THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE, GOSPEL LABOURS, 
 
 AND 
 
 CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES 
 
 OF THAT 
 
 FAITHFUL MINISTER 
 
 oy 
 JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 JOHN W O O L M A N, 
 
 Late ofMouNT-HoLLY, in the Province of 
 NEW-JERSEY. 
 
 Is At A H xxiii. 17. 
 
 The laork of right eoufnefi Jhall be peace ; and the effefl of righteouf- 
 nefs, quietnefs and affurance for ever. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 Printed by JOSEPH CRUKSHANK, in Market- Street, between 
 Second and Third Streets. 
 
 n.r, CO ,!/{< I V,
 
 &/ 
 
 TESTIMON Y'7 
 
 O F 
 
 FRIENDS IN YORKSHIRE, 
 
 // taslr Quarterly-Meeting, held at YORK the 24th and 25th of 
 the third month, 1773, concerning 
 
 JOHN W O O L M A N, 
 
 tyf Mpuitt- Holly, i:i the pro'i ^lu-Jtrfy , 
 
 in America, 'who departed this life at the 
 houfe of our friend Thomas Friellman, in 
 ihe juburbs of this city, the jth of the tenth 
 month, 1772, and ivas interred in the bury- 
 9 ing ground of friends the 9th of the fame, 
 aged abuit jifty two years. 
 
 TH I S our valuable friend having been 
 under a religious engagement for ibxne 
 time, to viiit friends in this nation, and more 
 efpecially us in the northern parts, under- 
 took the fame in full concurrence and near 
 fympathy with his friends and brethren, at 
 home, as appeared by cei irom i 
 
 monthly and quarterly meetings to which he 
 
 mini . ;.a, 
 
 :iey. 
 A 2 He 
 
 461438
 
 [ ivj 
 
 He arrived in the city of London the be- 
 ginning of the lad yearly meeting, and after 
 attending that meeting travelled northward, 
 vifiting the quarterly meetings of Hertford- 
 fhire, Buckinghamfhire, Northamptonfhire, 
 Oxfordshire and Worcefterfhire, and divers 
 particular meetings in his way. 
 
 He vifited many meetings on the "Weft fide 
 of this county, alfo fbme in Lancafhire and 
 "Weftmoreland, from whence he came to our 
 quarterly meeting in the laft ninth month, 
 and though much out of health, yet was en- 
 abled to attend all the fittings of that meet- 
 ing except the laft. 
 
 -His dilbrder 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 chrifti- 
 an fortitude ; to thofe who attended him in 
 Ins 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 law no way to go 
 forth ; I felt the mifery of my fellow crea- 
 tures feparated from the divine harmony and 
 it: w r as heavier than I could bear, and I was 
 crufned down under k ; I lifted up my hand, 
 and {tretched cut my arm, but there was 
 
 was
 
 none to help me ; I looked round about and 
 was amazed : in the depths of miiery, O 
 Lord ! I remembered that thou art omnipo- 
 tent, that I had called thee father, and I felt 
 that I loved thee, and I was made quiet in 
 thy will, and I waited for deliverance from 
 thee ; thou hadfl pity upon me, when no man 
 could help me ; I faw that meeknefs under 
 fuffering was ihewed to us in the rnoft affect- 
 ing example of thy foil, and thou waft teach- 
 ing me to follow him, and I faid, thy Will, 
 O Father be done." 
 
 Many more of his weighty expreiTions 
 might have been inferted here, but it was 
 deemed unnccefTary, they being already pub- 
 jiflied in print. 
 
 He was a man endued with a large natural 
 capacity, and being obedient to the mani- 
 feftations 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 : 
 v.-atchfulriefs, he was careful in his public 
 .:ara:ices to feel the putting forth of ire 
 Divine Hand, fo that the fpring of the gofpcl 
 riiiniftry often flowed through him with great 
 fweetneis and purity, as a refrefhing ftreairi 
 to the weary travellers towards the city of 
 God: fkilfull in dividing the word, he wns 
 furniflied by Him in whom are hid all the 
 treasures of wifdom and knowledge, to com- 
 municate freely to the icveral dates of the 
 
 people
 
 people where his lot was caft. His conduct 
 at other times was feaibncd with the like 
 Wiitchful circumfpecHon and attention to the 
 nice of Divine Wifdom, wliich rendered 
 hole converfation uiiiformly edifying. 
 was fully perfuaded that as the life of 
 Chrift conies to reign in the earth, all abule 
 and unnccciTary opprefiion, both of the hu- 
 man and brute creation will come to an end ; 
 but under the fenfe of a deep revolt, and an 
 overflowing ftream of unrightcoufnefs, his 
 life' has been often a lite of mourning. 
 
 He was deeply concerned on account of 
 that inhuman and iniquitous practice of 
 making (laves of the people of Africa, or 
 holding them in that (late ; and on that ac- 
 count we underftand he hath not only wrote 
 Ibmc books, but travelled much on the ccn- 
 
 of America, in order to in.ike tl: 
 gro mailers (especially thofe in profeflion with 
 . )(ible of the evil of fuch a practice ; and 
 though in this journey to England, he was 
 far removed from the outward fight of their 
 liiiferings, yet his deep exercife of mind re-r 
 inained, as appears by a iliort treatife he 
 wrote ill this journey, and his frequent con- 
 cern to open the miserable ftate of this deep- 
 ly injured people : his teftiniony in the laft 
 meeting he attended was on this fubjecl:, 
 wherein he remarked, that as we as a fociety, 
 when under outward fufferings had often 
 found it our concern to lay them before thr.fc 
 in authority, and thereby in the Lord's time, 
 
 had
 
 had obtained relief, fo he recommended this 
 opprefTed part of the creation to our notice, 
 that we may as way may open, reprefent 
 their fufferings in an individual, if not a fo- 
 ciety, capacity to thofe in authority. 
 
 Deeply fenuble that the defire.to gratify 
 people's inclinations in luxury and fuperilui- 
 ties, is the principal ground of oppreflion r 
 and the occaiion of many unneceffary wants, 
 he believed it to be his duty to be a pattern 
 of great felf-denial, with refpecl to the things 
 of this life, and earneftly to labour with 
 friends in the meeknefs of wifdom, to im- 
 prefs on their minds the great importance of 
 our teftinioiiy in thefe things, recommending 
 to the guidance of the blelfed Truth in this 
 and all other concerns, and cautioning fuch ' 
 as are experienced therein, againfl contenting 
 themfelves with acting up to the flandard of 
 others, but to be careful to make the ftand- 
 ard of truth manifefled to them, the meafure 
 of their obedience ; for f aid lie, " That pu- 
 vltv of life which proceeds from faithfulneis 
 in following the Spirit of Truth, that ft.- 
 where our minds are devoted to ferve God, 
 and all our wants are bounded by his wif- 
 dom ; this habitation has often been opened 
 before me as a place of retirement for the 
 children of the li#ht, where they may (land 
 fbparated from that which difordereth and 
 eonfufeth the affairs of ibciety, and where we 
 may have a teflimony of our innocence in the 
 hearts of thofe who behold us." 
 
 We
 
 We conclude with fervent defires, that we 
 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 harveft:, that as in 
 his infinite wifdom he hath greatly ftripped 
 the church, by removing of late divers faith- 
 ful miniilers and elders, he may be pleafed 
 to fend forth many more faithful labourers 
 into his harveft. 
 
 Signed iiiy by order , and on behalf of 
 faid meeting. 
 
 Thomas Bennett ^ Samuel Brifcos, 
 
 John Starr, John Turner , 
 
 Jofcph Eglin, Jo/Jjiia Robinfon, 
 
 Thomas Pcrkinfon^ Thomas Prieftman, and 
 right i divers other Frk
 
 TESTIMONY 
 
 O F T H E 
 MONTHLY-MEETING OF FRIENDS, 
 
 field in Burlington, the frjl day cf the eig!:th month, in the \carof 
 our Lord, 1774, concerning our efteemed fritnd 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN, DECEASED. 
 
 HE was born in Northampton, in the 
 county of Burlington, and province of 
 Weft-New- Jcrfey, in the eighth month, 1720, 
 of religious parents, who inflrudled him very- 
 early in the principles of the chriflian religi- 
 on, as profeiFed by the people called Quakers, 
 which he efteemed a blefling to him, even in 
 his young years, tending to prefer ve 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 fanclifying power which 
 qualifies for true gofpel miniftry, into which 
 he was called about the twenty-fecond year 
 of his age, and by a faithful uie of the ta- 
 lents committed to him, he experienced an 
 encreafe, until he arrived at the flate of a fa- 
 ther,
 
 thcr, capable of dividing the word aright to 
 
 the different dates he miniflered unto ; dif- 
 
 pmfn'g milk to babes, and meat to thofe of 
 
 riper years. Thus he found the efficacy of 
 
 er to arife, which in his own ex- 
 
 ;iis, " prepares the creature to Hand 
 
 like a trumpet through which the Lord fpeaks 
 
 to his pccr-ile." I-I- \vas a loving hufband, a 
 
 and very humane to every 
 
 part of the creation under his care. 
 
 His concern for the poor and thofe in af- 
 fliction was evident by his viiits to them ; 
 whom lie frequently relieved by his afliftance 
 and charity. He was for many years deeply 
 int of the poor JH:]:I T .~;\! A- 
 ; cr.ufj, as he fometim-:s men- 
 i, lay alraofl continually irion him, 
 : ) obtain liberty to thofe captives, he la- 
 boured both in public and private ; and was 
 to fee his endeavours crowned with 
 ! : faccefs. He was particularly 
 ms that friends mould not be inftru- 
 
 theas on this opprefTed 
 pie, b - of Riril: 
 
 1 been providentially del: . 
 )f trouble iliould return, no in- 
 
 Jnlt ir>, bat, be' r, we 
 
 :igh- 
 :e of confidence, for liis intcr- 
 
 f, not to countenance ilavery 
 Sy tiu ui j coa^/eniencies of life 
 
 v re f ; )v their labour. 
 
 Ht
 
 t ri ] 
 
 He was denrous to have his own, and the 
 minds of others, redeemed from the pleaiures 
 and immoderate profits of this world, and to 
 fix them on thofc joys which fade not away ; 
 his principal care being after a life of purity, 
 endeavouring to r.vcid not only the gi 
 pollutions, but thofe alfo which, appearing 
 in a more refined drefs, are rn ciruv 
 
 guarded againfl by fome well diipoied peo- 
 ple. In the latter part of his life he 
 markabie for the plainnefs and fimpiici 
 his dreis, and as much as poiliblc, av. 
 the ufe of plate, coftly furniture and feaftin.c; ; 
 thereby endeavouring to become an exc. 
 of temperance and felf-denial, which L . 
 licvci hi illicit ca'rxl r.n'cj ; and was t.. . 
 ed with peace therein, akho' it c 
 .ranee of great auflerity in tL. 
 fome. He was very moderate in his charges 
 in the way of I:i:fi:.cfs, and in his cLurjj af- 
 ter griiii ; and tho' a man of indufcry, ;. 
 ed, and drove much to lead others out of e:- 
 ur, and anxiouihcis after pefilhable 
 things ; being dciircus that th^ ilrcngtli of 
 oi;r b jdic^ might not be fpent in. procuring 
 
 \~, and t.iAt v/e 
 m and kindiiefs to the brute air 
 under our care, to pri^c the ufe cf them as a 
 great favour, and by no means abule them ; 
 that the gifts of Providence ihould be thank- 
 fully received and applied to the uies they 
 were deiigned. 
 
 He feveral times opened a fchooi at M: 
 Holly, for tK- infraction of poo^ iV'encls 
 
 children
 
 children and others, being concerned for their 
 
 l^p and improvement therein : his love and 
 
 or the riling youth among us was truly 
 
 , recommending to parents and thofe 
 
 liave the charge of them, to chufe con- 
 
 fcieiitious and pious tutors, faying, " It is a 
 
 Jovtly light to behold innocent children." and 
 
 " to labour for their help againfl that 
 
 which would inarr the beauty of their i:. 
 
 i- a debt we owe them." 
 
 His miniftry was found, very deep and pe- 
 netrating, fbmethnes pointing out the dan- 
 gerous fituation which indulgence and cui- 
 tom leads into ; frequently exhorting other?, 
 efpeciaHy the youth, not to be difcouraged 
 at the difficulties which occur, but prefs after 
 purity. He often expreiTed an earned en- 
 gagement that pure 'wifdom Ihould be attend- 
 ed to, which would lead into lowlinefa of 
 . and refignation to the divine will, in 
 which ftate fmall poiTeflions here would be 
 fufficient. 
 
 In tranfacling the affairs of difcipline, his 
 judgment was found and clear, and he was 
 very ufeful in treating with thofe who had 
 dene amifs ; he vifited fuch in a private' 
 way in that plainnefs which truth dictates, 
 ihewing great tendernefs and chriflian for- 
 bearance. He was a conftant attender of our 
 yearly-meeting, in which he was a good ex- 
 ample, and particularly ufeful ; amfling ia 
 the bulinefs thereof with great weight and at- 
 tention. He feveral times vifited mofloftha 
 meetings of friends in this and the neigh- 
 bouring
 
 bouring provinces, with the concurrence of 
 the monthly-meeting to "which he belonged, 
 and we have reafon to believe had good ier- 
 vice therein, generally or always exprefling 
 ac 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 fatisfac"lion. 
 
 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 obfervatinu 
 and reflections. " As looking over the mi- 
 nutes made by perfons who have put off this 
 body, hath fometimes revived in me a thought 
 how ages pafs away ; fo this lift may proba- 
 bly revive a like thought in fome, when I and 
 the reft of the perfons abovenamed, are cen- 
 tered in another ftate of being. The Lord^ 
 who was the guide of my youth, hath in ten- 
 der mercies helped me hitherto ; 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 deiire to 
 devote myfelf in time, and in eternity." 
 Signs d^ John Woolman. 
 
 In the twelfth month, 1771, he acquaint- 
 ed this meeting that he found his mind drawn 
 towards a religious vifit to friends in fome 
 parts of England, particularly in Yorkihir?. 
 In the firft month 1772, he obtained 
 tificate, which v;as approved and endorfcd by , 
 
 our
 
 our quarterly meeting, and by the half year's 
 meeting or miniflcTs and elders at Philadel- 
 phia. He embarked oil his voyage in the 
 lifth, a;id Arrived in London in the fixth 
 month folio wing, at the time of their annual 
 meeting i: :y* During his Ihort vifit 
 
 to friends- in that kingdom, we are informed 
 that his fervices were acceptable and edifying. 
 In his laft i!lnds he uttered many lively and 
 
 .."j.-ibic exprciiions, being " perfectly 
 ,cl, 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 
 the houfe of our friend Thomas Friedman, he 
 died of the {mall-pox, on the feventh day of 
 the tenth month, 1772, and was buried in 
 friends burying ground in that city, on the 
 ninth of the fame, after a large and folid 
 meeting held on the occafion, at their great 
 
 :ig-hcufe, aged near fifcy-two years ; a 
 miniiler 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 
 - of friends in the bleffed truth, we 
 hope rnny not I : , but that his good 
 
 . iy be remembered to m. 
 
 Sty 
 
 SAMUEL AL LI M SON, (. 
 
 Read and approved at our quarterly-meet- 
 ing, /.old at Burlington the 2i;th of tL 
 mcrxtli, 1774. 
 
 .' by order of full ?; 
 D A N I L SMI T II, Clc't'L
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 O F 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN, 
 
 IN THE SERVICE OF THE GOSPEL. 
 
 CHAP. L 
 
 His birth and parentage^ 'with fome account of 
 the operations of divine grace on his mind in, 
 his youth His frjl appearance in the mini" 
 Jlry And his confederations, 'while young^ 
 on the keeping of Jlaves. 
 
 I HAVE often felt a motion of love 
 to leave fome hints in writing of my ex- 
 perience of the goodnefs 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 be
 
 2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 be acquainted with the operations of divine 
 love. Through the care of my parents, I was 
 taught to read near as foon as I was capable 
 of it ; and as I went from ichool one feventh 
 day, I remember, while my companions went 
 to play by the way, I went forward out of 
 fight, and fitting down, I read the 22d chap- 
 ter of the Revelations. " He mewed me a 
 " pure river of water of life, clear as chry* 
 " rial, proceeding out of the throne of God 
 " and of the Lamb, &c." and in. reading 
 it, iny mind was drawn to feek after that 
 pure habitation, which, I 1 then believed, God 
 had prepared for his Servants. The place 
 where I late, and the iweetiiefb that attended 
 my mind, remains frefh in my memory. 
 
 This, and the like gracious vifitations, had 
 that effecT: upon me, that when boys uied 
 ill language, it troubled me ; and, through 
 the continued mercies of God, 1 was pre- 
 ferved from it. 
 
 The pious inflru colons of my parents were 
 often frefh in my mind when I happened to be 
 among wicked children, and were of uie to me. 
 My parents, having a large family of children, 
 ufed frequently, on firfl days after meeting, 
 to put us to read in the holy fcriptures, or 
 ibme religious books, one after another, the 
 reft fitting by without much conversation ; 
 which, I have fince often thought, was a good 
 practice. Fiom what I had read and heard,, 
 jved there had been, in paft ages, peo- 
 ple who walked in uprightneis before God, 
 in a degree exceeding any that I knew, ot 
 
 heard
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 3 
 
 heard of, now Living : and the apprehension 
 of there being lefs fleadinefs and firmnefs 
 amongft people in this age than in pail 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 fitting on her 
 neil, and as I came near ihe went off, but 
 having young ones flew about, and 
 many cries exprefTed her concern for them ; 
 J flood and threw ilones at her, till one iirik- 
 ing her, ihe fell down dead : at firil 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 : I be- 
 held her lying dead, and thought thofe y< 
 ones, for which me was fo careful, muft now 
 periih for want of their dam to nourifh them ; 
 and after fome painful considerations on the 
 iiibjecl, I climbed up the tree, took all the 
 young birds, and killed them; fuppofmg that 
 better than to leaye them to pine away and 
 die miferably : and believed, in this cafe, 
 that fcripture proverb was fulfilled, " 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 committed, and was much 
 bled. Thus He, whofe tender mercies are 
 over all his works, hath placed a 
 in the human mind, which incites to excr- 
 cife goodnefs towards every living creature ; 
 and tills being fingly attended to, uco^le 
 B 2
 
 4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 become tender-hearted and fympathizing ; 
 but being frequently and totally rejected, the 
 mind becomes {hut up in a contrary difpo- 
 lition. 
 
 About the twelfth year of my age, my 
 father being abroad, my mother reproved 
 me for fome mifcondu<5t, to which I made 
 iin 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 iliame -and confu- 
 fion remained filent. Being thus awakened 
 to a fenfe of my wickediieis, 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 e^er, after that, fpoke 
 unhandfomely to either of my parents, how- 
 ever foolilh in fome other things. 
 
 Having attained the age of fixteeii years, 
 I began to love wanton company ; and though 
 I was preferved from profane language, or 
 Scandalous conduct, Hill I perceived a plant in 
 me which produced much \ lid grapes : yet my 
 merciful Father forfook me not utterly, but 
 at times, through his grace, I was brought 
 ily to coixncier my ways ; and the fight 
 of my backilidings affected me with forrow ; 
 but for want of rightly attending to the re- 
 proofs of inftrvicTdon, vanity was added to 
 vanity, and repentance to repentance: upon 
 iole, my mind was more and more ali- 
 Jie truth, and I hastened to- 
 ward
 
 OF JOHN WOOL M A N. 
 
 ward deftruction. While I meditate on the 
 gulf towards which I travelled, and reflect 
 on my youthful difobedience, for thefe t 
 I weep, mine eye runneth down with water. 
 
 Advancing in age the number of my ac- 
 quaintance increaied, and thereby my way 
 grew more difficult : though I had found 
 comfort in reading the holy fcriptures, and 
 thinking on heavenly things, I was now 
 eflranged therefrom : I knew I was going 
 from the flock of Chrift, and had no refolu- 
 tioii to return ; hence ierious reflections were 
 uneafy to me, and youthful vanities and di<- 
 verfions my greateft plcafure. Running in 
 this road I found many like myfelf ; and we 
 afibciated in that which is , reverie to true 
 friendship. 
 
 But in this fwift race it pleafed God 
 fit me with ficknefs, fo that I clcub. 
 recovering ; and then did darknefs, horror, 
 and amazement, with full force, feize me, 
 even when my pain and cliflrefs of bod 
 very great. I thought it would have- 
 better for me never to have had a being, than 
 to fee the day which I now iaw. I w; 
 with confufion ; and in great affliction, both 
 of mind and body, I lay and bewailed 
 felf. I had not confidence to lift up my 
 to God, whom I had thus offended ; but, ia 
 a deep fenfe of my great folly, I was 
 bled before him : and, at length, that 
 which is as a fire and a hammer, bro!. 
 diffolved my rebellious heart, and th. 
 cries were put up in contrition ; and 
 
 111;
 
 6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 multitude of his mercies I found inward re- 
 lief, and felt a cloie engagement, that if he 
 ;>!eafed to reflore my health, I might 
 walk humbly bsfore him. 
 
 After my recovery, this exercife remained 
 with me a considerable time; but, by de- 
 grees, giving way to youthful vanities, they 
 qfjuned flrength, 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 ; and I now mofh 
 ungratefully turned again to folly ; on which 
 account, at times, I felt {harp reproof, but 
 did not get low enough to cry for help. 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 and efteem for pious people; 
 and their company brought an awe upon me. 
 My dear parents, fever al times, admonifhed 
 me in the fear of the Lord, and their ad- 
 monition entered 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 remem- 
 ber, once having fpent a part of the day in 
 vrantonnefs, as I went to bed at night, there 
 lay in a window, near my bed, a bible, 
 which I opened, and firfl call my eye on the 
 text, " we lie down in our ma me, and our 
 " confufion covers us ;" this I knew to be 
 my cafe : and meeting with fo unexpected a 
 f, I was fomewhat afFecled with it, and 
 
 went
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 7 
 
 went to bed under remorfe of confcience ; 
 which I foon cafl off again. 
 
 Thus time pad on : my heart was reple- 
 nimed with mirth and wantonnefs, while 
 pleating fcenes of vanity were prefented to 
 my imagination, till I attained the age of 
 eighteen years ; near which time I felt th^ 
 judgments of God, in my foul, like a con- 
 fuming fire ; and looking over my pad i 
 the profpecl: was moving. I was often j 
 and longed to be delivered from thole vani- 
 ties ; then again, rny heart was flrongly in- 
 clined to them, and there was in me a fore 
 conflict:, at times I turned to folly; and then 
 
 L'.II, forrow and coiifufion took ho id of 
 me. In a while, I refolved totally to leave off 
 fbme of my vanities ; but there was a fecret 
 referve in my heart, of the more refined ] 
 of them, and I was not low enough to rind 
 true peace. Thus, for fome" months, I had 
 great troubles ; there remaining in me an ur,- 
 fubjecled will, which rendered my lab. 
 fruitlefs, till at length, through the merciful 
 continuance of heavenly vifitations-, I > 
 made to bow down in fpirit before the L< 
 I remember one evening I had fpent: ! 
 time in reading a pious author ; and waL; 
 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 aa I 
 learned to bear the crofs, I felt refreihnieiit to 
 come from his prefence ; but not kc . 
 that ftrength which gave victory, I loll ground
 
 8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 again ; the fenfe of which greatly affected 
 me : and I fought deferts and lonely places, 
 and there with tears did confefs my fins to 
 God, and humbly craved help of him. 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. la 
 times of forrow and abafement thefe inftruc- 
 tions were fealed upon me, and I felt the 
 power of Chrifl prevail over felfiih deiires, fo 
 that I was preferved in a good degree of flea- 
 dinefs ; and being young, and believing, at 
 that time; that a fingle life was beft for me, 
 I was flrengthened to keep from fuch com- 
 pany as had often been a mare to me. 
 
 I kept fteadily to meetings ; fpent firfl days 
 afternoon chiefly in reading the fcriptures 
 and other good books ; and was early con- 
 vinced in my mind, that true religion con- 
 fifled in an inward life, wherein the heart 
 doth love and reverence God the Creator, and 
 learns to exercife truejuflice and goodnefs, 
 not only toward all men, but alfo toward the 
 brute creatures That as the mind was mov- 
 ed, by an inward principle, to love God as 
 an invifible incomprehensible Being ; by the 
 fame principle it was moved to love him in 
 
 all
 
 .OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 9 
 
 all his manifeflations in the vifible world 
 That, as by his breath, the flame of life was, 
 kindled in all animal fenfible creatures, to fay 
 we love God as unfeen, and, at the fame time, 
 exercife cruelty toward the lead creature mov- 
 ing by his life, or by life derived from him ; 
 was a contradiction in itfelf. 
 
 I found no narrownefs refpecling feels and 
 opinions ; but believed, that flncere upright 
 hearted people, in every fociety, who truly 
 love God, were accepted of him. 
 
 As I lived under the crofs, and fimply 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 filently 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 increased in me : 
 this will be underfloocl by fuch who have 
 trodden in the fame path. Some glances of 
 real beauty may be feeii 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 paflions are re- 
 gulated ; yet ail thefe do not fully fhew forth 
 
 that
 
 io THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that inward life to fuch. who have not felt it : 
 but this white ftone and new name i.-> ^iowii 
 rightly to fuch only who have it. 
 
 Now though I had been thus ftrengthened 
 to bear the crofs, I {till found myfelf in great 
 danger, having many weakneffes attending 
 me, and flrong temptations to wreftle with ; 
 in the "feeling whereof I frequently withdrew 
 into private places, and often with tears be- 
 fought the Lord to help me, whofe gracious 
 ear was open to my cry. 
 
 All this time I lived with my parents, and 
 wrought on the plantation ; and having had 
 Schooling pretty well for a planter, I uled to 
 improve it in winter-evenings, and other lei- 
 iure times ; and being now in the twenty- 
 flrft year of my age, a man, in much buii- 
 nefs at {hop-keeping and baking, afked me, 
 if I would hire with him to tend mop and 
 keep books. I acquainted my father with the 
 propofal ; and, after fome deliberation, it 
 was agreed for me to go. 
 
 At home I had lived retired ; and now hav- 
 ing 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 preferve me from all taint and cor- 
 :t:on ; that, in this more public employ- 
 ment, I might ftrve Him, my gracious Re- 
 deemer, in that humility and felf-denial, 
 with which I had been, in a fmall degree, ex- 
 ercifed in a more private life. The man, who 
 employed me, furnimed a {hop in Mount- 
 Holly, about five miles from my father's 
 
 houfe
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. ir 
 
 houfe, and fix from his own ; and there I 
 lived alone, and tended his fhop. Shortly af- 
 ter my fettlement here, I was vifited by feve- 
 ral young people my former acquaintance, 
 who knew not but vanities would be as agree- 
 able to me now as ever ; and, at thefe times, 
 I cried to the Lord in fecret for wifdom and 
 ftrength ; for I felt myfelf encompafled with 
 difficulties, and had frefh occafion to bewail 
 the follies of time pafl, in contracting a fa- 
 miliarity with libertine people : and as I had 
 now left my father's houfe outwardly, I found 
 my heavenly Father to be merciful to me be- 
 yond what I can exprefs. 
 
 By day I was much amongfb people, and 
 had many trials to go through ; but in the 
 evenings, I was moftly alone, and may with 
 thank&lnefs 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 
 mailer bought feveral Scotchmen fervants, 
 from on board a veffel, and brought them to 
 Mount-Holly to fell ; one of which was ta- 
 Iceh fick, and died. 
 
 In the latter part of his fkknefo, he, being 
 delirious, ufed to curfe and fwear mofl for- 
 rowfully ; and the next night after his buri- 
 al, I was left to fleep alone in the fame cham- 
 ber where he died : I perceived in me a tirno- 
 roufnefs ; I knew, however, I had not injured 
 the man, but amfled in taking care of him 
 
 according
 
 12 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 according to my capacity ; and was not free 
 to aik any one, on that occaiion, to ileep with 
 me : nature was feeble ; but every tryal was 
 a frefli incitement to give myfelf up wholly 
 to the fervice of God, for I found no helper 
 like him in times of trouble. 
 
 After awhile, 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 Chrift, to redeem me from many pol- 
 lutions, and to be a fuccour to me through 
 a fea of conflicts, with which no perfoii was 
 fully acquainted ; and as my heart was often 
 enlarged in this heavenly principle, I felt a 
 tender compailion for the youth, who re- 
 mained entangled in mares like thofe which 
 had entangled me from one time to another : 
 this love and tendernefs increafed ; and my 
 mind was more flrongly engaged for the good 
 of my fellow-creatures. I 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 under 
 a ftrong exercife of fpirit, I flood up, and laid 
 fome words in a meeting ; but not keeping 
 clofe to the divine opening, I faid more than 
 cquired of me ; and being foon fenfible 
 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 
 \vas troubled; aiyj, in the depth of my dif- 
 
 trcfs,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 13 
 
 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 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 fpea*k, I faid a few words in a 
 meeting, in which I 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 dirtinguiih the 
 pure fpirit which inwardly moves upon the 
 heart, and taught me to wait in filence fome- 
 times many weeks together, until I felt that 
 rife which prepares the creature to ftand like 
 a trumpet, through which the Lord fpeaks 
 to his flock. 
 
 From an inward purifying, and ftedfafl 
 abiding under it, fprings a lively operative 
 deiire for the good of others : all the faith- 
 ful are not called to the public miniflry ; but 
 whoever are, are called to miiiifter of that 
 which they have tafted and handled fpiritu- 
 ally. The outward modes of wormip are va- 
 rious ; but wherever any are true miniilers 
 of Jefus Chrift, it is from the operation of 
 his fpirit upon their hearts, firil purifying 
 them, and thus giving them a juil fenie 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 I was {landing 
 to fpeak, my own will mould get uppermoft, 
 
 and
 
 14 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and caufe me to utter words from worldly 
 wifdom, and depart from the channel of the 
 true gofpel minillry. In the management of 
 my outward affairs, I may fay with thank- 
 fulnefs, I found truth to be my fupport ; and 
 I was refpecled 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, I 
 had many frefh and heavenly opening's, in 
 refpect to the care and providence of the Al- 
 mighty over his creatures in general, and 
 over man as the mod noble amongft thofe 
 which are vifible. And being clearly con- 
 vinced in my judgment, 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 bufinefs 110 further, than as 
 truth opened my way therein. 
 
 About the time called Chriflmas, I obferv- 
 cd many people from the country, and dwell- 
 ers in town, who, reforting to publick-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 I 
 believed it was a duty incumbent on me to go 
 and fpeak to the mailer of that houie. J coii- 
 lidered I was young, and that feveral elderly 
 friends in town had opportunity to fee thefe 
 things ; but though I would gladly have been 
 cxcuied, yet I could not feel my mind clear. 
 
 The
 
 of JOHN W O O L M A N. 15 
 
 The exercife was heavy : and as I was read- 
 ing what the Almighty faid to Ezekiel, re- 
 fpecting his duty as a watchman, the matter 
 was fet home more clearly ; and then, with 
 prayers and tears, I befought the Lord for 
 his affiftance, who, in loving-kindneis, gave 
 me a refigned heart : then,* at a fuitabie op- 
 portunity, I went to the publick-houie ; and 
 feeing the man amongft much company, I 
 went to him, and told him, I wanted to 
 with him ; fb we went afide, and there, in. 
 the fear and dread of the Almighty, I expreit 
 to him what refted on my mind ; which he 
 took kindly, and afterward mewed more re- 
 gard to me than before. In a few yce 
 ttnvards he died, middle-aged ; and I of- 
 ten thought, that had I neglected my duty 
 in that cafe, it would have given me 
 trouble ; and I was humbly thanl-;ful to my 
 gracious Father, who had fupported me here- 
 in. 
 
 My employer having a negro woman, fold 
 her, and defired me to write a bill of file, 
 the man being waiting who bought her : the 
 thing was fudden ; and though the thoughts 
 of writing an inflrument of ilavery for one 
 of my fellow-creatures felt uneafy, yet I re- 
 membered I was hired by the year, that it 
 was my mailer who directed me to do it, and 
 that kjWas an elderly man, a member of our 
 fociety, who bought her ; fo, through - v veak- 
 nefs, I gave way, and wrote it ; but, at the 
 executing it, I was fo afflicted in my : 
 that I faid, before my mailer and the friend, 
 
 that
 
 i6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that I believed flave-keeping to be a practice 
 inconfiftent with the chriftian religion : this 
 in fome degree abated my uneafiiiefs ; yet, as 
 often as I remedied feriouily upon it, I thought 
 I mould have been clearer, if I had defired to 
 be excufed from it, as a thing againft my con- 
 fcience ; for fuch it was. And fome time after 
 this, a young man, of our fociety, fpoke 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 ; for, 
 though many of our meeting and in other 
 places kept flaves, I ftill believed the practice 
 was not right ; and delired to be excufed from 
 the writing. I fpoke to him in good will ; and 
 he told me, that keeping flaves was not alto- 
 gether agreeable to his mind ; but that the Have 
 being a gift made to his wife, he had accept- 
 ed of her. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 17 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 SCis frft ~" a religious, vifit, into Eaft- 
 
 Jer 'vith Abraham Farring- 
 
 fen fJu -*rchandizing) and his 
 
 md journey i with 
 7 -:>ania, Mary- 
 
 
 nt 
 
 J0u. ' ! 
 
 Nirw-i 
 
 land M.U 
 Syffs^ to the . 
 the Lower Count t^. 
 
 MY efteemed friend Abraham 
 ton, being about to m 
 friends on the eaftern fide of thib 
 ^nd having no companion, he propv- 
 me to go with him ; and after a .confers 
 with fome elderly friends, I agreed to go : fo 
 we fet out die fifth day of the ninth month, 
 in the year 1 743 ; had an evening meeting at 
 a tavern in Bmnf wic 1 :, a town in which none 
 of our fbciety dwelt ; the room was full, 
 and the people quiet. Thence to Amboy, and 
 had an evening meeting in the court-houfe ; 
 to which came many people, amongft whom 
 were feveral members of aliembly, they be- 
 ing in town on the public affairs of the pro- 
 C vince,
 
 iS THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 vince : in both thefe -meetings my antient 
 companion was enlarged to preach, in the 
 love of the golpcl. Thence we went to Wood- 
 bridge, Raway, and Plainneld ; and had fix 
 or feven meetings in places where friends 
 meetings are not ufually held, being 
 made up chiefly of prefby terians, and my 
 beloved companion was frequently ftrength- 
 eneel to publifh the word of life amongil 
 them : as for me, I was often filent thro' 
 the meetings ; and when I fpake, it was 
 with much care, that I might fpeak only 
 what truth opened : my mind was often ten- 
 der, and I learned ibme profitable leflbns. 
 We were O*K about two weeks. 
 
 Near this time, being on fome outward bu- 
 finefs i^ which feveral families were concern- 
 ed, a.ud which was attended with difficulties, 
 _ie things relating thereto not being clearly 
 red, nor rightly underftood by all, there 
 arofe Ibme 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 flrong 
 inclination, after matters were fettled, to fpeak 
 to him concerning his .Conduct in that cafe ; 
 but I being a youth, a#d he fir advanced in 
 j and experience, my way appeared diffi- 
 t ; but af:cr fome, days deliberation, and 
 '-ing to the Lord for ailiilance, I 
 de fubjecL; fo that I expreft what lay 
 va me, in a way which became my youth 
 .1 his years: and though it vras a hard talk 
 to me, it was well taken, and, I believe, was 
 ufeful to us both. 
 
 Having
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 19 
 
 Having now been feveral years with my 
 employer, and he doing lefs at merchandize 
 than heretofore, I was thoughtful of fome 
 other way of bufmefs ; 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 cofbly ; fo that a way of life, free from 
 much entanglements, appeared beft for me, 
 tho' the income might be final 1. I had feveral 
 offers of bufinefs that appeared profitable, but 
 did not fee my way clear to accept of them ; 
 as believing the bufinefs propofed would be 
 attended with more outward care and cumber 
 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 moil 
 Heady 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 bufmefs ; and I began 
 to think about learning fhe trade, expecting, 
 that if I ihouid fettle, I might, by this trade, 
 and a little retailing of goods, get a living 
 C 2 in
 
 so THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 in a plain way, without the load of great 
 bulinefs : 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 ; 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 earneft 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 confoiation, that things were 
 made eafy to me which had been otherwife. 
 
 After fome time, my employer's wife died \ 
 flie 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 ; Carefully 
 attended meetings for worfbip and clifcipline ; 
 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 ; and being 
 thoughtful about a companion, I exprefled it 
 to my beloved friend Ifaac Andrews, who 
 t.u'ii told me that he had drawings to the 
 fame places ; and alfo to go through Mary- 
 land, Virginia, and Carolina. After confi- 
 derable time paft, and feveral conferences 
 with, him, I felt eafy to accompany him 
 
 throughout j
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 21 
 
 throughout, if way opened for it. I opened 
 the cafe in our monthly meeting, and friends 
 expreffing their unity therewith, we obtained 
 certificates to travel as companions ; his from 
 Haddonfield, and mine from Burlrigton. 
 
 We left our province on the twelfth day 
 of the third month, in the year 1746, and 
 had feveral meetings in the upper part of 
 Chefter county, and near Lancaster ; in fome 
 of which, the love of Chrifl prevailed, uni- 
 ting us together in his fervice. Then we 
 croifed the river Sufquehannah, and had fe- 
 veral meetings in a new fettlement, called 
 the Red-Lands ; the oldefl of which, as I 
 was informed, did not exceed ten years. It 
 is the poorer fort of people that commonly 
 begin to improve remote deferts ; with a 
 fmall flock they have houfes to build, lands 
 to clear and fence, corn to raife, cloaths to 
 provide, and children to educate ; that friends, 
 who vifit fuch, may well fympathize with 
 them in their hardihips in the wildernefs ; 
 and though the beft entertainment fuch can 
 give, may feem coarfe to fome who are ufed 
 to cities, or old fettled places, it becomes the 
 difciples of Chrift to be content with it. Oar 
 hearts were fometimes enlarged in the love 
 of our heavenly Father amongfl thefe people ;. 
 and the fweet influence of his fpirit flip- 
 ported us through fome difficulties : to him 
 be the praife. 
 
 We pafTed on to Manoquacy, Fairfax,. 
 Hopewell, and Shaiiando, and had meet- 
 ings j fome of which were comfortable and 
 
 edifying*
 
 22 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 edifying. From Shanando we fet off in the 
 afternoon for the old fettlements of friends in 
 Virginia ; and the lirft night, we, with our 
 pilot, lodged in the woods, our horfes 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 
 throvgh Virginia ; were, in fome degree, 
 baptized into a feeling fenfe of the condi- 
 tions of the people ; and our exercife in ge- 
 neral was more painful in thefe old fettle- 
 , 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- 
 isnt, and the refreshment of the fincere 
 :d. We went on to Perquimons, in 
 North-Carolina ; had feveral meetings, which 
 were large ; and found fome opennefs in 
 thofe parts, and a hopeful appearance amongft 
 the young people. So we turned again to 
 iia, and attended moft of the meetings 
 we had not been at before, labouring 
 amongft friends in the love of Jefus Chrift, 
 as ability was given : and thence went to the 
 mountains, up James River, to a new fettle- 
 inent ; and had feveral meetings amongft 
 the people, fome of whom had lately joined 
 in memberfliip with our fociety. 
 
 In our journeying to and fro, we found 
 fome honeft-hearted friends, who appeared 
 
 to
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 23 
 
 to be concerned for the caufe of truth among 
 a backfliding people. 
 
 From Virginia, we croiTed over the river 
 Patowmac, at Hoe's ferry, and made a gene-, 
 ral viiit to the %neetings of friends on the 
 Weflern Shore 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 fandry 
 meetings in our way, we palled homeward ; 
 where, through the favour of* Divine Provi- 
 dence, we reached the lixteenth day of the 
 fixth month, in the year 1746 ; and I may 
 fay, that through the afiiftance of the Holy 
 Spirit, which mortifies felfiih defires, my 
 companion and I travelled in harmony, and 
 parted in the nearnefs of true brotherly love. 
 
 Two things were remarkable to me in this 
 journey : firil, in regard to my enter 
 ment ; when I eat, drank, and lodged free- 
 cofh with people, who lived in eaie 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 -unea 
 return upon me, at times, thrdugh the whole 
 vifit. Where the mailers bore "a, good (hare 
 of the burthen, and lived frugally, fb that 
 their fervants were well provided for, and 
 their labour moderate, I felt jnore eafy; hut 
 where they lived in a collly' way, and laid 
 heavy burthens on their flaves, my exercife 
 was often great, and I frequently had con- 
 verfation with them, in private, concerning 
 
 it.
 
 * 4 THE LIFE 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, wal frequently the 
 iubjecl 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 
 dark gloominefs hanging over the land ; and 
 though now many willingly run into itf> yet 
 in future the confequence will be grievous to 
 poflerity : 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- 
 creafing concern for friends on our fea coafl ; 
 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 Shrewfbury. Through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord way was opened, and 
 the ftrength of. divine love was fometimes 
 felt in our afiemblies, 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 Shrewfbury yearly meet- 
 ing,
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 25 
 
 ing, we met with our dear friends Michael 
 Lightfoot and Abraham Farriiigton, who had 
 good fervice there. 
 
 The winter following died my eldeft fifter, 
 Elizabeth Woolman, jun. of the fmall-pox, 
 aged thirty-one years. She was, from her 
 youth, of a thoughtful difpofition ; and very 
 compaffionate to her acquaintance in their 
 ficknefs or diflrefs, being ready to help as 
 far as ihe could. She was dutiful to her 
 pareifts ; one .inftance whereof follows : It 
 happened that me, and two of her filters, be- 
 ing then near the eftate of young women, 
 had an inclination one firfl 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 exprefl their deiire to our pa- 
 rents ; who were diiTatisfied with the propo- 
 fal, and (lopped them. The fame day, as 
 my filters and I were together, and they 
 talking about their difappointment, Eliza- 
 beth expreft 'her contentment under it ; fig- 
 : ig, fhe believed it might be for their 
 
 g 
 
 A few years after fhe attained to mature- 
 age, through the gracious vifitations of God's 
 love, fhe was ftrengtheiied to live a felf-deny- 
 ing exemplary life, giving herfelf much to 
 reading and meditation. 
 
 The following letter may mew, in fome 
 degree^ her difpofition : 
 
 Haddonfieldj
 
 a6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 HadJonfield, i ft day, nth month, 17^5. 
 
 Beloved brother John Woolman, 
 
 In that love which defkef /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 fpirit is 
 bowed with thankfulnefs that I ihould be 
 remembered, wLo am unworthy ; but the 
 Lord is full of mercy, and his goodnefs is 
 extended to the meaner! of his creation ; 
 therefore, in his infinite love, he hath pi- 
 tied and fpared and mewed mercy, that I 
 have not been cut off nor quite loll ; but, at 
 times, I am refreshed and comforted as with 
 the glimpfe of his prefence, which is more 
 to the immortal part, than ail which this 
 world can afford : fo, with defires for thy 
 prefervation with my own, I remain 
 
 thy affectionate fifler, 
 Eliz. Woolman, jun. 
 
 The fore part of her illnefs me was in 
 great fadnefs ' and dejection of mind, of 
 which me told one of her intimate friends, 
 1 faid, when I was a young girl I was 
 iton and airy, but I thought I had tho- 
 roughly repented for it ; and added, I have 
 late had great fatisfaction in meetings. 
 Though ihe was thus difconfolate, flill ihe 
 retained a hope, which was as an anchor to 
 her: and fome time after, the fame friend 
 
 came
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 27 
 
 came again to fee her, to whom fhe men- 
 tioned her former exprefllons, 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 fbrrowful, fhe took notice of 
 it, and faid, dear mother, weep not for me ; 
 I go to my God: and many times, with an. 
 audible voice, uttered praife to her II 
 deemer. 
 
 A friend coming fbme miles to fee her the 
 morning before flie died, afked her, how flie 
 did ? fhe anfwered, I have had a hard nig 
 but mall not have another luch, for I ihall 
 die, and it will be well with my foul ; and 
 accordingly died the next evening. 
 
 The following ejaculations were found 
 amongft her writings ; wrote, I believe, at 
 four times : 
 
 I. Oh! that iny 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 
 
 a fnare to my foul. 
 
 III. O Lord, that I may receive bread 1 
 thy table, and that thy grace may abound m 
 me. 
 
 IV. O Lord, that I may be acquai 
 with thy prefence, that I may be leafo 
 with thy fait, that thy grace may abound in. 
 me, 
 
 Of
 
 2S 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, hav- 
 ing obtained certificates from our monthly - 
 meeting, let forward on the fixteenth day of 
 the third month, in the year 1747, and 
 reached the yearly meeting at Long-Inarid ; 
 at which were our friends Samuel Notting- 
 ham from England, John Qrimth, Jane 
 Hofkins, and Elizabeth Hudfon from Penn- 
 fylvania, and Jacob Andrews from Cheiler- 
 neld. Several of whom were favoured in 
 their publick exercife ; and, through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord, we had fome edifying 
 meetings. After this, my companion and I 
 vifited friends on Long-Iiland ; 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 ibcieties : 
 and had a meeting at Oyiler-Bay, in a 
 dwelling-houfe, at which were many people : 
 at the firfl of which there was not much laid 
 by way of teflimoiiy ; but 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 vifited 
 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, 
 through the immediate workings of the (pi-> 
 
 rit
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAR 29 
 
 fit of Chrifl 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 fbciety, 
 were ufed to fpend their time often together 
 in merriment, butfome of the principal young 
 men of that company being vifited 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 flood ftedfaft to that inward con- 
 vincement, they were made a bleiling to Ibme 
 of their former companions ; 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- 
 lick worfhip j and befides that, had meetings 
 of their own ; which meetings were a while 
 allowed by their preacher, who fometimes 
 met with them : but, in time, their judg- 
 ment in matters of religion difagreeing with 
 fome of the articles of the prefbyterians, 
 their meetings were difapproved by that fo- 
 ciety ; and iiich of them who flood firm to 
 their duty, as it was inwardly manifefled, 
 had many difficulties to go through : and 
 their meetings were in a while dropped ; 
 fome of them returning to the prefbyterians, 
 and others of them, after a time, joined to 
 our religious fociety. 
 
 I had converfatioii with fome of the latter, 
 to my help and edification ; and believe ieve- 
 ral
 
 30 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-Ifland, 
 we rode through Connecticut, chiefly inha- 
 bited by prefbyterians ; who were generally 
 civil to us, fo far as I faw : and after three 
 days riding, we came amongfl friends in the 
 colony of Rhode-Illand. We vifited friends 
 in and about Newport, and Dartmouth, and 
 generally in thofe parts ; and then to Bofton ; 
 and proceeded eaft ward as far as Dover : and 
 then returned to Newport, and not far from 
 thence, we met our friend Thomas Gaw- 
 thrcp from England ; who was then op- a vi- 
 fit 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, 
 olTed the Sound from New-London to 
 Long-Ifland ; and taking fome meetings on 
 the illand, 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 fomedrnes in much weaknels, and la- 
 boured under difcouragements ; and at other 
 times, through the renewed manifeflations 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 ilillnefs ; at no time 
 
 to
 
 OF' JO.KN WOOLMAN. 31 
 
 to feck for words, but to live in tKe fpirit of 
 truth, and utter that to the people which 
 truth opened in us. My beloved companion 
 and I belonged both to one meeting, came 
 forth in the miniftry near the fame time, and 
 were inwardly united in the work : he was 
 about thirteen years older than I, bore the 
 heavieft burthen, and was an inftrument of 
 the greateil ufe. 
 
 Finding a concern to vifit friends in the 
 Lower Counties on Delaware, and on the 
 Eaftern Shore of Maryland, and having a-n. 
 opportunity to join with my well-bekived 
 antient friend John Sykes, we obtained cer- 
 tificates, and let off t^e feventh day of tlie 
 eighth month, in the year 1748, were at the 
 meetings of friends in the lower counties, 
 attended the yearly meeting at Little Creek, 
 and made a vilit to chief of the meetings oil 
 the Eaflern Shore ; and fo home by the T ,vay 
 of Nottingham: were abroad a^ont fix weeks; 
 and rode, by computation, 'about five hun- 
 dred and fifty miles. 
 
 Our exercife, at times, was hoavy ; but, 
 through the goodnefs of the Lord, we were of^ 
 ten reireihed : and I may fa}', by experience, 
 " lie is a flrong hold in the day of trouble." 
 Though our fociety, in thefc parts, appeared 
 to me to be in a declining condition ; yet, I 
 believe, the Lord hath a people amongfl thcm y 
 who labout to ferve him uprightly, but have 
 many difficulties to encounter. . 
 
 C H A P.
 
 32 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 His marriage The death of his father His 
 journies into the upper part of Ne*w-JerJey y 
 and aftcrivards into Pennfyl'uania Confede- 
 rations on keeping Jlaves, and his vifits to the 
 families of friends at fever al times and places 
 - 'An epijlle from the general meeting- His 
 journey to Long- I/land Confiderations on 
 trading^ and on the ufe of fpirituous liquors' 
 and cojily apparel And his letter to a 
 friend t 
 
 ABOUT this time believing it good for 
 me to fettle, and thinking ferioufly a- 
 bout a companion, my heart was turned to 
 the Lord with defires that he would give me 
 wifdom to proceed therein agreeable to his 
 will ; 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 fa-^ 
 ther, 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 ; often endea- 
 vouring to imprint in our minds the true 
 principles of virtue, and particularly to che- 
 rifh in us a fpirit of tendernefs, not only to- 
 wards
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 33 
 
 wards poor people, but alfb towards all 
 tures 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 , 
 fhewed him ; and he perufed the manufcript, 
 propofed a few alterations, and appeared well 
 Satisfied that I found a concern on that ac- 
 count : and in his lafl ficknefs, as I was 
 watching with him one night, he being fo 
 far fpent that there was no expectation of his 
 recovery, but had the perfect ufe of his un- 
 derftanding, he afked me concerning the ma^ 
 mifcript, whether I expected foon to proceed 
 to take the advice of friends in publishing 
 it ? and, after fome converfation thereon, faid, 
 I have all along been deeply affected with the 
 oppreflioii of the poor negroes ; and now, at 
 lait, my concern for them is as great as ever. 
 
 By his direction, I had wrote his will in a 
 time of health, and that night he defired me 
 to read it to him, which I did ; and he faid, 
 it was agreeable to his mind. He then made 
 mention of his end, which he believed was 
 now near ; and fignified, that though he was 
 fennble of many imperfections in the courfe 
 of his life, 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 leav- 
 ing: this life he mould enter into one more 
 happy. 
 
 The next day his fifter Elizabeth came to 
 
 fee him, and told him of the deceafe of their 
 
 D filter
 
 34 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 iifler Ann ; who died a few days before : he 
 then faid, I reckon fifter Ann was free to 
 leave this world ? Elizabeth faid, ilie was : 
 he then faid, I alfo am free to leave it ; and 
 being in great weaknefs of body faid, I hope 
 I fhall Ihortly 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 Wefl-Jerfey, with the unity of 
 our monthly-meeting, I went there ; and had 
 fome fearching laborious exercife amongft 
 friends in thofe parts, and found inward 
 peace therein. 
 
 In the ninth month of the year 1753, 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 ; andj through the mercies of Him 4 
 who is ftrength to the poor who truft in him* 
 We found fatisfadlion 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 Peniifylvaiiia, I joined in fome part of 
 the work ; having had a defire fome time that 
 it might go forward amongfl us. 
 
 About this time, a perfon at fome diftance 
 lying lick, his brother came to me to write 
 his will : I knew he had ilaves j and afking 
 
 his
 
 n 
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 3.5 
 
 his brother, was told he intended to leave 
 them as Haves to his children. As writing is 
 a profitable employ, and as offending fober 
 people was difagreeble to my inclination, I 
 was flraitened 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 ; and had a fcruple in 
 my mind agaiiift doing writings of that 
 kind : that though many in our fociety kept 
 them as Haves, flill I was not eafy to be con- 
 cerned in it ; and deiired 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 cale I 
 had a freih confirmation, that acting con- 
 trary to prefent outward intereft, from a mo- 
 tive of divine love, and in regard to truth 
 and righteoufnefs, and thereby incurring the 
 refentments of people, opens the way to a 
 treafure better than iilver, and to a friend- 
 fhip exceeding the friendfhip of men. 
 
 The manuicript before-mentioned having 
 laid by me feveral years, the publication of 
 it refted weightily upon me ; and this year I 
 offered it to the revifal of friends, who, hav- 
 ing examined and made fome fmall altera- 
 tions in it, directed a number of cppies there- 
 of to be publifhed and difperfed amongd: 
 friends. 
 
 D 2 In
 
 36 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 In the year 1754, 1 found my mind drawn 
 to join in a vifit to friends families belonging 
 to Chefterneld monthly-meeting ; and hav- 
 ing 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 ; but when meeting was ended, I felt 
 great diflrefs 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 inftructioii ; 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 freih vifitation to fome young 'people. I 
 fpeiit feveral weeks this winter in the fervice ; 
 part of which time was employed near home. 
 And again in the following winter I was fe- 
 veral weeks in the fame fervice ; fome part of 
 the time at Shrewibury, in company with my 
 beloved friend John Sykes ; and have caufe 
 humbly to acknowledge, that thro' the good- 
 nefs of the Lord, our hearts were, at times, 
 enlarged in his love ; and itrength was given 
 
 to
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 37 
 
 to go through the trials which, in the comic 
 of our viiit, attended us. 
 
 From a difagreement between the powers 
 of England and France, it was now a time 
 of trouble on this Continent ; and an cpiitle 
 to friends went forth from our general fpring 
 meeting, which I thought good to give a 
 place in this journal. 
 
 An EPISTLE from our general fpring meet- 
 ing of miniilers and eiders for Peniifylva- 
 nia and New-Jerfey, held at Philadelphia, 
 from the twenty-ninth of the third month, 
 to the firfl of the fourth month, inclufive, 
 
 1755- 
 
 To friends on the continent of America. 
 Dear friends, 
 
 TN 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 profefs the truth, as held forth 
 and publilhed by our worthy predecefTors in 
 this latter age of the world, may keep near 
 to that life which is the light of men, and be 
 (Irengthened to hold fail the profeflion of ou? 
 faith without wavering, that our truft may 
 not be in man, but in the Lord, alone, why 
 ruleth in the army of heaven, and'iii the 
 kingdoms of men, before whom the earth is 
 *' as the dull of the ballance, and her inha- 
 " bitants as grasshoppers." Ifiuxl. 22. 
 
 We 
 
 461428
 
 38 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 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 diiobedience, *to finifh fin 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 contefls productive of mifery and 
 bloodlhed, and fubmit our caufe to 1 Him 
 the Moil 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- 
 c I 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 fpirit, faith the Lord 
 " of Hofts :" Zech. iv. 6. By which opera- 
 tion, that fpiritual kingdom is fet up, which 
 is to fubdue and break in pieces ail king- 
 doms that oppofe it, and mull ftand for ever. 
 In a deep fenfe thereof, and of the fafety, 
 ftability and peace there is in it, we are de- 
 firous that all who profefs the truth, may 
 be inwardly acquainted with it, and thereby 
 be qualified to conduct in all parts of our 
 life as becomes our peaceable profeihon : 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 lea to fea, and from the river to the 
 
 " ends
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 59 
 
 " ends of the earth," Zech. ix. 10. to the 
 completion of thofe prophefies already be- 
 gun, that " nation mall 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 
 thefe promifes, and believe that God is begin- 
 ning to fulfil them, let us conftantly endeavour 
 to have our minds fufficiently difentangled 
 from the furfeiting cares of this life, and re- 
 deemed from the love of the world, that no 
 earthly pofleflions nor enjoyments may bias 
 our judgments, or turn us from that refigna- 
 tion, and entire trufl in God, to which his 
 blefling is mofh furely annexed ; then may 
 we fay, " Our Redeemer is mighty, he will 
 *' plead our caufe for us." Jer. 1. 34. And if, 
 for the further promoting his moft gracious 
 purpofes in the earth, he mould give us to tafte 
 of that bitter cup which his faithful ones 
 have often partook of; O that we may be 
 rightly prepared to receive it ! 
 
 And now, dear friends, with refpeft to the 
 commotions and ftirrings of the powers of 
 the earth at this time near us, we are deii- 
 rous that none of -us may be moved thereat ; 
 
 * But repofe ourfelves in the munition of 
 
 * that rock that all thefe makings mall not 
 ' move, 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
 
 40 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the worldly part 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 
 many are made partakers of the fpirit of 
 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, 
 waiting daily to feel the life and virtue of 
 ' it in their hearts, thefe fhall rejoice in the 
 * midfl of adverfity, 7 and have to experience 
 with the prophet, That " Although the fig- 
 " tree mall not bloffom, neither fhall fruit 
 " be in the vines ; the labour of the olive 
 ' mall fail, and the fields fhall yield no 
 " meat ; the flock fhall be cut off from the 
 " fold, and there fhall be no herd in the 
 *' flails ; yet will they rejoice in the Lord, 
 c< and joy in the God of their falvation," 
 Hab. iii. 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 trufl 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 chaftifement of 
 wickedncfs, and the further promoting his 
 
 own
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 41 
 
 own glory, he doth arife, even, to make 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 Haves, having been a means of fundry 
 fmall trials to me, in which I have fo evi- 
 dently felt my own will let aiide, that 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- 
 clined to keep the good-will of their cuilom- 
 ers ; nor is it a pleafant thing for young 
 men to be under any neceility to queflion the 
 judgment or honefty of elderly men, and 
 more especially of fuch who have a fair re- 
 putation. Deep-rooted cuiloms, tho' 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- 
 flances, keep him in his family as a f erv ant, 
 on no other motives than the negroe's good ; 
 but man, as man knows not what ihall be af- 
 ter him, nor hath he any afmraiice that his 
 children will attain to that perfection in wif- 
 dom and gooclnefs neceflary rightly to exei>- 
 cife fuch power: hence it is clear to me, that 
 .1 ought not to be the fcribe where wills are 
 
 drawn,
 
 42 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 drawn, in which fome children are made ab- 
 folute maflers over others during life. 
 
 About this time, an antient man of good 
 efleem in the neighbourhood, came to my 
 houfe to get his will wrote ; he had young 
 negroes ; 'and I afkecl 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 refpectfully 
 gave him my reafons for it : he fignified that 
 he had a choice that I mould have wrote it ; 
 but as I could not, confident with my con- 
 fcience, he did not defire it : and fo he got 
 it wrote by fome other perfon. And a few 
 years after, there being great alterations in 
 his family j he came again to get me to write 
 his will : his negroes were yet young ; and 
 his fon, 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 
 iuppofed, that I would have been free, on 
 that account, to write it. We had much 
 friendly talk on the fubjecl:, and then de^ 
 ferred it : and a few days after, he carne 
 again, and direcled their freedom ; and ib I 
 wrote his will. 
 
 Near the time the laft mentioned friend 
 firfl fpoke to me, a neighbour received a bad 
 bruife in his body, and fent for me to bleed 
 him ; which being done, he defired me to 
 write his will : I took notes ; and, amongft 
 other things, he told me to which of his 
 children he gave his young negro : I confi- 
 dered the pain and diftrefs he was in, and 
 
 knew
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 43 
 
 knew not how it would end ; fo I wrote his 
 will, fave only that part concerning his Have, 
 and carrying it to his bed-fide, read it to him; 
 and then told him in a friendly way, that I could 
 not write any inflruments 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 I had done ; and 
 defired to be excufed from doing the other 
 part in the way he propofed : we then had a 
 ferious conference on the fubjecl: ; at length, 
 he agreeing to fet her free, I fiiiiihed his will. 
 
 Having found drawings in my mind to 
 vifit friends on Long-Ifland, after obtaining 
 a certificate from our monthly-meeting, I 
 fet ofFon the twelfth day of the fifth month, 
 in the year 1756. When I reached the iiland, 
 I lodged the firft night at the houfe of my 
 dear friend Richard Hallet : the next day, be- 
 ing the firft of the week, I was at the meet- 
 ing in Newtown ; in which we experienced 
 the renewed manifeflations of the love of Je- 
 fus Chrift, to the comfort of the honeft- 
 hearted. I went that night to Flushing ; 
 and the next day, in company with my be- 
 loved friend Matthew Franklin, we crofTed 
 the ferry at White-Stone ; were at three meet- 
 ings on the main, and then returned to the 
 ifland; where I fpent the remainder of the 
 week in vifiting meetings. The Lord, I be- 
 lieve, hath a people in thofe parts, who are 
 honeflly inclined to ferve him ; but many, I 
 fear, are too much clogged with the things 
 of this life, and do not come forward bear- 
 ing
 
 44 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ing the crofs in fuch faithfulnefs as he calls 
 for. 
 
 My mind was deeply engaged in this vifit, 
 both in public and private ; and, at feveral 
 places where I was, on observing that they 
 tad flaves, I found myfelf under a neceflity, 
 in a friendly way, to labour with them on 
 k that fubjecl ; expre fling, as way opened, the 
 inconfiitency of that practice with the purity 
 of the chriitian religion, and the ill effects of 
 it manifefted amongil us. 
 
 The latter end of the week, their yearly- 
 meeting began ; at which were our friends 
 John Scarbrough, Jane Hofkins, and Sufan- 
 nah Brown, from Pennfylvania : the publick 
 meetings were large, and meaiurably favour- 
 ed with divine goodnefs. 
 
 The exercife of my mind, at this meeting, 
 was chiefly on account of thofe who were 
 considered as the foremoft rank in the foci- 
 ety : and in a meeting of minifters and el- 
 ders, way opened, that I expreiTed in fome 
 meafure what lay upon me ; and at a time 
 when friends were met for tranfa cling the 
 affairs of the church, having fet a while ii- 
 lent, I felt a weight on my mind, and Hood 
 up ; and, through the gracious regard of 
 our heavenly Father, ilrength was given fully 
 to clear invielf of a burthen, which for fbme 
 days had been increanng upon me. 
 
 Through the humbling difpenfations of 
 Divine Providence, men are fometimes fitte^f 
 for his fervice. The meilages of the prophet 
 Jeremiah were fo difagreeable to the people, 
 
 and
 
 or JOHN \V O O L M A N. 45 
 
 and fo reverfe to the fpirit they lived iiij that 
 he became the object of their reproach ; and 
 in the weakiiefs of nature, thought of defift- 
 ing from his prophetick office ; but, faith he, 
 " His word was in my heart as a burning 
 " fire fhut up in my bones ; and I was weary 
 " with forbearing, and could not ftay." 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 th"e 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 fenie where- 
 of I went home : having been out about 
 twenty-four days, and rode about three 
 hundred and fixteen miles. 
 
 While I was out on this journey, my heart 
 was much affected with a fenie of the ilate 
 of the churches iir our fouthern provinces ; 
 and believing the Lord was calling me to 
 fome further labour amongft them, I was 
 bowed in reverence before him, with fervent 
 defires that I might find ftrength to refigu 
 myfelf 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 uneafy 
 on account of my bufinefs growing too cum- 
 berfome. I had began with felling trim- 
 mings for garments, and from thence pro- 
 ceeded to iell cloths and linens ; and, at 
 
 length,
 
 46 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 length, having got a confiderable fhop of 
 goods, my trade increafed every year, and 
 the road to large bufiiiefs appeared open ; but 
 I felt a flop 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 confideratioii, 
 I believed truth did not require me to engage 
 in much cumbering affairs : it had been my 
 general practice to buy and fell things really 
 ufeful : things that ferved chiefly to pleafe the 
 vain mind in people, I was not eafy to trade 
 in ; feldom did it ; and whenever I did, I 
 found it weaken me as a chriftian. 
 
 The increafe of bufinefs became my bur- 
 then; 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 exercife 
 my prayers were put up to the Lord, who 
 gracioufly heard me, and gave me a heart re- 
 figned to his holy will : then I leffened my 
 outward bufinefs ; and, as I had opportuni- 
 ty, told my cuftomers of my intentions, that 
 they might confider what mop to turn to: 
 and, in a while, wholly laid down merchan- 
 dize, following my trade as a taylor; myfelf 
 only, having 110 apprentice. I alfo had a 
 nuricry of apple-trees ; in which I employed 
 fome of my time in hoeing, grafting, trim- 
 ming, and inoculating. In merchandife it 
 is the cuftom, where I lived, to fell chiefly 
 
 on
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 47 
 
 on credit, and poor people often get in debt ; 
 and when payment is expected, not having 
 wherewith to pay, their creditors often fue 
 for it at law. Having often obfervcd occur- 
 rences of this kind, I found it good for me 
 to advife poor people to take fuch goods as 
 were moft 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 coftly apparel, led fome people into great 
 inconveniencies ; and thefe two things appear 
 to be often connected one with the other ; for 
 by not attending to that ufe of things which 
 is coniiltent with uiiiverfal righteoufnefs, 
 there is an increafe of labour which extends 
 beyond what our heavenly Father intends for 
 us : and by great labour, and often by much 
 fweating, there is, even among fuch who 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 part of which we mould have no need 
 of, did we fteadily attend to pure wifdom. 
 
 Where men take pleafure in feeling their 
 minds elevated with ftrong drink, and fb in-* 
 dulge their appetite as -to diforder their un- 
 deritandings, 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 fuch whofe lives are for 
 
 the
 
 48 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the moft paft regular, and whofe examples 
 have a ilroiig influence on the minds of 
 others, adhere to fome cuftoms which power- 
 fully draw to the uie of more ftrong liquor 
 than pure wifdom allows ; this alfo, as it 
 hinders the fpreading of the fpirit of meek- 
 nefs, and ftrengtliens the hands of the more 
 exceflive drinkers, is a cafe to be lamented. 
 
 As every degree of luxury hath fome con- 
 nexion with evil ; for thofe who profefs to be 
 difciples of Chrift, and are looked upon as 
 leaders of the people, to have that mind in 
 them, which was alfo in Chrift, and fo ftand 
 feparate from every wrong way, is a means 
 of help to the weaker. As I have fometimes 
 been much fpent in the heat, and taken {pi- 
 nts to revive me, I have found by experi- 
 ence, that in inch 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 right 
 bounds to our clefires ; and leads thofe who 
 faithfully follow it, to apply all the gifts of 
 Divine Providence to the purpofes for which 
 they were intended. Did fuch who have the 
 care of great eftates, attend with finglenefs 
 of heart to this heavenly Inftructor, 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- 
 ceflary for others to labour too hard ; .but for 
 
 wane 

 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 49 
 
 want of fleadily regarding this principle of 
 divine love, a felfifh fpirit takes place in the 
 minds of people, which is attended with 
 darknefs and manifold confuiions in the 
 world. 
 
 Though trading in things ufeful is an ho- 
 neft employ ; yet, through the great number 
 of fuperfluities which are bought and fold, 
 and through the corruption of the 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 year, I was engaged 
 with friends in vifiting families ; and, thro* 
 the goodnefs of the Lord, we had oftentimes 
 experience of his heart-tendering prefence 
 amongfl us. 
 
 A copy of a letter wrote to a friend. 
 
