■^.^ «■ % X, ^ ^ An A C G O UN T O F T H B LIFE3 TRAVELS, AND Christian ExPERiENeEe I N "T H E Wo^k of the Miniftry OF ' SAMUEL B W 2>l AS. LONDON Printed i Philadelphia, Reprinfi^d, and Sold by William DuNLAP, at the Newest Printing-Office, io Markit'Streeti ly^g^ ■ P R'E FACE T O T H E Tv,^? R E A D E R. TH E following Sheets exhibit to thy Perufal a plain Man's plain and undifguifed Account of his own Progrefs in Religion : An artlefs Narra- tive of his fincere and hearty Endeavours, as much as in him lay, to promote the Doftrine of the Gof- pel of Chrift in the Earth. The Motives inducing him to undertake the Of-- hce of 2 Preacher, appear to have been perfectly confonant to the Precepts of Holy Writ, and lo the Practice of Chrift and his Apoftles, viz. I/?. A clear, cogent and convincing Evidence of a divine Call, and heavenly Impulfe thereunto. zdly. An indifpenfible Scnfc of his Duty nccef- farily obliging him to yield Obedience to that CjlK And "^dly. The fwect Returns of inward Peace and divine Confolations accompanying his Obedience therein, did greatly conduce to his Confirmation ^nd Perfeverance in the Way of his Duty, To [ iv 3 To the performance of which he found himfelf jneaiurably prepared and qualified; for his own 3£xpenence of the Love pf Gcd, and of thy Ope ra- tions of his holy Spirit, in gradually purging out the Corruptions of his own Hearty did excite and aug- ment in him a Chriftian Love to his fellow Crea- tures, attended with an Ardency of Zeal, and ap^ inceiTant Defirc, for their Converfion. . . An inward Purgation from Sin is fo necefTary^ tnd fo effcntial a Qual.ficatioh of a Gofpel Mmifler, that no Man can be flich without it ; Nor doth God fend any unclean Mefiengers oa his Errand : '" ' It being the conftant Method of his divine Wi^ dom, under this Gofpel Difpenfation, through the purging of his holy Spirit, to clea Te and purify the Infide of every Vcitel, which he permits to bq made Ufe of in the Service of his Sanduary, Wliere- fore, ^- . . - . ^ . • Every unfan(ftified Pretender to preach the Gof- pel ofChrifl, deferves to have his Mouth ftopt with that unanfwerable Query of our hiefied Saviour to the P bar Ifees of old; O Generation of Vipers, kow can ye y being evil, [peak good Thirgs ? for cut of the Abundaneeof the Heart the Mouth Jpeaketb. Mat. xiip 34- f V ] A Pradice of this Nature abounds with the grof-» feftof Ablurdities, and ftands emphatically explod- ed, even in die Time of the Mofaicdueck Law, by the Roval Pfalmift, in thefe Word^ : Unto the Wicked God faith ^ What haft thou to do to declare my Statutes^ or that thou fiouldeji take my Covenant in thy Mouth t Plalml. 16. But alas ! Sdf-Interefl prompts Men to tu^n a dcat Ear even to the moft divine Expoftulations, ancr unholy Perfons will, in del'pight of the moft exprefs Prohibitions, continue to intrude themfelves beyond their Bounds ; and will be ftill buiying and employ- ing themfelves about external Circumftances and Ceremonies, while the Life, Spirit and Subftance of true Religion is placed above their Reach, and un- attainable bv them, until it fhall pleafe God, in the exceeding Riches of his Grace, to cleanle their Hearts from all Unrigliteoufnefs ; of which Conver-^ lion we heartily wifb for a nearer Profped: than wc can difcern at prefent. We now return to the Author of the enfuing Narrative, who was another Sort of Preacher ; a free Giver of what himfelf had freely received, a liberal and bpen-hearted Communicator of his re- ligious Experiences unto all other Men, without Eefped: of Perfons. He direded all the Sheep of Chrift to follow the Voice of Chrift himfelf, the j2;ood Shepherd, whofe OnioiprefenQe renders his Voice audible tp ^vcry [ vi ] pne of his Sheep, however feparatc or difperfcci throughout the World. His Converfation was free, generous and affable j neither did he ihun the Society of thofe whom he was fent to convert J his Mjffion being fomewhat correfpondent to that of his J^prd and Mafter, whQ declared concerning^ himfelf 2 I am not come to call the Right eoii^, hut Stmters to Repentance^ Mat. 1x13. He was of a grave Deportment, and of a tall^ comely and manly Afped; : His publick Preaching was attended with fuch a divine Authority and ma~ jeftick Innocence, as commanded the Attention of his Hearers y and his Voiqe being clear, ftrong and diftindl, was capable of conveying his profitable Ex- hortations to the Ears and Underftandings of a very numerous Auditory ; of which a remarkable In- ilance appears in his Preaching at Jedburgh \v\ Scot-- la?2dy mentioned in Page 46, 47, of his Account. His literal Accompliflimcnts were I ^t fmall, ex- tending little farther than to enable him to read thp Scriptures in his Mother Tongue; yet by conftant TJfe and Application, he became thoroughly verfed therein, and enabled by the force of their Tefti- mony, to confront and confute the Gaio-fayers of liis Dodtrine, which was in all Points ftri and bids thee heartily Farewell. J. B E S S E^ [ I ] i ^ I ■ I ■ 1 i i I .1 ■■ „ , I 1 . 1. ' ^ ■ ■ ' III ! I [ r !•-■ ^ & ■■ ■ - ■ ■ , ,,,., II ■■■■ AN ACCOUNT OF THE Life and Travels OF S A M UE L BO WR A S. I Was born in Wejlmoreland, within the Corlipafg of great ^^r/V^^/^W Monthly-meeting, about ther Year 1676, and was entered in that Regifter ; and my Father dying before I was one Month old, I never knew him, but I have been informed, that he was very honeft and zealous for Truth in his Time, having been a confiderable Sufferer for the Caufe of Religion, both in Lois of Goods and Liber- ty, the Meeting being kept in his Houfe in fome of the hotteft Time of Perfecution in King Charles the Second^ R^eign* Being left fo young, and my Mother having but a fcanty Subfiftance of about 4/. loj. a Year, with a Dwellmg for herfelf and two Children, I was about Thirteen put to learn the Trade of a Blackfmith, with an Uncle who ufed me unkind- ly \ I was afterwards put -an Apprentice to a very ^ honeft 2 TZ^ L I F E and TRAVELS honeft Friend belonging to Brigjlaits Meetinij, near Sedbergj in Ilrkfmre^ his Name was Samuel Parat ^j but all this 1 ime I had no Tafte of Religion, but devoted myfeli to Pleafure, as much as my Circum- ftances would permit, tho' my Mother had kept me very findt while I was under her Care, and would irequently in Winter Evenings take Opportunities to tell me fundry PalTages of my dear Father's Suffer- ings, admoniiliing me ili]l To to live, that I might be worthy to bear the Name of fo good a Man's Son, and not bring a Reproach on myfelf and Parents; alfo frequently putting me in mind, that if {he fhould be taken away, I fliould greatly niifs her, both for Advice and other Ways to affift me ; and advifed me to fear the Lord now in my Youth, that I might be favoured wiih his Bleffing ; which frequently brought m.e into great Tendernefs, being afraid that fhe would die before I was capable to live in the World ; and flie took m.e frequently to Meetings with her, where ilie often had i( me Words in Tefti- mony : Perfecution being ftill very hot, and Friends locked out of our Meeting-houle 2it Strickland^ we met at the Door, and I remember at two feveral Tim.es when I was a Child, and came to Meeting with mv Mother, the Informers came, the firft Timc^ the Meeting had been over about ha-f an Hour, the fecond Time not quite fo much, fo that we efcaped :heir Hands both Times; but fundry Friends v/erc in Prifon at Appleby for attending that Meeting, vr'hom my dear Mother went to vifit, taking me.a- ong with her, and we had a Meeting with the P^*-^,.> fnners, feveral Friends from other Places being lik^^- wife of SAMUEL BOV/NAS. . 3 wife there by Appointment. What lobferved was, though very young, how tender and broken they were 3 and I was very inquiiltive of my Mother, why they cried fo much, (which we called Gt'eeting) and ihee greet too, ((aid I) v^^hy did thee? She told me that I could not underftand the Realon of it then, but when I grew up more to Man's Eftate I might. Now to return to my Apprenticelliip ; I had a ve- ry kind loving Mafter and Miftrcis, and I had Meat enough, and Work enough, but had little Confider- ation about Religion, nor any Tafle thereof. On Firji-days I frequented Meetings, and the greater Part of my Time I flept, but took no Account of Preaching, nor received any other Benefit than be- ing there kept out of bad Company, which indeed is a very great Service to Youth. I took much Li- berty in Difcourfe, and was taken Notice of as a witty, fenfible young Man : But often on my Bed I ruminated on myWay of Life with Reluctance, yet frequently fell \vXo the fame Way again: I never was given to Swearing, nor any very grofs Vice, but what I gave way to the moft, was Jefting, and Turns of Wit-tD provoke Mirth, which gave me often (af- ter it w^as over) a heavy Heart ; and thus I went on for near three Years 5 but one Firfl-da-f^ being at Meeting, a young Woman, named ^/me' iViifon, was there and preached 3 fhe v/as very zealous, and fix- ing my Eye upon her, fhe vvi!:h a great Zeal' pointed her Finger at me, uttering thefe Words with much Powder, ' A, traditional ^aker, thou comeft toMeet- * ing as thou went from it (the lafl- Tin»:e) and go- * eil from it as thou came to it, but art -- '^?tter A 2 foi: 4 rhe LIFE and T R. A V E L S * for thy coming, x^hat v/ilt thou do in the End ? ' This was lo pat to my then Condition, that, like Said^ I was fmitten to the Ground, as it might be faid, but turning my Thoughts inward, in fecret I cried, Loi'-d^ what jfJjall I do to he-p it f And a Voice as it were fpoke in my Heart faying, Look unto me and I will help thee I and I found much Comfort, that made me fhed abundance of Tears. Then I remembered what my Mother told me fome Years* before, that when I grew up more to Man's Eftate, I lliould know the Reafon of that Tendernefs and weeping, and fo I now did to Purpofe. I went home with a heavy Heart, and could neither eat nor fleep as I ufed to do, but my Work never iucceeded bet- ter m my Hands than it did at this Time, nor my Mind never lefs in it ; but my Condu<9", as well as Countenance, was much altered, [o that feveral in the Family were doubtful that I Ihould fall into a kind of melancholy Diftraclion ; but I longed for the Meeting-day, and thought it a very long Week. When the Time of Meeting came, my Mmd was foon fixed and (laid upon God, and I found an un- common Enjoyment that gave me great Satisfaction, my Underftanding being opened, and all the Facul- * ties of my Mind fo quick, that I feemed another Man ; a divine and fpintual Sweetnefs abiding with me Night and Day, for fome Time, and I began to fee and underftand the Scriptures, and the Na- ture of preaching the DoiSrine of the Gofpel in the Power and Spirit, pbinly feeing a Difference be- tween a Preacher of the Letter and of the Spirit, which till then I was wholly ignorant of, and un- acquainted of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 5 acquainted with, not having before that, tlie leait Degree that • I could perceive of divine Underftand'^ ing ; but then upon looking back, and conlidering what I had heard fuch and fuch Friends preach, which at that Time I did not underftand, but now I underllood it clearly, which was a plain Demon- ftration to me, that ail divine Knowledge is from divine Light, which we can't comprehend, until we are afflfted fo to do by a Vifitation from Heaven. And now the Scriptures, and Miniftry from the Openings of the Spirit, feemed fo clear and pJain to my Underftanding, that I wondered that any Body remained unconvinced, fuppofing them to iee the Truths of the Gofpel in the fame Light that I did; and that Saying of the Apoftle, * wherein he afferts his Knowledge of the Son of God being come, from their receiving an JJnderJianding from him^ was clear- ly difcovered to me, fo that now I plainly (aw a Dif- tindion between the Children of Light, and of this World; the fpiritual, and the natural Man; and that the natural Man could not receive the Things of the Spirit of God, being Foolifhnefs to him; he can*t know them, becaufe they are known 072ly by the Spir-- ity as the Apoftle afferts ; J and I found myfelf much improved in divine Wifdom and faving Knowledge. As I was going to Meeting walking alone, it came very livingly into my Mind, that if I was but faith- ful and obedient to the heavenly Vifion, I Ihould foon be qualified to teach others, and more efpecial- Jy^ as Llaw by Experience wherein my ihortnefs had A 3 been * 1 John v. 2a 4 I Corinthians ii, 14, 6 r/3^ L I F E ^;7^ T R A V E L S been, in being contented and eafy with a Form of Truth and Religion, which I had only by Educa- tioQ, being* brought up in Plainnefs o^ both Habit and Speech; but all this, though very good in its Place, did not make me a true Chri/lia?!-^ 1 was but a traditional ^aker^ and that by Education only, and not from the Scriptures, becaufe they were a Book fealed to me. And I now law p'ainsy that Education, though never (o carefully adrniniftred, would not do the Work; although a pious Educa- tion ought bv no Means' to be negledted, but ail Parents and Guardians ought to be flirred up to their Duty in that Refped:; yet we mufl: conlider, that it is not in the Power of Parents, or the moft pious Tutors to confer Grace, which is the Gilt of God alone; nor can any come into the true Fold hxMhy this Door ^ as laid our Saviour \ concerning himfelf. Thus it plainly appeared to me, there was no other Way but this, mz. by the Spirit of Chri/i alone^ to attain to true Faith, which works by Love, and give Victory ov^x our Infirmities and evil Deeds, working fuch a Change in us, that we can in Truth from Experience fay, we are born from above^ ^ and by Virtue of that Birth only, is iht true Knowledge of the Kingdom, and the Things of God attained^ and by no other Vv'^ay or Means, although never fo well contriv'd by human Art : And being experi- mentally fenfible of this Change wrought in my Mind, it look'd the more likely that I might in Time be qualified to fpeak to others of my own Experi- ence t John X. I, 2, 3. 5 Johii iii. 3, 4, 5. of SAMUEL BOJVNAS. y cnce of the Operation of the Spirit, in my Mind, not thinking the Time fo near at Hand, as it appeared when I came to the Meeting ; for I had no: fat long therein, but a great Weight fell upon me, with fome Words to Ipeak ; but I conlider'd, (being wil- ling to be my own Carver) it was too foon to un- dertake fuch aTafk, being but an Infant in Religion ; not remembring the fmallTime between PWs Con- verfion '^' and his preaching the Gofpel : And my for- mer Condud: with my Companions, (many of whom were in the Meeting at the fame Time) flood much in my Way, for my Reformation was but three Weeks old that very Day, fo that I reafon'd thus, thatfofudden a Change would hardly be bx)rne : I could not for that Time, for thefe Reafons give up, and the Burden was.then taken from me : But after that Meetmg it came upon me again with double Weight, and afFedfed me fo very greatly that I Was much a- lone, and my Countenance fo altered with Weep^ ing, that myMafter tookOccafiou to enquire into the Matter, how it was with me'? And I gave him as plain Account as I was capable of, which he was much affcdted with indeed, and broke into Tears : What I feared was, that I had by Difobedience fo much oifended, that I fhould be caft off for ever : But vvith fundry Exhortations from Scripture and o- therwife, he endeavoured to pacify me, not doubtin>? but that I fhould have the like Offer made me, put-, ting me in Mind of Gideon\ Fleece, % &c. When next Meeting-day came, I went in great Wqaknefa A 4 ard * ^fts ix, %Q. -^ Judges vl. 8 t;^^ LIFE and TRAVELS and Fear, and could rather have gone elfewhere, than to Meeting that Day ; however, Ibme Time after I was in the Meeting, I felt the fame Concern as at the Meeting before, and I fat under the Weight of it till the Meeting v/as almoft over, and then hardly knew how I got upon my Feet, but did, and broke out with a loud Voice in thefe Words, viz. ' Fear ^ not them which kill the Body, but are not able to ' kill the Soul 3 but rather fear him which is able to ^ deflroy both Body and Soul in Hell. I iuy, fear ^ you him who will terribly fhake the Earth, that all ^ which is moveable may be fhaken and removed * out of the Way, that that which is immoveable ^ may ftand.' This v/aj all I had to fay at that Time. But oh! what Joy and Sweetnefs I felt afterward I can't exprefs, and the Pieafure of my Mind appeared in my Countenance, lo that my Miiter took Notice, and (poke of it fo feelingly, that plainly demonflrat- cd he was a Partaker w'th me of the fame Rejoi- cing in himfelf, as at the Birth of an only Son : This was about the Year 1696, on that czWcd Chri/imas-day^ it falling that Year upon the Firft-day of the Week, Thus having (as it may be faid,) broke the Ice, the nextTime was not quite ih hard, but I faid very little, and leldom appeared for a Year or two, having about three Years of my Apprenticertiip to ferve, which I did with Fidelity and Truth. The laft Year of my Time^ I found lome confiderable work- ing in my Mind to vifit Scotland^ being very rarely without fome Degree of divine. Virtue on my Mind, either by Night or Day; therefore I thought, if it was fo with me then, it would be much more fo when of SAMUEL BOPVNAS. 9 when I had nothing to mind but divine Things ; but I found it othcrwile, of which in its Piace. I may not omit, that fometime above two Years after I lirfl fpoke in Meetings, I open'd the New-Teftament at that Paffage fpoken of by our Saviour, Mat. x. 28. to the fame EiFedl with what was firfl open'd on my Mind, as mentioned above, which then I knew no- thing of, as being the Sayings of Chrift to warn them againfl the Fear of Men ; altho' no doubt I had read it, but had taken fo little Notice of what I read, it was to me as if it had been never writ. But it was a great Comfort ta me, that I was thus opened in a material Point of Dodlrine of our blefled Lord at my iirft fetting out. About this Time I had a Defire to vifit a neigh- bouring Meeting called 2"f//^W, it being the firil that 1 ever had a Concern to vifit, and delired my dear Friend Ifaac Alexander^ to go with me. Agreeing upon the Time, I went to Ifaac s Brother's Hou(e the Sevejjth'day Evening before, where Ifaac lived ; and he and I went to vifit Jama's Wilfoji and his Parents that Evening : James was under Convince- ment, but not his Parents. We had fome Confer- ence, but being called to Supper, left off abruptly^ After Supper I could not be eafy without repeating- my Vifit, and James's Mother being very quick in the Scriptures, (he defired my Judgment -on thofe Texts m Ifaiab and Peter-, Behold, I create new Ilea-- n)ens, and new Earth, wherein dwells Righteoufnefs. And my Underftanding was opened to preach unto her the new Birth fo effedually, that fhe was tho- roughly convinced, and continued an honefi: Friend to her lo Jhe LIFE and TRAVELS to her dying Day, going to Meeting the very next Day, and io held on while able to attend Meetings. Now my Time of Servitude being near at an End, and my Mafter being very willing to keep me in his Service, fpoke to me about it, which gave me /an Opportunity to open my Mind to him about my Vifit to Scotland y and he then told me, to acquaint fome of the Elders in the Meeting therewith^ for it was needful that I fhould have a Certificate, to fhew the Unity of the Brethren with my Journey ^ and accor- dingly I did, and had a Certificate : Ifaac Ale:^ander was my Companion, and had a Certificate likewife. So we fet out ; Kendal being the firft Meeting, and then to Pre/Ion^Tellandy Height^ Hawkejhead^ and vifi- ted Part oi La?icajhire^ zndi Torkjhire^ in about three or four Weeks. But the Poverty of my Spirit was fo exceeding great and bitter, that I could fcarcely bear it, but cried out aloud, and it was fo furprizing to my Companion, that we being by ourfelves walking on Foot, he feared it would be too hard for me, for I complained that I was deceived or mijlah72\ becaufe, while I was in my Mafter's Work, I rarely by Night or Day was without fome Degree ot divine Virtue on my Mind, but xiow I could feel nothing but the Bitternefs of Death and Darknefs ; all Comfort was hid from me for a Time, and I was baptifed into Death indeed. As we went along, I faid to Jfaac with a Vehemency of Spirit. Oh ! that I was in my Majlers Work again ^ and favoured with my former Enr joymatts of divine Life^ how acceptable it would be I We came at our Journey's End, to one Miles Birket'Sy v/ho was more than ufualiy kind to us 3 but alas ! he of SAMUEL B OWN AS. ii he did not know ray State and Poverty. Next Day we went to another Meeting at Hawkejhead^ it was a little better with me, but very poor ; and fo we per- formed our Journey in about a Month, and he re- turned to his Father's Houfe, and I to my Mafter Tarat\. I being very loath to go to S^cotland^ having been proved with fo much Poverty of Spirit, the Cup was fo bitter I could hardly bear it 3 however, I kept my Mind to myfelf, and we fet forward on Foot, vifiting Part oiCumberlandm our Way, and I thought Ifaac had very fine Service, fo much fuperior to mine, that after him I was afraid to lefien or hurt what Good he had done ; and before him, I was a- fraid to ftand in his Way. He was very much ad- mired indeed, and fome were convinced by his Mi- niftry : We accomplished that Journey in about two Months Time. At our Return Hay-harveft came on, and I went to Mowing, and on the Meeting- days went juft v/here my Mind led me, and grew in my Miniftry rery much, and the Lord let me fee his Kindnefs to lead me through that State of Poverty, which was of great Service to qualify me to fpeak to others in the like Condition, and that Trials of fun- dry Kinds were for my Improvement and Good, tending to my Eftablifhment in the true Root of a divine and fpiritual Miniftry ; and the Dodlrine of our Saviour and his Apoftles -f- did much comfort me, fo that I became, in the Opinion of feveral, an able Minifler, although but ih0rt, feldom ftanding a Quarter t Matthew v. 3, Romans vii, 2^, 12 T:^^ L I F E ai2d TRAVELS Quarter of an Hour. But alas ! I faw iince that, I was but a meer Babe or Infant in the Work. This Summer paft over, and by my Harveft-work at Hay and Corn, I pick'd up a little Money, being jufl penny-lefs before, fo that I travelled to a Meet- ing before I got to Work 14 or 15. Miles, three Times forth and back on foot ^11 alone, with three Halfpence, being all the Money I had, and thinking to rcfrefh myfelf in the Way, but when I came near the Houfe of Entertainment, I Found myfelf fo ftrong and cheerful, that I thought I might want it more at another Time, and fo kept it. Towards the Fall I bought a Horfe, and put my- felf in a Condition for another Journey with my old Companion Ifaac again; and we thought either of us pretty fufficient to hold a Meeting; however. I was to go with him through Bi[hoprick and Tork- fdire^ and he was to go with me into the Wefl, as to Wilts, Sojnerjetjhire, Devo?2jInre^ &c. We had not proceeded far, before I was very much fhut up, 'and had no Satisfaction at all in going farther with him; I told him how it was with me, and we were both willing to part; and I went to be at Tork on Firji'day, and meeting with dear John RichardfoUj I laid my Concern before him, and as a nurfmg Father he fpoke very encouragingly to me, and he got Meetings appointed for me at Wetherby^ and fo for- ward towards Dcncajier. I went on in g;reat Fear, and after Meeting at Wetherby^ Benjami7i Brown fpoke very encouragingly, that the Lord would en- large my Gifts-, and when thou findejl itfo^ faid he, dont value thyfelf upon ity but give the Honour of it where of SAMUEL BOJVNAS. 13 where it's due^ and keep humble^ and God ivtll blefs tbee^ and make thee a ufeful Member in his Hand. My nextMeeting was zt Wakefield^ which was very much to my Comfort and Encouragement: Then ioPonte-' fratl^ where I had no Caufe to complain; but there was a Friend, that alter Meeting did cavil and find a deal of Faults with what I had laid, which brought fomeUneafinefs upon me: But being afterwards toid^ he ufed to do fo, and that he was not i?i Unity ^ that brought me off pretty light and cafy ; fo I went from thence to Doncajler on the Seveiith-day, it being Mar- ket-day there : I was condudfed to Thomas Aldam\ Quarters, he being in Town, who foon came and look'd at me, I thought aujierelyy 'firfl enquiring ivhence Icame^ and if I hadaCertificate? To all which I gave proper Anlwers, and fhewed him my Certi- ficate; all this feemed agreeable, and he undertook to appoint Meetings forward, and fent me home with his Son: But not having ever been fo clofely examin- ed before, this grew in my Mind, and fearing how I fhould come off, Thomas Al dam being a noted Mi- niiler, it was fome Uneafinefs; but at lafl he came Home, and was very tender and kind indeed.. Next Day, being Firft-day^ we repaired to Meeting, and I came ofFbeyond what I exped;ed by much, preached almofl an Hour, fo that I was very chearfuf in my Spirit after it, and we hstd a little Opportunity in the Evening, and all ended brave and well: So the Week following I we.nt to Blithe^ and took Meetings in courfe as they lay by Maplebeck to Nottingham. At Maplebeck there was a brave old living Friend, with whom I had great Comfort^ his Name wdisjohn . Camm : 14 rhe LIFE and T R A V^E L S Camm: At this Place I had the very beft Meeting 'that I had ever had, and it had a very remarkable EfFed: upon me ; for I began to think the Bitternels and AnguiHi of Death, which I had gone through before, might now be over in a great Degree, and I fhould go on fmoother and with more Eafe for Time to come, for the Friends fliewed me much Refped,and I was vifited in the Evening, and Morn- ing before I left t))em, by fundry that lived nigh: In fhort, I thought more of myfelf than I. had done before^ that I remember. Two or three of them went with me to Nottingham^ feeming much pleafed with my Company; it being Seventh-day^ I was there on Firji-day at two Meetings, came off tolerable well, but not hke as at Mapkbeck. The Third-day following I was at Caflle-dunnington^ where was a fine Colledion of Friends ; I preach'd fome Time a- mongfl them, but found not that Authority and Lite, as I thought, to attend me as before ; how- ever, I defired another Meeting with them that Even- ing, which was readily aflented to, which was very large, confidering that Placr. J feemed very poor and low, and blamed myfelf much for appointing another Meeting in fo poor and weak a Frame of Mind; the Meeting came on, and proved better than I exped:ed : But I was very low, and it being a clear Moon-light Night, I walked into the Friend's Orchard behind his Houfe, bemoaning myfelf very much, as having loft my Guide, and fallen irom that happy Condition I was in the Week before : The Friend of the Houfe finding I tarried, came out to meet me, having a Senle ot my low State and Con- dition of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 15 dition, io that, enquiring how I did, he began to fpeak very much in praiie of thole two Meetings, and of the Service I had in them. But all this did not raife my Spirits : We went in, but he perceived I was ve- ry low, and he and his Wife endeavour'd to com- fort me ; his Wife had a fine Gift of the Miniftrv, and fhe told me fome Experiences fhe had gone through, but all did not do, nor come near my Condition.' Next Day I went to Swa?iningicn in hetcefterjhire^ and there, was a fine Body of Friends again, and I had not iix. long, before I felt, as I thought, as good an Authority to preach as ever, and flood up, not doub^fing an open, latisfadlory Meet-^ ing : But I had not ftood above fifteen, if fo many. Minutes, until all was fhut up, and it feemed as though both the Sun and Air were darkened. I fat down under a great Cloud, to think what I fhould do, appealing to God, as having no ill Defign, but much otherwife, and earnellly in fecret defiring Help ; and immediately, as though a Voice had fpok- en intelligibly, ^ Thou runs, and God has not fent ^ thee ; thou fpeaks, but God don't fpeak by thee; * therefore thou flialt not profit the People.' It may be thought I was bad before, but much worfe now, I being under the very Hour and Power of Death and Darknefs, being at my Wits-end what to do 5 and under this great Temptation divers Ways prefented, fuch as my turning myfclf outof theLine of Friends, which I found would be fomewhat hard to do, by rcafon I always had a Guide from one Place to another : Then to turn Home again, and by that Method I might get rid of Friends as Guides, and i6 97^^ LIFE and T R A V E L jS and make the beft of my Way to fome Port in 7/v- land^ fell my Horfe, and get Work (where I was not known) at my Trade: But then the Honour of the Monthly-meeting, that had given me fo good a Certificate, would be affedled by my fo doing : And having coniidered of fundry Ways to take, at laft this prefented, to make away with myfelf in fome River or Pond, as though it had been an Acci-^ dent, and this would cover ^11. Thus for a Time I was bewildered, not feeing where I was ; but fince it plainly appeared I was under the Influence of the Spirit oiAntichrifl. Thus begging heartily for Help, I fell on my Knees, and prayed with that Fervency, that few under the Roof but were melted into Tears, and it was fuch a Time as I never had before nor lince in Prayer, as I remember : Thus that Meeting ended. Next I went to a Town called Hinckley y and there was a confiderable Number of Friends and other People ; I was extremely low and poor, but had a comfortable Meeting, that much healed me, and fet me to rights again. Then I vifited Lcicefierjljire pretty generally, and there was a Woman of fome Account (her Name v^2i^ yemimah Mowttney) who w^as convinced, and fhe was with me at fundry Meetings, and was exceed- ing tender and loving, being throughly reached and fatisfied. When we parted, flie was fo open-heart- ed that I was called alide by- her, and after having faid fomething to me about her inward Condition, {he offered me fome Pieces of Gold, which I told her, I durft not touch ; fhe very courteoufly, and with a becoming genteel Mein, told me, Jhe was both of SAMUEL JBOrVNAS. iy hoth able and "ibiiiingy and as flje had no other Way^ that poe cotddjhew her Gratitude j or that fpiriiual Good poe had received by my Minijlry^ floe could do no lefs than that, befeeching that I would receive it, as the true 'Token of her Love ajid RefpeSf. In anlwer, I laid, // was what I never bad done, nor could I now do it , but all the Reward I de fired and expeBed was, that/he might carefully, with djtncere Heart, endeavour that her Obe^ dience did keep pace with her Knowledge, the hearing of which would much rejoice my Soul: We parted in great Love and Tendernefs. I heard that fundry others were convinced in that Neighbourhood. A very honeft Friend, whofe Narne was Brooks, took great Pains to get the fceking People to Meeting, and I was tery much enlarged in pertinent Matter, fuitable toi the States of fuch feeking Souls- Out of Leice/ier/hire, being very well rewarded fof theBitterners I fufFered before I came into it (which, as before, was as much as I could bear) I pafTed in- to IVaj'-wickJhire, and had fome good Opportunities in that Country, as at Warwick and fundry other Places, i found I often hurt myfelf by fpeiiking too faft, and too lOud, againft which I endeavoured to* guard as much as I could ; but oft, when I felt my Heart filled with the Power of divine Love, I was apt to forget myfelf and break cut ; I found it pro- per therefore to flop, and after a (hort Paufe, with forae fecret fhort Prayer for Prefervation, and that 1 might be fupplied with Matter and Power, that inight do the Hearers good. Thus I went on, and grew fenfibly in Experience and Judgment, and be- came in fomefmatl Des;ree fkilfal in dividing of the B Word; i8 The LIFE and TRAVELS Word. I had been ftraitned in my Mind refpedling fearching the Scriptures, left I fhould thereby be tempted to lean upon them, and by gathering either Manna or Sticks on the Sabbath-day, Death would cnfue ; but at laft I had Freedom to examine the Text, and to caniider where the Strength of the Ar- gument lay, both before and after the Words I had repeated : By which Condud: I faw I was often very defed:ive, in not laying hold of the moft fuitable Part to confirm the Subjed: or Matter I was upon, and this Condud did me great Service : But then another Difficulty ftood in my Way, which was this ; fome former Openings v/ould come up, which I durft 'not meddle with, left that by fo doing I fhould be- come formal, and lofe that divine Spring v/hich I had always depended upon /but the Lord was plea- fed to fhew me, that old Matter, opened in new Life, was always new, and that it was the Renew- ings of theSpint alone which made it new, and that the principal Thing I was.to guard againft was, not in my own Will- to endeavour to bring in old Open- ings, without the Aid of the Spirit ; and that if I ftood fingle and nefign'd to the divine Will, I fhould be preferved from ail Errors of this Nature. Out of V/arwickflme I travelled into IVorceJierJJjire^ vifiting fundry Meetings in that County, and found a frefh Supply every Day. I was at Worcefter on Fh'Jl- day\ and after the Meeting in the Forenoon, an an- cient Friend examined me very clofely, after Meet- ing was over, from whemje I came ^ znd for a Certi-- ficate ; to all which I gave him Anfwers : My Cer- tificate being at my Quarters m my Saddle-bag, he could of SAMUEL BQWNAS. i0 ^ould not then fee it ; but I had a very good Meeting as i thought, and my Landlord William Pardoe^ a brave fehfible Elder, advifed me not to be uneafy at the old Friend's examining me fo, for^ faid he, he doesfo to every Btr anger. Wt went to Meeting in. the Afternoon, w^hich was very large, and I was Largely opened, and had, as I thought, very good Ser- vice > but the old Friend, after the Meeting, was upon me in the fame Strain to fee my Certificate, but I had it not then about me neither, at which he feemed much difpleafed : I made no Reply, but told him, i was very willing be fhould fee it; but my Landlord took him up, and told him, he thought the young Man had already JJjei^n us his beji Certificate in both the Meetings y but neverthelefs (laid he) conte to my Houfe in the Evenings and thou jJoalt fee it : So wc parted. My Landlord thought he had (hewed him- felf difagreeable m his Condud-, and fearing it would be an tJneafinefs to me, fpoke very tenderly^ and like a nurfing Father encouraged me, by faying 1 coidd not (hew him a better Confirmaficn that I was anointed for the Minifiry^ than I had already done. So in the Evening, after it vv^as dark, he and many other Friends came ; but my Landlord, the old Friend and I, went afide, and I let him fee what he defired fo much to fee ; he read it, being much pleafed with it, and knowing fundry Friends that had figncd it, enquired after them. We went to our Friends again^ who were much increaled in Number, and we had a heavenly Seafon, being throughly baptized together : We parted .in great B 2 Lov?. 20 Ty^.- L I F E ^^J T R A V E L S Love and Sweetnefs, and the old Friend was ex- ceeding kind. From thence I went into Gloucefterjlnre^ and vi- fited Part of that County, by Tewkejbury to Chel^ tenhamy Glouce/kr, Paynefwick^ Nailjworth^ and T^edbury. I had fundry good Opportunities: One young Woman was convinced at Tedbury^ that be- came a very good Friend. From thence into WiltjJnre and Ha?npfhire, as far as Ringwoody and to Pool and Weymouth ; called at Wareham and Corfe^ had a Meeting at each Place, but nothing worthy noting at either of them : So I travelled to Bridport^ Lyme^ Membury^ Chard and Crewkern^ and back to Somerton^ Piiddimore^ Majjon to a Funeral, and to Teovil on Firjl-day ; thu^ having vifited Somerfetjhire^ I went away into De^ von/Jjife as far as Exeter ; then turned up tov/ards TauntG72^ taking Meetings in my Way towards Briftoly but nothing happened of Weight. I ftaid in Bri/lcl^ and vifited Meetings about the City near five Weeks, arid from thence I found my Mind was much drawn to vifit Wales^ and I took the Quarterly-meeting of Hereford in my Way, which was held annually at Amelly^ and there I met with my dear Friend Ifaac Alexander : We were glad to lee each other, as well as to hear each other, which when we did, it appeared to me that Ifaac was improved confiderabiy, and he faid the fame of mc, obferving, that I preached the pradlical Dodtririe of the Gofpel, he thought, more than he did ; for his preaching was very much in Compa- rifons and Allegories, which he apprehended was not of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 21 not fo plain and ealy to the Underflandings of the Vulgar, as what I had to fay. We had now an Opportunity of opening our Minds to each other, which was of great Service to us both, having fun- dry Meetings together, and we had Drawings for the Yearly-meeting at Glanneedlefs in Wales : This Opportunity feemed very agreeable to us; thera were fundry Friends of note, Benjamin Bangs, and others out of Chejhire j the People came, in Abun- dance, and at Times were very rude, but in the main it was a ferviceable Meeting. After that I vifited Wales^ appointing from the Yearly-meeting fundry Meetings, as far as was thought proper at once, and a good old Friend, Philip Leonard^ offered to be my Companion, which was of great Service to me. I was very poor and low at moil Meetings in that Journey, by reafon but few of the People could well underftand what I faid in fundry Places : But Philip ftood up after I had done, and in part interpreted what I had faid^ but I did not feem to be quite eafy in my Mind. Ifaac went to Bnflol Yearly-meeting, and was very zealous againft unneceffary Fafhions and Super-- fluities in both Sexes, infomuch, that fome thought he did, in his Words againft them, exceed the Bounds of Modefty : But he might plead the Ex- ample of the Prophet Ifaiah in that refped;*. But tlie chief Ob] eftion waSj concerning his prophefying of a great Mortality, which the Lord was about to bring as a Judgment upon the People, for their Pride and Wickednefs ; which he thought it his B 3 Duty * Ift.iii, 16. to the End, 22 The LIFE and TRAVELS Duty to deliver in their Yearly-meeting, as a Warn- ing for all to mind their Ways, left being taken unprepared, their Lo{s (hould be irreparable : Which he did in fuch ftrong and pofitive Terms^ that Friends were airaid he was too much exalted in himielf; Upon which, fome of the Elders thought proper to conyerfe with, and examine him concern- i\v^ this extraordinary Meflage which he had de^ livcred : But what he faid to them, not being fatis- faCtory, they advifed him to proceed no farther on hi5 Journey, but to return Home j which he did under great Trouble, and was there received in much Loye and Tendernefs, and appeared in his Gilt very excellerft, and grew in divine Wifdom •Sind Power, being of great Service in the Miniftry wherever he came. And he having a Concern to Vifit the Churches abroad, and acquainting iome of our Elders therewith, they thought it not proper for him to go, till fomething was done to fatisfy the Friends of Briftol^ and upon their Enquiry of IjduC^ he gave them a fingle and honeft Account how it was with him at that Time, refpedling his Concern : So Friends took it in hand, and wrote to Briftoh neither juftifying nor condemning him, but recommended Charity and Tendernefs towards him. And from Briftol^ Friends anfwered, ihdit. With open jinns they could receive him^ believing him to be a fin^ c 're young Man^ who intended very welh, and they %vere glad he took their Admonition rights and had owned it had been of Service to him. Thus ended this Affair, and Ifaac faid, he could not think hard of ))is Brethren in doing what they didy though he could not of SAMUEL BOW N AS. 23 not KS\^Xifee that he had mljfed his Way^ in delivering that Prophefy : Thus fhewing forth a lively Inftancc of a warm Zeal, tempered with a due Regard to the Senfe and Advice of his Brethren and Elders, and the Unity of the Church, which doubtless tended to his own Comfort and Prefervation. When I heard of it, I took it io much to heart, that it was almoft too much for me, and a Concern came upon me to go to London with the Hke MefTagc, but with this Caution 5 firft, to advife with fome faithful Brethren before I delivered it : And I wrote to Ifaac to let him know it, which gave him great Eale. Accordingly I went to London, and got lun- - dry Brethren together, vix. "James Dickinfon, J. Bow/iead, Peter Fear on ^ B. Bangs ^ Robert Hay dock ^ and fome others, and gave them a plain and honeft Account how it came upon me, which was not till after I heard how my dear Companion was returned Home from Brijiol ; adding, that I had acquainted JJaac how it was with me, that he might know my Sympathy with him, The Friends feeing what he had wrote, found there was a ftrong Sympathy be- tween us, and very juflly fuppofed, that to be the moving, if not only, Caufe of the Concern I was under, and very tenderly advifed me to keep it in my own Breafl, till I found how the Lord would order it; for, it he was the Author, I fhould find more of it; if not, it would die of courfe : But if I found it grew upon me, I fhould let any of them know it, and they would confiden what Steps to take in a Matter of fo great Confequence, as going forth in a Prophefy of that Nature^ And the fti- B ^ therljf 24 The LIFE and "^^ kVEhS therly Kindn^fs they fhewed me was very afFeftino" to me, one or other of them making it their Bufmefs to vine me every Day; and, fis thty faid, I found the' Concern went off, and I became eafy v^ithout publiihing it. ' -> ; - 5 .<..:>. . . ^ :r After this I had divers very acceptableQpportuni-- ties in London, &\xv\v\g the Time of the Yearly-meet- iiig, and afterwards viiited Friends towards Leeds in Torkpoire^ and in my Way thither had very agree- able Service in both the Counties of iL(f;V^^c'r and Nottingham, and at fundry other Places.'^ From Leeds I v^ent to the Yearly- meeting at Tork, which was very large, arid many public Friends ; but I was hid, as it were, and made very little Ap-^ pearance at that Meeting. ■ ' From thence I travelled homewards, vilitipg Friends as I went, and was gladly received by thenl; And I found my Miniflry very acceptable; as it in- creafed upon me, I was very humble and low in Mind, knowing therein my Strength conliftedj and Safety from Ternptation. ' ,! . , I was now in a Strait, what Cqurfe to take to get a little Money, my Linen and Woolen both wanting to be repaired, I met with a young Man newly fet up in his Trade, with whom I propofed to work, and he was ready to comply with my GfFerv fuppoling it would be a IVJeans to improve him : So we agreed, and I begun with him, and found it an- fwered much better than Harveft-work, fo that I ftored myfelf with a little Cafli foon, ar^d worked hard all that Summer, and in the Fall of the Year prepared myfelf for a Journey with my good old ^ n^nd Jofeph Baines. ' We (yf BdMXJEh BOWNAB. tc We fet out the latter End of the Sixth Months and viiited feme Parts of Torkfoire^ and io into hin-^ coin/hire^ Suffolk and Norfolk, and wc did very well 'together ; only I was afraid, that Friends took fo much Notice of me, he would be uneafy ; but he was fo entirely innocent, and had fo much of the X^amb in him, that he never did, that I could find, /hew any Uneafinefs, more than to give me a Cau- tion with a Smile; Sammy, faid he, (for I was rnoftly called fo) thou hadji need take care. Friends admire thee fo much, thou dofi not grow proud -, and Indeed the Caution was very ieafonable, as well as Serviceable to me ; which I faw and did acknow- ledge. This Jofeph was (it might be faid) an Ifraelite indeed, ' as meek as a Lamb, not great in the Mini- ftry, but very acceptable, efpecially amongft other- People, having a meek, quiet, eafy Delivery, moiily in Scripture Phrafes^ with which he was well fur- nifhed, repeating thern with very httle or no Com- ment upon them, which lome admired very much ; and he had great Service at Funerals, being in a pe- culiar Manner qualified for fuch Services : But he receiving an Account of fonie Troubles in his Fa« mily, it brought a very great Uneafinefs upon him, and he returned Home. But I vifited moft of the Meetings over again, and fo I returned into Hun- ttngtonjhire, Northamptonjhire, and fo towards Dor-^ fetjhire^ and Somerfetjhire, vifiting Meetings as I went through Part oi Oxfordjhire. I had many Meetings, fometimes fourteen in a Week, and ge- nerally to Satisfadion. In almoft every Parifh where ^ Friend lived, wc had a Meeting, befides which fundry 26 rhe LIFE ^;7i T R A V E L S fundry ofFered their Houfes, who were not Friends, which we cnabraced. I came through Part of JIamp{hire and Warwickjhire^ and fo back again to Hampjhire^ vifiting Friends, and had many Meet- ings in Places where none had been, and the Peo- ple were much inclined, who were not Friends, to have Meetings at their Houfes in many Places, and would deiire Friends to conduct me to their Houfes: So that although I was entirely unknown to moft, yet there was very great Willingnefs to receive the Dodtrine of Chrift ; and fundry, I found afterwards, were convinced,by Accounts I received from Friends. The Teachers of the national Way, and Diffenters alfo, were much difturbed, and threatned what they would do, and that they would come and dif- pute ; and fome of them came feveral Times, and got out of Sight, where they could hear and not be feen ; but never any gave me the leaft Difturbance all that Journey ; but iome would fay I was a Cheat (viz.) a y^fuit in difguife^ others, that I was brought up for the Pulpit, and for f*me Mifdemeanor fuf- pended ; and fo they varied, according to their Ima- ginations : But I was very eafy in my Service, and found my Heart very much enlarged; fome of the People took me to have a good Share of Learning, which, although it was falfe, ferved for a Defence againft fome bufy Fellows, who thought they could difpute about Religion and Dodlrine, which I always endeavoured to avoid as much as poffible, leldom finding any Advantage by fuch Work, but that it Ifnoftly ended in cavilling, and a Strife of Words. I went pf SAMUEL BOWNAS. 27 I went through Part of Dorfetjhire, and at Sher^ jtorne an old Friend was fick, and not expeded to get over that lUnefs, and it came into my Mind he would die of that Sicknejs^ and that / mufi be at his Funeral^ and preach with my Bible in my Hand. This made me fhrink, as fearing it was the Fruit of Ima- gination, but I kept it to myfelf, and had many Meetings about thofe Parts, as at Teovile^ Puddi^ more^ MaJJon, Wejion, &cc. Beiides this, a young Woman, which afterwards became my Wife, had ftrong hold of my AiFedlions, and 1 had acquainted her Parents therewith, and had Liberty from them to lay it before their Daughter, which I did; a!-- though at the fame Time it was upon me to vifit America before I entered into the State ol Wedlock, which I alfo gave her to underftand ; for I had rea- foned in my own Mind, that it might be better to let it reft until my Return, if I lived ; but in an- swer to that, thus it appeared, that I might have feme Offers there that might be a Snare to me, and by this prior Engagement I might be freed from all Temptations or Offers of that kind ; for if it once was known there, that I was already engaged, even that would command Silence on that Account ; fo on this Confideration I made my Suit to her, who received it with fuch Modefty and Sweetnefs as was very engaging; and obliging to me ; But fhe had an Uncle, on whom fhe had fome Dependance, who feemed much averfe to i^ and would have his Niece left at Liberty, that if any Thiog offered in my Abfence fhe might embrace it ; which I very readily fomplied with; then he was pleafed, only he Woul{| 28 The LIFE and TRAVELS would have me leave it under my Hand, v^hich alfo I was very ready to do ; and more, that is, to ftand bound myfe^f, and leave her at Liberty: To which Aie objedted, as unreajonable on her Part to defire fuch a Thing from me. So we parted, and I went to Street^ Glajionbury^ Burnham^ Sidcoafy CJarehamy and Brijiol^ having let flip out of my Memory the old Friend's Sicknefs zt Sherborne; but I had not been many Hours in Brijlol before a Mef- fenger came to defire Benjamin Cook to attend the Funeral, and Benjamin came to me to Brice Webb\y where I lodged, and told me how it was, and de- fired me to go ; but I pleaded fundry Excufes, firft, my Horfe was not fit, with other Objedtions, which were all removed. And accordingly I went to Jyruton next Day, being the Seventh-day of the Week, and was at that fmall Meeting on Firjl-day, The Funeral was on Second-day, which was ex- ceeding large, John Beere from Weymouth being there, had fomething to fay, but not much: Then, as it was with me, I pulled my Bible out of my Pocket, and opened it ; upon which the People gave more Attention than they had done before, and I had a very acceptable Time, often in the Courfe of my Matter referring to the Text for Proof, and giving an ample Teftimony of the Value we put upon the Scriptures, earneftly prefling the careful reading of them, and advifing to confider^ what they read, and to feek the Lord, by Prayer, for Afliftance and Power, that they might pradice what they read, which was the ultimate End of reading, as well as the hearing of Preaching, for without ^ SAMUEL BOWNAS. t<^ without Pradice, it would avail but little; with other Advice to the fame EfFed:. And there being lundry Teachers of feveral Societies, one of them a Baptiji, took hold of me after Meeting was ended, and defired fome Converfation with me: I looked at him earneftly, and defired to know if he had any Objedtion againft any Part of what I had faid ? if thou haftj^faid I, (fpeaking with an audible Toice, that iibpt many of the Company) this is the moft proper JPlace, the People being prefent ^ for they thronged about us very much : This made him confefs, that what he had heard was found, and according to Scripture, being very well proved from the Text; but he defired fome private Difcourfe between, Gurfelves at my Quarters, if I would per- mit it. I told him he might, I quartered at Richard Frys"y and Richard being prefent, told him he fhouid be welcome to come to his Houfe, and (o we parted : And when I came to Richard*Sy he faid, we lliould hear no more of him, for that he had in his Difcourfes amongfl his Hearers, fpokea many very unhandfome Things againfl; the ^lakerSy endeavouring to unchriftian them, and prove them Heathens in denying the Ordinances : (A common Plea ufed by all our Adverfaries) But this Upftart carried the Matter farther than fome others did, by adding, that we denied the Scriptures, .and alfa would not allow of a Bible in any of our Meet- ings, nor did our Preachers ever ufe a Bible to prove any thing therefrom, that we preached to the Peo- ple; (with more to the fame Purport) and as many of his Hearers wferc there, my appearing with a ' Bible, 3o 5^^ L I F E W T R A V E L S . Bible, and fo often referring to the Text for Proofs 1 did no doubt put him and them alfo upon a Thought, what had been preached before by him, amongft i thera, coacernirig th^ ^akerSy which now appeared i to be a manifeft Untruth by what they had both feen and heard that Day :- However, to be iliort, | as Richard Fry thought, fo it proved ; for h^ did \ not come at ail near me, and fo that vwnt oif well^ and Truth was exalted above Lies and Falfhood, r returned back to BriJIol well contented, being . filled with Peace and Confolation^ At my Return 1 I gave my Friends Benjamin Coole^ and fome others, j a Relation of my Condud:, and Benjamin was much ' pleafed I went there, and repeated what he had faid before to peri wade me to go, adding, he \Vas pretty i much affured it vC^as my Place to go ; but that if he ^ had known how it canle into my Mind to pre^tch j with che Book in my Hand, although in the Sequel it proved right, yet he fhould have been afraid that more of Imagination than Revelation was in it$ ; therefore that would rather have backened him, j than have been any Argument for him to have j preflcd my going fo much as he did, by reafon that J he Ija^ found fome'Miftakes committed from fucb Sights, which proved to be bat Imaginations : And j he gave me very luitable Advice, to take care how I too eafilv embraced fuch Things for Tru^h, with- out a due Trial, and that it was not diipleafing to T^eayen, to try the Spirit Jrom whence jucb Things proceeded. \i^^^ in and aKoul Briftol three Weeks, v;fiting tHe.'Meetings rouud the City, but on Fir/l-days I of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 31 was moftly in the City, and it being the Winter Fair, Meetings were very large : But on the Third-- day Meeting in the Fair Week, there was a Man out of Wtltfhire^ a Separate, named Arthur Jfmeady who flood up to preach, and was fpeaking of the Light : He put forth a Queftion about bringing our Deeds to the Light y adding, do I bring my Deeds to the Light ? A worthy Elder, named Charles Hart- ford j anfwered, No^ thou dofi 7iot: If thou didft^ thou ^ivculdji not do as thou doji. I fat all this Time un- der a very great Concern, and the Word was in me like Fire ; fo I flood up, and with a flrong and powerful Voice began to preach, he crying out, that he had not done -, but I took no Account of that, but went on, and he foon fat down and fell afleep^ an ' we had a blefied edifying Meeting that Day, ard Truth was exalted above Error, After this Meeting I was clear of the City, and vifited fome Parts of Gkucejierfinre^ WorcejlerfJ:ire^ Darbyjhire^ Chejhire and Lancajhire. but nothing happened wor- thy of any great note, fave only, in many Places I had very large open quiet Meetings, and when I found myfelf very high and full, I then expecSted low Times again, for I but very feldom was drawn forth in Doftrine, and enlarged more than com- mon, but Mapkbeck vfoviidi come in my Way, and the uncommon Temptation and Trial I underwent after that Meeting, which did not arrive to its Height until I came to Sijcannington in Leicejierjhirey as is before hinted. I reached Home about the latter End of the Firfi Months and flaid with my dear Friend Robert Chambers Part of that Summer, hclp^ f ing 32 r^^ LIFE and TRAVELS ing him and his Brother-in-Law John Moore at Gale, mowing more Days this Year than I ever dicf in one before. But JcBn Bowjlead and Feter Fearcn had a Meeting appointed for them at a Place called Gmfe-green, between Kendal and Millthrop^ to which Meeting there was a very great Refort ; and being oelired to attend it, I did, and in the Beginning of t'k: Me-^ine: t fpoke fomething of the uni^erfdl Love uf God to Ma?2kind. After which a Friend went on with the fame Subject, and inferred front the Text fomething more than it would bear, fo' that a young Man who taught School at Bedtham^ (a fmall Parifh in that Neighbourhood) took him up after the Meeting was over, and having the Ad- vantage of the. Argument, did endeavour to beat the Friend down. I was w-ith fome others gone to' fee the Horfes got ready for our Return, but being called, got with Difficulty into the Houfe, whicfi was much crowded, (the Meeting being held in the open Ground without the Houfe) and when got in sind heard them, I foon found where the Pinch was ; the Friend had faid what the Text would not bear him out in, in quoting Obadiab the roth Verfe, compared with Romans the 9th Chapter and nth Verie : I obferved that he v c 3 ■ W€ 38 The LIFE and TRAVELS ^ We sr^reed to let him have W. Penn\ Key, Ro \ Barclays Apology, and forne others; upon applying ; himieil for them to ^ohn Jopjon^ his Brother School- \ maf^er. He was thoroughly convinced, and likely ; to make a good Man ; he had leveral Enemies, amongft which the Parfon was not the leaft: But j he fhortly after this fickened and died. And now to return; I was very diligent in fol- lowing thd Harvefl Wnrk, both at mowing and jj reaping, and diligently obferving my Gift, to attend '\ fuch Meetings as I was inclined to; and I found I \ grew in my Gift, that^I could fee and difcern my- \ ielf: But. then I would check myfeif for fuch | Thoughts, feeing thern by no means proper to have a Place in my Heart, left that Humility, w4:!ich is the Ornament of every Gofpel Minifter, fliculd be departed from thorough Self-Love and Conceit, by which I might be brought to have a better Opinion of myfeif than any of my Neigh- bours had ; which, if given way to, would eat out all that Refped: that my Brethren and the Church had for m.e ; and by this iooliili Pride and Conceit- the Hearts of Friends would be fhut againft me; and I fhouid lofe my Place and Intereft in them. Now I had but one Journey more to make into Scotland^ before my going, (or at leaft intending to go) into America^ of which in its Place. An k of SAMUEL BOWNAS, 39 An Account of 7ny JOURNEY into Scotland, - in the Work oJ the Ministry, begun the nib ^/y^therly Care over us, and Advice to us, was of great En- couragement, in letting us know how w^eak and poor he often found himfelf ^ which io much an- Iweredmy Condition, that it was as Marrow to my Bones. When we came to 'Dumfries^ after we had taken fome Refrefhment at our Inn, James faid to us, Lads^ I find a Concern to go into the Street^ "will you go with me? For he thought it might only be to fliew hiinfclf, and v^^^as defirous that we might go all together, being five in Number ; fo we walked forth, and the Inhabitants gazed upon us, for the fakers were feldom it^n in that Town fo many C 4 togetheri 40 "The LI F E ^::d T R A V E L S together ; and feveral came after us, and Jc J amci lifted up his Voice like a Trumpet among the Peo- ple, who were very quiet and attentive. When he was clear, we retired back to -our Inn, and divers followed us, who were very rude and wicked, but were not permitted to hurt us. We had fwee; Comfort and Refrefliment one in another at out Quarters. Next Morning we took Leave, and parted^ he went for Port-patrick^ and we vifited the Meet- ings, though very fmaU, until W€ cam^^^ LIFE and TRAVELS ^ us with his moft precious Blood ; and we arc no ^ more our own, but his that has boughl: us, whofe ^ Power is an unlimited Power, and ail Power is * limited by him, (o his Power is not to be limited * by any other Power ^ therefore we his Servants ' dare not limit ourfelves, or promife any Man wc « will do this, or we will do that, but commit our ^ Caufe to him, as his (the Lord^s) Servants did of ^ old, knowing that if we pleafe him he can deliver ^ U5, but if not, we can make no Promife to any ' Man on this Account, becaufe we ourfelves know ^ not what he has for us to do ; and therefore we * endeavour to ftand clear from all Engagements, ' readv to do what he requires at our Hands. But ' I muft tell thee, that the Manner of our Imprifon- ^ ment looks very rigid and uncommon in thele ^ Times of Liberty, fo far below a Chriftian^ that ^ 'tis hardly humane, that we fhould be here detain- « ed as Evil-doers, before we are examined, or any ^ Breach of Law appears againft us. Doth your 5^^?^^ ^ Law judge a Man before it hears him ? if fo, 'tis ^ very unjuft indeed, and looks very hard, that the ^ King's Subjejfls may not have the Liberty to walk * in your Streets as eifewhere, which was all we did, * befides fitting dov/ji on the Market-crofs in a ' thoughtful Senfe of our Duty to God, not open- « ing ourMouths but to him that violently forced us ^ into Confinement; nor do we know that we fhould ^ have fpoken to the People in a Way of Preaching ^ at all : But that is the Work of our Mafler, and « we mufl wait his Will and Time, to know both ^ whea and how to ^o it, therefore if thou tliinkefl ' ^ '• to of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 45 ^ to keep us until we promife thee or any of thy ' Officers not to preach in your Streets, it will be * long that we muft abide hrre : Therefore I defirc * thee to take the Matter into a Chriftian Confide- ' ration, to do as thou wouldft be done unto, and ' give thyfelf Liberty to think for what End the Ma- ^ aiftrate's Sword is put into thy Hand, that thou ^ mayft ufe ife right, lead thou fliouldeft be found « one of thofe that turn Juftice backwards, fo that ^^ Equity cannot enter. This is from one that wilh- ^ eth thy Welfare and Salvation, ^ Samuel Bownas/ JiDBUFGH Tolbooth, thc 1 8th of the iNinth Month, 1701. When I had writ this, it was very hard to per- fwade any one to carry it to the Provoft, for now they were lo affrighted about having any Thing to fay or do with us, that they durfl: not appear to talk with us ; and w^hether he had it or not, I cannot be cerain. The next Day there was a Country Gentleman came into the Town, and fent his Servant to invite us to his Houfe ^ to which we replied, V/e knew not yet ^ when we fhould have our Liberty ; but dejired our Thanks might be returned to his Majier^ for that kind Invitation : He replied, we fkould foon be at Liberty, for his Mafler was gone to the Provoft 5 knowing they had no Pretence to keep us there. Ac- cordingly in lefs than two Hours after, we were fet at Liberty, and went to our Inn to refrefh ourfelves. The Town was very full of Country People, it be- ing Market-day, and we went to the Market-crofs, which was fo much furrounded with People felling their 46 The LIFE and TRAVELS . their Ware, that there was no Room for us, without I great Damage to them : We therefore, after a fhort i Paufe, walked up the Street to the Place before- ] named, and the Street and Balconies being filled with People, with the Safhes and Cafements open, and crouded with Spectators, fome computed the j Number to be above 5000, but fuch Gueffes at \ Numbers are uncertain : But there I flood up (being \ above the People, both by the Advantage of the i Ground, and the Place w^herc I ftood) and opened, \ my Mouth, being full of the Power and Spirit of \ Grace, laying. ' Fear the Lord and keep his Com- \ * mandments, who by his Servant faid, / will f tit ■. ' my Laivs in their Minds ^ and write them in their \ * Hearts ^ and I will be to them a Gody and theyjhall \ * be to me a People, New if you be obedient to this j * Law, you will do well, and thereby become the \ * People of God ; but if difobedient, you will lie \ ' under his Wrath and Judgments/ With more, ] -diftin|?:uiihing betw^een the Happinefs of them that ; obeyed, and the Unhapplnefs of the Difobedient. ; Th^n I ftepped down, in Exped^ition that my Com- ^ paclon might fayfomewhat,but he was willing to be i gone ; and I was concerned to flep up again, and , kneeling down, was fervently drawn fordi in Prayer, | but after I had begun, two Men came and took me J by the Arms, and led me down the Street praying, \ and by the Time we camiC at the Foot of the Afcent, ; I had done praying : After which I took a View of \ the People, who (hewed great Refpecft indeed, but I ^ was conveyed to the Prifon Door,where was a Gentry -j of tw^o Soldiers, v/ho flood by and heard what I faid &f 3 AMUEL BOWNAS. 47 to the Officers that brought me there, which was to this EiTedl : ' That the Day before I was forced ' in there againft my Will, and contrary to Law, ' but that I would not liow^ go there again, without * firft being examined by the Provofl:^ or by their ^ Prieft and Eiders of their Church, or other chief ^ Officers in the Town, and if then any Thing did ^ appear that I had broken sny Law, or done ought ^ v/orthy of Inipriionment, having a Mittimus fetting ^^ forth my Crime, I would willingly luffer, and not * refufe giving there ; but without fuch an Exami- ^ nation Lrefufed to go there again, unlefs forced * to it by Violence, and that, I hoped they would ^ not be guilty of.' At which one of the Soldiers, taking his Muilcet by the fmall End, advancing the Butt, faid, his Countryman had fpoken rights and what he [aid was according to Law andyuflice, and ought to be obferved as fuch y and therefore if you will (faid he) take him before the ProvofI in order for Examinationy you may ; but if not^ touch him that dare. At this bold Attempt and Speech they both left me, and I was advanced above the People about Hx or (tv^v\ Steps, and turning about to them, there being a little Square before the Door, furrounded with the Guard Chamber on one Side, the Tolbccth on the other, and a Wall facing the Street about four Feet high, I had a very good Opportunity to fpeak to them, which I did, about a Quarter or near Half an Hour, and they were very quiet and civiL When I had done, and acknowledged the Soldier's Kind- nefs and Civility towards me, who faid, it was his Duty to do it, I came down the Steps, the People crowding 4^ T;^^ L I F E and TRAVELS crowding very dole to fee as well as hear me, but they divided foon, making a Lane for my Pafla^^e, iLevving me coniidcrable Refped: in their Way : Some faid, I'^cu ha^^e dung them^ Sir, you have dung them, Sir ; meaning thereby I had got the Vivftory. All was very quiet, favc that one or more would have forced a Horfe over us, but was prevented by the reft : Not the leaft Unhandfomenefs appeared, fave that amongft them. Retiring to our Inn I was full of Peace and Comfort. By this Time the Day was much fpent, and con- cluding to ftay that Night, we ordered fome Refrefli- ment to be got for us, for I found myfclf in want of it : It was foon got ready, and we invited our Hoft to fhare with us, who willingly did, fhewing his good liking to v^^hat had been faid 3 adding, he never faw the People fo ftruck, and give fo good Attention ; nor ever did he fee fo large a Multitude that heard all fo intelligibly down to the very Foot of the Hill, which was, as he fuppofed, not much icfs than Two Hundred Yards in length, and I t :)ok, bv Computation, the Street to be upwards of : hlrty Yards wide, and all that Space much crowd- ed, i gave him a Hint of his Fear, putting him in Mind that our Duty, in preaching to that Multitude, could not pofTibly be difcharged bj preaching to him and his Family, and he acknowledged it was right in us to do as v/e did. By this Time the Evening clofed in, arrd fundry Gentlemen fent Word that they v\'0uld gladly pay us a Vifir, if v/e would permit it, and the Land- lord, I favv', carneftly defired .that we Vv^ould, and he of SAMVEL BOJVNAS. 49 he had a very large Room, into which we went, and they foon came to us, and quickly fell into Conveifation (for they are very full of Talk about Religion, and very tenacious in their Opinions upoa it.) The iirfl 'Article of Difpute was, about /^6' Ride of Faith and Fratlice ; and this was argued [pro and coi'i) between them and our G\:^\^t Samuel Robinfon^ near Half an Hour, who v/as a very fen- lible religious young Man, and had a good Share of Learning alfo 5 but I found they made nothing of it. Our Opponents would endeavour, in their Way, to make out the Scriptures to be ' the only Rule of Faith, and that the Spirit we profelUrd to be guided by, muft be fubordiiiate to the Text. I hitherto had faid nothing, but now defiring a few Words by way of Queflion, the anfv/ering of which might bring this Difpute to a Point; I thought Jioty faid I, that Ifoiddtake the Argument fron my Friend Robinfon, whom I take to be more capable to fupport it than I am. All were very willing to hear me ; then I began to Hate the Diiference between us, thus: We all agree ^ faid I, that the Scriptures is a Rule of Faith and FraSiice : Do ive not f this w^as granted. The Difference lies here t hen ^ if I take it rights we fay ifs a Rule s you Jay, ifs the only Rule ; this is the Point in Difpute^ is it not ? this was hkev/ife granted me. Then I proceeded thus : Allowing what you fay to be true^ it mujl be con/ldered^ that all inflrumental Rules are made^ whether the^ relate to fpiritual or temporal Affairs^ and mufl be contrived and adapted to anfwer the End for which they are made. This waG aiiov/ed alfo. Aind as the Text is a Rule D mad:. 50 The LIFE ^7^^ T R A V E L S made^ contrived and adapted for fpiritual Affairs^ who made it fo ? fince the "Text could not make itfelf. Here was a long Paufe; at laft one replied, Hoh Men writ as they were moved by the Holy Ghojl. Here was a Paufe again j And, laid I, ts this your Mind? It's the plain Words of the Text, faid another : Granting this -, then it muji by your Accejjion be al- lowed y that the Spirit gave forth or made the Scrip-- tureSy by the Medium of holy Men ; therefore the Spirit gave forth the Text : Now judge you^ whether a Rule madcy or the Author that made that Rule, be fubordinate ? There was a Paufe for a little while, and one of the Company faid, Tou are dung, you are dujig, (meaning they had loft the Vidtory) the Scriptures muJl be fubordinate to the Spirit that gave them forth. I replied thus, We believe concerjiing the Text, that it is a Rule, and the bejl external Rule we have-y but that the Spirit, which gave it us by the Medium of holy Men, is the principal Rule of Faith and FraSiice. Thus this Debate ended, and they ftarted another about Baptifm ; but that was foon ended. Our Friend Robinfcn was an over Match for them by far, about it. Then they had a few Words about the Bread and Wine : That held but little Time, for they allowed thefe Cere- monies to be external Parts of Religion. Then they came to Preaching, and ftated the Queftion thus ; Our own Teachers^ we know how they come by their Miniflryy and by what Authority they preach : (Mean- ing their Learning, and the laying on of the Hands, as they term it, of the Prefbytery at their Ordina- tion, ^c^) But we want to know^ how your Preachers com^ of SAMUEL BOJVNAS. 51 et^me by their Minijlry ? And by 'what Authority they preach ? Here, our Friend rcafoned with them fome Time, but they either could not, or would not be convinced with his Words ; fo he told the Com- pany plainly, that he never did preachy and therefore would leave it to them that did^ to give Account how they came by it themfelves. I was, all the Time that they banded this Affair^ under a great Concernj ' fearing how wc might come off; but when Samuel Robinfon had laid the Matter fo juftly and fairly at our Door, there was fo conliderable a Space of Si- lence, that they exped:ed nothing from us, but began other Difcourfe, until I could no longer with- hold ; and befpeaking their Silence and Attention^ was willing to relate to them, how I came by my Mini/iry ; at which, they all liftened with clofe Attention. Then I premilcd thus, as an Intro- du6lion before I came to the Matter itfelf. Although in the Thread of my Difcourfe^ fomething might appear liable to an ObjeSlion^ I entreated the Favour of them, all to hear me outy by reafon what I might fay after-^ wards would perhaps folve their ObjeSiionSy without giving me or themfelves any Interruption. Which ^ with one Voice, they all alTented to, that it was a reafonable and juft Requeft. Then I proceeded as follows, ' My Father was a Cordwainer^ that lived by his * fmall Trade of making ShoeSj who died before ' I was a Month old, and left my Mother a fmall * Patrimony to live on of about Four Pounds a Ycar^p * to keep hcrfelf, me, and one Son more, who Was ' about Seven Years old when my Father died. Da ,^ My) ^2 "The LIFE a?2d TRAVELS My Mother gave me a religious Education in this fanie Way. When I was fit to go t© School, I was fent there, until I was ten or eleven Years old, and then was taken from School and put to keep Sheep: My Earnings, though very • fmall, giving feme Affillance to my Mother, who had bound my Brother an Apprentice, I was. kept dole to attend the- Flock when wanted, ahd af- terwards put an Apprentice to a Blackfmith^ ftill goiiYg to our'own Meetings, but did not under- ftand the Rudiments of that Religion I was trained up /in, but Vv^as addicted to the Pleafures of the Times j and when. J went to Meeting, knew not hbvvMo employ my Thoughts, and often, yea, very often, the greateft Part of the Meeting (for want' of a proper ' Employ rae'nt of Thought) I fp^ntin Sleeping^i^or the Preaching (which was px^etty - much ) Was 'what I did > not underftand : Thus two or three Years of my Apprenticefhip I fpertt V/ith very Uttle- Senle of God or Religion. Btit foAit fell oUrV 'tot a young Woman came to vlfit our Meetin'g, krid in her Preaching, feemed to ' dtredt her Words to me^ which were -thele, or tt)-theiame.Effed:; ^/f traditional Quaker, thcic ^oesfram the' Mrelvig as ihou comes to it ; and thou comes to it, as thou ^weiit from it, having 720 'Profit by Wing \fO'^^^ ivilt then ^ do in the End ^W^^i^fThefe Words w^erc io pat to my then State, that I^ was pricked to the very Heart, cry- ing out in fecret> Lord! How Jhall I do to mend ^^it t^' Look unto me y and thmjJjalt r ^ 'find cj SAMUEL BOJVNAS. 