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 ^""wsmijisii 
 
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 ^ %,„e^ (^^JA^^-^^'"^ 
 
 I 
 
A 
 
 COLLECTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EPISTLES 
 
 AND 
 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 
 BENJAMIN HOLME. 
 
 To which is prefixed, 
 
 An ACCOUNT of his Life 
 
 and Travels in the Work of the Miniftiy^ 
 through feveral Parts of Europe and America : 
 Written by HIMSELF. 
 
 LONDON'. 
 
 Printed and Sold by Luke Hinde, at the Bible 
 in George-Tardy Lombard-Street ^ ^7J4» 
 
-< 
 
 
 E S T I M O N Y 
 
 FROM 
 
 Friends oiTorlz Montlily-meetingv 
 concerning Benjamin Holme. 
 
 OU R faid Friend (a^ appears by his owfz 
 Account) was born at Penrith in Cu?nher^ 
 ^^ land, of believing Parents, in the Eleventh 
 v,^ Month 1682, who, as he grew up, took him 
 I along with them to Meetings \ but (he fays) for 
 want of being fubjedl to the divine Principle 
 in himjelf\^\it exceeded many in Wildnefs and 
 Vanity, until it pleafed the Lord inwardly to 
 touch his Heart by his divine Power and Love, 
 .; which brought him under a Concern, in his 
 very tender Age, for Peace with God j and his 
 Exercife was great at that Time, and he walked 
 " often alone in Fields and fecret Places, both 
 ; Night and Day, feeking the Lord, that he 
 might not mifs Peace to his Soul. 
 
 q: And as the Love of God prevailed in him, 
 his Love to God, and his People, increafed, 
 and he grew zealous for Meetings, and was 
 often bowed and tendered in them, and his 
 
 A 2 Mouth 
 
[ iv ] 
 
 Mouth was opened in Supplication to the 
 LoRi5, 3nd in Tcftimony, when but about 
 fourteen Years of Age ; and as he grew in the 
 Miniftry, he travelled Abroad to vifit Friends, 
 when but feventeen Years of Age -, and in the 
 Year 1706 he came to the City of To7'k, and 
 now and then did fome Bufinefs with a Friend 
 there, and hath efteemed himfelf, and been 
 looked upon as a Member of our Meeting 
 fince that Time, and hath had his Certificates 
 from our Monthly-meeting, in his Travels in 
 the Service of Truth. 
 
 Wherefore we find it incumbent on us to 
 teftify to our beloved Friends, that we believe 
 he was called and devoted to the Service of 
 Truth ; and according to his Ability he almofl: 
 inccffantly laboured in the Work of the Mini- 
 ftry in this Nation, PFales and Scotland, and 
 ^j^as feveral Times in Ireland, twice in Holland 
 and fome Parts of Germany 5 and in the Year 
 17 15, he took flipping for America, and 
 vifited Friends there on the Continent, and had 
 Meetings in moft of the JVeJt-India Iflands 
 where the Engltjlj have Settlements : His Vifits 
 and Labours were fatisfadlory and acceptable to 
 Friends, as by Accounts received from thence 
 did and may appear ; as was alfo his Travels 
 and Labour in the Gofpel in this Nation and 
 elfewhere : And in the Courfe of fuch his in- 
 ceflant Labour and Travels, feveral have been 
 convinced by him, and divers Meetings were 
 fettled by Jiim in America , and many through 
 
 his 
 
[ V J 
 
 his innocent Carriage and Minlftiy, which Wa^ 
 delivered by him in an intelligible Manner, and 
 in that Piainnefs becoming the Simplicity and 
 Purity of Truth, have been reached, and 
 brought to judge and fpeak favourably of 
 Friends, and their Cbrijlia?! Principles ^ and in 
 the latter Part of his Time he was concerned 
 to get Meetings in many Places, where no 
 Meetings of Friends had been, in order (as he 
 faid) that People might become acquainted 
 with the divine Principle of Truth ; and we 
 have Reafon to believe his Labours therein had 
 good Effeft, by removing Prejudices and Difr 
 iike to us and our Way, in divers that were 
 much Strangers to our Principles and Pro- 
 feffion. 
 
 His Miniftry was adorned with good Con- 
 du<^, he fought the Good of all in Sincerity ; 
 and in Piainnefs and Simplicity was engaged 
 to fpeak his Mind with Prudence and Caution 
 both to Old and Young, and had a perfwafive 
 Faculty in his Exhortations beyond many ; 
 and was ftridlly careful, as far as we ever heard 
 or faw, not to divulge what he faw amifs in 
 any to others j that we may juftly fay of him, 
 he envied not^ nor detracted jrom a?ty^ he was no 
 Eufy-body, Backbiter^ Defamer^ Tale-bearer^ nor 
 Spreader of Reports^ but lived in univerfal Love 
 and good Will to all, and truly laboured for the 
 Good of all where he carne. It was ^s his 
 daily Food to be found doing the Will of God ; 
 and a divine Ardour and Zeal remained on 
 A 3 him 
 
[ vi ] 
 
 him to the laft, as by the Account received 
 from a Friend of Swanfey in Wales, where he 
 died, in his Way to the Yearly-meeting at 
 Haverfordweft, where he defigned to have 
 been, but being in a bad State of Health, 
 was prevailed upon to ftay at our Friend 
 Paul Bevaii's, and was at two Meetings there 
 on the Firft-day at Friends Meeting-houfe ; 
 and the Friend fays, Although he had known 
 him for forty Tears, he remembers not that he 
 ever heard him more lively in his T'ejlimony : 
 But having an Inflammation in his Leg, and 
 other Illnefs, when he came out into the 
 Air, was feized with a Fit of the Ague, and 
 took his Bed, and continued heavy and drowfy 
 much of his Time, yet very eafy and re- 
 figned ; Friends were abundantly careful over 
 him, and procured him proper Attendance, as 
 a Phylician, &c. 
 
 He told Friends there in his Illnefs, that 
 It was a fine Thing to 7?iake a right tlfe of 
 Time, both with refpeB to this Life, and that 
 which is to come. He often defired, that Friends 
 in that Place jnight be good Examples to their 
 Nighbours, that they might be brought from their 
 Forfjis and WilUwbrJloip, into the divine Council^ 
 and then all would be fafe and well He reached 
 Swanjey the 8th of the Second Month 1749, 
 and departed this Life the ]4th in the Morning, 
 and was buried there ; and fome Friends from 
 the abovefaid Yearly-meeting, with many other 
 Friends, and others, attended at the Funeral ; 
 
 but 
 
[ vii ] 
 
 but we hava no Account of the Day that 
 his Body was interred : The Friend who wrote 
 the Account fays, that jis he livedo fo he died^ 
 a Pattern of Meeknefs and Innocency, He was 
 Aged about 67, a Minifter about 53 Years. 
 
 Signed in and on Behalf of our Monthly^ 
 meeting, held at York the 6th Day of the 
 Firji Month 17 $0-1. 
 
 Wm. Shackleton Roger Shackleton 
 
 Peter Proctor John Webster 
 
 Joshua Proctor Robert Pickering 
 
 Simeon Hunter William Thurnam 
 
 William Horrax Edward Stabler 
 
 Benj. Dodding John Stones 
 
 Nathaniel Bbll Daniel Peacock 
 
 Joseph Wright James Conyers 
 
 William Empson Jonathan White. 
 
 ^he above Tejlimony was read, approved and 
 fgned in the ^arterly-meeting at York, the 2jtb 
 and 2%th Days of the FirJi Month 1751. 
 
 Roger Shackleton. 
 
 A 4 AN 
 
A N 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Life and Travels 
 
 O F 
 
 BENJAMIN HOLME. 
 
 K. Ill ■ ■ ,11- 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Giving an Account of my Birth^ and how the 
 Lord vijited me in my tender Tears ; with 
 a [hort Account of my T'ravels^ from the latter 
 End of the Tear 1699 to 1706. 
 
 I Was born ^tPenrith in the County o^Cumherlandy 
 as I fuppole, on the ift of the Eleventh Month 
 1682, although 1 am not certain, for I do not 
 know that the Time of my Birth was regifter'd any 
 where. 
 
 I have Caufe in great Humility and Thankfulnefs 
 to comniemorate the Lord's Mercy and Goodnefs, 
 in that he was graciouQy pleafed to vifit my Soul 
 in my young and tender Years *, I fervently defire, 
 that while I have a Being here, I may live in a holy 
 
 Scnfe 
 
2 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Se(5l. i.Senfe thereof, and may as much as in me lies, 
 1699 /o make fuitable Returns for his Love and Mercy 
 1706. every way extended ; for although my Parents were 
 ^''■V'^^ favoured with the Knowledge of the bleffed Truth, 
 and took me along with them to Meetings, yet for 
 want of being fubjed to the holy Principle of 
 Truth in myfelf, I grew fo in Wildnefs, that I ex- 
 ceeded many of my Years for Folly and Vanity, 
 until it pleafed the Lord inwardly to touch my 
 Heart by his divine Power and Love, and brought 
 me under a Concern for Peace to my Soul, which 
 he was gracioufly pleafed to do ; for which I am 
 inwardly thankful : And I can fay, that I am fin- 
 cere in my Defires, that the fame Hand of Love 
 and Mercy that reached to me, may reach to 
 many that are yet Strangers to the Truth. But oh ! 
 the Exercife that I underwent when the Lord had 
 inwardly awaken'd me ; I fought him Day and 
 Night in the Fields and in fecret Places, that I 
 might not mifs of Peace to my Soul •, and I have 
 often been greatly tendered, when I have been alone 
 in the Fields, where no Eye has feen me but his all- 
 feeing Eye, from which nothing can be hid. 
 
 And as I was prevailed upon by the Love of 
 God, my Love to him and his People did greatly 
 increafe, and I came to be zealous for Meetings, 
 and was often greatly bowed and tendered in Meet- 
 ings •, and I think, before I was altogether fourteen 
 Years of Age, my Mouth was once open'd in Sup- 
 plication to the Lord in a little Meeting at a 
 Friend's Houfe, and fome Time after I began to 
 appear in a little Teflimony in Meetings : I often 
 fought the Lord when I was alone, and although 
 I became the Scoff of feveral of mine Acquaintance, 
 he was near to fupport me under the Reviling and 
 Scoffing which I met with in my tender Years : 
 And as I grew in the Ministry, I had Drawings. 
 to go Abroad at Times to vifit Friends. 
 
