exhorting 
 all to a holy Life, and to the keeping of the Commandments of God, Christ 
 
 Jo!m XV. 10. fetting himfelf forth as an Example that way, faying, As I have kept my Father's 
 Commandments, and abide in his Love ; fo alfo do ye keep my Commandments, that 
 ye may abide in my Love : That keeping C h r i st's Commandments is a necef- 
 fary Confequence of loving him ; and without keeping his Commandments, all 
 
 Pro-
 
 6^1 
 
 Anno 
 
 Jonn XIV. 1 y 
 I John ii. 4. 
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 
 
 Profeflion of Difciplefhip is vain. If aiiy Man love me he will keep my Covimand- 
 mcnts, and my Father will love him, a>id we will come and make our abode with him. 
 Again, In that Dayyejhall know that lam in my Father^ and you in -me, and I in 
 you. Again, He that faith he loves God, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a 
 Liar, and the Truth is not in him. And that fince this is eternal Life to know 
 the only true Cod, and Jefus Chrifl whom he hath fent; and that Knowledge 
 is not to be acquired but as G o d pleafes to make hJmfcJf known, it was 
 better to wait humbly upon God for this Knowledge, to be experimental 
 WitnelTes of his Preknce in the Son of his Love, than to have any Notions of 
 him other than what he gives ; fincc no Man can form any true Idea of him, 
 or is he any Thing to any Man but what he himfelf pleafes : But as he is de- 
 clared to be Love to all the Humble, Faithful, and Obedient, and a confuming 
 Fire to the Ungodly, 'tis better we all labour fo to demean and behave ourfelves 
 to him, and one to another, as to cfcape his Wrath, and abide in his Love, than 
 by unwarrantable Curiofities, and Negledl of our Duty, to provoke his Difplea- 
 fure J fince this is the Sum of all his Requirings, To love God with all the Soul, and 
 with all the Strength, and one another in him ; without which all Speculations are 
 vain : With many other Truths of the Gofpel ; which freely, and with good 
 Authority, opened in that Meeting, to general Satisfadion. 
 
 On the ifl of the Twelfth Month I went to Romfey, and lodged at John Romfoy 
 Futcher's ; where we had a very fmall Meeting the Day following, they having 
 given little or no Notice to the Neighbourhood : and as they were fparing that 
 way, fo the L o r d was alio fparing to them ; for we had a poor Time, though 
 fome were alive. 
 
 Mat. xxii. 
 
 On the 3d I came away with a Load upon my Mind on that Account ; and 
 at Southampton had another like Meeting. I every where obferve, that where 
 Pretenders to Truth are cold and indifferent that way, they are afleep ; and God 
 is alio fparing of his living Mercies unto all fuch, and juftly. After this Meet- 
 ing, which was a little better than that at Romfey, I ftaid at Thomas Curtis's 
 Ploufe till about Four next Morning, and then embarked in a Cows Floy for 
 that Place, in the IQe oilFight : where we arrived next Morning about Eight, 
 being a very clear and pkafant Morning ; and that Evening had a fmall Meet- 
 ing there, at the Houfe of Jonathan Ely, where I lodged that Night. 
 
 On the 5th, at Six in the Evening, I had another Meeting on the Eaft-fide, 
 at Daniel Hollis's ; which being very fmall, by the fame Negled as at Romfey, 
 ■we fared accordingly, though not quite without the Prefence of the Lord. 
 That Night I lodged on that Side, at lVillia;n Herbert, fenicr's; where I ftaid 
 till the 7th, being the Firft of the Week. 
 
 O n the 7th I went to Newport ; where the Meeting was fmall in the Fore- 
 noon, there being but few in the Ifland, and moft of them there at that Time ; 
 but we had a very comfortable Sealbn : And putting off the Afternoon Meeting 
 itill Five in the Evening, there came a mixed Multitude ; fome of the Age of 
 Difcretion, but had none, and others too young to have much of themfelves, nor 
 were there any Signs of Inftrudion at all upon them ; yet I had an open full 
 Time among them : And though many of them kept talking, and making 
 Noife moft of the Time, yet not regarding them, and my Voice over them, the 
 fober fort were inform'd and fatisfied, and I came away eafy : But, after the 
 Meeting was ended, I ftood up and reproved them : Firft, I put them in mind of 
 wliat the Apoftle Paul faid of the Trouble he had with the bafer Sort, who were 
 like themfelves 5 and then told them, they were a Reproach to Government, a 
 
 Shame 
 
 Southampton] 
 
 Me of Wight, 
 
 Newport^
 
 6^z 
 
 Anno 
 
 Porifmouth; 
 
 Gofport. 
 
 Port Chefter. 
 
 ALford, 
 
 The L I F E, d^'c. 
 
 Shame to their Parents, a Scandal to their Teachers, if they had any, and a 
 Grief to the honeft-hearted. I added. That the Teachers among the firfl: 
 reforming Proteftants, iifed to catechife the Youth of their Profeffion every 
 Firft Day, by which fome Impreffions of Religion were made early in their 
 Mind : But as moft of thofe now in this Nation, of all forts, mind little elfethan 
 to feek their Gain from their Quarters, their Hearers were too generally become 
 brutal, and fo tar from Religion, that they were below a moral Education: And 
 having been fo guilty, this they bore without Reply, and went away quiet; only 
 fome of the fobcrer fort faid, there was too much in it to be denied ; and they 
 blamed one another as they pafTed in the Streets. That Night I lodged there aC 
 the Houfe of Joim Davis, a Gardner. 
 
 On the Sth, accompanied by Jonathan Ely of IVcJl-Ccwes, I paffed over to 
 Port/mouth, where we had a Meeting the fame Evening •, which, though fmall, 
 was very open. Here I met with Robert: Roberts of Maryland, waiting for a 
 Wind for Barbadoes ; being an old Acquaintance, the Occafion was acceptable. 
 TJiat Night we lodged at Mary Grayfden's together. 
 
 O N the 9tli we croffed the Harbour to Gcfport, and had an Evening Meet- 
 ing in tlie Baptill Meeting -houfe there -, which was exceedingly thronged, being 
 a new Tiling among them, but with a yet ruder Company than at Newport ; 
 tho', to do them Juftice, the Noifes were rather occafioned by the great Prefs 
 and Crowd, than intentionally, and was moft in the Door and Paflage : But, 
 notwithftanding the Inconveniences and Difadvantages we laboured under that 
 way, many Things of great Moment opened, with Clearnefs and Authority, of 
 which many fober People among them had the Advantage ; who fpoke well of 
 the Meeting, though grieved with the Noifes and Ill-behaviour of others •, for 
 which I alfo reproved the Offenders in the End of the Meeting. That Night 
 we lodged on that Side with the "Widow Oftnoud. 
 
 The loth, being very cold, and a high Wind, we crofTed over again to 
 Portfmouth, to accompany the Corps of a deceafed Friend up to Pert Chejte'r ; 
 where it was to be interred : and the Deceas'd being the Commander of a Ship, ma- 
 ny of the fame Faculty went to the Meeting on that Occafion. We rowed againll 
 the Wind and Tide, and arrived not there till near the fecond Hour Afternoon j 
 but having a large, fober, and open Meeting, to general Satisfaftion, we were 
 fufficiently rewarded for all our Fatigue and Labour. Here I parted with my 
 Friend Robert Roberts, who went back with the Company to the Town. That 
 Night I ftaid at Port Chejler, lodging with Thomas PFhiting, an ancient Friend of 
 that old Village, reported to be firft fettled, and the old Caftle there built, by 
 Julius Ciffar. 
 
 On the i ith I went to Alsford, where T met with James SimpfoK, of i^ork- 
 /hire; who had that Day appointed an Evening Meeting there, to which I alfo 
 went : where we had alfo fome fober People, there being but {'c\w Friends ; but 
 a Company of Boys, belonging to a Free School, taught by a Prieft in Town, 
 were very rude and troublefome •, which both James and I reproved. He had 
 the Concern of the Meeting, only I concluded it : And, being defirous to have 
 a Time with the People, gave them Notice of another Meeting at the fame 
 Place the next Evening; which accordingly was held : But, being a wet Even- 
 ing, we were not troubled with the little rude Fry, nor with fuch as were more 
 dainty than defirous ; but a fober folid People, among whom I had an open 
 Time; wherein Friends were comforted in the Truth, and others fatisfied in 
 
 what
 
 of THOMAS STORT, 6ii 
 
 what was opened. That Night, as that before, I lodged with Benjamin Anno 
 Sweet apple. i^i^^ 
 
 On the 13th I went to Jlion, to James Hawkins's -, and the Day foJlowingj 
 being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting, being a IVIonthly Day for Alton. 
 Worfhip, and many Friends from the Places adjacent ; and the Lord gave us 
 a comfortable Time togetlier, there being alfo fome Strangers among us. The 
 Afternoon Meeting, at my Requeft, was put otF till the Fifth Hour in the E- 
 vening, and Notice given in the Clofe of the firft Meeting. We had a laro-e 
 Gathering, and many of the Inhabitants of different Notions came ; who were 
 generally very fober, and attentive to what the Lord gave me to fay amonf 
 them, which was not little, for I was largely opened, both in Spirit and Dodrine ; 
 which had a free and open Palfage : and I had Cqmfort concerning this memorable 
 Meeting; in which my natural Strength being much exhaufted, and the Family 
 where I lodged agreeable, and alfo defirous ot my Company, I ftaid there the next 
 Day, and vifited fome Families, and a Friend who lay ill -, with whom I was com- 
 forted in Prayer : And being well refreflied and recruited, both temporally and fpi- 
 ritualiy, and pleafed with the Converfation of Friends, as they with mine, on the 
 1 6th I proceeded to Godalmin, having a particular Defire to fee and converfe with 
 Jofeph Taylor, who had been Teacher of a Congregation of Baptifts at London, and 
 vifited of the Lord with his Day-fpringfrom on high, had believed and obeyed the 
 divineLighr, and thereby become a Minifter of it in a good Degree, according to 
 the Difpenfation that now is in the Church of Christ, gathered theremto through- 
 out the World. There I fta'-d at his Houfe, two Nights, and we had much Con- 
 ference about divine Things ; and I found him a Man of good Underftanding. 
 
 And as I defired to fee not only the fev/ Friends belonging to the Meeting, 
 but as many of the Inhabitants as might be, fo he and they took fome Pains to 
 give large Notice •, and, on the 1 7th in the Evening, we had a very full and open Godabnin. 
 Meeting •, more than their pretty large Meeting-houfe could hold ; and the People 
 generally behaving foberly, as Friends, went away folid and liitisfied. 
 
 On the i8th I had an Evening Meeting at Guildford; where was Jofeph Tay- Guildford. 
 lor, John Smith, and others, from Godalmin : But there happening a Burial of 
 the Corpfe of one of the Magiftratcs, where a Sermon was expeifted, and general 
 Invitation given to the Inhabitants, and alfo a Bapi:ift Meeting at the fame Time, 
 our Meeting was not fo large as otherwife it might ; and yet a pretty large Ga- 
 thering both of Friends and others: and we had an open Meeting; which Jofeph 
 Taylor concluded in Prayer, after I had been largely open'd in it, in Matters 
 dodrinal ; which feem'd to have a good Reach upon the People, and Friends 
 were comforted ; efpecially thofe who travel in Spirit for the Profperity and 
 fpreading of Truth, both in themfelves and others. That Night I lodged at 
 JVilliain Dean's, a young Man of an honefl Stock, and, in himfelf, hopeful and 
 valuable : He had been at Godalmin. 
 
 On the 19th, accompanied by William Deans, I went to Darking; where Darkin&" 
 that Evening we had a large Meeting, though there are but few Friends. The 
 People were generally fober, and the Time fati-sfaftory to moft, if not to all^ 
 many Things of Moment being opened among them, and with good Authority, 
 coming clofe upon fuch as ferretly are convinced of the Way of Truth, but, 
 for Reafons relating to this World, will not own it ; efpecially in thefe Texts, 
 and fome fhort Comments upon them, viz. He that denieth me before Men, him r t. •■ g-d' 
 •will I alfo deny before my Father and the holy Angels ; and he^ihat confejfeth me 
 before Men, him will I alfo confefs before my Father and the holy Angels. He that 
 
 7 X re~
 
 5^4 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno receiveth you, receivetb me ; and he that receiveih me^ receivetb him that fent me : 
 1 7 1 9> and he that rejeileth you, rejetleth me -, and he that reje£ieth me, reje£leth him that 
 Mat. X. 40. fent me, &c. And with the Heart Man believes unto Righteoufnefs ; but with the 
 John xii. 48 ]\^gj{th Confejfion is made to Salvation. It is not therefore fufficient that a Man 
 •v ra.x. I.. ^^ inwardly and fecretly convinced of the Truth, and Way of it, or to know 
 who are the People of God, and yet not own it openly -, but as the Unbelie- 
 ving are excluded, fo alfo the Fearful -, and neither Father, Mother, Wife or 
 Children, Houfes or Lands, Oxen or Farms, Liberty or Life, are to be prefer- 
 red to the Calling of G o d ; fince C h r r st has told his Difciples from the Be- 
 ginning what they muft expeft in this World for his Name's Sake, if they be- 
 lieve in him, and follow him fully: And as Ignorance will be no Excufe in the 
 Day of the Lord, and the Unbelieving are condemned already; fo it will be 
 no Plea in the Day of the Lord, for any to fay, I did not believe thefe were 
 thy Minifters, or thcfe the Truths of thy Gofpel, which I heard them declare •, 
 or that thy Light and Grace they witnefled unto, or declared, fince this is the 
 Condemnation of the World, that they have not believed in the only begotten Son 
 of God, who hath declared himfelf to be the Light of the World ; and his Ser- 
 john i. (j. vants have witnefTed, that he is that true Light that Ughteth every Mail that 
 Cometh into the World, that all Men, through him, might believe, 
 
 H E R E I ftaid at Refla Patching' i till the 2 ift, being the Firfl of the Week ; 
 
 and then, accompanied by him, and fome other Friends, I went to a Meeting at 
 
 Street Cob- Street Cobham ; which was not large, yet a comfortable Time the Lord gave 
 
 ^^°'- us. That Evening I went with Samuel Streeter, to his Sifter's Houfe at King- 
 
 Loiidon. Jlon upon Thames ; and the next Day to London. 
 
 171Q-20. On the 1 8th of the Firft Month, 1719-20, I was committed to the Fleet for 
 
 not taking the Affirmation ; in which Suffering I had great Peace and Acceptance 
 with the Lord, who hath forbidden Swearing to his Difciples. 
 
 1 72 1. On the 18th of the Sixth Month, 1721,! was releafed by Order of the Lord 
 Chancellor. 
 
 1722. On the 25th of the Third Month, 1722, I went from London, accompanied 
 by honeft Benjamin Holme ; and that Night we lodged at our Friend Thomas 
 IFyat's, at Chelmsford. 
 
 On the 26th, being the Seventh of the Week, we lodged at John Ofgood's, 
 near Coggeflmll. 
 
 Coggcniall. O N the 27th we were at a Meeting there ; and appointing another about Five 
 
 in the Evening, it was very large and open, many of the Town's People being 
 there, and very fober. That Evening I returned to John Ofgood's witli him. 
 
 Cokhefter, On the 28th we went to Colchejier Quarterly Meeting; and were, on tlie 
 
 29th and 30th, at the Yearly Meeting there ; which was large and open. I 
 lodged with Benjamin Dike's, jun. 
 
 On the 30th, in the Afternoon, we returned to Coggejhall, to the Burial of a 
 Friend ; where we had the largeft Meeting that ever could be remembered there, 
 and very open, the People being very fober and attentive. The Things of G od 
 were largely and clearly opened and demonftrated to general Satisfa(5lion, That 
 Night we lodged again with John Ofgood.
 
 of T H O M A S STORT. 6zs 
 
 On the 31ft we went back to Wit tham to a Marriage, which was attended Anno 
 
 ty many Friends, and others; and the Lord gave us an open and comfort- 1722, 
 
 able Time on that Occafion. That Night we lodged with John Raven, near Wittham. 
 KeUcfi. 
 
 O N the Firft of the Fourth Month we went back to Colchejler ; and the next 
 Day to Aught on- Hall; where dwelt Jofeph Garret, an honeft plain Friend, a Aughton, 
 Farmer. ^*''* 
 
 On the 3d, being the Firft of the Week, we had a Meeting there; which 
 was fmall, by reafon of the Thunder, and much Rain that fell that Day. Af- 
 ter the Meeting we went with Stephen Melfop, to his Houfe in Ipfwich, he ha- 
 ving come on purpofc to meet us. 
 
 On the 4th we went to the Qiiarterly Meeting at Wocdbridge ; where I found Woodbridge. 
 it upon my Mind to exhort Friends to Faithfulnefs againft Antichriftian Priefts, 
 and Prieftcraft; as the SuccelTors, not of the Apoftles, but of thofe Antichrifts 
 the Apoftles witnefled againft in their Day -, who, with feigned Words, according zPet. ii. 3, 
 to the Apoftle's Prophecy, make Merchandize of the People. 
 
 O N tlie 5th we were at their Yearly Meeting in that Place ; which was large 
 and open, many of the Town's People being there. I lodged, whilft there, ac 
 
 John Pindar's. 
 
 O N the 6th, being the 4th of the Week, we had a large open Meeting, by 
 Appointment, at Ipfwich; where came many People of Note of the Town, and ipfwich.' 
 Avere generally fatisfied. That Evening I went to Needham, to Samuel Alexander' s. 
 
 O N the 8th I had a good Meeting there •, where fome People of Account in Needham; 
 the Town came, and were very quiet and attentive ; though it was not fo open 
 as at Ipfwich. 
 
 O N the 9th I went to Edmundshury, Benjamin Holme having gone thither be-' 
 fore from Needham ; and the Day following, being the Firft of the Week, was 
 at their Meeting in the Morning; which was pretty open, but fmall : But in Edmundsbury 
 the Afternoon, Friends from divers Parts, and a Multitude of the Town's 
 People coming in, it was the largeft known there ; the Houfe, Galleries, and 
 greateft Part of the Court-yard being filled. Some Perfons ot Note in the 
 World were there ; among whom was Sir John Holland's Lady, Daughter of 
 the Earl of Yarmouth, and Grand-daughter of King Charles II. a mild affable 
 Perfon. She came to the Widow Dikes' s, where I lodged, and drank a Difhof 
 Tea with fome of her Sifters, with whom fhe was acquainted. We had fome 
 folid Difcourfe concerning the Meeting ; which was open, though laborious, both 
 by reafon of its Largenefs, and the Heat of the Seafon. That Night I conti- 
 nued there. 
 
 On the nth, parting with Samuel Alexander, his Wife, his Sifter, and Niece," 
 who all came from Needham on that Occafion, I went to Milner ; where I lodged 
 with Simon Burgefs, and the Day following had an appointed Meeting there ; jvioneri 
 which was large, confidering it was the Time of Hay-harveft; and a very open 
 Seafon the Lord was pleafed to give us, in Showers of heavenly Rain, and 
 fome pruning and digging, in order to more Fruity 
 
 On
 
 6i6 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno On the 13th I went to Cambridge, and that Afternoon had an appointed 
 
 1722. Meeting there ; which the Scholars of the Unlverfity hearing of, many ot them 
 
 Cambridge^ came, and I had good fuitable Matter for them : But, alas ! they were fo wild, 
 lb airy, wanton, and fooliih, many of them could not be touched -, and yet fe- 
 veral of them, in fome Time, grew much more folid and attentive, till fome, to 
 fcare the reft, and divert themfelves, fuddenly reported that the Proftor was 
 coming -, upon which they all flounced away like wild Colts that had never been 
 halter'd : However I did not mind that, but went on v/ith what was in my Mind 
 to the People that ftaid ; and the Alarm proving falfe, many of them came back, 
 and would have ftaid quietly ; but others ftill renewed their Fears by frefli Alarms. 
 I compared them to wild Fowls, which are not to be taken, but fliot flying : And I 
 do believe the Arrows of the Almighty did not mifs them all. O tliat they had 
 been but ftill one Hour, for the Advantage which might have accrued to them 
 by the excellent Openings I had that Day, through the Grace of God, which 
 flowed towards them in me from the L o r d ! But this fort, of all Men, are moft 
 miferably ftated; profeffing themfelves wile, (the Leaders of them I mean) they 
 are the oreateft Fools. And, if that Saying be true, that the two Univerfities, 
 Oxford and Cambridge, be the two Eyes of the Nation, or National Church, how 
 blind are they in the Things of G o d ! And in whom more than in them, anc\ 
 
 Luke vi. 39. thofe led by them, Is that Saying fulfilled. If the Blind lead the Blind, they fhall 
 both fall in the Ditch ; as at this Day is too much the fad Cafe of this profefllng 
 Nation, through the Fogs of the Pit, rather than any Light of the Gofpel of 
 Christ, iflTuing from thefe rude and benighted Dungeons ; the Stink which 
 poifoneth and ftifleth the People, that they draw little or no Breath from the 
 Lord and Giver of Life, though near them, even in their own Bofoms-, but 
 unknown, by the Force of the Power of Death, ftill reigning by Means of thofe 
 Children of Darknefs, thofe learned Fools. Thefe young Men are lamentably 
 circumftanced -, they have not a fober Education, and feem utter Strangers to 
 all Piety and Virtue : What then can be expedted from the bafer fort, if any 
 
 Thing can be bafer than fuch 
 lodged at Jofeph Chapman''^. 
 
 Behaviour as is tog commo.n among them. I 
 
 The 14th, being their Meeting Day, I ftaid the Meeting; which, confift- 
 ing only of a very tew Friends, who live there, and two or three of the Neigh- 
 bourhood who came in, was fober and comfortable. After I had vifited a young 
 Perfon that was lying ill near the Town, I went that Evening to Zachariah 
 Wyat's, at Saffron-lValden. 
 
 Walden. 
 
 Royflon. 
 
 On the 1 7th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting at Wal' 
 den; which was not large in the Morning, yet living: but in the Afternoon ve- 
 ry large, fo that feveral went away, not being able to endure the Heat of the 
 Sun without. Some of the Aldermen of the Town were there ; and a very free 
 open Time the Lord gave us, to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 O N the 1 8th I went fo Royflon, to Robert Izard's, and had a Meeting there 
 the Day following; which was fmall, but a good Meeting. 
 
 Bifhop-Straf- ^^ ^^ 20th I went to Bijhop-Strafford; where the Meeting was fmall, and 
 ford. many drowfy, but pretty well awake before the Meeting ended. I lodged aC 
 
 IVilliam Dinfdale's. 
 
 •^a,e; ' On the 2ift I went with Jofeph Dockwray, to hisHoufe ztWare; where we 
 
 had a Meeting next Day. It was heavy and drowfy in the Foreparts but more 
 open in the End, 
 ^ ' —' On 
 
 *
 
 (if THOMAS ST O RT. 
 
 Sii 
 
 On the 23d I went to Hertford, to John Fallowfield's; and on the 24th, be- Ann d 
 ing the Firft of the Week, was at the Meeting there, both Forenoon and Af- 1722. 
 ternoon : They were large and open, efpecially in the Afternoon. Hertford. 
 
 On the 25th, in the Morning, I vifited a Daughter 0^ John Stout, who lay 
 rery ill of a lingering Diftemper, and had a very open and comfortable Time in 
 Prayer with her, and fome other Friends, to her and our mutual Refrefhment. 
 After that I went to Baldock, to John Izard's ; where I ilaid writing Letters, Baldock. 
 and putting fome Things in order, till the 27th, and then had a Meeting •, which 
 was fmall, heavy, and drowfy for fome Time ; but ended well. 
 
 On the sStli I went to Hitchin, being their Week-day Meeting, which was Hitchin. 
 very heavy and fleepy a while •, but aftewards very open and tender, and ended 
 in a living Senfe of the Goodnefs of the Lord. I lodged that Night at John 
 Turner'si 
 
 On the 29th I went toJlI>an's; where we had a fmall Meeting. It was flat Alban's. 
 and dull a while ; but ended frefli and living : And, having dined at Stephen 
 Htmbk's, I went that Evening with John Owen, Schoolmafter at Hampjiead. 
 
 On th-e ift of the Fifth Month, being the Firil of the Week, the Meeting 
 being at IVoodend, about two Miles from Hampftead, it was an open living Meet- 
 ing. In the Evening, about the Sixth Hour, we had another Meeting at Hamp- 
 ftead; where many of the Town's People came in •, and we had a large open Time, 
 and many tendered, and generally fatisfied. That Evening I returned with John 
 Owen. 
 
 Woodend. 
 Hampftead. 
 
 On the 2d I went to Chejham, to Daftiel Rokris^s, and the Day following had Chelham; 
 a Meeting appointed there ; which was open and living. 
 
 On the 4th I was at Tring, where the Meeting was pretty large (tho' about Tnng. 
 Hay-harveft) and open-, and dining at John Forjler's, I went that Evening to 
 Aylesbury, to Thomas Olive's, ; and the next Day we had a Meeting there, which Aylesbury; 
 was fmall and heavy. 
 
 O N the 6th I went to Wickham, and that Evening had a IVleeting there ; which Wickhani; 
 was pretty large, and very open, the Power of the blefled Truth reigning trium- 
 phantly, and the Meeting generally broken and comforted. I left an Exhorta- 
 tion with them to keep up their Teftimony faithfully againft the Payment of 
 Tythes, that great Support of Antichriftian Priefl:craft. I lodged at Thomas 
 Olive's, jttn. and the next Day he and Jofeph Stevens, a young Man of PVickam^ Oxford; 
 went with me to Oxford ; and we lodged with Thomas Nichols. 
 
 There are, at this Time, very few Friends belonging to the Meeting at 
 Oxford, and few, if any, in Town, but Thomas Nichols and his Family : but the 
 Scholars come much more to Meetings of late than for many Years paft, and 
 generally not fo rude as heretofore ; though fome of them, now and then, very 
 waggifli and arch ; but few malicious : and fome of them frequently come to 
 Week-day Meetings, and fit filent with the two or three Friends, fometimes the 
 whole Time, and go away filent and fober ; which Friends obferving, make no 
 Complaint againft the ruder fort, left the better fort fliould be hindered from co- 
 ming, and loofe that Advantage, which, fome Time or other, they might reap 
 in our Meetings. 
 
 +-. 
 
 7Y 
 
 u
 
 638 
 
 A^fNO 
 
 1722. 
 
 Witney. 
 
 The LIFE, d^c. 
 
 It beinf' the Firft Day of the Week, marly of them, and othefs, came to the 
 Meeting in the Morning : Some of them looked wild and airy ; but others 
 more folid : Some fat down and were quiet, others reftlefs and floating, full of 
 Tricks, Whifperings, and Smirkings, and fometimes Fleerings ; and one young 
 Man (not of them, but of the fame Temper, and countenanced by fome ot them) 
 played Tricks with a Spaniel Dog in the Meeting : All which we bore as if it 
 had not been. I had a great "Work of Truth in my Spirit ; and, when I found a 
 fit Time, I ftept up into the Gallery, (for none fat in it at that Time, being but 
 few Friends there) and delivered what was in my Mind •, during which fome of 
 them went out, and fome of them and others came in again j but moft ftaid 
 the Meeting, and were generally more fober and attentive than I have fcen them 5 
 and went away quietly. 
 
 I N the Afternoon the Meeting was very full, both of the Scholars and other 
 People of botli Sexes. Moft of the Scholars were very folid and attentive, and 
 ftaid the Meeting, there being little fmiling at all among them ; but fuch as 
 attempted that Way to draw out the Minds of others, were difappointed, find- 
 ing but little Countenance; fo that we had a very large, open, comfortable 
 Meeting: and, by the Exercife of my own Mind, the Do6trines I had to deli- 
 ver, and the Love of Truth attending, and by what went out among them, I 
 hope there was fome Good done that Day. To the Lord be the Praife, whofe 
 Work alone it is to fave ; whether immediately or inftru mentally, it is the Lord's* 
 
 On the loth I went to Witney, (going round by Woodftock, where I took a 
 Turn in the Duke of Marlborough'^ Gardens, and viewed fome Part of the 
 Houfe, with the famous Bridge before it; all very noble) and lodged that Night 
 at 'Jeremiah Warren's. 
 
 O N the I ith there was a Meeting there of courfe ; which was large, there 
 being many Friends belonging to it, and very open in the main : But there was 
 a drowfy heavy fort here alfo, as there is, at this Day, in moft Places of the 
 World ; though others frefh and living. 
 
 Burford. On the 12th I had a Meeting appointed at Burford, which was pretty large 
 
 (fome Strangers being there) and open; but we had alfo fome Sleepers, who 
 are always a dead Weight wherever they arc in any Meeting, or in any Society. 
 That Night I lodged with Timothy Abrahams. 
 
 Milton. At this Meeting another was appointed to be next Day at Milton^ about 
 
 three Miles from thence (fome Friends from that Meeting being there) ; which 
 was held about the Sixth Hour in the Evening, and was as large as could be 
 expedled in that Time of Hay-harveft; where pretty inany of the Country 
 People came in ; and Things were open and well. It is near that Parifti, if not 
 part of it, the Tythe whereof was given to John Fox, and his Heirs, for his great 
 Care and Pains in compiling his large and ufeful Hiftory, intitled, A£}s and Mo- 
 numents of the Church, &c. That Night I returned with Timothy Abrahams. 
 
 CLrencefter. On the 14th I went to Cirencejier, to 'Daniel Boleg's; and the Day following, 
 
 being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting, Forenoon and Afternoon. 
 It was fmall, by reafon of the ill Weather, and a very drowfy, lumpifh, heavy, 
 fleepy fort among them ; and yet a Remnant alive, who were tender ; and fome 
 of the younger fort broken and melted. 
 
 Tedbuiy. 
 
 O N the 16th I went to Tedbury, and lodged with Hopeful Vckins that Night, 
 
 and
 
 6^^ 
 
 ANNd 
 
 1721. 
 
 Painfworth. 
 
 of THOMAS STORY. 
 
 and the Day following had a Meeting there ; which, though fmall, there being 
 few Friends in that Place, the L o r d was with us, and gave us a comfortable 
 Time j and fome Neighbours who came in were well fatisfied. That Evening I 
 went to Nail/worth, and lodged at the Widow Smith's. 
 
 The Week-day Meeting at Painfwick being on the 1 8th-, I \Vent thither. It 
 was fmall and heavy in the Beginning ; but ended frefh and lively. The Hin- 
 derance was Drowfinefs, a great Evil, hindring the living Worflaip of the living 
 G o D ; and in which hidden Temptation Satan has greatly prevailed in fome 
 Places, to the great Difhonour of G o d, and Hurt of many Souls t For if Satan 
 can transform himfelf into an Angel of Light, and that Way deceive the Simple, 
 and fuch as know not the true L-ight, how much more may he transform 
 himfelf into the Image of Death and Darknefs in a dead and drowfy Soul ; thro* 
 which, as a Vail he puts on in a Meeting, he alfo loads and grieves the Upright 
 and Living : and where this prevails there can be no Worfhip of G o d, but ra- 
 ther a yielding and bowing to the Enemy ; whereby all Worfhip of God is 
 much more eftedually fuppreffed, than by all the Powers of the Earth in Times 
 of their open Oppofition and Perfecution. That Night I lodged at Thomas 
 Loveday's there. 
 
 O N the 20th I returned to their Week-day's Meeting at Nailpaoorth ; which, 
 being large, was laborious : and the more fo, becaufe moft of them were a young 
 People, hardly convinced, and of little Knowledge of Truth as it is in Christ 
 Jesus; and yet fober as Men, and hopeful. That Night I tarried again at 
 the Widow Smith's. 
 
 On the 2 ifl: I had a Meeting at Sedbury ; which was not large. Some Sleepers Sedbury. 
 were well awaken'd by the Word of Reproof, which flowed plentifully ; and 
 though a Rebuke upon the Carelefs, was Health to the Diligent and Living. 
 That Night I ftaid there at Richard Thrafher's. 
 
 Nailfworth. 
 
 On the 2 2d I went to the City of Brijlol; and meeting vi'iih Alexander Are- 
 fcot, went with him to fee his Wife, who lay dangeroufly ill of a Fever ; and, with 
 them, having fome Time in free Prayer, was much comforted ; and, from that 
 Time, it pleafed the L o r d fhe began to recover. From thence I went to my 
 
 Briad. 
 
 old Lodging, at my 
 
 Friend Brice IFehFi. 
 
 It was near the Time of the Fair in that Place ; Which ufually holding about 
 two Weeks, I fell in there on purpofe to attend the Meetings on that Occafion, 
 being ufually larger than at other Times •, and yet was much hindered and dif- 
 appointed for a Time, by fome other forward Perfons, who had come there only 
 about their Trades, and buying and felling: but when once I had an Opportu- 
 nity, under the Weight of one of their great Meetings, of many hundreds of 
 Friends and others, I was from that Time eafier, as alfo were the Meetings ; and^ 
 after fome few Times, had very open Service for the Lor d, his Truth and 
 People, and continued therein from time to time, (and at a Burial) till the 8th 
 of the Sixth Month; and then was at the Week-day Meeting at Frenchay; 
 which was a good open comfortable Meeting. That Evening I returned to Bri- 
 dal; where I tarried till the 1 8th ; and that Day went to vifit my long-acquaint- 
 ed and near Friends, "John Andrews and his Wife. That Evening I lodged at 
 Abraham Lloyd's, on my Way to Thornburyi to the Burial of our ancient and Thombury, 
 honeft Friend, John Thurjion. It was on a Firfl Day of the Week •, and as he 
 was a Man well beloved, and much efleemed of Friends and Neighbours in his 
 Lifetime, fo many came to our Meeting on that Occafion ; and the Lord gave 
 us a good Time, and many were reached and fatisfied; Things opening very 
 
 plainly
 
 640 
 
 Anno 
 
 1-J21. 
 
 Claverham. 
 
 ChEw Magna 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 plainly to moft Underftandings, who had any Love for Truth, or Concern for 
 Relif^ion. That Evening I went again towards Brijiol, and lodged at Thomas 
 Stuije's, and next Day again to the City -, where I had a very open Time oft 
 the Third Day following, and another on the Sixth, to the Help and Comfort of 
 many, though to the Rebuke of feme States : and fome other miniftring Friends 
 coming to Town, I departed thence on the Seventh Day following, being the 
 25th of the Month, for Claverham, on my intended Journey to the Yeai-ly Meet- 
 ing at Exeter ; and that Night lodged at Arthur Thomas's. 
 
 On the 26th I was at their Firft Day's Meeting; which was pretty large, 
 confiding moftly of young People, not yet much baptized into the Nature of 
 Truth ; which made my Exercife for them a little harder^ 
 
 On the 27th I went to Chew- Magna, on a Vifit to my ancient and much 
 efteemed Friend, the Widow Elizabeth Vickris, I having been* in my early Time, 
 well acquainted in that then honourable Family. 
 
 There I ftaid two Nights. 
 
 Sidcot. On the 29th I went to Sidcot Week-day Meeting; where the Lord was 
 
 pleafed to favour us with his Preftnce to a good Degree. That Night I lodged 
 there with JVilliam Jenkins, a Friend who kept a confiderable School in that 
 Place, of the Children ot Friends and others. 
 
 EriJgewater. O N the ^o'th I went to ^ridgevoater, to Thomas HoUoweU's. ; and the Day fol^ 
 lowing had a Meeting there ; which, though not large, was open and comfortable. 
 
 On the ift of the Seventh Month I went forward to Tannton-Dean, to Eli- 
 zaheth Button'' %; and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, was at their 
 Meeting, both Forenoon and After; which were large and open, efpecially the 
 latter: And their Monthly Meeting falling of courfc the next Day, I tarried with 
 them; and the Day following had an Evening Meeting appointed there, for the 
 moft part for the Sake of the neighbouring People ; who, though they are wil- 
 ling to come to our Meetings, yet would not be feen there. This Meetino- 
 was large, and the Truths of the Gofpel opened and flowed plentifully among 
 them, to general Satistadlion ; fo that I am not without Hopes that fome Good 
 might be eftefted in fome of them, through the Grace of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, which mercifully attended the Meeting. I went away very eafy, 
 and Friends rejoiced and were comforted. 
 
 Wellington. 
 
 The Week-day Meeting at Wellington falling in courfe on the 5th, being 
 the Fourth of the Week, I went thither, it being the Road to Exon ; and tho* 
 but fmall, yet was open and comfortable ; fome reputable Neighbours alfo be- 
 
 ing there 
 
 That Night I went a Mile diftant from the Town. 
 
 Spiceland. The 6th, being the ufual Day of the Meeting at Spiceland, I fell in with them 
 
 there ; where we had a good Seafon together in Christ Jesus our Lord 
 though fome fharp Things were uttered in the Authority of Truth, to fome 
 States; efpecially to the drowfy, fteepy, lukewarm, and indolent; who take 
 up a falfe Reft in that unhappy State, to the Danger of their utter Ruin, after 
 many Years fruitlefs ProfefTion of the living and life-giving Truth of Godj 
 T'hat Evening I went with Edmund Ellis, where I had formerly lodged. 
 
 CuUompton. On the 7th, being the Sixth of the Week, and the ufual Week-day Meeting 
 at CuUomptQti, 1 took that alfo in my Way. It was pretty large j but fome 
 
 young
 
 of T H M A S S T R r. 64.1 
 
 young People, little acquainted with the Work of Truth, and fome older iet Anno 
 
 down fhort, and at Eafc ; in which Unhappinefs they are too little alone: but 1722. 
 
 the Lord was mercihiliy with us, notwithftanding the Word of Reproof was 
 
 not a-wanting, nor Confolation with-held, from the fcveral Subjedts. That Night 
 
 I lodged at Thomas Finrn'more's ; where, in the Evening, came Thomas Beavan 
 
 from Melkjham, and feveral Friends with him ; where he favoured us with the 
 
 reading of his Manufcript, proving that Reafon in Man, and divine Truth, are 
 
 diftindt Things ; on which Subjeft he and I had fometimes difcourfed before, a:? 
 
 very neceflary to be fully and plainly treated on : fince, at that Time, too many 
 
 of the more ingenious fort ot People, of divers Denominations, fome among 
 
 ourfelves not excepted, were ready to miftake one for the other, and eftabhfli 
 
 their own Realbn inftead of divine Truth -, the Spirit of Man, with his Uncertain 
 
 and fallacious Reafonings, (in which is endlefs Wranglings, Uncertainty and Con- 
 
 fufion) inftead of the i)piric of the Lord Jesus Christ; which is Truth 
 
 felf-evident, certain, and leadeth the rational Man into all Righteoufnefs and 
 
 Truth in fpiritual Things, with demonftrative Certainty, and undoubted Afiu- 
 
 rance ; which his own Reafon, without the Light ot Truth, could never do, 
 
 more than the Eye can fee without the Medium of Light, though its Faculty 
 
 of feeing (in itfelf) be ever fu pertedt. 
 
 On the Sth, being the Seventh of the Week, we went on to Exeter, and Exeter, 
 lodged at John Colfworthy\ -, where we ftaid all the Time of the Yearly Meeting. 
 This Meeting was appointed by Confent of the Yearly Meeting at London, and 
 intended for the more effcftual Promulgation of Truth in thofe feveral Coun- 
 ties to which it was confined, or made particular, and moveable at its own Dif- 
 cretion, the better to anfwer the End -, and, like thofe in the North, not med- 
 dling with Matters of Bufincfs, or Difcipline, but only Worfhip, Doctrine, and 
 occafional Communication of holy Things. 
 
 The Meeting began on the Firfl: Day Morning, being the 9th of the Month, 
 and ended the Third Day following, being the iith, and was a good Time 
 throughout ; but, as generally fuch Meetings arc obferved to be, was brighter 
 and brighter, and brighteil in the End : For as they are compounded of a mix- 
 ed Multitude of all forts and Notions, the Underftandings of the Uncouth and 
 Ignorant are darkeft at firft coming, and their Senfes benummed •, but as they 
 begin to be illuminated by the Teftimony of Truth, and their Senfes a little a- 
 waken'd to reliflr fomething of the Sweetnefs and Virtue of it. Truth then flows 
 more freely unto them, with a greater Facility in the Minifter, and Reception in 
 the Hearer ; and the Senfible and Living, who, in the Life of the Son, and as 
 they ftand related to him, who beareth the Infirmities of all from the Founda- 
 tion of the World, in the Beginning of fuch Meetings, are often deeply and myf- 
 terioufly loaden, being eafed of their Burthen and Travel, now laid upon thofe 
 in the Auditory, where it rightly belongs. Things then proceed, and conclude 
 to mutual Comfort and Eafe : which was much the Cafe in this Meeting, for 
 the moft part confifting of a young uncultivated fort of our own natural OfF- 
 fpring, and others. Strangers to the verbal Teftimony of Truth; but fome 
 were a living People and Miniftry among us -, and as the true and worthy 
 Crown of all, the living Prefence ot the everlafting Lord God, in fome good 
 Deo-ree, blefled our Aflembly : and the Meeting of Minifters, on the Second 
 Day Morning, was moft eminently favoured with it, to our general and mutual 
 Help and Encouragement. This Meeting ending in Peace and Gravity, I ftaid 
 in Town that Night ; and the next Morning, being the 1 2th, returned to- 
 wards Taunton -, and that Night lodgedwith Rohrt Button^ who had been from 
 home before. 
 
 7 Z On
 
 6:^z The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno On the 13th, the Quarterly Meeting for the County of Somerfet was there, 
 
 T722. .and well filled with good Friends, and all thofe with divine Truths -, in which 
 Scmerfet. the Lord gave me an open Utterance at that Time, and a free Reception, to 
 my Satisfaction •, and the Hearts of Friends were freely opened in the fame : 
 for he who opencth and no Man fhutteth, and fhutteth and no Man openeth, 
 and who had and hath the Key of David, was there, and blefTed us together in 
 one Name •, unto which we bowed, and in which we worfhipped and adored 
 him, who liveth and reigneth, and is worthy for evermore. Our Spirits being 
 thus refrefhed in the Prefence of the Lord, the Concerns of the Meeting for 
 Bufmefs were carried on and finifhed with Unity and Comfort. 
 
 Taunton. On the 14th I remained &X. Taunton-, and next Morning, accompanied bf 
 
 Abraham Thomas, a Friend belonging to Sidcot Meeting, I fet forward for Bridge- 
 water. About three Miles from Taunton we met three Companies of Foot Sol- 
 diers newly come over from Ireland, in the King's Service ; and they were march- 
 ing for Exeter ; and I having Acquaintance in Ireland, and being a Well-wifher 
 to the Country, asked one and another feveral common Queftions, of Health, 
 whence tlicy came, and the like, as occurred, and was anfwered civilly by all : 
 But having paiTed the whole three Companies, and riding near the Hedge, be- 
 hind a little Point, which bent further into the Road than the reft of the 
 Line, (the Reins of my Bridle a little loofe) we fuddenly met a running Footman 
 in white, leading a Dog -, which fo feared my Horfe, that he flounced round at 
 once, and jumped to the other Side of the Lane : by which fuddcn and unex- 
 pefled Violence he threw me out of the Stirrups, and upon the Pumel of the 
 Saddle ; and being too flack curb'd befides, and finding himfelf loofe, and me 
 not firm upon him, he run back towards Taunton with heady Fury ; fo that I 
 could by no Means turn or ftop him, or recover the Stirrups or Saddle : and 
 quickly coming up with the Rear of the Soldiers (who were marching, but not 
 in Order) I called to the firft I came up with to make way, left I had rode over 
 fome of them, which they A'^ery readily did •, but lofing mj?Sreathand Strength, 
 by the wild inceflaht Agitation and Motion of my frighten'd Horfe, I then cal- 
 led to the reft I came up with to ftop him if they could, for I was not able ; 
 which feveral of them attempted with their Mufkets and Staffs, wherewith 
 they hit him in the Face, but in vain •, for he run on ftill : only it made me this 
 Help, to drive him to the other Side of the Road, from which went a Point 
 of another Hedge, which jetted fome Paces into the Road, and ftraitened the 
 Way ; upon which running him, it broke his Career : but fuddenly jerking about 
 the Point into the Way again, I had an Opportunity to be willingly thrown off; 
 which, by kind Providence, happened to be a foft Place : but yet, in the Fall, 
 he happened to fet one Foot upon my Head, a little above my Temple, on the 
 Right-fide, and another upon my Breaft, on the fame -, but fo it was ordered, 
 that he laid not his Weight upon me, but threw himfelf round upon his hinder 
 Feet, and, in dragging his Fore-foot oflf, wounded me a little with a Nail or 
 Calk of his Shoe, behind the Ear. 
 
 My Strength being gone, and quite out of Breath, I lay in the Place a while, 
 till fome of the Soldiers came, and kindly took me up in their Arms, Limentino- 
 my Misfortune, thinking I had been cruflred and flain (the Fnend not yet beini^ 
 come up, I having made much more hafte than was in his Power) ; but tliouo-h 
 I was bruifed a little, and my Strength gone, my Underftanding remained, and 
 they were gladly convinced of their Miftake as foon as I could fpeak to them, 
 though I ftaggered among their Hands ; which gave one of them occafion to 
 fay, The Gentleman is in Drink ; which I perceiving, took Care to aflTure him of 
 his Miftake, that Iwas never fo in my Life, but it was only the Effefts of my 
 
 Weak-
 
 of T H MA S S T RT. 64.^ 
 
 Weaknefs and Fall, and had drank nothing that Day but a little Tea and Milk, Anno 
 and, after on Horfeback, a Wine Glafs of middling Ale ; and coming a little 1722. 
 more to my Strength, then his Miftake was evident. 
 
 The Officers were very kind, and offered to fend for the Doflor of the 
 Companies, gone before ; but not apprehending myfelf to be fo ill as I was, I 
 acknowledged the kind Offer, and declined the Trouble of fending. One of 
 the Officers, fuppofing his Footman had done fomething on purpofe to frighten 
 the Horfe, exprcffed a great deal of Anger, and threatened the Man before he 
 came up to us ; but I affured him the Man was no way to be blamed, in that 
 he was only running hisCourfe, without any Defign. 
 
 Finding myfelf, as I thought, able to walk a little, and not willing to re- 
 mount my Horfe till his Fright was a little more over, taking Leave of the Sol- 
 diers, I leaned on the Arm of my Friend, and went a fliort Way -, but finding 
 my Throat fo very dry that I could hardly draw Breath, and that fhorten every 
 Step I took, I ftooped down, and took up a little Water in my Hand, out of a 
 Pool in the Road, to moiften my Throat : But my Strength failing, and my 
 Breath ftill more and more fhortening, I was forced at laft to fit down upon the 
 cold Ground on the Side of the Way ; and being then a little cooler, I was more 
 fenfible of my Hurt -, and putting up my Hand to the Side of my Head, found 
 it wounded and bloody : which the Friend perceiving, fhook his Head, and 
 turned pale, fuppofing it worfe than it was -, but, as I could not by any Means 
 recover my Breath, it came gradually, as it were, to a Period or Ceffa- 
 tion -, and then I leaned my Head down upon my Friend, not knowing whe- 
 ther I ffiould recover. This did not hold many Minutes, till my Breath began 
 to come gradually again ; and then it increafed till it came to its ufual Tone, 
 and my Strength returned, and I grew very eafy, as if nothing had befallen me. 
 Then, in about half an Hour's Time, we mounted again, the Friend upon my 
 Horfe and I upon his, in order for Bridgewater •, but the Weather being cold, 
 and riding flowly, I became very fenfible of other Bruifes, viz. upon my Left- 
 arm and Side on which I fell from my Horfe, upon my Right Jaw, Right 
 Breaft and Arm, on which he had trodden, and I fek myfelf much weakened in my 
 Journey-, hut zmv'ms^^t Bridgewater, a.t my Fnend T'hanas Holwell's, his Wile Bridgewater. 
 and her Sifter took fpecial Care of me, chaffing the Bruifes with hot Spirits, 
 applying Plaifters to the Sores, and giving me fome comfortable Things in- 
 wardly. I was quickly very fenfible of the good Effefts of their kind and friend- 
 ly Offices : but though I refted better that Night than could have been cxpefted 
 under thefe Circumftances, yet the next Day 1 found myfelf fliff all over, efpe- 
 cially my Nerves, fo that I could fcarce walk •, upon which I became thought- 
 ful and concerned for the Meetings appointed before this Accident fell out, one 
 being the Day following, in the Evening, at that Place, defiring, if it might 
 pleafe the L o r d, I might be enabled to the Service of them ; fince, on the 
 one Hand, fome Perfons might be difappointed and hurt that Way, and others 
 might reproach the Truth and Miniftry by that Accident ; and the Lor d heard 
 and granted my Defire : for though in the Morning there were few but Friends 
 in a fmall Chamber, yet in the Evening, in a large Ware-houfe belonging to 
 Thomas HolwelUnd Jofeph Ball, we had a large Meeting of the Town's People -, 
 and the whole Service of it (as to an outward Miniftry) falling upon me, I was 
 not in the Icaft fenfible of any Deficiency or Weaknefs from all my Bruifes -, but as 
 the Lord was pleafed to work in and by me in a good Degree, and affording 
 healing Virtue by the fame Power, I was, from that Time, little fenfible of any 
 Danger, but recovered far beyond my own Expeftation, or that of others. 
 
 Here
 
 (544- 
 
 Anno 
 
 17 22. 
 
 Marks. 
 
 daverham. 
 Briftol 
 
 Batb. 
 
 Bradford. 
 
 Mi 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 H E R E I ftaid till the i8th, and then went to Marks, (onwards towards Bri- 
 ftol) where a Meeting had been appointed before the faid Accident happened. 
 It was an open comfortable Meeting, confiding of a tender People, but tew ot 
 them yet profefilng the Truth •, and that Evening I returned to Sidcot, to IVil- 
 Itam Jenkins's ; where I lodged that Night. 
 
 O N the 19th I went to the General Meeting at Claverham ; which was more 
 open than the Time before : and lodging at Arthur Thomas's that Night, I went 
 next Day to Brijlol ; where Friends were glad of my Return, and Efcape of lo 
 great Danger •, and I was alfo glad to find them in Peace and Love. I tarried 
 in the City till the 26th ; having fome as open Times as ever I knew in that 
 Place, to general Satisfadion, as well as to my own great Confolation, my Te- 
 ftimony tending in the main to a Vifitation of the Love of Truth to the young 
 Generation : many of them being much touched with a Senfe of the Goodnefs of 
 the Lord therein. 
 
 In my Way to Bath I made a Vifit to Sir William Cann and his Lady, who 
 had bore me fome Refpeft ever fince the Marriage of Robert Button and Mar- 
 tha Vickris at Chew, (fome Years fince) where they were prefent. We had fome 
 more Difcourfe concerning fome Points of Religion on this Occafion ; which 
 cave me no Uneafinels : for they both treated me with Civility and Good- 
 nature. That Evening I arrived at my Friend Thomas CingeWs ; where I was 
 kindly received by the whole Family. 
 
 The Seafon of the Bath not being over, and many of the Nobility and Gen- 
 try frequenting our Meetings (though peradvcnture with different Views) I at- 
 tended the Service of Truth tiiere for fome Time, and in the mean time drank 
 the Waters ; till the cold Weather fetting in a little fooner than ufuai, affefted 
 me fo (being dill in my Summer Cloathing) that I took Cold, and upon that an 
 intermitting Fever ; v/hich being acute in its firfl Approach, weakened me much 
 for the Time : but, as it pleafed the Lord, it was fully over in about two 
 Weeks. 
 
 As during this Time we had many Strangers at the Meetings, (as I have noted) 
 and fome clear and open Seafons, according to the Manner and Degrees of the 
 working of the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, whether immediately 
 or inflrumentally -, in which fome of them were fenfibly touched and afFefted 
 with that which is good : fo, the Seafon being near over before I removed from 
 thence, and lefs of fuch Company, the Lord was pleafed to give us Ibme 
 more feledt Times and Enjoyments of his good Prefence in our own lefs mixed 
 AfTemblies, and we were greatly comforted together ; all which obliged me to 
 llay there till the 17th of the Ninth Month ; and then I went to Jofeph Hull's 
 near Bradford-, where I lodged that Night. 
 
 O N the 1 8th, being the Firfl of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Brad- 
 ford, Forenoon and Afternoon -, the latter being large and open. I had like- 
 wife been there one Firfl Day before during my Stay at Bath. That Evening 
 returning to Jofeph HulPs with fome Friends from Bath, I (laid there that 
 Night alfo. 
 
 On the 19th I went to Monks, near Cofham, to vifit Caleb Dickinfon and his 
 Children, he being then ill of a Fit of the Gout ; and ftaid there that Night. 
 
 elkfham. On the 20th I was at their Week-day Meeting at Melkjham j and, though a 
 
 wet
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 6^s 
 
 wet anci windy Day, feveral Friends from Bath and Bradford were there ; and Anno 
 the Lord gave us a comfortable Time in his good Prefence. That Night I 1722. 
 lodged with Thomas Beavan junior ; and his Father, my long acquainted Friend, 
 being then alfo living in that Place, we had good agreeable Converfation together, 
 
 I N the Morning following I fet forward for Chippenham, and came in good Chippenham: 
 Time to their Meeting, which was large and open ; and that Night I lodged at 
 Adam GoUneys, where I was very eafy and well. 
 
 From thence I went to Calm on the 22d, where was appointed an Evening Calne; 
 Meeting ; to which came feveral Profeflbrs in the Presbyterian and Baptift 
 Ways : and as Things opened very full, in fome Points relating to them, fo 
 they were very ftill, giving no Signs of Did ike -, and we had a good Time. 
 Some Friends from the Devizes being alfo there, I went home with them the Devizes.' 
 next Day ; and that Evening had a pretty large and fatisfadory Meeting, no- 
 was Beavan and his Wite, and fome other Friends, being there. I lodged at 
 his Son Roger'' s. 
 
 O N the 24th I went to Marlborough, and the Day after, being the Firft of Marlborough 
 the Week, was at two Meetings there ; that in the Evening being confiderably 
 large, many of the Neighbours of various Diftindlions being there, and many 
 important Truths of the Gofpel were plainly opened, through the Grace of God, 
 among them ; and, by their peaceable and quiet Deportment, they feemed gene- 
 rally pleafed, and fome pretty well affefted. I lodged there at Ifaac Furnell'St 
 where I was kindly welcome. 
 
 On the 26th I went to Newbury; where we had a Meeting that Evening, to Newbury: 
 which came fome Profeflbrs, and, among others, a Baptift Teacher; and as I 
 was fully and clearly opened upon the univerfil Love of God in Jesus C h ri st 
 unto all Men, and the Subjed; of Predeftination, as clear as I have known for 
 fome Time, they were all calm, and, for any Thing that appeared, well fatisfied, 
 there being a good Degree ot that holy Love among us, in the Virtue of it, as 
 well as Words, upon the Subjed ; which as well affefted Friends as other 
 People, and feafoned us together as one Lump. 
 
 O N the 27th I went to Reading ; but did not reach their Week-day's Meeting j Reading; 
 and going to my old Friend IVilliam Lambold'?,, I found fome of that Family 
 were ftill in the fame Houfe, where I was kindly received, and ftaid there that 
 Night : But Henley Meeting falling of courfe next Day, I went thither ; but, no 
 Notice being given, the Meeting was fmall : yet we were favoured with the Ex- 
 perience of the fulfilling of that good Promife of old, that where two or three of Mat.xviii.20. 
 you are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the Midfl of you ; though 
 in thefe few fome never were at any of our Meetings before ; and Things open- 
 ed larger than Reafon could have expefted in fo fmall a Gathering. After fome 
 Refrefhment at Friend Toovies's, I returned that Evening to Reading. 
 
 On the 30th, being the Sixth Day of the Week, and their Meeting Day, a 
 Burial happening on the fame Day, the Meeting was put off" till the Afternoon i 
 when came many of the Neighbours of all forts, and, among others, feveral Mi- 
 litary Officers. The Lord gave me a Door of Utterance, and a confiderablc 
 Entrance alfo with Friends and People, the Gofpel of the Kingdom of C h r i st 
 being plainly laid open inDodrine to them, and many well affedled among them ; 
 and one Lieutenant afterwards faid, that he had never been at any of our Meet- 
 ings before, or at any other with like Satisfadion, or had ever heard fuch Things 
 
 8 A in
 
 (H^ 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 r-r. ;■, .nv X'fif-mblv and' that we were a People very much mlfreprefentcd and 
 %Z" S/4"?> dib hinted to myl^lf, I accidentally feeing him in a Shop it. 
 Town next Day. 
 
 On- the 2d of the Tenth Month, being the Firft of the Week, I was there 
 aaain/ both ^6renoon and After, and the Meetings were both large and open; 
 fo that i had never been there with the like Satisfaftion before-, and hope there 
 was fome Good done among both Friends and others in thofe Meetings. 
 
 Maidenlicad. , 6n tl\e 3d I had, a Meeting appointed at the Houfe of John Fellows zt 
 kaidenheal The Houfe was fmall, and Notice only given to a few: But 
 when tlie Nfeeting was kt, and my Voice heard, the Place was quickly crowded, 
 and many in the Street who could not get inj and fome Military Officers and 
 Soldiers were tliere: and as the Lord was pleafed to open in me feveral Go- 
 fpel Truths for their Sakes, I found a very ready Pafiage for them among them ; 
 fo that I concluded that fome Good was done to them alfo. That Night I 
 lodged at the fame Houfe. 
 
 Win^for.' On the 4th i went ^o Windfor, and had another Evening Meeting there; 
 
 which was large, a great many of the Town's People coming in: And as we 
 were often concerned to declare the univerfal Love of G o d to Mankind, fo about 
 this Time, as often before, I felt much of it, even a Difpenfation of it,, to the 
 People in moft Places ; and many great and neceflary Truths were declared, as 
 the Lord opened, on that Occafion, with good Authority ; and many clear 
 Proofs out of the Holy Scriptures, both of the Prophets, and alfo of the Apoftles 
 of C H R I s T : and the Gravity of Truth was over and upon the People ; and 
 they departed from the Place, when the Meeting was over, under a grave and 
 l^lid Concern : And the Lord gave me great Peace, as a full Reward in that 
 Work, bleffing me as a Co-worker with himfelf (the great Matter- work man) 
 therein. I lodged with John Shaio ; where I was well received. 
 
 Jordan. On the 5th I went to Jor^^w Week-day Meeting; which was but fmall, 
 
 moil of the Ancients, who were once numerous there, being deceafed, and their 
 Reward fure for ever, and of late many dead of the Small Pox ; but the L o r d 
 made up all by the Comfort of his Life-giving Prefence, which, through his 
 Mercy, was not a- wanting. That Evening I returned to JVindfcr to John Shaw's. 
 
 The next, being the Fifth Day, and Week-day Meeting at Windfor, con- 
 fiftino- moftly of Friends, we were refrefhed together in the Prefence of the 
 Lord. The Meeting ending about Mid-day, I went that Afternoon to Stains -, 
 where I fell in with their Meeting, which is ufually in the Evening : and as they 
 had heard of my Intentions that Way, fo they had given Notice to fome of the 
 Neighbours ; and the Meeting was larger than ufual, and very open, much be- 
 yond my Expeftation : But the Good nefs of the Lord is boundlefs, and the 
 Treafures of his divine Wifdom not to be fearched out, or exhaufted ; which he 
 freely difpenfes and opens, when and where, and in what Manner and Degree 
 he pleafes, and to the Purpofes of his own Glory and Good of Souls ; and here 
 He was pleafed to give fome renewed Inftances of it, affefting many with his 
 divine Goodnefs, to his own Praifc ; who is worthy of all Dominion, Praife and 
 Thanks for evermore, I lodged that Night at J. Rockes's. 
 
 London, 
 
 On the 7th I went to London; where I met with a kind Reception from 
 Friends in general, and great Openncfs in feveral Meeting? among them ; where 
 
 the
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 64.7 
 
 the L o R D gave Evidence of his Prefence and Power with me in his Service, A n no 
 us at many other Times it had Co pleafed him. 1722. 
 
 I s T A I D at London (lodging at Thomas Plum/lead's, where I had tabled my- 
 felf laft Year) till the 15th, and then went to the Burial of the Corpfe of my 
 veiy good Friend, Jnne Hozv, a Woman generally beloved of all who knew her; 
 for fhe was a loyal and afiedionate Wife, an indulgent Mother, a kind Relation, 
 3 good Neighbour, and very charitable and beneficent to the Poor, doing good 
 to all as Opportunity ofl'er'd ; and as precious to the Lord is the Death of his 
 Saints, fo he was pleafed both to honour and comfort us with his folacing Pre- 
 fence on that Occafion •, where we had the Company of many Neighbours, and 
 fome of Quality, and generally fatisfied. On the 1 7th I returned to London, 
 
 N the 20th I went with my Friend Owen to Ryegate, to the Interment of Ryegate. 
 the Corpfe of the Widow Vaux, an ancient Friend of that Place, which was the 
 
 iiext Day in the Evening •, where the Neighbourhood coming in, we had a good 
 Seafon, and Things were well and comfortable. On the 2 2d I returned to 
 
 London. 
 
 1 ALs o went with John Barnet to the Burial of 'PntndStreeter. We had a large 
 Meeting on that Occafion, and Things were very open and well ; and an anci- 
 ent Prieft, an Acquaintance of the Deceas'd, being there, was feen to weep much 
 in the Meeting. 
 
 After this I continued at London fome time, vifiting the Meetings there 
 and in fome adjacent Places, in a common Way, and had fome very open Times, 
 on Firfh Days cfpecially, (many People ufually attending our Meetings) and alfo 
 at Marriages and Funerals, till the moveable Yearly Meeting for Worfhip for 
 the Northern Counties drew near ; and then, on the 4th of the Second Month, 
 1723, being the 5th of the Week, I fet forward from London for Chejler, (where T723" 
 the Meeting had been appointed for that Year) and arrived there on the 8th in Chefter. 
 the Evening, and lodged at the Talboi Inn, there being few Friends in Town, and 
 I little acquainted with any of them. 
 
 The next Day the City filled with Friends from many Places ; and that Af- 
 ternoon we had a Meeting of miniftring Friends, which ended comfortably. 
 
 O N the loth, being the Fourth of the Week, at Eight in the Morning, began 
 the firft Meeting for publick Worfhip ; and, to prevent any Diforder by too 
 great a Concourfe of the bafer fort of Rabble, feveral Conftables were placed in 
 a narrow Lane, leading to the Town's Court where the Meeting was held, in or- 
 der to intercept and ftop them. 
 
 The Meeting was very large, and great Opennefs to the People as well as 
 Friends -, for the univerfal Love of G o d, through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
 to Mankind, was not only preached, but in fome Meafure enjoyed among us i 
 and the People, as w ell as Friends, were generally fatisfied : But that Afternoon, 
 the Throng being very great, a certain Woman Friend, who had come afar off, 
 and defirous to be heard, aflumed to fpeak in fo large an Audience ; but want- 
 ing Weight and Meafure for fo great a Work, and her Voice, by all Appear- 
 ance, not being audible to half the Company, many crowded and thronged 
 nearer where fhe ftood, defiring to hear her ; which occafioned fome Diforder 
 and Unfettlement among them : She taking this for Rudenefs, and not right 
 upon her Guard in herfelf, fuffered her Paffion and Refentment to rife to that 
 
 Degree
 
 648 
 
 Anno 
 
 1723- 
 
 Kixham. 
 
 Slirewsbury. 
 
 The LIFE, c!^'c. 
 
 Degree, that fhe treated them, for fome Time, in Terms not becoming the 
 Goipel' and then, lofing her whole Strength, fat down filent; which was much 
 more agreeable and ferviceable to the whole Meeting. 
 
 In the Storm thus raifed I ftood up, and, through the Grace of Gou, had 
 quickly a calm and good Seafon -, but that Occafion having ruffled the Minds 
 of many of the People, it made my Concern a little more laborious than it other- 
 wife might have been. 
 
 On the 1 ith, from Eight to Ten, we held a Meeting of Conference among 
 the Minifters and Elders of the feveral Counties, as is ufual, concerning the 
 Affairs of Truth, and how they profper in thofe Parts -, and alfo the Quarterly 
 Meetin" for Bufinefs in the County of Chefter: and that Afternoon had ano- 
 ther (and the laft) publick Meeting •, which was very large, to the Number of 
 about three Thoufand, and, by the Goodnefs of the Lord, preferved in good 
 Order. Many of the Gentry, both in the City and Country, were there ; and, 
 among others, the Mother of the Duke of Jrgyleh Lady, and two of her 
 Daucrhters, who were very folid and attentive ; and Sir Thomas Brooks, Bart, 
 was at all the Meetings of Worfhip •, and fome faid, eight Priefls, in common 
 Habits, and fome of them well pleafed with the Meetings -, as alfo were the 
 People in a general Way. The Meeting ended that Evening, to our mutual 
 Edification, and general Satisfadlion, to the Praife of the Lord alone-, of 
 whom is the Power, and to whom it doth of Right belong, now and for ever. 
 
 On the 12th I went to Rixham, in Company with John Thompfon of Crook^ 
 (an able and experienced Minifler) and fome other Friends ; and there we had a 
 fmall, but open Meeting ; fome of the Town's People coming in and fitting 
 with us •, and that Night we tarried there. 
 
 On the 1 3th we went together for Shrewsbury ; and next Day, being the Firfl 
 of the Week, we had two pretty open Meetings there -, and that Night lodged 
 with Samuel Juit, a Farmer, two Miles out of Town, where we were kindly 
 entertained. Some of his Brothers had been convinced at the yearly Meeting 
 fome Years ago at that City. Here John Thompfon and I parted ; and I went 
 that Evening to Prejlane on the Borders of Wales, in order to that Yearly 
 Meeting ; which began the Day following. People came from many Places all 
 round, and it was a very large Meeting, and many Gofpel Truths were opened, 
 by the Grace of God, therein •, and the Truth, in fome good Degree, was in 
 Dominion over the People, full as much as (puld be expefted •, confidering 
 great Part of them had not been at any Meeting before : and the Meeting 
 throughout being preferved in a good Decorum, it alfo ended well, to general 
 Satiisfaftion, on the i8th. 
 
 Lempfter. On the 19th I v/ent to Lempfler, with Samuel Overton, where we had a large 
 
 and very open Meeting in the Evening ; and many of the Town's People came 
 in, and were very fober. Truth was much in Dominion, and the Teftimony 
 thereof full and clear ; and we came away in Peace. 
 
 Worcefter. The Day following I went to JVorcefter ; and on the 2 ift, being the Firfl of 
 
 the Week, was at their Meeting Forenoon and Afternoon : The latter was very 
 large and open, and the Gofpel preached in the Demonftration and Authority 
 of it, • . r. ■ r ^• 
 
 to general Satisfadtion. 
 
 Evefliam. On the 24d\ I went to Eve/ham; where a Meeting was appointed. 
 
 In the 
 Be-
 
 (if THOMAS STORY. 
 
 ^49 
 
 Beginning, and Time of Silence, it was very heavy and hard ; but foon after I Anno 
 got through all that L.oad of Darknefs and Death, under which I was baptized ^723' 
 tor the Sake of the dead and drowly, and a Spring of Life opened in me ; and 
 Things began to open clear ; and then we had an open Time, and a good Meet- 
 ing. Friends being very earneft with me to flay there till the 25th (being the 
 Fifth of the Week, and their Week-day Meeting there) I did accordingly. 
 The Meeting was pretty open, efpecially in Prayer at the Conclufion. That 
 Night 1 tarried there -, and on the 26th went to their Week-day Meeting at Chip- Chipping- 
 fing-Ncrton, which was very fmall -, but the Lor d was in fome meafure with Norton. 
 us. That Night I lodged at Henry Clerk's, there. 
 
 On the 27th I went to Oxford, and the Day following was at their Firft Oxford. 
 Day Meeting in the Morning ; which, though Hill fmall of Friends, was pretty 
 well filled with Scholars, who were very quiet and attentive ; Things opening 
 clear, and with Authority, upon the Promifes, and Covenant of Lite and 
 Light : and that Afternoon I went to IVickam, and next Day to London : But, by 
 hard riding, taking Cold, and Fatigues attending, I found myfelf that Night in 
 an acute Fever -, of which, by good Providence, I was well in about eight Days. 
 
 Being detained at London about divers Negotiations relating to my own Con- London, 
 cerns, as alfo of thofe of others, I vifited the Meetings there till the 7th of 
 the Ninth Month, 1723; and then fet forward trom thence ior Cumberland ; Cumberland, 
 and that Day took Tottenhara Week-day Meeting in my Way. That Night I 
 lodged at Richard Baker i, Country Houfe there. 
 
 On the 8th I vifited feveral Families about that Place ; and that Night lod- 
 ged at Jofeph Ingram's, Country Ploufe near Enfield. 
 
 O N the 9th I went to Hartford ; and that Niglit lodged at John Fallowfield' s. Hartford. 
 
 On the loth, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Ware; Ware, 
 and that Evening returned to Hartford. 
 
 On the i ith I went to Dunftable -, and that Night lodged At^phn Qhefier'^i, Dunftable. 
 and the next Day went to iVo/'//;'fl/;z/)/<j«, io Thomas Biny on' s, -,-,,7't' -,'',; ^i ;;'''-: ^^ 
 
 O N the 13th, being rainy, I went to Harhorough, and lodged at an Inn ; there 
 being only one ancient Friend, Elizabeth Smith, in Town, and but in low Cir- ■hHr':' 
 
 cumftances. 
 