53 ^ find Help. From that Time forward I found it ^ ^ true, that what is to be known of God and true ' ' Religion, is revealed ^x'/VZV;? ; and relying on the ' Lord, w^ho begun thus to reveal his Power in me, ^ and let me fee that I mud depend on him for ^ Strength and Salvation, the Scriptures fecmed to ^ be unfeaied, and made clear to my Underftand- ^ ing ; fuch as, bei?7g bom from^ above, and that \ which is to be hiami of God, is made vtamfeft in ^ lis ; and alfb that Text which fays, T/3^ Kingdom ^ of God is within^. . The Lord opened my Under- ^ fLanding by. his Spirit, to fee the proper QupJifi- ^ cation and Gall of true Minifiers, that it was not ^ external but internaU ^nd the Heart mufl firft be ^ fanclijiedj before the divine Anointing could be ' expetled. Thus for fome Time I went on in ^ my religious Duties with great Succefs, and -I * found I gained much in fpiritual and divine Know- ^ ledge : And as I was going to Meeting on that ^ Day commonly called Sunday^ it came into mv ^ Mind, that if I was watchful rnd obedient, care- * fully minding to keep my Place, and to that Guide ' I was /lov/ acquainted with, I fliould be made ^a ^ Treacher cf ethers : I proceeded on my Way to ^ Meeting, and being fat down therein, in a fhort ^ Time I felt the Power of the Spirit llrong upon ^ m.e, to f peak a jew Sentences : But oh ! the'Rea- ^ foning and Excufes that I formed' in ray w^eak ' Mind, that I might be fpared from this Work ' ^ fome Time longer ; and the Weight feemed to * be taken from mc for that Time. But oh ! the ^ Trouble and Uneafinefs which I afterwards went ^Lukexvii. 21: P 3 ^ through 54 'I'he LIFE and TRAVELS through, made me enter into Covenant, that if ever the like Offer was made me, I would give up to the heavenly Vijion. The Trouble of niy Mind affeded my Countenance fo much, that it gave my Mafteir (being of the fame Way) Reafon to examine va^^bow it was? I gave him a candid Account, withal adding, my Fear that my Offence was fo great, I fhoijld be reje^ed as a Caft-a^ay : But he comforted me^ with urging various E^x- amples of the like Kind, for my Encouragement^ no way doubting, but that at the next Meeting the farne Concern wopld come upon me, and to which he advifed me to give up, with a fympathi- 2!ng Spirit of Love, in various and comfortable Exhortations confirmed by Scripture Examples : And as he had faid, the next Meeting, before I had fat there ar Hour and a Half, the iame Gonr cern came upon me, which was this ; (and I had now to deliver the fame Words with the fame Authority as I did when in that Meeting) Fear not them which kill the Body, but are not a^le to kill the Soul : But rather fear him who is able to dejlroy both Body and Soul in Hell. I fay, VeaK you him who will terribly flonkt the Earth, that all which is vfoveable may be Ihaken and removed out of the Way ; and that which is immoveable may jl and. This was the firft Appearance, in the Words aboyefaid, that I made in public, as a Treacher:' By this Time I found, that the Power of the Gofpel was over them, by their wiping of their Eyes, and I was affiftcd to go o» with Strength of Argument and Demonftration, further addling, ^ that then I * had of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 55 * had near three Years of my Time to ferve, which * I did with great Faithfulncfs to my Mafter; and * before the Time was expired^ preaching a little * at Times, but not very frequently, yet to the * great Satisfadtion of my Brethren, I found a Con.- ^ cern upon me to travel abroad as a Mini/ier -y ^ and I acquainted my Mafter therewith, who had ^ been as a Father to me : He told me, Before I ^ went on that Errand I muft acquaint th'^ Elders * ther€with,and lay it before the Monthly-meeting,* (enlarging on the peculiar End of thofe Meetings, letting forth the Service thereof, to take Care of our Poor, and to deal with Offenders who were a Scandal by their ill Conduct to their Profellion, and fundry other Matters cognifablc in thofe Meetings) * that they might judge, whether my Concern was ^ rights and give me a Letter of Recommendation ^ or Certificate, to fignify their Unity and Satis- * fadlion therein : Which I did accordingly, and ^ with fome very fuitable Advice to my then pre- * fent Infant State as a Minifter, they gave me a ^ Certificate or a Letter of Recommendation, and ^ figned it in the Meeting, as is ufual in fuch Cafes: * I accomplifhed that Journey, and was, at my ' Return, calle?! upon to give Account thereof, and ^ to deliver up my Certificate. ' After which, in a fhort Time, I had another * Journey before me, and by our Difcipline, or ^ Church Government, was obliged to go to the * fame Meeting for a frefh Certificate, which was * readily granted ; and the Brethren rejoiced at my * Improvement, advifing me to render tjje Honour D 4 thereoj ^6 The LIFE and TRAVELS thereof where due. At my Return, I was obliged to attend the faid Meeting, and give Accvount of my Travels as before: This Pra&ice amongfl us is judged needful, lefl: any one fhould fvverve from their iirft Foundation, and undertake td preach without a right Commiffion, and fo im- pofe upon our Friends v^ho know them not. ^ In a little Time I was concerned to take another Journey, and laid before the fard Meeting my Concern as abovefaid, and had a Certificate. At my Return I gave Account as before, and deli- vered my Certificate : After which, I had another Concern to rifit this Nation in this very Journey, and laid my Concern Ibefore the faid Meeting, had a Certificate readily granted me (and pulling it out of m.y Pocket-book faid) and there if is J At which, one of them took it, and, at the Defire of the reft, read it up ; nnd it was returned me Vv^th a profound Silence : So I proceeded to add, ^ that ^ ^ I had vifited all that Kin i^dom, where I found * Drawings in my Spirit to go, and this (fo far as ^ I yet fee) is the lail Place: And now I mufl ^ leave you to judge, whether it's not realonable * for you to conclude, at leafl: that I think myleif ^ concerned by an almighty Power, elfe how could *^ I have expoied rnyfelf to luch an unruly Mob ps ^ I have preached to this Day?' Flere I ftopt 3 and one in the Company aiked, if ^11 cur Preachers came hy their Miiiiftry this fame Way ? To Vv^hich I replied, * Icould not give Account how another Pvlan might ^ receive his Minifiry, but I have given you a faith- ^ f?l and candid Account how I received mine/ ' ^-^ Here of SAMUEL B OWN AS. S7 Here my Companion was full of Matter to re- late, by giving them an Account how he came by his Miniftry, but let in a Fear, that what he might add, would hurt the Caufe. One of the Company faid., ifs enough ivhai UoC have heard, and lo he was very handlomely excufed. The Night (by the Time this was over) being far fpent, it being fome Time pail the Middle, a Reckoning was called, and they would not allow us to pay any Part thereof, but took Leave of us v/ith great Affection ; and the Country Gentleman, that was affixing to our Liberty, gave us a very kind Livitation to his Houfe, which we received very thankfully ; but being engaged in our Minds for Engla?2d, had not Freedom to go with him :' So we parted in a very loving and friendly Manner. We being now left to ourfelves, I had an Oppor- tunity to refied: on v/hat had paffed, and to examine my whole Condudl all that Day ; a Pradlice I fre- quently ufed, after a more than common Day's Service, and indeed after every Opportunity of an Enlargement in my Gift, by Experience finding the befl InftruSror in my own Bofom, to fhew where I hit the Matter or miffed It : And confider- ing why I began yj low as my Father , fetting forth my Manner of Education and Trade, which feemed to have no Relation to my Call to the Miniftry, I law the Reafon thereof, and found it to be this, that they might not think my Miniflry to have, in the leaft, any Dependance u^^on Literature -^ a Qua- lification much depended on for the Work of the Miniflry amongfl: them, and fome of them will not take 5 8 ^he LIFE and TRAVELS take any Notice of any other Sort 5 if a Man (for they will not admit a Woman to have any Part in this Work) be he never fo divinely fitted by the Spirit, yet if he want human Learning, it's all no- thing with them. Thus the Wifdom of Truth, which I did not fee fo plainly at firft, appeared to my Undcrflanding very clearly : And on a clofc and narrow Infpedtion into this Day's Work, I found inward Peace, a Joy fpring in my Heart that I could not fet forth by Woids. And my Compa- jiion had more Eafe and true Content than I feared he could have, by reafon of his not coming up in his Service, to let the Company know how he came by his Miniftry, and by what Authority he preached. I have been more particular in the Relation of this Day's Work than I otherwile fhould have been, as containing in it fuch fignal Marks of Providence; firjiy That we fhould be detained in Hold, jufl till the People from the Country were come in. 5^- condly, and then fet at Liberty to fay what the Lord gave us. And Thirdly, That we had fo feafonable an Opportunity to explain our Practice as to the MiniJierSy viz. the Condud: of the Society towards them ; and likewife the Service of our Monthly- meetings refpefting the Poor, Marriages, admonifh- ing Offenders, making up Differences, granting of Certificates to fuch as faw Caufe to remove them- felves from one Monthly-meeting to another, as well as to Miniflers. Which bv their fhewing fo 'inuch Kindnefs, and raifing no Objedlion to any Thing faid on thefe Heads, did plainly demonflratc their good liking and Satisfaction therewith. The t)f SAMUEL BOWNAS. sg The next Morrnng we fet out for England^ and by the Evening got aniongft Fnends in the Border^ within the Com|:afs of Sowport Meeting, and had fome few Meetifigs, as at the Border^ Scotby^ Car^ lijle^ and fome others. I came to my old Mafter Samuel Parrcfs^ haying no Place to retire to as a Home, but fometimes 1 was at Sedgwick^ and fome- times quartered with my Friend Robert Chambers^ and fometimes at Kendal^ and at Gatejide^ at honefl JVi^diam Si^pfins^ where I did fometimes help them in their Bufinefs, he being a Blackfmith. But I was now preparing myfelf for a Journey into America^ and was near ready: And Ihad an Op- portunity to take my Leave of the Neighbouring Meetings, as Dent^ Garflale^ Sedburg, Grayrigg^ Kendal^ Prejion^ with divers other Neighbouring Meetings thereabouts ; but that at Prefton was the moft memorable and folid, the Senfe whereof con- tinued with me all over America^ at Times ; I went thence to Telland^ and many Friends came to that Meeting from divers Places to take Leave of me, fo that it was a very large and living Meeting ; and I parted with my Brethren in great Love and Unity. I then came by Wray^ Bentham^ Settle and Airton^ that great and good Man William Ellis being then living, and full of Power, having great and folid Experience concerning the Work of the Miniftry, who was very edifying to me, by the wholfome Counfel he gave. James JVilfvt was then with me, who was not at that Time a public Minifler, yet of great Service in vifiting Families, being clofely en-r gaged in Spirit for the maintaining good Order and Difcipline j 6o 7le LIFE mtd TRAVELS DifcipIIne ; and v/e being both very young in thefe Things, .thi^ worthy Friend gave ftich Advice to us both, with rcfpe<£t to a faithful coming up in our Services, that v/e could with good Reaion lay, that his Words ivere like Apples of Gold in PiBures of Silver ; for a long Time after, the Senfe and Virtue of them dwelt on my Mind, to my great Advantage. We flayed with him one Night, and had a fmall Meeting, in v/hich the Preference and Value I had for him, together v/ith an Awe that was on my Spirit concerning his great Services and Experience as a Minifter, took fuch Place in my Mind, that I was filent before him. Next Day we took our Leave, and ht brought us on our Way a little, heartily prayi6g at parting, that I might be preferved in my Place ^ and return with Safety. James IVilJon came with me as far as Leeds, and then we parted, and I went through Nottingham^ fbtre and Leicefterfhire^ viliting fundry Meetings, (where fome Time before I met with great Trials and Afflidlions in Mind, as already hinted) and fome w^ere convinced : My Mind was flrongly en- gaged to fee them in my Way, and I had good Satisfaction in that Vilit. Having done this, I v/ent by the Vs/'ay of Hit- ching and Hertfordy viliting fundry Meetings, find- ing Encouragement to go on : But I flill expeded that I fliould be ftopt by the Morning-meeting, for want of a Companion. I came to Loizdon the latter End of the T^enth Months 1701, being by Letters ;idvifed, the Ships would fail in a Week's Time, of SAMUEL BOTVNAS. 6i or very ihortly; but a War breaking out between En^fland and France, an Embar8:o was laid en all Shipping for two Months, lb that there was no Ex- pectation of getting ojff. I ftaid in London about three Weeks, viiiting all the Meetings in and about the Gity, which gave the Brethren a thorough Tafte of my Service; fome of my belt Friends adviiing, that Ifhould not lay my Concern before the Meet- ing, that I dsligned for America^ until the Gene- ral or Monthly-meeting of Miniflers did come roundy and in that Time my Service as a Minifler would-' be generally known. I readily complied; and when the Time came, I went in great Fear to lay my Concern betcre that Meeting, being ilill apprehenfive I fhould not be permitted to proceed, for want of a luitable Companion ; but as no Ob- jection did arife, they perufed the Certificates that I had from the Pvlonthly and Quarterly-Meetings, and did well approve thereof; and a Minute was made, appointing fome Friends to prepare a Certi- ficate againfl: the next Meeting ; which was accord- ingly doiie, brought there, and figned. All Things now being 'clear for my going the firft Opportunity 5 it v>^as thought proper to fee for a Ship, which by the Affiftance of fome Friends was done, but no- likelihood of going quickly, by rcafon of the Embargo. I had fome Defii'e to vifit the Wefi^ in particiilar Dorfet^ Somcrfet^ Briftol^ and Wilts^ but at a liofs for a Horfe, having fold my own foon after I came to London', but flie Friend to whom I fold him, coffered that I fhould have him that Journey, which I 62 rbe LIFE and TRAVELS I accepted, and fo fet out, having in Company « young Man that had been bred at a College, his Name was Samuel Crifp, a pretty meek Ipirited Youth, and rightly convinced. When we got forty or fifty Miles from London^ he had ftrong Inclina- tions to go back. I made a kind of a running Vifit ; and when I was at Briftoly my Friends there were exceeding kind, and would willingly have had me gone from thence ; but my prior Engagement at London would not permit it. I {laid there two Weeks at leaft, and taking my Leave, fundry Friends brought me on my Way to Bath^ Bradford^ &c. They returned, and I went on for London, and quartering at an Inn at Hunger-^ ford^ (not being eafy to take any more Meetings till I came to London) I fell in Company with a couple of Tradefmen, who, when we fat down to Supper, complimented each other about which fhould crave a BleJJing^ at laft they pulled off their Hats, and one of them did it in fomefort; but my fitting with my Hat on was fuch an Offence, that they began to reprove me very fharply : I faid but very little for fome Time, until they had fpent their Reproach upon me, and then I fpoke to this Effect, * That the Appearance they made, juft before Sup- * per was brought to the Table, was fo very void * of Grace in their Hearts, that I could not think * it my Place to pull oft my Hat to their formal * Prayer : And befides, as foon as the Words were * out of their Mouths and over, it appeared to me * that they were the fame, and I faw by their Con- * dud that they did not underftand the Nature of ' trus of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 6^ * true Prayer^ which is to be performed both with ^ the Spirit and Underftanding ; and if you had not * wanted both, you could not pafs fuch filly Com- * pliments on each other about it/ I was now very quiet, and they faid no more to me. But as foon as Supper was over, and the Reckoning paid, they left me with free Confent, for our Company was unfuitable. Next Day I went towards London by Newbury^ where I ftopt at a Funeral, and fo to Readings and by Maidenhead to the City, but found the Embargo not yet taken off. It being now pretty near the Middle of the Firji Month, I vifited fome Parts of Hertford/hire, having my dear Friend "John Tomp^ kins part of the Time, and Samuel Crifp, who was a fweet Companion, having received the Knowledge of the Truth the right Way. About a Week or two in the Second Month, Orders were given for the Merchants to get ready, and a Convoy was to go with them : But for all this, it was the latter End of the Third Mo?ith before wc got off; fo I had an Opportunity to vifit the greateft Part of Kent. And after we failed from the Downs^ we were put into Portfmouth Harbour by contrary Winds, and lay there two or three Weeks, which was very tirefome. But all this Time I never con- lidered any Danger of being taken by the French ; it did not fo much as enter into my Mind, until I came into Philadelphia, where hearing that T^homas Story, Richard Groves, and others, were taken fome Time before, and carried into MartinicOy a French liland, I thought of it more clofely* Heft 64 The LIFE a^id T K AY Y. h S I left Enghmdin th^ Third Month, 1702, about the Time of the Yearly-meeting, with inward Sa- tisfadiion and Peace of Mind, and wrote a few Lines to be fent to the Meeting of Minifters in Kendal, or elfewhere, in WejlmGreland^ my native Place ; which J here infert, being the iirfl* Fruits of that kind to my Brethren. - ' To //jt^ Meeting ?/^ MINIS TE RS ^/ Kendal, * in Wellmoreland. Thefe. * JV/y dea^dy beloved Brethren and SijQers^ * TN that Love which in Time paft we have ^ JL- enjoyed together, do I heartily falutc you, ^ having in mind fome few Things to impart, as ^ Counfel and Caution to us ail, including myfelf * therein. ' We who apprehend ourfelves called into this ^ public Station of Preaching, ought clofely to wait ^ on our Guide, to put us forth in the Work. And ' dear Friends^ I fee great Need for us to carefully * rr nd our Openings, and go on as we are led by * the Spirit ; for if we over-run our Guide and ^ Openings, v/e fhall be confufed, not knowing ' where, or how to conclude : Biit if we begin and ^ go on with the Spirit, we fhall conclude fo, that ' all who are truly fpiritual will fenfibly feel that ^ we are right: Thus v/ill our Miniftry edify them ' that hear it. ' And dear Friends y let us be fingly and in Sin- *^ cerity devoted to the Will of God, whether to ' preach or be iilentj for if v/e are not fenfible of ' fuch ej SAMUEL B O IF N A 8. 65 fuch a Refignation, it Is doubtful, that we may fet ourfelves at work, when we foould be quiet^ and fo bring an Unealinefs upon our Friends, and a Burthen upon ourfelves : And this Conduft will fhut up Friends Hearts againfi: our Service and Miniftry. And 7;^^^ dear Friends^ every Time yen appear in the Miniftry, when it is over, exarriirie yourfelves narrowly, whether you have kept iri your Places, and to your Guide • and cor.fideri whether you have not ufed fuperfluous Words^ that render the Matter difagreeable, or fucK Tones or Geftures as mifhecome the Work we are about^ always remembring, that \^\ttnie Minifters preacB not themfelves, hut Chriji Jefus our Lord. Let us ' bear this in mind, that neither Arts, Parts, Strength ' of Memory, nor former Experiences will, ivith- ^ out the Sandtification of the Spirit, do any Thing ^ for us to depend upon. Let us therefore, I en- ^ treat you, keep to the living Fountain, the Spring * of eternal Life, opened by our Lord Jefus Ghrift * in our Hearts • \ I alfo deiire, that you would not negledt /out * Day's Work, in viiiting the dark Corners of the * Counties about you ; but be mindful of your Ser- ^ vice therein, as the Lord fhall make Way for it. -*\The Things above writtert have been on nsy * Mind to communicate to yoU;, pty de-ar Friends^ y with Defires that the God and Father of cur Lord ^ Jefus Chrifl may be with your Spirits, Amen^ * IL^ping alio, that I Ihall not be forgotten by you^^ ^ in your neareft Approaches to the Throne of ^ Grace^ in your Supplications to the God of the ^, ! Spirit^ / 66 7he LIFE and TRAVELS ^ Spirits of all Flelh ; remembring me, that I may "" be prefcrved by Sea, and in the Wildernefs, through * the many and various Excrcifes and Baptifms, that * I may be fuftered to undergo for the Service's * Sake y and that I may be prefer ved in Humih'ty, * and Seif-der;ial, under the Power of the Crofs, the ' mofl beautiful Ornaments a Minifter can ever be * cloathed with 3 that if it.pleafe him we ihoald * meet again, our Joy msy then be full in the H^ iy * Ghofl\> which is the fervent Prayer of your cxer- ^ cifed Friend and Brother, Samuel Bownas/ This was written in the Second Month 1702, and left with mv Friend "^ohn Tompkins^ not to fend it until he heard I was gone off. An Account of my TRAVELS in America, the jirfi Time. AS advifed by Friends appointed to aflilT: me, I took my Paffage on board the yojiah^ ychn Scwden Mafter, bound for Weft-River in Maryla7id^ and we left Ejjgland about the 2/\.th of the Third Month 1702, and landed in the River of Fatiixent m Maryland, about the 29/^6 of the Fifth Month fol- lowing. Ivifitcd fome Meetings in that Province; but G^^r^^ Keith being there, and challenging Difputes where- ver he came, gave both me and Friends fome Exer- cife : To me, by challenging a Difpiite without my previous Knowledge, in the following Terms. ' T$ if SAMUEL BOF/NAS. 6/ ^ ^0 the Preacher lately arrived from England. ^ S I R, 1 Intend to give Notice after Sernion, that ydd and myfelf are to difputc To-morrow, and i € ^ would have you give Notice thereof accordingly, I ^ Sir^ I am your humble Servant ^ j Dated the i ft S u n d a y' ! in August, 1702. . ^ \ ^ George Keith/ ; He writ this on Occafiori of an hohefl: Frierid'^^ fpeaking fharply to him, and giving him the Title of i tn Apofiate ; adding, (he could riot pretend to difputc \ with him, but a Friend that was to be at their Meet- ing on Firfl'day next, (meaning me) fhe did riot doubt i would talk with him. Well then^ faid Keith; next \ Monday let him come^ and I will prove him^ and all the \ Quakers, tinfound in both Faith and Principle. With. - more of that kind. The honefl: Woman being ] warm, aiid c^ealous for the Cauie, replied^ He will ] not be afraid of thee y I'm fur e. ^ f \ The MeiTenger that brought the Letter, delivered ! it in hafte,^ as he was ordered, to John Faidkner^ a \ young Man from Scotland^ who was then Store- keeper in B. Brains and Companies Employ. We* | were juft then a confiderablc Number of us in Com- i pany, going to a Meeting at Chefter in the Woods,^ \ fome Diftance from any Houfe, and John infi'fted for^ me to write an Anfwer, adding, Keith would caW ^ 6S Th: LIFE and TRAVELS the Country together, and make much Noife about if, as if we were afraid, &c. aiid 'twas bejl to nip his Ex- peShition in the Bud. And ^s wc knew Nothing^ of the Conference Keith had with the Woman Fnend two Days before, I writ to the Effed following. ^ George Keith, i J Have received thine, and think myfelf no way obliged to take any Notice of one that hath been fo very mutable in his Pretences toReligion % befides, as thou hafl long fince been difowned^ af- ter due Adolonition given thee by our Yearly- meeting \t\LGndon,{o\' thy quarrellome and irregu- lar PradiceG, thou art not worthy of my Notice, being no more to me than a Heathen Man and a Publican 3 is the needful from ' Samuel Bownjis/ . Dated the fame Day. yohn Faulkjier c?.xntd myAnfwer, and we went to our Meeting, being at Che iter in Maryland^ as afore- faid : By that Time the Meeting was fully gathered, yohn Faulkner came back, and we had a comfortable Meeting : Afterwards John Faulkner told us, George Keith read my Letter publickly amongil his Compa- ny, appearing very angry at theContents of it j and the Company laughed very heartily, many of them being much {Sealed with it : Bxxtjchn Faulkiiex came out of the Company, and a fubflantial Planter fol- lowed him, and told him, he had much rather ^o with him to our Meeting, than to hear George Keith. laiJ of SAMUEL BOTFNAS. 69 rail and abufc the fakers ; but he, being in the Commiffion of the Peace, muft (as Keith was re- commended by the Billiop of Lcjidoji) iliew feme Refpedt y withal adding, that Jchn Faulkner Ihould bring me to his Houfe to dine the next Day ; which ^ohn Fatdk?ter would have exculed, urging, that a^ they had a Value for me, fundry Friends would be for bringing me on my Way farther > adding, vve fliould incommode his Houie. He urged it the niore^ faying, we fkoidd all be welcome. Accordingly feve- ral went with me there, and he was very kind, giv- ing us an Account of George Keiths railing againft us the Day before, and how difagreeable it was to the Affembly. Keith left a broad Sheet printed, where- in he pretended to prov« the fakers no ChriliianSy out of their own Books \ I had an Anfwer thereto in print, which Friends were glad of, and I left with them feveral to fpread where he had left his. After we had dined, we took our Leave, and a Friend, my Guide, went with me^ a nd brought me to a People called Labadeijis, WraSS? we were civilly entertained in their Way. Whenrj^upper came in^^ it was placed upon a long Table in^ large Room^ where, when all Things were ready, came in^ at a Call, about twenty Men or upwards, but no Women : We all fat down, they placing me and my Compa-. nion near the Head of the Table, and hdving paufed a fhort Space, one pulled oiF his Hat, but not th^ reft till a fhort Space after, and then one after another they pulled all their Hats off, and in that uncovered Pofture fat filent (uttering no Words that we cpuld hear) near Half a Quarter of an Hour ^ and as'^thev E 3 ^i:] ^o fhe LIFE and TRAVELS did not uncover at once, fo neither did they cover themfelves again at once ; but as they put on their Hats fell to eating, not regarding thofe who were flill uncovered, fo that it might be about two Mi-: flutes Time or more, between the firft and laft put- ting on of their Hats. I afterwards queried with my Companion concerning the Reafon oftkeirCojidudt^ ^nd he gaye this for Anfwer, That they held it un- lawful to pray till they felt fome inw^ard Motion for the fajnie ; and that fecret Prayer was more accepta- ble than to utter Words ; and that it was moft pro- per for every one to pray, as moved thereto by the Spirit in their own Minds. ^ I likewife queried, if they had no Women amongji the?n ? He told me they had, but the Women eat by themfelves, and the Men by themfelves, having all Things in common, refpefting their houfhold Affairs, fo that none could claim any more Right than ano- ther to any Part of their Stock, whether in Trade or Hufbandry^ and if any had a mind to join with them, whether Rich or Poor, they mufl put what jhey had in the common Stock, and if they after- wards had a Mind to leave the Society, they muft likewife leave what they brought, and go out empty handed. They frequently expounded the Scriptures among, themfelves, and being a very large Family, in all upwards of a Hundred Men, Women and Children, carried on fomething of the Manufadtory of Linen, and had a very large Plantation of Corn, Tobacco, Flax, and Kemp, together with Cattle of feveral '^inds- [But at my lafl going there, thefe People " wer© 9f SAMVEL BOJFNAS. 71 were all fcattered and gone, and Nothing of them remaining of a religious Community in that Shape.] I left this Place and travelled through the Country to Philadelphia^ and w^is there feized with a Fever and Ague, which held me about thirteen Weeks, and I ftaid there till the yearly Meeting came on, which was very large, but my Diforder of the Ague would- not admit my being at one Meeting ; George Keith with his Companions came, but theDifturbance they gave was a confiderable Advantage to Friends, and the Meeting ended to great Satisfaction. Being recovered and pretty ilrong, I left FennfyU vania^ and travelled through the Jerfeys Eail: and Weft, and having given Expectation to a Friend, one "James Miller in Scotland, who had a Sifter mar- ried to one of the Barclays Family, that if I came near where ftie dwelt, I would vifit her at his Requeft. She was a very zealous honeft Friend, but her Huf- band joined Keith, and left Friends ; and on enquir- ing about her, where flie dwelt ? I was told, it would be very little out of my Way. Then a young Man offered to be my Guide, to pay her a Vifit; and when we came to the Houfe, there were fundry Priefts, with others, met to fprinkle an Infant, the faid Bar^ clays Grandchild : The Ceremony was over before we got there, we coming from Shrew/bury Yearly- meeting, where Keith alio had been, but gave us no Difturbance, nor did he come to our Meeting at all, but held a Meeting a fmall Diftance from us for two Days, and then went off. Our Meeting held three Days, and was thought to be larger by much, ia Expectation that George Keith would hz there- It E 4 ended 72 The LIFE and TRAVELS ^nded well^ and it vyas faid, fome were convinced at |hat Meeting Put to return to my Friend Barclay -, fhe vras iri ^n Apartment by herlelf, and gave me a fhort Ac- count of what they were or had been doing ; faying, the)/ have fprinkJed the Babe my Grand-childyand the i^/re,mony is over^ hut they have not yet been to Dinner ^ to which (he added, my Hufband will be eameji for thy Company , if thou haji Freedom to go, I /hall leave thee at Liberty:, but if thou refufe/l to go, they will be ready to report , that thou durji not face them ^ adding, Iwriildbe pleafcdwith your Company (meaning me and my Companion) to dine with me, but it wilt be bejl, I think y for you to dine with them, and I hope, faid ilie, the Lord will give you JVifdor/i to conduB your [elves, that tl^ey may have nojuf Cauje to reproach the Principle on your Account. She had no fooner ended, than (as ihe had fuggefted) her Huiband came, and after Ibme Compliments, and Enquiry about his Brother- in-law James Miller, and Relations at Ury, we were called to Dinner, and by no Means would he excule rne : We went in, and the Miftrefs of the Feaftj the Mother of the Babe then fprinkled, would have me fit at her Right-hand, and fet George Keith at her Left. We fat all down, and after a fliort Paufc fjre&rge Keith flood up with all the refl of the Com- pany, lave me and my Companion, we kept our Flaces, and Hats on, while he repeated a Jong Pray- er for the Church and State, Bifhops, and all the in- ferior CJ^roY^ the Queen, and Dutchefs Dowager of JJanover, &CC, The Grace being ended, the Mil- trck carved^' and would fervc fne iiril j I would have ^^-- -'-■- - ^^ ^^^^ - reiblcd ^f SJMUEL B OWN A 8. 73 fcfufed, and put it to George Keith, but he refufed it likevvife : When ihe had done helping us and her- felf, Ihe began to catechifc me in the following manner. After enquiring about her Relations at Ury in 5^^/- land, and her Uncle Miller^ flie then deiircd to know myBufineisin Scotland, pretending to fuppofe me a Merchant that dealt in Linen to fell in England 'y but I law her Delign was to lead me to feme unwary An- fwer, iov Keith and the reft to find Matter of Objec- tion to. This put me upon my Guard, to make Reply cautioufly , I freely owned I had no Concern in buying or felling of any fort of Goods. Pray then. Sir, what was your Call there? I replied, that I thought it my place fometimes to advife my Friends and o- thers, to endeavour fo to live, that Death, when it comes, might not be a Terror to them 5 and doubt not but thou wilt count this a good Work, and need- Jful to be done. She readily allowed, that it was ve^ ry needful, and the more (o,for that the Age was noi» "very wicked. Then {lie proceeded to query the Rea- fon of my coming into thofe Parts, pretending to luppofe it was on account of Trade, as being a Su- percargoe, with fundry trifling and impertinent Quef- tions^ as when I was infuch and fuch Places f To all which I gave her Anlwers to the fame Effed: as be- fore, that my defigned Bufinefs was the fame in this Country as in Scotland. Then ihe proceeded to more trifling Queftions, as wheji Handed? and where t and which Way I was going f All the Company at Table gave ear to our Dialogue, which appeared to me very weak in fuch a learned Corppany as they thought 74 ^e LIFE ^;;^ T R A V E L S thought themfelves to be, and none fo much as put in a Word between ue. Dinner being ended, I defired to be exculed, for that Time called me away, an«l my Friends would wait for me at the Ferry, which we had to pafs that Evening. Thus Keith and I met and parted. Then taking Leave, I went to fee my worthy Friend in her own Aparment, with whom we had a fhort, but very agreeable Opportunity : We took our Leave and v/ent to Woodbridge^ where the next Day we had a Meeting, George Keith preached at A^nboy the fame Day, which Places are not far apart ; we often interfered one with the other, but he no more gave me any Challenge to difpute, but took another Method to put a Stop to my Travelling, as will appear afterwards. We came to Long-JJlandy and a Meeting was appointed for me at a fmali Vil- lage called Hempjiead, where George Keith alfo was, cither by Accident orDefign, and had at the fame appointed to preach within our hearing, and between the two Appointments, there was a very large Ga- thering ; and I being young and flrong, my Voice was plainly heard by the People who were with 7^(?///6, fo that they all left his Meetmg and came to ours, (for v/e had Room enough for both Meetings, it be- ing a very large Barn) except he that exercifed as Clerk, and one WiHiam Bradford^ who had been a Printer for Friends 2it. Philadelphia^ but deferting the Society, Friends took the Buiinefs from him. But fome Time after, Keith and the faid Bradford agreed, that Bradford fhould come and try if no Advantage might be taken at my Dodrine , accordingly he came, and ^ SAMUEL BOJVNAS. y^ and pulled out of his Pocket a fmall Book, v/ith Pen and Ink, and ftedfaftly ilared in ray Face, to put mc put of Countenance if he could ; but I was above being daunted at that Time, though at other Times very incident to it. He opened his faid Book and writ about two Lines in it, then fhut it again, con- tinuing his flaring, to try (as fome thought) whether he could not daunt me ; but it was paft his Skill, for I felt both inward and outward Strength, and divine Power to fill my Heart, and my Face was like Brafs to all Oppofition ; he opened his Book, writobout two Lines more, and a little after about two more, in the whole about fix Lines in a fmall odtavo Leaf ; and after I had done, he fi:ood up and faid, Willyoujiand by thefe DoBrines in public that have been now preached? (meaning by public Difpute.) A worthy Friend, John Rodman by Name, defired him to be quiet, and atter Meeting was ended hs ihould be anfwered. Accordingly the Meeting con- cluded, and he waited for his Anfwer. To which Friend Rodman faid, William, thou knowe/l what our Friend hdth been concerned to /peak about this Day^ are fuch Points as have been by the Prefs argued over and over ; and as the Controverfy has been fome Tears in the Prefs^ 'tis therefore jjeedlefs at this Time d Day t9 reduce it to a verbal Difpute. But he wanted to hear what I would fay to the matter \ and I told him, his Queftions being more forContention thanEdification, I therefore did not think myfelf obliged to anfwer them ; more elpecially, fince for his Contentious and diforderly walking, he had been dealt with and adviled in a Brotherly and Chrijlian Spirit to repent, but ^6 The LIFE and TRAVELS but his perfifting in the fame, had obliged his Friends to difown him, and for this Reafon, Ifaid, I have 729 more to fay to tkec on this Head. He turned from me, and in a very angry manner faid,. I fhould hear of it in another JVay. But I called him back, having fomething to fay on another Subjed ^ which v^as to deliver fome Tokens of Gold fent his Wife by her Sifter from London : This foftened him lomcw^hat, (he finding the Pieces to agree with the Letter, which I rcquefted might be opened before my Friends there) and brought him to confefs, that he believed I was a very honeft Man, and he was forry I fhould be under inch a Delufion, as to be in Communion with that erroneous People. But at his Return to Keith, they laid their Heads together, and trumped up the following Depolitions from what he had writ as aforeiaid, viz. * T JVilliam Bradford, of the City of New-Tork^ ^ jL aged about forty Years, depofe upon the holy ^ Evangelifts. T\\t 21 /i oi November 1702, going * into the fakers Meeting at Nathaniel Pearfal\ * dcceafed, in Hempflead, I heard one Bown, that is ^ lately come out of E?7gland, preach, and the firft ' V/ords I heard him fay, were the Sign oftheCrcfs ; ^ and thus ; Friends, having gone through the Pa- ^ pi/iBzpt\{m, let us examine theChurch of England: ' Well, what do they do? Why the Bifhop lays his * Hand upon thofe that have learned the Languages, * and ordains them t® he Minifters. Well ! and ' what do they do ? Why they baptize the Children, ' the young Children, and fprinkle a little Water in ' their of SAMUEL B OWN AS. yy their Faces, and by this they make th^ Child a Chriflian^ as they iay, and for fo doing the Chil- diens Parents muft give thePrieft4^. or a Groat j indeed this is an eaiy Way of making Chrifiiaiit for a Groat ! And how do they do this ? Their cv/n Catechifm tells us the Prieft fays to the Child, what is thy Name ? The Child anfwcrs, IhomaSj, JameSy Mary^ &c. Well ! and who gave thee this Name ? The Child anfwers, my God-fathers and God' mothfers in my Baptilm, wherein I was made a Member of Chrift. This is brave to be rnade a Member of Chrift ! Who would not have a little Water fprinkled in their Faces ? And what did your God-fathers and God-mothers then for you ? Anfwer^ They did Promife and Vow threa Things in my Name ; iji. That I fhould renounco- the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps andVani- ties' cl this wicked World, and all the iinf ul Lufti ol theFlefh. Ay ! did they fo ? this is brave; \^^ell ! v/hat did they promife more ? 2d!y. Tha-tl fLouLf keep God's holy Will and Commandmi at^, and walk in the lame all the Days of my Life : And yet in Contradiction to this, they plead for Sia Term of Life, and fay they can't keep God's Com- mandments in this Life. Why ! this is flrange, that the God-fathers and God-mothers friould promife what they believe they can't perform* And does the God-fathers and God-mothers thus promife ? Yes, they do. But this is ftrange, that their God fhould need a God-father and God-jr.o- ther. ButFriendSj our God, is the true and ijv:ni^ Gcd i in the firfl (jijcbn it js fajd, i;j fli Bs^pn- 78 T;^^ L 1 F E ^/^^ T R A V E L S * ning was the IVcrd, and the Wo?^d was God. Bu^ * this God had no need of a God-father or God-mo- * ther. Well ! and what do the Frefoyterians do ? * Why they baptize their Infants alfo 3 but as I take ^ it, they do not make ufe of God-fathers and God- * mothers, noi the Sign of the Crofs : They havef * thrown away that piece oi Pcpery. , * Next, as to the Lord's Supper, I fhall fpeak ^ very brief; Ch rift fays, that which goes in at thd ^ Mouth defiles not. So I fhall make this Apph'cati- * on : 1 he Bread and Wine which they receive, * and call the Lord's Supper, goes in at the Mouth, * and fo into the Draught, and profit not. They * call it a Sign ; yea, and an empty Sign it is. But * by thefe Ways and Forms the Hirelings deceive * the People : But we have had fufficient Proof of * thefe Hirelings in our Day ; for they will turn * with every Wind, and every Turn that will anfw^er * their Priefts Ends, as we have feen fulfilled large- * ly in our Day. * William Bradford, ^ ,. * Joseph Smith, •» t /i- Coram nobis. ^ -L o ^ , ,0 IJulticeSa ' Edward Burrows, j-' • j4 true Copy by Thomas Cardall, Wgh-Bheriff- Having patched up the above Depofition in tlieir ewn Way and Manner, and Form of Expreffion^ Keith informs, and Bradford v/as his Evidence \ and being at a Lofs for v^ant of another Evidence to con- firm Bradford's^ (without which they could not pro- ceed^ of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 79 ceed) they met with a young Man who was there, and Keith got ibme Words out of him, that he faid he heard fpoken ; then they threatned, if he did not come in for Evidence to what he had heard, what they would do to him ; therefore he was pre- vailed on, thro' Fear, to give his Evidence on Oath, in the Words Gecrge Keith had got from him by Guile, before the faid two Juftices, which he did as followeth, although to no Purpofe. * nichard Smithy aged about 28 Years, depofeth * *^ upon the four Evangelifts : That on Sunday * laft, he, this Deponent, was at a fakers Meet- * ing in Hempjiead^ where he heard a Man preach, * whofe Name he fince undcrftands \s Samuel Bcwne: * In his preaching, he, this Deponent, remembers to * have heard him fpeak thefe Words, or Words to * the likeEfFed:, W2;. That the Church oi England ^ in Baptifm made ufe of God-fathers and God-mp- * thers ; but our God is the ever living God, and * has no need of a God-father or God-mother : And * further this Deponent faith not, ^ Richard Smith. Jurat 24th Die 9bris c JosePH SmITH, I t /i- i70.,coramnobis. , ^^^^^^^ BuRROWS, ^ >^^^^^- Having thus laid a Foundation for a Prcfecution, a Warrant was iffued out, A Copy of which is as followeth. Qiieeng 8o The LIFE a?2d TRAVELS Queens /rJ' Joseph Smith, Efq-, Edwars^ Co\x\\iy JJ' ^ ' Burrows, £,^; y^Jiices cf the ' Peace for Q^ieens County, /(? thS ' Hlgh-Sheri^' of the County iGtQtt" * "Vr O U are hereby, in her Majefty's Name, ' X ilrii^iy charged and commanded, iramedi- * ately on the Receipt hereof, to attach the Body of * Samuel Bowne^ a ^aker^ if he can be found- in ^ your Bailiwick, and to bring his Body before us, * to anfwer to fuch Matters of Mifdemeanour, as * fhall on her Majefty's Behalf be objeded agaiiiil ^ him. And hereof fail not at your Peril. Dated * under our Hands and Seals this z^th gber 1702, VeraCopiaEx. p, * Jos. Smith, 1 t r* Tho. Cardali, vie. ' Edw. Burrows, \ J^^'^'^^^^y Thus all Things were ready to be put in Execu- tiouy and lundry fubftantial People, not Friends^ ^vouid have had me gone off, but that I could not do 3 therefore on the 29/^6 of the fame Month, as I was at Flufhing \n^Lo?2g-Iflandy it being the Half- yearly Meeting, which was very large, Keith beiag expcdled there : When the Meeting was fuliy {ct^ the High-Sheriff came with a very large Company with him,- who were all armed ; fome had Guns, others Pitchforks^^ others Swordsj^ Clubsr^J^lberts^ &c. as if they jQiould meet with great Oppofitiori in tMt\g ^WQt fiily h^rmieli %U^p oat gf cBe Flock. ;&/ SAMUEL BOIVNAS. 8i The Sheriff ftepping up into the Gallery, took tiid by the Hand, and told me, I was hisPriJonefi By what Authority ? faid I : He pulled out his Warranty and lliew'd it me : I told him that Warrant Was to take up Samuel Bowne^ and my Name was not SaniU'- el Bowne^ but that Friend's Name is fo^ pointing at the Friend by me: We know him, faid he, that's not the Man^ but you are the Man t Pray then^ Whafs your Name ? That^ faid I, is a Queftion that requires Confideration, whether proper to anfwer or not, for no Man is bound to anfwer to his own Pre- judice j the Law forces none to accufe himfelf* Thus we pj-od and corid a little Time^ and I got up from my Seat, and John Rodman^ Samuel Bowne^ and fundry other Friends^ and walked out of the Meeting, it not being proper to difcourfe there zt that Time ; and they on con verfing with the Sheriff, who in his Nature was a very moderate Man, hav« ing known Friends in England, eafilv prevailed an him to ftay the Meeting, with ail his Retinue, and afterwards they would confider what was befttoi^e- done. They willingly laid down their Arms on the outfide of the Door, and came in, which encreafed the Throng very much : The Meeting was filent x Coniiderable Time, and the Sheriff's Company que- ried of one another privately, foas I heard it, Why I did not preach^ others concluding that 1 ihould preach no more, being novv i Prifoner 5 that's e-- nough to filence him, faid they : But finding the Word like as a Fire, I could no longer contaiit;, but ftanding up, I had a very agreeable Service, both to m) felf and Friends, with the reft of the Companv ^^ F 4iU iz The LIFE and TKKYEJ.S the Sheriff himfelf, and his Company alfo, Ipokc well of it : It was the firft Day of the Meeting, and the feventh of the Week» After Meeting was end- ed, iundry Friends went to *S^;;7i:^^/£^t£;;^^*s, to con- fult with the Sheriff, and he being very moderate, and in a very good Humour, fpoke very mild and courteoufly, blaming Keith and Bradford^ and gave Liberty that I fhould flay with my Friends until Fifth-day following, there being two Days of the Meeting yet to come, and a Funeral of a noted Friend to be the Day after it ended : The Meeting encrea- fed, and the laft was both largeft and mod open j it was fuppofed there might be near 2000 People the laft Day, but Keith did not come there. Now the Time for my Appearance before the Ju- flices being come, fundry fubftantial Friends went with me, and a great Crowd of ether People came to hear ; but for want of the Conveniency of a large Hall, which they might have had, but by the Cold- liefs of the Seafon, as was pretended, the Juftices would not go there, io they were deprived of the Opportunity for want of Room to hear my Exami- nation. There were four Juftices, W2;. Jofeph Smith, Ed-- ward Burrows, ychn Smith and jonatha?2 Whitehead. This laft was a very moderate Man, and endeavour- ed much to have fet me at Liberty ; but they had a Prieft with them, who endeavoured to put the worft Conftruilion on every Thing I faid : Be fides, they had fhut a Man up behind in a Clofet, to take ia Short-hand the Examination, that they might pe- f afe the fame to their own Advantage : 3ut the Man was »/ SAmVeL BOWNAS. gf "wii (o very drank, that he loft his Papers going Home^ and a Friend providentially found them, to their great Difappointment and Shame : Great En- quiry was made about them among the People in vain; Having done what they thought fit in exam-* inihg mej they turned me and my Friends out o£ the Roonij to confult what was to be further done 5 and after a little Time^ we were all called in^ I to receive ffiy Doorn^ and my Friends to hear it j and the Clerk^ as Mouth of the Court, faid, Thefe ho^ noUfahle Ju flicks have agreed ^ thut yoU mull enter int^ a Two Thoujand Found Bail^ Tourfelf in £1006. and two of your Friends ift £^00 i eachy of elfe be committed to the common GoaL I anfwered, I could enter into no Bond on that Account. Here one of the jufticea^ qUeriedj if the Sum was tod large ? I anfweredi that was Nothing to the Matter^ if aS fmall a Sum as Three-halfpence would do^ I fhould not do it, it be-» ing a Matter of fuch a Nature that I could by no Means comply with* Then the laft Juftice offered to be bound for me, in what Sum they required* But not only I3 but all my Friends, did oppofe it witlv all our Might, giving them, as well as him> thci Reafon for it. It growing late the Court broke up, and this Ju-« ftice begged that he might have me to his Houfe^ and he would fee me forth coming on the Morrow 5 which they readily granted him, and then they ad-» journed till Ten o' Clock next Day, giving their Clerk Orders to provide my Mittimus by that Time* 1 went with my kind Friend the young Juftice ta Jlis Houfe, and found very good and kind Entertain^ F » m^vitj $4 "The LIFE ^W T R A V E L S i ment, his Wife being a very religious, tender-heart-*^ \ cd Friend, and took great Care of me. Next Morn^ ' ing we met again, the Mittimus was brought in, ex- ' ecuted< and was as under, ' ' Queens ^^ ' Joseph Smith, £/^; Edward Bur- \ County,^*^ ' ROWS, Efq-, John Smith, Efq^ and \ * Jonathan Whitehead, Ejq ; \ * Jujiices of the Peace for Queens ' County, &c. To the High-Sheriff \ ^ 9f Qiipcns County, Greeting. ' TK7 E fend you herewithal the Body of Samuel \ ^ V V Bow7jas, a ^aker^ brought before us this \ * Day, and charged with fpeaking fcandalous Lies \ * of> and Refled:ions againft, the Church oi England j \ ^ as by Law eitablifhed, and other Mifdemeanours \ * by him done and fpoken at a public A/iembly in \ * Hempjiead^ in this County, oh the 2 \Jl Day of this * Inftant {)ber. And therefore thefe are in Behalf of * her Ma^efly to command you, that immediately \ * you receive the laid Samuel Bownas^ and him fafe- i * ly keep in the common Goal of this County, un- ; * til that he (hall be thence delivered by the due \ * Courfe of her Majcfty's Laws. Dated utider our ; * Hands and Seals at * "Jamaica^ this 30//6 Day of , ^ ^ber^ in the lecond Year of the Reign of our So- \ * vereign Lady Queen Anne^ of England^ &c. An-- | * noque Domini ^ 1702. . i ^Jamaica inL0K«JstA»»i k Nsw^Y^rk Gortrsm^n?, tf SAMUEL BOWNAS. 85 ^ Joseph Smith, A true Copy J by ' Edward Burrows, T?ho. CardalL ^ J^^^^ Smith, * Jonathan Whitehead/ Now I was delivered up aPrifoner, and my Friends left me, having firft got me a good wholefome Room, and a very good Bed, taking Care that I fliould want Nothing neceflary for Life. This continued for three Months ; at the End of which, a fpecial Com- miffion of Oyer and T^ermiiier^ and general Goal Dc»- livery was given to ^okn Bridges^ Efq ; Chief Ju- fticebf the Province; Robert Miller^ Efq; kcond -^ Thomas JVhellett^ Johnjackfon^ and Edward Burrows-, and on the 26th Day of the Twelfth Month, Bridges and Miller came, attended with much Company, ia great Pomp, with Trumpets and other Mufic before them, to hold the laid Court ; and about the fourth 'Hour in the Afternoon, they in the fame Order went to Court, which was held in the Hall, read their Commiilion, and called over the Jury, to whom they gave an uncommon Charg?, sidjourning till Monday the 28^/6, at Ten o'Clock in the Morning. At the fanie Time the Court met, and Proclama- tion was made as follows, Cryer. O yes ! Silence on Pain of Imprifonment, Called over the Grand Jury, conflfting of twenty two Men, and charged them to retire to their Cham- ber, and the Attorney General fhould ka^ them Buiin^fs, The Court adjourns, F 3 Crycr^ t6 the LIFE ^;7^ T R A V E L S Cryer, O yes ! All Manner of Perfons that have uny Bufinefs at this Court of Oyer and Terminer^ let them depart hence, and come To-morrow Morning §t Eight o'clock, and they fhall be heard. Accordingly the Grand Jury retired, and had a Bill of Indi^ipent fent them againft me, but I could never get a Copy of it firft nor laft, I had prepared fundry Realons to -fet Bradford's Evidences afide, which qre here omitted, they being pretty large, but the Granid Jury had the fame before therp, and they were of confiderable Weight with them, The 2gt% fhe Court met. Cryer. O yes ! All Manner of Perfons that have «ny Bufinefs at this Court of Oyer and "Terminer ^ let es you make, for as much as any of the like Sizes made in my Shop. I made fuch Improvement In this Bufineis that I could in a little Time earn fifteen Shillings per Week^ being three Shillings their Money for making a Pair of large Man's Sho\ss, which was my chief Vv'^ork. Now their Shilling was about Nine-pence Sterling* This new Trade was of very great Service to me, by both diverting Body and Mind ^ and finding I now could fupply my own Wants with my ovm Hands, it gave rric great Eafe indeed: But fori e Friends were uneafy that I fhould do it, as fuppoSdng it would be to their Difhonour ; but others again were glad, and thought it a great Honour to the Caufe of thcGofpel; and they rejoyced with thankful Hearts that I fucceeded fo welL Going on thus fome Weeks, my kind Mafter came one Morning, and did not bring {o much Work as hphtt. ik^d him thfe R^ajfon ? adding pleafantly. What ^4 ^^ LIFE and TRAVELS What doth my Credit finkj that I have no more brought ? He fmiling faid ! It's not heft to truft Goal Birds too far^ and I am now refolved you ihall work no more for me after thefe I have now brought* Why ! what is the Matter? faid' I. He added, you (hall be a Mafter as well as L How Can that be ? faid L He replied^ you ihall have Leather of your own, and by doing that, you may get Eight-pence^ Ten-pence or a Shilling a Pair more profit than you do now* But I told him I had rather Work Jour- ney-work for him than do fo i For I knew not how to get Leather and other Materials, and when I had it, I was a Stranger to the cutting it out. Trouble not yourfelf about that, faid he^ for I wiM do all thi* for you : And fo he did with much Chearfulnefs, delighting toferve me eiFedlually* I went on thus for fcveral Months, and he catiie to me every Day once or twice, and was a very chear-^ ful) pleafant tempered Man, but too much addided to take delight in fome of his Neighbours Company^ who too often were difguifed with ftrong Liquor, and he would often fay, it you Were to continue here^ I ihould overcome it, and I verily believe fhould be a ioh^v^aker. I told him he muft leave the Com- pany he too much frequented ; which he not Obferv- ing, I heard afterwards they proved very hurtful to him- We had very often feriousConverfation about Religion, and it appeared to me, he had been fa- voured with an enlightnedUnderftanding, and would confcfs, if there was any fuch Thing as preaching Chrift truly, it was amongft the fakers j for both Churchmen^ Pri^Jbyterians^ Independents^ and others. 6f S AMUkL BOWNAS. 9^ all preach themfehes^ and for their own Advantage in this World j fo that if there was no Pay^ there would be 720 Preaching. He frequently attended our Meetings tor a Time. But to return to the Proceedings of the Court, whxh adjourn'd from the ^%th Day of the Firji-^ Month 1702-3, for about fix Weeks, and fo continu- ed by feveral Adjournments to the laft Day of the Eighth-Month following. The Occafion of thefe Adjournments was this; Judge En ^^5 was ill, and had been for fome time declining, but was expedted to be able to attend the Service of the Court, and take Vengeance on me and the ^akers^ none be- ing thought fo fit for that Work as he ; yet he ne- ver did, but died fome Months before I was fet at Liberty. I had in this Time of Confinement fundry Vifits, two of which were more remarkable than the reft# The firft was by an Indian King, with three of his chief Men with him ; and the other by one John Ro-- gers from New-Loftdon^ and he (laid with me from^ the Time became about fix Days. An Abftradt of both Conferences are as follow, "viz. Khali firft take Notice of the Conference with the Indian Y^wig^ as he ftiled himfelf; but his Na- tion was much wafted and almoft extindt, fo that he had but a fmall People to rule. However, there was in him fome Marks of Superiority above the other three who attended him, who ftiew'd fome Regard to him as their Sovereign. This Indian^ with thefe his Attendants, came to vifit me, and ftaid fome Time, enq^uiringtheCaufc of 96 rhe LIFE and TRAVELS of my Confinement : An Account of which I gave them as intelligibly as 1 could, finding they under- ftood Englifh better chan they could fpeak it. The Conference was moilly between the King and me^^ the reft bat very feldom put in a Word. The King aiked^ ij 1 was a Chriftian ? I told him I waso And are they^ faid he, Chriftians too that keep you here f I laid they profeiTed themfelves to be io. Then he and his Company fhewed their Admira- tion, that one ChriJUa?! could do thus to another. And then he enquired concerning the Difference be- tween me and them. I replied, it confifted of fun- dry Particulars* Firfl^ my Advcrfaries hold with fprinkling a little Water on the Face of an Infant, aling a Form of Words, and the Ceremony of mak- ing the Sign of a Crofs with their Finger on the Babe's Forehead, Galling this Baptifm^ and urging it as ejfential to future Happinefs ; And I, with my Brethren, can fee no Good in this Ceremony. Here they talked one with another again, but I under- ilood them not- After which they afked me^ if t thought there was nothing in this Ceremony of Good to fecure our future Happinefs? I faid, I fee Nothing of good in it. / was rights they faid, neither do we: Alking, wherein do you further differ from them? I proceeded, That, they held it needful to take at cer- tain Times, a Piece of Bread to eaty with a fmail Quantity of Wine to drink after 'tis confecrated, a$ they call it/ which they pretend to do in Remem- brance of Chrift our Saviour^ ^rgi^g this as necejary to our future Happinefs as the former^ calling this ^^L^rd^-Supper, . Hetold Hiei tkit they Jiad (ccn both ) of SAMUEL BOJfNAS. 97 both thefe Ceremonies put in Pradice by the Pre/by-- ^ \ teria72s, huicowld not underftand, if it was a Sup^ \ per^ why they ufed it in the Middle of the Day, but : they look'd upon them both as very infignificant to ; the End propofed ; faying, The ^ Mang Monettay looked \ at the Hearty how it was devoted, and not at thefe Chil- ] difb Tubings. Afking, wherein do you differ further from \ them ? I proceeded, that they held it lawful to kill and \ deflroy their Enemies 5 but we cannot think that ■ good and right in us; but rather endeavour to over- j come our Enemies with courteous and friendly Offi- ces and Kindnefs, and to alTwage their Wrath by Mildnefs and Perfuafion, and brin^ them to conli- der the Injury they are doing to fuch as can't in Con- \ fcience revenge themfelves again. He affented, that 1 this was good : But who can do it ? fald he ; when my \ Enemies feek my Life^ how can I do other than ife my Endeavour to deftroy them in my own Defence ? My J Anfwer was, That unlefs we were under the Govern- ! ment of abetter Spirit than our Enemies, we could \ not do it; but if we are under the Government of the good Spirit, which feeks not to deflroy Mens \ Lives but to fave them, and teaches us to do Good \ for Evil, and to forgive Injuries, then we can fub- ; mit to Providence^ putting our Truft in the great God to fave us from the Violence and Wrath of our \ Enemies. The King (aid. Indeed this is very good ; \ but do you do thus when provoked by your Enemies ? I \ faid, fundry of our Friends had done fo, and been faved from the Rage of theirEnemies, who have con- . fefTed our Friends to be good Men. Ay, faid he, \ G they * The great God they frequently called fo. " ,' 98 r/:^^ L I F E ^;7i T R A V E L S they are good indeed -^ for if all came into this JVay^ there "Would then be no more need of War^ nor killing one the other to enlarge their Kingdoms^ nor one Nation want to overcome the other. I then afked him, if this was not a right Principle ; and what would much add to the Happinels of Mankind ? They all four faid, it was very good indeed ; but feared few would embrace this DoBrine. I faid, all Things have their Beginings, and 'tis now our Duty to embrace this Truth, hoping that others by this Example may do the fame. They lifted up their Eyes as a Token of their Aflent, fliew- ing by their Words their Defire that this good Spir-* it might prevail in the World : ^hen^ faid they, Tki?2gs will go well. But wherein^ added he, do you differ more from them ? I faid, we held it unlawful to fwear in any Cale ; but our Adverfaries did not. I found they had not any Notion about Oaths, and lo they dropt it, being defirous of introducing another Subject 3 for having obferved our Friends Behaviour in not pulling off their Hats as others did, they want- ed to know cur Reafo?2S for it : I faid, uncovering our Heads v* as a Token of Honour we paid to the great God in our Prayers to him ^ and we thought any Homage equal to it ought not to be given to any of his Creatures. They faid, it was all very good. Then we fat filent fome Time ; and I afked them, what they thought of the G?rat God? One of them took a Piece of a Wood Coal from the Hearth, like Charcole half burnt, and made a black Circle there- with on the Hearth-flone, and faid, they believed the Great God, (or Monet t ay, as they then call'd him) to be all Eye, that he [aw every Thing at once i and all Ear^ of SAMUEL BOW N AS. cj§ Ear^ that he heard every Thing in like Manner ; ai^d all Mind, that he knew all "Things, and Nothing could be hid from his Sight, Hearing, or Knowledge. Thea I aikedv what they thought of the Devil ? (or bad Monettay, as they Called him.) They laid, they did not look upon his Power independant from th^ good Monettay, but that what he did was by Permijjion ^ nor indeed did they think he had any Power . at all, but what was given or fuiFered for him to exercifo over Indians^ to bring about fome good Deligns of the good Mohettay for their Advantage, to reclaim! them when they were bad/ and difpleafed the good Monettay: For they believed th^ good Monettay had all Power; yet he employed his Servants or Angels,^ is we Term them, to execute his Will; And the Ji^^/W that rfiade the Circle, defcribed four leveral fmall Circles on the Edge of the great one, and they fliewed theif Opinion how their little Gods were em-' ployed to^ chaftize the Indians when bad, and to com- fort and encourage them in Good : They likewifd fuppofed the four fmall Circles to anfwer to the four Quarters of the World ; that they had Inferiors un- der them again to execute their Will when they re- ceived a Commiflion from th^t g?rat Mind , but that all derived their Power from ih^fuprerne Eye,' Ear^ and Mind-; dembnftrating their Meaning by Compa- fifon thus : As fuppofing the Indians bad, the good Monettay y^'^i it, and he gives Orders to that in the North, and by him to them under himv whereby We are by hard Frofts, great SnowG, and cold Winds;, in the Winter, very much afflicted with want of If'ood, and with Cold ; and in the Summer, either G z cxtreani 100 The LIFE and r RAVELS extreani Heat or Wet prevent the Fruits of the Earth from coming to Perfedtion, until we be made hum-- ble zndi good : Then we pray for Relief, and Com- mlffion is given to the Monettay in the South, and by him to them under him, whereby we have warm Winds, and pleafant Rains in the Spring, that makes Tec-Cod (meaning Bucks) eafy to be taken, and Fat, &c. And in the Summer, fruitful good Weather, neither too wet nor too dry. Thus they account for | all reigning Diftempers, and common Calamities by J Sicknefs or Famine ; and on the other Side, Health 1 and Plenty, &c. So in like Manner for War and ■ Peace, wz. When two Nations are both wncked, \ they are y?/>r^^ ///> to deflroy each other, either by] the Devily or by Ibme of theie Monettay s by him \ employed, &c. I then proceeded to query, what ^ thought ^ they had of a Future State after this Life f i Firft deiiring to hive their Opinion, whether they did \ not think they had a Part in them that would never I die ? Which they readily granted, and gave me their ! Opinion, what both the State of the good and bad \ Indians would be in the other World ; that the good i Indians would go into the South and South- Wefl-, ; where it was very warm and pleafant, and Plenty of j all Things both for Plealure and Profit : As fuppof- ; ing, that they fliould have the Delight of enjoying '\ the Comforts of eating, drinking, hunting, and all \ other-PIeafures they enjoyed here, in a more agree- : able Way to Iboth and pleale their Defires, than e- \ ver they could in this World. Thus they dcfcribed \ Heaven^ as beft fuited their natural Senles, endea- \ vouring to inftil into their Youth, as they faid, Prin- i cipies ! cf SAMUEL B OWN AS. loi ciples of Virtue and Juftice, that when they die, as to this World, they may be fit and worthy of this good Country or Heaven, where it always is ierene and quiet, no Night, nor Winter in this brave plea- fant Country ; but all Things are plenty, very good, well and comfortable. But then, the wicked and bad Indians, when they die, go into the North and North- Weft, a Country extream cold, dark and un- pleafant; no Sun-fliine ; they endeavour to get fome- thing to fatisfy their Hunger, but can't, for the y^eo^ Ccd are very poor, and they can't catch them ; fo in this Extremity they defire to die, but can't 3 nor can they find any Means to put an End to this mi- fearble and wretched Life, but they muft continue in Sorrow and Trouble without any Hopes of End. Thus they defcribed their Thoughts ot a future State, either in Heaven or in Hell, according to their No- tions of both. I then turned my Difcourfe and afked them, what they thought of a good Spirit that was prefent with them in their Mind ? (finding they had no Notion of Chrift, as to his bodily Appearance) they readily ac- knowledged, i\\2it a good Spirit attended them, and did reprove, or make them forrowful when they did badly: They likewife did believe, tho: tad Monettay, or Devil, did perfwade them in their Minds to Evily and the more they ftrove againft the Devil, and prayed for Stength, by and from the good and great Monettayy the more they prevailed over thefe evil and wicked Temptations of the Devil in their ( wn Minds, which had, they faid, no Power to lead them intO'Evil, but by their own Confent y nor could do G 3 them ^02 Tbe LIFE and T R A V E L | them any Hurt if they did not yield to his alluring and deceitful Temptanons. I further enquired, if all the Indians were much of the fame Mind in iheji Matters? but they could riotrefolve me. I alfo enquired, whether any amongjl them were looked upon as Inftrudlors,' more than others ? They laid, no ; but the Head of every Family ought to do their befl: Endeavours to inftrud: their Families, but it was negleftedV yet they retained the Practice of coming all together once in a Year, and the Elder did advife the Younger, what their Parents and El- ders had told them, and thus they tranfmltted the Knowledge of former Things from one Generation to another^ by having them repeated in thefe Aflem- blies/ "' ^ '"' '■ "*" ' Here our Conference ended : And as I could treat them with fome Refrefhment, I did, which they thankfully received ; and we parted in great Friendfhip and Love, after a Stay ot one Night and almoft two Days. ' ' Some Weeks after this, "^ohn Rogers, 2l Seventh-day Baptifly from New-London in New-England^ came near two Hundred Miles on purpofe to viiit me; he was the chief Elder of that Society called by other People ^laker-BaptiJls, z^ \vnd.2\r\'mg {tho falfly) that both in their Principles and Dodnnes they leem- ed one with us -, whereas they differed from us ia thefe material Particulars, viz. About the Seventh- day Sabbath^' and in making Ufe of Baptifm in Wa- ter to grown PerfoQs, aft^r the Manner of other B^/- iifls, and ufing the Ceremony of Bread and Wine as a Communion, and alfo of anointing the Sick with ^ . - Oil: / ef SAMUEL BOWNAS. lo? Oil : Nor did they admit of the Light of Truths or Mantfefiation of the Spirit, but only to Believers % alledging Scripture for the Whole. They bore a noble Teftimony againft Fighting, Swearing, vain Complements, and thojuper/iitious Oblervation of Days, for which he had endured fundry long Imprifon- ments, and other very great Sufferings befides, both of Body and Goods. He v^as a Prifoner when IVil^ Ham Edmundfon was in that Country, (fee his Jour- nal Page 90) and had by Sufferings obtained fo com- pleat a Victory over his Oppofers, that now they took no Notice of him, he might do and fay what he pleafed : But he thought himfelf, that he had carri- ed his Oppofition to the Oblervation oiihtFirJl-day as a Sabbath a httle too far at Times, fo that he would do all Sorts of Work, yea, drive Goods or Merchan- dize of fundry Sorts in a Wheel-barrow, and expofe them to Sale before the Pulpit, when the Prieft was about the Middle of his Difcourfe, if he was not hin- dered, which fometimes, tho' but feldom, happen- ed; and would do any other kind of Labour, letting the People know his Reafons for fo doing, was to expofe their Ignorance and Superflition in obferving that Day, which had more of Law than Gofpel \n it, for Chrifl was the true Sabbath of Believers , withal adding, that he was raifedup for that very End. They admitted Women to Speak in their Meetings, (believing fome qualified by the Gift of the Spirit for that Work) and fometimes they had but very little faid in their Meetings, and fometimes they were wholly filent, though not often ; for they admitted any one, who wanted Information concerning the G 4 meaning I04 T/^^ LIFE ^7;?^ T RAVEL S meaning of any Text, to put the Queftion, and it was then expounded and fpoken to, as they under- flood it : Any one being admitted to (hew his Dil- fent, v/ith his Reafons for it : T^hus^ faid he, weim^ prove our Touth in Scripture Knowledge. I afked him, if they did not fometimes carry their Difference in Sentiments too far to their Hurt ? He acknowledg- ed there was Danger in doing fo, but they guarded againft it as much as they could. He gave me a large Account of the Conference he had with William Edmundfon, and told me that Nothing ever gave him fo much Trouble and clofe Uneafinefs, as his oppofing V/illiam Ednmndjon at that Time d;d, deliring me, if I lived to fee Willi-^ am Edmujtdfon^ to acquaint him with the fincere Sor- row that he had upon his Mind for that Night's Work. At my Return, I acquainted William E^dmundfon therewith, who defired me, if I lived to fee him a- gain, to let him know that it was the Truth Willi-^ am Edmundfon bore Tcftimony to that he oppofed, and therefore it was no wonder that he was fo much troubled for his foolifii Attempt therein. He gave me an Account of hisConvincement and Converfion, which was very large, and although at firft it was agreeable and very entertaining, yet by his fpinning of it out fo long, he made it difagreeable, for he ftaid with me five or fix Days, and it was the greatcfl: Part of his Difcouric all that Time, al- though I did fundry Times ftart other Subjeds, which he would foon get off, and go on about his own Experiences, I t)f SAMUEL B OWN AS. 105 I queried, why he was fo very liiff about the Seventh- day, and whether^ upofi a mild Conjideration of the Oppojition he gave about their Sabbath^ it was not by him carried too far ? He acknowledged, that he did not at iirft fee clearly into the true Meaning of the Sabbath, but that the Provocations he met with from the Priefls, (who ftirred up the People and Mob againft him) might fometimes urge him far- ther than he was afterwards eafy with, in oppofing them ; but when he kept his Place, he had'inex- preffible Comfort and Peace in what he did ; ad- ding, that the Wrath of Man works not the Righteouf- nefs of God. I queried with him, why they kept to the Vfe of Bread and Wine^ and plunging or dipping into Water ^ Jince he taught his People to put no Confide?2ce in thofe Ceremonies^ byfuppofing anyViriue or Holinefs in them ? He replied, that they did it for the Sake of thofe who were weak in Faith; adding, that if our Friends had taken thofe two Sacraments along with them, they would have driven all before them. This led us into a long Conference, the Subftance of which was to the Effed: following. He fpoke very much of his Satisfadlion and Uni- ty with George Fox, John Stubbs, John Burnyeat^ and William Edmundfon, as the Lord's Servants, with- fundiy others of the firft Vifitors of that Country ; that he knew them to be fent of God, and that they had carried the Reformation farther than any of the Protejlants ever did before them, lince the general Apoftacy from the Purity both of Faith and Doc- trine i frji^ the Church of England, they did No- thing ao6 r/&^ L I F E ^;^^ T R A V E L S thing in the End but made an Englijh Tranflation of the Latin Service ufed before; the Prejbyterians they diflented, and the Independants^ but came not to the Root of the Matter 5 the Bapti/is diffented irom all the other three^ but went not through. Upon which, tho' 1 could not wholly agree with him in his Afler- tionSj I queried, if he thought that all thefe feveral Steps of the Englifh Church from Popery^ the Pref- bytertans and Independants from the Englifh C^iurch, and the Baptifts from all three of them, had not fomething of Good in them ? viz. I mean, whcr ther the firfl: concerned in diflenting from Popery^ though they afterwards reftfed too much in the Forra ofWorfhip in the Epifcopal^Tcy^ had not the Aid of Chriil's Spirit to alTift them in their Diffent ? and fo for all the rejft* This he did readily grant to be a great Truth ; and fo allowing, that the firft Refor- mers were aded by divine Lights and being faithful to what was made known. to them, had their Re^ ward 'y and their SucceiTors fat down in that Form their PredecefTors left them in, but did not regard that Power and Life by which they were aded, and fo became Zealots for that Form^ but oppofed the Power. And this, faid he, is the true Caufe of the feveral Steps of Dijfent one from another y and the Reafon why there is fo little Chrijiian Love, and fo much Bitternefs and Envy one againft another, is their fetting down contented, each in their ownForm^ without the Power^ fo that they arc all in one and the fame Spirit, acting their Part in the feveral Forms of Worfhip in their own Wills and Time, not only oppofing the Spirit of Truth, but making it the O/^- pf SAMUEL BOWNAS. 