 In 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 3 
 
 In the Year 1699 I had a Defire to go with my Sedl. i. 
 Friend Jofeph Kirkbride, who was come from Penfil- 1699 to 
 vama to vifit Friends, and our aged Friend Leonard 1706. 
 Fell being then in Cumberland, he and the faid Jofeph 
 went to vifit Friends in the Biflioprick o^ Durham y 
 and I went along with them, being then about 
 feventeen Years of Age : When we came to Stockton 
 our Friend Leonard Fell parted with us, (I think he 
 died at Darlington foon after) I went along with my 
 Friend Jofeph Kirkbride along the Sea-coait to Whit- 
 by, Scarborough and Burlington, and from thence we 
 went to Tork^ and fo Weft ward as far as Bradford^ 
 where I parted with Jofeph Kirkbride, and returned 
 to Cumberland, 
 
 In the Year 1701 I had fome Drawings to vifit 
 Friends in the Weft of England : I went through 
 fome Part of Norfolk and Suffolk, to the Yearly- 
 meeting at London, where I met with my Friend 
 George Knipe^ who intended to vifit Friends in the 
 Wef?, and I went in Company with him through 
 fome Part of Wiltjhire^ Dorfelfhire and Devonfhire^ 
 and to the Land*s-end Meeting in Cornwall and we 
 returned through Somerfetfhire to Briflol : I having 
 fomiC Drawings to vifit Friends in Wales, parted 
 with my Friend George Knipe near Briflol, and 
 crofs'd over the Water into Wales ; and after I had 
 vifited moft of the Meetings in Wales, I returned 
 through fome Part of Chefhire : Although I was 
 but young in the Miniftry, the Lord was very good 
 to me in this Journey, for which I defire I may be 
 truly thankful. 
 
 In the Year 1703, I and my Friend William 
 Balding vifited Friends in the Nation of Scotland ; 
 at feveral Places we declared the Truth in the 
 Streets ; at Glafgow we came on a Firft-day in the 
 Afternoon, intending to have a Meeting there in 
 the Evening, for in the Fore-part of the Day we 
 had been at a Meeting ac a Place called Garjhore, 
 
 but 
 
4 The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Sed. I. but foon after we came into the Town of GlafgoWy 
 
 1699 /^ the Provoft or Mayor fent for us, and committed 
 
 1706. us to Prifon (as he f aid) for travelling on the Firft- 
 
 v^'^V*^ day ; we were kept in Prifon all Night, and the 
 
 next Day we were fet at Liberty •, after we left 
 
 Glafgow we went for Cu?nberland, and fo Home. 
 
 In the latter End of the Twelfth Month 1704., I 
 and my Friend Thojnas JVilfon the Younger, oi' Ken- 
 dal, fet forward in order to go i'ov Ireland, we having 
 Drawings to vifit Friends in that Nation ; as we 
 went, the Ship put into the JJle of Man, and we 
 vifited Friends there, and in a tew Days we fet fail 
 and landed at Dublin, where we were kindly re- 
 ceived by Friends ; and after we had made a little 
 Itay amongft FViends in that City, we went for the 
 North ; and after we had vifited Friends in the 
 North, and in moft Parts of the Nation where 
 Friends Meetings are fettled, we went to Waterfordy 
 and from thence took ihipping for Minehead in the 
 Weft of England, where we arrived fafe, through the 
 Lord's good Providence which attended us both by 
 Sea and Land : After we had ftaid and had fome 
 Meetings with Friends at Minehead, we travelled as 
 far Weft as Plymouth, and vifited feveral of the 
 Weft and South Parts, and returned for the North 
 in the Twelfth Month 1705. 
 
 SECTION n. 
 
 Giving a?i Accoiifit of my Travels from 1706 
 to 17 12. 
 
 AFter I had been fome Time about Home, I 
 went to live at the City of I'ork in the latter 
 End of the Second Month 1706 -, I fpent moft of 
 the Spring at and about I'ork, fave that I vifited 
 Friends in feveral Places of the County, and in fome 
 
 Parts 
 
 I 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 5 
 
 Parrs of the Bifhoprick of Burham \ and it being in Sc6l. 2. 
 my Heart to vifit Friends again in Wales^ I fee 1706 to 
 forv/ard from 2^^/^ the 12th of tiie Sixth Month 1712. 
 1706, and went by Manchefter^ and through fome \>^'\r^ 
 Part of Cheflme^ till I came to Wefi-Chefter^ and 
 from thence I went into Denbigh/hire^ Merioneth/hire 
 and Montgo7ner'jJhire^ where I met with feme tender- 
 hearted People, that had been lately convinc'd, 
 near a Place called Dolobaeo^ about four Miles from 
 Glanneedlefs^ amongfb whom I had a Meeting : 
 There were feveral others convinced in that Neigh- 
 bourhood, and a Meeting is fettled there, though 
 I fuppofe, that two or three Years before there was 
 not one that profefTed to be of our Society ; I went 
 from thence to Dolohran, and fo for Radnor/Jjire, 
 where we had a Meeting at a Place called Brain- 
 fioyd^ where one Margaret Price lived, who had 
 been convinc*d but a little before, and fince fhe re- 
 ceived the Truth, feveral others have been con- 
 vinced •, I travelled through the Country till I 
 came to Haverfordweft^ and from thence I went to 
 a Place called St. David's^ where fome young Men 
 had been lately convinc'd : Having fpent fome 
 Time in that Country, I went to Swanfey^ and had 
 fome Meetings in Glamorganjhire \ I had a Meeting 
 at one Llewellin Jenkini'Sy who had been lately con- 
 vinc'd, he was a hopeful Man, and there was a little 
 Meeting kept at his Houfe. From thence I went 
 to 1'rcverig^ where feveral had been lately con- 
 vinc'd ; our good Friend "John Bevan being come 
 from Fenfilvania to live there, and was of great 
 Service in tha: Place, not only in entertaining 
 Friends that travelled in the Service of the Gofpel, 
 but he having a good Gift in the Miniftry, was 
 very fcrviceablc in that Country. I travelled into 
 Monmoiithjhire^ and at a Place called Cotncarvan I 
 fpoke the Things of God to the People as they 
 Came out of the Steeple-houfe, and the Pricft called 
 
 for 
 
6 7;&^ LI F E ^W T R A V E L S 
 
 Seft. 2. for the Conftable ; the Priefl quickly went away, 
 
 1706 to a.nd I had a quiet and good Opportunity to preach 
 
 1712. the Truth to the People. Here follows a Copy of a 
 
 V'^'V'*^ Letter fent to me by my Friend Jonathan Barrow^ 
 
 concerning the Priefl above mentioned. 
 
 * EJieemed Friend Benj. Holme. 
 
 R Elating to the Priefl that took Jofhua Wil- 
 liam's Goods, Cattle, Corn and Wearing- 
 apparel, and all he could get, about twenty 
 Years pafl at Comcarvan^ (where thou had a 
 Meeting or two) for fifteen Shillings, fome faid 
 twenty five Shillings demanded ; the Year fol- 
 lowing the Pricft's Cattle, and feveral other of 
 his Goods wafled away *, the Cattle died like 
 rotten Sheep, and he in a miferable languifhing 
 Condition had one to watch him, being uncapable 
 of reading, preaching, &c. died a fad Objefl to 
 others, and was often talked about as a Warning- 
 piece. 
 
 « The faid Jofhua JVilliams (who was related to 
 the Priefl) I hope is now living at Ahington near 
 Philadelphia ; I faw a Letter from him lately, to 
 defire fome of his Relations to come over to him, 
 for he has a large Eflate, and by Report is worth 
 eight or nine Thoufand Pounds •, I have wrote three 
 Letters to him lately, the lafl by Governor Penn. 
 *- I often (at my Houfe here) bid him be of good 
 cheer, for I did hope and believe a divine Hand 
 would take care of him, and fo it is good to trufl 
 in the Lord, and be patient in Tribulation, i^c. 
 With true Love I was willing to give thee fome 
 Account of it, being thou was here comforting 
 us and them about that Time. 
 
 I 
 
 Monmouth, the iZth of 
 the Third Month 1 732, 
 
 * JoNATH. Barrow.* 
 Frorn 
 
€f BENJAMIN HOLME. 7 
 
 From Monmouthjhire I went to Briftol^ where I Sed. 2, 
 made fome ftay, and was at feveral Meetings ; I 1706 to 
 returned from thence for the North, through fome 17 12. 
 Part of Glocefter(hire^ JVorcefterfhire and TVarwick- 
 Jhire^ having Meetings in feveral Places amongft 
 People that were not of our Profeflion ; 1 defire 
 that the Praife of all may be afcribed to the Lord, 
 who alone is worthy for his Goodnefs and Mercy, 
 and manifold Prefervations \ I returned to Tork on 
 the 3d of the Firfl Month 1706. 
 
 Ifpent moft of my Time, from 1707 till 1709, 
 in viliting Friends in the South and Eaft Parts ot the 
 Nation-, and in the latter Part of 1709, I found 
 Drawings to vifit Friends again in Scotland ; and 
 after my Return from thence, 1 fpent my Time 
 chiefly, till the Year 171 2, in vifiting Friends in 
 England and Wales ^ fave that I was now and then 
 a little at Home, having had Meetings in many 
 Places where Meetings were not fettled, for my 
 Love did greatly flow to the People, and I was very 
 defirous that they might be brought to the Know- 
 ledge of the Truth. 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Which gives an Account of my vifiting Ireland, 
 and of my Travels from ly 12 to 1715^ 
 
 I And my Friend John Burton having Drawings 
 in our Spirits to vific Friends in ilie Nation ot 
 Ireland^ in the Seventh Month 1712 we took flip- 
 ping and landed at BublWy and after we had made 
 fome ftay among Friends in that City, we went into 
 the Country and vifued moft of Friends Meetings ; 
 and he being free to return Home, I ftaid lome 
 Time longer in the Nation, and vifited many of the 
 
 Meetings 
 
§ r^^ LIFE ^W TRAVELS 
 
 Sed. 3. Meetings of Friends over again, and had Meetings 
 
 17 12 /o in feveral Places where Meetings were not fettled ; 
 
 1715- ^ ^^^^ ^" Company with fome other Friends into 
 
 v'^V'>^ Connaughty where we had feveral Meetings amongft 
 
 People that were not of our Society ; at Longford 
 
 one Benja7nin Span^ who was both Prieil and Juftice, 
 
 committed me and another Friend to Prifon, viz. 
 