 On the 14th I went to Nottingham -, and lodging at John Johnfon's, I flaid Nottjngjjgn,; 
 there till the 17th ; and then was at their Meeting, Forenoon and Afternoon j 
 which was large and open. 
 
 On the i8th I went to Mansfield; and had an open Meeting with a few jyjanjfield' 
 Friends there, fome of the Neighbourhood alfo coming in ; and that Night \Qdi- 
 Qcd At Richard Mrrit's. 
 
 The next Day going to Chefterfield, there happened to be a Burying there ; cherterfield; 
 and ftaying the Meeting, I went that Night with Dr Heathcote to his Houfe at 
 Cuthorp ; where I ftaid till the 21ft ; and then went to a Monthly Meeting at 
 Chejierfield ; and that Evening back to Cuthorp. 
 
 On the 2 2d I went to Balkr-hall, to Sir John Rhode* $ j where I ftald till the 
 
 8 B ' 24thi
 
 6so 
 
 Anno 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 24th ; and then went with him to the Meeting at PToodkufe -, which, being 
 1723. on the Firft Day, was pretty large, and very open: and that Night I lodged 
 Woodhoufe. there at CodfreyNewbok'i. 
 
 Warnfworth. 
 
 Leeds. 
 
 Skipton. 
 Settle. 
 
 Kendal, 
 
 Gray fig. 
 
 Penrith. 
 
 On the 25th I went to Warnfworth, to vifit Thomas Jldam, Son of that an- 
 cient and honourable Father, not long fince deceafed •, where I was kindly recei- 
 ved, and where I ftaid till the 27th, and then went to Leeds, to Benjamin 
 Horner's. 
 
 On the 29th, in the Evening, being the Sixth of the Week, I was at a 
 Meetino- there ; which, though fmall, was open and comfortable ; and on the 
 Firft Day following was there again. Forenoon and Afternoon -, the Meetings 
 beino- large and open, and many of the Town's People and fome Soldiers at 
 them. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Tenth Month I went to Skipton in Craven ; and that 
 Evening had a fmall open Meeting at Bavid Hall's, where I lodged ; and next 
 Day went to a miniftring Friend's Meeting at Settle ; and the Day following was 
 at another, being a Monthly Meeting, at the fame Place : and lodged at fFil- 
 liam Burbeck's. 
 
 Csrlifl?, 
 
 O N the 5th I went to John Moor's at Gaile, and next Day was at a Monthly- 
 Meeting for Worfhip at Kendal ; where I met with many Friends and Acquain- 
 tances, to our mutual Satisfaftion ; the Lord giving us a comfortable Time 
 together. I ftaid there till the Firft Day ; where the Meeting was large and 
 open in the Forenoon •, but being put ofFin the Afternoon till Five in the Even- 
 ing, fome Hundreds of the Town's People came in, and we had a large 
 Meeting; where the Lord opened feveral Things to Information, Edification, 
 and Confolation. I lodged that Time at Thomas Elwood's ; and on the 9th went 
 to my Friend James Wilfon's, about three Miles from Kendal ; where, feveral 
 Friends being in Company, we were freely and agreeably entertained. 
 
 On the loth, though very ftormy, we were at a Monthly Meeting for Wor- 
 ftiip at Grctj-rig, about a Mile diftant •, where the Lord gave us an open and 
 comfortable Time in his good Prefence : and that Afternoon I returned, with 
 fome other Friends, to James Wilfon's. 
 
 ONthS iith, in the Forenoon, we fet forward for P^«nV;&, but the Wind 
 
 was fo very high, we could hardly fit our Horfes ; and finding it dangerous to 
 
 proceed, we returned till Afternoon ; and the Wind being much abated, we 
 
 went that Night to Sba$, and lodged at John Jirey's. 
 nv.-v.ivhnr. noon:-o"i /E-tuJ:;..':'/! tu.v 
 
 On the 12th James Wilfon, andhis'^eighhour Chrijfopher Dixon, and I, went 
 on to Penrith, and had an Evening Meeting there; which was not large, nor 
 very open, though" fortle of the Neighbours came in ; and Things Were clear 
 and fafe, but not much CapSftity in the People to receive the flowing Cup of the 
 Lord, being too much like the old Bottles, not fit for the new Wine ; which 
 yet was not altogether a-wanting.to us. . 
 
 THAt Night \^fe lodged at Wiilim Colly fon'^i where we parted next 
 Morning. Jdmes Wilfon, and the other Friend, returning, I went forward 
 that Day to Carlijle^ and lodged at Ifaac Huntingtonh ; where I was kindly 
 received. 
 
 PN
 
 of T H O M A S S T O RT, 6si 
 
 On the 15th I was at the Meeting at t!ie City of Carlijle^ Forenoon and Af- Anno 
 ternoonj which were good Meetings. 17^3* 
 
 Next Day I went to Juftice-Toivn, the Place of my Nativity, which I had 
 purchafed of my Brother's Widow this laft Summer ; where I ftaid till the Fifth 
 Day after, being the 1 9th of the Montli ; and the next Day was at a Monthly 
 Meeting at Carlijle again. 
 
 On the 2 1 ft I went with Thomas Scot to the Highherries ; and on the 2 2d, 
 being the Firft of the Week, was at Kiy-klinton Meeting ; which was large and KirkHntdn, 
 open, and Friends and others generally fatisfied. That Evening I returned 
 to Jujiice-To'wn ; where I ftaid till the Third Day Evening, and then went to 
 Carlijle ; and next Day to the Week-day Meeting at Moorhoufe ; which was Moorhoufc. 
 large, as well by occafion of the idle Time, as a Marriage then happening 
 there ; and the Lord gave us a comfortable Seaion of Grace. 
 
 That Evening I went with David Hodgfon of JVomianby ; and the next Day 
 to Wigton^ to a miniftring Friend's Meeting, and lodged at Jofeph Senhoufe's. 
 I was there next Day at the Quarterly Meeting -, which was large, and the 
 Glory of Truth over all, to general Satisfaftion. It was a blefled Meeting 1 
 where the L o r d met freely with his People -, and the Light ftiined clear, to 
 the edifying and fettling of many. 
 
 After this Meeting I returned to Moorhoufe^ and lodged with Jonathan 
 OJlle ; and on the 2 8th went with John Irwin of Mojftde -, and was next Day at 
 Solport Meeting ; which was pretty large and open, being the Firft Day of the 
 Week. Next Day I returned to Jujlice 'Town ; where I ftaid till the ift of the 
 Eleventh Months and then went to Kirklinton Meeting ; which was fmall, but 
 open and comfortable. That Night I went with Thomas Scot to Highherries. 
 
 Solport. 
 
 On the 2d I went to wait on Counfellor Gilpin at his Caftle at Scaleby, about 
 Bufinefs relating to my Sifter Whitjloed^ and others. He received me in great 
 Friendftiip •, and dining there, we had Converfation to mutual Satisfadtion, and 
 to Edification in fome Points, efpecially about War and temporal Government 5 
 and the Difference between Christ's Kingdom and the Kingdoms of Men. 
 
 That Evening I returned to Jujlice-Tozvn ; where I ftaid till the 5th Day 
 Morning, being the Firft of the Week, and then went to the Meeting at Carlijle^ 
 (it being a very wet and floody Time) which was well and comfortable. I 
 ftaid in Town fome Days, and was at their Week-day Meeting on the Fourth 
 Day following. 
 
 In this Country t remained, and was at the Yearly Meeting for the Nor- 
 thern Counties at Carlijle-, and, with John Irwin, and fome other Friends, had 
 fome Meetings in frefh Places in the Summer following -, and, in the Winter^ 
 I refided for the moft part at my Friend Ifaac Huntington'^, in Carlijle, attend- 
 ing the Meetings as they fell in courfe'in the County ; and was, the Spring fol- 
 lowing, at the Yearly Meeting this Year (1725) held at Kendal; which was the 
 largeft I ever faw there, and very open. The Mayor of the Town, and many 
 of the chief of the People, were there, and were generally well fatisfied, and af- 
 terwards loving and refpedtful. 
 
 Kendal. 
 1725. 
 
 From this Meeting t returned into Cumherland, by the way of Hawk/tde, „ j. , 
 (where we had an open Meeting) and fo by Whitehaven j where, on the Day they ' 
 
 call
 
 6 SI 
 
 The LIFE, c^c. 
 
 A N n5 cdl Eafler, I had a large Meeting, (the firft in our new Meeting-houfe) and o- 
 1725. pen to my Satisfaftion, and ot all there, fo far as I could learn. Some Clafgo'3) 
 Whitehaven. Merchants, of the Presbyterian Way, who were occafionally in the Town, were 
 at that Meeting, ai^d fpoke well of it. 
 
 Lowther-hall. During the Time of my Abode in this Country, having fome Concerns 
 with the Lord Lonfdale, I went to Lowther-hall, where he then refided, to at- 
 tend him therein ; where he gave me more Refpeft than I defired or expefted ; 
 and, after I had finiflied my Bufinefs with him, after Supper, he moved fome 
 Dilcourfe concerning fome Points of Religion, there being none elfe in the Com- 
 pany but Counfellor Blencce, a young Lawyer^ The Point chiefly difcufled. 
 Was the Knowledge of God, and by what Means Mankind may arrive at it ; 
 in which I was drawn out to this Purpofe,^ " That many wife and ingenious 
 " Men apply themfelves, with Succefs, to the Knowledge of Things in thrs 
 " Life, and relating thereto, and yet keep not within the ftrift Rules of Virtue; 
 " whereby their Knowledge vaniflies in the End, as not fubfervient to the Pur- 
 " pofes of another World: Wherefore I recommended them to a real Enquiry 
 " after the Knowledge of G o d, as the moft noble and moft profitable Subjedt 
 " a rational Being could be concerned about, and altogether neceflary in order 
 " to our Happinefs, as well in this as in a future State-, which Man can never 
 " arrive at by the utmoft Efforts of human Reafon : for though a rational Be- 
 " ing cannot deny, but conclude there is a God, by the Works of the Crea- 
 " tion, which produced not themfelves, but were produced by another ; and 
 " thougii Reafon mull conclude the Creator to be eternal, without Beginning 
 End, all-wife, all-knowing, all-powerful, omniprefcnt, holy, righteous. 
 
 or 
 
 " juft, and good, in all divine Perfefhions unchangeable, iSc. and though in all 
 " thefe Attributes we read of him in the Lloly Scriptures, and hear clear Dif- 
 *' courfcs of him frequently made by fuch as fay they know him, and, perhaps, 
 " in fome Meafure, may -, yet all this is but an Image of Knowledge, as to us, 
 " until, by the Agency of his own Power and Will, he is pleafed to work in us 
 '' fuch Qiialifications as whereby we may perceive him, and fay, '■This is He, 
 " through that holy and blelTed Medium which he himfelf hath, in Good-will to 
 " Mankind, provided to that End ; that we may believe in him, hope for him, 
 " know him, have Communion with him in a Degree in this Life, and be for 
 " ever bleffed in the Enjoyment of him in a future Condition : Of which Know- 
 " ledge no Man can rightly conceive, by any Thing another can fay who hath 
 " that Knowledge, unlefs he to whom it is iaid or declared, be in himfelf, in 
 " fome Degree, under the fame Qualifications, by which the Things declared 
 " or fpoken of, prefent in the Mind and Underftanding, by a kind of divine Scn- 
 " fation or Intuition, are felf-evidencing by their own Nature and Energy : As 
 *' for Example, to a Man born blind, another can find no Terms whereby to 
 " give him a proper and diflindl Idea of Colours, of Light, and the Manner 
 " of the Difcovery of Objefts by that Medium unto thofe that fee ; whereas 
 " every one that doth, concludes the fame Thing by a kind of fenfitive Intui- 
 " tion, at firfl View, without the Expence of Ratiocination, or deducing Con- 
 " clufions from ilated PremilTes : Nor, if we can fuppofe any one has n'ever in 
 " his Life been touched with any Senfe of that natural AfFeftion, or Principle we 
 " call Love, can any, by any Terms he can ufe, inculcate in fuch a Perfon any Idea 
 " of the Thing ? Whereas all the Experienced are affedted in the fame Manner, 
 " though, perhaps, not to the fame Degree, and need no other Terms but it- 
 " felf to incultate the Thing. Since then, in natural Things, 'tis impoffible to 
 " exhibit proper Ideas to the Apprehenfions of thofe who are deprived of natu- 
 " ral Qualifications and Capacities to receive them ; how much more fo in Spi- 
 « rituals, which cannot find out proper Terms by which to exhibit them to the 
 
 " View,
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 6st 
 
 '' View, Underftanding, or Apprehenfion of others •, but as we boirow tlicm Anno 
 " trom natural Things, which can never reach them as they are ? When it is 1725. 
 " faid, G o D is a Spirit, a Man miift firft have a diftinft Idea of a Spirit, before 
 " he can fix any Notion of God by that Term; and, by tlie Word God, we 
 *'■ intend to exprefs an awful and ineffable Being : but none of thefe Terms cx- 
 " hibit that Being to our Senfe, either in Fear or Love. I come then to fome 
 " pofitive Expreflions of Christ, viz. No Man hath known the Father hut Mat.-xi. 27. 
 " the Son, and to whomfoever the Son will reveal him. "this is Life eternal, to johnxvii. 3. 
 " know thee the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom thou haft fent. No Man — vi 44. 
 " can come unto me, except the Father which has fent me draw him. No Man — i. ig. 
 *' hath feen God at any Time'; the only begotten (or firft begotten) Son of God, who 
 " dwelleih in the Bofom of the Father, he hath manifefted (or revealed) him. 
 
 *' B Y this it appears, 17?, That God may be known ; though not immcdi- 
 " ately, but by a proper Medium. 
 
 " 2d, That this Medium is Christ, the Word of God ; who, having a 
 " reafonable Soul, and cloathed therewith as a Vail, is homogenial to Mankind, 
 " and thereby proportions the Splendour of his Glory, as God, to the State of 
 " every Soul ; gradually revealing or manifefting the Father therein, according 
 " to the Degrees of Purification, Capacity, and Qualification he worketh in it. 
 
 " 3^, That this Knowledge is an Experience, and gives the Soul a certain E- 
 " vidence and Afllirance of eternal Life -, and God himfelf is that eternal 
 Life. 
 
 (C 
 
 " js^th. That as the Knowledge of the Son makes way for the Knowledge of the 
 " Father ; lb the Drawings of the Father excite to the Knowledge of the Son. 
 
 "It is not therefore the Knowledge of the Things of G o d, or of all his 
 " Attributes, or of any, or all formal Truths, but of G o d himfelf, who is 
 " the eflential Truth, in which our Happinefs ftands, and for ever fliall remain : 
 ** For there are eflential Truths, and there are formal Truths. JesusChrist, 
 *' the Wifdom of God, and Power of God, is that effential Truth; and that 
 *' he is the Son of Go d, was incarnate, lived as a Man here on Earth, was cruci- 
 " fied as a Propitiation for the Sins of the whole World, died, rofe again, afcend- 
 *' ed, is glorified in Heaven, i^c. are all formal and unalterable Truths: and yet 
 *' the Knowledge of all thefe don't give Life eternal, until the Soul comes to 
 " experience the Indwelling of the effential Truth, in its Nature and Being, 
 " through that holy and bleffed Medium, homogenial unto all; which cannot 
 " be until we be reduced unto a State of Holinefs and Purity of Mind. And 
 *' therefore, to illuftrate all I have faid in a praftical Way, give me Leave to add a 
 " little further: Whilft I was yet in a natural and unconverted State, I believed 
 *' the Being of G o d, and all his Attributes, effential and adopted ; but I did not 
 " aftually know God to be righteous or holy, till he reproved Unrighteoufnefs 
 *' or Unholinefs in me ; or merciful and good, until, through Condemnation of 
 ♦' Evil, convincing me of Evil in myfelf, he alfo pardoned the Afts 01 Sin, and 
 " deftroyed the Efi'eds thereof, by the Agency of his own Power, working that 
 *' Change that is meet, according to his own Will, through which I experience 
 " both his Goodnefs and Mercy : nor had I known him as a confuming Fire, 
 " unlcfs by the refining Operation of his Spirit, he had confumed my Corrupti- 
 " ons, or begun that Work ; or that he is Love, divine and unfpeakable Love, 
 " unlefs, by his own Power, he had fitted me, in fome Meafure, to enjoy the 
 *' Influences of his Grace in a State of Holinefs ; in which he rules as a Monarch 
 
 8 C in
 
 6h ^^^'^ L I F E, d^'^. 
 
 Anno " in the Soul, according to that Saying, The Kingdom of Heaven Jiangs mt in 
 1725. " Meats and Brinks; (no outward or natural Enjoyments) hut in Right ecu fnejs 
 Rom.xiv. 17. cc ^„^ Peace., and Joy in the Holy Ghoft : which I know, through Grace, infinitely 
 " tranfcends, even in this Life, all that can be named befides. 
 
 "And though formal Truths are commonly clouded and confounded by the 
 " perverfe and ignorant Reafonings of the Learned of this World, and numerous 
 " Opinions and Sedls are produced and engendered thereby ; yet the enential 
 " Truth is felf-evidencing ; and whenever it appears in the Soul, flie cannot de- 
 " ny or doubt -, but, by the Cogency of his Power and Virtue, certainly and in- 
 " fallibly conclude in herfelf, that this is He : For as there is no Way or Medium, 
 " by which we difcover or perceive the Body of the Sun in the Firmament of Hea- 
 " ven outward, but by the Light which proceeded from it ; fo there is not any 
 " Medium by which we can know God, but by his own Light and Truth, 
 " which is Jesus Christ, the Efflux and Emanation of his own Glory and 
 " Being, and through that holy and homogenial Mind wherewith he is vailed. 
 
 " A N D as the Light of the Sun carries along with it the Power and Virtue 
 " of the Sun, wherever it fhineth in its unclouded Rays, and, by its Influence, 
 " nourifhes and makes fertile the animal and vegetable Worlds; even fo, and 
 " much more alfo, doth the heavenly Sun of Righteoufnefs, J e s u s C h r i st, 
 " the eflential Truth and Light of the rational and intelledlual World, arife, 
 " make known, and manifeft himfelf in tlie Soul ; into whom, by the Rays of 
 " his divine Light, he introduceth and difpenfeth the Influence of all divine hea- 
 " venly Virtue : into them, I mean, who believe and obey in the Day of fmall 
 
 £ 1, y , , " Things ; according to that Doftrine of an experienced holy Man, Whatfoever 
 " "Things are reproved, are tnade manifejt hy the Light \ for whatfoever makes ma~ 
 " nifeft, is Light : And again, according to that Saying of the Truth himfelf, 
 
 Johnviii. \z. " I am the Light of the World; whofoever followeth me, floall not abide in Dark- 
 " nefs, but have the Light of Life : We muft therefore begin at the Word of 
 " Reproof, in order to the fure Knowledge of God, and Enjoyment of him, as 
 " he is Love, and an Ocean of unfpeakable Pleafure ; and renounce the low and 
 " fordid Pleafures of the animal Life, which unqualify for divine Enjoyments 
 " here and hereafter : But love God, love his Judgments and Reproofs in your 
 " Hearts •, which are all in Love, in order to the Manifeftadon of himfelf, ac- 
 
 Rev. iii. 9. " cording to that Saying, Eve7'y Son whom /love, / rebuke and chaften, faith 
 " the Lord. And I can afTure you, if you can believe me, that as I have tafted 
 ' " of the Pleafures of this World, and, through the Goodnefs of God, knowrt 
 " Condemnation therein ; fo, through his great Mercy, I am favoured of him 
 " with this certain Experience in fome Meafure •, that tht- Enjoyment of God, 
 " in a State of Reconciliadon, is undeclarably more excellent and eligible, thart 
 " all other Things-, to the Experience whereof I would recommend and excite 
 " you." This being the Subflance of what then paffed among us, the Lord 
 Lonfdale, being a very ingenious Perfon, of ftrong natural Parts and Penetration 
 afked me, " Since you had, before you came to the Knowledge of G o d, in the 
 " Way you have Ipoken of, believed the Being of G o d, and all his Attributes 
 " did that Knowledge make any Alteration in your Way of Thinkino- on that 
 " Subjeft, or give you any contrary Sentiments that Way?" 
 
 I REPLIED, " Np-j for as Reafon, a conflituent Property of Man, is Mi 
 " the fame, and Things caufeable thereto, or thereby, as its proper Objeds, the 
 «' fame alfo i fo the Knowledge of Gqd makes no Alteration there: The 
 " Major contains the Minor ; tlie Whole is greater than a Part ; one and two 
 " make three, and ever have done, and ever will, in the Xkw of Reafon -, tho' 
 
 " that
 
 of T H M A S S T R T. 6st 
 
 '* that, of itfelf, can never give the faving and experimental Knowledge of the Anno 
 " Almighty, as I have before obferved." 1725. 
 
 Then he was pleafed to fay, " Some Things you have hinted at are new to 
 " me; which I have never read of in any Book, or heard before." 
 
 By the Time all this was finifhed, and fome intervening Queftions and Ob- 
 jeftions anfwered, it was about One in the Morning, and then we went to Reft ; 
 and the next Day, after Dinner, I departed thence in Peace. 
 
 One Thing previous to this I have omitted, viz. that a little before Night, 
 fome young Perfons too much upon the Air, threw in fome Refleftions upon 
 Friends about going naked, as they faid, which could not be confifting with 
 God to command. 
 
 To which I replied, " That about the Time that Friends firft appeared, there 
 " were a fort of People called Ranters, who frequented our Meetings, and, 
 " mixing themfelves among them, acted fome unaccountable Things, which 
 *' were imputed unto us by fuch as could not, or would not, diftinguifh them 
 " from us ; for which we were not accountable, they not being of us : and yet 
 *' that going naked is not inconfifting with God, in fome Cafes, fmce he com- 
 " manded one of the greateft of all his Prophets to go fo for the Space of three 
 *' Years, as a Sign to Egypt and Ethiopia; and what hath been, may be, fince 
 *' Go D is ftill the fame." This abated their Ridicule, fo that they did not pro- 
 ceed any further upon the Subjeft. 
 
 Since that Time, upon another like Occafion, I had fome further Dif- 
 courfe with the fame Lord Lonfdale upon another Subjeft, viz. that of Tythes 
 and Maintenance. 
 
 He was pleafed to alledge, though perhaps not ferioufly, " That Kings and 
 " great Men, being poiTeffed of Countries, and large Quantities of Land, gave 
 *' the Tenths to the Support of Minifters -, and the fame Laws which gave Nine 
 " Parts to the Laity, gave the Tenth to the Clergy." 
 
 To this I replied, " That the Law gives no Property, but proteds the Poflef- 
 *• for in it againft Violence." And then I deduced Property from its Original 
 thus : " The firft Property a Man hath, is his Perfon, Life and Liberty •, and 
 ** as thefe are from God, and the Right of all Men, fo he has provided Means 
 *' for the Support of them unto all. The Means of the Support of Perfon and 
 " Life, is Food and Raiment, arifing either naturally from the Fruits of the 
 *' Earth, fpontaneouQy growing, animal Creatures, or by the perfonal Labour 
 « or Induftry of Man. 
 
 " Cain, 'tis faid, was a Tiller of the Ground, and y^M a Keeper of Sheep. 
 " When Cain had cleared and cultivated a Piece of Ground, and propagated 
 " ufeful Things thereon, that and thofe became the Property of Cain by his per- 
 « fonal Labour; in which the Law of natural Reafon will proteft him againft 
 " any Thing but pcrlbnal Violence : and Jbcl, taking under his Care and Ma- 
 " nagement fome of the Creatures he found moft proper for his Ufe and Pur- 
 " pofe, they became his Property, by his Care, Labour and Pains -, in which 
 " alfo he was protected by the fame Law : and all juft Laws are no other than 
 «' right Reafon, declared by way of Compaft upon that Principle of Reafon 
 •' conftituent of our Being : But when the Earth was filled with Violence, 
 
 " God,
 
 6s6 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " G o d, by the Element of Water, deftroyed the World, fare Noah and his 
 1725. " Family; by whom he replenifhed it. 
 
 Gen. X. 9. "In Procefs of Time, Nimrod became a mighty Hunter before the Lord; 
 
 " that is, his Hunting was of that Nauire and Tendency, as that Go a 
 " took Notice of him therein : for he, with his Company, firft hunting wild 
 " Beads, became wild alfo themfelves, and then hunted after the Liberties and 
 " Properties of other Men, invading them by Force and Numbers ; till the 
 " reft of Mankind, in their own juft Defence, entered into reafonable Com- 
 " pafts againft unreafonable Invafions, repelling an unjuft Violence by a juft 
 " rfnd equitable Force or Power. 
 
 " Having elTayed to fix a proper Idea of the Rife of Property, I next 
 " obferve how Men may forfeit it, in all thefe refpedls, in the Sight of G o d ; 
 " and that is, by extream Wickednefs ; as may be inftanced in a Malefadlor, who, 
 " by his evil Deeds, forfeits his Life, Liberty, or Property, or all : but then no 
 " private Perfon can take Cognizance of fuch Offences, incurring fuch Forfei- 
 " tures, other than to bear Witnefs againft the Offender, in order to Convidi- 
 " on and adequate Punifhment before a proper ftated Judicature, of which no 
 " Nation is deftitute, though varying in Circumftances. Since then Property 
 " in Lands, ^c. cannot be juftly taken away from any one, (not forfeiting) 
 " without Content, What is that Confent neceflary to that End ? It muft be ei- 
 " ther in a publick or private Capacity : Private, as by his own particular A(5t 
 " to give fuch Lands to fuch a Minifter or Prieft, on Condition of certain Ser- 
 " vices, or faying fo many Mafles or Prayers, either for the Living or the Dead, 
 " or the like -, or for the Service of Religion in general, according to the Notion 
 " the Donor had of it : Or publick, as where the Legiflature of any Country, 
 *' for politick Views and Interefts, make Laws for the alienating of the Property 
 " of the Subjedls, with or without their private or particular Confent; wJiere, 
 " though Property is truly invaded, yet the Major direfting the Minor, the 
 " Compulfion to Obedience is held lawful and juft, whatever it may be in the 
 " Nature of the Thing; and Particulars fit under the Burden where they have 
 " no Redrefs : But all this binds not the Confcience, though Property is forced. 
 
 "All which I apply as followeth: This Nation was once free from all 
 " Tythes, and other Impofitions of that Set of Men, enflaving the World on 
 " Pretence of the 1-iberty of the Gofpel, till Antichrifban Prieftcraft, more 
 " fubtle than that of the Heathen, fo far feduced the Minds of weak and igno- 
 " rant Men, prone to SuperfHtion and Idolatry, that they often gave away to 
 " the Priefts even their whole Subftance, at leaft on their dying Beds, for pre- 
 " tended chimerical Services, meerly imaginary ; for praying the departed Souls 
 " of themfelves, or Friends, out of a fuppofuitious Purgatory, with fuch and 
 " fuch MafTes on fuch and fuch Days : which fo far prevailed in this Nation, 
 " that the Legiflature, fearing the whole Lands would, in Time, fall into the 
 " Hands of the Priefts, made a Law, called the Statute of Mortmain, as a Means 
 " to prevent it ; which, in fome Degree, anfwered the End, and clogged their 
 " Proceedings : But I do not remember I have fcen any Law, by the LegiHa- 
 ♦' ture of this Kingdom, for impofing of Tytiies, or fo much as for the ifeco- 
 *' very of them, or any Thing to the Priefts under the Notion of Dues, until ' 
 " the Reign of King Henry VIII. when Mens' Eyes began to be fo far opened, 
 " that many throughout the Nation refufed to pay them, as may appe.ir by the' 
 *' Preamble of the Statutes for that End made in his Reign ^ which cftabliflies 
 " the Cuftoms on foot in favour of the Priefts (and, no doubt, originally of tlicir 
 " own beginning and impofing) for forty Years before : whieh Statutes being de- 
 
 " feaive,
 
 of T HO M A S ST RT. 6sy 
 
 '•' feftlve, they were corroborated by the fecond Statute of Edward VI. ftill in Anno 
 
 " Force: By all which it appears, that this Set of Men never came fairly and 1725. 
 
 " equitably to the large and unreafonable Share they demand, and receive out of 
 
 " the Property of others ; efpecially of thofe who do not, nay cannot, receive 
 
 " them, and their pretended Services, as Gofpel Minifters, and Means of Sal- 
 
 " vation ; fince the Author of Religion himfelf hath commanded his Minifters, 
 
 " That as freely they have received, they Jloall freely give. ^i^^^ ^ g 
 
 "The Laws of the Land therefore, upon the whole, though they bind the 
 " Property by a fort of National Violence, yet they can never bind the Con- 
 " fcience : for which, and the Lord of Confcience, we fufFer with Patience, 
 " asWitnefles on Earth for him who reigneth in Heaven ; until, in the Courfe 
 " of his Providence, he appears for our Relief, who is the King of Kings, and 
 " Lord of Lords, and doth what he will in and with the Kingdoms of Men."j 
 
 My Noble Antagonift replied, and not without a little Pleafantnefs, that he 
 would not yet yield me the Argument \ though he was pleafed to propofe ano- 
 ther Subjeft, of a different Tenor. 
 
 A T this Time I flaid in Cumberland about two Years -, for the moft part tabling 
 at my old Friend Ifaac Huntington^ in Carlijle, fometimes vifiting Friends there- 
 away, and having fome Meetings in new Places about in the Country ; and was 
 twice at the moveable yearly Meeting for the North, once at Carlifle and once Carlifle; 
 at Kendal, and fome Meetings alfo in IVeftmoreland, and North Parts of Lanca- Kendal. 
 fhire ; and, among others, was at the firfh Meeting in the new Meeting- houfe 
 ztlVhitehaven, on the Day called £«/?fr-day, in the Year 1 7 2 5 : It was a large Whitehaven. 
 
 and open Meeting, many, both Friends and others being there ; and I heard 
 
 not of any Objeftion. 
 
 After this Meeting I had a friendly Conference with a Presbyterian Minifter 
 of the Place, an ingenious fober Man -, which was to Edification, and without 
 Controverfy. 
 
 O N the 6th of the Eighth Month I went from Carlifle, accompanied by 
 my refpeiSted Friends John Huntington and Chriftopher Reay ; and went that 
 Night to Alfton-moor, to my old Friend John Newton's ; and the Quarterly 
 Meeting for Northumberland falling the next Day at Eafl-Allandale, I went to EaftAllandale 
 it: where the Lord was good to us -, and I had a very open Time among 
 them •, and that Evening went home with my old School-fellow and Acquain- 
 tance Archibald Gillefpie, with whom I lodged that Night. 
 
 On the 8th I went to Newcaflle, and lodged with the Widow Jean Mddleton, NewcaftJe. 
 with whom I had been acquainted many Years, and by whom I was entertained 
 with former Refpeft : and on the loch, being the Firfl: Day of the Week, was 
 at their Meeting Forenoon and Afternoon •, which were large and open. Jofepb 
 Jordan, Son ot Robert Jordan of Virginia, was alfo there. He is a young 
 Man, of a clean Life, and folid Teftimony, calm and deliberate in his Mini- 
 ftry, which is reaching and edifying •, and I was glad to fee and hear him. When 
 I was laft at his Father's Houfe, after that Difpute with the Vrench Prieft Bur- 
 tell, ^t his Uncle 'Thomas Jordan's^ he was but a Boy; and I did not know him 
 when I faw him here. 
 
 The next Day, being the nth, we went together to Shields to a Monthly 
 Meeting-, which was pretty large, and very open, feveral Friends from Sun- 
 derland being alfo there : and that Evening we returned to Newcaftle. 
 
 8 D From 
 
 Shields.
 
 6;8 
 
 Anno 
 1726. 
 
 Sunderland. 
 
 Shotton. 
 
 Durham. 
 
 Bidiop Auck- 
 land. 
 
 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 From hence Jofeph Jordatt went, on the Third Day, Weftward, in order 
 for Ctimkrland -, and I ftaid at Newcaftle till the Fifth : which being the Day of 
 their Weekly Meeting, I was there, and an open Time the L or D gave us, to 
 our mutual Comfort. 
 
 On the 15th I went to Sunderland, lodging at Lancelot War dale'?., where I" 
 was kindly entertained -, and on the 1 7th, being the Firft of the Week, was 
 at their Meeting Forenoon and Afternoon. The firft was more feleft, being 
 for the moft Part Friends : but in the Afternoon there came in many others, 
 and, among the reft, three Attorneys at Law ; who, hearing that I had for- 
 merly been initiated into that Faculty, came of Curiofity to make their Obferva- 
 tions -, and, as I heard afterwards, were well fatisfied ; efpecially one of them, 
 who faid, he would not have miffed that Meeting for fome Money. It was an 
 open Meeting, and to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the 19th I was at the Meeting at Shotton ; which, though fmall, was 
 open and comfortable ; and that Evening I vf ent to Hawthorn mth. Robert Fefier, 
 where I lodged that Night. 
 
 The next Day I went to the Week-day Meeting at Durham, Robert Fojier 
 being with me. The Meeting was larger than ufual ; and a good Time we 
 had. Some Strangers alio were there. I lodged at George Paxton's ; where I 
 was received and entertained with Refpedt. 
 
 O N the 2 2d I went to Bijhop-Jiickland ; where the Friends there and of Raby 
 met together : and though we fat long in Silence, it was a profitable Meeting ; 
 and I had a good Time among them both in Teftimony and Prayer. After 
 Meeting I dined at Jatnes Trotter's ; and in the Evening went home with my 
 old Friend the Widow Walton. She had been formerly Waiting -woman to the 
 Countefs of Carlijle ; and convinced, in her Service, whilft in Cumberland, by 
 William Armftrong, and helped forward and confirmed by me at London ; our 
 old and early Acquaintance in the Truth ftill remaining frefh and living. I ftaid 
 only one Night there, and the next Day went on to Darlington, and lodged at 
 'John Robinfon's. 
 
 •Darlington. O N the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, I was there at the Meeting, 
 
 Forenoon and Afternoon. It is a pretty Gathering of Friends. We had a ten- 
 der open Time in the Morning ; and in the Afternoon feveral Strangers came 
 in, of divers Pcrfuafions : and an opening, convincing Time it was to feveral. 
 
 and a folid Meeting. 
 
 Stockton. On the 25th I went onto Stockton, and lodged at Jofeph Robififon's, Son-in- 
 
 law to my old Friend and Acquaintance Nicholas Cockfield, who was alfo there 
 with them ; and the next Day had a very good open Meeting there. 
 
 Yarm. 
 
 Gisborough. 
 
 On the 27th I was at a Meeting at Yarm ; which was not large, but frefh 
 and good : and that Night I lodged at Amos Lindfay's ; where I was courteouf- 
 ly received and accommodated. 
 
 On the 2Sth I was at Gisborourgh Meeting ; which was the moft open I had 
 ever known there, though not large •, and that Night lodged at Friend Jack/on s. 
 
 On the 29th, being a rainy ftormy Day, I went to a Monthly Meetino- at 
 Cafileton ; where fome Friends, for many Miles round, were met -, and yet but
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 
 
 a fmall Meeting, and not very lively, but well and comfortable in the End. 
 That Night I lodged at John Joke's, in the Neighbourhood, a zealous honeft 
 Friend, though not long convinced. 
 
 6;9 
 
 Anno 
 1726. 
 
 O N the 30th I went to Whith\\ and lodged at Reuben Linskirs ; where I was V/hkby. 
 received and entertained with much Freedom : and the next Day, beino- the 
 Firft of the Week, was at their iVIeeting Forenoon and Afternoon, The Meet- 
 ing is confiderable, as to the Number of Friends ; and at this Time open and 
 clear J and feveral of the Neighbourhood there in the Afternoon, very folid. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Ninth Month I went from hence to a Monthly Meetino- 
 between this and Scarborough. It was fmall, but very comfortable •, and after Scarborouch: 
 that I went forward to Scarborough, and lodged at Robert Miller'' %. 
 
 The next Day, being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meeting-day, a 
 good Number of Friends belonging to that Meeting, we had a feafoning Time 
 together in the Truth -, and on the 5th Day following, being the Sixth of the 
 Week, and alfo their Meeting-day, they put off the Time of their Meeting till 
 the Evening ; and then came many of the People; and we had a good open Time, 
 all being fober and folid. 
 
 O N the Firft Day following, being the 7th, in the Forenoon, the Meeting 
 was well filled with Friends and fome others, and a good Meeting : but for the 
 fake of the People, the Afternoon Meeting being put off till the Evening, the 
 Houfe, though large, was extremely crowded, and many in the Street who 
 could not get in, and fome went away for that Reafon. Some Truths of the 
 Gofpel were clearly preached among them, in the Authority of it •, but the Prefs 
 was fo great, efpecially towards the Door, that they of NecelTity made them- 
 felves uneafy ; which, though it hurt the Meeting in fome Degree, yet in the 
 main it was an open, informing, and confirming Time to Friends and others. 
 Many of the reputable Inhabitants were there. 
 
 The next Day being very wet and itormy, I went not thence till the Third 
 Day •, and then went to a Meeting at Pickering ; which was fmall, and, for Pi^erin". 
 fome time, heavy : but the Lord quickened us together, and gave us Com- 
 fort in the End. That Night I lodged there at I[aac Brown's. 
 
 O N the 9th the Waters v/ere very high, overflowing the Banks ; fo that with 
 Difficulty, and fome Danger, I got to the Fourth Day Meeting at Malton : Malton, 
 which was fmall, but very open and comfortable ; and there lodged at Layton 
 Furbank's, where I was kindly received. 
 
 O N the 1 ith I made a Vifit to the Earl of Carlijle at Caftle- Howard, about 
 three Miles from Malton. He was confined to his Chamber in a Fit of the Gout ; 
 but fending up my Name, he readily admitted me, and exprefled fome Satif- 
 fadtion to fee me ; and being fet down, after a little Paufe of Silence, he mo- 
 ved a Difcourfe to this Purpofe : That, as Mankind are incident to many Trou- 
 bles and Temptations in Life, he obferved a great Difi'erence between the 
 Trouble of Mind which arifeth from LolTes and Difappointments in the Things 
 of the World, and that which proceeds from a Senfe of the Mifconduft of Life 
 in a Courfe inconfiftent with Duty to Go d and his known Laws ; and in the firft 
 inftanced in a Man's hazarding his All, in one Bottom, at Sea, and fufferinc 
 .Shipwreck. 
 
 This 
 
 Caftle-How- 
 ard,
 
 6^0 
 
 Anno 
 
 The LIFE, 9^c. 
 
 This ^reat Truth I confirmed in the Words of Solomon, " the Spirit cf a 
 172^ " M^n moy hear bis Infirmity ; but a wounded Spirit who can hear ? Magnani- 
 Prov.xviii.'.-i. « nmis Perfons may fuftain, for a long Time, the Shocks of bodily Ailments, 
 " as likewife of Loffes and Difappointments in Life : but when, by our Rebel- 
 " lion and Difobedience to that holy Law of Life and Grace, (which God in 
 " Mercy hath placed in us, for our Guide and Condudtor, with refped to 
 " himfelf, and towards one another) we wound not only our own Confcien- 
 " ces, but crucify to ourfelves the Son of G o d afrelh, and wound his holy 
 " Spirit in us, our Anxiety muft needs be incomparably greater in this Cafe 
 " than the forrner. Yet fuch is the unfpeakable Goodnefs of G o d to Mankind, 
 «' and the Efficacy of the Virtue of that Grace that flows from him, that he 
 "• does not only Ihew us our Tranfgreffions, and the Evil of them ; nor o'hly 
 " the Wounds and gangrene Sores thereby produced ; but, as we are truly 
 *' humbled in that View, and willing to amend for Time to come, he, moft 
 " kind and beneficent, fends forth his healing and reftoring Virtue, as emollient 
 " Ointment, taking away the Anguifh, and healing all our Wounds." 
 
 This introduced a large Field of Difcourfe on fuch and the like Subjedls, 
 which held near three Hours \ and, I believe, to mutual Sadsfaftion, and much 
 upon the particular Points following, viz. 
 
 "I. Faith In Christ, as come in the Flefh, bang the Word, Power, 
 " and Wiidom of G o d afluming our Nature, in a Perfon feparate from all 
 " Men, as all others are. 2. Faith in him as a quickening Spirit, and divine 
 " Light, flowing from the Father into our Minds, afixfting and influencing 
 " both Body and Mind at certain Times and Modes, and Degrees, as pleafeth 
 " him •, being as a condemning Law in us whilft we are in a State of Unbelief, 
 " Sin and Rebellion •, but a Law of divine and immortal Life, and true Com- 
 " forter in a penitent and faithful State -, to which he himfelf reduceth us by 
 *' his Judgments and by his Mercy, inwardly revealed and applied : by the 
 " Miniftration of Judgment, wafting, as with divine Fire and Sword, the 
 " whole Body of the Sins of the Flefh and carnal Mind ; and at the fame Time, 
 " in and by the fame Spirit, manifefting and applying Mercy and Life eternal 
 " to the believing, humble, and penitent Soul •, and fo compleating that Sal- 
 " vation declared by the coming of J e s u s C h r i s t, his Death and Sufferings. 
 
 " 2. The Kingdom of Christ in this World, ruling and reigning in the 
 *' Minds of regenerate Men, by his Grace and Spirit, as King of Salem, Prince 
 "• of Righteoufnefs and Peace, in all them that believe and obey ; who arc the 
 " Children of this Kingdom in divine Communion. The Kingdoms of Men, 
 " eftabliflied by the Providence of G o d for the Government of the World in 
 " its natural State, for the Prefervation of Life, Liberty, Charafter, Property ; 
 " the better fort of Men, in a moral fecial State, being Children of this Kingdom. 
 
 " 3. The Kingdom of Antichrift, being a f alfe Shew, Counterfeit, and Pretence 
 " of Chriftianity, under which all Cruelties and OpprefTions are, and have been 
 " a£bed, to the Deftrudion of Life, Limb, Liberty, Property, and Religion : 
 " And the Children of this Kingdom are Priefts, profeffing Christ, but li- 
 " ving to themfelves ; being called by Hopes of Honour, Power and Advan- 
 " tages in this World, and not of the L o r d : And the great Men and fmall 
 " of this World confederating with them in worldly Views, againft the natural 
 " and common Interefts of the reft of Mankind, cnOaving the Confcience by 
 " Force of human Laws of their own devifing, according to that Obfervation of 
 John xvl. 2. "Christ to his Difciples, Bo not great Men haul you out of the Synagogues be- 
 fore
 
 Qf THOMAS ST RT. 66t 
 
 " fere the Judgment Seats, and the like ; in all which they are Influenced (and A n n d 
 
 " often out of their own Sight) by a devouring deftroying Spirit, contrary to ^72^- 
 
 " the Nature of C h R i s t ; who is a mild, innocent, and faving Power, moft 
 
 " gentle, wife, and beneficent, bringing forth in Men his own Fruits, and ma- 
 
 " king them like unto himfelf ; as Antichrift renders all his Children like untci 
 
 " him, proud, lofty, angry, fierce, cruel, and unjuft, blood-thirfl:y, arbitrary and 
 
 »' tyrannical, without CompaiTion and Mercy, implacable and unreafonable ; as 
 
 " is ever feen in all Perfecutors, whether under the Pretence and Umbrage of 
 
 " National Laws, or defpotick and abfolute Domination and Rule." With fome 
 
 other important Matters, not now to be fully colleded. 
 
 Near the Time of their dining came in the Lady Irwin, one of his Daugh- 
 ters, then a Widow, defiring to know what he would pleafe to eat ; to which he 
 did not prefently anfwer, but bid her fit down in the Room ; which fhe did : and, 
 after a little Paufe, he faid to her, " I could have wifhed you had been prefent, 
 " to have heard what pafled between us on divers Subjefls ;" and then gave; 
 her to underftand how great an Efteem he had for Friends, as an honeft religi- 
 ous People : And as we had been great Sufferers on account ot our Principles, 
 he had ever helped and ferved us to the beft of his Power, and ever would. All 
 which he fpake with folid Gravity, as if he meant to iniprefs in her Mind a good 
 Opinion of us : And, when he had finiflied, defired her to take me with her to 
 Dinner, for he could not go himfelf-, which accordingly fhe did : but, before I 
 went out of the Room, he repeated his good Opinion of Friends, and his Re- 
 Ipeft for myfelf in particular, defiring me to call as often as my Concerns lay 
 that Way. I went to Dinner accordingly, the Company being only that Lady, 
 her Maiden Sifter, his Son Colonel Howard, an old Gentlewoman, and the 
 Chaplain; among whom I was civilly treated. In the Afternoon I returned to 
 Malton, to an Evening Meeting I had appointed there. 
 
 The Meeting was large, many of the Town's People coming in ; and a very Malton, 
 free and open Time we had, the People being very fober and attentive, and 
 Truths of the Gofpel were opened among them, 
 
 T H E 1 2th, their Monthly Meeting at that Place falling in courfe, I ftaid and 
 attended the Service, having a very open Time before we went upon the Bufi- 
 nefs of ii ; and fome Strangers came in on that Occafion, retiring in Time of 
 Bufinefs. 
 
 O N the 13th I v;ent to Tcrk, and lodged at Roger Shackelton's, being received York, 
 with Freedom, and kindly entertained. On the Firft Day Morning the Meeting 
 was not large, there being but few Friends there for fo large a City ; but, in the 
 Afternoon, much larger, many of the Town's People coming in, and very fober. 
 
 O N the Third Day Evening we had another Meeting in the great Meeting- 
 houfe •, which was well filled, many People, and fome of Note being there ; and 
 Things were open and well, 
 
 The Fifth Day was their Week-day Meeting again. Some Perfons of Note 
 fcnt to know the Time, and came -, but did not behave well : They were light 
 and whifpered, and, after a while, went out-, but, on fome Confultation among 
 themfelves, came in again, were much foberer, and ftaid the Meeting. 
 
 On the Sixth Day there happened a Burial ; and to the Grave-yard came 
 many of the People, one of the Aldermen, and one of his Sheriffs, and fome o- 
 
 8 E thers
 
 66z 
 
 Anno 
 
 1725. 
 
 Selby. 
 
 RowclifF. 
 
 Thorn. 
 
 Axholm. 
 
 Gainsbo- 
 rough. 
 
 Lincoln. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 thers of Diftinaion-, and I had an open Time amongft them: But feme of 
 them after it was over, aflced fome of the Friends (but perhaps not feriouny) 
 whence they had this cunning Jefuit: However, many were well pleafed with 
 the Opportunity notwithftanding. 
 
 O N the Firft Day following the Meeting in the Morning was pretty large and 
 open • and Notice being given before-hand of one that Evening in the Great 
 Meeti'nc^-houfe, it was much crowded, many of the better fort being there, and 
 fome Z fuppofed, out of each Parilh in the City: and nothing rude or indecent 
 appeared in fo great a Multitude ; but a decent Sobriety, to the general Satif- 
 fadlion of Friends, as the Meeting was alfo to the People. After that Meeting 
 I was eafy to leave the Place. 
 
 On the 23d, being the Third of the Week, I went to Selh ; where we had 
 another Evening Meeting, pretty open. That Night I lodged at Zaccheus Canbfs. 
 
 T H K next Evening I had another Meeting at Roivcliff; fmall but open j and 
 lodged at the Widow Cutforth'%. 
 
 On the 25th I reached their Week-day Meeting at Thcrn ; and lodged at 
 Thomas Johnfon's. 
 
 O N the 26th I was at an appointed Meeting In the Ifle o^ Jxholm, or Beltoji -, 
 which, though Iniall, was very open. Here Dr. Ifaac Hufitmgton met me from 
 Gainsbcrough : and that Evening we went, from the Meeting, home with John 
 Urie to his Houfe at Epworth ; where we lodged that Night. The next Day I 
 went to Gainsborough, and lodged at John MaJ-JhaVs ; where I was kindly re- 
 ceived, and well. 
 
 O N the 2Sth, being the Firft of theWeek, we had a quietMeeting in the Fore- 
 noon, and another in the Afternoon ; both fmall, and few befides Friends : but 
 not being eafy to leave the Place without feeing more of the People, the Friends, 
 at my Requeft, appointed another Meeting on the Second Day Evening •, and 
 the People having Notice, and many of the more noted fort, of the Acquain- 
 tance of Ifaac Huntington, he found Means to inform them of the Meeting, 
 and draw them thither -, fo that the Houfe was well filled, and many in the 
 Yard ; and a very open fatisfaftory Time we had on that Occafion. 
 
 On the ift of the Tenth Month, being the Fourth of the Week, accompa- 
 nied by Dr. Huntington, &c. I went to Lincoln, and lodged at Jofeph Richard- 
 fon's ; and that Evening had an appointed Meeting ; and there being but few 
 Friends in Town, the Meeting was not large, but pretty open. 
 
 Waddington. O N the 2d we went to Waddington, to a Monthly Meeting held at Thomas 
 Taynbee's ; which was fmall, but comfortable. That Night we went home 
 with IFilliam Burt of Cathorp, 
 
 The next Day, In the Evening, we had a fmall and comfortable Meetino- at 
 Willoughby, Willcughby, at the Houfe of Samuel Everet ; where we lodged that Night. 
 
 Stanford. 
 
 On the 4th we went to Stanford to John Toujig's ; where we were kindly re- 
 ceived : and the Day following, being the Firft of the Week, had two Meet- 
 ings in his Houfe : The firft was very fmall ; there being few Friends in Town, 
 or near it : but, as he had contrived to lay two Front-rooms into one on fuch 
 
 Oc-
 
 of THOMAS S T O RT, 66^ 
 
 Occafions, and on this had given Notice to the Neighbours, fome of whom had Anno 
 alfo been at Meeting in the Forenoon, we had in the Evening a large Meeting ; 1725. 
 and, as he took Care to keep out the Rabble, we had an open Time among the 
 more reputable fort of both Sexes, and fome Military Officers. The Meeting 
 was held and ended in Sobriety. 
 
 On the 6th, in the Evening, we had a Meeting at Cliff; which was pretty CliiF. 
 well filled with a low People, but not too mean for the Grace of Life ; for I 
 had an open Time among them ; though but few Friends were there : and here, 
 after this Meeting, Dr. Huntington and fVilliam Burt, who had come fo far with 
 me, returned to Stanford with John Toung ; and I ftaid at this Place. 
 
 On the 7th, in the Evening, we had a Meeting at JVinnick, at John Knighton's, Winnick.' 
 with a few Friends, and a mean, rude, ignorant fort of People j and had but 
 a poor exercifmg Time among them, being hardly docible. 
 
 Godmanche' 
 fter. 
 
 Cambridge. 
 
 O N the 8th I went to Godmanchejler to Thomas Gray's, ; and that Evening we 
 had an open and very latisfaftory Meeting at Huntington : and the Evening fol- 
 lowing, another thin and flat Meeting at Ive's ; and that Night I lodged at 
 Peter Clay's. 
 
 O n the loth I went to Cambridge to John Chapman's ; and that Day was at 
 a Meeting in Town ; which was fmall : but feveral of the Scholars being there, 
 and more fober than ever I obferved them before, I had a very open Time 
 among them : and one of the Inhabitants, a light airy Perfon, coming to that 
 Meeting, with Intent to make himfclf and others Diverfion, was much difap- 
 pointed ; being fo touched, as he confefled, he never had been before ; and 
 had no Power to be rude, as he intended ; but was very fober and attentive all 
 the Time, and went off folid and ferious. 
 
 The 1 2th I was at Royjton, and lodged at Robert Izard's ; where the Meeting, Royfion; 
 the Firft Day, was fmall, and not very open: and on the 13th, at a Monthly 
 Meeting at Baldock, lodging with John Izard's ; and the next Day had an Even- 
 ing Meeting there ; which was indifferent well, but not fo open as in fome 
 other Places ; they not being altogether in the fame Mind in fome Things. John 
 Fallowfield, William Wejton, and John IVytham, coming to Baldock from Hart- 
 ford to meet me, we went next Day thither to their Week-day Meeting; which 
 was 3. very open comfortable Meeting, to general Help and Satisfaftion. 
 
 A Burial falling out the Day following at Hogfden, John Fallowfield and Hogfden: 
 I were there; where meeting with a good Number of Friends and Neighbours, 
 we had good Service among them ; and it was a good Meeting. 
 
 Returning that Evening with John Fallowfield, I was the Firfl: Day 
 following at a General Meeting at Hartford; where many Friends were prefent, Hartfordj 
 and the Principles of Truth were largely open'd among them ; and it was a very 
 folid and fatisfaftory Time to many of the younger fort, and likewife to others. 
 
 On the 20th I went to London; where, meeting with Letters of Invitation London; 
 (as alfo at Hartford) from feveral Friends, I took up my Lodging at Jofefb 
 Wyat's ; where I was kindly received and well accommodated. 
 
 U p o N my Arrival at London I vifited the Meetings there ; where Friends 
 
 were
 
 664 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Kelfo. 
 
 A I. N o were generally glad to fee me, and I alfo of them in the L or d ; and many o- 
 1 726. pen, comfortable, and confirming Meetings we had to our great Satisfadion. 
 
 After fome Time I returned to Carlip and Jufike-Town, vifiting fome 
 neighbouring Meetings, and profecuting fome Affairs of my own and did not 
 take any Journey out of the County of Cumberland, till the 25th of the Second 
 172'^ Month 1728 *, when I fet forward towards the Yearly Meeting at Edinburgh, 
 and thit Nic^ht lodged at John Irwin's, at Mofs-fide, in Solport; where, next 
 Morning rhoms Scot of Highberries came to me, and that Evening we went to 
 Kelfo \n North-Britain, and were received kindly by our Friend Charles Ormfton, 
 fen where we ftaid till the 28th, being the Firft Day of the Week, and were at 
 their Meetings both Forenoon and Afternoon. The firft was a free, open Meet- 
 inc^, and feveral Strangers there, who were of the better fort (fo accounted) 
 among the People, and very fedate and attentive. Some of them were Mili- 
 tary OfHcers. In the Afternoon we had more of the fame fort ; and, fo far as we 
 could learn, generally well fatisfied. 
 
 On the 29th we (with Charles Ormjlon, fen. Charles Ormjlon, jun. and his 
 Wife, and feveral other Friends) went to the City of Edinburgh, where I 
 lodo-ed with IVilliam Miller, jun. and on the 30th, about the tenth Hour in the 
 Edinburgh. Morning, we had a Meeting of Miniftring Friends, and after that their Yearly 
 Meetin°for Bufinefs began j where Things were carried on with Unanimity 
 and Satisfaction. 
 
 On the ift of the Third Month, being the 4th of the Week, we had a feleft 
 Meeting, at the Houfe of our Friend IVilliam Miller, where I lodged, confifting 
 of Friends only •, and that Afternoon had another publick Meeting, at the Meet- 
 ino--houfe, at the IVeJl-Port •, where came many of the Inhabitants of the City, and 
 were much more quiet and attentive than heretofore, to whom feveral important 
 Truths of the Gofpel were clearly opened : and having another Meeting in the 
 Afternoon, our Company increafedj and a good Seafon the Lord gave us. 
 
 On the 2d we had two Meetings in the fame Place; and our Company and 
 Satisfaftion ftill increafing, it gave us Encouragement to appoint another on the 
 3d, being the Sixth of the Week, at Two in the Afternoon ; which was the lar- 
 geft and moft fatisfadory of all : for Truth was over all in Authority and Bright- 
 nefs, and the People departed under a grave Senfe of a Degree of the Virtue of 
 it, much beyond whatever I had obferved in that City at any Time before. 
 
 On the 5th, being the Firft of the Week, we had two Meetings more there; 
 which were alfo large and open, efpecially in the Afternoon : and all tended to 
 Edification and Comfort of Friends and others. 
 
 O N the 6th, accompanied by Thomas Jreskine, (who alfo was at all the faid 
 Linfithgow. Meetings at Edinburgh) I went to Linlithgow, and that Evening had a Meeting 
 there; where came a wild-looking fort, there being but about half a Dozen 
 Friends, remaining in that Town : but we fitting under fome Concern and Senfe 
 of the Grace of G o d towards them, they grew more folid, and we had a o-ood 
 Time among them ; and they went away very grave and fober. 
 
 On 
 
 • From the Year 1725, to 1728, his Time was much taken up about fome unhappy Differences 
 that arofe between him and fome Friends in Norfolk ; which proved very troublefome to him and many 
 other Friends in divers Parts of the Nation, but at lall iffued to the acquitting him of thofe Imputa- 
 Jions laid to his Charge, in the open Yearly Meeting in London. '
 
 cf THOMAS STORY. (,6s 
 
 On the 7th we went to Glafgow, and lodged at George Swan'?.; where wc Anno 
 ftaid till the 9th, being the Fifth of the Week, and their ufual Mec^dng-day •, 1728. 
 and Notice being given, as many of the more reputable fort of People of the Glafgow. 
 City came to the Room (being but fmall) as it could contain, and more -, and 
 the L o R D gave us a very clear, open, and lolid Time among them. 
 
 On the loth we had another Meeting there, much larger-, io that the next 
 Room, Stairs, and Yard, or Lane, were crowded •, not with a rude Rabble, as in 
 Times paft, but an intelligent People, looking reputable among Men : and as 
 Things opened in the Wifdom and Power of Truth, they were received with 
 Sobriety and Attention, to mutual and common Satisfadlion ; by which, and 
 the open flowing of Truth, I perceived the State of that People was much al- 
 tered for the better fince I firft knew that Place, and the old Prejudices much 
 worn away in many of them. 
 
 O N the I ith we had another large and open Meeting, at Eleven in the Morn- 
 ing, at George Swan's ; where all the Room and Yard, and fome Places adja- 
 cent, were filled ; and the Lord favoured us with his good Prefence, and gave 
 us good Matter and Utterance among them. The main Points falling to my 
 Share therein, were the new Covenant of Light and Life, and the eled Seed j 
 C H R I ST as the Mediator and Meflenger of it to all that believe : of whom the 
 Sons of the Firft Jdam, being born again, became of that Seed which never fell, 
 and in whom alfo they ftand and are eftabliflied for ever. At this Meeting were 
 ftill more of the better fort, and one Magiftrate •, and, for any Thing that ap- 
 peared, generally fatisfied. After that Meeting we returned in Peace the fame 
 Evening to Rokrt Gray's near Garthjhore ; where we had a very peaceable open Carthfhore. 
 Meeting next Day with a few plain and quiet People among the few Friends 
 remaining in thofe Parts. 
 
 On the 13th we returned thence to Edinburgh^ and Thomas Arejkinc going Edinburgh, 
 homeward on the 1 5th, I had a Meeting that Afternoon at the Houfe of William 
 Miller^ jun. (where I lodged) only with Friends i where the Lord gave us a 
 good Seafon together, though there were few Friends remaining at that Time 
 in the City, except William Miller, fen. (who had ftood his Ground faithfully 
 from the Beginning, and well-known and honourable among the better fort) and 
 his Family, w'z. George, William, and Jofepb, and their Families, all in a hope- 
 ful way of ftanding in the Truth, having a good Efteem among the People. 
 
 On the i6th we had another Meeting in the Meeting-houfe; where came 
 fome of the Towns People, who were very fober ; and the Meeting was very 
 open and well. 
 
 Be I HG clear of that Place for the prefent, I went next Day to Kelfo, accom- Kelfo. 
 panied by Jofeph Miller, and lodged again at Charles Ormjlon's, fat. 
 
 On the 19th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meetings both 
 Forenoon and Afternoon ; where came feveral of the Neighbourhood : and as 
 Things opened clear and full, the Meetings were, for any Thing I could obferve, 
 very acceptable both to Friends and Strangers. 
 
 On the 20th, accompanied by Charles Ormflon, fen. his Son Jcnathan, Samuel 
 Robertfon, and his Son David, I went to Berwick, where there had formerly been 
 a Meeting of Friends ; but they are all gone except one Man and a Woman : fo 
 that at this Time the Meeting was quite loft, and the Meeting-houfe being 
 
 8 F fmall.
 
 (>G(> 
 
 A N N o 
 
 1728. 
 
 vick. 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 fmall, and I vvilling to fee as many of the People together as I could, perceiving 
 the Grace of Life to remain in my Mind towards them, the Friends with me ap- 
 plied to an Acquaintance of theirs, a Presbyterian by ProfefTion, who furnilhed 
 us next Day with a Ware-houfe and Back-yard, wherein he ordered convenient 
 Seats of Deal- boards, y IT. and we had a large Auditory : And as the Lord 
 furnifhed my Pleart with much Grace towards them, fo, out of that Abundance, 
 I was enabled to fay many Things to them of Moment; and the neceffary 
 Truths of the Gofpei were plentifully and clearly opened that Day among them, 
 and the folid Weight of divine Truth reigned over all, to general Satisfaftion, 
 and fole Glory of him, of whom is the Power, and whofe Right it is to reign, 
 both now and for ever. Amen. 
 
 The Meeting being thus well over, after fome Refrefhment, I fet forward 
 towards Aln-wick-Abbey, my old Friend Samuel Robertfon and his Son going a- 
 loho- with me. That Night we lodged at an Inn about twelve Miles from Ber- 
 wick, and the next Day went to the Abbey, dining by the Way, near that Place, 
 •with our Friend John Doubleday,juii. where we were kindly received by him. and 
 his Wife, flie being the eldeft Daughter o^ Robert Barclay, fen. of Urie, and Grand- 
 daughter of the famous and honourable Robert Barclay of the fame Place. 
 
 Alinvick. 
 
 Newcallle. 
 
 Shields. 
 Sunderland. 
 
 Durham. 
 
 I N the Afternoon the faid John Doiibleday, his Father being abfent, ordered 
 Notice to be given through the Town of Alnwick, of a Meeting at his Father's 
 Houfe at the Abbey next Day, where we lodged, and where his Father had pro- 
 vided a Meeting-houfe, chiefly to fuit fuch Occafions, and feveral of the 
 more reputable fort of the Inliabitants were there -, but the Quarter Seffions of 
 the Peace fitting in Town that Day, occafioned the Meeting to be thinner than 
 otherwife it might ; though a comfortable and very open Time was given us. 
 
 On the 24th, being the Sixth of the Week, accompanied by the faid John 
 Boubleday, jttn. I went to Ne-ivcajlle, and lodged with my old Friend and Ac- 
 quaintance Widow Mi^/^to/-, where we were kindly received and entertained. 
 The Day following I vifited fome of my Acquaintance and Friends in Town. 
 
 On the 26th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting; which, 
 in the Forenoon, was pretty open; but, in the Afternoon, much Ihut up a long 
 Time, and the Heavens feemed like Brafs, and the Gates thereof faftened as 
 with mighty Bars of Iron : but waidng in Patience and in Sorrow, at length in his 
 own (which is ever the beft and only) lime came he ; the L rd, who appear- 
 ed of old, the Doors being fhut, and who penetrates all Things when he 
 pleafes, and makes all Oppofition fly at the Beckoning of his Hand, though 
 fortify'd by Hell, and fecured with the Chains and Bars ot Death. A little 
 Help from him alter'd the Cafe, and his Prefence gave Life and Ability to utter 
 many good Things out of fiis Treafury, to the general Edification and Confola- 
 tion of the Meeting, and to his own Praife who alone deferves it. 
 
 O N the 28th, being the Third of the Week, I had a Meeting appointed at 
 Shields, to which came fome Friends from Sunderland. The Meeting was fmall, 
 but free and open. That Evening I went to Sunderland; where I fl:aid till the 
 30th, lodging at Robert JVardak'%. I was at their Week-day Meeting ; which 
 was large, feveral of the Town's People and fome Lawyers being there j and a 
 large and open Time I had among tliem. 
 
 On the ift of the Fourth Month, being the Seventh of the Week, I went to 
 Durhem, and lodged at George Paxton''s, and the next Day was at their Meet- 
 ing i
 
 of T H M u4 S S T RT. 661 
 
 ing -, which was large and very open, many Friends being there from Smderlaad : Anno 
 
 And finding an Inclination to fee more of the Town's People than were at that 1728. 
 
 Meeting, I appointed another next Day at Two in the Afternoon -, where many 
 
 of them came, but were hard, dull, and drowfy ; yet fome of them more lively 
 
 and attentive, and fome good and necelfary Things were opened to them : But I 
 
 had the lead Satisfa<5tion in that Meeting of any before, and that Afternoon was 
 
 under fome Heavinefs, but knew not the Caufe. 
 
 O N the 4th I went to Benfield-Jide, to the Monthly Meeting -, which was Benfieldfide. 
 
 not large, but open and well. That Evening I went towards Eajl-Allandale, to Eaft- Allan- 
 An-hibald Gillefpie's ; and the next Day went thence to the Meeting at the laid ^ ^' 
 Dale ; which was pretty large and comfortable. That Night I lodged at Charles 
 A!fop\. 
 
 O N the 6th I v/ent to the Meeting at Aljion : and being mucli wet, and no Alfton. 
 Time to fhift or dry me before the Meeting, I took fome Cold ; but the Meet- 
 ing was pretty open, and fome few Strangers there. That Night I lodged at 
 Thomas Reafs at Alfton. 
 
 O N the 7th I returned to Carlijle, to my. old Lodging, where I was kindly Carliile. 
 received by Friends in general ; and on the Firft Day following I was at the 
 Meetings at Carlijle, both Forenoon and Afternoon, to good Satisflidion. 
 
 On the 17th I went from Carlijle to James Wiljon\ at Grayrig-foot ; on the 
 1 8th I was at Kendal Week-day Meeting ; on the 19th at Settle, at IFilliatn Bir^ Kendal. 
 bciFs; on the 20th at Bradford, at Benjamin Barthtet's,; on the 21ft at Leeds, 
 at Benjamin Horner's ; on the 22d, being the Firft of the Week, at their Meet- 
 ing there; on the 23d at a Conference between the Qiiarccrly Meeting of the Leeds, 
 County of Tork, and the Friends of the Meeting of Halifax and that Way, con- 
 cerning a Point of Tythe ; wherein James Wilfon, PFilliam Williamfon, and I, 
 were named on the Part of the Quarterly Meeting, and Robert Hadoe, Benjamin 
 Bangs, and Benjamin Claridge, on the Part of Halifax Meeting. 
 
 On the 24th I was at Tork, and the 25th and 26th at the Quarterly Meet- York, 
 ing there; on the 27th at Leeds; on the 28th at William Hird's-, on the 29th 
 
 at a Country Yearly Meeting at Bingley -, on the 2d of the Fifth Month, at a Bine-ley. 
 
 Meeting near Penny fton ; on the 3d at Godfrey Laycock's ; on the 4th at a Meet- Permyfton 
 
 ing at Halifax ; on the 5th at John Hoyles's, at Newkirk ; on the 6th, at Ro- Halifax. 
 
 fingdak Yearly Meeting, and lodged that Night with Richard Acred, fix Miles Koiingdale, 
 from thence ; on the 7th at Gale, at John Moofs -, on the 8th at a General 
 
 Meeting at Crook ; and from thence that Evening to Kendal, to Thomas Ekvood's ; Crook. 
 on the 9th at James IVilfon's, at Grayrig-foot ; and on the loth at Carlijle. 
 
 F RO .M Carlijle I went, on the 30th of the Second Month, 1730, to John Ir- i- iq. 
 win's of Mofs-fide; and from thence to IVilliam Oliver's of Dunlehyre, (not a 
 Friend) where I lay that Night ; next Day to Kelfo, at Charles Ormflon's, fen. the 
 Day following I refted there ; and on the 3d of the Third Month, being the 
 Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting Forenoon and After: The latter was Kelfo. 
 full and open. 
 
 O N the 4th I went to Edinburgh, to William Miller's, the Yearly Meeting Edinburgh. 
 there being on the firft Fourth Day of the Month as ufual. The Meeting was 
 in the New Meeting-houfe : It holds about 600, and was every Day full, and 
 
 many
 
 (568 The LIFE, c^'c. 
 
 Anno many without in the Yard. They were not, for the greateft part, a rude Rabbie, 
 1730. as formerly in that Place, but generally a fober reputable-like People; and the 
 Truths of the Gofpel were plentifully opened, and with good Authority. 
 
 The Meeting held two Days ; and, after it was over, I ftaid until the Firft 
 Day following, in the mean time vifiting the Dean of Gild, a very fober religi- 
 ous Perfon, with whom I had fome Difcourfe, chiefly concerning the Bread and 
 Wine, and the Subftance -, in which I had great Satistaftion, and the rather, 
 that he alio declared his in what pafied amongft us on that Subjeft. 
 
 The Meeting the Firft Day following was as large, and more open than the 
 Yearly Meeting. 
 
 O N the Second Day following, accompanied by Thomas Arejkine, I went to 
 Glaf^-ow. Glafgow, where we had a Meeting the next Day ; which being in their New 
 Meeting-houfe, was much larger than heretofore, and very quiet and open, ma- 
 ny of the better fort being there. 
 
