THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 811
 
 THE 
 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY T. LETCHWORTH, 
 AT N. 33, TOOLEY-STRBET, SOUTHWARK. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXV.
 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 .M JO.OW Mil Q 
 
 JO 
 . 3d 
 n 
 
 
 

 
 ... . ex 
 
 111 ] 76/7 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 READER. 
 
 ' ^ HE manufcript JOURNAL of our late 
 X friend, JOHN WOOLMAN. was 
 ended in England ; where he alfo finished all 
 his labours. Jt appears, by a letter which he 
 fent, in his laft illnefs, to a friend in London, 
 that he did not intend the whole mould be 
 printed, and that he dcfired the faid friend to 
 revife what he had written in this nation, and 
 leave out fuch parts as he mould think pro- 
 per. It was, notwithstanding, fent entire, with- 
 out any alteration, to America j where it was 
 foon alter printed, together with feveral Tracts 
 which had been publ (hed in his life-time. 
 But, as fome pafTages in the Journal con- 
 tain obfervations which appear to have been 
 intended as private memorandums only, and 
 ethers relate to circumstances which happened 
 in his native country, not expedient to be pre- 
 ferved on record in this nation, it is appre- 
 hended that the following ABRIDGEMENT of 
 
 A 2 -it 
 
 731243
 
 it will be acceptable to friends, and may be of 
 general fervice : and, as many weighty argu- 
 ments and pertinent advices, relative to fte- 
 very and the oppreffion of the Negroes in the 
 Plantations, are contained in the Journal, it 
 was therefore apprehended that two fmall 
 Trads, on that fubjeft, inight be omitted in 
 his Abridgement. 
 
 . ______ ^ _ ? 
 
 M a 
 
 
 . 
 
 Y\* 
 
 THE
 
 /Y 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 T HF 
 THE 
 
 TESTIMONY 
 
 ', 
 
 O F 
 
 FRIENDS IN YORKSHIRE, 
 
 At their Qtjartei-Iy-Mceting, held at YORK, the iSftb and 
 of the third month t 1773* concerning 
 
 Of Mount- Holly, In the province of Ne^- 
 
 in America ; 'who departed this life, at tht 
 hcufe of our friend, Thomas Prieftman, in 
 the fuburbs of this city, the jth of the tenth 
 tncntb, 1772, and was interred, in the bury- 
 ing-ground of friends, the qth of the fame ^ 
 aged about fifty- two years. 
 
 THIS our valuable friend, having been 
 undfir a religious engagement, for fome 
 time, to viiit friends in this nation, and more 
 efpecially us in the! northefn parts, under- 
 took the fame, in full concurrence and neat 1 
 fympathy with his friends and brethren at home, 
 as appeared by certificates from the monthly 
 and quarterly meetings td which he belonged, 
 and trorh th fpring-meeting of minifters and 
 elders, held at Philadelphia, for PennfylVania 
 and New-Jerfe^. 
 
 A 3 He
 
 It vi ] 
 
 He arrived in the city of London the be- 
 ginning of the laft yearly-meeting, and, after 
 attending that meeting, travelled northward, 
 vifiting the quarterly-meetngs of Hertford (hire, 
 )5uckingham(hire, Northampton (hire, Oxford- 
 fhire, and Worcefterftrire, and divers particu- 
 lar meetings in his way. 
 
 He vifned many meetings on the weft (ide 
 of this county ; alfo fome in Lancamire and 
 Weftmoreland ; from whence he came to our 
 quarterly-meeting in the laft ninth month 5 
 and, though much out of health, yet was en- 
 abled to attend all the fittings of that meeting 
 except the laft. 
 
 His diforder, then, which proved the fmall- 
 pox, increafed fpeedily upon him, and was 
 very afflicting ; under which he was fupport- 
 ed in much meeknefs, patience, and Chrif- 
 tian fortitude. To thofe, who attended him 
 in his illnefs, his mind appeared to be centered 
 in divine love ; under the precious influence 
 whereof, we believe, he finimed his courfe, 
 and entered into the manfions of everlafting 
 reft. 
 
 In the early part of his illnefs he requefted a 
 friend to write, and he broke forth thus : 
 
 " O Lord, my God ! the amazing horrors 
 of darknefs were gathered around me and co- 
 vered me all over, and I faw no way to g 
 forth : 1 felt the mifery of my fellow-crea- 
 tures fcparated from the divine harmony, and 
 it was heavier than J could bear, and I was 
 crulhed down under it : I lifted up my hand, 
 and ftretched out my arm, but there was 
 
 none
 
 none to help me : I looked round about^ arid 
 was amazed ; Jn the depths of mifery, O 
 Lord ! I remembered that thou art omnipo- 
 tent j that I had called thee Father ; and I felfi 
 that I loved thee, and I was made quiet in 
 thy will, and I waited for deliverance from 
 thee 5 thou hadft pity upon me when no mart 
 could help me : 1 faw that meeknefs under 
 iuffering was fhewed to us in the moft affect- 
 ing example of thy Son, and thou waft teach-* 
 ing me to follow him, and I faid, Thy willj 
 O Father, be done." 
 
 Many more of his weighty exprefllons might 
 have been infcrted here, but it was deemed 
 unneceffary, they being already publifhed in 
 print. 
 
 He was a man endued with a large natural 
 capacity j and, being obedient to the mani- 
 feltations of divine grace, having in patience 
 and humility endured many deep baptifms, 
 he became thereby fanctified and fitted for 
 the Lord's work, and was truly ferviceable 
 in his church : dwelling in awful fear and 
 watchfulnefs, he was careful, in his public 
 appearances, to feel the putting forth of the 
 divine hand, fo that the fpring of the gofpel* 
 miniftry often flowed through him with great 
 fweetnefs and purity, as a refreshing ftream 
 to the weary travellers toward the city of 
 God : fkilful in dividing the word, he was 
 furnimcd by Him, in whom are hid all the 
 treafures of wifdom and knowledge, to com* 
 muQicate freely to the feveral ftates of the 
 
 A 4 peopk
 
 people where his lot was caft. Hisconducl at 
 Other times was feafoncd with the like watch- 
 ful circumfpe&ion and attention to the gui- 
 dance of divine wifdom, which rendered his 
 whole converfation uniformly edifying. 
 
 He was fully perfuaded that, as the life of 
 Chrift comes to reign in the earth, all abufe 
 anc' unnectflary oppreflion, both of the human 
 anJ brute creation, will come to an end j but, 
 under the fenfe of a deep revolt and an over- 
 flowing ft ream .of UK righteoufnefs, his life has 
 been often a life of mourning. 
 
 He was deeply concerned on account of 
 tjiat inhuman and iniquitous practice of 
 making Caves of the people of Africa, or 
 holding them in that ftate j and, on that ac- 
 count, we under'fland he hath not only written 
 fome books, but travelled much on the con- 
 tinent of America, in order to make the Ne- 
 gro- matters (efpecially thofe in profeffion with 
 us) fenfible of the evil of iuch a practice ; and 
 though, in his journey to England, he was 
 far removed frcrn the outward fight of their 
 fufTerings, yet his deep exercife of mind re- 
 mained, as appears by a ftort treatife he 
 wrote in this journey, and his frequent con- 
 cern to open the miierablc flate of this deep- 
 ly-injured people. His teftimeny, in the Isft 
 meeting he attended, was on this fubjedl > 
 wrv rein he remarked, that, as we, as a fociety, 
 when und'er outward fufterings, had often 
 found k our concern to lay them before thofe 
 in authority, and thereby, in this Lord's tii; 
 
 hud
 
 t ] 
 
 had obtained relief, fo he recommended this 
 oppreffed part of the creation to our notice, 
 that we may, as way may open, reprefent their 
 fufferings, in an individual, if not a focicty, 
 capacity, to thofe in authority. 
 
 Deeply fenfible that the defire to gratify 
 people's inclinations irf luxury and fuperflui- 
 ties is the principal ground cf oppreffion, 
 and the occaiion t)f many onneceffary wants, 
 he believed it to be his duty to be a pattern 
 of great felf-denial with reipect to the things 
 of this life, and earneftly to labour with 
 friends in the meelcnefs of wifdcm, to im- 
 prels on their minds the great importance of 
 our teflimbny in thefe things, recommending 
 to the guidance of the blefTed truth in this 
 and all other concerns, and cautioning fuch 
 as are experienced therein againft contenting 
 themfelves with afting up to the tfanchrd of 
 others, but to be careful to make the ftand- 
 ard of truth, manifefted to them, the meafure 
 of their obedience ; for, faid he, " that pu- 
 rity of life which proceeds from faithfulnel* 
 in following the Spirit of Truth, that ftatc 
 where our minds are devoted to ferve God. 
 and all our wants are bounded by his wi. 
 dom, this habitation has often been opened 
 before me, as a place of retirement for the 
 children of the light, where they may ftand 
 leparated from that which difordereth and con- 
 fufcth the affairs of focicty, and where we may 
 have a tcftimony of our innocence in the hearts 
 of chole who behold us," 
 
 We
 
 We conclude with fervent delires that 
 as a people, may thus^ by our example, pro- 
 mote the Lord's work in the earth ; and, our 
 hearts being prepared, may unite in prayer to 
 the great Lord of the harvefl, that as, in his 
 infinite wifdom, he hath greatly ftripped thg 
 church, by removing, of late, divers faithful 
 minifters and elders, he may be pleafed to fend 
 forth many more faithful labourers into his 
 
 harveft. 
 
 - ' > 
 
 Signed in, &y order, and on behalf of, 
 faid meeting : 
 
 _, -_ , ^ . A 
 
 \Tbomas Bennett, Samuel Bnjcoe, 
 
 John Storr, John Turner, 
 
 Jofeph Eglin, JofljuaRobinfon, 
 
 Thomas Perkinfon, Thomas Prieftman^ and 
 Jofeph Wright, divers other Friends* 
 
 
 
 A T E S- 

 
 
 
 TESTIMONY 
 
 . 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 MONTHLY-MEETING OF FRIENDS, 
 
 Held in Burlington, thejir/l day of the tight b month, in the year of 
 our Lord I774 concerning our ejleemed friend t 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN, DECEASED. 
 
 HE was born in Northampton, in the 
 county of Burlington, and province of 
 Weft-New- Jerfey, in the eighth month, 1720, 
 of religious parents, who inftrufted him very 
 early in the principles of the chriftian religi- 
 on, as profefled by the people called Quakers, 
 which he efteemed a blefling to him, even in 
 his young years, tending to preferve him 
 from the infection of wicked children ; but, 
 through the workings of the enemy, and le- 
 vity incident to youth, he frequently deviated 
 from thofe parental precepts, by which he 
 laid a renewed foundation for repentance, 
 that was finally fucceeded by a godly forrow 
 not to be repented of, and fo became ac- 
 quainted with that fan&ifying power which 
 qualifies for true gofpel mmiftry, into which 
 he was called about the twenty-fecond year 
 of his age; and, by a faithful ufe of the ta- 
 lents committed to him, he experienced an 
 increafe, until he arrived at the ftate of a fa- 
 ther.
 
 . '. bn , , r ,. . ,. . j-i 
 
 ther, capable of dividing the word aright t<J 
 the different ftates he miniftered unto; dif- 
 penflng milk to babes, and meat to thofe of 
 riper years. Thus he found the efficacy of 
 that power to arife, which, in his own ex* 
 preflions, " prepares the creature to ftand 
 like a trumpet through which the Lord fpeaks 
 to his people."- He was a loving hufband, a 
 tender father, and very humane to every 
 part of the creation under his care. 
 
 His concern for the poor and thofe in af- 
 flidlion was evident by his vifits to then*} 
 whom he frequently relieved by his affiftance 
 and charity. He was for many years deeply 
 exercifed on account of the poor enflaved A- 
 fricans, whofe caufe, as he fometimes men- 
 tioned, lay almoft continually upon him, 
 and, to obtain liberty to thofe captives, he la- 
 boured both in public and private; and was 
 favoured to fee his endeavours crowned with 
 condderable fuccefs. He was particularly 
 defirous that friends mould not be inftru- 
 mental to lay burthens on this opprefTed peo- 
 ple, but remember the days of furTering from 
 which they had been providentially delivered ; 
 that, if times of trouble fhould return, no in- 
 juftice dealt to thofe in flavery might rife in 
 judgement againft us, but, being clear, we 
 might on fuch occalions addrefs the Almigh- 
 ty, with a degree of confidence, for his inter-* 
 pofition and relief; being particularly careful^ 
 as to himfelf, not to countenance flavery 
 even by the life of thofe conveniences of liftf 
 which were furnimcd by their labour. 
 
 Her
 
 [ xui ] 
 
 He was defirous to have his own, and the 
 minds of others, icdeemed from the pieafures 
 and immoderate profits of this world, and to 
 fix them on thofe joys which fade not away; 
 his principal care being after a life of purity, 
 endeavouring to avoid not only the grafter 
 pollutions, but thofe alfo which, appearing 
 in a more refined drefs, are not fufficiently 
 guarded againft by fome well-difpofed peo- 
 ple. In the latter part of his life he was re-r 
 inarkable for the plainnefs and fimplicity of 
 his drefs, and, as much as pofiible, avoided 
 the ufe of plate, coflly furniture, and feailing ; 
 thereby endeavouring to become an exampk 
 of temperance and felf-denial, which he be 
 lieved himlelf called unto, and was favour-* 
 cd with peace therein, although it carried the 
 appearance of great aufterity in the view of 
 fome. tie was very moderate in his charges 
 in the way of bufinefs, and in his defires af- 
 ter gain; and, though a man of induftry, avoid- 
 ed, and ftrove much to lead others out of ex- 
 
 f 
 
 trerne labour and anxioufnefs after pcri/hable 
 things; being defirous that the ftrength of 
 our bodies might not be fpent in procuring 
 things unprofitable, and that we might ufc 
 moderation and kindnefs to the brute animals 
 under our care, to prize the ute of them as a 
 great favour, and by no means abuCe them ; 
 that the gifts of Providence mould be thank- 
 fully received and applied to the ufes they 
 were defigned for. 
 
 He feveral times opened a fchool at Mount- 
 Holly, for the ioftruftion of poor friends 
 
 * i -i i 
 children
 
 children and others, being concerned for their 
 help and improvement therein : his love and 
 care for the rifing youth among us were truly 
 great, recommending to parents and thofe 
 who have the charge of them, to choofe con- 
 fcientious and pious tutors, faying, " It is a 
 lovely fight to behold innocent children," and 
 that to labour for their help, againft that 
 which would mar the beauty of their minds, 
 is a debt we owe them." 
 
 His miniftry was found, very deep and pene- 
 trating, fometimes pointing out the dangerous 
 iituation which indulgence and cuftom lead 
 into ; frequently exhorting others, efpecially 
 the youth, not to be difcouraged at the diffi- 
 culties which occur, but prefs after purity. 
 He often exprefied an earned engagement that 
 pure ivifdom (hould be attended to, which 
 would lead into lowlinefs of mind and refigna- 
 tion to the divine will, in which Hate fmall 
 poflefTions here would be fufficient. 
 
 In tranfadting the affairs of difcipline, his 
 judgement was found and clear, and he was 
 very ufeful in treating with thofe who had 
 done amifs ; he vifited fuch in a private 
 way in that plainnefs which truth didlates, 
 (hewing great tendernefs and Chriftian for* 
 bearance. He was a conftant attender of our 
 yearly-meeting, in which he was a good ex- 
 ample, and particularly ufeful ; afftfting in 
 the bufinefs thereof with great weight and at- 
 tention. He feveral times vifited moft of the 
 meetings of friends in this and the neigh- 
 bouring provinces, with the concurrence of 
 
 the
 
 t *Y ] 
 
 the monthly-meeting to which he belonged, 
 and, we have reafon to believe, had good fer- 
 vice therein, generally or always exprefling, 
 at his return, how it had fared with him, and 
 the evidence of peace in his mind for thus 
 performing his duty. 'He was often concern- 
 ed with other friends in the important fervice 
 of vifiting families, which he was enabled to 
 go through to fatisfaction. 
 
 In the minutes of the meeting of minifters 
 and elders for this quarter, at the foot of a 
 lift of the members of that meeting, made 
 about five years before his death, we find in 
 his hand writing the following obfervationa 
 and reflections. " As looking over the mi- 
 nute?, made by perfons who have put off this 
 body, hath fometime revived in me a thought 
 how ages pafs away j fo this lift may proba- 
 bly revive a like thought in fome, when land 
 the reft of the perfons abovenamed are cen- 
 tered in another ftatc of being. The Lord, 
 who was the guide of my youth, hath in ten- 
 der mercies helped me hitherto j he hath 
 healed me of wounds, he hath helped me out 
 of grievous entanglements ; he remains to be 
 the ftrength of my life ; to whom I define to 
 devote myfelf in time, and in eternity." 
 Signed, John Wool man. 
 
 in the twelfth month, 1771* he acquaint- 
 ed this meeting that he found his mind drawn 
 towards ;i religious vifit to friends in fome 
 parts of England, particularly in York.Qnre. 
 In the firft month, 1772, he obtained our cer- 
 tificate, which was approved and endorfed by 
 
 our
 
 [' 
 
 our quarterly meeting, and by the half year's 
 meeting of minifters and elders at Philadel- 
 phia. He embarked on his voyage in the 
 fifth, and arrived in London in the fixth, 
 month following, at the time of their annual 
 meeting in that city. During his fhort vifit 
 to friends in that kingdom, we are informed 
 that his fervices were acceptable and edifying. 
 In his laft illneis he uttered many lively and 
 comfortable exprefilons, being " perfectly 
 refigned, having no will either to live or die," 
 as appears by the teftimony of friends at York 
 in Great- Britain, in the fuburbs whereof, at 
 tbfiboufe of CUP friend, Thomas Prieftman, he 
 difsdof the fmall-pox, on the feventh day of 
 the tenth month, 1772, and was buried in 
 fjiends burying-ground in that city, on the 
 ninth of the Came, afccr a large and folid 
 meeting held on the occafion at their great 
 rneeting-houfe, aged near fifty-two years ; a 
 minifler upwards of thirty years, during 
 which time he belonged to Mount-Holly 
 particular meeting, which he diligently at- 
 tended when at home and in health of body, 
 and his labours of love, and pious care for the 
 pcofperity of friends in the blefled truth, we 
 hope may not be forgotten, but that his good 
 works may be remembered to edification. 
 
 Stgntd i>t, and by order of, the faid meeting, by 
 
 SAMUEL ALLJNSON, Clerk. 
 Read and approved at our quarterly-meet- 
 ing, held at Burlington the 29th of the 8th 
 month, 1774. 
 
 Signed^ by order cffa\d meeting^ % 
 
 DANIEL SMITH, C'erk.
 
 ' 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 LIFE, GOSPEL-LABOURS, 
 
 AND 
 
 CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES, 
 
 OF THAT 
 FAITHFUL MINISTER 
 
 O F 
 JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN; 
 
 Latt of M o u N r-H o L L Y, in the Province of 
 
 N E W-J E R S E Y. 
 
 ISAIAH xxxu. 17. 
 
 Tht iuork of rigbteoufnrftjhall bt peace ; and the tjftft of rigbttouf- 
 neft, quietnefs ' and affurance for fver. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY T. LETCHWORTH, 
 AT N. 33, TOOLEY-STREET, SOUTHWARK. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXV.
 
 f
 
 A 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 - . : 
 
 LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 O F 
 
 JOHN W O O L M A N, 
 
 IN THE SERVICE OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 f r-y' 
 
 CHAP. U 
 
 His birth and parentage, with fome account of 
 the operations of divine grace on bis mind in 
 his youth. Hisjirji appearance in the mini- 
 JlryAnd his confederations, while young> 
 on the keeping ofjlaves. 
 
 IH A V E often fflt a motion of love 
 to leave lome hints in writing of my ex- 
 perience of the goodnels of God ; and 
 now, in the thirty-fixth year of my age, I 
 begin this work. 
 
 I was born in Northampton, in Burling- 
 ton county, Weft-Jerfey, in the year 1720; 
 and before I was feven years old I began to 
 B 2 be
 
 4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 be acquainted with the operations of divine 
 love. Through the care of my parents, I was 
 taught to read nearly as foon as I was capable 
 of it ; and, as I went from fchool one leventh 
 day, I remember, while my companions went 
 to play by the way, J went forward out of 
 fight, and, fitting down, I read the 22d chap- 
 ter of the Revelations. *' He (hewed me a 
 " pure river of water of life, clear as chryf- 
 " tal, proceeding out of the throne of God 
 " and of the Lamb, &c" and, in reading 
 it, my mind was drawn to feek after that 
 pure habitation, which, I then believed, God 
 had prepared for his fervants. The place 
 where I fat, and the fweetnefs that attended 
 my mind, remain frefli in my memory. 
 
 This, and the like gracious vifitations, had 
 that effecl. upon me, that, when boys ufed ill 
 language, it troubled me ; and, through the 
 continued mercies of God, I was preferved 
 from it. 
 
 The pious inftru&ions of my parents were 
 often frem in my mind when I happened to be 
 among wicked children, and were of ufe tome. 
 My parents, having a large family of children, 
 ufed frequently, on firft days, after meeting, 
 to put us to read ip the holy fcriptures, or 
 fome religious books, one after another, the 
 reft fitting by without much converfation ; 
 which, I have fince often thought, was a good 
 practice. From what I had read and heard, 
 J believed there had been, in paft ages, peo- 
 ple who walked in uprightnefs before God, 
 in a degree, exceeding any tha.t J knew, or 
 
 heard
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. $ 
 
 heard of, now living : and the apprehenfion 
 of there being lefs fteadinefs and firmnefs, 
 amon^d people in this age than in paft ages, 
 often troubled me while I was a child. 
 
 A thing remarkable in my childhood 'was, 
 that once, going to a neighbour's houfe, 
 I faw, on the way, a robin iitting on her 
 neft, and as I came near {he went off, but, 
 having young ones, flew about, and with 
 many cries exprefTed her concern for them j 
 I flood and threw ftones at her, till> one ftri- 
 king her, {he fell down dead : at firft I was 
 pleafed with the exploit, but after a few mi- 
 nutes was feized with horror, as having, in 
 a fportive way, killed an innocent creature 
 while me was careful for her young : 1 be- 
 held her lying dead, and thought thole young 
 ones, for which me was fo careful, mud now 
 perim for want of their dam to nourim them ; 
 and, after fome painful confiderations on the 
 fubjeft, I climbed up the tree, took all the 
 young birds, and killed them; fuppofing that 
 better than to leave them to pine away and 
 die miferably : and believed, in this cafe, 
 that fcripture- proverb was fulfilled, 4< The 
 " tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." I 
 then went on my errand, but, for fome 
 hours, could think of little elfe but the cru- 
 elties I had commited, and was much trou- 
 bled. Thus He, whofe tender mercies are 
 over all his works, hath placed a principle 
 in the human mind, which incites to exer- 
 cife goodnefs towards every living creature ; 
 and, this being fingly attended to, people 
 B 3 become
 
 6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 become tender-hearted and fympathifing ; 
 but, being frequently and totally rejected, the 
 mind becomes (hut up in a contrary difpo- 
 fition. 
 
 About the twelfth year of my age, my 
 father being abroad, my mother reproved 
 me for fome mifconduct, to which I made 
 an undutiful reply ; and, the next firft day, 
 as I was with my father returning from 
 meeting, he told me he underflood I had 
 behaved amifs to my mother, and advifed 
 me to be more careful in future. I knew 
 myfelf blameable, and in {hame and confu- 
 fion remained filent. Being thus awakened 
 to a fenfe of my wickednefs, I felt remorfe 
 in my mind, and, getting home, I retired and 
 prayed to the Lord to forgive me ; and do 
 not remember that I ever, after that, fpoke 
 unhandfomely to either of my parents, how- 
 ever foolih in fome other things. 
 
 Having attained the age of fixteen years, 
 I began to love wanton company ; and though 
 I was preferved from profane language, or 
 fcandalous conduct, ftill I perceived a plant in 
 me which produced much wild grapes ; yet my 
 merciful Father forfook me not utterly, but, 
 at times, through his grace, 1 was brought 
 ferioufly to confider my ways -, and the fight 
 of my backflidings affected me with forrow ; 
 but, for want of rightly attending to the re- 
 proofs of inftruction, vanity was added to 
 vanity, and repentance to repentance : upon 
 the whole, my mind was more and more ali- 
 enated from the truth, and 1 haftened to- 
 ward
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN, f 
 
 ward deftrudion. While I meditate on the 
 gulph towards which I travelled, and reflect 
 on my youthful diibbedience, for thefe things 
 I weep, mine eyes run down with water, .>,,/ 
 
 Advancing in age, the number of my ac- 
 quaintances increafcd, and thereby my way 
 grew more difficult : though I had found 
 comfort in reading the holy fcriptures, and 
 thinking on heavenly things, 1 was now 
 eftranged therefrom : I knew I was going 
 from the flock of Chrift* and had no refolu- 
 tion to return j hence ferious reflections were 
 uneafy to me, and youthful vanities and di- 
 veriions my greateft pieafure. Running in 
 this road I found many like myfelf ; and we 
 affociated in that which is reverfe to true 
 friendship* 
 
 But in this fwift wee it pleafed God to vi- 
 fit me with ficknefs, fo that I doubted of 
 recovering ; and then did darknefs, horror, 
 and amazement, with full force, feize me, 
 even when my pain and diftrefs of body was 
 very great. I thought it would have been 
 better for me never to have had- a being* than 
 to fee the day which I now faw. I was filled 
 with confufion ; and in great affliction, both 
 f mind and body, I lay and bewailed my- 
 ielf. 1 had not confidence to lift up my crie9 
 to God, whom I had thus offended j but, in* 
 a deep fenfe of my great folly, I was hum-' 
 bled before him : and, at length, that Word 
 which is as a fire and a hammer, broke and 
 diflblved my rebellious heart, and then my 
 cries were pat up in contrition ; and in the 
 B 4 multitude
 
 8 
 
 multitude of his mercies I found inward re- 
 lief, and felt a clofe engagement, that, if he 
 was pleafed to reftore my health, I might 
 walk humbly before him. 
 
 After my recovery, this exercife remained 
 with me a confiderable timej but, by de- 
 grees, giving way to youthful vanities, they 
 gained ftrength, and, getting with wanton 
 young people, I loft ground. The Lord had 
 been very gracious, and fpoke peace to me 
 in the time of my diftrefs j and I now moft 
 ungratefully turned again to folly $ on which 
 account, at times, I felt (harp reproof. I 
 was not fo hardy as to commit things fcan- 
 dalous ; but to exceed in vanity, and pro- 
 mote mirth, was my chief ftudy. Still I re- 
 tained a love for pious people, and their com- 
 pany brought an awe upon me. My dear pa- 
 rents, feveral times, admonimed me in the 
 fear of the Lord, and their admonition enter- 
 ed into my heart, and had a good effect for a 
 feafon ; but, not getting deep enough to pray 
 rightly, the tempter, when he came, found 
 entrance. I remember once, having fpent 
 a part of the day in wantonnefs, as I went to 
 bed at night, there lay in a window, near my 
 bed, a bible, which 1 opened, and firft calfe 
 my eye on this text, " we lie down in our 
 " (hame, and our confufion covers us ;" this 
 I knew to be my cafe : and, meeting with fo 
 unexpected a reproof, I was fomewhat affect- 
 ed with it, and went to bed under remorfe of 
 conlcience ; which I foon caft off again. 
 
 Thus
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 9 
 
 Thus time pafled on : my heart was reple- 
 nifhed with mirth and wantonnefs, and 
 pleating fcenes of vanity were prefented to 
 my imagination, till I attained the age of 
 eighteen years; near which time I felt the 
 judgements of God, in my foul, like a con- 
 fuming fire ; snd, looking over my paft life, 
 the profpecl was moving. I was often fad, 
 and longed to be delivered from thofe vani- 
 
 
 
 ties ; then again, my heart was ftrongly in- 
 clined to them, and there was in me a fore 
 conrlicl: : at times I turned to folly, and then, 
 again, forrow and confuiion took hold of 
 me. In awhile, I refolved totally to leave off 
 fome of my vanities ; but there was a fecret 
 referve, in my heart, of the more refined part 
 of them, and I was not low enough to find 
 true peace. Thus, for fome months, I had 
 great troubles ; there remaining in me an un-~ 
 lubjefted will, which rendered my labours 
 fruitlefs, till at length, through the merciful 
 continuance of heavenly vifitation?, I was 
 made to bow down in fpirit before the Lord. 
 I remember one evening I had fpent iome 
 time in reading a pious author ; and walking 
 out alone, I humbly prayed to the Lord for 
 his help, that I might be delivered from all 
 thofe vanities which fo enfnared me. Thus, 
 being brought low, he helped me ; and, as I 
 learned to bear the crofs, I felt refrefhment to 
 come from his prefence; but, not keeping in 
 that ftrength which gave vifiory, I loft ground 
 again ; the fenfe of which greatly affecled 
 me: and I fought defarts and lonely places, 
 
 and
 
 ro THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and there, with tears, did confefs my fins to 
 God, and humbly craved help of bin*. And, 
 I may fay, with reverence, he was near to me 
 in my troubles, and in thofe times of humi- 
 liation opened my ear to difcipline. I was 
 now led to look ferioufly at the means by 
 which I was drawn from the pure truth, and 
 learned this, that, if I would live in the life 
 which the faithful fervants of God lived in, 
 I muft not go into company as heretofore in 
 my own will ; but all the cravings of fenfe 
 muft be governed by a divine principle. In 
 times of forrow and abafement thefe inftruc- 
 tions were fealed upon me, and I felt the 
 power of Chrid prevail over felfim defires, fo 
 that I was preferved in a good degree of flea- 
 dinefs } and, being young, and believing, at 
 that time, that a (ingle life was bed for me, I 
 was ftrengthened to keep from fuch company 
 as had often been a fnare to me. 
 
 I kept fteadily to meetings ; fpent fir/I days 
 afternoons chiefly in reading the fcriptures and 
 other good books ; and was early convinced, 
 in my mind, that true religion confided in an 
 inward life, wherein the heart doth love and 
 reverence God the Creator, and learns to ex- 
 ercife true juftice and goodnefs, not only to- 
 ward all men, but alfo toward the brute crea- 
 tures. That, as the mind was moved, by an 
 inward principle, to love God as an inviliblc 
 incompreheniible Being, by the fame princi- 
 ple it was moved to love him in all his mani- 
 feftations in the viiible world,- That, as by 
 his breath the flame of life was kindled in 
 
 all
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. u. 
 
 all animal fenfible creatures, to fay we love 
 God, and, at the fame time, exercife cruelty 
 toward the leaft creature, is a contradiction in 
 itfelf. 
 
 I found no narrownefs refpedling fe&s and 
 opinions ; but believed, that fmcere upright- 
 hearted people, in every fociety who truly 
 love God, were accepted of him. 
 
 As I lived under the crofs, and (imply fol- 
 lowed the openings of truth, my mind, from 
 day to day, was more enlightened ; my for-, 
 mer acquaintance were left to judge of me as 
 they would, for I found it fafeft for me to 
 live in private, and keep thefe things fealed 
 up in my own breaft. While I fileatly pon- 
 der on that change wrought in me, I find no 
 language equal to it, nor any means to con- 
 vey to another a clear idea of it. I looked 
 upon the works of God in this vifible crea- 
 tion, and an awfulnefs covered me ; my heart 
 was tender and often contrite, and univerfal 
 love to my fellow-creatures increafed jn me : 
 this will be underftood by fuch as have 
 trodden the fame path. Some glances of real 
 beauty may be feen in their faces, who dwell 
 in true meeknefs. 
 
 There is a harmony in the found of that 
 voice to which divine love gives utterance, 
 and fome appearance of right order in their 
 temper and conduct, whole paffions are re- 
 gulated ; yet all thefe do not fully (hew forth 
 that inward life to fuch as have not felt it : 
 but this white ftone and new name is known 
 rightly to fuch only as have it* 
 
 Though
 
 12 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Though I had been thus ftrengthened to 
 bear the crofs, I ftill found myfelf in great 
 danger, having many weaknefies attending 
 me, and ftrong temptations to wreftle with ; 
 in the feeling whereof I frequently withdrew 
 into private places, and often wilh tears be- 
 fought the Lord to help me, whole gracious 
 car was open to my cry. 
 
 All this time I lived with my parents, and 
 wrought on the plantation ; and, having had 
 fchooling pretty well for a planter, I ufed to 
 improve it in winter- evenings, and other lei- 
 fure times j and, being now in the twenty- 
 firft year of my age, a man, in much bufi- 
 nefs at ihop-keeping and baking, afked me, 
 if I would hire with him to tend (hop and 
 keep books. I acquainted my father with 
 the propofal j and, after fome deliberation, it 
 was agreed for me to go. 
 
 At home I had lived retired ; and now, ha- 
 ving a profpect of being much in the way of 
 company, I felt frequent and fervent cries in 
 my heart to God, the father of mercies, that 
 he would prefervc me from all corruption > 
 that, in this more public employment, I 
 might ferve him, my gracious Redeemer, in 
 that humility and felf-denial, with which I 
 had been, in a fmall degree, exercifed in 3 
 more private life. The man, who employed 
 me, furniihed a (hop in Mount-Holly, about 
 five miles from my father's houfe, and fix 
 from his own ; and there I lived alone, and 
 tended his (hop. Shortly after my fettlement 
 here I was vifited by feveral young people, 
 
 my
 
 4 o* JOHN WOOLM AN. 13 
 
 my former acquaintance, who knew not but 
 vanities would be as agreeable to me now as 
 ever ; and, at thefe times, I cried to the 
 'Lord, in fecret, for wifdom and ftrength ; for 
 I felt myfelf encompafied with difficulties, 
 and had frelh occafion to bewail the follies of 
 time part, in contracting a familiarity with 
 libertine people: and, as I had now left my 
 father's houfe outwardly, I found my heaven- 
 ly Father to be merciful to me beyond what 
 1 can exprefs. 
 
 By day I was much among ft people, and 
 had many trials to go through j but, in the 
 evenings, I was moftly alone, and may with 
 thankfulnefs acknowledge, that, in thofe 
 times, the fpirit of fupplication was often 
 poured upon me ; under which I was fre- 
 quently exercifed, and felt my ftrength re- 
 newed. 
 
 In a few months after I came here, my 
 mafter bought feveral Scotchmen, fervants, from 
 on-board a vefTtJ, and brought them to Mount- 
 Holly to fell; one of which was taken fick, 
 and died. 
 
 In the latter part of his ficknefs, he, being 
 delirious, ufed to curfe and fwear moft for- 
 rowfully ; and, the next night after his buri- 
 al, I was left to deep alone in the fame cham- 
 ber where he died ; I perceived in me a timo- 
 roufnefs ; I knew, however, I had not injured 
 the man, but aliifted in taking care of him 
 according to my capacity ; and was not free 
 to afk any one, on that occafion, to deep with 
 me : nature was feeble -, but every trial was 
 
 a fretfi
 
 14 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 a frcfh incitement to give myfelf up wholly 
 to the fervice of God, for I found no helper 
 like him in times of trouble. 
 
 After a while, my former acquaintance gave 
 over expecting me as one of their company ; 
 'and I began to be known to fome whofe con- 
 verfation was helpful to me : and now, as I 
 had experienced the love of God, through 
 Jefus Chrifl, to redeem me from many pol- 
 lutions, and to be a fuccour to me through 
 a fea of conflicts, with which no perfon was 
 fully acquainted ; and as my heart was often 
 enlarged in this heavenly principle, I felt a 
 tender compafiion for the youth, who re- 
 mained entangled in fnares, like thofe which 
 had entangled me from one time to another : 
 this love and tenderneis increafed ; and my 
 mind was more ftrongly engaged for the good 
 of my fellow-creatures. 1 went to meetings 
 in an awful frame of mind, and endeavoured to 
 be inwardly acquainted with the language of 
 the true Shepherd ; and, one day, being un- 
 der aftrong exercife of fpirit, I flood up, and 
 faid fome words in a meeting ; but, not keep- 
 ing clofe to the divine opening, I faid more 
 than was required of me ; and being foon fen- 
 fible of my error, I was afflicted in mind fome 
 weeks, without any light or comfort, even 
 to that degree that I could not take fatisfac- 
 tion in any thing : I remembered God, and 
 was troubled, and, in the depth of my dif- 
 trefs, he had pity upon me, and fent the 
 Comforter : I then felt forgivenefs for my of- 
 fence, and my mind became calm and quiet, 
 
 being
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 15 
 
 being truly thankful to my gracious Re- 
 deemer for his mercies ; and, after this, feel- 
 ing the fpring of divine love opened, and a 
 concern to fpeak, I faid a few words in a 
 meeting, in which 1 found peace; this, I 
 believe, was about fix weeks from the firft 
 time : and, as I was thus humbled and dif- 
 ciplined under the crofs, my underftanding 
 became more ftrengthened to diftinguifli the 
 pure fpirit which inwardly moves upon the 
 heart, and taught me to wait in filence fome- 
 times many weeks together, until 1 felt that 
 rife which prepares the creature. . 
 
 From an inward purifying, and ftedfaft 
 abiding under it, fprings a lively operative 
 defire for the good of others : all the faith- 
 ful are not called to the public miniftry ; but 
 whoever are, are called to minister of that 
 which they have tafted and handled fpiritu- 
 ally. The outward modes of worfhip are va- 
 rious ; but, wherever any are true mihifters 
 of Jefus Chrift, it is from the operation of 
 his fpirit upon their hearts, firft purifying 
 them, and thus giving them a juft fenfe of 
 the conditions of others. 
 
 This truth was early fixed in my mind ; 
 and i was taught to watch the pure opening, 
 and to take heed, left, while 1 was (landing 
 to fpeak, my own will mould get uppermoft, 
 and caufe me to utter words from worldly 
 wifdom, and depart from the channel of the 
 true gofpeUminiiiry. 
 
 In the management of my outward affairs, 
 I may fay, with thankfulnefs, I found truth 
 
 to
 
 16 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 to be my fupport ; and I was refpedled in my 
 matter's family, who came to live in Mount- 
 Holly within two years after my going there. 
 
 About the twenty-third year of my age, !<. 
 had many frefh and heavenly openings, in 
 refpecl: to the care and providence of the Al- 
 mighty over his creatures in general, and 
 over man as the moft noble amongft thofe 
 which are vifible. And being clearly con- 
 vinced in my judgement, that to place my 
 whole truft in God was beft for me, I felt re- 
 newed engagements, that in all things I might 
 act on an inward principle of virtue, and 
 purfue worldly bufineis no farther, than as 
 truth opened my way therein. 
 
 About the time called Chriftmas, I obfer- 
 ved many people from the country, and dwell- 
 ers in town, who, reforting to public-houfes, 
 fpent their time in drinking and vain fports, 
 tending to corrupt one another ; on which 
 account I was much troubled. At one houfe, 
 in particular, there was much diforder ; and J 
 believed it was a duty incumbent on me to go 
 and fpeak to the mailer of that houfe. I con- 
 fidered I was young, and that feveral elderly 
 friends in town had opportunity to fee thefe 
 things ; but though I would gladly have been 
 excufed, yet I could not feel my mind clear. 
 
 The exercife was heavy: and as I was read- 
 ing what the Almighty faid to Ezekiel, re- 
 fpeding his duty as a watchman, the matter 
 was fet home more clearly ; and then, with 
 prayers and tears, I befought the Lord for 
 his afliftance, who, in loving- kindnefs, gave 
 
 me
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 me a refigned heart : then, at a fuitable op- 
 portunity, I went to the public-houfe; and, 
 feeing the man amongtt much company, I 
 went to him, and told him, I wanted to fpeak 
 with him ; ib we went afide, arid there, in 
 the fear of the Almighty, I exprefied to him, 
 what refted on my mind ; which he took 
 kindly, and afterward (hewed more regard 
 to me than before. In a few years after- 
 wards he died, middle-aged ; and I often 
 thought that, had I neglected my duty in 
 that cafe, it would have given me great 
 trouble ; and I was humbJy thankful to my 
 gracious Father, who had fupported me here- 
 in. 
 
 My employer, having a negro woman, fold 
 her, and deiired me to write a bill of fale, 
 the man being waiting who bought her : the 
 thing was fudden ; and, though the thoughts 
 of writing an inftrument of (lavery for one 
 of my fellow-creatures felt uneafy, yet I re- 
 membered I was hired by the year, that it 
 was my mafter who directed me to do it, and 
 that it was an elderly man, a member of our 
 fociety, who bought her ; fo, through weak- 
 nefs, I gave way, and wrote; but, at the 
 executing it, I was fo afflicted in my mind, 
 that I faid, before my matter and the friend, 
 that I believed (lave- keeping to be a practice 
 inconfiftent with the Chriftian religion : this 
 in fome degree abated my uneafinefs ; yet, as 
 often as I reflected ferioufly upon it, I thought- 
 1 ihould have been clearer, if I had defired to 
 have been excufed from it, as a thing againft 
 
 C my
 
 18 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 my confcience ; forfuch it was. And, fome 
 time after this, a young man, of our fociety, 
 ipoke to me to write a conveyance of a flave 
 to him, he having lately taken a negro into 
 his houfe : I told him I was not eafy to write 
 it j for, though many of our meeting and in 
 other places kept flaves, I ftill believed the 
 practice was not right, and defined to be ex- 
 cufed from the writing. I fpoke to him in 
 good will; and he told me that keeping flaves 
 was not altogether agreeable to his mind ; 
 but that the Have being a gift to his wife, he 
 had accepted of her. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
 / ;.
 
 OP JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 <*y 
 
 His Jir/l journey, on a religious vifit, into "Eajl- 
 y?rfey, in company with Abraham Farring- 
 ton His thoughts on merchandizing, and his 
 learning a trade His fecond journey ', with 
 Ijaac Andrews, into Pennfjhania, Mary- 
 land, Virginia, and North- Carolina. His 
 third journey, with Peter Andrews ', through 
 part of Wejl and Eaft Jerfey Some account 
 of 'bis Jifter 'Elizabeth, and her death His 
 fourth journey, with Peter Andrews, through 
 New-Tor k and Long-Ifland, to New-Eng- 
 land And his fifth journey, with "John 
 Sykcs, to the eaftern /bore of Maryland, and 
 the lower counties on Delaware. 
 
 ""Ml i 
 
 MY efteemed friend, Abraham Fairing* 
 ton, being about to make a vifit to 
 friends on the eaftern fide of this province, 
 and having no companion, he propofed to 
 me to go with him ; and, after a conference 
 with -fome elderly friends, I agreed to go : 
 we fet out the filth day of the ninth month, 
 in the year 1743 -, had an evening-meeting at 
 a tavern in Brunfwick, a town in which none 
 of our ibciety dwelt ; the room was full, 
 and the people quiet. Thence to Amboy, and 
 had an evening- meeting in the court-houfe j 
 to which many people came, amongft whom 
 were fcveral members of the Gffrmbly, they 
 being in town on public affairs of the pro- 
 C 2 vince :
 
 ,20 TJHE UFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 vince : in both thefe meetings my ancient 
 companion was enlarged to preach, in the 
 love of the gofpel. Thence we went to Wood- 
 bridge, Raway, and Plainfield ; and had fix 
 or feven meetings in places where meetings 
 of friends are not ufually held, being made 
 up chiefly of prefbyterians ; and my beloved 
 companion was frequently flrengthened to 
 publifh the word of life amongft them : as 
 for me, I was often filentj'and, when I fpake, 
 it was with much care, that I might fpeak 
 only what truth opened : and I learned ibme 
 profitable leflbns. We were out about two- 
 weeks. 
 
 Near this time, being on Tome outward bu- 
 finefs in which feveral families were concern- 
 ed, and which was attended with difficulties,. 
 fome things relating thereto not being clearly 
 dated, nor rightly underftood by all, there 
 arofe fome heat in the minds of the parties, 
 and one valuable friend got off his watch ; 
 I had a great regard for him, and felt a ftrong 
 inclination, after matters were fettled, to fpeak 
 to him concerning his conduct in that cafe : 
 but I being a youth, and he far advanced in 
 age and experience, my way appeared diffi- 
 cult j but, after fome days deliberation, and 
 inward feeking to the Lord for affiftance,, I 
 was made fubjedl ; fo that I expreffed what lay 
 upon me in a way which became my youth 
 and his years : and, though it was a hard talk 
 to me, it was well taken, and, I believe, was 
 ufeful to us both. 
 
 Having
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 21 
 
 Having now been feveral years with my 
 employer, and he doing lefs at merchandize 
 than heretofore, I was thoughtful of fome 
 other way of bufinefs ; perceiving merchan- 
 dize to be attended with much cumber, in 
 the way of trading in thefe parts. 
 
 My mind, through the power of truth, was 
 in a good degree weaned from the defire of 
 outward greatnefs, and I was learning to be 
 content with real conveniences, that were 
 not coftly; fo that a Way of life, free from 
 much entanglement, appeared beft for me, 
 though the income might be fmall. I had fe- 
 veral offers of bufinefs that appeared profita- 
 ble, but. did not fee my way clear to accept 
 of them ; as believing the bufinefs propoied 
 would be attended with more outward care 
 than was required of me to engage in. 
 
 I faw that a humble man, with the bleffing 
 of the Lord, might live on a little : and that 
 where the heart was fet on greatnefs, fuccefs 
 in bufinefs did not fatisfy the craving ; but 
 that commonly, with an increafe of wealth, 
 the defire of wealth increafed. There was a 
 care on my mind fo to pafs my time, that 
 nothing might hinder me from the mofl 
 fteady attention to the voice of the true Shep- 
 herd. 
 
 My employer, though now a retailer of 
 goods, was by trade a taylor, and kept a 
 fervant-man at that bufinefs } and I began 
 to think about learning the trade, expecting 
 that-, if I (hould fettle, I might, by this trade 
 and a little retailing of goods, get a^ living 
 C 3 in
 
 22 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 g f. 
 
 in a plain way, without the load of great 
 bufinefs : I mentioned it to my employer, 
 and we foon agreed on terms ; and then, 
 when I had leifure from the affairs of mer- 
 chandize, I Worked with his man. I believed 
 the hand of Providence pointed out this bu 
 finefs for me j and was taught to be content 
 with it, though I felt, at times, a difpofition 
 that would have fought for fomething great- 
 er : but, through the revelation of Jefus 
 Chrift, I had feen the happinefs of humility, 
 and there was an earned defire in me to en- 
 ter deep into it ; and, at times, this defire 
 arofe to a degree of fervent fupplication, 
 wherein my foul was fo environed with hea- 
 venly light and confolation, that things were 
 made eafy to me which had been otherwife. 
 
 After fome time, rny employer's wife died 5 
 {he was a virtuous woman, and generally be- 
 loved of her neighbours : and, foon after this, 
 he left fhopkeeping, and we parted. I then 
 wrought at my trade, as a taylor j carefully 
 attended meetings for wormip and dilciplinej 
 and found an enlargement of gofpel-love in 
 my mind, and therein a concern to vifit 
 friends in fome of the back-fettlements of 
 Pennfylvania and Virginia j and,beingthought-' 
 ful about a companion, I exprefled it to my 
 beloved friend, Ifaac Andrews, who then told 
 me that he had drawings to the fame places; 
 alio to go through Maryland, Virginia, and 
 Carolina. After confiderable time part, and 
 feveral conferences with him, I felt eafy to 
 accompany hirn throughout, if way opened 
 
 fo?
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 23 
 
 for it. I opened the cafe in our monthly 
 meeting ; and, friends exprefiing their unity 
 therewith, we obtained certificates to travel 
 as companions ; his from Haddonfield, and 
 mine from Burlington. 
 
 We left our province on the twelfth day 
 of the third month, in the year 1746, and 
 had feveral meetings in the upper purt of 
 Chefter county, and near Lancafter ; in feme 
 of which, the love of Chrift prevailed, uni- 
 ting us together in his fervice. Then we 
 crofied the river Sufquehannah, and had fe- 
 veral meetings in a new fettlement, called 
 the Red-Lands ; the oldeft of which, as I 
 was informed, did not exceed ten years. It 
 is the poorer fort of people that commonly 
 begin to improve remote defarts : with a 
 imall ftock they have houfes to build, lands 
 to clear and fence, corn to raife, clothes to 
 provide, and children to educate; that friends, 
 who viiit fuch, may well fympathife with 
 them in their hardlhips in the wildernefs; 
 and though the belt entertainment fuch can 
 give may leem coa-rfe to fome who are ufed 
 to cities, or old fettled places, it becomes the 
 .dilciples of Chrift to be content with it. Our 
 hearts were fometimes enlarged in the love 
 of our heavenly Father amongil thefe people; 
 and the fweet influence of his fpint lup- 
 ported us through fome difficulties: to him 
 be the praile ! 
 
 We paiTed on to Manoquacy, Fairfax, 
 Hopew^ll, and Shanando, and had meet- 
 ings > fome of which were comfortable and 
 C 4 edifying.
 
 24 
 
 edifying. From Shanando we fet off in the 
 afternoon for the old fetilements of friends in 
 Virginia j and, the firft night, we, with our 
 .pilot, lodged in the woods, our holies feed- 
 ing near us; but he, being poorly provided 
 with a horfe, and we young and having good 
 ;horfes, were free the next day to part with 
 him; and did fo. In two days after, we 
 reached to our friend John Cheagle's, in Vir- 
 ginia : fo we took the meetings in our way 
 through Virginia ; were, in fome degree, 
 baptized into a feeling fenfe of the condir 
 tions of the people j and our exercife in ge- 
 neral was more painful in thefe old fcttle- 
 ments, than it had been amongft the back 
 inhabitants : but, through the goodnefs of 
 our heavenly Father, the well of living-wa- 
 ters was, at times, opened to our encou- 
 ragement and the refreshment of thefincere- 
 hearted. We went on to Perquimons, in 
 North-Carolina; had feveral meetings, which 
 were large ; and found fome opennefs in 
 thole parts, and a hopeful appearance amongft 
 the young people. So we turned again to 
 Virginia, and attended mod of the meetings 
 which we had not been at before, labouring 
 among ft friends in the love of Jeius Chrift, 
 as ability was given : and thence went to the 
 mountains, up James-River, to a new fettle- 
 ment ; and had feveral meetings amongft the 
 people, fome of whom had lately joined in 
 member/hip with our fociety. 
 
 In our journeying to and fro, we found 
 fome hontft-hearted Jriends, who appeared 
 
 to
 
 OP JOHN WOOLMAN. 25 
 
 to be concerned for the caufe of truth among 
 a backfliding people. 
 
 From Virginia, we crofled over the river 
 Patowmac, at Hoe's ferry, and made a gene- 
 ral vifu to the meetings of friends on the 
 weiiern fhore of Maryland ; and were at 
 their quarterly meeting. We had fome hard 
 labour amongil them, endeavouring to dif- 
 charge our duty honeftly as way opened, in 
 the love of truth : and thence taking fundry 
 meetings in our way, we pafled homeward j 
 where, through the favour of divine Provi- 
 dence, we reached the fixteenth day of the 
 fixth month, in the year 1746 j and I may 
 fay that, through the afTiftance of the Holy 
 Spirit, my companion and I travelled in har- 
 mony, and parted in the neainefs of true 
 brotherly love. 
 
 Two things were remarkable to me in this 
 journey : firft, in regard to my entertain^ 
 ment ; when I ate, drank, and lodged free- 
 coft with people, who lived in cafe on the 
 hard labour of their flaves, I felt uneafy; 
 and, as my mind was inward to the Lord, I 
 found, from place to place, this uneafinefs 
 return upon me, at times, through the whole 
 vifit. Where the mailers bore a good (hare 
 of the burthen, and lived frugally, fo that 
 their fervants were well provided for, and 
 their labour moderate, I felt more eafy ; but 
 where they lived in a coftly way, and laid 
 heavy burthens on their ilaves, my exercife 
 was often great, and I frequently had con- 
 verfation with them, in private, concerning 
 
 it,
 
 26 THE LIEE AND TRAVELS 
 
 it. Secondly : this trade of importing flaves 
 from their native country being much en- 
 couraged amongft them, and the white peo- 
 ple and their children fo generally living 
 without much labour, was frequently the 
 fubject of my ferious thoughts : and I faw in 
 thefe fouthern provinces fo many vices and 
 corruptions, increafed by this trade and this 
 way of life, that it appeared to me as a 
 gloom over the land j and though now 
 many willingly run into it, yet, in future, 
 the confequence will be grievous to pofte- 
 rity : I exprefs it as it hath appeared to me, 
 not at once, nor twice, but as a matter fixed 
 on my mind. 
 
 Soon after my return home, I felt an in- 
 creafmg concern for friends on our fea-coaftj 
 and, on the eighth day of the eighth month, 
 in the year 1746, with the unity of friends, 
 and in company with my beloved friend and 
 neighbour, Peter Andrews, brother to my 
 companion before- mentioned, we fet for- 
 ward, and vifited meetings generally about 
 Salem, Cape May, Great and Little Egg- 
 Harbour; and had meetings at Barnagat, 
 Mannahockin, and Mane-Squan, and fo to the 
 yearly meeting at Shrewsbury. Through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord way was opened, and 
 the ftrength of divine love was fometimes 
 felt in our aflemblies, to the comfort and 
 help of thofe who were rightly concerned be- 
 fore him. We were out twenty-two days, 
 and rode, by computation, three hundred 
 and forty miles. At Shrewsbury yearly meet- 
 ing*
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. sty 
 
 ing, we met with our dear friends, Michael 
 Lightfoot and Abraham Farrington, who had 
 good fervice there. 
 
 The winter following my eldeft fitter, Eli- 
 zabeth Woolman, jun. died of the fmall-pox, 
 aged thirty-one years. She was, from her 
 youth, of a thoughtful difpofition j and very 
 compaflionate to her acquaintance in their 
 ficknefs or dittrefs, being ready to hslp as 
 far as (he could. She was dutiful to her 
 parents; one inftance whereof follows: It 
 happened that ihe, and two of her fitters, be- 
 ing then near the cftate of young women, 
 had an inclination, one flrtt-day after meet- 
 ing, to go on a vifit to fome other young 
 women at fome diftance off; whofe compa- 
 ny, I believe, would have done them no 
 good. They exprefied their defire to our pa- 
 rents ; who were diffatisned with the propo- 
 fal, and flopped them. The fame day, as 
 my fitters and I were together, and they 
 talking about their difappointment, Eliza- 
 beth exprefied her contentment under it j fig- 
 nifying, (he believed it might be for their 
 good. 
 
 A few years after (he attained to mature- 
 oge, through the gracious vifitations of God's 
 love, (he was ftrengthened to live a felf- deny- 
 ing exemplary life, giving herfelf much to 
 reading and meditation. 
 
 The following letter may (hew, in fome 
 degree, her difpofition. 
 
 Haddonfield,
 
 8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 LW ( ;>J. t \iil 2D| o^ ni 
 Haddonfield, i ft day, nth month, 1743, 
 
 Beloved brother, John Woolman, 
 
 In that love which defires the welfare of 
 all men, I write unto thee : I received thine, 
 dated fecond day of the tenth month laft, 
 with which I was comforted. My ipirit is 
 bowed with thankfulnefs that I fliould be 
 remembered, who am unworthy ; but the 
 Lord is full of mercy, and his goodnefs is 
 extended to the mearieft of his creation ; 
 therefore, in his infinite love, he hath pi- 
 tied, and fpared, and (hewed mercy, that I 
 have not been cut off nor quite loft; but, at 
 times, I am refreshed and comforted as with 
 the glimpfe of his prefence, which is more, 
 td the immortal part, than all which this 
 world can afford : fo, with defires for thy 
 prefervation with my own, I remain 
 
 thy affectionate fitter, 
 
 * 
 
 ' 
 
 Eliz. Woolman, jun. 
 
 In the fore part of her illnefs (he was in 
 great fadncfs and dejection of mind, of 
 which (he told one of her intimate friends, 
 and faid, when I was a young girl I was 
 wanton and airy, but I thought I had tho- 
 roughly repented of it; and added, I have 
 of late had great fatisfaclion in meetings. 
 Though ihe was thus difconfolate, ftill flic 
 retained a hope, which was as an anchor to 
 her: and fometimc, after, the fame friend 
 
 came
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 29 
 
 came again to fee her, to whom {he men- 
 tioned her former expreffions, and faid, it is 
 otherwife now, for the Lord hath rewarded 
 me feven-fold ; and I am unable to exprefs 
 the greatnefs of his love manifefted to me. 
 Her diforder appearing dangerous, and our 
 mother being lorrowfal, {he took notice of 
 it, and faid, dear mother, weep not for me j 
 I go to my God : and, many times, with an 
 audible voice, uttered praife to her Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 A friend, coming fome miles to fee her the 
 morning before me died, afked her, bow fhe 
 did ? (he anfwered, I have had a hard night, 
 but (hall not have another fucb, for I Ihall 
 die, and it will be well with my foul ; and 
 accordingly died the next evening. 
 
 The following ejaculations were found a- 
 mongft her writings ; written, I believe, at 
 four times : 
 
 I. Oh ! that my head were as waters, and 
 mine eyes as a fountain of tears, that I might 
 weep day and night, until acquainted with 
 my God. 
 
 II. O Lord, that I may enjoy thy pre- 
 fence ! or elfe my time is loft, and my lite 
 a fnare to my foul. 
 
 III. O Lord, that I may receive bread 
 from thy table, and that thy grace may a- 
 bound in me I 
 
 IV. O Lord, that I may be acquainted 
 with thy prefence, that I may be leafoned 
 with thy fait, that thy grace may abound in 
 me ! 
 
 Of
 
 30 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Of late I found drawings in my mind to 
 vifit friends in New-England, and, having 
 an opportunity of joining in company with 
 my beloved friend, Peter Andrews, we, ha- 
 ving obtained certificates from our monthly 
 meeting, fet forward on the fixteenth day of 
 the third month, in the year 1747, and 
 reached the yearly meeting at Long-lfland * 
 at which were our friends, Samuel Notting- 
 ham from England, John Griffith, Jane 
 Hofkins, and Elizabeth Hudfon from Penn- 
 fylvania, and Jacob Andrews from Chefter- 
 field. Several of whom were favoured in 
 their public exercife ; and, through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord, we had fome edifying 
 meetings. After this, my companion and i 
 vifited friends on Long-ifland ; and, through 
 the mercies of God, we were helped in the 
 work. 
 
 Befides going to the fettled meetings of 
 friends, we were at a general meeting at Se- 
 tawket, chiefly made up of other focieties : 
 and had a meeting at Oyfter-Bay in a 
 dwelling-houfe, at which were many people : 
 at the firft of which there was not much (aid 
 by way of teftimony j but it was, I believe, a 
 good meeting : at the latter, through the 
 Springing up of living-waters, it was a day 
 to be thankfully remembered. Having vifheJ 
 the ifland, we went over to the main, taking 
 meetings in our way, to Oblong, Nine-*Part- 
 ners, and New-Milford. In thefe back-fettle- 
 ments we met with feveral people, who, 
 tiirough the immediate workings of the fpi*. 
 
 ric
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 31 
 
 rit of Chrift on their .minds, were drawn from 
 the vanities of the world, to an inward ac- 
 quaintance with him : they were educated in 
 the way of the prefbyterians. A conliderable 
 number of the youth, members of that fo- 
 ciety, ufed to fpend their time often together 
 in merriment; but fome of the principal young 
 men of that company being viiited by the 
 powerful workings of the fpirit of Chrift, and 
 thereby led humbly to take up his crofs, 
 could no longer join in thofe vanities ; and, 
 as thefe ftood ftedfaft to that inward con- 
 vincement, they were made a blefling to fome 
 of their former companions j fo that, through 
 the power of truth, ieveral were brought into 
 a clofe exercife concerning the eternal well- 
 being of their fouls. Thefe young people 
 continued for a time to frequent their pub- 
 lic worfliip ; and, betides that, had meetings 
 of their own -, which meetings were a while 
 allowed by their preacher, who, fometimes, 
 met with them : but, in time, their judge- 
 ment, in matters of religion, difagreeing with 
 Ibme of the articles of the prefbyterians, 
 their meetings were difapproved by that fo r 
 ciety ; and fuch of them as flood firm to 
 their duty, as it was inwardly manifefted, 
 had many difficulties to go through : and 
 their meetings were in a while dropped ; fome 
 of them returning to the prefbyterians j and o- 
 thers of them, after a time, joined our religious 
 focicty. 
 