 Benjamin Parvin *, we were Prifoners a few Days, 
 
 arid Jacob Fuller and another Friend went to fpeak 
 
 to the faid Benjamin Span who had committed u<?, 
 
 and he confented to fct us at Liberty. Benjamin 
 
 Parvin has wrote a pretty full Account of the Reafon 
 
 ofour Imprifonment, as follows. 
 
 * u4n Account of Benjamin Holme*i and Ben- 
 
 * jamin Parvin'i Imprifonment i7i Longford. 
 
 « CT\Enjamin Holme coming to Longford about the 
 ' Aj twelfth Hour of the Day, in the Second 
 ' Month 1 71 3, and three other Friends with 
 
 ' him, they fet up their Horfes at an Inn, and fpoke 
 
 * to the Landlord (one Hamilton) and his Wife to 
 ' have a Room, and told them that they had a 
 
 * Mind to have a Meeting in the faid Room, which 
 < they confented to *, fo they went to invite the 
 « People, and acquainted the Officer called the 
 ' Sovereign^ who faid. He had nothing againfl their 
 ' having a Meetings but defired them to acquaint 
 
 * Benjamin Span of it, who was a Juftice of the 
 
 * Peace in three Counties, and a Man in great Au- 
 
 * thority in that Part of the Country, and Minifler 
 ' of the Parifh ; fo the faid Friends thought, as he 
 ' was a Magiftrate, it was fit to fpeak to him •, and 
 ' we, viz. Benjamin Holme and Benjamin Parvin went 
 ' to him, and found he was in his Worlhip-houfe 
 
 * at a Bifhop's- Court, where we ftaid fome Time 
 ^ till he came out, and then told him, that we had 
 
 * appointed 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 9 
 
 "f appointed to have a Meeting that Day at ourSed. 5; 
 
 * Inn-, upon which he in a furious Manner told 1712 to 
 ' us, JVe jhould have no Meeting in that Town, ^715^ 
 
 * Benjamin Holme mildly told him, that v/e did not 
 
 * come to afk his Leave, but, as he was a Magi- 
 « ftrate, to acquaint him with it, and that he 
 ' might come to it if he pleafed •, and pleaded the 
 
 * Queen's Toleration for Liberty of Confcience, 
 
 * and fo parted for that Time, and went to our 
 
 * Friend*^, and told them how we fped with the 
 
 * Pried : Our Landlord hearing it, being fomewhac 
 
 * cowardly, laid, He durft not by any means let a 
 « Meeting be in his Houfe^ for^ fa id he, Mr. Span 
 
 * will ruin me ; and lo pofitively denied us to meet 
 ' in his Houle. 
 
 ' Whereupon Benj, Holme and Benj. Parvln wenC 
 
 * to fee for another Place ; but meeting with the 
 « faid Pried in the Street, he began with 'em afrefh ; 
 « Benj. Holme^ as before, pleaded the Queen's Tole- 
 ' ration, and defired him to do as he would be done 
 ' by, but the Pried in a furious manner deny'd, 
 
 * that either Man or Woman in England or Ireland 
 ' could grant a Toleration, and laid, That's no 
 ' Precept for me \ upon which tiiey came to aa 
 
 * Argument, and the Pried finding himfelf pinch'd 
 
 * in his Argument, called tor a Condable, (and 
 ^ with his raging drew a great many of the People 
 
 * of the Town about him) but no Condable ap- 
 « pearing, he laid hold o( Benj. Holme himfelf, and 
 
 * feeing the Goaler hard by, he commanded him 
 
 * to take him into Cujlody, and led him by one Arm, 
 ' and the Goaler by the other, till they put him 
 ' into the Dungeon. 
 
 ' Benj. Parvin feeing his Friend Benj. Holme put 
 
 * into the Dungeon, went to his other two Friends 
 ' thatdood in the Street, and they all three walk'd 
 
 * together toward their Inn ; but the Pried feeing 
 ' them, cad to meet them in the Street, and in his 
 
 B » mad 
 
lo r/&^ L I F E ^W T R A V E L S 
 
 Sedt. 3. ^ mad Rage bade them get out of ^own^ a pack of 
 1 71 2 to^ Runagate Dogs, or he would drive them out of T.o'wn ; 
 1 71 5. ' and lo repeated his foul Language, till at lad 
 V/SpO « Ben], Parvin told him, he gave his Tongue too 
 much Liberty in calling them Do^i, and they were 
 not Bogs,, but Men, ^c» yet he went on as before, 
 upon which Benj. Parvin told him, they were not 
 Dogs, but Men and Chriftians , then faid the 
 Pried, Shew '^our Bapifm, I hope, faid Benf Par- 
 vin^ we fhall fhew a Chrifiian Spirit in the Town 
 o{ Longford,, and I defire all this Company to 
 obferve, that thou art baptized with afoul Spirit, 
 for 'tis a foul Spirit that calls Men and Chriftians 
 Dogs ; he then called a Conftable again, but none 
 appearing, he takes hold of Benj. Parvin himfelf, 
 and deliver'd him to the Goaler, faying. Put him 
 to the other Rogue in the Dungeon ; who put him in 
 the Dungeon accordingly, where we fat together 
 in great Peace and Sweetnefs for about fix Hours, 
 and then the Goaler took us into a Room above 
 Stairs, where feveral friendly People came to fee 
 us, and amongil them a friendly Man from near 
 Newtownforhusy who invited us to go there, and 
 we might have a Meeting in that Town, and 
 likewiie brought us a Difcharge from the faid 
 Prieft, upon Condition we would promife not to come 
 again^ nor hold an'j Meeting in or near Longford ; 
 we acknowledged his Kindnefs, but told him, that' 
 we could make no fuch Promlje^ letting him know, 
 that no true Minifler of Chrift was his own Mafter^ 
 hut muft anfwer the Requirings of him that had called 
 him into his Work and Service,^ and fo parted *, and 
 we were locked up in that Room that Night, 
 where we lay without Bed or Fire, on the hard 
 Boards in our Coats and Boots. 
 ' Next Day a friendly Man, a Merchant in the 
 Town, fent us in a good Bed, and near Noon 
 Berif Parvin afl<:'d the Goaler, if he had any Thing 
 
 ' from 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. *i 
 
 < from the Juflice but his bare Word ? He an- Se(5b. 3. 
 « fwer'd no. Benj. Parvin told him, he fuppofed 171 2 to 
 
 < that he could not lawiully dettiin them above 171 5. 
 ' twenty four Hours without a Mittimus^ and that 
 ' we v/ould then demand our Liberty ; the Goaler 
 ' faid, he would go and tell Mr. Span *, fo he did, 
 ' and in a fhort Time came again, and laid he had 
 
 * a Mittmus -, fo we defired a Sight of it, and with 
 
 * fome Intreaty got it, the Subftance whereof was, 
 ' that we came in Contempt of the ^teen'^s Authorit^^ 
 
 * h'j Force and Arms^ and in an ho ft tie Manner^ to the 
 ' terrifying of the keen's peaceable Suhjeofs^ to hold 
 ' a Quaker'j Meeting in the Borough of Longford : 
 
 * When we had read it, we told the Goaler that ic 
 
 * was falfe, and demanded of him where our Arms 
 
 * were *, and had we not the fame Arms now we were, 
 ' Prifoners in the common Goal that we came into 
 
 < Town with, and withal told him, that it was not 
 
 * us that did contemn the Queen's Authority, but 
 
 * the Pried, who had in the open Street, before the 
 
 < Crowd of People that gathered about us, denied 
 
 < that either Man or Woman in England or Ireland 
 ' could grant a Toleration J or Liberty of Confcience^ 
 ' and that we hoped, if we came before an indif- 
 
 * ferent Judge, it would be found to be l\\t Pricit 
 
 * who did contenm the Qiieen's Authority : But, 
 
 * faid the Goaler, fure you will not tell that before 
 ' the Judge *, yes, faid we, and hope to prove it by 
 ' many WitnefTcs that were by when he faid it many 
 ' Times over : Well, faid the Goaler, PlI go and 
 ' tell Mr. Span that, and fo went away : And when 
 
 * the Goaler came again to us he f.iid, that the Prii^t 
 
 * wif}jd he had never feen us. 
 
 ' In the Evening came our Friends Jacob Fuller 
 
 * and Thomoi Lightfoot to fee us, and went to the 
 
 * Prieft, who treated them civilly, but fpake as he 
 
 * pleafed of us ; however he fent an Order under his 
 
 * Hand to the Goaler for our Liberty, fo the Goaler 
 
 B 2 ' told 
 
IS T/^^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 told us we were free from our Commitment, but 
 he wanted his and the Sheriff's Fees ; we told him 
 we were innocent Prifoners^ therefore could pay no 
 Fees ; he faid, he would forgive his Pnrt^ (and 
 
 * indeed he was all along civil to us) but the Sheriff 
 ^ fays, 'jou fljcill pay jour Fees^ or jou fhall lie in 
 ' Goal till you rot^ and commanded him to turn us 
 
 < into the Dungeon again^ but he did not, but gave 
 
 * us our Liberty for two Nights upon our Word, 
 ' that we would return to the Goal if the Sheriff 
 ' did not acquit us, and fo we did, but at lafl: the 
 
 < Sheriff acquitted us without paying any Fees.' 
 