107 h£i of their Scorn, and thofe who adhere to it the •^iS/z^V^ of their Reproach, Contempt, and Envy: And this is the Foundation of Perfecution, faid he. But we fhall, faid I, digrefs too far from what we had in View : Thou alloweft the aforementioned Friends to be Servants of Chrijl^ and guided by h/s Word, and that they advanced the Reformation higher than any had done before them ; and 'tis plain they had a Concern to lay afide Fightings Swearings vain Compliments J as well as Baptifm and Bread and Winey thtittwo Sacraments^ as you call them ; and as you continue in the Practice of them, it muft be %i your own Will^ and not in the Will of God, by thy own Gonfeffibn. How dofl thou^ faid he, make that out? ThM%y Giid I -, Jirjly Thou alloweft thofe of our Friends to be true Minifters, and declareft thy Unity with them as fuch, and they had a Concern to draw Peoples Minds from depending upon thcfe Shadows to truft in the Sub/iance : Now how could jthis be fo effe(5tually done, as by perfwading the Peo- ple to difcontinue the Ufe of tliofe Shadows ? for whilft they did ufe them, though at the fame Time they were told, there was Nothing in themy yet weak Minds would ftili retain fome Kegard, as though they had fome real Good in them, when in Truth there was none. But if our Friends had a Concern from the Lord to do thisy how canft thou in Reafon fuppofe, that by the fame Spirit you had a Concern from the Lord to continue in the Performance of them, unlefs thou wilt fuppofe contradi Story Pinciples and Dodlrines proceed from that good Spirit ; which I hope is far from thy Thoughts. Tea^ faid hoi Jh that io8 T/^^ L I F E ^//i T R A V E L S iiiat is indeed. Adding, we do not adl fo, for we fay as you do, that there's Nothing in thefe Ceremonies but a Sign-, it is the Power of an endlefs Life that we pcrlwade them to feek for in themfelves^ and not to look on thefe fes any Advantage in a fpiritual Senfe at all. Then, faid I, you had better do as we do, wholly lay them afide^ pray remember the brazen Ser^ pent that proved a Snare to Ifracl, faid I : But he would not yield to this. Then I afked him, if he thought either oithck Ceremonies of more Ufe than the other ? No, replied he; fet one afide, and fet both, for there is no more Virtue in one than the other. I then queried with him, if ever he had fecn a fmall Treatife entituled the DoSlrine of Baptifms, wrote in Cromwelh Time by one William Dell} he never heard of fuch a Book, he faid. I had it by me, and turning to the Preface in the laft Paragraph, where the Author in a prophetick Way has thele Words, ^ But becaufe I fee this p 'efent Generation fo rooted ^ and built up in the Dodirine of Men, I have the * lels Hope that this Truth will prevail wi h them ; ^ and therefore I appeal to the next Generation, * which will be farther removed from thefe Evils, * and will be brought nearer to the Word, but efpe- ^ cially to that People whom God hath, and jQiall ^ form by his Spirit for himfelf, for thefe only will * be able to make juft and righteous Judgment in ' this Matter, feeing they have the Anointing to be * their Teacher^ and the JLamb to be their Light. ' Having read this Paragraph, he took the Book and read it to himfelf, and was filent until I obferved to him, that the Author plainly pointed at our People. He of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 109 He allowed there was Reafon fo to think. By this Time it was late, and I delired him to take the Book, read and confider it, and let me have his Thoughts the next Day. So for that Time we parted, and he came not till late in the Afternoon next Day, altho^ he lodged hard by the Place of my Confinement. And when he came, told me he had read it careful- ly, and confidered it clofely, confeffing that it was the Language of the Spirit, and true DoSlrine. I told him, now I hoped that he was fatisfied, that it was mod fafe for them to lay thele Shadows afide, ^and labour to bring their People to the Subjlance. 'He allowed that it might be proper to do fo. But, added he, it muft be done with great Care and Ten- dernefs, left lome fhould be hurt by it. To which I replied, they would be more in Danger to be hurt by following thefe Poadowy ObfervationSy in which they could have no Benefit, and continuing in them might be a Means to lead them into Superpition and Idolatry, and make them fit dow^n and take their Reft in the Shadows^ and feek no farther. Having faid what we could, both of us dropt it by Confent ; and after fome fhort Paufe (for he could not long be filent) we fell on theSubjed: oiEleSlion and Reprobation, he afiferting, that faving Light and Grace was only given to the Elecly or true Believers^ and the reft were blinded. I alledged the contrary^ That an Offer of divide Love was made to ally but ^7//did not make good Ufe of it : So to Argument we went, and I requefted the Peafon for his Belief in this Doctrine ? defiring him firft to explain himfelf, whether he thought that Reprobates were from their 2 10 r^^ L I F E ^7/;^ T R A V E L S their Cradles or Births fo Jit xed^ that no Means or--' dained could alter it? He paufed fome Time, and at laft faid, all Things with God are /o^*^/^'; but from the Dodrine o( Paul, Rom. ix. it plainly appears/ fays /jt\ to be foy and that God is glorified by both, as in the Cafe o^Pharoah. I replied, PharoaU^Q.^iQ could not properly be adapted to this Docflrine, be- caufe It was in itfelf peculiarly intended for the con-^, nnncing of the Egyptiani^ as well as the r^ of Manlcind, that he (God) was the only All Power ^ fulGody worthy of Obedience, and that the Life and Power of Kings was in him; and to confirrh that weak People the Jews^ that if they leaned upon^' that God who had done all this before their Evesy they need not fear i\\c Wrath of Kings ^ thoiigh ac- companied with flrong and numerous Armies ; for God, who had chofen them, could foon overthrow' their Enemies, and fave them by a mighty Deliver-- ance from their Rage and Wrath : But how this' can be brought to lupport EleUion and Reprobation as now it's underftood, and preach'd up by fundry pretended Teachers, I fee 7tot: I therefore defire that thou wouldft explain it as thou underftands it.' He then proceeded as follows ; firfl: calling for the Book, and turning to the Text, Rom. ix. he begatf at the Toth Verfe, and went on, expounding very ftrongly and undeniably, in his own View, to the the 2iftVerfe, continuing his Expolitions to an im^ common Length > all which I heard with a pro- found Silence, and he became filent too at laft, and we iat in Silence fome time, and then I fpoke to the Effect following: That as it appeared to me, the 2 2d Verfe of SAMVEL BOTVNAS. iii Verfe took off much of the Edge of what he had faicf with refpeft to Reprobation ; which I read, and he confeft it did pretty much fo. I further added, that the Dodlrine of EkStion and 'Reprobation^ in the Way it is now expounded by thee, is very injurious, in reflcdling on the infinite Mercy of God, and point blank oppofwg the chief End of the Gofpel, and coming of our Saviour, who tajied Death for e'very Many and offers Life by his good Spirit and Grace to all. Befides thy Way of expounding the Apoftle in this Epif le, makes him quite cont:adidl himfelf in other Places, where he clearly fets forth the Love of God by and through Chrift, to be univerjaU ly offered both to 'Jew^ and Gentiles^ in order to Sal- vation : And laft of all, as thou haft explained thyfelf now upon this Doftrine thou renders that great Duty of Prayer almoft impertinent ^ if not quite ufelefsy with ^11 other religious Endeavours^ &c. fo that if thou canft not make it out otherwife than this is, I may, I think, without any Breach of Charity, conclude thee unlound in thy Faith and Doctrine of the Gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift, v^ho died for all Men^ and was by his Apoftles preach'd the Saviour of the World to both j^^'Z£;i and Gr^^i^: Therefore we muft ex- pound PW in i? to their Praife be it fpoken, afTifted me from Stage to Stage, and when I was in Prifon I faw I had no want of a Horfe^ and admired the Kindnefs of Providence in retraining me from having one till wanted: And I had Money plenty by the Trade of Shoe-maki?ig^ fo that I wanted none, nor did I want any Neceffaries for tl)e Journey but a Companion, and then fundry offered them (elves very freely to travel with me : But my dear Friend Sa?7iuel Bowjieh^kdi a Concern to vifit the Eaftern Parts of Nev:- England^ who had a line Gift, but not very large ; I was very glad of his Company, fo we fet forward in the Beginning of the ^%2;eifih- Month y and the Winter not being broke up, we * There's a large Meeting fincc fettled there. r/ SAMUEL B O IV N A S. iiy we rode over the Ice in fundry Places in ConneBirui Colony, fome narrow and lome broad Rivers, New- London, the biggell, but we had no Meetings fcr near two Hundred Miles : The People being moftly rigid Prefoytcrians, counted it a great Crime to be at a ^takers Meeting, efpeciaily on the Eahbath-day^ as they Term the Virjl-diy of the Week, But com- ing mtoNarraganJetj we were amongft Friends again. So we went for Rhode-Tfland, and there Friends v/ere very numerous, and we had large Meetings in- deed : There was a Marriage of a young Man (his Name wis Richardfon) with a Daughter of Thomas Redman, a Man of the firfl Rank in the Mand, (o that we had the Governor, (his Name w^as Samuel CranftCf?) and moft of the chief Men in the Govern- ment at the Marriage, and we had a precious living Time, w^hich gave me great Encouragement. The Governor was very kind, and queried with me a- bout my Imprifonment, he being a great Lover of Friends, but not a profeil one himfelf. From Rbode-Jljafid we went pretty ftralt towards Hampton and Dover, having iome Meetings, but fev/, by reaion we purpofed to return to the Yearly-Meet- ihg in Rhode-Ifiand, Vv hen Vv^e came to Dover, we had a pretty large Meeting, but we were both lilent, at which I was fomewhat amazed, it being new to me : However, another Meeting was appointed next Day, fome lit- tle Diftance from Dover, which was much larger : My Companion faid fomething, but very litlle, and was uneafythat he faid any Thing : I w^as quite fhut up, and after Meeting I was exceedingly comforted, H 3 " being n8 The LIFE ^W T R A V E L S being filled with divine Sweetnefs and heavenly Joy* that I was preferved, and did not force myfelf to of- fer. They appointed another Meeting the Day fol-. lowing, iome Diftanceoff, at which 1 found myfelf quite (hut up, and held back as it were, from faying any Thing, and my Companion was alfo filent, who after Meeting look'd upon me very innocently, fay- ing, Samuel^ JF/jaf do/i Jhink thefe People will fay ^ that we fhould come fo Jar to appoint Meetings amofigjl them ^ ajtd have Nothing to fay ^ It juft then Hvingly came into my Mind to reply. Fear not^ have Faith^ Nothi?2g doubting but we fhall have etiough to fay be- fore we leave them. " '""' ^ ' ' -^ ' Our next Meeting was to be in the Center of the Meetings which we had before, in a confiderable large Houfe, but not big enough for the Company by far, and the Country was all alarmed, fo that it was a very large Meeting indeed ; and it being War Time with the Indiam, the People brought fuch Weapons as they had to Meeting, lo that when we came to the Meeting- houfe, I was iurprized to fee fo many Fire-Arms, and other Inftruments of War, ftanding againft the Meeting-houfe Wall. How- ever, I was before told, that it was the Cuftom of other People to do fo s and I found that thofe Fire- Arms, and warlike Weapons belonged to other Peo- ple, not Friends,- that were come to Meeting : A large Meeting it was indeed, and v^ry quiet 5 we fat a lon<'" Time in Silence, which put me on examin- ing my Condudt, and looking back to fee how it was with me ; but finding no Caufe of Uneafinefs from any Thing I had done before, to caufe me to i . be of SAMUEL B OWN AS. 119 be thus fliut up, I cam? to this Conclufion and Re- fignation, thzi I was but a Servant^ and could of 7ny- felfdo Nothing ; fccretly praying that the Lord would give me Patience not to be uneafy, if he had No- thing for me to do, and if he had, there I was rea- dy and willing to do it : And thus I fettled down, diligently waiting for divine Diredion. And in a little Time a Word came with Life, (and I flood up w^ith it) to the Effea: following : ' The Lord's Time ^ is the heft Time, and let us not grow uneafy to ' wait for it ; for when he opens none can fhut, and * w^hen hefhuts none can open.' Enlarging on this Subjed: a little more ; and we had a very glorious Meeting, in which I was largely opened in fundry Branches of the Do6lrine of Chrid ; and I had not feen very often greater Tendernefs than was at that Time amongft the People ^ for the War with tjjc Indians had humbled them to fuch a degree, that Truth had a very great Reach upon them indeed, and the Meeting ended well. Immediately I found an uncommon r^nd weighty Concern to requeft the Minifters to come together, which they very readily complied with, and they were an handfcme Number, but not all thoroughly baptized into the Work. My Companion was very prettily opened, and we had a very fuitable Service amonft them, and faw clearly the Reafon why we were fo fhut up ia Silence ; fome of them were got into an Extream in Preaching and Praying, and would continue Meetings to an unfeafonable Length, as likewife in their Preaching and Praying at Table j v^ich gave great Uneaiinefs to fomefenfible Friends 120 ^he LIFE and T F. A V E L S amongil: them, but they could not redrefs it till after this Opportunity. They themfelves favv they were wrong in doing as they had done, and got out of thisExtream, which was a Degree oi Ranferifm, being attended with a Spiiit ot Oppoiition againfc the Order of Friends in Monthly and Quarterly- Meetings, > ' Having finillied our Service, we returned hack to J-Jampton^ and had feveral Meetings, and* fo for i^/Wtf-i/fe;;^ Yearly-Meeting, v/hich was very large, and to good Satisfailion. From thence I went by Sea to ieveral Iflands, as Marthas Vineyard^ Nantucket^ and fome others ; but in NanUicket I had great Satisfaftion, for the People, not joined with Friends, were 'moderate Baptifts?A'\d came generally to Meetings, their Preach- er alfo with them, who after Meeting raifed fcDie Objections againfc us, that he had from cur Adver- faries Bocks and that which he pitched upon moil]}^ was about Prayer, that ive did not pray to God in the Name cfChriJt^ but in stir c-dm Names. ' I told him, we jook'd upon it to be our Duty to pray to God in ChrilYs Name, and as his Name is underflood to be his Fewer ^ v/e durft not prefume to pray to the Fa- ther, but as the Wifdom and Spirit of Chrifl gave us Utterance. He faid, // was a Gojpel Truth in its pru mifi'^ce Purity. The Governor fent for mr, and we had a Time to confer about our Principles, and after a little Time he feemed much pleafed with what I had to fay : And having finifhed my Service I returned to Rbcde-JJIand, and found fome were contriving to have of SAMUEL BOWNJS. 121 have me taken up, by informing the Governor a- gainft me, as tho' I was a TranfgrcfTor, by preach- ing, as they faid, zg^im^i Baptifm, and i he Supper of the Lord, as they call the Bread and V/ine. But the Governor being at the Meeting himfeH where this fuppofed Offence was given, quickly faw that the Arguments ufed againft the Prefent Pra6licc of the £;?^///7:? Church, as well ^L^Frefiyteriam^LVi^Baptijis^ had fo much Scripture and Reafon on their Side, that it was vain to attempt to confute them ; he therefore thought it their wifeft Way to let it alone. After this, I made another Trip to the Eafiward^ my dear Companion being returned, and vifited iii my Way back to Dover, Meetings as they came ir courfe ; and I viiited all the Meetings, where I had been before, and had fat in Silence in.fom.e of them, but I had now large and good Service^ and great Sa- ti^fadion amongft them, and the more fo, as they now faw it their Places not to preach in every Meet- ing, but to wait for the Conllraint of the divine Word before they fpoke. From thence I went to Strawberry-Bank, a Haven where much Shipping reforts for Mafts, and when clear of thofe Parts, returned to Hampton, Haverill, Exeter, and fundry other Towns, where Meetings had not been kept, and amongfl them to Newbu?^ : A Man that lived in that Place, being newly convinc- ed, was very defirous of a Meeting at his Houfe, which I confented to ; and when the Time came, his Wife, not being pieafed that we came on the Account of a Meeting, would not permit us to en- ter the Houfe, but kept the Doors lock'd againft us,. beinga 122 rhe LIFE and TRAVELS being, as was faid, advifed to it by fome of their Teachers. 1 took a Turn round the Houfe, and hap- pened to have fome Conferrence with her at the Window, firft afluring her, that we had no Defign to put her Huiband to any Manner of Charge, but only to let us haveHoufe-room for about two Hours to hold a Meeting ; adding, that it did ill become a Wife to keep her Huftand out oi his Houfe at fuch a Time 3 promifmg her, thatifibe would let in her Hufband, not one of our People fhould come in with him. And by realoning the Caie, fhe, after a little while, opened the Door and would have us to go in, but I had not Freedom. Then the Place to hold the Meeting was got ready, being a large Place like a Barn, where the Friend and his Men built Boats for the Shipping, that being his Calling, and we fat down, being a few Friends, and in a little Time many People came, amongft whom, as it was faid, came fix Preachers : And in fome convenient Time a young Woman flood up v/ho had a pretty Gift, but the People behaved very rudely, fo that it put the poor Girl out of Countenance, and fhe fat, down. Then flood up Lydia Norton^ a famous Minifler, none more fo of that Country, and indeed fhe had an excellent Gift, and knew how to condud: herfelf in it ; but all this did not avail, the People grew worfe and worfe in their Behaviour ; and Ly^ ^//zhavj^a very ftrong manly Voice, extended it very j(i*d, but all to no purpofe, for the People were as loud as fhe, calling for a Dram, and fport- ing themfelves in their Folly, fo fhe fat down ; and a young Man, called Jo/Joua Fuddingtofi^ flood up ; they Bf SAMUEL BOTVNAS. 123 they were rude to the Women, but worfe with him, raking up his former Faults, and calling for a Cann of Flip, for he could drink as well as they, they faid : And he having been a Companion with them in fifhing, they made very free with him, fo he fhut up. By this Time the Meeting was exceeding nu- merous, and continued enlarging very much : It came into my Mind, to ftand up and take out my Bible, which I did, (for I always travelled with one in thofe Days, finding a confiderable Service in it at times) and opened it, and put my Finger in it, as tho' I would take my Text, but I faid Nothing for fome confiderable Time, till all was quiet, for the People continued in a great Confufion for a while, till fome of them obferved my Book ; then they be- gan to quiet and flill one another, urging as a Rea- fon for it, that I had the Word of God in my Hand^ fuch a great Regard they paid to my Bible 3 and in a little Time all was quiet and flill : Then I opened my Mouth and faid, Behold^ 1 am an Englifhman ; and enumerated the many Lands and Places I had travelled in, but had never met with any People of fuch a Behaviour as theie were ; referring to them to advife me, what Accouiit I mujl give of the People of Newbury at my Return into Englaitd ? A good come- ly Gentleman-like Man, in Excufe for the Behavi- our of the People, faid , Sir, as for Wo^nens Preachi?tg we hold it unlawful , becaufe St. Paul hath forbid ity therefore we think it not proper to give them a hearing : And as for the Man, we know him perhaps better than you, and cant think him qualified for that Undertaking ; but you Jeem to be a Gentleman of Senfe^ and we will hear J24 The LIFE and T Pv A V E L S heaj' yoii. I replied, that as for Woniens Preachim. Its allowed a difputable Point from Pauf% Words, yet neverthelefs, if any of you are (after this Tvlcet- ing is over) willing to hear what I have to fay in Favour of it, I iliall be willing to give you the beli Account I can, w^hy I think it is lawful : And if a- ny of 3?ou can Ihew better Reafons againft it, I flial! as willingly hear them. And as for the young Man, I grant you may, as he is a Neighbour^ have had a much better Knowledge of his former Conduct in Life, than I can pretend to ; but allov/ing that he may have, in Time paft, been loofe, that argues not againft giving him a Hearing : For how know you, but that as ^W did, he might condemn his pail: Life, and give you an Example, by his prefent Condu6f, to reform \ for which Reafons, you ought to have heard with Patience w^hat he had to lay to you. The fame Gentleman replied, I [aid very rights they ought to have heard him : But I pray you [peak "what you have to fay freely^ and I charge all prefent to 7nake no Difturbance or Interruption^ if they do^ in the Queen's Name / W// commit them. By which Words I found he was in the Commifficn of the Peace : And then I began, ^ That Religi- ^ on v/ithout Righteoufnefs was ufelefs, and could V not profit thofe whoprofeft it.' And going on, I came in the Courfe of my Service to recite the great Improvement true Religion made on the Minds of thofe who lived in it, in giving them Power over their Lufts and Paiiions, repeating that oi James i. 26. If any Man among you feem to ke religious^ and hridleth not his Tongue^ but deceiveth his own Heart., this Mans, Religioji of SAMUEL BOPFNAS. 125 Religion is njain. One out of the Throng faid, &>, you impoje upon us^ there s nofiich Text. I made a full Stop, and turned to it ; and there were many Bibles then appeared, i repeated Chapter and Verfe, and they turned to it. Then I afked them, if they had it? They replied, they had. Then I read both the 26th and 27^/6 Verfes, and afked, if it was fo in their Bibles? They anfwered that it was. I then defired them to confider, whether I that repeated the Text, or he that faid there was no fuch Text, 'was moft in the right. Then I went on with my Opening, carefully mind- ing my Guide ; and in the Courfe of the Dod:rine I had in my View, I came to treat 01 Faith, and diftin- guifhed betwf^en trite audfalfe Faith, ihewing, that nctwithftanding we might give our AlTent to the Truth of that called the Apojlles Creed, or any other made and drawn up by Men, and that we might be zealous to difpute and contend for the Truth of thefe - Creeds, in the wording Part of them ; yet for all that, if we did not lead Chriflian Lives, we were flill but Unbelievers 3 f 07 'Faith without F/orks is dead, the Text . tells us, At which laft Words one cries out, you im-- pofe upon us, there's 720 fuch Text. I immediately ftop'd, and turned to it, and quoted it, and they all who had Bibles made Search. There being a profound Silence, I read the Text, Hiking, if it was fo in their Books ? They all replied, it was. I made the fame Remark as before ; and then I went on, diflinguifli- ing between true and/^^^ Faith, plainly demonftrating from Scripture, that Faith was much different from what many took it to be. And indeed Truth was dminently preached that Day, and there was a con- fiderable 126 rhe LIFE and TRAVELS litderable Tenderncfs ainongfl the People, and ihi Meeting ended well. When I came out, the Gentleman came to me and I acknowledged his Kindnefs towards us ; and it fuddenly came before me to Speak with a loud Voice in the Street, and to defire, that if any one was at a Lofs, and did not underftand any Part of what I had faid, or thought I had fpoken any Thing not agreeing to Scripture, I would then delire them to let me know it, and not mifreprefent any Thing I had faid when I was gone, the Gentlemnn made Aniwer on Behalf of the People thus ; None canhavc any ObjeStion^ for I never heard the Word better pre ach- ed in my Time. And then I told them I was ready to let them know my Reafons, why I thought Wo- men, properly and duly qualified, might preach lawfully^ on Condition I might have their Reafons to the contrary* The Gentleman, who undertook ftill to fpeak on Behalf of the Company (who flaid to hear and fee) faid, Here is none here will undertake to difpiite with you upon this or any other Point of Re- ligion : But I defire you will favour me with a Fro-- mife to have another meeting here ^ and 1 will get Jome of the befl Writers the Country will afford^ to take down your Sermon. But he little knew, that this was no great Inducement to my coming there again : However he preft it very clofe, which I excufed in the heft manner I could, as not knowing that I fhould or fhculd not : And afterfome earneftpreffing of me^ to go to his Houfe to refrefh myfelf, which I likewife defired to be excufed in, by reafon we gave Expectation to goto our Inn, and we could not ftay much of SAMUEL BOJVNAS. iif much longer, becaufe Night was come upon us ; we parted in good Refpeiland Harmony to all Ap- pearance, and my Heart was filled with Thankful- nefs and Comfort that we got over that Day's Work fo welL Now being clear of thele Parts I returned, vifiting the Meetings of Friends, and lundry other Places, as in particular Cape-Ann^ where I met with great Oppofition ; the Cafe was thus. At Cape-Ann fundry Friends were defirous of a Meeting, and more fo, becaufe that Icveral voung Men, who were Friends, refided there while they built a Ship. Accordingly I went, and feveral Friends went with me, and we got there early on z Seventh-day^ and gave Notice of a Meeting, which was to good Satisfaction, and it being a new Thing, it was very large ; the People defired another, which was granted : And between Meetings, (ome gave their Preacher Notice, who had but a Imall Congregation that Day, advifing him to look after his Flock, it being his Duty. Accordingly he came before the Meeting ended, with feveral of his Elders, and was very noify. Firfb, he would prove Water Baptifm, from the Text, to be an Or- dinanceof Chrifl. I replied ; v^^hat Form of Water Baptifm would he prove fo ? To which he anfwered evafivcly, not being willing to be tied to one more than another. But after fome farther Pros and Cons, he was by his own People preft to vindicate his own Practice, which was Sprinkling. Then he faid, that* was plainly proved by our Saviour's Words, Suffer little Children to come unto me^ &c. I (hewed him hit I2S The L I F E a?2d TRAVELS his mlftake ; that without Perverting that Text, it could not be applied to fprinkli?ig of Infants in any wile : But our Saviour's Words in that Place refered to the State of Innocency that fuch fhould experience^ to be like little Children in their Minds, as free from all Manner of Vice and Wickednefs, before they were fit and prepared for the Kingdom of Heaven, yNh\Q\\ fprtTikling with elementary Water could not do for them. Opening more at large the State of the Ne^D'Birih and Regeneration ; in doing which, he would often break in upon mc, but his own People cried Shame, for the Interruption he gave, adding, when I had done, he fhould be heard. But he was fo much out about the Proof oifprinkling In- fants by our Saviour's Words, that I found he was very weary of the Difpute, and willing to drop it, and would go on upon VerfeSlion. I urged him to clear up Baptijm firfl, as we were upon it ; but he would break off from it, urging, that both he and his Peo- ple were fatisficd about it ; I then afked him, why he did begin upon it ? To fhew us cur Errors, he replied. So finding nothing was like to come of it, but Tu- mult and Nolle, we preffed it no farther. Then he charged us wiii being in an Error about Terje^ion I defired to know, ^wherein ? he was very unwilling to ihtw wherein y and flew off to Ele^ioh ; in fliort he would flick to nothing. So that one of his Hear- ers reproved him very iharply, for his abounding in fo many charges of fuppofed Errors, and proving no- thing ; adding, that it did not fuit his Station as a Minifler, whofe Work it was, or ought to be, to fet People to rights and to jGhew them wherein they vv^'erc wrong:^ of SAMUEL BOt^NAS. 129 wrong, and not to heap up Chargeg of Errors, with- out fhewing of an/ thing of Proof that fhey were fo^ which could by no*means be a Way to convince and inform thofe in Error. , At which pertinent Kebuke he left us, fome, though very few, going with hinii I then defired the People to fit down, and be flill j which they readily complied with ; and after a fhort Paufe, ^it was with me briefly to fpeak to each Point, explaining, as well as I could, in fo fhort a Time, the Do(fl:rine of outward Baptifm to be but a Figure of the /;2w^r^, as outward Circumcifion was of the Inward, viz. of the Heart : And jikewife fctting forth the ?2ew Birth and Regeneration in as clear a Light as Time would permit j with PerfeSlion and ^ RleSlion^ and Reprobation i all w^hich, though but very briefly touched upon, took up a confiderable Time, fothat the Night was above half fpent confidcrably. When I had done, the People were exceeding quiet and civil, arid declared their Satisfadlion, wifhing their Minirter had likev/ife fl:aid, for he could not have gainfaid what was fpoken to each Points Some few of theni flay'd a fhort Time after, defiring that they might have more fuch Meetings, and we parted in much Love and Sweetnefs i in particular, that Elder who reprehended the Minifler, as he called him, faid, Religion could never profper^ fo long as it was made a ^radeofto get Bread by :, and he feemed con- vinced, that both the Dodrine and pradice of their V^o^X^Vf^x^inconfiflent with primitive Religion and our Saviour's Dodtrine. And thus we clofed our Conference and took Leave- % YvcM I30 The LIFE ^W T R A V E L S From thence I returned towards Rhode-IJlajid tak- ing my Leave, as not cxpefting to fee them again this Journey. I went from Rhode-IJland to Block-IJIand^ where were a few Friends, but much hurt by lewd Compa- ny, fuch as Privateers Men and the hke, but all the Inhabitants came to Meeting, and were very fober and willing to hear. One Ebenezer Slocum^ a fine Minifter, was with me in this Ifland, and we had three or four Meetings among them : Then I return- ed to Rhode-IJland zg^Xn^ and was at two large Meet- ings with Friends, then took my folemji Leave ; and I had a Meeting in ConneSlicut^ at which were many Friends from both Rhode-ljland and Naraganfet ; a fine folld Meeting it was. Then I went to Nara-^ ganjet^ and had two or three Meetings there, and took mv Leave and came to NewLofidon^ and fo for Long'JJJarjd^ and at the Eaft End of it had fome Meetings, where both Friends and others were very glad of my coming. I had many Meetings in fe- Teral Places, and there was great flocking to Meet- ings, and very great Opennefs amongft the People in thofe Parts. A Friend tald me, that Geoi'-geKHth had propofed, as a Means to prevent the growth of ^akeriffn^ as he called it, the making of a Law to reft rain Friends from travelling, fave to their own Meetings 5 for he faid, it was the travelling Preach- ers that kept t]\t fakers up fo ftrong in Countenance. This^ was thought by fome hot Eiggots a likely Way to put a Stop to the Increafe of the c^^^^id^ri, which had infefled almoft the whole Country ; but by People of Moderation and Senfe it^ was hiifed at. But of SAMVEL notVNAS. 131 But to the Matter ; there was a very large Meeting at Wejibury on the Flain, called a Yearly meeting, to which moft of the Friends of the Ifland, and many of the better Sort of the Weft End of it came, it he^ ino- known that I lliould take my Leave there ; and I was very much opened^ in fetting forth the Dif- ference between the true and falfe Minifters, and the true and falfe Worfliip ; and there being fome of Keith\ Friends, they threatened to have nie taken up again ; but I found that Truth was over them^ and they could do no more than fhew their Teeth iot they could not being there. So we took Meetings, as they fuited, in pur Way : And I found my Companion under a great Concern to fpeak fomething in Meetings, but very backward and loth to give up to it \ but I gave him what Encouragement I could : And in Tewkefbury Meeting, after fome Struggle in himlelf, he flood up, and appeared very much to his own, and Friends Comfort, and fo in every Meeting after till we came to Bri/ioh, and indeed he appeared more like an EU der in the Work than a Babe. But at Brifiol he did pot get through what he had before him tp his lik- in^y, and fat down under very great Difcouragement, but I cheered him up as well as I could, by giving him an x'^ccount of my Experiences : And when we came to the little Country Meetings again, he did finely, and gathered Strength and Experience in the Work very fad. We came to my intended Father-in-Law's Hpufe, and went to their Monthly-meeting, where I and my Friend propofed our intended Marriage, which wag takeh Notice of. And then Brifiol Yearly-meeting coming on, we went thither, and rnet our worthy Friend Thomas Camm, who intended to be at our JMarriage/ After the Yearly- meeting y/as over at Briftoly Thomas Camm took a Meeting or two in the Way, but my Friend James and I returned back, h\ order for me to get clear of the Monthly-meeting, jjnd likewife to provide ourfelves Neceflarie$ for the Weddings Vhich was to be accomplished the Week follQwirigj ^t a Meeting on purpofe at Puddimor^^ and cj SAMUEL BOWNAS. 135 and it was a very large Meeting, fundry Public Friends beiides Thomas Camm being there. The Yearly-meeting at London coming on, I ftaid but a few Days with my Wife ; I would have had her gone with me, but her Mother was taken ill of a feverijh Diforder, and was very weak, for which Reafon fhe was not eafy to go ; fo I was o- bliged to leave her to nurfe her Mother, who in a few Days grew much better, but I had firft a fweet Opportunity with the Family, and one or two Friends more in her Chamber, and the Spirit of Prayer came on James^ and he was drawn forth very largely, and very devoutly. After which (not without fome con- fiderable Reluctance) we parted for a fhort Time, and James and I fet out for London^ and that Meet- ing was very large, and Friends there were willing I fhould give fome Account of my Travels, which I was much afraid of ; but being call'd upon in the Meeting, I did it, and came oifmuch better than I expeded ; fundry Friends expreffing their Appro- bation of it. As foon as the Meeting was over, dear James and I had a heavy Parting ; but as I was going to my Wife, that helped to chear my Heart a little. I came diredlly Home without taking any Meetings, having my di^2iv¥ xxtndi James Salter ^ and fundry others who had been at the Yearly-meeting, in Company. And now I ftaid with my dear Wife, and went very little abroad for more than twelve Months, having very great Comfort and Satisfaftion in my married State, my Wife being a true Sympathizer with me in all the Exercifes which I often was under, of one 1 4 Kind 136 The LIFE and TRAVELS Kind or another ; as fometimes I fear?d how we fJ:ould go on in the World-, and fhe would often fay, if we get but little,^ we will fpend lefs 3 and if wc fave a little out of our Gettings, we fhall do well enough, I am not at all fearful of it, neither would I have thee. ^^ Then I was jealous that my Miniftry was not fo living as it' had been before I was married 3 and making my Trouble and Uneafinefs about it known to my Wife, fhe would endeavour to dilTwade me from fuch Thoughts, adding, there was no Reafon for it ; fo that I found her to be an Help-meet in-- deed. ^- ^ -■ ,.."-- /• - . • ^ ^ Then finding a Concern to vifit Ireland^ I ac- quainted her therewith, and flie gave me up fo free- ly and cheerfully, ' that it was a Cordial to me ; fay- ing,' -that flie expeded I would often leave her, and that fhe- had refolved in herfelf before Marriag;e, fhe would never hinder my Miniltry if fhe could pofiibly avoid it^ and fhe hoped that the Lord would flrength- en her,, and make that eafy to her. ^- • ^■ ' So accordingly about the Fifth-Month 1708, lap- phed to the Monthly-meeting for a Certificate, which I had, and 'then took' Shipping at Minehead, and landed at Cork^ where I ftajd two or three Meetings to good Satisfaction : Then I went to Charlevi 11 ^ind Limerick, vifiting the Meetings along that Side of the Nation to Colrain, and I found very hard Work in many Places, and in fome Meetings was quite fhut lip ; but I found, where the People who did not pro- fefs with us came in plentifully, it was not fo, but there was an open Door y and that worthy Friend, and heavenly minded^ meek, and divine Preacher, Gilbert of SAMUEL B OIF HAS. 137 Qilbert nowpfon, was there at the fame Time 3 and when we converfed about it, I found lie was, much as I was, Ihut up, and found it very hard Work in iome Places to get forward ;' and as he was in Expe- rience and Age much my Superior, I requefted what he thought might be the Reafon, nzhy itfeemedmore dead among fl Friends in this Nation now^ than infome ether Places t He gave this as a Reafon, T^hat the Pro- fejfors of Truth in that Nation were very Jlri^ and exa5l infomeThings^ ' and placed ?nuch in outNvard Ap* pearance,^^^/ Y(9(? much negkufed the Reformation and Change of the Mind, and having the Iniide thoroughly cleanfed from VridQ and Iniquity ) for thou knoweft^ faid \\^^ the Leaven ^///j^Pharifees was always hurt^ ful to the Life of Religion in all Shapes. Yet nev?r- thelefs we found a brave living People in thatNation, and great Encouragement there was to vifit frefh Places. ^^ ■' •' ' I came from Colrain to Lurgan^ Mount Allen ^ and fundry fmallMeetings thereabout, Hiljborough^ Lijburn^ Ruffer-I^and, and fo to Drogheda^ Friends having a Meeting-houfe in that Town, but few came to Meeting, there being no Friends in the Town, except two Men/ From thencci went for Dublin^ then vifited the Meetings towards Wicklow^ Water-- Jord and fo to Cork^ and had a large Meeting at Kinfale, it being the firfl: Meeting in the Meeting- houfe that Friends had built there. Friends in that Kingdom are highly to be commended, in not fpar- jng Charge for accommodating Meetings, either by building or hiring Places for that Service- Br 138 TZ;^ L I F E ^//^ T R A V E L S By this Time the Half-yearly-meeting at Dublin came on, but Nothing very remarkable happened there. I took my Leave of Friends, and when clear I left the City, and my dear Friend Jofeph Gill ac- •companied me about three Weeks. He did not then appear as a Minifter in Meetings, but was un- der great Exercife, and I was fatisfied he was under a very confiderable Influence of divine Goodnefs, which would be manifefted by his coming forth in the Miniflry in due Time, whiph accordingly came to pafs ; for in a few Weeks after his Return, he appeared very acceptably in the Miniftry, and be- came a very ferviceable Man in the Work. After we parted I went on for Cork^ in order to take fhipping Home, which I did, but the Wind not favouring us for almoft three Weeks, gave me lome Uneafinefs, becaufe I wrote to my Wife, that I intended coming looner ; and I heard afterwards lome of our Neighbours had reported, that I with the Ship wa? taken into France ; but my poor Wife bore up bravely under it. When the Wind fprung up fair, the Mafter fet fail, but we werejufl but got clear of the River before it veered againfl us ; fo the Mafter purpofed that we might fetch Waterford^ and thought it would be better to do lo than to go back to Cork ; accordingly we all agreed, and got there by the Clofe of the Evening, being Seventh- day 3 I ftaid the Fir/i-day Meeting, which was ve- ry much to Satisfadlion, and I was opened in the Excellency of the Gofpel. On Second-day we fetfail again, and got into Minehead in about forty eight Hours, and I polled Honie by Bridgwater^ and met jvith of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 13^ with a hearty and kind Welcome from all our Fami- ly, more e/pecially my dear Wife, having Ipent in Ireland fomewhat more than eighteen Weeks. It ibon got abroad that I was come Home, and many Friends from feyeral Neighbouring Meetings came to Vifit me and we had great Comfort in one another. Now I had nothing to do but Vifit the Meetings around me, which were pretty numerous : But one Thing came upon me pretty much, and that was, to put mylelfintofome Bufmefs toget Bread. Some propofed oneWay^ forrje another. London 2ind Br i^ (ipl were both propofed, but I could not fee my way to either of them j and what I fhould do in the Coun- try, being ignorant of Farming, I faw not yet. At laftr it was propofed that I might with a little Charge make a Conveniency to make a little Malt, in which, when an Apprentice, I had feme Experience, being th^n ufed to it. I accordingly did, but my Stock was very fmall, but fome kind Friends lent me feme Money, and I found it anfwer better than I exped:- ed, fo that I was encouraged to proceed ; and in a- bout three Years Time, I found it anfwered very well, fo that I went on with Pleafure, and took great Care, and was very diligent in my Bufinefs and in attending all Meetings that I could reach in a Morning's Ride, as I found a Concern fo to do; ^nd the Comifort andHappinefs I enjoyed was great, for I could entertain my Friends with a Lodging, and other NeceffarijES in a plain Way, which was ve- ry agreeable to us both ; and moft Friends that came, took a Bed with me one or two Nights^ as befl fujtcd their Convenience in their Journey* But 140 The LIFE and TRAVELS But in a little Time a Storm arofe : The Parfon of the Parifli having had Nothing from our Fam.ily for thirteen Years and upwards, of his fmall Tithes, and other Church-dues, (as he ftiled themj got a Summons for me to meet him before the Juftice s but before the Time came I writ him a few Lines, to know his Demand, and he writ oie a long Letter in anfwcr thereto. And I replied to his Anfwer. All which are hereunto annexed. The Time came, and fome other Friends were convened by other Priefls from other Pariihes at the fame Tirne. When I was called, there were two Juftices, one Edward Phillips Efq ; of Montacute^ 2Lnd—Harl?e/j Efq ; of Newto72 : Phillips was very rough and boifterous in Words, and Harben altogether as mild, ufing fundry Arguments to perfwade me to pay it myfelf, or fufFer fome other Perfon to pay it, being very earneft that I fliould fuffer him to pay it for me, and he would not defire to have it altogether ; fuppoling that I might not fo v/ell fpare what the Parfon demanded at once. I told him, I was very much obliged to him for his kind Offer, believing his Intention was toferve me in it, but I could by no means accept it, without Injury to my own Mind, it being a Matter that concerned my Confcience, which I was defirous to keep void of Offence towards God. He took me into another Room, and was very earneft to have it made up ; urging, that it was fo much in Arrears^ that it was beyond their Power to end it ^ audit muft be put into /i?^ Exchequer, and that would be very charge^ abky which ^ fays he, muji fall upon you at lafi. I told him^ that I could do Nothing to make it up : And of SAMUEL ^OITNAS. 141 And having Conferred feme Time, we went in a- gain, and he fpoke to the Effedl following, that he was 'very Jorry he could not Jerve iis^ as we were both his Neighbours and Friends (meaning the Parfon and me) and told the Parfon, // would be uncajy to us both 5 and would have us end it between ourjelves. I laid. If it were a Matter of juft Debt that I was fatisfied was my Neighbour's Due, I fhould foon end it with my Neighbour Ray^ and be as willing to pay, as he was to receive it ; but as it was not of that Nature, I could by no means do it. So I was difmifled, and in a little Time ferved with an Exchequer Frocefs^ and in a few Months after, in the next Term, I was taken up in my Way for Brifiol, where I was going about my Buiineis, and put into Goal. But when the Parfon had got me there, he was very uneafy indeed, fo that he could not take his Reft, and told his Attorney, If he lojl all his Claim^ he could by no means keep me there ^ for he had no Reji or ^ietnefs of Mind Night nor F)ay> So accordinj2;Iy the xA^ttorney came to the Keeper in lefs than ten Days Time, in the Parfon's Name defiring him to let me go Home to look after my Bufinefs : Which I accordingly did, and in a few Days went my Journey to Brifiol \ and when I had done my Bufmefs there, took a little Turn intoWilffhirc, and fpent about two Weeks in vifiting fundry Meetings, and fo returned Heme. Then I advifed rriy Friends at the Meeting for Sufferings m London^ how it Aood ; who advifed me, that the Parfon could not proceed farther, a^ he had taken me up and put me into Goal : So I heard no more of it all that Winter : But in the Spring a dif- tant 142 ^he LIFE and TRAVELS tant Relation of our Family came to my Wife wheil I was from Home, and defired her to lend him teri Pounds, for he was going to a Fair, being a confider- able Grazier. She had no Thoughts about the Par^ fon's Demands, that being a much bigger Surri; and he being a Dijfenter, and having done me the like Favour, (he lent it him, and he gave her his Note ac- cordingly. My Wife, when I came Home, told me what {he had done, and I faid, it was very well, mi(- trufting Nothing of any Trick in the Matter ^ but a^ he came in myAbfence to borrow it, fo in likeManneil' he came in pretence to pay it, addreffing himfelf to my Wife to this EfFedl ; Dear Couftriy if you can help me to that Note^ I had befi pay it ; you know I borrowed it djyou^ and [hall pay it to you. So (he very inno- , cently fetched his Note, and he tore it immediately ; and putting his Hand into his Pocket, takes out and throws her down the Parfon's Receipt for the tent Pounds, in full of all Demands for Tithes to that Time. My poor Wife was under a very great Sur^ prize, urging, it would be a very great TJneaJinefs to me. Your Hufband, faid he, is, we allow, a Man of Senfe, but in this he is a f^ubborn Fool ; and I would have paid it out of my own Pocket rather than he fhould have ruined you and himfelf, which this Exchequer Suit would foon have done if it had gone on ; for his original Demand is fourteen Pounds and upwards, and he hath been at forty or fifty Shillings Charge already, and you mufl have paid that and ten Times more if it had gone on, which now I have cleared for ten Pounds ; I think you are exceeding well off. Ay^ but^ faid fhe, we look at inward Peace more bf SAMUEL BOWN AS. 143 more than ail thaty and IJhall be blamed for being privy to the Contrivance y and beget a Jealoujy in my Hujhand about other Affairs. Oh ! my dear Coufin trouble not yourfelf about that, faid he, fori can clear you> that you are as innocent of it as a new-born Babe : And I know I could not have brought it about with your Hulband, for he would have ftarted fo many Queftions, that I could not poffibly have brought it about any other Way, than by ploughing with his Heifer. When my Wife told me of it, which was not prefently, it troubled me, to have my Teftimony thus evaded by this undermining Trick, which was in the Man that did it, defigned for our Good no doubt, and the Note that he gave for the Money being deftroyed, I had nothing to fliew under his Hand for the Money, and what to do in it I was at alofs : But I thought it beft to convene the Elders, and let them know how it flood, and to be advifed how I might clear my Teftimony, and my dear Wife and Self, from having any Hand in this de- ceitful Trick ; which I accordingly did, and they were fatisfied we were clear of the Contrivance, but did not know what to do to fatisiy others about it j one Friend was tor fuing him that had thus trick'd me for the ten Pounds : But others thought fuch an Adt would do more Hurt than Good, and thought it by no means advifeable to ad: any farther, than to go to my Kinlman and let him know, that what he had done in the Cafe, thq' by him intended for a Kind- nefs, yet it had the contrary Effed: on our Minds, fo that altho' he intended to ferve us, it proved a Dif- fervice, and to requeft, that for the future he would never 144 Tl^f' L I F E ^W T R A V E L S fiever ferve us fo again. In due Time my Wife and I took an Opportunity, and difcourfed the Matter over with him 3 and he to excufe i^; faid, he little thought we would take it fo much amifs'as we had, having, as he thought, no Reafon for it, and won- dered that our Friends fliould be fo ftubborn as to contend againft Law ; and he could not bear to *hink we fhould be ferved as Mr. Banton^nd Mr. T'illy were y and indeed, if it were again to do, I fhould do the fame, /aid be. Robert Banton ^W William Tilly, were two very great Siifferei i by Exchequer Procefs, both very hoiieji fine ere Friends. Thus was this Af- fair ended. The firfl Letter I writ the Parfon, with the Parfon's Anlwer, and my Reply, are hereunto annexed, viz. ^ Lymlngton, //6^ 15th <5//i6^ Fourth-Month, Juhe^ / 1712. ^ Neighbour ^ AY J ^ ^- 1 N C E thou art pleafed to proceed againft me * O by Juftice's Warrant, I defire thou wouldft be ^ pleafed to let me know, what thou demandeft, ^ elfe, how Ihall I be able to make my Defence. I * think thy People this Year and laft were very un- ^ reafonable in their Taking, having both Years (mo- * deftly computed) taken above one eighth Part of ^ mv Hay: And ^Brook's never, as I am informed, * paid any in kind till thou came into the Parifh j * but now for Nine-pence the three Acres, thou haft ^ taken ^ A tittle Water Mead of three Acr^i, talkd ti^oovi't MeiA. ef SAMUEL B OWN AS. 145 * taken every Year Hay, worth eight or nine Shil- * lings per Annum at lead. As for Arguments ^ between us, for or agamft, I fuppofe them need- * Icfs, but I take it very hard to be fo treated from * a Man of thy Pretenfions. I believe thou wouldft ^ not, if in my Cafe, fike fuch Treatment ; not that ' I murmur or repine becaufe my Goods are taken * away on this Account, being perfwaded that it is ^ my Duty aBively to refufe a Compliance with the ' Laws that command Tithes ; and if I muft, as I y have already, fuffer the Spoiling of my Goods, I * hope paffively to fubmit and bear it. This I cow- ^ elude withDefires of Good for thee and thine every ' Way. * Samuel Bownas/ ^ S I R. « T HAVE been above thirteen Years in the Pa- ' X rifh, anrd have not given your Family any Di- * fturbance, though the Arrears which are due to ^ me are confiderable ; fo that you have no Reafoa ^ to complain of hard Ufage from me, but rather, to ^ thank me for my Kindnefs, in bearing this Inju- * flice fo long. * You don't think, when you go to Law with * one another, or with fome of thofe who differ from * you, that you fpoil their Goods, when you put * them to Charges, that you may force them- to do * you Juftice. And why, pray you, fhould it be * tliought a Spoiling of your Goods, when wc do'nc- ^ thing more than you do yourfclves,, when you * think you are wronged; that is, endeavour to re- K. . t cover 146 The LIFE and TRAVELS - ■ If • ->> * cover our own ? For 1 deimnd nutiiin^ of yx)«i * but what I iLnoAA^ :o be mnic brfore i rccciva it, - ' You ni.rg.hl: aa weii i,avtkc, an Eatry, up^ri o^r * GicbeLanJsy, jx: wgmx a:U.5^h<;, L<)rd op , Seller * makts: the Tenant ot Pui chaier .pay for tbe Titlie^ * as well as for the rtft ol the B/b.^te : And that pa / the arher haiad^tbcTc is a propj^ir'K nab!e Abate- ^ ment made to the i'ui(^h^(e;s anu Tenants of fuch * Lands as are liable ru the Payment of "Tithes. * Andrtihere is .vet y good RcaioiTi'pi it,^ becayfejn *^ that Gaf€ythc:j\rL:bej^beHig no ;Part of the \u'^x\K^ ^ >ard^ Propertyi b^ v^^fi^'t n^^Ke rhcm overto a- V potker^-.Oi' demand a Price for that wh:ch ht has * ribflohll^ and. thole who He it or Purchafe his^ * Eitit^jf ;c:5n clairfi jio Title bj Virtue of any Con- ^ vevance or G.v^nt o: bi-, but only ro what be bad * 'a'R';>g=bt:to dilpole of hrmi^^ :; So that if you will ^ ae^df*, inthis iTiatter prete-d Conference,. you ought * \mX to ©bcupy any^Land but what is. Tithe :£ree, ^: But if vou think ibat thiS would be very.grie- ^ vous ar.d inconveincnt, you ouo;hr^ when you ioc- * cupv Titbe-I^iiid; toptrrmu u>\qnietly to'enjoy i:)ur / Tidies,, v/h ch are i Part of .oufv i?r«f^-fo/ri, and to * wn;cb' wr havi ithb if^fiie Title as lye havejto i ur] * G/V^^^, whcrciU you Ciiiitn. no Propriety, as indeed ^ ' youfc:; . ^/ SAMVEL BOWNAS. iaj you have no manner of Title to the Tithe. If you have, be pleafed to fhevv it| and let us know from whom you had it. And if you have none, as I know you have not, don't go to pretend Con- fcience for invading your Neighbour's Property. ^ For my Part, I do not fee any Heafun, why you fhould not a(5tively comply with the Law tor Payment of Tithes^ as well as with that for Ta:> es, as your Friends have done over all the King- dom ever lince the Revolution ; and fome cf them have been Collec^lors, though the Title of the Ad: of Parliament did plainly fhew that the Tax was for carrying on a War againft France with Vigour : And yet your Friends^ even thofc who have been of grcatefl: Reputation among you, and the Champions of your Caufe, have de-« Glared as much againft the Lawfulnefs of all War, as they have done againft the Payment of Tithes ; and fometimes have carried the matter fo hieh, as to refufe the Payment of Money demanded of them for that Purpofe as Robert Barclay in \\\% dpology tells us, they faff Qved^ becaufetbey would 7iot pay J or Drums and Colours^ and other Military Fur ^ niture. And this they did in the Time of Peace^ when the Militia met only to make a Raree-lLow, and had at the Place of Rendezvous no other Enemies to fkirmidi with but ButterHies. Nc-* verthelefs, fmce the War againft France be^r^p, yonr Friends have given ths fame a(flive Obedi- ence to the Laws for Payment of Taxes, as tbeir feHbw Subjefts have done ; and I hope, you for^he ittture, will do for the Payment of Tithe?, which, K z t according l^S The LI F E /z;?^ T R A V EL S ; according to your avowed Principles, is as law- \ ful as the Payment of Taxes for carrying on a \ War with ViTOur. ] * It IS a vain Thing to pretend Confcience to ex- I cufe Opprcffion or Covetoufnefs, for it rnoft be ; one or either of thefe, which makes any Man take . PoffeiTion of what is not his own, but his Nci^h- hour s. I * If we lived by the Alms-bafket, and could i claim nothing but what we might expedl from \ the Benevolence of thofe from whom we make I any Demand of this Nature, we could not blame ] you lo much : But the Cafe is otherwife ^ foV we defire none of your Benevolence, and we ■ know the Tithe is no Part of your Eftate, and ■ that you can claim no Right to it, either by ' Donation or Purchafe. Therefore don't go to call that your own which is not ; and being you j difclaim all Violence againft, or Oppreffion of ! Men upon the Account of their Ccnlcience, we i may reafonably expedl lo much Tendernefs from ; you, that you would not opprels us, becaufe we 'J differ from yoii, and that you would not^ under i a Pretence of Confcience, feize upon our Eftates^ i and then make an Outcry againfl us, when we | defire the Affiflance of the civil Magiflrate, for ! recovering any Part of our Properties or Frjcc- holds, as often as you unjuflly invade them. Sure- ly we might look for more Equity from you, be- ing we are Members of that Church which ia other Refpeds permits you the free Exercife f of your Religion;^ and has confirmed the fame ■ - : i>y tf SAMUEL BOWNAS. 149 by the late Ad of Indulgence, agreed upoa by the Bifliops, Lords, and Commons of our Communion. An Inftance of fuch Modera- tion as v/as never jQiewn to our Church by any other Sedi: who had us under their Power^ whether PapiP.s^ or fome violent and fierce Pro^ tejlant DiJJenters, who perhaps would handle us as roughly as our Predeceflbrs were by them, if God (hould again permit us to fall under their mercilefs Hands. * You fay, Tou take it hard to he fo treated hy a Man of my Pretenfions, and if it was from fome of the fame' Cloth ^ you would think it was like them^ fehes. But why ihould it be thought inconfifl- ent with ray Pretenfions, to demand what I know to be ray own ? And why may I not fay the fame to you, that I take it hard to be fo treated by a Man of your Pretenfions, who profefs, that Vio-^ lence againft thofe who differ from you, merely upon the Account of their Confcience, is unwar- rantable-, and yet, contrary to this your Profefli- on, you teize upon that v/hich is mine, mine by as good a Right as you have to your own Ei^ tate : For you cannot fay that you have purchaf- ed the Tithes, or that any who had a Title to difpofe of them, did make them over to you ; and yet for all that, you pretend Confcience for the Diflurbance you give me, for no other Rea- fon, but becaufe I am of a different Communion from you. If this was done by fome who main- tain, that Violence againfl Men of another Pdr- fwalion is meritorious^ and that Plereticks ought Kg ^iiPt 150 2^^ LIFE /f;/^ T R A VE L S I not to be luffered to live, I fhould think it was '' like themlelves ^ tho' from you I might cxpedl other Thing?. But let that he as it will, I dtiire j nothing from you but the Profits of my own Ef- ^ tate, which you unjufily with-hold from me ; \ and I am relolved, whatever you think or fay i about the Matter, that I W// have my Right. \ However, if you are willing to live peaceably,.! I fhall be as moderate as you can expedV, ard tor ^ that Heafon have referred this Eufiriels to Mr. ■ Smith, whom I have authorized to do as he thinks \ fit, and am, Sir^ At the Parforage-houfe, c Your Friend and WelUwifJ:er, \ .. July 24th, 1712. \ ' ^ William Ray/ \ * Lymington, the lo/^&i?/'//^^ Sixth Month, Augufl^ \ ' Neighbour Ray, * O I N C E thou hafl advanced fl^me Arguments i * i3 for thy taking Tithes, I have fcmewhat to of- I * fer in Anfwer thereunto, for my RejvfaL * I/?. Thou art pleafcd to write, 7 ought to thank j ' thee for forbearing with this Injujlice fo long ; but j * I take the Refulal of paying Tithes to be no In- * juftice. ^herefore^ &c. * 2dly, Thou fays, ivhcn I go to Law with anoth^r^ * (or kxXTit thait differ from me) I do not think that ' Spoiling of their Gwds ; which I do not take to be a ' parallel Cafe with this ; For, /%/?, if I go to Law j ,* with I #f SAMUEL BO TFN AS. ^s^ * with any Man^ it Oiall he for (om^ jwr Debt ow* * ing ^o me, for which ht% whom I io go to Law "^ with, iliail hive received Tome valuable Confider- * ation ; hut from tliee 1 have received none tor * the Tithe of my Incrcale j thcretore it's not a * parallel Cafe. 3J^v. He \v!»h whom I j;o to Law (hall have i>o "^ /z^/? P//^<:2 of Zonfcience^ bt*cau(v^ if I can have no * piam Dc-m< willrat oa that l^ • had of me a valuable * Conpderation for wh'ch I make my Demands on "^ him^ I wiii not go to Law at all > therefore it's * not a parailcl Caie. ' ^thly. If on fuch a Fecundation I go to Law, "^ and torce my adverfe Party t' Juftice^hy Law, I ^ conclude with thee, it. is not fpot ling of Goods Eut ^ to go to Law, and by k take awav Peoples Goods, ^ wiihout fuch a valuable Confideration as above, is * Spoiling of Goods^m mv Opinion, with ^ Witnefs^ * Thou ^writes me, I may ns well fi^i' of the ^ GJebe- lands, or upon any Thing elfe we pofjefs^ as ^ upon the Tithes. Under Favour, I am of another "" Mind ; becaufe I have no Title to fhew for thy ' Gkbe4ands or any Thing elfe thou enjoys : But ^ for my Land, the whole I take to be mine, ^without any Referve or exception whatfoevcr, * as the Writings that give me my Title to it, ^ do fufficiently fet forth and declare; and I have ^ given for it a valuable Confideration^ which thou ^ never did for the tenth Part thereof: Therefore, * I am fure I have more Right to it than thou canft •* pretend to, in Jufl!ce, Equity and Reafon ;becaufe ^ I have bought, witiiout Referve, the Whole, and K 4 ^ manured iS^ f^^ LIFE and TRAVELS * manured the fame at my own Coil: and Charge ; * but thou had bought no Pai t thereof, nor been ^ at any Charge about improving it, that I know of. ^ Thou further writes, that every Body that under^ ^ Jlands thefe Things^ will tell ine^ whenjuch Lands * as are Ttt he-free are fold ^ for that Reafon they ^re * valued higher. What Argument is that for the * Lawjulnefs of Tithes according to the Golpel? I ^ conceive none at alL * The next is, that if I occupy Tithe-lands^ I ought * quietly to permit you to enjoy the Tithes : That's the ^ Matter in Difpute, which fliall in it's Place be * ipoken to. ^ Now I am come to thy Argument about TaxeSy ^ wherein thou endeavours to make us inconfillent * with ourfdves, in aSlively complying with the * Law for TaxeSy but refufing a Cotnplia?2ce with the ^ IjZw for T/V/?(fJ endeavouring thereby to lay Tithes * and Taxes upon one Foundation : In this alfo I dif- ^ fer from thee ; for I underlland Taxes to be paid *^ as a civil Debt^ Tribute or Cujlom to Ccefar : But "" Tithes are paid as a religious Adt to God, ^ and holy Church, as in its Place fliall be ^ farther fhewn- ^ Indeed our Saviour faid, Render unto Casfar the ^ Things that art Caefars ; and unto God^ the Things * that are Gods Mark xii. 17. Now if we muft ^ render to Cc^far the Things that are Cccfars^ and ^ unto God the Things that are God's, then it re- "^ mains to be proved, that Tithes are Ccefars Due, ' before they be demanded as his Right. ^ But of SAMUEL EOWNAS. i^^ ^ But here's the grand Objed:ion oi Inconjijlency-y that becaufe we have fufFcrcd for refufing to pav towards the Militia for Drwns^ Colours^ &c. and yet aSiively comply with the Law of Taxes, which is to carry on a War with Vigour, &c. in- fifting on R. Barclays Words to ftrengthen the Objeftion ; we are ftill of the fame Mind with R. Barclay that Wars and Fighting are inconfi/ienf with the Gofpel Principles , and uhen ifs brought fonear to us^ tMt by Law we are obliged to a^ both in Per [on and Ejlate^ we in this Cafe chufe rather pafiiveiy to fuffer^ than adlively to comply^ for Con- fcience-fake. And this is ftill our Cale, and a Suffering we lie under (with refpedl to the Mili- tia) in many Places, being careful to walk by the Rule of Chrifl's Dod:rine ; and yet do not hereby think ourfelves inconfifcent in actively complying with the Law of Taxes, in rendering to C(^y^r the Things that areC(^r's,and he may do therewith what pleafeth him, we may not diredt him ; therefore, to ufe thy own familiar Simile, I take this Argument of Taxes to have no more Weight in it, in relation to Tithes, it being no parallel Cafe, than the Enemies that the Militia met with in their Rendezvous^ at their Raree-fhow. ^ Thou writefl, that it's a vain Thing to pretend Confcience to excufe Opprefjion or Covetotfnefs. I am entirely of thy Mind ; fo that where any Man pretends to refuie the Payment of Tithes out of Covetoufnefs^ believing at the fame Time in his Confcience they ^vq jii/ily due y 'tis pity, I fay, ii that be his only Excufe, but that he iliould ^ pay i^^ The LIFE and TRAVEL S "" p.iv pnar'/y for It: Bur beware ot miftaking, by ^ fuppofing the Refufal to be from Covetoufnefs^ * when 'tis v^diWy Confcience. ' ' Thou added, if you lived hy the Ahm-bajket^ Sec. * which indeed I think yoa ought to do, if your * own Hinds can't ruffijientl / adniinifter to your ^ own Wants j for a forced Maintenance. \$ not con- * Ment with the Gojpel M!niliry ^ and that thou * knows right well, having jften con^efs'd it in my * Houfc. Thou adds, Tithes is no Part of my Eflate^ ^ either by Donation ^r Purchaie. But I fay as a- ^ hove, I ha^e pu^ chafe d t\\t JVhole^ without any ^ Referve or Exception oF Tithes. But in thy owa ' Country, North' Britain^ I have been informed^ ^ Tithes a:e excepted in D^eds and Conveyances, '^ fo that they have fomr Colour to ule (uch an Argu- "^ ment there, but lean lee no Foundation for fuch ^ an Argument in this Country at all. Thou ad- * vifes me not to call that my own, which is not : I * fay, it is my own, becaufe as above, I have, with- ^ out Referve, purchajed the Whole^ as Witnefs my ^ Writings. Beiides all that, at my own Charge I * have manured and improved iL ^ Thy next Paragraph is already anfwered. ^ I acknowledge thee a Member ot that Church, * or Society, who have granted us the Indulgence ^ we now enjoy in the exercife of our Religion ; ^ for which I with the reft of my Brethren, ought * to be truly thankful to God and the Government. ^ But I muft tell thee, fome of thy Brethren, not ^ of the meaneft rank in your Church, have, ^ like battering Rams, endeavoured tQ break that ! Chain $J SAMUEL BOWNAS. iss ^ Chain -oi Indulgence ^^^ now enjoy, but Provi- "^ dence has hitherto prevented them, and I hope ^ ever will, unlefs Goi fhall fee meet to try his' ^Church, to difcover thereby the truly Religious^' ^ from the Hypocrites. ^ Thou feems angry, and to refent it, that I' * fhould take it ill or hard, to be Jo treated by a * Man of thy Pretenfions ; but the Reafon why I * fo .writ, is this, becaufe I have more than once' * heard, that my Neighbour Ray has faid in our ^ Houfe, that it was a Matter (?/'Confcience tohim^ * /d? force a Maintenance from fuch as for the S^rke* * ^/ Confci^nce could ?tot pay him y ufing that Text," ^ JVhofe Ox have I taken y or whom have I defrauded?' * Which I have fometimes fpoke of to others, and ^ it gained great Credit and good Thoughts con- * cerning my Neighbour Ray ; and for that Reafon, * and no other, I took fuch Treatment hard. But * however, if thy Confcience be altered, it will * give Reafon for my Thoughts concerning thee ^ alfo to change. ^ Now I fhall give thee my Reafons, why I can't * actively comply with the Law for paying Tithes ^ and anfwer thy laft Paragraph in the Conelufion ' of this. ^ ly?. I was in my Youth very thoughtful touch- * ing the Nature and Defign of Religion, and con- ^ fcious to myfelf, that an implicit Faith, with a * bhnd Obedience, might not be fufficient to bring * me to the End intended by it. 2dly, Obferving * many under great Sufferings for refufing to pay ! Tithes, and their Plea for it was Conjdencey hut t many 156 The LIFE and TRAVELS many more I found did pay, and thought they did right, at lead made no fcruple of Confciencc in doing it ; this Contradiction in Practice made me willing to look into it myfelf ; that 3 ^i^, what, I did herein might not be for Imitations Sake on either Side, but that I might ad: on a Principle of Faiths as knowing, what is not of Faith is Sin. And ^thly^ and laftly, thefe Reafons put rne oa examining and trying for myfelf. * This premlfed, I now aflure thee, that it is not out o^ Stubbornefsy Ill-humour or Covetoufncfs^ but purely on a Principle of Confcience^ for thefe Rea- fons following, that I can neither pay or receive Tithes. ^ ift. The Dedication of them is gro([y fuper/li^ tious (and I think protefted againfl by moft, unlef$ fuch as love to fuck the fweet of other Mens Labour) being dedicated and given by King Ethels- wolf (about 855) to God and St. Mary for the Re^ demption cfhis own Soul^ with the Souls of his An^ cejiors ; in the Conlideration whereof, the CJer- gy were to fing fuch a Number of Malles for the King and his Nobles, &c. ' 2dly. It is already granted by mc, that we muft render to Ccefar the Things that are Ccefar^^ and unto God, the Things that are God's. And I promife thee, for my own Part, I fhall be both ready and willing to pay the Tenth of my In- creafe to God, when I am fatisfied he requires it of me; or unto them he fhall appoint, when I am fatisfied he has appointed them, as he did the Tribe of Levi ; but for me to pa^ Tithe to a .* Maa oj SAMUEL BOWNAS. 157 * Man claiming it as a Minifter of God, when I ' know that no luch Thing is required of me, * (Tithe being no Gofpel Maintenance^ that I can ^ underftand) it may juftly be faid unto me, Who * has required this of thy Hands ? Yet however, if * Tithe be compelled from me by a human Law, * I can't help that, nor refift the Force of that De- * mand by Argument from Scripture ; therefore, * being pcrfwaded that God requires of me no fuch ' Thing as the Payment of Tithes, but that I am ^ called to proteft againft all Superflition znd Ido-- \ latry^ and the Law of Tithes plainly appearing ^ to me to be fuch, therefore I cannot, with a fafe ' Confcience aSlively comply therewith, but chufe ^ rather to pleafe God than Man, although it may * be to my Difadvantage in this World, yet by fo ^ doing I hope^for future Gain. * 3^!/y, And again, Tithes are required to be paid * as a religious A5l^ viz. to God aiid holy Church \ and * as above, I am perfwaded that God requires no * fuch Thing, therefore I can't pay them with a * lafe Confcience, being a Proteliant againft that * which I call Popery^ not in Word and Tongue ^ only, but in Deed and Truth alfo. ^ Laftly^ Tithes are not required by the Gofpel, * that I can underftand ; if thou canft make it put, V pleafe to do it, for 'tis clear to me, that Chrift came ^ to finifh and put an End to that Law which re- * quired Tithes, as well as to the Priefthood fup- ^ ported by them; therefore to continue in . the ^ Practice of Tithing, is in ^^tOi^ denying that Chrijl t is come in th^ Flefh to put an End to them^ticcotd'' 1 ing 158 7^^ LIFE ^^ TRAVEL S 1 * ing to Scripture and the Praftice of former Times-} i * for which Realoi)> I think an aSiive Compliance | ' with the Law tor Tithe.^^ is Sitiy and in my Opi- ; * niun, lie that pay eth or he that receiveth^ are e- \ * qually cuipaljle in God's Sighr > fwr which Caufe 'i * we can neither receive nor payy as this Deed • * of Settlement will pr(!)ve, and more Infl:ance,s of \ ^ the hke kind might be produced from fundry j ' Parts of the Natioii ; a plain Demonftration, that ; ^ as we can't pay Tithes, neither can we receive \ ' ihem, when they are as legal a Property to us \ > :.s they are to you. ! ' I GO»ld fey more, but what is faid may perhaps \ ^ -be.tedious, and thought impertinent^ therefore tor I * the j>relent this fhali luffice. ^ ' To conclude,, thou art pleafed to give .me, thy i ' RelbIut!on, viz. to Lave v^h^ii thou calls thy Right -^ ^ * and if I could think it was fo- too, we fliould loon \ * reconcile this Matter. 