 I had converfation with fome of the latter, 
 to my help and edification $ and believe ieve- 
 ral
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ral of them are acquainted with the nature of 
 that worfhip, which is performed in fpirit and 
 in truth. From hence, accompanied by Amos 
 Powel, a friend from Long-lfland, we rode 
 through Connecticut, chiefly inhabited by pref- 
 byterians, who were generally civil to us ; and, 
 after three days riding, we came amongft 
 friends in the colony of Rhode-lfland. We 
 vifited friends in and about Newport, and 
 Dartmouth, and generally in thofe parts; and 
 then to Bofton ; and proceeded eaftward as 
 far as Dover : and then returned to New- 
 port ; and, not far from thence, we met our 
 friend, Thomas Gawthrop, from England, who 
 was then on a vifit to thefe provinces. From 
 Newport we failed to Nantucket ; were there 
 near a week ; and from thence came over to 
 Dartmouth : and, having finished our vifit in 
 thefe parts, we crofled the found from New- 
 London to Long-IQand ; and, taking fome 
 meetings on the ifland, proceeded homeward ; 
 where we reached the thirteenth day of the 
 feventh month, in the year 1747, having rode 
 about fifteen hundred miles, and failed about 
 one hundred and fifty. 
 
 In this journey, I may fay, in general, we 
 were fometimes in much weaknefs, and la- 
 boured under difcouragements j and at other 
 times, through the renewed manifeftations of 
 divine love, we had feafons of refreshment, 
 wherein the power of truth prevailed. 
 
 We were taught, by renewed experience, 
 to labour for an inward ftillnefs j at no time 
 to feek for words, but to live in the fpirit of 
 
 truth,
 
 of JOHN WOOLMANrV 33 
 
 truth, and utter that to the people which truth 
 opened in us. My beloved companion and I 
 belonged to one meeting, came forth in the mi- 
 niftry near the Tame time, and were inwardly 
 united in the work : he was about thirteen 
 years older than J, bore the heavier! burthen, 
 and was an inftrument of the greateft tife. 
 
 Finding a concern to vifit friends in the 
 lower counties on Delaware, and on the eaf- 
 tern fhote of Maryland, and having an oppor- 
 tunity to join with my well-beloved ancient 
 friend, John Sykes, we obtained certificafes, 
 and let off the feventh day of the eighth 
 month, in the year 17485 were at the meet- 
 ings of friends in the lower counties, attended 
 the yearly meeting at Little-Creek, and made 
 
 
 a vifit to chief of the meetings on the eaftern 
 fliorej and fo home by the way of Nottingham: 
 were abroad about fix Weeks, aad rode, by 
 computation, about five hundred and fifty 
 miles. 
 
 Our exercifc, at times, was heavy ; but, 
 through the goodnefs of the Lord, we were of- 
 ten refreshed : and I may fay, by experience, 
 " He is a ftrong hold in the day of trouble." 
 Though our fjciety, in theft parts, appeared 
 to me to be in a declining condition; yet, I 
 believe, the Loid haih a people amongft them, 
 who labour to ferve him uprightly, but have 
 many difficulties to encounter. 
 
 D CHAP.
 
 34 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 j .^''[^.. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 His marriage The death of his father T-Iis 
 
 journies into the upper part of New-Jerfey, 
 and afterwards into Pennsylvania Confede- 
 rations on keeping JIaves, and his r cifits *to the 
 
 families of friends at federal times and places 
 An epiftle from the general meeting His 
 
 journey to Long-ljland Confederations on 
 
 trading, and on the ufe of fpirituous liquors 
 and coftfy apparel And his letter to a 
 
 friend. 
 
 -B . ,.'. i( , ,:'- 
 
 A BOUT this time, believing it good for 
 jt\. me to f ett l e > a d thinking ferioufly a- 
 bout a companion, my heart was turned to the 
 Lord with defires that he would give me wif- 
 dom to proceed therein agreeable to his will j 
 and he was pleafed to give me a well- inclined 
 damfel, Sarah Ellis ; to whom I was married 
 the eighteenth day of the eighth month, in the 
 year 1749. 
 
 In the fall of the year 1750 died my father, 
 Samuel Woolman, with a fever, aged about 
 fixty years. 
 
 In his life-time he manifefted much care 
 for us his children, that in our youth we 
 might learn to fear the Lord j often endea- 
 vouring to imprint in our minds the true prin- 
 ciples of virtue, and particularly to cherim in 
 us a fpirit of tendernefs, not only towards poor 
 
 people,
 
 OF JOHN . WOOLMAN.' 35 
 
 people, but alfo towards all creatures of which 
 we had the command. 
 
 After my return from Carolina, in the year 
 1746, I made fome obfervations on keeping 
 flaves, which fome time before his deceafe I 
 (hewed him ; and he perufed the manufcript, 
 propofed a few alterations, and appeared well 
 fruisfied that I found a concern on that ac- 
 count : and in his laft ficknefs, as I was 
 watching with him one night, he being fo far 
 fpent that there was no expectation of his recove- 
 ry, but having the perfect uie of his underftand- 
 ing, he aiked me concerning the mauufcripr, 
 whether I expected foon to proceed to take the 
 advice of friends in publishing it ? and, after 
 fome convention thereon, faid, I have all a- 
 long been deeply affected with the oppreffion 
 of the poor negroes; and now, at la#, my 
 concern for them is as great as ever. 
 
 By his direction, 1 had wrote his will in a 
 time of health, and that night he defired me 
 to read it to him, which 1 did j and he faid 
 it was agreeable to his mind. He then made 
 mention of his end, which he believed was 
 near j and (ignirled, that, though he was 
 fenfible of many imperfections in the courfe 
 of his lite, yet his experience of the power 
 of truth, and of the love and goodnefs of 
 God from time to time, even till now, was 
 fuch, that he had no doubt but that, in lea- 
 ving this life, he fhould enter into one more 
 happy. 
 
 The next day his (liter Elizabeth came to 
 
 ice him, and told him of the deceafe of their 
 
 D 2 fifter
 
 36 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fitter Ann ; who died a few days before : he 
 then faid, I reckon fifter Ann was free to 
 leave this world ? Elizabeth faid, {he was : 
 he then faid, I alfo am free to leave it; and, 
 being in great weaknefs of body, faid, I hope 
 I {hall (hortly go to reft. He continued in 
 a weighty frame of mind, and was fenfible till 
 near the laft. 
 
 On the fecond day of the ninth month, in 
 the year 1751, feeling drawings in my mind 
 to vifit friends at the Great-Meadows, in the 
 upper part of Weft-Jerfey, with the unity of 
 our monthly meeting, I went there j and had 
 fome fearching laborious exercife amongft 
 friends in thofe parts, and found inward peace 
 therein. 
 
 In the ninth month of the year i/53> in 
 company with my well-efteemed friend, John 
 Sykes, and with the unity of friends, we 
 travelled about two weeks, vifiting friends 
 in Bucks-County. We laboured in the love 
 of the gofpel, according to the meafure re- 
 ceived j and, through the mercies of him, 
 who is ftrength to the poor who truft in him, 
 we found fatisfadion in our vifit : and, in the 
 next winter, way opening to vifit friends fa- 
 milies within the compafs of our monthly- 
 meeting, partly by the labours of two friends 
 from Pennfylvania, 1 joined in fome part of 
 the work; having had a defire fome time that 
 it might go forward amongft us. 
 
 About this time, a perfon at fome diftance 
 lying lick, his brother came to me to write 
 his will : I knew he had flaves ; and, afking 
 
 his
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN,v 37 
 
 his brother, was told he intended to leave 
 them as fbves to his children. As writing 
 is a profitable employ, and as offending fober 
 people was difagreeable to my inclination, I 
 was ftraitened in my mind ; but, as I looked 
 to the Lord, he inclined my heart to his tef- 
 timony : and I told the man, that I believed 
 the practice of continuing flavery to this 
 people was not right 5 and had a fcruple in 
 my mind againft doing writings of that 
 kind : that, though many in our fociety kept 
 them as flaves, ftill I was not eafy to be con- 
 cerned in it ; and defired to be excufed from 
 going to write the will. I fpake to him in 
 the fear of the Lord ; and he made no reply 
 to what I faid, but went away : he, alfo, had 
 fome concerns in the practice ; and I thought 
 he was difpleafed with me. In this cafe I 
 had a frefli confirmation, that acting contrary 
 to prefent outward intereft, from a motive of 
 divine love, and in regard to truth and righte- 
 uulnefs, opens the way to a trcafure better than 
 iilver, and to a friendship exceeding the friend- 
 rfiipofmen. 
 
 The manufcript before-mentioned having 
 lain by me feveral years, the publication of 
 it refled weightily upon me ; and this year i 
 offered it to the revifal of friends, who, ha- 
 ving examined and made fome fmall altera- 
 tions in it, directed a number of copies t;here- 
 of to be published, and difpeifed amongft 
 iricnds. 
 
 In the year 1754, T found my mind drawn 
 
 to join in a vifu to friends families belonging 
 
 D 3 to
 
 <S THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ) 
 
 to Chefterfield monthly-meeting j and ha- 
 ving the approbation of our own, I went to 
 their monthly-meeting in order to confer 
 with friends, and fee if way opened for it: 
 I had conference with fome of their mem- 
 bers, the propofal having been opened before 
 in their meeting, and one friend agreed to 
 join with me as a companion for a begin- 
 ning j but, when meeting was ended, 1 felt 
 great diftrefs of mind, 'and doubted what 
 way to take, or whether to go home and wait 
 for greater clearnefs : I kept my diftrefs fe- 
 cret ; and, going with a friend to his houfe, 
 my defires were to the great Shepherd for his 
 heavenly inftrudlion ; and in the morning I 
 felt eafy to proceed on the vifit, being very 
 low in my mind : and as mine eye was turn- 
 ed to the Lord, waiting in families in deep 
 Reverence before him, he was pleafed graci- 
 oufly to afford help; fo that we had many 
 comfortable opportunities, and it appeared as 
 a frefh viiitation to fome young people. I 
 fpent feveral weeks this winter in the ferviceJ 
 part of which time was employed near home. 
 And again, in the following winter, I was fe- 
 veral weeks in the lame fervice j fome part of 
 the time at Shrewfbury, in company with my 
 beloved friend, John Sykes ; and have caufe 
 humbly to acknowledge, that, through thegood- 
 nefs of the Lord, our hearts were, at tunes, 
 enlarged in his love j and ftrength was given 
 to go through the trials which, in the courfe 
 pf our vifit, " attended iis. 
 
 From
 
 OF JOHN V/OOLMAN. 39 
 
 From a difagreement between the powers 
 of England and France, it was now a time of 
 trouble on this Continent ; and an epiftle to 
 friends went forth from our general fpring- 
 meeting, which 1 thought good to give a place 
 
 in this journal. 
 
 J 
 
 An EPISTLE from our general fpring-meet- 
 ing of minifters and elders for Fennfylva- 
 nia and New-Jerfey, held at Philadelphia, 
 from the twenty-ninth of the third month, 
 to the firft of the fourth month, incluiive, 
 
 *755* 
 
 "< m 
 To friends on the Continent of America. 
 
 Dear friends, 
 
 IN an humble fenfe of divine goodnefs, and 
 the gracious continuation of God's love to 
 his people, we tenderly falute you ; and are 
 at this time therein engaged in mind, that all 
 of us who profeis the truth, as hdd forth 
 and publimed by our worthy predeceflbrs in 
 this latter age of the world, may keep near 
 to that life which is the light of men, and be 
 ftrengthened to hold faft the profefiion of our 
 faith without wavering, that our truft may 
 not be in man, but in the Lord alone, wno 
 ruleth in the army of heaven, and in the king- 
 doms of men, before whom the earth is " as 
 " the duft of the balance, and her inhabitants 
 w as grafshoppers." Jfa. xl. 22. 
 
 D 4 We
 
 4 
 
 We (being convinced that the gracious de- 
 iign of the Almighty in fending his Son in- 
 to the world, was to repair the breach made 
 by difobedience, to finim (in and tranfgref- 
 fion, that his kingdom might come, and his 
 will be done on earth as it is in heaven) have 
 found it to be our duty to ceafe from thofe 
 national contefts productive of mifery and 
 bloodmed, and fubmit our caufe to him, 
 the Mod High, whofe tender love to his chil- 
 dren exceeds the moft warm affections of na- 
 tural parents, and who hath promifed to his 
 feed throughout the earth, as to one indivi- 
 dual, " 1 will never leave thee, nor forfake 
 " thee." Heb. xiii. 5. And as we, through 
 the gracious dealings of the Lord our God, 
 have had experience of that work which is 
 carried on, " not by earthly might, nor by 
 " power, but by my Spirit, faith the Lord 
 <c of hofts :" Zech. iv. 6. by which opera T 
 tion, that fpiritu,-l kingdom is fet up, which 
 is to fubdue and break, in pieces all king- 
 doms that oppoie it, and fhall ftand for ever. 
 In a deep ienie thereof, and of the fafety, 
 /lability, and peace, there is in it, we are dc- 
 lirous that all who profefs the truth, may be 
 inwardly acquainted with it, and thereby be qua- 
 lified to conduct ourfelves in all parts of our 
 life as becomes our peaceable profeffion : and 
 we truft, as there is a faithful continuance 
 to depend wholly upon the Almighty arm, 
 from one generation to another, the peacea- 
 ble kingdom .will gradually be extended 
 " from fea to ft a, and from the river to the 
 
 " encL
 
 OP JOHN WOOLMAN. 41 
 
 <e ends of the earth," Zech. ix. 10. to the 
 completion of thofe proprieties already begun, 
 that " nation (hall not lift up a fword againft 
 " nation, nor learn war any more." Ifa. ii. 4. 
 Micah iv, 3. 
 
 And, dearly beloved friends, feeing we have 
 tbefe promifes, and believe that God is begin- 
 ning to fulfil tbem, let us constantly endeavour 
 to have our minds fufficiently difentangled 
 from the forfeiting cares pf this life, and re- 
 deemed from the love of the world, that no 
 earthly poffeflions nor enjoyments may bias 
 out judgements, or turn us from that refigna- 
 tion, and entire truft in God, to which his 
 bleffing is. moft furely annexed ; then may 
 we fay, " Our Redeemer is mighty, he will 
 " plead our caufe for us." Jer. 1. 34. And if, 
 for the farther promoting his moft gracious 
 purpofes in the earth, he (hould give us to 
 tafte of that bitter cup which his faithful ones 
 have often partaken of ; O ! that we may be 
 rightly prepared to receive it ! 
 
 And now, dear friends, with refpect to the 
 commotions and ftirrings of the powers of 
 the earth at this time near us, we are defi- 
 rous that none of us may be moved thereat j 
 ' But repote our/elves in the munition of 
 * that rock that all thefe (lickings fhall not 
 ' nx>ve, even in the knowledge and feeling 
 ' of the eternal power of God, keeping us 
 ' fubjectly given up to his heavenly will, and 
 ' feel it daily to mortify that which remains 
 ' in any of us which is of this world : for 
 
 ' the
 
 THE T:-"E AND TRAVELS 
 
 -the Worldly pa-.i, in any, is the changeable 
 
 part, and that is up and down, full and 
 
 empty, joyful and forrowful, as things go 
 
 well or ill in this world ; for as the truth 
 
 is but one, and many are made partakers 
 
 of its fpirit, fo the world is but one, and 
 
 c many are made partakers of the fpirit of 
 
 c it; and fo many as do partake of it, fo 
 
 many will be ftraitened and perplexed with 
 
 * it : but they who are fingle to the truth, 
 
 e waiting daily to feel the life and virtue of 
 
 c it in their hearts, thefe mall rejoice in the 
 
 c midft of adverfity/ and have to experience, 
 
 with the prophet, That " Although the fig- 
 
 " tree (hall not bloflbm, neither (hall fruit 
 
 < be in the vines ; the labour of the olive 
 
 ** (hall fail, and the fields (hall yield no 
 
 " meat ; the flock (hall be cut off from the 
 
 " fold, and there (hall be no herd in ths 
 
 " ftalls ; yet will they rejoice in the Lord, and 
 
 " joy in the God of their falvation." Hab. hi. 
 
 17, 18. 
 
 If, contrary to this, we profefs the truth, 
 and, not living under the power and influ- 
 ence of it, are producing fruits difagreeable 
 to the purity thereof, and truft to the ftrength 
 of man to fupport ourfelves, therein our con- 
 fidence will be vain. For he, who removed 
 the hedge from his vineyard, and gave it to 
 be trodden under foot, by reafon of the wild 
 grapes it produced, (Ifa. v. 5.) remains un- 
 changeable: and if, for the chaflifement of 
 wkkednefs, and the farther promoting his 
 
 own
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 43 
 
 own glory, he doth arife, even to (hake ter- 
 ribly the earth, who then may oppofe him, 
 and profper ! 
 
 We remain, in the love of the gofpel, your 
 
 friends and brethren. 
 
 . 
 
 Signed by fourteen friends. 
 
 Scrupling to do writings, relative to keep- 
 ing flaves, having been a means of fundry 
 fmall trials to me, in which I have fo evi- 
 dently felt my own will fet afide, I think 
 it good to mention a few of them. Tradef- 
 men and retailers of goods, who depend on 
 their bufinefs for a living, are naturally in- 
 tlined to keep the good- will of their cuftom- 
 ers ; nor is it a pleafant thing for young 
 men to be under any neceffity to queftion the 
 judgement or honefty of elderly men, and 
 more especially of fuch as have a fair re- 
 putation. Deep-rooted cuftoms, though wrong, 
 are not eafily altered ; but it is the duty of 
 every one to be firm in that which they cer- 
 tainly know is right for them. A charitable 
 benevolent man, well acquainted with a ne- 
 gro, may, I believe, under fome circum- 
 ftances, keep him in his family as a fervant, 
 from no other motives than the negro's good; 
 but man, as man, knows not what (hall be af- 
 ter him, nor hath aflurance that his children 
 will attain to that perfection in wifdom and 
 goodnefs neceflary rightly to exercife fuch pow- 
 er ; it is clear to me, that I ought not to be 
 the fcribe where wills are drawn, in which 
 
 fomp
 
 44 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fome children are made abfolute matters over 
 others during life. ^, 
 
 About this time, an ancient man, of good 
 cfteem in the neighbourhood, came to my 
 houfe to get his will written; he had young 
 negroes ; and I afked him privately, how he 
 purpofed to difpofe of them ? he told me : 
 I then faid, I cannot write thy will without 
 breaking my own peace ; and refpeclfully 
 gave him my reafons for it : he fignified that 
 he had a choice that I fhould have written it ; 
 bm as I could not, confident with my con- 
 nee, he did not defire it : and fo he got 
 it wiit'.en by fome other perfon. And, a few 
 ye^rs after* there being great alterations in 
 his fairly, he came again to get me to write 
 bis will : his negroes were yet young ; and 
 IVi.s ion, to. whom he intended to give them, 
 was, fince he firfl fpoke to me, from a liber- 
 tine, become a fober young man ; and he 
 .ofed, that I would have been free, on 
 that account, to write it. We had much 
 friendly talk on the fubjecl, and then cle- 
 it : a few days after, he came again, 
 and di reeled their freedom ; and then I wrote 
 \vill. 
 
 Near the time the laft-memioned friend 
 fiiit fpoke to me, a neighbour received a bad 
 bruiie in his body, and fent for me to bleed 
 him ; which being done, he deiired' me to 
 write his will: 1 took notes; and, amor.gfi: 
 other things, he told me to which of nis 
 children he gave his young negro: I confi- 
 dcrcd the pain and diftrefs he was in, and 
 
 Tncw
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 45 
 
 knew not how it would end ; fo I wrote his 
 will, fave only that part concerning his flave, 
 and, carrying it to his bed-fide, read it to him.; 
 and then told him, hi a friendly way, that i 
 could not write any inftruments by which my 
 fellow-creatures were made flaves, without 
 bringing trouble on my own mind: I let him 
 know that I charged nothing for what J had 
 done 5 and defired to be excufed from doing 
 the other part in the way he propofed : we then 
 had a ferious conference on the fubiecl ; at 
 length he agreeing to fet her free, J finimed 
 his will. 
 
 Having found drawings in my mind to vifit 
 friends on Long-Ifland, after obtaining a certi- 
 ficate from our monthly-meeting, 1 let off on 
 the twelfth day of the fifth month, in the year 
 1756. When I reached the illind, I lodged 
 the firft night at the houfe of my dear friend, 
 Richard Hallet: the next day, being the firft 
 cf the week, I was at the meeting in New- 
 town ; in which we experienced the renewed 
 manifeftations of the love of Jefus Chrift, to 
 the comrort of the honefl- hear ted, I went 
 that night to Flufhing 5 and the next day, in 
 company with my beloved friend, Matthew 
 Franklin, we croiled the ferry at White- Stone; 
 were at three meetings on the main, and then 
 returned to the ifland ; where I fpent the re- 
 mainder of the week in vifuing meetings. The 
 Lord, 1 believe, hath a people in thofe parts, 
 who are honeftly inclined to ferve him ; but 
 many, I fear, are too much clogged with ths 
 things of this life, and do not come forward 
 
 bearing
 
 46 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 bearing the crofs in fuch faithfulnefs as he calls 
 for. 
 
 My mind was deeply engaged in this vifit, 
 both in public and private j and, at feveral 
 places, obferving that they had flaves, I found 
 myfelf under a necefiity, in a friendly way, to 
 labour with them on that fubjedt ; expreff- 
 ing, as way opened, the inconfiftency of that 
 practice with the purity of the Chriftian re- 
 ligion, and the ill effects of it manifefted 
 amongft us. 
 
 The latter end of the week, their yearly- 
 meeting began 5 at which were our friends 
 John Scarbrough, Jane Holkins, and Sufan- 
 nah Brown, from Pennfylvania : the public 
 meetings were large, and meafurably favoured 
 with divine goodnefs. 
 
 The exercife of my mind, at this meeting, 
 was chiefly on account of thofe who were 
 confidered as the foremoft rank in the foci- 
 ety : and, in a meeting of minifters and el- 
 ders, way opened, that I expreffed in fome 
 meafure what lay upon me ; and, at a time 
 when friends were met for tranfacting the 
 affairs of the church, having fet a while fi- 
 lent, I felt a weight on my mind, and flood 
 up; and, through the gracious regard of our 
 heavenly Father, ftrength was given fully to 
 clear myfelf of a burthen, which, for fome 
 days, had been increaiing upon me. 
 
 Through the humbling difpenfations of 
 divine Providence, men are fometimes fitted 
 for his fervicc. The mefiages of the prophet 
 Jeremiah were fo difagreeable to the people, 
 
 and
 
 or JOHN WOOLMAN. 47 
 
 and fo reverfe to the fpirit they lived in, that 
 he became the object of their reproach ; and, 
 in the weaknefs of nature, thought of defift- 
 ing from his prophetic office j but, faith he, 
 " His word was in my heart as a burning 
 " fire (hut up in my bones ; and I was weary 
 " with forbearing, and could not flay." I 
 faw at this time, that, if I was honeft in de- 
 claring that which truth opened in me, I 
 could not pleafe all men ; and laboured to 
 be content in the way of my duty, however 
 difagreeable to my own inclination. After 
 this I went homeward, taking Woodbridge 
 and Plainfield in my way ; in both which 
 meetings, the pure influence of divine love 
 was manifefted ; in an humbling fenfe where- 
 of I went home j having been out about twen- 
 ty-four days, and rode about three hundred 
 and fixteen miles. 
 
 While 1 was out on this journey, my heart 
 was much affected with a fenfe of the ftate 
 of the churches in our fouthern provinces ; 
 and, believing the Lord was calling me to 
 fome farther labour amongft them, 1 was 
 i>owed in reverence before him, with fervent 
 defines that I might find ftrength to refign my- 
 felf up to his heavenly will. 
 
 Until this year, 1756, I continued to re- 
 tail goods, befides following my trade as a 
 taylor ; about which time, I grew unealy 
 on account of my bufinefs growing too cum- 
 berfome. I had begun with felling trim- 
 mings for garments, and from thence pro- 
 ceeded to fell cloths and linens ; and, at 
 
 length,
 
 4 8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 length, havinggot a confiderable mop of goods, 
 my trade increafed every year, and the road to 
 large bufinefs appeared open 5 but 1 felt a ftop 
 in my mind. 
 
 Through the mercies of the Almighty, I 
 had, in a good degree, learned to be content 
 with a plain way of living : I had but a fmall 
 family ; and, on ferious confideration, I belie- 
 ved truth did not require me to engage in 
 much cumbering affairs: it had been my ge- 
 neral practice to buy and fell things really ufe- 
 ful : things that ferved chiefly to pleafe the vain 
 mind in people, I was not eafy to trade in ; 
 feldom did it 5 and, whenever I did, I found it 
 weaken me as a Chriftian. 
 
 The increafe of bufmefs became my bur- 
 then 5 for, though my natural inclination was 
 toward merchandize, yet I believed truth re- 
 quired me to live more free from outward 
 cumbers : and there was now a flrife in my 
 mind between the two ; and in this exert rife 
 my prayers were put up to the Lord, who 
 gracioufly heard me, and gave me a heart re- 
 figned to his holy will : then 1 lefTened my 
 outward bufinefs ; and, as I had opportuni- 
 ty, told my cuftomers of my intention, that 
 they might confider what (hop to turn to : 
 and, in a while, wholly laid down merchan- 
 dize, following my trade, as a taylor, myfelf 
 only, having no apprentice. I alfo had a 
 nuriery of apple-trees ; in which I employed 
 fome of my time in hoeing, grafting, trim- 
 ming, and inoculating. In merchandize it 
 is the cuftom, where I lived, to fell chiefly 
 
 on
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 49 
 
 on credit, and poor people often get in debt ; 
 and when payment is expected, not having 
 wherewith to pay, their creditors often foe 
 for it at law. Having often obftrved occur- 
 rences of this kind, 1 found it good for me 
 to advife poor people to take iuch goods as 
 were mott ufeful and not coftly. 
 
 In the time of trading, I had an opportu- 
 nity of feeing, that the too liberal ufe of fpi- 
 rituous liquors, and the cuftom of wearing 
 too coilly apparel, led ibme people into great 
 inconveniences ; and thefe two things appear 
 to be often connected ; for, by not attending 
 to that ufe of things which is confident 
 with univerlal righteoufncfs, there is an in- 
 creafe of labour which extends beyond what 
 our heavenly Father intends for us : and 
 by great labour, and often by much fweatw 
 ing, there is, even among Iuch as are 
 not drunkards, a craving of fome liquors to 
 revive the fpirits : that, partly by the luxuri- 
 ous drinking of fome, and partly by the 
 drinking of others, (led to it through immo- 
 derate labour,) very great quantities of rum 
 are every year expended in our colonies ; the 
 greater pait of which we (liould have no need 
 or, did we iteadily attend to pure wifdom. vsrl 
 
 Where men take pleafure in feeling their 
 minds elevated with ftrong drink, and io in- 
 dulge their appetite as to dilbrder .their un- 
 derftandings, neglect their duty as members 
 in a family or civil fociety, and caft ofF all 
 regard to religion, their cafe is much to be 
 pitied j and where fitch, whole lives are for 
 
 E the
 
 50 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the moft paft regular, and whofe examples 
 have a ftrong influence on the minds of 
 others, adhere to forne cuftoms which power- 
 fully draw to the ufe of more ftrong liquor 
 than pure wifdom allows ; this alfo, as it 
 hinders the fpreading of the fpirit of meek- 
 nefs, and ftrengthens the hands of the more 
 exceffive drinkers, is a cafe to be lamented. 
 
 As every degree of luxury hath fome con- 
 nexion with evil, thofe who profefs to be 
 difciples of Chrift, and are looked upon as 
 leaders of the people, {hould have that mind in 
 them which was alfo in Chrift, and fo ftand 
 feparate from every wrong way, as a means 
 of help to the weaker. As I have fometimes 
 been much fpent in the heat, and taken fpi- 
 rits to revive me, I have found, by experi- 
 ence, that in fuch circumftances the mind is 
 not fo calm, nor fo fitly difpofed for divine 
 meditation, as when all fuch extremes are 
 avoided ; and I have felt an increafing care 
 to attend to that holy Spirit which fets 
 bounds to our defires, and leads thofe, who 
 faithfuily follow it, to apply all the gifts of 
 divine Providence to the purpofes for which 
 they were intended. Did fuch, as have the 
 care of great eftates, attend with finglenefs 
 of heart to this heavenly Inftrudtor, which 
 fo opens and enlarges the mind, that men 
 love their neighbours as themfelves, they 
 would have wifdom given them to manage, 
 without finding occafion to employ fome peo- 
 ple in the luxuries of life, or to make it ne- 
 cefTary for others to labour too hard ; but, for 
 
 want
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 5; 
 
 want of fteadily regarding this principle of 
 divine love, a felfifli fpirit takes place in the 
 minds of people, which is attended with 
 darkncfs and manifold confufion in the 
 world. 
 
 Though trading in things ufeful is an ho- 
 ned employ ; yet, through the great number 
 of fuperrluities which arc hought and fold, 
 and through the corruption of th? times, 
 they, who apply to merchandize for a living, 
 have great need to be well experienced in that 
 precept which the prophet Jeremiah laid down 
 for his fcribe : " Seekeft thou great things for 
 " thyfelf ? feek them not." 
 
 In the winter, this ypar, I was engaged 
 with friends in vifning families j and, through 
 the goodnels of the Lord, we had oftentimes 
 experience- of his heart- tendering prefence 
 amongft us. 
 
 A copy of a letter written to a friend. 
 
 IN this thy late affliction I have- found a 
 deep fellow-feeling with thee ; and had a 
 fecret hope throughout, that it might pleafe 
 the Father of mercies to raife thee up, and 
 fan&ify thy troubles to thee; that thou, be- 
 ing more fully acquainted with that way 
 which the world efteems foolifh, mayft feel the 
 clothing of divine fortitude, and be ftrength- 
 ened to refift that fpirit which leads from the 
 fimplicity of the everlafting truth. 
 
 E 2 We
 
 52 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 We may fee ourfelves crippled and halt- 
 ing, and, from a ftrong bias to things plea- 
 fant and eafy, find an impoffibility to advance 
 forward ; but things impoflible with men are 
 poffible with God ; and, our wills being made 
 fubjedt to his, all temptations are furmount- 
 able. 
 
 This work of fubjecting the will is com- 
 pared to the mineral in the furnace ; ' He 
 
 '* refines them as filver is refined He malt 
 
 " fit as a refiner and purifier of filver." 
 By thefe comparifons we are inftructed in the 
 neceflity of the operation of the hand of God 
 upon us, to prepare our hearts truly to adore 
 him, and manifeft that adoration, by inward- 
 ly turning away from that fpirit, in all its 
 workings, which is not of him. To for- 
 ward this work, the all-wife God is fome- 
 times pleafed, through outward diftrefs, to 
 bring us near the gates of death j that, life 
 being painful and afflicting, and the profpect 
 of eternity open before us, all earthly bonds 
 may be loofened, and the mind prepared for 
 that deep and facred inftruction, which other- 
 wife would not be received. If parents love 
 their children arid delight in their happinefs, 
 then he, who is perfect goodnefs, in fending 
 abroad mortal contagions, doth afluredly di- 
 rect their ufe Are the righteous removed 
 by it? their change is happy: are the wick- 
 ed taken away in their wickednefs ? the Al- 
 mighty is clear: Do we pafs through 
 with anguifh and great bltternefs, and yet 
 
 recover,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN,;' 53 
 
 recover, he intends that we fhould be purged 
 from drofs, and our ears opened to difcipline. 
 
 And now that, on thy part, after thy fore af- 
 fliction and doubts of recovery, thou art 
 again reftored, forget not him who hath 
 helped thee ; but in humble gratitude hold 
 faft his inftruclions, thereby to fhun thofe 
 by-paths which lead from the firm founda- 
 tion. I am fenfible of that variety of com- 
 pany, to which one in thy bufmefs muft be 
 expofed : I have painfully felt the force of 
 converfation proceeding from men deeply 
 rooted in an earthly mind, and can fympa- 
 thize with others in fuch conflicts, jn that 
 much weaknefs ftill attends me. 
 
 I find that to be a fool as to worldly wif- 
 dom, and commit my caufe to God, not fear- 
 ing to offend men, who take offence at the 
 fimplicity of truth, is the only way to remain 
 unmoved at the fentiments of others. 
 
 The fear of man brings a fnare ; by halt- 
 ing in our duty, and giving back in the time 
 of trial, our hands grow weaker, our (pints 
 get mingled with the people, our ears grow 
 dull as to hearing the language of the true 
 Shepherd ; that, when \ve look at the way of 
 the righteous, it feems as though it was not 
 for us to follow them. 
 
 There is a love clothes my mind, while I 
 write, which is fuperior to all expreflions; 
 and I find my heart open to encourage a 
 holy emulation, to advance forward in Chrif- 
 tian firmnefs. Deep humility is a ftrong bul- 
 wark ; and, as we enter into it, we find fafety : 
 E 3 the
 
 54 .THE LIFE kND TRAVELS 
 
 the fooliftnefs of God is wifer than man, and 
 the weaknefs of God is ftronger than man. 
 Being unclothed of our own wifdom, and 
 knowing the abafementof the creature/there- 
 in we find that povVer to arife, which gives 
 health and vigour w Us. 
 
 ntHiJ <.':; . :<#fr 
 
 . / . 
 
 ft/ 
 
 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 , ami v m ; . .* -. >?' a . /! 1 i -ft 
 
 His journey to Pennfyhania, Maryland, Vir- 
 ginia, and North-Carolina Conjiderations 
 on the jlate. of friends there - y and the ex- 
 ercJJe be was under in travelling among thofe 
 fo generally concerned in keeping JIaves : with 
 feme obfervations in converjation, at federal 
 times > on this fubjecJ-*-His epijtle to friends 
 at New- Garden and Cane-Creek His 
 thoughts en the neglcfl of a religious -tare in 
 the education of the negroes. 
 Vir. ''" -jj?'^^,.ti^ ,,a* rO.^fc-'fe- 
 
 FEELING an exercife in relation to ! 4' 
 vifit to the fouthern provinces, I ac- 
 quainted our monthly meeting therewith, and 
 obtained their certificate: expedHng to go 
 alone, one of my brothers, who lived in Phi- 
 ladelphia, having fome buiinefs in North-Ca- 
 rolina, propofed going with me part of the 
 way ; but, as he had a view of fome outward 
 affairs, to accept of him as a companion 
 
 ieemed
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 55 
 
 feemed fome difficulty with me, whereupon I 
 had converfation with him at fundry times ; 
 and, at length, feeling eafy in my mind, I 
 had converfation with feveral elderly friends 
 of Philadelphia on the fubject ; and he ob- 
 taining a certificate fuitable to the occafion, 
 we fetoffin the fifth month of the year 1757: 
 and, coming to Nottingham week-day meet- 
 ing, lodged at John Churchman's ; and heje 
 I met with our friend Benjamin Buffington, 
 from New-England, who was returning from 
 a vifit to the fouthern provinces. Thence we 
 crcfled the river Sufquehannah, and lodged at 
 William Cox's in Maryland ; and, foon after I 
 entered this province, a deep and painful ex- 
 ercife came upon me, which 1 often had fome 
 feeling of lince my mind was drawn toward 
 thefe parts, and with which I had acquainted 
 my brother before we agreed to join as com- 
 panions. 
 
 As the people in this and the fouthern pro- 
 vinces live much on the labour of flaves, 
 many of whom are ufed hardly, my con- 
 cern was, that I might attend with (inglenefs 
 of heart to the voice of the true Shepherd, 
 and be fo fupported as to remain unmoved 
 at the faces of men. 
 
 The prolpect of fo weighty a work brought 
 me very low ; and fuch were the conflicts of 
 my foul, that I had a near fympathy with the 
 prophet, in the time of his weaknefs, when 
 he faid, " If thou deal thus wiih me, kill 
 " me, I pray thee, if I have found favour in 
 " thy fight," Numb. xi. 15. but I ibon faw 
 E 4 that
 
 56 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that this proceeded from the want of a full 
 refignation to the divine will. Many were the 
 .afflictions which attended me; and in great 
 abafement, with many tears, my cries were 
 to the Almighty, for his gracious and father- 
 ly affiftance ; and then, after a time ot deep 
 trial, I was favoured to underftand the (late 
 mentioned by the pfalmift, more clearly than 
 ever 1 had before; to wit : " My foul is even 
 " as a weaned child." Pfalm cxxxi. 2. Being 
 thus helped to fink down into refignation, I 
 felt a deliverance from that tempeft in which 
 I had been forely exercifed, and in calmnefs 
 of mind went forward, trufting that the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, as I faithfully attended to him, 
 would be a counfellor to me in all difficulties. 
 
 The ieventh day of the fifth month, in 
 the year 1757, I lodged at a friend's houfe ; 
 and the nexc day, being the firft of the week, 
 was at Potapfco meeting ; then crofTcd Patux- 
 cut river, and lodged at a public-houfe. 
 
 On the ninth breakfafted at a friend's 
 houfe; who, afterward, putting us alittle on 
 our way, I had converfation with him, in 
 the fear of the Lord, concerning his flaves; 
 in which my heart was tender, and 1 ufed 
 much plainnefs of fpeech with, him, which he 
 appeared to take kindly. We purfued our 
 journey without appointing meetings, being 
 prefled in mind to be at the yearly-meet- 
 ing in Virginia ; and, in my travelling on the 
 road, I often felt a cry rife from the center 
 of my mind, thus : O Lord, I am a ftran- 
 ger on the earth, hide not thy face from me. 
 
 On
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 57 
 
 On the eleventh day of the fifth month, we 
 croffed the rivers Patowmack and Rapahan- 
 nock, and lodged at Port-Royal : and on the 
 way we happening in company with a colo- 
 nel of the militia, who appeared to be a 
 thoughtful man, I took occafion to remark 
 on the difference in general betwixt a people 
 ufed to labour moderately for their living, 
 training up their children in frugality and 
 bufinefs, and thofe who live on the labour of 
 (laves; the former, in my view, being the 
 moft happy life : with which he concurred, 
 and mentioned the trouble arifmg from the 
 untoward, flothfol, difpofition of the negroes; 
 adding, that one of our labourers would do 
 as much in a day as two of their flaves. I 
 replied, that free men, whofe minds were 
 properly on their bufinefs, found a fatisfac- 
 ticn in improving, cultivating, and providing 
 for their families ; but negroes, labouring to 
 fupport others who claim them as their pro- 
 perty, and expecting nothing but flavery du- 
 ring life, had not the like inducement to be 
 induftrious. 
 
 After fome farther converfation, I faid, 
 that men having power too often mifap- 
 plied it ; that though we made flaves of the 
 negroes, and the Turks made flaves of the 
 Chriftians, I believed that liberty was the na- 
 tural right of all men equally : which he did 
 not deny ; but faid, the lives of the negroes 
 were io wretched in their own country, that 
 many of them lived better here th,an there: 
 J only faid, there arc great odds, in regard to 
 
 us,
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 on what principle we adl; and fo the 
 conversion on that fubjed: ended : and I may 
 here add, that another perfon, fome time af- 
 terward, mentioned the wretchednefs of the 
 negroes> occafioned by their inteftine wars, 
 as an argument in favour of our fetching 
 them away for flaves : to which I then repli- 
 ed, if companion on the Africans, in regard 
 to their domeftic troubles, were the real 
 motive of our purchaiing them, that fpirit 
 of tenderncfs, being attended to, would incite 
 us to ufe them kindly ; that, as ftrangers 
 brought out of afflidtion, their lives might 
 be happy among us ; and as they are human 
 creatures, whofe fouls are as precious as ours, 
 and who may receive the fame help and com- 
 fort from the holy fcriptures as we do, we 
 could not omit fuitable endeavours to inftrudt 
 them therein : but while we manifeft, by our 
 conduft, that our views in purchafing them 
 are to advance ourfelves ; and while our buy- 
 ing captives taken in war animates thofe 
 parties to pufh on that war, and increaie de- 
 folation amongft them, to fay they live unhap- 
 py in Africa, is far from being an argument 
 in our favour : and I farther faid, the prefent 
 circumftanccs of thefe provinces to me appear 
 difficult; that the flaves look like a burtnen- 
 fome ftone to fach who burthen themfelves 
 with them ; and that if the white people re- 
 tain a refolution to prefer their outward prof- 
 pe<5ts of gain to all other confiderations, and 
 do not adl confcientioufly toward them as fel- 
 low-creatures, I believe that burthen will 
 
 grow
 
 or JOHN WOOLMAN. 59 
 
 w heavier and heavier, till times change 
 in a way difagreeable to us : at which the 
 perfon appeared very ferious, and owned, 
 that, in confidering their condition, and the 
 manner of their treatment in thefe provinces, 
 he had fometimes thought it might be juft in 
 ihe Almighty fo to order it. 
 
 Having thus travelled through Maryland, 
 we came amongft friends at Cedar-Creek in 
 Virginia, on the twelfth day of the fifth 
 month ; and the next day rode, in company 
 with fevdral friends, a day's journey to Camp- 
 Creek. As I was riding along in the 
 morning, my mind was deeply affe&ed in a 
 fenfe I had of the want of divine aid to fup- 
 port me in the various difficulties which at- 
 tended me ; and, in an uncommon diftrefs of 
 mind, I cried in fecret to the Moft High, O 
 Lord, be merciful, I befeech thee, to thy poor 
 afflicted creature. After fome time, I felt 
 inward relief; and, foon after, a friend in 
 company began to talk in fupport of the flave- 
 trade, and laid, the negroes were underftood 
 to be rhe offspring of Cain, their blacknefs 
 being the mark God fet upon him after he 
 murdered Abel his brother; that it was the 
 defign of Providence they mould be flaves, 
 as a condition proper to the race of fo wicked 
 a man as Cain was : then another fpake in 
 fupport of what had been faid. To all which, 
 I replied in fubftance as follows : That Noah 
 and his family were all who furvived the flood, 
 according to fcripture ; and, as Noah was of 
 Seth's race, the family of Cain was wholly 
 
 dcftroyed.
 
 60 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ., , 
 
 deflroyed. One of them faid, that after the 
 flood Ham went to the land of Nod, and 
 took a wife ; that Nod was a land far 
 diftant, inhabited by Cain's race, and that 
 ^he flood did not reach it ; and as Ham was 
 fentenced to be a fervant of fervants to his 
 brethren, thefe two families, being thus join- 
 ed, were undoubtedly fit only for flaves. I 
 replied, the flood was a judgement upon 
 the world for its abominations ; and it was 
 granted, that Cain's flock was the mod wick- 
 ed, and therefore unreafonable to fuppofe 
 they were fpared : as to Ham's going to the 
 land of Nod for a wife, no time being fixed, 
 Nod might be inhabited by fome of Noah's 
 family, before Ham married a fecond time ; 
 moreover the text faith, " That all fle(h died 
 " that moved upon the earth." Gen. vii. 21. 
 I farther reminded them, how the prophets 
 repeatedly declare, " That the fon (hall not 
 " fuffer for the iniquity of the father ; but 
 ' every one be anfwerable for his own fins." 
 I was troubled to perceive the darknefs of 
 their imaginations ; and in fome prefiure of 
 fpirit faid, the love of eafe and gain is the 
 motive in general for keeping flaves, and men 
 are wont to take hold of weak arguments to 
 fupport a caufe which is unreafonable ; and 
 added, I have no intereft on either fide, fave 
 only the intereft which I defire to have in the 
 truth: and as I believe liberty is their right, 
 .and fee they are not only deprived of it, but 
 treated, in other refpecT:*, with inhumanity in 
 many places, I believe he, who is a refuge 
 
 for
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 61 
 
 for the opprefled, will, in his own time, 
 plead their caufe; and happy will it be for 
 fuch, as walk in uprightnefs before him : 
 and thus our converlation ended. 
 
 On the fourteenth day of the fifth month 
 I was at Camp-Creek monthly meeting, and 
 then rode to the mountains up James- River, 
 and had a meeting at a friend's houfe ; in 
 both which I felt forrow of heart, and my 
 tears were poured out before the Lord, who 
 was pleafed to afford a degree of ftrength by 
 which way was opened to clear my mind 
 amongft friends in thofe places. From thence 
 I went to Fort-Creek, and fo to Cedar-Creek 
 again ; at which place I had a meeting ; 
 here I found a tender feed : and as I was pre- 
 fcrved in the miniftry to keep low with the 
 truth, the fame truth in their hearts anfwer- 
 ed it, that it was a time of mutual refrefli- 
 ment from the prefence of the Lord. I lodged' 
 at James Standley's, father of William Stand- 
 ley, one of the young men who fuffered im- 
 prifonment at Winchefter, lafl fummer, on 
 account of their teftimony againft fighting ; 
 and 1 had fome fatisfa&ory converfation with 
 him concerning it. Hence I went to the 
 Swamp-meeting, and to Wayanoke-meet- 
 ing; and then eroded Jamts- River, and 
 lodged near Burleigh. From the time of my 
 entering Maryland I had been much under 
 forrow, which fo increafcd upon me, that 
 my mind was almoft overwhelmed ; and I 
 may fay, with the pfalmift, " in my diftrefs I 
 ' called upon the Lord, and cried to my 
 
 " God/'
 
 62 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 <e God;" who, in infinite goodnefs, looked 
 upon my affliction, and in my private retire- 
 ment Tent the Comforter for my relief: for 
 which I humbly blefs his holy name. 
 
 The ienfe I had of the ftate of the churches 
 brought a weight of diitrefs upon me : the 
 gold to me appeared dim, and the fine gold 
 changed j and though this is the cafe too ge- 
 nerally, yet the fenfe of it in thcfe parts hath, 
 in a particular manner, borne heavy upon 
 me. It appeared to me, that, through the 
 prevailing of the fpirit of this world, the 
 minds of many were brought to an inward 
 defolation ; and, infteadof the fpirit of meek- 
 nefs, gentlenefs, and heavenly wifdom, which 
 are the neceffary companions of the true meep 
 of Chrift, a fpirit of fiercenefs, and the love 
 of dominion, too generally prevailed. From 
 fmall beginnings in errors, great buildings, 
 by degrees, are raifed j and from one age to 
 another are more and more ftrengthened by 
 the general concurrence of the people : and, 
 as men obtain reputation by their profeflion 
 of the truth, their virtues are mentioned as 
 arguments in favour of general error ; and 
 thofe of lefs note, to juftify themfelves, fay, 
 fuch and fuch good men did the like. By 
 what other fteps could the people of Judah 
 arifc to that height in wickednefs, as to 
 give juft ground for the prophet Ifaiah to de- 
 clare, in the name of the Lord, " that none 
 " calleth for juftice, nor any pleadeth for 
 " truth :" Ifaiah lix. 4. or for the Almighty 
 to call upon the great city of Jerufalem, juft 
 
 before
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 63 
 
 before the Babyloniih captivity, < If ye can 
 " find a man, if there be any who executeth 
 " judgement, that feeketh the truth, and I 
 " will pardon it." Jer v. i. The profpeft of 
 a road lying open to the fame degeneracy, in 
 fome parts of this newly-fettled land of Ame- 
 rica, in refpecl: to our conduct toward the 
 negroes, deeply bowed my mind in this 
 journey ; and, though, to briefly relate how 
 thefe people are treated is no agreeable work j 
 yet, after often reading over the notes I made 
 as I travelled, I find my mind engaged to 
 preferve them. Many of the white people in, 
 thofe provinces take little or no care of negro 
 marriages ; and, when negroes marry ater 
 their own way, fome make fo little account 
 of thofe marriages, that, with views of out- 
 ward intereft, they often part men from their 
 wives by felling them far afunder ; \vliidi is 
 common when eftates are fold by executors 
 at vendue. Many, whofe labour is heavy, 
 being followed, at their bufmefs in the field, 
 by a man with a whip, hired for that pur- 
 pofe, have, in common, little elfe allowed but 
 one peck of Indian corn and fome fait for 
 one week, with a few potatoes ; the potatoes 
 they commonly raife by their labour on the 
 firft day of the week. 
 
 The correction, enfuing on their difobedi- 
 ence to overfeers, or flothfulnefs in bufmefs, 
 is often very fevere, and fometimes defperatc. 
 
 The men and women have many times fcarcc 
 clothes enough to hide their nakednefs, and 
 boys and girls, ten and twelve yeais old, arc 
 
 often
 
 64 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 often quite naked amongft their matter's chil- 
 dren : fome of our fociety, and fome of the 
 fbciety called New- Lights, ufe fome endea- 
 vours to inftruct thofe they have in reading j 
 but, in common, this is not only neglected, 
 but difapproved. Thefe are the people by 
 whofe labour the other inhabitants are in a 
 great meafure fupported, and many of them 
 in the luxuries of life : thefe are the people 
 who have made no agreement to ferve us, 
 and who have not forfeited their liberty that 
 we know of: thefe are fouls for whom Chrift 
 died, and, for our conduct toward them, we 
 muft anfwer before him who is no refpecler 
 of perfons. 
 
 They who know the only true God, and 
 Jefus Chrifl whom he hath fent, and are thus 
 acquainted with the merciful, benevolent, 
 gofpel fpirit, will therein perceive that the 
 indignation of God is kindled againft oppref- 
 fion and cruelty ; and, in beholding the great 
 diftrefs of fo numerous a people, will find 
 caufe for mourning. 
 
 From my lodging I went to Burleigh 
 meeting, where I felt my mind drawn into 
 a quiet refigned ftate j and, after long filence, 
 I felt an engagement to ftand up ; and, through 
 the powerful operation of divine love, we 
 were favoured with an edifying meeting. 
 The next meeting we had was at Black- Wa- 
 ter; and fo to the yearly-meeting at the 
 Wcflern Branch : when bufmefs began, fome 
 queries were confidcred, by fome of their 
 members, to be now produced ; and, if ap- 
 proved,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 65 
 
 proved, to be anfwered hereafter by their re- 
 fpedtive monthly-meetings. They were the 
 Pennfylvania queries, which had been exa- 
 mined by a committee of Virginia yearly- 
 meeting appointed the laft year, who made 
 fome alterations in them j one cf which alte- 
 rations was made in favour of a cuftorn 
 which troubled me. The query was, " Are 
 * c there any concerned in the importation of 
 " negroes, or buying them after imported ?'" 
 which they altered thus: " Are there any* 
 " concerned in the importation of negroes, or 
 ' buying them to trade in?" As one query 
 admitted with unanimity was, " Are any con- 
 " cerned in buying or vending goods unlaw- 
 '* fully imported,, or prize goods ?" I found 
 my mind engaged to fay, that as we pro- 
 fcfTtd the truth, and were there aflembled to 
 fupport the teftimony of it, it was necefTary 
 for us to dwell deep, and'a& in that wifdotn 
 which is pure, or otherwife we could not 
 piofper. 1 then mentioned their alteration ; 
 and, referring to the laft-mentioned query, 
 added, as purchafing any merchandize, taken 
 by the fword, was always allowed to be in- 
 confident with our principles; negroes be- 
 ing captives of war, or taken by ftealth, 
 thofe circumflanccs make it inconfiltcnt with 
 our teflimony to buy them ; and their being 
 our fellow-creatures, who are fold as (laves, 
 ajlds greatly to the iniquity. Friends ap- 
 peared attentive to what was faid j fome ex- 
 prefled a care and concern about their ne- 
 groes ; none made any objection, by way of 
 
 F reply
 
 66 THE LIEE AND TRAVELS 
 
 reply to what I faid ; but the query was ad- 
 mitted as they had altered it. As fome of their 
 members have heretofore traded in negroes, 
 as in other merchandize, this query, be- 
 ing admitted,, will be one ftep farther than 
 they have hitherto gone : and I did not fee 
 it my duty to prefs for an alteration ; but felt 
 eafy to leave it all to him, who alone is able 
 to turn the hearts of the mighty, and make 
 way for the fpreading of truth on the earth, 
 by means agreeable to his infinite wifdom. 
 But, in regard to thofe they already had, I 
 felt my mind engaged to labour with them ; 
 and faid, that, as w believe the fcriptures 
 were given forth by holy men, as they were 
 moved by the Holy Ghoft, and many of us 
 know by experience that they are often help- 
 ful and comfortable, and believe ourfelves 
 bound in duty to teach our children to read 
 them, I believe that, if we were divefted of 
 all felfifh views, the fame good fpirit, that 
 gave them forth, would engage us to teach 
 the negroes to read, that they might have the 
 benefit of them : fome, amongft them, at 
 this time, manifefted a concern in regard to 
 taking more care in the education of their ne- 
 groes. 
 
 On the twenty- ninth day of the fifth 
 month, at the houfe where I lodged, was a 
 meeting of minifters and elders, at the ninth 
 hour in the morning j at which time I fourid 
 an engagement to fpeak freely and plainly to 
 them concerning their (laves ; mentioning, 
 how they, as the firft rank in the fociety, 
 
 whofe
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 67 
 
 whofe conduct in that cafe was much noticed 
 by others, were under the ftronger obliga- 
 tions to look carefully to themfelves : exprelT- 
 ing how needful it was for them, in that fi- 
 tuation, to be thoroughly diverted of all felf- 
 im views ; that living in the pure truth, and 
 acting confcientioufly toward thofe people in 
 their education and otherwife, they might be 
 instrumental in helping forward a work fo 
 neceflary, and fo much neglected amongft 
 them. At the twelfth hour the meeting of 
 worfhip began, which was a folid meeting. 
 
 On the thirtieth day, about the tenth hour* < 
 friends met to finiih their bufinefs, and then 
 the meeting for wor(hip enfued, which to me 
 was a laborious time ; but, through the 
 goodneis of the Lord, truth, I believe, gained 
 fome ground ; and it was a Strengthening op- 
 portunity to the honeft- hearted. 
 
 About this time I wrote an epiftle to friends 
 in the back-fettlements of North Carolina, as 
 follows : 
 
 To friends at their monthly-meeting at New- 
 Garden and Cane-Creek, in North- Caroli- 
 na. 
 
 Dear friends, * 
 
 IT having pleafed the Lord to draw me 
 forth on a vifit to fome parts of Virginia 
 and Carolina, you have often been in my 
 mind ; and though my way is not clear to 
 F 2 coins
 
 68 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 come in perfon to vifit you, yet I feel it in 
 my heart to communicate a few things, as 
 they arife in the love of truth. Firft, my 
 dear friends, dwell in humility, and take 
 heed that no views of outward gain get too 
 deep hold of you, that fo your eyes being 
 fingle to the Lord, you may be preferved in 
 the way of fafety. Where people let loofe 
 their minds after the love of outward things, 
 and are more engaged in purfuing the pro- 
 fits, and feeking the friendfhips, of this 
 world, than to be inwardly acquainted with 
 the way of true peace ; fuch walk in a vain 
 fhadow, while the true comfort of life is 
 wanting : their examples are often hurtful to 
 others ; and their treafures, thus collected, 
 do many times prove dangerous fnares to 
 their children. 
 
 But where people are fincerely devoted to 
 follow Chrift, and dwell under the influence 
 of his holy Spirit, their (lability and firm- 
 nefs, through a divine blefling, is at times 
 like dew on the tender plants round about 
 them, and the weightinefs of their fpirits fe- 
 cretly works on the minds of others ; and 
 in this condition, through the fpreading in- 
 fluence of divine love, they feel a care over 
 the flock j and way is opened for maintain- 
 ing good order in the fociety : and though 
 we meet with oppofition from another fpirit, 
 yet, as there is a dwelling in meeknefs, feel- 
 ing our fpirits fubjecl, and moving only in 
 the gentle peaceable wifdom, the inward re- 
 ward of quietnefs will be greater than all our 
 
 difficulties.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 69 
 
 difficulties. Where the pure life is kept to, 
 and meetings of difcipline are held in the 
 authority of it, we find by experience that 
 they are comfortable, and tend to the health 
 of the body. 
 
 While I write, the youth come frefh 
 in my way : Dear young people, choofe 
 God for your portion ; love his truth, and be 
 not amamed of it ; choofe for your company 
 fuch as ferve him in uprightnefs : and 
 fhun, as moft dangerous, the converfation of 
 thofe whole lives are of an ill favour ; for, by 
 frequenting fuch company, fome hopeful 
 young people have come to great lofs, and have 
 been drawn from lefs evils to greater, to their 
 utter ruin. In the bloom of youth no orna- 
 ment is fo lovely as that of virtue, nor any 
 enjoyments equal to thofe which we partake 
 of, in fully refigning ourfelves to the divine 
 will : thefe enjoyments add fvveetncfs to all 
 other comforts, and give true fatisfaclion in 
 company and converfation, where people are 
 mutually acquainted with it ; and, as your 
 minds are thus feafoned with the truth, you 
 will find flrength to abide ftedlaft to the tef- 
 titnony of it, and be prepared for fcrvices in 
 the church. 
 
 And now, dear friends and brethren, as 
 you are improving a wildernefs, and may be 
 numbered amongft the firft planters in one 
 pait of a province, I befeech you, in the love 
 of Jelus Chrift, to wifely conlider the force 
 of your examples, and think how much your 
 fucceffors may be thereby afFe&ed : it is a 
 F 3 help
 
 70 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 help in a country, yea, and a great favour 
 and ableffing, when cuftoms, firft fettled, are 
 agreeable to found wifdom : fo, when they are 
 otherwife, the effect of them is grievous ; and 
 children feel themfelves encompaffed with 
 difficulties prepared for them by their prede- 
 ceflbrs. 
 
 As moderate care and exercife, under the 
 direction of true wifdom, are ufeful both to 
 mind and body; fo, by this means in gene- 
 ral, the real wants of life are eafily fupplied : 
 our gracious Father having fo proportioned 
 one to the other, that keeping in the true 
 medium we may pafs on quietly. Where 
 (laves are purchased to do our labour, nume- 
 rous difficulties attend it. To rational crea- 
 tures bondage is uneafy, and frequently oc- 
 cafions fournefs and difcontent in them ; 
 which affects the family, and fuch as claim 
 the maftery over them : and thus people and 
 their children are many times encompaffed 
 with vexations, which arife from their ap- 
 plying to wrong methods to get a living. 
 
 I have been informed that there is a 
 large number of friends in your parts, who 
 have no flaves ; and, in tender and moft af- 
 fectionate love, I befeech you to keep clear 
 from purchafing any. Look, my dear friends, 
 to divine Providence ; and follow in iimpli- 
 city that exercife of body, that plainnefs and 
 frugality, which true wiftiom leads to ; fo 
 will you be preferved from thole dangers 
 which attend fuch as are aiming at outward 
 cafe and greatnete, 
 
 Treafures,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 71 
 
 Treafures, though fmall, attained on a true 
 principle of virtue, are fweet in the pofTef- 
 fion ; and, while we walk in the light of the 
 Lord, there is true comfort and fatisfaction. 
 Here, neither the murmurs of an oppreffed 
 people, nor an uneafy confcience, nor anxi- 
 ous thoughts about the events of things, hin- 
 der the enjoyment of it. 
 
 When we look toward the end of life, and 
 think on the divifion of our fubftance among 
 our fucceflbrs ; if we know that it was col- 
 leded in the fear of the Lord, in honefty, in 
 equity, and in uprightnefs of heart before 
 him, we may confider it as his gift to us ; 
 and, with a fingle eye to his blefling, beflow 
 it on thofe we leave behind us. Such is the 
 happinefs of the plain ways of true virtue. 
 " The work of righteoufnefs (hall be peace; 
 " and the effecl: of righteoufnefs, quietnefs 
 " and affurance for ever.'* Ifa. xxxii. 17. 
 