 At Londonderry we met with fome Difturbance ; 
 for when I was fpeaking in the Meeting, the Con- 
 liable came and pulTd me down and another Friend 
 or t\vo *, I wrote to the Magiftrates in the Town of 
 Londonderry^ and Patrick Henderfon and I wrote 
 jointly to the Inhabitants thereof j both which 
 Epiftles are as follow. 
 
 * To the Rulers aiid Magistrates m the City 
 
 * of Londonderry, who were concerned in 
 
 * breaking up our religious Meeting for the 
 ' Worfiip of GOD. 
 
 ^ Friends, 
 
 * ^^^Onfider what Spirit it is that leads to Perfe- 
 ' V^ cution, certainly it is not a Chriflian Spirit, 
 ' that leads to perfecute the Innocent j you do not 
 
 * land that Chriil and his Apoftles ever perfecuted 
 
 * any, but they were perfecuted by the wicked 
 
 * Rulers, who were in Cain^s Spirit, who flew his 
 ' righteous Brother Jhel : Is this doing as you 
 ' would be done by, to break up our peaceable 
 ' Meeting in fuch a rude Manner ; this doth not 
 
 * befpeak you to be the Followers of Chrifl, nor fuch 
 
 ' its 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 13 
 
 ^ as arc guided by a. Cbriflian Spirit : And knowSedb. 3. 
 ' affuredly, that the great God of Heaven will 17 12 to 
 
 * judge you for this evil Treatment that you have 1715.) 
 
 * treated us with, that are come in the Spirit oi ^y^"^ 
 ^ Love td call you and the Inhabitants of this City 
 
 * to Repentance, left the Lord in Anger cut you 
 
 < off, for he is highly provoked becaufe of the 
 
 * Wickednefs that doth abound amongft you. So 
 
 * with Defires, that the unchriflianlike Treatment 
 
 * that you have treated us with, may not be laid to 
 
 * your Charge, nor fland upon Record againft you 
 
 * in the Day of Judgment, 1 remain 
 
 * A Lover of your Souls y 
 
 Londonderry /« Ireland, f*<r 1 5f A < Rtxtt "HriT tv/tt? ' 
 
 of the Eleventh Month 1712. r^^^]. nOLNih. 
 
 ^ 7J? /& I N H A B I T A N T S ?y^ //^^ City 
 of London derry, 
 
 < TN the Love of Chrift, that is in our Hearts to 
 ' X y°^' ^^ came Yefterday hither with a Con- 
 
 < cern (had we not been difturbed and interrupted 
 
 * by the Magiftrates of the City) in Humility and 
 ' Sincerity to warn and call you the Inhabitants of 
 f this City to Repentance and Amendment of your 
 
 * Ways, left you, by perfifting in Wickednefs, pro- 
 ^ voke God (who is already angry with the Wicked) 
 
 * to fvveep you away by fome fcvere Judgment, as 
 
 < he did many Thoufands in and about this City 
 
 * in the great Calamity of the late Revolution, 
 which Diftrefs is too much flighted and forgotten 
 by many. 
 
 * And notwithftanding your high Notions of 
 Chrijlianity^ and great ProfeiTion of Religion, it's 
 to be feared :hat God is greatly provoked by 
 
 * Pride, Idlenefs, and Abufe of Fullnefs of Bread, 
 
 * with Swearing, Lying, Rioting and Drunkennefs, 
 
 "& 3 * Hypocrify 
 
the LIFE ^;/</ TRAVELS 
 
 Hypocrify and Forgetfulnefs of God, for which 
 you are reproved by the holy Spirit of God in 
 your Hearts, and aifo frequently warned by his 
 confcientious Servants, to break otf your Sins by 
 ' unfeigned Repentance and Righteoufnefs. 
 
 ' But if you will not ceafe from doing Evil, and 
 
 * learn to do well, while the Day of your Vifitation 
 
 * lafteth, know ye, that the Lord v/ill fuffer, or 
 ^ bring a Day of great Diftrefs and Calamity upon 
 « the wicked Inhabitants of this and other Cities, 
 
 * and will at lail appoint them their Portion in the 
 < Lake that burns with unquenchable Fire, where 
 ' the Worm never dies ; for it is declared in the 
 
 * Scriptures, that I be Unrighteous Jhall not inherit 
 
 * the Kingdom of God ^ hut [Jo all he c aft forth into utter 
 ' Darknefs^ there Jhall be wailing and gnafiing of 
 ' T^eeih for ever. Written with hearty Dcfires that 
 
 * you may take Warning in Time, and efcapc 
 ' eternal Miferies, 
 
 * B^ )Our real Friends^ 
 
 '^^fZ'SZ'JX,'!, ' Benjamin Holme, 
 
 »7i2. < Patrick Henderson/ 
 
 After I had ftaid about feven Months in the 
 Nation, I went over in Company with my Friend 
 nomas Lightfoot to the Yearly-meeting at London : 
 Some were convinc'd in this Journey in Ireland that 
 came to be good Friend?, at fome of whofe Houfes 
 I have fince had Meetings. 
 
 After I had fbaid fomc Time about Home, in the 
 Year 171A I went to vifit Friends in Holland \ I 
 went as far as Frederickftadt in the Duke of Holftein's 
 Country^ and fo return'd from thence ior Holland -, 
 foon after I came there I took fhipping tor London^ 
 where I alrived fafe through the Lord's Mercy and 
 Goocinefs, and after I had itaid fome Time there, I 
 return'd for the North. 
 
 Having 
 
cf BENJAMIN HOLME, 15 
 
 Having had it upon my Mind for fome Time to Sed. 3. 
 vifit Friends in America^ I laid my Intentions of 1712 to 
 going there before Friends of the Monthly and 1715. 
 Quarterly Meetings, and having Certificates from v^^^v*s> 
 both Meetings of their Concurrence with me therein, 
 I parted with Friends in great Love, and went from 
 Tork about the ifl of the Second Month 1715, and 
 travelled to London, having feveral Meetings as I 
 went thither, and in the Third Month a Ship being 
 bound for Bojlon in New- England^ 1 went on board 
 in the River oi 'Thames, and in fomewhat more than 
 fix Weeks aft^^r we left the Land's End of England 
 we landed at Bojlon: For a more particular Account 
 of my Journey, I refer to the Copy of a Letter 
 which I fent to John Wh-Uing of London^ which take 
 as follows. 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 Giving an Account of my I'raveh in America, i7i 
 a Letter to John Whiting, 
 
 * "Dea) Friend John Whiting, 
 
 * T N that pure Love, whidh reaches over Sea 
 
 * X and Land, do I kindly falute thee and Friends 
 ' that are engaged in a holy Concern fo. the Exaka- 
 
 * tion of the Kingdom of Chrift in the Hearts of the 
 
 * Children of Men •, may the Lord by his Power 
 ' bind the flrong Man armed, the Piince of the 
 
 * Power of the Air, that has long bore rule in the 
 
 * Hearts of the Children of Difobedience, and fpoil 
 ' his Goods, and wholly caft him our, that fo Men 
 ' may com.e to be redeemed out of that State of 
 ' Captivity and Bondage that they have been in ; I 
 
 * am fcnfible the Lord is at work by his Power in 
 
 B 4 * many 
 
i6 TX^ L I F E ^;zi T R A V E L S 
 
 Se6i:. 4. ' many Hearts for this End, and it is greatly to be 
 
 1715 /o ' defired that Men may fubmit to him, that he 
 
 1720. ' may overturn and overturn till he come to rule 
 
 ' and reign in them, whofe Right it is *, that they 
 
 ' may come to fay in Trurh, thine is the Kingdom^ 
 
 ' the Power and the 'Dc7ninion : I believe there is a 
 
 ' merciful Vifiration frorr^ thf^ Lord to many People 
 
 ' in feveral of thofe Wildernefs Countries, where I 
 
 ' have travelled fince I came from my native Coun- 
 
 ' try •, I herewith fend thee fome Account of my 
 
 ' Travels : I have great Caufe to bow in great 
 
 * Humilicy of Soul before the Lord, for the mani- 
 « foh^ Favours and Prefervations which he has been 
 
 * gracioufly pleafed to extend both by Sea and Land. 
 ' I parted from London on the 4th Day of the 
 
 * Third Month 17 15, and took fhippmg in the 
 ' River of Thames on the fame D^y, in a fnall 
 
 * Ship call'd the Loyalty^ bound for Bojl on \n New- 
 ' England, James Fendale being Maitei, at wl-ich 
 ^ Place, through the Lord's good Providence, we 
 « arrived on the 12th of the Eighth Mf;nih, where 
 
 < I was kindly received by IValler ]Sewherr)\ at 
 ' whofe Houfe I lodged : The (amr Day I landed, 
 ' our Friends Gabriel Newoy and Matthew Prichet^ 
 
 < who live in North Carolina^ came to Bofton^ they 
 ' had been to vifit Friends in the Eaffern Parts 
 ' of New- England, and that Night JViUiam Wilkin- 
 *■ fon came alio to Town -, the other two Ftk nds 
 
 * went the next Day towards Scituate^ but William 
 ' and I ftaid and had a Meeting with Friends here, 
 ' and after that we went into the Eaft Parts of 
 
 * New-Engla?id, from whence, after we had been 
 « at feveral Meetings together, he returned Home. 
 