1 ^ T[\o\x^Cid%if I cm 'wilUjigf olive peaceably J (and , ^ I def] e no ether than a peaceable Living) thou \ ' "Wilt be as 7noderate as I can eypeB . But this feems i * an ' odd Way o{ fhewing thy Moderation, to em- * plov' ?.n Attorney;- for thou ^d&>,Jor that Pur- / pcfe thou.ha/i rej erred the Matter to Mr. Smith, t(f * do as he thinh jity ard tkat may not perhapa be. * the beft Way to fhew thy Moderation ; howeyer, * be that as it wiil,T mull teil thee, that vyhq^t I * cannot diredly pay„ lor the Reafons atorefaj^d, I * .cannot order or allow .another ind redly to ^pay * for me J lor although I might bribe my Co^fci- f aiice^ as the chief Pritils a^d the Soldiers^ and lull ' - c it « of SAMUEL B OWN AS. 159 it aflecp in fuch Hypocrify, yet an awaking Time: • welcome on, when every Thought, with eveiy • lecret 1 hing, wiii be brought to Light, and ap- • pear as it. is. ' This with due Refpecfts from him who inall • always be rendv and willing to {tivt thee and • thine, in any Thin^ I can with a I a e Conlcience^ • and in; any Ofiice ol Love mayeit command Thy Friend and Neighbour y Samuel EowNAs/ Thefe Letters were exchane;ed between us fome Wrcks^beloffl was ma€e^ Prisoner, and whether they mi;:!;h:(Iorten him or not, Ldare not fay much;. buti.as betore, he was very unealy while I was in PrKon, and, as I was informed,, told his Attorney ^nd his Wite, if he lojl his Debiy he CQula not keep me there. ThiiJ Storm being blown over, I enjoyed Qu^et- Fiefs, fave that I was profecuted for Church Rates, fmali Tithes, 6?c: for the Paribh would not let his Dues, as he call'd them, run on again in Arrears, but w^ouid t.ike it in Kind every Year, io he never had mc before a Juflice again, but if hecouldnot have it in one Thing, would take anotlfer. I now had nothing but my Bufinefs that lay upon me, fave the Attendance oi Meetings for Worflojp and Difci- pline, with Marriages and Burials, which took up pretty rnuph of my Time, there being very few to attend flich Services in the Geuntrv : So thftt I had femetimes long Journies qix thofe Occufions, An^ i6o ^he LIFE and T R A VELS Ajz Account of my vifiting Devonfhire and Corn- wall. ON the 2ifl: of the Eighth-Month "iji^, I fet out from Home, and vifited "Taunton^ Welling- ton^ MilvertOHy Spiceland^ Cullumpton^ and Topfhamy where the Quarterly Meeting for Devonjljij^e was held at that Time : I was at three Meetings there to good Satisfaition. From thence to Sticklepathy and Launcejlon, where I had a very large and good Meeting. From thence to Fort-lfaac and FaU mouthy vifiting Friends to Fenrin : The Quarterly- meeting w^as held at Falmcuthy and 1 had .very a- greeable Service. From thence to P^j^r/V/, Mar- ket-Jew and Fen%ancey fo back to Falmouth. From the^nce to AuJlA^ Trcgon)\ Looe and Lijkardy Ger- manSy Flymouth^ Kingjlriclge apd T^otnefs 3 had Meet- ings at all thcfe Places, lume, of which were very large and v/ell ; and at Exeter likewife : From that to Chardy and ib >Home. In this fmall Journey I had abcut'i'fiTrty-y eight Meetings, and travelled about three Hundred and iijty Miles.. In about a Year or two after this, my Wife was taken with a lingering Diforder, for the recovering her out of which, I applied rayfelf to fevgraJ Doc- tors, but all in vain, tor llie continued waiting more than two Years and eight Months, growing y/c^ker apace a few Weeks before Ihe died, which \yas in t\\(t Eighth-Mofith xyig. She died in a fwee.t |^rame, often faying, that Nothing troubled her y but that jlde wns fo eafily deceived about the Parfons l^itUy iit^hich being tf ^AMVEL BOWNAS. Ui being done in Ignorance^ not deftgnedly^ floe was ti : more eafy about it. After which, I was at a ftrait what Courfe to tai: i for fome Time, being in Ccnfiderable Bufinc , which I kept on that Winter, and in the Spring pi c it off to my Servant, and lett what little Eftate I Iv.i I to him, putting off all Bufinefs, and went the nc^ : Summer into my own Country, the North, to'v.: my Friends. I went to the Yearly Meetings ; : Bri/Io I and London^ in courfe as they came, and t'- - veiled from Lor/don through HertjordJJdire Leiceji.i - finre and Nottingham(hire to Leedsy vifiting the Mc fl- ings of Friends as I paffed along : I was at funr: ^ very large open Meetings in my Way to the Yeari - meeting at fork, which was very large, and a grcc Number of Minifters of both Sexes. I had no Ti:^ * till the laft: Meeting, and the Time of that was 1 ' fpent before I began, but then I took my Time pre-* ty thoroughly-^ being opened very largely in the (! - ftinguifliing between true znd fa/fe Religion, fett:! ; them as it were Side by Side, that they might jun : for themfelves of both the Worfhip and the Minif;: , with their different Effedls upon the Minds of RI t and Women in regulating our Paffions, and refci i ing our Minds ; and opened pretty fully the Dar;^; - tijat Minifters were in, to preach from the Letter . - flcad of the Spirit -, and that our former Open!; and Experiences alone were i>ot to be depended i on, but our fafefl: and beft Support in that Wc was the immediate Ability of the Spirit, opening ^ Underftandings in Matter fuitable to every State, t : «ur Words might be fitly fpoken, then they wov; i 362 Tbe L IF E and T R AV E L 3 carry their own Evidence, and be ferviceable to the Hearers : I was very large and particular on thefe Heads ; and there being fundry Clergymen, and Teachers of other Societies, I did not hear of an/ ' Objeftion made to the Doftrine they heard : But \ fome of our Friends thought, what I had to fay about the Miniftry would have been better delivered in the , Meeting of Minifters; but that could not have an- fwered fo well, as to the Teachers of other Societies, who might want Inftrudiion in thefe Things, per- haps more than our own People did. This was a ve- ; ry high Day, and I found in myfelf afterw^ards great , Satlsfadlion and Peace. I now vifited Friends towards Kendal, and through ^ Part oi Cumbe7^Iand and Northumberland , into Scot^ , landy having for my Companion a young Man from Sedbdtrgj his Name was John Blamore. I found I Friends in that Nation very much decreafed in Number, above one Half, and fundry Meetings quite dropt, unlefs when a Friend came to vifit j them. ' I ipent about fix Weeks in that Nation, but No- ^ thing extraordinary happened : I returned into O/^^/t herlandy viliting mofl ox the Meetings in that Coun-- ty. Our Friends hr^d at Cockermouth appoinred a Meeting to be the Day after the Fair, at the Time cali'd Michaelmas, and it being in the moft hot Time of the Oppofition the Pearfons gave to Friends; jfob and his Brother being at that Fair on their Bu- finefs, they gave out, that they would be at the Meeting the next Day, which gave an Alarm to Both Town and Country People, fo that it was a j very iff SAMUEL BOPFNAS. 163 very large Meeting s and as Joi and I had been ve- ry friendly before he fell into thefe ranting Fits, lome Friends thought he would fliew me forue Re- fpe6t,more than he had done to fome others, having been heard at Times to fpeak in my Favour: But James Dickcnfoii being prelent, whom they had a- bufed fo very much, faid, I floould be pleajcd to fee a Jriendly Meeting between Job and my Friend^ but I little expeSl it. The Meeting came on, and was ve- ry large, and very open, and quiet, neither Job nor his^Brother came, being otherwife employed; having fome Concerns with fome Country-men in the Fair, they went to an Ale-houfe to fettle their Affairs, and differed fo much about them, that from Words they proceeded to Blows, and this Fray held the Time of the Meeting, fo we were free from any of their Diflurbance, and a fweet, comfortable, quiet Meet- incj- we had to great Satisfaftion. From Cockermoufh I vilited the refl of the Meet- ings in that Part of the County, and fo into Weftmor^ land again, vifiting all the Meetings in that Coun>- ty, and through the Dales to Richmond^ and Tork Quarterly-meeting the Winter Quarter, which was very large, confidering the Seafon of the Yean I had fundry fatisfaftory Times amongfl Friends, both in Meetings of Bulinefs and amongfl the Miniflers, in very freely opening, and fhewing my dear Bre- thren and Sifters, in the Openings of divine Life, the Experience and Knowledge that I had attained to in the Work of the Gofpel, finding my Spirit much enlarged in the fetting forth thereof. But ihe lafl Meeting I was at in Tork^ was on the firft L 2 Da^ 1 i64 T/'^ L I F E tf«^ T R A V E L S ; •I day in the Evening by Candle light, and the Crowd! in the Houfe was fo very great, that the Candles ! would hardly burn, fome died quite out with the ] Breath of the People ; the exceffive Croud made ! it very troublefome for want of Room, and not fo ! edifying as if the Company had been lefs. \ From thence I went to Bridlington, Oujlwick^ : JSlorthcave, vifiting Meetings till I came to Brad- \ fcrd and Leeds : I had fome very large open Meet- \ ings in that Part, as at Brigboiife, Highfats Shef^ I Jield, &c. i I travelled to Nottingham, and had fome Meet- i ings in that County, and lo on to Leicefter, had fun- \ dry fmall Meetings thereabout, and fome who were ' convinced in my firft travelling thither, were glad \ to fee me, and I them, fo we claimed Kindred in the Truth. I now made a kind of a fhort Vifit in my Way to London, which I vifited thoroughly, flaid in the City four Weeks, and had very good Satisfaction : >Returning through Part of Berkfnire, I had at Read- ing two very large Meetings, and fo into Dorfet- Jhire, having no Meetings after Reading till I came there, and fo to the Quarterly-meeiing m Scme7^fet^ Poire, which being the Spring Quarter, was held at Gla/lonbtiry, very large it was indeed. Then" back to Somerton Monthly-meeting, vifiting Meetings to and fro, being at fundry Funerals, both before and after the Yearly-meeting at Briflol, which was this Year very large. From that Meeting I went to- wards London^ vifiting Meetings in my Way thither, and after Yearly-meeting was over I returned by I ' dlion^ of SAMUEL BOIFNAS. i6$ Altoriy Aihford^ Riunfey^ Southampton^ and the IJle of JVighty and back to Ringwoodto theQuarterly-meet- ing for Hampjhire and to P^6^/ Yearly-meeting, it be- ing there this Year. Alter which I came to Brid^ port^ quartering at Caleb Hills^ who married my Nieces and this Summer, before the Yearly-meet- ing at London^ I had made my Addrelles tp the Wi-^ dow Nichols, Xt^wing the Matter to her Confiderati- on, and now I renewed the Suit. And in the Eighth'Monthy with fundry other Friends, went to follicit the Parliament for an Amendment of the ^Z- Jirmation, in which Undertaking we were favoured with Succefs, which was of very great Advantage to the Society, and the good Effedts of it foon ap- peared. I returned home in the Spring, and then pro-* cecded in my AddreiTes to the Widow, and we were married in the Second- Month, 1722, and we went to London Yearly-meeting together, which was to very great Comfort. I returned direftly Home with my Wife, and being in a Coach, had no Opportunity of viiiting Meetings either going or coming. Being got fafe Home, I applied myfelf to affift my Wife in her Bu- fmefs as well as I could, attending General, Monthly and other Meetings on pubiick Occaiions for three Years: Then I had a Concern to vifit America once more, which my poor Wife could not at firft v/ith Eafe confent to, although I had laid it before her v/hen I firil made my Addrelles to her, yet when it came to be put in Pradice was not eaUly got over. But afterwards ihe gave me freely up to go with my 266 "The LIFE and TRAVELS Son-in-Law ; and I got ready and went off, before it was thought of by almoft any Body but the Friends in our own Neighbourhood. However, that it might not look like ftealing away, I wrote to fome of my chofen Friends at London, in the North, Brijlol^ and elfe where throughout this Nation, and to fome few in Ireland, being willing to advife them whereto meet me with Letters in that Country. Now ha- ving nothing to do more, my Wife brought me on my Way to Pool, at which Place, before I went off, I received Anfwers to fundry of my Letters, fome of which, if Brevity did not require the Con- trary, would well deferve a Place here. I (liall now proceed to my laft Journey into Ame- rica, viz. jin Account of my T R AV ELS in Ami:rica^ thefeco72d Time, being in 1726, and in the FiJ- tieth Year of my Age. I Left my own Home the 2 2d Day of the Tenths Month 1726, being accompanied by my dear Wife, a Kinfman, and a Son-in-Law, to Fool, be- ing to take Shipping there with my Son-in-Law yojiah Nicklefon, but the Ship was not quite ready ; and when it was ready, the Wind being againft tis, were obliged to ftay there about five Weeks^, fo I had fundry fatisfadlory Opportunities both a- mongft Friends and others. AH being ready, my Wife alfo gone Home fome Days before, and the Wind fair, we fet fail out ^i SiutJand-bay^ the 24th of the Ekventh-Monih^ witk #/ SAMUEL B OWN AS. 167 ^ith a fair Wind and plcafant Weather, which car- ried us a confiderable Diftance off the Land ; but it held but three Days, and then we had very con- trary hard Winds after that, which made me ve- ry fick, and other v/ays out of Order, fo that I al- moft defpaired of my Life for a few Days, but had great Comfort and Peace of Mind, being fatisiied I was in my Place, and in the Way of my Duty I recovered as the Weather grew better, and the Sea quieter, but we had a very long and tedious Paf- fage, being eleven Weeks and two Days upon the Sea, from Land to Land ; and on the 14th of the SecGfid' Month 1727, we landed at Hampton other- wife Kickatan in Virginia^ and that Evening I got a Paffage in a Pool Ship up to Sleepy-hoky and that Night about the i ith Hour I got to Reber't Jordan s^ being very glad, tho' very weary, that I was got to fo good a Place, where I had io hearty a Welcome, and had fo great an Income of Peace and Comfort* This being on the Seventh-day of the Week, the next Morning I went to a Funeral about twenty Miles, which was a long Journey on my firft Arri- val ; and confidering the Inhabitants are but thin, there was a great Concourfe of People on the Occa- fion, and I had a pretty open Time, confidering I had not quite recovered my Weaknefs j beiides, the Motion of the Sea was verv much in my Head, fo that I had a great Dizzinels and Swimming, that made me to reel like a Drunkard, as is common in the like Cafe. That Night I went with my Friend Robert Jordan to an Inn, near to the Place where his Son Robert L A. was i68 ^v:he LIFE and TRAVELS was a Prifoner, who was a pretty Youth, and had a very ferviceable Miniftry. The Father and I ftaid v/ith the Prifoner all the next Day, and in the Even- ing went to lodge at the Prifoner's Houfe, his poor Wife being alone ; and although her Hufband was confined, flie was chearful. We had a Meeting in \\\^ Prifon to good Satisfaction, many People came to it, and were very orderly. \ then had a Meeting at the Wcflern Branch of Nanfemund ^xwtVy aiid was at a Funeral of a young Man who was very much lamented. I went that Night towards Chuckatuck^ where I had a fine comfortable Opportunity, and on the Road, I had fome Difcourfe with an antient Friend, concerning the Health of the Country, we fuppofing People did not live fo long in Virginia as in Europe. This Friend told me, the firll: Man-child that was born in the Province of Englijh Parents lived eighty Years, and that many fincc had lived confidcrably longer ; f o that it's not the Climate, but the Intem- perance of the People, that floortens their Days, fcr Experience made it appear, that temperate People lived much the ft^me Time as they do in Europe. But this Firft-born of the Province was very remark- vible, for it was faid that he was difafrtded to the then government, and had uttered Ibme treafonable Exprefiions againfl it, and for that Caufe w^as tried, cind found guilty, being condemned to die for that Crime : But when it was made appear, that he was the firfl Male-child born in the Province of the £;?- /:7V/i6 Nation, it was refolved, that he fhould be par- 'doncd. Thus he was prcferved from that untimely End, of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 169 End, to run out Nature's Race, which was eighty Years. I went after this Meeting to :vilit the Prifoner^ and next day was at a Funeral, the People being very humble, by reaibn of a great mortality, fo that preaching theGolpel had a very great Reach upon them, and feveral were convinced : Next Day I went to Levy^neck^ had a Meeting, and went next Day to Surrey Mecting-houfe to a Funeral, having been at four in about two Weeks. After this I took a Tura round again to Levy-necky otherwife Pagan Creek^ and had a Meeting. Thence to Rajkers-neck^ had a Meeting, and fo round till the Quarterly-meeting was at hand 3 and then came on to the Prifone:r's Houfe, W2;. Robert Jordan s^ to lodge. Next Day at the Meeting I met a Friend of London^ his Name was JoJJoua Fielding^ who had viiited the Ifland,. and Soutk-Carclina^ and had travelfd by Land to Nortb'Carolina^ about five Hundred Miles, in about three Weeks, moftly alone, w^hich was a difficult and hazardous Attempt : Some thought it too great an Undertaking, and feemed to blame him for it,, but he got fafe through, the?' he had no Provifion but what he carried with him, and met with but a- bout four or five Houfes or Plantations in all that five Hundred Miles Travel, which obliged him to lodge in the Woods frequently ; but having a fmall. Pocket Compafs, that was his Guide, when the Sun and Stars were hid from him. But I have fincc heard, that fome others have travelled over this fame Ground, ( Plantations and Settlements being now placed at proper Diilances) with Iti^ Hardihip, viz, the^ ijo 7Z;^ L I F E ^7;^i T R A V E L S they having a Road mark'd out by the Government, and now they may accomplifh this Journey without fo frequently lying in the Woods, as when this Friend came from thence. I was at the Quarterly- meeting which held the Seventh and Firji-day^ and it being very hot V/eather, made it a little tedious to bear, there being a great Croud of People, but the Meetings ended well, and were of good Service. Thence I went to Levy-neck^ and vifited all the Meetings up to Curh on the Bank of y^w to whom I had w 174 The L I F E ^;7^ T R A V E L S had fomething in particular rchting to Difcipline and the Minijiry^ which was of good Service, and well . accepted. I ftaid two Meetings more, and viiited fundry Families on the liland, and then took fhip- ping back again, was two Nights on board, and be- ing in an open Boat, and the Weather very hot, it was tedious ; feveral of the Ifland came with us, and we landed at 'John RujJelH \ and from thence (having Nathaniel Starbuck With me) to a-fmall Meeting Q2\\tdiSeepecan^ and fo to Suckenafef. Here a Man gave fome Uneafinefs, by raifing Objecflions about the Lights, as not being untverfal^ rendering the Doctrine, as he would expound it, againft Rea^ Jony urging, that the natural Confequence muft hold forth as many Chrifts as People^ that were enlighten- ed by him. To which I anfwered, by alluding to the natural Sun, which enlightens the Earth, and every Dwelling, fo that we frequently fay, when the Rays of Light from the Sua come into the Room, the Sun Jhines into it -, but the Sun is not therefore divided, but 'tis the fame Sun that enlightens the Houfe here, that dees the fame to another elfewhere: Evenfo is the Light ofChrifi : He is the true Light that enlighten's every Man coming into the World. Thus expounding and iiiuflrating the Dodlrine of the Light, the People who were but a few, feemed much afFedled therewith, I had alfo in my Doc-< trine that Day laid down, the Kingdom of God or of Heaven to be within^ and that it was equally uni-^ verfal With the Light ; but at that he cavilled like* wife, but made Nothing of it, for I had it upon me to open and fct forth what the Kjngdom in this Piacf^ oj SAMUEL BOWNAS. 175 Place meant, and how it ought to be underftood^ plainly fhewing, that by the Kingdom of Heaven was meant t\it divine Seed m the Heart, otherwife called the Grace of God^ which, as every one makes the Rule of their Actions, in both a moral and religious Condud:, it teaches us our Duty to God and one a- nother, by which wc are brought under the Gover- ment of Chrift, and thereby made Partakers of that Peace within, which may be juflly term'd the King-- dom of Heaven within. So the Objections thus made by this forward Man, though weak and impertinent, gave Opportunity to explain the Dodrine of the Gofpel more clearly, fo that altho' fuch Objed:ors leldom intend any Good, yet Good often comes out of their Objeftions. From thence I travelled to Sandwich^ Tarmouthy Scituatey and then to a Meeting where Michael Wan^ ton lived, and fo for Bo/Ion^ vifiting the Meetings to Lyftn^ Marblehead and Salem ; but nothing hap- pened at any of thefe Meetings worthy of Note. I came to Newbury^ the Town which I mentioned in my firft Journey, but there were very few Friends here now> not above nine or ten in all. The Peo- ple had Notice, but the Room was very fmalj, and the Prieft came, and did all he could to hinder the People from coming in, and made a very great Noife concerning the Danger of our Principles and Doc-i trines. I endeavoured to prefs him to fhew 'wherein • but he evaded that as much as poffibly he could, and charged in Generally but by being clofely prefs 'd upon^^ at laft he pitched upon our denying the Scrips tureiy Baptifm and the Stopper ^ and the ReJurreSion . of I76 ^^^ LIFE a;2dr R^A V E L S of the Body. I bid him hold, and firil: prove that v/c denied the Scriptures, and fo the reft in order, as they came in courfe : For I afferted, that we own^ ed the Scripture ; and he laid, 'we did not : And I demanded Proof of him, otherwife he muft be con- cluded a falfe Accufer. He went about it, but could make nothing of it. When he had faid what he could, I told him, his Accufation in this Point re- lating to the Scriptures muft htfalfey for that it was publickly known, that both in our Preaching, and alio in our Writings, frequent Recourfe was had to the Text^ to prove our Dodtrine, and this muft be a plain Demonftration and Proof, that we owned the Scriptures. The People allowed this to be right : And he coming fo lame off at firft, would proceed no farther in that public Manner, but would have me go to his Houfe, and talk thefe Matters over in his Clofet. I told him his Meeting-houfe was more proper for fuch a Conference than his Clofet, and there I would meet him when he pleafed ; for I told him, that I had heard that he treated the Doc- trines held by us, in his Pulpit, very unhandfomely, where he knew none dared to oppofe him, and if he would clear thefe Things up, Ifhould be pleai- cd with an Opportunitv to hear him do it in as pub- lic a Way as he had defamed us, either to make Proof of his Charges, or retradl them ^ but he would not permit any fuch Things : He had charged Friends with denying the Scriptures^ Chrifl^ the Refurre£iio7t #/ the Body y and that we pretended to Revelation now^ although, as he faid, it was ceafed fome Generati- ons fmce But he being a hgt. weak M»n, juft i^t of SAMUEL B OWN AS. lyy up in his Trade, did endeavour to ingratiate himfelf this Wav into the Minds of the Peopie, but he loft Ground by it greatly, lo that as he could make No- thing of it but Noife and Tumult, we parted ; and I was told, that Ibme of his own People- blamed him much, for the Interruption he gave me, and for endeavouring to hinder the People from coming to hear for themlelves. From thence I v/cnt to Atmjkiiry^ Hampton^ 6cc* it was Hampton Monthly-meeting, which held but one Day. I was concerned to ^ir up Friends to keep a faithful Record of all their Sufferings, to be made Ule of as Occalion might require, the Priefts Hear- ers making Spoil of Friends Goods to fupport their own falfe Miniftry, v^ith which Icme People were fo uneafy and opprefs'd, that Complaints in almoft every Townfliip appeared againft them. From thence I came to Dover ^ it was their Month- ly-meeting likewife : They were very raw, and man- aged their Affairs but indifferently, chiefly ocoafion^ ed tor want of lome better Hands to write and keep their Books in Order. I was likewife concerned here to put them upon recording their Sufferings^ and in a Way how to do it ; for they were Sufferers not only on Account of the hireling Preachers, to maintain them in their Pride and Idlenefs, but alio on the Account of bearing Arms, which was like- wife pretty heavy upon them in fome Towns ; but then in others their Neighbours were moderate, and made not much ado about them : But fome did com^ ply to pay oft their Quota about bearing of Arms, who would not pay a Doit to the Parfon, they fee- M ' ing 178 75&^ L I'F E ^;7// T R A V E L S ing very clearly, that they were wrong, and preach- \ ed themfelves, and for themfelves. We had a fine \ agreeable Time in Conference, and there appeared 1 both great Sincerity and Innocency amongft them ; i I was at their Firp-day Meeting, which was very ■ large, and to great Satlsfadlion. After Meeting, \ finding that fome Mifunderftanding was amongft ; them about the Building of a Mecting-hou(e, we ; got them together, (my dear Friend Nathaniel Star- \ buck from Nantucket being ftill with me) and^ we j endeavoured and perfuaded them to Peace and Love, ' in which we were fuccefsful : We appointed a i Meeting to be held there, which was attended by ; "allj or the greateft Part of Friends of that Monthly- \ meeting, and a fine comfortable Opportunity we \ had, and they leemed 'all very eafy and reconciled i one to another. \ Thence I went to Strawberry-bafik^ otherwifd \ Galled Portfmoiithy but it proved an unfuitabie Time, ' becauie all the Country was come together, the Mi- \ Jitary Part efpecially, with all their Arms and Ac- \ coutrements of War, to proclaim King George \ the Second^ (News being come three Weeks before, that his Father died on his Way to Hanover) and al- fo on Account of the Peace that vv as ccncluded with the Indians : However, notwithftanding the vaft, Crowd and Hurry, wc had a very quiet, though butfmall Meeting ; and Notice being whifpered, that there was to be a Marriage at Dover on a Day appointed, many in Curiofity came to it, and the People Itemed much pleafed \^ith our Way of Mar- rying, few of them havijig been at any before* All^ ended of SAMVEL BOWNAS. 179 ended quiet, without any Difpute. Then wc had another Meeting at the new Meeting-houfe, after which I found a Concern to defire an Opportunity with the Minifters and Elders, which was very rea- dily granted ; and I w':;3 .ranch concerned to requeft and advife both the Minifters and Eiders, to endea- vour to keep in the Unity of the Spirit amongft them- felves, that they might be good Examples to the Flock, over which they were to watch, anH to be ready and willing to adminifter good Counfel, which the Apoflle Q2Xh feeding of the Flock ; and this he recommends to the Eiders as their Bufinefs : And that the Minifters look well to their GiftSj carefully avoiding either to abridge or enlarge in their Mini- ftry beyond the true Opening of Life in tbemfelve?, labouring with Diligence and Humility to evince the Truth of their Words by their own Conduit, that no Blemifh or Spot might appear amongfl them, nor any jull Ground to reproach them with teach- ing others what they did not pradife themfelves, being careful in Conduft, that their Words and Ac- tions might be agreeable ; this would give Autho- rity to their Miniftry, and attrad Honour and Re- fped: from their Hearers. From thence I vv^nt to villt the Widow Hanfon^ who had been taken into Captivity by the Indians^ an Account of which I took from her own Mouth, being in Subftance as followeth : ^ Eleven naked * Indians came with Violence upon the Family, and * killed two of the Children juft as they entred the ' Houfe ; two little Boys more being at Play behind * the Houfe, when they heard the Noife, came M 2 running i8o 7^^ L I F E .jW T R A V E L S running in great Surprize, the younger of whom could not be prevailed with to moderate his Grief^ whereupon one of the Indians with a Tombci'wk (a little Hatchet) ftruck him on the Head and kil- led the poor Child, to rid themfelves of the Noife, and to prevent their being dilcovered, and toftrike the greater Terror upon thofc in the Houle. Then they rifled the Houfe of what they thought pro- per tj carry away. They took the poor Woman, who had lain in but two Weeks, along with them by Force and Violence, with her Httle Infant, and two Daughters, one Son, and a Servant Maid ; it being in the Afternoon, the Indians were in a great: Hurry to force them away as far as they could that Night, for fear of being purfued, and the Pfiforiers retaken. Thus they travelled for twenty Days, pafTmg through many Lakes and Rivers ; ndtwithftanding which they tock no Cold, but their Heahh was prefcrved.' The incredible and fevere Trials the poor Woman and her Children went through, during their Captivity, I cannot here dif- cribe to the full, in all which they were remarkably favoured by Providence, indnring hard Labour, though they w^ere drove to very great Straits for want of Provifions, being neceffiatcd to eat old Bear ahd Beaver-fkin Match- coats, flrfl (ingeing the Hair off. After my Return to Europe^ I faw at Dublin a Re- lation of this extraordinary Affair in a printed Nar- rative, which was brought over by a Friend from America. Now being eafy to leave thefe Parts for the prefent, I returned towaids Hampton, but in the Way had a comfortable of SAMUEL BOWNAS. i8r comfortable Meeting at a Town called Sfrathaniy and io to Hamfon^ Aimjbury, Haverill and Nczvbury^ the Piace where the Pricft before had given (o much Diilurbances but although he hadNotice of the Meet- ing, he came not, and but a very few of his People ^ it was biit a fmall Meeting, yet peaceable. Then I returned to Lynn^ where was a Yearly- meeting, which was very large, and I had good Service in it- Then to 5^/t7:7, it being their Yearly- meeting for Worfhip, and Quarterly-meeting ior Diicipline, which was exceeding large 3 they had a Meeting of Minifters and Elders, in whicli I was much enlarged m Advice to both : Then came oa the Quarterly-meeting, in which for want of betfter Writers and Method, they Vv^ere fomewhat deficient in their Bufinefs, whereby it became tedious to themfelves 3 I endeavoured to put them in a better Method, which they took very kindly and well : And after this was ended, a Parting-meeting of Wor- fliipcameon, which was very /large, and was^ at- tended by abundance o^ Prcjbyteriam and other Peo- ple : I v/as very much drawn forth into various Branches of Dv)drine, and the Meeting ended well ; no Cavil or Diiputs arifing, which they arc but too liable to. I was informed, that what I had deliver- ed was taken down in Writing, but I never faw it tho' a Friend afterwards had a Sir>-ht of \x. and the Writer {aid, he did it with a View to have it printed by Subfcription, and get lomething by it. Not finding mylclf clear, I returned back with Friends to Havcril!y2.ud next Day had a comforfab:e little Meeting : Thcr.ce to Hamplcjz and Do-cer, it was Yearly-meeting there : Th-n^ h::ivinj; in alnx-fl M 3 c\'cry i82 t)f SAMUEL BOU^ N AS. , every Place once a Year a General-meeting, which . they call a Yearly-meefing, and by this popular Tit- tle abundance more People come together, in Ex- pectation of fomething extraordinary there to be met with ; it held two Days, and was to very good Content. Next Day I had a Meeting on Kittery-^ fide^ in an old Meeting-houfe that the Frejbyteriam had erected, but not being in fo convenient a Place for them, they had left it. Many, both Friends and others came, and before it was quite gathered, the Prieft with a large Company came in, and immedi- ately began to pray, continuing a long Time : But as foon as he had done, I {poke to the People with, fome Authority, which feem'd to daunt the Prieft, w^ho it was thought intended to have taken up all the Time himfelf, and to have put us by ; if he had fucceeded, they would have gloried and triumph'd much, but therein they were difappointed. In the Courfe of my Miniftry, I infifted on the Danger of negledling the Work of our Salvation, fpeaking cau- tioufly, that fuch an OmiJJion might be irreparable. The Prieft replying, faid, that {liould be exprefs'd, will be irreparable, I defired him not to difturb us, for we did not him ; and repeating my Words over again, with this x^ddition, I dare not fpeak conclufively of the Mercy of God, who is able by Chrift to lave us at the Hour of Death. After this he was filent, only writing when he thought he had any Room to cavil, but he was foon weary, for I was very ftrong both in Power and Dodlrine, and <:;reat Tendernefs was a- mong the People, which was ftrange to him, and Scripture came very apt to ccnfirra mv Dcdlrine ; the T/^^ L I F E ^W T R A V E L S 183 the Pricft gi'owing weary would ftay no longer, but walked off, inviting the People to go with him, but very few went. We had a very good fervice- able Opportunity, the Meeting ended very quiet and well. Next Day I went to Vortfmouth^ having been there before at an improper Time, but now we had an ex- cellent Meeting ; then I was at the new Meeting- houfe, about which they had had fome Uneafinefs j we had a Meeting to very good Satisfaction, and Friends appeared well reconciled. Then I went once more to vifit the Widow Hanfon at K7wx anarchy that had, as before, been taken Captive. From thence to Stratham, having had a Meeting there two or three Weeks before, and the People were then very much affeded : But the Priefh hearing of it, was very uneafy, and went amongft his Hearers, beg- ging and praying them not to converfe with the §uakers^ if they could avoid it, fo that wx had but few that came, amongft whom was a Man in Drink, that did cavil, and v/ould pretend to a Difputation, but he was fo much in Liquor that he rambled in his Difcourfe, and knew not what he faid ^ he went away in a Rage, curftng as he went along. Thence I came to Hampton^ and Aimjbury\ and had Meet- ings at both Places. Thence to Ne^wbury z\\^ had a Meeting, to Vv^hich the Prieft was again invited, but he did not come near us. Next Day I w^as at their Monthly-meeting, which v/as but dull. Next Day I was up in the Wcods, at a new Place, w^here there were many People, and we had a good Meet- ing. Next Day I was at a Marriage, which was held 184. of SAMUEL BOWNAS. held in a Prejbyterian Meeting-place, a very com^ modious handfome Houie, and would contain near two Tiiouland People, as fome faid ; however, it was as iuil as it could well contain, and the Meet- ing was very eafy and quiet : Sundry Teachers from the neighbouring Towns were there, and I was doubtful of fome J-ingling and Difpute, but all went oiFvery quiet and well: I was largely opened tofet forth the Service of our Monthly-meetings, with ref- pedl to taking Care of the Poor, deciding of Differ- ences, and taking Cognizance of Marriages : At which the People feemed pleafed, wondeiing that they had no fuch Order amongft them : This was a very high Day, and ended w^ell. Next Day I went to Ly72n^ had fundry Meetings at frefli Places about Lynn^ Marblehead, Salem^ and in/everal lit- tle Villages towards Bo/ion : Taking my leave of Friends in that Part of the Country, I came to BoJ-^ ton^ and had two Meetings there. Then I went to Mendam^ Brovideiice and Swanjh-, alias Wickaptn-* fett, and had Meetings ; and then to Scituate Y.ar- Jy-meeting, which held two Days, but nothing hap- pened uncommon, fave that the Parting-meeting at Pembrook was very large, very open, and to good Satisfaction : I had a Imall Meeting at Hanover and 'Free-town, and fo back to Wickapinjett again, and then for Rhode-ljland Quarterly- meeting : The hrft I^ay I had fomething to fay to the Miniilers and El- ders about the Difcipline of the Churchy warning them to look diiigent'y to the Flock ; and letting them know, that the Apoflacy was partly occalioned thro* the Miuiders and Elders neglecting their Duty> ^^• N.-t Day \ras the Mcctin?- of Mirnftcrs and Elderj^, and r^^ L I F E tfW T R A V E L S 185 and I was very much drawn forth to both. Then I had a Meeting at Providef^/ce middle Meeting- houie, which vyas fmall, but pretty well. Then by Mcndam I went to Leicefter^ and had a fweet good Time with a few leeking People, and in the Evening I had a long Conference with a young Wo- man about the Sabbath^ the Sacraments^ (fo call'd) and feme other Points \ in all which fhe fecmed very tender, and in a good Frame. I told her, I v/ould not treat her as a Difputant, in an adverfe Temper, but as a Sifter and Friend in the fame Faith in Degree : But fhe complained much of the Bondage of her Education, and lamented her Cafe. From thence I went to Oxford^ where was no Meeting fettled, nor any Friend in that Place ; the Priefts did all that in them lay to hinder the People from coming to hear Friends, when any came a- mongft them, if they knew it ^ however, we had a good Opportunity. Thence to the Meeting in that great Houfe, not far from Seth Aldrich\^ which was a fine full and comfortable Meeting. Then to the Upper Meeting-houfe, and fo to Mojhantatuck^ and' to Warwick^ and had Meetings in thcfe Places. I was defired to ftay to attend a Difpute. One Hugh AdamSy a Prieft, had challenged Friends, he' having undertaken to prove Infant- jprinkling iTom Scripture, to be an Oidinancc of Chrift. Eiit in the Proof he came off very lamely, Samuel Aldrich^ an excellent and ingenious Difputant, was by ap- pointment to manage the Argument on Friends Side, and none clfe : But fuch Arguments the Prieft brought J85 oj SAMUEL B W N A S. brought for their Sprinkling as were entirely new to the Audience ; one was, the Spray of the Red Sea, when the Children of Ifrael went through it, by the ftrcngth of the Wind jprinkling the Children, viz. Infants, as well as old People- ; and as the A- poflle faid, "They were all baptized in the Cloudy and in the Sea. This was full Proof of the Point for In^ fant-fprinkling^ he faid. But Samuel made an ex- cellent fhort Difcourfe on the Text, very much to the Purpofe, and he had fo much the Afcendant in the Argument on every Branch, that the Prieft loft Ground, and feveral of his Brethren being there, were much afliamed of him. Then I returned back to Rhode-Ifland^ and fo to Coakfet Yearly-meeting, which was very large ; and then Co Dartmouth Yearly-meeting, which was like- wife very large, and that Evening was a Meeting of Minifters, wherein I had much to fay on fundry Heads proper to them : And next Day being the Yearly-meeting, it was very large, as before, there being a great Refort of People many Miles round. It held three Days, and ended to the vSatisfaclon of moft. This Evening, as I was going to Bed, about ten at Night, there was an exceeding great Earth- quake, that made a Noife like the driving of Carts or Waggons on an uneven Caufeway 3 it continued about two Minutes, to the great Surprize of the People. It was felt about fifteen hundred Miles, as was after computed, and as was thought by Caicu- lation,was not quite three Hours in going thatSpace. From thence I went into the Ifland; and took my laft Farewell of my Friends in that Part of the rhe hlYE and TRAVELS i86 the Country, having made a thorough Vifit a- mongft them. The Weather by this Time grew very cold, it being the Beginning oY the Ninth Mo?tth ; however, I proceeded to ConneBicut^ yames-town^ Kings- town^ and to Gr^^;2 W^/6 Month- ly-meeting. From thence Setb Aldrich^ John Cafeyy yohn Earky and Peleg Spencer^ accompanied me, and wx travelled into the Prejbyterian Country ; and firft, at a Town called Prefton^ we had a Imall Meeting, and hearing of a Funeral about three Miles off, we went thither; the People (who, as we apprehended were Baptijh) feemed much furprized, and our not joining a young Man who prayed amongft them, made them look more fhyly on us ; the poor Man feemed in Con- fufion : But when he had done, we had a fine Opportunity to guod Satisfaction. Then we took our Journey towards New-Loiidon^ and on the Way had a fmall Opportunity amongft feme Prelbyteriajis ; fuch of them who were bigotted that Way, were hard to fpeak to about the /;/- ward Work, they could not receive it. Thence to New-London on Groton Side, to one James Smiths who was one of Rogers's Kind of Baptijls, but his Wife was convinced, and they were under o-reat Perfecution by the Presbyterians, both in Body and Goods. I had a Meeting at John B-Ogerss on Ne-u;-' London Side, and he obje(5ted againft the Univer- fality of the Light that faves, and about Baptifm ; he had much to fay for the Continuance of Water- Baptifm, but at the fame Tihie would allow, that there was no real jpiritual Benefit in it at all; and he i88 oj SAMUEL BOWNAS. he aflerted, that that Light which condemns for Evil, was but the Tree of Knowledge and notfav- ing ; but Chrift's Light which faves, was another ^hi?2g ; endeavouring hereby to divide between the Light that condemns^ and that which faves^ making them two different Principles from each other. I took the Bible, and turning to the firft of "John the Evangelift, ihew^ed him, that the Light there fpoken of, as the Divinity of Chrift the Saviour of the World, was the fame Prin- ciple thit condemned the Difobedient, and jiijiified the Righteous ; the Principle was not divided in itfelf, nor was it two Principles, but one and the fame in all: And though the Operation of this one Light differed, that Difference, it was plain, was not in the Light itfelf, but in the different Objedt on which it did operate ; as for Example, the fame Heat of the Sun xhiiJoftensWzx^ ^\\\ harden Clay; but this argues not two different Qualities in the Heat of the Sun, though the Effcd: of its Heat is different on Wax and Clay : By which (although this, or but few Allegories will hold throughout) the People law, that his Notion of two different Lights, one faving^ the other con-^ demning, had no Foundation in the Text. Then as to Baptifnij he divided the Inftitution into three Parts ; Jir/l^ from John ; fecondly^ from the Apoftles pra^ijing it 5 and thirdly^ from Mat. xxviii. 19. But I told him, as he had already allowed that there was no real fpirituai Advantage in outward Water-Baptifm, his imaginary Divifion of the Lifti- tution ieii of courfe 3 for 'twas againfl Reafon tofup- poie The LIFE and r R AV ELS 189 pofc any Thing ordained or injlituted by Chrift, to be u(ed in his Church by Behevers, could be of no real Service 5 but thou allovveft that Baptiim with Water is of no real Service therefore it*s no Injlitu- tion of Chrift : But to conclude this Head, we may comparatively with the Apoflle lay, That it's not the vutward Part oi Chri/lianii\\ or Baptifm^ will do any good to Believers, but in reality he is a Chrifiian^ that is one inwardly : And Baptifm is that of the Heart, and not that of the Letter, that is really j^r- vicedble 2indi faving. Thus we ended this Confer- ence ; but he was full of Words, and confufed in his Notions. I had then another Meeting at Grotcn, though but fmall ; after that we had an Evening-meeting at ouQ John Wood's y^ which was the befl we had amongft that People, where fome Objed:ions were made ^^d!\n{\. pub lick Prayer, but their Objedlions were (oon removed. And afterwards at Colckefter and Hebron we had fome good Meetings amongft the People, tho' it was very difficult to get a Place to meet in at the former : But a Man of Refolution offered a Place, and there being a Town- meeting that Day, we had a large Compa- ny, who were very fober, no Cavilling or Difputes in the lead. Then we came to Sea-brook and iL/7- lingfworth, and had Meetiiigs amongfl a People who had feparated thcmfelves from the Prejhyteri^ ^ns, and inclined to the Baptifts, and were gett- ing into a lifelefs Form of finging, and expound- ing in their own Way and carnal Manner, which was likely to be a Snare to their Hurt : We ap- pointed 189 of SAMUEL B OWN AS. ^ \ pointed another Meeting amongft them, which was but fmnll, all my Friends favc John Cafey and yohn Earle having left me. We now fet out for NeW'Tork^ but had no Meeting till we came to Rye^ which w^as ab®ut 81 Miles. I was glad and comforted to be amongil our Friends again, having been ib long from them, they being much more agreeable to me than other People. From thence 1 went to Marrineck^ and over the Ferry to Flujhing, and it being their Quarterly- meetings which held three Days, the Meeting of Minifters and Elders was of good Service, among them were fome young Minifters ; at this Quarterly-^meet- ing we had alolidTime, a hrge Appearance of ■young Friends of both Sexes being there. After this Meeting I went with Jd/fjua Fielding a little on his Way to the Eaflv/ard 3 and ov\ returning, I went to Viiit a Friend that was much afflicted, with /Lownefs of Spirits, and in a'defpairing Way, al- though he had from his Youth been a very fober -^ and orderly Man, but Providence having favour- '*^ ed him with confiderable Subftance, he imagin- ^cd he tranfgreffed in having every Thinj^ too fafhionabie and too rich, and did not ferve his Maker with his Subftance as he ought to have done; this Was a great Load upon him. From thence I viiited JVeJfbury on the Plain : Thence to Sequatogue, Htmti?7gtcn^ and Oyfter-bayy and had good and very full Meetings. Thence to Maitinicock, and to Hewpjiead, where I had but " middling Times, tho' very large Meetings : I was rather ^he LIFE and TRAVELS 190 rather more iliut up than I had been for fomc Time -before, and being delired to go antl give the poor defpalring Friend another Vifit, I went, and iound him much out of Order, which made it unplealant to be with him. From thence io'Hemp- Jiead and Jamaica, the Place where I had been fo long a Prifoner twenty Years before, and had Meet- ings at both Places, but the latter was very fmallfpr want of due Notice. Then to Flufotng Monthly- meetings which was riiuch to my Comfort, not ha- ving had fo good a Meeting for fome Weeks before. I here receiv'd fome Letters from Friends at the Eaftward, which gave me fome agreeable Accounts of the Effe6t my Labours had had, by inclining fomc to come to our Meetings who did not before, in fe- veral Places vv^here I had Meetings, there being a Profped of fome coming nearer to the Truth and joining the Society ; withal informing me of the great Earthquake before noted, hpw that at New^ bury. Haver ill. At mjbiiry^zw^ Places adjacent, it con- tinued for fourteen Days, and was felt a long Way on the Banks of Mar emack River ; the Account was confirm'd by many who felt it, who declared them- fclves afraid to remain in their Houfes during the feveral Shocks, which returned every twent)^-foUr Hours, continuing about the Space of three Minutes. The Inhabitants did much b'ame themfelves for their Pride and Luxury, taking this to be a Judgment upon them for thofe Things. I then went back to v\{it Weftbury, Hempflead^ Rockway, and had Meetings in all thofe Places, and to Jamaica again, where we had a large open Meeting, The LIFE and TRAVELS Meeting, and thofe my old Neighbours, among whom I had been Prifoner in my firft Journey, came generally, and were glad to fee me, as I was to fee them, and we had a comfortable Op- portunity together. After which I vilited N^w- Towriy Flujhing and the Kihis by New-Towfi^ having a large Meeting ; and fo to Ne%v-Tork^ where I had an Evening-meeting, not very large* From thence to the Narrows over Staten-lfiandy and to IVoodbrtdge^ where I had a Meeting, and about three Miles diflant an Evening-meeting. Then to Shrewsbury to their Week-day Meedng, which was fmall, but very agreeable. Then to Manefquan, and back to Shrewsbury on Firft-dayy ^where was a very large Meeting, and very ferviqe- able. Thence to Mtdd/e-Tozcmy where the Baptijls Jent us their Meetinghoufc to meet in, although they had given the Priefl Leave to preach there that fame Day, fo that the Prieil and his Hearers came fonie Time before our Meeting was ended, and enlarged it very much; no Cavil nor Dilpute hap- pened, but all ended quiet and well. Thence to Freehold^ and had a. Meeting in the Court-houfe to good Pufpofe ; althougli the People were of an ignorant Sort, who made no Profeffion at all of any Religion, yet feme of them were very well plealcd with that Opportunity. Thence to Aliens- Town and Crofwicks^ and was at their Meetings : Then went ^o vilit a Friend who- fometimes ap- peared in publick, and there was a DiiFerence in Sentiments about his Appearance, fome ap- proved and otners difapproved his Miniflry ; but altho' ef S AMUEL BOWNAE. 19$ altho' the young Man had taken Offence at thoic who did not like him, we got fome of the moft Difaffefted together, and gave him a Vifit, and by contering together, the young Man and thofc who were dilfatisfisd came to a better Underftand- ing, which was to all our liking. Thence to Stony-brook^ and Allen s-Tcu^n^ 9.nd Crojwicks ag^m^ to the new M'^eting-houfe, and to Mou?2t-Holly, and had Meetings at them all to Content. Thenca to one Meeting morCj and to tiaddovfeld yi^ctw^g^ Woodbury-Creek, Pilesgrove, Alloways^Creek, and to Cohanjey ; but the Weather being ib exceffive (harp with the Extremity of Froft, the Meetings were exceeding fmall. From thence to Salenty and had a very large open Meeting there, and thence to Haddonfield, and Thiladdplia, travelling over D^- laware-River upon the Ice above a Mile, and came to their Week-day Meeting, which was very fmall, by reafon of the exceeding Sharpnefs of the Weather : It is almofl incredible to think the Hardnefs of the Froft in thofe Parts ; a Man could fcarcely bear any Part of his Skin uncover- ed, for fear of bein^ froze. I ftaid in Town ovtx Firfi-day, and fromi thence went to Franks fort, German-Town J Abington, and Horjham, and fo back to Philadelphia^ and ftaid their Meeting of Minifters, and was at three Meetings on Firfl^ day, which were very large and good, cfpecrally the firftand laft. Then I vlflted Hertford, Radnor^ New-Town, Gojhen, and the Quarterly-meeting for the County of Chefter, held at Providence, which was very large, efpecially the Meeting of the Mi- N nifters 394 ^^ LIFE and TRAVELS nillcrs and Elders, (for there were there the greatcft Part of the Mlniflers in the Province, and leveral from Jerfey Side) it was the biggeft Meet-' ing of Miniiters 1 ever was at in thofe Parts, the lime of the Year confider'd, and I was very much enlarged in Counfel and Advice to them, being never To opened on fundry Heads before 5 and in th;: Meeting of Buiineis I was drawri forth to iliew the Qualifications of a right and true Eider, and the Excellency of right Govern- ment in the Church, which muft firft be known in cur own Minds ; for fuch who have not the Government of their own Spirits, are not fit to undertake the Government oF others. And after this I hi^d a Meeting at Middle-Tcwn^ and fo to Pro%)ide?iee General Meeting, but I had very little to fay in either of thefe laft Meetings. Thence to Varbvj and had a fmall Meeting, and fo to ThiJadelpbiay and had a b ave Meeting, infomuch that I was hi I'd Witli Admiration at fo uncom- mon a Supp'y of newDoiflrinc every Day, which gave me great Caufe to be more and more humble ; and when fome Friends wouid fpeak in Favour ot lucH an Opportunity, or Branch of Doftrine, it v^^ould give me a Shock, left by any of thefe unwary Commendations, I fhould take to myfeif that Honour which was"* due to the Father of Spirits^ and fo fall into a Robbery unawares. From thence I went to Plytnotith, North-Wales^ Eucki7:ghamy Wrighfs-Towny the Falh^ Nrfaamtny^ *nd jbnjiol, and had fatisladtory Opportunities tho' iome ofSAMVEL B OWN AS. 295 fome more agreeable than others at each Place, and very full Meetings, the Sealon confidered. From Erijloi I went lo Burlington ^ and was at their Meet- ing of Minifters, but had nothing to fay ; I ftaid the Firft-d'oiy Meeting, which was very large and ferviccable ; it was the Qnarterly-meeting Time, and the Meeting of MlniHers and Elders, and L having had fuch remarkable Times among the Minifters occafion'd thcfe Meetings to be very large : At this Meeting I was divinely opened v/ith frelli Matter, fetting forth the Service of a divine, fpiritual Mini- ftry, which was free from all Contrivance and Fore- caft of the Creature, in preparing itfelf, either with former Openings, or beautiful Colled:ions of Texts, or Sayings from Books or Writings, all 'which Ga- therings would bring Deaih, and could be no other in the beft and moft favourable Conftrudlion, though well look'd on by feme, than the Miniftry of the Letter^ under Pretence of the Miniftry of the Spw rit, which is a Deception of the higheft Nature. Then I came into Pennfyhania to Wrighf s-Town^ was at their Meeting of Minifters, and had a very agreeable Time with them, wherein was fhewn the Danger of Murmuring at the feeming Weaknefs of our Gifts to a Degree of DejedVion, and Negledt to cxercife ourfelves in them, fhewing that every Gift of the Miniftry was of great Service, though but fmall in comparifan of others, and had a great Beauty in it, and that we ought by no means to flight and negled it, but to think well, and be thankful that the Father of Spirits hath given us a Gift, though but fmall. And on the other hand, N a to J96 rhe LIFE ^W T R A V E L S to exhort fuch as had a more elegant Miniflry, not to overvalue themi'elves upon their Gifts, but in Hu- mility and with thankful Hearts render the Ho- nour and Praife where due, not looking with an Eye of Contempt on their fuppofed inferior Bre- thren and Sifters, but in Love preferring each other to themfelves, more cfpecially confidcring, that mean and plain Diet, handled by Pcrfons who have clean Hands, and clean Garments, though but mean to Jook at, yet the Cleannefs of their Hands and Gar- ments, as alfo the Diet, though plain, put in decent Order renders what they have to offer very agreea- ble and acceptable to the Hungry, and for others we need not be fo careful. A Friend plealantly laid after Meeting, at his Table, / might freely eat, his Wife was n cleanly Houfe-ivifey being willing to improve the Simile, to her Advantage, ihc having fomething to fay, tho' but little, as a Minifter, and her Hufband thought fhe did not give way to her Gift as fhe ought. The next Day was Quarterly- meeting in the fame Place, which was pretty large, and I was drawn forth to fet the Degrees of El- ders, as well as their different Services, in a pro- per Light, under the Similitude of the various In- llruments made life of in the creding of a Building, and that every Inflrument or Tool had its Service, when ufed as Occafion required, and every Builder to ufe them at a proper Time, and not otherwife. Thence I went over the River to the Jerfey Side, ta one Meeting, that was large. Thence back to Ne- fmminy again, and to By bury, Abington, Horfham, JSiorth'Wales, and the great S'wamp, and had a De- gree of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 197 grcc of Service and Satisfaction in all thefe Places. Thence I went to North-Wales to a Funeral. Thence to Perkeomingy had a fmall Meeting, and in coming from thence had an Evening-meeting at a Friend's Houfe, hig Name was Jobt Jacobs. Thence to a Funeral at Flymoiithy where was a very great Com- pany, and a very good Meeting. Thence to Fhi" ladelphia, and was at their Half-yearly Meetmg of Minifters and Elders : Sundry Friends came from Long'IJlandy and I was largely opened in it to re- commend a ftedfaft Conduft with Juftice and a fin- gle Eye to Truth, and its Caufe at all Times, and to fet forth the Service of Elders and Pillars in the Church, jfhewing how a Pillar ftanding upright would bear a great Weight, but if it leaned to ci- ther Side, it would bend, and perhaps break be-orc it could be fet upright again ; warning both Mini- fters and Elders againft Party-taking and Party-mak- ing, adviling them as careful Watchmen to guard the Flock, as fuch who muft be accountable for their Truft, and in particular, not to dip into Dif- ferences, the Miniuers efpccially, cither in the Church or private Families, but to ftand clear, that they might have a Place with both Parties, to advife and counfel, and fo they might be of Service in re- conciling thofe who were at Variance : And I had a Concern to caution the Minifters, in their Travels, not to meddle with Differences, fo as to rallily fav, this is right, or that is wrong, but to mind their ovva Service, guarding againft receiving any Complaints of Friends Unfaithful nefs before a Meeting, which 19S Ihe LIFE and TRAVELS I had found very hurtful to me ; for fuch Informa- tion> without a carelul Watch, may influence the Mind to follow it rather than the true Gift. I had it alio to caution the Minifters, in their Travels not to be hard to pleafe with their Entertainment, but to fhew themfelves cafy and contented with fuch as poor Friends could let them have, and to guard a- gainft carrying Stories and Tales from one Place to another ; and as foon as their Service was done, to retire Home again ; for fomc, by flaying too long after their Service was ©ndcd, had much hurt them- felves, and been an Uneafmefs to the Church. I had likewife to caution againfl appearing* too often or too long in our own Meetings, but that Miniflers fhould wait in jheir Gifts for the Spirit to put them forth ; that they carefully mind their Openings, and not go beyond Bounds, tor if we do, we fhall lofeour In- tereft in the Minds of Friends, and our Service will be lofl ; always guarding againfl feeking after Praife, or faying any Thing in Commendation of our own Doings, neither to be URcafy when we have Nothing to lay ; z^ likewife to take Care at fuch large Meetings, not to be forward nor too long, becauic a Midake committed in fuch a Meeting did much more Hurt than it might do in fmall Coun- try Meetings. I likewife touch'd upon the great Duty of Prayer, requefling all to guard againfl run- in^ into too many Words without Underflanding, but carefully to mind the Spirit, that they might pray with if^ and with Under/landing alfo. Next Day was the Half-yearly-meeting, being the firfl-Day of tlie Week j I was largely opened to flicw -cfSAMUEL BOWNAS. 19^ Ihew the Difference between the true and falfc Church, letting them Side by Side, that thev might jud^e for themlelves. I {laid all that Week in Town, the Meeting not ending till Fcurth-day. I was at the Firfl acid ^Third-dafs Meetings following, and fa took my L(i?ave. From thence I came to Darby, Sprin^eldy Merion^ Chefier^ Chicbefier^ Ckrifieen, znd. I^€uca/lle^ and had tolerable good Meetings : Friends b;nng acquainted that I was now takiuci my L?,ave of the Country^ Meeting^ were very large, and leveral of them to good Satisfadion, much Openncfs and Biokennefs appearing am ongft Fiiends. Th'^rcc to Cfcrg/s^ Creek, Duck-Creek y Mother kill, Hoarkilis, Cold-Springs and fo back to Motherkill and Duck-Creek -, had pretty good Satisfaction in thefe Meetings : The r riends in thefe Parts were but fefdom vifited, and but very few public amongft them* The Priefts. both Church and Prejlyterians, attempted to da fomething, but the People being poor, and Pen^ fion fmall, they gave out for want of Pay. From thence to Chefter in Maryland^ it was n Half-yearly-meeting, but the Weather being very unfeaionable, made it but fmall ; it continued two Days, and the lafl Meeting was both largeft rnd beft. Thence to Cacil and back to Gilbert Fawk-- ners, and Johj ^ibbefs, and Duck-Creeky had good Opportunities, aad took my Leave after having one fmall Meeting about nine Miles diftant, and fo went for the Quarterly-meeting in Maryland at ^reaa^ haven-Creek^ it was held in the great Houfc ; a g^Ovxl Meeting, but I found feme Difficulties an i Mifun^ ^X 4 derilandiigs too The LIFE and T KAV ELS derftandings among them, which did them much Hurt. Next was at a Moiithiy-mectingin the fame Place, where the Uneafmcfs appeared more plain, but Endeavours were ufed to reconcile Matters, and put a ftop to the UneaHncfs. l^hence to the Bay^ fidcy Tuckahoe, Marjhy-Creck, Ckoptank, and had Meetings in all thefe Places. Thence to France-- quaking^ Chickonancomaco^ Nanticoke^ znd over Vi ana-- Ferry to Mulberry-Grove^ and had Imall, but com-^ fortable Meetings in all thefe Places. Thence tor the Widow Gales at Monay^ and had a fmall Meet- ing there in her Houfe. Thence to AnnuameJjickSy and had a fm^ll Meeting in the Widow Waters^ Houfe. Thence to yohn Curtis ^^ and had a fmall Meeting at his Houfe; fo tp Thomas Crippin%^ and had a Meeting in his Houfe, there being no Meet* ing-houfes in thefe Places : Then one Captain T>rummond defxred a Meeting in his Houfe, which I alTented to^ and it was to good Content. This J)rummond was a Judge pf tHc Court, and a very , fcnfible Man. Thence to Ncfivadr.cks^ where was a pretty good Mecting-houle, and we had a very large and good open Meeting in it. Thence to Magoth-Ba\\ and had a very good Meeting at Edward M^ftins^ a fine zealous Elder he was ; he carried me' over the Bay in his Bont (about twentj Leagues they calTd it) to Nanfemundy we landed at old Robert Jordaits, and was at their Week-day Meeting. JProm thence went towards Carolina^ yofeph yordan accompanying me en my Way to HSiathan N'wh''s, and his Son went with mc to his Uncle GabrieP:. Next Diy I went to Pafcotanky and ej SAMUEL B O W N A S. 201 iftnd had a fine open Meeting, which was very large, for the Inhabitants moftiy came to Meetings there when they expedled a Preacher, and at other Times pretty much. I vifited a young Man in the Neigh- bourhood, a pretty Minifter, but in a declining Way ; we had a comfortable Time with him, he being in a good Frame of Mind, fit to die. Thence ioLittle ^Rivery and to Perqui?nan\ Booth, to the up- per and lower Meeting-houfe, and had very large Meetings. Thence Gabriel Newby accompanied me towards Virginia back again ; the firft Meetings we had were at the IVeJlern- Branchy Pagan-Creek^ and at Samuel Savory % ; we had a pretty comforta- ble Time at thelaft Place. Then to Swans-Pointy and over James's River to Willi amjburgh^ and had a fmall Meeting at each of thefe laft Places : Joffph Jordan being with me, we paid the Governor a Vifit, and interceded for his Favour, on the Behalf of fome Friends put in Prifon on account of refu- fing to Train ; he was very kind, promiling to d© what lay in his Power for them, and our People ia general, and in a little Time the Friends were fet at Liberty, We then went {Jofeph being with me) to She- minho to the Widow Bate's^ it was a Yearly-meet- ing at the Widow's Houfe, which was pretty larg« and open. Thence to Black-Creek and ioCurF^^ and had tolerable good Meetings. Then we had a Meeting of xMinifters and Elders ; there were but a few Min^fters in thofe Parts, but we had a fuitable Opportunity to good Satisfadlion ; and indeed it not often iell out ihat in fuch Meetings I was in want 2ot The LIFE anJ TRAVELS want of Matter fultable to their States. Next Da]f^ was the Publick-meeting, which was large and well. Next Day I was at IVain-Oak (thefe were all called Yearly-meetings) which was large and well, and yofephJorda?i\\Jidi excellent Service in it.butlhad ve- ry little to fay. Taence to tiie Swamp, GraJJy Swamp. Cedar^Creek, and Dover^ and had fine Meetings, Peo- ple being very ready to attend them ; thele Meetings were above th:^ Fal*3 of yarms's-River Thence back over the River to Robert Honycote^^ Le- muel Harg)oveSj Somertotij and to Nathan New-* bys ; in all thjfc Places I had Meetings, and fomc of them very large and open. From thence into Carolina to their Qjarterly-mecting, and had a Meeting; at James Griffefs Houfe. Thence to Lit-- tie-River on the Seventh-day of the Week, and firft of the Qaarterly-meeting: Next Day the Meeting was very large, and I took my Leave of Friends therein, and we had a baptizing Time together. Then I returned back to Virginia^ and was at Nah^ femund Meeting, and had a large Meeting at a Friend's H -«ufe, whofe Name was Levin Bufkin^ it was a fine edifying Meeti;ig indeed. Then I came to the Branchy and Cbuckatuck^ at their Month- ly-meeting, hwt Robert Jordan had all the Time, that being his laft Meeting, he being to come to £/7- W^W, to vifit Friends, in the fame Ship with me. Another Meeting was appointed at Arnold JVilkin-- /3;2's which was (mall. After Meeting I went to Robert Jordan's, hiving b^^en made exceeding wel- come, and alfo had fevcral good Opportunities in the Family. I went to but two or three Meetings mere. of SyiMVEL BOWNAS. 20J more, getting myfelf ready to return Home, and ac- cordingly we took Leave, and came down the River, to Kickatan^ but were forced, in failing there, by miffing the Channel, to lie aground by Newport's^ Nofe near twenty-four Hours before we ^ould get to Hampton^ and when there, ftaid about a Week and four Days, George Walker was very kind, in- vited us to lodge at his Houfe, which we did about four Nights, and had a Meeting or two in his Houfe, his Wife being more loving than I expedled : She \^2J^ George Keith\ Daughter, and in her younger Days {hewed great DiiTatisfa^tion with Friends, but after her Father's Death the Edge of that Bitternels abated, and her Hufband was very loving and hear- ty to Friends, frequently having Meetings at his Houfe. Having laid Wind-bound a Week and four Days, the Wind fprung up fair for us, and we weighed Anchor the 29th of the Fifth Month 1728, with a frefh and fine Gale ; Robert "Jordan feemed much pleafed that we were on our Way, and a fecrct Joy fiird my Heart, being thankful that I had been prefcrved fo well in Health, and affifted with Strength both of Body and Mind to accom- plifli this long and tedious Journey, through the very fevere Extreams of both Heat and Cold, in about eighteen Months, and miffed butfeven Meet- ings, w^hich were far back in the Woods, viz. one in the Government of New-Tork^ two in the ' y^Kf^y^y ^^^ four in Pennfyhania : I was not eafj to mifs them, but my Friends thought the Weather and Seafon of the Year, together with the great Scarcity 204 "^^r LIFE and TRAVELS Scarcity of the Proviiion both for Man and Horfo and the great and thick Snow, with the Extremity of the Froft, rendered that Journey hazzardous, if not impradticable, and to ftay till the Winter broke up, I could not fee it my Place y beiides which, by ftaying fo long I fhould have loft my Paffage by the homeward-bound Ships, otherways I fhould have been willing to have taken thofc Meetings, if I could have faved my Paffage, and accomplilhed it fo as I might wafte no Time, but go on diligently as I had done before, for there were but very few of their Meetings but that I vilited two, three, and fundry of them four, five, or fix Times, feveral of them being iituatcd in my Way in pafling to and fro. I was not by any Diforder or Sicknefs, or any Accident hindered (1 think I may fafely fay) one Hour all this Time. Indeed Friends had fcnt Word to appoint a Meet- ing for me about thirty Miles on my Way, but the Weather was fo cxtrcamly tempeftuous, that when we came there, no Meeting was appointed, fo, it was concluded I could not poffibly come, fo I w^s under a Ncceflity to ftayone Day longer in that Place, . which was the greatcft Hindrance I met with in all the Journey that I remember. Now to return : In our Voyage, about 250 Leagues from Land as we thought, the Water feem- cd like a River after a hafty Storm of Thunder ; on feeing it thus, our People were under Surprize, and Ih that Surprize tried with the Lead for Ground^ but could find none ; it was fo uncommon a Thing, that the Sailors could not tell what io think of it : This f>f SAMVEL BOWNAS. 205 This was about the 15th of the Sixth- Month '^ we had fine pleafant Weather, and great Plenty of Doiphins and other Firti, for which Providence I was very thankful ; but on the 22d of the fame Month, about three in the Afternooi>f exceed- ing Guft of Wind, fuch an Hurricane '#V:.. Sailors faid they never knew, came from the North, which bore fo unexpedledly without any Warning upon uf?, that to all Appearance our Ship would be in a Moment fwallowed up in the Sea, the Waves running over us, and the Water coming into the great Cabbin Windows and the Forecaftlc, lo that from five or fix Inches of Water in the Hold, it fo increafcd, that we had more than fo many Feet in a few Minutes; the Decks fcemed as the' they would break down; being fo very heavy with the Waves breaking in upon them, they alfo ftaved us above a Ton and a Half of Water in Cafks fafi:en'd upon Deck, wafiied fome Hogs overboard, and drowned us fevcral Dozen of Turkeys^ Geefe, and other Fowls, which afterwards, with the Wa- ter and Swine, were much mifs'd by us ; bcfides all this, the Wind tore our Sails like Paper, broke our Foretopmafi:, and feveral of the Yards, like rotten Sticks, and the round Foretop ; the Ship by the Violence of the Tempejfl lying fo much on one Side, as though flie would not right up again, fo that they were for cutting away her Mafi:s and Rigging, but I begged the Mafl:er not to do it, but to truft to Providence, for I was fatisfied flie would rife again as foon as the Wind abated: And the Wind began to abate in a little Time, and the Ship 2c6 The LIFE and TRAVELS Ship righted up, but the Tiller of the Rudder being broke, it was very dangerous, until they had got the Rudder faftened, which in a little Timo before it was dark, was effected wiih great Dif- ficulty and Danger; but the Sen running fo very high^ toit the Ship very much, and the Sea came in with that Violence, that there was no Ap- pearance of any Thing but foundering and linking immediately, for feme Time, cf|)ccially till the Rudder was put to rights; but when they had the Command of the Rudder there were feme Hopes of Relief, but while the Rudder was at Li- berty there was no commanding of the Veflel, but fhe lay at the Mercy of the Sea, and it leem- ed as though that would alone carry away the Stern of the VefTel, by being forced through the Violence of the Waves from one Side to the other : But when we had got up the dead Lights, and fc- cured ourlelves in the beft Manner we could, then all Hands to pump, for we found between (tvea . and eight Feet of Water in the Hold, but as the S toiling of the Ship made that very difficult to guefs | right, it might be more or lefs ; however, having j a good Ship, new and firm, we found Hope in- i creafed, but we were all very wet, and very much 1 fatigued, and a dark and troubleibme Night it was, ■ and we much longed for Day, but the Wind was \ very much abated, not iafting above two Hours j fo very flrong : And when Day-light came wd ^ were glad, but that was foon turned into Mourn- | ing, by difcovering the mean State of our Ship, : cfpecially the Rigging and Sails, and finding fo j great ^ cj SJMUEL BOWNAS. 207 great a Lofs oi Water and frefli Provifion, Things of Value, next to Life itfelf : All thefe LolIe» put together were Caufe of Trouble, but by griev- ing we could not help ourfelvcs, therefore wc could with the Pfalmift, in fomcthing of the like Nature, fay, fuch Trials put People to their H''it$ Endy * howbcit, in turning the Mind to that divine Power and Providence which is prefent eve- ry v/here, ruling both by Sea and Land, and whcym the Winds obey, I found Comfort in meditatiiig on his Promifes to care for thofc who put their Truft in him. Now our Men, who were all prefervcd from any other Damage, faving the taking of Cold, wh ch we all fe!t the Effcdt ot to a great Degree, went about putting the Rigging to rights again, which took up a full Week befo e we could make Sail, the Wind blowing ftrong and variable ; and when they had got Things in a good Condition the Wind was againft us for feveral Days, w^hich made us thoughdul to take Care of what Water and Provifion we had, that we might not be furpri'zed with Want, when we had no Power to arm againfl it. The Men were all cali'd up to hear a Propofal, which was thus ; Three Pints of Water a Man for twenty-four Hours, and five Pounds of Bread for a Man a Week, having other Pfovifions, both frefh and fait, a good hand- fome Stock, to the full Allowance. At this ther# was Uneaiinefs ; but this Allowance would hold by c^ur Calculation but lor about four Weeks, fo that it % Pi^lm evil. 27. 2o8 r^^ L I F E z^;?^ T R A V E L S if we faw not fome Hopes of getting in, in two- Weeks, wc mufi- come to lefs Allowance again.- The Wind continued ftill againft us till the 7th of the Seventh' Months and then veered a little to the Southward, and we apprehending ourfelves to be too much to the North, were not willing if we could avoid it, to put into Ireland : But in about thiee Days after this we had a brave Wind^ which laded for fome Day?, and it gave us Hopes of feeing Land, whiw:h we much longed for, be- ing threatned with Want of Provifion, of both Bread and Water, but not Flefh, if Providence did not interpoie : Our Hearts were chcarful, and Gladnefs appeared in every Countenance, but alas ! it was but a fliort-liv'd Joy, for in the Forenoon on the 13th the Wind fcanted upon us again, nnd about five in the Afternoon we founded, try- ing for Ground, but found none ; this made us all look pale, and Sadnefs of Heart appeared in every Countenance ; btiide^^, our Ship being a dull Sailer, added fomewhat to our Trouble, fear- ing that we were farther from Land than wc thought by our Reckoning, and the greatcfl: Com- fort we had, v/as a good Ship ui^der us, tliough a heavy Sailer, therefore we cheered each other with the Hope of gaining our Port in due Time with Safety and Comfort : And this I moralized to myfelf, by confidering the Refemblancc of a Chrijlians Progrefs through this Life, fometimes in a Degree of Profperity, being under Encourage- ment to prefs forward with a fair Wind, and anon tinder • ^7 SAMUEL BOtfNAS. 26^ iinder as great Adverfity and Difcouragement by Temptations, Perfecutions and AiBidlions. In two Days more we founded, and found Ground at eighty-two Fathom, judging ourfelves from the Lizard iixty Leagues ; but alas ! the Wind veered and blew feven Days ftrong againffc us, fo that we were driven from Land, as we thought, a Hundred Leagues. This made us talk of fliortcning our Allowance again, but that Night about twelve o'Clock the Wind veered in our Favour, and the Sailors cried, A large Wind^ a large Allowance ; Nothing being more difagreeable in its kind than a large Wind and fhort Allowance. And the Wind being fair, we went on with Cheer- fulnefs, and upon the Credit of this fair Wind fome of the Men had not a Morfel of Bread left: by Night, nor a Spoonful of Water, and had near thirty-fix Hours of their Week to come : How- ever, wc went along fo agreeably, that every Bo- dy look'd pieafant, and it was comely to behold ; but alas ! this lafted but about fixteen Hours be- fore it came right in our Teeth again, and blew very ftrong. Such Ups and Downs we had, that the Sailors grew very uneafy, and did curfe and fvvear, nay did not fdck to blafpheme in fuch a Way, as made it very uneafy, and unpleafant to hear ; but this did not laft: Ipng before it was calm, and the Wind came up fair again, and we fpeaking with a Ship outward bound, they gave us new* Heart, by advifing us that Scilly bore from us Norths Ball: about twenty-two Leagues Diftance. Alfa this Day we fpoke v/ith the King s Ship call'd the • Dragom 4io The hlVEand TRAYUh9 Dragon^ conic from Jamaicay and in the Evdnirrg: favv fiindry Ships coming in ; this made it looic very pjeafant, beiides a fine Gale in our Favour, fa that on the 27th we favv the Land about five in the Evening, and a Ship to Windward bore down to us, and told us it was the Lizard, and we jad;;eJ that it bore E.N. E. from us about fix Leagues Diilaace. Next Day the Wind was againft us, turning in the Night E. N. E. fo that we lod Sight of the Land again, but tacking and ftanding the other Way we foon faw it, and hav- ing the Tide under Foot, though but a leant Wind, we fliot in a confiderable Way, yet after the Tide was fpent we thought wc loil Ground, but the Wind veering to our Advantage, and a better Gale, did help us much, fo that on the 28th we fliot pretty near in, thinking to have put into Falmouth y but the Wind being iliil more favoura- ble, we flood for the '^ Ramhcad^ then it grew jalmoft calm, fo that what we got by the Flood we loft by the Ebb, and we could but juft difccrn the Eddijlone like the Mail oi a Ship through a Glafs, and fcarcely at all with the naked Eye > but on the 29th, it being the Firft-^day of the Week^ having a fine Tide and good Wind all in our Favour, gave us fome Hopes to get into Fly- mouth by Meeting Time, the very fhought of v/hich was agreeable : But alas! by eight in the Morning we found, to our Sorrow, the Tide a.