 Dwell here, my dear friends ; and then, in 
 remote and folitary de(arts, you may find 
 true peace and fatis faction. If the Lord be 
 our God, in truth and reality, there is fafe- 
 ty for us ; for he is a ilrong-hold in the day 
 of trouble, and knoweth them that truft in 
 him. 
 
 Iflc of Wight County, in Virginia, 
 aptb of ihe jth month, 1757. 
 
 F 4 Ftom
 
 72 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 From the yearly-meeting in Virginia, I 
 went to Carolina; and, en the firft day of the 
 fixth month, was at Wells monthly-meeting, 
 where the fpring of the gofpel miniftry was 
 opened, and the love of Jeius Chrifl experi- 
 enced amongft us : to his name be the praife ! 
 
 Here my brother joined with fome friends 
 from New- Garden, who were going home- 
 ward ; and I went next to SimonVCreek 
 monthly-meeting, where I was filent during 
 the meeting for worfhip : when bufinefs 
 came on, my mind was exercifed concerning 
 the poor Haves ; but did not feel my way clear 
 to fpeak : in this condition I was bowed in 
 fpirit before the Lord j and with tears and 
 inward fupplication befought him fo to open 
 my underftanding, that I might know his 
 will concerning me ; and, at length, my 
 mind was fettled in filence : near the end of 
 their bufinefs, a member of their meeting 
 exprefled a concern, that had fome time lain 
 upon him, on account of friends fo much 
 neglecting their duty in the education of 
 their (laves ; and propofed having meetings 
 fometimes appointed for them on a week- 
 day, to be only attended by fome friends to 
 be named in their monthly meetings : many 
 prefent appeared to unite with the propofal : 
 one faid, he had often wondered that they, 
 being our fellow-creatures and capable of re- 
 ligious understanding, had been fo exceeding- 
 ly neglected : another exprefild the like con- 
 cern, and appeared zealous, that friends, in 
 future, might more clofely coniider it: at 
 
 length
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 73 
 
 length a minute was made : and the farther 
 confederation of it referred to their next 
 monthly-meeting. The friend who made this 
 propofal had negroes : he told me, that he 
 was at New-Garden ; about two hundred and 
 fifty miles from home, and came back alone ; 
 and that in this folitary journey, this exer- 
 cife, in regard to the education of their ne- 
 groes, was, from time to time, renewed in 
 his mind. A friend of fome note in Virgi- 
 nia, who had flaves, told me, that he being 
 far from home on a lonefome journey, had 
 many ferious thoughts about them ; and that 
 his mind was fo imprefied therewith, that he 
 believed that he faw a time coming, when 
 divine Providence would alter the circum- 
 ftance of thefe people, refpecting their con- 
 dition as flaves. 
 
 From hence I went to Newbegun-Creek, 
 and fat a confidcrable time in much weak- 
 nefs; then 1 felt truth open the way to fpeak 
 a little in much plainnefs and (implici- 
 ty, till, at length, through the increale of 
 divine love amongft us, we had a leafoning 
 opportunity. From thence to the head of 
 Little-River, on a firft-day, where was a 
 crouded meeting ; and, I believe, it was, 
 through divine goodnefs, made profitable to 
 fome. Thence to the Old-Neck ; where I was 
 led into a careful fearching out the fecret work- 
 ings of the myflery of iniquitv, which, un- 
 der a cover of religion, exalts itfclf againft 
 that pure fpirit, which leads in the way of 
 meeknefs and felf-denial. From thence to 
 
 Piney-
 
 74 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Pineywoods : this was the laft meeting I was 
 at in Carolina, and was large; and, my heart 
 being deeply engaged, I was drawn forth in- 
 to a fervent labour amongft them. 
 
 From hence I went back into Virginia, and 
 had a meeting near James Cowpland's ; it 
 was a time of inward fuffering ; but, through 
 the goodnefs of the Lord, I was made con- 
 tent : then to another meeting ; where, 
 through the renewings of pure love, we had 
 3 very comfortable feafon. 
 
 Travelling up and down of late, I have 
 had renewed evidences, that to be faithful to 
 the Lord, and content with his will concern- 
 ing me, is a moft neceflary and ufeful leflbn 
 for me to be learning ; looking lefs at the 
 rTec~ls of my labour, than at the pure motion 
 and reality of the concern, 'as it arifes from 
 heavenly love. In the Lord Jehovah is ever- 
 lafting ftrength ; and as the mind, by a hum- 
 ble refignation, is united to him; and we 
 utter words from an inward knowledge that 
 they arife from the heavenly fpring, though 
 our way may be difficult, and require clofe 
 attention to keep in it; and though the man- 
 ner in which we may be led may tend to our 
 own abafement ; yet, if we continue in pa/- 
 tience and mceknefs, heavenly peace is the re- 
 ward of our labours. 
 
 From thence I went to Curies meeting ; 
 which, though fmall, was reviving to the 
 honeft-hearted. T? cnce to Black-Creek and 
 Caroline meetings ; irom whence, accompa- 
 nied by William Standiey, before-mentioned, 
 
 we
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 75 
 
 we rode to Goofe-Creek, being much through 
 the woods, and about one hundred miles. 
 We lodged the firft night, at a publie- 
 houfe j the fecond, in the woods ; and, the 
 next day, we reached a friend's houfe, at 
 Goofe-Creek. In the woods we lay under 
 fome difadvantage, having no fireworks nor 
 bells for our horfes ; but we flopped a little 
 before night, and let them feed on the wild 
 grafs which was in plenty ; in the mean time 
 cutting with our knives a (lore againft night, 
 and then tying them, and gathering fome bufh- 
 es under an oak, we lay down 5 but, the mu- 
 quetoes being plenty, and the ground damp, 
 1 flept but little : thus, lying in the wilder- 
 nefs, and looking at the ftars, I was led to 
 contemplate on the condition of our firft 
 parents, when they were fent forth from the 
 garden ; but the Almighty, though they had 
 been difobedient, continued to be a father to 
 them, 2nd (hewed them what tended to their 
 felicity, as intelligent creatures, and was ac- 
 ceptable to him. To provide things relative 
 to our outward living, in the way of true 
 wifdom, is good ; and the gift of improving 
 in things uleful is a good gift, and comes 
 from the Father of lights. Many have had 
 this gift; and, from age to age, there have 
 been improvements of this kind maae in the 
 world : but fome, not keeping to the pure 
 gift, have, in the creaturely cunning and felf- 
 exaltatioo, fought many inventions ; 
 
 which inventions of men are diftincl from 
 that uprightnefs in \ .hich man was created ; 
 
 as
 
 76 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 as the flift motion to them was evil, fo the 
 effects have been and are evil. At this day, 
 it is as neceflary for us conftantly to attend 
 on the heavenly gift, to be qualified to ufe 
 rightly the good things in this life amidft 
 great improvements, as it was for our firft 
 parents, when they were without any im- 
 provements, without any friend or father but 
 God only. 
 
 I was at a meeting at Goofe-Creek j and 
 next at a monthly-meeting at Fairfax j where, 
 through the gracious dealing of the Almighty 
 with us, his power prevailed over many 
 hearts. Thence to Manoquacy and Pipe- 
 Creek, in Maryland ; at both which places J 
 had caufe humbly to adore him, who fup- 
 ported me through many exercifes, and by 
 whofe help I was enabled to reach the true 
 witnefs in the hearts of others: there were 
 fome hopeful young people in thofe parts. 
 Thence I had meetings at John Event's in 
 Monalen, and at Huntingdon ; and I was 
 made humbly thankful to the Lord, who 
 opened my heart amongft the people in theie 
 new fettlements, fo that it was a time of en- 
 couragement to the honeft -minded. 
 
 At Monalen, a friend gave me fome ac- 
 count of a religious fociety, among the Dutch, 
 called mennoniftsj and, amongft other things, 
 related a paflage in fubftance as follows : 
 One of the mcnnonifts having acquaintance 
 with a man of another fociety at a coniide- 
 rable diftance, and being with his waggon on 
 bufmefs near the houfc of his faid acquain- 
 tance,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 77 
 
 tance, and night coming on, he had thoughts 
 of putting up with him ; but pafling by his 
 fields, and obferving the diftrefled appear- 
 ance of his flaves, he kindled a fire in the 
 woods hard by, and lay there that night : 
 his faid acquaintance hearing where he lodged, 
 and afterward meeting the mennonift, told 
 him of it ; adding, he mould have been 
 heartily welcome at his houfe ; and, from their 
 acquaintance in former time, wondered at 
 his conduit in that cafe : the mennonift re- 
 plied, ever fince I lodged by thy field, I have 
 wanted an opportunity to fpeak with thee : 
 the matter was ; I intended to have come to 
 thy houfe for entertainment, but, feeing thy 
 flaves at their work, and obferving the man- 
 ner of their drefs, I had no liking to come 
 to partake with thee: then admonimed him 
 to ufe them with more humanity ; and added, 
 as I lay by the fire that night, I thought 
 that, as I was a man of fubftance, thou wouldft 
 have received me freely ; but, if I had been as 
 poor as one of thy flaves, and had no power to 
 help myfelf, I mould have received from thy 
 hand no kinder ufage than they. 
 
 Hence I was at three meetings in my way : 
 and fo I went home, under a humbling lenle of 
 the gracious dealings of the Lord with me, in 
 preferving me through many trials and afflic- 
 tions in my journey. I was out about two 
 months, and travelled about eleven hundred 
 and fifty miles. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 78 THE LIFE -AND TRAVELS 
 
 i "v;M 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 The draughting of the militia in New-Jerfcy to 
 fervt in the army j with fome obfervations on 
 thejlate of the members of our fociety at that 
 time His vi/it to friends in Pennfyhania, 
 accompanied by Benjamin Jones Proceedings 
 at the monthly, quarterly, and yearly, meetings^ 
 in Philadelphia, refpetting thofe who keep 
 flaws. 
 
 ffr *10ciw I'Jd ;>$.}- , r; . i\&* 
 
 ON the ninth day of the eighth month, in 
 the year 1757, at night, orders came to 
 the military officers in our county, (Burling- 
 ton,) directing them to draught the militia, and 
 prepare a number of men to go off as foldiers, 
 to the relief of the English, at Fort William- 
 Henry, in New-York government : a few 
 days after which there was a general review 
 of the militia, at Mount-Holly, and a num- 
 ber of men chofen and fent off under fome 
 officers. Shortly after, there came orders to 
 draught three times as many, to hold them- 
 felves in readinefs to march when frelh or- 
 ders came : and, on the feventcenth day of 
 the eighth month, there was a meeting of 
 the military officers at Mount-Holly, who 
 agreed on a draught j and orders were fent 
 to the men, fo chofen, to meet their refpedtive 
 captains at fet times and places ; thofe in our 
 townfhip to meet at Mount-Holly j amongft 
 whom was a confiderable number of our 
 
 fociety.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 79 
 
 fociety, My mind being affected herewith^ 
 I had frefh opportunity to fee and confider 
 the advantage of living in the real fubftance 
 of religion, where practice doth harmonize 
 with principle. Amongft the officers are men 
 of underftanding, who have fome regard to 
 fincerity where they fee it; and in the exe- 
 cution of their office, when they have men 
 to deal with whom they believe to be up- 
 right-hearted, to put them to trouble, on ac- 
 count of fcruples of confcience, is a painful 
 tafk, and likely to be avoided as much ad 
 eafily may be : but where men profefs to 
 be fo meek and heavenly-minded, and to 
 have their truft fo firmly fettled in God, that 
 they cannot join in wars, and yet, by their 
 fpirit and conduct in common life, manifeft 
 a contrary difpofition, their difficulties are greal 
 at inch a time. 
 
 Officers, in great anxiety, endeavouring to 
 get troops to anfwer the demands of their fu- 
 periors, feeing men, who are infincere, pre- 
 tend fcruple of confcience in hopes of b- 
 ing excuied from a dangerous employment, 
 fuch are likely to be roughly handled. In 
 this time of commotion fome of our young 
 men left the parts, and tarried abroad till it 
 was over; fome came, and propoled to go 
 as foldiers ; others appeared to have a real 
 tender icruple in their minds againft joining 
 hi wars, and were much humbled under the 
 apprehenfion of a trial fo near : I had con- 
 verfation with feveral of them to my fatisfac- 
 tion. At the let time when the captain came 
 
 to
 
 8o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 to town, fome of thofe laft-mentioned went 
 and told him in fubftance as follows : That 
 they could not bear arms for confcience- 
 fake; nor could they hire any to go in their 
 places, being refigned as to the event of it : 
 at length the captain acquainted them all, 
 that they might return home for the prefent, 
 and required them to provide themfelves as 
 foldiers, and to be in readinefs to march when 
 called upon. This was fuch a time as I had 
 not feen before ; and yet I may fay, with 
 thankfulnefs to the Lord, that I believed this 
 trial was intended for our good j and I was 
 favoured with refignation to him. The French 
 army, taking the fort they were befieging, de- 
 ftroyed it and went away : the company of 
 men firft draughted, after fome days march, 
 had orders to return home j and thofe on the 
 fecond draught were no more called upon on 
 that occafion. 
 
 On the fourth day of the fourth month, in 
 the year 1758, orders came to fome officers, 
 in Mount-Holly, to prepare quarters, a (hort 
 time, for about one hundred foldiers : and 
 an officer and two other men, all inhabitants 
 of our town, came to my houfe ; and the of- 
 ficer told me, that he came to fpeak with me, 
 to provide lodging and entertainment for two 
 foldiers, there being fix millings a week per 
 man allowed as pay for it. The cafe being 
 new and unexpected, I made no anfwer fud- 
 denly ; but fat a time filent, my mind being 
 inward : I was fully convinced, that the pro- 
 ceedings in wars are inconiiflent with the 
 
 purity
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 8i 
 
 purity of the Chriftian religion ; and to be 
 hired to entertain men, who were then under 
 pay as Ibldiers, was a difficulty with me. I 
 txpe&ed they had legal authority for whit 
 they did ; and, after a fhort time, I laid to 
 the cilicer, if the men arc fent here for en-r 
 tertair,rner,t, I believe I (hall not refufe to ad- 
 rnit them into my howfe j but the nature of 
 the cafe is flich, that I expert I cannot keep 
 them on hire : one of the men intimated, 
 that he thought I might do it confident with 
 n iy religious principles : to which i made no 
 repiy ; as believing filence, at that time^ beft 
 for me. Though they fpake of two, there 
 came only one, who tarried at my houfe about 
 two wrcks, and behaved himlelf civilly ; and 
 when the officer came to pay me, I told him 
 I could not take pay for it, having admitted 
 him into my hcufe in a palTive obedience to 
 authority. i was on horieback when he 
 fpake to me : and, as I turned from him, he 
 laid, he was obliged to me : to which I faid 
 nothing ; hut, thinking on the expreffion, I 
 grew uneafy ; and afterwards, being near 
 where he lived. I went and told him on what 
 grounds I refufed taking pay for keeping the 
 fold it r. 
 
 Near the beginning of the year 1758, I 
 went one evening, in company with a friend, 
 to vifit a ikk perfon j and, before our re- 
 turn, we were tcld of a woman living near, 
 who, of lale, had feveral days been difcon- 
 folate, occalioned by a dream ; wherein death, 
 and the judgements of the Almigh'y after 
 
 G death,
 
 82 
 
 death, were reprefented to her mind in a 
 moving manner : her fadnefs, on that ac- 
 count, being worn off, the friend, with 
 whom I was in company, went to fee her, 
 and had fome religious cbnverfation with her 
 and her hufband : with this vifit they were 
 fomewhat affected; and the man, with many 
 tears, exprefled his fatisfaclion; and, in a 
 fhort time after, the poor man being on the 
 river in a ftorm of wind, he, with one more, 
 was drowned. 
 
 In the eighth month of the year 1758, 
 having had drawings in my mind to be at 
 the quarterly-meeting in Chefter county, and 
 at fome meetings in the county of Philadel- 
 phia, I went firft to faid quarterly- meeting, 
 which was large, and feveral weighty mat- 
 ters came under confideration and debate ; 
 and the Lord was pleafed to qualify fome of 
 his fervants with ftrength and firmnefs to 
 bear the burthen of the day : though I faid 
 but little, my mind was deeply exercifed ; 
 and, under a fenfe of God's love, in the a- 
 nointing and fitting fome young men for his 
 work, 1 was comforted, and my heart was 
 tendered before him. From hence 1 went to 
 the youths meeting at Darby, where my be- 
 loved friend and brother, Benjamin Jones, met 
 me, by an appointment before 1 left home, 
 to join in the vifit : and we were at Radnor, 
 Mcrion, Richland, North- Wales, Plymouth, 
 and Abington meetings; and had caufe to 
 bow in reverence before the Lord, our graci- 
 ous God, by whofe help way was opened 
 
 for
 
 for us from day to day. I was out about 
 two weeks, and rode about two hundred 
 miles. 
 
 The monthly -meeting of Philadelphia ha- 
 ving been under a concern on account of fome 
 friends who this furmner (1758) had bought 
 negro flaves, the faid meeting moved it to their 
 quarterly -meeting, to have the minute recon- 
 fidcTd in the yearly- meeting, which was 
 made h;ft on that fubject : and the faid quar- 
 terly-meeting appointed a committee to con- 
 fidc'r it, and report to their next j which 
 committee having met once and adjourned, 
 J> i p 'g to Philadelphia to meet a com- 
 mittee of" the yearly-meeting, was in town 
 the evening on which the quarterly-meeting's 
 committee met the fccond time j and, finding 
 an inclination to fit with them, was, with 
 fome others, admitted ; and friends had a 
 weighty conference on the fubjedt : and, foon 
 after their next quarterly-meeting, I heard 
 that the cafe was coming to our yearly-meet- 
 ing i which brought a weighty exercife upon 
 me, and under a fenfe of my own infirmi- 
 ties, and the great danger I felt of turning 
 afide from perfect purity, my mind was of- 
 ten drawn to retire alone, and put up my 
 prayers to the Lord, that he would be gra- 
 cioufly pleafcd to flrengthen me j that, fettmg 
 afide all views of felf-intereft and the friend- 
 fliip of this world, I might (land fully reiign- 
 ed to his holy will. 
 
 In this yearly- meeting, feveral weighty 
 
 matters were considered j and, toward the laft, 
 
 G 2 that
 
 THE LIFfi A*JD TRAVELS 
 
 that in relation to dealing with perfons who 
 purchafe flaves. During the feveral fittings 
 of the faid meeting my mind was frequently 
 covered with inwaVd prayer, and I could fay, 
 with David, <f That tears were my meat day 
 " and night." The cafe of flave-keeping lay 
 heavy upon me; nor did I find any engage- 
 ment to fpeak directly to any other matter be- 
 fore the meeting. Now, when this cafe was 
 opened, feveral faithful friends fpake weightily 
 thereto, with which I was comforted ; and, 
 feeling a concern to caft in my mite, 1 faid in 
 fubftance as follows : 
 
 " In the difficulties attending us in this 
 life, nothing is more precious than the mind 
 of truth inwardly manifefted ; and it is my 
 earneft defire that, in this weighty matter, we 
 may be fo truly humbled as to be favoured 
 with a clear underftanding of the mind of 
 truth, and follow it j this would be of more 
 advantage to the fociety, than any medium 
 not in the clearnefs of divine wifdom. The 
 'cafe is difficult to fome who have them ; but if 
 fuch fet afide all felf-intereft, and come to be 
 weaned from the defire of getting eftates, or 
 even from holding them together, when truth 
 requires the contrary, I believe way will open 
 that they will know how to fteer through thofe 
 difficulties." 
 
 Many friends appeared to be deeply bow- 
 d under the weight of the work ; and mani- 
 fefted much firmnefs in their love to the caufb 
 of truth and univerfal righteoufnefs on the 
 earth : and, though none did openly juftify 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 85 
 
 the practice of {live-keeping in general, yot 
 fome appeared concerned, left the meeting 
 mould go into fuch meafurcs as might give 
 uoeafmefs to many brethren ; alleging, that/ 
 if friends patiently continued under the ex- 
 ercife, the Lord, in time to come, Hligb^ 
 open a way for the deliverance of thefe peo- 
 ple : and, I finding an engagement to fpealy, 
 faid, " iMy mind is often led to confider the, 
 purity of the divine Being, and the juftice 
 of his judgements ; and herein my foul is co- 
 vered with awfulncis: 1 cannot omit to hint 
 of fpme cafes, where people have not been 
 treated with the purity of juftice, and the 
 event ha,th been lamentable: many (laves on 
 this continent are opprtrfTed, and their cries 
 have reached the ears of the Mod High. 
 Such are the puriiy and certainty of his judge- 
 ments, that he cannot be partial in our favour. 
 In infinite love and goodneis, he hath opened 
 our underftandings, trom one time to another, 
 concerning our duty towards this people ; and 
 it is not a time for delay. Should we now be 
 fenfible of what he requires of us, and, through 
 a refpeft to the private intcreft of fome pcr- 
 fons, or through a regard to fome friendmips 
 which do not ftand on an immutable founda- 
 tion, neglect to do our duty in firmnefs and 
 conftancy, (till waiting for fome extraordinary 
 means to bring about their deliverance, it may 
 be by terrible things in righteoufneis God may 
 anlwer us in this matter." 
 
 Many faithful brethren laboured with great 
 
 firmueis ; ^nd the love of truth, in a good 
 
 G 3 degree,
 
 86 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 degree, prevailed. Several friends, who had 
 negroes, expreffed their defire that a rule 
 might be made, to deal with fuch friends as 
 offenders who bought (laves in future : to 
 this it was anfwered, that the root of this 
 evil would never be effectually ftruck at, un- 
 til a thorough fearch was made into the cir- 
 cumftances of fuch friends as kept negroe?, 
 with refpeft to the righteoufnefs of their 
 motives in keeping them, that impartial juf- 
 tice might be adminiftered throughout. Seve- 
 ral friends exprefTed their defire, that a vifit 
 might be made to fuch friends as kept 
 flaves : and many friends faid, that they be- 
 lieved liberty was the negroes right; to which, 
 at length, no oppofition was made publicly : 
 a minute was made more full on that fub- 
 jfft than any heretofore ; and the names of 
 feveral friends entered, who were free to join 
 
 in a vifit to fuch as kept flaves. 
 
 >nif> ->n: 
 
 
 * ru ebn-x 'K, 1 y ,iu. ; ;> .j. \ . < .5 no 
 - w '^ ^ , ti '. r j Uwsr au-i.' ! j \'u< bns 
 
 ^.';ui?iir^va:u ..n :j.';, - :.3Bioojr 
 
 ' <*J.f ; Tji 
 
 CHAP.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 87 
 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 His vijlting the quarterly- meetings in Chefter 
 county ; and afterwards joining 'with Daniel 
 Stanton and John Scarborough in a vijit to 
 fuch as kept Jlaves there Some obfervations 
 on the conduct fuch fiould maintain as are 
 concerned to fpeak 'in meetings for discipline 
 Several more vifits to fuch as kept /laves : 
 and to friends near Salem Some account of 
 the yearly meeting in the year 1759; and of 
 the increafmg concern, in divers provinces^ to 
 labour againjl buying and keeping Jlaves 
 
 CT'l A. '/It 
 
 I be yearly- meeting epi tie. 
 
 j j & rs , n fi 
 
 ON the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 
 in the year 1758, I fet out for Concordj 
 the quarterly- meeting, heretofore held there, 
 was now, by reafon of a great increafe of 
 members, divided into two by the agreement 
 of friends, at our laft yearly meeting. Here 
 I met with our beloved friends, Samuel Spa- 
 void and Mary Kirby, from England, and 
 with Jofeph White, from Bucks county, who 
 had taken leave of his family in order to go 
 on a religious vifit to friends in England ; 
 and, through divine goodnefs, we were fa- 
 voured with a (lengthening opportunity to- 
 gether. 
 
 After this meeting I joined with my friends, 
 
 Daniel ikanton and John Scarborough, in 
 
 G 4 vifiting
 
 88 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 vifiting friends who had (laves ; and at night 
 we had a family-meeting, at William Trim- 
 ble's, many young people being there ; and 
 it was a precious reviving opportunity. Next 
 morning we had a comfortable fitting with 
 a fick neighbour ; and thence to the burial of 
 the corpfe of a friend at Uwchlaod meeting, 
 et which were many people, and it was a 
 time of divine favour; after which, we vi- 
 fued feme who had flaves j and, at night, 
 had a family-meeting at a friend's houfe, 
 where the channel of gofpel-love was opened, 
 and my mind was comforted after a hard 
 day's .labour. The next day we were at Go- 
 (Len monthly-meeting: and thence, on the 
 eighteenth day of the eleventh month, in 
 the year 1758, attended the quarterly- meet- 
 ing at London-Grove, it being the firft held 
 at that place. Here we met again with all the 
 before- mentioned friends, and had fome edi- 
 fying meetings : and, near the conclufion of 
 the meeting for. bufinefs, friends were incited 
 to conft'.ncy in fupporting the tefHmony of 
 truth, and reminded of the necefTity which 
 the difciples of Chrift are under to attend 
 principally to his bufjnefs, as he is pieafed 
 to open it to us: and to be particularly care- 
 ful to have our minds redeemed from the love 
 of wealth ; to have our outward affairs in as 
 little room as may be ; that no temporal con- 
 cerns may entangle our affections, or hinder 
 us from diligently following the dictates of 
 truth, in labouring to promote the pure fpi- 
 rit of meeknefs and heavenly- mindednefs a- 
 
 mongft
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 89 
 
 mongft the children of men in thefe days of 
 calamity and diftrefs, wherein God is vifiting 
 our land with his juft judgements. 
 
 Each of thefe quarterly- meetings was 
 large, and fat near eight hours. Here.J had 
 occafion to confider, that it is a weighty thing 
 to fpeak much in large meetings for bufiaefs : 
 firft, except our minds are rightly prepared, 
 and we clearly underftand the cafe we fpeak 
 to, inftead of forwarding, we hinder, bufi- 
 nefs, and make more labour for thofe on 
 whcm the burthen of the work is laid. 
 
 Jf felfifh views, or a partial fpirit, have 
 any room in our minds, we are unfit for 
 the Lord's work j if we have a clear profpedl 
 of the bufinefs, and proper weight on our 
 minds to fpeak, it behoves us to avoid ufelefs 
 apologies and repetitions: where people are 
 gathered from far, and adjourning a meet- 
 ing of bufmefs is attended with great diffi- 
 culty, it behoves all to be cautious how they 
 detain a meeting; efpecially when they have 
 fat fix or feven hours, and have a great di 
 tance to ride home. After this meeting I rode 
 home. 
 
 In the beginning of the twelfth month of 
 the year 1758 1 joined in company with my 
 friends, John Sykes and Daniel Stanton, in 
 vifiting luch as had Haves : fome, whofe 
 hearts were rightly exercifed about them, ap- 
 peared to be glad of our vifit j but in fome 
 places our way was more difficult; and I of- 
 ten faw the neceflity of keeping down to that 
 root from whence our concern proceeded ; 
 
 and
 
 90 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and have caufe, in reverend thankfulnefs, 
 humbly to bow down before the Lord, who 
 was near to me, and preferved my mind in 
 calmnefs under fome (harp conflicts, and be- 
 gat a fpirit of fympathy and tendernefs in 
 me toward fome who were grievoufly en- 
 tangled by the fpirit of this world. 
 
 In the firft month of the year 1759, ha- 
 ving found my mind drawn to vifit fome of 
 the more a&ive members, in our fociety at 
 Philadelphia, who had flaves, I met my friend 
 John Churchman there, by an agreement : 
 and we continued about a week in the city. 
 We vifited fome that were fick, and fome wi- 
 dows and their families ; and the other part 
 of our time was moftly employed in vifiting 
 fuch as had Haves it was a time of deep 
 exercife, looking often to the Lord for his af- 
 fiftance ; who, in unfpeakable kindneis, fa- 
 voured us with the influence of that fpirit, 
 which crucifies to the greatnefs and fplendor 
 of this world, and enabled us to go through 
 fome heavy labours, in which we found 
 peace. 
 
 On the twenty- fourth day of the third 
 month, of this year, I was at our general 
 fpring-meeting at Philadelphia: after which, I 
 again joined with John Churchman on a vifit 
 to fome more who had (laves in Philadel- 
 phia ; and, with thankfulnefs to our heavenly 
 Father, I may fay, that divine love and a true 
 fympathifing tendernefs of heart prevailed at 
 times in this fervice, 
 
 Having,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 91 
 
 Having, at times, perceived a fhynefs in 
 fome friends, of confiderable note, towards 
 me, I found an engagement in gofpel love to 
 pay a vifit to one of them ; and, as I dwelt un- 
 der the exercife, I felt a refignednefs in my 
 mind to go : fo I went, and told him, in pri- 
 vate, I had a defire to have an opportunity 
 with him alone ; to which he readily agreed : 
 and then, in the fear of the Lord, things 
 relating to that fliynefs were fearched to the 
 bottom j and we had a large conference, 
 which, I believe, was of ufe to both of us, and 
 am thankful that way was opened for it. 
 
 On the fourteenth day of the fixth month, 
 in the fame year, having felt drawings in 
 my mind to vifit friends about Salem, and 
 having the approbation of our monthly- 
 meeting therein, I attended their quarterly- 
 meeting, and was out feven days, and at 
 feven meetings; in fome of which I was 
 chiefly filent, and in others, through the bap- 
 tizing power of truth, my heart was enlarged 
 in heavenly love, and found a near fellowship 
 with the brethren and fifters, in the manifold 
 trials attending their Chriftian prcgrefs through 
 this world. 
 
 In the feventh month, I found an in- 
 creafing concern on my mind to vifit fome 
 active members in our fociety who had 
 flaves ; and, having no opportunity of the 
 company cf fuch as were named on the 
 minutes of the yearly-meeting, I went alone 
 to their houfes, and, in the fear of the Lord, 
 
 acquainted
 
 92 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 acquainted them with the exercife I was un- 
 der : and thus, fometimes, by a few words, 
 J found myfelf difcharged from a heavy bur- 
 then. 
 
 After this, our friend, John Churchman, 
 coming into our province with a. view to be 
 at feme meetings, and to join again in the 
 vifit to thofe who had flaves, I bore him 
 company in the faid vifit to fome active mem- 
 bers, and found inward fatisfaction. 
 
 At our yearly-meeting, in the year 1759, 
 we had fome weighty feafons ; where the 
 power of truth was largely extended, to the 
 Strengthening of the honeft-minded. As 
 friends read over the epiftles, to be fent to 
 the yearly- meetings along this continent, I ob- 
 ferved in mofl of them, both this year and laft, 
 it was recommended to friends to labour againft 
 buying and keeping Haves ; and in feme of 
 them clofely treated upon. This practice 
 had long been a heavy exercife to me, and I 
 have often waded through mortifying labours 
 on that account; and, at times, in fome meet- 
 ings been almoft alone therein. Now, obfer- 
 ving the increaling concern in our religious fo- 
 ciety, and feeing how the Lord was railing up 
 and qualifying iervants for his work, not only 
 in this refpecl, but for promoting the caufe of 
 truth in general, 1 was humbly bowed in 
 thankfulnels before him. 
 
 This meeting continued near a week ; and, 
 for feveral days, in the forepart of it, my mind 
 was drawn into a deep inward ftillnefs ; and 
 being, at times, covered with the fpirit of fup- 
 
 plication,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 93 
 
 plkation, my heart was fecretly poured out 
 before the Lord : and, near the conclufion of 
 the meeting for bulinefs, way opened that, in 
 in the pure flowings of divine love, I expreffed 
 what lay upon me ; which, as it then arofe in 
 my mind, was " firft to (hew how deep an- 
 fwers to deep in the hearts of the fincere and 
 upright}" though, in their different growths 
 they may not all have attained to the fame 
 clearness in fome points relating to our tefti- 
 mony : and 1 was led to mention the integrity 
 and conftancy of many martyrs, who gave 
 their lives for the teftimony of Jefus j and yet, 
 in fome points, held doctrines distinguishable 
 from fome which we hold : and that, in all 
 ages, where people were faithful to the light 
 and understanding which the Moft High af- 
 forded them, they found acceptance with him ^ 
 and that now, though there are different ways 
 of thinking amongil us in fome particulars, 
 yet, if we mutually kept to that fpirit and 
 power which crucifies to the world, which 
 teaches us to be content with things really 
 needful, and to avoid all fuperfluities, giving 
 up our hearts to fear and ferve the Lord, true 
 unity may ftill be preferved amongft us : and 
 that if fuch, as were, at times, under fuf- 
 ferings on account of fome fcruples of confci- 
 cncc, kept low and humble, and in their con- 
 duct in life manifeftcd a fpirit of true charity, 
 it would be more likely to reach the witnefs in 
 others, and be of more fervice in the church, 
 than if their fufferings were attended with a 
 contrary fpirit and conduct." In which exer- 
 
 cife
 
 ' 9 4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ciie I was drawn into a fympathizing tenderncfs 
 with the flieep of Chrift, however diftinguifh- 
 ed one from another in this world j and the 
 like difpofition appeared to ipread over others 
 in the meeting. Great is the goodnefs of the 
 Lord toward his poor creatures ! 
 . An epiftle went forth from this yearly-meet- 
 ing, which I think good to give a place in this 
 journal ; being as follows : 
 
 From the yearly- meeting held at Philadel- 
 phia, for Pennfylvania and New-Jerfey, 
 from the twenty- fecond day of the ninth 
 month, to the twenty-eighth day of the lame, 
 
 inclufive, 1759. 
 
 ';.ii,jj.> ;u 
 
 To the quarterly and monthly meetings of 
 friends belonging to the faid yearly-meet- 
 ing. 
 
 Dearly beloved friends and brethren, 
 
 " T N an awful fenfe of the wifdom and good- 
 nefs of the Lord our God, whofe tender 
 mercies have long been continued to us in this 
 land, we affectionately falute you, with fincere 
 and fervent defires, that we may reverently re- 
 gard the difpenfations of his providence, and 
 improve under them. 
 
 The empires and kingdoms of the earth 
 are fubject to his Almighty power: he is the 
 God of the fpirits of all flcfh, and deals with 
 his people agreeable' to that wifdom, the depth 
 
 whereof
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 95 
 
 whareof is to us unfearchable : we, in thefc 
 provinces, may fay, he hath, as a gracious 
 and tender parent, dealt bountifully with us, 
 even from the days of our fathers : it was he 
 who ftrengthened them to labour through the 
 difficulties attending the improvement of a 
 wildernefs, and made way for them in the 
 hearts of th natives j fo that by them they 
 were comforted in times of want and diftrefs : 
 it was by the gracious influences of his holy 
 fpirit, that they were difpofed to work righ- 
 teoufnefs, and walk uprightly one towards 
 another, and towards the natives, and in life 
 and converfation to manifeft the excellency of 
 the principles and doctrines of the Chriftian 
 religion ; and thereby they retain their efteem 
 and friendmip : whilft they were labouring 
 for the neceffaries of life, many of them were 
 fervently engaged to promote piety and virtue 
 in the earth, and educate their children in the 
 fear of the Lord. 
 
 If we carefully confider the peaceable 
 meafures purfued in the firft fettkment of 
 the land, and that freedom from the defola- 
 tions of wars which for a long time we en- 
 joyed, we (hall find ourfelves under ftrong 
 obligations to the Almighty, who, when the 
 earth is fo generally polluted with wicked- 
 nds, gave us a being in a part io fignally fa- 
 voured with tranquillity and plenty, and in 
 which the glad tidings of the gofpel of 
 Chrift are fo freely published, that we may 
 juftly fay with the pfalmift, " What (hail 
 
 we
 
 $6 THE LfFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 4f we render unto the Lord for all his foene- 
 fits?" 
 
 Our own real good, and the good of our 
 pofterity, in fome meafure, depend on the 
 part we ad: ; and it nearly concerns us to try 
 our foundations impartially. Sack are the 
 different rewards of the juft and unja-ft in a 
 future ftate, that, to attend diligently to the 
 dictates of the Spirit of Chrift, to devote our- 
 felves to his fervkre, and engage fervently in 
 his caufe, during oar (hort ftay in this world, 
 is a choice well becoming a free intelligent 
 creature ; we ftiall thus clearly fee and con- 
 fider that the dealings of God with mankind 
 in a national capacity, as recorded in holy 
 writ, do fufficiently evidence the truth of 
 that faying, " it is righteoufnefs which x- 
 " alteth a nation; " and though he doth not 
 at all times fuddenly execute his judgements 
 on a finful people in this life, yet we fee, by 
 many inftances, that where " men follow 
 " lying vanities, they forfake their own mer- 
 " cies ;" and as a proud feln(h fpirit prevails 
 and fpreads among a people, fo partial judge- 
 ment, oppreflion, difcord, envy, and confu- 
 fions, increafe, and provinces and kingdoms 
 are made to drink the cup of adverlity as a 
 reward of their own doings. Thus the in- 
 fpired prophet, reafoning with the degene- 
 rated Jews, faith, *' Thine own wickednefs 
 " (hall correct thec, and thy backflidings 
 " mall reprove thee : know, therefore, that 
 " it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou 
 
 " haft
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 97 
 
 " haft forfaken the Lord thy God, and 
 " that my fear is not in thee, faith the Lord 
 " God of hofts." Jer. ii. 19. 
 
 The God of our fathers, who hath be- 
 ftowed on us many benefits, furnifhed a ta* 
 ble for us in the wildernefs, and made the 
 defarts and folitary places to rejoice ; he doth 
 now mercifully call upon us to ferve him 
 more faithfully We may truly fay, with the 
 prophet, " It is his voice which crieth to the 
 " city, and men of wifdom fee his name : 
 " They regard the rod, and him who hath 
 " appointed it." People, who look chiefly at 
 things outward, too little confider the ori- 
 ginal caufe of the prefent troubles j but fuch 
 as fear the Lord, and think often upon 
 his name, fee and feel that a wrong fpi- 
 rit is fpreading among the inhabitants of 
 our country ; that the hearts of many arc 
 waxed fat, and their ears dull of hearing ; 
 that the Molt High, in his vifitations to us, 
 initcad of calling, lifteth up his voice and 
 crieth ; he crieth to our country, and his 
 voice waxeth louder and louder. In former 
 wars between the Engliih and other nations, 
 fincc the fcttlemenc of our provinces, the ca- 
 lamities attending them have fallen chiefly 
 on other places, but now of late they have 
 reached to our borders ; many of our fellow 
 fubjccls have luffered on and near our fron- 
 tiers, fotne have been flain in battle, ibme 
 killed in their houfcs, and ionic ia their fields, 
 fome wounded and left in great mifery, and 
 others feparated fro;: their wives and little 
 II children,
 
 98 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 children, who have been carried captives 
 among the Indians : we have feen men and 
 women, who have been witnefles of thefe 
 fcenes of forrow, and being reduced to want r 
 
 have come to our houfes afking relief. It 
 
 is not long lince it was the cafe of many 
 young men, in one of thefe provinces, to be- 
 draughted, in order to be taken as foldiers ; 
 fome were at that time in great diftrefs, and 
 had occafion to confider that their lives had 
 been too little conformable to the purity and 
 fpirituality of that religion which we pro- 
 fefs, and found themfelves too little ac- 
 quainted with that inward humility, in 
 which true fortitude to endure hardnefs for 
 the truth's fake is experienced. Many pa- 
 rents were concerned for their children, and 
 in that time of trial were led to confider,. 
 that their care, to get outward treafure for 
 them, had been greater than their care for 
 their fettlement in that religion which cruci- 
 fieth to the world, and enableth to bear a 
 clear teftimony to the peaceable government 
 of the Mefliah. Thefe troubles are removed, 
 and for a time we are releafed from them. 
 
 Let us not forget that " The Mod High 
 " hath his way in the deep, in clouds and in 
 " thick darknefs" that it is his voice which 
 cricth to the city and to the country j and oh! 
 that thefe loud and awakening cries may have 
 a proper effect upon us. that heavier chaftife- 
 ment may not become neceflary ! For though 
 things, as to the outward, may, for a fliort 
 time, afford a pleafing profpedt; vet, while 
 
 a fclfifli
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 99 
 
 a felfifh fpirit, that is not fubje<ft to the crofs 
 of" Chrift, conrinueth to fpread and prevail, 
 there can be no long continuance in outward 
 peace and tranquillity. If we define an inhe- 
 ritance incorruptible, and to be at reft in that 
 itate of peace and happinefs, which ever con- 
 tinues; if we dtfire, in this life, to dwell un- 
 der the favour and prote&ion of that al- 
 mighty Being, whole habitation is in holi- 
 nefs, whole ways arc all equal, and whole 
 anger is now kindled becaufe of our back- 
 tltdings j let us then awfully regard thefe 
 beginnings of his fore judgements, and, with 
 abatement and humiliation turn to him, whom 
 we have offended. 
 
 Contending with one equal in ftrength is 
 an uneafy cxer,cifc ; but if the Lord is become 
 our enemy, if we perfilt to contend with him 
 who is omnipotent, our overthrow will be 
 unavoidable. 
 
 Do we feel an affectionate regard to pofte- 
 rity ; and are we employed to promote their 
 happinefs ? Do our minds, in things out- 
 ward, look beyond our own diffolution ; and 
 are we contriving for the profperity of our 
 children after us ? Let us then, like wife 
 builders, lay the foundation deep ; and, by 
 our cunliant uniform regard to an inward 
 piety and virtue, let them lee that we re.illy 
 value it : let us labour, in the fear of the 
 Lord, that their innocent minds, while young 
 and tender, may be prcfcrvcd from corrup- 
 tions ; that, as they advance in age, they 
 may rightly undcrftand their true interefr, 
 i i 2 may
 
 ioo THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 may confider the uncertainty of temporal 
 things, and, above all, have their hope and 
 confidence firmly fettled in the blefling of 
 that Almighty Being, who inhabits eternity, 
 and preferves and fupports the world. 
 
 In all our cares, about worldly treafures, 
 let us fteadily bear in mind, that riches, pof- 
 fefled by children who do not truly ferve 
 God, are likely to prove fnares that may 
 more grievoufly entangle them in that fpirit 
 of felfifhnefs and exaltation, which ftands in 
 oppofition to real peace and happinefs ; and 
 renders them enemies to the crofs of Chrift, 
 who fubmit to the influence of it. 
 
 To keep a watchful eye towards real ob- 
 jects of charity, to vifit the poor in their 
 lonefome dwelling-places, to comfort them 
 who, through the difpenfations of divine 
 Providence, are in ftrait and painful circum- 
 ftances in this life, and fteadily to endeavour 
 to honour God with our fub fiance, from a 
 real fenfe of the love of Chrift influencing 
 our minds thereto, is more likely to bring a 
 blefling to our children, and will afford more 
 fatisiaciion to a Chriftian favoured with plen- 
 ty, than an earned deli re to collect much 
 wealth to leave behind usj for " here we have 
 " no continuing city i" may we therefore di- 
 ligently " feek one that ib to come, whole 
 " builder and maker is God." 
 
 " Finally, brethren, whatlbever things are 
 ** true, whatfoever things are juft, whatfo- 
 " ever things are pure, whatlbever things 
 " are lovely, whatfoever things are of good 
 
 " report ;
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. idi 
 
 " 
 
 report; if there he any virtue, if there 
 * be any praife, think on thefe things and 
 " do them, and the God of peace (hall be 
 " with you." 
 
 Signed, by appointment, and on behalf of 
 our laid meeting, by feven friends. 
 
 On the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh 
 month, in the year 1759, I was at the quar- 
 terly-meeting in Bucks county : this day be- 
 ing the meeting of minifters and elders, my 
 heart was enlarged in the love of Jefus Chrift ; 
 and the favour of the Moft High was ex- 
 tended to us in that and the enfuing meet- 
 
 D 
 ing. 
 
 I had converfation, at my lodging, with 
 my beloved friend, Samuel Eaftburn ; who 
 evprerTed a concern to join in a vifit to fom 
 friends, in that county, who had negroes ; 
 and, as I had felt a draught in my mind to 
 that work in the faid county, I came home 
 and put things in order : on the eleventh 
 day of the twelfth mi, nth following, I went 
 over the river ; and on the next day was at 
 Buckingham meeting ; where, through the 
 defcendings of heavenly dew, my mind was 
 comforted, and drawn into a near unity wiih 
 the flock of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Entering upon this vifit appeared weighty : 
 
 and before I left home my mind was often 
 
 fad ; under which exercife I felt, at times, 
 
 the Holy Spirit, which helps our infirmities ; 
 
 H 3 through
 
 102 
 
 through which, in private, my prayers were, 
 at times, put up to God, that he would be 
 pleafed to purge me from all felhthnefs, that 
 1 might be ftrengthened to difcharge my 
 duty faithfully, how hard foever to the na- 
 tural part. We proceeded on the vifu in a 
 weighty frame of fpirit, and went to the 
 houfes of the moft active members, through- 
 out the country, who had negroes ; and, 
 through the goodnefs of the Lorrd, my mind 
 was preferved in resignation in times of trial, 
 and, though the work was hard to nature, 
 yet through the ftrength of that love which 
 is ftronger than death, tendernefs of heart 
 was often felt amongft us in our vifits, and 
 We parted from feveral families with greater 
 fatis faction than we expected. 
 
 We vilited Joteph White's family, he be- 
 ing in England ; had alfo a family-fitting at 
 the houfe of an elder who bore us company, 
 and was at Makefield on a firft day : at all 
 which times my heart was truly thankful to 
 the Lord, who was gracioufly pleafed to re* 
 new his loving-kindnefs to us, his poor fer- 
 vantF, uniting us together in his work. 
 
 
 CHAP.
 
 O-F JOHN WOOLMAN, 103 
 
 
 . 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 His vifit, In company with Samuel Eajlburn, 
 to Long- I/land* Rhode- I/land, BoJIon, &c. 
 in New-England Remarks on the Jlave- 
 trade at Newport, and bis exercife on that 
 account ; alfo on lotteries Some obfervations 
 on the ijland of Nantucket. 
 
 HAVING, for fome time part, felt a 
 fympathy in my mind with friends 
 Eaft ward, I opened my concern in our month- 
 ly meeting ; and, obtaining a certificate, let 
 forward on the feventeenth day of the fourth 
 month, in the year 1760, joining in com- 
 pany, by a previous agreement, with my be- 
 Jtm-d friend, Samuel Eaftburn. We had meet- 
 ings at Woodbridge, Rahaway, and Plain- 
 field ; and were at their monthly-meeting of 
 minifters and elders in Rahaway. We la- 
 boured under fome difcouragement ; but, 
 through the invifible power of truth, our vi- 
 fit was made reviving to the lowly-minded, 
 with whom I felt a near unity of ipirit, be- 
 ing much reduced in my mind. We pafied 
 on and vifited chief of the meetings on 
 Long-Ifland. It was my concern, from day 
 to day, to fay no more nor lefs than what 
 the fpirit of truth opened in me, being jea- 
 lous over myfelf, left 1 fhould fpeak any 
 thing to make my teftimony look agreeable 
 
 H 4 ' to
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 to that mind in people, which is not in pure 
 obedience to the crofs of Chrift. 
 
 The fpring of the miniftry was often low j 
 and, through the fubje&ing power of truth, 
 we were kept low with it ; and from place to 
 -place, fuch, whofe hearts were truly concern- 
 ed for the caufe of Chrift, appeared to be 
 comforted in our labours ; and though it 
 was in general a time of abafement of the 
 creature, yet, through his goodnefs, who 
 is a helper of the poor, we had fome truly 
 edifying feafons both in meetings, and in fa- 
 milies where we tarried; and fometimes 
 found ftrength to labour earneftly with the 
 unfaithful, efpecially with thofe, whofe Na- 
 tion in families, or in the fociety was fuch, 
 that their example had a powerful tendency 
 to open the way for others to go afide from 
 the purity and foundnefs of the bleffed 
 truth. At Jericho, on Long-Ifland, I wrote 
 home as follows : 
 
 r - 
 
 :: c:;,,:;" ,;:Ut 
 
 
 
 
 
 .
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 105 
 
 *>' ?? ij'^t 
 24th of the 4th month,, 1760. 
 
 \.; 
 
 Dearly beloved wife, 
 
 * "1 T J E are favoured with health ; have 
 V V heen at fundry meetings in Eaft- 
 Jerfey, and on this ifland : my mind hath 
 been much in an inward watchful frame fince 
 I left thee, greatly defiring that our proceed- 
 ings may be (ingly in the will of our heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 As the prefent appearance of things is 
 not joyous, I have been much (hut up from 
 outward chearfulnefs, remembering that pro- 
 mife, ' Then (halt thou delight thyfelf in 
 " the Lord :" As this, from day to day, has 
 been revived in my memory, I have conG- 
 dered that his internal prefence on our minds 
 is a delight, of all others, the moft pure; and 
 that the honeft-hearted not only delight in 
 this, but in the effect of it upon them. He 
 regards the helplefs and diftrefTed, and 
 reveals his love to his children under afflic- 
 tion ; they delight in beholding his benevo- 
 lence and feeling divine charity moving u- 
 pon them : of this I may fpeak a little ; for 
 though, fince I left you, I have often found 
 an engaging love and affection toward thee 
 and my daughter, and friends about home, 
 that going out at this time, when ficknefs is 
 fo great amongft you, is a trial upon me ; 
 
 yet
 
 io6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 yet I often remember there are many wi- 
 dows and fatherlefs, many who have poor 
 tutors, many who have evil examples before 
 them, and many whofe minds are in capti- 
 vity, for whofe fake my heart is, at times, 
 moved with companion, that I feel my mind 
 refigned to leave you for a feafbn, to exercife 
 that gift which the Lord hath beftowed on 
 me; which though fmall, compared with 
 fome, yet in this I rejoice, that I feel love 
 unfeigned toward my fellow-creatures. I re- 
 commend you to the Almighty, who, I truft, 
 cares for you ; and, under a fenfe of his hea- 
 venly love, remain 
 
 
 " Thy loving hufband, 
 
 v 
 
 
 T 
 
 J. 
 
 We croiTed from the caft end of Long- 
 Ifland to New-London, about thirty miles, 
 in a large open boat j while we were out, the 
 wind riling high, the waves feveral times 
 beat over us, that to me it appeared dange- 
 rous ; but my mind was, at that time, turn- 
 ed to him, who made and governs the deep, . 
 and my life was refigned to him : and, as he 
 was mercifully pleafed to preferve us, I had 
 frefh occafion to confider every day as a day 
 lent to me ; and felt a renewed engagement 
 to devote my time, and all 1 had, to him who 
 gave them. 
 
 We had five meetings in Narraganfet ; and 
 went thence to Newport on Rhode-Jfland. 
 
 Our
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 107 
 
 Our gracious Father preferved us in an hum- 
 ble dependence on him through deep exer- 
 cifes, that we<e mortifying to the creaturely 
 will. In leveral families in the country, 
 where we lodged, I felt an engagement on 
 my mind to have a conference with them in 
 private concerning their flaves ; and, through 
 divine aid, I was favoured to give up there- 
 to : though, in this concern, I appeared fin- 
 gular from many, whofe fervice in travelling, 
 I believe, is greater than mine ; I do not 
 think, hard of them for omitting it; I do 
 not repine at having fo unpleafant a tafk af- 
 figned me, but look with awfulnefs to him, 
 who appoints to his fervants their refpeclive 
 employments, and is good to all who fervc 
 him fmcerely. 
 
 We got to Newport in the evening, and 
 on the next day vilited two lick peribns, and 
 had comfortable fittings with them ; and in 
 the afternoon attended the burial of a friend. 
 
 The next day we were at meetings at 
 Newport, in the forenoon and afternoon ; 
 where the fpring of the miniftry was opened, 
 and ftrength given to declare the word of life 
 to the people. 
 
 The next day we went on our journey; but 
 the great number of flaves in thele parts, 
 and the continuance of that trade from thence 
 to Guinea, made deep impreflion on me ; and 
 my cries were often put up to my heavenly 
 Father in fecret, that he would enable me to 
 difcharge my duty faithfully, in fuch way as 
 he might be pleafed to point out to me. 
 
 We
 
 jo8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 We took Swanfea, Freetown, and Tanton, 
 in our way to Bofton ; where alfo we had a 
 meeting ; our exercife was deep, and the love 
 of truth prevailed, for which I blefs the 
 Lord. We went eaflward about eighty miles 
 beyond Bofton, taking meetings, and were 
 in a good degree prefcrved in an humble de- 
 pendence on that arm which drew us out ; 
 and, though we had fome hard labour with 
 the difobedient, laying things home and clofe 
 to fuch as were ftout againft the truth ; yet, 
 through the goodnefsof God, we had, at times, 
 to partake of heavenly comfort with them who 
 were meek, and were often favoured to part 
 with friends in the nearnefs of true gofpel-fel- 
 lowihip. We returned to Bofton, and had 
 another comfortable opportunity with friends 
 there ; and thence rode back a day's journey 
 eaftward of Bofton: our guide being a heavy 
 man, and the weather hot, and my companion 
 and I confidering it, expi effed our freedom to 
 go on without him, to which he confented, 
 and weTefpe<ftfully took our leave of him; this 
 we did, as believing the journey would have 
 been hard to him and his horfe. 
 
 We vifited the meetings in thofe parts, and 
 were meafurably baptized into a feeling of 
 the ftate of the lociety: and in bowednefs of 
 fpirit went to the yearly-meeting at New- 
 port ; where I underftood that a large num- 
 ber of (laves were imported from Africa into 
 that town, and then on falc by a member of 
 our fociety. At thi* meeting we met with 
 John Storer from England, Elizabeth Ship- 
 ley,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN, 109 
 
 ley, Ann Gaunt, Hannah Fofter, and Mercy 
 Redman from our parts, all ministers of the 
 gofpel, of whofe company I was glad. 
 
 At this time my appetite failed, and I 
 grew outwardly weak, and had a feeling 
 of the condition of Habbakuk, as there ex- 
 prefled. " When I heard, my belly trembled, 
 my lips quivered, I trembled in myfelf that I 
 might reft in the day of trouble;" I had ma- 
 ny cogitations, and was forely diftrefled : and 
 was defirous that friends might petition the 
 legiflature, to ufe their endeavours to difcou- 
 rage the future importation of flaves; foe I 
 faw that this trade was a great evil, and tend- 
 ed to multiply troubles, and bring diftrefies 
 on the people in thofe parts, for whofe wel- 
 fare my heart was deeply concerned. 
 
 But I perceived feveral difficulties in regard 
 to petitioning ; and fuch was the exercife of 
 my mind, that I had thought of endeavour- 
 ing to get an opportunity to fpeak a few 
 words in the houfe of afTembly, then fitting 
 in town. This exercife came upon me in the 
 afternoon, on the fecond day of the yearly- 
 meeting, and, going to bed, I got no deep 
 till my mind was wholly refjgned therein j 
 and in the morning I enquired of a friend 
 how long the aflembly were likely to conti- 
 nue fitting ; who told me, they were expect- 
 ed to be prorogued that day or the next. 
 
 As I was defirous to attend the buiinefs of 
 the meeting, and perceived the aiTcmbly 
 were likely to depart before the buiinefs was 
 over j after confiderable exercife, humbly 
 
 fceking
 
 i lo THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fceking to the Lord for inflrn&ion, my mind 
 fettled to attend on the bufmefs of the meet- 
 ing ; on the laft day of which, I had pre- 
 pared a fliort eflay of a petition to be pre- 
 fented to the legiflature, if way opened : and 
 being informed that there were fome ap- 
 pointed, by that yearly-meeting, to fpcak 
 with thofe in authority, in cafes relating to 
 the fociety, I opened my mind to feveral of 
 them, and (hewed them the eflay I had made; 
 and afterward opened the cafe in the meeting 
 for bufinefs, in iubftance as follows : 
 
 " I have been under a concern for fome 
 time, on account of the great number of 
 flaves which are imported into this colony ; I 
 am aware that it is a tender point to fpeak to, 
 but apprehend I am not clear in the fight of 
 heaven without fpeaking to it. I have pre- 
 pared an eflay of a petition, if way open, to 
 be prefented to the legiflature ; and what I 
 have to propofe to this meeting is, that fome 
 friends may be named to withdraw and look 
 over it, and report whether they believe it 
 fuitable to be read in the meeting ; if they 
 fhould think well of reading it, it will re- 
 main for the meeting, after hearing it, to 
 conflder, whether to take any farther notice 
 of it at a meeting or not." After a fhort con- 
 ference fo-nc friends went out, and, looking 
 over it, exprefled their willingnefs to have it 
 read ; which being done, many exprefled 
 their unity with the propofal ; and fome fig- 
 nified, that to have the fubjedls of the peti- 
 tion enljrged upon, and to be figned out of 
 
 meeting
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. m 
 
 meeting by fuch as were free, would be 
 more fuitable than to do it there : though 
 1 expedted, at firfl, that if it was done it 
 would be in that way ; yet, fuch was the ex- 
 ercife of my mind, that to move it in the 
 hearing of friends, when aflembled, appeared 
 to me as a duty; for my heart yearned to- 
 ward the inhabitants of thefe parts; belie- 
 ving that by this trade there had been an in- 
 creafe of inquietude amongfl them, and a way 
 made eafy for the fpreading of a fpirit oppo- 
 fite to that meeknefs and humility, which is 
 a fure refting-place for the foul : and that the 
 continuance of this trade would not only ren- 
 der their healing more difficult, but increafe 
 their malady. 
 
 Having thus far proceeded, I felt eafy to 
 leave the efiay amongft friends, for them to 
 proceed in it as they believed beft. And 
 now an exercife revived on my mind in 
 relation to lotteries, which were common in 
 thofe parts : I had once moved it in a former 
 fitting of this meeting, when arguments 
 were ufed in favour of friends being held ex- 
 cufed who were only concerned in fuch lot- 
 teries as were agreeable to law : and now, on 
 moving it again, it was oppofed as before ; 
 but the hearts of fome folid friends appeared 
 to be united to difcourage the practice a- 
 mongft their members ; and the matter \vas 
 zealoufly handled by fome on both fides. In 
 this debate it appeared very clear to me, that 
 the fpirit of lotteries was a fpirit of fclfifhnefs, 
 which tended to confuiiun and darknefs 
 
 of
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 of under (landing ; and that pleading for 
 it in our meetings, fet apart for the Lord's 
 work, was not right : and, in the heat of zeal, 
 I once made reply to what an ancient friend 
 laid, though when I fat down, I faw that my 
 words were not enough feafoned with chari- 
 ty ; and, after this, 1 fpake DO more on the 
 fubject. At length a minute was made ; a 
 copy of which was agreed to be fent to their 
 fever al quarterly- meetings, inciting friends 
 to labour to difcourage the practice amongft 
 all profefTing with us. 
 
 Some time after this minute was made, I, 
 remaining unealy with the manner of my 
 fpeaking to the ancient friend, could not fee 
 my way clear to conceal my uneafmefs, but 
 was concerned that I might fay nothing to 
 weaken the caufe in which I had laboured ; 
 and then, after fome clofe exercife and hearty 
 repentance, for that I had not attended clofe- 
 ly to the fafe guide, I flood up, and, reciting 
 the paffage, acquainted friends, that, though I 
 durft not go from what I had faid as to the 
 matter, yet I was uneafy with the manner 
 of my fpeaking, as believing milder lan- 
 guage would have been better. As this was 
 uttered in fome degree of creaturely abafe- 
 ment, it appeared to have a good favour a- 
 mongft us, after a warm debate. 
 
