WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 Printed by JOSEPH CRUKSHANK, in Market- 
 Street, BETWEEN Second AND Third Streets. 
 
 M. DCC. LXXIV. 
 
 v 
 
THE 
 
 TESTIMONY 
 
 O F 
 
 FRIENDS IN YORKSHIRE, 
 
 At their Quarterly- Meeting, held at York the 24th and 25th of 
 the third month y 1773, concerning 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN, 
 
 Of Mount-Holly^ in the province of Ne^-Jerfey 
 in America^ nvho departed this life at the 
 houfe of our friend Thomas Prieftman^ in 
 the fuburbs of this city^ the ydi of the tenth 
 months ^77^5 '^^^^ zw/m'i^^ in the biiry-- 
 ing ground of f iends the 9tli of the fame^ 
 aged about fifty two years. 
 
 HIS our valuable friend having been 
 Jl^ under a religious engagement for fome 
 time, to vifit friends in this nation, and more 
 cfpecially us in the northern parts, under- 
 took the fame in full concurrence and near 
 fympathy with his friends and brethren at 
 home, as appeared by certificates from the 
 monthly and quarterly meetings to wrhich he 
 belonged, and from the fpring-meeting of 
 minifters and elders, held at Philadelphia, 
 for Pennfylvania and New-Jerfey. 
 
 A 2 He 
 
-jxjErle arrived rm of London the be- 
 
 ginning of the laft yearly meeting, and after 
 attending that meeting travelled northward, 
 vifiting the quarterly meetings of Hertford- 
 fliire, Buckinghamfhire, Northamptonfliire, 
 Oxfordfhire and Worcefterfliire, and divers 
 particular meetings in his way. 
 
 He vifited many meetings on the Weft fide 
 of this county, alfo fome in Lancafhire and 
 Weftmoreland, from whence he came to our 
 quarterly meeting in the laft ninth month,, 
 and though much out of health, yet was en- 
 abled to attend all the fittings of that meet- 
 ing except the laft. 
 
 His diforder then, which proved the fmall 
 pox, increafed fpeedily upon him, and was 
 very affliifhing ; under w^hich he was fupport- 
 ed in much meeknefs, patience, and chrifti- 
 an fortitude ; to thofe who attended him in 
 his illuefs, his mind appeared to be centered 
 in divine love ; under the precious influence 
 whereof, we believe he finiflied his courfe, 
 and entered into the manfions of everlafting 
 reft. 
 
 ' In the early part of his illnefs he requefted 
 a friend to write, and he broke forth thus. 
 
 " O Lord my God ! the amazing horrors 
 of darknefs were gathered around me and co- 
 vered me all over, and I faw no way to go 
 forth ; I felt the mifery of my feilov/ crea- 
 tures feparated from the divine harmony and 
 it was heavier than I could bear, and I v/as 
 cruftied down under it ; I lifted up my hand, 
 and ftretched out my arm, but there was 
 
 was 
 
I ^ ] 
 
 none to help me; I looked round about and 
 was amazed : in the depths of mifery, O 
 Lord ! I remembered that thou art omnipo-- 
 tent, that I had called thee father, and I felt 
 that I loved thee, and I was made quiet m 
 thy will, and I waited for deliverance from 
 thee ; thou hadft pity upon me, when no man 
 CT)uld help me ; I faw that meebnefs under 
 fuffering was fliewed to us in the moft affecl-- 
 ing example of thy fon, and thou waft teach- 
 ing me to follow him, and I faid, thy Will, 
 O Father be done." 
 
 Many more of his weighty expreffions 
 might have been inferted here, but it Vt^as 
 deemed unneceflary, they being already pub- 
 liflied in print. 
 
 He was a man endued with a large natural 
 capacity, and being obedient to the mani- 
 feftations of Divine Grace, having in patience 
 and humility endured many deep baptifms, 
 he became thereby fandlified and fitted for 
 the Lord's work, and was truly ferviceable 
 in his church ; dwelling in awful fear and 
 watchfulnefs, he v/as careful in his public 
 appearances to feel the putting forth of the 
 Divine Hand, fo that the fpring of the gofpel 
 miniftry often flowed through him with great 
 fweetnefs and purity, as a refreihing flream 
 to the weary travellers towards the city of 
 God : fldlfull in dividing the word, he vxras 
 furniflied by Him in whom are hid all the 
 treafures of wifdom and knowledge, to com- 
 municate freely to the feveral ftates of the 
 
 people 
 
r vi 5 
 
 i^cbple where his lot was caft. His condu6l 
 at other times was feafbiied with the hke 
 watchful circumlpedlion and attention to the 
 guidance of Divine Wifdom, which rendered 
 his whole convcrfation uniformly edifying. 
 \ He was fully pcrfuadcd that as the life of 
 Chrift comes to reign in the earth, all abufe 
 and unnecefiary oppreiTion, both of the hu- 
 man and brute creation will come to an end ; 
 ^but under the ienfe of a deep revolt, and an 
 overflowing ftream of imrighteoufnefs, his 
 life has been often a life of mouruing^ 
 
 He Vv^as deeply concerned on account of 
 that inhuro.an and iniquitous practice of 
 making flaves qf the people of Africa, or 
 holding them in that ftate ; and on that ac- 
 ' 'count we undeiitand he • ath not only wrote 
 fome books, but travelled much on the cour- 
 tinent of America, in order to make the Ne- 
 gro mafters (efpecially thofe in profeiTion with 
 Xis) fenfible of the evil of fuch a pradtice ; and 
 though in this journey to England, he was 
 far removed from the outward fight of their 
 fufFerings, yet his deep exercife of mind re- 
 mained, as appears by a ihort treatife h^ 
 wrote in this journey, and his frequent con- 
 cern to open the miferable ftate of this deep- 
 ly injured people : his teftimony in the laft 
 meeting he attended was on this fubje6l, 
 wherein he remarked, that as we as a fociety, 
 -when under outward fufFerings had often 
 found it our concern to lay them before thofe 
 in authority, and thereby in the Lord's time, 
 
 had 
 
t vii I 
 
 had obtained relief, fo he recommended this 
 opprefled part of the creation to our notice, 
 that we may as way may open, reprefent 
 their fufFerings in an individual, if not a fo- 
 ciety, capacity to thofe in authority. 
 
 Deeply fenfible that the defire to gratify 
 people's inclinations in luxury and fuperflui- 
 ties, is the principal ground of oppreffion, 
 and the occafion of many unneceffary wants^ 
 he believed it to be his duty to be a pattern 
 of great felf-denial, with refped: to the things 
 of this life, and earneftly to labour with 
 friends in the meeknefs of wifdom, to im- 
 prefs on their minds the great importance of 
 our teftimony in thefe things, recommending 
 to the guidance of the blefled Truth in this 
 and all other concerns, and cautioning fuch 
 as are experienced therein, againli contenting 
 themfelves with a6ling up to the ftandard of 
 others, but to be careful to make the (land- 
 ard of truth manifefted to them, the meafure 
 of their obedience ; for faid he, ^' That pu- 
 rity of Hfe which proceeds from faithfulnefs 
 in following the Spirit of Truth, that ftate 
 where our minds are devoted to ferve God, 
 and all our wants are bounded by his wif- 
 dom ; this habitation has often been opened 
 before me as a place of retirement for the 
 children of the light, where they may ftand 
 feparated from that which difordereth and 
 confufeth the affiiirs of fociety, and where we 
 may have a teftimony of our innocence in tho 
 hearts of thofe v/ho behold us." 
 
[ viii ] 
 
 We conckide with fervent defires, that we 
 as a people may thus, by our example, pro- 
 mote the .Lord's work in the earth ; and our 
 hearts being prepared, may unite in prayer 
 to the great Lord of the harveft, that as iij 
 his infinite wifdom he hath greatly ftripped 
 the church, by removing of late divers faith- 
 ful minillers and elders, he may be pleafed. 
 to fend forth many more faithful labourers 
 into his harveft. 
 
 Signed in, by qrdcvy and on behalf of 
 /aid meeting. 
 
 Thomas ^ennitt^ Samuel Brifcpe^ 
 
 John Storr, John Turner, 
 
 Jofeph Eglin, Jojhua Robinfony 
 
 Thornas Parkinfon, Thomas Priejiman, an4 
 
 Jofefyh W right y divers other Friends^ 
 
T E S T I M O N Y 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 MONTHLY-MEETING of FRIENDS, 
 
 Held in Burlington, fhe firjl day of the eighth months in the year pf 
 our Lord, 1 7 74, concerning our ejieemed friend, 
 
 JOHN W O O L M A N, peceasedw 
 
 HE was bom in Northampton, in the 
 county of Burlington, and province of 
 Wefl-Nevf-Jerfey, in the eighth month, 1720, 
 of rehgious parents, who inftrudled him very 
 early in the principles of the chriftian religi^ 
 on, as profeffed by the people called Quakers^ 
 which he efteemed a blefling to him, even in 
 his young years, tending to prefer ve him 
 from the infection of wicked children j but 
 through the workings of the enemy, and le- 
 vity incident to youth, he frequently deviated 
 from thofe parental precepts, by which he 
 laid a renewed foundation for repentance, 
 that was finally fucceeded by a godly forrow 
 not to be repented of, and fo became ac- 
 quainted with that fandlifying power which, 
 qualifies for true gofpel miniftry, into which 
 he was called about the twenty-fecond year 
 of his age, and by a faithful ufe of the ta^ 
 lents committed to him, he expeiienced an 
 encreafe, ijatil he arrived at the ftate of a fa- 
 
r ^ 1 
 
 ther, capable 6f dividing the word aright to 
 the dilTereat ftates he miniflered unto ; dif- 
 penfing milk to babes, and meat to thofe of 
 riper years. Thus he found the efScacy of 
 that power to arife, which in his own ex- 
 preffions, prepares the creature to ftand 
 like a trumpet through which the Lord fpeaks 
 , to his people."- — ^He was a loving hufband, a 
 tender fiither, and very humane to every 
 part of the creation under his care. 
 
 His concern for the poor and thofe in af- 
 fliclion was evident by his viiits to them ; 
 whom he frequently relieved by his affifttince 
 and charity. He was for many years deeply 
 exercifed on account of the poor enilaved A- 
 fricans, whofe caufe, as he fometimes men- 
 tioned, lay almpft continually upon him, 
 and to obtain liberty to thofe captives, he la- 
 boured both in public and private ; and was 
 favoured to fee his endeavours crovvmed with 
 confiderable fuccefs. He was particularly 
 deiirous that friends fliould not be inflru- 
 mental to lay burthens on this oppi^eiied peo- 
 ple, but remember the days of faffering from 
 which they had been providentially delivered, 
 th It if times of trouble iliould return, fio iuT 
 judice dealt to thofe in flavery might rife in 
 judgment againfh us, but, being clear, we 
 might on fuch occaiions addrefs the i^lmigh- 
 ty with a degree of confidence, for his inter- 
 pofitiou and relief, being particularly careful 
 as to himfeif, not to countenance flavery 
 even by the ufe of thofe conveniencies of life 
 which were furniihed by their labour. 
 
 He 
 
[ xi ] 
 
 He was defirovis to have his own, and thtf 
 minds of others, redeemed from the pleafures 
 and immoderate profits of this world, and to 
 fix them on thofe joys which fade not away ; 
 his principal care being after a life of purity , 
 endeavouring to avoid not only the grolTer 
 pollutions, but thofe alfo which, appearing 
 in a more refined drefs, are not fufficientiy 
 guarded againft by fome well difpofed peo^ 
 pie. In the latter part of his life he was re- 
 markable for the plainnefs and fimplicity of 
 his drefs, and as much as poffible, avoided 
 the ufe of plate, coftly furniture and feafting ; 
 thereby endeavouring to become an example 
 of temperance and felf-denial, which he be- 
 lieved himfelf called unto ; and w^as favour- 
 ed with peace therein, altho* it carried the 
 appearance of great aufterity in the view of 
 fome. He was very moderate in his charges 
 in the way of bufinefs, and in his defires af^ 
 ter gain ; and tho' a man of induftry, avoid- 
 ed, and ftrove much to lead others out of ex- 
 treme labour, and anxioufiiefs after perilhabie 
 things ; being defirous that the ftrength of 
 .our bodies might not be fpent in procuring 
 ^things unprofitable, and that we might ufe 
 moderation and kindnefs to the brute animals 
 under our care, to prize the ufe of them as a 
 great favour, and by no means abufe them ; 
 that the gifts of Providence Ihould be' thank- 
 fully received and applied to the ufes they 
 were defigned. 
 
 He feveral times opened a fchool at Mount- 
 Jiolly, for the inftrud;ion of poof frienqiy; 
 
 children 
 
[ ] 
 
 rfiildren and others, being concerned for their 
 iielp and improv'ement therein : — his love and 
 care for the riling youth among us was truly 
 ;great, recommending to parents and thofe 
 ,v/ho have the charge of them, to chufe con- 
 'fcientidus and pious tutors, faying, It is a 
 lovely fight to behold innocent children," and 
 that to labour for their help againft that 
 •which would marr the beauty of their minds, 
 isa debt we owe them/' 
 
 His miniftry was found, very deep and pe- 
 jietrating, fometirnes pointing otit the dan- 
 gerous fituation which indulgence and euf- 
 torn leads into ; frequently exhorting others, 
 -efpecially the youth, not to be difcouraged 
 at the difficulties which occur, but prefs after 
 purity. He often exprefTed an earneft en- 
 gagement that pure ivi/dom Ihould be attend- 
 ed to, which would lead into lowlinefs of 
 mind and refignation to the divine will, in 
 which Hate ftnall poITeffions here would be 
 fufficient. 
 
 In tranfadling the affi^irs of difcipline, his 
 judgment was found and clear, and he was 
 very ufeful in treating with thofe who had 
 done amifs ; he ' vifited fuch in a private 
 way in that plainnefs which truth dictates, 
 fliewing great tendernefs and chriftian for- 
 bearance. He was a conftant attender of our 
 yearly-meeting, in which he was a good ex- 
 ample, and particularly ufeful ; affiftihg in 
 the bufinefs thereof with great weight and at- 
 tention. He f'veral times vifited moft of the 
 meetings of friends in this and the neigh- 
 bouring 
 
bouring provinces, with tlie concurrence of' 
 the monthly-meeting to v/hich he belonged, 
 and we have reafon to believe had good fer- 
 vice therein, generally or always expreffing 
 at his return how it had fared with him, and 
 the evidence of peace inJiis mind for thus 
 performing his duty. He was often concern- 
 ed With other friends in the important fervice 
 of viliting families, which he was enabled to 
 go through to fatisfacflion. 
 
 In the minutes of the meeting of minifters 
 and elders for this quarter, at the foot of a 
 lift of the members of that meeting, made 
 about five years before his death, we find in 
 his hand writing the following obfervation 
 and refleclions. As looking over the mi- 
 nutes made by perfons who have put off this 
 body, hath fometimes revived in me a thought 
 how ages pafs away ; fo this lift may proba- 
 bly revive a like thought in fome, when I and 
 the reft of the perfons abovenamed, are cen- 
 tered in another ftate of being. — ^The Lord, 
 who was the guide of my youth, hath in ten- 
 der mercies helped me hitherto ; he hath 
 healed me of wounds, he hath helped me out 
 of grievous entanglements ; he remains to be 
 the ftrength of my life ; to whom I defire to 
 devote my felf in time, and in eternity."— 
 Signed^ John Woolman. 
 
 In the twelfth month, 1771, he acquaint- 
 ed this meeting that he found his mind drawn 
 towards a religious vifit to friends in fome 
 parts of England, particularly in Yorklhire. 
 In the firft month 1772, he obtained our cer- 
 tificate, which was approved and endorfed by 
 
 our 
 
[ xiv ] 
 
 6ur quarterly meeting, and by the half yearns 
 meeting of minifters and elders at Philadel- 
 phia. He embarked on his voyage in the 
 fifth, and arrived in London in the fixth 
 month following, at the time of their annual 
 meeting in that city. During his Ihort vifit 
 to friends in that kingdom, we are informed 
 that his fervices were acceptable and edifying. 
 In his lafl illnefs he uttered many lively and 
 comfortable expreffions, being perfedlly 
 refigned, having no will either to live or die,'* 
 as appears by the teflimony of friends at York 
 in Great-Britain, in the fuburbs whereof, at 
 the houfe of our friend Thomas Prieftman, he 
 died of the fmall-pox, on the feventh day of 
 the tenth month, 1772, and was buried in 
 friends burying ground in that city, on the 
 ninth of the fame, after a large and folid 
 meeting held on the occafion, at their great 
 meeting-houfe, aged near fifty-two years ; a 
 minifter upwards of thirty years, during 
 which tune he belonged to Mount-Holly 
 particular meeting, which he diligently at- 
 tended when at home and in health of body, 
 and his labours of love and pious care for the 
 profperity of friends in the bleffed truth, wc . 
 hope may not be forgotten, but that his good 
 works may be remembered to edification. 
 
 Signed in, and by order of the Jaid meetings by 
 
 Samuel Allinson, C/^n(% - 
 
 Read and approved at our quarterly-meet- 
 ing, held at Burlington the 29th of the 8 th 
 mouthy ^774- 
 
 Signed by order offaid meetings 
 
 Daniel Smith, CkrL 
 
A 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE, GOSPEL LABOURS, 
 
 AND 
 
 CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES 
 
 OF THAT 
 
 FAITHFUL MINISTER 
 of 
 
 JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 JOHN W O O L M A N, 
 
 Late of M o 1? N T - H o L L in the Pi'ovince of 
 
 Isaiah xxxii, 17. 
 
 Tie nvork of righteoufnefs /hall he peace : and the effeSi of righteouf^ 
 nefsy quietnefs and ajfurance for ever^ 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 printed by Joseph Crukshank, in Market-Street, betweei:^ 
 Second and Third Streets, 
 
A 
 
 JOURNAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE AJ^D TRAVELS 
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN, 
 
 In the Service of the Gospel* 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 His hirth and parentage^ ivith fome account of 
 the operations of divine grace on his mind in 
 his youth — His firfl appearance in the mini-^ 
 firy ^ And his confiderations^ ivhik youngs 
 on the keeping of Jlaves^ 
 
 I HAVE often felt a motion of love 
 to leave fome hints in writing of my ex- 
 perience of the goodnefs of God: and 
 How, in the thirty-fixth year of my age, I 
 begin this work. 
 
 I was born in Northampton, in Burling- 
 ton comity, Weft-Jerfey, in the Year 1720; 
 and before I was feven years old I began to 
 
 B be 
 
i The life and TRAVELS 
 
 be acquainted with the operations of divine 
 love. Through the care of my parents, I was 
 taught to read near as foon as I w^as capable 
 of it ; and as I went from fchool one feventh 
 day, I remember, vvdiile my companidns went 
 to play by the vv^ay, I went forward out of 
 fight, and fitting down, I read the 2 2d chap- 
 ter of the Revelations. He fliewed me a 
 pure river of water of life, clear as chry- 
 ftal, proceeding out of the throne of God 
 and of the Lamb, &c." and in reading 
 it, my mind was drawn to feek after that 
 pure habitation, which, I then believed, God 
 had prepared for his fervants. The place 
 where I fate, and the fweetiiefs that a;t:tended 
 my mind, remains frefh in my memory. 
 
 This, and the like gracious vifitations, had 
 that efFe(5i upon me, that when boys ufed 
 ill language, it troubled me ; and, through 
 the continued mercies of God, I was pre- 
 jferved from it. 
 
 The pious inflru6lions of my parents were 
 often freili in my mind when I happened to be 
 among wicked children, and v/ere of ufe to me. 
 My parents, having alargefariiily of children, 
 ufed frequently, on firfl days after meeting, 
 to put us to read in the holy fcriptures, or 
 Ibme religious books, one after another, the 
 reli fitting by without much converfetion ; 
 ■which, I have fiiice ofteil thought, i\^as a good 
 pradlice. From what I had fead ariA heard, 
 I belie^/ed there had been, in paft ages, peo- 
 ple who walked in uprightnefs before God, 
 in a degree exceeding any that I kn-ew, or 
 
 heard 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 3 
 
 heard of, now living : and the apprehenfion 
 of there being lefs fteadinef& and firmnefs 
 amongft people in this age than in paft ages, 
 often troubled me while I was a child, 
 
 A thing remarkable in my childhood was, 
 that once going to a neighbour's houfe, 
 I faw, on the way, a robin fitting on her 
 neft, and as I came near fhe went off, but 
 having young ones flew about, and with 
 many cries expreffed her concern for them ; 
 I flood and threw ftones at her, till one flrik- 
 ing her, flie fell down dead : at firft I was 
 pleafed with the exploit, but after a few mi- 
 nutes was feized with horror, as having, in 
 a fportive way, killed an innocent creature 
 while^ fhe was careful for her young : I be- 
 held her lying dead, and thought thofe young 
 ones, for which fhe was fo careful, mult now 
 periili for want of their dam to nourifli them ; 
 and after fome painful confiderations on the 
 fubje6l, I climbed up the tree, took all the 
 young birds, and killed them; flippofing that 
 better than to leave them to pine away and 
 die miferably : and believed, in this cafe, 
 that fcripture proverb was fulfilled, The 
 
 tender mercies of the wicked are cruel/' I 
 then went on my errand, but, for fbme 
 hours, could think of little elfe but the cru- 
 elties I had committed, and vvas much trou- 
 bled. Thus He, whofe tender mercies are 
 over all his vrorks, hath placed a principle" 
 in the human mind, which incites to exer- 
 cife goodnefs towards every living creature ; 
 and this being fingiy attended to, people 
 
 B ^ be- 
 
4 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 become tender-hearted and fympathizing j 
 but being frec;uently and totally rejedted, the 
 mind becomes Ihut up in a contrary difpo- 
 iition. 
 
 About the twelfth year of my age, my 
 father being abroad, my mother reproved 
 me for fome mifconduft, to which I made 
 an undutiful reply ; and the next firll day, 
 as I was with my father returning from 
 meeting, he told me he underflood I had 
 behaved amiis to my mother, and advifed 
 me to be more careful in future* I knew 
 myfelf blameable, and in ihame and confu- 
 lion remained iilent. Being thus awakened 
 to a fenfe of my wickednels, I felt remorfe 
 in my mind, and getting home, I retired and 
 prayed to the Lord to forgive me ; and do 
 not remember that I ever, after that, fpoke 
 unhandfomely to either of my parents, how- 
 ever foolifh in fome other things. 
 
 Having attained the age of fixteen years, 
 1 began to love wanton company ; and though 
 I Vv^as preferved from profane language, or 
 icandalous conducfi:, ftill I perceived a plant in 
 me which produced much wild gra.pes : yet my 
 merciful Father forfook me not utterly, but 
 at times, through his grace, I was brought 
 lerioufly to coniider my ways ; and the fight 
 of my backfiidings afFecfLcd me with forrow; 
 but for vv^ant of rightly attending to the re- 
 proofs of inftrud:ion, vanity was added to 
 vanity, and repentance to repentance : upon 
 the v/liole, my mind was more and more ali- 
 enated from the truth, and I haflened to- 
 ward 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 5 
 
 ward deflrudlion. While I meditate on tlie 
 gulf towards which I travelled, and reiiecl 
 on my yonthful difobedience, for thefe things 
 I weep, mine eye rmmeth down with water. 
 Advancing in age the nmiiber of my ac- 
 quaintance increaled, and thereby my way 
 grew more difficult : though I had found 
 comfort in reading the holy fcriptures^ and 
 thinking on heavenly things, I v/as now 
 eftranged therefrom : I kn^'^v I was going 
 from the flock of Clirift, and had no refolu- 
 tion to return ; hence ferious reflexions were 
 uneafy to me, and youthful vptnities and di- 
 verflons my greateft pleafure. Running in 
 this road I found many like myfelf ; and wc 
 aflbciated in that which is reverie to true 
 friendfliip. 
 
 But in this fwift race it pleafed God to vi- 
 fit me with ilcknefs, fo that I doubted of 
 recovering ; and then did darkncis, horror, 
 and amazement, with full force, feize mc, 
 even when my pain and diftrefs of body w as 
 very great. I thought it would have been 
 better for me never to have had a being, than 
 to fee the day which I now faw. I was filled 
 with confuiion ; and in great affliflion, both 
 of mind and body, 1 lay and bewailed my- 
 felf. I had not confidence to lift up my cries 
 to God, whom I had thus offended ; but, in 
 a deep fenfe of my great folly, I was linni- 
 bled before him : and, at length, that Word 
 w^hich is as a fire cind a hammer, broke and 
 difiblved my rebellious heart, and then my 
 cries were put up in contrition j and in the 
 
 multi'- 
 
6 
 
 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 multitude of his mercies I found inward re- 
 lief, and felt a clofe engagement, that if he 
 was pleafed to reftore my health, I might 
 w^alk humbly before him. 
 
 After my recovery, this exercife remained 
 with me a confiderable time ; but, by de- 
 grees, giving way to youthful vanities, they 
 <jained ftrength, and getting with wanton 
 young people I loft ground. The Lord had 
 been very gracious, and fpoke peace to me 
 in the time of my diftrefs ; and I now moft 
 ungratefully turned again to folly ; on which 
 account, at times, I felt fharp reproof, but 
 did not get low enough to cry for help. I 
 v/as not fo hardy as to commit things fcan- 
 dalous ; but to exceed in vanity, and pro- 
 mote mirth, was my chief ftudy. Still I re- 
 tained a love and efteem for pious people ; 
 and their company brought an awe upon me. 
 My dear parents, fever al times, admoniflied 
 ms in the fear of the Lord, and their ad- 
 monition entered into my heart, and had a 
 good effect for a feafon ; but not getting 
 deep enough to pray rightly, the tempter, 
 v/hen he came, found entrance. I remem- 
 ber, once having fpent a part of the day in 
 wantonnefs, as I went to bed at night, there 
 lay in a window, near my bed, a bible, 
 which I opened, and firft caft my eye on the 
 text, we lie down in our fliame, and our 
 
 confufion covers us this I knew to be 
 my cafe : and meeting with fo unexpe6led a 
 reproof, I was fomewhat affedled with it, and 
 
 went 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 7 
 
 went to bed undef remorfe of confcience ; 
 which I foon caft off again. 
 
 Thus time paft on : my heart was reple- 
 nifhed with mirth and wantonnefs, while 
 pleaiing fcenes of vanity were prefented to 
 my imagination^ till I attained the age of 
 eighteen years ; near which time I felt the 
 judgments of God, in my foul, like a con- 
 fuming fire ; and looking over my pa ft life, 
 the profpe6l was moving. — I was often fad, 
 and longed to be delivered from thofe vani- 
 ties ; then again, my heart was ftrongly in- 
 clined to them, and there was in me a fore 
 conflict : at times I turned to folly ; and then 
 again, forrov^ and confufion took hold of 
 me. In a while, I refblved totally to leave off 
 fome of my vanities ; but there w^as a fecret 
 referve in my heart, of the more refined part 
 of them, and I was not low enough to find 
 true peace. Thus, for fome months, I had 
 great troubles ; there remaining in me an un- 
 fubjedled wall, which rendered my labours 
 fruitlefs, till at length, through the merciful 
 continuance of heavenly vifitations, I was 
 made to bow down in fpirit before the Lord. 
 I remember one evening I had fpent fome 
 time in reading a pious author ; and v/alking 
 out alone, I humbly prayed to the Lord for 
 his help, that I might be delivered from all 
 thofe vanities which fo enfnared me. Thus 
 being brought low, he helped me ; and as I 
 learned to bear the crofs, I felt refrefiiment to 
 come from his prefence ; but not keeping in 
 that ftreiigth which gave vi^tory^ I loft ground 
 
 again ; 
 
i The life and TRAVELS 
 
 again ; the fenfe of which greatly afFedled 
 me : and I fought defer ts and lonely places, 
 and there with tears did confefs my fins to 
 God, and humbly craved help of him. And 
 I may fay with reverence, he was near to me 
 in my troubles, and in thofe times of humi- 
 liation opened my ear to difcipline. I was 
 now led to look feriouily at the means by 
 which I was drawn from the pure truth, and 
 learned this, that if I v/ould live in the life 
 which the faithful fervants of God lived in, 
 I muft not go into company as heretofore in 
 my own will; but all the cravings of fenfe 
 muft be governed by a divine principle. In 
 times of forrow and abafement thefe inftruc- 
 tions were fealed upon me, and I felt the 
 power of Chrift prevail over fetfilh defires, fo 
 that I was preferved in a good degree of ftea- 
 dinefs ; and being young, and believing, at 
 that time, that a fingle life was beft for me, 
 I was ftrengthened to keep from fiich com- 
 pany as had often been a fnare to me. 
 
 I kept fteadiiy to meetings ; fpent firft days 
 afternoon chiefly in reading the fcriptures 
 and other good books ; and was early con- 
 vinced in my mind, that true religion con- 
 fifted in an inward life, wherein the heart 
 doth love and reverence God the Creator, and 
 learns to exercife truejuftice and goodnefs, 
 not only toward all men, but alfo toward the 
 brute creatures — That as the mind was mov- 
 ed, by an inward principle, to love God as 
 an invifible incomprehenfible Being ; by the 
 fame principle it was moved to love him in 
 
 all 
 
OF JOHN WOOL M AM. 
 
 all his manifeftations in the vifible world— 
 That, as by his breath, the flame of life was 
 kindled in all animal fenfible creatures, to fay 
 we love God as unfeen, and, at the fame time, 
 exercife cruelty toward the leafl creature mov- 
 ing by his life, or by life derived from him ; 
 VvTas a contradid:ion in itfelf. 
 
 I found no narrownefs refpedling fe(5ls and 
 opinions ; but believed, that fincere upright 
 hearted people, in every fociety, who truly 
 love God, were accepted of him. 
 
 As I lived under the crofs, and limply fol- 
 lowed the openings of truth, my mind, from 
 day to day, was more enlightened ; my for- 
 mer acquaintance were left to judge of me as 
 they would, for I found it fafeft for me to 
 •live in private, and keep thefe things fealed 
 up in my own breaft. While I filently pon- 
 der on that change wrought in me, I find no 
 language equal to it, nor any means to con- 
 vey to another a clear idea of it. I looked 
 upon the works of God in this vilible crea- 
 tion, and an awfiilnefs covered me ; my heart 
 was tender and often contrite, and univerfal 
 love to my fellow-creatures increafed in me : 
 this will be underflood by flich who have 
 trodden in the fame path. Some glances of 
 real beauty may be feen in their faces, who 
 dwell in true meeknefs. 
 
 There is a harmony in the found of that 
 voice to which divine love gives utterance, 
 and fome appearance of right order in their 
 temper and conducl, whole pallions are re- 
 gulated; yet all thefe do not fully flievv forth 
 
lo The life and TRAVELS 
 
 that inward life to fuch who have not felt it : 
 but this white fhone and new name is known 
 rightly to fuch only who have it. 
 
 Now though I had been thus ftrengthened 
 to bear the crofs, I ftill found myfelf in great 
 danger, having many weakneiTes attending 
 me, and ftrong temptations to wreftle with ; 
 in the feeling whereof I frequently withdrew 
 into private places, and often with tears be- 
 fought the Lord to help me, whofe gracious 
 ear was open to my cry. 
 
 All this time I lived with my parents, and 
 wrought on the plantation ; and having had 
 fchooling pretty vsrell for a planter, I uied to 
 improve it in vvinter-evenings, and other lei-- 
 fure times ; a(nd being now in the twenty- 
 firft year of my age, a man, in much bufi- 
 nefs at fliop-keeping and baking, afl^ed me, 
 if I would hire with him to tend fhop and 
 keep books. I acquainted my father with the 
 propofal ; and, after fome deliberation, it 
 was agreed for me to go. 
 
 At home I had lived retired ; and now hav- 
 ing a profpecfl of being much in the way of 
 company, I felt frequent and fervent cries in 
 my heart to God, the Father of mercies, that 
 he would preferve me from all taint and cor- 
 ruption ; that, in this more public employ- 
 ment, I might ferve Him, my gracious Re- 
 deemer, in that humility and felf-denial, 
 with which I had been, in a fmall degree, ex- 
 ercifed in a more private life. The man, who 
 employed me, furnifhed a fhop in Mount- 
 Holly, about five miles from my father's 
 
 houfe 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. ir 
 
 houfe, and fix from his own ; and there I 
 lived alone, and tended his fliop. Shortly af- 
 ter my fettlement here, I was vifited by feve- 
 ral young people my former acquaintance, 
 who knew not but vanities would be as agree- 
 able to me novsT as ever ; and, at thefe times, 
 I cried to the Lord in fecret for wifdom and 
 ftrength ; for I felt myfelf encompailed with 
 difficulties, and had frefli occafion to bewail 
 the follies of time paft, in contracling a fa- 
 miliarity with libertine people : and as I had 
 now left my father's houfe outwardly, I found 
 my heavenly Father to be merciful to me be- 
 yond what I can exprefs. 
 
 By day I was much amongfl people, and 
 had many trials to go through ; but in the 
 evenings, I was mofcly alone, and may with 
 thankfulnefs acknowledge, that, in thofe 
 times, thj^ fpirit of fupplication was often 
 poured upon me ; under which I w^as fre- 
 quently exercifed, and felt my ftrength re- 
 newed. 
 
 In a few months after I came here, my 
 mafter bought feveral Scotchmen fervants, 
 from on board a velTei, and brought them to 
 Mount-Holly to fell ; one of which was ta- 
 ken fick, and died. 
 
 In the latter part of his ficknefs, he, being 
 delirious, ufed to curfe and Iwear moft for- 
 rowfully ; and the next night after his buri- 
 al, I was left to fieep alone in the line cham- 
 ber where he died : I perceived in me a timo- 
 roufnefs ; I knew, however, I had not injured 
 the man, but aififted in taking care of him 
 
 according 
 
12 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 according to my capacity ; and was not free 
 to afl^ any one, on that occafion, to fleep with 
 me : nature was feeble ; but every tryal was 
 a frefli incitement to give myfelf up v/holly 
 to the fervice of God, for I found no helper 
 like him in times of trouble. 
 
 After awhile, my former acquaintance gave 
 over expecfting me as one of their company ; 
 and I began to be known to fome whole con- 
 verfation was helpful to me : and now, as I 
 had experienced the love of God, through 
 Jefus Chrift, to redeem me from many pol- 
 lutions, and to be a fuccour to me through 
 a fea of confli6ls, with which no perfon was 
 fully acquainted ; and as my heart was often 
 enlarged in this heavenly principle, I felt a 
 tender compafTion for the youth, who re- 
 mained entangled in fnares like thofe which 
 had entangled me from one time to another : 
 this love and tendernefs increafed ; and my 
 mind was more ftrongly engaged for the good 
 of my fellow-creatures. I went to meetings 
 in an aw^ful frame of mind, and endeavoured to 
 be inwardly acquainted with the language of 
 the true Shepherd ; and one day, being under 
 a ftrong exercife of fpirit, I flood up, and faid 
 fome words in a meeting ; but not keeping 
 clofe to the divine opening, I faid more than 
 was required of me ; and being foon fenlible 
 of my error, I was affliclecl in mind fome 
 weeks, without any light or comfort, even 
 to that degree that I could not take fatisfac- 
 tion in any thing : I remembered God, and 
 Y/as troubled ; and, in the dcj)th of my dif- 
 
 trefsj 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 13 
 
 trefs, he had pity npon me, and fent the 
 Comforter : I then felt forgivenefs for my of- 
 fence, and my mind became calm and qiiiet^ 
 being trvily thankful to my gracious Re- 
 deemer for his mercies ; and after this, feel- 
 ing the fpring of divine love opened, and a 
 concern to fpeak, I faid a few words in a 
 meeting, in which I found peace ; this, I 
 believe, was about fix weeks from the firfi 
 time : and, as I was thus humbled and dif- 
 ciplined under the crofs, my underftanding 
 became more ftrengthened to diftinguiih the 
 pure fpirit which inwardly moves upon the 
 heart, and taurfit me to wait in filence fome- 
 times many vv^eeks together, until I felt that 
 rife which prepares the creature to ftand like 
 a trumpet, through which the Lord fpeaks 
 to his flock. 
 
 From an inward purifying, and ftedfaft 
 abiding under it, fprings a lively operative 
 defire for the good of others : all the faith- 
 ful are not called to the public miniftry ; but 
 whoever are, are called to minifter of that 
 which they have tafted and handled fpiritu- 
 ally. The outward modes of worfliip are va- 
 rious ; but wherever any are true minifters 
 of Jefus Chrift, it is from the operation of 
 his fpirit upon their hearts, firit purifying 
 them, and thus giving them a juft fenfe of 
 the conditions of others. 
 
 This truth was early fixed in my mind ; 
 and I was taught to watch the pure opening, 
 and to take heed, left, while I was ftanding 
 to fpeak, my own will fhould get uppermoft, 
 
 and 
 
14 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 and caufe me to utter words from worldly 
 wifdom, and depart from the channel of the 
 true gofpel miniftry. In the management of 
 my outward affairs, I may fay with thank- 
 fulnefs, I found truth to be my fupport ; and 
 I was refpe6ted in my mafter's family, who 
 came to live in Mount-Holly within two 
 years after my going there. 
 
 About the twenty-third year of my age, I 
 - had many frefh and heavenly openings, in 
 refped: to the care and providence of the Al- 
 mighty over his creatures in general, and 
 over man as the mofh noble amongft thofe 
 which are vifible. And being clearly con- 
 vinced in my judgment, that to place my 
 whole trufl in God was beft for me, I felt re- 
 newed engagements, that in all things I might 
 a(5l on an inward principle of virtue, and 
 purlue w^orldly bufinels no further, than as 
 truth opened my way therein. 
 
 About the time called Chriftmas, I obferv- 
 td many people from the country, and dwell- 
 ers in town, who, reforting to publick-houfes, 
 fpent their time in drinking and vain fports, 
 tending to corrupt one another; on which 
 account I was much troubled. At one houfe 
 in particular there was much diforder ; and I 
 believed it was a duty incumbent on me to go 
 and fpeak to the mafter of that houfe. I con- 
 fidered I was young, and that feveral elderly 
 friends in town had opportunity to fee thefe 
 things ; but though I would gladly have ho€i\ 
 excufed, yet I could not feel my mind clear. 
 
 The 
 
6P JOHN WOOL MAR 15 
 
 The exercife was heavy : and as I was read- 
 ing what the Almighty faid to Ezekiel, re-^ 
 fpedling his dvity as a v^atchman, the matter 
 ~ Was fet home more clearly ; and then, with 
 prayers and tears, I befought the Lord for 
 Ms affiflance, who, in loving-kindnefs, gave 
 ine a reiigned heart : then, at a fuitable op- 
 portimity, I w^ent to the pnblick-houfe ; and 
 feeing the man amongit much company^ I 
 went to him, and told him, I wanted to fpeak 
 Xvith him ; fo we went afide, and there, in 
 the fear and dread of the Almighty, I expreft 
 to him what relied on my mind ; wiiich he 
 took kindly, and afterward Ihewed more re*- 
 •gard to me than before. In a few years af*- 
 ter wards he died, middle-aged; and I of- 
 ten thought, that had I neglected my ditty 
 in that cafe, it would have given me great 
 trouble ; and I was hmnbly thankful t-o my 
 gracious Father, who had fupported me here- 
 in. 
 
 My employer having a negro woman, fold 
 her, and defired me to write a bill of fale, 
 the man being waiting v/ho bought her : the 
 thing was fudden ; and though the thoughts 
 of writing an inftrument of liavery for one 
 of my fellow-creatures felt uneafy, yet I re- 
 membered I was hired by the year, that it 
 was my mafter vdio directed me to do it, and 
 that it was an elderly man, a member of our 
 Ibciety, who bought her ; fo, through Vv^eak- 
 nefs, I gave way, and wrote it ; but, at the 
 executing it, I was fo afflicted in my mind, 
 . that I faid, before my mafter and the friend, 
 
 that 
 
i6 The LIFE aInd TRAVELS 
 
 that I believed flave-keeping to be a pradlicd^ 
 inconliftent with the chriftian rehgion : this 
 in fome degree abated my uneafinefs ; yet, as 
 often as I refledled ferioufly upon it, I thought 
 I fhould have been clearer, if I had defired to 
 be excufed from it, as a thing againft my con- 
 fcience ; for fuch it was. And fome time after 
 this, a young man, of our fociety, fpoke to 
 me to write a conveyance of a flave to him ; 
 he having lately taken a negro into his houfe : 
 I told him, I was not eafy to write it ; for, 
 though many of our meeting and in other 
 places kept flaves, I ftill believed the pradlice 
 was not right ; and defired to be excufed from 
 the writing. I fpoke to him in good will ; and 
 he told me, that keeping flaves was not alto- 
 gether agreeable to his mind; but that theilavc 
 being a gift made to his wife, he had accept- 
 ed of her. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 17 
 
 CHAP. IL 
 
 His firfi joiirriey^ on a religious ^vifit^ into Eajl-^ 
 Jerfey^ in company ivith Abraham Farring-" 
 ton — His thoughts on merchandizing^ and his 
 learning a trade — His fecond journey ^ with 
 Ifaac Andrews^ into Pennfylvania^ Mary-- 
 land^ Virginia^ and North-Carolina. — His 
 third journey y ivith Peter Andreivs^ through 
 part of Wejl and Eajl-Jerfey — Some account 
 of his fifter Elizabeth^ and her death — His 
 fourth journey^ ivith Ptter Andrews^ through 
 Nenv-Tork and Long-Ifland^ to Nenjo-Eng-- 
 land — And his fifth journey^ with John 
 Sykes^ to the Eofiern Shore of Maryland^ and 
 the Lower Counties on Delaware. 
 
 MY efteemed friend Abraham Farring- 
 ton, being about to make a vilit to 
 friends on the eaftern fide of this province, 
 and having no companion, he propofed to 
 me to go with him ; and after a conference 
 with Ibiiie elderly friends, I agreed to go : fo 
 we fet out the fifth day of the ninth month, 
 in the year 1743 ; had an evening meeting at 
 a tavern in Brunlwick, a town in which none 
 of our fociety dwelt ; the i^oom was full, 
 and the people quiet. Thence to Amboy, aiid 
 had an evening meeting in the court-houfe ; 
 to which came many people, amongft whom 
 Vv^ere feveral members of aflembly, they be- 
 ing in town on the public affairs of the pro- 
 
 C vince* 
 
i8 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 vince : in both thefe meetings my antient 
 companion was enlarged to preach, in the 
 love of the gcfpel. Thence we went to Wood- 
 bridge, Raway, and Plainfield ; and had fix 
 or feven meetings in places where friends 
 meetings are not ufually held, being 
 made up chiefly of prefbyterians, and my 
 beloved companion was frequently flrength- 
 ened to publifh the word of life amongft 
 them : as for me, I was often filent thro' 
 the meetings ; and when I fpake, it was 
 with much care, that I might fpeak only 
 what truth opened : my mind was often ten- 
 der, and I learned fome profitable lefTons. 
 We were out about two weeks. 
 
 Near this time, being on fome outward bu- 
 finefs in which feveral families vs^ere concern- 
 ed, and which was attended with difKculties, 
 fome things relating thereto not being clearly 
 ftated, nor rightly unclerftood by all, there 
 arofe fome heat in the minds of the parties^ 
 and one valuable friend got off his v/atch ; 
 I had a great regard for him, and felt a flrong 
 inclination, after matters were fettled, to fpeak 
 to him concerning his condu6l in that cafe ; 
 but I being a youth, and he far advanced in 
 age and experience, my way appeared difh- 
 cult ; but after fome days deliberation, and 
 inward feeking to the Lord for afliftance, I 
 tvas made fubje6l; fo that I exprefl what lay 
 upon me, in a way which became my youth 
 and his years : and though it v>ras a hard talk 
 to me, it "was well taken, and, I believe, was 
 ufefui to us both* 
 
 Having 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 19 
 
 Having now been feveral years with my 
 employer, and he doing iefs at merchandize 
 dian heretofore, I was thoughtful of fome 
 other w^ay of btifinefs ; perceiving merchan- 
 dize to be attended with much cumber, in 
 the w^ay of trading in thefe parts. 
 
 My mind, through the power of truth, was 
 in a good degree weaned from the deiire of 
 outward greatnefs, and I w^as learning to be 
 content with real conveniencies, that were 
 not coftiy ; fo that a way of life, free from 
 much entanglements, appeared befh for me, 
 tho' the income might be fmall. I had feveral 
 offers of buiinefs that appeared profitable, but 
 did not fee my way clear to accept of them ; 
 as believing the buiinefs propofed would be 
 attended with more outward care and cumbe? 
 than v/as required of me to engage in. 
 
 I faw that a humble man, with the bieffing 
 of the Lord, might live on a little : and that 
 where the heart w^as fet on greatnefs, fuccefs 
 in buiinefs did not fatisfy the craving ; but 
 that commonly with an increafe of wealth, 
 the deiire of wealth increafed. There was a 
 care on my mind fo to pafs my time, that 
 nothing might hinder me from the moft 
 lleady attention to the voice of the true Shep- 
 herd. 
 
 My employer, though now a retailer of 
 goods, was by trade a taylor, and kept a 
 iervant man at that buiinefs ; and I began 
 to think about learning the trade, expedling, 
 that if I Ihould fettle, I might, by this trade, 
 and a little retailing of goods, get a living 
 
 C 2 in 
 
The life and TRAVELS 
 
 in a plain way, without the load of great 
 bulinefs : I mentioned it to my employer, 
 and we foon agreed on tertns ; and then, 
 when I had leifiire from the axFairs of mer- 
 chandize, I worked with his man, I believed 
 the hand of Providence pointed out this bu- 
 finefs for me ; and was taught to be content 
 with it, though I felt, at times, a difpofition 
 that would have fought for fomething great- 
 er : but, through the revelation of Jefus 
 Chrift, I had feen the happinefs of humiUty, 
 and there was an earnefl defire in me to en- 
 ter deep into it ; and, at times, this defire 
 arofe to a degree of fervent fupplication, 
 wherein my foul was fo environed with hea- 
 venly light and confolation, that things were 
 made eafy to me which had been otherwife. 
 
 After fome time, my employer's wife died j 
 llie was a virtuous woman, and generally be- 
 loved of her neighbours : and foon after this, 
 he left fliopkeeping ; and we parted. I then 
 wrought at my trade, as a tciylor ; carefully 
 attended meetings for worfliip and difcipline; 
 and found an enlargement of gofpel love in 
 my mind, and theixin a concern to vifit 
 friends in fome of the back fettlements of 
 Pennfylvania and Virginia ; and being 
 thoughtful about a companion, I exprelTed it 
 to my beloved friend Ifaac Andrews, who 
 then told me that he had drawings to the 
 fame places ; and alfo to go through Mary- 
 land, Virginia, and Carolina. After confi- 
 derable time paft, and feveral conferences 
 with him, I felt eafy to accompany him 
 
 throughout j 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 21 
 
 throughout, if way opened for it. I opened 
 the cafe in our monthly meeting, and friends 
 expreHing their unity therewith, we obtained 
 certificates to travel as companions ; his from. 
 Haddonfield, and mine from Burlington. 
 
 We left our province on the tv^elfth day 
 of the third month, in the year 1746, and 
 had feveral meetings in the upper part of 
 Chefter county, and near Lancafter ; in fome 
 of which, the love of Chrift prevailed, uni- 
 ting us together in his fervice. Then we 
 crolFed the river Sufquehann?Ji, and had fe- 
 veral meetings in a new fettlement, called 
 the Red-Lands ; the oldeft of which, as I 
 was informed, did not exceed ten years. It 
 is the poorer fort of people that commonly 
 begin to improve remote deferts : with a 
 fmall flock they have houfes to build, lands 
 to clear and fence, corn to raife, cloaths to 
 provide, and children to educate; that friends, 
 who vifit fiich, may well fympathize with 
 them in their hardiliips in the wiidernefs ; 
 and though the beft entertainment fuch can 
 give, may feem coarfe to fome who are ufed 
 to cities, or old fettled places, it becomes the 
 difciples of Chrifl to be content with it. Our 
 hearts were fornetimes enlarged in the love 
 of our heavenly Father amongfl thefe people; 
 and the fweet influence of his fpirit fup- 
 ported us through fome difficulties : to hini 
 be the praife. 
 
 We paifed on to Manoquacy, Fairfax, 
 Hopewell, and Shanando, and had meet- 
 ings j fome of which were comfortable and 
 
 edifying^ 
 
22 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 edifying. From Slianando we fet off in the 
 afternoon for the old fetclemeilts of friends in 
 Virginia ; and the firft night, we, with our 
 pilot, lodged in the woods, our horfes feed- 
 ing near us ; but he being poorly provided 
 with a horfe, and v/e young and having good 
 hqrfes, were free the next day to part with 
 him ; and did fo. In two days after, we 
 reached to our friend John Cheagle's, in Vir- 
 ginia : lb we took the meetings in our way 
 through Virginia ; were, in fome degree^ 
 baptized into a feeling lenfe of the condi- 
 tions of the people ; and our exercife in ge-r 
 neral was more painful in thefe old fettle- 
 ments, than it had been amongft the back 
 inha^bitants : but through the goodnefs of 
 our heavenly Father, the well of living-wa- 
 ters was, at times, opened to our encou- 
 ragement, and the refrefhment of the iincere 
 hearted. We went on to Perquimons, in 
 North-Carolina ; had feveral meetings, which 
 w^ere large ; and found fome opennefs in 
 thofe parts, and a hopeful appearance amongft 
 the young people. So w^e turned again to 
 Virginia, and attended moft of the meetings 
 which we had not been at before, labouring 
 amongft friends in the love of Jefus Chrift, 
 as ability was given : and thence went to the 
 mountains, up James River, to a new fettle- 
 ment ; and had feveral meetings amongft 
 the people, forne of whom had lately joined 
 in mgitiberftiip with our fociety. 
 
 In our journeying to and fro, we found 
 fome hqneft-hearted friends, who appeared 
 
 to 
 
OF J O H N W O O L M A N. 2j 
 
 to be concerned fox the caufe of truth ^mong 
 ^ backfliding people. 
 
 From Virginia, we crofTed over the river 
 Patowmac, at Hoe's ferry, and made a gene- 
 i^al viiit to the meetings of friends on the 
 Weftern Shore of Maryland ; and were at 
 their quarterly meeting. We had fome hard 
 labour amongft them, endeavouring to dif- 
 charge our duty honeiliy as way opened, in 
 the love of truth : and thence taking fuFirdry 
 meetings in our way, we paffed homeward j 
 where, through the favour of Divine Provi- 
 dence, we reached the lixteenth da.y of the 
 fixth month, in the year 1746 ; and I may 
 fay, that through the afiiilance of the Holy 
 Spirit, which mortifies felnfh defires, my 
 companion and I travelled in harmony, and 
 parted in the nearnefs of true brotherly love. 
 
 Tv/o things were remarkable to me in this, 
 journey : fir ft, in regard to my entertain- 
 ment ; wdien I eat, drank, and lodged free- 
 coft v/ith people, who lived in eafe on the 
 hard labour of their flaves, I felt uneafy ; 
 and as niy mind was inward to the Lord, I 
 found, from place to place, this uneafmefs? 
 return upon me, at times, through the whole 
 vifit. Where the niafters bore a good ihare 
 of the burthen, and lived frugally, fo that 
 their fervants were well provided for, and 
 their labour moderate, I felt more eafy ; but 
 where they lived in a coilly wa.y, and laid 
 heavy burthens on their ilaves, my exercife 
 was often great, and I frequently had con- 
 verfation with them, in private, concerning 
 
24 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 it. Secondly : this trade of importing flaves 
 from their native country being much en- 
 couraged amongft them^ and the white peo- 
 ple and their children lb generally living 
 without much labour, was frequently the 
 fubjedl of my ferious thovights : and I faw in 
 thele fouthern provinces fo many vices and 
 corruptions, increafed by this trade and this 
 way of life, that it appeared to me as a 
 dark gloominels hanging over the land ; and 
 though now many willingly run into it, yet 
 in future the confequence w411 be grievous to 
 poflerity : I expreis it as it hath appeared to 
 me, not at once, nor twice, but as a matter 
 fixed on my mind. 
 
 Soon after my return home, I felt an in- 
 creaiing concern for friends on our fea coaft j 
 and on the eighth day of the eighth month, 
 in the year 1746, with the unity of friends, 
 and in company with my beloved friend and 
 neighbour Peter Andrews, brother to my 
 companion before-mentioned, we fet for- 
 ward, and vifited meetings generally about 
 Salem, Cape May, Great and Little Egg- 
 Harbour ; and had meetings at Barnagat, 
 Mannahockin, and Mane-Squan, and foto the 
 yearly meeting at Shrewfbury. Through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord way was opened, and 
 the ftrength of divine love was fometimes 
 felt in our aflemblies, to the comfort and 
 help of thofe who were rightly concerned be- 
 fore him. We were oi;it twenty-two days, 
 and rode, by computation, three hundred 
 and forty miles. At Shrewfbury yearly meet^ 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 25 
 
 ing, we met with our dear friends Michael 
 Lightfoot and Abraham Farrington, who had 
 good fervice there. 
 
 The winter following died my eldeft lifter, 
 Elizabeth Woolman, jmi. of the finall-pox, 
 aged thirty-one years. She was, from her 
 youth, of a thoughtful difpoiition ; and very 
 companionate to her acquaintance in their 
 licknefs or diftrefs, being ready to help as 
 far as fhe could. She was dutiful to her 
 parents ; one inftance whereof follows : — It 
 happened that Ihe, and two of her fifters, be- 
 ing then near the eftate of young women, 
 had an inchnation one firft day after meet- 
 ing to go on a vifit to fome other young 
 women at fome diftance off ; whole compa- 
 ny, I believe, would have done them no 
 good. They expreft their defire 'to our pa- 
 rents ; who v/ere diffatisfied with the propo- 
 fal, and flopped them. The fame day, as 
 my lifters and I were together, and they 
 talking about their difappointment, Eliza- 
 beth expreft her contentment under it ; fig- 
 nifying, flie believed it might be for their 
 good. 
 
 A few years after fhe attained to mature- 
 age, through the gracious vifitations of God's 
 love, ftie was ftrengthened to live a felf-deny- 
 ing exemplary life, giving herfeif much to 
 reading and meditation. 
 
 The following letter may fliew, in fome 
 ^legree, her difpoiition : 
 
 Haddonfieldj 
 
?6 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 HaddonSeld, i ft day, i ith month, I743» 
 
 Beloved brother John Woohnan, 
 
 In that love which defires the v^elfare of 
 all men, I write unto thee : I received thine, 
 dated fecond day of the tenth month laft, 
 with which I was comforted. My fpirit h 
 bowed with thankfuinefs that I fhould be 
 remembered, who am irnvs^orthy ; but the 
 Lord is full of mercy, and his goodnefs is 
 extended to the meanell of his creation ; 
 therefore, in his infinite love, he hath pi- 
 tied and fpared and fliewed mercy, that I 
 have not been cut off nor quite loft ; but, at 
 times, I ana refrelhed and comforted as with 
 the glimpfe of his prefence, which is more 
 to the immortal part, than all which this 
 world can afford: fo, with defires for thy 
 prefervation with my own, I remain 
 
 thy affeclionate fifter^ 
 
 Eliz. Woolman, jun« 
 
 The fore part of her illnefs flie was in 
 great fadnefs and dejedlion of mind, of 
 which file told one of her intimate friends, 
 and laid, when I w^as a young girl I was 
 wanton and airy, but I thought I had tho- 
 roughly repented for it ; and added, I have 
 of late had great fatisfadtion in meetings. 
 Though fhe was thus difconfolate, ftill ihe 
 retained a hope, which was as an anchor ta 
 her: and fome tirne after, the fame friend 
 
 came 
 
OP JOHN WOOLMAN. 27 
 
 came again to fee her, to whom fhe men- 
 tioned her former expreffions, and faid, it is 
 otherwife now, for the Lord hath rewarded 
 me feven-fold ; and I am unable to exprefs 
 the greatnefs of his love manifefted to me. 
 Her diforder appearing dangerous, and our 
 mother being forrowful, ihe took notice of 
 it, and faid, dear mother, weep not for me ; 
 I go to my God: and many times, with an 
 audible voice, uttered praife to her Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 A friend coixiino' fome miles to fee her, the 
 morning before flie died, aflced her, how ihe 
 did ? the anfvvered, I have had a hard nighty 
 but fhail not have another fuch, for I lhall 
 die, and it will be well vnth my foul ; and 
 accordingly died the next evening. 
 
 The following ejaculations were found 
 amongfh her writings ; wi'ote, I believe, at 
 four times : 
 
 I. Oh ! that my head were as Vs^aters, and 
 mine eyes as a fountain of tears, that I 
 might weep day and night, until acquainted 
 with my God. 
 
 II. O Lord, that I may enjoy thy pre- 
 fence ; or elfe my time is loft, and my life 
 a fhare to my foul. 
 
 in. O Lord, that I may receive bread from 
 thy table, and that thy grace may abound in 
 me. 
 
 IV. O Lord, that I may be acquainted 
 with thy prefence, that I may be feafoned 
 with thy fait, that thy grace may abound in 
 
 Of 
 
28 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Of late I found drawings in my mind to 
 yiiit friends in New-England, and having 
 an opportunity of joining in company with 
 my beloved friend Peter Andrews ; w^e, hav- 
 ing obtained certificates from our monthly 
 meeting, fet forward on the fixteenth day of 
 the third month, in the year 1747, and 
 reached the yearly meeting at Long-lfland j 
 at which were our friends Samuel Notting- 
 ham from England, John Griffith, Jane 
 Holkins, and Elizabeth Eludfon from Penn- 
 fylvania, and Jacob Andrews from Chefter- 
 field. Several of whom v/ere favoured in 
 their publick exercife ; and, through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord, we had fome edifying 
 meetings. After this, my companioi^ and I 
 vilited friends on Long-Ifland ; and, through 
 the mercies of God, we were helped in the 
 work. 
 
 Beiides going to the fettled meetings of 
 friends, we were at a general meeting at Se- 
 tavvket, chiefly made up of other fbcieties : 
 and had a meeting at Oyfter-Bay, in a 
 dwelling-houfe, at which were many people: 
 at the firfc of which there was not much faid ' 
 by way of teftimony ; but was, I believe, a 
 good meeting : at the latter, through the 
 Springing up of living- waters, it was a day 
 to be thankfully remembered. Elaving vifited 
 the ifland, we went over to the main, taking 
 meetings in our way, to Oblong, Nine-Part- 
 ners and New-Milfoi^d. — In thefe back fettle- 
 ments we met with feveral people, who, 
 through the immediate workings of the fpi-- 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 29 
 
 rit of Chrifl on their minds, were drawn from 
 the vanities of the world, to an inward ac- 
 quaintance with him : they were educated in 
 the way of the prefbyterians. A confiderable 
 number of the youth, members of thatfociety, 
 were ufed to fpend their time often together 
 in merriment, but fome of the principal young 
 men of that company being vilited l3y the 
 powerful w^orkings of the fpirit of Chrift, and 
 thereby led hiunbly to take up his crofs, 
 could no longer join in thofe vanities; and 
 as thefe flood ftedfail to that inward con- 
 vincement, they were made a blelling to fbme 
 of their former companions ; fo that, through 
 the power of truth, feveral were brought into 
 a clofe exercife concerning the eternal vvell- 
 being ' of their fouls. Thefe young people 
 continued for a time to frequent their pub- 
 lick worlhip ; and befides that, had meetings 
 of their own ; which meetings were a while 
 allowed by their preacher, w^ho fometimes 
 met with them: but, in time, their judg- 
 ment in matters of religion difaOTeein^; with 
 fome of the articles of the prefbyterians, 
 their meetings were difapproved by that fo- 
 ciety ; and llich of them w^ho ftood firm to 
 their duty, as it Vv^as inv/ardly manifefted, 
 had many difSculties to go through : and 
 their meetings were in a while dropped ; 
 fome of them returning to the prefbyterians, 
 and others of them, after a time, joined to 
 our religious fociety. 
 
 I had converfation with fome of the latter, 
 to my help and edification ; and believe feve- 
 ral 
 
go The life and TRAVELS 
 
 ral of them are acquainted with the nature of 
 that worfhip, which is performed in fpirit 
 and in truth. From hence, accompanied by 
 Amos Powel, a friend from Long-Ifland, 
 we rode through Connediicut, chiefly inha- 
 bited by prefbyterians ; who were generally 
 civil to us, fo far as I faw : and after three 
 days riding, we came amongft friends in the 
 colony of Rhode-Ifland. We vifited friends 
 in and about Newport, and Dartmouth, and 
 generally in thofe parts ; and then to Bofton ; 
 and proceeded eaftward as far as Dover : and 
 then returned to Newport, and not fat from 
 thence, w^e met our friend Thomas Gaw- 
 throp from England ; who was then on a vi- 
 fit to thefe provinces. From Newport we 
 failed to Nantucket ; were there near a week ; 
 and from thence came over to Dartmouth : 
 and having finiilied our vifit in thefe parts ^ 
 we crofTed the Sound from New^-London to 
 Long-Ifland ; and taking fome meetings on 
 the ifland, proceeded homeward ; where we 
 reached the thirteenth day of the feventh 
 month, in the year 1747^ having rode about 
 fifteen hundred miles, and failed about one 
 hundred and fifty. 
 
 In this journey, I may fay in general, we 
 were fome times in much weaknefs, and la- 
 boured under difcouragements ; and at other 
 times, through the renewed manifeftations of 
 divine love, wx had feafons of refrefliment, 
 w^herein the power of truth prevailed. 
 
 We were taught, by renewed experience, 
 to labour for an inward ftillnefs ; at no time 
 
 to 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAR 
 
 to feek for words, but to live in the fpirit of 
 truth, and utter that to the people which 
 truth opened in us. My beloved companion 
 and I belonged both to one meeting, came 
 forth in the miniftry near the fame time, and 
 were inwardly united in the work : he was 
 about thirteen years older than I, bore the 
 heaviefc burthen, and was an inftrument of 
 the greateit ufe. 
 
 Finding a concern to vilit friends in the 
 Lower Comities on Delaware, and on the 
 Eaftern Shore of Maryland, and having an 
 opportunity to join with my well-beloved 
 antient friend John Sykes, we obtained cer- 
 tificates, and let off the fgventh day of the 
 eighth month, in the year 1748, were at the 
 meetings of friends in the lower counties, 
 attended the yearly meeting at Little Creek^ 
 and made a vifit to chief of the meetings on 
 the Eaftern Shore ; and fo home by the way 
 of Nottingham: were abroad about fix v/eeks; 
 and rode, by computation, about five hun- 
 dred and fifty miles. 
 
 Our exercife, at times, Vvras heavy ; bxit^ 
 through the goodnefs of the Lord, we were of- 
 ten refrefhed : and I may fay, by experience. 
 
 He is a ftrong hold in the day of trouble.'* 
 Though our fociety, in thefe parts, appeared 
 to me to be in a declining condition ; yet, I 
 believe, the Lord hath a people amongft tliem, 
 who labout to ferve him uprightly, but have 
 many difficulties to encpunter. 
 
 C H A P, 
 
32 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP. IIL 
 
 His marriage — The death of his father — His 
 
 journies into the upper part of Neiv-Jerfey^ 
 and afterguards into Pennfyl'vania — Confide-' 
 rations on keeping faves^ and his viftts to the 
 
 families of friends at fei^eral times and places 
 —An epifle from the general meeting — His 
 
 joumey to Long-I/land — Confiderations on 
 tradings and on the ufe of fpirituous liquors 
 and cofly apparel — And his letter to a 
 
 friend. 
 
 ABOUT this time believing it good for 
 me to fettle, and thinking ferioufly a- 
 bout a companion, my heart was turned to 
 the Lord with defires that he would give me 
 wifdom to proceed therein agreeable to his 
 will ; and He was p leafed to give me a well- 
 inclined damfel, Sarah Ellis ; to whom I was 
 married the eighteenth day of the eighth 
 month, in the year 1749. 
 
 In the fair of the year 1750 died my fa- 
 ther, Samuel Woolman, VN^ith a fever, aged 
 about fixty years. 
 
 In his life-time he manifefted much care 
 for us his children, that in our youth we 
 might learn to fear the Lord ; often endea- 
 Touring to. imprint in our minds the truq 
 principles of virtue, and particularly to che- 
 rifti in us a fpirit of tendernefs, not only to- 
 wards 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 33 
 
 wards poor people, but alfo towards all crea-^ 
 tures of which we had the command. 
 
 After my return from Carolina in the year 
 1746, I made fome obfervations on keeping 
 flaves, which fome time before his deceafe I 
 fliewed him ; and he perufed the manufcript, 
 propofed a few alterations, and appeared well 
 latisfied that I fomid a concern on that ac- 
 count : and in his lafl iicknefs, as I was 
 watching with him one night, he being fo 
 far fpent that there was no expecftation of his 
 recovery, but had the perfect ufe of his un- 
 derfhanding, he afked me concerning the ma-^ 
 nufcript, whether I expelled foon to proceed 
 to take the advice of friends in publilhing 
 it ? and, after fome converfation thereon, faid, 
 I have all along been deeply affected with the 
 oppreffion of the poor negroes ; and now, at 
 laft, my concern for them is as great as ever. 
 
 By his diredlion, I had wrote his will in a 
 time of health, and that night he defired me 
 to read it to him, which I did ; and he faid^ 
 it was agreeable to his mind. He then made 
 mention of his end, which he believed was 
 now near; and fignified, that though he v/as 
 fenfible of many imperfedlions in the eourfe 
 of his life, yet his experience of the power 
 of truth, and of the love and goodnefs of 
 God from time to time, even till now, was 
 fuch, that he had no doubt but that in leav- 
 ing this life he fhould enter into one more 
 happy. 
 
 The next day his fifter Elizabeth came to 
 fee him, and told him of the deceafe of their 
 
 D fifter 
 
34 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 lifter Ann ; who died a few days before : he 
 then faid, I reckon fifter Ann was free to 
 leave this world ? Elizabeth faid, Ihe was : 
 he then faid, I alfo am free to leave it ; and 
 being in great weaknefs of body faid, I hope 
 I lhall fhortly go to reft. He continued in 
 a weighty frame of mind, and was fenfible 
 till near the laft. 
 
 On the fecond day of the ninth month, in 
 the year 1751, feeling drawings in my mind 
 to vifit friends at the Great Meadows, in the 
 upper part of Weft-Jerfey, with the unity of 
 our monthly-meeting, I went there ; and had 
 fome fearching laborious exercife amongft 
 friends in thofe parts, and found inward 
 peace therein. 
 
 In the ninth month of the year 1753, ill 
 company with my well-efteemed friend John 
 Sykes, and with the unity of friends, we 
 travelled about two weeks, vifiting friends 
 in Bucks-County. We laboured in the love 
 of the gofpel, according to the meafiire re- 
 ceived ; and, through the mercies of Him,^ 
 who is ftrength to the poor who truft in him* 
 we found fatisfadlion in our vilit': and in the 
 next winter, way opening to vifit friends fa- 
 milies v^ithin the compafs of our monthly- 
 meeting, partly by the labours of two friends 
 from Pennfylvania, I joined in fome part of 
 the work ; having had a deiire fome time that 
 it might go forward amongft us. 
 
 About this time, a perfon at fome diftance 
 lying fick, his brother came to me to write 
 his will ; I knew he had Haves j and afking 
 
 his 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 3^ 
 
 Kis brother, was told he intended to leave 
 them as flaves to his children. As writing is 
 a profitable employ, and as offending fober 
 people was dilagreeble to my inclination, I 
 was ftraitened in my mind ; but as I looked 
 to the Lord, he inclined my heart to his tes- 
 timony : and I told the man, that I believed 
 the pradlice of continuing flavery to this 
 people was not right ; and had a fcruple in 
 my mind againft doing writings of that 
 kind : that though many in our fociety kept 
 them as flaves, ftill I was not eafy to be con- 
 cerned in it ; and delired to be excufcd from 
 going to write the will. I fpake to him in 
 the fear of the Lord ; and he made no reply 
 to what I faid, but went away : he alfo had 
 fome concerns in the pradlice ; and I thought 
 he was difpleafed with me. In this cafe 1 
 had a. frelli confirmation, that adling con-^ 
 trary to prefent outward intereft, from a mo-* 
 tiye of divine iove^ and in regard to truth 
 and righteoufnefs, and thereby incurring the 
 refentments of people, opens the way to a 
 treafiire better than filver, and to a friend-^ 
 Ihip exceeding the friendfliip of men. 
 
 The manuicript before-mentioned having 
 laid by me feverai years, the publication of 
 it refted weightily upon me ; and this year I 
 oflered it to the revifal of friends, who, hav-* 
 ing examined and made fome fmall altera- 
 tions in it, direcfled a number of copies there- 
 of to be publifned and difperfed amongft 
 friends. 
 
 D 2 In 
 
36 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 In the year 1754, 1 found my mind drawri 
 to join in a vifit to friends families belonging 
 to Chefterfield monthly-meeting ; and hav- 
 ing the approbation of our own, I went to 
 their monthly-meeting in order to confer 
 with friends, and fee if way opened for it : 
 I had conference with fome of their mem- 
 bers, the propofal having been opened before 
 in their meeting, and one friend agreed to 
 join with me as a companion for a begin-* 
 ning ; but when meeting was ended, I felt 
 great diftrefs of mind, and doubted what 
 way to take, or whether to go home and wait 
 for greater clearnefs : I kept my diftrefs fe- 
 cret ; and going with a friend to his houfe, 
 my deiires were to the great Shepherd for his 
 heavenly inftrucftion ; and in the morning I 
 felt eafy to proceed on the vifit, being very 
 low in my mind : and as mine eye was turn- 
 ed to the Lord, waiting in families in deep 
 reverence before him, he was pleafed graci- 
 oufly to afford help ; fo that we had many 
 comfortable opportunities, and it appeared as 
 a freih viiitation to fome young people. I 
 fpent feveral wrecks this winter in the fervice j 
 part of which time was employed near home. 
 And again in the following winter I was fe- 
 veral weeks in the fame fervice ; fome part of 
 the time at Shrewfbury, in company with my 
 beloved friend John Sykes ; and have caufe 
 humbly to acknowledge, that thro' the good- 
 nefs of the Lord, our hearts were, at times, 
 enlarged in his love j and ftrength v/as given 
 
 to 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 37 
 
 to go through the trials which, in the courfe 
 of our vifit, attended us. 
 
 From a difagreement between the powers 
 of England and France, it was now a time 
 of trouble on this Continent ; and an epiftie 
 to friends went forth from our general fpring 
 meeting, which I thought good to give a 
 plage in this journal. 
 
 An EPISTLE from our general fpring meet- 
 ing of minifters and elders for Pennfylva- 
 nia and New-Jerfey, held at Philadelphia, 
 from the twenty-ninth of the third month, 
 to the firft of the fourth month, incluiive, 
 
 1755- 
 
 To friends on the continent of America. 
 
 Pear friends, 
 
 TN an humble fenfe of divine goodnefs, and 
 the gracious continuation of God's love to 
 his people, we tenderly falute you ; and are 
 at this time therein engaged in mind, that all 
 of us who profefs the truth, as held forth 
 and publifhed by our worthy predecefTors in 
 this latter age of the world, may keep near 
 to that life which is the light of men, and be 
 ftrengthened to hold fall the profeffion of our 
 faith without wavering, that our truft may 
 not be in man, but in the Lord alone, who 
 ruleth in the army of heaven, and in the 
 kingdoms of men, before whom the earth is 
 as the duft of the ballance, and her inha.- 
 bitants as grafshoppers/' Ifa,xl. 22. 
 
 We 
 
38 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 We (beiiig convinced that the gracious de- 
 fign of the Almighty in fending his Son in- 
 to the world, was to repair the breach made 
 by difobedience, to finifh fni and tranlgref- 
 fion, that his kingdom might come, and his 
 will be done on earth as it is in heaven) have 
 found it to be our duty to ceafe from thofe 
 national contefts produdive of mifery and 
 bloodfhed, and fubmit our ""caufe to Him 
 the Mod High, whofe tender love to his chil- 
 dren exceeds the moft warm afledlions of na- 
 tural parents, and who hath promifed to his 
 feed throughout the earth, as to one indivi- 
 dual, I will never leave thee, nor forfake 
 
 thee,'' Heb. xiii. 5. And as we, through 
 the gracious dealings of the Lord our God, 
 have had experience of that work which is 
 carried on, not by earthly might, nor by 
 
 power, but by my fpirit, faith the Lord 
 
 of Hofls :^ Zech. iv. 6. By which opera- 
 tion, that fpiritual kingdom is fet up, which 
 is to fubdue and break in pieces all king- 
 doms that oppofe it, and lhall ftand for ever. 
 In a deep fenfe thereof, and of the fafety, 
 {lability and peace there is in it, we are de- 
 firous that all who profefs the trath, may 
 be inwardly acquainted with it, and thereby 
 be qualified to condu6t in all parts of our 
 life as becomes our peaceable prpfeffion : Aad 
 we truft, as there is a faithful continuance 
 to depend w^holly iipon the almighty arm, 
 frorn one generation to another, the peacea- 
 ble kingdom will gradually be extended 
 
 from fea to fea^ and from the river to the 
 
 ^' ends 
 
 0 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 59 
 
 ends of the earth/^ Zech, ix. 10. to the 
 completion of thofe prophefies ahxady be- 
 gun, that nation fliall not lift up a iword 
 
 againfl nation, nor learn war any more." 
 Ifa. ii. 4. Micah iv. 3. 
 
 And, dearly beloved friends, feeing we have 
 thefe promifes, and believe that God is begin- 
 ning to fulfil them, let us conftantly endeavour 
 to have our minds fufhciently difentangled 
 from the furfeiting cares of this life, and re- 
 deemed from the love of the world, that no 
 earthly poffeffions nor enjoyments may bias 
 our judgments, or turn us from that refigna- 
 tion, and entire truft in God, to which his 
 blefling is moft flirely annexed ; then may 
 we fay, Our Redeemer is mighty, he will 
 
 plead our caufe for us." Jer. 1. 34. And if, 
 for the further promoting his moil gracious 
 purpofes in the earth, he fliould give us to tafte 
 of that bitter cup which his faithful ones 
 have often partook of ; O that we may be 
 rightly prepared to receive it ! 
 
 And nov/, dear friends, with refpedl to the 
 commotions and ftirrings of the powers of 
 the earth at this time near us, w^e are deli- 
 rous that none of us may be moved thereat ; 
 ^ But repofe ourfelves in the munition of 
 
 * that rock that all thefe lhakings fhall not 
 ^ move, even in the knowledge and feeling 
 ^ of the eternal povv^er of God, keeping us 
 ^ fubjedlly given up to his heavenly will, and 
 ^ feel it daily to mortify that w^hich remains 
 
 * in any of us which is of this wwld : for 
 
40 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 * the worldly part in any, is the changeable 
 ^ part, and that is up and down, full and 
 ^ empty^ joyful and forx-owful, as things go 
 ^ well or ill in this world ; for as the truth 
 ^ is but one, and many are made partakers 
 
 * of its fpirit, fo the v/orld is but one, and 
 ^ many are made partakers of the fpirit of 
 ^ it ; and fo many as do partake of it, fo 
 ^ many will be ftraitened and perplexed with 
 ^ it : but they who are fmgle to the truth, 
 ^ waiting daily to feel the life and virtue of 
 ^ it in their hearts, thefe fhall rejoice in the 
 ' midft of adverfity,' and have to experience 
 with the prophet. That Although the fig- 
 ^' tree lhall not bloflbm, neither lhall fruit 
 
 be in the vines ; the labour of the olive 
 fhall fail, and the fields fhall yield no 
 ^' meat ; the flock fhall be cut off from the 
 fold, and there fliall be no . herd in the 
 flails ; yet will thej rejoice in the Lord, 
 ^' and joy in the God of their falvation/' 
 Hab. iii. 17, i8. 
 
 If, contrary to this, we profefs the truth, 
 and not living under the power and influ- 
 ence of it, are producing fruits difagreeable 
 to the purity thereof, and truft to the ftrength 
 of man to fupport ourfelves, therein our con- 
 fidence will be vain. For He, who removed 
 the hedge from his vineyard, and gave it to 
 be trodden under foot, by reafon of the wild 
 grapes it produced, (Ifa. v. 5.) remains un- 
 changeable : and if, for the chaflifement of 
 wickednefs, ^nd the further promoting his 
 
 ^ owu 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 41 
 
 own glory, he doth arife, even, to fhake ter- 
 ribly the earth, who then may oppofe him, 
 and profper ! 
 
 We remain, in the love of the gofpel, 
 your friends and brethren. 
 
 Signed by fourteen friends* 
 
 i 
 
 Scrupling to do writings relative to keep- v 
 ing flaves, having been a means of fmidiy 
 fmall trials to me, in which I have fo evi- 
 dently felt my own will fct alide, that I think 
 it good to mention a few of them — Tradef- 
 men and retailers of goods, who depend on 
 their bufinefs for a living, are naturally in- 
 clined to keep the good-wiil of their cuftoni- 
 ers ; nor is it a pleafant thing for young 
 men to be under any neceffity to queftion the 
 judgment or honefty of elderly men, and 
 more efpecially of fuch who have a fair re- 
 putation. Deep-rooted cuftorns, tho' wrong, 
 are not eafily altered ; but it is the duty of 
 every one to be firm in that which they cer- 
 tainly know is right for them. A charitable 
 benevolent man, well acquainted with a ne- 
 gro, may, I believe, under fome circum- 
 Itances, keep him in his family as a fervant^ 
 on no other motives than the negroe's good ; 
 but man, as man knows not w^hat fhall be af- 
 ter him, nor hath he any alTurance that his 
 children will attain to that perfedtion in wif- 
 dom and goodnefs necelfary rightly to exer- 
 cife fuch power: hence it is clear to me, that 
 I ought not to be the fcribe where wills are 
 
 drawn, 
 
42 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 drawn, in which fome children are made ab-^ 
 fokite mafters over others during Hfe. 
 
 About this time, an antient man of good 
 efteem in the neighbourhood, came to my 
 houfe to get his will wrote; he had young 
 negroes ; and I aflced him privately, how he 
 purpoled to difpofe of them ? he told me : 
 I then faid, I cannot write thy will without 
 breaking my own peace ; and refpecftfully 
 gave him my reafons for it : he fignified that 
 he had a choice that I fliould have wrote it ; 
 but as I could not, confiftent with my con- 
 fcience, he did not deiire it : and fo he got 
 it wrote by fome other perfon. And a few 
 years after, there being great alterations in 
 his family, he came again to get me to write 
 his wall : his negroes were yet young ; and 
 his fon, to whom he intended to give them, 
 w^as, fince he firft fpoke to me, from a liber- 
 tine, become a fober young man ; and he 
 fuppofed, that I would have been free, on 
 that account, to write it. We had much 
 friendly talk on the fubject, and then de- 
 ferred it : and a few days after, he came 
 again, and diredled their freedom ; and fo I 
 wrote his will. 
 
 Near the time the laft mentioned friend 
 firft fpoke to me, a neighbour received a bad 
 bruife in his body, and fent for me to bleed 
 him ; which being done, he defired me to 
 write his will : I took notes ; and, amongft 
 other things, he told me to which of his 
 children he gave his young negro : I confi- 
 dered the pain and diftrefs he was in, and 
 
 knew 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 43 
 
 knew not how it would end ; fo I wrote his 
 will, fave only that part concerning his flave, 
 and carrying it to his bed- fide, read it to him; 
 and then told him in a friendly way, that I could 
 not write any inftruments by which my fellow- 
 creatures were made flaves, without bringing 
 trouble on my own mind : I let him know that 
 I charged nothing for what I had done ; and 
 defirecl to be excufed from doing the other 
 part in the way he propofed : we then had a 
 ferious conference on the fubjecft ; at length, 
 he agreeing to fet her free, I finiflied his will. 
 
 Having found drawings in my mind to 
 vijfit friends on Long-Iiland, after obtaining 
 a certificate from our monthly-meeting, I 
 fet off on the twelfth day of the fifth month, 
 in the year 1756. When I reached the iiland, 
 I lodged the firft night at the houfe of my 
 dear friend Richard Hallet : the next day, be- 
 ing the firft of the week, I was at the meet- 
 ing in Newtown ; in which we experienced 
 the renewed manifeftations of the love of Je- 
 fus Chrift, to the comfort of the honeft- 
 hearted. I went that night to Flulhing; 
 and the next day, in company with my be- 
 loved friend Matthew Franklin, we croffed 
 the ferry at White-Stone ; were at three meet- 
 ings on the main, and then returned to the 
 ifland ; where I fpent the remainder of the 
 week in vifiting meetings. The Lord, I be- 
 lieve, hath a people in thofe parts, who are 
 honeftly inclined to ferve him ; but many, I 
 fear, are too much clogged with the things 
 of this life, and dp not come forward bear- 
 ing 
 
44 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 ing the crofs in fuch faithfulnefs as he calls 
 for. 
 
 My mind was deeply engaged in this vifit, 
 both in public and private ; and, at feveral 
 places where I was, on obferving that they 
 had flaves, I found myfelf under a neceflity, 
 in a friendly way, to labour with them on 
 that fubjeft ; expreffing, as way opened, the 
 inconfiflency of that pra(5lice with the purity 
 of the chriftian religion, and the ill effedls of 
 it manifefted amongft us. 
 
 The latter end of the week, their yearly-' 
 meeting began ; at which were our friends 
 John Scarbrough, Jane Hofkins, and Sufan- 
 nah Brown, from Pennfylvania : the publick 
 meetings were large, and meafurably favour- 
 ed with divine goodnefs. 
 
 The exercife of my mind, at this meetings 
 was chiefly on account of thofe who were 
 conhdered as the foremoft rank in the foci- 
 ety : and in a meeting of minifters and el- 
 ders, way opened, that I exprefled in fome 
 meafure what lay upon me ; and at a time 
 when friends were met for tranfadling the 
 affairs of the church, having fet a while fi- 
 lent, I felt a weight on my mind, and flood 
 up ; and, through the gracious regard of 
 our heavenly Father, flrength was given fully 
 to clear myfelf of a burthen, which for fome 
 days had been increaflng upon me. 
 