 TN this thy late affliclioii I have found a 
 * deep fellow-feeling with tliee ; and had a 
 fecret hope throughout, that it might pleafe 
 the Father of mercies to raife thee up, and 
 faiiclify thy troubles to thee ; that thou be- 
 ing more fully acquainted with that way 
 which the world efteems fooliih, may feel the 
 cloathing of divine fortitude, and be ilrength- 
 ened to refifl that fpirit which leads from the 
 fimplicity of the everlafting truth. 
 
 E 'We
 
 5 o 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 impombility to advance 
 forward ; but things impomble with men are 
 poflible with God ; and OUT wills being made 
 fubject to his, all temptations are furmount- 
 able. 
 
 Tliis work of fubjecting the will, is com- 
 pared to the mineral in the furnace ; which, 
 thro' fervent heat, is reduced from its firft 
 principle : " He refines them as filver is 
 *' refined He lliall fit as a refiner, and pu- 
 " rifier of filver." By thefe comparifons, 
 we are inflrudled in the neceflity of the melt- 
 ing operation of the hand of God upon us, 
 to prepare our hearts truly to adore him, and 
 manifefl that adoration, by inwardly turn- 
 ing away from that fpirit in all its workings, 
 which is not of him. To forward this work, 
 the all-wife God is fometimes pleafed, thro* 
 outward diflrefs, to bring us near the gates 
 of death ; that life being painful and afflict- 
 ing, and the profpecl of eternity open before 
 us, all earthly bonds may be loofened, and 
 the mind prepared for that deep and facred 
 inftruclion, which otherwife would not be 
 received. If kind parents love their children 
 and delight in their happinefs, then He, who 
 is perfect goodnefs in fending abroad mortal 
 contagions, doth afTuredly direct their ufe 
 Are the righteous removed by it, their change 
 is happy ; are the wicked taken away in their 
 wickednefs, the Almighty is clear: Do we 
 
 pals
 
 OF JOHN \VOOLM Atf. 51 
 
 pafs through with anguifh and great bitter- 
 nefs, and yet recover, He intends that we 
 fhould be purged from drofs, and our ear 
 opened to difcipline. 
 
 And now on thy part, after thy fore af- 
 fliction and doubts of recovery, thou art 
 again reilored, forget not Him who hath 
 helped thee ; but in humble gratitude hold 
 faft his inftructions, thereby to fhun thofe 
 bye paths which lead from the firm founda- 
 tion. I am fenfible of that variety of .com- 
 pany, to which one in thy buiiiiefs mufl 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, in that 
 much weaknefs flill 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 re- 
 main unmoved at the fentiments of others. 
 
 The fear of man brings a mare ; by halt- 
 ing in our duty, and giving back in the time 
 of trial, our hands grow weaker, our fpirits 
 get mingled with the people, our ears grovr 
 dull as to hearing the language of the true 
 Shepherd ; that when we 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 exprefiioiis ; 
 
 and I find my heart open to encourage to a 
 
 holy emulation, to advance forward in chrift- 
 
 E 2 tian
 
 52 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ian firmnefs. Deep humility is a flrong bul- 
 wark ; and as we enter into it, we find fafe- 
 ty and true exaltation : the foolifhnefs of God 
 is wifer than man, and the weaknefs of God 
 is ftronger than man. Being uncloathed of 
 our own wifdom, and knowing the abafe- 
 ment of the creature, therein we find that 
 power to arife, which gives health and vigor 
 to us. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 His ii'i/it ing the families of friends at Burling* 
 ton His journey to Pcnnfylvania, Mary* 
 land, Virginia, and North-Carolina- Confi-* 
 derations on the jlate of friends there ; and 
 the exercife he r was under in travelling among 
 t h of e fo generally concerned in keeping Jla*ues : 
 withfome observations in converfation, .at fe^ 
 ueral times, on this fubjeci His epiftle ta 
 friends at New-Garden and Cane-Creek 
 His thoughts mi the neglect of a religious 
 care in the education of the negroes. 
 
 TH E thirteenth day of the fecond month , 
 in the year 1757, being then in good 
 health, and abroad with friends vifiting fa- 
 milies, I lodged at a friend's houfe, in Bur- 
 lington ; and going to bed about the time 
 with me, I awoke in. the night, ami 
 
 my
 
 .,^ t^rityi* 
 
 OF JOHN'WOOLMAN. 53 
 
 my meditations, as I lay, were on the good- 
 nefs and mercy of the Lord ; in a fenfe 
 whereof my heart was contrite : after this, I 
 went to fleep again ; and fleeping a fhort 
 time, I awoke ; it was yet dark, and no ap- 
 pearance of day nor moonfhine ; and as I 
 opened mine eyes, I faw a light in my cham- 
 ber at the apparent diftance of five feet, about 
 nine inches diameter, of a clear eafy bright- 
 nefs, and near its center the mod radiant : 
 as I lay^ flill without any furprize looking 
 upon it, words were fpoken to my inward 
 ear, which filled my whole inward man ; 
 they were not the effect of thought, nor any 
 conclufion in relation to the appearance, but 
 as the language of the Holy One fpoken in 
 my mind ; the words were, CERTAIN Evi- 
 DKXCE OF DIVINE TRUTH; and were again 
 repeated exactly in the fame manner ; where- 
 upon the light difappeared. 
 
 Feeling the exercife in relation to a 
 vifit to the Southern Provinces to increafe 
 upon me, I acquainted our manthly-rnectinp; 
 therewith, and obtained their certificate : ex- 
 pecting to go alone, one of my brothers, \v 
 lived in Philadelphia, having fome bufinch 
 in North-Carolina, propofed going with me 
 part of the way; but as he had a view o'r* 
 ibme outward affairs, to accept of him as a 
 companion 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 el- 
 derly friends of Philadelphia on the fubjcct ;
 
 54 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and he obtaining a certificate fuitable to the 
 occafion, we fet off in the fifth month of the 
 year 1757 : and coming to Nottingham week-- 
 day meeting, lodged at John Churchman's ; 
 and here I met with our friend Benjamin 
 Buinngton, from New-England, who was re- 
 turning from a vifit to the Southern Pro- 
 vinces. Thence we croiTed the river Su- 
 quehannah, and lodged at William Cox's in 
 Maryland ; and foon after I entered this pro- 
 vince, a deep and painful exercife came upon 
 me, which I often had fome feeling of fince 
 my mind was drawn toward thefe parts, and 
 with which I had acquainted my brother be^ 
 fore we agreed to join as companions. 
 YV As the people in this and the Southern Pro- 
 vinces live much on the labour of flaves, 
 many of whom are ufed hardly, my con*- 
 cern was, that I might attend with finglenefs 
 of heart to the voice of the true Shepherd, 
 and be fo fupported as to remain unmoved 
 at the faces of men. 
 
 As it is common for friends on fuch a vi^ 
 fit to have entertainment free of coil, a dif- 
 ficulty arofe in my mind with reipecl to 
 faving my money by kindnefs received, 
 which to me appeared to be the gain of op- 
 preflion. 
 
 Receiving a gift, confidered as a gift, 
 brings the receiver under obligations to the 
 benefactor, and has a natural tendency to 
 draw the/)bliged into a party with the giver. 
 To prevent difficulties of this kind, and to 
 preferve the minds of judges from any bias, 
 
 was
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 55 
 
 \vas that divine prohibition ; " Thou fhalt 
 ct not receive any gift : for a gift blindeth 
 " the wife, and perverteth the words of the 
 ** righteous." Exod. xxiii. 8. As the difci- 
 ples were fent forth without any provifion. for 
 their journey, and our Lord faid the work- 
 man is worthy of his meat, their labour in 
 the gofpel was confidered as a reward for 
 their entertainment, and therefore not re- 
 ceived as a gift ; yet, in regard to my prefent 
 journey, I could not fee my way clear in that 
 refpect. The difference appeared thus : The 
 entertainment the difciples met with, was 
 from fuch whofe hearts God had opened to 
 receive them, from a love to them, and the 
 truth they publifhe<i: but we, confidered as 
 members of the fame religious fociety, look 
 upon it as a piece of civility to receive each 
 other in fuch vifits ; and fuch reception, at 
 times, is partly in regard to reputation, and 
 not from an inward unity of heart and fpi- 
 rit. ' Conduct is more convincing than lan- 
 guage ; and where people, by their actions, 
 manifeft that the Have- trade is not fo difa- 
 
 freeable to their principles but that it may 
 e encouraged, there is not a found uniting 
 with fome friends who vifit them. 
 
 The profpecl of fo weighty a work, and be- 
 h: io diflinguifhed from many who I ef- 
 teemed before myfelf, brought me very low ; 
 and fuch were the conflicts of my foul, thar 
 I had a near fympathy with the prophet, in 
 the time of hisAveaknefs, when he faid, " If 
 *' thorn deal thus with me, kill me, I pray 
 
 " thee fc
 
 56 .THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ** thee, if I have found favour in thy fight ;** 
 Numb. xi. 15. but I foon faw that this pro- 
 ceeded from the want of a full reiignation to 
 the divine will. Many were the afflictions 
 which attended me ; and in great abafement, 
 with many tears, my cries were to the Al- 
 mighty, for his gracious and fatherly amft- 
 ance ; and then, after a time of deep trial, 
 I was favoured to underfhmd the ftate men- 
 tioned by the pfalmift more clearly than ever 
 I had before; to wit ; " My foul is even as. 
 " a weaned child." Pfalm cxxxi. 2. Being 
 thus helped to link down into reiignation, I 
 felt a deliverance from that tempeft in which 
 I had bvjeji forely exercifed, and in calmnefs 
 of mind went forward, tsufting that the Lord 
 Jefus Chrifl, as I faithfully attended to him, 
 would be a councellor to me in all difficul- 
 ties j and that by his ftrength I mould be en- 
 abled even to leave money with the members 
 of fociety where I had entertainment, when 
 I found that omitting of it would obflrucl 
 that work to which I believed he had called 
 me : and as I copy this after my return, I 
 may here add, that oftentimes I did fo, under a 
 fenie of duty ; the way in which I did it was 
 thus : when I expected foon to leave a friend's 
 houfe where I had entertainment, if I be- 
 lieved that I mould not keep clear from the 
 gain of oppreilion. without leaving money, I 
 fpoke to one' of the heads of the family pri- 
 vately, and defired them to accept of them 
 pieces of filver, and give them to fuch of 
 their negroes as they believed would make 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 57 
 
 the beft ufe of them ; and at other times, I 
 gave them to the negroes myfelf, . as the way 
 looked cleareft to me : as I expected this be^ 
 fore I came out, I had provided a large num- 
 ber of fmall pieces ; and thus offering them 
 to fome who appeared to be wealthy people, 
 was a trial both to me and them : but the 
 fear of the Lord ib covered me at times, that 
 iny way was made eafier than I expected ; 
 and few, if any, manifefted any refentment 
 at the offer, and moft of them, after fome 
 talk, accepted of them. 
 
 The feventh day of the fifth month, in the 
 year 1757, lodged at a friend's houie ; and 
 the next day, being the firfl of the week, was 
 at Potapfcp meeting ; then croffed Patuxent 
 river, and lodged at a publick-houfe. 
 
 On the ninth breakfafled at a friend's 
 houfe ; who afterward, putting us a little oil 
 our way, I had converfation with him, in 
 the fear of the Lord, concerning his ilaves ; 
 in which my heart was tender, and I ufed 
 much plainnefs of fpeech with him, which he 
 appeared to take kindly. We purfued our 
 journey without appointing meetings, being 
 prefled in my 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 the eleventh day of the fifth month, we 
 croifed the rivers Patowmack and Rapahaii- 
 nock, and lodged at Port-Royal : and on the 
 way we happening in company with a colo- 
 nel
 
 5 B THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 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 
 bufmefs, and thofe who live on the labour of 
 flaves ; the former, in my view, being the 
 moft happy life : with which he concurred, 
 and mentioned the trouble arifing from the 
 untoward, flothful difpofitioii 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- 
 tion 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 
 during life, had not the like inducement to, 
 be induftrious. 
 
 After feme further 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 however believed that liberty 
 was the natural right of all men equally : 
 which he did not deny ; but faid, the lives 
 of the negroes were fo wretched in their own 
 country, that many of them lived better here 
 than there : I only faid, there is great odds 
 in regard to us, on what principle we act ; 
 1 and fo the converfation on that fubjecl ended; 
 and I may here add, that another perfon, 
 fame time afterward, mentioned the wretch-* 
 
 ednefs
 
 1 
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 59 
 
 ednefs of the negroes, occafioned by their 
 inteftine wars, as an argument in favour of 
 our fetching them away for flaves : to which 
 I then replied, if companion on the Africans, 
 in regard to their domeilic troubles, were the 
 real motives of our purchafing them, that 
 fpirit of tendernefs being attended to, would 
 incite us to ufe them kindly ; that as ftran- 
 gers brought out of affliction, 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 comfort from the holy fcriptures as we 
 do, we could not omit fuitable endeavours to 
 inflruct them therein : but while we rnani- 
 fefl by our conduct, that our views in pur- 
 
 1 chafing them are to advance ourfelves ; and 
 while our buying captives taken in war, ani- 
 mates thofe parties to pum on that war, and 
 
 $ increafe defblation amongft them ; to fay they 
 live unhappy in Africa, is far from being 
 an argument in our favour: and I further 
 faid, the prefent circumftances of thefe pro- 
 vinces to me appear difficult ; that the flaves 
 look like a burthenfome (tone to fuch who 
 burthen themfelves with them ; and that if 
 the white people retain a refolution to prefer 
 their outward profpects of gain to all other 
 confederations, and do not act confcientiouf- 
 ly toward them as fellow-creatures, I believe 
 that burthen will grow heavier and heavier, 
 till times change in a way difagreeable to us : 
 at which the perfon appeared very ferious ; 
 and owned, that in conudering their condi-*- 
 
 tion,
 
 60 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 tion, and the manner of their treatment in 
 thefe provinces, he had fometimes thought it 
 might be juft in the 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 fever al friends, a day's journey to Camp- 
 Creek : and as I was riding along in the 
 morning, my mind was deeply affecled 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 in- 
 ward relief ; and foon after, a friend in com- 
 pany began to talk in fupport of the flave- 
 trade, and faid, the negroes were underilood 
 to be the offspring of Cain, their blacknefs 
 being the mark God fet upon him after he 
 murthcred Abel his brother ; that it was the 
 defigii of Providence they ihould be flaves, 
 as a condition proper to the race of fo wick- 
 ed 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 fur- 
 vived the flood, according to fcripture ; and 
 as Noah was of Seth's race, the family of 
 Cain was wholly deftrpyed. One of them 
 faid, that after the flood Ham went to the 
 land of Nod, and took a wife ; that Nod was 
 land far diftant, inhabited by Gain's race, 
 
 and
 
 V^ v/vf: 
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 61 
 
 and that the flood did not reach it ; and as 
 Ham. was fentenced to be a fervant of fer- 
 vants to his brethren, thefe two families be- 
 ing thus joined, were undoubtedly fit only 
 for flaves. I replied, the flood was a judg- 
 ment upon the world for their abominations ; 
 and it was granted, that Cain's flock was the 
 mofl wicked, and therefore unreafonable to 
 fuppofe they were fpared : as to Ham's go- 
 ing 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 flem died that moved upon the 
 " earth." Gen. vii. 21. I further reminded 
 them, how the prophets repeatedly declare, 
 " that the foil fhall not fuiFer for the iniqui- 
 tc ty of the father ; but every one be an- 
 " fwerable for his own fins." I was trou- 
 bled to perceive the darknefs of their imagi- 
 nations ; and in fome preHure of fpirit faid, 
 the love of eafe and gain are the motives in 
 general of keeping Haves, and men are wont 
 to take hold of weak arguments to fupport a 
 caufe which is unreafonable ; and added, I 
 have no interefl on either fide, fave only the 
 intereil 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 refpecls with inhumanity in 
 many places, I believe He, who is a refuge 
 for the opprefled, will, in his own time, 
 plead their caufe j and happy will it be for 
 
 fuch.
 
 62 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 flich, who walk in uprightnefs before him i 
 and thus our converfation 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 flrength by 
 which way was opened to clear my mind 
 amongft friends in thofe places. From thence 
 I went to Fork-Creek, and fo to Cedar-Creek 
 again ; at which place I now had a meeting ; 
 here I found a tender feed : and as I was pre- 
 ferved 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 refrefh- 
 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 laft fummer, on 
 account of their teflimony againft fighting ; 
 and I had fome fatisfadlory converfation with 
 him concerning it. Hence I went to the 
 Swamp-meeting, and to Wayanoke-ineet- 
 ing ; and then croffed James-River, and 
 lodged near Burleigh. From the time of my 
 entering Maryland I have been much under 
 forrow, which of late fo increafed upon me, 
 that my mind was almoft overwhelmed ; and 
 I may fay with the pfalmift, " in my dif- 
 " trefs I called upon the Lord, and cried to 
 " my God ;" who, in infinite goodnefs, 
 looked upon my affliction, and in my pri- 
 vate
 
 OF J O H N W O O L M A N. 63 
 
 vate retirement fent the Comforter for my re- 
 lief; for which I humbly blefs his holy 
 name. 
 
 The fenfe I had of the (late of the churches, 
 brought a weight of diflrefs upon me : the 
 gold to me appeared dim, and the fine gold 
 changed ; and though this is the cafe too ge- 
 nerally, yet the fenfe of it in thefe 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 inftead of the fpirit of meek- 
 iiefs, gentlenefs, and heavenly wifdom, which 
 are the neceffary companions of the true fheep 
 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 ; and from one age to 
 another are more and more flrengthened by 
 the general concurrence of the people : and 
 as men obtain reputation by their profeflioii 
 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 fleps could the people of Judah 
 arife to that heighth in wickednefs, as to 
 give jufl 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 the Babylonifh captivity, " If ye can 
 
 " find
 
 64 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ' find a man, if there be any who executed! 
 " judgment, that feeketh the truth, and I 
 " Will pardon it." Jer. v. i . The profpedl of 
 a road tying open to the fame degeneracy, in 
 fbme parts of this newly fettled land of Ame- 
 rica, in refpecl: 'to our conduct toward the 
 negroes, hath deeply bowed my mind in this 
 journey; and though to briefly relate how 
 thefe people are treated is no agreeable work ; 
 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 after 
 their own wayj 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 ; which is 
 common when eftates are fold by executors 
 at vendue. Many whole labour is heavy, 
 being followed, at their bufinefs 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 
 firfl day of the week. 
 
 The correction enfuing on their difobedi^ 
 ence to overfeers, or flothfulnefs in bufincfs, 
 is often very fevere, and fometimes defperate. 
 
 Men and women have many times fcarce 
 cloaths enough to hide their nakednefs, and 
 boys and girls, ten and twelve years old, are 
 often quite naked amongfl their matter's chil- 
 dren:
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 6j 
 
 dren : fome of our fociety, and fome of the 
 fociety called new -lights, ufe fome endea- 
 vours to inftruct thofe they have in reading ; 
 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 the fouls for whom 
 Chrifl died ; and for our conduct toward 
 them, we muft anfwer before Him who is 
 no refpecter 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 dppreP- 
 fion and cruelty ; and in beholding the great 
 diftrefs of fo numerous a people, will find 
 caufe for mourning. 
 
 From my lodgings I went to Burleigh 
 meeting, where I felt my mind drawn into 
 a quiet reiigned ilate ; and after long filence, 
 I felt an engagement to fland up ; and thro' 
 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 
 Weftern Branch : when bufinefs began, fome 
 queries were coiifidered, by fome of their 
 members, to be now produced ; and if ap- 
 proved, to be anfwered hereafter by their re-" 
 F fptfdive
 
 66 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fpective 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 ; one of which alte- 
 rations was made in favour of a cuftom 
 which troubled me. The query was, " Are 
 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 ad- 
 mitted with unanimity was, " Are any con- 
 cerned in buying or vending goods unlaw- 
 fully imported, or prize goods ?*' I found 
 iny mind engaged to fay, that as we pro- 
 feffed the truth, and were there afTembled to 
 iiipport the teftimony of it, it was necefTary 
 for us to dwell deep, and act in that wifdom 
 which is pure , or otherwife we could not 
 profper. I then mentioned their alteration ; 
 and, referring to the laft mentioned query, 
 added, as purchaiing any merchandize taken 
 by the fword, was always allowed to be in- 
 coniiftent with our principles ; negroes be- 
 ing captives of war, or taken by Health, 
 thofe circumflances make it inconfiitent with 
 our teftimony to buy them ; and their being 
 our fellow-creatures, who are fold as flaves, 
 adds greatly to the iniquity. Friends ap- 
 peared attentive to what was faid ; fome ex- 
 preffed a care and concern about their ne- 
 groes ; none made any objection, by way of 
 reply to what I faid j but the query was ad- 
 mitted
 
 6 F JOHN \V O O L M A N. 67 
 
 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, v/ill be one ftep further 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 oil the earth, 
 by means agreeable to his infinite wifdom. 
 But in regard to thoie they already had, I 
 felt my mind engaged to labour with them ; 
 and faid, that, as we believe the fcriptures 
 were given forth by holy men, as they were 
 moved by the Holy Glioft, and many of lis 
 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, woxild engage us to teach 
 the negroes to read, that they might have the 
 benefit of them: fome there were amongft 
 them who, at this time, manifefted a concern 
 in regard to taking more care in the educa- 
 tion of their negroes. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth day of the fifth 
 month, at the houfe where I lodged, was a 
 meeting of miniflers and elders, at the ninth 
 hour in the morning ; at which time I found 
 an engagement to fpeak freely and plainly to 
 them concerning their flaves ; mentioning, 
 how they, as the firfl rank in the fociety, 
 whofe conduct in that cafe was much noticed 
 F 2 by
 
 68 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 by others, were under die ftronger obliga* 
 tions to look carefully to themfelves : expr ef- 
 fing how needful it was for them, in that ii- 
 tuation, to be thoroughly divefted of all felf- 
 ifh views ; that living in the pure truth, and 
 acting confcientioufly toward thofe people in 
 their education and otherwife, they might be 
 inftrumental in helping forward a work fo 
 exceeding necefTary, and fo much neglected 
 amongft them. At the twelfth hour the meet- 
 ing of worfhip began j which was a iblid 
 meeting. 
 
 On the thirtieth day, about the tenth hour, 
 friends met to finiih their bumiefs, and then 
 the meeting for worfhip 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 ftrengthening 
 opportunity 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^ 
 
 T T having pleafed the Lord to draw me 
 * forth on a vilit to fome parts of Virginia 
 and Carolina, you have often been in my 
 mind j and though my way is not clear to 
 
 eoine
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 69 
 
 come in perfon to viiit 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 
 (ingle to the Lord, you may be preferved in 
 the way of fafety. Where people let loofe 
 their minds after the lov,e of outward things, 
 and are more engaged in purfuing the pro- 
 fits, and feeking the friendihips 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 Ghrift, and dwell under the influence 
 of his holy fpirit, their liability and nrm- 
 nefs, through a divine bleffing, is at times 
 like dew on the tender plants round about 
 them, and the weightincfs 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 ; 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 fubjedl, and moving only in 
 the gentle peaceable wifdom, the inward re- 
 ward of quietnefs, will be greater than all our 
 
 difficulties..
 
 7 o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 difficulties. Where the pure life is kept to, 
 a i, a 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 comes frefli 
 in my way : Dear young people, choofe 
 God for your portion; love his truth, and be 
 not aihamed of it ; choofe for your company 
 fuch who ferve him in uprightnefs : and 
 iliim, as moft dangerous, the converfation of 
 thole whofe lives are of an ill favour ; for by 
 frequenting fuch company, foine hopeful 
 young people have come to great lofs, and 
 been drawn from lefs evils to greater to their 
 utter ruin. In the bloom of youth 110 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 fweetnefs to all 
 other comfoits, and give true fatisfaction in 
 company and converfation, where people are 
 mutually acquainted with it ; and as your 
 minds are thus feafoned with the truth, you 
 w r ill find ftrength to abide fledfaft to the tef- 
 timony of it, and be prepared for ferviccs 
 in the church. 
 
 And now, dear friends and brethren, as 
 you are improving a wildernefs, and may be 
 numbered amongft the firfl planters in one 
 part of a province, I befecch you, in the love 
 of jefus Chrift, to wifely confider the force 
 of your examples, and think how much your 
 fucceflbrs may be thereby affected : it is a 
 
 help
 
 v^j^ 
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 71 
 
 help in a country ; yea, and a great favour 
 and a bleflkig, when cuftoms firft fettled, are 
 agreeable to found wifdom : fo when they are 
 otherwife, the effect of them is grievous ; and 
 children feel themfelves encompafTed with 
 difficulties prepared for them by their prede- 
 cefTors. ' 
 
 As moderate care and exercife, under the 
 direction of true wifdom, is 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 
 ilaves are purchafed 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 who claim 
 the maflery over them : and thus people and 
 their children are many times encompafled 
 with vexations, which arife from their ap- 
 plying to wrong methods to get a living. 
 
 I have been informed that there are a 
 large number of friends in your parts, who 
 have no flaves j and in tender and mofl af- 
 fectionate love," I befeech you to keep clear 
 from purchafing any. Look, my dear friends t 
 to Divine Providence ; and follow in fimpli- 
 city that exercife of body, that plainnefs and 
 frugality, which true wifdom leads to ; fo 
 may you be preferved from thofe dangers 
 which attend fuch who are aiming at out- ^ 
 ward eafe and greatnefs. 
 
 Treasures,
 
 72 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Treafures, though fmall, attained on a 
 true principle of virtue, are fweet in the 
 poireiiioa ; and while we walk in the light of 
 the Lord, there is true comfort and fatisfac- 
 tion. Here, neither the murmurs of an op- 
 preiTed people, nor throbbing uneafy confci- 
 ence, nor anxious thoughts about the events 
 pf things, hinder the enjoyment of it. 
 
 When we look toward the end of life, and 
 think on the diviiion of our fubftance among 
 our fuccefTors ; if we know that it was col- 
 lected 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 {ingle eye to his bleiTing, beflow 
 it on thofe we leave behind us. Such is the 
 happinefs of the plain ways of true virtue. 
 " The work of righteoufnefs fhall be peace ; 
 " and the effect of righteo.umefs, quietnefs 
 *.' and aiTuraiice for ever." Ifa. xxxii. 1 7. 
 
 Dwell here, my dear friends ; and then in 
 remote and fplitary defer t, you may find 
 true peace and fatisfa&ion. if the Lord be 
 our God, in truth and reality, there is fafe-> 
 ty for us ; for he is a ftrong hold in the day 
 of trouble, and knoweth them that truft in 
 him. 
 
 Ifle of Wight County, in Virginia, 
 2 yth of the jth month, 1757. 
 
 From
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 73 
 
 From the yearly-meeting in Virginia, I 
 went to Carolina ; and on 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 Jems Chrift 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 Simons-Creek 
 monthly-meeting, where I was filent during 
 the meeting for worihip : and when bufineis 
 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 ; 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 iilence : near the end of 
 their bulinefs, a member of their meeting 
 expreft a concern, that had fome time lain 
 upon him, on account of friends fo much 
 neglecting their duty in the education of 
 their flaves ; 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 underftanding, had been fo exceeding- 
 ly neglected : another exprefTed the like con- 
 cern, and appeared zealous, that friends, in 
 future, might more clofely coniider it : at 
 
 length , 
 
 ^x 
 
 * ^^1^' . Jh
 
 74 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 length a minute was made ; and the further 
 conlideration of it referred to their next 
 monthly-meeting. The friend who made this 
 propofal hath 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 hath flaves, told me, that he being 
 fifr from home on a lonefome journey, had 
 many ferious thoughts about them ; and that 
 his mind was fo impreft therewith, that he 
 believed that he faw a time coming, when 
 Divine Providence would alter the circum- 
 ilance of thefe people, vefpecling their conr 
 dition as flaves. 
 
 From hence I went to Newbegun-Creek, 
 and fat a confiderable time in much weak- 
 nefs ; then I felt truth open the way to ipeak 
 a little in much plainnefs and fimplici- 
 ty, till, at length, through the increafe of 
 divine love amongft us, we had a feafoning 
 opportunity. From thence to the head of 
 Little-River on a firft-day, where was a 
 crouded meeting ; and, I believe, was, thro' 
 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 my fiery of iniquity, which, un- 
 der a cover of religion, exalts itfelf againfl 
 that pure fpirit, which leads in the way of 
 meeknefs and felf-denial. From thence to 
 
 Pincy-
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 7 > 
 
 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. 
 
 When I was at Newbegun-Creek, a friend 
 was there who laboured for his living, hav- 
 ing no negroes, and had been a -minifter 
 many years : he came to me the next day ; 
 and as we rode together, he iigmfied that he 
 wanted to talk with me concerning a difficul- 
 ty he had been under, and related it near as 
 follows : to wit, That as monies had of late 
 years been raifed by a tax to carry on the 
 wars, he had a fcruple in his mind in regard 
 to paying it, and chofe rather to fuffer diftraint 
 of his goods than pay it ; and as he was the only 
 perfon who refufed it in thofe parts, and knew 
 not that any one elfe was in the like circum- 
 ftances, and fignified that it had been a heavy 
 trial to him ; and more fo, for that fome of his 
 brethren had been uneafy with his conduct in 
 that cafe : and added, that from a fympathy 
 he felt with me yefterday in meeting, he 
 found the freedom thus to open the matter, in 
 the way of querying concerning friends in our 
 parts : whereupon I told him the (late of 
 friends amongft us, as well as I was able ; and 
 alfo, that I had, for fome time, been under 
 the like fcruple. I believed him to be one who 
 was concerned -to walk uprightly before the 
 Lord ; and efteemed it my duty to preferve 
 this note concerning him Samuel Newby. 
 
 From hence I went back into Virginia, and 
 had a meeting near James Cowpland's ; it 
 
 was
 
 76 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 was a time of inward fuflering ; but, thro* 
 the goodnefs of the Lord, I was made con- 
 tent : then to another meeting ; where, thro* 
 the renewings of pure love, we had a 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 moil necelTary and ufeful lelTon 
 for me to be learning ; looking lefs at the ef- 
 fects 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 resignation, 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 dole 
 attention to keep in it ; and though the man- 
 lier in which we may be led may tend to our 
 pwn abafement ; yet, if we continue in pa- 
 tience and meeknefs, 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, , Jrhence to Black-Creek and 
 Caroline meetings ; from whence, accompa- 
 nied by William Standley before-mentioned, 
 we rode to Goofe-Creek, being much thro* 
 the woods, and about one hundred miles. 
 We lodged, the firll night, at a publick- 
 houfe ; the fecond, in the woods ; and the 
 next day, we reached a friend's houfe, at 
 Goofe-Creek. In the woods we lay under 
 
 fornc
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAR 77 
 
 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 plenty ; in the mean time 
 Cutting with our knives a ftore againft night, 
 and then tied them ; and gathering fome bufh- 
 cs under an oak, we lay down ; but the muf- 
 quetoes being plenty and the ground damp, 
 I flept but little : thus lying in the wilder- 
 nefs, and looking at the fiars, 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 ; and (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 ufeful, 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 made in the 
 world : but fome not keeping to the pure 
 gift, have, in the creature^ cunning and felf- 
 exaltation, fought out wlny inventions ; 
 which inventions of men, as diftincl: from 
 that uprightnefs in which man was created, 
 as the firft niotion to them was evil, fo the 
 effects have been and are evil. That, at this 
 day, it is as neceffary for us conftantly to 
 attend on the heavenly gift, to be qualified- 
 to ufe rightly the good things in this life 
 amidfl great improvements, as it was for our* 
 
 firft
 
 78 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fir ft parents, when they were without any 
 improvements, without any friend or father; 
 but God only. 
 
 I was at a meeting at Goofe-Creek ; and 
 next at a monthly-meeting at Fairfax ; 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 I 
 had caufe humbly to adore Him, who flip- 
 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 Everit's in 
 Monalen, and at Huntingdon ; and I was 
 made humbly thankful to the Lord, who 
 opened my heart amongfl the people in thefe 
 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 mennonifts ; and, amongft other things, 
 related a paflage in fubftance as follows : 
 One of the mennonifts having acquaintance 
 with a man of another fociety at a confider- 
 able diftance, and being with his waggon on 
 bufinefs near the houfe of his laid acquain- 
 tance, and night coming on, he had thoughts 
 of putting up with him ; but palling by his 
 fields, and obferving the cliftrefTed 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 lodg- 
 ed,
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 79. 
 
 ed, ind, afterward meeting theme nnonift, 
 told him of it ; adding, he ihould have been 
 heartily welcome at his houfe ; and from their 
 acquaintance in former time, wondered at 
 his conduct 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 
 ilaves at their work, and obferving the man- 
 ner of their drefs, I had no liking to come 
 to partake with thee : then admonifhed 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 fubflance, thou would 
 have received me freely ; but if I had been 
 as poor as one of thy ilaves, and had no 
 power to help myfelf, I fhould 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 feiife 
 of the gracious dealings of the Lord with 
 me, in preferring me through many trials 
 and afflictions in my journey. I was out 
 \ about two months, and travelled about ele- 
 ven hundred and fifty miles. 
 
 l^xf 
 
 Is- 
 
 CHAP. 

 
 8o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Confederations on the payment of a tax, laid for 
 carrying on the ivar againji the Indians 
 Some notes on Thomas a Kempis and John 
 Hufs Meetings of the committee of the year-* 
 ly-meeting at Philadelphia The prefect cir- 
 cumjlancts of friends in Pennfylvania aridNeiv- 
 Jerfey, 'very different from thofe of our pre- 
 decejjbrs The draughting of the militia iii 
 Neiv^Jerfey toferve in the army ; ivithfomc 
 obfervations on the Jlate of the members of 
 our fociety at that time His vtfit to friends 
 in Pennfylvania, accompanied by Benjamin 
 Jones Proceedings at the monthly, quarterly 
 and yearly meetings, in Philadelphia^ refpecl- 
 ing thofe ivho keepjlaves. 
 
 AF E \V years pad, money being made' 
 current in our province for carrying ort 
 \vars, and to be called in again by taxes laid 
 on the inhabitants, my mind was often af-* 
 fecled with the thoughts of paying fuch 
 taxes ; and I believe it right for me to pre- 
 ferve a memorandum concerning it : I was 
 told, that friends in England frequently paid 
 taxes, when the money was applied to fuch 
 purpofes : I had converfation with feveral 
 noted friends on the fubject, who all favour- 
 ed the payment of fuch taxes ; fome of whom 
 I preferred before myfelf, and this made me 
 eafier for a time ; yet there was in the deeps 
 
 of
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 81 
 
 of my mind, a .fcruple which I never could 
 get over ; and, at certain times, I was great- 
 ly diitrejGTed on that account. 
 
 I all along believed that there were fbme 
 upright-hearted "men, who paid flich taxes ; 
 but could not fee that their example was a 
 fufBcierit reafbn for me to do fo, while I be- 
 lieved that the f pint of truth required of me, 
 as an individual, to fufFer patiently the diftrefs 
 of goods, rather than pay actively. 
 
 I have been informed that Thomas a Kem- 
 pis lived and died in the profeilion of the 
 Roman catholic religion : and in reading his 
 writings, I have believed him to be a man of 
 a true chrifdan fpirit ; as fully fo, as many 
 who died martyrs becaufe they could not join 
 with fome fuperftitions in that church. 
 
 All true chriflians are of the fame fpirit, 
 but their gifts are diverfe ; Jems Chrift ap- 
 pointing to each one their peculiar office, 
 agreeable to his infinite wifdom. 
 
 John Hufs contended againft the errors 
 crept into the church, in oj^pofition to the 
 council of Conftaiice ; whidl the hiflorian 
 reports to have confided of fome thoufand per- 
 fons. He modeftly vindicated the caufe which 
 he believed was right ; and though his lan- 
 guage and conduct toward his judges appear 
 to have been refpectful, yet he never could 
 be moved from the principles fettled in his 
 mind. To ufe his own words : " This I moft 
 humbly require and delire of you all, even 
 for His fake who is the God of us all, that 
 I be not compelled to the thing which my 
 G confcience
 
 82 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 confcience doth repugn or drive againft." 
 And again, in his anfwer to the emperor : 
 " I refufe nothing, moft noble emperor, 
 whatfoever the council ihall decree or deter- 
 mine upon me, only this one thing I except, 
 that I do not offend God and my conicience." 
 Fox's Acts and Monuments, page 233. At 
 length, rather than ad! contrary to that which 
 he believed the Lord required of him, he 
 chofe to fuffer death by fire. Thomas a 
 Kempis, without difputing againft the arti- 
 cles then generally agreed to, appears to have 
 laboured, by a pious example as well as by 
 preaching and writing, to promote virtue and 
 die inward fpiritual religion : And I believe 
 they were both fmcere-hearted followers of 
 Chrift. 
 
 True charity is an excellent virtue : and 
 fincerely to labour for their good, whofe be- 
 lief, in all points, doth not agree with ours, 
 is a happy itate. To refufe the active pay- 
 ment of a tax which our fociety generally 
 paid, was exceeding difagreeable ; but to do 
 a thing contrary to my confcieiice, appeared 
 yet more dreadful. When this exercife came 
 upon me, I knew of none under the like dif- 
 ficulty ; and, in my diftrefs, I befought the 
 Lord to enable me to give up all, that fo I 
 might follow him wherefoevcr he \vas pleafed 
 to lead me : and under this exerciie, I went 
 to our yearly-meeting at Philadelphia, in the 
 year 1755 ; at which a committee was ap- 
 pointed of fome from each quarter, to cor- 
 refpond with the meeting for fufferings in 
 
 London;
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 83 
 
 London, and another to vifit our monthly 
 and quarterly-meetings ; and after their ap- 
 pointment, before the laft adjournment of 
 the meeting, it was agreed in the meeting, 
 that thefe two committees mould meet to- 
 gether in friends fchool-houfe in the city, 
 at a time then concluded on, to coniider 
 fome things in which the caufe of truth 
 was concerned ; and thefe committees meet- 
 ing together, had a weighty conference 
 in the. fear of the Lord ; at which time, I 
 perceived, there were many friends under a 
 fcruple like that before-mentioned*. 
 
 As fcrupling to pay a tax on account of 
 the application, hath feldom been heard of 
 heretofore, even amongft men of integrity, 
 who have fteadily borne their teflimony 
 againft outward wars in their time ; I may 
 here note fome things which have occurred 
 to my mind, as I have been inwardly exer- 
 cifed on that account : from the fteady oppo- 
 fition which faithful friends, in early times, 
 made to wrong things then approved of, they 
 were hated and persecuted by men living in 
 the fpirit of this world ; and fuffering with 
 firmnefs, they were made a Welling to the 
 church, and the work profpered. It equally 
 concerns men, in every age, to take heed to 
 their own fpirit ; and in comparing their fitu- 
 G 2 ation 
 
 * Chriftians refufed to pay taxes to fupport heathen tem- 
 ples. See Primitive Chriftianity, part III. page 327,
 
 84 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ation with ours, it looks to me there was lefs 
 clanger of their being infected with the fpi- 
 rit of this world, in paying fuch taxes, than 
 there is of vis now : they had little or no fliare 
 in civil government ; and many of them de- 
 clared, they were, through the power of God, 
 feparated from the fpirit in which wars were ; 
 and being afflicted by the rulers on account 
 of their teflimony, there was lefs likelihood 
 of uniting in fpirit with them in things in- 
 Confident with the purity of truth. We, 
 from the firft fettlement of this land, have 
 known little or no troubles of that fort : their 
 profeflion, for a time, was accounted re- 
 proachful j but, at length, the uprightnefs 
 of our predeceffors being underftood by the 
 rulers, afid their innocent fufferings moving 
 themj our way of worfhip was tolerated ; and 
 many of our members in thefe colonies became 
 active in civil government. -Being thus tried 
 with favour and profperity, this world hath 
 appeared inviting ; our minds have been 
 turned to the improvement of our country, 
 to merchandize and faiences, amongft which 
 are many things ufeful, being followed in 
 pure wifdom ; but in our preient condition, 
 that a carnal mind is gaining upon us, I be- 
 lieve will not be denied. Some of our mem- 
 bers, who are officers in civil government, 
 are, in one cafe or other, called upon in their 
 refpective flations to aiuft in things relative 
 to the wars ; fuch being in doubt whether to 
 act, or crave to be cxcufed from their office, 
 feeing their brethren united in the payment 
 
 of
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 5 
 
 of a tax to carry on the faid wars, might 
 think their cafe not much different, and fb 
 quench the tender movings of the Holy Spi- 
 rit in their minds ; and thus, by fmall degrees, 
 there might be an approach toward that of 
 fighting, till we came fo near it, as that the 
 diilinctioii would be little elfe, but the name 
 of a peaceable people. 
 
 It requires great felf-denial and refigna- 
 tion of ourfelves to God, to attain that ftatc 
 wherein we can freely ceafe from fighting 
 when wrongfully invaded ; if, by our fight- 
 ing, there were a probability of overcoming 
 the invaders : whoever rightly attains to it, 
 does, in fome degree, feel that fpirit in which 
 our Redeemer gaVe his life for us ; and, thro' 
 divine goodnefs, many of our predeceiTors, 
 and many now living, have learned this bleffed 
 leffon ; but many others, having their religion 
 .chiefly by education, and not being enough 
 acquainted with that crofs which crucifies to 
 the world, do manifeft a temper difliiiguim- 
 able from that of an entire trull in God. In 
 calmly confidering tliefe things, it hath not 
 appeared flrange to me, that an exercife hath 
 now fallen upon fome, which, as to the out- 
 \vard means of it, is different from what was 
 kno w r n to many of thofe who went before us. 
 
 Some time after the, yearly-meeting, a day 
 being appointed, and letters wrote to diftant 
 members, the faid committees met at Phila- 
 delphia ; and, by adjournments, continued 
 feveral days. The calamities of war were 
 .now increasing j the frontier inhabitants of 
 
 Peon*
 
 86 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Pennfylvania were frequently furprized, fome 
 flam, and many taken captive by the Indians ; 
 and while thefe committees fat, the corps of 
 one fo flam was brought in a waggon, and 
 taken through the ftreets of the city, in his 
 bloody garments, to alarm the people, and 
 roufe them up to war. 
 
 Friends thus met were not all of one mind 
 in relation to the tax ; which to fuch whp 
 fcrupled it made the way more difficult. To 
 refufe an active payment at fuch a time, 
 might be conftrue'd an act of difloyalty, and 
 appeared likely to difpleafe the rulers, not 
 only here but in England ; ftill there was a 
 fcruple fo fattened xipon the minds of many 
 friends, that nothing moved it : ~ it was a 
 conference the moil weighty that ever 'I was 
 at ; and the hearts of many were -.bowed in 
 reverence before the Moil High. Some friends 
 of the faid committees w r ho appeared eaty to 
 pay the tax, after feveral adjournments, with- 
 drew ; others of them continued till the laft : 
 at length, an epiftle of tender love and cau- 
 tion, to friends in Pennfylvania, was drawn 
 by fome friends concerned, on that fubject ; 
 and being read feveral times and corrected, 
 was then iigned by fuch of them as were free 
 to fign it, and afterward lent to the monthly 
 and quarterly-meetings. 
 
 On the ninth day of the eighth month, in 
 the year 1757, at night, orders came to the 
 military officers in our county, (Burlington) 
 directing them to draft the militia, and pre- 
 pare a number of men to go off as foldiers, 
 
 to
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 87 
 
 to the relief of the Englifli 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 frefli or- 
 ders came : and on the feventeenth day of 
 the eighth month, there was a meeting of 
 the military officers at Mount-Holly, who 
 agreed on a draught ; and orders were fent 
 to the men fo chofen, to meet their refpeclive 
 captains, at fet times and places ; thofe in our 
 townmip to meet at Mount-Holly ; amongfl 
 whom were a considerable number of our 
 fociety. My, mind being affecled herewith, 
 I had frefh' opportunity to fee and confider 
 the advantage of living in the real fubftance 
 of - religioi^, where practice doth harmonize 
 with principle. Amongft the officers are men 
 of understanding, who have fome regard to 
 iincerity 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 
 talk, and likely to be avoided as much as 
 eafily as may be : but "where men profels 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, manifefl 
 
 a
 
 S3 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 a contrary difpofition, their difficulties arc 
 great at fuch a time. 
 
 Oitictjs in great anxiety endeavouring to 
 get troops to anfwer the demands of their fu- 
 periors, feeing men, who are iniincere, pre- 
 tend Icrupie of conicience, in hopes of be- 
 ing excuied from a dangerous employment, 
 they are likely to be roughly handled. In 
 this time of commotion ibme of our young 
 men left the pan.-?, and tarried abroad till h 
 was over ; fome came, and propoled to go 
 as foidiers ; others appeared to have a real 
 tender fcruple in their minds againft joining 
 in 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 iet time when the captain came 
 to town, fome of thofe laft-mentioned went 
 and told him in fubflance as follows : That 
 they could not bear arms for confcience- 
 fake ; nor could they hire any to go in their 
 places, being religned 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 themielves as 
 foidiers, and to be in readinefs to march when 
 called upon. This was fuch a time as I had 
 not feeii before j and yet I may fay, with 
 thankfulnefs to the Lord, that I believed this 
 trial was intended for our good ; and I was 
 favoured with resignation to him. The French 
 army taking the fort they were befieging, de- 
 flroyed it and went away : the company of 
 
 men
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 89 
 
 men firft draughted, after fome days march, 
 had orders to return home ; and thofe on the 
 fecond draught, were no more called Upon 
 on that occaiion. 
 
 On the fourth day of the fourth month, in 
 the year 1758, orders came to fome officers, 
 in Mount-Holly, to prepare quarters, a more 
 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 rne, 
 to provide lodging and entertainment for two 
 foldiers, there being fix Ihillings 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 fileiit, my mind being 
 inward : I was fully convinced, that the pro- 
 ceedings in wars are inconfiftent with the 
 purity of the chriftian religion; and to be 
 hired to entertain men, who were then under 
 pay as foldiers, was a difficulty with me. I 
 expecled they had legal authority for what 
 they did ; and, after a fhort time, I faid to 
 the officer, if the men are fent here for en- 
 tertainment, I believe I iliall not refufe to ad- 
 mit them into my houfe ; but the nature of 
 the cafe is fuch, that I expect I cannot keep 
 them on hire : one of the men intimated, 
 that he thought I might do it confident with 
 my religious principles : to which I made no 
 reply ; 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 weeks, and behaved himfelf civilly ; and 
 
 when
 
 9 o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 when the officer came to pay me, I told him 
 I could not take pay for it, having admitted 
 him into my houfe in a paffive obedience to 
 authority. I was on horfeback when he 
 ipake to me : and as I turned from him, he 
 laid, he was obliged to me : to which I laid 
 nothing ; but thinking on the expreflion, 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 
 fbldier. 
 
 Near the beginning of the year 1758, I 
 went one evening, in company with a friend, 
 to vifit a fick perfbn ; and before our re- 
 turn, we were told of a woman living near, 
 who, of late, had feveral days been difcon- 
 folate, occafioned by a dream ; wherein death, 
 and the judgments of the Almighty after 
 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 converfation with her 
 and her hufband : with this vifit they were 
 fomewhat affected ; and the man, with many 
 tears, expreffed his fatisfaction : and, in a 
 ihort 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
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 91 
 
 which was large ; and feveral weighty mat- 
 ters came under confederation 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 laid 
 but little, my mind was deeply exercifed ; 
 and, under a fenfe of God's love, in the an- 
 ointing and fitting fome young men for his 
 work, I was comforted, and my heart was 
 tendered before him. From hence I went to 
 the youths meeting at Darby, where my be- 
 loved friend and brother Benjamin Jones met 
 me, by an appointment before I left home, 
 to join in the vifit : and we w r ere at Radnor, 
 Merion, Richland, North-Wales, Plymouth, 
 and Abhigtoii meetings ; and had caufe to 
 bow in reverence before the Lord our graci- 
 ous God, by whofe help way was opened 
 for us from day to day. I was out about 
 two weeks, and rode about two hundred 
 miles. 
 
 The monthly-meeting of Philadelphia hav- 
 ing been under a concern, on account of fome 
 friends, who this fummcr (1758) had bought 
 negro flaves : the faid meeting moved it totheir 
 quarterly-meeting, to have the minute recon- 
 fidered in the yearly-meeting, which was 
 made lafl oil that fubjecl : and the faid quar- 
 terly-meeting appointed a committee to coii- 
 fider it, and report to their next ; vrhich 
 committee having met once and adjourned, 
 and I going to Philadelphia to nicer; a com- 
 mittee of the yearly-meeting, was in town 
 the evening on which the quarterly-meeting's 
 
 com-
 
 9 2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 committee met the fecond time ; and finding 
 ail inclination to fit with them, was, with 
 e others, admitted ; and friends had a 
 weighty conference on the fubject : and ibon- 
 after their next quarterly-meeting, I heard 
 that the cafe was coming to our yearly-meet- 
 ing ; which brought a weighty exercife upon 
 me, and under a fenfe of my own infirmi- 
 ties, and the great danger I felt of turning 
 alkie 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- 
 cioully pleafed to ftrengthen me ; that letting 
 aiide all views of felf-intereft and the friend- 
 iliip of this world, I might Hand fully re- 
 iigned to his holy will. 
 
 In this yearly-meeting, feveral weighty 
 matters were conficlered ; and toward the laft, 
 that in, relation to dealing with perfons" who 
 purchafe Haves. During the feveral fittings 
 of the faid meeting, my mind was frequent- 
 ly covered with inward prayer ; and I could 
 lay with David, " that tears were my meat 
 *' day and night." The cafe of flave-keeping 
 lay heavy upon me ; nor did I find any en- 
 gagement to fpeak directly to any other mat- 
 ter before the meeting. Now when this cafe 
 was opened, ieveral faithful friends fpake 
 weightily thereto, with which I was com- 
 forted ; and feeling a concern to cafl in my 
 mite, I laid, in fubftancc, as follows : 
 
 " In the difficulties attending us in this 
 life, nothing is more precious than the mind 
 of truth inwardly manifefted j and it is my 
 
 earned
 
 oh 
 
 p JOHN WOOL MAN. 93 
 
 earneft defire, that in this weighty matter, 
 we may be fo truly humbled as to be favour- 
 ed with a clear understanding of the mind 
 of truth, and follow it ; this would be of 
 more advantage to the fociety, than any me- 
 dium not in the clearnefs of divine wilcjom. 
 The cafe is difficult to fome who have them; 
 but if fiich fet afkle all felf-intereft, and come 
 to be weaned from the defire of getting ef- 
 tates, or even from holding them together, 
 when truth requires the contrary, I believe 
 way will open that they will know how to 
 fteer through thoie difficulties." 
 
 Many friends appeared to be deeply bow- 
 ed under the weight of the work ; and mani- 
 feiled much nrmnefs in their love to the cauie 
 of truth, and univerfal righteoufnefs on the 
 earth : and though none did openly juilify 
 the practice cf nave-keeping in general, yet 
 fome appeared concerned, left the meeting 
 fhould go into fiich meafures, as might give 
 uneafinefs to many brethren ; alledging, that 
 if friends patiently continued under the ex- 
 ercife, the Lord, in time to come, might 
 open a way for the deliverance of thefe peo- 
 ple : and I finding an engagement to {peak, 
 laid, " My mind is often led to confider the 
 purity of the Divine Being, and the juftice 
 of his judgments ; and herein my foul is co- 
 vered with awfulnefs : I cannot omit to hint 
 of fome cafes, where people have hot been 
 treated with the purity of juilice, and the 
 
 jilt hath been lamentable : Many flaves on 
 this continent are opprefled, and their cries 
 
 have
 
 n 
 S 
 
 94 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 have reached the ears of the Mofl High, 
 uch are the purity and certainty of his 
 judgments, that he cannot be partial in our 
 favour. In infinite love and goodnefs, he 
 jhath opened our understandings from onetime 
 to another, concerning our duty toward this 
 people ; and it is not a time for delay. Should 
 we now be feniible of what he requires of 
 us, and through a refpecl: to the private in- 
 tereft of fome perfons, or through a regard 
 to fome friendihips which do not fland on an 
 immutable foundation, neglect to do our du- 
 ty in firmnefs and conftancy, flill waiting 
 for fome extraordinary means to bring about 
 their deliverance ; it may be by terrible things 
 in righteoufnefs, God may anfwer us in this 
 
 matter." 
 
 Many faithful brethren laboured with great 
 firmnefs ; and the love of truth, in a good 
 degree, prevailed. Several friends, who had 
 negroes, expreffed their delire that a rule 
 might be made, to deal with fuch friends as 
 offenders who bought flaves in future : to 
 this it was anfwered, that the root of this 
 evil would never be effectu'ally ftruck at, un- 
 til a thorough fearch was made into the cir- 
 cumftances of fuch friends who kept negroes, 
 with refpecl to the righteoufnefs of their 
 motives in keeping them, that impartial juf- 
 tice might be adminiflered throughout. Seve- 
 ral friends exprefled their defire, that a vifit 
 might be made to fuch friends who kept 
 flaves : and many friends faid, that they be- 
 lieved
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 9? 
 
 lieved liberty was the negroes right ; to which, 
 at length, no oppofition was made publicly : 
 a minute was made more full on that fub- 
 jec"t, than any heretofore ; and the names of 
 feveral friends entered, who were free to join 
 in a vific to fuch who kept flaves. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Ills vifiting the quarterly-meetings in Chefter 
 county ; and afterwards joining ivith Daniel 
 Stanton and John Scarborough, in a vifit to 
 fuch as kept flaves there Some obfervations 
 en the condutl fuch fliould maintain <who are 
 concerned tofpeak in meetings for difciplinc 
 Several more vifiis to fuch ivho kept Jlaves : 
 and to friends near Salem So?ne account of 
 the yearly-meeting in the year 1/59; and of 
 the increajing concern in divers provinces ^ to 
 labour againjl buying and keeping flaves 
 The yearly-meeting epijlle His thoughts on 
 the fmall-pox fpreading and on inoculation. 
 
 ON the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 
 in the year 1758, I fet out for Concord; 
 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 lafl yearly meeting. Here 
 
 I met
 
 96 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS' 
 
 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 ftrengthening opportunity to- 
 gether. 
 
 After this meeting I joined with my friends 
 Daniel Stanton and John Scarborough, in 
 vifiting friends who had flaves ; 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 Uwchlancl meeting, 
 at which were many people, and it was a 
 time of divine favour ; after which, we vi- 
 lited fome who had Haves ; 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- 
 fhen 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 nrffc held 
 at that place. Here we met again with all the 
 before-mentioned friends, and had fome edi- 
 fying meetings : and near the concluiion of 
 the meeting for bufinefs, friends were incited 
 to conflancy in fupporting the teftimony of 
 truth, and reminded of the necefuty which 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 97 
 
 the difciples of Chrift are under to attend 
 principally to his bufinefs, as he is pleafed 
 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 affeclions, or hinder 
 us from from diligently following the dictates 
 of truth, in labouring to promote the pure 
 fpirit of nieeknefs and heavenly-mindednefs 
 amongli the children of men, in thefe days 
 of calamity and diftrefs ; wherein God is vi- 
 fiting our land with his juft judgments. 
 
 Each of thefe quarterly-meetings were 
 large, and fat near eight hours. Here I had 
 occafion to confider, that it is a weighty thing 
 to fpeak much in large meetings for bufinefs : 
 ftrfl, except our minds are rightly prepared, 
 and we clearly underfland the cafe we fpeak 
 to, inflead of forwarding j we hinder bufi- 
 nefs, and make more labour for thofe on 
 whom the burthen of the work is laid. 
 
 If felfiih views, or a partial fpirit, have 
 any room in our minds, we are unfit for 
 the Lord's work ; if we have a clear profpecl 
 of the buiinefs, 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 bufinefs is attended with great diffi- 
 culty, it behoves all to be cautious how they 
 detain a meeting ; efpecially when they have 
 fat iix or feven hours, and have a great dif- 
 H tance
 
 98 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 tance to ride home. After this meeting ! 
 rode home. 
 
 In the beginning of the twelfth month of 
 the year 1758, I joined in company with my 
 friends John Sykes and Daniel Stanton, in 
 viiiting fuch who had flaves : fome, whofe 
 hearts were rightly exercifed about them, ap- 
 peared to be glad of our viiit ; 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 have caufe, in reverent thankful nefs, 
 humbly to bow down before the Lord, who 
 was near to me, and preferred 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, hav- 
 ing found my mind drawn to vifit fome of 
 the more active members, in our fociety at 
 Philadelphia, who had ilaves, I met my friend 
 John Churchman there by an agreement ; 
 and we continued about a week in the city : 
 we vifited fome that were lick, and fome wi- 
 dows and their families ; and the other part 
 of our time was moflly employed in vifiting 
 iiich who had flaves It was a time of deep 
 cxerciie, looking often to the Lord for his ai- 
 fiflance ; who, in unfpeakable kindnefs, 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
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 99 
 
 fome heavy labours, in which we found 
 peace. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth day of the third 
 nionth, of this year, I was at our Gene- 
 ral fpring meeting at Philadelphia : after 
 which, I again joined with John Churchman 
 on a vifit to fome more, who had flaves in 
 Philadelphia ; andj with thankfulnefs to our 
 heavenly Father, I may fay, that divine love 
 and a true fympathizing tendernefs of hear^ 
 prevailed at times in this fervice. 
 
 Having, at times, perceived a fhynefs m 
 fome friends, of considerable note, towards 
 me, I found an engagement in gofpel love to 
 pay a viiit 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 i 
 and then, in the fear of the Lord, things 
 relating to that ihynefs were fearched to the 
 bottom ; 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 j 
 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 
 feveii meetings ; in fome of which I was 
 chiefly filent, and in others, thro* the bap- 
 tizing power of truth, my heart was en- 
 H 2 largcd
 
 ioo THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 larged in heavenly love, and found a near 
 fellowfhip with the brethren and fillers, in 
 the manifold trials attending their chriftian 
 progrefs 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 haying no opportunity of the 
 company of fuch who were named on the 
 minutes of the yearly-meeting, I went alone! 
 to their houfes, and, in the fear of the Lord, 
 acquainted them with tlie exercife I was un- 
 der : and thus, fometimes, by a few words, 
 I found myfelf difcharged from a heavy bur- 
 then. 
 
 After this, our friend John Churchman 
 coming into our province with a view to be 
 at fome 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 fatisfaclion. 
 
 At our yearly-meeting in the year iy59> 
 we had fome weighty feafons ; where the 
 power of truth was largely extended, to the 
 ftrengthening of the honefh-minded. As 
 friends read over the epiflles, to be fent to 
 the yearly-meetings along this continent, I 
 obferved in mofl of them, both this year and 
 la ft, it was recommended to friends to la- 
 bour againfl buying and keeping flaves ; and 
 in fome of them clofely treated upon. As 
 this practice hath long been a heavy exercife 
 to me, and I have often waded through mor- 
 ^tifying labours on that account ; and, at 
 
 times,
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. ror 
 
 times, in fome meetings been almofl alone 
 therein. Now obferving the increafing con- 
 cern in our religious fociety, and feeing how 
 the Lord was railing up and qualifying fer- 
 vants for his work, not only in this reipec\ 
 but for promoting the caufe of truth in ge- 
 neral, I was humbly bowed in thankfulnefs 
 before him. This meeting continued near a 
 week : and, for fever al days, in the forepart 
 of it, my mind was drawn into a deep in- 
 ward ftillnefs ; and being, at times, covered' 
 with the fpirit of fupplication, my heart was 
 fecretly poured out before the Lord : and 
 near the conclufion of the meeting for bufi- 
 nefs way opened, that, in the pure flowings 
 of divine love, I expreffed what lay upon 
 me; which, as it then arofe in my mind, was 
 " firfltofhew how deep anfwers to deep in the 
 hearts of the fincere and upright ; though, in 
 their different growths they may not allhave 
 attained to the fame clearnefs in fome points 
 relating to our teftimony : and I was led to 
 mention the integrity and conflancy of many 
 martyrs, who gave their lives for the tefti- 
 mony of Jefus ; and yet, in fome points, 
 held doctrines diftinguimable from fome 
 which we hold : and that, in all ages where 
 people were faithful to the light and under- 
 itanding which the Mo ft High afforded 
 them, they found acceptance with him ; and 
 that now, though there are different ways of 
 thinking amongft us in fome particulars, yet, 
 if we mutually kept to that fpirit and power 
 which crucifies to the world, which teaches 
 
 us.
 
 joa THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 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 (till be preferred amongft us : and that 
 if fuch, who were, at times, under fuiTerings 
 on account of fome fcruples of confcience, 
 kept low and humble, and in their conduct 
 in life manifefled 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 attend- 
 ed with a contrary fpirit and conduct." In 
 which exercife I was drawn into a fympa- 
 thizing tendernefs with the meep of Chrifl, 
 however diftinguiihed one from another in 
 this world ; and the like difpoiition appeared 
 to fpread over others in the meeting. Great 
 is the goodnefs of the Lord toward his poor 
 creatures. 
 
 An epiflle went forth from this yearly- 
 meeting, which I think good to give a 
 place in this journal ; being as follows : 
 
 FronJ
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 103 
 
 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. 
 ^ 
 
 To the quarterly and monthly meetings of 
 friends belonging to the faid yearly-meet- 
 ing. 
 
 Dearly beloved friends and brethren, 
 
 ** TN an siwfulfenfe of the wifdom and goocl- 
 * 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 re- 
 verently regard the difpenfations of his pro- 
 vidence, and improve under them." 
 
 " The empires and kingdoms of the earth 
 are fubjecl: to his Almighty power : He is the 
 God of the fpirits of all flefli ; and deals with 
 his people agreeable to that wifdom, die depth 
 whereof is to us unfearchable : we, in thefe 
 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 the natives ; fo that by them they 
 were comforted ia times of want and diftrefs ,
 
 104 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 it was by the gracious influences of his holy 
 fpirit, that they .were difpofed to work righr 
 teoufnefs, and walk uprightly one towards 
 another, and towards the natives, and in life 
 and conversation to rAanifeft the excellency of 
 the principles and doctrines of the chriftian 
 religion ; and thereby they retain their efteem 
 and- friendfhip : whilft they were labouring 
 for the neceffaries of life, many of them were 
 fervently engaged to promote piety and vir- 
 tue in the earth, and educate their children 
 in the fear of the Lord." 
 
 " If we carefully confider the peaceable 
 meafures purfued in the nrfl fettlement of 
 the land, and that freedom from the defola- 
 -tions of wars, which for a long time we en- 
 joyed, we mall find ourfelves under ftrbng 
 obligations to the Almighty, who, when the 
 earth is fo generally polluted with wicked- 
 nefs, gave us a being in a part fo fignally fa- 
 voured with tranquillity and plenty, aiid in 
 which the "glad tidings of the gofpel of 
 Chrifl are fo freely publifhed, that we may 
 juflly fay with the pfalmift, " What fhall 
 " we render unto the Lord for all his bene- 
 " fits?" 
 
 " Our own real good, and the good of our 
 poflerhy in fomc meafure depends on the 
 part we act ; and it nearly concerns us to try 
 our foundations impartially. Such are the 
 different rewards of the juft and unjuft in a 
 future flate, that to attend diligently to the 
 dictates of the fpirit of Chrifl, to devote our- 
 felves to his fervice, and engage fervently in 
 
 his
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 105 
 
 his caufe, during our fliort flay in this world, 
 is a choice well becoming a free intelligent 
 creature ; we ihall thus clearly fee and con- 
 fider that the dealings* of God with mankind 
 in a nation? 1 capacity, as recorded in holy 
 writ, do fufficiently evidence the truth of 
 that faying, " it is righteoufnefs which ex- 
 " alteth a nation ;" and though he doth not 
 at all times fuddenly execute his judgments 
 on a finful people in this life, yet we fee by 
 many inilances, that where " men follow 
 " lying vanities, they forfake their own mer- 
 " cies ;" and as a proud felfrfh fpirit prevails 
 and fpreads among a people, fo partial judg- 
 ment, oppreflion, clifcord, envy and confn- 
 fions increafe, and provinces and kingdoms 
 are made to drink the cup of adverfity as a 
 reward of their own doings. Thus the in- 
 fpired prophet, reafoning with the degene- 
 rated Jews, faith, " Thine own wickedness 
 " ihall correct thee, and thy backflidings 
 " Ihall reprove thee : know therefore, that 
 u it is an evil thing and bitter, that then 
 " haft forfaken the Lord thy God, and 
 " that my fear is not in thee, faith the Lord 
 " God of Hods." Jer. ii. 19. 
 
 " The God of our fathers, who hath be- 
 ftowed on us many benefits, furniihed 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 \vifdom fee his name : 
 
 " They
 
 106 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 " 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 prefeiit troubles ; but fuch 
 who fear the Lord, and think often upon 
 his name, they fee and feel that a wrong 
 fpirit is fpreading among the inhabitants of 
 our country ; that the hearts of many are 
 waxed fat, and their ears dull of hearing j 
 that the Moil High, in his vifitations to us, 
 inftead of calling, he lifteth up his voice and 
 crieth ; he crieth to our country, and his 
 voice waxeth louder and louder. In former 
 wars between the Englifh and other nations, 
 iince the fettlement of our provinces, the ca- 
 lamities attending them have fallen chietiy 
 on other places, but now of late they have 
 reached to our borders ; many of our fellow 
 fubjecls. have fuffered on and near our fron- 
 tiers, fbme have been ilain in battle, fome 
 killed in their houfes, and fome in their fields, 
 fome wounded and left in great mifery, and 
 others feparated from their wives and little 
 children, who have been carried captives 
 among the Indians : We have feen men an$ 
 women, who have been witnefies of thefe 
 icencs of forrow, and being reduced Co want, 
 have come to our houfes afking relief. Jt 
 is not long fince it was the cafe of many 
 young men in one of thefe provinces to be 
 draughted, in order to be taken as fpldiers ; 
 fbme where at that time in great diflrefs, and 
 had occafion to confider that their lives had, 
 been too little conformable to the purity and 
 
 fpirituality
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 107 
 
 fpirituality of that religion which we pro- 
 f'efs, and found themfelves too little ac- 
 quainted with that inward humility, in 
 which true fortitude to endure hardncfs for 
 the truth's fake is experienced. Many pa- 
 rents were concerned for their children, and 
 in that time of trial were led to coniider, 
 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 cnableth to bear a 
 clear teflimony to the peaceable government 
 of the Meffiah. Thefe troubles are removed, 
 and for a time we are releafed from them." 
 
 " Let us not forget that ct the Moft High hath 
 " his way in the 4eep, in clouds and in thick 
 " darknefs'V-that it is his voice which crieth 
 to the city and to the country ; and oh ! that 
 thefe loud and awakening cries, may have a 
 proper effect upon us, that heavier chaftile- 
 ment may not become neceffary ! For though 
 things, as to the outward, may, for a iliort 
 time, afford a pleafing profpecl; yet, while 
 a felfifh fpirit, that is not fubjecl: to the crols 
 of Chriil, continueth to fpread and prevail, 
 there can be no long continuance in outward 
 peace and tranquillity. If we defire an inhe- 
 ritance incorruptible, and to be at reft in that 
 flate of peace and happinefs, which ever con- 
 tinues ; if we defire in this life to dwell un- 
 der the favour and protection of that al- 
 mighty Being, whole habitation is in holi- 
 nels, whole ways are all equal and \vhofe 
 anger is now kindled, becaufe of our back- 
 
 flidings,
 
 io8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fiidings ; let us then awfully regard thefe 
 beginnings of his fore judgments', and with 
 abafement and humiliation turn to Him, 
 whom we have offended." 
 