 The yearly-meeting being now over, there 
 yet remained on my mind a fecret, though 
 heavy, exercife in regard to fome leading ac- 
 tive members about Newport, being in the 
 practice of flave-kceping. This I mentioned 
 
 to
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 113 
 
 to two ancient friends, who came out of the 
 country, and propoied to them, if way 
 opened, to have fome converfation with 
 thofe friends : and, thereupon, one of thole 
 country friends and I consulted one of the 
 nioft noted elders who had flaves ; and he, in 
 a refpedtful manner, encouraged me to pro- 
 ceed to clear myfelf of what lay upon me. 
 Now I had, near the beginning of the yearly- 
 meeting, a private conference with this faid 
 elder and his wife concerning theirs; fo that 
 the way feemed clear to me to advife with 
 him about the manner of proceeding : I told 
 him, I was free to have a conference with 
 them all together in a private houfc j or, if 
 he thought they would take it unkind to be 
 afked to come together, and to be fpoke with 
 one in the hearing of another, I was free to 
 fpend fome time among them, and vilit them 
 all in their own houfes : he exprefled his li- 
 king to the firft propofal, net doubting their 
 willihgnefs to come together : and, as I pro- 
 pofrd a vifit to only minifters, elders, and 
 overfeers, he named fome others, who he 
 detired might be prefent alfo : and, as a care- 
 ful meflcnger was wanted to acquaint them 
 in a proper manner, he offered to go to all 
 their houfes to open the matter to them ; and 
 did fo. About the eighth hour, the next 
 morning, we met in the meeting-houfe cham- 
 ber, and the lalt-mentioned country friend, 
 alfo my companion, and John Storer, with 
 us; when, after a fhori time of retirement, I 
 acquainted them with the fteps I had taken 
 
 I in
 
 H4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 in procuring that meeting, and opened the 
 concern I was under ; and fo we proceeded 
 to a free conference upon the fubjed:. My 
 cxercife was heavy, and I was deeply bowed 
 in fpirit before the Lord, who was pleafed to 
 favour us with the feafoning virtue of truth, 
 which wrought a tendernefs amongft us; and 
 the fuhject was mutually handled in a calm 
 and peaceable fpirit : and, at length, feeling 
 my mind releafed from that burthen which 
 I had been under, I took my leave of them, 
 in a good degree of fatisfa&ion ; and, by the 
 tendernefs they manifefted in regard to the 
 practice, and the concern feveral of them ex- 
 prefled in relation to the manner of difpoling 
 of their negroes after their deceafe, I belie- 
 ved that a good exercife was fpreading amongft 
 them ; and 1 am humbly thankful to God, 
 who fupported my mind, and preferved me 
 in a good degree of refignation through thefe 
 trials. 
 
 Thou, who fometimes travelled in the work 
 of the miniftry, art made very welcome by 
 thy friends, and feeft many tokens of their 
 fatisfaclion, in having thee for their gueft, 
 it is good for thee to dwell deep, that thou 
 mayeft feel and underftand the fpirits of peo- 
 ple: if we believe truth points towards a con- 
 ference on fome fubjecls, in a private way, 
 it is needful for us to take heed that iheir 
 kindnefs, their freedom, and affability, do 
 not hinder us from the Lord's work. I have 
 fcen that, in the midft of kindnefs and fmooth 
 'conduct, to ipeak clofe and home to them 
 
 who
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 115 
 
 who entertain us, on points, that relate to 
 their outward intereft, is hard labour ; and 
 fometimes, when I have felt truth lead to- 
 ward it, I have found myfelf difqualified by 
 a fuperficial friendfhip ; and as the fenfe 
 thereof hath abafed me, and my cries have 
 been to the Lord, fo I have been humbled 
 and made content to appear weak, or as a 
 fool for his fake; and thus a door bath open- 
 ed to enter upon it. To attempt to do the 
 Lord's work in pur own way, and to fpeak 
 of that which is the burthen of the word 
 in a way eafy to the natural part, doth 
 not reach the bottom of the difordex. To 
 fee the failings of our friends, and think 
 hard of them, without opening that which we 
 ought to open, and ft ill carry a face of frknd- 
 fhip ; this tends to undermine the foundation 
 of true unity. 
 
 The office of a minifter of Carat is weigh- 
 ty ; and they, who go forth as watchmen, 
 had need to be fteadily on their guard a- 
 gainft the fnares of prosperity and an outfide 
 friendmip. 
 
 After the yearly- meeting, we were at 
 meetings at Newiown, Cufhnet, Long-Plain, 
 Rocheiler, and Dartmouth : from thence we 
 failed for Nantucket, in company with Ann 
 Gaunt and Mercy Redman, and feveral other 
 frit-nds : the wind being flack, we oaly reiched 
 Tarpawling-Coye the firft day ; where, going 
 on ihore, we found room in a public-houlc, 
 and beds for a few of us, the reft fleeping 
 on the floor : we went on-board again about 
 I 2 break
 
 Ii6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 break of day; and, though the wind was 
 fmall, we were favoured to come within about 
 four miles of Nantucket; and then, about ten 
 of us getting into our boat, we rowed to the 
 harbour before dark; whereupon a large 
 boat, going off, brought in the reft of the paf- 
 fengers about midnight : the next day but 
 one was their yearly- meeting, which held 
 four days; the lad of which was their month- 
 ly-meeting for bufinefs. We had a labori- 
 ous time amongft them : our minds were 
 clofely exerciied, and I believe it was a time 
 of great fearching of heart: the longer I was 
 on the ifland, the more I became fenfible 
 that there was a confiderable number of va- 
 luable friends there, though an evil fpirit, 
 tending to ftrife, had been at work amongft 
 them : I was cautious of making any vifits, 
 but as my mind was particularly drawn to 
 them ; and in that way we had fome fittings 
 in friends houfes, where the heavenly wing 
 was, at times, fpread over us, to our mutual 
 comfort. 
 
 My beloved companion had very acceptable 
 fervice on this ifland. 
 
 When meeting was over, we all agreed to 
 fail the next day, if the weather was fuit- 
 able and we well; and, being called up the 
 latter part of the night, we went on-board a 
 vefTel, being in all about fifty ; but, the wind 
 changing, the feamen thought beft to ftay in 
 the harbour till it altered ; fo we returned on- 
 fhore ; and, feeling clear as to any farther vi- 
 fits, I fpent my time in our chamber chiefly 
 
 alone ;
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 117 
 
 alone; and, after foi.e hours, my heart be- 
 ing filled with the fpirit of Application, my 
 prayers and tears were poured out, before 
 my heavenly Father, for his help and in- 
 ftrudiion in the manifold difficulties which 
 attended me in life : and, while I was wait- 
 ing upon the Lord, there came a meflenger 
 from the women friends, who lodged at ano- 
 ther houfe, defiring to confer with us about 
 appointing a meeting, which to me appeared 
 weighty, as we had been at (b many before; 
 but, after a Ihort conference, and advifing 
 with fome elderly friends, a meeting was 
 appointed, in which the friend, who firft 
 moved it, and who had been much (hut up 
 before, was largely opened in the love of the 
 gofpel : and the next morning, about break 
 of day, going again on- board the vefTel, we 
 reached Falmouth on the Main before night ; 
 where our horfes being brought, we proceeded 
 toward Sandwich quarterly-meeting. 
 
 Being two days in going to Nantucket, 
 and having been there once before, 1 obferved 
 many fhoals in their bay, which make fail- 
 ing more dangerous, efpecially in ftormy 
 nights j alfo, that a great moal, which en- 
 clofes their harbour, prevents their going 
 in with floops, except when the tide is 
 up ; waiting without which, for the riling 
 of the tide, is fometimes hazardous in ftorms : 
 waiting within, they fometimes mifs a fair 
 wind. I took notice, that on that fmall 
 ifland was a great number of inhabitants, 
 and the foil not very fertile ; the timber fo 
 I 3 gone,
 
 ii8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 
 gone, that for veflels, fences, and firewood, 
 they depend chiefly on the buying from 
 the Main; the coft whereof, with moft of 
 their other expences, they depend principally 
 upon the whale-fifhery to anfwer. I confi- 
 dered, that as towns grew larger, and lands 
 near navigable waters more cleared, timber 
 and wood would require more labour to get 
 it: I underftood that the whales being much 
 Kunted, and fometimes wounded and not 
 killed, grew more fhy and difficult to come 
 at : I confidered that the formation of the 
 earth, the feas, the iflands, bays, and rivers, 
 the motions of the winds and great waters, 
 which caufe bars and fhoals in particular 
 places, were all the works of him who is 
 perfect wifdom and goodnefs j and, as people 
 attend to his heavenly inftruction, and put 
 their truft in him, he provides for them in 
 all parts, where he gives them a being. And 
 as, in this vifit to thefe people, I felt a ftrong 
 defire for their firm eftablifhment on the fure 
 foundation, belides what was faid more pub- 
 licly, I was concerned to fpeak with the 
 women friends, in their monthly-meeting of 
 bufiriefs, many being prefent j and, in the 
 frem fpring of pure love, to open before 
 them the advantage, both inward and out- 
 ward, of attending fingly to the guidance 
 of the Holy Spirit, and therein to edu- 
 cate their children in true humility, and the 
 difufe of all fuperfluities, reminding them 
 of the difficulties their hufoands and fons were 
 frequently expoled to at feaj and that, the more 
 
 plain
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 119 
 
 plain and fimple their way of living was, 
 the lefs need of running great hazards to 
 fupport them in it j encouraging the young 
 women in their neat decent way of attending 
 themfelves on the affairs of the houfe ; (hew- 
 ing, as the way opened, that, where people 
 were truly humble, ufed themfelves to bufi- 
 nefs, and were content with a plain way of 
 life, it had ever been attended with more 
 true peace and calmnefs of mind, than they 
 have had who, afpiring to greatnefs and out- 
 ward (hew, have grafped hard for an income 
 to fupport themfelves in it : and, as I ob- 
 ferved they had few or no flaves amongfl 
 them, I had to encourage them to be content 
 without them ; making mention of the nu- 
 merous troubles and vexations which fre- 
 quently attend the minds of people who de- 
 pend on flaves to do their labour. 
 
 We attended the quarterly -meeting at 
 Sandwich, in company with Ann Gaunt 
 and Mercy Redman, which was preceded 
 by a monthly-meeting ; and in the whole 
 held three days : we were various ways exer* 
 cifed amongtt them, in gofpel love, accord* 
 ing to the ieveral gifts beftowcd on us ; 
 and were, at times, overshadowed with th<i 
 virtue of truth, to the comfort of the fmcere, 
 and ftirring up of the negligent. Here we 
 parted with Ann and Mercy, and went to 
 Rhode-Ifland, talcing one meeting in our 
 way, which was a fat is factory time ; and, 
 reaching Newport the evening before their 
 quarterly-meeting, we attended it; and, after 
 I 4 that,
 
 120 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that, had a meeting with our young people, 
 feparated from thofe of other ibcieties. We 
 went through much labour in this town ; and 
 now, in taking leave of it, though I felt clofe 
 inward exercife to the laft, I found inward 
 peace ; and was, in fome degree, comforted, 
 in a belief, that a good number remain 
 in that place, who retain a.fenfe of truth; 
 and that there are fome young people at- 
 tentive to the voice of the heavenly Shepherd. 
 The lafl meeting, in which friends from the 
 feveral parts of the quarter came together, 
 was a felecl: meeting ; and, through the renew- 
 ed manifeftation of the Father's love, the 
 hearts of the fincere were united together. 
 
 That poverty of fpirit, and inward weak*- 
 nefs, with which I was much tried the fore 
 part of this journey, have of late appeared to 
 me as a difpenfation of kindnefs. Appoint- 
 ing meetings never appeared more weighty 
 to me ; and I was led into a deep fearch, 
 whether in all things my mind was refigned 
 to the will of God ; often querying with my- 
 felf, what mould be the caufe of fuch inward 
 poverty ; and greatly defired, that no fecret 
 referve in my heart might hinder my accefs 
 to the divine fountain. In thefe humbling 
 times I was made watchful, and excited to 
 attend the fecret movings of the heavenly 
 principle in my mind, which prepared the 
 way to fome duties, that in more eafy and 
 profperous times, as to the outward, I believe 
 J ihould have been in danger of omitting. 
 
 From
 
 OF JOHN V/OOLMAN. 121 
 
 From Newport we went to Greenwich, 
 Shanticut, and Warwick; and were helped 
 tb labour amongft friends in the love of our 
 gracious Redeemer : and then, accompanied 
 by our friend, John Cafey, from Newport, we 
 rode through Connecticut to Oblong, vifited 
 the meetings of friends in thofe parts, and 
 thence proceeded to the quarterly-meeting at 
 Ryewoods ; and, through the gracious extend- 
 ings of divine help, had fome feafoning op- 
 portunities in thofe places: fo we vifited friends 
 at New-York and Flufhing ; and thence to 
 Rahaway : and here, our roads parting, I 
 took leave of my beloved companion, and true 
 yoke-mate, Samuel Eaftburn ; and reached 
 home on the tenth day of the eighth month, 
 1760, where I found my family well: and, 
 for the favours and protection of the Lord, 
 both inward and outward, extended to me 
 in this journey, my heart is humbled in 
 grateful acknowledgements; and Ifind renew- 
 ed deli res to dwell and walk in refignednefs 
 before him. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 *Z2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 if* ' fli---. 
 
 j 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 . 
 
 Ifa v^fcf to Pennfyfoania, Sbreivjbury, and 
 Squan.^-His publifiing the fecond part of 
 
 ^conjideratwns on keeping negroes. His vi- 
 
 faing the families of friends of Ancocas and 
 
 Mount-Holly meetings. His vifit s to the 
 
 Indians at Wehaloofing on the river Sufque~ 
 
 hannah. 
 
 HAVING felt my mind drawn toward a 
 vifit to a few meetings in Pennfylva- 
 nia, I was very defirous to be rightly in- 
 ftru&ed as to the time of fetting off: and, on 
 the tenth day of the fifth month, 1761, be- 
 ing the firft day of the week, I went to Had- 
 donfield meeting, concluding to feek for hea- 
 venly inftruclion, and come home, or go on, 
 as I might then believe beft for me; and there, 
 through the fpringing up of pure love, I felt 
 encouragement, and fo crofled the river. In 
 this vifit I was at two quarterly and three 
 monthly-meetings; and, in the love of truth, 
 felt my way open to labour with fomc noted 
 friends, who kept negroes : and, as I was fa- 
 voured to keep to the root, and endeavoured 
 to difcharge what I believed was required of 
 me, I found inward peace therein, from time 
 to time, and thankfulnefs of heart to the 
 Lord, who was gracioufly pleafed to be a guide 
 to me. 
 
 In
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 123 
 
 In the eighth month, 1761, having felt 
 drawings in my mind to vifit friends in and 
 about Shrewfbury, 1 went there, and was 
 at their monthly-meeting, and their firft-day 
 meeting ; and had a meeting at Squan, and 
 another at Squankumj and, as way opened, 
 had converfation with fome noted friends 
 concerning their (laves : and I returned home 
 in a thankful fenfe of the goodnefs of the 
 Lord. 
 
 From the care I felt growing in me fome 
 years, I wrote Confiderations on keeping 
 Negroes, part the fecond ; which was prin- 
 ted this year, 1762. When the overfeers of 
 the prefs had done with it, they offered to 
 get a number printed, to be paid for out of 
 the yearly-meeting ftock, and to be given 
 away ; but I being moft eafy to publifh them 
 at my own expence, and, offering my reafons, 
 they appeared fatisfied. 
 
 This ftock is the contribution of the mem- 
 bers of our religious fociety in general ; 
 amongft whom are fome who keep negroes; 
 and, being inclined to continue them in fla- 
 very, are not likely to be fatisfied with thofe 
 books being fpread amongft a people where 
 many of the flaves are taught to read, and 
 efpecially not at their expence; and fuch of- 
 ten, receiving them as a gift, conceal them : 
 But as they, who make a purchafe, generally 
 buy that which they have a mind for, I be- 
 lieved it beft to fell them ; expecting, by that 
 means, they would more generally be read 
 with attention.- Advertifements being frgned 
 
 by
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 by .order of the overfeers of the prefs, di- 
 rected to be read in monthly-meetings of bu- 
 iinefs within our own yearly-meeting, in- 
 forming where the books were, and that the 
 price was no more than the coft of printing 
 and binding them, many were taken off in 
 our parts ; feme 1 fent to Virginia, fome to 
 New-York, and fome to Newport, to my ac- 
 quaintance there ; and fome I kept, expecting 
 to give part of them away, where there appear- 
 ed a profpect of fervice. 
 
 In my youth I was ufed to hard labour -, 
 and, though 1 was middling healthy, yet my 
 nature was not fitted to endure fo much as 
 many others : that, being often weary, I was 
 prepared to fympathize with thofe whofe cir- 
 cumftances in life, as free men, required con- 
 ftant labour to anfwer the demands of their 
 creditors, and with others under opprelTion. 
 In the uneafinefs of body, which 1 have ma- 
 ny times felt by too much labour, not as a 
 forced but a voluntary oppreffion, I have of- 
 ten been excited to think on the original 
 caufe of thai oppreffion, which is impofed on 
 many in the world : and, the latter part of 
 the time wherein 1 laboured on our planta- 
 tion, my heart, through the frefh vifitations 
 of heavenly love, being often tender, and 
 my leifure-time frequently fpent in reading 
 the life and doctrines of our blefled Redeem- 
 er, the account of the fufferings of martyrs, 
 and the hifbry of the firfl rife of our fociety, 
 a belief was gradually fettled in my mind, 
 that if fuch, as had great eftates, generally 
 
 lived
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 125 
 
 lived in that humility and plainnefs which 
 belongs to a Chriftian life, and laid much 
 eafier rents and interefts on their lands and 
 monies, and thus led the way to a right ufe 
 of things, fo great a number of people might 
 be employed in things ufeful, that labour, 
 both for men and other creatures, would need 
 to be no more than an agreeable employ ; 
 and divers branches of bufinefs, which ferve 
 chiefly to pleafe the natural inclinations of 
 our minds, and which, at prefent, feern ne- 
 ceflary to circulate that wealth which fome 
 gather, might, in this way of pure wifdom, 
 be difcontinued. And, as I have thus conli- 
 dered thefe things, a query, at times, hath ari- 
 fen : Do I, in all my proceedings, keep to 
 that ufe of things which is agreeable to uni- 
 verfal righteoufnefs ? And then there hath 
 fome degree of fadnefs, at times, come over 
 me, for that I accuftomed myfelf to fome 
 things, which occalioned more labour than I 
 believe divine wifdom intends for us. 
 
 From my early acquaintance with truth 
 I have often felt an inward diftrefs, occafion- 
 ed by the driving of a fpirit in me againft 
 the operation of the heavenly principle ; and 
 in this circumftance have been afFecled with 
 a fenfe of my own wretchednefs, and in a 
 mourning condition felt earneft longing for 
 that divine help, which brings the loul into 
 true liberty ; and fometimes, in this flate, re- 
 tiring into private places, the fpirit of fup- 
 plication hath been given me ; and, under a 
 heavenly covering, 1 have ailved my gracious 
 
 Father
 
 126 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Father to give me a heart in all things re- 
 figned to the direction of his wifdom. 
 
 In vifiting people of note in the fociety 
 who had flaves, and labouring with them in 
 brotherly love on that account, I have ieen, 
 and the light has affected me, that a con- 
 formity to fome cuftoms, diftinguifhable from 
 pure wifdom, has entangled many j and the 
 defire of gain, to fupportthefe cuftoms, greatly 
 oppofed the work of truth : and fomecimes, 
 when the profpect of the work before me has 
 been fuch, that in bowednefs of fpirit, I have 
 been drawn into retired places, and bcfought 
 the Lord with tears that he would take me 
 wholly under his direction, and (hew me the 
 way in which I ought to walk, it hath revived, 
 with ftrength of con viction, that, if I would be 
 his faithful fervant, I muft, in all things, at- 
 tend to his wifdom, and be teachable ; and fo 
 ceafe from all cuftoms contrary thereto, how- 
 ever ufcd amongft reb'gious people. 
 
 As he is the perfection of power, of wif- 
 dom, and of goodnefs, fo, I believe, he hath 
 provided, that fo much labour mall be ne- 
 cefftry for men's fupport, in this world, as 
 would, being rightly divided, be a fuitable 
 employment of their time j and that we can- 
 not go into fuperfluities, or grafp after wealth 
 in a way contrary to his wifdom, without 
 having connection with fome degree of oppref-^ 
 fion, and with that fpirit which leads to felf- 
 exaltation and ftrife, and which frequently 
 brings calamities on countries, by parties con- 
 tending about their claims. 
 
 In
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 127 
 
 In the eleventh month of the year 1762, 
 feeling an engagement of mind to vifit Ibme 
 families in Mansfield, I joined my beloved 
 friend, Benjamin Jones, and we fpent a few 
 days together in that fervice. In the fecond 
 month, 1763, I joined in company with Eli- 
 zabeth Smith and Mary Noble on a vifit to 
 the families of friends at Ancocas; in .both 
 which viiits, through the baptizing power 
 of truth, the fincere labourers were often 
 comforted, and the hearts of friends opened 
 to receive us. And, in the fourth month lol- 
 lowing, I accompanied fome friends in a vi- 
 fit to the families of friends in Moond- 
 Holly, in which my mind was often drawn 
 into an inward awfulneis, wherein ftrong 
 defires were raifed for the everlafting welfare 
 of my fellow-creatures ; and, through the 
 kindnefs of our heavenly Father, our hearts 
 were, at times, enlarged, and friends invited, 
 in the flowings of divine love, to attend to 
 that which would fettle them on the fure founf 
 dation. 
 
 Having many years felt love in my heart 
 toward the natives of this land, who dwell far 
 back in the wildernefs, whofe anceftcrs were 
 the owners and poflcflbrs of the land where 
 we dwell j and who, for a very fmall confi- 
 deration, afiigned their inheritance to us ; 
 and, being at Philadelphia, in the eighth 
 month, 1761, in a vifit to fome friends who 
 had flaves, I fell in company with fome of 
 thoic natives who lived on the eaft branch of 
 the river Sufquehannah, at an Indian town 
 
 called
 
 128 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 called Wehaloofing, two hundred miles from 
 Philadelphia j and, in converfation with them 
 by an interpreter, as alfo by obfervations on 
 their countenances and conduct, I believed 
 fome of them were meafurably acquainted 
 with that divine power which fubjeds the 
 rough and froward will of the creature : and, 
 at times, I felt inward drawings toward a viiit 
 to that place of which I told none except my 
 dear wife, until it came to fome ripeneis; and, 
 then, in the winter, 1762, I laid it before 
 friends at our monthly and quarterly, and af- 
 terwards at our general fpring meeting ; and, 
 having the unity of friends, and being thought- 
 ful about an Indian pilot, there came a man 
 and three women from a little beyond that 
 town to Philadelphia on bufinefs : and I, be- 
 ing informed thereof by letter, met them 
 in town in the fifth month, 1763 ; and, after 
 fome converfation, finding they were fober 
 people, I, by the concurrence of friends in 
 that place, agreed to join with them as com- 
 panions in their return ; and, on the feventh day 
 of the fixth month following, we appointed 
 to meet at Siimuel Foulk's, at Richland in 
 Bucks county. Now, as this vifit felt weighty, 
 and was performed at a time when travelling 
 appeared perilous, fo the difpenfations of di- 
 vine Providence, in preparing my mind for it, 
 have been memorable j and I believe it good 
 for me to give fome hints thereof. 
 
 After 1 had given up to go, the thoughts 
 of the journey were often attended with un- 
 ufual iadnefs j in which times, my heart was 
 
 frequently
 
 o* JOHN WOOLMAN. 129 
 
 frequently turned to the Lord with inward 
 breathings for his heavenly fupport, that I 
 might not fail to follow him wherefoever he 
 might lead me : and, being at our youths 
 meeting at Chederfield, about a week before 
 the time I expecled to fet off, I was there led 
 to fpeak on that prayer of our Redeemer to 
 his Father : " I pray not that thou moulded 
 " take them out of the world, but that thou 
 " moulded keep them from the evil." And, in 
 attending to the pure openings of truth, I had to 
 mention what he elfewhere faid to his Father j 
 " I know that thou heareft me at all times :" 
 fo that, as fome of his followers kept their 
 places, and as his prayer was granted, it fol- 
 lowed neceflarily that they were kept from evil : 
 and, as fome of thofe met with great hardships 
 and afflictions in this world, and at lad fuffer- 
 ed death by cruel men, it appears, that what- 
 foever befals men while they live in pure obe- 
 dience to God, as it certainly works for their 
 good, fo it may not be confidered an evil as it 
 relates to them. As I fpake on this fubject, 
 my heart was much tendered, and great awful- 
 nefs came over mej and then, on the firft day 
 of the next week, being -at our own afternoon- 
 meeting, and my heart being enlarged in love, 
 1 was led to fpeak on the care and protection 
 of the Lord over his people, and to make 
 mention of that paflage, where a band of Aify*- 
 rians endeavouring to take captive the prophet, 
 were dilappointed 3 and how the pfalmid faid, 
 M The angel of the Lord encampeth round 
 " about them that fear him." And thus, rn 
 K true
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 true love and tendernefs, I parted from friends, 
 expelling, the next morning, to proceed en 
 my journey, and, being weary, went early to 
 bed: and, after I had been alleep a (hort time, 
 I was awaked by a man calling at my door ; 
 and, arifing, was invited to meet fome friends at 
 a public-houfe in our town, who came from 
 Philadelphia fo late, that friends were general- 
 ly gone to bed: thefe friends informed me, 
 that an exprefs arrived the laft morning from 
 Pittfburgh, and brought news that the Indians 
 had taken a fort from the Englim weftward, 
 and flain and fcalped Englim people in divers 
 places, fome near the laid Pittfburgh ; and 
 that fome elderly friends in Philadelphia, know- 
 ing the time of my expecting to fet off, had 
 conferred together, and thought good to in- 
 form me of thefe things, before I left home, 
 that I might confider them, and proceed as I 
 believed beft ; fo I, going again to bed, told 
 not my wife till morning. My heart was 
 turned to the Lord for his heavenly inftruction; 
 and it was an humbling time to me. When 
 I told my dear wife, fhe appeared to be deeply 
 concerned about it ; but, in a few hours time, 
 my mind became fettled in a belief, that it was 
 my duty to proceed on my journey ; and fhe 
 bore it with a good degree of refignation. In 
 this conflid of fpirit, there were great fearch- 
 ings of heart, and ftrong cries to the Lord, 
 that no motion mighc be, in the lead degree, 
 attended to, but that of the pure fpirit of truth. 
 
 The fubjedts before-mentioned, on which 
 I had fo lately fpoken in public, were now 
 
 very
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 131 
 
 very frem before me j and I was brought in- 
 wardly to commit myfelf to the Lord, to be 
 difpoied of as he faw beft. So I took leave of 
 my family and neighbours, in much bowed- 
 nefs of fpirit, and went to our monthly-meet- 
 ing at Burlington ; and, after taking leave of 
 friends there, i croffed the river, accompanied 
 by my friends, Ifrael and John Pemberton; and, 
 parting the next morning with Ifrael, John 
 bore me company to Samuel Foulk's, where 
 met the before- mentioned Indians, and we 
 were glad to fee each other : here my friend, 
 Benjamin Parvin, met me, arrd propofed join- 
 ing as a companion, we having pafled fome 
 letters before on the fubject ; and new, on his 
 account, I had a fliarp trial ; for, as the jour- 
 ney appeared perilous, I thought, if he went 
 chiefly to bear me company, and we mould be 
 taken caprive, my having been the means of 
 drawing him into thefe difficulties would add 
 to my own afflictions : fo 1 told him my mind 
 freely, and let him know that I was refigned 
 to go alone j bu% after all, if he really believed 
 it to be his duty to go on, I believed his com- 
 pany would be very comfortable to me : it 
 was, indetd, a timeof deepexercife, and Ben- 
 jamin appeared to be fo fattened to the vifit, 
 that he could not be eafy to leave me ; fo we 
 went on, accompanied by our friends, John 
 Pemberton, and William Lightfootof Pikeland, 
 and lodged at Bethlehem; and there, parting 
 with John, William and we went forward on 
 the ninth day of the fixth month, and got 
 lodging on the floor of a houfe, about five 
 K 2 miles
 
 j 32 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 miles from Fort- Allen : here we parted with 
 William ; and at this place we met with an 
 Indian trader, lately come from Wioming; and, 
 .in converfation with him, I perceived that ma- 
 ny white people do often fell rum to the In- 
 dians, which, I believe, is a great evil firft, 
 they being thereby deprived of the ufe of their 
 reafon, and their fpirits violently agitated, quar- 
 rels often arife which end in mifchief j and the 
 bitternefs and refentments, occafioned hereby, 
 are frequently of long continuance: again, 
 their fkins and furs, gotten through much fa- 
 tigue and hard travels in hunting, with which 
 they intended to buy clothing, when they be- 
 come intoxicated, they often fell at a low rate 
 for more rum ; and afterward, when they 
 
 - fuffer for want of the neceflaries of life, are 
 
 - angry with thofe who, for the fake of gain, 
 took the advantage of their weaknefs : of this 
 their chiefs have often complained, at their 
 treaties with the Englifh. Where cunning 
 people pafs counterfeits, and impofe that on o- 
 thers which is good for nothing, it is confi- 
 dered as a wickednefs j but, to fell that to peo- 
 ple which we know does them harm, and 
 which often works their ruin, for the fake of 
 gain, manifefts a hardened and corrupt heart, 
 and is an evil, which demands the care of all 
 true lovers of virtue to fupprefs : and while 
 my mind, this evening, was thus employed, I 
 alfo remembered, that the people on the fron- 
 tiers, among whom this evil is too common, 
 are often poor ; who venture to the outfide of 
 a colony, that they may live more indepen- 
 dent
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 133 
 
 dent on fuch as are wealthy, who often /et 
 high rents on their land : being renewedly 
 confirmed in a belief, that, if all our inhabi- 
 tants lived according to found wifdom, labour- 
 ing to promote univerfal love and righteouf- 
 nefs, and ceafed from every inordinate defire 
 after wealth, and from all cuftoms which are 
 tinctured with luxury, the way would be ea- 
 fy for our inhabitants, though much more nu- 
 merous than at prefent, to live comfortably on 
 honeft employments, without having that 
 temptation they are often under of being drawn 
 into fchemes to make fettlements on lands 
 which have not been purchafed of the Indi- 
 ans, or of applying to that wicked practice of 
 felling rum to them. 
 
 On the tenth day of the month we fet out 
 early in the morning, and crofled the wef- 
 tern branch of Delaware, called the Great 
 Lehie, near Fort-Allen ; the water being 
 high, we went over in a canoe : here we 
 met an Indian, and had fome friendly conver- 
 fation with him, and gave him fome biicuit j 
 and he having killed a deer, gave the Indians 
 with us fome of it: then, after travelling 
 fome miles, we met feveral Indian men and 
 women with a cow and horfe, and fomehoufe- 
 hold goods, who were lately come from their 
 dwelling at Wioming, and going to fettle at 
 another place; we made them fome fmall pre^- 
 fents, and, fome of them underflanding Eng- ' 
 lim, I told them my motive in coming into-' 
 their country, with which they appeared fatis-' 
 fied : and, one of our guides talking a while 
 K 3 with
 
 134 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 with an ancient woman concerning us, the 
 poor old woman came to my companion and 
 me, and took her leave of us with an appear- 
 ance of fincere affection. So, going on, we 
 pitched our tent near the banks of the lame 
 river, having laboured hard in croffing fomeof 
 thofe mountains called the Blue-Ridge j and, 
 by the roughnefs of the ftones, and the cavi- 
 ties between them, and the fteepntfs of the 
 hills, it appeared dangerous j but we were 
 preferved in fafety, through the kindnefs of 
 him, whofe works in thofe montainous defarts 
 appeared awful : toward whom my heart was 
 turned during this day's travel. 
 
 Near our tent, on the fides of large trees 
 peeled for that purpofe, were various repre- 
 fentatipns of men going to, and returning 
 from the wars, and of fome killed in battle ; 
 this being a path heretofore ufed by warriors: 
 and, as 1 walked about viewing thofe Indian 
 hiftories, which were painted moftly in red, but 
 fome in black, and thinking on the innumera- 
 ble afflictions which the proud, fierce, fpirit, 
 produceth in the worlds thinking on the toils 
 and fatigues of warriors, travelling over moun- 
 tains and defarts ; thinking on their miferies 
 and diftrefles when wounded far from home by 
 their enemies i and of their bruifes and great 
 wearinefs ih chafing one another over the 
 rocks and mountains -, and of their reftlefs, 
 unquiet, ftate of mind, who live in this fpirit j 
 and of the hatred which mutually grows up in 
 the minds of the children of thofe nations en- 
 gaged in war with each other : during thefe 
 
 meditations,
 
 '35 
 
 meditations, the define to cherifh the fpifit 
 of love and peace amongft thefe people arofe 
 very frem in me. This was the firft night 
 that we lodged in the woods } and, being wet 
 with travelling in the rain, the ground, our> 
 tent, and the bufhes, which we purpofed to lag 
 under our blankets, being alfo wet, all lookea 
 difcouraging ; but I believed, that it was the 
 Lord who had thus far brought me forward, 
 and that he would difpofe of me as he faw 
 good ; and therein I felt eafy : fo we kindled a 
 fire, with our tent open to it j and, with fome 
 buflies next the ground, and then our blankets, 
 we made our bed, and, lying down, got fome 
 fleep ; and, in the morning, feeling a little un- 
 well, 1 went into the river ; the water was 
 cold, but foon after 1 felt frefh and well. 
 
 The eleventh day of the fixth month, the 
 bumes being wet, we tarried in our tent till 
 about eight o'clock j when, going on, we crofled 
 a high mountain fuppofed to be upwards of 
 lour miles over j the fteepnefs on the north- 
 fide exceeding all the others. We allo crofTed 
 two fwamps, and, it raining near night, we 
 pitched our tent and lodged. 
 
 * A I 
 
 About noon, on our way, we were over- 
 taken by one of the Moravian brethren, go- 
 ing to Wehaloofing, and an Indian man 
 with him, who could talk Englifh j and we, 
 being together while our horfes ate grafs, had 
 fome friendly conversation j but they, tra- 
 velling fatter than we, foon left us. This 
 Moravian, i underftood, had fpent fome 
 time this fpringr at Wehaloofing, and was, 
 K 4 by
 
 136 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 by fome of the Indians, invited to come 
 again. 
 
 The twelfth day of the fixth month, and 
 firft of the week, it being a rainy c j ay, we 
 continued in our tent j and here I was led to 
 think on the nature of the exercife which 
 hath attended me : love was the firft motion, 
 and thence a concern arofe to fpend fome time 
 with the Indians, that I might feel and un- 
 derfland their life, and the fpirit they live 
 in, if haply I might receive fome inftrudlion 
 from them, or they be in any degree helped 
 forward by my following the leadings of 
 truth amongft them : and, as it pleafed the 
 Lord to make way for my going at a time 
 when the troubles of war were increaimg, 
 and when, by reafon of much wet weather, 
 travelling was. more difficult than ufual at 
 that feafon, I looked upon it as a more fa- 
 vourable opportunity to feafon -my mind, and 
 bring me into a nearer fympathy with them: 
 and, as mine eye was to the great Father of 
 mercies, humbly defiring to learn what his 
 will was concerning me, I was made quiet and 
 content. 
 
 Our guide's horfe, though hoppled, went 
 away in the night; after finding our own, 
 snd fearching fome time for him, his footfteps 
 were difcovercd in the path going back again, 
 whereupon my kind companion went off in 
 the rain, and, about feven hours after, re* 
 turneu with him ; and here we lodged again ; 
 tying up our horfes before we went to bed, 
 and loofing them to feed about break of day, 
 
 On
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 137 
 
 On the thirteenth day of the fixth month, 
 the fun appearing, we fet forward ; and, as I 
 rode over the barren hills, my meditations 
 were on the alterations of the circumftances 
 of the natives of this land fmce the coming 
 in of the Engliih. The lands near the fea 
 are conveniently fituated for fiming j the 
 lands near the rivers, where the tides flow, 
 and fome above, are in many places fertile, 
 and not mountainous ; while the running of 
 the tides makes paffing; up and down eafy 
 with any kind of traffic. Thofe natives 
 have, in fome places, for trifling confidera- 
 tions, fold their inheritance fo favoiirably 
 fituated ; and, in other places, been driven 
 back by fuperior force: fo that in many 
 places, as their way of clothing themfelves 
 is now altered from what it was, and they, 
 far remote from us, have to pafs over moun- 
 tains, fwamps, and barren defarts, travelling 
 is very troublefome, in bringing their fkins and 
 furs to trade with us. 
 
 By the extending of Englifh fettlements, 
 and partly by Englifh hunters, the wild beafts, 
 they chiefly depend on for a fubfiftance, are 
 not fo plenty as they were ; and people too 
 often, for the fake of gain, open a door for 
 them to wafte their fkins and furs; in purcha- 
 fing a liquor which tends to the ruin of them 
 and their families. 
 
 My own will and defines were now very 
 much broken, and my heart, with much 
 earneftnefs, turned to the Lord, to whom 
 alone I looked for help in the dangers before 
 
 me..
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 I had a profped: of the English along 
 coaft, for upwards of nine hundred 
 miles, where I had travelled ; and the fa- 
 vourable fituation of the Englim, and the 
 difficulties attending the natives in many 
 places, and the negroes, were open before 
 me ; and a weighty and heavenly care came 
 over my mind, and love filled my heart to- 
 ward all mankind, in which 1 felt a ftrong 
 engagement, that we might be obedient to 
 the Lord, while, in tender mercies, he is yet 
 calling to us; and fo attend to pure univer- 
 fal rghteoufnefs, as to give no juft caufe of 
 offence to the Gentiles, who do not profefs 
 Chyiftianity, whether the blacks from Africa, 
 or the native inhabitants of this continent: 
 and here I was led into a clofe laborious 
 enquiry, whether I, as an individual, kept 
 clear from all things which tended to ftir up, 
 or were connected with wars, either in this 
 land or Africa; and my heart was deeply 
 concerned, that, in future, I might in all 
 things keep fteadily to the pure truth, and 
 live and. walk in the plainnefs and fimplicity 
 of a fmcere follower of Chrift. And, in this 
 Jonely journey, I did, this day, greatly be- 
 wail the ipreading of a wrong fpirit, be- 
 lieving, that the profperous, convenient, fi- 
 tuation of the Englim, requires a conftant 
 attention to divine love and wifdom to guide 
 and fupport us in a way anfwerable to the 
 will of that good, gracious, and almighty 
 Being, who hath an equal regard to all man- 
 kind : and, here, luxury and covetoufnefs, 
 
 with
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 139 
 
 with the numerous oppreffions, and other 
 evils attending them, appeared very afflic- 
 ting to me ; and 1 felt in that which is im- 
 mutable, that the feeds of great calamity 
 and defolation are fown and growing fail on 
 this continent : nor have I words fufficient to 
 fet forth that longing I then felt, that we, 
 who are placed along the coaft, a'nd have taft- 
 ed the love and goodnefs of God, might arife 
 in his ftrength ; and, like faithful meiTen- 
 gers, labour to chedk the growth of thefe 
 feeds, that they may not ripen to the ruin of 
 our pofterity. 
 
 We reached the Indian fettlement at Wio- 
 ming : and here we were told, that an In- 
 dian runner had been at that place a day or 
 two before us, and brought news of the In- 
 dians taking an Englim fort weftward, and 
 deftroying the people, and that they were 
 endeavouring to take another ; and alfo, that 
 another Indian runner came there about the 
 middle of the night before we got there, 
 who came from a town about ten miles 
 above Wehaloofing, and brought news, that 
 fome Indian warriors, from diftant parts, 
 came to that town with two Englifli fcalps ; 
 and told the people, that it was war with 
 the Englifli. 
 
 Our guides took us to the houfe of a very 
 ancient man ; and, foon after we had put in 
 our baggage, there came a man from ano- 
 ther Indian houie fome diftance offj and I, 
 perceiving there was a man near the door, 
 went out ; and, having a tomahawk 
 
 wrapped
 
 140 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 wrapped under his matchcoat out of fight, 
 as I approached him, he took it in his hand 5 
 J, however, went forward, and, fpeaking to 
 him in a friendly way, perceived he under- 
 ftood feme Englifh : my companion then 
 coming out, we had fome talk with him 
 concerning the nature of our vifit in thefe 
 parts j and then he going into the houfe 
 with us, and talking with our guides, foon 
 appeared friendly, and fat down and fmo- 
 ked his pipe. Though his taking his hatchet 
 in his hand, at the inftant I drew near to him, 
 had a difagreeable appearance, I believe he had 
 no other intent than to be in readinefs in cafe 
 any violence was offered to him. 
 
 Hearing the news brought by thefe In- 
 dian runners, and being told by the Indians 
 where we lodged, that what Indians were 
 about Wioming expected, in a few days, to 
 move to iome larger towns, 1 thought that, 
 to all outward appearance, it was dangerous 
 travelling at this time j and was, after a 
 hard day's journey, brought into a painful 
 cxercife at night, in which I had to trace 
 back, and view over, the fteps I had taken 
 from my firft moving in the vifit j and though 
 J had to bewail iome weaknefs which, at 
 times, had attended me, yet I could not 
 find that I had ever given way to a wil- 
 ful difobedience : and then, as I believed I 
 had, under a fenfe of duty, come thus far, 
 I was now earned in fpirit, befeeching the 
 Lord to (hew me what I ought to do. In 
 this great dulrefs I grew jealous, of myfelf, 
 
 left
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 141 
 
 left the defirc of reputation, as a man 
 firmly fettled to perfevere through dan- 
 gers, or the fear of difgrace arifing on 
 my returning without performing the vi- 
 fit, might have fome place in me: thus I 
 lay, full of thoughts, great part of the night, 
 while my beloved companion lay and lept 
 by me ; till the Lord, my gracious Father, 
 who faw the conflicts of my foul, was 
 pleafed to give quietnefs: then I was again 
 ftrengthened to commit my life, and all 
 things relating thereto, into his heavenly 
 hands ; and, getting a little fleep toward day, 
 when morning came we arofe. 
 
 On the fourteenth day of the fixth month, 
 we fought out and vifited all the Indians 
 hereabout that we could meet with ; they 
 being chiefly in one place, about a mile from 
 where we lodged, in all perhaps twenty. 
 Here I exprefTed the care I had on my mind 
 for their good ; and told them, that true 
 love had made me willing thus to leave my 
 family to come and fee the Indians, and 
 fpeak with them in their houfes. Some 
 of them appeared kind and friendly. So we 
 took our leave of thefe Indians : and went 
 up the river Sufquehannah, about three 
 miles, to the houfe of an Indian, called Ja- 
 cob January, who had killed his hog; and 
 the women were making ftore of bread, and 
 preparing to move up the river. Here our 
 pilots left their canoe when they came down 
 in the fpring, which, lying dry, was leaky ; 
 fo that we, being detained fome hours, had 
 
 a good
 
 i 4 2 , THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 a goo4 deal of friendly converfation with 
 the family ; and, eating dinner whh them, 
 we made them fome fmall prefrnts. Then, 
 putting our baggage in the cancc, fome of 
 them pufhed flowly up the ftrer.m, and the 
 reft of us rode our horfes$ and fwimmirig 
 them orer a creek, called 'Lahawahamunfc, 
 we pitched OUF tent n little above it, there being 
 a 'mower in the evening : and, in a fenfe of 
 God's goodnefs in helping me in my diftrefs, 
 fuftaining me under trials, and inclining 
 my heart to trufl in him, I lay down in an 
 humble bowed frame of mind, and had a com- 
 fortable night's lodging. 
 
 On the fifteenth day of the fixth month, 
 we proceeded forward till the afternoon} 
 when, a ftorm appearing, we met our canoe 
 at an appointed place ; and, the rain conti- 
 nuing, we ftaycd all night, which was fo 
 heavy, that it beat through our tent, and wet 
 us and our baggage. 
 
 On the fixteenth day, we found, on our 
 way, abundance of trees blown down with 
 theftorm the day before - y and had occafion re- 
 verently to confider the kind dealings of the 
 Lord, who provided a fafe place for us in a 
 valley, while this ftorm continued. By the 
 falling of abundance of trees acrofs our path, 
 we were much hindered, and in fome fwamps 
 our way was fo flopped, that we got through 
 with extreme difficulty. 
 
 I had this day often to confider myfelf as a 
 fojourner in this world ; and a belief in the all- 
 fufficiency of God to fupport his people in 
 
 their
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 143 
 
 their pilgrimage felt comfortable to me ; and I 
 was induftrioufly employed to get to a flate of 
 perfect rcfignation. 
 
 We feldom faw our canoe but at appoint- 
 ed places, by reafon of the path going off 
 from the river : and, this afternoon, Job Chi- 
 laway, an Indian from Wehaloofing, who 
 talks good Englim, and is acquainted with 
 feveral people in and about Philadelphia, met 
 our people on the river ; and, underftanding 
 where we expected to lodge, pufhed back 
 about fix miles, and came to us after night; 
 and ^in a while our own canoe came, it be- 
 ing hard work pulhing up ftream. Job told 
 us, that an Indian came in hafte to their 
 town yefterday, and told them, that three 
 warriors, coming from fome diftance, lodg- 
 ed in a town above Wehaloofing a few nights 
 part ; and that thefe three men were guing 
 againft the Englim at Juniata. Job was 
 going down the river to the province-ftoie 
 at Shamokin. Though I was ib far favour- 
 ed with health as to continue travelling, yet, 
 through the various difficulties in our jour- 
 ney, and the different way of living from 
 what I had been ufed to, I grew fick ; and 
 the news of thefe warriors being on their 
 march fo near us, and not knowing whe- 
 ther we might not fall in with them, was a 
 fre(h trial or my faith ; and though, through 
 the ftrength of divine love, I had leveral times 
 been enabled to commit myfeif to the divine 
 difpofal, I ftill found the want of my ftrength 
 to be renewed, that I might perfevere therein ; 
 
 and
 
 '*44 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and my cries for help were put up to the Lord, 
 who, in great mercy, gave me a refigned 
 heart, in which I found quietnefs. 
 
 On the feventeenh day, parting from Job 
 Chilaway, we went on, and reached Weha- 
 loofing about the middle of the afternoon ; 
 and the firft Indian that we faw was a wo- 
 man of a modeft countenance, with a bible, 
 who firft fpake to our guide ; and then, with 
 a harmonious voice, exprefled her gladnefs 
 at feeing us, having before heard of our 
 coming: then, by the direction of our guide, 
 we fat down on a log j and he went to the 
 town, to tell the people we were come. My 
 companion and 1 fitting thus together, in a 
 deep inward ftillnefs, the poor woman came 
 and fat near us; and, great awfulnefs coming 
 over us, we rejoiced in a fenfe of God's love 
 manifefted to our poor fouls. After a while, 
 we heard a conkfliell blow feveral times, and 
 then came John Curtis, and another Indian 
 man, who kindly invited us into a houfe near 
 the town, where we found, I fuppofe, about 
 iixty people fitting in lilence ; and, after fitting 
 a fhort time, I ftood up, and in fome tender- 
 nefs of fpirit acquainted them with the nature 
 of my viiit, and that a concern for their good 
 had made me willing to come thus far to fee 
 them j all in a few (hort fentences, which 
 fome of them undemanding interpreted to the 
 others, and there appeared gladnefs ambngft 
 them. Then I (hewed them my certificate, 
 which was explained to them j and the Mo- 
 ravian, 
 -
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 145 
 
 ravian, who overtook us on the way, being 
 now here, bade me welcome. 
 
 On the eighteenth day, we refted ourfelves 
 this forenoon ; and the Indians, knowing that 
 the Moravian and I were of different reli- 
 gious locieties, and as fome of their people 
 had encouraged him to come and ftay a 
 while with them, were, I believe, concerned, 
 that no jarring or difcord might be in their 
 meetings : and they, I fuppofe, having con- 
 ferred together, acquainted me, that the 
 people, at my requeft, would, at any time, 
 come together, and hold meetings; and al- 
 fo told me, that they expected the Moravian 
 would fpeak in their fettled meetings, which 
 are commonly held morning and near even- 
 ing. So I found liberty in my heart to fpeak 
 to the Moravian, and told him of the care 
 1 felt on my mind for the good of thefe peo- 
 ple ; . and that I believed no ill effects would 
 follow it, if I fometimes fpake in their meet- 
 ings when love engaged me thereto, with- 
 out calling them together at times when they 
 did not meet of courfe : whereupon he ex- 
 prelfed his good- will toward my fpeaking, 
 at any time, all that I found in my heart 
 to fay : k>, near evening, I was at their meet- 
 ing, where the pure gofpel- love was felt, to 
 the tendering fome of our hearts ; and the 
 interpreters, endeavouring to acquaint the 
 people with what I faid in fhort fentences, 
 found fome difficulty, as none of them were 
 quite perfect in the Englifli and Delaware 
 tongues, fo they helped one another, and we 
 L laboured
 
 546 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 laboured along, divine love attending : and 
 afterwards, feeling my mind covered with 
 the fpirit of prayef, I told the interpreters 
 that I found it in my heart to pray to God, 
 and believed, if I prayed aright, he would 
 hear me, and expreffed my willingnefs for 
 them to omit interpreting ; fo our meeting 
 ended with a degree of divine love : and, 
 before the people went out, I obferved Pa- 
 punehang (the man who had been zealous 
 in labouring for a reformation in that town, 
 being then very tender) fpoke to one of the 
 interpreters : and I was afterwards told that 
 lie faid in fubftance as follows j " I love to 
 4 * feel where words come from." 
 
 On the nineteenth day, and firft of the 
 week, this morning, in the meeting, the In 1 - 
 dian, who came with the Moravian, being al- 
 fo a member of that fociety, prayed ; and 
 then the Moravian fpake a mort time to the 
 people : and, in the afternoon, they coming 
 together, and my heart being filled with a 
 heavenly care for their good, I fpake to them 
 awhile by interpreters ; but none of them 
 being perfccl: in the work, and I, feeling the 
 current of love run ftrong, told the inter- 
 preters, that I believed fome of the people 
 would underftand me, and fo I proceeded : 
 in which exercife, I believe the Holy Ghoft 
 wrought on fome hearts to edification, where 
 all the words were not underftood. I look- 
 ed upon it as a time of divine favour, and my 
 heart was tendered and truly thankful before 
 the Lord ; and, after I fat down, one of the 
 
 interpreters
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 147 
 
 interpreters Teemed fpirited to give the Indians 
 the fubrtance of what I had faid. 
 
 Before our firft meeting, this morning, I 
 was led to meditate on the manifold diffi- 
 culties of thefc Indians, who, by the per- 
 miflion of the fix nations, dwell in thefe 
 parts ; and a near fympathy with them was 
 raifed in me ; and, my heart being enlarged in 
 the love of Chriit, I thought that the afFecti- 
 onatc care of a good man for his only brother 
 in affliction does not exceed what I then felt 
 for that people. 
 
 I came to this place through much trou- 
 bfe j and though, through the mercies of 
 God, [ believed, that if I died in xhe jour- 
 ney, it would be well with me; yet the 
 thoughts of falling into the hands of Ionian 
 warriors were, in times of weakness, afflic- 
 ting to me ; and, being of a tender conilitu- 
 tion of body, the thoughts .of captivity 
 amongft them were, at times, grievous j as 
 fuppo(u)g, that they being ftrong and hardy, 
 niiyht demand fervice of me beyond what I 
 -could well bear ; but the Lord alone was my 
 keepers and I believed, if I went into capti- 
 vity, it would be for foine good end ; and 
 thus, from time to time, my mind was cen- 
 tered in retignation, in which I always .found 
 quietnefs. And now, this day, though 1 bad 
 the fame dangerous wildernefs between me 
 and home, 1 was inwardly joyful that the 
 .Lord had ftrengthened me to come on this 
 vifit, and maniiefted a fatherly care over me 
 in my poor lowly condition, when in mine 
 L 2 own
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 own eyes I appeared inferior to many a- 
 mongft the Indians. 
 
 When the laft - mentioned meeting was 
 ended, it being night Papunehang went to 
 bed ; and, one of the interpreters fitting by 
 me, I obferved Papunehang fpoke with an 
 harmonious voice, I fuppofe a minute or 
 two : and, a/king the interpreter, I was tcld, 
 that " he was exprefling his thankfulnefs to 
 God for the favours he had received that 
 day ; and prayed that he would continue to 
 favour him with that fame, which he had 
 experienced in that meeting." And though 
 Papunehang had before agreed to receive the 
 Moravian, and join with them, he ftill ap- 
 peared kind and loving to us. 
 
 On the twentieth day, I was at two meet- 
 ings, and filent in them. 
 
 The twenty-firft day. This morning, in 
 
 U 1 J I 
 
 meeting, my heart was enlarged in pure loVe 
 amongft them, and, in (hort plain lentences, 
 ) exprefled feveral things that refted upon me, 
 which one of the interpreters gave the peo- 
 ple pretty readily ; after which, the meeting 
 ended in fupplication, and I had caufe hum- 
 bly to acknowledge the loving- kindnefs of 
 the Lord toward us j and then I believed 
 that a door remained open for the faithful 
 difciples of Jefus Chrift to labour amongft 
 thefe people. 
 
 I now feeling my mind at liberty to re- 
 turn, took my leave of them in general, at 
 the conclufion of what 1 faid in meeting ; 
 and fo we prepared to go homeward : but 
 
 fomc
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 149 
 
 fome of their moft adive men told us, that, 
 when we were ready to move, the people 
 
 would choofe to come and make hands with 
 
 -'i . 
 
 us ; which thole who ufually come to meet- 
 ing did : and, from a fecret draught in my 
 mind, I went amongft ibine who did not 
 ufe to go to meeting, and took my leave of 
 them aifo: And the Moravian and his Indian 
 interpreter appeared refpeclful to us at part- 
 ing. This town ftands on the bank of Suf- 
 quehannah, and confifts, I believe, of about 
 forty houfes, moflly compadt together; fome 
 about thirty feet long, and eighteen wide, 
 fome bigger, fome leis ; moflly built of fplit 
 plank, one end let in the ground, and the 
 other pinned to a plate, on which lay raf- 
 ters, and covered with bark. I underftand 
 a great flood laft winter overflowed the chief 
 part of the ground where the town (lands ; 
 and fome were now about moving their houfes 
 
 u u 
 
 to higher ground. 
 
 \\fe expected only two Indians to be our 
 company ; but, when we were ready to go, 
 we found many of them were going to Beth- 
 lehem with fkins and furs, who chofe to 
 go in company with us : lo they loaded two 
 canoes, which they defired us to go in, lel- 
 ling us, that the waters were fo raifed with 
 the rains, that the liorfes fliould be taken hy 
 fuch as were better acquainted with the 
 fording places : fo we, with levcrul Indians, 
 went in the canoes, and others went on 
 horfes, there being (even beiides ours. And 
 we meeting with the horlcmen once on the 
 L 3 way
 
 THE LIFE 'AND' TRAVELS 
 
 way by appointment, and that near night, 
 a little below a branch called Tankhannah, 
 we lodged there j and fome of the ycung 
 men, going out a little before dufk with their 
 guns, brought in a deer. 
 
 On the twenty-fecond day, through dili- 
 gence, we reached Wioming before night, 
 and underftood the Indians were moftly gone 
 from this place : here we went up a fmall 
 creek into the woods with our canoes, and, 
 pitching our tent, carried out our baggage ; 
 and before dark our horfes came to us. 
 
 On the twenty-third day in the morning 
 their horfes were loaded, and we prepared 
 our baggage and fo fet forward, being in all 
 fourteen ; and, with diligent travelling, were 
 favoured to get near half way to Fort- Allen. 
 The land on this road from Wioming to our 
 frontier being moftly poor, and good grafs 
 fearer, they chofe a piece of low ground to 
 lodge on, as the beil for grazing ; and I, 
 having fweated much in travelling, and be- 
 ing weary, flept found ; I perceived in the 
 night that I had taken cold, of which I was 
 favoured to get better foon. 
 
 On the twenty- fourth day we parted Fort- 
 Allen, and lodged near it in the woods. 
 
 Having forded the wefterly branch of De- 
 laware three times, we thereby had a fhorter 
 \vay, and milled going over the top of the 
 Blue Mountains, called the fecond ridge. Jn 
 the fecond time fording, where the river cuts 
 through the mountain, the waters being rapid 
 and pretty deep, and my companion's mare 
 
 being
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 151 
 
 being a tall, tractable, animal, he fundry 
 times drove her back through the river, and 
 they loaded her with the burthens of fome 
 fmall hories, which they thought not fuffici- 
 ent to come through with their loads. 
 
 The troubles weftward, and the difficulty 
 for Indians to pafs through our frontier, I ap- 
 prehend, was one reafon why fo many came ; 
 as expecting that our being in company 
 would prevent the outfide inhabitants from 
 being furprifed. 
 
 On the twenty- fifth day we reached Beth- 
 lehem, taking care on the way to keep fore- 
 moil, and to acquaint people on and near 
 the road who theie Indians were : this we 
 found very needful ; for the frontier iajiabi- 
 rants were often alarmed at the report of Eng- 
 lifh being killed by Indians weftward. 
 
 Amongft our company were fome whom I 
 di<i not remember to have feen at meeting, 
 and ibme of thefe, at firft, were very referved ; 
 but, we being feveral days together, and be- 
 having friendly toward them, and making 
 them fuitable returns for the fervices they did 
 us, they became more free and facial. 
 
 On the twenty -fixth day and firft of the 
 week, having carefully endeavoured to fettle 
 all affairs with the Indians relative to our 
 journey, we took leave of them, and I 
 thought they generally parted with us af- 
 fectionately ; fo we, getting to Richland, had 
 a very comfortable meeting amongft our 
 friends : here I parted with my kind friend 
 and companion, Benjamin Parvin ; and, *ac- 
 L '4' companied
 
 152 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 companied by my friend, Samuel Foulk, we 
 rode to John Cadwallader's, from whence I 
 reached home the next day, where I found 
 my family middling well ; and they, and my 
 friends, all along appeared glad to fee me re- 
 turn from a journey which they apprehended 
 dangerous : but my mind, while 1 was our, 
 had been fo employed in driving for a per- 
 fect retignation, and I had fo often been con- 
 firmed in a belief, that whatever the Lord 
 might he pleafed to allot for me, would 
 work for good, I was careful left I mould 
 admit any degree of feliidinefs in being glad 
 overmuch, and laboured to improve by thofe 
 trials in fuch a manner as my gracious Fa- 
 ther und Protector intends for me. Between 
 the Englifli inhabitants and Wehalooling 
 we had only a narrow path, which in many 
 places is much grown up with bumes, and 
 interrupted by abundance of trees lying 
 acrofs it ; theie, together with the moun- 
 tains, fwamps, and rough ftones, make it a 
 difficult road to travel j and the more fo, for 
 that rattlefnakcs abound there, of which we 
 killed four : People, who have never been 
 in fuch places, have but an imperfect idea 
 of them ; but J was not only taught pa- 
 tience, but alfo made thankful to God, who 
 thus led me about and inftrudted me, that I 
 might have a quick and lively feeling of 
 the afflictions of my fellow-creature*, whole 
 iituatioB in life is diiiieult, 
 
 tYn^ vv;v;\: >:'tt 
 
 . 
 
 C II A P.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 153 
 
 -ijii^qrnoo 
 
 i vDOl 
 K31 
 
 C H A P. IX. 
 
 His religious converfation with a company met 
 to fee the tricks of a juggler His account 
 of John Smith's advice, and of the pro- 
 ceedings of a committee, at the yearly -meet" 
 ing in 1764 Contemplations on the nature 
 of true wifdom, occajioned by hearing of the 
 cruelty of the Indians to their captives 
 His vi/iting the families of friends at Mount- 
 Holly, Mansfield, and Burlington, in \ 764, 
 and the meetings on thefea-coajl, from Cape- 
 May, toward Squan, in \ 765 His vifit to 
 the lower counties on Delaware, and the 
 eaftern fhore of Maryland, in 1766, in 
 company with *John Sleeper ; with fame ac- 
 count of yofeph Nichols and his followers; 
 and ohfervations on the different Jt ate of the 
 jirft fettlers in Pennfyhania who depended 
 on their own labour, and thofe of the fou- 
 theru provinces who kept negroes- His vt- 
 
 nffiing the northern parts of New-Jerfey 
 the fame year, and the weflern parts of 
 Maryland and Pennfyhania in 1767, and 
 
 Wafterwards other parts of Pennfyhania, 
 and the families of friends at Mount -Holly - y 
 and again, federal parts of Maryland in 
 1768 Farther considerations on keeping 
 Jlaves ; and his concern for having former- 
 ly, as an executor, been party t* the fale 
 of one j and what he did in conference of 
 
 it
 
 TuEjUFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 it -'Thoughts on friends exercifing offices 
 in ct'vi/ government. 
 