 * I (laid fome Time in thofe Parts, and then re- 
 
 * turned to Bofton again, and from thence went to 
 « Scituate and Sandwich^ and to the IQand of Nan- 
 « tucket J where 1 flaid about thrt^e Weeks, in 
 ^ which Time I had feveral good and comfortable 
 
 ' Meetings , 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 17 
 
 Meetings •, there are feveral honeft Friends on Seel. 4, 
 that Ifland : From thence I went to another 17 15 to 
 Ifland called MarthcCs Vineyard^ where I had fome 1720. 
 Meetings : Being at a Place called Old-^wn^ on a wOT"^, 
 Firft-day, I found fome Drawings in my Mind to 
 go to the Prejhyterian Meeting-houfe in the After- 
 noon, and Nalhamei S(arbuck, a Friend ot Nan- 
 tuckety being with me, he accompanied me to the 
 Meeting •, I waited till the Prieft, whofe Name 
 v/as Samuel W'lrell^ had done fpeaking, and then 
 I defircd Liberty to fpeak to the People j I di- 
 redled them to the Teacher in themfelves, which 
 was fufficient for them as they took heed unto it : 
 After I had done fpeaking, the Prieft made fome 
 Objection concerning the Anointing which I had 
 fpoken of, mentioned in the fecond Chapter of the 
 firft Epiftle of John^ and we agreed to have a 
 Difpute the next Day at their Meeting-houfe, to 
 begin at nine of the Clock, to which the Priefl 
 and feveral of his Hearers came ; the Things we 
 chiefly difputed upon were, concerning the Lights 
 and the Sufficiency of the Divine Anointing j the 
 Holy Scriptures^ and of bis Call to the Miniftry and 
 Maintenance not being Apoftolical : The Difpute 
 might hold near four Hours ; I endeavoured to 
 convince him of the Sufficiency of the Divine 
 Light of Chrijl, which lighieth every Man that 
 cometh into the Worlds and that although we held 
 the Anointings which John fpoke of, is fuffici^C 
 to teach Men fo, that they need not that any Man 
 teach the?n hut as the fame Anointing teacheth them, 
 yet I owned, that the Lord may and doth fpeak 
 by this Anointing through Inftruments. And as 
 to the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, 
 which proceeded from the holy Spirit of Cod, 
 them I owned and efteemed above all other 
 Writings : But when I came to fpeak of his 
 ' Maintenance^ and touch'd him in that tender Parr, 
 
 * he 
 
iS , t:^^ L I F E ^;^^ T R A V E L S 
 
 he was fomewhat difturb'd. After the Difpute 
 was over, I went that Night to a Place called 
 Homes^s-bok, and the next Day to the main Land 
 by way of Sippycan^ in order to be at Friends 
 Yearly-meeting at Dartmouth ; at Sippycan two 
 Priefts, and fcveral People that were not of our 
 Society, came to the Meeting, where I had an 
 Opportunity to fpeak of the Things ot God to 
 them ; after the Meeting was over I had a Dif- 
 pute with one of them, whofe Name was 7'imothy 
 Bugles^ (being Prieit of the Place) concerning 
 Water- Baptifm, And the next Day being the 28th 
 of the Eighth Month, I went to the Yearly- 
 meeting at Dartmouth^ where I met with 'Thomas 
 Thompjon^ and Jofiah Langdale^ who came over 
 with him from England to vifit Friends, being 
 then in the Eaftern Parts of New-England : This 
 Yearly-meeting was large, and held part of three 
 Days *, after it was over I went to Rhode- IJland^ 
 where I made a little Stay, and had fome Meet- 
 ings ; from thence I went to an Ifland call'd Block- 
 J/land, where I (laid about a Week, in which 
 Time I had fome Meetings amongft them , feveral 
 of the People were loving and friendly, and the 
 old Man that ufed to preach to them, named 
 Simon Rays, let me have a Meeting at his Houfe, 
 and after I had done fpeaking to them, he flood 
 up and blefTed God, who had fent one to di- 
 rect them in the right Way, or Words to that 
 Effedl ; from thence I returned to Rhode-IJland^ 
 and from thence I went again into the Eaftern 
 Parts of New^ England, where I had feveral Meet- 
 ings among the Prejbyterians : At a Place called 
 Exeter I had a publick Difpute with the Pried of 
 the Place, named John Jdlin^ concerning Water- 
 Bapttfm and Bread and Wine^ the Refurre^ion of 
 thtfame Flefhly-body, and fome other Things ; 
 ' the Difpute was held on the 26th of the Eleventh 
 
 * M<inth 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 19 
 
 « Month 1715, in the Prejhperian Meeting- houfe, Sed. 4. 
 « to which many People came -, it was in my Heart 1715 U) 
 
 * to fupplicate the Lord, that his Wifdom and 1720, 
 ' Council might be amongft us, and afterwards I 
 ' read our Agreement to the People, and then had 
 
 * a good Opportunity to declare the Truth amongft 
 ' them, after which we enter'd upon the Difpute on 
 
 * the feveral Heads that we had agreed on ; I believe 
 
 * we were about feven Hours in the Meeting-houfe, 
 ' in which Time I had a fine Opportunity to open 
 « feveral of our Principles to the People, and to 
 ^ fpeak of the Things of God to them *, 1 defire that 
 
 * the Praife of all may be afcribed to the Lord, who 
 
 * alone is worthy. Prom thence I went to Hampton^ 
 « and to Newberry i at this Place fome that were of 
 « Account amongft the Prejlsterians were con- 
 « vinc'd, and came to join with Friends, at which 
 « feveral of the Frejlyterians were much difturbed ; 
 
 * I had a publick Difpute there with the Prieft of 
 
 * the Town, whofe Name was Chriftcpher Topping 
 « in their Meeting-houfe, and it being given ouc 
 ^ before hand for feveral Days, there came fome 
 ' Hundreds of People and feveral Priefts to the 
 
 * Place ; we agreed to difpute concerning Water- 
 
 * Baptifm, the Supper with Bread and JVine^ the Suf- 
 ^ ficiency of the Light within^ and that it was not 
 
 * lawful to preach for Hire^ and fome other Heads 
 
 * befides ; I fuppofe the Difpute might hold five 
 ' Hours, in which Time I had an Opportunity to 
 
 * open feveral of our Principles to the People -, the 
 ' Lord was near to aflift me by his divine Power, 
 ' in maintaining and vindicating the Truth, for 
 ' which I have great Caufe to be thankful to him 
 
 * who is pleafed to fhew his Power through mean 
 
 * Inftruments, that no Flefh may glory in his Sight. 
 
 ' After I had had feveral Meetings in thofe Parts 
 
 * I returned to Sale7n and Bofion^ and from thence I 
 ;^ went W) the Yearly- meeting at Sandwich, where 
 
 * one 
 
20 
 
 r^^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 one Samuel OJbourne^ a School-mafter, who came 
 to the Meeting, made fome Oppofition ; he af- 
 ferted that the Scriptures were the only Rule, and 
 that after a Man had attained to a State of true 
 and faving Grace, he could not totally h\\ from it : 
 By his alTerting thefe Things, there was a good 
 Opportunity put into Friends Hands to inform 
 him and the People, that although we owned and 
 efteemed the Writings of the Old and New Tefta- 
 ment, that proceeded from the holy Spirit of 
 God, above all other Writings, yet we preferred 
 the ho^ Spirit above them, a Manifeftation of 
 which is given to every Man to profit withal, 
 and to lead them in the Way of Salvation ; and 
 as no Mm can truly underftand the Things of 
 God but by the Spirit of God^ therefore the Spirit 
 that gives Man the true and right Underftanding 
 of the Things of God, and of the Scriptures 
 themfelves, ought to have the Preference : And 
 as to his latter AfTertion, fome Scriptures were 
 brought to make him and the People fenfible, 
 how fome of old Time made Shipwreck of Faith 
 and of a good Confcience, and that after Man 
 had attained to a good Condition, he might fall 
 notwichftanding, if he did not watch ; yet we 
 owned, that the Grace and good Spirit of God is 
 fufficient to preferve Men from falling, as they 
 keep to it. 
 
 * After this Meeting and Difpute was over, I 
 vifited fome other Places and returned to Rhode- 
 IJland : A little before I came there, our worthy 
 Friend Daniel Gold died, who was a Prifoner at 
 Bofton at the fame Time, when in the Year 1659 
 our Friends Marmaduke Stevenfon and William 
 Robinfon were put to Death there \ he died well, 
 and nas left a good Savour behind him. From 
 thence I went to Warwick^ Greenwich and KingftoHy 
 Jacob Motl being with me, where we had feveral 
 
 good 
 
vf BENJAMIN HOLME. si 
 
 ^ good Meetings, and returned to the Yearly- Sedl. 4. 
 
 * meeting on Rhode- Ifiand^ which began on the 7th 17 15 to 
 
 * of the Fourth Month, and held part of four 1720. 
 
 * Days ; the Meeting was large, and the Lord's ^^-/'V^ 
 
 * Power and Prefence was manifefted therein to 
 ' Friends great Comfort and Edification : Here 1 
 ' met with our Friends William Baldwin and Feter 
 
 * FearoHy who came from England to vifit Friends 
 
 * there and in New-England. After this Meeting 
 
 * was over I went to a Place called Wejferly, where 
 ' I had a Meeting, to which came one IVillianz 
 ' Davis a Preacher among the Seventh-diiy Baptijls 5 
 ' in the Meeting I afTerted, that the Baptifm of 
 
 * Chrift with the Holy Ghoft and Fire, and the 
 
 * Baptifm of John with Water, according to the 
 
 * third Chapter of Matthew^ Verfe 11, were two 
 ' dijlinol Baptifms, which the faid William Davis 
 
 * denying openly, afiferted they were but one ; fo 
 
 * we agreed to have a publick Difpute upon it the 
 
 * next Day at one James Badcockh^ where I hacj 
 ' appointed a Meeting, to which he and feverai 
 ' People came, and after the Meeting was over we 
 
 * began the Difpute, and he owned that the Bap- 
 
 * tifm of 7(?/^;/ with Water, and the Baptifm of 
 
 * Chrifl with the Holy Ghoft were two difiinB Bap- 
 ' tifms, which he had publickly denied the Day 
 ' before, I defire to magnify the divine Hand that 
 
 * alTifted me ♦, fince that Time feverai are con- 
 
 * vinc'd, and a Meeting is fet up in that Town, 
 
 * and fome I hear are come forth in the Miniftry 
 
 * amongfl: them, fo that Truth has prevaileci. 
 ' After having fome other Meetings in thefe Parts 
 
 * I travelled into Conne5iicut Government, Samuel 
 
 * Aldrich 3.nd Samue I Harrifon accompanying me, and 
 ' had feverai Meetings amongfl them in the Coun- 
 ' try ; many of the People there were Strangers to 
 ' Friends and their Principles : On the 6th of the 
 ^ Seventh Month I came to Long-IJland, where I 
 