 " Contending with one equal in ftrength, is 
 an uneafy exercife ; but if the Lord is be- 
 come our enemy, if we perfift to contend 
 with Him who is Omnipotent, our over- 
 throw will be unavoidable." k 
 
 " 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 dilfolution ; 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 conltant uniform regard to an inward 
 piety and virtue, let them fee that we really 
 value it : let us labour in the fear of the 
 Lord, that their innocent minds, while young 
 and tender, may be preferved from corrup- 
 tions ; that as they advance in age, they 
 may rightly underfland their true intereft, 
 may confider the uncertainty of temporal 
 things, and, above all, have their hope and 
 confidence firmly fettled in the bleffmg 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 po- 
 feffcd by children, who do not truly ierve 
 God, are likely to prove fnares that may 
 more grievoufly entangle them in that fpirit 
 of ieljifhnefs and exaltation, which {lands in 
 
 oppofi-
 
 of JOHN WOOL MAN. 109 
 
 oppofition to real peace and happinefs ; and 
 renders them enemies to the crols of Chrift, 
 who fubmit to the influence of it." 
 
 '"To keep a watchful eye towards real ob- 
 jects of charity, to viiit 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 fubftance, from a 
 real fenfe of the love of Chriil influencing 
 our minds thereto, is more likely to bring a 
 blcfling to our children, and will afford more 
 fatisfadion to a chriftian favoured with plen- 
 ty, than an earned defire to collecl much 
 wealth to leave behind us, for" here we have 
 " no continuing city ;" may we therefore di- 
 ligently " feek one that is to come, whofe 
 " builder and maker is God." 
 
 " Finally, brethren, whatfoever things are 
 " true, whatfoever things are jufl, whatfo- 
 " ever things are pure, whatfoever things 
 " are lovely, whatfoever things are of good 
 " report ; if there be any virtue, if there 
 " be any praife, think on thefe things and 
 "do them, and the God of peace fhall be 
 " with you." 
 
 Signed by appointment, and on behalf of 
 our laid meeting, by feven friends. 
 
 On
 
 no THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 On the twenty-eighth day of the eleven til 
 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 j 
 and the favour of the Moil High was ex- 
 tended to us in that and the enfuing meet- 
 ing. 
 
 I had converfation, at my lodging, with 
 my beloved friend Samuel Eaftburn ; who 
 expreiTed a concern to join in a vifit to fome 
 friends j in that county, who had negroes ; 
 and as I had felt a draught irf my mind to 
 that Work in the faid county, I came home 
 and put things in order : on the eleventh 
 day of the twelfth month 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 with 
 the flock of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Entering upon this vifit appeared weighty i 
 and before I left home my mind was often 
 lad ; under which exercife I felt, at times, 
 the Holy Spirit which helps our infirmities ; 
 through which, in private, my prayers were, 
 at times, put up to God, that he would be 
 pleafed to purge me from all felfiihnefs, that 
 I might be Strengthened to difcharge my 
 duty faithfully, how hard foever to the na- 
 tural part. We proceeded on the vifit in a 
 weighty frame of fpirit, and went to the 
 houies of the mod active members, through- 
 out the county, who had negroes ; and, 
 
 through
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN/ in 
 
 through the goodnefs of the Lord, my mind 
 was preserved in refignation in times i)f trial, 
 and though the work was hard to nature, 
 yet through the flrength of that love which 
 is ilrongcr than death, tendernefs of heart 
 was often felt amongft us in our vifits, and 
 we parted from feveral families with greater 
 fatisfaclioii than we expecled. 
 
 We vifited Jofeph White's family, he be-^ 
 ing in England ; had alfo a family fitting at 
 the hcufe of an elder who bore us company, 
 and was at Makefiekl on a firft day : at ail 
 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- 
 vants, uniting us together in his work. 
 
 In the winter of this year, the iinall-pox be- 
 ing in our town, and many being inoculated, 
 of which a few died, fome things were open- 
 ed in my mind, which I wrote as follow : 
 
 The more fully our lives are conformable 
 to the will of God, the better it is for us. 
 I have looked on the finall-pox as a mefTenger 
 from the Almighty, to be an affiftant in the 
 caufc of virtue, and to incite us to confider 
 whether we employ our time only in fucli 
 things as are confident with perfect wifdom 
 and goodnefs. 
 
 Building houfes fuitable to dwell in, for 
 ourf elves and our creatures ; preparing cloath- 
 ing fuitable for the climate and feaibn, and 
 food convenient, are all duties incumbent 
 on us : and under thefe general heads, are 
 branches of buliaefs, in which we 
 
 may
 
 ii2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 may venture health and life, as neceflity may 
 require. 
 
 This difeafe being in a houfe, and my 
 bufmeis calling me to go near it, it incites 
 me to think, whether this buiinefs is a real 
 indifpenfible duty ; whether it is not in con- 
 formity to fome cuftom, which would be 
 better laid afide ; or, whether it does not 
 proceed from too eager a purfuit after fome 
 outward treafure. If the bufinefs before me 
 fprings not from a clear underftanding, and 
 a. regard to that ufe^pf things which perfect 
 wifdom approves ; to be brought to a fenfe 
 of it, and flopped in my purfuit, is a kind- 
 nefs ; for when I proceed to bufinefs with- 
 out fome evidence of duty, I have found, by 
 experience, that it tends to weaknefs* 
 
 If I am fo fituated that there appears no 
 probability of mimng the infection, it tends 
 to make me think, whether my manner of 
 life, in things outward, has nothing in it 
 which may unfit my body to receive this 
 meffenger in a way the mod favourable to 
 me. Do I ufe food and drink in no other 
 fort, and in no other degree, than was de- 
 figned by Him, who gave thefe creatures for 
 our fciftenance ? Do I never abufe my body 
 by inordinate labour, flriving to accompliih 
 fome end which I have unwifely propofed ? 
 Do I ufe action enough in fome ufeful em- 
 ploy ? Or, clo I fit too- much idle, while fome 
 peiibns, who labour to fupport me, have too 
 great a ihare of it ? If, in any of thefe 
 
 things,
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 113 
 
 things j I am deficient, to be incited to con- 
 fider it, is a favour to me. 
 
 There is employ neceffary in focial life ; 
 and this infection, which often proves mor- 
 tal, incites me to think, whether thefe focial 
 acts of mine are" real duties : if I go on a 
 viiit to the widows and fatherlefs, do I go 
 purely on a principle of charity, free from 
 any felnih views ? If I go to a religious 
 meeting, it puts me on thinking, whether I go 
 in fmcerity and in a clear fenle of duty ; or 
 whether it is not parser in conformity to 
 cuftom, or partly from a fenlible delight 
 which my animal fpirits feel in the com- 
 pany of other people ; and whether to flip- 
 port my reputation as a religious man, has 
 no fhare in it. 
 
 Do affairs, relating to, civil fociety, call 
 me near this infection ? If I go, it is at the 
 hazard of my health and life ; and becomes me 
 to think feriouily, whether love to truth and 
 righteoufiiefs is the motive of my attending ; 
 whether the manner of proceeding, is alto- 
 gether equitable ; or whether aught of nar- 
 rowiiefs, party inter eft, refpect to outward 
 dignities, names, or diftinctions among men, 
 do not (lain the beauty of thofe affemblies, 
 and render it doubtful, in point of duty, 
 whether a difciple of Chrift ought to attend 
 as a member united to the body or not. 
 
 Whenever there are blcmifhes which, for 
 a feries of time, remain fuch ; that which 
 is a means of ftirring us up to look atten- 
 tively on thefe blemiihes, and to labour ac- 
 I cording
 
 ii4 THE LIFE A*D TRAVELS 
 
 cording to our capacities, to have health and 
 foundnefs reflored in our country, we may 
 juftly account a kindnefs from our gracious 
 Father, who appointed that mean; 
 
 The care of a wife and good man for 
 his only fon^ is inferior to the regard of the 
 great Parent of the univerfe for his creatures. 
 He- hath the command of all the powers and 
 operations in nature ; and " doth not afflict 
 willingly, nor grieve the children of men :" 
 chaftifement is intended for inflrudlion, and 
 inftruclion being received by gentle chaftiie- 
 ment, greater calamities are prevented. 
 . By an earthquake hundreds of houfes are 
 fometimes fhaken down in a few minutes $ 
 and multitudes of people perifh fuddenly ; 
 and many more being crufhed and bruifed in 
 the ruins of the buildings, pine away and 
 die in great mifery. 
 
 By the breaking in of enraged mercilefs 
 armies, flourifhing countries have been laid 
 wafte, . and great numbers of people perifhed 
 in a ihort time, and many more prefled with 
 poverty and grief. 
 
 By the peftilence people have died fo fafl 
 in a city, that through fear, grief and con- 
 fufion, thofe in health have found great dif- 
 ficulty in burying the dead, even without 
 coffins. 
 
 By famine, great numbers of people, in 
 fome places, have been brought to the ut- 
 molt diflrefs, and pined away for want of 
 the neceflaries of life. Thus, where the kind 
 invitations, and gentle chailifements, of a 
 
 gracious
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 115 
 
 gracious God have not been attended to, his 
 fore judgments have, at times, been poured 
 out upon people. 
 
 While fbrrie rules approved in civil fo- 
 eiety, and conformable to human policy, fo 
 called, are diftinguiihable from the purity of 
 truth and righteoufnefs : while many pro- 
 fefling truth, are declining from that ardent 
 love and heavenly mindednefs, which was 
 amongfl the primitive followers of Jefus 
 Chrifk : it is a time for us to attend diligent- 
 ly to the intent of every chaftifement, and 
 coniider the mod deep and inward defign of 
 them; 
 
 The Mod High doth not often fpeak with 
 an outward voice to our outward ears ; but, 
 if we humbly meditate on his perfections, 
 confider that he is perfect wifdom and good- 
 nefs, and to afflict his creatures to ho pur- 
 pofe, would be utterly reverfe to his nature, 
 we mall hear and underftand his language, 
 both in his gentle and more heavy chaftife- 
 ments ; and take heed that we do not, in the 
 wifdom of this world; endeavour to efcape 
 his hand by means too powerful for us. 
 
 Had he endowed men with underflanding 
 to hinder the force of this difeafe by inno- 
 cent means, which had never proved mor- 
 tal nor hurtful to our bodies, fuch difcovery 
 might be coniidered as the period of chaftife- 
 ment by this diftemper, where that know- 
 ledge extended : but as life and health are 
 his gifts, and not to be difpofed of in our 
 own wills, to take upon us, when in health, 
 I 2 a diftemper
 
 Hi 6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 a diftemper, of which fome die, requires 
 great clearnefs of knowledge, that it is our 
 duty to do fo. 
 
 CHAP, VII. 
 
 His vifit) in company ivith Samuel JLajlbitrn, 
 to Long-IJland, Rhode- Ijl and ^ Bojion y &v. 
 in New-England Remarks on the Jlave- 
 trade at Newport^ and his exercife on that 
 account ; alfo on lotteries Some obfervations 
 on the ifland of Nantucket. 
 
 HAVING, for fome. time pad, felt a 
 fympathy in my mind with friends 
 Eaftward, I opened my concern in our month- 
 ly-meeting ; and, obtaining a certificate, fet 
 forward on the feventeenth day of the fourth 
 month, in the year 1760, joining in com- 
 pany, by a previous agreement, with my be- 
 loved friend Samuel Eaftburn. We had meet- 
 ings at Woodbridgc, Rahaway and Plain- 
 field ; and were at their monthly-meeting of 
 minifters and elders in Rahavray. We la- 
 boured under ibme difcouragement ; but, 
 through the inviiible power of truth, our vi- 
 iit was made reviving to the lowly minded, 
 with whom I felt a near unity of ipirit, be- 
 ing
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 117 
 
 ing much reduced in my mind. We pafTed 
 on, and vifited chief of the meetings on 
 Long-Ifland. It was my concern, from day 
 to day, to lay no more nor lefs than what 
 the fpirit of truth opened in me, being jea- 
 lous over myfelf, left I fliould fpeak any 
 thing to make my teflimony look agreeable 
 10 that mind in people, which is not in pure 
 obedience to the crofs of Chrift. 
 
 The {pring of the mini (try was often low ; 
 and, through the fubjecling 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 Chrifl, 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 fame truly 
 edifying feafons both in meetings, and in fa- 
 milies w^here we tarried ; and fometimes 
 found flrength to labour earneftly with the 
 unfaithful, efpecially with thofe, whofe fla- 
 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 blefled 
 truth. At Jericho, on Long-Ifland, I wrote 
 liome as follows ;
 
 ii8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 24th of the 4th month, 1760. 
 
 Dearly beloved wife, 
 
 " \X7E ar e favoured with health ; have been 
 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 t>e fingly in the will of our hea- 
 venly Father." 
 
 ' As the prefent appearance of things is 
 not joyous, I have been much fhut up from 
 outward chearfulnefs, remembering that pro- 
 mife, " Then fhalt thou delight thyfelf in 
 the Lord :" as this, from day to clay, has 
 been revived in my memory, I have confi- 
 dered that his internal prefence on our minds, 
 is a delight of all others the mod pure ; and 
 that the honeft-hearted not only delight in 
 this, but in the effect of it upon them. He 
 who regards the helplefs and diftreffed, and 
 reveals his love to his children under afflic- 
 tion, they delight in beholding his benevo- 
 lence, and feeling divine charity moving up- 
 on them : of this I may fpeak a little ; for 
 though, lince 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
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 119 
 
 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 feafon, 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 
 recommend you to the Almighty, who, I 
 truft cares for you ; and under a fenfe of his 
 Jieavenly love, remain" 
 
 " Thy loving hufband," 
 
 " J. W ," 
 
 We crofTed from the eaft end of Long- 
 Jfland to New-London, about thirty miles, 
 in a large open boat ; while we were out, the 
 wind rifing high, the waves fever al times 
 beat over us, that to me it appeared danger- 
 ous ; 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 I had, to Him 
 who gave it. 
 
 We had five meetings in Narraganfet ; and 
 thence to Newport on Rhode-Ifland. 
 
 Our
 
 120 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Our gracious Father preferred us in an hum- 
 ble dependance on him through deep exer- 
 cifes, that were mortifying to the creaturely 
 will. In feveral 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, thro* 
 divine aid, I was favoured to give up there- 
 to : though, in this concern, I appear 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 talk af- 
 figned me, but look with awfulnefs to Him, 
 who appoints to his fervants their refpeclive 
 employments, and is good to all who ferve 
 him fmcerely. 
 
 We got to Newport' in the evening : and 
 on the next day vifited two fick perfons, 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 flrength 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 thefe parts, 
 and the continuance of that trade from thence 
 to Guinea, made deep impreilion 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 f'uch way 
 as he might be pleafed to point out to me. 
 
 We
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 121 
 
 We took Swanfea, Freetown, and Tanton, 
 in our way to Boflon ; 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 Boflon, taking meetings, and were 
 in a good degree preferred in an humble de- 
 pendance 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 flout againit the truth ; yet, 
 thro' the goodnefs of 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 Boflon, and had 
 another comfortable opportunity with friends 
 there ; and thence rode back a day's journey 
 eaflward of Boflon ; our guide being a heavy 
 man, and the weather hot, and my companion 
 and I confideryig it, exprefled our freedom to 
 go on without him, to which he contented, 
 and we respectfully 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 fociety ; and in bowedneis of 
 fpirit went to the yearly-meeting at New- 
 port ; where I underflood that a large num- 
 ber of fiaves were imported from Africa into 
 that town, and then on fale, by a member of 
 our fociety. At this meeting we met with 
 John Storer from England, Elizabeth Ship- 
 ley,
 
 122 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ley, Ann Gaunt, Hannah Fofter, and Mercy 
 Redman from our parts, all minifters of the 
 gofpel, of whofe company I was glad. 
 
 At tliis time my appetite failed, and I 
 grew outwardly weak, and had a feeling of 
 the condition of Habbakuk, as there ex- 
 pelled. " When I heard my belly trembled, 
 pay lips quivered, I trembled in myfelf that I 
 might reft in phe day of trouble ;" I had ma- 
 ny cogitations, and was forely diftreffed : and 
 was defirous that friends might petition the 
 legiflature, to ufe their endeavours to difcou- 
 rage the future importation of flaves ; for I 
 law that this trade was a great evil, and 
 tended to multiply troubles, and bring dif- 
 trefles on the people in thole parts, for whole 
 welfare my heart was deeply concerned. 
 
 But I perceived feveral difficulties in regard 
 to petitioning ; and fuch was the exerciie of 
 my mind, that I had thought of endeavour- 
 ing to get an opportunity tp fpeak a few 
 words in the Houie of Affembly, then fetting 
 in town. This exerciie came upon me in the 
 afternoon, on the fecond day of the yearly- 
 meeting, and going to bed, I got no fleep 
 till my mind was wholly religned therein; 
 and in the morning I enquired of a friend 
 how long the Ailembly were likely to conti- 
 nue fitting ; who told me, they were expect- 
 ed to be prorogued that day or the next. 
 
 As I was deiirous to attend the buiinefs of 
 the meeting, and perceived the Aflembly 
 were likely to depart before the buiinefs was 
 over ; after confiderable exercife, humbly 
 
 feeking
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 123 
 
 feeking to the Lord for infhruclion, my mind 
 fettled to attend on the bufinefs of the meet^- 
 ing; on the laft day of which, I had pre^ 
 pared a fhort eiTay of a petition to be pre- 
 fented tq the legiflature, if way opened : and 
 being informed that there were fome ap- 
 pointed, by that yearly-meeting, to fpeak 
 with thofe in authority, in cafes relating to 
 the fociety, I opened my mind to feveral of 
 them, and mewed them the effay I had made; 
 and afterward opened the cafe in the meet- 
 ing for bufinefs, in fubftance as follows : 
 
 " I have been under a concern for fome 
 time, on account of the great number of 
 ilaves 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 light 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 
 {hould think well of reading it, it will re- 
 piain for the meeting, after hearing it, to 
 confider, whether to take any farther notice 
 of it as a meeting or not." After a fhort con- 
 ference fome friends went out, and looking 
 over it, exprefled their willingnefs to have it 
 read ; which being done, many expreiTed 
 their unity with the propofal ; and fome fig- 
 ntfied, that to have the fubjects of the peti- 
 tion enlarged upon, and to be figned out of 
 
 meeting
 
 124 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 meeting by fuch who were free, would be 
 more iuitable than to do it there : though 
 I expected at firft, 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 afTernbled, appeared 
 to me as a duty ; for my heart yearned to- 
 ward the inhabitants of thefe parts ; believ- 
 ing that by this trade there had been an in- 
 creafe of inquietude amongft them, and a way 
 made eafy for the fpreading of a fpirit oppo- 
 iite to that meeknefs and humility, which is 
 a fure refling-place for the foul : and that the 
 continuance of this trade would not only 
 render their healing more difficult, but in- 
 creafe their malady. 
 
 Having thus far proceeded, I felt eafy to 
 leave the eflay 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 was 
 zealouily handled by fome on both fides. In 
 this debate it appeared very clear to me, that 
 the fpirit of lotteries was a fpirit of feLfkfti- 
 riefs, which tended to confufion and ^ark- 
 
 / nefs
 
 0? JOHN WOOLMAN. 125 
 
 nefs of under ft anding ; and that pleading for 
 it in our meetings, let apart for the Lord's 
 work, was not right : and in the heat of zeal, 
 I once made reply to what an antient friend 
 faid, which when I fat down, I faw that my 
 words were not enough feafoned with chari- 
 ty; and after this, I fpake no more on the 
 fubject. At length a minute was made ; a 
 copy of which was agreed to be fent to their 
 feveral quarterly-meetings, inciting friends 
 to labour to difcourage the practice ainongft 
 all profemng with us. 
 
 Some time after this minute was made, I 
 remaining uneafy with the manner of my 
 fpeaking to the antient friend, could not fee 
 my way clear to conceal my uneafinefs, 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- 
 iy to the iafe guide, I flood up, and reciting 
 the paffage, acquainted friends, that tho' I 
 dare not go from what I had fkid 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 favor 
 amongfl 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 ilavo-keeping. This I mentioned 
 
 to
 
 126 THE LIFE ARD TRAVELS 
 
 to two antient friends, who came out of the 
 country, and propofed to them, if way 
 openedj to have fome converfation with 
 thofe friends : and thereupon, one of thofe 
 country friends and I, confulted one of the: 
 moft noted elders who had flaves ; and he, in 
 a refpeclful 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 houfe ; 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 vifit them 
 all in their own houfes : he exprefled his lik- 
 ing to the firft propofal, not doubting their 
 willingnefs to come together : and as I pro- 
 pofed a vilit to only ministers, elders, and 
 overfeers ; he named fome others, whom he 
 deiired might be prefent alfo : and as a care- 
 ful melfenger 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 1 aft-mentioned country friend ^ 
 alfo my companion, and John Storer, with 
 us ; when, after a fhort time of retirement, 
 I acquainted them with the fteps I had taken 
 
 in
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN; 127 
 
 in procuring that meeting, and opened thd 
 concern I was under ; and fo we proceeded 
 to a free conference upon the fubjecl. My 
 exercife was heavy, and I was deeply bowed 
 in fpirit before the Lord, who was pleafed to 
 favour with the feafoning virtue of truth, 
 which wrought a tendernefs amongfl us ; and 
 the fubjecl: was mutually handled in a calm 
 and peaceable fpirit : and, at length, feeling 
 my mind releafed from that burthen which 
 I had been under j I took my leave of them, 
 in a good degree of fatisfaclion ; and by the 
 tendernefs they manifefled in regard to the 
 practice, and the concern feveral of them ex- 
 prefled in relation to the manner of difpofing 
 of their negroes after their deceafe, I believ- 
 ed that a good exercife was fpreading amongft 
 them ; and I am humbly thankful to God, 
 who fup ported my mind, and preferved me 
 in a good degree of resignation through thefe 
 trials. 
 
 Thou, who fometiines travels in the work 
 of the miniflry, and art made very welcome 
 by thy friends, feeft many tokens of their 
 fatisfaclion, in having thee for their gueih 
 It is good for thee to dwell deep, that thoit 
 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 their 
 kindnefs, their freedom and affability, do 
 not hinder us from the Lord's work. I have 
 feen, that in the midft of kindnefs and fmooth 
 condudl, to fpeak clofe and home to them 
 
 who
 
 123 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 who entertain us, on points that relate to 
 their outward interefl, is hard labour ; and 
 fometimes, when I have felt truth lead to- 
 ward it, I have found my f elf dif qualified by 
 a fuperficial friendfhip ; and as the fenie 
 thereof hath abated me, and my cries have 
 been to the Lord, ib I have been humbled 
 and made content to appear weak, or as a 
 fool for his fake ; and thus a door hath open- 
 ed to enter upon it. To attempt to do the 
 Lord's work in our 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 diforder. To 
 fee the failings of our friends, and think 
 hard of them, without opening that which 
 we ought to open, and flill carry a face of 
 friendihip, this tends to undermine the foun- 
 dation of true unity. 
 
 The office of a minifter of Chrift is weigh- 
 ty; and they who now go forth as watch-* 
 men, had need to be fleadily on their guard 
 againft the fnares of profperity and an out* 
 (ide friendship. 
 
 After the yearly-meeting, we were at 
 meetings at Newtown, Cufhnet, Long-Plain, 
 Rocheiler and Dartmouth : from thence we 
 failed for Nantucket, in company with Ann 
 Gaunt and Mercy Redman, and ieveral other 
 friends : the wind being flack, we only reached 
 Tarpawling Cove the firfl day ; where, going 
 on fhorc, we found room in a publick-houfe, 
 and beds for a few of us, the reft fleeping 
 on the floor : we went on board again about 
 
 break
 
 ofr JOHN WOOLMAN. 129 
 
 break of day ; and though the wind was 
 frnall, 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 (lark ; 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 laft of which, was their month- 
 ly-meeting for bufinefs. We had a labori- 
 ous time amongft them ; our minds were 
 clofely exercifed, and I believe it was a time 
 of great fearching of heart : the longer I was 
 on the iiland, 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 vilits, 
 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 mutu- 
 al comfort. 
 
 My beloved companion had very accepta- 
 ble fervice on this iiland. 
 
 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 
 yeiTel, 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 
 /hore : and feeling clear as to any further vi- 
 fits, I fpent my time in our chamber chiefly 
 K alone ;
 
 130 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 alone; and after fome hours, my heart be- 
 ing filled with the fpirit of fupplication, my 
 prayers and tears were poured out before 
 my heavenly Father, for his help and in- 
 f traction in the manifold difficulties which 
 attended me in life : and while I was wait- 
 ing upon the Lord, there came a mefTenger" 
 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 fo 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 fhut up 
 before, was largely opened in the love of the 
 gofpel : and the next morning, about break 
 of day, going again on board the veflel, we 
 reached Falmouth on the Main before night ; 
 where our horfes being brought, we pro- 
 ceeded toward Sandwich quarterly-meeting. 
 
 Being two days in going to Nantucket, 
 and having been there once before, I obferved 
 many ihoals in their bay, which make fail- 
 ing more dangerous, efpecially in ftormy 
 nights ; alfo, that a great fhoal, which en- 
 cfeles their harbour, prevents their going 
 in w r ith floops, except when the tide is 
 -up; waiting without which, for the rifing 
 of the tide, is fometimes hazardous in ftorms : 
 waiting within, they fometimes mifs a fair 
 wind. I took notice, that on that final! 
 iflaTO was a great number of inhabitants, 
 and the foil not very fertile j the timber fo 
 
 gone,
 
 o* JOHN WO OEM AN. 131 
 
 gone, that for veiTels, fences, and firewood^ 
 they depend chiefly on the buying from 
 the Main ; the coft whereof, with moil of 
 their other expences, they depend principally 
 upon the whale fiihery to anfwer. I conii- 
 dered, that as towns grew larger, and lands 
 near navigable waters more cleared, timber 
 and wood would require more labour to get 
 it : I understood that the whales being much 
 hunted, and fometimes wounded and not 
 killed, grew more my and difficult to come 
 at: I considered 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 ; and as people 
 attend to his heavenly iirftrucTion, and put 
 their trufl 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 fhrong 
 deftre for their firm eflabliihment on the fure 
 foundation ; befides what was laid more pub- 
 lickly, I was concerned to fpeak with the 
 women friends, in their monthly-meeting of 
 bufinefs, many being prefent ; and in the 
 frefh fpring of pure love, to open before 
 them the advantage, both inward and out- 
 ward, of attending iingly to the pure guid- 
 ance of the Holy Spirit, and therein to edu- 
 cate their children in true humility, and the 
 difufe of all fuperfluities, reminding tjiem 
 of the difficulties their hufbande and fons were 
 frequently expofed to at fea ; and that the more 
 K. 2 plain
 
 132 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 plain and fimple their way of living wasy 
 the lefs need of running great hazards to 
 fupport them in it ; 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, that it had ever been attended with more 
 true peace and calmnefs of mind, than they 
 have had who, afpiring to greatnefs and out- 
 ward fliew, have grafped hard for an income 
 to fupport themfelves in it : and as I ob- 
 ferved, they had few or no Haves amongfl 
 them, I had to encoxirage 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. 
 
 "VVe attended the quarterly-meeting at 
 Sandwich, in company with Ann Gaunt 
 and Mercy Redman, which was preceeded 
 by a monthly-meeting ; and in the whole 
 I three days : we were various ways exer- 
 cifed amongfl them, in gofpcl love, accord- 
 ing to the feveral gifts bellowed on us ; 
 raid were, at times, overlhadowed with the 
 :.;e of truth, to the comfort of the fmcere, 
 and itirring up of the negligent. Here we 
 parted with Ann and Mercy, and went to 
 Rhode-Iiland, taking one meeting in our 
 way, which was a fatisfadlory time ; and 
 reaching Newport the evening before their 
 quarterly-meeting, we attended it ; and after 
 
 tfcat.
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 133 
 
 that, had a meeting with our young people, 
 feparated from thole of other focieties. We 
 went thro' 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 Shep- 
 herd. The laft meeting, in which friends 
 from the feveral parts of the quarter came 
 together, was a felecl: meeting ; and through 
 the renewed manifeftation of the Father's 
 love, the hearts of the fincere were united to- 
 gether. 
 
 ' That poverty of fpirit and inward weak- 
 nefs, with which I was much tried the fore 
 part of this journey, has of late appeared to 
 me as a difpenfation of kindnefs. Appoint- 
 v 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 ftich inward 
 poverty j 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 moviiigs of the heavenly 
 principle in my mind which prepared the 
 way to fome duties, that in more eafy raid 
 proiperous times as to the outward, I believe 
 I fhould have been in danger of omitting.
 
 jj4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 From Newport we went to Greenwich, 
 Shanticut, and Warwick ; and were helped 
 to 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 tliofe parts, and 
 thence proceeded to the quarterly-meeting at 
 Rye woods ; and, thro' the gracious extend- 
 ings of divine help, had ibme feaibning op- 
 portunities in thofe places: fo we v ill ted friends 
 at New-York and Flufliing ; 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 rne 
 in this journey, my heart is humbled in 
 grateful acknowledgements ; and find re-> 
 newed defires to dwell and walk in refigned- 
 #efs before him. 
 
 C H A P.
 
 JOHN WOOL MAN. 135 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 His vi/its to Pennsylvania^ Shrewsbury and 
 Squan His publifhing the fecond part of his 
 confederations on keeping negroes The 
 grounds of his appearing in fame re/peas 
 fmgular in his drefs His vifiting the fa- 
 milies of friends of Ancocas and Mount-Holly 
 meetings His vifits to the Indians at We- 
 haloojlng on the river Sufquehannah. 
 
 HAVING felt my mind drawn toward a 
 vifit to a few meetings in Pennfylva- 
 nia, I was very defirous to be rightly in- 
 ftructed 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, 
 thro' the fpringing up of pure love, I felt en- 
 couragement, and ib croffed 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 foine noted friends, 
 who kept negroes : and as I was favoured to 
 keep to the root, and endeavoured to dif- 
 charge 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 pleaied to be a guide to 
 roe. 
 
 la
 
 136 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 In the eighth month, 1761, having felt 
 drawings in my mind to vifit friends in and 
 about Shrewsbury ; I went there, and was 
 at their monthly-meeting, and their iirll-day 
 meeting ; and had a meeting at Squan, and 
 another at Squankum ; and, as way opened, 
 Jiad conversation with fome noted friends 
 concerning their flaves : 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 Considerations on keeping 
 Negroes, part the feconci ; which was print- 
 ed this year, 1762. When the overfeers 
 the prefs had done with it, they otiercd to 
 get a number printed to be paid for, out of 
 the yearly-meeting flock, and to be given 
 away ; but I being moil eafy to publiih them 
 at my own expence,* and offering my reafons 
 they appeared Satisfied. * 
 
 This flock is the contribution of the mem- 
 bers of our religious fociety in general j 
 amongfl whom are fome who keep negroes, 
 and being inclined to continue them in Sla- 
 very, are not likely to be fatisfied with 'thole 
 books being Spread amongfl a people where 
 many of the Slaves 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 befl to fell them ; expecting, by that 
 means, they would more generally be read 
 with attention, Advertifements being Signed 
 
 by
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 137 
 
 by order of the overfeers of the prefs, di- 
 rected to be read in monthly-meetings of bu- 
 jtinefs within our own yearly-meeting, in- 
 forming where the books were, and that the 
 price was no more than the coft of printin 
 and binding them ; many were taken off in. 
 our parts ; fome I fent to Virginia, fome to 
 New- York, and fome to Newport, to my a<; 
 quaintance there ; and fome I kept, expect- 
 ing to give part of them away, where there 
 appeared a profpecl of fervice. 
 
 In my youth I was ufed to hard labour ; 
 and though I was middling healthy, yet my 
 nature was not fitted to endure ib much as 
 many others : that being often weary, I was 
 prepared to fympathize with thofe whofe cir- 
 cumltances in life, as free men, required con- 
 flant labour to anfwer the demands of their 
 creditors ; and with others under oppremon. 
 In the uneaflnefs of body, which I 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 that oppremon, which is iinpofed on 
 many in the world : and the latter part of 
 the time wherein I laboured on our planta- 
 tion, my heart, through the frelh vifitations 
 of heavenly love, being often tender ; and 
 my leiiiire time frequently fpent in reading 
 the life and doctrines of our bleffed Redeem- 
 er, the account of the furFerings of martyrs, 
 and the hiflory of the firft rife of our fociety : 
 a belief was gradually fettled in my mind, 
 that if fuch who had great eitates, generally 
 
 lived
 
 138 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 lived in that humility and plainnefs which 
 belongs to a chriflian life, and laid much 
 ealier rents and interefls on their lands and 
 monies, and thus led the way to a right life 
 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, feems ne- 
 ceilary to circulate that wealth which fome 
 gather, might, in this way of pure wifdom, 
 be difcontinued. And as I have thus confider- 
 ed thefe things, a query, at times, hath arifen : 
 Do I, in all my proceedings, keep to that 
 ufe of things which is agreeable to univerfal 
 righteoufnefs ? And then there hath fome de- 
 gree of fadnefs, at times, come over me j for 
 that I accuftomed myfelf to fome things, 
 which occafioned more labour than I believe 
 divine wifdom intends for us. 
 
 From my early acquaintance with truth, 
 I have often felt an inward diilrefs, occafion- 
 ed by the driving of a fpirit in me, againft 
 the operation of the heavenly principle ; and 
 in this circumflance have been afFeded with 
 a feiife of my own wretchednefs, and in a 
 mourning condition felt earneft longing for 
 that divine help, which brings the foul into 
 true liberty ; and fometimes in this flate, re- 
 tiring into private places, the fpirit cf fup- 
 plication hath been given me ; and under a 
 heavenly covering, have aiked my gracious 
 
 Father,
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 139 
 
 Father, to give me a heart in all things re- 
 figned to the clire<5lion of his wifdom, and in 
 uttering language like this, the thoughts of 
 my wearing hats and garments dyed with a 
 4ye hurtful to them, has made lading im~ 
 preilions on me. 
 
 In vifiting people of note in the fociety 
 who had flaves, and labouring with them in. 
 brotherly love on that account, I have feen, 
 and the fight has affected me, thai: a con- 
 formity to fome cuftoms, diftinguifhable 
 from pure wifdom, has entangled many ; 
 and the deiire of gain -to fupport thefe cu- 
 toms, greatly oppofed the work of truth: and 
 fometimes when the profpect of the work 
 before me has been fuch, that in bowednefs 
 of fpirit, I have been drawn into retired 
 places, and befought the Lord with tear^ 
 that he would take me wholly under his di- 
 rection, and mew me the way in which I 
 ought to walk ; it hath revived with ftrength 
 of conviction, that if I would be his faith- 
 ful fervant, I mufl in all things attend to his 
 wifdom, and be teachable ; and fo ceafe from 
 all cuftoms contrary thereto, however ufed 
 amongft religious people. 
 
 As he is the perfection of power, of wif- 
 dom, and of goodnefs ; fo I believe, he hath 
 provided, that fo much labour mail be ne- 
 celTary for men's fupport, in this world, as 
 would, being rightly divided, be a fuitable 
 employment of their time ; and that we can- 
 not go into fuperfluities, or grafp after wealth 
 in a way contrary to his wifdom, without 
 
 having
 
 140 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 having connexion with fome degree of op- 
 premon, and with that fpirit which leads to 
 ielf-exaltation and ftrife, 'and which fre- 
 quently brings calamities on countries, by, 
 parties contending about their claims. 
 
 Being thus fully convinced, and feeling an 
 inc rearing deiire to live in the fpirit of peace ; 
 being often forrowfully affected with the 
 thinking on the unquiet fpirit in which wars 
 are generally carried on, and with the inife-" 
 ries of many of my fellow-creatures engaged 
 therein ; fome fuddenly deitroyed ; fomc 
 wounded, and after much pain remain crip- 
 ples ; fome deprived of all their outward fub- 
 ilance, and reduced to want ; and fome car- 
 ried into captivity. Thinking often on thefe 
 things, the ufe of hats and garments dyed 
 with a dye hurtful to them, and wearing more 
 cloaths in fmnmer than are ufeful, grew 
 more uneafy to me ; believing them to be 
 cuftoms which have not their foundation in 
 pure wifdom. The apprehermon of being 
 {ingular from my beloved friends, was a ftrait 
 upon me ; and thus I remained in the ufe of 
 fome things contrary to my judgment. 
 
 On the thirty-nrft day of the fifth month, 
 1761, I was taken ill of a fever ; and, after 
 having it near a week, I was in great diflrefs 
 of body : and one day there was a cry raif- 
 ed in me, that I might underftand the caufe 
 why I was afflicted, and improve under it : 
 and my conformity to fome cuftoms, which 
 I believed were not right, were brought to 
 my remembrance j and in the continuation
 
 or JOHN W. 0,0 L MAN. i/jx 
 
 of the exercife, I felt all the powers in me 
 yield themfelves up into the hands of Him 
 who gave me being ; and was made thank- 
 ful, that he had taken hold of me by his 
 chaftifement : feeling the necellity of further 
 purifying, there was now no defire in me 
 for health, until the defign of my Correction 
 was anfwered ; and thus I lay in abafement 
 and brokennefs of fpirit, and as I felt a fink- 
 ing down into a calm reiignation, fo I felt, 
 as in an inflant, an inward healing in my 
 nature ; and from that time forward I grew 
 better. 
 
 Though I was thus fettled in mind in re- 
 lation to hurtful dyes, I felt eafy to wear my 
 garments heretofore made ; and fo continued 
 about nine months. Then I thought of get- 
 ting a hat the natural colour of the furr ; but 
 the apprehenfion. of being looked upon as one 
 affecting Singularity, felt uneafy to me : and 
 here I had occafion to coniider, that things, 
 though final! in them/elves, being clearly 
 enjoined by divine authority, became great 
 things to us ; and I trufled that the Lord 
 would fupport me in die trials that might 
 attend fingularity, while that fingularity was 
 only for his fake : on this account, I was 
 under clofe exercife of mind in the time of 
 our General fpring meeting 1762, greatly 
 defiling to be rightly directed ; when being 
 deeply bowed in fpirit before the Lord, I was 
 made willing to fubmit to what I appre- 
 hended was required of me ; and when I 
 
 returned
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 returned home, got a hat of the natural co 
 lour of the furr. 
 
 In attending meetings, this fingularity 
 was a trial upon me, and more efpecially at 
 this time, white hats being ufed by fome 
 who were fond of following the changeable 
 modes of drefs ; and as foine friends, who 
 knew not on what motives I wore it, carried 
 fhy of me, I felt my way for a time fhut up 
 in the exercife of the miniftry : and in this 
 condition, my mind being turned toward my 
 heavenly Father, with fervent cries that I 
 might be preferved to waJk before him in the 
 meeknefs of wifdom, my heart was often 
 tender in meetings ; and I felt an inward 
 confolation, which to me was very precious 
 under thofe difficulties. 
 
 I had feveral dyed garments fit for tife, which 
 I believed it beft to wear, till I had occafion of 
 new ones : and fome friends were apprehen- 
 five, that my wearing fuch a hat favoured of 
 an affected fingularity : and fuch who fpake 
 with me in a friendly way, I generally in- 
 formed in a few words, that I believed my 
 wearing it, was not in my own will. I had, 
 at times, been fenfible, that a fuperficial 
 friendfhip had been dangerous to me ; and 
 many friends being now uneafy with me, 
 I had an inclination to acquaint fome with 
 the manner of my being led into thefe things ; 
 yet, upon a deeper thought, I was for a time 
 rnoft eafy to omit it, believing the prefent 
 difpenfation was profitable ; and trading, that 
 
 if
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 143 
 
 if I kept my place, the Lord in his own 
 time would open the hearts of friends to- 
 ward me : fince which, I have had caufe to 
 admire his goodnels and loving-kindnefs, in 
 leading about and inftrucling, and opening 
 and enlarging my heart in fome of our 
 meetings. 
 
 In the eleventh month of the year 1762, 
 feeling an engagement of mind to vifit fome 
 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 villts, through the baptizing power 
 of truth, the lincere labourers were often 
 comforted, and the hearts of friends opened 
 to receive us. And in the fourth month fol- 
 lowing, I accompanied fome friends in a vi- 
 fit to the families of friends in Mount- 
 Holly ; in which my mind was often drawn 
 into an inward awfulnefs, wherein flrong 
 deiires 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 en the fare 
 foundation. 
 
 Having many years felt love in my heart 
 toward the natives of this land, who dwell far 
 back in the wildernefs, whpfe anceflors were 
 the owners and pofTeflors of the land where 
 
 we
 
 144 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 we dwell ; and who, for a very fmall confi^' 
 deration, ailigned their inheritance to us ; 
 and being at Philadelphia in the eighth, 
 month, 1761, on a vifit to fome friends who 
 had flaves, I fell in company with fome of 
 thofe natives who lived on the eaft branch of 
 the river Sufquehannah, at an Indian town 
 called Wehaloofing, two hundred miles from 
 Philadelphia ; and in converfation with them 
 by an interpreter, as alfo by obfervations on 
 their countenances and conduct, I believed 
 ibme of them were meafurably acquainted 
 with that divine power which fubjecls the 
 rough and froward will of the creature : 
 and, at times, I felt inward drawings to- 
 ward a vilit to that place of which I told 
 none except my dear wife, until it came to 
 fome ripenefs, and then in. the winter, 1762, 
 I laid it before friends at our monthly and 
 quarterly, and afterwards at ourGeneral ipring 
 meeting ; and having the unity of friends, 
 and being thoughtful about an Indian pilot, 
 there came a man and three women from a . 
 liide beyond that town to Philadelphia on] 
 bufinefs : and I being informed thereof by.j 
 letter, met them in town in the fifth month, 
 3763; and after fome converfation, fh 
 they were fbber people, I, by the concurrence 
 of friends in that place, agreed to join with 
 them as companions in their return ; and on 
 the feventh day of the fixth month follow- 
 ing, we appointed to meet at Samuel Fouik's, 
 at Richland in Bucks county. Now as this 
 vifit felt weighty, and was performed at a 
 
 time
 
 OF JOHN WO (XL MAN. 145 
 
 time when travelling appeared perilous, fo 
 the difpenfations of Divine Providence, iii 
 preparing my mind for it, have been memo- 
 rable ; and I believe it good for me to give 
 fome hints thereof. 
 
 After I had given up to go, the thoughts 
 of the journey were often attended with un- 
 uiiial fadnefs ; in which times, my heart was 
 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 youth's 
 meeting at Chefterfield, about a week before 
 the time I expected to fet off, was there led 
 to fpeak on that prayer of our Redeemer to 
 his Father: " I pray not that them moulded 
 " take them out of the world, but that thou 
 " Ihouldefl keep them from the evil." And in 
 attending to the pure openings of truth, had 
 to mention what He elfewhere faid to his 
 Father; " I know that thou heareil me at all 
 " times :" fo that, as fome of his followers 
 kept their places, and as his prayer was 
 granted, it followed necelTarily that they 
 were kept from evil : and as fome of thofe 
 met with great hardihips and afflictions in 
 this world, and at lafh fuffered death by cruel 
 men ; it appears, that whatfoever befalls 
 men while they live in pure obedience 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 me; and then, on the firft 
 L day
 
 i 4 6 THE LIFE ARD TRAVELS 
 
 clay of the next week, being at our own af- 
 ternoon meeting, and my heart being en- 
 larged in love, I was led to fpeak on the care 
 and protection of the Lord over his people, 
 and to make mention of that paffage where 
 a band of Affyrians endeavouring to take 
 captive the prophet were difappointed ; and 
 how the pfalmift faid, " the angel of the 
 *' Lord encampeth round about them that 
 " fear him." And thus, in true lo,ve and 
 tendernefs, I parted from friends, expecting 
 the next morning to proceed on my journey ; 
 and being weary, went early to bed : and 
 after I had been afleep a ihort time, I was 
 awaked by a man calling at my door ; and 
 arifing, was invited to meet fome friends at 
 a publick-houfe in our tow T n, who came from 
 Philadelphia fo late, that friends were gene- 
 rally gone to bed : thefe friends informed 
 me, that an exprefs arrived the lad morning 
 from Pittfburgh, and brought news that the 
 Indians had taken a fort from the Englifh weft- 
 ward, and flain and fcalped Englim people in 
 divers places, fome near the faid Pittfburgh ; 
 and that fome elderly friends in Philadel- 
 phia, knowing the time of my expecting to 
 fet off, had conferred together, and thought 
 good to inform 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 heaven- 
 ly inflruction ; and it was an humbling time 
 
 to
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 147 
 
 to me, When I told my dear wife, {he ap- 
 peared to be deeply concerned about it ; but 
 in a few hours time, my mind became fet- 
 tled in a belief, that it was my duty to pro- 
 ceed on my journey; and me bore it with a 
 good degree of refignation. In this conflict of 
 ipirit, there were great fearchings of heart, 
 and ftrong cries to the Lord, that no motion 
 might be in the leaft degree attended to, but 
 that of the pure fpirit of truth. 
 
 The fubjects before-mentioned, on which 
 I had fo lately fpoke in publick, were now 
 very frefli before me ; and I was brought in- 
 wardly to commit myfelf to the Lord, to 
 be difpofed of as he faw befl. So I took 
 leave of my family and neighbours, in much 
 bowednefs of fpirit, and went to our month- 
 ly-meeting at Burlington ; and after taking- 
 leave of friends there, I croiTed the river, ac- 
 companied by my friends Ifrael and John 
 Pemberton ; and parting the next morning 
 with Ifrael, John bore me company to Sa- 
 muel Foulk's ; where I met the before-men- 
 tioned Indians, and we were glad to fee each 
 other : here my friend Benjamin Parvin met 
 me, and propofed joining as a companion, 
 we having paffed fome letters before on the 
 fubject; and now on his account I had a 
 fharp trial; for as the journey appeared peri- 
 lous, I thought if he went chiefly to bear 
 me company, and we fhould be taken cap- 
 tive, my having been the means of draw- 
 ing him into thefe difficulties, would add to 
 my own afflictions : fo I told him my mind 
 L 2 freely,
 
 148 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 freely, and let him know that I was rcfign- 
 ed to go alone ; but after all, if he really be- 
 lieved it to be his duty to go on, I believed 
 his company would be very comfortable to 
 me : it was indeed a time of deep exercife, 
 and Benjamin appeared to be fo fattened to 
 the viiit, that he could not be eafy to leave 
 me ; fo we went on, accompanied by our 
 friends John Pemberton, and William Light- 
 foot of 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 miles from Fort- Allen ; 
 here we parted with William : and at this place 
 \ve met with an Indian trader, lately come 
 from Wioming ; and in converiktion with him, 
 I perceived that many white people do often 
 fell rum to the Indians, which, I believe, is a 
 great evil ; firft, they being thereby deprived 
 of the ufe of their reafon, and their fpirits vi- 
 olently agitated, quarrels often a rile which 
 end in mifchief ; and the bitternefs and refent- 
 ments occafioned hereby, are frequently of 
 long continuance : again, their fkins and 
 furrs, gotten thro' much fatigue and hard tra- 
 vels in hunting, with which they intended 
 to buy cloathing, when they become in- 
 toxicated, they often fell at a low rate for 
 more ruin ; and afterward, when they fuffer 
 for want of the necefTaries of life, are an- 
 gry with thole who, for the fake of gain, 
 took the advantage of their weaknefs : of 
 tbis their chiefs have often complained, at 
 
 their
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 149 
 
 their treaties with the Engliili. Where cun- 
 ning people pafs counterfeits, and impofe 
 that on others which is good for nothing, it 
 is conildered as a wickedness ; but to fell 
 that to people 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 de- 
 mands the care of all true lovers of virtue 
 to fupprefs : and while my mind, this even- 
 ing, was thus employed, I alfo remember- 
 ed, that the people on the frontiers, among 
 whom this evil is too common, are often 
 poor ; who venture to the outlide of a colo- 
 ny, that they may live more independant on 
 fuch who are wealthy, who often fet high 
 rents on their land : being renewedly con- 
 firmed in a belief, that if all our inhabi- 
 tants lived according to found \vifdom, la- 
 bouring to promote univerfal love and righ- 
 teoufnefs, and ceafed from every inordinate 
 defire after wealth, and from all cuftonis. 
 which are tinctured, with luxury, the way 
 would be eafy for our inhabitants, thouga 
 much more numerous than at prefent, to live 
 comfortably on honefl employments, with- 
 out having that temptation they are often 
 under of being drawn into fchemes to md:e 
 Settlements on lands which have not been 
 purchafed of the Indians, 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 wefl- 
 e.rn branch of Delaware, called the Great
 
 150 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Lehie, near Fort-Allen ; the water being 
 high, we went over in a canoe': here we 
 met an Indian, and had fome friendly con- 
 verfation with him, and gave him fome bif- 
 cuit; and he having killed a deer, gave the 
 Indians with us fomQ of it : then after tra- 
 velling fome miles, we met feveral Indian 
 men and women with a cow and horfe, and 
 fome houihold goods, who were lately come 
 from their dwelling at Wioming, and going 
 to fettle at another place ; we made them 
 fome fmall prefents ; and fome of them un- 
 derftanding Englifh, I told them my motive 
 in coming into their country ; with which 
 they appeared fatisfied : and one of our 
 guides talking a while with an antient wo- 
 man concerning us, the poor old woman 
 came to my companion and me, and took 
 her leave of us with an appearance of fin- 
 cere affection. So going on, we pitched our 
 tent near the banks of the fame river, hav- 
 ing laboured hard in croffmg fome of thofe 
 mountains called the Blue Ridge ; and by 
 the roughnefs of the flones, and the cavi- 
 ties between them, and the fteepnefs of the 
 hills, it appeared dangerous : but we were 
 preferved in fafety, through the kindnefs of 
 Him whofe works in thofe mountainous de- 
 ierts 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- 
 fentations of men going to, and returning 
 from the wars, and of fome killed in battle. 
 
 This
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 151 
 
 This being a path heretofore iifed by 
 warriors ; and as I walked about viewing 
 thofe Indian hiftories, which were painted 
 moflly in red but fome in black, and think- 
 ing on the innumerable afflictions which 
 the proud, fierce fpirit produceth in the 
 world ; thinking on the toils and fatigues of 
 warriors, travelling over mountains and de- 
 ferts ; thinking on their miferies and dif- 
 trefles when wounded far from home by 
 their enemies ; and of their bruifes and great 
 wearinefs in chafing one another over the 
 rocks and mountains ; and of their reftlefs, 
 unquiet (late of mind, who live in this fpi- 
 rit ; and of the hatred which mutually grows 
 up in the minds' of the children of thofe na- 
 tions engaged in war with each other : dur- 
 ing thele meditations, the defire to cherifh 
 the fpirit 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 bulhes which 
 we purpofed to lay under our blankets alfo 
 wet, all looked 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 ; and with fome bullies next the 
 ground, and then our blankets, we made 
 our bed ; and lying down, got fome fleep : 
 and in the morning, feeling a little unwell,. 
 
 I went
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 I went into the river; the water was cold, 
 but foon after I felt frefh and well. 
 
 " The eleventh day of the fixth month, the 
 bullies being wet, we tarried in our tent till 
 about eight o'clock ; when going on, eroded 
 a high mountain fuppofed to be upward of 
 four miles over ; the ileepnefs on the north 
 licle exceeding all the others : we alfo croffed 
 two fwamps ; and it raining near night, 
 we pitched our teat and lodged. 
 
 About noon, on our way, we were over- 
 taken by one of the moravian brethren, go- 
 ing to Wehaloofmg, and an Indian man 
 with him who could talk Eiiglifh; and we 
 being together while our horfes eat grafs, had 
 fome friendly converfation j but they tra- 
 velling f after than we, foon left us. This 
 moravian, I unclerflood, had fpent fome 
 time this fpring at Wehalooling ; and was, 
 by fome or the Indians, invited to come 
 again. 
 
 The twelfth day of the fixth month, and 
 firfl of the week, it being a rainy day, we 
 continued in our tent; 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 tofpendfome 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 inftruclion 
 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
 
 or JOHN WOOLMAN. 153 
 
 when the troubles of war were increaiing, 
 and when, by reafon of much wet weather, 
 travelling was more difficult than ufual at 
 that feafoii, I looked upon it as a more fa- 
 vourable opportunity to feafoii my mind, 
 and bring me into a nearer fympathy with 
 them : and as mine eye was to the great Fa- 
 ther of mercies, humbly defiling 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 ; and after finding our 
 own, and fearching fome time for him, his 
 footfteps were difcovered in the path going 
 back again, whereupon my kind companion 
 went otf in the rain, and after about feven 
 hours returned 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 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 fince the coming 
 in of the Englifh. The lands near the fea, 
 are conveniently fituated for fiihing ; 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 palling up and down eafy 
 with any kind of traffick. Thofe natives 
 have, in fome places, for trifling confidera-^ 
 t-ions, fold their inheritance, fo favourably 
 
 fituated ;
 
 ij4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fituated ; and in other places, been driven 
 back by fuperior force : fo that, in many 
 places, as their way of cloathing themfelves 
 is now altered from what it was, and they, 
 far remote from us, have to pafs over moun- 
 tains, fwamps, and barren defarts, whera 
 travelling is very troublefome, in. bringing 
 their fkins and furrs to trade with us. 
 
 By the extending of Engliih fettlements, 
 and partly by Engliih hunters, the wild 
 beads they chiefly depend on for a fubfift- 
 ance, are not fo plenty as they were; and 
 people too often, for the fake of gain, open 
 a door for them to waile their fkins and 
 furrs, in purchafing a liquor which tends to 
 the ruin of them and their families. 
 
 My own will and defires being 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. I had a profpecl: of the Englifh along 
 the coafl, for upwards of nine hundred 
 miles, where I have travelled ; and the fa- 
 vourable fituation of the Englifh, 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 I 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 righteoufnefs, as to give no juft caufe of 
 offence to the Gentiles, who do not profefs 
 
 chriftiamty,
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN WOOL MAN. 155 
 
 chriftianity, 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 ilir 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 fincere follower of Chrift. And in this 
 lonely journey, I did, this day, greatly be- 
 wail the fpreading of a wrong fpirit, be- 
 lieving, that the profperous, convenient fi- 
 tuation of the Englifh, 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 the numerous oppreilions, and other 
 evils attending them, appeared very afflict- 
 ing to me ; and I felt in that which is im- 
 mutable, that the feeds of great calamity 
 and defolation are fown and growing faft on 
 this continent : nor have I words fufficient to 
 fet forth that longing I then felt, that we, 
 who are placed;along the coaft, and have tafled 
 the love and goodnefs of God, might ariie 
 in his flrength ; and, like faithful mefien- 
 gers, labour to check the growth of thefe 
 feeds, that they may not ripen to the ruin 
 of our pofteritv. 
 
 We
 
 156 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 We reached the Indian fettlement at Wio* 
 ming : and here we were told, that an Irn- 
 dian runner had been at that place a day or 
 two before us, and brought news of the In-? 
 dians taking an Englifh fort weftward, and, 
 deftroying the people, and that they were 
 endeavouring to take another ; and alib, 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 diflant parts, 
 came to that town with two Englifh fcalps ; 
 and told the people, that it was war with 
 the Englifh. 
 
 Our guides took us to the hdufe of a very 
 antient man ; and foon after we had put in 
 our baggage, there came a man from ano-> 
 ther Indian houfe fome diflance off; and I 
 perceiving there was a man near the door, 
 went cut ; and he having a tomahawk 
 wrapped under his matchcoat out of fight, 
 as I approached him, he took it in his hand ; 
 I, however, went forward, and fpeaking to 
 him in a friendly way perceived he under- 
 ftood fome Englifh : my companion then 
 coming out, we had fome talk with him 
 concerning the nature of our vifit in thefe 
 parts ; and then he going into the houfe 
 with us, and talking with our guides, foon 
 appeared friendly, and fat down and fmoak- 
 ed his pipe. Tho' his taking his hatchet in 
 his hand at the inftant I drew near to him
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 15? 
 
 had a difagreeable appearance, . I believe he 
 had no other intent than to be in readineis 
 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 fome larger towns, I thought that, 
 to all outward appearance, it was dangerous 
 travelling at this time ; and was, after a 
 hard day's journey, brought into a painful 
 exercife at night, in which I had to trace 
 back, and view over the fteps I had taken 
 from my firfl moving in the vint ; and tho' 
 I had to bewail fome weakiiefs which, at 
 times, had attended me, yet I could not 
 find that I had ever given way to a will- 
 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 mew me what I ought to do. In 
 this great diilreis I grew jealous of rnyfelf, 
 left the defire of reputation, as a man 
 firmly fettled to perfevere through dan- 
 gers, or the fear of difgrace ariiing on 
 my returning without performing the vi- 
 nt, might have fome place in me: thus I 
 lay, full of thoughts, great part of the night, 
 while my beloved companion lay and IJcpt 
 by me ; till the Lord, my gracious Father, 
 who law the conflicts of my foul, was 
 pleated to give quietnefs: then I was again 
 ftrengthened to commit my life, and alt 
 thing? relating thereto, into his heavenly 
 
 hands ;
 
 158 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 hands ; and getting a little fleep toward 
 when morning came we arofe. 
 
 On the fourteenth day of the fixth month, 
 we fought out and vifited all the Indians 
 hereabouts that we could meet with ; they 
 being chiefly in one place, about a mile from 
 where we lodged, in all psrhaps twenty. 
 Here I exprelTed 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 fpriog, which, lying dry, was leaky ; 
 fo that we, being detained fome hours, had 
 a good deal of friendly converfation with 
 the family ; and eating dinner with them, 
 we made them fome finall prefeiits. Then 
 putting our baggage in the canoe, fome of 
 them pufhed ilowly aip the flreain, and the 
 reft of us rode our hories ;- and IWimrning 
 them over a creek, called Lahawahamuiik, 
 We pitched our tent a little above it, being 
 a fhower 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 rruft in him, I lay down in aa 
 
 humble
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 159 
 
 humble bowed frame of mind, and had a 
 comfortable night's lodging. 
 
 On the fifteenth day of the fixth month, 
 we proceeded forward till the afternoon; 
 when, a florm appearing, we met our canoe 
 at an appointed place ; and the rain conti- 
 nuingj we flayed all night, which was fb 
 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 
 the florm yefterday ; and had oc canon reve- 
 rently to coniider the kind dealings of the 
 Lord, who provided a fafe place for us in a 
 Valley, while this florm 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 extream difficulty. 
 
 I had this day often to confider myfelf as 
 a fojourner in this world ; and a belief la- 
 the all-fufficiency of God to fupport his peo- 
 pie in their pilgrimage felt comfortable to 
 me ; and I was induflriouily employed to 
 get to a flate of perfect refignation. 
 
 We feldoin 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 Englilh, and is acquainted with 
 feveral people in and about Philadelphia, met 
 our people on the river ; and underflanding 
 where we expecled to lodge, pufhed back 
 about fix mile*, and came to us after night; 
 
 and
 
 a6o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and in a while our own canoe came, it be- 
 ing hard work pufhing up ftream. job told 
 us, that an Indian came in hafte to their 
 town yeflerday, and told them, that three" 
 warriors, coming from fome diflance, lodg- 
 ed in a town above Wehaloofing a few nights 
 paft ; and that thefe three -men were going 
 againft the Englifh at Juniata. Job was 
 going down the river to the province-flora 
 at Shamokin. Though I was fb far favour- 
 ed with health as to continue travelling, yet 
 through the various difficulties in our jour- 
 ney, and the different way of living front 
 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 
 frefh trial of my faith ; and tho', thro' the 
 flrength of divine love, I had feveral times 
 been enabled to commit myfelf to the divine 
 difpofal, I ftill found the want of my flrength 
 to be renewed, that I might perfevere there- 
 in ; and my cries for help were put up to 
 the Lord, who, in great mercy, gave me sfm 
 refigned heart, in which I found quietnefs. 
 
 On the ieventeenth day, parting from Job 
 Chilaway, we went on, and reached Weha- 
 loofing about the middle of the afternoon ; 
 and the firfl Indian that we faw, was a wo- 
 man of a modefl countenance, with a Bible, 
 who firft f pake 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
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 16* 
 
 we fat down on a log ; and he went to the 
 town, to tell the people we were come. My 
 companion and I fit-dug thus together, in a 
 deep inward flillnefs, the poor woman came 
 and fat near us ; and great awfulnefs com- 
 ing over us, we rejoiced in a fenfe of God's 
 love manifefted to our poor fouls. After a 
 while, we heard a conkihell 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 fixty people fitting in fi- 
 lence ; and after fitting a Ihort time, I flood 
 up, and in fome tendernefs of fpirit ac- 
 quainted them with the nature of my vifit, 
 and that a concern for their good had made 
 me willing to come thus far to fee them : 
 all in a few fhort fentences, which fome of 
 them under (landing, interpreted to the 
 others, and there appeared gladnefs amongft 
 them. Then I fhewed them my certificate, 
 which was explained to them ; and the mo- 
 ravian, who overtook us on the way, being 
 now here, bade me welcome. 
 
 On the eighteenth day, we refled ourfelves 
 this forenoon ; and the Indians knowing that 
 the moravian and I were of different reli- 
 gious focieties, and as fome of their people 
 had encouraged him to come and flay 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 iny requeft, would, at any time, 
 M come
 
 x62 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 come together, and hold meetings ; and al- 
 Ib told me, that they expected the moravian 
 would fpeak in their fet Jed 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 
 I 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 coarfe : whereupon he ex- 
 prefled his good-will toward my fpeaking 
 at any time, all that I found in my heart 
 to fay : fo near evening I was at their meet- 
 ing, where the pure goipel love was felt, to 
 the tendering fome of our hearts ; and the 
 interpreters endeavouring to acquaint the 
 people with what I faid, in ihort fentenccs, 
 found fome difficulty, as none of them were 
 quite perfect in the Engliih and Delaware 
 tongues, fo they helped one another, and we 
 laboured along, divine love attending: and 
 afterwards feeling my mind covered with 
 the fpirit of prayer, I told ths interpreters! 
 that I found it in my heart to pray to God, 
 and believed, if I prayed aright, he would 
 hear me, and expreiTed 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 >
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 163 
 
 interpreters : and I was afterwards told that 
 he faid in fubftance as follows ; "I love to 
 feel where words come from." 
 
 On the nineteenth day, arid firft of the; 
 week, this morning in the meeting the In- 
 dian who came with the moravian, being al- 
 fo a member of that fociety, prayed ; and 
 then the moravian fpake a ihort time to the 
 people : and x 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 perfect in the work, and I feeling the 
 current of love run flrong, 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, w r here 
 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 feemed fpirited to give the 
 Indians the fubftance of what I had faid. 
 
 Before our firft meeting this morning, I 
 was led to meditate on the manifold diffi- 
 culties of thefe Indians, who, by the per- 
 mifnon of the Six Nations, dwell in thefe 
 parts ; and a near fympathy with them was 
 raifed in me ; and rny heart being enlarged 
 in the love of Chrift, I thought that the af- 
 fecYionate care of a good man for his only 
 brother in affliction, does not exceed what I 
 then felt for that people. 
 
 M 2 I
 
 164 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 
 I came to this place through much trou- 
 ble ; and though, through the mercies of 
 God, I believed, that if. I died in the jour- 
 ney, it would be well with me ; yet tjie 
 thoughts of falling into the hands of Indian 
 warriors, were, in times of weaknefs, afflict- 
 ing to me ; and being of a tender conflitu- 
 tioii of body, the thoughts of captivity 
 ainongrl them were, at times, grievous ; as 
 fuppofing, that they being ftrong and hardy, 
 might demand fervice of me beyond what I 
 could well bear ; but the Lord alone was my 
 keeper ; and I believed, if I went into capti- 
 vity, it would be for fome good end ; and 
 thus, from time to time, my mind was cen- 
 tered in refignation, in which I always found 
 quietnefs. And now, this day, though I had 
 the fame dangerous wildernefs between me 
 and home, I was inwardly joyful that the 
 Lord had ftrengthened me to come on this 
 vifit, and manifefled a fatherly care over me 
 in my poor lowly condition, when in mine 
 own eyes I appeared inferior to many a- 
 inongft 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 afking the interpreter, was told, 
 that " he was expremng his thankfulnefs to 
 God for the favours he had received that 
 day ; and prayed that he would continue to 
 -favour him with that lame, which he had 
 
 experienced
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 165 
 
 experienced in that meeting." That though 
 Papunehang had before agreed to receive the 
 moravian, and join with them, he ilill ap- 
 peared kind and laving to us. 
 
 On the twentieth day, I was at two meet- 
 ings, and ment in them. 
 
 '. The twenty-firft day. This morning in 
 meeting my heart was enlarged in pure love 
 amongft them, and in ihort plain ientences 
 exprefTed feveral things that reded 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 ; and then I believed 
 that a door remained open for the faithful 
 difciples of Jefus Chrilt, to labour amongfl 
 thefe people. 
 
 I now feeling my mind at liberty to re- 
 turn, took my leave of them in general, at 
 the concluC.on of what I faid in meeting ; 
 and fo we prepared to go homeward: but 
 fome of their moil active men told us, that 
 when we .were ready to move, the people 
 would choofe to come and ihake hands with 
 us ; which thofe who ufually came to meet- 
 ing did : and from a fecret draught in my 
 mind, I went amongft fome who did not 
 life to go to meeting, and took my leave of 
 them alfb : and the moravian and his Indian 
 interpreter, appeared refpeciful to us at part- 
 ing. This town flands on the bank of Su- 
 quehannah, and conliils, I believe, of about 
 forty houfes, moftly compact together; fome 
 
 about;
 
 166 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 about thirty feet long, and eighteen wide, 
 fome bigger, ibme lei's ; 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 j 
 and fome were now about moving their 
 houfes to higher ground. 
 
 We 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 (kins and furrs, who chofe to 
 go in company with us : fo they loaded two 
 canoes, which they delired us to go in, tell- 
 ing us, that the waters were fo raifed with 
 the rains, that the Lories fliould be taken by 
 fuch who were better acquainted with the 
 fording places : fo we, with feveral Indians, 
 went in the canoes, and others went" on 
 Korfes, there being feven befides ours. And 
 we meeting with the horfemen once on the 
 way by appointment, and then near night, 
 a little below a branch called Tankhannah, 
 we lodged there ; and fome of the young 
 men going out a Iitt4e before ciuik with their 
 guns, brought in a deer. 
 
 On the twenty-fecond day, through dili- 
 gence, we reached Wioming before night, 
 and underfiood the Indians were moilly gone 
 from this place: here we went up a (inall 
 creek into the woods with our canoes, and, 
 pitching our tent, carried out our baggage ; 
 and before dark our horfes came to us. 
 
 On
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 167 
 
 On the twenty-third day in the morning 
 their holies were loaded, and we prepared 
 our baggage and fo let 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 
 fcarce, they chofe a piece of low ground to 
 lodge on, as the beft for graling ; and I 
 having Iweat much in travelling, and be- 
 ing weary ilept 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 pafTed Fort- 
 Allen, and lodged near it in the woods. 
 