 V "'f 4 -y*r 
 ' I *HE latter part of the fummer, 1763, 
 
 there came a man to Mount-Holly, 
 tyho had before publifhed, by a printed ad- 
 Tertiienaent, that, at a certain public-houfe, 
 he vould fiiGw many wonderful operations, 
 vrhich he therein enumerated. 
 
 Tbis man, at the time appointed, did, by 
 flight of band, fundry things ; which, to 
 thofe gathered, appeared ftrange. 
 
 The next day, I, hearing of it, and under- 
 ftanding that the fliew was to be continued 
 the next night, and the people to meet about 
 fun-fet, feh ar> exercife on that account : fo 
 I went to the public-houfe in the evening 
 and told the man of the houfe that I had an 
 inclination to fpend a part of the evening 
 there ; with which he fignified that he was 
 content. Then, fitting down by the door, I 
 fpake to the people, as they came together, 
 concerning this fliew ; and, more coming and 
 fitting down with us, the feats of the door 
 were moftly filled ; and I had converfation 
 with them in the fear of the Lord, and la- 
 boured to convince them that, thus ailembling 
 to fee thofe tricks or flights of hand, and 
 beftowing their money to iupport men, who, 
 in that capacity, were of no ufe in the world, 
 was contrary to the nature of the Chriftian 
 religion. 
 
 There was one of the company who, for a 
 time, endeavoured, by arguments, to fliew 
 
 the 

 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 15-5 
 
 the reafonablenefs of their proceedings here- 
 in j but, after confidering fome texts of fcrip- 
 ture-, and calmly debating the matter, he 
 gave up the point. So, having fpent about an 
 hour amoflgft them, and feeling my mind 
 eafy, I departed. 
 
 At our yearly- meeting at Philadelphia, on 
 the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, 
 1764, John Smith, of Marlborough, aged 
 upwards of eighty years, a faithful minifter, 
 though not eloquent, flood up in our meeting 
 of minifters and elders, and, appearing to 
 be under a great exercife of fpirit, informed 
 friends in lubftance as follows: to wit, 
 " That he had been a member of the fociety 
 upward of fixty years, and well remembered, 
 that in thofe early times friends were a plaiiv 
 lowly- minded people ; and that there was 
 much tendernefs and contrition in their 
 meetings. That, at twenty years from that 
 time, the fociety, increafing in wealth, and in 
 Ibme degree con forming to the fa(hions of the 
 world, true humility was lefs apparent, and 
 their meetings, in general, not fo lively and 
 edifying That, at the end of forty years, 
 many of them were grown very rich ; that 
 wearing of fine coftly garments, and ufing of 
 filver (and other) watches, became cuftomary 
 with them, their fons, and their daughters, 
 and many of the fociety made a fpacious ap- 
 pearance in the world ; which marks of out- 
 ward wealth and greatnefs appeared on fome 
 in our meetings of minifters and elders; and 
 as thcfe things became <more prevalent, fo 
 
 the
 
 156 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the powerful overfhadowings of the Holy 
 Ghoft were lefs manifeft in the fociety 
 That there had been a continued increaie of 
 thefe ways of life even until now ; and that 
 the weafenefs which hath now overfpread 
 the fociety, and the barrennefs manifeft 
 amongft us, are matter of much forrow." 
 He then mentioned the uncertainty of his 
 attending thefe meetings in future, expec- 
 ting his diflblution was now near; and, ha- 
 ving tenderly expreffed his concern for us, 
 fignified that he had feen in the true light 
 that the Lord would bring back his people 
 from thefe things into which they were thus 
 degenerated, but that his faithful fervants 
 mull firft go through great and heavy exer- 
 cifes therein. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth day, the committee, 
 appointed by the yearly- meeting to vifn 
 the quarterly and monthly meetings, now 
 gave an account in writing of their proceed- 
 ings in that fervice ; in which they figni- 
 fied, that, in the courfe of it, they had been 
 apprehenfive that fome perfons holding of- 
 fices in government, inconfiftent with our 
 principles, and others, who kept (laves, re- 
 maining adlive members in our meetings of 
 difcipline, had been one means of weaknefs 
 more and more prevailing in the manage- 
 ment thereof in fome places. After this re- 
 port was read, an exercife revived on my 
 mind, which, at times, had attended me fe- 
 veral years, and inward cries to the Lord 
 were raifed in me, that the fear of man 
 
 might
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 157 
 
 might not prevent me from doing what he 
 required of me ; and, (landing up, I fpake 
 in fubftance as follows : " I have felt a ten- 
 dernefs in my mind, toward perfons, in two 
 circumftances mentioned in that report ; 
 that is, toward fuch active members as 
 keep flaves, and fuch as hold offices in 
 civil government j and have dcfircd, that 
 friends, in all their conduct, may be kind- 
 ly affeclioned one toward another. Many 
 friends, who keep flaves, are under fome 
 exercife on that account; and, at times, 
 think about trying them with freedom ; but 
 find many things in their way: and the 
 way of living, and annual expences of fome 
 of them, are fuch, that it feems impractica- 
 ble for them to fet their flaves free, without 
 changing their own way of life. It has been 
 my lot to be often abroad ; and I have ob- 
 ferved in fome places, at quarterly and year- 
 ly meetings, and at fome houfes where trar 
 veiling friends and their horfes are often 
 entertained, that the yearly expence of in- 
 dividuals therein is very confiderablc : and 
 friends, in fome places, crouding much on 
 perfons in thefe circum fiances for entertain- 
 ment, hath often refted as a burthen on my 
 mind for fome years paftj and I now ex- 
 prefs it in the fear of the Lord, greatly de- 
 firing that friends now prefent may duly 
 confider it." 
 
 In the fall of this year, having hired a 
 man to work, I perceived, in converfation, 
 that he had been a foldier in the late war on 
 
 this
 
 THE LIFE AMD TRAVELS 
 
 this continent ; and, in th evening, giving 
 a narrative of his captivity amongft the In- 
 dians, he informed me that he law two of his 
 fellow captives tortured to death in a very cfu- 
 el manner. 
 
 This relation afteded me with fydnefs, 
 under which I went to bed -, and, the next 
 morning, foon after I awoke, a frefli and 
 living fenfe of divi-ne love was fpread over 
 my mind ; in which I had a renewed prof- 
 pcci of the nature of that wifdom from 
 above, which leads to a right ufe of all gifts, 
 both fpiritual and temporal, and gives content 
 therein: under a feeling thereof, I wrote as 
 follows : 
 
 " Hath he, who gave me a being attend- 
 ed with many wants unknown to brute- 
 creatures, given me a capacity fuperior to 
 theirs; and (hewn me, that a moderate ap- 
 plication to bufinefs is proper to my preient 
 condition ; and that this, attended with his 
 blefling, may fupply all outward wants, 
 while they remain within the bounds he hath 
 fixed; and no imaginary wants, proceeding 
 from an evil fpirit, Jiave any place in me F 
 Attend then, O my foul ! to this pure wif- 
 dom, as thy fure conductor through the ma- 
 nifold dangers in this world ! 
 
 Doth pride lead to vanity ? Doth vani- 
 ty form imaginary wants ? Do thefe wants 
 prompt men to exert their power in requi- 
 ring that of others, which they theinfelves 
 would rather be excufcd from, were the fame 
 required of them ? 
 
 Do
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 Do thefe proceedings beget hard thoughts? 
 Do hard thoughts, when ripe, become ma- 
 lice ? Does malice, when ripe, become re- 
 vengeful ; and, in the end, inflict terrible 
 pains on their fellow-creature, and fpread 
 defolation in the world ? 
 
 Doth mankind, walking in uprightness, 
 delight in each others happiaefs ? And *do 
 thefe creatures, capable of this attainment, 
 by giving way to an evil -fpiwt, employ fhttt 
 wit and ftrength to afflict and deftroy cue 
 another ? 
 
 Remember then, O my foul ! the quietude 
 of thofe in whom (Thrift governs, and in -all 
 thy proceedings feel after it ! 
 
 Doth he condefcend to blefs thee with 
 his prefence ? To move and influence to 
 action ? To dwell in thee, and walk in thec? 
 Remember then thy ftation, as a being fa- 
 -cred to God ; accept of the ftrength treely 
 offered thee ; and take heed that no weak- 
 nefs, in conforming to expenfive, uFfwiie, 
 and hard-hearted, cuftoms, gendering to di- 
 cord and ftrife, be given way to. Ddth he 
 claim my body as his temple, and graci- 
 oufly grant that I may be facred to him ? 
 Oh ! that I may prize this favour ; and {hit 
 'my whole life may be conformable to this 
 character ! 
 
 Remember, O my foul ! that the prince 
 of peace is thy Lord : that he communicates 
 his unmixed wiidom to his family ; that 
 they, living in perfect fimplicrty, may give 
 
 no
 
 *6o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 no juft caufe of offence to any creature, but 
 may walk as he walked i ' 
 - Having felt an opennefs in my heart to- 
 ward vifiting families in our own meeting, 
 and especially in the town of Mountr Holly, 
 the place of my abode, I mentioned* it in 
 our monthly-meeting the fore-part of the 
 winter, 1764 ; which being agreed to, and 
 feveral friends of our meeting being united 
 in the exercife, we proceeded therein ; and, 
 through divine favour, were helped in the 
 work, fo that it appeared to me as a frem 
 reviving of godly care amongft friends : and, 
 the latter part of the fame winter, I joined 
 my friend, William Jones, in a vifit to friends 
 families in Mansfield; in which labour I had 
 caufe to admire the goodncfs of the Lord 
 toward us. 
 
 Having felt my mind drawn toward a 
 vifit to friends along the fea-coaft from Cape- 
 May to near Squan ; and alfo to vifit fomc 
 people in thofe parts, amongft whom there 
 is no fettled worship ; I joined with my be- 
 loved friend, Benjamin Jones, in a vifit there, 
 having friends unity therein : and, letting off 
 the twenty -fourth day of the tenth month, 
 1765, we had a profperous and very fatis- 
 factory journey ; feeling, at times, through the 
 goodneis of the heavenly Shepherd, the gof- 
 pcl to flow freely toward a poor people feat- 
 ured in thofe places : and foon after our re- 
 turn, 1 joined my friends, John Sleeper and 
 Elizabeth Smith, in vifiting friends families 
 
 at
 
 OF JOHN .WOOLMAN. , 161 
 
 at Burlington, there being at this time 
 about fifty families of our fociety in that 
 city; and we had caufe humbly to adore 
 our heavenly Father, who baptized us in- 
 to a feeling of the (late of the people, and 
 irrengthened us to labour in true goipel love 
 amongft them. 
 
 An exercife having, at times, for feveral 
 years, attended me, in regard to paying a 
 religious vifit to frieqds on the eaftern more 
 of Maryland : fuch was the nature of this 
 excrciic, that 1 believed the Lord moved me 
 to travel on foot amongft them, that, by fo 
 travelling, I might have a more lively feeling 
 of the condition of the oppreffed flaves, fet 
 an example of lowlinefs before the eyes cf 
 their matters, and be more out of the way ; $f 
 temptation to unprofitable converfe. 
 
 The time now drawing near in which I 
 believed it my duty to lay my concern be- 
 fore our monthly-meeting, I perceived, in 
 conversion with my beloved friend, John 
 Slctper, that he was under a concern to tra- 
 vel the fame way, and alio to travel on foot 
 in the form of a fervant amongft them, as 
 he exprefled it. This he told me before he 
 knew aught of my exerciie. 
 
 f 
 
 <,,,}Ve, being thus drawn the fame way, laid 
 our exerciie and the nature of it before 
 friends; and, obtaining certificates, we fet 
 off the fixth day of the fifth month, 17665 
 and were at meetings with friends at Wil- 
 mington, Duck-Creek, Liule-Creek, and Mo- 
 M therkill >
 
 i62 THIS LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 i , 
 
 therkill ; my heart being fundry times ten>- 
 
 dered under the divine influence, aud enlar- 
 ged in love toward the people amongft whom 
 we travelled. 
 
 From Motherkill, we croffed the country 
 about thirty-five miles to friends at Tucka- 
 hoe in Maryland, and had a meeting there and 
 at Marfby-Creek. 
 
 At thefe, our three laft meetings, were a 
 confiderable number of people, followers of 
 one Joieph Nichols, a preacher ; who, I un- 
 derftand, is not in outward fellowfhip with 
 any religious fociety of people, but profcf- 
 feth nearly the fame principles as our fociety 
 doth, and often travels up and down ap- 
 pointing meetings, to which many people 
 come. I heard fome friends fpeaking of fome 
 of their neighbours, who had been irreligi- 
 ous people, that were now his followers, and 
 were become fober well behaved men and 
 
 women. 
 
 Some irregularities, I hea r , have been 
 amongft the people at feveral of his meet- 
 ings ; but, from the whole of what I have 
 'perceived, I believe the man and fome of his 
 followers are honeftly difpofcd, but that 
 ikilful fathers are wanting among them: 
 from hence we went to Choptank and Third 
 Haven; and thence to Queen Anne's. The 
 weather having fome days paft been hot and 
 dry, and we, to attend meetings purfuant to 
 appqintment, having travelled pretty fteadily,, 
 and had hard labour in meetings, I grew 
 
 weakly,,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 163 
 
 weakly, at which I wus, for a time, dHcott- 
 raged j but, looking over oar jdtrrney, and 
 thinking how *the Lotd had fupported our 
 mifids and bodies, fo that we got forward 
 rtiuch farter than I expe&ed before "we came 
 out, I now faw thJrt I had been in danger of 
 too ftrongly defining to get foon through the 
 journey, and that this bodfty weakfiefs, rioV 
 attending me, was a kindrfefe to hie; and 
 then, in contrition of fpirit, I became Very 
 thankful to my gracious Father, fbr^th'is m- 
 frifeftation of his lovfej and, in huiribtte fnb- 
 Yniffion to his will, itty truft wks rtffiewefl iti 
 him. 
 
 Oh fate part of 6ur jdury, I had many 
 
 thoughts oh thfe different crrcumftances of 
 
 friends, who 'irihabit Pennfylvania and Jer- 
 
 fey, frorh thofe who dwell in Maryland, Vir- 
 
 -eiriia, artd Carolina. Pennfylvania and Ne^v- 
 
 jerfey were fettled by many friends, \vho 
 
 were convinced of our principles in England 
 
 in times of fufFering, and, coming over, 
 
 bought lands of th-c -natives, and applied 
 
 themfe^ves to hufbjlndry in a peaceable way; 
 
 'and many of their children were 'taught to-h*- 
 
 'bour for their living. 
 
 ; Fe<v 'friehds, I believe, carrre from Eng- 
 ; -lwid 'to fettle in any of thefe J fouthe^n pro* 
 winces ; but, by the faithful labours of tra- 
 velling friends in early times, there were con- 
 'tideraWe convincements amongft the inhabi- 
 tants of thefe parts. Here I remembered my 
 reading of the warlike difpofition of many 
 M 2 of
 
 164 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 of the firft fettlers in thole provinces, and 
 of their numerous engagements with the na- 
 tives, in which much blood was med, even 
 in the infancy of thofe colonies. Thefe peo- 
 ple, inhabiting thofe places, being grounded 
 in cuftoms contrary to the pure truth, when 
 fome of them were affected with the power- 
 ful preaching of the word of life, and 
 joined in fellowmip with our fociety, they 
 had a great work to go through. It is ob- 
 fervable, in the Hiftory of the Reformation 
 from Popery, that it had a gradual progrefs 
 from age to age : the uprightnefs of the 
 firft reformers, in attending to the light and 
 understanding given them, opened the way 
 for fmcerc-hearted people to proceed farther 
 afterward ; and thus, each one truly fearing 
 God, and labouring in thofe works of righte- 
 oufnefs appointed for him in his day, 
 rindeth acceptance with him: though, through 
 the darknefs of the times, and the corrup- 
 tion of manners and cuftoms, fome upright 
 men may have had little more for their day's 
 work than to attend to the righteous princi- 
 ple in their minds, as it related to their own 
 conduct in life, without pointing out to 
 others the whole extent of that, which the 
 fame principle would lead fucceeding ages 
 into. Thus, for inftance, amongft an impe- 
 rious warlike people, fupported by opprefled 
 flaves, fome of thefc mailers, I fuppofe, are 
 awakened to feel and fee their error j and, 
 through finccre repentance, ceafe from oppref- 
 
 iion,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 165 
 
 (ion, and become like fathers to their fer- 
 vants ; (hewing, by their example, a pat- 
 tern of humility in living, and moderation 
 in governing, for the inftru&ion and admo- 
 nition of their opprefling neighbours ; thofe, 
 without carrying the reformation farther, 
 I believe, have found acceptance with the 
 Lord. Such was the beginning ; and thole 
 who fucceeded them, and have faithfully at- 
 tended to the nature and fpirit of the re- 
 foimation, have feen the neceffity of pro- 
 ceeding forward, and not only to inftruc~l 
 others, by their example, in governing well, 
 but allb to ufe means to prevent their fuc- 
 cefibrs from having fo much power to op- 
 prefs others. 
 
 Here I was renewedly confirmed in my 
 mind, that the Lord (whofe tender mercies 
 are over all his works, and whofe ear is open 
 to the cries and groans of the oppreffed; is 
 gracioufly moving on the hearts of people, 
 to draw them off from the defire of wealth, 
 and bring them into Aich an humble, lowly, 
 way of living, that they may fee their way 
 clearly, to repair to the ftandard of true 
 righteoufnefs ; and not only break the yoke 
 of oppreiTion, but know him to be their 
 ftrength and fupport in a time of outward 
 affliction. 
 
 We, pafling on, eroded Chefler- River j and 
 
 had a meeting there, and at Cecil and Safla- 
 
 fras. Through my bodily weaknefs, joined 
 
 with a heavy exerciieof mind, it was to me an 
 
 M 3 humbling
 
 166 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 humbling difpenfation, and I had a very 
 lively feeling of the ftate of the oppreflcd j 
 yet I often thought, that what I fuffered was 
 little, compared with the fuffe rings of the 
 blefled Jefus, and many of his faithful fol- 
 lowers ; and may fay, with thankfulnefs, ^f'" 
 was made content. 
 
 From Saflafras we went pretty direclly 
 home, where we found our families well; 
 and, for feveral weeks after oqr returo, I had 
 often to look over our journey: and though to 
 nu it appeared as a imall lervice, and that 
 fome faithful meflengers will yet have more 
 bitter cups to drink in thofe fouthern provin- 
 ces, for Chrift's fake, than we had \ yet I 
 found peace in that I had been helped to walk 
 in fincerity, according to the underftanding 
 and flrength given me. 
 
 On the thirteenth day of the eleventh 
 month, 1766, with the unity of friends at 
 our monthly-meeting, in company with my 
 beloved friend, Benjamin Jones, I let out oh 
 a vifit to friends in the upper part of this 
 province, having had drawings of love in 
 my heart that way a considerable fime ; we 
 travelled as far as Hardwick j apd I had in- 
 ward peace in my labours of Jove arnongft 
 them, 
 
 Through the humbling difpenfatiops of dir 
 vine Providence, my mind haih been brought 
 into a farther feeling of the difficulties of 
 iricnds and their Icrvants fouth-ueftward : 
 apd, being often engaged in fpirit on their 
 
 account,
 
 OF JCJHN WOOLMA&. ,67 
 
 account, I believed it my duty, to walk into 
 lome parts of the weftcrn (hore of Mary- 
 land, on a religious vilit : and, having ob- 
 tained a certificate from fricn.*? of our month- 
 ly-meeting, I took my leave of my family 
 under the heart-tendering operation of truth; 
 and, on the twentieth day of the fourth 
 month, 1767, J rode to the ferry oppofite to 
 Philadelphia, and from thence walked to 
 William Home's, at Derby, that evening; and 
 next day purfued my journey alone, and 
 reached Concord week- day meeting. 
 
 Difcouragements and a weight of diftrefs 
 had, at times, attended me in this lonefomc 
 walk ; through which afEnftions, I was mer- 
 cifully preferved : and now, lifting down with 
 friends, my mind was tinned toward the 
 Lord, to wait for his holy leadings ; who, 
 in infinite love, was pleafed to foften my 
 heart into humble, contrition, and did re- 
 newedly ftrengthen me to go forward ; that 
 to me it was a time of heavenly refreshment in 
 a filent meeting. 
 
 The next day I came to New-Garden 
 
 
 
 week-day meeting, in which I fat with bow- 
 ednefs of fpirit ; and, being baptized into a 
 iceling of the ftate of fome prefent, the Lord 
 gave us a heart-tendering feafon ; to his name 
 be the praifc! nu( [ ^ 
 
 I paflcd on, and was at Nottingham month- 
 ly-meeting ; and at a meeting at Liule-Bri- 
 tain on firft-day : and in the afternoon fe- 
 veral friends came to the houfe where I 
 M 4 'lodged,
 
 1 68 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 lodged, and we had a little afternoon-meet- 
 ing j and, through the humbling power of 
 truth, I had to admire the loving-kindntfs of 
 the Lord manifested to us. 
 
 On the twenty-fixth day, I crofted Suf- 
 quehannah ; and, coming amongft people in 
 outward eafe and greatnefs, chiefly on the 
 labour of flaves, my heart was much affect- 
 ed ; and, in awful retirednefs, my mind was 
 gathered inward to the Lord, being humbly 
 engaged that in true refignation I might re- 
 ceive inftru&ion from him, refpe&mg my 
 duty amongft this people. 
 
 Though travelling on foot was wearifome 
 to my body ; yet thus travelling was agreea- 
 ble to the ftate of my mind. 
 
 I went gently on, being weakly ; and was 
 covered with lorrow and heavinefs, on ac- 
 count of the fpreading prevailing fpirit of 
 this world, introducing cuftoms grievous and 
 oppreflive on one hand, and cheriihing pride 
 and wantonnefs on the other. In this lonely 
 walk, and ftate of abafement and humilia- 
 tion, the (late of the church in thefe parts 
 was opened before me ; and I may truly lay 
 with the prophet. " I was bowed down at 
 " the hearing of it ; I was difmayed at the 
 " feeing of it." Under this exercife, I at- 
 tended the quarterly-meeting at Gunpow- 
 der; and, in bowednefs of Jpirit, J had to 
 open, with much plainnefs, what I felt re- 
 fpedting friends living in fullness, on the la- 
 bours of the poor opprcfled negroes ; and 
 
 that
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 169 
 
 that promife of the Moft High was now re- 
 vived : ' I will gather all nations and 
 " tongues ; and they mail come and fee my 
 " glory.'* Here the fufferings of Chrift, 
 and his tafting death for every man, and the 
 travels, fufferings, and martyrdoms, of the 
 apoftles and primitive Chriftians, in labour- 
 ing for the converfion of the Gentiles, were 
 livingly revived in me; and, according to the 
 meafure of ftrength afforded, I laboured in 
 fome tcndernefs of fpirit, being deeply af- 
 fe&ed amongft them : and thus the differ- 
 ence, between the prefent treatment which 
 thefe Gentiles, the negroes, receive at our 
 hands, and the labours of the primitive 
 Chriftians for the converfion of the Gentiles, 
 was prefled home, and the power of truth 
 came over us ; under a feeling of which, my 
 mind was united t6 a tender-hearted people 
 in thofe parts; and the meeting concluded in 
 a fenfe of God's goodnefs toward his humble 
 dependent children. 
 
 The next day was a general meeting for 
 wormip, much crouded ; in which I was 
 deeply engaged in inward cries to the Lord 
 for help, that I might (land wholly refigned, 
 and move only as he might be pleafed to 
 lead me : and I was mercifully helped to la- 
 bour honeftly and fervently amongft them, 
 in which I found inward peace ; and the fin- . 
 cere were comforted. 
 
 From hence I turned toward Pipe-Creek, , 
 and pafled on to the Red-Lands; and had 
 
 feveral
 
 THE UFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fcveral meetings amongft friends in thofc 
 parts. My heart was often tenderly affedU 
 ed under a fenfe of the Ix>rd's goodnefs, in 
 fan&ifying piy troubles and exercifes, turn- 
 ing ^bem. tp my comfprt, and, I believe, to 
 tkJe benefit, of many others : for, I may fay, 
 with thaokfulneis, that in this vifit, it ap- 
 peared like a frefh. tendering vifitation in moil 
 places. 
 
 , J pafl/ed on to the weftern quarterly-meet- 
 iog, iq Penofylvania ; during the feveral days 
 of, this, meeting, I was mercifully prefervcd 
 in an inward feeling after the mind of truth, 
 and my public labours tended to my humi- 
 Isaiiop 9 with which I was content : and, after 
 tjie quarterly- meeting of worthip ended, I 
 fel drawings to go to the women's meet-, 
 ing of bufinefs ; which was very full : and 
 heye the humility of Jefus Chrift, as a pat- 
 tern for us to walk by, was livingly opened 
 before me ; and in treating on it my heart 
 was enlarged ; and it was a baptizing time. 
 From hence I went on j and was at meet- 
 ings at Concord, Middletown, Providenc^rf 
 and Haddonfield, and fo home j where J^r, 
 found my family well. A fenfeof the Lord's 
 merciful prefervation, in this my journey, exnu i 
 cites reverent thankfulnefs to him! 
 
 On the fecond day of the ninth monttbai 
 
 1767, with the unity of friends, I let off 
 
 on a vifit to friends in the upper part of 
 
 B.erks and Philadelphia counties; was at 
 
 c)even meetings in about two weeks; and 
 
 have
 
 Q* J@HN WQOLMAN. 171 
 
 have renewed caufe to bow in reverence be- 
 fore the Lord, who, by the powerful extend- 
 ings of his humbling goodnefs, opened my 
 way amongft friends, and made the meet- 
 ings (I ttuft) provable to u&. And, the win- 
 ter following, 1 joined friends on a vifit to 
 friends families in fome part of our meet- 
 ing ; in which exercife, the pure influence of 
 divine love made our vifits reviving. 
 
 On the fifth day of the fifth month, 1768, 
 I left home under the humbling hand of 
 the Lord, having obtained a certificate, in 
 order to vifit forne meetings in Maryland ; 
 and to proceed without a horfe looked clear- 
 eft to me. I was at the quarterly- meetings at 
 Philadelphia and Concord; and then went 
 on to Chefter- River ; and, eroding the Bay. 
 with friends, was at the yearly-meeting at 
 Weft-River j (hence hack to Chefter- River ; 
 and, taking a few meetings in my way, pro- 
 ceeded home. It was a journey of much in- 
 ward waiting ; and, as my eye was to the 
 Lard, way was, feveral times, opened to my 
 humbling ad mi ration, when things had ap-? 
 peared veiy difficult. 
 
 In my return, 1 felt a relief of mind, very 
 comfortable to me j having, through divine 
 help, laboured in much plainnefs, both with 
 friends (elected, and in the more public meet- 
 ings : fo that (1 trull) the pure witnels, in 
 many minds, was reached. 
 
 The eleventh day of the fixth rnonth, 
 1709. Sundry cafes have happened, of late 
 
 years,
 
 THE L^E' AND TRAVELS 
 
 year?, within the limits of our monthly- 
 meeting, refpecling that of exercifing pure 
 righteoulnefs toward the negroes j in which 
 I have lived under a labour of heart, that 
 equity might be fteadily kept to. On this 
 account, I have had fome c)ofe exercifes 
 amongft friends ; in which, I may thank- 
 fully fay, I find peace : and, as my medita- 
 tions have been on univerfal love, my own 
 conduct in time paft became of late very 
 grievous to me. 
 
 As perfons, fetting negroes free in our pro- 
 vince, are bound by law to maintain them, 
 in cafe they have need of relief, fome, who 
 fcrupled keeping flaves for term of life, in the 
 trme of my youth, were wont to detain 
 their young negroes in their fervice till thir- 
 ty years of age, without wages, on that ac- 
 count : and with this cuftom I fo far agreed, 
 that I, being joined to another friend, in 
 executing the will of a deceafed friend, once 
 fold a negroe lad till he might attain the age 
 of thirty years, and applied the money to the 
 ufeofthe eftate. 
 
 With abafement of heart, I may now fay, 
 that fometimes, as I have fat in a meeting, 
 with my heart exercifed toward that awful 
 Being, who refpecleth not perfons nor co- 
 lours, and have looked upon this lad, I -have 
 felt that all was not clear in my mind re- 
 fpecting him: and as I have attended to this 
 cxercife, and fervently fought the Lord; 'le 
 hath appeared to me, that* I fhould make 
 
 fome
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 173 
 
 fome reftitution, bat in what way I faw not 
 till lately j when, being under fome concern 
 that I may be refigned to go on a viiit to 
 fome part of the Weft-Indies, and un- 
 der dole engagement of fpirit, feeking to the 
 Lord lor counfel herein, that, of my joining 
 in the fale aforefaid, came heavily upon me; 
 and my mind, for a time, was covered with 
 darknefs and forrow; and, under this fore 
 affliction, my heart was foftened to receive 
 inftruclion : and here I fir ft faw, that, as J 
 had been one of the two executors, who 
 had ibid this lad nine years longer than is 
 common for our own childern tofeive, fo ,1 
 (hould now offer a part of my fubftance to 
 redeem the laft half of that nine years ; but, 
 as the time was not yet come, I executed .a 
 bond, binding me and my exegutor^ -tp 
 pay to the man, he was fold to, what, to can- 
 did men, might appear equitable for the 
 laft four years and a half of his time, in 
 cafe the faid youth mould be living, and in 
 a condition likely to provide comfortably for 
 himfelf. 
 
 The ninth day of the tenth month, 1769. 
 My heart hath often been deeply afflicted 
 under a feeling 1 have had, that the ftand- 
 ard of pure righteoufnefs is not lifted up to 
 the people by us, as a fociety, in that clear- 
 nefs which it might have been, had we been 
 fo faithful to the teachings of .Chrift as we 
 ought to have been : and, as my mind hath 
 been inward to the Lord, the purity of 
 
 (Thrift's
 
 ,174 Tte.lAFB 'AND TRAVELS 
 
 Chrift's governmerft liath been opened in my 
 underftanding 5 and, tender this txercife, that 
 of friends being active in civil focidty, 'Jn 
 putting laws in force which are not agree- 
 able to the purity of righteoufnefs, hath, 
 for feveral years, been an incteafing bur- 
 then upon me ; having felt, in the open- 
 ings bf univerfai love, thai where a people, 
 convinced of the truth of the inward teach- 
 ings of Chrift, are active in putting laws in 
 execution which are not confident with 
 pure wifdom, it hath a neceffary tendency to 
 bring dimnefs over their minds: and, as my 
 heart hath been thus ettercifed, and a tender 
 fympathy in me toward my fellow-members,'! 
 have, within a few months paft, in feveral 
 meetings for difctplihe, expreffed ffiy cortcern 
 <jn this fubiect. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 175 
 
 tjk jt ' j *_^, '\* 
 
 fcr 
 x " 
 
 
 s .-., CHAP. X. 
 
 . 
 
 His preparing to vi/it friends in England His 
 embarking at Cbefter, in company with Sa- 
 muel Em/en, in a /hip bound to London His 
 deep exercife, in obferving the difficulties and 
 bardjhips the common faiiors are expofed to 
 Confederations on the dangers to which youth 
 are expofed^ in being trained to a fea-jarnig 
 life \ and its inconjiftency with a pious educa- 
 tion His thoughts in a ftorm at fea : leOh 
 many inftrutti've contemplations on the voyage 
 And his arrival at London. 
 
 HAVING been fomc time under a reli- 
 gious concern to prepare for ci 
 
 the feas, in order to vifit friends in the nor- 
 thern parts of England, and more particularly 
 in Yorkmirej after weighty confideratioh, I 
 thought it expedient to inform friends, at our 
 monthly- meeting at Burlington, of ifj Svho, 
 having unity with me therein, gave me a 
 certificate; and I afterward communicated 
 the fame to oiir quarterly-meeting, and they 
 Ifkewife certified their concurrence therewith, 
 Some time after which, at the general fpring- 
 'meeting of minifters and elders, I thought 
 it my duty to acquaint them of the religious 
 eVercife which attended hiy mind j with 
 which they likewife fignified their unity by 
 { a cerfifitatc, dated the twenty-fourth day of 
 
 the
 
 ..176 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the third month, 1772, directed to friends 
 in Great- Britain. 
 
 In die fourth month following, I thought 
 the time was come for me to nuke fome en- 
 quiry for a fuitable conveyance ; being ap- 
 prehenfive that, as my concern was princi- 
 pally toward the northern parts of England, 
 it would be moil proper to go in a vellcl 
 bound to Liverpool or Whitehaven : and, 
 while J was at Philadelphia, deliberating on 
 this occafion, i was informed, that my belo- 
 ved friend, Samuel Emlen, jun. intending to 
 go to London, and having taken a patfage 
 for himfelf in the cabin of the (hip, called 
 Mary and Elizabeth, of which James Sparks 
 was mafter, and John Head, of the city of 
 Philadelphia, one of the owners j and 1 feel- 
 ing a draught in my mind toward the fteerage 
 of the fame (hip, went fii ft and opened to Sa- 
 muel the feeling I had concerning it. 
 
 My beloved friend appeared glad that I 
 had thoughts of going in the vcfTel with 
 him, though my profpedt was toward the fteer- 
 age 5 and he, offering to go with me, we 
 went on-board, firft in the cabin, a commo- 
 dious room, and then into the fteerage ; 
 where we fat down on a cheft, the failors 
 being bufy about us : then the owner of 
 the (hip came, and fat down with us. 
 
 Here my mind was turned toward Chrift, 
 the heavenly counfellor ; and 1 feeling, at 
 this time, my own will fubjected, my heart 
 was contrite before him. 
 
 A motion
 
 of JOHN WOOLMAN. -177 
 
 A motiori was made, by the owner, to go 
 and fit in the cabin, as a phce more re- 
 tired ; but I felt cafy to leave the fhip, and 
 made no agreement as to a paflage in : her j 
 but told the owner, if I took a pafTage-in the 
 fhip, I believed it would be in the lleerage ; 
 but did not fay much as to my exercife in that 
 cafe. 
 
 I went to my lodging?, and foon after went 
 to bed, and my mind was under a deep exer- 
 cife before the Lord ; whofe helping hand was 
 manifefted to me as I ilept that night, and his 
 love ftrengthened my heart. In the morning 
 J went with two friends on- board the veffel a- 
 gain j and, after a fliort time fpent therein, I 
 went, with Samuel Emlen, to the houfe of the 
 owner j to whom, in the hearing of Samuel 
 only, 1 opened my exercife, in relation to a 
 fcruple with regard to a paffage in the cabin* 
 
 After this 1 agreed for a paflage in th 
 fteerage j and, hearing in town that Jofeph 
 White had a delire to fee me, I felt the re* 
 viving of a defire to fee him, and went then 
 to his houfe, and next day home ; where I 
 tarried two nights t and then, early in the 
 morning, I parted with my family, under 
 a fenfe of the humbling hand of God upon 
 me j and, going to Philadelphia, had oppor- 
 tunity with feveral of my beloved friends \ 
 ^vho appeared to be concerned for me, on 
 account of the unpleafant fituation of that part 
 of the veflel where I was likely to lodge. 
 
 Having ftayed two nights in Piiiladelphirr, 
 1 went the next day to Derby momhly-mttt- 
 
 N ing j
 
 ,178 T4E :EIFB AND TRAVELS 
 
 <ing ; where, through the ftrength of divine 
 love, my heart was enlarged toward the 
 youth then prcfent ; under which I was help- 
 ed to labour in fome tendernefs of fpirit. 
 Then, lodging at William Home's, I, with 
 one friend, went toChefter; where, meeting 
 'with Samuel Emlen, we went on-board, the 
 firft day of the fifth month, 1772 ; and, as I 
 fat down alone, on a feat on the deck, I felt a 
 fatisfaclory evidence that my proceedings were 
 not in my own will, but under the power of 
 the crofs of Chrift. 
 
 Seventh day of the fifth month. We have 
 had rough weather moftly fince I came on- 
 board ; and the pafTengers, James Reynolds, 
 John Till- A dams, Sarah Logan and her hired 
 inaid, and John Bifpham, were all fea-lick, 
 more or lefs, at times > from which ficknefs, 
 through the tender mercies of my heavenly Fa- 
 ther, I have been preferved ; my afflictions 
 now being of another kind. 
 
 There appeared an- opennefs in the minds 
 of the matter of the {hip and of the cabin- 
 pafTengers toward me : we were often toge- 
 ther on the deck, and fometimes in the ca- 
 bin. 
 
 My mind, through the merciful help of the 
 Lord, hath been preferved, in a good degree, 
 watchful and inward ; and 1 have, this day, 
 great caufe to be thankful, in that 1 remain to 
 feel quietncfs of mind. 
 
 As my lodging in the fteerage, now near 
 a vveck, hsth afforded me fundry opportu- 
 nities of feeing, hearing,. and feeling, with 
 
 refpett
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 179 
 
 refpecl to the life and fpirit of many poor 
 Tailors, an inward exercife of foul hath at- 
 tended me) in regard to placing our children, 
 and youth 'where they may be likely to be 
 exampled and infr.ruc~t.ed in the pure fear of 
 the Lord ; and I, being much amongft the 
 feamen, have, from a motion of love, fundry 
 times taken opportunities, with one of them 
 at a time alone, and in a free converfation la- 
 boured to turn their minds toward the fear of 
 the Lord : and this day we had a meeting in 
 the cabin, where my heart was contrite under 
 a feeling of divine love. 
 
 Now, concerning lads being trained up as 
 feamen : I believe a communication from one 
 part of the world to fome other parts of it, 
 by fea, is, at times, confident with the will 
 of our heavenly Father j and to educate fome 
 youth in the practice of failing, I believe, may 
 be right : but how lamentable is the prefent 
 corruption of the world 1 how impure are the 
 channels through which trade hath a convey- 
 ance ! how great is that danger, to which poor 
 lads are now expofed, when placed on fhip- 
 board to learn the art of failing I 
 
 Oh 1 that all may take heed and beware of 
 covetoufnefs ! Oh ! that all may learn of Chrift, 
 who was meek and low of heart 1 Then, in 
 faithfully following him, he will teach us to 
 be content with food and raiment, with- 
 out refpect to the cuftoms or honours of this 
 world. 
 
 Men, thus redeemed, will feel a tender con- 
 cern for their fellow-creatures, and a denre 
 
 N 2 that
 
 jflo THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that thofe in the lowed ftations may be a(M- 
 cd and encouraged ; and, where owners of 
 fhips attain to the perfect law of liberty, and 
 are doers of the word, thefe will be Weffed in 
 their deeds. 
 
 Rifing to work in the night is not com- 
 monly pleafant in any cafe > but, in dark 
 rainy nights, it is very difagreeablc, even 
 though each man were furnifhed with all 
 conveniences : but, if men muft go out at 
 midnight, to help manage the (hip in the 
 rain, and, having fmall room to fkep and lay 
 their garments in, are often befet to furnifh 
 themfelves for the watch, their garments or 
 fome thing relating to their bufinefs being 
 wanting and not eafily found, when, from 
 the urgency oecafioned by high winds, they 
 are haftened and called up fuddenly, here is a 
 trial of patience on the poor failors and the 
 poor lads their companions. 
 
 If, after they have been on deck feveral 
 hours in the night, and come-down into the 
 fteerage foaking wet, and are fo clofe flowed 
 that proper convenience for change of garment 
 is not eafily come at, but, for want of proper 
 room, their wet garments are thrown in heaps, 
 and fometimes, through much crouding, are 
 trodden under foot in going to their lodgings 
 and getting out of them, and they have great 
 difficulties, at times, each one to find his own, 
 here are trials on the poor failors. 
 
 Now, as I have been with them in my lodge, 
 my heart hath often yearned for them, and ten- 
 der dt fires have been raifed in me, that ail 
 
 owners
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 181 
 
 owners and m afters of veffels may dwell in the 
 love of God, and therein act uprightly ; and, 
 by feeking lefs for gain, and looking carefully 
 to their ways, may earneftly labour to remove 
 ail caufe of provocation from the poor feamen, 
 cither to fret or ufe excefs of ftrong drink ; 
 for, indeed, the poor creatures, at times, in 
 the wet and cold, feem to apply to ftrong drink 
 to fupply the want of other convenience. 
 
 Great reformation in the world is wanting ; 
 and the neceffity of it, amongft thefe who do 
 bufmefs on great waters, hath, at this time, 
 been abundantly opened before me. 
 r.,> The eighth day of the fifth month. This 
 morning the clouds gathered, the wind blew 
 ftrong from fouth-ealtward, and before noon 
 increafed to that degree that failing appeared 
 dangerous. The feamen then bound up fome 
 of their fails, and took down fome j and, the 
 ftorm increafing, they put the dead-lights, fo 
 called, into the cabin-windows, and lighted a 
 lamp as at night. 
 
 The wind now blew vehemently, and the 
 lea wrought to that degree, that an awful fe- 
 rioufncfs prevailed in the cabin, in which I 
 fpent, I believe, about feventeen hours ; for I 
 believed the poor wet toiling feamen had need 
 of all the room in the crouded fteerage, and 
 the cabin-paflengers had given me frequent in- 
 vitations. 
 
 They ceafed now from failing, and put the 
 vefiel in the poilure called, lying-to. 
 
 My mind, in this tempeft, through the 
 ..gracious affiftance of the Lord, was preferved 
 
 N 3 in
 
 182 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 in a good degree of refignation ; and I felt, 
 at times, a few words in his love to my (hip- 
 mates, in regard to the all-fufficiency of him 
 who formed the great deep, and whofe care is 
 fo extenfive, that a fparrow falls not without 
 his notice ; and thus, in a tender frame of 
 mind, fpake to them of the neceflity of our 
 yielding, in true obedience, to the infractions 
 of our heavenly Father, who fometimes, 
 through adverfities, intendeth our refinement. 
 
 About eleven at night I went out on the 
 deck, when the fea wrought exceedingly, and 
 the high-foaming waves, all round about, had 
 in fome fort the appearance of fire, but did not 
 give much, if any, light. 
 
 The failor, then at the helm, faid he lately 
 faw a corpofant at the head of the maft. 
 
 About this time 1 obferved the matter of 
 the (hip ordered the carpenter to keep on the 
 deck ; and, though he faid little, 1 apprehend- 
 ed his care was, that the carpenter, with his 
 axe might be in readinefs, in cafe of any extre* 
 mity. 
 
 Soon after this, the vehemency of the 
 wind abated ; and, before morning, they again 
 put the (hip under fail. 
 
 The tenth day of the month, and firft of 
 the week, it being fine weather, we had a 
 meeting in the cabin, at which moft of the 
 feamen were prefent ; this meeting to me was 
 a ftrengthening time. 
 
 The thirteenth day of the month. As I 
 continue to lodge in the fteerage, I feel an 
 opennefs this morning, to expreis fomething 
 
 farther
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 183 
 
 farther of the date of my mind, in refpeft ta- 
 poor lads bound apprentice to learn the art of 
 failing. As I believe failing is of fome ufe in. 
 the world, a labour of foul attends me, that 
 the pure counfel of truth may be humbly 
 waited for in this cafe, by all concerned in the 
 bufinefs of the feas. 
 
 A pious father, whofe mind is exercifed 
 for the evedafting welfare of his child, may not, 
 with a peaceable mind, place him out to an, 
 employment among ft a people, whofe common 
 courfe of life is manifeftly corrupt and pro- 
 phane j fo great is the prefent delect amongft 
 fea-fanng men, in regard to piety and virtue: 
 and, through an abundant traffic, and many 
 fhips of war, fo many people are employed 
 on the fea, that this fubject of placing lads to : 
 the employment appears very weighty. 
 
 Prophane examples are very corrupting, and 
 very forcible. And as my mind, day after 
 day, and night after night, hath been affected 
 with a fympathizing tendernefs toward poor 
 children, put to the employment of failors, 
 I have fometimes had weighty convedation 
 with the failors in the fteera^e, who were 
 
 O ' 
 
 moftly refpectful to me, and more and more fo 
 the longer I was with them : they moftly ap- 
 peared to take kindly what I faid to them ; but 
 their minds have appeared to be fo deeply 
 imprefled with that almoft univerfal depravity 
 amongft failors, that the poor creatures, in their 
 anfwers to me on this fubjedt, have revived in 
 my remembrance that of the degenerate Jews 
 
 N 4 r-,^j
 
 i8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 *. 
 
 a little before the captivity, as repeated by Jere<* 
 juiah the prophet, " There is no hope." 
 
 Now, under this exercife, a fenfe of the 
 ^efire of outward gain prevailing amongft us 
 l^ath felt grevious, and a ftrong call to the 
 profefTed- followers pf Chrift hath been raifed 
 in me, that all may take heed, left, through 
 loving this prefent world, they be found in a 
 continued neglecl: of duty, with refpect to jt 
 faithful labour for a reformation. 
 
 Silence, as to every motion proceeding from 
 the love of money, and an humble waiting upon 
 Qod to know his will concerning us, have now 
 appeared neceflary; he- alone is able to ftreng- 
 then us to dig deep, to remove all which lies 
 between us and the fafe foundation, and fo dU 
 Heel us in our outward employments, that pure 
 univerfal love may fhine forth in our proceed^ 
 ings. 
 
 Defires arifing from the fpirit of truth are 
 pure defires 5 and when a mind, divinely 
 opened toward a young generation, is made 
 fenfible of corrupting examples, powerfully 
 working, and extensively Dreading amongft 
 them, how moving is the profpect \ 
 
 The (ixteenth day of the month. Wind 
 for feveral days pail often high, what the 
 bailors call fqually, rough fea and frequent 
 rains. This laft night a very trying night to 
 the poor feamen : the water, chief part of the 
 night, running over the main deck, and fome-* 
 times breaking-^waves came on the quarter- 
 deck. The latter part of the night, as i lay in 
 my mind vvas hwbled under the power 
 
 Of
 
 of divine love; and refignednefs to the great 
 Creator of the earth and the feas, renewedly 
 wrought in me whofe fatherly care over his 
 children felt precious to my foul : and defires 
 were now renewed in me, to embrace every 
 opportunity of being inwardly acquainted with 
 the hardships and difficulties of my fellow- 
 creatures, and to labour in his love for the 
 fpreading of pure univerfal righteoufnefs on the 
 earth. The opportunities were frequent of 
 hearing converfation amongft the failors, in 
 refpecl: to the voyages to Africa, and the man- 
 ner of bringing the deeply-oppreffed flaves into 
 ouf iflands. The thoughts of their condition^ 
 frequently in chains and fetters on-board the 
 veiTels, with hearts loaded with grief, under 
 the apprehenfions of miferable flavery; my 
 mind was frequently opened to meditate on 
 thefe things. 
 
 On the feventeeth day of the month, and 
 firft of the week, we had a meeting in the 
 cabin j to which the feamen generally came. 
 My fpirit was contrite before the Lord ; whofe 
 love, at this time, affedted my heart. 
 
 This afternoon 1 felt a tender fympathy of 
 foul with my poor wife and family left be- 
 hind ; in which ftate, my heart was enlarged 
 in defires that they may walk in that humble 
 obedience wherein the everlafting Father may 
 be their guide and fupport, through all the 
 difficulties in this world ; and a fenfe of that 
 gracious afliftance, through which my mind 
 hath been ftrengthened to take up the crofs 
 and leave them, to travel in the love of truth, 
 
 hath
 
 i86 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 hath begotten thankfulnefs in my heart to our 
 great Helper. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth day of the month, 
 and firft of the week, a clear pleafant morning : 
 and, as I fat on-deck, I felt a reviving in my 
 nature ; which, through much rainy weather 
 and high winds, being fhut up in a clofe un- 
 healthy air, was weakened. 
 
 Several nights of late I felt breathing dif- 
 ficult ; that a little after the rifing of the fecond 
 watch (which is about midnight) I got up, 
 and flood, I believe, near an hour, with my 
 face near the hatchway, to get the frefh air at 
 the fmall vacancy under the hatch doorj which 
 is commonly fhut down, partly to keep out 
 rain, and fometimes to keep the breaking- 
 waves from dafhing into the fteerage. 
 
 I may, with thankfulnefs to the Father of 
 mercies, acknowledge, that, in my prefent 
 weak ftate, my mind hath been fupported to 
 bear the affliction with patience ; and have 
 looked at the prefent difpenfation as a kindnefs 
 from the great Father of mankind, who, in 
 this my floating pilgrimage, is in fome degree 
 bringing me to feel that, which many thoufands 
 of my fellow-creaftures often fufTer in a greater 
 degree. 
 
 My appetite failing, the trial hath been 
 the heavier; and I have felt tender breathings 
 in my foul after God, the fountain of comfort, 
 whofe inward help hath fupplied, at times, the 
 want of out ward convenience : and ftrong de- 
 fires have attended me, that his family, who 
 are acquainted with the movings of his Holy 
 
 Spirit, -
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 187 
 
 Spirit, may be fo redeemed from the love of 
 money, and from that fpirit in which men 
 feek honour one of another, that in all bufinefs, 
 by fea or land, we may constantly keep ia 
 view the coming of his kingdom on earth, as 
 it is in heaven j and, by faithfully following 
 this fafe guide, (hew forth examples, tending 
 to lead out of that under which the creation 
 groans! 
 
 This day we had a meeting in the cabin ; 
 in which J was favoured in fome degree to 
 experience the fulfilling of that faying of the 
 prophet, " The Lord hath been a ftrength 
 " to the poor, a ftrength to the needy in their 
 diftrefs ;" for which, my heart is bowed in 
 thankfulnefs before him ! 
 
 The twenty-eighth day of the month : 
 wet weather of late, fmall winds inclining to 
 calms : our feamen have caft a lead, I fuppofe 
 about one hundred fathoms, but find no bot- 
 tom : foggy weather this morning. 
 
 Through the kindnefs of the great Preferver 
 of men my mind remains quiet ; and a de- 
 gree of exercife, from day to day, attends 
 me, that the pure peaceable government of 
 Chrift may fpread and prevail amongft man- 
 kind. 
 
 The leading on of a young generation in 
 that pure way in which the wifdom of this 
 world hath no place j where parents and tu- 
 tors, humbly waiting for the heavenly Coun- 
 fellor, may example them in the truth, as it 
 is in Jefus ; this, for feveral days, hath 
 been the cxerciie of my mind. Oh ! how fafe, 
 
 how
 
 oBr .VTAM.TOOV7 /THOT la 
 188 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 how quiet, is that flate, where the foul (lands 
 in pure obedience to the voice of Chrifl, and 
 a watchful care is maintained not to follow the 
 voice of the ftranger ! 
 
 Here Chrift is felt to be our fhepherd, and, 
 under his leading, people are brought to a 
 {lability 5 and, where he doth not lead for- 
 .ward, we are bound, in the bonds of pure 
 love, to /land ftill and wait upon him. In 
 the love of money, and in the wifdom of this 
 world, bufinefs is propofed ; then the urgency 
 of affairs pufties forward ; nor can the mind, 
 in this ftate, difcern the good and perfect will 
 pf God concerning us. 
 
 The love of God is manifefted in graci- 
 oufly calling us to come out of that which 
 ilands in confufion : but, if we bow not in 
 the name of Jefus ; if we give not up thofe 
 profpects of gain, which, in the wifdom of 
 this world, are open before us, but fay, in 
 our hearts, I muft needs go on, and, in go- 
 ing on, I hope to keep as near to the purity 
 of truth as the bufinefs before me will admit 
 of; here the mind remains entangled, and the 
 ihining of the light of life into the foul is ob- 
 
 In an entire fubjeclion of our wills the Lord 
 gracioufly opens a way for his people, where 
 all their wants are bounded by his wifdom ; 
 and here we experience the fubftance of what 
 Mofes the prophet figured out in the water of 
 feparation, as a purification from fin. 
 
 Efau is mentioned as a child red all over, 
 like a hairy garment : in Efau is reprefented 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 180 
 
 r '-/A 3HLI anT 
 the natural will of man. In preparing thd 
 
 water of Reparation, a red heifer, without ble- 
 mifli, on which there had been no yoke, was 
 to be flain, and her blood fprinkled by the 
 prieft feven times toward the tabernacle of the 
 congregation : then her fkin, her flem, and 
 all pertaining to her, were to be burnt without 
 the camp 5 and of her afhes the water was 
 prepared. Thus the crucifying the old man, 
 or natural will, is reprefented j and hence 
 comes a feparation from that carnal mind, 
 which is death. 
 
 " He who touchetb the dead body of a 
 ** man, and purifieth not himlelf with the 
 w water of feparation, he defiieth the taber- 
 V nacle of the Lord ; he is unclean." Numb. 
 xix. 13. 
 
 If any, through the love of gain, go forth 
 into bufinefs, wherein they dwell as amongft 
 the tombs, and touch the bodies of thofe who 
 are dead ; if thefe, through the infinite love of 
 God, feel the power of the crofs of Chrift to 
 crucify them to the world, and therein learn 
 humbly to follow the divine Leader ; here 
 is the judgement of this world j here the 
 prince of this world is caft out. 
 
 The water of feparation is felt ; and, though 
 we have been amongft the flain, and, through 
 the defire of gain, have touched the dead bo- 
 dy of a man, yet, in ^the purifying love of 
 Chrift, we are wafhed in the water of fepa- 
 ration ; are brought ofY from that bufinefs, 
 from that gain, and from that fellowship, 
 which was not agreeable to his holy will : and 
 
 I hive
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 I have felt a renewed confirmation, in the time 
 of this voyage, that the Lord, in his infinite 
 love, is calling to his vifited children, fo to 
 give up all outward pofiefiions and means of 
 getting treafures, that his Holy Spirit may have 
 free courfe in their hearts, and direct them in 
 all their proceedings. 
 
 ,-2'. To feel the fubftance pointed at in this 
 figure, man muft know death, as to his own 
 will. 
 
 " No man can fee God, and live." This 
 was fpoken by the Almighty to Mofes the 
 prophet, and opened by our bleffed Re- 
 deemer. >y 
 
 1 . As death comes on our own wills, and a 
 new life is formed in us, the heart is purified 
 and prepared to underftand clearly. " Blef- 
 $ fed are the pure in heart; for they fh all 
 ** fee God." In purity of heart the mind is 
 divinely opened to behold the nature of uni- 
 verfal righteoufnefs, or the righteoufnefs of 
 the kingdom of God. " No man hath feen 
 # .the Father, fave he that is of God $ he hath 
 feen the Father." 
 
 ... The natural mind is active about the things 
 of this life ; and, in this natural activity, bufi- 
 nefs is propofed, and a will in us to go forward 
 in it. As long as this natural will remains un- 
 fubjected, fo long there remains an obftrudlion 
 againft the clearnefs of divine light operating in 
 us ; but when we love God with all our heart, 
 and with all our ftrength, then, in this love, 
 we love our neighbours as ourfelves ; and a 
 tendernefs of heart is felt toward all people for 
 
 whom
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 191 
 
 whom Chrift died, even fuch who, as to out- 
 ward circumftances, may be to us as the Jews 
 were to the Samaritans* Who is my neigh^ 
 hour ? Sec this queftion anfwered by our Sa- 
 viour, Luke x. 30. 
 
 In this love we can fay, that Jefus is the 
 Lord ; and the reformation in our fouls is ma- 
 nifefted in a full reformation of our lives, 
 'wherein all things are new, and all things are 
 of God ; 2 Cor. v. j 8. in this the defire of 
 gain is fubjedled. 
 
 When employment is honeftly followed in 
 the light of truth, and people become diligent 
 in bufinefs, " fervent in fpirit, ferving the 
 " Lord ;" Rom. xii. n. here the name is o- 
 pened : " This is the name by which he fhall 
 be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTE- 
 " OUSNESS." Jcrem. xxiii. 6. Oh! how 
 precious is this name! it is like ointment poured 
 out. The chafte virgins are in love with the 
 Redeemer j and, for the promoting his peace- 
 able kingdom in the world, are content to 
 endure hardnefs, like good foldiers ; and are 
 fo feparated in fpirit from the deiire of riches, 
 that in their employments they become exten- 
 fively careful to give none offence, neither to 
 Jews nor heathen, nor the church of Chrift. 
 
 On the thirty- firft day of the month, and 
 firft of the week, we had a meeting in the ca- 
 bin, with near all the (hip's company ; the 
 whole being near thirty. In this meeting, the 
 Lord, in mercy, favoured us with the extend- 
 ings of his love. 
 
 The
 
 192 THE LIFE AMD TRAVELS 
 
 The fecond day of the fixth month. Laft 
 evening the feamen found bottom at about fe- 
 venty fathoms. ' 
 
 This morning, fair wind, and pleafant* 
 As I fat on deck, my heart was overcome with 
 the love of Chrift, artel melted into contrition 
 before him ; and, in this ftatc, the profped: of 
 that work, to which .1 have felt my mind 
 drawn when in my native land, being in fomc 
 degree opened before me, I felt like a little 
 child 5 and my cries were put up to my hea- 
 venly Father for prefervation, that, in a hum- 
 ble dependence on him, my foul might be 
 ftrengthened in his love, and kept inwardly 
 waiting for his counfel. 
 
 This afternoon we faw that part of England 
 called the Lizard. 
 
 Some dunghill fowls yet remained of thofe 
 the paffengers took for their fea-ftore : I be* 
 lieve about fourteen perimed in the ftorms at 
 fea, by the waves breaking over the quarter* 
 deck ; and a confiderable number with fick- 
 nefs, at different times. I obferved the cocks 
 crew, coming down the Delaware, and while 
 we were near the land 3 but afterward I think I 
 did not hear one of them crow till we came 
 near the land in England, when they again 
 crowed a few times. 
 
 In obferving their dull appearance at fea, 
 and the pining ficknefs of iome of them, I 
 often remembered the Fountain of goodnefs, 
 who gave being to all creatures, and whola 
 luve extends'' to that of caring for the fpar-i 
 rows j and believe, where the love of God t 
 
 verily
 
 OF JOHN wooLMAtf. 193 
 
 verily perfected,, and the true fpirit of go- 
 vernment watchfully attended t6, a tendernefs 
 toward all creatures made (ubject to us will be 
 experienced, and a care felt in us, that we do 
 not lefTen that fweetnefs of life, in the animal 
 creation, which the great Creator intends for 
 them in our government. 
 
 The fourth day of the month. About noon 
 a pilot came off from Dover j where my be- 
 loved friend, Samuel Emlen, went on fliofe, 
 and thence to London - t but I felt eafy in ftay- 
 ing in the (hip. 
 
 The feventh day of the month, and fird 
 of the week. Clear morning; we lay at anchor. 
 for the tide, and had a parting meeting with 
 the fhip's company ; in which my heart was 
 enlarged in a fervent concern for them, that 
 they may come to experience falvation through 
 Chrift. We had a head- wind up the Thames; 
 Jay fometimes at anchor j faw many (hips 
 paffing, and forrie at anchor near ; and had 
 large opportunity of feeling the fpirit in which 
 the poor bewildered failors too generally live. 
 That lamentable degeneracy, which fo much 
 prevails on the people employed on the feas, ' 
 Ib affected my heart, that I cannot eafily convey 
 the feeling I have had to another. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 _
 
 194 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP 
 
 :^H<i n -.:?r-$"rfl 
 
 fl/j attending tbe yearly-meeting in London ; and* 
 after it, proceeding towards York/hire, vifiting 
 federal quarterly and other meetings in the 
 counties of Hertford, Warwick, Oxford, Not- 
 tingbam, York, and Wejlmor eland; and thence 
 again into York/hire, and to the city of York ; 
 witbfome injlruftive thoughts and obfervations, 
 and letters on divers fubjetts His hearing of 
 the deceafe of William Hunt ; andfome account 
 of him Hisjicknefs at York > and end of his 
 pilgrimage there. 
 