 The 13th, being their Market Day, we omitted that •, and on the 14th had 
 two Meetings, one in the Forenoon, and the other in the After. That in the 
 Forenoon was large, and, in the main, quiet and open ; only as there came a 
 great Company of the Collegians, they were much ruder than any other of the 
 bafer fort ; which gave me fome heavy Refledlions, that thefe Seminaries of the. 
 Members, both of the National (or Political) Church and State, fhould be more 
 peculiarly depraved than the worft of the other Rabble. To fee the good Inten- 
 tions of well-meaning Parents fo cheated and eluded by the Ignorance, Perfidi- 
 oufnefs and Idlenefs of thofe well-paid and over-paid Teachers, to whom the 
 Care of them and their Education is committed, is lamentable and fhocking : 
 For, alas ! what but bitter and poifonous Waters can be expected from fuch de- 
 praved and envenom'd Fountains. 
 
 I N the Afternoon the Meeting was large and open, furnifhed with fober Pcr- 
 fons of the chief Rank, and the Truths of the Gofpel in a good Degree cleared 
 among them ; and the Meeti ng ended well, and in Peace : But that which con- 
 tributed not a little to our outward Quiet, was the Care of the Magiftrates in 
 lending Civil Officers to keep out the bafer fort; which we were favoured with 
 every Meeting; and was the firft Time, fo far as I have heard, that ever any 
 Magiftrates of that Nation took any Care to preferve our Meetings in Peace 
 that Way. 
 
 During our Stay there we went to fee Simpfon, ProfefTor of their 
 
 Divinity of the College of Glafgow, whom the AlTembly of the National Kirk 
 of Scotland hath, from Year to Year, fufpended, about fome Notions of the 
 Trinity they charged him with, as not agreeing with their Schemes : but being 
 a Man of good Temper, religious in his Way, and of Learning fuperior to moil, 
 if not all of them, they could not make good their Charges againfl him, nor fo 
 far convift him, as to proceed to Excommunication. He received us courteoufly, 
 and entertained us with Friendlhip about two Hours, to our mutual Satisfaftion. 
 We found him fully principled for Liberty of Confcience, without Compulfion 
 towards any Forms of Religion, or Perfccution for Non-compliance. He was a 
 Man well verfed in the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew ; and we conferred with him 
 about feveral Texts of Scripture nor well tranflated, wherein he feem'd to agree 
 with us : but no Point of Religion wherein we diflcr was moved among us, fave 
 only a Hint about Baptifin ; in which we found him furniflied only with the 
 
 com-
 
 of T HO M A S STO RT. 66c, 
 
 common literal Notions and Apprehenfions concerning it, fuppofing fome In- /Inno 
 fiances of Water Baptifm by fome of the Apoftles, after the Coming of the 1730. • 
 Holy Ghoft, fufficient to indicate the Meaning of Christ in the 28th of 
 Matthew concerning Baptifm, that it muft be Water Baptifm : But though it is 
 apparently otherwife from that, and other concomitant Texts on that Subjeft, we 
 did not enter clofely on the Subjeft ; and the rather, becaufe it was late in our 
 Vifit before it was moved ; which was only accidental, and not propounded as 
 Matter of Controverfy : And we parted with him in a very friendly Manne r on 
 both Sides ; but had no Time to fee him again, though he feemed to defire it. 
 
 On the 15th of the Third Month, being the Sixth of the Week, we returned 
 to Edinburgh; and the Firft Day following I was again at the Meeting there; Edinburoi, 
 which was the largeft had ever been in that Place, and very open, both Forenoon 
 and After. 
 
 f 
 
 On the i8th I went for Kelfo^ accompanied by 'Jofeph Miller; and when we 
 came to the Inn at Chamelkirk^ we met with the Marquis of Lothian and Sir John 
 Rutherford of Egerton. They were very familiar and courteous, though Stran- 
 gers to us ; and as they, their Company, and Attendants, made a Throng in the 
 Inn, my Companion and I could not be fo well attended and accommodated as 
 otherwife we might -, which the Marquis underftanding, he courteoufly fent us 
 fome of his own Provifions his Servants had brought for them. 
 
 From hence I continued my Progrefs to Juftice-Town ; where, and where- 
 about, I employed my Time in my favourite Amufement, of planting and im- 
 proving my Land, at the fame Time vifiting Meetings as they came of courfe, 
 and enjoying the Converfation of my Friends and Neighbours, till the Second 
 Month, 1 73 1, when I prepared for London ; and on the 6th I went from Carlijle to 
 the Meeting at Kendal ; on the 9th to Lancafier ; on the icth to Prejton, and next 
 Day, being the Firll oi the Week, was at a Meeting in their new Meeting-houfe, 
 being the firft in it ; where came many fober People. That Evening I went to 
 IFigan ; and on the i zth to a Quarterly Meeting at PFarrington. 
 
 Kendal. 
 Prellon. 
 
 Warrington, 
 
 On the ijth I went to the Yearly Meeting at Chejler; which began about chefter. 
 Two in the Afternoon for Mmirters and Elders-, and the next Day, the 14th, 
 was Meetings for Worfhip, both Forenoon and After -, which were very large 
 and well, we having the Company of great part of the Citizens, and many of the 
 Gentry round. 
 
 On the 15th, in the Forenoon, was the Meeting of Conference, and Quar- 
 terly Meeting for Chejhire, and, in the Afternoon, a Meeting for Worfliip ; 
 where we had an Audience of feveral thoufands of People in a great Tennis 
 Court, many of them being of the more reputable fort, and, among others, 
 feven Minifters of the National Church -, who, as well as the People, fpake well 
 of the Teftimony of Truth which was delivered among them : for which many 
 Friends were thankful to the Lord our God, who hath wrought fo great a 
 Change in the Minds of the People, not only in this Place, but alfo in moft Places 
 at this Day throughout all Britain, and the Britijh Dominions every where. John 
 Fallowfeld being at this Meeting, he and I ftaid till the Firft Day following, be- 
 ing the 1 8th, and in the fame Place had two Meetings more that Day; that in 
 the Afternoon being very full and open, and, I think, to general Satisfadion. 
 
 On the 19th we fet forward for Shrewsbury; we ftaid that Night, and on the 
 20th went to Ludlow, where the Yearly Meeting for fVales was that Year to be Ludlow, 
 held, and where there was no Friends, or any Meeting for a long Ti^ne (if ever) 
 
 8 G there
 
 670 
 
 Anno 
 
 1731- 
 
 Lemjfter. 
 
 Ludlow. 
 
 The LIFE, &c> 
 
 there before The firft was held in the Prince's Palace, in a very large Hal!, 
 by the Favour of Captain Jones, the Governor: But the Morning Meeting be- 
 ina very much crowded, the Miniftring Friends divided themlelves in the At- 
 ter'noon, and feveral held another Meeting at the fame Time m another large 
 Room adjoining the Hall-, and both were exceedingly crowded, and many 
 could not" get in at all. The L o R d was with us, and the Golpel was preached 
 in his Wifdom and Power to general Satisfadion : And notwithftanding the great 
 Thron- of People, there was not any D.fturbance or Diforder among them •, tor 
 the Mlgiftrates, to their juft Commendation, had taken great Preaiut.on, by 
 makin- Proclamation through the Town beforehand, and paft.ng the fame ui? 
 in Wrftin- in the Market, or fome publick Place, that if any fhould moleft the 
 Meetino- or -ive any Difturbance, fuch Ihould be feverely punifhed : And, bc- 
 fides thfs' Encouragement, they appointed at leaft a Dozen Conftables to_ attend 
 the Gates keep out Children and Rabble, and the Meetings peaceable ; lome ot 
 whom were very ferviceable in the Meetings, in direfting the People to conve- 
 nient Seats, and placing them to the beft Advantage for general Accommodation. 
 
 The Meetings ended on the 2 2d ; and the next Day I went with our Friend 
 Gabriel Smith, toliis Houfe at Lempfier, and John Irwin of Mofsfide, in Cumber- 
 land bcina there alfo, we had a very open Meeting with Friends, and lome 
 others there, on the 24th. 
 
 On the 25th, being the Firft of the Week, we returned with feveral Friends 
 to Ludlow ; where N°tice had been given of two Meetings more that Day : but 
 the Perfon who undertook it, not doing it fo certainly as it fliould have been, 
 the Morning Meeting was not large ; but, in the Afternoon, the great Hall was 
 well filled with fober People, to whom the Gofpel was yet more fully preached, 
 and was the openeft M eeting we had in the Place ; and fo we left them in Peace 
 and Love. Returning that Evening with Friends to Lempfter, many of the 
 People at Litdlow, watching our Departure out of the Town, flood in Compa- 
 nies on the Sides of the Streets, to falute us with their Civilities, as did many 
 others in their Doors and Windows-, and we departed in Peace, and in that Hu- 
 mility wherewith the Truth adorns the Mind, being thankful to the Lord for 
 fo o-reat Favours ; his reducing Magiftracy to its proper Ufe and End, a Ter- 
 ror to Evil-doers, and Prail'e and Proteftion to them that do well, being none of 
 the leaft, confidering how much our Friends (and myfelf in fome Meafure) have 
 fuffered under Magiftrates of a perfecuting Spirit in former Times, in all Parts 
 of the World where Truth appeared in this Difpenfation and laft Age. 
 
 Worceller. 
 
 Evelham. 
 
 Cheltenham, 
 
 Painfwick. 
 
 O N the 26th we went to IVcrceJler, to the Widow lPardoe'% ; and the next 
 Day had a large and open Meeting there -, many of thofe called Gentry, with 
 Military Officers, and others being prefent -, and the Authority of Truth over 
 all. That Evening we vifttcd feveral Families in Town ; and next Fourth Day 
 had a Meeting at Evejham ; which was alfo open and well. I lodged at our 
 Friend Thomas SflmeV^. | ^^j^e^ / 
 
 O N the 29th we had a Meeting at Cheltenham ; which was alfo open and well, 
 divers important Truths of the Gofpel being clearly, and with good Authority, 
 opened and delivered there. That Night we lodged with our Friend John Tiley. 
 
 O N the 30th, accompanied by our Friend Richard Tiley, we had an open 
 Meeting with a few Friends at Paififwick, and feveral from Gloucejler, and fome 
 other People -, and that Night lodged at the Widow Loveday^s. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS ST ORT, 671 
 
 N the id of the Third Month ^fit^^nttoNailfworth^ to the "Widow Smith's, Anno 
 and the Day following had two Meetings; which were very large and open : 1731. 
 that in the Afternoon being the largeft, fome faid, that ever had been known Nailfwonh. 
 there, many Presbyterians and Baptifts being prefent •, efpecially of the former, 
 who were at that Time divided about two of their Minifters, Competitors about 
 the Flock, and, no doubt, rather the Fleece, whether fhould have it : and in 
 the Afternoon the Matter of Eleftion and Reprobation was fully handled and 
 opened, not knowing, till after the Meeting, that lb many of that fort were 
 prefent. The Meeting was peaceable, and ended well. 
 
 O N the 4th we had a fmall, but pretty open Meeting at Tedbury ; and that Tedbury. 
 Evening went forward to Dcdtnartiii, to Richard Watt'^ : Next Day we had a 
 fmall open Meeting there ; and that Day went to Bath. 
 
 O N the 6th, being the Fifth of the Week, we had a very open Meeting at 
 Bath ; many Strangers being there, and very peaceable. Here we tarried till Bath, 
 the 9th, being the Firft of the Week, and had two large Meetings, and pretty 
 open, many Strangers of Account in the World being there. 
 
 On the 10th we went to Froom, to our Friend James Tylie's ; and the D.ay Froom. 
 following had two large and very open Meetings among the General Baptifts, 
 and others, in their Meeting-houfe. I having had a Meeting in the fameHoufe 
 many Years ago, as foon as they heard I was come to Town, and defired fuch 
 a Meeting with them, they readily granted us their Houfe, and generally came 
 to the Meeting ; two of their Teachers being there alfo. 
 
 O N the 1 2th, being the Fourth of the Week, we went thence to Bradford, Bradford. 
 John Irwin and John Fallowjield being with me •, where we had an open good 
 Meeting ; the Truths of the Gofpcl being there alfo clearly preached in the De- 
 monftration of the Spirit, and Power of Truth. That Evening we returned 
 to Bath, to the Widow GingePs : and next Day had a very open Meeting ; 
 where many Strangers were again prefent. 
 
 O N the 14th we went to tiie Week-day Meeting at Brijlol; where we ftaid Briftol. 
 all the Week following, it being the Time of the Yearly Meeting ; where we 
 had good Times with both Friends and People ; the Meetings being very large 
 and open, and the Kingdom of God fully preached. 
 
 On the 2 2d, being the 7th of the Week, I went back to Nailfworth, and Nailfworth. 
 was at their Meeting next Day •, Which was large and open, but laborious, by 
 reafon of the extreme Heat, and Crowd of People. The Quarterly Meeting 
 being on the Third Day following, I flaid that Meeting ; where many Things 
 were opened, in the Meeting for Bufmefs, concerning the Difcipline of the 
 Church, and the Ufe and Neceffity of it -, againfl: the Payment of Tythes ; and 
 efpecially the Hypocrify and Deceit of fuch as profefs Truth, in this prefent 
 Difpenfation of it, and yet, by Collufion and fubtle Praftices, evade the Tefti- 
 mony, by dark, indirec't, and under-hand Pradices-, as if the Lord could not 
 fee, though they may vail their own Underftandings by Covetoufnefs, or any 
 other Blind : and the F.iithful there had Comfort and Confirmation thereby. 
 
 O N the 26th I went from thence to Painfwick, to their Week-day Meeting ; Painfwick, 
 which was fmall : but flaying there next Day, on occafion of a Marriage, the 
 Meeting-houie w.as crowded with People -, and many important Truths of the 
 Gofpcl were clearly, and with Authority, opened and preached among them, to 
 
 the
 
 6ni 
 
 Anno 
 
 Marfhfield, 
 
 Warminfler. 
 
 Shcrburn. 
 
 The LIFE, &c, 
 
 the Honour of Truth, and Comfort of thofe who defired the Profperity and 
 
 fpreading of it in the Earth. 
 
 That Evening I returned to Nailfivorth ; and on the 28th went to Marfh- 
 field to the old Widow Wickam\ -, and in that Town, that Evening, had a Meet- 
 \x\<y with a few Friends and fome fober Neighbours who attended ; and, though 
 not large, was very open and connfortable. 
 
 O N the 29th I went to Warminfter ; and the Day following, being the Firft of 
 the Week, was at tiie Meeting Forenoon and Afternoon. The former was fmall, 
 beinc^ few but Friends, and a little heavy at firft, but lively in the End ; and 
 the latter, in the Afternoon, filled with other People, and very open ; many 
 needful Truths of the Gofpel being publilhed in their Audience with good Au- 
 thority and Clearncfs •, and they departed in Solidity, as if Things had in fome 
 mcafure imprefs'd them. 
 
 On the 31ft I went from thence to Sherburn, lodging that Night at William 
 Ro'we'% ; and the Day after to Bridport, to John Nichol's ; and was at their 
 Meeting on the Fourth Day •, which was fmall, and fomething heavy in the Be- 
 ginning of it ; but more open in the End. 
 
 Kingham. 
 
 Eeamliider. 
 
 BridporE. 
 Chard. 
 
 O N the 6th of the Fourth Month I was there. Forenoon and Afternoon ; 
 latter Meeting being the larger, and both well. 
 
 the 
 
 On the 8th, being the Third of the Week, accompanied by Samuel Bcwnas, 
 then living at Bridport, we had an appointed Meeting in a Barn at Kingham be- 
 Xon^m^iolVilliam Smith, about five Miles from Bridport; where no Meeting is 
 fettled, and but one Family of Friends there. It was pretty large, though few 
 Friends, and a good Meeting. That Evening we returned to Bridport. 
 
 The Day following we had another Meeting appointed at Beanmijler, about 
 four Miles from 5nVi/)«V; \vhere there was but one Friend and his Wife in 
 Town ; but a pretty large and open Meeting ; and that Evening returned to 
 Bridport. 
 
 O N the loth we ftaid there v and the Day following we went to Chard, and 
 had a fmall Evening Meeting there ; and lodged at Jofeph Gillet's -, and next Day 
 went to Taunton. 
 
 Creech. 
 
 On the 13th, being the Firft of the Week, we were at Taunton, Forenoon 
 and Afternoon ; the latter was large, and both well. We lodged at the Widow 
 Ciffard's. 
 
 O N the 14th, in the Evening, we had a Meeting at Creech. It was not large 
 but very open -, and a Lawyer and his Wife, and fome others of the Gentry] 
 being there, they ftaid the Evening with us, and were very fociable. W^e lod- 
 ged at Henry Chade's. 
 
 Bfidgeffater. O n the 1 5th we had a Meeting at Bridgewater ; which was very fmall : for 
 
 feveral ot the Friends in that Place, who in Time paft had been in Reputation 
 
 . as the chief among them, being Trading Men, had fallen ITiort in their Bufinefs 
 
 and many others had fuffered Lofs by them ; fo that the People were generally 
 
 under Ofi^ence by this Means, and dcfpifed our Meetings, and negledted the 
 
 Truth
 
 Qf T HO M A S ST O RT. C^i 
 
 Truth on that Account: yet the Meeting was open, and the right-minded Anno 
 among them comforted. We lodged at Jofeph Ball's. 1731. 
 
 On the 1 6xh. we went to Summerton, and the Day following were at the Quar- Sinnmerton. 
 terly Meeting there ; and that Night lodged at William Berry\ at Kno-u;le: ajid 
 on the 1 8 th we returned to Bridport. 
 
 On the 20th, being the Firft of the Week, the Meetings at Bridport were Bridport. 
 very large and open, efpecially in the Afternoon ; which being put off till Five 
 in the Evening, was the largeft, as feme Friends fuppofed, that ever had been 
 in that Place ; and the important Truths of the Golpel were largely, clearly, 
 and with Authority, opened among them ; and Truth was over all. 
 
 On the 2 1 ft we went to Pool; and on the 2 2d, being the Third of the Week, Pool, 
 was their Yearly Meeting •, and the next Day the Quarterly Meeting -, and that 
 Evening another Meeting for Worfhip -, when, the Town's People coming in, 
 that Meeting was the largeft and openeft. 
 
 On the 24tli Samuel Bowms returned from Pool towards Bridport, and I 
 went to Ring-wood ; where I had a fmall Meeting, there being but few Friends 
 in Town ; and that Evening went to Fordiiighridge, and lodged at Mofes Harris's. 
 Next Day I had an open Meeting there ; where came a Presbyterian Preacher, 
 and many others, and all were quiet. The Day following I went to Sarum. 
 
 Ringwood. 
 
 Fording- 
 bridge. 
 
 On the 27th, being the firft of the Week, the Meeting at 6'rtra;» being fmall Sarum. 
 in itfelf, fevcral of the Neighbourhood came in, and Things opened well ; and 
 the Meeting being comfortable, we had much more Company in the Afternoon ; 
 and fome of the Baptifts fo well fatisfied, that two of them, of good Under- 
 ftanding, and honeft well-meaning Men, came to John Moor's (where I lodged) 
 after the Meeting ; with whom I had Converfationto Edification. They declared 
 their Satisfadion with the Meeting -, but one of them ftill thought the Bread and 
 Wine ought to be continued in the Church ; but reafoned moderately : and the 
 other owned that I had given him more Satisfadtion concerning the Incarnation of 
 the Word of G o d, (in fome Difcourfe I had had with him the Day before) than 
 he ever had met with by Word or Writing. We parted with Good-will on 
 all Sides. 
 
 On the 28th I went from thence to Lal}ington -, and that Evening had an open Lavington.' 
 Meeting there ; and lodged at John Guife's. 
 
 O N the 2Qth I went from thence to the Devizes ; where I had another Meeting Devizes, 
 in the Evening, very open -, and lodged at Roger Beavan's. 
 
 O N the 30th I went from thence to Calne, and had an open Meeting there. Calne. 
 It was their Meeting-day. but upon my coming, they poftponed the Meeting 
 about an Hour, in order to give more general Notice •, but might have been 
 much larger, if it had been put off till Five in the Evening, as moft of the 
 reft had been. I lodged that Night at Jofeph Serjeant's. 
 
 On the ift of the Fifth Month I went to Chippenham, and had an Evening Ciiippenhsm, 
 
 Meeting there -, which was fmall and heavy 
 Goldney's. 
 
 and that Night lodged at Adam 
 
 On the 2d I was at a Meeting appointed at CoJJmm, both on my Account, cofhim 
 
 8 H and
 
 ($74 
 
 Anno 
 1731- 
 
 Melk(ham. 
 
 C haricot. 
 
 Bradford. 
 
 Bath. 
 
 Briftol. 
 
 Eekon. 
 
 The L I F E, &c. 
 
 and at the Requeft o^Jofeph Slorr of CkePrJield ; though we knew not one of 
 another till we came there. The Meeting was well : and that Evening I went 
 to Monk's with Ezekiel Dkkinfon, his Father being deceafed, and left him a great 
 Eftate and he hardly of Age ; yet being of a fingular good natural Temper, 
 and very loving, and of an innocent Behaviour, temperate and prudent, friends 
 have great Hopes he will do well •, and many greatly defire he may. Here J 
 ftaid till the Firft Day Morning. 
 
 O N the 4th I went from Moiks to Melkjham ; where the Meeting was large, 
 and one of the moft open Meetings I had in thofe Parts ; the moll important 
 Truths of the Gofpel being opened, in the Wifdom and Power of Truth, to ge- 
 neral Satisfadion : and there being Friends from divers Towns and Villages in 
 the Country, I went back that Evening with Ifrael Noyce, to his Houfe near 
 Calne, and the next Day to the Quarterly Meeting for WtUJhire at Charkat -, 
 and the fame Evening back with Ifrael Noyce. 
 
 On the 6ch I went from thence to Bradford, where I had an Evening Meet- 
 ing, about Six ; but the Notice not going in due Time, the Meeting was not 
 large, but indifferent well, feveral of the Neighbours being there, and very 
 folid. That Night I lodged at John Ballard's ; who went with me to Bath next 
 Day. He was an Attorney at Law •, and being convinced of Truth, made Pro- 
 feflion with us : But the Law being altered with refpefl to Men of his Pradlice, 
 and fome new Oaths required of them, in order to a new Qualification, he had 
 ofl'ered liis Afhrmation according to the Law made in our Favour, in Matters 
 of Evidence ; but Judge Ayres, one of the Judges before whom it Ihould have 
 been taken, not being our Friend, denied him that Privilege : which, it was gene- 
 rally held, the Law and common Right allowed him •, fince that Praftice, being 
 his Way of Livelihood and Subfiftence before that Law was made, was no Of- 
 fice, or Place of Truft or Profit in the Government ; which, with ferving on 
 Juries concerning Life and Death, was all the Exception in any of the A6ts 
 concerning the Affirmation of Friends, inftead of Oaths. At Bath I lodged 
 again at Elizabeth Gingel's : and next Day was at their Week-day Meeting -, 
 which was but fmall, the Seafon being over for Strangers for the prefent, but 
 pretty open. 
 
 O N the 9th I went from thence to Brijtol ; and on the Firft Day following 
 had two full and open Meetings ; though 1 never went to that City with lefs 
 Hope, or more down in my Mind than at that Time : but on the Third Day, 
 the Meeting being larger than ufual, was pretty generally reached, and more of 
 the young fort, of both Sexes, tendered, than I have obferved there, or elfe- 
 where, for a long Time ; after which I was not lb much loaden in my Spirit as 
 before in that City ; where there is ftill a great Body of People under our Pro- 
 felTion ; who I hope will remain honourable in the Truth, and increafe in the 
 Power and Virtue of it. 
 
 On the 14th I went to a Monthly Meeting for Worfhip at Belton, accom- 
 panied with Alexander Arfcot, an honeft and good W.irrior for Truth on Earth, 
 againft the Antlchriftian Infidels of this prefent Age. We had the Company 
 of fome Friends and others, to the Number, in all, of near Forty Perlbns j 
 among whom I laboured hard for fome Time ; but to what Purpofe I do not 
 know : for, though many important Truths of the Gofpel were plainly opened, 
 I did not find any great Impreffion they made, nor was I very eafy afterwards, 
 but rather under a kind of Deadnefs ; which, I fear, is the State of too many 
 
 People
 
 of THOMAS S T O RT. 
 
 People to whom we minifter ; thougli feveral of them at that Time feemed well 
 futislied with the Meeting. That Evening we returned to Brijiol. 
 
 Anno 
 
 O N the 2 1 ft I went to Frenchay ; where we had a good open Meetins, for rrenchay. 
 the greateft Part young People, there being feveral Schools at that Place foV bot!i 
 Sexes; and that Evening returned to Briftol : and the great Fair approaching, 
 which is ufuaily attended with a great Concourfe of People, I ftaid there till ic 
 was over. There are, at this Time, two great Meetings of Friends at Brijiol; 
 but greateft Part being young, many of them are hardly diftinguiftiable from the 
 World by any outward Appearance, either in Speech or Habit : but, as People 
 of all Ranks and Opinions now frequent our Meetings every where, they were 
 very large and open on this Occafion ■■, and therefore I ftaid at that City till the 
 4th of the Sixth Month, and then went to the Week-day Meeting at Sidbiiry^ 
 accompanied by my old Friend and Acquaintance Richard Champion and his Son ; 
 •where, though a fmall Meeting, by reafon of the Prevalency of the Small-pox 
 in the Place, and Harveft, yet a comfortable Time the Lord gave us : and 
 after this Meeting I went to Nailfworth, to the Widow Smithes, as ufual. 
 
 O N the 5th, being their Week-day Meeting, I tarried there, and alfo the Nailfworth. 
 Firft Day following -, where, that Afternoon, we had a large and very open 
 Meeting j from whence I came with SatisfacTtion. 
 
 The next Day I dined with the Widow Teatcs in the Neighbourhood ; 
 and that Evening had a pretty open Meeting in a Houfe of our Friend Daniel 
 Fowler's, lately built for that Purpofe at Minfing Hampton ; where I lodged, at Minfing 
 his Houfe. "'•"P'°'"'- 
 
 On the loth I went to Cirencejler ; where I had a pretty good Meeting that Cirencefter. 
 Evening ; and lodged with John Hinton. 
 
 O N the II th, in the Evening, T had another like Meeting at Burford ; and lod- Buiford, 
 ged that Night with Timothy Abrahams. 
 
 O N the 1 2th, about the fame Time, I had a free open Meeting with Friends 
 at Whitney ; and lodged at Elijah taring's. Whitney. 
 
 O N the 1 3th, in the Evening, I had a fmall but open Meeting with a few 
 Friends at Charlsbury -, and that Night lodged at Ifaac Stapler' %. Charhbury, 
 
 On the 14th I went from thence to Oxford ; where I was kindly received by Oxford. 
 my old Friend and Acquaintance Thomas Nichols : but foon after I arrived, my 
 Mind became loaden with that Power of grofs Darknefs, that may be felt, con- 
 ftantly attending and prevailing in that Seat of Wifdom and Subtilty, but not 
 of God: and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, when in the Meet- 
 ing, it remained heavy and dark a confiderable Time, till the never failing Truth 
 arofe and difperfed it -, and then, being over all evil Spirits, I ftood up, and 
 many Things were opened of great Importance, without any Difturbance by the 
 Scholars, many of whom were there, but not altogether fo rude as at Times 
 heretofore, or even the preceeding Firft Day Meeting ; for, of all Places where- 
 ever I have been, thefe Scholars of Oxford were the rudeft, moft giddy and 
 unruly Rabble, and moft mifchievous : But having got over them in the Fore- 
 noon, the Way was eafier in the Afternoon -, and having Matter of Importance 
 to deliver, and with full Authority, feveral of them were affefted, and all chained. 
 
 On
 
 6i6 
 
 An no 
 
 1731- 
 
 South New- 
 ington. 
 
 Adderb-.iiy. 
 
 Warwick. 
 
 Coven tij'. 
 
 Hiiikley. 
 
 ;iceller, 
 
 Nottinghan'. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 On the 1 6th I went from Oxford to Banbury, to Benjamin Kid's ; and next 
 Day was at a Monthly Meeting for Worfhip at South-Nemngton ; which was 
 very open and well. 
 
 On the 18th I was at an appointed Meeting at Adderbury ; which, though 
 fmall by reafonof the Throng of Harveft, was a very open melting Meeting. ^ 
 
 On the 20th, being the Sixth of the Week, I ftaid the Week-day Meeting -, 
 which is not large of itfelf, but enlarged from the Country about on that Occa- 
 fion, and was well. 
 
 On the 2ift I went to Samuel Overton' -o near Warwick, where I lodged that 
 Ni<^ht ; and the Day following, the Firft of die Week, was at the Meeting at 
 IVar-Jick, Forenoon and Afternoon ; and the latter was large and open, many 
 of the People being there, and Things were well. I lodged with -— Edwards 
 a Baker, without the South Gate. 
 
 On the 23d I went to Coventry ; where I had an open good Meeting that 
 Evening, and lodged with John Gulfon. 
 
 O N the 24th I went to Hinkley ; and that Evening had a pretty large and open 
 Meeting with Friends and Neighbours there ; and lodged at JVilliam Stephenfon's. 
 
 On the 25th I went to Leicejler, and that Evening had a Meeting there ; 
 which was fmall, but very open, and lodged at John Penford's. The Day 
 following proving very rainy, I ftaid there till the Sixth Day ; and then went to 
 Nottingham, and lodged at William 'Thompfon's, 
 
 O N the 29th I was at Nottingham Meeting, which was not large in the Fore- 
 noon ; but much fuller by the coming in of many of feveral Sedls, as Bapufts, 
 Presbyterians, Epifcopalians, &c. in the Afternoon: But one JoJ/jua Par, who 
 had been denied by Friends, gave fome Difturbance to the Meeting : which was 
 cuftomary with him. His Father had been convinced, and hopeful for a Time, 
 but declined at laft; and, as I remember, had been denied. This Jpjhua was 
 ' likevvife hopeful, till he undertook to preach in our Meedngs : which being in 
 a confufed Manner, they could not receive him as a Minifter -, and then impo- 
 fing himfelf, and becoming very turbulent and infolent, they denied him as a 
 Member ; on which he became an open Enemy. The Friends expedled he 
 would make fome Difturbance, and therefore, by Application to the Mayor and 
 fome of the Aldermen, had a Conftable ready. He began to accufe the Meet- 
 ing in a little Time, calling them Flypocrites, and other ill Names, after the 
 Manner of the Ranters ; the envious Pccrfons in Cumberland ; JVilliam Gibfon, a 
 fort of Lunatick at London -, and the like. JVilliam Thompfon oppofed him ; 
 and a Conftable appearing, he was daunted a little, and became filent. Then I 
 had the Time of the Meeting •, and Things were pretty well. 
 
 In the Afternoon he came again, and afted after the like Manner ; till pre- 
 tending to pray in the Meeting, the Conftable then came to take him away -, but 
 he refufcd, pretending he had not broke any T .asv : which was not true ; for 
 Difturbance of our Meetings is againrt the Toleration Aft at the Revolution. 
 Then William nompfon bid the Conftable let liim alone, if he would be quiet, 
 and give no Difturb-ance •, which he did : and a little after, I began to fpeak what 
 I had to fay ; the Subjed of which contain'd feveral important Truths of the Go- 
 fpel, The Meeting was open and well : But having laid fcmething concerning 
 
 Civil
 
 of T H M A S S T R r. 6Ti 
 
 Civil Governmenr, as an Ordinance of God for the Punifliment of Evil- Anno 
 doers, i£c. he took that as if intended againft him-, and fo came to my Lod- X731. 
 ging to wrangle about it. I faid not much to him ; for the little I did fay he 
 could not bear, being too full of himfelf, and inceflantly pouring out his own 
 Conceivings and Refentments ; which gave me occafion to tell him, he was 
 deaf and blind, he could not hear what I faid, or fee the Truth of it : Then, 
 heftopping, I told him, he was a Ranter ■, that I had feen many fuch in America^ 
 and fome of late in Cumberland ; that he was of the fame Spirit, Way, and Praftice, 
 and turbulent, fpeaking after the fame foolifh and blafphemous Manner as they 
 did ; and advifed him to decline that Way, and forbear to difturb our Meetings 
 any more, as the befl Courfe he could take. He did not like this -, but began 
 to fieer, feoff, and giggle •, for which I reproving him, he pretended that 
 whenever he felt the comfortable Prefence of the Lord to fupport him againft 
 his Oppofers, he then could not forbear laughing. This was a fpecial Note of 
 the Ranters ; for they pretended that God had taken up their Souls unto him- 
 felf, and poflefled their Bodies, and he being under no Law but his own Will, 
 could do no Evil j therefore all thofe Adtions they did, they imputed them to 
 God, though ever fo foolifh, brutal, and wicked. So, finding him inconver- 
 fable, I kit him, and went into another Room ; and then he went away. 
 
 O N the 30th I went to Mansfield^ and on the Third had a Meeting there ; Mansfield. 
 and when I went in, found this Jojhua Par in the Gallery. He was not long 
 filent, but began to accufe Friends there as Hypocrites ; faying alio. Men gather 
 not Grapes of Thorns^ nor Figs of Thiflles. Then Richard Marriot, one of that 
 Meeting, replied, " Thou art a Thiftle ; tb.ou bringeft forth ill Fruits, by which 
 " thou art known." Then another Friend went out quietly, and brought in 
 a Conftable, who was followed by fome of the Town's People •, and as foon 
 as Jofhua Par faw them, he fat filent •, and the Conftable and Neighbours ftay- 
 ing, we had an open comfortable Meeting. 
 
 ' That Afternoon I went on to Balberhall, to Sir John Rhode's, and there ftaid 
 two Nights : and on the 2d of the Seventh Month, being the Fifth of the 
 Week, I went with him to the Meeting at Chef erf dd ; and that Night lodged Chefterfield. 
 at Jofeph Storr's. Next Day I went to vifit the Widow Elizabeth Heathcoate and 
 Children at Cutkorp, where I ftaid two Nights ; and on the Firft Day follow- 
 ing was at the fame Meeting, It confifted for the greater Part of Friends in 
 the Forenoon, and pretty open ; but I having requefted Friends in the Place to 
 invite the Neighbours in the Afternoon, the Meeting was much larger, and 
 very open ; the moft important Truths of the Gofpel being with good Autho- 
 rity preached among them. That Night I remained at Jofeph Starr's. 
 
 O N the 6th I went to Sheffield ; and remaining there, at Thomas Buck's, till Sheffield, 
 the 8th, had a large open Meeting with Friends, and many of the Neighbours, 
 to Satisfadtion. 
 
 O N the 9th I was at a Monthly Meeting at Burton -, which was fmall, but Burton, 
 very comfortable ■, and that Evening went to the Widow Mary Jackfon's at 
 Totis ; and the next Day was at the Meeting at JVoodhoufe, the Village adjacent, Woodhoufe, 
 which confifted, for the greateftPart, of Friends, and pretty open : though it 
 is obfervable, in thefe Days, that our Meetings are generally brighteft and moft 
 open, and the neceflary Truths of the Gofpel moft clearly and powerfully open- 
 ed, where the People are invited by Friends, and come freely in ; whereby 
 Friends themfelves become further informed and edified. 
 
 ) Uiij iv &'- 
 
 2. ] 
 
 On
 
 678 
 
 Anno 
 
 Halifax. 
 
 Bradford. 
 
 The LIFE, i^c. 
 
 O N the 1 2th I was there again. Forenoon and Afternoon ; when the Meeting 
 was much larger and opener •, many of the Neighbours- being there. 
 
 On the 15th I was at Halifax; where the Meeting was fmall, none but 
 Friends being prefent, and few of them, the Harveft, as they laid, not being 
 quite in : and that Night I lodged at Godfrey haycock's. 
 
 On the i6th I went to Benjamin Bar (let's, at Bradford, and the Day follow- 
 ing^ had a Meeting there •, which confifted moftly of Friends, and was large and 
 open • But having a-mind to fee the People, Friends there, and chiefly Bcnja- 
 mii Barllet, ordered their new Meeting-houfe (not being fully finiflied) to be 
 fitted up as well as could be for that Occafion •, and Notice being given to the 
 People in Town, and feme adjacent Parts of the Country, we had a large Meet- 
 ing; the Firft Day following ; and, the People being fober and attentive, the 
 L.'o R D opened Things to them with Authority and Clearnefs ; and many of 
 them feem'd well affeded with what they heard and felt. 
 
 OIJ the 20th I went to vifit my well refpefted Friend William Httrd, and his 
 Family, where I was kindly received, and ftaid till the 22d ; and then went ta 
 the Week-day Meeting at Leeds, and lodged at my old Friend Benjamin Horner'' % ; 
 where I was kindly entertained. On the 26tli, being the Firf^ of the Week, I 
 L eds was at the Meeting. It was large in the Afternoon, by reafon of the Company 
 
 of the Neighbours; and was an open Meeting. There I remained till the 28th, 
 and then went in Company with Benjamin Horner, feveral of his Family, and 
 fome others, to Tork. 
 
 York. On the 29th and 30th was the Quarterly Meeting there; where the Envy 
 
 and ill Contrivances of fome Priefts of the National Church fell under Confide- 
 ration. The Cafe was this: Some of them in the North had falfely reported to 
 fome Meeting of Priefts at London, that Friends of the North, efpccially in Tork- 
 Jljire, had been very induftrious in fpreading and promoting the blafphemous and 
 antichriftian Books, publiilied of late by IVooljlon; and the Bilhop oi Lichfield 
 and Coventry having writ two Volumes in anfwer to Woolfion, took occafion there- 
 in to- vent his Spleen againft us ; defigning, but with little Senfe and no Truth, to 
 put us on the fame Foundation with him, the Familifts, and other heterodox 
 Perfons, as Deniers of the outward Coming of Christ, and Defpifers of the 
 Holy Scriptures, after their old, ufual, thread-bare, falfe, and antiquated Cant, 
 of little Credit at this Day, if at all believed even by thefe mercenary Hirelings 
 and Scribblers themfelves : Yet, to obviate the Hurt that fome weak and credu- 
 lous Perfons might fuftain by our Silence to thofe Charges, the Meeting extraft- 
 ed fome Paragraphs out of our Yearly Meeting Epiflles, from the Year 1 706, 
 to this Year 1731, containing earneft and repeated Advice to Friends every 
 where to read the Holy Scriptures, and wait upon the Lord for his Help in 
 underllanding them ; and alfo nor to read, or fuffer to be read in their Fami- 
 lies, any Books of Deifls, Plays, Romances, i£c. tending to the Difcredit of the 
 Holy Scriptures, and contrary to the Chriftian Religion. This Extradl the 
 Meeting committed to the Care of feveral to be printed and publifhed, with 
 a fhort Introduftion ; which refulting to the particular Care of ^iig-^r 5;^rtc^/^/(7« 
 of York and myfelf, it was accordingly printed at York, and publifhed there the 
 4th of the Eighth Month following. 
 
 A T York I ftaid till the 3d of the Eighth Month, being the Firft Day of the 
 Week ; when the Meeting was very large in the Afternoon, chiefly with Stran- 
 gers, (for the Meeting of itfelf is but fmall) and many Truths of the Gofpel 
 
 were
 
 of T H O MA S S T RT. 679 
 
 were htdy opened j aod, for any Thing I couM obferve, well received by the Anno 
 Auditory; which confifted in the main of a reputable-like People. The next 1731. 
 Day I ftaid at Tork to fee the printed Extra6l finifhed, and on the 5th, being 
 the Third of the Week, I went forward to Burrozabridge, and lodged that Night ' 
 with Bofwel MiddUton ; who went with me next Day to Northallerton. There 
 I ftaid till the 7th, being the Fifth of the Week, and was at their Meeting ; Northaller- 
 which was very open and comfortable. That Evening I went home with George '°"- 
 MUs; who accompanied me the next Morning to Tarm., where I lodged at Amos 
 Lindjle/s; and the next Day had a fmall Meeting there ; but pretty open. 
 
 That Evening I went to Stocktoti, to John Smith's, and on the nth in 
 the Forenoon had a Meeting at Norton, and another in the Afternoon at Stock- Norton, 
 ton. The Meetings were well ; but the latter was the largeft, fome People fit- 
 ting down there with us. 
 
 On the 12th I was ax. Norton again, it being the Monthly Meeting for I'^rm, 
 Stockton, Norton, Darlington, and Sbotten. It was a comfortable Meeting. That 
 Evening I went to Darlington with Jofcph Singleton; where I had an open 
 Meeting v/ith Friends and fome Strangers there the next Day, 
 
 On the 14th I had a Meeting at BiJJwp- Auckland \ which was not large, but Bilhop-Auck- 
 indifferent. That Night I lodged with Robert IVardell, a young Man ; who, land. 
 with his Wife, I hope will live to do Good in the Time of their Abode on the 
 Earth. 
 
 On the 15th I had a Meeting at Durham; which was very open and well. Durham. 
 That Night I lodged at George Paxtou^s. 
 
 On the i6th I went to Barns, and ftaid that Night at Lancelot Wardell's; 
 and the Day after, being the Firft of the Week, had two open Meetings at 
 Sunderland. That Night I lodged at the Widow Maud's. Sunderland, 
 
 N the 1 8th I went to Newcajlle, and was at their Week-day Meeting, be- Newcaftle. 
 ing alfo a General Meeting for Sunderland, Shields, and Newcaftle. It was not 
 
 large, but indifferent well. 
 
 On the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, I was there again, both Forenoon 
 and After, the latter Meedng efpecially being very open, and feveral important 
 Truths of the Gofpel clearly and with good Authority demonftrated. 
 
 On the 25th I went thence towards Carlijle, lodging that Night at Spittle^ 
 near Haltwhiftle ; and the Day after went to my ufual Lodging at Carlijle. 
 
 1 STAID at and about Crtr///?^ til! the 30th of the Sixth Month, 1732 ; when 1732: 
 I went thence to Appleby, and lodged at the King's Head, an Inn -, on the gift: 
 
 to Boives, and lodged at Themes Hipling's, an Inn ; on the 2d to J^ork, to Roger 
 Shackleton's ; and next Day, being the Firft of the Week, was at the Meetings York, 
 there, both Forenoon and After ; which were very open. 
 
 On the 5th I called at Caftle-Howard, and dined with the Earl of Carlijle and Caflle-How;^ 
 his Family •, the Lord Cornhury being likewife there. About the Conclufion of ^'^• 
 our Dinner, the Earl, in a frank Manner, moved fome Difcourfe about the Ce- 
 remonies of the National Church, and afked me if we would join with them, in 
 cafe they would lay afide the Surplice, and Sign of the Crofs in Baptifm .? 
 
 i
 
 68o The LIFE, &c. , 
 
 Anno I a n s w e r e d, " Lay thefe Things afide, and then we'll confer with you 
 
 1732,' " about the reft." 
 
 Then faid the Earl, " Thefe Things are no way efiential to Religion, and 
 " may well be fpared -, and we have no Foundation in Scripture for them, and 
 " fome other Things we ufe." 
 
 Then faid his Chaplain, " Things innocent in their own Nature may be 
 " enjoined by the Church and the Legiflature; and thence arifes a Duty to 
 " Obedience." 
 
 The Earl replied, " That whatever is invented and impofed by Man, in 
 " Matters of Religion, more than what was ordained by Christ, and taught 
 " by him and his Apoftles, is vicious, and ought not to be regarded ;" (O noble 
 Confeffion!) and difmifled his Chaplain with a Frown, whilft I was afking him 
 this Queftion, "When and where did the Lord Jesus ever give Power 
 " to any temporal Prince or State, to add, alter, or diminifh, the Religion he 
 " himfelf eftablifhed on the Earth? Is not he all -fufficient in himfelf for that, 
 " without the Diredion, Concurrence, or Aid of any other Power, fince all 
 " Power in Heaven and Earth is given unto him?" 
 
 The Chaplain departing the Room muttering, I requefted Liberty of the 
 Earl for a few Words further, that fince he had been pleafed to mention their 
 Baptifm, and obieft to an Incident of it, as now ufed by them, I hoped it would 
 not be ill refented, if I endeavoured to inform him how we underftood the Chri- 
 ftian Baptifm •, and having his Countenance therein, I proceeded, " That JcJm 
 " the Baptift, being moved by the Word, or Spirit of G o d, to call the Jews 
 " to Repentance, and to baptize, or wafli in Water, fo many as believed his 
 " Doftrine, and went to him to that End, he foretold them of another to come 
 " after him, much more worthy, and to be preferred, who fliould baptize them 
 " with a more excellent, powerful and efficacious Baptifm •, that is to fay, the 
 "Lord Jesus Christ, with the Holy Ghoft and Fire. 
 
 " That John did not baptize in any particular Name, but direfted his 
 " Difciples to believe in one who was to come after him, who himfelf did not 
 " know when he firft began to preach and baptize ; but Jchi having a Sign 
 " from Heaven concerning Christ, believed in him, and diredted all to fol- 
 " low him : And as Repentance was, at that Time, the neceffary Doftrine to 
 *' the Jews, Christ himfelf preached Repentance, and likewife his Difciples ; 
 " and his Difciples alfo baptized with Water as John did, and at the fame Time, 
 " but with this Difference, that John baptized not in any Name, but the Dif^ 
 " ciplcs of Christ, moft probably, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, 
 " whom they had rightly believed to be the true MefTiah, and in whofe Name 
 " alone, after he was declared to be the Sent of God, all the Water Baptifm we 
 " ever find in Scripture to be adminiftered, was performed, and never in the 
 " Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. 
 
 " That after the Refurredion of Christ, and before his Afcenfion, he 
 
 " introduced his Baptifm, as it was moft excellent in itfelf, fo with greater Dig- 
 
 Mat. xxvm. " nity and Glory, faying. All Power in Heaven and in Earth is given unto 7ne; 
 
 ' 9> • " Repentance and Remijion of Sins miijl h preached in my Name unto all Nations, 
 
 " i^ginnmg at Jerufalem ; and ye J}: all he JVitneffes unto me in Jerufalem, in Ju- 
 
 " dea, in Samaria, in all the Regions round about, and to the uttermoft Parts of the 
 
 '■J'^ Earth: Go ye therefore, teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the 
 
 " Father,
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 
 
 " Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl, teaching them to ohferve all Things whatfoever I 
 " have commanded you. Go into all the Earth, and preach the Gofpel unto every 
 " Creature. He that believe th, and is baptized, Jhall befaved; and he that belie- 
 *' vetb not (hall be damned: And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the End of 
 " the World. 
 
 (^8r 
 
 Anno 
 1732- 
 
 "But notwithftanding this Narrative and Commandment from the Mouth 
 of him who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth, he knew that hisDifciples 
 could not of themfelves, nor by this Commandment only, baptize with this 
 Baptifm, (though they had by his Command, or Countenance, baptized with 
 Water) without the aftual and prelent Power of the Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghoft, in one Dilpenfation ; and therefore he added, at the fame Time, this 
 further Command and Reftridion, But tarry ye at Jerufalem till ye have re- 
 ceived Power from on high: And then he informs them what Power that was, 
 Tou Jhall have Power after that the Holy Ghoft is come upon you. And left 
 they fhould m.iftake, and think he was inftituting another Water Baptifm, he 
 contradiftinguifhes this his Baptifm from Water Baptifm, faying, John truly 
 baptized with Water, hut ye jhall be baptized with the Holy Ghcft not many Days 
 hence. So that it is evident, according to the Teftimony of Holy Writ, That 
 this Inftitution was not any Water Baptifm, nor any Water concerned in it, 
 but diftinguifhed from it ; but is the fame by John afcribed to Christ, and 
 is the Baptifm of the Spirit only. And this we own, and this only, to be 
 the Baptifm in the Church of Chr ist, initial by its powerful Effeds, into 
 the Church, which is his Body, the Ground and Pillar of Truth, the Fullnefs Eph. iii. 19. 
 of him who filleth all in all." 
 
 T o this neither of thefe two Lords made any Reply ; but, after a fhort Paufe, 
 entered into fome Difcourfe between themfelves, concerning the Meanino- of 
 John the Baptift, when he fent two of his Difciples to C h r i st, to afk whether 
 he was the Mefiiah, after he had fo fully before own'd and declared him to be 
 fo. They could not, at firft, think the fame Way about his Meaning ; one fup- 
 pofing he doubted under the Temptation -of Perfecution and Imprifonmcnt : 
 But that Inftance being advanced, where Christ, fpeaking to the Father 
 faith. Holy Father, thou always heareft me ; but thefe Things I fay in the hearing of John xi. ^ 2. 
 thefe, (his Difciples) that they may believe that thou haft fent me : It was then 
 concluded, that the Melfage from John was not for his own Sake, or as doubt- 
 ing concerning Christ; but for the Sake of his Difciples, and others, for 
 their further Information and Eftablifhment in the Faith of C h r i s t : and fo 
 the Converfation ended. Then I took Leave; but the Earl, though weak in 
 his Limbs, by a late Fit of the Gout, went before me to the Head of the Out- 
 ftairs, and, ftanding there a while, profefled his Good-liking to Friends, as a 
 good, religious, ufeful People, and good Commonwealth's Men ; and wifhed 
 his Tenants were ail of our Way. 
 
 That Evening I went to Malton with my Friend Layton Furbank, who Mahon; 
 had Ilaid at Caftle-Howard for me all this Time ; and the next Day we had a 
 very good Meeting there. 
 
 O N the 7th I had an open comfortable Meeting at Pickering; and that Af- 
 ternoon went to Scarborough. On the 8th I was at their Week-day Meetino- • 
 which, though in the Seafon for drinking the Spaw Water there, and many 
 Strangers remaining in Town, was fmall and feledt, confifting of Friends only ; 
 but open and edifying. 
 
 Pickering. 
 Scarborough. 
 
 4- 
 
 S K 
 
 The
 
 6Bi 
 
 Anno 
 
 1732- 
 
 The L I F E, &c. 
 
 The loth, being the Firfl: of the Week, the Meeting was not large in the 
 Morning, few Strangers coming in, and my Exercife a httlc heavy •, but in the 
 Afternoon many accompanied us, and the Truths ot the Gofpel were preached 
 amonr them with Clearnefs and Authority ; and then I was much eafier and fa- 
 tisfiLcffor that Time : for the whole Meeting continued under a fohd Qiiietude 
 a confiderablc Time after all outward Exercife was over •, and they feemed ra- 
 ther unwilHng to depart than hafty. I ftaid here till the 13th ; which being the 
 Fourth of the Week, and a Meeting ufually held on that Day, I was at it; and 
 fomc Strangers coming in, we had a foiid Time together. 
 
 On the 14th I went to IVlnthy; and had an open and folid Meeting with 
 Friends there the Day after. I lodged at Francis Salkeld's, and came back to 
 Scarborough. Sccirboroitgh, to Robert Garbut's, on the i6th; and the next Day, being the 
 Firft of the Week, I was again at their Meeting -, which was large and open, e- 
 fpecially in the Afternoon ; when we had the Company of many Strangers of the 
 better fort. In the mean time happened to die the Wife of a Friend of that 
 Place, who was buried on the 19th; on which Occafion many came to the 
 Grave-yard : but it being cold, and a high W^ind, and many ot the bafer fort 
 having climbed upon the Trees, their Noife, with the Wind on the Trees, ob- 
 ftru6ted the Service in fome Meafure •, which, though indifferent well, might 
 have been much better in the Houfe. 
 
 Wliiiby. 
 
 Bridlington. 
 
 KewtOn. 
 
 Maltoii. 
 
 York. 
 
 Leeds. 
 
 Rodan. 
 
 O N the 20th I went to Bridlington ; and next Day had a very open Meeting 
 with Friends, fome Civil Officers and Neighbours coming in, who were very 
 quiet and attentive. I lodged at John Atwick^. 
 
 On the 2 2d I went to Newton, to Robert Mlner^s, in whofe Houfe we had 
 a Meeting the next Day in the Evening •, and thougii no Friends were prefent, 
 except his Family, we had an open Time, the Truths of the Gofpel being fuitably 
 opened to the State of the People. 
 
 On the 24th, being the Firfl: of the W^eek, I went to Mai ton; and, the 
 People having Notice, many came to the Meeting; which was large, and the 
 moft important Truths, relating to the Salvation both of Jews and Gentiles, 
 plainly, and with full Authority, opened to them-, which, by a clofe Attention, 
 many feemed to tavour-, and I hope, fome good was done among them that Day. 
 
 On the 25th I went to i'ork, in order for the Quarterly Meeting. It was 
 not large, but very comfortable : But as few of the People came in during 
 the Time of Worlhip, and I defiring to fee them, ftaid there till the ifl: of the 
 Eighth Month •, when, in the Evening, the Great Meeting-houfe was filled, fo 
 that feveral could not get in : and the Multitude being generally quiet and at- 
 tentive, I had a free open Time among them, to the Satisfaftion of Friends, and, 
 I believe the People in general. 
 
 My Concern thus ended at I'ork, I went next Day to Leeds, to my old 
 Friend Benjamin Horner's ; where I have ever been eafy, finding the Son of 
 Peace there : And the Fourth Day following, being their Week-day Meeting, I 
 ha<!l a free and comfortable Time with Friends. 
 
 On the 5th I was at a Meeting ax. Rodan ; where I met with Benjmnin Holme 
 and William Hurd, who had accompanied me from Tork. The Meeting was 
 not large, but very open, fome few Strangers alTembling with us. That Even- 
 ing I went with IVillmn Hurd to his Houfe. 
 
 On
 
 of THOMAS Sr RT. 685 
 
 O N the 7th I returned to Leeds ; and next Day, being the Firft of tlie Week, Anno 
 was at their Meetings, both Forenoon and After. The latter being attended 1712. 
 with many of the Neighbourhood, was a good Meeting, as that in the Forenoon 
 alfo was, though not fo large, the Gofpel of the Kingdom of God being fully 
 preached unto them ; to which many feemed to aflent by their Sobriety and At- 
 tention. 
 
 O N the loth I went to Bradford, and lodged at Benjamin Barlkih ; and the Bradford. 
 next Day, being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meeting Day, had a very 
 open and fatisfaftory Meeting ; where feveral of the chief People of the Town 
 were prefent, and very attentive. 
 
 O N the 1 3th we had an appointed Meeting ztBridgehoufe; which was not large, Bridgehoufe. 
 being very wet Weather and windy •, but an open comfortable Meeting. That 
 Evening I returned with Benjamin Bartlet, and his Son Benjamin, to Bradford, 
 in order for their Meeting on the 15th, being the Firft of the Week; which 
 was large, and an open good Meeting. 
 
 On the i6th I went to Tctis, to the Widow Mary Jackfon's ; where I was Totis. 
 refpeftfully entertained, as flie ufed to do generally to fuch as travelled on the 
 like Account ; and on the i Sth I was at their Meeting at Lane-bead. That 
 Evening I returned to Totis. 
 
 O N the 20th, a Meeting being appointed at Meadop, near Pennyflon, I went Meadop. 
 thither •, and the Lord gave us a good Time in his holy Prefence. That 
 Evening I went to Sheffield, and lodged at Thomas Buck'?, ; where I ftaid till the Sheffield. 
 22d, being the Firft of the Week, and was at their Meeting there; which was 
 large, and fome of the moft important Truths of the Gofpel were opened with 
 Authority and Clearnefs, and, I think, to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the 23d I went to Dronefeld, to William Girder^?, ; and the Day after had Dronefield. 
 a fmall, but open Meeting there. That Evening I went to Jofeph NeivboWs., 
 at Woodhoufe; where I was kindly received and entertained. Next Day I was Woodhoufe. 
 at their Meeting •, which was fmall, and not fo open as I could have defired \ 
 yet the Lord was with us, and own'd us; and that is fufficient at ail Times. 
 
 No Notice having been given to the Town's People, and I having an In- 
 clination to fee them, communicated it to the Elders of the Meeting-, who rea- 
 dily concurred with me to have another Meeting, and Notice given-, which ac- 
 cordingly was held on the 27th, about Five in the Evening. Many of the 
 People came, and fome from other Villages ; and the Lord gave us a free 
 and open Time, and the People were genera'Iy fatisfied -, only I heard of one 
 National Church Bigot, who was not pleafed to hear of any other Baptifm but 
 Sprinkling, the Baptilm of the Holy Spirit being at that Time recommended 
 to their Confideration. 
 
 O N the 29th, being the Firft of the Week, I was again at the Meeting at 
 Bronefield, that of Cbejierfield hkewife meeting with them that Day of courfe ; Dronef.dd. 
 and the Lord gave us an open, powerful, and comfortable Meeting, Matters 
 of the greateft Moment being opened among us. That Evening I went with 
 Dr IVells, and my long acquainted Friend Richard Partridge, and others, and 
 lodged at the Widow Heathcoates's, at Cuthorp. 
 
 On the 31ft I went to Cbejierfield, to Jofeph Stcrr's, and that Evening had Chefterfield. 
 
 the
 
 684 
 
 The LIFE, 
 
 &c. 
 
 Anno 
 
 1732. 
 
 Ealber-Hall. 
 
 Mansfield. 
 
 Nottingham, 
 
 Leiceller 
 
 Glenfield. 
 
 Oadby. 
 
 Ilarborough. 
 
 the laigeft Meeting ever known there: for I had defired the Friends to give 
 Notice to the People, that a Stranger defired to fee them ; and, though it was a 
 mixed Multitude, the Lord was pleafed to own us, and open the Doctrine and 
 IVuths of the Gofpel with Clearnefs and Authority •, which feemed to afted 
 many of the Auditory, being generally ftill, though much crowded, and many 
 without : the Effefts whereof muft be left to the L o r d, of whom is the Power 
 and Wifdom, and to whom be the Glory of all his Works. 
 
 On the ift of the Ninth Month I went to Balher-Hall, to fee my worthy 
 Friend and old Acquaintance Sir John Rhodes, who had embraced the Truth early 
 in his Youth, under great Self-denial ; in which he had continued, and holds his 
 Integrity unto tiiis Day, and without Doubt will to the End : and then an Over- 
 balance unfpeakable, to all the Honour and Pleafure he hath, for the Crofs of 
 Christ, facrificed in this World, he will meet with in that which is to come, 
 never ending, or fuffering any Change, but from Glory to Glory for ever. 
 Here I flaid in open Friendfhip with him till the 4th •, which being the Seventh 
 of the Week, and no Meeting near, I went forward to Mansfield, to Richard 
 Marriot's, and was at their Meeting next Day -, which, though fmall in the 
 Forenoon, was open and comfortable ; and in the Afternoon, many of the 
 Neighbourhood coming in, I had a full Time, and fuitable Matter given me 
 among them : and an ancient Friend departing this Life while I was there, I 
 ftaid till the 7th, to attend the Service at his Interment. The Meeting was the 
 largeft that had been known there, with a mixed Multitude of all forts. The Truth 
 was preached to them in Terms fuitable to their States ; and they were much 
 more fober and attentive than could have been expedted from their firft Appear- 
 ance, many of them looking wild and airy ; which gave me occafion to think, 
 what Good do their Parents do them ? and where is the Care of Parents to be 
 feen ? But he that commandeth the Winds, and ftilleth the raging Waves of 
 the Sea, calmeth the moll turbulent Spirits, by his invifible Word, working Ef- 
 fedls vifible and furprizing. The Meeting ended in Peace, and, in all Appear- 
 ance, to general Satisfadtion. 
 
 On the 8th I went to Nottingham, and lodged at John Liver'' s ; and on the 
 9th was at their Week-day Meeting; which was open and comfortable. 
 
 On the loth I went to Leicejler, to John Pensford's, where I ftaid till the 
 1 2th ; which being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meetings both Fore- 
 noon and After. They were both comfortable ; but the latter much larger, 
 fome of the Town's People coming in ; and I had a very open Time among them. 
 
 On the 13th in the Evening I had a Meeting appointed at Glenfield, at '■Tho- 
 mas Marfiml's ; where a few Friends and Neighbours came together. The People 
 were pretty ftill, and fome of them tendered ; but they feemed to be of a low 
 Capacity. 
 
 O N the 1 4th I had another Meeting appointed at Oadl^y ; which was much 
 like the other. That Night I lodged at Matthew Cartwright' s ; where the 
 Meeting was held. 
 
 O N the 1 5th I was at a Meeting appointed at Harhrough ; which was very 
 fmall, but very comfortable, the Lord delighting more to vifit a few right- 
 minded, than many thoufands of the Rebellious and Unfaithful. That Night 
 I lodged at Jofeph Simkin's, at a Village called Bugfy. 
 
 Ou
 
 of THOMAS STO RT. 6%s 
 
 ^ O N the 1 6th I went to Northampton, where I fell in with their Monthly Meet- Anno 
 ing. It was not large, but peaceable, and their Concerns managed in a brother- 1 732. 
 Jy Manner; and the next Day had an Evening Meeting there Northamp- 
 
 "=■ * ton. 
 
 On the 18th I went to Wellingborough, to the Widow Elizabeth Dewjburfs ; Wellingbo- 
 and next Day, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meetings, both Fore- '°"Sh. 
 noon and After; which were open, efpecially the latter. 
 
 On the 20th I had an appointed Meeting at Moulton, in the Evenino;. That Modton. 
 Night I lodged at John Perrhi's. 
 
 O N the 2ift I had another fmall, but comfortable Meeting in the Evening at Barton. 
 Barton ; and lodged at Richard Markers. 
 
 On the 2 2d I had an Evening Meeting at Kettering; which was pretty large Kettering. 
 and open. That Night I lodged at John Pf^arner's, 
 
 O N the 2 3d I had an Evening Meeting at Thindow -, and lodged 2,tJohn Garrat's. Thindow. 
 
 O N the 24th, in the Evening, I had another pretty large and open Meeting 
 at Ranee; and lodged at fFilliam Gib's. ^^^^^^ 
 
 On the 25th I went to Godmanchejier, to Thomas Grafs, and was at their Godmanche- 
 Meeting at Huntington the Day after. It being the Firft Day of the Week, ma- «cr. 
 ny of the Neighbours came in ; and it was an open good Meeting. 
 
 On the 27th I went from Godmanchefter to Thomas Landfs, at Hardivick; 
 and the Day after to Royfton, and that Evening had a pretty open Meeting there ; Royfton. 
 and lodged at Robert Izard's. 
 
 On the 29th I went to Baldock, to my Friend John Izard's, and was at their Baldock 
 Meeting next Sixth Day, being the ift of the Tenth Month. It was a good 
 Meeting. 
 
 On the 3d, being the Firft of the Week, I was at Hitching Meeting Fore- Hitching. 
 noon and After ; which was an open Meeting. I lodged at John Turner's. 
 
 n the 5th I went to Hartford; and next Day was at their Week-day Meet- Hertford, 
 ing; which was large and open. I lodged at John Prior's. 
 
 On the 7th I went to London, where I was kindly received by my Friends, London, 
 and lodged at my fure Friend Jofeph Green's ; where I was made fully welcome 
 as formerly. On the 8 th in the Morning I was at a Meeting at Bull and Mouth ^ 
 which was very open and comfortable. 
 
 A T this Time Deifm was much much advanced in the City and Nation and 
 the former Zeal of all Sefts near expired ; yet our Meetings were much crowd- 
 ed on Firft Days : and though the generality of Friends in the City were 
 young People, they delighted to hear the Principles and Doftrines of Truth pu-' 
 bhfhed with Authority and Demonftration ; of which the Lord was pleafed 
 to furnifti me, in good meafure, for his holy Name's Sake, and Help of his 
 People ; though 1 boaft not but of his Mercy only. 
 
 1 WAS frequently concerned to diftinguifh between a Natural and Spiritual 
 
 8 L State;
 
 686 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 AvNO State. In the former, Man has the Ufe of his Reafon and Underftanding in 
 i-r- Natural Things, receiving all his Ideas thereof fronn without by his benks 
 within him, Tnd making a Judgment according to the Degree of the Ability 
 of his natural Faculties, deducing Confequences from Premifes, by Ratiocina- 
 tion : by which he may rationally conclude, the Exiftence of the Almighty, 
 from his Work of the Creation, cognizable, in fome meafure, by the Senfes; 
 but cannot form any proper Idea of the Enjoyment of God, from the Works 
 of Creation, in that State of Mind wherein a Man is divefted of his prefent Cor- 
 poriety. 
 
 B V T in the latter or Spiritual State, whereinto Man Is brought (not by any 
 natural Abihty or Effort) by the Word or Spirit of God; by which he 
 operates in and upon the Natural Man, as upon the Duft of the Earth, and 
 worketh in his Mind Spiritual or Mental Senfes, whereby he is denominated Spi- 
 ritual, and capacitated to enjoy Go d, as he is eflential Love, Wifdom, Truth, 
 Power, ^^c. through that holy Medium, the reafonable Mind of Ch r i s t, con- 
 genial'to all Ment and of the Father's own preparing and begetting ; who 
 prefents in the Mind of the Spiritual Man every proper Idea of God, ne- 
 ceflary to the compleat Happinefs of Man, and Admiration and Adoration of 
 the Divine Majefty, now and for ever ; the eflential Truth, by the Emanation 
 of his own divine Light, exhibiting in the Mind every Idea, by divine Intuition, 
 even as the Sun in the Firmament of Heaven exhibits himfclf to the Natural 
 Man by his own Light, by a natural Intuition, immediately, without any Rea- 
 foning : And fo likewife of the reft of the Senfes, which take Cognizance of 
 Obiedts, or Subjects, both vifible and invifible •, the Subjefts of the Ear and 
 fmelling being unknown to the Eye, as the Light to the Nofe and Ear, 
 or Touch to the Sight •, the Subjedls and Objefts of every Senfe containing in 
 themfelvcs differing Ideas, not perceptible to Reafon by any other Medium ; 
 which is mainly concerned about the Why and How of Things, and not of their 
 Mode only. 
 
 One Day during my Stay in the City, I, with fome other Friends, fell in 
 
 Company with a Deift occafionally, at a Friend's Houfe ; and fomething being 
 
 moved relating to his Principles, he was furnifhed with divers fubtle Arguments 
 
 in Oppofuion to the Chriftian Religion ; which yet had no Weight with us : And 
 
 one of the Company, to bring him, in fome refpeft, under the Authority 
 
 of the Holy Scriptures, asked him, if he did believe what was written therein } 
 
 He anfwered equivocally, that he did believe many Things therein, but not all : 
 
 However, he foon after urged the Apoftle Paul's Doftrine in his Epiftle to the 
 
 Romans, in Defence of their Pofition, " That the Reafon of Man is his only 
 
 " Guide in the Way to pleafe God, and the only Principle by which Man can 
 
 Roni.xix.2o. "■ apprehend there is a God ; for, faith that Scripture, That which way be known 
 
 " of God is wanifeft in them (Men) ; for God hath Jhewed it unto them : Far the 
 
 " inrifible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly feen, being under- 
 
 " flood by the Things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead ; fo that 
 
 " they are without Excufe." I replied, " That Man, taking in the Idea of the 
 
 " outward Creation by his Senfes, and reafoning from the Effed: to the Caufe, 
 
 " may conclude, and cannot avoid it, tiiat there is an Almighty All-wife Ao-ent, 
 
 " who has produced and fupports all Things ; and that he hath all the divine and 
 
 " Moral Attributes commonly afcribed ; and that a great Satisfadion may arife 
 
 " from a reafonable Contemplation that way : and yet all this is, in comparifon, 
 
 " but a Hiftory or Report of God, though for ever true, and gives not the 
 
 " Enjoyment of his Prefence fenfibly as he is divine cnential Truth and Love, 
 
 '^ Wild'om, Light and Power ; as which, he cannot be known but by his own 
 
 " Light,
 
 of THOMAS S T O RT. 
 
 Light, flowing from himfclf, through that pure Mirrour the reafonabk Miiul 
 " of Christ, of his own preparing; through which, as through a Vail, 
 *' Man fees the inacce/Tible GJory of the Father, who dwelleth in the Lighr, 
 " which no Man hath feen, or can fee by any other Medium ; and not by that, 
 " till due Qualifications be wrought in the Mind of Man by the Power dwel- 
 " ling in that Lighr, which fhineth in the Mind ot the natural reafonable Man, 
 " though he, as fuch only, cannot comprehend it. 
 
 «( 
 
 I ADDED to this, " That the divine Light of Truth, or Spirit of C h r i s t, 
 is another Thing than human Reafon ; and is fuperadded to the rational Man, 
 after he is already rational ; and is not conftituent of his Being, as is his Rea- 
 fon : and inftanced in Cornelius, who was not only a rational Man, but alfo 
 a devout Man, and one that feared God, with all his Houfe ; who gave 
 much Alms, and prayed to G o d always -, and whofe Prayers and Alms went 
 up as a Memorial before God: and yet it was needful that an Apoftle of 
 Christ fhould tell him what he ought to do further -, that is, to receive the 
 Word, Anointing, or Holy Ghoft -, which believing, he did accordingly re- 
 ceive it : which is the Spirit of Truth, and leads into all Truth relating to 
 the Spiritual World, and the Things thereof : Which human Reafon can ne- 
 ver do, receiving all its Ideas from without, concerning natural (nay even 
 fpiritual) Things ; whereas the Knowledge of Things Spiritual is conceived 
 in the Mind from the Spirit of Truth within -, and thofe Things exhibit their 
 own Ideas after their Kind and Nature, to the Mind, as outward Things ex- 
 hibit their Ideas, after their fort, to the Senfes, by fenfible Intuition, and 
 not by Reafoning." 
 
 687 
 
 Anno 
 1732. 
 