 Having forded the weflerly branch of De- 
 laware three times, and thereby had a fhorter 
 way, and miffed going over the top of the 
 blue mountains, called the Second Ridge. In 
 the fecond time fording, where the river cuts 
 thro' the mountain, the waters being rapid 
 and pretty deep, and my companion's mare 
 being a tall tractable animal 5 he fundry 
 times drove her back thro' the river, and 
 they loaded her with the burthens of fome 
 linall horfes, which they thought not fumci- 
 ent to come thro' with their loads. 
 
 The troubles weft ward, and the difficulty 
 for Indians to pafs thro' 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 furprized, 
 
 Qu
 
 i68 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 On the twenty-fifth day we reached Beth- 
 lehem, taking care on the way to keep fore- 
 moft, and to acquaint people on and near 
 the road who thefe Indians were: this we 
 found very needful ; for the frontier inha- 
 bitants were often alarmed at the report of 
 Englilh being killed by Indians weftward. 
 
 Amongft our company were fome who I 
 did not remember to have feen. at meeting, 
 and fome of thefe at firfl 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 fociable. 
 On the twenty-fixth day and firfl 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 amoiigfl our 
 friends : here I parted with my kind friend 
 and companion Benjamin Parvin ; and ac- 
 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 iee me re- 
 turn from a journey which they apprehend- 
 ed dangerous : but my mind, while I was 
 out, had been fb employed in flriving for a 
 perfect refignation, and I had fo often been 
 confirmed in a belief, that whatever the 
 Lord might be pleafed to allot for me, would
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 169 
 
 work for good : I was careful leafl I mould 
 admit any degree of felfifhnefs in being glad 
 overmuch, and laboured to improve by thofe 
 trials in fuch a manner as my gracious Fa- 
 ther and protector intends for me. Between 
 the Englifh inhabitants and Wehaloofing, 
 we had only a narrow "path, which in many 
 places is much grown up with bufhes, and 
 interrupted by abundance of trees lying 
 acrofs it, thefe, together with the moun- 
 tains, fwamps, and rough (tones, make it a 
 difficult road to travel ; and the more fo, for 
 that rattlefnakes abound there, of which we 
 killed four : that people who have never been 
 in fuch places, have but an imperfect idea 
 of them ; but I was not only taught pa- 
 tience, but alfo made thankful to God, who 
 thus led me about and inflructed me, that I 
 might have a quick and lively feeling of 
 the afflictions of my fellow-creatures, whof$ 
 fituation in life is difficult. 
 
 C H A ^
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Jffis religious conversation ivith 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* 
 iy.-r in 1764 Contemplations on tht nature 
 of true wifdom, occajiontd by bearing of the 
 cruelty of the Indians to their captives 
 His vifiting the families of friends at Mount- 
 Holly, Mansfald and Burlington in 1 764, and 
 the meetings on the feaco aft from Cape May to- 
 ward Squan in 1765 His injlt to the Lower 
 Counties on Delaware and the Eaftern Shore 
 of Maryland in 1766, in company 'with John 
 Sleeper ; with feme account of Jofeph Ni- 
 chols and his followers ; and obfcwations 
 on the different fiate of the frft fettlers in 
 Pennfylyania wfrj depended oil their own 
 labour , and thofe of the font hern provinces 
 who kept negroes His infitmg the north- 
 ern parts of New-Jerfey the fame year, and 
 the ivcjlcrn parts of Maryland and Penn- 
 fyl'uania in 1767, and afterwards other 
 parts of Pennfylvania and the families of 
 friends at Mount-Holly ; and again federal- 
 parts of Maryland in 1768 Further con- 
 Jlderations on keeping Jiaves ; and his con- 
 cern for having formerly ^ as an executor^ been 
 party to the fale of one ; and what he 
 did in confluence of it - Thoughts on 
 
 friends
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 171 
 
 friends exerciftng offices in civil gQvern- 
 ment, 
 
 THE latter part of the fummer, 1763, 
 there came a man to Mount-Holly, 
 who had before publilhed, by a printed 
 advertifement, that at a certain publick- 
 houfe, he would fhew many wonderful ope- 
 rations, which he therein enumerated. 
 
 This man, at the time appointed, did, 
 by flight of hand, fundry things ; which, 
 to thofe gathered, 'appeared flrange. 
 
 The next day, I hearing of it, and un- 
 derflanding that the mew was to be conti- 
 nued the next night, and the people to meet 
 about fun-fet, felt an exercife on that ac- 
 count: fo I went to the publick-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 figni- 
 fied that he was content. Then litting down 
 by the door, I fpake to the peop'le as they 
 came together, concerning this fhew; and 
 more coming and fitting down with us, the 
 feats at the door were moflly filled ; and I 
 had converfation with them in the fear of 
 the Lord, and laboured to convince them 
 that thus aflembling to fee thofe tricks or 
 flights of hands, and beftowing their mo- 
 ney to fupport men who in* that capacity 
 were of no ufe in the world, was contrary 
 to the nature of the chriflian religion. 
 
 There was one of the company who, for a 
 time, endeavoured by arguments to fhew 
 
 the
 
 i 7 2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the reafonablenefs of their proceedings here- 
 in ; but after confidering fome texts of fcrip- 
 ture, and calmly debating the matter, he 
 gave up the point. So having fpent about 
 an hour amongft 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 Maryborough, aged 
 upwards of eighty years, a faithful minifler, 
 tho' not eloquent, flood up in our meeting 
 of miniflers and elders, and appearing to 
 be under a great exercife of fpirit, informed 
 friends in fubflance 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 plain 
 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 
 fome degree conforming to the fafhions 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 coflly garments, and ufing of 
 iilver (and other) watches, became cuftomary 
 with them, their fons, and their daughters, and 
 many of the fociety made a fpacious appear- 
 ance in the world ; which marks of outward 
 wealth and greatnefs, appeared on fome in 
 our meetings of miniflers and elders ; and 
 iis thefe things became more prevalent, ib. 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 173 
 
 tiie powerful overfhadowings of the Holy 
 Ghoft were lefs manifeft in the Society 
 That there had been a continued increafe of 
 thefe ways of life even until now ; and that 
 the weaknefs which hath now overfpread 
 the fociety, and the barrennefs manifell 
 amongfl us, is matter of much forrow." 
 He then mentioned the uncertainty/ of his 
 attending thefe meetings in future, expect- 
 ing his diffolution was now near ; and hav- 
 ing tenderly exprefTed 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 
 mufl firft go thro' great and heavy exer- 
 cifes therein. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth day, the Committee 
 appointed by the yearly-meeting to viiit 
 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 per/ons holding of- 
 fices in government, inconfiftent with our 
 principles ; and others who kept flaves, re- 
 maining aclive 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 railed in me, that the fear of man 
 
 might
 
 $74 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 might not prevent me from doing what he 
 required of me ; and {landing up, I fpake 
 in fubflance 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 who 
 keep flaves, and fuch who hold offices in. ci- 
 vil government ; and have, defired, that 
 friends in all their conduct may be kindly 
 afFeclioned one 'toward another. Many 
 friends, who keep flares, 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 1 
 way of living r and annual expenccs 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 tra- 
 velling friends and their horfes are often 
 entertained, that the yearly expence of in- 
 dividuals therein is very confiderable : and 
 friends in fome places crouding much on 
 perfons in thefe circumftances for entertain- 
 ment, hath often re (led as a burthen on my 
 mind for fome years paft ; 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 convcrfatioiv 
 that he had been a fbldier in die iate war on 
 
 this
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 
 
 this continent ; and in the evening, giving 
 a. narrative of his captivity among!!: the In- 
 dians, he informed me that he law two of 
 his fellow captives tortured to death in a^vcry 
 cruel manner. 
 
 This relation affected me with fadnefs, 
 under which I went to bed; and the next 
 morning, foon after I awoke, a frefh and 
 living fenfe of divine love was fpread over 
 my mind ; in which I had a renewed pro- 
 fpecl of the nature of that wifdom from 
 above, which leads to a right ufe of all gifts, 
 both fpiritual and temporal, and gives con- 
 tent 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 fhewn me, that a moderate ap- 
 plication to buiinefs is proper to my prefent 
 condition ; and that this, attended with his 
 Melting, may fupply all outward wants, 
 while they remain within the bounds he 
 hath fixed ; and no imaginary wants pro- 
 ceeding from an evil fpirit, have any place 
 in me ? Attend theji, O my foul ! to this 
 pure wifdom, as thy fure conductor thro* 
 the manifold dangers in this world !" 
 
 " Doth pride lead to vanity ? Doth vani- 
 ty form imaginary wants ? Do thefe wants 
 prompt men to exert their power x in requir- 
 ing that of others, which themfelves would, 
 rather be excufed from, v;erc the fame re- 
 quired of them ?" 
 
 ct Do
 
 176 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 " Do thofe proceedings beget hard 
 thoughts ? Do hard thoughts, when ripej 
 become malice ? Does malice, when ripe, 
 become revengeful ; and in the end inflict 
 terrible pains on their fellow-creatures, and 
 ipread defolations in the world ?" 
 
 " Doth mankind, walking in uprightnefs^ 
 delight in each other's happinefs ? And do 
 thefe creatures, capable of this attainment 
 by giving way to an evil fpirit, employ their 
 wit and ftreiigth to afflict and deftroy one 
 another ?" 
 
 " Remember then, O my foul! the quietude 
 of thofe in whom Chrift governs, and in all 
 thy proceedings feel after it !" 
 
 " Doth he coiidefcend to blefs thee with 
 his prefence ? To move and influence to 
 action ? To dwell in thee, and walk in thee ? 
 Remember then thy ftation, as a being fa- 
 cred to God ; accept of the flrength freely 
 offered thee ; and take heed that no weak- 
 nefs, in conforming to expenfive, unwife, 
 and hard-hearted cuftoms, gendering to dif- 
 cord and ftrife, be given way to. Doth 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 that 
 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 wifdom to his family ; that 
 they living in perfect fimplicity, may give 
 
 no
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 177 
 
 no juft caufe of offence to" any creature, but 
 inay walk as he walked !" 
 
 Having felt an opennefs in my heart to- 
 ward vifiting families in our own meeting, 
 and efpecially in the town of Mount-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 freih 
 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 goodnefs of the* 
 Lord toward us. 
 
 Having felt my mind drawn toward a 
 vifit to friends along the fea-coail from Cape 
 May to near Squan ; and alfo to vifit fome 
 people in thofe parts, amongft whom there 
 is no fettled worihip ; I joined, with my be- 
 loved friend Benjamin Jones, in a vifit there, 
 having friends unity therein : and fetting off 
 the twenty-fourth day of the tenth month, 
 1765, we had a profperous and very fatis- 
 faclory journey ; feeling, at times, thro' the 
 goodnefs of the heavenly Shepherd, the gof- 
 pel to flow freely toward a poor people fcat- 
 .tered in thofe places : and foon after our re- 
 turn, I joined my friends John Sleeper and 
 Elizabeth Smith, in vifiting friends families 
 N at
 
 178 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 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 flate of the people, and 
 ftrengthened us to labour in true gofpel love 
 amongft them. 
 
 An exercife having, at times, for feveral 
 years, attended me, in regard to paying a 
 religious vifit to friends on the Eaftern Shore 
 of Maryland : fuch was the nature of this 
 exercife, that I 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 opprefled Haves, fet 
 an example of lowlinefs before the eyes of 
 their mafters, and be more out of the way of 
 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 
 converfation with my beloved friend John 
 Sleeper, that he was under a concern to tra- 
 vel the fame way, and alfo to travel on foot 
 in the form of a fervant amongft them, as 
 he expreft it. This he told me before he 
 knew aught of my exercife. 
 
 We being thus drawn the fame way, laid 
 our exercile and the nature of it before 
 friends ; and obtaining certificates, we fet 
 off the fixth day of the fifth month, 1766; 
 and were at meetings with friends at Wil- 
 mington, Duck-Creek, Little-Creek and Mo- 
 
 therkill ; 

 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 therkill ; my heart being fundry times ten- 
 dered under the divine influence, and en- 
 larged 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 Marfhy-Creek. 
 
 At thefe, our three lali meetings, were a 
 confiderable number of people, followers of 
 one Jofeph Nichols, a preacher ; who, I un- 
 derfland, is not in outward fellowihip with 
 any religious fbciety of people, but profefT- 
 eth 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 ibine 
 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 hear, 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 difpoied, but that 
 fkilful fathers are wanting among them : 
 from hence we went to Choptank and Third 
 Haven ; and thence to Queen Ann's. The 
 weather having fome days pail been hot and 
 dry, and we to attend meetings purfuant ta 
 appointment, having travelled pretty fteadily, 
 and had hurd labour in meetings, I grew 
 N 2 weakly.
 
 i8o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 weakly ; at which I was for. a time difcou- 
 raged ; but looking over our journey, and 
 thinking how the Lord had fupported our 
 minds and bodies, fo that we got forward 
 much fafter than I expected before we came 
 out, I now faw that I had been in danger of 
 too ftrongly defiring to get foon through the 
 journey, and that this bodily weaknefs now 
 attending me was a kindnefs to me ; and 
 then, in contrition of fpirit, I became very 
 thankful to my gracious Father, for this ma- 
 nifeftation of his love; and in humble fub- 
 miffion to his will, my truft was renewed in 
 him. 
 
 On this part of our journey, I had many 
 thoughts on the different circumftances of 
 friends who inhabit Pennfylvaiiia and Jer- 
 fey, from thofe who dwell in Maryland, Vir- 
 ginia, and Carolina. Pennfylvaiiia and New- 
 Jerfey were fettled by many friends, who 
 were convinced of our principles in England 
 in times of fufferings, and coming over 
 bought lands of the natives, and applied 
 themfelves to hufbandry in a peaceable way ; 
 and many of their children were taught to 
 labour for their living. ' 
 
 Few friends, I believe, came from Eng- 
 land to fettle in any of thefe fouthern pro- 
 vinces ; but by the faithful labours of tra- 
 velling friends in early times, there was con- 
 fiderable conviiicements amoiigft the inhabi- 
 tants of thefe parts. Here I remembered my 
 reading of the warlike difpofition of many 
 
 of
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. i8j 
 
 of the firfl fettlers in thofe 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 cufloms contrary to the pure truth, when 
 fome of them were affected with the power- 
 ful preaching of the Word of Life, and 
 joined in fellowihip 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 
 firfl reformers, in attending to the light and 
 underftanding given them, opened the way 
 for fincere-hearted people to proceed further 
 afterward ; and thus each one truly fearing 
 God, and labouring in thofe works of righte- 
 oufnefs appointed for them in their day, 
 findeth acceptance with him : though, thro' 
 the darknefs of the times, and the corrup- 
 tion of manners and cufloms, 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 ; amongfl an impe- 
 rious warlike people, fupported by opprefied 
 flaves, fome of thefe mailers, I fuppofe, are 
 awakened to feel and fee their error ; and x 
 thro' fincere repentance, ceafe from oppref- 
 
 fion.
 
 182 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fion, and become like fathers to their fer- 
 yants ; (hewing, by their example, a pat- 
 tern of humility in living, and moderation 
 in governing, for the inftruction and admo- 
 nition of their oppreffing neighbours ; thofe 
 without carrying the reformation further, 
 I believe have found acceptance with the 
 Lord. Such was the beginning; and thofe 
 who fucceeded them, and have faithfully at- 
 tended to the nature and fpirit of the re- 
 formation, have feen the necemty of pro- 
 ceeding forward; and not only to inftrudl 
 others, by their example, in governing well, 
 but alfo to ufe means to prevent their fuc- 
 ceilbrs from having fo much power to op- 
 prefs others, 
 
 Here I was renewed! y 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 fuch an humble, lowly 
 way of living, that they may fee their way' 
 clearly, to '' repair to the ftandard of true 
 righteoufnels ; and not only break the yoke 
 of oppreflion, but know him to be their 
 ftrength and fupport in a time of outward 
 affliction. 
 
 We pafling on crofTed Chefler-River ; and 
 had a meeting there, and at Cecil and SafTa- 
 fras. Thro' my bodily weaknefs, joined with 
 a heavy exercife of mind, it was to me an; 
 
 humbling
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 183 
 
 humbling difpenfation, and I had a very 
 lively feeling of the ftate of the opprefTed ; 
 yet I often thought, that what I fuffered was 
 little, compared with the fufferings of the 
 blefTed Jefus, and many of his faithful fol- 
 lowers ; and may fay with thankfulnefs, I 
 was made content. 
 
 From SafTafras we went pretty directly 
 home, where we found our families well ; 
 and for fever al weeks after our return, I had. 
 often to look over our journey : and tho' to 
 me it appeared as a fmall fervice, and that 
 fome faithful meflengers will yet have more 
 bitter cups to drink in thofe fouthern pro- 
 vinces for Chrift's fake than we had ; yet I 
 found peace in that I had been helped to 
 walk in fincerity, according to the under- 
 flanding and ftrength given me. 
 
 On the thirteenth day of the eleventh 
 mouth, 1766, with the unity of friends at 
 our monthly-meeting, in company with my 
 beloved friend Benjamin Jones, I fat out on 
 a viiit to friends in the upper part of this 
 province, having had drawings of love in 
 my heart that way a conliderable time : we 
 travelled as far as Hardwick ; and I had in- 
 ward peace in my labours of love arnongft 
 them. 
 
 Thro' the humbling difpenfations of Di- 
 vine Providence, my mind hath been brought 
 into a further feeling of the difficulties of 
 friends and their fervants fouth-weflward : 
 and being often engaged in fpirit on their 
 
 account
 
 1 84 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 account, I believed it my duty to walk into 
 fome parts of the weftern fhore of Mary- 
 land, on a religious vifit : and having ob- 
 tained a certificate from friends 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, I rode to the ferry oppofite to 
 Philadelphia, and from thence walked tq 
 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 lonefome 
 walk ; thro* which afflictions, I was merci- 
 fully preferred : and now fitting down with 
 friends, my mind was turned toward the 
 Lord, to wait for his holy leadings ; who, 
 in infinite love, was pleafed to fbfteii my 
 heart into humble contrition, and did re- 
 neweclly 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 
 feeling of the ftate of fome prefent, the 
 Lord gave us a heart-tendering feafoii ; to 
 his name be the praife. 
 
 I pafled on, and was at Nottingham month- 
 ly-oneeting ; and at a meeting at Little Bri- 
 tain on firfl-day : and in the afternoon fc- 
 yeral friends came to the houfe where I 
 
 lodged.
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 185 
 
 lodged, and we had a little afternoon- meet- 
 ing; and thro' the humbling power of truth, 
 J had to admire the loving-kindnefs of the 
 Lord manifefled to us. 
 
 On the twenty-fixth day, I eroded Suf- 
 quehannah ; and coming amongft people in 
 outward eafe and greatnefs, chiefly on the 
 labour of flaves, my heart was much afFecl:- 
 ed ; and in awful retirednefs, my mind was 
 gathered inward to the Lord, being humbly 
 engaged that in true refignation I might re- 
 ceive inftruclion from him, refpecling my 
 duty amongft this people. 
 
 Tho' travelling on foot was wearifome to 
 my body ; yet thus travelling, was agree- 
 able to the ftate of my mind. 
 
 I went gently on, being weakly ; and was 
 covered with forrow and heavinefs, on ac- 
 count of the fpreading prevailing fpirit of 
 this world, introducing cufloms grievous and 
 oppreilive on one hand, and cherifhing pride 
 and wantonnefs on the other. In this lonely 
 walk, and ftate of abafement and humilia- 
 tion, the ftate of the church in thefe parts 
 was opened before me ; and I may truly fay 
 with the prophet, " I was bowed down at 
 ' the hearing of it ; I was difmayed at the 
 M feeing of it." Under this exercife, I at- 
 tended the quarterly- meeting at Gunpow- 
 der j and, in bowednefs of fpirit, I had to 
 open, with much plainnefs, what I felt re- 
 fpec~ling friends living in fullnefs, on the la- 
 tours of tne poor oppreffed negroes ; and 
 
 that
 
 i86 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that promife of the Moft High was now re- 
 vived : "I will gather all nations and 
 " tongues ; and they fhall 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 chriflians, in labour- 
 ing for the conveiiion of the gentiles, was 
 livingly revived in me ; and according to the 
 ineafure of flrength afforded, I laboured in 
 fome tendernefs of fpirit, being deeply af- 
 fected amongfl 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 
 chriflians for the converfion of the gentiles, 
 was preffed home, and the power of truth 
 came over us ; under a feeling of which, 
 my mind was united to a tender-hearted 
 people in thofe parts ; and the meeting con- 
 cluded in a fenfe of God's goodnefs toward 
 his humble dependant children. 
 
 The next day was a general meeting for 
 worfhip, much crouded ; in which I wasi 
 deeply engaged in inward cries to the Lord 1 
 for help, that I might fland wholly refigned, 
 and move only as he might be pleafed to 
 lead me : and I was mercifully helped to la- :' 
 hour honeflly and fervently amongft them, 
 in which I found inward peace ; and the fin- 
 cere were comforted. 
 
 From hence I turned toward Pipe-Creek, 
 and paffed on to the Red-Lands j and had 
 
 feveral
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 187 
 
 feveral meetings amongft friends in thofe 
 parts. My heart was often tenderly affect- 
 ed, under a fenfe of the Lord's goodnefs, in 
 fancliifying my troubles and exercifes, turn- 
 ing them to my comfort, and, I believe, to 
 the benefit of many others ; for, I may fay 
 with thankfulnefs, that in this vifit, it ap- 
 peared like a frefh tendering viiitation in 
 moft places. 
 
 I palled on to the weflern quarterly-meet- 
 ing in Pennfylvania ; during the feveral days 
 of this meeting, I was mercifully preferved 
 in an inward feeling after the mind of truth, 
 and my publick labours tended to my humi- 
 liation, with which I was content : and after 
 the quarterly-meeting of worfhip ended, I 
 felt drawings to go to the women's meet- 
 ing bf bufinefs ; which was very full : and 
 here 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 ; and was at meet- 
 ings at Concord, Middletown, Providence, 
 and Haddonfield, and fo home ; where I 
 found my family well. A fenfe of the Lord's 
 merciful prefervation in this my journey, ex- 
 cites reverent thankfulnefs to him. 
 
 On the fecond day of the ninth month, 
 1767, with the unity of friends, I fet oiF 
 on a vifit to friends in the upper part of 
 Berks and Philadelphia counties ; was at 
 eleven meetings in about two weeks ; and 
 
 have
 
 i88 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 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 trufl) profitable to us. And the win- 
 ter following, I 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 fome meetings in Maryland ; 
 and to proceed without a horfe looked clear- 
 ed to me. I was at the quarterly-meetings at 
 Philadelphia and Concord; and then .went 
 on to Cheiler river ; and croiliiig the Bay 
 with friends, was at the yearly-meeting at 
 Weft-River : thence back 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 
 Lord, way was, feveral times, opened to my 
 humbling admiration, when things had ap- 
 peared very difficult. 
 
 In my return, I felt a relief of mind, very 
 comfortable to me ; having, thro' divine 
 help, laboured in much plaiimefs, both with 
 friends felecled, and in the more publick 
 meetings : fo that (I trull) the pure witnefs, 
 in many minds, was reached. 
 
 The eleventh day of the fixth month, 
 1769. Sundry cafes have happened of late 
 
 years,
 
 v*w v 
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 189 
 
 years, within the limits of our monthly- 
 meeting, refpec~ling that of exercifing pure 
 righteoufnefs toward the negroes ; in which 
 I have lived under a labour of heart, that 
 equity might be fteadily kept to. On this 
 account, I have had fome clofe exercifes 
 amongfl 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 letting 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 
 time 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,^/) c 
 that I, being joined to another friend, in 
 executing the will of a deceafed friend, once 
 fold a negro lad till he might attain the age 
 of thirty years, and applied the money to 
 the ufe of the eftate. 
 
 With abafement of heart, I may now fay, 
 that fometimes, as I have fet in a meeting, 
 with my heart exercifed toward that awful 
 Being, who refpecteth not perfons nor co- 
 lours, and have looked upon this lad, I have 
 felt that all was not clear in my mind re- 
 fpedling him : and as I have attended to this 
 exercife, and fervently fought the Lord, it 
 hath appeared to me, that I fhould make 
 
 forac
 
 190 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fome reflitution, but in what way I faw not 
 till lately ; when being under fome concern, 
 that I may be refigned to go on a vifit to 
 fome part of the Weft-Indies ; and was un- 
 der clofe engagement of fpirit, feeking to the 
 Lord for counfel herein : that of my joining 
 in the fale aforefaid, came he*avily 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 firft faw, that as X 
 had been one of the two executors, who 
 had fold this lad nine years longer than is 
 common for our own children to ferve, fo I 
 fliould 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 executors, to 
 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 fhould 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 I 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 
 
 Chrift's
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 191 
 
 Chrift's government hath been opened in my 
 uiiderftanding ; and under this exercife, that 
 of friends being active in civil fociety, in 
 putting laws in force which are not agree- 
 able to the purity of righteoufnefs, hath, 
 for feveral years, been an increafing bur- 
 then upon me"; having felt, in the open- 
 ings of univerfal love, that where a people 
 convinced of the truth of the inward teach- 
 ings of Chrift, are aclive in putting laws in 
 execution, which are not confiflent with 
 pure wifdom, it hath a neceflary tendency to 
 bring dimnefs over their minds : and as my 
 heart hath been thus exercifed, and a tender 
 fympathy in me toward my fellow members, 
 I have, within a few months paft, in feveral 
 meetings for difcipline, exprefTed my con- 
 cern on this fubjeft. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 1 9 2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP X. 
 
 Under fome bodily indifpofition, his body, by 
 abftinence, much 'weakened ; and his mind, 
 at that time, exercifed for the good of the. 
 people in the Weft- Indies His afterwards 
 communicating to friends his being reftgned 
 to vifit fome of thefe ijlands Thejiate of 
 his mind, and the clofe confiderations he 'was 
 led into, while under this exercife His 
 preparations to embark, and his considerations 
 on the trade to thefe ijlands ; and his being, 
 when the vejjel "was ready to fail, releafed 
 from the concern he had been under His 
 religious engagements after his return home 
 Hisficknejs, in 'which he e was brought to 
 a very h r w Jlate ; and the profpecis he then 
 had. 
 
 THE twelfth day of the third month, 
 having, for fome years paft, dieted 
 myfelf on account of a lump gathering on 
 my nofe ; under this diet, I grew weak in 
 body, and not of ability to travel by land 
 as heretofore: I was, at times, favoured to 
 look with awfulnefs toward the Lord, before 
 whom are all my ways, who alone hath the 
 power of life and death ; and to feel thankful- 
 nefs raifed in me, for this his fatherly chaftife- 
 ment, believing, if I was truly humbled un- 
 der
 
 o* JOHN WOOL MAN. 193 
 
 der it, all would work for good. While I 
 was under this bodily weaknefs, my mind 
 being, at times, exercifed for my feilow- 
 creatures in the Weft-Indies, I grew jealous 
 over myfelf, left the difagreeablenefs of the 
 profpeci mould hinder me from obediently- 
 attending thereto : for tho' I knew not that 
 the Lord required me to go there ; yet I be- 
 lieved, that refignation was now called for 
 in that refpecl : and feeling a danger of not: 
 being wholly devoted to him, I was fre- 
 quently engaged to watch unto prayer, that 
 I might be preferved ; and upwards of a year 
 having paffed, I walked one day in a foii- 
 f y wood, my mind being covered with awful- 
 "iiefs, cries were raifed in rne to my merciful 
 Father, that he would gracioufly keep me irr 
 faithfulnefs ; and it then fettled on my mind 
 as a duty, to open my condition to friends 
 at our monthly-meeting ; which I did fooii 
 after, as follows : 
 
 " An exercife hath attended ine for fome 
 time paft, and of late been more weighty 
 upon me ; under which, I believe it is re- 
 quired of me to be refigned to go on a vifit 
 to fome part of the Weft-Indies :" and in the 
 quarterly and -.general fpring meeting, I 
 found no clc-arnefs to exprefs any thing fur- 
 ther, than that I believed reiignation herein 
 was required of me ; and having obtained 
 Certificates from all faid meetings, I felt like 
 * fojourner at my outward habitation, kepc 
 free from worldly encumbrances, and was 
 O often
 
 j 9 4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 often bowed in fpirit before the Lord, with 
 inward breathings to him, that I might be 
 rightly directed. And I may here note, that 
 what I have before related of my being, 
 when young, joined as an executor with an- 
 other friend, in executing the will of the 
 deceafcd, our having fold a negro lad till he 
 might attain the age of thirty years, was 
 now the occafion of great forrovv to me : and 
 after having fettled matters relating to this 
 youth, I provided a fca-uorc nhd bed, and 
 things for the voyage ; and hearing of a 
 veilel likely to fail from Philadelphia for Bar- 
 badoes, I ipake with one of the owners at 
 Burlington, and foon after went to Phila- 
 delphia on purpoie to fpeak with him again: 
 at which time he told me, there was a friend 
 in town who was part owner of the faid 
 veiTel ; but I felt no inclination to fpeak with 
 him, but returned home : and a while after, 
 I took leave of my family ; and going to Phi- 
 ladelphia, had fome weighty converfation 
 with the firfl-mentioned owner, and ihewed 
 him a writing, as follows : 
 
 " On the twenty- fifth day of the eleventh 
 month, 1769, as an exercife, with .^efpecT;- 
 to a vilit to Barbadoes, hath been weighty 
 on my mind, I may exprefs fome of the 
 tryab which have attended me ; under thefe 
 tryals I have, at times, rejoiced, in that I 
 have felt my own felf-will fubjected." 
 
 " I once, fome years ago, retailed rum, r 
 fugar, and molafles, the fruits of the labour 
 
 of
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN, 195 
 
 of flaves ; but then, had not much concern 
 about them, fave only that the rum might 
 be vJkl in moderation ; nor was this concern 
 fo weightily attended to, as I now believe it 
 ought to have been : but of late years being 
 further informed, refpecting the oppreilions 
 too generally exercifed in thefe iflands, and 
 thinking often on the degrees that are in 
 connections of intereft and feilowmip with 
 the works of darknefs, Ephe. v. ir. And 
 feeling an increafing concern to be wholly 
 given up to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, 
 it hath appeared, that the fmall gain I got 
 by this branch of trade, mould be applied 
 in promoting righteoufnefs on the earth ; and 
 were the firft motion toward a vifit to Bar- 
 badoes : I believed the outward fubftance I 
 poffefs fhould be applied in paying my paf- 
 fage, if I go, and providing things in a low- 
 ly way for my fubfiftance ; but when the 
 time drew near, in which, I believed, it re- 
 quired of me to be in readinefs, a difficulty 
 arofe, which hath been a continued tryal for 
 fome months pail ; under which, I have, 
 with abafement of mind, from day to day, 
 fought the Lord for inilrudlion ; and often 
 had a feeling of the condition of one for- 
 merly, who bewailed hirnfelf, for that the 
 Lord hid his face from him. During thefe 
 exercifes, my heart hath been often contrite ; 
 and I have had a tender feeling of the temp- 
 tations of my fellow-creatures, labouring un- 
 der thofe expenfive cuitoms diftinguiiliable 
 
 O 2 frOTT*
 
 196 THJ LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 from the fimplicity that there is in .Chrift, 1 
 Cor. ii. 3. and fometimes in the rene wings of 
 gofpel love, have been helped to miniller to 
 others." 
 
 '" That which hath fo clofely engaged my 
 mind, in feeking to the Lord for mftruclion 
 is, whether, after fo full information of the 
 oppremon the Haves in the Weft-Indies lie 
 under, who raife the Weil-India produce, as 
 I had in reading a caution and warning to 
 Great-Britain and her colonies, wrote by 
 Anthony Benezet) it is right for me to take 
 a paflage in a veffel, employed in the Weft- 
 India trade?" 
 
 " To trade freely with oppreflbrs, and with-^ 
 out labouring to dimiade from fuch unkind 
 treatment, feek for gain by fuch traffick, 
 tends, I believe, to make them more eaiy, 
 refpecling their coidudl, than they would 
 be, if the caufe of univerfal rlghteoufnefs- 
 was humbly and firmly attended to, by thofe 
 in general with whom they have commerce ; 
 and that complaint of the Lord by his pro- 
 phet, " They have ftrengthened the hands 
 " of the wicked," hath very often revived 
 in my mind ; and I may here add fonie cir- 
 cumftances preceding any profpecl of a yi- 
 fit there : the cafe of David hath often been 
 before me of late years : he longed for fome 
 water in a well beyond an army of Philif- 
 tines, at war with Ifrael ; and fome of his- 
 men, to pleafe him, ventured their lives in 
 palling thro' this army, and brought that 
 Water." " It
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 197 
 
 " It doth not appear that the Ifrael: tes we 'j 
 then Icarce of waterj but rather, tuac UJL- 
 vid gave way to delicacy of tafte ; but hav- 
 ing thought on the danger thefe men were^gr 
 exDofed to, he confidered this water as their 
 blood, and his heart fmote him that he could 
 not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord, 
 And the oppreilion of the flaves, which I 
 have feen in feveral journies fouthward, on 
 this continent, and the report of their treat- 
 ment in the Weft-Indies hath deeply afrecl- 
 ed me ; and a care to live in the fpirit of 
 peace, and minifler jufl caufe of offence to 
 none of my fellow-creatures, hath, from 
 time to time, livingly revived on my mind ; 
 and under this exercife, I, for fome yearj 
 paft, declined to gratify my palate with thofe 
 fugars." 
 
 " I do not cenfure my brethren in thefe 
 things ; but believe the Father of mercies, 
 to whom all mankind by creation are equal- 
 ly related, hath heard the groans of thele 
 oppreiTed people ; and is preparing foon to 
 have a tender feeling of their condition : and 
 the trading in, or frequent uie of, any pro- 
 duce known to be raifed by the labours of 
 thofj who are under fuch lamentable opprel- 
 fioii, hath appeared to be a fubjedl which 
 may yet more require the ferious confidera- 
 tion of the humble followers of Chrift, the 
 prince of peace." , 
 
 " Alter long and mournful exercife, I am 
 now free to mention how things have open-
 
 198 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ed in my mind, with defircs that if it may 
 pleafe the Lord, to further open his will to 
 any of his children in this matter, they may 
 faithfully follow him in fuch further mani- 
 feftation'." 
 
 " The number of thofe who decline the 
 life cf the Weft-India produce, en account of 
 the hard uiage of the Haves who raife it, ap- 
 pears frnall, even amongft people truly pi- 
 ous ; and the labours in chriftian love, on 
 that fubjecl, of thofe who do, not very ex- 
 tenfive." 
 
 " Were the trade from this continent to 
 the Weft-Indies to be quite flopped at once, I 
 believe many there would fiifFer for want of 
 bread." 
 
 " Did we on this continent, and the in- 
 habitants of the Weft-Indies, generally dwell 
 in pure rightcoufncfs, I believe a fmall trade 
 between us might be right : that under thefe 
 considerations, when the thoughts of wholly 
 declining the ufe of trading veels, and of 
 trying to hire a veflel to go under ballaft 
 have arofc in my mind, I have believed that 
 the labours in gofpel love, yet beftowed ia 
 the caufe of univerihl righteoufnefs, are not 
 arrived to that height." 
 
 "If the trade to the Weft-Indies were no 
 more than was confift-cntj with pure wifilom, 
 I believe the padagc-money would, for good 
 reafons, be higher than it is now ; a.nd here, 
 under deep exeircife of mind, I have believed, 
 that I ihoulcl liot take the advantage of this 
 great trade, and imall palfage-money ; but
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 199 
 
 as a teftimony in favour, of lefs trading, 
 fhoulJ pay more than is common for others 
 to pay, if I go at this time." 
 
 The firft-mentioned owner having read 
 the paper, expreifed aiwillingncfs to go with 
 me to the other owner ; and we. going, the 
 faid other owner read over the paper, and 
 we had fome folid coiiverfation ; undei* 
 which, I felt my foul bowed in reverence 
 before the Moft-High : and, at length, one 
 of them allied me, if I would go and fee ths 
 veiTel ? but I had not clearneis in my mind 
 to go ; but went to my lodgings, and re- 
 tired in private. 
 
 I was now under great exercife of mind ; 
 and my tears were poured oiit before the 
 Lord, with inward cries, that he would gra- 
 cioufly help me under thefe trials. 
 
 In this cafe, I believe my mind was re- 
 figned, but did not feel clearnefs to pro- 
 ceed ; and my own weakncfs, and the necef- 
 fity of divine inftruction, was impreiTed up- 
 on me. 
 
 I was, for a time, as one who knew not 
 what to do, and was toiTed as in a temped ; 
 under which affidtion, the doctrine of Chrift 
 " Take no thought for the morrow," arofc 
 livingiy before inc. I remembered it was 
 forne days before they expected, the veiTel to 
 fail, and was favoured to get into a good 
 degree of ftillnefs ; and having been near 
 two days in town, I believe my obedience to 
 my heavenly Father confided in fctnrning 
 
 home-
 
 sco THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 homeward ; and then I went over amongft 
 friends on the Jerfey more, and tarried tilt 
 the morning on which they had appointed 
 to fail : and as I lay in bed the latter part 
 of that night, my mind was comforted ; and 
 1 felt what I efleeineu a freih confirmation, 
 that it was the Lord's will, that I mould 
 pafs through fome further exercifes near 
 home. 
 
 So I .\yent home, and itill felt like a fo- 
 journer with my family : and in the frem 
 fpring of pure love, had fome labours in a 
 private way amongft friends, on a fubjj-jt 
 relating to truth's teflimony ; under which, 
 I had frequently been exercifed in heart for 
 fome years. I remember, as I walked on the 
 road under this exercife, that pafTage in Eze- 
 kiel came freih before me: " \Vhitherfoever 
 " their faces were turned, thither they went!" 
 and I was graciouily helped to difcharge my 
 duty, in the fear and dread of the Al- 
 mighty. 
 
 After a fexv weeks, it pleafed the Lord to 
 vifit me with a plcuriiy ; and after I had 
 lain a few days, and felt the diforder very 
 grievous, I was thoughtful how it might 
 end. 
 
 I had of late, through various exercifes, 
 been much weaned from the pleafant things 
 this life ; and I now thought, if it was 
 the Lord's will to put an end to my labours, 
 nud graciouily receive me into the arms of 
 his mercv, death would be acceptable to me ; 
 
 but
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 201 
 
 but if it was his will to farther refine me 
 under affliction, and make me, in any de- 
 gree, ufefal in his church, I defired not to 
 die. I may, with thankfulnefs, fay, that 
 in this cafe I felt reiignednefs wrought. in 
 me, and had no inclination to fend for a 
 doctor ; believing, if it was the Lord's will, 
 thro' outward means, to raife me up, fome 
 fympathizing friends would be fent to mini- 
 fler to me ; which were accordingly : but 
 though I was carefully attended, yet the dif- 
 order was, at times, fo heavy, that I had 
 no thoughts of recovery : one night in par- 
 ticular, my bodily diflrefs was great ; my feet 
 grew cold, and cold increafed up my legs 
 pward my body ; and, at that time, I had 
 no inclination to afk my nurie to apply any- 
 thing warm to my feet, expecting my end 
 \v as near : and after I had lain near ten hours 
 in this condition, I clpfed my eyes, thinking 
 whether I might now be delivered oui: of the 
 body ; but in thefe awful moments, my 
 mind was livingly opened to behold the 
 church ; and ftrong engagements were be- 
 gotten in me, for the everlafting well-being 
 of my fellow-creatures: and I felt, in the 
 fpring of pure love, that I might remain 
 fome time longer in the body, in filling up, 
 according to my meafure, that which re- 
 mains of the affections of Chrift, and in la- 
 bouring for the good of the church ; after 
 which, I requcfted my nurfe to apply warmth 
 ..- my teet; and I revived: and the next 
 
 night
 
 202 THE LIFE AN-D TRAVELS 
 
 night, feeling a weighty exercife of fpirit, 
 and having a folid friend fitting up with me, 
 I requeiled him to write what I faid ; which 
 he did, as follows : 
 
 " Fourth day of the firR month, 1770, 
 about five in the morning. I have feen in 
 the Light of the Lord, that the day is ap- 
 proaching, when the man that is the moft 
 wife in human policy, fliall be the .greatefl 
 fool ; and the arm that is mighty to fupport 
 injuilicc, mall be broken to pieces : the ene^ 
 mies of righteoufncfs mall make a terriblfe 
 rattle, and mall mightily torment one ano- 
 ther ; for He that is omnipotent is rifing up 
 to judgment, and will plead the caufe of the 
 opprciicd ; and he commanded me to open 
 the vificn." 
 
 Near a week after this, feeling my mind 
 livingly opened, I fent for a neighbour, 
 who, at my requcft, wrote as follows : 
 
 " The place of prayer is a precious habi- 
 tation ; for I now law that the prayers of 
 the: faints was precious incenfc: and a trum- 
 pet: was given me, that I 'might found forth 
 this language ; that the children might hear 
 it, and be invited together to this precious 
 habitation, where tLe prayers of the faints, 
 recious incenfe, arifeth up before the 
 c of God and the Lamb I faw this 
 habitation to be fafe ; to be inwardly quiet, 
 when there vrcre great flirrings and conimo- 
 ; in the world." 
 
 " Prayer,
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 203 
 
 " Prayer, at this day, in pure resignation, 
 is a precious place : the trumpet is founded, 
 the call goes forth to the church, that fhe 
 gather to' the place of pure inward prayer ; 
 and her habitation is fafe." 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 ffis preparing to vifit friends in England His 
 embarking at Chejicr^ in company ivith Sa- 
 muel Emlen^ in aJJjip bound to London His 
 deep exercife y in obferving the difficulties and 
 hardships the common Jailors are expofed to 
 Corjiderations on the dangers to 'which youth 
 are expofed^ in being trained to a Jea-faring 
 life ; and its inconjijlency 'with a pious educa- 
 tion His thoughts in a jlorm atfea: ivith 
 many inflrucli've contemplations on the voyage 
 And his arrival at London, 
 
 HAVING been fome time under a. reli- 
 gious concern to prepare for croffing 
 the feas, in order to viiit friends in the north- 
 ern parts of England, and more particularly 
 in Yorkiliire : after weighty confideration, I 
 thought it expedient to inform friends r at our 
 
 monthly-
 
 304 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 monthly-meeting at Burlington, of it ; who, 
 having unity with me therein, gave me a 
 certificate ; and I afterwards communicated 
 the fame to our quarterly-meeting, and they 
 likewise certified their concurrence therewith. 
 Some time after \vhicli, at the general fpring- 
 meeting of minifters and elders, I thought 
 it my duty to acquaint them of the religious 
 exercife which attended my mind ; with 
 which, they likewife fignified their unity by 
 a certificate, dated the twenty-fourth day of 
 the eighth month, 1772, directed to friends 
 in Great-Britain. 
 
 In the fourth month following, I thought 
 the time was come for me to make feme en<r 
 quiry for a f Likable conveyance ; being ap- 
 preheiiiive, that as my concern was princi- 
 pally toward the northern parts of England,* 
 it would be moft proper to go in a veflel 
 bound to Liverpool or Whitehaven : and 
 while I was at Philadelphia, deliberating on 
 this occafion, I was informed, that my belov- 
 ed friend Samuel Einlen, jun. intending to 
 go to London ; and having taken a paifagc 
 for himlelf in the cabbin of the ihip, called 
 Mary and Elizabeth, of which James Sparks 
 was matter, and John liead, of the city of 
 Philadelphia, one of the owners; and I feel- 
 ing a draft in my mind toward the fleerage 
 of the fame mip, went firft and opened to 
 Samuel the feeling I had concerning it. 
 
 My beloved friend wept when I fpake to 
 liirn, and appeared glad that I ha4 thoughts 
 
 of
 
 OF JOHN W O O L M A N. 20 j 
 
 of going in the veflel with him, though my, 
 profpecl was toward the fle^rage ; and i;e 
 offering to go with me, we went on board, 
 fi.rH into the cabbin, a commodious room^ 
 and then into the iteerage ; where we fat 
 down on a. cheft, the failors being bufy 
 about us : then the owner of the fhip came, 
 and fat down with us. 
 
 Here my mind was turned toward Chrift, 
 the heavenly counfellor ; and I feeling, at 
 this time, my own will fubjecfted, my heart 
 was contrite before him. 
 
 A motion was made by the owner, to go 
 and fet in tfce cabbin, as a place more re- 
 tired ; but I felt eafy to leave the ihip, and 
 made no agreement as to a paffage in her ; 
 'but told the owner, if I took a paiTage in the 
 {hip, I believed it would be in the ileerage ; 
 but did not fay much as to my exercife in 
 that cafe. 
 
 After I went to my lodgings, and the cafe 
 was a little known in town, a friend laid be- 
 fore me the great inconvenience attending a 
 pafTage in the fteerage ; which, for a time, 
 appeared very difcouraging to me. 
 
 I foon after went to bed, and my mind 
 was under a deep exercife before the Lord ; 
 whofe helping hand w r as manifefted to ma 
 as I flept that night, and his love flrengthen- 
 ed my heart: and in the morning, I went 
 with two friends on board the veflel -again ; 
 and_^after a fhort time fpent therein, I went 
 with Samuel Emlen to the houfe of the 
 
 owner j
 
 so6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 owner ; to whom, in the hearing of Samuel 
 only, I opened my exercife, in fiibftance as 
 follows, in relation to a fcruple I felt with 
 regard to a paffage in the cabbin : 
 
 I told the owner, that on the outfide of 
 that part of the {hip where the cabbin was, 
 I obferved fundry forts of carved work and 
 imagery ; and that in the eabbin I obferved 
 fbme fuperffuity of workmanfhip of feveral 
 forts ; and that according to the ways of 
 men's reckoning, the fum of money to be 
 paid for a paffage in that apartment, hath 
 fome relation to the expence in furniihing it 
 to pleafe the minds of inch who give way to 
 a conformity to this world ; and that in this 
 cafe, as in other cafes, the monies received 
 from the paffengers, are calculated to anfwer 
 every expence relating to their paffage, and 
 amongft the reft of thefe fuperiluities : and 
 that in this cafe, I felt a fcruple with regard 
 to paying my money to defray fuch ex- 
 pences. 
 
 As my mind was now opened^ I told the 
 owner, that I had, at feveral times in my 
 travels, feen great oppreffions on this conti- 
 nent ; at which my heart had been much 
 affected, and brought into a feeling of the 
 flate of the fufferers. And having many 
 times been engaged, in the fear and love of 
 God, to labour with thofe under whom the 
 oppreffed have been borne down and afflict- 
 ed ; I have often perceived, that a view to 
 get riches, and provide eftates for children, 
 
 to
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 207 
 
 to live conformable to cuftoms, which ftarkd 
 in that fpirit wherein men have regard to 
 the honours of this world that in the pur^ 
 fuit of theie things > I had feeii many entan- 
 gled in the fpi-rit of oppretTion, j and the ex- 
 qrci/e of my foul had been fitch,. uHat I c 
 not- find pe-^ce-^ i a j&iB&j g in nich. 
 
 1 faw- wa ft that vdiuom. w^iL 
 
 pure. 
 
 After this, I agreed for a paffage in the 
 fteerage ; and hearing in town that Jofeph 
 White had a deiire 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 
 tarried, two nights : and then early in the 
 morning, I parted with my family, under 
 a fenfe of the humbling hand of God upon 
 me ; and going to Philadelphia, had oppor- 
 tunity with feveraj of my beloved friends ; 
 who appeared to be concerned for me, an 
 account of the unpleafaiit iituation of that 
 part of the veflel, where I vras likely to 
 lodge. 
 
 In thefe opportunities, my mind, through 
 the mercies of the Lord, was kept low, in 
 an inward waiting for his help ; and friends 
 having expreiTed their defire, that I might 
 have a place more convenient than the fleer- 
 age, did not urge, but appeared difpofed to 
 leave me to the Lord. 
 
 Having flayed two nights in Philadelphia, 
 I went the next day to Derby monthly-meet- 
 ing ; where, through the flreng'ch of divine 
 
 love,
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 love, my heart was enlarged toward the* 
 youth then prefent ; under which I was 
 helped to labour in fome tendernefs of fpi- 
 rit. Then lodging at William Home's, I, 
 with one friend, went to Chefler ; 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 
 tinder the power of the crofs of Clirift. 
 
 Seventh day of the fifth month : have had 
 rough weather, moftly fince I came ori 
 board ; and the pafl&igers, James Reynolds, 
 John Till -Adams, Sarah Logan and her 
 hired maid, and John Bifpham, ail fea-fick, 
 more or lefs, at times ; from which ficknefs, 
 thro' 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 mailer of the fhip and in the cabbin 
 pafTengers toward me ; we were often toge- 
 ther on the deck, and fometimes in the cab- 
 bin. 
 
 My mind, thro' the merciful help of the 
 Lord, hath been preferved in a good degree 
 watchful, and inward ; and have, this day, 
 great caufe to be thankful, in that I remain 
 to feel qtiietnefs of mind. 
 
 As my lodgings in the fteerage, now near 
 a week, -hath afforded me fundry opportu- 
 nities of feeing, hearing, and feeling, with 
 
 ' refpeft
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 209 
 
 fefpect to the life and fpirit of many poor 
 failors : an inward exercife of foul hath at- 
 tended me, in regard to placing out children 
 and youth where they may be likely to be 
 exampled and inftructed 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 thejii 
 at a time alone ; and in a free coriverfation, 
 laboured to turn their minds toward the fear 
 of the Lord : and this day we had a meet- 
 ing in the cabbin, where my heart was con- 
 trite under a feeling of divine love. 
 
 Now concerning lads being trained up as 
 feamen : I believe a communication from one 
 part of the :orld to fome other parts of it,- 
 by fea, is, at times, confident with the will 
 of our heavenly Father ; and to educate fbnic 
 youth in the practice of failing, I believe 
 may be right : but how lamentable is the 
 preient corruption of the world ! how im- 
 pure are the channels thro' which trade hath 
 a conveyance ! how great is that danger, to 
 which poor lads are now expofed, when 
 placed on fhipboard to learn the art of fail- 
 ing? 
 
 Five lads, training up for the feas, were 
 now on board this (hip ; two of them brought 
 up amongft our fociety ; one of which hath 
 a right amongft friends, by name James 
 Nailor, to whole father James Nailor, men- 
 tioned in Sewel's hiftory, appears to have 
 been uncle. 
 
 P I often
 
 210 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 I often feel a tendernefs of heart toward 
 thefe poor lads ; and, at times, look at them 
 as though they were my children according 
 to the flem. 
 
 O that all may take heed and beware of 
 covetoufnefs ! O that all may learn of Chrift, 
 who was meek and low of heart ! Then in 
 faithfully following him, he will teach us to 
 be content with food and raiment, without re- 
 fpecl: to the cufloms or honours of this world. 
 
 Men thus redeemed, will feel a tender con- 
 cern for their fellow-creatures, and a defire 
 that thofe in the loweft flations may be afiift- 
 ed and encouraged ; and where owners of 
 fhips attain to the perfect law of liberty, ard 
 are doers of the word, thefe will be bleiFed 
 in their deeds. 
 
 A ihip at fea commonly fails all night, 
 and the teamen take their watches four hours 
 at a time. 
 
 Riiing to work in the night, is not com- 
 monly pleafan.t in any cafe ; but in xiark 
 rainy nights it is very difagreeable, even 
 though each man were furnilhed with all 
 conveniences : but if men mud go out at 
 midnight to help manage the ihip in the 
 rain, and having firiall room to deep and lay 
 their garments in, are often befet to furnim 
 thernfelves for the watch ; their garments or 
 ion thing relating to their bufinefs being 
 vv'ai iag, and not eauly found ; when from 
 rgency occafioned by high winds, they 
 are haitened and called up luddenly : here is a 
 
 tryal
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 211 
 
 tryal 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 fb clofe flowed 
 that proper convenience for change of gar- 
 ment is not eafily come at, but for want of 
 proper room their wet garments thrown in 
 heaps, and fome times, through much crowd- 
 ing, are trodden under foot, in going to 
 their lodgings and getting out of them, and 
 great difficulties, at times, each one to- find 
 his own : here are tryals on the poor failors. 
 
 Now as I have been with them in my 
 lodge, my heart hath often yearned for 
 them ; and tender defires been raifed in me, 
 that all owners and mafters of veffels may 
 dwell in the love of God, and therein a6l 
 uprightly ; and by feeking lefs for gain, and 
 looking carefully to their ways, may earn- 
 eflly labour to remove all caufe of provoca- 
 tion from the poor feamen, either to fret or 
 ufe excefs of flrong drink ; for, indeed, the 
 poor creatures, at times, in the wet and 
 cold, feem to apply to flrong drink to fup- 
 ply the want of other convenience. 
 
 Great reformation in the world is want- 
 ing, and the iieceflity of it, amongfl thefe 
 who do bufmefs on great waters, hath, at 
 this time, been abundantly opened before 
 me. 
 
 The eighth clay of the fifth month. This 
 
 morning the clouds gathered, the wind blew 
 
 P 2 flrong;
 
 12 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 flrong from fouth-eaflward, and before noon 
 increafed to that degree that failing appeared 
 dangerous : the feameii then bound up ibme 
 of their fails, and took down fame ; and the 
 ftorm iiicreafing, they put the dead lights, 
 fo called, into the cabbin-windows, and 
 lighted a lamp , as at night. 
 
 The wind now blew vehemently, and the 
 fea wrought to that degree, that an awful fe- 
 rioumefs prevailed in the cabbin, in which 
 I fpenrt, I believe, about feventeen hours ; 
 for I believed the poor wet toiling feamen, 
 had need of all the room in the crowded 
 fteerage, and the cabbin pafJengers had given 
 me frequent invitations. 
 
 They ceafed now from failing ; and put 
 the veflei in the poflure, called lying-to. 
 
 My mind in this temped, thro' the gra- 
 cious afliflance of the Lord, was preferved 
 in a good degree of refignation ; and I felt, 
 at times, a few words in his love to my 
 fhip-mates, in regard to the all-fufficiency 
 of Him who formed the great deep, and 
 whofe care is fo extenfive, that a fbarrow 
 falls not without his notice : and thus in a 
 tender frame of mind, fpake to them of the 
 necedity of our yielding, in true obedience, 
 to the inflructions of our heavenly Father, 
 who fometimes, through adverfities, intend- 
 eth our refinement. 
 
 About eleven at night, I went out on the 
 deck, when the fea wrought exceedingly, and 
 the high foaming waves, ail round about, 
 
 had
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 213 
 
 had in fome fort the appearance of fire ; but 
 did not give much, if any, light. 
 
 The faiior, then at the helm, faid, lie 
 lately faw a corpofant at the head of the 
 mall. 
 
 About this time I obferved the mafler of 
 the fhip ordered the carpenter to keep on the 
 deck ; and tho' he faid little, I apprehended 
 "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 cabbin, at which mofc 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 
 opermefs this morning, to cxpreis fomerhmg 
 further of the fiate of my mind, in refpect to 
 poor lads bound apprentice to learn the art: of 
 failing. As I believe failing is of fome ufo in 
 the world, a labour of foul attends me, thr.t 
 the pure counfel of truth mr.y be humbly 
 waited for in this cafe, by ail concerned in 
 the bufinefs of the feas. 
 
 A pious father, whofe mind is cxercifed 
 for the everlafting welfare of his child, may 
 not, with a peaceable mind, place him on: 
 to an employment among!! a people, whofe 
 
 : i
 
 214 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 common courfe of life is manifeflly corrupt 
 and prophane ; fo great is the prefent defect 
 ampngft fea-faring men, in regard to piety 
 and virtue : and through an abundant traf- 
 fick, and many mips of war, fo many peo- 
 ple are employed on the fea, that this fiibjecT: 
 of placing lads to the employment appears 
 very \veighty. 
 
 Prophane examples are very corrupting, 
 and very forcible. > And as my mind, day 
 after day, and night after night, hath been 
 aftecled with a fympathizing tendernefs to- 
 ward poor children, put to the employment 
 of iailors, I have fometimes had weighty 
 coriverlaticn with the failors in the fteerage, 
 who were moilly refpeclful to me, and more 
 and more io the longer I w?s with them: 
 they mortly appeared to take kindly what I 
 faid to them ; but their minds have appeared 
 to be fo deeply imprefTed with that almoft 
 univerfal depravity amongfl iailors, that the 
 poor creatures in their anfwers to me on 
 this fubject, have revived in" my remem- 
 brance, that of the degenerate Jews a little 
 before the captivity, as repeated by Jeremiah 
 the prophet, " There is no hope." 
 
 Now under this exercife, a fenfe of the 
 delire of outward gain prevailing amongft 
 us, hath felt grievous ; and a ftrong call to 
 the pro felled followers of Chrift, hath been 
 raifed in me ; that all may take heed, left, 
 through loving this prefent world, they be 
 found in a continued neglect of duty, with 
 
 refpect
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 215 
 
 refpecfl to a faithful labour for a reforma- 
 tion. - 
 
 Silence, as to every motion proceeding 
 from the love of money, and an. humble 
 waiting upon God, to know his will con- 
 cerning us, hath now appeared neceffary : 
 he alone is able to ftrengthen. us to dig deep, 
 to remove all which lies between us and the 
 fafe foundation, and fo direct us in our out- 
 ward employments, that pure univerfal love 
 may ihine forth in our proceedings. 
 
 Defires ariling from the fpirit of truth, are 
 pure defires ; and when a mind, divinely 
 opened toward a young generation, is made 
 fenfible of corrupting examples, powerfully 
 working', and extenftvely fpreading amoiigil 
 them, how moving is the profpecl ! 
 
 , A great trade to the coaft of Africa for 
 ilaves ; of which. I now heard frequent con- 
 veriation among the fkilors ! 
 
 A great trade in that which is raifed and 
 prepared thro' grievous oppreffion ! 
 
 A great trade in fuperliuity of workman- 
 fhip, formed to pleafe the pride and vanity 
 of people's minds ! 
 
 Great and cx'jcnfive is that depravity, 
 which .prevails amongft the poor failors ! 
 
 When I remember that faying of the Moll 
 High, through his prophet, " This people 
 " have I formed for myielf ; they mall fiiew 
 " forth my praife :" and think of placing 
 children amongft them, to learn the practice 
 of failing, the confiflency of it with a pious 
 
 educa-
 
 ai6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS j 
 
 education, feems to me like that mentione4 
 by the prophet, " There is no anfwer from 
 " God." 
 
 In a world of dangers and difficulties, like 
 a. defolate thorny wiidemefs, how precious ! 
 how comfortable ! how fafe ! are the lead-: 
 ings of Chrift, .the good fhepher-d ; who 
 iaid, " I know my iheep j and am known of 
 mine." 
 
 The fixteenth day of the month. Wind 
 for feveral clays pail often high, what the 
 failors call fquaily, rough fca and frequent 
 rains. This latt night a very trying night: 
 to the poor feamen ; the water, chief part of 
 the night, running over the main deck, and 
 fometimes breaking waves came on the quar- 
 ter deck. The latter part of the night, as I 
 lay in bed, my mind was humbled under 
 the power of divine love ; and reiignednefs 
 to the great Creator of the earth and the 
 feas, renewedly wrought in me, whole fa- 
 therly 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 righteoufneis on the earth. The 
 opportunities being frequent of hearing con- 
 verfation amongft the failors, in reipecl to 
 the voyages to Africa, and the manner of 
 bringing the deeply opprcillxl 1-aves into our. 
 ; fiands. The thoughts of their condition, 
 frequently in chains and fetters on board the 
 
 veflels.
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 217 
 
 veffels, with hearts loaded with grief, under 
 the appreheniions of miferable fiavery ; my 
 mind was frequently opened to meditate on 
 thefe things. 
 
 On the leventeenth day of the month, and 
 firfl of the week, \ve had a meeting in the 
 cabbin ; to which the feameii generally came. 
 My fpirit was contrite before the Lord ; 
 whole love, at this time, affected my heart. 
 
 This afternoon I felt a tender fympathy of 
 foul, with my poor wife and family left be- 
 hind ; in which ftate, my heart was en- 
 larged in defires, that they may walk in that 
 humble obedience wherein the everfafling 
 Father may be their guide and fupport, thro' 
 all the difficulties in this world ; and a fenfe 
 of that gracious ailiflance, thro' which my 
 mind hath been ftrengthened to take up the 
 crofs and leave them, to travel in the love 
 of truth, hath begotten thaiikfulncfs in my 
 heart to our great Helper. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth day of the month, 
 and firfl of the week, a clear pleafant morn-, 
 ing : and as I fat on deck, I felt a reviving 
 in my nature ; which, through much rainy 
 weather, and high winds, being fliut up in 
 a clofe unhealthy air, was weakened. 
 
 Several nights of late I felt breathing dif- 
 ficult ; that a little after the riling 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 
 frcjii air at the final! vacancy under the 
 
 hatch
 
 2i8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 hatch door ; which is commonly {hut down, 
 partly to keep out rain, and ibmetimes to 
 keep the breaking waves from darning into 
 the fleerage. 
 
 I may, with thankfulnefs to the Father 
 of mercies, acknowledge, that in my pre- 
 fent weak ftate, my mind hath been fupport- 
 ed 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 fello\v-creatures of- 
 in a greater degree. 
 
 My appetite failing, the tryal hath been 
 the heavier ; and I have fek 'tender breath- 
 !u my foul after God, the fountain of 
 comfort, wliolc inward help hath fupplied, 
 at times, the want of outward convenience : 
 and ftrong defires have attended me, that his 
 family, who are acquainted with the mov- 
 ings of his Holy Spirit, may be fo redeemed 
 from the love of money, and from that fpi- 
 rit in which men feek honour one of ano- 
 ther ; that ill all bunnefs, by fea or land, 
 we may constantly keep in view the coming 
 of his kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven ; 
 and by faithfully following this fare guide, 
 fhew forth examples, tending to lead out of 
 that under which the creation groans ! 
 
 This day we had a meeting in the cabbirf ; 
 in which I was favoured in fome degree to 
 experience the fulfillipg of that faying of 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 219 
 
 the prophet, " The Lord hath beeri a flrength 
 " to the poor, a ftrength to the needy in 
 " their diflrefs ;" for which, my heart is 
 bowed in thankfulnefs before him. 
 
 The twenty-eighth day of the month : 
 wet weather of late, final! winds inclining 
 to calms ; our feainen have call a lead, I fup- 
 pofe about one hundred fathom, but find no 
 bottom : foggy weather this morning. 
 -. " Through the kindneis of the great Pre- 
 ferver of men, my mind remains quiet ; and 
 a degree of exercife, from day to day, at- 
 tends me, that the pure peaceable govern- 
 ment of Chrift may fpread and prevail a- 
 mongft mankind. 
 
 The leading on of a young generation, in 
 that pure way, in which the wifdom of this 
 world hath no place : 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 exercife of my mind ; O how fafe, 
 how quiet is that ftate, where the foul ftands 
 in pure obedience to the voice of Chrift, and 
 a watchful care is maintained, not to follow 
 the voice of the flranger ! 
 
 Here Chrift is felt to be our fhephercl ; and 
 under his leading, people are brought to a 
 {lability : and where he doth not lead for- 
 ward, we are bound in the bonds of pure 
 love, to fland ftill and wait upon him. Jii 
 the love of money, and in the wifdom of 
 this world, bufinefs is propofed, then the 
 
 urgency
 
 -20 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 urgency of affairs puih forward ; nor can the 
 mind, in this flate, difcern the good and per- 
 fect will of God concerning us. 
 
 The love of God is manifested, in graci- 
 oufiy calling us to come out of that which 
 ftands in confufion ; but if we bow not in 
 the us me of Jeflis ; if we give not up ihofe 
 profpects of gain, which, in the wifdom of 
 this world, are open before us, but fay in 
 our hearts, I mull needs go on ; and in go- 
 ing on, I hope to keep as near to the purity 
 of truth, as the bunnefs before in . will ad- 
 mit of : here the mind remains entangled, 
 and the fhiaing of the light of life into the 
 foul is obilmdted. 
 
 This query opens in my mind in the love 
 of Chrift. Where iliail a pious father place 
 hi? fon apprentice, to be inftructed in the 
 practice of c roiling the feas ; and have faith 
 to believe, that Chrift, our holy Shepherd, 
 leads him to place his foil there ? 
 
 Surely the Lord calls to mourning and 
 deep IrumiRation, that in his fear we may 
 be mftrr.cloct, and led fafely on through the 
 great d : tiki; ides and perplexities in this pre- 
 fent age. 
 
 In an entire fubjection of our wills, the 
 Lord gracicirily opens a way for his people, 
 where ai: are bounded by his 
 
 ivifdom ^ and here we experience the fub- 
 es the prophet figured out 
 in the water of reparation, as a purification 
 from fin. 
 
 Efau
 
 OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 Efau is mentioned as a child red all over, 
 like a hairy garment : in Efau is reprefented 
 the natural will of man. la preparing ths 
 water of reparation, a red heifer without 
 b-lernifh, on which there had been no yoke, 
 was to be ilain, and her blood fprinkled by 
 the prieit feven times toward the tabernacle 
 of the congregation : then her 'ikin y he? 
 ffcili, and all pertaining to her, was to b 
 burnt without the car .of her aihes 
 the water was prepared. Thus the cracify- 
 ing the old man, or natural will, is repre- 
 fented ; and hence comes a feparation. from 
 that carnal mind, which is death. 
 
 " Pie who touclieth the ckad body of a 
 " man, and purifieth not him.felf with the 
 " water of feparation, he deiileth the tabcr- 
 " 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 a- 
 mongil 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 Chrifl to crucify them to the world, 
 and therein learn humbly to follow the di- 
 vine leader : here is the judgment of this 
 world here the prince of this world is carl 
 out. 
 
 The water of feparation is felt ; and tho' 
 we have been amongft the {lain, and thro' 
 the defire of gain have touched the dead bo- 
 dy of a man ; yet, in the purifying love of 
 
 Chrifl,
 
 222 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Chrifl, we are warned in the water of fepa- 
 ration, are brought off from that bulinefs, 
 from that gain, and from that fellowfhip, 
 which was not' agreeable to his holy will: 
 and I have felt a renewed confirmation in 
 the time of this voyage, that the Lord, in 
 his iniiiiite love, is calling to his vinteJ 
 dren, fo to give up all outward p 
 and means of getting treafures, tna 
 ly Spirit may have free courfe in ivolr i. 
 and direct them in all their proceedings. 
 
 To feel the fub fiance pointed at in this-, 
 figure, man mufl 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- 1 
 deemer. 
 
 As death comes on our own wills, and a 
 new life is formed in us, the heart is purified, 
 and prepared to underftand clearly. " BlefT- 
 ' ed are the pure in heart, for they fhall 
 " fee God." In purity of heart, the mind is 
 divinely opened to behold the nature of uni- 
 verfal righteoufnefs, or the rightcoufnefs of 
 the kingdom of God. " No man hath feen 
 " the Father, lave 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 acti- 
 vity, bufmefs is propofed, and a will in us 
 to go forward in it. And as long as this na- 
 tural will remains unfubjected, ib long there 
 
 remains
 
 oi JOHN WOOL MAN. 223 
 
 remains an obflruction againft the clearnefs 
 of divine light operating in us ; but when 
 v/e love God with all our heart, and with 
 all our ftrength, then, in this lo^e, we love 
 our neighbours as ourfelves ; and a tender- 
 nefs of heart is felt toward all people for 
 whom Chriit died, even fiich who as tp out- 
 ward circumflances may be to us as the Jews 
 were to the Samaritans. V/ho is my neigh- 
 bour ? See this queflion 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, ma- 
 nifefted in a full reformation of our lives, 
 wherein all things are new, and all things 
 are of God; 2 Cor. v. 18. in this the deiire 
 of gain is fubjected. 
 