^ainft us, and the Wind dying away^ we loft ^^round, but iliortly after the Wind blew pretty ftroj:>g ♦ A V befides the Account of nevr Houfes built in that Time, in Places where were ijone, nor Meetings but what were kept in private Houfes, v^hich grew fo nume- rous, that Necciiity put them upon erefting Houfes to accommodate themfelves. In New-England and Rhode-ljland are twelve : In the Government of New-'Tork are fix : In both Eaft and Weft-Jerfey are nine : In Pennfylvania thirteen : In Maryland four: In Virginia nine ; and in North-Carolina three*' In all, there have been fifty-iix new Meeting-houfes built within thefe two or three-and- twenty Years pafl:, and in thefe Provinces there are about ten Pla-* ces more that want where they have none, and ma-^ ny old ones want to be enlarged, not having Room for Plalf the People. Now the extraordinary In-^ creafe of Profeilbrs is much to be attributed to the Youth retaining the Profellion of their Parents, and marrying fuch : For chief part of the People in pennfylvania are of this Profeiiion^ as well as in the Jerfeys, of SAMUEL B OWN AS. 213 Jerfeys^ and Rhode-IJlandy fo that yoang People are not under the Temptatioa to marry fuch as are of different Judgments in Religion, as in fome Parts. Now being fafe returned Home, I was diligent in my Wav, minding my Bafinels, and attended public Meetings, Funerals, &c. until the Year 1740, at which Time I found a concern to viiit fome Parts ot the North, and Ireland, which comes next in courfe, with relped: to both Time and Place, viz. An Account of my TRAVELS into /y&^ North ij/^En^ ^2LVi^,and\xz\'\viAythe feconciT^ime, in theTearij^tO. A FTER having acquainted my Friends with -^^ what I had in View, requefting, as is ufuat in the like Cafes, a Certificate from the Month'y-meet- ing, which was readily granted, I left my Houfe the I ft of the Third'-Month 1740, and went to the Fu- neral of an intimate Friend, viz, Thomas Harey of Long-Sutton, the Meeting was very large a. i well^ Thence I went to Street, and fo for BrijJo to. the Yearly-meetings which was attended by many Friends, and was very much to Satisfadlion ; J was largely opened both in the public and felecl Meet- ings of Minifters and Elders. Leaving that Place J went to Bath, Bradford, MilkJIjam, Chippenham y and Cahi in WHtfmre, and had in all thefe Places Meetings to good Satisfadion, in fome more than others. Thence to Newbury, Reading, Wickham, and Uxbridge, and had Meetings at all thefe Places, which w^re pretty well. Thence to London to th^ 03 V«r^i ^ a 14 5^^ LIFE ^;?i TRAVELS Yearly-meeting, where I was more particularly en^ larged amongft the Miniflcrs than ever I had been be-, fore in England^ which gave me fome Apprehenfi- on it was to be my laft, and Vi^hen I was taken fick, of which in its Place, it feemed to confirm it. I had likewife a very good Time in ihe Parling-mect- ing, which confirmed me that I was in my Place. From thence I went to Herffordj it was their Monthlj^meeting, and I ftaid three Meetings in that Town. ''Thence to IVare and Roy/ion, and had con- fiderable Meetings in both Places. Then into E/Jex^ to Saffrori'-Walden^ Thack/lead and Cogge/halL, and had tolerable good Times; fo to Colche/ler Yearly- meeting;^ which was very large, and I had the Com- pany of John Gurney\ and Jofiua ^ojt, who both had very eminent Service in that Meeting. I was taken ill with a Cold, but had fo good a Time amongfl the Miniflers, that I thought myfelf almofl cured ; but after Meeting riding to Bury^ it brought fuch a Fe^er upon me, that I thought I could not furvive it, and this fecmed to confirm my former Apprehenfion, from that uncommon En- largement I had amongfl theMiniflers mLondony that 1 fhould never have another, and this Notion grew upon me, adding much to my Lownefs of Spirits ; however, I was obliged to tarry a Week with my Friend "^ohn Drewett^ at Bury^ and his Kindnefs P.nd Tendernefs over me in that low, weak Condition, was very great and comfortable ; he conveyed mc to MildenhaU in his Chair, but I was very wesk, f nd obliged to ftay at Jcfepb Ellingtons one Week longer, who was likewife very kind and tender #yer mf , From 4 SAMVEL BOWNAS. 115 From thence I went to Brand, znA through fomc Part of Norfolk into Lincokjhirey and had very largd Meetings ^iLyitn^ and ^tGainlborough a great Num-i ber at a Funeral, and Meetings at feveral other PJa-* ccSj which were large. I met my dear Friend Jo^ (Jjua ^oft at Lynn^ and he was with me at Gedney^ and other Meetings between that ^t\AGainJborough^ and then we parted, and I went into TorkfJnre, and had iundry large Meetings, confidering: the Places, as at heeds ^ Raw den ^ Bradford^Skipton^ Settle, and Sedbergh ; (at which lail Place my Mouth was firft opened rn the Miniftry) and onFirJl- day to Kendal, and had two large Meetings, and then went diredly for Whitehaven by Cockermouth, but had no Meetiiig till I came to Dub^ iin, ftaying in V/hitehaven but about two Hours. I took Shipping the ift of the Sixth-Month ij\Oy and landed fafe at Dublin the 4th. I ftaid there two Firjl-days^ being under fomc Diforder, and from thence I went to Drogheda and Monallen^ where I was verv particular about the Call and Qualificatirmj- of trueGofpel Miniflers, flicwing, that wicked Men could not be fuch ; and thence to Lurgan, and had fatisfadlory Opportunities, Michael Lightfoot being there at the fame Time. From thence to one Meet- ing between that and hijburne^ and fo I went to the North as far as Balluarrey, and then returned back to Toberhead^ OldCaJlle^ Coot hilly vifiting Meetings on that Side to Limerick and lo to Clonmelly Toughall^ and to Corky to the Province Meeting, and back by JVaferford to a Province Quarterly-meeting ^iMount-^ tnelUck^ vifiting Meetings round as I went to Mon^ trathy Edenderry^ and fo to Dublin to a Marriage, Q 4. wheff ai6 7^ LIFE ^/^i TRAVEL 8 where for fome Time I had very hard Work, but il ended very w^ell : Frorfi thence I went into the County of Wicklow^ and round by CarloWy viliting the Meetings round to the national Half-yearly- meeting atZ)^MV/, about the i ith of tht Nrntb-Monib, I found in that Nation a brave, zealous and li- ving People in the Root of true Religion and Dif- cipline, or Church Government, well qualified with Experience in divine Wifdom ; but there were alfo fome who feemed very perfedt in the Form, and ap- peared to the outward very exad: and zealous againft: Pride and worldly Cuftoms, but for all that, the In- fide was not rights io that I found often very clofe Ex- ercife amongft them, in warning them againft the Leaven of the Pharifees, which was equally, if not, rnore hurtful to Religion than that of the Publicans: And in fome Places ihewing, that it was needful tO: be good Examples in Plainncfs of Speech, as well as Apparel, which many had deviated from ; but ne- verthelefs fuch there were, who tho' plain, and o- therwife flridt, were too much taken up with the, JVorJd^ and the Riches of it, making Hafle to increale. their Subflance, which was a very great Hindrance to their Growth in the Life of Religion, and made them dwarfifh therein ; letting forth, that a Forniy without Lifcy whether by Education or othervi'^ife, would nqt avail y alfo warning the Miniflers in the Exercife of their Gifts, to ke?p to the Spirit^ and mind carefully their Openings^ and not to preach the Letter^ under a Pretence of Preaching the Spirit^ and fo inftead of miniftering Life^ minifter Death %o the People. In the main, I had great Ccyrafprt, |i^d nia-ny yery good Opportunities. \ cf SAMUEL BOV/NAS. 217 I lett that Nation fi|U of Peace in my own Mmd» ) being glad that I went thither : I was at eighty-two . or eighty-three Meetings in it, and took Snipping the • 19th oi iht Ninth" Month 1740, in Company with my dear Friend Michael Ltghtjo.of, for Workington^ and was but twenty-four Hours on the Water; it >yas a rough though very quick PafTage : My Friend was very fick, and fo was I ailo, biit not to that De.- . gree as he was. We hired Horfes to go to White-- , haven, it being about fix or fcven Miles, and ftaid there till next Day, it being Fi^Jl-day, and had two Meetings, the laft being very large. Iviiitedall the Meetings in and about Cockermoutbj and Pardjay,'. many of which were very large, and then by Kef- , wick to Hawkfioead, where I was much comforted, , being at Friend Laficaflers Houfe at Co/thoufe, znd: had two Meetings there, which were very full. Thence I went to Kendal, had no Meeting, but. next Morning went to iS^^^^r^/^ to the General-meetr.; ing, which was fmall by reafon of a deep Snow and very hard Weather. Thence to Prejion-Patricky^ and back to Kendal, but had no Meeting. Thence- to Crook, and had a fmall Meeting, then back to Kendal to their Week-day Meeting, where was a! Funeral. Thence I went to Shap^hwtxX. was very? bad travelling by reafon of the Snow and Froft. Thence to C^/;;^rr/^W QuarterlyTmeeting, by C^;v. lijle and Moorhoufe to Wigton, where it was held ^ and confidering the Seafon, it was very large, holding two Days : At a Meeting of Miniftcrs and Elders held in the Evening, I was pretty much enlarged, |S well as at the other Meetings. I returned back to 2i8 rhf LIFE and TRAVELS' to Penrith^ being accompanied by my Friend Row^ land Wiljon this Journey, who was of great Service to me, and my Friend "John Wilfon and his intended Son-in-Law met me at Penrith^ where we had a ve- ry large Evening -meeting, to very good Satisfadion ; the Diffenting Teacher, with many of his Hearers were there, and it was very well. Thence to Tcrily and to the Monthlv-mecting, at GreaUStricklandy and fo by ^hap to Kendal^ v/here I was at three Meetings befides the Quarterly-meeting, and the Meeting of Minifters, all very large and Satisfac- tory; and the Weather was much warmer. I took my Friend John Wilfon^ Houfe for Home at Ken-- daly and JapnesWilfonszt Sedhergh, ftaid their Fii-Ji^ i/^zy Meeting, and had an exceeding large Meeting in the Evening, That Meeting, with Cockermouth and Whitehaven^ were three of the largeft Meetings I had in the North that Journey. Thence to my old Friend Robert Chambers^ and to Prefton General- meeting, and dear James WUfon and his Wife met me there, it was a pretty large Meeting, but I was much fliut up in it j and after Meeting "James and John JVilfon^ with Robert Chambers^ and fundry others accompanied me to the Quarterly-meeting at Lancafter^ which began next Day, and w^as very large. Thefe Quarterly-meetmgs of Cumberlandy WeJimoreJandznd LancaJ}:ire^ were three of the largefl that I remember to have been at, one after the other, in fo fhort a Time, and they had an excellent Oeco- jiomy in the Management of their Affairs ; but there was no Meeting of Minifters at Lcmcafier, at this Time. It may be Iqid, I think very juftiy, that thefo three ef SAMUEL BOWNAS. 219 three Counties are in a thriving Way in the very Life of Religion and true Godlincls. Having received a Line from my dear Wife, that fhe was weakly, and wanted me to return, prevent- ed my viiiting the North sis I had in View, fo that from Lancajler I had no Meeting till I came to Man-^ ehefter where I had two good Meetings. 1 hence to Stockport^ Macclesfield and Leek^ and had fmajl Meetings at each Place. Thence to Birmingham and had two Meetings, the laft a Funeral, pretty large, but not fo editying as I could have defired it. Thence to Wcrcefler^ Gloucef.er, and Briftol^ and had Meetings at them all to very good Satistadion, efpe- cially at Worcejler^ and BrijioU In this Journey I travelled in Ireland (exclufive of the Sea) fix Hundred and feventy -eight Miles, and in England^ before and after my Return from Ire^ land, nine Hundred and Thirty, which in all is iix- tecn Hundred and eight Miles, and fave my Illnefs at Bury,, had my Health as well as I could exped:, being humbly thankful, that I was fo ftrcngthned both inwardly and outwardly to accomplifh myjour- jaey fo well, not having, that I remember, left any Thing undone in that Nation, fave fomething I had to fay in the Mens Meeting at Dublin^ but their hafty breaking up prevented it, which gave me Un- cafinefs for fome Weeks after, and I remark it here for a Caution to others 3 for I mift fuch an Oppor- tunity as I could never more cxped: to have, and thig added to my uneafinefs. Thus I faw that my Fear of breaking in upon the Meeting, and hinder- ing their Bufinels, made me lofc my Tim.c^ fo that I came off with a Burden upop tny Mind , An 220 27^^ L r F E and T R A V EL S An Account of my TK\YEL?> fmce the De^ ceafe of my IViJe^ who after a lingering JJlnefs de^ parted this Life the 6th of the Third-Month 1746. \ J Set out from my Houfe th^ 27th of the Fourth- Month 1746, towards the Qaarterly-mceting at Lifkard in Cor?iwad^ which in that County and De- vonfhire^ arc ufually cali'd yearly-meetings, and had two fmall Meetings in the Way, i;/2f. dxCoUumpton and Oak-hampton ; thence to hauncefton., where we had a very large Meeting, the Place confider'd, the People being very fober and attentive, and the Doc- trine of the Gofpel flowed freely to them ; I was, much comforted with that Meeting : Thence to Ijifkard to the Quarterly-tneeting, which by reafoa of theUnfeafonablenefs of the Weather, was fmailer than ufual, there being few befides Friends, but Things were tolerably well, and from thence to * Plymouth: Friends of both Counties attend thefe tvyo Meetings. After which I had a Meeting in the E- vening at a Pafifh, where I think but one Family of Friends dwelt, we had a tolerable good Meeting, many People came to it ; thence toKingJbridge^ and fo for Exeter and was at their Week-day Meeting, but had Nothing to fay y fo by CoUumpton to Chard, and then Hume, where I ftaid until it was Time to fet out for the Yearly-meeting in Glouceflerfldire, held at Hampton^Road^ which being v/cU fupplied by fundry able Miniflers attending, it wai^ thought to be of good Service, $f SAMUEL BOWNAS. 221 I returned by Bath^ Froome and Shiptoij- Mallet^ had three Meetings at Bath^ one at Froome^ and one at Shipto?i, all to very good Satisfaftion, and then Home, where I ilaid fome Time; but finding the Conflraint of Love to vifit Lo7idon^ I waited to be dearly fatisfied in the Undertaking, and was hot eafy to ^o till the 20th of the Eleventh-Month. I went by Briftoly and the Meetings were very large, I (laid two Firji-days, and had very good Sa« tisfadtion in being there 3 then I went for London through Wilijhire, and had a tolerable fatisfad:ory Opportunity in the Evening at Chippenham^ where fundry Strangers came in ; next to Caln^ and had a Meeting there alfo, but not quite fo fatisfadory 5 thence to Marlborough^ and had a very open Tirae^ many Neighbours came who were very fober and attentive 3 thence to Newbury^ and had a Imall Meet^ ing3 thence to Readi?ig, and was there on Firfl-day both Morning and Afternoon, and had good Satif-^ fad:ion ; thence to Maideji-^head^ where fundry Friends from London met me 3 from thence I went to ^ Meeting at Uxbridge appointed for Hannah Harris ; from thence to London^ and was in Town four Weeks. In five Firft-days I vifited all the Meetings^ and fome of them fundry Times over, and had fornc- times great Satisfa6lion and Comfort, but at other Times I was very low and under great Poverty of Spirit ; the Firjl-days vvere hard Service : The E-^ vening Meetings at Grace-church- (ireet were very q- pen, and the Gofpel flowed to them very plentifully, Jit which Meetings vaft Variety of Hearers frequent- ed, of diifercnt States and Profeflions, but the Foun-- taia 2^2 lli L I F E ^TiJ TRAVEL S tain being opened, there was a Supply fuitable td their Conditions, After I was clear of the City, fundry Friends ac- companied me to EJhery where we had a imall but pretty open Meeting ; thence to Guildford^ where we had a very imall and poor Meeting. I queried, why they did not give their Neighbours Notice ? To which they anfwered, tbey did not ufe to do it. There is a very great Rcmifnefs amongft our People in this Refpedt, for if they were diligent, and dclirous to have the Company of their Neighbours, where the Minifter is fo concerned, it might be of great Service to them, I went from thence to Godalmiriy where we had a very large open Meeting j thence to Alton^ and had two very agreeable Meetings; fo to Win-- chefter^ where were but a few Friends; then to Rum-- fey, and had a fmall Meeting ; fo to RingwoodWcck-- day Meeting, which was fmall but pretty well ; thence to Pool^ and had a Meeting or two there, and then Home ; being very glad that I (ucceedcd [o well, both as to Health and Ability of mind, getting Home about the middle of the Second^Montb^ ^7M' I now vifited the Meetings in the Neighbourhood, until the 9th of the Third-Month 1747, and ontliat Day took my Journey towards Brtjiol Yearly ^meet- ing, and I had but one Meeting between Home and Brijicl ; the Meeting there was very large and well. ] From thence to the Quarterly-meeting for Gloucefier-^ ' Poire ^ it was held at T^hornbury^ and I had a very fa- < tisfadlory Time there : Thence I went to Nail/worthy , was taken much out of Order in the Night, but I went to Meeting, althgugh not very fit for 1% 1 my \ 4e»f i tf SAMVEL BOWNAS. 22^ dear Friend Richard Champion came there, and I went with him to his Houfc, which made me think, by the Refpe Parafay and pyhitthaven^ but I was very weak and low in'my Spirit, which rendered me very unfit for Service. I was at Workington on Firji-day^^ and had a very large and open Mcecmg, lo that I was finely recruited, and gathered Strength both inwardly and outwardly : From thence I went to Broughton^ AU lonby^ and to Holmy where was a trouhlcf ^me VVu- man, in whom the Spirit which influenced the Pear^ fons was very llrong, flie gave fome Diiturbance, e- fpeciaily iojohn Vrwin, but no Body faid aiiV Thing to her ; and after I had ipoke fome Time, and con- cluded, flie ftood up and exprtfl-d lomething to this ElTecfl, Here is a great manijine Words put wcil toge- ther ^ but where is the Ltje t And in Meetings ihe would often caft forth Reproaches and RLflcftions on Miniilers, both of the fame CouiUy and alfo Strangers. From Ploim we went round to W^gtcn^ ai.d I ftaid there over Firji-day, but John Urwtn left me, I had two very tdiiylng Meetings ; and Irom thence I went (p Moorhoufe^ and had a tolerable good Meeting, and lo to the Quarterly- meeting at Car-- lijle, which was very hirge, and I had good Satisfac- tion both in tht Meetings of Bufinefs, and the Meet- inj^s of Minifters, to my great Comfort ; and thele Meetings .yery much rellored me, for I had been ve- ry low and weak with the Diforder I took at Ccld^ beck^ but my Friend "^ohm Vruoin was of fingul^r good Service to me. In the Vifit f n m Carltjle to Penrith^ I went v^^ith my Frien IjohnWilfon and his Brother Cr^W/^;?, who were fo kind as to meet me at Carlifle^ and we had a very of SAMUEL BOJVNAS. 227 very large, good, open Meeting, and I doubt not, the Power of Truth was eminently felt that Day by fome. From thence I went to Great- StJ^ickland Monthly- meeting for Difcipline, and to Shap^ and had fome Service, although I was dejected and low; and always when I was in that Condition, I endea- voured in fecret to be full, waiting in Patience, with fervent Prayer that I mi^ht beprefervcd in the Sim- plicity of the Gofpel, to appear jufi: as the Truth af- filed, carefully guarding againft forming any Image ox Likenefs from a wrong Root, left I fhould of^ fend my Mafter, as Ijrael did in Mofes^ Abfence^ by forming to themfelves that dumb lifelefs Idol the Calf, to worfhip after the manner of the Egyptians^ From Shap I \vtnt, to Kendal^ the Quarterly-meet- ing for Wejimorelani being there, it was very large, and I was niuch opened in it, having very latisfac- tory Service both to myfelf and fundry Friends : From thence I went to Lanca/ler to the Quarterly-meeting for that County, and had there very agreeable Ser- vice. Thefe three Quarterly-meetings fucceded one another, viz. Cumberland, Wepnor eland, and LaU" cufolre, and are the largeft of any I know of in this Nation, and falling fo in a Line, gave me the better Opportunity to attend therh \ I ftaid 2XLancajier over Fnjl-day, and had fome Service there, where werei two Meeting?, and both pretty large. From Lan- Ciifler I went to Telland, and had a fmall hard Meet- ii]g, my Friend Robert Cha?nbers and Wife met me here, and I went Home with them, and fo to Fref- taign Meeting nex-tDay; it was but fmall andhea- ?y, n^y^n^v,^SarahWilJon,'Jamch^NV.^, und fome r 2 other 228 7Z>^ L I F E ^/;^ T R A V E L S other Friends from that Side, met me there, v^ith whom I went ioBrigJIats Meeting, it was a fine Ga- thering, and a comfortable Time. Thence to Denfs Town, where was a General-meeting, which was pretty large and well : Thence to Garfdale^ and Ra^ ^enfionedale^ and had two frnall Meetings which were edifying, altho' not without fome Mixture of Unea- finefs and Trouble, chiefly occafioned by Unfaithful- nefs and Indolence prevailing on fundry Profeilors, from whom one might expcfi: much better by their Appearances, and the Places they aimed to fill in the Church : Thence to Brig^fats Meeting on Firft-^ day *y and their Monthly-meeting lor Difeipline be- ing on the fourth Day following, I fiaid there, and all was conducfled to Edification and Comfort ^ thence to Gra^rig, a fmall Meeting ; fo to Crcok^ where fome Friends from Windcrmoo7^e met me \ it was but a fmall Meeting, and we had but a low, poor Time.- 1 came back ioKendcd, and w\as at xkizFirjUday Meet- ings, that in the Afternoon v/as large, and I opened pretty clearly the Difference betwixt a natural^ and 'di fpiritiial State ^ (hewing the Neceffity of the lafl, in order to qualify for the Knowledge of divine Things, as that knowledge is not to be attained to by the na- tural Man ; we had an edifying and good Time. "James WiJfon% was my Home while at Brigflats^ and "John JVilJons at Kendal^ during my Stay there. I went from Kendal toBenthafriy and had a confi- derable large Meeting to Satisfaction 3 thence to Set- tle^ and was at their Monthly- meeting for Difeipline ; thence to Skipto?2^ and had a fmall Meeting there 5 and fo to Eradjord^ where I was on FirJI-day^ and had of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 229 had pretty good Satisfadion ; this Week gave me a good Degree of Eafe and Chearfulnefs of Mind : Th^cnccio Rav-don, Leeds, Gilderjham, znd to Br ad^ j'^n/Monthly-raeeting, which was very frrxall, chief- ly occalioned by the Inclemency of the Weather, it being very heavy Rains and a great Flood 3 and I re- turned to Leeds, and fo back to Rawdon, and to the Monthly-meeting ztAfqtiith, >vhere I met with dear Benjamin Kidd '^ the Meeting was pretty large, and I think to good Purpofe. I returned to Leeds on Fir/i-day, it being my lafl and farewel Meeting ^ the Widow Hornor\ Houfe was my Home, and in it I had great Peace of Mind and Confolatipn, though Hie was at that Time under a very trying Ex- ercife, which gave her fome uneafy Thoughts ; but coniidering the great and clofe Trials fhe had under- gone, fhe bore it with great Decency and Patience, plainly demonflrating, that fhe was highly favoured of Truth, and always dwelling near it, to theCom- fort of her Family, and all feniible Friends w^ho had the Opportunity of her defirable and edifying Coi|-* verfation. I left Leeds, and went to Wakefield to a Funeral, on which Account the Meeting was fomewhat lar- ger, tho' it was a very flormy Day, and much Snow fell at that Time ; John Scott was with me, and we had a tolerable good Opportunity : Thence I went to Pontefra5l, and had a fmall Meeting; it was a deep Snow, and very hard Froft, which made it ve- ry bad Travelling ; thence to Warnjworth to their Monthly-meeting, where Roger Shackelton met me, and flaid with me till after Fit^rday^ John Scott be- P3 ing 230 T^^ L I F E and T H A V E L S ing ftill with me, but Roger then returned Plome j we went from thence to Blyth in NottinghamJJoire^ to the Funeral of a worthy Elder and Minlfter, and had a very large Company, who were orderly and fober in their Behaviour ; thence io Hanfworth-lVood^ bctife, and had a fmall Meeting \ thence to^Sbeffield^ and had two large Meetings there to prettygoodSa- tlsfadlion : I jflop'd one Night at my Friend Peter Aclam^, at Ciittborp^ and then I went to Chejierfield^ and had a fmall Meeting there, and Ju) to Mansjield\ and had another fn^all one \ thence to Nottingham Week-day Meeting, ^nd fo to Leicefter on Firli-day^ here 'John Scatf left me. The Morning-meeting was but fmall, but that in the Afternoon was much larger, and both were to pretly good Satisfaction. I was at two or three fmall Meetings in the County; and then I came back to the Quarterly -meeting at Leicejier where I had a fatisfadlory Time before the Bufinefs came on^ which was condudleJ with Pru- dence and Love. From Leicejier I went to a general Monthly- mcet-^. ing, in a Parifh called JFigJloji-t^wo-Steeples on Firji- day^ where the Meeting was pretty large, and to . good Satisfaction ; and that Evehing came back to 2, Meeting 'sxLeiceJler^ Benjamin Holme being there al- fo, and the Meeting was well and comfortable ; Thence XoHinkley^ and had a comfortable Time, and fo to Nuneaton^ and had a very large Meetings which I hope was to good P^rpofe ; then to Covevi- jfry Week-day Meeting, and to Atherfion\ thefe Meet- ings were of fome Service, but not large : Thencq to WarU'ick on Firjl-day^ and had an Evening- meet- ing of SAMUEL BOW N AS. 231 Ing the third Day following, which were all com- fortable O^^portunitics : Thence to Henley and had a fmail Evcr.inc^-IVIeetin^^ : but Friends were too ne- glii^ent in acquainting their Neighbours, for which I had Caufe to blame the in in leveral Places. From therce I went 10 Birmirigkam, and was at their 6Vx//6- {iay Mceti p.g, which was Imall ; I (laid over Ftrji^ dav^ and had two Meetings to pretty good Satisfacti- on, and I was comforted ; the fourth Day following I was at their Monthly-rneeting, which was well conduced, and I had an edifying Time in it to the Elders, tu keep their Places a*s Watchmen over the Youth, and to be good Examples^ and to take Care the Poor v/ere not negleded, but afTifled in due Sea- fon. From thence I went to Stourbridge ^ndi Bewd-^ ley y at St our bridge we had a fine large Meeting, fun- dry People came in, befides Friends, and it was of good Service : From Bewdley I went to Worcejler on Fir(l-day, the Morning- meeting was fmall and hea- vy, but that in the Afternoon was large and more open ; from thence to Tewkjbury^ and had a very p- pen^ good, edifying Opportunity, thoVbut a fmall Meeting ; thence to Cheltenham^ where altho' I r^^- queftcd Notice might be given, it was neglected, and the Meeting was very fmall 3 from thence to Paifif- ivick, where I much prefs'd Notice might be given to their Neighbours ; I likewife gave feveral Notice of the Meeting myfelf, defiring them to acauaint others of it, and by this Means we had a large and open Meeting 5 I hope it was of good Service to fome., they being very fober and attentive : From thence to Nailfworth^ and although it is a very confiderablc P4 ' Meetin^i 232 TS^ L I F E ^;^^ T R A V E L S ' Meeting, if not the largeft in the County, it was ve^ xy Imall, yet we had a comfortable Time together. Thence I went to Thoriibury on Fit-Jl-day to a Fune- ral, which was very large and open ; irom thence to Brijhly and was at the Third zni\ Sixth-dax Meet- ings, and on Firji-day at two Meetings, which were all well and comfortabje ; thence back to Thornbury to the Funeral of a worthy Eider, Thomas AUy^ he was much refped^ed, which his Neighbours mani- feded by giving their Attendance at the Meeting, v/hich made it very l^rge ; and many divine Truths were opened, which appeared to Satisfaction, there being Teachers of fundry Profefiions, who were ve- ry attentive : Thence to Frenchay^ a fmall Meeting, and fo to Briftol\ I was at the Sixth-day Meeting, and at a Funeral in Temple-^lireety where many of the People called Methodifls came y I f aid over Fir{l-day^ and had two Meetings, being edified in both, but the Iftft in Temple-^ fir eet rather exceeded : From thence I came to DaJjilx\^2iX ShiptGn-Mallet ^ and had a very fatisfadlory Meeting at Rofcombe, about a Mile oft Da/Jil, where fundry Baptijis, Methodijis, and other Diffenters came, being all very fober and attentive ; and indeed what much contributed to enlarge the Number was, that the Baptifi Teacher gave Notice both to his own People and the Inhabitants of the. Place, and gave his Attendance himfelf 3 and aiter Meeting he came to the Friend's Houfe where we dined, and defired a little Converfation, which was readily complied with ; this gave fome reafon to think he intended to objeB, but it proved to the contrary, for he was rather too much abounding in his Praife, commending oj SAMUEL BOWNAS. 233 pommending whar he had heard more than I approv- ed of, wanting to know, whether I had not ftudied that Sermon (as he called it) before I came there : IVfy Anfwer to it was, I knew not when I camethere^ whether I Pjould have any thing to fay ornot, fo Jar I was from having any Thing provided beforehand : He faid it was a very good Sermon, and very luitable for them who heard it. He was very loving, and fo wc parted. From Rofcombe I came to Long-Sutton, and had a fmall Meeting; thence to Sherborne Meeting, the fmalleft I ever was at, or had in that Place, and to but little Satisfadtion ; the Smallnefs of the Number was much owing to the want of Notice to the Town's People ; from thence to a Funeral at Teovilly of an antient Woman of ninety-five and upwards ; a large Company of Neighbours attended the Corps, and we had a good Time, the People being very ferious, and leerned edified with what was fpoken ; frorr^ thence I came Home, it being the i6th oi ihoTwelfth-- Month 1747. I ftaid atHorae,andvifited the neighbouring Meet- ings until the 2d of the Third-Month 1748, and theri went towards Briflol Yearly-meeting, but had no Meeting till I came there, except the Monthlv-meet- ing for the North Divifion of the County of Somerfety and though it was very fmall, the Affairs thereof were conduced with Prudence and Judgment 5 thence to Briflol Yearly-meeting, which was to ge- neral Satisfaction. From Briflol I went to Bath^ and had a fmall Meeting, and {p to Pickwick ; I had a fmall Meet- ing 234 7^^^ LIFE ami TRAVELS i )g at Corlham, and then went to Bradford on Firjl-^ day 'y the Morning-meeting was Imall, but pretty open, that in the Atternoon was very large, and I was concerned to diftinguifh between the theory and tlie praSlical Part of true ReHgion, and many of the People called Methodi/h being there, were very at- tentive ', all was quiet, and ended well ; thence I ivent back to Pickwick to the Mens Monthly-meet- ing, and the adjourned Quarterly-meeting for the C unty, it was very fmail, which manifefted too much Negledt amongfl the Elders of the Society there for the Service of thcfe Meetings. From thence I came to the Devizes^ MelkfJ^arti^ and Market-La-- vingtoft^ and had a Meeting at each Place, which were pretty comfortable ; fo to Salijbury on Firft-day^ and had two large Meenngs there : A great many Methodifts came to both Meetings, aftid w and had one Meeting at Crofcoume, or Cofcoome^ near Shipton- Mallet ^ to good Satisfadtion ; thence to Brijloh and ftaid the Yearly-meeting, where I had iome very agreeable Opportunities, both in the feled: and public Meetings. Being clear of that Place, I proceeded by Chippenham^ Caln^ and Marlborough y and had a Meeting in each Place ; thence to Ne^mbiiryy being Firfl-day^ and had two Meetings, the laft pret- ty large and agreeable > thence to Reading, Henley^ Wickham. of SAMUEL BOWNAS. 237 tVtckham, and Uxbridge, had but fmali Meetings^ tho' fatisfadlory Opportunities at each Place : From XJxbridge T went to London^ and had fundry very ac- ceptable Times in the felcd: Meetings of Minifters^ and was largely opened in the public Meetings, and *I found my Concern to grow upon me ; but when I was clear I left JLondon^ in Company with "^ohn Wiijon of Kendal^ who went to vifit his Wife, who had received iome Hurt by a Fall from her Horfe near BtUerica \ (he lodged at a Friend's Houfe in a Parifli called Stocky and I lodged at my Friend Sa^ mnel Arnold'^ Country-houfe. We found yohns Wife finely recovered, and we rode together next Day to Colchejler, being the 27th ot the Third-Month^ the Yearly-meeting beginning next Day, and the Qiiarterly-meeting for the County the Day following^ and the feled Meeting of Minifters on the Morning of the third Day of the Week, which appeared to me but of little Advantage ; but the public Meetings were both very large and edifving, and ended well, and to good Satisfaction. Thence to Maningtree^ and had a fmall Meeting, and fo to Ipfwich^ and was at their Weekly-meeting in Company with '^ane Hojkins (forrherlyF^;^;?^ 'dc^di Elizabeth Hud fon^ both from Pennfyhania^ who had agreeable Service a- tnongft Friends : I ftaid in Ipfwich over the Firji-day^ imd the laft Meeting was very large, being appoint- ed about the fourth Hour in the Afternoon, and ma- ny of fundry Profeflions were there, and were very attentive and fobcr ; and foitie very much affedted and broken into Tears, lo that I hope that Meeting. '^as of Service to many : I was largely opened on ^ the t^S f/je L IJ^ E and r R AV U L ^ the Subjecfl o^ working out our own Salvation^ and \\t . Means whereby it is attainable. f>om Ipjwicb I went to Woodbridge^ it being the Qu^arterly-meeting for the County of Suffolk^ and there being fonie Uneafinefs amongft them, Friends wer^ concerned to advKe them to a ReconciUation, left by continuing in their Uneafinefs, they Ihould be wounded by a Breach of Union and Aficdlion, The Meeting, by Adjournment, held all Day, and Friends leemed in a tolerable Sweetnefs and Condefcention one to another^ though a party contentious Spirit had too much got in among them. Next Morning was a Meedng of Minifters, to good Satisfadtion ; and then the Yearly^meetings of Worfhip followed, which were exceeding large, and ihe Parting-meet- ing the Day fol owing ; they Vvcre all very much to Satisfadion : In the Parting-meeting I was much enlarged on the progrejjive Advancement in a living and' laving Faith, which is the very Life of true Re-^ ligion ; and we had a Imall Meeting the Day fol- lowing, being their Weekly-meeting. Then I went to Brandon^ Edmund Pecko'ver being witli me, and he had very good Service, and the Meeting ended well ; then 1 went back to Woodbrid_ge^ and ftaid o- ytvFirJi'day^ but there were very few befides Friends, though it was expected the laft Meeting would have been large, but for want of Notice it was not. Thence to Lay/fon and Peafon-hall^ and BeckleSy and had a fmall Meeting at each Place, but to tolerable Satisfadion ; thence to Mutjord zndi Paikfieldy and had as large Meetings as the Accommodation would permit 5 what was chiefly wanting, was Room for the of SAMUEL BOJVNA S. 239 the People in both Places; th^Dc^ tr^ Tarmcufh, and had a pretty large Meeting to Edification s thence to North-lValJham, and had a Imaii Meeting to httle i'urp;)ie; thence to A>Wc/6 Yeirly-meeting, which was very Urge : I was enlarged on the ^lalijications of true Minilters, fliewing, that without the divine Aid of the Spirit of Truth, that Work could not be rightly performed to the Edification of the Hearers, From Norwich I v/cnt to Lamas General-meeting, which was very large, too much for the Houle to contain, but the People were very quiet ; thence back to Norwich^ (laid there the Week-day and Fir/i^ day Meetings following, whefe I had ten Meetings, though in two of them I had Nothing to fay, and the Meetings were moilly very large and to good Purpole, being full enough for my natural Strength to go thro' with ; but thankful and glad I was, find- ing inward Strength andAfliftance every Day to help rhe through fo well, to my own Comfort and his Praife, who is God blelfed for ever ; and he has gi- ven me Faith to believe, that lo long as he engages my Mind imthe Work of the Mmiftry, he will j.'ivc a freih Supp!yof Strength, both inward and outward. Adequate to his Requirings. From Norwich I cime to MuttifJjaly JVinahamy and Tea/borough^ and had a Meeting at each Place, the laft was enlarged confi- derab'y with Friends from Norwich ; Things were riiiddling, no Caufe of Complaint ; but I was under j>reat Poverty of Spirit in thefe fmall Meetings: Thence to Difs to a general Meeting ; Friends from Norwich and other diflant Places came in and atend- cd U.S, that it laid me very low indeed ; but I ^faw ia 240 The LIFE and T R_A V E L ^ in the Opening of divine Virtue, that as the Elefling of Chrift my Mailer, upon a fmall Qoantity of but plain and low Food, gave Satisfacftion toa Multitudej more than we were like to be, fo I found it beft to retire to my Gift, and be ftill : The Meeting was very large, quiet, and well, and I was concerned to fet forth the Foliy and Emptinels of all Forms of Reli- gion, without the Virtue and Power of the Spirit of Chrift, and was opened on this Subjc6t very largely, much to myown Satisfaction, all being quiet and well. Thence to Bardwell^ and had a Imali Meetings which was pretty well ; thence to Bu?y^ and fo to Ratlefdon ; I had three Meetings at Bury, and one at the other Place, all to pretty good Satistadion. From Ratlefdon I went to PValden^ Roy/ion^ and Baldock^ and fo to Hitching^ but had but low Times in all thefe laft Meetings ; thence \ci Hartford 2ivA Ware^ and had tolerable good Satisfaction in both Places \ thence to Bifhop-Stortford^ and Dimmow^ and had a fmall Meeting at each Place ; and fo to Chelmsford on Fir f -day ; Things were well and com- fortable : Thence ioBillerica^ and had a fmall Meet- ing, and then went with mjFrwnd Samuel j^rnold to his Houfe, in a Parifh called Stocky and ftaid fome Days, and then canie with him to London^ being the 20th of the Sixth' Month 1749. I ftaid in Town feveral Weeks, and my Concern grew upon me, and being filled with Gofpel Virtue,, I had feme very agreeable Service, vifiting all the Meetings in the Gity^- fome three or four Times over,- and the Fir/l-day Meetings were very full^ but W eek- day Meetings were foialh Finding bj SAMUEL BOWNAS. 241 Finding myfelf eafy and clear of the Town, I left it in great Peace on the 3d of the Eighth- Alonth 1749, and came to Ef/:)er to a Imall Meeting, fo to Guild- ford, Godalmin, and Alton^ Bafmgfloke^ Baghurft^. and Andover, and had fome very agreeable Times^ and in the main was pretty well fatisfied. Thence to Salijbury, and had a very full Meeting, fundry Methodi/is being there j fo to Fording-bridge^ and was at a Funeral, where many People attended ; I had good Satisfadion in being there, and left the Place in much Comfort and inward Peacfe ; thence to Ri?7gwoody and had a pretty large Evening- meeting to good Satisfadion, thence to Pool^ and fo to Wey-- mouth, and had Opportunities in both Places ; and Irom thence I came Homc^ being the 2d of the Ninth'Month 1749.———. From this Time it docs not appear that our dear Friend kept any Account of the Meetings he attend- ed, but upon Application to his Monthly-meecing, they fent us the following brief Teilimbny of his Service, from the Time he iinifhed his Journal hisDeceafe, viz. From our Monthly- meeting held at Bridport, the of the Ninth-Month 1755, to Friends at t Second-day's Morning-meeting in London. Tiear Friends and Brethr^'^i THE Journal of our dear and worthy Friend Samuel BownaSy feem^ to break off fome what abruptly, ending the 2d of the Ninths Month 1749, '^ •• •'T 242 ^A TESTIMONY, ^c. and wc cannot find that he kept any Account of hisi Travels, Labours and-Services in th:e Miniftry, from that Time to the Time of his Deceafe, which was on the fecond Day of the Fourth- Mojith 1753, during which Time he took no long Journeys, for being advanced in Years, his Hands fhook and Eye-fight failed him much, but he was very diligent in attend- ing Meetings both at Home and in the Neighbour- hood, for twenty or thirty Miles round, as long as his Health and Strength continued ; and his Miniftry was lively and powerful to the laft, to the Edification and Comfort of thofe that were fav®ured with it, and his Removal was a great Lofs to Friends in thefe Parts, but we have Reafon to believe it was his great Gain, for in his laft Illnefs, which was very fhort, he feemed quite fennble of his approaching Change, faying, that he could not ftay long with us, and hop- ed that kind Providence would be pleafed to take him to himfcl£ Signed in and on Behalf of the faid Meetings by h Joseph Curtis, i) Robert Curtis, 2 Thomas Westcomb:5> William Kenway, Joseph Hutchins, FINIS. A N A C C O U N T OF T H E LIFE OF THAT Ancient Servant of JESUS CHRIST, JOHN RICHARDSON, Giving a R E L A T I O N of nisny of his Trials and Exerdja in his Youth, and his Services in the Work of the Miniftry, in England, Ireland, America, &c\ He thai heareth yoUy hearelh me : And he that de^ fpileth you^ defpifeth me : And he that dejpijith me^ dejpifeth him tbdt feni me^ Luke x. lb. LONDON Printed : fniLADELPHiA, Reprinted, and Sold hv William Dunlap, at the Newest Printing-Office, in Market-Direct J 1759. 0f m testYmony. O F Friends belonging to Gishrough Manthly-meeting, concerning our Worthy Friend John Richardson, who departed this Lif^, near . Hut ton in the Hole, the ad of the Fourth Month ^7^^, in the Eighty ieventh Year of his Age, ar,u was buried in Friends Burying Ground at Kirby-imorfide, AS many of our Elders are removed, and but few left who had perfonal Knowledge of this our Friend in his younger Years, and early Part of his Service, we cannot give fo full an Account thereof as otherwife might have been done. . Neverthei-rfs, by Accounts tranlmitted to us, we have Caqfe tp believe he was much 4evoted and f hearfully given up to walk in the Way of his Duty, and therein was of great Service to the Churches where his Lot \^as caft ^ as alfo an Inflrument in the Divinc Hand, in turning many to Righteoufnefs. As to the latter Part of his J^^fe, we have this Tcftimony to give of him, That he was a Lover of P'fcipline and good Order in the Church, diligent jn rtending Meetings for Worfhip and Truth's Ser- yi<:c, whilft of Ability ; a good Example therein, fey luting in a ftill, quiet, and unaffeded Manner in Silqncc, and when raifed up to. bear a publick Teftimonv, r iv } Tcfllmony, was comfortable and acceptable to rFiends. And when his natural' Faculties were fomewhat impair'd, and he confined at horrnc thro* old A'>e and Infirnjitiec, he appeared niorc and niore hea- venly minded, and fcem^d to grow in the Life of Religion, that we hope he is now at Reft in the Fruition of that Happinefs prepared for fuch as hold Out t© the End in vVell doinij. Signed en Behalf of the faid Meethig, held cd Caftiecon/X^^ zzdofthe Third Month, 1754^^? John Snowdon William Peirson John' Flintoft John Wilson Thomas Ward Onesiphorus Hoopirs Isaac Stockton John Baxer Thomas Wood Jv^HN Stephenson Isaac Taylor Thomas Ellerbt Caleb Fletcher John Mi^RTiN George Coats George Mason Joseph Flintoft Richard Wilson William Hartas Jl^SEPH Heslsto^^o TESTlMONT AN A C C O U N T O F T H £ LIFE OF JOHN RICH ^.RT> SORy Introduced fVith a bfief Relation CG77cermng his Father William RiChardscn. ^'^)^^ T has beea repeated iy revived in my M*^ ■ ^ Q [ Q to leave the following Account concerL Sm)^M "^y d^^^ P^*^^^^ William RichardsoV having alfo feen iomething of hi> owmi in Manufcript, concerning his Coiiv' ncement y with Remarks onfome other Things ] but I being young when He died, did not then niuch heed it, and when I would gladly have, {t^w it ior my own Satisfaction, I couic^i '^^^y rjQT as* yet ca;n meet with it ; therefore, Inaffh'uch as my Father \vas early convinced off\ie Truth, a Sufferer forjt, and bore a public Teftimony to it, I found it rriy Duty, as near;as I coutd remem- ber the Contents thereof^ to leave this fflort Accotme ^Joneerning him, 'wiz. B He [ 2 ] He ^ Was' born at Norih-€a've, in the Eart Pai t oi YorkftAre^ in the Year 1624, of honeft Parents, and of good Repute, and was educated in the Epijcopat Wrv b.eingfoberiy inclined from his Cbi*dh(od and upwai.rd, aLcVerarid Seeker after Puritv and Virtue : And^f have heard him fay, gave his Mind much to Retirement, reading the holy Scriptures, breathing and feeking after.the Lardy efpccially in the Fie'dsv being by Calling a Shepherd -^ and it pleafed the Lord to open hisUnderftandmg fo clearly, that he faw and fonged for a more excelfent Dilpenfation to come j r:nci.'alfe>fav^fhat the Prfefts Were wrong, and gen'e- rafiy^proud and covetous, fo that h^ vvas weary wi'rh following them^ and much wt:aned from ihem and a;l Company, except two or three Men whodid meet w'itli himy and fppke x^he- Or)td ara lief cenceVning their inward Condition^, .and what they had experi- enced of the Lord's Dealings with thcnl. This was- J^^^le^they had heard of the Name ^/^/^/:r, osij was. ^^^^^AortiTime after given to fhd People which the ^-^^^d raifed up to^give Teftirnony of the notable and -f^ftYettt, yet nevviy revived and bicfied D'fpenfation of Cbrifl's Coming, and Manifefta-tiorr by tbe holy 'Spirit, rnwardly in the Hearts and Minds' of the .Children of xMen,- in order eo enlighten, -q'lreken, (j^nftify, and five them from Darknels, Death, Ig-^ 7^ ice and Sin, that they m'ght be made capable liirobeying, v/orfhiping andgiorifying th^ great G^:^- ahc|\San(3:ifier of them; '- :: : ^ And as my Father was th-us vt^aiting and looking for a more gencrarbreaking foath of this glorious, powerful and Gofpel-day, whicfe fejd in a good de- gree? [ 3 ] grep Tprung up in his He^rt, he had not, as yet, fcen thcit worthy and g 'od Man GecRGe Fo:?f, although he paff d thioagli thofe Parts about that Time ; but loon alter came William Dews^erry, and at th^ Sound of his Voice, I have heard my Father lay, he was exc^^eding g'ad, in hearing him declare the Way to find the loft Piece of Silver, the Pearl of great Price within^ a Saviour 7iear, th^:had been held forth by Men to he at a diftance. Bat hayin;^ left th« darll: Watchmen, of whom they ufcd to eaq[uire, they now met with their Beloved at home, in their o vn Bofoms \ renowned be the great Nan>Q of thQ Lord, now and tor ever, • Thus the hearing and lejeiving th^ ever bleffeci Tru h, was as the Seed, or Word of the Kingdom^,' fown in the good Ground^ or hofioft H^arts^ of Men, which took Root downward and fprang upveard^ and brought forth Fruit in fome thirty^ in fomey/x/yv and in oiha s an hundred Fold y to |he Piafe of thQ great and good Ilulb-andman. My faid Father was early r^Ted up to bear a pub<^ lie Teftimony, which was living and acceptable ta Friends, biit was {o nauch attended with Weaknefs of Body for many Years, that he went little abroad in the Work, of the Mi,ni(lry. He iulTered patiently the Spoiling of his Goods, and ImDrifonment of hia weakly Bpdy, in the great and more general Impri-^ fbnment; he nc.t only believed in Jelus Chrifl, but Ibffered for him ; he was a gooJ Neighbour, a lov-- ing Hufband, and a tender Father cvjr all that was good, but fe\o-e to all that which v:z% wrong, and w^s forJud|ii;ent3 vi^ithoatRefpcc?;. of Perfon^, and fpared ■4 [ 4 ] fparcd It not eyen to his ovyn Children ; and efpccij ally he was much concerned tor me, for^ as he faid, I turns the wildeft of tipem y and as he lived well, an^ believed in Jefus Chrift, I doubt not but he has fi- nifhed his Courfe in the Love and Favour of God, is entered into Manfion of Qiory, and is at Reft with all the Faithful who Iqved not tbfir Lives unto Deaths but racher hated them in Comparifon of that endeared and unfeigned Love the bore to God the Father, and to Jcfus Chrift his dear and well-beloved Son, who died tor them, and alfo for the whole World. He departed this Lite in 1679, aged about ^My^ five Years, and was decently bi a ed in Friends bp^ rying Place in Hatham^ near Cave^ whpre he wa| born. ^T O W having gi^ven this fhort Account concernr ^ ing rny Fathej*, it remains v/ith me to leave to Pofterity tome I^einarks on my CmjvinQement, wtth an Account of iundry Tran'ailions, Travels, Heal- ings, and Dciiveran^ies I met with, in and'from my Youth to this D;^y, with feme Advice and openings in the Spirit pf Truth. I was yoting when my Father died, not above,, thirteen Years of Age, yet the Lord was at woilc by his Light, Grace ancj holy Spirit in my Heart, but I knew not then y/hat it was ^yhich iriWardly dif- quieted my Mind, when any Thjng which was evil did prevail over the Good in me, which it oftentimes d d, for war.t of taking heed % that of God in m.y Heart ; [ 5 .1 H<^art , I dcfired Eafe ^nd feace lomc other Way;, without taking up the Crofs of Chrift torny own corrupt Will, and ilroye for lomc Time (as nodouht many do) to raake merry over the juft Witnefs un?- tii for a Scafon the converting and true Witnefs of pod fecmed to be ilain, or d'^fappeared, and then I lQ.>k Liberty, bbt not hi groofs Evils yvhich many raa jntOj bping preferyod religipuily indined, leeking after PrpfelTors, and enquiring of them, for my Jnr formation and Satisfadllbn, to find (if J could.) any Thing that was fafj to reft in, or any true and folid pon:|tort to my poor dilconfolate and bewildered Soul, |)ut 1 was afraid I ihould be deceived, or take up a failc Reft in any Thing that was wrong or unfafe j Vvhich was the great Love and Mercy of Gpd to me^ But after pnany Searchings and Enqulrings among thole vvho were but in the Letter withoqt, and in the outward Court, wheae the Veil is over the Under- flanding, and the Eye cf the Mind is not truly open- ed to fee into Things that are invifible, and hid from' al! carnal-rninded Men ; even fo was my State and Afiiivftions hid from them, and all the deceitful Workings of Satan, and the fhong Temptations which I met with, fthefe bjind Guides could not fee, nor their veiled tlnderftandings know how to dired: me to the ti qe Shepnerd of Jfracl, the Law-giver coming put of is not thtjlayijig of the outward Man, hut % putting, cffli ov Jlaying the Body of the Sins of the Flejh, cruci- fying, or putting off the old Man with his Deeds ; and- as to the BeaJ}^ all Cruelty, Lufl, Piifhing, l^earing, t)evoi>ring, and Savagenefs, is to be flainorput away; and the corrupt or ftrong Will of Man, as well as, what, is beaftial, muft be flain before Man can comej from. under the Power of him wlir) is called the; Frince of the Power of the ylir, wlio rules in the Hearts •- cf the Children of Difobedience. Thefe Tlii.tigs.muft. be experienced, before the Children of Men can go forth rightly qualified to glorify God, and foUov^ ms dear Son, whoxii he hath appointed to hz a Leader^ arhd a. Commander of his People : This is he, as Mcfes declares, who is to be heard in all Thinge^ under the Penult V of being cut^offfrcm the People 5 or of having their Nxirnes blotted out of the Book of Life ; or being . deprived of the .Comforts af the Lord's holy. Prefence4 h ead this, you who have heard and underftood what.. th,&prit- faith unto ihc Ckurchcs.---^ThQk Thxg^t: ' faWa fkWj after thfe iviic Wrtnefs arofc 6r revived, arid {h^ Eiglit did ihine which had dilappeared, or had Beent clouded. I hgvc been led tnto thefe Openings, vvhicH' have eaufcd a little Digreflioa from my Wildernefs State! mentioned before, xvhich I now return to. "^ After miich Searching withouty amongft thorer who proved to tiie P'by/ida77S of no Value ^ and tnifera^ . Ble Comforter Si I betook myfelf to a lonefcrme and re- tired Lift, breathing; after, and feekirig the Lord inr' the Fields, and private Places, befeeching him, that* He would bring me to the Jiving Kncwledg^of hit 7ruth i ind biefTed be the Name of the Lord now'. ind: for ever, I had not fought hini long with ail my Mcart^ before I met with his inward Appearance td mc, in and by hrs h"o!y Spirit, Light and Grace • but whctl the true Ligkt did begin iofhint more cle^fly^^^^ ahd the li\^i[ng Witnefi did arift in' my inward Man/ Oh then my uhdcne, bewildered and miferabie Gorif- dition began to appear, and then great ^ndtrnuttera- bte were my Gohflids, and the Dftrefs I v^as Irf f I; thought no Man's Gojidition upon the Face 6 f the? whole Earth tva's like mine ; I thoitght I wats not 66 td die; neither did I know how to live ; I thougH jif' the Evening, Oh ! that it was Mcrning ; and in the' Morning, that it was E^cening. I hi:d m^any foritary- Walks in the Fields, and other Places sn which f many Ifimos poured out my Gcmplaint^ and Gries before the Lord:, with fervent SuroliGations to him, ^ that he v^'ould look irpOn my A ffiidrons, arid the;' ftrong Temptations 1 was then tinder, and that he Would rebuke the Adverfary of my Soul, arid deliver it, for I even thought it was as in the Jaws of a de- VQiwiag [ 9 ] Vourlng tion, and amongft the fiery Spirits, and, ai it were,, under the Weight of the Mountains. _ Read and underftand the Afflidions of thy^ ge^^r, thou that haft come through great Tribulations, and haft wafhcd and itiade thy Garments White in the Blood of the Lamb ; this is the Beginning* of that Baptifm which dotbfave.zndL of that Wafliing of Re-gencra- iioti. and renewing of the holy Ghoft, which thd IjOmJheds upon the Believers in abundance ; this is the B\oodL\^\{\ch fprinkleth the Heart fro^ an evilConfci^ ence^ that the Children of Men, thus changed, may fe/ve'ihe living and true Gcd ; this is the Life which converts the Worldy even as many tis are converted ;• this is the Virtue, Life and Blood, which maketh clean the Saints Ga^fnenlSy and inwardly wajheth theirt from' all Filthinefs, both of Flejh and Spirit. I found this was and is he'of Vv^hom it is faid, by him ivcre all Jhihgs made^ and he is Lord of all ; a Man ought to befilbfcrvi^ntto him, and all Things in Man fubfervi-^ .ent to'him, who commands and comprehends all Things, in whom all the Tj^pes and Shadows alfo do end,' dr arc fulfilled. Read this thou Virgirt JDaiighter, or fclean Church of Chrift, the Rock of thy Stre?2gthy whofc Name to thee is as precious Ointment poured forth ^ and becauje of the Savour thereof^ the Virgins kve him, and are under great Obligations to obey and follow him the Lamb of God^ wherefoever heleadeth. ?^; Although I had ktn many Things, and had di- -vers Openi rigs, yet great were ray Trials, and many tvferc the Temptations! met with in thofe Days, for 1 lived at a Djftancc from Friends, and Meetings B 2 which [ lO ] which made my Exercife the harder, as will more fully hereafter appear, in theCourfe of my Travels and Pilgrimage in this Vale of Tears and Troubles, and feme of them not very common ; but the Lord helped me through them all, blelTed be his Name for ever. I now^ came to witnefs that Scripture to be fulfill* ed, w^hich faith, that when the Lord's Judgments art in the Earthy or earthly Hearts of Men, the Inhabit tants learn Righteoufnefs : And notwithftanding there was an Averfion in my wild Nature to the People in fcorn called ^akerSy as alfo to the Name itfclf, yet whsn the afflidling Hand of the Lord was upon me for my Difobedicnce, and when, like Ephraim and Judah^ I faw in the Light my Hurt and my Woundy 1 bemoaned myfcif, and mourned over that juft Prin- ciple of Light and Grace in me, which I had pierced with my Sins and Difohedience ; and although that Miniftration of Condemnation was glorious in iti Time, yet great were my Troubles, which humbled my Mind, and made me willing lo deny myfelf of every Thing which the Light made known in me to be evil, I being in great Diftrefs, and wanting PcaiCe and Affurance of the Love of God to my Soul ; the Weight of which fo humbled my Mind, that I kne\y not of any Calling, People, Pracftice, or Principle^ thit was lawful and right, which I could not em- brace, or fall in with. This was furely like the Day oijacob\ Troubles, and David\ Fears ; I faw that the Fiith of Sion was to be purged away by the Spirit of Judgment and of Burning ; this is the Way of the Deliverance and Recovery of poor Men out of the [ II ] the Fall, and the Time of the Reftoration of the Kingdom to God's true Tfrael Read ye that can, and undcrftand. This was the Day of my Baptifm into the Love of God, and true Faith in his beloved Son, as alfo into a Feeling of, or Sympathy with him in his Sufferings, which were unutterable, and I found that Miniftration changed ; that which had been unto Deaths was now unto Life ; and the Mini-r ftration which v^2l% of Condemnation unto the firft Birth, when that was fl-ain, and in a good degree nailed or faftned to the Crofs of Chrift the Power of God, then the Good prevailed over the Evil, and working out the Evil in the Mind, and alfo in the Members, made all good or holy. The Lord's living Power, and confuming burning Word, when it works andf prevails, it brings into Subjedion, and maketh the very Heart or Ground holy in Men. Whereas there had been an Averfion in me to the People calk^l in fcorn fakers ^ and alfo to their flricft living, and Demeanour, Plainnefs of Habit, and Language, none of which I learned from them ; for when the Lord changed my Heart, he alfo changed my Thoughts, Words and Ways, and there became an Averfion in me to Vice, Sin and Vanity, as there had been to the Ways of Virtue ; but having taftcd of the Terrors and Judgments of God becaufe of Sin, I was warned to flee from fuch Things as occafioned Chrift's Coming, not to bring Peace upon the Earthy but a Sword *j a Sword indeed, yea, his Heart pene- trating, fearching Word, which is JJjarper than any two-edged Sword thzt pierceth to the cutting, or ^/z- viding afunder between Fkjh and Spirit y Joints and Marrow^ 1 ^^ 1 Marrow, iVrid as thus I came toffee and abhornh^ Evil in myfelf, when fuch who had been my Coot- panions in Vanity reviled mq^ or came in my Way, I >vaa often moved to w^rn and reprove therpj having, as before hinted, tafted of the Termors p^ the Lord for Sin, I could npt w^ll forbear to warn others- to flee fuch Things as I had been judged for. Now I came clearly to be convinced abyut the i?j/->6^OT^^^ ike KitcCj the corrupt Langtiage^^^^ w^ll as^^?2ery jij Habit 'y all v/hich for Confcienccrfake,; and the Peace thereof, I came to deny, and t^ike.up the Crofs tOj and had great Peace in fo doing. Although the bleffed Truth, thus :prevailedi|i^ me^ yet notwithftanding, | waslcigt without great Con- . flifis of Spirit, Tc^iptations and Trials of divers kinds \ peverthelefs, my Mind' vvas r!sfigne4 to^thet Lord, and my fervent prayers were to hihi,. and he Ijept; pie, and opened my Underftanding, for I was afraid of being miflcd in any^ Thing, efpecially rel§tijrig ^^q rny Salvation : I came to be \veaned : from all m^y; Companions and Lovers wfnichJ h?id t^ken Delight and Pleafure in, and all Tjiings in this World were,, little to me^ my Mind beip^g much redeemed ojntpf the World, and" ^ot only the corrupt ^nd evil Part thcrcofj but even from the lav/ful Part ; fo that, my Heart and Mind bpcame much inclined and given lip to feek the Lord; .waiting ypon him to feel his Prefence, and Peace, and to knp.w his ,Will,^^9nd receive Power to do the fame. ^^ - . . A:s thus my Mind came to be brought in^o^a. de- pending and vi'^aiting. Frame upon the Lord, anfl to . be ftajcd in the Light, and experimentally and feel- ^^ "' ■ irigly ingly to partake of his Love and Grafce, whlch.hdp- cd m^ jagainf^ my Infiripities, (bleiTed be his Name) I found itfufRcient for me, as I kept to it^ in .all TriaU an4 Temptations : Then I cai^e tp. fe©,/ihal: fill the outward Performances irtrM^tters of ReHgionr did r^ot avail nor ^f^n^er Man aecerpt^ihle to Gpd^/but: as the Heart pame to be truly given up t(l) hiiivthat he ^iiight not only; purge it lfon?i\ D^filejiient^- but keep.i|cjean through ^he IndwelUngof his holy Spi- rit : . And, a? near as I remember, I faw clearly throjjgh thefe Things before t^e fi^t^enth Year^ of my Age 3 although, between the Qeath of my' F^then and V this Tipie, I took Liljcrty .to. go. amp.ng\khat! People I would, n^y, Mother giv]ng\US.gr^^VLibfej^^^^ although (he was a Woman wel) ^e^punted of ^moi^gv Jiill People who , l^new. her, arj^.jppt undeferV6dly,\ for liQr ^ Induftry and .lair ^eajljng 'Cpneernjpg.'the Things of this Wo^^ ^^ ■\u\k'\. . -v^iV -.:). . After this Tip^? I/>^t^pdqd tfc.^i J^eetings ,Qf: the- Lord's People callod ^akens^ ^ .2^^ idiligentlyas ' my.- Cir<:umftances would well adrnitv'rJVdy Mother be-« ing left with iive Children,* I had onlyone Siftqr whoc was elder th^nm^yf^^f^rand three; ;]^pther5 ypuager,) tjie youngeft ^bout, thi:ee Years pM, when my Hatheiri diedi he leaving )but; little of this World to briiag^jos^ up wit,h fv yet my Parents always had as mu^h-'as . kept; them above ^Contempt, and no Body Ipf]: by . thcn^.^ but I found piyfelf under a Neccffity to work . hard for my own Support, the Help of my Mother, apd Education of my Brothers, more pfpecially as n}y Sifter died foon after. ■lii c .V/ Wc [ H 3 We belflg left in a Fairm of Grazing, Sahdpart Hufbandry or Tillage, did w^U as to the Things of this World, yet 1 cannot well omit mentioning one Thing whichgbecame a great Exercife to me, which^ was thus ; my Mother miarried one that was z<:falous for the Pre/bytery^ ^nd I being much againft it- fhew- ed myDiilike to the Marriage, ahd told my Mother, J ^as afraid that Jhe had too mucbMn Eye to what he kady for he was coanted rich as to this World ; but if jhe thought to augment our Porthfis in fo marrying^ ^ibe Hand of the Lord would be againj} her ^ and aBlaJi-^ ing or -MtUew would come upon e^en that whicJi we had got through Indujlry and hard Labour^ and what the J^ord had intendedip havf ble£ed to U5\ if -we kept faiths ful to the ^ruthy and content ed ourjelves with our pre^ fent Condition, Then my Mother confeft, that at to the /worldly Enjoyments ^ it had not been better with her than now. I muft write with great Caution ; fhe was my Mother, and a tender^Molher over me, and was loth to offend me, and had promifed, as far as (he well durft, not to marry with anyone with whom I was not fatisiied* But as to their Proceedure in Courtfliip, and Marriage, from this Time I wasin- tirely ignotfent, until it was accomplifhed. But when my poor Mother was married, her Cry was, My Son^ how Jhall I ever be able to look hi m in the Face any more^ it will be fuch a Trouble to him ; he that hath not at any Time difobliged me^ but if I bid him go ^ he ran ; end if I bid him do any Things he did it with all his J^ighty or. to that Effed, as fcveral told me who heard her. But fhe being married, what we had was mixed with my Father-in-Law's Goods, and / my [ •» ] i my Mother died fitft, and our Father married again, made his Will j^ and dying, left me Five Shillings for all my Part, which waii, of Right to delcend from my own Parents upon ;me; I gave his Executors a Receipt in full, and th ere was an End of all, except fome fmall Matter given to my youngeft Brother, for the reft of my Brothers and Sifters were dead. As near as I remember, this Marriage was in the eighteenth Year of my Age, fo that what I forefaw about i\it Blafl and Mildew^ came to pafs. Now to return to my further Account concerning the Troubles and, Trials , that attended me in the Time while I was in my Father-in Xaw and Mother's Houfe, after Marriage ; we, and wha;t we had, be- ing removed to his Houfe, except Part of the Stock which was left in the ground. Now I forefaw that I was like to come to a great Trial, and I was brought very low, what with the Trouble about the Marriage, and the Exerciic of my Mind concerning my owa Condition, having had many great Cpflflid;s of Spirit, io that I was almoft in Defpair, had not the Lord, in whom I believed, rifeniti his Power, and rebuk- ed the Adverfary of my Soul, I had been overthrown^ and fwallowed up in the Floods of the Temptalionsr that were caft out of the Mouth of the red fiery- like Dragon after me, in this the Day of my great and ftrong Trouble and Travail ; but the G od of Love and Pity faw me, and helped me in my Diftrefs, and in a Day and Time acceptable ; bie that heard poor IJJomael when he cried from unde?r the Shrub, and fent or gave Relief to him and his Mother, who with him was gone from Abrahams Houfe, faw me: ia I i6 j in this great Straight. Alfo, when I canie to mf Father's Houfe, he being a Man much given to Fa- mily^ Duties, of faying Grace, &c. before and aftet^ Meat, none of which I could comply with, except I felt evidently the^ Spirit of Truth to attend therein j gnd open' the Heart and Mouth, into fuch Duties. The firft Day I cariie to the Houft, being called to the Table with all or moft of oiir Family, I thought, Isit.ncw €b}neto thii f Iniufl etthfr Mfpleafe 'myheuven^ Iyer earthly Father^: But oh 1 the Awfulnefs^ or deep Exercife- which was upoj^'fny Spirit, and ftrbtig Cries that afcehded'unto;the Lord for my Help a:nd Prelei-vatidft that 1 rftight not offend him. MyTa- ther-in-Law fat with his Hat partly on, and partly off with his Eyts fixed oil me, as likewife mine werb on him in much Fear 5 fo we continued as long or longer than he ufed to bei in faying Grace, 'as they call it, but faid Nothing that we heard ; fo at length he put on his Hat again; to the Wonder of the Fa- mily : Neither did he thertV dr ever after^ afk me why I did iiot put^ off my Hat • neither did he per- form that Ceremony all the Time I flayed with hini, which was above one Year: Thus the Lord helped me, tenowned be his great Name nbw and forever. My. Father might fcem for Age, Spitit ahd UAder- ftanding, to have been much more than a Mdtchfor me a poor Shrub,- but the Lord (who caiifed the Pillar of the Cloud to be bright and give Light to Ifraely and brought -Dafknefs upon the Egyptians j arid fought againff^' them, and for 7/r^^/) I believe touched and fmoCe^my poor Father, that he could not rife up againft that Power the Lord helped me withi For l^or tt wis riot mine but the Lord's doing, to him be given the Attributes of Praife, Salvation and Strength, now and for ever. I faw clearly, that there could not be any true and acceptable Worfhip performed to God, but what was in the Spirit, and in the Truth, neither could any pray aright, but as the Spirit helped them, which teacheth how to pray^ and what to pray for, and rightly prepares the Mind, and guides it in the Performance of every Service which the Lord calls for from his Children. I found my Father-in-Law was much difpleafed with my going to Meetings, yet I could not fee v^hat Way to appeafe his Difpleafure, except in being ve- ry diligent (which I was) in his BufinefS;* rather be- yond my Ability, working very hard ; it is almoft incredible what my poor little weak Body went through in thofe Days, but all would not gain his Love, for the longer I ftayed with him, the more his Love declined from me ; although I told him, be need not be uneafy about my Wages^ for I would leave that to himfdf : I could not fee v/hat he could have againft me, except my going to Meetings, however that was all he alledged. Now when his former Stratagems would not do, he offered me a Horfe to ride on, if I would go with him to his Place of Wor- ship, I met vvith many a Snib and four Countenance from him, in my return on Foot from Meetings, al- though as feafonably as iny Body was capable of per* forming; for my Father commonly fent me on the Firfi-day Mornings into the Fields a Mile or two, and as far upon a Common to look at Beafts, Horfe, and Sheep (all this on Foot) I thought with a De- G figrt t -8 ] fign to weary and make me uncapable of going ia Aleetings ; all which I bore patiently, neither, that I remember, everfaid, this is hardlJfage : after all this, to the great Grief of my poor Moth(^r, I had to go two, three, four, five, and fometimes fix Miles, to Friends Meetings. After 1 had walked fafi:, and ran fometimes with my Shoes under my Arms for want of Time, I have feen many Friends weep, and could not forbear when they faw me come into the Meet- ing very hot and in a great Sweat, they being in pai^t fenfi.ble of the hard Tafk I had to undergo. There is one Thing fomewhat remarkable, which was thus 5 one F/ry?-^-^^ Morning when I was about going to the Meeting, my Father faid, if I would 7^ide uponfiich ayouvg Mdre^ as he mentioned, I might '^^ which was one of the greatell of ten or twelve Hor- fes which he kept about four Years old, and not before rid at all : I thought his Defign was more to hinder mc of the Meeting than any Good to me, of any Expediation of getting his Mare rightly broke, but I accepted his Offer, only afking how I niiight catch her ? Having got Help to anfwer that, ihe being abroad, I put on the Bridle and niounted the topping Beail:, and upon her firft Refifl:ance, down ilie came ^ for that was my Way : And if the firft or fecond Fall did not, the third moftly cured them f ofn ftriving to throw the Rider ; I comtaonly fell upon my Feet, and endeavoured fo to free my Legs that ilic might not fall upon them, arid then fprang up on her Back while down, and made her rife i|^th me ; fo away we went, and came in due Time to the Meeting. This was partly the begmriing c^ this Way [ 19 I Way of managing Horfes by me ; To I rid to the Meetings two or three Times, and then my Father alked me, if the Mare did not carry rae foberh ? I re- pliedi /Jje did 5 then I muft have her no more, he would make her his Saddle-Mare j fo I betook myfelf to my Feet again, except fome other fuch like Turn came. The Lord's mighty Power bore me up, and he gave me as it were Hinds Feet, arid en^ibled n)C to go through thefc Exercifes, and to bear the Bur«> then in the Heat ol the Day of my Trials, inwardly and outwardly, which were many and various. Now the laft Stratagem my Father ufed to hinder my going to Meetings was thus 5 he took me in his Arms in great fhew of Kindnefs, faying, if I would be as a Son to him^ I /]pould find he would be, a Father tome^ expreflingfomething about his having no near Kindred, (and much n^ore to the fame Eftcafter I came to the Friend's Houfe in Souths Cliff] VIZ. William Mon by Name, I bound myfe!^ to" him to learn his Trade of a Weavcry^vidi afier I was [ 2() ] was bound, I found this good Man loved mc, and I loved him to the Day of his Death ; and he often faid, he was blefjed for my Sake^ and all theit apper-^ taincd unto him 5 for w^hen I w^ent to him he was very poor, but he increafed very coniidcrably after I went to live with him. I come now to the Particulars which flood in my Way of anfwering the Lord's Commands fo fully as fometimcs I fhould have done ; Firji^ a violent Hu- mour fell into one of my Legs foon after I was bound Apprentice, which I with others thought was much occafioned by hard Ufage, Heats and Colds, and many Surfeits, even from my Infancy ; which Lame- nefs held me about two Years, and I fuffered much by the faid Leg, and it much difcouraged and dif- abled me. They^r^WHinderance was, mylo%vCir^ eumjiances in the Worlds which very few knew of, becaufe the common Fame was (and not without fome Truth) That I had rich Parents. Ihaveglvea an Account already how they were circumflanced, and fo I leave them at prefent and proceed; but few knew the Straits I met withal; yet my truly religious Mafler, if he underflood any Thing was upon my Mind to go to vifit any Meeting, or Meetings, he would fay, take my Mare and go thy way^ and be not meaf)\ neither about the Mare ?2or Bujinefsy nor do not hajlen thyjelf. Thefe KindnefTes made me often thoughtful how I might return fuitable Acknow- ledgments, and be duly grateful for the fame : I was diligent in my Mafler's Bufinefs, not ferving him with Eye-fervice, but faithfully ; believing it good and acceptable in the Sight of God, and I had great I 3^ 1 . great Peace in it 3 my Mafter never found Fault with iH€ tor doing too littte, but often for doing too much^ and would fometimes fay, 1 1 kink thou wilt cleave to the Beam 5 come off. andkt us^ walk hilo th^ Fields and fee how "Things are there. Now as to the /Z?