 These Things feeming, at that Time, to take fome hold of the Mind of 
 this Perfon, I recommended them to his further Confideration ; and he faid, he 
 would further examine them : but I have not feen him fince. 
 
 Having vifited all the Meetings at London., and one at Croyden, and being 
 eafy, for the prefent, concerning them, I fet forward for the North on the 2d 
 Day of the Twelfth Month ; but went no farther than my Friend Benjamin 
 Brayn's at Tottenham ; and the next Day to Hartford. 
 
 On the 4th, being the Firfl of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Hartford -, Hartford, 
 which was large and open, efpecially Afternoon : and the next Day, in the 
 
 Hitching. 
 
 Evening, we had a pretty good Meeting at Hitching. 
 
 O N the 6th I went forward to Jcfhua Wheeler'' s, at Cranfield ; on the 7th to 
 J^ewpcrt Pagnel, to Thomas Cowper's ; and the Day following had an open 
 Meeting, though not large, at Sherington, about a Mile from thence ; and sherington. 
 that Night lodged at Jfaac Smith's. 
 
 On the 9th, in the Evening, we had a large open Meeting at Bugh'ook ; Bugbrook. 
 many of the Town's People, and of a neighbouring Village being there, and, I 
 fuppofe, to general Satisfaftion : and that Night I lodged at Jofeph Adam's. 
 
 On the loth I went on to Coventry, to John Gulfon's -, where I was kindly Coventry, 
 received, and the Day following was at their Meeting ; which was large and 
 open, efpecially in the Afternoon. That Evening I had the Satisfaction of the 
 Company of many Friends, and, among others, of Jojiab Forfter, Author of 
 a Treatife lately printed, (tiled, A Vindication of the Do£frine of Bapifm ; a wor- 
 thy Performance. 
 
 On
 
 688 
 
 Anno 
 
 1732. 
 
 Birmingham. 
 
 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 Leek. 
 
 Stockport. 
 
 Manchefter. 
 
 Yellan. 
 
 Kendal. 
 
 On the 1 2th I went from thence to Birmingham, and lodged at John Pmher=- 
 ton's and the Day after had a Meeting there -, which was not large, by reafon 
 of an epidemical Diftemper then in Town, but a good Meeting. 
 
 O N the 14th I went to Wolverhampton % where there were but few Friends re- 
 maining, and they, mod of them, in the Diftemper -, and therefore had no 
 Meeting there. I lodged at "John Fowler's. 
 
 O N the 15th I went forward to Leek, and lodged at the Widow "teft's ; and 
 the Evening following had a very large Meeting there, the largeft, as was re- 
 ported, ever feen there : for Notice had been given in the Day-time before, and 
 the Town's People came freely, and were generally very fober and attentive ; 
 and Things opened freely with Authority and Demonftration. 
 
 On the 17th I went forward to Stockport, and lodged at Henry Arden's. 
 There I met with our ancient and honourable Friend Benjamin Bangs, who lived 
 in that Town. It being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meetings there ; 
 that in the Afternoon being put off till the Evening, was larger than the for- 
 merj but neither large, yet indifferent well and open. 
 
 O N the 1 9th I went to Manchejter, and lodged with my Friend Ifaac Mofs^ 
 by whom, and other Friends, 1 was kindly received; and the next Day, in 
 the Evening, had a Meeting there at a Farm-houfe belonging to a Friend ; 
 where we had the Company of many Country People, who were very fober ; 
 and Things opened well among them to general Satisfaction. That Night re- 
 turning to Manchejter, we had a Meeting next Day there ; and the Town's 
 People having Notice, many of the firft Rank came to it; and the Lord fa- 
 voured us with fuitable Matter and an open Time. And there being a Burial 
 on the 22d, we had the Company of many more; and Things were well and 
 reputable, through that Grace which fails not thofe who truft therein, and attend 
 to its Virtue. Here I tarried till the 24th, and then went to Prejion; where 
 the Meeting is fmall, but was at it the next Day, being the Firft of the Week. I 
 lodged at Robert Abbot's. 
 
 On the 26th I went to Lancajler, and lodged at Robert Lawfon's; and the 
 next Day had an open fatisfaftory Meeting there. 
 
 O N the 28th I fell in with the Monthly Meeting at Tellan; which was like- 
 wife a good Meeting: After which I went to Robert Chambers's, and lodged 
 there that Night. 
 
 O N the ift of the Firft Month, 1 733, 1 went to Kendal, to 'Thomas Elwood's, 
 and was at their Monthly Meeting the Day after ; which was large and open, 
 and the Bufinefs thereof managed in the peaceable Wifdom of Truth; and a 
 comfortable Time the L o r d gave us. This being the Sixth Day of the Week, 
 I ftaid till the Firft Day of the next ; when the Morning Meeting was large, 
 confifting for the moft Part of Friends ; and the neceffary Truths of the Gofpel 
 opened clearly, and with tendering Authority, perfuading the Youth not to reft 
 in the Outfide of Things only, in a formal Exercife of thofe Things left by Ex- 
 ample, by thofe who are gone before ; but to wait for the fame Word of Wif- 
 dom and Power in themfclves, as their Conduftor alfo in the fame Thino-s in 
 their Day : And feveral of them were tendered and broken ; and we were favour- 
 ed of the Lord with his Prefence, and comforted together in him. The Af- 
 ternoon Meedng was put off, at my Requeft, till between Four and Five ; when 
 came a Multitude of all forts, and feveral of the Magiftrates, and generally fe- 
 
 date
 
 of T H M A S S T R T. ^89 
 
 date and attentive, and many neceflary Truths of the Gofpel, and Things Anno 
 of the Kingdom of God, were opened among them with good Authority and *733' 
 Demonftrarion -, efpecialiy concerning Regeneration, the Diffcrer.cc between 
 a Natural and Spiritual Mind and State, and the Necefllty of a real and ffiifible 
 Change ; and, 1 believe, to general Satisfaftion : and I had a thoufand Thanks 
 from one of the Juftices for my good Inftruftions, as he was pleafed to call it : 
 But that is a Thing of courfe among themfelves. However, it was much better 
 than being fent into a Dungeon for it ; which was often the Portion of thofe who 
 made way in Times paft, by their Sufferings, for this Liberty, and whofe Me- 
 mory ought to be retained with great Refpeft ; tliough fome at this Day, under 
 the fame Profeflion, and enjoying that Liberty, defpife and trample the moft ef- 
 fential Part of their Teftimony, as alfo moft of the Incidents, and exteriour 
 Marks of Diftinflion between us and the World : for fuch Incidents there are, 
 beiidesa holy Life and moral Decorum among Men. 
 
 Pass I N G that Evening in agreeable Converfation with fome felefl Friends, 
 I went next to Penrith -, and the Day after that to my ufual Lodging at Carlijle. 
 
 H Av I N G fettled fome Concerns I had in the Country, I went to Kendal on Kendal. 
 the 9th of the Second Month, in order for the Yearly Meeting there •, which 
 was very large, confifting, for the moft Part, of young People •, as do our Society 
 throughout the "World at this Day. We were favoured with the Divine Pre- 
 lence, in fome Degree, but not fo glorioufly as I have experienced : for the State 
 of the People could not bear it ; the generality of them being as the Samaritans of 
 old : They had believed that Jesus Christ was the Meffiah that had been to 
 come ; and fo far they were right : but the Holy Spirit of Christ was not, 
 for fome Timeafter they had fo believed, come upon any of them. And fo likewife 
 thefe our younger fort of Friends, having believed the fame Things concerning 
 the Coming of Christ in that Adminiftration, as alfo the general Doftrines 
 publifhed among us at this Day, of his Light, Grace, or Holy Spirit ; yet the 
 Spirit himfelf is not fallen upon many of them, as a fenfible and experimental 
 Difpenlation of Life and Power •, which is properly the Gofpel ; and the former 
 is rather previous and introduftory. The Meetings held three Days ; and the 
 laft being in the Afternoon, two large Galleries were left open for People of the 
 Town, and other Strangers ; and many of them were there. The Meeting 
 concluded well, to Edification and Satisfadlion, to the fole Praife of the Holy 
 One, who never wearies or fails to do Good to his People. 
 
 H E R E I ftaid till the 14th ; and that Evening went to Richard PFillan's near 
 Sedbergh ; and next Day, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting •, Sedberg. 
 which was very open and tender, and feveral of the People there well fatisfied 
 concerning the Way of Truth : and going to Robert IVillan's, Father of the faid 
 Richard, after the Meeting, I ftaid there that Night. 
 
 On the i6th, Lancelot JVardel of Sunderland being there like wile, we went 
 next Day over Stainmore to Boives, and there lodged at an Inn •, and the Day 
 following fell in with a General Meeting of Friends at Raby ; where came alfo 
 fome few Strangers-, and tiicLoRO gave us an open and comfortable Time. 
 After the Meeting, we dined at Caleb Granger's, ; and in the Evening went to 
 Bijhop-y^uckland, in Company with Robert JVardel, Son of the faid Lancelot, BifTiop-Auck- 
 and his Wife, with whom we lodged : and next Day were at the Week-day ^ 
 Meeting there ; which was alfo comfortable ; but fomething harder to work 
 through in the Time of miniftring. 
 
 8 M On
 
 690 
 
 Anno 
 1733- 
 
 Durham. 
 
 Newcaftle. 
 
 London. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 On the iqth we went together to Durham, where I ftald ; but Lancelot War- 
 Jf/hearino- that a young Maid, his Houfe-keeper and near Relation, was taken 
 ill he went Home that Afternoon •, and I appointed a Meeting at Burham next 
 Day i which, though not large, was very open, leveral Men of the Law and 
 other Strant^ers being there : x\nd Robert IVanlel and his Wife being there from 
 Auckland that Morning, we went together to Lancelot Wardel's, at Barns, 
 that Evening -, where we found him in a low Condition of Health, and his Houfe- 
 keeper undeVthe Hands of Phyficians, but her Death not feared : yet about the 
 Second Hour next Morning, ihc departed this Life ; which gave both Surprize 
 and great Concern to the Family : and her Diftemper being a Rafh-Fever, they 
 interred the Corpfe on the 2 2d in the Afternoon si Sunderland ; where we had 
 the Company of many of the Neighbourhood, and an open good Meeting-, 
 many ncceflary Truths of the Gofpel being opened to them. It was the largeft 
 and openefl Meeting I ever was at there : but the Day before, being the Se- 
 venth of the Week, we had another Meeting there, on occafion of the Inter- 
 ment of the Corpfe of another Fiiend, where we had alfo the Company of a good 
 Number of the Neighbours ; whole Report of this Meeting had occafioned the 
 Crowd in that above-mentioned. The Weather becoming very cold, with 
 hif^h Winds and much Rain, I reftcd at Sundirland, lodging at the Widow 
 Rachel Maud's ; where I was well and freely entertained -, and on the 55th 
 went thence to Ne-zvcajlle. The next Day, being their Week-day Meeting 
 being in courfe, was very open, though fmall ; and, defirous to fee Friends 
 more generally together, as alfo as many of the People as could be drawn, 
 I ftaid there with my old and long acquainted Friend Jean Middleton, till the 
 29th •, which being the Firft of the Week, the Meeting was not very large 
 in the Forenoon, but comfortable, through the Divine Prefence of him whofe 
 Prefence is Life to all that are favoured with a Senfe of it in them ; but in the 
 Afternoon much larger by the Company of other People, and very open ; 
 the Truths of the Gofpel being declared, the Kingdom of Christ defcribed, 
 and Antichrifl: and his falfe Church and Prieftcraft made manifefb ; with fome 
 Hints of his Downfal and Deftruftion, by the Brightnefs of the Glory of the 
 Coming and Manifeflation of the Son of God, C h r i s t the Light of the 
 World. 
 
 On the 30th I went to Haltwhiftle, on my Way towards Carlijle; where I 
 arrived the next Day about Noon, and tarried there till the 4th of the Third 
 Month following ; and then, about Five in the Evening, fet forward for the 
 Yearly Meeting at London; where, with hard Travel, I came on the loth, a- 
 bout Six in the Evening, viz, from Carlijle to Penrith, thence to Lancafter, thence 
 to Manchcjler, thence to Stone, thence to Coventry, thence to Brickhill, and fo on 
 to London. 
 
 The Meeting was, in the main, peaceable, and the Teftimony of Truth 
 further eaablilhed againft the Payment of Tythes ; which had been weaken'd by 
 the Unfaithfulnefs of Teveral Profeflbrs of Trudi ; who, for the Time, mio-ht 
 have known better, and arrived at greater Perfedion. And fome Members^'of 
 the Meeting offering lubtle and illufivc Apologies for Delinquencies of this Na- 
 ture, I put the Meeting in mind, that at a Time of the grcateft Confufion and 
 Diftraflion about Matters of Religion in this Nation, when all Sefts were em- 
 brewing their Hands in one another's Blood, contrary both to the Nature and 
 End of the Chriflian Religion, which they all profefTea, but did not underfland 
 the Lo R D, in infinite Mercy, flretched forth the Arm of his Power by which 
 he gathered to himfelfa Royal Priefthood, a holy Nation, a peculiar People • 
 who, through the Virtue and Power of his Grace, bore a threefold TeftimoHy 
 in the V\ orld. ^ 
 
 lA
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 691 
 
 . i/?, To the Manifeftation of the holy and powerful Spirit of C h r i s t, as the Anno 
 only infalhble and all-lufficient Teacher of Mankind, in the Things of God i733- 
 and eternal Life. 
 
 adly^ T o a holy, innocent, righteous Life, as the natural and neceflary Con - 
 fequences of fuch Teaching. 
 
 ^dly. Against an Antichriftian Prieftcraft and Miniftry, fct up and 
 fubfifting in the World, by Tythes, and other opprelTive Means, never appoint- 
 ed of G o D for a Chriftian Miniftry ; but invented and obtruded upon the 
 World, by the Subtilty and Violence of an Antichriftian Pov/er, ufurping Au- 
 thority, in the Name of the Lord Jesus (whofe Kingdom is not of this 
 World) over all the Kings and Princes, and moral Eftablifh meats where Christ 
 was named and own'd. In all which our Primitives, in this Difpenfation, were 
 true and faithful ; fo that thefe three Points were fettled and held as effential and 
 indifpenfible to the Difpenfation of the Almighty committed unto his People in 
 this and all future Ages: So that none were from the Beginning really accounted 
 under that Difpenfation, who came not up in the Pradlice of them. I therefore 
 conclude that it is the fame ftili, and ever will be •, and that the former Yearly 
 Meetings, whofe Minutes on that Behalf, particularly about the Payment of 
 Tythes, are now infpedled and referred to, did but their Duty in diftinguifhing 
 fuch as tall fliort of the common 7>ftimony and Difpenfation, from the Faith- 
 ful therein, fo far at leaft as to prohibit fuch from any Share in the Exercife of 
 Judgment, or the Application of the Order and Difcipline of the Church, where 
 themfelves are Subjects ol juft Cenfure therein : And it is written, The Brother 
 that is weak in the Faith receive, but not to doubtful Difputations. Rom. xiv. i '. 
 
 Many other Speeches were made alfo by other Friends on the fame Ac- 
 count ; and the Meeting concluded to have lormer Minutes tranfcribed againft 
 the Payment of Tythes, and a written Epiftle prepared, recommending Faith- 
 fulnefs therein to the C^iarterly and Monthly Meetings ; which was done ac- 
 cordingly i and in which the Meeting feemed generally unanimous. 
 
 I STAID in London fome Weeks after this, vifiting the Meetings there, and 
 at Croyden and Tottenham ; and on the 3d of the Fifth Month, accompanied by 
 my fure and efteemed Friend Andrew Pitt, I went to Hartford -, and next Day Hartford, 
 was at a Yearly Meeting there. In the Morning, till about the Tenth Hour, 
 we had a feleft Meeting of Minifters and Elders •, where we were favoured with 
 the Divine Prefence, in a good Degree, and fenfible manner : and then came 
 on the other Meeting, which was large and open ; and the Lord feafdned our 
 Minds together with the Salt of the Covenant of Life. 
 
 -"ty- 
 
 T H E next Day we went to Hitchin •, where the Week-day Meeting was Hitchin. 
 pretty large and open ; and dining at John Turner's, we went that Evening to 
 Baldock, and lodged at John Izard's -, and the Day after were at their Yearly BaUock. 
 Meeting : which was large, and indifferent well ; and might have been better, 
 if a certain confident Female had not entertained the Auditory too long with 
 certain Hiftories of the Old Teftament Writings, reduced by her into Songs, 
 which flie thouglit melodious : though others defpiled them, as having no re- 
 lation to the Gofpel of Christ; and canted in that Manner. 
 
 On the 7th we went to IVare, and lodged at John Burr's ; and the next Day, Ware. 
 being the Firft of the Week, were at their Meeting : which was one of the lar- 
 geft known there ; feveral Strangers of Account in Town came in, and a Door 
 
 of
 
 The L I F E, &c. 
 
 Guildford. 
 
 Alton. 
 
 6^)^ 
 
 Anno of Utterance the L o r d opened, to general Satisfaftion, and gave us a com- 
 ^733- fortable Time together ; and the next Day he went home to Hampftccd, and I 
 to my ufual Lodging at my good Friend Jofeph Greenes at Londo7i. 
 
 Kingdon. On the 2 1 ft I went from London to KingHon, and lodged that Night at Tho- 
 
 vias Barnel's ; and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, was at the Meet- 
 ino- there : which was large, by Friends from London, Croyden, IVandfworth, 
 Staines, and other Places round, efpecially on occafion of a Burial there that Day -, 
 and we had an open and fatisfaftory Meeting together ; and the People, many 
 of whom were there, generally fober as Friends, and feemingly fatisfied. 
 
 On the 23d I went to Guildford, to the ancient Widow IVood's, and the Day 
 after had a Meeting there •, which was fmall, but open and comfortable. After 
 the Meeting I went to Alton, to Samuel IVaring'^ ; and on the 25th was at their 
 Meeting : which was fmall, but a good Meeting, tlie Harveft in thofe Parts 
 being very throng about that Time. 
 
 On the 26th, accompanied hy Samuel Waring, we went to the Week-day 
 Meeting at Ba/ingftoke ; which was likewife fmall, but very open j and a good 
 Time the Lo rd gave us together. We alighted at our Friend Robert Jpple- 
 garth's ; and, after Dinner, went to John Perry's at Whitchurch ; where we 
 iodo-ed that Night. The next Day we had a fmall and good Meeting there ; 
 and, after Dinner, returned to Jlton. 
 
 O N the 2 9th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meetings at Jltotiy 
 both Forenoon and After ; and, though fome of the Neighbours came in, yet 
 the Meetings were not fo open as in fome other Places ; but well as to outward 
 Appearance. 
 
 O N the 30th, accompanied by Samuel Waring, I went to Go/port, and lodged 
 at John Hooper's. He was not a Friend in Profeffion, but a Presbyterian, yet 
 all his fix Children were Friends, and very honeft •, and he gave them Liberty, 
 and entertained Friends freely at his Houfe. The Day after we had a large open 
 Ponfiuoiith. Meeting at Port/mouth; for though there are but few Friends, many others 
 camd to Meetings, and behave very decently •, as they did there that Evening : 
 After which I lodged on that Side at his Daughter Judith's. 
 
 Bafingftcke. 
 
 Whitchurch. 
 
 Southampton On the ift of the Sixth Month we went to Southampton, and that Evening 
 had a very open Meeting there j many of the Neighbours being at it, and the 
 Truths of the Gofpel clearly opened, and with good Authority. That Night 
 we lodged with Thomas Curtis. 
 
 Kumfey. 
 
 Fording- 
 bridge. 
 
 O N the 2d we had a fmall Meeting at Rumfey with a few Friends ; which 
 was very heavy a long Time: but at lalt we were comforted together, and the 
 
 Meeting ended well. 
 
 We lodged with Richard Burgefs. 
 
 On the 3d, in the Evening, being the Sixth of the Week, I had a pretty 
 open Meeting at Fordingbridge, (Samuel Waring being returned home from Rum- 
 fey that Morning) and lodged at my old Friend Mofes Harris's. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 On the 5th, being the Firft of tlie Week, I was there again, where the 
 Meetings were large and open, efpecially in the Afternoon ; when many Things 
 were opened in the Truth, and delivered to the People with good Authority : 
 for the Teftimony of Truth, at this Day, lies very much towards the People of 
 this Nation every where. 
 
 Th e
 
 of THOMAS S T O RT. 
 
 ^93 
 
 O Nf the 6th, about Five in the Evening, I had an appointed Meeting at Ring- Anno 
 ■:^G:i; which conlifted for the niofl: part of Friends : and, though a little heavy 1733. 
 at nrll, it proved an open Time at laft. That Night I lodged at Thomas Priiyates. Ringwood. 
 
 O N the 7th I went to Pool, to Jcfiah Nicholfon's ; and the next Day, being Poo!, 
 their Week-day Meeting, I was there : The Meeting was pretty large of Friends, 
 but few of the Neighbours, and not very open. 
 
 O N the 9th I had an Evening Meeting at Corf, where there are but few Corf. 
 Friends ; but there came in pretty many of the lower fort of People, and the 
 Lord gave us a good open Time of his Goodnefs together. They being hun- 
 gry, not vifited fometimes in fix Months, Things relifhed well with them. 
 
 ONf the loth I went to William Hereeri's, at Weymouth; where I (laid till the 
 1 2th, and was at their Meetings both Forenoon and Afternoon : where we had 
 the Company of many of the Inhabitants, efpecially in the Afternoon; when we 
 were much crowded, being the Firft of the Week. The Truth was very 
 open towards them in many needful Points of Dodrine, and they were generally 
 I'ober and attentive. 
 
 Weymoutlu 
 
 On the 13th, about Five in the Evening, I had a Meeting at D.irchejier; Dorchefler. 
 which was alfo much crowded, though but few Friends remaining there, and very 
 open. Here I had the Company of my old and near Friend Samuel BowmSy 
 who came from Bridpcri to meet me. 
 
 On the 14th we went to Bridport, where I lodged with my Friend John Ni- g ,1 
 choh, as ufual ; and on the 15th was at their Week-day Meeting; which, the' 
 heavy for a Time, was a good Meeting, and ended well. On the i6th, about 
 Five in the Evening, we had another there ; where we had the Company of fe- 
 veral of the more reputable part of the Neighbourhood, and a good Meeting. 
 
 O N the 18th, accompanied by my Friend Samuel Bowtias, we went to Teovel, Veovel 
 and lodged that Night at a Friend's Houfe ; and the next Day, being the Firft 
 of the Week, had a large open Meeting at Teovel: after which we went about 
 feven Miles to James Salter's, near Ivilchejter ; where we ftaid that Nio-ht. 
 
 On the 20th we went to Brijiol, and lodged at our Friend Brice Web\; and Briftol. 
 the Day after were at their Week-day Meeting; which was very open and 
 comfortable. 
 
 On the 2 2d we went to Mo?;/«5a/i>, and lodged at Jonathan Barrow's-, and 
 inclined to have had a Meeting there : but there being no other Friends in Town, 
 and he out of Health, we could not accomplifh it in fo fhort a Time ; and fo 
 went forward to Rofe, to Jofloua Plyer's the next Day, and were kindly enter- ro(v 
 tained ; and the Day after, in the Evening, had a Meeting there; where, the' 
 the Meeting of itfelf is fmall, we had the Company of many of the Neighbour^ 
 hood, to good Satisfaflion. 
 
 O N the 25th we went by Hereford to Amely., and lodged with our Friend Ro- 
 ger Prichard, a fubftantial, faithful, honourable Friend ; and on the 26th, being 
 the Firft of the Week, we went with him to Keyngton, when and where the 
 Yearly Meeting for feven Weftern Counties was that Year held, viz. for Here- 
 fordfhire, JVorceflerfhire, Gloucejlerfhire, SomerfetflAre, Dorfet/hire, Devonjhire, and 
 Cornivall. The Meeting was appointed in the Town-Hall; which proving 
 
 8 N much 
 
 Keyngton.
 
 ^94 
 
 Anno 
 
 1733- 
 
 Lcominfter, 
 
 Amily. 
 
 Bromyard. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 much too fmalV, feme Conveniences werealfo made below : which proved incon- 
 venient, in another Senle •, tor their being no Ceiling under the Upper-room, 
 the Voices of Friends publickly concerned interfered a little, which gave fome 
 Uneafinefs and Interruption ; yet, in the main, it was a good, edifying, in- 
 forming, and comfortable Meeting •, the People who were very numerous, being 
 generally fober and well fatisfied. 
 
 The Meeting ending on the 28th, I went the next Day to Leminjier, ac- 
 companied by Samuel Overisn -, and there we had a very open Meeting ; fome 
 of the Inhabitants, of divers Notions, being with us^ and feveral of them 
 reached by the Teftimony of Truth -, which fliined and reigned in the moft 
 needful Doctrines of the Gofpel of Ch Ri st. That Night I lodged at my 
 ufual Quarters, Gahiel Smith's ; where I was kindly entertained : and the next 
 Day we went to the City of Hereford, in Expeftatioh of a Meeting ; where 
 we met with Same! Bownas again, he having gone back from Keyngton to Amily ; 
 where he, Jofeph Jordan from Penfilviym, Jojfnia Toft from Leek, ^c. had ap- 
 pointed a Meeting the Day before : But there being only two Friends living in 
 Hereford, and but about five in all belonging to the Meeting, the Notice fent 
 before-hand liad fome-way mifcarried ; fo that feveral of us went into feveral 
 Streets, and told the People here and there of a Meeting to be that Afternoon j 
 many of whom came accordingly ; and divers neceflary Truths of the Gofpel 
 were opened unto them, with good Authority and Clearnefs : and that Evening 
 Samuel Overton and I went to Bromyai-d, and Samuel Bo-jjnas went to Rofs, in or- 
 der to his Journey homeward. 
 
 \ LODGED at James Bradtey^s., where I was kindly received ; and the next 
 bay, being the Sixth of the Week, we had a pretty comfortable Meeting with 
 Friends there, and fonie from Leominjier, but none of other Societies. 
 
 On the ift of the Seventh Month we went to Worceflcr, where I lodged at 
 James Pardee's ; and found John Fallowfield and John Baker in Town from 
 London, having been at the Week-day Meeting here the Sixth Day before. 
 
 There being feveral 
 
 Strangers 
 
 Worcefter. 
 
 Lukexxiii,43 
 
 in Town, the Friends appointed their 
 Meeting next Day in the Great Meeting -houfe, and gave Notice to many of the 
 Inhabitants of fome Strangers to be with them, and, I fuppofe, named fome 
 Names -, upon which we had a large open Meeting in the Forenoon, many of 
 the Inhabitants being prefent: and the Time of the Afternoon Meeting being 
 put off till Three o'Clock, we had a very great Crowd of the more reputable 
 part of the Inhabitants, and feveral of the Aldermen and other Magiftrates •, fome 
 of our Friends telling us afterwards, that they had never known fo full a Meet-- 
 ihg there, but once at an Yearly Meeting. That which fell to my Share in this 
 Meeting was, to open the Nature of that Compofure called the Jpojlles Creed; 
 upon which I was enlarged and drawn out to expatiate with good Authority and 
 Perfpicuity, taking Exceptions at that Period therein, He defcended into Hell; 
 obfervirtg to them, that Christ faid to the Thief upon the Crofs, This Day 
 Jhalt thou be with me in Paradife. Upon which I put this Queftion, What was 
 this thou in the Thief, ajnd this me in the Lord Jesus, to be that Day in 
 Paradife, when the Body of the Thief was broke on the Crofs, after the Manner 
 of Criminals, and the Body of Christ laid dead in the Sepulchre till the third 
 Day ? What then remained of C h r i s t to go down into Hell, as he was flated 
 with the Dead in the foregoing Period, viz. Was crucified dead and buried? But 
 fince the Perfons compofing that Creed, long fince the Days of the Apoftles, 
 might bring it as near as they could to the Tenor of the Scriptures ; and finding 
 
 an
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 69^ 
 
 an EjfprefTion in the Pfalms of David to this Purpofe, 1'hou jloalt not leave my A n no 
 Soul in Hell, nor ftiffer thy Holy One to fee Corruption, fccm to have mifappli- 1700, 
 cd it to Christ after his Crucifixion: whereas it is properly applicable to Pfal. xvi. to. 
 him as fbated in the Time of Prayer in the Garden ; when, havino- the Weight 
 of his approaching Sufferings, and of the Sins of all Mankind upon him, being 
 in an unfpeakable Agony, grappling with Death, Hell, and the Grave, in hu- 
 man Nature, the Drops of Sweat that came from his Holy Body, beino-, as it 
 were, like great Drops of Blood : and having overcome all there, he, the next 
 Day, willingly laid down his Life on the Crofsj in the Will of the Father, and 
 from thenceforth triumphed over them all. 
 
 O N the 3d I went to Evefiam^ to Thomas Ramll's, and on the 4th h^d a 
 Meeting appointed there in the Afternoon. It confifted for the mod part of Evefham 
 Friends, few of the People of that Place being there ; but very quiet and atten- 
 tive j and the Lord gave us an open and confolatory Time of his Goodnefs. 
 
 On the 5th I went to Tewkshury, and the Day following was at their Week- Tewksbury, 
 day Meeting -, which was fmall, few Strangers being there j but an open Meet- 
 ing and edifying. I lodged at John Clarke^ =,. 
 
 O N the 7th I went to Cheltenham-, to John Teal's ; where came feveral of the Cheitenham, 
 People of divers Notions, as of the National Church, Presbyterians, Baptifts, ^c. 
 and the L o R u giving Matter and Utterance, as like wife Confolation and Abi- 
 lity, we had an edifying Meeting, well received by the People, and well fpoken 
 of after. John Cadwallader, from Penfylvania, was likewife there. 
 
 O N the 8th i went to NailjkaoYth; to the Widow Smith\&, (a long and free Re- Nailiworth. 
 ceiver of travelling Friends in this Concern, and my old Lantllady) and on the 
 9th, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting, which was large in the 
 Afternoon, but laborious -, for many of the People in thofe Parts, and elfewhere, 
 of divers Notions, having been often at our Meetings, where the Truths of the 
 Gofpel have been clearly and powerfuly declared, and fecretly convinced, yet, ftum- 
 bling at the Crofs, have not obeyed to an open ConfefTion of the Truth, and. 
 therefore do not grow or come forward therein •, but become as Abortives, or 
 as Seed buried under the Clods of the Earth, and in danger of Perdition : Yet 
 Christ was clearly preached to them this Day, with refpedl as well to his in- 
 ward as outward Manifefkation, and efpecially the former, and with good Au- 
 thority ; and they were forwarned of the Danger of neglefting the Day of the 
 Offers of Salvation, and Strivings of the Spirit of G o d in them ; fince his Lan- 
 guage, by the Prophet of old, to a rebellious, gainfaying, and negHgent People, is 
 on this way, / called, faith the Lord, and ye would not hear •, ye fhall cry, and I will jfa \yy , ^j 
 not anfwer : /a;/// laugh at your Calamities, and mock when your Fear comes. Mic. m.4. 
 Again, To-day, if yen will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts, &c. Pfal.xcv.7 S, 
 
 H E R E I ftaid till the 13th, being under the EfFedts of fome Cold, and then 
 was at their Week-day's Meeting ; which was fmall, no Notice being given of 
 my remaining there, (I being wilhng to fee their Manner in the Abfence of 
 Strangers) yet pretty open. 
 
 O N the 14th I went to Marfhfield, to the Widow Wickbam's, a good old Ma- MarMeld. 
 tron, and Entertainer of Friends for many Years, and that Evening had a Meet- 
 ing there-, which was not large, becaufe the Time of Nbtice was Ihort: but 
 fome of the fober Neighbours coming in, we were favoured with an open and 
 good Time ; and Things were well and comfortabk. 
 
 On
 
 6^)6 
 
 Anno 
 Bath. 
 
 Eathfcrd. 
 
 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 On the 15th I went to Bath, to the Widow Gingels's ; where I, with- many 
 more had been often freely entertained in this Service i and John Corbin marry- 
 mo- her eldeft Daughter, falls now alfo into the fame way of entertaining. On 
 the 1 6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at both Meetings there : They 
 were not large, but moll came in the Afternoon ; and many neceffary Truths 
 of the Gofpel were declared among them with good Authority. 
 
 O N the 20th, being the Fifth of the Week, and their Week-day Meeting, I 
 was there again -, where came many Strangers, it being the autumnal Seafon for 
 the Bath, and many Strangers in Town. The Meeting was open and well. 
 
 On the 23d, being the Firft of the Week following, I was there again; 
 when the Meeting was larger, and both more Friends and others than before : 
 but there coming two other Miniftring Friends, (one of them only from Brijiol) 
 they took up all the Time in the Forenoon, and greateft Part in the Afternoon; 
 but, towards the End of the Meeting, I had fo much Time as to make me pretty 
 eafy in the Conclufion, the Strangers behaving decently, and flaying with Pati- 
 ence and Attention to what they heard. 
 
 On the 27th, being the Fifth of the Week, and their Meeting Day, I was 
 there again. We had the Company of fome Strangers ; and an open fatisfaftory 
 Time the Lord gave us. I ftaid there till the 30th, and being the Firft Day 
 of the Week, and the Meeting of courfe at Bathford, about three Miles from 
 Bath, I was there. It was fmall and heavy, but ended well. That Afternoon 
 I went again to Bath ; where, though we had fome Strangers, the Meeting was 
 not fo open as at fome other Times ; and the next Day, being the i ft of the 
 Eighth Month, about Nine in the Morning, I came from thence not very eafy, 
 but did not know any particular Reafon for it ; which happens to many at Times, 
 concerned in like Service. 
 
 O N the 2d, finding the Burden of Bath go off, I was at the Week-day- 
 Meeting at BriJlol; where we were favoured with an open comfortable Time, 
 to our mutual Satisfaftion : for which I was thankful to the great Giver of all 
 good Things ; and, I believe, fo were many more. 
 
 On the 30th, being the Third of the Week, I left Briftol, and went that E- 
 vening to Nailfworth, and was at their Meeting the Fifth Day after ; which was 
 opener than the laft Time I had been there : And on the 4th of the Ninth 
 Month, being the Firft of the Week, I was there again ; when the Meetings 
 were larger, and much opener than formerly. 
 
 Mincing- On the 6th T was at an appointed Meeting at Mincing-Hampton ; where the 
 
 Hampton. Houfe was filled with People, (there being few Friends in the Place) and the 
 Truths of the Gofpel were opened to them, with Clearnefs and Authority. That 
 Night I lodged at Daniel Fowler^s, 
 
 On the 7th I went to John Frfs, where I ftaid that Night; and, on the 8th 
 went to Calne; where I had a large and open Meeting that Evening. 
 
 On the loth I went to Devizes; where I was at their Meeting next DaV; 
 and, being the Firft of the Week, it was pretty full in the Afternoon, and very 
 open and comfortable, 
 
 O N the 1 2th 1 went to Marlborough ; where, on the J 3th In the Evening, v^-e 
 
 had 
 
 Briftol. 
 
 Nailfworth. 
 
 Cake. 
 Devizes. 
 
 MarlborODgh
 
 Qf THOMAS ST O RT. 6^^ 
 
 liad a Meeting, which was not large, mod of the Friends being deceafed, and A nn o 
 lew raifed; but fome of the Neighbours coming in, the Meeting was well. J733- 
 
 On the 14th, in the Evening, I had a large open Meeting at Newlury, there Newbury, 
 being ftill a pretty Meeting there ; and many of the Neighbours came in, efpcci- 
 ally of the diflenting fort. 
 
 On the 15th I went to vifit my worthy and long acquainted Friend, Alexan- 
 der Kirton, at Br ought on- Mills; who being ill of a tedious Fit of the Gout, my ^"^"J",?,^'""' 
 Vifit was very acceptable to him, though the Compaflion I had for him made it 
 rot fo agreeable to me. That Night I ftaid there, and the Day following was 
 at their Week-day Meeting, about three Miles thence-, which was very fmall: 
 but a very comfortable Time the Lord gave us together, for our Encourage- 
 ment not to defpife a few, but to remember and truft in the Lord, who faid, 
 Wherefoever two or three of you are gathered together in my Name, there am I in Matxviii.zo, 
 the Midjl of you; of which we were fenfible Witnefles in this little Meeting. 
 That Afternoon I returned to the Mills. 
 
 O N the 1 7th I went forward to Reading, to my Friend Ifaac Pickerell's ; and Reading. 
 next Day, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting there ; which was 
 large and open, efpecially in the Afternoon : for the Meeting itfelf continuing 
 large, and the Neighbours being informed by thofe who were at the Forenoon 
 Meeting what had pafled there, many more came in the Afternoon, to our mu- 
 tual Satisfaction ; when the Gofpel was preached, and the Poor heard it •, and who 
 is rich but he whom the I^ o r d endowes. On the 20th, being the Third of the 
 Week, and one of their Meeting Days, I was there again ; and being more fe- 
 left to Friends, the Lord gave us a memorable Seafon of his good Prefence, 
 to general Satisfaftion; for which we were thankful to him, the Giver of every 
 good and perfefl Gift. 
 
 On the 2 1 ft we had an Evening Meeting at Henley; which was very large, Henley, 
 many Presbyterians, and others of the Neighbourhood being there, and generally 
 very fober ; and many neceflary Truths of the Gofpel were proclaimed in their 
 Ears, and fome Hearts touched with the Virtue of it: But the Crofs is ftill a 
 Stumbling-block to many profefling the Chriftian Name at this Day •, Mankind 
 defiring Heaven, when the Report thereof feems beautiful, but would part with 
 nothing for it, and would ftill be Heirs of two Kingdoms ; which, in this Senfe, 
 can never be. That Night I lodged at the Widow Toovie's, where I was kindly 
 entertained ; and ftre had wherewithal to do it to all Strangers. 
 
 On the 2 2d I went to vifit John Penn, Son oi IVilliam Penn, fen. at Fein, 
 about two Miles from Maidenhead, (where I met likewife with William Penn, 
 Grandfon of the faid William Penn) which I did not only for the perfonal Re- 
 fpeft I bore them, as knowing them from their Childhood, but in memory of 
 fo good an Anceftor ; who took up the Crofs of C h r i s t, and defpifed the 
 Shame, in his early Days, in view of high Preferment in the World, when the 
 way of Truth was under the greateft Contempt and Perfecution. During my 
 Stay with them, we had a Meeting on the 23d in the Evening at Maidenhead; Maidei>hcad. 
 which was very fmall, but open and well. That Night I returned with them. 
 
 O N the 24th I went to Wickham, to my Friend Thomas Olive's, where I Wickham, 
 was well received-, and on the 25th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at 
 the Meetings there, both Forenoon and Afternoon : The latter was large and 
 very open, many Strangers being there-, and the Goodnefs of the Lord was 
 
 8 O fen-
 
 698 
 
 Anno 
 ^733' 
 
 Chefham. 
 Joidans. 
 
 The LIFE, 
 
 &c. 
 
 Wi'ndfor. 
 
 Alban's, 
 
 Dunftable. 
 
 Coventry. 
 
 fenfibly with us, to the Comfort and Satisfaftion of as many as were alive in the 
 Lord- and Things opened well, and with Power and Ciearnefs, to the Praife 
 of him'who worketh in all according to his good Pleafiire. 
 
 On the 26th I went to Che/ham, and lodged at Jxtel Roberts's ; where I was 
 kindly received and entertained : and on the 27th I had a Meeting there ; which 
 was very open and comfortable, the good Prefence of the Lord being fenfibly 
 with us. That Evening I went with Jofeph Lovelace, to his Houfe near Jcr- 
 dans ; and the next Day had a very open Meeting there -, where the greateft Part 
 were Friends, and divine Love was not a- wanting to all the Living. That Even- 
 ino- I returned with Jofeph Lovelace, and had there alfo the Company of my 
 Friend Thomas Olive, he and fome others from Wkkham having been at the faid 
 Meeting. 
 
 On the 29th, being the Fifth of the Week, I went to the Monthly Meeting 
 at Windfor, which was very fmall ; but fome Perfons came out of the Country, 
 who had not been at a Meeting before, and others of the Town coming in, the 
 Lord owned us, and gave us a good Time together, and many Things were 
 opened to Edification and Comfort. I alighted at John Shaw's, and dined there ; 
 and, in the Evening, went to Stains, to the Widow HeaVs, expecting to have had 
 a Meetin" there the next Day •, but there being few Friends left in the Place, and 
 a Fair happening in fome neighbouring Town, where they and other Inhabitants 
 were pre-ingaged in Bufinefs, it was omitted for that Reafon •, and therefore I 
 went on to Batlerfea, to the Widow Oldner's, my long-acquainted Friend and 
 Country-woman ; with whom I was freely welcome. Here I ftaid till the 2d 
 of the Tenth Month, which being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting 
 at Wandjor -, which was large and open, feveral Friends from London being there, 
 and particularly my Landlprd and Landlady, Jofeph Green, Francis Davis and 
 his Family, Thomas Brown, &c. who had come, in expeftation of my going with 
 them to the City ; but having been warm, and exhaufted in the Meeting, it was 
 not proper at that Time, fo that I returned to Batterfea, and next Day went to 
 London ; where I was kindly received by my Friend Green aforefaid. 
 
 Having vifited the Meetings in London thoroughly, I fet forward for the 
 North on the 23d Day of the Firft Month 1733-4, and that Niglit lodged at 
 WilUani Thompfon's, at Alban's ; where I was at two Meetings next Day, being 
 the Firft of the Week : and that in the Afternoon, being put off till Four in the 
 Evening for the flike of the People, was very large, and confifted of Friends, 
 Epifcopalians, Presbyterians, and Baptifts, and perhaps fome Papifts ; and fome 
 neceflary Truths of the Gofpel and Kingdom of G o d were plainly opened 
 among them ; during which there was a general Quietude, and feveral vifibly 
 affected with the invifible Word of Truth. That Night I remained there, and 
 the next Day came Jonathan Gurnet, a noted Friend, from his Houfe near IVaii- 
 ftead, and we met on the Way to Dunjlabk; where, on the 26th, being the 
 Third of the Week, we had a very open comfortable Meeting. I lodged at 
 John Chejiers ; and Jonathan, Gurnet, going into the Country about Bufinefs, lodged 
 at an Inn. That Evening, after the Meeting, we went forward to Brickill, 
 
 On the 27th we went forward to Bmchtirch, and lodged there at the Bun 
 Cow ; and next Day went to Coventry, and had a Meeting there in the Evening. 
 That Night I lodged at John Gulfon's, The Affizes had been held there a Day 
 ortwobetore, and feveral Malefaftors capitally convifted -, and, among otliers, 
 an Epifcopal Prieft, for ftealing a Mare : To whom, and to all in the Courr' 
 the Judge preached the Dodlrine of Truth, and gave very good Advice; more 
 
 par-
 
 ^99 
 
 Ann o 
 
 1734. 
 
 of THOMAS S T R T. 
 
 particularly to this poor condemned Criminal ; to whom he faid, Tliat the Sin 
 was great in itfeU", but much more aggravated and magnified in him ; who, pre- 
 tending to be a Miniftcr of Christ, ought to have been a good Example 
 :ind Leader of others in the Way of Righteoufnefs and Truth-, but falling fo 
 greatly fhort himfelf of moral Honefty, he was become a Reproach to his Profef- 
 fion, and a Stumbling-block to the Weak, to whom he ought to have been ;i 
 Support : And that which was more particularly remarked in the Judge was 
 this, that he told the Criminal, that if he had taken due heed to the divine Prin- 
 ciple of Grace and Truth in his own Mind, he would not have fallen into that 
 Sin, which was now bringing him to fo ignominious an End •, which had good 
 Effe6l on this and the other Criminals, and alfo on the Auditory : on which 
 Occafion fome faid, the Judge had preached a very good Quaker Sermon. Thus 
 the Lord beareth Witnefs, by his divine Truth, againft that which is evil, by 
 the Temporal Judges, through his divine Light, when falfe Teachers, becoming 
 Criminals, are by them fentenced to the Gallows, as the juft Reward of their 
 evil Deeds, according to the Laws of their native Land ; of which, as alfo of 
 the Sin againft God, and his Neighbour, this poor unhappy Prieft could not 
 be ignorant. 
 
 On the 29th we went from Coventry to Litchfield, and lodged at an Inn ; and 
 on the 30th to Sttafford, where I lodged at Edivard Frith''?:, and was kindly en- 
 tertained ; and next Day, being the Firft of the Week, we were at tlie Meeting 
 there ; which, though fmall, was very open and comfortable. After the Meet- 
 ing we went to Newcajlle under Line, and lodged at an Inn. 
 
 On the ift of the Second Month we went forward to Stockport; where I Stockport, 
 lodged at Henry Andrews's, and was very kindly entertained. I had a comfort- 
 able Time in that Place in vifiting the Families of Friends : and a Marriage hap- 
 pening about five Miles from thence on the Fifth Day following, I was there : 
 The Meeting was large ; and the Lord gave us a comfortable Seafon in his 
 bleffed Prefence on that Occafion. There was Juftice Wright, with fome other 
 Perfons of Diftinftion •, and he figned the Marriage Certificate as a Witnefs, 
 with many more : and that Evening we returned to Stockport. 
 
 St»afFord. 
 
 On the 5th I went to Manchefter, and lodged at Ifaac Mofi^ ; where I was 
 as if at Home : and on the 7th, being the Firft of the Week, had two open 
 good Meetings, to general Satisfaftion, fo far as I could obferve ; for fome ef- 
 fential Parts of the Chriftian Faith, Praftice, Hope, Love and Sufferings, were 
 laid open and made plain, in the Light, Virtue and Power of the Son of G o d, 
 and many Hearts tendered thereby. 
 
 On the 8th I went to Prcjlon, with feveral other Friends, (Jonathan Gurnelhe- 
 ing gone another Way) and on the 9th toLancafter, to R. Laivfon's j and that Af- 
 ternoon, about the Second Hour, began the Meeting of Minifters and Eiders ; 
 which was well furniflied with the fame, from divers Counties and Places ; and we 
 were favoured with the good Prefence and Counfel of the Lord. The next 
 Day we had one Meeting for Worflfip in the Forenoon, beginning about Eight, 
 and another which began about the Second Hour Afternoon ; and both very 
 large, efpecially the latter, and confifted generally of Friends : the People there 
 and thereaway refting latisfied in their own National and dead Forms, want no- 
 thing, being blind, naked, and dead to Religion, or any Want or Enquiry 
 after it •, though a few of them who did come in behaved very foberly, and 
 were attentive to what they heard ; and a good Meeting the Lo r d gave us, 
 through the Revelation of the Father by tlie Son, who never fails nor forfakes 
 ° his 
 
 Manchefter. 
 
 Lancafter.
 
 Anno 
 
 1734- 
 
 Kendal. 
 
 Sedberg. 
 
 Carlille. 
 
 Wigton. 
 
 Moorhoufe. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 his own, whom in this Age, as in Times pad, he hath called and chofen, and 
 fitted by his Word, to bear the Enfign of his great and awful Name before the 
 Nations. Things were carried on and ended well in this Meeting. 
 
 On the 12th, being the Sixth of the Week, feveral Friends went hence to 
 Kendal; where they had put off their Week-day Meeting till Two in the Af- 
 ternoon, expefting our Company •, and Thomas Jresktne from Edinburgh being 
 with us, and fome others, the Lord gave us a comfortable Seafon ot his Life- 
 o-ivino- Prefence together, the publick Concern falling upon him and me ; and 
 the Meeting was edified in Love. 
 
 On the 14th, being the Firft of the Week, we went to Sedberg Meeting, 
 on the Occafion of the Burial of Richard IVillan, a Friend of good Account 
 and Service in the Country, and his Death generally lamented by all Sorts and 
 Conditions of People who knew him. There was a very great Concourfe of 
 People •, to whom many neceffary Truths of the Gofpel were opened, the 
 Lord favouring us with his good Prefence. 
 
 That Night I lodged at JohnAirey's, near Sedberg ; and the next Day went 
 to Penrith ; and the Day after to Carlijle, to my ufual Lodging, being met in 
 the Way by feveral Friends from thence, who accompanied me thither. 
 
 On the 19th I was at the Monthly Meeting at Carlijle, where I gave Friends 
 fome fhort Hints of my late Journey ; and let them know I intended another 
 joon after, and to be at the approaching Yearly Meeting at London : which 
 the Monthly Meeting was pleafed with, fince none had given up their 
 Names at the Qiiarterly Meeting, for the Yearly Meeting ; upon which 
 the Quarterly Meeting had been adjourned, in hope that fome Friends would 
 offer their Service on that account. After fome further Deliberations thereon, 
 feeing fo general a Backwardnefs in the Quarterly Meeting, they told me, they 
 hoped I would be at the adjourned Quarterly Meeting, and agree to be one at 
 leaft to reprefent them at the Yearly Meeting : And as I intended to vifit fome 
 other Places after the Yearly Meeting was over, the Monthly Meeting gave me 
 another Certificate ; being a common Order then among us, to which all were 
 alike fubjeft, how well foever known in our Society in general, to prevent difor- 
 derly Perfons and Impoftors. 
 
 On the 2 iff, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Carlijle ; 
 which was very open and comfortable, feveral Friends from other Meetings 
 being there : and on the 2 2d I went to a Farm I liad in the Country, to fet fome 
 Things in Order there, where I ftaid till the 26th ; and then returned to Carlijle, 
 and was at that Meeting again on the 2Sth, being the Firft Day of the Week ; 
 which was likewife open and well, botli Forenoon and Afternoon. 
 
 On the 2d of the Third Month I was at the adjourned Qiiarterly Meeti no- 
 held at Wigton ; where fuch Bufinefs was finifhed as was before them ; but none 
 offering for the Service of the Yearly Meeting at London, I acquainted tlie 
 Meeting of my Intention of being there ; and then the Meeting perfuaded Jo- 
 vathan OJlal and David Hodgjon to undeitake the Charge alfo. That Evening 
 I returned to Carlije, where I had been at the Week-day Meeting the Day be- 
 fore J which was very open and comfortable. 
 
 O N the 5th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting at Moorhouje ■ 
 which was large, and as open as any I had known there ; .ind that Evening f 
 returned, in Company with feveral Friends, to Carlijle. ° 
 
 The
 
 of T U M A S S T RT. 701 
 
 The next Day, about Four Afternoon, accompanied by feveral Friends, I went Anno 
 to Penrith ; and the Day following to Kendal, where I ftaid till the 9th ; and then 1734. 
 went forward to Garjlang, where I lodged that Night ; and next Day went to 
 Manchefter, to my Friend Ifaac Mofs's ; and the Day after, being the Firft of Manchefler. 
 the Week, was at the Meeting there. Forenoon and Afternoon ; and ftvcral of 
 the Neighbourhood coming in. Things opened fully and clear, efpccially in the 
 latter ; and the L o r d gave us a comfortable Time in his good Prefence. 
 
 On the 13th I went to Stockport, where I ftaid at my Friend IJcrtry Ardarn\ Stockport. 
 till the 15th •, which being the Fourth of the Week, and their Meeting-day, I 
 was at it, to my Satisfadion, being comforted in the Divine Prefence ; fome 
 Strangers being there alfo. 
 
 On the i6th I went to Alac clesfield, to James Uohfoii%, and had a Meeting Macclesfield. 
 with them ; which, though fmall, was very comfortable ; where I remembered 
 the Promife, Where two or three of you. are gathered together in my Name, there Mat xviii. so- 
 rt?;? I in themidjl of you: and fome Presbyterians and Baptifts being there, they 
 fecmed furprized at the Teftimony of Truth, which aflerted the Efficacy and 
 Spirituality of C h r i s t's Baptifm, and the Infignificancy of Water in this Day 
 ot the Gofpel of Life and Power ; and the blafphemous Falfhood of the Pref- 
 byterian Predcftination, wherein the very Being of the Moil High is mifrepre- 
 fented -, and all his Attributes, efpeqially as he is full of Love, and of infinite 
 Goodnefs and Mercy : and I was made to proclaim, with full Authority, that to 
 charge the Lord with fuch an unmerciful Decree as they talk of, is faife, and 
 inconfiftent with his Divine Nature and Being. 
 
 On the 17th I went to Stafford, to Edward FritF^-, and the Day after to Wolverh- 
 Wolverhampton, to John Fowler's ; and on the Day following, being the Firfl of ampton. 
 the Week, was at their Meeting ; which, at this Time, was reduced to a very 
 few: but in the Afternoon, feveral of the Neighbours coming in, the Lord 
 gave Utterance confiderably in the Myfteries of his Kingdom, and a very com- 
 fortable Time in his good Prefence, It was a very good Meeting. 
 
 On the 20th I went to Birmingham, and dining at John Pemherton'%, went 
 that Evening to Warwick to Alexander Edward's. ; next Day I went lorward to 
 Banbury, and lodged that Night with my Friend Benjamin Kid ; and on the 
 2 2d went to the Meeting at Adder bury ; which was likewife fmall but comfort- Adderbury. 
 able. That Evening I went to Biffiter, and I lodged with Jacob Thomas. 
 
 The next Day was their Meeting-day, being the Fifth of the Week ; but 
 falling about the Firft Hour Afternoon, and not convenient, on fome Accounts, 
 to alter the Time on fo fliort Notice, and my Concerns lor London being urgent, 
 I went forward to Ailsbury ; where I dined with our ancient and honourable 
 Friend the Widow Olinje. That Afternoon I proceeded to ylmerjloatn, and 
 there lodged with an honeft Friend Robert Eales, (till then unacquainted) who 
 ■went with me next IVlorning to Uxbridge to T'homas Hull's, ; from whence, the 
 fame Day, I went to my Friend Jonathan Gurnel's at Ealing ; where I w.is 
 kindly received, and ftaid that Night -, and next Day to London, to my Friend London. 
 Jofeph Green's ; where 1 was made welcome as before. 
 
 The Yearly Meeting approaching, I attended the Service incumbent -, and 
 a peaceable Time the Lord gave us, though Satan was not a-wanting in his 
 Attempts to make Divifion and Mifchief •, but through the Wifdom and Good- 
 nefs of the Lord, was fruftrated. After the Meeting I ftaid in the City, and 
 near it, vifiting the Meetings in their feveral Turns, tilU the 14th of the Sixth 
 
 g P Month:
 
 Anno 
 
 1734. 
 
 Staines. 
 
 Reading. 
 
 Newbury. 
 
 Salisbury. 
 
 Fording- 
 brid'^e. 
 
 Ringwood. 
 Pod 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Month : And then, accompanied by my fure and agreeable Friend, John Fal- 
 lowfield, we went that Evening to Staines, to the Widow Hales; and next Morn- 
 ing had a fmall Meeting there, for they were then but few : where the Lord 
 favoured us together with his good Prefence, making good in us his ancient Fro- 
 mife to his Children and People. That Afternoon we went to Reading, and 
 lodged with my Friend Ifaac Pickerel 
 
 On the l6th, being the ufual Meeting Day, we were with them therein, and 
 had a good Seafon among them. That Afternoon we went forward to Brimpton- 
 M7/i,°and ftaid that Night with our valuable Friend Alexander Kirton ; where 
 we were very welcome, and ftaid there the next Day till the Evening ; and then 
 we went to Newbury, to our Friend Robert Olding's, in company with Alexander 
 Kirton. The next Day, being the Firft of the Week, we were at their Meeting 
 in the Morning ; which confifted moftly of Friends, and a good Time the 
 Lord gave us together. The Meeting in the Afternoon being put off till the 
 Fourth Hour, and Notice given to the People, it was a large Meeting -, and the 
 Lord furnilhed us with Matter fuitable, to general Satisfaftion. That Night 
 we remained there in agreeable Converfation of our chief Friends in the Place. 
 
 On the 19th we went to Salisbury, to John Moor'?,, and the Day alter had a 
 Meeting appointed there -, which was not to great Satisfaftion : for there came 
 a mean ordinary fort of People, almoft below common Senfe, with little Childrea 
 crying, and Dogs following, which gave fome Uneafinefs ; yet there were alfo 
 a better fort, to whom Things opened with a good Degree of Demonltration and 
 Authority •, and the Lord gave us our Reward in our Labour among them. 
 
 On the 2 ift we went to Fordingbridge, to Mofes Harris'?, -, and the Meeting 
 being put off till Five in the Evening, fome of the People came there : but be- 
 ing the Time of Harveft, the Meeting was not large •, yet, the Lord favour- 
 ing us with his good Prefence, we had a comfortable Time. 
 
 O N the 2 2d we had a, pretty large and open Meeting at Ringwood, at Tho- 
 mas Prichard's, feveral of the Friends from Fordingbridge going with us. After 
 the Meeting we went to Pool, and lodged at JoJIah Nicholfcn'' ?, ; and the next 
 Day, being their Week-day Meeting, we were there. There is at that Place a 
 good Number of Friends, but for the moft part young, and not much experien- 
 ced in the Work of Truth ; yet being in their native Innocence, and keeping to 
 Meetings, they are hopeful. We laboured among them, according to the Abi- 
 lity given for the Work of the Day -, and the Meeting was ferviceable and com- 
 fortable. Here we ftaid till the 25th: and being the Firft Day of the Week, 
 were at their Meeting •, which, in the Morning, confifted generally of Friends -, 
 and the L o R D favoured us with a good Degree of his Goodnefs together : But, 
 in the Afternoon, the Meeting being put off till Four, and Notice given to the 
 People, we had a very great Crowd, the Houfe and all the Galleries being filled, 
 and fome could not get in : and the Lord furniflied us with Underftandin<^ 
 and Ability, and the Doftrine and Virtue of the Gofpel reached many that Day! 
 And though we were much drawn out to the People, in the i^abour of Love and 
 Good-will, and much exhaufted in the Service, yet our Reward was fure in the 
 Lord, and our Satisfaftion great in his divine Prefence; and the People were 
 generally folid, and not a light or airy Countenance to be obferved among 
 them •, and, for any Thing that appeared, generally fatisfied. We had the Com- 
 pany of feveral Friends from Ringwood, and Ibme other Country Places • who 
 tarrying at Pool that Night, we had the Satisfaftion of their Compaiy alfo 
 with Friends there. 
 
 On-
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 705 
 
 O N the 26th, accompanied by our Friend Jofiah Nicholfon, we went to Brid- Anno 
 port, to John Nichols's, where we ftaid till the 28th -, and it being their Week-day 1 734. 
 Meeting, we were there. It was fmall, confifting only of Friends ; and we Bridpoit. 
 had the Favour, in feme Degree, of the Senfe of divine Goodnefs among us. 
 Here we ftaid till the 30th with our Friends Nichols and Samuel Bownns, an old 
 Fellow Labourer, and able Minifter of the Gofpel, in fome Defire of his Com- 
 pany to the Yearly Meeting to be at Exeter the Week following ; but he being 
 taken ill, we were denied that Satisfaftion, but were well refrefhed there in their 
 Company and Families before we went forward towards Exeter, which was on 
 the 30th; and there, through the Mercy of God, we arrived in the Evening, 
 and were kindly received by our Friend John Coljworthy, fen. 
 
 O N the Firft of the Seventh Month began the circurar Yearly Meeting for the Exeter. 
 Weft, viz. Cornwal, Bevonjfjire, Somerfetfljire, Glcucejlerjhire, TVorcefierJIjire, He- 
 reford/hire, and Wiltjhire ; but the laft this Year declined it, and PFarwichJloire 
 propofed to join with the other laid Counties ; v/hich was very acceptable : and 
 this Meeting, at the Inftance of the Deputies for Warwick/hire., agreed that the 
 next Meeting fhould be held in that County. 
 
 This Meeting at Exeter held the ift and 2d Days of the Month -, and on 
 the 3d, in the Forenoon, was our laft, or Farewel Meeting. The Lord fa- 
 voured us with his good Frefence, and many of the Inhabitants of the City and 
 neighbouring Places coming in, and behaving very foberly, the Truths of the 
 Gofpel were declared to them with Authority and Demonftration by feveral of 
 the Miniftry ; and the Meeting was peaceable and comfortable, and People ge- 
 nerally fatistied, for any Thing that appeared to the contrary : For the People 
 throughout this Nation, at this Time, are generally willing to give us a fair and 
 peaceable Hearing, and with good Acceptance, as to the Truth of our Doftrine ; 
 but the Crofs of C h r i s x being yet too heavy for them, as they weakly think, 
 and finding Eafe and a falfe Reft in Death under their Priefts, who footh them 
 in their Sins, they yet reft Ihort of the Kingdom : Neverthelefs the Spirit and 
 Power of Perfecution is greatly lefTen'd in this Nation fince the blefled Truth 
 fhined forth therein, in and among our firft Friends, in the Difpenfation thereof 
 under the Name of fakers, fo called by the ignorant, dark, and ftupid World. 
 
 O N the 4th, in the Morning, when I and my Companion were ready to take 
 Horfe for the Weft, we had a Meftage from Friends in the City, informing us, 
 that there was to be a Marriage of two of our Friends there next Day, and that 
 they expedled many of the Inhabitants would be prefent on the Occafion, and 
 they earneftly requefted we might be there : which having duly confidered, we 
 found Freedom to ftay, and were there accordingly -, where we had the Com- 
 pany of a good Number of Friends, and a great Company of the Inhabitants of 
 the Place : and the Lord was pleafed to favour the Occafion with his good 
 Prefence, and to furnifti us with Matter and Strength fuitable ; and we had a 
 more fatisfaftory Time than in the Yearly Meeting, where fometimes we hap- 
 pen to be ftraitened by too many of the fame Order, not all alike qualified for 
 fuch Services. 
 
 This St^y thus happening, it alter'd the Meafures, in point of Time, which 
 we had thought of for the Weft ; and being fo near the Firft of the Week, 
 and many of the Inhabitants of the City being a little roufed by the Meetings 
 aforefaid, we tarried till then •, when our Meeting was more feled in the Morn- 
 ing : but the Afternoon Meeting being poftponed till the Third Hour, it was 
 near as large as fome Times in the Yearly Meeting •, and the Lo r d furniftiing 
 
 us
 
 704 
 
 Anko 
 1734- 
 
 Totnefs. 
 
 The LIFE, c^r. 
 
 us with Underftanding and Authority, fome neceffary Truths of the Gofpel and 
 Kingdom of God were declared with Authority and Clearnefs-, the Auditory 
 being very fober and attentive, and generally fatisfied, as we ourfelves were in 
 our Service, having the Reward of Peace from the Lord ; not of Debt, but 
 of his Mercy, Goodnefs and Bounty. 
 
 O N the 9th we went to Totnefs, to William Elfworthyh ; where we were very 
 well received and entertained by our faid Friend ; and his Brother Thomas from 
 Plymouth being there, they went that Evening to the Mayor of the Town, and 
 prevailed with him and the reft of the Magiftrates, to let us have the Town-Hall 
 for a Meeting-place : which accordingly was held there at the Fourth Hour Af- 
 ternoon the next Day -, where came a great Crowd of" the Inhabitants, and moft 
 of the more reputable fort, as feveral of the Aldermen and their Wives, and 
 the like ; and a very full and comfortable Time the Lord gave us among them, 
 exalting the Teftimony of his living Truth over all, to our very great Satisfac- 
 tion, and general good-liking of the Auditory, fo far as we could coUeft from 
 their Sobriety and Attention, and what we were informed of as the Sentiments 
 of fome of the more capable among them •, and we were favoured with divine 
 Peace, as a full Recompence for the Labour given us to perform by the Word 
 of the Lord, in which we miniftered. 
 
 Kingsbridge. O N the I ith we went to XzV/^j^'J^^, to Margery Brooking' s. Widow ; and. 
 
 that Evening had a fmall Meeting there : where we had caufe to remember the 
 Mat,xviii.2o. Promife of the Lord, That wherefoever two or three are gathered together ia 
 
 my Name, there am I in the midfi of you. 
 
 Plyraomh. O N the 1 2th, being the Fifth of the Week, we went to Plymouth, to the 
 
 Widow Elfworthf^ and had a pretty large open Meeting there in the After- 
 noon the Day following ; and there we refted till the Firft Day of the nexc 
 Week, which was the 15th of the Seventh Month. 
 
 Contracting fome very near Acquaintance with feveral Friends here, 
 with whom I had not before been acquainted, we fpent the Seventh Day in very 
 agreeable Converfation among them -, and on the Firft Day had two Meet- 
 ings with them : That in the Morning was well furnifhed with Friends, and 
 no fmall Mixture of others -, and a good Time the Lord gave us together : 
 but the Meeting in the Afternoon being put off till Three, it was very large ; 
 many of the more reputable Part of the People of the Town, of both Sexes, ■ 
 gave us their Company, to our mutual Satisfaftion ; for the Lord favoured 
 his People with his living Prefence, and opened the Truths of his Gofpel, by 
 us, unto thofe who were not then come to the true Faitii of the Son of God, 
 according to the Difpenfation of it unto us, through the Mercy of God, at 
 this Day ; and the Multitude being very fober and attentive, and fome of them 
 apparently affedled, I hope there was fome Good wrought in them tiiat Day, to 
 the Praife of him who worketh all in all. , 
 
 That Day I found myfelf under fome Indifpofition of Body ; and in the 
 Night, having been much exliaufted in the Meetings, it turned to an intermit-. 
 ting Fever, accompanied with a Flux, whereby I could have no Reft ; and 
 the next Morning I found myfelf extremely weakened in Body, and my na- 
 tural Spirits very low : but trufting in the Lord, and ufing fonie Means re- 
 commended by my good Landlady and Friends, I recovered fome Strength, 
 and about Eleven next Day fet forward for Lcwe ; where we arrived that Even- 
 ing, and were kindly entertained by our Friend Jofeph Deehle, who had come 
 to Plymouth to meet us, on purpofc to have us at his Houfc. 
 
 Tht
 
 of T H O M A S ST O RT. 70T 
 
 The Diftemper continuing, and aggravated by the Journey, though not long. Anno 
 I was very ill that Night, and could not reft-, by which I was more weaken'd 1734.. 
 than before: yet my lllnels abating next Morning, I went to the Meeting there 
 with others ; where happened to be a Marriage, in which the Lord was plea- 
 fed to favour us with his divine Prefencc. I was much comforted in Si- 
 lence, nothing being required of me further at that Time, tiie publick Concern 
 falling on my Companion John Fallowfield ; which he dilcharged to Satisfadion : 
 and that Night we remained there, where I refted well that Night ; and found 
 myfelf much ftronger and better in tlie Morning. 
 
 O N the 1 8th we fet forward for Foy, where we arrived about the Middle of Foy. 
 the Day ; and about the Firft Hour Afternoon had a Meeting there, where 
 there is no Meeting of Friends : but we procured an unfinifhed large Houfe, 
 which Friends who went with us, and fome others who met us there, got to 
 be feated with Planks for that particular Service. "We had the Company of a 
 Multitude of young People, efpecially of the Female Sex, and fome likewile 
 of the other j but not many, though fome, of the elder fort of either : and yet 
 they were fober beyond Expeftation ; and I found myfelf concerned to lay be- 
 fore them the Infignificancy and Invalidity of that which they call their Baptifm, 
 and the Efficacy of the Baptifm of Christ, and abfolute Necefllty of it in 
 order to their Salvation ; with many other Gofpel Truths then declared by me, 
 my Companion, and alfo by our ancient Friend Philip Deeble, who was then 
 alfo with us from Feley. We had no Oppofition ; but I having told them they 
 had no Baptifm at all, but were deceived by their Priefts and Teachers, who 
 had told them they were already made Members of Christ, Children of 
 God, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, and no Truth in it, it 
 proved an Amufement to feveral of them, and gave occafion to much Dif- 
 courfe and fome Debate among them. That Evening we went forward with 
 our Friend George Fox and his Brother John from Plymouth, to his Houfe at 
 Parry where we were kindly entertained ; and I found my Strength recruited 
 next Morning. 
 
 On the 19th we were at the Meeting at Jujlel, which was large and very Auflel. 
 open : for of late many had been convinced of Truth in thofe Parts, and very 
 hopeful to ftand -, to whom the Doftrine of Truth, in the divine Life of it, 
 freely flowed that Day ; and a comfortable Time the Lord gave us together 
 in his blelTed Prefence. That Evening we went home with our Friend Ri- 
 chard Hitchins to Trygongieve ; where we were kindly entertained. 
 
 On the 20th we went to Falmouth, accompanied by our faid Friends John FalmoutW 
 Fox from Plymouth, and George Fox from Parr, and lodged with our Friend 
 Francis Gwynne, there : and on the 2 2d, being the Firft of the Week, we were 
 at their Meeting, falling that Day of courfe at Penryn ; which was more feledt 
 of Friends in the Forenoon, but more Company of the Neighbourhood in the 
 Afternoon : and thefe Meetings were peaceable, and pretty open. 
 
 On the 24th we had' an appointed Meeting at Cowz^-/tf-^i'o</, to which Thomas Come-toJ 
 Giddy belonged, about Five Miles from Falmouth. It was a fmall Meeting i S"""^- 
 but there being feveral new convinced Perfons there, the Lord favoured us 
 with fome Degree of his bleffed Prefence, That Evening we returned with 
 Francis Gwynne, and fome other Friends, by Penryn to Falmouth ; but as Mankind 
 are generally fubjeft to Accidents in the Courfe of Life, my Companion's 
 Horfe fell with him in the Road, by which the Thumb of his Right-hand was 
 didocated on the fecond Joint •, but he putting it in immediately, and a Friend in 
 
 8 Q^ the
 
 7o6 
 
 Anno 
 
 '734- 
 
 Marazion. 
 