 Through the humbling difpenfations of 
 Divine Providence, men are fometimes fitted 
 for his fervice. The meffages of the prophet 
 Jeixmiah were fo difagreeable to the people, 
 
 and 
 
blF JOHN WOOL MAR 45 
 
 and fo reverfe to the fpirit they lived in, that 
 he became the objedl of their reproach ; and 
 in the weaknefs of nature, thought of delift- 
 ing from his prophetick office ; but, faith hcj 
 His word was in my heart as a burning 
 fire fliut up in my bones ; and I was weary 
 with forbearing^ and could not ftay/' I 
 faw at this time, that if I was honeft in de- 
 claring that which truth opened in me, I 
 could not pleafe all men ; and laboured to 
 be content in the way of my duty, however 
 difagreeable to my own inclination. After 
 this I went homeward, taking Woodbridge 
 and Plainfield in my way ; in both which 
 meetings, the pure influence of divine love 
 was manifefted ; in an humbling fenfe where- 
 of I went home : having been out about 
 twenty-four days, and rode about three 
 hvmdred and fixteen miles. 
 
 While I was out on this journey, my heart 
 was much affedled with a fenfe of the ftate 
 of the churches in our fouthern provinces ; 
 and believing the Lord was calling me to 
 fome further labour amongft them, I was 
 bowed in reverence before him, with fervent 
 defires that I might find ftrength to refign 
 myfelf up to his heavenly will. 
 
 Until this year, 1756, I continued to re- 
 tail goods, befides following my trade as a 
 taylor ; about which time, I grew uneafy 
 on account of my bufinefs growing too cum- 
 berfome. I had began with felfing trim- 
 mings for garments, and from thence pro- 
 ceeded to fell cloths and finens ; and, at 
 
 length. 
 
46 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 length, having got a coniiderable fliop of 
 goods, my trade increafed every year, and 
 the road to large bufinefs appeared open ; but 
 I felt a Itop in my mind. 
 
 Through the mercies of the Almighty, I 
 had, in a good degree, learned to be content 
 with a plain w^ay of living : I had but a 
 Imall family ; and on ferious confideration, 
 I believed truth did not require me to engage 
 in much cumbering aifairs : it had been my 
 general practice to buy and fell things really 
 ufeful : things that ferved chiefly to pleafe the 
 vain mind in people, I v^as not eafy to trade 
 in ; feldom did it ; and w^henever I did, I 
 found it w^eaken me as a chriftian. 
 
 The increafe of bufinefs became my bur- 
 then J for though my natural inclination was 
 toward merchandize, yet I believed truth re-* 
 quired me to live more free from outward 
 cumbers : and there was now a ftrife in my 
 mind between the two ; and in this exercife 
 my prayers were put up to the Lord, who 
 gracioufly heard me, and gave me a heart re- 
 figned to his holy will : then I lelTened my 
 outward bufinefs ; and, as I had opportuni-^ 
 ty, told my cuftomers of my intentions, that 
 they might conlider what fliop to turn to : 
 and, in a while, w^ioliy laid down merchan- 
 dize, following my trade as a taylor; myfelf 
 only, having no apprentice. I alfo had a 
 nurfery of apple-trees ; in which I employed 
 fome of my time in hoeing, grafting, trim- 
 ming, and inoculating. In merchandife it 
 is the cuftom, where 1 lived, to fell chiefly 
 
 on 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 47 
 
 ®n credit, and poor people often get in debt ; 
 and when payment is expedled, not having 
 wherewith to pay, their creditors often fuc 
 for it at law. Having often obferved occur- 
 rences of this kind, I found it good for me 
 to advife poor people to take fuch goods as 
 were moft ufeful and not coftly. 
 
 In the time of trading, I had an opportu- 
 nity of leeing, that the too liberal ufe of fpi- 
 rituous liquors, and the cuftom of wearing 
 too coftly apparel, led fome people into great 
 inconveniencies ; and thefe two things appear 
 to be often connedled one with the other ; for 
 by not attending to that ufe of things vv^hicli 
 is conlifcent with univerfal right eoufnefs, 
 there is an increafe of labour which extends 
 beyond what our heavenly Father intends for 
 us : and by great labour, and often by much 
 fweating, there is, even among fuch who are 
 not drvmkards, a craving of fome liquors to 
 revive the fpirits : that partly by the luxuri- 
 ous drinking of fome, and partly by the 
 drinking of others, (led to it through immo- 
 derate labour) very great quantities of rum 
 are every year expended in our colonies ; the 
 greater part of which we fliould have no need 
 of, did we fteadily attend to pure wifdom. 
 
 Where men take pleafure in feeling their 
 minds elevateds with ftrong drink, and fo in- 
 dulge their appetite as to diforder their un- 
 derftandings, negie6l their duty as members 
 in a family or civil fociety, and cafl off all 
 regard to religion, th^ir cafe is much to be 
 pitied J and where fuch whofe lives are for 
 
 the ^ 
 
48 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 the moft paft regular, and whofe examples 
 have a ftrong influence on the minds of 
 others, adhere to feme cuftoms which power- 
 fully draw to the ufe of more ftrong liquor 
 than pure wifdom allows ; this alfo, as it 
 hinders the fpreading of the fpirit of meek- 
 nefs, and fhrengthens the hands of the more 
 cxceflive drinkers, is a cafe to be lamented. 
 
 As every degree of luxury hath fome con- 
 nexion with evil ; for thofe who profefs to be 
 difciples of Chrift, and are looked upon as 
 leaders of the people, to have that mind in 
 them, which was alfo in Chrift^ and fo ftand 
 feparate from every wrong w^ay, is a means 
 of help to the weaker. As I have fometimes 
 been much fpent in the heat, and taken fpi- 
 rits to revive me, I have found by experi- 
 ence, that in fuch circumftances the mind is 
 not fo calm, nor fo fitly difpofed for divine 
 meditation, as when all fuch extremes are 
 avoided ; and I have felt an increafing care 
 to attend to that holy Spirit which fets right 
 bounds to our deiires ; and leads thofe who 
 faithfully follovv^ it, to apply all the gifts of 
 Divine Providence to the purpofes for which 
 they were intended. Did fuch who have the 
 care of great eftates, attend with finglenefs 
 of heart to this heavenly Inftrudtor, which 
 fb opens and enlarges the mind, that men 
 love their neighbours as themfelves, they 
 would have wifdom given them to manage, 
 without finding occafion to employ fome peo- 
 ple in the luxuries of life, or to make it ne- 
 ceffary for others to labour too hard ; but for 
 
 want 
 
<?F JOHN WOOLMAN. 49 
 
 want of fteadlly regarding this principle of 
 divine love, a felfilli fpirit takes place in the 
 minds of people, which is attended with 
 darknefs aiid manifold confufions in the 
 world. 
 
 Though trading in things ufeful is an ho- 
 neft employ ; yet, through the great number 
 of fiiperfluities which are bought and fold, 
 and through the corruption of the times, 
 they who apply to merchandize for a living, 
 have great need to be well experienced in that 
 precept which the prophet Jeremiah laid down 
 for his fcribe: Seekeft thou great things 
 " for thyfeh^? feek them not." 
 
 In the w^inter, this year, I was engaged 
 with friends in vifiting families ; and, thro' 
 the goodnefs of the Lord, we had oftentimes 
 experience of his heart-^tendering prefence 
 amongft us* 
 
 A copy of a letter wrote to a friend. 
 
 T N this thy late afHidlion I have found a 
 deep fellow-feeling with thee ; and had a 
 fecret hope throughout, that it might pleafe 
 the Father of mercies to raife thee up, and 
 fandlify thy troubles to thee ; that thou be- 
 ing more fully acquainted with that way 
 which the Vs^orld efteems foolilh, may feel the 
 cloathing of divine fortitude, and be ilrength- 
 ened to refift that fpirit which leads from the 
 fimplicity of the everlafcing truth. 
 
 E We 
 
50 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 We may fee ourfelves crippled and halt-* 
 ing, and from a ftrong bias to things plea- 
 fant and eafy, find an impolTibility to advance 
 forward ; but things impoiTible with men are 
 poffible with God ; and our wills being made 
 fubjedt to his, all temptations are furmount- 
 able/ 
 
 This work of fubjedling the will, is com- 
 pared to the mineral in the furnace ; which, 
 thro' fervent heat, is reduced from its firft 
 principle : He refines them as filver is 
 refined — He fhall fit as a refiner, and pu- 
 rifier of filver.'^ By thefe comparifons,- 
 we are inflru6led in the necefilty of the melt- 
 ing operation of the hand of Gad upon us, 
 to prepare our hearts truly to adore him, and 
 manifeft: that adoration, by inwardly turn-*- 
 ing away from that fpirit in all its workings, 
 which is not of him. To forward this Vvrork, 
 the all-wife God is fometimes pleafed, thro' 
 outward diftrefs, to bring us near the gates 
 of death ; that life being painful and afflicl- 
 ing, and the profpe6l of eternity open before 
 us, all earthly bonds may be loofened, and 
 the mind prepared for that deep and facred 
 inftrudlion, which otherwife would not be 
 -received. If kind parents love their children 
 and delight in their happinefs, then He, who 
 is perfedl goodnefs in fending abroad mortal 
 contagions, doth afliiredly direct their ufe^ — 
 Are the righteous removed by it, their change 
 is happy ; are the wicked taken away in their 
 wickednefs, the Almighty is clear: Do we 
 
 pafs 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 51 
 
 pafs through with anguifli and great bitter-* 
 nefs, and yet recover, He intends that we 
 fhould be purged from drofs, and our ear 
 opened to difcipHne. 
 
 And now on thy part^ after thy fore af- 
 flidlion and doubts of recovery, thou, art 
 again reftored, forget not Him who hath 
 helped thee; but in humble gratitude hold 
 faft his inftrudlions, thereby to fliun thofe 
 bye paths which lead from the firm founda- 
 tion. I am feniible of that variety of com- 
 pany, to which one in thy btifinefs muft be 
 expofed : I have painfully felt the force of 
 converfation proceeding from men deeply 
 rooted in an earthly mind, and can fympa- 
 thize with others in fuch conflicts, in that 
 much weaknefs ftili attends me. 
 
 I find that to be a fool as to worldly wif- 
 dom, and commit my caufe to God, not fear- 
 ing to offend men, v/ho take offence at the 
 fimplicity of truth, is the only way to re- 
 main unmoved at the fentiments of others. 
 
 The fear of man brings a fnare ; by halt- 
 ing in our duty, and giving back in the time ' 
 of trial, our hands grow weaker, our fpirits 
 get mingled with the people, our ears grovsr 
 dull as to hearing the language of the true 
 Shepherd ; that when we look at the way of 
 the righteous, it feems as though it v/as not 
 for us to follovvT them. 
 
 There is a love clothes my mind while I 
 write, which is fuperior to all expreiTions ; 
 and I find my heart open to encourage to a 
 holy emulation, to advance forward in chrifl-* 
 
 E 2 tian 
 
52 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 ian firmnefs. Deep humility is a flrpng bul- 
 wark ; and as we enter* into it, we find faftg- 
 ty and true exaltation : the foolifhnefs of God 
 is wifer than man, and the weaknefs of God 
 is ftronger than man. Being uncloathed of 
 our own wifdom, and knowing the abafe- 
 ment of the creature, therein we find that 
 power to arife, which gives health and vigor 
 to us. 
 
 CHAP. W. 
 
 His viftthig the families of friends at BiirUng^ 
 ton^y^ His journey to Pennfylvama^ Mary-^ 
 land^ Virginia^ and North-Carolina ^Confi-* 
 derations on the Jlate of friends there ; and 
 the exercife he nvas under in tra^Velling among 
 thofe fo generally concerned in keeping Jlaues : 
 "with fome obfervations in converfation^ at fe- 
 deral times ^ on this fuhjeB — His epifle to 
 friends at Neuo-Garden and Cane-Creek — « 
 His thoughts on the neglcB of a religious 
 care in the education of the negroes. 
 
 TH E thirteenth day of the fecond month, 
 in the year 1757, being then in good 
 health, and abroad with friends vifiting fa- < 
 mllies, I lodged at a friend's houfe, in Bur- 
 lington ; and going to bed about the time 
 ufual with me, I awoke in the night, and 
 
 my 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 53 
 
 mj meditations, as I lay, were on the good- 
 nefs and mercy of the Lord ; in a fenfe 
 whereof my heart was contrite : after this, I 
 went to fleep again ; and fleeping a fliort 
 time, I awoke ; it was yet dark, and no ap- 
 pearance of day nor moonfhine ; and as I 
 opened mine eyes, I faw a hght in my cham- 
 ber at the apparent diftance of five feet, about 
 nine inches diameter, of a clear eafy bright- 
 nefs, and near its center the mod radiant : 
 as I lay ftiU without any furprize looking 
 upon it, words were fpoken to my inward 
 ear, which filled my whole inward man ; 
 they were not the efFedl of thought, nor any 
 conclufion in relation to the appearance, but 
 as the language of the Holy One fpoken in 
 my mind ; the words were. Certain Evi- 
 dence OF Divine Truth; and were again 
 repeated exadlly in the fame manner ; where-- ^ 
 upon the light difappeared. J 
 
 Feeling the exercife in relation to a 
 vifit to the Southern Pi^ovinces to increafe 
 upon me, I acquainted our monthly-meeting 
 therewith, and obtained their certificate : ex- 
 pe(5ting to go alone, one of my brothers, who 
 lived in Philadelphia, having fome bufinefs 
 in North-Carolina, propofed going with me 
 part of the way ; but as he had a view of 
 fome outvsrard affairs, to accept of him as a 
 companion feemed fome difliculty with me, 
 whereupon I had converfation with him at 
 fundry times ; and, at length, feeling eafy in 
 my mind, I had converfation with feveral el- 
 derly friends of Philadelphia on the fubjed: ; 
 
54 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 and he obtaining a certificate fiiitable to the 
 occafion, we let ofF in the fifth month of the 
 year 1757 : and coming to Nottingham week- 
 day meeting, lodged at John Churchman's ; 
 and here I met with our friend Benjamin 
 Buffington, from New-England, who was re- 
 turning from a vifit to the Southern Pro- 
 vinces. Thence we crolTed the river Suf- 
 quehannah, and lodged at William Cox's in 
 Maryland ; and foon after T entered this pro- 
 vince, a deep and painful exercife came up^n 
 me, which I often had fome feeling of fince 
 my mind was drawn toward thefe parts, and 
 with which I had acquainted my brother be- 
 fore we agreed to join as companions. 
 
 As the people in this and the Southern Pro- 
 vinces live much on the labour of Haves, 
 many of whom are ufed hardly, my con- 
 cern was, that I might attend with fingleneis 
 of heart to the voice of the true Shepherd, 
 and be fo fupported as to remain unmoved 
 at the faces of men. 
 
 As it is common for friends on fuch a vi- 
 fit to have entertainment free of coft, a dif- 
 ficulty arofe in my mind with refpeft to 
 faving my money by kindnefs received, 
 which to me appeared to be the gain of op- 
 preffion. 
 
 Receiving a gift, confidered as a gift, 
 brings the receiver under obligations to the 
 benefactor, and has a natural tendency to 
 draw the obliged into a party with the giver. 
 To prevent difficulties of this kind, and to 
 preferve the minds of judges from any bias, 
 
 was 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 55 
 
 was that divine prohibition ; " Thou fhalt 
 
 not receive any gift : for a gift bhndeth 
 ^' the wife, and perverteth the words of the 
 
 righteous.'' Exod. xxiii, 8/ As the difci- 
 pies were fent forth without any provilion for 
 their journey, and our Lord faid the work- 
 man is worthy of his meat, their labour in 
 the gofpel was conhdex'ed as a reward for 
 their entertainment, and therefore not re- 
 ceived as a gift; yet, in regard to my prefent 
 journey, I could not fee my way clear in that 
 refpecft. The difference appeared thus : The 
 entertainment the difciples met with, was 
 from fuch whofe hearts God had opened to 
 receive them, from a love to them, and the 
 truth they publifhed : but we, confidered as 
 members of the fame religious fociety, look 
 Vipon it as a piece of civility to receive each 
 other in fuch vifits ; and fuch reception, at 
 tinies, is partly in regard to reputation, and 
 not from an inward unity of heart and fpi- 
 rit, Condu(?c is more convincing than lan-^ 
 guage ; and where people, by their actions , 
 manifeit that the flave-trade is not fo difa- 
 greeabie to their principles but that it may 
 he encouraged, there is not a found uniting 
 with fome friends who vifit them. 
 
 The profpe6l of fo weighty a work, and be- 
 ing fo diftinguifhed from many who I ef- 
 teemed before myfelf, brought me very low ; 
 and fuch v/ere the conflidls of my foul, that 
 I had a near fympathy with the prophet, in 
 the time of his weaknefs, when he faid, " If 
 
 thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray 
 
 ' " thee^ 
 
56 The LIFE aKd TRAVELS 
 
 thee, if I Lave found favour in thy fight 
 Numb. XI. 15. but I foon faw that this pro- 
 ceeded from the v/ant of a full relignation to 
 the divine will. Many were the affli(5lions 
 v^hich attended me ; and in great abafement, 
 with many tears, rny cries were to the Al- 
 mighty, for his gracious and fatherly affift- 
 ance ; and then, after a time of deep trial, 
 I was favoured to underfhand the ftate men- 
 tioned by the pfalmift more clearly than ever 
 I had before ; to wit : My foul is even as 
 
 a weaned child," Pfalm cxxxi. 2. Being 
 thus helped to link down into refignation, I 
 felt a deliverance frorn that temped in which 
 I had been forely exercifed, and in calmnefs 
 of mind went forward, trufting that the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift, as I faithfully attended to him, 
 would be a councellor to me in all difficul- 
 ties ; and that by his ftrength I fliould be en- 
 abled even to leave money w4th the members 
 of fociety where I had entertainment, when 
 I found that omitting of it would obftrucfl 
 that work to which I believed he had called 
 me : and as I copy this after my return, I 
 may here add, that oftentimes I did fo, under a 
 fenfe of duty ; the way in which I did it was 
 thus : when I expecled foon to leave a friend's 
 houfe where I had entertainment, if I be- 
 lieved that I fliould not keep clear from the 
 gain of oppreffion without leaving money, I 
 fpoke to one of the heads of the family pri- 
 vately, and defired them to accept of them 
 pieces of filver, and give them to fuch of 
 their negroes as they believed would make 
 
 the 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 57 
 
 the beft ufe of them ; and at other times, I 
 gave them to the negroes myfelf, as the way 
 looked cleareft to me : as I exped:ed this be- 
 fore I caiifie out, I had provided a large num- 
 ber of fmall pieces ; and thus offering them 
 to fome who appeared to be wealthy people, 
 ^ was a trial both to me and them : but the 
 fear of the Lord fo covered me at times, that 
 my way was made eafier than I expected } 
 and few, if any, manifefted any refentment 
 at the offer, and moft of them, after fome 
 talk, accepted of them. 
 
 The feventh day of the fifth month, in the 
 year 1757, lodged at a friend's houfe ; and 
 the next day, being the firft of the week, was 
 at Potapfco meeting ; then crolfed Patuxent 
 river, and lodged at a publick-houfe. 
 
 On the ninth breakfafled at a friend's 
 houfe J who aftervv^ard, putting us a little on 
 pur way, I had converfation with him, in 
 the fear of the Lord, concerning his flaves ; 
 ill which my heart was tender, and I ufed 
 much plainnefs of fpeech with him, which he 
 appeared to take kindly. We purfued our 
 journey without appointing meetings, being 
 preffed in my mind to be at the yearly-meet- 
 ing in Virginia ; and in my travelling on the 
 road, I often felt a cry rife from the center 
 of my mind, thus : O Lord, I am a ftran- 
 ger on the earth, hide not thy face from me. 
 On the eleventh day of the fifth month, we 
 croffed the rivers Patowmack and Rapahan- 
 nock, and lodged at Port-Royal : and on the 
 way we happening in company with a colo- 
 nel 
 
58 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 nel of the militia, who appeared to be a 
 thoughtful man ; I took occalion to remark 
 on the difference in general betwixt a people 
 ufed to labour moderately for their living, 
 |:raining up their children in frugality and 
 bufinefs, and thofe who live on the labour of 
 flaves ; the former, in my view, being the 
 moft happy life : with which he concurred, 
 and mentioned the trouble arifing from the 
 untoward, flothful difpofition of the negroes ; 
 adding, that one of our labourers would do 
 as much in a day as two of their flaves. I 
 replied, that free men, whofe minds were 
 properly on their bufinefs, found a fatisfac-? 
 tion in improving, cultivating, and providing 
 for their families ; but negroes, labpuring to 
 fupport others who claim them as their pro- 
 perty, and expe6ling nothing but flavery 
 during life, had not the like inducement to 
 be induilrious. 
 
 After fome further converfation, I faid, 
 that men having power, too often mifapr^ 
 plied it ; that though we made flaves of the 
 negroes, and the Turks made flaves of the 
 Chrifl:ians, I however believed that liberty 
 was the natural right of all men equally : 
 which he did not deny ; but faid, the lives 
 of the negroes were fo wretched in their own 
 country, that many of them lived better here 
 than there : I only faid, there is great odds 
 in regard to us, on what principle we adl; 
 and fo the converfation on that fubjecl ended : 
 ^nd I may here add, that another perfon, 
 fome time afterward, mentioned the wretct^? 
 
 ednefs. 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 59 
 
 ednefs of the negroes, occafioned by their 
 intefline wars, as an argument in favour of 
 our fetching them away for flaves : to which 
 I then rephed, if compaffion on the Africans, 
 in regard to their domeftic troubles, were the 
 real motives of our purchafing them, that 
 fpirit of tendernefs being attended to, would 
 incite us to ufe them kindly ; that as ftran- 
 gers brought out of afflidlion, their lives 
 might be happy among us ; and as they are 
 human creatures, whofe fouls are as precious 
 as ours, and who may receive the fame help 
 and comfort from the holy fcriptures as we 
 do, we could not omit fuitable endeavours to 
 inftru6l them therein : but while we mani- 
 feft by our condudl, that our view^s in pur- 
 chafing them are to advance ourfelves ; and 
 while our buying captives taken in war, ani- 
 mates thofe parties to pufh on that war, and 
 increafe defolation amongft them ; to fay they 
 live unhappy in Africa, is far from being 
 an argument in pur favour : and I fuxther 
 faid, the prefent circumftances of thefe pro- 
 vinces to me appear difficult ; that the flaves 
 look like a burthenfome flone to fuch who 
 burthen themfelves with them ; and that if 
 the white people retain a refolution to prefer 
 their outward profpedls of gain to all other 
 coniiderations, and do not adl confcientiouf- 
 ly toward them as fellow-creatures, I believe 
 that burthen will grow heavier and heavier, 
 till times change in a way difagreeable to us: 
 at which the perfon appeared very ferious; 
 and owned, that in ^onfidering their condi- 
 
 tioUj 
 
6o The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 tion, and the manner of their treatment in 
 thefe provinces, he had fometimes thought it 
 might be juft in the Ahnighty fo to order it. 
 
 Having thus travelled through Maryland^ 
 tve came amongft friends at Cedar-Creek in 
 Virginia, on the twelfth day of the fifth 
 month ; and the next day rode, in company 
 with feveral friends, a day's journey to Camp- 
 Creek : and as I was riding along in the 
 morning, my mind was deeply aiTe^led in k 
 lenfe I had of the want of divine aid to fup- 
 port me in the various difficulties which at- 
 tended me ; and in an uncommon diftrefs of 
 mind, I cried in fecret to the Moft High, O 
 Lord be merciful, I befeech thee, to thy poor 
 aiHi6led creature. After fome time, I felt in- 
 v^ard relief ; and foon after, a friend in com- 
 pany began to talk in fupport of the flave- 
 trade, and faid, the negroes were underftood 
 to be the offspring of Cain, their blacknefs 
 being the mark God fet upon him after he 
 murthered Abel his brother ; that it v/as the 
 defign of Providence they ftiould -be Haves, 
 as a condition proper to the race of fo wick- 
 ed a man as Cain was : then another fpake 
 in fupport of what had been faid. To all 
 w^hich, I replied in fubftance as follows : 
 That Noah and his family were all who fur- 
 vived the flood, according to fcripture ; and 
 as Noah was of Seth's race, the family of 
 Cain was wholly deftroyed. One of them 
 faid, that after the flood Ham went to the 
 land of Nod, and took a wife ; that Nod was 
 a land far diftant, inhabited by Cain's race, 
 
 and 
 
OP JOHN WOOL MAR 6i 
 
 and that the flood did not reach it ; and as 
 Ham was fentenced to be a fervant of fer- 
 vants to his brethren, thefe two famiHes be- 
 ing thus joined, were undoubtedly fit only 
 for flaves. I rephed, the flood was a judg- 
 ment upon the w^orld for their abominations 5 
 and it was granted, that Cain's ftock was the 
 mofl; wicked, and therefore unreafonable to 
 fuppofe they were fpared : as to Ham's go- 
 ing to the land of Nod for a wife, no time 
 being fixed, Nod might be inhabited by 
 fome of Noah's family, before Kam married 
 a fecond time ; moreover the text faitli^ 
 That all flefli died that moved upon the 
 earth." Gen* vii, 21. I further reminded 
 them, how the prophets repeatedly declare, 
 " that the fon fhall not fufFer for the iniqui-* 
 ty of the father ; but every one be an- 
 fwerable for his own fins," I was trou- 
 bled to perceive the darknefs of their imagi-^ 
 nations ; and in fome prefliire of fpirit laid, 
 the love of eafe and gain are the motives iii 
 general of keeping flaves, and men are wont 
 to take hold of weak arguments to fupport a 
 caufe which is unreafonable ; and added, I 
 have no interefl on either fide, fave only the 
 interefl: which I defire to have in the truth: 
 and as I believe liberty is their right, and 
 fee they are not only deprived of it, but 
 treated in other refpedls with inhumanity in 
 many places, I believe He, who is a refuge 
 for the opprefied, will, in his own time, 
 plead their caufe j and happy will it be for 
 
 fuch- 
 
62 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 fiich, who walk in upriglitnefs before liinl i 
 and thus our converfation ended. 
 
 Oil the fourteenth day of the fifth month 
 I was at Camp-Creek monthly-meeting, and 
 then rode to the mountains up James-River^ 
 and had a meeting at a friend's houfe ; in 
 both which I felt forrow of heart, and my 
 tears were poured out before the Lord, who 
 was pleafed to afford a degree of ftrength by 
 which way was opened to clear my mind 
 amongft friends in thofe places. From thence 
 I went to Fork-Creek, and fo to Cedar-Creek 
 again ; at which place I now had a meeting ; 
 here I found a tender feed : and as I was pre- 
 ferved in the miniftry to keep low with thd 
 truth ; the fame truth in their hearts anfwer- 
 ed it, that it was a time of mutual refrefh- 
 ment from the prefence of the Lord. I lodged 
 at James Standley's, father of William Stand- 
 ley, one of the young men who faffered im- 
 prifonment at Winchefter la ft fummet, on 
 account of their teftimony againft fighting • 
 and I had fome fatisfacflory converfation with 
 him concerning it. Hence I went to the 
 Swamp-meeting, and to Wayanoke-meet- 
 ing ; and then crolTed James-River, and 
 lodged near Burleigh. From the time of my 
 entering Maryland I have been much under 
 forrow, which of late fo increafed upon me^ 
 that my mind was almo.ft overwhelmed ; and 
 I may fay vv^ith the pfalmift, in my dif- 
 trefs L called upon fhe Lord, and cried to 
 my God who, in infinite goodnefs^ 
 looked upon my affliction, and in my pri- 
 vate 
 
OF johKi wool mar 63 
 
 vate retirement fent the Comforter for my re- 
 lief ; for which I humbly blefs his holy 
 nariie. 
 
 The fenfe I had of the flate of the churches, 
 brought a weight of diflrefs upon me: the 
 gold to me appeared dim, and the fine gold 
 changed ; and though this is the Cafe too ge- 
 nerally, yet the fenfe of it in thefe parts hath, 
 in a particular manner, borne heavy upon 
 me. It appeared to me, that through the 
 prevailing of the fpirit of this w^orld, the 
 minds of many were brought to an inward 
 clefolation ; and inftead of the fpirit of meek- 
 nefs, gentlenefs, and heavenly wifdom, which 
 lire the necelTary companions of the true flieep 
 of Chrift, a fpirit of fiercenefs, and the love 
 of dominion, too generally prevailed. From 
 finall beginnings in errors, great buildings, 
 by degrees, are raifed ; and from one age to 
 another are more and more ftrengthened by 
 the general concurrence of the people : and 
 as men obtain reputation by their profeffion 
 of the truth, their virtues are mentioned as 
 arguments in favour of general error ; and 
 thofe of lefs note, to juftify themfelves, fay, 
 fuch and fuch good men did the like. By 
 what other fteps could the people of Judali 
 arife to that heighth in wickednefs, as to 
 give juft ground for the prophet Ifaiah to de- 
 clare in the name of the Lord, that 7ione 
 calleth for juftice, nor any pleadeth for 
 truth:'' Ifaiah lix. 4. or for the Almighty 
 to call upon the great city of Jerufalem, jull 
 before the Babylonifh captivity, If ye can 
 
 find ^ 
 
64 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 find a man, if there be any who executeth 
 judgment, that feeketh the truth^ and I 
 will pardon it/' Jer. v. i. The profpedl of 
 a road lying open to the fame degeneracy, in 
 fome parts of this newly fettled land of Ame- 
 rica, in refpedl to our condudl toward the 
 negroes, hath deeply bowed my mind in this 
 journey; and though to briefly relate how 
 thefe people are treated is no agreeable work ; 
 yet, after often reading over the notes I made 
 as I travelled, I find my mind engaged to 
 preferve them. Many of the white people in 
 thole provinces take little or no care of negro 
 marriages ; and when negroes marry after 
 their own way, fome make fo little account 
 of thofe marriages, that with views of out- 
 ward intereft, they often part men from their 
 wives by felling them far afunder ; which is 
 common when eftates are fold by executors 
 at vendue. Many whofe labour is heavy, 
 being followed, at their bufinefs in the field, 
 by a man with a whip, hired for that pur- 
 pofe, have in common little elfe allowed but 
 pne peck of Indian corn and fome fait for 
 one week, with a few potatoes ; the potatoes 
 they commonly raife by their labour on the 
 firft day of the week. 
 
 The correction enfuing on their difobedi- 
 ence to overfeers, or flothfulnefs in bufinefs, 
 is often very fevere, and fometimes defperate. 
 
 Men and women have many times fcarce 
 cloaths enough to hide their nakednefs, and 
 boys and girls, ten and tv/elve years old^ are 
 often quite naked amongft their mailer's chil- 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 65 
 
 dren : fome of our fociety, and fome of the 
 fbciety called new-lights, ufe fome endea- 
 vours to inftriidl thofe they have in reading ; 
 but in common this is not only negled:ed, 
 but difapproved. Thefe are the people by 
 whofe labour the other inhabitants are in a 
 great meafure fupported, and many of them 
 in the luxuries of life : thefe are the people 
 who have made no agreement to ferve us, 
 and who have not forfeited their liberty that 
 we know of : thefe are the fouls for whom 
 Chrift died ; and for our condudl toward 
 them, we muft anfwer before Him who is 
 no refpe6ler of perfons. 
 
 They who know the only true God, and 
 Jefus Chrift whom he hath fent, and are thus 
 acquainted with the merciful, benevolent, 
 gofpel fpirit, will therein perceive that the 
 indignation of God is kindled againft oppref- 
 iion and cruelty ; and in beholding the great 
 diftrefs of fo numerous a people, will find 
 caufe for mourning. 
 
 From my lodgings I went to Burleigh 
 meeting, where I felt my mind drawn into 
 a quiet refigned ftate ^ and after long filence, 
 I felt an engagement to ftand up ; and thro' 
 the powerful operation of divine love, we 
 were favoured with an edifying meeting. 
 The next meeting vvx had was at Black-Wa- 
 ter ; and fo to the yearly-meeting at the 
 Weftern Branch : when buiinefs began, fome 
 queries v/ere conlidered, by fome of their 
 members, to be now produced ; and if ap- 
 proved, to be aufwered nereafter by their re- 
 
 F fpeclive 
 
66 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 fpedtive monthly-meedngs. They were the 
 Pennfylvania queries, which had been exa- 
 mined by a committee of Virginia yearly- 
 meeting appointed the laft year, who made 
 fome alterations in them ; one of which alte- 
 rations was made in favour of a cuftom 
 which troubled me. The query was^ Are 
 there any concerned in the importation of 
 negroes, or buying them after imported?'' 
 which they altered thus : Are there any 
 concerned in the importation of negroes, or 
 buying them to trade in As one query ad- 
 mitted with unanimity was, Are any con- 
 cerned in buying or vending goods unlaw- 
 fully imported, or prize goods I found 
 my mind engaged to fay ^ that as we pro- 
 feffed the truth, and were there affembled to 
 fupport the teftimony of it, it was necelTary 
 for us to dwell deep, and adl in that wifdom 
 wliich is pure , or otherwife we could not 
 profper, I then mentioned their alteration ; 
 and, referring to the laft mentioned query, 
 added, as puxchafing any merchandize taken 
 by the fword, was always allowed to be in- 
 confiftent with our principles ; negroes be- 
 ing captives of war, or taken by ileal th, 
 tliofe circumftances make it inconfiftent with 
 our teftimony to buy theni ; and their being 
 our fellow-creatures, who are fold as flaves, 
 adds greatly to the iniquity. Friends ap- 
 peared attentive to what was faid ; fome ex- 
 preffed a care and concern abotit their ne- 
 groes ; none made any objedlion, by way of 
 reply %o what I faid j but; the qtiery was ad- 
 mitted 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN, 67 
 
 mltted as they had altered it. As fome of their 
 members have heretofore traded in negroes^ 
 as in other merchandize, this query^ be- 
 ing admitted, will be one flep further than 
 they have hitherto gone : and I did not fee 
 it my duty to prefs for an alteration ; but felt 
 cafy to leave it all to Him, who alone is able 
 to turn the hearts of the mighty, and make 
 way for tlie fpreading of truth on the earth, 
 by means agreeable to his infinite wifdom. 
 But in regard to thofe they already had, I 
 felt my mind engaged to labour with them ; 
 and faid, that, as we believe the fcriptures 
 were given forth by holy men, as they were 
 moved by the Holy Giioft, and many of us 
 know by experience that they are often help- 
 ful and comfortable, and believe ourfelvea 
 bound in duty to teach our children to read 
 them, I believe, that if we were divefted of 
 all felfifli views, the fame good fpirit that 
 gave them forth, would engage us to teach 
 the negroes to read, that they might have the 
 benefit of them: fome there were amongft 
 them who, at this time, manifefted a concern 
 in regard to taking more care in the educa- 
 tion of their negroes. 
 
 On the tv/enty-ninth day of the fifth 
 month, at the houfe where I lodged, was a 
 meeting of minifhers and elders, at the ninth 
 hour in the morning ; at which tibae I found 
 an engagement to fpeak freely and plainly to 
 them concerning their fiaves ; ment'-oning, 
 how they, as the firft rank in the fociety, 
 whofe conduct in that cafe was, much noticed 
 
 Fa by 
 
68 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 by others,^ were under the ftronger obliga** 
 tions to look carefully to themfelves : expref^ 
 fing how needfvil it was for them, in that fi- 
 tuation, to be thoroughly divefted of all felf- 
 ifh views ; that living in the pure truth, and 
 acfting confcientioufly toward thofe people in 
 their education and otherwife, they might be 
 inftrumental in helping forward a work fo 
 exceeding neceflary, and fo much neglected 
 amongft them. At the twelfth hour the meet- 
 ing of worfhip began ; which was a folid 
 meeting, 
 
 Gn the thirtieth day, about the tenth hour, 
 friends met to finifh their bufinefs, and then 
 the meeting for worihip enfued, which to me 
 was a laborious time ; but, through the 
 goodnefs of the Lord, truth, I believe, gained 
 fome ground ; and it was a ftrengthening 
 opportunity to the honeft-hearted. 
 
 About this time I wrote an epiftle to friends 
 in the back fettlements of North-Carohna, as 
 follows : 
 
 To friends at their monthly-meeting at New- 
 Garden and Cane-Creek, in North-Caroli- 
 na. 
 
 Dear friends, 
 
 T T having pleafed the Lord to draw me 
 forl'i on a vilit to fome parts of Virginia 
 and Carolina, you have often been irt my 
 miiid J and though my way is not clear to 
 
 come 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 69 
 
 come in perfon to vifit yoi:, yet I feel it in 
 mj heart to communicate a few things, as 
 they arife in the love of truth: Firft, my 
 dear friends, dwell in humility ; and take 
 heed that no views of outward gain get too 
 deep hold, of you, that fp your eyes being 
 iingle to the Lord, you may be preferved in 
 ,the way of fafety. Where people let loofe 
 their minds after the love of outward things, 
 and are more engaged in purfuing the pro- 
 fits, and feeking the friendfliips of this 
 world, than to be inwardly acquainted with 
 the way of true peace ; fuch walk in a vain 
 Shadow, while the true comfort of life is 
 wanting : their examples are often hurtful to 
 others ; and their treafures, thus collecfled, 
 do many times prove dangerous fnares to 
 their children. 
 
 But where people are fincerely devoted to 
 follow Chrift, and dwell under the influence 
 of his holy fpirit, their {lability and firm- 
 nefs, through a divine bleffnig, is at times 
 like dew on the tender plants round about 
 them, and the weightinefs of their fpirits fe- 
 cretly works on the minds of others ; and 
 in this condition, through the fpreading in- 
 fluence of divine love, they feel a care over 
 the flock ; and way is opened for maintain- 
 ing good order in the fociety : and though 
 we meet with oppofition from another fpirit, 
 yet, as there is a dwelling in meeknefs, feel- 
 ing our fpirits fubjed:, and moving only in 
 the gentle peaceable wifdom, the inward re- 
 w^ird of ^uietnefs, v ill be greater than all our 
 
 difficulties^ 
 
70 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 diiliciilties. Where the pure life is kept to^ 
 and meetings of difcipline are held in the 
 authority of it, we find by experience that 
 they are comfortable, and tend to the health 
 of the body. 
 
 While I write, the youth comes frefli 
 in my way : — Dear young people, choofe 
 God for your portion ; love his truth, and be 
 not afhamed of it ; choofe for your company 
 fuch who ferve him in uprightnefs : and 
 fhun, as moft dangerous, the converfation of 
 thofe wliofe lives are of an ill favour ; for by 
 frequenting fuch company, fome hopeful 
 young people have come to great lofs, and 
 been drawn from lefs evils to greater to their 
 utter ruin. In the bloom of youth no orna- 
 ment is fo lovely as that of virtue, nor any 
 enjoyments equal to thofe which we partake 
 of, in fully refigning ourfelves to the divine 
 will : thefe enjoyments add fweetnefs to all 
 other comforts, and give true fatisfadlion in 
 company and converfation, where people are 
 mutually acquainted with it ; and as your 
 miuds are thus feafoned with the truth, you 
 will find ftrength to abide ftedfail to the tel- 
 timony of it, and be prepared for fervices 
 in the church. 
 
 And now, dear friends and brethren, as 
 you are improving a wildernefs, and may be 
 numbered amongft the firfl planters in one 
 part of a province, I befeech you, in the love 
 of Jefus Chrift, to wifely confider the force 
 of your examples, and think how much your 
 fucceffors may be thereby affeded : it is k 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 71 
 
 telp in a country ; yea, and a great favour 
 and a bleffing, when cuftoms firfl fettled, are 
 agreeable to found wifdom : fo when they are 
 Otherwife, the efFed: of them is grievous ; and 
 children feel themfelves encompaffed with 
 difficulties prepared for them by their prede- 
 ceffors. 
 
 As moderate care and exercife, under the 
 direction of true wifdom, is ufeful both to 
 mind and body ; fo, by this means in gene- 
 ral, the real wants of life are eafily fupplied : 
 our gracious Father having fo proportioned 
 one to the other, that keeping in the true 
 medium we may pafs on quietly. Where 
 llaves are purchafed to do our labour, nume- 
 rous difficulties attend it. To rational crea- 
 tures bondage is uneafy, and frequently oc- 
 cafions fournefs and difcontent in them; 
 which afFe^ls the family, and fuch who claim 
 the maftery over them : and thus people and 
 their children are many times encompafled 
 with vexations, which arife from their ap- 
 plying to wrong methods to get a living. 
 
 I have been informed that there are a 
 large number of friends in your parts, who 
 have no Haves ; and in tender and moft af- 
 fectionate love, I befeech you to keep clear 
 from purchafing any. Look, my clear friends, 
 to Divine Providence ; and follow in jLimpli- 
 city that exercife of body, that plainnefs and 
 frugality, which true wifdom leads to ; ib 
 may you be prpferved from thofe dangers 
 which attend fuch who are aiming at out- 
 ward eafc and greatnefs, 
 
 Treafarcs^ 
 
72 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Treafures, though fmall, attained on a 
 true principle of virtue, are fweet in the 
 poffelTion ; and while we walk in the light of 
 the Lord, there is true comfort and fatisfac- 
 tion. Here, neither the murmurs of an op- 
 prelTed people, nor throbbing uneafy confci- 
 ehce, nor anxious thoughts about the events 
 of things, hinder the enjoyment of it. 
 
 When we look toward the end of life, and 
 think on the diviiion of our fubftance among 
 our lliccelTors ; if we know that it was col- 
 ledled in the fear of the Lord, in honefty, in 
 equity, and in uprightnefs of heart before 
 him, we may conlider it as his gift to us ; 
 and with a fingle eye to his blelling, beftow 
 it on thofe we leave behind us. Such is the 
 happiuefs of the plain ways of true virtue. 
 
 The work of righteoufnefs lhall be peace ; 
 
 and the effecfh of righteoufnefs, quietnefs 
 
 and affurance for ever.'' Ifa. xxxii. 17. 
 
 Dwell here, my dear friends ; and then in 
 remote and folitary deferts, you may find 
 true peace and fatisfa6tion. If the Lord be 
 our God, in truth and reality, there is fafe- 
 ty for us ; for he is a ftrong hold in the day 
 of trovible, and knoweth them that truft in 
 him. 
 
 Ifle of Wight County, in Virginia, 
 29Ch of the 5th month, 1757. 
 
 From 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAR 73 
 
 From the yearly-meeting in Virginia, I 
 went to Carolina ; and on the firfl day of the 
 iixth month, was at Wells monthly-meeting, 
 where the fpring of the gofpel miniftry was 
 opened, and the love of Jefus Chrift experi- 
 enced amongft us : to his name be the praife. 
 
 Here my brother joined with fome friends 
 from New-Garden, who were going home- 
 ward ; and I went next to Simons-Creek 
 monthly-meeting, where I was filent during 
 the meeting for worihip : and when bufinefs 
 came on, my mind was exercifed concerning 
 the poor ilaves ; but did not feel my way clear 
 to fpeak: in this condition I was bowed in 
 fpirit before the Lord ; and with tears and 
 inward fupplication befought him, fo to open 
 my underftanding, that I might know his 
 will concerning me ; and, at length, my 
 mind was fettled. in filence : near the end of 
 their bufinefs, a member of their meeting 
 exprefl a concern, that had fome time lain 
 upon him, on account of friends fo much 
 negle(5ling their duty in the education of 
 their Ilaves ; and propofed having meetings 
 fomecimes appointed for them on a week- 
 day, to be only attended by fome friends to 
 be named in their monthly-meetings : many 
 prefent appeared to unite with the propofal : 
 one faid, he had often wondered that they, 
 being our fellow-creatures and capable of re- 
 ligious underftanding, had beenfo exceeding- 
 ly negledled : another exprefled the like con- 
 cern, and appeared zealous, that friends, in 
 future, might more clofely confider it ; at 
 
 length 
 
74 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 length a minvite was made ; and the further 
 coniideration of it referred to their next 
 monthly-meeting. The friend who made this 
 propofal hath negroes : he told me, that he 
 was at New-Garden; about two hundred and 
 fifty miles from home, and came back alone; 
 and that in this fblitary journey, this exer- 
 cife, in regard to the education of .their ne- 
 groes, was, from time to time, renewed in 
 his mind. A friend of fome note in Virgi-^ 
 nia, who hath flaves, told me, that he being 
 iar from home on a lonefome journey, had 
 many ferious thoughts about them ; and that 
 his mind was fo impreft therewith, that he 
 believed that he faw a time coming, when 
 Divine Providence would alter the circum- 
 ftance of thefe people^ refpedling their con- 
 dition as flaves. 
 
 From hence I went to Newbegun-Creek, 
 and fat a confiderable time in much weak- 
 nefs ; then I felt truth open the way to fpeak 
 a little in much plainnefs and fimplici- 
 ty, till, at length, through the increafe of 
 divine love amongft us, we had a leafoning 
 opportunity. From thence to the head of 
 Little-River on a firft-day, where was a 
 crouded meeting ; and, I believe, was, thro' 
 divine goodnefs, made profitable to fome. 
 Thence to the Old-Neck ; where I was led 
 into a careful fearching out the fecret work- 
 ings of the myftery of iniquity, which, un- 
 der a cover of religion, exalts itfelf againft 
 that pure fpirit, which leads in the way of 
 meeknefs and felf-deniaL From thence to 
 
 Piney-=^ 
 
o^F JOHN WOOL MAN, 7? 
 
 Piney woods : this was the laft meeting I was 
 at in Carohna, and was large ; and my heart 
 being deeply engaged, I was drawn forth in- 
 to a fervent laboiir aniongft them. 
 
 When I was at Newbegun-Creek, a friend 
 was there who laboured for his living, hav- 
 ing no negroes, and had been a minifter 
 many years : he came to me the next day ; 
 find as we rode together, he fignified that he 
 wanted to talk with me concerning a difiicul- 
 ty he had been under, and related it near as 
 follows : to wit. That as monies had of late 
 years been raifed by a tax to carry on the 
 wars, he had a fcruple in his mind in regard „ 
 to paying it, and chofe rather to fiifFer diftraint 
 of his goods than pay it ; and as he was the only 
 perlbn who refufed it in thofe parts, and knew 
 hot that any one elfe was in the like circum- 
 ftances, and fignified that it had been a heavy 
 trial to him ; and more fo, for that fome of his 
 brethren had been uneafy with his condu6l in 
 that cafe : and added, that from a fympathy 
 he felt with me yefterday in meeting, he 
 found the freedom thus to open the matter, in 
 the way of querying concerning friends in our 
 parts : VN^hereupon I told him the ftate of 
 friends amongft us, as well as I was able; and 
 alfo, that I had, for fome time, been under 
 the like fcruple. I believed him to be one who 
 was concerned to walk uprightly before the 
 Lord ; and efteemed it my duty to preferve 
 this note concerning him Samuel Newby. 
 
 From hence I went back into Virginia, and 
 had a meeting near James Covv^pland's ; it 
 
 was 
 
76 The LIFE and TRAV^ELS 
 
 was a time of inward fuffering ; but, thra 
 the goodnefs of the Lord, I was made con-? 
 tent : then to another meeting ; where, thro' 
 the renewings of pure love, we had a very 
 comfortable feafon. 
 
 Travelling up and down of late, I have 
 had renewed evidences, that to be faithful to 
 the Lord, and content with his will concern-^ 
 ing me, is a mod necefTary and ufeful lefToii 
 for me to be learning ; looking lefs at the ef^^ 
 fedls of my labour, than at the pure motion 
 and reality of the concern, as it arifes from 
 heavenly love. In the Lord Jehovah is ever- 
 lafting ftrength ; and as the mind, by a hum- 
 ble refignation, is united to him , and we 
 utter words from an inward knowledge that 
 they arife from the heavenly fpring, though 
 pur way may be difficult, and require clofe 
 attention to keep in it ; and though the man- 
 ner in which we may be led may tend to our 
 own abafement j yet, if we continue in pa- 
 tience and meeknefs, heavenly peace is the re- 
 ward of our labours. 
 
 From thence I w^ent to Curies-meeting j 
 which, though fmall, was reviving to the 
 honeft-hearted. Thence to Black-Creek and 
 Caroline meetings ; from whence, accompa- 
 nied by William Standley before-mentioned, 
 we rode to Goofe-Creek, being much thro' 
 the woods, and about one hundred miles.— 
 We lodged, the firft night, at a publick- 
 lioufe ; the fecond, in the woods ; and the 
 next day, we reached a friend's houfe, at 
 Goofe-Cireek. In the woods we lay under 
 
 fome 
 
fe'r JOHN WOOL MAN. 77 
 
 fome difadvantage, having no fireworks nor 
 bells for our horfes ; but we flopped a little 
 before night, and let them feed on the wild 
 grafs which was plenty ; in the mean time 
 cutting with our knives a flore againfl night, 
 and then tied them ; and gathering fbme bufli- 
 es under an oak, we lay down ; but the muf^ 
 quetoes being plenty and the ground damp, 
 I flept but little : thus lying in the wilder- 
 nefs, and looking at the flars, I was led to 
 contemplate on the condition of our firil 
 parents, when they were fent forth from the 
 garden ; but the Alntiighty, though they had 
 been difobedient, continued to be a father to 
 them ; and fhewed them what tended to their 
 felicity as intelligent creatures,' and was ac- 
 ceptable to him. To provide things relative 
 to our outward living, in the way of true 
 wifdom is good ; and the gift of improving 
 in things ufeful, is a good gift, and comes 
 from the father of lights. Many have had 
 this gift ; and, from age to age, there have 
 been improvements of this kind made in the 
 world : but fome not keeping to the pure 
 gift, have, in the creaturely cunning and felf- 
 exaltation, fought out maiiy inventions ; 
 which inventions of men, as diflindl from 
 that uprightnefs in which man was created, 
 as the firfl motion to them was evil, fb the 
 efFedls have been and are evil. That, at this 
 day, it is as neceflary for us conflantly to 
 attend on the heavenly gift, to be qualified 
 to ufe rightly the good things in this life 
 amidft great improvements, as it was for our 
 
 firfl 
 
78 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 firft parents, when they were without any 
 improvements, without any friend or father 
 but God only; 
 
 I was at a meeting at Goofe-Creek; and 
 next at a monthly-meeting at Fairfax ; where, 
 through the gracious dealing of the Almighty 
 with us^ his power prevailed over many 
 hearts. Thence to Manoquacy and Pipe- 
 Creek, in Maryland ; at both which places I 
 had caufe humbly to adore Him, who fup- 
 ported me through many exercifes, and by 
 vv^hofe help I was enabled to reach the true 
 witnefs in the hearts of others: there wef^re 
 fome hopeful young people in thofe parts. 
 Thence I had meetings at John Event's in 
 Monalen, and at Huntingdon ; and I was 
 made humbly thankful to the Lord, who 
 opened my heart amongft the people in thefe 
 new fettlements, fo that it was a time of en- 
 couragement to the honeft-minded. 
 
 At Monalen, a friend gave me fome ac- 
 count of a religious fociety, among the Dutch^ 
 called mennonifts ; and, amongft other things, 
 related a paffage in fubftance as follows : — ^ 
 One of the mennonifts having acquaintance 
 with a man of another fociety at a confider- 
 able diftance, and being with his waggon on 
 bufinefs near the houfe of his faid acquain- 
 tance, and night coming on, he had thoughts 
 of putting up with him ; but palTmg by his 
 fields, and obferving the diftreifed appear- 
 ance of-his flaves, he kindled a fire in the 
 woods hard by, and lay there that night: 
 his faid acquaintance hearing where he .lodg- 
 
CF JOHN WOOL MAN. 79 
 
 ed, '".nd, afterward meeting tlieme nnonift^ 
 told him of it ; adding, he fhould have been 
 heartily welcome at his hoiife ; and from their 
 acquaintance in former time, wondered at 
 his cdndn(S; in that cafe : the meilnonifl re^ 
 plied, ever fince I lodged by thy field, I have 
 wanted an opportunity to fpeak with thee : 
 the matter was ; I intended to have come to 
 thy houfe for entertainment, but feeing thy 
 flaves at their work, and obferving the man- 
 ner of their drefs, I had no liking to come 
 to partake with thee : then admonilhed him 
 to ufe them with more humanity ; and added^ 
 as I lay by the fire that nighty I thought 
 that as I was a man of fubftance,^thou would 
 have received me freely; but if Iliad been 
 as poor as one of thy flaves, and had no 
 power to help myfelf, I fliould have received 
 from thy hand no kinder ufage than they. 
 
 Hence I was at three meetings in my w^ay : 
 and fo I went home, under a humbling fenle 
 of the gracious dealings of the Lord with 
 me, in preferving me through many trials 
 and afflic5l;ons in my journey. I was out 
 about two months, and travelled about ele- 
 ven hundred and fifty miles. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
8o The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 [conftdi 
 
 ^deration r on the payment of a lax^ laid for 
 carrying on the ivar againf the' Indians — - 
 Some notes 07i Thomas a Kempis and John 
 Hufs' — 'Meetings of the committee of the year- 
 ly-meeting at Philadelphia — The prefent cir-- 
 cumjlances of friends inPennfyluania andNeuu- 
 Jerfey^ <very different from thofe of our pre- 
 deceffors^ — The draughting of the militia in 
 Neiv-jerfey to fer^ve in the army ; ivith fome 
 ohfervalions on the fate of the members of 
 our focietyi at that time-^His njft to friends 
 in Pennfylvania^ accompanied by Benja?nin 
 Jones— Proceedings at the monthly^ quarterly 
 and yearly meetings^ in Philadelphia^ refpe£i- 
 ing thofe who keep faves. 
 
 A FEW years paft, money being made 
 current in our province for carrying on 
 wars, and to be called in again by taxes laid 
 on the inhabitants, my mind v\ras often af- 
 fedled with the thoughts of paying fuch 
 taxes ; and I believe it right for me to pre- 
 lerve a memorandum concerning it : I was 
 told, that friends in England frequently paid 
 taxes, when the money was applied to fuch 
 purpofes : I had converfation with feveral 
 noted friends on the fubjecl, who all favour- 
 ed the payment of fuch taxes ; fome of v/hom 
 I preferred before myfelf, and this made me 
 eafier for a time ; yet there was in the deeps 
 
 of 
 
OP JOHN WOOL MAR 8t 
 
 of my mind, a fcriiple wliich I never could 
 get over ; and, at certain times, I was great- 
 ly diftreiTed on that account. 
 
 I all along believed that there were foine 
 upright-hearted men, who paid luch taxes ; 
 but could not fee th^at their example was a 
 fufEcient reafon for me to do fo, while I be- 
 lieved that the fpirit of truth required of me, 
 as an individual, to fiifFer patiently the diftiefs 
 of goods, rather than pay actively . 
 
 I have been informed that Thomas a Kem^ 
 pis lived and died in the profefTion of the 
 Roman catholic religion : and in reading his 
 writings, I have believed him to be a man of 
 a true chriftian fpirit ; as fully fo, as many 
 who died martyrs becaufe they could not join 
 with fome fuperftitions in that church. 
 
 All true chriftians are of the fame fpirit, 
 but their gifts are diverfe ; ^efus Chrift ap- 
 pointing to each one their peculiar office, 
 agreeable to his infinite wdfiom. 
 
 John Hufs contended againfl the errors 
 crept into the church, in oppolition to the 
 Council of Conftance ; wdiich the hiftorian 
 feports to haveconfifledof fome thonfandper^ 
 fons. Hi? modeftly vindicated the caufe which 
 he believed was right ; and though his lan- 
 guage and conduct toward his judges appear 
 to have been refped:ful, yet he never couid 
 be moved from the principles fettled in his 
 mind. To ufe his own words : This I moft 
 humbly require and defire of you all, even 
 for His fake who is the God of us all, that 
 I be not compelled to the thing which my 
 
 Q confcience 
 
82 The LIFE and TRAVEL^ 
 
 confcience doth repugn or ftrive againfl/^ 
 And again, in his anfwer to the emperor : 
 I refufe nothing, moft noble ernperor, 
 whatfoever the council fhall decree or deter- 
 mine upon me, only this one thing I except, 
 that I do not offend God and my confcience/* 
 Fox's AdHs and Monuments, page 23;^. At 
 length, rather than ad; contrary to that which 
 he believed the Lord required of him, he 
 chofe to fuffer death by fire* Thomas a 
 Kempis, without difputing againft the arti- 
 cles then generally agreed to, appears to have 
 laboured, by a pious example as well as by 
 preaching and writing, to promote virtue and 
 the inward fpiritual religion : And I believe 
 they were both fincere-hearted followers of 
 Chrift. 
 
 True charity is an excellent virtue: and 
 iincerely to labour for their good, whofe be^ 
 lief^ ill all points, doth not agree with ours^ 
 is a happy ftate. To refufe the ai^live pay-^ 
 ment of a tax which our fociety generally 
 paid, was exceeding difagreeable ; but to do 
 a thing contrary to my confcience, appeared 
 yet more dreadfuL When this exercife cam^ 
 upon me, I knew of none under the like dif- 
 ficulty ; and, in my diftrefs, I befought the 
 Lord to enable me to give up all, that fo 1 
 might follow him wherefoever he was pleafed 
 to lead me : and under this exercife, I went 
 to our yearly-meeting at Philadelphia, in the 
 year 1755 ; at which a committee w^as ap* 
 pointed of fbme from each quarter, to cor- 
 tefpond with the meeting for fuiferings in 
 
 London j 
 
OF JOHN WO OL M AN. 83 
 
 London, and another to vifit our montliiy 
 and qviarterly-meetings ; and after their ap- 
 pointment, before the laft adjournment of 
 the meeting, it was agreed in the meeting, 
 that thefe two committees fliould meet to-* 
 gether in friends fchool-houfe in the city, 
 at a time then concluded on, to confider 
 feme things in which the caufe of truth 
 was concerned ; and thefe committees meet- 
 ing together, had a weighty conference 
 in the fear of the Lord; at which time, I 
 perceived, there were many friends imder a 
 fcruple hke that before-mentioned ^. 
 
 As fcruphng to pay a tax on account of* 
 the appHcation, hath feldom been heard of 
 heretofore, even amongft men of integrity^ 
 who have fteadily borne their teftimony 
 againft outward wars in their time ; I may 
 here note fome things which have occurred 
 to my mind, as I have been inwardly exer- 
 cifed on that account : from the fteady oppo- 
 fition vv^hich faithful friends, in early times, 
 made to wrong things then approved of, they 
 were hated and perfecuted by men living in 
 the fpirit of this w^orld ; and fufFering with 
 firmnefs, they were made a bleffmg to the 
 church, and the work profpered. It equally 
 concerns men, in every age, to take heed to 
 their own Ipirit ; and in comparing their fitu- 
 
 G 2 ation 
 
 * Ghrlftlans refufed to pay taxes to fupport heathen tem- 
 ples. S^e Pximicire Chriftlanitj, part II L page 327, 
 
84 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 ation with ours, it looks to me there was lefl 
 danger of their being infected with the fpi- 
 Ht of this world, in paying fuch taxes, than 
 there is of us now: they had little or no fliare 
 in civil government ; and many of them de- 
 clared, they were, through the power of God^ 
 iepa rated from the fpirit in which wars were; 
 and being afflidled by the rulers on account 
 t)f their teilimony, there was lefs likelihood 
 of imiting in fpirit v/ith them in things in- 
 confiftent with the purity of truth. We, 
 from the firft fettlement of this land, have 
 known little or no troubles of that fort: their 
 profefTion, for a time, was accounted re- 
 jproachful ; but, at length, the uprightnefs 
 of our predeceffors beixig underftood by the 
 tulers, and their innocent fufferings moving 
 them, our way of worfliip was tolerated ; and 
 tetany of our members in thefe colonies became 
 adlive in civil government. Being thus tried 
 "with favour and profperity, this world hath 
 appeared inviting ; our minds have been 
 turned to the improvement of our country, 
 to merchandize and fciences, amongfh w^hich 
 are many things ufeful, being followed in 
 pure wifdom ; but in our prefent condition, 
 that a carnal mind is gaining upon us, I be- 
 lieve will not be denied. Some of our mem- 
 bers, who are officers in civil government, 
 are, in one cafe or other, called upon in their 
 relpedlive ftations to alfift in things relative 
 to the wars ; fuch being in doubt whether to 
 adl, or crave to be excufed from their office, 
 feeing their brethren united in the payment 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAR 85 
 
 of a tax to carry on the fald wars, might 
 think their cafe not much different, and fo 
 quench the tender movings of the Holy Spi- 
 rit in their minds ; and thus, by fmall degrees, 
 there might be an approach toward that of 
 fighting, till w^e came fo near it, as that the 
 diifindlion would be little eife, but the name 
 of a peaceable people. 
 
 It recjuires great felf-denial and refigna- 
 tion of ourfelves to God, to attain that ftate 
 wherein we can freely ceafe from fighting 
 vvhen wrongfully invaded ; if, by our fight-* 
 ing, there v/ere a probability of overcoming 
 the invaders: v/hoever rightly attains to it, 
 does, in fome degree, feel that fpirit in which 
 our Redeemer gave his life for us ; and, thro' 
 divine goodnefs, many of our predeceffors, 
 and many nov^ living, have learned this bleffed 
 leffon ; but many others, having their religion 
 chiefly by education, and not being enough 
 acquainted with that crofs which crucifies to 
 the world, do manifeft a temper diftinguifh- 
 able from that of an entire trufl in God. lu 
 calmly confidering thefe things, it hath not 
 appeared flrange to me, that an exercife hath 
 now fallen upon fome, which, as to the out- 
 ward means of it, is different from what was 
 known to many of thofe who went before us. 
 
 Some time after the yearly-meeting, a day 
 being appointed^ and letters wxote to diftant 
 members, the faid committees met at Phi^ar 
 delphia ; and, ^by adjoiirnmeijts, .coi^ti^pL^p^^ 
 ieveral days. The calamitie^x^^^^^f^'^^^^' 
 liQw increafing ; the fronti^Qr -rij^ji^bitarits of 
 
 Pena- 
 
86 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Pennfylvania were frequently furprized, fome 
 flain, and many taken captive by the Indians ; 
 and while thefe committees lat, the corps of 
 one fo (lain was brought in a waggon, and 
 taken through the ftreets of the city, in his 
 bloody garments, to alarm the people, and 
 roufe them up to war. 
 
 Friends thus met were not all of one rnind 
 in relation to the tax ; which to fuch who 
 fcrupled it made the way more difficult. To 
 refufe an a6t:ive payment at fuch a time, 
 might be conftriied an adl of difloyalty, and 
 appeared likely to difpleafe the rulers, not 
 only here but in England j ftill there was a 
 fcruple fo faflened upon the minds of many 
 friends, that nothing moved it : it was a 
 conference the moft weighty that ever I was 
 at ; and the hearts of many were bowed in 
 reverence before the Moft High. Some friends 
 of the faid committees who appeared eafy to 
 pay the tax, after feveral adjournments, with- 
 drew ; others of them continued till the laft : 
 at length, an epiftle of tender love and cau- 
 tion, to friends in Pennfylvania, was drawn 
 by fome friends coiicerned, on that fubje6l ; 
 and bein^ read feveral times and corre6led, 
 was then ngned by fuch of them as were free 
 to fign it, and afterward fent to the monthly 
 and qiiarterly--itieetings/ y 
 
 On the ninth day of the eighth month, in 
 the year 1757, ' at night, orders came to the 
 irdlitary officers in our county, (Burlington) 
 dire'dlliig th^m to draft the militia, and pre- 
 pare a nundbdr of men to go off as foldiers^ 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 87 
 
 to the relief of the Englifh at fort WiUiam- 
 Henry, in New- York government : a few 
 days after which, there was a general review 
 of the militia at Mount-Holly, and a mmi- 
 ber of men chofen and fent off under fome 
 officers. Shortly after, there came orders to 
 draught three times as many, to hold them- 
 felves m readinefs to march when frefh or- 
 ders came : and on the feventeenth day of 
 the eighth month, there was a meeting of 
 the military officers at Mount-Holly, who 
 agreed on a draught ; and orders were fent 
 to the men fo chofen, to meet their refpe6live 
 captains at fet times and places ; thofe in our 
 townlhip to meet at Mount-Holly ; amongft 
 whom were a conliderable number of our 
 fociety. My mind being affected herewith, 
 I had frefh opportunity to fee and confider 
 the advantage of living in the real fubftance 
 of religion, where pradlice doth harmonize 
 with principle. Amongft the officers are men 
 of underftanding, who have fome regard to 
 fincerity where they fee it ; and in the exe- 
 cution of their office, when they have men 
 to deal with whom they believe to be up- 
 right-hearted, to put them to trouble on ac- 
 count of fcruples of confcience, is a painful 
 talk, and likely to be avoided as much as 
 eafily as may be : but where men profefs to 
 be fo meek and heavenly-minded, and to 
 have their truft fo firmly fettled in God, that 
 they cannot join in wars ; and yet, by their 
 f^)irit and conduct in common life, manifeft 
 
 a con^ 
 
88 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 a contrary dlfpolition, their difficulties are 
 great at lucli a time. 
 
 Officers in great anxiety endeavouring to 
 get troops to anfwer the demands of their fu- 
 periors,~ feeing men, who ai-e infmcere, pre- 
 tend Icruple of confcience, in hopes of be- 
 ing excvifed from a dangerous employment^ 
 they are likely to be roughly handled. In 
 this time of commotion fome of our young 
 men left the parts, and tarried abroad till it 
 was over ; fome cam-c, and propofed to go 
 as foldiers ; others appeared to have a real 
 tender fcruple in their minds againft joining 
 in wars, and were much humbled under the 
 appreiienlion of a trial fo near : I had con- 
 verfation with fever^l of them to my fatisfac- 
 tipn. At the fet time when the captain came 
 to town, fome of thofe laft-mentioned w^ent 
 and told him in fubftance as follows i-^That 
 they could not bear arms for confcience- 
 iake ; nor could they hire any to go in, their 
 places, being refigned as to the event of it : 
 at length the captain acquainted them all^ 
 that they might return hoine for the prefent, 
 and required them to provide themfelves as 
 foldiers, and to be in readinefs to raarch when 
 called upon. This was fuch a time as I had 
 not feen before j and yet I may fay, with 
 thankfiilnefs to the Lord, that I believed this 
 trial was intended for our good ; and I w^as 
 favoured with refignation to him. The French 
 army taking the fort they were befieging, de- 
 llroyed it and went away : the company of 
 
 nien 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 89 
 
 men firfl draughted, after fome days march, 
 had orders to return home ; and thofe on the 
 fecond draught, were no more called upon 
 on that occafion. 
 
 On the fourth day of the fourth month, in 
 the year 1758, orders came to fome officers, 
 
 • iDf Mount-Holly, to prepare quarters, a iliort 
 time, for about one hundred foldiers : and 
 an officer and two other men, all inhabitants 
 of our town, came to my houfe ; and the of- 
 ficer told me, that he came to fpeak with me, 
 to provide lodging and entertainment for two 
 foldiers, there being fix iliillings a week per 
 man allowed as pay for it. The caie being 
 new and vmexpeclJted, I made no anfwer fud- 
 denly ; but fat a time filent, my#nind being- 
 inward : I was fully convinced, that the pro- 
 ceedings in wars are inconiiitent with the 
 purity of the chriftian religion ; and to be 
 hired to entertain men, wIiq were then under 
 
 . pay as foldiers, was a difficulty with me. I 
 expedted they had legal authority for what 
 they did ; and, after a fhort time, I faid to 
 the officer, if the men are lent here for en^- 
 tertainment, I believe I fiiall not refufe to ad- 
 mit them into my houfe ; but the nature of 
 the cafe is fuch, that I expect I cannot keep 
 them on hire : one of the men intimated, 
 that he thought I might do it confident with 
 my religious principles : to which I made no 
 reply ; as believing filence, at that time, befh 
 for me. Though they fpake of two, there 
 came only one, who tarried at my houfe about; 
 two weeks, and behc^ved himfelf civilly ; and 
 
 when 
 
90 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 when the officer came to pay me, I told hiii^ 
 I could not take pay for it, having admitted 
 him into my houfe in a paffive obedience to 
 authority. I was on horfeback when he 
 fpake to me : and as I turned from him, he 
 faid, he was obliged to me : to which I faid 
 nothing ; but thinking pn the expreffion, I 
 grew uneafy ; and afterwards, being near 
 where he lived, I went and told him on what 
 grounds I rcfufed taking pay for keeping the 
 loldier. 
 
 Near the beginning of the year 1758, I 
 went one evening, in company v^^ith a friend, 
 to vifit a fick perfon ; and before our re- 
 turn, we were told of a woman living near, 
 v/ho, of la^, had feveral days been difcon- 
 folate, occafioned by a dream ; wherein death, 
 and the judgments of the Almighty after 
 death, were reprefented to her mind in a 
 moving manner: her iadnefs, on that ac- 
 count, being worn off; the friend, with 
 whom I was in company, went to fee her, 
 and had lome religious converfation with her 
 and her hufband : with this viiit they were 
 fomewhat affeded ; and the man, \vith many 
 tears, expreffed his fatisfaclion : and, in a 
 fliort time after, the poor man being on the 
 river in a ftorm of wind, he^ with one. rnoi^e, 
 was drowned. 
 
 In the eighth month of the year 1758, 
 having had drawings in my mind to be at 
 the quarterly-meeting in Chefter county, and 
 at fome meetings in the county of Philadel- 
 phia, I v^eilt firil to faid quarterly-meeting, 
 
 which 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. gx 
 
 which was large ; and feveral weighty mat- 
 ters came imder confideration and debate ; 
 and the Lord was pleafed to qualify fome of 
 his fervants with ftrength and firmnefs, to 
 bear the burthen of the day : though I faid 
 but httle, my mind was deeply exercifed ; 
 and, under a fenfe of God's love, in the an- 
 ointing and fitting fome young men for his 
 work, I was comforted, and my heart was 
 tendered before him. From hence I went to 
 the youths meeting ar Darby, where my be- 
 loved friend and brother Benjamin Jones met 
 me, by an appointment before I left home, 
 to join in the vifit : and we were at Ptadnor, 
 Merion, Richland, North-Wales, Plymouth, 
 and Abington^ meetings ; and had caufe to 
 bow in reverence before the Lord our j:rraci- 
 ous God, by v/hofe help way was opened 
 for us from day to day. 1 was out about 
 two weeks, and rode about two hundred 
 miles. 
 
 The monthly-meeting of Philadelphia hav-^ 
 ing been under a concern, on account of ibme 
 friends, who this fummer (1758) had bought 
 negro flaves : the faid meeting moved it totlicir 
 qvlarterly-meeting, to have the minute recon- 
 lidered in the yearly-meeting, which was 
 made lad on that fubje(fl : and the faid quar- 
 terly-meeting appointed a committee to con- 
 fider it, and report to tlicir next ; which 
 committee having rnet once and adjourned, 
 and I going to Philadelphia to meet a coiii- 
 mittee of the yearly-meeting, was in town 
 the evening on v/hich the quarterly-meeting'^ 
 
92 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 committee met the fecond time ; and finding 
 an inclination to fit with them^ was, with 
 fbme others, admitted ; and friends had a 
 weighty conference on the fubjecl : and foon 
 after their next quarterly-meeting, 1 heard 
 that the cafe was coming to our yearly-meet-f 
 ing ; which brought a weighty exercife upon 
 me, and under a fenfe of my own infirini-- 
 ties, and the great danger I felt of turning 
 afide from perfexft purity, ^my mind was of- 
 ten drawn to retire alone, and put up my 
 prayers to the Lord, that he would be gra- 
 cioufly pleafed to flrengthen me ; that fetting 
 afide all views of felf-interefl: and the friend- 
 fhip of this world, I might ftand fully re- 
 figned to his holy will. 
 
 In this yearly-meeting, feveral v/eighty 
 matters were confixlered ; and toward the laft, 
 that in relation to dealing with perfons who 
 purchafe flaves. During the feveral fittings 
 of the faid meeting, my mind w^as frequent- 
 ly covered with inward prayer ; and I could 
 fay with David, that tears were my meat 
 
 day and night." The cafe of flave-keeping 
 lay heavy upon me ; nor did I find any en- 
 gagement to fpeak directly to any other matr 
 ter before the meeting. Now when this cafe 
 was opened, feveral faithful friends fpake 
 weightily thereto, with which I was com- 
 forted ; and feeling a concern to cafl in my 
 mite, I faid, in fubftance, as follows : 
 
 In the difficulties attending us in this 
 life, nothing is more precious than the mind 
 of truths inwardly naanifefted ; and it is my 
 
 earnqfl 
 
bP JOHN WOOL MAN. 93 
 
 c^rneft deiire, that in this weighty matter^ 
 we may be fo truly humbled as to be favour- 
 ed with a clear underfcanding of the mind 
 of truth, and follow it ; this would be of 
 more advantage to the fociety, than any me-- 
 dium not in the clearnefs of divine wifdom. 
 The cafe is diiiicult to fbme who have them; 
 but if fuch fet afide all felt-intereft, and come 
 to be weaned from the deiire of getting el« 
 tateSj of even from holding them together, 
 when truth requires the contrary, L believe 
 way wall open that they will knovv^ how to 
 fteer through thofe difEculties." 
 
 Many friends appeared to be deeply bow- 
 ed under the weight of the work ; and mani- 
 fefted much firmnefs in their love to the caufe 
 of truth, and univerfal righteoufnefs on the 
 earth : and though none did openly juflify 
 the pradlice of ilave-keeping in general, yet 
 fome appeared concerned, left the meeting 
 fhould go into fuch meafures, as might give 
 tineafinefs to many brethren ; alledging, that 
 if friends patiently continued under the ex- 
 ercife, the Lord, in time to come, might \ 
 open a vv ay for the deliverance of thefe peo- 
 ple : and I finding an engagement to fpeak^ 
 laid, ^' My mind is often led to confider the 
 purity of the Divine Being, and the juftice 
 of his judgments ; and herein my foul is co- 
 vered with awfulnefs : I cannot omit to hint 
 of fome cafes, where people have not been 
 treated with the purity of juftice, and the 
 event hath been lamentable : Many flaves on 
 this continent are opprefTed, and their cries 
 
 have 
 
94 The LIFE and TRxWELS 
 
 have reached the ears of the Moft High. 
 Such are the purity and certainty of his 
 judgments^ that he cannot be partial in our 
 favou.r^ In infinite love and goodnefs, he 
 hath opened our underftandings from one time 
 to another, concerning our duty toward this 
 people ; and it is not a time for delay. Should 
 v^e now be fenfible of what he requires of 
 us, and through a relped: to the private in- 
 terefl of fome perfons, or through a regard 
 to fome friendfliips which do not Hand on an 
 immutable foundation, negled: to do our du- 
 ty in firmnefs and conftancy, ftill waiting 
 for fovne extraordinary means to bring about 
 their deliverance ; it may be by terrible things 
 in righteoufnefs, God may anfwer us in this 
 matter.'' 
 
 Many faithful bfethren laboured with great 
 firmnefs ; and the love of truth, in a good 
 degree, prevailed. Several friends, who had 
 iiegroes, expreffed their deiire that A rule 
 might be made, to deal with fuch friends as 
 offenders w^ho bought flaves in future : to 
 this it was anfwered, that the root of this 
 evil would never be effetlually flruck at, un- 
 til a thorough fearch v/as made into the cir- 
 cumftances of fuch friends who kept negroes, 
 with refpecl to the righteoufnefs of their 
 motives in keeping them, that impartial juf- 
 tice might be adminiftered throughout. Seve- 
 ral friends expreffed their defire, that a vifit 
 might be made to fuch friends who kept 
 flaves : and many friends faid, that they be- 
 lieved 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 9^ 
 
 iieved liberty was the negroes right ; to which, 
 iat length, no oppolition was made publicly : 
 a minute was made more full on that fub- 
 jecl, than any heretofore; and the names of 
 feveral friends entered, who were free to joiii 
 in a viiit to fuch who kept flaves. 
 
 CHAP. VI* 
 
 Mis 'vifiting the qiiarterty-meethigs in CheJIer 
 county; and afterujards joining 'unth Daniel 
 Stanton a?id John Scarborough^ in a "vifit to 
 Juch as kept Jla'ves there — Soiue obfervations 
 en the conduct fuch Jhoidd maintain ivho are 
 'Concerned to /peak in meetings for difcipline — 
 Several more viftts to fuch %vho hpt jlaves : 
 and to friends near Salem — So7iie account of 
 the yearly-meeting in the year 1759; a7id of 
 the increaftng concern in divers proi.nnces^ to 
 labour againji buying and keeping flaves — ' 
 The yearly-meeting epifle—^His thoughts on 
 the fmall-pox fpreading^and on inoculation. } 1 
 
 ON the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 
 in the year 1758, I fet out for Concord; 
 the quarterly-meeting, heretofore held there, 
 was now, by realon of a great increafe of 
 members, divided into two by the agreement 
 of friends, at our lafl yearlv meednp. Here 
 
 I met 
 
96 The LIFE a^d TRAVELS 
 
 I tnct with our beloved friends Samuel Spa- 
 void and * Mary Kirby from England, and 
 with Jofeph White from Bucks county, whc^ 
 had taken leave of his family in order to go 
 on a religious vifit to friends in England; 
 and, through divine goodnefs, we were fa- 
 voured with a ftrengthening opportunity to- 
 gether. 
 
 After this meeting I joined with niy friends 
 Daniel Stanton and John Scarborough, iii 
 vifiting friends who had flaves ; and at night 
 we had a family meeting at William Trim- 
 ble's, many young people being there ; and 
 it was a precious reviving opportunity. Next 
 morning we had a comfortable fiftirig with 
 a lick neighbour ; and thence to the burial of 
 the corpfe of a friend at Uwchland meeting, 
 at which were many people, and it was a 
 time of divine favour ; after which, we vi- 
 iited fome who had flaves ; and, at night, 
 had a family meeting at a friend's houfe^ 
 where the channel of gofpel love was opened, 
 and my mind was comforted after a hard 
 day's labour* The next day we were at Go- 
 Ihen monthly-meeting: and thence, on the 
 eighteenth day of the eleventh month, in 
 the year 175B, attended the quarterly-meet- 
 ing at London-Grove, it being the firft held 
 at that place. Here we met again with all the 
 tefore-mentioned friends, and had fome edi- 
 fying meetings : and near the conclufion of 
 the meeting for bufinefs, friends were incited 
 to conftancy in fupporting the teftimony of 
 truth, and reminded of the neceflity which 
 
 the 
 
o F J O H N W O O L M A N. 97 
 
 the difciples of Chrift are under to attend 
 principally to his bufinefs, as he is pleafed 
 to open it to us : and to be particularly care- 
 ful to have our minds redeemed from the love 
 of wealth ; to have our outward affairs in as 
 little room as may be; that no temporal con^ 
 cerns may entangle our affe(5lions, or hinder 
 us from from diligently following the dictates 
 of truth, in labouring to promote the pure 
 fpirit of meeknefs and Iieavenly-mindednefs 
 amongft the children of men, in thefe days 
 of calamity and diftrefs ; wherein God is vi-* 
 fiting our land with his juft judgments, . : 
 
 Each of thefe quarterly-meetings werd 
 large, and fat near eight hours. Here I had 
 occafion to confider, that it is a weighty thing 
 to fpeak much in large meetings for bufinefs : 
 firft, except our minds are rightly prepared, 
 and we clearly underftand the cafe we fpeak 
 to, inftead of forwarding, we hinder bufi- 
 nefs, and make more labour for thofe on 
 whom the burthen of the work is laid. 
 
 If felfifli views, or a partial fpirit, have 
 any room in our minds, we are unfit for 
 the Lord's work ; if we have a clear profpedl 
 of the bufinefs, and proper weight on our 
 minds to fpeak, it behoves us to avoid ufelefs 
 apologies and repetitions : where people are 
 gathered from far, and adjourning a meqt-- 
 ing of bufinefs is attended with great diffi- 
 culty, it behoves all to be cautious how they 
 detain a meeting ; efpecially when they have 
 fat fix or feven hours, and have a great dif- 
 
 H tance 
 
9& The LIFE akd TRAVELS 
 
 tance to ride hx)me* After this meeting l 
 rode home* 
 
 In the beginning of the twelfth month of 
 the year 1758, I joined in company with my 
 friends John Sykes and Daniel Stanton, in , 
 vifitmg fiieh who had Haves : fome, whofe 
 hearts were, rightly exercifed about them^ ap- 
 peared to be glad of our vifit ; but in fome 
 plaees our way was more difficult ; and I of- 
 ten faw the neceffi ty of keeping down to that 
 root from whence our concern proceeded ; 
 and have caufe^ in reverent thankfulnefs^ 
 humbly to bow down before the Lord^ who> 
 was near to me, and preferved my mind in 
 calmnefs under fomc fliarp confiidls, and be-- 
 gat a fpirit of fympathy and tendernefs in 
 me, toward fome who were grievoully en^ 
 tangled by the fpirit of this world. 
 
 In the firft month of the year 1759, hav- 
 ing found my mind drawn to vifit Ibme of 
 the more adlive members, in our fociety at 
 Philadelphia, who had flaves, I met my friend 
 John Ghttf chman there by an agreement ; 
 and we continued about a w^eek in the city : 
 we vifited fome that were lickj and fome wi- 
 dows and their families ; and the other part 
 of our time was moftly employed in vihting 
 fuch who had flaves«*»It was a time of deep 
 cxercife, looking often to the Lord for his af- 
 fiftance ; who, in unfpeakable kindnels, fa- 
 voured us with the influence of that fpirit, 
 which crucifies to the greamefs and fplendor 
 of this^ world, and enabled xis to go through 
 
 fome 
 
CP JOHN WOOL MAN. 99 
 
 ibme heavy labdurs, in which we found 
 peace. 
 
 On the twenty-fonrth day of the third 
 month, of this year, I waS at our Gene- 
 ral fpying meeting at Philadelphia : after 
 which, I again joined with John Churchman 
 on a vifit to fome more, who had flaves in 
 Philadelphia ; and, with thinkfulnefs to our 
 heavenly Father, I liiay fay, that divine love 
 and a true fynlpathizing tendernefs of heart, 
 prevailed at times in this fervice. 
 
 Having, at times, perceived a fhyiiefs in 
 fome friends,, of confiderable note, towards 
 me, I found an engagement in gofpel Idve to 
 pay a vifit to one of them ; and as I dwelt un- 
 der the exercife, I felt a refignednefs in my 
 mind to go : fb I went, and told him in pri- 
 vate, I had a defire to have an opportunity 
 with him alone ; to which he readily agreed : 
 and thien, in the fear df the Lord, things 
 relatuig td that fhynefs were fearched to the , 
 bottom ; and we had a large conference, 
 which, I believe, was of ufe to both of us ; 
 and am thankful that way was opened for 
 it. 
 