/VJHinderance, the Account of which I was not willing to have interwoven with Matters of lefs Moment, although the healing of my very fore Leg I attribute to the great and good Providence of Gody for in a {hort Time after I gave up freely and cheer- > fully to anfwer the Lord's Requirings^ the Lord healed me of myLamenefs; and when I cried unto! him, that he would alfo heal my Tongue of its Stam- mering, believing that the Lor'd wa& as able to take J away the Impediment of my Tongue, as he was to 1 flop the Violence of that Humour which had at- \ tended my Body, and had a Recourfe to my Leg^ ^ and made it fore from above the Ancle to the Knee : \ Aftd'^ notwithftanding feveral Men had given their ■ Advice, and had fhewed their Skill, it all proved' inefFeftual, until I came to believe in Jefus ChriH^ \ and to prek through all to him, and to touch the j Skirt, or loweft Appearance of his blefTed Truth j and Power, in which I found true healing Virtue to | my Soul, and alfo to my Body, and to my Tongue, even to my Admiration 5 fo that I did not only fpeak | plain m the Teftimony the Lord gave mc to bear, j but alfo fpoke plain in my common Intercourfe;; with Men. \ I was likewifein thefe Days linder the Difpenf^ ; tions of Openings and Vifions, and thought myfelf ; a^ it-were uport MotmtrPifgahi andfaw into the holy ^ :. Land;^ \ C 31 ] Land, and Into Things relating to God and his hea- venly Kingdom, and into his Work and Way of bringing Man out of the Fall and Alienation to him- fclf again, and into a heavenly State in Chrift, as Man yields true Obedience unto the Leadings and Operation of his blciTed Grace and holy Spirit in the Heart. But under fuch Diipenfations it is requilite, yea, of ab/^lute Neceffity, that Man be brought into true Self-denial, as alfo into a depending Frame of Mind, and true Refignation of Will to the Will of God, and a daily fitting as in the Dufl, as to the Motions, and the Workings of the Creature as fuch ; for all that is of Man's working, or Work does but let or hinder the fpiritual Work of God in the Heart ; and we mufi: come truly to know all fle/lily Motions, and the Workings in Man's own Will and Spirit, to be iilenced, to hear the Voice of God, which is aflillfmall Voice, and not to be heard in the Noife and Hurries of the World ; neir ther when the Mind is buiied with Things agreeablo to our own corrupt Wills and depraved Nature. But although at Times I had clear Sights intomany heavenly Things, and alfo had at times comfortable Enjoyments of the living Prelence of God, yet I wanted to be more eflabliilied in the unchangeable Truth, which I had at times fome comfortable feel- ing of; and in crying to the Lord, I found he in- clined unto me, and, as David faid, he heard my Cries y and phickt my Feet out of the Mire ajidClayy and fet them upon a Rock, that was higher than I, and fin part ejiablijhed my Goings ^ and put a new Song into my Mouthy even high Fraijes unto the Lord for all his tender [ 32 ] Under Mercies to me in thefe trying Times ; • and now - being more crucified to the World, and the Spirit of it, I witnefTed a more conftant Indwelling of the heavenly Power and living Prefence, Light and Grace, I came to be brought into Stilneis, and it became moftagreeabletomy Condition to keep much j in Silence, and wait upon the Lord for the Renew-- Kig of Strength, that thereby I might furmount all \ Temptations and Trials that might fall in my way, , or w^hich I might be tried with, which were not : a few. \ Now thefe Things, before recited, are worthy of \ Commemoration, and proved great Confirmations to i me in the Truth, in thefe Days of my Tribula- \ tions and great Trials : Read and believe thou that \ can'ft, for they are faithful and true fayings. After | the Lord had healed me, he fcnt me forth in the \ Work of the Miniflry, and the firft Journey I took \ Southward wa« into LincolnJJjire^ Nottinghawjkire^ \ and through Co'ventry, and fo to Warunck to fee William Dewjberry. One 1 hing is remarkable upon ' William's Enquiry, what Way I came ? In my Ac- i count of the particular Towns and Places I had . pafTed through, T mentioned Coventry^ which was \ the iaft and the worfl ^ for feme of the rude People \ flung Stones at me, as I was fpeaking in the Meet- '\ ing, with great Violence, fo that had the Lord fuf- ^ fered them to have hit me, they mufi: have fpoiled \ me ; but my Faith in the Lord, and the Strength ot \ the Truth, borfe up my Mind above Fear of the \ outward Man, or what wicked Men could do to me^ ; After William had heard my Account, he fixed hisl. .] Eyesil [ 33 J kyes on mc and faid, ^hou mufi go back again to Co- ventry. I appeared unwilling, for two Reafons ; Jirfl, becaufe I thought I had cleared myfell of that People. Secondly, I thought it riot fafe to run my- felf into banger of Suffering, linlefs, I was fatisfied the Lord required it of me. But William was po- (itivc, and faid I mujl go ^ for there was a Service for me to do there. Upon a deliberate Confideration of the Matter, and a feeking to the Lord to know his Will in it, I found my Way clear to go, and I had fome Service and good Satisfadrion, and left Friends nearer to one another than when I firft met with them ; . for there had Been a Mifunderftanding amongft fome Friends in that City : So I came from thence ta Tamworth, where there was a Difference, elpccially betwixt two Friends; both of them had been fuch as had made fome confiderabJe Figure a-' Aong Friends : I felt it upon me to go to the Man, to warn liirn of the Spirit of Prejudice and Envy, for if he gave Way to it, it would eat out his Love to Friends and Truth, and he would decline Meet- ings and come to nought, and turn his Back on the Truth ; w^hich came to be fulfilled, as I afterwards heard ; for he became a locfe Man, and lifted him- felf to be a Soldier. I was zealous for the Name of the Lord, and had a great Concern upon my Mind for the Promulgation of the Truth, and where I met with loofe Profeflbrs of the Truth, it was a great Exercife to me. When I returned home frpm this, and indeed jfrom all my Journeys, I took Care what! well could, fo far as my weak Body was capable, to fall into D Bulineft^ [ 34 1 Bafincf?, and not to loiter away my Time, heither- abroad nor at home. My weak Ccuftitution would not well bea^i* i\\Q .fVeavrng-tradej therefore I left it much againfl: my Will ; but J wrought upon Clock and Watch-work, and naany other Things, which ] fupplied my Necrflities, the Lord allowing me as ' much Time at home ais put me in a Condition rea- j fohabiy fit for Travel, and then I was inclined to go i to viiit Friends. Many Things I omit, becaufe I ; am not willing to fwell my Account too much. I i travelled through mofi: Parts of E^/^/^^z/rf" four Times, \ and twice through mofh Parts of PVales^ between the \ twentieth and twenty eighth Year of my Age. \ After the Lord had opened my Heart, and I cafne \ in part to underiiand the holy Scriptures, and 'to | have a Feeling of that holy Spirit in which the holy ] f^enmen wrote them, and a Sympathy with the Spi- : rits and Exercifes of the Righteous therein mc ri- j tioned, Ltook great Delight in reading them,/and ■ havmg a good Memory, could thereby the better '\ deal with Priefls and with ProfelFors. I had many \ Difputesand Reafonings with Priefts and ProfefTors, \ of feveral Denominations, both in 21?r/^Vr^ and o- ther Parts in my Travels, fo that through thefe Dif- I putes, and much Reading, my Mind was rather too ' much in the Letter^ and not altogether fo much in \ Spirit y, and in Power ^ as it fhould have been ; for I which I met with a gentle Caution from the Lord, \ Vv^hich was thus : I heard a Voice (from the Lordf ^ as plain as. if one had fpoke to my outward Ear, 7he . Fowls of the 'Air lodge in the Branches. This being ^ repeated to me, I befought the Lord to fhew me j what /I [ 35 1 v/as the Meaning of that Voic^ which I heard -, and the Lord, the might^y God, fhewed me in his con- defcending Love, jhat^the Scripures, even all of them which were written ss the holy Men were moved of the holy GhofV, Iprung irom the hvi?ig Root y yet thofe who refted o^nly in the Letter, and came not to be acquainted with, and live in3 and minifter from the faoie /?^^ *?//>//, are outward, dead, dry, ^iry and foolifli. This .gentle Check w^as of great Service to me.; noffo as to make me decHne reading the Scriptures, but" that I iTiould not have over much Dependency on them ; and to caution me againft the Negle(^ of waiting for the Help of the holy Spirit, the Root and pure Spring of the right and living Miniftry which reaches the Pleart, and carries the true Evidence with it to the Believers/ that it is of God 'y which that of th€ Letter cannot do of itfelf. I tenderly delire that all concerned in this* great Work of the Miniftry, may not be Mi- nifterso^ the Letter c/^/j', but of the Spirit alfo^ and may fpeak in the Demonftration of the Spirit and of Power. And let him that fpeaketh, fpeak as the Ora- cle of Gody and he that rainijlreth^ do it as of the Ability that God giveth. This is the laft and hfting Miniftry, which is after the Order oi Melchifedecky and not after the Order of Aaron, but in Jefus •Chrift the High-^Prieft, the one Offering, which makes perfedl for ever all who come to him through the Drawings of the Father ; he is the one Lord, and there is but one true Faith in him, and but one true ^ndfaving Baptifm into him, or into the Likencis of his Death ; fo as Chriji died for Sin, we mSy truly f 36 ] I die to Sin 5 und ^s he ipas raifedby the Glory of the \ Father y fo we may walk in Newnefs cf Lije 3 the \ ' heavenly High-Prieftj holy, hai mlels, feparate from ] Sinners 3 and fuch a High-Prieft who was .tempted, \ and knows how to fuccour«luch as are tempted ; he j is the Advocate with the Father, the Propitiatim for I the Sins of all, the true (S^/zW^ and Comforter, the** Leader of thfem into all Truth-, who obey and follow j him ; although to the World a Reprover zr\di2LjwiJt Wit?iefs 2ig2!m^ all Ungodlinefs and Unrighteoufnefs J of Men. ■ I My writing thus, from this gentle Check, con- . cerning the Fowls and the Branches^ &c. is not w^ith ; the leail IntCLtion either to leffenthe holy Scriptures, i or difcourage any from reading them 3 for I would ■ have all true Chriftians encouraged to be more con- \ yerfantin them ; yet with this Advice, kind Reader ^ \ from thy Well-wifhcr and true Friend, to breath tc^ \ and truly feck after the Lord for a Meafure of his ^ holy and bleiTed Spirit, the only Key and beft Expp- i fitor to open and truly expound them to thee, as by ^ the fame holy Spirit thy Mind and Underflanding j comes to be fitted and enlightened y apd indeed the ; whole Vefiel muft be brought into a Preparation tp ? hold the heavenly Ti cafure, and not to mix the pure | with the corrupt and impure : For without this en- lightning, preparing, opening, and fandtifyingGift ' cf God's holy Grace and Spirit, Man^ can neither •; know the heavenly Power of God, nor yet the holy \ Scriptures aright, as he ought to know them ; and \ for this Reafon it hath feemed good to God to hide \ thefe Things from the Learned, Wife and Prudent , cf [ n ] of this World, that they fliould not pry into, noi» find out the Myftcries contained therein, unlefs they are fanftified, and called of God thereto ; and asm Man knows the Things of a Man, Jave the Spirit of a Man that is in him } likewife the Things of God arc not perceivable by Man, without the Help of the holy Spirit of God in Man. Thus the Lord opened to me the true Meaning of the Parable of the Muflard-feed^ in this the Time of my Infancy as to the Miniftry, with which he fent me forth into the World, that my Faith might ftand in the Lord'alonc, the Author and Finifher, as well as Giver of the ^rue and laving Faith, even that Faith which works by Loye^ and gives ViSlory over • the Worfd ; it vvas by and through the Power, Virtue and Efficacy oif true Faith, which is the Gift ofGody that the Elders in former Ages obtained, and now do obtain a good Report ; it vvas in and through this Gift, that worthy Abel with his Offering was ac- cepted of God, although he was envied of his earth- ly and evil minded Brother Cain^ and alfo by him fiain. The ever memorable Enochs through the Vir- tue of this holy Gift, walked with God, ashimfelf gave witnefs that Enoch pleafed him ; he walked fo in Faith and Obedience even to the End, that he^ died not as Men in common do, but was tranflated' or changed in a peculiar Manner. Come, read thou that canft, and underftand tbou that art redeemed out of (and haft overcome) the Flefh, and the Pow- ers of the firft Nature, the World and the Devil, in a great meafure, for thou knoweft that it is by the Operation of this Gift that the Dead in old Adam are railed . { 38 -3 railed to a new Life, and way of living in tliQ new Man } and through this heavenly ^J^^^, that 13 Jcno wn to thefe to be a quickning Spirit, agreeable to holy Writ. Through Faith the Violence of Fire was quench'd^ the Mouths of Lions have been • ftopped, the Sword turned backward, the Armies put to flight, even fuch as were Aliens or Strangers who outwardly fought againft the Lord's People ; which fets before us, as in a Glafs, how and what wc are to overcomein this Gofpcl-day, in which we are not to iighf with Men, but with our Lufts, and overcome Sin and Satan 3 which i# as great a Vidory as he obtained that overcame the rampant Lions,"*' who ^had Dominion over the wicked, as Sin and Satan have Power and Dominion over the Wicked and Uur godly to this Day. Confidcr now in Time, thou that readeft thefe Lines, whet4ier Chrift or Antichrift doth moft predominate in thfee ? Whether Grace or Sin. moft abound in thy mortal Body ? Whether the spi- rit of Truth, that leads into all Truth, or the Spirit of Error, that leads into all Error and Untruth, is the moft prevalent, and hath the greateft Place in thy Heaft ? For to him whom thou art the moft fubjcdt, and yields thy Members Servants to, his Servant thou art, and to him thou giveft way and fubj efts thyfelf, and his Servant thou wilt alto- gether come to be in time, and the Wages due to his ' Servants thou fhalt hs.ve given to thee at the End of thy Work: Therefore confider in due Time, while the Day of thy Vifitatioii is continued unto thee, and the Lord is following and calling by his fecrct and in v^^ard Checks and Reproof, by which hedif- quiets ^ Daniel vi. v, 24. /■ [ 39 J quiets thy Mind, that although thou mayeit take feme Pleafure in Vanity and wrong Ways, whtxi thou canft get over the juft Witnefs of God in thy own Soul, yet while it ftrives with thee to convert and gather thee up out of earthly and fading Plea- fiires, to have thy Mind fet upon heavenly Things, and take Pleafure in them, thou wilt have no folid Comfort in all thy lower Enjoyments, but Condem- nation and Anguifh of Soul will attend thee, untif thou either gets over the Witnefs, or leaves the Evil, is the Experience of the Lord's People, who have been acquainted with the true and inward Warfare, and alfo with the Saints Victory. Read and learn to follow Chrift iy theFootfteps of the Flocks oj his Com^ paniom ; altho' it be through great Tribulations, yet it is the Way to have th'^ Garments wajhed'and made 'white in the my ftical Blood of the immaculate Lamb of God : T^his is he, as John the Baptifl faid, that taketh away the Sins of the World. Happy is every one that truly putteth on his Lamb-like Nature, his Hu- mility, Righteoufnefs and Purity, and is covered with his holy Spirit^ and lives and walks in^nd un- der the Influence and Conduct thereof to the End of Time here, until we enter into Immutability. Now to return from this Digreffion to the hifto- rical Part. When I had travelledmuchof the Time between my going forth, which was from about the nineteenth Year of my Age unto about the twenty feventh, thert finding fome little Refpite from the Weight of that Service, I inclined to fettle a little clofer to Bufmefs but had little to begin any Calling with, being neceffiated to leave my Trade of JVeav- ing [ 40 } ing through Lamenefs, as before mentioned ; and I had been a Sojourner fome time at Whitby ^ Scar- horoughy zndiBridlington ; but. upon feeking unto the Lord to know what Place I might now fettle in, though my great Inclination was for Whitby^ yet it founded as in my Ear, Bridlmgton^ Bridlington is \ the Place tojerileinj and in the Crofs I repaired thi-| ther, and fettled for fome time, keeping a little Shopy^ and mended Clocks and Watches, as I had done for- feveral Years paft at times ; it was of good Service my fettling tberej for the Lord began to work ' mightily, efpecially among the young Friends, fo ^'^^t in a few Years many had their Mouths opened in Teflimony for the Lord, and a fine Spring of heavenly Miniftry was in that Monthly-Meeting, . "" the like L have not known in the like Bounds, (for! it is but a fniall Monthly-hieetino; and hath been fo ever fmce I knew it.) for Truth did fo mightily | profper, and Friends grew fo in the Miniftry, that it became a Proverb, that Bridlington was become a School of Prophets. This mighty Work of the Lord, in thefe Days, is worthy to be chronicled and remembredi among his many w^orthy and noble Adts j we had many heavenly and good Meetings, praifcd and renowned be the worthy Name of the Lord, tiow and for ever. ., . , We had but little Difcipline when I firft feetled in that Place, but afterwards many Friends Hearts were ftirred up in a holy Zeal for the Lord, not only to promote Meetings for Worfhip, but alfo for good Difcipline in the Church, and they began to fee a Neceffity of coming up more in the Pradice q^ this Very t 4- 1 Very needful Work s although there were fome that faid, they could fee no Needofjuch clofe Order and Dif- cipline : Yet I found k to be my Way in the Truth to bear with foch, if they were not irregular in their Converfations \ but if they were diforderly, we dealt with them as the Lord opened our Way in the Wif- dom of Truth ^ and thus bearing with xht-Eafinefs of fome on the one hand, and encouraging the faith- ful and zealous on the other, until way was made, beyond my Expedtation, for the fpreading of the Truth, its Teftimony, and the Difcipline thereof in thofe Parts. I had now travelled and laboured much in the Lord's Work at home and abroad for about ten Years, but had not in all that Time found my way clear to marry^ although not v/ithout fome likely Opportunities, and with fuch as were a great deal richer than fhe was whom I did marry ; but I was afraid in this weighty Affair to mifs my Way, know- 'ing the great Difference there is between thera who only protefs, and they who poflefs the Truth, and them that are only in the firft Nature and un- regenerated State, (and ftriiflly fpeaking, hut the Sons a?2d. Daughters of Men) and fuch who are born again ; not of Flefh and Blood, nor indeed of any thing that is corruptible, but of that incorrujjtible Seed and living Word of God which leads into lively Hope, and brings forth a new and heavenly Birth in Man^ that takes delight to pleafe and obey the Lord in all Ihings, and fo become SonSy or Children of Gody in a more fpiritual and nearer Relation than that of Creation only j it is in and through this great Work D 2 cf I 42 ] # 6f Renovation, and being born again, that fuch live up to that holy Seed and regenerating Prin- ciple: And as the fame doth predominate and rule in Man," in this State Man cannot Sin, as the -Apoftle faid, v^ith this Reafon annexed, becatife his Seed {to wit^> the Seed of God) remaineth in him :. Thus walking in the light, and living in the Seed, Grace and holy Spirit^ although the Term^ of it dfffer, the •Virtue and Nature of it are undivid'able ; fuch w^ho come' to be gathered to walk with, and truly love Chrift the Bridegrdom of the Soul, are brought in- to a greater Neariiefs, truer Sym-pathy and Unity of Spirit than the World knows of. Read this, you that are born again, and duly confider it in its proper Time and Plac^; I believe, and therefore truly fpeak it, the L6rd gave me fuch a Wife as really feared him, loved Truth and Righteoiifnefs, and all fuch as (he thought loved, and- efpecially fuch as lived in the Truth \ her N^mewd.s Pri/cilla Cannahy, Daughter of jfames Can?taby ^^ fhe was defcended c an honeft Family in the Eaft Part of Torkjhire^ the only Child her Parents left,- they were Bakers hy Trade, and gave her a commendable Education, though th&y did not leave her any great Portion s fhe was under the Care of her Uncle Charles Cannahy oi Bridlington^ an hdneil Friend, who left fomething behind him in Menufcript concerning hisConvince- ment of the Truth, and Sufferings for the fame 5 he was convinced early, lived to a great hg^^ and was a Man of great Service in thole Parts^ where he lived. I was in the twenty eighth Year of my Age when [ 43 1 when I married my Wife, who was a Woman of an excellent Temper,, very affedlionate, fober and pru- dent, loved Retirement much, and waiting upon the Lord, and the Enjoyment of his internal and livin-g Prefence, and efpecially with the Lord's People, that they might alfo be made Partakers with her of the like fpecial Favours ; this was her Crown and Kingdom while in this World, even from her Child- hood ; and to lee Friends profper in the Truth vvas Matter of great Rejoicing to her. When we had bee^n married fcarce three Years, the Lord raifed her up to bear a publick Teftimony amongfl Friends in their Meetings, which was very comfortable andac- ceptable to them ; and alfo ilie had the Spirit cf Grace and Supplication, meafurably poured uporihei", lo that many with mc did believe fhc had Acceft to the "throne of God^ and to that Rifuer which maketl truh glad the City of God: She always freely gave me up to an{\ver the Service I believed the Lord called for of me. She was taken from me when we had been married but about five Years, in the twenty eighth Year of her Age, and died in a fwee^ Frame of Mind, and was fenfible to the lafl, and her laft Words were. He is come^ he is come y /whom my Soul loves y and my Soul rejoices in God my Saviour , and my Spirit magnifies him\ and fo paffed avvay like a Lamb, I believe into a Manfion of Glory, where her Jnno- cent Soul will for ever fing Hallekijah to the Lord God and the Lamb, who is worthy of Glory, Ho- nour, Salvation and Strength, now and for ever. I might enlarge much upon the Virtue and Vv^or- thinefs of faithful Prifcilla^ but in this, as in other Matters, I 44 ] Matters, It Is my Defire to avoid Prolixity, yci would take Notice of the moft remarkable Occur- rences that have happened to me in the Courfe ofthi my earthly Pilgrimage; alfo, I have been muc^ prefs'd by fome, and not of the leaft of my faith-^^ lulBrethren :Likewile, I believed it to be my Duty, to leave fome Remains to Pofterity for their Encou- ragement and Comfort in the Way and Work of the Lord. One Thing is worthy here to be inferted,: which had a ftrange and aftoniihing EfFedt upon my Mind, which was thus : As I was walking in a plain Field in the fore Part of the Day, not far from the Sea, betwixt Bnd^ Iingto?2 'znd Broynton^ my Soul was in a deep Concern, and at that Time exercifed in Meditation on the Things of God, and alfo in fervent Prayers to hirii for Prcfervation from every hurtful Thing ; and a heavenly Frame my Mind was then bt-ought ihtd, for then I neither faw Cloud over my Mind, nor yet any in the Firmament, fcr it appeared to me aM?r;z- ing without Chudi :, tho'- 1 had pafTed under many Clouds. Soon after ray Mind was brought into thi^ heavenly Frame, and as it were fwallowcd up in the heavenly and internal Prefence of the Lord, 1 thought a bright Cloud came down and cover'd me, or caught me up into it j fo whether I was {land- ing, walking, or fet upon the Ground, or carried up into the Cloud in the Body, or out of the Body, I know not to this Day; yet Fear and Reverence, with bowing of my Soiil, did poffefs me before the great Majefty ; at the Glory of whofe Countenance, as I had it in a preceding Vifio;i, Men and Angels fled ' ' \ /r '. . ^. - - • and [ 45 3 and gave way, and could not ftedfaftly behold the Brightnefs and Glory of the Countenance of the Son of the Higheft, with the mighty God and Fa- ther, which are in one in Power, Greatnefs, Goodnefs, and Glory, who was before all ThingSy made all J^hings^znd upholds and fills all Things that are good, with that which is truly good, or at leaft is for a good End. Read this Myftery thou that canft, and learn to fear him that hath Power over both Soul and Body^ to kill and to caft into HelU for one Time or another he will make thee fear him, when he brings thy Sins to Judgment, whether it be now or here- after : The Time hath been, is, or will be, in which the Lord, the Judge of both Quick and Dead, hath, doth, or will plead with thee, and all Flefh, as irt the Vally ^ Jehofaphat ; therefore beware left thou make him wroth, as he was upon Mount Feriziniy but be thou fu()jed: to the Lord, as faithful Mofes, was upon Mount Horeb^ or the Mount of Gody when he obeyed his Voice, and put off his Shoes • do thou obey, if it be to the putting away of the Glory and Wifdom oi Egypt ^ ov Learnings or what elfe is required of thee : Oh then thou art in the way to further Service, and wilt' be enabled, as thou con- tinues faithful, to go through all to God's Glory, and thy unfpeakable Peace in the End« ' ' Now as to the laft Part 6t the Rapture or Vifion, when I was fwallowed up in the luminom Frefence of him that \^jirji and la/i, tht Alpha "SLnd Omegay I heard a Voice, very intelligible to that Senfatioh I had then given me, faying, Dofi thou fee how Pride andJVickedneJs abound in the Nation ? I anfwercd in much [ 46 ] jnuch Fear, Lord do I fee if: The next Words which I heard in the Voice and in the Cloud were, 7he People are too many^ I will thin them^ 1 will thin theni^ I will thin them. I dciired of the Lord to fhew rne, whether it was his Mind I fliould publifh this in any Part of the Nation ? The South was fet be- fore me, with this Caution, Where this is opened to thee in my Power ^ tha^e fpeak ofit^ and 7iot other wife. I gave up to anfwer the heavenly Vifion, and vififed moft Parts of the fouthcrn Counties, as alfo the nor- thern Parts, 9,nd Scotland ', and where the Lord opened my Mouth tofpeakof what I had heard^ as before^ by way of Prophecy, "I gave up, but did Tiot'fo much infift upon that Matter,^ as to fuffer it to be a Means to miflead me from that Work of the Miniftry I was chiefly concered in, ' I would that all, who are concerned in the like manner may be cautious in this great Affair, and look well to the llife and Original from whence they receive this Gift, and how; and alfo what Frame of Mind they arc in, and that nothing of the Warmth of their own Spi- rits be fet to Work or flirred up, cither by Sight of . the Eye, or hearing, or reading outwardly, but that the Mind may be redeemed from all Workings, from thefe and the like Grounds, and purely purged, and truly adapted or fitted to receive this Gift or Spirit of Prophecy ; and aifo be fure to be very careful to be guidable in the Gift, or otherv^ife thou may ft mifs, as to Time znd Place^ &c. I intend not to dwell long upon it, as there are other Services included in this of Prophecy, as Edification and Comfort ^ &c. but Vi^hat I have been upon^ relates to foretelling " ' 'V fomething [ 47 ] fhmething that is to come-y and, as once a worthy EU der faidto me when I was young in the Miniftry, It is a great Thing to know what^ where and when ; and I have ever found it true to this Day. Learn of him that is (as he always was) meek and low of Heart, and be not difcoiiraged, but perfevcre in Faith and Sincerity, and look not overmuch at the Difficulty, but look over all to him who hath called thee, and in feme meafure revealed his Son through the Spirit in thee : Although I know from feme Ex- perience, what it is to be cxercifcd in the matter of Prophecy, for in the Journey touched of before, I was concerned to tell Friends at Kilmouck in Scot^ Urid efpecially, that the Lord would take many of them awaj\ which in a fhort Time came, to pafs, for many died before that Time Twelve-month, it being a Time of Scarcity of Corn ; and it was thought many died for want of Bread, the Year enfuing^my being there : I had good Service for the Lord, and great Satis- taftion in thefe my Jong Travels, as I had in the like before, in divers of which there were fome convinced of Truth. AiC^'omerm Norfolk, or\t Elizaketh Horry, when my Mouth was opened, dcfpifed qiy Youth, as fhe confefs'd afterwards ^but what I liad to fay fo reach- I ed her XTondltion, that flie fhed many Tears upon ' her . fine Silks, and confefs'd, before the Meeting broke up, that all might hear, in thefe Words, All j that ever I have done hath been told me this Day, and j this is the everlajUng Truth. And as I paiTed along from that Meeting, not far from Cromer, with fome •-^•hcr Friends, it rof? in my Heart to fay aloud, that [ 4S 1 ! a Man who was watering his Horfe might hcar^ looking, and pointing my Hand towards him, That Man will he a Friend before he die \ and,, as he own'd after, he was fo ftruck with it, that he had no Reft till he came among Friends, though he was then afar off, but he came to be a ferviceable Man ^mong us, and his Wife was alfo convinced of the Truth, and was a ferviceable Woman. Samuel Hunt pf Nottinghamy was firfl reached at Leicefler by the Teftimony I had given me to bear in that Meeting at that Time, as he acknowledged afterwards 5 but I always gave God the Glory, and laid the Creature as in the Duft, that Man, as Man, might not be too much accounted of. After my being caught up, and hearing the Voice (as before mentioned) I had many deep and heavenly Openings, fomc of which it may not be amifs to mention here, inafmuch as I had now a more clear Sight into a tranjlated State than even I had before ; I. came thro' a divine Senfe and Participation, to have great Sympathy and dear Unity, not only with the ever memorable Encch^ whofe walking was fuch as the Lord gave Teftimony or Witnefs to, that he pleafedhim ; the Ground of which Witnefs was from hence, he lived near and loved God, and walked in the Ways of Virtue^ and abhorred Vice : But alfo with the Apoftle, having this Seal, that God knoweth who are Ins ; and with fome other of the Servants of Chrift in former Ages who could fay, as Tome novV can fay, (from true Experience) that the Spirit of the Lord beareth Witnefs with our Spirit s, that we arc his^ to wit, the Lord's Children^ fo long as we do well ; - which I 49 1 \vhich laft Words are of large Extent, io do well, think well, fpcak well, and believe well -, for he' that hath no Faith, or that believes ilU cannot do well, he that eats, drinks, or wears that which he knows he ought not, doth not well ; bat what is done well, is done in a pure Mind and clean Gonfcience, for fo is true Faith held; and all acceptable Work to God perforfncd. I had great openings. into the Removal of MoJ?s, and taking up of .Elijah; that great and v/orthy Prophet, from the Earth into Heaven, and I have fcca Things not fit to be uttered, neither can the World yet beJieve them ; and I faw far into the Myftery of the Transfi^tiraiioH of Chrifl, and Ap- pearance of Mofes. znd Ellas wiili him upon the Mount • and the Voice which was heard from the excellent Glory, This is my beloved Son., hear him ; liot Mofes nor Ellas in Comparifon of him, for the Law pointed to him, and u^as as a School-mafter to bring to him'. The holy Prophets forefaw, and pro- phefied of his Coming, arid Johji the Baptift law Chrift; and baptized him, and bore Witnefs of hkrt tas the Light, and faid. Behold the Lamb of God; that taketh away the Sins of the Worlds he alfo faid, He is the Bridegroom that hath the Bride (the Church ; he fpoke of his own Decreafe, and Unworthinefs in comparifon of Chrift; though cdled by Chrift hirn- felf, as great a Prophet as was ever horn of a Woman, and he was alfo called Ellas, which mufl firft come, and is already came in refped: of Power, Knowledge, Boldriefs and Faithfulnefs ; he was as Ellas, yet the leajl in the Kingdom of Chri/i was greater than he^ becaufe the Power and glorious E Kingdoiri [ so ] ,j^\ Kingdom and Gofpei-difpenfation was not fully brought in (and reftored Xolfrael^ or thofe wholhould believe in him) until his ylfceiifio?! ; but now thefe great Agents in thefe foregoing Difpenfations all palled away, with their figurative, prophetical arid elementary Difpenfations, and gave place to the Son and Heir ot all Things, the MeJJiah^ the great Fro^ phef., Eifhcp, Shepherd, King and Lawgiver. Now read thefe Things, and learn truly to under- ftand how Mojes paft aw?iy, and Elias paft away, and Chrifi is left, who is able alone to perfed: the Work of Man's- Redemption, m)h^ trod the Wine-prefs, alone ^ and ^amon9;ft ail tire Sons ot Men, none were with him or helped him; he came* who was the Anti- type of all Types gone before : He, Chrifi^ is come to remove the Coiyenant made before, becaufe of the Weaknefs and Imperfection thereof, which Gove- ViO.nt made net the Comers thereto perfeB^hwX. the better Ilope brought in by Chrifi, did-, io this Covenant is aburidantiy more excellent which Was brought in by Chrift, and fettled and eflablifhed upon better Prc- mifes 'than th,at was or could be, by the Blood of Bulky Goats, andthe Ap:es of an Heifer^ which reached the outfide only ; but in the fecond or new Covenant is 'the Biccd nvhwb fpHnkleth the Heart from an evil Conference^ fo that fuch may be iitted and qualiiled to ierve th6 living God, not in the Works of the old Co- venant^ but in the Newnefs of the holy Spirit t This is he that, as tohisD'svinity and Eternitv, waj< lefore the Hills were Jettled, and the Seas and F cunt ains were made, that took delight to dwell with the J^o^s of i^^^^> or /// th^ haiitable Farts cf the Earth \ as he was a Spirit [ 5- 1 Spirit or Word uncreated, he dwelt meafurably ia jibel, Sethy Enoch, and Noah befo.e the Flood ^ tor by his Spirit God ftrove with the old World to re- claim them from their Wickedneis, when it was great ; it was by this Spirit Nouh was made a Preach^ er oj Right ecufnefs^ and inilruded how to build the Ark ; this is he who was with Shem and Japhethy Abraham, Ifaac, Jacob, and Jcfeph, and all the faithful Fathers aker the Flood, tht Foundation of M the Righteous, Prophets, Apoftles, and Martyrs, luch as loved and believed iq him, and luffered for his Nome's fake, and the Teflimony which they held : This is he that defpifed the Glory of this Worlds and is lifted up a Standard to the People, and an En- fign to the Nations \ unto him Jh all the Gentiles [eek, and his Reft Jhall be glorious ; he hath lifted up a greater Rod than that of Mofes, fometimes called i\\Q Rod of Iron, by which he hath, and I believe will break to pieces many People as a Potters Ve(fel^ w^hen the Sin and Iniquity of the People is come to the height -, it was he that turned the Waters /^/'Egypt into Blood *, it was he ih'Sit flew the Fir ft.-born through'- out all the Land of Egypt, he overthrew, the Egyp- tians, and brought forth Krsicl by a Jlrong Hand, and an Arm outllretched. After he had marked the Dwellings of his People, and fpared them in the Time of this great Slaughter, which was executed both upon Man and Beaft, to %vit, the Firft-born m Egypt, then he became Ifrael'^ PalTover. Read thefe Things (that were typically done, and in an outward way) inwardly, and in thine own Experi- ence, that thou niay'fl fay, and that truly, Chriji is my f 5^ .1 ■ i 7ny Tajjhver^ after he hath mitigated thy fore Bon- dage, and in degree hath given thee Faith in his great Name, and hath caiifed thc(? to love him, ar;(| made thee willing to fdllov/ him, although it he through the Sea of Troubles, and fopnetimes as through the Wildernefs/ Here is an eating of the heavenly Pa/Jover^ or Pqfcpal La?nk^ under the In^ riuence of the pure Love of God, that is fpfead or difplayed over the Soul like a Canopy, or Banner : j Here is' the heavenly Mmma^ the true Body to itt^ i on, that yields true Nouriihment and folid Comfort ! to thy Soul, in this thy Travel towards th^ heaJi Venly Country : Here is the Subftance of the .Sr^/^r- Goat known, \\\?Lt bearelh a%vay the §i7.2S of tie Peo- ple 3 for he bore oitr Iniquities^ arid through his Stripes nsoere we healed \ go his Part there vi^aiits Nothing, but on Man's Faith in, and Obedience to CJlrift : He js the Subitance or Antitype, of the brazen Serpent^ which was lifted up in the Wildernefs to cure the Peoples Ailrrients, Gccafioned by the Serpents; he is the Advocate 'with the J^atker^ as jfch^z faid, to en- courage little Children in that Time, which I think may veiy well be applied to all in that State until Time herefhall be no more. 'Happy is every one that heareth, obeyeth, and revercnceth the Son and Heiraf all Things in his fpiritual. Appearance in the Heart; where he fpeaks to the Conditions of the Children of Men, as 77'ever M^njpokf and to much better Purpofe than ever Man could do : This is he that [pake to the Fathers by the Prophets w.hoy iri^ ihefe Times doth /peak to us i?i or by his Son \ fo t^ke he^d to his fpirilual Appearance in the Heart, for there niufl I [ 53 ] pauft the Work of our Salvation be pcrfecfled, aftqr Sin is purged out, and the Guilt thereof taken away; to fuch Death is eafy, wheie Sin, the Sting of Death, is taken away, haying a part in Chriji, the Firft-born oj many Brethren^ and RefurreSiion Jrom the Dead; I fay, having a Part in him /Z?^/ is the Refurre£lion indeed, and the. Life ; over fuch the fecorid Death (which is a perpetual Separation from the heavenly Prefence of God, and Company of holy Angch)/hall have no Power. I now leave, I think, this not un- profitable DigrefTion, and return to the more hiflo- rical Part, where one Thing, I think, is worthy of inferting here, viz'. In my young Years I was very much afHided in jny Travels,' upon taking Cold, with ^ifore Throaty that I could fcarce fpeak fo as to be heard, and had much Trouble at Times toivvallow any thingwhich Nature did require ; and in one Journey northward, in Truth's Service, corning to Hawkfiead^ and fit- ting in the Meeting under ho fmallExercife with the Trouble aforefaid, hot without fopieReafoningsand Conflidls of Spirit, having left 5II, as I believed, to do what the Lord required of me, and yet I appre- hended myfelf, by means of this Affliilion, not likely to be of any Service ; arid after fome Rea- fpnings, and a fervent feeking to the Lord to know the Caufe of this great Trouble, and withal to bring my Mind to a true Refignation to the Will of God in this, and in all the Trials the Lord might fee good inhis Wifdom to exereife me in 5 1 had not been long brought into this devoted and refigned State to be and do what the Lord would have me do, but oh ! I felt of the Virtue of Chrift as a fweet and living Spring, by which I was healed : I was, -and am [ 54 J am to this Day (when I remember the Lord's kind Dealings with me) very thankful to him. It has been frequently obfervable, that the Lord leads his Servants through many States, that they, having the Experience thereof, may be the more ca- pable of helping others in the like Straits ; it is an excellent Thing to love arid truly believe in Jcfus Chrift: and keep Self down as \n the Duft for ever. jln ACCOUNT of my firft Vifit /^ Fk ie nds in America. N' O W the Time came on for my going into Afnerica^ having had a fight of it about ten Years before ; I alfo acquainted my Wife therewith ^ about a Year before flie died, and I found it was like- .1^ to be a very near trial to her ; fhe was a virtuous, good Woman, but was taken away, and left me thre ^. v ' . Children, the eldeft not above four Years old, the youngeft not much above one Month old, and I having but little of this World, reafoned much about going, thinking my Circumftances at prefent might cxcufe me ; my Intentions were good, in that I might not leave Things any way to the Dif- honour of the Truth : My innocent young Child was taken away when about a Year old ; and foon after, where ever I went, while I v^as awake, jt founded in my Ears feveral Days and Nights, Now is the Time^ Now is the Time. My other two Chil- dren, Providence fo ordered it, that they^ "were ;?^j[)Iaced I 55 ] placed to mine and Friends Satisfadion : I went through many Provings that no Man knew of, but T believe, when I am gathered to my Place, I fhall leave many Brethren behind me yet in mutability, that will read my Lines in their own Experience. I would not have any to mifunderftand me, for as to my outward Circumftances, I left no Debt, neither was I in a way of going backward in the World j for ever after I received the Knowledge of the Truth, I could not fee what Pretence I could have to Re- ligi4)n, if any fhould lofe by^me : 1 have often faid, and been hearty in my Intentions, that rather than ^ruth Jhould fuffer on that Score y I would live upon Bread and Water ^ and wear very mean Ckaths^ and work very hard if I were able^ and upon any mean^ if but lawful Calling. It hath been Matter of Wonder to me, how any that appear to carry any Preten- fions to Religion, dare run fuch great Ventures, fomcr time beyond their own Bottoms or Abilit' • whic&^ tome hath always appeared cm unwarrantri^^^/^ij^iiej and, as I apprehend. Pride and Oltentar/on is mucli *he Occafion of it, which are much againft Tfiith, and Men are no better for their greatneis, for /the more plain, and the more humble we are, the more .>X^crelemble humble Jefus, and his Religion, which he laboured to inculcate. If any are lifted up, or afpire above their Place, let them confider well tlie foregoing Paragraph- , Now I muft leave my little Children, and ^ny very near Friends, and my native Country, and all for Chrift andthc Gcfpel's fake, without any finifter End or View ^ and then I appealed to the Lord, in tho [ 56 ] t^e fimplicity of my Heart, tha^he hiew I was ivil" ting to be at his Difpofaly and what he had fa^coMrd me with^ I could leave to him\ yet v/hether what I had was fufficient to defray mine and my two little ones neceiTary Charges, Was fonlewhat in rriy way j and to (atisfy me in this Doubt, the Lord's Voice founded exceeding cledr t6 that Senfation I was then endued with, faying. Go and he faithful ^ and I wilt blefs thee every way. Oh my Heart faemed to mc to melt, and my Spint to difTolve within me^^ and I faid, Good is the Word of the Lord^ thou ha/i jiot failed me in any of my great Straits and Trials to this ID ay ; I have great Caufe to t7^u/l in thee : Renowned be thy mojl excellent Ndmt^ now akd for ever, I parted with my Friends with much b'rokennef$ of Heart, and fet forwards /6/^ and thereabouts together, to let them know how we parted, for we parted irt much Love and Tender-heartednefs ; yet notwith- ftanding, left any undue Refledlions iliould be ;c:aft upon the Friends there concerning us, becaufe |of our parting, I thought thefe Friends would be apable of fetting thofe Things in their proper Light, being Witnefles thereto ; fo taking our Leave of oqr. dear Friends in thefe Parts, I travelled without any Oompanion outwardly, or Gonftantly ; but I fome- imes fell into company with Elizabeth Webb and Sarah [ 64 ] 1 tS'arah Clement^ who were virtuous Women, and S lived near the Kingdom, and were of good Service in their Travels, and grew in Truth, which while with them I was fenlible of : We travelled under great Care and Circurafpeftion, both for our own good, and avoiding Offence, as became our Phces^ and holy Profeffion, that in all Things we might adorn theGofpel of the Kingdom, a Difpcnfation of which was committed to us to preach unto others. Good Service I had for the Lord, and great Satif- fafliion in my own ^ind in thefe Parts, the Lord helping me by his mighty Power through all my Trials, ^s my Heart and Mind was devoted and re- figned to anfwerhis Requirings. I hdd great Openings in ieveral Places in xV^'ie;- E?igland^ arid it appeared clear tome, and fome- times I fpoke openly of it, that the Lord would ga- ther a great People to the laving Knowledge of the Truth in his Time, notwithftanding what m.any of our Friends had fuffered for the Name of the Lord, and Teftirtibny which they held in thefe Parts, from the Predccefibrs of the prefent Inhabitants : The View of the State of thefe Things, efpecially the great Sufferings of many- of cur faithful Friends, put me in Mind of that laying, that ;T^^ Blood cf the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church\ and in this Cafe, I believe it will be fulfilled in its Seafon. One PaiJage happened, which I think not fit to pafs over jn filence : There came into one Meeting, eallward in New-England^ a Man, who was Bro- ther to 2.^ Prefof.erian Prieft-, to oppofe Friend^ (who, as Fricads faid, had been often very trouble fcnv- [ 65 ] Cnne in the Meeting) in the Begin nig of the Meeting he defired to have Liberty to ajk feme ^ef- tioiii. I being a Stranger, and not having fo much as heard of the Man, nor any making Reply to him, I felt Liberty in the Truth to return the following Anfwer in behalf of the Meeting, Tfoat I did appre^ hmd it was the Defir'e of Friends^ inafmuch as the Meet- ing was appointed Jor the ^crjldip oj God, and not for aJkingof^-ieftienSy or controverjies^ that the chief Fart 'Jhotddfirfi he anfwcred\ and lalfo thought the Meeting would be willing^ in the Conclufion^ to give him Liberty to ajk the ^ejiions., if his Intent therein was for In- formation ^r Satis fadioh, and not for Contention. Friends were filent, and the Man fubmittedto what was propos'dj and a good Meeting we had, the Lord's heavenly Power and living Prefence being with us, and the Subftance was fek among us, and exalted over all the Shadows and Types; and Chrifl the true Bread and living Water,Light arid Life of the World, was exalted that Day ; and the mighty God and Fa- ther, with his beloved Son, through the Help of the holy Spirit, was glorified, who is worthy for ever. Near the Conclufion of the Meeting, the Man begaa to ipeak well of what he had heard, particularff' tovic\i\ng\h'Jito^JVater'Baptifm^ which, he faid, /jd" had nothing to ohjedl againfi \ but as to the Sdcrnment^ as he called it, hecaiife lirttle or nothing load been [aid about it^tlderefore be concluded, we eitL'r denied or dif- tfedit',. or Words to the fame Purport. Then I flood op and faid, I did not remember thki the Word Sacra- ment was in all the Bible '^ but, I laid, I fuppofed he mv:^-' //., Bread and Wine 5 he anlvvered, be did ^ 1 F alkcd [ '66 1 afked hym, whether he was of the fame Mind, the Epil- copal Church was of "^ Jf not of the fame Mind he might Jay )o ', for they fay ^ the Bread and Wine is an out- ward and vilihie Sign of an inward and fpiritualGjace, ^c. what laid he to itt He was feme Time filent; then I afkcd him, How long he thought that Sign was to continue ? He replied, To the End of the World. I an 1 we red, He did not read in- all the Bible ^ that the Lord bad appointed any Figure or Sign but what was to end in the Subjiance, which i^s to be witnejfed and en- joyed in this JVcrld^ and not pit off only to the End or Conclufion thereof^ as his Argument feemed to declare^ by his urging, that the Sign oj that divine Sub fiance muft remain till the E?2d of this World. I aiked himJj What he could anfwer to that .? He turn'd off with onl^ faying, I was too great a Scholar for him^ andfo he would not meddle with me. He then was lilent, and there being many People, I had a fine Opportunity to open to the tender-^hearted, and Friends pfefent, how that was at befl but a Sign, which the People cat and drank outwardly, in Remembrance of Chrifc^s Death until he came, but that I could now prove plentcoufiy from the New Teftament, that the Suhjlancey the Grace was come, and urged many Proofs out of the Scriptures to the fame Purpofe: And when I had done, what I had faid fo reached a good-like old Man, a Frefbyterian^ that he confefs'd v/i^h Tears,^ he had heard much faid upon that Subje&y but had never heard it fo opened before-, and faid, he lelieved I was in the right. The Meeting broke up in a good Frarae,^and Fi*iends much rejoiced that that Truth came over all, and the contentious Man W'as lllenced : And when the Meet'ng w:;:sover, the [ 6; [ dly old Man took me to the Door, and af^ed me, what a Ma?i Jhouid do in cafe of a folemn League and Covenant, be being entered into it? I told him, I Tieeded not to diredi hi^n, for he bad that in himfelf %i)hich would fJjew him what he u ould do 3 for if one ffx'uld make an Agreement or Covenant with Hell and Death y in the Time oj Ignorance and Darknefs, and now the true Light dif covered it to he fo ; the fame Light which di [covered and rnanifefed it to be wrong, as he was faithful to thejame^ would /hew hi ?n hozv and when to break it, and every other wrong "Thing ; to which Light I recommended him^ and' bid him take heed to it \ which he faid, he hoped he fjould \ and io I left him with Tears on his Cheeks, and pafTed on. I omitted one Thing which happened in that Part of New-England y near New-Tork and Long-Ifandy although I was twice backward and forward, yet to be brief in my Travels through thofe Countries, intended to make one Account ferve, viz. As I was fpeakmg in a Meeting, there came a great Damp over my vSpirit, and in that Time came into the Meeting (everal Men, occaiioned by a topping and great Man in the World, who had given them an Expecftation that they (hould hear how he would ioppofe the fakers ; but in a fhort time Truv'i rofe, land Friends generally heard a Man fay to th^. Dif- putant, why do you 7iotfpeak? he hufli'd him Avith faying; the Man is upon the SubjeB which I ifitend to cppofe them with. After fome Time the Man was put upon again to fpeak to me, with a m6y do not 'you fpeak ? we heard him fay, the Man has opend the Thing fo as I never beard it before, and I have Nothing [ 6S ] to fay : Ar;d to his own, ^vA the Wonder of his Neighbours, he fat down upon a Seat near the Door a*nd wept tenderly; fo it was a good time to him, and many morr, for the Lord's mighty Power w;a$ amongft us. And in my Rctijrn from my Journey in the Eaft Parts of A^^'zc^-E/zg/taW, thp fame great Man dehrcd me to condefcend to have a Meeting at bis Hotife ', and after due Confideration and Appro-| bation of Friends, who deiired it might be lo, wherit they knew it was his Requeft, a Meeting was ap- pointed, and I heard there were Hkely to be at it ai great ma^ny of the higher Sort oiPrefbyterians oi hi^ Neighbourhood. I w^ent to the Meeting; under no fmall Concern o ?vlind, but when I was come into the great Houfe I was very much affected with the wile Conduct o the Man, to fee in what excellent Order he had placed every Thing, io that I could not find wherein imy Thing could be amended 3 and a heavenly Meet* ing it was, without any Oppefition; and at the breaking up of the Meeting, this tender Man, whofe Heart was broken and opened by the Pov/er of . Truth, laid audibly, His Heart and Houfe were open fo receive ?nc^ and jiich as me^ kt all jay what they wctild to the contrary. But what the fubjed: matter was at the fM: Meeting when he came in, I forgbt; it was enough that w^e remeoiberd we h'ad a good and heavenly Meeting, and were truly thankful for the fome to him who. was the Author thereof. I and feme other Friends being in our Paffage by Water in a Vcfkl boiin^ for Rhode-Jfland, and meet- in;2; with hi;:::h and contrary Winds, we put into a Creel; [ 69 1 Creek fome Miles diftant from Rhode-Ifland, and delired the People to procure us fome Horfes to ride on, and we would pay them any Thing that was rcafonablc but hoped they would not make a Prey of us, for we were Strangers, and they ought to do to us as they would be done by, if they were in a jbange Land, as we were; and there came up to us a goodly old Man, and afked us, what People we were'i if we were not Quakers ? I told him, we were " /;/ Zcorn Jo called^ but we did not much mind Names ^ jor there was but litfk in them. He was a brifk talk- ing Man, and faid, there was a Man hete lately that faid he w^s a Quaker, aiid borrowed a Horfe^ and when he %vas gone fome Miles from this Place^ he offered to fell the Horfe: i /^;2c/i£; ;2(p/, faid the Man, but you are fuch. I returned this Anfwcr to the Refleflion; l^hat was a great Proof that we were an hone (I aitd re- putable People where we were known^ he might affure bimfelf of that ; for when a Man is jo wicked^ as to become a Jiotorious Cheats he will c^ver himfelf under the beft Name he can think of otherwife he might have faid he was a Baptift, or a Prefbyterian, or an Epif- Qo^zWz.n, and de fired you to lend htm an Horfe \ but you ?nind not thefe Names, neither doth the wicked Man think he can pafsfo well undtr any of thefe laft, bbt under the firft \ and the Reafonofit I leave thee to judge. The old Man afked no more Queftions, but ufed his Endeavours to get us Horfes, and a Man and Horfe to go with us, to have the Horfes back again, and we were well mounted ; but before we fet forward, the old Man took me to his Houfeand was very courteous to me, for though 'we had fpoke for [ 70 ] i for fome Viduals in as fhort a Time as well might be, he invited me to drink, and brought of his j Apples and Beer, which he would have my Friends to partake of, jor, he faid, (and we found it true) it was but a poor Inn ; I think there was no Liquor at it, but Brandy or Rum, and Water. The old Man and I parted very lovingly, and I gave him a Piece of Money to fhew my Gratitude for his Civi- lity and good Service to us. The People looked upon us as fomc great Wonder, for I heard one fay. Are thefe ^lakers ? well^ faid he, they look like other People. How we had been reprefented, and by whom, its not hard to gather, for it is very apparent, the fame Spirit and the fame Enmity yet doth con- tinue in fome of the Inhabitants of that. Country, which fome of our Friends formerly felt the fevere EfFedts of; but they are fince fomewhat moderated by the Government there, which is of a more mild and Chriflian Difpofition ; although I am well af- fured, that many of the more confcientious and- thinking People in thofe Parts of the World begin to fee, and many will fee and underftand in Time, that hanging and taking away LiveSy for the fake of Religion, is oppofite to Chrifl, and the Nature of the true Religion which is wTought in Man by the Operation, Quickenings, ^nd Inclwellings of the holy Spirity which, as it is regar4ecPttnd followed, lea- vens and brings the Sou! of Man in fome degree to put on the Purity, heavenly Image, and Nature of Chrlft, which is Love, praying for Ene^nieSy and is Tiol ior defiroyingy buty^w/Tg- Lives; but how ft r the Reverfe will agree with that Religion taught by "^ Chrifl I 71 ] thrift, and pradifed by him and the Apoftles, I would have all ferioully confidcr of in Time. While we were in Bo/lon^ when one of the afore-* mentioned worthy Women was declaring excellently, with both good Utterance and Voice, as alfo good Matter, as the Manner of the Inhabitants of Bojicn had been for many Years to encourage, or at Icafh faffer a rude Mob to bawl and make aNoifc, fothey did now, that it was hard to hear fo as tounderftand diftindlly what the Friend faid, although fhe fpoke plain and intelligibly : It did very much grieve me to fee the Ignorance and Darknefs of thofe high Pro- -felTors ot Religion, (o that when the Friend had done, obferving there appeared Men of fome Note in the World, 1 requefted them to hufh the Rabble, for I had fomething to fay, which I deiired them to make known to the Governor and chief Men of the Town ; fo they fcon queird the Noife. Then ^ I told them, That in cafe we were as erroneous as fomf^ ^ might infiniiate we were, that was not the Way to cm-- vi72ce us of our Error s,^ neither to bring us out of them ^ hut rather to ejlablijh us in them}, and that was not the Way for them to gain ProfelyteSy but the Way to lofe many from them, and increafe Dijj enters:, for what, Convincement could there be by Noife and Clamour, and Hooting, as if they would fplit their own Lungs'? I had come a great Way to fee them, and what Character could I give of them ? I never thought to have fern fo much Folly amongH a wife and religious People as now I Jaw : Tell the Governor and chief of the Town, ^hat the old Engli(hman72?/f/j ; for I am ajloamed of fuch Doirrgs. It had a good Effcd:, for when I came after. f 7^ ] after, we had quiet Meetings ; and I underflood l a Letter from Daniel Zachary ot Bofion^ to Oh England^ that the Governor faid I was in the rights and ordcr'd that Peace, fhould be kept in Friends Meetings there ; and I never heard to the contrary but it is well yet as to that. , We have great reafon to be truly thankful to the Lord for thefc, and ail other his Mercies, that He the Fountain of ail Good is pleafed to favour us with i And as an Infiance of the Lord's Mercy to many poor Sufferers, and to fhew the implacable Envy of thefe People to Friends, the Cafe of "Thomas Maulham of Salem may luffice, in feme meafure,.to fct forth, both, who was a great Sufferer in the Time of hot Perlecution> when the Perfecutors had ftript him of almofl all he had; their infatiable Minds not content with that, they came with Axes and hcw'd down all ttie Apple-trees in his Orchard, it being a large one, and left the Stumps about the height .of a Man's Knee, and, as Thomas Maulham faid, they took the Way as they thought to ruin him; but the Lord turned it iiito a Blefling, for the Trees grew to Admiration, and carlie to bear Fruit abundantly, and a finer Orchard I have not feen in all my Travels, for theBignefsof it; let the Lord be fandificd by all his People, and admired by all them that believe. I with feveral other Friends went frorii Sa^.em Yearly-Meeting (which was a large and good Meet- ing) towards Dover ^ and coming to a River, I flay- ing a little behind, a Friend took my Horfe with two more into the Boat, and by that Time I catrie to the River-fide the Boat was fiiikidg, and the Ferryman [ 73 ] Ferryman made a lamentable Cry, faying, ^he Boat is funk, and we Jhall be all drowned \ although it was {o ordered, that there was but one Friend in the Boat with the Boatman, and I do not remember that ever betore now my Florfe was in any Boat, and I not there ; which 'I looked on as the Mercy of sl kind Providence to me, and to feveral other Friend? in Campany. I hearing the Noilb, as before, (and alfo the flondering of the Hories when tumbling into the Water) called to the Men, to be fure to take care to free themlelves ot all the Tackling of the^ Horfes, (as Bridles, Stirrups, &cC) and catch hold on my Horfe's Tail, and he would bring them both afhore \ but if they trufted to the other (as be- fore mentioned) when the Horfes fwam they would fail them, unlefs very ftrong ; and to have them hold by the Bridle was die way to drown both Horfe and Man ; This Advice was given while they had the Horfes in their Hands ; the Boatman being a lively Youth, took my Advice, c^.ught hold of my Horfe's Tail, it being long, (which I ever approved of among Rivers) and I calling to my Horfe, he came quickly with the Man afhore, but left the honeft old Friend EsXekiel Waring to whole Houfe we mtended to go that Night) in the River floating to the Neck, a hundred Yards from the Shore by Computation, yet watchful Providence did io attend that his Life was preferved to 2. Wonder ; for it was fo ordered, altho' he mifs'd taking my Advice, and caught hold of his Stirrup, and the Girth broke, as they are apt to do if they be tight when the Horfe begins to fwim^ which brought off the Saddle aqd F 2 Pillion. [ 74 J PlUion, and the Oar of the Boat, and his Ha which with the Pillion-feat being ;n his Arms, ju bore up his Head above Water for fome Tirhe; h poor Wife feeing the Danger to which her Hufband wds expofed, fell into a fainting Fit; (there being neither Houfe, Man, or Boat, to be feen on this Side of the River, but ourfeives, the Boatman, and the Stem and Stern of the funk Boat full of Water.) A Houfe there was on the other Side of the RiVer, which was half a Mile over. The Ferryman did his befl to get a Boat or Cannoe, and altho' it began to be dark, yet he found a Cannoe, (which is made of ^ fine Piece of Timber hollowed in the Form of a Boat, and generally will carry but two or three or four Mens) he coming near, afked //^Ezckiel was alive? I told him he was, but very weak, for I had bften heard him blubber in the Water; I encouraged him, that he might not faint in his Mind, for I told him, I yet believed his hi fe would be preferved\ he would very faintly fay, Vnlefs Helpcarm, he could not hold it long. I went on by the Wateriide, a;nd laid irif_ down often on the Land, not much regarding Wet or Djrt, fometimes tumbling over Logs of Wood and Limbs of Trees, for lo it is in thefe un- cultivated Places: I direded the Man with his Can- iioe where the poor Friend was, as near as I could tell by my laft Qbfervation, & withal defir'd he would turn the Stern of his Cannoe to him, as he couid not lift him into the Cannoe; neither to let him lay his Hand upon the broad Side of it, but upon the Stern, ]efl he fhould overfet it, and fo both be drowned : So he did, and brought him gently afliore, to the jrreat [ is 1 great Joy of his loving Wife and us all. Thd Boat- man, as he owned, had found my Counfel good, and therefore would have me tell him what he might do now ; I bid him fetch the Boat to fhore by the Fowler or Rope, and then go and carry Ezekiel in the Cannoe to the Inn on the other Side of the Water, that, he might dry^ warm, and re- frefli himfelf until we canics in the mean Time we cleared the Boat of Water, which when done, wc put two Horfes into it, and I towed my Horfe at the Boat's Stern to make Room for feveral, efpecially the good Woman before mentioned, who were at this Time in my Company, not without their Exer- cife any more than myfelf : We got well over, and then the Ferryman and Friend on the other Side brought the Horfes that were left, being three, which were enough for the Boat, and proved too many the firfl Time. We found the good old Friend finely and well recruited, and got to hi/ Houfe about Midnight, where we were glad, and our Hearts were full of Praifes to the Lord for this great and eminent Deliverance and Prefervation. In this firft Vifit while \n Rhode-ljland, I met with fomething worthy of thy Notice, if thou art fuch a Reader as I wifh thou " mayft, v^hich was thus: Being in Rhcde'-IJlaiid^ feveral f'riends came to me in fome of the Intervals of the Yearly- Meeting, (for it held feveral Days, both for Worfhip arid Dif- cipline) to enquire whether it wasufual to let the Young, and fuch as had but appeared little in Tefti- mony in our Parts of the World, come into Meet- ings of publick Friends? Ifaid, Tes. if they were of i 76 ] if clean Lives, and ivhat they had to fay, approved-^ an\ it was very likefuCh-Jnigbt want Advice as much a\ thofe who were come to more Experience in the Work o\ the Minijiry, if not more : This was fome 'means of enlarging the faid Meetings of Mlniflers now coming on. When I came into the Meeting, feveral of the Elders defiredme to go into the Gallery, which I refufed, the Concern upon my Mind being fo great, I thought it was enough that I could but get into the' Houie, and fit down among the loweft Rank. This Meeting was one not to be forgotteri, becaufe of the eminent Vifitatiofi from the Lord that was upon us ih it; I have not often feen the hke; I queflion if there were any dry Cheeks for lometime in it ; and the Manner of the working of the heavenly Power vl^as remarkable, in order to the fandtifying and preparing VefTejs for the Lord's Ufe ; and he broke us down bv his Judg- ments from following flattering Flefli, and the pleafing Vanities of the World, and the lubtle Baits of Satan, by the Tenders of his Love, and engaged us to follow the heavenly and in\\^ard Calls, Knocks, an.d ' Reproofs of his holy Spirit, and to obey the Didlates of the fame. When the Lord prepares in a good Degree for this Work of the Miniftry, ma- oy have been untvllling to give up and obey, until they have tafted of the Lord's D'fpleafure, and in part of his Judgments, which have brought them into a Submiffion; after which they went out with , their Lives fomctimes in their Hands, and became a I Wonder to Man, bearing their Reproach, and fom.e- liflies appeared in great Congregations, fcmetime? in Noifes [ 77 ] Noifes and Tumults, andfometimes were in Watch« ings and Fadings, inWearinefs, Hunger and in Cold; with much more, for the Name of the Lord and hi^ Teftimohy, and tor the Enjoyment of Peace, and the internal Prefcnce of him that hath feperatcd us to this Work by the holy Ghofl ; and it is in and by our abiding faithful to the fame, that wearcpreferv- ed in a Capadity of Perleverancc through all to the End, to the mutual Help and Comfort one of ano- ther, and Renown of the Name of the Lord, who is woi thy now and for ever. Wcf alfo had a very large Meeting on this Ifland in an Orchard, where I had good Service for the Lord ; and I remember I was much concerned a- bout the two Miniftrations, viz, Jobns Baptifm with Watery and Chkist's with the holy Ghbji^ it being^^ clear from Johns Words, that he faw to the End of his own Difpenfation when he declared, he mujl de-- creafey butCui^isi miifl increafe \ which is generally underftood to refpeft their differing Difpenfations ; for the firft Baptifm was to baptize unto Repentance^ the other to the purging vfthe Floor ^ and biirni7ig up of that which was combufiihky viz. the ChaiF and Stubble, which the Lord's Baptifm burncth up in- wardly, and which no elementary Thing can do ; for if all the Eatings, Wafliings, Oblcrvations and Cere- monies under the Law, although to 7/r^^/command- ed and enjoined by the Lord, could not make the Comers thereunto/^r^^, how fliould thefe or any of them now, when not commanded, as they ne- ver were to us, perfedi the Gentik World? So what I had upon my Mind, as I received, I went throuo^ with. [ 78 ] With, and (hewed the Beginning, Ufe and End the watery Difpenfation, and the Ufe and ContinU' ance of Christ's fpiritual Baptifm to the End of th( World. The Meeting broke up, and Friends weni ijito an upper Room in an Inn -, but I felt fuch ai Exercife upon niy Spirit thai I could not eat, but de fired Friends? to be eafy^ and I would eat as foon as could; and while I was walking over the large Cham^ ber alone, there came up three Men whona I knei not, nor what they were, but it fprang livingly in m Heart to fet my Eyes on them in the Lord's Dread ind fo I did ; they palTed away, and I was told after- wards^'that they were thrctBaptiJl Preachers who had been at the Meeting and came once more to fee me, with a Dcfign to have a Difpute with mt, but^ they faid, / looked fo fharply they durli not meddle with me : Thus the Lord in a good Degree wrought for me, bleffed be his worthy Name for ever. , Now I leave the Account of my Travels in thofc Parts, and enter upon rriy fecond, with my honcft Companion James BateSy who was born in Virginia^ and travelled much with me thro' many Provinces, ^nd fome Iflandsj we had good Service together, Snd it was much with me, when on Rhode-IJlandy to vifit Nantucket y where ther(S were but very few Fricndsi' Feleg Slocum^ an honeft publick Friend near Rhode-IJlandy intending to carry us in his Sloop to^the faid IHand that Night; and Peleg thought we had been clofe in with our defired landing Place, but we fell fhort, and Night coming on, and having but one fmallCannoe to help usafhore, which would carry but three People at once, we went alhore at twice/ I n 1 twice, and left the Sloop at an Anchor; and it being grown dark, we thought we were going up into the Ifland among the Inhabitants, but loon found that wc were upon a Beach of Sand and Rubbifh, where was neither Grafs nor Tree; neither could wc find the Sloop that Night, though we fought it carefully, and halloo'd ' one to another till wc were weary, fo that we were forced to fettle upon our little Ifland, from the Center of which, one might caft a Stone into the Sea on every Side; here we ftaid that Night, not knowing but the Sea, when at the Height, would have fwept us all away, but it did not; there I walked, and fometimes fat, until Morning, but fleptnone; atlaft the Morning came, and the Mift went away, and we got on board again, and reach- ed the Ifland about the ninth Or tenth Hour. The Mafler was willing, at our Requefl:, to land three of us, (/. e.) me, my Companion, and Stifawiah Freeborn, a publick Friend, who had a Concern upon her Mind for feme Time, (as flie fignified to Friends in Rhode-ljland where flie lived) to vifit the few Friends in Nantucket^ and Friends thought this a proper Seafon to pay that Vifit. She was a Woman well beloved, and in good Unity with Friends. We landed lafe, and as we went up an Afcentj, we faw a great many People looking towards the Sea, for great Fear had poflTefs'd them, that our Sloop was- a Fr^/zc/j? Sloop loaded with Men and Arms, who were coming to invade the Ifland: I held out my Arms and told them, Ihiewnot oj any 'wcrje Ar77is tha?2 tkefe on board. They faid, they were glad it was no worfe, for they had intended to have alar- med [ 8o ] 1 pied the Illand, it being a time of War: I told the ^ood like People, for fo they appeared to me, that releg Sloctim, near Rhode-IJlandy was Mafter of the Sloop, and that we came to vifit them in the Love of God, if they would be willing to let us have fome Meetings amongft them. They behaved themfelves very courteoufly towards us, and faid, they thought we might. We then enquired for Nathaniel Starbucks who we underftood was in fome degree convinced of the Truth, and having Diredlions to his Hopfe, we went thither, apd I told him. We made holdto come to his Houfiy and if he was free to receive us^ we would Jiay a little with him^ hut if not^ wi would go elfe where; for we heard he was afeeking religious Man^ andfucb chiefly we were come to vijit : Hefaid, we were very welcome. And by this Time came in his Mother M^ry Starbueky who the Iflanders cfteemed as a Judge a mong them, for little of Moment was done there without her, as I underftood. At the firft Sight of her it fprang in my Heart, 7b this Woman is the everlafting Love of God. I look- ed upon her as a Woman that bore fome Sway in the liland, and fo I faid, and that truly, we are come in the Love of God to vifit you^ if you are willi?2g to let us have fome Meetings among you: She laid, fhe thought we might; and withal faid, there was ^Non-contor- mift Miniver who was to have a Meetings and they were going to it^ and fhe thought it would bt the bell way for us to go with them to the Me^eting. I fhe wed my Diflike to that for thefe Reafons; firfly we did not want to hear what that IVIinifter had to fay, b?