 Landfend. 
 
 MevagiflTey. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 the Company being fkilful infuch Things, and living in Pcnryn, near the Place, 
 we called at his Houfe ; where he applied fome Things proper in the Cafe, and, 
 then we went forward to Falmouth. 
 
 On the 25th we had a very open Meeting there •, where, having the Com- 
 pany of a good Number of the more reputable fort of the People, with Friends, 
 the Lord favoured us together with his Goodnefs : and the neceffary Truths 
 of the glorious Gofpel were largely, clearly, and with divine Authority, that 
 Day, publifhed there •, to the Admiration of feveral, who were much affefted 
 thereby, and general Satisfaction of all ; to the Glory of God, and the Arm 
 of his divine Power, then made bare among us. 
 
 On the 26th we fet forward for Marazion, (/. e. Market Jew) but calling at 
 Penryn to have my Companion's Hand drefled by the Friend there, it was found 
 to be much fwelled, and painful, and thought not fafe to proceed any farther at 
 that Time -, fo we parted. That Evening I went forward to Marazion, and 
 lodged with our ancient Friend David Richard's, and h is Son George. 
 
 On the 27th we had a Meeting there, confiding of a few Friends and of 
 thofe of Penzance, about Sixteen or Eighteen in all ; yet, though few, the L o r d 
 remembered his gracious Promife of old, and comforted us together in his good 
 Pretence •, for which we were thankful. 
 
 From thence I went on the 28th, accompanied by George Richards; and 
 that Evening arrived at Nicholas irallis's, near Land/end ; where we were kindly 
 received and entertained : and on the 29th, being the Firfl of the Week, we 
 were at Landfend Meeting •, which was very large, confidering the Houfe was 
 fmall -, but many were without, not being able to get in. They are generally 
 a People of low Capacity •, yet Matters fuitable to their Conditions opened free- 
 ly : But new Wine is not put into old Bottles. Mod of them had not yet believed 
 in the Truth, and therefore not fanftified through Faith in him ; fo that tlie Ef- 
 flux of the living Water was not fo plentiful, nor the Wine of the Kingdom 
 fo ftrongly mingled therewith, as at fome other Places ; yet fufficicnt of both 
 to give a clear Evidence : and in the main the Lor d gave us a comfortable Sea- 
 fon of his good Prefence, and magnified his own Arm. That Evening I re- 
 turned with Friends to Penzance, and lodged with the Widow Grace Thomas, re- 
 turning next Day to Falmouth to my former Lodging there. 
 
 H E R E I met my Companion, who was a little recovered of his Hurt, and 
 ftaid till the 2d of the Eighth Month, being the Fourth of the Week ; where 
 we were favoured with the Company of fome of the fober reputable Neigh- 
 bours -, and the L o R D gave us a memorable Time among them, in the Wif- 
 dom and Authority of the divine Truth, to the Surprize and Admiration of fe- 
 veral Perfons, who had been but Uttle acquainted with our Meetings. For this 
 I was fully thankful to him without whom we can do nothing. 
 
 The next Day we went to Robert Scantleberry^s at Mevagijfey, where we had 
 a Meeting on the 4th ; but being a very fl:ormy Time of Wind and Rain, and 
 the Place a Fifher-Town, the People were employed in faving their Vef- 
 fels on that Occafion : by which the Meeting was fmall, yet very fatisfadory 
 through the Prefence of him whofe Promife is ever good to the two or three in 
 ■what Time and Place foever affembled in his holy Name ; and we were much 
 comforted here.
 
 of THOMAS ST RT. 707 
 
 O N the 5th, being the Seventh of rhe Week, our kind and valuable Friend A n no 
 Richard Hitchins c&tnQ ixom\\\s ¥{ou(c di-fTrygongieve X.0 meet us, ?Lt Mevagi£'e)\ ^7tA-' 
 and condufted us to his Houfe in much Friendfliip. That Night we lodged 
 there ; and the next Day were at the Meeting at Dennis, among an innocent Dennis. 
 People, many of them (about Forty) lately convinced, being very tender, 
 as little Children defiring the pure Milk of the Word ; and the Lo r d dif- 
 penfed it largely and freely among them, to our folid and mutual Satisfaction : 
 for they were greatly tendered, as we had been when we were firft convinced ; 
 which gave me a grateful Remembrance of thofe Days and Times of Efpoufals, 
 and Hopes that the renewing of fuch Times, in a more general Way, is not far 
 off; fuch being now, in divers Parts of the World, as a few firit-ripe Ears pro- 
 claiming the approaching Harveft ; as it is written, Seed-time and Harvejl, Sum- Gen.viii. 22, 
 mer and IVinter, Day and Night, Jhall not ceafe. The Dilpenfations of the 
 Almighty unto Mankind, though various, fliall not ceafe, from hence forward 
 for ever. That Evening we returned with our Friend Richard Hitchins to his 
 Houfe ; and on the 8th, being the Third of the Week, had an appointed 
 Meeting at Ciillom-niajor : It was in the Town-hall ; where came a mixed Mul- 
 titude of People ; and being of High-Church Principles, if they may be called 
 Principles of Religion, many of them were very rude and foolifli ; yet, there 
 being fome Wheat among much Straw and Chaff, the Lord had Regard to 
 us, and them in fome Degree, and gave us fome fuitable Things to minifter 
 to them : the main of what I had being to put them in Mind, that what they call 
 their Baptifm is no Ordinance of God, nor was it ever pradtifed in the Church 
 of Christ, but of Antichrift ; nor is there any Foundation in holy Writ for 
 Godfathers, the Sign of the Crofs, or fuch Promifes and Vows as they have 
 made to G o d, and have not kept them ; by which they are really and indeed 
 miferable Sinners, and under Condemnation : though by their Behaviour and 
 Conduft they feemed only to make a Jeft of Things of the greateft Moment, 
 and not at all to underftand what they were about, profeffing the facred Chri- 
 (lian Religion, to which their Rudenefs proclaimed they were yet Strangers. I 
 diredted them to the Spirit of God, and his divine Light, as the only fure 
 Teacher in their own Minds ; and by which they could be enabled to keep and 
 perform thofe Vows they had made before God and Man. They grew a little 
 tamer before we had done, and we came away eafy : and that Night lodged at 
 an Inn there. 
 
 On the 9th, accompanied by our faid Friend Richard Hitchins, and fome o- 
 thers, we went to Port-Ifaac, on the North Side ; where, the fame Evening, we Port-Ifaac.' 
 had a fmall, but open Meeting, with the few Friends there, and two or three fo- 
 ber Neighbours. That Night we were kindly entertained by our Friend John 
 Scantleberry, and his Family. 
 
 On the loth, accompanied by our faid Friends, Richard Hitchins and John 
 Scantleberry, we went 20 Miles to Leskard; and that Night, by fome Mifunder- Lefkard. 
 (landing, lodged at an Inn. On the i ith we had a Meeting there; where we 
 had the Company of our ancient Friend Philp Deeble, and fome young People 
 with him, from Lowe. The Meeting was not large, by reafon of the exceeding 
 great Rains, and Storm of Wind; but whatever any fuffered that Way, being 
 ri<Tht- minded, was made up, I believe, and over- balanced, by the Goodnefs of 
 the Lord, which he was pleafed to afford us together at that Time. That 
 Night we were kindly entertained by our Friend John Allan of that Place. 
 
 O N the 1 2th we returned to Plymouth, to our former Lodging, where we were Plymouth; 
 kindly received ; and the next Day, beipg the Firft of the Week, we were at 
 
 their
 
 LIFE, &c. 
 
 weVe kindly entertained in the Evening among our Friends. 
 
 708 ^-^^ 
 
 _^NNO their Meetings, both Forenoon and After-, where^we had good Service, and 
 
 1734- 
 
 On the 14th, accompanied by our ready Friend Thomas Elfworihy, we went to 
 
 Totnefs. 'Totnefs, and that Night lodged with our Friend IVilliam Elfworthy, Brother of the 
 
 faid Thomas; where we heard that the Meeting we had there as we went down 
 
 into Cornwdh had been well received, and of Service, the Way of Truth being 
 
 well fpoken of by the Inhabitants there. 
 
 Exeter. On the 15th we went to Exeter to our former Lodgings, where we were 
 
 kindly entertained; and, on the i6th, had a Meeting appointed there: which 
 confiftino- for the moft part of Friends, was open and comfortable. 'SYt ftaid 
 there till the i8th, and was at their Week-day Meeting. 
 
 Collumpton. Or the 19th we went to Colhmpton, and lodged with our reputable Friend 
 Thomas Finnimore ; and the next Day, being the Firft of the Week, were at their 
 Meetings both Forenoon and After : The firft confifted for the moft part of 
 Friends, and the Lord comforted us together; but in the Afternoon we had 
 a very large Meeting of Friends, and a pretty Number of fober honeft-like 
 People of both Town and Country tor feme Miles round; and the Lord 
 gave us ro preach the Gofpel, in the Authority and Dominion ot it that Day : 
 and as a Door of Utterance was largely given us, fo a Door of Entrance was in 
 a good Degree ; for the People were fober and folid as fo many Friends, and 
 we were greatly fatisfied to behold them, and had Comfort in our Labour bcftowed 
 upon them in the Lord. 
 
 Whilst we were at the Yearly Meeting at Exeter^ fome Propofals had been 
 made by our Friend Thomas Finnimore^ and fome others, of having a Meeting at 
 Tiverton, in our Return from Cornwall. There is not a Meeting of Friends in 
 that Town at this Time, but the People generally friendly ; and we being wil- 
 ling to give them a Meeting, our Friend Finnimore, and fome others, being ac- 
 quainted with the Mayor, and the chief Magiftrates of the Town, they procu- 
 red the Town-Hall for that Service. It is an oblong Square, fomething refem- 
 bling the Royal Exchange in London, with a Vacancy in the Middle, and the 
 Buildings quite round, two Stories high : and as Notice had been given fome 
 Days before in the Town and Country about, we had a very large Congregation 
 of People of all Ranks in Town and Country on the 21ft ; and the Mayor and 
 Magiftrates being prefent, they appointed the Conftables to keep the bafer fort 
 in Awe, if any fuch Ihould offer any Infult, or other Difturbance. We had a 
 fair Hearing ; and the People were as quiet as the exceeding great Throng would 
 allow, till towards the Conclufion of my Teftimony, which had held a confide- 
 rable Time, a Company of Scholars, under a Jacobite Mafter in the Place, 
 came in a Company, and crowded into one End of the Square, and by that Means 
 difturbed the Meeting for fome Time, but were foon bore down by the Crowd ; 
 and after that t\\t Meeting was more quiet : But it is obfervable, that the Mafter 
 of that School, and others fuch in other Parts of the Nations, being Jacobites 
 and of the Schifm Bill Principles, debauch the Minds of the Youth they pre- 
 tend to inftruft in ufeful Learning, by infufing into them rebellious Principles and 
 Perfecution ; for we did not meet with any Scoffing or AftVont in Town, but 
 from thefe Scholars, who could not forbear to deride us in the open Streets j 
 which could not arife from any Motives in themfelves, but as the Fruits of a bru- 
 tifti and depraved Example and Education, encouraging to fuch Behaviour: But 
 the Lord, who always countenanceth his own Appointments in Providence, 
 was not a-wanting, but gave us Strength and Underftanding fufficient for the 
 
 Work
 
 of THOMAS STORY, 709 
 
 Work of that Day ; wherein we had no fmall Labour, but a good and comfort- Anno 
 able Time: and all ended to the Honour of God, and Promotion of his Truth I734« 
 among the People ; who were generally fatislied with what they heard, being 
 many ot the moll needful Truths of the Gofpel, and the Lord Christ 
 preached truly by his own immediate Power, and Ufe of Inftruments. 
 
 After the Meeting we made our Acknowledgements to the Mayor andMa- 
 giftrates for their Countenance and kind Affiftance ; and after Dinner I went with 
 T. Finnimore to vifit one of the molt noted Perfons in Town, a Man of Learning, 
 and a IVcsbyterian by Profeffion, who had been at the Meeting, and very attentive. 
 He had been well fatisfied with what he had heard in the Meeting in general, except 
 fome Things I had faid upon the Subjeft of Baptifm ; which I endeavoured to 
 make plain to his Underftanding, that the Baptifm mentioned by the Evangelifl: 
 Matthav is not Water Baptifm, and that the few and uncertain Inftances of the 
 Praftice of Water Baptifm by fome of the Apoftles, after the EfFufion of the 
 Holy Ghoft, was not from that Text, (for they never ufed the Terms of it) but 
 upon the fame Foot upon which they pradlifed it in John's Time, and was no 
 other than his Baptifm with Water : but C h ri st's Baptifm in this Text, and 
 others relating to the fame Time and Subjedf, is of a more excellent Nature and 
 Efficacy, being, by the Spirit of Ch ri st, the Word of God, the great Bap- 
 tizer of the Soul in the Laver of Regeneration -, which all natural Men (being 
 one of the great Things of God) are ignorant of, nor can they at all underftand 
 it, till they believe in the Spirit himfelf, the Condemner of the World ; of whom 
 it is written. Every Son whom I receive^ I rebuke andchaften. Turn at my Reproof., Heb.xii. 6. 
 and I will four out my Spirit upon you. Then I told him, that I had often ob- Rev. iii. 19. 
 ferved the great Afcendant Education and Cullom have over Mankind in out- ^''°^" '■^*- 
 ward Things, in which alone tlie Religion of the natural Man confifts ; and 
 how far remote they commonly were from the Things they contend for : and in- 
 ftanced in the prefent Cafe, where he was contending for Water Baptifm, and 
 was not in the Praflice of any ; for fprinkling an Infant in the Face with Water 
 is no Baptifm, nor Ordinance of C h r i s t, nor ever pradlifed by any of his Mi- 
 niflers; but fet up in the dark Night of Apoftacy by Antichriftian Priefts of the 
 See of Rome; and as they themfelves had no Baptifm, but only Rantifm, (no 
 wafhing, or going into Water, as the true Mode in its firfl Inftitution by Johny 
 but fprinkling) they could not, nor did they deliver any Baptifm to the othet- 
 Sedtaries, at the Time and Times commonly called the Reformation : So that 
 none of you all have any Baptifm, nor are you under any Ordinance of C h r i s t 
 on that Account, but only of a vain Tradition of ignorant and prefumptuous 
 Men, an old popifli Relift, which you cannot defend with any Propriety or Rea- 
 fon, tho' you may and do perverfely wrangle and contefl for it : And we know 
 it is fufHcient Reafon for us to decline all Water Baptifm, in that we can fay 
 with the great Apoftle of the Gentiles., Chrijt has not fent us to baptize., but to 
 preach the Gofpel, according to the Meafure of the Difpenfation thereof, in this 
 Age committed unto us-, which differs nothing from the fame, but in the De- 
 grees of Wifdom and Power, but the fame in the Nature and the Reafon of the 
 Thing. This he did not feem very well to relifh, but could make no further 
 Defence of a Thing lb plainly wrong : and fo we parted in Friendfhip ; I ever 
 aiming at the Underflanding, and as little as pofTible to raife the Paflions or blind 
 Refentments of Men, in treating on Matters of Religion; by which alone they 
 can be truly fubdued and mortified. 
 
 That Evening we went with Hugh Ellis j to his Houfe at Uffcolm; and, 
 on the 2 2d, we had a Meeting at IVellington, at Thomas Ware's : where the Lor d 
 favoured us with his good Prefence, and furnifhed us with Authority to preach 
 
 8 R . :. : Che 
 
 WelliDgtohi
 
 710 
 
 Anno 
 
 1734- 
 
 Taunton. 
 
 Briflo!. 
 
 lath. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 the Gofpel ; and the L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t, the Word of G o D and Light 
 of the Nations, was fet forth with Deinonftration, by his own Power and Grace. 
 There were feme of the Town's People there, and divers of them affeded with 
 the Teftimony of Truth. 
 
 On the 23d we had a Meeting appointed at Taunton, at the Widow Eliza- 
 beth Giffard's, to which came many of the Town's People; who behaved well, 
 were very folid Uke Friends, and well affefted with the Teftimony of Truth; 
 which was clear and convincing: The next Day being the Fifth of the Week, 
 and their ufual Meeting Day, we were there again ; when the Meeting was very 
 large and open: And another Meeting being appointed m the Afternoon, and 
 Notice given in the former, it was as full as any they had known there, and fur- 
 niflied with People of all Ranks and Notions in Town, who were very fober ; 
 and Things were well. 
 
 On the 25th we fet forward for Briply and dined that Day with our Friend 
 Jofeph Ball, at Bridgewater ; and that Night lodged at the New Inn. 
 
 O N the 26th we arrived at Briftol, where we were kindly received by Friends 
 in o-eneral, and I lodged with my particular Friend Brice Web, as ufual. We vi- 
 fited the Meetings there on the ufual Days, wz. each Firft Day, Forenoon and 
 After, and each Third and Sixth Day of the Week, for about two Weeks -, and 
 then John Fallowfield went to Bath, intending for London, upon the Death of 
 that able Minifter of the Gofpel, and Pillar of the Houfe of G o d, Francis Da- 
 vis, his Brother by Marriage, and my fure Friend, greatly lamented : But I 
 found it my Place to continue longer there ; where I had great Satisfadlion, and 
 where Friends were defirous I fhould take up my Winter Quarters : but incli- 
 ninc^ lor London, I departed from Brijlol on the i6th of the Ninth Month, and 
 was°at Bath next Day -, which being the Firft Day of the Week, and the Meet- 
 ino- more feleft in the Morning, the Lord favoured us with his good Prefence : 
 and in the Afternoon, the Meering being much larger, and fome Strangers there, 
 Thin<^s opened to Satisfadtion •, and we had a good Meeting. Here I ftaid till 
 the 2ift, being the Fifth of the Week, and their ufual Meeting Day ; when we 
 ■were favoured with another open comfortable Meeting. I lodged, as ufual when 
 there, at the Widow GingeVs, and her Son John Corbi7i's. 
 
 Calne. 
 
 Marlborough 
 
 On the 22d T went to Calne, to the Widow Ruth Serjeant'' % ; and on the 24th, 
 being the Firft of the Week, and large Notice being given, we had two large 
 Meetings there, efpecially in the Afternoon ; when the Lord favoured us with 
 his comfortable Goodnefs, and a good Degree of Openings of the general Truths 
 of the Gofpel, with Demonftration and Authority. 
 
 On the 25th I went to Marlborough, to Jfaac Turner's, and had a Meeting 
 there that Evening ; where pretty many fober Neighbours fat down with us, and 
 the L o R D favoured us together ; and the Docftrine of C H R i s t was full, plain, 
 and clear, beyond my Expedation : But the Times and Seafons are in the Hand 
 of the Lord, as alone worthy, as all-wife, and only good ; to whom be the Glo- 
 ry of all now and for ever. 
 
 Newbury, O n the 26th I went to Nehbtay, to Robert Olding's, where I ftaid that Night, 
 
 in order for their Week-day Meeting, which fell of courfe next Day ; where the 
 Lord gave us great Countenance, and opened unto us the Scriptures of the 
 Old and the New Teftament, of the Law and of the Gofpel, written within and 
 
 with-
 
 of THOMAS STORT, yn 
 
 without, in Tables of Stone, in Books, and on the Table of the Heart: The Anno 
 Lord was Hberal to us that Day. 1 734» 
 
 On the 28th I went to vifit my fure Yntndi Alexander Kirton, at Br'mpton- 
 Mills; where I ftaid that Night, and was favoured with his agreeable Compajiy 
 to Reading next Day, where we remained at Ifaac PickereWs till the Firft Day ot Reading, 
 the Week following, and were at both their Meetings: which were very open, 
 efpecially the latter, and to good Satisfadion ; for many of the fober Neighbours 
 being there, and the Teftimony of Truth going much towards them, as in moll 
 Places at this Time, many Things of the laft Importance were opened in the 
 Wifdom and Authority of the divine Truth : But as I had taken Cold before, and 
 my Exercife was large in thefe two Meetings, I found more of the Effedts of it 
 next Day -, for, going to Henley, to the Widow 'Toovie''s, where that Evening we Henley, 
 had a very large Meeting, I was drawn out very largely therein to the People, and 
 to good Satisfaftion, the Truths of the Gofpel being made plain to low Capa- 
 cities -, but walking about a Quarter of a Mile in the cold Night (though well 
 cloathed) after the Meeting, my Cold was increafed to a great Degree, having 
 been warm by the Crowd of People and my Exercife in the Meeting; yet ha- 
 ving fuitable Accommodations, it did not arrive at a full Height at that Time. 
 
 O N the 3d of the Tenth Month I found my Voice almoft gone by the Cold ; 
 but a Meeting having been appointed there from Reading to be that Evening, I 
 attended it with fome Difficulty ; for it was fome Time before I could recover 
 my Voice, fo as to be able to fpeak : yet, through divine Goodnefs, I got over 
 the Difficulty at that Time ; and the Lord being with us, we had a good and 
 open Meeting. That Night I lodged at my good Friend Thomas Olive's. 
 
 The next Day the Meeting at Jordans falling of courfe, I went thither, and jordans. 
 was favoured with the acceptable Company of my faid Friend Thomas Olive. 
 The Meeting was pretty large ; and the Lord was near in a Time of long Si- 
 lence, and I had good Matters before me ; but for a long Time continued to- 
 tally unable to fpeak •, yet at length broke through, fo as to exprefs the Heads 
 of fome Matters before me, viz. That an ancient Prophecy of the Lord is at 
 this Day fulfilled in greateft Part of the ProfelTors of Christ throughout the 
 World, where it is faid. That it floould come to pafs., that [even Women Jljould jr^ j^ ,_ 
 lay hold on the Skirts of him that is a Jew, and fay. We will eat our own Meat, 
 and wear our own Apparel, only let us he called hy thy Name, to take away our 
 Reproach : That though many profefs the Name of the Lord Jesus, the 
 true Jew, yet they feed themfelves with their own Inventions, of many and 
 various Forms, of what they call their Religion, and clothe themfelves with their 
 own Righteoufnefs, neglefting the Righteoufnefs of God, even the Lord our 
 Right eoufnefs ; and feeding the Body to Excefs and Luxury, clothe the fame 
 with needlefs and aij-y, fantaftical and coftly Garments, Apparel, and Things 
 not becoming the Crofs of C h r i s t : but yet the People of G o d are preferved 
 clear from thefe Things, by waiting upon liim Day and Night in his Temple, 
 the fecond Houfe, more glorious than the former, for the Confolation of Ifrael ; 
 the Light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his true Ifrael; who is not Lukeii. 32. 
 a- wanting to any of the faithful at this Day, more than to good old Simeon m 
 his, who waited for the Confolation of Ifrael, and was not difappointed -, the 
 prefent Attendants of the Lord being rewarded by the fame Peace, though 
 the whole World, the faithlefs and ftupid World, lieth in Wickednefs even unto 
 this Day : and after this I had great Peace, and the like Teffimony as the poor 
 Woman, who of old anointed Jesus-, of whom it is written, Jhe did what Mark xiv. 8, 
 fhe could. The Lord accepteth the Good-will for the Deed, when we have 
 done all that we can, That Night I lodged at Jofeph Lovelace's, near that 
 
 Meet-
 
 711 
 
 Anno 
 
 ^734- 
 
 London, 
 
 Albans. 
 
 Hampftead. 
 
 Billor. 
 
 Warwick. 
 
 Birminnham. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Meetino-place ; and my Friend Thomas Olive ftaid there too, to bear me Com- 
 pany, with the Friends there. 
 
 On the 6th I went to Jonathan Gurnel'?,, and lodged there that Night -, and 
 next Day to London to my Friend Jofeph Green's ; where I was kindly received 
 as ufual. 
 
 At London I ftaid, vifiting the Meetings there, till the 29th of the Firfl: 
 Month following -, and then went to y^/l'ans ; and was at their Meeting next 
 Day Forenoon and After, it being the Firft Day of the Week ; and the Lo r d 
 favoured us with his good Pfefence therein. 
 
 On the 31ft I went to Hampjlead; where I had a comfortable Meeting with 
 a few Friends, and fome others, that Afternoon : and lodging at my Friend 
 John Owen's, he went with me next Day to Aihbury ; where we fell in occafion- 
 ally with a Quarterly Meeting, to general Satisfadion ; for the Lord was 
 with us, to our Confolation. 
 
 There I ftaid that Night at my ancient Friend Dorothy Olive's ; and next 
 Day, accompanied by my Friend Thomas Olive of Wickham, her Son, went to 
 Biftor, and lodged with Jofeph Thomas: where I had aihiall but open Meeting 
 the Day after ; and then went forward to Banbury to my Friend Benjamin Kid's^ 
 where I was alfo kindly welcome ; and next Day was at their Meeting : which, 
 though a little liard and heavy in the Beginning, was, in the main, a good and 
 ferviceable Meeting ; and that Night alfo I tarried there. 
 
 O N the 5th 1 went to Jofeph Allen's at JVarivick % and the Day after, being 
 the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting Forenoon and After; where the 
 Lord was with us to general Satisfaction, many being much tendered in each 
 Meeting ; to the Praife of the only true God, who worketh all in all his Peo- 
 ple throughout the whole World. 
 
 O N the 7th I went to Birmingham, to John Pemberton's, where I had a Meet- 
 ing appointed next Day, which was laborious, but in the main a good Meet- 
 ing, many great and necelTary Truths of the Gofpel being opened with Autho- 
 rity and Demonftration •, which excited the Love of Friends very much. One 
 great Point was to prefs them forward towards the Perfeftion of Chriftian Mo- 
 rality, and Difpenfation of the Gofpel, through the Word of eternal Life and 
 Love revealed in them. 
 
 Woolver- O N the 9th I went to Wolverhampton, to John Fowler's ; where the Marriage 
 
 hamptcn. of a Grand-daughter of that very honourable Friend, Charles Osborne, deceafed, 
 and a Grandfon of that faithful and fteady Servant of the Lor d, Thomas Ai- 
 dant, happening to be the Day after, the Meeting was much crowded with People, 
 efpecially of the more reputable fort, and many could not get in ; and the Lord 
 exalted his own Name that Day, and honoured his People and their Offsprincr 
 with his blefled Prefence and Goodnefs, to the Surprize of many who had been 
 ignorant of his Power ; and the Truth was made evident to many, according 
 to the Teftimony of Holy Writ. While the Certificate of the Marriage was 
 filling up, I noted to the People, that no clandeftine Marriages could ever pafs 
 among us, fince the ftated Rules of our Society required ample Certificates, and 
 Proof of the Confent of Parents, or Guardians, and the Clearnefs of the Parties 
 from all Pre-contrafts with others, and not too neariy related : but that their 
 National Priefts, through Covetoufnefs, had not only eluded and made null, in 
 
 great
 
 i 
 
 of T H MA S S T R T. 
 
 great Meafure, even their own primitive Inftitutions and Praftice on that Ac- Anno 
 count, but hkewife made null and inetfedual the Laws of the Nation provided 1735. 
 to prevent lb great Mifchief : For as the Law requires the Priell: not to marry 
 any Couple till he hath taken all neceflary Precautions in the PremiiTcs, on Pain 
 of a Fine of 100 /. yet where any Rake or wicked Perlbn can prevail with a young 
 Woman, of ever fo good a Family or Fortune, to marry him, her Price, by La\v, 
 is only 100 /. paid out of her own Fortune by her Deceiver, (who hath not a 
 Doit of his own) and a liberal Fee and Bond of Indemnity to the Prieft ; and fhe 
 is ruined, and her Parents and Friends grieved and difappointed without Reme- 
 dy : And, befides this, the whole Defign of your Priefts is their own Gain, Ho- 
 nour, and Advancement over the People, by their own Confent and Authority, 
 who are wiUing and obfequious Slaves : For, do not you obferve the Manao-e- 
 ment of your Priefts •, who fty, in eftefl:, give me my Fee, and I will make you 
 a Member of C h r i s t, a Child of G o d, and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of 
 Heaven: for they, many Ages ago, curfed ail who did not believe their Lie, that 
 the Sin of Jdain is imputed to little Children, and the Prieft, who himfelf is an 
 aflual Sinner, muft fprinkle it away : Give me my Fee, I will preach for your 
 Inftrudtion in the Chriftian Religion : Give me my Fee and I will marry you : 
 Give me my Fee, and I will make an Harangue at your Funeral ; and accord- 
 ing to the Value of it you fhall have Praife or none, fcff . And though the People 
 were generally of the high Party, the Truth being over them, none made any 
 Reply, only fome turned pale, perhaps with fecret Refcntment, others blufhed, 
 and fome fmiled: yet all continued quiet, and the Meeting ended in Peace, to 
 the Praife of the God of Peace and Love, who is worthy over all now and for 
 ever, ylmeii. 
 
 On the nth I fet foward towards the City of JVeft-CheJler, In order for the Weft-Cheller 
 Yearly Meeting, to be held there this Year for four Counties, viz. Chejhire, Lan- 
 cajhire, Wefimoreland, and Cumberland, and that Night lodged at the Red Lion 
 Inn, in Whitchurch -, and the next Day to Cbejler, to my VntndPeter Leadbeatter's, 
 where I was kindly received. 
 
 On the 13th, being the Firft of the Week, we had two very open Meetings 
 there, fome of the Inhabitants, being with us-, and the Lord favoured us with 
 his good Prelence, and opened to us divers deep Myfteries of his Kingdom, to 
 general Edification and Satisfaction, and to his own Glory ; to whom alone it is 
 due, now and at all Times for ever. 
 
 O n the 1 5th, about Two in the Afternoon, began the felecl Meeting of Mi- 
 nifters and Elders, which was not large, but comfortable and edifying ; and the 
 next Day, about Nine in the Morning, began the Yearly Meeting. It was in the 
 old Tennis Court, which hath been the ufual Place for many Years ; where we 
 had the Company of many of the Citizens, and a large open Meeting: But in 
 the Afternoon there came a very greac Concourfe of People of all Ranks in 
 Town and Country ; and the good Prefence of the Lord was with us, and 
 the divine Power was over all, the Miniftry being conducted in Wifdom and 
 Strength, the Principles of Truth were opened to Demonftration and general Sa- 
 tisfadtion. 
 
 O N the 1 7th, in the Morning, was held a Meeting for Conference concern- 
 ing the Affairs of Truth, how they proipered within the Precindts of the Meet- 
 ing, and Advice given where needful -, and then was held the Quarterly Meet- 
 ing for that County. At Three in the Afternoon began the publick Meeting for 
 Worfhip, which was exceeding large, confifting of fome thoufands ; for the 
 
 8 S (^larter
 
 714 The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno Quarter Sefllons of the Peace happening at that fame Time, all or moft of the Bench 
 1735-. of Jiiftices came to the Meeting, and many of the Women, under the Diftindtion 
 (among them) of Ladies, and a very great Crowd ; and the L o r d was plcafed 
 to favour his People with his good Prefence, and his Minifters with Wifdonn 
 and Power, and to exalt his own glorious Name over all, that great Multitude, 
 during the Service, being as flill as a Meeting of Friends. 
 
 In the Clofe of this Meeting feveral of the Great Ones asked if there 
 would be any more, and were anfwered. No •, but that the Place and Seats 
 would remain as they then were, till after the next Firft Day you call Sunday ; 
 and that feveral of our Minifters would ftay the Meeting : which was held ac- 
 cordino-ly, and in the Morning was large and open. Jojhua Toft, myfelf, and 
 Mt)' Drmmond, had the publick Concern upon us, the reft having gone to 
 other Meetings in the Country. In the Afternoon we had an exceeding great 
 Multitude, rather more than at any Time before ; for, being the Firft of the 
 Week, and all free from Bufinefs, they were at Leifure -, and beginning at 
 Three Afternoon, fome came to our Meeting after their own were over : And 
 the Lo R D granted the Defires of his People, affording us his blefled Prefence, 
 and exalting his own Arm over all ; lb that among all that great Multitude, one 
 could hardly fee a light Look, fave during the ftiort Time that a certain 
 Perfon, not named, or qualified for the Work in fuch a mixed Multitude, ftoocl 
 up, and loft himfelf in what he faid ; which fet Ibme of the bafer fort into Light- 
 nefs, to the Hurt of the Meeting : but being recovered by the next Service, 
 Thino-s went on well to the End ; which was to the Honour of the Lord, 
 Satisfadlion of his People, and general Satisfaction of the Auditory. 
 
 The young Woman above named. May Bnmmond, is of a confiderable 
 Family in North Britam, convinced about four Years ago at Edinburgh at a 
 Yearly Meeting, at the Time when her Brother was Lord Provoft ; and fhe, 
 and about Thirty of her Acquaintances, being in the Meeting, I happened 
 to fpeak fome Things among them : which they took Notice of, and thought 
 it was a contrived Sermon in our Way, fo cunning (as they called it) that 
 they could find no Fault in it ; but were ready to conclude I was a Jefuit, and 
 that I had that Sermon written in my Pocket : whereas I never prepared any 
 thing to fay in any Meeting in all my Life-time hitherto, but have ever depend- 
 ed upon the Heart-preparing Power and Word of the Lord, and immediate 
 Work and Openings of it in my own Mind. From that Time this young 
 Woman became nearer and nearer to Friends, and came fometimes to our Meet- 
 ings, rill fhe found Strength to own the Truth in a publick Manner ; to the 
 great Surprize ol her Acquaintances, who are generally of the greater and more 
 polite fort of both Sexes, and to the Grief and Trouble of her Relations, who are all 
 againft her, fave only a younger Brother : But, for Truth's Sake, fhe hath left 
 and withftood them aJJ ; and being of a ready Wit, and enlightned by the 
 Truth, fhe is fo furnifhed with Undcrflanding and Fortitude, that they have 
 not been able to hurt her by all their Subtilties and Contrivances, or Frowns. 
 She being of late called into the Miniftry, it renewed their Pain ; but as fhe 
 is upon the right Foundation, and well furnilhed for the Work, for the Time, 
 Friends regard her accordingly ; and having good Utterance and Matter, ma- 
 ny People are taken witJi her: Her Charader and Circumftances drawing 
 many to Meetings where fhe comes, I hope, and pray to the Lord, fhe may 
 ftand firm in the divine Truth, and be ferviceable in his Hand, without whom 
 the beft grown of all his Servants can do nothing. 
 
 On the 2 2d of the Month I came from Chepr; and that Day had a fmall 
 
 Meeting
 
 of THOMAS 
 
 Meeting at IFrey.ham, which was open and free 
 Ruabany and lodged at Jacob Litilemore's. 
 
 S T R r, 
 
 ; and that Evening went to 
 
 Ann-q 
 1735- 
 
 Wrexham. 
 
 On the 23d I went to Shrewsbury, where next Day we had a very open Shrev.Aury. 
 Meeting, many of the People of Account being there -, fome of them remem- 
 bering that great and glorious Yearly Meeting there about Seventeen Years ago : 
 and the Lo R D was now alfo with us, to the Exaltation of his own Name and 
 Glory. The Meeting was iblid, and the Truths of the Gofpel were largely 
 and clearly opened, to the Praife of the L o r d, and Comfort of his few People 
 there ; who were filled with his good Prefence together. 
 
 On the 25th, in the Evening, I h^d nM&tZing ntCokbrookdale, attheHoufe Cokbrook- 
 of our Friend Richard Ford, who looks after fome Iron- works in that Place : it dale 
 was a very open Meeting •, and fome Perfons of Account in thofe Parts were 
 there, and all very fober and attentiye. 
 
 Bewdly. 
 
 Worcefler. 
 
 On the 27th I was at the Meeting at Bezvdly, Forenoon and After. The 
 firft Meeting was not large, but alarmed the People, fo diat we had a very 
 large and open Meeting Atternoon ; wherein many neceffary Doftrines of the 
 Gofpel were fully opened to the Underftandings of many, the Goodnefs ot the 
 Lord being with us, to his own Praife, who alone is worthy, now and for ever. 
 
 On the 28th I went to fVorcefter, to James Pardee's ; and the Day after, beino- 
 their Meeting Day, it was put off till Three Afternoon, and Notice given, which 
 occafioned the Meeting to be confiderably large : and the Lord fovoured us 
 with his good Prefence, and opened to us the Scriptures both of the Old and 
 New Teftament, with Brightnefs and Authority, to general Satisfaction, both 
 to Friends and others ; for which we were thankful unto him who hath all Wif- 
 dom and Power, and without whom we can do nothing •, yet this Meeting was 
 fo hard to me for fome Time in Silence, and the People fo very heavy, that it 
 put me in Mind of a Saying of the Apoftle, If the Dead arife not, why are we 
 baptized /cr the Dead? But fo foon as a little Help from the Lord appeared, 
 all Weaknefs, and all the Power of Death, vanifhed as Darknefs before the Day •, 
 and then in him I arofe and prevailed : and fo let it be with all his Minifters, in 
 all Places, from henceforth throughout all Generations, Amen. 
 
 O N the 30th I went to Evejham, and the Day after fell in with their Week- Evefham. 
 day Meeting -, where the Lord favoured us with his good Prefence, and gave 
 us a comfortable Time together. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Third Month I had an appointed Meeting at Chipping- chipping- 
 Norton; which was very open, the Goodnefs of the Lord accompanying us Norton. 
 therein, and the Light of his Countenance making m.anifefl Things of the great- 
 cfl Imoortance. 
 
 I Cor. XV. 29. 
 
 On the 3d I went to Oxford, and lodged with our Friend Thomas Nichols ; 
 who hath, for many Years, bore a faithful Teftimony, in that old Seat of the 
 Power of Darknefs, and Subtilty of the fenfual and earthly Wifdom of this 
 World, againft all the Envy, Scoffs, Flouts and Jeers, and other Immoralities 
 of the young Brood hatched in this Pit ; and againft all the Perfecutions of the 
 Town ; till, by Patience in Well-doing, he hath fo overcome them, that he is 
 now treated with general Refpeft : and the Day after, being the Firft of the 
 Week, I was at the Meeting Forenoon and After ; where now remain only 
 four or five Friends ; but in the Morning, fitting together in the ufual Meet- 
 
 Oxford. 
 
 ing-
 
 Mat xviii.20. lit 
 
 .^^S The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno incr-hoiife, the Lord renewed to us the happy Experience of the fulfilling of 
 , ^ hi" Promife, while in Silence, That wherefoever two or three are gathered togethc 
 ill his Name, there he is in the Midjl of them : but after fome Time came m a 
 Company of Students, moft of them full of Levity, with Vice and Folly fit- 
 ting on their Brows : They fcoffed and mocked at the great Truths of the Gof- 
 pef; efpecially when fome proper Texts of Holy Scripture were mentioned con- 
 cerning the Divine Light and Word of G o d, as if they meant to repel the 
 Force°of divine Truth by a Flood of Laughter. I had Patience under all 
 their foolilh Oppofition and ill Manners ; and labouring in the Virtue of Truth, 
 fo overcame them, that they were generally quiet before I had done, and fome 
 of them fenfibly touched with the invifible Power of Truth ; which the Altera- 
 tion of their Countenances, from all the Signs of Levity and V^ildnefs, to great 
 Solidity, did plainly demonftrate : and in the main it was a good Meeting, and 
 ended well : For I never had any thing but Good-will to thefe mifmanaged and 
 mifguided young Creatures -, whofe great Geniufes might, under a proper Di- 
 redlion and Conduft, be improved to great Services in this World, in ufeful 
 Arts, and be preferved from the great Depravity they learn there, which fullies 
 and over-balanceth all the Good propofed by their Education. In the Af- 
 ternoon we fat fo long filent, that we tired one Set of them who came firfl ; 
 but another fort coming, after the firft were gone, I had many Things to fay to 
 them concerning their Learning, Manners, Catechifm, Vows, Promifes, Creeds, 
 and the Martyrs from whom they pretend to derive their Rehgion : and then 
 preached to them on the Grace of God ; by which, their Teachers tell them, 
 in the latter End of their Catechifm, they may be able to keep all the Promifes 
 made for them at the Time of what they call their Baptifm ; but that none can 
 make Members of Christ, Children of God, and Inheritors of the King- 
 dom of Heaven, but Christ himfelf, who is the great Baptizer of Souls, 
 Eph.i. 21.22. and by one Spirit baptizeth all into one Body, The Church, which is his Body, 
 the FuUnefs of him who filleth all in all : But if they were Members of Christ, 
 Children of God, and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven, by what their 
 Priefts had done to them in their Infancy, when altogether ignorant of Good 
 or Evil, they are now in the State of fallen Angels, by their own ConfefTion j 
 Mat.xxiii.23. for they have left undone thofe Things which they ought to have done, and done thofe 
 Ifa. i. 6. Things which they ought not to have done, and are become miferable Sinners, ///// 
 
 of Wounds, Bruifes, and pitrifying Sores, from the Crown of the Head to the 
 Sole of the Foot ; and certainly none, in this State, can ever enter the 
 Kingdom of God: And I told them, I had heard that the two Univerfities, 
 Oxford and Cambridge, are called the two Eyes of the Nation •, it is therefore no 
 Wonder the Inhabitants, depending on them, are fo ignorant : for the Blind 
 have led the Blind till they are all in the Ditch. Some of them were not eafy 
 under this, and much more of this kind, intermixed with fome of the moft 
 glorious Truths of the Gofpel ; yet Truth being over them, they could not op- 
 pofe otherwife than by feveral great Floods of Laughter, more forced than na- 
 tural : at which Times I ufually flood and looked upon them, and reproving 
 them when over, went on with what I had to fay, till I had finifhed : And being 
 preferved clear over them all the Time, I never had a better Time among any 
 of them in that Place, or came away with greater Satisfaftion ; though in the 
 Times of their loud Cachinations, they moft nearly refembled a Flock of Geefe 
 of any thing I could compare them to : and I obferved that the fober People in 
 the Meeting were difpleafed with their Behaviour ; for they were like thofe of 
 old, who neither would enter the Kingdom themfelves, nor luffer others : yet 
 in the Conclufion they were for the moft partfolid, hardly a light Countenance - 
 among them •, fo that they are rather carried away with the Vanity and Airs of 
 Youth, than envious, and mis^ht make s;ood and ufeful Men, if rishtlv govern- 
 
 ed
 
 717 
 
 of THOMAS ST RT, 
 
 ed in Time of Youth, and well exampled j their Behaviour declaring they are Anno 
 deftitute of both. '^Ti5- 
 
 On the 6th, being the Third of the Week, I fell in with the Monthly Meet- 
 ino- at North-end ; where the Lord favoured us with the Confolation of his divine North-end. 
 and living Prefence. 
 
 On the 7th I fell in with the Week-day Meeting at Henley^ at the Widow Henley, 
 Toovie^s ; and Ibme of the Neighbours coming in, we had a very open Meeting. 
 
 On the 8th I went to a Meeting at AtiierJImm ; where the Goodnefs of the Amerlham. 
 Lord accompanied us, and the Teftimony of Truth was glorious and over all, 
 Friends being there from feveral Meetings round. 
 
 O N the 9th I had a Meeting at Che/ham, at Jxtel Robert sh ; which was not Chelham. 
 large, but very open and comfortable. After the Meeting, in the Evening, I 
 had Converfation with a confiderable Man in the World, inclinable to the Camif- 
 fars, or French Prophets ; by whom I perceived they expeft fuch a Difpenfation 
 From God, as that all the Gifts in the primitive Times fliall be reftored, viz. 
 working Miracles, Prophecy, healing, raifing the Dead, i^c. whereby their 
 Minds being carried off" the prefent Difpenfation, they negleft that, (in looking 
 for greater Things before they are come to the lefler) as did the Jews; who, 
 looking for the Coming of the Meffiah in another Manner than he was promi- 
 fed, that is, with outward and worldly Power and Pomp, defpifed him when 
 he did come, and fo miffed of Salvation by him : But I opened many Things 
 to him, and the Friends then prefent, as at that Time tliey were opened unto 
 me of the Lord; and we parted in Friendfliip. 
 
 O N the loth I went to Jofeph Lovelaceh, near Jordans; and the Day follow- Jordan's. 
 ing, being the Firft of tiie Week, I had a large open Meeting at Jordans, Friends 
 beincr there from the Meetings all round, viz. Wickham, Amer/lMtn, Chejham, Ux- 
 hidge, &c. and the Lord favoured us with his glorious Prefence, to our 
 Satisfadlion. 
 
 On the 13th we had an appointed Meeting at Uxbridge, at John HidPs; Uxbridge. 
 which was not large of Friends, it being much declined from what it was here- 
 tofore ; but fome of the Neighbours and a great many Troopers coming in, ma- 
 ny of the moft neceffary Doftrines of the Gofpel were clearly, and with good 
 Authority opened : So that the Power in which they ad, the Spirit of this World, 
 was fully under, and they behaved with Sobriety and Attention ; there being no 
 Comparifon, on that Account, between them and the Oxford Scholars •, the De- 
 portment ot the Soldiers giving much more certain and vifible Signs of real in- 
 ward Chriftianity, than the- Goofe-like Giggle of the Students. That Night I 
 lodc^ed at Elehani, with my Friend Jonathan Gurnel; and the next Day went to 
 London, to my ufual Lodging, at my kind Friend Jofeph Green's ; where I was 
 kindly received and entertained. 
 
 O N the 23d of the Sixth Month, I fet out from London, accompanied by John 
 Fallowfield •, and, being the Seventh of the Week, we went that Evening to Dun- D,,iHablc. 
 ftabk and lodged at our ancient Friend John Chefter's, where we were kindly 
 entertained. Next Day we were favoured of the L o R d with a comfortable Meet- 
 incT in his good Prefence, with Friends and fome others there gathered, and made 
 of°him inftrumental to preach the Gofpel of his Kingdom among them, to our 
 jnutual and folid Satisfa(5tion. 
 
 8 T On
 
 7i8 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 ^nvo O N the 25th we went to Richard Howe's, at Affiey, about nine Miles from 
 
 1735. thence -, and, on the 26th, to Oldney, where we had a large good Meeting with 
 
 Oldney. Friends and others-, many of whom were much tendered and broken under the 
 
 Teftimony of Truth delivered among them that Day. I lodged at Ifaac Smith' %. 
 
 Northamp- O N the 28th we fell in with their Week-day Meeting at Northampton, and 
 
 ton. lodged at the Widow Binyon's. They having had fome Notice of our Coming, 
 
 the Meetino- was pretty large •, and the L o r d favoured us with his Life-giving 
 
 Prefence, and opened Matters fuitable, and with the Power of an endlefs Life, 
 
 to the Help and Comfort of many ; and we were rewarded with divine Peace. 
 
 BpRbrook. On the 29th we had an Evening Meeting at Bughr 00k, zt Jofeph Jdam's: 
 
 But moft of the People having been labouring all Day in their Harveft, and 
 weary, the Meeting was heavy at firft; but the Lord had Compaflion on us, 
 and it ended well and living. 
 
 Rut'by. O N the 30th we went forward to Rugl^y ; where the Yearly Meeting for 
 
 Worfhip and Propagation of the Gofpel was to be this Year for the Counties of 
 Comwal, Bevonjhircy Somerfetfiire, Gloiicejierjhire, Worcefterjhire, Herefordflnret 
 and Warwickjhire. 
 
 There were few Friends near that Town, and the People in thofe Parts 
 generally ignorant of Truth, and we alfo unknown to them. The Meeting be- 
 gan on the 31ft, being the Firft of the Week, and many Friends and Minifters 
 appearing from London, Norwich, Briftol, and divers other Parts of the Nation, 
 and the Country all about having large previous Notice, we had a Meeting fo 
 large as rarely to be feen : for the Place prepared was fo capacious as to hold ma- 
 ny hundreds ; which was very full in the Forepart of the Day, but the People 
 came fo generally in the Afternoon, that fcarce half of them could get in : fo that 
 fome of the Minifters went into a large Court behind an Inn, near the Meeting- 
 place, but not within hearing of thefe within ; and fo had two Meetings at the 
 fame Time. We had the Company of thofe called the Quality and Gentry all 
 about, and feveral National Priefts among them; and the Lord honoured his 
 own Name in the Midft of them, from Meeting to Meeting, and own'd his Mi- 
 nifters and People with his living Prefence. To him be Honour and Dominion, 
 as alone worthy, now and for ever. 
 
 The Meeting held twice a-day till the Evening of the Third of the Week, 
 being the 2d of the Seventh Month; during which Time the glorious Truths 
 of the Gofpel, in the Authority and Demonftration of it, were let forth by our 
 Miniftry beyond Contradidion ; and the Lies and Calumnies of Priefts, and their 
 Votaries and Supporters, detefted and turn'd backward ; and the Truth and 
 Friends cleared : The People behaving with much Sobriety and ferious Atten- 
 tion, I hope the Underftandings of many of them were opened, fo as, in fome 
 Degree, to perceive we had been formerly mifreprefented unto them, and our 
 Principles hid, but now opened and cleared. 
 
 W E made a Colleftion of Money among Friends at the Inns, for fuch poor 
 Perfons and Families (not of us) as might be moft neceflitous in the Town, and 
 in the End of the laft Meeting gave away among the People near a thoufand 
 Books, fuitable to their Condition, for their Information and Help ; all which 
 were kindly received : and as Love and Unity abounded among Friends, fo we 
 left the Town and People in mutual Love and Good-will between them and us, 
 
 to
 
 of THOMAS S T Rr. 
 
 to the Praife of the living Lord, who worketh in us the Good-will and the Anno 
 Deed, to his own Glory. 
 
 719 
 
 NC 
 
 ^735' 
 
 On the 3d Friends generally difperfed, and I went with Benjamin Kid and his 
 Wife to their Country Houfe at Plympton ; where I ftaid with Satisfaftion till 
 the 6th, and then went with them to Banhry. The next Day, being the Banbury 
 Firft of the Week, I was at their Meetings, both Forenoon and After ; which 
 were both fmall, by reafon of the Rains : The Beginning of each was heavy; 
 but both ended well, efpecially the Afternoon, which was very open in the latter 
 Part of it. 
 
 On the 8th I went to Charlhury, and that Evening had a very open Meeting Charlbury. 
 with Friends and others ; where the Truths of the Gofpel were opened freelj^ 
 with good Authority ; and a folid comfortable Time the Lord o-ave us too-e- 
 ther. I lodged at Edward Spendelow's. 
 
 O N the 9th I dined at Cornbury with our Friend Ifaac Staple, who accompa- 
 nied me to Whitney that Evening ; where, the Day after, I fell in with their Whitney. 
 Week-day Meeting, which was very open and well. I ftaid at Elijah Waring's^ 
 and that Afternoon went forward to Burford, to Timothy Ahraham\ ; and on 
 the 1 2th was with Friends at their Week-day Meeting : which was fmall, by 
 reafon of the Harveft ; yet the L o r d was with the two or three according to his 
 Word, for we Lid an open comfortable Time in his good Prefence. That Af- 
 ternoon I went to Cirencefier, to William Hinton\. 
 
 On the 12th I had a Meeting appointed there, about Five in the Evenin"- 
 which was an open good Meeting, fome of the fober Neighbours being with us 
 therein ; and the Lord favoured us together. 
 
 O N the 1 3th I went to my old Friend the Widow Smith's, at Nailfworth, Nailfworth. 
 and the Day after, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting. In the 
 Forenoon it was not large, but open -, and in the Afternoon was very full, both 
 of Friends and others, and the Lord favoured us with his good Prefence, and 
 with many divine Truths relating to his holy Kingdom in this World, and that 
 which is to come : He glorified his own powerful Name to his own laftino- 
 Praife. I remained there till the i6th, and then went to Bath; where I agree- Batj^^ 
 ably met with Samuel Bownas from Bridport, Andrew Pitt and May Drum- 
 mond from London. She hath been publick for about two Years, and her Tefti- 
 mony reliflies with People of all Ranks, efpecially the greater fort; by whom 
 Ihe is more followed and admired at prefent than any one amongft us, the Notion 
 of her being a Lady of Quality (which yet is a Miftake of her Degree) raifing a 
 Curiofity to hear her ; which occafions Crowds not always to her Satisfadtion : 
 But the Children of this World will ftill gaze at the Servants of G o d, but neither 
 believe nor pradlilc what they preach, though in the Demonftration of the Spi- 
 rit, and Wifdom of the Truth. 
 
 We all ftaid at Bath till the i8th ; and then were at their Week-day's Meet- 
 ing ; which was much crowded by all forts, and many could not get in. The 
 Concern fell firft on Samuel Bownas, an able Minifter indeed, whofe Miniftry 
 filenced and collected the Minds of the Auditory in good Degree ; and after 
 him May Drummond was likewife concerned in Teftimony, and concluded the 
 Meeting in Prayer : and feveral national Priefts being prefent, all conformed on 
 the Occafion ; and the Meeting was, I believe, to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 Sa-
 
 7ao 
 
 Anno 
 
 Bradford. 
 
 Brillol. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Samuel Bownas retiring home to Bridpon, Andrew Pitt Mny Brummond^ 
 and 1 ftaid at Bath till the 2 ift -, which being the Firft of the Week, we were 
 aeain'at the fame Meeting. In the Forenoon it was not very large but open 
 and comfortable •, but in the Afternoon was much crowded with People ot divers 
 Ranks and Notions ; who generally were ftiU, and many of them attentive to 
 what they heard, and fome affefted : and, upon the whole, the Lord exalted 
 his own Name and Truth, and gave us the Reward of his own good Prefence. 
 
 Andrew Pitt and May Drummond went to Briftol in the Beginning of this 
 Week • and on the Fourth Day I went to Bradford, to their Week-day Meet- 
 in- • which was fmall, no timely Notice having been given, but open ; and 
 th? L o R D gave us a comfortable Time together, being moftly Friends. That 
 Evening I returned to Bath. 
 
 On the 25th I was at Bath Meeting again, and had another open Time 
 among the People -, to whom the Gofpel was preached with Clearnefs, and 
 they behaved with Sobriety and Attention. 
 
 On the 28th I was there again ; and being the Firft of the Week, the 
 Meetings were large, efpecially in the Afternoon, many Perfons of Note, of 
 both Sexes, being prefent : and the Goodnefs of the L o R d was with us •, and 
 a folid comfortable Time it was to many. 
 
 On the 29th I went to BHpl, to Brke WeF% and the next after was at 
 their Third Day's Meeting ; which was alfo large and open. 
 
 On the 2d of the Eighth Month, being the Fifth of the Week, and their 
 Quarterly Meeting, particularly for the Edification of the Youth, I was there 
 again, and May Drummond likewife. The Meeting was large •, and the Things 
 of the Kingdom of God, by his divine Truth, and the Wifdom and Autho- 
 rity of it, clearly declared ; and I think, from the Behaviour of the Audience, 
 to general Satisfadtion : and the next Day, being another of their Week-day 
 Meetings, I was there again, and with good Satisfaction ; for tho' the Meeting 
 was not fo large as the former, the Power of divine Truth was glorious therein. 
 
 O N the 5th, being the Firft of the Week, we were there again. May 
 Drummond being of a tender Conftitution, and at that Time not well in Health, 
 was not there in the Forenoon, and the Service fell upon me. The Meeting was 
 large and open •, but in the Afternoon much larger : and May Drummond being 
 there, had a clear Teftimony for Truth, in the Wifdom of it ; through which 
 Ihe hath a Turn of Expreflion, on any Subjeft fhe is upon, very taking to moft 
 Hearers, efpecially the more polite fort of both Sexes : and the reft of the Ser- 
 vice fell to my Share -, and the Lo r d was with us, to the edifying of the fen- 
 fible in the Auditory, and our Satisfaftion. 
 
 H E r E I remained vifiting and attending the Meetings, Firft Days, Third 
 Days, and Sixth Days, as ufual, till the 4th of the Ninth Month, with Peace 
 and Satisfadtion to myfelf, and Friends in general : But one Firft Day, having 
 expofed the pernicious Doftrine of Tranfubftantiation ; wherein the Papifts fay° 
 " That upon uttering of the Words of Confecration by the Prieft, -viz. Hoi 
 " efi Corpus meum, the Wafer which is fo confecrated, is immediately changed 
 " into the very Body of C h r i s t, born of the Virgin Mary, which fuftered^on 
 " the Crofs at Jerufalem ; that this Wafer, being now the true God and 
 " ?"fxr ' j' '' ^° ^^ worfhipped as fuch : and yet, though the Prieft doth ufe 
 " the Words of Confecration, if he does not intend to confecrate, which none
 
 of THOMAS STORT. 721 
 
 " can tell but himfelf, there is no Confecration nor Tranfubftantiation, but the Anno 
 
 " Wafer remains what it was; and confequently the poor deceived People are i735- 
 
 *' led blindfold into Idolatry, and utter Uncertainty, and to worfhip they know 
 
 " not what: And fo they are cheated out of their Money and out of their 
 
 " Souls, the Priefts juggling them out of both for their own Advantage and 
 
 " Gain: even like another fort of Jugglers, who hearing the Fried mumble 
 
 *' the Words, Hoc eft Corpus meum, fo low and inarticulate, fuppofeth the Pricft 
 
 *' faith only Hocus Pocus -, and obferving what mighty Things the Prieft pre- 
 
 *' tends to do by his Words, and the Wafers in his Box, this other Juggler 
 
 *' hath likewife a Box with certain Powder or Crumbs of Bread in it, which 
 
 *' he calleth his Powder la Pirn ; and when he goes to expofe his Slight-of-hand 
 
 *' Tricks to the ignorant People, in order to get a little Money from them, 
 
 *' he makes ufe of his Words, Powder and Box, to accomplifli his Ends -, and 
 
 *' thereby gets his Living out of the filly People, who have nothing at all for 
 
 *' their Money and Time but an empty and fallacious Show : And yet the for- 
 
 *' mer is the more lamentable Cheat ; where the People are deceived out of 
 
 *' both their Money and Salvation, by worfhipping a dry Wafer inftead of 
 
 *' Almighty God, and Jesus Christ the Son of God, and true Sa- 
 
 *' viour, fent into the World in the Flelh, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified 
 
 *' dead and buried, afcended into Heaven in the fame Body, and come from 
 
 *' the Father a fecond Time as he is the Spirit of Truth, who leadeth into all 
 
 " Truth, compleating the Salvation of all who believe in him, follow and obey 
 
 " him." 
 
 In this Meeting there were People of divers Notions, who did not at all relifli 
 this Dodlrine ; neither did feme Pretenders among ourfelves : For at this Day we 
 have among us fome Traditionifts, the Children of fuch faithful Friends of Truthj 
 •who did, in the early Part of this Difpenfation of God we are under, not on- 
 ly believe but fufFer for the fame : and thefe Children have, for a Time, taken 
 lip, and continued in the Dotlrines and Examples they have heard and feen 
 among us -, but when they have come up into the State of Men and Women, 
 being only in their Natural State, and looking out to the World, have been 
 taken by the Lull of the Eyes, with the vain and finful Fafhions, Cuftoms and 
 Notions of the World, and become, fome Deifts, fome Free-thinkers, others 
 prophane Libertines, and others Atheifts ; denying all Revealed Religion as con- 
 tained in the Holy Scriptures, and aflerting there never was, is, or fhall be, any 
 other Guide given unto Man by God but his own Reafon, either in Matters of 
 Duty towards God or Man, Religion or Worfliip ; denying all Senfe or Know- 
 ledge of any Spirit: And thus renouncing Christ, lliake offhisCrofs and 
 defpife it, with all its Difciphne; and yet come to our Meetings as if they were 
 Friends. But though fome i'uch there be among us, to the great Grief of thofe 
 ■who know and follow the Truth, yet they are but few in Comparifon of the 
 Numbers among other ProfefTors: But wherever they are or fit, they are, aS 
 they now appear, Enemies to the Chriftian Faith, though peradventure they 
 do not mean it, but may be fallen into a wrong Way of Thinking, from a rea- 
 fonable View of the Errors and Defigns of Priefts and Prieftcraft ; which they 
 think unreafonable, and many of their Schemes and Injunftions inconfiftent with 
 the Attributes of the All- wife. Almighty, and All-good Creator of the World, 
 to dictate to, or impofe upon Mankind. 
 
 In another Meeting in the City of Briftol^ on a Sixth Day, when there were 
 prefent feveral Hireling Teachers, of divers Notions, though I did not know 
 it, and many People of their feveral forts, it became my Concern, from the 
 Spirit of Truth, to ftand up therein, with this Prophecy of the Apoftle, Th^ 
 
 8 U Dap
 
 Rev. x.\i. 6 
 — xxii. 1 7 
 
 ^ii The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno Days Jhall come wherein Men Jhall not endure found Bo^rine; they Jhall heap to 
 1 735. themfelves Teachers after their own Hearts Lufts, having itching Ears ; they fhall 
 2Tim.iv.3,4. itfrn away their Ears from the 'Truth, and give heed unto Fables. Having repeated 
 the Text of Scripture to this eftedl, I proceeded to obferve to the Auditory, 
 «' That this Prophecy is clearly fulfilled in this and other Nations at this Day \ 
 " all the feveral Seits adapting to themfelves certain and various Notions, Prin- 
 " ciples, and Syflems of Religion, or what they call fo, make choice of fuch 
 *' Teachers as will teach and propagate thefe Notions, and no other, and will 
 •' pay fuch Teachers ; at the fame Time rejeding and defpifing the free, per- 
 *' fedt and efFeftual Teachings of the Grace of God; which hath been pu- 
 " blickly and freely preached, in this and fome other Nations, now near a full 
 *' Century, and flill is unto this Day, contrary to the kind and merciful Invita- 
 " tion and Expoftulation of the Almighty, where he faith, by his evangelical 
 Ifa.lv. I,— 4. " Prophet Ifaiah, Ho, every one that thirfteth, come ye to the Waters; and he that 
 John iv. 14. *■<■ i^iath no Money, come ye, buy and eat : yea co;ne, buy IFine and Milk without Mo- 
 " Key and without Price. Wherefore do ye fpend Money for that which is not 
 *' Bread? and your Labour for that which fatisfieth 7iot? Hearken diligently unto 
 " me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your Soul delight itfelf in Fatnefs. 
 *' Incline your Ear, and co7ne unto me; hear and your Soul fhall live ; and I will 
 *' make an everlafling Covenant with you, even the fure Mercies of David. Be' 
 *' hold, I have given Him for a Witnefs to the People, a Leader and Commander 
 " to the People. It is to him, the Lord Jesus Christ alone, that we 
 *' have ever direded Mankind, that they may be taught by his Grace and Ho- 
 •' ly Spirit in their own Hearts, and redeemed from all the hireling Teachers in 
 *' the World, of every Notion, Form, and Defign ; and that freely, without 
 •' any mercenary or low Views to ourfelves, but in that Love to the Souls of 
 *' all Men, in which the Son of God laid down his Life for all Mankind, ta- 
 *' fling Death for every Man. 
 
 Now, though I did not obferve any Uneafinefs in the People, (for they were 
 a mixed Multitude) either in the Firft Day's Meeting, or that on the Sixth Day, 
 yet fome Days after, a Man rich and high in the World, profefllng the Truth 
 ■with us, but a fecret Supporter of the Priefts, by paying thtir Demands, con- 
 trary to the Teftimony of Truth in his faithful People, gathered of God, and 
 called and chofen of him, to bear Witnefs for him againft the Hirelings of the 
 Times, and Antichriflian Prieftcraft in every Shape ; this Man, the Evening 
 before I came from Briftol, uttered divers Inveflives and falfe Accufations againft 
 me, concerning what I had faid in thofe Meetings, faying, " We (meaning 
 " himfelf, and fuch as he) are at Peace with our Neighbours of all Religions: 
 *' We and they converfe freely together, and we do not meddle with Matters 
 *' of Religion among us ; but thou hafl done a great deal of Hurt in thefe 
 *' Meetings, by fcolding at them, and inveighing againfl their Religion, with 
 " which we have no Bufinefs : And I have heard fome of them fay, thou de- 
 *' ferved to be pelted with rotten Eggs and Apples, for meddling with their 
 *' Religion, which did not concern thee ;" with other Matter of like Import. 
 
 I replied, " That neither himfelf, nor fuch other violent Perfons as he 
 " meant, were proper Judges of my Concern on that Account: for, though he 
 *' and they had Right to judge, fo far as to receive or rejeft, as to themfelves, 
 " what I, or another, might utter in publick concerning Religion ; yet they had 
 *' no Judgment from what Root, or (Commandment, I uttered thefe Matters in 
 »' thole Meetings ; nor did I regard him or them, or any other Adverfaries 
 " to the Truth, in whofe Wifdom and Authority I uttered thefe Things, with 
 " Demonftration, Clearnefs, and Authority, which I cannot now repeat -, with 
 
 " which
 
 of T UO M A S ST RT. 71? 
 
 *' which all the Sons of Truth, and living of G o d in thofe Meetings, were Anno 
 
 •' well fatisfied, being fenfible alfo from what Power and Root they came : And 1735* 
 
 " therefore the Language of thefe thy honeft Neighbours (if it be not only thy 
 
 *' own Language, under a forged Pretence of being that of others) demon- 
 
 " ftratcs their Guilt, and the juft Application of thole Scriptures, as well to the 
 
 " hireling mercenary Teachers, as to their Hearers then prefent, and to thyfelf 
 
 *' too, as of the fame Spirit and Work with them. And I may tell thee, that 
 
 *' it is my Work and Bufmefs, as often as 1 have the fame Authority, in the 
 
 *' Life of the divine eternal Truth, to expofe all falfe Teachers and Hirelings, 
 
 " as alfo all Hypocrites, and covetous prefumptuous Worldlings among our- 
 
 *' felves, who give their Souls up, in a Manner inlatiable, to the Gains of this 
 
 *' World, without any Bounds, and then intrude theml'elves into the Affairs of 
 
 *' the Church of G o d among us j where, though profefTing the Truth, they 
 
 *' have no Right, or any Calling thereto of God, yet they take upon them 
 
 *' to aft according to the Weight of their worldly Gains, and not of the Ba- 
 
 " lance of the Sanftuary •, in which they are lighter than Vanity, or the fmall 
 
 *' Duft that weighs nothing : And fuch an one art thou ; for a Man's Enemies Mat. s. 36* 
 
 '■'■ Jhall be thofe of his own Hoitfjold: And fo it is at this Day in our Chriftian 
 
 *' Society ; for as great Enemies and Stumbling-blocks in the Way of Truth, 
 
 " as any are this Day in the World, are covered with a Profeflion of Truth* 
 
 " and the Chriftian Faith and Religion," with more to the fame Effeft ; which 
 
 was not pleafing, yet being his Due, I did not think proper to defraud him of it." 
 
 Bath. 
 Chippinghara 
 
 O N the 4th of the Ninth Month I came from Brijlol^ as I have faid, and 
 went to Bath, where I had fcveral Meetings to Satisfaftion ; and on the 1 ith I 
 went to Chippiiigham, to the Widow Gold/tey's; where I fell in with their Month- 
 ly Meeting, and there appointed another Meeting for Worihip the next Even- 
 ing •, where we had the Company ot a Presbyterian Minifter, and fome ot his 
 Hearers. He was a moderate friendly Man, and behaved well, as did the 
 People in general j and it was a good Meeting. 
 
 O N the 1 3th I went to Calne, to the Widow Ruth Serjeant^s •, where we had Calne. 
 a large open Meeting, and the Majefty and Wifdom of Truth was over all, to 
 general Comfort and Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the 14th, being the 6th of the Week, I went to the Devizes, to Roger Devizes, 
 Beavanh, and had an Evening Meeting there •, which was imall, there being few 
 Friends remaining in that Place: yet the Lord own'd us, and a few Neigh- 
 bours with his good Prefence. 
 
 On the 15th I went to Marlborough, to Ifaac Furnell^S', and the Day after, Marlborough 
 being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meetings both Forenoon and After; 
 where the Lord gave us comfortable Times together in him, and many Truths 
 of the Gofpel were clearly opened among us by his divine Wifdom. 
 
 On the 1 7th I went to Newbury, to Robert Olding\ -, and having appointed Newbary, 
 an Evening Meeting there from Marlborough on the 1 8th, it happened to be their 
 Monthly Meeting Day ; which being held in the Forenoon, the Evening Meet- 
 ing was held likewife according to Appointment -, and the next Day being their 
 Week-day Meeting, I attended them all: and the Lord favoured us in all of 
 them with his Goodnefs. The Evening after the laft Meeting, I went to Brimp- 
 ton- Mills, to vifit my cordial Friend, Alexander Kir ton j where I ftaid that Night. 
 
 O N the 20th I went to Reading, and lodged at my long acquainted and fure 
 
 Friendj
 
 724 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 Anno Friend, Ifaac Pickerel's, where I was very kindly entertained -, and the next Day, 
 
 1735. being the Sixth of the Week, and one of their Meeting Days, I was at their 
 Reading. Meetino- j where feveral of the younger fort were tendered, and generally com- 
 forted b the good Prefence of the L o r d : And flaying there till the 23d, being 
 the Firfl of the Week, I was at the Meetings both Forenoon and After; which 
 were very open and fatisfaftory, the latter being the largeft ; and Things opened 
 freely and with good Authority. 
 