 On the fourteenth day of the fixth month 5, 
 in the fame year^ having felt drawings in 
 my mind to vifit friends about Salem, and 
 having the approbation of our monthly- 
 meeting therein, I attended their quarterly- 
 meeting, and was out feven days, and at 
 feven meetings ; in fome of Vv^hich I was 
 chiefly filent, and in others, thro' the bap-^ 
 tizing power of truth, my heart was en- 
 ' H % larged 
 
100 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 larged in heavenly love, and found a near 
 feilowflilp with the brethren and fifters, in 
 the manifold trials attending their chriftiaii 
 progrefs through this world. 
 
 In the feventh month, I found an in- 
 creafing concern on my mind to vilit fome 
 adlive members . in our fociety who had 
 flaves ; and having no opportunity of the 
 company of fuch who were named on the 
 minutes of the yearly-meeting, I went alone 
 to their houfes, and, in the fear of the Lord, 
 acquainted them with the exercife I was un- 
 der : aijd thus, fometimes, by a few words, 
 I found myfelf difcharged from a heavy bur- 
 then* 
 
 After this, our friend John Churchman 
 coming into our province with a view to be 
 at fome meetings, and to join again in the 
 vilit to thofe who had flaves, I bore him 
 company in the faid vilit to fome ail^live mem- 
 bers, and found inward fatisfadlion. 
 
 At our yearly-meeting in the year 1759^ 
 we had fome weighty feafons ; where the 
 power of truth was largely extended, to the 
 ftrengthening of the honeft-minded. As 
 friends read over the epiftles, to be fent to 
 the yearly-meetings along this continent, I 
 obferved in mofl of them, both this year and 
 laft, it was recommended to friends to la- 
 bour againfl buying and keeping flaves ; and 
 in fome of them clofely treated upon. As 
 this practice hath long been a heavy exercife 
 to me, and I have often waded throtigh mor- 
 tifying labours on that account ; and, at 
 
 times, 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. loi 
 
 times, in fome meetings been almoft alone 
 therein. Now obferving the increafing con- 
 cern in onr religious fociety, and feeing how*' 
 the Lord was railing up and qualifying fer- 
 vants for his work, not only in this reipedt, 
 but for promoting the caufe of truth in ge- 
 neral, I was humbly bowed in thankfulnefs 
 before him. This meeting continued near a 
 week: and, for fever al days, in the forepart 
 of it, my mind was drawn into a deep in- 
 ward flillnefs ; and being, at times, covered 
 with the fpirit of fupplication, my heart was 
 fecretly poured out before the Lord : and 
 near the conclufion of the meeting for bufi- 
 nefs way opened, that, in the pure flovvdngs 
 of divine love, I exprelTed what lay upon 
 me; which, as it then arofe in my mind, was 
 fir ft to fhew how deep anfwers to deep in the 
 hearts of the fincere and upright; though, in 
 their different growths they may not all have 
 attained to the fame clearnefs in fome points 
 relating to our teftimony : and I was led to 
 mention the integrity and conftancy of many 
 martyrs, who gave their lives for the tefti- 
 mony of Jefus ; and yet, in fome points, 
 held dodlrines diftinguiftiable from fome 
 v/hich we hold : and that, in all ages where 
 people were faithful to the light and u^nder- 
 ftanding which the Moft High afforded 
 them, they found acceptance with him ; and 
 that now, though there are different ways of 
 thinking amongft us in fome particulaxs, yet,, 
 if we mutually kept to that fpirit and power 
 which crucifies to the world which teaches 
 
 us. 
 
102 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 us to be content lyith things really needful^ 
 ^nd to avoid all fuperfluities, giving up our 
 hearts to fear ^nd ferve the Lord^ true unity 
 may ftill be preferyed amongft us : and that 
 if fuch, who v^rere, at times, under fufferings 
 on account of fpme fcruples pf conference, 
 kept low and humble, and in their conduci 
 in life manifefted a fpi.rit pf true charity ; 
 it would be more likely to reach the witnef^ 
 in others, and be of more fervice in the 
 churchj than if their fuflferings were attend-^ 
 ed with a contr^iry ij^iyit and condudl/' In 
 which exercife I was drawn into a fympa^ 
 thizing tendernefs with the fheep of Chrift, 
 however diftiiiguilhed one from axiother in 
 this world ; and the like difpofition appeared 
 to fpread over others in the meeting. Great 
 is the gopdnefs of the Lord toward his poor 
 O'eatures. 
 
 ' An epiftle went forth frqm this yearly- 
 meeting, which I think good to give a 
 place in this journal ; being as follows : 
 
 Froirt 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 103 
 
 From the yearly-meeting held at Philadel- 
 phia, for Penafylvania and New-Jerfey, 
 fronx the twenty-fecond day of the ninth 
 month, to the twenty-eighth day of the 
 fame, inclufive, 1759. 
 
 'To the quarterly and monthly meetings of 
 friends belonging to the faid yearly-^meet- 
 ing. 
 
 Dearly beloved friends and brethren, 
 
 TN an awful fenfe of the wifdom and good- 
 ncfs of the Lord our God, whofe tender 
 mercies have long been continued to us in 
 this land, we afFe(51:ionately falute you, with 
 iincere and fervent delires, that we may re- 
 verently regard the difpenfations of liis pro- 
 vidence, and improve under them.'' 
 
 The empires and kingdoms of the earth 
 are fubje6l to his Almighty power : He is the 
 God of the fpirits of all flefh ; and deals with 
 his people agreeable to that wifdom, the depth 
 whereof is to us unfearchable : wf, in thefe 
 provinces, may fay, He hath, as a gracious 
 and tender parent, dealt bountifully with us, 
 even from the days of our fathers : it was He 
 who ftrengthened them to labour through the 
 difficulties attending the improvement of a 
 wildernefs, and made way for them in the 
 hearts of the natives; fo that by them they 
 vrere comforted in tiiiaes of want and difti^efs : 
 
 It: 
 
I04 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 it was by the gracious influences of his holy 
 fpirit, that they were difpofed to work righ- 
 teoufnefs, and walk uprightly one towards 
 another, and towards the natives, and in life 
 and converfation to manifeft the excellency of 
 the principles and do6lrines of the chriftiaa 
 religion ; and thereby they retain their efteem 
 and friendlliip : v/hilft they were labouring 
 for the neceflaries of life, many of them were 
 fervently engaged to promote piety and vir- 
 tue in the earth, and educate their children 
 in the fear of the Lord," 
 
 If we carefully conlider the peaceable 
 meafures purfued in the firfh fettlement of 
 the land, and that freedom from the defola- 
 tions of wars, which for a long time we en- 
 joyed, we fhall find ourfelves under ftrong 
 obligations to the Almighty, who, \vhen the 
 earth is fo generally polluted with wicked- 
 nefs, gave us a being in ^ part fo fignaliy fa- 
 voured with tranquillity and plenty, and in 
 which the glad tidings of the gofpel of 
 Chrift are fo freely publiflied, that we may 
 juftly fay with the pfalmift, What Ihall 
 we render unto the Lord for all his bene- 
 " fits?"/ 
 
 Our own real good, and the good of our 
 poflerity in fome meaiure depends on the 
 part we*acl ; and it nearly concerns us to try 
 our foundation^ impartially. Such are the 
 different rewards of the juft and imjuft in a 
 future ftfite, that to attend diligently to the 
 didlates of the fpirit of Chrift, to devote our- 
 felves to his fervice^ and engage fervently in 
 
 his 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 105 
 
 his caufe, during our fliort flay in this world, 
 is a choice well becoming a free intelligent 
 creature ; we ihall thus clearly fee and con- 
 fider that the dealings of God with mankind 
 in a national capacity, as recorded in holy 
 writ, do fulEciently evidence the truth of 
 that faying, it is righteoufnefs which ex- 
 alteth a nation and though he doth not 
 at all times fuddenly execute his judgments 
 on a finful people in this life, yet we fee by 
 many inftances, that where men follow 
 ^' lying vanities, they forfake their own mer- 
 cies and as a proud felfilh fpirit prevails 
 and fpreads among a people, fo partial judg- 
 ment, oppreflion, difcord, envy and confa- 
 fions increafe, and provinces and kingdoms 
 are made to drink the cup of adverfity as a 
 reward of their own doings. Thus the in- 
 fpired prophet, reafoning with the degene- 
 rated Jews, faith, Thine own ^wickednefs 
 fhall corre(5l thee, and thy backflidings 
 fliall reprove thee : know therefore, that 
 it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou 
 haft forfaken the Lord thy God, and 
 ^' that my fear is not in thee, faith the Lord 
 God of Hofls." Jer. ii. 19. 
 
 The God of our fathers, w^ho hath be- 
 fro v\^ed on us many benefits, furniihed a ta- 
 ble for us in the wildernefs, and made the 
 defarts and folitary places to rejoice; he doth 
 now mercifully call upon us to ferve him 
 more faithfully — We may truly fay with the 
 prophet, it is his voice which crieth to the 
 city, and men of wifdom fee his name : 
 
 They 
 
io6 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 They regard the rod, and hijn -wlio hath 
 aptpclnted it".-— People who look chiefly at 
 thing.s outward, too little coiifider the ori- 
 ginal cauf : of the prefent troubles ; but fuch 
 who fear the Lord, and think often upon 
 his name, they fee and feel that a wrong 
 fpirit is fpreading among the inhabitants of 
 our country ; that the hearts of many are 
 waxed fat, and their ears dull of hearing ; 
 th^t the Moft High, in his vifitations to us, 
 inftead of calling, he lifteth up liis voice and 
 crieth ; he crieth to our country, and his. 
 voice waxeth louder and louder. In former 
 wars between the Eaglilh and other nations, 
 fince the fettlement of our provinces, the ca- 
 lamities attending them have fallen chiefly 
 on other places, but now of late they have 
 reached to our borders ; juany of our feliov/ 
 fubje(5ls have fufFered on and near our fron- 
 tiers, fbme have been flain in battle, fome. 
 killed in their houfes, and fome in their fields, 
 fome v/ounded and left in great mifery, and 
 others feparatcd from their wives and little 
 children, who have been carried captives 
 among the Lidians : We have feen men and 
 w^omen, wdio have been witnefTes of thefe 
 fcenes of fbrrow, and being reduced to want, 
 have come to our houfes aildng relief.— It 
 is not long fince it was the cafe of many 
 yotmg men in one of thefe provinces to be 
 draughted, in order to be taken as foldiers ; 
 fome where at that time in great diftrefs, and 
 had occafion to confider that their lives had 
 been too little coafprmable to the purity and 
 
 fpirituality 
 
ot JOHN WOOLMAN. 107 
 
 fpirituality of that religion which we pro- 
 fefs, and found themlelves too little ac- 
 quainted with that inward humihty, in 
 which true fortitude to endure hardnefs for 
 the truth's fake is experienced. -—Many pa- 
 rents were concerned for their children, and 
 in that time of trial were led to coniider, 
 that their care to get outward treafure for 
 them, had been greater than their care for 
 their fettlement in that religion which cruci- 
 fieth to the world, and enableth to bear a 
 clear teftimony to the peaceable go\^rnment 
 of the Meffiah, Thefe troubles are removed, 
 and for a time we are releafed from them." 
 v Let us not forget that " the Moft High hath 
 his way in the deep, in clouds and in thick 
 darknefs''— that it is his voice which crieth 
 to the city and to the country ; and oh ! that 
 thefe loud and awakening cries, may have a 
 proper efFedl upon us, that heavier chaftife- 
 ment may not become neceifary ! For though 
 things, as to the outward, may, for a fliort 
 ^ time, afford a pleafing profpedl; yet, while 
 <i felfifli fpirit, that is not fubjedl to the crofs 
 of Chrift, continueth to fpread and prevail, 
 there can be no long continuance in outward 
 peace and tranquillity. If we defire an inhe- 
 ritance incorruptible, and to be at reft in that 
 ftate of peace and happinefs, which ever con- 
 tinues J if we defire in this life to dwell un- 
 der the fp.vour and protection of that al- 
 mighty Being, whofe habitation is in hoii- 
 riefs, whofe ways are all equal and whofe 
 anger is now kindled, becaufe of our back- 
 Hidings 
 
io8 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Hidings ; let us then awfully regard thefe 
 beginnings of his fore judgments, and with 
 abafement and humiliation turn to Him, 
 whom we have offended." 
 
 Contending with one equal in ftrength, is 
 an uneafy exercife ; but if the Lord is be- 
 come our enemy, if we perfifl to contend 
 with Him who is Omnipotent, our over- 
 throw will be unavoidable." 
 
 Do we feel an aife6lionate regard to pofte- 
 rity ; and are we employed to promote their 
 happinefs ? Do our minds, in things out- 
 ward, look beyond our own diifolution ; and 
 are we contriving for the profperity of our 
 children after us ? Let us then, like wife 
 builders, lay the foundation deep ; and by 
 our conftant uniform regard to an inward 
 piety and virtue, let them fee that we really 
 value it : let us labour in the fear of the 
 Lord, that their innocent minds, while young 
 and tender, may be preferved from corrup- 
 tions ; that as they advance in age, they 
 may rightly underftand their true intereft, 
 may confider the uncertainty of temporal 
 things, and, above all, have their hope and 
 confidence firmly fettled in the blefiing of 
 that Almighty Being, who inhabits eternity, 
 and preferves and fupports the world." 
 
 " In all our cares about worldly treafures, 
 let us fleadily bear in mind, that riches pof- 
 felTed by children, who do not truly ferve 
 God, are likely to prove fnares that may 
 more grievoully entangle them in that fpirit 
 of felfiihxiefs and exaltation, which ftands in 
 
 oppofi'? 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 109 
 
 oppofition to real peace and happinefs ; and 
 renders them enemies to the crols of Chrift, 
 who fiibmit to the influence of it.'^ 
 
 To keep a watchful eye towards real ob- 
 jedls of charity, to vifit the poor in their 
 lonefome dwelling-placed, to comfort them 
 who, through the difpenfations of Divine 
 Providence, are in ftrait and painful circum- 
 ftances in this life, and fteadily to endeavour 
 to honour God with our fubftance, from a 
 real fenfe of the love of Chrift influencing 
 our minds thereto, is more likely to bring a 
 blefllng to our children, and will aftbrd more 
 fatisfadlion to a chrifl:ian favoured with plen- 
 ty, than an earneft defire to colledl much 
 wealth to leave behind us, for here we have 
 no continuing city may w^e therefore di- 
 ligently ^' feek one that is to come, whole 
 builder and maker is God.'* 
 
 Finally, brethren, whatfoever things are 
 true, whatfoever things are jufl;, wdiatfo- 
 ever things are pure, whatfoever things 
 ^' are lovely, whatfoever things are of good 
 report ; if there be any virtue, if there 
 be any praife, think on thefe things and 
 do them, and the God of peace fliall be 
 ^' with you." 
 
 Signed by appointment^ and on behalf of 
 our faid meeting, by feven friends. 
 
 On 
 
110 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 On the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh 
 month, in the year 1759, I was at the quar- 
 terly-meeting ill Bucks county : this day be- 
 ing the meeting of minifters and elders, my 
 heart was enlarged in the love of Jefus Chrift; 
 and the favour of the Moft High was ex- 
 tended to us in that and the eniuing meet^ 
 
 I had converfatidn^ at rliy lodging, w4th 
 my beloved friend Samuel Eaftburn ; whd 
 exprelled a concern to join in a vifit to fbme 
 friends, in that county^ who had negroes ; 
 and as I had felt a draught in my mind to 
 that work in the faid county, I came home 
 and put things in order : on the eleventh 
 day of the twelfth iiionth following, I went 
 over the river; and on the next day was at 
 Buckinghani meeting ; where, through the 
 defcendings of heavenly dew, my mind was 
 comforted, and drawn into a near unity with 
 the flock of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Entering vipon this vifit appeared weighty i 
 ' and before I left home my mind was often 
 fad ; under which exercile I felt, at times ^ 
 the Holy Spirit which helps our infirmities ; , 
 through which 5 in private, toy prayers were^ 
 it times, put up to God, that he would be 
 pleafed to purge me froiii all felfiilmefs, that 
 I might be ilrengthened to difcharge my 
 duty faithfully, how hard foever to the na- 
 tural part. We proceeded on the vifit in a 
 weighty frame of fpirit, and went to the 
 houfes of the moft adlive members, through- 
 out the county, vAio had negroes ; and, 
 
 through 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. in 
 
 through the goadnefs o£ the Lord, my mind 
 was preierved in refignation in times of trial ^ 
 and though the work was hard to nature^ 
 yet through the ftrength of that love which 
 IS ilronger than death, tendernefs of heart 
 was often felt amongfl us in our vilits, and 
 We parted from feveral families with greater 
 fatisfadlion than we expected. 
 
 We viEted Jofeph White's family^ he be- 
 ing in. England ; had alfo a fpanily fitting at 
 the houfe of an elder who bore us company^ 
 and was at Makefield on a firft day : at all 
 which times my heart Was truly thankful to 
 the Lord^ who wa>s gracioufiy pleafed to re- 
 iaew his loving-^kindnefs to us, his poor fer- 
 vant;s, uniting us together in his work, 
 [_ In the winter of this year, the fmall-pox be*- 
 ing in our town, and many being inoculated, 
 of which a few died, fbme things were open- 
 ed in my mind, which I wrote as follow : 
 
 The more fully our lives are conformable 
 to the yv'ill of God, the better it is for us, — 
 I have looked on the fmall-pox as a melTenger 
 from the Almighty, to be an affiltant in the 
 caufe of virtue, and to incite us to confider 
 whether we employ our time only in fuch 
 things as are confiftent with perfe45t wifdom 
 and goodnefs. 
 
 Building houfes fuitable to dwell in, for 
 ourfelves and our creatures ; preparing cloath- 
 ing fuitable for the climate and feafon, and 
 food convenient, afe all duties incumbent 
 on ^^s : and vmder thefe general heads, are 
 rnany branches of bufinefs , in which we 
 
 . . ' mav 
 
112 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 may venture health and h£e, as neceflity may 
 require. 
 
 This difeafe being in a houfe, and my 
 bufinefs calHng me to go near it, it incites 
 me to think, whether this bufinefs is a real 
 indifpenfible duty ; whether it is not in con- 
 formity to fome cuftom, which would be 
 better laid afide ; or, whether it does not 
 proceed from too eager a purfuit after fome 
 outward treafure. If the bufinefs before me 
 fprings not from a clear underflanding, and 
 a regard to that ufe of things which perfe6l 
 wifdom approves ; to be brought to a fenfe 
 of it, and flopped in my purfviit, is a kind- 
 nefs ; for when I proceed to bufinefs with- 
 out fome evidence of duty, I have found, by 
 experience, that it tends to weaknefs. 
 
 If I am fo fituated that there appears no 
 probability of mifilng the infedlion, it tends 
 to make me think, whether my manner of 
 life, in things outward, has nothing in if 
 which may unfit my body to receive this 
 mefiTenger in a way the moft favourable to 
 me. Do I ufe food and drink in no other 
 fort, and in no other degree, than was de- 
 figned by Him, who gave thefe creatures for 
 our fiiftenance ? Do I never abufe my body 
 by inordinate labour, ftriving to accomplifh 
 fome end which I have un wifely propofed ? 
 Do I ufe action enough in fome ufeful em- 
 ploy ? Or, do I fit too much idle, while fome 
 perfons, who labour to fupport me, have too 
 great a fhare of it ? If, in any of thefe 
 
 things, 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. ii^ 
 
 thiTigSj I am deficient, to be incited to con- 
 fider it, is a favour to me. 
 
 There is employ neceffkry in fecial life j 
 and this infection, which often proves mor- 
 tal, incites me to think, whether thefe focial 
 a6ls of mine are real duties : if I go on a 
 vifit to the widows and fatherlefs, do I go 
 purely on a principle of charity, free from 
 any felfilli views ? If I go to a religious 
 meeting, it puts me on thinking, whether I go 
 in fincerity and in a clear fenle of duty ; or 
 whether it is not partly in conformity to 
 cuflom, or partly from a fenfible delight 
 which my animal fpirits feel in the com- 
 pany of other people ; and whether to fup- 
 port my reputation as a religious man, has 
 no lliare in it. 
 
 Do affairs, relating to civil fociety, call 
 me near this infection ? If I go, it is at the 
 hazard of my health and life ; and becomes me 
 to think ferioully, whether love to truth and 
 righteoufnefs is the motive of my attending ; 
 whether the manner of proceeding, , is alto- 
 gether equitable ; or v^rhether aught of nar- 
 rownefs, party intereft, refpedl to outward 
 dignities, names, or diftindlions among men, 
 do not ftain the beauty , of thofe affemblies, 
 and i-ender it doubtful, in point of duty, 
 whether a difciple of Chrift ought to attend 
 as a member united to the body or not. 
 
 Whenever there are blemifiies which, for 
 a feries of time, remain fuch ; that which 
 is a means of ftirring us up to look atten- 
 tively on thefe blemiflies,. and to labour ac- 
 
 I cording 
 
n4 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 cording to our capacities, to have health and 
 Ibundnefs reftored in our country, we may 
 juftly account a kindnefs from our gracious 
 Father, who appointed that mean* 
 
 The care of a wife and good man for 
 his only fon, is inferior to the regard of the 
 great Parent of the univerfe for his creatures. 
 He hath the command of all the powers and 
 operations in nature ; and doth not afBidl 
 willingly, nor grieve the children of men 
 chaftifement is intended for inftrudlion, and 
 inftrudlion being received by gentle chaftife- 
 ment, greater calamities are prevented. 
 
 By an earthquake hundreds of houfes are 
 fometimes fliaken down in a few minutes, 
 and multitudes of people perifli fuddenly ; 
 and many more being crufhed and bruifed in 
 the ruins of the buildings, pine away and 
 die in great mifery. 
 
 the breaking in of enraged mercilefs 
 armies, flourifhing countries have been laid 
 wafte, and great numbers of people periflied 
 in a fliort time, and many more preffed with 
 poverty and grief. 
 
 By the pefti]ence people have died fo faft 
 in a city, that through fear, griet and con- 
 fufion, thofe in health have found great dif- 
 ficulty in burying the dead, even without 
 coffins. 
 
 By famine, great numbers of people, in 
 fome places, have been brought jto the ut-- 
 moft diftrefs, and pined away for want of 
 the necefTaries of life. Thus, where the kind 
 invitcttions, and gentle chaftifements, of a 
 
 gracious 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. ttj 
 
 gracloits God have not been attended to, hi^ 
 fore judgments have, at times, been poured 
 out upon people. 
 
 While fome rules approved in civil fo-* 
 tiety, and conformable to human policy, fb 
 called, are diftinguifliable from the purity of 
 truth and righteoufnefs : whil6 many pro- 
 feffing truth, are declining from that ardent 
 love and heavenly mindednefs, which was 
 amongft the primitive followers of Jefus 
 Chrift : it is a time for lis to attend diligent- 
 ly^ to the intent of every chaflifement, and 
 Conlider the moft deep and inward dcfigri of 
 them. 
 
 The Mofh High doth not often fpeak with 
 an outward voice to our outward ears ; but^ 
 if we humbly meditate on his perfedlions, 
 confider that he is perfedl wifdom and good- 
 riefs, and to affli£l his creatures to no pur- 
 pofe, would be utterly reverfe to his nature^ 
 we fhall hear and underftand his language^ 
 both in his gentle and more heavy chaftile- 
 ments ; and take heed that we do not, in the 
 wifdom of this world, endeavour to efcape 
 his hand by means too powerful for us. 
 
 Had he endowed men with underftanding 
 to hinder the force of this difeafe by irtno- 
 eent means, which had never proved mor- 
 tal nor hurtful to our bodies, fuch difcovery 
 might be confidered as the period of chaflife- 
 ment by this diftemper, where that know- 
 ledge extended : but as life and health ard 
 his gifts, and not to be difpofed of in our 
 Own wills, to take upon us, when in healthy 
 
 I 2 a diftemper 
 
ii6 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 a diflemper, of which fome die, requires 
 great clearnefs of knowledge, that it is our 
 duty to do fo. 
 
 CHAP. VIL 
 
 His vtfit^ in company ivith Samuel Eaftburtii 
 to Long-IJland^ Rhode-IJland^ Bojlon^ <^Ti 
 in Nt%v-England ~ Remarks on the Jlave- 
 trade at Neivport^ and his exercife on that 
 account ; alfo on lotteries^Some obfervations 
 on the ijland of Nantucket. 
 
 HAVINGj for fome time paft^ felt a 
 fympathy in my mind with friends 
 Eaftward, I opened my concern in our month- 
 ly-meeting ; and, obtaining a certificate, fet 
 forward on the feventeenth day of the fourth 
 month, in the year 1760, joining in com-^ 
 pany, by a previous agreement, with my be-* 
 loved friend Samuel Eaftburn, We had meet- 
 ings at Woodbridge, Rahaway and Plain- 
 field ; and were at their monthly-meeting of 
 minifters and elders in Rahaway. We la- 
 boured under fome difcouragement ; but^ 
 through the invifible power of truth, our vi- 
 fit was made reviving to the lowly minded, 
 with whom T felt a near unity of fpirit, be- 
 ing 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 117 
 
 ing imich reduced in my mind. We pafled 
 on, and vilited chief of the meeti|igs on 
 Lqng-Ifland. It was my concern, from day 
 to day, to fay no more nor lefs than what 
 the fpirit of truth opened in me, being jea- 
 lous over myfelf, left I fliould fpeak any 
 thing to make my teftimony look agreeable 
 to that mind in people, which is not in pure 
 pbedience to the crofs of Chrift. 
 
 The fpring of the miniftry was often low ; 
 and, through the fubjedixng power of truths 
 we were kept low with it ; and from place to 
 place, fuch whofe hearts were truly concern- 
 led for the caufe of Chrift, appeared to bq 
 comforted in our labours ; and, though it 
 was in general a time of abafement of the 
 creature, yet, through His goodnefs, who 
 is a helper of the poor, we had fome truly 
 edifying feafqns both in meetings, and in fa-- 
 milies wdiere we tarried ; and fometimes 
 found ftrength to labour earneftly with the 
 unfaithful, efpecially with thofe, whofe fta- 
 tion in families, or in the fociety was fuch^ 
 that their example had a pow~erful tendency 
 to open the way for others to go afide fron? 
 the purity and foundnefs of the blefled 
 truth. At Jericho, on Long-Ifland, I wrote 
 hoBi^ as follows : 
 
 pearJjr 
 
ii8 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 2^th of the 4th month, 17^0^ 
 
 Dearly beloved wife, 
 
 - \\7E are favoured with health ; have been 
 at fundry meetings in Eaft-Jerfey,, 
 and on this ifland : my mind hath been 
 much in an inward watchful frame fince I 
 left thee, greatly defiring that our proceed- 
 ings may be fingly in the will of our hea- 
 venly Father." 
 
 T As the prefent appearance of things is 
 not joyous, I have been much fhut up from 
 outward chearfulnefs, remembering that pro- 
 mife, ■ ' Then flialt thou delight thyfelf in 
 the Lord — -as this, from day to day, has 
 been revived in my memory, I have confi- 
 dered that his internal prefence on our minds,^ 
 is a delight of iall others the moft pure; and 
 that the haneft-hearted not only delight in 
 this, but in the eiBTedl of it upon them. He 
 who regards the helplefs and diftreffed, and 
 reveals his love to his children under afflic- 
 tion, they delight in beholding his benevo- 
 lence, and feeling divine charity moving up- 
 on them : of this I may fpeak a little ; for 
 though, fince I left yovi, I have often found 
 an engaging love and afFe6lion toward thee 
 and my daughter, and friends about home, 
 that going out at this time, when ficknefs is 
 fo great amongft you, is a trial upon me ; 
 
 yet 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 119 
 
 yet I often remember there are many wi-^ 
 ^ows and fatherlefs, many who have poor 
 tutors, many who have evil examples before 
 them, and many whofe minds are in capti- 
 vity, for w^hofe fake ray heart is, at times, 
 moved with compafTion, that I feel my mind 
 refigned to leave you for a feafon, to exercife 
 that gift which the Lord hath bellowed on 
 me; which, though fmall, compared with 
 fome, yet in this I rejoice, that I feel love 
 unfeigned toward my fellow-creatures. I 
 recommend you to the Almighty, who, I 
 truft cares for you ; and under a fenfe of his 
 heavenly love, remain'^ 
 
 Thy loving hufband,^* 
 
 J. W,'^ 
 
 • ■ 
 
 We crofled from the eaft end of Long;^ 
 Ifland to New-London, about thirty miles^ 
 in a large open boat ; while we were out, tiiQ 
 wind rifing high, the waves feveral times 
 beat over us, that to me it appeared danger- 
 ous ; but my mind was, at that time, turn-^ 
 ed to Him, who made and governs the deep, 
 and my life was refigned to him ; ^nd as lie 
 was mercifully pleafed to preferve us, I had 
 frefh occafion to confider every day as a day 
 lent to me ; and felt a renewed engagement 
 to devote my time, and ^11 I had, to Jiim, 
 who gave it. 
 
 We had five meetings in Narraganfet ; and 
 wmX thence to Newport on Rhode-Iiland. 
 
I20 The LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Our gracious Father preferved us in an hum-* 
 ble dependance on him through deep exer-^ 
 cifes, that were mortifying to the creaturely 
 will. In feveral families in the country, 
 where we lodged, I felt an engagement on 
 my mind to have a conference with them in 
 private concerning their flaves ; and, thro' 
 divine aid, I v/as favoured to give up there-^ 
 to : though, in this concern, I appear lin- 
 gular from many, v/hofe fervice in travelling, 
 I believe, is greater than mine ; I do not 
 think hard of them for omitting it ; I do 
 not repine at having To unpleafant a tallc af^ 
 figned me, but look with awfulnefs to Him, 
 who appoints to his fervants their refpedlive 
 employmentSj and is good to all who ferve 
 him lincerely, 
 
 We got to Newport in the evening : and 
 on the next day vilited two fick perfons, and 
 had comfortable fittings ' with them ; and in 
 the afternoon attended the burial of a friend. 
 
 The next day w^e were at meetings at 
 Newport, in the forenoon and afternoon j 
 where the fpring of the miniftry w^as opened, 
 and ftrength given to declare the Word of 
 Life to the people. 
 
 The next day we went on our journey j but 
 the great number of flaves in thefe parts, 
 and the continuance of that trade from thence 
 to Guinea, made deep impreffion on me ; and 
 my cries were often put up to my heavenly 
 Father in fecret, that he ^ would enable me to 
 difcharge my duty faithfully, in fuch way 
 'as he might be pleafed to point out to me. 
 
 We 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 121 
 
 We took Swanfea, Freetown, and Tanton, 
 in ovir way to Bofton ; where alfo we had a 
 meeting ; our exercife was deep, and the love 
 of truth prevailed, for which I blefs the 
 Lord. We went eaftward about eighty nailes 
 beyond Bofton, taking meetings, and were 
 in a good degree preferved in an humble de- 
 pendance on that arm which drew us out ; 
 and, though we had fome hard labour v^ith 
 the difobedient, laying things home and clofe 
 to fuch as were flout againil the truth ; yet, 
 thro' the goodnefs of God, we had, at times, 
 to partake of heavenly conifort with them who 
 ,were meek, and were often favoured to part 
 vAth friends in the nearnefs of true gofpel fel- 
 lowfhip. We returned to Bofton, and had 
 another comfortable opportu.nity with friends 
 there ; and thence rode back a day's journey 
 eaftward of Bofton ; our guide being a heavy 
 man, and the weather hot, and my companion 
 and I confidering it, expreffed our freedom to 
 go on without him, to v/hich he confented, 
 and we refpedlfully took our leave of him ; this 
 we did, as believing the journey would have 
 been hard to him and his horfe. 
 
 We viftted the meetings in thofe parts, and 
 were meafurably baptized into a feeling of 
 tlie ftate of the fociety ; and in bowednefs of 
 fpirit went to the yearly-meeting at New*- 
 port; where I underftood that a large num- 
 ber of flaves were imported from Africa into 
 that town, and then on fale by a member of 
 our fpciety. At this meeting we met with 
 John Storer from England, Elizabeth Ship-^ 
 
 ley, 
 
122 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 ley, Ann Gaunt, Hannah Fofter, and Mercy 
 Redman from our parts, all minifters of the 
 gofpel, of whofe company I was glad. 
 
 At this time my appetite failed, and I 
 grew outwardly weak, and had a feeling of 
 the condition of Habbakuk, as there ex-^ 
 preiTed. ^' When I heard my belly trembled, 
 my lips quivered, I trembled in myfelf that I 
 might reft in the day of trouble I hadma-^ 
 ny cogitations, and was forely diftrefTed : and 
 was delirous that friends might petition the 
 legiflature, to ufe their endeavours to difcou- 
 rage the future importation of flaves ; for I 
 faw that this trade was a great evil, and 
 tended to multiply troubles, and bring dif-- 
 trefTes on the people, in thofe parts, for whofe 
 welfare my heart was deeply concerned. 
 
 But I perceived feveral difficulties in regard 
 to petitioning ; and fach was the exercife of 
 my mind, that I had thought of endeavour- 
 ing to get an opportunity to fpeak a few 
 w^ords in the Houfe of AfTembly, then fetting 
 in town. This exercife came upon me in the 
 afternoon, on the fecond day of the yearly- 
 meeting, and going to bed, I got no fleep 
 till my mind was wholly refigned therein ; 
 and in the morning I enquired of a friend 
 how long the AlTembly were likely to conti- 
 nue fitting ; who told me, they were expedl- 
 €d to be prorogued that day or the next. 
 
 As I was delirous to attend the bufinefs of 
 the meeting, and perceived the Affembly 
 were likely to depart before the bufinefs was 
 oyer j after conliderable exercife, humbly 
 
 feeking 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 123 
 
 feeking to the Lord for inftrudlion, my mind 
 fettled to attend on the bufinefs of the meet-^ 
 ing ; on the laft day of which , I had pre- 
 pared a lliort eflay of a petition to be pre- 
 fented to the legiflature, if way opened : and 
 being informed that there were fome ap- 
 pointed, by that yearly-meeting, to fpeak 
 with thofe in authority, in cafes relating to 
 the fociety, I opened my mind to feveral of 
 them, and fhewed them the elFay I had made; 
 and afterward opened the cafe in the meet- 
 ing for bufinefs, in fub fiance as follows : 
 
 I have been under a concern for fome 
 time, on account of the great number of 
 flaves which are imported into this colony ; I 
 am aware that it is a tender point to fpeak to^ 
 but apprehend I am not clear iii the fight of 
 heaven without fpeaking to it. I have pre-, 
 pared an eflay of a petition, if way open, to 
 be prefented to the legiflature ; and what 
 have to propofe to this meeting is, that Ibme 
 friends may be named to withdraw and look 
 over it, and report wdiether they believe it 
 fuitabie to be read in the meeting ; if they 
 fhould think well of reading it, it will re-* 
 main for the meeting, after hearing it, to 
 confider, whether to take any further notice 
 of it as a meeting or not/' After a fhort con--, 
 ference fome friends went out, and looking 
 over it, exprefifed their willingnefs to have it 
 read ; which being done, many expreffed 
 their unity with the propofal ; and fome fig- 
 nifi'ed, that to have the fubjedts of the peti- 
 tion enlarged upon, an(^ to be figned out of 
 
 meetin^^ 
 
X24 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 meeting by fuch wlio were free, would be 
 more luitable than to do it there : though 
 I expelled at firft, that if it was done it 
 would be in that way ; yet, fuch was the ex- 
 ercife of my mind, that to move it in the 
 hearing of friends when affembled, appeared 
 to me as a duty ; for my heart yearned to- 
 ward the inhabitants of thefe parts ; believ-^ 
 ing that by this trade there had been an in- 
 creafe of inquietude amongft them, and a way 
 made eafy for the fpreading of a fpirit oppo- 
 fite to that meeknefs and humility, which is 
 a fure refting-place for the foul : and that the 
 continuance of this trade would not only 
 render their healing more diiEcult, but in-* 
 creafe their makdy. 
 
 Having thus far proceeded, I felt eafy to 
 leave the effay amongft friends, for them to 
 proceed in it as they believed beft. And 
 BOW an exercife revived on my mind in 
 relation to lotteries, which were common in 
 thofe parts : I had once moved it in a former 
 fitting of this meeting, when arguments 
 were ufed in favour of friends being held ex- 
 cufed, who were only concerned in fuch lot-^ 
 teries as were agreeable to law : and now on 
 moving it again, it was oppofed as before ; 
 but the hearts of fome folid friends appeared 
 to be united to difcourage the practice a- 
 mongft their members ; and the matter was 
 zealoufly handled by fome on both fides. In 
 this debate it appeared very clear to me, that 
 the fpirit of lotteries was a fpirit of felfifh- 
 iiefs, which tended to confufion and dark- 
 
 nefs 
 
6F JOHN WOOLMAN. 125 
 
 nels of vinderflanding ; and that pleading for 
 it in our meetings^ let apart for the Lord's 
 work, was not right : and in the heat of zeal, 
 I once made reply to what an antient friend 
 faid, which when I fat down, I faw that my 
 words were not enough feafoned with chari- 
 ty; and after this, 1 fpake no more on the 
 fubjedl. At length a minute was made; a, 
 copy of which was agreed to be fent to their 
 feveral qiiarterly-riaeetings, inciting friends^ 
 to labour to difcourage the pradlice amongft 
 all profeffmg with us^ 
 
 Some time after this minute was made, I 
 remaining uneafy with the manner of my 
 fpeaking to the antient friend, could not fee 
 my way clear to conceal my uhealinefs, but 
 was concerned that I might fay nothing to 
 weaken the caufe in which I had laboured ; 
 and then, after fome clofe exercife and hearty 
 repentance, for that I had not attended clofe- 
 iy to the fafe guide, I flood up, and reciting 
 the pafFage, acquainted friends, that tho' 1 
 dare not go from what I had faid as to the 
 matter, yet I was uneafy with the manner 
 of my fpeaking, as believing milder lan- 
 guage would have been better. As this was 
 tittered in fome degree of creaturely abafe-^ 
 ment, it appeared to have a good favor 
 amongft us, after a vv^arm debate. 
 
 The yearly-meeting being now over, there 
 yet remained on my mind a fecret, though 
 heavy, exercife in regard to fome leading ac- 
 tive members about Newport, being in the 
 pradlice of fiave-keeping. This I mentioned. 
 
 to 
 
$25 The life ard TRAVELS 
 
 to two antient friends, tvho came out of tll^ 
 country,, and px^opofed to them, if way 
 opened, to have fome converfation with 
 thbfe friends : and thereupoui^ dne of thofe 
 country friends and I, confulted one of the 
 mod noted elders who had flaves ; and he, in 
 a refpedlful manner^ encouraged mc to pro- 
 ceed to clear myfelf of what lay upon me» 
 Now I had, near the beginning of the yearly- 
 meeting, a private conference with this faid 
 elder and his wife, concerning theirs ; fo that 
 the way ftemed clear to me^ to advife with 
 him about the manner of proceeding : I told 
 him, I w^as free to have a conference with 
 them all together in a private houfe ; or if 
 he thought they would take it unkind to be 
 alked to come together, and to be fpoke with 
 one in the hearing of another, I was free to 
 ipend fome time among them, and vifit them 
 all in their own houfes : he exprefTed his lik- 
 ing to the firft propofal, not doubting their 
 willingnefs to come together : arid as I pro- 
 pofed a vifit to only minifters, elders, and 
 overfeers ; he named fome others, whom he 
 defired might be prefent alfo : and as a care- 
 ful meffenger was wanted to acquaint them 
 in a proper manner, he offered to go to all 
 their hovifes to open the matter to them ; and 
 did fo. About the eighth hour the next 
 morning, we met in the meeting-houfe cham- 
 ber, and the laft-mentioned country friend^ 
 alfo my companion, and John Storer, with 
 us ; when, after a fliort time of retirement^ 
 1 acquainted them wdth the fteps I had taken 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 137 
 
 m procuring that meetings and opened the 
 concern I was under ; and fo we proceeded 
 to a free conference upon the fubjecl. My 
 exercife was heavy, and I was deeply bowed 
 in fpirit before the Lord, who was pleafed to 
 favour with the feafoning virtue of truth, 
 which wrought a tendernels amongft us ; and 
 the fubje^lH: was mutually handled in a calm 
 and peaceable fpirit : and, at length, feeling 
 my mind releafed from that burthen which 
 I had been under, I took niy leave of them,, 
 in a good degree of fatisfaclion ; and by the 
 tendernefs they manifefted in regard to the 
 practice, and the concern feveral of them ex- 
 prelFed in relation to the manner of difpofing 
 of their negroes after their deceafe, I believ- 
 ed that a good exercife was fpreading amongfl 
 them ; and 1 am humbly thankful to God, 
 who fupported my mind, and preferved me 
 in a good degree of refignatioil through thefe 
 trials. 
 
 Thou, who fometimes travels in the work 
 of the miniflry, and art made very welcome 
 by thy friends, feeft many tokens of tlieir 
 Iktisfadtion, in having thee for their gueft. 
 It is good for thee to dwell deep, that thou 
 mayeft feel and underftand the Ipirits of peo- 
 ple : if we believe truth points towards a con- 
 ference on fome fubje6ls, in a private way, 
 it is needful for us to take heed that their 
 kindnefs, their freedom and affability, do 
 not hinder us from the Lord's work. I have 
 feen, that in the midft of kindnefs and fmooth 
 condudl, to fpeak clofe and home to them 
 
!iS The life and TRAVELS 
 
 who entertain us, on points that relate to 
 their outward intereft, is hard labour ; and 
 fometimes, when I have felt truth lead to- 
 ward it, I have found my felf difqualified by 
 a fuperficial friendfliip ; and as the fenfe 
 thereof hath abafed me, and my cries have 
 been to the Lord, fo I have been humbled 
 and made content to appear weak, or as a 
 fool for his fake ; and thus a door hath open- 
 ed to enter upon it. To attempt to do the 
 Lord's work in our own way, and to fpeak 
 of that which is the burthen of the word, 
 in a way eafy to the natural part, doth 
 Hot reach the bottom of the diforder. To 
 fee the failings of our friends, and think 
 hard of them, v/ithout opening that which 
 we ought to open, and ftill carry a face of 
 friendlhip, this tends to undermine the foun- 
 dation of true unity. 
 
 The office of a minifler of Ghrift is weigh- 
 ty; and they who now go forth as w'^atch-*' 
 men, had need to be fteadily on their guard 
 againft the fnares of profperity and an out- 
 fide friendfhipi 
 
 After the yeariy-meeting, \Ye were at 
 meetings at Newtown, Cuflmet, Long-Plain, 
 Hochefter and Dartmouth : from thence we 
 failed for Nantucket, in company with Ann 
 Gaunt and Mercy Redman, and feveral other* 
 friends : the wind being flack, we only reached 
 Tarpawling Cove the fir ft day ; where, going 
 on fliore, we found room in a publick-houfe, 
 and beds for a feW of us, the reft fleeping 
 on the floor : w^e went on board again about 
 
 break 
 
' bf JOliN WOOL MAN. t2| 
 
 bi^eak of day- ; and though the wind wai^ 
 fmall, we were favoured to come within about 
 four miles of Nantucket ; and then about ten 
 of us getting into our boat, we rowed to the 
 harbour before dark ; whereupon a large 
 boat going off, brought in the reft of the paf- 
 fengers about midnight: the next day but 
 one was their yearly-meeting, which held 
 four days ; the laftof which, was their month- 
 ly-meeting for bufinefs. We had a labori- 
 ous time amorigft them ; our minds were 
 clofely exercifed, and I believe it was a time 
 of great fearching of heart : the longer I was 
 on the ifland, the more I became feniible 
 that there was a coniiderable number of va- 
 luable friends there, though an evil fpirit, 
 tending to ftrife, had been at v/ork amongft 
 them : I was cautious of making any vifits, 
 but as my mind was particularly drawn to 
 them ; and in that way we had fome fittings 
 in friends houfes, where the heavenly wing 
 was, at times, fpread over us, to our liiutu- 
 al comfort. 
 
 • My beloved companion had very accepta- 
 ble fervice oh this ifland. 
 
 When meeting was over^ we all agreed to 
 fail , the next day^ if the weather was fiiit- 
 abld and we well; and being called up the 
 Iktter part of the nighty we went on board a, 
 Veffel, being in all about fifty ; but the vv-ind 
 changing, the feamen thought beft to ftay in 
 the harbour till it altered ; fo we returned on 
 Ihore : and fetling clear as to any further vi- 
 fits, I fpent my time in our chamber chiefly 
 
 K alone I 
 
yS6 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 alone; and after fome hours, my heart. be^~ 
 ing filled with the fphit of fupplication, my; 
 prayers and tears were poured out before 
 my heavenly Father, for his help and in- 
 ftrudlion in the manifold difficulties which 
 attended me in life : and while I was wait- 
 ing upon the Lord, there came a meiTenger 
 from the women friends, who lodged at ano- 
 ther houfe, defiring to confer with us about 
 appointing a meeting, which to me appeared 
 weighty, as we had been at fo many before ; 
 but after a ihort conference, and advifing 
 with fome elderly friends, a meeting was 
 appointed, in which the friend, who firft 
 moved it, and who had been much fliut up 
 before, was largely opened in the love of the 
 gofpel : and the next morning, about break 
 of day, going again on board the veffel, we 
 peached Falmouth on the Main before night ; 
 where our horfes being brought, we pro- 
 ceeded toward Sandwich quarterly-meeting. 
 
 Being two days in going to Nantucket^ 
 and having been there once before, I obferved 
 many fhoals in their bay, which make fail- 
 ing more dangerous, efpeciaily in ftormy 
 nights ; alfo, that a great Ihoal, v/hich en- 
 clofes their harbour, prevents their going 
 in with {loops, except when the tide is 
 up ; waiting without which, for the rifing 
 of the tide, is fometimes hazardous in florms : 
 waiting within, they fometimes mifs a fair 
 wind. I took notice, that on that fmall 
 iiland was a great number of inhabitants,: 
 and the foil not very fertile j the timber fb 
 
 gone, 
 
o J'- JOHN WOOL MAN. t^i 
 
 gone, that for vefTels, fences, and firewood^ 
 they depend chiefly on the buying from 
 the Main ; the coft whereof, with mofl of 
 their other expences, they depend principally 
 upon the whale fifliery to anfwer. I confi- 
 dered, that as towns grew larger, and lands 
 near navigable waters more cleared, timber 
 and wood would require more labour to get 
 it : I underftood that the whales being much 
 hunted, and fometimes wounded and not 
 killed, grew more fhy and difRcult to come 
 at : I confidered that the formation of the 
 earth, the feas, the iflands, bays and rivers, 
 the motions of the winds and great waters, 
 which caufe bars and flioals in particular 
 places^ were all the works of Him who is 
 perfe6l wifdom and goodnefs ; and as people 
 attend to his heavenly inftrudlion, and put 
 * their trufl in him, he provides for them in 
 all parts, where he gives them a being. And 
 as in this vilit to thefe people, I felt a ftrong 
 defire for their lirm eftablifliment on the fure 
 foundation ; befides what w^as faid more pub- 
 lickly, I was concerned to fpeak with the 
 women friends, in their monthly-meeting of 
 bulinefs, many being prefent ; and in the 
 frelh fpring of pure love, to open before 
 them the advantage, both inward and out- 
 Ward, of attending fingly to the pure guid- 
 ance of the Holy Spirit, and therein to edu- 
 cate their children in true humility, and the 
 difufe of all fiiperfluities, reminding them 
 of the difficulties their hufbands and fons were 
 frequently expofed to at fea ; and that the more 
 
 K 2 plain 
 
132 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 plain and fimple their way of living wa$^ 
 the lefs need of running great hazards to 
 fupport them in it ; encouraging the young 
 women in their neat decent way of attending 
 themfelves on the affairs of the houfe ; fliew- ^ 
 ing, as the way opened^ that where people 
 were truly humble, ufed themfelves to bufi- 
 nefs, and were content with a plain way of 
 life, that it had ever been attended with more 
 true peace and calmnefs of mind, than they 
 have had who, afpiring to greatnefs and out-* 
 ward fliew, have grafped hard for an income 
 to fupport themfelves in it : and as I ob- 
 ferved, they had few or no flaves amongft 
 them, I had to encourage them to be content 
 without them ; making mention of the nu- 
 merous troubles and vexations, which fre- 
 quently attend the minds of people, who de- 
 pend on flaves to do their labour. 
 
 We attended the quarterly-meeting at 
 Sandwich, in company with Ann Gaunt 
 and Mercy Redman, which was preceeded 
 by a monthly-meeting ; and in the whole 
 held three days : we were various ways exer- 
 cifed amongft them, in gofpel love, accord- 
 ing to the feveral gifts beftowed on ns ; 
 and v/ere, at times, overfhadowed with the 
 virtue of truth, to the comfort of the fincere, 
 and ftirring up of the negligent. Here wc 
 parted 'with Ann and Mercy, and went to 
 Rhode-Ifland, taking one meeting in our 
 way, which was a fatisfa6lory time j and 
 reaching Ne\vport the evening before their 
 quarterly-meeting, we attended it j and after 
 
or JOHN WOOLMAN. 133 
 
 that, had a meeting with our young people, 
 ieparated from thofe of other focieties. We 
 went thro' much laboiu* in this town ; and 
 now, in taking leave of it, though I felt clofe 
 inward exercife to the laft, I found inward 
 peace ; and was, in fome degree comforted^ 
 in a belief, that a good number remain 
 in that place, who retain a fenfe of truth ; 
 and that there are fome young people at- 
 tentive to the voice of the heavenly Shep- 
 herd. The laft meeting, in which friends 
 from the feveral parts of the quarter came 
 together, was a fele6l meeting ; and through 
 the renewed manifeftation of the Father'3 
 love, the hearts of the lincere were united to-* 
 |;ether, 
 
 That poverty of fpirit and inward weak-^ 
 nefs, with which I was much tried the fore 
 p^rt of this journey, has of late appeared to 
 me as a difpenfation of kindnefs, Appoint- 
 ing meetings, never appeared more weighty 
 to me ; and I was led into a deep fearch, 
 whether in all things my mind v/as refigned 
 to tne will of God ; often querying with my-^ 
 felf, v/hat fhould be the caufe of fuch inwarci 
 poverty ; and greatly delired, that no fecret 
 referve in my heart might hinder my accefs 
 to the divine fountain. In thefe humbling 
 times I was made watchful, and excited to 
 attend the fecret movings of the heavenly 
 principle in my mind, which prepared the 
 way to fome duties, that in more eafy and 
 
 frofperous times as to the outward, I believe 
 Ihould have been in danger of omitting. 
 
 Frocrv 
 
134 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 From Newport we went to Greenwich, 
 jShanticut, and Warwick; and were helped 
 to labour amongil friends in the love of our 
 gracious Redeemer: and then, accompanied 
 by our friend John Cafey from Newport, we 
 rode through Conneclicut to Oblong, vifited 
 the meetings of friends in thofe parts, and 
 thence proceeded to the quarterly-meeting at 
 Ryewoods ; and, thro' the gracious extend- 
 ings of divine help, had fome feafoning op- 
 portunities in thofe places : fo w e vilited friends 
 at New-York and Flufliing ; and thence to 
 Rahaway : and here our roads parting, I 
 took leave of my beloved companion and true 
 yoke-mate Samuel Eaftburn ; and reached 
 home on the tenth day of the eighth month, 
 1760, where I found my family well: and 
 for the favours and protection of the Lord, 
 l|^oth inward and outward, extended to me 
 ;n thi^ jqurney, my heart is humbled in 
 grateful acknowledgements ; and find re- 
 newed defires to dwell and walk in refigned-^ 
 p.efs before him, 
 
 C H A f. 
 
0F JOHN WOOL MAN. 1J5 
 
 C H ,A P. VIIL 
 
 His ^ifits to Pennfyl'vania^ Shreivsbury ami 
 SqiiaU' — 'His publifJomg the fecond part of his 
 conftdcratlons on heaping negroes — (The 
 grounds of his appearing in fome refpeBs 
 fngtdar in his drefsy— His viftting the fa^ 
 rallies of friends of Aneoeas and Mount-Holly 
 niee tings His %nfits to the Indians tit TVe-^ 
 halooftng on the river Sifquehannah\ 
 
 HAVING felt my mind drawn toward k 
 vilit to a few meetings in Pennfylva- 
 ilia, I was very deiirous to be rightly in- 
 ftrudled as to the time of fetting off: and on 
 the tenth day of the fifth month, 1 761, be- 
 ing the firft day of the week, I went to Had- 
 donfield meeting, conckiding to feelc for hea- 
 venly inftrudlion, and come home or go on, 
 as I might then believe beft for me ; and there, 
 thro' the fpringing up of pure love, I felt en- 
 couragement, and fo croffed the riv^r. In this 
 vifit I was at tv/o quarterly and three monthly- 
 meetings ; and, in the love of truth, felt my 
 \va.y open to labour with fome noted friends, 
 v/ho kept negroes : and as I was favoured to 
 keep to the root, and endeavoured to dil- 
 charge what I believed Vv^as required of itie, 
 I found inward peace therein, from time to 
 time ; and thankful nefs of heart to the Lord, 
 who was gracioufly pleafed to be a guide ta 
 me. 
 
136 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 In the eighth month, having fek 
 drawings in my mind to vifit friends in and 
 about Shrewfbury ; I went there, and was 
 at thpir monthly-meeting, and their firfl-day 
 meeting; and had a meeting at Squan, and 
 another at Squankum ; and, as way oper^ed^ 
 had converfation with feme noted friends 
 concerning their llaves : and I returned home 
 in a thankful fei^fe of the goodn^fs of the 
 Lord.' ■ - ^ • - 
 
 From the care I felt growing in me fome 
 years, I wrote Confiderations on keeping 
 Negroes, part the fecond ; which was print- 
 ed this year, 1762. When the overfeers of 
 the prefs had done with it, they offered to 
 get a number printed to he paid for, out of 
 the yearly'-meeting flock, and to be given 
 away ; but I being moii eafy to pubhfh them 
 at my own expeuce, and offering my reafons 
 they appeared fatisfied. 
 
 This ftock is the contribution of the meni* 
 bers of our religious fociety in general ; 
 amongfh whom are fome who keep negroes, 
 and being inclined to continue them in fla^ 
 very, are not likely to be fatisfied with thofe 
 books being fpread amongft a * people where 
 many of the flaves are taught to read, and 
 efpecially not at their ex;pence ; and fuch, of- 
 ten receiving them as a gift, conceal them : 
 But as they who make a purchafe^ generally 
 buy that which they have a mind for, I be- 
 lieved it beft to fell them ; expedling, by that 
 means, they would more generally be read 
 with attcntioUo Advertifements being figned 
 
 by 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 137 
 
 by order of the overfeers of the prefs^ di- 
 reified to be read in monthly-meetings of bu- 
 finefs within our own yearly-meeting, in- 
 forming where the books were, and that the 
 price was no more than the coft of printing 
 and binding them ; many were taken off iii 
 our parts ; fome I feat to Virginia, fome to 
 New- York, and fome to Newport, to my ac- 
 quaintance there ; and fome I kept, expect- 
 ing to give part of them away, where there 
 appeared a profpecl of fervice. 
 
 In my youth I was ufed to hard labour ; 
 and though I was middling healthy, yet my 
 nature was not fitted to endure fb much as 
 many others : that being often weary, I was 
 prepared to fympathize with thofe whofe cir-* 
 cumftances in life, as free men, required con- 
 ilant labour to anfwer the demands of their 
 i:reditors ; and with others under oppreffion. 
 In the uneafinefs of body, which I have ma-^ 
 ny times felt by too much labour, not as a 
 forced but a voluntary oppreffion, I have of-* 
 jten been excited to think on the original 
 jcaufe of that opprefiion, which is impofed on 
 many in the world : and the latter part of 
 the time wherein I laboured on our planta- 
 tion, my heart, through the frefli vifitations 
 of heavenly love, being often tender ; and 
 my leifure time frequently fpent in reading 
 the life and dodlrines of our blelTed Redeem- 
 er, the account of the fufFerings of martyrs^ 
 and the hiftory of the firft rife of our fociety : 
 a belief was gradually fettled in my mind, 
 th^t if fuch yvho had great eftates, generally 
 
 lived 
 
138 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 lived in that humility and plainnefs which 
 belongs to a chriftian life, and laid much 
 eafier rents and interefts on their lands and 
 monies, and thus led the way to a right ufe 
 of things, fo great a number of people might 
 be employed in things ufeful, that labour 
 both for men and other creatures would need 
 to be no more than an agreeable employ; 
 and divers branches of buiinefs, which ferve 
 chiefly to pleafe the natural inclinations of 
 our minds, and which, at prefent, feems ne- 
 ceffary to circulate that wealth which fbme 
 gather, might, in this way of pure wifdom, 
 be difcontinued. And as I have thus confider- 
 cd thefe things, a query, at times, hath arifen : 
 Do I, in all my proceedings, keep to that 
 ufe of things which is agreeable to univerfal 
 righteoufnefs ? And then there hath fome de- 
 gree of fadnefs, at times, come over me ; for 
 that I q.ccuftomed myfelf to fome things, 
 which occafioned more labour than I believe 
 divine wifdom intends for us. 
 
 From roy early acquaintance with truth, 
 I have often felt an inward diftrefs, occafion- 
 ed by the driving of a fpirit in me, againfl 
 the operation of the heavenly principle ; and 
 in this circumftance have been affedled with 
 a fenfe of my own wretchednefs, and in a 
 mourning condition felt earneft longing for 
 that divine help, whicK brings the foul into 
 true liberty ; and fometimes in this (late, re- 
 tiring into private places, the fpirit of fup- 
 plication hath been given me ; and under a 
 heavenly covering, have afked my gracious 
 
 fathei-, 
 
or JOHN WOOLMAN. 139 
 
 Father, to give me a heart in all things re- 
 figned to the dire(!?l:ion of his wifdom, and in 
 uttering language like this, the thoughts of 
 my wearing hats and garments dyed with a 
 dye hurtful to them, has made lafting im-* 
 preiTions on me. 
 
 In viliting people of note in the focieiy 
 Vv-^ho had flaves, and labouring with them in 
 brotherly love on that account, I have feen, 
 and the fight has affefted me, that a con-- 
 formity to fome cuftoms, diflinguifhable 
 from pure wifdom, has entangled many ; 
 and the defire of gain to fupport thefe cul^ 
 toms, greatly oppofed the work of truth: and 
 fometimes when the profpedl of the w^ork 
 before me lias been fuch, that in bov/edneft 
 of fpirit, I have been drawn into retired 
 places, and befought the Lord with tears 
 that he would take me wholly under his di- 
 rection, and fhew me the way in which I 
 ought to w^alk ; it hath revived with ftrength 
 of convid:ion, that if I would be his faith- 
 ful fervant, I muft in all things attend to his 
 wifdom, and be teachable ; and fo ceafe from 
 all cuftoms contrary thereto, however ufed 
 amongft religious people. 
 
 As he is the perfection of power, of 
 dom, and of goodnefs ; fo I believe, he hatli 
 provided, that fo much labour fliall be ne- 
 ceiTary for men's fuj/port, in this world, as 
 v>rould, being rightly divided, be a fliitable 
 employment of their time ; and that we can-» 
 not go into fuperfluities, or grafp after weaitlx 
 in a way contrary to his wiidom, without 
 
 havins: 
 
140 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 having connecfUon with fome degree of op-i 
 preffion, and with that fpirit which leads to 
 felf-exahation and ftrife, and which fre- 
 quently brings calamities on countries, by 
 parties contending about their claims. 
 r Being thvis fully convinced, and feeling an 
 increafing defire to live in the fpirit of peace ; 
 being often forrowfully affedled with the 
 thinking on the unquiet fpirit in which wars 
 are generally carried on, and with the mife- 
 ries of many of my fellow-creatures engaged 
 therein ; fome fuddenly deftroyed ; fome 
 wounded, and after much pain remain crip- 
 ples ; fome deprived of all their outward fub- 
 ftance, and reduced to want ; and fome car- 
 ried into captivity. Thinking often on thefe 
 things, the ufe of hats and garments dyed 
 with a dye hurtful to them, and wearing more 
 cloaths in fummer than are ufeful, grew 
 more uncafy to me ; believing them to be 
 cuftoms which have not their foundation in 
 pure wifdom. The apprehenfion of being 
 lingular from my beloved friends, was a ftrait 
 upon me ; and thus I remained in the ufe of 
 fome things contrary to my judgment. J} 
 / On the thirty-firft day of the fifth month, 
 ( 1 76 1, I was taken ill of a fever; and, after 
 having it near a w^eek, I was in great diftrefs 
 of body : and one day there was a cry rail^ 
 cd in me, that I might underftand the caufe 
 tvhy I was afflidled, and improve under it : 
 and my conformity to fome cuftoms, which 
 I believed were not right, were brought to 
 mj remembrance j and in the continuation 
 
or JOHN WOOL MAN. 14? 
 
 of the exercife, I felt all the powers in me 
 yield themfelves up into the hands of Him 
 who gave me being; and was made thank- 
 ful, that he had taken hold of me by his^ 
 chaftifement : feeling the necelTity of further 
 purifying, there was now no defire in me 
 for health, until the deiign of my corre<flioii 
 was anfwered ; and thus I lay in abafement 
 and brokennefs of fpirit, and as I felt a fink- 
 ing down into a calm refignation, fo I felt, 
 as in an inftant, an inward healing in my 
 nature ; and from that time forward I grew ) 
 better.^ 
 
 ^Though I was thus fettled in mind in re- ) 
 lation to hurtful dyes, I felt eafy to wear my 
 garments heretofore made ; and fo continued 
 about nine months. Then I thought of get- 
 tiug a hat the natural colour of the furr ; but 
 the apprehenfion of being looked upon as one 
 affecting fingularity, felt uneafy to me : and 
 here I had occafion to confider, that things, 
 though fmall in themfelves, being clearly 
 enjoined by divine authority, became great 
 things to us ; and I trufted that the Lord 
 would fupport me in the trials that might 
 attend fingularity, while that fingularity was 
 only for his fake : on this account, I was 
 under clofe exercife of mind in the time of 
 Qur General fpring meeting 1762, greatly 
 defiring to be rightly directed ; when being 
 deeply bowed in fpirit before the Lord, I was 
 made willing to fubmit to what I appre- 
 hended was required of me ; and when I 
 
 returned 
 
l^i The life and TRAVELS 
 
 returned home, got a hat of the natural eo^ 
 lour of the furr. "J 
 
 ^ In attending "^meetings, this fingularity 
 was a trial upon me, and more efpecially at 
 this time, white hats being ufed by fome 
 who were fond of following the changeable 
 modes of drefs ; and as fome friends, who 
 knew not on what motives I v/ore it, carried 
 fhy of me, I felt my way for a time fliut up 
 in the exercife of the miniftry : and in this 
 condition, my mind being turned toward my 
 
 • heavenly Father, with fervent cries that \ 
 might be preferved to walk before him in the 
 meeknefs of wifdom, my heart was often 
 tender in meetings ; and I felt an inward 
 confolation, which to me was very precious 
 
 ^ under thofe difficulties. ) 
 
 had feveral dyed garments fit for ufe, which 
 I believed it befl to wear, till I had occafion of 
 new ones : and fome friends were apprehen- 
 five, that my wearing fuch a hat favoured of 
 an afFedled fingularity : and fuch who fpake 
 with me in a friendly way, I generally in- 
 formed in a few words, that I believed my 
 wearing it, was not in my own will. I had, 
 at times, been fenfible, that a fuperficial 
 friendlhip had been dangerous to me ; and 
 many friends being now uneafy with me, 
 I had an inclination to acquaint fome with 
 the manner of my being led into thefe things ; 
 yet,* upon a deeper thought, I was for a time 
 moft eafy to omit it, believing the prefent 
 difpenfation was profitable; and trufting, that 
 
of JOHN WOOL MAN. 143 
 
 if I kept my place, the Lord in his own 
 time would open the hearts of friends to- 
 ward me : lince which, I have had caufe to 
 admire his goodnefs and loving-kindnefs, ia 
 leading about and inftrudling, and opening 
 and enlarging my heart in fome of our 
 meetings.^ 
 
 In the eleventh month of the year 1762, 
 feeling an engagement of mind to vifit Ibme 
 families in Mansfield : I joined my beloved 
 friend Benja.min Jones, and we fpent a few 
 days together in that fervice* In the fecon<l- 
 month 1763, I joined in company with Eli- 
 zabeth Smith and Mary Noble, on a vilit to 
 the families of friends at Ancocas ; in both 
 which vifits, through the baptizing power 
 of truth, the lincere labourers were often 
 comforted, and the hearts of friends opened 
 to receive us. And in the fourth month fol- 
 lov/ing, I accompanied fome friends in a vi-- 
 fit to the families of friends in Mount- 
 Holly ; in which my mind was often drawn- 
 into an inward av^fulnefs, wherein ftrong 
 defires were raifed for the everlafting \vcAx?».tc 
 of my fellovv^-creatures ; and, through the 
 k^ndnefs of our heavenly Father, our hearts^ 
 were, at times, enlarged, and friends invited 
 in the flo wings of divine love to attend to 
 that which v/ould fettle them oa the faro 
 foundation* 
 
 Having many years felt love in my heart: 
 toward the na^tives of this land, who cl<vell far 
 back in the wildernefs, whofe anceftors were- 
 the owners and pofTeffijrs qf the land where 
 
 we 
 
t44 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 we dwell ; and who, for a very fmall cor^ 
 deration, affigned their inheritance t6 us i 
 sind being at Philadelphia in the eighth 
 month, 1 76 1, on a vifit to fome friends who 
 had fiaves, I fell in company with fome of 
 thofe natives who lived on the eaft branch of 
 the river Sufquehannah, at an Indian town 
 called Wehaloofing, two hundred miles from 
 Philadelphia ; and in converfation with them 
 by an interpreter, as aifo by obfervations on. 
 their countenances and condudl, I believed 
 fome of them were meafurably acquainted 
 with that divine power which fubjecls thd 
 rough and froward will of the creature: 
 and, at times, I felt inward drawings to-^ 
 ward a vifit to that place of which I told 
 none except my dear wife, until it came to 
 fome ripenefs, and then in the winter^ 1762^ 
 I laid it before friends at our monthly and 
 quarterly, and afterwards at our General fpriilg 
 meeting ; and having the unity of friends^ 
 and being thoughtful about an Indian pilot, 
 there came a man and three women from k 
 little beyond that town to Philadelphia oii 
 bufinefs : and I being informed thereof by 
 letter, met them in town in the fifth months 
 1763 ; and after fome converfation, finding; 
 they were fober people, I, by the concurrence 
 of friends in that place, agreed to join Vvrith 
 them as companions in their retvirn ; and on 
 the feventh day of the fixth month follow- 
 ing, we .appointed to meet at Samuel Foulk's^ 
 Richland in Bucks county. Now as this 
 rifit felt weighty, and was performed at i 
 ' ^ time 
 
DP JOHN WOOLMAN. 141 
 
 time when tf avelling appeared perilous, fo 
 the difpenfations of Divine Providence, iix 
 preparing my mind for it, have been memo- 
 rable ; and I believe it good for me to give 
 fome hints thereof. 
 
 After I had given up to go, the thoughts 
 of the journey were often attended with un^ 
 vifual fadnefs ; in which times, my heart was 
 frequently turned to the Lord with inward 
 breathings for his heavenly fupport, that % 
 might not fail to follow him wherefoever he 
 might lead me : and being at our youth's 
 meeting at Chefterfield, about a week before 
 the time I expecfted to fet off, was there led 
 to fpeak on that prayer of our Redeemer to 
 his Father: I pray not that thou fhouldefi: 
 take them out of the world, but that thou 
 Ihouldeft keep them from the evil/'' And iii 
 attending to the pure openings of truth, had 
 to mention what He elfewhere faid to his 
 Father; I know that thou hearerc me at all 
 times:'* fo that, as fome of his followers 
 kept their places, and as his prayer was 
 granted, it followed neceJTarily that they 
 were kept from evil : and as fome of thole 
 met with great hardfhips and afflidlions in 
 this world, and at laft fuffered death by cruel 
 men ; it appears, that whatfoever befalls 
 men while they live in pure obedience to 
 Gk)d, as it certainly works for their good, fo 
 it may not be confidered an evil as it relates 
 to them. As I fpake on this fubjed:^ my 
 heart was much tendered, and great awful- 
 ftefs came over me; and. then, on the firft 
 
 Ja day 
 
146 The life ard TRAVELS 
 
 day of the next week, being at our own af- 
 ternoon meeting, and my heart being en- 
 larged in love, I was led to fpeak on the care 
 and protecflion of the Lord over his people, 
 and to make mention of that pafTage where 
 a band of Allyrians endeavouring to take 
 captive the prophet were difappointed ; and 
 how the pfalmill faid, the angel of the 
 Lord encampeth round about them that 
 fear him/' And thus, in true love and 
 tendernefs, I parted from friends, expe(fting 
 tlie next morning to proceed on my journey ; 
 and being weary, went early to bed : and 
 after I had been alleep a Ihort time, I was 
 awaked by a man calling at my door; and 
 ariling, was invited to meet fome friends at 
 a publick-houfe in our town, who came from 
 Philadelphia fo late, that friends were gene- 
 rally gone to bed : thefe friends informed 
 me, that an exprefs arrived the laft morning 
 from Pittfburgh, and brought news that the 
 Indians had taken a fort from the Englifh weft- 
 ward, and flain and fcalped Englilh people in 
 divers places, fome near the faid Pittfburgh; 
 and that fome elderly friends in Philadel- 
 phia, knowing the time of my expe6ling to 
 let off, had conferred together, and thought 
 good to inform me of tliefe things, before I 
 left home, that I might confider them^ and 
 proceed as I believed beft ; fo I, going again 
 to bed, told not my wife till morning. My 
 heart was turned to the Lord for his heaven- 
 ly inftrudion ; and it was an humbling time 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 147 
 
 to me, When I told my dear wife, fhe ap- 
 peared to be deeply concerned about it ; but 
 in a few hours time, my mind became fet- 
 tled in a belief, that it w^s my duty to pro- 
 ceed on my journey ; and fhe bore it with a 
 good degree of refignation. In this conflidl of 
 fpirit, there were great fearchings of heart, 
 and ftrong cries to the Lord, that no motion 
 might be in the lead degree attended to, but 
 that of the pure fpirit of truth. 
 
 The fubje6ls before-mentioned, on which 
 I had fo lately fpoke in publick, were now 
 very frefli before me ; and I was brought in- 
 wardly to commit myfelf to the Lord, to 
 be difpofed of as he faw beft. So I took 
 leave of my family and neighbours, in much, 
 bowednefs of fpirit, and went to our month- 
 ly-meeting at Burlington ; and after taking 
 leave of friends there, I crolTed the river, ac- 
 companied by my friends Ifrael and John 
 Pembcrton ; and parting the next morning 
 with Ifrael, John bore me company to Sa- 
 muel Foulk's ; where I met the before-men- 
 tioned Indians, and we were glad to fee each 
 other: here my friend Benjamin Parvin met 
 me, and propofed joining „ as a companion, 
 we having paffed fome letters before on the 
 fubjedl ; and novv^ on his account I had a 
 fharp trial; for as the journey appeared peri- 
 lous, I thought if he went chiefly to bear 
 me company, and we fliould be taken cap- 
 tive, my having been the means of draw- 
 ing him into thefe difficulties, would add to 
 my own afHidions : fo I told him my mind 
 
 L 2 freely. 
 
148 The LIFE TRAVELS 
 
 fycelj^ and let him know that I was reilgn- 
 ed to go ^lone ; but after all^ if he really be- 
 lieved it t9 be his duty to go on, I believed 
 his company Avould be very comfortable to 
 me : it was indeed a time of deep exercife, 
 and Benjamin appeared to be fo faftened to 
 the vifit, that he could not be eafy to leave 
 me ; fo we went on, accompanied by our 
 friends John Pemberton, and William Light- 
 foot of Pikeiand, and lodged at Bethlehem ; 
 and there parting with John_, V/illiam and 
 we went forward on the ninth day of the 
 fixth month, and got lodging on the floor of 
 a houfe, about five miles from Fort- Allen ; 
 here we parted with William : and at this place 
 we met with an Indian trader, lately come 
 from Wioming ; and in converf ation with him, 
 I perceived that many white people do often 
 fell rum to the Indians, which, I believe, is a 
 great evil; firft, they being thereby deprived 
 of the ufe of their reafon, and their fpirits vi- 
 olently agitated, quarrels often arife which 
 end in mifchief ; and the bitternefs and refent- 
 ments occafioned hereby, are frequently of 
 long continuance : again, their ikins and 
 furrs^ gotten thro' much fatigue and hard tra- 
 vels m Ji anting, vAth v/hich they intended 
 to bjLiy, death ing^ when they become in- 
 toxicated, they often leli at a low rate for 
 more^rmiTi; and afterward, when they fufFer 
 for want of the neceiraries of life, are an- 
 gry with thofe who, for the fake of gain, 
 took the advantage of their v/eaknefs : of 
 this their chiefs have often complained, at 
 
 their 
 
OF JOHN YOC)LMAN. 149 
 
 their treaties with the Englifh. Where cun- 
 .ning people pafs counterfeits, and impofe 
 that on others which is good for nothing, it 
 is coniidered as a wickednefs ; but to fell 
 that to people which we know does them 
 harm, and which often works their ruin, for 
 the fake of gain, manifefts a hardened and 
 corrupt heart ; and is an evil, which de- 
 mands the care of all true lovers of virtue 
 to fupprefs : and while my mind, this even- 
 ing, was thus employed, I ailb remember- 
 ed, that the people on the frontiers, among 
 whom this evil is too common, are often 
 poor ; who venture to the outfide of a colo- 
 ny, that they may live more independant on 
 fuch who are wealthy, who often fet high 
 rents on their land : being renewedly con- / 
 firmed in a belief, that if all our inhabi- 
 tants lived according to fou.nd wifdom, la- 
 
 |]bouring to promote univerfal love and righ- 
 teoufnefs, and ceafed from every inordinate 
 defire after wealth, and from all cufhoma ^ 
 which are tindlured with luxury, the way 
 would be eafy for our inhabitants, thouga 
 much more numerous than at prefent, to live 
 comfortably on honeft employments, v/ith-* 
 out having that temptation they are often 
 under of being drawn into fchemes to make 
 
 , fettlements on lands which have not been 
 purchafed of the Indians, or of applying to 
 that wicked pradlice of felling rum to theia. 
 
 On the tenth day of the month we fet out 
 early in the morning, and crofTed the weft- 
 QXil branch of Delaware, called the Great 
 
150 The LIFE a^d TRAVELS 
 
 l^ehie, near Fort-Allen ; the water being 
 high, we went over in a canoe : here we 
 met an Indian, and had fbme friendly con- 
 verfation with him, and gave him fome bif- 
 cuit; and he having killed a deer, gave the 
 Indians with us fome of it : then after tra- 
 velhng fome miles, we met fevcral Indian 
 men and women with a cow and horfe, and 
 fome houlliold goods, who were lately come 
 from their dwelling at Wioming, and going 
 to fettle at another place; we made them 
 fome fmall prefmts ; and fome of them un- 
 derftanding Engliili, I told them my motive 
 in coming into their country ; with which 
 they appeared fatisfied : and one of our 
 guides talking a while with an antient wo- 
 man concerning us, the poor old woman 
 came to my companion and me, and took 
 her leave of us with an appearance of lin- 
 cere affedlion. So going on, we pitched our 
 tent near the banks of the fame river, hav- 
 ing laboured hard in crofTmg fome of thofe 
 mountains called the Blue Ridge ; and by 
 the roughnefs qf the ftones, and the cavi- 
 ties between them, and the fteepnefs of the 
 hills, it appeared dangerous : but we were 
 preferved in fafety, through the kindnefs of 
 Him whofe vsrorks in thofe mountainous de- 
 ferts appeared awful ; toward whom my 
 heart was turned dviring this day's travel. 
 
 Near our tent, on the fides qf large trees 
 peeled for that pu.rpofe, were various repre- 
 sentations of men going to, and returning 
 Irom the wars^ and of fome killed in battle. 
 
 This 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 151 
 
 This being a path heretofore ufed by 
 warriors ; and as I walked about viewing 
 thofe Indian hiflories, which were painted 
 moftly in red but fome in black, and think- 
 ing on the innumerable afllidtions which 
 the proud, fierce fpirit produceth in the 
 world; thinking on the toils and fatigues of 
 warriors, travelling over mountains and de-- 
 ierts ; thinking on their miferies and dif- 
 treifes when wounded far from home hj 
 their enemies ; and of their bruifes and great 
 wearinefs in chafing one another over the 
 rocks and mountains ; and of their reftleis, 
 unquiet flate of miud, v/ho hve in this fpi-^ 
 rit ; and of the hatred which mutually grows 
 up in the minds of the children of thofe na- 
 tions engaged in v/ar with each other : dur- 
 ing thele meditations, the defire to cherifli. 
 the fpirit of love and peace amongfi: thefe 
 people, arofe very frefli in me. This was 
 the firfl night that w^e lodged in the woods ; 
 and being wet with travelling in the rain, 
 the ground, our tent, and the buihes which 
 we purpofed to lay under our blankets alfa 
 w^et, all looked dif couraging ; but I believed^ 
 that it was the Lord who had thus far 
 brought me forward, and that he would 
 difpoie of me as he faw good, and therein I 
 felt eafy : fb vv^e kindled a fire, with our tent 
 open to it ; and with fome buflics next the 
 ground, and then our blankets, v.^e made 
 our bed ; and lying down, got fome fleep : 
 and in the raorning, feeling a little unwell^ 
 
 \ went;- 
 
t53 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 I went into the river; the water was cold, 
 but foon after I felt frefh and well. 
 
 The eleventh day of the (ixth month, the 
 bviflies being wet, we tarried in ovir tent till 
 ^bout eight o'clock ; when going on, crofTed 
 a high mountain fuppofed to be upward of 
 four miles over ; the fteepnefs on the north 
 Jide exceeding all the others : we alfo crofled 
 two fwamps ; and it raining near night, 
 we pitched our tent and lodged. 
 
 - About noou, on our way, we were over- 
 taken ty one of the inoravian brethren, go- 
 ing to Wehaloofmg, and an Indian man 
 with him who could talk Englifh ; and we 
 being together while our horfes eat grafs, had 
 fome friendly converfation ; but they tra-* 
 veiling fafter than we, foon left us. This 
 moravian, I underftood, had fpent fome 
 time this fpring at Wehalooiiag ; and was, 
 by fome of the Indians, invited to come 
 again. 
 
 The twelfth day of the fixth month, and 
 firfl: of the week, it bev^g a rainy day, we 
 continued in our tent ; and here I was led to 
 think on the nature of the exercife which 
 hath attended me : Love vv^as the firft motion, 
 tmd thence a concern arofe to fpend fome time 
 with the Indians, that I might feel and un-^ 
 derftand their life, and the fpirit they live 
 in, if haply I might receive fome inftrudlior). 
 from them, or they be in any degree helped 
 forward by my following the leadings of 
 truth amongftthem: and as it pleafed the 
 Lord to make way for my going at a time 
 
 wheii 
 
o F J O H N ^ W O O L M A N. 1 53 
 
 when tke troubles of war were increafing, 
 and when, 'by I'eafoii of much wet weather, 
 travellmg was more difhcult than ufual at 
 that feafon, I looked upon it as a more fa- 
 vourable opportunity to feafon my mind, 
 and bring me into a nearer fympathy with 
 them : and as mine eye was to the great Fa- 
 ther of mercies, humbly defiring to learn 
 what his will was concernixig ,me, I was 
 jnade quiet and content. 
 
 Our guide's horfe, though hoppled, went 
 away in the night ; and after finding out 
 own, and fearching fome time for him, his 
 footfteps were difcovered in the path going 
 back again, whereupon my kind companion 
 went off in the rain, and after about feven 
 hours returned with him : and here we 
 lodged again ; tying up our horfes before 
 we went to bed, and loofing them to feed 
 about break of day. 
 
 On the thirteenth day of the fixth month, 
 the fun appealing, we let forward ; and as I 
 rode over the barren hills, my meditations 
 were on the alterations of the circumftances 
 of the natives of this land fince the coming 
 in of the Englifh, The lands near the fea, 
 are conveniently fituated for filhing ; the 
 lands near the rivers, where the tides flow, 
 and fome above, are in many places fertile, 
 and not mountainous ; while the running of 
 the tides, makes palfing up and down eafy 
 with any kind of traffick. Thofe natives 
 have, in fome places, for trifling confidera- 
 lions, fold their iuheritancq fo favourably 
 
 lituated; 
 
154 The LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 fituated; and in otlier places, been driven 
 back by fuperior force : fo that, in many 
 places, as their way of cloathing themfelves 
 is now altered from what it was, and they, 
 far remote from us, have to pafs over moun- 
 tains, fwamps, and barren defarts, where 
 travelling is very troublefome, in bringing 
 their fkins and fvirrs to trade with us. 
 
 By the extending of Englifli fettlements, 
 and partly by Englifh hunters, the wild 
 beafts they chiefly depend on for a fublifl- 
 ance, are not fo plenty as they were ; and 
 people too often, for the fake of gain, open 
 a door for them to wafte their fldns and 
 furrs, in purchafing a liquor which tends to 
 the ruin of them and their families. 
 
 My own will and defires being now very 
 much broken, and my heart, with much 
 earneftnefs, turned to the Lord, to whom 
 alone I looked for help in the dangers before 
 me. I had a profpe6l of the Engiiih along 
 the coaft, for upv/ards of nine hundred 
 miles, where I have travelled ; and the fa- 
 vourable fituation of the Englifh, and the 
 difEculties attending the natives in many 
 places, and the negroes, were open before 
 me; and a weighty and heavenly care came 
 over my mind, and love filled my heart to- 
 ward all mankind, in which I felt a fcrong 
 engagement, that we might be obedient to 
 the Lord while, in tender mercies, he is yet 
 calling to vis ; and fo attend to pure univer- 
 fal righteoufnefs, as to give no juft caufe of 
 offence to the Gentiles, who do not profefs 
 
 chriftianity. 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAR 155 
 
 chriftianity, whether the blacks from Africa 
 or the native inhabitants of this continent: 
 and here I was led into a clofe, laborious 
 enquiry, whether I, as an individual, kept 
 clear from all things which tended to ftir up, 
 or were connedled with wars, either in this 
 land or Africa ; and my heart was deeply 
 concerned, that in futvire I might ill all 
 things keep fteadily to the pure truth, and 
 live and walk in the plainnefs and fimplicity 
 of a fincere follower of Chrift. And in this 
 lonely journey, I did, this day, greatly be^ 
 wail the fpreading of a wrong Ipirit, be^ 
 lieving, that the profperous, convenient fi-* 
 tuation of the Englilh, requires a conftant 
 attention to divine love and v/ifdom to guide 
 and fupport us in a way anfwerable to the 
 will of that good, gracious, and almighty 
 Being, who hath an equal regard to all man-^ 
 kind : and here, luxury and covetoufnefs, 
 with the numerous oppreffions, and other 
 evils attending them, appeared very afflift- 
 ing to me ; and I felt in that which is im- 
 mutable, that the feeds of great calamity 
 and defblation are fown and growing faft on 
 this continent : nor have I words fufficient to 
 fet forth that longing I then felt, that we, 
 who are placed'along the coafl:, and have tailed 
 the love and goodnefs of God, might arife 
 in his ftrength; and, like faithful mefTen- 
 gers, labour to check the grovsrth of thefe 
 feeds, that they may not ripen to the ruinr 
 of our pofterity. 
 