 3 the eighth day of the fixth month, 
 _ 1772, we landed at London; and I 
 went ftraightway to the yearly-meeting of mi- 
 niflers and elders, which had been gathered (I 
 fuppofe) about half an hour. 
 
 Jn^ this meeting my mind was humbly con- 
 trite : in the afternoon the meeting of bufinefs 
 opened ; which, by adjournments, held near a 
 week. In thefe meetings I often felt a living 
 concern for the eftablifhment of friends in the 
 pure life of truth ; and my heart was enlarged 
 in the meeting of minifters, meeting of bufi- 
 nefs, and in feveral meetings of public wor- 
 fhip ; and I ielt my mind united in true love 
 to the faithful labourers now gathered at this 
 yearly- meeting. 
 
 On the fifteenth day of the month, I left 
 London, and went to a quarterly-meeting at 
 Hertford. 
 .' The
 
 OF JOHN WOO 
 
 The firft day of the feventh month. 1 have 
 been at quarterly-meetings at Sherrington, 
 Northampton, Banbury, and Shipfton ; and 
 had fundry meetings between : my mind hath 
 been bowed under a fenfe of divine goodnefs 
 manifefted amongft us ; my heart hath been 
 often enlarged in true love, both amongft 
 minifters and elders, and in public meetings j 
 that through the Lord's goodnefs, I believe it 
 hath been a frefli visitation to many, in parti- 
 cular to the youth. 
 
 The feventeenth day of the month* Was 
 this day at Birmingham : have been at meet* 
 ings at Coventry, Warwick, in Oxfordfhire, 
 and fundry other places j have felt the hum* 
 bling hand of the Lord upon me ; and through 
 his tender mercies find peace in the labours I 
 have gone through. 
 
 The twenty-fixth day of the month. I have 
 continued travelling northward, vifiting meet- 
 ings : was this day at Nottingham j which, in 
 the forenoon efpecially, was, through divine 
 love, a heart-tendering feafbn : next day had 
 a meeting in a friend's houfe with friends 
 children and fome friends ; this, through the 
 ftrengrhening arm of the Lord, was a tims to 
 be thankfully remembered. 
 
 The fecond day of the eighth month, and 
 firft of the week. Was this day at bheffield, 
 a large inland town: have been at fundry 
 meetings laft week j and fed inward thank- 
 fulnefs for that divine fupport, which hath been 
 gracioufly extended tome. 
 
 The ninth dayof the month, and firft of the 
 
 week, was at Ruflnvorth : have lately pafled 
 
 O 2 throueh
 
 K>6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 through fome painful labour} but have been 
 comforted, under a fenfe of that divine vifitation, 
 which I feel extended toward many young people. 
 The fixteenth day of the month, and firft 
 of the week, 1 was at Settle: it hath of late been 
 a time of inward poverty; under which my 
 mind hath been preferved in a watchful tender 
 ftate, feeling for the mind of the holy Leader, 
 and I find peace in the labours i have pafled 
 through. 
 
 I have felt great diftrefs of mind, fince I came 
 on 'this ifland, on account of the members of 
 our fociety being mixed with the world in 
 various forts of buiinefs and traffic, carried on 
 in impure channels. Great is the trade to 
 Africa for ilaves! and, in loading thefe (hips, 
 abundance of people are employed in the fac- 
 tories ; amongft whom are many of our fociety. 
 Friends, in early times, refufed, on a religious 
 principle, to make, or trade in, fuperfluities ; 
 of which we have many large teftimonies on 
 record: but, for want of faithfulnefs, fome 
 gave way; even fome, whofe examples were 
 of note in our fociety; and from thence others 
 took more liberty. Members of cur fociety 
 worked in iuperfl uities, and bought and fold 
 them ; and thus dimnefs of fight came over 
 many : at length, friends got iuio the ufe of 
 fome fuperfluities in drefs, and in the furniture . 
 of their houfes j and this hath (pread from lets 
 to more, till fuperfluity of ionic kinds is com- 
 mon amongft us. 
 
 Jn this declining flate, many look at the 
 example one of another, and too much neglect 
 the pare feeling of trulh. Of late years, a. 
 
 deep
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 197 
 
 deep exercife hath attended my mind; that 
 friends may dig deep, may carefully caft forth 
 the loofe matter, and get down to the Rock, 
 the fare foundation, and there hearken to 
 that divine voice which gives a clear and cer- 
 tain found ; and I have felt in that which doth 
 not deceive, that if friends, who have known 
 the truth, keep in that tendernefs of heart, 
 where all views of outward gain are given up, 
 and their truft is only on the Lord, he will 
 eracioufly lead fome to be patterns of deep 
 felf-denial in things relating to trade and handi- 
 craft labour ; and that fome, who have plenty 
 of the treafures of this world, will example in 
 a plain frugal life, and pay wages, to fuch as 
 they may hire, more liberally than is now 
 cuftomary in fome places. 
 
 The twenty-third day of the month. Was 
 this day at Prefton-Patrick, and had a com- 
 fortable meeting. 1 have, feveral times, been 
 entertained at the houfes of friends, who had 
 fundry things about them which had the ap- 
 pearance of outward greatnefs ; and, as I have 
 kept inward, way hath opened for converfation 
 with fuch in private, in which divine goodnefs 
 hath favoured us together with heart-tender- 
 ing times. 
 
 i refted a few days, in body and mind, 
 with our friend Jane Crosfield ; who was 
 once in America : was, on the fixth day of the 
 week, at Kendal in Weftmoreland ; and at 
 Greyrig meeting the thirtieth day of the month, . 
 and firit of the week. 
 
 O 3 I have
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 , e jl have known poverty of late ; and been 
 gracicufly fupported to keep in the patience: 
 and am thankful, under a fenle of the good- 
 pefs of the Lord toward thofe that are of a 
 contrite fpirit. 
 
 The fixth day of the ninth month, and 
 firft of the week. Was this day at Counter- 
 fide; a large meeting-houfe, and very full : 
 and, through the opening of pure love, it was 
 a {lengthening time to me, and (I believe) 
 to many more. 
 
 The thirteenth day of the month. Was 
 this day at Richmond, a fmall meeting ; but, 
 the town's people coming in, the houfe was 
 crowded : it was a time of heavy labour ; and 
 (I believe) was a profitable meeting. 
 
 At this place I heard that my kinfman 
 William Hunt, from North-Carolina, who 
 was on a religious vifit to friends in England, 
 departed this life on the ninth day of the ninth 
 month, inftant, of the fmall-pox, at New- 
 caftle.-* He appeared in the miniftry when 
 a youth; and his labours therein were of good 
 favour. He travelled much in that work in 
 America. I once heard him fay, in public 
 teflimony, that his concern was (in that vifit) 
 to be devoted to the fervice of Chrift fo fully, 
 that he might not fpend one minute in pleafing 
 himfelf: which words, joined with his ex- 
 ample, were a means of flirring up the pure 
 niind in me. 
 
 On this vifit to England I have felt fome 
 inflruclions fealed on my mind, which I am 
 
 concerned to leave in writing, for the ufe of 
 
 ** / i 
 
 luch 
 

 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 fuch as are called to the ftation of a minifter 
 ofChrift. 
 
 Chrift being the Prince of Peace, and we 
 being no more than minifters, I find it ne- 
 ceflary for us, not only to feel a concern in 
 our firft going forth, but to experience the 
 renewing thereof, in the appointment of 
 meetings. 
 
 1 felt a concern, in America, to prepare for 
 this voyage; and being, through the mercy 
 of God, brought fafe here, my heart was 
 like a veffel that wanted vent; and for feve- 
 ral weeks, at firft, when my mouth was open- 
 ed in meetings, it often felt like the raifing 
 of a gate in a water courfe, where a weight 
 of water lay upon it ; and in thefe labours 
 there appeared a fre(h vifitation to many, 
 efpecially the youth; but fometimes, after this, 
 I felt empty and poor, and yet felt a neceffity 
 to appoint meetings. 
 
 In this ftate I was exercifed to abide in the 
 pure life of truth, and in all my labours to 
 watch diligently againft the motions of felf 
 rn my own mind. 
 
 1 have frequently felt a necefiity to ftani 
 up, when the fpring of the miniftry was low; 
 and to fpeak from the necefiity, in that which 
 fubjedteth the will of the creature ; and here-r 
 in 1 was united with the fufTering feed, and 
 found inward fweetnefs in thefe mortifying 
 labours. 
 
 As I have been prefer ved in a watchful at- 
 tention to the divine Leader, under thefe dif- 
 penfations, enlargement at times hath fol- 
 O 4 lowed,
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 lowed, and the power of truth hath rifen high' 
 er, in fome meetings, than 1 ever knew it be- 
 fore through me. 
 
 Thus 1 have been more and- more inftrufted, 
 as to the neeeiTity of depending, not upon. a 
 concern which I felt in America, to come on 
 {L.vifit to England, but upon the frc th inftruc- 
 tions of Chrift, the Prince of peace, from day 
 to day. 
 
 Now, of late, I felt a ft$p in the appoint- 
 ment of meeting?, not wholly, but in part ; 
 and I do not feel liberty to appoint them fo 
 quick one after another as I have heretofore. 
 
 The work of the ministry being a work 
 of divine love, 1 feel that the openings there,- 
 of are to be wairtd fpr, in all our appoint- 
 
 * 4 
 
 ments. ^, ;t d : ^ o ,j 
 
 Oh ! how deep is divine wifdom ! Chrift 
 puts forth his minifte.rs, and goeth before them ; 
 and oh ! how great is the danger of departing 
 from the pure feeling of that which leadeth 
 fafely ! 
 
 Chrift Jtnoweth the ftate of the people ; and, 
 n the pure feeling of the gofpel-miniftry, their 
 ftates are opened to his fervants. 
 
 Chrift knoweth when the fruit-bearing 
 branches themfelves have need of purging. 
 
 Oh ! that thefe lefTons may be remembered 
 by me ! and that all who appoint meetings 
 msy proceed in the pure feeling of duty j 
 
 1 have fometimes felt a necelfity toitand up 5 
 but that fpirit which is gf the worM hath fo 
 much prevailed in many, and the pure life of 
 truth been fo preflcd down, that 1 have gons 
 
 forv.ard, 
 
 i 
 
 PA.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 201 
 
 forward, not as one travelling in a road caft up 
 and well prepared, but as a man walking 
 through a miry place, in which are ftones, here 
 and there, iafe to ftep on, but fo fituated, that, 
 one ftep being taken, time is necefiary to fee 
 where to ftep next. 
 
 Now I find that, in the pure obedience, the 
 mind learns contentment, in appearing weak 
 and foolifh to that wifdom which is of the 
 world ; and, in thefe lowly labours, they who 
 ftand in a low place, rightly exercifed under 
 the crofs, will find nounfhment. 
 
 The gift is pure ; and, while the eye is 
 fingle in attending thereto, the underftanding 
 is preferved clear : felf is kept out. We re- 
 joice in filling up that which remains of the 
 afflictions of Chrift, for his body's fake, which 
 is the church. 
 
 The natural man loveth eloquence, and 
 many love to hear eloquent orations ; and, if 
 there is not a careful attention to the gift, men 
 who have once laboured in the pure gofpel- 
 miniftry, growing weary of fuffering, and 
 afhamed of appearing weak, may kindle a fire, 
 compafs themfelves about with fparks, and 
 walk in the light j not of Chrift who is under 
 fuffering ; but of that fire which they, going 
 from the gift, have kindled ; and that in 
 Jiearers, which is gone from the meek fuffer- 
 ing ftate, into the worldly wifdom, may be 
 warmed with this fire, and fpeak highly of 
 thefe labours. That which is of God gathers 
 tp God ; and that which is of the world is 
 owned by the world, 
 
 In
 
 LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 '. ijfo this journey a labour hath attended my 
 mind, that the ministers amongft us may be 
 prekrved in the meek feeling life of truth, 
 whzre we may have no defire but to follow 
 Chrift and be with him 3 that, when he is un- 
 der iuffering, we may fuffer- with him, and ne- 
 yi defire to rife up in dominion, but as he, by 
 the virtue of his own fpirit, may raife us. 
 lit ./loir, *;!. cv *.\ :0i 
 
 ti )** > ' . . 
 
 '#>. r/lOJa/Jx/u 
 
 A few days after writing thefe confederations, 
 our dear friend, in the courfe of his religious 
 vifits,, came to the city of York, and attended 
 moft of the fittings of the quarterly-meeting 
 there ; but, before it was over, was taken ill 
 of the fmall-pox. Our friend, Thomas Prieft- 
 man, and others who attended him, preferved 
 the following minutes of his expreffions in the 
 time of his ikknefs and of his deceafe. 
 i i ft day, the 2yth of the 9th month, 1772. 
 His diforder appeared to be the fmall-pox. 
 
 2d day. He &id he felt the diforder to affeft 
 his head, fo that he could think little, and but 
 as a child. 
 
 Third day he uttered the following prayer.- 
 
 Lord my God, the amaz ; ng horrors of 
 darknefs were gathered around me and covered 
 me all over, and I faw no way to go forth ; 
 
 1 felt the depth and extent of the mUery of my 
 fellow- creatures fcparated from the divine har- 
 mony, and it was heavier than I could bear, 
 and I was crufhed down under it> I lifted up 
 my hand, 1 ftretched out my arm, but the r a 
 
 was
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 203 
 
 was none to help me ; I looked round about 
 and was amazed ; in the depths of mifery, O 
 Lord ! T remembered that thou art omnipotent, 
 that I had called thee Father, and I felt that I 
 loved thee, and I was made quiet in thy will, 
 and J waited for deliverance from thee ; thou 
 hadft pity upon me when no man could help 
 me j J faw that meeknefs under fuffering was 
 fhewed to us in the moft affecting example 
 of thy Son, and thou taugheft me to follow 
 him, and I faid, c thy will, O Father, be done.' 
 Fourth day morning,, being afked how he 
 felt himfelr, he meekly anfwered, I do not 
 know that I have fiept this night, I feel the 
 diforder making its progrefs, but my mind 
 is mercifully preferved in ftillnefs and peace: 
 fometime after he faid he was fenfible the 
 pains of death mufl be hard to bear; but, if he 
 efcaped them now, he muft fometime pafs 
 through them, and he did not know that he 
 could be better prepared, but had no will in 
 it. He laid he had fettled his outward af- 
 fairs to his mind, had taken leave of his 
 wife and family as never to return; leaving 
 them to the divine protection ; adding, and 
 though 1 feel them near to me at this time, yet 
 I freely give them up, having a hope that 
 they will be provided for. And a little after 
 faid, This trial is made eafier than I could have- 
 thought, my will being wholly taken away ; for 
 if I were anxious for the event, it would have 
 been harder; but I am not, and my mind enjoys 
 a perfect calm, 
 
 In
 
 18| THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 In the night a young woman having given 
 him fomething to drink, he faid, My child 
 thou feem eft very kind tome, a poor creature, 
 the Lord will reward thee for it. A while af- 
 ter he cried out with great earneftnefs of fpirit, 
 Oh my Father ! my Father ! and foon after 
 he faid, Oh my Father! my Father! how 
 comfortable art thou to my foul in this trying 
 feafon ! Being afked if he could tike a little 
 nourilhment ; after fome paufe he replied, my 
 child, I cannot tell what to fay to it; I feem 
 nearly arrived where my foul fliall have reft 
 from all its troubles. After giving in fome- 
 thing to be inferted in his journal, he faid, 
 I believe the Lord will now excufe me from 
 exercifes of this kind; and I fee no work but 
 one, which is to be the laft wrought by me 
 in this world ; the mefienger will come that 
 will releafe me from all thefe troubles; but. 
 it muft be in the Lord's time, which I am 
 Waiting for. He faid he had laboured to do 
 whatever was required, according to the a- 
 bility received, in the remembrance of which 
 he had peace; and, though the diforder was 
 ftrong at times, and would like a whirlwind 
 come over his mind, yet it had hitherto been 
 kept fteady, and centered in everlafling love j" 
 adding, and if that be mercifully continued, 
 I afk nor defire no more. Another time he 
 faid, he had long had a view of vifiting this 
 nation, and, fometime before he came, had a 
 dream, in which he faw himfelfin the northern 
 parts of it, and that the fpring of the gofpel 
 was opened in him much as in the beginning 
 
 of
 
 <p OF JOHN WOOLMAN.r 205 
 
 of friends, fuch as George Fox and William 
 Dewfberry, and he faw the different ftates of 
 the people, as clear as he had ever feen flowers 
 in a garden; but in his going along he was 
 fuddenly ftopt, though he could not fee for 
 what end ; but, looking towards home, fell 
 into a flood of tears which waked him. 
 
 At another time he faid, my draught feemed 
 ftrongeft towards the North, and I mentioned, 
 in my own monthly-meeting, that attending 
 the quarterly-meeting at Ycrk, and being there, 
 looked like home to me. 
 
 Fifth-day night, having repeatedly confented 
 to take medicine with a view to fettle his 
 ftomach, but without effecl, the friend, then 
 waiting on him, faid, through diftreis, what 
 ftiall J do now ? He anfwered with great com- 
 pofure, Rejoice evermore, and in every thing 
 give thanks j but added a little after, this is 
 lometimes hard to come at. 
 
 Sixth-day morning, he broke forth early in 
 fupplication on this wife : O Lord, it was thy 
 power that enabled me to forlake fin in my 
 youth, and I have felt thy bruifes for dif- 
 cbedience j but, as I bowed under them, thou 
 didft heal me, continuing a father and a friend : 
 I feel thy power now, and 1 beg that, in the 
 approaching trying moment, thou wilt keep 
 my heart liedfaft unto thee. Upon his 
 giving directions to a friend concerning fome 
 little things, (he faid, I will take care, but 
 hope theu wilt live to order them thyfelf. 
 He replied, My hope is in Ch rift ; and, though 
 I may feem a little beuer, a change in the dif- 
 
 order
 
 206 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 order may foon happen, and my little flrength 
 be difiblved j and, if it fo happens, I (hall be 
 gathered to my everlafting reft. On her fay* 
 ing me did not doubt that, but could not help 
 mourning to fee fo many faithful fervants re- 
 moved at fo low a time, he faid, All good 
 cometh from the Lord, whofe power is thd 
 fame, and can work as he fees beft. The 
 fame day he had given directions about wrap- 
 ping his corpfe : perceiving a friend to weep, 
 he faid, I would rather thou wouldft guard a- 
 gainft weeping for me, my fitter j I forrow 
 not, though I have had fome painful conflicts : 
 but now they feem over, and matters well 
 fettled 5 and I look at the face of my dear Re- 
 deemer 5 for fweet is his voice, and his coun- 
 tenance is comely. 
 
 Firft-day, fourth of the tenth month, being 
 very weak, and in general difficult to be un- 
 derftood, he uttered a few words in comme- 
 moration of the Lord's goodnefs, and added, 
 How tenderly have 1 been waited on in this 
 time of affliction ! in which I may fay, in Job's 
 words, Tedious days and wearifome nights are 
 appointed unto me : and how many are fpend- 
 ing their time and money in vanity and fuper- 
 fluities, while thoufands and tens of thoufands 
 want the necefiaries of life, who might be re- 
 lieved by them, and their diftrefles, at fuch a 
 time as this, in fome degree foftened, by the 
 adminiftering fuitable things ! 
 
 Secdhd-day morning, the apothecary, who 
 appeared very anxious to afiift him, being 
 prefent, he queried about the probability of- 
 
 fuch
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN.- 207: 
 
 fuch a load of matter being thrown off hit 
 weak body j and, the apothecary making fome 
 remarks implying he thought it might, he 
 fpoke with an audible voice on this wife : 
 My dependence is on the Lord Jefus, who, I 
 truft, will forgive my fins, which is all I hope 
 for; and, if it be his will to raife up this body 
 again, I am content > and, if to die, I am re- 
 figned ; and, if thou canfl not be eafy with- 
 out trying to aflift nature, I fubmit. After 
 which hk throat was fo much affected, that 
 it was very difficult for him to fpeak fo as to 
 be underftood 5 and he frequently wrote when 
 he wanted any thing. About the fecond hour, 
 on fourth-day morning, he afked for pen and 
 ink, and, atfeveral times, with much diffi- 
 culty, wrote thus : I believe my being here is 
 in the wifdom of Chrift ; I know not as to life 
 or death. 
 
 About a quarter before fix, the fame morn^b 
 ing, he feemed to fall into an eafy fleep, which 
 continued about half an hour ; when, feeming 
 to awake, he breathed a few times with more 
 difficulty, and expired, without figh, groan, or 
 ftruggle t 
 
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 ai >' ; odw ,v:l lo iji.i.lVj-joa aril JRS.W 
 
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 END OF THE JOURNAL. 

 
 
 
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 ,7 JXJTfc-Yi-'Of i. v '" 
 
 ,vz:<L^a:/i ^
 
 THE 
 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 PART the SECOND. 
 
 Containing his LAST EPISTLE and 
 other WRITINGS. 
 
 L O N DO N: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY T. LETCHWORTH, 
 AT N. 33, TOOLEY-STRBET, SOUTHWARD. 
 
 M.DCC.LXXV.
 
 o a ja A w T 
 
 ,* 
 
 *^ ri ' 
 
 
 
 .H O I T O U <!! O 
 
 :>7 O a /. O I 
 
 * 
 
 . 
 
 . ,rv 
 
 'A\ ^ luSll'AV yH dv,<i\
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 O N 
 
 . 
 
 PURE WISDOM AND HUMAN POLICY; 
 
 \j w 
 
 L A B O U v R; 
 
 . 
 
 O N 
 SCHOOLS: 
 
 And on the RICHT USE of the 
 
 LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 
 Firft printed in the year 1768. 
 
 JAMES iii. 17. 
 
 ifdoni) that is from above, is fir/I pure, 
 then peaceable^ gentle^ and eajy to be intreated^ 
 full of mercy and good fruits, without partia- 
 lity and without bypocrify. 
 
 > " ' ' ' """ ' ....... 'i l r . li n ..... 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 mind bath tften been affetttd withfor- 
 row, on account of the prevailing of that 
 fpirity which leads Jrom an hwnble waiting on 
 the inward teaching of Cbrifl y to purjue ways 
 of Jiving, attended with unnecej/ary labour, 
 and ivlMh draius forth the minds oj many feo- 
 
 P 2 pie
 
 U o P u c f 
 
 wft KW.'Vi? /jmttviM \i { -.y , ,'M ' K . 
 
 _/> /<? : /t^fc after outward power, a,nd to ftriv? 
 
 for riches, which frequently introduce opprcffion* 
 ' "" i i r / i 7 
 
 'tftffl or ing j or to wars and grievous calamities. 
 
 It is with reverence that I acknowledge the 
 mercies of our- heavenly Father \ who, in infinite 
 love, did^ yifit me in my youtb K >*nd^ wrought 4 
 Belief in we, that through true obedience a flats 
 $f inward purity viay be- known in this life^ in 
 which we way loye wqaftittd J n tfa fame lyje 
 with which bur Redeemer lo^th us, and there* 
 in learn resignation to endwe /jard/Jjips for the 
 real good of others. 
 
 *' While the .eye is Jingle * the wMe body .is 
 *' full of ligot? Mat. vi. 22. but, for want of 
 this, felfijh ((cjlre^and an imaginary fuperiori- 
 ty\ darken tbe mind ; hetice. injujlice frequently 
 proceeds ; and, where this is the cafe^ to con- 
 yince the judgement is the n;oft effectual remedy. 
 
 Where violent* meafures are purfued in oppojing 
 injuftice, tbe pajjions and refentment s of t'he in- 
 jured frequently operate in tbe profecution of 
 their dtjigns ; and-, after conflicts pro&ftlive If 
 very -great calamities t the minds of Contending 
 parties often remain as little acquainted with 
 the pure principle of drome few, as they were 
 before ; but where people walk ' in that pure 
 tight w which all' tbfir " works are wrought 
 " in God" John iii. 21, and under opprejion 
 perfevere in toe meek fpirit, and abide firm, (n 
 the caiife of truth, without afii>vely. complying 
 with opprejive d em an (Is > through tbefc the 
 Lord hath often mantfe/fcd his power ^ in open- 
 ing the under/landings of others, to tbe promor 
 ting right coy] nefs in the earth* 
 
 A.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 211 
 T 5 i u fl T VI I s'l * 
 
 // ///w, / believe, is coming, wherein this 
 divine work iviil fo Jpread and prevail, thdt 
 " Nation /kail not lift up fword againft nation, 
 " nor learn war any more," Ifaralvur^ And 
 as ive, through the tender rjiercirs of God, do 
 feel that this precious work is begun, I am con- 
 cerned to excburage my brethrtn cnJfftcrs in a 
 holy cdre dnd diligence ^ that each of us ?nay fo 
 live, under the fanftifytng power of truth, as 
 to be redeemed from all unnecejjary cares; that 
 cur eye being fingle to him, rto cuftoms, however 
 prevalent, which are contrary to the wi/dvm 
 from afave, may hinder us from faithfully fol- 
 lowing bis holy leading^ in wkatjoever be may 
 gracioujly appoint for us. 
 
 C O X-
 
 ON PURE WJSDOM , 
 
 >. tyo^ 
 
 < =gg- 
 
 POXTQIT^PP A T 1 T O XT Q> 
 
 CUJN biUkKA i lUNb 
 
 N 
 
 PURE WISDOM 
 
 V -'* < \*v,* 
 
 A #9* -M 
 
 HUMAN POLICY. 
 
 X'VitV.- 
 
 TO have our truft fettled in the Lord, 
 and not to feek after nor defire out- 
 ward treafures, any farther than his 
 Holy Spirit leads us therein, is a happy ftate j 
 as faith the prophet, " BlefTed is the man that 
 " trufteth in the Lord, and whofe hope the 
 Lord is." 
 
 Pure wifdom leads people into lowlinefs of 
 mind, in which they learn refignation to the 
 divine will, and contentment in fuffering for 
 his caufe, when they cannot keep a clear con- 
 fcience without fuffering. 
 
 Jn this pure wifdom the mind is attentive to 
 the root and original fpring of motions and de- 
 fires ; and, as we know " the Lord to be our 
 " refuge," and find no fafcty but in humbly 
 walking before him, we feel a holy engage- 
 ment, that every defire which leads therefrom 
 may be brought to judgement. 
 
 While we proceed in this precious way, 
 and find ardent longings for a full deliverance 
 
 from
 
 AND HUMAN POLIQT. 
 
 from every thing which defiles, all profpedti 
 of gain, that are not contiftent with the wif- 
 dom from above, are confidered as, fnares; and 
 an inward concern is felt, that, we may live un- 
 der the crofs, and faithfully attend to that holy 
 fpirit which i$ fufficicnt to prefcrve out of 
 them. 
 
 When 1 have confidered that fey ing of Ch rift, 
 Matt. vi. 19, <c Lay not up for yourfelves 
 " treafures upon earth," his omnipotence hath 
 often occurred to my mind. 
 
 While we believe that he is every where pre- 
 fent with his people, and that perfect goodneis, 
 tvifdom, and power, are united in him, how 
 comfortable is the cor. rule ration 1 
 
 Our wants may be great, but his pcfcver 
 is greater. We may be oppreiicd and defpi- 
 fed, but he is able to turn our patient furTei'-r 
 ings into profit to ourfelves, and to the ad- 
 vancement of bis work on earth. His 
 people, who feel the power of his crofs, tc 
 crucify all that is felfiih in them, whp are 
 engaged in outward concerns, frpm a con- 
 vincement that it is their duty, and refigo 
 themfelvcs, and their treafures, to him ; theie 
 feel that it is dangerous to give way to that 
 in us, which craves riches and grcatucfs in 
 this world. 
 
 As the heart, truly contrite, earned!? de- 
 fires <f to know Chrift, and the feliowtlup 
 .*' of his fufTering^," Phil. iii. 10. fo far as 
 the Lord for gracious ends may lead into 
 tli^m ; as fuch feel that it is their intereft to 
 put their truft in God, and to feek no gain 
 
 P 4." but
 
 but that which he, by his Holy Spirit, lead* 
 into ; fo, on the contrary, they who do not 
 reverently wait for this divine teacher, and 
 are not humbly concerned, according to their 
 meafure, " to fill up that which is behind of 
 " the affliaions of (Thrift," Col. i. 24, in 
 patiently fuffering for the promoting righte^ 
 oufnefs in the earth, but have an eye toward 
 the power of men, and the outward advan- 
 tage of wealth, thefe are often attentive to 
 thofe employments which appear profitable, 
 even though the gains arife from fuch a trade 
 and bufinefs which proceed from the work- 
 ings of that fpirit, which is eftranged from 
 the felf-denying life of an humble contrite 
 chriftian. 
 
 While I write on this fnbjedr., I feel my 
 mind tenderly affected toward thofe honeftly- 
 difpofed people, who have been brought up 
 in employments attended with thofe diffi- 
 culties. 
 
 To fuch I may fay, in the feeling of our 
 heavenly Father's love, and number myfelf 
 with them, Oh ! that our eyes may be fingle to 
 the Lord ! may we reverently wait on him 
 for ftrength, to lay afide all unneceffary ex- 
 pence of every kind, and learn contentment 
 in a plain fimple life. 
 
 May we, in lowlinejfr, fubmit to the lead- 
 ings of his fpirit, and enter upon any out- 
 ward employ which he gracioufly points out 
 to us, and then whatever difficulties arile, in 
 confequcnce of our faithfulnefs, I truft they 
 will werk for our good, j 
 
 Small
 
 AND HUMAN POLICY. 217 
 
 Small treafurc to a refigned.mird is f-jt 
 cicnt.. How happy is it to be' content with 
 a little, to live in humility, and feel that in 
 os, which breathes out this language, Abba! 
 Father ! 
 
 If that, called the wifdom of this world, 
 had no refemblance of true wifdom, the mme 
 of wifdom, I fuppofe, had not been given 
 to h. 
 
 As wafting outward fubftance, to gratify 
 vain defires, on one hand; fo florhfulnefs 
 and negleft, on the other, do often involve 
 men and their families in trouble, and reduce 
 them to want and diftrefs ; to ihtrn troth thefe 
 opposite vices h good in itfclf, and rnth a 
 refemblance of wifdom j but while people, 
 thus provident, have it principally in view to 
 get riches and power, and the friermfliip of 
 this world, and do not humbly wait for the 
 fpirit of truth to lead them in purity ; thefe, 
 through -an anxious care to cbtain the end 
 dcfired, reach forth for gain in worldly wil- 
 dorh, and, in regard to their inward ftate, 
 fall into divers temptations and fnaves. And 
 though fuch may think of apply. ng wealth 
 to good purpofcs, and to ufe their power to 
 prevent oppremon, yet wealth and power are 
 often applied otherwifej nor can we depart 
 from the leadings of our holy fheplierd, with- 
 out going into confufion. 
 
 Great wealth is frequently attended with 
 power, whi< h nothing but divine lave can 
 qualify the mind to me rightly j and, as to 
 the humility and uprightnds of- our chil- 
 dren
 
 2i8 ON LAB OUR. 
 
 dren after us, how great is the uncertainty ! 
 If, in acquiring wealth, we take hold on the 
 wifdom which is from beneath, and depart 
 from the leadings of truth, and example our 
 children herein, we have great caufe to appre* 
 hend that wealth may be a fnare to them, and 
 prove an injury to others > over whom theil 
 wealth may give them power. 
 
 To be redeemed from that wifdom which 
 is from beneath, and walk in the light of the 
 Lord, is a precious fituation 1 thus his people 
 are brought to put their truft in him ; and, in 
 this humble confidence in his wifdom, good- 
 nefs, and power, the righteous find a refuge in 
 adverfities, fuperior to greatefl outward helps, 
 and a comfort more certain than any worldly 
 advantages can afford. 
 
 : . 
 
 
 
 ON LABOUR. 
 
 HAVING, from my childhood, been ufed 
 to bodily labour for a living, I may ex- 
 prefs my experience therein. 
 
 Right exercife affords an innocent pleafura 
 in the time of it, and prepares us to enjoy the 
 fweetnefs of reft j but, from the extremes each 
 way, arife inconveniences. 
 
 Moderate exercile opens the pores, gives 
 the blood a lively circulation, and the better 
 enables us to judge rightly ref peeling that 
 portion t>f labour which is the true medium. 
 
 Th*
 
 ON LABOUR. 
 
 " The fowls of the air fow not, nor gather 
 " into barns, yet our heavenly Father feo4$ 
 11 cth them," Matt. vi. 26 ; nor do I believe 
 that infinite goodnefs and power would have 
 allotted labour to us, had he not fcen that la- 
 bour was proper for us in this life. 
 
 The original defign and true medium of la- 
 bour are fubjecls that, to me, appear worthy 
 of our ferious consideration. 
 
 Idle rheri are often a burden to themfelves, 
 neglect the duty they owe to their families, and 
 become burthcnfome to others allb. 
 
 As outward labour tends to our health, and 
 adds to our happinefs in this life, fo, on the 
 contrary, entering upon it in a felftfh {fmk, *nd 
 purfurng it too long or too hard, have a con- 
 trary effect. 
 
 I have cbferved, that too much labour not 
 only makes the unjderftanding dull, but fo in- 
 trudes upon the harmony of the body, thar, 
 after ceafing from our toil, we have another t > 
 pafs through, before we can be fo competed as 
 to enjoy the fweetnefs of reft. 
 
 From too much labour in the heat fre- 
 quently proceed immoderate fweats; which do 
 often, I believe, open the way fur diforders, 
 and impair our constitutions. 
 
 When we go beyond the true medium, 
 and feel wearinefs approaching, but think 
 bufinefs may fuller if we ceafc, at fuch a 
 time fpirituous liquors are frequently takeo, 
 with a view to Support nature under thefe fa- 
 tigues, 
 
 I have
 
 220 ON LABOUR. 
 
 I have found that too much labour, in the 
 fummer, heats the blood ; that taking ftrong 
 drink, to fupport the body under fuch labour, 
 increafeth that heat j and that, though a per- 
 fon may be fo far temperate as not to manifeft 
 the leaft diforder, yet the mind, in fuch a cir- 
 cumftance, doth not retain that calmnefs and 
 ferenity which we mould endeavour to live 
 in. 
 
 Thus toiling in the heat, and drinking 
 ilrong liquor, make men more refolute and lefs 
 confiderate, and tend very much to difqualify 
 from fuccefsfully following him who is meek 
 and low of heart. 
 
 As laying out bufinefs, more than is con- 
 fident with pure wifdom, is an evil, fo this 
 evil frequently leads into more. Too much 
 bufinefs leads to hurry. In the hurry and 
 toil too much ftrong drink is often ufed j and 
 hereby many proceed to rioife and wanton- 
 nefs, and fome, though more confiderate, do 
 often fuffer lofs, as to a true compofednefs of 
 mind. 
 
 J feel fincere defires in my heart, that no 
 rent, nor interefr., might be laid fo high as 
 to be a fnare to tenants : that no defires of 
 gain may draw any too far in bufinefs : that 
 no cares, to fupport cuftoms which have not 
 their foundation in pure wifdom, may have 
 place in OUF minds j but that- we may build 
 on the fure Foundation, and feel our holy 
 Shepherd to lead us, who alone is able to prc- 
 ferve us, and bring forth from every thing 
 which defile* :, 
 
 Having
 
 , ABOUR. 221 
 
 
 Having feveral times, in my travels, had 
 opportunity to obfervc the labour and manner 
 of life of great numbers of ilaves, it appears to 
 me that the true medium is lamentably ne- 
 glected by many who affign them their portion 
 of labour. 
 
 Without faying much, at this time, con- 
 cerning buying and felling men, for term of 
 life, who have as juft a right to liberty as we 
 have ; nor about the great miferies and ef- 
 fulion of blocd, confequent on promoting the 
 flave-trade j and to fpeak as favourably as 
 may be, with regard to continuing thofe in 
 bondage who are amongft us, we cannot fay 
 there is no partiality in it ; for, whatever ten- 
 dernefs may be manifefted by individuals, in 
 their life- time, toward them, yet for people 
 to be tranfmitted, from a man to his pofterity, 
 in the helplefs condition of flaves, appears in- 
 confiftent with the nature of the gofpel-fpi- 
 rit. From fuch proceedings it often follows, 
 that perfons, in the decline of life are de- 
 prived of monies equitably due to them, and 
 Committed to the care, and fubjecled to the 
 ablblute power, of young unexperienced men, 
 who know but little about the weaknefs of old 
 age, nor underfbnd the language of declining 
 life. 
 
 Where parents give their eftates to their 
 children, and then depend on them for a 
 maintenance, they fometimes meet with grent 
 inconveniences ; but, if the power of pollef- 
 lion, thus obtained, doth often reverie the 
 ybligaticns of gratitude and filial duty, and 
 
 makes
 
 62* ON LABOUR. 
 
 makes Tnanifeft, that youth are often igno- 
 rant of the language of old age, how hard is 
 the cafe of antient Negroes, who, deprived 
 of the wages equitably due to them, are left 
 to young people, who have been ufed to look 
 wpon them as their inferiors ! 
 
 For men to behold the fruits of their labour 
 withheld from them, and pofleffed by others, 
 and in old age find themfelves defUtute of 
 thofe comfortable accommodations, and that 
 tender regard which their time of life re- 
 quires : 
 
 When they feel pains, and ftiffnefs in their 
 joints and limbs, weaknefs of appetite, and 
 that a little labour is wearifome, and ftill be- 
 hold themfelves in the neglected uncomfortable 
 condition of a flave, and oftentimes to a young 
 unfympathifing man : 
 
 For men to fee thus treated from one gene- 
 ration to another, who, befides their own 
 diftreffes, think on the flavery entailed on 
 their pofterity, artd are grieved, what dif- 
 agreeable thoughts muft they have of the 
 profefled followers of Jefus! and how muft 
 their groans afcend to that almighty Being, 
 who " will be a refuge for the opprefled !" 
 Pfa'mix. 9. 
 
 . 
 
 '.v-j'X.-i 
 
 O K
 
 [ 223 1 
 
 ON SCHOOLS. 
 
 Suffer the little children to come unto me, and 
 forbid them not ; for of fuch is the kingdom of 
 God. Markx. 14. 
 
 encourage children to do things with 
 a view to get praife of men to rne ap- 
 pears an obftruction to their being inwardly 
 acquainted with the fpirtt of truth. For it 
 is the work of the Holy Spirit to direct the 
 mind to God, that in all our proceedings 
 we may have a fingle eye to him. To give 
 alms in fecret, to faft in fecret, and labour 
 to keep clear of that difpofition reproved by 
 our Saviour, " But all their works they do 
 " for to be feen of men," Matt, xxiii. 5. 
 
 That divine light which enlightens all men, 
 I believe, does often fhine in the minds of 
 children very early, and to humbly wait for 
 wifdom, that our conduct toward them may 
 tend to forward their acquaintance with it, 
 and ftrengihen them in obedience thereto, 
 appears to me to be a duty on all. 
 
 By cherimiijg the fpirit of pride, and the 
 h)Ve of praife in them, I believe they may 
 fometimes improve fafter in learning, than 
 othcrwife they would ; but to take meaiures 
 to forward children in learning, which na- 
 turally tend to divert their minds from true 
 Humility, appears to me to favour of the wifdom 
 
 of this world. 
 
 /> 
 Jf
 
 224 ON SCHOOLS. 
 
 If tutors are not acquainted with fandYifi- 
 cation of Tpirit, nor experienced in an hum- 
 ble waiting for the leadings of truth, but 
 follow the, maxims of the wifdom of this 
 world, fuch children, as are under their tu- 
 ition, appear to me to be in danger of im- 
 bibing thoughts and apprehenfions reverfe to 
 that meeknefs' and lowlinefs of heart which 
 are necefl'ary for all the true followers of 
 Chrift. 
 
 Children, at an age fit for fchools, are in a 
 time of life which requires the patient, atten- 
 tion of pious people; and, if we commit them 
 to the tuition of fuch, whofe minds we be- 
 lieve are not rightly prepared to *' : train them 
 ** 'up in the nurture and admonition of the 
 ' Lord," we are in danger of not acling the 
 part of faithful parents toward them; for 
 our heavenly Father doth not require us to 
 do evil that good may come of it j and it is 
 needful that we deeply examine ourfelves, 
 left we get entangled in the wifdom of this 
 world, and, through wrong apprehenfions, 
 take fuch methods, in education, as may 
 prove a great injury to the minds of our chil- 
 dren. 
 
 It is a lovely fight to behold innocent chil- 
 dren ! and when they are fent to fuch fchools 
 where their tender minds are in imminent dan- 
 ger of being led aftray by tutors who do not 
 live a felf-denying life, or by the converfation 
 of fuch children as do not live in innocence, 
 it is a cafe much to be lamented. 
 
 While
 
 ON SCHOOLS. 
 
 , While a pious tutor hath the charge of no 
 more children than he can take due care of, 
 and keeps his authority in the truth, thp 
 good fpirit, in which he leads and governs, 
 works on the minds of fuch as are not hard- 
 ened, and his labours not only tend to bring 
 them forward in outward learning, but to 
 open thejr understandings with refpect to 
 the true Chritiian life: but, where a perfoji 
 hath charge of too many, and his thoughts 
 and time a-re fo much employed, in the out- 
 ward affairs of his fchool, that he does not 
 fo weightily attend to the fpirit and conduct 
 
 O J . .- 4 w 4 . &.' / 
 
 of each indivi ; .;ul as to be enabled to admir 
 niftcr rightly to all, in due fcafon ; through 
 fuch omir.iur,, he nut or.ly fuffers, as to the 
 ilate of his own ,. the minds of the 
 
 children are in danger of fiifTennailfo, 
 
 o o 
 
 Tq watch the fpirit of children, to nurture 
 them in gofpel love, and tu labour to help ill,:;; 
 againjl that which would mar the beauty of 
 their minds, is a debt we owe them ; and a 
 faithful performance of our duty not gqty 
 tends to their lafting benefit and our o,vy|i 
 peace, but aliu to reiider their company a-rce- 
 ablc to us. 
 
 Jnftruction, thus adminiftercd, reaches 
 the pure witnefs in the minds of fuch chil- 
 dren as are not hardened, and begets love in 
 ti.em toward thofe who thus lead them on ; 
 hut, where too great n number is committed 
 to a tutor, and he, through much cumber, 
 omits a careful attention to the minds of chil- 
 dren, there is danger of diforders gradually 
 
 increafing
 
 226 ON SCHOOLS 
 
 increafing amongft them, till the effects there- 
 of appear in their conduit, too ftrong to be 
 eafily remedied. 
 
 A care hath lived on my mind, that more 
 time might be employed by parents, at home, 
 and by tutors, at fchool, in weightily attend* 
 ing to the fpirit and inclinations of children, 
 and that we may fo lead, inftruct, and go- 
 vern, them, in this tender part of life, that 
 nothing may be omitted, in our power, to 
 help them on their way to become the chil- 
 dren of our Father, who is in heaven. 
 
 Meditating on the fitu-ation of fchools, in 
 our provinces, my mind hath, at times, been 
 afFedted with forrow ; and, under thefe exer- 
 cifes, it hath appeared to me, that, if thofe, 
 who have large eflates, were faithful ftew- 
 ards, and laid no rent, nor intereft, nor other 
 demand, higher than is confiftent with uni- 
 verfol love ; and if thofe, in lower circumflan- 
 ces, would, under a moderate employ, fhun 
 unneceiTary expence, even to the fmalleft ar- 
 ticle, and all unite in humbly feeking to the 
 Lord, he would graciouily inftruct us arrd 
 flrei'gthen us to relieve the youth from 
 various fnares, in which many of them arc 
 
 entangled. 
 
 aw 
 
 . 
 
 tu 
 uo 
 
 'i^i*".-J 4ft
 
 a i:UOT7 J 
 
 On the RIGHT USE of the LOR D'a 
 
 OUTWARD GIFTS. 
 
 filOt 
 
 AS our underQandings are opened by th$ 
 pure light, we experience that, through 
 an inward approaching to God, the mind is 
 ftrengthenefl in obedience; and that, by gra- 
 tifying thofe delicts .which are not of his be- 
 getting, thofe approaches to l;im are obilruct* 
 cd, and the deceivable fpirit, gains flrength. 
 
 Thcfe truths being as it were engraven 
 upon our hearts, and our everlailing intereft 
 in Chrift evidently concerned herein, we be- 
 come fervently engaged, that nothing may 
 be nourilhed which tends to. feed pride or 
 felf-love in us. Thus, in pure obeditnce, we 
 are not only inftrucled in our duiy, to God, 
 but allb in the.arTairs which neceifarUy re- 
 late to this life, and the fpirit of truth, which 
 guides into all truth* leavens the mind with 
 a pious concern, thai " wha,tfuever we d;o in 
 ' word of deed, may be, done in his name.'* 
 Col. iii. 17. 
 
 Hence luch buildings, furniture, food, and 
 raiment, as beft anfwer our nccelluics, and 
 are the leaft likely to feed that felfith fpirit 
 which is our enemy, are the moft acceptable 
 to us. 
 
 *t-rt < 1 
 
 . Jji this (late the mind is tender, and in- 
 wardly watchful, that the love of gain draw 
 us not into any buiineH-, which may weaken 
 our love to our heavenly Father, or bring un 
 necelTary trouble to any of his creatures. 
 
 -* r~i1 ' 
 
 Thus
 
 228 ON THE RIGHT USE OF THE 
 
 Thus the way gradually opens to ceafe 
 from that fpirit, which craves riches and things 
 fetched far, which fo mixeth with the cuf- 
 toms of this world, and fo intrudes upon 
 the true harmony of life, that the right me- 
 dium of labour is very much departed from. 
 And, as the minds of people are fettled in a 
 fleady concern not to hold nor pofiefs any 
 thing but what may be held confident with 
 the wifdom from above, they confider what 
 they poffefs as the gift of God, and are in- 
 wardly exercifed, that in all parts of their 
 conduct they may act agreably to the nature 
 of the peaceable government of Chrift. 
 
 A little fupports fuch a life; and, in a ftate 
 truly refigned to the Lord, the eye is fingle, 
 to fee what outward employ he leads into, 
 as a means of our fubfiftence, and a lively 
 care is maintained to hold to that without 
 launching farther. 
 
 There is a harmony in the feveral parts of 
 this divine work in the hearts of people ; 
 he, who leads them to ceafe from thofe gain- 
 ful employments, carried on in that \Vlfdom 
 which is from beneath, delivers alfo from the 
 defire after worldly greatnefs, and reconciles 
 the mind to a life fo plain, that a little doth 
 fuffice. 
 
 Here the real comforts of life are not lef- 
 fened. Moderate exerciie, in the way of true 
 wifdom, is pleafant both to mind and body. 
 
 Food and raiment fufficient, though in the 
 greateft fimplicity, is accepted with content 
 and gratitude. 
 
 The
 
 LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 229 
 
 The mutual love, fubfifting between the 
 faithful followers of Chrift, is more pure than 
 that friendship which is not feafoned with 
 humility, how fpecious foever the appear- 
 ance. 
 
 Where people depart from pure wifdom in 
 one cafe, it is often an introduction to depart 
 from it in many more ; and thus a fpirit 
 which feeks for outward greatnefs, and leads 
 into worldly wifdom to attain it and fupport 
 it, gets poiTeffton of the mind. 
 
 In beholding the cuftomary departure from, 
 the true medium of labour, and that unne- 
 cefTary toil which many go through, in fup- 
 porting outward greatnefs, and procuring 
 delicacies: 
 
 In beholding how the true calmnefs of life 
 is changed into hurry, and that many, by 
 eagerly purfuing outward treafure, are in 
 great danger of withering as to the inward 
 ftate of the mind: 
 
 In meditating on the works of this fpirit, 
 and on the defolations it makes amongft the 
 profeflbrs of chriftianity: I may thankfully 
 acknowledge, that I often feel pure love be- 
 get longings in my heart, fgr the exaltation 
 of the peaceable kingdom of Chrift, and an 
 engagement to labour according to. the gift 
 bellowed on me, for the promoting an hum- 
 ble, plain, temperate, way of living : a life, 
 where no unneceflary cares nor expences 
 may encumber our minds, nor leflen our a- 
 bility to do good; where no defires after 
 riches, orgreatneis, may lead into hard deal-
 
 " 
 
 *-*. 
 
 230 On T 
 
 iO'-iV n- 1 Ul 
 
 ingj where no conneaioss with worldly- 
 
 j 
 
 minded men may abate our love to God, 
 
 - J ' 
 
 nor weaken a true zeal for riehteoufnefs : a 
 
 o 
 
 life, wherein 'we may diligently labour for 
 refignednefs to do, and fufTer, whatever our 
 heavenly Father may allot for us, in recon- 
 
 ,.,. A i , . \tl r ir 
 
 Cilmg the world to himielf. 
 
 When the prophet Ifaiab had uttered his 
 vifion, and declared that a time was coming 
 wherein " fwords fhould be beat into plough- 
 " (ha.res, and fpears into pruning-hooks, and 
 " that nation (hould not lift up fword again ft 
 *' nation, npr learn war any more i" he im- 
 mediately directs the minds of people to the 
 divine Teacher in this remarkable language, 
 " houfe of Jacob, come ye and let us walk 
 *' in the light of the Lord." Ifaiah ii, 5. 
 
 To wait for the direction of this Light, in 
 
 o 
 
 all temporal as well as fpiritual concerns, ap- 
 pears neceiTary; for if in any cafe we enter 
 lightly into temporal affairs, without feeling 
 this fplrit of truth to open our way therein, 
 and through the love of this world proceed 
 on, and feek for gain by that bufincfs, or 
 ffic, which " Is not of the Father, but of 
 the world/ 1 i John ii, 16, we fail in our 
 ny to the purity and peace of his go- 
 vernment, and get into that which is for 
 ehartifement, 
 
 This matter hath lain heavy on my mind, 
 it being evident, that a life lefs bumble, lefs 
 (imple and plain, tban that which Chrift 
 leads his fheep into, dpes neceflarily require 
 a fupport, which pure wifdom does not pro- 
 
 vido
 
 LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 231 
 
 vide for ; hence there is no probability of our 
 being " a peculiar people, fo zealous of good 
 " works, as to have no fellowftnp with works 
 " of darknefs," Titus ii. 14. Ephef. v. 11. 
 while we have wants to fupply which have 
 their foundation in cuftom, and do not come 
 within the meaning of thofe expreflions, 
 " your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have 
 " need of all thefe things." Matt. vi. 32. 
 
 Thefe things which he beholds neceflary 
 for his people, he fails not to give them in 
 his own way and time ; but as his ways are 
 above our ways, and his thoughts above our 
 thoughts, fo imaginary wants are different 
 * from thefe things which he knoweth that 
 " we have need of," 
 
 As my meditations have been on thefe 
 things, companion hath filled my heart to- 
 ward my fellow-creatures, involved in cuf- 
 toms, grown up in " the wifdom of this 
 " world, which is foolifhnefs with God," 
 I Cor. iii. 19 j and O that the youth may be 
 fo thoroughly experienced in an humble 
 walking before the Lord, that they may be 
 his children, and know him to be their re- 
 fuge, their fafe unfailing refuge! through 
 the various dangers attending this uncertain 
 (late of being. 
 
 If thofe whofe minds are redeemed from 
 the love of wealth, and who are content with 
 a plain, fimple, way of living, do yet find that 
 to condudt the affairs of a family, without 
 giving countenance to unrighteous proceed-
 
 tyi ON THE RIGHT USE, "tfc. 
 
 ings, or having fellowship with works' of 
 darknefs, the moft diligent care is neceflary 2 
 
 If cuftoms, ditiingui friable from univerfal 
 righteoufnefs, and oppofite to the true felf- 
 denyiag life, are now prevalent, and fo mix- 
 ed with trade, and with almoft every em- 
 ploy, that it is only through humble waiting 
 on the inward guidance of truth, that we 
 may reafonably hope to walk fafeJy, and fup- 
 port an uniform teftirnony to the peaceable 
 government of -Chrifl : 
 
 If this be the cafe, how lamentably do they 
 expofe themfelves to temptations, who give 
 way to the love of riches, conform to expen- 
 five living, and reach forth for gain, to fup- 
 port cuftorns, which our holy Shepherd leads 
 not toto, 
 ~u : ' f ^wiit 
 
 tfn il c^fw ith^w ' 
 ^^mJi&'i.ii/; ) r 
 
 C O K- 
 
 ;.vr;f^ 
 
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 a '*li>*h': 
 
 - 
 
 r J ' " ***-^^-' 
 
 4^*1 ': ; 
 
 IT *>v>*<V^* 
 
 >;t >://,. 
 
 . - 
 
 Vft
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 T R U HARMONY 
 
 j/V 
 
 - 
 * 
 
 
 ! 
 
 Vf A M 1C T Ttf D 
 
 M K IN IV 1 iN LJ, 
 
 /.' -iisan; .ii 
 AND HOW IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED. 
 
 Firft printed in the year 1776.- 
 
 Ml C A H V. 7. 
 
 /6<? remnant of 'Jacob flail be in the 
 ntidft of many people as a dew from the Lord t 
 as the flowers upon the grajs, that tarrieth 
 not for man nor wait etb for the fons of men. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 S mankind from one parent are divided into 
 many families^ and as trading to fea is 
 greatly increafed within a few ages paft; amidjl 
 
 tbit
 
 8 34 IN:T : R O T> V C T ION. 
 
 this extended commerce, how necej/ary is it that 
 the prof effed followers of Cbrift keep f acred his 
 &o/y. name, and be employed about trade and 
 traffic no farther than jujlice and equity evi- 
 dently '.accompany! that we may give no juft 
 caufe of offence to any, however diftant or un- 
 able to plead their own caufe , and may cantinu- 
 ally keep in 'view the fpreading of the true and 
 faving know/edge of God, and his fon Jefns 
 Chrijt, amongfl our fellow-creatures, which, 
 through bis infinite fave, fome feel to be more 
 precious than any other treafure. 
 
 :. . . rr : 
 
 I 
 
 ; 
 
 qrh ^niWmwff 
 
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 -wo : r -^ { cn lc ac;^ ^n v ! a--- i vm ns 
 
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 lud ^aJ jfenJ rn j.-Koyj 
 
 iafjm^^^y, . iw 
 
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 Jia^V ..t<J 
 
 fe r W*i?F-*c3 
 
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 Hr.v ,oJ 
 
 
 
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 ^ 5*." 1 - * ;Jy 
 
 .
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 O N T H E A v 
 
 ' 
 
 TRUE HARMONY 
 
 o F 
 MANKIND; 
 
 4 
 
 AND HOW IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED. 
 
 , , > 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 On ferving the Lord in our outward employ- 
 ments. 
 
 UNDER the humbling difpenfations 
 of the Father of mercies, I have felt 
 an inward labour for the good of my fellow- 
 creatures, and a concern that the holy Spirit, 
 which alone can reftore mankind to a ftate of 
 true harmony, may with fmglenefs of heart 
 be waited for and followed. 
 
 I tru(t there are many under that vifitation, 
 which, if faithfully attended to, will make 
 them quick of underftanding in the fear of the 
 Lord, and qualify with nrmnefs to be true 
 patterns of the chriftian life, who in living 
 and walking may hold forth an invitation to 
 others, to come out of the entanglements of 
 the fpirit of this world. 
 
 And
 
 236 ON SERVING THE LORD K\ OWR 
 
 '& - /I O D 
 
 e x:And that which I feel firft to exprefs is a 
 care for thofe who are in circumftances which 
 appear difficult, with refped: to fupporting 
 their "fcm2i& in a way anJVerable to pure wil- 
 dom, that they may not be difcouraged, but 
 remember that, in humb)y obeying the lead- 
 ing of Chrift, he owneth us as his friends : 
 
 O - f * - .9. + 
 
 {' Ye arc my friends- if ye *oo whatfoever I 
 *' command you ;" and to be a friend to 
 Chrift is to be united to him who hath all 
 power in heaven and in earth ; and, though a 
 woman may fefgs* her fucking child, yet will 
 he not forget his faithful ones. 
 
 The condition of mAny yho:. dwell in cities 
 hath often affecled me with a brotherly fym- 
 pathy,- fcttefxied with a deGre that reiign^- 
 tion may be laboured for \ and, where the ho- 
 }y Leader directeth to a country-life, or fome 
 .change of employ, he may be faithfully fol- 
 lowed ; for, under the refining hand of the 
 Lord, I have fee n that the inhabitants of fome 
 cities are greatly increafed, through fome 
 branches of bufincfs which his holy Spirit 
 jdoth Dot lead into j and that being entangled 
 in thefe things tends to bring a cloud ovef 
 the inHi-ds of people convinced of the leadings 
 of this holy Deader, a,nd obftruds the coming 
 .qj'.the kingdom of Chrift on earth as it is in 
 heaven. 
 
 Npw, if we indulge a defire to imitate our 
 neighbours in thofe things which harmonize 
 jiot with the. true Chr.iit.ian walking, thde 
 'entanglements may hold faft to us, and fome, 
 
 r '*-' ; "' V ~ 
 
 is A' ; '
 
 EMPLOYMENTS^ 237 
 
 Who, in an awakening time, feel tender fiJu- 
 ples, with refped to their manner of life y 
 may look on the example of otfrerfc more no- 
 ted in the church, who yet mny not be re- 
 fined from every degree of drofs ; and, bf 
 looking on thele examples, and ddiring to 
 fnpport their families ftV^'-way ple*&nfi*|l 
 the natural mind, there may be danger of the 
 worldly wifdom gainmg ftrength In them, and 
 of their departure from : that pure feeling of 
 truth, which, if faithfiilly'iftWihlted to', wouki 
 teach contentment in the divine will, even in 
 a very low eftatet 
 
 One, formerly fpealcing-'en the 
 ncfs of true- humility/ &i*i t <?i < 
 troubles not himfelf Witk-'fenxioiy 
 fbt more than is neceffafy ' liv^s I4k( \ 
 than the life of angels, K^h^lft, by a mind 
 content with Kttle, he j imitates tbeir'^iwifr 
 of nothing/' Cave's Primitive Chfriftianity, 
 page 31. aijb^raii xft oJ ,AB 
 
 '"- It is not enough, fays TertUlfiafr, ehat a 
 Chriftian be cha^e and modtfft^bat l^enuifV 
 appear to be fo:.a virioe ? -of/ Which heih^uld 
 have fo great a ftbre, that it houW flow from 
 Bis mind upon -his habitj and break from the 
 retirements of his confcience into the fuptr- 
 fictes of his life." Same boxsk,- ipage 45.-.-' 
 
 '* 'The garments we wear, lays Clemens, 
 ought to be mean and frugal : that is tHie firti- 
 plicity of habit which t^kcs away what is vain 
 land fuperfluous ; that the beft and moft fdid 
 garment whfch h the farthe& frorti cliriofity.". 
 Page 49. 
 
 Though
 
 ON SERVING THE LORD IN OUR 
 
 . Though the change from day to night !l, 
 fyy a motion fo gradual as fcarcely to be per- 
 cei?ed> yet when night is come we behold it 
 very different frqrn the dayj and thus, as 
 people become wife in their own eyes and 
 prudent in their own fight, cuftoms rife up 
 from the fpirit of this world, and fpread by 
 little and little, till a departure from the 
 fimplicity that there is in Chrift becomes as 
 diflinguifhable as light from darknefs to fuch 
 as are crucified to the world. 
 
 Our holy Shepherd, to encourage his flock 
 in firmnefs and perfcverance, reminds them 
 of his love for them, " As the Father hath 
 V loved me, fohave I loved you; continue ye 
 <e in my love j" and in another place grad- 
 oufly points out the danger of" departing there- 
 frorrtj by going into unfuitable employments) 
 this he reprefents in the iitnilitude of offence 
 from that ufeful active member, the hand j 
 and, to fix the inftruction the deeper, names 
 the right hand, " If thy right hand offend 
 " thee, cut it off and caft it from thee" If 
 thou feeleft offence in thy employment, hum- 
 bly follow him whp leads into all truth, and 
 is a ftrong and faithful friend to thofe who are 
 refigned to him.. 
 