 The Ways becoming very deep by the great Rains, and my Mare having 
 fallen lame I left her zt Marlborough ; and it being difficult to have proper Horfes 
 from Place to Place, and the Hardfhips of the Winter coming on, I found Li- 
 berty in my Mind to go direftly to London the next Day, in the Reading Coach : 
 where, happening to have fober Company, we arrived fafe about Six in the E- 
 vening ; where I was chearfully received at my agreeable and ufual Lodging at 
 my Friend Jofeph Green's. 
 
 London. A T London, and thereabout, I remained feveral Months, vifiting the Meet- 
 
 1736. ings, and making what Affiftance I could in the Solicitations then on foot, be- 
 fore both Houfes of Parliament, for further Eafe concerning Tythes ; many of 
 the National Priefts continuing cruel, through Envy, notwithftanding the good 
 Intention of the Government, in moderating the Laws on that Account : For 
 though a more eafy Way of Recovery of what they call tlieir Due, had been 
 provided by feme former Parliaments ; yet the old Laws being Hill in force, 
 many of the Priefts continued to take the moft fevere and deftruftive Ways they 
 could againft us. The Bill pafs'd the Houfe of Commons by a very great Ma- 
 jority, but was thrown out, or not committed in the Houfe of Lords, by no 
 great Majority, notwithftanding the Intereft and Number of the Bifhops ; and 
 the many warm Speeches made in both Houfes for us, and againft the Bifhops 
 and Clergy, difcovered that the Temper of the Nation, at that Time, did not 
 favour them. 
 
 T ri E Meeting for Sufferings, under whofe Care that Affair was conduced 
 by Order of the Yearly Meeting, requcfting fome of our Miniftring Friends to 
 folicit fome of the Bifliops in our Favour, (for fome of them were moderate 
 Men) it fell to my Lot, with my Coufin John Bell of Grace-Church-Street, 
 John Fallowjield, and Zaccheus Routh, to fpeak with the Bifhops of Salisbury, Chi- 
 chefter,RocheJler, Gloucefter, Litchfield and Coventry, Chefter, andLondon, on that and 
 fome other Subjedfs; and they behaved themfelves decently enough as Men, and 
 generally gave up all Pretenfions to divine Right of Tythes, and infifted on the 
 Laws ot the Land only -, but would not confent to abridge any of the Pretences 
 of the Clergy that Way : Only the Bifhop of London, with a differing Air of 
 Height from any of the refV, told us, " That as he looked upon himfelf as Guar- 
 *' dian of the Rights of the Clergy, which he thought were unjuftly attacked, 
 *' he intended to oppofe us as much as he could." To which John Fallowfield 
 anfwered, " Thou fpeaks like a Man •, for it is beft to be plain in all Things." 
 Tho' this Bifhop's Terms were general, inclufive of all the Clergy in England^ 
 yet I underftood them as reftrifted to his own Diocefe -, becaufe there are two 
 Metropolitans (in their Way) before him in this Point, Canterbury and Tork ; each 
 of whom had a better Title to fuch a Priority, the former efpecialiy : but when 
 he appeared fo legally pofitive and vindiftive, all I faid to him was, " That this 
 " Cafe might be confidered equitably and mercifully, as well as legally, by any 
 « Man under the Notion of a Chriftian Bifhop." Upon which he ftept a little 
 back, and looked feriouQy upon me, (the reft juft pafling ofF) bui; made no 
 Reply ; and I alfo withdrew. 
 
 I
 
 of T H M A S S T RT, 715- 
 
 I CONTINUED at Loudon till the Yearly Meeting -, which was, in the main. Anno 
 more peaceable than at fome other Times, there being but two Appeals, as I ^li^' 
 remember ; one of which I thought uncommon and remarkable : A certain 
 Perfon in Ireland^ having been a Preacher among Friends there, and married our 
 Way, taking fume Offence by fome ill Ulage, as he thought, in an Arbitra- 
 tion at Londo7i ; and letting in too deep Refentments againft fome Particulars, 
 and not meeting with fuch Satisfaftion, upon fome Complaints, as he thought 
 was due, by Degrees he increafed in his Prejudices till they became general ; 
 and then he became an open and imbittered Enemy to the whole Society ; and 
 falling in with the Bifliops in Ireland, he became a ftrenuous Oppofer of our 
 Endeavours for an Affirmation there, as we had obtained in England ; and 
 fued fome Friends in Chancery for Money, where none was due, taking Ad- 
 vantage of them, becaufe they could not put in their Anfwers upon Oath, and 
 hindering, as much as he could, their obtaining an Affirmation inftead of an 
 Oath, in fuch Courts and Cafes ; and denying his Wife, becaufe married among 
 Friends, attempted to take another ; with fome other evil Pradtices : for which 
 the Monthly Meeting he belonged to had denied him j and he had appealed to 
 the Quarterly Meeting, but had never appeared there, nor any one for him, to 
 profecute his Appeal : but after fome Time he had come over to London -, and, 
 unknown to any Meeting, had prevailed with fome ignorant and diforderly 
 Perfons profefling Truth to give him a Certificate, but not in any Meeting ; 
 with which he went into Penfylvania : But Friends there being apprized of his 
 Doings, from Ireland, he was not received among them. After fome Time he 
 returned to England ; and infinuating himfelf into the Opinions of fome Mem- 
 bers of the Monthly Meeting of Bevonjhire-hottfe in London, they fo far efpoufed 
 him, and his Caufe, as to find Means to bring it before the Yearly Meeting 
 there -, which grieved many Friends : However, as it came by way of Appeal 
 from the Qiiarterly Meeting at London, the Yearly Meeting appointed a Com- 
 mittee to hear it ; who, after enquiring into the true State of the Cafe, of the 
 Friends from Irelaiid then in the Meeting, made their Report, That it was not 
 regularly before the Meeting ; for that this Appellant had appealed, in the fame 
 Cafe, to a Quarterly Meeting in Irelattd, where the Offences arofe about i6 Years 
 ago, as I remember ; which was fo far regular : but never profecuting his Ap- 
 peal, as above noted, there it remains. 
 
 But notwithftanding this Report, certain arbitrary Perfons of the Monthly 
 Meeting of Devonjhire-houfe, and of the Quarterly Meeting of London, who had, 
 out of all Order and Rule, efpoufed this Ofi^ender and his Caufe, would have 
 eluded it by Subtilties and Sophiftical Reafonings -, but the Wifdom and Power 
 of the Meeting filenced them, and the Report was received and agreed to. 
 
 And feeing the ill Tendency and Confequences of fuch Appeals from other 
 Nations and Places in the World to the Yearly Meeting at London, I took this 
 Occafion to obferve to the Meeting, That this being a Matter of immoral Con- 
 duft only, in the Appellant, and not of Faith, Doftrine or Principle, it was 
 fufficicntly cognizable and determinable in and by the Monthly Meeting in Ire- 
 land, where the Matters of Complaint arofe, or by Appeal to the Quarterly 
 Meeting there, or finally in their Yearly, or Half-yearly Meeting, ufually held 
 at Diihlin : And that no Appeal at all ought, in fuch Cafes, to be admitted from 
 that Meedng at Dublin, or from any Yearly Meeting of Bufinefs in any other 
 Country or Ifland, to London ; nor ought that Meeting at London to receive any 
 fuch, or enter into Judgment thereon : for, if they fhould, the Confequences 
 ^hereof might be very pernicious and oppreflive. Such Appeals from Pen- 
 jylvania, Rhode- TJland, Barbadoes^ or other remote Places, or even from Ire- 
 
 8 X land
 
 *]i6 
 
 Anno 
 
 1736. 
 
 Alban's. 
 
 T/je LIFE, ^c. 
 
 land or Scotland, would be attended with great Charges and Trouble many 
 Ways, and Lofs of Time, to Perfons neceffary to attend Appeals from fuch 
 Places, and likewife to the Members of the Yearly Meeting at London -, which 
 would be thereby rendered as a Stage of Contention by every unruly Spirit who 
 could make a Party and wrong Intereft in and among fuch as himfelf ; and would 
 render London as a kind of Head of the Churches : But the Proceedings of Rome 
 remain in too glaring Charadters for any Men of Knowledge, Truth, and Friends 
 to the Rights and Privileges of Mankind, to fubmit to, or promote any fuch 
 Thing in this Society, now, or in the Succeflion of Ages. So this Appeal 
 was rejeded as irregular, and not lying there. 
 
 A T London I remained, attending the Meetings there, and fome in neighbour- 
 ing Places, till the 1 2th of the Sixth Month, 1736; and then went with my 
 Friend nomas "Jackfpn^ of the white Lyon, Cornhilly to his Country Houfe 
 at Bu/h-hill ; and the next Day, he accompanying me, we met with my Coufin 
 John Belk and his Wife, and feveral other Friends, on our Way to Albans ; to 
 which we all went together, and that Evening had a pretty full and open 
 Meeting there. 
 
 On the 14th, leaving the reft of the Company there, my Coufin Bell and 
 his Wife, and I, went forward to Newport-pagnell •, and that Night lodged 
 with our Friend Thomas Cowper, who entertained us kindly : and the Day after, 
 Sherington. bei^g jj^g pjj.ft of the Week, we were at the Meeting at Sherington ; which 
 was large and open, partly occafioned by the Company of fome Friends from 
 Northampton : and the L o r d favoured us together with his good Prefence ; and 
 divers Doftrincs were opened by the Truth among us, to Satisfadtion, on feve- 
 ral Subjefts. 
 
 Wellingbo- 
 rough. 
 
 Leicefler. 
 
 That Afternoon we returned to Newport', and on the i6th we had a 
 Meeting at Wellingborough, confiderably large and open, which confided, for the 
 moft part, of the younger fort of Friends ; and Things opened well to tlieir State, 
 and were comfortable. That Night wc lodged at Samuel Richardfon'%. 
 
 O N the 1 7th we went forward to Leicejler, to John Petiford's, and fell in with 
 their Week-day Meeting next Day. It was fmall and low. Things being much 
 declined there ; yet a few honeft Friends flill remaining, the Lord favoured us 
 with a Degree of his divine Goodnefs together. That Afternoon we went for- 
 ward to Nottingham ; where we arrived late, and were very weary, but kindly 
 received and entertained by our Friends, Francis Hart and his Wife. They were 
 but young Perfons, and began the World low ; but the Lord hath blefTed 
 them, and profpered their honeft Endeavours, and they have to fpare. 
 
 Nottingham. Qn the iptli we were at the Week-day Meeting at Nottitigham, which was 
 large, by the coming in of fome Strangers -, and the Lord favoured us and 
 them with his Goodnefs, and the Openings of fome important Truths of the Go- 
 fpel with Authority and Demonftration : It was a good Meeting. 
 
 On the 20tli we went to Chejierfield \ where we were kindly received and 
 entertained by our fteady Friends, Jofeph Storr and his Wife. They have been 
 both able Minifters of the Gofpel many Years, and have many Children, young 
 Men and Women, and all preferved from the Immoralities of the World, and 
 hopeful. We had no Inclination for a Meeting there; but next Day went for- 
 Shcfiield. ward to Sheffield, and lodged at Thomas Buck's; and, on the 22d, were at their 
 Meetings, both Forenoon and After.- That Meeting is much enlarged in fome 
 
 Years,
 
 of T H MA S ST RT. ^^^ 
 
 Years, and was very full, by Addition of many of the Inhabitants of otiier Pro- An n o 
 feffions ; and the L o r d favoured us together with his divine, melting, folacing 173b. 
 Goodnefs, and fiiitable iVIatters of Doftrine, to Convincement and Edification^ 
 That Night aJfo we remained there. 
 
 O N the 23d we went forward to Bewdley ; where we called to fee our ancient Bewdly. 
 Friend William Francis^ then above Eighty Years of Age. In his latter Time he 
 had been much in the Highlands of Scotland., about fome Bufinefs in which he 
 had been intrufted, and which he had difcharged honourably ; and on that Oc- 
 cafion had preached the Truth in Word and Doftrine, as alfo in Life and Con- 
 verfation, among them, and had obtained near Acquaintance and Friendfhip with 
 fome of the Nobility as well as the lower Rank : And though he was fo weak 
 with Age and Labour of divers kindSj that he could fcarcely get on Horfe- 
 back, yet he went with us feveral Miles toward Leeds ; and he parting with us 
 on the Road, we arrived at Leeds in the Afternoon, and were received in much 
 Love and Friendfhip, at our Friend Benjamin Horner' %. 
 
 On the 25th, being the Fourth of the Week, and the Week-day Meeting 
 at Leeds., we were at it. It is confiderably large, and confifts, for the greateft Leeds. 
 Part, of young People ; fober, but few of them, yet baptized of the L r d, 
 by his fanftifying Baptifm : which is much the Cafe and State of our young 
 People at this Day throughout the World ; being in Danger, as others have 
 done, of fitting down under the Profeffion of Truth, in a Traditional Way, 
 as to the Doftrine and Form of the Difcipline of it, and yet fiiort and ignorant 
 of the Life, Light, Virtue and Power of Truth effentially in themfelves j by 
 V/hich an Apoftacy from the very Form may enter and proreed gradually till 
 the whole be loft, as to them, and fome other Thing take place under the fame 
 Name : which the L o r d prevent, by his kind and merciful Vifitation, in his 
 own Time and Way ; for nothing elfe can do it, or carry on that great and 
 glorious Work, which his own Arm hath begun in the Earth in and by his 
 People. 
 
 Here we ftaid till the 28th ; which being the Seventh Day of the Week, 
 I left my Coufin Bell and his Wife there, they not intending much farther North 
 at that Time, and went home with my very much refpefted Friend, IVilliam 
 Hirdy having come to Leeds on purpofe to conduft me ; and next Day we went 
 together to the Meeting at Bradford ; which was large, and more fo, by pretty Bradford, 
 many of the Neighbourhood who came there. The Lord was with us, and 
 gave me a full and open Time among them, to our mutual and general Satisfac- 
 tion ; to the Praife of the Lord alone, who only is worthy now and for ever. 
 That Night I lodged at my ufuai Quarters there, with my kind Friend Benja- 
 min Bart let and his Family. 
 
 On the 31ft, accompanied by William Hird, Sec. I went to Skipton., to Ba- skipton, 
 vid HaWi ; and next Day, about Eleven in the Forenoon, had a Meeting there, 
 confifting, for the greateft part, of Strangers. It was large and peaceable, and 
 the laving Truths of the Gofpel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 
 were freely and plainly opened ; with which feveral were afFedted, fome tendered, 
 and generally folid, through the Weight of Truth then over the Auditory. 
 
 That Night alfo I lodged there, and the next Day went to Settle, to Wil- Setile, 
 Ham Birbeck's -, and though it was near Four in the Afternoon before I arrived, 
 yet, by the Diligence of that Family, we had a large Meeting beginning at Six ; 
 where the L o r d's good Prefence accompanied us, and, in his Love and Light, 
 
 the
 
 7i8 
 
 Anno 
 
 Kendal. 
 
 Carlifle. 
 
 Moorhoufe. 
 
 Jullice-Town 
 
 Pardfay. 
 
 Wieton. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 the Truth was preached with Authority and Demonftration •, and thougii many 
 of the Auditory were of the Prieft's People, mixed with Diffenters, yettheWif 
 dom and Virtue of Truth came over them, reduced them to Qiiietnefs and So- 
 hdity during the Meeting, and they generally retired after the Meeting in a fo- 
 bcr and grave Manner, a Sign that they were weighed down by the invifible 
 Power of Truth. After this Meeting I found my Strength much exhaufted; 
 and having taken fome Cold before, the Weather being wet, it appeared with 
 its Effefts more fully then, fo that I could not reft as ufual that Night : yet, by 
 the good Providence of the Almighty, and Care of the Family, I was able to go 
 on the next Morning, and in the Evening reached Kendal; where I was kindly 
 received and entertained at my ufual Quarters, by my Friends Thomas Elwoody 
 and his Wife and Family. This being the Sixth of the Week, I (laid there till 
 the Firft Day, and was at their Meetings both Forenoon and After. It was 
 pretty large in the Morning, confifting for the molt part of Friends -, but being 
 put off in the Afternoon till the Fourth Hour, and Notice given to the Inhabi- 
 tants, we had a large and peaceable Meeting. The Hand of the L o R d is open 
 to Mankind in general, but meets not with due Acceptance and Gratitude in ma- 
 ny to whom his Goodnefs is extended in this Generation ; yet his Arm is ftretched 
 out ftill. 
 
 Having taken Cold by reafon of the wet Weather in my Journey, I ftaid 
 there till the 9th •, and there happening to be a Burial that Day, we were fa- 
 voured with the divine Prefence in our Meeting on that Occafion-, and many 
 of the Town's People being there, the L o r d opened the Myfteries of his King- 
 dom freely and plainly to them, in which Friends were fatisfied and comforted. 
 
 Continuing ftill a little indifpofed, I ftaid there til! the i2th-, which 
 being the Firft of the Week, I was there again at the Meetings, both Forenoon 
 and After, and on the 13th went to Penrith ; where I ftaid that Night. 
 
 O N the 14th I went to Carlifie, and the Day following was at their Week-day 
 Meeting; and on the 17th, being the Sbcth of the Week, was at the Monthly 
 Meeting there. 
 
 On the 19th, being the Firft of the Week, I went to the Meeting at Moor- 
 houfe; where we were favoured with the divine Goodnefs. 
 
 On the 20th I went to my Farm called Juftice-Town, where I had a large 
 Nurfery of Foreft-tree Plants, both Britijh and American ; from which having 
 been abfent fome Years, they were in that Tim.e grown much out of Order, and 
 many of them loft, being overgrown and fupprefs'd by others; very much like 
 the Courfe and Way of Human-kind, among whom the Weaker are too often 
 crulh'd and ruin'd by the Stronger, and in vain lament and cry for Aid, when 
 none hears, relents, or aids, and where the only Relief is patient Suffering, till 
 kinder Death ends the Trouble. Here I ftaid till the 21ft preparing for a fur- 
 ther Progrefs in that Concern •, but the Quarterly Meeting for the County hap- 
 pening to fall at Pardfay, below Cockernwuth, I went thither on the 23d ; and at- 
 tending the Service of the Meeting, (which was to the Satisfaftion both of my- 
 felf and Friends, for the Lord was with us) I returned to TVigton, to Thomas 
 IFetberal's ; and it being the Spventh of the Week, I was at their Meeting next 
 Day i where the divine Truth fhone over all in Majefty ami Glory, to the Praift 
 of the Father through him for ever. That Evening I returned to Ciirl^/le. 
 
 On the 27th I went to Jujiict-Town-. where, with many Hand?, I began to 
 
 plant
 
 of THOMAS STOUT. 7-9 
 
 plant out feveral forts of young Trees, as Oaks, Elms, Allies, Acer-majors, Anno 
 Poplars of feveral kinds. Firs, Englifli Walnuts, Black Walnuts, Tulip Trees, 1736. 
 Locufl Trees, Cedars oi America, Occidental Planes, Lindels, Chefnuts, Horfe- 
 Chefnuts, divers forts of Willows, Beeches, Hornbeams, Scarlet Oaks, vjfr. 
 which I had raifed from Seeds and Cuttings, after their feveral kinds, at that 
 Farm, to turnifh that Part of the Country, in Time, with Timber, which is now 
 fcarce ; and that I miglit be an Example to others in that ufeful kind of Im- 
 provement ; which feveral fince have begun to follow. In the mean time I vi- 
 lited fome Meetings in thofc Parts ; as, Kirklinton., Solport, Qarlijle, Scotsby, and 
 Moorhoiife, and the Monthly Meeting, confifting of thefe five. 
 
 H E R E I ftaid till the 17th of the Ninth Month, and that Day fet forward 
 from Carlijle^ accompanied by John Dockwray, John Latimer, John Tate, my 
 Steward, and young John Nixon, and the fame Night lodged at Penrith. 
 
 On the iSth, being the Fifth of the Week, I went to Kendal, to Thomas El- Kcnda!. 
 wood's, and was at their W^eek-day's Meeting the Day following ■, where we 
 were mercifully favoured with the good Prefence of the Lord. 
 
 On the 21 ft, being the Firft of the Week, I was at that Meeting again; 
 which, in the Forenoon, confided tor the moft part of Friends i and the Lord 
 was with us, to our mutual Confolation : And as I was known to many of the 
 Inhabitants, who had been often at our Meetings, and fome times when I had 
 been there, Friends thought proper to put off' the Afternoon Meeting till between 
 Four and Five in the Evening ; when we had a great Number of the Inhabitants 
 with us, by Computadon about 1000 in all -, and being very quiet and orderly, 
 fome neceffary and important Truths of the Gofpel were clearly opened among 
 us with divine Authority. 
 
 On the 2 2d I went to Gale, to Ifaac Hadwin's ; on the 23d to Settle, to Wil- 
 liam Birieck's, jun. on the 24th to Skipton, to David Hall's •, and on the 25th 
 to Bradford, where I was kindly received by my Friend Benjamin Bartlet, and Bradford, 
 all his. Here I ftaid till the 28th, being the Firft of the Week, and was at their 
 Meeting •, which confifted generally of Friends, and for the moft part of young 
 Perfons of both Sexes : and the Lord was pleafed to open their States to them 
 in a good Degree, and many of them were much tendered and broken in a Senfe 
 of his frefti Vifitation and Goodnefs that Day, to the Comfort likewife of the El- 
 ders in general, and to the Praife of his own Arm, who alone is worthy now and 
 for ever. 
 
 O N the 30th I went to William Hird's, where I ftaid two Nights, his Com- 
 pany and Converfation being very agreeable •, and on the 2d of the Tenth Month, 
 being the Fifth of the Week, we went together to Leeds ; where I was kindly 
 received by my long-acquainted Friend Benjamin Horner^ and all his, to our 
 mutual Satisfadion ; and next Day was at their Week-day Meeting. On the 
 5th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting again ; which being 
 poftponed till Three in the Afternoon, pretty many of the Neighbours came in, 
 and were fober and attentive to the Things that were opened, fo far as I could 
 obferve •, and the Meeting was well in general. 
 
 O N the 6th the Corpfe of an ancient Friend happening to be buried there, we 
 had another Meeting on that Occafion : and many Neighbours being there, fome 
 Truths of the Gofpel were opened to them with Clearnefs ; and it was a com- 
 fortable Meeting : But what Ufe they make of the kind Vifitations of the Lo r d, 
 
 8 y Time 
 
 Leeds;
 
 730 
 
 Anno 
 
 1736. 
 
 Pontefraft. 
 
 Wakefield. 
 Sheffield. 
 
 Blythe. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Time nuift fliew ; but it feems, that delaying to own their Conviclions, and join 
 with Truth and Friends, they return and fit down under the gloomy Shadow of 
 their dark Priefts, fpending their Money for that which is not Bread, and their 
 Labour for that which profiteth not ; buying of them who fell, till Buyers and 
 Sellers are fliut out together. 
 
 On the 7th I went to Pontefraif, to John Mar/den's, and next Day had a 
 Meeting there -, which was open and comfortable, fome of the Neighbours be- 
 ing there of various Notions of Religion, and all quiet. 
 
 O N the 9th I was at a Monthly Meeting at TVakefield ; and that Night I lod- 
 o-ed at ^Villiam Jnckfon's, about three Miles from thence, where I was kindly 
 entertained. Next Day his Son went with me to Sheffield, to Thomas Buck's ; 
 where I ftaid till the Firft Day following, and was at their Meeting -, which con- 
 fifts, for moft part, of young People : and the Lord favoured us with his 
 o-ood Prefence, and a frefli Vifitation of Kindnefs to them ; which I believe 
 many of both Sexes were fenfible of. 
 
 That Evenino- I went to Wocdhcttfe, about three Miles, and lodged at 
 Godfrey Neivbold's ; and next Day went to Bhibe, to attend the Burial of an 
 
 ancient and honourable Friend, Buck : on which Occaiion many Friends 
 
 and People were at the Meeting -, and the Lord gave us a comfortable Time 
 together, opening many important Truths of the Gofpel unto us, and Things 
 were well. 
 
 The next Morning 1 fet forward for Nottingham, through the Foreft of 
 Sherwood ; and it beginning a fmall Rain in the Morning, increafed fo as to be- 
 come Very heavy, then much Snow, Rain and Hail, and fo held on all Day, 
 that I was thoroughly wet and cold -, but though under that Circumftance, and 
 late before I got to my Friend Francis Hart's,, I was kindly received, and the 
 beft done for me they could : So that, through kind Providence, I took little 
 Cold, but was well the next Morning, and fet forward for Leiccjier. I met 
 with feveral Difficulties and dangerous Circumftances in the Way, (for the Wa- 
 ters were very high and rifing) but got well thither that Evening -, where I 
 •was kindly received and well accommodated by my Friend John Penford and his 
 Wife : And he, being an Apothecary, furniflied me with fome proper Bal- 
 fam, &ff. for a Pain which had atfefted my Left-Arm, and become troublc- 
 fome. Next Day he fent his Servant with me as far as Northampton. The 
 Ways being extremely bad, we did not arrive there till Seven in the Evening, 
 and very tired •, but being freely received at our Friend M. Binyon's, and 
 good Care taken, I did not find any further Inconvenience. One Thing very 
 particular I oblerved in the Way as we went in the Night-time : Going toward 
 a Valley, not above two or three Miles from Northampton, we faw feveral 
 Lio-hts, which I took to be Candles from the Windows of Houfes in fome 
 fmall Village before us ; and in a fhort Time they all feemcd to vanifh, which 
 I took to be by the Interpofition of fome higher Ground or Hedges ; till, 
 coming forward in a Lane, near a Brook in the Valley, we efpied a fingle 
 Light a little before us on the Way-fide, not moving, but fix'd as in a Win- 
 dow of fome Houfe there : but as we approached the Place, it began to 
 move, and crofTed the Lane at fome Diftance from us, and went through a 
 Hedge, and a little Way along another Hedge in a Clofe, mending its Pace, 
 fo that I took it to be fome Perfon in hafte, carrying a Lanthom from a Houfe 
 whence it feemed to ilTue, though there was no Houfe there : Then it took a 
 fhort Turn, as if it had fome Self-diredion, and pafTing along about Breaft- 
 
 high
 
 of THOMAS S T O RT. 
 
 high from the Earth, went Side-way in the Wind, whicli was confiderably 
 higli ; and going a Httle on our Riglu-hand, went Northward near the 
 Way we liad conic. It was very bright, tho' itfeemed Ibmetimes to intermit a 
 little, and twinkle in its Motion -, and lb went on as far as we could lee it. It 
 put me in mind of fome flying Beetles I had feen in Hifpaniola, and Ibme other 
 Parts of the JFeft-ImUes ; which fliine as they fly in the Night, giving Light, in 
 Appearance not much fliort of Stars of the firfl: Magnitude. I have often 
 heard, and fomewhere read, of an Ignis fatuiis, or Jack with a Lantliorn •, of 
 which I Ilippofe this was one fort, (for I have heard of feveral) but have not found 
 the Phosnomenon folved any where to my Satisfaftion. 
 
 O N the 1 7th I went forward to IVooburn, where I lay at an Inn ; and the 
 Day after fet forward for Albans, where I arrived well that Evening : and tho' 
 feveral Friends came to me to the Inn where I alighted, and invited me to 
 their Houfes, and fpent the Evening with me ; yet I made Choice of the Inn, 
 not being willing to be burdenlbme to my Friends there, they being but few in 
 Number. The next Day, being the Firfl: of the Week, I was at the Meeting 
 with them ; which was fmall in the Forenoon, but open and comfortable •, and 
 not large in the Afternoon, little, if any Notice having been given to the Neigh- 
 bours: yet a few Ibber People being there, we were favoured with a good 
 Meeting ; and the L o r d's good Prefence was among us. 
 
 On the 20th I intended to fet forward for London ; but being a heaVy Rain, 
 and not willing to hazard my Health any farther, unlefs my Concerns there had 
 been indifpenfibly urgent, I remained there till the 2ifl:, and then went to Lon- 
 don ; where I was kindly received by imy Friend Jofeph Green, and his, to our 
 mutual Satisfa(5tion. J ^l nr . 
 
 Am NO 
 
 1736- 
 
 Albsn'; 
 
 In this Journey I had fufl-ered very much by the Badnefs of the Weather 
 and Roads •, which affected my Conftitution fo, that I remained at London, vi- 
 liting the Meetings there, and in the Country near, till the 13th of the Fourth 
 Month, 1738 •, and then went to Hartford : where the next Day we were fa- 
 voured with a comfortable Meeting -, for which I was thankful to the Lord, 
 who is the Fountain of all our Mercies. 
 
 London. 
 
 Hartford. 
 
 O N the 1 5th I was at another Meeting In the Afternoon at Hitchin ; which Hitchin. 
 was open and well, to general Satis faftion-, and that Night lodged there at my 
 Friend John Turner''5, who was of a good old primitive Stock. 
 
 On the i6th, proving very wet, and the Ways heavy, I went only to Ap- 
 Jley ; where I ftaid that Night : and the Rains continuing, the Wind high, 
 the Ways very deep, and an uncommon Degree of Cold, I ftaid there till about 
 the Third Hour next Day, being a little fair at that Time, and then fet forward 
 for Northampton ; but the Rain returning very heavy, and Wind continuing, 
 and my Mare falling lame in the Road, it proved very fatiguing ; though I ar- 
 rived at my Friend Edward Bmyon's in the Evening, where I was kindly re- 
 ceived and entertained. He was eldeft Son of Thomas Binyon, where I had 
 ufually lodged in fore Times. The next Day, being the Firfl: of the Week, 
 I was at the Meetings there Forenoon and Afternoon ; which were large, efpe- Northampton 
 daily that in the Afternoon, and very open and comfortable : and the Truths of 
 the Gofpel opened clearly and plentifully, with Demonflration and Authority, to 
 the fole Praifc of the great and gracious Giver of every good and perfedl Gift. 
 
 On the 19th, accompanied by Thomas Binyon, jmu I went forward to Leicejler, 
 
 where
 
 >y3l TJje L r F E, ^c 
 
 Anko where I refted that Night -, and on the 20th, being furniflied with a Servant and 
 1738. two Horfes by my Friend John Penford, where I lodged, I fet forward at Three 
 in the Afternoon, (for it rained hard till then) and in the Evening got well to Not- 
 Nouingham, tingham; where I was kindly received by my Friend John Hart, where I lodged 
 the Time before, as I went to London. The Meeting being appointed next Day 
 at Two in the Afternoon, the Lord favoured us with a Degree of his good^ 
 Prefence •, and though we were in Silence a confiderable Tmie, the Things ot 
 God opened well, and were delivered with good Authority, there being fome 
 of the Town's People there ; and all was very quiet and well. 
 
 On the 2 2d I hired a Horfe for myfelf, and the Friends procured another 
 and a Guide, and we went forward through the great Foreft of Sherivood to 
 Blythe. Blythe, and on the 23d was at their Week-day Meeting; which was fmall, few 
 
 Friends remaining there, but very open and comfortable : and that Afternoon 
 I went forward to Pl^arnfworfh, to my Friend Thomas Jldam's j where I was 
 kindly received. 
 
 On the 25th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at a General Meeting for 
 Warnrworth. Worlhip, tailing of courle at Warnfworth Yearly about that Time. It was 
 large and comfortable, the Goodnefs of the Lord being fenfibly with us. 
 
 On the 27th, accompanied by feveral Friends, we fct forward for 3V^', by 
 way of Tadcaltcr ; where, falling in with other Friends from Leeds and Places 
 adjacent, we all dined together at an Inn -, and, before we arofc from the Table, 
 the divine Truth rendered me very much, and reached the Friends in general, 
 furprizing us together with a merciful Vifitation of his Kindnefs, as in our early 
 Times ; and we were at that Time as little Children before him, and fatiated with 
 the Breaft of living Confolation in his Prefence, not to be forgotten, but Icaied 
 on every Heart, to the ever-living Praifes of the G o D of Mercy, and ot our 
 Salvation. fFe were reduced to Silence. 
 
 York. From Tadcajler we went that Evening to l^ork, to an Evening Meeting 
 
 there ; and the next Day began the Quarterly Meeting for the County -, that 
 Meeting, at that Time of the Year, being commonly called their Yearly 
 Meeting. It held the 28th and 29th, was very large, efpecially in Times of 
 Worfliip ; when many of other Communions came in, and generally behaved 
 well. The Lord was with us ; and Things, both as to Worfhip and Difci- 
 pline, were condufted in the Meeknefs of his Wifdom, to his own Glory, and 
 Confolation of his People, without Schifm or Jar. 
 
 And I, defiring once more to fee as many of the Inhabitants of the City at 
 our Meeting as could be, upon full Notice given them, fluid there at my Friend 
 Roger Shackleio7i'% till the 2d of the Fifth Month •, where, in the Forenoon, the 
 Meeting was more feleft : but in the Afternoon, being put off till Five in the 
 Evening, it was very lai-ge, the greater Meeting-houfe being well fiJIcd ; and 
 I had, through the infinite Mercy of God, the everlafting Gofpel, and uni- 
 verfal Salvation of G o d through Christ our Lord, to preach to them in 
 fome good Meafure and Authority ; and obfcrved many fober and attentive 
 Perfons, of both Sexes, among them, but others too airy and unconcerned, yet 
 generally of decent Behaviour. 
 
 O N the 4th of the Fifth Month, being the Third of the Week, I went to a 
 Huby; Meeting appointed at Hiiby, about feven Miles from 2V/& ; which was fmall, 
 
 but open and comfortable, the Goodnefs of the Lord being fenfibly with us ; 
 and that Night I lodged at Andrew Vaufe*%, a poor Farmer near that Village. 
 
 On
 
 6- 
 
 of THOMA'^S STORT. 735 
 
 On the 5th I was at an appointed Meeting at Tbomlon; which, in the Be- Anxo 
 
 ginning, was hard and exercifing, but, through the Mercy of Go d, was very 173S. 
 
 open afterwards, and ended well, to the fole Praife of his own holy Name, v.-ho Thcrntcn. 
 alone is worthy. 
 
 On the 6th I v/as at another Meeting of courfe at Malton, where the Lord Malton. 
 was with us, and opened the Myfteries of the Gofpel clearly ; and a good Time 
 the L R D gave us together, there being few befides Friends there. 
 
 On the 7th I had a Meeting appointed at PzV/^mwg- ; where Friends came Plckerir.'- 
 from divers Places round. In this Meeting we had a coPiiiderable Time in Si- 
 lence, and fomething in it very hard to be wrought through, a Spirit of Heavi- 
 nefs, Careleflhefs, and Darknefs j yet the Arm of the Lord arofe, and the 
 Brightnels of his hving Prefence prevailed over Death and Darknefs, and the 
 Righteous rejoiced before him, in a Senfe of his never-failing Goodnefs. It was 
 a comforuble Time indeed to Friends in general, to the raifing of due Praifes to 
 the Almighty Author of all Good, and he himfelf is that Good. That Even- 
 ing I went with Robert Milner and his ^Yife to their Houfe, about feven MHes j 
 where I was kindly entertained. 
 
 O N the 8 th I went to Scarborough, to the Widow Alice Mellerh ; and the next Scarborongh. 
 Day, being the Firft of the Week, we were favoured with two good Meetings, 
 the good Prefence of the Lord was with us to our great Refrefhment, and the 
 Truths of the Gofpel were opened clearly, and with good Authority. We had 
 two very comfortable Meetings more that Week there i one on the Fourth Day, 
 and the other on the Sixth, as ufually there : And Haying till the 16th, being the 
 Firft of the Week, the Loan favoured us with his good Prefence, and gave 
 us two comfortable Meetings •, wherein divers important Truths of the Gofpel 
 were amply let forth in the Authority and Wifdom of it, to his own fole Praife 
 and Glory. 
 
 O N the 1 8 th I went to Whitby ; and the next Day, being their ufual Meeting whiib/. 
 Day, we were favoured with a very open comfortable Meeting, the Lord being 
 with us to our general Satisfaction. I lodged there at Thomas Birkit's ; where I 
 was kindly received and entertained. I ftaid till the 21&, and was at their 
 Sixth Day Meering, (for they have two in the Weeky which was very open and 
 comfortable. Friends being generally tendered by the Influence of divine Love, 
 the Sweetnefs whereof feafoned our Converfation afterwards. 
 
 On the 2 2d I returned to Scarhoreugb ; and the next Day, being the Fint of 
 the Week, at the Forenoon Meeting, I found it very heavy for fome Time, 
 many being very drowfy and unconcerned ; but the L o r d favouring us with 
 a fmall Glimpfe of his enlivening Countenance, we were thereby refrefhed, and 
 the Meering ended well : And in the Afternoon many Strangers (being in Town 
 on occafion of the Spaw Water^ came to the Meeting-, and the Lor a favour- 
 ed us with his good Prefence, and opened the important Truths of the GofptI 
 with Authorit)^ and Demonflrarion -, as, the Fall of Man in the Firft yiii;;;, his 
 Relloration by the Second Jdam to the Knowledge of divine Life loft in the 
 firft-, the NecefTity of Regeneration by Faith in Christ, and through the 
 ^^'ork of his Power in us, as he is the quickening Spirit ; by which we are bom 
 of the eleft Seed, which never feU, and made Partakers of the divine Nature in 
 him, to our everlafhng EftabliQiment, as that great and truly wonderful Work 
 is compleated by C h r i s t, cut of the Reach of ail Temptation and PofTibility 
 of any future Fall, rcfting in tlie unfpeakable Joy of the Salvation of God for 
 
 S Z ever
 
 / 3 
 
 + 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno ever and ever. The Meeting was very folid in general, lome of the Quality, as 
 1738. they are diftinguiflied among Men, being there ; and yet fome of the bafer fort, 
 tliou'^h in gay Cloathing, could not hide their Levity and extream Ignorance, in 
 fome Part of the Time of the Delivery of Truths fo needful to be known and 
 received of all Mankind : but they being only fome private Sneerers, there was 
 no open Difturbance, and the Meeting concluded in great Solidity and Decency, 
 as ufual in thefe Days, to the Honour of the divine Truth, who alone is worthy. 
 
 On the 26th, being the Fourth of the Week, I was again at their Week-day 
 Meedng, and alfo on the 2 8th ; where we had our Meetings more feled with 
 Friends, (for Strangers ufually come moil on Firft Day Afternoons) and we were 
 comforted together in the Truth. 
 
 O N the 30th, being the Firft of the Week, in the Afternoon efpecially, came 
 many Strangers to the Meeting : the Truth of the Gofpel was, in the divine 
 Power of it, preached among them •, under which they were generally fober and 
 attentive, feveral of the Quality being prefent. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Sixth Month the Meeting was again more felecl, though 
 fome Strangers of both Sexes were there, where the one true and faving Bap- 
 tifm of the Holy Spirit was clearly preached; when feveral of the Auditory 
 feemed furprized to hear the abfolute NecelTity of it fet forth fo plainly, accor- 
 ding to the Holy Scriptures, and with an Authority, which carried the Matter 
 home, in fome good Meafure, to the Hearts and Underftandings of feveral of 
 the Auditors. It was a glorious and fatisfaftory Meeting, through divine Good- 
 nefs, though not numerous. 
 
 O N the 4th, being the Sixth of the Week, I was there again ; where we were 
 likewife favoured with the good Prefence of the Lord. 
 
 O N the 6th, being the Firft of the Week, I was there again •, and the Com- 
 pany increafing, the Spring of the Gofpel increafed, fo as that feveral important 
 Truths thereof opened in the Demonftration of Wifdom and Power, to the Sa- 
 tisfaction of many, and Glory of the great Creator and Upholder of all Things. 
 Great is the Truth, and it did prevail. 
 
 On the 9th, being the Fourth of the Week, I was there again; and though 
 the Meeting was fmall, being the Forenoon, when the People were generally at 
 the Spaw, it was the more feledl to Friends, and the Lord gave us a com- 
 fortable Seafon together in his divine Prefence and Goodnefs. My Concern for 
 that Place continuing, I was at all their Meetings, both on Firft Days and 
 Week Days, until the 26th, and then went to Anthony Langley^s, a Friend's 
 Bridlington. Houfe, two Miles beyond Bridlington, where I lodged that Night; and the next 
 Day, being the Firft of the ^\'eek, had two open and fatisfadbory Meetings with 
 Friends and others. That Night I lodged at jfokn Jtzueek's, where I was kindly 
 entertained; and at the fame Place had another Meeting on the 29th in the 
 Evening ; which was very folid, and the Doftrines of the Truth were fet forth 
 with Clearnels, by the Grace of G o d, and the Virtue and Authority of it, to the 
 fole Praife of the only true and living God, who is worthy and bleflcd for ever. 
 
 On the 31ft, being the Fifth of the Week, we had another Meeting there; 
 which was very comfortable, the Goodnefs of the Lord being mucli over us '. 
 and the Kingdom of God was declared in the Authority of it, and the Kin^^- 
 riom and Power of Antichrift thereby laid open ; being founded inwardly in the 
 
 Dark-
 
 of THOMAS S T O RT. niS 
 
 Darknefs of this World, in the Imaginations and Corruptions of Men, fupport- Ann o 
 ed by that Wifdom which is from beneath, and the Power of it, under the Con- 1738- 
 duft of falfe and degenerate Priefls ; who run for Rewards in this World whepe 
 God never fent them ; who have profited themfelves by the Spoils of the 
 blind People, but have not profited the People at all. 
 
 On the ift of the Seventh Month I went back to Scarborough; and on the Scarborough. 
 3d, being the Firft of the Week, I was again at the Meeting there ; where, in 
 the Forenoon, the Lord gave us a plentiful Seafon of his Goodnefs, and the 
 Meeting being for the moft part of Friends, the Teftimony of Truth was, in 
 the Openings of Life, more feledlly adapted to them, for thdr Confirmation and 
 Encouragement; and a glorious, comfortable, and confirming Time it was to 
 many : And in the Afternoon the Strangers who attended the Spaw coming in 
 pretty fully, many Truths of the Gofpel and Kingdom of G o d were opened 
 unto them, in the Love and Goodnefs of G o d ; under a Senfe whereof the Meet- 
 ing was held throughout the Time, to general Satisfadlion, fo far as I could ga- 
 ther from tiie ftill, attentive, ferious and folid Behaviour of the People : So that 
 the Friends and they feemed as if they were all reconciled in one, even in the 
 divine Truth, under the powerful baptizing Virtue and Influence of it ; and that 
 Evening the Lord gave mc great Confolation therein. 
 
 O N the 5th their Monthly Meeting with Friends of Whitby falling of courfe, 
 I was there alfo to my Satisfaction j for the good Prefence of the Lord was 
 with us, and the Difcipline of the Meeting was managed in the peaceable Wif- 
 dom of Truth, and in brotherly Condefcenfion and Love, to the Praife of the 
 great Author of every good and wholefome Eftablilhment, and every good 
 Word and Work broviglit forch therehy and therein ; being as the Tree of Lite, 
 bearing its Fruit ripe, comfortable, delicious, and ftrengthening. 
 
 O N the 6th I took Leave of the Place, having firft acquainted Friends there- 
 with in the laft Meeting, and left Friends in L,ove and Peace. That Evening I 
 went to Newton, and lodged at Robert Milner's ; and the next Day, in the Even- 
 ing, had a Meeting in his Houfe with his Family, and a few poor, fimple People 
 of the National Way, to whom the Lord opened many helpful inftrufting 
 Things by my Miniftry ; but to the Praife of the Lord himfelf only. 
 
 Whitby. 
 
 Newton. 
 
 O N the 8th I went to a Monthly Meeting at Malton ; where the L o r d gave Mahon, 
 us a comfortable Tim.e, and opened feveral Things relating to the Difcipline of 
 the Church, and Moral Virtue and Condud, in the Wifdom and Authority of 
 the Gofpel-, and yet a Cafe of Uncleanncls being prefented, and having been de- 
 bated in fome former Meetings, feveral of the Meeting appeared to defend the 
 TranfgrefTor, though Fa6ls had been morally proved, and alfo confeffed by him : 
 But the Power of Truth being over the Meeting, and finding myfelf engaged 
 therein againft the Spirit of Contention, I reproved its Members, convitted them 
 of the Errors of their evil Work, and filenced them for that Time ; which 
 greatly encouraged the righteous Servants of the Lord there concerned for the 
 Honour of the Lord and our Society; and then the Teftimony of Truth 
 went out againft the TranfgrefTor with Unanimity, and the Meeting ended in 
 Peace, to the Satisfaftion of the Juft. 
 
 O N the 9th I went to Tork, to Roger Shakkton's, and on the loth was at their Voik. 
 Meetings both Forenoon and Afternoon. It was the Firft Day of the Week, 
 and being very rainy, the Meetings were more feled to Friends, though there 
 
 were
 
 75(S The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno were fome Strangers-, and a very comfortable Day the Lord gave us in his 
 1738. ever-bleffed Preience, and many good Things were opened in his divine Light 
 and Power, to Edification and Confirmation. 
 
 Leeds. O N the i ith I went to Leeds, to my old and dear Friend Benjamin Horner's, 
 
 and was at their M eeting on the 1 3th, the Fourth of the Week. The Forepart 
 of this Meeting was heavy, dark, and uncomfortable; but, by Degrees, Light 
 fhined out of Darknefs, and difpelled its Power in good Meafure, to the com- 
 forting of the fincere- hearted, and Reproof of the Idle, Lukewarm, and Uncon- 
 cerned among us. 
 
 Bradford. O N the 1 5th I was at another Meeting there, in a fmall Meeting-houfe in Town 
 
 eredled for more feleft Meetings of Friends, efpecially the aged and infirm ; where 
 the L o R D was with us to our general Comfort and Edification : for our Hearts 
 were made glad by the Wine of his Kingdom plentifully difpenfed among us. 
 
 O N the 1 6th I went to Bradford, to my hearty Friend Benjamin Bartle^s \ 
 where I was received, as ufual, with Kindnefs and Refpeft, which hath ever been 
 mutual fince firfl acquainted : and the Day after, being the Firft of the Week* 
 was at the Meeting there ; which was very large, many of the more reputable 
 fort of People of various ProfefTions of Religion being prefent ; and the 
 Lord opened many necefTary Points of the Dodtrines of the Gofpel among us, 
 during which there was general Quietude and Attention, in all Appearance; and 
 the Meeting feemed fatisfied, departing in a folid Condition. 
 
 On the 19th I went to my Friend William Hird's, where Iftaid that Night; 
 and the next Day was at a Meeting about a Mile from thence •, where the Lord 
 favoured us plentifully with his good Prefence. It was a glorious Meeting, to 
 his own Praife, of whom alone is the Power. 
 
 On the 21ft, in the Evening, I returned to Bradford; where the Monthly 
 Meeting happening next Day, I was there alfo, and had fome Service both in 
 Difcipline and Miniftry. 
 
 Leeds. On the 23d I departed in Peace for Leeds -, and next Day, being the Firft of 
 
 the Week, I was at the Meetings there, both Forenoon and After ; which were 
 very large, efpecially in the Afternoon, the Meeting being put off till the Third 
 Hour, and many of the chief of the People of the Town were there, and a very 
 great Crowd ; and the Lord had regard unto us, and was pleafed to furnifh 
 me with Dnderftanding and Strength, both of Body and Mind, to deliver many 
 Things unto them touching the Knowledge of G o d, and eternal Life in and 
 by Christ the Lord: and the Truth was over the Multitude, fat upon 
 them and reign'd -, fo that there was not a light Countenance to be fecn among 
 them. Thefe are the Works of God, by Jesus Christ the Lord, 
 through whom be the Acknowledgement to the Father, now and for ever. 
 
 Voik, On the 26th I returned to Tork with Friends from Leeds, and thofe Parts, 
 
 in order for the Quarterly Meeting of the County, which began the next Day ; 
 the Bufinefs whereof, as well as Worfliip, was conduced in the peaceable Wif- 
 dom of the Son of G o d, whole divine Goodnefs and Prefence prefidcd there. 
 Many great and important Truths were delivered in the Meetings by feveral 
 Brethren, in the Demondration and Authority of the Holy Spirit. Here a Per- 
 fon took down fome of mine in Short-hand, as he had done at fome other Times 
 as alio of fome others in other Places ; which is feldom truly done : for tho' the 
 
 Form
 
 of T HO M A S ST O RT. nil 
 
 Form of the Speech may be, by that Means, and Help of the Memory of theWri- Anno 
 ter and others, nearly recovered ; yet the miffing or altering of a Word in fome 1738. 
 Sentences may greatly alter and wrong the Senfe : And it is certain that no Let- 
 ters, Words, or Speech, can reprefent the divine Virtue, Power, and Energy, ia 
 which the Doftrines of Truth are delivered by thofe who are fent of G o d : for 
 they fpeak with Wifdom and Authority in and from him, and not as the Artifts 
 and Hirelings of this World and of Antichrift, whofe Speeches are often 
 and commonly artful, cunning and deceiveable •, whereby they enfnare the People, 
 rule over them, and make a Trade and Gain of them to themfelves, and live in 
 the Pomp and Grandeur of this World ; though they promife and vow before 
 God and Man, to renounce them, and make the People do fo likewife, and 
 break thofe Vows alfo as often as they make them -, and not once only, but to 
 the End of their Days, if their daily Confeffions be really true : Neverthelefs, 
 where Teftimonies are truly fet down in Writing, fo far as they are found, 
 with refpeft to Faith in G o d and Christ the Lord, or any other Point of 
 Dodrine in Religion, they may be of Ufe to help forward the Work of the 
 Lord, in the Redemption and Salvation of Mankind. The Meetings ended 
 in the peaceable Spirit and Love of the Holy One, in which they began and were 
 held. Divers departed the City that Evening with Satisfaftion and Confolation, 
 towards their feveral Habitations ; and yet, as Pillars in the Houfe of G o d, de- 
 part no more therefrom, but remain therein for ever : But I having no certain 
 Dwelling-place on Earth, though fomething therein I call mine, and have juft 
 Power over while in this Body, and not in hafte for any other Place, I ftaid to 
 attend the Service of the Lord in the next Firft Day's Meetings in that City ■■, 
 where we were favoured with the divine Prefence, and many important Truths 
 of the Gofpel were delivered in the Authority of Truth j which were taken in 
 Short-hand, but not exaiflly. 
 
 O N the 2d of the Eighth Month I went from thence to Pontefra£f, to John Pontefraft. 
 Mar/den's, and had a fatisfadlory Meeting there on the 3d. 
 
 On the 4th I went to Warnfworth^ to Thomas JUam's, and the next Day Wamfworch. 
 was at their Monthly Meeting-, where a Cafe happened which admitted of 
 fome different Ways of Thinking ; yet Friends condefcending one to another, 
 and the Teftimony of Truth going out againft all Partiality of Judgment in the 
 Things of God, and all Sides and Parties on any Account whatever, there be- 
 ing no Side or Party, fave Truth and Error only. Things were carried on and 
 finilhed in the peaceable Wifdom of Truth, to Satisfadion and Comfort. 
 
 On the 6th, in the Evening, I was at an appointed Meeting at TFoodhoufe; Woodhoufe, 
 whither came a good Number of the Neighbourhood, who were very fober and 
 attentive to the Teftimony of Truth-, which was largely and demonftratively 
 delivered among them : and the Lord gave us a good Meeting. 
 
 O N the 7th I went to Sheffield, to Thomas Buck's ; and the Day after, being Sheffield, 
 the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting, both Forenoon and After; 
 where the L o r d was fenfibly and powerfully with us, to the Glory of his own 
 eternal Name : It was a Day of Satisfadion indeed to be laftingly remembered. 
 
 O N the 9th I returned to Woodhoufe, and the next Day to Balber-Hall; 
 
 where I was kindly received by my long-acquainted Friend Sir John Rhodes, Bart. 
 
 a Man of Truth and Underftanding, neglefting all the Honour of the World, 
 
 and had lived but rather too reclufely -, by which the Brightnefs of his Talents 
 
 had not been made fo confpicuous as otherwife they might. 
 
 +. 9 A Here
 
 738 
 
 Anno 
 
 1738.. 
 
 Mansfield. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Here! ftaid till the 1 3th, and then went to Mansfield, to Richard Marioth •, 
 where I was kindly received by him and his Family. There I abode till the 1 5th 
 with Satisfaftion, and it being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting both 
 Forenoon and After -, where we were favoured with the good and comfortable 
 Prefence of the Lord, and many Things were opened in his Wifdom and 
 Power, to the Eftablifliment of fome, and Edification of the generality. 
 
 On the i6th I went to Nottingham, to Francis Hart's, and the next Day had 
 a Meeting there •, where the eternal Truth triumphed glorioufly, and the Truths 
 of the Gofpel were delivered with Majefly, bringing a holy Dread over the Af- 
 fembly, mixed with Confolation : and many were tendered and comforted. 
 
 Leicefter O N the 1 8th I went to Leicejier ; where I was kindly received and entertained 
 
 by my fure Friend John Penford, and his ; and, on the 20th, had a Meeting ap- 
 pointed there -, which confifting of Friends for the greateft part, and not being 
 laro'e, we were favoured with a frefh Experience of the merciful Truth of that Say- 
 
 Matxviii,2o. ino- of the LoRD, JVherefoever two or three of you are gathered together in my 
 
 Nottingham. 
 
 Name, there am I in the Midji of you. 
 Enjoyment at that Time. 
 
 The Comfort of his Holy Spirit was our 
 
 The Weather being very rainy, I ftaid there till the 2 2d -, and it being the 
 Firfl of the Week, I was at their Meeting both Forenoon and After. The 
 former was more feledl, confifting for the moft part of Friends •, and the Good- 
 nefs of the Lord was fenfibly with us, and Things opened to Satisfadion. In 
 the Afternoon we had the Company of many of the People of divers Notions 
 in Religion, and the Lord opened a Door of Utterance of many Truths of 
 the Gofpel in the Authority of it; where divers falfe Dodlrines of the mercenary, 
 deceitful Letter-mongers were expofed : under which the People were very ftill 
 and ferious, not a light Countenance among them ; for the Dread of the Lord 
 was over them, and Friends were comforted in the Truth, and in the preaching 
 of it in its own Life and Virtue. 
 
 Northamp- 
 ton. 
 
 Amptel, 
 
 Baldock. 
 Hartford, 
 
 On the 23d I went to Northampton, to Edivard Binyon\, and the next Day 
 had a Meeting appointed there; where the Goodnefs of the Lord was with 
 us, and gave us a comfortable Seafon together in him, to the Glory of his own 
 
 Name, 
 
 On the 25th I went to Newport-Pagnel, to Thomas Cooper's; where I {laid 
 that Night, and the Day after went to Amptel, to the Widow Barber's ; where 
 we had an Evening Meeting with a few Friends and fome of the fober Neigh- 
 bourhood, to good Satisfadlion : for the Countenance of the Lord was towards 
 us, and many Things were opened in the Truth to the Underftandings of the 
 People, and helping forward of the Work of G o d, through the Word of his 
 Grace, without which no Minifter can do any Thing to Convincement or Edi- 
 fication. 
 
 On the 27th, being the Sixth of the Week, I fell in with the Week-day 
 Meeting at Baldock; which was fmall, but comfortable, through Divine 
 Goodnefs, 
 
 On the 28th I went from thence to Hartford, to John Prior's ; and the Day 
 after, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting Forenoon and After. 
 The former was fmall, but very tender and comfortable, through the Influence of 
 the Divine Prefence ; by which divers, even the greateft Part, were tendered 
 and melted as Wax before the Sun, and had the holy Image of the Son of G d, 
 
 in
 
 of THOMAS ST O RT, 739 
 
 in fome good meafure, iniprefled upon them ; to his own Glory, and magnifying A n n <J 
 of his own holy Name, to whom it is due now and for evermore. The Meeting 1 738. 
 in the Afternoon was much larger, many being there from Ware, and of the 
 Town's People, who had heard of the firft Meeting between the two ; and the 
 Goodnefs of the Lord was with us : But my Exercife in publick was more la- 
 borious, by reafon of the various States of the Auditory ; many Things being 
 delivered of general and particular Importance : and all were very ftill, atten- 
 tive, and by all Appearance comforted and fatisfied. To the latter Meet- 
 ing came my Landlord Jofeph Green, and Dr IVilliam Clark from London., to 
 meet me -, and we ftaid that Night at Hartford j and had an eafy Journey next 
 Day to London. 
 
 At London I remained until the 1 7th of the Fourth Month, 1739; and then, Londoiii 
 accompanied by my kind t riend and Landlord Jofeph Green to Alban''s, and Ben- 
 jamin Horner of Leeds, Benjamin Bart let of Bradford, IVilliam Hird, and John 
 tVtlfon of Barnfley, to Dunjiable, we lodged there that Night at an Inn •, and 
 the next Night within four Miles of Harborough ; and the Night after at Not- 
 tingham ; and the Night following at our Friend Jofeph Newboivr^ at Wood- 
 houfe ; and on the 2 ift at Benjamin Horner''^ at Leeds : and the next Day, being Leeds, 
 the Sixth of the Week, was at their Meeting ; where I was much refrefhed and 
 reftored, in the good Prefence of the L o r d, after the moft weary and fatiguing 
 painful Journey 1 had known in the Time* 
 
 O N the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting there ; 
 which was very large and comfortable, both Forenoon and After ; the People 
 being folid and attentive to the Teftimony of Truth, and well fatisfied with it. 
 
 On the 25th, being their Monthly Meeting, I was there, and a large good 
 Meeting it was ; the Lord mercifully favouring us with his good Prefence. 
 The next Day, accompanied by Benjamin Homer and his Wife, and others 
 of his Family, t?f. I went to York to the Quarterly Meeting -, which was large, York, 
 and very peaceable and comfortable both in Worfhip and Difcipline : and the 
 Bufinefs of the Meeting being fully over, to general Satisfadion, I returned to 
 Leeds ; and the next Day called at William Hird's, where I dined ; and that 
 Evening was accompanied by him to Bradford, to my Friend Benjamin Bartlet's^ 
 where 1 was kindly received and entertained. 
 
 On the ift of the Fifth Month, being the Fir'1- of the Week, I went to an 
 Yearly Meeting for Worfliip at Bingley ; whicfi was very large, confifting of singley; 
 many Hundreds of People : and the Truths of the Gofpel being largely opened 
 unto them, and no publick Minifter there befides myfelf, I was very much 
 fpent as to my natural Strength, and now of great Age •, but the L o r d being 
 pleafed to reftore the Strength of my Mind, and being kindly entertainedj 
 in Company with many Friends, by our Friend William Lifer, at his Houfe 
 there, my Strength, through the Goodnefs of Go d, was foon recovered 5 for 
 the L o R D fandtifies every BlefTing to the Ends propofed in it. 
 
 On the 2d I went to Carleton, accompanied by William Lifter the younger, 
 and made a Vifit to William Slater, and Mary his Wife, both Minifters, at their 
 Houfc at Carleton ; where I was kindly received, and plentifully entertained : 
 for though they were not rich in the World, they were rich in Love and right 
 Frienaftaip •, which is abundantly better, and more acceptable, than a great deal 
 of fine Dainties without it : but all they had was good and agreeable. 
 
 On
 
 740 
 
 Anno 
 
 »739' 
 Settle. 
 
 Kendal. 
 
 Prefton. 
 
 Carlifle. 
 
 Kirklinton. 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 On the 3d, accompanied by miliam Slater, I went forward to Settle; and 
 lodged that Night with JVilliam Birkbeck junior, where I was kindly received 
 and entertained. The next Day, being the Time of their Monthly Meet- 
 ing, I was there •, where the Lor d gave us a very comfortable Time of his 
 good Prefence : for our Hearts were freely opened by him and unto him, who 
 openeth and no Man fhutteth, and when he fhutteth, none can open. After 
 the Meeting I went forward to Gde -, and the next Day to Kendal, to a Meeting 
 of Minifters, which was beginning when I alighted ; where the divine Prefence 
 was likewife with us. 
 
 The next Day I flaid there, to attend the Service of their Quarterly Meet- 
 ing ; which was large and edifying, both in Worfhip and Difcipiine, and con- 
 dufted in the peaceable Wifdom of our Lor d and Saviour Jesus Christ; 
 through whom, to the Father of all our Mercies, be Dominion and Glory, now 
 and for ever. 
 
 The Day following I refted there at my old Quarters Thomas Elwocd's -, and 
 the Day following, being the Firft of the Week, I was at their Meeting, Forenoon 
 and After, being both large, efpccially the latter, which was put off until the 
 Fourth Hour Afternoon. The Lord was with us, and brought many good 
 Things of his Kingdom to Remembrance, with Authority and Clearnefs, to 
 general Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the loth I went to Sidgivick, to our Friend Robert Chambers's ; where I, 
 with my Company, was kindly entertained. The next Day we wen: to a General 
 Meeting at Prejlon ; which was large, and for the mod part compoled of young 
 People. The Lord blefled us together in his Prelence ; and many of the 
 young ones were baptized of the Lor d, by the purifying Flame of divine 
 Love, to their great Confolation ; entering thereby into a Covenant of Light 
 and Life with him, according to his fure Promife of old. The Meeting end- 
 ed in the Gravity of Truth. I returned that Evening to Kendal; and on the 
 I ith went to Penrith, accompanied by my Friend T. Ellivood ; and on the 12th 
 we v/ent to Carlijle, and lodged with our Friend Mary Jackfon, who entertained 
 Friends freely, and made us kindly welcome. 
 
 On the 13th there happened to be a General Meeting there-, which was 
 fmall, but full as open as I expedted : for fome of them in that Place are far 
 from the Truth, though they have profefTed it long ; and Strangers moft com- 
 monly find httle Confolation there, though fome there are very worthy. 
 
 O N the 1 5th I was at the Meeting at Carlijle ; which, being the Firft of the 
 "Week, was pretty large •, but hard, by reafon of fome evil and hardened Spirits 
 among them : yet Truth was in fome Degree over the Meeting. 
 
 On the 20th I was at the MonthJy Meeting there, which was pretty large, 
 the Country Friends coming well in ; and very open, the Lord favouring us 
 with his divine Prefence, and exalted his own Name over all, to the Satisfadion 
 ot all the living among us. 
 
 On the the 2 2d I was at the Meeting at Kirklinton ; which was very large 
 and open, confifting for the greateft part of young People : who, having heard 
 of my Intention for that Place at that Time, they came for fome Miles round ; 
 and being defirous in the Lord to do them Good through liis Grace, I fpared 
 
 not
 
 of T H MA S ST RY. 741 
 
 not myfelf, but was much fpent that Day among them, leaving the Effefts to the An n o 
 Lord ; to whombe Praife, for of him is the Fowerand Underftanding. Anen, ^739- 
 
 On the 29th I was at the Meeting at Scotl>y ; and though It was the Firftof Scotby. 
 the Week, it was not large, but very, open and comfortable ; for the Lor d 
 was with us, to our folid and mutual Satisfaction in him. 
 
 O N the 5th of the Sixth Month T was at the Meeting at Moorhoufe, which Moor-houfe» 
 was large and very open ; many moral Truths being delivered with divine Au- 
 ti.ority, and thereby fent Home on the Confciences of feveral -, who, profefTing 
 the Gofjiel, were yet ignorant of the Law oF moral Righteoufnefs : and great 
 Tendernefs came over the Hearts of many, efpecially ot the younger fort, 
 moft of the Meeting being of fuch. For this Day's Refrefliment in the L o r d 
 the Living were thankful unto him who alone is worthy. 
 
 On the 12th I went from Carlijle to Wigton ; where the Lord favoured us Wigton, 
 with his Life-giving Prefence, and opened the Truths of his Gofpel, and My- 
 Iferies of it, with Demonftration and Power, to the comforting of the Living, 
 and Satisfadlion of all, for any Thing that appeared otherwiie : and the Hearts 
 of Friends were open and free one toward another in the Truth, efpecially in the 
 Afternoon Meeting ; and in divers Vifits to particular Friends which I made in 
 Company with others that Evening -, and then I returned to Carlijle. 
 
 Having fininied what was incumbent upon me in the Country at this Time^ 
 1 fct forwards for London on the 15th of the Sixth Month, in Company with 
 John Wiljon of Kendal^ a true Friend of mine in the Truth, and of great Ser- 
 vice in and to the Society of Friends in general, both in the Country and in the 
 Yearly Meetings at London. That Nig;ht we lodged at Penrith •, and next Mor- 
 ning called zlLowther-hall, to pay our Regard to L.or A Lonfdale -, who, as ulual, 
 received us in a friendly and familiar Manner -, and as he is a Perlon of good 
 Underftanding and Temper, we had agreeable Converfation on divers Subjefts ; 
 and a People of late appearing in this Nation, to which the Name of Mcthodijls 
 is given, and now the common Subjeft of Converfation, we had fome Difcourfe 
 concerning them, and the Points of Religion and Dodtrine which they hold 
 and profel's. 
 
 Their Teachers are Minifters of theNational Church of England, for the mod 
 part regularly ordained according to that Conftitutlon •, but protefs to have received 
 the Holy Ghoif, not in Notion only but in Reality and in Deed -, and by whofe 
 Qualifications and immediate Affiftance they protefs to preach. They infifl: 
 much upon the Doctrine and Neceffity of Regeneration ; but deny that this 
 Work can be effefted by the Miniftration of Water in any Form, or by whom- 
 foever adminifter'd •, but by the Spirit of Christ only, as inwardly made 
 manifeft in the Heart. They preach freely, as is commonly reported ; and the 
 National Priefts, fearing fome ill Confequences to arife from this People to them- 
 felves, and their Power and Maintenance, fome of them have taken the Hint early ; 
 and, as their Manner is, have begun to hate and perfecute them, both as to thi ir 
 Pro'feffion of the Spirit, and Charaders as Men ; calling, both in their Pulpits 
 and Print, upon the Powers of Church and State to fupprefs them, as a Seft, 
 which may, in Time, be dangerous to both : though 1 hear nothing of any 
 kind of Immorality countenanced among them, but on the contrary much Bro- 
 kennefs of Heart, and Reformation of Manners in many of them. The Tree 
 is known by its Fruits ; and they that are horn only after the Flefi, always perfe- 
 cute them that are likewife horn after the Spirit : but the L o r d of Life, in his 
 
 q B own
 
 74^ 
 
 Anno 
 
 Kendal. 
 
 Lancalter, 
 
 Prefton. 
 
 Mat.xviii.2o. 
 
 Manchefter. 
 
 The LIFE, c^c. 
 
 own Time, will determine all Points, and declare who is in the right. But this 
 is certain, that no Perfccutor, on any Pretence, can be a Chnftian, while in that 
 State and Praftice, nor any national perfecuting Church a Church ot Christ, 
 the Lamb of G o d and Prince of Peace -, for all fuch are Synagogues of Satan, 
 and not Congregations of the Higheil, as all are who arc garliered of the Fa- 
 ther of Spirits into the Life, Name, Nature, and Power of his ever bklTed 
 Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Being invited to Dinner, we ftaid and were entertained in a plentiful and 
 friendly Manner ; after which we took Leave about Three in the Afternoon, and 
 that Evening got well to Kendal ; where I was kindly received at my ufual Lodging. 
 
 On the 17th I fell in with a Week-day's Meeting at Kenda!, where the Good- 
 nefs of the L o R D was with us -, and that Afternoon was a Meeting for Suf- 
 ferings, and other Bufinefs of Difcipline, and Concerns of our Society, mana- 
 ged in a focial and prudent Manner, the Peace of G o d ruling all. 
 
 There I refted, having the agreeable Converfation of Friends, till the 
 19th -, and then was at the Meeting in the Forenoon ; which was large, and 
 very open and comfortable •, t.he divine Truth appearing glorioully, fhined 
 over all : and the Afternoon Meeting being put off till Four o'Clock, was 
 neither fo full nor open as expecSled, being deferred for the fake of the People, 
 who did not come as at fome other like Time, and, as I fuppofe, for want of 
 due Notice between the Meetings ; yet the Lord was with us, though my 
 Exercife was harder and more laborious than before. 
 
 On the 20th I went to Lancajier, to Robert Lawfon'^ junior, his Father, my 
 old Friend and Landlord, being deceafed ; and the next Day, being the Third 
 of the Week, I had an open and comfortable Meeting with Friends there •, and 
 that Afternoon vifited a Friend in Prifon, and after that the Criminals there : 
 They were four in Number -, one for an Attempt of a Rape on a Maid of about 
 13 Years of Age •, one for robbing on the Highway ; one for Sacrilege, as they 
 call it, having got into the Place of their Worfhip, and robbed the Pricft's Velvet 
 Cufhion of its Gold Fringe, and ftole fome of the Books ; and one for Theft, being 
 a Boy of about 16 Years of Age, already condemned to be tranfported : but the 
 others not yet tried. I exhorted them as well as I could ; but they feemed to have 
 little Senfe of any Good ; but giving them a little Money, they feemed thank- 
 ful for that. 
 
 On the 2 2d I went forward to Prefton, and lodged at Robert Abbotts, a very 
 ingenious Man, and honeft Friend ; and on the 23d had a good Meeting with 
 the few Friends there •, where we were favoured with a renewed Senfe of the 
 Trutli of that gracious Promife of tlie Son of G o d, that where tivo or three 
 (of you) are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the tnidft of you. 
 