- caufc [ 8i ] ciufe fomc of us had tried them before we came there (meaning the Non-conformifts of feveral Sorts) and if we fhould go, and could not be ckar without fpeal^g fomcthing in the Meeting, he might take it ill ; but as we underftand there is another Meeting appointed at the lecond Hour for the fame Man, therefore, as the prefent Conftitution of Things are we look upon ourfelves to ftand upon an equal Ground in a religious Capacity with other Difjenters^ and if we fhould appoint our Meeting at the fame Hour, then the People will be left to their Choice to which Meeting they will go. The great Womari apprcfv'd of the Propofal, and faid, indeed that was thi^be/l way. The next Confideration was, where Poall the Meeting be ? She paufed a while, and thea faid, / thi?ik at our Houfe. I from thence gathered flic had an Hulband, for I thought the Word our^ car- ried in it fome Power befides her own, and I pre- fently found he was with us j I then made my Ob- fervation on him, and he appeared not a Man of mean Parts, but fhe fo far exceeded him in Sound- ncfs of Judgment, Clearnefs of Underftanding, aind an elegaint way of expreffing herfelf, and that bot in an afFecled Strain, but very natural to her, that it teaded to kffcn the Qualifications of her Huf- band. The Meeting being agreed on, and Care taken bis to the Appointment of it, we parted, and I lay down to try if I could get any Sleep, for I have pewcd before what fort of a Night the lafl was with :JS; but Sleep vaniChed away from me, ^id I got 4p and walked to and fro in the Woods until the G Meeting [ 82 i Meeting v^as moftly gathered. I was under a i/^i great Load in my Spirit, but the Occafion of it waT hid from me, but I faw it my place to go tq Meet-^ ing, the Order of which was luch, in all thejparts thereof, I had not feen the like before : The large and bright rubbed Room was fet with fuitable Seats or Chairs, the Glafs Windows taken out of the Frames, and many Chairs placed without very con- veniently, fo that I did not fee any thing wanting, according to the Place, butfomething to ftand on, for I was not free to fet my Feet upon the fine Cane Chair, left I fhould break it, I am the more particular in tliis exadl and exem-^ plary Order than in fome other Things, for the Seat^ both within and without Doors were fo placed, that the Faces of the People were towards the Seats where the publick Friends fat, and when fo fet, they did not look or gaze in our Faces, as fom.e I think are too apt to do, which in my Thoughts befpeaks an unconcerned Mind : The Meeting being thus gathered and fet down in this orderly and ample Manner, (although there were but very few bearing our Name in it) it was not long before t^he mighty Power of the Lord began to work, and in it my Com- panion elpecially did appear in Teftimony in the fore Part thereof ; and w^hile he was fpcaking, a Prieft (FiOt him before touched on, but another) filing out fome Reflexions upon him, and the People for his Sake, whit h I did not fee the leaft Occafion for 3 ^^^ ter which he went away, (but more of this in tli Sequel.) I fat a confiderable Time in the Meeting before I could C 83 ] I ccCild fee my Way clear to fay any thing, until the Lord's heavenly Power raifed me, and fet me upon my Feet as if one had Hfted me up, and what I had firft ill commiffion to fpcak, was in the Words ot Chrift to NicQdemus, viz. Except a Ma?i be born ^- ^ain, he cannot fee the Kingdom of Gcd'y with thefe Words, Nay^ the natural and imre generate Man can- not fo much as fee the heavenly and fpiritual Kingdom of Chriji^ which Hands not only in Power, but alfo in Righteoufnefs, Joy and Peace in the kol^ Spirit ; and to be born again ^ was not to be done unpercctvahJy^ no I more than the natural Birth could be brought forth with-- out Trouble 'y and to fret end to be in Chrijl and /lot to be new Creatures, is prepojlercus , and to pretend to be new Creatures J and yet not able to render any Accou7it how it was performed, was unreafonabk y for it could not be, as I urged before, without our Knowledge ; for to be born again, fgnifiedto be quickned and raifed into a fpiritual and new Life, by which the Body of the Si?2S of the FleJJj is mortified^ and we come to live ajelf-- denying Life : Thofe who are crucified with Chrift^ the^ \are crucified to their Sins ^ that as he died for Sin^ we \ might die to Sin : In this State we live not after the Fief J although we live {z% the Apoftle laid) /;; the Flefji but the Life which thefe live, is through Faith in the Son of God : And to have all this, and much more wrought in uSy and we know nothing ofit^ is unac-- countable. ^ As I was thus opened, dnd delivering thefe Things, iwith much more than I can remember, the great Woman I felt, for moft of an Hour together, fought and flrove againfl the Teflimony, fometimes look-- ! • ing r S4 ] ing up in my Face with a pale, and then with a mor^ ruddy Complexion ; but the Strength of the Truth increafcd, and the Lord's mighty Power began to fhake the People within and without Doors 5 but {he who was looked upon as a Deborah by thefe People, Was loth to lofe her outfide Religion, or the Appear- ance thereof : When fhe couldi no longer contain^ £he fubmitted to the Power of Truth, and the Doc- trines thereof, and lifted up her Voice and wept : Oh ! then the univerfai Cry and i^rokennefs of Heart and Tears was wonderiui. From this Time I do riot remember one Word that I fpoke in Teftimony, it was enough that I could keep upon the true Bottom," and not be carried away with the Stream above m Meafure. I might add much more concerning this Dayi Work, but I intend not to fay any thing to the Praile^ of the Creature, but to the Renown of the mighty Nanae of the Lord of Hofls, and let all Fjeih lyc as in the Duft for ever, for while I continued fpeaking in this State, as before mentioned, and thus fwallow- ed up in the internal Elefence of Chrift, where there was no want of Power, Wifdom nor Utterance, I Ipoke but a Sentance and ftopt, and fo on for lome Time, I have fmce thought of yoJm^ being in the Spirit 071 the Lord's Day. If it had been a State to have been continued in, lam of the mind, I fhoul4 not have been ienfible of Wearinefs, neither ol Hun- ger or Pain. This is a Myflery to many, yet thefe are faithful and true Sayings, thou may ft read that canfl ; but there are none who can knew the ^uchite Stone and new Namey hut they who have // :. There arc 4, I [ 85 ] lare none who ftand upon Mount Sion with Harps, of IjGod in their Hands, but only fuch as have come \ through great tribulations, andf^ve wajhed their Gar-- '' merits and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb ; , to thcfe are the Seals of the Book of the Myfieries oj^ the glorious Kingdom opened*, thefe are culled out of Nations^ Kindreds, Tongues and People \ thefe are redeemed out of the fallen and earthly State of old Adam, into the living, heavenly andfpiritual State in Chrijl the fecond Adam ; thefe cry holy ; the other Part of the Chil- dren of Men cry unholy, becaufe they are not wil- ling f(? ca/l down their Crowns at the Feet or Appear- I znct of Cbriji in their own Souls-, altho' fuch, with the four Beads may cry, come and fee, yet are they not properly qualified toworjhip the Lord God and the Lamb before his Throne, as the four and twenty Elders did, and as all do, and will do, who worfhip God in his holy Temple in Spirit and in Truth, accord- ing to his own Appointment ; who are not tyed up to the Canons, Creeds. Syftems and Didates of Men, much of which is beaten out of the Wifdom, Parts, and natural Comprehenfion, of earthly fallen Man. I I return from this, which may feem a myflerious J Digreffion to the other Fart of what did happen con- I cerning the Meeting, and come now to the breaking iup thereof; andas extream Heats oft, end in extream Cold, and as great Heights frequently centcc (as to Alan in this Capacity) in great Depths, and great jPlenty in great Poverty, which I have often ittn to be good in order to keep the Creature low, in Fear, and in a Dependence upon the Lord, I foon fell [ 86 3 feil into fuch a Condition that I was like to die aivaj and when it was jfj, I with my Companion madl a Motion to break i|^ the Meeting, but could not for fomeTime, for they fat weeping univerfally ; then I told the Meeting, elpecially fuch as were near me; that if ipdouldfcint away^ I^coouldnot have them to be furprizedat it j for I was much concerned left that ihould hurt thefe tender People; my Life was not dear to me in comparifon of the Worth of the Souls -cf the Qiildren of Men ; but all this did not break up the Meeting : But after fome Time Man Star- buck ftood up, and held out her Hand, and fpoke tremblingly and laid, All that ever we have been build-- ing^ and all that ever we have done^ is all puWd down this Day^ and this is. the everlafting Truth ; or very near thefe Words. Then flie arofe, and lobferved that fhe, and as many as could well be feen, were wet with Tears from their Faces to the fore Skirts of their Garments, < and the Floor was as though there had been a Shower of Rain upon it ; but Mary^ that worthy Woman, faid to me, when a little come to coniider the poor State that I was in. Dear Child what (hall I doforyoU ? I faid, a little would do for me ; if thou canft get me fomething to drink that is not ftrpng but rather warm, it may do well : So fhe did, and I went unto her Son's, where my Cloaths were, • that I might Ihift me, for I felt Sweat in my Shoes as I walked. 1 mention this partly for the fakes of fuch .61 Brethren, who may be at any time in the |li to take Care to keep out of the Cold, and bfl^arefV^ drinking that which is cold, neither is Brandy good, for «• 87 ] hv it feeds too much upon the weakned Vitals ; but in all Things endeavour to poiTdz your ^ Veflels in Sandtification and Honor : xind as it is not in Man's Power to make the Veflel clean nor prepare it, there- ifore if the Lord doth (with thy Obedience through the Work or his Grace and holy Spirit) fit thy Veffel for his Work and Service, take this Caution ; fee that thou neither detlroy^ defile^ nor hurt the fame. But it may be, fome or other have dane all thefe, fome one way and fome another. ^^ I remember Feleg Slocum (before mentibnS^) iaid after this Meeting, that the like he was never at j for he thought the Inhabitants of the Iflarid were ihaken, and moft of the People convinced of the ' Truth : However, a great Convinccment there was that Day, Mary Starbuck was one of the Nirrnber3 and in a fhortTime after received a publickTeftimony, as did alfo her Son NathanieL After I was fomewhat revived, my Companion- having a Mind to fpeak to the Prieft, to know why he did fo refled: on him, deiired me to go with liimy jwhich I did with leveral more, and coming to his poor where he was fet upon a Bench, James Bates afked him, why he didfo reJieSl'? He repiy*d, he was in a Pa/Jion^ and had nothing againji him 3 tht •\ James' Iforgave him, and they fell into fome Debate con- cerning Faith ; my Friend urged the Apoftle James s Word?, which are thefe, As the Body is dead%nth- out the Spirit, jo is Faith without Works. The Pffeft ^lid, Dead Faith was tiothifig^ and that it had m Be-- ing in the WorlL I thought he appeared to be in the Craft ; and after they had tugg'd at it a while, I faid, / [ S8 ] 7 found Jomething in my Mind to i7iterpofe^ if thi would hear me 5 they both Ihewed a Willingnefs hear what I had to fay ; and then I aiked, "what Be- lief or Faith that was the Devils had f for I did not un-- derjiand^ but that although they btUeved there was a Gody they remained Devils fill -^ therefore the Word dead, is a proper Word^ and properly adapted to that which many may r^// Faith and is not operative^ but a Notion that may he reeeived by Eiucaticn^ by hearing cr readings and not that Faith which works by Love^ and overcomes the World ; and becaufe oj its not workings being ina5live and ufelefs, is fitly called dead ; What doft thou fay to that ? He faid, I was too great a Scholar for him. I replied, there was no great Scho-- larfdip in that. He then invited me to ftay all Nighty and faid I fhould be as welcome as his own Children^ and he and I would difpute about that between our-* felves. I declined it and fhewed thefe Reafons for io doing ; 7/ he declifid the Debate publickly, 7 would not debate it privately ; jor then thefe Neighbours oj his would want the Benefit of it ; and fo we parted^ with my faying, as it immediately fprang up in my Heart, ^hou hafi been a Man in thy young Tears that^ the Lord has been near^ and favoured with many Ope^ ningSy and if thou hadfi been faithful to the Gift of Godi thou might eft have been ferviceable^ but thou haft been unfaithful^ and a Cloud is come over thee^ and thou art laid afdc as ufelejs. I was altogether a Stranger to the State of the Prieft, nor had I heatrd any thing of him, nor mdeed of the State of the Inhabitants of the Ifland, but what 1 heard after moftly from Mary Starhuck -, for SIS we walked from the Prieft's Houfc towards our Quarters, flie faid, everyThingjhe now met with^ did confirm her in the Truth -, for Jhe knew this was the State of thePrieft, as I had faid; Ihe being acquainted with iiiinin his heft State, and then he had fine; Openings, and a hving Miniftry among them, but of late a Cloud was come over him, and, as I faid, h: was laid by and ufelefs. She alio put mc in mind of iome- thing I had faid in the Meeting ^out.Eledliony which as near as I can remember was thus:* I had endeavoured to make (?w Z;^ the Ele^ioA, /^vA one born again^ much the fame; for I had laid Wafle all claim to EleSiion without being bor?i agaifi-, for as Chrifl: was the Cbofen or EleSi. ofGod^who never fell, could fuch who were in the Fall be the Branches of Chrift, the pure heavenly Vine? Or fuch who were found in the impure State, and in the Degeneracy, by Reafon of Sin and wicked Works? Or would Chrift be married to a People, and become as their Hulband, who were in an unconverted State? Could this be the true Church of Chrift? Could this be the Lamb's BriHe, who had departed from his Spirit, and was in the Pollutions of the World tlirough Luft, and running after the Pleafures and Fineries of the World, depending upon Ceremonies, and out- fide Things an'd Elements, which appear not to be ejjential io our Salvation, neither do we find Life in them, nor Converfion through them ? I was of the Apoftle's Mind, that neither Circumcifion nor Vncir-- cumcifion availeth any Thing, but a new Creature .^ 4nd what Man in the World can fay, that Water (althoug) iie may have been baptized or dipped into G z ^the r 90 ] the fame) hath converted him, or changed his Stat^ from a natural to a fpiritual, or from a dead to a liv- ing State in Chrift? Or, who that have gone through the mofl celebrated Ceremonies (as iome may account them) had thereby got Domhzion over Bin and Satan? Having thus treated of Things, or to this pur- pofe, among them, I faid to Mary thatJJje warrei and ft rove againji the Teftimofiy for a Time : And near as I remember, fhe faid their Principle was ^haf fuch who believed once in Chrift, were always^ ii him^ without PoJJibility oj falling away ; and whom had once loved^ he loved to the End : And it was Diftindlion they had given to their Church, to be calJ led EleSlarims ; and as I faid, or near it, fie had no mind to be pulled out of her [irong Hold. But when jfhe faw the Glory of Cbrift, and the true Churchj as the Queen of the South faw Solomon %^ and the Giory of his Houfe^ and as (lie had her Qtieflions and Doubts anfvi^ci^ed, fie bad no more Spirit in her or Doubts or Qncflions, but openly ovvaied, This is the Truth, this is the Glory I have heard fo much of : That Spirit of doubting and queftioning was fvval- lowed up now, by her hearing and beholding for herfelf this greater than Solomon^ his Wifdcm and Glory, and the great Houfe that he had built (the Servants, the Attendance, and exceilent/Order, with the Afcent unto the Houfe ot God, which were all wonderful in Solomons Houie, carried in them a live- ly Refemblance of Chrift, his Power, Glory and Wifdom) as alfo that Order and Mean which is (een among his faithful Servants, his Church and People, even fuch as our Ipiritual Solomon rules iu and over by [ 9^ by his Spirit and Power. Here is Solomon, or Man of Peace, elle where called the Priiice of Peace -, and as Sohmon ruled in Jerufalem, formerly called Salem. or City of Peace, and indeed over all Judah, and over all his Tribes, fo doth Chrift in his Kingdom every where upon the Face of the whole Earth, Learn this, fee and know in and forthyfelf^ that thou art truly tranflated out of the Kingdom of Death and Darknefs into the Kingdom of Chrift, which' is a Kingdom or Pov^er, Lite, Light, Peace and Joy in the'Holy Ghoft. I was much bov^ed down in my Spirit, and in Weaknefs, Fafting, and in much'|?tear; for the more that Truth appears, the more it brings the Creature into Self-abafement. A Paffage is here revived to my Mind, ^yh^^^^ ^^'^^ thus: After a large Yearly-meeting, where were many able Minifters, one of whom was worthy William Pen, who taking me afideuftexii^e Meet- ing, faid The main Part of the Ser^rce of ibis 'D-dfs Work went on thy Side, and we Jaw ffy and werii %ml- li?2g and eajy to give way to the Truth, ikough it was through thee, who app tars but like a ^hxuh-, and it is but reafonable the Lord make ufe oj whom he pleafes: New, methinks, thou ?72ay/i be cheerJuL ¥vovc\\Y\\ic\\ I gathered^ that he thought I was too much incli- nable to be caft down ; therefore I gave him this true Anfwer, / endeavour to keep in a medium, out of all Ex-* ^'^ams, as lilieving it to be mo[l agreeable to my Sta-- n\ with this Remark, theworji of my Times rather hitter thebejitome': William ihook his Head, and faid with much Refpe6t, There are many who (leer ^ht tbirtcurfe bcjides thee, and it is the fafe/i Path for Us [ 9^ 1 US to walk in:, with feveral other *Expreflions whicii befpcke AfFeftion. This worthy Man, and Miftifter of the Gofpeli notwithftanding his great Endowments and excellent Qualifications, yet thought it his place to ftoop ta and give way to the Truth, and let the holy Tefti^ mony go through whom it might pleale the Lord tdl impower and employ in his Work, although it might be through contemptible Inftruments. I fincerely defire this may prove profitable to thofe whom it may concern, and into whofe Hands it may come, that the Lord's Work may be truly minded, and gi- ven way unto, when it is opened s for feeing no Man can open it, let not any flriveonthe Man's Part to flnit the l9.me. I have at times feen fomething of this Nature, w^hich hath not been altogether to my Satisfadlion; a Word to the JViJemay ferve^ I would hope, and may be fuflicient for a Caution, for wdiat I have written is in the Love of God, and under a Concern that hatii |?een upon my Mind at Times, for feme Years, to leave behind me a gentle Caution to my tender Friends of both Sexes, to have an efpecial Care in all things, to recommend not only their Gifts, but their Demeanor in them, as alfo their Converfations after theni, to every Man's Confcience in the Sight of God, fo that you may build up the Lord's Houfe (like the wife Woman) and always have a great Care, that nothing you fay or do may any way tend to the Hindrance of die Lord's Work^ or difcourage the Weakeft in the Flock of Chrifl, but labour to faften every Sfcake, and ftrengthen every Cord of Sio?2y and as much as you are capable, build up [ 93 ] lup.thc Tabernacle in Jerufalem^ for as God is a Spi- rit, and the Soul of Man is a fpiritual Exiftence, and !as the Soul and Body of Man become fanftified and iprepared, as a Temple for the Lord by his holy Spi-- Irit to tabernacle in, the Lord is to fuch as a Sane- ituary to fly to, and reft in, from Heats and from Storms : Here is the true Church's Rock, and Place of Defence {to wit) the Name and Power of the mighty God. Oh ! that all the Inhabitants of the Earth were acquainted with this Name, and Rock of Defence, they would not then be fo much over- come, as they are, with the Power of the Enemy of the Soul, but live above his Region, which is ia the Earth, or rather, in the earthly Hearts of Men^ All you who have efcaped the Pollutions of the World, keep in your Tents, until the Lord moves and leads forward, and opens the Way, fometimes as in a WildernefSp Read and underftanci from whence thefe Things have their Rife and Original, for there is the Church's Safety, and its Comimefs too, in abiding in the Truth ; this is your Place of Safety where the Ene« my has no Power, where the Wiles of Satan and In- ventions of Man cannot re^chy no Inchantmenthath- Power over the fe, renowned be the great Name of the Lord now and for ever. How comfortable, how eafy and pleafant are even all the Books, and Teftimonies, and Exhortations, that are given forth in the Spirit, Love and Life of Ghrift? yea, the very Company and Converfation of fuch who are preferved in the Life, becomes a fweet Saviour of Divine Life to the Living ; there is "^ ' Edification [ 94 1 Edrfi^Gation, Comfort andConfolation, a jflrengthni? and building up one of another in the moft ho^yanc precious Faith, fo that I find the truly quickAedj Soul takcth great. Delight to refort to, and as mucf as may be, converfe with the awakened and tru! quickned Souls who take up the Crofsof Chriflda^ ly, andfoliowhiminthe Way of Self-denial, althou^^^ it be a Way that is much fpoken againft, by fuch who know not the Nature andDifcipline of the ho- ly Crofs, and defpife fuch who are true followers ot ehrift. To feel this clTential Virtue, Seed or Lea- ven of the Kingdom, or Salt of the Covenant (Chrift) to work fo eitedtually to the reftoring pf the Powers and Faculties of the Soul, into the iirdi Rectitude and Purity, that all the Malignity may be throughly purged out, with all the Drofs or Tin/ which defileth the Man, and makes him unfit for the Kingdom and for the Service of God, is a great Work. Neither is the Veffei preserved clean, (v/hen it is in degree clean/ed) but through great Care Watchfulnefs and Diligence in attending upon the Lord with great Devotedneft, and Ref^gnation to his Mind and Will in all Things : Experience hath taught us, as well as v/hat we read in the holy Scrip- tures, that there are many Combats to go through, for fuch as are engaged in this Warfare, before the. above-faid State, viz. Deliverance fro?n Sin arid Sa- tan^ and a Sabbatical or feacefiii Reji in Chrijl can be obtained to the Soul. Come thou that loveft the Light, and bringcflthy Deeds to the Light ; and believell in the Light, and hall thy Body full of Light, by keeping thine Eye fm- gle [ 55 ]' i}c to God^ and in and to all Things that may tend t* pis Glory and thy Duty, thou wilt become a Child d( the Light, and receive the whole Armour of Light j ^his is that which will arm thee on the right Hand knd on the left : Put off thy own Righteoufnefs, kvhich it may be thy Breaft hath been too much pof- leffed with, and put on Chrift's Righteoufnefs as a Breajl-plafey for it much imboldens in imminent Dangers, and alfo at approaching Death ;j w^ait upon him that hath Power, that thy P'eet may befiodwith the Preparation of the Go/pel of Peace ; fo that as the Gofpcl-Powcr, and Gofpcl-Miniflry, all tend to ga- ther into the Ways of theGofpel and of Virtue^ thou may ft not fail to be a Preacher of Righteoufnefs in thy Walking, and in thy whole Converfation ; for this is one of the good Ends for which the Gofpel- Power hath reached and vifited thy Soul, viz. to purge it and make it cleans and take care to have upon thy Head the Helmet of Salvation^ which will be a Strength and as a Crown to thee, not only in thy ma- ny Encounters, but more efpecially in thy laft En- counter with Death ; and that thou mayft have Faith ai a Shield to put on^ that thou mayft overcome the World and have Victory ; and above all things, I take to thyfelf the Sword of the Spirit, which is the (Word ©f God, that through this excellent Armour ! of Proof, thou mayft be able to quejtch all the fery j jyarts andTemptatio7is of the Devil. I If thou art a Soldier of Chrift, this is thy Ar- Imour ; thefc are thy Accoutrements which fit thee for thy Vocation, as a Follower of the Lamb through many Encounters with thy Enemies, which Ar* mour [ 96 ] mour will give thee the Viftory, and bring thoil through many Tribulations, which is the Way u the Kingdom of Heaven. Now leaving the Eaftern Parts of New-E72glan(llil and thefe fine tender People on Nantucket Iflanc with fervent Supplications and Prayers to the Loi? of Heaven and Earth, that he would profper bleffed Work and. Converiion which he had begi amongft them, and in all inch upon the Face of the whole Earth, in the next Place I came to hynn^ tc Samuel CoUingSy where I had not been long before I met v/ith an unulual Exercife, which I had ex-t * pedled for fome Time would fall upon me, "viz. Having heard of Georgi Keitlos Intention of be- ing at Lynn Monthly-meeting the next Day, (this Ly72ny as near as I remember, lies between Salem\x\ the Eaft Part and Bojion) -the Evening coming on, as I was writing to fome Friends in old E77glahdy one came in hafte to defire me to come down, for George Keith was come to the Door, and a great Number of People and a Prieil: with him, and was railing againftFriends exceedingly. Ifaid, inafmuch as I underhand this Lynn'i Meeting is^ although larger viojily a newly convinced People^ I advife^y^^/ to befwift to hear, but Jlow to fpeak^ for George Keith hath a Life in Argument ; and let us as a People feek unto^ and cry mightily to the Lord^ to look down upon uSj and help us J or his Name's fake, for our Prefervaiiony that none may be hurt. The Country was much alarmed 3 for, as Friends faid, George Keith had given Notice two Weeks be- fore-hand^ that he interided to be at this Monthly* meeting, [ 97 ] Reeling, and the People were in great Expedatlon to hear the Quakers run down, for George Knihh^d boafted much of what he would prove againfl Friqnds. So after fome Paufe, Retirement and fer- ment Seeking to the Lord for Direilioq and Counfei in this important Affair, I went to the Rails, and leaned my Arras on them near George Keith's Horfe's iHead, as he fat on his Back, and many People were with him ; but the few Friends who were come ftood with me in the Yard, My fervent Prayers were to the Lord, that if he gave me any thing to fpeak to George^ it might go forth in that Power and Wifdom which was able to wound that wicked Spi- rit in which he appeared, and boafted over Friends after the following Manner, crying,. Is here a Man that is a Schelar? Is here a Man that under (lands the Languages among ft you f I/foy 1 willdifpute with him. I told him, It was probable that the Englifh Tongue "was mojl underjlood and ufed amongji that People^ and therefore I thought it was the be ft to keep to it. He went on and faid, that he was come in the ^eens Name to gather the Quakers from Quakerifm, to the Mother Church, the good old Church ^/England and that he intended to exhibit in our Meeting on the Mor- row thefc Chargesfollowing againjl us^ which ^ he faid, he could prove we were guilty of out bf our Friendi Books, \\x. Errors, Herefies. damnable Dodrines ^;^^BIa[phemies : Look faid he, to anfwer for your- felves, for if you do not, the Auditory will conclude, that what I exhibit againji you is true. 1 was roufed up in my Spirit in a holy Zeal a- gainft his wicked Infults and great Threatnings, H and \ I 9S ] and fald to him, T'hat it was the Fruit of Malice Envy^ and that he was to us but as an heathen Man and^u Pubiicar % (but more of this anon.) Then he began to cad wl^t Shirs and Odiums he could upon Friends with Inch bitter Invedives as his Ma- lice would invent. I flood vvith an attentive Ear and a watch-ui Mmd ; for as I ftood leaning upon the R-aiis, With no fmall Concern upon my Mind, I felt the Lord's Power ^arife, and by it my Strength was rentWvdinthc inner Man, and Faith, Wildom and Courage with it, fo that the Fear of Man, with all his Parts and Learning, was taken from me ; and in this State George Keith appeared to me but as a little Child^ or as nothing : Renowned be the moit excellent Name of the Lord, now and for ever. But thio; great Champion [Goliah like, at leail in his^ Mind) I fbppofed fear'd not any there ; he overlook- ed us all, and in the Pride of his Heart difdained us;* but the Lord of Heaven and Earth looked down up-/ ^n us in a very acceptable Time, and helped us for his Name's fake, and covered our heads in the Day of Battle -.Glorified be his great Name for ever. I have fometimes thought to omit fome Part of this Account concerning George Keith\ but I remem- ber it opened very clearly in my Mind then, and I fiid to him, l^hat the Hand of the Lord was againfi- himy and that he would pour forth Contempt upon him^ for his Difobedience and JV^ckedncJs. But to return to hisReliedions ; hefaid, the QlTa- ' kers pretend to be againjl all Ceremonies ^ but he iouL prove that they ujed many Ceremonies^ as taking one another by the Hand, and Men faiutip^ne another, and [ 99 ] ind Women doing fo to one another, and, he faid, \ljat Women did falute Men ; yea, they bad done i: to ^ Jim ; as it was generally nnderflood by thoie who Ard him, which I thougMt not v/orthy mv Notice, {but more of this anon.) He went on aijd faid, the ' ^Makers pretended to he again(i all Pcrfecution, but V were not clear ^ for the C^aktirs in Pennlyivania '" hiid the Jerleys had perfecuted him^ and would have ^'' hanrfd him, but that there ^doas fhne Alteration in the ^ovemmejtt. * Then came out one of my Arrows which cut and ^' wounded him deep : I laid, George, that is fiot true. Upon that the Prieft drew near and appeared very ' brifk, and faid, I had as good as charged Mr. Keith \ fas he called him) with a Lye. I rephed, Give me ' Time, and I will prove that which George faid, was not true, and then thou and he may take your Advan-- 'age to refcue him from that Epithet of a Lyar if you can. The Prieft faid, / knew not Mr. Keith : I replied, If he kftew him as well as I did, he woidd be aJJjam'd^ ^0 be there as an Abbettor of him. The Prieft got away, and^ troubled me no more in all the Engagements that George and I had afterwards (a? ho' the faid Prieft was with him,) Then I demanded of George^ What Way our Fi^iends proceeded againfl him, and what Meafures they took, as he wotdd infinuate, to \bri?ig him to the Gallows F But I perceived Fear be- jgan to furprize the Hypocrite, and he thinking by |my Boldnefs I was an Inhabitant in thofe Parts, and |kncw his Abufe to Friends in thefe Provinces, and their peaceable Behaviour towards him, vvas will- ling to let thtMalter drop, and demanded my Namey which [ loo ] which was told him. I then afkcd, Hoiv he could ha'\ a Face to urgefiich a notorious JJntruth in the View that Feople who were much Strangers to, and ignoraf, cj the Troubles and Differences^ ^k^{fty created by hir among Friends in thofe Paris. ' This Meeting (as before mentioned) being gc ncrally newly convinced of the Ti-uth, theiefor I urged to have him come to the Particulars of Friends Proceedings a2;ainft him, that even for very Shame among thoie Strangers he v^^ould fet forth as far as he could in Truth the Steps Friends had taken in perfecuting him, as he pretended ; hut he Would not meddle in the leafl with it. Then I ihew- ed him, and the People, the Falfity of his Charge, and the Wickednefs of his Spirit, and the Peacea- blenefs of Friends Behaviour towards hirri, and what great Affronts and Provocations they had put up with at his Hand, as I had it from thofe who were Eye and Ear Witnefies of it : For, as I fhewed George Keith ^ I had fearched into the Bottom of ihele Matters, and heard that when he flood before Go- vernors and AfTembly Men in their Courts of Ju- dicature, when they were met about the Affairs of the three Provinces, he has tore open his Buttons and told them, His Back tickled Jcr a Whippings and could they not cut him into CcllopSy andjry, and. eat them with Salt : And that he [corn dthey fhould wipe his Shoes : All which, with much more, I told hira I coidd prove again/l him. * And when he faw he could not provoke Friends to give him fome condigrx Punifhment, which I thought, as I faid to him, non^ hit Friends would have jpared^ efpecially, when bi^ ^ Back [ loi ] '^ack tickled fo much for a Whipping ; but they like Ivlen of Peace and Religion overlooked it all, and |ie like a Man full of Malice, rather than want Ibmething to flur and blacken Friends with, writ a Letter I know not where, but dated it from £nV- \ington Prifon in Weli-jerfey. - It muft have been da- ted on the outfide of the Prifon, the Doors being ilpck'd, fo that he could not get into it s yet this went Icurrent far oft, that George Keith was in Prifon ; confequently bv Friends Procurement, they being chief at the Helm of Government in thofe three Provinces. I afked, What he had to fay to all this^ for it was all provable '^ He did not objedl one Word againfl: what I had faid, but vainly hoping for better Suc- cefs relating to his Undertaking in old England^ finding mc (as he might fuppofe) fo well vers'd in the American Affairs, hoped (no doubt) that I had been more i-gqorant of the Affairs in Britain: But ipoor Man, he fped as ill there alfo ; for he boafting- |ly faid. Since it pleafed God to open his Eyes to fee into the worfl of the Quakers Errors ; although^ he faid. Charity did oblige him to confirue every thing at the hejl whilji in Fellpwpip with them^ but fince they were Jo opened^ as he faid, he had l^een inftrumental to bring from Quakerifra, to the good old^ Mother Church in old England five hundred People. I replied, that is not true : If he rightly confidered what he had done in old England, he had little caufe to boaft ; jor^ \ faid, I thought about as 7nany Perfons as he Jpoke of Hundreds^ would 7nake up the Number there y a?2d-if there was Ofcafon^ I cguld nqrne all or moji of them : And And withal told him, that fomeof thofe few, whifm among us, were grown to be wither honourable noi comjortabk to us, I urged George, if he could, t^ name or make appear more in Number than I ha^ mentioned, that he had fo gathered, as he l>«d falfl'j faid. This was a very great Stroke upon him, an^ put him to a Stand. He then began to afk of my Country, and fror whence I came ? with the Account of which I hu- moured him ; yet withall put him in mind of his great Brag, and Jmportuned him to liiake fome-"^ thing appear towards that great Matter he had done in old England, even for very fhame ; for I was afliam'd for him, that a Man of his Learning, Parts and Pretenfions, fhould fo cxpok bimfelf ; but he went no farther about it. Then I fliewed to the People what Sort of a Man he was, (as they them- felves could not but fee, who. were impartial) and that he was not worthy of our Notice ; for he cared not w^hat he laid, fo that he could but calumniate and abufe us. By this Time he appeared fomewhat glutted w^ith the fharp Sword and keen Arrow the Lord gave me, which cut and wounded deep, fo that from this Time I did not find in our after Encounters, he ap- peared at any time fo bold and defperately hardy, but rather exprefled himfelf, altho' very wickedly, yet in a fofter Tone. He was now for being gone, threatning us with what he would do on the Morrow ; but Y reminded him, that he w^as to us an heathen Man or a Publican, and that what he exhibited a- gainfl u?j being but the Fruits of Wrath and Envy, as [ 103 1 j is fuch we flighted and trod it under our Feet as Dirt, and rather defired his Abfence than his Com- pany : So away he went only telling us, he would be with us in tb€ Morning. We underftood by it, that he intended to be with us at the Friend's Houfe^ ; the Meeting-houfe being about a Quarter oi a Mile from our Lodgings. The Evening coming on, the neighbouring Pref- byterian Women fell hard upon our Women Friends about their jalutiiig Mcn^ which George Keith had charged upon them, as was generally underftood in the Plural, and this appeared as a Confirmation^ as they alledged, becaufe when charged^ I made no Reply to it^ as I had done to all our mojl other Charges^ and had overthrown Mr. Keith, as they faid,yc> that he was not able to ftand before me: They ought to have faid be^ fore the Lord'm the iirft Place : But how the Women might clear themfelves of that Refledlion was the prefent Bufinefs : I faid, I thought it would be the beft, at a fuitable Time in the Morning when George Keith was come, that by handfomely bringing tlie' Matter over him, they might learn what Womea they were who fainted him, and fo clear themfelves from the Refleftion caft upon them ; for, I faidy perhaps he will limit it to fome of his near Kindred (as Wife, Modier, Siiler, Daughter) which may fervc for a Salvo in this prefent Cafe ; for I did not know of any fuch general Pradice in any Place where I had been, and I had vifited moft of the Meetings in England, Scotland, and PFales. So in the Morning when George, with two Priefts, and many People were come, with fome Friends, who filled theHoufe, [ ic-4 ] a Woman Friend ftood up and brought the Mattel difcrftely over George Keith. But when (he put the Queflion in the Phiral, {Women) he ihifted the Term and faid, he did not fay Women. I defired the Friend to call to her Neighbours who heard what George Keith had faid the lall Evening, and were now pre fen t, how they iinderftood the Word ^ One like a wife and jufl: Man laid, He would do Juftice to ever Man ; and he underjlood that G tor gc faid Women' and many faid to the fame Purptffe, but none to the Contrary, The Friends afked me, Howlw^dcrflood the Word ? As being a North Coiajtry-man^ I mi^ht know better the North or Scotch Dialedl than they. I reply'd They had a broad way of exprejjtng the Wor^ Woman, rather founding it like the plural^ but luti- derfioodit Women, as the above mentioned difcree Man had faid. . The next QueiT-ion fhe put to him was, Whmi Woman ? He anfwercd, j4 good old ?notherly Woma\ that was gone to Heaven many Tears ago. Then flie afked, What Country Woman ? He reply'd, -^Scotch! Woman. The Friend faid, It was very w.ell that he had cleared all the World of that Fault (if it might be fo termed) but Scotland, and the Wonian dead manj Tears ago. The Women Friends were greatly fa- tisfied, and glad they were fo finely difcharged o£ that which fonie counted a foul Refledlion, and efpecially before their Jealous Neighbours the Pref hyterians, who. (as the Friends faid) probably might havetwitted them with it, whether the Matter was true or falfe, if it had net been clear'd up ; but as I faid, to George^ it was a RefteSlion for Refe£lions fake: 1 [ ^05 ] fake : For I was willing to fet every thing that was 'wrong (as far as I was capable) in its proper Light, I that Friends and others, ot all Perfwafions and Qua- lities who were prefent, might fee Things as they really were, and not be deceived -, and I had much Satisfaftion in fo doing. And inafmuch as I was en- gao;ed in the Defence of the Truth, it appeared the moft clear to me, to load him with his ow^n Lies, Miftakes and Wickednefs, and to do w'hat we did, as much as in us lay, in the Lord's mighty Power; for he appeared to me, like to the Angeis who kept not their firft State. Matters being thus far gone through, and the Meeting- time drawing on, I was in fome Concern of Mind, left any fliould be hurt by either hearing or anfwering GeorgeKeith^ hehavingagreat Propen- fity to jangling ; it 'therefore opened in my Mind to afk him a Queftion, withal reminding him, that he was but to us as a?i heathen Man cr a Publican^ yet he might, if hepleafed anfwer me the Queftion, v/hich was. Whether he ivas always found in the fundame7ital JDoSlrines of Chriftianity, yea or nay t Upon v/hich he Tat a confiderable Time in Silence, of which I was truly glad, my Spirit being much bowed under the Apprehenfion I had, of the weighty Exercife that was likely to attend the approaching Meeting. But before we parted, George flood up and taking his Staff in his Hand by the Middle, fald, IVhile he was a Quaker, he thought, as Paul thought, that he had the Spirit of God, and when he had the spirit of God, then he wrote found Things, but when he had it ^^'> then he wrote xxnionndi Things. ' I afked, /?'^' H 2 [ Jc6 J ibcr theje unfotmd things he wrotewere in Fundainci lals, yea, or nay ? Jf not in Fundamentals, then ;; ^ujiion remained firm and untouched. He wouL have gone from the Matter, but I reminded him it again, as I fuppofedhe forefavv that he could n* anfvver it, but by bringing a Stroke upon himfei for if he had owned his htmgiinfound, I had it uiidel his own Hand, in a Book written after he let1 Friends, that he was always founds &c. And if hi, had faid, he was always found in the Bnn^ainentals, ai before, then I intended to have aik:ed, why he lejt lis ? For he advocated the fame* orthodox ^Principles which w^e believed and taught ; ^but wc ended quiet- ly, and prepared to go to the great Meeting,- for by this time many Friends and People were come, and coming from every Quarter, to fee and hear how Matters would go between the poor ^lakers^ and this great Champion in his Heart George Keith, fc I thought he mo& relembled t[>e great Ccliah c Gathy who defied the Armies of the living God, of any I had ever yet fccn in all my Travels, in a re- ligious refpeft. Now to the Meeting we went; George Keith, with two Priells, and a great many People gathered together cf lever al ProfelTions and Qualities into one Body; aid Friends and feme friendly People into another Body; and as we came near to the Meetin^-hoiAle, I flood IhlJ, and took a View cf the A * People, and it appeared tome as if tv/o Arrnic^ were going to engage in Baltic: There appear with George Keith Men of confiderable Eft^ PartSj and Learninc?-, and we aooear'd likP P?^ I 107 j I Shrubs; and, under a Senfe of our firefcnt State, I had like to have been difmay'd, and nny *Faith had I even like to have failed me, but I cried mightily to the God and Fountain of all cur tender Mercie?, that he would look down upon us, and help us in this Time of great Exercife, which was not hid from him; bat his penetrating Eye faw, and his watch- ful Providence attended us, blefTed be his Name for ever. I continued my fervent Prayers and Inter- ceffions to the Lord ot Kofls, that he would arife for his great Name's fake, and work for us that Day, that the Enemies of Truth might not triumph or vaunt over us, and that none of thefe tender Plants, which he had brought to the fciving Knowledge of the Truth, might be hurt. I had no fooner thus heartily fought to the Lord, but I felt renewed Strength come upon me, and the Fear of Man was taken away from me, and I (iwv evidently that Truth would have the Viftory that Day, and my Faith and Confidence wms greath^ flrengthned in the Lord. Thefe iireathings forth of my Spirit to the Lord were in fecret, without Wordri. to be heard by Mdj^, but the Lord hears and knows the Diftrefs and Language of the Spirit. Being thus encouraged in m.yfelf, it arofe in my Heart to fpeak to Friends before we went into the Meeting ^Houfe, and I advifed them fo bcfwift to hear nndjh-jo tofpeck, and that nj;hat iva^ fpokcn might be in the Lcrd's Power, fo?^ that woinids George the moj:^ and Jlays that wicked and ra?tting Spirit in him, more than all^ the Wifdom oj Words without it ; and let us iiatntam our TePJmony of Denial agani/l him, and en-- dcaxcur [ io8 ] deavour to get together into one Bod)\ that we mctj he i Help andf)tre?igth one to another -^ and let every one u'J knows the Lord^ cry mightily unto hitn^ that his livih Power and Pre fence may be amongli iis^ and I be\iev\ the Lord "would iiotfi^ffer a?iy to be hurt. So the Mec ing gathered, and immediately after, George ftoc up to tell us (as before) that he "was come in the ^eei Na?nc to gather Qn^kt\^ from Quakerifm, to the gooa old Mother Churchy the Church of England (as he cal- led it) and that he could prove out of our own Books- that we held 'Errors^ Herelies, damnable Doctrines ^WBlafphemics 5 with a Threat to look to our/elves to ^n/wer^ or elje the Auditory would conclude^ that what i^e exhibited agai7'i/l us was true: I expected feme of tile elder Friends would hy lomething to him, but none d:d ^ and I having a deep Concern upon my Mind, left Truth, or the Friends of Truth, lliould fuffcr thro' our Mifmanagemcnt, and fuch as waited for Occalion, might have an Occafion adminiflred by Msagainft ourf:::lves 3 I (ay, under this Concern of Mind I ftood up, and iigniiied to the People what manner ol Mm George Keith was ; notwithflanding he had walked many Years aciongfi: us, yet towards the latter End of his fo walking v/ith us, he grew veiy troi-blefome, by reafon of a contentious Spirit which did poiieis him : And after much Labour and exerciilng of Patience^ and extending of Love to- wards hirn, in order to recover and reclaim him, ail that Labour of Love and much Forbe^arance would not avail, but he dill perfifted in theWc^kof Coii?cnrion and Diflurbance : Then he was jpub- bv/ned, and teflified againfl by us, as aPe- licklv di^ [ 109 ] (on with whom we had no Unity or Fellowfliip: knd being thus caft out, he became to us (agreeable ro the Sayings of Jelus Chrift) as an Heathen Man or p Publican \ and being thus disjointed, to expole us^ what lay in his Power, to all Sorts of People, he chofe printing againji us ; wherein he hath much a- bufed us, in leaving out many times the explanato- ry Parts of Sentences, and coining Words to make the Meaning appear different from what was defign'd and indeed, from what was mofl fair and genuine : Therefore, fome of our Friends found themfelves concerned to follow him in Print, for the clearing us from what Re, through Envy, would have willing- ly faften'd upon us, and to return his Self-contra- didlions, Mifinterpretations, and Mifapplications q our Writings upon himfelf, and to clear our own Xnnocency, and manifeft the Perverfnefs and Wick- ednels of his Spirit : Neither do we, as ' a People^ hold ourfelves to be under any Obligation to follow him into foreign Parts of the World, to anfwer his' Arraignments and Charges, not being confcious to ourfelves that we hold any thing contrary to found and orthodox Doftrine; and alfo knowing that what he exhibits sgainft us, is the Fruit of Envy and Ma« hce, as fuch we rejed: it, and trample it under our Feet ; and were it not for your Sakes, whoare Stran- gers to thcfe Things, we (hould take no further No- tice of George Keith than to flight and rejed him as a Man that cares not what he lays, nor is he worthy of our Notice. Then paufing a little, George being quiet, a Friend llcod up with a fhort, but living Teihmony, and [ no ] I ^.nd then my Companion ; all this in much WeigP and with good Demonftraticn. After them it pleat j ed the Lord to open my Mopth, I think in as mud Strength, Clearnefsand Demonflration as ever, Be- ginning with the following Words, In that We^ you call Heiyfi do ive Worfbip the God of our FatJjcrj^ believing all Things that are written concernijtg Jefti Chriji^ both as to his God-head and Manhood , giving a fummary Account of his Birth, w^orking of Mira cles, fome of his Dodirinc, Sufferings and Deatl Afcenfion and Glorificatidn, the Coming of the SpJ rit of Truth, or Comforter, to lead all thofe wl receive, believe, and obey it, into all Truth : Ha\ ing great Openings concerning the Law andProphctS and the. Beginning, Service and End of the AlinJ flration o^'^ohnX^a^ Baptift, The People appeareij very much down and ?.ttentive, for the Lord's heal venly baptizing Power was amongfi us that Dayf It was thought, many were there who had not beei at any of our Meetings of Worfhip before, and thi Prefence of the Prieils there, opened a Door for al the reft. 1 being clear, left them unto the Grace of Goc and unto thpir free Teacher Chrift, whofc heavenlj Power in the Appearance of his Spirit, the laft ani lading Difpenfation; was exalted that Day above al the fliadowy and typical. Things that ever had been in the World: A good Meeting;; it was, and Friends were mutually comfprted and edified in the intcrnnl Prefence of the Lord. The Prieft of this Place, whofeName was Skep- pard, before my Mcuth was opened in Teftimon^- mavi [ III ] lade Preparation to write, and when I began to 3eak, he had his Hat upon his Knee, and his Pa- er uoon its Crown, and Pen and Ink in his Hands, nd made many Motions to write, but writ nothing; , s he began lo he ended, without writing at a!L ^nd as Friends entered the Meeting-houfe in the lord's Power, even that Power which cut Rahaby nd wounded the Dragon^ which had been at work, ;eDt down in a good degree the wrong Spirit in Tcorge, for he appeared much down: But this bufy ^tiell called to him leveral Times to make his Re- Ay to what I had fpoke. After lome Time I faid the Prieft, in Behalf of the Meeting, \h2ithemight :ave Liberty to make Reply. He propofed to have another Day appoihted^^r a Dijpute to whichlfaid, f he did make a voluntary Challenge ^ which hefhouid lot fay v/e puthimtjpon, we^ or fame of us (mean- ing Friends) ij a Day and Place were agreed upony ^Ijoiddfjid it our Concern to anjwer him as well as we rould. He faid, he would have Mr. Keith to be with i^i/n: I told him, if he f^oidd^ and meddled in the Difpute, if J was there ^ IjhouldrejeSi him for Reafons bfcre ajjignd.- When the Prieft had faid this and fome.what more, an Elder of the Rrejhyterian Con-* gregation clapt him on the Shoulder, and bid him (it down:, lo he was quiet, and then flood up George Keith, znd owned he had been refrefhed amongjiusihaf Day, and had heard a great many found Trjiths, with "vne Errors, but that it was not the common Do5l7^ine 'f'bich the Qmktx^ preached: I then ilood up and faid, Ihadjomethingtofay to -(fr^icte what G^QV^eK^iih would infnuate-^ far his Driit [ "2 ] Drift was to infufe an Opinion into them,' that fakers did not commonly preach up Faith in t Manhood of Chrift-, as I had done that Day: I a pealed to the Auditory, whether they thought th was a Neceffity frequently to preis a Matter fo u verfally received amongft Chriftians, as Faith in t\ Manhood of Chrijl was? Yet we, as a People, had fo often and clearly demonftrated our Faith in the Manhood of Chrift, both in our Teftimonies and Writings, as might fatisfy any unbiafs'd Perfon, or fuch who were not prejudiced againft us^ and we know not of any People who believe more fcriptu- rally in the Manhood of Chrifl than we do: But in- afmuch as the Grace, Light and holy Spirit, is high- ly concern'd in the Work of Man's Salvation, as well as wha| Chrift did for us without us, and this be- ing yet much a'Myflery to many called Chriftians, it pleafes God to open, in the Courfe of our Mini- ftry, into the Meaning and Myflery thereof, and to prefs the latter more than the former. To which George made no Reply, but began to exhibit his Charges againft us (as mentioned before) and faid, he could prove them out oj cur Friends Books ^ naming George Fox, and Edward Burroughs &c. He had in a Paper a great many Qoc^tations cut of Friends Books, and a young Man with him had many Books in a Bag, out of which y he faid, he would prove the Charges. he was about to exhibit again li us. , He was now crowded up in the Gallery be- tween me and the Rail, with a Paper in his Ha«i; and I ftanding over him, and being taller, could U his Q^aotations and his Paraphrafes upon them, on vvhich [ 113 ] hich I told him loudly that all the Meeting might ar, That he offered Violence to that Seiife and Under- nding which GoU had given him^ andhe hiew in his •'ijcience^ we were not that People^ neither were our / friends IVriiings either damnable or hlafphemous^ as he ^^^'oiigh Envy endeavoured to make the JVorld believe^ \l that he would not have Peace i7i Jo doing, but Trouble ^im the Lord in his Confcience. I fpoke in the Lord's ireadful Power, and George trembled fo much as I ' pldom ever fawany Man do: I pitied him in my ^ ^eart, yet, as Mofes faid once concerning Ifraely I elt the Wrath of the Lord go forth againji kirn: leorge faid, Do not judge me 3 I reply'd the Lord iidges^ an^ all who are truly one in Spirit with the Lord^ cannot but judge thee. So he gave over, and it appearing a fuitable Time to break up the Meeting, Priends parted in great Love, Tendernefs, and Bro- ^ennefs of Heart -, for the Lord's mighty Power had been in and over the Meeting from the Beginning to the End thereof, glorified and renowned behismofl excellent Name, now and for ever, for his Marcies are many to thofe that love and fear him who is the , Fulnefs of all Good. This Meeting was not only for Worfhip, but alio for Bufinefs, as I faid to the People at our parting; it was Friends Monthly-meeting, in which their Poor, Fatherlefs, and Widows were taken Care of, and fuch other Things as concern them as a People. Two Friends v/ere defired to flay, to hear what GtTr^^ had to fay to them who remained, which faid two Friends gave an Account to us afterwards, that Gf.^rg-^ 1 to the People after we were gone, that thcQu2i^ I kers W^r\ kers had left fioiie to difpute with him but an Afs mi, a Fool \ when I heard it, I faid, could you not have rcply*d, A7i Afs was once madejufficient to reprove thi Madnefs of the Prophet'^ George called to fee me the next Day, and faid Ton kad the Advantage over me Yeflerday^ for you per- fwaded me to be quiet ufitil you had done^ and then you would not (lay to hear me ; neither indeed were weua- der any Obligation fo to do: I told him, I hoped that ^'ruih would always have the Advantage over thoje who cppojed it ; and fo we parted, but met again upon Rlooae-lfiand ^i^WQ Governor ofwhichPJace, who wasa friendly Maft, having heard of my Intention of com ing thither^, ordered the Deputy-Governor, when came; to have me to him, w^hich he did; and whe he favv me at the Door, and after Enquiry hear my Name, he took me by the Hand and led me ];ke a'Brc ther, or rather more Hke a tender Father, into a Pvoom, fetting me down by him, and then began to fay, I have heard much of you^ ajid J defir- id to ^eyou long^ and am glad you are here. I find- in;^ him near me in Spirit, was very open in my Mind to him, and anfwered him w^ith much Clear neis and Sati§fadlion. I remember he afked, Wi ther J thought the Sournefs in the Minds of the Prefb; V^xhns agdi?7f uSy was not rather abated? I told hi I did believe it was ; arid if our Frieiidsdidbut obfer to walk wifely^ and live up to what they profejfedy t _ 'ip^Ad overcome it all lie faid, that was the .%va^^ and f here was not another comp arable to it ; andy as^^ ftid/ and I believ^e it was fo, be had no other vi jhwi^ig^ J^r me^ but to marajA lis RejpeSls to [ 115 I dome any Service that lay in his Power : I told him, 1 was fenjible of his Love^ and %vifrjd I could be capa- ble of retaliating that which in Gratitude his Kindnefs ^0 me called ' for : He faid, he dc/ired no more than zohen Icame that way I would vijit hiniy ij he was A*-"^'- -'-^. I told him, I intended fo to do, ij^ ever it was , Lot to come there again. I theii defired he would ibe at the Meeting next Day, George Keith proporirig 'to be there, in all likelihood it would be very large; which he promiled he would, and accordingly came. George rhade little Difturbance in thef beginning of the Meeting, but commanded the Governor to quiet //f?^' Quakers: A. priefc faid, Mr. Keith, you ought not to command the Governor^ hut intreat hira\ wxll then, he intreated the Governor to quiet the fakers that he might be beards whereupcn the Governor, like a Man of Juftice and Wiidom, ilood / up and faid, It was not in his Power to quiet the Qup^- ' rs; inafmuch as the Houfe is theirs^andthcfhaveap-' ^ .lilted the Meetings it is but reafonahle theyjljould have their Liberty^ and if they he willing^ when they have done^ you have your Liberty to fay what you have to fay to thofe who will fay to hear you : So the Governor.be- ing next me, Ican'd his Hand upon me, and went ^ away in a fober Manner. George was quiet, and we had a good Meetinj^, and fo parted. After mou: of the Friends were gone, a Friend and I went to the Meeting-houfe Door, to Lear what George faid; he held his Bible in his Vx'.xnn^ and faid it was promiled, that the Gofpel Jhoidd he ^yr cached unto every Creature under Heav::n \ but if it was [ ii6 ] ivas truly tranJJated^ it would be in every Ci'eaturt,^ {not in every Creature as Horfe, Cow, &c. but tri every ratiojial Creature of Mankind :) And then their Meeting broke upm Confulion. My next Remove was to Lcng-IJIand, where 1 ■ mL^t with Thomas Sto?j, and John Rodman ^ John de- fired I'homas and me to be affiftant*to him in prepar- ing a Writing againft G^^ro-^ i^^///6, when he came to Flupjing Pvleeting upon the aforefaid Illand, which Writing was to this Effe6l, viz. " Whereas Colonel ^/^^^, an Inhabitant in thefc *^ Parts, who died and made Miles Forjier a Truf- ^' tge, gave by Will a conliderable Sum of Money. ^^ to poor Friends of London, which Money was '^ ordered by the Teflator to be put into the Hands, *^ of fome faithful Friends of the aforefaid City cf ^^ London^ to diftribute as above." A true Copy of which Will we obtained, and at the Meeting made it fairly appear to George Keith's Face, that he had v/rong'd the Pocr in receiving Fifty Founds of the aforefaid Money of M//^J jFi^ry/^'r, as appeared under Mi/es's own Hand; which George did not deny when he was charged with in the Meeting, as hiowingJy to have robbed the Poor ; it being made fairly appear, that George Keith had no Right to' meddle with the Money, neither as a faithful Friend, nor yet as a poor Friend of Lofidon^ becaufe he was then in America'^ and what made him more inca- pable of claiming any Part of it, was his being got into the Spirit oi Strife and Enmity againli Friends^ and therefore, before they could hear his Charges, liC ought to have firft laid down the Money, cr gi- ven [ "7 J ven fuch Security as Friends approved of ; neither of which he was capable of doing : So he was flighted by all or mod of the People, as well as by Friends, land this blocked up his Way fo much that we had I little or no Trouble with him in that Part of the [World: But the Lord wrought for his Name's Sake^ land the Prefervation of his tender People, Praifes and Honour be given to his great Name, now and for ever. Thus ended this Engagement betwixt a poor Servant of Chrift, and a grai^d spoliate, who appeared to fight againft Reafon, Senfe and Con-, fcicnce. Think not, my Friends, the Account too long, for it hath feem'd to me, for feme time, a Debt due to my Brethren, and a piece of Juftice to the Memory of George Keith, for his Wickednefs^ Revcking, and fad Jpo/iacy. Few there are who can believe how great the Power of Darknefs and Wickednefs of that Mind and Spirit was, which pof- fefled and breathed through him ; fo great it was, that even the confiderate and fober People faid, tkcy did not think that George Keith had been fo wicked a Man as they now found he was upon ^riaL Courte- ous Friend and Reader, hold faft that which thou haft receiv'd, that none may take thy Crown, for it is laid up in Store for the Righteous only, and fuch who hold out to the End, in the fame pure Righ^ teoufnefs which is of Chrift wrought and continued in Man, by the Operation and Indwelling of his ho- ly Spirit, as Man abideth in Subjedion and Obedi- ence to the Leadings and Dictates thereof, I told George, that I was much aJJ^amed cfhis com- plimenting Great People 3 for I obferved he fomc^ times [ "S ] iimes faid thee and thoii:, and fometimes ^^^, and iS/Vl fometimes put his Hat off] and foraetimes kept it ori I told him, before I would be Jo unhandy^ if lintena ed to be ceremonious, I would have gofie to School while ^ before Iwoiddjhame myfdf ashehad done. I I have not wrote the very Words, in all my Account in the preceeding Pages, I have the Subjja?ice : Anc for a Conclufion, I had to fay to George Keith^ 7hi Hand oj the Lord was againji him^ and would foll&l^^ himy unlejs he repented. This Account carries in it an Admonition to xsX and to Friends in future Ages, into whofe Hands may come, to beware of letting in the Spirit of 'Envk Prejudicey and Fride of Heart, which I clearly fal was that which, with too much leaning to his natu ral Abilities ^nd Learning, was his Ot;^r/i^r^'te^,henc keeping to the Lord's holy Spirit^theLife andStrengtl of his iaithfui People, and the Key of true Know^ ledge, the good Remembrancer, and Leader into al Truth, which the Lord fees riieet in his Wifdom to vpen and lead us into; without the Help of which Anointing and holy Spirit, we are apt to be cold and forgetful m our Duties towards God, and alfo in our Love and Duties one to another ; but as the Mea- fure ii^jhis Spirit is faithfully kept to, and improved, we grow more and more fruitiu! in every good Work ard Word, to the Glory of God and Comfort of our Sn;[:, nd, as the Salt of the Earth, help to leafoa th' ^ : who are not feafoned. V/hen r was in the Yearly-meeting upon 'Rhode-- Jflands there Was a Query concerning: what Friends ' t do, in cafe there fliculd be a Lay or Tax laid upon i^i-h [, 119 ] m the Inhabitants for building feme Fortificati- , and to provide Men and Arms lor the Security ihe Iflmd ? Such a Tiling being then in Agitation, , who was one of the chief Friends concerned in arch- Affairs, would have me give an Account It we d'd in the like Cafe in England-, for, he ', they in th^t Country looked upon themfelves : as th(: Daughter y and Friends here in Old-En- rjand as their Mother^ and they wxre willing to ad: :onfiflent with us as far as they could, and would enow how we did there in that Matter, v^hether we :ould pay to that Tax which was for carrying on a i^igorous War agairift France f I was unwilling to meddle with it, as I faid ; but the Meeting waited a confiderable time for my Anfwer (as one told me) and v/as not willing to go forward Vvithout it ; at laft, when I could not well do otherwife, I fignified to that large Meeting, T^hat I had heard the Matter de- bated both in fuper tor and 172 jer tor Meetings, and pri^ 'uately, and the mojl general Refidt was this: Friends did not lee an effeduai Door opened to avoid the. Thing, that Tax being mixed with the other Taxes; although many Friends are not fo eafy as they could ^ de-^ fire : Neither have we any further Sway in the Govern-' ?nent, than only giving our Voices for jiich as are- con- cerned therein ; therefore, as things appear to tne, iherf is a great Difparity between our Circianfavcts and yours here 'y for ycu have a great ]72terefi here, and a great Share in the Gov^rn?nenf, and perhaps may put lucb a T/oing oy in voting, confldering the Body cf Fric7uis, ami fueh as are friendly, whom you have an ^ ^■'""^'^ •*■: Icreflre look riot for Hdp.f\-om the Mo- ^ ^ ^ ' • thcr. I ^20 1 ther, wherei?t Jlje is not capable of helpifig herfelf, a?u thereby neglect pur own Bu(inefs \ but rnmd your own Way iji the Truths and look not out . Friends appear- ed well fatisfied with thefe Diftindions, and it gave i me fome Eafe, in that I had not hurt any. During my Stay in one of the Jerfeys^ a great Weight, more than ufual, feized upon my Spirit, as I fat in a Meeting, under a Senfe of the fame, rft| Cries afcended unto the Lord, the Fountain of fall tender Mercies, that he would pleafe to JI:ew tnt^ what was the Caufe of that great Power of Darkneft which did fo opprefs my Spirit ^ and it pleafed the Lord to fJjew 7ne, that a Man there had been guilty oi {oin^ grofs Wickednefs 3 and when it appeared cleai^ to me, to be required of me to exprefs it publickl it became a very great Exercife to me, and fo Reafonings I had, before I gave up to make it pub^ lick to that large Meeting of Friends and other Peo pie; I laboured under it till towards the Conclufion of the Meeting, but finding my Peace concerned very nearly in the Matter, I flood up in the Gallery and faid, under a Senfe of fo?ne grcjs Wicked?2efs com- 7nitted by fome P£r fen ?20t far from 7ne^ hath my Spirit been borne down ; "which Wickednefs will in a fljort "Time break fo7ih to the DiJho?iour of Truths and Grief oj Friends. A great Man who fat in the Gallery by me, itarted up and feated himfelf upon the Rail of the Gallery, with his Eyes fixed on me, and I faflned, in the Lord's Dread, my Eyes on him, and faid, We have a common Maxim in eld England, T^ouch a galfd Horfes Back^ and he will kick ^ and I a.. t-he Opinion, be that kicks is not c!ea?\ Ke got dcwn as [ea^l [ 121 ] fail: as he could out of my way, for he not only evented me from the View of the Meeting by fit- j]'r there, but his UncleanneiS flood much in the way or my Service. . After the Meeting was over, feveral worthy Friends exprefs'd to me the great Concern they were under, Jeft he fhould either by Money, or by Sub- tiltv, conceal the Sin and V/ickednefs, iffuch was 'committed ; for I found there was a great Fear and Jealoufy in the Minds of Friends, that iomething was wrong with the Man, but I was 'till then alto- gether a Stranger to their Thoughts, and to the State of the Man 3 yet I advifed that Friends fliould .have a watchful Eye over him and his Family, for I told Friends, my Spirit was eafy i?t what I had deli- vered^ and I believed the Evil wGidd 720t be concealed. So in my Return, his Houfe-keeper had brought forth a Child, and charged him with being the Fa- ther of it, which he denied not: Friends then afked me, AVhat they fhould do in the Cafe ? I faid, Let the "Judgment of ^ruth go forth again ji all inanifefl WickednefSy withmt refpeSi of Perfons^ that the ever- blcffcd Truth y, and fuch as live in //, may be kept clear and in good Efteem bfore all Men as much as may be^ - Something of the like Exercife I met with in a Meeting in Pennfylvaiiia^ repeating feveral Times %chat OppreJIion my Spirit was under.^ becaiife of fome yet hidden Wickednefs^ which in afiort Time would be brought to lights to the Blemijh of the Truth, and great Trouble to Friends. That very Evening, after the Meeting, a Woman'little thought on by Friends to ie guilty of fuch a Crime, went to a worthy Friend I 2 and [ 122 3 and told him, She was the Woman that had done ihl great JVickednefs Ihadfo much complained ofy and hai home fuch a great Load becaiife thereof \ and, as thii honeft Friend faid, file wept bitterly, even in the | very x\nguiih of her Soul. He came twelve MileG ' the x\txiT)diy to Philadelphia^ to acquaint mc with the Matter, and afk my Advice, which I gave to this EfFedt ; Tf Friends find upon Enquiry^ in the proper Seajcn^ that the Woman continues heertily forry^ and tru- ly penitent for njvhatjhe hath done^ for Godly Sorrow worketh Repentance, and if froth fuch a hearty and penitent Senfe, (v/hi?:h is to be felt beyond Words) Jhe gave Jorth a P.aper againfl her wicked Doi?2gs^ not Jo much to ingratiate herfelf into Fanjour^ as for the clearing of Truth and Friends y dijd for the Eafe and'. Peace of her own Mind^ and took the Blame and Shame to herfelf y then Friends may pa fs it by, ij not^ Friends mufl fet the Judgement ofTruth vver manifeji Wic- kednefsy as before mentioned. I went to viiit a Meeting in that Part called A/br//?- JValeSy which had not been long planted in that Place, where there was a fine tender People, but few underflanding Englifh^ Rotvland Ellis was my Inter- preter ; a good Meeting it was, and Truth was over all : Some, by the Interpreter,* e:xprefred their great Satisfacftioii in our Vilit to (hatMeeting, which here- tofore had not been counted as Friends, butfince that have been taken Notice of, and grown into good E- flceni with the Body of Friends. I found it much my Work to be concerned in the Difcipline of the Church, which wasverylow in ma- ny Places, yet I foand there wa;s a Willingnefs in man-v t ^-3 J many Friends Minds to be helped in chat needful Af- fair, for (urely it is a'good Fence, or a Help to keep the Righteous in, and hurtful and wicked Thingj; and Doings out, if the fame be rightly handled, and extended as it ought to be, in the Love and Wifdom of God. There was one Thing I had like to have omitted, which happened when I was in Rhode-Jfiand^ viz, one Rogers came diither toofer (as he faid) his Gift in the Teariy-meeting amongji Friends-, but they ap- pearino- in a great Strait about him, although he had writ in Behalf of Truth's Principles, andfufferecilm- prifonment, and the taking away his Wife iromhim, and was not fo^much as fuffered to come toconvcrfe with his own Son, but under a Guard or Watch which was fet over him, to hear what paiTed betwixt them, as he told me and fome other Friends, which Friends faid "was true, yet, under the Coijfideration of the Matter, arid Clearnefs of the Man's Converfation, Friends remained in a Strait what to d^-, and deilred that I would take the Matter upon me, and realon the Cafe with hini, and try if I could perfuade him to be eafy, and not inlift upon any fuch Thing, as to promife to receive his Gift 'y for othcrwife, he faid, he would go where it would be received. I (liewed him, that it was a Thing imprad:icable amongft us, and in itfelf unreafonable, that we (hould be by any Pre-engagement obliged to receive that which he might call a Gift^ before we heard it; if he bci;e\- ed he had a Gift, he might fpeak, and, as the A- poftle faid, we might judge : For it was not impoffi- b!e but he, who was a Scholar and a wife Man, and had 124 had a ftrong Memory, might have gathered cert PalTages out of the Bible or other Books, with wl| other Interpretatiops he might have ftored up, ai fpeak of, and call a Gift^ which we could not recef as a real Gift oj the ikW/fry, which lland^; tJtthe^ rit and in the Power ^ and if it be fuch, it will mal way for itklf; if not, we can?20t receiz'e it. So ht went away, and troubled Friends no more that I heard of. ^'\ When I w'^^^it Willi a7n Fen7t\ Country-IIoufe, Q'dXit^ Fenjhury^ inPennJyhania^ where I rtaid twci or three Days, on one of which I was at a Mectir and a Marriage, and much of the other Part of th Time Ifpent in feeing (to my Satlsfaftion) WilUai.u Tenn and many of the Indians, (not the leafc of them) in Council and Confultation ccnicerning their former Covenants, now again reviv'd upon William Pejin^ going away for E?2gland', all which Wc^s done much Calmnefs of Temper and in an amicable wa To pafs by feveral particulars, I may mention the. following; one was, they never fir jl broke Covena?7t: unih any People \ for, as one of them faid, andfmote his Kand upon his Head three times, that they did not make the ni there in their Heads ^ but fmiting his Hand three times on his Breaft, {^xdithiy made them (/. e. their Covenants) there in their Hearts. Anil again, when IVilliam Penn^nd they had ended the inoit weighty Parts for which they held their Coun- cil, Will/am Penn g2ivc them Match Coats and fome other Things, with fome Brandy or Rum, or both; which was advifed by the Speaker for the Indians^ to be put into the Hand of one of their Cafiacks or King>'5 % I 125 ] ^ for he kfiew the be/l bow to order them:, which cing ddne, the faid King ufed no Compliments, n jeithcr did the People, nor the reft of their Kings; I (ut as the nforelaid King poured out his Drams, he nly made a Motion with his Finger, or fometimes /ith his Eye, to the Perfon which he intended to ive the Dram to; fo they came quietly and in a olid manner, and took their Drams, and palled way without either NoH or Bow, any further than Nleceflity required thcna to ftoop, wlio were on their "eet, to him who, fat on the Ground or Floor, as heir Choice and Manner is : And withal I obferved and ^alfo heard the like by others) that they did iiotj nor I fuppofe never do fpeak, two at a time, nor interfere in the leaftoue with another that way in all their Councils, as has been obferved. Their Eating and Drinking was in much Stillnefs and Qmetnefs. * I much deiire that all Chrifliam (whether t;>ej may be fuch in Reality or Profeffion only) may en- deavour to imitate thefe People in thofe Things which are fo commendable, which may be a Means to prevent Lofs of Time and expedite Bufinefs ; as much as may bs endeavouring to prevent above one fpeaking- at a time in Meetings of Conference and ofBuiinefs. When much of the Matters were gone through, I put Williarii Penn in mind to enquire of the Inter- preter, if he could find fome Terms or Words that might be intelligible to them, in a religious Senfe, by which he might reach the Undcrftandings of the Natives^ and inculcate into their Minds a Senfe of . the [ 126 ] the Principles of Truth, fuch as Chriffs manijejli himfelf to the 'inward Senfes of the Soul y by his Ugi Grace or holy Spirit, with the Manner ^///6^ Oper ticns nnd working thereof in the Hearts of the Childr of Men, and how it did reprove for Evih cind mini ter Peace and Comfort to the Soulin its Obedience a) WelUdoiitg^ or, as near as he could, pome to tl Subftance of this in their own Language. WHUa. Penn much preffed the Matter upon the Interprete to do his heft, in any Terms, that might reach the Capacities, and Anfwer the End intended: But th .Interpreter would not, either by rearon,as he alledg ed, of lVa?it of Therms, or his Unwillingnefs t meddle in religious Matters, which I know nol but I rather think the latter was the main Reafoi which obftrudled him; therefore we found nothing was like tq be done according to our Delires in thi. Matter, as the Interpreter was but a dark Man, and as William Penn faid, a wrong Man for our prefem JPurpofe. William Ptnn faid, he underftood they owned fuperior Power, and afked the Interpreter, Wh their Notion was of God in their own Way? The Ii terpreter fhewed, by making feveral Circles on t^ Ground with his Staft, till he reduced the laft into a fmall Circumference, and placed, as he faid, by way of Reprefentation, i\\t great Man (as they term- ed him) in the middle Circle, lo that he could fee over all the other Circles, which included all the Earth. And we querying, ^>6^if //^^j; owned as to Eternity, or a future State ? The Interpreter faid, thev believed when fuch died as were guilty of ^ ^ ' Theft, [ 127 ] -ft, Swearing, Lying, Whoring, Murder, &c: went into a very cold Country, where they had A\cr good fat Vcnifon, nor Match Coats, which what they ufeinfteadof Cloaths to cover them iial, being of one piece in the form of a Blanket •]cd-covering : But thofe who died clear of the cfaid Sins, go into a fine warm Country, where V had good fat Venifon and good Match Coats, ings much valued by thefe Natives. I thought, :aiinuch as thefe poor Creatures had not the Know- ,ldge of God by the Scriptures, as wo have who ' : e called ChriHians^ but what Knowledge they had r the fupreme Being mufl be by an inward Senfation, • .