 * llaid 
 
22 
 
 IT^^LIPE and TRAVELS 
 
 (laid and had fome Meetings with Friends, but the 
 Yearly- meeting at BurlingtoHy for Penfilvania and 
 the Jerfeys being near, I was defirous to be at it, 
 and {o Irom Long- IJl and I went to New-Tor k, and 
 fo for Burlington, I having fome Meetings as I 
 went ; the Yearly-meeting there began on the 
 15th of the Seventh Month 171 6, there was a 
 great Appearance of Friends, the Meeting held 
 part of five Days, in which that divine Power, 
 which is the Crown and Glory of our Meetings, 
 was largely manifefted ; here I met with our 
 Friends William Armftrong and James Grab am y 
 who were come from England to vific Friends in 
 thefe Parts ; after this Meeting was over I fpent 
 fome Time in Raft and Weft Jerfeys^ and then 
 returned again to Long-IJlandy where I (laid 
 fome Time and had fome Meetings on the Ealt 
 Part of that Ifland, where none of our Friends 
 refide, Samuel Bowne, a Friend of Flujhing, being 
 with me : There is a pretty many honed Friends 
 about Flujhing, they have built a new Meeting- 
 houfe there, ()^ Foot long and 42 broad, to ac- 
 commodate their Yearly-meeting : While I was 
 on this Ifland I heard of the Death of Edward An- 
 drews, a Friend that lived at Little Egg-harhour in 
 Weft-Jer/ey^ he had a good Teftimony, a«d feveral 
 were convinc'd by him, he was inftrumental to 
 gather a Meeting in the Place where he liv'd. 
 ' After I had feveral good Meetings on that 
 Ifland, I returned from thence to JPenfilvania^ 
 having had feveral Meetings as I travelled through 
 the Country till I came to Ever/ham, where oqc 
 William Evans lives ; here William Hudfrn of Phi- 
 ladelphia met me, and after the Meeting which we 
 had there was over, I went Home with the faid 
 Hudfon, and lodged at his Houfe. The next Day 
 their Half-year's Meeting at Philadelphia began, 
 which held part of three Days, it was a good and 
 
 ' comfortable 
 
cf BENJAMIN HOLME. 23 
 
 < comfortable Meeting. I received a Letter from Sedl. 4. 
 ' Waltsr Newberry, dated Bojlon the 2d of the 171 5 /^ 
 
 * Twelfth Month 1716, in which he gave me Ac- 1720. 
 
 ' count of the Death of our good Friend Edward ty\f\} 
 
 * Wanton^ who was early convinc'd of the Truth, 
 
 * Part of his Letter is as follows : He was an inno- 
 
 * cent Man, bore a good '•Teftbnon'j for Truth, has left 
 ' a good Savour behind him, even amongft thofe that are 
 
 * without, and I doubt not but will ever live with him^ 
 
 * who rewards them who hold out to the End with an 
 ' everlajling Crown of Glory, After this Meeting was 
 
 * over, I vifited many of the Meetings in that Pro- 
 
 * vince, and was at their Yearly-meeting at Wefl- 
 
 * River in Maryland, which began on the 8th of the 
 
 < Fourth Month, and held part of five Days ; at 
 ' this Meeting were alfo our Frknds William Arm- 
 ' fi^o^g and James Graham^ and Jofeph Glatfter^ and 
 
 * Nathan Newby^ the Meeting was large, many re- 
 
 * forting to it that were not of our Society : There 
 
 * was a tender Concern upon feveral Friends, that 
 ' good Order might be profuoted in the Church, and 
 
 * that Friends 7night be preferved from all hurtful 
 
 * Things ; here I parted with James Graham^ whom 
 ' I faw no more, for in about two Months after or 
 ' lefs he died at a Friend's Houfe in Burlington ; he 
 
 * was a very innocent Man, and made a good End, 
 
 * and has Jcfc a good Savour behind him : After 
 ' this Yearly- meeting was over, I vifited Friends 
 
 * on the Eaftern Shore of Maryland, John Saul be- 
 
 < ing with me ; while I was in Alarjland I heard of 
 « the Death of our good Friend Griffith 0-wen^ who 
 ' was an honourable Elder in the Church of Chrift i 
 ' as he was a Man greatly beloved, fo his Death was 
 
 * much lamented ; a little before he died, he and 
 
 * our Friend JohnSalkeld had been to vifit Friends 
 
 * in New- England, 
 
 * I travelled into Virginia^ and was at their 
 
 * Yearly- meeting at Chuckaiuck^ which began on 
 
 ' the 
 
i4 r^^ L I F E ^;?^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Seft. 4. ' the 2ift of the Seventh Month 1717 ; this Meet- 
 1715 /o ' ing held part of two Days, in which the Lord's 
 1720. ' good Prefence attended Friends to their great 
 V^V"^-^ ' Comfort and Encouragement -, I ftaid and had 
 feveral Meetings in thole Parts : A few Days after 
 the Yearly- meeting was over, our Friend Eliza- 
 beth Sjnall died, who was a good Minifter and a 
 ferviceable Inftrument in that Country : I went 
 from thence to the Yearly- meeting in North- 
 Carolina^ which began on the 5th of the Eighth 
 Month and held Part of two Days •, after that 
 Meeting was over, I ftaid and had feveral good 
 Meetings in that Country, and then return'd to 
 Virginia, where I was at the Burial of our Friend 
 John Murdough^ whom the Lord had railed to 
 bear a Teftimony for his Name and Truth among 
 his People : After I had made fome ftay in thofe 
 Parts, I went into Surry County, where I had 
 feveral Meetings amongft the People, and a Prieft 
 of that County came to a Houfe where I had a 
 Meeting ; I fuppofe he did endeavour to perfwa-de 
 the Man of the Houfe, not to let us have the 
 Liberty of his Houfe to meet in, but our Friend 
 Samuel Cornwell (who is fince dead) being with 
 us, gave the Man of the Houfe a few Lines under 
 his Hand to fave him harmlefs ; the Prieft finding 
 we were like to have Liberty of meeting there, 
 he contrived another Way •, the Woman of the 
 Houfe having had a Child a little Time before, 
 he got fome Ferfons to be Sureties for the Child, 
 and came into the Room where we had the Meet- 
 ing, and fprinkled the Child there ; that this was 
 a Contrivance of the Prieft's I think is plain, for 
 I fuppofe the Man and his Wife knew not that he 
 had any fuch Defign when he came ; and aft-er he 
 had done he gave us a Challenge, that if we 
 would meet him he would prove his PraBice^ 
 which I accepted of; this was the 14th of the 
 
 * Tenth 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. I; 
 
 Tenth Month ; we agreed to meet at their Sed. 4.^ 
 Worfliip-houfe at 12 'o Clock on the 17th of the 17 15 to 
 fame Month ; accordingly I went there, and 1720. 
 many People came there alfo, and after fome >^xSr^. 
 Time the Prieft came, but there was a Juftice of 
 the Peace, who was not willing we fiiould difpute 
 in the Church, as it's cali'd, fo when we found 
 that, we offer'd to have it at our Friend's Meeting- 
 houfe, which was near about a Mile off, but that 
 not being join'd with, we acquainted the People 
 that we intended to have a Meeting at our Meet- 
 ing-houfe, if any of them pleafed to come to it, . 
 to which many came, and I had a good Opportu- 
 nity to declare the Truth amongft them, and to 
 open feveral of our Principles to them •, after the 
 Meeting was over, I law the Priefl without 
 amongft the People, but he did not fpeak a 
 Word to me. That Night we went home with 
 Benjamin Chapman^ John Saul being with me j we 
 vifued Friends in the South Parts of Virginia pretty 
 generally, and we had Meeting*? in many Places 
 where none of our Friends lived, feveral People 
 who were not of our Society being defirous to 
 have Meetings at their Houfes, which I fuppofe 
 difturb'd fome of their Priefts, for it was thought 
 one or more of them wrote to the King's Attorney 
 to acquaint the Governour of it, and there having 
 been an old Adl made againft Friends in the Year 
 1663, I believe fome of the Priefts did therewith 
 endeavour to frighten the People from coming to, 
 or permitting Meetings to be in their Houfes, 
 which Adl, when the Government of Virginia 
 fent it home with others to lay before the preiene 
 King, the fime was rejefted by him and made 
 void, by reafon, as it is fuppofed, that the faid 
 Act, if it had been in Force, might have been 
 of great Hurt and Damage to the King's quiet 
 and peaceable Subjedts of Virginia •, and the 
 C ^ Governour 
 
26 
 
 7^^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 Sea. 4. 
 
 1715 to 
 
 1720. 
 
 Governour of Virginia (as it is thought) upon 
 the Complaints made as aforefaid, ilTued out a 
 Proclamation, which was publilhed in all their 
 Courts in that Government, that it might be 
 made known that the Law was repeaTd ; a 
 Copy of the Proclamation I herewith lend thee : 
 Some Time before the Proclamation came out, 
 I and two Friends more made the Governour a 
 friendly Vifit, in which he fliew*d himfelf refped- 
 ful to us. I had many Meetings in New- Kent 
 County •, there was a Priefl of that County, named 
 William Broady^ who was an angry Man againft 
 Friends, he came to a Place where I had a Meet- 
 ing, we had fome Difcourfe at that Time, and we 
 agreed to have a publick Difpute at the Houfe of 
 one Thomas Jack/on on the 13th of the Third 
 Month, to which People came from feveral Parts 
 of the Country ; we difputed fome Time con- 
 cerning Water -Baptifm^ but after the Priefl had 
 fpoken of it to the People, and I was about to 
 anfwer, he went from me and gave the Sheriff a 
 Warrant which he had brought with him, and bid 
 him do his OfRce, and fo went his Way ; upon 
 which the Sheriff arrefled me, but he was fo civil 
 as to give me fome Time to fpeak to the People, 
 and afterwards he had me before a Juftice of the 
 Peace, whofe Name was Mofs^ where I waited 
 fome Time for the Priefl ; but mine Accufer not 
 appearing, the Juflice difmiffed me, and fo the 
 Priefl manifefled himfelf. I went with Charles 
 Flemjning to his Houfe that Night \ feveral are 
 convinc'd in that County, and have fet up a new 
 Meeting, and built a Meeting-houfe, fo that 
 Truth hath prevailed, notwithflanding the Oppo- 
 fition of fuch as are Strangers to it. 
 ' After I had fpent fome Time in thofe Parts, and 
 had had feveral good Meetings, I returned to- 
 wards Maryland^ having feveral Meetings in the 
 