 Again, he points out thofe things whicbj 
 appearing pleafant to the natural mind, are 
 uot beft for us, in the fimilitude of offence 
 from the eye, " If thy right eye offend thee, 
 ** pluck it out and cad it from thee." To 
 pluck out the eye, or cut off the hand, is at- 
 tended with (harp pain j and how precious ig 
 
 the
 
 OtfTWARi) EMPLOYMENTS. 239 
 
 the inftrudion which our Redeemer thus opens 
 to us ! that we may not faint under the' rhoft 
 painful trials, but put our truft -in him, even 
 
 ' 
 
 in him who fent an angel to feed 'Elijah in 
 wildernefs ! who fed ft multitude with a fevr 
 barley -loaves, and 5s now as attentive to the 
 wants of his people as ever ! 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah reprefents the Unrigh- 
 teous doings of the Ifraeiites toward the poor 
 as the fruits of an eifeminate life, * f As for my 
 " people, children are their oppreflbrs, and 
 M women rule over them 5 what mean ye 
 " that ye beat my people to pieces, and : gfind 
 tl the faces of the poor? faith fhe~ Lord God." 
 Then he mentions the haughtifleTs of the 
 daughters of Sion, and enumerates 'many or- 
 naments, as inftances of their vanity, to up- 
 hold which the poor wereib hardly dealt with 1 , 
 that he fets forth their poverty, their leannefs^ 
 and inability to help themfelves, in the firtiiH- 
 tude of a man maimed by violence or <* beatcrt 
 " to pieces," and forced to endure the painful 
 operation of having his face gradually worn 
 away in the manner of grinding. 
 
 And I may here add, that, at times, when 
 1 have felt true love open my heart towards 
 my fellow-creatures, and been engaged in 
 weighty converfation in the caufe of hghte- 
 oXifnefs, the inftrudtions 1 have received, un- 
 der thefe exercifes, in regard to the true ufe 
 of the outward gifts of God, have made deep 
 and lafting imprcflions on my mind, 
 
 I have 
 
 ' 
 
 , 
 
 *
 
 rm LORD W; 
 
 I have here beheld, how the defire to pro 
 vide wealth, and to uphold a delicate life 
 hath griqvoufly entangle! many, and been 
 rlifce fnares to their offspring} and though 
 frcne haye- been affetfed with a ienfe of their 
 Difficulties, and appeared defirous, at timesj, 
 to be helped out 'of them j yet, fpt want af 
 abiding ufoder the humbling power of truth, 
 they have continued in thefe entanglement^ 
 for in remaining conformable to this world, 
 and giving, way to a delicate life, this. ex- 
 penfive way of Jiving, in parents and in 
 children, hath called for a Urge fupply, and 
 in anfwering this call " the faces of the poor" 
 have been ground away, and made thin;thf owgh 
 hard dealing. 
 
 There is balm, there is a phyfiqan ! and 
 O what longings do I feel ! that we may Em- 
 brace the mearia appointed for our healing, 
 .and know that removed which minifters now 
 .caufe, for the cries of many people, to afcend 
 to heaven againil tlieir opprefTors, and that we 
 ;Diay fee the true harmony reftored ! 
 
 Behold " how good aad how pleafant it is 
 ct for brethren to dwell together ifi unity !" 
 The nature of this unity is thus opened by 
 the.apoftle; " If we wajk in th ligfet, as 
 tc Chfift is in the light, we ftiall hwc fellow- 
 .*' Jh\p one wijh another, and th ^Ioo4 of 
 ** Chrift will clcanie usfr<>m all (in." 
 
 The land may be polluted with innocent 
 blood, which like the blood of Abel may cry 
 to t{h Almighty j' but thofe who rc walk in 
 k the light as Chrift is in the light," they 
 
 kuoW
 
 OUTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 241 
 
 know the " Lamb of God, who takcth atoay 
 " fin." 
 
 Walking is a phrase frequently ufed, in fcrip- 
 ture, to reprefent our journey through life, 
 and appears to comprehend the various affairs 
 and' .tran {actions properly relating to our be- 
 ing in tliis world. 
 
 Chrift, being the light, dwells always in the 
 light j and if our walking be thus, and in 
 every affair and concern we faithfully follow- 
 this divine Leader, he preferves from giving 
 juft caufe for any to cjuarrel with us 5 and, 
 where this foundation is laid, and mutually 
 kept to, by families converfant with each o 
 ther, the way is open for thcfe comforts in 
 fociety, which our heavenly Father intends 
 as a part of our hnppinefs in this world ; and 
 then we may experience the goodrreis and 
 pleafantnefs of dwelling* together in unity} 
 but, where ways of living take place, which 
 tend to opprefTkn, and, in the purfuit of 
 wealth, people do that to others :wh:ch they 
 know would net be acceptable to them (elves j 
 either in exercifing an abfolute power over 
 them, or otherwife laying on them unequit- 
 able -burdens j here a fear, left that meafure 
 fliould be rneted to them which thcjf hava 
 meafured to others, incites a care to fupport 
 that by craft and cunning devices which fhnds 
 not on the firm foundation of righteoufnefs : 
 thus the harmony of fociety is broken, and from 
 hence commotions and wars do frequently anfe" 
 in the world. 
 
 R. " Come 
 

 
 i T^LORD IN OUR 
 
 Come 'out of Babylon, my people, that 
 c^ye be not partakers of Her fins, and that ye 
 <e receive not of her plagues." Rev. xv. 3, 4. 
 This Babel, or Babylon, was built in the 
 ipirit of felf-exaltation : " Let us build us a 
 " city and a tower, whofe top may reach to 
 *' heaven, and let us make us a name." Gen. 
 xi. 4. In departing from an humble truft in 
 God, and following a felfiuS fpirit, people 
 have intentions to get the upper-hand of their 
 fellow-creatures, privately meditate on means 
 to obtain their ends, and have a language in their 
 hearts which is hard to underftand. in Babel 
 the language is confounded. 
 
 This city is reprefented as a place of bufi- 
 nefs, and thofe employed in it as merchants 
 of the earth: " The merchants of the earth 
 t are waxed rich through the abundance of 
 " her delicacies." Rev. xviii. 3. 
 
 And it is remarkable, in this call, that the 
 language from the Father of mercies is, My 
 people, " Come out of Babylon, my people!" 
 Thus his tender mercies are toward us in an 
 imperfect ftate ; and, as we faithfully attend 
 to the call, the path of righteoufnefs is more 
 and more opened ; cravings, which have not 
 their foundation in pure wifdom, more and 
 more ceafej and, in an inward purity of 
 heart, we experience a redoration of that 
 wh-ch was loft at Babel, reprefented by the 
 infpired prophet in the " returning of a pure 
 " language." Zeph. iii. 9. 
 
 Happy for them who humbly attend to 
 the call, " Come out of Babylon, my people." 
 
 For
 
 OUTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 
 
 For though in going forth we may meet with 
 trials, which for a time may be painful, yet, 
 as we bow in true humility, and continue in 
 it, an evidence is felt that God only is wife ; 
 and that, in Weaning us from ail that is felf- 
 Jfh, he prepares the way to a quiet habitation 
 where all our defires are bounded by his wif-* 
 dom. And an exercife of fpirit attends me, 
 that we, who are convinced of the pure lead" 
 ings of truth, may bow in the deepi-ft reve- 
 rence, and fo watchfully regard this leader, 
 that many, who are grievouily entangled in a 
 wilderneis of vain ciuioms, may look upon. 
 us, and be intruded. And Ohl that fuch, as 
 have plenty of this world's goods, may be 
 faithful in that with which they are eritruli- 
 d ! and example others in the true Chriflian 
 walking. ^ ^ . 1fi ; 
 
 Our bltlied Saviour, fpeaking on worldly 
 greatnefs, compares himfelf to one waiting 
 and attending on a company at dinner : 
 " Whether is greater", he that futeth at meat 
 " or he that ferveth ? Is not be that fit:cth 
 <: at meat? but 1 am amongft you as he that 
 " iciveth." Luke xxii. 27*. ^ * { ~ 
 
 Thus in a w'orU greatly ditordered, where 
 men alpiring to outv>ard gieatnefs were wont 
 to opprefs others to fupport their dcfigns,. he, 
 who was of the higheft defcent, bc;ag the 
 Son of God, anl greater thun any amongit 
 the greateft fami tes of men, by his example 
 and dcdtrines fo'cc^ofid his followers from 
 claiming ?.fty fhe'iV of outvV.a'd grcatneli-, h n 
 
 K % 
 
 . u v
 
 Si 
 
 244 ON SERVING THE LORD, 
 
 any fnppofed fuperiority in themfelves, of 
 derived from their anceftors. 
 
 He, who was greater than earthly princes, 
 was not only meek and low of heart, but his 
 outward appearance was plain and lowly, 
 and free from every ftain of the fpirit of this 
 world. 
 
 Such was the example of our blefled Re- 
 deemer; of whom the beloved difciple faid, 
 ct He,, that faith he abideth in him, ought alfo 
 *' to walk even as he walked." 
 
 John Bradford, who fuffercd martyrdom 
 under queen Mary, wrote a letter to hia 
 friends out of prifpn, a ftiart time before he 
 was burnt, in which are thefe expreflions; 
 " Confider your dignity as children of God 
 and temples of the Holy Ghoft, and mem- 
 bers of Chrift; beamamed therefore to think, 
 fpeak, or do any thing, unfeemly for God's 
 children and the members of Chrift." Fox's- 
 Acts and Monuments, page i j 77. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 On the example of C H R I S T. 
 
 S my mind hath been brought into a 
 brotherly feeling with the poor, as to 
 the things of this life, who are under trials 
 in regard to getting a living in a way an- 
 fwerablc to the purity of truth ^ a labour of 
 
 heart
 
 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 245 
 
 heart hath attended me, that their way may 
 not be made difficult through the love of mo- 
 ney in thofe who are tried with plentiful eftates, 
 but that they with tendernefs of heart may 
 lympathize with them. 
 
 It was the faying of our bleffed Redeemer, 
 <c Ye cannot ferve God and Mammon." There 
 is a deep feeling of the way of purity, away, 
 in which the wifdom of the world hath no part, 
 but is opened by the fpirit of truth, and is 
 " called the way of holinefs j" a way, in which 
 the traveller is employed in watching unto 
 prayer ; and the outward gain we get in this 
 journey is confidered as a truft committed to us 
 by HIM who formed and fupports the world, 
 and is the rightful director of the ufe and appli- 
 cation of the product of it. 
 
 Now, except the mind be preferved chafte, 
 there is no fafety for us i but, in an eftrange- 
 ment from true refignation, the fpirit of the 
 world cafts up a way, in which gain is many 
 times principally attended to, and in which 
 there is a felfilh application of outward trea- 
 fures. 
 
 How agreeable to the true harmony of fo- 
 ciety is that exhortation of the apoftle ! 
 " Look not every man on his own things, 
 " but every man on the things of others. 
 '* Let this mind be in you which was alfo in 
 " Chrift Jefus." 
 
 A perfon in outward profperity may have 
 the power of obtaining riches, but, the fame 
 mind being in him which is in Chrift Jeius, 
 
 R 3 he
 
 OVTI:E EXAMPLE or CHRIST.' 
 
 sni tutyii xicc&tu i r r t i 
 
 lie may feel a tenderneis or heart toward 
 
 thofe of low degree ; and, inftead of fetting 
 himfelf alove them, may lock upon it as an 
 unmerited favour that his way throueh life 
 
 y o 
 
 }s mere eafy than the way of many others ; 
 may improve every opportuni'y of leading 
 f rth cut of thoi'e cuftoms which have en- 
 angied rhe family j employ his time in lock- 
 ing into the wants of the poor members ; and 
 hold forth fuch a perfect example of humili- 
 ation, that the pure witntfs may be reached in 
 many minds, and the way opened for a har- 
 nionious walking together. 
 
 Jefus Chrift, in promoting the happinefs 
 of others, was not deficient in looking for the 
 hclplefs who lay in obfcuiity, nor did ho 
 fave any thing to render himfelf honourable 
 amongft men, which might have been of 
 more ufc to the weak members in his Father's 
 family j of whofe compaffion toward us I 
 piay new fpeak a little. He, who was per-, 
 fcclly happy in himfelf, moved with infinite 
 love, " took not upon him the nature of an- 
 " gels," but our imperfect nature, and 
 therein wreftled with the temptations which 
 attend us in this life j and, being the Son of 
 HIM who is greater than earthly princes, ye,s 
 became 9 companion to poor fincere- heart- 
 ed men j and, though he gave the cleartft 
 evidence that divine power attended him, ytt 
 the mcft unfavourable con ft ructions were 
 framed by a fclf-righteous people ; thefe 
 niiracles reprefented as the effect of a diabo- 
 lical power j and endeavours uied to render 
 
 hivn
 
 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 247 
 
 him hateful, as having his mifiion from the 
 prince of darknefs : nor did their envy ceafe 
 till they took him like a criminal and brought 
 him to trial. Though fome may affect to 
 carry the appearance of being unmoved at 
 the apprehenfion of diflrefs, our dear Re- 
 deemer, who was perfectly fincere, having 
 the fame human nature which we have, and 
 feeling, a little before he was apprehended, 
 the weight of that work upon him for which 
 he came into the world, was " forrowful 
 " even unto death :" here the human nature 
 ftruggled to be excufed from a cup fo bitter'; 
 but his prayers centered in refignation : " Not 
 " my will, but thine, be done." In this con- 
 flict, fo great was his agony, that t{ fwear, 
 " like drops of blood, tell from him to the 
 
 <C A " 
 
 1 ground. 
 
 Behold now, as foretold by the prophet, he 
 is in a judicial manner u numbered with the 
 " tranfgreflbrs." Behold him, as fome poor 
 man or no reputation, (landing before the 
 high prieft and elders, and before Herod and 
 Pilate, where witneffes appear againft him, 
 and he, mindful of the mofl gracious defign 
 of his coming, declineth to plead in his own, 
 defence, " but, as a fheep that is dumb be- 
 " fore his (hearer,** fo he, under many accufati- 
 ons, revilings, and bufferings, remaineth fi- 
 lent. And, though he fignified to Peter that 
 he had accefs to power fufficient to overthrow 
 all their outward forces, yet, retaining a refig- 
 nation to fuffer for the fins of mankind, he 
 exerted uot that power, but permitted them 
 
 R 4 to
 
 
 
 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST* 
 
 to goon in their malicious detigns, and pro~ 
 Bounce him to be worthy of death, even him 
 who was perfect in goodncfs : thus, " in his 
 ? s humiliation, his judgement was taken a- 
 " way," and he, like fonie vile criminal, 
 <f led as a lamb to the flaughter." Under 
 thefe heavy triais (though poor unflable Pilate 
 was convinced of his innocence, yet) the peo- 
 ple generally looked upon him as a deceiver 
 and biafphemer, and the approaching punilh- 
 ment as a juft judgement upon him : '* They 
 f eileemed him fmitten of God and afflicted," 
 So great had been the furprize of his difciples, 
 at his being taken by armed men, that they 
 " forfook him and fled :" thus they hid their 
 faces from him ; he was defpifed ; and by 
 their conduct it appeared as though c< they ef 
 " teemed him not." 
 
 But, contrary to that opinion, of his being 
 jfnnitten of God and afflicted, it was for our 
 lakes that " he was put to grief: he was 
 " wounded for our tranigreflions ; he was 
 * bruifcd for our iniquities j" and, under the 
 weight of them, manifeiling the deepeft com* 
 paflion for the inftruments of his rnifery, la- 
 poured as their advocate, and, in the deeps of 
 affliction, with an unconquerable patience, 
 cried out, <c Father, forgive them j they know 
 '* not v/hat they do 1" 
 
 Now, this mind being in us, which was 
 
 gChrift Jefus, it removes, from our hearts, 
 e deiire of fuperiority, worldly honour, or 
 greatuefsj a deep attention is felt to the di- 
 viae ccunlcllor, and an ardeot engagement 
 
 tQ
 
 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 249 
 
 to promote, as far as we may be enabled, the 
 happiness of mankind universally. This ftate, 
 where every motion from a felfim fpirit yield- 
 eth to pure love, I may, with gratitude to the 
 Father of mercies, acknowledge, is often o- 
 pened before me, as a pearl to dig after at- 
 tended with a living concern, that, amongft 
 the many nations and families on the earth, 
 thofe who believe on the Meffiah, that " he 
 " was manifefted to deftroy the works of the 
 " devil," and thus to " take away the fins of 
 c< the world," may experience the will of our 
 heavenly Father " may be done on earth 
 " as it is in heaven." Strong are the defires 
 I .often feel, that this holy profeffion may re- 
 main unpolluted, and the believers in Chrift 
 may fo abide in the pure inward feeling of his 
 fpirit, that the wifdom from above may fhine 
 forth in iheir living, as a light by which others 
 may be inttrumentally helped on their way, ia 
 the true harmonious walking. 
 
 
 
 - .... 
 
 ' 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 On Merchandizing. 
 
 ' 
 
 WHERE the treafures of pure love are 
 opened, and we obediently follow him 
 who is the light of life, the mind becomes 
 chafte, and a care is felt that the unction from 
 the Holy One may be our leader in every un 
 dertaking. 
 
 la
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING; 
 
 
 In being crucified to the world, broken- 
 rff from that friendmip which is enmity with 
 God, and dead to the cuftoms and fafhions 
 \<rhich have not their foundation in the truth, 
 the way is prepared to lowlinefs in outward 
 Jiving, and to a difentanglement from thofe 
 (bares which attend the love of money ; and 
 where the faithful friends of Chrift are fo fi- 
 tuated that mc;chandize appears to be their 
 duty, they feel a reftraint from proceeding 
 farther than he owns their proceeding, being 
 convinced that " we are not our own, but are 
 4t bought with a price, that none of us may 
 " live to ourfelves, but to him who died for 
 " us." 2 Corin. v. 15. Thus they are taught 
 rot only to keep to a moderate advance and 
 uprightnefs in their dealings, but to confi- 
 der the tendency of their proceeding j to do 
 nothing which they know would operate a- 
 gainft the caufe of univerfal righteoufnefs ; and 
 to keep continually in view the fpreading of 
 the peaceable kingdom of Chrift amongft man- 
 kind. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah fpake of the gathered 
 church, in the limilitude of a city, where 
 many being employed were all preferved in 
 purity: " They (hall call them the holy pco- 
 " pie, the redeemed of the Lord, and thou 
 " lhalt be called fought out, a city not for- 
 " faken." Ixiii. 10, Aod the apoftle. after 
 mentioning the myftery of (Thrift's fufFerings, 
 exhorts, <l Be ye holy in all manner of con- 
 f< verfation." i Pet. i. 15. There is a con- 
 verfation nc"cflary in trade ; and there is a 
 
 converfation
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 251 
 
 convention fo foreign from the nature of 
 Chrift's kingdom, that it is reprefented in the 
 limilitude of one man pufhing another with 
 a warlike weapon : " There is that fpeaketh 
 " like the piercings of a fword." Prov. xii. 18. 
 Now, in all our concerns, it is neceflary that 
 the leading of the fpirit of Chrift be humbly 
 waited for and faithfully followed, as tfie on- 
 ly means of being preferved chafte as an holy 
 people, who " in all things are circumfpecV' 
 Exod. xxiii. 13. that nothing we do may carry 
 the appearance of approbation of the works of 
 wickednels, make the unrighteous more at cafe 
 in unrighteoufnefs, or occafion the injuries 
 committed againft the opprcfTed to be more 
 lightly looked over. 
 
 Where morality is kept to and fupported 
 by the inhabitants of a country, there is a 
 certain reproach attends thofe individuals a- 
 mongfl them, who manifeftly deviate there- 
 from. Thus, if a perfon of good report is 
 charged with ftealing goods out of an open 
 Ihop in the day-time, and on a public trial 
 found gui'ty, and the law in that cafe put in, 
 execution, he therein fuftains a lofs of repu- 
 tation i but, if he be convicted a fecond and 
 third time of the like offence, his good name 
 would ceafc amongft fuch as knew thefe 
 things. Jf his neighbour, reputed an honeft 
 man, were charged with buying goods of 
 this thief, at a time when the purchafer knew 
 they were ftolen, and on a public trial found 
 guilty, tlrs purchafer would meet with dif- 
 tP.e.m j but, if he perfifted in buying ftolen 
 
 goods
 
 252 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 goods, knowing them to be fuch, and was 
 publicly convidled thereof a fecond and third 
 time, he would no longer be confidered as an 
 honeft man by them who knew thefe things ; 
 nor would it appear of good report to be 
 found in his company, buying his traffic, 
 till forae evident tokens of fincere repentance 
 appeared in him. But where iniquity is 
 committed openly, and the authors of it are 
 not brought to juftice, nor put to (hame, 
 their hands grow ftrong. Thus the general 
 corruption of the Jews, ihortly before their 
 ftate was broken up by the Chaldeans, is de- 
 fcribed by their boldnefs in impiety; for, as 
 their leaders were connected together in wick- 
 ednefs, they ftrengthened one another, and 
 grew confident:- "Were they afhamed when 
 *-* they had committed abominations ? nay, 
 " they were not at all afhamed, neither could 
 " they blum." Jer. vi. 15. On which account 
 the Lord thus expoftulates with them; " What 
 " hath my beloved to do in my houfe, feeing 
 " me hath wrought lewdnefs with many ? 
 " and the holy flefh is pafled from thee ; 
 " when thou doeft evil, then thou rejoiceft." 
 Jer. xi. 15. 
 
 *. Now the faithful friends of Chrift, whp 
 hunger and third after righteoufnefs, and in* 
 wardly breathe that his kingdom may come 
 on earth as it is in heaven, he teacheth 
 to be quick of underftanding in his fear, and 
 to be very attentive to the means he may ap- 
 point for promoting pure righteoufnefs in the 
 earth ; and, as {hame is due to thofe whofe 
 
 works
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 manifeftly operate againfl the gracious 
 defign of his fuffcrings for us, a care lives on 
 their minds that no wrong cuftoms, however 
 fupported, may biafs their judgements, but 
 that they may hurrjWy abide uniler the crois, 
 and be preferved in a conduct which may not 
 contribute to ftrengthen the hands of the 
 "wicked in their wickednefs, or to remove- 
 fhame from thofe to whom it is juftly due. 
 The coming of that day is precious in 'which 
 we experience the truth of this expretfion ; 
 " The Lord, our rightecufnefs," Jer. xiii. 6, 
 and feel him to be " made unto: us wiidem 
 " and fan&irkation." 
 
 The example of a righteous man is often 
 looked at with attention. Where righteous 
 men join in bulinefs their company gives en- 
 couragement to others ; and as one grain of 
 incenfe, deliberately offered to the prince of 
 this world, renders an offering to God in that 
 ftate unacceptable ; and -from thofe efteemed 
 leaders of the people may be injurous to the 
 weak ; it requires deep humility of heart to 
 follow him faithfully, who alone gives found 
 wifdom and the fpirit of true difcerning; and 
 Oh! how neceflary it is to confider the weight 
 of a holy profctfion ! 
 
 The conduct of fome formerly gave occa- 
 fion of complaint againft them; " Thou hnft 
 " defiled thy fanduaries by the multitude of 
 " thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy 
 " traffic." Ezek. ixviii. 18. And in feveral 
 places it is charged againft Ifrael that they 
 had polluted the holy name. 
 
 The
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 "^^ 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah reprefents inward fanO 
 tification in the (imilitude of being purged 
 from that which is fuel for fire ; and he parti- 
 cularly defcribes the outward fruits, brought 
 forth by thofe who dwell in this inward ho- 
 Jinefs ; " they walk righteoufly and fpeak 
 uprightly." By " walking," he reprefents the 
 journey through life as a righteous journey ; 
 and, by " fpeaking uprightly," feems to point 
 at that which Mofes appears to have had in 
 view, when he thus expreffed himfelf : " Thou 
 *' (halt not follow a multitude to do evil, 
 " nor fpeak in a cafe, to decline after many, 
 " to wreft judgement." Exod. xxiii. 2. - t . 
 He goes on to (hew their firmnefs in equity; 
 repreferjting them as perfons fuperior to all the 
 $rts of getting money which have not 
 righteoufnefs for their foundation : " They 
 " defpife the gain of oppreffions." And, far- 
 ther, he (hews how careful they are that no 
 profpedts of gain may induce them to become 
 partial in judgement, refpecting an injury: 
 " They (hake their hands from holding 
 " bribes." 
 
 Again, where any interefl is fo connected 
 with (hedding blood that the cry of inno- 
 cent blood goes alfo with it, he points out 
 their care, to keep innocent blood from crying 
 again ft them, in the fimilitude of a man, flop- 
 ping his ears to prevent a fcund from enter- 
 ing his head : " They flop their ears from 
 " hearing blood :" and, where they know- 
 that wickednefs. is committed, he points out, 
 -with care, that they do not, by an unguarded 
 
 friendmip
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 friendship with the authors of it, appear U.<c 
 unconcerned lookers-on, but as people ib 
 deeply affeded with ibrrovv that they cannot 
 endure to i^and by and behold it; tins he re- 
 prefents in the fmulitude of a man " {hutting 
 " his eyes from feeing evil.'' 
 
 " Who, amongft us, ihall dwell with the 
 " devouring fire? Who, amongft .us, ./hall dwell 
 " with cverlafting burnings? He that walk- 
 " eth righfeoufly and fpeaketh uprightly: he 
 " that defpifeth the gain of oppreliions, that 
 " fliaketh his hands from holding of bribes, 
 " that froppeth his ears from hearing of blood, 
 ' and (hutteth his eyes from feeing evil." 
 Ifaiah xxxiii. 14, i c. i 
 
 i >j * i j i 
 
 He proceeds, in the fpirit of prophecy, to 
 (hew hew the faithful, being fupported under 
 temptavioflsi would be preferved from that 
 defilement that there is in the love of money ; 
 that as they, who, in a reverent waiting on 
 God, feel their ftrength renewed, are (aid to 
 ' mount upward," ib, here, their prefcrvation 
 from the fnare of unrighteous gain is repre* 
 fented in the likenefs of a man, borne up 
 above all crafty artful means of getting the 
 advantage of another ; " They (hall dwell on 
 " high ;" and points out the liability and 
 firmnefs of their condition , " His place of 
 " defence fliall be the munitions of rocks ;" 
 and that, under all the outward appearances 
 of lofs, in denying himfelf of gainful profits, 
 for righteoufnefs-fake, yet, through the care 
 of him who provides for the fparrows, he 
 ihould have a Supply anfwcrable to his infi- 
 nite
 
 *$& ON MERCHANDIZING; 
 
 nite wifdom: " Bread fliall be given him j 
 *' his waters (hall be fure." And as our Sa- 
 viour mentions the fight of God to be attain- 
 able by " the pure in heart," fo here the pro- 
 phet pointed out, how in true fanclificatioir 
 the understanding is opened, to behold the 
 peaceable harmonious nature of his kingdom ; 
 " thine eyes (hall fee the king in his beauty: 1 * 
 and that looking beyond all the afflictions, 
 which attend the righteous, to " a habitati- 
 " on eternal in the heavens," they with an 
 eye divinely open *' (hall behold the land that 
 " is very far off." 
 
 " He (hall dwell on high, his place of de- 
 *' fence mall be the munitions of rocks, bread 
 *' fliall be given him, his waters (hall be fure. 
 " Thine eyes (hall fee the king in his beauty j 
 " they mall behold the land that is very far 
 * .off." Ifaiah xxxiii. 16, 17. 
 
 I often remember, and to me the fubject 
 Is awful, that the great Judge of all the earth 
 doeth that which is right, and that he, " be- 
 " fore whom the nations are as the drop of 
 " a bucket," is " no refpe&er of perfons." 
 Happy for them, who, like the infpired pro* 
 phet, " in the way of his judgements wait 
 for him." Ifaiah xxvi. 8. 
 
 When we feel him to fet as a refiner with 
 fire, and know a refignednefs wrought in us 
 to that which he appoints for us, his blefling, 
 in a very low eft ate, is found to be more pre- 
 cious than much outward treafure in thofe 
 ways of life where the leadings of his fpirit 
 are not followed. 
 
 The
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 557 
 
 The prophet, in alight of divine work a- 
 mongft many people, declared in the name 
 ef the Lord, " I will gather all nations and 
 "tongues, and they lhail come and fee my 
 *' glory." Ifaiah Ixvi. 18. And again, " From 
 " the rifing of the fun to the going down of 
 " the fame, my name fliall be great amongfl 
 *' the Gentiles, and in every place incenle 
 " (hall be offered to my name^ and a pure 
 ** offering." Malachi i. u. 
 
 Behold here how the prophets had an in*' 
 ward fenfe of the fpreading of the kingdom 
 of Chrift; and how he was fpoken of as one 
 who fhould " take the heathen for his inhe- 
 " ritance, and the utmoft parts of the earth 
 " for his poffeffion." P&l. ii. 8. That lie 
 '* was given fora light to the Gentiles ; :i::d 
 " for falvation to the ends of the earth.'* 
 Ifaiah xlix. 6. 
 
 When we meditate on this divine work, as 
 a work of ages, a work that the prophets feic 
 long before Chrift appeared vifibly on earth, 
 and remember the bitter agonies, he. endured 
 when he" poured out his foul unto death," 
 that the heathen nations, as well as others, 
 might come to the knowledge of the truth 
 and be faved : 
 
 When we contemplate on this marvellous 
 work, as that which " the angels dcfire to 
 " look into,'* i Pet. i. i2 and behold peo- 
 ple amongft whom this light hath eminently- 
 broken 'forth, and who have receiveu many 
 favours from the bountiful hand of our hea- 
 venly Father ; not only indifferent with re- 
 
 S
 
 fpeft to publishing the glad tidings amoflgfl 
 the Gentiles, as yet fitting in darknefs and 
 entangled _with many fuperftitions ; but a- 
 -fpiring after wealth and worldly honours, 
 take hold of means to obtain their ends, 
 tending to ftir up wrath and indignation, 
 and to beget an abhorrence in them to the 
 name of Chriftianity j when thefe things are 
 weightily attended to, how mournful is the 
 fubjeft ! 
 
 It is worthy of remembrance, that people 
 in different ages, deeply baptifed into the na- 
 ture of that work for which Chrift fuffered, 
 have joyfully offered up their liberty and lives 
 for the promoting of it in the earth. 
 
 Polycarp, who was reputed a difciple of St. 
 John, having attained to great age, was at 
 length fentcnced to die for his religion, and, 
 being brought to the fire, prayed nearly as 
 follows : ' Thou God and Father of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom I have received 
 the knowledge ef thee ! O God of the angels 
 and powers, and of every living creature, 
 and of all forts of juft men which live in thy 
 prefence 5 I thank thee ! that thou haft gra- 
 cioufly vouchfafed this day and this hour to 
 allot me a portion among the number of 
 martyrs, among the people of Chrift, unto 
 the refurre&ion of everlafting life ; among 
 whom I fhall be received in thy frght, this 
 day, as a fruitful and acceptable lacrifice ; 
 wherefore for all this, I praife thee, I blefs 
 thee, I glorify thee, through the everlafting 
 High-Prieft, Jcfus Chrift, ihy well beloved 
 
 Son;
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 fon ; to whom, with thee and the holy Ghoft, 
 be all glory, world without end ! Amen.** 
 
 Biihop Latimer, when fentence of death* 
 by fire, was pronounced againft him, on ac- 
 count of his firmhefs in the caufe of religion, 
 laid, " I thank God moft heartily ! that 
 ; he hath prolonged my life to this end ; that 
 I may, in this cafe, glorify him by this kind 
 of death." Fox's Ads and Mon. 936. 
 
 William Dewlbery* who had fuftered much 
 for his religion, in his laft ficknefs, encou- 
 raging his friends to faithfulneffc, made men* 
 tion, like good old Jacob, of the loving kind- 
 nefs of God to him in the courfc of his life, 
 and that, through the power of divine love, 
 he for Chrift's fake had jbyftrfly entered 'pri* 
 fons. See introduction to his works. 
 
 I mention thefe, as a few examples, ou-fftf 
 many, of the powerful ope rat for). -of the fpirit 
 of Chrift, where people are fully devoted to 
 it, and of the ardent longings in their minds 
 for the fpreading of his' kingdom amongll 
 mankind. Now to thole, ir<he prefent age, 
 who truly know Chrift, and feel the nature 
 of his peaceable government opened' in their 
 underftandings* how loud is that call where- 
 with we are called to faithfulrtcfs ; that, in 
 following this pure light of life, " we, as 
 '*"< workers together with him, 4C may labour 
 in that great work for which he was offered 
 as-a facrifice on the crofs j and that his peace- 
 able doclrines may (liine through us in their 
 real harmony, at a time when the name of 
 8 2 Christianity
 
 26s ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 CJiriftianity is become hateful to many of the 
 heathen ! 
 
 When Gehazi had obtained treafures, which 
 jhe prophet, under divine direction, had refu- 
 fed, and was returned from the bulinefs, the 
 prophet, troubled at his conduct, queried if 
 it was a time thus to prepare for a fpecious 
 
 Is it a time to receive money and gaiv 
 f*~ ments, men-fervants and maid-fervarits? 
 " Theleprofy,therefore, of Naaman (hall cleave 
 " to thee and to thy feed for ever." 2. Kings 
 v. 26. And oh! that we may lay to heart the 
 condition of the prefent time, and humbly 
 follow his counfel who alone is able to pre- 
 pare the way for a true harmonious walking 
 amongft mankind. 
 
 - fri^S' -**'* ;-^ 
 
 ' 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 On divine Admonitions. 
 
 J- .V.lr'i'.J 'h , .- --,V 
 
 SUCH are the perfections of our heaven-? 
 ly Father, that, in all the difpenfations of 
 his providence, it is our duty, " in every 
 " thing, to give thanks.'* Though, from the 
 firfl fcttlement of this part of America, he 
 hath not extended his judgements to the de- 
 gree of famine, yet worms, at times, have 
 come forth, beyond numbering, and laid wafte 
 fields of grain and grals, where they have 
 appeared; another kin.d, in great multitudes, 
 
 working
 
 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS? 261 
 
 working out of fight, in grafs-ground, have 
 fo eaten the roots that thefurface, being loofen- 
 ed from the foil beneath, might be taken off 
 in great fheets. 
 
 Thefe kinds of devouring creatures appear- 
 ing feldom and coming in fuch multitudes, 
 their generation appears different from moft 
 other reptiles ; and, by the prophet, they were 
 called " God's army, fent amongft the peo- 
 " pie." Joel ii. 25. 
 
 There have been tempefts of hail which 
 have very much deflroyed the grain where 
 they extended : through long drought, in 
 fummer, grain, in fome places, hath been lefs 
 than half the ufual quantity;* and, in the 
 continuance thereof, I have beheld, with at- 
 tention, from week to week, how drynefr, 
 from the top of the earth, hath extended 
 deeper and deeper, while the corn and plants 
 have languimed : and, with reverence, my 
 mind harh been turned toward HIM, who, 
 being perfect in goodnefs, in wifdom, and 
 power, doeth all things fight. And, after 
 long drought, when the fky hath grown dark 
 with a collection of matter, and clouds, like 
 lakes of water, hung over our heads, from 
 whence the thirftv land hath been foaked, I 
 
 J 
 
 have, at times, with awfulnefs, beheld the ve- 
 hement operation of lightning, made fome- 
 times to accompany thefe blefllngs, as a mei- 
 
 S 3 fenger 
 
 * When crops fail, I often feel a tender care that the cafe 
 of poor tenants may be mercifully considered.
 
 ON DIVIHE ADMONITIONS. 
 
 fcnger from H I M who created all things, tq 
 remind us of our duty in a right ufe of thole 
 benefits, and give {hiking adir.onitions, that 
 we do not mifapply thofe gifts, in which an, 
 almighty power is exerted, in beftowing 
 them upon us. 
 
 When I have conGdered that many of our 
 fellow-creatures fuffcr much in ibme places, 
 fpr want of the neceflaries of life, whilft thofe 
 who rule over them are too much given to 
 luxury and divers vanities; and behold the 
 apparent Deviation from pure wifdom am,ongft 
 us, in the ufe pf the outward gifts of God ; 
 t^ofe marks of famine have appeared like 
 humbling admonitions from him, that we 
 might be infirutfed by gentle chaftifements, 
 and might ferioufly confider our ways $ rer 
 ipembering tha,t the outward fupply of life is 
 a gift from our heavenly Father, and that we 
 Ihould no more venture to ufe, or apply, his 
 gifts, in a, way contrary to pure wifdom. 
 
 Should we continue to reject thofe mercH- 
 ful admonitions, and ufe his gifts at home, 
 contrary to the gracious p'efign of the giver, 
 or fend them abroad in a way of trade, which 
 the fpirit pf truth doth not lead into; and 
 fhould he, whofe eyes are upon all our ways, 
 extend his chaflifements fo far as to reduce 
 us to much greater diftrefs than hath yet been 
 felt by thefe provinces ; with what forrpw of 
 heart might we mediate on that fubject ! 
 " Haft thou not procured this unto thyfelf, 
 i in that thou hail forfaken the Lord thy 
 he lecl thee by the way
 
 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS; 263 
 
 " Thine own wickednefs (hall correft thee* 
 " and thy backflidings fhall reprove thec" 
 know therefore and fee, that it is an evil 
 " thing and bitter, that thou haft forfaken 
 " the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not 
 " in thee, faith the Lord God of hofts." Jer. 
 ii 17, 19. 
 
 My mind hath often been affe&ed with 
 forrow, in beholding a wrong application of 
 the gifts of our heavenjy Father; and thofe 
 expreffions concerning the defilement of the 
 earth have been opened to my underftanding : 
 " The earth was corrupt before God, and 
 " the earth was filled with violence." Gen.. 
 vl. ii. Again, Ifaiah xxiv.>$;rf*. The earth 
 " alfo is defiled under the inhabitants there- 
 ",of, becaule they have broken the- -ever-. 
 " lading covenant." u>i 
 
 The earth, being the work of a divine po.w-r 
 er, may not as fuch be accounted unclfea; 
 but, when violence is committed thereon, t #nd 
 the channel of righteoufnefs ib .obfiru&ed, 
 that " in our fkirts are found the blood of 
 " the fouls of poor innocents ; not by a fe- 
 " cret fearch, but upon all thefe." Jerem. 
 ii. 34. * 
 
 When blood, fhed unrighteoufly, remains 
 unatoned for, and the inhabitants are not 
 effectually purged from it ; when they do not 
 waih their hands in innocency, as was figu- 
 red in the law, in the cafe of one being found 
 S 4 (lain ; 
 
 * See a caution and warning to Great-Britain and h;r co- 
 lonies, page 31.
 
 264 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS. 
 
 flain ; but feck for gain arifing from fcenes of 
 violence and oppreflion j here the land is pol- 
 luted with blood. Deut. xxi. 6. 
 
 Moreover, when the earth is planted and 
 tilled, and the fruits brought forth are applied 
 4o fupport unrighteous purpofes 5 here, the 
 gracious defign of infinite goodnefs, in thefs 
 his gifts, being perverted, the earth is defiled, 
 and the complaint, formerly uttered, becomes 
 applicable : " Thou haft made me to ferve 
 " with thy (ins ; thou haft wearied me with 
 " thine iniquities." Ifaiah xliii. 24. 
 
 REMARKS.
 
 REMARK., 
 
 SUNDRY SUBJECTS. 
 
 Firft printed in London, 1773. 
 
 1 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 On loving our Neighbours as ourfehes. 
 
 WHEN we love the Lord with all out 
 hearts, and his creatures in his love, 
 we are then preferved in tendernefs both to- 
 ward mankind and the animal creation ; but, 
 if another fpirit gets room in our minds, and 
 we follow it in our proceedings, we are then 
 in the way of difordering the affairs of fociety. 
 
 If a man, fucceisful in bulinefs, expends 
 part of his income in things of no real ufe, 
 while the poor employed by him pafs through 
 great difficulties in getting the neceflaries of life, 
 this requires his ferious attention. 
 
 If
 
 If feveral principal men in bufinefs unite in 
 fetting the wages of thofe who work for hire, 
 and therein have regard to a profit to them-*. 
 felves anfwerable to unneceffary expence in 
 their families, while the wages of the others, 
 on a moderate ircduftry, will not afford a com- 
 fortable living for their families, and a proper 
 education for their children ; this is like lay- 
 ing a temptation, in the way of fome, to ftrive 
 for a place higher than they are in, when they 
 have not flock Efficient for it, 
 
 Now I feel a concern, in the fpring of pure 
 love, that all, who have plenty of outward 
 fubftanc'e, may example others in the right ufe 
 of things ; may carefully look into the condi- 
 tion of poor people ; and beware of exacting 
 on them with regard to their wages. 
 
 While hired labourers, by moderate induf- 
 try, through the divine bleffing, may live com- 
 fortably, raife up families, and give them fuit- 
 able education, it appears reafonable for them 
 to be content with their wages, 
 
 If they, who have plenty, love their fellow- 
 creatures in that love which is divine, and ia 
 all their proceedings have an equal regard to 
 the good of mankind univerfally, their place 
 in fociety is a place of care, an office requi- 
 ring attention ; ami, the more we polTefs, the 
 greater is our truft j and, with an increaie of j 
 treafure, an incrcafe of care becomes necek 
 fary. 
 
 When our w'uTls fubject to th will of God, 
 and, in relation to the things "of this world, 
 we have nothing In view bttt a comfortable 
 
 living
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 267 
 
 living equally with the reft of our fellow- 
 creatures, then outward treafures are no farther 
 defirable than as we feel a gift in our minds 
 equal to the truft, and ftrength to aft, as duti- 
 ful children, in his fervice who hath formed all 
 mankind, and appointed a fubfiftence for us ia 
 this world. 
 
 A defire for treafures, on any other motive, 
 appears to be againft that command of our blef- 
 fed Saviour, " Lay not up for yourfelves trea- 
 " fures on earth." Matt. vi. 1 9. 
 
 He forbids not laying up in the fummer 
 againft the wants of winter ; nor doth he 
 teach us to be ilothful in that which properly 
 relates to our being in this world ; but, in 
 this prohibition, he puts in yourfe hes : ** Lay 
 " not up for yourfehes treafures here on 
 " earth." 
 
 Now, in the pure light, this language is 
 underftood j for in the love of Chrift there is 
 no refpect of perfons; and, while we abide in 
 his love, we live not to ourfelves, but to him 
 who died for us j and, as we are thus united 
 in ipirit to Chrift, we are engaged to labour in 
 promoting that work in the earth for which he 
 fuffered. 
 
 Jn this ftate of mind our defires are, that 
 every honeft member in fociety may have a 
 portion of trealure, and fhare of truft, anfwer- 
 able to that gift with which our heavenly Fa 
 tjier hath gifted us. 
 
 Jn great treafure there is a great truft. 
 
 A great truft requireth great care. 
 
 hut th? laborious mind wants reft. 
 
 A pious
 
 263 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOUR^ 
 
 A pious man is content to do a fhare of 
 buiineife in fociety, anfwerable to the gifts with 
 which he is endowed, while the channels of 
 buiinefs are free from unrighteoufnefs ; but 
 13 careful left at any time his heart be over- 
 charged. 
 
 In the harmonious fpirit of fociety " Chrift 
 * is all in all." Col. iii. 1 1. 
 Here it is that " old things are part away, 
 " all things are new, all things are of God," 
 2 Cor. v. 17, 18. and the defire for outward 
 riches is at an end. 
 
 They of low degree, who have fmall gifts, 
 enjoy their help who have large gifts ; thofe 
 With their fmall gifts have a fmall degree of 
 care, while thefe with their large gifts have a 
 large degree of care : and thus to abide in the 
 love of Chrift, and enjoy a comfortable living 
 in this world, is all that is aimed at by thofe 
 members in fociety to whom Chrift is made 
 wifdom and righteoufnefs. 
 
 But when they, who have much treafure, 
 are not faithful fte wards of the gifts of God, 
 great difficulties attend it. 
 
 Now, this matter hath deeply affected my 
 mind. The Lord, through merciful chaftife- 
 ments, hath given me a feeling of that love 
 in which the harmony of fociety ftandeth, 
 and a fight of the growth of that feed which 
 brmgeth forth wars and great calamities in the 
 world; and a labour attends me to open it to 
 others. 
 
 Now, to aft with integrity, according to 
 that ftrength of mind and body with whit h 
 
 our
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 269 
 
 our Creator hath endowed each of us, appears 
 neceflary for all ; and he, who thus ftands in 
 the loweft ftation, appears to be entitled to as 
 comfortable and convenient a living as he 
 whofe gifts of mind are greater and whofc 
 cares are more extenfive. > 
 
 If fome, endowed with ftrong underftand^ 
 ings as men, abide not in the harmonious 
 ftate, in which we <c love our neighbours as 
 " ourfelves," but walk in that fpirit in which 
 the children of this world are wife in their 
 generation, thefe, by the ftrength of contri- 
 vance may fometimes gather great treafure ; 
 but the wifdom of this world is foolilhnefs 
 with God ; and, if we gather treafures in 
 worldly wifdom, we lay up ** treafures for 
 * ourfelves ;" and great treafures, managed 
 in any other fpirit than the fpirit of truth, 
 diforder the affairs of fociety ; for hereby 
 the good gifts of God, in this outward crea-t 
 tion, are turned into the channels of worldly 
 honour, and frequently applied to fupport 
 luxury, while the wages of poor labourers are 
 fuch, that, with moderate induftry and fru- 
 gality, they cannot live comfortably, raife up 
 families, and give them fuitable education ; 
 but, through the ftraightnefs of their condi- 
 tion, are often drawn on to labour under wea- 
 rinefs, to toil through hardfliips themfelves, 
 and frequently to opprefs thofe ufeful animals 
 with which we are entrufted. 
 
 From age to age, throughout all ages, di- 
 vine love is that alone, in which dominion 
 has been, is, and will be* rightly conducted. 
 
 In
 
 270 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 In this the endowments of men are fo em* 
 ployed, that the friend and the governor are 
 united in one, and oppreffive cuftoms come to 
 an end. 
 
 Riches, in the hands of individuals in fo- 
 cicty, are attended with fome degree of power j 
 and, fo far as power is put forth feparate from 
 pure love, fo far the government of the Prince 
 of peace is interrupted ; and, as we know not 
 that our children after us will dwell in that 
 ftate in which power is rightly applied, to lay 
 up riches for them appears to be againft the 
 nature of his government. 
 
 The earth, through the labour of men un- 
 der the bleffing of him who formed it, yield- 
 cth a fupply for the inhabitants, from gene- 
 ration to generation, and they, who walk in 
 the pure light, have their minds prepared to 
 tafte and relifli not only thofe blemngs which 
 are fpiritual, but alfo feel a fwcetnels and fa- 
 tisfaftion in a right ufe of the good gifts of 
 God in the vifible creation. 
 
 Here we fee that man's happinefs (lands 
 not in great pofleflions, but in a heart de- 
 voted to follow Chrift, in that ufe ofthings, 
 where cuftoms, contrary to univerfal love, have 
 no power over us. 
 
 In this ftate our hearts are prepared to truft 
 in God, and our defires for our children ami 
 pofterity are, that they, with the reft of man* 
 kind, in ages to come, may be of that num- 
 ber, of whom he hath faid, " I will be a 
 " father to them, and they mail be my fons 
 V and daughters," 2 Cor. vi, 18. 
 
 When
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 271 
 
 When wages in a fruitful land bear fo fmall 
 a proportion to the neceflaries of life, that 
 poor honeft people who have families cannot, 
 by a moderate induftry, attain to a comfort- 
 able living, and give their children fufficient 
 learning, but muft either labour to a degree 
 of oppreffion, or elfe omit that which appears 
 to be a duty : 
 
 While this is the cafe with the poor, there 
 is an inclination in the minds of moft people 
 to prepare at leaft fo much trea&ire for their 
 children, that they with care and moderate 
 induftry may lire free from theie hardships 
 which the poor pafs through. 
 
 Now this fubjecl: requireth our ferious con- 
 ii deration : to labour that our children may 
 be put in a way to live comfortably appears 
 in itfelf to be a duty, fo long as thefe our 
 labours are confident with univerfal righte- 
 oufnefs ; but if, in driving to (hun poverty, 
 we do not walk in that ftate where " Chrift is 
 <e our life," then we wander} " He, that 
 the Son, hath life," i John v. 12. 
 life is the light of men," John i. 4. 
 If we walk not in this light, we walk in 
 darknefs, and " he that walketh in darkneft, 
 ** knoweth not whither he goeth," John 
 
 xii - 35- 
 n To keep to right means, ii) labouring to 
 
 attain a right end, is neceffary: if, in driving 
 to fliun poverty, we ft rive only in that ftate, 
 where Chrift is the light of our life, our la- 
 bours will (land in the true harmony of fo- 
 ciety; but if people are confident that the 
 
 end
 
 27* ON LOVING ou* NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 end aimed at is good, and in this confidence 
 purfue it fo eagerly, as not to wait for the 
 fpirit of truth to lead them, then they come 
 to lofs. " Chrift is given to be a leader and 
 " commander of the people," Ifaiah Iv. 4. 
 Again ; " The Lord {hall guide thee conti- 
 ' nually," Ifaiah Iviii. 12. Again; " Lord, 
 <f thou wilt ordain peace for us ; for thou 
 " alfo haft wrought all our works in us," 
 Ifaiah xx vi. 12. 
 
 " In the Lord have we righteoufnefs and 
 " ftrength," Ifaiah xlv. 24. 
 
 In thi& ftate our minds are preferved watch- 
 ful in following the leadings of his fpirit in 
 all our proceedings in this world, and a care 
 is felt for a reformation in general, that 
 our own pofteriry, with the reft of mankind 
 in fucceeding ages, may not be entangled 
 by oppreflive cuftoms, tranfmitted to them 
 through our hands : but if people, in the 
 narrownefs of natural love, are afraid that 
 their children will be oppreiTed by the rich,' 
 and, through an eager denre to get treafures,' 
 depart from the pure leadings of truth in one 
 cafe, though it may feem to be a frmll maN 
 ter, yet the mind even in that fmall matter 
 maybe emboldened to continue in a way of 
 proceeding, without waiting for the divinfc 
 Leader. 
 
 Thus people may grow expert in bufinefs, 
 wife in the wifdom of this world, retain a 
 fair reputation amongft men, and yet, being 
 ftrangers to the voice of Chrift, the iafe lead- 
 er of his flock, the treafu'es, thus gotten, 
 
 may
 
 ON LOVING outf NEIGHBOURS. 27$ 
 
 rnay be like fnares to the feet of their pofte* 
 rity. 
 
 Now, to keep faithful to the purd eounfel- 
 lor, and, under trying circumftinces, fufFer 
 adverfny for righteouiheli> fake, in this there 
 is a reward. 
 
 Jf we, ;b'.'ing poor, ar- hardly dealt, with 
 by tbcfe who are rich, and, under this diffi- 
 culty, are frugal and induftriouSj and in true 
 humility open our cafe to them who 
 us, this may reach the pure witnefs in 
 minds; and though we fhould remain under 
 difficulties as to the outward, yet, it we abide 
 in the love of Chrift, all will work for pur 
 good. 
 
 When we feel what it is to fufTer in the true 
 
 fuffering (late, then we experience the truth 
 
 of thofe expreffions, that, *' as the fufferings 
 
 1 of Chrift abound in us, fo our confolation 
 
 " aboundeth by Chrift." 2 Cor. i. 5. 
 
 But if poor people, who are hardly dealt 
 with, do not attain to the true fuffering flare, 
 do not labour in true Jove with thole who 
 deal hardly wuh tlum, but envy their out* 
 ward gn-atnefs, mu;mur in their hearts be- 
 caufe of their own poverty, and frr:ve in the 
 wifdom of tiiis world to get riches for them- 
 felves and their children; this is like wan- 
 dering in the dark. 
 
 If we who are of a middle ftation, between 
 
 riches and poverty, are affected at times with 
 
 the opprefTions of the poor, and feel a tender 
 
 regard for our pofterity after us; oh! how nc- 
 
 T ctflary
 
 274 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 ceflary is it that we wait for the pure counfel 
 of truth ! 
 
 Many have feen the hardfhips of the poor, 
 felt an eager defire that their children may 
 be put in a way to efcape thefe hardships; 
 but how few have continued in that pure love 
 which openeth our underftandings to proceed 
 rightly under thefe difficulties ! 
 
 How few have faithfully followed that ho- 
 ly Leader, who prepares his people to labour 
 for the reftoration of true harmony amongft 
 our fellow-creatures ! 
 
 " In the puregofpel-fpirit we walk by faith, 
 <f and not by fight." 2 Cor. v. 7. 
 
 In the obedience of faith we die to the nar- 
 rownefs of felf-love, and our life being hid 
 with Chrift in God, our hearts are enlarged 
 toward mankind univerfally; bur, in depart- 
 ing from the true light of life, many, in 
 ftriving to get treafures, have ftumbkd upori 
 the dark mountains. 
 
 Now, that purity of life which proceeds 
 from faithfulnefs in following the fpirit of 
 truth, that ftate where our mines are devo- 
 ted to ferve God, and all our wants are bound- 
 ed by his wifdom, this habitation has often 
 been opened before me as a place of retire- 
 ment for the children of the light, where 
 we may ftand feparated from that which di 
 ordereth and confufeth the affairs of fociety, 
 and where we may have a testimony of ouf 
 innocence in the hearts of thofe who behold 
 us. "'o
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 275 
 
 Through departing from the truth as it is 
 in Jcfusj through introducing Ways of lite 
 attended with unneceflary expences, many 
 wants have arifenj the minds of people hav^ 
 been employed in ftudymg to get wealth, and 
 in this purfuit fome, departing frpiri equity, 
 have retained a profeffion of religion ; others 
 have looked at their example, and thereby 
 been (Irengthened to proceed farther in the 
 lame way: thus many have encouiaged the 
 trade of taking men from Africa, felling them 
 as flaves. 
 
 It hath been computed that near one hun- 
 dred thoufand Negroes have, of Ute years* beer* 
 taken annually from that coaft, by Ihips em- 
 ployed in the Englifii trade. 
 
 As 1 have travelled on religious volts, in 
 fome parts of America, I have feen many of 
 thefe people under the command of overkerSj 
 in a painful fervitude. 
 
 I have beheld them as Gentiles under peo- 
 ple profefiing Chriftianityj not only kept ig- 
 norant of the holy fcriptureSj but under 
 great provocations to wrath ; of whom it 
 may truly be faid, " They that rule over them, 
 " make them to howl, and the holy Name 
 " is abundantly blafphemed." Ifaiah lii. 5. 
 Where children are taught to read the facred 
 writings, while young, and exampled in meek- 
 nefs and humility, it is often helpful to them; 
 nor is this any more than a debt due from us to 
 a fucceeding age. 
 
 JSut where youth are pinched for Want of 
 the necdTarics of life, forced to labour hard 
 
 T 2 un^er
 
 276 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 under the harm rebukes of rigorous over- 
 leers, and many times endure unmerciful 
 whippings : in fuch an education, how great 
 are the difadvantages they lie under! And 
 how forcibly do thefe things work againft the 
 increafe of the government of the Prince of 
 peace ! 
 
 Humphrey Smith, in his works, page 125, 
 fpeaking of the tender feelings of the love of 
 God in his heart, when he was a child, faid, 
 " By the violent wrathful nature, that ruled 
 in others, was my quietnefs difturbed, and 
 anger begotten in me toward them, yet that 
 of God in me was not wholly overcome, but 
 his love was felt in my heart, and great was 
 my grief when the earthly-mindednefs and 
 wrathful nature fo provoked me that I was 
 eftranged from it." 
 
 " And this I write as a warning to pa- 
 rents and others, tha% in the fear of the li- 
 ving God, you may train up the youth, and 
 may not be a means of bringing them into 
 fuch alienation." 
 
 Many are the vanities and luxuries of the 
 prefent age, and, in labouring to fupport a 
 way of living conformable to the prefent 
 world, the departure from that wifdom that is 
 pure and peaceable hath been great. 
 
 Under the fenle of a deep revolt, and an 
 overflowing ftream of unrighteoufnefs, my 
 life has been often a life of mourning, and 
 tender defires are raifed in me that the nature 
 of this practice may be laid to heart. 
 
 I have
 
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 277 
 
 1 1 
 
 I have read fome books, written by people 
 who were acquainted with the manner of 
 getting ilaves in Africa : 
 
 I have had verbal relations of this nature 
 from feveral Negroes brought from Africa, 
 who have learned to talk Englifh : 
 
 I have fundry times heard Englishmen 
 fpeak on this fubjecl, who have been in A- 
 frica on this bufmefs ; and from all thefe ac- 
 counts it appears evident that great violence 
 is committed, and much blood med in Africa 
 in getting flaves. 
 
 When three or four hundred flaves are put 
 in the hold of a veflel in a hot climate, their 
 breathing foon affects the air. Were that 
 number of free people to go pafTengers, with 
 all things proper for their voyage, there 
 would inconvenience arife from their num- 
 ber; but flaves are taken by violence, and 
 frequently endeavour to kill the white peo- 
 ple, that they may return to their native 
 land. Hence they are frequently kept under 
 foch a fort of confinement, by rrrcans of which 
 a fcent arifeth in the hold of a (hip, and dii- 
 tempers often break out amongft them, of 
 which many die* Of this tainted air, in the 
 hold of fhips freighted with fiavcs, I have 
 had feveral accounts, fome in print, and fome 
 verbal, and all agree that the fcent is grie- 
 vous. When thefe people are fold in America, 
 and in the iflands, they are made to labour 
 in a manner more fervile and conftant than 
 that which they were uled to at home, that, 
 
 T 3 with
 
 278 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 JV.1 C''' f BkSX> ; -i.-OlH. 
 
 with grief, with different diet from what has 
 beefi common with them, and with hard la~ 
 bour r igme- thoufoncls are computed to die, 
 every year, - in what is called the kafoning. 
 
 Thus it appears evident that great numbers 
 of thefe people are brought, every year, loan 
 untimely end ; many of them being fuck as 
 pever injured us. 
 
 Where the innocent fufFer under hard-? 
 hearted men, even unto death, and the chan- 
 nel of equity are fo pbftructed that the caufe 
 pf the fufferers is not judged in righteoufnefs, 
 " the land is polluted with blood." Numb, 
 
 33 
 
 Where blood hath been flied unrighteoufly, 
 and remains unatoned for, the cry thereof is 
 Very piercing. 
 
 Under the humbling difpenfatjons of divine 
 Providence, this cry hath deeply affected my 
 heart ; and I feel a concern to open, as I may 
 be enabled, that which lieth heavy on my 
 mind. 
 
 When <c the iniquity of the houfe of Ifrael 
 * f and of Judah was exceeding great j when 
 *' tl^e land WAS defiled with blood, and th 
 " city full of perverfenefs," E^ek. ix. 9, 
 ct fome were found iighing and crying for 
 f< the abominations of the times." Ezek. ix. 4. 
 And fuch as live under a rjght feeling of 
 our condition as a nation, thcfe, 1 truft, will 
 be fenfible that the Lord at this day doth call 
 to mourning, though many are ignorant of 
 H. So powerful are bad cuftoms, when they 
 {Decome general, that people, growing bold 
 
 through
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 279 
 
 through the examples of one another, have 
 often been unmoved at the moft ferious warn- 
 ings. 
 
 Our bleiTed Saviour, fpeaking of the people 
 of the old world, faid, " They did cat, they 
 *' drank, they married, and were given in 
 <c marriage, until the day that Noah went into 
 " the ark, and the flood came and deftroycd 
 " them all," Luke xvii. 27. 
 
 The like he fpake concerning the people of 
 Sodom, who are alfo reprefented by the pro- 
 phet as haughty, luxurious, and oppreilive : 
 * c This was the fin of Sodom ; pride, fulnefs 
 " of bread, and abundance of idlenefs, was 
 *' found in her, and in her daughters ; nei- 
 " ther did (he Strengthen the hands of the 
 " poor and needy." Ezek. xvi. 49. 
 