 O N the 24th I went to Mc.nchefter, to my well-efteemed Friend Ifaac Mofes*^ •, 
 where I was kindly received and entertained, as ufual, and ftaid till the 26th; 
 which being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meetings both Forenoon and 
 After : but fome unflcilful Travellers being there at the fame Time, and but 
 Novices in the Work, they took up all the Time in both Meetings, (for fome 
 can preach, fuch as it is, when they will, and what they will) fo that I was 
 exceedingly leaden, and fenfible Friends griev'd, and others were difappointcd : 
 But another Meeting being appointed on the 28th, it was full and very open, 
 many of the Town's People being there, and very folid; for the Lord was 
 
 near
 
 of T H O M ^ S S T RT 745 
 
 near and with his own. The next Day I was at their Week-day Meeting-, Anno 
 which being more felefl: to Friends, the L o R d was with us, and we were much ^ 739- 
 comforted together in him. 
 
 O N the 30th I went to Stockport^ to Henry Jrdern's, and that Evening had a Stockport, 
 large open Meeting there, many of the Inhabitants being prefent ; and many im- 
 portant Truths of the Gofpel, through the divine eternal effential Truth, in the 
 Openings thereof, were declared unto them ; and they were generally fohd and 
 attentive, and behaved well, the invifible Power of the Word of Life being over 
 them in general. 
 
 On the 31ft I had a Meeting appointed at Macclesfield; where there are but Macclesfield. 
 few Friends, and but H fmall Number of People came to the Meeting, that 
 Place being much' bigotted to the National Worfhip, and very high ; yet they 
 were fober under the many Things I declared among them. 
 
 On the ift of the Seventh Month I went to Leek, and lodged at the Widow Leek. 
 Tcfi's ; where I was kindly entertained, and had agreeable Converfation witii 
 her, her ancient Mother, and Dr Robert Keye, her Brother ; and next Day be- 
 ing the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting, which of itfelf is large, and 
 fome Strangers of other ProfefTions were there •, and the Lo rd favoured us with 
 his good Prefence, to our Confolation together in him. The next Day I ftaid 
 there, being wet Weather •, and the Day after dined at Bargate, at John and 
 Jojhua Toft's, they being Brothers and living together, and able Miuifters of 
 the Gofpel. 
 
 O N the 5th, accompanied by JoJJoua and another Friend, I went forward to 
 Stafford ; where we lodged that Night at an Inn, few Friends being then re- 
 maining in that Place : and he returning next Morning, I went forward to 
 Wolverhampton ; where I was kindly received and entertained by my long ac- 
 quainted Friend John Fowler. 
 
 On the 7th we had a Meeting there, tliough there are four or five Friends on- Wolver- 
 ly remaining ; but fome of the Neighbours and Strangers happening to be in hampton. 
 Town, and coming in, we had an open lively Meeting -, and fome important 
 Truths were delivered among them in the Life and Power of the Gofpel : and 
 all of them were very folid, and fome well affefted in the Time. 
 
 O N the 8th I went to Birmingham, to the Widow Pemhrton's -, where I was Brimingham. 
 well accommodated after a fatiguing Journey : and the next Day, being the 
 Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting Forenoon and After. The firft was 
 confiderably large, many Friends belonging to it at that Time, and others came 
 in alfo -, but the latter was much crowded with all forts, fo that many could 
 not get in. The important Truths of the Gofpel and Kingdom of Christ 
 were clearly opened that Day unto them in the Wifdom and Authority of it, 
 and they were generally ftill and attentive. Truth was over all -, and Friends 
 and others feemed at that Time all united in one Power ; fo that I hope fome 
 Good was done among them. 
 
 On the I ith I went, through a furious Storm of Wind and Rain, to Coventry, Coventry, 
 to John Gulfon's ; and next Day was at their Week-day Meeting ; which coa- 
 fifted, for moft part, of Friends, and generally very young. I faid many 
 Things to them, pertinent, as I thought, to their Conditions •, but many being 
 as the old Bottles, and fome others not then capable to underftand the Doffrines 
 
 of
 
 Banbury. 
 
 744. The LIFE, ^^c. 
 
 Anno of Truth, the Flowings of the divine Life were not fo plentiful as at fomc othet 
 
 ^'739' Times and Places •, yet the good Prefence of the L o r d was fenfibly wicii us •, 
 
 and that is the Subftance of all, and ever fufficient for all who love and tear hirrii 
 
 Warwick. ^^ the 13th I had an appointed Meeting at Warwick (at Jofeph Allan's) 
 
 where came in fome few Strangers, and fat with us in a fober Manner a confide- 
 rabic Time : and divers were under a Senfe of divine Goodnefs -, in which I 
 had many Things to fay unto them, which feemed to take good Place, and we 
 were comforted and edified together in the L o r d. 
 
 On the 14th I went to Battbury, to my particular Friend Benjamin Kid's, an 
 able Minifter of rhe Gofpel, and growing and increafing therein. I was made 
 kindly welcome by him and his Wife. There I refled the next Day ; and the 
 i6th, beincT the Firll of the Week, was at their Meeting Forenoon and After ; 
 where the Lord gave us a comfortable Day together in him, and the Tcfti- 
 mony of Truth was over all -, to the Praifc of him alone, who workcth every 
 f^ood Work in his Servants, and furniflieth them with every good Word in Sea- 
 fon, for the furthering and carrying on of his own Work in the Earth. 
 
 On the 19th I was at a Meeting at Jdderbury, which was fmall, and 
 heavy in the Beginning of it ; but the Sun of Rigliteoulhds arifing, the Dark- 
 nefs with its Powers were driven away ; and we rejoiced together as in the Day- 
 time, and had an open and comfortable Meeting. 
 
 Biftor. O N the 20th I fell in with the Week-day Meeting at Biftor, which was very 
 
 fmall -, yet the Lord favoured us fo far as to gather us into his own holy Name, 
 where we were greatly comforted together in him : fo that we know, it is not 
 a Multitude, but the real Scnfc of the divine Goodnefs in our Minds, which 
 renders it a good Meeting. 
 
 Adderbury. 
 
 HfghWhic- 
 kam, 
 
 Chelham. 
 
 Jordans. 
 
 On the 21ft I went, about 20 Miles, to High-JVJyickham, to Thomas Olive's, 
 and on the 23d, being the Firft of the Week, was at their Meeting in the Fore- 
 noon ; which confifled, for the moft part, of fuch as profefs the Truth. It was 
 much fhut up in the Beginning, many of them being fuch as have come into the 
 Profeffion by Education, and know little of the Work of Truth in their Hearts ; 
 yet the Lord mercifully favoured us with his Goodnels, and the Teftimony of 
 Truth came over all : And the Afternoon Meeting being put off till the Third 
 Hour, and Notice given, it was very large -, and he that opens and no Man 
 fliuts, and when he fhuts, no Man nor Angel can open the Myftery of Life, 
 opened freely and largely the Things of his Kingdom, with Authority and 
 Clearnefs, as in the Brightnefs of the Day of his Power, to general Satisfaction 
 and Confolation, to the foUd Praife and Glory of his own eternal Name, who is 
 worthy for ever. 
 
 On the 24th I went to Che/ham, to Jxtel Roberts's; and the Day after, in 
 the Evening, had a Meeting there, to which came many of the Town's People, 
 who were generally very fober and attentive to the Teftimony of Truth, which 
 Was plentifully opened unto them; and the Lord's Prefence made it a good 
 Meeting. 
 
 On the 26th I fell in with the Week-day Meeting at Jordans ; and Notice 
 having been given before-hand, it was larger than ufual : and though heavy in 
 the Beginning, through the Drowfinefs of fome, the Soul-reviving Prefence 
 and Goodnefs of the Lord gave us new Life, and we fared well in the End. 
 
 That
 
 of THOMAS STO RT. 745- 
 
 That Night T lodged at Jofepb Lovelace's, near that Place j whefe I was londly Anno 
 entertained as ufual. ,^^„ 
 
 1739- 
 
 On the 27th I went to yoh» Gurnel's, at Ealing; where T was kindly recei- 
 ved. I lodged there that Night, and the next Day went to London, to my ufual 
 Quarters, at my dear Friend Jofipb Green's -, where I was received with Kindnefs 
 and Rcfpea, as in all former Times : And having been preferved in Health, and 
 ftill in a good Degree of Strength of Body and Mind, through fo long a Jour- 
 ney and much bad Weather, I was thankful to the Lord, who leadeth out, pre- 
 fervcth through every Event, and returneth in Safety ; and yet in the Courfe of 
 divine Providence, though I have fufficient in the World, and fome PolTcffions 
 therein, I have no certain Dwelling in the Earth unto this Day. 
 
 A T London I remained, attending the Meetings, until the 26th of the Second London. 
 Month, 1740, and that Day went to Alban's, accompanied by my Friends Jo- 
 feph Green and Thomas Whitehead ; and flaying there that Night, we were at the 
 Meeting next Day in the Forenoon j where the Lord flivoured us with his 
 blefled Prefence in a good Degree. That Afternoon they went back towards 
 London, and I proceeded to Btmjiabk, and lodged with John Chejter, an anci- 
 ent and honourable Friend -, who, and his Anceftors, had freely entertained 
 Friends from the moft early Times of our Society, 
 
 On the 28th I went forward to Newport Pagnel, and lodged with Thomas 
 Cowper, as formerly. 
 
 O N the 29th I went to Northampton, to Edward Binyon's, my ufual Landlord Northamp- 
 there fmce his Father died, (tho' his Mother lived elfewhere in the fame Town) '°"- 
 where I was kindly received and entertained. Here I appointed a Meeting for 
 the next Day ; which was favoured with divine Goodnefs, and we were comfort- 
 ed together therein: and the Teftimony of Truth was clear, and the Audiority 
 of it was over all, to the Praife of him who alone is worthy for evermore. 
 
 On the ift of the Third Month I went forward to Leicejler, and lodged with LdceKer 
 njy Friend John Penford ; where I was kindly received and entertained, as I had 
 been often before. 
 
 O N the 2d, accompanied by John Penford' s eldeft Son, a fober and hopeful Nottingham. 
 Youth, I went to Nottingham, and there lodged at Francis Hart's ; where I 
 met with hearty Entertainment in the Love of Truth, in which they do it freely 
 to Friends, many being entertained by them, though they are not very rich in 
 the World. There I refted one Day, and the next, being the Firft of the Week, 
 was at their Meetings, both Forenoon and After •, where the Teftimony of Truth 
 was over all, and Things opening clearly in the divine Light, were, through the 
 Aid of divine Grace, delivered with Authority and Demonftration. Several 
 Strangers being there, all were quiet and folid, and generally fatisfied. 
 
 O'n the 5th I went to Blythe, about 20 Miles ; and from thence, the Day 
 after, to IVarnfworth, to Thmnas Aldam's, where I flaid that Night ; and went the 
 next Day to Leeds, to my old and long-acquainted Friend Benjamin Horner's ; Leeds, 
 where 1 ftaid two Nights, being at their Meeting on the Sixth Day. 
 
 On the loth I went to Bradford, to my good Friend Benjamin Bartkt's; Bradford, 
 where I flaid that Night. Next Day, being the Firll of the Week, I was at 
 their Meeting i where the Lord gave me an open Door, and the Meeting a 
 
 9 C com-
 
 74^ 
 
 The LIFE, <^c. 
 
 A^KO comfortable Time in his divine Prefence and Goodnefs, and the Teftimony of 
 1 o. Truth was over all in the Wifdom and Authority ot it, to general Satisfaftion. 
 
 On the 1 2th 1 went to JVilliam Slater's, who with his Wife kindly received and 
 plentifully entertained me, though they are not rich in the World, having a large 
 Family ot Children, a little Houfe, with many fmall Rooms for Entertainment, 
 two Cows and a Horfe, and a little Clofe of Land to fupport them ; and all la- 
 bouring with their Hands in one Thing or other, they live plentifully in a decent 
 Way, and entertain Friends freely with the beft they have : which mufl: needs 
 be ve'ry acceptable to every honed Mind, and much more fo than from the 
 high and lofty Rich of this World among us, who entertain here and there one 
 for their own Name and Honour, and not for the Truth, or Love of it ; which 
 is ever burdened among them, in the Minds of all who dwell therein, and tra- 
 vel not for Entertainment in the Things of the World, but for the Honour and 
 Exaltation, publifning and declaring the divine Truth, in the Power and Love 
 of it, for the Salvation of the Children of Men. 
 
 On the 13th, accompanied by William Slater, I went to Settle, where I ftaid 
 that Night at my former Lodging with JVilliam Birbeck. 
 
 Kendal. On the 14th I went to Kendal, and lodged with my old Landlord, Thomas 
 
 Elwood, being entertained there as kindly as ever. On the i6th I was at their 
 Week-day's Meeting ; which was very comfortable, both in Time of Silence 
 and Teftimony ; in which the divine Truth triumphed glorioufly. 
 
 On the i8th, being the Firfl of the Week, I was there again, both Fore- 
 noon and After i where the Lord alfo favoured us with his divine Prefence 
 and Goodnefs, to the Satisfaftion of all the living, and to the Praife of his 
 own Name j and Friends were generally very loving and chearful after thefe 
 Meetings. 
 
 Carlifle. O N the 1 9th I went to Carlijle accompanied by my Friend Thomas Elwood, and 
 
 lodo-ed with our honourable Friend the Widow Mary Jackfon. Soon after my 
 
 Arrival there, came on a Monthly Meeting-, where Truth was glorious in the 
 
 Power and Virt.^e of it, to the ftirring up of the drowfy, idle, and carelefs among 
 
 us, and the juft Reproof and Rebuke of Bufy -bodies in other Mens' Matters, 
 
 neglecting what is properly their own ; and Inventers of falfe Accufations and 
 
 Evils againfl others, (by Surmifes of the Evil One in their own depraved Minds) 
 
 of whom they know no Evil, or ever faw any Thing like it in thofe they ac- 
 
 cufein the dark among themfelves in their evil Communications -, in which they 
 
 defile and deprave each other, to the Hurt of many. Breach of Charity, and 
 
 Hinderance of the Progrefs of Truth in the Love of it among Brethren, to their 
 
 own utter Ruin and Overthrow in the End •, perfifting in that great Sin mani- 
 
 fefled, exploded, judged, and condemned of God, and his true Servants from 
 
 the Beginning. Some of the principal Things infifled upon were as follows : 
 
 " Report, and we will report, that old XTorruption is too much rampant and 
 
 " in Fafliion among you this Day. Know ye not the State of thofe, and what 
 
 " and who they are on the Left Hand of the Judgment Seat of Christ, to 
 
 Mat. XXV. 41. " whom it is faid. Go ye curfed into everlajling Fire, prepared for the Devil and 
 
 " his Jngeh ? Do you really know who this Devil and his Angels are, againfl 
 
 " whom this dreadful Sentence is denounced by the Judge, the All-wife and 
 
 « All-knowing Judge of the World, of the living and the dead ? If you do not, 
 
 *' I will endeavour to inform you, that your Converfation may not be with them ; 
 
 " but in Innocence and Holinefs to communicate with the Jufl, to Edification 
 
 " and Comfort, and efcape the deftruiSive EffeAs of the vile and evil Com- 
 
 mu-
 
 «( 
 
 ic 
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT, 747 
 
 munlcation of Whoremongers, Drunkards, Liars, and the Unrighteous of Anno 
 every Denomination. Too many of fuch being crept into the ProfefTion of 1740. 
 Truth at this Day, have brought Reproach upon the Lord, his Truth and 
 People, to the ftumbhng of many Souls who have been feeking the Lord 
 in fecrer, and pointed in thcmfelvcs towards his People ; of whom having 
 had good Sentiments, and yet leeing fuch Things too vifibly prevail, by the 
 Transformation of Satan, and falfe Pretences of thofe his Children, they have 
 " Humbled, gone backward, and fallen from the Beginning of that Work of 
 " Salvation they once knew •, and fo may be utterly loft, fave for the Ap- 
 " plication of infinite Goodnefs and Mercy. Now, as to thefe Terms which 
 •' I was but now about to explain unto you, the "W^ord Satan, in the Lan- 
 " guage in which that Part of the Scripture was writ, fignifieth an Adver- 
 " fary ; being properly applicable to that evil Thing in Mankind, which 
 " worketh in their Imaginations every evil Thought, and brings them forth, 
 " as Man clofeth with them, into evil Words and Aftions; and as the De- 
 " ftrudlion of Souls is thereby effefted, he is an Adverfary unto them., even 
 " the greateff they have, though under the falfe Pretences of our Friend, to 
 gratify all thofe evil Defires himfelf is the Father of in our deceived Hearts. 
 
 " And as to that Word which is tranflated Devil into our Language, it 
 " properly fignifies a Calumniatcr and falfe Accufer. He is the Inventer of Evil 
 *' and evil Things : He is the Liar, and the Father thereof; and when he 
 " fpeaketh a Lie, he fpeaketh of himfelf : He hath no Foundation for what he 
 " faith, and all Liars are his Children : For though, by Nature, they are the 
 " Children of the Firft yidam in the Flelh, yet, as to their Minds, they are fo 
 *' depraved and debauched, by hearkening to, and obeying this Evil One, and 
 •' lb united and incorporated with him, that they are one with him, and the Pro- 
 " pagators of his Works and Kingdom in and among the reft of Mortals -, not 
 " always by human Defign, but under the Delufions and Deceptions of him 
 " who fubtilly worketh in them, even often out of their own View. 
 
 " And as to the Angels of this Devil, the Calumniator of G o d and Man 
 *' from the Beginning of the World, this Word Angel fignifies a MefTenger 
 " lent by another -, then he who inventeth Calumnies and falfe Reports againft 
 *' others, and they who receive them, fpread and carry them about, to the Dif- 
 " honour of G o d and Hurt of Mankind, as they are become one with that 
 " Evil One, and one with him in his Work and Works of Evil, he ani they 
 " have one and the fame Sentence, Go ye curfed into everlajting Fire prepared for 
 " the Devil and his Angels : as much as to fay. Go ye Workers of Iniquity into 
 *' that exquifite and everlafting Punifhment due unto you, as the necefTary Ef- 
 *' fed: of your own Apoftacy from all Good, and of living in Evil. 
 
 " And I further obferve to you, that the Word Fire in the Text imports 
 " the moft tormenting and painful Property to Flefh and Blood, and the moft 
 *' dreadful too, known unto Mankind or Brute Animals, in the whole Syftem 
 " of vifible or tangible Nature: And alfo what the Apoftle James hath written 
 " to this EfFeft, Let not him who is tempted fay, he is tempted of God, for God James 1.1 3: 
 " tempt eth no Man, neither is he himfelf tempted of Evil; but he who is tempted 
 ♦' is led afide of his own Lufts, and enticed. And as this Apoftle maketh no 
 *' mention of any other Devil in this Text, but our own Lufts, let us all be fo 
 " aware of them, every one in himfelf, as not to think, or fpeak, or adt accord- 
 *' ins to them, and that Evil One, who worketh in them and by them ; but 
 «' through the divine eternal Truth (the Holy Spirit of Truth) revealed in us 
 " through C H R I s T our L o R D, in whom we have beheved, mortify the Deeds 
 « of the Body •, and then fhall we conquer all Evil, and fubdue every Temp= 
 
 *' tatioo
 
 748 
 
 The LIFE, &c. 
 
 Anno " tation towards it in due Time, and live in and unto him who died for us •, 
 1 740. " and in the End of all, fee Evil no more, nor any Devil : To which I tervently 
 " exhort this Day. 
 
 " Now as to feme of the evil Fruits and Confequences of evil furmifing, 
 
 " and the bad and pernicious Effefts of it to Chriftian Confolation, Society and 
 
 " Love, this being an evil Work, and Child of the Darknefs of this World, 
 
 " it is becrotten and conceived in Darknefs •, in Darknefs it is brought forth -, in 
 
 " Darknefs it wandereth about from Houfe to Houfe, Corner to Corner, Place 
 
 " to Place, till many are corrupted thereby, fo as to entertain evil Thougnts and 
 
 " form faJfe Sentiments of others, by Means of thole Liars, and lying Surmifes, 
 
 " of whom they never faw or heard Evil in all the Time of their Acquaintance 
 
 " and frequent Converfation with them : And you may eafily conceive, that if 
 
 " any entertain Thoughts of another, as if guilty of any particular Evil, fuch 
 
 " cm never lake to iiave any real Unity with fuch a one, as he at the fame Time 
 
 " judges, or cenfures as if guilty : for though falfe, it hath the fame Confe- 
 
 " quence, in that refpeft, as if true ; and the evil Surmifcr, by that Means, 
 
 " becoming diftant, fliy, and averfe to the Perfon cenfured, it hath the like Ef- 
 
 " feft upon him likewife : fo that there is no Unity in the Ground between 
 
 " them, but a bare outward Shew, and no Truth or Sincerity among them, 
 
 " but they become Hypocrites one to another. And I do verily think this 
 
 " fecret Evil hath done more Hurt to Chriftian Society in general, and to us 
 
 " as a People in a more particular Manner, than all the open and flagrant Sins 
 
 " which any among us have ever fallen into unto this Day : For open Evil 
 
 " is fetn ol all, and judged and condemned of all Perfons and all Denomina- 
 
 " tions, and therefore the Failings of particulars are no-way juftly imputable to 
 
 " generals -, but fecret Evils reign and rage in the Dark, as with Toleration and 
 
 " Authority : and yet fuch is the common Confent and joint Sentiment of all 
 
 " Mankind, that to be convidted ot a Lie, or called a Liar, falfe Accufer, or 
 
 " Calumniator, is highly offenfive to Mankind, even to be fuppofed to be guilty 
 
 " of it; and of which all are afhamed when duly convided by proper Evi- 
 
 " dencc ; fuch as have heard with their own Ears, feen with their own Eyes, 
 
 " and thereby known and underflood the Truth, and not with the Eyes and 
 
 " Ears of others, who fay and report Things which they have not feen or 
 
 *' heard, and confequently have never underftood, or can, there never having 
 
 ^' been luch Things at all." And thus Friends were exhorted to beware of all 
 
 thole^reat Evils, and to do or fay nothing inconfiftent with true and Chriftian 
 
 Love, which is the Law of divine and endlefs Life in all the Faithful and Obedient, 
 
 and of all their Converfation and Dealings one with another, and with all Men : 
 
 Rom. xii. g. Take the Counfel of the Apoftle on that Subjeft, Let Love be without Dijfnmila- 
 
 tion ; love not in Word, nor in Tongue only, but in Deed and in Truth : with much 
 
 more on the ianie Subjects, not now brought clear to Remembrance. 
 
 I w A s fome Time after Jikewife at a Qiiarterly Meeting at the fame Place, 
 (Carlijle) ; where the Subjedl Matter brought to Remembrance in the Senfe of 
 Truth, was concerning judging one another, and Judgment •, in which I obfer- 
 ved to the Auditory the great En or ot Mankind in advancing themfelves into 
 the Seat of Judgment one over another, and moll commonly in Thino-s where- 
 in they have no Evidence or Power, contrary to the Doftrine of C h r i s t, and 
 his Praftice and Example -, whereby in confequence and Nature of Things, they 
 detrude him from his Office, and ufurp his Throne, who laid. Judge not, that ye be 
 Mat. vii. ! , 2. not judged ; for with what Judgment ye judge yefiall be judged, and with what Mea- 
 sure ye mete, it Jhall be meafured unto you again : and even where there may be fome 
 fceming Appearance of Evil upon others, we are cautioned againft judging without 
 
 Know-
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT ^49 
 
 ICnowledge or moral Certainty, Judge not according to the Appearance, but judge A n m 
 [■g'Jteous Judgment. We ought tlieretore to be very tender and cautious in 1740. 
 tins Point, left whilft we ralTily cenllire others without adequate Evidence, we bring J^''" ''"• ^^' 
 J'pon ourlelves the heavy Stroke of the righteous Judgment of God for ouT 
 lalic Judgment and Cenfureof the Innocent, whom the Lord hath made and 
 preferved of his own good Will and Pleafure ; for, as all have been Sinners (tho* 
 not in the fame Manner) as fuch they have no Right nor Authority to 
 judge one another : for God only, who knows all Men, and our various Mo- 
 tives to every Thought, Word and Deed, can judge rightly among us, and 
 or thofe between the L o r d and the Soul, and award Wages unto all,°adequate 
 to every State. Neverthelefs, where any are fo unhappy as to commit Evil of 
 any kind, and are juftly accufed of it in a regular Manner before proper Judges, 
 then they ought not to deny their Faults, but freely to confefs them to others, 
 that the Offences thereby given to Particulars and the general, may be palled 
 by, and the Penitent kindly reftored : for Convidion is by Judgment, that Re- 
 pentance and Amendment may engage the healing Application ot Forgive- 
 nefs and Mercy. 
 
 I A L s o obferved the Conduft of C h r i s t in the Cafe of the poor Woman 
 taken in the Aft of Adultery : Her Accufers were all Sinners, though perhaps 
 not in the like Thing, and therefore had no Power or Right to cenfure her-, and 
 befides, they had an evil Defign in it againft the L o r d himfelf with refpeft to 
 the Law of Mofes, by which, though inamobbifh and tumultuous Manner, they 
 pretended to judge: But the Lord who knew them well, and their evil De- 
 fign, put them all to Silence, by bringing their own Sins into remembrance un- 
 to themfelves, and over them ; and then they flunk away, alTiamed in themfelves 
 as guilty Sinners, though fo lately before they had triumphed over her whofe Siti 
 was open, and while their own was fecret unto other Men, but known unto him 
 by whom God created the Worlds, and judgeth the Thoughts, Words, and 
 Actions of Men : And this great and notable Example was not to encourage 
 the Evil ; for though he did not condemn her, not being Judge according to 
 the Conftitution of their Law, yet as the Meffiah of G o d unto that People, he 
 gave her a merciful Deliverance and Exhortation, faying. Go thy way, fin no more. 
 
 And thefe are not the only Inftances whereby we ought to be very cautious 
 how we cenfure one another without one another, and that in a Gofpel Way ; 
 for C H R I s T faith of himfelf as Man, I judge no Man ; hut the Word which I — xii. 48, 
 have fpoken, the fame jh all judge him at the laft Bay. Again, faith the Apoftle, 1 Cor. iv. 3. 
 I judge no Man, no not even my own [elf. Seeing therefore that Christ him- 
 felf, as Man, tho' the Son ot God too, as fuch, judgeth not without the Fa- 
 ther ; and that Apoftle who referred himfelf alfo to the Judgment of God, as 
 only righteous and good, did not afllime Judgment, and the Seat of it, over 
 Mankind, till given of the Father in his own proper Time : Who then art thou, 
 O bold, arrogant, hardened and prefumptuons Sinner, who exakeft thyfelf into 
 that Dignity and Office, which none hath Right to, but whomfoever the Lord 
 himfelf will call, qualify and advance ? which are not Pharifees, Self- promoters, the 
 proud, high-minded and unrighteous ; but fuch as being redeemed, through 
 Grace, from all Iniquity, he hath appointed them Judges in Truth over fuch as 
 fin againft the righteous Rules of Society, and moral Truth, and are juftly con- 
 vidted by moral Evidence : but fecret Things belong unto God only, who 
 knows the Secrets of all Hearts to Perfeftion, and none elfe ever had, or can 
 have ; and therefore the Lord alone hath that Prerogative and Right : With 
 rtiany other Mattery and Things then delivered, not to be recounted at this Time, 
 
 9 D I
 
 ISO 
 
 Anno 
 
 1740. 
 
 Scotby. 
 
 CarliHe. 
 
 Moorhoufe. 
 
 Border. 
 
 Wigton. 
 
 The L I F E, (^yc. 
 
 I Wa s alfo at another Monthly Meeting there, and at fome other Meetings^ 
 efpecially on Firft Days, as Scotby, Carlijle, tne Moorhoufe, the Border, and JJ^gton \ 
 in ail which the Truth triumphed gloriouQy : and efpecially at the lall Place ; 
 where that Day, ana the Teftimony of Truth, will not be foon forgotten aniung 
 them; and many Strangers of the Town were alfo there, whom Friends had in- 
 vited, who behaved in a very decent Manner both Forenoon and After. 
 
 I w A s likewife in the Country occafionally : for as that Eftate, which had been 
 my Father's Inheritance, was providentially fallen into my Hands, and the imall 
 Buildings much decayed, efpecially by the Severity of the extraordinary FiOlt 
 the laft Winter, by which many of the Walls were rent, and near overthrown, 
 I thought it not equal to receive Rents for the Premiffes without proper Habi- 
 tations tor the Tenants, and therefore was willing to repair them, and ered others 
 ■where ncceffary : and, in order to make fome Preparation for fuch a Work, I ftaid 
 in the Country till the 1 5th of the Sixth Month ; and that Day, accompanied 
 by my Friend thomas Ellwcodi whom I met with at Carlijle, we went that Even- 
 int^ together to his Houfe at Kendal. 
 
 Kendal. Qn the 1 6th I refted there ; and the Day after, being the Firft of theWeek^ 
 
 was at the Meeting Fore and Afternoon. The firft was very open and 
 comfortable, and the Lor d blefied us with a good Degree of his confirming 
 PrefenCe : but that we might fenfibly experience that in the L o r d alone are all 
 our frelh Springs, as from an endlcfs Ocean of all Fullnefs, and that it is not 
 that which hath been, but that which is prefent, on which we muft depend, in 
 humble SubmilTion to his Will and Time, the Meeting was generally heavy and 
 lifelefs a long Time in the Afternoon ; yet the L o r d (hewed Mercy toward 
 the End, and brought that wholfome Requeft and Exhortation of the Apoftle 
 into my Remembrance, and 1 believe in fome Degree of the fame Life in which 
 Rom. xiii. itwaswrote^ I befeech you. Brethren, that you offer your Bodies a living Sacrifice^ 
 holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reafonable Service. The Body be- 
 ing of the Earth, is of itfelf dead and unaiflive ; but as it is in vital Union 
 with the Mind, (which is of a very different Nature, being more fubtile and mo- 
 ving) it moveth the Body and afleth thereby as it pleafeth, in Things within 
 the Reach of its Power, in its prefent State and Mode of Being •, and yet can 
 aft nothing acceptable unto God, but as quickened, ftrengthened and moved by 
 the Influence of the Holy Spirit of Christ, the Mediator in all Afts of Wor- 
 fliip ; and therefore muft we wait for him at all Times, in paftive Silence of 
 Mind, to be rightly fitted under an Exercife of Faith and Hope toward God ; 
 and the Lord appeareth in his own Time, when the Creature feeth its own 
 Want, and that there is no Help but in the L o R D alone ; then he arifeth as the 
 Brightnefs of the Morning, and thereby difperfeth all the Fogs of the Night. 
 iCor. XV, 26. And fince the lajl Enemy that is to be defiroyed is Death, how can that Enemy be 
 overcome by fuch, who, in Times of Worfhip, are overcome, from Time to 
 — - X. 15. Time, by his Image ? / fpeak as unto wife Men, judge ye what I fay ; and be 
 fincerc and vigilant, that the Lo r d may blefs you in all your Meetings with his 
 living Prefence, and preferve you all alive unto himfelf to his own Glory. And 
 the Lo R d gave us the Victory in the End. 
 
 On the 1 8th I went forward to Settle, to PFilliam Birkbeck's junior, where I 
 ftaid that Night ; and next Day to Bradford, to my Friend Benjamin Bartlet'Sf 
 Bradford. and refted there that Night ; and next Day, being the Fourth of the Week, 
 and their Meeting-day of courfe, was at the Meeting ; where the L r d com- 
 forted
 
 of T HO M A S S T RT. ^n 
 
 fbrted us together -, and moft of tlie young People were tendered and broken, Anno 
 underthe InfluenccoftheTeftimony and Miniftry of Truth delivered amongthem. 1746. 
 
 O N the 2 1 ft I went forward to Newel Grange, a Farm-houfe of our Friend 
 ^Filliam Pane, a young Man, and Batchelor, of good Underftanding and Con- 
 ciuft, and ftaid there that Night ; and, accompanied by him, went next Day to 
 Mansfield, where Truth once flourifhed •, and there we lodged at an Inn : Tho* 
 there are ftill a few Friends in that Town, I could not have a Guide amongthem 
 to Nottingham ; the Widow Marriot, (on whom fuch Services chiefly lies fince 
 her Husband died) being from Home in her publick Miniftry ; the fame Friend 
 therefore unwilling to leave me alone, kindly accompanied me to Nottingham the 
 next Day, to my ufual Lodging there at Francis Harth. 
 
 O N the 24th, being the Firft of the Week, I was at the Meeting there. Fore- 
 noon and After ; where the Lord comforted many in a Senfe of his Goodnefs ; 
 and there being many of the Town's People, the Lord opened divers impor- 
 tant Truths of the Gofpel inftrumentally among us, with Authority and De- 
 monftration, to the fole Praife of his own divine Wifdom and Power ; who is 
 worthy for ever. The People were fober ; and I believe many of them departed 
 in a Senfe of divine Peace. 
 
 On the 25th I went forward to Leicejter, to my Friends JohnPenford and 
 his, and ftaid that Night ; and the Day after went to Northampton, to my ufual 
 Lodging on fuch Occafions, where I was likewife kindly received and entertained 
 at Edward Biny on' s ; and the next Day (being earneft for London) I went to Jo- 
 Jhua JVheeler'5 at Cranfield, where I was likewife well received and entertained ; 
 and from thence the next Day to my old Friend John Turner's at Hitchin, 
 where, being wearied, I refted till the 30th -, and then, being the Seventh of the 
 Week, went, accompanied by him, to Hartford, to my old Acquaintance 
 John Pryor's, where I lodged that Night ; and next Day was at the Meet- 
 ing in that Town, Forenoon and After ; where the L o r d favoured many 
 with the Senfe of the divine Prefence -, and divers Truths of the Gofpel were 
 publiftied that Day, in the Authority and Dominion of it. 
 
 That Night I remained there •, and on the Firft of the Seventh Month, ac- 
 companied by feveral Friends from Hartford, and others alfo from London, who London, 
 met us half way, I went thither in the Evening to my ufual Lodging •, where I 
 was as well received as ever ; though at thatTime it was truly a Houfe of Mourn- 
 ing : for my kind and good Landlord Jofeph Green, a Man of Sincerity and 
 Truth, and his eldeft Son, a hopeful Youth of about 19 Years of Age, had been 
 lately buried, dying within a few Hours one of another, and left one of the moft 
 mournful Widows and Mothers I have ever obferved ; for they loved each other 
 moft tenderly, after having been married about 20 Years : and having three 
 other younger Children, the whole Care of them fell upon her, with the Weight 
 of all their Affairs and Bufinefs in the Worid, which was very confiderable : and 
 the Concern which fell upon me, in Cumberland, (when I heard of this Stroke of 
 Providence) tor the Widow and ChJdren, if peradventure I might be helpful 
 or ferviceable to them in any kind, had haftened me thither much fooner than 
 otherwife I intended. 
 
 Hartford. 
 
 The
 
 7T3. 
 
 The LIFE, ^c. 
 
 f X^ HE Author's Account breaks off here, which feems fcmewhat an abrupt Pe^ 
 X riod; and (IS the EdUors have mi been able to difcover any jur.her Profe- 
 cution of the Work amo.igjt his Papers, they apprehend it may not be amifs to add^ 
 that he continued in London, fympathizing with and ajjlfting this affiMed Family, 
 fame part o] the enfuing Winter; where he was feized with a paralytick DiJordeTy 
 which affeSed him to fuch Degree, as deprived him very much of his Speech, and con- 
 fined him within Doors tiU the Return of the Spring; when he regained a little 
 Strength, and got out to Meetings ; but was fill not fofar recovered as to be abie ta 
 hold a Dijcourjc long, his Memory being alfo greatly impaired by the faid Dijorder : 
 Nevertheicfs he continued fweet in Spirit, and pieafant and cheaiful among his 
 Friends, whom he was always glad to fee, and be in Company with. He Iikci^Js 
 
 X 741 . diligently attended the Yearly Meeting at London this Seafon ( A. D. 1 74 1 ) tb^gh 
 he fpoke not much in it. Before the End of Summer he grew fo much better, as that 
 he travelled down to Carline, to look after his Affairs in the North, which required 
 his AttendiMce -, for having a Defign to build a Houfe at Juftice-Town, he provi- 
 ded Materials, and frequently overlooked the Workmen : and indeed his Health and 
 Faculties were fo well reflored, as that he many Times appeared in publick in the 
 Meetings, greatly to the Satisfaction of Friends. Thus he continued without much 
 
 1742. Alteration, tdt the i^d of the Fourth Month, 1742, being the Firjl of the Week ; 
 when, in the Evening, he Juffered a new Attack of his Diftemper, which feized him 
 with great Violence ; and the next Morning, between Two and Three 0' Clock, he de- 
 parted this Life, in perfe£l Peace (we have great reafon to believe) with God and 
 Mankind. Two Days afterwards, on the 26th of the faid Month, his Corpfe was 
 interred in the burying Grour.d at Carlifle, being attended by a great Number of 
 Friends from feveral Parts of the Cmntry, and alfo by divers People in the Neigh- 
 bourhood ; who jeeni'd deeply affe^ed with the Lcfs of a Man fo valuable and 
 ufeful to his Country m feveral Stations of Life. 
 
 A p.
 
 7T? 
 
 A N 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Containing feveral Conferences, which Thomas Story 
 and others had with the Duke of Somerfet, the Earls 
 of Carlijle and Simderlandy the Archbifhops of Can- 
 terhury and Tor'k, and the Bifhop of Carlijle, in rela- 
 tion to fohciting a Bill in Parliament, to remove the 
 Inconveniences which many of the People called 
 Quakers did then lie under, by reafon of Difficulties 
 relating to the Forms of the Solemn Affirmation, 
 as.prelcnbed by former A6ts of Parliament. 
 
 I. With the Earls ^/Carlisle and Sunderland. 
 
 SOME Friends in Z,(5«J<?;/, ofwhomlwas one, being in a particular Manner 
 concerned in Mind, that the King and Parliament might be addrefled for an 
 Affirmation Aft more generally fatisfaftory, according to the Agreement of 
 our Yearly Meeting on that Behalf, I wrote a Letter to the Earl of C^r///?^, 
 (ever a fure Friend to our Society on allOccafions) intreating his Advice to which 
 of the Miniftry we had bell make our firft Application on that Account ; and he was 
 pleafcd to fend me an Anfwer by one of his Servants, wherein he invited me Co 
 his tloufe in Dover-ftreet, London, to confer on the Subjeft ; and when there, be- 
 ing together in a Parlour, his eldtft Son the Lord Morpeth came in, to whom he 
 faid, " They (meaning Friends) are an honeft good People, ferviceable and 
 *' helpful in the Nation, and true Friends to the Government, on the Principles 
 " on which it now flands -, but becaufe of fome Opinions they hold in Matters 
 *' of Religion, the Laws are againft them in divers refpefts, and particularly ia 
 *' Cafes of Oaths, which they think not lawful for them, as apprehending they are 
 *' forbid by C H R I s T under the Gofpel : Be that as it will, I think they deferve 
 *' Relief, and I have ever contributed as much towards it in all Cafes as I could ; 
 ** and I know, from the many Applications made to me on that Account, that 
 *' they have fuffered for not taking the Oaths, and do fuffer very much iti 
 *' their Families and Bufinefs, by refufing to take an Affirmation, intended 
 *' for their Eafe on that Behalf, but does not prove generally confiflent with 
 *' their Sentiments in that Point : and as they may have occafion, ere long, to 
 *♦ folicit the Favour of the Houfe of Commons for further Redrefs, (of which 
 *' the Lord Morpeth ivas then a Member) I expeft you will favour them, and 
 *« ufe your Intereft on their Account •," which the young Lord promifed he 
 would. By which I obferved that this great Man was willing to tranfmit his own 
 Good-will towards us as a People, to his Son and Heir-apparent, and render it, 
 in a Manner, hereditary in his Family; for his Grandfather had ever been our 
 Friend from the Beginning, and kept off the Stroke of Perfecution in the worft 
 of Times, wherever he had any Power, efpecially in the North of England ; 
 where, in thofe Days, he was much converfant. 
 
 Q E Upon
 
 7T4 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Upon this Occafion the Earl informed me, that the Earl of Sunderland, be- 
 jnf Secretary of State, in great Favour with the King, and Sway at Court, and 
 friendly to us, was the moft proper Perfon to make our firft Apphcation to m 
 that Point, to know the Mind of the King, (of which we were not altogether 
 ignorant before) and on what we might depend from the reft of the iVIiniftry : 
 *' But, faid he, the Earl of Sunderland, confidering the Duty of his Office, the 
 *' great Bufinefs of it, and affiduous Application neceflary therein, cannot be 
 " Ipoke with, but at fome uncertain Times; but, to make it the eaficr, as 
 *' he comes fome Times occafionally to my Houfe, I will give you Notice of 
 " the firft Opportunity that happens, where you may fpeak with him more freely 
 *' than you can among a Throng of People conftantly attending him at home." 
 He then advifed me to have in readinefs a Copy of the Affirmation as 
 it then ftood, and alfo of the Form of Words agreed to in our Yearly Meet- 
 ing. Some Days after this he fent me a Letter by a Servant, wherein he 
 gave me Notice, that the Earl of Sunderland was then at his Houfe, and 
 mio-ht be fpoke with before he went thence. I went immediately to him ; but, 
 when I came there, the low Rooms were crowded with People, fome with Ap- 
 phcations to one of thefe great Men, and fome to the other ; but notifying to 
 the Earl of Carlijle, by one of his Servants, that I was come, he came down 
 himfelf among the Crowd ; and taking me by the Hand, invited me to an U{>- 
 per Room, next to where the Earl of Sunderland was with fome Perfons 
 of Diftinftion, and bid me ftay there till he came to me, which he did 
 in a Ihort Time, and then introduced me to the Earl of Sunderland; who 
 received me in a very friendly Manner. I then made known to him my Bu- 
 Tinefs, and faid, " That tho' the King, his Miniftry, and the Parliament, had 
 *' lately intended us a great Favour, in perpetuating the Affirmation Ad as it 
 *' then ftood, yet it did not anfwer the End propofed -, for a great Part of our 
 *' People could not comply with it, the Terms, in their Apprehenfion, importing 
 *' a Difference from the Doftrine of Christ." Then I produced the Form 
 in the Aft, and that alfo which our Meeting had agreed to ; which, when he had 
 read, he faid, " You might have had the latter as foon as the former, if you 
 *' had applied for it -, for what we did in it was with Intent to ferve you in your 
 *' own Way : and .you yourfelves foliciting for it, we thought we had fully grati- 
 *' fied you; and were informed, that but a few of you were diffatisfied with that 
 *' Form, and thofe a Seft among you, mifled by Mr Penn, in Difloyalty to the Go- 
 *' vernment, and in favour of the Pretender, and who did notdefire that Favour 
 *' from the prefent Government, hoping for it by another in Time -, and thofe 
 *' who were fatisfied with that Form were Mr Mead's Friends, and principled for 
 *' the Revolution, and prefent Government in the Houfe of Hanover ; and the 
 ** one fort called Pennites, and the other Meadites." I replied, " This is only a 
 *' Calumny, artfully invented to defame our Society, and render the more diftrefled 
 *' Part of us odious to the King and Government, that we might have no Relief; 
 
 *' and it is a great Cruelty and Hardlhip : And I have heard that Aijlaby 
 
 " (then Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a Member of the Houfe of Com- 
 *' mons) was fo far impofed upon by that Suggeftion, as to report it in the 
 *' Houfe, when that Matter was in debate there, whether the Aft iKould be 
 ** perpetuated or not. I added. That I did not know, or ever heard of any 
 " fuch Seft, Party, or Parties among us, fo attached to William Penn or IVil- 
 " Ham Mead, or to any other Perfon ; for we are not a People fubjeft to be led 
 *' by Seft-mafters, if any fuch fliould appear among us, but to follow God 
 " and Christ only in Matters of Religion-, and, as fuch, denying of all 
 *' Oaths we believe to be a Part of our Duty. I was long and intimate- 
 " ly acquainted with JVilliain Penn, and knew his Sentiments with refpeft to 
 *' the Government and Pretender ; and though he ever retained a great Re- 
 
 " fpeft
 
 APPENDIX. nSS 
 
 "' fpeft for all that Family, I believe he did it in point of Gratitude for the 
 " Prctedlion he had troni the Duke of 7'ork, afterwards King James, in a 
 *' Time of great Perfecution, and not from any Principle of Difloyalty to the 
 " prefent King or his Government: but as to thofe among us, who cannot 
 " comply with the prefent Form of the Affirmation, I know they are generally 
 " as loyal to King George, and true to his Government, as any of his Sub- 
 " jefls in all his Dominions ; for I have lately been among them in a general 
 " Way. And the Earl of Carlijle himfelf likewiie knows, that many of our 
 " Friends, whom he hath relieved by his Intereft, who had fuffcred much for 
 " Noncompliance with the Affirmation, were as loyal as any others." Then 
 the Earl of Sunderland, being himfelf a very good Friend of IVilliam Penn, fpoke 
 refpe6tfully of him, and faid, " That Gentleman (meaning Aijlaby) was not- 
 *' your Friend at that Time, but you will find him otherwife now :" And 
 " then added with a Smile, " He Jhall be your Friend. To which I return- 
 *' ed, " It is enough !" Then he faid, " It is not fo eafy a Matter as you may 
 *' think, to bring a Thing of this Nature through both Houfes ; yet we can do 
 " it, and you need not go to the King about it ; for you are in his Favour, 
 *' and therefore he will not oppofe what we (meaning the Miniflry) may think 
 " proper to advife him. And I can tell you more, the greateft Part of the 
 " Bifhops will be for you : we have feventeen of them fecure already, and there 
 *■' may be more by the Time that it may be proper to go upon it. But then, 
 " faid he, will this pleafe you if done ? Will you make no further Scruple 
 " about it ?" To which I replied, " If you will be pleafed to enad this Form, 
 *' or fomething of like Import of no higher Nature, I dare venture to fay our 
 *' Society will not give you any further Trouble about it. And I told him, I do 
 *' not come at this Time by any Direftion of our Society, but only with the 
 " Privity of a few, who are of the diffatisfied, to learn the Mind of the Miniflry, 
 " and to be inflrufted what Meafures to take in this Affair -, fince we are de- 
 *' termined not to move, but by their Privity and AfTiftance ; though both the 
 *' fatisfied and diffatisfied are one in this Solicitation : For as the one Side hath. 
 " been willing the other fhould have their Liberty to ufe it, when they could 
 *' freely do it, for Relief of their Families, without any Breach of Union among 
 *' US; fo the other are willing to join with them in one Intereft, to folicit for 
 .*' fuch a Form as may be eafier to all." 
 
 All this being ended, I made him Acknowledgements for his Favour, 
 and returned with Satisfadion and Peace, not doubting from thence forward but 
 that we fhould fucceed ; (though my Confidence was not from what this great 
 Minifler had faid, but from the Evidence I had from the divine Truth, that it 
 was my Bufinefs and Duty in his Service, and for the Help and Prefervation of 
 his People, to go about it at that Time) according to what our Society had a- 
 greed to among ourfelves in the Yearly Meeting : And that Saying is worthy 
 of everlafting Remembrance, That "juhatfeever ye Jhall agree to ajkin my Name, it 
 pall be granted. And in this Name alone do we confide, and did fo at that 
 Time in that Affair. 
 
 This PafTage I related to fome Friends concerned for a netv Af- 
 firmation, which gave them confiderable Satisfdion, and then made it 
 known to fome of the other Side ; who, though they had ufed the Affir- 
 mation as it then flood, yet were heartily concerned for the other Friends, 
 and for univerfal Liberty •, and particularly Andrew Pitt and Jofeph Wyeth, 
 with whom I was very intimate, and knew to be true Friends to Mankind and 
 jufl Liberty. I moved the Matter firft to Andrew, and told him what I had done, 
 and the Encouragement we had from the Earl of Sunderland. He anfwered, 
 
 « The
 
 75-5 APPENDIX. 
 
 " The Stations fuch great Men are in, obligeth them to give foft and 
 «' obliging Anfwers in a general Way, but the Alteration of Circumftances often 
 " aJter'd their Meafures -, fo that they cannot always do as they intend." 1 told 
 him I did not doubt his Veracity, but had a better Foundation yet to trult to, 
 and did beheve, that if he and Jofefh Wyeth, and fome others of the Friends on 
 that Side, who were rightly concerned for general Liberty, would fet treely about 
 it with the other Friends, we fhould obtain what we all defired. Then he faid, 
 *' If I was to be governed by fome juft Refentments I was once ready to yield 
 *' to, by fome ill Ufage I met with from fome Perfons amongft us againft the 
 *' prefent Affirmation, who mifreprefented me as untrue in the former Solicita- 
 *' tions, and even a Counter Solicitor, I would not fet one Foot forward in 
 " their Afliftance ; but I give Thanks to the Almighty, by whole Grace I am 
 " furnifhed \xith a better Mind, and by whofe Providence we are furnifhcd 
 *' with an Opportunity, to evince to Mankind how ready we are to give that 
 *' Liberty, and to procure it one for another, which we have defired of our Su- 
 *' periors." And then kindly added, " I will go with thee to any Man in Eng- 
 *' land thou wilt defire, and thou fhalt be Witnefs thyfelf of the Sincerity of my 
 " Endeavours and Solicitations that Way, and will aiTift to the utmoft of my 
 *' Power with all my Heart." 
 
 I REPLIED, " I am glad to hear it ; and fince thou haft faid it, no Doubt 
 *' can remain with me of thy Sincerity, and thou mayft do it in thy own Way 
 " and Time ; for fuch an Infpeftion does not become the Friendfhip I owe 
 *' thee, nor the juft Confidence I place in thee." So we parted at that Time. 
 
 I MENTIONED likewife the fame Matter to my very fure Friend Jofeph 
 Wyetb ; who inftantly declared his Readinefs to fall in with any proper Meafures 
 for the efFefting fo good an End, as an Affirmation which would make our whole 
 Community eafy : And he had before had it fo much at Heart, that he had 
 wrote to the King about it, of which I was not then apprized. 
 
 Jofeph Wyeth being in a particular Manner in Favour with the King, no doubt 
 but that this Letter had good Influence*; for the good King George very much 
 favoured our Applications, and pafled the Adt for our Relief in that Cafe with 
 all Readinefs, from a real Favour to our Society, and a fettled Defign and Pur- 
 pofe to do us good : And yet the whole is to be attributed to the Goodncfs and 
 Mercy of Goo to his People, to preferve us as one in him, who turneth the 
 Hearts of Kings as the Streams of Water, and doth in the Kingdoms of Men 
 whatfoever he pleafeth. And it was very obvious that the divine Truth was 
 over the Legidature in a general Way at that Time, though fome of the Lords, 
 who were Anti-courtiers, and Oppofers of all the King's Meafuresy did not af- 
 fent ; yet not in Dimke to our Liberty, fc?f . 
 
 11. With the Diike of Somerset. 
 
 TH E Day whereon the A61 palTed, in the Morning, along with fome 
 others, I waited on the Duke of Sommerfet, at Northumberland 
 Houfe, by Charing-Crofs, to folicit his Favour ; and on that Occafion I 
 acquainted him, that I had heard, as I came, that both Univerfities intend- 
 ed to petition againft us, as the Clergy in and about London had already 
 done ; which might give us much more Trouble and Delay, if not bring our 
 Bill in Danger •, and therefore intreated that he would pleafe to ufe his Inttreft 
 for the paffing it into a Law that Day. Upon this he faid, " Perhaps Oxford 
 
 *' may
 
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 APPENDIX. 
 
 may attempt fomething that Way, being influenced by the Bifliops o^ Torki 
 Chejier, Rochefter, and the reft of that fort ; but if they fhould, they are ob- 
 noxious, and wiiJ not be heard : and as to Cambridge, they have done no- 
 thing, and I * being their Head, they can do nothing without me ; and, to 
 make you eafy, they ftall not do any thing againft you in this Con- 
 cern." And then he faid, " There are a Company of Fellows, call- 
 ing themfelves the Clergy in and about the City of London, who have fent 
 m a Petition ; wherein they pretend to blame both Houfes of Parliament for 
 encouraging a Sed, which they rank with Jews, Turks, and other Infidels ; 
 as if we were to be impofed upon by them, and receive their Diftates, or knew 
 not what we had to do without //?^«> Direftions : And befides, we do not 
 know who they are ; for there are above 500 of the Clergy in and about 
 London, and we find only 41 Names to their Petition, and thefe very ob- 
 fcure. Where is their Sherlock, their IFaterknd, or Any of Note amongft 
 them ? Do thefe Fellows fee any Corn growing in the Streets of London 
 that they Ihould meddle in this Cafe !" 
 
 The N I informed the Duke, that I had alfo heard that Morning, that many 
 of the Petitioners were Three-penny Curates, and unbeneficed. 
 
 The Duke asked, " What are they?" I replied. That I had been informed 
 they were poor Clergymen, without Benefices, and had but few Friends, and per- 
 haps fome of them Nonjurors, who hang on about the Town, looking for Pre- 
 ferment ; and, being very indigent, fay Prayers for the richer fort for Three- 
 pence a-time, which is paid. Two-pence in Farthings, and a Difh of Coffee. 
 
 This firft occafioned the Duke to Smile, and afterward drew from him fome 
 warm Expreifions of Refentment, that the poorer fort fliould live fo abjeilly, whilfk 
 the Rich were fo high ; but moft of all, that the Rich Ihould ftt fo low a Price 
 on the Services of their poor Brethren, who did the Work : And then he added, 
 " We (meaning the Legiflature) know how to apply a Remedy, and relieve 
 " them ; it is but to take off the Pluralities, and make more equal Diftribu- 
 ** tion, and then thefe poor Fellows may be better provided for, and live." 
 
 Finding the Duke in a Temper to bear it at that Time, (for he was 2 
 great Man, and naturally of a very high Spirit, but good Senfe) I replied. 
 That the Pluralities had, for many Ages, been complained of as a very unrea- 
 fonable Thing in the Church of Rome, where it firft began, long before the 
 Time of the Reformation of the National Church of England -, and I have read a 
 Sermon of a good old Reformer on that Subjedt, one Bernard Gilpin, who com- 
 pofed it in Edward Vl's. Time, with Defign to have preached it before that 
 Prince : but his Opponents contrived fome Means to procure the King's Ab- 
 fence at the Time ; yet the Sermon was preached, inveighing heavily againft 
 Pluralities as a great Abufe : Where then can the ObftrutSlion lie, that it is not 
 reformed at this Day ? 
 
 To this he made no Reply, but faid, " I am ready to go to the Houfe, 
 « where I would not have gone this Day, but only to ferve you." 
 
 That Day, before Noon, the Aft was palTed as now it is ; for which we 
 
 were thankful, firft to the Lord for his great Goodnefs, in inclining the Heart 
 
 of the King, and thofe of both Houfes, fo much to favour us ; and next to 
 
 them likewife, as Inftruments in his Hand of fo good a Work, and fo great an 
 
 Eafe and Help to us. 
 
 ^ 9 F III. mtb 
 
 * lie was Chancellor to the Univerfity^ 
 
 75-7
 
 7:r8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 111. mth the B'tJJjops of Ck}iii:¥.^Bvv.x, York, 
 ^?/^ C A II L I s L E, Jeparately. 
 
 John Fallowfield, myfelf, and one more, going to Lambeth, to folicit the 
 Concurrence o^ miliam Wake, then Arch-bilhop of Qn/^r^wry, with us, in 
 our Endeavours with the King and ParUament to procure an Affirmation (in- 
 fteadof an Oath) in Terms lefs exceptionable than that then m torce, the 
 Bifhop «ave us a courteous and friendly Reception ; and when we had told him 
 our Bufinefs, and exhibited our Requcft, he, in a folemn Manner, expref- 
 fed himfelf thus : " Becaufe of Oaths the Land mourns ; and it is fhock- 
 " ine to obferve with what Levity and Infenfibility Oaths are adminiftred and 
 « taken in this Nation ! I am for Liberty of Confcience, where that is truly the 
 " Cafe, and could wifh there were not any Form of Words of any higher Na- 
 " ture than you now folicit for, to be ufed in this Land in any Cafe wiiatever ; 
 " but if we fhould grant it to you only, I fear the People would refent it, and 
 " blame us." To this I anfwered, " That if he and the Clergy would hear- 
 *' tily concur in foliciting for the Eftablifhment of fuch a Form as we now 
 " defired, I did believe our People would readily exert their utmoft Endeavours 
 *' that Way." 
 
 Then faid the Bifhop, " Put the Cafe, that any Controverfy fliould arife 
 " between any of the Clergy and any of your People, concerning what we call 
 *' our Dues, Do not you think it were reafonable, that we and our Evidences 
 " Ihould be admitted in the Controverfy to the fame Form of Words as 
 " you ?" 
 
 John Fallowfield anfwered, " That he thought that could not be reafonable, 
 " unlefs they had the fameWay of Thinking as we, and did believe themlelves 
 *' under the fame Obligation to fpeak Truth in Evidence without an Oath, as 
 " with one, as we do ; for Lying and falfe Witnefs are Breachts of the Com- 
 *' mands of God, and mortal Sins as well as Perjury. And if your People, 
 " or fuch of them as might be called to witnefs, fhould happen to think othcr- 
 *' wife, or that they were not fo ftridly tied up by fuch a 1- orm of Words as by 
 *' an Oath, they might equivocate, or venture to falfify •, fo that we could not 
 *' have equal Security." The Bilhop very moderately took this Anfwer, and 
 made no Reply. 
 
 Then I took the Occafion to fay to the Bifhop, " That notwithftanding 
 " the Lenity of the Government, and the Provifion the LegiQature had made, 
 " for the more eafy and lefs deftrudtive Way of Recovery of what the Clergy 
 " called their Dues •, yet many of the inferior fort ftill continued to take the moil: 
 " chargeable and ruinous Methods, in the Courts of Exchequer and Chancery j 
 *' whereby many Families were greatly diftrefled and reduced, if not ruined : 
 " which did not only greatly opprefs our Friends, but fixed an ill Charadler and 
 *' Odium upon the Clergy themfelves in general : For there is not a Man fo 
 *' poor, if he is honefl and a good Man, but that he is loved and refpefted by 
 " his Neighbours ; and when fuch are opprelTed by any of the Clergy, (tho' 
 " by a Law) Mankind, who obferve it, are not always fo juft as to place the 
 *' Odium upon the fingle and immediate OpprefTor, but rather apply it to the 
 *' whole Body, and fay, See here the Clergy, who pretend to teach Religion, how 
 " uncharitable, how covetous, how cruel they are: here is a poor honeft Man 
 " and his Family ruined for a Trifle. Now, confidering the Station and Au- 
 " thority thou bears in the National Church, if thou would be pleafed to ad- 
 
 " vifc
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ^' vife them to greater Moderation, it might be helpful to many, and prevent 
 " the Odium which really militates againfl: themfelves, as well as opprefles us.'*, 
 
 Th e Bifhop being a mild-temper'd Man, did not at all take this Freedom 
 amifs, but replied, " That he had not that Authority over the Inferior Clergy 
 " that we might think -, for, faid he, they have the Law on their Side, and 
 " they know it, and their higheft Regard is to their own Intereft -, and you 
 " have more Authority among your People, by your Excommunications in 
 *' your Monthly and Qiiarterly Meetings, &c. than I have in the Church by 
 " all the Laws of the Nation, Ecclefiaftical and Civil. I call it Excommunica- 
 " tion, you will not take that Word amifs, that is our Way of expreffing it. 
 
 I ANSWERED, " That wc did not take any Exceptions at the Word ; it 
 " was very fignificant, and expreffive of the Thing ; only we think Excom- 
 " munication ought not to reach fo far as they extended it -, it fliould not extend 
 *' to Mens Liberty, Property, or Perfons. What we mean by Excommunica- 
 " tion is this : When any one among us goes into any Immoral Practices or 
 *' Ads, and after due Admonition perfifts in any thing contrary to the Chriitian 
 " Faith and Religion, (as we underftand it) we deny fuch an one Chriftian 
 " Communion, or to be a Member of our Society, until he repent, and, by 
 " better Conduft, give ample Proof of his Reformation and Sincerity. And 
 " when fuch a Delinquent is become a true Penitent, and defires to be recon- 
 " ciled to the Body, we apprehend it is as much the Duty of the Society to 
 *' receive him when fo ftated, as before to bear Witnefs againft him, and deny 
 " (or excommunicate) him." TheBifliop made no Reply to this-, but only faid, 
 " It is immoral in any one, of any Society, to break or rejedl the Rules and Or- 
 *' ders of the Society he belongs to, or makes Profeffion with ; I fay, fuch Per- 
 " fons are immoral, and are not fit for any Communion," 
 
 Speaking of the Maintenance of the Clergy, and their infifting on the 
 Law only for it, he faid, " As to the Right of our Maintenance as Minifters, 
 *' whether of divine Right, or by the Laws only, we are divided in our Senti- 
 *' ments on that Point. There are about 14,000 of the Clergy in this Nation, 
 *' (as I remember he faid) and I do not know on which Side of the Queflion 
 *' the Majority may be : But for my own Part, for me to think I have this 
 " Houfe, (lifting up his Hand towards the Cicling) or my Bifhoprick, by di- 
 " vine Right, there is nothing in it ; only, as thefe are Advantages annexed 
 " to an OfEce by the Laws of the Land, which Office I enjoy by the Favour 
 *' of the Prince, fo I receive and hold it, and no otherwife." This I 
 deem'd a frank and honefl ConfefTion, and could not but refpeft him for it. 
 
 Again, upon my mentioning the Severity and Envy of fome of the infe- 
 ferior Clergy againft us, he granted, " Xliat thefc Things brought an Odium 
 " upon themfelves, and wrought againft them ; and added, that he was againft 
 " Perfecution in any Degree or Form ; and that if he was Incumbent in any 
 ♦' Parifh, he would never fue any of our Friends for his Dues." And then re- 
 lated to us the following Paffage : " That a Clergyman of his Acquaintance, 
 " having a Prefentation offered him to a Church in London, a Friend of his 
 " would have diffuaded him from accepting it, becaufe (faid he) there are many 
 " Quakers in the Parifh, and you mufl either loofe a great Part of yourDues, 
 " or be perpetually at Law and Trouble about them, which is not agreeable 
 " to your Temper and Quietude. But (faid the Bilhop) the Gentleman re- 
 " plied, that notwithftanding the Number of Qiiakers in the Parifh, I will ac- 
 " cept it, and accordingly did ; and being gentle and neighbourly among them, 
 
 " and 
 
 7T9
 
 7^0 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 «' and never fuing any of them, they took it fo well, that they generally made 
 « up his Dues fome other Way, and they lived very peaceably together." 
 
 To this I replied, " That it being Matter of Confcience in all of us that 
 «' are true to our Principles, we could not juftify any of our Friends in taking 
 " any Bye-ways or equivocal Methods to elude our Profeffion in that Cafe •, lor 
 *' whatfoever any Man profefleth as any Part or Incident of the Chriftian Reli- 
 »* gion, he ought to be fincere therein ; and it were more manly aud Chriftian 
 « to aft openly as one is inwardly perfuaded, than to profefs one thing openly, 
 " and aft another contrary in fecret : for that is Hypocrify, and we would not 
 « have one fuch among us. 
 
 T H £ N I related to the Bilhop how far we think any Society of Chriftians 
 may and ought to contribute to the neceflary Charge of a Gofpel Miniftry, and 
 how that Matter ftands among us at this Day. " That we believe the true 
 " Gofpel Miniftry and Chriftian Religion comes not by Tradition, Imitation, 
 *' or Succeffion, as from the Apofties and Primitives, but immediately from 
 " Christ himfelf; who, according to his Promife, hath ever been with his 
 " Church, and ever will be, to the End of the World, as a Fountain of 
 " Life and Salvation unto her : That he only hath Right and Power to call, 
 " fanftify, and qualify, whomfoever he pleafeth, as Minifters and Officers in 
 " his Congregation, or amongft his People •, which is of his own feeking, congre- 
 " gating, bapnzing, and faving, by the Revelation, Operation, and Agency of 
 " his Holy Spirit. And we obferve that now, as in Times paft, he taketh the 
 ** weak Things of this World whereby to overpower the ftrong, and foolifli 
 *' whereby to confound the Wifdom of the Wife, that no Flefli may boaft be- 
 " fore him. And when at any Time we are fitting together in Silence, (as wc 
 *' ufually do) waiting upon the Almighty for the Influence of his Holy Spirit, 
 *' that we may be comforted, refrefhed, and edified thereby, if any one hath 
 *' his Underftanding enlightned thereby into any edifying Matter, and moved 
 *' and enabled to fpeak, the reft have proper Qiialifications, by the fame Spirit, 
 " to difcern and judge, both of the Soundnefs of his Speech and Matter, and 
 *' alfo of the Spirit and Fountain from which his Miniftry doth arife •, and if 
 *' from the Holy Spirit of C h r i s t, who is Truth, it hath Acceptance with the 
 *' Congregation, and tho' but in a few Words, it is comfortable and edifying ; 
 " for as the Palate tafteth Meats, fo the Ear, or difcerning Faculties of an illu- 
 *' minated, fandtify'd Mind, diftinguifheth Words, and the Fountain from which 
 •' they fpring. And fuch a Perfon thus appearing, may fo appear at another 
 *' Time, and be enlarged in Word and in Power, and fo on gradually, till he 
 " hath given Proof of his Miniftry to his Friends and Brethren, among whom, 
 *' in the Neighbourhood, he hath been exercifed therein, until he becomes a 
 " Workman in the Gofpel, in fome good Degree fitted for the Service ; and 
 " then it may fo happen, as often it doth, that this Perfon is moved or called 
 " by the Word of G o d, to travel in this Service in fome other Places remote 
 «' from his Habitation, which will take him off from his Bufinefs whereby he 
 " maintains himfelf, his Wife and Family ; and fuppofe him to be a Cobler of 
 " old Shoes, a Patcher or Tranflator of old Cloaths, or the meaneft Mechanick 
 " that can be named, poor, and not able to fit himfelf with common Neceffaries 
 " for his Journey, he wanteth a Horfe, (tho' fome only walk) Cloathing and 
 *' the like -, in fuch a Cafe the Friends of the Meeting to which he belongs pro- 
 « vide all fuch Things, and furnilh him. And if in that Service he is fo lono- 
 «' from Home, as that his Horfe fails, and his Cloaths wear out, and NecefTa^ 
 " ries are wanting unto him, then the Friends where he travels, where his Service 
 « is acceptable, take Care to furnilh him till he returns to his Family and Bufinefs. 
 
 " And
 
 APPENDIX. 7^1 
 
 " And in the Time of his Abfence from them, fome Friend or Friends of the 
 " Neighbourhood vifit his Family, advife in his Bufinefs, and charitably pro- 
 " mote it till he return. But as to any other temporal Advantages, or fel- 
 " fifli Motive of Reward for fuch Service, there is no fuch thing among us : For 
 " ii our Minifters fliould have the leaft View that Way, and infifted upon it, or 
 " our People were willing to gratify thatDefire, we fhould then conclude we were 
 " gone off from the true Foundation of Christ and his Apoftles, and be- 
 " come Apoftates. But tho' our Principles allow fuch Affiftance to our Mini- 
 " flers as I have related ; yet I have not known any Inftance (fave one) ot any 
 " fuch Help : for, by the good Providence of God, our Minifters have ge- 
 *' nerally fufEcient of their own to fuppor- the Charge of their Travels in that 
 *' Service, and are unwilling that the Gofpet fhould be chargeable to any •, only 
 " as their Miniftry makes Way where they come, their Company is acceptable 
 " to their Friends, who afford them to eat and drink and lodge with them for 
 " a Night or two, more or lefs, as there may be occafion ; which being freely 
 " given, and freely received, we think is like unto the Primitives, under the 
 ♦' immediate Condud of the fame.LoR d, our Saviour and Direftor." 
 
 The Bifhop heard all thefe Things with Patience and Candour, not fhewing 
 the leaft Diilike to any Part of what pafled among us ; and being ended, he 
 faid, a little pleafantly, " Then you are like Paul and Barnabas^ and we are 
 *' like Silas and Timothy -, you travel abroad to propagate the Faith of Christ, 
 •' and we remain at home, taking Care of Things there." And tho' it was on 
 the fecond Day, when ufually vifited by his Clergy, he ftaid with us alone till 
 about the Middle of the Day, and at our Departure faid, " Gentlemen, let us, 
 *' in our fcveral Stations, endeavour to promote univerfal Love, Good-will and 
 *' Charity amongft Mankind ; and I pray God blefs you and profper you in 
 " your Undertakings -, for we ought to pray for one another, and defire the beft 
 *' Things one for another." And fo we departed in Peace and Satisfaftion. 
 
 IV. JVith the Bifojp of York, Sir William 
 
 D A w E Sj Bart. 
 