 « Northern 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME, 27 
 
 Northern Pares of Virginia \ I (laid but little in Sect. 4, 
 Maryland^ being defirous to be at the Yearly- 17 15 to 
 meeting at Burlington ; I returned by Weil-river. lyio, 
 and fo went to Bii/h-river^ where I had a Meeting 
 near Aquila Baca's^ where feveral have been 
 convinced of late, anil from thence I v/cnc to Not- 
 tinghajn^ PFilliam-Duf^^ a Friend of Virginia^ being 
 with me, and from thence I went to New-garden 
 to Thomas Lightfoot^s^ who is a Friend that came 
 of late Years from Ireland ; and irom his Houfe 
 I went to Philadelphia^ and the next Day to Bur- 
 lington^ which was the firfl Day of the Yearly- 
 meeting •, the Meeting was large, and lailed part 
 of five Days ; faithful Friends were much com- 
 forted in the Lord and in one another. I received 
 a Letter from Nathaniel Starhuck, of Nantucket^ 
 dated the 17th of the Fourth Month, in which he 
 gave me Account of the Death of his Mother who 
 was a publick Friend, and had been a good In- 
 ftrument on that Ifland of Nantucket, where {ho. 
 liv'd ; after this Meeting was over I went to the 
 Yearly-meeting at Chopiank on the Eaflern Shore 
 of Maryland^ which was a large and good Meet- 
 ing, there being great Refort of Strangers v/ho 
 did not profefs to be of our Society ; when this 
 Meeting was over I vificed the Meetings of Friends 
 on the Eaftern Shore, and had feveral Meetings 
 among them who did not profefs to be of us, there 
 being a great Willingnefs in People ia feveral 
 Places to hear the Truth declared. Then I re- 
 turned to Penfilvaniai where I fpent a good Part 
 of the Winter, having feveral lajge and good 
 Meetings : While I was in Penfilvania I heard of 
 the Death of our dear Friend Jofeph Glaifter, who 
 was a good Inilrument in the Lord's Kand, and 
 will be very much mifled in thofe Parts ; a little 
 before he died, our Friend TVilliajn Hague and his 
 Wife both died, they formerly lived on /bitlgua 
 C 2 - ' ifland, 
 
zB The LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Ifland, but went to live in North-Carolina, and 
 were near Neighbours to our aforefaid Friend, 
 they were honeit Friends, and the Woman had a 
 pubiick Teftimony, which fhe adorned with a 
 good Converfation ; it has been a fickly Time this 
 lad Winter in Virginia as well as in North-Caro- 
 lina ; I had a Letter from Jofeph Jordan, a Friend 
 in Nanfymund in Virginia, dated the 13th of the 
 Twelfth Month 1 7 1 8, Part of which is as follows : 
 / may prefent thee with the forrowful News of the 
 Deceaje of our dear Friends Jofeph Glaifter, and 
 William and Mary Hague, which is indeed a great 
 Lofs to thefe Parts, they are all lately dead, there is 
 a pretty large Account of his dying Sayings, doubt not 
 hut he made a happy End, as well as the others ; 
 Gabriel New by 'j Eldejl Son is alfo dead, who was 
 hut lately married -, I believe there hath not been 
 known fuch a Mortality in thefe Parts within the 
 Memory of the oUeft Inhabitants that are now living. 
 Thus far he *, Oh ! that the Living would confider 
 the Lord's Doings, and ufe all Diligence to make 
 their Calling and Eleflion fure before they go 
 hence : As many good Friends have been removed 
 of late Years, I defire that all, who are concerned 
 for the Salvation of the Children of Men, may 
 pray, that the great Lord of the Harvefi may raife 
 up many faithful Labourers in their Steads : I have 
 heard that there are two young Men in Virginia 
 that are come forth in the Miniflry this laft- 
 Winter, they are the before mentioned E. Small's 
 Sifter's Sons -, may the Lord anoint many of the 
 young Men, and found forth through them by 
 his Power, to the awakening of the Sons and 
 Daughters of Men, who live in a State of Forget- 
 fulnet's, that lo the Day of the Lord may not 
 come upon them as a Thief in the Night, when 
 they are unprepared. Several of our Friends Chil- 
 dren are pretty hopeful in Virginia and Carolina ; 
 
 * 1 ftaid 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 29 
 
 * I (laid the Half-year's Meeting at Philadelphia^ Se6l. 4. 
 
 * which was a large and comfortable Meeting, 17 15 to 
 
 * where I met with our Friends John Danfon and 1720, 
 
 * Jfaac Hadwin, Elizabeth Rawlinfon and Lydia Lan- 
 < cafter^ all together, who were come in the Service 
 ' of Truth to vifit Friends in America^ which were 
 
 * very acceptable to Friends there ; and I hope they 
 
 * will all have good Service for the Truth : Our 
 ' Friend Rebecca Turner^ that came over in Com- 
 ' pany with them, was then gone with Elizabeth 
 ' fVhartenhy to vifit Friends in Barbadoes. 
 
 ^ After this Meeting was over, I vifited fome 
 
 * Meetings in IVeft Jerfe'j^ and returned again to 
 
 * Philadelphia^ the Lord having been near by his 
 
 * good Spirit to aflift me in his Work and Service, 
 
 * from Time to Time, to my great Comfort and 
 
 * Encouragement ; and halving Drawings in my 
 
 * Spirit to vifir Friends in Barbadoes^ 1 parted with 
 ' Friends at Philadelphia on the 3d of the Second 
 ' Month 1719 in great Love, the Lord having 
 ' nearly united my Spirit to a People in that City 
 
 * and Province, for there is a People amongft 
 
 * them who are Lovers of Truth, and are con- 
 ' cerncd for its Profperity ; may the Lord increafe 
 ^ their Number. I wrote a farewel Epiftle to 
 S Friends in America before I took fhipping, which 
 ^ is as follows. 
 
 { An EPISTLE of Farewel to Friends 
 * in America. 
 
 * IDear Friends, 
 
 ' TN that pure Love, in which I was drawn from 
 
 * X "^y "^^iv^ Land to vifit you, do I tenderly 
 
 * laiute you, fervently defiring that the Lord may 
 J favour you with the renewed Vifitation of liis 
 
 C 2 * Love 
 
30 r/&^ L I F E ^;;^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Love and Gooonefs, that fo you may be prevailed 
 upon to follow him in the Way of his Requirings 
 without Wearinefs or Fainting, for it is when 
 Friends negkcl to wait for the Enjoyment of that 
 ' divine Life, in which the true Encouragement 
 
 * (lands, that they grow weary and faint in their 
 « following of Chrift in the fbrait and narrow Way, 
 
 < and then the Difcourager prevails, and many 
 
 * Mountains are raifed in the Way, and fuch are 
 « ready to difcourage others, like the bad Spies ^ 
 « but Caleb and Jojhua^ who were Men of a right 
 « Spi''ir, they were Encour^gers of, the People : 
 « And fuch as retain their Love and Zeal to the 
 « Lord and his Truth, and wait d .ily for the re- 
 
 * newed Vifiiations of th^r divine Life and Power 
 
 * by which they w./re firfl vlfited, are Encou.agers 
 ^ of others to Fp.ithfulncfs -, and fuch as do fully 
 
 * follow the Lord, and that manifefl thtii Love to 
 « him by their Obedience, can fay from living Fx- 
 ^ perience, tha* there is a great Reward in keeping of 
 
 * his Commandments^ beyond u;hat Tongue or Pen can 
 ^ Jet forth, and it is fuch v/ho ferve the Lord with 
 « Chearfulnefs and D^^iight *, and he will favour 
 
 < thefe in a peculiar m Louer : And Friends, as the 
 ^ Lord has greatly favoured many of you in thefe 
 
 * Wildernefs Countries, I tenderly defire that you 
 « may be Ccireful tc live \n a divine and holy Senfe 
 c of the deep and manifold Obligations that you 
 ^ are under, to walk humbly before him, while you 
 
 * have a Being here ^ and I defire that you may be 
 
 * careful, that '^ou do not touch with the unclean 
 
 * Thing in any kind, for you find how Jfrael fell be- 
 
 * fore their Enemies when the Babylonijh Garment ^ 
 
 * and the Wedge of Gold were coveted after ; thefe 
 ^ Tilings are left upon Record for our Inflfudion, 
 « and that we might learn to beware of coveting 
 ^ after thofe Things that are forbidden : And I de- 
 f fire that you may live in Love and Peace one with 
 
 ' ^ another* 
 
€f BENJAMIN HOLME. 31 
 
 another, that fo the Lord may blefs you in your Sed, 4.. 
 Families and your Meetings ; be ye good Ex- 171 5 to 
 amples in all Refpeds, not only in juft and fair 1720. 
 Dealing, but in Converfation and in Spirit -, let 
 the meek Spirit of the Lamb bear Rule in all your 
 Hearts, and in it rule over your Children and 
 Families, that fo you may endeavour as much as 
 in you lies to keep them within the Bounds and 
 Limits of Truth in all Things. And dear 'jcung 
 People^ as you defire that a BlelTing may attend 
 you, I tenderly defire that you may hearken to 
 your Parents and Friends Council, that are ten- 
 derly concerned that you may be kept from all 
 evil and hurtful Things, and that you may anfwer 
 the great End for which you have a Being here, 
 that fo you may be a Seed to ferve the Lord in 
 your Generation, and it will be matter of great 
 Rejoicing to many, who are engaged in a holy 
 Concern for the Profperity of Truth, to fee you 
 grow in Grace and in the Fear of the Lord, that fo 
 you may ffand up in a holy Zeal for the Lord 
 againft all wrong and falfe Liberty : And as many 
 of our ancient and worthy Friends, who have been 
 eminently ferviceable in their Day and Generation, 
 are removed, the Lord will greatly blefs you if 
 you fucceed them in Faithfulncfs : And dear 
 Friends, as the Lord has greatly bleft many of 
 your godly Endeavours and Care upon your Chil- 
 dren's Account, when you have been engaged in a 
 religious Concern that your Children might be 
 kept out of evil and hurtful Things, and out of 
 the vain Fafhions which lead away the Mind from 
 the Lord, I defire that you may continue your 
 Care and good Endeavours upon their Accounts, 
 