 When employment is honeilly followed in 
 the light of truth ; and people become dili- 
 gent in bufinefs, " fervent in fpirit ; ferving 
 " the Lord:" Rom. xii. n. r ere the name 
 is opened : " This is the name by which he 
 " fliall be called, THE LORD OUR 
 " RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jere. xxiii. 6. 
 Oh, how precious is this name ! It is like 
 ointment poured out. TLe chaiie virgins are 
 in love with the Redeemer ; and fcr the pro- 
 moting his peaceable kingdom in the world, 
 are content to endure hardnefs like good fol- 
 diers ; and are fo feparated in fpirit, from 
 the defire of riches, that in their ernploy- 
 meritSj they become exteniively careful to give 
 none offence, neither to Jews nor heathen, 
 nor the church of Chrift. On
 
 224 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 On the thirty-fir ft day of the month, and 
 firft of the week, we had a meeting in the 
 cabbin, with near all the fhip's company ; 
 the whole being near thirty. In this meet- 
 ing the Lord, in mercy, favoured us with' 
 the extendings of his love. 
 
 The fecond day of the fixth month. Laft 
 evening the fearnen found bottom at about 
 feventy fadiom. 
 
 This morning fair wind, and plcafant : 
 and as I fat on deck, my heart was over- 
 come with the love of Chrift, and melted in- 
 to contrition before him : and in this ftate,- . 
 the profpect of that work, to which I havj 
 felt my mind drawn when in my native 
 land, being in fome degree opened before 
 me, I felt like a little child ; and my cries 
 xvere put up to my heavenly Father for pre- 
 fervation, that in a humble dependance on 
 him, my foul may be (Irengthened in his 
 love, and kept inwardly waiting for his 
 counfel. 
 
 This afternoon we faw that part of Eng- 
 land called the Lizard. 
 
 Some dunghill fowls yet remained of thofe 
 the paflengers took for their fea-ftore: I be- 
 lieve about fourteen pcriilied in the ftorms 
 at fea, by the waves breaking over the quar- 
 ter-deck ; and a considerable number with 
 fick-nefs, at different times. I obferved the 
 cocks crew coming down the Delaware, and 
 while we were near the land ; but after- 
 Ward, I think I did not hear one of them 
 
 crow
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 225 
 
 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 fome of them, I 
 often remembered the fountain of goodnefs, 
 who gave being to all creatures, and whofe 
 love extends to that of caring for the- fpar- 
 rows ; and believe, where the love of God is 
 verily perfected, and "the true fpirit of go- 
 vernment watchfully attended to, a tender- 
 nefs toward all creatures made fubjecl: 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 under our government. 
 
 The fourth day of tLe month. Wet wea- 
 ther, high winds, and fo dark that we could 
 fee but a little way. I perceived our feamen 
 were appreheniive of danger of miffing the 
 Channel ; which, I underflood, was narrow. 
 In a while, it grew lighter; and they faw the 
 land, and they knew where we were. Thus 
 the Father of mercies was pleafed to try us 
 with the fight of dangers ; and then graci- 
 oufly, from time to time, deliver from them : 
 thus fparing our lives, that in humility and 
 reverence, we may walk before him, and 
 put our truft in him. 
 
 About noon a pilot came off from Dover ; 
 where my beloved friend Samuel Emlen went 
 on more, and thence to London, about feven- 
 ty-two miles by land ; but I felt eafy in 
 flaying in the (hip. 
 
 The
 
 226 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 The feventh day of the month, and fir ft 
 of the week. Clear morning, lay at anchor 
 for the tide, and had a parting meeting with 
 the mip's company; in which, my heart was 
 enlarged in a fervent concern for them, that 
 they may come to experience falvation thro' 
 Chrift. Had a head wind up the Tha-nes ; 
 lay fbmetimes at anchor ; faw many ihips 
 pafftng, and fbme at anchor near ; and had 
 large opportunity of feeling the fpirit in 
 which the poor bewildered failors too gene- 
 rally live. That lamentable degeneracy, 
 which ib much prevails on the people em- 
 ployed on the feas, fo affected my heart, thi.t 
 I may not eafiiy convey the feeling I have 
 had to another. 
 
 The r, relent fcate of the fea-faring life in 
 general, appears fo oppofite to that of a pi- 
 ous education ; fo full of corruption, and 
 extreme alienation from God ; fo full of ex- 
 amples, the moil dangerous to young peo- 
 ple, that in looking toward a young genera- 
 tion, I feel a care for them, that they may 
 have an education different from the prcfcnt 
 education of lads at iea : and that all of us, 
 who are acquainted with the pure gofpel fpi- 
 rit, may lay this cafe to heart, may reirnn- 
 ber the lamentable corruptions which at- 
 tends the conveyance of merchandize acrofs 
 the feas, and ib abide in the love of Chrift, 
 that being delivered from the love of mo- 
 ney, from the entangling expences of a cu- 
 rious, delicate luxurious life, we may learn 
 eo.it :n tin:: :it with a little ; and picinn e 
 
 the
 
 OF JOHN WOOL M A N. -227 
 
 the iea-faring life no further, than that fpi- 
 rit, 'which leads into all truth, attends us in 
 
 onr proceedings. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 His attending the yearly-meeting in London ; 
 and after it, proceeding towards Yorkfuire^ 
 viftting fe^ t-ral quarterly and other meetings 
 in the comities of Hertford, Warwick, Ox- 
 ford, Nottingham, York, and Weft more I and ; 
 and thence again into York/Jjire, and to .the 
 city of Tork 'with Joins inftructi've thoughts 
 a:id obj'er-i'ations, and letters on divers fub- 
 jecis His hearing of the deceafe of Wil- 
 liam Hunt ; and fume account of him t&t 
 f> chiefs at York ; and end of his pilgrimage 
 there. 
 
 IN the eighth day of the fixth month, 
 1772, we landed at London ; and I 
 went ftraightway to the yearly-meeting of 
 miniflers and elders, which had been ga- 
 thered (I fuppofe) about half an hour. 
 
 In this meeting, my mind was humbly 
 
 contrice : in the afternoon, the meeting of 
 
 z bufmefs
 
 2?.8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 buiinefs opened ; which, by adjournments , 
 held near a week. In thele meetings, I of- 
 ten felt a living concern for the eftablilhment 
 of friends in the pure life of truth : and 
 my heart was enlarged in the meeting of mi- 
 nifters, meeting of buiinefs, and in feveral 
 meetings of publick worfhip ; and I felt my 
 mind united in true love, to the faithful la- 
 bourers now gathered at this yearly-meet- 
 ing. 
 
 On the fifteenth day of the month, I left 
 London, and went to a quarterly-meeting 
 at Hertford. 
 
 The firil day of the feventh month. I 
 have been at quarterly-meetings at Sherring- 
 ton, Northampton, Banbury and Shipton ; 
 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 miiiifters and elders, and in publick 
 meetings; that through the Lord's good- 
 nefs, I believe it hath been a freili viiitation. 
 to many, in particular to the youth. 
 
 The feventeenth day of the month. Was 
 this day at Birmingham : have been at meet- 
 ings at Coventry, Warwick, in Oxfordlhire, 
 and fundry other places ; have felt the hum- 
 bling hand of the Lord upon me ; and thro' 
 his tender mercies find peace in the labours 
 I have gone through. 
 
 The tweiity-fixth day of the month. I 
 have continued travelling northward, vifit- 
 
 ing
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 229 
 
 ing meetings : was this day at Nottingham ; 
 which, in the forenoon efpecially, was, thro* 
 divine love, a heart-tendering feaibn : next 
 day had a meeting in a friend's houfe with 
 friends children and fome friends ; this, 
 thro* the ftrengthening arm of the Lord, 
 was a time to be thankfully remembered. 
 
 The fecoiid day of the eighth month, and 
 firft of the week, was this day at Sheffield, 
 a large inland town : have been at fundry 
 meetings lafl week ; and feel inward thank- 
 fulnefs for that divine fupport, which hath 
 been gracioufly extended to me. 
 
 The ninth day of the month, and firfl of 
 the week, was at Ruih worth : have lately 
 panned through fome painful labour ; but 
 have been comforted, under a fenfe of that 
 divine vifitation, which I feel extended to- 
 ward many young people. 
 
 The fixteenth day of the month, and firft 
 of the week, was at Settle : it hath .of late 
 been a time of inward poverty ; under which, 
 my mind hath been preferved in a watchful 
 tender flate, feeling for the mind of the ho- 
 ly Leader, and find peace in the labours I 
 have palFed through. 
 
 On enquiry, in many places, I find tLe 
 price of rye about five (hillings, wheat about 
 eight ihillings, per builiel ; oatmeal twelve 
 millings for an hundred and twenty pounds ; 
 mutton from three-pence to five-pence per 
 pound ; bacon, from feven-pence to nine- 
 pence j cheefe, from four-pence to fix-pence ; 
 
 butter %
 
 -o THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 butter, frcm eight-pence to ten-pence ; houfe- 
 rent, for a poor man, from twenty-five {hil- 
 lings to iorirv ihikings per year, to be paid 
 vrecklv ; wood, for fire, very fcarce and dear ; 
 coal, in fome places, two {hillings and iix- 
 pence per hundred weight j- but near the 
 not a quarter fo much. O, may the we 
 confider the poor ! 
 
 The wages of labouring men in feveral 
 counties toward London, is ten-pence pt-r 
 day in common bufinefs, the employer finds 
 fmall-beer, and the iaboarer finds his own 
 food ; but in bar veil ciiivl hay time, v. 
 is abov.i: 'ing: per day, and the la- 
 
 bourer hath all his diet. In fome parts of 
 the north of England, poor labouring men 
 have their food where they work ; and ap- 
 pear, in common, to do rather better than 
 nearer London : induftrious women, who 
 fpiii in the factories,- get fome four-pence, 
 ibme five-pence, and io on to ilx, ieven, 
 eight, nine or ten-pence per. day, and find 
 their own home-room and. diet. Great : 
 bers of poor people live chicliy on bread and 
 water in the ibuthern parts of England, and 
 fome in the northern parts ; and there are 
 many poor children not t;r,:r-ht even to read, 
 thofe who have plenty, lay diefe things 
 to heart ! 
 
 a frequently go upwards of 
 an hundred miles in twenty-ivHir b.ours ; and 
 I have heard, friends fay, in feveral places, 
 chat it is common for horfes to be killed with 
 
 hard
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 231 
 
 hard driving, and many others driven till 
 they grow blind. 
 
 Poft-boys purfue their bufinefs, each one 
 to his ftagc, all night thro' the winter : fbme 
 boys, who ride long ftages, liuTer greatly on 
 winter nights ; and, at feveral places, I have 
 heard of their being froze to death, 
 great is the hurry in the fpirit of this world, 
 that in aiming to do bufinefs quick, a., 
 gain wealth, the creation, at this day, doirh. 
 loudly groan ! 
 
 As my journey hath been without a horfe, 
 I have had feveral offers of being aflifted on 
 my way in thefe Mage-coaches ; but have 
 not been in them : nor have I had freedom 
 to fend letters by thefe pofts, in the prefent 
 way of their riding ; the ftages being fo fix- 
 ed, and one boy dependant on another as to 
 time, that they commonly go upward of 
 one hundred miles in twenty-four hours; 
 and in the cold Jong winter nights, the poor 
 boys fufFer much. 
 
 I heard in America of the way of thefe 
 pofts ; and cautioned friends in the general 
 meeting of minifters and elders at Phihicld- 
 phia, and in the yearly-meeting of minifters 
 and elders at London, not to lend letters to 
 me on any common occaiion by pofL And 
 though, on this account, I may be likely to 
 hear feldomer from my family left behind ; 
 yet, for righteoulhefs i<!ake, I am, thro' di- 
 vine favour, made content. 
 
 I have
 
 232 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 I have felt great diftrefs of mind, mice I 
 came on this iiiand, on account of the menir- 
 bers of our fociety being mixed with the 
 world in various forts of bufinefs and traf- 
 fick, carried on in impure channels. Great 
 is the trade to Africa for Haves ! and in load- 
 ing thefe fhips, abundance of people are em- 
 ployed in the factories ; amongft whom are 
 many of our fociety. Friends, in early times, 
 refilled, on a religious principle, to make or 
 trade in fuperfluities ; of which, we have 
 many large teftimonies on record : but for 
 want of faithfulnefs, fbmc gave way ; even 
 fome, whofe examples were of note in our 
 fociety ; and from thence others took more 
 liberty. Members of our fociety 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 
 i uperfluities in drefs, and in the furniture of 
 their houfes ; and this hath fpread from lefs 
 to more, till fupenluity of fome kinds is 
 common amongft us. 
 
 In this declining flate, many look at the 
 example one of another, and too much ne- 
 glecl: 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 
 certain found j and I have felt in that which 
 
 doth
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 233 
 
 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 gracioufly lead fome to be pat- 
 terns' of deep ielf-tlenial ' in things relating 
 to trade and handicraft labour ; and that 
 fome, who have plenty of the treafures of 
 this world, will example in a plain frugal 
 life, and pay wages to iiich whom they may 
 hire, more liberally than is now cuitomary 
 in fome places. 
 
 The twenty- third day of the month, was 
 this day at Preflon-Patrick, and had a com- 
 fortable meeting. I have, leveral 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 con- 
 verfation with fuch in private, in which di- 
 vine goodnefs hath favoured us together, 
 with heart-tendering times. 
 
 The twenty-lixth day of the month. Be- 
 ing now at Ge'orge Crosfields, in the county 
 of Weftrnoreland, I feel a concern to com- 
 mit to writing, that which to me hath been 
 a cafe uncommon. 
 
 In a time of ficknefs with the pleurify, 
 a little upward of two years and a half ago, 
 I was brought fo near the gates of death, 
 that I forgot my name : being then defirous 
 to know who I was, I faw a mafs of matter 
 of a dull gloomy colour, between the fouth 
 
 and
 
 234 THE LI FE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and the eaft; ai^d was informed, i-yat this 
 inafs was human l.t-ngs in as great mifery 
 as they could be, and live ^ and th~t 1 was 
 mixed in \ rJi them, and that .rth I 
 
 might not coniider myicif as ;i d'iliiicl or 
 feparatc being. In this ilate I remained fe- 
 veral 'hours, I then htard a fbft melodious 
 voice, more pure and harmonious than any 
 1 had heard with my ears before ; I believ- 
 ed it was the voice of an angel, who i'pake 
 to' the other aD^"]s: the words were John 
 Woolman is dead. I foon remembered that I 
 once was John Woolman ; and being allured 
 that I was alive in the body, I greatly won- 
 dered what that heavenly voice could mean. 
 
 I believed, beyond doubting, that it was 
 the voice of an holy angel ; but, as yet, it 
 was a myilery to me. 
 
 I was then carried in fpirit to the mines, 
 where poor opprefFed people were digging 
 rich trciaiiires for :hofe called chrillians ; and 
 heard them blafphcine the name of Chrift, 
 at which I was grieved ; forliis name to me 
 was precious. 
 
 Then I was informed, that thefe hea- 
 then were told, i:i.-;at thofe who oppreiTed 
 them were the followers of Chriit ; arid they 
 laid ampngft themlelves, If Chrifl directed 
 them to uie us in this fort, then Chriii is a 
 cruel tyrant. 
 
 All this time the fong of the angel re- 
 mained a myilery ; and in the morning, my 
 dear wife and ibme others co-miner to m v bei- 
 
 ' fide,
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 235 
 
 fide, I afked them, if they knew who I was : 
 and they telling me, I was John Woolman, 
 thought I was light-headed : for I told them 
 not what the angel faid, nor was I difpofed 
 to talk much to any one ; but was very tie- 
 firous to get fo deep, that I might uncier- 
 ftand this myftery. 
 
 My tongue was often fo dry, that I 
 could not Ipcak till I had moved it about 
 and gatheivd fome moifture, and as I lay flifl 
 for a time, at length I felt divine power pre- 
 pare my mouth that I could fpeak ; and then 
 I faid, " I am crucified with Chrift, never- 
 " thelefs I live; yet not I y but Chrift that 
 " iiveth in me : and the life I now live in 
 " the ilelh, is by faith in the Son of God, 
 " who loved me, and gave himfelf for me. 5 ' 
 
 Then the myftery was opened ; and I per- 
 ceived there was joy in heaven over a firmer 
 who had repented ; and that that language 
 (joh-n Woolman is dead) meant no more than 
 the death of my own will. 
 
 Scon after this I coughed, and raifed much 
 bloody matter ; which I had not done during 
 this viflon: and now my natural underftand- 
 ing returned as before. Here I few, that 
 people getting filver verTels to let off their ta~ 
 hies at entertainments, was often Rained with 
 worldly glory ; and that in the prefent date 
 of things, frihould take heed how I fed rny- 
 felf from out of iilver veilels. 
 
 Soon after my recovery, I, going to our 
 moathly-rneeting, dined at a friend's liouie 
 
 where
 
 236 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 where drink was brought in filver veiTel?, 
 and not in any other ; and I wanting fomc 
 drink, told him my cafe with weeping : and 
 he ordered fome drink for me in another vef- 
 fel. 
 
 The like I afterwards went through in 
 feveral friend's houfes in America, and have 
 alfo in England, fince I came here : and have 
 caufe, with humble reverence, to acknow- 
 ledge the loving-kindiiefs of mr heavenly 
 Father, who hath preferred me in fuch a 
 tender frame of mind, that none, I believe, 
 have ever been offended at what I have faid 
 on that occafion. 
 
 After this ficknefs, I fpake not in publick 
 meetings for wormip for near one year ; but 
 my mind was very often in company with 
 the opprefled flaves, as I fat in meetings : 
 and tho', under this difpenfation, I was ihut 
 up from fpeaking, yet the fpririg of the gof- 
 pel miniftry was, many times, livingly open- 
 ed in me ; and the divine gift operated by 
 abundance of weeping, in feeling the op- 
 premoii of this people. It being ib long 
 fince I paiTed thro' this difpeniation, and the 
 matter remaining freih and livingly in my 
 mind, I believe it fafefl for me to commit 
 it to writing. 
 
 The thirtieth clay of the month. This 
 morning I wrote a letter, in fubftance as 
 follows : 
 
 Beloved
 
 OP JOHN WOOL MAN. 237 
 
 Beloved friend, 
 
 * TV/fY mind is often affected as I pafs 
 **- along, under a fenfe of the date of 
 many poor people, who fit under that fort 
 of mimdry which requires much outward 
 labour to fupport it; and the loving-kind- 
 nefs of our heavenly Father, in opening a 
 pure gofpel minidry in this nation, hath of- 
 ten raifed thankfulnefs in my heart to him. 
 I often remember the conflicts of the faith- 
 ful under perfecution, and now look at the 
 free exercife of the pure gift uninterrupted 
 by outward laws, as a trufl committed to us ; 
 which requires our deeped gratitude, and 
 mod careful attention. I feel a tender con- 
 cern, that the work of reformation, fo prof- 
 peroufly carried on in this land within a few 
 ages pad, may go forward and fpread a-* 
 mongd the nations ; and may not go back- 
 ward, thro' dud gathering on our garments, 
 who have been called to a, work fo great and 
 fo precious." 
 
 " Lad evening I had a little opportunity 
 at thy houfe, with fome of thy family, in 
 thy abfence ; in which I rejoiced : and feel- 
 ing a fweetnefs on my mind toward thee, I 
 now endeavour to open a little of the feeling 
 I had there." 
 
 " I have heard, that you, in thefe parts, 
 have, at certain feafons, meetings of confer- 
 ence, in relation to friends living up to our 
 principles, in which feveral meetings unite 
 
 in
 
 2 3 S THE LIFE AND. TRAVELS 
 
 in one ; with which I feel unity : I having, 
 in force meafure, felt truth lead that way 
 amongfl friends in America ; and have 
 found, my dear friend, that in thefe labours 
 all fuperfluities in our own living, are againft 
 us. I feel that pure love toward thee, in 
 which there is freedom." 
 
 " I look at that precious gift bellowed on 
 thee, with awfulnefs before Him who gave 
 it : and feel a care, that we may be fo iepa- 
 rated to the gofpel of Chrift, that thofe things 
 which proceed from the fpirit of this world, 
 may have 110 place among!! us." 
 
 " Thy friend, 
 " John Wcolman." 
 
 I relied a few days, in body and mind, 
 with our friend Jane Crosneld ; who was 
 once in America: was, on the fixth day of 
 ti#p*ek, at Kendal in Weftmoreland ; and 
 at Greyrig meeting the thirtieth day of the 
 month, and firft of the week. 
 
 I have known poverty of late; and been 
 graciouily fupported to keep in the patience : 
 and am thaiikru.-, under a fenfe of the good- 
 ncfs of the Lord toward thofe that are of a 
 contrite fpirit. 
 
 The fixth day of the ninth month, and 
 fir ft of the week, was this day at Counter- 
 fide ; a large nvjeting-houfe, and very full : 
 and thro' the opening of pure love, it was 
 
 a ftrcngthen-
 
 OF JOHN. WOOL MAN. 239 
 
 ;i ftrengtheiiing time to me, and (I believe)' 
 
 to many more. 
 
 The thirteenth clay of the month. Was 
 this day at Richmond, a finall meeting; but 
 the town's people coming in, the houie 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 Eng- 
 land, departed this life on 'the ninth day of 
 thj ninth month, initant, of the fmall-pox, 
 at Newcaflle. He appeared in the ministry 
 when a youth ; and his labours therein were 
 of good favor. 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 
 Chrifc fo fully, that he might not fpend one 
 minute in pleaiing hiinielf : which words, 
 joined with ins example, was a means of fur- 
 ring up the pure mind in me. 
 
 Having of late travelled often in wet wea- 
 ther, thro* narrow itreets in towns and vil- 
 lages, where dirtinefs under foot, and the 
 fcent arifing from that filth, which more or 
 lefs infects the air of all thick fettled towns ; 
 and I being but weakly, have "felt diftreis 
 both in body and mind with that which is 
 ixiipure. 
 
 In thefe journies I have been where much 
 cloth hath been dyed j and fimdry times 
 
 walked
 
 240 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 walked over ground, where much of .their 
 dye fluffs have drained away. 
 
 Here I have felt a longing in my mind^ 
 that people might come into cleannefs of fpi- 
 rit, cleannefs of perfon, cleannefs about their 
 houfes and garments. 
 
 Some, who are great, carry delicacy to a 
 great height themfelves, and yet the real 
 cleaniinefs is not generally promoted. Dyes 
 being invented partly to pleafe the eye, and 
 partly to hide dirt, I have felt in this weak 
 flate, travelling in dirtinefs and affected with 
 tmwholefome icents, a flrong deiire that the 
 nature of dyeing cloth to hide dirt may be 
 more fully coniidered. 
 
 To hide dirt in our garments, appears op- 
 polite to real cleanlinefs. 
 
 To wafli garments, and keep them fweet, 
 this appears cleanly. 
 
 Thro' giving way to hiding dirt in our 
 garments, a fpirit which would cover that 
 which is difagreeable, is flrengthened. 
 
 Real cleannefs becometh a holy people : 
 but hiding that which is not clean by colour- 
 ing our garments, appears contrary to the 
 fweetnefs of fiiicerity. 
 
 Thro' fome forts of dyes, cloth is lefs ufe- 
 ful ; and if the value of dye-fluffs, the ex- 
 pence of dyeing, and the damage done to 
 cloth, were all added together, and that ex- 
 pence applied to keep all Avcct and clean, 
 how much more cleanly would people be. 
 
 Near
 
 o F J O H N W O O L M A N. 241 
 
 Oil this vifit to England I have felt fome 
 iiiftrudlions fealed tin iny mind, which I am 
 concerned to leave in writing, for the uie of 
 fuch who are called to the ilation of a mini- 
 fler of Chrift. 
 
 Chriil being the Prince of Peace, and we 
 being no more than minifters, I find it ne- 
 ceifary for us, not only to feel a concern in 
 our firil going forth, but to experience the 
 renewing thereof, in the appointment of 
 meetings. 
 
 I felt a concern in America, to prepare for 
 this voyage ; and being through the mercy 
 of God, brought fare here, my heart was 
 like a veflel that wanted vent ; and for feve- 
 ral weeks at firfl, when my mouth was open- 
 ed in meetings, it often felt like the railing 
 of a gate in a water courfe, where a weight 
 of water lay upon it ; and in thefe labours 
 there appeared a frelh viiitation to many> 
 cfpecially the youth ; but fometimes after this^ 
 I felt empty and poor, and yet felt a necefli- 
 ty 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 againit the motions of felf 
 in my own mind. 
 
 I have frequently felt a neceffity to fland 
 up, when the fpring of the mmifcry was low, 
 and to ipeak from the neceffity, in that which 
 fubjecleth the will of the creature ; and here- 
 in I was united with the fuffering feed, arid 
 Found inward fweetnels in thefe mortifying 
 lab our Si 
 
 R ' As
 
 54.2 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 As I have been preferved in a watchful at- 
 tention to the divine leader, under thefe dif- 
 penfations, enlargement at times hath fol- 
 lowed, and the power of truth hath rofe high- 
 er in fome meetings, than I ever knew it be- 
 fore through me. 
 
 Thus I have been more and more inftrudl-* 
 ed, as to the necemty of depending, not up- 
 on a concern which I felt in America, to come 
 on a vific to England ; but upon the irefh in- 
 ftructions of Chrift the Prince of Peace, from 
 day to day. 
 
 Now of late, I felt a Hop in the appoint- 
 ment of meetings, 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 miniftry, being a work 
 of divine love, I feel that the openings there- 
 of are to be waited for, in all our appoint- 
 ments. 
 
 Oh how deep is divine wifclom ! Chrift puts 
 forth his minifters, raid goeth before them ; 
 and oh how great is the danger of departing 
 from the pure feeling of that which leadeth 
 fafely ! 
 
 Chrift knoweth the ftate of the people, and 
 in the pure feeling of the gofpel miniftry, 
 t^eir rentes are opened to his fervants. 
 
 Chrift knowech when the fruit-bearing 
 branches themfelves have need of purging. 
 
 Oh that thefe leilbns may be remembered 
 by me ! and that all who appoint meetings, 
 may proceed in the pure feeling of duty. 
 
 I have
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 245 
 
 I have fometimes felt a neceffity to (land 
 up, but that fpirit which is of the world 
 hath fo much prevailed in man-, and the 
 pure life of truth been fo prefled down, that 
 I have gone forward, hot 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, fare to ftep 
 on ; but fo (ituated that one ftep being taken, 
 time is neceffary 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 wifdoin which is of the 
 world ; and in thefe lowly labours, they who 
 (land in a low place, rightly exercifed under 
 the crofs, will find nourifliment. 
 
 The gift is pure, and while the eye is {in- 
 gle in attending thereto, the underftanding 
 is preferred clear ; felf is kept out ; weNfejoice 
 in filling up that which remains of tne af- 
 flictions 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 gof- 
 pel miniftry, growing weary of fufFeringj 
 and aihamed of appearing weak, may kindle 
 a fire, compafs themfelves about with fparks, 
 and walk in the light ; not of Chrift who is 
 under fuffering ; but of that fire, which they, 
 going from the gift, have kindled : And that 
 in hearers, which is gone from the meek fuf- 
 fering ftate, into the worldly wifdom, may 
 R 2 be
 
 244 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 be warmed with this fire, and fpeak highly 
 of thele labours. That which is of God ga- 
 thers to God ; and that which is of the world 
 is owned by he world. 
 
 In this journey a labour hath attended my 
 mind, that the minifters amongft us may be 
 preferved in the meek feeling life of truth, 
 where we may have no defire, but to follow 
 Chrift and be with him ; that when he is un- 
 der fuifering we may fuffer with him ; and 
 never defire to rife up in dominion, but as 
 he by the virtue of his own fpirit may raifc 
 jus. 
 
 A few days after writing thefe confiderati- 
 ons, cur dear friend in the courfe of his reli- 
 gious vifits, came to the city of York, and 
 attended moil of the fittings of the quarterly 
 meeting there ; but before it was over, was 
 taken ill of the fmall-pox. Our friend Tho- 
 mas Prieflmaii and others who attended him, 
 preferved the following minutes of his expref- 
 lions in the time of his ficknefs, and of his 
 deceafe. 
 
 i ft day, the 2 yth of the Qth month 1772. 
 His diibrder appeared to be the fmall-pox : 
 -being afked to have a doctor's advice, he fig- 
 nified he had not freedom or liberty in his 
 mind fo to do, Handing wholly refigned to 
 his will, who gave him life, and whole pow- 
 er he had witneffed to raife and heal hiin in 
 iickneis before, when he feemed nigh unto 
 death j and if he was to wind up now, he 
 
 was
 
 OP JOHN WOOL MAN. 245 
 
 was perfectly refigned, having no will either 
 to live or die, and did not choofe any mould 
 be fent for to him : but a young man, an 
 apothecary, coming of his own accord the 
 next day, and deiiring to do fomething for 
 him, he faid he found a freedom to confer 
 with him and the other friends about him, 
 and if any thing mould be propofed, as to 
 medicine that did not come thro' defiled chan- 
 nels or oppreffive hands, he mould be wil- 
 ling to coniider and take it, fo far as he 
 found freedom. 
 
 2d day. He Taid he felt the diforder to af- 
 fect his head, fo that he could think little, 
 and but as a child ; and defired if his under- 
 Handing mould be more affected, to have 
 nothing given him that thofe about knew he 
 had a teftimoiiy againft. 
 
 Third-day he uttered the following pray- 
 er. O Lord my God, the amazing hor- 
 rors of darknefs were gathered around me 
 and covered me all over, and I faw 110 way 
 to go forth ; I felt the depth and extent of 
 the mifery of my fellow creatures feparated 
 from the divine harmony, and it was heavi- 
 er than I could bear, and I was crufhed down 
 under it, I lifted up my hand, I ftretched 
 out my arm, but there was none to help me ; 
 I looked round about and was amazed ; in 
 the depths of mifery, O Lord ! I 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 I waited 
 for deliverance from thee j thou hadft pity 
 
 upon
 
 146 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 upon me when no man could help me ; I faw 
 that meeknefs under fullering was mewed to 
 us in the mod arTecling example of thy Son, 
 and thou taught me to follow him, and I 
 faid " thy wiii O Father be done." 
 
 Fourth day mcrning, being afked how he 
 felt himfelf, he meekly anfwercd, I don't 
 know that I have flept this night, I feel the 
 diforder making its progrefs, but iny mind 
 is mercifully preferved in ftilinefs 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 mufl fometime pafs 
 thro' them, and he did not know that he 
 could be better prepared, but had no will in 
 it. He faid 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 j adding, and 
 tho' I 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 
 laid, This trial is made eafier than I could 
 have thought, my will being wholly taken 
 away ; for if I was anxious for the event 
 it would have been harder, but I am not, 
 and my mind enjoys a perfect calm. 
 
 In the night a young woman having given 
 him fomething to drink, he faid, My child 
 thou feems very kind to me a poor creature, 
 the Lord will reward thee for it. Awhile af- 
 ter he cried out with great earneftnefs of 
 fpirit, Oh my Father ! my Father ! and foon 
 sifter he laid. Oh my Father ! my Father ! 
 
 how.
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 247 
 
 how comfortable art thou to my foul in this 
 trying feafbn. Being afked if he could take 
 a little nourishment ; after fome paufe he re- 
 plied, my child I cannot tell what to fay to 
 it ; I feein nearly arrived where my foul Ihall 
 have reft from all its troubles. After giving 
 in fomething to be inferred 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 lafl wrought 
 by me in this world, the meflenger 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 reqxnred, according to the 
 ability received, in the remembrance of 
 which he had peace; and tho' the diforder 
 was flrong at times, and would like a whirl- 
 wind corne over his mind ; yet it had hither- 
 to been kept fteady and center'd in everlall- 
 ing love; adding, and if that be mercifully 
 continued, I aik nor defire no more. An- 
 other 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 
 himfelf in the northern parts of it, and that 
 the fpring of the gofpel was opened in him 
 much as in the beginning 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 iiopt, 
 tho' he could not fee for what end ; but 
 
 Looking
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 looking towards home, fell into a flood of 
 tears which waked him. 
 
 At another time he faid. my draught feem- 
 ed flrongeft towards the North, and I men- 
 tioned in my own monthly-meeting, that 
 attending the quarterly-meeting at York, 
 and being there, looked like home to me. 
 
 Fifth-day night, having repeatedly con- 
 fented to take medicine with a view to fettle 
 his ftpmach, but without erFedl ; the friend 
 then waiting on him, faid thro' diflrefs, 
 what mall I do now ? He anfwered with great 
 compofure, Rejoice ever more, and in every 
 thing give thanks ; but added a little after, 
 this is fometimes hard to come at. 
 
 Sixth-day morning he broke forth early in 
 {application on this wife, O Lord it was thy 
 power that enabled me to forfake fin in my 
 youth, and I have felt thy bruifes for difc- 
 obedience ; but as I bowed under them thou 
 healed me, continuing a father and a friend; 
 I feel thy power now,' and I beg that in the 
 approaching trying moment Thou wilt keep 
 my heart ftedfaft unto thee. Upon his giv- 
 ing directions to a friend concerning fbme 
 little things, -me faid I will take care, but 
 hope thpu wilt live to order them thyielf; 
 he reply'd, my hope is in Chriit, and tho' I 
 may feem a little better, a change in the dif- 
 brdermay foon happen, and my little ftrength 
 be diifolved, and if it fo happens, I (hall be 
 gathered to my everlafting reft. On her fay- 
 ing ilie did not doubt that, but could no* 
 help mourning ,to fee fo many faithful fer-
 
 OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 24$ 
 
 vants removed at fo low a time ; he faid all 
 good cometh from the Lord, whofe power is 
 the fame, and can work as he fees beft. The 
 fame day he had given directions about 
 wrapping his corpfe ; perceiving a friend to 
 weep, he faid I would rather thou wouldft 
 guard againft weeping for me, my fitter, I 
 Torrow not, tho' I have had fome painful con- 
 flicts, but now they feem over and matters 
 well fettled, and I look at the face of my 
 dear redeemer, for fweet is his voice and 
 his countenance is comely. 
 
 Firft-day, fourth of the tenth month, being 
 very weak and in general difficult to be un- 
 derftood, he uttered a tew words in comme- 
 moration of the Lord's goodnefs ; and add- 
 ed, how tenderly have I been waited on in 
 this time of affliction, in which I may fay 
 in Job's words, Tedious days and \vearifome 
 nights are appointed unto me, and how ma- 
 ny are fpending their time and money in 
 vanity and fuperrluities, while thoufarids 
 and tens of thoufands want the nee E 
 life, who might be relieved by t 
 their dillrelles at fuch a time as tins, i:. 
 degree foftened by the adminikrlii^ fuLable 
 things. 
 
 Second-day morning the apothecary who 
 appeared very anxious to aiiiil him, being 
 prefent, he queried about the probability of 
 iuch a load of matter being thrown off his 
 weak body, and the apothecary making -bme 
 remarks implying he thouglit.it might; he 
 fpoke with an audio Ae vui.ce on tills wife. 
 
 My
 
 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 My dependance is on the Lord Jefus, who I 
 trull will forgive my fins, which is all I hope 
 for, and if it be his will to raiie up this body 
 again, I am content ; and if to die, I am re- 
 figned ; and if thou canit not be eafy with- 
 out trying to ailifl nature, I fubmit : after 
 which his throat was fo much affected, that 
 it was very difficult for him to fpeak fo as to 
 be underiiood, and frequently wrote when 
 he wanted any thing. About the fecond 
 hour on fourth-day morning he aiked for 
 pen and ink, and at feveral times with much 
 difficulty wrote thus, I believe my being 
 here is in the wifdom of Chrifl, I know not 
 as to life or death. 
 
 About a quarter before fix the fame morn- 
 ing he feemed to fall into an eafy fleep, which 
 continued about half an hour, when ieeming 
 to awake, he breathed a few times with more 
 difficulty, and expired without figh, 
 or ilruggle. 
 
 END OF THE JOURNAL.,
 
 THE 
 
 W O R K S 
 
 O F 
 
 JOHN WOOL MAN. 
 
 PART the SECOND. 
 
 Containing his LAST EPISTLE and his 
 other WRITINGS. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOSEPH CRUKSHANK, IN MARKET- 
 STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS. 
 
 M.DCC.LSXIV.
 
 SOME 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 On the KEEPING of 
 
 N E G R E S. 
 
 Recommended to the Profeflbrs of Chrifti- 
 anity of every Denomination. 
 
 Firft printed in the year 1754. 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 /CUSTOMS generally approved, and opi- 
 ^ nions received by youth from their fupe- 
 riors, become like the natural produce of a foil \ 
 efpe dally vuhen they are fuited to favourite in- 
 clinations : but as the judgments of God arc 
 without partiality, by 'which the jlate of the 
 foul muft be tried, it ivould be the highefl ivif- 
 dom to forego cujloms and popular opinions, and 
 try the treafures of the foul by the infallible 
 jlandard truth. 
 
 Natural affeftion needs a careful examina- 
 tion: operating upon us in afoft, manner, it kin- 
 dles dejires of love and tendernefs, and there is 
 danger of taking it for foM thing higher. To 
 
 me
 
 254 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 me it appears an injlincl like that ivhich infi 
 creatures have ; each of them, ive fee, \y the 
 ties of nature, love felt beft ; that 'which is a 
 fart of felf, they love by the fame tie or in- 
 Jlincl. In them it, in fame meafure, does the of- 
 fices of rex/on, by ivhifh, among other things, 
 they watchfully keep, and orderly feed their 
 helplefs offspring. Thus natural affection ap- 
 pears to be a branch of felf-love, good in the 
 animal race, in us likeivife, ivith proper limita- 
 tions ; but otherivife is productive of evil, by 
 exciting deftres to promote ibme by means preju- 
 dicial to others. 
 
 Our blejfed Saviour feems to give a check to 
 this irregular fondnefs in nature, and, at the 
 fame time, a precedent for us: " Who is my 
 " mother, and who are my brethren?" there- 
 by intimating, that th^ earthly tics of relation- 
 jlripi are^ comparatively, inconfiderable tofuch, 
 ii'ho, thro a fleady courfe of obedience, have 
 come to the happy experience of the fpirit of 
 God bearing ivitncfs ivith their fpirits that they 
 are his children: " And he ilretched forth 
 *' his hands towards his difciples, and laid, 
 " Behold my mother, and my brethren : For 
 " whofoever mail do the will of my Fa- 
 4t ther which is in heaven C arrives at the' 
 -more noble part of true relationship) " the fame 
 ' is my brother, and fifter, and mother," 
 Matt. xii. 48. 
 
 This doclrine agrees 'well ivitb a fiate truly 
 tompkat, where love necejjarily operates ac- 
 cording
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 cording to the agreeabknefs of things on princfo 
 pics unalterable and in thcnifelves perfect. 
 
 If endeavouring to have my children eminent 
 amongjl men after my death, be that 'which ni 
 reafons grounded on t h of e principles can be brought 
 to fupport ; then to be temperate in my purfuit 
 after gain, and to keep always 'within thz 
 bounds of thofe principles, is an indifpenfMe 
 duty, and to depart from it, a dark unfruitful 
 toil. 
 
 In our prefent condition, to love our children 
 is needful ; but except this love proceeds from 
 the true heavenly principle 'which fees beyond 
 earthly treafures, it 'will rather be injurious 
 than of any real advantage to them : 'where th: 
 fountain is corrupt, the Jireams mujl necejfarily 
 be impure. 
 
 That important injunction of our Saviour, 
 Matt. vi. 33. 'with the Promife annexed, con- 
 tains afnort but comprehenfive view of our du- 
 ty and happinefs : If then the bufinefs of man- 
 kind in this life, is, tofrftfeek another ; if this 
 cannot be done, but by attending to the means ; 
 if afummary of the means is, Not to do that 
 to another which, in like circumftances, we 
 would not have done unto us, then thefe arz 
 points of moment, and 'worthy of cur moft ferir 
 ous confederation. 
 
 What I ivrite on thisfubjecl is with relucl- 
 ance, and the hints given are in as general 
 terms as my concern ivould allo'w : I know it is 
 a point about 'which, in all its branches, men 
 that appear to aim f wdl are not generally a- 
 
 greed ;
 
 256 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 greed; and for that reafon^ I chofe to avoid be- 
 ing very particular. If I may happily have let 
 drop any tbi:i^ that may excite fuch as are con- 
 cerned in the practice to a clofe thinking on the 
 Jubjefl treai .'u oj\ tht candid amongjl them may 
 eqfily do th. Juljecl fuch further jujlice^ as y on 
 an impartial enquiry, it may appear to deferve ; 
 q&d Juch uii enquiry I "would earneftiy reconi" 
 mend. 
 
 SOME
 
 
 SOME 
 
 C O N S I D E R A T I O N S, &c. 
 
 MATT. xxv. 40. 
 
 Torafmuch as ye did it to the leap of theft my 
 brethren^ yz did it unto me. 
 
 AS many times there are different mo- 
 tives to the fame actions ; and one 
 does that from a generous heart, 
 which another does for felmli ends. The 
 like may be faid in this cafe. 
 
 There are various circumftances amongfl 
 them that keep negroes, and different ways 
 by which they fall under their care ; and, I 
 doubt not, there are many well-difpofed per- 
 fons amongft them who defire rather to ma- 
 nage wifely and juftly in this difficult mat- 
 , ter, than to make gain of it. 
 
 But the general difadvantage which thefe 
 poor Africans lie under in an enlight'ned 
 chriftian country, having often filled me with 
 real fadnefs, and been like undigefted matter 
 on my mind, I now think it my duty, thro' 
 divine aid, to offer fome thoughts thereon to 
 the confideration of others. 
 
 S When
 
 ' 
 
 258 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 When we remember that all nations are of 
 one blood, Gen iii. 20. that in this world we 
 are but fbjouraers, that we are fubjecl to the 
 like afflictions and infirmities of body, the 
 like di (orders and frailties in mind, the like 
 temptations, the fame death, and the fame 
 judgment, and, that the all-wife Being is 
 Judge and Lord over us all, it feems to raife 
 an idea of a general brotherhood, and a dif- 
 pofiiion cafy to be touched with a feeling of 
 each others afflictions : but when we forgot 
 thofe things, and look chiefly at our out- 
 ward circumftances, in this and fome ages 
 pa(t, conftantly retaining in our minds the 
 diitinction betwixt us and them, with re- 
 fpecl: to our knowledge and improvement in 
 things divine, natural and artificial, our 
 brealls being apt to be filled with fond no- 
 tions of fuperiority, there is danger of err- 
 ing in our conduct toward them. 
 
 We allow them to be of the fame fpecies 
 with ourfelves ; the odds is, we are in a high- 
 er ftatioii, and enjoy greater favours than 
 they. And when it is thus, that our heaven- 
 ly Father endowed), fome of his children with 
 diftinguifhed gifts, they are intended for 
 good ends ; but if thofe thus gifted are 
 thereby lifted up above their brethren, not 
 confidering themfelves as debtors to the 
 weak, nor behaving themfelves as faithful 
 ftewards, none who judge impartially can 
 iiippofe them free from ingratitude. 
 
 When a people dwell uudcr the liberal di- 
 flribarion of favours from heaven, it be- 
 hoves
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 259 
 
 lioves them carefully to infpect their ways, 
 and confider the purpofes for which thofe 
 favours were beftowed, left, thro' forgetful- 
 nefs of God, and mifufing his gifts, they in- 
 cur his heavy difpleafure, whofe judgments 
 are jufl and equal, who exalteth and hum- 
 bleth to the dull as he feeth meet. 
 
 It appears, by Holy Record, that men un- 
 der high favours have been apt to err in their 
 opinions concerning others. Thus Ifrael, ac- 
 cording to the description of the prophet, 
 Ifa. Ixv. 5. when exceedingly corrupted and 
 degenerated, yet remembered they were the 
 chofen people of God; and could fay, " Stand 
 " by thyfelf, come not near me, for I am ho- 
 " Her than thou." That this 'was no chance 
 language, but their common opinion of other 
 people, more fully appears, by confidering 
 the circumftances which attended when God 
 was beginning to fulfil his precious promifes 
 concerning the gathering of the Gentiles. 
 
 The Moil-High, in a vinon, undeceived 
 Peter, firft prepared his heart to believe ; 
 and, at the houfe of Cornelius, {hewed him 
 of a certainty that God was no refpecler of 
 perfons. 
 
 The effufion of the Holy Ghofl upon a 
 people, with whom they, the Jewiih chrif- 
 tians would not fo much as eat, was fhrange 
 to them : All they of the circumcifion were 
 aftonifhed to fee it ; and the apoflles and bre- 
 thren of Juclea contended with Peter about 
 it, till he, having rehearfed 'the whole mat- 
 ter, and fully fliewn that the Father's love 
 S 2 was
 
 260 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 xvas unlimited, they are thereat flruck with 
 admiration, and cry out, " Then hath God 
 " alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance 
 " unto life ! " 
 
 The opinion of peculiar favours being con- 
 fix 1 to them, was deeply rooted, or elfe the 
 above inftance had been lefs flrange to them, 
 for thefe reafbns : Firft, They were generally 
 acquainted with the writings of the pro- 
 phets, by whom this time was repeatedly 
 fpoken of, and pointed at. Secondly, Our 
 b.lefTed Lord fliortly before exprefly laid, " I 
 <c have other iheep, not of this fold, them 
 " alfo muil I bring," &c. Laftly, His words 
 to them after his refurrection, at the very 
 time of his afcenfion, " Ye mall be witnefles 
 " tome, not only in Jerufalcm, Judea, and 
 " Samaria, but to the uttermoft parts of the 
 " earth." 
 
 Thofe concurring circumftances, one* would 
 think, might have railed a ftrong expevflatioa 
 of feeing fuch a time ; yet, when it came, it 
 proved matter of offc'ice and aftoniihment. 
 
 To consider mankind otherwife than bre- 
 thren, to think favours are peculiar to one 
 nation, and exclude others, plainly fuppofes 
 a darknefs in the undemanding : for as God's 
 love is univerfal, fo where the mind is fuf- 
 ficiently influenced by it, it begets a likenef* 
 :lf, and the heart is enlarged towards 
 all men. Again, to conclude a people fro- 
 ward, perverfe, and worfe by nature than 
 others (who ungratefully receive favours, 
 and apply them to bad ends) this will excite 
 
 a behaviour
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 261 
 
 a behaviour toward them unbecoming the 
 excellence of true religion. 
 
 To prevent fuch error, let us calmly coiifi- 
 der their circumilance ; and, the better to doj|\ 
 it, make their cafe ours. Suppofe, then,\\ 
 that our anceflors and we had been expofed 
 to conftant fervitude, in the more fervile and 
 inferior employments of life ; that we had 
 been deflitute of the help of reading and good 
 company ; that amongft ourfelves we had 
 had few wife and pious in fir actors ; that the 
 -religious amongft our fuperiors feldom took 
 notice of us ; that while others, in eafe, 
 have plentifully heaped up the fruit of our 
 labour, we had received barely enough to re- 
 lieve nature ; and being wholly at the com- 
 mand of others, had generally been treated 
 as a contemptible, ignorant part of man- 
 kind : ihould we, in that cafe, be lefs abje-ft 
 than they now are ? Again, If oppreflion be 
 fo hard to bear, that a wife man is made 
 mad by it, Eccl. vii. 7. then a feries of thofe 
 things altering the behaviour and manners 
 of a people, is what may reafonably be ex- 
 peded. 
 
 When our property is taken contrary to 
 our mind, by means appearing to us unjuit, 
 it is only through divine influence, and the 
 enlargement of heart from thence proceed- 
 ing, that we can love our reputed oppref- 
 ibrs : if the Negroes fall ihor: in this, an 
 uneafy, if not a difconfolate difpofiuon, will 
 be awakened, and remain like feeds in their 
 minds, producing floth and many other ha- 
 bit*
 
 262 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 bits appearing odious to us ; with which, be- 
 ing free men, they, perhaps, had not been 
 chargeable. Thefe, and other circumftances, 
 rightly coniidered, will leffen that too great 
 difparity, which ibme make between us and 
 them. 
 
 Integrity of heart hath appeared in fdme 
 of them ; fo that, if we continue in the word 
 of Chrift (previous to difciplefhip, John viii. 
 31.) and our conduct towards them be fea- 
 ibned with his love, we may hope to fee the 
 good effect of it : the which, in a good de- 
 gree, is the cafe with fome into whofe hands 
 they have fallen : but that too many treat 
 them otherwife, not fesming confcious of 
 any neglect, is, alas ! too evident. 
 
 When felf-love prefides in our minds, our 
 opinions are biafled in our own favour ; in 
 this condition, being concerned with a peo- 
 ple fo fituated, that they have no voice to 
 plead their own caufe, there's danger of uf- 
 ing ourfelves to an undiilurbed partiality, 
 till, by long cuftom, the mind becomes re- 
 conciled with it, and the judgment it! elf in- 
 fected. 
 
 To humbly apply to God for wifdom, that 
 we may thereby be enabled to fee things as 
 they are, and ought to be, is very needful ; 
 hereby the hidden things of darknefs may 
 be brought to light, and the judgment made 
 clear : we mall then confider mankind as bre- 
 thren. Though different degrees and a vari- 
 ety of qualifications and abilities, one de- 
 pendant on another, be admitted, yet high 
 
 thoughts
 
 KEEPING OF NEGPvOES. 263 
 
 thoughts will be laid afide, and all men treat- 
 ed as becometh the ions of one father, agree- 
 able to the doctrine of Chrift Jefus. 
 
 " He hath laid down the beft criterion, 
 by which mankind ought to judge of their 
 own conduct, and others judge for them of 
 theirs, one towards another, viz. " What- 
 " foever ye would that men mould do unto 
 11 you, do ye even fo to them." I take it, . 
 that all men by nature, are equally entitled 
 to the equity of this rule, and under the in- 
 difpenfable obligations of it. One man ought 
 not to look upon another man, or fociety of 
 men, as fo far beneath him ; but that he 
 mould put himfelf in their place, in all his 
 actions towards them, and bring all to this 
 teft, viz. How mould I approve of this con-' 
 duct, were I in their circumflance, and they 
 in mine ?" A. Arfcot's Confiderations, p. III., 
 fol. 107. 
 
 This doctrine being of a moral unchange^ 
 able nature, hath been likewife inculcated in 
 the former difpenfation ; " If a ftranger fo- 
 " journ with thee in your land, ye mall not 
 " vex him ; but the ftranger that dweiieth 
 " with you, mall be as one born amongft 
 " you, and thou malt love him as thyfelf,' 1 
 Lev. xix. 33, 34. Had thefe people come vo- 
 luntary and dwelt amongft us, to have called 
 them ftrangers would be proper; and their 
 being brought by force, with regret, and a 
 languiihing mind, may well raife compailion 
 in a heart rightly difpofed : but there is no- 
 thing in fuch treatment, which upon a wife 
 
 and
 
 T 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS ox THE 
 
 and judicious confideration, will any ways 
 1: icn their right of being treated as ftran- 
 gers. If the treatment which many of them, 
 meet with, be rightly examined and com- 
 pared with thofe precepts, " Thou malt not 
 " vex him nor oppreis him; he mail be as 
 " one born amongit you, and thou malt love 
 " him as thyleif," Lev. xix. 33. D?:t. xxvii. 
 1 9. there will appear an important difference 
 be.wixt t. 
 
 It m-.i.y be obiecled there is cod of pur- 
 chafe, and rif .us of their lives to them who 
 poilefs 'em, :mcl therefore needful that they 
 make the be it ufe of their tlm, 3 : in a prac- 
 tice jufl and _\:alb:iable, fuch objections may 
 have weight ; but if ti'e work be wrong from 
 the beginning, there is little or no force in 
 them. If I purchafe a man who hath never 
 forfeited his liberty, the natural right of 
 freedom is in him ; and ihall I keep him and 
 his pofterity in iervitude and ignorance I 
 " How mould I approve of this conduct, 
 were 1 in his circumllances, and he in mine I" 
 It may be thought, that to treat them as we 
 would willingly be treated, our gain by them 
 would be inconfiderable : and it were, in di- 
 vers refpedls, better that there were none in 
 cur country. 
 
 We may further confider, that they are 
 now amongil us, and thofe of our nation the 
 caufe of their being here ; that whatfoever 
 difficulty accrues thereon, we are juftly 
 chargeable with, and to bear all inconvem- 
 encieo attending it, with a ferious and weigh-
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 265 
 
 ty concern of mind to do our duty by them, 
 is the bell we can do. To leek a remedy by 
 continuing the oppremon, becaufe we have 
 power to do it, and fee others do it, will, I 
 apprehend, not be doing as we would be 
 done by." 
 
 How deeply foever men are involved in 
 the -nioft exquilite difficulties, fmcerity of 
 heart, and upright walking before God, free- 
 ly fubmitting to his providence, is the moffc 
 fure remedy : He only is able to relieve, not 
 only perfbns, but nations, in their greateft 
 calamities. 
 
 David, in a great flrait, when the fenfe of 
 his paft error, and the full expectation of art 
 impending calamity, as the reward of it, 
 were united to the aggravating his diflrefs, 
 after fome deliberation, faith, " Let me fall 
 " now into the hands of the Lord, for very 
 " great are his mercies ; let me not fall in- 
 f to the hand of man." i Chron. xxi. 13. 
 
 To act continually with integrity of heart, 
 above all narrow or felfifli motives, is a fure 
 token of our being partakers of that falva- 
 tion which " God hath appointed for walls 
 " and bulwarks," Ifa.v. 26. Rom. xv. 8. and 
 is, beyond all contradiction, a more happy 
 fituation than can ever be promifed by the 
 utmoft reach of art and power united, not 
 proceeding from heavenly wifdom. 
 
 A fupply to nature's lawful wants, joined 
 wirh a peaceful, numble mind, is the trueft 
 happinefs in this life ; and if here we arrive 
 to this, aad remain, to walk in the path of 
 
 tho-
 
 266 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 thejuft, our cafe will be truly happy : and 
 though herein we may part with, or mifs of 
 foine glaring (hews of riches, and leave our 
 children little elfe but wife inftruclions, a 
 good example, and the knowledge of fome 
 honeft employment ; thefe, with the blefTmg 
 of Providence, are liidicient for their happi- 
 nefs, and are more likely to prove fo, than 
 laying up treafures for them, which are of- 
 ten rather a {hare, than any real benefit ; ei- 
 pecialiy to them, who, inflead of being ex- 
 ampled to temperance, are in all things 
 taught to prefer the getting of riches, and 
 to eye the temporal diftinclions they give, as 
 the principal buiinefs of this life. Thefe rea- 
 dily overlook the true happinefs of man, as 
 it refults from the enjoyment of all things in 
 the fear of God, and, miferably fubilituting 
 an inferior good, dangerous in the acquir- 
 ing, and uncertain in the fruition, they are 
 fubjecl: to many difappointments, and every 
 iwet-t carries its fling. 
 
 It is the conciuiioii of our blefled Lord and 
 his apoitles, as appears by their lives and 
 doclrmes, that the higheft delights of fenfe, 
 or in id pleaiing objects vilible, ought ever to 
 be accounted infinitely inferior to that real 
 in .el!cct.i il iiappinefs fuited to man in his 
 primitive innocence, and now to be found in 
 mi renovation of mind; and that the com- 
 forts of our prefent life, the things mod 
 grateful to us, ought always to be received 
 Tvith temperance, and never made the chief 
 objects of our defire, hope, or love: buc that 
 
 our
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 267 
 
 our whole heart and affections be principally 
 looking to that " city, which hath founda- 
 " tions, whofe maker and builder is God." 
 Did we fo improve the gifts beftowed on us, 
 that our children might have an education 
 fuited to thefe doctrines, and our example to 
 confirm it, we might rejoice in hopes of their 
 being heirs of an inheritance incorruptible. 
 
 This inheritance, as chriftians, we elleein 
 the niofl valuable ; and how thign can we fail 
 to defire it for our children ? O that we were 
 confident with ourfelves, in purfuing means 
 necerTary to obtain it ! 
 
 * , /I It appears, by experience, that where chil- 
 dren are educated in fulnefs, eafe and idle- 
 ncfs, evil habits are more prevalent, than in 
 common amongfl fuch who are prudently 
 employed in the neceffary affairs of life : and 
 if children are not only educated in the way 
 of fo great temptation, but have alfo the op- 
 portunity of lording it over their fellow- 
 creatures, and being matters of men in their 
 childhood, how can we hope otherwife than 
 that their tender minds will be poflefled with 
 thoughts too high for them ? which, by con- 
 tinuance, gaining flrength, will prove, like 
 a flow current, gradually feparating them 
 from (or keeping from acquaintance with) 
 that humility and meeknefs in which alone 
 iaiting happinefs can be enjoyed. 
 
 Man is born to labour, and experience a- 
 bundantly fheweth, that it is for our good : 
 but where the powerful lay the burthen on 
 ;he inferior,' without affording a chriflfan
 
 268 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 education, and fuitable opportunity of im- 
 proving the mind, and a treatment which 
 we, in their cafe, mould approve, that them- 
 felves may live at eafe, and fare famptuouf- 
 ly, and lay up riches for their poilerity, this 
 feems to contradict the deiign of Providence, 
 and, I doubt, is fometimes the effect of a 
 perverted mind : for while the life of one is 
 made grievous by the rigour of another, it 
 entails mife^y on both. 
 
 AmongP-. the manifold works of Provi- 
 dence, difplayed in the different ages of the 
 world, thefe which follow (with many others) 
 may afford inftruclion. 
 
 Abraham was called of God to leave his 
 country and kindred, to fojourn amongft 
 ftrangers : through famine, and danger of 
 death, he was forced to flee from one king- 
 dom to another : he, at length, not only had 
 aiTurance of being the father of many na- 
 tions, but became a mighty prince. Geneiis 
 xxiii. 6. 
 
 Remarkable were the dealings of God with 
 Jacob in* a low eftate, the juit fenfe he re- 
 tained of them af:er his advancement, ap- 
 pears by his words : " I am not worthy of 
 *' the lead of all thy mercies." Genefis xxxii, 
 10. xlviii. 15. 
 
 The numerous affiiclions of Jofeph .are 
 very fmgular ; the particular providence of 
 God therein, no lefs manifeit : he, at length, 
 became governor of Egypt, and famous foi? 
 wifdom and virtue. 
 
 The
 
 KEEPING or NEGROES. 269 
 
 The feries of troubles David paffed thro', 
 few amongft us are ignorant of ; and yet he 
 afterwards became as one of the great men 
 of the earth. 
 
 Some evidences of the divine wifdom ap- 
 pears in thofe things, in that fuch who arc 
 intended for high ftations, have firfl been 
 very low and dejected, that truth might be 
 fealed on their hearts ; and th^t the charac- 
 ters there imprinted by bitternls-And adver- 
 fity, might in after years remai?oj fuggeft- 
 ing compafTionate ideas, and, in their pro- 
 fperity, quicken their regard to thofe in the 
 like condition : which yet further appears in 
 the cafe of Ifrael : they were well acquaint- 
 ed with gr!evou fufFerings, a long and rigo- 
 rous fervitude ; then, thro' many notable e- 
 vents, were made chief amongft the nations : 
 to them we find a repetition of precepts to 
 the purpofe abovefaid : though, for ends a- 
 grceable to infinite wifdom, they were chofe 
 as a peculiar people for a time ; yet the Moft 
 High acquaints them, that his love is not 
 confined, but extends to the ftranger ; and, 
 to excite their companion, reminds them of 
 times paft, " Ye were ftrangers in the land 
 " of Egypt," Deut.x. 19. Again, " Thou 
 " fhalt not opprefs a ftranger, for ye know 
 ir the heart of a ftranger, feeing ye were 
 " ftrangers in the land of Egypt," Exod. 
 xxiii. 9. 
 
 If we call to mind our beginning, fome o 
 us may find a time, wherein our fathers were 
 
 wader
 
 7^ CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 under afflictions, reproaches, and manifold 
 fufferings. 
 
 Refpecbing our progrefs in this land, the 
 time is iliort mice our beginning was fmall 
 and number few, compared with the native 
 inhabitants. He that ilceps not by day nor 
 night, hath watched over us, and kept us as 
 the apple of his eye. His almighty arm hath 
 been round dbout us, and faved us from 
 dangers. *" ^ 
 
 The wildernefs and folitary defarts in 
 which our fathers palled the days of their 
 pilgrimage, are now turned into pleafant 
 fields; the natives are gone from before us, 
 and we eftablifhed peaceably in the pofTemon 
 of the land, enjoying our civil and religious 
 liberties ; and, while many parts of the 
 world have groaned under the heavy calami- 
 ties of war, our habitation remains quiet, 
 and our land fruitful. 
 
 When we trace back the fteps we have 
 trodden, and fee how the Lord hath opened 
 a way in the wildernefs for us, to the wife 
 it will ealily appear, that all this was* not 
 done to be buried in oblivion; but to pre- 
 pare a people for more fruitful returns, and 
 the remembrance thereof, ought to humble 
 tis in profperity, and excite in us a chriftian 
 benevolence towards our inferiors. 
 
 If we do not confider thefe things aright, 
 but, through a ftupid indolence, conceive 
 views of intereft, feparate from the general 
 good of the great brotherhood, and, in pur- 
 i'uance thereof, treat our inferiors with ri- 
 gour,
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 271 
 
 gour, to increafe our wealth, and gain riches 
 lx our children ; " What then ihall we do 
 " when God rifeth up ? and when he vifit- 
 " eth, what ihall we anfwer him? did not 
 " he that made us, make them? and did not 
 " one fafhion us in the womb ?" Job xxxi. 
 
 13, H. 
 
 To our great mafter we ftand or fall, to 
 judge or condemn us as is moil -friitable toh is 
 wifdom or authority ; my incifnarion is to 
 perfuade, and intreat, and limply give hints 
 of my way of thinking. 
 
 If the chriftian religion be conndcred, both 
 refpecling its doclrines, and the happy in- 
 fluence which it hath on the minds and 
 manners of all real chriflians, it looks rea- 
 fonable to think, that the miraculous mani- 
 festation thereof to the world, is a kindnefs 
 beyond expremon. 
 
 Are we the people thus favoured ? are we 
 they whofe minds are opened, influenced, 
 and governed by the Spirit of Chrift, and 
 thereby made fons of God ? is it not a fair 
 conclulion, that we, like our heavenly Fa- 
 ther, ought, in our degree, to be a6live in 
 the fame great caufe, of the eternal happi- 
 nefs of, at leait, our whole families, and 
 more, if thereto capacitated ? 
 
 If we, by the operation of the Spirit of 
 Chrift, become heirs with him in the king- 
 dom of his Father, and are redeemed from 
 the alluring counterfeit joys of this world, 
 and the joy of Chrift remain in us, to fup- 
 poie that one remaining in this happy con- 
 dition,
 
 272 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 dition, can, for the fake of earthly riches, 
 not only deprive his fellow-creatures of t ug 
 fweetnefs of freedom, (which, rightly u. 
 is one of the greateft temporal bleinngs) but: 
 therewith neglect ufing proper means, for 
 their acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures, 
 and the advantage of true religion, feems, 
 at leaft, a contradiction to reafon. 
 
 Whoever rightly advocates the caufe of 
 fome, thereby promotes the good of all. T'ij 
 flate of mankind was harmonious in the 
 beginning, and though fin hath introduced 
 difcord, yet, through the wonderful love of 
 God, in Chrift Jems our Lord, the way 13 
 open for our redemption, and m^a^s ap- 
 pointed to reftore us to primitive !r ~- 
 mony. That if one fairer by the 
 fulneis of another, the mind, the molt 
 ble part of him that: ocr ! . >, 
 
 thereby alienated fiv ^e and real hap- 
 
 pinefs. 
 
 Our duty and intereft is iafej:.-.rib]; r unit- 
 ed, and when we neglect or mifufe our ta- 
 lents, we neceiTarily depart from the heaven^ 
 ly fellowship, and are in the way to the 
 greateft of evils. 
 
 Therefore to examine and prove ourfelves, 
 to find what harmony the power preiidmg 
 in us bears with the divine nature, is a duty 
 not more incumbent and neceiiary, than it 
 would be beneficial. 
 
 In Holy Writ the Divine Being faith of 
 himfelf, " I am the Lord, which exercifa- 
 " loving-kindnefs, judgment and righteouf-; 
 
 " nefs
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 173' 
 
 ^ nefs in the earth; foir in thefe things I tie- 
 " light, faith the Lord," Jer. ix. 24. Again, 
 fpeaking in the Way of man, to fhew his 
 companion to Ifrael, whofe wickednefs had 
 occasioned a calamity, and then being hum- 
 bled under it, it is faid,' " His foul was 
 " grieved for their miferies," Judges x. 16. 
 If we confider the life of our bleffed Saviour 
 when on earth, as it is recorded by his fol- 
 lowers, we mail find, that one uniform de-^ 
 fire for the eternal, and temporal goo'd of 
 mankind, difcovered itfelf in all his actions. 
 
 If we obferve men, both a'poftles and o- 
 thers, in many different ages, who have 
 really come to the unity of the Spirit, and 
 the fellow mip of the faints, there ftill appears 
 the like difpofition, and in them the defire 
 of the real happinefs of mankind, has out- 
 balanced the defire of eafe, liberty, and, 
 many times, life itfelf. 
 
 If upon a true fearch, we find that our na- 
 tures are fo far renewed, that to exercife righ- 
 teoufnefs and loving-kindnefs (according to 
 our ability) towards all men, without refpe<5l 
 of perfons, is eafy to us, or is our delight ; 
 if our love be fo orderly, and regular,, that 
 he who doeth the will of our Father, who is 
 in heaven, appears in our view, to be our 
 neareft relation, our brother, and fitter, and 
 mother ; if this be our cafe, there is a good 
 foundation to hope, that the bleffrng of God 
 will fweeten our treafures during our ftay in 
 this life, and our memory be favory, when 
 we are entered into reft. 
 
 T To 

 
 274 CONSIDERATIONS, &c. 
 
 To conclude, 'Tis a truth mod certain, 
 that a life guided by wifdom from above, 
 agreeable with juflice, equity, and mercy, 
 is throughout confident and amiable, and 
 truly beneficial to fociety ; the fereiiity and 
 calmnefs of mind in it, affords an unparal- 
 lelled comfort in this life, and the end of it 
 is blefled. 
 
 And, no lefs true, that they, who in the 
 midfl of high favours, remain ungrateful, 
 and under all the advantages that a chriilian 
 can defire, are ielfilh, earthly, and fenfual, 
 do mifs the true fountain of happinefs, and 
 wander in a maze of dark anxiety, where all 
 their treafures are infufficient to quiet their 
 ininds : hence, from an infatiable craving, 
 they ncgledl doing good with what they have, 
 acquired, and too often add oppreflion to va- 
 nity, that they may compafs more. 
 
 " O that they were wife, that they under- 
 " flood this, that they would confider their 
 " latter end!" Deut. xxxii. 29. 
 
 CON-
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 On the KEEPING of 
 
 NEGROES. 
 