- by contemplating upon the Works of God in the . '!reation, or probably from fome Tradition handed i own Irom Father to Son, by which it apppars, they cknowledge a future State of RewarJs and PuniJJj^ ^' lents ; the former of which they cx^v^khy War mth^'^ ood Cloathing and Food^ and the latter by Nakednefs^^ ining Hunger and piercing Cold. I have often '^ bought andfaid, when I was amongft them, that ' generally my Spirit was very cafy, and I did not eel that Power of Darknefs to opprefs me, as I had lone in many Places among the People called Zhriftians. After William Penn and they had exprefs'd their latisfadllon, both for themfelves and their People, n keeping all their former Articles unviolated, and jigreedthat if any particular Differences did happen imongft any of their People, they fhould not be an Occafion of fomenting or creating any War between William Pe?2H\ People and the Indians, but Juftice '' ihould [ 1^8 3 fliould be done in all fuch Cafes, that all Animi ties might be prevented on all Sides for ever; t went out of the Houfe into an open Place not from it, to perform their Cantico or V/orfcip^ wJ was done thus; Firft, they made a fmall Fire, am the Men without the Women fat down about it ii a Ring, and whatfoever Objed they feverally fixcc their /Eyes on, I did not fee them move them in all that Part of their Worfbip, while they fang a ver^ melodious Hymn, which affected and tendered th( Hearts, of many who were Sped-ators: When thej had thus done, they began (as I fuppofe is their ii~ lual manner) to beat upon the Ground with Jittle Sticks, or make iome Motion with fomethins in their Hands, and paufe a little, till one of the elder Sort fets forth his Hymn; and that being followed by the Company for a few' Minutes, and then a a?aufe; and then the like was done by another, and }-y by a third, and followed by the Company, as at t\ie iirft ; which feemed exceedingly to affed them and others. Having done, they roie^up and danced a littiC about the Fire, and parted with Iome Shout- ing liki" a Triumph or Rejoicings I leave Penjhur)\ but intend, before I leave the Indians, to fay fomething more concerning that Peo- ple, which 'I met v/ith' near Caleb Pufys = Houfe in Pennfilvania, viz. I being walking in the Wood,' eipied feveral Wigwams or Houfcs of the IndianSy and drew towards them, but could not converfe with them ; but looking over them in the Love of God, I found it to be my Way, as I apprehended, to look for an Interpreter and ^o to them againt which' [ 129 1 khich I did ; and when I came to them, and figni- led that I was come from a far Country, with a yieilagc from the great Man above (as they cali bod) and my Meffage was to endeavour to per- Iwade them, that they JJjoidd not be Drlinliards, nor ea\^ nor kill one another^ nor fight ^ nor commit AduU y, nor put away iheir Wives y efpe daily for fmali aults; which (as I underftood) is ufual With them o do J for if they did thofe Things, the great and gooa Man ahove would be a?2gry with them^ and wotild not brofper them^ but bring Trouble on them \ but if they pore careful to refrain thefe Evils (before mentioned) \ijen would God love them y and profper them ^ and [peak Peace to them\ or very near to thefe Words. And when the Intjerpreter exprelTedtthefe Things to them in their own Language, they w^ept, and Tears ran npwn their naked Bodies, and they fmote their [Hands up60 their Breafls, and I perceived faid fome- thing tp the Interpreter: I afked what they [aid? JHe told iiie they faid^ all that I had delivered to them ^as goody and except the great Man had fent me^ I \tould not have told thim thofe Thi7igs. I defired the jinterpreter to aik them, how they knew what I had \ faid to them was good? they feply'd, and fmote theif Hands on their 'Breafts, the good Man here (meaning in their Hearts) told them what I had J aid was all good. They manifefled much Love to me in their Way, and I believe the Love of God is td them,, and all People, in the Day of their Vifitation. . Having left them, I came to a Friend's Houfe iri the lower Part of Pennfylvania, who was in the OiBce ef a Juftice of Peace, and had been convinced not K Ions; t no ] ^ long before by Thomas Stdry : When 1 came inft the Houfe, the Man's Wife was very uneafy am called me a Deceiver^ and wrung her Hands anc faid, JVce is me^ lam unSone^ my Hujband is deceiv* ed ; and what more Decei'vers ceme? Oh how fhe la- men ted. I was feme what ftruck with the Paffion the poor Woman was in, however, I faid little but fat down, and after fome time it rofe in my Mind to afk her, hi what her Hujband was deceived-^ wai he^ fmcehe came amongji uSy any worfe Hujband to her? if he wn^'it was a held Sign ; or was he a worje Father to his Children ? or, any worJe Neighbour ? or in any particular Thiiig which J^e could 72a me, changed Jrcni better to worfe, Jince he was conceived of the T^ruth ? if noty JJ?e had no great Rcajon to complain : If he had iwned Drunkard, Whoremonger, Railer, Fighter, or become a vicious Man, JJ:}e would have had Reafon to complain ^y but fhe honellly owned, Jhe had nothing to charge him with. He fat by me and heard all our Dilcourfe, but faid nothing. I told her, Jloe had made a lamentable Outcry about her Hujband' s being de- . ccived, but had not coni^inced me of any Cauje that fie had received from her Hufhand for her fore complaint. Beinc;; weary,- having rid a great way that Day, I with my Companion Richard Or 7n took leave of her Hufband and went to our Reft, and faw him no more till the next Day in the Evening, and when he came, I afked him. For what Reafon he left us fo long, as he knew how uneafy his Wife was about us^ end that we had a great want of him ? He faid, he had been giving Notice oj the Meeting twenty Miles one way, and two Men given Notice as far, each Man his 'u:ay ^ that was Six-fcore Miles in and out- Our [ nl ] Oar Landlady, againft we rofe in the Mornings lad got another Woman, a Juftice's Wife, to help ier to difpute with us, ^nd overthrow us, as fhe [oped, but in vain; for Truth proved too hard for kcm ; although the other Woman charged high in jhe Morning, and faid, we were no Chriftians. I faid, it was eafier to charge than to prove ^^ how do yon rove it^ Becaufe^ faid they, you deny the precious Or ^ linanceofJefusCb'iJl. I afked, if they could prove 't to befuch ? They faid, they did not que(lion-hut they )ould. I laid, they Jhould do it from plai?V^exts of Uripiure^ verbatim as it lies, without any Inferences:; UonfequenceSy or Comments upon the Places they infijied \ipon \ and they agreed to it. But, in Caje, I told [hem, they fhould fail and not prove (as they thought [hey could) that Ordind^ncc to be fo appointed by Chrijl^ t hoped then they would allow us to be Chriftians, not-^ mthflanding what they^^ had charged to the contrary ], and they laid, they would. I I then repeated all the Preliminaries, and afked them, if they would agree to each particular? they Ed, they would. I defired Richard Orm to mind sm, and imprint them as much as might be in his emory, for it was like enough we fhould have Occafion to call them in Queftion before we had done, which came to pafs not long alter we began j jthey urged the 28th of Matthew in defence of Wa- ter Baptifm, where Chriil: laid to his Difciples, Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptizing theni in ■the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghofi : Teaching them to obferve all Thi?igs what- foever I have commanded you : And lo I dm with you al'way^ [ ^32 j ^Jma% fven unto the End of the World. Water "nc^ being mentioned the Difputants were at a ftand, an( faid it mujl be implied: I fhewed them, that by thei Agreement to the Prelirpiinaries, there we're to b( 110 Inferences, butpla^n Scripture, \ tqld them, *was an mtreafo?iakle Thing to undertake to unchrifti a great Body of religious People by a few Infer em which might be triie^ or not true. Now when we \ tiigg'd at it, and fcarched the New Teftamenf great w^hile, they could not find what they defird, although they urged what Peter faid in a certain C'^kyWhocanfrbid Water ^ that thefe fould not^k bdptized^ 'who have received the holy Ghofi^ as well ai w^ ? 1 (liewed them, that there 'was a great Difpa^ rity between a Servant's ^ue(iiony and a Maftcr's Com^ mand. When they were even weary with fearching, and could not find a pofitive Ordination by Chrift for Wat er-Baptifm^ thty gav« it over, and I afkcd them, If they had not fallen [Joort of the Proof of what they had fo boldly charged upQ7i us in the Morning'^ My Landlady confeffed, they bad fallen fjort oj their Ex- peclation % but the other was in the Mind^ a? flie faid, that it might he proved: I told her, /y6^ would not prove itfrcr>any plain Text of Scripture. My paffionate Landlady became more meek and friendly, and received the Truth in the Love of it : We had a good Meeting the next Day, and (he faid, If I would Hay that Nighty 1 pjculd be as welcome as her own Children ^ but if not^ Jhe blefi the Lord for my Company^ and the Goodfhe had already received by me^ and parted with me in much Brokennefs of Heart; and I heard Hie lived and died in good Unity with- Friends. [ 133 1 Jricnds. ^ut oh, how glad was her Hufband to fee isiat ^reat and fudden Change wrought in her! it was i^e Lord's Doings; to him be the Praife now and :^rercr, for he alone is wwthjr. I I had many comfortable Meetings in my Travels jirough thefe Provinces, and good Service. V^ kre at a Yearly-meeting at TreSaven, in Mary^ \nd, upon theEaftern Shore, to which Meeting for yorfhip came with William Penn, Lord Baltimore, bd his Lady, with their Retinue, but it was late vhenthey came, and the Strength and Glory of the icavenly Power of the Lord was going off from the /Iceting; fo the Lady was much difappointed, as underftood hyWilliam Penn, for Ihe told him, She id not want to hear him, afidfucb as he, for he was Scholar and a wife Ma?iy and jhe did not quejiion but e could preach \ but JJje wanted to hear fome of our '\ 4echanicks preach as Huibandmen, Shoe-maker" ndfuch like Ruflicks ; Jor Jhe thought they cor^'^ reach to any Purpofe. William Penn told her, fome f thefe were rather the bed Preachers we had amongji f^; or near thefe Words. I was a little in their Company, and I thought the Lady to be a notable, vife, and withall a courteoufly carriaged Woman. I :vas alfo in Company with the Governor oiVirgi-- ua, at our Friend Richard yohns Houfe, upon the Nt{\. Cliffs, in Maryland, for we both lodged there i)ne Night, and I heard that he had been fludious n a Book againfl Friends, called the Sjtake, and "fiends greatly defired he might have the Anfwer ailed the Switch, but knew not how to be fo free vith him as to offer it to him j I told Friends, 1 would [ '34 1 f' would endeavour tD make way Jor it. Altho' he fcemed to be a Man of few Words, yet at luitable Intervail I faid to him, I had beard that I had feen a Book called the Snake in the Grafs ; h confcfs'd he had. I defircd he would accept of th 4yti{wer, and be as fiudious in it as he had been in th Snake ; which he promifed he would^ and took th< Book, There happened a Paflage worthy of Note, eithe in this or the proceeding Governor's Time in Virgi rdfiy as I was credibly informed, which was thus The Governor wanted a C^^d^/j/'r to mend his Wine Syder and Ale Cafks, and forae told him there wa! a Workman near, but he was a ^aker ; he faid, ii hic was a Workman he made no Matter what he profefs'd ^ fo the ^aker, luch as he was, was fent for, and came with hjs Hat under his Arm : The Governor was fomewhat at a iland to fee the Mar come in after that Manner, and afked IJ he was tbt Cooper he had fetit for? He faid, Tes. IVelly (aid the Governor, are not you a Quaker ? TeSy replyed die Man, lamjocalled^ but J have not been faithful. He then aflced, How long have you been called a Qua- ker ? The poor Man faid, About twenty Tears. Alas foryoUy poor Man^ faid the Governor, lam forry for you. By this we may clearly fee, that fuch who walk moft up to what they profefs, are in moft Eftcem among the more thinking and religious People ; and the unfaithful and loofe libertine ProfelTors of the Truth are flighted, and I believe will be more and more caft out as the unfavory Salt^ which is good for ^ nought in Pellgion, and is indeed trodden under Feet of Men ; for a great Part of the Men in the orld have fuch an Underftanding as to know what protcfs, and alfo what we fhould do and be in Hiy Things; tct us therefore walk wifely before and not be an Occafion oijlumblingy nor give OJ^ ce either to Jew or Gentile^ nor to the Church of OJ, that fo we may indeed be as a Cityfet upon an taJnil^ which cannot be hid; nay, that may not dcfire ^';t|be hid, but rather that the Inhabitants of the tkllrth might fee our good Works, and have an Oc- WiCiion from thence adminiflred, io glorify the Father j^\wich in Heaven. lid, I having it on my Mind to vifit a Meeting up the ; it I vcr called ParquimuSy on the Wefl Side of the / , fgcat River Choptankj and I being on the Eaft Side, a^ ]hnry Hofier and fome more Frionds fet forwar the );%xh me in a fmall Boat, not in good Condition but id ^ cjizy, with only one fmall Sail; We fet out, as we e ' ^ught, in good time to reach our defired Port,. when we were upon the great River (as I re- ember 'its ten Miles over the fhorteft way, but the ,^ vrjannerof our croffing it made it more) the Windv 'vjered much againft us, being then within about K ,f^r Points of our Courfe, and it rained hard, aad \ \^s very dark, fo that we could fcarce fee one an- !ier, and the Water broke fo into the Boat, that as moft of one Man*s Work to heave it out, and our Company were difcouraged, and moft of n very Sea-fick : He?iry Hofier, of whom I had moft Hopes for Help, faid, that he could not per Boat anj longer. What by the extream Dark^ iiefs, [ ^36 J htkj the Roughncfs of the Waves, Boiilcroufnc I ©f the Wind, and hard Rain, I, unwell as I wa I was obliged to undertake the fleering of the Boa and not without fome Conflicts of Mind, not havin any Certainty, from any outward Rule, what Wi we went -, having no Fire, and the Boat being open y/c could not have any Light to fee our Compafi but my Faith was in the Lord, that he would britij ys to ihorc ; and I kept the Boat as near the Win< as fhe would fail, and told my poor lick and help lefs Company, / believed that ive fkould not perijh although we might mifs of our Port i But the like im- minent Danger, I think, I never was iri before upor any Water ; but renowned over all be the grca' Name of the Lord for ever, we put into the Moutl jpf our defired River Perquimus^ as tho' we had fetr £^y.in the Day, or fteer'd by a Compals, neither oi ^which we had the Benefit of for feveral Hours. Here we went afliore and made a great Fire un- ider the River's Cliffy and about Midnight the Moon fofe, and clear'd up and froze, and vvas very cold : My Companions falling afleep, I turned them ovcr^ and pulled them from the Fire as it increafed, and put them nearer as it failed, but could not keep them awake; I fought Logs of Wood, and carried them to and minded the Fire, which was Work enough for the remaining Part of the Night ; but Morning being cpnie, we got info our cold icy Boat and fail- ed away towards the Meeting. When we were come among Friends, Notice was given of a Strang- er being there, and a heavenly and iweet Meeting it was^ fo that we thought we ha:d a good Reward for L ^37 J r all our Trouble, blefled be the Name of the ord now and for ever, for he is worthy : Although c may fee good to try us, Ibmetimes one way and mctimes another, how fhould we know that we avc any Faith, if it be not tried? How fliall we now that we have any true Love to God, if it ne- er be proved ? The Trial of the true Believers t'aith is more precious than Gold. The excellent 5ayings of Job, came into my Mind, Behold^ I go ^orwdrd^ but he is not there ; and backward, but I :annot perceive him ; on the left Hand, where he doth work] but I cannot behold him : He hideth him ft If on ^he right Hand, that I canmi fee him^ Jobxxiii. 8, 9. And then in Verfe the loth, he, like a Man in the true Faith, faith, T^he Lord knoweth the Way that I take ', and when he has tried me^ I [hall come forth a^ Gold : And the more vehement that the Fire is, the more it deftroys the Drofs, and the more pure and weighty the Gold is, which hath paft through the moft fevere Fires. Read thou, and imderfta'nd tfe, that canft. jf. I had a Meeting when in J^/r^/W^, at a Frier in Houfe whofe Name was Matthew Jordo/i, and foihe thing which I faid in the Meeting, lomewhat re fended a young Woman a Prejbyterian, and n- having, as ihe faid, a fuitable Opportunity while was there, to difcourfe with me, being bufy in het Mafter's Aflairs, (for d^c was the Friend's Houfe- keeper) fhe defired Liberty of her Mafter to go ta the next Meeting, that there flie might eafe her Mind to me about the Offence I had given her in the x^rft Meeting ; (it was fomething about EleUion, K 2 an-?^ [ ^38 ] and they told me what it was, but riot Writing it down it went from me) and accordingly ihc came to the Meeting, where the Lord's mighty Power broke in upon us, to the tendfing of many Hearts, to Friends mutual Satisfadion, and it proved a good Day to the aforefaid young Woman ; her Heart was as if it had melted within her, and Ihe fhed man) Tears, and I am fatisfied went from the Meeting k Fear and in great Joy ; in Fear^ how to walk as no^ to offend Chrift the Ele^y which before fhe coulc talk of, but now ilie had met with, and he hac opened her State to her : And Joy^ that fhe had met with the Meffiah, the Ele5i of the Father, his choice and beloved Son ; fo that fhe could now fay. Where are the Wife ? Where is the Scribe ? Where is the Dijputer of this World? AH her brifk talkative Qualities were fwailowed up in the feeling of the iniernal, enlightning Prefence of Chrift. When flie returned to her Mafter's (before men- tioned) he aflced her, If fJ:e had got SatisfaSlion? leaning. Had flie had any Difcourle with me and ^ as fatisfied? She replied. She ^w as fatisfied. Some s^ime after I met with her in Philadelphia, plain })d Truth-like, but knew not who flie was at the irfl. The Manner of the Working of the Truth is to humble the Creature, and bring it into Con- trition, Tdndernefs, and Fear, with true Seh^-deniaL I comp now to mention fomcthing that happened in my going over James's River, towards a Yearly- meeting in Virginia : Alighting at an Inn by the River- fide, where we refrefhed ourlelves, there was a poor little Child cried fo exceedingly, that I was uneafy [ ^39 3 uneafy to here it, and afked the Mother, what was the Matter ? She faid, it had cried mod of the Time iince it was born, and they were almoft off their Feet with it, or to that efFedt. I told her, I believ- ed I could give the Child fomething which would do good, and flie readily agreed to it, and I gave it a little of fomething then, and order'd her to give it twice more in four or five Days time : But when I returned the Child was better, and oh ! how glad the poor Wpman was to lee me, and Ipoke more in my Commendations than was to my Satisfadipn, and was kind to Friends afterward for my Sake. Now we came to ferry over the River, being, as I remember, five Horfes and nine People; there was ^ane F leaf ant a publick Friend, and her Man- fervant who rid before her upon a great Horfe, and high in Flefli, and about the Midft of the River, it being two Miles over, he rofe upon his hind Feet, and flung himfelfupon the Edge or Gunnel of the Boat, half into the River ; the Fall of the Horfc, and the Motion of the other Horfes thereupon, cauf- ed the Boat to make fuch Sallies that it took in Water, and was very likely to linkt But before he could have Time to rife again, or to make any more Springs, I took feveral young Men by the Shoul- ders, and flung them upon his Neck to keep him 4own, and told them, as fafl as I could, why I did fo. Now I had to deal with the Ferry-man, who was about to iirip for fwimming, and faid we Jhould all be drowned 3 but for his Fart he could jwim ; and was about to leap into the River, for, he faid, the Boat would either break or fink. I told him /jf was- foon [ H^ ] foon enough for him to fwim^^ when he faw the Moa\ eitJjer break or fmk^ and if he would fiot row^ then would : With much Intreaty he took the Oar agaii and rowed us to the Shore. But in our imminer Danger I looked over my tender Friends, (tor fo" they appeared to me) and thought in my Heart what a Fity it would be, if all thefe were drowned ! yet the Thought of my own drowning never en- tered my 'Mind, until I was got over the River which was a Mercy to me, and a gre^ Means t( keep out Diforder and Confufion, which common! attend fudden Surprizes and Frlglits/ or elfe the make People dead-hearted and almoft fenfelefs. As I had now an Occafion to obferve, as well a. in fome imminent Dangers I had feen before, where I happened to be, I find it an excellent Thing to be, as much as we can, always readv, and by being frequently thinking upon Death, it is not fo furpriz- ing when it does come : This is a great Point of true Wifdom, to remember our Days foy as to remember our latter End. The want of thus contemplating an^^ truly thinking on what Preparation we are in to loo Death in the Face, and' to appear before the great Judge of both Quick and Dead, was the Ca^ufe of the Complaint, Ob! that my People were wife y that ihey underfood this^ that they would confider their lat- ter End. The great Remifnefs of fuch Confidera- tions among People, befpeaks Folly and great Infen- fibility, and that the Heart is hardened through an Habit of finning; oh! that I might prevail with the Children of Men to awake. Arife, you that fleep in Sin, and are at eafe therein, that you may come . "-- . - ■, ■• to [ Hi- ] hear inv;ardly the Call of the Son of God, that 7our Souls may not only live here to ferve God, but ilfo may live eternally in Blifs with hirr , is the^De* fire of my Soul for the vv hole Bulk of Mankind; for my Life has often appear'd not dear to me, in Com- parifon of the faving of the Souls of the Children of Men. I have often thought of Mofes, how far he went for faving of Ifrael, and how far Paul went for the faving of his Kinsfolk after the Flefli; it was a great Demonflration, that thefe great and good Men had great Faith and Intereftin the Lord, and alfo a very great Love to his People ; - and fuch whofe Eyes are truly opened, cannot but fee it is the Love of God, and Love to the Souls of Men, that conflrains us thus to take our Lives as in our Hands, and labour under many weary Steps, and many Perils, by Sea and by J^and, and in the Wildernefs, Cold, and fometimes in Tumults and Noifes, fometimes in Watchings and Faftings, that we have been fome- times Spedacles to Men 3 but the Lord hath given us Faith and Patience to bear and overcome all, as we have fingly ftoodin his heavenly Council, and been truly devoted to his Will in all Things. It may not be amifs to mention a particular thing which happened to me before I left Long-IJland, viz. Knowing that my Landlady, Samuel Bownes Wife, had a very fore Breafl, by which fhe had much Trouble, and had no lefs than five Tents in it, and fhe being a fenfible and a ferviceable Woman, fomc- thing came with a Concern upon my Mind to ad- minifler unto her Breafl, with a Belief /V would heal her: C H2 1 her : I reafon'd about it until I had got one Foql into the Stirrup for mounting my Horfe, but I grevl uneafy for being dilatory in doing that which cam(| into my Mind ; fo I went in again and faid, Maryl I am come back to advife thee what thou Jhouldji do^ jA which^ 1 believe thou wilt be healed, although I can\ not flaj to fee it done. I believe y laid (he, and intern to, follow thy Advice ; but afked, what would hecomi of all thofe Tents ? I told her, the Poultice would draU: them all out^ and give her Eafe ; and accordingly ] heard it did, forfhe flept twelve Hours immediatelj, after the Time of the Application, and when jfhei awoke the Tents were all drawn out, and ihe hadj little further Trouble with it : So it is good to mindj Truth and the Workings of it in all Things, I met, with the great Dodlor (as he was efteemed) who; had it under hand, and he faid, I was a bold Fellow : , I faid, it proved well^ He Anfwered, it was wdl for me it did. Something more which I have before omitted oc- curs to my Memory: When I was in that Part of Virginia towards North-Carolina^ to vifit Friends, a very great Mift arofe, and we went wrong, until the Guides were fo far loft, that they confeft, they knew not Eaft from Weft, nor on which Hand wc had left the Road, although it was in the fore Part of the Day, but neither Wind or Sun to be felt or feenj then I told them, I would try what I could do ^ if f hey did but know what ^larter we fhould go to: They faid, we fhouldgo towards the South ^ then I brpught out my little Compafs which I had made before I left England^ and took it in my Hand and ftcer'd [ Hi ] ^ tcer'd hy it, till w6 all came into the Road j for iiat inward Scnle I had, did perfuade me, that we vrere to the Weftward of the Road, (o leaning a ittle to the Eaftward of the South Point, we came ight as before, and when fo, the Guides much rc- Diced, and faid, / was Jitter to be Guide in a WiU lernefs Country than they. My Compafs was not fo )ig as a Tailor s Thimble, which had often been )f Ufe to me, and others with me. Now the Time came on for my leaving all my lear and dear Friends in thofe Parts, and I embark'd for the Iflands the Sixth of the Ninth Month 1702, with my Companion James Bates ^ on board of a Sloop, Samuel Salter Mafter, for Barbados^ and we iput into Bermudas in our way : Soon after we Itnd- ed, being on the 21 ft of the lame Month, we were (fent for by Governor Bennett to come before him, and being near his Door, a Man came and clapt me on the Shoulder, as we were walking on our way, and faid roughly to us, Tou mujl go before the Gover- nor^ and feemed to haften us : I replied meekly, / am willing to go as fafl as I can^ but I have been very Sea-lick^ and can go but weakly : The Man fell from his Rbughnefs, and bid us take Time, and carried himfelf very civily to us, and put us by a Man who was keeping Gentry at the Governor's Door with his Mufket on his Arm, and when we were come into a large Room the Man left us, and we paying a while, I began to reafon in myfelf, What if the Governor fhould/ be a rigid Man and be fevere to us^ a7id either confine or punip us ? But I faid in my Heart, Lord, thou that kno%vefi; all Things^ knowefl that I H4 J that t l)at)€- ?tot enh offered up my Liberty^ but lA clfo^ for thy Name and Go/pel's fake ; and immc^ ately the Fear and Reafonings about human Po\|»j was taken away from me., . . I being not well, 'and weary with walking fr^ the Ship, fat down to reft myfelf unbidden, wl there came a friendly well carriaged young Worn; who I fuppofcd to be a Servant, and fpoke kin to US; I defired her to do as much for us as to g usfomething that was fmall to drink, for we wei very thirfty and had been much out of Health, an were ncft well recovered iince we came from the Se; having had rough Weather : She brought us Wk and Water and a Thing to mix them in ; fo tal ihg^mofl of a Glafs of Water, and a very little Wir. poured into it, I drank and was very well refrefhec By this Time the Governor called us into an upp< Roora, and as I came near to the Top of the Stair going but faintly, for Reafons before given, the Gc vernor put forth his Hand and reached to take hoi of mine, and like a tender Father drew me up, an led me alv^ng towards a great Window, and ftoo and looked on me und faid. He believed he knew wh I was, and ?ny bufmefs too^ I reply d it might be j and a Heed, // he was the Governor of that Flace ? H laid hewasy and bowed his Head. I then fpoke t^ him in the Love of God, and faid, Thy Countenam- befpeaks Moderation^ and : the Apoille faid^ Let yoi Moderation appear to all Men, for the Lord is ; hand ^ and it was .with me t" fay to him, The Lo: of Hesiven and Earth hlefs thee and alt thine F bade us fit doMn^ and gave us each a Glafs of Win r. an [ H5 I nd enquired jrom whence we came? I t6ld hrm my Home was in Old Englafid, but it was long ftnce I was ^here ; my Companions was in Virginia. He wanting :o know the Affairs in Europe^ I told Mm, Inhere \vdas a Merchant belonging to the fame Ship that -We didy "who was lately come from Europe, and I thought was -^\z'- Man of Parts and Memory^ and well verfed in the j\Affairs of thofe Parts of the Worlds and when we came \\nto this Place he %vas with us: The Governor then Iffeiit for him, and when he came, he anfwcfed his Exped:ation in refolving all or moft of hisQneftions, for the Knowledge of the News appear 'd to me ,to be the young Man's Talent. Having done wit!^ and difmifs'd him, he faid, hcmufnow havMt&me Difcourfe with us: Then rofe up all the great^W[ea who were with the Governor, to make way that I might come near Him. I faid. If if: was the Gover^ nors Mind^ I had rather fit where I was^ for I fat well in the Air^ and that fuited well with my prefent Weaknefs: So he bade them all lit down, and they did fo. Now^ faid he, / want to know the Reafons why ym^ m a People^ where you llve^ do not affifi the King and Country with Men and Arms^ for their and your own Defence and Safety, againll all that may attempt or endeavour your Hurt ? I replied, The mo/I com^inci^tg Reafo72s I have to offer to the Governor are. We h^e neither Precept 72or Example from Chri/l, or his; Apoftles, to ufe the Sword to hurt one another withal. No, faid he, what then means that Saying ofotir Savi-- ours, when he bade him that had not a Sword, feM »vs Cloak or Coat and buy one ? I replied, One of his L DifiU [ h6 3 Dijcipks anfwered and /aid. Lord here arc twcj Cbriji faid^ It is enough. Now how two Swords ci\ be enough to anjwer for a general Precept^ Heave /.i Governor and all the fe Men to judge. So after a ' littr Paufe he laid. In cafe ^ you was ajfaulted by RobbA that would break your Houfe^ and take what they cou\ get from you \ or upon the High-way\ and would tm your Purfe or Horfe^ what would you do in that CaJiiX I replied, T could not direSily anfwer what Ijhould C\ in fuch a Cafe^ becaufe through the Lor is Mercy I 'W\ never yet Jo ajjaulted ; but it appears mojl likely^ tl^ J Jhould endeavour to keep my Houfe from being broM^ up^ and yet withal be tender of Men's Lives : And || to die other AiTault, inafmuch as it is well known ^ doKb provide anj outward Weapon for my Defenm fietther Sword^ PiJloU nor any other fuch like Weapoy, therefore I mufi rely upon the Lord for Protection an Help^ who is able to refcue me out of the Hands ef a. fuch ungt>dly Men 5 or if he does not^ 1 muji endeavou to bear what the Lord (uffers fuch to do unto me. Th Governor faid, T9U fay well ; for inafmuch as yc: have not provided any thing for yovLv Defence, y( have nothing to fly to but the hord ; you fay very weli and faid, he hoped what he had offer d had not given a?^ Offence^ I replied, // was fo far from that^ we wer glad he was fo free with us, yet if he pie a fed to difmij, us J we fJjould be willing to be going , for Night came on He faid, "There were fome of our Friends would be gUc to fee us t I replied, I under Hood there were fome fur- iher on the Ifland that did own us, but how much the) Were of us 1 could not tell, for I had not feen any of them He aiked^ whether we had a mind to go by Water or [ H7 ] 3 by Land, for he had a Boat, and a couple of tands (hould carry us where we would 3 or if we ^d a Defire to ride, he had two Horfes, we might titce them and keep them as long as wc ftaid upon te Ifland. I endeavoured to perfwade him to let us M without troubling himfelf any further, for I was lible oi his good Will and Love to us, and having IS Countenapice, was more than we expedted, and i much as we defired. He ftill urging to know iter what Manner we would choofe to go ? I told I m, I was very fenfiblc of his Generofify to us who re Strangers, and if he would be eafy and let us • , we had wherewithal to defray our neccffary ifges either by Water or Land, as would anfw^r cil with our'Conveniency. He preiTed upon ^to cpt of his Offer, for he iaid, he did not do it in . mpliment to us : Then feeing no way but to ac- ept ot his generous Offer, I faid, Riding at prefent v'ould be much more acceptable to mc, confidering iow I had been lately fatigued at Sea, of which I vas not yet well. He imrnediately gave Orders for he Horfes to be brought to the Door, which being ione, and we having Notice thereof, I rofe up and nade an Offer to go, and the Governor likewife role ip and came and took mc by the Hand, and fo we ,vent down the large Stairs into the great Room vvhere we firft entered in the Lord's Dread and holy Fear. Read this thou that canft, and withal learn ^o underftand, here I had religned my Life and all i:o the Lord who gave it, and my Life at that time, as at many other times, was not dear to me tor Chrift's lake 5 and being thus religned, I felt the Love 1 I" hS 1 Love of God, and a Meafure of that Li^e was ma- nifcflj in which I had Dominion over Men, Bonds and oyer Death and the Powers of Darknels, blcliec be the Lord for. ever. Now coming to tsrke Horfe, I looked out at the Djooi and iaw two Horles, and a Man holding the beyond the Pavement, and the Gentry as before the Street, and the Horfe next the Door, which I fuppoied I was to ride on, had a Saddle on the Back ©rit fet about with three Rows of fhining Silver Lace, I thought about two Inches broaci.eat;h : The Governor holding me by the Fland a-nd looking in my Face, its not unlikely but he might chink, as I '*6j vd to lay, / looked very fheepijhly at it. He faidto me, I am apt to think you are not u fed -to ride upon fucH^ Saddle as this ; I told him, if he could let me have one more like mylelf (plain) without much Trouble, I fhould like it the better, but if not, I could ride on it, \ thought without much Straitnefsy in Cafe of Neceffity. fTe anfwered, he could not^ for Horfes and Saddles too were fc^rce on that liland; for the one was that which he rode on^ and the other was for his Man ; but he faid, he vyould tell me how to prevent ail this : If, faid he, you get over the In- let of Water, though he queflioned it, becaule the Wind blew very ftrong in the Mouth or Inlet of tlift, g.iver ; but, he faid, he fpoke not this to hinder our taking his Horfes ; but if we got over, he faid w^@ iliuuld come to Richard Stafford's,^ an old Judge of Li^e and Death, and might afk there for the Cover 4)r his Saddle, which ties on with little Stiaps at i^ach Corner J aijd hides ail this, and then it will be A [ H9 ] aC v;»iirfclf ; but if the Ferrv-man, fays he cannot rry the Horfes' uver, what Man foever you meet, nite or blade, if capable, tell him he muft bring no my Horfes, he dares do no other but bring them 3 id be fure you take no further Thought for them : id if we met with any Thing in his Liberty that ght trouble us, let him but know and he would Jp it, if it lay in his Power ; and fo with his Blef- ig-on us, we took leave of him -and came to the . V aLCi-fide, but could not g^:t the, Horlcs over, : jrcforc fcnt them back again, and intended to have jltaid at the Ferry-houfe all Night, but the Boat was :M.^out going over as we lighted ^ and Notice being >t fume way or other to the Judge's Ear, thatN*^" ere were two Strangers on the other Side of the 4ter, he had lent a Boat and a couple of Meft for ., who laid we muft go, for the Judge faid, he ould nut llecp until we came ; whatioever the Mat- r is, we know not, (aid they : So we went, after king i^ they at the Ferry-houfc had been at anv u(l or Trouble on our x4ccount in providing Sup- pfffi for a> yet we had not eaten any thing lince we iunded ; thi? People faid no, they had not done any Thing v/hich we fliouid pay for : It grew dark and very ftormy, and the Sea broke over the Boat, fo It fjme of us were forced to hold our Coat Laps one to touch another on the Weatlicr Side, to keep c'ut the Breakers of the Waves, that they might not £11 the Boat^ and. we came fafe over to the Jud<^e'& Houfe, and no fooner got into the Paffage but his ^* 'endly Wife met us and afked us, If we were the -rujigen bcr Ihijhand had fint fir r I f^id, We are Strangers. [ 150 ] ^^ Strangers. She bid us follow her to the Jadgc, and we did fo. When we came to him, he rofe up, and took the Candle in his Hand and faid, yire you the Strangers that I have fe?it for? I faid. Who thou mayji expeB I kfiow 7iot y but we are Strangers. When he had looked well in my Face, he fet down the Can- dle and faid. What a Mercy is this^ that the Lord fioidd fend Men from I know not where ^ in his Lovt\ to vifit me ! and took me in his Arms and kiited: me ; and I faid to him, The Lord of Heaven and Earth blejs thee y and we (hed many Tears and wept together- As I entered the Houfe, I felt the Love of God, and his Glory, I thought, flione in and filled every Room as I paiTed through them, ?.nd I faid, Peace be to this Place^ and I felt it was fo. He enquired of our Travels, and from whence we came, of wiiich we gave him a brief Account : He alfo afked i^ I knew ^ny Thing of the Family of Staffords at Lahorn^ ntzv Haverfordwe/ly \n South-Wales f I told him all I knew about them, both of the Dead and of the Living ; with which he was pleafed, and * faid, He had not heard of them many Tears ^ and that Family were his near Kindred. Now as the Judge was fomewhat troubled with' the Gout, I found his ufual Bed-time drew near, and I made an Offer to go away left I fhould dif- commode him. yet he appeared unwilling to part v^'ith us ; but confidering his own Ailments and cur early Rifing in the Morning, he at length confented : But before we parted, his Wife afked leave of him to. go with us on the Morrow to the Meeting, to which [ 151 ] (which he readily aflented, if he was not worfc of ihis Diftemper, and then ordered how we fhould jride, and which Negro fhould go, not only to help [his Wife hut us alfo, and take our Horfcs whea [there was Occafion, and do any Thing he^ could for us : And indeed fo he did, and appeared to me to run on his Feet without much Trouble, being a lively young Man. I omitted before, that the Judge afked, Ifwehad feen the Governor^ and if he was kind to us^ I told him he was very friendly to us, and faid. If we met with, any Trouble in his Liberty that he could help us i\ only let him know and he would right us. The Judgd-- faid, // was vers welly and he was glad of it. I per- ceived the Judge was rather a Moderator of the Governor, he being an ancient wife Man, and had lived long as a Judge upofi the Ifland, and under- ftood (it is like) more fully the State of Things there than the Governor could be capable of, he being but a young Man, altho' he appeared to be a wile Man, and, as William Penn faid, came of an ancient and honourable Family in England^ which he knew very well, whofe Name was Bennett. Af- terwards I told William Penn how it had fared with us on that Ifland, and efpecially the Kindnefs of the two chief Men in Power there, and William Penn wept, and laid. He had not heard any Account of this Nature^ that he had been fo much affeSledwith^ as he remembred thefe many Tears. Now we left the Judge until the Morning, and got fomc fmall Refrefliment, it being late, -"and I had been faint for feveral Hours for want of eating, but I 152 ] but the Lord's heavenly Power bore me up over r lo that at Times I felt no want of any Thiug ; o ,, Renowned over all be the Name of the m'ghty Gc^ now and for ever. We went to Bed, and wlv. Morning came, I with my Companion were ftirri: early, having eight Miles to the Meeting, and being in the latter End of the NipJb Monfb, \ were willing to be in fuch Time, that wc min give fome Notice to the People. I was walking cur Lodging Room early, and the Judge's Wi came to the Door and afked, rfjhe might [peak u\ us ? I f^id/Jje might ; then (he came in and faid, S had a Me jj age from her Fliijhand te us ; I require ivhat it was ? She faid. He defiredwe would co end pray for him. before we went away. I defired fl, would favour us fo much: as to lay before her Huf- band fomething which I had to fay, and fhe pro- mifed (he would : Well thm, tell the fudge, that ii he wiUfuffer us to come into his Roomy and fit do'K and wait upon the Lord^ as pur Manner is in fuch Cafe as thi\^ if it pleafe the Lord to move us by his hoiy Spirit to pray we may \ but if not ^ let not thefudgt take it amifs, for we are^ willing to be at the Lord's\ /ifpo/ingin all Things. She went, and I believe, a$ ihe faid, laid the Metter before \)\m as Ihad.de- iivered it to her ; for fhe was a Womah c f a good Underftanding, and came hack again to us in a very little Time : 1 afked, what the Judge faid f She re- ^ plied, he faid, Let the Men take their own Way ^ and whether they pray for me or not^ I believe they are Men of God : So after fome little refpite, we being brought to the Judge's Bed-fide, f;;it down ar^^ wait^ I 153 ] aitcd upon the Lord, who was pleafed in his Love ad by his mighty Power tobreai. in upon us, and ;ifp opened my Mouth in his Gift of Grace and of japplication, in which Gift, ardent and fervent ries went up to the Lord of Heaven and Earth, lat he would fend Health and Salvation to the adge, and alfo to all his Family, and to all People tr and near, that all every where iiiight repent, jnd come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be 'ived. The Judge wept aloud, and a mighty Vifi- uion it was to his Family, and efpecially to hini-^ blf and his tender Wife. We left the Judge in a ':ne Frame of Spirit; and no doubt near the King-* :om, having his BlelTing and earneft Requeft, that vhen we could reach his Houfe v/e would not fail o come to it, for v/e were very wclconie ; and I ound and felt it lb, and it was moftly our Lodg- ngs : His Wife and Foot-page went with us to all he Meetings, except one, While we vv^ere on the illand, which vVas about two Weeks', in which Time ,vc had many good Opportunities among a fober be- 4iaved and well carriaged People, amongft whom; •"vve met with no Oppolltion, but had large quiet Meetings." I When wc were clear, as we thought, of the If- [and, we went to take our folid Leaves of the Go- vernor, acknowledging his Civility and Generofity to us Strangers, and 1 told him and the Judge, That they would not want ihctr Reward for what they ^ad do72e to tis, and fucB who P^quld take their Live ^ \u in their Hands ^ and come in the Love of God to ^^'ifit thefe remote V arts of the World, which we. diirft 1^ 2 , ^ir>:- [ 154 ] not have undertaken ij we had not believed if reqi of us by the Almighty, a7id our Peace concerned i\ as-alfo the Glory ofGod^ and the Good of the Chik of Men ; thefe are the -Motives to thcfe our great dertakings ; cr V/ordsto thatPurpofc. So we ed in much Love with thefe great Men, ^efpecil the Judge, v/ith Tears on his Facr^ as alfo his der and friendly Wife, who Had been very fervl able to us in ordering- Meetings and making way| us, and none like her in all the Illand, that we V/ithall, fhe being given up to that Service, for encouraging • Truth and Friends in what fhe ^-^'capable of. Being invited to a Friend's Houfe to dine one Day, v/hen wc were lat down at the Table, tl Woman of the Houfe nefired that one of us would ^ Grace ; from which I took an Occafiun to H^iewhe and feveral more in the Company, who appeared w\ much m.ore grown in the Truth than fhe, thatfifi we bad been a People^ we had both believed (and cordingly prad:ifed) thatXxxx^ Prayer was not perforl ed without the Help of the holy Spirit of God, and 710^ Man could pray aright and acceptable without it j 7ior was it in Mans Power to have it when he pleaf- ed V therefore it is Mans Place to wait upon the Lord Jor //^^ pouring forth of this Gift upon him, and aJJo to know whether it be required of him to pray, foas to be heard by Man, or only to pray fecretly, fo as to be beard* gJ Gody as ^/W Hannah, and many more have ^:v:e ; which, as they do aright, no doubt, biitasChri/i :[iid to his Difc)ples, their Father will hear them in : ;cret, and reward them openly ; or to this EfFcxfl : v^ich which they all appeared iatisfiedc W(!r [ ^ss ] We then went on board cur Veffel, and fct Sail ith a fair Wind for the eaftEnd of thelfland, in order X Barbados ^, but foon after we got out to the Mouth ' that Inlet: where we arrived firft, the Wind came A\ againft us, and we put in there again ; and the iafler, altho' not called one of us, faid in a friend- Manner, pyhat is the Matter now'^ this is along cfycUy //\ Richardfon (as he was pleafed to call me, aitho' oft fliewed my Diflike to it) you have Jomethhig to yet on theAJland. I laid, I knew not of any Thing ; t he leemed pofitive, and withallfaid, ij the Wind lie (air at Midnight he would call if I was willing ; not, he would, (lay as long as I pleafed. I faid, '^ .ew not of any Thing to hinder, but he might czi^^ fcon as the Wind came fair. So we pait^^d, only ving him an Account, that we intended to go for icTiC Judge's Houfe. It was Jate in the Evening kvhen wc got there, and the Judge was gone to Bed ; but his Wife was up, who lifted up her Hands with more than ordinary Surprize, and much Joy, and Aid, She was always glad to fee me^ but' never^more an now: I faid, JVhyfo? She then began to tell, how that fincei went away, there had been a Man with the Judge, who had incenfed him againft me all that ever he could, and faid, He knew me in En- gland, and that I was broke ^ and ca7ne into th^e Farts to preach for a Living. I aiked, what her Hufaand faid to all that ? She faid, his Anfwer was to the Man, that he believed I was no fuch Perfon^ but an honeft Man ; yet the Accuser feemed very pofitive. I faid, It would be wll if this Man could be brcught with me to the Judge's Face^ that h^ might be convinc-' ed [ i<6 ] edy not only of the Mans Ignorance of iis as a Eecpl hut of me in particular, and his Envy againft me 1 1 made known -y upon which I opened to her theCal of fuch Journeys and Services, how we proceeded and how the Meetings w^ere conftituted in wh|" we did fo proceed, and from whence we had C^ titicates, fropi Monthly, Quarterly, or MeetingsJ Minifters to which we belonged, and from Friel^ in the feveral Provinces and Iflands where we tra\ led, if we defired them, many of which Ico( fhew the Judge if Time would admit 3 but flie f^ left we fliould be called away in hafte, die cravec ^fee feme of thofe Certificates : I (liewed her thcl Beginning at the firft, wherein Friends of X^f/i, nc J^ridlington Monthly-meeting, in TorkfJnre, to Frier in America^ ihewed not only their full Unity wi? this my prefent Journey, but alfo with my Servi(5 for the Truth, and Converfation in the fame, whc I had lived and travelled 3 and that I had fettled outward Affairs to Friends Salisfadlion^ under By Hands varioufly writ. When this great and wife Woman faw this, laid, it ivas enough -^ but I {hewed her other Ce tificates from divers Places, wherein Friends had fignified fufficiently their Unity and Satisfaction with me, I likeW'ife informed her, that in Cafe any Man, not approved by us as a Minifier, did take upon him to impofe his Preaching upon ^ny who were Strangers to him, fuch as knew him took Care to acquaint the Churches therewith, if his Intentions could be known, that no Impofler might do any Hurt : All vvhich ilie admired^ and faid fbe had ne- [ ^57 3 hi'ard fo much before, neither did Jhe think there d been fuch excellent Or den in the World amon^ : y People. Having thus acquainted her \yith our Order and ^ifcipline, and afterwards informed her of the Caufe )f our unexpected Return, I renewed my Propofal )f having my Accufer before the Judge ; fhe told lie, (he had good Place with her Hulband, and would endeavour to obtain it : And accordingly, after talking with him, fhe let me know, that the Judge exprefled his Rcadinefs to do me any Service fwhich lay in his Power, and was of Opinion, my Accufer durfl not face either him or me in that Af->v fair; but that if the Wind continued againft us, he would try to find him out and bring him, which might be of Service ; but if the Wind favoured, flie thought^ I might be eafy to go ; as indeed h* was, and the more fo, confidering that our Captain Salter^ who lived near the Judge on the lame Ifland, had fliewed a great dealbf Patience and good Difpoiition towards us for about two Weeks, yet would gladly be gone ; fo about Mid- night we were called to go on board the Ship, for the Wind was fair, if we were ready; I replied, ive come quickly^ and fo we did, and took leave of all we faw of the Family, and remembered our dear Love, with grateful Ac- knowledgments to the Judge, for all his Civility and Kindnefies he had done to us, with Reafons why we could not fee him, for he had been afflid- ed for fome Time with the Gout, and was now fal- len into fome Reft, and we going very eaUy away. 'vere net at our own Difpofal, I C 158 3 I admired the Lord's good Providence in all^L and there was fomething of a Reach from the famS watchful Providence, to. order thati tb be put i: my Certificate w^hich did fo fully remove that S| this Enemy would have faflened upon me, (i. that I had hrcke /;? England, and could not pay DebtSy and therefore w^as come into thefe rer Parts of the World, where I vvas unknown, toprel for a Livelihood -, but the contrary fully appean ihat I was known an,d well beloved too, and had feds todifcharge anyjufl Demand upon me, blefl) be the worthy Name of the Lord, now and for e Now I may fay fomething of our AfFairs u the Sea in this Voyage ; When Captain Salter taken us in PafTengers at Philadelphia for Barba^ it being a time of War, and People fomewhat afri of (hipping Goods, he faid, he was to have t hoacft ^takers Paflengers, and he did not fear ing taken by Privateers nor Pirates. I'was troub at his Confidence in us, and told him fo, and tl it was much if the Lord did not fufFer us to taken, that he might fee Men were not to be de- pended upon, but that we ouglit to depend upon the Lord alone for Protection and Deliverance: However, in much lefs Time than was expedled. Goods came, and y/e were loaded and gone. We had rough Weather before we came to Barbados, (I have given an Account o^ Bermudas)^ efpecially about the Tropick of Cancer we had very high Wmd, and I was extreamly Sea-fick, and fo was my CoiTipanion, and I could eat little, but was tren: ed wit}^ remarkable Civilities by the Captain ; fox ^ , in C 159 3 I and about that Latitude there are Fifh not nn^ kc Herrings, \yhich fiy from Wave to Wave, and V dipping their^ Fins or Wings in the Water, they .ill Ay a great Way^ efpecially whei they are chaf-" \ by Fifhes of Prey, and almoft every Morning :ere wcreof thofe Fifhes found on the Ship's Deck ; id the Captain often faid, as his Manner was, Mr* ^Jcbardfon thefe are fent for you, or for your Break- il, and feeing it is (o^ I will drefs them myfelfj, : I know, faid he, my Cook is fo greafy you caa rdly eat of his Cookery, which was very true; d therefore he would wafh his Hands, and lay z .lean Napkin on hia Arm, and tell me he would irefs me my Breakfaft in the beft Fafhion he could.^ ifked him, why he would put himfelf tofomuchTroti^ ? He faid, he never waited on a Man in all his Life vith fo much Pleafure, and if I were going into any I^ountry where he was going, Ifliould not pay any :hing for my PafTage ; io much Refpedt he {hewed me. Now it happened in the Courfe of this Voyage^ ivhen we were within a few Leagues of Barbados^ me Morning early as foon as Day appeared, he that tvas aloft (upon the Watch to look out, as the Man- er of Mariners is, efpecially in the Time of Wars nd Danger) efpied a Ship which he and the refl of ur mofl knowing Men fuppofed to be a TurkiJJp Vigate, of confiderable Strength ; however, it was a great Veffel, and appeared to have a great many Guns : When we firft faw her, fhe appeared to fce within Gun-fhot. But oh, what a Surprize \ Fright our Ship's Crew were in ! I had often i^tvL the like, Gu? VefTel being deep leaded. ■^^■. F16aded, although a good Sailer, was Ids thin tli| |*vhich chafed us, and to run for it appeared the onj liyay for us to efcape, hauling as clofe to the Wii] ws we could to keep the Sails full ; and the Vefl IbcingftifF with its great Burthen, endured Sail wel lend indeed they crowded, lo, much Sail, that I to^ llHemI feared they would -bring the Rigging by the pBoard ; fo thus we laboured until Noon, and thl lour Captain had loft all his Confidence in the ^i MerSj and laid we fhall be taken, for the Ship has Igained upon us for feveral Hours, and we have donfe what we can; and are all fpent : I walked upon the Main-deck under no fmall Concerp of Mind, and Truth role, and I found it open in the Truth, that ive, fiotdd not h taken : The Captain laid, binding vSrith fome Aflervations, we (hall certainly be take Ifaid,. Noy "we JJ:allnot, unlefs by our Mifmanage?nen\ Alas ! faid he^ you are fuch a Man as I never m withall ; . do you not lee the Frigate, or Sallee-mi for that he called her, isjuft going to fire a Broa fide at us, opening the Gun Ports, and laying t Ship broad Side upon us, and levelling at her as well as they can? And indeed our Captain, altho' he was a ftout Man,- yet appeared very ghaftiy and dead-hearted, and faid (in a Tone which befpoke both Affliction and Trouble) to nic^ Go into rh^ Cabbin, or fome where under the Deck, for they will fire immediately^ and that w^here I walked I could hardly elcape either the Shot or the Rigging falling upon me. I (dAd^ ikey ^mllnctjire -, and de- fired him to he eaf%^ jor ive JJ^oidd come to 7io Damage by that Ship. Weil then, he alked what ^ they riiculJ r i6i ] ifhould do, for the Enemy was jufl: upon us ? I laid, J would fetch them a Bottle or two^ or more of my be [I iBranJvy and iheyjhould take as much as might do them \goody but have a Care of more^ and ply away a while and you will fee they will fall back^ and we Jhall leave them. The Captain faid, although there was no human Probability of efcaping^ yet for my Sake they would try, and to work they went. I think I ne- ver faw Men on board of any Ship work like them for lome Hours, and we foon perceived we out(ailed them, and by the time it began to be dark we had left them confiderably. Now all Fire and Light was forbidden, excepf what could not be avoided, and all Noife, and a Council was held, to confult what Way to fleer, whether the neareft or moft common w^ay for the Ifland, or about 3 for it was reafonable to conclude the Adverfary would way-lay us, if he could, be- fore We came to the Ifland ; and the Captain faid, what I faid in the Cale fhould te done : After fonte Deliberation I told him, / was mojl eafy infteering the nearefl Courfe^ which we did, and faw our ad- verfary no more. We came to the Ifland next Day in much Joy, that We had efcaped lo imminent a Danger, but I was very ill in a Fever when I landed, which had been growing upon me for ieveral Days, (this being the Sixth-day of the Week, and 18th of the T'enih Month) I was fo poorly, that feveral thought I muil die^ but I ft:ood refigned in the Will of God, whe- ther to die or live. The Firfl:-day being come, I ^'-ent to the Meeting, though v/ith great Difficulty, M bcin^J I t 162 J being very weak, where I fat under more than ufual Exercife, Reafonings, and Conflidls of Spirit for fome time, about my prefent Condition, which was v/eak and low, arid in my own Apprehenfion, un- likely to be of any Service, notwithftanding all tU|i Troubles and Hazards of the Sea and Robbers, arttf ' other Jeopardies in coming here, I was now thus difabled and laid by as ufelefs, Thefe Things were an Occalion to me to confider, whether I had not rnifs'd my Way in iomethingor other? Many parti- culars were brought to my Mind, whether I had difcharged mylelt faithfully where I had been ? and when I looked back and took a View of my paft Travels and Services in the Work of the Miniftry, and Diicipline of the Church, my Condudt and vvKole Converfation, I faw nothing but I was clear of the Blood of all Men; as alfo clear and well fatisfied both as to the Time of my coming, as well as to the Coming itfelf unto thisliland. There ap- peared yet two Things in my way ; Firjl^ if this Place fhould be my Grave, fuch as might not watch over me with the beft Eye may fay. If he had gone at the Lords Command ^ no doubt but he would have brought him back again s and Secondly^ as I had two Utile 'ChiU dren in England, if Ifnifhedmy Courfe here^ they would^ be left Fatherlefs and Motherlefs^ And Ifaid before the Lord, Let not my E72d bri?2g Difhonour to thy great Name nor any Blemifh to the ^ruth which I have loved^ and laboured for the Promotion of from my Childhood. When I had thus, or to this Purpofe appealed to the Lord, I felt great Quietnefs and Refignation of Mind ; and as I thus fat, a Friend well thought on [ i63 ] khfey fevcral,' began to fpeak in the Meeting, and' ^t opened in my Mind, that he was not wholly re- deemed trom having fome Thought^!, that elemen- tary JVater hzd not yet ended its Service; I meaa ^n Point of Dipping : I would have fliut it out, for the Man appeared a wife, zealous. Man; and I bet- ing altogether a Stranger, could not remember I had heard of his Name, yet the Matter con- tinued, and I thought, for my own Satisiadlion I [might afk him the Queftion : If he was a right fpi- jrited Friend, he would not be hurt; if he was not, he flood in Need of Help, or at leaft it was high 'time for Friends to have a more perfed: Knowledge of him. So I leave this awhile, and return to the other Part of the Meeting, which was very re- markable. During my fitting, as before, under much Weak- nefs of Body, yet quiet in Mind, the living Virtue or heavenly Power of Chrift fprang up in my in- ward Man, like healing and fuppling Oil, which fo effedually helped me every way, that I could fay J feelingly and experimentally, Miracles are not ceaf- \ed\ for I was raifed beyond my own Expediation, f and all-others who knew my weak State, to give ? Teftimonyto the glorious Coming and Manifeftati- ! on of Chrift m Power, Spirit, Life, Light, and ' Grace, for the Help, Health, and Salvation of all the Children of Men who receive,* believe in, and ^ obey his Spiritual Knocks, Reproofs, and heavenly I Calls in the Soul, without any LefTening to his Humanity : Great Caufe have I, with all the Liv- j ing, to love, value^ honor and reverence the great ' ^" and [ i64 ] and mighty Name of him who hath helped an4 healed, by fending his eternal Word of living Pow- et in^to oilr Hearts. Returning with other Friends to my Quart from this good Meeting (not to be forgotten by r came the before-mentioned Friend to fee me; a I having, as I told him, a Defire to fpeak private: with him, he reply 'd, there were none there but his good Friends, and I might fpeak my Mind. I told him, what I had to fay related qhiefly to him- felf, and in fuch a matter as he might not be wil- ling to have it expofed; but he would not hear, atid faid, I might fpeak it there. I defir'd he would not take an Offence at what I had to fay, for I did fup- pofe it to be a Secret to all there but himfelf; and then I faid, the matter is, When thou waft fpeaking in the Meeting, it founded in the Ear. of my Soul as if one had faid, This Man (meaning thee) is not wholly redeemed out of a Belief in John's M/- niftration of Water ^ as not having dene its Work. Now the matter is before thee, thou knoweft whe- ther what I received be true or falfe : In the firft Place I enquire for niy own Satisfafliop, His An- fwer, if it may be called one, was as followeth ; he faid, The Difciples of Chrijl^ when they baptized with Watery knew that it was the Mind of their great Ma/ler that they fljoutd fo baptize : 1 faid, I know not that any of the Apoftles did ever fay (o much as thou wouldft inlinuate ; for both by what Peter and Paul fay, it appears very natural to he the Mind of Chrift, only to condcfcend to fo much as was done by the Aooflles in that of Water, be- \ cau(e [ i65 ] kufe of the Peoples Weaknefs ; and no Quefti(Wi ut the Jewi were very much fettled in the Belief If John the Baptifl's Difpenfation of Water to Re- l>cntance, andalfo of the Circumcifion, and Purify- ,tig, and many other Things ufed amongft that people : Now Peter ^ when the Converts v^ere grown ilronger in the Faith and in the Grace of. God, told them, // is not the putting away the Filth of the ^lejhy hut the Anfwer of a good Conjcience towards God, by the Re fur region oj Jefus Chri/l^ and Pau!^ although he did once in Condefcention circumcife timothy y yet told the People at another Time, that Neither Circumcijion nor TJjicircumciJion availeth an^ \ things but a new Creature ; and if they were circum^ ' \cifedy Chrijl would profit them nothing-, and he alfo I thanks God, he baptized no more than Crifpus and Gaius, and the Houfhold of Stephanus ; befides thefe^ he knew not that he had baptized any other ^ for Chrifi fent him not to baptize, hut to preach the Go/pel: And I am, as I faid to the Friend, of the Prophet's Mind when he faid, The Elements /hould melt as with fervent Heat : If the Gofpel Power be npt this fer- rjent Heat, I know not what is, nor what is able to melt away the EIeme?2ts. But I further faid, if he was a Baptift, he fhould deal plainly and honeftly with Friends, and tell them what he was, and not preach one. thing, and keep fuch Referves to himfelf. Friends admir'd, and faid, they had not the leafl , Thought of any fuch Thing by him ; fo he faid, he would not fall out with me. I told him, I was as vmuch for Peace as he was, but at the fame Time I ^.^^ouldh^ivcus to min4 that w^e vftvc found in the Faith, [ i66 ] Fatthy and Preachers of the Gofpel, and not gc back again into the Beggarly Elements, for whatis S]^(| inCdmparifon of the Love of God in Chrift JeTiis,^ I had good Service and great Satisfaction upori this Ifland, although I found Truth fo lovr, that it might then be truly faid as formerly, By whom Jhah Jacob, or the true Seed, arife, which is in our Apprehcnfions but fmall, and much prefs'd down with the many Things that are hurtful, efpecially by the Love of Money, Pride, and . Forgetfulnefs of God? I was invited on board a great tranfport Ship^ whereof one Reed was Mafter, who remembered me ^^hen I was but young, and was travelling to or near Scarborough ; he was loving to me, and fevera| Friends who were with me, and I had good Service on board. There was alfo on board a French Pro- teflant, now a Captain of the Engli(h tranfport Sol^ diers bound for 'Jamaica''^ he lodged at "John Groves Sy and was a very civil Man, and faid if I would go with Captain Reed (who offered, if I was going, to carry me to Jamaica free) he would wait on me if I was lick or ailed any thing ; and would gladly have had my Company : I acknowledged both their Generofity and Civility to me, and fo I took leave of them, and of the noble Captain Salter , who I have had Occalion both to mention and to love, who took his folid leave of me, and wept like a Child, and faid openly in the hearing of many, that he' never lovd a Manfo well before , and tho he did not want Bujinefs, yet for my Sake he would ferve my Friends what lay in his Power ; or near thofc Words. 1 [ i67 ] 1 1 find as we live and walk in the Truth, thert Ian inward Witnefs which God hath placed in the Icarts of Men that is reachable, except in fuch who ^ arrived to a great Degree of Hardnefs and In- ^nfibility, and fo have little Scnfe or Perceivance ffGood, either in themfclves or in others, which a deplorable State and much to be lamented. Oh hat Grief of Heart and Spirit it hath been to me, bear and fee the Wickednefs offome ! if fuch iVickcdnefs was as great a Trouble to them who [idled it, as it was to me, I have thought they would loon grow weary of it. I Now I left the Illand, and embarked on board a phip, Jcbn Griffith M^iRcv, bound for Brijolin Old ^nglandy and went to Sea with fome Eaft-India jShips that had put in at Barbados^ having a Ship of War or two for their Convoy. After we were got to Sea, they had io much drinking and carouling that we grew weary of flaying with them, and jafter fome Confideration, the Captain, who was a jFriend, Jeft them and came fafe to England. I In our PafTage we had fome rough Weather near jthe Tropick , which I mentioned before, and the ;Men and Captain being much difordered with watch- ing and hard Labour, as I remember, for eight and forty Hours Night and Day, a Calm enfuing, the Captain defxred me to take his Place for his Watch, and mind the Helmfman, and fee that he made flraight Steerage ; but alas ! he was fofleepy, it was next to impoflible to keep him awake. I walk- ed on the Deck, and had overmuch Work to mind the Compafs, and the Helmfmau too, for a fine Breeze [ i68 ] Bree5:c of Wind came on/ and all of a fuddcn a ven unufual Fdur fell on me> and I looked into the Sei and beheld it appeared to turn blue, and as far as could difcern to Windward, I faw white Caps or th Water- freckle ; on feeing which, through Fear niore than any great Skill, I ftampt with mv Foo ^as though I would have broke the Deck. Ou came the Captain, but what with Fear and Sleej he could fcarce hit the Door out of the Cabbin ; bu when he was got upon the Deck, he ftampt, anc called out all his Hands, and bid them lower anc furl the Sails with Speed, or elfe we were all deac Men, for here is a Hurricane juft upon us : Anc no looner was all made fnug as well as could be (| the Seamen phr^fe it) but the Wind blew fo, thm we thought it would have turn'd the Bottom of the Ship upward : The lik« 1 never {aw ; and, as the Captain faid, we had net one Minute to fpare d being caft away, according to all human Probability; and, as the Seamen term it, it was fuch Hurry diir- ry thick Weather y that we could fcarce lee any thing a hundred Yards, which violent Weather held for about an Hour, in which time we drove by a Vef- fel, and were fo near her, that I thought I could have flung a Stone aboard: Our Ship's Crew were fore sfraid, and looked upon her to be a Robber; her Rudder was lalhed or tied up, and the Men were ali gone off the Deck, but our Mariners were fo affrighted, that they thought they would fet fomc foil and follow us ^ for no fooner were we part this Ship but the We-ither grew better, and away wc ran m hazard of bringrDg the Ma-fts^ by the boar ' t Ti [ 169 ] [)Ut through the Divine Providence of hitn that is Lord over all, both Sea and Latid, we elcaped and :ame fafe into Corky in Ireland^ where the Mailer lived, and rode there for fome Time, and then weighed for Brijloly as I intended for the Yearly- Kneeting there. ' We bad rough Weather in crofling the Channel, before we came into the Severriy where our Sailors, eing afraid oi being preft, launched the Boat, and an away into C(?rwu^^//, leaving but four on board :to bring the Ship up the River. We iaw a Pinnace, Jiaviflg >n it a Lieutenant with a Crew of preiTed Men, to prefs more if they could find them, and our Mafter called on me, and defired I would put on my beft Cloaths and come to him, and fo I did, and he fat me on his right Hand : By this time up comes the^Lieutcnant and afked for my Men, tak« irig me for the Mafter; I told him, they had launch- ed the Long-boat and were gone, and we could I not hinder them, they being the ftrongeft Party ; at } which he appeared very much enraged, and fecmed I as though he would have ftruck at mc. I told him |t:almly, he had more need pity than be angry with !us, for if there fhould be a Gale of Wind, we were 'in great Darfger of all periihing for want of Hands, for I {hewed him what Force we had, viz. James Bates J whom I did not then call my Companion^ nor John Griffith Captain, the Cabbin Boy and my- felf were all the Men on board. But he aiked, what for a Man that was who fat befide me ? 1 told him, he was a Man fufficiently fecur'd againft the Prefs : Tl^en the rough Man fell, and faid, I looked M 2 like i w ] like an honefl: Man, and he would take my Word and not feajxh for Men : So I ordered a Bottle of the beft E.lquor on board to be brought, and then the Lieutenant and I parted very friendly. I write not this as a Thing I approved, but diflik- c^i but being taken at unawares, had not time to fhun it (as before mentioned) unlefs T had expoied my Friend the Mafter of the Ship^ although I nei- ther faid nor did, that I know of, asy thing worfe than what thou feed here written y I told the Cap- tain I thought he was a great Coward, and had exa pos'd me to Danger to favc himfelf. ^1 Wind and Weather favouring us, we came in due time to Bri/Iol Yearly-meeting, where I met with William EdmundfoHy and was truly glad to fee him with many more at that Plape; but my Com- panion falling iick, I was made willing to leave him, and travelTd to London with ^ohn Watfon of Ireland^ and a fweet Ipirited Man he was ; we got to London Yearly-meeting, where I difcharged my- felf of what I had upon my Mind, and came away in Peace, and in the feeling of the Love of God. yobn Haydock and I came from London together, and had Meetings in our way to Tcrk Yearly-meet- ing, where I was glad to fee my Horns-Friends, and to enjoy the Love of God once more with them; for this is our principle Crown and Kingdom in this World, to enjoy the favourable Countenance oip the Lord, and one another in his living and internal l^refence; and when I looked back upon all the Mercies and Deliverances I had received from the mighty God of Heaven and Earth, Seas^ and Ri- j ■ ' ' ^ • '■ ■ ■ ^ ■ yer^ J7I ] crs of Water, whofe Hand made all, and whofe iye and watchful Providence attends all^ and is aver all, my Soul was filled with Thanks artd Prai- ses to the great and moft excellent Name of him Who lives for ever, and hath helped my Soul -to bvercome many ftrong Temptations, and hath borne up my Head under many deep Afflidlions and Tri- bulations, renowned for ever be his holy Name. I came home the 1 8th of the Fourth Month 1703, and found my Children well ; and now I was under a Thoughtfalnefs how to walk and demean myfelf jfo, as that I might be preferved near the Lord, and in due Reverence and true Fear before hhn; that inafmuch as I found there was fomething of Holi- nefs unto the Lord imprinted or ingraven upon the flefhly Table of my Heart, that now in this Time, when I was not fo particularly and immediately concerned in the like daily Travel on Truth's Ac- icount, I might not lofe the Savour, Relifh and Sen- |fation of heavenly Things. Some will read me here^, jin this {hort Survey I have been taken of my pre- fent State and Thoughtfulnefs, that if I could not make it better, I might not make it worfe, either in doing, or not doing any thing that might prove a hurt to me; for a Veffel had much better be laid |by, if it can be fpared, than ufed t^ its hurt. Now !in this careful and watchful Frame of Mind, I have found Prefervation from time to time to this Day, by retaining the Salt of the Kingdom in the Soul jor the inward Man, which is of a preferving Qua- lity, with which the Veffel is, and can only be kept fit for the Mafter's Ufe : If we lofe this, the Crea- [ 172 I ture loon grows out of Order and unfit for the Mat- ter's Ufe: Read and eonfider thefe Things in Time, vyhUe tliou haft the Prize in thy Hand, and Time to n^v and receive Good at the Hand of him who isirdly full of Good, and is all Good; to him be the Offerings of Praifc and Renown, now and for ever. WhiJft I remain'd at Home, as my ufual Man- i>€r was, I attended Firft-day, and Week-day, and Monthly- meetings, as alfo Quarterly and other Meet- ings for the Service of Trtith, and vifited many Meetings up and down in the Country, and had good Service and much Satisfadlion in ^ being given up to the Service of Truth: but did not fee it con- venient (as my Children were well placed) to fettle or keep a Family, until my Way appeared clear to marry, which did now draw on, and after I had been near feven Years a Widower I married ^dmie Robinfon'^ who defcended of a fubftantial Family at Hutton in the Hole^ in the Parifh of Leftingham^ not far frorn Ktrby-moorjide^ in Torkflnre. We had not been mariled much above two Years, before my Wife began to appear in the publiek Work of the Miniftry, and indeed very comfortably and acceptable to Friends, and fhe grew in Under- ftanding both of the Difcipline of the Church of Ghrift, and alfo in further Knowledge in the Work of the living Miniftry, ©"r. And about that time it came upon me to vilit Friends in moft of the Nor- thern Counties in England', znd fome fmall time after my Return, I had a Concern to vifit Friends in feveral Parts of the Southern Counties, Thomas Beeial being my Companion, who grew in the Truths - t ^73 1 >uth, -and alfo in the Miniftery : We had many lood Meetings in that Journey, good Service and [reat Satisfadtion^ and I return'd Home in Peace. I Now I may fay with Sorrow of Heart, the /Time irew on apace when my virtuous Wife and I muft bart and be no longer Meet-helps to one another^ jvhich we truly were, and never had either evil lA^ord or evil Thought againft each other, I am fully fatisfied ; but lived in Peace and true Love one with another, and were glad when we could either bne or both fcrve Truth and Friends : Therefore I :5nd it on my Mind, in this Place, to infert the fol- lowing Relation concerning her, viz. A fjort ACCOUNT of the Life, Con- vincement, Qualifications, and dying Sayings of that faithjul Handmaid of the Lord^ Anne Ri- chardson, who departed this Life the iSth of th4 Twelfth Month, 171 1, aged about T^hirty three Tears. • ** C|HE was defcended of an honeft and confide- " O rable Family of the jR(?^/^«i, 2it Hut ton in the ^ Hole in Torkfhire, and was convinced in her young " ^Years, and received the Truth in the Love of it, and it became valuable and precious to her above '' all Things in this World; and through the blef- ^J fed Work and Operation of the Grace and holy *^ Spirit of Truth, fhe was weaned from the World's Pieafure^, Vanities and Rccre^^tions, from taking '' any C€ ;inoft precious Blood ot Chrift, fhe came to *^ witnpi^' her Heart fprinkled from an evil Confci *^ en