 GOING to the Biftiop of York to folicit his Favour and Concurrence in 
 the Houfe of Lords, for altering the Terms of our folemn Affirmation, 
 as they then flood in the Afts of Parliament relating thereto, being fuch as the 
 Body of our Friends difliked, and could not comply with, the Bifhop upon 
 that Occafion faid, " I am for Liberty of Confcience where that is truly the 
 *' Cafe : But there is a fort of People in this Nation, who diffent from the Church 
 «« on the Pretence of Confcience, and yet can occafionally feek for Offices and 
 « Places of Profit in the Government -, (meaning the Prefljyterians and their 
 « other Seftaries) I cannot call this Confcience, but Humour." I replied, 
 «' I am of the fame Mind : But that is not our Cafe -, for we want no Places 
 « or Offices in the Government, but an Exemption from fuch Laws as tend 
 «' to obftruft us in our Duty and Service to the Almighty, in fuch Manner as 
 «« we are in Truth and Sincerity perfuaded in our Confciences we ought to 
 «' worftiip, fear, ferve, and obey him, without any View to any other Intereft.'^ 
 
 Then faid the Bifliop, " The Words of the Affirmation that now is are a 
 « folemn Oath, and fo we (meaning the Clergy) always, from the Beginning, 
 «' have underftood them." 1 replied, " I know you have : For Dr Tillot' 
 '■'■Jon, when Dean of Paul's,, being required to preach a Sermon before 
 •' the' Ridges of the Affize at Kingfton upon Thames, took his Text in thefe 
 <' Words "^Men verily [wear by the greater, and an Oath is, to them, an End of Ugj, ^j ,5^ 
 
 Q G « all
 
 ^6% 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 " all Strife ; from which he raifed a Difcourfe, intending therein to prove, that 
 « Oaths in Judicature were not only lawful, but neceflary under the Goipel, 
 « as well as under the Law. In which Difcourfe he defines an Oath in thtfe 
 " Words, or to this Effedt: Jn Oath is a folemn Appeal to God, as a 
 " Witncfs of the Truth of what we fay. Which Sermon being printed be- 
 " fore we applied to the LegiHature for Relief againft Oaths, and the Reafon- 
 « ing therein fuppofed to be ftrong in Support ot judicial Swearing, that Par- 
 « liament would not grant us any Relief in any other Terms but in the Words 
 " of the Doftor's Definition of an Oath, a litde improved. For whereas he 
 « faith in his Sermon, An Oath, which is a folemn Appeal to God as « Witnefs 
 " of the Truth i^c. the Parliament added the Word Almighty to the Word 
 «< God, fetting forth the fupream Being in his higheft Attribute as a IVuncfs 
 " in the-mofl: trivial Cafes occurring among the Children of Men, whilft a Mor- 
 " tal fitteth as Judge in the Caufe. And whereas the Particle «, might denote 
 " the Moft High as a Witnefs only on the Level with other Witnefles, the 
 " Parliament wifely and more reverently changed the Particle a to the more 
 " proper Words the Witnefs, by way of Super-eminence, as juftly due : For 
 " where the G o d of Truth is Witnefs, there needeth no other j and to fuppofe 
 " there doth, is derogatory to his divine Majefty, and blafphemous : of whiclx 
 " many of our People were aware, and therefore fhun'd it, and could not comply ; 
 " tho' fome others, not fo well apprized of the Nature of an Oath, did ufe it : 
 " But we, as a Body of People, never agreed to it ; for our Yearly Meeting, which 
 " reprefents us and our Principle j in the moft colleftive and general Manner, 
 " hath always ao-reed to folicit the Government for a more proper Form, when 
 " it might pleafe God to incHne their Hearts to fo much Joodnefs-, and we 
 " hoping this is the Time, have propofed the Form now before the Houfe." 
 The Bifhop replied, " That he was not our Enemy, but could not ftay at that 
 " Time to fee or hear any more on the Subjeft, being under an Appointmenc 
 " about fome Bufinefs -, and fo we parted." 
 
 Some Days after this I went to him again, accompanied only by John 
 Irwin: The Bidiop was alone, and received us very courteoufly, and we re- 
 newed our Applications to him on the fame Account j and then the Bifhop was 
 more plain with us, and faid, " That he could not be for us on that Ac- 
 " count : For tho' he did believe, that the Words of the Affirmation, as they 
 " then ftood, were as folemn an Oath as could be invented by the Wit of Man, 
 *' he underftood our Friends had generally complied with them on every pinch- 
 " ing or needful Occafion, as he had been informed by Perfons of unqueftion- 
 *• able Credit, who had been exercifed in the Court of Chancery. He added, 
 *' That if there were any confiderable Number of us who confcientioufly fcru- 
 *' pled the Words, it ought to be duly confidered by the Houfe, and Relief 
 '' granted; but to alter the Laws for a very few, could hardly compo.t with 
 " Prudence, fince the Parliament would greatly incur the Cenfure of the Pco- 
 " pie of the Nation if they fhould do it : And added, that he could not fee any 
 " Reafon why flich of us as took the Affirmation fhould be exempted from 
 *' the common Oaths of the Nation." By which I perceived he and tliey 
 would have divided us if they could. 
 
 T o this I replied, " That fince the Bilhop himfelf underftood the Words 
 " in the prefent Aft to be a folemn Oath, I hoped he could not blame us, fince 
 " it was Matter ot Confcience, (to which he was a profcft Friend) if fincere to 
 " our Princples, tho' but a few, that we made Application for a Form of a milder 
 " Nature, in which nothing like an Oath was contained. But as to the Num- 
 ^^ bers on either Side of the Queftion among us the Petitioners, the Proceed- 
 
 " ings
 
 APPENDIX. 763 
 
 " ings againft us in Chancery, or any other Courts, could not determine ; for 
 *' few, in comparifon of the Body of our People, are profecuted there: and as 
 " there may be feme who comply, as not believing the Words in the Law to 
 *' amount to an Oath, there are others alfo who have been profecuted therein, 
 " who have fo far fcrupled them, as rather to fuffer the hard Meafures of the 
 " Law than comply with that Form." 
 
 Then faid John Irwin^ " The Bifhop is mifinformed in this Point •, for I 
 " live in the North of England, and know that there are very few of our Friends 
 *' in all thefe Parts who comply with the Terms of the prefent Affirmation on 
 " any Account, but generally fufter the Force of the Laws, rather than yield to a 
 *' Thing contrary to Confcience : And I have likewife, not long ago, travelled 
 " through moft Parts of the Weft and South of this Nation ; and, upon a ge- 
 " neral Obfervation, find, that the greateft Part of our Friends every where are 
 " averfe to the prefent Affirmation, and decline to ufe it as much as they can." 
 
 Th I s I confirmed by adding^ " That I alfo had, for fome Years paft, tra- 
 *' veiled through moft Parts of the World where our People are, and ob- 
 " ferved, that they are generally principled againft the Form of the prefent Af- 
 " firmation; and this Endeavour for further Eafeand Liberty of Confcience in 
 " the Cafe, is by Confcnt and DirecSlion of our whole Body, reprefented in our 
 " Yearly Meeting here in London, and not by any particular Party or Side only : 
 »' So that I hope thy Objection (as to a few) is fully anfwered : And if there 
 " were but a few in a Nation under that Circumftance, Charity ought not to 
 «' be with-held for that Reafon, fince the Eyes of the Lord are upon the Righ- rfal.xxxlv.ij 
 " teoHS, and his Ears are open to their Cry." 
 
 And as the Bifhop had afTerted, " That the Words of the former Affirma- 
 " tion were a folemn Oath, and wifh'd that all the judicial Oaths of the Nation 
 ■" were in that Form," (and that Party feem'd to intend it, and thereby elude our 
 Teftimony againft fwearing) it gradually drew the Queftion into our Difcourfe, 
 Whether Christ, in his Doftrine, had prohibited all Swearing ; they com- 
 monly alledging he only forbid prophane Swearing in Converfation, but noC 
 fwearing in Evidence ? I affumed the Affirmative, " That the Lor d Ch ri st 
 *' hath aboliflied all Oaths out of his Church ; and allcdged for Proof the fifth 
 " Chz.^x.tv o'i Matthew, where he faith. Except your Right eoufnefs Jhall exceed the Mat. v. zo. 
 *' Righteoufnefs of the Scribes and Pharifees, you fhall in no cafe enter the Kingdom 
 " of Heaven : And then, in feveral Points, fets forth what their Righteoufnefs 
 
 *' did amount to, iiiz. You have heard it was faid by them of old Time, Thou 27,28. 
 
 " ffjalt 710 1 commit Adultery ; but I fay unto you, that whofoever looketh on a Wo- 
 " man to luft after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart. 
 *' Here, by taking away the Caufe, which is an unlawful Defire in the Heart, he 
 »*' prevents the Aft, and makes it impoffible, where there is no Conception of 
 «' Defire ; for there begins the Sin. Again, rou have heard it hath been faid by 
 
 *' them of old Time, Thou fhalt love thy Neighbour, (or Friend) and hate thine E- 43.44." 
 
 *' nemy % but I fay unto you. Love your Enemies, &c. Now where the Heart is 
 *' filled with the Love of God, in which Christ laid down his Life for 
 *' Mankind, whilft yet Enemies, in which we can have Love and CompalTion 
 <' even for Enemies, the Caufe of fighting, and deftroying one another as Ene- 
 *' mies, is taken away •, Men are reconciled unto God through Christ,, and 
 »' one unto another in him ; and, fo abiding, cannot fight ordeftroy any more; 
 " as it is written. There floall none hurt or deftroy in all my holy Mountain, faith Ifa. xi. 9. 
 " the Lord. Thus far in Parables to introduce and illuftrate the Point in que- 
 " ftion, and now home to that, Tch have heard it hath been faid by them of old Mat.v.33,34. 
 
 " Time^
 
 7^4 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 « Time, "ihoupaU not forfwear thyfelf, hut perform unto the Lord thne Oaths ; 
 " but I fay unto you , Swear not at all. Here the L o r d begins with Oaths of 
 « the higheft Nature, ufed under the Law on the mod folemn Occafions -, which, 
 " whofoever falfified were perjured : and where there is Swearing there may be 
 " Perjury ; but where there is no Swearing, there can be no Perjury ; where 
 " the Caufe is taken away, the EfFefts will ceafe : And as he all along advan- 
 " ceth the Moralities of the Gofpel above that of the Law, in all other Inftances, 
 « fo in this alfo : for if he had only forbid prophane Swearing, he had done 
 
 Exod.xx. 7. " no more than Mofes had done in the Point; where it is faid. Thou fho.lt not 
 " take the 'Name of the Lord thy God in vain ; which Command every one breaks 
 *' in a moft impious Senfe, who fwears in Converfation. The Lord having 
 " thus prohibited the once lawful Oaths, he proceeds to explain the Tendency 
 " of their invented Oaths, which they ufed in Converfation, and on fmall Occa- 
 
 Mat. V. 34, " fions, the Breach whereof they did not feem to think was Perjury, Neither 
 
 35, &c. tt pjf ^jjgji f^ear by Heaven ; for it is God's Throne, and he ixiho f'iveareth by 
 
 " the Throne of God, fweareth by him that fitteth thereon : neither fhalt thou 
 " fwear by the Earth ; for it is his Footfiool : and, by Parity of Confequcnce, he 
 " that fweareth by the Footftool of God, fweareth by him whofe Pootftool it 
 " is- Neither fhalt thou fivear by Jerufalem ; for it is the City of the great 
 *' King : Nor by thy Head ; becaufe thou canfi not make one Hair white or bloik : 
 " both which refult and terminate the fame Way -, fuch fwear by the Lord, 
 " the King of Kings, whofe Name and Temple was placed in Jerufalem in the 
 *' Time of the Law ; anjd the Head, as all the Parts of Man, being formed of 
 " the L o R D, to fwear thereby, is to fwear by his Maker. Thus fwearing by 
 " Heaven, Earth, Jerufalem, the Altar, the Gold thereon, the Head, or any 
 " Creature, every Oath is forbidden in Converfation, as well as judicial Swear- 
 " ing ; but let your Converfation (and Communication) be yea, yea, nay, nay ; 
 " for whatfoever is more than thefe cometh of Evil ; of the Evil One, which is the 
 
 Zech.wi. 16 "Devil, l^ezve oi^ \y\ng, and every Man ffeak Truth to his Neighbour ; and 
 " ufe no higher Affeveration in your Speech, than redoubling your Yea on fo- 
 " lemn Occafions ; as by Example of your Lord, verily, verily." 
 
 The Bifiiop heard me with Patience ; and, which gave me fome Surprize, 
 he made no other Reply than this, " Your Interpretation of that Scripture is 
 " juft. Then he faid, " I read your Books : I have read Barclay : He is no 
 " contemptible Author; yet I think he might be anfwered in fome Points." 
 
 I REPLIED, " That any ingenious Perfon reading the Works of another, 
 " with Defign to find Fault, may find fomething, efpecially in a large Perform- 
 " ance, that he may think amifs, or wreft to fuch an Appearance as he would 
 " have it: But every Work fhould be examined with an impartial View, by a 
 " Mind not prejudiced or prepoflefled, comparing one Part with another, till 
 " the true Mind, Intent, and Meaning of the Writer be difcovered ; and then, 
 " if any real Error appear, to conftjce it by obvious Truth ; which needeth no 
 " Glofs, or Colour of Sophiftry : but when an Opponent fubtilly and wilfully 
 «« wrefts the Words of his Antagonift, and impofcth a Meaning thereon the 
 " Author did not intend, this Opponent is a Forger, combating his own Inven- 
 « tion, mihtates againft himfelf, and is felo de fe in Argument." Upon this 
 the Bifliop generouOy acknowledged, " That no Man ought to oppofe the 
 " Works of another, till he was fully Mafter of the Author's real Senfe, and 
 " did at lead believe it to be wrong or heterodox." 
 
 Th EN I faid, " That we had met with very hard Ufage in the Houfe of 
 " Lords, and particularly by the Bi^op of Rochefier (the fame that afterwards 
 
 " was
 
 APPENDIX. 76y 
 
 " was banifhed for treafonable Pradices) ; that at the fame Time when we, as 
 " a Chriftian People, were addrefiing the Lcgiflature of our native Country 
 " for Liberty of Confcience, to ferve God and our Lord Jesus Christ 
 " in the Way we judge moft acceptable to him, to be branded and accufed in 
 " fuch a Place and Time, and on fuch an Occafion, as not being Chriftians, but 
 " compared, by him, -with Jews, Pagans, and Mahometans ! 'tis very uncha- 
 " ritable, to fay the leaft." 
 
 The Bifhop replied, " I do not approve that Ufage of you ; but he ex- 
 
 " plain'd himfelf to mean no more, than that you are not ■perfe5l Chriftians ; that 
 •' is, in the Way we initiate People into Religion." 
 
 I ANSWERED, " Then it remains for you to prove, that none can be per- 
 " fedl Chriftians, unlefs initiated (at leaft) by you, or after your Manner." It 
 being then near Twelve o'Clock, the Biftiop did not think, proper to enter 
 upon that Subjeft. And, as he had faid in the Sequel of this Difcourfe, he 
 had read our Books, I afked him " if he had feen one, ftiled A Treatife of 
 *' Oaths, wrote by IFilliam Penn?" he faid " he had not." Then I faid, " We 
 *' had Abundance of Votes collefted there, out of the Writings of thofe you call 
 " Fathers, on our Side, againft Swearing in any Cafe or Way." To which he 
 replied, " That we ought not to depend upon Numbers only, but confider the 
 " Weight alfo." " Granted, faid I -, but you have neither Weight nor Number 
 " (that ever I have heard of) on your Side •, for all who wrote on that Subjedl 
 *' in the Primitive Church, wrote againft Swearing, and not one in Support of 
 " it under the Gofpel ; but that crept in gradually, with other Errors, as the 
 *' Church more and more degenerated into Jewifh and Antichriflian Pradices 
 ♦' in many Inftances." 
 
 Then this good-temper'd and affable Bifhop requefted, " That if we had 
 " any Books we valued more than others, I would oblige him with a Sight of 
 " them, which I gave him fome Expeftation of;" and, at parting, he took me by 
 the Hand, as we paffed out of the Room in which we were, into another towards 
 the Door, and faid, " I defire your Prayers for me, as I alfo pray for you -, we 
 " ought all to pray one for another." And fo we parted in Peace andGood-will, 
 not the leaft Word of Warmth or a fcornful Look having appeared in all this 
 Conference. I made Enquiry after fuch of our Books as I thought pro- 
 per for him ; but he going foon after into his Diocefe of Tork, and I into 
 Suffolk, and crofs the Country into the Weft in the Service of Truth, which took 
 about feven Months Time, I had no Opportunity to fee him till I returned to 
 London, and then went to his Houfe in the Stratid for that Purpofe ; but he 
 not happening to be within, and my Concerns not allowing me ano- 
 ther Opportunity for fome Weeks, in the mean time he was taken ill of the 
 Diftemper whereof he died, fo that I did not fee him any more : tho' his 
 Death, through the Refpedt I had conceived for his good Qualities, affedted me 
 with a friendly Concern •, for he had as much of the Gentleman as Bifhop in him, 
 and the former feem'd rather predominant. 
 
 H V. fFttb
 
 ^66 APPENDIX. 
 
 V. IVtth Z)r Bradford, Bijhop ^/Carlisle. 
 
 PETER FEARON, an ancient Minifter, and John Ir-win aforefaid, being 
 Cumberland Men, went to folicit Dr Bradford, then Bifhop of Carlijle, in 
 our Favour, concerning the Affirmation aforefaid, and altering the Terms ; on 
 occafion whereof he enter'd into an Argument with them on the Point of 
 Oaths under the Gofpe), alTerting, as ufiial. That Christ did only forbid 
 Swearing in Communication ; but how they managed the Point I know not, 
 becaufe not prefent, and do not remember they related to me the Particulars : 
 but as they intended to make him another Vifit on the fame Account, they de- 
 fired my Company on that Occafion, and provided the Treattfe of Oaths afore- 
 faid, as a Prefent to him. And we went to him together, finding none with 
 
 him but Sykes, a moderate Clergyman, the fame that printed a Sermon on 
 
 thefe Words of C h r i s t. My Kingdom is not of this fVorld, before Benjamin 
 Hoadley, then Bifhop oi Bangor, preached his on the fame Text, which made 
 fo much Noife among themfelves and the Nation. The Bifhop received us 
 mildly and courteoufly, ordering Seats to be fet for us near himfelf ; and having 
 heard our Application for his Favour concerning further Eafe by a new Affirma- 
 tion, and return'd us a moderate and favourable Anfwer, he began again upon the 
 Subjeft of Oaths, endeavouring to perfuade us to think, that Christ only pro- 
 hibited Oaths in common Converfation or Communication : in which -- Sykes 
 
 likewife concurred : But they grounding their Opinion only upon the Word 
 Communication in our EnglifJj Tranflation, and the other two Friends lea- 
 ving the Matter to me, I anfwered, " That if Christ did not prohibit all 
 " Oaths in that Doftrine, he did not advance the Morality and Righteoufnefs 
 " of the Gofpel above that of the Law in that Point, as in every other Particular 
 " there mention'd, he certainly did ; and added, T'hat there is not a Word in 
 " that Text, which by any tolerable Conftrudtion, or by any Propriety, can 
 " be rendcr'd Communication from the Greek Original : For the Word is 
 " Ao7ccr, (the fame ufed in the ifl o^John) fignifying Word (or Speech); which 
 " Word is Truth, fignifying that the Righteoufnefs of the Gofpel, abolifliing 
 " Oaths of all kinds, requires Mankind to fpeak the Truth one to another in 
 " Honefty and Sincerity, in all Cafes, as furely and certainly as they could 
 " upon Oath." And then defired the Bifliop to infpeft his Greek Teftament 
 on that Occafion, which he readily did ; and returning from his Library, confef- 
 fed that the Word there trandated Communication, was Aoyoe- in the Greek, and 
 did not offer any further Argument upon the Subjeft. Then I gave him 
 the Book which the Friends had put into my Hands, telling him it was writ on 
 that Subjedl, and defired him to perufe it at his Leifure ; and fo we left liim in 
 Friendfhip and Peace. 
 
 Some Time after this, being at London, Walter Newbury and I went to the 
 Bifliop again, to requeft his Favour in the Houfe of Lords concerning the Af- 
 firmation ; and he was come down to his Hall, ready to take the Air in his Coach 
 in the Park, but ftopt when he faw us come in, and received us kindly, and pre- 
 fently faid, " I have read your Book, and I will fetch it you." 1 anfwered, 
 " It was given him as a Prefent, and defired it might be acceptable." He 
 thanked me, and immediately faid, " That he believed that Christ and his 
 " Apoftles had forbid all Oaths and Swearing, and that tlie Time would come 
 " when there would not be any fuch Thing in the Ciiriftian World -, but 
 " added. That the prefent State and Circumftances of Mankind could not bear 
 " fuch an Exemption \ and faid. That you will own that fome even among your- 
 
 " fclves
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 «' feIves,inwhom fome Immoralities appear, are not fit for the Liberty and 
 Jlxcmption you requeft tor your People." 
 
 " Lr ''''Y^''^" That as Mankind come into this World only in a natural 
 
 Ex mple and Inllrua.ons given them, may, and fome of them do, degenerate 
 nto immoral Praa.ces of fome forts : the' our Society takes all pradicable Care 
 
 Ways and Means. We pray for them, we example them, admonilh, adv.fe, 
 exhort, reprove, and rebuke them as Need may require •. and, after all, if any 
 one among us perfift in Evil, we proceed againft fuch according to the 
 
 « U u °"' ?"''^' /"f "y '° ^'"y '•'^^'" '-^^ "«^ «f «"■• Communion ; and 
 
 ^^ that IS all we do, or think we ought to do, in fuch Cafes. And tho' fome 
 particular I erfons among us may not, in their younger Times, come fully 
 up m all Things into the Perleftion of our Profcffion ; yet we hope in the 
 main, as a Chnftian Society, we do. And tho' fome among us do tall into 
 Things d.fagreeable to our Profeffion ; yet bearing falfe Witnefs bein- fo 
 great an Evil, and fo eafily difcovered, we hope none among us would 
 be gtnlty of it , but .1 any fliould, let the Penalty of Perjury be fully in- 
 flifted "Pon him : and tlierefore we are encouraged to make this Appli- 
 
 ^^C»T:.. /T"\ Z '? P!'"''^ ^o acknowledge thy Sentiments, that 
 
 C H R I s T and his Apoftles by their Doftiine have prohibited all Oaths and 
 
 Swearing of every kind, there muft be a Time wherein it muft be be^un 
 
 to be put in Praftice by fome certain Perfon. Perfons, or Communky. 
 
 A Nation IS not born in a Day -, nor did the Lord J e s u s himfelf call 
 
 and convert all his Difciples at once, k was a gradual Work, though in 
 
 the Hand of him by whom the Worlds were made. And as the Chnftian 
 
 \Norld(io called) hath fuftered an exceeding great Lapfe and Degeneracy 
 
 " rom the Dodrines, Morality, Sanftity, and Praflice of Christ and 
 
 " his Apoaies, and the other early Primitives ; fo in the main they are more 
 
 " Anti-chrift.ans than Chriftians : and the Almighty, who makes Choice of 
 
 " !.f r , ' '^'""§' ""^ ^'''' ^'"■^'^' wliereby to confound the Wifdom of the 
 « Wife, the Weak whereby to overcome the Mighty, and even Thincrs that 
 " arc not, to bring to nought the Things that are, (thai noFkp may ghn before 
 " him) hath raifed up and chofen us as a People, in and by whom to be^in this 
 " Reformation in Religion, in Doftrine and Praftice ; not by human Power 
 " for that is againft us, nor by the Wifdom of this World, of which we have 
 " httle, or the Learning or Acquirements thereof, which we do not purfue - 
 " but by the fame Grace through whkh our Lord Jesus Christ laid down 
 *' his Lite upon the Crols for the Redemption of Mankind ; wherewkh beino; 
 " mercifully favoured of G o d, and having believed through the Operation 
 " thereof in our Hearts, we have hitherto fuffcred all Things for his Name's Sake 
 " which hath been pernntted to be inflifted upon us by this and other Nations' 
 " where we have been railed up, or have come: And we hope we have given 
 " Chnftian Proof of our Sincerity, to the Minds of all fober and thinking Peo- 
 " pie, that our Religion is not fome feledl Notions of certain Gofpel Truths 
 « but a real and praftical Thing ; wherein we are fupported, by the Wifdom' 
 " and Power of G o d alone, as Witneffes for him on Earth, and to the Re- 
 " demption and Salvation brought to pafs for us and in us through Jesus 
 " C H r I s T our Lor D. And fince ye profefs y ourfelves to be Chnftian Bifhops 
 " ffor we applied to them all) and we apply to you for Relief where our 
 " Con.ciences are yet opprefTcd by Laws, and where you, by your Offices in the 
 « National Church, have a Share for the Time being, in the Legiflature, who, 
 " under the Almighty alone, can relieve us ; if you will not, in your Stations 
 
 767 
 
 " con-
 
 768 APPENDIX. 
 
 " contribute what you may towards that Relief, at whofe Door will the Oppref- 
 " fion iye ? 
 
 Th e Bifhop heard me with Chriftian Patience, and faid, " Wc (meaning the 
 " Bifhops and former Parliament) did not grant the Affirmation that now is un- 
 " der any other View, on our Part, than as a folemn Oath ; for fo we always 
 " underftood it, and we thought your People had acquiefced under it : but fee- 
 " ing it does not fuit you, I am for Liberty for tender Confciences, where that 
 " is the Cafe. I am your Friend herein." Then we returned him our hearty 
 Acknowledgments ; upon which he took us by the Hands, and gave us his 
 aood Wifhes, and we departed in Peace and Satisfaction. He was, after the Ba- 
 nifhment of Jtterbury, Bifhop of Rochejler, before mention'd in my Conference 
 with the Bifhop of Tork, tranflated (as their Term is) into the See of Rochejler. 
 
 F I N I S.
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 D E 
 
 X 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Principal Occurrences, Matters, and Subjects, 
 treated of in the foregoing Journal. 
 
 AEfurdity of fuppofing the Bible to be the 
 Word of God, Page 335 
 
 Abufe and Perlecution, Inftances of them 
 in Scotland, ^j 
 
 Accident, one on the landing of WilUam Penn in 
 Pcnfyi'vania, Z40. — A uangerous one to the 
 Author, 642 
 
 Aft, an extraordinary one made againft the Qua- 
 kers, 193. — One of the General Affembly of 
 the Kirk of Scotland, or 
 
 Advice to the Students at Bojlon in Hew En. 
 gland, 342 
 
 Advertifement from George Keith to the Yearly 
 Meeting in Eajl Jerjey, 258 
 
 Affirmation Aft, the firll obtained not fatisfaftory 
 to many Friends, 476, 529, 617 
 
 Anfwer, To a MefTage from George Kdtb, 259 
 — To James Wallaces Letter, 427. — To 
 Thomas Dixotii Letter, 478 
 
 Appeal, an irregular one made to the Yearly 
 Meeting at London, 72J 
 
 Apoftles Creed, (fo called) Remarks upon it, 
 
 545, 571, 694 
 
 Apoftate, John Read 246 
 
 Arms. Againft bearing them, 272, 365, 452, 
 620. — A Trial of two young Men, who re- 
 fufed to bear them, 269 
 
 AlEzes at Carlif.e, 36. — At Coventry, 698 
 
 B 
 
 BAptifm ; Debates and Difcourfes about it, 
 45, 108, 141, 169, 186, 217, 231,255, 
 283, 394, 415, 461, 471, 479, 516, 550, 
 577, 609, 680, 709. — With the Holy Ghoft, 
 proved to be Chrift's Baptifm, 287 — 302 
 
 Eaptifmal Vow (10 called) Remarks upon it, 
 
 37'. 535 
 Barclays Apology, prefented to the Czar of Mu- 
 
 fco-vy 125 
 
 Bible caird the Word of God, (hewed to be an 
 
 abfurd Appellation, 335 
 
 Bill paffed in the Houfe of Commons, for further 
 
 Eafe to Friends in refpeft of the Recovery of 
 
 Tythes, 7H 
 
 Bifhop of Cajhefi Difcourfe with WilUam Penn, 
 
 145. — Of 0^/j, a Perfecutor, 566 
 
 Body. Concerning the Refarredion of it, 220, 
 
 429 
 EodyofChrift. Queries about it, 247 
 
 Books given away to the People at the Yearly 
 
 Meeting at Rugby, 718 
 
 Boivnas (Samuel) imprifoned, 259 
 
 Bufy-bodies reproved, 745 
 
 C 
 
 CAII to the Miniftry ; concerning it, 305 
 Calamity of War ; Inftances of it at Dun-, 
 dalk, 138 
 
 Calumniators reprov'd and admonllhed, 448, 747 
 Carlifle Aflizes, 36 
 
 Catechifm of the Church of England; concern- 
 
 ^J."g '^' . .535 
 
 Chief, or Sagamor, of the Indians, his Notions, 
 
 1 6 2 . — Remarkable Temperance, 1 6 j 
 
 Chrift, the Word of God, 304 
 
 Chrift's Coming, the End of it explained loj 
 Chriftening; the Ceremony of it, with Re- 
 marks, 5 
 Church. St Cuthiert's at Carlijle, 30. — At Mil- 
 dor p, in Holland, 500 
 Condition of the French in Hi/paniola, 451 
 Converfation, with Sir Thomas Osborn, 138.— 
 With a Papift Prieft, 130, 140. — With feve- 
 ral Presbyterian Minifters, 182.— With Sir 
 Thomas Liddell, 98. — With John Read, an A- 
 poftate, 246. — With Admiral /Fflffr, 444,— 
 With a Jefuit, in Latin, 449. — With the 
 Countefs of Kildare, 533. — With a Widow 
 Lady at Radnor, 571 . — With the Countefs of 
 Ranelagh, 608. — With the Earl of Carlijle, 
 617, 659, 679. — With Lord Lonfdale, 652. 
 
 With Simffon, Profeflbr of Divinity at 
 
 Glajgo'w, 668.— With a Deift, 686.— With 
 the Bifhop of Z-oWow, 7^4 
 
 Conftables ; two enter a Meeting with a War- 
 rant fign'd by Juftice Gould, 253 
 Coiitroverfy and Debate ; what Temper moft 
 fuitable for it, 307 
 Creed. Remarks upon that called the Jpojiles 
 Creed, 545. 57'. 694 
 Crofs of Chrift ; concerning it, 26; 
 Crucifixion of Chrift, 603 
 Czar of Mufco'vy at Grace-Church-Street Meet- 
 ing, 126. — At a Meeting at Frederickjladt, 
 where he interprets, 494 
 
 D 
 
 Eath of Chrift; the Efficacy thereof, 626 
 
 Death of the Body and of the Soul, di- 
 
 ftinguifhed, 571 
 
 ( a ) De-
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 De-oate. with a Papift about Tranfabftant.ati- 
 on 8 —With an Opponent in /Imenca, 169. 
 —With two Priefts, 1 74.— With feveral Pres- 
 byterian Minifters, 183.- With Joff} Ring, 
 200.— With John Read, 246. — With Jn- 
 dre-w Monroe and James Burtell, at Lhucka- 
 tuck in America, 39* « f° 
 
 Deiit J Converfation with one, 086 
 
 Deifts, Freethinkers, i^c. fome Account of their 
 Rife amongft Friends, 7^^ 
 
 Devil and his AngeU ; concerningthem, 746, 747 
 Dillurbanceina Meetingat /f^/tewj, ^ 552 
 Divine Vifnation very remarkably extenaed to 
 the Author, '?' '4 
 
 Difcipline greatly promoted by WilUam Edmund- 
 fin, '37 
 Dream ; a remarkable one 2 
 Drefs ; Plainnefs of it commended by the Coun- 
 tekoi Kildare 535 
 E 
 
 EArthquake in Jamaica ; Remarks upon it, 
 444 
 Envy againft William Penn, > 34 
 
 Epiftle to the Yearly Meeting at London, 1 39 
 
 F 
 
 FAith in Chrill, 660 
 
 Fall of Man treated of, 331, ^<"- 
 
 Falfe Teachers charaderized, 3^4 
 
 Fever ; a peftilential Oi.e at Philadelphia, 225 
 Fighting and War ; againft them, 272,365,620 
 Forward and unfeafonable Preachers, cenfured, 
 
 24«, 3»9' 360 
 Freedom from Sin maintain'd, 57, 114^ 1941 
 
 214,274—281, 380, 396, 589. 
 French Privateer ; the Author taken by one, 447 
 
 GAinfayer ; one at Brifiol, Iharply repro- 
 ved, 722 
 Gifts of the Spirit, 286 
 Glafgomj Scholars reproved by a Soldier for their 
 Rudencfs 94 
 God not the Author of a Spirit of Delufion, 363 
 Grace j concerning the Meafure or Degrees of 
 
 « 3SS 
 H 
 
 HArdftiips fufier'd at Cafe Francois, 4;; 
 Harlh Saying of an old Woman, a Pa- 
 
 pift 454 
 Holinefs, in what Senfe applicable to Man, 274 
 
 Horfes feized at Rofs, in Ireland, 1 3 1 
 
 Hot Springs in Nevis, 443 
 
 IGnis Jatvus, Or Jack with a Lanthorn, feen 
 near Northampton, 730 
 
 Impoftor; one deteGed, i68, and advifed, 172 
 Indian Servants ; two admoniflied 157 
 
 Indians, their Notions, 156, and Charaflcr, ii. 
 Infant Baptifm, or Rantifm, the Foundation of 
 
 it, 217 
 
 Infants unbaptized, afierted by an Opponent to 
 
 be in a State of Damnation, 308 
 
 Infcription on a Stone Crofs in Ireland, 136. — 
 
 On a Stone (as pretended) in Holland, 238 
 Ind .veiling of Chrift, 202 
 
 Inftance of a particular Providence, a remarkable 
 
 one, I 3 5 
 
 Inftances of the Safety of relying upon divine 
 
 Providence, 3'5> 3I6 
 
 Interpreter deals unfairly by the Author, 163 
 Judgment of a Court in Niiu England upon two 
 
 Friends, who refufed to bear Arms, 270 
 
 E X. 
 
 Juftice of the Peace difturbs a Meeting; 2 5 z 
 
 KEith (George) fends a challenging Meflage 
 to the Yearly Meeting at Eafi J^/o'> .'^t^ 
 Kind Ufage of certain French Privateers ' '449 
 Knowledge of God ; by what Means Mankind 
 may arrive at it, 6S2 
 
 L .. 
 
 LAW gives not, but protefls thsPofTefllcnTsf 
 Property, _ 6j; 
 
 Law in A'/rot) England againft fuch as refufed "to 
 bear Arms, and the Occafion of it, 264. 
 
 Laws, t?V. made by Civil Powers, concerning 
 Matters of Chriftian Faith, not binding upon 
 the Confciences of Chriftians 409 
 
 Letter from a Candidate to ferve in Parliament, 
 introduced into a Meeting of Bufinefs at Ci- 
 rencejler, 576 
 
 Letters. To Robert Hamilton, 76. — To the 
 Presbyterians at the Town of Hamilton, ib. — 
 To K. P. 101. — To the Yearly Meeting at 
 London, 129. — To the Author's Father, 148. 
 —From Joftph Ring, 199. — To Abraham 
 Pearfon, a Presbyterian Mmifter, 213. — ^To 
 Colonel Dudly, 3 1 1 . — To George Walker, 
 from a Prieft, 388.— To Jamts Burtell, a 
 Prieft, 391. — From Thomas Dixon, a Presby- 
 terian Minifter, 471. — Anfwer to the fame, 
 478. — To John Gilpin, 487. — To James 
 Dickenfin, 48 S 
 
 Light divine, treated of, 335 
 
 Lord's Prayer, treated of, 40 1 
 
 Lord's Supper; Difcourfcs and Debates about 
 it, 42, 104, 5 1» 
 
 M 
 
 MAN in his firft State, his Fall and Redemp- 
 tion, treated of 330—334 
 
 Mayor of Cajhtl oppofes Friends, 1 44 
 
 Memory of divine I'hings. not to be imputed to 
 a Faculty in Nature, ' 428 
 
 Menifts in Holland, _ 491, 508 
 
 Meflage from George Keith to an Yearly Meet- 
 ing in E.ijl Jerfey, 258 
 
 Methodifts, fome Account of them, 741 
 
 Meeting. One in the Town hall of Carlijle, 6. 
 — One at Broughton, 32. — One at Ne=wcajtle, 
 52. — At Sunderland, 53. — At Frederickjiadt, 
 499. — The firft in the New Meeting-houfc at 
 Whitehaven, 652, 657. — The ivtA in the 
 Meeting houfe at /'rf/?o«, 669 
 
 Minifters; concerningthem, 263,305. — Man- 
 ner of maintaining them in Nantucket Illand, 
 350. — Of their forced Maintenance, 405 
 
 Miracles, faid to be wrought by the Church of 
 England, 46 1 
 
 Mittimus, whereby Thomas Story was fent to 
 Prifon at Kilkenny, 554 
 
 Mob, very rude at Hamilton, in Scotland, 75. — 
 At Oxford, 47 r 
 
 N 
 'Arrative concerning JamesBurtell, a French 
 
 N' 
 
 Prieft 
 
 439 
 
 Natural and Spiritual State diftinguiftied 68; 
 Notion of the Papifts, that the Proteftants Bible 
 
 differs from theirs, fatal to them, 453 
 
 Notions of the Indians in Virginia, 156. — Of an 
 
 Indian Chief, or Sagamor, 162,165 
 
 Occurrence with an independent Teacher, 
 fled from Ireland 31 
 
 Office of the Miniftry, concerning it, " 305 
 Oppofition from the Mayor of Co'nntiSicut, 178. 
 
 — ftosi
 
 I N 
 
 •—From a Man profe/Ting himfelf a Quaker, 
 
 at Biijlol, 723 
 
 Ordinance of Bread and Wine, a Letter about 
 
 it 104 
 
 Cr/o/v/Scholari raife a Mob, 47 5. — Their Rude- 
 
 nefi, yi5 
 
 P 
 
 PApcr againft Difl'entcrs, put up at Thiiles, in 
 Ireland, j^p 
 
 Particular Providence, a remarkable Inftance of 
 
 it, _ _ 153 
 
 Paffages remarkable. Concerning an Indian, 
 
 157. — Concerning the Czar of Mufco'vy, 494, 
 
 495. — Concerning Chrijiopher Midd, 497. — 
 
 Concerning Sarah Collier, r 1 1 
 
 Pauhhc Apoftle, a Queftion relating to him, 379 
 Perfeilion, concerning it, 1 1 5, 2i<), 274, is'c. 
 Perfecution and Abufe, Inftances of them in 
 
 Scotland, 95 
 
 Popes, their Succeffion from Peter, difputed with 
 
 a Jefuit, 450 
 
 Prayers, compofed by Thomas Story, 26, 29 
 Prayer, concerning it, 45,401 
 
 Preachers, forward, and unfeafonable ones, 241, 
 
 319, 360 
 Predeftination 5 Debates and Difcourfes about it, 
 
 179,261 
 Presbyterian Preachers, their Manner of being 
 
 called into a Living in Ne'w England, 209 
 Priefts, Occurrences with them, 48 — 52, I23j 
 
 140, 173, 183, 231, 274, 326, 329,335, 
 
 379. 461, 55° 
 Prince of Orange arrives, I o 
 
 Privateers, two near Hifpamola, 446. — Thomas 
 
 Story taken by one, 447 
 
 Profane Language, exceflive in Jamaica, 444 
 Property, the Or-ginal and Rife of it, i^c. 655 
 Providence, Safety of relying thereupon, 3 1 5, 
 
 316. 
 
 Q_ 
 
 OUakcK cliaifed witli feveral Errors, by 
 James kya/Lue,?i?rka, 388 — Falfely ac- 
 cufed of adhering to f^off^ra, 678 
 
 Qualifications of true Minifters, 341. — Diftin- 
 gi iflied from the falfe, ih. 
 
 Queries, feveral relating to religious Points, laid 
 down as the Bafis of a Difpute 393 
 
 Queftions afked Thomas Story by a Papift Priell, 
 
 140 
 R 
 
 Renters diftinguiflied from Quakers, 192 — 
 More concerning them, 220 
 
 Rebuke to the Scholars at Cambridge, 579 
 
 Regeneration, concerning it, 207 
 
 Rejoicings at CarliJIe on the Report of King 
 "/ c?,rr.''s Queen being with Child, 7. — On the 
 News of the Birth of a Prince, ih. 
 
 Remarks on the Name of Rollo/i God Cotton, 347. 
 On a Church, fo called, in Mi-ldorp, 500. — 
 On Jacobite School Mailers, 708. — On clan- 
 deftine Marriages, 7 r 3 
 
 Refurieftion of the Body, difcourfed about, 220, 
 
 429' 5'3. 
 
 O 
 
 SAcraments, fo called, concerning them, 262. 
 — Alfo 'vidc Baptifni and Supper. 
 Safety in relying on Providence; Inftances of 
 
 it, 3'S' 3'^ 
 
 Scansfeld (John) preaches in the Town-hall at 
 
 Carli/le _ 6 
 
 Schoolmafters that are Jacobites poifon the 
 
 Minds of Youth, 708 
 
 Scholars. At Glajgo'w, their Rudenefs rebuked 
 
 by a Soldier, 94.— At Cambridge, rebuked, 579. 
 
 D 
 
 E 
 
 X. 
 
 —At Oxford, /aife a Mob, 475.— Very rude 
 
 716.— At Wakcfeld, 600 
 
 Scriptures not the Word of God, nor the prima- 
 ry Ground of Faith and Rule of Life, 303,321 
 Separates ; two of their Preachers endeavour to 
 
 impofe upon a Meeting of Friends, 121 
 
 Near Brijiol, g , ,. 
 
 Siege of Limerick, Remarks upon it, 136 
 
 Silent Meetings vindicated, icig 
 
 Sin ; Freedom from it maintained, 57, 1 14, 214, 
 
 274, 380, 396, 429, 589.— Not imputed 
 
 till commited, -q^ 
 
 Spirit of Chrift proved to be in all Chriftians, 201. 
 
 —The Light andLawof Chriftians, 203, {jfr. 
 
 285, 587.— How known, 362.— Of Truth]! 
 
 how to be diftinguilhed from the Spirit of De- 
 
 lufion, 362, 563 
 
 Sprinkling no Baptifm i86, 201 
 
 State of the French in Hi/paniola, 45^^ 
 
 Storm at Sea, ir^ 
 
 Story, a fuperftitious and foolilh one handed a- 
 
 hoMl'm Mary latid, SiC. 258 
 
 Story (Thomas) the Author, brought up to the 
 Law, I. — Of the Church of England, 3.—. 
 Goes to hear a famous Presbyterian Preacher, 
 ib. — To a Friends-Meeting,/iJ. — Frequents the 
 publick Worlhip diligently, ib. — Uneafy with 
 it, 4. — DifcOurfes with an Acquaintance about 
 worfhipping towards the Eaft, bowing at the 
 Name of Jefus, i^c. ib. — At a Chriftening, 
 and Remarks upon it, 5. — Difputes with 3 
 Papift, 8. — DilTatisfied with the Behaviour of 
 the Clergy at the Revolution, 10. — SomeCir- 
 cumftances of his Gaiety and love of Pleafure 
 in his Youth, 1 1 . — Alarmed by anAccident, 12. 
 • — Abfents himfelf from his former Acquain- 
 tance and Company, ib. — Wonderfully af- 
 fefted by a divine Influence, 13. — The hke 
 extraordinary Vifitation renewed, 14. — Has 2 
 remarkable Vifion, 1 6. — Writes divine Songs 
 of Praife, fs'f. from 181029. — Declines join- 
 ing with the publick Worfhip, 30. — Has an 
 Inclination to enquire concerning the Way and 
 Principles of the People called Quakers, 32. — . 
 Is at one of their Meetings, greatly reached 
 by divine Goodnefs, and latisiied beyond his 
 Expeftation, 32, 33. — At a Meeting of Bufi- 
 nefs at CarliJIe, 34. — Is called upon to be an 
 Evidence at CarliJIe AfFizes, 36. — Confeffes 
 himfelf a Quaker, and declares he cannot 
 fwear, 37. — Goes into Company where he is 
 urged to drink Healths, but refufes, 40.-^ 
 Has a Difcourfe with Dr Gilpin concerning 
 the Lord's Supper, Baptifm, and Prayer, 41, 
 to 4; — Dechnes pradiifing the Law; which 
 offends his Father, 47. — Silences two Priefts 
 who attacked him rudely, 48. — Spoils the 
 Dancing of another, 49. — A Presbyteriaa 
 Teacher lofes his Dinner out of Spight to him, 
 and refufes to fay Grace, 5 1 . — Another Priefl 
 attempts to put him out of liking to his Din- 
 ner ; but is difappointed, and worfted in Con- 
 troverfy, 51, 52. — Goes a Journey in Com- 
 pany with Andreiu Taylor, ib.^ViHts Scotland 
 in Company with John Boiv/lead, 54. — They 
 afiift Thomas Rudd againft the Mob at Edin- 
 hurgh, 55. — Are affaulted at Elgin, 63. — He 
 difcourfes with a Prieft (IVilliam Falconer) a- 
 bout the Scriptures, the Spirit, (^c. 68. — Re- 
 turns to Juftice-To'wn, 77. — Sets forward for 
 London, ib. — Contrafls a Friendihip with If^tl- 
 liam ?enn, ib. — Alfo with Thomas Wilfon, 78. 
 — Firft appears with a publick Teftimony, 8i. 
 —Difcourfes with his Father concerning Bufi- 
 
 nefs
 
 N 
 
 D E 
 
 X. 
 
 nefs to live by in the World," 82.— Takes a 
 journey to London, 83.— There joins Aaron 
 Atkhifon in a Journey, 84. — Returns to Lon- 
 j^„^ 85. — Retakes himfelf to Bufinefs, ib. — 
 Vifits the Countefs of Cat lip, 88. — Goes afe- 
 cond Journey into Scotland, 9 1 . — Reproves a 
 young Gentleman, 92. — Returns to Cumber- 
 land, 94. — Arrives at ioKr/o//, 100. — Handles 
 a Prieft iharply, i 23. — Vifits the Czar of Mu- 
 fco'vy, and diicourfes with him, 1 24. — Goes 
 into Ireland, 127. — Returns to ioWon, 146. 
 — Is moved to vifit America, 147. — Embarks 
 for America, 1 50. — In a Storm at Sea, i 52. — 
 Lands in Penjyl-jama, 153 —Is unfairly dealt 
 with by an Interpreter, 163. — Vifits the Place 
 near BoJl')n, in A'tw England, where feveral 
 Friends fufFered Martyrdom, 195 — His Com- 
 panion, Roger Gill, takes a Fever at Philadel- 
 phia, and dies, 226, 227 — He is interrupted 
 in his Teftimony by a Prieft, 230. — Made 
 PVilliam Penn's Deputy in Penfyl-uania ; alfo 
 Member of the Council of the State in that 
 Province, Keeper of the Great Seal, Mailer of 
 the Rolls, and one of his Commiflioners of 
 Property, 24;. — Sails for Barbadoes, 433. — 
 For Jamaica, 443. — Departs thence, 445. — 
 Is taken by a French Privateer, 447. — Suffers 
 Hardlhips, but is releafed, 456. — Sails again 
 for Barbadoes, 457. — Embarks for, and ar- 
 rives at London, 462. — Embarks for Holland, 
 487. — Returns and lands at JarOToa^/', 521. 
 — Embarks for Ireland, ib. — Arrives there, 532. 
 ■ — Is imprifoned at Kilkenny, 554. — And fet at 
 Liberty again, 557. — Returns to £»fA?n</, and 
 arrives at Chejier, 569. — .Goes into Wales, 570. 
 —Returns to London, 578. — Revifits Scotland, 
 585. — Returns to his Father's Houfe at Ju- 
 Jlice-Towcn, 590. — Is at the Burial o( ll'itliam 
 Penn, 607. — In great Danger from his Horfe 
 running away with him, 642. — Vifits Scotland 
 a fourth Time, 664 — A fifth Time, 667. — 
 Returns to England, 670. — Continues his Tra- 
 vels, vifiting divers Places, to 751. — Is at 
 London, and feized with a Paralytick Diforder, 
 752. — Goes down into Cumberland, ib. — Is 
 feized a fecond Time with a paralytick Fit, 
 and dies, ib. — Is buried at Carlijle, ih 
 
 Students at Bofton, in AVtv England, admoniih- 
 ed, 342 
 
 Succedion of the Popes from Vetera diiputed with 
 a Jefuit, 4jo 
 
 Supper of the Lord, 42, 104,262,510 
 
 Swearing ; put to a Difficulty about, 448 
 
 TAlebearers reproved, 746 
 
 Taxes, concerning Payment of them, 269 
 Tranfubftantiation, a Debate about it, 8. — More 
 concerning it, 520,561,720. 
 
 Truth ; a Perfon advifed not to think to be too 
 wife for it, 264 
 
 Tythes ; concerning them, 52, 620, 655 
 
 VErfes. To the fuffering Babes of the im- 
 mortal Seed.ijfr. 27. — On Prieftcraft, 55; 
 Vifion, a remarkable one, 1 6, 1 7 
 
 LTniverfal free Grace 1 68 
 
 Univerfities, a Remark upon them, 636 
 
 Voyage to America, 150. — To Barbadoes, 433. 
 To Holland, 488 
 
 W 
 
 WAR againft the Nature of Chnftianity, 
 365, 452, 620 
 
 Warrant tofeize Horfes, 131. — Another for ap- 
 prehending T^ffwax Story 1l\ Kilkenny 566 
 
 Water Bapiifm, and the Baptifm of the Holy 
 Ghoft, fully treated of, and contradiftingui(h- 
 ed, from 287 to 302 
 
 William Penn expoftulates with the Bilhop of Ca- 
 /he I, 145 
 
 Womens' Preaching vindicated, 89, 323, 361 
 
 Woman Preacher put into Diforder and Paffion, 
 647. — Another cenfured 69 1 
 
 Woman troubled with a Spirit of Blafphemy, 2c8 
 
 Word of God ; Part of a Teftimony concerning 
 it, 251 . — More fully handled, 303,_ i^c. 
 
 Y Early Meeting, at Chefier, 569. — At Rad- 
 nor, 570. — At London, 578, 690. — At Ken- 
 dal, 601, 651, 6S9. — At Shrewsbury, 603. — 
 At Brijiol, 605. — At Exeter, 641, 703. — At 
 Chejier, 647, 713.— In Wales, 64S.— At £- 
 dinburgh, 664.. — At Ludlov!, in the Princes 
 Palace, 670. — At Rugby, 718 
 
 Young Men ; two imprifoned in Nttu England 
 
 for refufing to bear Arms, 264 Fined for 
 
 the fame, 266
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 X 
 
 CONTAINING, 
 
 The Names of fuch Persons and P l a c e s as are 
 moft particularly mentioned in the foregoing JournaL 
 
 ABerbrothwick, fagt 60 
 
 Aberdeen, 6r, 91, 586 
 
 Albans, 90, 726 
 
 Alanby, 54, 470 
 
 Alfton, 5Z, 590 
 
 Allandale, 98, 591 
 
 Aldam, Thomas 650 
 
 Alnwick 666 
 
 Amfterdam 5 1 8 
 
 Antrim 538 
 
 Appleby, James, 617 
 
 Afkeen, 94 
 
 Afkerton 591 
 
 Afliby, Richard, 617 
 
 Atkinfon, Aaron, 84, 157, 166, 173, 223, 
 
 226, 233, 466 
 Auckland, 53, 597, 6; 8, 689 
 
 B 
 
 BAldock 90, 464, 578, 691 
 
 Balberhall, 90, 684 
 
 Baq,, 79, 527, 531, 576, 6q8, 623, 644, 
 
 671, 710 
 Ball imoren His 
 Bandon, 
 Barryroe, 
 
 Baflet, William, Captain 
 Barbadoes, 
 Banbury, 
 Beckhoufes, 
 Bel ton, 
 Benthani, 
 Beaven, Thomas 
 Berwick upon Tweed 
 Bedford, 
 Benfieldfide 
 Beverly, 
 Birr, 
 Birmingham 
 
 Bridgend, 574 
 
 Bridport 629 
 
 Bridge water, 612, 614, 643 
 
 Broughty 60 
 
 Bromyard 70 
 
 Broughton, 32, 54, 470, 593 
 
 Broughton Tower, 472 
 
 Bull, Anne 368 
 
 Burtell, James 390, 439 
 
 Burlington, or Bridlington 598 
 
 Burton, 90, 582 
 
 Byfield, Naxhaniel, Colonel, z66 
 
 129 
 
 134. 532 
 
 134 
 
 272, 351 
 
 433> 457 
 
 474. 744 
 
 53 
 
 79 
 466 
 641 
 666 
 60S 
 
 52' 54 
 
 599 
 136 
 
 474, 604, 688, 743 
 Bifhop of London, 7^4 
 
 Bowes, 5 3 
 
 Bowttead, 54 
 
 Bownas, Samuel, 259, 629, 615, 703, 7>9 
 Bofton, in New England '95 
 
 Bradford, 678, 727, 729 
 
 Brandon, 5-^ 
 
 Braintree, 477. 5^5. 606 
 
 Briftol, 78, 526, '531, 575, 605, 610, 615, 
 
 639, 644, 671, 720 
 Brill 521 
 
 79, 526 
 
 454 
 138 
 
 «57 
 
 '95 
 Carlifle, 36, 467, 590, 650, 667, 700, 740, &c. 
 
 CAln, 
 Cape Francois, 
 Carlow, 
 Carolina, 
 Cannonicut IHand, 
 
 Cambridge, 
 
 Carpenter, General, 
 
 Cattle Howard 
 
 Calhel, 
 
 Chanery, 
 
 Chalkley, Thomas, 
 
 Charterefs, 
 
 Chefter, 
 
 Chefterfield, 
 
 Chue, 
 
 Chuckatuck, 
 
 Cirencefter, 
 
 Clonmell, 
 
 Clemsford, or Chelmsford, 
 
 Cockermouth, 
 
 Codrington, General 
 
 Countefs of Kincairn 
 
 Countefs of Carlifle, 
 
 Countefs of Kildare, 
 
 Countefs of Ranelagh, 
 
 Cornbury, Lord, 
 
 Coventry, 
 
 Coldbeck 
 
 Cownallius, 
 
 CoppuU, 
 
 Cork, 
 
 Colchefter, . 
 
 Copeland, John, 
 
 Cotton, Rollon-God, a Prieft 
 
 Crook, 
 
 b 
 
 579, 636, 663 
 
 625 
 
 659, 679 
 
 144. 
 
 67 
 
 360, 368 
 
 580 
 
 569, 647, 669 
 
 584, 677 
 
 79 
 
 «54. 389. 426 
 
 78, 528, 576 
 
 132, 138 
 
 525 
 
 54. 470. 594 
 436 
 
 58 
 
 88 
 
 533 
 
 608 
 
 679 
 
 687, 698, 743 
 
 595 
 
 78 
 
 79 
 
 '34. 532. 546 
 
 '00. 477. 524. 634 
 
 '54 
 
 274. 344 
 
 53 
 
 Cu-
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 E 
 
 X. 
 
 Cutherftone 
 Czar of Mufcov}', 
 
 D 
 
 53 
 IZ3, 494 
 
 ^Arlington, 
 
 Darking, 
 
 DeaJ, 
 
 Dean of Limerick 
 
 Dent, 
 
 Dennis, 
 
 Dickinfon, James, 
 
 Dover 
 
 Dorcheller 
 
 D Arlington, 53, 597, 658 
 
 Darking, 633 
 
 'S« 
 
 138 
 
 S3 
 
 707 
 78, 596 
 
 «S« 
 629 
 
 Drumlanrig, 77 
 
 Drummond,May,Charaaerofher,7i4,7i9, 720 
 
 Dundee, 60 
 
 Dunnoter, 6 • 
 
 Dublin, 128, 138, 543, 568 
 
 Dundalk, 138, 542 
 
 Durham, 53, 597, 666, 690 
 
 EAglesfield, 54 
 Earl of Carlifle, 617, 659, 679 
 Ecclefton, John, 617, 625 
 Edenderry, 137 
 Edinburgh, 54, 73, 93, 586, 6'64, 667 
 Edmonton, 77 
 Edmundfon, William 136, 137 
 Edraundsbury, 477, 635 
 Elgin, 62, 70 
 Enibden, in Holland 492 
 Englifh, James, a Prieft, reprovcd-for his Beha- 
 viour, 73 
 Everot, John, 127 
 Exeter, 612, 625 
 
 522 
 611 
 
 FAkenham, 
 Falmouth, 
 
 Fawcet, Margaret r^ 
 
 Featherftone, Cuthbert, an aged Friend, 97 
 
 Fetiereflb, 6 1 
 
 Fochabers, yo 
 
 Forrefs, 64 
 
 Forfter, Jofiah 687 
 
 Francis, William, 727 
 
 Frederickftadt, aoc 
 Frederick, Detry Peter, a Prieft convinced, 503 
 
 Frenchay 70 
 G 
 
 GAinsborough, 662 
 Gellie, John, a Ranter, an Account of 
 
 him 7o 
 
 Gilpin, Doflor, 41 
 
 Gilpin, John, 470, 594 
 
 Gill, Roger j^g, ,82, 227 
 
 Gillefpic, Archibald 08 
 
 Gisborough, ^8 
 
 ^l^f'^'rr u "'»'94. 588.665, 608 
 
 Glaifter, Jofeph ^yS, 390. 427 
 
 Gloucefter, 605 
 
 Glaffenbury, 610, 628 
 
 Gravefend, 1 r i 
 
 Grayrigg 53 
 
 Groeningen 507 
 
 Gurney, John 617 
 H 
 
 HAddock, Robert, a remarkable Paflage con- 
 cerning him 1 z6 
 Hall, Widow, 3 , 
 Halifax, 5^,^ 
 Hamilton, 74^ y^, .^ 
 Hanfworth, Woodhoufe, 46- 
 Hamburgh 4^' 
 Harlaem 4^0, 518 
 Harlingen. 4^, 
 
 Hareftreet. 
 
 Hawkfide, 
 
 Hawthorn 
 
 Haverford Weft 
 
 Height, 
 
 Hereford 
 
 Hertford, 
 
 Hexham 
 
 Hifpaniola, 
 
 Hitchin, 
 
 Hockflyme 
 
 Holm Cultram 
 
 Holland 
 
 Hohn, 
 
 Hopeton Houfe, in Scotland, 
 
 How, Anne, a Charader of her, 
 
 Hundwathhill 
 
 Hull, 
 
 Huntington 
 
 90 
 
 54. 473. 6s I 
 
 S3 
 
 574- 
 
 473 
 
 79 
 
 90, 464, 578, 663 
 
 54 
 447 
 
 464 
 
 54 
 488, &c. 
 
 593 
 
 S8S 
 
 647 
 
 54 
 
 599 
 58. 
 
 Hyde, Edward, Earl of Clarendon, a Perfecutor 
 of Friends, 259, 369 
 
 JAmaica, 
 James's Town, 
 Jeffrey, Andrew, 
 Jerfeys, 
 Imokilley, 
 Inverury, 
 Invernefs, 
 Ipfu ich, 
 
 443 
 
 574 
 
 9» 
 
 243 
 
 135 
 
 62, 91, 586 
 
 62, 05, 67 
 
 523 
 
 Jordan, Jofeph, a Charader of him, 657 
 
 Jordans 711 
 
 Irwin, John, 671 
 
 Ifle of Wight, 631 
 
 Ifmay, Arthur, endeavours to impofc upon a 
 Meeting of Friends, 121 
 
 Jufticc Town, 651, 66.\, 728 
 
 Ives, 581 
 
 X 
 
 KEith, 70 
 
 Keith, George, Difcourfc about him, and 
 
 his Principles, 86, 87 
 
 Kelfo, 54, 91, 585, 664. 667 
 
 Kent, Thomas, endeavours to impofe upon a 
 
 Meeting of Friends 121 
 
 Kendal, 466, 601, 650, 688, 700, 728, &c. 
 Kefwick, 595 
 
 Kilmuck, 62, 70, 91, 586 
 
 Kintore, 70 
 
 Kinghorn, 92 
 
 Kilkenny, 552 
 
 Kingftrop, 581 
 
 Kinfale, 533, 547 
 
 Kingfbridge 611 
 
 Kidd, Benjamin, 744 
 
 L 
 
 LAdy Collington 58 
 
 Lambftown 129, 544 
 
 Lancafter, 472, 602, 699, 742 
 
 Landfcnd 706 
 
 •Langford, Jonas, 442 
 
 Leeds, 90, 466, 585, 601, 678, 682, 727, 
 
 729 
 Leicefter. 83, 465, 584, 684, 726 
 
 Leominller, 79, 83, 694 
 
 Leuwarden, 512 
 
 Liddel, Sir Thomas, Converfation w?:h iiim. g8 
 Lincoln, too 
 
 Linlithgow, gi 
 
 Limerick. 13;, !;34, 547 
 
 Long Illand, 246, 248 
 
 Long Newtown, r, 
 
 London, 78, 100. 462, 476, 525, 529, 1^78, 
 
 606, 616, 646, 663, 685, tgo, 701, 724 
 Lord Cornbury, 670 
 
 Lord
 
 N 
 
 D 
 
 E 
 
 X. 
 
 Lord Lonfdale, 
 Lowiher-Hall, 
 Lurgan 
 Lynn, 
 
 "37. 
 
 M 
 
 100, 
 
 688, 
 90, 
 
 526, 
 19' 
 
 M Alton, 
 Manchefter, 
 Manifield 
 Marlhlield, 
 Maryland, 
 Marlborough 
 Mclkniam, 
 IVk-nacoff, Prince, 
 Midel, Lhriilopher, 
 Middlewick, 
 IWinehead, 
 
 Mollyfon, Jofeph, a Wrangler, 
 Montgcmery, 
 Montrofe, 
 Morton, William, an Impoftor, 167 
 
 Account of him, 
 Montferrat, 
 Mountmellick, 
 
 N 
 
 528, 
 
 NAillworth, 
 Namptwich, 
 Nantucket IHand, 
 Newbury, 
 
 Newbury, Benjamin, 
 Newport, 
 Newport Pagnel, 
 New Rofs 
 New York, 
 Newcallle upon Tyne, 52, 54, 98, 
 
 6j7, 666, 690. 
 Nevis, 
 
 Nicholfon, Colonel, his Kindnefs, 
 Norton, Lydia, a Charafter of her, 
 Northampton, 
 Norwich, 
 Nottingiiam, 90, 465, 676, 
 
 652, 741 
 652 
 
 538. 539 
 100, 522 
 
 661, 682 
 699, 742 
 465, 584 
 
 79 
 
 227 
 
 645, 710 
 
 641, 64^ 
 
 124 
 
 496 
 
 473 
 146 
 
 25s 
 
 570 
 
 60, 9 2 
 . — Further 
 
 »72 
 
 443 
 
 ,36 
 
 605, 695 
 602 
 350 
 526 
 264 
 631 
 464 
 
 544 
 243 
 
 Ravenfworth-Caftle, 98 
 
 Read, John, one of George Keith's Difciplcs, 246 
 
 Reading, 464, 525, 530, 606, 645, 723 
 
 Rhodes, Sir John, 684 
 
 Rhode Ifland, 19J, 264 
 
 Ribton, Richard, 33 
 Robinfon, J. a great Diflurber of Friends, 467, 
 592. 
 
 151 
 
 54 
 
 79. '3' 
 
 136 
 
 520 
 
 579, 663 
 
 from 54, to 75 
 
 7.8 
 
 463, 526, 529, 578, 607 
 
 Roc heller, 
 
 Rogersgill, 
 
 Rols, 
 
 Rofeanalles, 
 
 Rotterdam, 
 
 Royftcn, 
 
 Rudd, Thomaf, 
 
 Rugby, 
 
 Ruicomb, 
 
 »77 
 
 SAIisbury, 
 Sanky, 
 Sarum, 
 Scarboiough, 
 Scimmino, 
 Sedbergh, 
 Settle, 
 
 Sewel, William 
 Sheffield, 
 Shannigary, 
 Shields, 
 Shotton 
 Shrewsbury, 
 Side, 
 
 630 
 
 79. 473 
 
 673 
 
 100, 598, 659, 68i 
 
 '54 
 
 53. 689 
 
 650, 727 
 
 490 
 
 90, 584, 677, 726 
 
 133 
 
 $2, 54, 100, 596, 657 
 
 53 
 
 602, 648, 715 
 
 53 
 
 585, 596, Simpfon, Profeflbr of Divinity at Glafgow, 668 
 
 443 
 
 387 
 
 327 
 
 58., 583 
 
 477 
 684, 726 
 
 O 
 
 OLd Nairn 
 Oldenburg, 
 Olhorn, Sir Thomas, 
 Otterloo, Gilbert, 
 Ouftwick, 
 Oxford, 474, 5 
 
 64 
 
 504 
 
 138 
 
 495, 500 
 
 599 
 637, 649, 675, 715 
 
 Skipton, 
 
 Slater, William, 
 
 Slocomb, Ebenezer, 
 
 Smith, Widow, 
 
 Solport, 
 
 Southampton, 
 
 Steel, - 
 
 Stilton, 
 
 Stockton, 
 
 Stockport, 
 
 Stonehaven, 
 
 Stoxley 
 
 Straton Ifland, 
 
 Sumerton, 
 
 Sunderland, 
 
 Swan^iU 
 
 52 
 
 PAr, Jofnua, a Ranter, and Di 
 Friends 
 Pardlhaw, or Pardfay Crag, 54, 
 
 Pearfons, great Diftuibers of Friends, 
 Penn, William, 77, 84, 126, 127, 
 
 244, 463. — His Death, 
 Penfylvania, 
 
 Penriih, 79. 4^6, 
 
 Perkins William, quoted, 
 Peter the Great, Czar of Mufcovy, 
 
 Philadelphia, 
 
 Plymouth, 
 
 Pool, 
 
 Pontepool, 
 
 PontefraO, 
 
 Port Royal 
 
 Portfmouth, 
 
 Pofler, 
 
 Prellon, 
 
 Prince MenzicofF, 
 
 Adnor, 
 
 Raby, 
 
 Ramfay, 
 
 177, 223, 226, 
 
 (lurber of 
 676 
 
 470. 594 
 467, 592 
 
 145. 239. 
 607 
 
 153, &c. 
 
 595, 65-0 
 
 37' 
 123, 494 
 244, 432 
 611, 704 
 
 70Z 
 
 575 
 600 
 
 445 
 632 
 
 79 
 669 
 
 124 
 
 570 
 
 53 
 
 58. 
 
 650, 727 
 746 
 264 
 69s 
 467 
 631 
 
 52 
 
 90 
 
 S3. »oo. 597. 658 
 
 688 
 
 61 
 
 597 
 
 243, 248 
 
 610, 628 
 
 100, 596, 658, 690 
 
 574 
 
 9; 
 
 54. 473 
 
 Swan, George, his Wife's Rudenefs 
 Swanhmore, 
 
 T 
 
 TAylor, Andrew, a Charafter of him, 52 
 
 Taylor, Jofeph, 633 
 
 Taunton, 642 
 
 Teuksbury, 605 
 
 Thompfon, John, 648 
 
 Thetford, 477 
 Thornbury, 79, 57; 
 
 Tipperary 548 
 
 Tisborough, 477 
 
 Titfil 477 
 
 Trieverig, 574 
 
 '37. 143. 144 
 
 '55. '58 
 61, 72, 91, 587 
 
 100 
 
 V 
 
 V 
 
 Urie, 
 
 W 
 
 WAdington, 
 Wager, Admiral, aCharadiercf him 444 
 Wakefield, 600 
 
 Waldenfield, Samuel, 137 
 
 Waldern, Deborah, 437 
 
 Wale?, 570 
 
 Walker 
 
 Aughton, John, 
 Virginia,
 
 8 
 
 I N D 
 
 Walker, George, his Wife, 1 6 5 
 
 WalkmiU, 52 
 
 Waltham Abbey, 77 
 
 Warminfter, 79 
 
 Warnfworth, 650 
 
 Waterford, 132, 545 
 
 Warwick, 47+ 
 
 Weatherby 585 
 
 Wells, 522 
 
 Welgill 52. 97 
 
 Wellingborough, 581 
 
 Weft AUandale 97 
 
 Weft, Thomas, an Oppofer, anfwered, 354 
 
 Wexford, 129, 54+ 
 
 Whitby, JOG, 598 
 
 [Whitehaven,. 470, 593, 651 
 
 E 
 
 X. 
 
 Wigton, 
 
 
 
 
 467, 59* 
 
 Wilfon, James, 
 
 
 
 
 622, '50 
 
 Wilfon, Thomas, 
 
 
 
 
 7«. 8i 
 
 Winchmorehill, 
 
 
 
 
 464 
 
 Wickham, Widow, 
 
 
 
 
 695 
 
 Windfor, 
 
 
 
 
 646, 698 
 
 Woodbridge, 
 
 
 
 
 523. 63s 
 
 Wolverhampton, 
 
 
 
 473. 
 
 604, 712 
 
 Worcefter, 79, 
 
 604, 
 
 648, 
 
 670, 
 
 694. 715 
 
 Wyeth, Jofeph, 
 
 Y 
 
 
 
 ISO 
 
 •%rArw, 
 I Yarmouth, 
 
 
 
 
 53» 597 
 
 
 
 
 478, 521 
 
 Yelland, 
 
 
 
 
 473 
 
 York, 100, 
 
 601, 
 
 66i, 
 
 67S, 
 
 682, 736 
 
 Youghall, 
 
 
 
 
 133 
 
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