 Recommended to the Profeflbrs of Chrifti- 
 anity of every Denomination, 
 
 PART the SECOND. 
 Firft printed in the year 1762. 
 
 DEUT. i. 17. 
 
 ICe Jhall not refpefl perfons in judgment ; but 
 yefhall hear thejmall as well as the great : ye 
 Jhall not be afraid of the face of man ; for the 
 judgment is God's. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 our actions are of like nature 'with their 
 root ; and the Moji High iveigheth them 
 more fkilfully than Men can weigh them one 
 Jor another^ 
 
 I belie-oe that one Supreme Being made and 
 fupports the ivorld ; nor can I worjhip any other 
 Deity without being an idolater, and guilty of 
 wickednefs. 
 
 .He
 
 276 PREFACE. 
 
 Many nations have believed in, and worflnp* 
 ped a plurality of deities ; but I do not believe 
 they were therefore all wicked. Idolatry indeed 
 is wickednefi ; but n, is the thing , not the name, 
 which is Jo. Real idolatry is to pay that ado- 
 ration to a creature, which is known to be due 
 only to the true God. 
 
 ' He who profejjeth to believe one Almighty 
 Creator, and in his Son Jefus Chrift, and is 
 yet more intent on the honours, profits and friend- 
 Jhips of the world, than he is in finglenefs of 
 heart to ftand faithful to the chriftian religion, 
 ;/ in the channel of idolatry ; ivhile the Gentile, 
 iv ho, under fome miftaken opinions, is notwith- 
 flanding ejlablifoed in the true principle of vir- 
 tue, and humbly adores an almighty power, may 
 be of that number who ftar God, and work 
 righieoufnefs. 
 
 I believe the b'ifhop of Rome affumes a power, 
 that does not belong to any officer in the church 
 of Chrift ; and if I fliould knowingly do any 
 thing, tending to Jlrengthen him in that capa- 
 city, it would be great iniquity. There are ma- 
 ny thoufands of people, who by their profeffion 
 acknowledge him to be the reprefentative of Je- 
 fus Chrift on earth ; and to fay that none of 
 them are upright in heart, would be contrary to 
 my fentiments. 
 
 Men who jincerely apply their minds to trus 
 virtue, and fnd an inward fupport from abovej, 
 by which all vicious inclinations are madefub- 
 ]ei ; that they love God fmcerely, and prefer 
 the real good of mankind univerfally to their 
 
 OWlk
 
 PREFACE. 277 
 
 own private inter -eft ; though thefe, through the 
 Jlrength of education and tradition, may remain 
 under fomefpe dilative and great errors, it 'would 
 be uncharitable to fay, that therefore God rejects 
 them.-r-Hc ivho creates, fupports and gives un- 
 der/landing to all men, his knowledge and good- 
 nefs is fuperior to the various cafes and circum- 
 jlances of his creatures, "which to us appear the 
 mojl difficult. 
 
 The apoftles and primitive chriftians did not 
 
 cenfure all the Gentiles as wicked men, Rom. ii. 
 
 14. Col. iii. ii. but as they were favoured "with 
 
 a gift to difcern things more clearly, rejpecting 
 
 the worjhip of the true God, they with much 
 
 frmnefs declared againjl the worshipping of I- 
 
 dols ; and with true patience endured many fuf- 
 
 f 6 rings, on that account. 
 
 Great numbers of faithful Protejlants have 
 contended for the truth, in oppofition to papal 
 errors and with true fortitude laid down their 
 lives in the conflict, without faying, That no 
 man was faved ivho made profejjion of that re- 
 ligion. 
 
 While we have no right to keep men as fer- 
 vanlsfor term of life, but that of fuperior pow- 
 er -, to do this, r with defign by their labour to 
 profit ourfelves and our families, I believe is 
 wrong ; but I do not believe that all who have 
 kept Jlaves, have therefore been chargeable "with 
 guilt. If their motives thereto were free from 
 felfiJJmefs, and their Jlaves content, they were 
 a fort of freemen ; which I believe hath fome- 
 been th/ caje.
 
 278 PREFACE. 
 
 Whatever a man does in the fptiri of charity , 
 to him it is not fin : and isi'hiie he lives and acts 
 in this fpirit, he learns all things ejfcntial to his 
 happmefs, as an individual: and if he doth not 
 fee that any injury or injuftice, to any other per-* 
 fon, is necejfarily promoted by any part of his 
 form of government, I believe the merciful 
 Judge vuill not lay iniquity to his. charge. Yet 
 others^ ivho live in the fame fpirit of charity^ 
 from a clear convincement, may ft e the relation 
 of one thing to another ', and the neceffary ten- 
 dency of each ; and hence it may be abfolutely 
 binding on them to defijl from fome parts oj con~ 
 ') 'which fome good men have been in. 
 
 C O N-
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 On the KEEPING of 
 
 NEGROES. 
 
 PART the SECOND, 
 
 AS fome in mod religious focleties a- 
 mongft the Engliih are concerned in 
 importing or purchafing the inhabi- 
 tants of Africa as flaves ; and as the profe- 
 fors of chriftianity of feveral other nations 
 do the like ; thefe circumftances tend to make 
 people lefs apt to examine the practice fo 
 clofely as they would, if fuch a thing had 
 not been, but was now propofed to be en- 
 tered upon. It is however our duty, and 
 what concerns us individually, as creatures 
 accountable to our Creator, to employ right- 
 ly the underftanding which he hath given 
 us, in humbly endeavouring to be acquaint- 
 ed with his will concerning us, and with the 
 nature and tendency of thofe things which 
 we practife: for as jufbice remains to be juf- 
 tice, fo many people, of reputation in the 
 
 world
 
 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 world, joining with wrong things, do not 
 excufe others in joining with them, nor make 
 the confequence of their proceedings lefs 
 dreadful in the final iiTue, than it would be 
 otherwife. 
 
 Where unrighteoufnefs is juftified frorn 
 one age to another, it is like dark matter 
 gathering into clouds over us. We may 
 know that this gloom will remain till the 
 caufe be removed by a reformation, or 
 change of times j and may feel a defire, from 
 a love of equity, to fpeak on the occafion; 
 yet \yhere error is fo ftrong, that it may not 
 be fpoken againft, without fome profpecl: of 
 inconvenience to the fpeaker, this difficulty 
 is likely to operate on our weaknefs, and 
 quench the good defires in us ; except we 
 dwell fo fteadily under the weight of it, as to 
 be made willing to " endure hardnefs" on 
 that account. 
 
 Where men exert their talents againft 
 vices generally accounted fuch, the ill effects 
 whereof are prefently perceived in a govern- 
 ment, all men who regard their own tempo- 
 ral good, are likely to approve the work. 
 But when that which is inconfiflent with 
 perfect equity, hath the law, or countenance 
 of the great in its favour, though the ten- 
 dency thereof be quite contrary to the true 
 .happinefs of mankind in an equal, if not 
 greater, degree, than many things account- 
 ed reproachful to chriftians ; yet, as thefe ill 
 effects are not generally perceived, they who 
 labour to diffuade from fuch things, which 
 
 people
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 
 
 people believe accord with their intereft, have 
 jnanv difficulties to encounter.. 
 
 The repeated charges, which God gave to 
 his prophets, imply the danger they were in 
 of erring on this Hand. " Be not afraid of 
 V their faces ; for I am with thee, to deliver 
 -" thee, faith the Lord." Jer. i. 8. " Speak 
 <c all the words that I command thee to 
 <c fpeak to them ; diminim not a word." Jer. 
 xxvi. 2. " And thou, fon of man, be not 
 " afraid of them, nor difmayed at their 
 " looks. Speak my words to them, whether 
 <c they will hear or forbear." JEzek. ii. 6, 7. 
 
 Under an apprehenfion of duty, I offer 
 fome further confiderations on this fubjecl:, 
 having endeavoured fome years to confider it 
 candidly. I have obferved people of our 
 own colour, whofe abilities have been infe- 
 rior to the affairs which relate to their con- 
 venient fubfiftence, who have been taken 
 care of by others, and the profit of fuch 
 work as they could do, applied toward their 
 fupport. I believe there are fuch -amongft 
 negroes ; and that fome people, in whofe 
 hands they are, keep them with no view of 
 outward profit, do not coniider them as black 
 men, who, as fuch, ought to ferve white 
 men ; but account them perfons who have 
 peed of guardians, and as fuch take care of 
 them : yet where equal care is taken in all 
 parts of education, I do not apprehend cafes 
 of this fort are likely to occur more frequent- 
 ly amongft one fort of people than another. 
 
 It 

 
 82 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 . It looks to me that the,, flave trade was 
 founded, and hath generally been carried on, 
 in a wrong fpirit ; that the effects of it are 
 detrimental to the real prosperity of our 
 country ; and will be more fo, except we 
 ceafe from the common motives of keeping 
 them, and treat them in future agreeable to 
 truth and pure juftice, 
 
 Negroes may be imported, who, for their 
 cruelty to their countrymen, and the evil 
 diipofition. of their minds, may be unfit to 
 be at liberty ; and if we, as lovers of righte- 
 oufnefs, undertake the management of them, 
 we mould have a full and clear knowledge of 
 their crimes, and of thofe circumllances which 
 might operate in their favour ; but the diffi^ 
 culty of obtaining this is fo great, that we 
 have great reafon to be cautious therein. 
 But, mould it plainly appear that abfolute 
 fubjection was a condition the moil proper 
 for the perfon who is purchafed, yet the in^ 
 nocent children ought not to be made ilaves, 
 becaufc their parents finned. 
 
 V/j have account in holy fcripture of fome 
 families fuftering, where mention is only made 
 <>f the heads of the family committing wick- 
 .^chiefs ; and it is likely that the degenerate 
 Jews, mifunderftanding fome occurrences of 
 this kind, took occafion to charge God with 
 being unequal ; fo that a faying became com- 
 mon, " The Fathers have eaten four grapes, 
 .*' and the children's teeth are fet on edge." 
 Jeremiah and Ezekiel, t\vo of the infpired 
 prophets, who lived near the fame time, were 
 
 concerned
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. .283 
 
 concerned to corredi this error. Ezekiel is 
 large on the fubjecl. Firft, he reproves them 
 for their error. " What mean ye, that ye 
 *' do fo," chap, xviii. verfe 2. " As I live, 
 *' faith the Lord God, ye (Hall not have oc- 
 *' cafion. any more to ufe this proverb in I- 
 " rael." The words, " any more," have 
 reference to time pad ; intimating, that tho' 
 they had not rightly underftood fome things 
 they had heard or feen, and thence fuppofed 
 the proverb to be well grounded ; yet hence- 
 forth they might know of a certainty, that 
 the ways of God are all equal ; that as fure 
 as the Moft High liveth, fo fure men are on- 
 ly anfwerable for their own fins. He thus 
 fums up the matter, ver. 20. " The foul that 
 " finneth, it mall die. The fon mall not bear 
 " the iniquity of the father ; neither fhall the 
 ** father bear the iniquity of the fon. The 
 ** righteoufnefs of the righteous fhall be up- 
 *' on him ; and the wickediiefs of the wicked 
 f< fhall be upon him. 
 
 Where men are wicked, they commonly are 
 a means of corrupting the fucceeding age ; 
 and thereby haflen thofe outward calamities, 
 which fall on nations, when their iniquities 
 are full. 
 
 Men may purfue means which are not a- 
 greeable to perfect purity, with a view to in- 
 creafe the wealth and happinefs of their ofF- 
 fpring, and thereby make the way of virtue 
 more difficult to them. And though the ill 
 example of a parent, or a multitude, does not 
 excufe a man in doing evil, yet the mind be- 
 ing
 
 284 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 ing early imprefTed with vicious notions and 
 practices, and nurtured up in ways of get- 
 ting treafure, which are not the ways of 
 truth ; this wrong fpirit getting firft pofTefli- 
 on, and being thus ftrengthened, frequently 
 prevents due attention to the true fpirit of 
 wifdom,fo that they exceed in wickednefs thofe 
 who lived before them. And in this channel, 
 though parents labour, as they think, to for- 
 ward the happinefs of their children, it proves 
 a means of forwarding their calamity. This 
 being the cafe in the age next before the 
 grievous calamity in thefiege of Jerufalem,and 
 carrying Judah captive to Babylon, they might 
 fay with propriety, This came upon us, be- 
 caufe our fathers forfook God, and becaufe we 
 did worfe than our fathers. See Jer. vii. 26. 
 
 As the generation next before them inward- 
 ly turned away from God, who yet waited to 
 be gracious ; and as they in that age conti- 
 nued in thole things which neceflarily fepa- 
 rated from perfect goodnefs, growing more 
 ftubborn, till the judgments of God were 
 poured out upon them ; they might properly 
 fay, " Our fathers have finned, and we have 
 " borne their iniquities :" Lam. v. 7. And yet, 
 wicked as their fathers were, had they not 
 fucceeded them in their wickednefs, they had 
 not borne their iniquities. 
 
 To fuppofe it right, that an innocent man 
 fhall at this day be excluded from the com- 
 mon rules of juftice ; be deprived of that li- 
 berty, which is the natural right of human 
 creatures; and be a flare to others during 
 
 life.
 
 REEFING OF NEGROES. 2?j 
 
 life, on account of a fin committed by his 
 immediate parents ; or a fin committed by 
 Ham, the fon of Noah ; is a fuppoiition. too 
 grofs to be admitted into the mind of any 
 perfon, who fincerely defires to be governed 
 by folid principles. 
 
 It is alledged, in favour of the practice, 
 that Jofhua made flaves of the Gibeonites. 
 
 What men do by the command of God, 
 and what comes to pafs as a confequence of 
 their neglect, are different ; fuch as the latter 
 cafe now mentioned was. 
 
 It was the expreis command of the Almigh- 
 ty to Ifrael, concerning the inhabitants of 
 the promifed land, " Thou malt make no 
 " covenant with them, nor with their Gods : 
 " They mall not dwell in thy land," Exod, 
 xxiii. 32. Thofe Gibeonites came craftily, 
 telling Joihua, that they were come from a 
 far country ; that their elders had fent them 
 to make a league with the people of Ifrael ; 
 and as an evidence of their being foreigners, 
 {hewed their old cloaths, &c, " And the 
 *' men took of their victuals, and afked not 
 " counfel at the mouth of the Lord; and 
 " Joihua made peace with them, and made 
 " a league with them, to let them live ; and 
 * * the princes fware to them/* Jofh. xcvi. 1 4, 1 5. 
 
 When the impofition was clifcovered, the 
 congregation murmured agzdnll the princes : 
 " But all the princes faid to all the congrega- 
 " tion, we have fworn to them by the Lord 
 " God of Ifrael ; now therefore we may not 
 ** touch them ; we will even let them live, 
 
 " left
 
 286 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 " left wrath be upon us ; but let them be 
 c hewers of wood, and drawers of water un- 
 " to the congregation. 
 
 Omitting to alk counfel, involved them in 
 great difficulty. The Gibeonites were of thofc 
 cities, of which the Lord faid, " Thou malt 
 " fave alive nothing that breatheth ;" and of 
 the flock of the Hivites, concerning whom 
 he commanded by name, " Thou malt fmitc 
 *' them, and utterly deftroy them : Thou 
 " malt make no covenant with them, nor 
 *' mew mercy unto them,'* Deut. vii. i. Thus 
 
 {ofhua and the princes, not knowing them, 
 ad made a league with them, to let them 
 live ; and in this ilrait they refolve to make 
 them fervants. Joihua and the princes fuf- 
 pected them to be deceivers : " Peradventure 
 *' you dwell amongfl us : and how mall we 
 *' make a league with you ?" Which words 
 hew, that they remembered the command 
 before mentioned ; anjl yet did not enquire 
 at the mouth of the Lord, as Moles directed 
 Joihua, when he gave him a charge refpecl- 
 ing his duty as chief man among that people, 
 Numb, xxvii. 21. By this omiiTion things 
 became fo fituated, that Joihua and the 
 princes could not execute the judgments of 
 God on them, without" violating the oath 
 which they had made. 
 
 Mofes did amifs at the waters of Meribah ; 
 and doubtlefs he foon repented ; for the Lord 
 was with him. And it is likely that Jofhua 
 was deeply humbled, under a fenfe of his 
 omiflion ; for it appears that God continued 
 
 him
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 287 
 
 him in his office, and fpared the lives of 
 thofe people, for the .-fake of the league and r 
 oath made in his name. 
 
 The wickednefs of thefe people was great, 
 and they worthy to die, or perfect juftice had 
 not paffed fentence of death upon them ; and 
 as their execution was prevented by this league 
 and oath, they appear content to be fervants : 
 " As it feemeth good and right unto thee to* 
 " do unto us, do. 
 
 Thefe criminals, inftead of death, had the 
 fentence of fervitude pronounced on them, in 
 thefe words, " Now therefore ye are curled; 
 " and there iliall none of you be freed from, 
 " being bondmen, and hewers of wood, 
 " and drawers of water for the houfe of my 
 " God." 
 
 We find, Deut. xx. 10. that there ,were 
 cities far diflant from Canaan, againft which 
 Ifrael went to battle; unto whom they were 
 to proclaim peace, and if the inhabitants 
 made anfwer of peace, and opened their 
 gates, they were not to deflroy them, but 
 make them tributaries. 
 
 The children of Ifrael were then the Lord's 
 hoft, and executioners of his judgments on 
 people hardened in wickednefs. They wer'e 
 not to go to battle, but by his appoint] 
 The men who were chief hi his army, had 
 their inftrucTiions from the Almighty fbme- 
 times immediately, and fbinetimes by the 
 miniitry of angels. Of thefe, amongft others, 
 \vereMofes, Jomtia, Othnid, and Gideon; 
 fee Exod. iii, 2. and xviii, 19. Joih: v. 13;' 
 
 Thele
 
 CONSIDERATIONS ON 
 
 Thefe people far off from Canaan, againft 
 whom Ifrael was fent to battle^ were Ib cor- 
 rupt, that the creator of the univerfe faw it 
 good to change their fituation ; and in cafe 
 of their opening their gates, and coming un- 
 der tribute, this their fubjecftion, though pro- 
 bably more mild than abfolute flavery, was 
 to laft little or no longer than while Ifrael re- 
 mained in the true fpirit of government. 
 
 It was pronounced by Mofes the prophet,- 
 as a cortfequence of their wickednefs, " The 
 " ftranger that is within thee mail get above* 
 " thee very high ; and thou flialt come down 
 " very low : he mall be the head, and thou 
 " the tail." Deut. xxviii. 43, 44. 
 
 This we find in fome meafure verified in 
 their being made tributaries to the Moabites, 
 Midianites^ Amorites and Philiftines. 
 
 It is alledged in favour of the practice of 
 ilave-keeping, that the Jews by their law 
 made flaves of the Heathen, Levit. xxv. 45. 
 *' Moreover, of the children of the ftranger s 
 " that do fojourn amongft you, of them lhall 
 " ye buy, and of their children, which are 
 " with you, which they begat in your land ; 
 " and they {hall be your pofleffion ; and you 
 c< iliall take them as an inheritance for your 
 " children after you, to inherit them as a 
 " pofTeilion, they mail be your bondmen for 
 
 <c ever." It is difficult for us to have any 
 
 certain knowledge of the mind of Mofes, in 
 regard to keeping flaves, any other way than 
 by looking upon him as a true fervant of God, 
 whofe mind and conduct were regulated by 
 
 an
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 
 
 &n inward principle of juflice and equity. To 
 admit a fuppofition that he in that cafe was 
 drawn from perfect equity by the alliance of 
 outward kindred, would be to difown his au- 
 thority. 
 
 Abraham had fervants born in his houfe, 
 and bought with his money : " And the Al- 
 " mighty faid of Abraham, I know him, 
 " that he will order his houfe after him." 
 Which implies, that he was as a father, an 
 inftructor, and a good governor over his peo- 
 ple. And Mofes, coafidered as a man of 
 
 God, muft neceHarily have had a profpecl of 
 fome real advantage in the Grangers and hea- 
 thens being fervants to the Ifraelites for a 
 time. 
 
 As mankind had received and eflablifned 
 many erroneous opinions and hurtful cuf- 
 toms, their living and converfing with the 
 Jews, while the Jews flood faithful to their 
 principles, might be helpful to remove thofe 
 
 errors, and reform their manners. But 
 
 for men, with private views, to ailume an 
 a-bfolute power over the perfoiis and proper- 
 ties of others ; and continue it from age to 
 age in the line of natural generation, with- 
 out regard to the virtues and vices of their 
 lucceilors, as it is manifeftly contrary to true 
 tmiverfal love, and attended with great evils, 
 there requires the clearefl evidence to beget: a 
 belief in us, that Mofes intended that the 
 ftrangers mould as fuch be Haves to the jews. 
 
 He directed them to buy ftrangers and fo- 
 
 journers. It appears that there were flrang- 
 
 U ers
 
 290 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 ers in Ifrael who were free men ; and confi- 
 dering with what tendernefs and humanity 
 the Jews, by thdr law, were obliged to uie 
 their fervants, and what care was to be taken 
 to iriftrucl them in the true religion, it is not 
 unlikely that fome flraiogers in poverty and 
 <liflrefs were willing to enter into bonds to 
 ferve the Jews as long as they lived ; and in 
 ilich cafe the Jews, by their law, had a right 
 to their fervice during life. 
 
 When the awl was bored through the ear 
 of the Hebrew fervant, ihe text faith, " He 
 *' mall ferve for ever;" yet we do not fup- 
 pofe that by the word " for ever," it was in- 
 tended that none of his pofterity mould af- 
 terwards be -free ; when it is faid in regard to 
 the ftrangers which they bought, " They 
 *' mall be your pofTefnon," it may be well 
 underflood to mean only the perfons fo pur- 
 chafed ; all preceding relates to buying them ; 
 and what follows, to the continuance of their 
 fervice, " You fhall take them as an inhe- 
 *' ritance to your children after you ; they 
 <l fhall be your bondmen for ever." It may 
 "be well unclerltoocl to ftand limited to thofe 
 they purchaied. 
 
 Moles, directing Aaron and his fons to 
 warn their hands and feet, when they went 
 into the tabernacle of the congregation, faith, 
 " It fnall be a ftatute for ever to them, even 
 4< to him and his feed throughout all gene- 
 " rations." And to exprefs the continuance 
 of the law, it was his common language, 
 " It fhall be a ftatute for ever throughout 
 
 " your
 
 KEEPING OP NEGROES. 291 
 
 t your generations." So that had he intend- 
 ed the pofterity of the flrangers fo purchafed 
 to continue in flavery to the Jews, it looks 
 likely that he would have ufed fome terms 
 clearly to exprefs it. The Jews undoubtedly 
 had flaves, whom they kept as fuch from one 
 age to another ; but that this was agreeable 
 to the geil nine deiign of their infpired law- 
 giver, is far from being a clear cafe. 
 
 Making conflruclioiis of the law contrary 
 to the true meaning of it, was common a- 
 
 mongft that people. Samuel's fons took 
 
 bribes, and perverted judgment. -Ifaiah 
 
 complained that they juftified the wicked for 
 
 reward. Zephaniah, cotemporary with 
 
 Jeremiah, on account of the iiijuftice of the 
 Civil magiftrates, declared that thofe judges 
 were evening wolves ; and that the priefts 
 did violence to the law. 
 
 Jeremiah acquaints us, that the priefts 
 cried peace, peace, when there was no peace ; 
 by which means the people grew bold in 
 their wickedncfs ; and having committed a- 
 bominations, were not amamed ; but, thro* 
 wrong conftru(5lions of the law, they juftifi- 
 cd themlelves, and boaflingly faid " We are 
 " wife ; and the law of the Lord is with us." 
 Thefe corruptions continued till the days of 
 our Saviour, who told the Pharifees, " You 
 " have made the commandment of God of 
 *' none effect through your tradition." 
 
 Thus it appears that they corrupted the 
 
 law of Mofes ; nor is it unlikely that among 
 
 many others this was one j for oppreiling the 
 
 U 2 flrangers
 
 292 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 ftrangers was a heavy charge againft the 
 Jews, and very often ftrongly reprefented by 
 the Lord's faithful prophets. 
 
 That the liberty of man was, by the in- 
 fpired law-giver, efteemed precious, appears 
 in this ; that fuch who unjuflly deprived 
 men of it, were to be punifhed in like man- 
 ner as if they had murdered them, " He 
 " that ftealeth a man, and felleth him ; or if 
 " he be found in his hand, mall furely be 
 " put to death." This part of the law was 
 fo confiderable, that Paul, the learned Jew, 
 giving a brief account of the ufes of the law, 
 adds this, " It was made for men-dealers,'' 
 i Tim. i. 10. 
 
 The great men amongft that people were 
 exceeding oppremve; and, it is likely, ex- 
 erted their whole ftrength and influence to 
 have the law conflrued to fu it their turns. 
 The honeft fervants of the lord had heavy 
 work with them in regard to their opprem- 
 011 ; a few inflances follow. " Thus faith 
 " the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, a- 
 c mend your ways, and your doings ; and I 
 " will caufe you to dwell in this place. If 
 " you throughly execute judgment between 
 " a man and his neighbour ; if you opprefs 
 " not the ftranger, the fatherlefs and the wi- 
 c dow ; and fned not innocent blood in this 
 " place ; neither walk after other gods to 
 1 your hurt, then will I caufe you to dwell 
 
 " in this place," Jer. vii. Again a rpef- 
 
 fage was fent not only to the inferiog^mfe- 
 fters of juflice, but alfo to the chief ruler. 
 
 " Thus 

 
 KEEPING OP NEGROES. 293 
 
 c< Thus. faith the Lord, go down to the houfe 
 " of the king of Judah, and fpeak there this 
 " word ; execute ye judgment and righteouf- 
 " nefs, and deliver the fpoiled out of the 
 " hand of the opprefTor ; and do no wrong; 
 *' do no violence to the ftranger, the father- 
 " lefs and the widow ; neither fhed innocent 
 " blood in this place." Then adds, " That 
 " in fo doing they fhould profper ; but if ye 
 * c will not hear thefe words, I fwear by my- 
 " felf, faith the Lord, that this houfe fliall 
 " become a defolation," Jer. xxii. , 
 
 The king, the princes and rulers were a- 
 greed in oppreffion before the Babylonilh 
 captivity ; for whatever courts of juflice were 
 retained amongft them ; or however they de- 
 cided matters betwixt men of eftates, it is 
 plain that the caufe of the poor was not judg- 
 ed in equity. 
 
 It appears that the great men amongft the 
 Jews were fully refolved to have flaves, even 
 of their own brethren, Jer. xxxiv. Notwith- 
 flanding the promifes and threatenings of the 
 Lord, by the prophet, and their folemn co- 
 venant to let them free, confirmed by the 
 imprecation of pamng between the parts of a 
 calf cut in twain ; intimating, by that cere- 
 mony, that on breach of the covenant, it 
 were juft for their bodies to be fo cut in 
 pieces. Yet after all,' they held faft to their 
 old cuftom, and called home the fervants 
 whom they had fet free. " And ye were 
 ' now turned, and had done right in my 
 *' light, in proclaiming liberty every man ta 
 
 " his
 
 2 9 4 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 " his neighbour ; and ye had made a cover 
 4 nant before me, in the houfe which is call- 
 * ed by my name ; but ye turned, and pol- 
 " luted my name, and caufed every man his 
 <c fcrvant, whom he had fet at liberty at their 
 " pleafure, to return, and brought them in- 
 " to fubjecftion, to be unto you tor fervants, 
 " and for handmaids : therefore thus faith 
 " the Lord, ye have not hearkened unto me, 
 " in proclaiming liberty every one to his 
 " neighbour, and every one to his brother. 
 * c Behold, I proclaim liberty to you, faitH 
 " the Lord, to the fword, to the peflilence, 
 " and to the famine ; and I will make you 
 " to be removed into all the kingdoms of the 
 " earth. The men who tranfgrefTed my co- 
 " venant which they made, and palled be- 
 " tween the parts of the calf, I will give in- 
 " to trie hands of their enemies, and their 
 " dead bodies mall be for meat unto the 
 " fowls of the heaven, and the beads of the. 
 " earth." 
 
 Soon after this their city was taken and 
 burnt ; the king's fons and the princes flain ; 
 and the king, with the chief men of his king- 
 dom, carried captive to Babylon. -Ezekiel, 
 prophefying the return of that people to their 
 Own land, directs, " Ye mall divide the 
 ' land by lot, for an inheritance unto you, 
 " and to the ftrangers that fojourn amongft 
 ' you ; in what tribe the ftranger ibjourns, 
 " there mall ye give him his inheritance, 
 " faith the Lord God." Nor is this particu- 
 lar direction, and the authority with which 
 
 it
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 295 
 
 it is enforced, without a tacit implication, 
 that their anceftors had erred in their conduct 
 towards the ftranger. 
 
 Some who keep flaves, have doubted as to 
 the equity of the practice ; but as they knew 
 men, noted for their piety, who were in it, 
 this, they fay, has made their minds eafy. 
 
 To lean on the example of men in doubt- 
 ful cafes, is difficult : for only admit, that 
 thofe men were not faithfal and upright to 
 the higheft degree, but that in fome particu- 
 lar cafe they erred, and it may follow that 
 this one cafe was the fame, about which we 
 are in doubt; and to quiet our minds by 
 their example, may be dangerous to our^ 
 felves ; and continuing in it, prove a {tum- 
 bling block to tender-minded people who 
 fucceed us, in like manner as their examples 
 are to us. 
 
 But fuppoiing charity was their only mo- 
 tive, and they hot forefeeing the tendency of 
 paying robbers for their booty, were not juit- 
 ly under the imputation of being partners 
 with a thief, Prov. xxix, 24. but were really 
 innocent in what they 'did, are we affured 
 that we keep them with the fame views they 
 kept them ? If we keep them from no other 
 motive than a real fenfe of duty, and true 
 charity governs us in all our proceedings to- 
 ward them, we are fo far fafe : but if another 
 fpirit, which inclines our minds to the ways 
 of this world, prevail upon us, and we are 
 concerned for our own outward gain more 
 than for their real happinefs, it will avail us 
 
 nothing
 
 296 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 nothing that fome good men have had the 
 care and management of Negroes. 
 
 Since mankind fpread upon the earth, ma- 
 ny have been the revolutions attending the 
 feveral families, and their cufloms and wars 
 of life diiFerent from each other. This di- 
 verfity of manners, though fbme are prefer- 
 able to others, operates not in favour of any, 
 fo far as to juftify them to do violence to in- 
 nocent men ; to bring them from their own 
 to another way of life. The mind, when 
 moved by a principle of true love, may feel 
 a warmth of gratitude to the univerfal father,. 
 and a lively iympathy with thoie nations, 
 where divine Light has been lefs manifeft. 
 
 This clefire for their real good may beget a 
 willingnefs to undergo hardships for their 
 fakes, that the true knowledge of God may 
 be fpread amongil them : but to take them 
 from their own land, with vLws of profit to 
 ourfelves, by means inconfiftent with pure 
 juftite, is foreign to that principle which 
 ^eeks the happinefs of the whole creation. 
 Forced fubjection, of innocent perfbns of full 
 *ge, is inconfiftent with right reafon ; on one 
 iicle, the human mind is not naturally forti- 
 fied with that firmnefs in wifdom and good- 
 nefs, neceilary to an independant ruler ; on 
 the other fide, to be fubjecl to the uncon- 
 troulable will of a man, liable to err, is mod 
 painful and amicling to a coiifcientious crea- 
 ture. 
 
 It is our happinefs faithfully to ferve the 
 Divine Being, who made us : his perfection 
 
 makes
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 297 
 
 makes our fervice reafonable ; but fo long as 
 men are biaiTed by narrow felf-love, fo long 
 an abfolute power over other men is unfit for 
 them. 
 
 ijvlen, taking on them the government of 
 others, may intend to govern reafonably, and 
 make their fubjects more happy than they 
 would be otherwife ; but, as abfolute com- 
 mand belongs only to him who is perfect, 
 where frail men, in their own wills, ailume 
 fuch command, it hath a direct tendency to 
 vitiate their minds, and make them more 
 unfit for government. 
 
 Placing on men the ignominious title 
 SLAVE, duelling them in uncomely gar- 
 ments, keeping them to fervile labour, in 
 which they are often dirty, ' tends gradually 
 to fix a notion in the mind, that they are a 
 fort of people below us in nature, and leads 
 us to coiifider them as fuch in all our con- 
 clufions about them. And, moreover, a 
 perfon which in our efleem is mean and con- 
 temptible, if their language or behaviour 
 toward us is unfeemly or difrefpeclful, it ex- 
 cites wrath more powerfully than the like 
 conducl in one we accounted our equal or 
 fuperior ; and where this happens to be the 
 caie, it difqualifies for candid judgment; for 
 it is unfit for a pcrfoii to fit as judge in a cafe 
 where his own perfonal relentments are flirr- 
 ed up ; and, as members of fociety in a well 
 framed government, we are mutually depen- 
 dent. Prefent intereft incites to duty, and 
 ch man attentive to the conveni- 
 ence
 
 298 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 ence of others ; but he whofe will is a law to 
 others, and can enforce obedience by punifh- 
 ment ; he whofe wants are fuppHed without 
 feeling any obligation to make equal returns 
 to his benefactor, his irregular appetites find 
 an open field for motion, and he is in dan- 
 ger of growing hard, and inattentive to their 
 convenience who labour for his fupport 5 and 
 fo lofes that difpoiition, in which alone men 
 are fit to govern. 
 
 The English government hath been com- 
 mended by candid foreigners for the difufe 
 of racks and tortures, fo much praclifed in 
 Ibnie ftates ; but this multiplying flaves now 
 leads to it; for where people exact hard h- 
 bour of others, without a faitable reward,' 
 aid are refolved to continue in that way, fe- 
 verity to fuch who oppofe them becomes the 
 coiifequence ; and feveral Negroe criminals, 
 among the Engliih in America, have been 
 executed in a lingering, painful way, very 
 terrifying to others. 
 
 It is a happy cafe to fet out right, and per- 
 fevere in the fame way : a wrong beginning 
 leads into many difficulties ; for to fupport 
 pne evil, another becomes cuftomary ; two 
 produces more ; and the farther men proceed 
 in this way, the greater their dangers, their 
 doubts and fears ; and the more painful and 
 perplexing are their circumllances ; fo that 
 fuch who are true friends to the real and lad- 
 ing intereit of our country, and candidly 
 confider the tendency of things, cannot but 
 feel fome concern on this account. 
 
 There
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 299 
 
 There is that fuperiority in men over the 
 brute creatures, and fome of them fo mani- 
 feflly dependent on men for a living, that for 
 them to ferve us in moderation, fo far as re- 
 lates to the right ufe of things, looks confo- 
 nant to the defign of our Creator. 
 
 There is nothing in their frame, nothing 
 relative to the propagating their fpecies, which 
 argues the contrary ; but in men there is. 
 The frame of men's bodies, and the difpofi- 
 tion of their minds are different ; fome, who 
 are tough and ftrong, and their minds active, 
 chuie ways of life requiring much labour to 
 fiipport them ; others are foon weary ; and 
 though ufe makes labour more tolerable, yet 
 fome are lefs apt for toil than others, and 
 their minds lefs fprightly. Thefe latter la- 
 bouring for their fubiiftence, commonly 
 chufe a life eafy to fupport, being content 
 with a little. When they are weary they may 
 reft, take the moft advantageous part of the 
 clay for labour ; and in all cafes proportion 
 one thing to another, that their bodies be not 
 pppreffed. 
 
 Now, while each is at liberty, the latter 
 may be as happy, and live as comfortably 
 as the former ; but where men of the firft 
 fort have the latter under abfolute command, 
 not confidering the odds in ftrength and firm- 
 nefs, do, fome times, in their eager purfuit, 
 lay on burthens grievous to be borne ; by de- 
 grees grow rigorous, and, afpiring to great^ 
 nefs, they increafe oppreflion, and the true 
 order of kind Providence is fub verted.
 
 Soo CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 There are weaknefTes fometimes attending 
 us, which make little or no alteration in our 
 countenances, nor much leilen our appetite 
 for food, and yet fo affect us, as to make la- 
 bour very uneafy. In luch cafe mafters, in- 
 tent on putting forward bu/inefs, and jealous 
 of the fmcerity of their (laves, may difbelieve 
 what they fay, and grievoufly afflict them. 
 
 Action is neceflary for all men, and our 
 exhaufting frame requires a fupport, which 
 is the fruit of action. The earth mud be 
 laboured to keep us alive : labour is a proper 
 part of our life ; to make one anfwer the o- 
 ther in fome ufeful motion, looks agreeable 
 to the defign of our Creator. Motion, right- 
 ly managed, tends to our fatisfaction, health 
 and fupport. 
 
 Thofe who quit all ufeful bufmefs, and live 
 wholly on the labour of others, have their 
 ex ere iie to feck ; fome fiich ufe lefs than their 
 health requires ; others chufe that which, by 
 the circumftances attending ity proves utter- 
 ly reverfe to true happmefs. Thus, while 
 fome are divers ways diilrefTed for want of 
 an open channel of ufeful action, ,thofe who 
 fupport them figh, and are exhaufte.d in a 
 ilream too powerful for nature, fpending their 
 days with too little ceiTation from labour. 
 
 Seed {own with the tears of a confined op- 
 preiled people, harveil cut down by an over- 
 borne difcontented reaper, makes bread lefs 
 i\veet to the taile of an honeft man, than 
 that which is the produce, or in ft reward of 
 
 fuch
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES, yx 
 
 fucli voluntary action, which, is one proper 
 part of the bufmefs of human creatures. 
 
 Again, the weak ftate of the human fpe- 
 cies, in bearing and bringing forth their 
 young, and the helplefs condition of their 
 young beyond that of other creatures, clearly 
 fhew that Perfect Goodnefs defigns a tender 
 care and regard fhould be exercifed toward 
 them ; and that no imperfect, arbitrary pow- 
 er fiiould prevent the cordial efFects of that 
 fympathy, which is, in the minds of well- 
 met pairs, to each other, and toward their 
 offspring. 
 
 In our fpecies the mutual ties of affection 
 are more rational and durable than in others 
 below us ; the care and labour of railing our 
 offspring much greater. The fatisfaction a- 
 rifing to us in their innocent company, and 
 in their advances from one rational improve- 
 ment to another, is considerable, when two 
 are thus joined, and their affections fincere. 
 It however happens among flaves, that they 
 are often fituate in different places ; and their 
 feeing each other depends on the will of men,, 
 liable to human paifions, and a bias in judg- 
 ment ; who, with views of felf-intereft, may 
 keep them apart more than is right. Being 
 abfent from each other, and often with other 
 company, there is a danger of their affections 
 being alienated, jealoufies arifing, the hap- 
 pineis otherwife refulting from their offspring 
 fruftrated, and the comforts of marriage 
 llroyed. Thefe things being conlidered
 
 302 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 ly, as happening to a near friend, will ap- 
 pear to be hard and painful. 
 
 He who reverently obferves that goodnefs 
 manifefted by our gracious Creator tpward 
 the various fpecies of beings in this world, 
 will fee, that in our frame and conflitution 
 is clearly {hewn that innocent men, capable 
 to manage for themfelves, were not intended 
 to be Haves. 
 
 A perfon lately travelling amongfl the Ne- 
 groes near Senegal, hath this remark ; 
 " Which way foever I turned my eyes on 
 " this pleafant fpot, I beheld a perfect image 
 " of pure nature ; an agreeable folitude, 
 " bounded on every fide by charming land- 
 " fkips, the rural fituation of cottages in the 
 " rnidft of trees. The eafe and indolence of 
 " die Negroes reclined under the (hade of 
 " their fpreading foliage ; the flmplicity of 
 <c their drefs and manners ; the whole re viv- 
 ct ed in my mind the idea of our firft parents, 
 " and I feemed to contemplate the world in 
 44 its primitive flate." M. Adanfon, page 55. 
 
 Some Negroes in thefe parts, who have 
 had an agreeable education, have manifefted 
 a brightnefs of underftanding equal to many 
 of us. A remark of this kind we find in Bof- 
 man, page 328. " The Negroes of Fida, 
 *' faith he, are fo accurately quick in their 
 " merchandize accounts, that they eafily 
 " reckon as juftly and quickly in their heads 
 " only, as we with the afliftance of pen and 
 " ink, though the fum amounts to feveral 
 " thoufands." 
 
 Through
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 333 
 
 Through the force of long cuftom, it ap- 
 pears needful to fpeak in relation to colour. 
 Suppofe a white child, born of parents of the 
 meaneft fort, who died and left him an in- 
 fant, falls into the hands of a perfon, who 
 endeavours to keep him a flave, foine men 
 would account him an unjuft man in doing 
 fo, who yet appear eafy while many black 
 people, of honeft lives, and good abilities, 
 are enilaved, in a manner more mocking 
 than the cafe here fuppofed. This is owing 
 chiefly to the idea of flavcry being connected 
 with the black colour, and liberty with the 
 white : and wher-j falfe ideas are twilled in- 
 to our minds, it is with difEculty we get 
 fairly difentangled. 
 
 A traveller, in cloudy weathef , mifleth his 
 way, makes many turns while he is loft ; ftill 
 forms in his mind, the bearing and iituation 
 of places, and though the ideas are wrong, 
 they fix as faft as if they were right. Find- 
 ing how things are, we fee our miftake ; yet 
 the force of reafon, with repeated obfervati- 
 ons on places and things, do not foon remove 
 thofe falfe notions, fo faftened upon us, but 
 it will feem in the imagination as if the an- 
 nual courfe of the fan was altered ; and 
 though, by recollection, we are allured it is 
 not, yet thofe ideas do not fuddenly leave us. 
 ! Selfimnefs being indulged, clouds the un- 
 dcrftanding; and where felfifh men, for a 
 long time, proceed on their wa*, without 
 oppofition, the deceiveablenefs of unrighte- 
 oumefs gets fo rooted in their intellects, that 
 
 a candid
 
 304 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 a candid examination of things relating to 
 felf-interefl is prevented ; and in this cir- 
 cumftance, fome who would not agree to 
 make a flave of a perfon whofe colour is like 
 their .own, appear eafy in making flaves of 
 others of a different colour, though their un- 
 derftandings and morals are equal to the ge- 
 nerality of.men of their own colour. 
 
 The colour of a man avails nothing, in 
 matters of right and equity. Coniider co- 
 lour in relation to treaties ; by fuch, difputes 
 betwixt nations are fometimes fettled. And 
 ihould the father of us all fo difpofe things, 
 that treaties with black men mould fometimes 
 be neceilary, how then would it appear a- 
 mongfl the princes and ambaffadors, to infifl 
 on the prerogative of the white colour ? 
 
 Whence is it that men, who believe in a 
 righteous omnipotent Being, to. whom all 
 nations fland equally related, and are equal- 
 ly accountable, remain fo eafy in it ; but for 
 that the ideas of Negroes and flaves are fo 
 interwoven in the mind, that they do not 
 difcufs this matter with that candour and 
 freedom of thought, which the cafe juftly 
 calls for ? 
 
 To come at a right feeling of their condi- 
 tion, requires humble ferious thinking ; for, 
 in their prefent iituation, they have but little 
 to engage our natural affection in their fa- 
 vour. 
 
 Had we a fon or a daughter involved i-i 
 the fame cafe, in which many of them are, it- 
 would alarm us, and make us feel their con- 
 dition
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 305 
 
 dkion without feeking for it. The adverfity 
 of an iiitimate friend will incite our compaf- 
 fion, while others, equally good, in the like 
 trouble, will but little affect us. 
 
 Again, the man in worldly honour, whom 
 tve confider as our fuperior, treating us with 
 kindnefs and generality, begets a return of 
 gratitude and friendship toward him. We 
 may receive as great benefits from men a de- 
 gree lower than ourfelves, in the common 
 way of reckoning, and feel ourfelves lefs 
 engaged in favour of them. Such is our 
 condition by nature ; and thefe things be- 
 ing narrowly watched and examined, will be 
 found to center in felf-love. 
 
 The blacks feem far from being our kins- 
 folks, and did we find an agreeable difpofiti- 
 on and found underflanding in fome of them, 
 which appeared as a good foundation for a 
 tru& friendfhip between us, the difgrace arif- 
 ing from an open friendihip with a perfon of 
 fo vile a flock, in the common efteem, would 
 naturally tend, to hinder it. -They have nei- 
 ther honours^ riches, outward magnificence 
 nor power ; their drefs coarfe, and often rag- 
 ged ; their employ drudgery, and much in. 
 the dirt : they have little or nothing at com- 
 mand ; but muft wait upon and work for a- 
 thers, to obtain the neceffaries of life ; fo 
 that, in their prefent fituation, there is not 
 much to engage the friendihip, or move the 
 affection of felfilh men : but fuch who live in 
 the fpirit of true charity, to fympathife with 
 X the
 
 3 o6 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 the afflicled in the loweft ftations of life, is 
 a thing familiar to them. 
 
 Such is the kindnefs of our Creator, that 
 people, applying their minds to found wif- 
 dom, may, in general, with moderate exer- 
 clfe, live comfortably, where no mifapplied 
 
 power hinders it. We in thefe parts have 
 
 caufe gratefully to acknowledge it. But men 
 leaving the true ufe of things, their lives are 
 lefs calm, and have lefs of real happinefs in 
 them. 
 
 Many are defirous of purchafing and keep- 
 ing flaves, that they may live in fome mea- 
 fure conformable to thofe cuftoms of the - 
 times, which have in them a tincture of lux- 
 ury ; for when we, in the leaft degree, de- 
 part from that ufe of the creatures, for which 
 the Creator of all things intended them, there 
 luxury begins. 
 
 And if we confider this way of life feri- 
 ouily, we ihall fee there is nothing in it fuf- 
 ficient to induce a wife man to chufe it, be- 
 fore a plain, fimple w r ay of living. If we 
 examine ftately buildings and equipage, de- 
 licious food, fuperfine cloaths, filks and 
 linens ; if we confider the fplendour of choice 
 metal fafbened upon raiment, and the mofl 
 fliowy inventions of men ; it will yet appear 
 that the humble-minded man, who is con- 
 tented with the true ufe of houfes, food and 
 garments, and chearfully exercifeth himfelf 
 agreeable to his ftation in civil fociety, to 
 earn them, acts more reafonably, and dif- 
 
 covers j
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 307 
 
 covers more foundnefs of underftanding in 
 his conduct, than fuch who lay heavy bun- 
 dens on others, to fupport themfelves in a 
 luxurious way of living. 
 
 George Buchanan, in his Infbory of Scot- 
 land, page 62, tells of fome anoieut inhabi- 
 tants of Britain, who were derived from a 
 people that " had a way of marking their 
 bodies, as fome faid, with inflruments of 
 iron, with variety of pictures, and with ani- 
 mals of all ihapes, and wear no garments, 
 that they mould not hide their pictures ; and 
 were therefore called Picts." 
 
 Did we fee thofe people fhrink with pain, 
 for a considerable time together, under the 
 point or edge of this iron iniirument, and 
 their bodies all bloody with the operation ; 
 did we fee them fometimes naked, fufFering 
 with cold, and refufe to put on garments, 
 that thofe imaginary enfigns of grandeur 
 might not be concealed, it is likely we ihould 
 pity their folly, and fondnefs for thofe things : 
 but if we candidly compare their conduct^ 
 in that cafe, with fome condudt amongft 
 ourfelves, will it not appear that our folly is 
 the greatefl ? 
 
 In true gofpel fimplicity, free from all 
 wrong ufe of things, a fpirit which breathes 
 . peace and good will is cherifhed ; but when 
 we afpire after imaginary grandeur, and ap- 
 ply to felfifh means to atlain our end, this 
 defire, in its original, is the fame with the 
 Picts in c acting figures on their bodies j but 
 X 2 the
 
 308 CONSIDERATIONS OK THE 
 
 the evil confequences attending our proceed- 
 ings are the greateft. 
 
 A covetous mind, which feeks opportuni- 
 ty to, exalt itfelf, is a great enemy to true 
 harmony in a country : envy and grudging 
 ufually accompany this difpofition, and it 
 tends to ftir up its likenefs in others. And 
 where this difpofition arifeth fo high, as to 
 embolden us to look upon honed induftrious 
 men as our own property during life, and to 
 keep them to hard labour, to fupport us in 
 thofe cuftoms which have not their founda- 
 tion in right reafon ; or to ufe any means of 
 oppreflion ; a haughty fpirit is cheriihed on 
 one fide, and the defire of revenge frequent- 
 ly on the other, till the inhabitants of the 
 land are ripe for great commotion and trou- 
 ble ; and thus luxury and opprefTion have 
 the feeds of war and defolation in them. 
 
 Some Account of the SLAVE-TRADE, 
 
 From the writings of perfons who have been 
 at the places where they arc nrft purchafed, 
 viz. 
 
 T) O S M A N on Guinea, who was a factor 
 *"* for the Dutch about fixteen years in that 
 country, (page 339) thus remarks : " But 
 *' fince I have fo often mentioned that com- 
 " merce, I ihall defcribe how it is managed 
 " by our factors. The firft bufmefs of one 
 
 " of
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 309 
 
 " of our factors, when he comes to Fida, is 
 " to fatisfy the cuflomsof the king, and the 
 " great men, which amounts to about one 
 " hundred pounds, in Guinea value, as the 
 " goods mufl fell there. After which we 
 ** hare free licence to trade, which is pub- 
 " limed throughout the whole land by the 
 " cryer. And yet before we can deal with 
 " any perfon, we are obliged to buy the 
 <c king's whole flock of flaves, at a fet price; 
 <t which is commonly one third or fourth 
 " higher than ordinary. After which, we 
 " have free leave to deal with all his fubjects, 
 " of what rank foever. But if there happen 
 " to be no flock of flaves, the fadlor muft 
 " refolve to run the rifk of trufling the in- 
 " habitants with goods, to the value of one 
 " or two hundred flaves ; which commodi- 
 " ties they fend into the inland country, in 
 " order to buy with them flaves at all mar- 
 " kets, and that fometimes two hundred 
 " miles deep in the country: for you ought 
 " to be informed, that markets of men are 
 " here kept in the fame manner as they of 
 " beafls are with us. 
 
 " Moil of the flaves which are offered to 
 <c us, are prifoners of war, which are fold 
 
 " by the victors as their booty. When 
 
 *' thefe flaves come to Fida, they are put in 
 " prifons all together ; and when we treat 
 " concerning them, they are all brought out 
 " in a large plain, where, by our furgeons, 
 1 whofe province it is, they are thoroughly 
 w examined, even to the fraallefl member, 
 
 " and
 
 3 io CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 " and that naked, both men and women, 
 " without the leail diftinclion or modefty, 
 " Thofe which are approved as good, are fet 
 " on one fide. The invalids and maimed 
 " being thrown out, the remainder are num- 
 " bered, and it is entered who delivered 
 '* them : in the mean while a burning iron, 
 " with the arms or name of the company, 
 " lies in the fire, with which ours are mark- 
 " ed on the bread. This is done, that we 
 " may , diftinguifh them from the flaves of 
 " the Englim, French, or others. When 
 " we have agreed with the owners of the 
 " flaves, they are returned to their prifons, 
 " where, from that time forward, they are 
 " kept at our charge, cofl us two- pence a 
 " day a flave, which ferves to fubfift them, 
 " like our criminals, on bread and water : 
 " fo that, to fave charges, we fend them on 
 " board our mips the firit opportunity ; be- 
 " fore which their mailers ftrip them of all 
 
 ' they have on their backs, fo that they 
 " come aboard ftark naked, as well women 
 " as men ; in which condition they are o- 
 c< bliged to continue, if the mailer of the 
 " fhip is not fo charitable (which he com- 
 
 ' monly is) as to beftow fomething on them, 
 '' to cover their nakednefs. 
 
 Same author, page 310. " The inhabi- 
 
 ' tants of Popo, as well as thofe of Goto, de- 
 " pend on plunder, and the flave- trade, in 
 " both which they very much exceed the lat- 
 " ter ; for being endowed with more courage, 
 ** they rob more fuccefsfully, and by that 
 
 " means.
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 311 
 
 l< means increafe their trade : notwithftand- 
 " ing which, to freight a vefTel with ilaves, 
 " requires fome months attendance. In the 
 " year 1697, in three days time I could get 
 " but three flaves ; but they affured me, that 
 " if I would have patience for other three 
 *' days only, they mould be able to deliver 
 " me one or two hundred." 
 
 Bofman, page 440. " We caft anchor at 
 *' cape Mizurada, but not one Negroe coming 
 " on board, I went on more ; and being defi- 
 " rous to be informed why they did not come 
 " on board, was anfwered, That about two 
 " months before, the Englifh had been there 
 " with two veffels, and had ravaged the coun- 
 " try, deflroyed all their canoes, plundered 
 " their houfes, and carried off fome of their 
 " people for flaves ; upon which the re- 
 " mainder fled to the inland country. They 
 " tell us, they live in peace with all their 
 *' neighbours, and have no notion of any 
 " other enemy than the Englifh ; of which 
 " nation they had taken fome then : and 
 " publickly declared, that they would en- 
 <c deavour to get as many of them, as the 
 " two mentioned mips had carried off of 
 " their natives. Thefe unhappy Englifh 
 " were in danger of being facrificed to the 
 " the memory of their friends, which fome 
 " of their nation carried off."
 
 312 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 EXTRACTS from a Colledlion of ' 
 
 Vo Y AGES. Vol. I. 
 
 H E author, a popifh miiTionary, fpeakr 
 ing of his departing from the Negroe 
 country to Brazil, faith, " I remember the 
 duke of Bambay (a Negroe chief ) one day 
 fent me feveral blacks, to be my Haves, which 
 'I would not accept of; but lent them back 
 to him. I afterwards told him, I came not 
 into his country to make flavcs ; but rather 
 to deliver thofe from the ilavery of the devil, 
 whom he kept in miferable thraldom. The' 
 Jhip I went aboard was loaded with elephants 
 teeth, and ilaves, to the number of llx b 
 dred and eighty men, women and children. 
 It was a pitiful fight to behold how all thefet' 
 people were beftowed. The men were .;,; ;]- 
 ing in the hold, fattened one to . hei xith 
 Hakes, for fear they mould rife and H r/.e 
 whites : the women were between the decks, 
 and thofe that were wkh child in the great 
 cabbin ; the children in the fteerage, preJTed 
 together like herrings in a barrel ; which 
 caufed an intolerable heat and flench." Page 
 
 57- 
 
 " It is now time (faith the fame author) 
 
 to fpeak of a brutifh cuflom thefe people 
 have amongfc them in making ilaves ; which 
 I take not to be lawful for any perfon of a 
 
 good confcience to buy." 
 
 He then defcribes how women betray men 
 into ilavery, and adds, " There are others 
 going up into the inland country, and, thro' 
 
 pretence
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 313 
 
 pretence of jurifdiction, feize men upon any 
 trifling offence, and fell them for Haves." 
 Page 537. 
 
 The author of this treatife, converfing with 
 aperfon of good credit, was informed by him, 
 that in his youth, while in England, he was 
 minded to come to America, and happening 
 on a veilel bound for Guinea, and from 
 thence into America, he, with a view to fee 
 Africa, went on board her, and continued 
 with them in their voyage, and fo came into 
 this country. Among other circumilances 
 he related thefe. " They purchafed on the 
 coafl about three hundred flaves ; fome of 
 them he underftood were captives of war ; 
 fome flolen by other Negroes privately. 
 When they had got many flaves on board, 
 but were ftill on that coaft, a plot was laid 
 by an old Negroe, notwithstanding the men 
 had irons on their hands and feet, to kill the 
 Englifh and take the veflel ; which being dif- 
 covered, the man was hanged, and many of 
 the flaves made to fhoot at him as he hum* 
 up." 
 
 c Another flave was charged with having a 
 defign to kill the Englifh ; and the captain 
 fpoke to him in relation to the charge brought 
 againft him, as he flood on deck ; whereup- 
 on he immediately threw himfelf into the 
 fea, and was drowned." 
 
 " Several Negroes, confined on board, were, 
 he faid, fo extremely uneafy with their con- 
 dition, that after many endeavours ufed, 
 they could never make them cat aor drink 
 
 after
 
 314 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 after they came in the veflel ; but in a defpe- 
 rate refolutioii ftarvecl themfelves to death, 
 behaving toward the lafl like mad-men." 
 
 In Randall's geography, printed 1744, we 
 are informed, " That in a time of full peace 
 nothing is more common than for the Negroes 
 of one nation to deal thofe of another, and 
 fell them to the Europeans. It is thought 
 that the Englifli tranfmit annually near fifty 
 thoufand of thefe unhappy creatures ; and 
 the other European nations together, about 
 two hundred thoufand more." 
 
 It is through the goodnefs of God that the 
 reformation from grofs idolatry and barbari- 
 ty hath been thus far effected ; if we confi- 
 der our conditions as chriftians, and the be- 
 nefits we enjoy, and compare them with the 
 condition of thofe people, and confider that 
 our nation trading with them for their coun- 
 try produce, have had an opportunity of im- 
 parting ufeful infractions to them, and re- 
 member that but little pains have been taken 
 therein, it mufl look like an indifference in 
 
 us. But when we reflect on a cuftom the 
 
 mod mocking of any amongfl them, and re- 
 member that, with a view to outward gain, 
 we have joined as parties in it ; that our con- 
 currence with them in their barbarous pro- 
 ceedings, has tended to harden them in cru- 
 elty, and been a means 'of increafing calami- 
 ties in their country, we inufl own that 
 herein we have acted contrary to thofe wor- 
 thies whofe lives and fubftance were fpcnt in 
 propagating truth and righteoulheis amongft 
 
 the
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 315 
 
 the heathen. When Saul, by the hand of 
 Doeg, flew four fcore priefts at once, he had 
 a jealoufy that one of them a^ lead was con- 
 federate with David, whom he coniidered as 
 
 his enemy. Herod flaying all the male 
 
 children in Bethlehem of two years old and 
 under, was an act of uncommon cruelty ;, but 
 he fuppofed there was a male child there, 
 within that age, who was likely to be king 
 of the Jews, and finding no way to deftroy 
 him, but by destroying them all, thought 
 this the moft effectual means to fecure the 
 kingdom to his own family. 
 
 When the fentence againfl the proteftants 
 of MarindoJ, &c. in France, was put in ex- 
 ecution, great numbers of people fled to the 
 wildernefs ; amongft whom were ancient 
 people, women great with child, and others 
 with babes in their arms, who endured cala- 
 mities grievous to relate, and in the end fome 
 periihed with hunger, and many were de- 
 Itroyed by fire and fword ; but they had this 
 objection againft them, That they obftinately 
 pcrfifted in oppoiition to holy mother church, 
 and being hereticks, it was right to work 
 their ruin and extirpation, and raze out their 
 
 >ry from among men, Fox's Acts and 
 
 ,;ents, page 646. 
 In favour of thofe cruelties, every one had 
 
 they deemed a plea. Thefe fcenes of 
 
 blood and cruelty among the barbarous in- 
 r Ahitauts of Guinea, are not lefs terrible 
 than thofe now mentioned. They are con- 
 tinued from one age to another, and we make 
 
 ourfelves
 
 316 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 ourfelves parties and fellow-helpers in them ; 
 nor do I fee that we have any plea in our fa- 
 vour more plaufible than the plea of Saul, of 
 Herod, or the French in thofe iiangliters. 
 
 Many who are parties in this trade, by 
 keeping flaves with views of felf-intereft, 
 were they to go as foldiers in one of thefe in- 
 land expeditions to catch ilaves, they muft 
 neceffarily grow difiatisfied with fuch em- 
 ploy, or ceafe to profefs their religious prin- 
 ciples. And though the firft and moft ftrik- 
 ing part of the fcene is done at a great dif- 
 tance, and by other hands, yet every one 
 who is acquainted with the circumftances, 
 and notwithstanding joins in it for the fake 
 of gain only, muft, in the nature of things, 
 be chargeable with the others. 
 
 Should we confider ourfelves prefent as 
 fpectators, when cruel Negroes privately 
 catch innocent children, who are employed 
 in the fields ; hear their lamentable cries, 
 under the moil terrifying apprehenfions ; or 
 fliould we look upon it as happening in our 
 own families, having our children carried 
 off by favages, we muft needs own, that 
 fuch proceedings are contrary to the nature 
 of chriftianity: fhould we meditate on the 
 wars which are greatly increafed by this 
 trade, and on that affliction which many 
 thoufands live in, through apprehenlioiis of 
 being taken or {lain ; on the terror and a- 
 mazement that villages are in, when fur- 
 rounded by thefe troops of enterprifers ; on 
 the great pain and miiery of groaning dying
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 3*7 
 
 men, who get wounded in thofe fkirmimes ; 
 we mall neceifarily lee, that it is impoflible 
 to be parties in fuch a trade, on the motives 
 of gain, and retain our innocence. 
 
 Should we conlider the cafe of multitudes 
 of thofe people, who in a fruitful foil, and 
 hot climate, with a little labour, raife grain, 
 roots and pulfe to eat ; fpin and weave cot- 
 ton, and faften together the large feathers of 
 fowls, to cover their nakednefs ; many of 
 whom, in much fimplicity, live inoiFenfively 
 in their cottages, and take great comfort in 
 railing up children. 
 
 Should we contemplate on their circum- 
 ftances, when fuddenly attacked, and labour 
 to underftand their inexpreffible anguiih of 
 foul, who furvive the conflict ; mould we 
 think on inoffenfive women, who fled at the 
 alarm, and at their return faw that village, 
 in which they and their acquaintance were 
 raifed up, and had pleafantly fpent their 
 youthful days, now lying in a gloomy defo- 
 lation ; fome mocked at finding the mangled 
 bodies of their near friends amongfl the flain ; 
 others bemoaning the abfence of a brother, a 
 fifter, a child, or a whole family of children, 
 who, by cruel men, are bound and carried 
 to market, to be fold, without the leafl hopes 
 of feeing them again : add to this, the af- 
 flicted condition of thefe poor captives, who 
 are feparated from family connections, and 
 all the comforts ariiing from friendihip and 
 acquaintance, carried amongft a people of a 
 ftrange language, to be parted from their 
 
 fellow
 
 3i8 CONSIDERATIONS ON TH 
 
 fellow captives, put to labour in a manner 
 more fervile and wearifome than what they 
 were ufed to, with many forrowful c ire urn- 
 ftances attending their flavery ; and we rnuft 
 iieceffarily fee, that it belongs not to the fol- 
 lowers of Chrift to be parties in fuch a trade, 
 on the motives of outward gain. 
 
 Though there were wars and defolation a- 
 mong the Negroes, before the Europeans be- 
 gan to trade there for flaves, yet now the ca- 1 
 lamities are greatly increafed, fo many thou- 
 fantls being annually brought from thence ; 
 and we, by purchafing them, with views of 
 felf-intereft, are become parties with them, 
 and acceffary to that increafe. 
 
 In this cafe, we are not joining againft an 
 enemy who is fomenting difcords on our con- 
 tinent, and ufing all poilible means to make 
 flaves of us and our children ; but againft a 
 people who have not injured us. 
 
 If thofe who were Ipoiled and wronged, 
 fliould at length make flaves of their oppref- 
 fors, and continue flavery to their pofterity, 
 it would look rigorous to candid men : but 
 to acl: that part toward a people, when nei- 
 ther they nor their fathers have injured us, 
 hath fomething in it extraordinary, and re- 
 quires our ferious attention. 
 
 Our children breaking a bone ; getting fo 
 bruifed, that a leg or an arm muft be taken 
 off; loft for a few hours, fo that we defpair 
 of their being found again ; a friend hurt, 
 fo that he dieth in a day or two ; thefe move 
 us with grief: and did we attend to thefe 
 
 fcenes
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 319 
 
 fcenes in Africa, in like manner as if they 
 were tranfacted in our prefence ; and fyrnpa- 
 thife with the Negroes, in all their afflictions 
 and miferies, as we do with our children or 
 friends : we Ihould be more careful to do no- 
 thing in any degree helping forward a trade 
 productive of fo many, and fo great calami- 
 ties. Great diftance makes nothing in our 
 
 favour. To willingly join with unrighte- 
 
 oufnefs, to the injury of men who live ibme 
 thoufand miles off, is the fame in fubftance, 
 as joining with it to the injury of our neigh- 
 bours. 
 
 In the eye of pure juftice, actions are re- 
 garded according to the fpirit and difpofition 
 they arife from : fome evils are accounted 
 fcandalous, ancl the deiire of reputation may 
 keep felnfli men from appearing openly in 
 them ; but he who is my on that account, 
 and yet by indirect means promotes that 
 evil, and {hares in the profit of it, cannot 
 be innocent. 
 
 He who, with a view to felf-intereft, buys 
 a {lave, made fo by violence, and only on the 
 ftrength^of fuch purchafe holds him a Have, 
 thereby joins hands with thofe who commit- 
 ted that violence, and in the nature of things 
 becomes chargeable with the guilt. 
 
 Suppole a man wants a {lave, and being 
 in Guinea, goes and hides by the path where 
 boys pafs from one little town to another, and 
 there catches one the day he expects to fail ; 
 and taking him on board, brings him home, 
 without any aggravating circumftances. Sup- 
 
 pofe
 
 320 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 pole another buys a man, taken by them. 
 who live by plunder and the flave-trade : 
 they often ilcal them privately, and often 
 fhed much blood in getting them* He who 
 buys the flaves thus taken, pays thofe men for 
 their wickednefs, and makes himfelf party 
 with them. 
 
 Whatever nicety of diftinction there may 
 be, betwixt going in perfon on expeditions to 
 catch flaves, and buying thofe, with a view 
 to felf-intereft, which others have taken ; it 
 is clear and plain to an upright mind, that 
 fuch diftinction is in words, not in fub fiance ; 
 for the parties are concerned in the fame 
 \vork, and have a neceflary connection with, 
 and dependance on, each other; for were 
 there none to purchafe flaves, they who live 
 by Itealing and felling them, would of con- 
 fequence do lefs at it. 
 
 Some would buy a Negroe brought from 
 Guinea, with a view to felf-intereft, and 
 keep him a Have, who yet would feem to 
 fcruple to take arms, and join with men em- 
 ployed in taking flaves. 
 
 Others have civil Negroes, who were born 
 in our country, capable and likely to ma- 
 nage well for themfelves ; whom they keep 
 as flaves, without ever trying them with 
 freedom, and take the profit of their labour 
 as a part of their eftates, and yet difap- 
 prove bringing them from their own coun- 
 try. 
 
 If thofe Negroes had come here, as mer- 
 chants, with their ivory and gold dull, in 
 
 order
 
 KEEPING or NEGROES. 321 
 
 order to trade with us, and feme po'.verful 
 perfon had took their effects to himfelf, and 
 then put them to hard Labour, and ever after 
 confiderecl them as Have?, the adlion would 
 be looked upon as unrighteous. 
 
 Thofe Negroe merchants having children 
 after their being among us, whofe endow- 
 ments and conduct were like other people's in 
 common, if on their attaining to mature age^ 
 and requeuing to have their liberty, they 
 fliould be told they were born in ilavery, 
 and were lawful flaves, and therefore their 
 requefl mould be denied ; fuch conduct to- 
 ward them, would be looked upon as unfair 
 and oppreilive. 
 