 We 
 
156 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 We reached the Indian fettlement at Wio- 
 mmg : and here we were told, that an In- 
 dian runner had been at that place a day or 
 two before us, and brought news of the In- 
 dians taking an Englifla fort weftv/ard, and 
 deftroying the people, and that they were 
 endeavouring to take another ; and alio, that 
 another Indian runner came there about the 
 middle of the night before we got there, 
 who came from a town about ten miles 
 above Wehaloofing, and brought news, that 
 fome Indian warriors, from diftant parts^ 
 came to that town with two Engliili fcalps ; 
 and told the people, that it vv^as war with 
 the Englifh. 
 
 Our guides took us to the houfe of a very 
 antient man ; and foon after we had put in 
 our baggage, there came a man from ano- 
 ther Indian houfe fome diftance off ; and I 
 perceiving there w^as a man near the door, 
 went out ; and he having a tomahawk 
 wrapped under his matchcoat out of fight, 
 as I approached him, he took it in his hand j 
 J, however, went forward, and fpeaking to 
 him in a friendly way perceived he under- 
 Hood fome Englilh ; my companion then 
 coming out, we had fome talk with him 
 concerning the nature of ovir vifit in thefe 
 parts ; and then he going into the houfe 
 with us, and talking with our guides, foon 
 appeared friendly, and fat down and fmoak- 
 .ed his pipe. Tho' his taking his hatchet in 
 liis handi at the inftant I drew near to him, 
 
 had 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 157 
 
 had a difagreeable appearance, I believe he 
 had no other intent than to be in readinefs 
 in cafe any violence was offered to him. 
 
 Hearing the news brovight by thefe In- 
 dian runners, and being told by the Indians 
 where we lodged, that what Indians were 
 about Wioming expelled, in a few days, to 
 move to fome larger towns, I thought that^ 
 to all outward appearance, it was dangerous 
 travelling at this time ; and was, after a 
 hard day's journey^ brought into a painful 
 •exercife at night, in which I had to trace 
 back, and view over the fleps I had taken 
 from my firft moving in the vifit ; and tho' 
 I had to bewail fome weaknefs which, at 
 times, had attended me, yet I could not 
 find that I had ever given way to a will- 
 ful difobedie6ce : and then as I believed I 
 had, under a fenfe of duty, come thus far, 
 I was now earneft in fpirit befeeching the 
 Lord to iliew me what I ought to do. In 
 this great diftrefs I grew jealous of myfelf, 
 left the defire of. reputation, as' a man 
 firmly fettled to perfevere through dan- 
 gers, or the fear of difgrace arifing on 
 my returning without performing the vi- 
 fit, might have fome place in me: thus I 
 lay, full of thoughts, great part* of the night, 
 while my beloved companion lay and Hepc 
 by me ; till the Lord, my gracious Father, 
 who faw the conflicts of my foul, was 
 pleafed to give quietnefs : then I was again 
 ftrengthened to commit my life, and all 
 things relating thereto, into his heavenly 
 
 hiindsj 
 
I5S The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 hands ; and getting a little fleep toward day^ 
 when morning came we arofe. 
 
 On the fourteenth day of the iixth month, 
 we fought out and vifited all the Indians 
 hereabouts that we could meet with ; they 
 being chiefly in one place, about a mile from 
 where we lodged, in all perhaps twenty. 
 Here I exprelled the care I had on my mind 
 for their good ; and told them, that true 
 love had made me willing thus to leave my 
 family to come and fee the Indians, and 
 ipeak with them in their houfes. Some 
 of them appeared kind and friendly. So we 
 took our leave of thefe Indians : and went 
 up the river Sufquehannah, about three 
 miles, to the houfe of an Indian, called Ja- 
 cob January, who had killed his hog; and 
 the women were making (lore of bread, and 
 preparing to move up the river. Here our 
 pilots left their canoe when they came down 
 in the fpring, which, lying dry, was leaky ; 
 fo that we, being detained fome hours, had 
 a good deal of friendly converfation with 
 the family ; and eating dinner w^ith them, 
 we made them fome linall prefents. Then 
 putting our baggage in the canoe, fame of 
 them pufhed flowly up the ftrcam, and the 
 relt of us rode our horles ; and fwimming 
 them over a creek, called Lahawahamunk, 
 we pitched our tent a little above it, being 
 a Ihower in the evening : and in a fenfe of 
 God's gooclnefs in helping me in my diflrefs, 
 fuftaining me under trials, and inclining 
 my heart to trufl in him, I lay down in an 
 
 hmnble 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 159 
 
 humble bowed frame of mind, and had a . 
 comfortable night's lodging. 
 
 On the fifteenth day of the fixth month, 
 we proceeded forward till the afternoon; 
 when a ftorm appearing, w^e met our canoe 
 at an appointed place ; and the rain conti- 
 nuing, we flayed all night, which was lb 
 heavy, that it beat through our tent, and 
 wet us and our baggage. 
 
 On the fixteenth day, we found, on our 
 way, abundance of trees blown down with 
 the ftorm yefterday ; and had occafion reve- 
 rently to coniider the kind dealings of the 
 Lord, who provided a fafe place for us in a 
 valley, while this ftorm continued. By the 
 falling of abundance of trees acrofs our 
 path, we were much hindered, and in fome 
 fwamps our way was fo ftopped, that we 
 got through with extream difhculty. 
 
 I had this day often to confider myfelf as 
 a fojourner in this world ; and a belief ia 
 the all-fiifticiency of God to fupport his peo- 
 ple in their pilgrimage felt comfortable to 
 me ; and I was induftrioully employed to 
 get to a ftate of perfe(51 refignation. 
 
 We feldom faw our canoe but at appoint- 
 ed places, by reafon of the path going off 
 from the river : and this afternoon, Job Chi- 
 laway, an Indian from Wehaloofing, who 
 talks good Englifh, and is acquainted with 
 feveral people in and about Philadelphia, mei: 
 our people on the river ; and underftanding 
 where we expected to lodge, puflied back 
 gbout fix miles ^ and came to us after night ; 
 
 and 
 
i6o The LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and in a while our own canoe came, it bef^ 
 ing hard work pufliing up ftream. Job told 
 us, that an Indian came in hafte to their 
 town yefterday, and told them, that three 
 warriors, coming from fome diftance, lodg- 
 ed in a town above Wehaloofing a few nights 
 paft ; and that thefe three men were going 
 againfl the Englifh at Juniata. Job was 
 going down the river to the province-ftore 
 at Shamokin. Though I was fo far favour- 
 ed with health as to continue travelling, yet 
 through the various difficulties in our jour- 
 ney, and the different way of living from 
 what I had been ufed to, I grew fick : and 
 the news of thefe warriors being on their 
 march fo near us, and not knowing whe- 
 ther we might not fall in with them, was a 
 frefh trial of my faith ; and tho', thro' the 
 ftrength of divine love, I had feveral times 
 been enabled to commit myfelf to the divine 
 difpofal, I flill found the want of my ftrength 
 to be renewed, that I might perfevere there- 
 in ; and my cries for help were put up to 
 the Lord, who, in great mercy, gave me a 
 refigned heart, in which I found quietnefs. 
 
 On the feventeenth day, parting from Job 
 Chilaway, we went on, and reached Weha-- 
 loofing about the middle of the afternoon ; 
 and the firft Indian that we faw, was a wo- 
 man of a modeft countenance, with a Bible^ 
 who firft fpake to our guide ; and then, with 
 a harmonious voice, expreiled her gladnefs 
 at leeing us, having before heard of our 
 coming : then, by the direc^lion of our guide, 
 
JOHN WOOL M AN. i6f 
 
 we fat down on a log; and he went to the 
 town, to tell the people we were come. My 
 companion and I fitting thus together, in a 
 deep inward Itillnefs, the poor woman came 
 and ikt near iis ; and great awfulnefs com- 
 ing over ns, we rejoiced in a fenfe of God's 
 love manifefted to our poor fouls. After a 
 while, we heard a conklliell blow feveral 
 tirnes, and then came John Curtis, and 
 another Indian man, who kindly invited u.4 
 into a houfe near the town, where we founds 
 I fuppofe, about fixty people fitting in fi- 
 lencej and after fitting a fliort time, I ftood 
 up, and in fome tendernefs of fpirit ac- 
 quainted them with the nature of my vifit, 
 and that a concern for their good had made 
 me willing to come thus far to fee them : 
 all in a few fliort fentences, which fome o£ 
 them vmderftanding, interpreted to the 
 others, and there appeared gladnefs amongft 
 them. Then I fliewed them my certificate, 
 which was explained to them; and the mo- 
 ravian, who overtook us on the way, being 
 now here, bade me welcome. 
 
 On the eighteenth day, we refied ourfelveiS 
 this forenoon ; and the Indians knowing that 
 the moravian and I were of different reli-* 
 gious focieties, and as fome of their people 
 had encouraged him to come and ftay a 
 while with them, were, I believe, concerned, 
 that no jarring or difcord might be in their 
 meetings: and they, I fuppofe, having con-- 
 ferred together, acquainted me, that the 
 people, at my reqiteft, would, at any time, 
 : M come 
 
i62 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 come together, and hold meetings ; and al- 
 io told me, that they expecled the moravian 
 would fpeak in their fettled meetings, which 
 are commonly held morning and near even- 
 ing. So I found liberty in irly heart to fpeak 
 to the moravian, and told him of the care 
 I felt on my mind for the good of thefe peo- 
 ple ; and that I believed no ill eiFecls would 
 follow it, if I fometimes fpake in their meet- 
 ings when love engaged me thereto, with- 
 out calling them together at times when they 
 did not meet of courfe : whereupoii he ex- 
 preiled his good-will toward my fpeaking 
 at any tune, all that I found in my heart 
 to fay : fo near evening I was at their meet-- 
 ing, where the pure gofpel love was felt, to 
 the tendering fome of our hearts ; and the 
 interpreters endeavouring to acquaint the 
 people with what I faid, in ihort fentences, 
 found fome difficulty, as none of them were 
 quite perfect in the Engliih and Delaware 
 tongues, fo they helped one another, and we 
 laboured along, divine love attending: and 
 afterwards feeiins: mv mind covered with 
 the fpirit of prayer, I told ths interpreters^ 
 that I found it in my heart to pray to God, 
 and believed, if I prayed aright, he would 
 hear me, and exprelTed my willingnefs for 
 .them to omit interpreting ; fo our meeting 
 ended with a degree of divine love : and 
 before the people went out, I obferved Pa- 
 punehang (the man who had been zealous 
 in labouring for a reformation in that town, 
 being then very tender) fpoke to one of the 
 
 interpreters 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 163 
 
 interpreters : and I was afterwards told that 
 he faid in fubftance as follows ; I love to 
 feel where words come from/' 
 
 On the nineteenth day, and firft of the 
 week, this morning in the meeting the In- 
 dian who came with the moravian, being al- 
 fo a member of that fociety, prayed ; and 
 then the moravian fpake a fhort time to the 
 people: and in the afternoon, they coming 
 together, and my heart being filled with a 
 heavenly care for their good, I fpake to them 
 awhile by interpreters ; but none of them 
 being perfedl in the work, and I feeling the 
 current of love run ftrong, told the inter- 
 preters, that I believed fome of the people 
 would underftand me, and fo I proceeded : 
 in which exercife, I believe the Holy Ghofl 
 wrought on fome hearts to edification, where 
 all the words were not underftood. I look- 
 ed upon- it as a time of divine favour, and 
 my heart Was tendered and truly thankful 
 before the Lord ; and after I fat down, one 
 of the interpreters feemed fpirited to give the 
 Lidians the fubftance of what I had faid. 
 
 Before our firft meeting this morning, I 
 was led to meditate on the manifold diffi- 
 culties of thefe Indians, wdio, by the per- 
 miffion of the Six Nations, dwell in thefe 
 parts ; and a near fympathy with them was 
 raifed in me ; and my heart being enlarged 
 in the love of Clirift, I thought that the af- 
 fectionate care of a good man for his only 
 brother in affliction, does not exceed what I 
 then felt for that people. 
 
 M 2 I came 
 
i64 Ths LIFE,,A(f^J[|/Vyp?.,, 
 
 I came to this place through much trou- 
 ble ; and though, through the mercies of 
 God, I believed, that if I died in the jour- 
 ney, it would be well with me ; yet the 
 thoughts of falling into the hands of Indian 
 warriors, were, in times of weaknefs, afHidl- 
 ing to me ; and being of a tender conftitu- 
 tion of body, the thoughts of captivity 
 amongft them were, at times, grievous ; as 
 fuppofing, that they being ftrong and hardy, 
 might demand fervice of me beyond what I 
 could well bear ; but the Lord alone was my 
 keeper; and 1 believed, if I went into capti- 
 vity, it would be for fome good end; and 
 thus, from time to time, my mind was cen- 
 tered in refignation, in which I always found 
 quietnefs. And now, this day, though I had 
 the fame dangerous wildernefs between me 
 and home, I was inwardly joyful that the 
 Lord had ftrengthened me to come on this 
 vifit, and manifefted a fatherly care over me 
 in my poor lowly condition, when in mine 
 own eyes I appeared inferior to mahy a- 
 mongft the Indians. -^i^ i 
 
 When the laft mentioned meeting^ 'was 
 ended, it being night Papunehang went to 
 bed ; and one of the interpreters fitting by 
 me, I obferved Papunehang fpoke with an 
 harmonious voice, I fuppofe, a minute or 
 two: and aUdng the interpreter, was told, 
 that he was exprelTmg his thankfulnefs to 
 God for the favours he had received that 
 ,day ; and prayed that he would continue to 
 favour him with that fame, v/hich he had 
 
 experienced 
 
OF JOKN WOOL MAN. 165 
 
 experienced in that meeting." That though 
 Papunehang had before agreed to receive the 
 inoravian, and join with them, he ftill ap- 
 peared kind and loving to us. 
 
 On the twentieth day, I was at two meet^ 
 ings, and filent in them. ' T.^ '^'f^^' f^^^^^^^^ 
 / The twenty-firft day. This morning in 
 meeting my heart was enlarged in pure love 
 amongft them, and in fhort plain fentences 
 exprefled feveral things that refted upon me, 
 which one of the interpreters gave the peo- 
 ple pretty readily ; after which the meeting 
 ended in fupplication, and I had caufe hum- 
 bly to acknowledge the loving-kindnefs of 
 the Lord toward us ; and then I believed 
 that a door remained open for the faithful 
 difciples of Jefus Chrift, to labour amongft 
 thefe people. 
 
 I now feeling my mind at liberty to re- 
 turn, took my leave of them in general, at 
 tjie conclufion of what I faid in meeting; 
 and fo we prepared to go homevv^ard: but 
 fome of their moft adlive men told us, that 
 when we were ready to move, the people 
 \vould choofe to come and fhake hands with 
 us ; which thofe who ufaaily came to meet- 
 ing did : and from a fecret draught in my 
 mind, I went amongft fome who did not 
 ufe to go to meeting, and took my leave of 
 them alfo : and the moravian and his Indian 
 interpreter, appeared refpedlful to us at part- 
 ing. This town ftands oh the bank of Suf- 
 quehannah, and confifts, I believe, of about 
 fgrty houfes, moftly compad together j fome 
 
 about 
 
i66 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 about thirty feet long, and eighteen wide, 
 feme bigger, fome lefs ; mollly bnilt of fplit 
 plank, one end fet in the ground, and the 
 other pinned to a plate,' on which lay raf- 
 ters, and covered with bark. I underiland 
 a great flood iaft winter overflowed the chief 
 part of the ground whe^e the town ftands ; 
 and forne were now about moving their 
 houfes to higher ground. 
 
 Wc expected only two Indians to be our 
 company ; but vv^hen v^e were ready to go, 
 v/e found many of theni were going to Eeth-^ 
 lehem with flvins and furrs, who chofe to 
 go in company with us : fo they loaded two 
 canoes, which they defired us to go in, tell- 
 ing us, that the waters were fo raifed with 
 the rains, that the horfes fnould be taken by 
 fuch v/ho were better acquainted with the 
 fording places : fo we. with feveral Indians, 
 went in the' canoes, and others went on 
 liorfes, there being feven beiides ours. And 
 we meetini>; w^ith the horfemen once on the 
 way by appointment, and then near night, 
 a little below a branch called Tankhannkh, 
 we lodged there ; and fome of the young 
 men going out a little before duflc with their 
 guns, brought in a deer. 
 
 On the twenty- fecond day, through dili- 
 gence, we reached Wioming before night, 
 and underftood the Indians were moftly gone 
 from this place: here we went up a irnall 
 creek into the woods with our canoes, and, 
 pitching our tent, carried out our baggage j 
 and before dark our horfes came to vis. 
 
OF JOHN WOOL M A N. 167 
 
 On the twenty- third day in the morninp; 
 theh^ horfes were loaded, and we prepared 
 our baggage and fo fet forward, being in all 
 fouiteeri ; and with diligent travelling were 
 favoured to get near half way to Fort-Allen. 
 The land on this road from Wioming to our 
 frontier being moftiy poor, and good grafs 
 fcarce, they chofe a piece of low ground to 
 lodge on, as the beft for grahng ; and I 
 having fweat much in travelling, and be- 
 ing weary ilept found ; I perceived in the 
 night that I had taken cold, of which I was 
 favoured to get better foon, 
 
 On the tvv^enty-fourth day we paffed Fort-^ 
 Allen, and lodged near it in the woods. 
 
 Having forded the wefleriy branch of De- 
 law^are three times, and thereby had a iliorter 
 way, and rnifled going over the top of the 
 •blue moimtains, called the Second Ridge. In 
 the fecond time fording, v/here the river cuts 
 thro' the mountain, the waters being rapid 
 and pretty deep, and my companion's mare 
 being a tall tradlable animal, he fundry 
 times drove her back thro' thQ river, and 
 they loaded her with the burthens of fome 
 fmall horfes, wdiich they thought not fuffici- 
 ent to come thro' wnth their loads. 
 
 The troubles weftward, and the difficulty 
 for Indians to pafs thro' our frontier, I ap- 
 pr-ehcnd was one reafon why fo many came ; 
 as expelling that our being in company, 
 would prevent the outficie inhabitants from 
 being farprizecL 
 
l68 Tj|^JuIF& ^nD TRAVELS. 
 
 On the twenty-fifth day we reached Beth- 
 lehem, taking care on the way to keep fore- 
 moft, and to acquaint people on and near 
 the road who thefe Indians were: this we 
 found very needful; for. the frontier inha- 
 bitants w^ere often alarmed at the report of 
 Englifh teing killed by Indians weftward, 
 
 Amongft our company were fome who I 
 did not remember to have feen at meeting, 
 and fome of thefe at firft were very referved ; 
 but we being feveral days together, and be- 
 having friendly toward them, and making 
 them fuitable returns for the fervices they 
 did us, they became more free and fociable. 
 
 On the twenty-lixth day and firft of the 
 w^eek, having carefully endeavoured to fettle 
 all afFairSi with the Indians relative to our 
 jdiirney ; v/e took leave of them, and I 
 tb ought they generally parted with us af- 
 fectionately I fo we getting to Richland, had 
 a very comfortable meeting amongft our 
 friends : here I parted with my kind friend 
 and companion Benjamin Parvin ; and ac- 
 companied by my friend Samuel Fovilk, we 
 rode to John Cadwallader's, from whence I 
 reached home the next day, where I found 
 my family middling well ; and they and my 
 friends all along appeared glad to lee me re- 
 turn from a journey which they apprehend^- 
 ed dangerous : but my mind, while I was 
 out, had been fb employed in ftriving for a 
 perfect: refignation, and I had fo often been 
 confirmed 'in a belief, that whatever the 
 l^prd might be pleafed to allot for me, would 
 
oP^jOHN WOOLuA^y 169 
 
 work for good : I was carefvil leafl I fliould 
 admit any degree of felfifhnefs in being glad 
 overmuch, and laboured to improve by thofe 
 trials in fuch a manner as my gracious Fa- 
 ther and protedlor intends for me. Between 
 the Englifli inhabitants and Wehaloofing, 
 we had only a narrow path, which in many 
 places is much grown up with buflies, and 
 interrupted by abundance of trees lying 
 acrofs it, thefe, together with the moun- 
 tains, fwamps, and rough ftones, make it a 
 difficult road to travel ; and the more fo, for 
 that rattlefnakes abound there, of which we 
 killed four: that people who have never been 
 in fuch places, have but an imperfedl idea 
 of them ; but I was not only taught pa- 
 tience, but alfo made thankful to God, who 
 thus led me about and inllrucfted me, that I 
 might have a quick and lively feeling of 
 the afflidlions of my fellow-creatures, whofe 
 fituation in life is difficult. 
 
 CHAP, 
 
The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 C H A P, IX. 
 
 JRis religious conrcerfation 'with a company met 
 to fee the tricks of a juggler — His account 
 of John Smitljs advice^ and of the pro- 
 ceedings of a committee^ at the yearly-meet" 
 wg in I'j 6 ^ — Contemplations on the nature 
 of true %vifdo7n^ occofioned by hearing of the 
 cruelty of the Indians to their captives — - 
 His v fit ing the families of friends at Mount- 
 Holly ^ Mansfield and Burlington in I'^jb^^and 
 the meetings on the fea cg af from Cape'Miay to- 
 "u^ard Squan in Ij6^-—His vifit to the Lower 
 Counties on Dela%vare and the Eafern Shore 
 of Miaryland m 17665 in company with John 
 Sleeper ; with fome account of Jofeph Ni- 
 chols and his followers ; and ohfervations 
 on the different fate of the Jirf fet tiers in 
 Pemijylvama who depended on their own 
 labGiir^ and thqje cf the font hern provinces 
 who kept negroes ■ His vijtting the north- 
 ern parts of New-Jerfey the fame year^ and 
 the "ivefern parts of Maryland and Penn- 
 fylvania in I'^bn^ and afterwards other 
 pyarts of P envfylvania and the families of 
 friends at Mioiint-Holly ; and again feveral 
 parts of Maryland in 1768 — Further con- 
 f derations on keeping faves ; and his con- 
 cern for having formerly ^ as an executor^ been 
 party to the fcde of one ; and what he 
 did in confequence of it — Thoughts on 
 
 friends 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 171 
 
 friends excrcifing offices in civil govern^ 
 ment. 
 
 THE latter part of the fummer, 1763, 
 there came a man to Mouiit-Koily, 
 who had before publilhed, by a printed 
 advertifement, that at a certain pubhck- 
 honfe, he would fhew many wonderful ope- 
 rations, which he therein cnuiiierated. 
 
 This man, at the time appointed, did, 
 by flight of hand, fundry things ; which, 
 to thofe gathered, appeared ftrange. 
 
 The next day, I hearing of it, and un- 
 derftanding that the fliew was to be conti- 
 nued the next night, and the people to meet 
 about fan-fet, felt an exercife on that ac- 
 count: fo I went to the publick-houfe in 
 the evening, and told the rnan of the houfe 
 that I had an inclination to fpend a part 
 of the evening there ; with which he figni- 
 fied that he was content. Then fittinf:; down 
 by the door, I fpake to the people as they 
 came together, concerning this iliew ; and 
 more coming and fitting down with us, the 
 feats at the door were mofdy filled ; and I 
 had converfation with them in the fear of 
 the Lord, and laboured to convince them 
 that thus alTembling to fee thofe tricks or 
 flights of hands, and beftowing their mo- 
 ney to fupport men who in that capacity 
 vv^ere of no ufe in the world, was contrary 
 to the nature of the chriftian religion. 
 
 There Vv^as one of the company who, for a 
 time, endeavoured by arguments to fliew 
 
 the 
 
the reafonablenefs of their proceedings here-^. 
 in ; but after confiidering fome texts of fcrip- 
 ture, and calmly debating the matter, he 
 gave up the point; So having fpent about 
 an hour amongft them, and feeling my 
 mind eafy, I departed. 
 
 At our yearly-meeting at Philadelphia, on 
 the tv^enty-fifth day of the ninth month, 
 1764, John Smith of Marlborough, aged 
 upwards of eighty years, a faithful minifter, 
 tho' not eloquent, flood up in our meeting 
 of minifters and elders, and appearing to 
 be under a great exercife of fpirit, informed 
 friends in fubftance as follows : to wit, 
 
 That he had been a member of the fociety 
 upward of fixty years, and well remembered 
 that in thofe early times friends were a plain 
 lowly-minded people ; and that there was 
 much tendernefs and contrition in their 
 meetings, — That at twenty years from that 
 time, the fociety increafing in wealth, and in 
 fome degree conforming to the fafhions of the 
 world, iriie humility was lefs apparent, and 
 their meetings in general not fo lively and 
 edifying- — That at the end of forty years, 
 many of them were grown very rich ; that 
 wearing of fine coftly garments, and ufing of 
 jfilver (and other) watches, became cuflomary 
 with them, their fons, and their daughters, and 
 anany of the fociety made a fpacious appear- 
 ance in the world ; which marks of outward 
 wealth and greatnefs, appeared on fome in 
 our meetings of minifters and elders ; and 
 thefe things became more prev?Jent, fo 
 
G W p O L M A N. 1 73 
 
 the powerful overfliadowings of the Holy 
 Ghofl were lefs manifefl in the Society — 
 That there had been a continued increafe of 
 thefe ways of life even imtil now ; and that 
 the weaknefs which hath now overfpread 
 the fociety, and the barrennefs manifefl 
 amongft us, is matter of much forrow." 
 He then mentioned the vmcertainty of his 
 attending thefe meetings in future, expedl- 
 ing his dilToIution was now near ; and hav- 
 ing tenderly exprelTed his concern for us, 
 fignified that he had feen in the true light 
 that the Lord would bring back his people 
 from thefe things into which they were thus^ 
 degenerated, but that his faithful fervants 
 muft firft go thro' great and heavy exer- 
 cifes therein. 
 
 On the twenty-ninth day, the committee 
 appointed by the yearly-meeting to vifit 
 the quarterly and monthly meetings, now 
 gave an account in writing of their proceed- 
 ings in that fervice ; in which they figni- 
 fied, that in the courfe of it, they had been 
 apprehenfive that fome perfons holding of- 
 fices in government, inconfiftent with our 
 principles ; and others who kept flaves, re- 
 maining adlive members in our meetings of 
 difcipline, had been one means of weaknefs 
 more and more prevailing in the manage- 
 ment thereof in fome places. After this re- 
 port was read, an exercife revived on my 
 mind, which, at times, had attended me fe- 
 veral years, and inward cries to the Lord 
 were raifed in me, that the fear of man 
 
 might 
 
174 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 might not prevent me from doing what he 
 required of me ; and {landing up, I fpake 
 in fubflance as follows : I have felt a ten- 
 dernefs in my mind toward perfons, in two 
 clrcumftances mentioned in that report ; 
 that is, toward fach adlive members who 
 keep Haves, and f\ich who hold offices in ci- 
 vil government ; and have defired, that 
 friends in all their condu(fl may be kindly 
 affedlioned one toward another. Many 
 friends, who keep flaves, are under fome 
 exercife on that account ; and, at times, 
 think about trying them with freedom ; but 
 find many things in their way : and the 
 way of living, and annual expences of fome 
 of them are fucli, that it feems impractica- 
 ble for them to fet their llaves free, without 
 changing their own way of life. It has been 
 my lot to be often abroad ; and I have ob- 
 ferved in fome places, at quarterly and year- 
 ly meetings, and at fome houfes v/here tra- 
 velling friends and their horfes are often 
 entertained, that the yearly expence of in- 
 dividuals therein is very conilderable : and 
 friends in fome places crouding much on 
 perfons in thefe circumflances for entertain- 
 ment, hath often reftcd as a biu^then on my 
 mind for fome years paft ; and I now ex- 
 prefs it in the fear of the Lord, greatly de- 
 firing that friends now prefent may duly 
 confider it.'' 
 
 In the fall of this year, having hired a 
 man to v/ork, I perceived in converfation 
 that he had been a foldier in the late war on 
 
 this 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN, 175 
 
 this continent ; and in the evening, giving 
 a narrative of his captivity amongil the In- 
 dians, he informed me that he law two of 
 his fellow captives tortured to death in a very- 
 cruel manner. 
 
 This relation afFedled me with fadnefs, 
 tinder which I went to bed ; and the next 
 morning, foon after 1 aw^oke, a freih and 
 living fenfe of divine love was fpread over 
 my mind ; in which I had a renewed pro- 
 fnedl of the nature of that wifdom from 
 above, v/hich leads to a right ufe of all gifts^ 
 both fpiritual and temporal, and gives con- 
 tent therein : under a feeling thereof, I 
 wrote as foilov>rs : 
 
 Hath He, who gave me a being attend- 
 ed with manv wants unknov^n to brute- 
 
 y 
 
 creatures, giveii me a capacity fuperior to 
 theirs ? and fliew'n me, that a moderate ap- 
 plication to bufinefs is proper to my prefent 
 condition ; and that this, attended v/ith his 
 bleffing, may flipply all outward wants, 
 while they remain v/ithin the bounds he 
 hath fixed ; and no imaginary wants pro-- 
 ceeding from an evil fpirit, have any place 
 in me ? Attend then, O my foul ! to this 
 pure wifdom, as thy fare condu6lor thro' 
 the manifold dangers in this world 
 
 Doth pride lead to vanity ? -Doth vani- 
 ty form imaginary wants ? Do thefe wants 
 prompt men to exert their power in requir- 
 ing that of others, which themfelves w ould 
 rather be excufed from, were the fome re- 
 quired of them V 
 
 D'^ 
 
176 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 Do tKofe proceedings beget hard 
 thoughts? Do hard thoughts, when ripe, 
 become mahce ? Does malice, when ripe^ 
 become revengeful ; and in the end inflict 
 terrible pains on their fellow-^creatures, and 
 Ipread defolations in the world 
 
 Doth mankind, walking in uprightnefs^ 
 delight in each other^s happinefs ? And do 
 thefe creatures, capable of this attainment 
 by giving way to an evil fpirit, employ their 
 wit and ftrength to afflidt and deftroy one 
 another 
 
 Remember then^ O my foul! the quietude 
 of thofe in whom Chrift governs, and in all 
 thy proceedings feel after it!" 
 
 ^' Doth he condefcend to blefs thee with 
 his prcfence ? To move and influence to 
 aclion ? To dwell in thee, and walk in thee ? 
 Remember then thy fl:ation, as a being fa- 
 cred to God ; accept of the ftrength freely 
 oflered thee ; and take heed that no weak- 
 nefs, in cor^forming to expenflve, unwife^ 
 and hard-hearted cuftoms, gendering to dif- 
 cord and ftrife, be given way to. Doth he 
 claim my body as his temple ? And graci- 
 oufly grant that I may be facred to him. 
 Oh ! that I may prize this favour ; and that 
 my whole life may be conformable to this 
 character !" 
 
 Remember, O my foul ! that the prince 
 of peace is thy Lord : that he communicates 
 his immixed wifdom to his family ; that 
 they living in perfect fimplicity, may give 
 
 no 
 
oy JOHN WOOLMAff (jj 
 
 no jufl caufe of ©ffence to aiiy ct'eattire, bitf 
 may walk as he walked!'^ - >5 
 
 ' Having felt an opemiefs iti il&y heart ta^ 
 ^ard vifiting families in out oWil fneeting, 
 and efpecially in the town of MGurit-HoU;^^ 
 the pkce of my abode, I mentioned it in 
 our monthly-meeting the fore-part of the 
 winter 1764; which being agreed to, and 
 feveral friends of our meeting being onitedr 
 m the exercife, we proceeded therein ; anct 
 through divine favour were helped in the 
 work, fo that it appeared to me as a frellt 
 Reviving of godly care amongft friends : and 
 the latter part of the fam^ winter, I joined? 
 my friend William Jones, in a vifit to friends 
 families in Mansfield ; in which labour, I 
 had caufe to admire the goodnefs of thef 
 Lord toward us. 
 
 Having felt my mind drawn toward a 
 vifit to friends along the fea-coafl from Cape 
 May to near Squan ; and alfo to viiit fome 
 people in thofe parts, amongft whom ther^ 
 is no fettled worfhip ; I joined, with my be- 
 loved friend Benjamin Jones, in a viiit there, 
 having friends unity therein : and fetting off 
 the twenty-fovirth day of the tenth month^ 
 ^7^5) we had a profpcrous and very fatis- 
 fadlory journey ; feeling, at times, thro' the 
 goodnefs of the heavenly Shepherd, the gof- 
 pel to flow freely toward a poor people Icat - 
 tered in thofe places : and fooli after our rec- 
 tum, I joined my friends John Sleeper and 
 Elizabeth Smitlx, in viflting friends families;- 
 
 N at 
 
lyS The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 at Burlington, there being at this time 
 about fifty families^ji^ff our fociety: ;i% tbat 
 city ; and we had caufe humbly rto^v^idore 
 our heavenly Father, who baptized us in- 
 to a feeling of the ftate of the people, and 
 ftrengthened us to labour in true gofpel love 
 amongft them. 
 
 An exercile having, ^i^ijtimes, for feveral 
 years, attended me, in regard to paying a 
 religious vifit to friends on the Eaflern Shore 
 of Maryland : fuch was the nature of this 
 exercife, that I believed the Lord moved me 
 to travel on foot amongft them, that by fo 
 ' travelling I might have a more lively feeling 
 of the condition of the oppreiTed flaves, fet 
 an example of lowlinefs before the eyes of 
 their matters, and be more out of the way of 
 temptation to unprofitable converfe. 
 
 The time now drawing near in which I 
 believed it my duty to lay my concern be- 
 fore our monthly meeting, I perceived in 
 converfation with my beloved friend Johu 
 Sleeper, that he was under a concern.^ffll^^- 
 vel the fame way, and alfo to travel on foot 
 in the form of a fervant amongft them, as 
 he expreft it. This he told me before he 
 knew aught of my exercife. 
 
 We being thus drawn the fame waC^^^laid 
 our exercife and the nature of it before 
 friends; and obtaining certificates, we Jet 
 off the fixth day of the fifth month, 1 766 ; 
 and were at meetings with friend^ ; Wil- 
 mington, Puck-Creek^ Little-Creek and Mp- 
 
 tJierkill 5 
 
e M j6ii N wo OLM AM. ifg^ 
 
 "tllerkill ; my heart being fundry times ten-* 
 ^^ered under the divine influence, and en-^ 
 -krged in love toward the people amongft 
 •Whom 'we travelled. n^*- - 
 
 - - From Motherkill, we crolTed the country 
 about thirty-five miles to friends at Tucka-^ 
 hoe in Maryland, and had a meeting there 
 
 ^' and at Marfhy-Creek. 
 
 At thefe, our three laft meetings, were a 
 ^-^confiderable number of people, followers of 
 ^'One Jofeph Nichols, a preacher ; who, I un- 
 '"derftand, is not in outward fellowiliip with 
 *-any religious fociety of people, but profeff- 
 c^th nearly the fame principles as our fbcie^y 
 doth, and often travels up and down ap- 
 pointing meetings, to which many people 
 come. I heard fome friends fpeaking of fome 
 of their neighbours, who had been irreligi- 
 ous people, that were now his followers, and 
 were become fober well-behaved men and 
 -^tvomen. 
 
 ^{^ Sofee irregularities, I hear, have beerr 
 " atnong0Hthe people at feveral of his meet- 
 
 - ings ; but from the whole of what I have^ 
 .^ perceived, I believe the man and fome of his- 
 ^ followers, are honeftly difpofed, but that 
 
 .|kilful fathers are wanting among them : 
 -^"ilrom hence we went to Choptank and Third 
 
 - Haven ; and thence to Queen Ann's. The 
 weather having fome days pafl been hot and 
 dry, and we to attend meetings purfuant to* 
 appointment, having travelled pretty fteadily,. 
 and had hard labour in meetings, I grew; 
 
 N z weakly^. 
 
iBo 1?HE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 weakly ; at which I was for a time difcou-^ 
 raged ; but looking over our journey, and 
 thinking how the Lord had lupported our^ 
 minds and bodies, fo that we got forward 
 much fafter than I expecled before we came 
 out, I now faw that I had been in danger of 
 too ftrongly defiring to get foon through the 
 journey, and that this bodily weaknefs now 
 attending me was a kindnefs to me ; and 
 then, in contrition of fpirit, I became very 
 thankful to my gracious Father, for this ma- 
 nifeftation of his love ; and in humble fub- 
 milTion to his will, my truft was renewed m 
 him. 
 
 On this part of our journey, I had many 
 thoughts on the different circumftances of 
 friends who inhabit Fennfylvania and Jer- 
 fey, from thofe who dwell in Maryland, Vir-» 
 ginia, and Carolina. Fennfylvania and New- 
 Jerfey were fettled by many friends, who 
 were convinced of our principles in England 
 in times of fufFerings, and coming over 
 bought lands of the natives, and applied 
 themfelves to hufbandry in a peaceable way ; 
 and many of their children were taugh* to 
 labour for their living. 
 
 Few friends, I believe, came from Eiig^ 
 land to fettle in any of thefe fouthern pro- 
 vinces ; but by the faithful labours of tra- 
 velling friends in early times, there was con- 
 fiderable convincements amongfl: the inhabi- 
 tants of thefe parts. Flere I remembered my 
 reading of the warlike difpolition of many 
 
 of 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 181 
 
 of the fir ft fettlers in thofe provinces, and 
 of their numerous engagements with the na- 
 tives, in which much blood was fhed, even 
 in the infancy of thofe colonies. Thefe peo- 
 ple, inhabiting thofe places, being grounded 
 in cuftoms contrary to the pure truth, when 
 fome of them were affedled with the power- 
 ful preaching of the Word of Life, and 
 joined in feliowftiip with our fociety, they 
 had a great work to go through. It is ob- 
 fervable in the Hiftory of the Reformation 
 from Popery, that it had a gradual progrefs 
 from age to age : the uprightnefs of the 
 firft reformers, in attending to the light and 
 underftanding given them, opened the way 
 for fincere-hearted people to proceed further 
 afterward ; and thus each one truly fearing 
 God, and labouring in thofe works of righte- 
 oufnefs appointed for them in their day, 
 findeth acceptance with him : though, thro* 
 the darknefs of the times, and the corrup- 
 tion of manners and cuftoms, fome upright 
 men may have had little more for their day's 
 work than to attend to the righteous princi- 
 ple in their minds, as it related to their own 
 condudl in life, without pointing out to 
 others the whole extent of that, which the 
 fame principle would lead fucceeding ages 
 into. Thus for inftance ; amongft an impe- 
 rious warlike people, fupported by opprefTed 
 Haves, fome of thefe mafters, I fuppofe, r^re 
 awakened to feel and fee their error; and, 
 thro' fiacere repentan<:e, ceafe from oppref- 
 
 fion^ 
 
,§2 i^M i^iFE A Travels 
 
 fian, and become like fathers to their fer-^ 
 vants ; ihewing, by their example, a pat-** 
 tern of humility in living, and moderation 
 in governing, for the inftru6lion and admo- 
 nition of their oppreffing neighbours ; thofe^ 
 without carrying the reformation further, 
 I believe have fDund acceptance with the 
 Lord, Such was the beginning; and thofe 
 who fucceeded them, and have faithfully at*^ 
 tended to the nature and fpirit of the re-' 
 formation, have feen the neceffity of pro- 
 ceeding forward; and not only to inftru6l 
 others, by their example, in governing well^ 
 but alfb to ufe means to prevent their fuG- 
 ceflbrs from having fo much power to op- 
 prefs others. 
 
 Here I was renewedly confirmed in my 
 mind, that the Lord (whofe tender mercies 
 are over all his works, and whofe ear is open 
 to the cries and groans of the oppreffed) is 
 gi^acioufly moving on the hearts of people, 
 to draw them off from the defire of wealth, 
 and bring them into fuch an humble, lowly 
 way of living, that they may fee their way 
 clearly, to repair to the ftandard of true 
 righteoufnefs ; and not only break the yoke 
 bf oppreffion, but know him to be their 
 ftrength and fupport in a time of outward 
 
 3 - We paffing on crofled Chefter-River ; and 
 li'ad a meeting there, and at Cecil and SalTa^ 
 fras. Thro' my bodily weaknefs, joined with 
 he^vy exercife of mind, it was to me an 
 
 }i\imbUng 
 
D F J O H N W O O L M A N. 183 
 
 liiunbling difpenfation, and I had a very- 
 lively feeling of the fhate of the opprefled ; 
 yet I often thought, that v^hat I fuffered was 
 little, compared with the fufferings of the 
 blefTed Jefus, and many of his faithful fol- 
 lowers ; and may fay with thankfulnefs, I 
 was made content. 
 
 From SafTafras we went pretty diredlly 
 home, where we found our families well ; 
 and for feveral weeks after our return, I had 
 often to look over our journey : and tho' to 
 me it appeared as a fmall fervice, and that 
 fqme faithful mefTengers will yet have more 
 bitter cups to drink in thofe fouthern pro- 
 vinces for Chrift's fake than we had; yet I 
 found peace in that I had been helped to 
 walk in fincerity, * according to the under- 
 flanding and ftrength given me. 
 , On the thirteenth day of the eleventh 
 month, .1766, with the unity of friends at 
 our monthly-meeting, in company with my 
 beloved friend Benjamin Jones, I fat out on 
 a^vifit to friends in the upper part of this 
 province, having had drawings of love in 
 my heart that way a confiderable time: we 
 travelled as far as Hardwick ; and I had in- 
 ward peace in my labours of love amongft 
 them. 
 
 Thro' the humbling difpenfations of Di- 
 vine Providence, my mind hath been brought 
 into a further feeling of the difficulties of 
 friend^ and their fervants fovith-weftward : 
 and being often, engaged in fpirit on their 
 
 account: 
 
1-84 T ^1 E LIFE ^ T R AVE L S 
 
 account, I believed it my duty to walk into 
 fome parts of the v/eftern fliore of Mary^ 
 laud, oa a religious vifit: and having ob- 
 tained a certificate from friends of our ^pionth^ 
 }y-meeting, I tooi: my leave of my family 
 under the heart-tendering operation of truth ; 
 and on the twentieth day of the fourth 
 month, 1767, I rode to the ferry oppolite to 
 Philadelphia, and from thence walked* to 
 William Home's at Derby that evening ; and 
 ne^t day purfued my' journey alone, and 
 reached Concord week-day meeting. 
 
 Difcouragements ^nd a weight of diftrefs 
 had, 8.t times, attended me in this looiefome 
 walk ; thro' which afHi(B:ions, I w^as merci- 
 fully preferved : and now fitting down with 
 friends, my mind Vv^as turned toward the 
 Lord, to wait for his holy leadings ; whq, 
 in infinite love, was pleafed to fofte^ my 
 heart into humble contrition, and did re^ 
 newedly flrengthen me to go forward ; that 
 to me it was a time pf heaYeiiiy refrelhment 
 in a filent meeting. 
 
 The next day I came to New-Garden 
 week-day meeting, in which I fat with bow*^ 
 ednefs of fpirit ; and being baptized into a 
 feeling of the (late of fome prefent, the 
 Lord gave us a heart-tendering feafon ; to 
 Jiis name be the praifc, 
 
 I paiTed on, and was at Nottingham months 
 ]y-meeting ; and at a meeting at Little Bri^ 
 tain on firft-day : and in tl^i/C afternoon fc^ 
 veral friends came to the houfc where I 
 
 lodged, 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 185 
 
 lodged, and we had a little afternoon- meet- 
 ing; and thro' the humbling power of truth, 
 I had to admire the loving-kindnefs of the 
 Lord manifefted to us. 
 
 On the twenty-lixth day, I croflTed Suf- 
 quehannah ; and coming amongft people in 
 outward eafe and greatnels, chiefly on the 
 Jabour of ilaves, my heart was much affed:- 
 cd ; and in awful retirednefs, my mind was 
 gathered inward to the Lord, being humbly 
 engaged that in trvie refignation I might re- 
 ceive inftrudlion from him, refpedling my 
 duty amongft this people. 
 
 I'ho' travelling on foot was wearifome to 
 my body; yet thus travelling, was agree- 
 able to the ftate of my mind. 
 
 I went gently on, being weakly ; and was 
 covered with forrow and heavinefs, on ac- 
 count of the fpreading prevailing fpirit of 
 this worlds introducing cuftoms grievous and 
 oppreflive on one hand, and cherilliing pride 
 and wantonnefs on the other. In this lonely 
 walk, and ftate of abafement and humilia- 
 tion, the ftate of the church in thefe parts 
 was opened before me ; and I may truly fay 
 with the prophet, 1 was bowed dovi'n at 
 
 the hearing of it*; I was difmayed at the 
 
 feeing of it.'* Under this exercife, I at- 
 tended the quarterly-meeting at Gunpov/- 
 der ; and, in bowednefs of fpirit, I had to 
 open, with much plainnefs, what 1 felt re- 
 fpe(51:ing friends living in fullnefs, on the la- 
 bours of the poor opprefTed negroes ; and 
 
i86 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 that promife of the Moft High was now re^ 
 vived : I will gather all nations and; 
 *V tongnes ; and they fhall come and lee ray 
 ^- glory." — Here the fufFerings of Chrift^^ 
 and his tafting death for every man, and the 
 tj:avels, fufFerings, and martyrdoms of the 
 apollles, and primitive chriftians, in labour- 
 ing for the converfion of the gentiles, was 
 livingly revived in me ; and according to the 
 ineafure of ftrength afforded, I laboured in 
 Ibme tendernefs of fpirit, being deeply af- 
 fecled amongfh them : and thus the differ- 
 ence between the prefent treatment which 
 thefe gentiles the negroes receive at our 
 hands, and the labours of the primitive 
 chriftians for the converfion of the gentiles, 
 was preffed home, and the power of truth 
 came over us ; under a feeling of which, 
 my mind was united to a tender-hearted 
 people in thofe parts ; and the meeting con-^ 
 eluded in a fenfe of God's goodnefs toward 
 his humble dependant children. 
 
 The next day was a general meeting foE 
 worlhip, much crouded ; in which I was 
 deeply engaged in inward cries to the Lord 
 for help, that I might ftand wholly refigned, 
 and move only as he might be pleafed to 
 lead me : and I was mercifully helped to la- 
 bour honeflly and fervently amongft them, 
 in which I found inward peace ; and the fin^ 
 eere were comforted. 
 
 From hence I turned toward Pipe-Creek, 
 and paffed qjq to the Red-Lands j and had 
 
 feveral 
 
OF^^OHN WOOL man; 1 8^ 
 
 feveral meetings amongft friends in thofe 
 parts. My heart v/as often tenderly afFecfl- 
 ed, under a fenfe of the Lord's goodnefs, ia 
 fandtifying my troubles and exereifes, turn- 
 ing them to my comfort, and, I believe, tO; 
 the benefit of many others ; for, I may fay 
 with thankfulnefs, that in this vifit, it ap-^ 
 peared like a frefh tendering vilitation ixt: 
 moil places. 
 
 I paffed on to the weftern quarterly-meet-* 
 ing in Pennfylvania ; during the feveral days 
 of this meeting, I was mercifully preferved 
 in an inward feeling after the mind of truth, 
 and my publick labovirs tended to my humi- 
 liation, with which I was content : and after 
 the quarterly-meeting of worfhip ended, I 
 felt drawings to go to the women's meet-* 
 ing of bufinefs ; which was very full : and 
 here the humility of Jeilis Chrift, as a pat- 
 tern for us to walk by, was livingly opened 
 before me ; and in treating on it, my heart 
 was enlarged ; and it v/as a baptizing time. 
 From hence I went on; and vv^as at meet- 
 ings at Concord, Middletown, Providence^j 
 and Haddonfield, and fo home ; where I 
 found my family well. A fenfe of the Lord's 
 merciful prefervation in this my journey, ex-* 
 cites reverent thankfulnefs to him. 
 
 On the fecond day of the ninth month^ 
 1767, with the imity of friends, I fet off 
 on a vilit to friends in the upper part of 
 Berks and Philadelphia counties ; was at 
 eleveu meetings ia about two . weeks j and 
 
 have 
 
/ 
 
 .i88 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 have renewed caufe to bow in reverence b6- 
 iore the Lord, who, by the powerful extend- 
 ings of his humbhng goodnefs, opened my 
 way amongft friends, and made the meet- 
 ings (I truft) profitable to iis. And the win- 
 ter following, I joined friends on a viiit to 
 friends families, in fome part of our meet- 
 ing ; in which exercile, the pure influence 
 of divine love, made our viiits reviving. 
 
 . On the fifth day of the fifth month, 1768, 
 I left liome, vmder the humbling hand of 
 the Lord, having obtained a certificate, in 
 order to vifit fome meetings in Maryland ; 
 and to proceed without a horfe looked clear- 
 eft to me. I was at the quarterly-meetings at 
 Philadelphia and Concord; and then went 
 on to Chefter river ; and crofTmg the Bay 
 with friends, was at the yearly-meeting at 
 Weft-River : thence back to Chefter-River;^ 
 and taking a few meetings in my way, pro- 
 ceeded home. It was a journey of much in- 
 ward waiting ; and as my eye was to the 
 Lord, v/ay was, feveral times, opened to rny 
 humbling admiration, when things had ap- 
 peared very difficult. : . 
 
 In my return, I felt a relief of mind, very 
 comfortable to me ; having, thro' divin:e 
 help, laboured in much plainnefs, both with 
 friends felecled, and in the more publick 
 meetings : fo that (I truft) the pure witnefs, 
 in many minds, was reached. 
 
 The eleventh day of the fixth montli, 
 1769. Sundry cafes have happened of k^e 
 
or JOHN WOOLMAN. 189 
 
 years, within the limits of our 
 meeting, refpecfling that of exercifing pure 
 righteoufiiefs toward the negroes ; in whicK 
 I have lived under a labour of heart, that 
 equity might be fteadily kept to. On thi^ 
 account, I have had fome clofe exercifes 
 amongfl friends ; in which, I may thank^ 
 fully fay, I find peace : and as my medita- 
 tions have been on univerflil love, my own 
 Gondudl in time paft, became of late very 
 grievous to me. ' ^ 
 
 As perfons fetting negroes free in our pro- 
 vince, are bound by law to maintain them, 
 in cafe they have need of relief; fome whcr 
 fcrupled keeping flaves for term of life, in the 
 time of my youth, were wont to detain 
 their young negroes in their fervice till thir- 
 ty years of age, without wages, on that ac- 
 count : and with this cuflom I fo far agreed^ 
 that I, being joined to another friend, in' 
 executing the will of a deceafed friend, once 
 IbM a negro lad till he might attain the agef 
 oi thirty years, and applied the money to^ 
 the ufe of the eftate. 
 
 With abafement of heart, I may now fay^^ 
 that fometimes, as I have fet in a meeting, 
 with my heart exercifed toward that awfuF 
 Being, who refpecletli not perfons nor co- 
 lours, and have looked upon this lad, I have 
 felt that all was not clear in my mind re-^ 
 fpe6ling him : and as I have attended to thi.9 
 exereile, and fervently fought the Lord, it 
 hath appeared to me, that I fhould make 
 
 fome 
 
■tgo E LIFE' a'n d TRAVELS 
 
 feme reftitution, but in what way I faw not 
 till lately; when being under fome concern^ 
 that I may be refigned to go on a vifit to 
 fome part of the Weft-Indies ; and was un- 
 der clofe engagement of fpirit, feeking to the 
 Lord for counfel herein : that of my joining 
 -in the fale aforefaid, came heavily upon me; 
 and my mind, for a time, was covered with 
 darknefs and forrow ; and under this fore 
 affliction, my heart was foftened to receive 
 inftru(5lion : and here I fir ft law, that as I 
 had been one of the two executors, who 
 had fold this lad nine years longer than is 
 common for our own children to lerve, lb I 
 vlhould now offer a part of my fubftance to 
 redeem the laft half of that nin6 years ; but 
 as the time was not yet come, I executed a 
 bond, binding me, and my executors, to 
 pay to the man he was fold to, what to can- 
 did men might appear equitable, for the 
 laft four years and a half of his time, in 
 cafe the faid youth fhould be living, and in a 
 condition likely to provide comfortably for 
 himfelf. 
 
 The ninth day of the tenth month, 1769. 
 My heart hath often been deeply afflicted 
 under a feeling I have had, that the ftand- 
 ard of pure righteoufnefs, is not lifted up to 
 the people by u.s, as a fociety, in that clear- 
 nefs which it might have been, had we been 
 fp faitl>ful to the teachings of Chrift, as we 
 ought to have been : and as my mind hath 
 been inward to the Lord, the purity of 
 
 ChriftV. 
 
Bra^JQHN WOOL MAN. 19* 
 
 - Chrift's government hath been opened in my 
 ■underftanding ; and under this exercife, that 
 ^<)f friends being active in civil fociety, in 
 putting laws in force w^hich are not agree- 
 able to the purity of righteoufnefs, hath, 
 for feveral years, been an increafing bur- 
 Ttliea : upon me ; having felt, in the opeiv- 
 Ifdgs of univerfal love, that where a people 
 ^convinced of the truth of the inward teach- 
 .ings of Chrift, are a(5live in putting laws in 
 execution, w^hich are not confillent with 
 pure wifdom, it hath a neceffary tendency tSo 
 bring dimnefs over their minds : and as my 
 heart hath been thus exercifed, and a tender 
 fympathy in me toward my fellow members, 
 1 have, within a few months paft, in feveral 
 meetings for difcipline, expreffed my con-* 
 j^cera on this fubjedt* 
 
 ^ oi bn£ 
 jof YidKj'iOi 
 
 C H A P. 
 
 cxj q0 be: 
 
ig2 The LIFE Af^o TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP X. 
 
 / tf'pder fame bodily indifpofdhn^ his hody^ by 
 / ahjlinence^ much ^^eakmed ; and his mind ^ 
 at that time^ exercijed for the good of the 
 people in the Wejl- Indies — His cfter^wards 
 communicating to friends his being refgyted 
 to ^ifit fome of thefc ijlands — The fate of 
 his 7mndy and the clofe corf derations be ivas 
 led intOy while under this exercife — His 
 preparatiofis to embark^ and his conf derations, 
 on the trade to theje ifands ; and his being y 
 ivhen the vejfel ivas ready to faily releafed 
 
 • . from the concern he had been under — — His 
 religious engagements after his return home 
 — His f chiefs^ in ivhich he %vas brought to 
 a 'very loiv fate ; and the profpects he thin 
 hadC] 
 
 / rr-^HE twelfth day of the third months 
 ^ JL having, for fome years paft, dieted 
 myfelf on account of a kimp gathering on 
 my nofe ; under this diet, I grew weak in 
 body, and not of abihty to travel by land 
 as heretofore: I was, at times, favoured to 
 look with awfulnefs toward the Lord, before 
 whom are all my w^ays, w^ho alone hath the 
 p^vsT-er of life and death ; and to feel thankful- 
 hefs raifed in me, for this his fatherly chaftife- 
 ment, believing, if I was truly humbled un- 
 der 
 
b F J O H N WOOL M A N. 193 
 
 kier it, all would work for good. While I 
 was vinder this bodily weakiiefs, my mind 
 being, at times, exercifed for my ft^llow- 
 creatm^es in the Weft-Indies, I grev/ jealous 
 over myfelf, left the difagreeablenefs of the 
 profpecl Ihould hinder me from obediently 
 attending thereto : for tlio' I knev/ not that 
 the Lord required me to go there ; yet I be- 
 lieved, that reiignation was now called for 
 in that refpecl : a.nd feeling a danger of not 
 being wholly devoted to him, I was fre-^ 
 quentiy engaged to watch unto prayer, that 
 I might be preferved ; and upwards of a year 
 having paiTed, I walked one day in a foli-^ 
 ry wood, my mind being covered with awful-- 
 nefs, cries w^ere raifed in me to my merciful 
 Father, that he would gracioully keep me in 
 faithfulnefs ; and it then fettled oil my mind 
 as a duty, to open my condition to friends; 
 at *our monthly-^meeting ; which I diji foon 
 after, as follows : 
 
 An exercife hath attended me for fome 
 ' time paft, and of late been more weighty 
 upon me ; under which, T believe it is re- 
 quired of me to be refigned to go on a vifit 
 to fome part of the Weft-Indies and in the 
 quarterly and general fpring meeting, ' I 
 found no clearnels to exprefs any thing fuf-- 
 ther, than that I believed reiignation herein ' 
 was required of me ; and having obtained 
 Certificates from all faid meetings, I felt like 
 a fojourner at my outward habitation, kept 
 free from worldly encumbrances, and was 
 
 O often: 
 
J94 The LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 often bowed in fpiiit before "the Rord, with 
 inward breathings to him, thai: 1 might be 
 rightly dire (?l:ed. And I may here note, that 
 what I have ^ before, related of my being, 
 when young, joined as an executor with an- 
 ^ other friend, in executing the will of the 
 deceafed, our having fold a negro lad till he 
 might attain the age of thirty years, was 
 now the occafion of great forrow to me : and 
 after having fettled matters relating to this 
 youth, I provided a fea-ftore and bed, and 
 things for the voyage ; and hearing of a 
 veffel likely to fail from Philadelphia for Bar- 
 badoes, I fpake with one of the owners at 
 Burlington, and foon after went to Phila- 
 delphia on purpofe to fpeak v/ith him again ; 
 at w^hich time he told me, there was a frien^^l 
 in town who was part owner of the faid 
 veffel ; but I felt no inclination to fpeak with 
 him, but returned home : and a while after, 
 I took leave of my family ; and going to Phi- 
 ladelphia, had fome weighty converiation 
 with the firit-mentioned ow^ner, and fhewed 
 hirn a writing, as follows : 
 
 On the twenty- fifth day of the eleventh 
 month, 1769, as an exercife, with refpedl 
 to a vifit to Barbadoes, hath been wxighty 
 on rny mind, I may exprefs fome of the 
 tryals which have attended me ; under thefe 
 tryals I have, at times, rejoiced, in that I 
 have felt my own felf-will liibjected." 
 
 '' I once, lome years ago, retailed rum, 
 fugar, and molailes, the fruits of the labour 
 
 of 
 
OF J O H N W O O L iM A N. 19^^ 
 
 of flaves ; but then, had riot much concern 
 about them, fave only that the rum might 
 be ufed in moderation ; nor was this concern 
 fo weightily attended to, as I now believe it 
 ought to have been : but of late years being 
 further informed, refpedling the oppreifions 
 too generally exercifed in thcfe iflands, and 
 thinking often on the degrees that are in 
 connections of intereft and fellowfhip with 
 the works of darkriefs, Ephe. v. 11. And 
 feeling an increafing concern to be wholly 
 given up to the leadings of the Holy Spirit, 
 it hath appeared, that the fmall gain I got 
 by this branch of trade, fliould be applied 
 in promoting righteoufnefs on the earth ; and 
 were the firft motion toward a vifit to Bar- 
 badoes : I believed the outward fiibftance I 
 poflefs fhould be applied in paying my paf- 
 fage, if I go, and providing things in a low- 
 ly way for my fubfiftance ; but when the 
 time drew near, in which, I believed, it re- 
 quired of me to be in readinefs, a difficulty 
 arofe, which hath been a continued tryal for 
 fome months pall ; under which, I have, 
 with abafement of mind, from day to day, 
 fought the Lord for inftrudiion ; and often 
 had a feeling of the condition of one for- 
 merly, who bewailed himfelf, fo^^ that the 
 Lord hid his face from him.- — During thefe 
 exercifes, my heart hath been often contrite; 
 and I have had a tender feeling of the temp- 
 tations of my fellow-creatures, labouring un- 
 der thofe expenfive cuftoms diflinguilhable 
 
 O- 2 from 
 
 t 
 
ig6 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 from the firaplicity that there is in Ghrift, 2 
 Cor. ii. 3. and fometimes in the renewings o£ 
 golpel love, have been helped to minifter to 
 others.'^ 
 
 ^' That which hath fo clofely engaged my 
 mind, in feeking to the Lord for infcruclion 
 is, whether, after fo full information of the 
 oppreiTion the flaves in the Wefl-Indies he 
 under, who raife the Weft-India produce, as 
 I had in reading a caution and warning to 
 Great-Britain and her colonies, wrote by 
 Anthony Benezet) it is right for nie to take 
 a paffage in a veflel, employed in the Weft-^ 
 India trade?'' . v 
 
 ''To trade freely with opprefFors, and with-* 
 out labouring to difTuade from ftich unkind 
 treatment, feek for gain by fuch trafEek^ 
 tends, I believe, to make them more eafy, 
 refpe(^l:ing their condu6l, than they v/ould 
 be, if the caufe of univerfal righteoufneJfe; 
 was humbly and firmly attended to, by thofe 
 in general with whom they have commerce ; 
 and that complaint of the Lord by his pro- 
 phet, " They have ftrengthened the hands 
 '' of the wicked,'' hath very often revived, 
 in my mincl ; and I may here add fome cir-^ 
 cumftances preceding any profped; of a vi- 
 fit there : the cale of David hath often been 
 before me of late years : he longed for fome 
 water in a well beyond an army of Philif- 
 tines, at war with Ifrael ; and fome of his 
 men, ^o pleaie him, ventured their lives in 
 paijing thro' this army, and brought that 
 water/' It 
 
G F J O H N W O O L M A N. 197 
 
 It doth not appear that the Iiraelites were 
 then fcarce of water^ but rather, that Da- 
 vid gave way to dehcacy of tafte ; but hav- 
 ing thought oa the danger thefe men were 
 expofed to, he conlidered this water as their 
 blood, and his heari: fmote hirn that he could 
 not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord, 
 And zlit oppreiTion of the flaves, v/hich I 
 have feefi in feveral journies fouthward, 011 
 this continent, and the report of their treat-^ 
 ment in the Weil-Indies hath deeply affcdl- 
 ed me : and a care to live in the foiri" of 
 peace, and minifter juft c?aife of offence to 
 none of my fellow-creatures, hath, from 
 time to time, livingly revived on my mind ; 
 and under this exercife, I, for fome years 
 paft, declined to gratify my palate v/ith thoih 
 iligars/' 
 
 " I do not cenfure my brethren in thefe 
 things ; but believe the Father of mercies, 
 to whom all mankind by creation are equal- 
 ly related, hath heard the groans of tLefe 
 oppreifed people ; and is preparing fbon to 
 have a tender feeling of their condition : and 
 the trading in, or frequent ufe of, any pro- 
 duce knovv^n to be raifed by the labours of 
 thefe vv^ho are under flich lamentvable oppref«« 
 fion, hath appeared tq be a fubjedl which 
 may yet more require the ferious conirdera- 
 tion of the humble followers of Chriftj the 
 prince of peace." 
 
 After long and mournful exercife, I am 
 now free to mention how thiiijs have open- 
 ' • ed 
 
198 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 ed in my mind, with defires that if it may 
 pleafe the Lord, to further open his will to ' 
 any of his children in this matter, they may 
 faithfully follow him in fuch further mani-^ 
 fcftation." 
 
 The number of thofe who decline the 
 life of the Weft-India produce, on account of 
 the hard ufage of the flaves who raife it, ap- 
 pears fmall, even amongfc people truly pi- 
 ous ; and the labours in chriftian love, 01^ 
 that fabjedl, of thofe who do, not very ex- 
 tenfive." 
 
 Were the trade from this continent to 
 the Weft-Indies to be quite ftopped at once, I 
 believe many there would fafter for want of 
 bread.'' 
 
 Did v/e on this continent, and the in- 
 habitants of the W eft-Indies, generally dwell 
 in pure righteoufnefs, I believe a fmall trade 
 between us might be right : that under thefe 
 conlicierations, when the thoughts of wholly 
 declining the ufe of trading veflels, and of 
 trying to hire a veiTel to go under ballaft 
 have arole in my mind, I have believed that 
 the labours in gofpel love, yet beftowed in 
 the caufe of univerfal righteoufnefs, are not 
 arrived to that height/' 
 
 If the trade to the Weft-Indies were no 
 more than was conliftent with pure wifdom, 
 I believe the paiTage-money would, for good 
 reafons, be higher than it is now; and here, 
 imder deep exercife of mind, I have believed, 
 that I i]K:uld not take the advantage of this 
 great trade, and fmall paftage-money ; but 
 ' as 
 
o r ^ J O H N W O O L M A N. 199 
 
 ■-f^;.m tr'i-; -^irf^ 
 as a teftimony in favour of lefs trading, 
 
 lliould pay more than is common for others 
 
 to pay, if I go at this tim'e/' 
 
 The firft-mentioned ov/ner having read 
 the paper, expreffed a wilhngnefs to go with 
 me to the other owner ; and we going, the 
 faid other owner read over the paper, and 
 v/e had fome fohd converfation ; under 
 which, I felt my foul bowed in reverence 
 before the Moft-High : and, at length, one 
 of them allied me, if I would go and fee the 
 vefTel ? but I had not cleamefs in my mind 
 to go ; but went to my lodgings, and re- 
 tired in private. 
 
 I vv^as now under great exercife of mind ; 
 and my tears were poured out before the 
 Lord, with inward cries, that he vvould gra- 
 ciouily help me under thefe trials. 
 
 In this cafe, I believe my mind was re- 
 figned, but did not feel clearnefs to pro- 
 ceed; and my ovv^n weaknefs, and the necef- 
 fity of divine/ inftx^uiftion, w^as impreiTcd up- 
 on me. 
 
 I was, for a time, as one who knew not 
 what to do, and v/as toiled as in a tempeft; 
 under which affliction, the dQclrine of Chrift 
 
 Take no thought for the moiTow,'' arofe 
 livingly before me. I remembered it Vv^as 
 fome days before they expected the veiiel to 
 fail, and was favoured to get into a good 
 degree of ftillnefs ; and having been near 
 two days in town, I believe my obedience to 
 mj heavenly Father confifced in returning 
 
 home-* 
 
200 1^^j:||jIf|;^N/p TRAVELS 
 
 homewar^ } aud then I went ever amongft 
 fnencls on the Jerfey jfliore, and tarried till 
 the morning on wliich they had appointed 
 to fail : and as I lay in bed the latter part 
 of that night, my rnind was comforted ; and 
 I felt what I efteemed a frelli confirmation, 
 that it was the Lord^s will, that I fliould 
 pais through fbme further exercifes near 
 home. 
 
 So I went home, and flill felt like a fo- 
 jonrncr with my family : and in the frefli 
 fpring of pmx love, had forne labom^s in a 
 private v,^ay amongft friends, on a fabjecfi: 
 relating to truth's tefdmony ; luider vvdiich, 
 I had frequently been exercifed in heart for 
 fome years. I remember, as I walked on the 
 road under this exercife, that paiTage in Eze- 
 kiel came frefli before me: Whitherfoever 
 
 their faces were turned, thither they \vent.'' 
 and I was gracioufly helped to difcharge my 
 duty, in the fear and dread of the Al- 
 mighty. 
 
 After a few weeks, it pleafecl the Lord to 
 vifit mc with a pleurify ; and after I had 
 lain a few clays, and felt the diforder very 
 grievous, I vv^as thoughtful how it might 
 end. ^ 
 
 I had of late, through various exercifes, 
 been much Vv^eaned from the pleafant things 
 of this life ; and I now thought, if it v/as 
 the Lord's, will to piit an end to my labours, 
 and gracioufly receive me into the arms of 
 lii3 mencYi, death would be acceptable to me ; 
 
PF J O H N W O O L M A N. 201 
 
 b\it^*if it was his will to farther refine me 
 under affliclion, and mak;e me, in any de- 
 gree, itfeful in his church, I dehred not to 
 ^ie.' I may, with thankfuhiefs, fay, that 
 in this cafe I felt refignednefs wrought in 
 me, and had no inchnatipn to fend for a 
 doclor ; beheving, if it was the Lord's will, 
 thro' outward means, to raife me up, fome 
 fympathizing friends would be fent to mini- 
 fter to me ; which were accordingly : but 
 though I was carefully attended, yet the dif- 
 order was, at times, fo heavy, that I had 
 no thoughts of recovery : one night in par- 
 ticular, my bodily diftrefs was great ; my feet 
 grew cold, and cold increafed u.p my legs 
 toward my body; and, at that tirr^, I had 
 no inclination to aflc my nurfe to apply any- 
 thing warm to my feet, expedting my end 
 was near: and after I had lain near ten hours 
 in this condition, I clofed my eyes, thinking ' 
 whether I might now be delivered out of the 
 body ; but in thefe awful moments, my 
 mind was livingly opened to behold the 
 church ; and ftrong engagements were be- 
 gotten in me, for the everlafting well-being 
 of my fellow-creatures: and I felt, in the 
 fpring of pure love, that I might remain 
 fome time longer in the body, in filling up, 
 according to my rneafure, that which re- 
 mains of the affKcftions of Chrift, and in la- 
 bouring for the good of the church ; after 
 which, I requefled my nurfe to apply warmth 
 fo my feet j and I revived : and the next 
 
^br" The LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 night, feeling a weighty exercife of fpirit, 
 afid having a fohd friend fitting tip with me, 
 I Tequefted him to write what I faid ; which 
 hfe^did, as follows : 
 
 Fourth day of the fxrft month, 1770, 
 aBout'five in the morning. — I have feen in 
 the Light of the Lord, that the day is ap- 
 proaching, when the man that is the moft 
 wife in human policy, fhall be the greateft 
 faoT ; and the arm that is mighty to fupport 
 injuftice, fliall be broken to pieces : the ene- 
 mies of righteoufnefs fliall make a terrible 
 rattle, and fhall mightily torment one ano- 
 ther for lie that is omnipotent is rifing vip 
 to judgment, and will plead the caufe of the 
 cppreffed ; and he commanded me to open 
 the Viiion/' 
 
 Near a week after this, feeling my mind 
 livingly opened, I fent for a neighbour, 
 who, at my requeft, wrote as follows : 
 
 The place of prayer is a precious habi- 
 tation ; for I now faw that the prayers of 
 the faints was precious incenfe : and a trum- 
 pet was given me, that I might found forth 
 this language ; that the children might hear 
 it, and be invited together to this precious 
 habitation, where the prayers of the faints, 
 as precious incenfe, arifeth up before the 
 throne of God and the Lamlp — I faw this 
 habitation to be faf?; to be inwardly quiet, 
 Vv^hen there were great ftirrings and commo- 
 tions in the vrorld/' 
 
 Prayer, 
 
OF JOHN W O O L MAN. 205 > 
 
 Prayer, at this day, in pure refignation, 
 is a precious place : the trumpet is founded^ * 
 the call goes forth to the church, that £he - 
 gather to the place of pure invv^ard prayer; 
 and her habitatioi> is fafe/'7 
 
 C H A p; XL 
 
 His preparing to %)iftt friends in England — His 
 embarking at Cheftcr^ in company njoith Sa- 
 muel Emlen^ in a Jhip hound to London — His 
 deep exercife^ in obferving the difficulties and 
 hardjldips the common Jailors are expofed to — • 
 Coiifiderations on the dangers to uuhich youth 
 are expofed^ in being trained to a fea-faring 
 life ; and its inconftfency with a pious educa- 
 tion — His thoughts in a form at fea : ivith 
 7nany infruBive contemplations on the voyage 
 — And his arrival at London. 
 
 I HAVING been fome time under a reli«- 
 A gious concern to prepare for croffing ' - 
 the feas, in order to vifit friends in the north- 
 ern parts of England, and more particularly 
 in Yorkfliire : after weighty confideration, I 
 thought it expedient to infarm friends, at our 
 
 monthly-? 
 
26$- The LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 monthly-meedng at Burlington, of it ; wlio^ 
 having unity with me therein, gave me a 
 certificate ; and I afterwards communicated 
 the fame to oar quarterly-meeting, and they 
 likewife certified their concurrence therewith. 
 Sometime after which, at the general fpring- 
 meeting of minifters and elders, I thought 
 it my duty to acquaint them of the religious 
 exercife which attended my mind ; with 
 which, they likewife fignified their unity by 
 a dated the twenty-fourth day of 
 
 the §g^v month, 1772, direded to friends 
 in Great-Britain, 
 
 ■ In the fourth month following, I thought 
 the time was come for me to make fome en- 
 quiry for a lliitable conveyance ; being ap- 
 prehenfive, that as my concern was princi- 
 pally toward the northern parts of England^ 
 it would be mod proper to go in a veiTel 
 bound to Liverpool or Whitehaven : and 
 while I vvras at Philadelphia, deliberating on 
 thi:- occafion, I was informed, that my belov- 
 ed friend Samuel Emlen, jun. intending to 
 go to London ; and having taken a paifage 
 for lilmfelf'in the cabbin of the fiiip, called 
 Mary and Elizabeth, of which James Sparks 
 was mafter, and John Llead, of the city of 
 Philadelphia, Que of the owners ; and I feel- 
 ing a draft in ixiy mind toward the fleerage 
 of the fame ihip, w^nt firft and opened to 
 Samuel the feeling I had concerning it. 
 
 My beloved friend wept when I fpake tor 
 him, and appeared glad that I had thoughts 
 
o P J O H N W O O L M A N. 105 
 
 of going in the veflel with him, though my 
 proipedl was toward the fteerage ; and he 
 offeri ag to go with me, w^e went on board, 
 firil into the cabbin, a commodious room, 
 and then into the lleerage ; where we fat 
 down on a chefl, the failors being bufy 
 about us : then the owner of the fhip came, 
 ajiid fat down with us. 
 
 Here my mind was turned toward Chrift, 
 the heavenly counfellor ; and I feehng, at 
 this time, my own will fubjedled, my heart- 
 was contrite before him. 
 
 A motion was made by the owner, to go 
 and fet in the cabbin, as a place more re-^ 
 tired ; but I felt eafy to leave the ihip, and 
 made no agreement as to a palTage in her j 
 but told the owner, if I took a paffage in the 
 fhip, I believed it would be in the fteerage; 
 but did not fay much as to my exercife in 
 that cafe. 
 
 After I went to my lodgings, and the cafe 
 was a little known in town, a friend laid be- 
 fore me the great inconvenience attending 9. 
 paifage in the fteerage ; which, for a^ time, 
 appeared very difcouraging to me. 
 
 I foon after v/ent to bed, and my mind 
 was under a deep exercife before the Lord ; 
 v/hofe helping hand was manifefted to me 
 as I flept that nighty and his love ftrengthen- 
 ed my heart: and in the morning, I went 
 v/ith two friends on board the veftel again j 
 and after a fliort time fpent therein, I went 
 with Samuel Emlen to the houfe of the 
 
 owner ; 
 
2o6 The Life a?^d ^ttiVtLS" 
 
 ownef ; to whom, in the hearing of Samuel 
 only^ I opened my exercife, in fubftance as 
 follows, in relation to a fcruple I felt with 
 regard to a paflage in the cabbin : 
 
 I told the owner, that on the outfide of 
 that part of the fhip where the cabbin was, 
 I obferved fundry forts of carved work and 
 imagery ; and that in the cabbin I obferved 
 fome fuperfluity of workmanfhip of feveral 
 forts; and that according to the Ways of 
 men's reckoning, the fum of money to be 
 paid for a paffage in that apartment, hath 
 fbme relation to the expence in furnilhing it 
 to pleafe the minds of fuch who give way to 
 a conformity to this world ; and that in this 
 cafe, as in other cafes, the monies received 
 from the palTengers, are calculated to anfwer 
 every expence relating to their paffage, and 
 amongft the reft of thefe fuperiluities : and 
 that in this cafe, I felt a fcrviple with regard 
 to paying my money to defray fuch ex-^-, 
 pences. 
 
 As my mind was now opened, I told the 
 owner, that I had, at feveral times in my 
 travels, feen great oppreffions on this conti-- 
 nent; at which my heart had been much, 
 affedled, and broiight into a feeling of the, 
 ftate of the fufferers. And having many 
 times been engaged, in the fear and love of 
 God, to labour with thofe under whom the 
 opprefled have been borne down ^nd afilidl- 
 ed ; I have often perceived, that a view to 
 get riches, and provide eftates for children, 
 
 to 
 
 / 
 
to live conformable to cuftoms, whicli fta^ 
 in that fpirit wherein men haye regard to 
 the honours of this world— that in the pur- 
 fuit of thefe things, IJiad feen many .entan-* 
 gled in the fpirit of oppreffioh ; ani the ex- 
 ercife of my foul had been fuch, that I coul(^ 
 not find peace, in joining in any thing which 
 I faw was againil that wifdom which is 
 pure. 
 
 After this, I agreed for a paiTage in the 
 fteerage ; and hearing in town that Jofeph 
 White had a defire to fee me, I felt the re- 
 viving of a defire to fee him, and went thegi 
 to his houfe, and next day home ; where j[ 
 tarried two nights: and then early in the 
 morning, I parted with my family, under 
 a fenfe of the humbling hand of God uppiji 
 me ; and going to Philadelphia, had oppor7 
 tunity with feveral of my beloved friends j 
 who appeared to be concerned for me, pi| 
 account of the unpleafant fituation of that 
 part of the veflTel, where I was likely tg 
 lodge. 
 
 In thefe opportunities, my mind, througl^ 
 the mercies of the Lord, was kept low, in^ 
 an inward waiting for his help ; and friends 
 having expreffed their defire, that I might 
 have a place more convenient than the fleer- 
 age, did not urge, but appeared difpofed to^ 
 leave me to the Lord. 
 
 Having flayed two nights in Philadelphia, 
 I went the next day to Derby monthly-meet- 
 ing ; where, through the ftrength of divine. 
 
 love, 
 
2o8 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 love, my heart was enlarged toward the 
 youth then prefent ; under which 1 was 
 helped to labour in fome tendernefs of fpi- 
 rit. Then lodging at William Home's, I, 
 with one friend, went ■ to Ghefter ; where 
 meeting with Samuel Emlen, we went on 
 board the lirft day of the fifth month, 1772 : 
 and as I fat down alone, on a feat on the 
 deck, I felt a fatisfadlory evidence, that my 
 proceedings were not in my own will, but 
 under the power of the crofs of Chriil. 
 
 Seventh day of the fifth month : have had 
 rough weather, moflly fince I came on 
 board ; and the palTengers, James Reynolds^ 
 John Till Adams, Sarah Logan and her 
 hired maid, and John Bifpham, all fea-fick, 
 more or lefs, at times from vs^hich ficknefs, 
 thro' the tender mercies of my heavenly Fa- 
 ther, I have been preferved : my aifiiclions 
 now being of another kind. 
 
 There appeared an opennefs in the minds 
 of the mailer of the fhip and in the cabbiri 
 pafTengers toward me ; we were often toge- 
 ther on the deck, and fometimes in the cab- 
 bin. 
 
 My mind, thro' the merciful help of the 
 Lord, hath been preferved in a good degree 
 watchful, and inward; and have, this day, 
 great caufe to be thankful, in that I remain 
 to feel quietnefs of mind. 
 
 As my lodgings in the fteerage, now near 
 a week, hath afforded me fundry opportu- 
 nities of feeing, hearing, and feeling, with 
 
 refpecfe 
 
refpedl to the Kfe- and fpirit of many poor 
 failors : an inward exercile of ionl hath at- 
 tended ms&, in regard to placing out children 
 and youth where they may be likely to be 
 examplcd and inftrudled in the pure fear of 
 the Lord ; and I being much amongft the^;. 
 ie'amen, have from a inotioa of loVe, fundr;f 
 times taken opportunities, with one of theM 
 at a time alone ; and in a free converfation,' 
 laboured to turn their minds toward the fear 
 of the Lord : and this day we had a meet- 
 ing in the cabbin, where my heart was con- 
 trite under a feeling of divine love* 
 
 Now concerning lads being trained up as 
 feamen : I believe a communication from one 
 part of the world to fome other parts of it, 
 by fea, is, at times, confident with tlxe will 
 of bur heavenly Father; and to educate fome 
 youth in the practice of failing, I believe 
 may be right : but how lamentable is the 
 prefent corruption of the world! how im- 
 pure are tiie channels thro' v/hich trade hath- 
 a conveyance ! how great is that danger, ta 
 which poor lads are now . expofed, when 
 placed on lliipboard to learn the art of fail- 
 
 Five lads, training up for the feas, were 
 now on board this iliip ; two pf them brought 
 up amongft our foeiety ; one of which hath 
 a right amongft friends, by name James^ 
 Nailor, to whofe father James Nailor, men- 
 tioned in Sewel's hiftory, appears to have^ 
 been uncle^ 
 
 P I often 
 
2IO The life and TRAVELS 
 
 I often feel a tendernefs of heart toward 
 thefe poor lads ; and, at times ^ look at them 
 as though they were my children according 
 to the flefli. 
 
 O that all may take heed and beware of 
 covetoufnefs ! O that all may learn of Chrift, 
 who was meek and low of heart ! Then in 
 faithfully following him, he will teach us to 
 be content with food and raiment, withovit re- 
 fpedl to the cuftoms or honours of this world. 
 
 Men thus redeemed, will feel a tender con- 
 cern for their fellow-creatures, and ^ defire 
 that thofe in the loweft flations may be affift- 
 ed and encouraged ; and v*rhere owners of 
 fhips attain to the perfect law of liberty, and 
 are doers of the v/ord, thefe will be bleffed 
 in their deeds. 
 
 A fhip at fea commonly fails ?J1 night,^ 
 and the feamen take their watches four hours 
 at a time. 
 