 Now, in a revolt fo deep as this, when 
 much blood his been fhed unrighteoufly, in 
 carrying on the flave-trade, and in fupporting 
 the practice of keeping ilaves, which at this day 
 is unatonedfor, and cneth from the earth, and 
 from the feas, againft the opprefibr : 
 
 While this practice is continued, and, under 
 a great load of guilt, there is more unrighte- 
 ouinefs committed, the ftate of things is very 
 moving ! 
 
 There is a love which ftands in nature, 
 and a parent beholding his child in mifery 
 hath a feeling of the affliction ; but, in divine 
 love, the heart is enlarged toward mankind 
 univerfally, and prepared to fympathize with 
 Grangers, though in the lowcft ilations in 
 life. 
 
 T 4 Of
 
 280 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 Of this the prophet appears to have had a 
 feeling, when he faid, " Have we nest all one 
 " Father? Hath not ore God created us ?- 
 " Why then do we deal treacheroufl- . , every 
 cc man with his brother, in prophaning iheco* 
 <f venant of our fathers ?" Mai. i ; . 10. 
 
 He, who of old heard the groans of the 
 children of Ifrael under .the hard tafk-m.ifr.ers 
 in Egypt, I truft, hath looked down from his 
 holy habitation on the miferies ~of theie dee p- 
 Jy-opprefT(,d people. Many lives have been 
 ihortened through extreme . oppreflion, while 
 they laboured to - fupport luxury and worldly 
 grearnefs ; and, though many people in out- 
 ward prosperity may think little of thofe things, 
 yet the gracious Creator hath regard to the 
 cries of the, innocent, however unnoticed by 
 men. 
 
 The Lord, in the riches of his goodnef?, i$ 
 leading fome into the feeling of the condition 
 of this people, who cannot reft without la- 
 bouring as their advocates ; of which, in fome 
 meafure, I have had experience ; for,- in the 
 movings of his love in my heart, theie poor 
 Sufferers have been brought near to me. 
 
 I have often been a witnefs to the fufFewgs 
 of the unoffending aged and infirm, made to 
 labour too hard, kept on a diet lefs comfortable 
 than their weak ilate required, and expofed to 
 great difficulties under hard-hearted men j and, 
 under the he art- melting power of divine love, 
 their mifery hath feit to me Ijkc the mifcry of 
 parents. 
 
 Innocent
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 281 
 
 Innocent youth have been taken by violence 
 from their native land, from their friends and 
 acquaintance ; put on-board mips with hearts 
 laden with forrovv ; expoied to- great hardmips 
 at fea ; placed under people where their lives 
 have been attended with great provocation to 
 anger and revenge. 
 
 With the condition of thefe youth my 
 mind hath often been affected, as with the 
 afflictions of my children ; and, in a feeling 
 of the mifery of thefe people, and of that 
 great offence which is miniftered to them, my 
 tears have been often poured out before the 
 Lord. 
 
 That holy fpirit, which affected my heart 
 when I was a youth, I truft, is often felt by 
 the Negroes in their native land, inclining 
 their minds to that which is righteous ; and, 
 had the profcfled followers of Chrift, in all 
 their conduct toward them, rnanifefted a dif- 
 poiition anfwerable to the pure principle in 
 their hearts, how might the holy name have 
 -been honoured amongft the Gentiles ! and 
 how mi^ht we have rejoiced in the fulfilling 
 of that prophecy 1 " I, the Lord, love judge- 
 '* mem ; 1 hate robbery for burnt-offerings; 
 " r.rui 1 will direct their woik in truth, and 
 " make an everlafting covenant with them. 
 ffii Their feed {ball be known amongft the 
 ft, -Gentiles, and their offspring amongft the 
 c< people: all that fee them mall acknowledge 
 " them, that they ate the feed which the Loid 
 
 -* hath blefled." Ifaiah Ui. 8, 9, 
 
 But,
 
 z$2 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 C* 
 
 But, in the prefent ftate of things, how con- 
 trary is this pra&ice to that meek fpirit in 
 which our Saviour laid down his life for us, 
 that all the ends of the earth might know fal- 
 vation in his name \ 
 
 How are the fufferings of oar bleiTcd Re- 
 deemer fet at naught, and his name blaf- 
 phemed, amongft the Gentiles, through the 
 unrighteous proceedings of his profeffed fol- 
 Jowers I 
 
 My mind hath often been affected, even from 
 the days of my youth, under a fenfe of that 
 marvellous work, for which God, in infinite 
 goodnefs, fent his Son into the world. 
 
 The opening of that fpring of living wa- 
 ters, wh ch the true believers in Chrift ex- 
 perience, by which they are redeemed from 
 pride and covetoufnefs, and brought into a 
 ftate of meckncfs, where their hearts are en- 
 Jarged in true love toward their fellow-crea- 
 tnres univerfally j this work, to me, has 
 "been precious, and the fpreading the knowledge 
 cf the truth amongft the Gentiles been very de- 
 firable : and the profeiTed followers of Chrift 
 joining in cuftoms evidently unrighteous, 
 which inanifeftly tend to ftir up wrath and in- 
 creafe wars and defolations, hath often covered 
 my mind with forrow. 
 
 if we bring this matter home, and, as Job 
 propofed to his friends, ** put our foul in their 
 foul's ftead ;" (Job xvi. 4.) 
 
 If we confider ourfelves and our children, 
 as cxpofed to the hardships which thefc peo- 
 
 F b
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 283 
 
 pie lie under, in fupporting an imaginary great- 
 nefs ; 
 
 Did we, in fuch cafe, behold an increafe of 
 luxury and fuperfluity amongft our oppreflbrs, 
 and therewith feel an increafe of the weight 
 of our burdens, and expect our posterity to 
 groan under oppreffion after us ; 
 
 Under all this mifery, had We none to plead 
 our caufe, nor any hope of relief from man, 
 how would our cries afcend to the God of the 
 fpirits of all flefh, who judgeth the world in 
 righteoufnefs, and, in his own time, is a refuge 
 for the opprefled ! 
 
 If they, who thus afflicted us, continued to 
 lay claim to religion, and were aflifted in their 
 bufmeffcby others, cfteemed pious people, who, 
 through a friendfhip with them, ftrengthened 
 their hands in tyranny : 
 
 In fuch a ftate, when we were hunger- 
 bitten, and could not have fufficient nourifli- 
 rnent, but faw them in fulnefs pleafing their 
 tafte with things fetched from far : 
 
 When \vc were wearied with labour, de- 
 nied the liberty to reft, and faw themfpending 
 their time at eafe : when garments, anfwer- 
 able to our necefTuies, were denied us, while 
 we faw them clothed in that which was coftly 
 and delicate : 
 
 Under fuch affliction, how would thefc 
 painful feelings rife up as witneflcs againft 
 their pretended devotion 1 and, if the name 
 of their religion were mentioned in our hear- 
 ing, how would it found in pur ears, like a 
 
 word
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 which fignified felf-exaltatkm and hard- 
 
 - of heart ! 
 
 WJien a trade is carried on, productive of 
 nHicii ;mjfery, and they who fuffer by it are 
 'i>me. ihpuiand miles oft, the danger is the 
 greater. -of not laying their fufferings to 
 heart. L' v; , 
 
 liflfi procuring fkves on the coaft of Africa, 
 many children are ftolen privately j wars alfo 
 arc encouraged anjongft the Negroes, but all 
 is at a great tjiflance. 
 
 Many groans arife from dying men, which 
 wg hear not. 
 
 Many cries are uttered by widows and fa- 
 iherlefs children, which reach not our ears. 
 
 Many cheeks are wet with tears, and faces 
 fad with unutterable grief, which we lee 
 ROE, 
 
 _. Cruet tyranny is encouraged. The hands 
 of; robbers are flrengthened, and thoufands 
 reduced to the moft abjed flavery, who never 
 injured us. 
 
 Were we for the term of one year only to 
 be eye-witncfies to what paffeth in .getting 
 thefe Hayes : 
 
 We ie the blood which is there fhed to be 
 fprinkkd on our garments: 
 
 " Were the poor captives bound with thongs, 
 heavy laden with elephants teeth, to pafs be- 
 fore our eyes on their way to the fea : 
 
 Were their bitter lamentations day after 
 day to ring in our ears, and their mournful 
 cries in the night to hinder us from fleep- 
 ing: 
 
 Were
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS; 
 
 Were we to hear the found of the tumult 
 when the (laves on-board the (hips attempt 
 to kill the Englim, and behold the iffue of 
 thofe bloody conflicts: 
 
 What pious man could be a witnefs to thefe 
 thing?, and fee a trade carried on in this manner, 
 without being deeply affected withforraw ? 
 
 Through abiding in the love of Chrift we 
 feel a tendernefs in our hearts toward our 
 fellow-creatures, entangled in cppreffive cuf- 
 toms ; and a concern fo to walk, that our 
 conduct may not be a means of ftrengthening 
 them in error. 
 
 It was the command of the Lord, through 
 Mofes, " Thou (halt not fuffer fin upon thy 
 *' brother : thou (halt in any wife rebuke thy 
 " brother, and (halt not fuffer fin upon him." 
 Lev. xix. 17. 
 
 Again; " Keep far from a falfe matter; 
 " and the innocent and righteous flay thou 
 c< not." Exod. xxiii. 7. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah mentions opprefficn as 
 that which the true church, in time of out- 
 ward quiet, (hould not only be clear of, but 
 (hould be far from it ; " Thou (halt be far 
 " from oppreflion," Ifaiah liv. 14. Nowthele 
 words, far from, appear to have an extenfive 
 meaning, and to convey inftrudion in regard 
 to that of which Solomon fpeak?, " Though 
 hand join in hand, the wicked fhall not go 
 unpunished," Prov. xvi. 5. 
 
 it was a complaint againft one of old, 
 " When thou iaweft a thief, thou confentedft 
 " with him." Pfcl.l. 18. 
 
 The
 
 286 OM LOVINO OUR NEIGHBOURS; 
 
 The prophet Jeremiah reprefents the de* 
 grees of preparation toward idolatrous facri- 
 fice in the fimilitude of a work carried on 
 by children, men, and women. t( The 
 " children gather wood, the fathers kindle 
 " the fire, and the women knead the dough 
 ' to bake cakes for the queen of heaven." 
 Jer. vii. 18. 
 
 Jt was a complaint of the Lord againft If-* 
 rael, through his prophet Ezekiei, that " they 
 " ftrengthened the hands of the wicked, an;l 
 *' made the hearts of the righteous fad.'V 
 Ezek. xiii. 12. 
 
 Some works of iniquity carried on by the 
 people were reprefented, by the prophet Hofea, 
 in the fimilitude of ploughing, reaping, and 
 eating the fruit ; " You have ploughed wick- 
 " ednefs, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of 
 " lying, becaufe thou didft truft, in thy own 
 " way, to the multitude of thy mighty men." 
 Hofea x. 13. 
 
 I have felt great diilrefs of mind fince I 
 came on this ifland, on account of the mem- 
 bers of our fociety being mixed with the 
 world in various forts of bufmela and traffic, 
 carried on in impure channels. Great is the 
 trade to Africa for (laves j and, in loading 
 thefe (hips, abundance of.peoplc are employed 
 in the manufactories, 
 
 Friends in early time refufed, on a religi- 
 ous principle, to make or trade in fuperflui- 
 ttes, of which we have many large tcrtimo- 
 nies on record ; but ; for want of faithfulnefs, 
 (bme gave way, evea {bine whofe examples 
 
 tvtrc
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 287 
 
 were of note in fociety, and from thence o- 
 thers took more liberty : members of our fo- 
 ciety worked in fuperfluities, and bought and 
 fold them, and thus dimnefs of fight came 
 over many. At length, friends got into the 
 ufe of fome fuperfluities in drefs, and in the 
 furniture of their houfes, and this hath fpread 
 from lefs to more, tili fuperfluity of fome 
 kinds is common amongft us. 
 
 In this declining (late many look at the 
 example one of another, and too much ne- 
 glect the pure feeling of truth. Of late years 
 a deep exercife hath attended my mind, that 
 friends may dig deep, may carefully caft forth 
 the loofe matter, and get down to the rock, 
 the fure foundation, and there hearken to 
 that divine voice which gives a clear and cer- 
 tain found. 
 
 And I have felt in that which doth not de- 
 ceive, that if friends, who have known the 
 truth, keep in that tendernefs of heart, where 
 all views of outward gain are given up, and 
 their truft is only on the Lord, he will gra- 
 cioufly lead fome to be patterns of deep felf- 
 denial in things relating to trade and han- 
 dicraft labour ; and that fome, who have 
 plenty of the treafures of this world, will ex- 
 ample in a plain frugal life, and pay wages, 
 to fuch as they may hire, more liberally 
 than is now cuftomary in fome places. 
 
 The prophet, fpeaking of the true church, 
 faid, " Thy people alfo (hall be all righte- 
 44 ous." 
 
 Of the depth of this divine work feveral 
 have fpokeiu John
 
 sS8 -ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 John Gratton, in his Journal, p. 45, 
 " The Lord is my portion, I fhall not want, 
 He hath wrought all my works in me. I 
 am nothing but what I am in him." 
 
 Gilbert Latey, through the powerful ope* 
 rations of the fpirit of Chrift in his foul, was 
 brought to that depth of felf-denial, that he 
 could not join with that proud fpirit in other 
 people, which inclined them to want vanities 
 and fuperfluities. This friend was often a- 
 mongft the chief rulers of the nation in times 
 of perfecution, and it appears, by the tefti- 
 mony of friends, that his dwelling was fo e- 
 vidently in the pure life of truth, that, in his 
 vifits to thofe great men, he found a place in 
 their minds ; and that king James the fecond, 
 in the times of his troubles, made particular 
 mention in a very refpeclful manner of what 
 Gilbert once faid to him. 
 
 The faid Gilbert found a concern to write 
 an epiftle, in which are thefe expreffions ; 
 ' Fear the Lord, ye men of all forts, trades, 
 and callings, and leave off all the evil that is 
 in them, for the Lord is grieved with all the 
 evils ufed in your employments which you 
 are exercifed in." 
 
 " It is even a grief to fee how you are fer- 
 vants to fin and inftruments of . Satan." Seo 
 his works, p. 42, &c. 
 
 George Fox, in an epiftle, writes thus j 
 " Friends, ftand in the eternal power off 
 God, witnefies againfl the pomps and vani-* 
 ties of this world." 
 
 Such
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 " Such trademiettj as Rand as witneffcs 
 in the power of God, cannot fulfil the peo- 
 ple's minds in thefe vanities, and therefore 
 they are offended at them;" 
 
 " Lt-t all truft in the Lord, and wait pa* 
 tiently on him; for, when truth firft broke 
 forth in London, many tradesmen could not 
 take fo much money in their (hops* for fome 
 time, as would buy them bread and Waterj 
 bccaufe they withftood the world's ways, 
 fathions, and cuftoms; yet, by their patient 
 waiting on the Lord in their good life p.nd 
 converfation, they anfwered the truth in peo- 
 ple's hearts, and thus their bufinefs increaf- 
 ed." Book of Doclrinals, p. 824. 
 
 Now, Chrilt our holy leader gracioufly con- 
 tinueth to open the understandings of his 
 people, and as circumdances alter from age 
 to age, fome, who are deeply baptized into a 
 feeling of the (lite of things, are led by his 
 holy Spirit into exercifes in fome refpecl dif- 
 ferent from thofe which attended the faithful 
 in foregoing ages, and, through the conftrain- 
 ings of pure love, are engaged to open the 
 feelings they have to others. 
 
 In faithfully following Chrift, the heart is 
 weaned from the defire of riches, and we 
 are led into a life fo plain and Hmplci that a 
 little doth furlice, and thus the way openeth 
 to deny ourfelves, under all the tempting al- 
 lurements of that gain, which we know I? 
 the gain of unrighteoufnef$4 
 
 u
 
 290 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS; 
 
 . The apoftle, fpeaking on this fubjecl, afk- 
 eth this queftion; " What fellowship hath 
 " rightcoufnefs with unrrghteoufnefs ?" 2 Cor. 
 vi. 14, And again faith, " Have no follow- 
 " (hip with the unfruitful works ofdarknefp, 
 " but rather reprove them." Ephef. v. 11. 
 Again, " Be, not partaker of other men's fitis, 
 keen thyfelf pure." i Tim. v. 22. 
 
 Where people, through the power of Ch rift, 
 are thoroughly fettled in a right ufe of things, 
 freed from all unneceflary care and expence, 
 the mind, in this true refignation, is at liberty, 
 from the bands of a narrow felf-intereft, to 
 attend from time to time on the movings of 
 his fpirit upon us, though he leads into that 
 through which our faith is clofely tried. 
 
 The language of Chrift is pure, and, to the 
 pure in heart, this pure language is intelligi- 
 ble i but, in the love of money, the mind, being 
 Jptent on gain, is too full of human contrivance 
 to attend to it. 
 
 It appeareth evident, that fome channels of 
 trade are defiled with unrighteoufnefs, that 
 the minds of many are intent on getting trea- 
 fures to fupport a Hfe, in which there are many, 
 unneceffary expences. 
 
 And I feel a living concern attend my 
 mind, that, under thefe difficulties, we may 
 humbly follow our heavenly Shepherd, who 
 gracioufly regardeth his flock, and is willing 
 and able to fupply us both inwardly and out- 
 wardly with clean provender, that hath, been 
 winnowed with the (hovel, and the fin, where 
 we may. . " iowi.tQ ourfelves in jightcou(nefs r 
 
 i : J " reap
 
 ON- LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 <r reap ih mercy," Hofea x. 12, and not bfc 
 defiled with the works of iniquity* 
 
 Where cuftoms contrary to pure wifdom 
 are tranfmitted to pofteritv, it appears to be 
 an injury committed againft them; and I often 
 feel tender compaifion toward a young genera- 
 tion, and defrrds that their difficulties may not 
 be increafed through un faith fulnefs in us of tht 
 prefent age. 
 
 ; ' . 
 
 A _ . _ ^__^__: _ ., 
 
 
 
 CH 
 
 i i -. i 
 
 m 
 On a- Sailor 5 Life< ^^ 
 
 rt 
 
 IN the trade to Africa for flaves, aiid in the 
 management of fhips going on thefc voy- 
 ages, many of ouf lads and young men have a 
 confiderable part of their education. 
 
 Now, what plots father, beholding his fort 
 placed in one of thefe mips to learn the prac-s 
 fice of a mariner, could forbear thburmng over 
 him ? 
 
 Where youth arc exampled in means of 
 getting money* lo fujl of violence and ufed 
 txrexercife fuch cruelties oh their feTlow-trea- 
 tures, the difadvantage to them in their edu- 
 cation is very great. 
 
 But 1 feel it in my mind to write concerning 
 the feafaring life in general. 
 
 In the trade carried on from the^ Weft* In- 
 
 dies, and from fome parts of the continent, 
 
 V 2 the
 
 292 ON A SAILOR'S LIFE. 
 
 the produce of the labour of flaves is a con- 
 liderable part. 
 
 As foilors are frequently at the ports 
 where flaves abound, ajid converfe often with 
 people who opprefs them without the appear- 
 ance of remorfe, andoften with failors employ- 
 ed in the (lave-tf ade, how powerfully do thefe 
 evil examples fpread amongft the feafaring 
 youth ! \i gin* jtj j<)v 
 
 I have had many opportunities to feel and 
 undeiftand the general ftate of the feafaring 
 life amongft us, and my mind hath often 
 been fad on account of fo many lads and 
 young men being trained up amidft fo great 
 corruption. ^JJB no 
 
 JH JUnder the humbling power of Chrift I 
 have feen, that, if the leadings of his holy 
 Spirit were faithfully attended to by his pro- 
 ielfed followers in general, the heathen nati- 
 ons would be exampltd in righteoufnefs. A 
 lefs number of people would be employed on 
 the feas. The channels of trade would be 
 more free from defilement. Fewer people 
 Would be .employed in vanities and fuper-r 
 fluities. 
 
 The inhabitants of cities would be lefs in 
 ptimber. 
 
 Thofe who have much lands would become 
 fathers to the poor. 
 
 More people would be employed rp the 
 Aveet employment, of husbandry ; and, -in the 
 path of pure wifdom, labour would be an a- 
 g ccabie, healthful, employment. 
 
 ^: ?* ' j * 
 
 i **
 
 ON A S A I L O R's LM F . 203 
 
 In the opening 'of thefe things in my mind, 
 I feel a living concern that we, who have felt 
 divine love in our hearts, may faithfully abide 
 in it, and, like good foldiers, endure hardncfs 
 for Chrift's fake. 
 
 He, our bleffed Saviour, exhorting his fol- 
 lowers to love one another, adds, " As I have 
 " loved you." John xm. 34. 
 
 He loved Lazarus, yet in his ficknefs did 
 not heal him, but left him to endure the 
 pains of death, that, in reftoring him to life, 
 the people might be confirmed in the true 
 faith. ; .< <l * 35< * 
 
 He loved his difciples, but - fen t them forth 
 on a mtflage attended with great difficulty, 
 amongit hard hearted people, iome of whom 
 would think that in killing them they -'did 
 God fervice. 
 
 So deep is divine love, that, in ftedfaftly 
 abiding in it, we are prepared to deny nur- 
 klves all that giin which is contrary to 
 pure wifdum, and to follow Chrift, even under 
 Contempt, and through JurYe: ings. 
 
 While fiends were kept truly humble, and 
 walked according to the purity of our prin- 
 ciples, the divine witnefs in many hearts was 
 reached; but when a worldly fpirit got en- 
 trance, therewith came in luxuries and fu- 
 pertiuities, and fpread, by little and little, 
 tvcn amongft the foremoft rank -in fociety, 
 and from thence others took liberty in tha{ way 
 more abundantly. 
 
 In the continuation of thefe things^ from 
 parents to children, there wer<j ; .^n.aD/.. wanes 
 
 U 3 to
 
 294 N A SAILOR's LIFE, 
 
 f6 fupply, even wants unknown to friends 
 while they Faithfully followed Chrift : and, 
 in driving to fupply thefe wants, many have 
 exacted on the poor ; many have entered or* 
 employments, in which they often labour in, 
 upholding pride and vanity. Many have look- 
 ed on one another, and been (lengthened irv 
 thefe things, one by the example of another ; 
 and, as to the pure divine feeing, djmnefs hath, 
 coaie over mary^ and the channels of true brow 
 tjierly love been obftrudted, -J 
 
 People may have no intention to opprefs, 
 yet, by entering on expenfive ways of life, 
 their minds may be fa entangled therein, and 
 (b engaged to fupport expenfive cufloms, as 
 to be efhanged from the pure fympathizing 
 fpirit. 'J ; ft : */> 4ft 
 
 As I have travelled in England, I have had 
 a .-'tender- feeling of the condition of poor peo- 
 ple j fome of whom, though honeft and in- 
 {Juflrious, have nothing to fpare toward paying 
 for the fchooling of their children* 
 
 There is a proportion between labour and 
 the neceflaries of life ; and, in true brotherly 
 love, the mind is open to feel after the necef- 
 fities of the poor. 
 
 Amongft the poor, there are fome that are 
 weak through age, and others of a weakly 
 nature, who'pafs through ftraits, in very pri- 
 vate Jife, without afking relief from the pub- 
 ttc. 
 
 Such, as are ftrong and healthy, may do 
 that buflneft, which, to the weakly, may be 
 oppreflrve - t and jn performipg that, in a day, 
 
 T V 1 I 
 
 which
 
 O N ~A S A I L O R's L IF E. 295 
 
 which is efteemed a day's labour, by weakly 
 peripns, in the field and in the tops, and by 
 weakly women who fpin and knit in the ma- 
 nufactories, they often pafs through weari- 
 nefs ; and many fighs, I believe, are uttered in 
 fecret, unheard by fome who migju eafe their 
 burdens. ^Jon.^ 
 
 Labour, in the right medium, is healthy 5 
 but, in too much of it, there is a painful wea- 
 rinefs ; and the hardfhips of the poor are 
 fometimes increafed through want of more a- 
 greerable nourishment, more plentiful fuel for 
 the fire, and warmer clothing -in the winter, 
 than their wages will anfwer. 
 
 When I have feen plenty^ in fome houfes, . 
 to a degree of luxury, the condition of poor 
 children brought up without learning, and the 
 condition of the weakly and aged, who ftrive 
 to live by their labour, have often revived in 
 my mind, as cafes of which fome, who live in 
 fulnefs, need to be put in remembrance. 
 
 There are few, if any^ who could behold 
 their fellow-Creatures lie long iri.diflrefs, and 
 forbear to help them, when they could do it 
 without any inconvenience^ but .cuAuais, re- 
 quiring much labour to fupport^henj, no of- 
 ten lie heavy on the poor, while they who live 
 in thefe cuftoms are ib entangled in a multitude 
 of unneceiTary concerns, that they think but 
 little of the hardmips which the poor people go 
 through. 
 
 - 
 U 4 CHAP. 
 
 . :
 
 \ -i ". [' '?<jG~'<]' : ' ' 
 
 - _ . . 
 
 C :ii A P. III. ...*r 
 
 7.' .:. -lOft jfifofit ' 
 :: . - >'.< i - 't 
 
 WORSHIP in filence. hath often tor* 
 refrethins to mv mind, and a care at- 
 ^ 
 
 ttndrme that a young generation may feel the 
 
 tfature of this worfhip. 
 
 -.- Great expence Brifeth in rtlation to that 
 
 Vrhich is called divine wor(hip. ^ti 3^J 
 
 -; A con fide rable' art of this expence is applied 
 
 toward outward: greatneftf j and ^manf poor 
 
 people, in railing o^ tithe, labour in lupporting 
 
 GOttoms contrary to the limplicity that there is 
 
 itt-ChriA -,. toward whom my mind hath ofteft 
 
 (seen: moved: with pity. 
 
 c Impure filcnt worfhip we ri well under the 
 
 holy anointing, and feel Lfirift to be our ihepu 
 
 herd. -JA-.^ii : 
 
 Here the beft of teachers minifters to the fe- 
 V^ral conditions of his flock, and the foul re* 
 peives, immediately from the divine fountain, 
 lhat with which it is nourimed. 
 
 As 1 have travelled, at times, where thofe of 
 pther focieties have attended our meetings, 
 and have perceived how little feme of them 
 knew of the nature of filent wor(hip j I have 
 felt tender deiires in rny heart, that we, who 
 <jften fit filent in cur meetings, may live snf- 
 werable to the nature of an jnv/ard fellowship 
 v/ith God, that no tumbling- block, through 
 us, may be laid in their way. 
 
 -* cUCU 
 
 v*"
 
 OH SILENT WORSHIP. 297 
 
 S'tch is the load of unneceflary expence, 
 yyhich fieth on that which is called divine fer- 
 vlce, in many places, and fo much are the 
 minds of many people employed in outward 
 forms and ceremonies, that the opening of an 
 inward ii'ent wormip, in this nation, to me 
 hath appeared to be a precious opening. 
 
 Within the laft four hundred years, many 
 pious people have been deeply exercifcd in 
 fouj, on account of the fuperftition which pre- 
 vailed amongfl the profefled followers of Chnftj 
 and, in fupport of their tcftimony againft op- 
 preftive idolatry, {ome, in leveral ages, have fi- 
 niflied their courie in the flames. 
 
 It appears, by the hiftory of the reforma- 
 tion, that, through the faithfulnefs of the mar- 
 tyrs, the underftandings of many have been o- 
 penecj, and the minds of people, from age to 
 age, been more and more prepared for a real 
 Ipiritual worihip. 
 
 My mind is often affedied with a fenfe of 
 the condition of thofe people, who, in different 
 ages, have been meek and patient, following 
 Ch r i(t through great afflictions : and, while 
 1 behold the leveral fleps of reformation, and 
 that cleaniefs to which, through divine good- 
 nefs, it hath been brought by our anceftors.; 
 1 feel tender defires, that we, who fometimes 
 meet in filence, may never, by our conduct, 
 lay (tumbling blocks in the way of others, and 
 hinder the progress of the reformation in the 
 world. 
 
 It was a complaint, againft fome who were 
 .called the Lord'* peopte, that they brought 
 
 polluted
 
 298 ON SILENT WORSHIP. 
 
 *~ 
 
 polluted bread to his altar, and faid the table 
 oi the Lord was contemptible. 
 
 la real fdent-wor&ip, the foul feeds on that - 
 which is divine ; but we cannot partake of the 
 table of the Lord, and that table which is pre- 
 pared by the God of this world. ;/i*w 
 
 If Chrift. is our hepherd and feedeth us^ 
 and we are faithful in following him, our lives 
 Wflll have an inviting language, and the table of 
 the Lord will not be polluted. 
 
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 [ 299 } 
 
 <M$ * 
 
 W^Mfln 
 
 . 
 
 , 
 
 AN 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 QJUARTERLY AND MONTHL^ 
 MEETINGS OF FRIENDS. 
 
 Beloved Friends, 
 
 EEL ING, at this time, a renewed con* 
 
 cern, that the pure principle of light and 
 
 life, and the righteous fruits thereof, may fpread 
 and prevail amongft mankind, there is an en- 
 gagement on my heart to labour with my br^. 
 thren in religious profefiion, that none of ;us 
 may be a ftumbjing-block in the way of others; 
 but that we may fo walk, that our conduct may 
 reach the pure witnefs in the hearts of fuch as 
 are not in profeflion with us. 
 
 And, dear friends, while we publidy own 
 that the Holy Spirit is our leader, the profefi- 
 fion is in itlelf weighty, and the weightthefs 
 thereof increafeth, in proportion as we are 
 noted among the profeflbrs of truth, and 
 
 active
 
 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 active in dealing with fuch as walk difordcr- 
 
 fy. 
 
 Many under OHF pfofcffion, for want of due 
 attention and a perfect relignation to this 
 divine Teacher, have, in fome things, mani- 
 fefted a deviation from the purity of our re- 
 ligious principles ; and thefe deviations, ha- 
 ving crept in amdngft us by little and little, 
 and Increafing from lefs to greater, have been 
 To far unnoticed, that fome, living in therrt, 
 have been active m patting difcipline in prac- 
 tice, with relation to others, whofe conduct 
 bath appeared more dishonourable in the 
 world. 
 
 Now, as my mind hath been exercifed be- 
 fore the Lord, I have feen that the difci- 
 pline of the church of Chrift ftandeth iii that 
 which is pure ; that it is the wifdom from 
 above which gives authority to difcipline : ; 
 fcnd that the weightinefs thereof .ftandeth not 
 -fii any outward cirtumftances, but in the 
 authority of. Chrift, who is the author of it; 
 : aod where any walk after the fle(h, and not 
 -according to the purity of truth, and at the 
 fame time are active in putting difcipline in 
 : practice, a veil is gradually drawn over the 
 purity of difcipline, ; and over that holineis 
 of life, which Ghrift leads thofe into, " in 
 -"f 4 whom the love of God is verily peifected," 
 i John ii. 5. 
 
 When we labour in true love with offend- 
 'ers, and they remain obftinate, it fometimes 
 is neccffiry to proceed, as far as our Lord di- 
 rected ;
 
 AN E P i S : f L. E. 
 
 reeled : " J-et him be to. thee as, an heathen 
 " man, or a publican." Matt, xviii. 17. 
 
 Now* when iuch are difowned, and they 
 ,who acl: therein feel Chrift made unto theoi 
 wifdom, and are preierved in his meek re- 
 ftoring fpirit, there is no juft cauie of offence 
 miniftered to any : but, when fuch as arc 
 adVive in dealing with offenders indulge thern- 
 felves in things which are contrary to the 
 purity of truth, and yet judge- others whole 
 conduct appears more dimonourable than 
 theirs, here the pure authority of difcipline 
 ceafeth as to fuch offenders, and a tempta- 
 tion is laid in their way to wrangle and con- 
 tend : " Judge not," faid our Lord, <* lhat 
 ." ye b not judged." Now, this forbidding 
 alludes to man's judgement, and points out 
 the neceffity of our humbly attending to that 
 fanctifying power under which the faithful 
 experience the Lord to be " a fpirit of judge- 
 " ment to them." Ifa. xxviii. 6. And, as we 
 feel his Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the 
 body in us, and can fay, " It is no more I that 
 " live, but Cbrift that liveth in me," here 
 right judgement is known. 
 
 And, while divine love prevails hi our 
 hearts, and felf in us is brought under judge- 
 ment, a preparation is felt to labour in a right 
 manner with offenders : but, if we abide not 
 in this love, our outward performance in deal- 
 ing with others degenerates into formality ; for 
 " this is the love of, God, that we keep his 
 ' commandments." John i. 3, 
 
 How
 
 302 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 How weighty are thofe inftru&ions of otif 
 Redeemer, concerning religious duties, when 
 he points out that they, who pray, faould be 
 fo obedient to the teachings of the Holy Spi- 
 rit, that, humbly confiding in his help, they 
 may fay, " Thy name, O Father, be hallowed ! 
 " thy kingdom come; thy will be done on 
 " earth as it is heaven " In this aw- 
 ful ftate of mind is felt that wordiip which 
 ftands in doing the will of God, on earth, as 
 it is done in heaven, and keeping the holy 
 name facred. To take a holy profefTion upon 
 us is awful; nor can we keep this holy name 
 facred but by humbly abiding under the 
 crofsof Chrift. The apoftle made a heavy com* 
 plaint againft fome, who prophaned this holy 
 name by their manner of living : ** Through 
 " you (he fays) the name of God is blafphe- 
 " med amongft the Gentiles." Rom. ii. 24'* 
 Some of our anceftors, through many tri- 
 bulations, were gathered into the ftate of true 
 worftiippers, and had fellowship in that 
 which is pure j and, as one was inwardly 
 moved to kneel down in their afTemblies and 
 publicly call on the name of the Lord, thofe 
 in the harmony of united exercife, then pre* 
 fent, joined in the prayer; I mention this irt 
 order that we, of the prefent age, may look 
 unto the Rock from whence we were hewn, 
 and remember that to unite in worfhip is 
 union in prayer, and that prayer, acceptable 
 to tHe Father, is only in a mind truly fancli- 
 fied,^ where the facre'd name is keptholy, and 
 the heart refigned to do his \vill on earth as 
 
 it
 
 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 it is done in heaven : " If ye abide in me/* 
 faith Chrift, " and my words abide, in you, 
 " ye fhall a(k what ye will in .my name, 
 * and it (hall be done unto you," Now, we 
 know not what to pray for as we ought, but 
 as the Holy Spirit dotfc open and dircdl our 
 minds, and, as we faithfully yield to its in- 
 fluences, our prayers are in the will of our 
 heavenly Father, w.ho fails not to grant that 
 which his own fpirit, through his children* 
 afkethj thus prefervation from fin is known, 
 and the fruits of righteoufnefs are brought 
 forth by fuch as inwardly unite in prayer. 
 
 How weighty are our folemn meetings 
 when the name of Chrift is kept 'holy ? 
 
 " How precious is that ftate, in which the 
 children of the Lord are fo redeemed from 
 the love of this world, that they are accepted 
 and blefied in all that they do." R. Barclay's 
 Apology, p. 404. 
 
 How neceffary is it that we, who profefsr 
 thefe principles, and are outwardly aclive in 
 fupporting them, fhould faithfully abide in 
 divine ftrength, that " As He, who hath call- 
 " ed us, is holy, fo we may be holy in all 
 " manner of converfation." i Pet. i. 15. 
 
 If one, profefiing to be influenced, by the 
 fpirit of Chrift, propofeth to unite in a labour 
 to promote righteoufnefs in the earth, and 
 in time paft he hath manifeflly deviated from 
 the path of equity, then, to aft confident with 
 this principle, his firft work is to make refti- 
 titution fo far as he may enabled; for, if he 
 attempts to contribute toward a work, intend- 
 ed
 
 364 A N E P I S T L E. 
 
 ed to promote righteoufnefs, while it appears 
 that he neglecleth or refufeth to ad: righte- 
 ouOy himfelf, his conduct has a tendency to 
 entangle the minds of thofe who are weak in 
 the faith, who behold thefe things, and to 
 draw a veil over the purity of righteoufnefs, 
 by carrying an appearance as though that was 
 righteoufnefs which is not. 
 
 Again, if I propofe to aflift in fupporting 
 thofe doctrines wherein that purity of life is 
 held forth in which cuftoms, proceeding from 
 the fpirit of this world, have no place, and, 
 at the fame time, toftrengfhen others in thofe 
 cufloms, by my example; the firft ftep, then, 
 hi an orderly proceeding, is, to ceafe from 
 thofe cufloms myfelf, and, afterwards, tola- 
 hour, as I may be enabled, to promote the 
 like difpofition and conduct in others. 
 
 To be convinced of the pure principle of 
 truth, and diligently exercifed in walking 
 anfwerably thereto, is necefTary, before I can 
 confidently recommend this principle to o- 
 thers. 1 often feel a labour in fpirit, that 
 we, jvho are active members in religious fo- 
 ciety, m#y experience in ourfelves the trutfo 
 of thofa *xprefllons of the Holy One, " J 
 " will be fandtified in them that come nigh 
 *' me." Lev. x. 3. In this cafe, my mind 
 hath been often exercifed, when alone, year 
 after year, for many years, and, in the re- 4 ; 
 newings of divine love, a tender care hath 
 been incited in me, that we, who profefs the 
 inward principle of light to be our teacher, 
 inay be a family, united in that purity of t ,
 
 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 worfliip which comprehends a holy "fife a&J 
 minifters inftrudtion to others. 
 
 My mind is often drawn towac!' childref! 
 in the truth, who, having a fmall tTiare<)T"tfie 
 things of this life and coming kf hafe fami- 
 lies, may be inwardly exercifed -before 'the 
 Lord to lupport them in a way agreeable 'to 
 the purity of truth, in which they may fel 
 his bleffing upon them in their labours : the 
 thoughts of fuch being entangled with cuf- 
 toms, (contrary to pure wifdom,) conveyed td 
 them through our hands, doth often very 
 tenderly and movingly affect my heart ; and, 
 when I look toward, and think on, the fuc- 
 ceeding generation, fervent defires are raifed 
 in me, that we, by yielding to that Holy Spi- 
 rit which leads into all truth, may not dd 
 the work of the Lord deceitfully, may net- 
 live contrary to the purity of the divine prin- 
 ciple we profefs, but that, as faithful labour** 
 ers in our age, we may be inftrumental in 
 removing frumbling-blocks out of the way of 
 thofe who may fucceed us. 
 
 So great was the love of Chrift, that htf' 
 gave himfelf for the church, " that h might 
 ' fandify and cleanfe it, that it (hould be 
 * f holy and without blemifli, not having 
 *"--fpot or wrinkle or any fuch thing.'* Eph. 
 v i^. And, where 'any take the name of 
 Chnlt upon them, prole iTmgto\%e members 
 of his church and led by his Holy Spirit, 
 and yet manifestly deviate from the purity 
 of truth, they herein aci agfrirrfl the gracious 
 defign of his giving himfelf. for them, and 
 
 X miniiler
 
 306 A N P I S T L E. 
 
 miniftcr caufe for the continuance of his af- 
 flictions, viz. in his body, the church. 
 
 Chrift fuffered afflictions in a body of flefb, 
 prepared by the Father ; but the afflictions of 
 his myftical body are yet unfinimed ; for 
 they, who are baptized into Chrift, are bap- 
 tized into his death ; and, as we humbly abide 
 under his fanctifying power, and are brought 
 forth into newnefs of life, we feel Chrift to 
 live in us ; who being the fame yefterday, 
 to-day, and for ever, and always at unity 
 with himfelf, his fpirit, in the hearts of his 
 people, leads to an inward exercife for the fal- 
 vation of mankind : and when, under a tra- 
 vail of fpirit, we behold a vifited people en- 
 tangled by the fpirit of this world, with its 
 wickedneis and cuftoms, and thereby ren- 
 dered incapable of being faithful examples to 
 others, forrow and heavinefs, under a fenfe 
 of thefe things, are often experienced 3 and 
 thus, in fome meafure, is filled up that which 
 remains of the afflictions of Chrift. 
 
 Our bleffed Saviour, fpeaking concerning 
 gifts offered in divine fervice, fays, " If 
 " thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there 
 " remembered that thy brother hath ought 
 " againft thee, leave there thy gift, before the 
 ' altar, and go thy wayj firft be reconci- 
 " led to thy brother, and then come and 
 " offer thy gift." Mat. v. 23, 24. Now, 
 there is no true unity but in that wherein 
 the Father and the Son are united ; nor can 
 there be a perfect reconciliation but in ceafing 
 from that which miniftere caufe for the con- 
 tinuation
 
 AN EPISf LEi 
 
 of the afflictions of Chrift ; and if 
 any, profeffirtg to bring their gift to the altarj 
 do remember the cuftomary contradi&ion 
 which fome of their fruits bear to the pure' 
 fpifitual worship, here it appears necefTary to 
 lay to heart this command; " Leave thy gift 
 " by the altar." 
 
 Chrlfl gracioufly calls his people brethren : 
 91 Whofoever hall do the will of God, the famd 
 " is fMy brother." Mark iii. 35. No^v, if we 
 walk contrary to the truth, as it is in Jefusj 
 v.'hile we continue to profefs it, we offend 
 againit Chrift ; and if) under this cfYence, we* 
 bring our gift to the altar, our Redeemer 
 doth not direct us to take back our gift* hd 
 doth not difconrage our proceeding in a good 
 work, but gracioufly points out the necefia- 
 ry means by which the gift may be rendered 
 acceptable: " Leave (faith he) thy gift by 
 " the altar : firft. go and be reconciled to thy 
 " brother ;" ceafe from that which grieves 
 the Holy Spirit, ceafe from that which is e- 
 gainft the truth, as it is in Jefus, and theri 
 come and offer thy gift. 
 
 I feel, while I am writing, a tendernefs to 
 thofe, who, through divine favour, arc prc- 
 ferved in a lively fenfe of the Hate of the 
 churches, and at times may be under dif- 
 Couragements with regard to proceed ing--irt 
 that pure way which Grind, by his Holy Spi- 
 rit, leads into. The depth of diibrdcr and 
 weaknefs, which fo much prevail, being p* 
 pened, doublings arc r.pt to arife, as to thtf 
 poiiibility of proceeding as an ailemolv of 
 
 X 2 the
 
 308 A,N E P I S T L E, 
 
 the Lord's people in the purecounfel of truth ; 
 
 1 1 f f 1 C 
 
 and here I feel a concern to exprefs, in up- 
 rightnefs, that which hath been opened in 
 my mind, under the power of the crofs of 
 Cnrift, relating to a vifible gathered church, 
 the members wherebf are guided by the Holy 
 Spirit. 
 
 The church is called the body of Chrift, 
 Col. i. 25. 
 
 Chrift is called the head of the Church, 
 Eph. i. 22. 
 
 The church is called the pillar and ground 
 of truth, i Tim. iii. 15. 
 
 Thus the church hath a name that is fa- 
 cred, and the neceflity of keeping this name 
 holy appears evident; for, where a number 
 of people unite in a profeflion of being led by 
 the fpirit of Chrift, and publifli their prin- 
 ciples to the world, the acts and proceedings 
 of that people may in fome meafure be con- 
 fidered as fuch which Chrift is the author of. 
 
 Now, while we ftand in this ftation, if the 
 pure light of life is not followed and regard- 
 ed in our proceedings, we are in the ivay of 
 prophaning the holy Name, and of going 
 back toward that wildernefs of fufferings and 
 perftcution, out of which, through the tender 
 mercies of God, a church hath been gather- 
 ed ; " Chriftliveth in fandtified veflels," Gal. 
 ii. 20. and where they behold his holy name 
 profaned, and the pure gofpel light eclipfed 
 through the uiifaithfulneis of any who, by 
 their ilaiion, appear to be flandard- bearers 
 under the Prince of Peace, the living mem- 
 
 bors
 
 A N E P I S T L E. 309 
 
 bers in the body of Chrift, in beholding thefe 
 things, do in f me degree experience the fel- 
 lowfhip of his fufferings ; and, as the wifdom 
 of the world more and more takes place in 
 conducting the affairs of this vifible gathered 
 church, and the pure leadings of the Holy 
 Spirit are lefs waited for and followed, fo the 
 true fuffering feed is more and more oppref- 
 fed. 
 
 My mind is often affected with a fenfe of 
 the condition of fmcere-hearted people in fome 
 kingdoms, where liberty of conference is not 
 allowed, many of whom, being; burthened in 
 their minds with prevailing fuperftition, join- 
 ed with oppreffions, are often under forrow ; 
 and where fuch have attended to that pure 
 light, which hath in fome degree opened their 
 underftandings, and, for their faithfulnefs 
 thereto, have been brought to examination 
 and trial, how heavy are the perfecutions 
 which in divers parts of the world are exer- 
 cifed upon them! How mighty, as to the 
 outward, is that power by which they are 
 borne down and oppreffed! 
 
 How deeply affecting is the condition of 
 many upright-hearted people who are taken, 
 into the papal inqnifition ! What lamentable 
 cruelties, in deep vaults, in a private way, 
 are exercifed on many of them 1 and how 
 fingering is that death, by a fmall flow fire, 
 which they have frequently endured who 
 have been faithful to the end ! 
 
 How many tender-fpirited proteftants have 
 been fentenced to fpend the remainder of their 
 
 X 3 lives
 
 A tf EPIST LE/ 
 
 lives in a galley chained to oars, under hard* 
 hearted mailers, while their young phildren 
 are placed out for education, and taught 
 principles Co pontrary to the cqnfciences of the 
 parents, that, by duTenting from them, they 
 pave hazarded their liberty, lives, and all 
 that was dear to them of the things of this 
 world! 
 
 There have been in time pail fevere perfe- 
 cations ander the Engliih government, and 
 ciany fincere- hear ted. people have fuffered 
 death fpr the teftin^ony of a good conference, 
 whofe faithfulnefs in their day hath miniftred 
 encouragement to others, and been a blefiing 
 Jo many who have fiicceeded them; thus, frori} 
 age to age, the darknefs being more and more 
 removed, a channel at length, through the 
 tender merpies of God, hath been opened for 
 the exercife of the pure gift of the gofpel mi- 
 niftry, without interruption from outward 
 power ; a work, the like of which is rare, ^n$ 
 unknown in many parts of the world ! 
 
 As thefe things ate often frefb in my mind, 
 and this great work of God going on in the 
 earth has been open before me, that liberty 
 of confcience, with which we are favoured, 
 Jiath appeared not as a light matter, 
 
 A truft is committed to us, a great and 
 weighty truft, to which our diligent attenti- 
 on is neceffary : wherever the active members 
 of this viiiblc gathered church ufe themfelvei 
 to that which ie contrary to the purity of our 
 principles, it appears to be a breach of this 
 fiufl, and one itep back toward the wilder- 
 
 nefs.
 
 AN EPISTLJ?. 311 
 
 nefs, one Hep toward undoing what God in 
 infinite love hath done, through his faithful 
 fervants, in a work of feveral ages, and is like 
 laying the foundation for future fuffer- 
 
 lng /v , . . . . 
 
 I feel a living invitation in my mind to 
 fuch as are active in our religious fociety, 
 that we may lay to heart this matter, and 
 confider the ftation in which we (land; a 
 place of outward liberty under the free exer- 
 cife of our confcience toward God, not ob- 
 tained but through great and manifold afflic- 
 tions of thofe who lived before us. There is 
 gratitude due from us to our heavenly Fa- 
 ther, and juflice to our pofterity^ can our 
 hearts endure, or our hands be ftrong, if we 
 defert a caufe fo precious, if we turn afide 
 from a work under which fo many have pa- 
 tiently laboured ? 
 
 May the deep fufferings of our Saviour be 
 fo dear to us, that we may never trample un- 
 der foot the adorable Son of God, nor count 
 the blood of the covenant unholy ! 
 
 May the faithfulnefs of the martyr*, when 
 the profpect of death by fire was before them, 
 be remembered ! and may the patient con- 
 itant fufferings of the upright- heaned fer- 
 vants of God in latter ages be revived in our 
 minds! and may we fo follow on to know 
 the Lord, that neither the faithful in this 
 age, nor thole in ages to come, may ever be 
 brought under fuffering, through our hiding 
 back from the work of reformation in the 
 world ! 
 
 X 4 While
 
 -EPrSTLR. 
 
 While the active members in the vifiblc 
 cathead church ftand upright, and the afr 
 .fairs thereof are carried on under the leadings 
 of the Holy Spirit, although diforders may arifc 
 among us, and caufe many exerciies to thofe 
 who feel the care of the churches upon them, 
 yet, while thefe continue under the weight of 
 the work, and labour in the rneeknefs of wif- 
 dcm for the help of others, the name of 
 Chrift in the villble gathered church may be 
 kept facredj^ but while they, who are active 
 in the affairs of this church, continue in a 
 manifeft oppofition to the purity of our prin- 
 ciples, this, as the prophet Ifaiah, x. 18. ex- 
 jttelfeth it, is like " as when a ftandard-bear- 
 " er fainteth :" and thus the way opens to 
 ST^at and prevailing degeneracy, and to 
 lufierings for fuch as, through the power of 
 aivine love, are fcparated to the gofpel of 
 iChrift, and cannot unite with any thing 
 which ftands in oppofition to the purity of it. 
 
 The neceflity of an inward ftillnefs hath 
 under thefe exercifes appeared clear to my 
 miad -, in true iilence ftrength is renew&d, 
 the mind herein is weaned from all things; 
 hut as they may be enjoyed in the divine 
 will, and a lowlinefs in outward living, op- 
 pofite to worldly honour, becomes truly ac*- 
 peptable to us. In the defire after outward 
 gain,' the mind is prevented from a perfect 
 attention to the voice of Chrift ; but, being 
 weaned fromj all things but as they maybe 
 enjoyed in the divine will,, the pure light 
 into the foul: and, where the fruits of 
 
 that
 
 A N EP 1ST LE; 313 
 
 that fpirit which is of this world are brought 
 forth by many who profefs to be led by the 
 fpirit of truth, and cloudinefs is felt to be 
 gathering over the vifible gathered church, 
 the fincere in heart, who abide in true ftillncfr, 
 and are exercifed therein before the Lord for 
 his name's fake, have a knowledge of Chrifl 
 in the fellowfhip of his fufferings, and in- 
 ward thankfulnefs is felt at times, that, through 
 divine love, our own wifdom is caft out, and 
 that forward active part in us fubjected, 
 which would rife and do fomething in the 
 vifible gathered church, without the pure 
 leadings of the Spirit of Chrift. 
 
 While aught remains in us different from 
 a perfect refignation of our wills, it is like a 
 feal to a book, wherein is written *' that good, 
 " and acceptable, and perfect, will of God 
 " concerning us," Rom. xii. 2. but, when 
 our minds entirely yield to Chrift, that 
 filence is known, which followeth the open- 
 ing of the laft of the feals, Rev. viii. i. in 
 this filence we learn abiding in the divine 
 will, and there feel that we have no caufc 
 to promote but that only in which the light 
 of life directs us in our proceedings, and that 
 the alone way to be ufeful, in the church of 
 Chrift, is to abide faithfully under the lead- 
 ings of his Holy Spirit in all cafes, and, being 
 prefervod thereby in purity of heart and ho- 
 linefs of conversation, a teftimony to the pu- 
 rity of his government may be held forth, 
 through us, to ethers. 
 
 As
 
 AN EPIST 
 
 A? my mind hatli been thus exercifed, I 
 have fcen that, to be active and b.ufy in the 
 viable gathered church, without the leadings 
 of the Hojy Spirit, is riot only unprofitable, 
 but tends to jnpreafe dimnefs ; and, where way 
 & cot opened to proceed in the light of truth, 
 a flop is felt by thofe who humbly attend to 
 the divine Leader ; a flop which, in relation 
 to good order in the viable gathered church, 
 is .of the greateft conference to be obferved : 
 thus Robert Barclay, in his treatife on difci- 
 pUne, holds forth, pages 65, 68, 84. " That 
 the judgement, or conclufion, of the church, 
 or congregation, is no farther effectual, as to 
 tjje true end and defign thereof, but as fuch 
 judgement, or concluilon, proceeds from the 
 Spjri ojf God, operating on their minds who 
 at& faq&ified in Chrid Jefus." 
 
 Now, in this flop, 1 have learned the necef- 
 fity pf waiticg on the Lord in humility, that 
 the works of all may be brought to light, and 
 thofe to judgement which are wrought in the 
 \vifdbm of this world ; and have alfo leen that, 
 in a mind thoroughly fubjected to the power 
 of the crofs, there is a favour of life to be felt, 
 which evidently tends to gather fouls to God, 
 while the greateft works in the vifible gathered 
 church, brought forth in man's wifdom, re- 
 main to be unprofitable. 
 
 Where people are divinely gathered into a 
 holy fellowfhip, and faithfully abide under 
 the influence of that Spirit which leads into 
 all truth, " they are the light of the world." 
 Matt. v. 14. Now, holding this profefllon, to 
 
 me,
 
 AN EPISTLE. 315 
 
 me, hath appeared weighty, even heyon4 
 what I can fully exprefs, and what our bleC- 
 fed Lord feemed to have in view, when he 
 propofed the neceflity of counting the coft be* 
 fore we begin to build. 
 
 I trufl there are many who, at times, under 
 divine vifitation, feel an inward enquiry after 
 God ; and when fuch, in the fimplicity of their 
 hearts, mark the lives of a people who profef? 
 to walk by the leadings of his Spirit, of what 
 great concernment is it that our lights (hinc 
 cjear, that nothing of our conduct carry 3 
 contradiction to the truth as it is in Jefus, or 
 be a means of profaning his holy name, and 
 be a flumbling-blo^k in the way of thole fin- 
 cere enquirers. 
 
 When fuch feekers as, wearied witfy 
 empty forms, look toward uniting with us 
 as a people, and behold adlive members a- 
 mong us depart, in their cuftomary way of 
 Jiving, from that purity of life, which, under 
 humbling exercifes, hath been opened before 
 them as the way of the Lord's people, how 
 mournful and difcouraging is the profpe& ! 
 and how ilrongly doth fuch unfaithful nets ope* 
 rate againft the Spreading of the peaceable har- 
 monious principle and tefimony of truth a* 
 piongft mankind ! 
 
 In entering into that life, which is hid 
 with Chrift in God, we behold his peaceable 
 government, where the whole family are go- 
 verned by thp fame fpirit, and the " doing 
 " to others as we vvpulq they fliould do un- 
 ?? to us" groweth up as good fruit from a 
 
 good
 
 3i6 A* EPISTLE* 
 
 -, -.,* 
 tree, the peace, quietnefs, and harmo- 
 
 nious walking, in this government is beheld 
 with humble reverence to him who is the 
 author of it; and, in partaking of the Spirit 
 of Chrift, we partake uf that which labours, 
 and fuffcrs for the increafe of this peaceable 
 government among the inhabitants of the 
 world; and 1 have felt a labour of long con- 
 tinuance that we, who profefs this peaceable 
 principle, may be faithful ftandard- bearers 
 under the Prince of peace, and that nothing 
 of a defiling nature, tending to difcord and 
 wars, may remain among us.' 
 
 " May each of us query with ourfelves, Have 
 the treafures I pofTels, been gathered in that 
 wifdom which is from above, fb far as hath 
 Appeared to me ? 
 
 Have none of my fellow-creatures an equi- 
 table right to any part which is called mine ? 
 
 Have the gifts and porTeffious, received by 
 me from others, been conveyed in a way free 
 from all unrighteoufnefs lo far as 1 have 
 feen? 
 
 The principle of peace, in which our trufl 
 is only on the Lord, and our minds weaned 
 from a dependence on the flrength of armies, 
 bath appeared to me very precious, and I 
 often feel ftrong defires, that we, who pro- 
 fefs this principle, may fo walk, as to give 
 juft caufe for none of our fellow- creatures to 
 be offended at us ; that our lives may evi- 
 dently manifcft, that we are redeemed from 
 that fpirit in which wars are: our bleffed 
 Saviour, in pointing out the danger of fo 
 
 leaning
 
 AN EPISTLE. 317 
 
 leaning on nvm, as to nrglect the leadings of 
 his Hoty Spirit, faid, ' Call no man your 
 ct father upon the earth; for one is your fa- 
 " then, which is in heaven," Mat. xxiii. 9. 
 Where the wifdom from above is faithfully 
 followed, and therein we are entrufled with 
 fubftance, it is a treafure committed to our 
 
 'V 
 
 care in the nature of an inheritance, as an 
 inheritance from him, who formed, and iup- 
 ports, the world. Now, in this condition, the 
 true enjoyment of the good things of this life 
 is under flood, and that bleffing i'elt, in which 
 is real fafetyj this is what I apprehend our 
 blefled Lord had in view, when he pronounced, 
 
 " Blefled are the meek, for they fhall inherit 
 
 ^ . 
 
 cc f l, p p3 r th " 
 
 . ine earin 9 . r-j'Tf 
 
 Selfifh worldly-minded men may hold lands 
 in the felfifh fpirit, and, depending on. the 
 ftrength of the outward power, be perplexed 
 with fecret uneaiinefs, left the injured fhould 
 fometime overpower them, and that meafurebe 
 meted to them, which they meafure to others. 
 Thus felfifli men may poflefs the earth.; 
 but it is the meek who inherit it, and enjoy 
 it as an inheritance from the heavenly Fa- 
 ther, free from all the defilements and per- 
 plexities of unrighteoufnefs. 
 
 Where proceedings have been in that wif- 
 dom which is from beneath, and inequitable 
 gain is gathered by a man, and left as a gift 
 to his children, who, being entangled by the 
 ifame worldly fpirit, have, not attained to that 
 clearnefs of light in which the channels of 
 righteoufnefs are opened, and juflicc is done to 
 
 thofe
 
 thofe who remain filent under injuries :. here I 
 hare fcen, under humbling exercife c' mind, 
 that the fins of the fathers are embraced by 
 the children, and become their firis ; and thus, 
 Jn the days of tribulation, the iniquities of 
 the fathers are vifited upon thefe child ren^ 
 who take hold of the unrighteoufnefs of th.5ir 
 fathers, and live in that fpirit in which thofe" 
 iniquities were committed 5 to which agreeth 
 the prophecy of Mofes, concerning a rebel- 
 lious people: "They that are left of you 
 " mall pine away in their iniquities, in your 
 " enemy's land, and in the iniquities of their 
 " fathers mall they pine away." Lev* xxvi. 39* 
 And our blefled Lord, in beholding the hara- 
 nefs of heart in that generation, and feeling 
 in himfelf, that they lived in the fame fpirifc 
 in which the prophets had been perfecuted 
 unto death, fignified, <c that the blood of all 
 " the prophets, which was fhed from the 
 " foundation of the world, mould be requir- 
 " ed of that generation, from the blood of 
 " Abel, unto the blood of Zacharias, which 
 " perifhed between the altar and the temple." 
 
 T nice vi rr 
 i^UKc xi. 51 . 
 
 Tender compamon fills my heart toward 
 tny fellowrcreatyreS eftrr.ngcd from the har- 
 monious government of the Prince of peace, 
 and a labour attends me, that they may be 
 gathered to this peaceable habitation. 
 
 In being inwardly prepared to fuffer adver- 
 fity for Chrift's fake, and weaned trom a de- 
 pendence on the arm offlefh, we feel, that 
 there is a reft for the people of God, and 
 
 that
 
 AN EPI STLE. 319 
 
 that it (lands in a perfect refignation of our- 
 felves to his holy will j in this condition, 
 all our wants and defires are bounded by pure 
 wifdom, and our minds wholly attentive to 
 the council of Chrift inwardly communicated, 
 which hath appeared to me as a habitation 
 of fafety for the Lord's people, in times of 
 outward commotion and trouble, and defires, 
 from the fountain of pure love, are opened 
 in me, to invite my brethren and fellow-crea- 
 tures to feel for, and feek after, that which 
 gathers the mind into it. 
 
 ': /.".'?' 4 j> 
 
 ,r*. v 4 , 
 
 Mo**t- Holly , Ntiu-Jerfey* 
 4/<fe Month, 1772. 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 . 
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