 In the prefent cafe, relating to home-born 
 Negroes, whofe underflandings and behaviour 
 are as good as common among other people, 
 if we have any claim to them as flaves, that 
 claim is grounded on their being the chil- 
 dren or offspring of flavcs, who, in general, 
 were made iuch through mcaiis as unrighte- 
 ous, and attended with more terrible circum- 
 flances than the cafe lail fuppofed ; fo that 
 when we trace cur claim to the bottom, thefe 
 home-bom Negroes having paid for their 
 education, and given rcafonable fecurky to 
 thofe who owned them, in cafe of their be- 
 coming chargeable, \ve have no more equit- 
 able right to their fervice, than we mould if 
 they were the children of honefl merchants 
 who came from Guinea in an EflgKflx velfel 
 to trade with us. 
 
 y if
 
 322 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 If we claim any right to them as the chil- 
 dren of ilaves, we build on the foundation 
 laid by them, who made flaves of their an- 
 ceftors ; fo that of necemty we muft either 
 juflify the trade, or relinquifh our right to 
 them, as being the children of flaves! 
 
 Why mould it feem right to honed men to 
 make advantage by thefe people more than 
 by others ? Others enjoy freedom, receive 
 wages equal to their work, at or near fuch 
 time as they have difcharged thefe equitable 
 obligations they are under to thofe who edu- 
 cated them. Thefe have made no contract 
 
 to ferve ; been no more expenfive in railing 
 up than others, and many of them appear as 
 likely to make a right ufe of freedom as o- 
 ther people ; which way then can an honefh 
 man withhold from them that liberty, which 
 is the free gift of the Moil High to his rati- 
 onal creatures ? 
 
 THE upright in heart cannot fucceed the 
 wicked in their wickednefs ; nor is it confo- 
 nant to the life they live, to hold fafl an ad- 
 vantage unjuflly gained. 
 
 The Negroes who live by plunder, and the 
 flave-trade, (leal, poor innocent children, in- 
 vade their neighbours territories, and fpill 
 much blood to get thefe flaves : and can it 
 be pomble for an hoiieft man to think that, 
 with a view to felf-interefl, we may continue 
 flavery to the offspring of thefe unhappy 
 fufferers, merely becaufe they are the chil- 
 dren of flaves, and not have a lhare of this 
 guilt ? It
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 3^3 
 
 It is granted by many, that the means nled 
 in getting them are unrighteous, and that 
 buying them, when brought here, is wrong ; 
 yet as fetting them free is attended with foine 
 difficulty, they do not comply with it ; but 
 feem to be of the opinion, that to give them 
 food and raiment, and keep them fervarits, 
 without any other wages, is the befl way to 
 manage them that they know of : and hoping 
 that their children after them will not be 
 cruel to the Negroes, conclude to leave them 
 as flaves to their children. 
 
 While prefent outward interefl is the chief 
 object of our attention, we mall feel many 
 objections in our minds againft renouncing 
 our claim to them, as the children of flaves ; 
 for being prepofleiTed with wrong opinions, 
 prevents our feeing things clearly, which, 
 to indifferent perfons, are eafy to be feen. 
 
 Suppofe a perfon feventy years paft, in low 
 circumflances, bought a Negroe man and 
 woman, and that the children of fuch perfon 
 are now wealthy, and have the children of 
 fuch flaves. Admit that the firft Negroe man 
 and his wife did as much bufinefs as their 
 matter and miflrefs, and that the children of 
 the flaves have done foine more than their 
 young maflers : fuppofe, on the whole, that 
 the expence of living has been lefs oil the 
 Negroes fide, than on the other (all which 
 .are no improbable fnppofitions) it follows, 
 that in equity thefe Negroes have a right to a 
 part of this increafe ; that fhould fome diffi- 
 culties arifc on their being fet free, there is 
 Y 2 reafoa
 
 324 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 reafon for us patiently to labour through 
 them. 
 
 As the conduct of men varies, relating to 
 civil fociety ; fo different treatment is juilly 
 due to them. Indifcreet men occailon trou- 
 ble in the world ; and it remains to be the 
 care of iiich, who feek the good of mankind, 
 to admonifh as they find occafion. 
 
 The flothfulnefs of fome of them, in pro- 
 viding for themfelves and families, it is like- 
 ly, would require the notice of their neigh- 
 bours ; nor is it unlikely that fbme would, 
 with juftice, be made fervants, and others 
 punifhed for their crimes. Pure juftice points 
 out to each individual their due ; but to de- 
 ny a people the privilege of human creatures, 
 on a fuppofition that, being free, many of 
 them would be troublefome to us, is to mix 
 the condition of good and bad men together, 
 and treat the whole as the worft of them de- 
 ferve. 
 
 If we ferioufly confider, that liberty is the 
 right of innocent men ; that the mighty God 
 is a refuge for the opprefled ; that in reality 
 we are indebted to them ; that they being fet 
 free, are dill liable to the penalties of our 
 laws, and as likely to have puniihment for 
 their crimes as other people : tin's may an- 
 fwer all our objections. And to retain them 
 in perpetual fervitude, without juft caufe for 
 it, will produce effects, in the event, more 
 grievous than fetting them free would do, 
 when a real love to truth and equity was the 
 motive to it, 
 
 Our
 
 KEEPING OF NEGROES. 325 
 
 Our authority over them ftands originally 
 in a purchafe -made from thofe who, as to 
 the general, obtained theirs by unrighteouf- 
 nefs. Whenever we have recourfe to fuch 
 authority, it tends more or lefs to obftrucl 
 the channels, through which the perfect 
 plant in us receives nouriihment. 
 
 There is a principle, which is pure, placed 
 in the human mind, which in different places 
 and ages hath had different names; it is, 
 however, pure, and proceeds from God. 
 It is deep, and inward, confined to no forms 
 of religon, nor excluded from any, where 
 the heart {lands in perfect fmcerity. In 
 whomfoever this takes root, and grows, of 
 what nation foever, they become brethren, 
 in the befl fenie of the exprefhon. Ufmg 
 ourfelves to take ways which appear moil ea- 
 fy to us, when inconfiftent with that purity 
 .which is without beginning, we thereby fet 
 up a government of our own, and deny obe- 
 dience to him, whofe fervice is true liberty. 
 
 He that hath a fervant, made fo/wrongful- 
 ly, and knows it to be fo, when he treats 
 him otherwife than a free man, when he 
 reaps the benefit of his labour, without pay- 
 ing him fuch wages as are reafonably clue to 
 free men for the like fervice, cloaths except- 
 ed ; thefe things, tho' done in calmnefs, 
 without any {hew of diforder, do yet deprave 
 the mind in like manner, and with as great 
 certainty, as prevailing cold congeals water. 
 Thefe fteps taken by maflers, and their cori- 
 ducl; {hiking the minds of their children, 
 
 whilft
 
 CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 w.hilft young, leave lefs room for that which 
 is good to work upon them. The cuftoms 
 of their parents, their neighbours, and the 
 people with whom they coiiverfe, working 
 upon their minds ; and they, from thence, 
 conceiving ideas of things, and modes of 
 conduct, the entrance into their hearts be- 
 comes, in a great meafure, fhut up againfl 
 the gentle movings of uncreated purity. 
 
 From one age to another, the gloom grows 
 thicker and darker, till error gets eftablifhed 
 by general opinion ; that whoever attends to 
 perfect goodnefs, and remains under the 
 melting influence of it, finds a path un- 
 known to many, and fees the neceflity to lean 
 upon the arm of divine ftrength, and dwell 
 alone, or with a few, in the right commit- 
 ting their caufe to him, who is a refuge for 
 his people, in all their troubles. 
 
 Where, through the agreement of a mul- 
 titude, fome channels of juftice are flopped, 
 and men may fupport their characters as jufl 
 men, by being jufl to a party, there is great 
 danger of contracting an alliance with that 
 fpirit, which Hands in oppoiitioii to the God 
 of love, and fpreads difcord, trouble, and 
 vexation among fuch who give up to the in- 
 fluence of it. 
 
 Negroes are our fellow creatures, and their 
 prefent condition amongft us requires our 
 ferious coniideration. We know not the 
 time when thofe fcales, in which mountains 
 are weighed, may turn. The Parent of 
 mankind is gracious ; his care is over his 
 
 fmallefl
 
 KEEPING OP NEGROES. 527 
 
 fmalleft creatures ; and a multitude of men 
 cfcape not his notice : And though many of 
 them are trodden down, and defpifed, yet 
 he remembers them ; he feeth their affliction, 
 and looketh upon the fpreading increafing 
 exaltation of the oppreflbr. He turns the 
 channels of power, humbles themofl haughty 
 people, and gives deliverance to the opprefr 
 fed, at fuch periods as are confiftent with his 
 infinite juftice and goodnefs. And wherever 
 gain is preferred to equity, and wrong things 
 publickly encouraged to that degree, that 
 wickednefs takes root, and ipreads wide a<- 
 mongfl the inhabitants of a country, there 
 is real caufe for forrow to all fuch, whofe 
 love to mankind ftands on a true principle, 
 and who wifely confider the end and event 
 .of things. 
 
 F I N IS,
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 O N 
 PURE WISDOM, AND HUMAN POLICY; 
 
 O N 
 L A B O ,U R; 
 
 O N 
 SCHOOLS; 
 
 on the RIGHT USE of the 
 
 LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 
 
 Firft printed in the year 1768. 
 
 The ivifdor-i tb.it ij from above, is frjl pure, 
 then peaceable , gentle, and ccfy to be intreatcd, 
 full of mercy, cud rcod fruits, ^without partia- 
 lity, and ivitkatt hypocrify. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "fr/lY r.ii'.id hath often been afficled ivith for- 
 * ** roii\ on account of the prevailing of that 
 fpirit) ivhich Lads from an humble <waiti;( 
 the inivard teaching of Chrift^ to purfue T. 
 'living, attended ii'it/j unnecejjary lac. 
 j.xd i^bich draws Jqrth the r.inuls of many peo-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 329 
 
 pie to feek after outward power, and to ftrive 
 for riches, which frequently introduce oppreffton, 
 find bring forth ivars and grievous calamities. 
 
 It is with reverence that I acknowledge the 
 mercies of our heavenly Father, who, in infinite 
 love, did vifit me in my youth, and -wrought a 
 belief in me, that through true obedience a ft ate 
 of inward purity may be known in this life, in 
 which we may love mankind in the fame love 
 with which our Redeemer loveth us, and there- 
 in learn refignation to endure hardjhips, for the 
 real good of others. 
 
 " While the eye is finale, the 'whole body is 
 " full of light," Mat. vi. 22. but for want of 
 this, felfjh defires, and an imaginary fuperiori- 
 ty, darken the mind ; hence injujlice frequently 
 proceeds ; and 'where this is the cafe, to con- 
 vince the judgment, is the mojl effectual remedy. 
 
 IV here violent meafures are purfued in oppoftng 
 iujujlice, the pajfions, and refentments of the in- 
 jured, frequently operate in the profecution of 
 their defigns ; and after conflicts productive of 
 very great calamities, the minds of contending 
 parties often remain as little acquainted with 
 the pure principle of divine love, as they were 
 before ; but 'where people walk in that pure 
 light in which all their " works are wrought 
 ' in God," John iii. 21, and under oppreffion 
 perfevere in the meek fpirit, and abide firm in 
 the caufe of truth, without actively complying 
 with opprefjlve demands, through thofe the 
 Lord hath often manifejled his power, in open- 
 ing the under [landings of others, to the promot- 
 right eoufnefs in the earth. 
 
 A
 
 330 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A time, I believe , is coming, wherein this 
 divine 'work 'will fo fpread and prevail, that 
 " Nation Jh all not lift upfword againft nation, 
 ** nor learn war any more," Ifaiah ii. 4. And 
 4s *we, through the tender mercies of God, do 
 feel that this precious 'work is begun, I am con- 
 cerned to encourage my brethren and lifters in a 
 holy care and diligence, that each of us may fo 
 live, under the fancJifying po'wer of truth, as 
 to be redeemed from all unnecejfary cares ; that 
 cur eye being fingle to him, no cuftoms, however 
 prevalent, 'which are contrary to the 'wifdom 
 from above, may hinder us from faithfully fol- 
 lowing his holy leadings, in whatfoever he may 
 gracioujly appoint for us. 
 
 CON-
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 O N 
 PURE WISDOM, 
 
 AND 
 
 HUMAN POLICY; 
 
 TO have our truft fettled in the Lord, 
 and not to feek after, nor defire out- 
 ward treafures, any further than his 
 holy fpirit leads us therein, is a happy flate, 
 as faith the prophet, " Bleffed 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 refignatioii to the 
 divine will, and contentment in fuffering for 
 his caufe, when they cannot keep a clear con- 
 fcience without fuffering. 
 
 In this pure wifdom the mind is attentive 
 to the root, and original fpring of motions 
 and defires ; and as we know " the Lord to 
 " be our refuge," and find no fafety, but in 
 humbly walking before him ; we feel an holy 
 engagement, that every defire which leads 
 therefrom may be brought to judgment. 
 
 While we proceed in this precious way, 
 and find ardent longings for a full deliverance 
 
 from
 
 332 ON PURE WISDOM, 
 
 from every thing which defiles, all profpecls 
 of gain, that are not confident with the wif- 
 dom from above, are confidcred as fnares, 
 and an inward concern is felt, that we may 
 live under the crofs, and faithfully attend to 
 that holy fpirit, which is fufficieiit to pre- 
 ferve out of them. 
 
 When I have confidered that faying of 
 Chrift, Mat. vi. 19, " Lay not up for your- 
 .*' felves treafures upon earth," his omnipo- 
 tence hath often occurred to my mind. 
 
 While we believe that he is every where 
 prefent with his people, and that perfect 
 
 foodnefs, wifdom and power, are united in 
 im, how comfortable is the coniideration. 
 Our wants may be great, but his power 
 is greater. We may be opprefled and defpif^ 
 ed, but he is able to turn our patient furFer- 
 ings into profit to ourfelves, and to the ad- 
 vancement of his work on earth, His 
 people, who feel the power of his crofs, to 
 crucify all that is felrllh in them, who are 
 engaged in outward concerns, from a con- 
 vincement that it is their duty, and. reiign 
 themfelves, and their treafures, to him ; thefe 
 feel that it is dangerous to give way to that 
 ;n us, which craves riches and greatnefs in 
 this world. 
 
 As the heart truly contrite, earneflly de- 
 fires " to know Chrift, and the feilowmip 
 " of his fuftcrings," Phil. iii. 10, fo far as 
 the Lord for gracious ends may lead into 
 them ; as fuch feel that it is their interefl to 
 put their trull in God, and to feek no gain
 
 AND HUMAN POLICY. 333 
 
 but that which he, by his holy fpirit, leads 
 into ; fb, 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 afflictions of Chrift," Col. i. 24, in 
 patiently furTering 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 trade 
 and bufineis which proceeds from the work- 
 ings of that fpirit, which is eflranged from 
 the fclf-denying life of an humble contrite 
 chriilian. 
 
 While I write on this fubjedl, I feel my 
 mind tenderly affected toward thofe honeftly 
 difpofed people, who have been brought up 
 in employments attended with thole diffr* 
 culties. 
 
 - To fuch I may fay, in the feeling of our 
 heavenly Father's love, and number myfelf 
 with you, O that our eyes may be fingle to 
 the Lord! may we reverently wait on him 
 for flrength, to lay afide all umiecefTary ex- 
 pence of every kind, and learn contentment, 
 in a plain fimple life. 
 
 May we, in lowlinefs, fubmit to the lead- 
 ings of his fpirii:, and enter upon any out- 
 ward employ which he gracioufly points out 
 to us, and then whatever difficulties arife, in 
 confequence of our faithful nefs, I truft the^- 
 will work for our good. 
 
 Small
 
 334 ON PURE WISDOM, 
 
 Small treafure to a refigned mind is fuffi- 
 cient. How happy is it to be content with 
 a little, to live in humility, and feel that in 
 us, which breathes out this language, Abba ! 
 Father. 
 
 If that, called the wifdom of this world, 
 had no refemblance of true wifdoin, the name 
 of wifdom, I fuppofe, had not been given 
 to it. 
 
 As wafting outward fubftance, to gratify 
 vain defires, on one hand ; fo flothfulnefs 
 and neglect, on the other, do often involve 
 men and their families in trouble, and reduce 
 them to want and diftrefs ; to fliun both thefe 
 oppofite vices* is good in itfelf, and hkth a 
 refemblance of wifdom; but while people 
 thus provident, have it principally in view to 
 get riches, and power, and the friendfhip of 
 this world, and do not humbly wait for the 
 fpirit of truth to lead them in purity ; thefe, 
 through an anxious care to obtain the end 
 defired, reach forth for gain in worldly wif- 
 dom, and, in regard to their inward ftate, 
 fall into divers temptations and fnares. And 
 though fuch may think of applying wealth 
 to good purpofes, and to ufe their power to 
 prevent oppremon, yet wealth and power is 
 often applied otherwife; nor can we depart 
 from the leadings of our holy ihepherd, with- 
 out going into confufion. 
 
 Great wealth is frequently attended with 
 power, which nothing but divine love can 
 qualify the mind to ufe rightly ; and as to 
 the humility, and uprightnefs of our chil- 
 dren
 
 AND HUMAN POLICY. 335 
 
 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 qf truth, and example our 
 children herein, we have great caufe to ap>- 
 prehend, that wealth may be a fnare to 
 them ; and prove an injury to others, over 
 whom their 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 ; 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 the greatefl out- 
 ward 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 
 exprefs my experience therein. 
 
 Right exercife affords an innocent pleafure 
 in the time of it, and prepares us to enjoy 
 the fWeetnefs of refl ; but from the extremes 
 each way, arife inconveniences. 
 
 Moderate exercife opens the pores, gives 
 the blood a lively circulation, and the better 
 enables us to judge rightly refpedling that 
 portion of labour which is the true medium. 
 
 " The
 
 336 O N L A 13 O U R. 
 
 " The fowls of the air fow not, nor gather 
 *' into barns, yet our heavenly Father feed- 
 " eth them," Mat. vi. 26 ; nor do I believe 
 that infinite goodnefs and power would have 
 allotted labour to iis^ had he not feen that la- 
 bour was proper for us in this life. 
 
 The original defign, and true medium of 
 labour, is a fubjecl, that, to me, appears 
 worthy of our ferious conlideration. 
 
 Idle men are often a burden to themfelves^ 
 Jiegle6l the duty they owe to their families^ 
 and become burdenfome to others alfo. 
 
 As outward labour, directed by the wif- 
 dom from above, tends to our health, and 
 adds to our happinefs in this life ; fo, on the 
 contrary, entering upon it in a felfiftx fpiritj 
 and purfuing it too long, or too hard, hath 
 a contrary efFecl:. 
 
 I have obferved, that too much labour not 
 only makes the underfhanding dull, but fo 
 intrudes upon the harmony of the body, that 
 after ceafing from our toil, we have another 
 to pafs through, before we can be fo com- 
 pofed as to enjoy the fweetnefs of reft. 
 
 From too much labour in the heat, fre- 
 quently proceeds immoderate fweats, which 
 do often, I believe, open the way for difor-* 
 ders, and impair our conflitutions. 
 
 When we go beyond the true -medium, 
 atid feel wearinefs approaching, but think 
 bufinefs may fuffer if we ceafe, at fuch a 
 time fpirituous liquors are frequently taken, 
 with a view to fuppori: nature under thefe 
 fatigues, I have
 
 ON LABOUR. 337 
 
 I have found that too much labour in the 
 fummer heats the blood, that taking ftrong 
 idrink to fupport the body under liich labour^ 
 increafeth that heat, and though a perfon 
 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 
 ferenky, which we mould endeavour to live 
 in. 
 
 Thus toiling in the heat, and drinking 
 ftrong liquor, makes men more refolute, and 
 lefs confiderate, and tends' very much to dif- 
 qualify from fuccersfully following him who 
 is meek and low of heart. 
 
 As laying out bufinefs, more than is con- 
 fiftent 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, and 
 hereby many proceed to noife and wanton- 
 nefs, and fome, tho' more confiderate, do 
 often fuffer lofs, as to a true compofednefs of 
 mind. 
 
 I feel fmcere defires in my heart that no 
 rent, nor intereft, 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 ndt 
 their foundation in pure wifdom, may have 
 place in our minds, but that we may build 
 on the fure foundation, and feel our holy 
 fhepherd to lead us, who alone is able to pre- 
 lerve us, and bring forth from every thing 
 which defiles. 
 
 Having
 
 ,333 ON LABOUR. 
 
 Having feveral times, in my travels, had 
 opportunity to obferve the labour and man- 
 ner of life of great numbers of Haves, it ap- 
 pears to me that the true medium is lament- 
 ably neglected by many, who aiTign 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- 
 fufion of blood, confequent to promoting the 
 flave-trade ; 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 ti^ne toward them, yet for people 
 to be tranfmitted from a man to his pofterity, 
 in the helplefs condition of Haves, appears 
 inconfiftent 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 clue to them, and 
 committed to the care, and fubjected to the 
 abfolute power of young unexperienced men, 
 who know but little about the weaknefs o 
 old age, nor underftand the language of de- 
 clining life. 
 
 Where parents give their eflates to their 
 children, and then depend on them for a 
 maintenance, they fometimes meet with great 
 inconveniences ; but if the power of pofTef- 
 fion, thus obtained, doth often reverie the 
 obligations of gratitude and filial duty, and 
 
 makes
 
 ON L A B O U R. 339 
 
 makes manifeft, 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 
 upon them as their inferiors. 
 
 For men to behold the fruits of their labour 
 withheld from' them, and pofleflfed by others j- 
 and in old age find themfelves deftitute of 
 thofe comfortable accommodations, and that 
 tender regard which their time of life re- 
 quires : 
 
 When they feel pains, and ftiffnefs iii their 
 joints and limbs, weaknefs of appetite, and 
 that a little labour is wearifome, and frill be- 
 hold themfelves in the neglected uncomfort- 
 able condition of a (lave, and oftentimes to 
 a young unfympathifing man : 
 
 For men to be thus treated from one gene- 
 ration to another, who, befides their own 
 diftreiTes, think on the flavery entailed on. 
 -their pofterity, and are grieved ! what dif- 
 agreeable thoughts muft they have of the 
 profefled followers of Jefus-! and how muft; 
 their groans aicend to -that almighty being,, 
 who " will be a refuge for the oppreiiecl/" 
 Pfalm ix. 9. . 
 
 fc 2 O
 
 t 340 I 
 
 ON SCHOOLS. 
 
 Suffer the little children to come unto me, and 
 forbid ihsm not, for offuch is the kingdom of 
 God, Mark. x. 14. 
 
 TO encourage children to do things with 
 a view to get praife of men, to me ap- 
 pears an obftruction to their being inwardly 
 acquainted with the fpirit 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 iingle eye to him. To give 
 alms in fecret, to fail 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 
 wifclom, that our conduct toward them may 
 tend to forward their acquaintance with it, 
 and flrengthen them in obedience thereto, 
 appears to me to v be a duty on all of us. 
 
 By cheriiliing the fpirit of pride, and the 
 love of praife in theix*, I believe they may 
 fometimes improve fafter in learning, than 
 otherwife they would, but to take meafures 
 to forward children in learning, which na- 
 turally tend to divert their minds from true 
 humility, appears to me to favour of the wif- 
 flom of this world. 
 
 If
 
 ON SCHOOLS. 341 
 
 If tutors are not acquainted with fanclifi- 
 cation of fpirit, nor experienced in an hum- 
 ble waiting for the leadings of truth, but 
 follow the maxims of the wifdom of this 
 world, fuch children who are under their tu- 
 ition, appear to me to be in danger of im- 
 bibing thoughts, and appreheniions, reverie 
 to that meeknefs, and lowlinefs of heart, 
 which is necelTary for all the true followers 
 of Chriil. 
 
 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 clanger 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 ; 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 
 children. 
 
 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 
 danger of being led aftray by tutors, who do 
 not live a felf-denying life, or by the conver- 
 fation of fuch children who do not live in 
 innocence, it is a cafe much to be lamented.
 
 342 ON SCHOOLS. 
 
 While a pious tutor hath the charge of np 
 more children than he can take due care of, 
 and keeps his authority in the truth, the 
 good fpirit in which he leads and governs, 
 works on the minds of fuch who are not hard- 
 ened, and his labours not only tend to bring 
 them forward in outward learning, but to 
 open their understandings with refpect to 
 the true chriftian life ; but where a perfcn 
 hath charge of too many, and his thoughts 
 and time are fo much employed in the out- 
 ward affairs of his fchool, that he does not 
 fo weightily attend to the fpirit and conduct 
 of each individual, as to be enabled to admi- 
 nifler rightly to. all in due feafon ; through 
 fuch omiifipn he not only fuffers, as to the 
 ftate of his own mind, but the minds of the 
 children are in danger of fuffering alfo. 
 
 To watch the fpirit of children, to nurture 
 them in gofpel love, and labour to help them 
 againfl that which would mar the beauty of 
 their minds, is a debt we owe them ; and a 
 faithful performance of pur duty, not only 
 tends to their lalting benefit, and our own 
 peace, but alfo to render thjeir company a- 
 greeable to us. 
 
 Inftruclion, thus adminiflered, reaches 
 the pure witnefs in the minds of fuch chil^ 
 clren who are not hardened, and begets love 
 in them toward thofe who thus lead them on ; 
 but where too great a number are committed 
 to a tutor, and he, through much cumber, 
 omits a careful attention to the minds of chil- 
 dren %
 
 ON SCHOOLS. 343 
 
 dren, there is danger of diforders gradually 
 increasing amongft them, till the effects there- 
 of appear in their conduct, too flrong to be 
 eafily remedied. 
 
 A care hath lived on my mind, that more 
 time might be epaployed 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, inftrucl, 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 fituation of fchools in 
 our provinces, my mind hath, at times, been 
 affecled with forrow, and under thefe exer- 
 cifes it hath appeared to me, that if thofe 
 who have large eftates, were faithful (lew- 
 ads, and laid no renp, nor interefl, nor other 
 demand, higher than is conflftent with uni- 
 verfal love ; and thofe in lower circumftan- 
 ces would, under a moderate employ, fhun 
 unnecellary expence, even to the f mailed ar- 
 ticle ; and all unite in humbly feeking to the 
 Lord, he woukl graciouily inftrucl us, and 
 ftrengthen us, to relieve the youth from, 
 various fnares, in which many of them are 
 entangled.
 
 [ 344 } 
 
 On the R i G H T U s E of the L O R D $ 
 
 OUTWARD GIFTS. 
 
 AS our underftandings are opened by the 
 pure light, we experience th a .t } through 
 an inward approaching to God, the mind is 
 ftrengthened in obedience ; and that by gra- 
 tifying thofe deiires which are not of his be- 
 getting, thofe approaches to him are obftrucl- 
 ed, and the deccivable fpirit gains ftrength. 
 
 Thefe truths, being as it were engraven 
 upon our hearts, and our everlafiing intereft 
 in Clirill evidently concerned herein, we be- 
 come fervently engaged, that nothing may 
 be nouriihed. which tends to feed pride or 
 felf-love in us. Thus in pure obedience, we 
 are not only inftrudted in our duty to God, 
 but alib in the affairs which neceilarily re- 
 late to this life, and the ipirit of truth which 
 guides into all truth, leavens the mind with 
 a pious concern, that " whatfoever we do in 
 * word or deed, may be done in his name," 
 Col. iii. i -. 
 
 Hence fuch buildings, furniture, food, and 
 raiment, as beft ahfwer our neceflities, and 
 are the leaft likely to feed that feififh ipirit 
 which is our enemy, are the moft acceptable 
 to us. 
 
 In this flate the mind is tender, and in- 
 wardly watchful, that the love of gain draw 
 us not into any bufmefs, which may weaken 
 cur" love to our heavenly father, or bring uii- 
 neceiTary trouble to any of his creatures. 
 
 Thus
 
 ON THE RIGHT USE, &c. 345 
 
 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 
 fteady concern, not to hold nor poflefs any 
 thing but what may be held conliflent with 
 the wifdom from above, they conlider what 
 they poifefs as the gift of God, and are in- 
 wardly exercifed, that in all parts of their 
 conducl they may act agreeable 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 further. 
 
 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 wiidom 
 which is from beneath, delivers alfo from the 
 deiire after worldly greatnefs, and reconciles 
 the mind to a life fo plain, that a little doth 
 fumce. 
 
 Here the real comforts of life are not lef- 
 fened. Moderate exercife, in the way of true 
 wifdom, is pleafant both to mind and body. 
 
 Food and raiment fufFicient, though in the 
 greatefl limplicity, is accepted with, content 
 gratitude. 
 
 The
 
 346 ON THE RIGHT USE OF THE 
 
 The mutual love, fubfifling between the 
 faithful followers of Chrift, is more pure than 
 that friendihip 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 porTerTioii of the mind. 
 
 In beholding the cuflomary departure from 
 the true medium of labour, and that unne-r 
 ceiTary toil which many go through, in fup- 
 porting outward greatnefs, and procuring 
 delicacies : 
 
 In beholding Jiow the true calmnefs of life 
 is changed into hurry, and thflt many, by 
 eagerly purfuing outward treafure, are in 
 great danger of withering as to the inward 
 ilate of the mind : 
 
 In meditating on the works of this fpirit, 
 and on the defoliations it makes amongft the 
 profeffors of chriftianity, I may thankfully 
 acknowledge, that I often feel pure love be- 
 get longings in my heart, for 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 lefTen our a- 
 bility to^.cio good ; where no dcfires after 
 riches, or greatnefs, may lead into hard deal- 
 ing i
 
 LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 
 
 ing ; where no connections with wordly 
 minded men, may abate our love to God, 
 nor weaken a true zeal for righteoufnefs : a 
 life, wherein we may diligently labour for 
 refignednefs to do, and fufFer, whatever our 
 heavenly father may allot for us, in recon- 
 ciling the world to himfelf. 
 
 When the prophet Ifaiah had uttered his 
 vifion, and declared that a time was coming 
 wherein " fwords, mould, be beat into plow- 
 u fhares, and fpears into pruning hooks, and 
 *' that nation fliould not lift up fword againft 
 " nation, nor learn war any more ;" he im- 
 mediately directs the minds of people to the 
 divine teacher, in this remarkable language, 
 " O 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 
 all temporal as well as fpiritual concerns, ap- 
 pears neceffary ; for if in any cafe we enter 
 lightly into temporal affairs, without feeling 
 this fpirit of truth to open our way therein, 
 and through the love of this world proceed 
 on, and feek for gain by that buiinefs or 
 traffic, which " is not of the father, but of 
 u the world," i John ii. 16, we fail in our 
 teftimony to the purity and peace of his go- 
 vernment ; and get into that which is for 
 chaflifement. 
 
 This matter hath lain heavy on my mind, 
 it being evident, that a life lefs humble, lefs 
 fimple and plain, than that which Chrifl 
 leads his fheep into, does necelTarily require 
 a fuppprt, which pure wifdom does not pro- 
 vide
 
 348 ON THE RIGHT USE OF THE 
 
 Tide for ; hence there is no probability of our 
 being " a peculiar people, fb zealous of good 
 *' works, as to have no fellowfliip with works 
 " ofdarknefs," Titus ii. 14. Ephef. v. n, 
 while we have wants to fupply which have 
 their foundation in cuftom, and do not come 
 within the meaning of thofe exprelfions, 
 " your heavenly father knoweth that ye have 
 " need of all thefe things," Matt. vi. 32. 
 
 Thefe things which he beholds neceiTary 
 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 
 <c we have need of." 
 
 As my meditations have been on thefe 
 things, compamon hath filled my heart to- 
 ward my fellow creatures, involved in cuf* 
 toms, grown up in " the wifdom of this 
 *' world, which is foolimnefs with God," 
 i Cor. iii. 1 9 ; 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 
 ilate of being. 
 
 If thofe whofe minds are redeemed from 
 the love of wealth, and who are content with 
 a plain, iimple way of living, do yet find that 
 to conduct the affairs of a family, without 
 giving countenance to unrighteous proceed^ 
 
 ings
 
 LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 349 
 
 ings, or having fellowship with works of 
 darknefs, the mofl diligent care is necefTary: 
 
 If cuftoms, diftinguiihable from univerfal 
 righteoufiiefs, and oppofite to the true felf- 
 denying life, are now prevalent, and fo mix- 
 ed with trade, and with almofl every em- 
 ploy, that it is only through humble waiting 
 on the inward guidance of truth, that we 
 may reafonably hope to walk fafely, and fup- 
 port an uniform teftimoiiy to the peaceable 
 government of Chrift ; 
 
 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 cuftoms, which our holy (hepherd leads 
 not into* 
 
 O
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 TRUE HARMONY 
 
 o F 
 
 M A N K t . tt D 
 
 AND HOW IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED; 
 
 Firft printed in the year 1770. 
 
 M I C A H V. 7. 
 
 And the remnant of "Jacob foall be in the 
 midfl of many people, as ^ a deiv from the Lord$ 
 as the Jhoivers upon the, grafs, that tarrieth 
 not for man, nor ivaiteth for the \fons of meiii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 5 mankind from one parent are divided inte 
 many families, and as trading to fea is 
 greatly increased within afiiu ages pcjl ; amidjl 
 
 this
 
 I N T R O D U C T I 6 N. 351 
 
 this extended commerce, hoiu neceffary is it thai 
 the profejfed followers of Chrift keep f acred his 
 holy name, and be employed about trade and 
 traffic no farther than jujlice and equity evi- 
 dently accompanies ? that we may give no juft 
 caufe of offence to any, however dijiant, or un- 
 able to plead their own caufe ; and may continu- 
 ally keep in view, the fpreading of the true and 
 faving knowledge of God, and his Jon Jefus- 
 Chrift) among Ji our fellow creatures, which 
 through his infnite love, fome fed to be more 
 precious than any other treafure*
 
 r 35* 
 
 i .. .-.. 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 TRUE HARMONY 
 
 O F 
 
 MANKIND; 
 
 AND HOW IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Oil ferving the Lord in our outward employ- 
 mentsi 
 
 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 
 fpirit, which alone can reftore mankind to a 
 ftate of true harmony, may with finglenefs 
 of heart be waited for and followed. 
 
 I trufl 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 firmnefs to be 
 true patterns of the chrifiian life, who iri 
 living and walking may hold forth an invi- 
 tation to others, to come out of the entangle- 
 ments of the fpirit of this world. And
 
 ON SERVING THE -LORD, &c. 353 
 
 And that which I feel firft to exprefs is, a 
 care for thofe who are in circumflances, 
 wliich appear difficult, with refpecc to fup- 
 porting their families in a way anfwerable to 
 pure wifdom, that they may not be difcou- 
 raged, but remember that in humbly obey- 
 ing the leading of Chrift, he owneth us as 
 his friends, " Ye are my friends if ye do 
 " whatfoever I command you ;" and to be a 
 friend to Chrift, is to be united to him, 
 hath all power in heaven and in earth ; ^ad 
 tho* a woman may forget her fucking childj 
 yet will he not forget his faithful ones. 
 
 The condition of many who dwell in cities 
 hath often affected me with a brotherly i/m- 
 pathy, attended with a defire that refignati^- 
 on may be laboured for ; and where the ho- 
 ly leader dirccleth to a country life or fome 
 change of employ, he may be faithfully fol- 
 lower! ; for under the refining hand of the 
 Lord I have feen, that the inhabitants of fome 
 cities are greatly increafed through fome 
 branches of bufinefs which his holy fpirit 
 doth not lead into, and that being entangled 
 in thefe things, tends to bring a cloud over 
 the minds of people convinced of the lead- 
 ings of this holy leader, and obftructs the 
 coming of the kingdom of Chriil on earth as 
 it is in heaven. 
 
 Now if we indulge a defire to imitate our 
 
 neighbours in thole things which harmonife 
 
 not with the true chriftian walking, thefe 
 
 . entanglements may hold fail to us, and fome, 
 
 A a who
 
 354 ON SERVING THE LORD IN 
 
 who in an awakening time, feel tender fcru- 
 pies, with reipecl: to their manner of life, 
 may look on the example of others more no- 
 ted in the church, who yet may not be re- 
 fined from every degree of drofs ; and by 
 looking on thefe examples, and defiring to 
 fupport their families in a way pleafant to 
 the natural mind, there may be danger of 
 the worldly wifdom gaining ilrength in them, 
 and of their departure from that pure feeling 
 of truth, which if faithfully attended to, 
 would teach contentment in the divine will, 
 even in a very low eftate. 
 
 One formerly fpeaking on the profitable- 
 nefs of true humility, faith, " He that- 
 troubles not himfelf with anxious thoughts 
 for more than is neceflary, lives little lefe 
 than the life of angels, whilft by a mind 
 content with little, he imitates their want 
 of nothing." Cave's primitive chriftianity^ 
 page 31. 
 
 " It is not enough, fays Tertullian, that a 
 chriftian be chafle and modeft, but he muft 
 appear to be fo : a virtue of which he mould 
 have fo great a ftore, that it fhould now from 
 his mind upon his habit, and break from the 
 retirements of his confcience, into the fuper- 
 ficies of his life." Same book, page 43. 
 
 " The garments we wear, fays Clemens, 
 ought to be mean and frugal that is true 
 Simplicity of habit, which takes away what 
 is vain and fuperfluous ; that the beft and 
 iriofl folid garment, which is the farthefl 
 from curiolity." Page 49. Though
 
 OUTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 355 
 
 Though the change from day to night, is 
 by a motion fo gradual as fcarcely to be per- 
 ceived, yet when night is come we behold it 
 very different from the day ; 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 Chrifl, becomes as 
 diftinguifhable as light from darknefs, to 
 fuch who are crucified to the world. 
 
 Our holy fhepherd, to encourage his flock 
 in firmnefs and perfeverance, reminds them 
 of his love for them, " As the father hath 
 " loved me, fo have I loved you; continue ye 
 *' in my love ;" and in another place graci- 
 oufly points out the danger of departing there- 
 from, by going into unfuitable employments ; 
 this he reprefents in the fimilitude of offence 
 from that ufeful active member, the hand ; 
 and to fix the inflrudlion the deeper, names 
 the right hand, " If thy right hand offend 
 " thee cut it .ofF and call it from thee" If 
 thou feelefl offence in thy employment, hum- 
 bly follow him who leads into all truth, and 
 is a ftrong and faithful friend to thofc who 
 are refigned to him. 
 
 Again, he points out thofe things which > 
 appearing pleafant to the natural mind, are 
 not beft for us, in the fimilitude of offence 
 from the eye, " If thy right eye offend thee 
 " pluck it out, and cafl it from thee." To 
 pluck out the eye, or cut off the hand, is at- 
 tended with iharp pain ; and how precious is 
 A a 3 the
 
 356 ON SERVING THE LORI) itf ouk 
 
 the inftruciion which our redeemer thus opens 
 to us, that we may not faint under the moil 
 painful trials, but put our trufl in him, even 
 in him who fent an angel to feed Elijah in the 
 wildernefs ; who fed a multitude with a few 
 barley loaves, and is now as attentive to the 
 wants of his people as ever. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah, reprefents the unrigh- 
 teous doings of the Ifraelites toward the 
 poor, as the fruits of an effeminate life, " As 
 " for my people, children are their oppref- 
 " fors, and women rule over them ; what 
 " mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, 
 s and grind the faces of the poor, faith the 
 " Lord God." Then he mentions the haugh- 
 tiriefs of the daughters of Sion, and enume- 
 rates many ornaments, as inilances of their 
 vanity, to uphold which, the poor were fo 
 hardly dealt with, that he fets forth their po- 
 verty, their leannefs and inability to help 
 themfelves, in the fnnilitiide of a man maim- 
 ed by violence or " beaten 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 
 I have felt true love open my heart towards 
 my fellow creatures, and been engaged in 
 weighty converfation in the caufe of righte- 
 oufhefs, the inftrudHons I have received un- 
 der thefe exercifes, in regard to the true uie 
 of the outward gifts of God, have made deep 
 and lading irnpreflions on my mind. 
 
 I have
 
 OUTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 357 
 
 I have here beheld, how the defire to pro- 
 vide wealth, and to uphold a delicate life 
 hath grievoufly entangled many, and been 
 like fnares to their offspring ; and though 
 jfome have been affected with a fenfe of their 
 difficulties, and appeared defirous, at times, 
 to be helped out of them ; yet for want of 
 abiding under the humbling power of truth, 
 they have continued in thefe entanglements ; 
 for in remaining conformable to this world, 
 and giving way to a delicate life, this ex- 
 penfive way of living, in parents and in 
 children, hath called for a. large fupply, an4 
 in anfwering this call " the faces of the poor" 
 have been ground away, and made thin thro* 
 hard dealing. 
 
 There is balm, there is a phyfician ! and 
 O what longings do I feel ! that we may em- 
 brace the means appointed for our healing, 
 know that removed which now miniflers 
 caufe for the cries of many people to afcend 
 tp heaven againft their opprefTors, and that 
 we may fee the true harmony reftored. 
 
 Behold " how good and how pleafant it is, 
 " for brethren to dwell together in unity." 
 The nature of this unity is thus opened by 
 the apoftle, " If we walk in the light, as 
 <* Chrift is in the light, we {hall have fel- 
 *' lowfhip one with another, and the blood, 
 ** of C.hrift will cleanfe us from all fin." 
 
 The Hnd may be polluted with innocent 
 blood, which like the blood of Abel may cry 
 to the Almighty ; but thofe who " walk ii> 
 *' the light as Chrift is ii\ th& light," they
 
 358 ON SERVING THE LORD IN OUR 
 
 know the " lamb of God, who taketh away 
 " fin." 
 
 Walking is a phrafe frequently u fed in fcrip- 
 ture, to represent our journey through life, 
 and appears to comprehend the various affairs 
 and tranfacLions properly relating to our be- 
 ing in this world. 
 
 Chrift being the light, dwells always in the 
 light, 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 quarrel with us ; and 
 where this foundation is laid and mutually 
 kept to, by families converfant with each o- 
 ther, the way is open for thefe comforts in 
 Society, which our heavenly father intends 
 as a part of our happinefs in this world ; and 
 then we may experience the "goodnefs, and 
 pleafantnefs of dwelling together in unity ; 
 but where' ways of living take place, which 
 tend to opprelTion, and in the puriuit of 
 wealth, people do that to others which they 
 know would not be acceptable to tliemielves, 
 cither in exercifing an abfoli-te power over 
 them, or otherwife laying on them unequit- 
 able burdens ; here a fear left that meafure 
 fhouM be' meeted to them, which they have 
 meaiiircd to others, incites a care to fupport 
 that by craft and cunning devices which 
 ftands not on the firm foundation of righte- 
 oufnefs : thus the harmony of fociety is 
 broken, and from hence commotions and 
 wars do frequently arife in the world. 
 
 " Come
 
 OUTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 359 
 
 " Come out of Babylon my people, that 
 ^' ye be noc partakers of her fins, and that ye 
 " receive not of her plagues." Rev. xv. 3,4. 
 This Babel, or Babylon, was built in the; 
 fpirit of felf-exakatloa : " Let us build us a 
 " city and a tower, wliofe top may reach to 
 " heaven, and let us make us a name." Gen. 
 xi. 4. In departing from an humble trull in 
 God, and following a feifiili fpirit, people 
 have intentions to get the up pern and of their 
 fellow creatures, privately meditate on means 
 to obtain their ends, have a language in their 
 hearts which is hard to underfland, In Ba- 
 bel 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 
 " 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 T* 
 Thus his tender mercies are toward us in an 
 iinperfecl flate ; and as we faithfully attend 
 to the call, the path of righteoumefs is more 
 and more opened ; cravings, which have not 
 their foundation in pure wifdom, more and 
 more ceaie ; and in art inward purity of 
 heart, we experience a refloration of that 
 which was loll at Babel, reprefented by the 
 infpired prophet in the " returning of a pure' 
 -' language." Zeph. iii. 9. 
 
 Happy for them who humbly attend to 
 $ie call, " Come out of Babylon my people." 
 
 1
 
 360 ON SERVING THE LORD IN OUR 
 
 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 onty is wife ; 
 and that in weaning us from all that is feii- 
 iih, he prepares the way to a quiet habitation 
 where all our delires are bounded by his wi- 
 dom. And an exerciie of fpirit attends me, 
 that we who are convinced of the pure lead- 
 ings of truth, may bow in the deeped reve- 
 rence, and fo watchfully regard this leader, 
 that many who are grievoufly entangled in a 
 wilderness of vain cuftoms, may look upon 
 us, and be inftrucled. And O thatfuch who 
 have plenty of this world's goods, may be 
 faithful in that with which they are entruft- 
 ed ! and example others in the true chriftian 
 walking. 
 
 Our bleffed Saviour, fpeaking on worldly 
 greatnefs, compares himlelf to one waiting 
 and attending on a company at dinner: 
 " Whether is greater, he that fitteth at meat 
 " or he that ferveth ? Is not he that fitteth 
 " at meat ? but I am amongft you as he that 
 " ferveth." Luke xxii. 27. 
 
 Thus in a world greatly difordered, where 
 mea aipiring to outward greatnefs were wont 
 to orrprcih others to fapport their defigns, he 
 who was of the higheft defcent, being the 
 Son of God, and greater than any amongft 
 the gre^tetl families of men, by his example 
 and doctrines foreclofed his followers from 
 claiming any ihew of outward greatnefs, from 
 
 any
 
 OUTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 361 
 
 any fuppofed 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 flain of the fpirit of this 
 world. 
 
 Such was the example of our blefTed Re- 
 deemer, of whom the beloved difciple faid, 
 " He that faith he abideth in him, ought 
 " alfb to walk even as he walked." 
 
 John Bradford, who fufFered martyrdom, 
 under queen Mary, wrote a letter to his 
 friends out of prifon, a fhort time before he 
 was burnt, in which are thefe expremons ; 
 " Confider your dignity as children of God 
 and temples of the Holy Ghoft, and mem- 
 bers of Chrift, be afhamed therefore to think, 
 fpeak, or do any thing unfeemly, for God's 
 children and the members of Chrift." Fox's 
 Acts and Monuments, page 1177. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 On the example of CHRIST. 
 
 AS 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- 
 fwerable to the ^ purity of truth ; a labour of 
 
 heart
 
 362 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 
 
 heart hath attended me, that their way may 
 not be made difficult through the love of mor- 
 ney in thofe who are tried with plentiful 
 eflates, but that they with tendernefs of heart 
 may fympathize with them. 
 
 It was the faying of our blefTed Redeemer, 
 " Ye cannot ferve God and mammon." 
 There is a deep feeling of the way of purity, 
 a way in which the wifdom of the world hatk 
 up part, but is opened by the fpirit .of truth, 
 and is " called the way of holinefs ;" a way 
 in which the traveller is employed in watch- 
 ing unto prayer ; and the outward gain we 
 get in this journey is confidered as a truft 
 committed to us, by H i M who formed and 
 fupports the world ; and is the rightful di- 
 rector of the ufe and application of the pro- 
 duel of it. 
 
 Now except the mind be preferred chafte, 
 there is no fafety for us ; but in an eftrange- 
 ment from true resignation, the fpirit of the 
 world calls up a way, in which gain is many 
 times principally attended to, and in which 
 there is a felfim application of out* vvard trea- 
 iiires. 
 
 How agreeable to the true harmoity of fo- 
 cicty, is that exhortation of the apoflle ? 
 f ' Look not every man on his own things, 
 " but every man alib on the things of others. 
 " Let this mind be in you which was alfo in 
 " Chrilt Jeflis." 
 
 A perfon in outward profperity may have 
 the power of obtaining riches, but the fame 
 mind being in him which io in Chriil Jefus s 
 
 he
 
 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 363 
 
 he may feel a tendernefs of heart towards 
 thofe of low degree ; and inftead of fetting 
 himfelf above them, may look upon it as an 
 unmerited favour, that his way through life 
 is more eafy than the way of many others ; 
 may improve every opportunity of leading 
 forth out of thofe cuftoms which have en- 
 tangled the family ; employ his time in look- 
 ing into the wants of the poor members, and 
 hold forth iuch a perfect example of humili- 
 ation, that the pure witnefs may be reached 
 in many minds ; and the way opened for a 
 harmonious walking together. 
 
 Jefus Chrift, in promoting the happinefs 
 of others, was not deficient in looking for the 
 helplefs, who lay in obfcurity, nor did he 
 fave any thing to render himfelf honourable 
 amongft men, which might have been of 
 more ufe to the weak members in his Father's 
 family ; of whofe companion towards us I 
 may now fpeak a little. He who was per- 
 fectly happy in himfelf, moved with infinite 
 love, " took not upon him the nature of an- 
 " gels," but our imperfect natures, and 
 therein .wreftled with the temptations which 
 attend us in this life ; and being the Son of 
 H i M who is greater than earthly princes, yet 
 became a companion to poor, fincere heart- 
 ed men ; and though he gave the elearelt 
 evidence that divine power attended him, yet 
 the moft unfavourable conflructions were 
 framed by a fclf righteous people ; thofe 
 miracles reprefented as the efFecl of a diabo- 
 lical power, and endeavours ufed to render 
 
 him
 
 364 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 
 
 him hateful, as having his miflion 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 t;o 
 carry the appearance of being unmoved at 
 the apprehenfion of diilrefs, our dear .Re- 
 deemer, who was perfectly (incere, having 
 the fame human nature which we have, and 
 feeling, a little befpre he was apprehended, 
 the weight of that work upon him, for which 
 he came into the world, was " ibrrowful 
 " even unto death ;" here the human nature 
 flruggled to be excufed from a cup fo bitter ; 
 but his prayers centered in refignation, " Not 
 <c my will but thine be done." In this con- 
 flicl, fo great was his agony that " fweat 
 " like drops of blood fell from him to the 
 " ground." 
 
 Behold now as foretold by the prophet, he 
 is in a judicial manner " numbered with the 
 " tranigreftbrs." Behold him as fome poor 
 man of no reputation, Handing before the 
 high prieil and elders, and before Herod and 
 Pilate, where witnefles appear againft him, 
 and he mindful of the moft gracious defign 
 of his coming, cieclineth to plead in his own 
 defence, " but as a fheep that is dumb be-. 
 * c fore his ihearer," fo under many accufati- 
 pns, revilings, an4 buffetings, remained Cl- 
 ient. And tho' he Signified to Peter that he" 
 had accefs to power fuirlcient to overthrow all 
 their outward forces ; yet retaining a reiig- 
 nation to furfer for the fins of mankind, he 
 exerted not that power, but permitted tfyem, 
 
 19
 
 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 365 
 
 to go on in their malicious defigns, and pro- 
 nounce him to be worthy of death, even hiin 
 \vho was perfect in goodnefs ; thus " in his 
 " humiliation his judgment was taken a- 
 " way," and he, like fome vile criminal, 
 " led as a lamb to the {laughter." Under, 
 thefe heavy trials (though poor unftafcle Pilate 
 was convinced of his innocence, yet) the peo- 
 ple generally looked upon him as a deceiver, 
 a .blafphemer, and the approaching puniih- 
 ment as a juft judgment upon him, " They 
 " efleemed him fmitten of God and afflicl- 
 *' ed." So great had been the fuf prize 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 " they efleemed him not." 
 
 But contrary to that opinion, of his being 
 fmitten of God and afflicted, it was for our 
 fakes that <c he was put to grief; he was 
 " wounded for our tranfgreffions ; he was 
 " bruifed for our iniquities ;" and under the 
 weight of them manifefting the deepeft com- 
 pamon for the inflruments of his mifery, 
 laboured as their advocate, and in the deeps 
 of affliction, with an unconquerable pati- 
 ence, cried out, " Father forgive them, they 
 44 know not what they do ! 
 
 Now this mind being in us, which was 
 in Chrifl Je'fus, it removes from our hearts 
 the denre of fuperiority, worldly honour or 
 greatnefs ; a deep attention is felt to the di- 
 vine counfellor, and an ardent engagement
 
 *66 ON THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST. 
 
 to promote, as far as we may be enabled, thd 
 liappinefs of mankind univerfally ; this flate, 
 where every motion from a felnm fpirit 
 yieldeth to pure love, I may, with gratitude 
 to the father of mercies acknowledge, is oft- 
 en opened before me as a pearl to dig after ; 
 attended with a living concern, that among!! 
 the many nations and families on the earth, 
 thofe who believe in the Meffiah, that " he 
 <c was manifefled to deftroy the works of the 
 " Devil," and thus to " take away the fins 
 " of 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 profeflion 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 
 iliine forth in their living, as a light by which 
 others may be inftrumentally helped on their 
 way, in the true harmonious walking. 
 
 CHAP. IIL 
 
 On Merchandizing. 
 
 WHERE the treafures of pure love are 
 opened, and we obediently follow 
 him who is the light of life, the mind be- 
 comes chafte ; and a care is felt, that the 
 unction from the holy one may be our leader 
 in every undertaking, 
 
 In
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING, 367 
 
 In being crucified to the world, broken 
 t>ff from that friendfhip which is enmity with 
 God, and dead to the cuftoms and fafhions 
 which have not their foundation in the truth; 
 the way is prepared to lowlinefs in outward, 
 living, and to a difentanglement from thofe 
 fhares which attend the love of money ; and 
 where the faithful friends of Chrift are fo fi- 
 tuated that merchandize 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 
 * c bought with a price, that none of us may 
 " live to ourfelves, but to him who died for 
 " us." 2 Corin. v. 1 5. Thus they are taught, 
 not only to keep to a moderate advance and 
 uprightnefs in their dealings ; but to confi- 
 der the tendency of their proceeding ; to do 
 nothing which they know would operate a- 
 gainfl the caufe of univerfal righteoufnefs ; 
 and to keep continually in view the fpreading 
 of the peaceable kingdom of Chrift amongft 
 mankind. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah fpake of the gathered 
 church, in the mnilitude of a city, where 
 many being employed were all preferred in 
 purity ; " They mall call them the holy peo- 
 " pie, the redeemed of the Lord, and thou 
 " ihalt be called fought out, a city not for- 
 " faken." Ixiii. 10. And the apoftle after 
 mentioning the myftery of Chrift's fufferings 
 exhorts, " Be ye holy in all manner of con- 
 *' verfation." i Pet. i. 15. There is a con- 
 Terfiition neceflary in trade ; and there is a 
 
 conrerfatioQ
 
 368 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 converfation fo foreign from the nature of 
 Chrifl's kingdom, that it is reprefented in the 
 fimilitude of one man pufhmg 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 necefTary that 
 the leading of the fpirit of Chrift be humbly 
 waited for and faithfully followed, as the on- 
 ly means of being preferved chafle as an holy 
 people, who " in all things are circumfpecl:." 
 Exod. xxiii. 13, that nothing we do may 
 carry the appearance of approbation of the 
 works of wickednefs, make the unrighteous 
 more at eafe in unrighteoufnefs, or occafion 
 the injuries committed againft the oppreffed 
 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 
 fhop in the day time, and on a public trial 
 found guilty, and the law in that cafe put in 
 execution, he therein fuftains a lofs of repu- 
 tation ; but if he be convicted a fecond and 
 third time of the like offence, his good name 
 would ceafe amongil fuch who knew thefe 
 things. If his neighbour, reputed an honeft 
 man, being charged with buying goods of 
 this thief, at a time when the purchafer knew 
 they were Rolen, and on a public trial is 
 found guilty, this purchafer would meei: wi,th 
 difefteem, but if he perfifled in buying Rolen 
 
 goods,
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 369 
 
 goods, knowing them to be fuch, ahd was 
 publicly convicted thereof a fecond and third 
 time, he would no longer be confidered as an 
 honed man by them who knew thefe things ; 
 nor would it appear of good report to be 
 found in his company, buying his traffick, 
 till fome evident tokens of fincere repentance 
 appeared in him. But where iniquity is 
 committed openly, and the authors of it are 
 riot brought to juflice, nor put to mame, 
 their hands grow flrong. Thus the general 
 corruption of the Jews fhortly before their 
 (late was broke up by the Chaldeans, is de- 
 fcribed by their boldnefs in impiety ; for as 
 their leaders were connected together in wick- 
 ednefs, they flrengthened one another, and 
 grew confident, " Were they aihamed w r hen 
 " they had committed abominations ? nay> 
 " they were not at all afh-amed, neither could 
 u they blufh." Jer. vi. 15, on which account 
 the Lord thus expoflulates with them, " What 
 " hath my beloved to do in my houfe, feeing 
 u ihe hath wrought lewdnefs with many? 
 " and the holy flefli is parTed from theCj 
 " when thou doeft evil, then thou rejoiceft."^ 
 Jer. -xi. 15; 
 
 Now the faithful friends of Chrift, who 
 hunger and thirfl after righteoufnefs, and in- 
 wardly breath that his kingdom may come 
 on earth as it is in heaven, he teacheth them 
 to be quick of underitanding in his fear, and 
 to be very attentive to the means he may ap- 
 point for promoting pure righteoufnefs in tne 
 earth j and a-sihame is due to thofe whofe 
 13 b works
 
 37 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 works manifeftly operate againfl the gracious 
 defign of his fufferings for us, a care lives on 
 their minds that no wrong cuftoms however 
 fupported, may biafs their judgments, buc 
 that they may humbly abide under the crofs 
 and be preferved in a conduct which may not 
 contribute to flrengthen the hands of the 
 wicked in their wickednefs, or to remove 
 ihame from thofe to whom it is juftly due. 
 The coming of that day is precious in which 
 we experience the truth of this expreffion. 
 " The Lord our righteoufnefs." Jer. xiii. 6, 
 and feel him to be " made unto us wifdom 
 " and fanctification." 
 
 The example of a righteous man is often 
 looked at with attention. Where righteous 
 men join in bulineis 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 thar 
 {late unacceptable ; and from thofe efteemed 
 leaders of the people may be injurious 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 
 O how neceffary it is, to confider the weight 
 of a holy profeflion ! 
 
 The conduct: of fome formerly, gave occa- 
 fion of complaint againfl them, " Thou haft 
 " defiled thy fanctuaries by the multitude of 
 " thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy 
 " traffick." Ezek. xxviii. 18, and in feveral 
 places it is charged againft Ifrael that they 
 iiad polluted die holy name r 
 
 The
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 371 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah reprefents inward fanc- 
 tification in the fimilitude of being purged 
 from that which is fuel for fire ; and particu- 
 larly defcribes the outward fruits, brought 
 forth by thofe who dwell in this inward ho- 
 linefs, " 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 
 " fhalt not follow a multitude to do evil, 
 " nor fpeak in a cafe to decline after many 
 " to wreft judgment." Exod. xxiii. 2. 
 
 He goes on to {hew their firmnefs in equity ; 
 reprefenting them as perfons fuperior to all 
 the arts of getting money, which have not 
 righteoufnefs for their foundation ; " They 
 " defpife the gain of oppreflions :" and fur- 
 ther mews how careful they are that no pro- 
 fpecls of gain may induce them to become 
 partial in judgment refpecling an injury ; 
 " They fhake their hands from holding 
 11 bribes." 
 
 Again, where any interefl is fo connected 
 with medding blood, that the cry of inno- 
 cent blood goes alfo with it ; he points out 
 their care to keep innocent blood from crying 
 againft them, in the fimilitude of a man flop- 
 ping his ears to prevent a found 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 
 B b 2 friendfhip
 
 372 OK MERCHANDIZING, 
 
 friendship with the authors of it, appear like 
 unconcerned lookers on, but as people fo 
 deeply affected with forrow, that they cannot 
 endure to fland by and behold it ; this he re- 
 prefents in the fimilitude of a man " {hutting 
 " his eyes from feeing evil." 
 
 " Who amongft us ihall dwell with the de- 
 <{ vouring fire ? Who amongft iis iliall dwell 
 *' with everlafting burnings ? He that walk- 
 46 eth righteoufly and fpeaketh uprightly. He 
 lt that defpifeth the gain of oppremons, that 
 " fhaketh his hands from holding of bribes, 
 c< that ftoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, 
 " and fhutteth his eyes from feeing evil." 
 Ifaiah xxxiii. 14, 15. 
 
 He proceeds in the fpirit of prophecy to 
 fliew how the faithful being fupported under 
 temptations, would be preferred from that 
 defilement that there is in the love of money ; 
 that as they who in a reverent waiting on 
 God, feel their flrength renewed, are faid to 
 *' mount upward ;" fo here their prefervation 
 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 mall dwell on 
 " high; and points out the (lability and 
 firmnefs of their condition, " His place of 
 " defence iliall be the munitions of rocks ;" 
 and that under all the outward appearances 
 of lofs, in denying himfelf of gainful profits 
 for righteoufnefs lake, yet through the care 
 of him who provides for the fparrows, he 
 ihould have a fupply anfwerable to his infi- 
 
 nit
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 373 
 
 nite wifdom, " Bread fliall be given him, 
 " his waters fliall 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 fanclification 
 the underftanding is opened, to behold the 
 peaceable harmonious nature of his kingdom, 
 " thine eyes fhall fee the king in his beauty :" 
 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 <c fhall behold the land that 
 " is very far ofF. 
 
 " He fhall dwell on high, his place of de- 
 " fence fhall be the munitions of rocks, bread 
 " fhall be given him, his waters mall be fure. 
 " Thine eyes fhall fee the king in his beauty; 
 " they fhall behold the land that is very far 
 *' off." Ifaiah xxxiii. 16, 17. 
 
 I often remember, and to me the fiibject 
 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 refpecler of perfons." 
 Happy for them, who like the infpired pro- 
 phet, " in the way of his judgments wait; 
 for him." Ifaiah xxvi. 8. 
 
 When we feel him to fit 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 eftate, 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
 
 374 ON MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 The prophet in a fight of divine work a- 
 mongfl many people, declared in the name 
 of the Lord, " I will gather all nations and 
 " tongues, and they mall come and fee my ; 
 
 ?lory." Ifaiah Ixvi. 18. And again, " from 
 " LAC nfing of the fun to the going down of 
 " the ia ,iv. , my name mall be great amongfh 
 " the Gentiles, and in every place incenfe 
 " mail be offered to my name, and a pure 
 " offering." Malachi i r n. 
 
 Behold here how the prophets had an in- 
 ward fenfe of the fpreading of the kingdom 
 of Chrifl ; and how he was fpoken of as one* 
 who fliould " take the heathen for his inhe- 
 " ritance, and the utmoft parts of the earth 
 " for his poffemon." Pfal. ii. 8. That " he 
 " was given for a light to the Gentiles ; and 
 " for ialvation 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 felt 
 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 defire to 
 " look into." i Pet. i. 12. And behold peo- 
 ple amongfl whom this light hath eminently 
 broken forth, and who have received many 
 favours from the bountiful hand of our hea- 
 venly Father j not only indifferent with re- 
 
 fpedl
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 37$ 
 
 fpect to publifhing the glad tidings amongft 
 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 flir up wrath and indignation, 
 and to beget an abhorrence in them to the 
 name of chriftianity. When thefe things are 
 weightily attended to, how mournful is the 
 fubjedl ? 
 
 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. 
 
 Policarp, who was reputed a difciple of St. 
 John, having attained to great age, was at 
 length fentenced 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 of thee ! O God of the angels 
 and powers, and of every living creature, 
 and of all forts of jufl men which live in thy 
 prefence. 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 refurreclion of everlafting life ; among 
 whom I fhall be received in thy fight, this 
 day, as a fruitful and acceptable facrifice, 
 wherefore for all this, I praife thee, I blcfs 
 thee, I glorify thee through the everlafting- 
 high Pried, Jefus Chrift, thy well beloved 
 
 foil :
 
 Ox MERCHANDIZING. 
 
 fon ; to v;hom, with thee and the holy Ghoft, 
 be all glory, world without end. Amen. 
 . Bifhop Latimer, when fentence of death 
 by fire, was pronounced againfl him, on ac- 
 count of his nrmneis in the caufe of religion, 
 he faid, " I thank God moft heartily ! that 
 he hath prolonged my life to this end ; tha 
 I may, in this < cafe glorify him by this kind 
 of death." Fox's Acts and Moil. 936. 
 
 William Dewfbery, who had fuffered much 
 for his religion, in his laft ficknefs, encou- 
 raging his friends to laithfulnefs, made men- 
 tion, like good old Jacob, of the loving kind- 
 neis of God to. him in the courfe of liis life, 
 and that through the power of divine love, 
 he for Chrift's fake had joyfully entered pri- 
 fons. See introduction to his works. 
 
 I mention thefe, as a few examples, put of 
 many, of the powerful operation of the fpirit 
 of Chriit, where people are fully devoted to 
 it, and of the ardent longings in their minds 
 for the fprcnding of his kingdom amongft 
 mankind. Now to thofe, in the prefent age, 
 who truly know Chrift, and feel the nature 
 of his peaceable government opened in their 
 understandings, how loud is that call where- 
 with we are called to f tkhfulnefs j that in 
 following this pure light of life, " we as 
 " workers togetjier with him," may labour 
 in that great work for which he was offered 
 Sacrifice on the crofs ; and that his peace- 
 doctrines may mine through us in their 
 aony, ?.L a time when the name of 
 
 chriflianity
 
 ON MERCHANDIZING. 377 
 
 chriftianity is become hateful to many of the 
 heathen. 
 
 When Gehazi had obtained treafures, which 
 the prophet under divine direction had refuf- 
 ed, and was returned from the bufinefs ; the 
 prophet troubled at his conduct, queried if 
 it was a time thus to prepare for a fpecious 
 living. 
 
 " Is it a time to receive money and gar- 
 " ments, men fervants and maid fervants, 
 " the leprofy therefore of Naaman fhall cleave 
 " to thee and to thy feed forever." 2 Kings 
 v. 26. And O 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 
 among ft mankind. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 On divine Admonitions. 
 
 SUCH are the perfections of our heaven-? 
 ly Father, that in all the difpenfations of 
 his providence, jt is our duty, " in every 
 * c thing, to give thanks." Though from the 
 firft fettlement of this part of America, he 
 hath not extended his judgments to the degree 
 of famine, yet worms at times have come 
 forth beyond numbering, and laid wafte 
 fields of grain and grafs, where they have 
 appeared : another kind, in great multitudes, 
 
 working
 
 378 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS. 
 
 working out of fight, in grafs ground, have 
 fo eat the roo'cs that 1 he furface, being loo- 
 ened from the foil beneath, might be taken 
 off in great Iheets. 
 
 Theie kind of devouring creatures appear- 
 ing feklom, and coming in fuch multitudes % 
 their generation appears dilTerent from moil 
 other reptiles, and by the prophet were call- 
 ed " God's army fent amongit the people." 
 Joel ii. 25. 
 
 There have been tempefls of hail, which 
 have very much destroyed 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 drynefs 
 from the top of the earth, hath extended 
 deeper and deeper, while the corn and plants 
 have languilhed ; and with reverence my 
 mind hath been turned toward HIM, who 
 being perfect in goodnefs, in wifdom and 
 power, doeth all things right* 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 thirfty land hath been foaked ; I 
 have at times, with awfulnefs, beheld the ve- 
 hement operation of lightning, made fome- 
 times to accompany thefe bleflings, as a mef- 
 
 fenger 
 
 F * When crops fai'l'i I often feel a teffdef-care that the cafe 
 f poor tenants may be mercifully confidercd.
 
 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS. 379 
 
 fenger from H i M who created all things, to 
 remind us of our duty in a right ufe of thofe 
 benefits, and give ftriking admonitions, that 
 \ve do not mifapply thofe gifts, in which an 
 Almighty power is exerted, in beftowing 
 them upon us. 
 