 Rifing to work in the night, is not com- 
 monly pleafant in any cafe ; but in dark 
 rainy nights^ it is very difligreeable, even 
 though each man were furniflied with all 
 conveniences : but if men muft go out at 
 midnight to help manage the Ihip in the 
 rain, and having fmall room to fleep and lay 
 their garments in, are often befet to furnifh 
 themfelves for the watch ; their garments or 
 forne thing relating to their bulinefs being 
 wanting, and not eafily found ; when from 
 the urgency occafioned by high winds, they 
 are haftened and called up fuddenly : here is a 
 
 tryal 
 
Of JOHN WOOL MAN. 211 
 
 tryal of patience on tlie poor failors, and the 
 poor lads their companions. 
 
 if after they have been on deck feveral 
 hours in the night, and come down into the 
 fteerage foaking wet, and are fo clofe flowed 
 that proper convenience for change of gar- 
 ment is not eafily come at, but for want of 
 proper room their wet garments thrown in 
 heaps, and fometimes, through much crowd- 
 ing, are trodden under foot, in going to 
 their lodgings and getting out of them, and 
 great difficulties, at times, each one to find 
 his own : here are tryals on the poor failors. 
 
 Now as I have been w^ith them in my 
 lodge, my heart hath often yearned for 
 them; and tender deiires been raifed in me, 
 that all owners and mafters of velTels may 
 dwell in the love of God, and therein a6t 
 uprightly ; and by feeking lefs for gain, and 
 looking carefully to their w^ays, may earn- 
 eftly labour to remove all caufe of provoca- 
 tion from the poor feamen, either to fret or 
 ufe excefs of ftrong drink ; for, indeed, the 
 poor creatures, at times, in the wet and 
 cold, feem to apply to ftrong drink to fup- 
 ply the want of other convenience. 
 
 Great reformation in the world is want- 
 ing, and the neceffity of it, amongft thefe 
 who do bufinefs on great waters, hath, at 
 this time, been abundantly opened before 
 me. 
 
 The eighth day of the fifth month. — This 
 morning the clouds gathered, the wind blew 
 
 P 2 ftrong 
 
2r2 Tilt LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 flfong from Ibutli-eaftward, and before noon 
 increafed to that degree that iailing appeared 
 dangerous : the feamen then bound up fome 
 of their lalls, and took down foine ; and the 
 ftorm inCTeaiing, they put the dead lights, 
 fo called, into the cabbin- windows, and 
 lighted a lamp as at night. 
 
 The wind now blew vehemently, and the 
 fea wrought to that degree, that an awful fe- 
 rioufnefs prevailed in the cabbin, in which 
 I i'pent, I believe, about feventeen hours ; 
 for I believed the poor v^^t toiling feamen, 
 had need of all the room in the crouded 
 fleerage^ and the cabbin pafiengers had given 
 me frequent invitations. 
 
 They ceafed now fram failing ; and put 
 the veilel in the pofture, called lying-to. 
 
 My mind in this tempeft, thro' the gra- 
 cious affiftance of the Lord, was prefer ved 
 in a good degree of relignation ; and I felt, 
 at times, a few v/ords in his love to my 
 Jliip'-mates, in regard to the all-fufficiency 
 of Him who formed the great deep, and 
 whofe care is fo extenfive, that a fparrow 
 fails not without his notice : and thus in a 
 tender frame of mind, fpake to them of the 
 necellity of our yielding, in true obedience, 
 to the inftruclions of our heavenly Father, 
 who fometimes, through adverfities, tntend- 
 . eth our refinement. 
 
 About eleven at night, I went out on the 
 - deck, when the fea wrought exceedingly, and 
 the high foaming waves, all round about, 
 
 had 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 21^ 
 
 had in fome fort the appearance of fire ; h\\t 
 did not give much, if any, light. 
 
 The lailor, then at the hehn, faid, he 
 lately faw a corpofant at the head of the 
 maft. 
 
 About this time I obferved the mailer of 
 the fliip ordered the carpenter to keep on the 
 deck ; and tho' he faid httie, I apprehended 
 his care was, that the carpenter with his axe 
 might be in readinefs, in cafe of any extre- 
 mity. 
 
 Soon after this, the vehemency of the 
 wind abated ; and before morning, they 
 again put the fhip under fa,iL 
 
 The tenth day of the month, and firfh 
 of the week, it being fine weather, we had 
 a meeting in the cabbin, at which mofl of 
 the feamen were prefent : this meeting to me 
 was a ftrengthening time. 
 
 The thirteenth day of the month. As I 
 continue to lodge in the fteerage, I feel an 
 opennefs this morning, to exprefs fometfiing 
 further of the ftate of my mind, in refped: toT 
 poor lads bound apprentice to learn the art of 
 failing. As I believe failing is of fome ufe in 
 the world, a labour of foul attends me, tiiat 
 the pure counfel of truth may be hurably 
 waited for in this cafe, by ail concerned in 
 , the bufinefs of the feas. 
 
 A pious father, whofe mind is exercifed 
 tor the everlafting welfare of his child, may 
 Tiot, with a peaceable mind, place him out 
 to employment a^mongft a people, whofe 
 
214 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 common courfe of life is maaifeftly corrupt 
 and prpphane ; fo great is the prefent defect 
 amongft fea-faring men, in regard to piety 
 and virtue : and through an abundant traf- 
 fick, and rnany fhips of war, fo many peo- 
 ple are employed on the fea, that this fiibjedt 
 of placing lads to the employment appears 
 very weighty. 
 
 Pro phane examples are very corrupting, 
 and very forcible. And as my mind, day 
 after day, and night after night, hath been 
 affedled with a fympathizing tendernefs to- 
 ward poor children, put to the employment 
 of failors, I have fometirnes had weighty 
 converfation v/ith the failors in the ftcerage, 
 who were moftly refpedlful to me, and more 
 and more fo the longer I w?'s with them: 
 they moilly appeared to take kindly what I 
 faid to them ; but their minds have appeared 
 to be fo deeply imprelTed with that almoft 
 univerfal depravity amongft failors, that the 
 poor creatures in their anfwers to me on 
 this fubje6l, have revived in my remem- 
 brance, that of the degenerate Jews a little 
 before the captivity, as repeated by Jeremiah 
 the prophet, " There is no hope." 
 
 Now under this exercife, a fenfe of the 
 defire of outward gain prevailing amongft 
 us, hath felt grievous ; and a ftrong call to 
 the profefTed followers of Chrift, hath been 
 raifed in me ; that all may take heed, left, 
 through loving this prefent world, they be 
 found in a continued negle6l of duty, with 
 
 refpedt 
 
^^F^.JjqifN WOOLMAN. 215 
 
 refpedl to a faithful labour for a reforma- 
 tion. 
 
 Silence, as to every motion proceeding 
 from the love of money, and an humble 
 waiting upon God, to know his v/ill con- 
 cerning us, hath now appeared neceffary : 
 he alone is able to (Irengthen us to dig deep, 
 to remove all w^hich lies between us and the 
 fafe foundation, and fo dired: us in our out- 
 ward employments, that pure univerfal love 
 may lliine forth in our proceedings. 
 
 Deiires arifing from the fpirit of truth, are 
 pure defires ; and when a mind, divinely 
 opened toward a young generation, is made 
 fenfible of corrupting examples, powerfully 
 •working, and extenfively fpreading amongil 
 them, how moving is the profpedl ! 
 
 A great trade to the coaft of Africa for 
 flaves ; of which I now heard frequent con- 
 verfation among the failors ! 
 
 A great trade in that which is raifed and 
 prepared thro' grievous opprellion ! 
 
 A great trade in lliperfluity of workman- 
 fliip, formed to pleafe the pride and vanity 
 of people's minds ! 
 
 Great and exteniive is that depra.vity, 
 which prevails amongft the poor failors ! 
 
 When I remember that faying of the Moft 
 High, through his prophet, This people 
 
 have I formed for myfeif ; they ihall ihew 
 
 forth my praife and think of placmg 
 children amongil them, to learn the pra6lice 
 Qf failing, the confiilcncy of it y/iiIx a pious 
 
 educa-- 
 
The life and TRAVELS 
 
 education, feems to me like that mentioned 
 t?) the prophetj There is no anfwer from 
 God;' 
 
 Li a world of dangers and difficulties, like 
 a defolate thorny wildernefs, how precious ! 
 how comfonabk ! how fafe ! are the lead- 
 ings of Chrlft^ the good ihepherd ; who 
 faid, i kaow my Iheep ; and am known of 
 mine.'' 
 
 The lixtpeath day of the month. Wind 
 for feveral days paft often high, what the 
 fallens cai: 'qualiy, rough fea and frequent: 
 rains. This lail night a very trying night 
 to the poor feanien ; the water, chief part of 
 the. night, running over the main deck, and 
 fometimes breaking Vv^aves came on the quar- 
 ter deck. The latter part of the night, as I 
 lay in bed, my mind was humbled under 
 the power of divine love ; and refignednefs 
 to the great Creator of the earth and the 
 feas, renewcdiy w^rought in me, whofe fa- 
 therly care over his children felt precious to 
 my Ibul : and delircs Y>^ere now renewed in 
 ine, to embrace every opportunity of being 
 imvardly acquainted v/ith the hardlhips and 
 difficulties of my fe]lovv^-crcatur€s, and to 
 laboui" in his love for the fpreading of pure 
 univcrfal rightcoiifnefs on the earth. The 
 opportunities being frequent of hearing con- 
 verlation amongft the failors, in refpect to 
 the voyages to Africa, and the manner of 
 bringing the deeply opprefTcd fiavcs into our 
 ifiands. The thoughts pf their condition, 
 frequently in chains and fetters on board the 
 
 yeffels, 
 
"OF JOHN WOOLMAN. 217 
 
 "veflels, with hearts loaded with grief, under 
 the appreheialions of iliiferablc liavery ; my 
 mind was frequently opened to meditate on 
 thefe things. 
 
 On the feventeenth day of the month, and 
 firft of the week, we had a meeting in the 
 cabbin ; to which the feamen generally came. 
 My fpirit was contrite before the Lord ; 
 whole love, at this time, affedled my heart. 
 
 This afternoon I felt a tender fympathy of 
 - foul, with my poor wife and family left be- 
 hind ; in which (late, my heart was en- 
 larged in dehres, that they may walk in that 
 humble obedience wherein the everiafhing 
 Father may be their guide and fupport, thro' 
 all the difEculties in this world ; and a fenle 
 of that gracious affiftance, thro' which my 
 mind hath been ftrengthened to take up the 
 crofs and leave them, to ;;ravel in the love 
 of truth, hath begotten thanlcfulnefs in my 
 heart lo our great Helper. 
 
 On the twent}^-fourth day of the month, 
 and firft of the week, a clear pleafant morn- 
 ing : and as I fat on deck, I felt a reviving 
 in my nature ; which, through much rainy 
 weather, and high winds, being fhut up in 
 a clofe unhealthy air, was weakened. 
 
 Several nights of late I felt breathing dif- 
 ficult ; that a little after the riling of the 
 fecond watch (which is about midnight) I 
 got up, and ftoocl, I believe, near an hour, 
 with my face near the hatchway, to get the 
 frelh air at the fmall vacanc^^ under the 
 
 hatc|i 
 
2iS The life and TRAVELS 
 
 hatch door ; which is commonly flint down, 
 partly to keep out rain, and fometimes to 
 keep the breaking waves from daihing into 
 the fteerage. 
 
 I may, with thankfulnefs to the Father 
 of mercies, acknowledge, that ip my pre- 
 fent weak ftate, my mind hath been fupport- 
 ed to bear the afflicPdon with patience ; and 
 have looked at the prefent difpenfation as a 
 kindnefs from the great Father of niankind, 
 who, in this my floating pilgrimage, is in 
 fome degree bringing me to feel that, which 
 many thouilmds of my fellov/^creatures of- 
 ten fuffer in a greater degree. 
 
 My appetite failing, the tryal hath been 
 the heavier ; and I have felt tender breath- 
 ings in my foul after God, the fountain of 
 comfort, whofe inward help hath fupplied, 
 at times, the want of outv/ard convenience : 
 and flrong defires have attended me, that his 
 family, who are acquainted with the mov- 
 ings of his Holy Spirit, may be fo redeemed 
 from the love of money, and from that fpi- 
 rit in vv^hich men feek honour one of ano- 
 ther ; that in all buflnefs, by fea or land, 
 we may confcantly keep in view the coming 
 of his kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven ; 
 and by Taithfully following this fafe guide, 
 fliev/ forth examples, tending to lead or^t of 
 that under vv^hich the creation groans ! 
 
 This day we had a meeting in the cabbin ; 
 in which I was favoured in fome degree to 
 fxperience the fulfilling of that faying of 
 
 the 
 
OF JOHN WOOL M AN. 219 
 
 the prophet, The Lord hath been a flrength 
 ^' to the poor, a ftreiigth to the needy in 
 
 their diftrefs for which, my heart is 
 bowed in thankfulnefs before him. 
 
 The twenty-eighth day of the month : 
 wet weather of late, finall winds inchning 
 to calms ; our fcamen have caft a lead, I fup- 
 pofe about one hundred fathom, but find no 
 bottom : foggy weather this morning. 
 
 Through the kindnefs of the great Pre- 
 ^ferver of men, my mind remains quiet ; and 
 a degree of exercife, from day to day, at- 
 tends me, that the pure peaceable govern- 
 ment of Chrift raay Ipread and prevail a- 
 mongft mankind. 
 
 The leading on of a young generation, ii:^ 
 that pure way, in which the wifdom of thi^ 
 world hath no place : where parents and tu- 
 tors, humbly waiting for the heavenly Coun- 
 fellor, may example them in the truth, as it 
 is in Jefus. This, for feveral days, hath 
 been the exercife of my mind ; O how fafe, 
 how quiet is that ftate, where the foul ftands 
 in pure obedience to the voice of Chrift, and 
 a watchful care is maintained, not to follow 
 the voice of the ftranger ! 
 
 Here Chrift is felt to be our fhepherd ; and 
 under his leading, people are brought to a 
 ftability : and where he doth not lead for- 
 ward, we are bound in the bonds of pure 
 love, to ftand ftill and wait upon him. In 
 the love of money, and in the wifdom of 
 this world, bufinefs is propofed, then the 
 
 urgency 
 
220 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 urgency of affairs pulh forward ; nor can the 
 mind, in this ftate, difcern the good and per- 
 fedl will of God concerning us. 
 
 The love of God is manifefted, in graci- 
 Gufly calling us to come out of that v/hich 
 ftands in confufion ; but if we bow not in 
 the name of Jefas ; if we give not up thofe 
 profpects of gain, which, in the wifdom of 
 this v/orld, are open before us, but fay in 
 our hearts, I muft needs go on ; and in go- 
 ing on, I hope to keep as near to the purity 
 of truth, as the bufinefs before me will ad- 
 mit of: here the mind remains entangled, 
 and the fliining of the light of life ixito the 
 foul is obftrudled. 
 
 This query opens in my mind in the Ipve 
 of Chrift. Where fliall a pious father place 
 his fon apprentice, to be inftru6led in the 
 pracflice of croffing the feas ; and have faith 
 to believe, that Chrift, our holy Shepherd, 
 leads him to place his fon there ? 
 
 Surely the Lord calls to mourning and 
 deep humiliation, that in his fear we may 
 be inftrucled, and led fafely on throu^^h the 
 great difficulties and perplexities in this pre- 
 lent age. 
 
 In an entire fubjeftion of our wills, the 
 Lord graciouiiy opens a Vy ay for his people^ 
 where all their wants arc bounded by his 
 wifdom ; and here we experience the fub- 
 ftance of what Mofes the prophet figured out 
 in the water of feparation, as a purification 
 from fiu* 
 
 Efau 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 221 
 
 Efcva is mentioned as a child red all over^ 
 like a hairy garment : in Efau is reprefented 
 the natural will of man. In preparing the 
 water of feparation, a red heifer without 
 bleniifli, on which there had been no yoke. 
 Was to be llain, and her blood fprinkled by 
 the prieft feven time& toward the tabernacle 
 of the congregation : then her fldn, her 
 fieHi, and all pertaining to her, was to be 
 burnt without the camp ; and of her allies 
 the water was prepared. Thus the crucify- 
 ing the old man, or natural will, is repre- 
 {ented ; and hence comes a feparation from 
 that carnal mind, which is death. 
 
 He who toucheth the dead body of a 
 man, and purifieth not himfelf with the 
 water of feparation, he defileth the taber- 
 nacle of the Lord ; he is unclean." Numb. 
 Kix, J 3. 
 
 If any, through tlie loTe of gain, go forth 
 into bufinefs, wherein they dwell as a- 
 mongft the tombs, and touch the bodies of 
 thofe who are dead : if thefe, through the 
 infinite love of God, feel the power of the 
 crofs of Chrift to crucify them to the world, 
 and therein learn humbly to follow the di- 
 vine leader : — here is the judgment of this 
 w^orld — here the prince of this world is call 
 but. 
 
 The water of feparation is felt ; and tho' 
 we have been amongft the flain, and thro' 
 the defire of gain have touched the dead bo- 
 dy of a man ; yet, in the purifying love of 
 
 Chriit, 
 
222 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 Clirifl, we are waflied in the wafer of repa- 
 ration, are brought off from that bufinefs, 
 from that gain^ and from that fellowHiip, 
 which was not agreeable to his holy will : 
 and I have felt a renewed confirmatioa in 
 the time of this voyage, that the Lcrd. in 
 his infinite love, is calling to his viiited ciiil-^ 
 dren, fo to give up all outward pofieffion^?, 
 and means of getting treafures, that his Ho- 
 ly Spirit may have free courfe in their hearts, 
 and dired: them in all their proceedings. 
 
 To feel the fubilance pointed at in this 
 figure, man muft know death, as to his own 
 will. 
 
 No man can fee God, and live This 
 was fpoken by the Almighty to Mofes the 
 prophet ; and opened by our bleffed Re-^ 
 deemer. 
 
 As death comes on our own wills, and a 
 new life is formed in us, the heart is purified, 
 and prepared to underftand clearly. BlefT- 
 
 ed are the pure in heart, for they fliall 
 
 fee God." In purity of heart, the mind is 
 divinely opened to behold the nature of uni- 
 verfal righteoufnefs, or the rightcoufnefs of 
 the kingdom of God. No man hath feen 
 
 the Father, fave he that is of God ; he 
 
 hath feen the Father." 
 
 The natural mind is aclive about the 
 things of this life ; and in this natural' acti- 
 vity, bufinefs is propofed, and a will in us 
 to go forward in it. And as long as this na- 
 tural will remains unfubjeded, lb long there 
 
 remains 
 
OF JOHN WOOL man; 22y 
 
 remains an obflruflion againft the clearnefs 
 of divine light operating in us ; but v/hen: 
 we love God with ail our heart, and with 
 all our ftrength, then, in this love, we love 
 our neighbours as ourfeives ; and a tender- 
 nefs of heart is felt toward all people fon 
 whom Chrift died, even fuch who as to out- 
 ward circumftances may be to us as the Jews> 
 were to the Samaritans. Who is my neigh^ 
 bour ? See this queftion anfvvered by our Sa- 
 viour, Luke X. 30. 
 
 In this love we can fay, that Jefus is the 
 Lord ; and the reformation in our fouls, ma- 
 nifefhed in a full reformation of our lives/ 
 wherein all things are new, and all things 
 are of God; 2 Cor. v. 18. in this the defire 
 of gain is fubje6led. 
 
 ' When employment is honefily followed in 
 the light of truth ; and people become dili- 
 gent in bufmefs, fervent in fpiritj ; ferving 
 the Lord:" Rom. xii. 11. Here the name 
 is opened : This is the name by v/hich he 
 fiiall be called, THE LORD OUR 
 RIGHTEOUSNESS.'' Jere. xxiii. 6. 
 Oh, how precious is this name ! It is like 
 ointment poured out. The chafte virgins are 
 in love with the Redeemer ; and for the pro- 
 moting his peaceable kingdom in the v/orld, 
 are content to endure hardnefs like good fol- 
 diers ; and are fo feparated in fpirit, from 
 the defire of riches, that in their employ- 
 ments, they become extenfively careful to give 
 none offence, neither to Jews nor heathen, 
 nor the church of Chrift, On 
 
224 'I'he life and travel^ 
 
 On the thirty-firft diay of the month, and 
 firft of the week, we had a ixieedng m the 
 cabbin, with near all the flilp's company; 
 the whole being near thirty. In this meet- 
 ing the Lord, in mercy, favoured lis with 
 tiie extendings of his love. 
 
 The fecond day of the fixth month. Laftf 
 evening the leamen found bottom at about 
 leventy fathom. 
 
 This morning fair v^^ind, and pleafant i 
 and as I fat on deck, my heart was over- 
 come with the love of Chrift, and melted in- 
 to contrition before him : and in this ftate, 
 the profpecl of that work, to which I have ^ 
 felt my mind drawn when in my native 
 land, being in fome degree opened before 
 me, I felt like a little child ; and my cries 
 were put up to my heavenly Father for pre*- 
 lervation, that in a humble dependance on 
 him, my foul may be ftrengthened in his 
 love, and kept inwardly waiting for his 
 counfel. 
 
 This afternoon we faw that part of Eng- 
 land called the Lizard. 
 
 Some dunghill fowls yet remained of thofe 
 the paffengers took for their fea-ftore : I be- 
 lieve about fourteen perilhed in the ftorms 
 at fea, by the waves breaking over the quar- 
 ter-deck ; and a confiderable number with 
 ficknefs, at diiierent times. — -I obferved the 
 cocks crow coming down the Delaware, and 
 while we v/ere near the land ; but after- 
 ward, I think I did not hear one of them 
 
 crow 
 
OF J O H N W O O L M A N. 225 
 
 crow till we came near the land in England^ 
 when they again crowed a few times* 
 
 In obfervin^ their dull appearance at fea, 
 and the pining ficknefs of fome of them, I 
 often remembered the fountain of goodnefs, 
 who gave being to all creatures, and whofe 
 love extends to that of caring for the fpar- 
 rows ; and believe, where the love of God is 
 verily perfe6led, and the true fpirit of go- 
 vernment watchfully attended to, a tender- 
 nefs toward all creatures made fubjedt to us 
 will be experienced ; and a care felt in us, that 
 we do not lefTen that fweetnefs of life, in. 
 the animal creation, which the great Crea.tor 
 intends for them under our government. 
 
 The fourth day of the month. Wet wea- 
 ther, high winds, and fo dark that vfe could 
 fee but a little way. I perceived our feamen 
 were apprehenfive of danger of miffing the 
 Channel ; vv'^hich, I underftood, was narrow. 
 In a while, it grew lighter ; and they faw the 
 land, and they knew where we were. Thus 
 the Father of mercies was pleafed to try us 
 with the fight of dangers ; and then graci- 
 oufly, from time to time, deliver from them : 
 thus fparing our lives, that in humility and 
 reverence, we may walk before him, and 
 put our truft in him. 
 
 About noon a pilot came off from Dover ; 
 where my beloved friend Samuel Emlen went 
 <3n fhore, and thence to London, about feven- 
 ty-two miles by land ; but I felt eafy in 
 flaying in the ffiip. 
 
 The 
 
226 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 The feventh day of the month, and firll 
 of the week. Clear morning, lay at anchor 
 for the tide, and had a parting^ meeting with 
 the {hip's company; in which, my heart was 
 enlarged in a fervent concern for them, that 
 they may come to experience falvation thro' 
 Chrift. — Had a head wind up the Thames; 
 lay fometimes at anchor ; faw many fhips 
 pafTmg, and fome at anchor near ; and had 
 large opportunity of feeling the fpirit in 
 which the poor bewildered failors too gene- 
 rally live. — That lamentable degeneracy, 
 which fo much prevails on the people em- 
 ployed on the feas, fo affedled my heart, that 
 I may not ealily convey the feeling I have 
 had to another. 
 
 . The prefent ftate of the fea-faring life in 
 general, appears fo oppoiite to that of a pi- 
 ous education ; fo full of corruption, and 
 extreme alienation from God ; fo full of ex- 
 amples, the moil dangerous to young peo- 
 ple, that in looking toward a young genera- 
 tion, I feel a care for them, that they may 
 have ati education different from the prefent 
 education of lads at fea : and. that all of us, 
 who are acquainted w^ith the pure gofpel fpi- 
 rit, may lay this cafe to heart, may remem- 
 ber the lamentable corruptions which at- 
 tends the conveyance of merchandize acrofs 
 the feas, and fo abide in the love of Chrift, 
 that being delivered from the love of mo- 
 ney, from the entangling expences of a cu- 
 rious, delicate luxurious life, we may learn 
 contentment with a little ; and promote 
 
 the 
 
oP JOHN WOOL MAR dif 
 
 tlid fea-faiing life no further, than that fpi^ 
 rit, which leads into all truth, attends us^rt 
 our proceedings* 
 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 CHAP, Xli. 
 
 Mis attending the yearly-meeting t?t London / 
 and after it^ proceeding toivards Tork/Jjire^ 
 ^iftting fever al quarterly and other meetings 
 in the counties of Hertford^ Waruoick^ Ox-^ 
 
 ford^ Nottingham^ Tork^ and Wejlmoreland ; 
 and thence again into Y\rkfldire^ and to th6 
 city of York*; %vith fonie infruBive thoughts 
 and obferyationsj and letters on divers fith- 
 
 jeBs — His hearing of the deceafe of JVil-^ 
 lia?n Hunt ; and fome account of him - — His' 
 
 ftchiefs at York ) and end of his pilgrim agd 
 there. 
 
 OH the eighth day of the fixth month, 
 1772, we landed at London ; and I 
 went ftraightway to the yearly-meeting of 
 miniflers and elders, which had been ga- 
 thered (I fuppofe) about half an hour. 
 
 In this meeting, my mind was humbly 
 contrite : in the afternoon, the meeting of 
 
 Qj2 bufinef^ 
 
228 The LIFE and TRAVEL^ 
 
 bufinefs opened; which, by adjonxnments, 
 held near a week.- — In thefe meetings, I of- 
 ten felt a living concern for the eftabliihment 
 of friends in the pure life of truth: and 
 my heart was enlarged in the meeting of mi- 
 iiifters, meeting of bufinefs, and in feveral 
 meetings of publick worfliip ; and I felt my 
 mind united in true love, to the faithful la- 
 bourers now gathered at this yearly-meet- 
 
 On the fifteenth day of the month, I left 
 London, and Went to a quarterly-meeting 
 at Plertford, 
 
 The firft day of the feventh month. J| 
 have been at quarterly-meetings at Sherring- 
 ton, Northampton, Banbury and Shipton ; 
 and had fandry meetings between : my mind 
 hath been bowed under a fenfe of divine 
 goodnefs manifefted amongft us ; my heart 
 hath been often enlarged in trlie love, both 
 amongfc miniiicrs and ciders, and in publick 
 meetings; that through the Lord's good- 
 nefs. 1 believe it hath been a frefh vilitation 
 to many^ in particular to the youth. 
 
 The feventceiith day of the montho Was 
 this day at Birmingham : have been at meet- 
 ings at Coventry, Warwick, in Oxfordfliire^ 
 and fundry other places ; have felt the hum- 
 bling hand of the Lord upon me ; and thro* 
 his tender mercies find peace in the labours 
 1 have gone through. , ui^ 
 
 The twenty-fixch day of the month*- t 
 have continued travelling northward, vifit- 
 
,,,:u9,«r.J#HN WOOL MAN. 2.9 
 
 iil'g meetings : was this day at Nottingham ; 
 which, in the forenoon efpecially, ^?v'as, thro' 
 divine love, a heart-tendering feafon : next 
 day had a meeting in a friend's houft With 
 friends children and fome friends ; this, 
 thro' the ftrengthening arm of the Lord, 
 was a time to be thankfully remembered. 
 
 The fecond day of the eighth month, and 
 firft of the week, was this day at Sheffield, 
 a large inland town : have been at fundry 
 meetings lafl week ; and feel inward thank- 
 fulnefs for that divine fupport, which hath 
 been gracioufly extended to me. 
 
 The ninth day of the month, and firft of 
 the week, was at Rufh worth : have lately 
 palTed through fome painful labour ; but 
 have been comforted, under a fenfe of that 
 divine vifitation, which I fee| extencled to-- 
 ward many young people. 
 
 The fixteenth day of the month, and firft 
 of the week, was at Settle: it hath of late 
 be?n a time of inward poverty ; under wliicli, 
 my mind hath been preferyed in a watchful 
 tender ftate, feeling for the mind of the ho- 
 ly Leader, and find pea^e in the labours I 
 have paffed through . 
 
 On enquiry, in manjy places, I find the 
 price of rye about five fhillings, wheat about 
 eight ftiillings, per bufliel ; oatmeal twelve 
 fhillings for an hundred and twenty pounds ; 
 mutton from three-pence to five-pence per 
 pound ; bacon, from feven-pence to nine- 
 pence 5 cheefe, from four-pence to fix-pence ; 
 
 SutKr^ 
 
f3o The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 butter, from eight^pence to ten-penee; houfe?^ 
 rent, for a poor man, from twenty-five {hil- 
 lings to forty fhillings per year, to be paid 
 weekly; wood, for fire, very fcarce and dear ; 
 coal, in fome places, tvv^o fliiilings and fix- 
 pence j^^^^r limidred v/eight; but near the pits, 
 pot a quarter fb much. O, may the wealthy 
 f onfider the poor ! 
 
 The v/^ages of labouring men in feveral 
 counties toward London, is ten-pence per 
 day in common bufinefs, the employer finds 
 fmall-beer, and the labourer finds his own 
 food ; but in harveft and hay time, wages 
 is about one Ihilling per day, and the la- 
 bourer hath all his diet. In fome parts of 
 the 'north of England, poor labouring men 
 have their food where they work ; and ap- 
 pear, in common, to do ri^ther better than 
 nearer London : induiirious women, who 
 fpin in the fadlories, get fome four-pence, 
 fome five-pence, and lb on to fix, feven, 
 eight, nine or ten-pence per day, and find 
 their own houfe-ropm and diet. Great num- 
 bers of poor people live chiefiy on bread and 
 water in the fouthern parts of England, and 
 fome in the northern parts ; and there are 
 many poor children not taught even to read. 
 May thofe wIiq have plenty, lay thefe things 
 to heart ! 
 
 Stage-coaches frequently go, upwards of 
 an hundred miies in twenty-four hours ; and 
 I have heard friends fay, in feveral places, 
 ^hat it is common for horfes to be killed with 
 
 hard 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 231 
 
 hard driving, and many others driven till 
 they grow blind. 
 
 Poll-boys purfue their bnilnefs, each one 
 to his ftage, ail night thro' the winter : feme 
 boys, who ride long ftages, fufFer greatly on 
 winter nights ; and, at feveral places, I have 
 heard of their being froze to death. So 
 great is the hnrry in the fpirit of this world, 
 that in aiming to do bnfinefs quick, and to 
 gain wealth, the creation, at this day, doth 
 loudly groan ! 
 
 As my journey hath been without a horfe, 
 I have had feveral offers of being afTifted on 
 my way in thefe ftage-coaches ; but have 
 not been in them : nor have I had freedom 
 to fend letters by thefe polls, in the prefent 
 way of their riding ; the ftages being fo fix- 
 ed, and one boy dependant on another as to 
 time, that they commonly go upward of 
 one hundred miles in twenty-four hours ; 
 and in the cold long vv^inter nights, the poor 
 bovs fuffer much. 
 
 w' 
 
 I heard in America of the w^ay of thefe 
 pofts ; and cautioned friends in the general 
 meeting of rainiilers and elders at Philadel- 
 phia, and in the yearly-meeting of minifters 
 and elders at London, not to fend letters to 
 me on any common occafion by poll. And 
 though, on this account, I may be likely to 
 hear feidoiner from my family left behind ; 
 yet, for righteoufnefs 5ake, I am, thro' di- 
 viae favour, made content. 
 
 I have 
 
T^ji^LIFE AN^i) TJ|l^VELS 
 
 I have felt great diftrefs of mind, fince I 
 came on this ifland, on account of the mem- 
 bers of our fpciety being mixed with the 
 world in various forts of buifinefs and traf- 
 fick, carried on in impure channels. Greater 
 is the trade to Africa for flaves ! and in load- 
 ing thefe fliips, abundance of people are em- 
 ployed in the faiflories ; amongft whom are 
 many of our fociety. Friends, in early times, 
 refufed, oil a religious principle, to make or 
 tr^ide iti fuperliuities ; of which, we have : 
 mahy large teftimonies on record : bu|; for; 
 want of faithfulnefs, fome gave Y^?c^:^:.m^ 
 fome, whofe examples were of note in OMt - 
 Ibciety ; and from thence others took more 
 liberty. Members of our fociety worked in 
 iiiperlluities, and bought and fold them; 
 and thus dimnefs of 'fight came over naany : 
 at length, friends got into the ufe of fome 
 fiipcrfluities in drefs, and in the furniture of 
 their houfes ; and this hath fpread from lefs 
 to more, till fuperfluity of fome kinds is 
 common amongft us. 
 
 In this declining ftate, many look at the 
 example one of another, and tpo much ne-- 
 gledl the pure feeling of truth. Of late years, 
 a deep exercife hath attended my mind, that 
 friends may dig deep, may carefully caft 
 forth the loofe mattei^, and get down to ^:he 
 Robk, the fare foundation, and there hearken 
 to that divine voice which gives a clear and . 
 certain found ; and I have felt in that whicix 
 
oP^ JOHN WOOL MAN. 233^ 
 
 doth not deceive, that if friends, who have 
 known the truth, keep in that tendernefs of 
 heart, where all views of outv^ard gain arc 
 given up, and their truft is only on the 
 Lord, he will gracioufly lead fome to be pat- 
 terns of deep felf-denial in things relating 
 to trade and handicraft labour ; and that 
 fome, who have plenty of the treafures of 
 this world, will example in a plain frugal 
 life, and pay wages to fiich whom they may 
 hire, more liberally than is now cuilomary 
 in fome places. 
 
 The twenty- third day of the month, was 
 this day at Prefton-Patrick, and had a com- 
 fortable meeting. I have, feveral times, been 
 entertained at the houfes of friends, who had 
 fundry things about them which had the ap- 
 pearance of outward greatnefs ; and as I 
 have kept inward, way hath opened for con- 
 verfation with fuch in private, in which di- 
 vine goodnefs hath favoured us together, 
 with heart- tendering times. 
 
 The tweuty-fixth day of the month. Be- 
 ing now at George Crosfields, in the county 
 of Weftmoreland, I feel a concern to com- 
 mit to writing, that which to me hath been 
 a cafe uncommon. 
 
 In a time of ficknefs with the pleurify, 
 a little upward of two years and a half ago, 
 I was brought fo near the gates of death, 
 that I forgot my name : being then delirous 
 to know vv^ho I was, I faw a mafs of matter 
 pf a dull gloomy colour, between the fouth 
 
234 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 and the eafl; and was informed, that this 
 niafs w^s human beings in as great mifery 
 as they could be, and live ; and that I was 
 mixed in widi them, and that henceforth I 
 inkdit not confider myfelf as a diftind; or 
 fcparate being. In this ftate I remained fe- 
 veral hours. I then heard a foft melodious 
 voice, more pure and iiarmonioiiG than any 
 I had heard with my ears before ; I believ- 
 ed it vv'as the voice of an angel, who fpake 
 to the other angels: the words were-^Jobn 
 Wjolman is dead. I foon remembered that I 
 once was John W colman ; and being afTured 
 tiiat I was alive in the body, I greatly won- 
 dered what that heavenly voic€ could mean. 
 
 I believed, beyond doubting, that it was 
 the voice of an holy angel ; but, as yet^ it 
 was a myftery to me. 
 
 I Vv^as then carried in fpirit to the mines, 
 where poor oppreffed people w^ere digging 
 rich treaiiires for thofe called chriftians; and 
 heard thern blafpheme the name of Chriil, 
 ^^t vvhich I was grieved ; for his name to me 
 was precious. 
 
 Then I was informed, that thefc hea- 
 then were told, that thofe who oppreffed 
 them were the follov7ers of Chrift ; and they 
 faid amongft thenifeives, If Chrift directed 
 * them to ule us in this fort, then Chrift is a 
 cruel tyrant. 
 
 All this time the fong of the angel re- 
 mained a myftery ; and in the morning, my 
 dear wife and foine others coming to my bed- 
 fide^ 
 
JOHN WOOL MAN. 235 
 
 fide, I alked them, if they knew who I was : 
 and they telling me, I was John Woolman., 
 thought I was light-headed : for I told them 
 not what the angel faid, nor was I difpofed 
 to talk much to any one ; but was very dc- 
 firous to get fo deep, that 1 might under- 
 ftand this myftery. 
 
 . My tongue was often fo dry, that I 
 could not fpeak till I had moved it about 
 ^nd gatherecl ibme moifture, and as I lay flill 
 for a time, at length I felt divine power pre- 
 pare my mou.th that I could fpeak ; and then 
 I faid, I am crucified with Chrift, never- 
 ^' thelefs I live; yet not I, but Chrift that 
 
 liveth ill me : and the life I now live in > 
 ■ ' the fleih, is by faith in the Son of God, 
 
 who loved me, and gave himfelf for me." 
 
 Then the myftery was opened ; and I per- 
 ceived there was joy in heaven over a {inner 
 who had repented; and that that language 
 (John WoohnoM is dead ) meant no more than 
 the death of my own will. 
 
 Soon after this I coughed, and raifed much 
 bloody matter ; which I had not done during 
 this vifion : and now my natural underfland- 
 ing returned as before. —Here I faw, that 
 people getting filver vefTels to fet off their ta- 
 bles at entertainments, was often ftained with 
 worldly glory ; and that in the prefent ftatc 
 of things, 1 ihould take heed how 1 fed my- • 
 felf from out of filver velTels. 
 
 Soon after my recovery, I, going to our 
 jnoathly-'meeting, dmcd at a friend's houfe 
 
 where 
 
MAM' TOO W K'HO! 
 %l6 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 where drink wa^ brought in 
 
 and not in any other ; and I wanting v|o^ 
 drink, told him my cafe with weeping : and 
 he ordered fonie drink for me in another vefo 
 
 The like i' afterwards w^ent through in 
 ftveral friend's houfes in America, and have 
 alio in England, fince I came here : and have 
 caufe, with humble reverence, to acknow- 
 ledge the loving-kindnefs of my heavenly 
 Father, who hath preferved me in fuch a 
 tender frame of mind, that none, I believe, 
 liave ever been offended at what I have faid 
 on that occafion. 
 
 After this ficknefs, , I fpake not in publick 
 meetings for worfliip for near one year ; but 
 my mind was very often in company with 
 the oppreiTed flaves, as I fat in meetings : 
 and tho', under this difpenfation, I v/as Ihut 
 up from fpeaking, yet the fpring of the gof- 
 pel miniftry w^as, many times, livingly open- 
 ed in me ; and the divine gift operated by 
 abundance of weeping, in feeling the op- 
 preiiion of this people. It being fo long 
 fince I paiTed thro' this difpenfation, and the 
 matter remaining frelh and livingly in my 
 mind, I believe it fafeft for me to commit 
 
 It to writing. 
 
 The thirtieth day of the month. This 
 morning I wrote a letter, in fubflance ast 
 ^ollovv^s; 
 
 Pelovecl 
 
OF JOHN WOOLMAM. 
 
 Beloved friend^ 
 
 IV/fY mind is often afFe(!^ed as I paft 
 along, under a fenfe of the ftate of 
 many poor people, who fit under that fort 
 of miniftry which reqviires much outward 
 labour to fupport it; and the loving-kind- 
 nefs of our heavenly Father, in opening a 
 pure gofpel miniftry in this nation, hath of- 
 ten raifed thankfulnefs in my heart to him. 
 I often remember the conflidls of the faith- 
 ful under perfecution, and now look at the 
 free exercife of the pure gift uninterrupted 
 by outward laws, as a truft committed to us ; 
 which requires our deepeft gratitude, and 
 mofl careful attention. I feel a tender con- 
 cern, that the work of reformation, fo prof- 
 peroufly carried on in this land within a few 
 ages pad, may go forward and fpread a- 
 mongfl the nations ; and may not go back- 
 ward, throj dull gathering on our gannents, 
 v/ho have been called to a work fo great and 
 fo precious/' 
 
 Laft evening I had a little opportunity 
 at thy houfe, with fome of thy family, in 
 thy ab fence ; in which I rejoiced : and feel- 
 ing a fweetnefs on my mind toward thee, I 
 now endeavour to open a little of the feeling 
 I had there.'' 
 
 I have heard, that you, in thefe parts, 
 have, at certain feafons, meetings of confer- 
 ence, in relation to friends living up to our 
 principles, ia which fe vera] meetings unite 
 or : in 
 
 ?37 
 
The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 in one ; with which I feel vtnity : I havings 
 in fome meafure, felt truth lead that way 
 amongft friends in America ; and have 
 found, my dear friend, that in thefe labours . 
 all fupcrfluities in our own living, are againft 
 us, I feel that pure love toward thee, in 
 which there is freedom." 
 
 I look at that precious gift beftowed on 
 thee, with awfulnefs before Him who gave 
 it : and feel a care, that we may be fo fepa-* 
 rated to the gofpel of Chrift, that thofe things 
 which proceed from the fpirit of this world, 
 may have no place amongfl us." 
 
 Thy friend, 
 John Woolman/* 
 
 I refted a few days, in body and mind, 
 with our friend Jane Crosfield ; who was 
 once in America : was, on the lixth day of 
 the week, at Kendal in Weftmoreland ; and 
 at Greyrig meeting the thirtieth day of the 
 month, and fir ft of the week, 
 
 I have known poverty of late; and been 
 gracioufly fupported to keep in the patience : 
 dtnd am thankful, under a fenfe of the good- 
 nefs of the Lord toward thofe that are of a 
 contrite fpirit. 
 
 The fixth day of the ninth month, an,d 
 firft of the week, was this day at Counter- 
 fide ; a large meeting-houle, and very full : 
 and thro' the opening of pure lovcy it was 
 
 a^ftrengthen- 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 239 
 
 a ftrengthening time to me, and (I believe) 
 to many more. 
 
 - The thirteenth day of the month. Was 
 this day at Richmond, a fmall meeting ; but 
 the town's people coming in, the houie wa^ 
 crowded: it was a time of heavy labour ; and 
 (I believe) was a profitable meeting. 
 
 At this place I heard that my kinfman 
 William Hunt from North - Carolina, who 
 was on a religious vifit to friends in Eng- 
 land, departed this life on the ninth day ot 
 the ninth month, inflant, of the fmaii-pox, 
 at Newcaftle. — Ke appeared in the miniflry 
 when a youth ; and his labours therein were 
 of good favor. He travelled much in that 
 work in America. I once heard him fay in 
 public teilimony, that his concern was (iii^ 
 that vifit) to be devoted to the fn^vice of 
 Chrift fb fully, that he might not fpend one 
 minute in pieaiing himfelf : which words^ 
 joined vnth his example, was a means of ftir-- 
 ring up the pure mind in me. 
 
 Having of late travelled often in wet wea- 
 ther, thro' narrow ftreets in towns and vil-* 
 kges, where diitlnefs under foot, and the 
 fcent arifing from that filth, which more or 
 lefs infed:s the air of all thick iertled towns ; 
 and I being but weakly, have felt diilrefs 
 both in body and mind with that which is 
 impure. 
 
 In theie journies I have been where much 
 eloih hatn been dyed ; and faadry dines 
 
 walked 
 
a4o The LIFE AHt> JI|AVELS 
 
 walked over ground, where much of their 
 dye itu-ffs have drained away. 
 
 Here I havfe felt a loiigirig in my mind, 
 that people might come into cleannefs of fpi- 
 rit, cleannefs of perfon, cleannefs about their 
 houfes and garments. 
 
 Some, who are great, carry delicacy to a 
 great height themfelves, and yet the real 
 cleanlinfefs is not generally promoted. Dyes 
 being invented partly to pleafe the eye, and 
 partly to hide dirt, I have felt in this weak 
 ftate, travelling in dirtinefs and affected with 
 unwholefome fcents, a ftrong defire that the 
 nature of dyeing cloth to hide dirt may be 
 more fully coniidered. 
 
 To hide dirt in our garments, appears op- 
 polite to real cleanlinefs. 
 
 To wafli garments, and keep them fweet^ 
 this appears cleanly. 
 
 Thro' giving way to hiding dirt in Dur 
 garments, a fpirit which would cover that 
 which is difagreeable, is ftrengthened. 
 
 Real cleannefs becometh a holy people :, 
 but hiding that which is not clean by colour-^ 
 ing our garments, appears contrary to the 
 fwcetnefs of iincerity. 
 
 Thro' fome forts of dyes, cloth is lefs life- 
 ful ; and if the value of dye-ftuffs, the ex- 
 pence of dyeing, and the damage done to 
 tloth, were all added together, and that ex- 
 pence applied to keep all fweet and clean^ 
 how much more cleanly would ^people be. . 
 
 Near 
 
OF John wool m an. 
 
 On this viiit to England I have felt fonie 
 inftru(5lioris fealed on my mind, which I ani 
 concerned to leave in vmtirig, for the ule of 
 lllch who are called to the Itation of a mini- 
 fter of Ghrifti 
 
 Chriil being the Prince of Peace, and we 
 being no more than iilinifters, I find it ne- 
 ceiT^ry for us, iidt only to feel a concern ill 
 bur firft going forth, but to experience the 
 renewing thereof, in the appaintmciit of 
 tneetings. 
 
 I felt a concern iux^merica, to drep^lre for 
 this voyage ; and being through the mercy 
 of God, brought fafe here, my heart wa^ 
 like a vefTel that vvanted vent ; and for feve- 
 'ral weeks at firft, when my mouth was open- 
 ed in meeting's, it often felt like the raiiincj- 
 of a gate in a water courfe, where a weight 
 of water lay upon it ; and in thefe labours 
 there appeared, a frefh vifitation to many^> 
 efpecially the youth ; but ibmetimes after this^ 
 I felt empty and poor, and yet felt a neceiTi- 
 ty to appoint meetings. 
 
 In this ftate I was exercifed to abide ill the 
 pure life of truth, and in all my labours to 
 watch diligently againft the motions of lelf 
 in my own mind^ 
 
 I have frequently felt a iieceility to ftand 
 up, when the fpring of the miniitry was low, 
 and to fpeak from the neceirity, in that which 
 fubjedleth the will of the creatute ; and here- 
 in I was united with the fiilierlni? :bed. and 
 found inward fweetnefs in thefe mcrtiiying 
 labours i 
 
 U As 
 
2A2 The life and TRAVELS 
 
 As I have been preferved in a watchful at-^ 
 tention to the divine leader, under thefe dif- 
 penfations, enlargement at times hath fol- 
 lowed,, and the power of truth hath rofe high- 
 er in fome meetings, than I ever knew it be- 
 fore through me. 
 
 Thus I have been more and more inflrudl- 
 ed, as to the neceffity of depending, not up- 
 on a concern Vv^iich I felt in America, to come 
 on a vilit to England ; but upon the frefh in- 
 flru(ftions of Chrift the Prince of Peace, from 
 day to day. 
 
 Nov.^ of late, I felt a flop in the appoint-* 
 ment of meetings, not wholly but in part;^' 
 and I do not feel liberty to appoint them fo 
 quick one after another as I have heretofore. 
 
 The work of the miniftry, being a work 
 of divine love, I feel that the openings there- 
 of are to be waited for, in all our appoint- 
 ments. 
 
 Oh how deep is divine wifdom ! Chrift puts 
 forth his minifters, and goeth before them ; 
 and oh how great is the danger of departing" 
 from the pure feeling of that vv^hich leadeth 
 fafely ! 
 
 Chrift laioweth the ftate of the people, and 
 in the pure feeling of the gofpel miniftry, 
 their Hates are opened to his fervants. 
 
 Chrift knoweth when the fruit-bearing 
 branches themfelvc^> have need of purging. 
 
 Oh that thefe leifons may be remembered 
 by me ! and that all who appoint meetings, 
 may proceed in the pure feeling of duty* 
 
 I have 
 
o m .J <5 H N W O O L M A N. 24$ 
 
 h^w fbmetimes felt a neceffity to ftcnid 
 up, -bi^t that fpirit which is of the world 
 hath fo much prevailed in many, and the 
 pure life of truth been fo preffed down, that 
 I have gone forward, not as one travelling 
 in a road caft up, and well prepared, but as 
 a man walking through a miry place, in 
 which are ftones here and there, fafe to flep 
 Qflt I but fb fituated that one ftep being taken^ 
 time is necefTary to fee where to ftep next. / 
 
 Now I find that in the pure obedience, the 
 mind learns contentment, in appearing weak 
 and foolifh to that wifdom which is of the 
 world ; and in thefe lowly labours, they who 
 ftand in a low place, rightly exercifed under 
 the crofs, will find nourifliment* 
 
 The gift is pure, and while the eye is An- 
 gle in attending thereto, the underftanding 
 is preferved clear ; felf is kept out ; we rejoice 
 in filling up that which remains of the af- 
 flictions of Chrift, for his body's fake, which 
 is the church. , 
 
 The natural man loveth eloquence, and 
 Hiany love to hear eloquent orations ; and if 
 there is not a careful attention to the giftr, 
 men who have once laboured in the pure gof- 
 pel miniftry, growing weary of fuffering^ 
 and afhamed of appearing weak, may kindle 
 a fire, compafs themfelves about with fparks^ 
 and walk in the light ; not of Chrift who is 
 under fuffering ; but of that fire, which they^ 
 going from the gift, have kindled : And that 
 in hearers, which is gone from the meek fuf- 
 fering ftate, into the worldly wifdom, may 
 
 R 2 be 
 
444 The LIFE and TRAVELS ^ 
 
 be warmed with this fire, and fpeak highly 
 of thefe labours. That which is of God ga- 
 thers to God ; and that which is of the world 
 is owned by the world. 
 
 In this journey a labour hath attended my 
 mind, that the miniflers amongfl us may be 
 preferved in the meek feeling life of truth, 
 where we may have no defire, but to follow 
 Chrift and be with him ; that when he is un- 
 der fuffering we may fuffer with him ; and 
 never defire to rife up in dominion, but as 
 he by the virtu.e of his own fpirit may raifc 
 us* 
 
 A few days after writing thefe confiderati- 
 ons, our dear friend in the courfe of his reli- 
 gious vilits, came to the city of York, and 
 attended moft of the fittings of the quarterly 
 meeting there ; but before it was over, was 
 taken ill of the. frnail-pox. Our friend Tho- 
 mas Prieflman and others who attended him, 
 preferved t-he follovvdng minutes of his expref- 
 fions in the time of his ficknefs, and of hi$ 
 deceafe. 
 
 I ft day, the 27th of the 9th month 1772. 
 His diforder appeared to be the fmall-pox: 
 being afked to have a doctor's advice, he fig- 
 nified he had not freedom or liberty in his 
 mind fo to do, ftandin^ wholly refigned to 
 his will, who gave him life, and whole pow*-: 
 
 he had witneiTed to raife and heal him in 
 ficknefs before, when he feemed nigh unto 
 death ; and if he vv^as to wind up now, he 
 
 was 
 
ol-jOHN WOOL MAN. 245 
 
 was perfe<5lly refigned, having no will eltlicr 
 to live or die, and did not choofe any fhoiiid. 
 be fent for to him : but a yoiing man, ail 
 apothecary, coming of his o#n accords the 
 next day, and defiring to do fometuing for 
 hiiil, he faid he found a freedom td confer 
 with him and the other friends about hiM^ 
 and if any thing fhould be propofed, as to 
 medicine that did not come thro' defiled chan-^ 
 nels or opprefTive hands^ he fliould be vv^ii- 
 ling to confider and take it, fo far as he 
 found freedom. 
 
 2d day. He faid he felt the diforder to af- 
 fe6l his head, fo that he could think little, 
 and but as a child ; and defired if his under- 
 ftanding fhould be more affedled, to have 
 nothing given him that thofe about knew he 
 had a tellimony againft. 
 
 Third-day he uttered the following pray- 
 er. — O Lord my God, the amazing hor- 
 rors of darknefs were gathered around me 
 and covered me all over, and I faw no way 
 to go forth ; I felt the depth and extent of 
 the mifery of my fellow creatures feparated 
 from the divine harmony^ and it was heavi- 
 er than I cculd bear, and 1 was crufhed down 
 under it, I lifted up my hand, I ftretched 
 out my arm, but there was none to help me ; 
 I looked round about and was amazed ; in 
 the depths of mifery, O Lord! I remembered 
 that thou art omnipotent, that I had called 
 thee Father, and I felt that I loved thee, and 
 I was made quiet in thy will, and I waited 
 for deliverance from thee i thou hadft pity 
 
 UpOUfe 
 
146 The life and TRAVEi;$ 
 
 upon me when no man could help me ; I few 
 that med^nefs tinder fufFering was fhewed to 
 ns in the mofi afFedting example of thy Son, 
 and thou taught me to follow him, and 1 1 
 faid thy will O Father be done/' 
 
 Fourtli day morning, being alked how lie 
 felt himfelf, he meekly anf\vered, I don't 
 know that I have ilepl: this night, I feel the 
 diforder making its progrefs, but my mind 
 is mercifully prefer ved in ftillnefs and peace : 
 fometime after: he faid he was fenfible the 
 pains of death muft be hard to bear, but if 
 he efcaped them now, he muft fometime pafs 
 thro' them, and he did not know that he 
 could be better prepared, but had no will in 
 it. He faid he had fettled his outward af- 
 fairs to his mind, had taken leave of his 
 wife and family as never to return, leaving 
 them to the divine prote6lion; adding, and 
 tlio' I feel them near to me at this time, yet 
 I freely give them up, having a hope that 
 they will be provided for. And a little after 
 faid, This trial is made eafier than I could 
 have thought, my will being wholly taken 
 away ; for if I was anxious for the event 
 it would have been harder, but - 1 am not, 
 and my mind enjoys a perfe6l calm. 
 
 In the night a young woman having given 
 him fomething to drink, he faid, My child 
 thou'feems very kind to me a poor creature, 
 the Lord will reward thee for it. Awhile af- 
 ter he cried out with great earneftnefs of 
 ipirit. Oh my Father ! my Father ! and foon 
 after he faid^ Oh my Father ! my Father ! 
 
OF JOHN WOOL MAN. 247 
 
 how comfortable art thou to my foul in this 
 trying feafon. Being aiked if he could take 
 a little nourifhment ; after fome paufe he re- 
 plied, my child I cannot tell what to fay to 
 it ; I feem nearly arrived where my foul iliall 
 have reft from all its troubles. After giving 
 in fomething to be inferted in his journal ^ 
 he faid, I believe the Lord will nov^r excufe 
 me from exercifes of this kind ; and I fee no 
 work but one which is to be the laft wrought 
 by me in this world, the meflenger v/ill come 
 that will releafe me from all thefe troubles ; 
 but it mufl be in the Lord's time, which I 
 am waiting for. He faid he had laboured to 
 do whatever was required, according to the 
 ability received, in the remembrance of 
 which he had peace; and tho' the diforder 
 was ftrong at times, and would hke a whirl- 
 wind come over his mind ; yet it had hither- 
 to been kept fteady and centered in everlall- 
 ing love; adding, and if that be mercifully 
 continued, I afk nor defire no more. An- 
 other time he faid, he had long had a view 
 of vifiting this nation, and fometime before 
 he came had a dream, in which he faw 
 himfelf in the northern parts of it, and that 
 the fpring of the gofpel was opened in him 
 much as in the beginning of fiiends, fuch as 
 George Fox and William Dewfoerry, and he 
 faw the different ftates of the people, as clear 
 as he had ever feen flowers in a garden ; but 
 in his going along he was faddenly ftopr,, 
 Xho' he goi^ild not fee far what end ; but 
 
 looking 
 
joo|ciog> jpwanls^ hoa^ae, fell iijto a iloo^ of 
 
 t^ars,. whi^ih. wak(^ci him. j mirn. jiXviuoj ijh.(y^ 
 • . , At ^im- he faidr my ^iimight fcemT 
 
 i^^ MxoB^f\^Wsv^v(^ North, and I men- 
 ticmcfl: i>i:^T/Qwiirp>anthl7--meeting, that 
 attending . jjlje , qn^^ at York, 
 
 find Jibing there looked like liome to me, 
 
 Fifth-Td5i.7 night, having repeatedly con- 
 fente^l tt0<;t;4;ke mediolne with a view to fettle 
 14s ftona^^ch, but without eiTeCi ; the friend 
 then .Vi^atitirig on liiin, fiid thro' diftrefs, 
 what fliall I do now ? He anfwered with areat 
 iG qiii,p Of 111^, R eyer more, and in every- 
 thing give thanks - but added a little after-j 
 this is fbmetimes hard to come at. 
 
 Sixth-day morning he brpke forth early m 
 /application on this yvife, O Lord it was thy 
 power that enabled me to forfike fin in my 
 youth, and I have felt thy bruiies for dif^ 
 obedience ; but as I bowed under them thou 
 liealed me, continuing aiather ai:td^afriend ; 
 I feel thy povvcr now, and I beg that in tk? 
 appro;jchii1g trying moment Thou wdlt keep 
 my heart ftcdfaft uRto thee. Upon his givr 
 ing direction3 tp a friend concerning fbme 
 little things, llie faid I will take care, but 
 hope thou wilt live to order th<?m thyfelf ; 
 lie reply'd, my hope is in Chrift, and tho' I 
 may fpem a little better, a change in the dif-f 
 prder uiay foon happen, and my Httle ftrength 
 pe diilolved, and if it fo happens, I fliali b^ 
 gathered to my everlafting reft. On her fay? 
 ing ihe did not doubt that, but could not 
 help i^iourning to fee fo many faithful fer- 
 
 yantg 
 
J0HN WOOL M AR ±49 
 
 kaMs temoved at ib low a time ; he faid all 
 good cometli from the Lord, whofe power is 
 the fame, and can work as he fees befl» Tho 
 fame day he had given diredlions about 
 wa^apping his corpfe ; perceiving a friend to 
 weep, he faid I would rather thou wouidft 
 guard againft weeping for me, my fifcer, I 
 forrow not, tho' I have had fome painful con- 
 fli£ls, but now they feem over and matters 
 well fettled, and I look at the face of my 
 dear redeemer, for fweet is his voice aQd 
 his countenance is comely. 
 
 Firft--day, fourth of the tenth month, being 
 very weak and in general difficult to be un- 
 derftood, he uttered a tew words in comme- 
 moration of the Lord's goodnefs ; and add-^ 
 ed, how tenderly have 1 been waited on iii 
 this time of afili<£tion, in which I may fiij 
 in Job'3 words, Tedious days and wearifome 
 nights are appQiuted iinto rne, and how ma- 
 ny are fpending their time and money in 
 vanity and fuperfluitics, Vvdiile thoufands 
 gnd tens of thoufands want the neceflaries of 
 life, who might be relieved by them, and 
 their diftrelics at fuch a time as this, in foaie 
 degree fbftened by the adminiilring fiiitable 
 filings. 
 
 Second-day morning the apothecary who 
 appeared very anxious to affift him, being • 
 prefent, he queried about the probability of 
 fuch a load of matter being thrown off his 
 v/eak body, and the apothecary making ibme 
 remarks implying he thought it might ; ho 
 fpoke with audible voice on this wife,. 
 
5^50 TiiE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 My dependance is on the Lord Jefus, who I 
 truft will forgive my iins, which is all I hope 
 for, and if it be his will to raife up this body 
 again, I am content ; and if to die, I am re- 
 figned ; and if thou canft not be eafy with- 
 out trying to aflift nature, I fubmit : after 
 which his throat Vv^as fo much afFed:ed, that 
 it was very difficult for him to fpeak fo as to 
 be underftood, and frequently wrote when 
 he wanted any thing. About the fecond 
 hour on fourth-day morning he aiked for 
 pen and ink, and at feveral times with much 
 difficulty wrote thus, I believe my being 
 here is in the wifdom of Chrift, I know not 
 as to life or death. 
 
 About a quarter before fix the fame morn- 
 ing he feemed to fall into an eafy fleep, v/hicli 
 continued about half an hour, v/hen feeming 
 to awake, he breathed a few times with more 
 tiifficulty, and expired without figh, groan^ 
 or ftruggle. 
 
 END OF THE JOURKAI.^ 
 
ad 3" 
 
 THE 
 
 O R K S 
 
 0 F 
 
 JOHN WOOLMAN. 
 
 PART the SECOND. 
 
 ^ Containing his Last EPISTLE and liig 
 other WRITINGS, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 Peikted by JOSEPH CRUKSHANK, in Market- 
 Street, BETWEEN Second akd Third Streets. 
 
 M.DCC.I.XXIV. 
 
^s' O M E 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 On the K E E P I N G of 
 N E G R 0 E S. 
 
 Recommended to the Profeflbrs of Chrifti- 
 anity of every DenoiHination.^ 
 
 f Firfl printed in the year 1754.7 
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 U S T O M S generally approved^ and opi- 
 nions received by youth from their fupe^ 
 * riors^ become like the natural produce of a foii^ 
 efpe daily ^hen they are fuited to favourite in" 
 clinations : but as the judgments of God are 
 uuithout partiality^ by vuhich the fate of the 
 foul mufi be tried^ it voould be the highefl vuif* 
 doni to forego ctifloms and popular opinions^ and 
 try the treafures of the foul by the infallible 
 Jlandard truth. 
 
 Natural aflfecftion 7ieeds a careful examina" 
 tion : operating upon us in a foft manner y it 
 dles defres of love and tendernefs^ and there is 
 danger of taking it for fomething higher^ To 
 
254 I ^ T H D D XTvX: JT I D N.i 
 
 me it appears an in/iinB like that ivhich inferior 
 creatures have ; each of theni^ ive fee^ by the ^ 
 ties of nature^ love felf befl ; that vi)hich is a 
 part of felf, they love by the fame tie or in-* 
 JiinB. In them it^ in fome meafure^ does the ofk ^ 
 fcesi of reafon^ by ivhich^ among other things^ 
 they voatchfully keep^ and orderly feed their 
 helplefs offspring. Thus natural affedlion ^/)- . 
 pears to be a branch of felf-love, good in the 
 animal race^ in us likevuife^ ivith proper limit a-^ 
 tions ; but otherivife is productive of evil^ by 
 exciting deftres to promote fome by means pr^ju-^. 
 dicial to others* 
 
 Our hleffcd Saviour feems to give a check t6 
 this irregular fondncfs in nature.^ and^ at the^ 
 fame tijne^ a precedent for us: Who is my 
 ^' mother, and who are my brethren?" there-- 
 hy intimating y that the earthly ties of relation^ 
 Jhip^ are^ comparatively ^ tnconftderahle to fich^. 
 ivho^ thro' a fttady courfe of obedience^ have- 
 come- to the happy experience of the fpirvt: of 
 God hearing vuitncfs vuith their fptrits that' they 
 are his children : — And he llretched forth 
 *^ hiis hands towards his difciples, and faid^ 
 Behold my mother, and my brethren : Fojf ^ 
 whofoever fliall do the will of my Fa--^ 
 thcr which is in heaven ( arrives at ths\ 
 more noble part of true relationfhip) the fame 
 *• is my brother, and fifter, and mother,'* 
 Mz//; xH. 48. 
 
 This doMrine agrees vqcU vuith a fate truly 
 C07npleat^ when loY€ neceffarily operates ac- 
 ^. : ^ . ■ ■ cording^ 
 
I N T R O D U C T I O N. 255. 
 
 cording to the agi^eeablenefs of things on princi^ 
 pies unalterable and in thcnij elves perfeEi. 
 
 If endeavouring to have rny children emine?tt 
 among f tnen after my death^ he that which no 
 reafons grounded on thofe principles can be brought 
 to fupport ; then to he temperate in my purfuit 
 after gain^ and to keep alvuays vuithin the 
 bounds of thofe principles^ is an indfpenfahle 
 duty^ and to depart from it^ a dark unfruitful 
 toil. 
 
 In our prefent condition^ to love our children 
 is needful ; hut except this love proceeds from 
 the true heavenly principle vuhich fees beyond 
 earthly treafures^ it vuill rather he injurious 
 than of any real advantage to them : ivhere tht 
 fountain is corrupt^ the Jlreams mufl neceffarily 
 be impure. 
 
 That important injunSlion of our Saviour^ 
 Matt. vi. 33, ivith the Promtfe annexed^ con-- 
 tains a fnort hut comprehenfive vievo of our du-^ 
 ty and happinefs : — If then the bufinefs of man- 
 kind in this life^ is^ to firf feek another ; if this 
 cannot he done^ hut by attending to the means ; 
 if a fummary of the means is^ Not to do that 
 to another v/hich, in like circumftances, we 
 would not have done unto us, then thefe arc 
 points of moment^ and vuorthy of our mojl feri- 
 ous conftderation. 
 
 What I ivrite on this fubjeSi is vuith reluB^ 
 anccy and the hints given are in as general 
 terms as my concern vuould allo%v : I know it is 
 a point about vuhich^ in all its branches^ men 
 that appear to aim well are not generally /i- 
 
 I greed ; 
 
2^6 I N T R O 13 U C T I O N. 
 
 greed ; and for that reafon^ I chofe to avoid he-^ 
 ing very particular r — If I may happily have let 
 drop any thing that 7ndy excite fuch as are con- 
 cerned in the practice to a clqfe thinking on the 
 Jubjeci treated oJ\ the candid ajnongji them ?nay 
 eajily do the JubjeSi fuch further jiiflice^ as^ 'on 
 an impartial enquiry^ it may appear to deferve ; 
 and Juch a?i enquiry I vuould earnefly reconi-^ 
 mend^ 
 
 SOME 
 
'S O M P 
 
 C O N S I D E R A T I O: N S, 
 
 Matt, xxv. 40' 
 
 / Forafimich as ye did it to the Icajl of tbefc my 
 ^ brethren^ ye did it unto me.^ 
 
 S many times there are different mo*-^ 
 tives to the fame adlions ; and one 
 does that from a generous hearty 
 which another does for felfiih ends. The 
 like may be faid in this cafe. 
 
 There are various circumftances amongfl 
 them that keep negroes, and different ways 
 by which they fall under their care ; and, I 
 doubt not, there are many well-difpofcd per- 
 fons amongfc them who deilre rather to ma-^ 
 nage wilely and juftly in this difncult mat-^ 
 ter, than toi make gain of it. 
 
 But the general difadvantage which thele 
 poor Africans lie under in an enlight'ned- 
 chriftian country, haviog of::en filled itie with 
 real fadnels, and been l;kc undi-^*eited matter 
 on my mindj I now think it my duty, thro' 
 divine aid, to offer forne thoughts thereon to 
 the confideration of others. 
 
258 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 When we remember that all nations are ojp^ 
 one blood, Gen iii. 20. that in this world we 
 are but fojourners, that we are fubjedl to the 
 like afflidlions and infirmities of body, the 
 like diforders and frailties in mind, the like 
 temptations, the fame death^ and the fame 
 judgment, and, that the all- wife Being is 
 Judge and Lord over us all, it feems to raife 
 all idea of a general brotherhood, and a dif- 
 pofition eaf j to be touched with a feeling of 
 each others affliclions : but when we forget 
 thofe things, and look chiefly at our out- 
 ward circumftances, in this and fome ages 
 paft, conftantly retaining in our minds the 
 diftinflion betwixt us and them, with re- 
 fpe(5l to our knowledge and improvement in 
 things divine, natural and artificial, our 
 breads being apt to be filled with fond no- 
 tions of lliperiority, there is danger of err- 
 ing in our condudl toward them. 
 
 We allow them to be of the fame fpecies 
 with ourfelves ; the odds is, we are in a high- 
 er ftation, and enjoy greater favours than 
 they. And when it is thus, that our heaven- 
 ly Father endoweth fome of his children with 
 diftinguiihed gifts, they are intended for 
 good ends ; but if thofe thus gifted are 
 thereby lifted up above their brethren, not 
 confidering themfelves as debtors to the 
 weak, nor behaving themfelves as faithful 
 ftevv^ards, none^ w^ho judge impartially can 
 fuppofe them free from ingratitude. 
 
 \Vhen a people dwell under the liberal di- 
 ;flribution of flivours from heaven, it be- 
 hoves 
 
Keeping of .NEGROES, 15^ 
 
 lioves them carefully to infpe(?l: their v/ays^ 
 and' confider the purpofes for \xhich thofe 
 favours Were bellowed^ left^ thro' forgetful- 
 nefs of God, and mifuiing his gifts^ they in- 
 cur his heavy difpleafufe, whofe judgments 
 are juft and equal, who exalteth and hum- 
 bleth to the duft as he feeth m^et. 
 
 It appears, by Holy Record, that men un- 
 der hip-h favours have been apt to err in their 
 opinions concerning others. Thus Ifrael, ac- 
 cording to the defcription of the prophet, 
 Ifa, Ixv. 5. when exceedhigly corrupted and 
 degenerated, yet remembered they were thd 
 chofen people of God; and could fay, Stand 
 
 by thyfelf, come not neat me, for I am ho- 
 
 lier than thou." That this was no chance 
 language, but their common Opinion of other 
 people, more fully appears, by confidering 
 the circumilances which attended when God 
 was beginning to fulfil his preciotis promifes 
 concerning the gathering of the Gentiles* 
 
 The Moft-High, in a vifion, Undeceived 
 Peter, firft prepared his heart to believe j 
 and, at the houfe of Cornelius, fhewed him 
 of a certainty that God was no refpecfler of 
 perfons. 
 
 The efrufion of the Hdl^ Ghoft upon a 
 people, with whom they, the JcwiHi chrif-* 
 tians .would not fo mlich as eat, was ftrange 
 to them : All they of the cifcumci{ion were 
 aftonilhed to fee it j and the apoilles and bre-^ 
 thren of Judea contended \vith Peter about 
 it, till he, having rehearfed the whole mat- 
 ter, and fully flaewn that the Father's love 
 
 S a was 
 
^6o CONSIDERATIONS on tiIe 
 
 was unlimited, they are thereat flruck with 
 admiration, and cry out, *^ Then hath God 
 
 alfo to the Gentiles granted repentance 
 
 unto Hfel'' 
 
 The opinion of pecuUar favours being con- 
 fined to them, was deeply rooted, or elfe the 
 above inflance had been lefs ftrange to them, 
 for thefc reafons : Firfl, They were generally 
 acquainted with the v/ri tings of the pro- 
 phets, by whom this time was repeatedly 
 Ipoken of, and pointed at. Secondly, Oar 
 bleiTed Lord Ihortly before exprefly faid, ^' I 
 have other flieep, not of this fold, them 
 alio muft I bring," &c. Laftly, His words 
 to them after his refurredlion, at the very 
 time of his afcenfion, Ye ihall be witnelTes 
 to me, not only in Jerufalem, Judea, and 
 Samaria, bvit to the uttermoft parts of the 
 earth 
 
 Thofe concurring circumflances, one would 
 think, might have raifed a ftrong expectation 
 of feeing fvich a time ; yet, when it came, it 
 proved matter of offence and aftonifhment. 
 
 To confider mankind otherwife than bre-^ 
 thren, to think favours are peculiar to one 
 nation, and exclude others, plainly fuppofes 
 a darknefs in th^ underftanding : for as God's, 
 love is univerfal, fo where the mind is fuf- 
 ficiently influenced by it, it begets a likenefs 
 of itfelf, and the heart is enlarged towards 
 all men. Again, to conclude a people fro- 
 ward, perverfe, and worfe by nature than 
 others (who ungratefully receive favours, 
 and apply them to bad cuds) this will excite 
 
 a tjehaviour 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 261 
 
 a behaviour toward them unbecoming the 
 excellence of true religion. 
 
 To prevent fuch error, let us calmly confi- 
 der their circumftance ; and, the better to do 
 it, make their cafe ours, Suppofe, then, 
 that our anceftors and we had been expofed 
 to conftant fervitude, in the more fervile and 
 inferior employments of life ; that we had 
 been deftitute of the help of reading and good 
 company ; that amongft ourfelves we had 
 had few wife and pious inftrudlors ; that the 
 religious amongft our fuperiors feldom took 
 notice of us ; that while others, in eafe, 
 have plentifully heaped up the fruit of our 
 labour, we had received barely enough to re- 
 lieve nature ; and being wholly at the com- 
 mand of others, had generally been treated 
 as a contemptible, ignorant part of man- 
 kind : Ihould we, in that cafe, be lefs abjedl 
 than they now are ? Again, If oppreflion be 
 fo hard to bear, that a wife man is made 
 mad by it, Eccl, vii. 7. then a feries of thofe 
 things altering the behaviour and manners 
 of a people, is what may reafonably be ex- 
 peded. 
 
 When our property is taken contrary to 
 our mind, by means appearing to us unjuft, 
 it is only through divine influence, and the 
 enlargement of heart from thence proceed- 
 ing, thrtt we can love our reputed oppref- 
 fors : if the Negroes fall ihort in this, an 
 uneafy, if not a difconfolate difpoiition, will 
 be awakened, and remain like feeds in their 
 minds, producing floth and many other ha- 
 
262 CONSIDERATIONS ON the 
 
 bits appearing odious to us ; with which ^ he^ 
 ing free men, they, perhaps, had not beeu 
 chargeable. Thefe, and other circumftances, 
 rightly conlidered, Vv^ll leffen that too great 
 difparity, which foine make between us and 
 them. 
 
 Integrity of heart hath appeared in fome 
 of them ; lo that, if we continue in the word 
 of Chrlft (previous to difciplefhip, John viii. 
 31.) and our coadu6l towards them be fea-^ 
 foned with his love, we may hope to fee the 
 good efFedl of it: the which, in a good de- 
 gree, is the cafe with fome into whofe hands 
 they have fallen : but that too many treat 
 them othcrwife, not feeroing confcious of 
 any ncglecl, is, alas ! too evident. 
 
 When felf-love prefides in pur minds, our 
 opinions are biafled in otu^*own favour ; in 
 this condition, being concerned with a peo- 
 ple lb lituated, that they have no yoice to 
 plead their ovni caiife, there's danger of uf- 
 ing ourfelves to an undifturbed partiality, 
 till, by long cuflom, the mind becomes re- 
 conciled with it, and the judgment itfeif in- 
 fecl:ed. 
 
 To humbly apply to God for wifdom, that 
 we may thereby be enabled ta fee things as 
 they are, and ought to be, is very needful ; 
 hereby the hidden things of darknefs may 
 be brought to light, and the judgment made 
 clear : we fliall then confider mankind as bre-- 
 thren. Though different degrees and a vari- 
 ety of qualifications and abilities, one. de- 
 pendant on another, be admitted, yet high 
 
 thought.^ 
 
 • / , ^ • ' ■ 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 263 
 
 thoughts will be laid afide, and al! men treat- 
 ed as becometh the fons of one ftither, agree- 
 able to the dodlrine of Chrift Jcfus, 
 
 " He hath laid down the befl criterion, 
 by which mankind ought to judge of their 
 own conduct, and others judge for them of 
 theirs, one towards another^ viz. What- 
 foever ye would that men ihould do unto 
 you, do ye even fo to them.'l I take it, 
 that all men by nature, are equally entitled 
 . to the equity of this rule, and under the in- 
 difpenfable obligations of it. One man ought 
 not to look upon another man, or fociety of 
 men, as fo far beneath him ; but that he 
 fliould put hirdfelf in their place, in all his 
 adlions towards them, and bring all to this 
 teft, viz. How fhould I approve of this con- 
 ' dud:, were I in their circumftance, and they 
 in mine A. Arfcot's Conliderations, p. III. 
 foL 107. 
 
 This doclrine being of a moral unchange- 
 able nature, hath been like wife inculcated in 
 the former difpenfation ; If a ftranger fo- 
 journ with thee in your land, ye lhall not 
 vex him; but the ftranger that dwelleth 
 with you, fliall be as one born amongil 
 , you, and thovi flialt love him as thyfelf/' 
 Lev. xix. 3^, 34. Had thefe people come vo- 
 luntary and dwelt amongft us, to have called 
 them ftrangers would be proper; and their 
 being brought by force, with regret, and a 
 languilhing mind, may well raife compaffion 
 in a heart rightly difpofed : but there is no- 
 thing in fuch treatment, which upon a wife 
 
^64 GONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 and jutikipBj coniideratipu, will amy way$ 
 leiTeri their right of being treated as ftran- 
 gers. If the treatment which many of them 
 incet WIUI5 be rightly e>jamlned and com- 
 pared with th^oie precepts, Thou ihajt not 
 ^' vex him nor opprefs him; he fl^all be aj^ 
 
 one born amongft you, and thou fhalt love 
 
 Kim as thyfelf/' Lev. xix. 33. Deut. xxvii. 
 19. there will appear an important difference 
 betwixt them. 
 
 It may be objected there is coil of pur- 
 chafe^ and rifque of their lives to them whq 
 pofTefs 'em, and therefore needful that they 
 make the bell ufe of their time : in a prac- 
 tice juil and reafonable, fach objeflions may 
 have weight; but if the work be wrong frorn 
 the beginnings there is little or no force in 
 them. If I purchafe a man who hath never 
 forfeited his liberty, the natural right of 
 freedom is in him ; and fiiall I keep him and 
 his posterity in lervitude and ignoi'ance ? 
 
 Flow f[iou.ld I approve of this condudl, 
 Vv^ere I in his caxumllances, and he in niiner'' 
 It may be thought, that to treat them as we 
 would willingly be treated, our gain by theii^' 
 would be inconlidcrable : and it were, in di- 
 vers refpe(!^s, better that there were none in 
 our counlry. 
 
 'We may further coniider, that they are 
 noy<r amongri us, and. thofe of our nation tlie 
 caufe of their being here ; that whatfoever 
 dilncuky accrues thereon, we are juftly 
 chargeable with, and to bear all inconveni- 
 ^ncies attending it, v/ith aferious and weigh-^ 
 
Keeping OF NEGROES. 265 
 
 %y Goi^cern of mind to do our duty by them, 
 is the bed we can do. To feek a remedy by 
 ponthiuing the opprefiion, becaufe we have 
 power to do it, and fee others do it, will, I 
 apprehend, not be doing as \yc would be 
 done by. 
 
 How deeply foever men are involved in 
 the niOil exquifite difiiculties, fincerity of 
 heart, and upright walking before God, free- 
 ly fubmitting to his *providence, is the mod 
 fure remedy : He only is able to relieve, not 
 only perfons, but nations, in their greateft 
 calamities. 
 
 David, in a great firait, whpn the fenfe of 
 his paft error, and the full expectation of an 
 impending calamity, as the reward of it, 
 !7>'ere united to the aggravating his diftrefs, 
 after fome deliberation, ilu th, Let me fall 
 
 uow into the hands of the Lord, for very 
 
 great are his mercies ; let me not fall in- 
 
 to the hand of man." i Chron. xxi. 13. 
 
 To a6l continually with integrity of heart, 
 above all narrow or felfifli motives, is a fure 
 token of our being partakers of that lah ac- 
 tion which - God hath appointed for Vv^alls 
 
 and bulwarks,^' ifa. v. 26. Rom. xv. 8. axid 
 is, beyond all contradicftion, a more happy 
 fituation than can ever be proinifed by the 
 utmoft reach of art and power united, not 
 proceeding from heavenly w^ifdom. 
 
 A fupply to nature's lav/ful wants, joined 
 y/ith a peaceful, humble mind, is the truefc 
 happinefs in this life ; and if here we arrive 
 |o this, and remajjci to w^alk in the path of 
 
^66 CONSIDERATIONS ON the 
 
 thejuft, our cafe will be truly lip.ppy : and 
 though herein we may part with, or mifs of 
 fome glaring Ihews of riches, and leave our 
 children little elfe but wife inftruftions, a 
 good example, and the kfiowlcdge of fome 
 honed employment ; thefe, v/ith the blefling 
 of Providence, are fuiScient for their happi- 
 nefs, and are more likely to prove fo, than 
 laying up treallires for them, which are of- 
 ten rather a fnare, than any real benefit ; ef- 
 pecially to them, who, inftead of being ex- 
 ampled to temperance, are in all things 
 taught to prefer the getting of riches, and 
 to eye the temporal diftindlions they give, as 
 the principal buiinefs of this life. TJiefe rea- 
 dily overlook the true happinefs of man, as 
 it refults from the enjoyment of all things in 
 the fear of God, and, miferably fubflituting 
 an inferior good, dangerous in the acquir- 
 ing, and uncertain in the fruition, they are 
 fubjed: to many difappointments, and every 
 fweet carries its fting. 
 
 It is the concluiion of our blelTed Lord and 
 his apoilies, as appears by their lives and 
 dodlrines, that the higheil delights of fenfe, 
 or moft pleafing objects viiible, ought ever to 
 be accounted infinitely inferior to that real 
 intellectual happinefs fuited to man in his 
 primitive innocence, and now to be found in 
 true renovation of mind ; and that the com- 
 forts of our prefent life, the things mod 
 grateful to us, ought always to be received 
 with temperance, and never made the chief 
 objedls of our delire, hope, or love: but that 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 267 
 
 aur whole heart and afFeclions be principally 
 looking to that city, which hath founda- 
 
 tions, whofe maker and builder is God." 
 Did we fo improve the gifts bellowxd on iis, 
 that our children might have an education 
 fuited to thefe dodtrines, and our example to 
 confirm it, we might rejoice in hopes of theii' 
 being heirs of an inheritance incorruptible. 
 
 This inheritance, as chriftians, we efteem 
 the rm){i valuable ; and how then can we fail 
 to deHre it for our children ? O that we were 
 confiilent v/ith ourfelves, in purfuing means 
 neceflliry to obtain it ! 
 
 It appears, by experience, that w^here chil- 
 dren are educated in fulnefs, eafe and idlc- 
 nefs, evil habits are more prevalent, than in 
 common amongft fuch who are prudently 
 employed in the neceOliry affiiirs of life : and 
 if children are not only educated in the way 
 of fo great temptation, but have alfo the op« 
 portunity of lording it over their fellow- 
 creatures, and being mafters of men in their 
 childhood, how can wc hone othervvife than 
 that their tender minds will be pofTeff^d with 
 thoughts too high for them ? which, by con- 
 tinuance, gaining flrength, v^rill prove, like 
 a flow current, gradually feparating them 
 from (or keeping from acquaintance with) 
 that humility and meeknefs in which alone 
 lalling happinefs can be enjoyed. 
 
 Man is born to labour, and experience a- 
 bundantiy flieweth, that it is for our good : 
 but where the powerful lav the burthen on 
 the interior, without aiTording a clirilliaa 
 
 education^ 
 
s68 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 education, and fuitable opportunity of im- 
 proving the mind, and a treatment which 
 we, in their cafe, fliould approve, that them- 
 felves may live at eafe, and fare fumptaouf- 
 ly, and lay up riches for their ky. this 
 
 feems to contradldl the defigrx o r rovidence, 
 and, I doubt, is fometimes the ei%Jl of a 
 perverted mind : for v/hile the life of one is 
 made grievous by the rigour of another, it 
 entails mifery.on both. 
 
 Amongit the manifold works of Provi- 
 dence, clifplayed in the different ages of the 
 w^orld, thefe v/hich follow (with many others) 
 may afford inftrudiion. 
 
 Abraham was called of God to leave his 
 country and kindred, to fojourn amongft 
 ftrangers : through famine, and danger of 
 death, he was forced to flee from one king- 
 dom to another : he, at length, not only had 
 affiirancc of being the father of many na- 
 tions, but became a mighty prince. Genefis 
 xxiii. 6. / 
 
 Remarkable were the dealings of God with 
 Jacob in a low eftate, the juft fenfe he re- 
 tained of them after his advancement, ap- 
 pears by his words : I am not worthy of 
 
 the leafl of all thy mercies." Genefis xxxii. 
 10. xlviii. 15. 
 
 The numerous affliftipns of Jofeph are 
 very lingular ; the particular providence of 
 God therein, no lefs manifeft : he, at length, 
 became governor of Egypt, and famous for 
 Vvrifdom and virtue. 
 
 The 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 26^ 
 
 The feries of troubles David pafTed taro', 
 few amongit us are ignorant of ; and yet lie 
 afterwards became as one of the great men 
 of the earth. 
 
 Some evidences of the divine wifdom ap- 
 pears iu thofe things, in that fuch who are 
 intended for high ftations, have firft been 
 ^ery low and dejedled, that truth might be 
 feaied on their hearts ; and that the charac- 
 ters there imprinted by bitternefs and adver- 
 fity, might in after years remain, fiiggeft- 
 ing compaffionate ideas, and, in their pro- 
 fperity, quicken their regard to thofe in the 
 hke condition : which yet further appears in 
 the cafe of Ifrael : they were v/ell acquaint- 
 ed with grievoufe fufferings, a long and rigo-* 
 rous fervitude ; then, thro' many notable e- 
 vents, were made chief amongft the nations : 
 to them we find a repetition of precepts to 
 the purpofe abovefaid: though, for ends a- 
 greeable to infinite wifdom, they were chofe 
 as a peculiar people for a time ; yet the Mofl 
 High acquaints them, that his love is not 
 confined, but extends to the fcranger 5 and, 
 to excite their compaffion, reniinas them of 
 times pad, Ye were flrangers in the land 
 '\ of Egypt," Deut.x. 19. Agda, Thou 
 fhalt not opprefs a ftrangcr, for ye know 
 the heart of a ftranger^ feeing ye were 
 ftrangers in the land of Egypt,'' Exod, 
 xxiii. 9. 
 
 If we call to mind our beginning, ibme of 
 us may find a umc^ wherein our fathers were 
 
 UEider 
 
CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 vmder afflicflions, reproaches, and manifold 
 fufferings. 
 
 RefpeAing our progrefs in this land, the 
 time is fliort fince our beginning was fmail 
 and number few, compared with the native 
 inhabitants. He that ileeps not by day nor 
 night, hath watched over us, and kept us as 
 the apple of his eye. His almighty arm hath 
 been round about us, and faved us from 
 dangers. 
 
 The wild6rnefs and folitary defarts in 
 which our fathers palTed the days of their 
 pilgrimage, are now turned into pleafant 
 fields J the natives are gone from before us, 
 and we eflabliihed peaceably in the pofTeffion 
 of the land, enjoying our civil and religious 
 liberties ; and, v*"hile many parts of the 
 world have groaned under the heavy calami- 
 ties of war, our habitation remains quiet^ 
 and our land fruitful. - 
 
 When w^e trace back the fheps w^e have 
 trodden, and fee how the Lord hath opened 
 a way in the wildernefs for us, to the wife 
 it will eafily appear, that all this was not 
 done to be buried in oblivion; but to pre- 
 pare a people for more fruitful returns, and 
 the remembrance thereof, ought to humble 
 us in profperity, and excite in us a chriftian 
 benevolence tow^ards our inferiors* 
 
 If vv^e do not conlider thefe things aright, 
 but, through a ftupid indolence, conceive 
 vievv^s of intereft, feparate from the general 
 good of the great brotherhood, and, in pur*- 
 liianee thereot^ treat our inferiors v/ith ri- 
 gour. 
 
K^EMNG OF NEGROES/ ±jt 
 
 gour, to increafe our weakli, and gain riches 
 for our children ; What then lhall We do 
 ^' when God rifeth up ? and when he viiit- 
 eth, what jhall we anfwer him ? did not 
 he that made us, make them ? and did not 
 one falhion us in the womb Job xxxi. 
 
 13. 14- 
 
 To our great matter w^e ftand or fall, to 
 judge or condemn us as is moft fuitable toh is 
 wifdom or authority ; my inclination is to 
 perfuade, and intreat^ and fimply give hints 
 of my way of thinking. 
 
 If the chriitian religion be confidered, both 
 refpe6li ng its doctrines, and the happy in- 
 fluence which it hath on the minds and 
 manners of all real chriftians, it looks rea- 
 fonable to think, that the miraculous mani- 
 feftation thereof to the world, is a ki ndnefs 
 beyond expreffion. 
 
 Are we the people thus favoured? are w^e 
 they whofe minds are opened, influenced^ 
 and governed by the Spirit of Chrift, and 
 thereby made fons of God? is it not a fair 
 conclufion, that we, like our heavenly Fa- 
 ther, ought, in our degree, to be active in 
 the fame great caufe, of the eternal happi- 
 nefs of, at leaft, our whole families, and 
 more, if thereto capacitated ? 
 
 If we, by the operation of the Spirit of 
 Chrift, become heirs with him in the king- 
 dom of his Father, and are redeemed front 
 the alluring counterfeit joys of this world^ 
 and the joy of Chrift remain in us, to fup- 
 pofc that one remaining in this happy con- 
 dition, 
 
CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 dition, can, for the fake of earthly richesf 
 not only deprive his fcllow-creatures of the 
 fweetneis of freedom, (which, rightly ufedj 
 is one of the greate(l temporal bleffings) but 
 therewith neglecft viling proper means, for 
 their acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures^ 
 and the advantage of true religion, feems, 
 at leait, a contradi(51:ion to reafon. - 
 Whoever rightly advocates the caufe of , 
 fome, thereby promotes the good of all. The 
 ftate of mankind was harmonious in the 
 beginnings and though fin hath introduced 
 diicord, yet, through the wonderful love 61 
 God, iu Chrift Jefus our Lord, the way is 
 open for our redemption, and means ap- 
 pointed to reftore us to primitive har- 
 mony « That if one fuffer by the unfaith-* 
 fulnefs of another, the mind, the moft no- 
 ble part of him that occafions the difcord, is 
 tliereby alienated from its true and real hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 Our duty and interefl is infeparably unit- 
 ed, and when v/e neglecl or mifiife our ta- 
 lents, we neceilarily depart from the heaven- 
 ly fellowlhip, and are in the way to the 
 greateft of evils. 
 
 Therefore to examine and prove ourfelves^ 
 to find what harmony the power preiiding 
 in us bears with the divine nature, is a duty 
 not more incumbent and neceilary, than it 
 would be beneficiaL 
 
 In Holy Writ the Divine Being faith of 
 himfelf, I am the Lord, wdiich exercife 
 
 loving-kindnefs, judgment and righteouf- 
 
 nefs 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 27^ 
 
 nefs in the earth ; for ill thefe things I de-^ 
 
 lights faith the Lord/' Jer. ix, 24. Again, 
 fpeaking iii the Way of man, to Ihew his 
 compaffiori to Ifrael, whofe wickednefs had 
 occafioned a calamity, and then being hum- 
 bled under it, it is faid, 'V His foul was 
 . grieved for their miferies," Jtidges x» 16. 
 If we confider the life of our blefled Saviour* 
 when on earth, a^ it is recorded by his fol- 
 lowers, we fliall find, that one uniform de- 
 fire for the eternal, and temporal good o£ 
 inankiiid, difcovered itfelf in all his actions. 
 
 If we oblerve men, both apoftles and o- 
 tliers, in many different ^ges, who have 
 really come to the unity of the Spirit, and 
 the fellowfhip of the faints, there ftill appears 
 the like difpofition, and in them the delire 
 of the real happinefs of niankind, has out- 
 balanced the defire of eafe, liberty, and, 
 many times, life itfelf. 
 
 If upon a true fearch, we find that otlf na- 
 tures are fo far renewed, that to exercife righ- 
 teoufnefs and loving-kindnefs (according to 
 our ability) towards ail men, without reipecSt 
 of perfons, is eafy to us^ or is our delight ; 
 if our love be fo orderly, and regular, that 
 he who doeth the will of our Father, who is 
 in heaven, appears in our view, to be our 
 - neareft relation, our brother, and fitter, and 
 mother ; if this be our cafe, there is a good 
 foundation to hope, that the blelTing of God 
 will fweeten our treafures during our ftay in 
 this life, and our memory be favory, whea 
 we are entered ini^o refl. 
 
 T ^ Tq 
 
674 i^ONSmERATIONS, V: 'j 
 
 To conclude, 'Tis a trath moft certain, 
 ^th^t a life guMcd by wlfdom from above, 
 agreeable with juftice, equity, and mercy, 
 IS throughout coniiftent and amiable, qand 
 truly beneficial to fociety ; the ferenity and 
 calmnefs of mind in it, affords an imparal- 
 -lelled xomfort in this life, and the end of it 
 is bleffed. 
 
 And, no lefs true, that they, who in the 
 midft of high favours, remain ungrateful, 
 and under all the advantages that a chriftian 
 can defire, are felfilli, earthly, and fenfual, 
 do mifs the true fountain of happinefs, and 
 wander in a maze of dark anxiety, where all 
 their treafures are infufEcient to quiet their 
 minds : hence, from an infatiable craving, 
 they negledl doing good with what they have 
 accjuired, and too often add opprefTioa to va- 
 -nity, that they may compafs more. 
 
 O that they were wife, that they under- 
 
 flood this, that tliey would coafider their 
 
 latter end Deut. xxxii. zg. 1 
 
 C O N- 
 
( C O N S I D EU A 1 1 O N S 
 
 On the KEEPING of 
 
 % E % 0 E S. 
 
 Ilecoiiimeiided to tlie Profeflbrs of CKrifli- 
 a^ity of every Denoininatipn. 
 
 ^Part the Second.7 
 p printed in the year tj&^^ 
 
 Jhatt fibl reJpeB perjhnt tn ^ptigMenf f trnt 
 ye jhall hear the fmall as nvdl a^ thi^g^eat 
 Jhall not he afraid of the face of mM;' for the 
 judgment is ^ God's:-^ 'f^K -J^*^^^''^-^'^: : 
 
 -■ - - .... - . ^ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 yfLL our actons are of like nature ^ivith their 
 root; and the Moji High ^eigheth the^t 
 more fkilfuUy than Men can iveigh them one: 
 for another^ 
 
 I believe that one Supreme Being made and 
 fuppprts the ^ivorld ; nor can I tvorfhip any other 
 Deity without being an idolater^ and guilty of 
 'wickednefs^ 
 
 m 
 
276 , P R E F A G E. 
 
 " Many nations have believed in^ and voorjloip^ 
 fed a plurality of deities.; but I do, not believe 
 they vuere therefore all ivicked. Idolatry indeed 
 Is "u-ickednefs ; but it is the things not the namey^ 
 vdhich ii fo. Real idolatry is to pay that ado-- 
 ration to a creature^ which is knovun to be due 
 only to the true God. 
 
 - ' He vuho projejfeth to believe one Almighty 
 Creator^ and in his Son Je/iu Ghri/l^ and is 
 
 yet more intent on the honours^ profits and friend-^ 
 
 Jhips of the voorldy than he is in finglenefs of 
 /^(f^zr/ (land faithfvil to the cliriftiau religion., 
 IS in the channel of idolatry ; vuhile the Gentile, 
 vuho^ under fome mifiaken opinions^ is notivith" 
 
 fiafidiitg efiablijhed in the true principle of vir- 
 tue^ and humbly adorer an almighty power ^ may 
 be of that number who fear God^ and work 
 right eoufnefs. [ 
 
 I believe the bifhop of Rome affumes a power ^ 
 that does 7iot belong to any officer in the church 
 of Chrifi ; and if I Jhould knowingly do any 
 
 jhing^ tending to fir eng then him in that capa-^^ 
 city^ it would be great iniquity. There are ma- 
 7iy thoufands of people^ who by their profejjiom^ 
 acknowledge him to be the reprefentative of Je- 
 
 fus Chrifi on earth \ and to fay that none of 
 them are upright in hearty would be contrary to 
 my fentiments. 
 
 Men who fincerely apply their minds to true 
 virtue^ and find an inward fupport from above 
 hy which all vicious inclinations are made fub- 
 
 j eft ; that they love God fi7tcerely^ and prefer 
 the real good of mankind imiverfally to their 
 
 own 
 
hn^f^ikjlite whr^ ; t^gh thefe^ through tht- 
 Jirength of education and tradition^ may rtmain 
 under fome fpeculative and great errors^ it ivould 
 he^imchafitable to fay^ that therefore God rejeSis 
 thenL-^He voho creates^ fupports and gwes un-- ^ 
 derfanding to all men^ his knouoledge and good- 
 nefs is fiiperior to the various cafes and circum-^ 
 Jlances of his creatures^ ivhich to its appear tht' 
 mof difficult. 
 
 '^^The apofles and primitive chrifiiaiis did not ■ 
 tenfure all the Gentiles as wicked men^ Rom. \\. 
 14. Col /ill. 1 1, but as they ivere favoured ivith 
 a gift to difcern things 7nore clearfyy re/pe fling 
 the %vorfhip of the true God ^ they with much 
 
 frmnefs declared againjl the vuorfhipping of /- 
 dols ; and ivith true patience endured many fuf- 
 
 firings^ on that account. 
 
 Great numbers of faithful Protefants have 
 contended for the truth^ in oppofttion to papal 
 errors ; and vuith true fortitude laid doivn their 
 lives in the conflid^ ivithout faying^ That no 
 man was faved who made profefion of that re- 
 ligion. 
 
 While we have no right to keep men as fer- 
 vants for term of Ife^ but that of fuperior powd- 
 er ; to do this^ with deftgn by their labour to 
 profit purfelves and our families ^ I believe is 
 wrmg; but I do 7iot believe that all who have 
 kept Jlaves^ have therefore been chargeable witJ§ 
 guilt. If their motives thereto were free fr om 
 fclfijhnejs^ and their Jtaves content^ they wer^ 
 a fort of freemen ; which I believe hath fome-^ 
 jjmes been the cafe. 
 
 Whatever 
 
Whatever a man does in the fptiri of charity^, 
 to him tt is not ftth : and njuhjile he lives an4 a^r 
 in this fpirity he learns all things effervtiat to hisx 
 happinefsy as an individua^l : \ind if he doth not 
 fee that any injury or injufiice^ to any other fer-^ 
 fon^ is nece]jhrily 'promoted' by any part of his 
 form of government^ I believe the merciful 
 Judge nvill not lay iniquity to his charge. Tet 
 others^ who live in the faitie fpirit of charity^ 
 from a clear convincement ^ may fee the relation 
 of one thing to another y and the neceffary ten- 
 dency of each ; and hence it may be abfolutely 
 finding on them ti^ dejijl frcitn fome parts of con-^^ 
 4u^i which fame good men have been iff.. 
 
A T I o N s 
 
 On the l^E E PING of 
 
 N E Q R 0 E 
 
 ■ \ iT.^:^ 'Mj^^ .. . 
 
 A S fome In moft religious focieties a- 
 mongft the Englilh are concerned in 
 ^ importing or purchafing the inhabi- 
 tants of Africa as flaves ; and as the profeJP- 
 fors of chriftianity of feveral other nations 
 do the like ; thefe circumftances tend to make 
 people lefs apt to examine the pradlice fo 
 clofely as they would, if fuch a thing had 
 not been, but was now propofed to be en- 
 tered upon. It is however our duty, and 
 what concerns us individually, as creatures 
 accountable to ovir Creator, to employ right- 
 ly the underftanding which he hath given 
 us, in humbly endeavouring to be acquaint- 
 ed with his will concerning us, and with the 
 nature and tendency of thofe things which 
 we pradlife: for as juflice remains to be juf- 
 tice, fo many people, of reputatiou in the 
 
 . ^ world 
 
 4 
 
28o CAHSIAERATIONS on the 
 
 world, joining with wrong things, do not - 
 excufe others m joining with them, nor make 
 the confequence of their proceedings /lefs 
 dreadfal in^the final iiTiie, than it would be 
 otherwife. 
 
 Where unrighteoufnefs is jnflified froni 
 one age to another, it is like dark matter 
 gathering into clouds over us. We may 
 know that this gloom will remain till the 
 canfe be ^rempjed by a reforniation, or 
 change of times ; and may feel a delire, from 
 a love of equity, to fpeak on the occafion; 
 yet where error is fo ftrong, that it may not 
 be fpoken againft, without' fome profpe6l of 
 inconvenience to the fpeaker, this difficulty 
 is likely to operate on our weaknefs, and 
 quench the good defires in us ; except we 
 dwell fo fteadily under the weight of it, as to 
 be made willing to endure hardnefs" oxi 
 that account. ^ ' " ^ r 
 
 Where men exert their talents againft 
 vices generally accounted fuch, the ill effedls 
 whereof are prefently perceived in a govern- 
 ment, all men who regard their own tempo- 
 ral good, are likely to approve the work. 
 But when that which is inconfiftent with 
 perfe6l equity, hath the law, or countenance 
 of the great in its favour, though the ten- 
 dency thereof be quite contrary to the true 
 liappinefs of mankind iii an equal, if not 
 greater- degree, than many things account- 
 ed r^rbachful to chriftians ; yet, as thefe ill 
 effects '^re not generah they who 
 
 |abour- t<) difliiade frojn fuch things, which, 
 
^ We e p I k g o f negro E S. aSi 
 
 people believe accord with their intereft, have 
 maiiv difficulties to encounter. ^^_^^.,ri^^',y 
 
 The repeated Charges, v/hich God gave to 
 his prophets, imply the danger they vv^ere in 
 of erring on this Hand. Be not afraid of 
 their fac?s ; for I am v^ith thee, to deliver 
 thee, faith the Lord." Jcr. i. 8. ^' Speak 
 all the words that I command thee to 
 fpeak to them ; diminifli not a word.'' Jer. 
 xxvi. 2. ^' And thou, fon of man, be not 
 f ' afraid of them, nor difmayed at their 
 looks. Speak my words to them, whether 
 *^ they will hear or forbear.'' Ezek. ii. 6, 7. 
 
 Under an apprehenfion of duty, I oiFer 
 fome further confiderations on this, fubject, 
 having endeavoured fome years to confider it 
 candidly. I have obferved people of our 
 own colour, whofe abilities have been infe- 
 rior to the affairs which relate to their con- 
 venient fubfiftence, who have been taken 
 care of by others, and the pi'ofit of fuch 
 y\^ork as they could do, applied toward their 
 fupport. — -I believe there are fuch amongft 
 negroes ; and that fome people, in whofe 
 hands they are, keep them with no view of 
 outward profit, do not confider them as black 
 men, who, as fuch, ought to ferve white 
 men ; but account them perfons who have 
 need of guardians, and as fuch take care of 
 them: yet where equal care is taken in alt 
 parts of education, I do not apprehend cafesr 
 of this fort are likely to occur more frequent- 
 ly amongft one fort of people than another. 
 
^2 C|:^JBEJiAXipNa aN thk 
 
 It looks ta me tha^^^ trade was 
 
 foundedy and hath generally been carried on, 
 in a wrong fpirit ; that the efFe6ls of it are 
 detrimental to the real profperity of our 
 country ; and will be more fo, except we 
 ceafe from the common motives of keeping 
 them, and treat them in future agreeable to 
 truth and pure juftice, 
 
 Negroes may be imported, wKo, for their 
 cruelty to their countrymen, and the evil 
 difpofition of their minds, may be unfit to 
 be at liberty ; and if we, as lovers of righte- 
 oufnefs, undertake the management of them, 
 we fliould have a full and clear knowledge of 
 their crimes, and of thofe circumflances which 
 might operate in their favour; but the diffi- 
 culty of obtaining this is fo great, that we 
 have great reafon to be cautious therein. 
 But, fhould it plainly appear that abfolute 
 fubjeiflion was a condition the moft proper 
 ipr the perfon who is purchafed, yet the in-* 
 nocent children ought not to be made flaves, 
 becaufe their parents finned. 
 
 We have account in holy fcripture of fomc 
 \. families fuffering, where mention is only made 
 t>f the heads of the family committing wick-' 
 ednefs ; and it is likely that the degenerate 
 Jews, mifunderftanding fome occurrences of 
 this kind, took occafion to charge God w-ith 
 being unequal ; fo that a faying became com^ 
 mon^j. The Fathers have eaten four grapes, 
 and the children's teeth are fet oh edge.'^ 
 . Jeremiah and Ezekiel, two of -the infpirecj 
 prophets, who lived ne^^ the fame time, \verc 
 
 ^ concerned 
 
'jfaticerned to cortt(5l this error. Ezekiel is 
 large on the fubje.<^. Fii'ft, he reproves them 
 for their error, " What mean ye, that ye 
 
 do fo/* chap, xviii. verfe 2. As I live; 
 
 f^ith the Lord God, ye fhall not have oc- 
 ^^^^^tfi^ii any more to ule this proverb in IP* 
 ' - i*ael.^ V The vsrords, any more," have 
 reference to tinie pail ; intimating, that tho' 
 they had not rightly underftood fome things 
 they had heard or feen, and thence flippofed 
 the proverb to be well grounded ; yet hence- 
 fprth they might know of a certainty, that 
 the ways of God are all equal; that as fure 
 ^gs the Moft High liveth, fo fure men are oil-^ 
 Uy anfwerable for their own fins.— ^Fle thus 
 dfiims up the matter, ver, zo. The foul that 
 ^' iinneth, it fhall die. The fon fhall not bear 
 *^ the iniquity of the father ; neither fhall the 
 
 father bear the iniquity of the fon. The 
 
 righteoufnefs of the righteous fhall be up- 
 *V on him ; and the wickednefs of the wicked 
 
 fliali be upon him. 
 
 AVhere men are wicked, they commonly are 
 ' it means of corrupting the fucceeding age ; 
 and thereby haften thofe outward c^^lami ties, 
 which fall on nations, when their iniquities 
 are full. : ^ - 
 
 Men may purfue means whicn'ire not a- 
 greeable to perfect purity, v/ith a view to in- 
 ''creafe the wealth and happinefs of their off"- 
 Ipring, and thereby make the way of virtue 
 more difScult to them. And though the ill 
 jexampleof a parent, or a multitude, does hot 
 bxcufe a man in ^oini? eviL yet tke niindJbe- 
 
^^ PON3IDERATIONS on the 
 
 ing early -inapreffed with vicious notions and 
 pradlices, and nurtured up in ways ^of get- 
 ting treafure, which are not the ways of 
 truth ; this wrong fpirit getting firft poffeffi- 
 on, and being thus ftrengthened, frequently 
 prevent?^ due attention toj the true fpirit of 
 wifdom.fo that thev exceed in' wickednefs thofe 
 who lived before them. And in this channel, 
 though parents labour, as they think, to for- 
 ward thelxappinefs of their children, it proves 
 a means of forwarding their calamity. This- 
 being the cafe in the age next before the 
 grievous calamity in thefiege of Jerufalem,and 
 carrying Judah captive to Babylon, they might 
 fay with propriety, This came upon us, be- 
 caufeour fathers forfcok God, and becaufe we 
 did worfc than our fathers. See Jer. vii. 26. 
 
 As the generation iiext before them inward- 
 ly turned a Vv^-iy from God, v.dio yet waited to 
 I e; gracious ; and as they in that age conti- 
 K^^ed in ^hoie things which neceflarily lepa- 
 rated from periecft goodnefs, growing more 
 tiubborn, till the judgments of God v/ere 
 poured out upon them ; they might properly 
 lay, /' Our fathers have finned, and we have 
 
 jjorp^ their iniquities Lam. v. And yet, 
 wicked as their fathers vv^ere, had they not 
 liicceedcd them in their wickednefs, they had 
 not borne their iniquities. ■ 
 
 To flippofe it right, that ail innocent man 
 Ihall at this day be excluded from the com- 
 mon rules of juflice ; be deprived of that li- 
 berty, which :is the* natural right of human 
 creatures; and "be a flave to others during 
 
 life. 
 
r Ke.rpiHg negroes. 2^$ 
 
 lifcj on. account or a Im committed by hiS 
 immediate parents ; or a fin commhted l^y 
 Ham, the fon of Noah is a fivppofition to6 
 g^ois to be adiiiitted into the mind of any 
 perfon, who fincerely defircs to be governed 
 by fblld principles. 
 
 % . It is alledged, in favour of the pradlice^ 
 that Joil^ua made flaves of the Gibeonites. 
 
 What men do by the command of God, 
 and vv^kat comes to pafs as a confequence of 
 their neglect, are dilJerent ; fuch Sis the latter 
 cafe now mentioned was. 
 
 It was the exprefs command of the Almigh- 
 ty to Ifrael, concerning the inhabitants of 
 the promifed land, Thou lhalt make no 
 " covenant with them, nor Vv4th their Gods : 
 
 They lhall not dwell in thy land,'' Exod. 
 •xxiii. 32. Thofe Gibeonites came craftily, 
 telling Joiliua, that they were come from a 
 far country ; that their elders had fent them 
 to make a league with the people of Ifrael; 
 and as an evidence of their being foreigners, 
 fliewed their old cloaths, &c. And the 
 
 men took of their vi6luals, and afked not? 
 
 counfel at the mouth of the Lord; and 
 
 Joflma made peace with them, and ma46 
 *V a league with them, to let them live ; and 
 
 the princes fv/are to them." Jolh. xcvi. 1 4, 1 5. 
 
 When the impofition was difcovered, the 
 congregation murmured againft the princes: 
 
 But all the princes faid to all the congrega- 
 " tion, we have fworh to them by the Lord 
 
 God of Ifrael j now therefore v^e may no¥ 
 
 touch them } we will Qrm let thmi live,' 
 
*^ left wrath be upon us ; but kt them b« 
 
 hewe*rs of wood, and drawers of water tin^ 
 to the congregation* 
 
 Omitting to afic coiinfel, involved theitt ill 
 great difHculty. The Gibeonites were of tliofe 
 cities, of which the Lord faid, Thoit ffialt 
 ^ fave ahve nothing that breatheth and o£ 
 the ftock of the Hivites, concerning whom 
 he commanded by name^ Thou flialt finite 
 them, and utterly deflroy them : Thou 
 fhalt make no covenant with them^ nor 
 fhew mercy unto them/' Deut. vii. i. Thus 
 Jofliua and the princes, not knowing them, 
 liad made a league with them, to let them 
 live } and in this ftrait they refolve to make 
 them fervants* Jofliua and the princes fuf- 
 peeled them to be deceivers : Peradventurc 
 you dwell amongft us : and how lhall we 
 ^Vmake a league with you?" Which words 
 (hew, that they remembered the command 
 before mentioned ; and yet did not enquire 
 at the mouth of the Lord, as Mofes diredled 
 Jofliua^ when he gave him a charge refpedl- 
 ing his duty as chief man among that people, 
 Numb, xxvii. 21. By this omiflion things 
 became lb fltuated, that Jofhua and the 
 princes could not execute the judgments of 
 God on them, without violating the oath 
 which they had made, 
 
 Mofes did amifs at the waters of Meribah j 
 and doubtlefs he foon repented ; for the Lord 
 was with him. And it is likely that Jofhua 
 was deeply humbled, under a fenfe of his 
 omiilion ; for it appears that God continued 
 
 him 
 
Miinr^^ Ms office, and fpared the lives of 
 tk4f6 people^ for the fake of the kagiK: aud 
 oath made in his name; ^ f 
 
 nrThe wickednefs of thefe people was great, 
 ind they worthy to die, or perfect juftice had 
 not paffed fentence of death upon rhein ; and 
 as their execution was prevented by this league 
 and oath, they appear content to be fervants : 
 As it feemeth good and right unto thee to 
 do unto us, doi^---- . Uki^^- ^i^>g?.c:% 
 
 Thefe criminals, inftead of death, h^d the 
 lentence of fervitude pronounced on them, ia 
 thefe words, Now therefore ye are curled ; 
 ^ and there lhall none of you be freed froiu 
 being bondmeji, and hewers of wood> 
 and drawers of water for tlie houfe of my 
 
 ^"' We find, Deut. xi.^^6&i<^ti^ai^^1^ 
 cities far diftant from Canaan, againfl which 
 Ifrael went to battle j unto whom they were 
 to proclaim peadc,^ aild if the inhabitants 
 made anfwer of peace, and opened their 
 gates, they were not to deftroy them^ but 
 make them tributaries. v:;iii> siu 
 
 The children of Ifrael were then the Lord's 
 :hoft, and executioners of his judgments on: 
 p^eopie hardened in wickednefs.' — ^They w^erc 
 'itiat to go to battle, but by his appointment. 
 The men who were chief in his army, had 
 their inftrtidlions from the Almighty ; fome- 
 tiines immediately, and fome times by tho 
 miniftry of angels. Of thefe, a m6ngft others^ 
 were Mofes, Jo£hua, Othniel, arid'O^ ; 
 fee Exod. iii. 2. and x^iii, 19. Jo&. v. 13. 
 - " Thefe 
 
288 CONSIDEIIATIONS on rk^ 
 
 Thefe people far ofF from Canaan, agaiiif# 
 whom Ifrael was fent to battle, were fo cor-^^ 
 rupt, that the creator of the univerfe faw it 
 good to change their fituation; and in cafe 
 of their opening their gates, and coming nn^ 
 der tribvite, this their fiibje^ion^ though pro- 
 bably more mild than abfoliite flavery, wai^ 
 to laft little or no longer than while Ifrael re- 
 mained in the true fpirit of government. 
 
 It was pronounced by Mofes the prophet/' 
 as a confequence of their wickednefs, The^ 
 " ffcranger that is within thee fhall get abovd 
 thee very high ; and thou flialt come down* 
 very low : he ihall be the head^ and thott' 
 the tail/' Deut. xxviii. 43, 44* 
 This we find in fome meafure verified iri 
 their being made tributaries to the Moabite^, 
 MidianiteSj Amorites and Phil i (lines. 
 
 It is alledged in favour of the practice of. 
 Have-keepings that the Jews by their law 
 made flaves of the Heathen, Levit. xxv. 45; 
 Moreover, of the children of the ftrangers 
 that do fojourn amongft you, of them lhall 
 " y^ buy, and of their children, which are 
 f with you, which they begat in your land ; 
 
 and they fliall be your pollefiion ; and you 
 " fliall take them as an inheritance for your 
 children after you, to inherit them as a 
 pofleflion, they fliall be your bondmen for 
 ever.'' — — It is difiicult for us to have any 
 certain knowledge of the mind of Mofes, in 
 regard to keeping flaves, any other way than 
 by looking upon him as a true fervant of God, 
 wbofe iniijd and conduct were regulated by 
 
 an 
 
Keeping-, j^i^ U^^G^QES. ■ 
 
 An imyard principle ef juftke and equit^^ To 
 admit a fuppofition that he in that cafe waj5 
 drawn from perfed: equity by the alliance o£ 
 outward kindred, would be to difown his au- 
 thority. 
 
 Abraham had fervants born in his houfe^ 
 and bought with his money : And the Al- 
 
 mighty faid of Abraham, I know him, 
 *^ that he will order his houfe after him.'^ 
 Which implies, that he was as a father, kn 
 inflrucflor, and a good governor over his peo- ^ 
 pie. A nd Mofes, coniidered as a man of 
 God, mud nec'effarily have had a profpexft of 
 fome real advantage in the ftrangers and hea- 
 thens being fervants to the Ifraelites for a 
 time. 
 
 As mankind had received and eftablifhed - 
 many erroneous opinions and hurtful crlf- 
 toms, their living and converling with the 
 Jews, while the Jews ftood faithful to their 
 principles,* might be helpful to renlove thofe 
 errors, and reform their manners. -Bur 
 for men, with private view^s, to afTume an 
 labfolute power over the perfons and propea^- 
 ties of others ; and continue it from age to 
 kge in the line of natural generation, ^ with- 
 out regard to the virtues and vices of their 
 fucceifors, as it is manifeftly contrary to true 
 vmiverfal love, and attended with great evils, 
 there requires the clearefh evidence to beget a 
 belief in us, that Mofes intended that the 
 ftrangers fliouid as fuch be flaves to the Jews. 
 
 He direded them to buy ftrangers and fo- ^ 
 journers.— It appears that there were jftrang- 
 
 .1 ^ U ers , 
 
-90 CONSIDERATIONS on Trijfe 
 
 ers in Ijfrael who were free men ; and confi-* 
 dering witK what tendernefs and humanity 
 the Jews, by their law, were obliged to ufe 
 their fervants, and what care Was to be taken 
 to inftrudl them in the true religion, it is not 
 unhkely that foiiie ftrangers in poverty and 
 diftrefs Were willing to enter into bonds to 
 f<^rve the Jews as long as they lived j , and in . 
 luch cafe the Jews, by their laW, had a right 
 to their fervice during life. 
 
 When the awl was bored through the ear . 
 of the Hebrew fervant, the text faith, He 
 
 fliall fcrve for ever;" yet we do not fup-f 
 pofe that by the word for ever," it was in-^^ 
 tended that none of his pofterity fhould af-^.. 
 terwards be free ; when it is faid in regard tof 
 the ftrangers which they bought, They^ 
 
 fhall be your pofFeffion,'^' it may be welf 
 iTuderftood to mean only the perfons fo pur- 
 chafed ; all preceding relates to buying them ; 
 and what follows, to the continuance of their . 
 fervice, " You fliall take them as an inhe-:t 
 
 ritance: to your children after yoti ; they 
 
 fhall be your bondmen for ever/' It may 
 be well underflood to ftand limited to thofe 
 they purchafed. 
 
 Mofes, directing Aaron and ^ his fons to 
 wafh their hands and feet, when thev went ^ 
 into the tabernacle of the congregation, faith, v 
 
 It Xliall be a ftatute for ever to them, even ^ 
 
 to him and his i'eed throughout all gene- 
 ^'.ji'ations/' And to exprefs the continuance 
 of the law, it was his common language, 
 *';^|t5 |}i^,,t!^ for ever throughput;^: 
 
K £ E p I NEGROES. ^291 
 
 generations."' So that had he intend- 
 ed the pofterity of the ftrangers fo purchafed 
 to continue in flavery to the Jews, it looks 
 Hkely that he would have ufed fbme terms 
 clearly to exprefs it. The Jews undoubtedly- 
 had flaves, whom they kept as fuch from one 
 age to another ; but that this was agreeable 
 to the genuine defign of their infpired lawr 
 giver; is far from being a clear cafe. 
 
 Making conllrudions of the law contrary 
 to the true meaning of it, was common a- 
 
 niongft that people. Samuel's fons took 
 
 bribes, and perverted judgment.- — — Ifaiah 
 complained that they juftified the wicked for 
 reward. - — ^ — Zephaniah, cotemporary with 
 Jeremiah, on account of the injuftice of the 
 civil magiftrates, declared that thofe judges 
 were evening wolves ; and that the priefts 
 did violence to the law. 
 
 Jeremiah acquaints us, that the priefts 
 cried peace, peace, when there was no peace ; 
 by which means the people grew bold in 
 their wickedncfs ; and having committed a- 
 bominations, were not alhamed ; but, thro* 
 wi^ong conftrudlions of the law, they juftifi- 
 ed themfelves, and boaftingly faid We are 
 
 wife ; and the law of the Lord is with us.'* 
 Thefe corruptions continued till the days of 
 our Saviour, who told the Pharifees, You 
 
 have made the commandment of God of 
 
 none effedl through your tradition." 
 
 Thus it appears that they corrupted the 
 law of Mofes ; nor is it unlikely that among 
 many others this was one j for opprefling the 
 -^^^'^^ " V 2 ftranger^^ 
 
t^i CONSIDERATIONS 01^ THE . 
 
 ilrangers was a heavy charge agamft thtf 
 Jews, and very often ftrongly reprefented by 
 the Lord's faithful prophets. 
 
 That the hberty of man was, by the in- 
 fpired law-giver, efteemed precious, appear^ 
 in this ; that fuch who unjuftly deprived 
 men of it, were to be punifhed in like man- 
 ner as if they had murdered them. He 
 that flealeth a man, and felleth him ; or if 
 he be found in his hand, fhall furqly be 
 put to death.'' This part of the law wa& 
 fb confiderable, that Paul, the learned Jew^ 
 giving a brief account of the ufes of the law, 
 adds this, " It was made for men*ftealers,'^ 
 I Tim. i. fo. 
 
 The great men amongft that people were 
 exceeding oppreffive ; and, it is likely, ex- 
 erted their whole ftrength and influence to 
 have the law conftrued to fuit their turns.— 
 The honeft fervants of the lord had heavy 
 work with them in regard to their oppreffi- 
 on ; a few inftances folio v/. Thus faith 
 the Lord of hofts, the God of Ifrael, a- 
 mend your ways, and your doings ; and I 
 will caufe you to dwell in this place. If 
 you throughly execute judgment between 
 *' a man and his neighbour ; if you opprefsr 
 not the ftranger, the fatherlefs and the wi- 
 ^' dow; and flied not innocent blood in this 
 place ; neither walk after other gods to 
 your hurt, then will I caufe you to dwell 
 in this place," Jcr. vii. - Again a meT- 
 fage was f^t not only to the inferior mini- 
 fter$ of iuftice, bm alfo to the chief ruleiV 
 
 Thu« 
 
Keeping op NEGROES. 293 
 
 Thus faith the Lord, go down to the houfe 
 of the king of Judah, and fpeak there this 
 word; execute ye Judgment and righteouf- 
 nefs, and deUver the fpoiled out of the 
 hand of the oppreffor ; and do no wrong; 
 do no violence to the flrangcr, the father- 
 lefs and the wddow ; neither Ihed innocent 
 blood in this place." Then adds, That 
 in fo doing they fhould profper ; but if yc 
 will not hear thefe words, I fwear by my-- 
 felf, faith the Lord, that this houfe fhall 
 ^' become a defolation," Jer. xxii. 
 
 The king, the princes and rulers were a- 
 greed in opprefhon before the Babylonilh 
 captivity ; for whatever courts of juflice were 
 retained amongft them ; or however they de- 
 cided matters betwixt men of ellates, it is 
 plain that the caufe of the poor was not judg- 
 ed in equity. 
 
 It appears that the great men amongft the 
 Jews were fully refolved to have flaves, even 
 of their own brethren, Jer. xxxiv. Notwith- 
 llanding the promifes and threatenings of the 
 Lord, by the prophet, and their folemn co- 
 venant to fet them free, confirmed by the 
 imprecation of palTing between the parts of a 
 calf cut in twain ; intimating, by that cere- 
 jnony, that on breach of the covenant, it 
 %vere juft for their bodies to be fo cut in 
 pieces. — -Yet after all, they held faft to their 
 old cuftom, and called home the fervants 
 j|5A'hom they had fet free.rr-^'' And ye were 
 now turned, and had done right in my 
 . fight, in procbfiming liberty every man to 
 
 his 
 
^94 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 his neighbour ; and ye had made a cover 
 nant before me, in the houfe which is cal^ 
 ed by my name ; but ye turned, and pol- 
 hited my name, and caufed every man his 
 fcrvant, v^hom he had fet at hberty at their 
 pleafure, to return, and brought them in- 
 to fubjeftion, to be unto you tor fervants;, 
 and for handmaids : therefore thvis laith 
 the Lord, ye have not hearkened unto me, 
 in proclaiming Hberty every one to his 
 neighbour, and every one to his brothex\ 
 Behold, I proclaim liberty to you, faith 
 the Lord, to the fv/ord, to the peftilence, 
 and to the famine; and I will make you 
 to be removed into all the kingdoms of the 
 earth.— The men who tranfgrefled my co-- 
 venant Vv^hich they made, and paffed be- 
 ^' tween the parts of the calf, I will give in- 
 to the hands of their enemies, and their 
 ^- dead bodies ihall be for ndeat unto the; 
 fowls of the heaven, and the beafts of the 
 
 " earth" 
 
 Soon after this their city was taken and 
 burnt ; the king's fons and the princes ilain ; 
 and the king, with the chief men of his king- 
 dom, carried captive to Babylon.- — Ezekiel, 
 prophefying the return of that people to their 
 own land, ' diredls, Ye fhall divide the 
 laud by lot, for an inheritance unto you, 
 and to the ftrangers that ibjourn amongfl 
 you ; in what tribe the ftranger fojourns, 
 ^\ there fliall ye give him his ' inheritance, 
 faith the Lord God.'' Nor is this particix- 
 lar direcHon, and Che authority with whicj:^ 
 
^ K E E p I N G' ' b V" E G R O E S. -Idx^s 
 
 it is enforced, without a tacit implication, 
 that their anceftors had erred in their cpndudl 
 towards the flranger. ' ^ ■ 
 
 - Some who keep flaves, have doubted as to 
 the equity of the pr acTtice ; but as they knew 
 men, noted for their piety, wdio were ill it, 
 this, they fay, has made their minds eafy. 
 ' To lean on the example of men in doubt- 
 ful cafes, is difficult : for only admit, that 
 thofe men were Hot faithful and upright to 
 the higheft degree, but that in fome particu- 
 lar cafe they erred, and it may follow that 
 this one cafe was the fame, about which we 
 are in doubt ; and to quiet our minds by 
 their example, may be dangerous to our- 
 felves ; and continuing in it, prove a ftum- 
 bling block to tender-minded people who 
 fucceed us, in like manner as their exainples 
 are to us. 
 
 But fuppofing charity was their only mo- 
 tive, and they not forefeeing the tendency of 
 paying robbers for their booty, were not juft- 
 ly under the imputation of being partners 
 with a thief, Prov. xxix. 24. but were really 
 innocent in what they did, are we alTured 
 that we keep them with the fame views they 
 kept them ? If we keep them from no other 
 motive than a real fenfe of duty, and true 
 charity governs us in all our proceedings to- 
 ward them, we are fo far fafe : but if another 
 fpirit, which inclines our minds to the ways 
 of this world, prevair upon us, and we are 
 concerned for our own outward gain more 
 tlian fgr their real happinefs, it will avail us 
 
 nothing 
 
296 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 iiQthing that fome good men have had the 
 care and management of Negroes. 
 
 Since mankind fpread upon the earth, ma- 
 ny have been the revolutions attending the 
 feveral famihes, and their cufloms and wavs 
 of Ufe different from each other. This di- 
 verlity of manners, though fome are prefer- 
 able to others, operates not in favour of any, 
 fb far as to juftify them to do violence to in- 
 nocent men ; to bring them from their owa 
 to another v^^ay of life. The raind, when 
 moved by a principle of true love, may feel 
 a warmth of gratitude to the univerfal father, 
 and a lively fympathy with thofe nations, 
 whefe diviflq Light has been lefs manifeftv 
 
 This delirq for their real good may beget a 
 willingaefs to undergo hardihips for theii" 
 iakes, that the true knowledge of God may 
 be fpread amongfl them : but to take them 
 from their own land, with views of profit to 
 purfelves, by means inconfiflent with pure 
 juflice, is foreign to that principle which 
 Veeks the happinefs of the whole creation. 
 Forced fiibje£lion, of innocent perfbns of full 
 :s^ge, is inconfiflent with right reafon ; on one 
 tide, the human mind is not naturally forti- 
 fied with that firmnefs in wifdom and good- 
 iiefs, necelTary to an independant ruler; on 
 the other fide, to be fubjc-'^ to the uncon- 
 troulable will of a man, liable to err, is mod 
 painful and afHicting to a confcientious crea- 
 ture. 
 
 It i^ 'dur happinefs faithfully to ferve the 
 |livine Being, who made us ; his perfedlioa 
 
 makes 
 
. K K E p I K G.^ o r NEGROES. 297 
 
 fnakes our fervice reafonable ; bvit fo long as 
 men are biaffed by narrow felf-love, fo long 
 an abfolute power over other men is mifit for 
 tiaem. 
 
 Men, taking on them the government of 
 others, may intend to govern reafojiably, and 
 make their fubjeds more happy than they 
 would be otherwife ; but, as abfolute com- 
 mand belongs only to him who is perfedl, 
 where frail men, in their own wills, alUime 
 ilich command, it hath a diredl tendency to 
 vitiate their minds, and make them more 
 unfit for government. 
 
 Placing on men the ignominious title 
 SLAVE, drefTuig them in uncomely gar- 
 ments, keeping them to fervile labour, in 
 which they are often dirty, tends gradually' 
 to fix a notion in the mind, that they are a 
 fort of people below us in nature, and leads 
 us to confider them as fuch in all our con- 
 clufions about them. And, moreover, a 
 perfon which in our efceem is mean and con- 
 temptible, if their language or behaviour 
 toward us is U-ufeemly or difrefpedlful, it ex- 
 cites wrath more powerfully than the like 
 condu6l in one we accounted our equal or 
 fuperior; and where this happens to be the 
 cale, it difqualifies for candid judgment ; for 
 it is unfit for a perfon to fit as judge in a cafe 
 where his own perfbnal refentmcnts are ilirr- 
 ed up ; and, as members of fociety in a well 
 framed government, we are mutually depen- 
 dent. Prefent interefh incites to duty, and 
 makes each man attentive to the conveni- 
 ence 
 
^^S Ctfi^SlDERATIONS ON THE 
 
 euce of others ; but he whofe will is a law to 
 others, and can enforce obedience by punilh- 
 ment; he whofe wants are fupphed without 
 feeling any obligation to make equal returns 
 to his benefadlor, his irregular appetites find 
 an open field for motion, and he is in dan- 
 ger of growing hard, and inattentive to their 
 convenience who labour for his fupport ; arid 
 fb lofes that difpofition, in which alone meii 
 are fit to govern. 
 
 The Englifli government hath been com- 
 mended by candid foreigners for the difufe 
 of racks and tortures, fo much pradlifed in 
 Ibme ftates ; but this multiplying Haves now 
 leads to it ; for where people exadl hard la- 
 bour of others, without a faitable reward, 
 and are refolved to continue in that way, fe-^ 
 -verity to fuch who oppofe them becomes the 
 confequencie ; and feveral Negroe criminals, 
 among the Englilh in America, have been 
 executed in a lingering, painful way, very 
 terrify ing^ to others. 
 
 - It is a happy cafe to fet out right, and per- 
 fcycre in the fame way : a wrong beginning 
 le^ds into i^any difficulties; for to fupport 
 one evil' another becomes cuftomary ; two 
 produces more 5 and the further men proceed 
 in this way, the greater their dangers, their 
 dolibts and fears ; and the more painful and 
 perplexing are tl^eir circumftances ; fo that 
 fiich who are true friends to the real and laft- 
 ing intereil of our cpuntry, and candidly 
 cohfider the tendency of things, cannot but 
 feel fome concern on this account, 
 '^"^''0-1 ! " ■ - Thei'C 
 
K E E PI N G ovF^ N E G R Q E S. I99 
 
 There is that fuperiority in men over the 
 brute creatures, and fome of them fo mani- 
 feilly dependent on men for a living, that for 
 them to ferve us in moderation, fo far as re- 
 lates to the right ufe of things, looks confo- 
 nant to the deiign of our Creator. 
 
 There is nothing in their frame, nothing 
 relative to the propagating their fpecies^ which 
 argues the contrary; but in men there is^ 
 The frame of men's bodies, and the difpofi- 
 tion of their minds are different ; fome, who 
 are tough and ftrong, and their minds adlive, 
 chufe ways of life requiring much labour to 
 fupport them ; others are loon weary ; and 
 though vife makes labour more tolerable, yet 
 fome are lefs apt for toil than others, and 
 their minds lefs fprightly. Theie latter la- 
 bouring for their fubfifienee, commonly 
 chufe a life eafy to fupport, being content 
 with a little. When they are weary they may 
 reft, take the moft advantageous part of the 
 day for labour ; and in all cafes proportion 
 one thing to another, that their bodies be noi: 
 oppreiled. 
 
 Now, while each is at liberty, the latter 
 may be as happy, and live as comfortably 
 as the former ; but where men of the firft. 
 ibrt have the latter xinder abfolute .command^ 
 not confidering the odds in ftrength and firm-- 
 nefs, do, fome times, in their eager purfuit,^ 
 lay on burthens grievous to be borne ; by de-^ 
 ^rees grow rigorous, and, afpiring to great- 
 nefs, they increafe opprelfion, and the true^ 
 order of kind Providence is fubverted. 
 
300 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 There are weaknefTes fometimes attending 
 Xis, which make little or no alteration in our 
 countenances, nor much lelien our appetite 
 for food, and yet fo affecl us, as to make la- 
 bour very uneafy* In fuch cafe mafters, in- 
 tent on putting forward bmlnefs, and jealous 
 of the fincerity of their flaves, may dilbelieve 
 what they fay, and grievouflv afflidl them. 
 
 A6lion is neceffary for all men, and our 
 exhaufting frame requires a fupport^ which 
 is the fruit of aclion. The earth miift be 
 laboured to keep us alive : labour is a proper 
 part of our life ; to make one anfwer the o- 
 ther in fome ufeful motion, looks agreeable 
 to the deligit of our Creator. Motion, right-^ 
 ly managed, tends to our fatisfadtion, health 
 and fupport. 
 
 Thofe v/ho quit all ufeful bufinefs, and live 
 wholly on the labour of others, have their 
 exercife tp feek ; fome fuch ufe lefs than their 
 health requires ; others chufe that which, by 
 the circumflances attending it, proves utter- 
 ly reverie to true happinefs. Thus, while 
 fome are divers ways diftreiTed for want of 
 an open channel of ufeful aclion, thofe who 
 llipport them figh, and are exhauiied in a 
 ftream too powerful for nature, fpending their 
 days with too little celTation from labour. 
 
 Seed fown with the tears of a confined op- 
 preiTed people, harvefl cut down by an over- 
 borne difcontented reaper, makes bread lefs 
 fweet to the tafte of an honeft man, than 
 that which is the produce, or juft reward of 
 
Keeping NEGROES. 301 
 
 fucli voluntary acllon, which is one proper 
 parr of the bulinefs of human creatures. 
 " Again, the weak ftate of the human fpe- 
 cies, in hearing and bringing forth their 
 young, and the helplefs condition of their 
 young beyond that of other creatures, cleariy 
 Ihew that Perfe£l Goodnefs defigns a tender 
 care and regard Ihould be exercifed toward 
 them ; and that no iraperfe(5l, arbitrary pow- 
 er fhould prevent the cordial efiedls of that 
 fympathy, which is, in the minds of well- 
 met pairs, to each other, and toward their 
 offspring. 
 
 In our fpecies the mutual ties of affedlion 
 are more rational and durable than in others 
 below us ; the care and labour of raifing our 
 offspring much greater. The fatisfaxftion a-^ 
 riling to us in their innocent company, and 
 in their advances from one rational improve- 
 ment to another, is confiderable, when twa 
 are thus joined, and their ^Lffecflions fincere* 
 it however happens among flaves, that they 
 are often lituate in different places ; and their 
 feeing each other depends on the will of men, 
 liable to human pafhons, and a bias in judg- 
 ment ; who, with views of felf-intereft^ may- 
 keep them apart more than is right. Being 
 abfent from each other, and often with other 
 company, there is a danger of their afFeclions 
 being alienated, jealoufies arifing, the hap- 
 pinels otherwife resulting from their offspring 
 fruftrated, and the comforts of marriage de- 
 ftroyed.— Thefe things being confidered clpfe- 
 
 l7» 
 
302 CONSIDERATPONS on the 
 
 ly, ' as hajppening to a near friend, will ap-^ 
 pear to be hard and painful. 
 
 He who reverently obferves that goodnefs 
 manifefted by our gracious Creator toward 
 the various fpecies of beings in this w^orld, 
 will fee, that in our frame and conftitution 
 is clearly fliewn that innocent men, capable 
 to manage for themfelves, were not intended 
 to be flaves. 
 
 A perfon lately travelling amongft the Ne- 
 groes near Senegal, hath this remark; 
 
 Which way foever I turned my eyes on 
 " this pleafant fpot, I beheld a perfedl image 
 of pure nature ; an agreeable folitude, 
 bounded dn every fide by charming land-* 
 fkips, the rural fituation of cottages in the- 
 midft of trees. The eafe and indolence of 
 the Negroes reclined under the fhade of 
 their fpreading foliage ; the fimplicity of 
 their drefs and manners ; the whole reviv- 
 ed in my mind the idea of our firft parents^ 
 and I feemed to contemplate the world in 
 its primitive ftate." M. Adanfon, page 55. 
 Some Negroes in thefe parts, who have 
 had an agreeable education, have manifefted 
 a brightnefs of underftanding equal to many 
 of us. A remark of this kind we find in Bof- 
 man, page 328. " The Negroes of Fida, 
 faith he, are fo accurately quick in their 
 merchandize accounts, that they eafily 
 reckon as juftly and quickly in their heads 
 only, as we with the afliftance of pen and 
 ink, though the fum amounts to feveral 
 thoufands/' 
 / Through 
 
K E E p I c?tmr f N E G ROE S; 303 
 
 iTIirough the force of long cuftom, it ap- 
 pears needful to fpealc in relation to colour. — 
 Suppofe a white child^ born of parents af the 
 meaiieft fort, who died and left him an in- 
 fant, falls into the hands of a perfon, who 
 endeavours to keep him a flave, fome men 
 would account him an unjull man in doing 
 fb, who yet appear eafj while many black 
 people, of honeft lives, and good abilities, 
 are enllaved, in a manner more iliockiiig 
 than the cafe here fuppofed. This is owing 
 chiefly to the idea of flavery being connecied 
 with the black colour, and liberty with the 
 white : — and where falfe ideas are t willed in- 
 to our minds, it is with difficulty we get 
 fairly difentangled. 
 
 A; traveller, in cloudy weather, mifTeth his 
 way, makes many turns while he is loft ; ftill 
 forms in his mind, the bearing and fituatioa 
 of places, and though the ideas are wrong, 
 they fix as faft as if they were right. Find- 
 ing how things are, we fee. our miftake ; yet 
 the force of reafon, with repeated obfervati- 
 ons on places and things, donot foon remove 
 thofe falfe notions, fb faftened upon us, but 
 it will feem in the imagination as if the an- 
 iuial courfe of the fun was altered ; and 
 though, by recolledlion, we are allured it is 
 not, yet thofe ideas do not fuddenly leave us. 
 
 Selfiilinefs being indulged, clouds the un- 
 der ftanding ; and where feififla men, for a 
 long time, proceed on their way, without 
 oppofition, the deceiveablenefs of unrighte- 
 oufnefs get^ fo rooted in their intellecls, that^ 
 
 a candid 
 
S04 CONSIDERATIONS ON %m 
 
 a candid examination of things relating td 
 felf-intereft is prevented ; and in this cir-^ 
 cumftance, fome who would not agree to 
 make a flave of a perfon whofe colovir is like 
 their own, appear eafy in making flaves of 
 others of a different colour, though their im- 
 derftandings and morals are equal to the gef 
 iierality of men of their own colour. 
 
 The colour of a man avails nothing, in 
 matters of right and equity, Conhder co- 
 lour in relation to treaties ; by fuch, difputes 
 betwixt nations are fometimes fettled • And 
 ihould the father of us -all fo difpofe things, 
 that treaties with black men fhould fometimes 
 be neceifary, how then would it appear a- 
 mongft the princes and ambaffadors, to infift 
 on the prerogative of the white colour ? 
 
 Whence is it that men, who believe in a 
 righteous omnipotent Being, to whom ali 
 nations ftand equally related, and are equal- 
 ly accountable, remain fo eafy in it ; but for 
 that the ideas of Negroes and flaves are fo 
 interwoven in the mind, that they do not 
 difcufs this matter \yith that candour and 
 freedom of thought, which the cafe juftly 
 calls for ? • ' 
 
 To come at a right feeling of their condi- 
 tion, requires humble fcrious thinking ; for^ 
 in their prefent fituation, they have bvit little 
 to engage our natural afFe6lion in their fa* 
 your. 
 
 Had we a fon or a daughter involved ii^^ 
 the fame cafe, in which many of them are, it 
 typuld alarm us, and make us feci their con- 
 dition 
 
ditioii without feeking for it* The adverfity 
 of an intimate friend will incite out compiif- 
 iion, while others, equally good, in the Hke 
 troxible, will but little aflbd us; 
 
 Again, the man in worldly honour^ whom 
 we conMer as our fuperior, treating us with 
 kindnefs and generofity, begets a return of 
 gratitude and friendfhip toward him. We 
 may receive as great benefits from men a de- 
 gree lower than ourfelves, in the dommon 
 way of reckoning, and feel ourfelves lefs 
 engaged in favour of them. Such ii^ our 
 condition by nature ; and thefe things be- 
 ing narrowly watched and examined, will be 
 found to center in felf-love. 
 
 The blacks feem far from being oilr kiri^ 
 folks, and did we find an.agreeable difpofirr- 
 on and found underftanding in fome of them^ 
 which appeared as a good foundation for a 
 true friendfliip between us, the difgrace arif-* 
 ing from an open friendfhip with a perfon of 
 fo vile a flock, in the common efleem^ v/ould 
 naturally tend to hinder it. — They have nei- 
 ther honours, riches, outward magnificence 
 nor power ; their drefs coarfe, and often rag- 
 ged ; their employ drudgery, and much in 
 the dirt : they have little or nothing at com- 
 mand ; but muft wait upon and work for o- 
 thers, to obtain the neceffaries of life ; fo 
 that, in their prefent fituation, there is not 
 much to engage the friendfliip, or move the 
 aftedlion of felMi men : but fuch who live in 
 the fpirit of true charity, to fympathife with 
 
 X the 
 
3o6 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 the affli^led in the loweft ftations of life, is 
 a thing familiar to them. 
 
 Such is the kindnefs of our Creator, that 
 people, applying their minds to found wif- 
 dom, may, in general, with moderate exer- 
 cife, live comfortably, where no mifapplied 
 power hinders it.- — —We in thefe parts, have 
 caufe .gratefully to acknowledge it. But men 
 leaving the true ufe of things, their lives are 
 lefs calm, and have lefs of real happinefs in 
 them. 
 
 Many are delirous of purchafing and keepw 
 ing flaves, that they may live in fome mea- 
 fure conformable to thofe cuftoms of the 
 times, which have in them a tindlure of lux- 
 ury ; for when we, in the leaft degree, de- 
 part from that ufe of the creatures, for which 
 the Creator of all things intended them, there 
 luxury begins. 
 
 And if we confidef this way of life feri- 
 oufly, we fhall fee there is nothing in it fuf- 
 ficient to induce a wife man to chufe it, be-- 
 fore a plain, limple way of living. If we 
 examine ftately buildings and equipage, de- 
 licious food, fuperfine cloaths, filks and 
 linens ; if we conlider the fplendour of xhoice 
 metal faftened vipon raiment, and the moil 
 fhowy inventions of men ; it will yet appear 
 that the humble-minded man, who is con- 
 tented with the true ufe of houfes, food and 
 garments, and chearfully exercifeth himfelf 
 agreeable to his flation in civil fociety, to 
 earn them, ads more reafonably, and dif- 
 
 covers 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 307 
 
 covers more foundnefs of underftaading in 
 his condudl, than fuch who lay hjsavy bur- 
 dens on others, to ' fupport theinleiyes in a 
 luxurious way of Hving. 
 
 George Buchanan, in his hifhory of Scot- 
 land, page 62, tells of fome aacieat inhabi- 
 tants of Britain, who were derived ffom a 
 people that had a way of marking their 
 bodies, as fome faid, with inftruments of 
 iron, with variety of pidlures, and with ani- 
 mals of all fliapes, and wear no garments, 
 that they fliould not hide their picflures'; and 
 were therefore called Pidls/' 
 
 Did we fee thofe people fhrink with pain, 
 for a conliderable time together, under the 
 point or edge of this iron inftrument, and 
 their bodies all bloody with the operation ; 
 did we fee them fometimes naked, fuffering 
 with cold, and refufe to put on garments, 
 that thofe imaginary enfigns of grandeur 
 might not be concealed, it is likely we fhould 
 pity their folly, and fondnefs for thofe things : 
 but if we candidly compare their condvi(5l, 
 in that cafe, with fome conduct amongft 
 ourfelves, will it not appear that our folly is 
 the greateft ? 
 
 In true gofpel fimplicity, free from all 
 wrong ufe of things, a fpirit which breathes 
 peace and good will is cheriilied ; bvit when 
 we afpire after imaginary grandeur, and ap- 
 ply to felfifh means to attain our end, this 
 dehre, in its original, is the fame with the 
 Picts in cutting figures on their bodies ; but 
 
 X 2 th^ 
 
d()^lMI5MMATI0NS 0N-^ 
 
 the evil cdnfequenees tttteadi|i^ proceed* 
 ings are the grdateft/^^^^>^^^^^n-^^^ar^ 
 
 A covetous mind^ which feeks opp^rttiai-*- 
 ty to exalt itfelf, is a gf eat eiieiny to trVit 
 harmony in a country : enVy aiid grudging 
 ufually accompany this difpoficioti, and it 
 tends'^^to ftir up its likenefs ift dthers. And 
 where this difpofition aWleth fo high, as to 
 lembrolden us to look upon honefl induflrious 
 men as our Own property during life^ and to 
 keep them to hard labour, to fupport us ifi 
 thofe cuftoms which have not theit* founda^ 
 tion in right reafon ; or to ule any means of 
 oppreffioh ; a haughty fpirit is cheriflied on 
 one fide, and the defire of revenge frequent- 
 ly on the other, till the inhabitants of the 
 Und are ripe for great commotioil and trou*- 
 ble ; and thuB luxury and oppreflioti have 
 the feeds of war and deloktioii in them* 
 
 ^Some Account of the SLAVE-TnADcy 
 
 l^rom the writings of perfons who have been 
 at the places where they are firft purchafed, 
 viz* 
 
 BO S M A M on ©uinea^ who was a factor 
 for the Dutch abdut fifteen years in that 
 country, (page 339) thus remarks : BiEit 
 fiiice I have fo often mentioned that corft- 
 mei^ce, 1 lliall dfefcribe how it is managed 
 by our fa^rs. The if ft bufinefs of one 
 
 - ' of 
 
^Me e p I K g o p G roes. 309 
 
 of our fa6lor6^ wh^n he <:om€s to Fida, is 
 to fatisfy tlic cuftomsof the king, and the 
 *^ great men, which amounts to about one 
 hundred pounds, in Guinea vahie, as the 
 goods muft fell there. After which we 
 *^ have free licence to trade, which is pub- 
 ^■i Ufhed throughout the whole land by the 
 *' eryer. And yet before we can deal with 
 any perfon, we are obliged to buy the 
 " king's whole flock of flaves, at a fet price ; 
 
 which is commonly one third or fourth 
 *V higher than ordinary. After which, we 
 have free leave to cjeal with all his fubjefts, 
 of what rank foever. But if there happen 
 to be no (lock of flaves, the factor muft 
 — refolve to run the rifk of trufting the in- 
 habitants with goods, to the value of one 
 or two hundred flaves ; which commodi- 
 ties they fend into the inland country, in 
 order to buy with them flaves at ail mar- 
 kets, and that fometimes two hundred 
 miles deep in the country : for you ought 
 to be informed, that markets of men are 
 here kept in the fame maniier 45 they of 
 ^ ' beaflis are with us. 
 
 " Moft of the flaves which *are offered to 
 us, are prifoners of war, which are fold 
 
 " by the vidlors as their booty. When 
 
 ?^^V thefe flaves come to Fida, they are put in 
 ^ifeiprifons all together ; and when we treat 
 -^#1 concerning them, they are all brought out 
 i>i| in a large plain, v^here, by our furgeons, 
 " whole province it is, they are thoroughly 
 ^xaniined, even to the fmalleft member, 
 
3IO CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 and . that naked, both men and women, 
 without the leaft diftindlion or modefty. 
 Thofe which are approved as good, are fet 
 on one fide. The invaHds and maimed 
 
 ^' being throvvn out, the remainder are num- 
 bered, and it is entered who deHvered 
 them : in the mean while a burning iron, 
 with the arms or name of the company, 
 hes in the fire, with which ours are mark- 
 ed on the breafh. This is done, that we 
 may diftinguifli them from the flaves of 
 the Enghlli, French, or others. When 
 we have agreed with the owners of the 
 flaves, they are returned to their prifons, 
 w^here, from that time forward, they are 
 
 ^' kept at our charge, coft us two-pence a 
 day a flave, which ferves to fubfift them, 
 hke our criminals, on bread and water : 
 fo that, to fave charges, we fend them on 
 board our fliips the firft opportunity ; be- 
 fore which their matters ftrip them of all 
 they have on their backs, fo that they 
 come aboard ftark nakqd, as well women 
 as men ; in which condition they are o- 
 bliged to continue, if the mafler of the 
 Chip is not fo charitable (which he com- 
 monly is) as to beftow fomething on them, 
 
 ^' to cover their nakednefs. 
 
 Same author, page 310. ^' The inhabi- 
 tants of Popo, as well as thofe of Goto, de- 
 pend on plunder, and the flave- trade, in 
 both which they very much exceed the lat- 
 
 ^' ter ; for being endowed with more courage, 
 they rob more fuccefsfully, and by that 
 
 means 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 311 
 
 means increafe their trade : notwithftand- 
 ing which, to freight a veflel with flaves, 
 requires fome months attendance. In the 
 year 1697, in three days time I could get 
 
 ^' but three ilaves ; but they affared me, that 
 if I would have patience for other three 
 days only, they Ihould be able to deliver 
 me one or two hundred." 
 Bofman, page 440. We cafl anchor at 
 
 V cape Mizurada, but not one Negroe coming 
 on board, I went on fhore ; and being defi- 
 rous to be informed why they did not come 
 on board, was anfwered. That about two 
 months before, the Englifh had been there 
 with two velTels, and had ravaged the coun- 
 try, deftroyed all their canoes, plundered 
 
 ^' their houfes, and carried off fome of their 
 
 " people for flaves ; upon which the re- 
 mainder fled to the inland country. They 
 
 ^' tell us, they live in peac€ with all their 
 neighbours, and have no notion of any 
 other enemy than the Englifli ; of which 
 
 ^' nation they had taken fome then : and 
 publickly declared, that they would en- 
 deavour to get as many of them, as the 
 two mentioned fliips had carried off of 
 their natives. Thefe unhappy Englifli 
 were in danger of being facrificed to the 
 the memory of their friends, which fome 
 of their nation carried off," 
 
 EX- 
 
31:3 CaNSIJ)ERATI0NJ5-o^ tsTe 
 /EXTRACTS fmm W<:on^mS^ 
 
 - • -' VO Y A G E-S; l^^^^ WV^ 
 
 'T^ H E author, a popilli miirionaiy, fpeak^ 
 ing of his departing from the Negroe 
 country to frazil, faith, I remember the > 
 duke of Banjibay (a Negroe chief ) ai'i^ day 
 fent me feveral blacks, to be my ilaves, which 
 I wmild not accept of ; but feat them back 
 to him. I afterwards told him, i came not^\ 
 ipto his country to naak^ flavcs; but rather 
 to dehver thofe from the llavery of the devil, v 
 \^hom he kept in miiirable thraldom. The ' 
 J hip I went aboard was loaded with elephaiKs 
 tgeth, and llaves, to th-e number of Hx hua-*' 
 dred and eighty men, woraeri and ehiidreni 
 It was a pitiful fight to behold how ali theie 
 people were befto wed. The men w^ere ftand^^ 
 iag ill the hold, faftencd on^ to another witk^^ 
 flakes, for fear they ihouid rife and kill the 
 whites : the women were between the decksj, 
 and thofe that were with child in the g]*eat^ 
 cabbin : thf children in the ft eerage, prefTed^ 
 together like herrings in a barrel ; v/hich 
 caufed an intolerable heat and fteuch.'' Page 
 
 5^7- 
 
 It is now time (faith the fame author) 
 to fpeak of a brutifii: cuflom tlieie people 
 have amongil them in making flaves ; which . 
 I take not to be lawful for any perfon of a 
 
 good confcience to buy."- 
 
 He then defer ibes how women betray men 
 into flavery, and adds, There are others 
 going up into the inland country, and, thro' 
 
 , pretence 
 
K i: E p t N 'of NEGROES. 3 13 
 
 pretence of jurifdidlioa, feize men. upon any 
 trifling offence, and fell them for ilaves/' 
 
 P^ge 537- 
 
 The author of this treatife, converilng with 
 a perfon of good credit, was informed by him, 
 that in his youth, while in England, he was 
 minded to come to America, and happening 
 on a veiTel bound for Guinea, and from 
 thence into America, he, with a view to fee 
 Africa, went on board her, and continued 
 with them in their voyage, and fo came into 
 this country. Among other circumflances 
 he related thefe. They purchafed on the 
 coaft about three hundred flaves ; forne of 
 them he under flood were captives of war ; 
 
 fbme ftoleri by other Negroes privately. 
 
 When they had got many flaves on board, 
 but were flill on that coafl, a plot was laid 
 by an old Negroe, notwithflanding the men 
 had irons on their hands and feet, to kill the 
 Englifli and take the veffel ; which being dif-^ - 
 covered, the man was hanged, and many of 
 the flaves made to fhoot at him as he hung 
 up.'* 
 
 Another (lave was charged with having a 
 defign to kill the Englifh ; and the captain 
 fpoke to him in relation to the charge brought 
 againft him, as he flood on deck ; whereup- 
 on he immediately threw himlelf into the 
 fea, and was drowned." 
 
 Several Negroes, confined on board,:vv ere^ 
 he faid, fo eictremely uneafy with their cori-» 
 dition, that after many endeavours ufed, 
 they could never make them eat nor drink , 
 
 after 
 
314 CONSIDERATIONS on tHE 
 
 after they came in the veffel ; but in a defpe- 
 rate refolution flarved tliemfelves to death, 
 behaving toward the lafl hke mad-men." 
 
 In Randall's geography, printed 1744, we 
 are informed, That in a time of full peace 
 nothing is more common than for the Negroes 
 of one nation to fteal thofe of another, and 
 fell them to the Europeans. It is thought 
 that the Engliih tranfmit annually near fifty 
 thoufand of thefe unhappy creatures ; and 
 the other European nations together, about 
 tv/o hundred thoufand more." 
 
 It is through the goodnefs of God that the 
 reformation from grofs idolatry and barbari- 
 ty hath been thus far effedled ; if we confi- 
 dcr our conditions as chriftians, and the be*^ 
 nefits w^e enjoy, and compare them with the 
 condition of thofe people, and coniider that 
 our nation trading w^th them for their coun- 
 try produce, have had an opportunity of im- 
 parting ufeful inftru6lions to them, and re- 
 member that but little pains have been taken 
 therein, it muft look like an indifFerence in 
 us. — ■ — But w^hen we refledl on a cuftom the 
 moft fliocking of any amongft them, and re- 
 member that, vnth a view to outw^ard ffain, 
 we have joined as parties in it ; that our con- 
 currence v/ith them in their barbarous pro- 
 ceedinp's, has tended to harden them in cru- 
 city, and been a means of increafing calami- 
 ties in their country, we muft own that 
 herein we have a6ted contrary to thofe w^or- 
 tlii^s w^hofe lives and fubftance v/ere ihcnt in 
 propagating truth and righteoufuels amongft 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 315 
 
 the heathen. When Saul, by the hand of 
 Doeg, flew four fcore priefts at once, he had 
 a jealoufy that one of them at leaft was con- 
 federate with David, whom he confidered as 
 
 his enemy.- Herod flaying all the. male 
 
 children in Bethlehem of two years old and 
 under, was an a6t of uncommon cruelty ; bulj 
 he fuppofed there was a male child there, 
 within that age, who was likely to be king 
 of the Jews, and finding no way to deflroy 
 him, but by deftroying them all, thought 
 this the mofl: effecftual means to fecure the 
 kingdom to his own family. 
 
 When the fentence againft the proteftants 
 of Marindol, &c. in France, was put in ex- 
 ecution, great numbers of people fled to the 
 wildernefs ; amongft whom were ancient 
 people, women great with child, and others 
 with babes in their arms, who endured cala- 
 mities grievous to relate, and in the end fome 
 periflied with hunger, and many were de- 
 llroyed by fire and fword ; but they had this 
 objection againfl: them, That they obftinately 
 periifted in oppofition to holy mother church, 
 and being hereticks, it was right to work 
 their ruin and extirpation, and raze out their | 
 memory from among men.. Fox's Adls and 
 Monuments, page 646. 
 
 In favour of thofe cruelties, every one had 
 
 what they deemed a plea. Thefe fcenes of 
 
 blood and cruelty among the barbarous in- 
 habitants of Guinea, are not lefs terrible 
 than thofe now^ mentioned. They are con- 
 tinued from one age to another? and we make 
 
 Qurfelves; 
 
 / 
 
Si6 CDT^SfOTllATIONS gn the 
 
 ourfelTes parties and fellow-helpers in them; 
 nor do I fee that we have any plea in our fa- 
 vour more plaufible than the plea of Saixl, of 
 Herod, or the French in thofe llaughters. 
 
 Many who are parties in this trade, by 
 Jkeeping flaves with views of felf-intereft> 
 were they to go as foldiers in one of thefe in- 
 land expeditions to catch flaves, they muft 
 neceflarily grow diffatisfied with ftich em- 
 ploy, or ceafe to profefs their religious prin- 
 ciples. And though the fir ft and moft faik- 
 ing part of the fcene is done at a great dif- 
 tance, and by other hands, yet every ona 
 who is acquainted with the circumftances, 
 and notwithftanding joins in it for the fake 
 of gain only, muft, in the nature of things, 
 be chargeable with the others. 
 
 Should we confider ourfelves prefent as 
 fjieclators, when cruel Negroes privately 
 c^tch innocent children, who are employed 
 in' the fields ; hear their lamentable cries, 
 xmder the moft terrifying apprehenfions ; or 
 ihovild we look upon it as happening in our 
 own families, having ovir children carried 
 ofF by favages, we muft. needs own, that 
 fuch proceedings are contrary to the nature 
 of chriftianity: fhould we meditate on the 
 ■^wars which are greatly increafed by this 
 trade, and on that aff]i6lion which many 
 thouiancls live in, through apprehenfions of 
 being taken or flain; on the terror and a- 
 mazement that villages are in, when fur- 
 rounded by thefe troops of enterprifers ; on 
 the great pain and mifery of groaning dying 
 
lCfiEPiN0-or NEGROES. 317 
 
 mmy who get wotinded in thofe fkirmiflies ; 
 we {iiall neGelTaFily fee, that it is impoffible 
 to be parties in fuch a trade, on the motives 
 of gain, and retain oiir innocence. 
 - Should we Confided the cafe of multitudes 
 o£ thofe people, who in ^ fruitful foil^ and 
 hot climate, with a little laboui% raife grain, 
 roots and pulfe to eat ; fpin and weave cot- 
 ton^ and faften together the large feathers of 
 fowls, to cover their nakednefs ; many of 
 whomy in much fimpiicity, live iiioiFenfively 
 in their cottages, and take great comfort in 
 raifing up children. 
 
 Should we contemplate on their circum- 
 ilances, when fuddenly attacked, and labour 
 to underftand th-lr inexpreffible anguifli of 
 Ibul, who furvive the confli(fl ; iTiould we 
 think on inoffenfive women^ who fled at the 
 alarm, and at their return faw that village^ 
 in which they and their acquaintance were 
 raifed tip, and had pleafantly fpent their 
 youthful days, now lying in a gloomy defo-^ 
 lation ; fome lliocked at finding the mangled 
 bodies of their near friends amongft the flain ; 
 others bemoaning the abfence of a brother, a 
 fifter^ a child, or a whole family of children, 
 who^ by cruel men, are bound and carried 
 to market, to be fold, without the leaft hopes 
 of feeing them again : add to thi$, the af- 
 fiidled condition of thefe poor captives, who 
 are feparated from family eonnedlions, and 
 all the comforts ariiing from friendfhip and 
 acquaintance, carried amongft a people of a 
 ftrange language, >t0 be parted from their 
 
 fellow 
 
3i8 CONSIDERATIONS on 
 
 fellow captives, put to labour in a manner 
 more fervile and wearifome than what they 
 were ufed to, with many forrowful circum- 
 ftances attending their flavery ; and we muft 
 neceflarily fee, that it belongs not to the fol- 
 lowers of Chrifl to be parties in fueh a trade, 
 on the motives of outward gain. 
 
 Though there were wars and defblation ^ 
 mong the Negroes, before the Europeans be- 
 gan to trade there for flaves, yet now the ca- 
 lamities are greatly increafed, fo many thou- 
 fands being annually brought from thence ; 
 and we, by purchafing them, with views of 
 felf-intereft, are become parties with them, 
 and acceifary to that increafe. 
 
 In this cafe, we are not joining againft an 
 enemy who is fomenting difcords on our con- 
 tinent, and ufing all pofTible means to make 
 flaves of us and our children ; but againft a 
 people who have not injured us. 
 
 If thofe who were fpoiled and wronged, 
 fliould at length make flaves of their oppref- 
 fors, and continue flavery to their pofterity, 
 it would look rigorous to candid men : but 
 to adl that part toward a people, when nei- 
 ther they nor their fathers have injured us, 
 hath fomething in it extraordinary, and re- 
 quires our ferious attention. 
 
 Our children breaking a bone ; getting fo 
 - bruifed, that a leg or an arm muft be taken 
 off ; loft for a few hours, fo that we defpair 
 of their being found again; a friend hurt, 
 fo that he dieth in a day or two ; thefe move 
 us with grief: and did we attend to thefe 
 
 fcenes 
 
Keeping OP NEGROES. 319 
 
 fcenes in Africa, in like manner as if they 
 were tranfaCted in our prefence ; and fympa- 
 thile v/ith the Negroes, in all their aflli6lions 
 and miferies, as we do with our children or 
 friends : we Ihoukl be more careful to do no- 
 thing in any degree helping forv/ard a trade 
 produdlive of fo many, and fo great calami*- 
 ties. Great diftauce makes nothing in our 
 
 favour. To willingly johi with unrighte- 
 
 Gufnefs, to the injury of men who live fome 
 thoufand miles off, is the fame in fubftance, 
 as joining with it to the injury of our neigh- 
 bours. 
 
 In the eye of pure juftice, aclions are re- 
 garded according to the fpirit and difpolition 
 they arife from : fome evils are accounted 
 fcandalous, and the defire of reputation may 
 keep felnlh men from appearing openly in 
 them ; but he who is fliy on that account, 
 and yet by indirect means promotes that 
 evil, and fliares in the profit of it, cannot 
 be innocent. 
 
 He who, with a view to felf-intereft, buys 
 a flave, made fo by violence, and only on the 
 ftrength of fuch purchafe holds him a flave, 
 thereby joins hands with thofe who commit- 
 ted that violence, and in the nature of things 
 becomes chargeable with the guilt. 
 
 Suppofe a man wants a flave, and being 
 in Guinea, goes and hides by the path where 
 boys pafs from one little town to another, and 
 there catches one the day he expedls to fail ; 
 and taking him on board, brings him home, 
 without any aggravating circumftances. Sup- 
 
320 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 pofe another buys a marij taken by them 
 who Hve by plunder and the liave-trade : 
 they often fteal them privately, and often 
 fhed much blood in getting them. He who 
 buys the flaves thus taken, pays thofe men for 
 their wickednefs, and makes himfelf party 
 with them. 
 
 Whatever nicety of diflindlion there may 
 be, betwixt going in perfon on expeditions to 
 catch Haves, and buying thofe, with a view 
 to felf-intereft, which others have taken ; it 
 is clear and plain to an upright mind, that 
 fuch diftin(5lion is in words, not in fubftance j 
 for the parties are concerfied in the fame 
 work, and have a neceffary connedlion with^ 
 and dependance on, each other ; for were 
 there none to purchafe flaves, they who live 
 by ftealing and felling them, would of con-^ 
 fequence do lefs at it. 
 
 Some would buy a Negroc brought from 
 Guinea, with a view to felf-intereft, and 
 keep him a flave, who yet would feem to 
 fcruple to take arms, and join with men em- 
 ployed in taking flaves. 
 
 Others have civil Negroes, who were born 
 in our country, capable and likely to ma- 
 nage well for themfelves ; whom they keep 
 as flaves, without ever trying them with 
 freedom, and take the profit of their labour 
 as a part of their eftates, and yet difap- 
 prove bringing them from their own coun- 
 try. 
 
 If thofe Negroes had come here, as mer- 
 chants, with their ivory and gold duft, in 
 
 order 
 
j[fiK. E E p I H gG & N E G R O E ' J2 1 
 
 order to trade with ?as, and feme pdwerftil 
 perfon had took their efFeds to hinifelf, and 
 .then put them to hard labour, and ever aft^r 
 confidered them as flaves, the adlioa would 
 be looked upon as unrighteous. 
 
 Thdfe Negroe merchants having children 
 after their being among us, w^hofe endows 
 ments and conduct v/ere like other people's in 
 common, if on their attaining to mature age, 
 and requeuing to have their liberty, they 
 ihould be told they were born an flavery, 
 and were lawful Haves, and therefore their 
 requeft ihould be denied ; fuch conduct to- 
 \vard them, w^ould be looked upon as unfair 
 and opprellive. 
 
 In the prefent cafe, relating to home-born 
 Negroes, whofe underflandings and behaviour 
 are as good as common among other people, 
 * if we have any claim to them as flaves, that 
 claim is grounded on their being the chil- 
 dren or offspring of Haves, v/ho, in general, 
 were made fuch through means as unrighte- 
 ous, and attended with more terrible circum- 
 ftances than the cafe laft fuppofed ; fb that 
 when we" trace our claim to the bottom, thefe 
 home-born Negroes having paid for their 
 education, and given reafonable f^xkrity tc^ 
 thefe who owned therft, in cafe of their be- 
 coming chargeable, we have no more equit- 
 able right to their fervice, than we ihould if 
 they were the children of honefc merchants 
 w^ho came from Guinea in an Engliili veiTel 
 to trade wdth 
 
 Y If 
 
322 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 If we claim any right to them as the chil- 
 dren of flaves, we bviild on the fouiulation 
 laid by them, who made Haves of their an- 
 ceftors,; fo that of neceflity we muft either 
 juftify the trade, or rehnqniili our right to 
 them, as being the children of flaves. 
 