 When I have considered that many of our 
 fellow creatures fuffer much in fome places, 
 for want of the neceiTaries of life, whilft thofe 
 who rule over them are too much given to 
 Juxury, and divers vanities ; and behold the 
 apparent deviation from pure wifdom amongfl 
 us, in the ufe of the outward gifts of God ; 
 thofe marks of famine have appeared like 
 humbling admonitions from him, that we 
 might be inftructcd by gentle chaftifements, 
 and might ferioufly conlider our ways ; re- 
 membring that 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 merci- 
 ful admonitions, and ufe his gifts at home, 
 contrary to the gracious defign of the giver, 
 or fend them abroad in a way of trade, which 
 the fpirit of truth doth not lead into ; and 
 fhould he whofe eyes are upon all our ways, 
 extend his chaftifements fo far as to reduce 
 us to much greater diftrefs than hath yet been 
 felt by thefe provinces ; with what forrow of 
 heart might we meditate on that fubjecl, 
 " Haft thou not procured this unto thy felf, 
 " in that thou haft forfakea t}ie Lord thy 
 " Qod, wheji he led thee by thee way ? 
 
 6< Thine
 
 380 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS. 
 
 Thine own wickednefs fhall correct thefc, 
 " and thy backflidings fhall reprove thee: 
 " know therefore and fee, that it is an evil 
 *-'' thing and bitter, that thou hafl forfaken 
 " the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not 
 *' in thee, faith the Lord God of hofls." Jer. 
 ii. 17, 19. 
 
 My mind hath often been affected with 
 fbrrow, in beholding a wrong application of 
 the gifts of our heavenly Father ; and thofe 
 expretfions concerning the defilement of the 
 earth have been opened to my underftanding, 
 " The earth was corrupt before God, and 
 * 6 the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 
 vi. ii. Again, Ifaiah xxiv. 5. " The earth 
 " alfo, is defiled under the inhabitants there- 
 " of, becaufe they have- broken the ever- 
 " lafting covenant." 
 
 The earth being the work of a divine pow- 
 er, may not as fuch be accounted unclean ; 
 but when violence is committed thereon, and 
 the channel of righteoufnefs fo obflrucled, 
 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 
 unattoned for, and the inhabitants are not 
 effectually purged from it, when they do not 
 warn their hands in innocency, as was figur- 
 ed in the law, in the cafe of one being found 
 
 flain ; 
 
 . * See a caution and warning to Great-Britain andjier co- 
 Joaies, page 3 j. .
 
 ON DIVINE ADMONITIONS, 381 
 
 ilain ; but feek for gain ariflng from fceiies 
 of violence and opprefiion, here the land is 
 polluted with blood. Deut. xxi. 6. 
 
 Moreover, when the earth is planted and 
 tilled, and the fruits brought forth are appli- 
 ed to fupport unrighteous purpofes ; here the 
 gracious defigh of infinite goodnefs, in thefe 
 his gifts being perverted, the earth is defiled ; 
 and the complaint formerly uttered becomes 
 applkable ; " Thou haft made me to ferve 
 ** with thy fins ; thou haft wearied me with 
 " thine iniquities." Ifaiah xliii. 24. 
 
 THE END.
 
 C 382 ] 
 RE MARKS 
 
 O N 
 
 SUNDRY SUBJECTS. 
 
 Firft printed ill London, 1773. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 On loving tour Neighbours as ourfefots,, 
 
 WH E N we love the Lord with all 
 our hearts, and his creatures in his 
 love, we are then preserved in ten- 
 dernefs both toward mankind and the animal 
 creation ; but if another fpirit gets room in 
 our minds, and we follow it in ouf proceed- 
 ings, we are then in the way of difordering 
 the affairs of fociety. 
 
 If a man fuccefsful in b.ufinefs expends 
 part of his income in things of 110 real ule, 
 while the poor employed by him pafs through 
 great difficulties in getting the neceflaries of 
 life, this requires his ferious attention.
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 383 
 
 If feveral principal men in bufinefs unite 
 in fetting the wages f thofe who work for 
 hire, and therein have regard to a profit to 
 themlelves anfwerable to unnecefTary expeiice* 
 in their families, while the wages of the others 
 on a moderate induftry will not afford a com- 
 fortable living for their families, and a pro- 
 per education for their children ; this is like 
 laying a temptation in the way of fbme to 
 flrive for a place higher than they are in y 
 when they have not fleck fumcient for it. 
 
 Now 1 feel a concern in the fpring of pure 
 love, that all who have plenty of outward 
 fubilance, may example others in the right 
 ufe of things 5 may carefully look into the 
 condition of poor people, and beware of ex- 
 acting on them with regard to their wages. 
 
 While hired labourers, by moderate in- 
 duftry, through the divine blefling, may live 
 comfortably, raife up families, and give them 
 fuitable 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 in 
 all their proceedings have an equal regard to 
 the good of mankind univerfally, their place 
 in fociety is a place ot care, an office requir- 
 ing attention, and the more we poflefs, the 
 greater is our trufl, and with an increafe of 
 treafure, an increafe of care becomes necef- 
 fary. 
 
 When our will is fubject to the will of God, 
 and in relation to the things of this world, 
 we have nothing in view, but a comfortable 
 
 living
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 living equally with the reft of our fellow 
 creatures, then outward treafures are no far- 
 ther ciefirable than as we feel a gift in our 
 minds equal to the truft, and flrength to act 
 as dutiful children in his fervice, who hath 
 formed all mankind, and appointed a fub- 
 fiftence for us in this world. 
 
 A defire for treafures on any other motive^ 
 appears to be againft that command of our 
 bleffed Saviour, " Lay not up for yourfelves 
 " treafures on earth, Mat. vi. 19. 
 
 He forbids not laying up in the fummer 
 ngainft the wants of winter ; nor doth he 
 teach us to be flothful in that which properly 
 relates to our being in this world ; but in 
 this prohibition he puts in yourf elves " Lay 
 " not up for yourfelves treafures here on 
 earth." 
 
 Now in the pure light, this language is 
 underftood, for in the love of Chrift there is 
 no refpecl of perfons ; and while we abide in 
 his love, we live not to ourfelves, but to him 
 who died for us. And as we are thus united 
 in fpirit to Chrift, we are engaged to labour 
 in promoting that work in the earth for which 
 he fuffered. 
 
 In this ftate of mind our defires are, that 
 every honeft member in fociety may have a 
 portion of treafure, and fhare of truft, an- 
 fwerable to that gift, with which our hea- 
 venly Father hath gifted us. 
 
 In great treafure^ there is a great truft. 
 
 A great truft requireth great care. 
 
 But the laborious mind wants reft. 
 
 A pious
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 385 
 
 A pious man is content to do a fhare of 
 foufinefs in fociety, anfwerable to the gifts 
 with winch he is endowed, while the chan- 
 nels of buiinefs are free from tinrighteouf- 
 iiefs, but is careful left at any time his heart 
 be overcharged. 
 
 In the harmonious fpirit of fociety " Chrift 
 " is all in all," Col. iii. n. 
 
 Here it is that " old things are paft away, 
 " all things are new, all things are of God,'* 
 2 Cor. v. 17, 1 8. and the defire for outward 
 riches is at an end. 
 
 They of low degree who have {mall gifts, 
 enjoy their help who have large gifts ; thofe 
 with their final! gifts, have a final! 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 ftewards 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 ilancleth, 
 and a fight of the growth of that feed which 
 bringeth forth wars and great calamities in 
 the world, and a labour attends me to open 
 It to others. 
 
 Now to act with integrity, according to 
 
 that ftrengtli of mind and body with which 
 
 C c our
 
 3 86 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 our creator hath endowed each of us, appears 
 necefTary for all, and he who thus {lands in 
 the lowed ftation, appears to be entitled to as 
 comfortable and convenient a living, as he 
 whole gifts of mind are greater, and whole 
 cares are more extenfive. 
 
 If fome endowed with flrong underftand- 
 ings as men, abide not in the harmonious 
 flate, in which we " love our neighbours as 
 <c 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 foolifhnefs 
 with Qod ; 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, 
 clifordereth the affairs of fociety, for hereby 
 the good gifts of God in this outward crea- 
 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 induflry and 
 frugality they may not live comfortably, raife 
 up families, and give them fuitable educati- 
 on, but through the ftreightnels of their con- 
 dition, are often drawn on to labour under 
 wearinefs, to toil through hardfhips them- 
 felves, 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
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS, 387 
 
 In this the endowments of men are fo em- 
 ployed, that the friend and the governor are 
 united in one, and oppremve cuftoms come 
 to an end. 
 
 Riches in the hands of individuals in fo- 
 ciety, is attended with fome degree of power ; 
 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 
 tnat our children after us will dwell in that 
 ftate in which power is rightly applied, to 
 lay up riches for them appears to be againtt 
 the nature of his government. 
 
 The earth, through the labour of men un- 
 der the bleiling of him who formed it, yield- 
 eth a fupply for the inhabitants from gene- 
 ration to generation, and they who walk in 
 the pure light, their minds are prepared to 
 tafte and relim not only thofe bleffings which 
 are fpiritual, but alfo feel a fweetnefs and fa- 
 tisfadlion 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 potTefTions, but in a heart de- 
 voted to follow Chrift, in that ufe of things, 
 where cuftoms contrary to univerfal love have 
 no power over us. 
 
 In this ftate our hearts are prepared to truft 
 in God, and our deiires for our children and 
 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 mall be my fons 
 "' and daughters," 2 Cor. vi. 18. 
 
 C c a When
 
 388 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 When wages in a fruitful land bear fo fmall 
 a proportion to the necedaries of life, that 
 poor honed people who have families cannot 
 by a moderate indudry attain to a comfort- 
 able living, and give their children fufficient 
 learning, but nmft either labour to a degree 
 of oppreillon, or elfe omit that which appears 
 to be a datv. 
 
 While tfrs is the cafe with the poor, there 
 is an inclination in the minds of mod people, 
 to prepare at lead fo much treafure for their 
 children, that they .with care and moderate 
 induftry may live free from thefe hardlhips 
 which the poor pafs through. 
 
 Now this fubject requireth our ferious con- 
 lideratioii : to labour that our children may 
 be put in a way to live comfortably, appears 
 ii, itfelf to be a duty, fo long as thefe our 
 labours are confident with univerfal righte- 
 oumefs ; but if in driving to fhun poverty, 
 we do not walk in that date where " Chrid is 
 " our life," then we wander ; " He that 
 u hath the Son, hath life," I John v. 12. 
 " This 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 darknefs, 
 ** knoweth not whither he gocth, ' John 
 
 xii. 3.5. 
 
 To keep to* right means in labouring to 
 attain a right end is necefTary : if in driving 
 to fliun poverty, we drive only in that date, 
 -where Chrid is the light of our life, our la- 
 bours will dand in the true harmony of fo- 
 ciety; but if people are confident that the 
 
 end
 
 Ox LOVIVG OUR NEIGHBOURS. 389 
 
 end aimed at is good, and in this confidence 
 purfue it fo eagerly, as not to vMit for the 
 fpirit of truth to Jeaci them, then they come 
 to lofs. " Chrift is g : ven to he a leader and 
 " commander of the p-.oplo." liaiah Iv. 4. 
 Again ; " The Lord mall gtiiJe thee conti- 
 " nually," Ifaiah Iviii. 12. Again ; " Lord, 
 u thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou 
 " alfo haft Wrought all our works in us." 
 Ifaiah xxvi. 12. 
 
 " In the Lord have we righteoufnefs and 
 " flrength," Ifaiah xlv. 24. 
 
 In this ftate our minds are preferved watch- 
 ful in following the leadings of his fpirit iri 
 all our proceedings in this world, and a care 
 is felt for a reformation in general ; that 
 our own pofterity, with the reil of mankind 
 in fucceeding ages, may not be entangled 
 by oppreilive cuftoms, tfanfmitted to them 
 through our hands : but if people in the 
 narrownefs of natural love, are afraid that 
 their children will be opprefied by the rich,, 
 and through an eager defire to get treafures, 
 depart from the pure leadings of truth in one 
 cafe, though it may feem to be a final! mat- 
 ter, yet the mind even in that fmall matter 
 may be emboldened to continue in a way of 
 proceeding, without waiting for the divine 
 Leader. 
 
 Thus people may grow expert in bufinefs, 
 wife in the wifdom of this World, retain a 
 fair reputation amongil men, and yet being 
 ilrangers to the voice of Chrift, the fafe lead- 
 er of his flock, the treafures thus gotten, 
 
 may
 
 390 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS, 
 
 may be like fnares to the feet of their 
 rity. 
 
 Now to keep faithful to the pure counfel-* 
 lor, and under trying circumftanccs- fuller 
 adverfity for righteoufhefa lake, ia this there 
 is a reward. 
 
 If we, being poor, are hardly dealt with 
 by thofe who are rich, and under this diffi- 
 culty are frugal and inclullrious, and in true 
 humility open our cafe to them who opprefs. 
 xis, this may reach the pure witnefs in their 
 minds ; and though we ihould remain under 
 difficulties as to the outward, yet if we abide 
 in the love of Chrift, all will work for our 
 good i 
 
 When we feel what it is to fuffer in the true 
 fufFering ilate, then we experience the truth 
 of thofe expre {lions, that, " as the fnfFerings 
 fc of Chrift abound in us, fo our confolation 
 *' abounded! by Chrifl," 2 Cor. i. 5. 
 
 But if poor people who are hardly dealt 
 .with, do not attain to the true fufFering (late, 
 do not labour in true love with thofe who 
 deal hardly with them, but envy their out- 
 ward greatnefs, murmur in their hearts be- 
 canfe of their own poverty, and ftri ve in the 
 wilclom of this 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 flation between 
 riches and poverty, are alFecled at times with 
 the oppreifcons of the poor, and feel a tender 
 Jt'i^ard for our poilerity after us ; O how ne- 
 
 cefTary
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. -391 
 
 ceJTary 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 hardfhips ; 
 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 amongfl 
 our fellow-creatures ! 
 
 " In the pure gofpel fpirit we walk by 
 " faith 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 ; but in depart- 
 ing from the true light of life, many in 
 ftriving to get treafures have Humbled upon 
 the dark mountains. 
 
 Now that purity of life which proceeds 
 from faithfulnefs in following the fpirit of 
 truth, that (late where our minds are devot- 
 ed to ierve 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 dif- 
 ordereth and confufeth the affairs of fociety, 
 and where we may have a teftimony of our 
 innocence in the hearts of thofe who behold 
 us. 
 
 Through
 
 392 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 Through departing from the truth as it is- 
 in Jefus, through introducing ways of life- 
 attended with unneceilary expences, ninny 
 wants have arifen, the minds of people have 
 been employed in fVudying to get wealth, and 
 in this purfuit fome departing from equity, 
 have retained a profeflion of religion ; others 
 have looked at their example, and thereby 
 been flrengthened to proceed further in the 
 fame way : thus many have encouraged the 
 trade of taking men from Africa, and felling 
 them as naves. 
 
 It hath been computed that near one hun- 
 dred thoufand Negroes have of late years 
 been taken annually from that coail, by ihips 
 employed in the Englilh trade. 
 
 As I have travelled on religious vints in 
 fome parts of America, I have ieen many of 
 thefe people under the command of overfeers, 
 in a painful fervitude. 
 
 I have beheld them as Gentiks under peo- 
 ple profeiliTig chrifdanity, not only kept ig- 
 norant of the holy fcriptures, but under 
 great provocations to wrath ; of whom it 
 may truly be laid, " They that rule over them 
 " make them to howl, and the holy Name is 
 4 abundantly blafphemed," Ifaiah lii. 5. 
 Where children are taught to read the facred 
 writings, while young, and exarnpled in 
 meeknefs and humility, it is often helpful to 
 them ; nor is this any more than a debt due 
 from us to a fucceeding age. 
 
 But where youth are pinched for want of 
 the Receifaries of life, forced to labour hard 
 
 under
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 393 
 
 under the harm rebukes of rigorous over- 
 leers, and many times endure unmerciful" 
 whippings : in iiich an education, how great 
 are the difadvantages they lie under ! And 
 how forcibly do thefe things work againil the 
 increafe of the government of the Prince of 
 Peace! 
 
 Humphrey Smith, in his works, p. 125, 
 {'peaking 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 diflurbed, 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, that in the fear of the liv- 
 ing 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 prcfci:;: 
 world, the departure from that wifUo:; 
 is pure and peaceable, h:i';li been p:: 
 
 Under the fenie of a deep revolt, ai : . 
 overflowing ftream of unrighteouihels, inv 
 life has been often a life of mourning, and 
 tender defires are raifecl in me, that the na- 
 ture of this practice may be laid t 
 
 I have
 
 394 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 I have read fome books \vrote by people 
 who were acquainted with the manner of 
 getting flaves in Africa. 
 
 I have had verbal relations of this nature 
 from feveral Negroes brought from Africa, 
 \vho have learned to talk Engliih. 
 
 I have fundry times heard Engiifhmen 
 fpeak on this fubject, who have been in A- 
 f rica on this bufinefs ; and from all thefe ac- 
 counts it appears evident that great violence 
 is committed, and much blood Hied in A- 
 frica 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 paiTengers with 
 all things proper for their voyage, there 
 xvould inconvenience arife from their num- 
 ber ; but ilaves are taken by violence, and 
 frequently endeavour to kill the white peo- 
 ple, that they may return to their native 
 land. Hence they are frequenty kept under 
 fuch a fort of confinement, by means of which 
 a 1'ccnt arife th in the hold of a fhip, and dif- 
 tcmpers often break out amongft them, of 
 which many die. Of this tainted air in the 
 hold of ihips freighted with ilaves, I have 
 had ieveral accounts, fome in print, and fome 
 verbal, and all agree that the fcent is griev- 
 ous. When thcfe people are fold in America, 
 and in the i Hands, they are made to labour 
 in a manner more fervile and coiiftant, than 
 that which they were ufed to at home, that 
 
 with
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 395 
 
 with grief, with different diet from what has 
 been common witii them, and with hard la- 
 bour, fome thoufands are computed to die 
 every year, in what is called the feafoning. 
 
 Thus it appears evident, that great num- 
 bers of thefe people are brought every year 
 to an untimely end ; many of them being 
 ilich who never injured us. 
 
 Where the innocent fuffer under hard- 
 hearted men, even unto death, and the chan- 
 nels of equity are fo obftructed, that the 
 caufe of the fufferers is not judged in righte- 
 oufaefs, " the land is polluted with blood," 
 Numb. xxxv. 33. 
 
 Where blood hath been fhed unrighteoufly, 
 and remains unattoned for, the cry thereof is 
 very piercing. 
 
 Under the humbling difpenfations 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 " the iniquity of the houfe of Ifrael 
 ' and of Judah was exceeding great, when 
 " the land was defiled with blood, and the 
 " city full of perverfnefs," Ezck. ix. 9. 
 4 Some were found fighing and crying for 
 t( the abominations of the times," Ezek. ix4. 
 and fuch who live under a right feeling of 
 our condition as a nation, thefe I trull will 
 be fenfible that the Lord at this day doth call 
 to mourning, though many are ignorant of 
 it. So powerful are bad cufloms when they 
 become general, that people growing bold 
 
 thro'
 
 396 ON LOVING OCR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 thro' the examples one of another, have often 
 been unmoved at the moil ferious warnings. 
 
 Our bleiTed Saviour ipeaking of the people 
 of the old world, fold, " They eat, they 
 " drank, they married, and were given, in 
 " marriage, until the day that Noah went 
 " into the ark, and the flood came and de- 
 " flroyed them all," Luke xvii. 27. 
 
 The like he fpake concerning the people of 
 Sodom, who are alib reprefented by the pro- 
 phet as haughty, luxurious, and oppreflive ; 
 * c This was the fin of Sodom, pride, fulnefs 
 <c of bread, and abundance of idlenefs was 
 " found in her, and in her daughters ; nei- 
 r did fhe flrengthen the hands of the 
 " poor and needv," Ezek. xvi. 49. 
 
 Now in ?, revolt fo deep as this, when 
 much blood has been ihed unrightecufly, in 
 carrying on the flave-trade, and in iupport- 
 ing the practice of keeping flaves, which at 
 this day is unattoned for, and crieth from 
 the earth, and from the feas againfl the op- 
 preiTor ! 
 
 While this practice is continued, and un- 
 der a great load of guilt there is more un- 
 righteoumefs committed, the flate of things 
 is very moving ! 
 
 There is a love which fhands in nature, 
 and a parent beholding his child in mifery 
 hath a feeling of the affliction ; but in divine 
 love the heart is enlarged towards mankind 
 univerfally, and prepared to fympathife with 
 ftrangers, though in the loweft ftations in 
 life. 
 
 Of
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 397 
 
 Of this the prophet appears to have had a 
 feeling, when he laid, *' Have we not all one 
 " Father ? Hath not one God created us ? 
 " Why then do we deal treacheroufly every 
 " man with his brother, in prophaning the 
 " covenant of our fathers ?" Mai. ii. 10. 
 
 He who of old heard the groans of the 
 children of Ifrael under the hard tafk-mafters 
 in Egypt, I truft hath looked down from his 
 holy habitation on the miferies of thefe deep- 
 ly opprefTed people. Many lives have been 
 ihortned through extreme oppreiBon, while 
 they laboured to fupport luxury and worldly 
 greatnefs ; and tho' many people in outward 
 profperity 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 goodnefs is 
 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, thefe poor 
 fufferers have been brought near to me. 
 
 The unoffending aged and infirm made to 
 labour too hard, kept on a diet lefs com- 
 fortable than their weak ilate required, and 
 expofed to great difficulties under hard-heart- 
 ed men, to whofe fufFerings I have often 
 been a wituefs, and under the heart-melting 
 power of divine lore, their mifery hath felt 
 to me like the mifery of iny parents. 
 
 Innocent
 
 393 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS, 
 
 Innocent youth taken by violence from 
 their native land, from their friends and ac- 
 quaintance ; put on board fhips with hearts 
 laden with ibrrow ; expofed to great hard- 
 ihips at fea ; placed under people, where their 
 lives have been attended with great provoca- 
 tion 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 Spirit which affected my heart 
 when I was a youth, I trufl is often felt by 
 the Negroes in their native land, inclining 
 their minds to that which is righteous, and 
 had the profeffed followers of Chrift in all 
 their conduct toward them, manifefted a dif- 
 poiition anfwerable to the pure principle in 
 their hearts, how might the holy Name have 
 been honoured amongft the Gentiles, and 
 how might we have rejoiced in the fulfilling 
 of that prophecy, " I the Lord love judg- 
 '* ment, I hate robbery for burnt-offerings, 
 " and I will direct their work in truth, and 
 " make an everlafting covenant with them. 
 *' Their feed mall be known amongft the 
 " Gentiles, and their offspring amongft the 
 " people : all that fee them mall acknowledge 
 " them, that they are the feed which the 
 " Lord hath blellcd," Ilaiah Ixi. 8, 9. 
 
 But
 
 ON LOVING CUR NEIGHBOURS, 399 
 
 But in the prefent (late of things, how 
 contrary is this practice to that meek fpirit, 
 in which our Saviour laid down his life for 
 us, that all the ends of the earth might know 
 falvation in his name ! 
 
 How are the fufferings of our blerTed Re- 
 deemer fet at nought, and his name blaf- 
 phemed amongft the Gentiles, through the 
 unrighteous proceedings of his profeiled fol- 
 lowers ! 
 
 My mind hath often been affected, even 
 from the days of my youth, under a fenfe of 
 that marvellous work, for which God, in in- 
 finite goodnefs, fent his Son into the world* 
 
 The opening of that fpring of living wa- 
 ters, which the true believers in Chriil ex- 
 perience, by which they are redeemed from 
 pride and covetoufnefs, and brought into a 
 it ate of meeknefs, where their hearts are en- 
 larged in true love toward their fellow crea- 
 tures univerfally ; this work to me has been 
 precious, and the fpreading the knowledge of 
 the truth amongft the Gentiles been very de- 
 lirable. And the profeiTed followers of Chrift 
 joining in cuftoms evidently unrighteous, 
 which manifeftly tend to ftir up wrath, and 
 increafe wars and defolations, hath often co- 
 vered my mind with forrow. 
 
 If we bring this matter home, and as Job 
 propofed to his friends, " Put our foul in 
 4k their foul's ftead," Job xvi. 4. 
 
 If we confider ourielves and our children 
 as expofed to the hardflaips which tlaefe peo- 
 ple
 
 400 Ox LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 pie lie under in fupporting an imaginary 
 greatnefs. 
 
 Did we in fuch cafe behold an increafe of 
 luxury and fuperfltiity amongft our oppref- 
 fors, and therewith felt an increile of the 
 weight of our burdens, and expected our po- 
 fterity to groan under 'oppreilion after us. 
 
 Under ail this mifery, had we none to 
 plead our caufe, nor any hope of relief from 
 man, h6w would our cries afcend to the ! God 
 of the fpirits of all flem, who judgeth the 
 world in righteoiifnefs, and in his own time 
 is a refuge fof the opprefled ! 
 
 If they who thus afflicted us, continued to 
 lay claim to religion, and were aflifted in 
 their bufinefs by others, efteemed pious peo- 
 ple, who through a friendihip with them 
 ftrengthened their hands in tyranny. 
 
 In liich a flate, when we were hunger-bit- 
 ten, and could not have fufficient nouriih- 
 ment, but faw them in fulnefs pleaiing their 
 tafte with things fetched from far : 
 
 When we were wearied with labour, deni- 
 ed the liberty to reft, and faw them fpending 
 their time at eafe : when garments anfwer- 
 able to our necellities were denied us, while 
 we law them cloathed in that which was 
 coflly and delicate : 
 
 Under fuch affliction, how would thefe 
 painful feelings rile up as witnefFes againft 
 their pretended devotion ! And if the name 
 of their religion was mentioned in our hear- 
 ing, how would it- found in our ears like a 
 
 word
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS, 401 
 
 word which iagnified felf-exaltation, and 
 hardnefs of heart ! 
 
 When a trade is carried on, productive of 
 much mifery, and they who fufTer by it are 
 ibme thousand miles off, the danger is the 
 greater, of not laying their fufFerings to 
 heart. 
 
 In procuring flaves on the coaft of Africa, 
 many children are ilolen privately ; wars alfo 
 are encouraged amongtl the Negroes, but all 
 is at a great diftance. 
 
 Many groans arife from dying men, which 
 we hear not. 
 
 Many cries are uttered by widows and fa- 
 therlefs children, which reach not our ears. 
 
 Many cheeks are wet with tears, and faces 
 fad with unutterable grief, which, we fee 
 not. 
 
 Cruel tyranny is encouraged. The hands 
 of robbers are flrengthened, and thoufands 
 reduced to the mod abjecl flavery, who ne- 
 ver injured us. 
 
 Were we for the term of one year only to 
 be eye-witnefles to what paffeth in getting 
 thefe flaves : 
 
 Was the blood which is there med to be 
 fprinkled 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 u$ from fleep- 
 ing : 
 
 D c] Were
 
 462 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 Were we to hear the found of the tumult' 
 when the flaves on board the {hips attempt 
 to kill the Englifh, and behold the iffue of 
 thofe bloody conflicts : 
 
 What pious man could be a witnefs to thefe 
 things, and fee a trade carried on in this 
 manner, without being deeply affected with 
 foirow ? 
 
 Through abiding in the love of Chrifl we 
 feel a tendernefs in our hearts toward our 
 fellow-creatures, entangled in oppreflive cuf- 
 toms ; and a concern fo to walk, that our 
 conduct may not be a means of flrengthening 
 them in error. 
 
 It was the command of the Lord through 
 Ivlofes, " Thou fhalt not fuffer fin upon thy 
 " brother : thou fhalt in any wife rebuke thy 
 " brocher, and malt not fuffer fin upon 
 " him." Lev. xix. 17. 
 
 Again ; " Keep far from a falfe matter ; 
 " and the innocent and righteous flay thou 
 " not." Exod. xxiii. 7. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah mentions oppreffion as 
 that which the true church in time of out- 
 ward quiet mould not only be clear of, but 
 fhould be far from it ; " Thou fhalt be far 
 " from opprcmon." Ifaiah liv. 14. Now 
 thefe words, far from, appear to have an ex- 
 tenfive meaning, and to convey inilruclion 
 in regard to that of which Solomon fpeaks, 
 ' Though hand join in hand, the wicked 
 " mall not go unpunifhed." Prov. xvi. 5. 
 It was a complaint againfl one of old, 
 <; When thou faweft a thief, thou confent- 
 " cda with him," Pfal.1, 18. r 3'he
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 403 
 
 The prophet Jeremiah reprefents the de- 
 grees of preparation toward idolatrous facri- 
 fice, 'in the fimilitucle of a work carried on 
 by children, men, and women. " 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. 
 
 It was a complaint of the Lord again ft If- 
 rael, through his prophet Ezekiel, that " they 
 1 c flrengthened the hands of the wicked, and 
 " made the hearts of the righteous .fad." 
 Ezek. xiii. 12. 
 
 Some works of iniquity carried on b . 
 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 diftrefs of mind fincc I 
 came on this iiland, on account of the mem- 
 bers of our fociety being mixed with the 
 world in various forts of bufmefs and traffic, 
 carried on in impure channels. Great is the 
 trade to Africa for flaves ; and in loading 
 thefe mips abundance of people are employed 
 in the manufactories. 
 
 Friends in early time refufed, on a n 
 ous principle, to make or trade in fuperllui- 
 ties, of which we have many large teiamo- 
 nies on record, but for want of faithiulnefs 
 fome gave way, even fome whofe examples 
 D d 2 were
 
 404 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 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 foine fuperfluities in drefs, and in the 
 furniture of their houfes, and this hath fpread 
 from lefs to more, till fuperfluity of fome 
 kinds is common amoiigfl us. 
 
 In this declining date many look at the 
 example one of another, and too much ne- 
 glecl the pure feeling of truth. Of late years 
 a deep exerciie hath attended my mind, that 
 friends may dig deep, may carefully cafl forth 
 the loofe matter, and get down to the rock, 
 the fnre 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 liich whom they may hire, more liberally 
 than is now cuf ternary in fome places. 
 
 The prophet, fpeaking of the true church, 
 laid, " Thy people alfo mall be all righte- 
 " ous." 
 
 Of the depth of this divine work feveral 
 fpoken,- J nn
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 405 
 
 John Gratton, in his journal, p. 45, faid, 
 tc The Lord is my portion, I ihall not want. 
 He hath wrought all my works in me. I 
 am nothing but what I ani in i :m." 
 
 Gilbert Latey, through the powerful ope- 
 rations of the fpirit of Chriit 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 fuperiluities. This friend was often a- 
 inongft the chief rulers of the nation in times 
 of perfecution, and it appears by the telii- 
 rnony 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 exprelTions ; 
 " 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. 1 ' See 
 his works, p. 42, 8cc. 
 
 George Fox, in an epiftle, writes thus : , 
 " Friends, (land in the eternal power of 
 God, witnefles againfl the pomps and vani- 
 ties of this world." 
 
 " Such
 
 406 ON LOVING PVR NEIGHBOURS, 
 
 4 Such tradefmen wlio (land as witnefles 
 in the power of God, cannot fulfil the peo*- 
 ple's minds in thefe vanities, ami therefore 
 they are offended at them." 
 
 ' Let all truft in the Lord, and wait pa- 
 ;.- on him ; for when truth nrft broke 
 iorth in London, many tradefmen could not 
 take fo much money in their Jhops for fome 
 , as would buy them bread and water, 
 becauie they withitood the world's ways, 
 falhions, and cuftoms ; yet by their patient 
 .g on the Lord in their good life and 
 converfation, they anfwered the truth in peo- 
 ple's hearts, and thus their buiinefs increaf- 
 ed/' Book of Dodrinals, p. 824. 
 
 Now Chriil our holy leader gracipufly con- 
 tinue th to open the underftandings of his 
 people,, and as circumftances alter from age 
 to age, feme who are deeply baptized into a. 
 feeling of the ilate of things, are led by his 
 holy Ipirit into excrcifes in fbme refpecl: dif- 
 ferent from thoie which attended the faithful 
 in foregoing ages, and through the conftrain- 
 >f pure love, are engaged to open the 
 igs they have to others. 
 In faithfully following Chrift, the heart is 
 weaned from the delire of riches, and we 
 are led into a life fo plain and fimple, that a 
 little doth fuffice, and thus the way openeth 
 to deny enriches, under all the tempting al- 
 lurements of that gain, which we know is 
 the gain of unrighteouihefs. 
 
 : apoille f peaking oil this fubjecl, aflc- 
 
 eth,
 
 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 407 
 
 cth this queflion ; " What fellowfhip hath 
 " righteoufnefs with unrighteoufnefs ?" 2 Cor, 
 vi. 14. And again faith, " Have no fellow- 
 *' ihip with the unfruitful works of darknefs, 
 " but rather reprove them," Ephef. v. 11. 
 Again, " Be not partaker of other men's 
 " iiiis, keep thyfelf pure." i Tim. v. 22. 
 
 Where people through the power of Chrill 
 are thoroughly fettled in a right uie of things, 
 freed from all unneceflary care and expence, 
 the mind in this true reiignation is at liberty 
 from the bands of a narrow felf-interelt, 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 Chriil is pure, and to the 
 pure in heart, this pure language is intelligi-r 
 ble ; but in the love of money, the mind be^ 
 ing intent on gain, is too full of human con^ 
 trivance 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 
 treafures to fupport a life, in which there are 
 many unneceflary expences. 
 
 And I feel a living concern attend my 
 mind, that under theie difficulties we may 
 humbly follow our heavenly ihepherd, who 
 graciouily regardeth his rlock, 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 fan, where 
 we may" low to ourfelves in righteoufnefs, 
 
 ** rcan
 
 408 ON LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS, 
 
 4 reap in mercy," Hofea x. 12. and not be 
 defiled with the works of iniquity. 
 
 Where cuftoms contrary to pure wifdom 
 are tranfmitted to pofterity, it appears to be 
 an injury committed agai'nft them ; and I 
 often feel tender compallion toward a young 
 generation, and defires that their difficulties 
 ; *nay not be increafed through unfaithfulnefs 
 in lib of the prefent age. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 On a Sailor s Life, 
 
 IN the trade to Africa for flaves, and in the 
 management of mips going on thefe vov- 
 ages, many of our lads and young men have 
 a confiderable part of their education. 
 
 Now what pious father beholding his fon 
 placed in one of thefe fhips, to learn the prac- 
 tice of a mariner, could forbear mourning 
 over him ? 
 
 Where youth are exampled in means of 
 getting money, fo full of violence, and ufed 
 to exercife fuch cruelties on their fellow-crea- 
 tures, the difadvantage to them in their edu- 
 cation is very great. 
 
 But I feel it in my mind to write concern- 
 ing the feafaring life in general. 
 
 In the trade carried on from the Weft-In- 
 dies, and from fome parts of the continent, 
 
 the
 
 ON A SAILOR'S LIFE. 409, 
 
 the produce of the labour of flaves is a con- 
 iiderable part. 
 
 And failors who are frequently at ports 
 where flaves abound, and converfe often with 
 people who opprefs them without the appear- 
 ance of remorfe, and often with failors employ- 
 ed in the flave trade, how powerfully do thefe 
 evil examples fpread amongfb the feafaring 
 youth ! 
 
 I have had many opportunities to feel and 
 underfland 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 amidfl fo great 
 corruption. 
 
 Under the humbling power of Chrift I 
 have feen, that if the leadings of his holy 
 fpirit were faithfully attended to by his pro- 
 felTed followers in general, the heathen nati- 
 ons would be exampled 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 fuperflu- 
 ities. 
 
 The inhabitants of cities would be lefs in 
 number. 
 
 Thofe who have much lands would become 
 fathers to the poor. 
 
 More people would be employed in the 
 fweet employment of hufbandry, and in the 
 path of pure wifdom, labour would be an a- 
 greeable, healthful employment. 
 
 In
 
 4ro ON A SAILOR's LIFE. 
 
 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 hardnefs 
 for Chrift's fake. 
 
 He, our blefled Saviour, exhorting his fol- 
 lowers to love one another, adds, " As I 
 " have loved you." John xiii. 34. 
 
 He loved Lazarus, yet in his iicknefs did 
 not heal him, but left him to endure the 
 pains of death, that in reiloring him to life, 
 the people might be confirmed in th 
 faith. 
 
 He loved his difciples, but lent them forth 
 on a mefTage attended with great difficulty, 
 amongil hard-hearted people, fome 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 our^ 
 felves of all that gain which is contrary to 
 pure wifdom, and to follow Chrift, even un- 
 der contempt, and through fufferings. 
 
 While friends 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- 
 perfluities, and fpread by little and little, 
 even amongft the fbremofl rank in fociety, 
 and from thence others took liberty in that 
 way more abundantly. 
 
 In the continuation of thefe things from 
 parents to children, there were many wants 
 
 to
 
 ON A SAILOPx's LIFE. 41? 
 
 to fupply, even wants unknown to friends 
 while they faithfully followed Chriit. And 
 in ftriving to fupply thefe wants many have 
 exacted on the poor, many have entered on 
 employments, in which they often labour in 
 upholding pride and vanity. Many have 
 looked on one another, been ftrengthened in 
 thefe things, one by the example of another, 
 and as to the pure divine feeing, dimnefs 
 hath come over many, and the channels of 
 true brotherly love been obftrucled. 
 
 People may have no intention to opprels, 
 yet by entering on expenfive ways of life, 
 their minds may be fo entangled therein, and 
 fo engaged to fupport expeniive cuftoms, as 
 to be eftranged from the pure fympathizing 
 fpirit. 
 
 As I have travelled in England, I have had 
 a tender feeling of the condition of poor peo- 
 ple, fome of whom though honeil and indu- 
 ilrious, have nothing to fpare toward paying 
 for the fcJiooling of their children. 
 
 There is a proportion between labour and 
 the neceffaries of life, and in true brotherly 
 love the mind is open to feel after the nccef- 
 fities of the poor. 
 
 Amongil the poor there are fome that are 
 weak through age, and others of a weakly 
 nature, who pafs through ftraits in very pri- 
 vate life, without afking relief from the 
 publick. 
 
 Such who are ftrong and healthy may do 
 that bufinefs, which to the weakly may be 
 oppreflive j and in performing that in a day 
 
 which
 
 412 ON A SAILOR's LIFE. 
 
 which is efteemed a day's labour, by weakly 
 perfons in the field and in the fhops, and by 
 weakly women who fpin and knit in the 
 manufactories, they often pafs through wea- 
 rinefs ; and many iighs I believe are uttered 
 in fecret, unheard by fome who might eafe 
 their burdens. 
 
 Labour in the right medium is healthy, 
 but in too much of it there is a painful wea- 
 rinefs ; and the hardlhips of the poor are 
 fbmetimes increafed through want of more 
 agreeable nourimment, more plentiful fewel 
 for the fire, and warmer c loathing in the 
 winter than their wages will anfwer. 
 
 When I have beheld 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 
 ilrive to live by their labour, have often re- 
 vived in my mind, as cafes of which fome 
 who live in fulnefs need to be put in remem- 
 brance. 
 
 There are few, if any, could behold their 
 fellow-creatures lie long in diftrefs and for- 
 bear to help them, when they could do it 
 without any inconvenience ; but cufloms re- 
 quiring much labour to fupport them, do 
 often lie heavy on the poor, while they who 
 live in thefe cufloms are fo entangled in a 
 multitude of unnecefTary concerns, that they 
 think but little of the hardfhips which the 
 poor people go through. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 4'3 
 
 CHAP. Ill, 
 On ftlent Worjhip. 
 
 WO R S H I P in filence hath often been 
 refrefhing to my mind, and a care 
 attends me that a young generation may feel 
 the nature of this worfhip. 
 
 Great expence arifeth in relation to that 
 which is called divine worfhip. 
 
 A confiderable part of this expence is ap- 
 plied toward outward greatnefs, and many 
 poor people in raifing of tithe, labour in fup- 
 porting cuftoms contrary to the fimplicity 
 that there is in Chrift, toward whom my 
 mind hath often been moved with pity. 
 
 In pure nlent worfhip, we dwell under the 
 holy anointing, and feel Chrifl to be our 
 ihepherd. 
 
 Here the beft of teachers miniflers to the 
 feveral conditions^ of his flock, and the foul 
 receives immediately from the divine fountain, 
 that with which it is nourifhed. 
 
 As I have travelled at times/where thofe of 
 other focieties have - attended our meetings, 
 and have perceived how little fome of them 
 knew of the nature of fiient worfhip ; I have 
 feh tender clefires in my heart that we who 
 often fit nlent in our meetings, may live an-" 
 fwerable to the nature of an inward fellow- 
 fhip with God, that no ilumbling block 
 through us, may be laid in their way. 
 
 Such
 
 4H ON SILENT WORSHIP. 
 
 Such is the load of unneceffary expcnce 
 which lieth -on that which is called divine 
 fervice in many places, and fo much are the 
 minds of many people employed in outward 
 forms and ceremonies, that the opening of 
 an inward filent 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 exercifed in 
 Ibul on account of the fu perdition which 
 prevailed amongfh the profeffcd followers of 
 Chnit, and in fupport of their teflimony a- 
 gamft oppreflive idolatry, fome in feveral ages 
 have fmiihed their courfe in the flames. 
 
 It appears by the hiftory of the reformati- 
 on, that through the faithfulnefs of the mar- 
 tyrs, the underftandings of many have been 
 opened, and the minds of people, from age 
 to age, been more and more prepared for a 
 real Spiritual worfhip. 
 
 My mind is often affected with a fenfe of 
 the condition of thofe people, who in different 
 ages have been meek and patient, following 
 Chrift through great afflictions : And while 
 I behold the ieveral fteps of reformation, and 
 that clearnefs, to which through divine good- 
 refs, it hath been brought by our ancestors ; 
 I feel tender deiires that we who ibmetimes 
 meet in filence, may never by our conduct 
 Liy flumbling-blocks in the way of others, 
 and hinder the progrefs of the Information 
 in the world. 
 
 It was a complaint again (1 fome who were 
 called the Lord's people, that they brought 
 
 polluted
 
 ON SILENT WORSHIP. 415 
 
 polluted bread to his altar, and faid the table 
 of the Lord was contemptible. 
 
 In real filent worihip the foul feeds on that 
 which is divine ; but we cannot partake of 
 lh(e table of the Lord, and that table which 
 is prepared by the God of this world. 
 
 If Chrift is our fhepherd, and feedeth us, 
 and we , are faithful in following him, our 
 lives will have an inviting language, and the 
 table of the lord will not be polluted. 
 
 An EPISTLE
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 QJJARTERLY AND MONTHLY 
 MEETINGS OF FRIENDS. 
 
 Beloved Friends, 
 
 FEELING at this time a renewed con- 
 cern that the pure principle of light and 
 life, and the righteous fruits thereof may 
 fpread and prevail amongfl mankind, there 
 is an engagement on my heart to labour with 
 my brethren in religious profefiion, that none 
 of us may be a Humbling block in the way 
 of others ; but may fo walk that our conduct 
 may reach the pure witnefs in the hearts of 
 fuch who are not in profeflion with us. 
 
 And, dear friends, while we publicly own 
 that the holy Spirit is our leader, the profef- 
 fion is in itfeif weighty, and the weightinefs 
 thereof increafeth, in proportion as we are 
 noted among the profeiTors of truth, and 
 
 active
 
 AN EPISTLE. 417 
 
 active in/dealing with fuch who walk difor- 
 derly. 
 
 Many under our profefTion for want of due 
 attention, and a perfect resignation to this 
 Divine Teacher, have in fome things mani- 
 fefted a deviation from the purity of our re- 
 ligious principles, and thefe deviations hav- 
 ing crept in amongft us by little and little, 
 and increafing from lefs to greater, have been 
 fb far unnoticed, that fome living in them, 
 have been active in putting difcipline in prac- 
 tice, with relation to others, whofe conduct 
 hath appeared more difhonourable 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 ftaiideth in that 
 which is pure ; tha.t it is the wifdom from 
 above which gives authority to difcipline ; 
 and that the weight\n.efs thereof ftandeth not 
 in any outward circumltances, but in the 
 authority of Chrift who is the author of it ; 
 and where any walk after the fielh, 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 p,f difcipline, and over that holine(s 
 of life, which Chrift leads thofe into, " in 
 " whom the love of God is verily perfected," 
 i John ii. 5, 
 
 When we labour in true love with offend?- 
 
 crs, and they remain obftinate, it ibmetimes 
 
 4& neceflary to proceed as far as our Lord di- 
 
 E e refted,
 
 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 reeled, " Let him be to thee as an heathen 
 " man, or a publican," Mat. xviii. 17. 
 
 Now when fuch are difowned, and they 
 who act therein feel Chrift made unto them 
 wifdom, and are preferved in his meek, re- 
 fcoring fpirit, there is no juft caufe of offence 
 mhiiflred to any; but when fuch who are 
 active in dealing with offenders indulge them- 
 ielvcs in things which are contrary to the 
 purity of truth, and yet judge others whofe 
 conduct appears more dishonourable than 
 their's, here the pure authority of difcipline 
 ceafeth as to fuch offenders, and a temptati- 
 on is laid in their way to wrangle and con- 
 tend " Judge not," faid our Lord, u that 
 " ye be not judged." Now this forbidding, 
 alludes to man's judgment, and points out 
 the neceifity of our humbly attending to that 
 ianctifying power under which the faithful 
 experience the Lord to be " a fpirit of judg- 
 " ment to them," Ifa. xxviii. 6. And as we 
 feel his Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of 
 the body in us, and can lay, * e it is no more 
 '" I that live, but Chrift that liveth in me," 
 here right judgment is known. 
 
 And while divine love prevails in our 
 hearts, and felf in us is brought under judg- 
 ment, a preparation is felt to labour in a 
 right manner with offenders ; but if we a- 
 bide not in this love, our outward perform- 
 ance in dealing with others, degenerates into 
 formality ; for " this is the love of God, that 
 <l we keep hi commandments," John i. 3. 
 
 How
 
 AN EPISTLE. 419 
 
 How weighty arc thofe inftruclions of our 
 Redeemer concerning religious duties, when, 
 he points out, that they who pray, fhoulcl 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 in heaven :" In this aw- 
 ful Hate of mind is felt that worihip which 
 (lands in doing the will of God, on earth, as 
 it is done in heaven, and keeping the holy 
 Name facred. To take a holy profeilion upon 
 us is awful, nor can we keep this holy Name 
 facred, but by humbly abiding under the 
 crofs of Ghrifl. The apoftle made a heavy 
 complaint againfl fome who prophaned this 
 holy Name by their manner of living, u thro' 
 " you," he fays, " the name of God is blaf- 
 u phemed amongft the Gentiles," Rom.ii. 24. 
 Some of our anceftors through many tri- 
 bulations were gathered into the (late of true 
 worfhippers, and had fellowfhip in that 
 which is pure, and as one was inwardly 
 moved to kneel down in their affemblies, 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 in 
 order that we of the prefent age, may lool? 
 unto the Rock from whence we were hewn, 
 and remember that to unite in worihip, is a 
 union in prayer, and that prayer acceptable 
 to the Father is only in a mind truly fancli- 
 fied, where the facred name is kept holy, and 
 the heart reigned to do his will on earth as 
 E e 2 it
 
 A N E P I S T L E. 
 
 it is done in heaven, " If ye abide in me," 
 faith Chrifl, " and my words abide in you, 
 " ye fliall afk what ye will in my name, 
 * and it mail be done unto you.'VNow we 
 know not what to pray for as we ought, but 
 as the Holy Spirit doth open and direct our 
 minds, and as we faithfully yield to its in- 
 fluences, our prayers are in the will of our 
 heavenly Father, who fails not to grant that 
 which his own fpirit, through his children, 
 afketh ; thus prefervation from fin is known, 
 and the fruits of righteoufnefs are brought 
 forth by fuch who 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 bleffed in all that they do." R. Barclay's 
 Apology, p. 404. 
 
 How neceflary js it that we who profefs 
 thefe principles, and are outwardly acltive in 
 fupporting them, mould faithfully abide in 
 divine flrength, that " As He who hath call- 
 ' ed us, is holy, fo we may be hply in all 
 " manner of converfation." I Pet. i. 15. 
 
 If one profemng to be influenced by the 
 fpirit of Chrift, propofcth to unite in a labour 
 to promote righteoufnefs in the earth, and 
 in time paft he hath manifestly deviated from 
 the path of equity, then to ad: confiftent with 
 this principle, his firft work is to make i;eiti- 
 tution fo far as he may be enabled ; for if he 
 attempts to contribute toward a work intend- 
 ed
 
 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 ed to promote righteoufnefs, while it appears 
 that he neglecleth, or refufeth to act righte- 
 oufly 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 amfl in fupporting 
 thofe doctrines wherein that purity of life is 
 held forth, in which cufloms proceeding from 
 the fpirit of this world have no place, and 
 at the fame time flrengthen others in thofe 
 cuftoms by my example ; the firfl flep then, 
 in an orderly proceeding, is to ceafe from, 
 thofe cuftoms myfelf, and afterwards to la~ 
 bour, 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 
 anfwerable thereto, is neceflary before I can. 
 confidently recommend this principle to o- 
 thers. I often feel a labour in fpirit, that 
 we who are active members in religious fo- 
 ciety may experience in ourfelves the truth 
 of thofe exprellions of the Holy One " I 
 ** will be fanctified 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- 
 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, 
 may be a family united in that purity of 
 
 worihip,
 
 422 AN P I S T L E. 
 
 worfhip, which comprehends a holy life, and 
 minifters inftruclion to others. 
 
 My mind is often drawn towards children 
 in the truth, who having a fmall mare of the 
 things of this life, and coining to have fa- 
 milies may be inwardly exerciled before the 
 Lord to fupport them in a way agreeable to 
 the purity of truth, in which they may feel 
 his blefTing upon them in their labours ; the 
 thoughts of fuch being entangled with cuf- 
 toms (contrary to pure wifdom) conveyed to 
 them through our hands, doth often very 
 tenderly and movingly affect my heart, and 
 when I look towards and think on the fuc- 
 ceeding generation, fervent deiires are raifed 
 in me, that we by yielding to that Holy Spi- 
 rit which leads into all truth, may not do 
 the work of the Lord deceitfully, may not 
 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 {tumbling blocks out of the way of 
 thofe who may fucceed us. 
 
 So great was the love of Chrift, that he 
 gave himfelf for the church, " that he might 
 " fanctify and cleanfe it, that it mould be 
 *' holy, and without blemifh, not having 
 < fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing," Eph. 
 v. 25. and where any take the name of 
 Chrift upon them, profefTmg to be members 
 of his church, and led by his Holy Spirit, 
 and yet manifeftly deviate from the purity 
 of truth, they herein aCl againft the gracious 
 defign of his giving himielf for them, and 
 
 nainifter
 
 AN EPISTLE. 423 
 
 minifter caufe for the continuance of his af- 
 flJcUons, viz. in his body the church. 
 
 Chrift fufFered afflictions in a body of flem 
 prepared by the father, but the afflictions of 
 his myftical body are yet unfmifhed ; for 
 they who are baptized into Chrift are bap- 
 tized into his deathj and as we humbly abide 
 under his fanctifying power, and are brought 
 forth into newnefs of lifej we feel Chrift to 
 live in us, who being the fame yefterday, 
 to-day, and forever, and always at unity 
 with himfelf, his fpirit in the hearts of his 
 people leads to an inward e^ercife 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 
 wickednefs and cuftomSj and thereby ren- 
 dered incapable of being faithful examples to 
 others, forrow and heavinefs under a fenfe 
 of thefe things, is often experienced, and 
 thus in fome meafure is filled up that which 
 remains of the afflictions of Chrift. 
 
 Our blefTed Saviour fpeaking concerning 
 gifts offered in divine fervice, fays, " If 
 " thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there 
 <c remembereft that thy brother hath ought 
 " againft thee, leave there thy gift before the 
 " altar, and go thy way, firft be reconcil- 
 " ed 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 minifters caufe for the con- 
 tinuation
 
 424 AN EPISTLE, 
 
 urination of the afflictions of Chrrft ; and i 
 any profefling to bring their gift to the altar, 
 do remember the cuflomary contradiction 
 which fome of their fruits bear to the pure, 
 ipiritual worlhip, here it appears necefTary to 
 lay to heart this command, " leave thy gift 
 " by the altar." 
 
 Chrift gracioufly calls his people brethren, 
 " whofoever (hall do the will of God the fame 
 *' is my brother." Mark iii. 35. Now if we 
 walk contrary to the truth as it is in Jefus 
 while we continue to profefs it, we offend 
 .againfl Chrift, and if under this offence we 
 bring our gift to the altar, our Redeemer 
 doth not direcl: us to take back our gift, he 
 doth not difcourage our proceeding in a good 
 work ; but gracioufly points out the iieceffa- 
 ry means by which the gift may be rendered 
 acceptable, " leave," faith he, " thy gift by 
 4 the altar, firfl go and be reconciled to thy 
 " brother," ceafe from that which grieves 
 the Holy Spirit, ceafe from that which is a- 
 gainfl the truth, as it is in Jefus, and then 
 come, and oifer thy gift. 
 
 I feel, while I am writing, a tendernefs to 
 thofe who through divine favour, are pre- 
 ferved in a lively fenfe of the flate of the 
 churches, and at times may be under dii- 
 couragements with regard to proceeding in 
 that pure way which Chrifl by his Holy Spi- 
 rit leads into : the depth of diforder and 
 weaknefs, which fo much prevails, being o- 
 pened, doubtings are apt to arife as to the 
 poflibility of proceeding as an aiteinbly of 
 
 the
 
 AN EPISTLE, 42$ 
 
 the Lord's people in the purecounfel of truth ; 
 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 
 Chrift, relating to a vifible gathered church, 
 the members whereof 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 necelTity of keeping this name 
 holy, appears evident ; for where a number 
 of people unite in a profeilion of being led by 
 the fpirit of Chrift, and publiih their prin- 
 ciples to the world, the a6ls and proceedings 
 of that people may in fome meafure be con- 
 iidered 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 way of 
 prophaning the holy Name, and of going 
 back toward that wilderness of mfFerings and 
 periecution, out of which, through the tender 
 mercies of God, a church hath been gather- 
 ed ; " Chrift liveth in fanclified veflels," Gal. 
 ii. 20. and where they behold his holy Name 
 profaned, and the pure gofpei light eclipfed 
 through the unfaithfulnels of any who by 
 their ftation appear to be ftandard bearers 
 under the Prince of Peace^ the living mem- 
 bers
 
 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 bers in the body of Clirift in beholding thefe 
 things, do in fome 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 fincere hearted people in fome 
 kingdoms, where liberty of confcience is not 
 allowed, many of whom being burthened in 
 their minds with prevailing fuperflition, join- 
 ed with oppreffions, are often under forrow ; 
 and where fuch have attended to that pure 
 light which hath in fome degree opened their 
 xmderflandings, 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 opprefTed ? 
 
 How deeply affecting is the condition of 
 many upright hearted people who are taken 
 into the papal inquifition ? What lamentable 
 cruelties, in deep vaults, in a private way, 
 are exercifed on many of them ? and how 
 lingering is that death by a fmall flow rire, 
 which they have frequently indured, who 
 have been faithful to the end ? 
 
 How many tendcr-fpirited proteftants have 
 been fentenced to fpend the remainder of their 
 
 lives
 
 AN E P I S T-L E. 427 
 
 lives in a galley chained to oars, under hard- 
 hearted matters, while their young children 
 are placed out for education, and taught 
 principles fo contrary to the confciences of the 
 parents, that by diflenting from them, they 
 have hazarded their liberty, lives, and all 
 that was dear to them of the things of this 
 world ? 
 
 There have been in time pad fevere perfe- 
 Cutions under the Englifh government, and 
 many fincere - hearted people have fuffered 
 death for the teftimony of a good confcience, 
 whofe faithfulnefs in their day hath mmiflred 
 encouragement to others, and been a blefling 
 to many who have fueceeded them ; thus from 
 age to age, the darknefs being more and more 
 removed, a channel at length, through the 
 tender mercies of God, hath been opened for 
 the exercife of the pure gift of the gofpel mi- 
 niflry, without interruption from outward 
 power, a work, the like of which is rare, and 
 unknown in many parts of the world. 
 
 As thefe things are often frefh in my mind, 
 and this great work of God going on in the 
 earth has been open before me, that liberty 
 of confcienee with which we are favoured, 
 hath appeared -not as a light matter. 
 
 A truft is committed to us, a great and 
 weighty truft, to which our diligent attenti- 
 on is necefTary : wherever the active members 
 of this vifible gathered church ufe themfelves 
 to that which is contrary to the purity of our 
 principles, it appears to be a breach of this 
 truft, and oae ftep back toward the wilder- 
 
 aefs.
 
 42$ AN E P I S T L E. 
 
 tiefs, one ftep towards 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- 
 ings. 
 
 I feel a living invitation in my mind to 
 fuch who are a&ive in our religious fociety, 
 that we may lay to heart this matter, and 
 confider the ftation in which we Hand ; a 
 place of outward liberty under the free exer- 
 cife of our confcience towards 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 poflerity ; 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 martyrs when 
 the profpecl of death by fire was before them, 
 be remembered ! and may the patient con- 
 flant fufFerings of the upright-hearted 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 thofe in, ages to come, may ever be 
 brought under fuftering, through our fliding 
 back from the work of reformation in the 
 world ! 
 
 While
 
 AN EPISTLE. 429 
 
 While the active members in the vifible 
 gathered church fland upright, and the af- 
 fairs thereof are carried on under the leadings 
 of the Holy Spirit, altho' diforders may arife 
 among us, and caufe many exercifes to thole 
 who feel the care of the churches upon them ; 
 yet while thefe continue under the weight of 
 the work, and labour in the meeknefs of wif- 
 dom for the help of others, the name of 
 Chrift in the viable gathered church may be 
 kept facred ; but while they who are active 
 in the affairs of this church, continue in a 
 manifeft oppontion to the purity of our prin- 
 ciples, this as the prophet Ifaiah x. 18. ex- 
 preileth it, is like " as when a flandard bear- 
 " er fainteth :" and thus the way opens to 
 great, and prevailing degeneracy, and to 
 fufferings for fuch who through the power of 
 divine love, are feparated to the gofpel of 
 Chrift, and cannot unite with any thing 
 which {lands in oppofition to. the purity of it. 
 
 The neceflity of an inward ftillnefs, hath 
 under thefe exercifes appeared clear to my 
 mind; in true filence ftrength is renewed, 
 the mind herein is weaned from all things, 
 but as they may be enjoyed in the divine 
 will, and a lowlinefs in outward living op- 
 poiite to worldly honour, becomes truly ac- 
 ceptable to us ; in the defire after outward 
 gain, the mind is prevented from a perfect 
 attention to the voice of Chrifl ; but being 
 weaned from all things, but as they may be 
 enjoyed in the divine will, the pure light 
 ihines into the foul ; and where the fruits of 
 
 that
 
 430 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 that fpirit which is of this world, are brought 
 forth by many who profefs to be led by the 
 ipirit of truth, and cloudinefs is felt to be 
 gathering over the vifible gathered church, 
 the fincere in heart who abide in true ftillnefs, 
 and arc exercifed therein before the Lord for 
 his name fake, have a knowledge of Chrifl 
 in the fellowihip of his fufferings, and in- 
 ward thankfulnefs is felt at times, that thro 1 
 divine love our own wifdom is caft out, and 
 that forward active part in us fubjected, 
 which would rife and do fomething in the 
 viiifyle gathered church, without the pure 
 leadings of the Spirit of Chrifl. 
 
 While aught remains in us different from 
 n. perfect resignation 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 Chrifb, 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 caufe 
 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 
 Chriit. is to abide faithfully under the lead- 
 ings of his Holy Spirit in all cafes, and being 
 preferred thereby in purity of heart, and ho- 
 linefs of converfation, a teftimony to the pu- 
 rity of his government may be held forth 
 through us, to others, 
 
 A3
 
 AN E P I S T L E. 
 
 As my mind hath been thus exercifed, I 
 have feen that to be aclivc, and bufy in the 
 vifible gathered church, without the leadings 
 pf the Holy Spirit is not only unprofitable, 
 but tends to increafe dimnefs, and where 
 way is not opened to proceed in the light of 
 truth, a flop is felt by thofe who humbly at- 
 tend to the Divine Leader, a flop which in 
 relation to good order in the vifible gathered 
 church, is of the greateft confequence to be 
 obferved ; thus Robert Barclay in his treatifc 
 on difcipline holds forth, page 65. 68. 84, 
 " That the judgment or conclufion of the 
 church or congregation, is no further effec- 
 tual as to the true end and defign thereof, 
 but as fuch judgment or conclufion proceeds 
 from the Spirit of God operating on their 
 minds who are fanclirled in Chrifl Jefus." 
 
 Now in this flop I have learned the necef- 
 fity of waiting on the Lord in humility, that 
 the works of all" may be brought to light, 
 and thofe to judgment which are wrought in 
 the wifdom of this world, and have alfo 
 feen, that in a mind thoroughly fubjecled to 
 the power of the crofs, there is a favour of 
 life to be felt, which evidently tends to ga- 
 ther fouls to God, while the greatefl works 
 in the vifible gathered church brought forth 
 in man's wifdom, remain to be unprofitable. 
 
 Where people are divinely gathered into a 
 holy fellowfhip, and faithfully abide under 
 the influence of that Spirit which leads into 
 nl) truth, " they are the light of the world," 
 Mat. v. 14, Now holding this profefiion, to 
 
 me
 
 432 AN E P I S T L E. 
 
 me hath appeared weighty, even beyond 
 what I can fully exprefs, and what our blef- 
 fed Lord feemed to have in view, when he 
 propofed the neceflity of counting the coft, 
 before we begin to build. 
 X I truft there are many who at times, under 
 divine visitation, feel an inward enquiry af- 
 ter God, and when fuch in the fimplicity of 
 their hearts mark the lives of a people who 
 profefs to walk by the leadings of his Spirit, 
 of what great concernment is it that our 
 lights mine clear, that nothing of our con- 
 duel carry a contradiction to the truth as it 
 is in fcius, or be a means of profaning his 
 holy Name, and be a (tumbling block in the 
 way of thole fincere enquirers. 
 
 When fuch feekers who wearied with 
 empty forms, look towards uniting with us 
 as a people, and behold active members a- 
 mong us depart in their cuftomary way of 
 living, 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 profpecl ! 
 and how ftrongly doth fuch unfaithfulnefs 
 operate againfl the fpreading of the peaceable, 
 harmonious principle and teltimony of truth 
 amongft mankind ? 
 
 In entering into that life, which is hid 
 with Ghrift in God, we behold his peaceable 
 government, where the whole family are go- 
 verned by the fame fpirit, and the " doing 
 " to others as we would they fhould do un- 
 " to us," groweth up as good fruit from a 
 
 good
 
 AN E P I S T L E. 433 
 
 good tree, tlie 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 of that which labours, 
 and fuffers for the iucreafe of this peaceable 
 government among the inhabitants of the 
 world ; and I have felt a labour of long con- 
 tinuance that we who profefs this peaceable 
 principle, may be faithful flandard bearers 
 under the Prince of Peace, and that rtothing 
 of a defiling nature, tending to difcord and 
 wars, may remain among us. 
 
 May each of us query with ourfelves, have 
 the treafures I poffefs, been gathered in that 
 wifdom which is from above, fo 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 pofiemons received by 
 me from others been conveyed in a way free 
 from all unrighteoufnefs fo far as I have 
 feen? 
 
 The principle of peace in wjiich our truit 
 is only on the Lord, and our minds weaned 
 from a dependance on the ftrength of armies, 
 hath appeared to me very precious, and I 
 often feel ftrong defires, that we who pro- 
 fefs this principle, may fo walk, as to give 
 jufh caufe for none of our fellow-creatures to 
 be offended at us ; that our lives may evi- 
 dently rnanifefi, that we are redeemed from 
 that fpirit in which wars arc : our blefled 
 Saviour in pointing out the danger of fo 
 F f leaning
 
 434 Ax EPISTLE, 
 
 leaning on man, as to neglecl die leadings of 
 his Holy Spirit, faid, " Call no man your 
 ' father upon the earth ; for one is your fa- 
 " ther which is in heaven," Mat. xxiii. 9. 
 where the willlom from above is faithfully- 
 followed, and therein we are entruFced with 
 fubflance, it is a treafure committed to our 
 care in the nature of an inheritance, as an 
 inheritance from him, who formed, and fup- 
 ports the world. Now in this condition the 
 true enjoyment of the good things of this life 
 is underflood, and that bleiTmg felt, in which 
 is real fafety ; this is what I apprehend our 
 blefTed Lord had in view, when he pronounc- 
 ed, *' BleiTed are the meek, for they ihall in- 
 " herit the earth." 
 
 Selfim worldly minded men may hold lands 
 in the felfiih fpirit, and depending on the 
 flrengtli of the outward power, be perplexed 
 with fecret uneaiinefs, left the injured ihould 
 fometime overpower them, and that meafure 
 meted to them, which they meafure to others. 
 Thus felfiih men may poileis 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-r 
 dom which is from beneath, and inequitable 
 gain gathered by a man, and left as a gilt 
 to his children, who being entangled by the 
 fame worldly fpirit, have not attained to that 
 ciearnefs of light in which the channels o 
 rightequfhefs are opened, and juflice done to 
 
 thofe
 
 AN E P I S T L E. 435 
 
 thofe who remain filent under injuries : here 
 I have feen under humbling exercife of mind, 
 that the fins of the fathers are embraced by 
 the children, and become their {ins, arid thus 
 in the days of tribulation, the iniquities of 
 the fathers are vifited upon ^thefe children, 
 who take hold of the unrighteoumefs of their 
 fathers, and live in that fpirit in which thofe 
 iniquities were committed ; 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 mail they pine away." Lev. xxvi. 39. 
 and our blefled Lord in beholding the hard- 
 nefs of heart in that generation, and feeling 
 in himfelf, that they lived in the fame fpirit 
 in which the prophets had been perfecuted 
 unto death, fignified, *' that the blood of all 
 *' the prophets which was fhed from the 
 " foundation of the world, fhould be requir- 
 " ed of that generation, from the blood of 
 " Abel, unto the blood ofZacharias, which 
 *' perifhed between the altar and the temple." 
 Luke xi. 51. 
 
 Tender companion fills my heart toward 
 my fellow creatures eftranged 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 ChrifVs fake, and weaned from a de- 
 pendance on the arm of flefh, we feel, that 
 there is a reft for the people of God, and 
 
 that
 
 436 AN EPISTLE. 
 
 that it flands in a perfect refignation of our-* 
 iclves to his holy Will ; in this condition^ 
 all our wants and defires are bounded by pure 1 
 wifclom, and our minds wholly attentive to 
 the council of Chtifl inwardly communicat xl, 
 which hath appeared to me as a habitation 
 of fafety for the Lord's people, in times of 
 Outward commotion and trouble, and deiires 
 from the fountain of pure love, are opened 
 in me, to invite my brctiir-::i and fellow 
 creatures to fed for, and tcok after thatf 
 which gathers the mind into it. 
 
 JOHN \yOOLMAN. 
 
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