 Why fhould it feeiH right to honefl men to 
 make advantage by thefe p'^ople more than 
 by others ? Others enjoy freedorri, receive 
 wages equal to their work, at or near fuch 
 time as they have difcharged thefe equitable 
 obligations they are under to thofe who edu- 
 cated them. Thefe have made no contrail 
 
 to ferve ; been no more expenlive in railing 
 up than others, and many of them appear as 
 likely to make a right ufe of freedom as o- 
 ther people ; which way then can an honeft 
 man withhold from them that liberty, which 
 is the free gift of the Moil High to his rati- 
 onal creatures ? 
 
 The upright in heart cannot fucceed the 
 wicked in their wickednefs ; lior is it confo- 
 nant to the life they live^ to hold fall an ad- 
 vantage unjuflly gained. 
 
 The Negroes who live by plunder, and the 
 flave-trade, ileal poor innocent children, in- 
 vade their neighbours territories, and fpill 
 much blood to get thefe flaves : and can it 
 be poffible for an horieft man to think that,, 
 with a view to felf-interefi!, we may continue 
 flavery to' the offspring of thefe un^happy 
 fiifferers,. merely becaufe they are the chil- 
 dren of flaves, and not have a fliare of this 
 guilt ? - It 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 323 
 
 It is granted by many, that the means iifed 
 in getting them are unrighteous, and that 
 buying them, when brought here^ is wrong; 
 yet. as letting them free is attended with fome 
 difficulty^ they do not comply with it i but 
 i^em to be of the opinion, that to give them 
 food and raiment, and keep them fervants, 
 without any other wages^ is the beft way to 
 manage them that they know of : and hoping 
 that their children after them will not be 
 cruel to the Negroes, conclude to leave them 
 as flaves to their children. 
 
 While prefent outward intereft is the chief 
 object of our attention, we lliall feel many 
 objecflions in our minds againft renouncing 
 our claim to them, as the children of flaves ; 
 for being prepolTefled v/ith wrong opinions^ 
 prevents our feeing things clearly, which, 
 to indifferent perfons, are eafy to be feen. 
 
 Suppofe a perfon feventy years paft, in low 
 circumftances, bought a Negroe man and 
 woman, and that the children of fuch perfon 
 are now wealthy, and have the children of 
 fuch flaves. Admit that the firfl Negroe man 
 and his wife did as much buiinefs as their 
 mafl:er and miflrefs, and that the children of 
 the flaves have done fome more than their 
 young maflers : fuppofe^ on the whole, that 
 the expence of living has been lefs on the 
 , Negroes fide, than on the other (all which 
 are no improbable fuppofitions) it follows, 
 that in equity thefe Negroes have a right to a 
 part of this increafe ; that fliould fome diffi- 
 culties arife on their being fee free, there is 
 
 Y 2 reafoA 
 
^24 CaNSIDERAriONS on the 
 
 reafon for us patiently to labour through 
 them. 
 
 As the Gondudt of men varies > relating ta 
 civil fociety-j-tfo different treatment is juftly 
 due to them. Indifcreet men occaiion trou-^ 
 ble in the world ; and it remains to be the 
 care of fuchj who feek the good of mankind, 
 to admoiiifh as they find occaiion. 
 
 The flothfulnefs of fome of them, in pro^ 
 viding for themfelves and families, it is like-^ 
 ly, would require the notice of their neigh-^ 
 bours ; nor is it unlikely that fome would^ 
 with juflice, be made fervants, and others- 
 punilhed for their crimes. Pure juflice points 
 out to each individual their due ; bvit to de- 
 ny a people the privilege of human creatures ^> 
 on a fuppofition that, being frea, many of 
 them would be troublefome to us, is to mix 
 the condition of good and bad men together^ 
 and treat the whole as the worft of them de-^ 
 ferve. 
 
 If we ferioufly confider, that liberty is the 
 Tight of innocent men ; that the mighty God 
 is a refuge for the opprefTed ; that in reality 
 we are indebted to them ; that they being fet 
 free, are (till liable to the penalties of our 
 laws, and as likely to have punifliment for 
 their crimes as other people : this may an- 
 fwer all our abjedions. And to retain them 
 in perpetual fervitude, without jufl caufe for 
 it, will produce effeds, in the event, more 
 grievous than fetting them free would doj, 
 when a real love to truth and equity was the 
 motive to it. 
 
 Our 
 
Keeping of NEGROES. 315 
 
 Our authority over them ftands originally 
 in a purchafe made from thofe who, as to 
 the general, obtained theirs by tinrighteouf- 
 nefs. Whenever we have reoQUrfe to fuch 
 authority, it tends raore or lefs to obflru(fl 
 the channels, through which the perfect 
 plant in us receives hourifhment. 
 
 There is a principle, which is pure, placed 
 in the human mind, which in different places 
 and ages hath had different names; it is, 
 however, pure, and proceeds from God. — 
 It is deep, and inward, confiried to no forms 
 of religon, nor excluded from any, where 
 the heart ftands in perfect lincerity. In, 
 whomfoever this takes root, and grows, of 
 what nation foever, they become brethren, 
 in the beft fenfe of the expreffion. Uhng 
 ourfelves to take ways which appear mofl ea- 
 ff to us, when inconfiflent with that purity 
 -which is without beginning, we thei'eby fet 
 up a government of our own, and d^ny obe- 
 dience to him, whofe fervice is true liberty. 
 
 He that hath a fervant, made fo vvrrongful- 
 ly, and know^s it to be fo, w^hen he treats 
 him otherwife than a free man, when he 
 reaps the benefit of his labour, without pay- 
 ing him fuch wages as are reafonably due ta 
 free rnen for the like fervice, cloaths except- 
 ed ; thefe things, tho' done in calmnefs, 
 without any f!iew of diforder, do yet deprave 
 the mind in like manner, and with as great 
 certainty, as prevailing cold congeals water, 
 Thefe fteps taken by mafters, and their con- 
 duct ftiiking the minds of their children^ 
 
326 CONSIDERATIONS on the 
 
 wliilft young, leave lefs room for that which 
 is good to Vv'Ork vipon them. The cuftoms 
 of their parents, their neighbours, and the 
 people with whom they converfe, working 
 upon their minds ; and they, from thence, 
 conceiving ideas of things, and modes of 
 condu6l, the entrance into their hearts be- 
 comes, in a great meafure, flmt up againft 
 the gentle mqvings of uncreated purity. 
 
 From one age tq another, the gloom grows 
 thicker and darker, till error gets eftablifhed 
 by general opinion ; that whoever attends to 
 peried: gopdnefs, and remains under the 
 melting influer^ce of it, finds a path un- 
 known to rnaiiy, and fees the neceiTity to lean 
 upon the arm of diyiiie ftrength, and dwe/1 
 alone, or with ^ few, in the right commit- 
 ting their caufc to him, who is a refuge for. 
 his people, in all their troubles. 
 
 Where, through the agreement of a mul- 
 titude, fome channels of juftice are flopped, 
 and men may fupport their characters as jufl: 
 men, by being juft to a party, there is great 
 danger of contra6ling an alliance v/ith that 
 fpirit, which (lands in oppofitioa to the God 
 of loxe, and fpreads difcord, trouble, and 
 vexation among fuch who give up to the in- 
 fluence of it. 
 
 Negroes are our fellow creatures, and their 
 prefent condition amongft us requires our 
 fcrious confideration. We know not the 
 time when thofe fcales, in which mountains 
 are weighed, may turn. The Parent of 
 mankind is gracious : his care is over his 
 
 fmalleft 
 
Keeping of NEGROES, 527 
 
 fmalleft creatures ; and a multitude of men 
 efcape not his notice : And though many of 
 them are trodden down, and defpifed, yet 
 he remembers them : he feeth their affli6lion, 
 and looketh upon the fpreading increafing 
 exaltation of the opprefTor. He turns the 
 channels of power, humbles the mofl haughty 
 people, and gives deliverance to the oppref- 
 led, at fuch periods as are confiftent with his 
 infinite juftice and goodnefs. And wherever 
 gain is preferred to equity, and wrong things 
 publickly encouraged to that degree, that 
 wickednefs takes root, and fpreads wide a- 
 mongft the inhabitants of a country, there 
 is real caufe for forrow to all fuch, whofe 
 love to mankind fhands on a true principle, 
 and who wifely confider the end and eyeat 
 pf things. ) ' 
 
 F 1 N I 
 
CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 O N 
 
 PURE V7ISDOM, and HUMAN POLICY^ 
 
 O N 
 
 LABOUR; 
 
 O N 
 
 S C Q p L S; 
 
 And on the right usE of the 
 
 lord's outv/ard gifts. 
 
 Firft printed in the year iy6S. 
 
 James iii. ij. 
 
 The- ^LViJdo7n that is from above ^ is Jirjl piire^ 
 then peaceable^ gentle^ and eajy to be mtreated^ 
 jull of mercy ^ a7id good fruits^ ivithout partia-^ 
 llty^ and ^without hypocrfy. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 li /I T mind hath often been affeHed with for- 
 J. VJ^ rozv^ on account of the prevailing of that 
 fpirit^ nvhich leads from an humble ivaiting on 
 the in'ward teaching of Chrif ^ to purfue zuays 
 of livings attended uuith unnecefary labour^ 
 and zvhich draivs forth the minds of many peo- 
 ple 
 
INTRODUCTION. 329 
 
 ^le to feek after ontivard poiver^ and fo Jlrive 
 for riches^ %vhich frequently introduce opprejjton^ 
 and bring forth ivars and grievous calamities. 
 
 It is ^nth reverence that I acknowledge the 
 mercies of our heavenly Father^ voho^ in infinite 
 love^ did vifit me in my youth ^ and vorought a 
 helief in me^ that through true obedience a fate 
 of inivard purity fnay be knoivn in this life^ in 
 ivhich ive 7nay love mankind in the fame love 
 uuith nvhich our Redeemer loveth us^ and there-- 
 in learn rcftgnation to endure hardjhips^ for the 
 real good of others. 
 
 While the eye is fngle^ the vuhole body is 
 
 full of light Mat. vi. 22. but for ivant of 
 this^ felfJJj deftres^ and an imaginary fuperiori^ 
 ty^ darken the mind ; hence injiiflice frequently 
 proceeds ; mid vuhere this is the cafe^ to con- 
 vince the judgment^ is the ?nofi effeBual remedy. 
 
 Where violent mcafures are purfued in oppoftng 
 injiifiice^ the pafjions^ and refentments of the in- 
 jured^ frequently operate in the profecution of 
 their defigns ; and after confiiHs produ^ive of 
 very great calamities^ the ?ninds of contending 
 parties often remain as little acquainted voith. 
 the pure principle of divine love^ as they ivere 
 before ; But vuhere people walk in that pure 
 light in which all their works are wrought 
 
 in God John iii. 21, and under opprcjjton 
 perfevere in the meek fpirit^ and abide firm in 
 the cauje of truth^ without aciively complying 
 with opprejfive demands^ ' through thofe the 
 Lord hath often manifefied his power ^ in open- 
 ing the underfiandings of others^ to the promot- 
 ing righteoufnefs in the earth, 
 
 A time.^ 
 
^3o INTRODUCTION, 
 
 A time J I believe^ is comings nvherein this 
 divine uuork ivill fo fpread and prevail^ that 
 ^' Natio7i Jhall not lift up fword againjl nation^ 
 ^' nor learn uoar any more^^ Ifaiah ii. 4. And 
 as nve^ through the tender inercies of God^ do 
 feel that this precious uuork is hegun^ I am con- 
 cerned to encourage my brethren and ftflers in a 
 holy care and diligence^ that each of us may fo 
 live^ under the fmBifying poiver of truth ^ as 
 to be redeemed from all unnecejpiry cares ; that 
 pur eye being fngle to him^ no cufoms^ houuever 
 prevalent^ ivhich are contrary to the ^wifdom 
 frofu above^ may hinder us from faithfully fol-- 
 hiving his holy leadings^ in uuhatfoever he may 
 gracioiifly appoint for us^ 
 
 C O 
 
PONSIDERATIPNS 
 
 ON 
 
 PURE WISDOM, 
 
 AND 
 
 HUMAN POLICY. 
 
 TTT^ O have our trufl fettled in the Lord, 
 
 I and not to feek after, nor defire out- 
 ward treafures, any further than his 
 holy fpirit leads us therein, is a happy flate, 
 as faith the prophet, BlelTed is the man 
 " that trufteth in the Lord, and whofe hope 
 ^' the Lord is/' 
 
 Pure wifdom leads people into lowlincfs of 
 mind, in which they learn refignation to the 
 divine will, and contentment in fuffering for 
 his caufe, when they cannot keep a clear con-^ 
 fcience vvdthout fuffering. 
 
 In this pure vvifdom the mind is attentive 
 to the root, and original Ipring of motions 
 and defres; and as we know the Lord to 
 
 be our refuge," and find no fafety, but in 
 humbly w^alking before him ; we feel an holy 
 engagement, that every defire wdiich leads 
 therefrom may be brought to judgment. 
 
 While we proceed in this precious way^ 
 and find ardent longings far a full dehverance 
 
 froni^ 
 
332 On PURE WISDOM, 
 
 from every thing which defiles, all profpeds 
 of gain, that are not confiftent with the wif-^ 
 dom from above, are confidered as fnares, 
 and an inward concern is felt, that we may 
 live mider the crofs, and faithfully attend to 
 that holy fpirit, which is fufKcient to pre- 
 fer ve out of them. 
 
 When I have confidered that faying of 
 Chrift, Mat, vi. 19, Lay not up for your- 
 
 felves treafures upon earth," his omnipo-? 
 tence hath often occurred to my mind. 
 
 While we believe that he is every where 
 prefent with his people, and that perfect 
 goodnefs, wifdom and power, are united in 
 him, how comfortable is the confideration. 
 
 Our wants may be great, but his power 
 is greater. We may be opprefled and defpif-^ 
 ed, but he is able to turn our patient fufFer- 
 ings into profit to ourfelves, and to the ad- 
 vancement of his work on eai'th. His 
 people, who feel the power of his crofs, to 
 crucify all that is felfifli in them, who are 
 engaged in outward concerns, from a con- 
 yincement that it is their duty, and refign 
 themfelves, and their treafures, to him ; thefe 
 feel that it is dangerqus to give way to that 
 in us, which craves riches and greatnefs in 
 this world. 
 
 As the lieart truly contrite, earneftly de- 
 fires ^' to know Chrift, and the fellowfliip 
 
 of his fufferings," PhiL iii. 10, fo far as 
 the Lord for gracious ends may lead into 
 them ; as fuch feel that it is their intereft to, 
 put their truft in God, and to feck no gain 
 
And human POLICY. 333 
 
 but that which he, by his holy fpirit, leads 
 into ; fo, on the contrary, they who do not 
 reverently wait for this divine teacher, and 
 are not humbly concerned, according to their 
 meafure, ^' to fill up that which is behind of 
 the alHidlions of Chrift,'' GoL i. 24, in 
 patiently fuffering for the promoting righte- 
 oufnefs in the earth ; but have an eye toward 
 the power of men, and the outward advan- 
 tage of wealth, thefe are often attentive to 
 thofe employments which appear pfofitable^ 
 even though the gains arife from fuch trade 
 and bufmefs which proceeds from the work- 
 ings of that fpirit, which is eftranged from 
 the felf-denying life of an humble contrite 
 chriftian. 
 
 While I write on this fubjeft, I feel my 
 tnind tenderly afFedled toward thofe honeftly 
 difpofed people, who have been brought upi 
 in employments attended with thofe difn- 
 €ulties. 
 
 To fuch I may fay, in the feeling of our 
 heavenly Father's love, and number myfelf 
 with you, O that our eyes may be lingle to 
 the Lord ! may we reverently wait on him' 
 for ftrength, to lay afide all unnecelTary ex-* 
 pence of every kindj and learn contentment^ 
 in a plain fimple life. 
 
 May we, in Icwlinefs, fubmit to the lead- 
 ings of his fpirit, and enter upon any out- 
 ward employ which he gracioufly points out 
 to us, and then whatever difficulties arife, in 
 confequence of our f^iithfulnefs, I truft they 
 will work for ovir good, 
 
 Small 
 
534 Oh pure W I S D O 
 
 Small treafure to a refigned mind is fuffi-^ 
 cient. How happy is it to be content with 
 a little, to live in hmnility, and feel that in 
 us, . which breathes out this language, Abba ! 
 Father. 
 
 If that, called the wifdoni of this world] 
 had no refemblance of true wifdom, the name 
 of wifdom, J fuppofe, had not been giveii 
 to it. 
 
 As wafting outward fubftance, to gratify 
 vain defires, on one hand ; fb flothfulnefs 
 and negledl, on the other, do often involve 
 men and their families in trouble, and reduce 
 them to want and diftrefs ; to Ihun both thefe 
 oppofite vices, is good in itfelf, and hath a 
 refemblance of wifdom; but while people 
 thus provident, have it principally in view to 
 get riches, and power, and the friendfhip of 
 this world, and do not humbly wait for the 
 fpirit of truth to lead them in purity ; thefe, 
 through an anxious care to obtain the end 
 defired, reach forth for gain in worldly wif- 
 dom, and, in regard to their inward ftate^ 
 fall into divers temptations and fnares. And 
 though fuch may think of applying wealth 
 to good purpofeSj and to ufe their power to 
 prevent opprefTion, yet wealth and power is 
 often applied othervvife; nor can we depart 
 from the leadings of our holy fhepherd, with- 
 out going into confuiion. 
 
 Great wealth is frequently attended with 
 power^ which nothing but divine love can 
 quahfy the mind to ufe rightly ; and as to 
 the humiUty, and uprightncfs of our chil- 
 dren 
 
And human POLICY. 535 
 
 dren after us, liow great is the uncertainty ! 
 If, in acquiring wealth, we take hold on the 
 wifdom which is from beneath, and depart 
 from the leadings of truth, and example out 
 children herein, we have great caufe to ap- 
 prehend, that wealth may be a fnare to 
 them; and prove an injury toothers, over 
 whom their wealth may give them power ^ 
 
 To be redeemed from that wifdom which 
 is from beneath, and walk in the light of the 
 Lord, is a precious fituation ; thus his people 
 are brought to put their trufh in him ; and in 
 this humble confidence in his wifdom, good- 
 nefs and power, the righteous find a refuge 
 in adverfities, fuperior to the greateft out- 
 ward helps, and a comfort more certain than 
 any worldly advantages can afford. 
 
 On labour. 
 
 HAVING from my childhood been ufed 
 to bodily labour for a living, I may 
 exprefs my experience therein. 
 
 Right exercife affords an innocent pleafure 
 in the time of it, and prepares us to enjoy 
 the fweetnefs of reft ; but from the extremes 
 each way, arife inconveniences. 
 
 Moderate exercife opens the pores, gives 
 the blood a lively circulation, and the better 
 enables us to judge rightly refpedling that- 
 portion of labour v/hich is the true medium. 
 
 The 
 
336 On labour. 
 
 The fowls of the air fow not, nor gather 
 
 into barns, yet our heavenly Father feed- 
 
 eth them/' Mat. vi. 26 ; nor do I believe 
 that infinite goodnefs and power would have 
 allotted labour, to us, had he not feen that la- 
 bour was proper for us in this life. 
 
 The original defign, and true medium of 
 labour, is a fubjed:, that, to me, appears 
 worthy of our feriovis confideration. 
 
 Idle men are often a burden to themfelves^ 
 negledl the duty they owe to their families^ 
 and become burdenfome to others alfo. 
 
 As outward labour^ directed by the wif- 
 dom from above, tends to our health, and 
 adds to our happinefs in this life j fo, on the 
 contrary, entering upon it in a felfifh fi^irit,^ 
 and purfuing it too long, or too hard, hath 
 a contrary effedl. 
 
 I have obferved, thsLt too much labour not 
 only makes the underflanding dull, but fo 
 intrudes upon the harmony of the body, that 
 after ceafing from our toil, w^e have another 
 to pafs through, before we can be fo com- 
 pofed as to enjoy the fweetnefs of reft. 
 
 From too much labour in the heat, fre-^ 
 quently proceeds immoderate fweats, which 
 do often, I believe, open the way for difor-* 
 ders, and impair our conftitutions. 
 
 When we go beyond the true medium^ 
 and feel wearinei1> approaching, but think 
 bufinefs may fuffer if we ceafe, at fuch a 
 time fpirituous liquors are frequently taken, 
 tvith a view to fupport nature under thefc 
 fatigues, I have 
 
On labour, 33f 
 
 I have found that too much labour in the 
 fumitiet heats the blood, that taking ftrong 
 drink to fupport the body under fuch labour^ 
 increafeth that heat, and though a perfou 
 inay be fo far temperate as not to manifefl the 
 leafl diforder, yet the mind, in fuch a cir- 
 cumfhance, doth not retain that calmnefs and 
 ferenify, which we fhould endeavour to liv(^ 
 in. 
 
 Thus toiling in the heat, and drinking 
 ftrong liquor, makes men more refolute, and 
 lefs confiderate, and tends very much to dif- 
 qualify from fuccefsfully following him who 
 is meek and low of heart. 
 
 As laying out buiinefs, more than is con- 
 liftent with pure wifdom, is an evil, fo this 
 evil frequently leads into more. Too much 
 bufinefs leads to hurry. In the hurry and 
 toil too much ftrong drink is often ufedj and 
 hereby many proceed to noife and wanton- 
 nefs, and feme, tho' more confiderate, do 
 often fuffer lofs, as to a true compofednefs of 
 mind. 
 
 I feel fincere defires in my heart that no 
 rent, nor intereft, might be laid fo high as 
 to be a fnare to tenants. That nD defires of 
 gain may draw any too far in bufinefs. That 
 no cares to fvipport cuftoms, which have not 
 their foundation in pure wifdom, may have 
 place in our minds, but that we may build 
 on the fure fovmdation, and feel our holy 
 fhepherd to lead us, who alone is able to pre- 
 fer ve us, and bring forth from every thing 
 which defiles. 
 
 Z Havixig 
 
338 
 
 On labour. 
 
 Having feveral times, in my travels, had 
 opportunity to obferve the labour and man- 
 ner of life of great numbers of ilaves, it ap- 
 pears to me that the true medium is lament- 
 ably negledled by many, who affign them 
 their portion of labour. 
 
 Without faying much at this time, con- 
 cerning buying and felling men for term of 
 life, who have as juft a right to liberty as vfC 
 have ; nor about the great miferies, and ef- 
 fufion of blood, confequent to promoting the 
 llave^trade ; and to fpeak as favourably as 
 may be, with regard to continuing thofe in 
 bondage who are amongft us, we cannot fay 
 there is no partiality in it : for whatever ten- 
 dernefs may be manifefted by individuals in 
 their life time toward them, yet for people 
 to be tranfmitted from a man to his poflerity, 
 in the helplefs condition of flaves, appears 
 inconliftent with 'the nature of the gofpel fpi- 
 rit. From fuch proceedings it often follows, 
 that perfons in the decline of life, are de- 
 prived of monies equitably due to them, and 
 committed to the care, and fubjecfted to the 
 abfolute power of young unexperienced men, 
 who know but little about the weaknefs of 
 old age, nor underftand the language of de- 
 clining life. 
 
 Where parents give their efiates to their 
 children, and then depend on them for a 
 maintenance, they fometimes meet wath great 
 inconveniences ; but if the power of polTef- 
 fion, thus obtained, doth often reverie the 
 obligations of gratitude and filial duty, and 
 
 make^ 
 
O N L A B O U R. 
 
 makes mauifeft, that youth are often igno- 
 rant of the language of old age, how hard is 
 the cafe of antient Negroes, who, deprived 
 of the wages equitably due to them, are left 
 to young people, who have been ufed to look 
 upon them as their inferiors. 
 
 For men to behold the fruits of their labour 
 withheld from them, and poiTeired by others^ 
 and in old age find themfelves deftltute of 
 thofe comfortable accommodations, and that 
 tender regard which their time of life re- 
 quires : 
 
 When they feel pains, and ftiftnefs in their 
 joints and limbs, wea.knefs of appetite, and 
 that a little labour is wearifome, and ftill be- 
 hold themfelves in the nei^ledled uncomfort- 
 able condition of a flave, and oftentimes to 
 a young unfympathiiing rnan : 
 
 For men to be tliris treated from one gene- 
 ration to another, Vvho, befides their ovvn 
 diftrefTes, think on the fiavery entailed oa 
 their pofterlty, and are grieved ! what dif^ 
 agreeable thoughts muft they have of tlip 
 profefled fo Howlers of Jeilis i and how rnuff: 
 their groans afcend to that ahnighty beings 
 who ^' will be a refuge for the opprelTed/' 
 Pfdm IX. Q. 
 
[ 34° ] 
 
 On schools. 
 
 Suffer the little children to come unto me^ and 
 fo bid them not^ for of fuch is the kingdom of 
 God^ Mark. x. 14. 
 
 f^i O encourage children to do things with 
 ^ a vieViT to get praife of men, to me ap- 
 pears an obflrudlion to their being inwardly 
 acquainted with the fpirit of truth. For it 
 is the vv^ork of the Holy Spirit to diredl the 
 itiind to God, that in all our proceedings 
 We may have a fingle eye to him. To give 
 alms in fecret, to faft in fecret, and labour 
 to keep clear of that difpofition reproved by 
 Our Saviour, But all their works they do 
 
 , for to be feen of men.'^ Matt, xxiii. 5. 
 
 That divine light w^hich enlightens all men, 
 I believe, does often Ihine in the minds of 
 children very early, and to humbly wait for 
 wifdom, that our condu6l toward them may 
 tend to forward their acquaintance with it^ 
 and ftrengthen them in obedience thereto, 
 appears to me to be a duty on all of us. 
 
 By cherilliing the fpirit of pride, and the 
 love of praife in them, I believe they may 
 fome times improve f after in learning, than 
 other wife they would,- but to take meafures 
 to forward children in learning, which na- 
 turally tend to divert their minds from true 
 humility, appears to ine to favour of the wif- 
 dom of thi;^ world. 
 
On school S. 341 
 
 If tutors arc not acquainted with fandlifi- 
 cation of fpirit, nor experienced in an hum- 
 ble waiting for the leadings of truth, but 
 follow the maxims of the wifdom of this 
 world, fuch children who are under their tu- 
 ition, appear to me to be in danger of im- 
 bibing thoughts, and apprehenfions, reverfe 
 to that meeknefs, and lov/linefs of heart, 
 w^hich is necelFary for all the true followers 
 ot Chrift. 
 
 Children at an age fit for fchools, are in a 
 time of life which requires the patient atten- 
 tion of pious people, and if we commit them 
 to the tuition of fuch, w^hofe minds we be- 
 lieve are not rightly prepared to train them 
 up in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord," we are in danger of not acting the 
 part of faithful parents toward them ; for 
 our heavenly father doth not require us to 
 do evil, that good may come of it ; and it is 
 needful that we deeply examine ourfelves, 
 left we get entangled in the wifdom of this 
 world, and, through wrong apprehenfions^ 
 take fuch methods in education, as may 
 prove a great injury to the minds of our 
 children. 
 
 It is a lovely fight to behold innocent chil--' 
 dren ! and when they are fent to fuch fchools 
 where their tender minds are in imminent 
 danger of being led aftray by tutors, who do 
 jiot live a felf-^denying life, or by the conver- 
 fation of fuch children v/ho do not live in 
 innocence, it is a cafe much Ko be lamented* 
 
 WhilQ 
 
On schools. 
 
 While a pious tutor hath the charge of no 
 more children than he can take due care of, 
 3,nd keeps his authority in the truth, the 
 good fpirit in which he leads and governs, 
 works on the minds of fuch who are not hard- 
 ened, and his labours not only tend to bring 
 ihem forward in butward learning, but to 
 open their underftandings with refpedl to 
 the true chriflian life ; but where a perfon 
 hath charge of too many, and his thoughts 
 and time are fo mvich employed in the out- 
 ward affairs of his fchool, that he does not 
 fo weightily attend to the fpirit and conduct 
 of each individual, as to be enabled to admi- 
 nifter rightly to ail in due feafon ; through 
 fuch omiffion he not only fuffers, as to the 
 ilate of his own mind, but the minds of the 
 children are in danger of fuffering alfo. 
 
 To watch the fpirit of children, to nurture 
 them in gofpel love, and labour to help them 
 againft that which would mar the beauty of 
 their minds, is a debt we owe them ; and a 
 faithful performance of our duty, not only 
 tends to their lafting benefit, and our own 
 peace, but alfo to render their company a- 
 greeable to us. 
 
 Inftruftion, thus adminiftered, reaches 
 the pure witnefs in the minds of fuch chil- 
 dren w^ho are not hardened^ and begets love 
 in them toward thofe vfho thus lead them on ; 
 but v^diere too great a number are committed 
 to a tutor, and he, through much cumber, 
 omits a careful attention to the minds of chil- 
 
 s dreii^ 
 
On schools. 343 
 
 dren, there is danger of diforders gradually 
 increafing amongft them, till the elFedls there- 
 of appear in their conducl^l, too ftrong to be 
 eafily remedied. 
 
 A care hath lived on my mind, that more 
 time might be employed by parents at home^ 
 and by tutors at fchool, in weightily attend-- 
 ing to the fpirit and inclinations of children^ 
 and that we may fu lead, inftrud:, and go- 
 vern them, in this tender part of life, that 
 nothing may be omitted in our power, to 
 help them on their way to become the chil- 
 dren of our father, who is in heaven. 
 
 Meditating on the fituation of fchools in 
 our provinces, my mind hath, at times, been 
 afFecT:ed with forrow, and under thefe exer- 
 cifes it hath appeared to me, that if thofe 
 who have laree efhates, were faithful ftew- 
 ads, and laid no rent, nor intereft, nor och^r 
 demand, higher than is confiflent with uni- 
 verfal love ; and thofe in lower circumftan- 
 ces would, under a moderate employ, fhun 
 imneceflary expence, even to the fmalleft ar- 
 ticle ; and all unite in humbly leeking to the 
 Lord, he woukl gracioufly inftWidl us, and 
 ftrengthen us, to relieve the youth from 
 various fiiares, in which many of them arc 
 entangled ♦ 
 
 On 
 
[ 344 ] 
 
 On the RIGHT Use of the LORD's 
 QUTWARD Gifts. 
 
 AS our imderftandiiigs are opened by the 
 pure light, we experience that, through 
 an inward approacliing to God, the mind is 
 ftrengthened in obedience ; and that by gra- 
 tifying thofe defires which are not of his be- 
 getting, tliofe approaches to him are obilru6l- 
 c?d, and the deceivable fpirit gains ftrength. 
 
 Thefe truths, being as it were engraven 
 upon our hearts, and our everlafting intereii 
 \n Chrift evidently concerned herein, we be- 
 come fervently engaged, thp.t nothing may 
 be nouriflied Vvdiich tends to feed pride or 
 lelf-love in vis. Thus in pure obedience^ we 
 are not only inftru6led in our duty to Qocl^ 
 but aifo in the afikirs wdiich neceilarily ref- 
 late to this life, and the fpirit of truth which 
 guides into all truth, leavens the mind with 
 a pious concern, that '^ v/hatfoever we do in. 
 
 word or dee4, ™^.^J he done in his name,'^ 
 Col. ili, ly. ' ■ ^ 
 
 Hence fuch buildings, furniture, food, and 
 raiment, as heft anfwer our necelilties, and 
 are the leaft likely to feed that ielfifh fpirit 
 which is our enemy, are tlie moft acceptable, 
 to us. 
 
 In this ftate the mind is tender, and in- 
 wardly watchful, that the love of gain draw 
 us not into any bufinefs, which may weaken 
 our love to our heavenly father, or bring un- 
 necelfary trouble to any of his creatures; 
 
 . Thus 
 
On the right USE, e^r, 341 
 
 Thus the way gradually opens to ceafe 
 from that fpirit which craves riches and things, 
 fetched far, which fo mixeth with the cuf^ 
 toms of this world, and io intrudes upon 
 the true harmony of life, that the right me- 
 dium of labour is very niuch departed from. 
 And as the minds of people are fettled in a 
 fteady concern, not to hold nor poiiefs any 
 thing but what may be held coniiftent with 
 the wifdoni from above, they confider what 
 they poiTefs as the gift of God, and are in- 
 Yv^ardly exercifed, that in all parts of their 
 conduct they may a6l agreeable to the nature 
 of the peaceable government of Chrift, 
 
 A little fupports fuch a life j and in a fhate 
 truly refigned to the Lord, the eye is fingle, 
 to fee what outward employ he leads into, 
 as a means of our fubiiftence, and a lively 
 care is maintained to hold to that without 
 launching further. 
 
 There is a harmony in the feveral parts of 
 this divine v^^ork in the hearts of people ; 
 he who leads them to ceafe from thofe gain-^ 
 ful employments, carried on in that wifdom 
 which is from benccath, delivers alfb from the 
 deiire after worldly greatnefs, and reconciles 
 the mind to a life fo plain, that a little doth 
 fuffice. 
 
 Here the real comforts of life are not lef- 
 fened. Moderate exercife, in the way of true 
 wifdom, is pleafant both to mind and l3ody„ 
 
 Food and raiment fufScient, thoup'h in tha 
 greateft fimplicity, is accepted vvitli content 
 4nd gratitude. 
 
 The 
 
346 On THE RIGHT USE op the 
 
 The mutual love, fubfifting between the 
 faithful followers of Chrift, is more pure than 
 that friendlhip which is not feafgned with 
 humility, how fpecious foever the appear- 
 ance. 
 
 Where people depart from pure wifdom in 
 one cafe, it is often an introducflion to depart 
 from it in many more ; and thus a fpirit 
 which feeks for outward greatnefs, and leads 
 into w^orldly wifdom to attain it, and fupport 
 it, gets poifelfion of the mind. 
 
 In beholding the cuftomary departure from 
 the true medium of labour, and that unne- 
 ceffary toil which many go through, in fup- 
 porting outward greatnefs, and procuring 
 delicacies : 
 
 In beholding how the true calmnefs of life 
 is changed into hurry, and that many, by 
 eagerly purfuing outward treafure, are in 
 great danger of withering as to the inward 
 Itate of the mine! : 
 
 In meditating on the works of this fpirit^, 
 and on the defolations it m?.kes amongft the 
 profeffors of chriftianity, I may thankfully 
 acknowledge, that I often feel pure love be- 
 get longings in my heart, for the exaltation 
 of the peaceable kingdom of Chrift, and an 
 engagement to labour according to the gift 
 bellowed on me, for the promoting an hum- 
 ble, plain, temperate way of living : a life 
 where no unnecefiary cares, nor expences, 
 may encumber our minds, nor ieffen our a-^ 
 bility to do good ; where no defires after 
 riches, or greatnefs, may lead into hard deal- 
 ing ^ . 
 
lord's outward gifts. 347 
 
 ing ; where no comieclions witli wordly 
 minded men, may abate our love to God^ 
 nor weaken a true zeal for rigliteoufnefs : a 
 life, wherein w^e may diligently labour for 
 refignednefs to do, aild fuffer, whatever ovir 
 heavenly father may allot for us, in recon- 
 ciling the world to himfelf. 
 
 When the prophet Ifaiah had uttered his 
 vliion, and declared that a time was coming 
 wherein fvvords fliouid be beat into plow- 
 
 lliares, and fpears into pruning hooks, and 
 
 that nation lliould not lift up fword againfl 
 ^' nation, nor learn war any more he im- 
 mediately directs the minds of people to the 
 divine teacher, in this remarkable language, 
 
 O houfe of Jacob, come ye and let us v/alk 
 
 in the light of the Lord,'' Ifaiah ii. 5. 
 
 To wait for the dirediion of this light, in 
 all temporal as well as fpiritual concerns, ap- 
 pears nccefTary ; for if in any cafe we enter 
 lightly into temporal affairs, without feeling 
 this fpirit of truth to open our way therein, 
 and through the love of this world proceed 
 on, and feek for gain by that bufinefs or 
 traffic, which is not of the father, but of 
 
 the w^orld,'' i John ii. 16, vv^e fail in our 
 teftimony to the purity and peace of his go- 
 vernment ; and get into that which is for 
 chaftifement. 
 
 This matter hath lain heavy on my mind, 
 it being evident, that a life lefs humble, lefs 
 limple and plain, than that which Chrifl' 
 leads his flieep into, does neceiiiirily require 
 
 fupport, which pure wifdom does not pro- 
 vide 
 
34.8 On the RIGHT USE of the 
 
 vide for ; hence there is no probability of our 
 being a pecuhar people, fo zealous of good 
 
 works, as to have no fellowlhip with works 
 '^^ of darknefs," Titus ii. 14. Ephef. v. 11, 
 while we have wants to fupply which have 
 their foundation in cuftom, and do not come 
 within the meaning of thofe expreffions, 
 ^' your heavenly father knoweth that ye have 
 
 need of all thefe things/' Matt. vi. 32. 
 
 Thefe things which he beholds necefTary 
 for his people, he fails not to give them in 
 his ovf n vvTay, and time ; but as his ways are 
 above our ways, and his thoughts above our 
 thoughts, fo imaginary wants are different 
 ^' from thefe things which he knov/eth that 
 
 we have need of/' 
 
 As my meditations have been on thefb 
 things, companion hath filled my heart to- 
 ward my fellovvT creatures, involved in cuf^ 
 toms, grown up in the wifdom of this 
 ^' world, which is fooliflmefs with God,'' 
 I Cor, iii, 1 9 ; and O that the youth may be 
 fo thoroughly experienced in an humble 
 walking before the Lord^ that they may be 
 his children, and knovv^ him to be their re- 
 fuge, their fafe unfailing refuge ! through 
 the various dangers attending this uncertain 
 ftate of being. 
 
 If thofe whofe minds are redeemed from 
 the love of wealth, and who are content vv^ith 
 a plain, fimple way of living, do yet find that 
 to conduct the affairs of a family, without 
 giying countenance tQ unrighteous proceed- 
 
LORD'S OUTWARD GIFTS. 349 
 
 ings, or having fellowfliip with works of 
 darknefs, the mofh dihgent care is neceffary: 
 
 If cuftoms, diflinguilhable from univerlal 
 righteoufnefs, and oppofite to the true felf- 
 denying Hfe, are now prevalent, and fo mix- 
 ed with trade, and with almoft every em- 
 ploy, that it is only through humble waiting 
 on the imvard guidance of truth, that we 
 may reafbnably hope to walk fafely, and fup- 
 port an uniform teflimony to the peaceable 
 government of Chrift : 
 
 If this be the cafe, how lamentably do thef 
 expofe themfelves to temptations, who give 
 way to the love of riches, conform to expen- 
 live living, and reach forth for gain, to fup- 
 port cuffcoms, which our holy fliepherd leads 
 iiot into. 
 
 C O Na 
 
CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 TRUE HARMONY 
 o* F 
 
 M A N K I N Dj 
 
 AND HOW IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED^ 
 
 Firft printed in the year 1770. 
 
 M I c A H V, 74 
 
 And the remnant of Jacob Jloall he in thd 
 midfi of many people^ as a de^w from the Lordj 
 as the fhoivers upon the grqfs^ that tarr 'ieth 
 not for man^ nor ivaiteth for the fons of men. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 S mankind from one parent are divided int$ 
 many fa^niUes^ and as trading to fea is^ 
 greatly increafed within afezu ages paft ; amtdil 
 
 this 
 
INTRODUCTION. 351 
 
 this extended commerce^ honjo necejfary is it that 
 the profejfed foUouuers of Chrijl keep facred his 
 holy nanie^ and he employed about trade and 
 traffic no farther than jiifiice and equity eui^ 
 dently accompanies ? that ive may give no jujl 
 caufe of offence to any^ hoivever dijlant^ or tm-^ 
 able to plead their oivn caife ; and may continue 
 ally keep in njieiv^ the fpreading of the true and 
 fauing knouoledge of God^ and his fon Jefus 
 Chriji^ among f our fellonv creatures^ nvhich 
 through his infnite love^ fome feel to he more 
 precious than any other treafnre. 
 
t 352 ] 
 
 ■ I WIN .I..I.IL.I « I III— ^«»»»»>»ri» 
 
 CONSIDERATIONS 
 
 O N ^ T H E 
 
 TRUE HARMONY 
 
 O F 
 
 MANKIND; 
 
 AND HOW IT IS TO BE MAINTAINED. 
 
 C H A P. I; 
 
 On /^Wing the Lord in our outward employ- 
 ments. 
 
 UNDER the humbling difpenfations 
 of the Father of mercies, I have felt 
 an inward labour for the good of my 
 fellow creatures, and a concern that the holy 
 fpirit, which alone can reftore mankind to a 
 ftate of true harmony, may with finglenefs 
 of heart be waited for and followed. 
 
 I truft there are many under that vifitation^ 
 which, if faithfully attended to, will make 
 them quick of underftanding in the fear of 
 the Lord, and qualify with firmnefs to be 
 true patterns of the chriftian life, VNrho ill 
 living and walking may hold forth an invi- 
 tation to others, to come out of the entangle- 
 ments of the fpirit of this world. And 
 
On serving the LORD, (j^r. 353 
 
 And that wliicii I feel fir ft to eXprefs is, a 
 care for thofe who are in circumftances, 
 which appear difficuh, with refpecS to fup- 
 porting their famiUe^ in a way anfwerable to 
 pure wifdom, that they may not be difcou- 
 raged, but reiilcmber that in humbly obey- 
 ing the leading of Ghfift, he owneth us 'as 
 his friends, Ye are my friends if ye do 
 
 w^hatfoever I command ydu and to be a 
 friend to Ghrift, is to be united to him, v/ho 
 hath all power in heaven and in earth ; and 
 tho' a woman may forget her facking child, 
 ydt will he not forget his faithful ones. 
 
 The condition of many who dvf ell in cities 
 hath often afFedted me with a brotherly fym-* 
 ipathy, attended with a deiire that refignati-* 
 on may be laboured for ; and where the ho^ 
 ly leader directeth to a country life or fome 
 change of employ, he may be faithfully fol- 
 lowed ; for under the refining hand of the 
 Lord I have feen, that the inhabitants of fome 
 titles are greatly incrcafed through fome 
 branches of bufinefs which his holy fpirit 
 doth not lead into, and that being entangled 
 in thefe things, tends to bring a cldiid over 
 the minds of people convinced of the lead- 
 ings of this holy leader, and obftrudls the 
 coming of the kingdom of Chrift on earth as 
 it is in heaven. 
 
 Now if we indulge a deflre to imitate our 
 neighbours in thofe things which harmonife 
 not with the true chriftian walking, thefe 
 entanglements may hold faft to us, and fome, 
 
 A a who 
 
;554 sERviN^G f^^^^^LORD IN oi;^ 
 
 who in an awakening time, feel tender fcru-^ 
 pies, with refpedl to their manner of life-^ 
 may look on the example of others more no- 
 ted in the church, who yet may not be re- 
 fined from every degree of drofs ; and by 
 looking on thefe examples, and defiring to 
 lijpport their families in a way pleafant to 
 the natmal mind, there may be danger of 
 the worldly wifdom gaining ftrength in them^ 
 and of their departm^e from that pure feeling 
 of truth, which if faithfully attended to, 
 would teach contentment in the divine will ^ 
 even in a very low eftate* 
 
 One formerly fpeaking on the profitable- 
 nefs of true humility, faith, He that 
 troubles not himfelf with anxious thoughts 
 for more than is neceffary, lives little lefs 
 than the life of angels, whilft by a mind 
 content with little, he imitates their want 
 of nothing." Cave's primitive chriftianity, 
 page 31. 
 
 . It is not enough, fays Tertullian^ that a 
 chriftian be chafte and modeft, but he muft 
 appear to be fo : a virtue of which he fhould 
 have.fo great a ftore, that it fliould flow from 
 his mind upon his habit^ and break from the 
 retirements of his confcience, into the fuper- 
 ficies of his life." Same book, page 43. 
 
 The garments we wear, fays Clemens^ 
 ought to be mean and frugal-^that is true 
 limplicity of habit, which takes away what 
 is v?an and fiiperfluotts ; that the beft and 
 moll: folid garment, which is the fartheft 
 from curioiity," Page 49^ Though 
 
Outward EMPLOYMENTS. 35^ 
 
 Though the change from day to night, is 
 by a motion fb gradual as fcarcely to be per- 
 fceivedj yet when night is cdme we behold it 
 very different from the day ; and thus as 
 people become wife ill their own eyes, and 
 prudent in their own fight, cuftoras rife up 
 from the fpirit of this world, and fpread by 
 little aild little, till a departure from the 
 fimplicity that there is in Chriil:, becomes as 
 diftinguifhable as light from darknefs, to 
 fuch who are crucified to the world. 
 
 Our holy ftiephefd, to encourage his Seek 
 in firmnefs and perfeverance; reminds theiii 
 of his love for them, As the father hath 
 
 loved me, fo have I loved you ; continue ye 
 
 in my Idve V and in another place graci- 
 oufly points out the danger of departing there- 
 from, by going into unfliitable employments ; 
 this he reprefents in the fimilitude of offence 
 from that ufeful adive member, the hand ; 
 and to fix the inftrudlion the deeper^ names 
 the right hand, If thy right hand offend 
 
 thee cut it off and call it from thee''— If 
 thou feelefl offence in thy employment, huni- 
 bly follow him who leads into all truth, and 
 is a ftfong and faithful friend to thofe who 
 are refigned to him. 
 
 Again, he points out thofe things which 
 appearing pleafant to the natural mind, are 
 iiot beft for us, in the fimilitude of offence 
 from the eye, 'V If t^T right eye offend thee 
 
 plttck it out, ^nd caft it from thee.'' To 
 |)luck out the' eye, or cut off the hand, is at- 
 tended with iharp pain ; and how precious is 
 
 A a 2 the 
 
On gjeRrrNG-THE LORD in our 
 
 the inflrudlian which our red-eemer thus opdns 
 to us, that we may not faint under the moik 
 painful trials, but put our truft in him, eveit 
 in him who fent an angel to feed EHjah in the 
 wildernefs ; who fed a mtlltitude with a few 
 barley loaves, and is now as attentive to the 
 wants of his people as ever. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah, reprefents the unrigh- 
 teous doings of the Ifraelites toward the 
 poor, as the fruits of an cfFeminate life, As 
 for my people, children are their oppref- 
 fbi^i and women rule over them; what 
 mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces,^ 
 and grind the faces of the poor, faith the 
 " Lord God/' Then he mentions the haugh- 
 tinefs of the daughters of Sion, and enume- 
 rates many ornaments, as inftances of their 
 vanity, to uphold which, the poor were fo^ 
 hardly dealt with, that he fets forth their po- 
 verty, their leannefs and inability to help 
 ihemfelves, in the fimilitude of a man maim- 
 ed by violence or beaten to pieces," and 
 forced to endure the painful operation of 
 having his face gradually worn away in the 
 manner of grinding. 
 
 And I may here add, that at times, Vfhea 
 I have felt true love open my heart towards- 
 my fellow creatures, ^nd been engaged in 
 weighty converfation in the caufe of righte^^ 
 oufnefs, the inftrvi6Hons I have received un-- 
 ^er thefe exercifcs, in regard to the true ufe 
 of the. outward gifts of Godj have made deep 
 and laliiftg impreffioaiS @q py Jixiw^ 
 
OtJTWARD EMPLOYMENTS. 357 
 
 ^1 have here beheld, how the defire to pro*^ 
 vide wealth, and to uphold a delicate life 
 hath grievoufly entangled many, and beeii 
 like fnares to their offspring ; and though 
 fome have been affecSled with a fenfe of their 
 difficulties, and appeared defirous, at times, 
 to be helped out of tliem ; yet for want of 
 abiding under the humbling power of truth, 
 £hey have continued in thefe entanglements j 
 for in remaining conformable to this world^ 
 and giving way to a delicate life, this ex- 
 penfive way of living, in parents and ia 
 children, hath called for a large fupply, and 
 in anfwering this call ^\ the faces 9f the poor ' 
 have been ground away, and made thiii thm 
 hard dealing. 
 
 There is balm, there is a phyfician ! and 
 O what longings do I feel ! that we may em- 
 brace the means appointed for our healing, 
 know that rernoved which now minifters 
 caufe for the cries of rnany people to afcend 
 to heaven againfh their oppreffors, and that 
 we may fee the true harmony reftored, 
 
 Behold ' ■ how good and how pleafant it is^ 
 ^' for brethren to dwell together in unity*'' 
 The nature of this unity is thus opened by 
 the apoftle, If we walk in the Ught, as 
 r^' Chrift is in the light, we fliaU have fei-^ 
 
 lowfhip one with another, and the blood 
 
 of Ghrift will cleanfe us from all fin/' 
 ; The land may be polluted with innocent 
 bldod, which like the blood of Abel may cry 
 tp the Almighty ; but thofe who 'V walk in 
 1^ tJi? light as Chrift i§ ift the %ht," they 
 
 know 
 
358 On serving the LORD in ouh 
 know the lamb of God, who taketh away 
 
 Walking is a phrafe frequently ii fed ki fcrip- 
 ture, to reprefent our journey through life^ 
 and appears to comprehend the various affairs 
 and tranfadlions properly relating to our be- 
 incr in this world. " r ^ 
 
 Chrift being the light, dwells always in the 
 light, and if pur walking be thus, and in 
 every affair and concern we faithfully follow 
 this divine leader ; he preferves from giving 
 juft caufe for any to quarrel with us ; and 
 where this foundation is laid and mutually 
 J:ept to, by families cpnverfant with each o- 
 ther, the way is open for thefe comforts in 
 fociety, which our heavenly father intends 
 ^s a part of our happinefs in this world ; and 
 then we may experien goodnefs, and 
 
 pleafantnefs of dwelling together in unity; 
 but where ways of living take place, which 
 tend to opprefTion^ and in the ^purfuit of 
 w^ealth, people do that to others which they 
 know would not be acceptable to themfelves, 
 cither ill exerciiing an abfqlute power over 
 them, or otherwife laying on them unequit- 
 able burdens ; here a fear left that meafure 
 Ihoukl be mceted to them, whigh they have; 
 meafured to others, incites a care to fupport 
 that by craft and cunning devices which 
 flands not on the firm foundation of righte- 
 oufnefs : thus the harmony of fociety is 
 broken, and from hence commotions and 
 wars do frequently arife in the world. 
 
 : . * Comg 
 
Outward EMPLOYMENTS, 359 
 
 ■i V** Come out of Babylon my people, that 
 
 ye be not partakers of her fins^ and that ye 
 
 receive not of her plagues/' Rev. xv, 3,4. 
 This Babel, or Babylon, was built in the 
 fpirit of felf-exaltation : Let us build us a 
 " city and a tower, whofe top may reach to 
 
 heaven, and let us make us a name." Gen. 
 Xi. 4. In departing from an humble truft in 
 God, and following a felfifh fpirit, people 
 have intentions to get the uppprhand of their 
 fellow creatures, privately meditate on means 
 to obtain their ends, have a language in their 
 hearts which is hard to underftand. In Ba- 
 bel the language is confounded, 
 
 This city is reprefented as a place of bufi- 
 nefs and thofe employed in it, as merchants 
 of the earth : The merchants of the earth 
 
 are waxed rich through the abundance of 
 
 her delicacies." Rev. xviii. 3. 
 
 And it is remarkable in this call, that the 
 language from the father of mercies is, my 
 people, Come out of Babylon my people !" 
 Thus his tender raercies are toward us in an 
 imperfed: ftate ; and as we faithfully attend 
 to the call, the path of righteovifnefs is more 
 and more opened ; cravings, which have not 
 their foundation in pure wifdom, more and 
 more ceafe j ^nd in an inward purity of 
 heart, we experience a reftoration of that 
 which was loft at Babel, reprefented by the 
 infpired prophet ir^ the returning of a pure 
 ^' language." Zeph. iii. g. 
 
 Happy for them who humbly attend to 
 the call, Come out of Babylon my people." 
 
 Vqv 
 
36c On serving TH^ ]^ I N O U ^; 
 
 For though in going forth we m^j meet with 
 trials, which for a time racij be painful, yep 
 as we bow in true humility, and continue in 
 it, an evidence is felt that God only is wife j 
 and that 19 weaning us from all that is felf- 
 ifh, he prepares the way to a quiet habitation 
 where all our defn es are bounded by his wif- 
 dom. And an exercife of fpirit attends me, 
 that we who are convinced of the pure lead- 
 ings of truth, "may bow in the deepeft reve- 
 tence, and fo watchfully regard this leader, 
 that many who are grievoufly entangled in a 
 wildernefs of vain cuiloms, may look upon 
 us, and be inftru6led. ' And O that fuch who 
 have plenty of this world's goods, may be 
 faithful in that with which they are entruft- 
 ed ! and example others in the true chriijian 
 walking. 
 
 Our blelTed Saviour, fpeaking on worldly 
 greatnefs, compares himfelf to one waiting 
 and attending on a company at dinner : 
 ^' Whether is greater, he that fitteth at meat 
 
 or he that fervetli ? Is not he that fitteth 
 
 at meat ? but I'am amongfl you as he that 
 
 ferveth." Luke xxii. 27. 
 
 Thus in a world greatly difordered, where 
 men afpiring to outward greatnefs were wont 
 to opprefs ocLers to fapport their defigns, he 
 who was of the highelt defcent, being the 
 Son of God, and greater than any amongfh 
 the greateft families of men, by his example 
 and doctrines fore'clofcd his followers from 
 claiming any ihew of outward greatnefs, from 
 
0UtWARP 
 
 EMPLOYMENT^. 
 
 uny fuppofed fuperiority in themfelves, or 
 
 derived from their anceftors. 
 
 ^ He who was greater than earthly princes, 
 
 Was not only meek and low of heart, but his 
 
 outward appearance was plairb and lowly, 
 
 and free from every flain of the fpirit of this 
 
 world. 
 
 Such w^as the example of our bleffed Re- 
 deemer, of whom the beloved difciple faidj 
 He that faith he abideth in him, ought 
 alfo to walk even as he walked/' 
 John Bradford, who fuffered martyrdom^ 
 under queen Mary, wrote a letter to his ^ 
 friends out of prifon, a Ihort time before he 
 was burnt, in which are thefe expreffions j 
 Coilfider your dignity as children of God 
 and temples of the Holy Ghoft, and mem^ 
 bers of Chriil, be aihamed therefore to think, 
 fpeak, or do any thing unfeemly, for God's 
 children and the members of Chrift.'' FoxM 
 A(5ls and Monuments, page 1 177. 
 
 C H A P, IL 
 
 On the example of CHRIST. 
 
 AS my mind hath been brought into a 
 brotherly feeling with the poor, as £0 
 the things of this life, who are under trials 
 in regard to getting a living in a way an-?- 
 fwerable to the purity of truth j a labour of 
 
S62 On the example of CHRIST. 
 
 heart hath attended me, that their way may 
 not be made difficult through the love of mo-r 
 ney in thofe who are tried with plentiful 
 eftates, but that they with tendernefs of heart 
 may fympathize with them. 
 
 It was the faying of our blefTed Redeemer, 
 Ye cannot ferve God and mammon/' 
 There is a deep feeling of the way of purity, 
 a way in which the wildom of the world hath 
 no part, but is opened by the fpirit of truth, 
 and is " called the way of holinefs a way 
 in which the traveller is employed in watch- 
 ing unto prayer ; and the outward gain wcp 
 get in this journey is confidered as a trufl 
 committed to us, by h i m who formed and 
 fupports the world ; and is the rightful di- 
 rector of the ufe and application of the pro- 
 du(5l of it. 
 
 Now except the mind be preferved chafte, 
 there is no fafety for us ; but in an eftrange- 
 ment from true refignation, the fpirit of the 
 world cafts up a way, in which gain is many 
 times principally attended to, and in which 
 there is a felfifh application of outward trea-^ 
 fures. 
 
 How agreeable to the true harmony of fo- 
 ciety, is that exhortation of the apoftle ? 
 Look not every man on his own things, 
 but every man aifo on the things of others. 
 Let this mind be in you which was aifo in 
 Chrift Jefus/' 
 
 A perfon in outward profperity may have 
 the power of obtaining riches, but the fame 
 mind being in him which is in Chrift Jefus, 
 
On the example of CHRIST. 363 
 
 he may feel a tendernefs of heart towards 
 thofe of low degree ; and inftead of fetting 
 himfelf above them, may look upon it as an 
 unmerited favour, that his way through life 
 is more eafy than the way of many others ; 
 may improve every opportunity of leading 
 forth out of thofe cuftoms which have en- 
 tangled the family ; employ his time in look- 
 ing into the wants of the poor members, and 
 hold forth fuch a perfecl example of humili- 
 ation, that the pure witnefs may be reached 
 in many minds ; and the way opened for a 
 harmonious walking together. 
 
 Jefus Ghrift, in promoting the happinefs 
 of others, was not deficient in looking for the 
 helplefs, who lay in obfcurity, nor did he 
 fave any thing to render himfelf honourable 
 amongft men, which might have been of 
 xxiorc ufe to the weak members in his Father's 
 family ; of whofe compaffion towards uis I 
 may novv fpeak a little. He who was per- 
 fcclly happy in himfelf, moved wdth infinite 
 love, " ^took not upon him the nature of an- 
 
 gels," but our imperfect natures, and 
 therein wreftled with the temptations which 
 attend us in this life ; and being the Son of 
 HIM who is greater than earthly princes, yet 
 became a companion to poor, fincere heart- 
 ed men ; and though he gave the cleareft 
 evidence that divine power attended him, yet 
 the moft unfavourable conftrudlions were 
 framed by a felf righteous people ; thofe 
 miracles reprefented as the efFedt of a diabo- 
 lical power, and endeavours ufed to render 
 
^64 On THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST, 
 
 him hateful^ as having his miffion from the 
 prince of darknefs ; nor did their envy ceafe 
 till they took hiiii like a criminal and brought 
 him to trial. Though fome may afFedl to 
 carry the appearance of being unmoved att 
 the apprehenifion of diftrefs, oiif dear Re- 
 deemer, who was perfedlly fincere, having 
 the fame human nature which we have, an4 
 feeling, a little before h,e vyas apprehended^ 
 the weight of that work upon him, for which 
 he came into the world, was forrowful 
 
 even unto death here the human nature 
 ftruggled to be excu fed from a cup fp bitter j 
 but his prayers centered in refignatipn, - Not 
 
 my will but thine be done/' In this con- 
 flidl, fo great was his agony that fweat 
 
 like drops of blood feil from him to the 
 
 ground." 
 
 Behold now as foretold by the prophet, he 
 is in a judicial manner numbered with the 
 
 tranfgrefTors.'' Behold him as fome pdor 
 man of no reputation, {landing before the 
 high prieft and elders, and before Herod and 
 Pilate, where Vv^itnelTes appear againft him^ 
 and he mindful of the moil gracious defign 
 of his coming, declineth to plead in his own 
 defence, ^' but as a fheep that is dumb be-^ 
 
 fore his fliearer,'* fo underonrvny accufati^ 
 ons, revilings, and bufFetings, remained fi- 
 lent. And tho' he fignified to Peter that he 
 had accefs to power fufncient to overthrow all 
 their outward forces ; yet retaining a refig- 
 |iation to fuffer for the fins of mankind, he 
 everted not that power^ but permitted t^ei^ 
 
>fH£ EXAMPLE OF CHUIST. 365 
 
 to^ go on in their malicious defigns, and pro- 
 nounce hiin to be worthy of death, even hira 
 who was perfed: in goodnefs ; thus in his 
 ^' humiliation his judgment was taken a- 
 
 way/' and he, like fome vile criminal, 
 
 led as a lamb to the' flaughter." Under 
 thefe heavy trials (though poor unliable Pilate 
 was convinced of his innocence, yet) the peo- 
 ple generally looked upon him as a deceiver, 
 a blafphemer, and the approaching punifh- 
 ment as a juft judgment upon him, They 
 
 eileemed him fmitten of God and afflicl- 
 
 ed." So great had been the farprize of 
 his difciples, at his being taken by armed 
 men, that they ^' forfook him and iled 
 thus they hid their faces from him, he was 
 defpifed, and by their conducft it appeared as 
 though they efteemed him not." 
 
 Biit contrary to that opinion, of his being 
 fmitten of God and afflided, it was for our 
 fakes that he was put to grief ; he was 
 
 wounded for our tranfgreffions ; he was 
 ^ bruifed for our iniquities and under the 
 ^weight of them manifeiling the deepefl com-^ 
 paffion for the inftruments of his mifery, 
 laboured as their advocate, and in the deeps 
 of afflidlion^ with an unconquerable pati- 
 ence, cried ouv Father forgive them, they 
 
 kaiow not whaj: they do ! 
 
 New this mind being in us, which was 
 in Chrift Jefus, it removes from our hearts 
 the defire o£ fuperiority , worldly honour or 
 greatness ; ^ deep attention is felt to the tii- 
 irine counfellor^ and an ardent engagement 
 m . to 
 
^66 On the EXAMPLjf^'CHRIST. 
 
 to promote, as far as we may be enabled, the 
 happinefs of mankind univerfally ; this ftate, 
 where every motion from a feififh fpirit 
 yieldeth to pure love, I may, with gratitude 
 to the father of mercies acknowledge, is oft- 
 en opened before me as a pearl to dig after ; 
 attended with a living concern, that amongft 
 the many nations and families on the earth, 
 thofe who believe in the Meffiah, that ^' he 
 was manifefted to deftroy the works of the 
 Devil,'' and thus to take away the fins 
 of the world/' may experience the will of 
 our heavenly Father, may be done on earth 
 as it is in heaven." Strong are the defircs 
 I often feel, that this holy profeffion may re- 
 main unpolluted, and the believers in Chrift 
 may fo abide in the pure inward feeling of 
 his fpirit, that the wifdom from above may 
 ftiine forth in their living, as a light by which 
 others may be inftrumentally helped on their 
 way, in the true harmonious walking. 
 
 C H A P. IIL 
 
 Oil Merchandizing. 
 
 HERE the treafures of pure love arc 
 opened, and we obediently follow 
 him who is the light of life, the mind be- 
 comes chafte ; and a care is felt, that the 
 undlion from the holy one may be our leader 
 in every undertaking. 
 
 In 
 
On merchandizing. 367 
 
 In being crucified to the world, broken 
 ofF from that friendlhip which is enmity with 
 God, and dead to the ciiftoms and falhions 
 which have not their foundation in the truth ; 
 the way is prepared to lowHnefs in outward 
 hving, and to a difentanglement from thofe 
 fnares which attend the love of money • and 
 where the faithful friends of Chrift are fo fi- 
 tuated that merchandize appears to be their 
 duty, they feel a reftraint frorfi proceeding 
 farther than he owns their proceeding ; being 
 convinced that ^' we are not our own but are 
 
 bought with a price, that none of us may 
 ^' live to ourfelves, but to him who died for 
 
 us." 2 Corin. v. 15. Thus they are taught^ 
 not only to keep to a moderate advance and 
 tiprightnefs in their dealings ; but to confi- 
 der the tendency of their proceeding ; to do 
 nothing which they know would operate a- 
 gainft the caufe of univerfal righteoufnefs ; 
 and to keep continually in viev/ the fpreading 
 of the peaceable kingdom of Chrift amongft 
 mankind. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah fpake of the gathered 
 church, in the fimilitude of a city, where 
 many being employed were all preferved in 
 purity ; They fhall call them the holy peo- 
 pie, the redeemed of the Lord, and thou 
 flialt be called fought out, a city not for- 
 faken." ixiii. 10. And tlie apoftle after 
 mentioning the myftery of Chrift's fufferings 
 exhorts, Be ye holy in all manner of con- 
 *V verfation,'' i Pet. i. 15. There is a con- 
 verfation neceflary in trade; and there is a 
 
 converfatioa 
 
368 On MEilCHANBIl^md 
 
 converflition fd foreign from the nature of 
 Chrift's Idngdom, that it is reprefented in the 
 fimilitiide of one man pufliing another with 
 a v/arhke weapon; There is that fpeaketh 
 *^ Hke the piercings of a fword/' Prov. xii. 1 8. 
 Now in all our concerns it is neceffary that 
 the leading of the fpirit of Chrifl be humbly- 
 waited for and faithfully followed , as the on- 
 ly means of being preferved chafte as an holy 
 people, who in all things are circumfped:." 
 jExod. xxiii. 13, that nothing we do may 
 carry the appearance of approbation of the 
 works of wickednefs, make the unrighteous 
 more at ea !e in unrighteoufnefs, or occafioii 
 the injuries committed againft the opprefled 
 to be more lightly looked over. 
 
 Where morality is kept to, and filpported 
 by the inhabitants of a country, there is a 
 certain reproach attends thofe individuals a-^ 
 mongfl them, who manifeftly deviate there-^ 
 from. Thus, if a perfon of good report, is 
 charged with ftealing goods out of an open 
 ftiop in the day time, and on a public trial 
 found guilty, and the law in that cafe put in 
 execution, he therein fuftains a lofs of repu-^ 
 tation ; but if he be convi6led a fecond and 
 third time of the like olFence^ his good name 
 would ceafe amongft fuch who knew thefe 
 things. If his neighbour, reputed an honeft 
 inan, being charged with buying goods of 
 this thief, at a time when the purchaser knew 
 they were ftolen, and on a public trial is 
 found guilty, tixis purchaler would meet with 
 di&fteem, but \£hc perfilkd in buying ftolen 
 
 goods, 
 
On MERCHANDIZINa 36^ 
 
 goods, knowing them to be fuch, and was 
 publicly convi6led thereof a fecond and third 
 time, he would no longer be coniidei^ed as an 
 honed man by them who knew thefe things ; 
 nor would it appear of good report to be 
 found in his company, buying his trafBck, 
 till fome evident tokens of fincefe repentance 
 appeared in him. But where iniquity is 
 committed openly^ and the authors of it are 
 not brought to juftice^ nor put to fhame, 
 their hands grow ftrong. Thus the general 
 corruption of the Jews fhortly before theit 
 ftate was broke up by the Chaldeans, is de- 
 fcribed by their boldnefs in impiety ; for as 
 their leaders were conne6led together in wdck- 
 ednefs, they flrengthened one another ^ and 
 grew confident, Were they afliaiiied when 
 they had committed abominations ? nay, 
 they were not at all aihamed, neither could 
 ^' they blufh." Jer. vi. 15, on which account 
 the Lord thus expoftu^lates with them, ^' What 
 hath my beloved to do in my houfe, feeing 
 flie hath wrought lewd nefs with many? 
 and the holy fleih is palfed from thee,^ 
 when thou doeft evilj then thou rejoiceft.'^ 
 Jer- 'xi. 15. 
 
 Now the faithful friends of Chrift, who 
 hunger and thirft after righteoufnefs, and in- 
 wardly breath that his kingdom may come 
 on earth as it is in heaven, he teaclieth them 
 to be quick of underftanding in his feai% and 
 to be very attentive to the means he may ap- 
 point for promoting pure righteoufnefs in the 
 earth J and as fliame is due to thofe v/liofe 
 
 B b works 
 
yjo C}.N.--MERCHANDlZINa 
 
 works maniferdy operate againft the gracious 
 deiiga of his fufferings for us, a care lives ou 
 their minds thnt no vvrong cuftoms however 
 fupported, may biafs their judgments, but 
 that they may humbly abide under the crofs 
 and be preferved in a condudl which may not 
 contribute to ftrengthen the hands of the 
 v/icked in their wickednefs, or to remove 
 iliame from thofe to whom it is juftly due.. 
 The commg of that day is precious in which 
 we experience the truth of this expreflion* 
 
 The liOrd our righteoufnefs." Jer. xiii, 6, 
 and feel him to be made unto us wifdom 
 
 and fan(5lification." 
 
 The example of a righteous man is often 
 looked at with attention. Where righteous 
 men join in bufinefs their company gives en- 
 couragement to others ; and as one grain of 
 incenle deliberately offered to the prince of 
 this world, renders an offering to God in that 
 fiate unacceptable ; and from thofe efteemed 
 leaders of the people may be injurious to the 
 weak ; it requires deep humility of heart, to 
 follow him faithfully, who alone gives found 
 wiidom and the fpirit of true difcerning ; and 
 O how neceffary it is, to confider the weight 
 of a holy profeffion ! 
 
 The condud: of fome formerly, gave occa- 
 fjon of complaint againft them, Thou haft 
 
 defiled thy fandluaries by the multitude of 
 ^' thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy 
 
 traffick/' Ezek. xxviii. i8, and in feveral 
 places it is cliarged againft Ifrael that they 
 had polhitcd the holy name. 
 
 The 
 
On merchandizing. 371 
 
 Thd prophet Ifaiah repfefents inward fanc- 
 tificaticn in the fimilitude of being purged 
 from that which is fuel for fire ; and particTi- 
 larly delcribes the outward fruits, brought 
 forth by thofe who dwell in this inward ho- 
 iinels," '^^ they walk righteoufly, and fpeak 
 
 up^^ By walking he reprefents the 
 
 jb\irney through life, as a righteous journey ; 
 and by fpeaking uprightly/' feems to point 
 at that which Mofes appears to have had ia 
 view, when he thus exprefied himfelf, Thou 
 
 flialt not follow a multitude to do evil, 
 
 not fpeak in a cafe to decline after many 
 
 to wrefl: judgment," Exod. xxiii. 2. 
 
 He goes on to fhew their firmnefs in equity ; 
 Yeprefenting them as perfons fuperior to all 
 the arts of getting money, vv^hich Lave not 
 righteoufiiefs for their foundation ; They 
 
 defpife the gain of opprefTions and fur- 
 ther ihews how careful they are that no pro- 
 ' fpedls of gain may induce them to become 
 partial in judgment refpefting an injury ; 
 
 They lliake their hands from holding 
 ^ bribes." 
 
 Again, where any interefl is fo connected 
 with lliedding blood, that the cry of inno- 
 cent blood goes alfo with it ; he points out 
 their care to keep innocent blood from crying 
 againfl them, in the fimilitude of a man flop- 
 ping his ears to prevent a found from enter- 
 ing his head, They Hop their ears from 
 
 hearing blood y and where they know 
 that wickednefs is^tommitted, he points out 
 with fave^ that they do not by an unguarded 
 B h 2 triendfliip 
 
372 On merchandizing. 
 
 friendiliip with the authors of it, appear like 
 unconcerned lookers on, but as people fo 
 deeply affecled with forrow, that they cannot 
 endure to Hand by and behold it ; this he re- 
 prefents in the limilitude of a man fliutting 
 ^' his eyes from feeing evil/' 
 
 Who amongfl us fhall dvvtll with the de~ 
 vouring fire ? Who amoilgft us fliall dwell 
 with everlafting burnings ? He that walk- 
 eth righteoully and fpeaketh uprightly . He 
 that defpifeth the gain of oppreffions, that 
 fliaketh his hands from holding of bribes, 
 that floppetli his ears from hearing of blood, 
 and fliutteth his eyes from feeing evih" 
 Ifaiah xxxiii. 14, 15. 
 
 He proceeds in the fpirit of pt^ophecy to 
 Ihew how the faithful being fupported under 
 temptations, would be preferved from that 
 defilement that there is in the love of money ; 
 that as they vAio in a reverent v/aiting on 
 God, feel their flrength renewed, are faid ta 
 mount upw^ard fo here their prefervation 
 from the fnare of unrighteous gain, is repre- 
 fented in the iikenefs of a man, borne up 
 above all crafty, artful means of getting the 
 advantage of another, They fliall dwell on 
 high; and points out the ftability and 
 firmnefs of their condition, His place of 
 defence fhall be the munitions of rocks {\ 
 and that under all the outward appearances 
 of lofs, in denying himfelf of gainful profits 
 for righteoufnefs fake, yet through the care 
 of him who provides for the fparrows, he 
 iliould have a f apply anfwerable to his infi- 
 
On merchandizing, 373 
 
 ;nit!e wifdom, Bread fliall be given him, 
 
 his waters fhall be fare," And as our Sa- 
 viour mentions the iight of God to be attain- 
 able by the pure inheart./^ fo here the pro- 
 phet pointed oiit, how in tpue fancftification 
 the underilandliig is opened, to behold the 
 peaceable h^^rmonious nature of his kingdom^ 
 
 thine eyes fhall fee the king in his beauty 
 and that looking beyond all the afflictions 
 which attend the righteous, to a habitati- 
 
 on eternal in the heavens/' they with an 
 eye divinely open ^ ' (liall behold the land that 
 
 is very far off. 
 
 He lhall dwell on hip:h, his place of de- 
 
 fence fliall be the munitions of rocks, bread 
 
 fhall be giv^en him, his waters fhall be fure, 
 * ■ Thine eyes fhall fee the king in his beauty; 
 
 they fhall behold the land that is very far 
 
 off." Ifaiah xxxiii. 16, 17. 
 
 I often remember, and to me the fubjecffc 
 is avv^ful, that the great Judge of all the earth 
 doeth that which is right, and that he be- 
 
 fore whom the nations are as the drop of 
 
 a bucket," is no refpeCler of perfons." 
 Happy for them, who like the infpired pro-^ 
 phet, in the way of his judgments wait 
 for him/' Ifaiah xxvi. 8. 
 
 When we feel him to fit as a refiner with 
 fire, and know a refignednefs wrought ia us, 
 to that which he appoints for us, his bleiling 
 in a very low eflate, is found to be more pre- 
 cious than much otitward treaflxre in thofe 
 vvays of life where the leadings of his fpirit 
 are not followed. 
 
 The" 
 
374 MERCHANDIZING, 
 
 The prophet in a fight of divine work 
 moiigft many people, declared in the name 
 of the Lord, " I will gather all nations and 
 tongues, and they lhall come and fee my 
 glory." Ifaiah Ixvi, i8. And again, " from 
 the rifing of the fun to the going down of 
 the fame, my name fhall be great amongfh 
 the Gentiles, and in every place incenfe 
 ihall be offered to my name, and a pure 
 offering/' Malachi i. ii. 
 Behold here how the prophets had an . in- 
 ward fenfe of the fpreading of the kingdom 
 of Chrift ; and how he was fpoken of as one 
 vvho fhould ^' take the heathen for his inhe- 
 ritance, and the utmoft parts of the earth 
 " for his poifeffion." Pfal. ii. 8. That he 
 was given for a light to the Gentiles ; and 
 for falvation to the ends of the earth/' 
 Ifaiah xlix. 6. 
 
 When we meditate on this divine work, as 
 a work of ages ; a work that the prophets felt 
 long before Chrift appeared yifibiy on earth, 
 and remember the bitter agonies he endured 
 when he poured out his Ibul unto death," 
 that the heathen nations, as well as others, 
 might come to the knowledge of the truth 
 and be faved. 
 
 When we contemplate on this marvellous 
 work, as that which the angels defire to 
 look into," I Pet. i. 12. And behold peo- 
 ple amongft whom this light hath eminently 
 broken forth, and who have received many 
 favours from the bountiful hand of our hea- 
 venly Father j not only indifferent with re- 
 
On merchandizing. 375 
 
 fpe6l to publifliing the glad tidings amongft 
 the Gentiles, as yet fitting in darknefs and 
 entangled with many fuperftitions ; but a- 
 fpiring after wealth and worldly honours, 
 take hold of means to obtain their ends, 
 tending to far up wrach and indignation, 
 and to beget an abhorrence in them to the 
 name of chriftianity. When thefe things are 
 weightily attended to, how mournful is the 
 fubjea? 
 
 It is worthy of remembrance, that people 
 in different ages, deeply baptifed into the na- 
 ture of that work for which Chrift fuffered, 
 have joyfully offered up their liberty and lives 
 for the promoting of it in the earth. 
 
 Policarp, who was reputed a difciple of St. 
 John, having attained to great age, was at 
 length fentenced to die for his religion, and 
 being brought to the fire, prayed nearly as 
 follows, " Thou God and Father of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom I have received 
 the knowledge of thee ! O God of the angels 
 and powers, and of every hving creature, 
 and of all forts of juft men which live in thy 
 prefence. I thank thee ! that thou haft gra- 
 cioufly vouchfafed this day and this hour to 
 allot me a portion among the number of 
 martyrs, among the people of Chrift^ unto 
 the refurredlion of everlafting life ; among 
 whom I fliall be received in thy fight, this 
 day, as a fruitful and acceptable facrifice, 
 wherefore for all this, I praife thee, I blcfs 
 thee, I glorify thee through the everlafting 
 high Prieft, Jefus Chrift, thy vfell beloved 
 
376 On merchandizing. 
 
 fon ; to whom, with thee and the holy Ghoft^ 
 be all glory, world without end. Amen. 
 
 Bifliop Latimer, w^hen fentence of death 
 by fire, was pronounced againft hiixi, ^on ac-, 
 count qf his firnxnefs in the caufe of religion, 
 he faid, I thank God mod heartily ! that 
 he hath prolonged my life ta this end ; that 
 I may, in this cafe glorify him by. this kind 
 of death." Fox's A6ls and Mon. 936. 
 
 William Dew^fbery, who had fufiered much 
 for his religion, in his laft ficknefs, encou- 
 raging his friends to faithfulnefs, made men- 
 tion, like good"bld Jacob, of the loving kind- 
 nefs of God to him in the courfe of his life, 
 and that through the power of divine love^, 
 he for Chrift'a fake had joyfully entered prH 
 fons. See introduction to his works. 
 
 I mention thefe, as a few examples, out of 
 many, of the pow^erful operation of the fpirit 
 of Chrift, where people are fully devoted tq 
 it, and of the ardent longings in their minds 
 for the fpreading of his kingdom amongft 
 mankind. Nov/ to thofe, in the prefent age, 
 who truly know Chrift, and feel the nature 
 of his peaceable government opened in their 
 underftandings, how loud is that call where- 
 \vith we are called to faithfulnefs ; that in 
 following this pure light of life, we as 
 
 w^orkers together with him,'' may labour, 
 in that great work for w^hich he was offered 
 as a facrifice on the crofs ; and that his peace- 
 able doctrines may fhine through us in their 
 yeai harmony^ at a time "VYhen the name of 
 
On merchandizing. 377 
 
 cliriftianity is become hateful to many of the 
 heathen. 
 
 When Gehazi had obtained treafures, which 
 the prophet under divine direction had refuf- 
 ed, and was returned from the bufinefs^ the 
 prophet troubled at his condudl, queried if 
 it was a time thus to prepare for a fpecious 
 living. 
 
 Is it a time ta receive money and gar-r 
 • ' ments, men fervants and maid fervants^ 
 the leprofy therefore of Naaman fhiall cleave 
 to thee and to thy feed foreyer." 2 Kings 
 V. 26. And O that w^e may lay to heart the 
 condition of the prefent time ! and humbly 
 follow his counfel, who alone is able to pre-^ 
 pare the way for a true harmonious walking 
 ^mongft mankind. 
 
 CHAP. IV- 
 
 On diy^lne Admonitions^ 
 
 SU G H are the perfedlions of our heaven- 
 ly Father, that in all the difpenfations of 
 his providence, it is our duty, in every 
 - thing, to give thanks.'* Though from the 
 firft fettlenient of this part of America, he 
 hath not extended his judgments to the degree 
 of famuie, yet -worms at times have come 
 forth beyond numbering, and laid wafte 
 lields of grain and grafs, w^icre they have 
 appeared ; another kind, in great multitudes^ 
 
 working 
 
37^ On divine ADMONITIONSi:. 
 
 working out of fight, in grafs gFoxmd, have 
 fo'eat the roots that the furface, being lool- 
 ened from the foil beneath, might Jbe takj^a^ 
 ofFin great Ihects. -n'> nh> 77 
 
 Thele kind of devoiiring. cneatnres appear- 
 ing leidom, and coming in flich multitudes^ 3 
 their generation appears diiferent from moft 
 other reptiles, and by the prophet were eall- 
 ed God's armj fent amcngil the people;' 
 Jod ii. 25. , . . 
 
 There have been tempefts of hail, which 
 have very much deilroyed the grain where 
 they extendved. Through long drought in 
 fummer, grain in fome places hath been lefs ; 
 than half the uRial ouantitv ; and in the 
 continuance thereof, I have beheld with at-^ 
 tention, from week to week, how drynefs 
 from the top of the earth, hath extended 
 deeper and deeper, while the corn and plants 
 have languiilied ; and with reverence my 
 mind hath been turned toward him, who 
 being perfe6l in goodnefs, in wifdom and 
 power, doeth all things right. And after 
 long drought, when the fl^y hath grown dark 
 with a colle6lion of matter, and ciouds like 
 lakes of water hung over our heads, from 
 whence the thirfty land hath been leaked ; I 
 have at times, with awfulnefs, beheld the ve- 
 hement operation of lightning, made fome- 
 times to accompany thele bielungs, as a mef- 
 
 fenger 
 
 r * When crops fall, I often feel a tender care that the cafe 
 ©f poor teuants may be mercifully coafidercd. 
 
DIVINE ADMONITIONS, 379 
 
 lenger from him who created all things, to 
 remind us of our duty in a right ufe of thofe 
 benefits, and give ftriking admonitions, that 
 we do not mifapply thofe gifts, in which an 
 Almighty power is exerted, in beftowing 
 them upon us. 
 
 When I have confidered that many of our 
 fellow creatures fuffer much in fome places , 
 for w^ant of the neceifaries of life, whilft thoie 
 who rule over them are too nmch given to 
 luxury, and divers vanities ; and behold the 
 apparent deviation from pure v/ifdom arnongft 
 as, in the ufe of the outward gifts of God ; 
 thofe marks of famine have appeared like 
 humbling admonitions from him, that we 
 rpxight be inftrucled by gent]e chaftifements, 
 and might fei'iouily conlider our ways ; re~ 
 membring that the outward fupply of life is 
 a gift from our heavenly Father, and that w^e 
 ihould no more venture to ufe, or apply Jiis 
 gifts, in a way contrary to pure wifdom. 
 
 Should we continue to reject thofe merci- 
 ful admonitions, and ufe his gifts at home, 
 contrary to the gracious defign of the giver, 
 or fend them abroad in a way of trade, which 
 the fpirit of truth doth not lead into ; and 
 Ihould he whofe eyes are upon all our ways., 
 extend his chaftifements fo far as to reduce 
 us to much greater diftrefs than hath yet been 
 felt by thefe provinces ; with what forrow of 
 heart might we meditate on that fubjedl, 
 ^' Haft thou not procured this unto thy felf, 
 ^' in that thou haft forfaken the Lord thy 
 
 God, when he led thee by thee way ? 
 
 Thine 
 
580 On divine admonitions, 
 
 Thine own wickednefs fhall correal tliee,^ 
 and thy backHidings fhall reprove thee: 
 ^' know therefore and fee, that it is an evil 
 ^' thing and bitter, that thou haft forfaken 
 the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not 
 in thee, faith the Lqrd God of hofts." Jer. 
 ii. 17, 19, 
 
 My mind hath often been alFecfled Vv^ith 
 forrow, in beholding a wrong application of 
 the gifts of our heavenly Father ; and thofe 
 exprellions concerning the defilement of the 
 earth have been opened to. my underftanding, 
 The earth v^as corrupt before God, and 
 the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 
 vi. II. Again, Ifaiah xxiv. 5. The earth 
 alfo, is defiled under the inhabitants there- 
 of, becaufe they have— broken the ever-r 
 lafting covenant/' 
 
 The earth being the work of a divine pow- 
 er, may not as fuch be accounted unclean ; 
 but when violence is committed thereon, and 
 the channel of righteoufnefs fo obftrudled, 
 that in our fkirts are found the blood of 
 the fouls of poor innocents ; not by a fe- 
 cret fearch, but upon all thefe." Jerem. 
 ii. 34. * 
 
 When blood, fhed unrighteoufly, remains 
 unattoned for, and the inhabitants are not 
 effedtually purged from it, when they do not 
 wafh their hands in innocency, as was figur- 
 ed in the law, in the cafe of one being found 
 
 Hain ; 
 
 * See a caution and warning to Great-Britain and her co- 
 lonies; page 31, 
 
On divine ADMOHITIONS. 381 
 
 flain ; but feek for gain arifing from fcenes 
 of violence and oppreflion, here the land is 
 polluted with blood. Deut. xxi. 6. 
 
 Moreover, v^hen the earth is planted and 
 tilled, and the fruits brought forth are appli- 
 ed to fupport unrighteous purpofes ; here the 
 gracious deiign of infinite gdodnefs, in thefe 
 his gifts being perverted, the earth is defiled ; 
 and the complaint formerly uttered becomes 
 iapplicable ; Thou haft made me to ferve 
 with thy fins ; thou haft wearied me with 
 thine iniquities/' Ifaiah xliii. 24^ 
 
 THE END, 
 
[ ] 
 
 RE MARKS 
 
 O N 
 
 SUNDRY SUBJECT S. 
 
 Firft printed in London, 1773* 
 
 CHAP. h 
 
 On loving our Neighbours as ourfdves^ 
 
 HEN we love the Lord with all 
 our li^earts, and his creatures in his 
 love, we are then preferved in ten- 
 dernefs both toward mankind and the animal 
 creation ; but if another fpirit gets room in 
 our minds, and we follow it in our proceed- 
 ings, we are then in the wajr of dilbrdering 
 the affairs of fociety* e *^ 
 
 If a man fucceisful in bufinefs expends 
 part of his income in things of no real ufe, 
 while the poor employed by him pafs through " 
 great difficulties in getting the neceflaries of 
 Ufe, this requires his ferious attention. 
 
On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 383 
 
 If levcral principal men in bufinefs unite 
 in fetting die wages of thof^ who work for 
 hire, and therein have regard to a profit to 
 thcmfclves anfwerabk to unneceflary expence 
 in their families, v/Iiile the wages of the others 
 on a moderate induilry will not aiTord a com- 
 fortable living for their families, and a pro- 
 per education for their children ; this is Hke 
 laying a temptation in the way of fome to 
 llrive for a place higher than they are in, 
 when they have not ftock fufficient for it. ' 
 
 Now I feel a concern in the fpring of pure 
 love, that all who have plenty of outward 
 fubftance, may example others in the right 
 ufe of things ; may carefully look into the 
 condition of poor people, and beware of ex- 
 adling on them with regard to their wages. 
 
 While ' hired labourers, by moderate in- 
 duftry, through the divine bleffing, may live 
 comfortably, raife up families, and give them 
 fiiitable education, it appears reafonable.for 
 them to be content with their wages, -rr--: 
 
 If they who have plenty, love their feilov/ 
 creatures in that love which is divine, and in 
 all their proceedings have an equal regard to 
 the good of mankind univerfally, their place 
 in fociety is a place of care, an office requir- 
 ing attention, and the more we polTefs, the 
 greater is our truft, and with an increafe of 
 treafure, an increafe of care becomes necef- 
 fary. 
 
 When our will is fubje^l to the will of , God, 
 and in relation to the things of this world, 
 we have nothing in view, but a comfortable 
 
 living 
 
384 On loying our NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 living equally with the reft of our fellow 
 creatuiTs, then outward treafures are no far- 
 ther delirable than as we feel a gift in our 
 minds equal to the truft, and ftrength to a(5l 
 as dutiful children in his fervice, who hath 
 formed all mankind, and appointed a fub- 
 fiftence for us in this world* 
 
 A delire fot treafures on any other motive^ 
 appears to be againft that command of our 
 bleffed Saviour, Lay not up for yourfelves 
 
 treafures on earth, Mat, vi. 19. 
 
 He forbids not laying up in the fummer 
 againft the wants of winter ; nor doth he 
 teach us to be flothful in that which properly 
 relates to our being in this world ; but in 
 this prohibition he puts in jour/elves Lay 
 
 not up for yourfelves treafures here oil 
 
 earth." 
 
 Now in the pure light^ this language is 
 underftood, for in the love of Chrift there is 
 no refpecl of perfons ; and while we abide in 
 his love, we live not to ourfelves, but to him 
 ■who died for us. And as we are thus united 
 in fpirit to Chrift, w^e are engaged to labour 
 in promoting that work in the earth for which 
 he fafPered. 
 
 In this ftate of mind our deftres are, that 
 every honeft member in fociety may have a 
 jportion of treafure, and ftiare of truft, an- 
 l\verable to that gift, w4th which our hea« 
 venly Father hath gifted us. 
 
 In great treafure, there is a great truft. 
 
 A great truft requireth great care. 
 
 But the laborious mind wants reft, 
 
 A pious 
 
On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 385 
 
 A pious man is content to do a iliare of 
 biu^mefs in focietj, anfwerable to the gifts 
 with which he is endowed, while the chan- 
 nels of buiinefs are free from unrighteoiif- • 
 nefs, but is careful left at any time his heart 
 be overcharged. 
 
 In the harmonious fpirit of fociety Ghrift 
 
 is all in all," Col. iii. 11. 
 
 Here it is that " old things are paft away^ 
 
 all things are new, all things are of God," 
 2 Cor. V. 17, 18. and the deiire for outward 
 riches is at an end. 
 
 They of low degree who have fmall gifts, 
 enjoy their help who have large gifts ; thofe 
 with their finail gifts, have a finall degree of 
 care, while thefe with their large gifts, have 
 a large degree of care : and thus to abide in 
 the love of Chrift, and enjoy a comfortable 
 living in this world is all that is aimed at by 
 thofe members in fociety, to whom Chrift is 
 made wifdom and righteoufnefs. 
 
 But when they who have much treafure, 
 are not faithful ftewards of the gitts of God, 
 great difficulties attend it* 
 
 Now this matter hath deeply afFedled my 
 mind. The Lord, through merciful chaftife- 
 ments, hath given me a feeling of that love, 
 in which the harmony of fociety ftandeth, 
 and a fight of the grov/th of that feed which 
 bringeth forth wars and great calamities in 
 the w^orld, and a labour attends me to open 
 it to others. 
 
 Now to act w^ith integrity, according to 
 that ftrength of mind and body with v/hich 
 
 G c eur 
 
386 Oi^'vmmG dT?MNEIGHBOURS; 
 
 our creator hath endowed each of us, appears 
 neceffary for all, and he who thus (lands in 
 the loweft ftation, appears to be entitled to as 
 comfortable and convenient a living,- ^Sr he 
 whofe gifts of mind are greater, and whofe 
 cares are more extenhve. , • ■ -i^i 
 
 If fome endowed with ftrong underflandTj; 
 ings as men, abide not in the harmonious 
 ftate, in w^hich \yq love our neighbours as 
 
 ourfelves,'* but walk in that fpirit in which 
 the children of this world are wife in theii^ - 
 generation ; thefe by the ftrength of contrij-i 
 vance may fometimes gather great treafurey 
 but the wifdom of this world is foolilhnefs 
 with God ; and if we gather treafures in 
 worldly wifdom, we lay up treafures for 
 
 ourfelves and great treafures managed 
 in any other fpirit, than the fpirit of truth^^ 
 difordereth the affairs of fociety, for hereb)^ 
 the good gifts of God in this outward crea- 
 tion are turned into the channels of worldly 
 honour, and frequently appHed to fupport 
 luxury, while the w^ages of poor labourers 
 are fuch, that with moderate induftry and 
 frugality they may not live comfortably^ raife 
 up families, and give them fuitable educati- 
 on, but through the ftreightnefs of their con- 
 dition, are often drawn on to labour under 
 wearinefs, to toil through hardfhips them- 
 felves, and frequently to opprefs thole ufeful 
 animals with which we are entrufted. 
 
 From age to age, throughout all ages, dit 
 vine love is that alone, in which dominion 
 has been, is, and w^ill be rightly coaducled. 
 
O^'U^^i^G^buR NEIGHBOURS. 387^ 
 
 In this the endowments of men are fo em-* 
 ployed, that the friend and tlie governor are 
 vmited in oile, and oppreffive cufloms come 
 to an endi^^^i ^ lODtm 
 
 Riches in" thie ha.iids of individuals in fo- 
 ciety, is attended with feme degree of power ; 
 and fd far as power is put forth feparateTrom 
 pure love, fo far the government of the Prince 
 of Peace is interrupted ; and as we know not 
 that oilr children after us Vvall dwell in that 
 ftate in which power is rightly applied, to 
 lay up riches for theM appears to be againft 
 the nature of his government. 
 
 The earth, through the laboiir of men un-* 
 der the blefling of him who formed it, yield-^ 
 ech a fupply for the inhabitants from gene- 
 ration to generation, and they who walk in 
 the pure light, their minds are prepared to 
 tafte and relifh not only thofe bleffings which 
 are fpiritual, but alfo feel a fweetnefs and fa- 
 tisfa<ftion in a right ufe of the good gifts of 
 God in the vifibie creation. 
 
 Here we fee that man's happinefs fcands 
 not in great poiTeffions, but in a heart de-- 
 voted to follow Chrift, in that ufe of things^ 
 where cuftoms contrary to univerfal love have 
 no power over us. 
 
 In this ftate our hearts are prepared to truft 
 in God, and our defires for our children and 
 poflerity are, that they, with the reft of man- 
 kind, in ages to come, may be of that num-*- 
 ber, of whom he hath faid, I will be a 
 father to them, and they lhall be my fons 
 * ^ and daughters,'' a Gor. m^ i 8v 
 
 G c 2 When 
 
388 On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 When v/ages in a fruitfnl land bear fo fmall 
 a proportion to the neceffaries of hfe, that 
 poor honeft people who have families cannot 
 by a moderate induflry attain to a comfort- 
 able living, and give their children fufficient 
 learning, but mull either labour to a degree 
 of opprellion, or elfe omit that which appears 
 to be a duty. 
 
 While this is the cafe with the poor, there 
 is an inclination in the minds of moft people, 
 to prepare at leaft fo much treafure for their 
 children, that they with care and moderate 
 induftry may live free from thefe hardfliips 
 which the poor pafs through. 
 
 Now this fubje(5t requireth our ferious con- 
 fideration : to labour that our children may 
 be put in a way to live comfortably, appears 
 in itfelf to be a duty, fo long as thefe our 
 labours are confiftent with univerfal righte- 
 Gufnefs ; but if in ftriving to fhun poverty, 
 we do not walk in that ftate where Chrift is 
 
 our life,'' then we w^ander ; He that 
 
 hath the Son, hath life,'' i John v. 12. 
 
 This life is the light of men," John i. 4. 
 If we walk not in this light, we walk in 
 darknefs, and he that waiketh in darknefs, 
 
 knoweth not whither he goeth," John 
 xll 35. 
 
 To keep to right means in labouring to 
 attain a right end is neceffary : if in ftriving 
 to flmn poverty, we ftrive only in that ftate, 
 where Chrift is the light of our life, our la- 
 bours will ftand in the true harmony of fo- 
 <:ietyj but if people are confident that the 
 
On lovivg our NEIGHBOURS. 389 
 
 end aimed at is good, and in this confidence 
 purfue it fb eagerly, as not to wait for the 
 fpirit of truth to lead them, then they come 
 to lofs. Chrift is given to be a leader and 
 
 commander of the people,'' Ifaiah Iv. 4. 
 Again ; The Lord fliall guide thee conti- 
 ^' nually," Ifaiah lyiii. 12. Again ; Lord, 
 
 thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou 
 
 alfo haft wrought all our works in us.", 
 Ifaiah xxvi. 1 2. 
 
 In the Lord have we righteoufnefs and 
 ^' ftrength,'' Ifaiah xlv. 24. 
 
 In this ftate our minds are preferved watch- 
 ful in following the leadings of his fpirit in 
 all our proceedings in this world, and a care 
 is felt for a reformation in general ; that 
 our own pofterity, with the reft of mankind 
 in fucceeding ages, may not be entangled 
 by oppreffive cuftoms, tranfmitted to them 
 through our hands : but if people in the 
 narrownefs of natural love, are afraid that 
 their children will be opprefted by the rich, 
 and through an eager defire to get treafures, 
 depart from the pure leadings of truth in one 
 cafe, though it may feem to be a fmall mat- 
 ter, yet the mind even in that fmall matter 
 may be emboldened to continue in a way of 
 proceeding, without waiting for the divine 
 Leader. 
 
 Thus people may grow expert in bufinefs^ 
 wife in the wifdom of this world, retain a 
 fair reputation amongft men, and yet being 
 ftrangers to the voice of Chrift, the fafe lead- 
 er of his flock, the treafures thus gotten, 
 
 may 
 
|90 (9#^i9¥i^S'oUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 may be like fnares to the feet of their pofce^ 
 rity. 
 
 Now to keep faithful to the pure counfel- 
 lor, and tinder trying circumilances fuffer 
 adverfity for righteoufnefo fake, in this there 
 is a reward. 
 
 If we, being poor, are hardly dealt with 
 by thoie who are lieh, and under this diffi- 
 culty are frugal and induftrious, and in true 
 humility open our cafe to them who opprefs 
 us, this may reach the pure witnefs in their 
 minds ; and though we Ihould remain under 
 difficulties as to the outward, yet if we abide 
 in the love of Chrift, all will work for our 
 good. 
 
 When we feel what it is to fafier in the true 
 fuffering ftate, then we experience the truth 
 of thofe expreffions, that, as the fufferings 
 ' of Chrift abound in us, fo our confolation 
 
 aboundeth by Chrift,'^ 2 Cor. 5. 
 
 But if poor people who are hardly dealt 
 withj ' do not attain to the true fuifering ftate, 
 do not labour in true love with thofe who 
 deal hardly with them, but envy their out- 
 ward greatnefs, murmur in their hearts be- 
 caufe of their own poverty, and ftrivx in the 
 wifdom of this world to get riches for them- 
 ■ ifelves and their children j this i$, like wan- 
 dering in the dark. 
 
 ^ If we who are of a middle ftation between 
 riches and poverty, are afFedled at times with 
 the oppreflions of the poor, and feel a tender 
 regard for our pofterity after us ; O how ne- 
 : ' ceftaFj 
 
On LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 391 
 
 ceffary is it that we wait for the pure counfel 
 
 of truth ! 
 
 Many have feen the hardlhips of the poor^ 
 felt an eager defire that their children may- 
 be put in a way to efcape thefe hardfhips ; 
 but how few have continued in that pure love 
 w^hich openeth our underftandings to proceed 
 rightly under thefe difficulties ! 
 
 How few have faithfully followed that ho- 
 ly Leader who prepares his people to labour 
 for the refloration of true harmony amongft 
 our fellow-creatures ! 
 
 In the pure gofpel fpirit we walk by 
 
 faith and not by light/' 2 Cor. v. 
 
 In the obedience of faith we die to the nar- 
 rovmefs of felf-love^ and our life being hid 
 with Chrift in God^ our hearts are enlarged 
 tow^ard mankind univerfally ; but in depart-* 
 ing from the true light of life, many iu 
 ftriving to get treafures have ftumbled upon 
 the dark mountains. 
 
 Nov/ that purity of life wdiich proceeds 
 from faithfulnefs in following the fpirit of 
 truth, that ftate where ovir minds are devot- 
 ed to ferve God, and all our wants are bound- 
 ed by his wifdom, this habitation has often 
 beerj opened before me as a place of retire- 
 ment for the children of the light, where 
 we may ftand feparated from that which dif- 
 ordereth and confufeth the affairs of fociety, 
 and where we may have a teftimony of our 
 ,innoQe«Ci? in th^ Jiearts ot thgi^^yiha behold 
 
 wifk Through 
 
39^ On loving cur NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 Through departing from the truth as it is 
 in jefiis, through introducing ways of life 
 attended with unncccfTary expences, many- 
 wants have arifen, the minds of people have 
 been employed in ftudying to get weakh, and 
 in this purfuit fbme departing from equity, 
 have retained a profeillon of rehgion ; otbers 
 have looked at their example, and thereby 
 been ftrengthened to proceed further in the 
 jfarne w^ay : thus many have encouraged the 
 trade of taking men from Africa, and felling 
 them as flaves. 
 
 It hath l)een computed that near one hun- 
 dred thotifand Negroes have of late years 
 been taken annually from that coaft, by ihips 
 employed in the Englifli trade. 
 
 As I have travelled on religious vints in 
 fome parts of America, I have feen many of 
 thefe people under the command of overfeers, 
 in a painful fervitude. 
 
 I have beheld them as Gentiles under peo- 
 ple profeffing chriftianity, not only kept ig- 
 norant of the holy fcriptures, but under 
 great provocations to wrath ; of v^hom it 
 may truly be faid, They that rule over them 
 
 make them to howl, and the holy Name is 
 
 abundantly blafphemed,'' Ifaiah lii. 5. 
 Where children are taught to read the facred 
 writings, v/hiie young, and exampled in 
 meeknefs and humility, it is often helpful to 
 them ; nor is this any more than a debt due 
 from us to a fucceeding age. 
 
 But where youth are pinched for want of 
 the iiecelfaries of life, forced to labour hard 
 
 under 
 
On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 39^ 
 
 under tlic Iiarfli rebukes of rigorous over- 
 feers, and many times endure unmerciful 
 whippings : in fuch an education, how great 
 are the difadvantages they iie under ! And 
 how forcibly do thele things work againft the 
 increafe of the government of the Prince of 
 Peace ! 
 
 Humphrey Smith, in his works, p. 125, 
 fpeaking of the tender feehngs of the love of 
 God in his heart when he was a child, faid, 
 
 By the violent wrathful nature that ruled 
 in othex^s, was my quietnefs diflurbed, and 
 anger begotten in me toward them, yet that 
 of God in me was not wholly overcome, but 
 his love was felt in my heart, and great v/as 
 my grief when the earthly-mindednefs and 
 wrathful nature fo provoked me, that I v/as 
 eftranged from it/' 
 
 And this I write as a warning to pa- 
 rents and others, that in the fear of the liv- 
 ing God, you may train up the youth, and 
 may not be a means of bringing them into 
 fuch alienation." 
 
 Many are the vanities and luxuries of the 
 prefent age, and in labouring to fupport a 
 way of living conformable to the prefent 
 world, the departure from that wifdom that 
 is pure and peaceable, hath been great. 
 
 Under the fenfe of a deep revolt, anci an 
 overflowing ftream of unrighteoufnefs, my 
 life has been often a life of mourning, and 
 tender defires are raifed in me, that the na- 
 ture of this practice may be laid to heart. 
 
 I have 
 
394 LOVING OUR NEIGHBOUR.Si 
 
 I have read feme books wrote by people 
 who were acquainted with the manner of 
 getting flaves in Africa. 
 
 I have had verbal relations of this nature 
 from feveral Negroes brought from Africa, 
 who have learned to talk Englifli. 
 
 I have fundry times heard Englifhmen 
 fpeak on this liibjedl, who have been in A- 
 frica on this bufinefs ; and from all thefe ac- 
 counts it appears evident that great violence 
 is committed, and much blood fhed in A- 
 frica in getting Haves. 
 
 When three or four hundred flaves are put 
 in the hold of a veiTel in a hot climate, their 
 breathing foon aiFe6ls the air. Were that 
 number of free people to go palTengers with 
 all things proper for their voyage, there 
 would inconvenience arife from their num- 
 ber ; but flaves are taken by violence, and 
 frequently endeavour to kill the white peo- 
 ple, that they may return to their native 
 land. Hence they are frecjuenty kept under 
 fuchafortof confinement, by means of which 
 a fcent arifeth in the hold of a flaip, and dif- 
 tempers often break out amongfl: them, of 
 which many die. Of this tainted air in the 
 hold of fliips freighted with flaves, I have 
 had feveral accounts, fome in print, and fome 
 verbal, and all agree that the fcent is griev- 
 ous. When thefe people are fold in America, 
 and in the iflands, they are made to labour 
 in. a manner more fervile and confl:ant, than 
 th^t which they were vifed to at home, that 
 
 with 
 
Ok loving our NEIGHBOURS. 395 
 
 with grief, with difFerent diet from what has 
 been common with them^ and with hard la- 
 bour, fome thoufands are computed to die 
 every year, in what is called the feafomng. 
 K^llhus it appears evident, that great imm- 
 bers of thefe people are brought every year 
 to an untimely end ; many of them being 
 fuch who never injured us. 
 
 Where the innocent fiifFer under hard- 
 hearted men, even unto death, and the chan- 
 nels of equity are fo obfi:ru(!Jled, that the 
 caufe of the fufferers is not judged in righte- 
 oufnefs, the land is polluted with blood,'^ 
 Numb. XXXV. 33. 
 
 Where blood hath been Ihed unrighteoullyj 
 and remains unattoned for, the cry thereof is 
 very piercing. 
 
 Under the humbling difpenfations of divine 
 Providence, this cry hath deeply afFeCled my 
 heart, and I feel a concern to open, as I may 
 be enabledj that which lieth heavy on my 
 mind. 
 
 When the iniquity of the houfe of Ifrael 
 and of Judah v/as exceeding great, when 
 ^' the land was defiled with blood, and the 
 city full of perverfnefs," Ezek. ix. 9, 
 Some were found fighing and crying 101^ 
 theabominationsof the times," Ezek. ix.4. 
 and fuch who live under a right feeling of 
 our condition as a nation, thefe I truft will 
 be fenfible that the Lord at this day doth call 
 ' to mourning, though many are ignorant of 
 it. So powerful are bad cuftoms vmen they 
 ^%ccQme general, that people growing bold 
 
 tliro' 
 
S96 On loving our NEIGHBOURS' 
 
 thro' the examples one of another, have often 
 been unmoyed at the molt lerioiis warnings. 
 
 Our bieffed Saviour fpeaking of the people 
 of the old Vv^orld, faid, " They eat, they 
 drank, thcv married, and were triven in 
 marriage, mitil tlie day that Noah v»^ent 
 into the ark, and the flood came and de- 
 " ftroyed them all," Luke xvii. 27. 
 
 The like he fpake concerning the people of 
 Sodom, who are alfo reprefented by the pro- 
 phet as haughty, luxurious, and oppreilive ; 
 This vv^as the fin of Sodom, pride, fulnefs 
 of brea^d, and abundance of idienefs was 
 found in her, and in her daughters ; nei- 
 ther did flie ftrengthen the hands of the 
 poor and needy," Ezek. xvi. 49. 
 Now in a revolt fo deep as this, when, 
 much blood has been Died unrighteoufly, in 
 carrying on the flave^trade, and in fupport- 
 ing the praclice of keeping flaves, which at 
 this day is unattoned for, and crieth from 
 the earth, and from the feas againfl the op- 
 preiTor ! 
 
 While this pracflice is continued, and un- 
 der a great load of guilt there is more un- 
 righteoufnefs committed, the ftate of things 
 is very moving ! 
 
 There is a love which fcancls in nature, 
 and a parent beholding, his child in mifery 
 liath a feeling of the affii6lion ; but in divine 
 love the hcp.rt is enlarged towards mankind 
 imiverfally, and prepared to lympathife with 
 flrana:ers, though in the lowefl fiations in 
 life. ' 
 
 Of 
 
On LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 397 
 
 Of this tiie prophet appears to have had a 
 feeUng, when he faid, Have we not all one 
 Father ? Hath not one God created us I 
 Why then do we deal treacherouay every 
 man with his brother, in prophaning the 
 covenant of our fathers Mai. ii. 10. 
 He who of old heard the groans of the 
 children of Ifrael under the hard tailc-mafters 
 in Egypt, I truft hath looked down from his 
 holy habitation on the miferies of thefe deep- 
 ly opprelFed people. Many lives have been 
 ilrortned through extreme oppreffion, while 
 they laboured to fupport luxury and worldly 
 greatnefs ; and tho' many people in outward 
 profperity may think little of thofe things^ 
 yet the gracious Creator hath regard to the 
 cries of the innocent, however unnoticed by 
 men. 
 
 The Lord in the riches of his goodnefs is 
 leading fome into the feeling of the condition 
 of this people, who cannot reft without la- 
 bouring as their advocates ; of which in fome 
 meafure I have had experience, for, in the 
 movings of his love in my near t, thefe poor 
 fufierers have been brought near to me. 
 
 The unoffending aged and infirm made to 
 labour too hard, kept on a diet lefs com- 
 fortable than their weak ftate required, and 
 expo fed to great difHculties under hard-heart- 
 ed men, to whofe fufierings I have often 
 been a witnefs, and under the heart-melting 
 power of divine love, their mifery hath felt 
 to me like the mifery of m^y parents. 
 
 InnocejiC 
 
'398 On loving our NEIGHBOUR! 
 
 Innocent youth taken by violence from * 
 tlieir native land, from their friends and ac- 
 quaintance ; put on board ihips with hearts 
 laden with forrow ; expofed to great hard- 
 Ihips at fea ; placed under people, where their 
 lives have been attended with great provoca- 
 tion to anger and revenge. uiu;. I. 
 
 With the condition of thefe youth; 
 mind hath often been afFedled, as with the 
 Affli6lions of my children, and in a feeling 
 ,of the mifery of thefe people, and of that 
 great offence which is miniftered to them, 
 -my tears have been often poured out before 
 the Lord. 
 
 That holy Spirit which affe61ed my heart 
 v^hen I was a youth, I truft is often felt by 
 the Negroes in their native land, inclining 
 their minds to that which is righteous, and 
 had the profeffed followers of Ghrift in all 
 their condudl toward them, manifefled a dif- 
 pofition anfwerable to the pure principle ii\ 
 their hearts, how might the holy Name have 
 been honoured amongil the Gentiles, and 
 how might wq Ifeve rejoiced in the fulfilling 
 of that prophecy, I the Lord love judg- 
 ment, I hate robbery for burnt-offerings, 
 and I will direcl their work in truth, and 
 make an everlaRing covenant v/ith them. 
 Their feed fhall be known amongil the 
 Gentiles, and their offspring arnongil the 
 people : all that fse them fliall acknowledge 
 them, that they are the feed which the 
 Lord hath bieSd," Ifkiah ki. 8, 9. ^ 
 
 But 
 
Qmmj^^^ OUR NEIGHBOURS. 399 
 
 But in the prefent ftate of things, how 
 contrary is this pracflice to that meek fpirit, 
 in which our Saviour laid down his hfe for 
 us, that all the ends of the earth might know 
 falvation in his name ! 
 
 How are the fufferings of our blelled Re-* 
 deemer fet at nought, and his name blaf- 
 phemed a^mongft the Gentiles, through the 
 unrighteous proceedings of his profeffed fol- 
 lowers ! 
 
 My mind hath often been affedled, even 
 from the days of my youth, under a fenfe of 
 that marvellous work, for which God, in in- 
 finite goodnefs, fent his Son into the world* 
 
 The opening of that fpring of living wa- 
 ters, which the true believers in Chrift ex- 
 perience, by which they are redeemed from 
 pride and covetoufnefs, and brought into a 
 ilate of meeknefs, where their hearts are en- 
 larged in true love toward their fellov^^ crea- 
 tures univerfaily ; this work to me has been 
 precious, and the fpreading the knowledge of 
 the truth amongft the Gentiles been very de- 
 firable. And the profeffed followers of Chrift 
 joining in cuftoms evidently unrighteous, 
 v/hich manifeftly tend to ftir up wrath, and 
 increafe wars and defolations, hath often co- 
 vered my mind with forrow. 
 
 If we bring this matter home, and as Job 
 propofed to his friends, Put ovir foul in 
 '' jtheir foul's ftead,'' Job xvi. 4. 
 ;jlf we confider ourielves and our children 
 
 expoftd to the hardfiiips which thefc peo- 
 
400 On LOVING OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 pie lie under in fiipporting an imaginary 
 greatnefs. 
 
 Did we in fuch cafe behold an increafe of 
 luxury and fuperfluity amongfi: our opprel^ 
 fors, and therewith felt an increafe of the 
 weight of our burdens, and expecled our po- 
 fieri ty to groan under opprelTion after us. 
 
 Under all this mifery, had we none to 
 plead our caufe, nor any hope of relief from 
 man, how would our cries afcend to the God 
 of the fpirits of all ilefh, who judgeth the 
 world in rigliteoufnefs, and in his own time 
 is a refuge for the oppreffed ! 
 
 If they who thus afflicted us, continued to 
 lay claim to religion, and were affifted in 
 their bufinefs by others, efteemed pious peo-* 
 pie, who through a friendihip with them 
 llrengthened their hands in tyranny. 
 
 In fuch a ftate, when we were hunger-bit- 
 ten, and could not have fufficient nouriih- 
 ment, but faw them in fulnefs pleafing their 
 tafte with things fetched from far : 
 
 When we were wearied with labour, deni^ 
 ed the liberty to rePc, and faw them fpending 
 their time at eafe : when garments anfwer- 
 able to our ncceflities were denied us, while 
 We faw them cloathed iix that which was 
 coftly and delicate : 
 
 Under fuch aiilidlion, how would thefe 
 painful feelings rife up as witnelTes againft 
 their pretended devotion ! And if the name 
 of their religion was mentioned in our hear- 
 ing, how would it found in our ears , like a 
 
 word 
 
On loving ouk NEIGHBOURS. 401 
 
 Word v/hicli iigniiied felf-exaltatioii, and 
 hardnefs of heart ! 
 
 When a trade is carried on^ produ6live of 
 much mifery, aud they who fuffer by it are 
 fome thoufand miles off, the danger is the 
 greater, of not laying their fulFerings to 
 heart. 
 
 In procuring Haves on the coaft of Africa, 
 many children are flolen privately ; wars alio 
 are encouraged amongft the Negroes, but all 
 is at a great diftance. 
 
 Pviany gfoans arife from dying men, which 
 we hear not. 
 
 Many cries are uttered by widovsrs and fa- 
 therlefs children, which reach not our ears. 
 
 Many cheeks are wet with tears, and faces 
 fad with unutterable grief, which we fee 
 not. 
 
 Cruel tyranny is encouraged. The hands 
 of robbers are ftrengthened, and thoufands 
 reduced to the moft abject flavery, who ne- 
 ver injured us. 
 
 Were we for the term of one year only to 
 be eye-witneifes to what pafTeth in getting 
 thefe flaves : 
 
 Was the blood which is there fhed to be 
 fprinkled on our garments : 
 
 Were the poor captives bound w4th thongs, 
 heavy laden with elephants teeth, to pafs be- 
 fore our eyes on their way to the fea : 
 
 Were their bitter lamentations day after 
 day to ring in our ears, and their mournful 
 cries in the night to hinder us from lleep- 
 ing: 
 
 D d Were 
 
402 6#ij6f iNG OUR NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 Were we to hear the found of the tumult 
 when the flaves on board the ihips attempt 
 to kill the Englifh, and jbghold ihe jflu^^ 
 thole bloody conflicls : a-,nq ./c,-.i JiJH t 
 
 What pious man could be a witnefs to thefe 
 things, and fee a trade carried on in this 
 manner, without being deeply afFedled with 
 forrow ? 
 
 Through abiding in the love of Chrift we 
 feel a tendernefs in our hearts toward our 
 fellow-creatures, entangled in oppreffive cuf- 
 toms ; and a concern lb to walk, that our 
 conducl may not be a means of ftrengthening 
 them in error. 
 
 It was the command of the Lord through 
 Mofes^ Thou fhalt not fuffer fin upon thy 
 
 brother: thou lhalt in any wife rebuke thy 
 
 brother, and flialt not fuffer fin upon 
 
 him." Lev. xix. 17. 
 
 Again ; Keep far from a falfe matter ; 
 ^' and the innocent and righteous flay thou 
 ^' not." Exod. xxiii. 7. 
 
 The prophet Ifaiah mentions opprefhon as 
 that which the true church in time of out-- 
 ward quiet ihould not only be clear of, but 
 ihould be far from it ; Thou fhalt be far 
 
 from oppreflion." Ifaiah liv. 14. Now 
 thefe words, far from^ appear to have an ex- 
 tenfive meaning, and to convey inflrudlioii 
 in regard to that of which Solomon fpeaks, 
 '^' Though hand join in hand, the wicked 
 
 fhall not go unpunifhed." Prov. xvi. 5. 
 
 It was a complaint againft one of old. 
 
 When thou faweft a thief, thou confent- 
 ^ edft with Umr Vi^A, i8. The 
 
On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 40^ 
 
 •lilpi^e prophet Jeremiah reprefents the de- 
 gtfees of preparation toward idolatrous lacri-' 
 fice, in the fimihtude of a work carried oa 
 by children^ men, and women. The 
 
 children gather wood, the fathers kindle 
 
 th& fire, and the women knead the dough 
 - to bake cakes for the queen of heaven/' 
 Jer. vii. 18. 
 
 It was a complaint of the Lord a^gainft If- 
 3rael, through his prophet Ezekiel, that they 
 ^' ftrengthened the hands o4 the wicked 5 and 
 
 made the hearts of the righteous fad.'* 
 Ezek. xiii. 12, ' 
 
 Some vvorks of iniquity carried on by the 
 people wef e repf efented by the prophet Flofea, 
 in the fimilitude of ploughing, reaping, and 
 eating the fruit ; You have ploughed wick- 
 
 edaefs, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of 
 
 lying, becaufe thou didfl: truft in thy own 
 
 way, to the multitude of thy mighty men J' 
 Hofea X. 13. y.:iiiii 
 
 I have felt great diilrefs of mind fince I 
 came on this ifland, on account of the mem- 
 bers of ovir fociety being mixed with the 
 World in various forts of bufinefs and traffic, 
 carried on in impure channels. Great is the 
 trade to Africa for flaves ; and in loading 
 thefe ihips abundance of people are employed 
 in the manufacflories. '^'^m 
 
 Friends in early time refafed, on a religi- 
 Otis principle, to make or trade in fuperflui- 
 ties, of which we have many large teftirno-- 
 iiies on record, but for want of faithfulnef> 
 Ibme gave way, even fome whofe examples 
 
404 £9? I IrB'oij R NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 were of note in fociety, and from thence o- 
 thers took more liberty : members of our fo- 
 ciety worked in fiiperfluities, and bought and 
 fold them, and thus dimncfs of fight came 
 over many. At lengtli, friends got into the 
 ufe of fome fuperfluities in drefs, and in the 
 furniture of their houfes, and this hath fpread 
 from lefs to more, till luperfiuity of fome 
 kinds is common amongll us. 
 
 In this decUning flate many look at the 
 example one of another, and too much ne- 
 glect the pure feeling of truth. Of late years 
 a deep exercife hath attended my mind, that 
 friends may dig deep, may carefully call forth 
 the loofe matter, and get down to the rock, 
 the fure foundation, and there hearken to 
 that divine voice which gives a clear and cer- 
 tain found. 
 
 And I have felt in that wdiich doth not de- 
 ceive, that if friends v/ho have known the 
 truth, keep in that tendernefs of heart, where 
 all views of outward gain are given up, and 
 their truO: is only on the Lord, he will gra- 
 ciouily lead fome to be patterns of deep ieif- 
 denial, in things relating to trade, and han- 
 dicraft labour ; and that fome who have 
 plenty of the treafures of this world, will ex- 
 ample in a plain frugal life, and pay w^ages 
 to fach whom they may hire, more liberally 
 dian is now cuftomary in fome places. 
 
 The prophet, fpeaking of the true church, 
 faid, " Thy people alfo ftiall be all righte- 
 
 ous. 
 
 ii>iiOf the depth of this divine work feveral 
 have fpokcn, John 
 
On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 405 
 
 Jolm Grattoriy in his journal, p. 45^ faid. 
 The Lord is my portion, I Ihail not want* 
 He hath wrought all my works in me, I 
 am nothing but wdiat I am in him." 
 
 Gilbert Latey, through the powerful ope- 
 rations of the fpirit of Chrifl in his foul, was 
 brought to that depth of felf-denial, that he 
 could not join with that proud fpirit in other 
 people, which inclined them to want vanities 
 and fuperfluities. This friend was often a- 
 mongft the chief rulers of the nation in times 
 of perfecution, and it appears by the tefti- 
 mony of friends, that his dwelling w^as fo e- 
 vidently in the pure life of truth, that in his 
 vifits to thofe great men, he found a place in 
 their minds ; and that king James the fecond, 
 in the times of his troubles, made particular 
 mention in a very refpedlful manner of w^hat 
 Gilbert once faid to him. 
 
 The faid Gilbert found a concern to v/rite 
 an epiftle, in which are thefe expreffions ; 
 ^' Fear the Lord, ye men of all forts, trades, 
 and callings, and leave oiT all the evil that is 
 in them, for the Lord is grieved with all the 
 evils ufed in your employments wdiich you 
 are exercifed in.'' 
 
 It is even a grief to fee how you are fer- 
 vants to fin, and inftruments of Satan." See 
 his works, p. 42, &c. 
 
 George Fox, in an epiftle, writes thus : 
 Friends, ftand in the eternaf power of 
 God, witneffes againft the pomps and vani- 
 ties of this world." 
 
 Such 
 
4o6 owmmm^ouR neighbours. 
 
 Sucli tradefiTicn wlio (land as witnefTes 
 in the power of God, cannot fulfil the peo- 
 ple's minds in thefe vanities, and therefore 
 they are offended at thenuH i ^ 
 
 Let aii trufi: in the Lord, and wait 'pa- 
 tiently on him; for when truth firft broke 
 iorth in London, many tradefmen could not 
 take fo much money in their fhops for fomc 
 time, as w^ould buy them bread and water, 
 becaufe they withilood the w^orkl's ways, 
 fafliions, and cuftoms ; yet by their patient 
 v/aiting on the Lord in their good life and 
 converiation, they anfwered the truth in peo- 
 ple's hearts, and thus their bufinefs ingreai- 
 ed/' Book of Dodlrinals, p. 824. inoiifi 
 
 Now Gliriil our holy leader gracioufly cbn- 
 tinueth to open the underftandings of his 
 people, and as circumftances alter from age 
 to age, feme who are deeply baptized into a 
 feeling of the ftate of things, are led by his 
 lioly Ipirit into exercifes in ibme refpect dif- 
 ferent from thofe which attended the faithful 
 in foregoing ages, and through the ccnilrain- 
 :higs of pure love, are engaged to open the 
 feelings they have to others. 
 
 In faithfully following Chrift, the heart is 
 Aveaned from the defire of riches, and we 
 are led into a life fo plain and iimple, that a 
 little doth iiriiice, and thus the v^^ay openeth 
 tci deny ourfelves, under all the tempting al- 
 • lurements of that gain, which we know is 
 the irain of unrii^hteouliiefs. ^ 
 
 Trie apoftle fpealdng on this i^ubjefl;' am- 
 
 eth, 
 
On loving our NEIGHBOURS. 407 
 
 4^tli this qiidlion ; What fellowfliip hath 
 
 righteuiuheil) with unrighteouihefs V 2 Cor. 
 vi. 14. And again laith^ Have no fellow- 
 
 fhip with the xinfruitml works of darknefs^ 
 
 but rather reprove them,'' Ephef^ v. 11. 
 Again, Be not partaker of other men's 
 
 fins, keep thyi'elf pure/' i Tim. v. 22. 
 
 Where people through the power of Chrifl 
 are thoroughly fettled in a right ufe of things^ 
 freed from all unneceffary care and expeace^ 
 the mind in this true refignation is at liberty 
 from the bands gf a narrow felf-intereO:, to 
 attend from time to time on the movings of 
 his fpirit upon us, though he leads into that, 
 through which our faith is clofely tried. 
 
 The language of Chrifl is pure, and to the 
 pure in heart, - this pure language is intelligi- 
 ble ; but in the love of money, the mind bet- 
 ing intent on gain, is too full of human con- 
 trivance to attend to it. 
 
 It appeareth evident, that fome channels of 
 trade are defiled with unrighteoufnefs, that 
 the minds of many are intent on getting 
 treafures to fupport a life, in which theix ara 
 many unneceilliry expences. 
 
 And I feel a living concern attend my 
 mind, that under thefe difScukies v/e may 
 humbly follow our heavenly fhepherd, vmo 
 gracioufly regardeth his flock, and is willing 
 and able to fupply us both inwardly and out-i 
 wardly wicli clean provender, that hath been 
 winnowed with the fhovel and the fan, where 
 we may fow to ourfelves in righteoufnefs, 
 
 ^•^ reap 
 
4Q§ Lo\^iNG p^RsIfEIGHBOURS. 
 
 *' reap in mercy^" Hofea x. 12. an4 not be 
 
 defiled with the works of iniquity. 
 
 Where cuftoms contrary to pure wifdorn 
 are tranfmitted to pofterity, it appears to be 
 an injury committed againft them; and I 
 often feel tender compaifipn toward a young 
 generation, a.nd defires that their difficulties 
 may not be increafed through unfaithfulnefs 
 in us of the prefent age. 
 
 CHAP. IL 
 
 On a Sailor s Life, 
 
 IN the trade to Africa for flaves, and in the 
 management of Ihips going on thefe voy- 
 ages, many of our lads and young men have 
 a confiderable part of their education. 
 
 Now what pious father beholding his fon 
 placed in one of thefe fliips, to learn the prac- 
 tice of a mariner, could forbear mourning 
 over him ? 
 
 Where youth are exampled in means of 
 getting money, fo full of violence, and ufed 
 to exercife fuch cruelties on their fello^y-crea- 
 tures, the diiadvantage to them.in their edu- 
 cation is very great. • 
 
 But 1 feel it ni my mind to write concern- 
 ing the feafaring life in general. 
 
 In the trade carried on from the Weft-In- 
 dies, and from fome parts of the continent, 
 
 the 
 
«t>N A ^WtL O R's L I F E. 4091 
 
 the produce of the labour of flaves is a con- 
 fiderable part. P^'^^ l:^ - . 
 
 And lailors wK^ 'a#e''frequeri^^ at ports 
 where flaves abound, and converfe often with 
 people who opprefs them without the appear-^ 
 anceof remorfe, and often with failors employ- 
 ed in the flave trade, how powerfully do thefe 
 evil examples fpread amongft the feafaring 
 youth ! 
 
 I have had many opportunities to feel and 
 underftand the general ftate of the feafaring 
 life amongft us, and my mind hath oftert 
 been fad on account of fo many lads and 
 young men being trained up amidft fo great 
 corruption. 
 
 Under the humbling power of Chrift I 
 have feen, that if the leadings of his holy 
 fpirit were faithfully attended to by his pro--^ 
 felTed followers in general, the heathen nati- 
 ons would be exampled in righteoufnefs. A 
 lefs number of people would be employed on 
 the feas. The channels of trade would be 
 more free from ^defilement. Fewer people 
 would be employed in vanities and fiiperflu- 
 ities. 
 
 The inhabitants of cities would be lefs in 
 number. 
 
 Thofe who have much lands would become 
 fathers to the poor. 
 
 More people would be employed in the 
 f^v^eet employment of huibandry, and in the 
 path of pvire wifdom, labour vv^ould be an a- 
 greeable, healthful employment. 
 
 ^iim ' la 
 
410 On a sailor's life. 
 
 In the opening of thefe things in my mind, 
 I feel a living concern that we who have felt 
 divine love in our hearts may faithfully abide 
 in it, and like good foldiers lendure hardnefs 
 for Chrift's fake. )frfw m ofams 
 
 He, our blelTed Saviour, exhorting his fol-^ 
 lowers to love one another, add^x/b As I 
 ^' have loved you/' John xiii. 34. ? - 
 
 He loved Lazarus, yet in his ficknefs did 
 not heal him, but left him to endure the 
 pains of death, that in reftoring him to life, 
 the people might be confirmed in the true 
 faith. 
 
 : He loved his difciples, but fent them forth 
 on a melTage attended with great difficulty, 
 amongil hard-hearted people, iome of whom 
 would think that in killing them they did 
 God fervice. 
 
 So deep is divine love, that in ftedfailly 
 abiding in it, we are prepared to deny our- 
 felves of all that gain which is contrary to 
 pure wifdom, and to follow Chrift, even un- 
 der contempt, and through fufFerings. 
 
 While friends were kept truly humble, and 
 walked according to the purity of our prin- 
 ciples, the divine witnefs in many hearts was 
 reached ; but when a worldly Ipirit. got en- 
 trance, therewith came in luxuries and fu- 
 perfluities, and fpread by little and little, 
 even amongft the foremoft rank in fociety, 
 and from thence others took liberty in that 
 way more abundantly. 
 
 In the continuation of thefe things from 
 parents to children, there were many wants 
 
 to 
 
On A sailor's LIFE: 411 
 
 to ^fupply, even wants unknown to friends 
 while they faithfully followed Ghrift. And 
 in flriving to fupply thefe wants many have 
 exacted on the poor, many have entered on 
 employments, in which they often labour in 
 iipholding pride and vanity. Many have 
 looked on one another, been ftrengthened in 
 thefe things, one by the example of another, 
 and as to the pure divine feeing, dimnefs 
 hath come over many, and the channels of 
 true brotherly love been obftrudled. 
 
 People may have no intention to opprefs, 
 yet by entering on expeniive ways of life, 
 their minds may be fo entangled therein, and 
 fo engaged to fupport expeniive cuftoms, as 
 to be eftranged from the pure fympathizing 
 fpirit. 
 
 As I have travelled in England, I have had 
 a tender feeling of the condition of poor peo- 
 ple, fome of whom though honeft and indu- 
 ftrious, have nothing to Ipare towai^d paying 
 for the fchooling of their children. 
 
 There is a proportion between labour and 
 the neceifaries of life, and in true brotherly 
 love the mind is open to feel after the necef- 
 fities of the poor. 
 
 Amongft the poor there are fome that are 
 weak through age, and others of a weakly 
 nature, who pafs through itraits in very pri - 
 vate life, without afking relief from the 
 pubiick. 
 
 Such who are ftrong and healthy may do 
 that bulinefs, which to the weakly may be 
 opprefrive j and in performing that in a day 
 
 which 
 
412 On a sailor's life. 
 
 which is efteemed a day's labour, by weakly 
 perfons in the field and in the Ihops, and by 
 weakly women who fpiij and knit in the 
 manufactories 5 they often pafs through. wea-^ 
 rinefs ; and many fighs I believe are uttered 
 in fecret, unheard by fome who might eafe 
 their burdens. 
 
 Lpibour in the right medium is healthy ^ 
 but in too mucli of it there is a painful wea- 
 rinefs; and the hardfhips of the poor are 
 fometimes increafed through want of more 
 agreeable nourifliment, more plentiful fewel 
 for the fire, and warmer cloathing in the 
 winter than their wages will anfwer. 
 
 AVhen I have beheld plenty in fome houfes 
 to a degree of luxury, the condition of poor 
 children brought up without learning, and 
 the condition of the weakly and aged, who 
 ftrive to live by their labour, have often re- 
 vived in my mind, as cafes of which fome 
 who live in fulnefs need to be put in remem- 
 brance. 
 
 There are few, if any, could behold their 
 fellov\r- creatures lie long in diftrefs and for- 
 bear to help them, when they could do it 
 Vv ithout any inconvenience ; but cuftoms re- 
 quiring much labour to fupport them, do 
 often lie heavy gn the poor, while they who 
 live in thefe cuftoms are fb entangled in a 
 multitude of unnecelTary concerns, that they 
 think but little of the hardfliips which the 
 poor people go through. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
C m^'^A p. IIL 
 
 On Jilent Worfhip. 
 
 t) R. S H I P in filence hath often been 
 refrelhing to my mind, and a care 
 attends me that a young generation may feel 
 the nature of this worfliip. 
 
 Great expence arifeth in relation to that 
 which is called divine woriliip. 
 
 A coniiderable part of this expence is ap- 
 plied toward outward greatnefs, and many 
 poor people in railing of tithe, labour in fup- 
 porting cuftoms contrary to the fimplicity 
 that there is in Chrift, toward whom my 
 mind hath often been moved with pity. 
 
 In pure filent worfliip, we dwell under the 
 holy anointing, and feel ChrifL to be om"* 
 Ihepherd. 
 
 Here the beft of teachers minifters to the 
 feveral conditions of his flock, and the foul 
 receives immediately from the divine fountain, 
 that with which it is nouriftied. 
 
 As I have travelled at times where thofe of 
 other focieties have attended our meetings, 
 and have perceived how little feme of them 
 knew of the nature of filent worlhip ; I have 
 felt tender defires in my heart that we who 
 often fit filent in our meetings, may live an- 
 fwerable to the nature of an inward fellow- 
 fhip with God, that no ftuiii cling block 
 through us, may be laid in their way. 
 
414 On S f £ N r Wb R SHIP. 
 
 Such is the load of unneceflary expence 
 which heth on that which is called divine 
 fervice in many places, and fo much are the 
 minds of many people employed in outward 
 forms and ceremonies, that the opening o^ 
 an inward filent worfhip in this nation to 
 me hath appeared to be a precious opening* 
 
 Within the laft four hundred years, many 
 pious people have been deeply exercifed in 
 foul oh account of the fuperftition which 
 prevailed amongft the profelTed followers of 
 Chrifl, and in fupport of their teftimony a- 
 gainft oppreffive idolatry, fome in feveral ages 
 have finiihed their courfe in the flames. 
 
 It appears by the hiftory of the reformati- 
 on, that through the faithfulnefs of the mar- 
 tyrs, the underftandings of many have been 
 opened, and the minds of people, from age 
 to age, been more and more prepared for a 
 real fpiritual worfliip. 
 
 My mind is often afFe6led with a fenfe of 
 the condition of thofe people, who in different 
 ages have been meek and patient, following 
 Chrifc through great afBiAions : And while 
 I behold the feveral fteps of reformation, and 
 that clearnefs, to which through divine good- 
 nefs, it hath been brought by our anceftors ; 
 I feel tender dehres that we who fometimes 
 meet in filence, may never by our conduct 
 lay Humbling- blocks in the way of others, 
 and hinder the progrefs of the reformation' 
 in the world. 
 
 It was a complaint againfl fome who were 
 called the Lord's people, that tliey brought 
 
 polluted 
 
I 
 
 On silent worship, 415 
 
 polluted bread to his altar, and faid the table 
 of the Lord was contemptible. 
 
 In real filent worfhip the foul feeds on that 
 which is divine ; but we cannot partake of 
 the ^able of the Lord, and that table which 
 is prepared by the God of this world. 
 
 If Chrifh is our fliepherd, and feedeth us^ 
 and we are faithful in following him, o\ir 
 lives will have an inviting language, and tha 
 table of the Jord will not be polluted* 
 
 1£- 
 
 An E P I S T L B 
 
 / 
 
[ 4i6 ] 
 
 . A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 QUARTERLY and MONTHLY 
 MEETINGS OF Friends. 
 
 Beloved Friends, 
 
 FEELING at this time a renewed con- 
 cern that the pure principle of light and 
 life, and the righteous fruits thereof may 
 fpread and prevail amongil mankind, there 
 is an engagement on my heart to labour with 
 my brethren in religious profeffion, that none 
 of may be a Humbling block in the way 
 of others ; but may fb walk that our conduct 
 may reach the pure witnefs in the hearts of 
 fuch who are not in profeffion with us. 
 
 And, dear friends, while we publicly own 
 that the holy Spirit is our leader, the profel- 
 fion is in itfelf weighty, and the weightinefs 
 thereof increafeth, in proportion as we are 
 noted among the profeffors of truth, and 
 
 adlive 
 
An E P I S T L E. 417 
 
 aiflive in dealing with fuch who walk difor- 
 derly. . - • ..• - 
 
 Many under our profelTion for want of due 
 attention, and a perfect relignation to this 
 Divine Teacher, Imve in fbnie things mani- 
 fefled a deviation from the purity of our re- 
 ligious principles, and thefe deviations hav- 
 ing crept in anxongft us by little and little, 
 and increafing from lefs to greater, have been 
 lb far unnoticed, that fome living in them, 
 kave been active in putting difciplilie in prac- 
 tice, with relation to others, whole conduct 
 hath appeared more diHionourable in the 
 woi^d- 
 
 Now as my mind hath been exercifed be- 
 fore the Lord, I have feea, that the difci- 
 pline of the church of Chriil ftandeth in that 
 w^hich is pure ; that it is the wifdom from 
 above which gives authority to difcipline ; 
 and that the weightinefs thereof ftandeth not 
 in any outvv^ard circumftances, but in the 
 authority of Ghrift who is the author of it ; 
 and where any walk after the fleJli, and not 
 according to the purity of truth, and at the 
 fame time are active in putting cliicipline in 
 practice, a veil is gradually drawn over the 
 purity of difcipline,. and over that holinefs 
 of life, which Chrift leads thofe into, " in 
 
 whom the Iovq of God is verily perfededj'' 
 • l.John ii. 5. 
 
 When we labour in true love with offend- 
 ers, and they remain obftinate, it fometimes 
 is neceflary to proceed as far as our Lord di- 
 
 E e .recced, 
 
4i8 An E p. I S T L E. 
 
 recftcd, Let him be to thee as an heathen 
 man, or a publican/^ Mat. xviii. 17. 
 
 Now when flich are difow^ned, and they 
 who a6l therein feel Ghrift made unto them ^ 
 wifdom, and are preferved in his meek, re- 
 ftoring fpirit, there is no juft caule of offence 
 miniflred to anyj but when fuch who are 
 adlive in deahng with offenders indulge them- 
 felves in things which are contrary to the 
 purity of truth, and yet judge others whofe 
 condiidl appears more difhonourable than 
 their s, here the pure authority of difcipline 
 ceafetli as to fuch offenders, and a temptati- 
 on is laid in their way to wrangle and con- 
 tend J^dg" not,'' find our Lord, that 
 
 ye be not judged.'^ Now this forbidding, 
 alludes to man's judgment, and points out 
 the neceffity of our humbly attending to that 
 fandlifying power under which the faithful 
 experience the Lord to be a fpirit of judg- 
 
 ment to them,'' Ifa. xxviii. 6. And as we 
 feel his Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of 
 the body in us, and can fay, it is no more 
 ^' I that hve, but Ghrift that liveth in me," 
 here right judgment is known. 
 
 And while divine love prevails in our 
 hearts, and felf in us is brought under judg- 
 ment, a preparation is felt to labour in a 
 right manner with offenders ; but it we a- 
 bide not in this love, our outv^ard perform- 
 ance in dealing with Others, degenerates into 
 formality ; for ^' this is the love of God, that 
 
 wc keep his commandments," John i. 3. 
 
 How 
 
An epistle. 419 
 
 How weighty are thofe inftni6llons of our 
 Redeemer concerning religious duties, when 
 he points out, that they who pray, fliould be 
 fo obedient to the teachings of the Holy Spi- 
 rit, that humbly confiding in his help, they 
 may fay, ^' Thy name O Father be hallowed ! 
 Thy kingdom come ; thy will be done on 
 earth as it is in heaven i'^- — —In this aw- 
 ful ftate of mind is felt that worfhip w^hich 
 flands in doing the will of God, on earth, as 
 it is done in heaven, and keeping the holy 
 Name facred. To take a holy profelfion upou 
 us is awful, nor can we keep this holy Name 
 facred, but by humbly abiding under thq 
 crofs of Ghrift. The apoflle made a heavy 
 complaint againft fome who prophaned this 
 holy Name by their manner of living, thro' 
 you,'' he fays, the name of God is blaf-^ 
 phemed amongft the Gentiles," Rom. ii. 24* 
 Some of our anceftors through many tri- 
 bulations were gathered into the ftate of true 
 worfliippers, and had fellowfhip in that 
 which is pure, and as one was inwardly 
 moved to kneel down in their affemblies, and. 
 publicly call on the name of the Lord, thofe 
 in the harmony of united exercife then prc- 
 fent, joined in the prayer ; I mention this in 
 order that we of the prefent age, may look 
 unto the Rock from w^hence we were hewn,' 
 and remember that to unite in worfhip, is a 
 union in prayer, and that prayer acceptable, 
 to the Father is only in a mind truly fandli- 
 fied, where the facred name is kept holy, and 
 the heart refigned to do his will on earth as, 
 
420. A n E P I S T L E. 
 
 it is done in heaven, If ye abide in I'ne/^ 
 faith Chrifl, and my words abide in you,^ 
 
 ye fhall aflc what ye will in my name^ 
 
 and it ihali be done unto you." — Now we 
 know not what to pray for as we ought, but 
 as the Eloly Spirit doth open and dire6t oiu^ 
 minds, and as we faithfully yield to its in- 
 fluences, our prayers are in the will of our 
 heavenly Father, v/ho fails not to g]?ant that 
 which his own fpirit, through his children, 
 aflcetli thus prefervation from iin is known, 
 and the fruits of righteoufnefs are bi^ought 
 forth by fuch who inwardly unite in prayer. 
 
 EIow weighty are our folemn ineetings 
 when the name of Chriit is kept holy ? 
 
 " EIow precious is that ftate in which the 
 children of the Lord are fo redeemed from 
 the love of this world, that they are accepted 
 and bleffed in all that they do." R. Barclay's 
 Apology, p. 404. 
 
 How neceifary is it that we who profefs 
 thefe principles, and are outwardly acSlive in 
 fupporting them, fliould faithfully abide in 
 divine ftrength, that " A.s He who hath call- 
 
 ed us, is holy, fo we may be holy in all 
 
 manner of converfation." i Pet. i. 15. 
 
 If one profelling to be influenced by the 
 fpirit of Chrift, propofeth to unite in a labour 
 to promote righteoufnefs in the earth, and 
 in time paft he hath manifeftly deviated from, 
 the path of equity, then to acl conliflent with 
 this principle, his firft work is to make refti- 
 tution fo far as he may be enabled ; for if he 
 j^ttempts to contribute tov/ard a work intend-- 
 
 ed 
 
An epistle. 
 
 fed to promote righteoufnefs, while it appears 
 that he negledieth, or refvifeth to acl righte- 
 Diifly himfelf, his condiicl has a tendency to 
 entangle the minds of thofe who are weak in 
 the faith, who behold thefe things, and to 
 draw a veil bver the purity of righteoufnefs^ 
 by carrying an appearance as though that 
 was righteoufnefs which is not. 
 
 Again, if I propofe to affift ill fupporting 
 thofe dodlrines wherein that purity of life is 
 held forth, in w^hich cuftoms proceeding from 
 the fpirit of this world have no place, and 
 at the fame time ftrengthen others in thofe 
 cuftorns by my example ; the firft ftep then 
 in an orderly proceeding, is to ceafe from 
 thofe cuftoms myfelf, and afterwards to la- 
 bour, as I may be enabled, to promote the 
 like difpofition and condu(£l in others. 
 
 To be convinced of the pure principle of 
 truth, and diligently exercifed in walking 
 anfwerable thereto, is neceffary before I caii 
 confiftenrly recommend this principle to o- 
 thers.— I often feel a labour in fpirit, thad 
 we who are adlive members in religious fo- 
 ciety may experience in ourlelves the truth 
 of thofe expreffions of the Holy Oiie — I 
 
 will be fandlified in them that come nigh 
 
 me.'' Lev. x. 3-— in this cafe, my mind 
 hath been often exercifed when alone, year 
 after year, for many years, and in the re- 
 newings of divine love, a tender care hath 
 been incited in me, that v/e who profefs the 
 inward principle of light to be our teacher, 
 may be a fi^mily united in that purity of 
 
 worlliip^ 
 
 i 
 
An epistle. 
 
 worfhip, which comprehends a holy life, and 
 minifters inftrudlion to others. 
 
 My mind is often drawn towards children 
 in the truth, who having a fmall fhare of the 
 things of this life, and coming to have fa- 
 milies may be inwardly exercifed before the 
 Lord to fupport them in a way agreeable to 
 the purity of truth, in which ehey may feel 
 his bleffing upon them in their labours ; the 
 thoughts of fuch being entangled with cuf- 
 toms (contrary to pure wifdom) conveyed to 
 them through our hands, doth often very 
 tenderly and movingly afFedl my heart, and 
 when I look towards and think on the fuc- 
 ceeding generation, fervent defires are raifed 
 in me, that we by yielding to that Holy Spi- 
 rit which leads into all truth, may not do 
 the work of the Lord deceitfully, may not 
 live contrary to the purity of the divine prin- 
 ciple we profefs ; but that as faithful labour- 
 ers in our age, we may be inftrumental in 
 removing ftumbling blocks out of the way of 
 thofe who may fucceed us. 
 
 So great was the love of Chrift, that he 
 gave himfelf for the church, that he might 
 fancftify and cleanfe it, that it fhould be 
 holy, and without blemifli, not having 
 fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing," Eph. 
 V. 25. and where any take the name of 
 Chriil upon them, profelTmg to be members 
 of his church, and led by his Holy Spirit, 
 and yet iiianifeftly deviate from the purity 
 of truth, they herein adl againft the gracious 
 defign of his giving himfelf foi* them, and 
 
 iftinifler 
 
An E I S T L E. 
 
 ttliiiifter cavife for the continuance of his af- 
 flidlionSj viz. in his body the church* 
 
 Chrift fufFered afflidiions in a body of flelh 
 prepared by the father, but the afflidions of 
 his myftical body are yet unfinifhed ; for 
 they who are baptized into Chrift are bap- 
 tized into his death, and as Vv^e humbly abide 
 under his fandlifying power, and are brought 
 forth into newnefs of hfe, we feel Chrift to 
 live in us, who being the fame yefterday^ 
 to-day, and forever, and always at unity 
 with himfelf, his fpirit in the hearts of his 
 people leads to an inward exercife for the fal-* 
 vation of mankind ; and when under a tra- 
 vail of fpirit, we behold a viftted people en- 
 tangled by the fpirit of this world with its 
 wickednefs and cuftoms, and thereby ren- 
 dered incapable of being faithful examples to 
 others, forrow and heavinefs under a fenfe 
 of thefe things, is often experienced, and 
 thus in fome meafure is filled up that which 
 remains of the affli6lions of Chrift. 
 
 Our blefled Saviour fpeaking concerning 
 gifts offered in divine lervice, fays, If 
 thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there 
 remembereft that thy brother hath ought 
 againft thee^ leave there thy gift before the 
 altar, and go thy way, firft be reconcile 
 ed to thy brother, and then come and 
 offer thy gift/' Mat. v. 23, 24.— Now 
 there is no true unity, but in that wherein 
 the Father and the Son are united, nor can 
 there be a perfedl reconciliation but in ceafing 
 from that which miniftcrs caufe for the con- 
 tinuation 
 
4^4 An E P I S T L E. 
 
 tinuation of the affliclions of Chrift ; and if 
 any profefTmg to bring their gift to the altar, 
 do remember the cuflomary contradiclion 
 which fome of their fruits bear to the pm^e, 
 Ipiritual worlhip, here it appears neceiTary to 
 lay to heart this command, leave thy gift 
 by the altar." 
 
 Chrill gracioufl)^ calls his people brethren, 
 ^' whofoever ihall do the will of God the fame 
 
 is my brother." Mark iii. 35. Now if we 
 walk contrary to the truth as it is in Jefus 
 while we continue to profefs it, we offend 
 againft Chrift, and if under this offence we 
 bring our gift to the altar, our Redeemer 
 doth not direct us to take back our gift, he 
 doth not difcourage our proceeding in a good 
 work ; but gracioufly points out the neceffa- 
 xy means by which the gift may be rendered 
 iicceptable, leave," faith he, thy gift by 
 
 the altar, firfl go and be reconciled to thy 
 *^ brother," ceafe from that w^hich grieves 
 the Holy Spirit, ccafe from that which is a- 
 l^ainfc the truth, as it is in Jcfus, and then 
 come, and oiler thy gift. 
 
 I feel, while I am writing, a tendernefs to 
 thole vv^ho through divine favour, are pre- 
 lervcd in a lively fenfe of the ftate of the 
 churches, and at times may be under dil-' 
 jcouragements with regard to proceeding iu 
 that pure v/ay w^hicli Chrift by his Holy Spi- 
 rit leads into : the depth of diforder and 
 weaknefs, which £0 much prevails, being o- 
 pened, doubtings arc apt to arife as to the 
 poilibility of proceeding as an affembly of 
 
An E P I S T L 425 
 
 the Lord's people in the pure counfel of truth ; 
 and here I feel a concern to exprefs in up- 
 rightnefs, that which hath been opened in 
 my mind, under the power of the crofs of 
 Chrift, relating to a vifible gathered church^v 
 the members whereof are guided by the Holy 
 Spirit. 
 
 The church is called the body of Chriftj^ 
 Col. i. 25. 
 
 Chrift is called the head of the churchy 
 Eph. i. 22. 
 
 The church is called the pillar, and ground 
 of truth, 1 Tim. iii. 1 5. 
 
 Thus the church hath a name that is fa- 
 cred, and the neceffity of keeping this nama 
 holy, appears evident ; for where a number 
 of people unite in a profeffion of being led by 
 the fpirit of Chrift, and publiili their prin- 
 ciples to the world, the a(!Jls and proceedings 
 of that people may in fome meafure be con- 
 lidered as fiich which Chrift is the author of. 
 . Now while we ftand in this ftation, if the 
 pure light of life is not followed and regard- 
 ed in our proceedings, we are in the way of 
 prophaning the holy Name, and of goii^g 
 back toward that wildernefs of fuiferings and 
 perfecution, out of which, through the tendqfr, 
 mercies of God, a church hath been gatherj 
 ed ; Chrift liveth in fandified veffeis," Gal 
 ii. 20. and where they behold his holy Name 
 profaned^ and the pure golbel light eclipled 
 through die unfaithfulne :s of any who by 
 their ftation appear to be ftandafd bearers 
 under the Prince of Peace, tne living mem- 
 bers 
 
42^ An epistle. 
 
 bers in the body of Chrifl in beholding tliefe 
 things, do in fonie degree experience the fel- 
 lowfhip of his fufFerings, and as the wifdom 
 of the world more and more takes place in 
 condudling the affairs of this vifible gathered 
 church, and the pure leadings of the Holy 
 Spirit are lefs waited for and followed, fo the 
 trvie fuffering feed is more and more oppref- 
 fed. 
 
 ^ My mind is often afFeddd with a fenfe of 
 the condition of fincere hearted people in fome 
 kingdoms^ where liberty of confcience is not 
 allowed, many of whom being burthened in 
 their minds with prevailing fuperftition, join- 
 ed with oppreffions, are often under forrovvr ; 
 and where fuch have attended to that pure 
 light which hath in fome degree opened their 
 tinderflandings, and for their faithfulnefs 
 thereto, have been brought to examination 
 and trial, how heavy are the periecutions 
 which in divers parts of the world are exer- 
 cifed upon them ? How mighty, as to the 
 outward, is that power by which they are 
 borne dov/n and opprefTed ? 
 
 How deeply affeding is the condition of 
 many upright hearted people who are taken 
 into the papal inquifition ? What lamentable 
 cruelties, in deep vaults, in a private way, 
 are exercifed on manv of them ? and how 
 iingering is that death by a fmall flow fire, 
 which they have frecjuently inciured, who 
 have been faithful to the end ? 
 
 How many tender-fpirited proteftants have 
 been fentenced to fpend the remainder of their 
 
 lives 
 
An Epistle. 427 
 
 lives in a galley chained to oars, under hard-^ 
 hearted mafters, while their young children 
 are placed out for education, and taught 
 principles fo contrary to the confciences of the 
 parents, that by dilTenting from them, they 
 have hazarded their liberty, lives, and all 
 that v^as dear to them of the things of this 
 world ? 
 
 There have been in time paft fevere perfe-* 
 cutions under the Englifh government^ and 
 many fincere - hearted people have fufFered 
 death for the teftimony of a good confcience^ 
 wdiofe faithfulnefs in their day hath miniftred 
 encouragement to others, and been a bleffing 
 to many who have fucceeded them ; thus from 
 age to age, the darknefs being more and more 
 removed, a channel at length, through the 
 tender mercies of God, hath been opened for 
 the exercife of the pure gift of the gofpel mi- 
 niftry, without interruption from outward ' 
 power^ a work, the like of which is rare, and 
 unknown in many parts of the v/orld. 
 
 As thefe things are often frelh in my mind^ 
 and this great work of God going on in the 
 earth has been open before me, that liberty 
 of confcienee with which we are favoured, 
 hath appeared not as a light matter. 
 
 A truil is committed to us, a great and 
 weighty truft, to v/hich our diligent attenti-- 
 on is necefTary : v/herever the adlive members 
 of this viiible gathered church ufe themfelves 
 to that which is contrary to the purity of our 
 principles, it appears to be a breach of this 
 truft, and one ftep back toward the wilder- 
 
 aefs, 
 
42§ An E P t^f L E, 
 
 nefs, one ftep towards undoing what God iii 
 infinite love hath done through his faithful 
 fervants, in a work of feveral ages, and is like 
 laying the foundation for future fufFer- 
 
 I feel a living invitation m my mind to 
 fuch who are a(5live in our religious fociety, 
 that we may lay to heart this matter, and 
 confider the flation in which we ftand ; a 
 place of outward liberty imder the free exer- 
 cife of our confcience towards God, not ob- 
 tained but through great and manifold afllic- 
 tions of thofe who lived before us. There is 
 gratitude due from us to our heavenly Fa- 
 ther, and juftice to our pofterity ; can our 
 hearts endure, or our hands be ftrong, if we 
 defert a caufe fo precious, if we turn afide 
 from a work under which fo many have pa- 
 tiently laboured ? 
 
 May the deep fufferings of our Saviour be 
 fo dear to us, that we may never trample un- 
 der foot the adorable Son of God, nor count 
 the blood of the covenant unholy ! 
 
 May the faithfulnefs of the martyrs when 
 the profpe6l of death by fire was before them, 
 be remembered ! and may the patient con- 
 ftant fufferings of the upriglit-hearted fer- 
 vants of God in latter ages be revived in our 
 minds ! and may vsfQ fo follow on to know 
 the Lord, that neither the faithful in this 
 age, nor thofe in ages to come, may ever be 
 brought under fuffering, through our Hiding 
 back from the work of reformation in the 
 w^orld ! 
 
 While 
 
An epistle. 
 
 While the adlive members in the vifible 
 gathered church (land upriglit, and the af- 
 fairs thereof are carried on under the leadings 
 of the Eloly Spirit, altho' dilbrders may arife 
 among us, and caufe many exerciles to thofe 
 who feel the care of the churches upon them ; 
 yet while thefe continue under the weight of 
 the work, and labour in the meeknefs of wif- 
 dom for the help of others, the name of 
 Chrilt in the vifible gathered church may be 
 kept facred ; but while they who are Ptcftive 
 in the rtffairs of this church, continue in a 
 manifeft oppolition to the pinity of our prin- 
 ciples, this as the prophet Ifaiah x. i8. ex- 
 prelTeth it, is like ^' as when a ftaQdard bear- 
 ^' er fainteth and thus the way opens to 
 great, and prevailing degeneracy, and to 
 liifferings for fuch who through the pov/er of 
 divine love, are fcparated to the gofp&4 of 
 Chrift, and cannot unite with any thing 
 which Hands in oppolition to the purity of it. 
 
 The neceility of an inward ftilinefs, hath 
 under thefe exercifes appeared clear to my 
 mind ; in true filence ftrength is renewed, 
 the mind herein is weaned from all things, 
 but as they may be enjoyed in the divme 
 will, and a lowlinefs in outward living op- 
 polite to worldly honour, becomes truly ac- 
 ceptable to us ; — in the delire after outward 
 gain, the mind is prevented from a perfect 
 attention to the voice of Chrilt ; but being- 
 weaned from all things, but as they may be 
 enjoyed in the divine will, the pure light 
 Ihincs into the foul : and where the fruits of 
 
 that 
 
430 A N E P I S T L E. 
 
 that fpirit which is of this world, are brought 
 forth by many who profefs to be led by the 
 fpirit of truth, and cloudinefs is felt to be 
 gathering over the vifible gathered church, 
 the fiiicere in heart who abide in true ftillnefs, 
 and are exerciled therein before the Lord for 
 his name fake, have a knowledge of Chrift 
 in the fellowfliip of his fufferings, and in- 
 ward thankfulnefs is felt at times, that thro' 
 divine love our own wifdom is caft out, and 
 that forward adlive part in us fiibjec^Jted, 
 which v/ould rife and do fomething in the 
 vifible gathered church, without the pure 
 leadings of the Spirit of ChriPc. 
 
 While aught remains ill us different from 
 a perfedl refignation of our wills, it is like a 
 feal to a book wherein is written that good, 
 
 and acceptable, and perfec?c will of God 
 ^' concerning us,'^ Rom. xii. 2. but when 
 our minds entirely yield to Chrift, that 
 filence is known, which followeth the open- 
 ing of the laft of the feals. Rev. viii. i. in 
 this lilence we learn abiding in the divine 
 will, and there feel, that we have no cauld 
 to promote but that only in which the light 
 of life diredls us in our proceedings, and that 
 the alone vv^ay to be ufeful in the church of 
 Chrift, is to abide faithfully under the lead- 
 ings of his Holy Spirit in ail cafes, and being 
 preferved thereby in purity of heart, and ho- 
 linefs of converfation, a tcftimony to the pu- 
 rity of his government may b^ held forth 
 through us, to others. 
 
 As 
 
An E P I S T L E. 431 
 
 As my mind hath been thus exercifed, I 
 have feen that to be adive, and bufy in the 
 vifible gathered church, without the leadings 
 pf the Holy Spirit is not only unprofitable, 
 but tends to increafe dimnefs, and where 
 way is not opened to proceed in the light of 
 truth, a flop is felt by thofe who humbly at- 
 tend to the Divine Leader, a flop which in, 
 relatipn to good order in the vifible gath'ered 
 church, is of the greateft confequence to be 
 obferved ; thus Robert Barclay in his treatife 
 on difcipline holds forth, page 65. 68. 8z|.. 
 ■ ' That the judgment or conclufion of the 
 church or congregation, is no further effec-- 
 tual as to the true end and defign thereof, 
 but as fuch judgment or conclufion proceeds 
 from the Spirit of God operating on their 
 minds who are fan6lified in Chrift Jefus/' 
 
 Now in this Hop I have learned the necel^ 
 fity of waiting on the Lord in humility, that 
 the works of all may be brought to lights 
 and thofe to judgment which are wrought in 
 the wifdom of this world, and have alfo 
 feen, that in a mind thoroughly fubjecled to 
 the power of the crofs, there is a favour of 
 life to be felt, which evidently tends to ga- 
 ther fouls to God, while the greateft works 
 in the vifible gathered church brought fortl^ 
 in man's wifdom, remain to be unprofitable. 
 
 Where people are divinely gathered into a 
 holy feilowfliip, and faithfully abide under 
 the influence of that Spirit which leads into 
 all truth, " they are the light of the world," 
 Mat. V, 14, Now holding this profcifion, to 
 
 ine 
 
432 An epistle. 
 
 me hath appeared weighty, even beyond- 
 wliat I can fully exprefs, and what our blef- 
 fed Lord feemed to have in view, when he 
 propofed the neceffity of' counting the coft, 
 before vv^e begin to build. 
 
 I truft there are many who at times, under 
 divine viiitation, feel an invv^ard enquiry af- 
 ter God, and when fuch in the limplicity of 
 their hearts m:iiic the lives of a people who 
 profefs to walk by the leadings of his Spirit, 
 of what great concernment is it that our 
 lights- fiiine clear, that nothing of our con- 
 dud carry a contradiction , to the truth as it 
 is Jdiis., or be a means of profaning his 
 holy Name^ and be a ftumbling block in the 
 way of thciie fincere enquirers. 
 
 When ■ fuch feekers who w^earicd with 
 empty forms, look tovv^ards uniting with us 
 as a people, and behold adlive members a- 
 mong us depart in their cuitomarv way of 
 living, from that purity of life, winch under 
 Iiumblinj^ exercifes hath been onened before 
 them, as the w^ay of the Lord's people, how 
 mournful and difcouraging is the jjrofpec!: ! 
 and how ftrongly doth fuch unfaithfulneis 
 operate againft the fpreading of the peaceable, 
 harmonious principle and teftimony of truth 
 amongfl mankind ? 
 
 In entering into that life, which is hid 
 with Chriil in God, we behold his peaceable 
 government, where the whole family are go- 
 verned by the fime fpirit, and the doing 
 ^' to others as Vv-e would they Ihould do un- 
 
 to us/' groweth up as good fruit from a 
 
 good 
 
An epistle. 433 
 
 good tree, the peace, qiiietnefs, and harmo- 
 nious v^alking in this government is beheld 
 with humble reverence to him who is the 
 author of it, and in partaking of the Spirit 
 of Chrift, we partake of that which labours, 
 and fuiTers for the infcreafe of this peaceable 
 government among the inhabitants of the 
 world ; and I have felt a labour of long con- 
 tinuance that we Vvho profefs this peaceable 
 principle, may be faithful ftandard bearers 
 under the Prince of Peace, and that nothing 
 of a defiling nature, tending to difcord and 
 wars, mav remain anion o; us. 
 
 May each of us query with qurfelves, Have 
 the treafures i poilefs, been gathered in that 
 wifdom v^liich is from above, fo far as hatlx 
 appeared to me ? 
 
 Have none of my fellow-creatures an equi-^ 
 table right to any part which is called mine ? 
 
 Have the gifts, and poffeffions received by 
 inc from others been conveyed in a way free 
 from all mirighteoufnefs fo far as I have 
 feen ? 
 
 The principle of peace in vfhich our truft 
 is only on the Lord, and our minds weaned 
 from a dependance on the ftrength of armies, 
 hath appeared to me very precious, and I 
 often feel ftrong denrcs, that we who pro- 
 fefs this principle, may fo walk, as to give 
 jull caufe for none of our fcllovv^-creatures to 
 be offended at us ; tliat our lives may evi- 
 dently manifefl, that wc are redeemed from 
 that fpirit in Vvhich wars are: our bleffed 
 Saviour in pointing out the danger of fo 
 
 F f leaning 
 
434 A^'ETFISTLE. 
 
 leaning on man, as to negled the leadings of 
 his Holy Spirit, laid, " Call no man your 
 *' father upon the earth ; for one is your fa- 
 *- ther which is in heaven," Mat. xxiii. 9. 
 where the wifdom from above is faithfully; 
 followed, and therein we are entrufted with 
 fubftance, it is a treafure committed, to ouf 
 care in the nature of an inheritance, as aii 
 inheritance from him, who formed, and fup-? 
 ports the world. Now in this condition the 
 true enjoy ment of the good things of this hfe 
 is underftood, and that blelhng felt, in which 
 is real fafety ; this is what I apprehend our 
 bleffed Lord had in view, when he pronounc- 
 ed, Bleffed are the meek, for they lliall in-» 
 herit the earth." 
 
 Selfilli worldly minded men may hold lands 
 in the felfifli fpirit, and depending on the 
 llrength of the outward pow^er, be perplexed 
 with fecret uneafinefs, left the injured iliould 
 Ibmetime overpower them, and that meafure 
 meted to them, which they meafure to others* 
 — -Thus leliiih men may poiTefs the earth ; 
 but it is tlie meek who inherit it, and enjoy 
 it as an inheritance from the heavenly Fa- 
 t;Jier, free from all the defilements and per-* 
 plexities of unrigliteoufnefs. 
 
 Where proceedings have been in that wif- 
 dom vv^hich is from beneath, and inequitable 
 gain gathered by a man, and left as a gift 
 to his children, who being entangled by the 
 lame worldly fpirit, have not attained to that 
 clearnefs of light in which the channels of 
 rigliteoufiiefs are opened^ and juftice done ta 
 
 thofc 
 
A n E P I S T L E.- 
 
 435 
 
 tlxofe vrho remain filent under injuries : here 
 I have ieen under humbhng exercife of mind, 
 that the fms of the fathers are embraced by 
 the children, and become their fms, ?.nd thus 
 in the days of tribulation, the iniquities of 
 the fathers are vifited upon thefe children, 
 who take hold of the unrighteoufiiefs of their 
 fathers, and live in that fpirit in which thofe 
 iniquities v/ere committed ; to which agreeth 
 the prophecy of Mofes, concerning a rebel- 
 Jious people. " They that are left of you 
 
 fhail pine away in their iniquities, in your 
 
 enemy's land, and in the iniquities of their 
 
 fathers fhall they pine away/' Lev. xxvi. 39. 
 and our bleiTed Lord in beholding the hard- 
 nefs of heart in that generation, and feeling 
 in himfelf, that they lived in the fame fpirit 
 in which the prophets had been perfecuted 
 unto death, fignified, ^' that the blood of all 
 ^' the prophets which was flied from the 
 
 foundation of the v/orld, iliould be requir- 
 ^' ed of that generation, from the blood of 
 ^VAbel, unto the blood ofZacharias, which 
 
 periflied between the altar and the temple,'' 
 Luke xi, 51. 
 
 Tender compaffion fills my heart toward 
 my fellow creatures eftrangeci from the har- 
 monious government of the Prince of Peace, 
 and a labour attends me, that they may be 
 gathered to this peaceable habitation. 
 
 In being inwardly prepared to fuifer adver- 
 lity for Chrifi's fake, and weaned from a de- 
 pendance on the arm of fieili, w^e feel, that 
 there is a reft for the people of God, and 
 
 that 
 
f 
 
 435 An epistle. 
 
 that it ftands in a perfecft reiignation of oiir- 
 lelves to his holy Will ; in this condition, 
 all our wants and defires are bounded by pure 
 Viidom, and our minds wholly attentive to 
 the council of Chrift inwardly communicated, 
 which hath appeared to me as a habitation 
 of fafety for the Lord's people, in times of 
 outward commotion and trouble, and defires 
 from the fountain of pure love, are opened 
 in me, to invite iny brethren and fellow 
 creatures to feel for, and feek after that 
 v/hich q-athers the mind into it. 
 
 Mount' 
 4 
 
 ^'^^t^!^ JOHN- WOOLMAN. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
4.