 • and it may yet pleafe the Lord more and more 
 
 • to blefs your Endeavours -, and ] would tenderly 
 ' recommend it to you, to labour as much as you 
 '' well can, to bring them along with you to the 
 
 C 4 * Meetings, 
 
32 "tije LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Sed. 4. ^ Meetings, both on the Firfl and Week Days ; it 
 
 1715 lo ' may pleafe the Lord, that appeared to Sa??iuel 
 
 1720. ' when he was a Child, to reach to them in his 
 
 SiOT"^ ' Love; and labour to bring them to a Senfeof the 
 
 ' manifold Obligations they are under to ferve the 
 
 ' Lord that made them, who is the Author and 
 
 * Fountain from whom all the Good which they 
 ' receive comes •, and now de/:^r Friends, as the Lord 
 
 * has nearly nnitpd my Spirit to many of you, I 
 
 * greatly defire that we may be preferved in that 
 « pure Love and Life in which our Ftllowlhip 
 
 * (lands, that fo we may be fervently concerned for 
 ^ one anothers Prefervation when we are out- 
 « wardly far feparated : So, with Dedres that the 
 
 * Lord may fo keep you by his divine Power 
 
 * unto the End and winding up of your Time here, 
 
 * that you may have the Returns of Peace, and an 
 ' Inheritance amongft the Sandificd in Chrili, I 
 « remain 
 
 ^ Tour loving Friend^ 
 
 Philadelphia, r^^'orf^'/zir i Pr n t HoLME. 
 
 Second Month 1719. i>£.JNJ. aiui.jvijl. 
 
 * On the 4th of the Second Month 1719 I went 
 
 < from Qhefier on board a Sloop bound for Bar- 
 *• hadoes, where through the Favour of Providence 
 « we arrived on the 8th of the Third Month, and 
 
 < met with a kind Reception from Friends there ; 
 « I am glad that the Lord hath a People on that 
 
 * Ifl.nd, wiio are concerned for his Name and 
 « Truth ; there is a young Man that was fome 
 
 * Time at a Colkge at Oxford, who has come to 
 » join with Friends and Truth of late Years, and is 
 
 * come forth in the Miniftry, and I hope he will be 
 
 * ferviceable on that Ifland ; I and JofepbGamhlc and 
 ' OmonWilliams made Lhe Governour a Vifit, and 
 ^ I kt him know, that I was glad to hear he had 
 
 * been 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 33 
 
 been fo favourable to our Friends, that as far Scd. 4. 
 as I had underftood, they had been expofed to 17 15 to 
 little or no Sufferings of late ; he faid. We might 1720. 
 thank the King for that ; but I faid, tVe alfo ac- s 
 knowledged his Kindnefs and Refp^ ; after fome 
 farther Difcourfe with him, we took our Leaves 
 of him : I wrote him a Letter before I left the 
 Ifland, wherein I acknowledged his Lenity and 
 Tendernefs to our Friends ; for fome of our 
 Friends formerly have undergone great Sufferings 
 on that Ifland for their refufing to bear Arms, 
 and for not paying to maintain the Priefts. 
 ' After I had flaid about a Month there, and had 
 Meetings in feveral Parts of the Ifland, to fome 
 of which divers People that were not of our Per- 
 fwafion came, on the 9th of the Fourth Month 
 I parted with Friends there, in the fame Love I 
 was drawn to vifit them, and went on board a 
 Sloop bound for Antigua, where I arrived on the 
 1 2th of the fame Month at a Place called IVil- 
 lougbhy-hay^ and that Night I went to our Friend 
 Jofe'ph Frencbe'^s^ where I met with a kind Recep- 
 tion •, I {laid about eleven Days there, and was at 
 feveral Meetings. 
 
 ' On the 23d an Opportunity prefenting, I went 
 to the Ifland oi Arigmlla^ where I arrived the next 
 Day •, I ffaid there till the 4rh of the next Month, 
 in which Time I had feveral good Meetings •, I met 
 with a kind Reception from the Governour and 
 feveral of the People there •, our Friends "Thomas 
 Chalkley and Richard Gove had formerly been on 
 that Ifland, and I believe their Vifit was of good 
 Service ; 1 alfo went to the Ifland of Nevis ^?Lnd that 
 called St. Chriflopher^s, on both which I had feveral 
 Meetings : From Chrijlopher^s I returned hither, 
 where! have been fomewhat above two Weeks ; 
 I have made the General of this and the other 
 ; Leeward IJlands a friendly Vifit, which he took 
 
 * kindly j 
 
34 
 
 Stcl. 4. 
 
 1715 $0 
 
 1720. 
 
 7&LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 kindly i from hence I have Thoughts to go for 
 Jamaica ; if it be the Lord's Will to^prfefervc 
 and bring me again to my native Country, I fhaJI 
 be very glad to fee thee and many others that I 
 love and efteem, becaufe of your Love to the 
 Truth ; fo with Defires that the Lord may pre- 
 ferve thee and all them, that he has mercifully 
 vifited, in a holy Senfe of his great Love and 
 Goodnefs every way extended, that you may live 
 to his Praife and Glory while you have a Being 
 here, I remain with true Love to thee and 
 Friends, 
 
 * Th'j loving Friend^ 
 
 Antigua, the 10th of the 
 Sixth Month 1719. 
 
 * Benj. Holme/ 
 
 Having fpent fome Time with Friends on the 
 lOand of Antlgita^ an Opportunity prefcnting to go 
 for Jamaica^ where I had Drawings to go, I took 
 Leave of Friends there on the 29th of the Sixth 
 Month 1719, and the fame Day we let fail, and on 
 the 6th of the Seventh Month through the Lord's 
 good Providence we arrived at Kmgfton in Ja- 
 maica^ where I was kindly received by John Grif- 
 fit'^, at whofe Houfe I lodged ; I (laid near three 
 Months on the Ifland, in which Time I had feveral 
 good Mcrrings, to which divers People of other 
 Societies relorted, who fhewed a great deal of So- 
 briety at fuch Times. I made the Governour a 
 Vifir, and I acknowledged his Kindnefs to our 
 Friends th^^re ; he fhewed himfelf friendly to me, 
 and fa id. He hoped they would be feaceable ; no 
 Friend having been to vifit Friends there for feveral 
 Years, a Vifit .v .s v. ry acceptable to them : On the 
 6rh of the Tenth Month following I parted with 
 Friends there in great Love, and having Drawings 
 for South-Carolina^ I went on board a Sloop which 
 
 was 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 35 
 
 was bound thither, and on the 2d Day of the Sefl. 4. 
 Eleventh Month I arrived at Charles-town in that 1715 to 
 Province, where there is a little Meeting kept *, I 1720. 
 had feveral Meetings there, and alfoin the Country, s.-Or>i 
 to which divers tender People reforted. After I 
 had ftaid about two Months in that Province, I 
 took fbipping for Europe on the 5th of the Firft 
 Month, and on the i6th of the Second Month 
 1720, through the Lord's Favour, we arrived ac 
 Kinofale in Ireland^ and the next Day I got to their 
 Meeting at Cork^ in which the Power and Love of 
 God was extended to our mutual Comfort ; I vifited 
 feveral Meetings in the Country, and was at their 
 Half-year's Meeting ziBublin in the Third Month, 
 which was a large and good Meeting, the Power 
 and Prefencc of the Lord being manifefted thereia 
 to the great Encouragement of his People. 
 
 On the 25th of the fame Month I went on board 
 the Packet in order to go for Hollyhead^ and on 
 the 27th we fet fail, and on the 29th arrived there, 
 feveral other Friends being in Company with me, 
 who were going to the Yearly-meeting 2ii London : 
 Soon after we landed we got Horfes and went from 
 thence to Chefter^ and on the 4th of the Fourth 
 Month we came to London^ and were at the Yearly- 
 meeting there, to our great Satisfaction and Com- 
 fort ; 1 defire that all Friends may be encouraged 
 to anfwer the Lord's Requiring^ in all Things, for 
 there is great Reward and Peace hi doin^ of his fVill^ 
 fo that many are thankful beyond what they can 
 exprefs, that they have been willing to ferve him. 
 And if this fnort Account of the Lord's Goodnefs 
 and Mercy extended to me, may be a Means to 
 encourage others to Faithfulnefs, it will very much 
 anfwer my Dcfire. 
 
 It is remarkable that after the Difpute at Newberry 
 was over, (as mentioned in pag. 19.) I think tht-y 
 appointed a Day to be fet apart in feveral Towns 
 
 about. 
 
36 !ri&^ L I F E ^;7^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Sedt. 4. about, to pray againft the Prevailing of Quakerifm 5 
 1 715 ;6?but Truth has prevailed, and I hope it will yet 
 1720. more and more prevail : Jonathan Tyler had good 
 V^V""^ Service in New-England, many were convinced and 
 turned to the Lord by his Miniftry. I have received 
 two Letters from the Ifland ofJnguilla fince I came 
 to England, which give Account, that they have 
 begun to keep a little Meeting there : I have alfo 
 received a Letter from Jofeph Gamble of Barhadoes^ 
 dated the 28th of the Firfl Month, in which he 
 fignifies, that our Friends John Salkeld and John 
 Cadwalader had been to vifit them, and that fome 
 ■were convinc'd there of late, chat feem'd tender. 
 While I was on the main Land o^ America^ our 
 Friends Richard Johns of Maryland, and Ellis Pugh, 
 who was a Welchman^ and liv'd in Penfilvania^ both 
 died ; the firfb was a Man of good Repute in his 
 Country, and bore a good Teftimony for the 
 Truth •, and the latttr wa'i alfo a very ferviceable 
 Man and a good Minifter, and many of the Welch 
 People were convinc'd and turn'd to the Lord by 
 his Miniftry. Although ir has pleafed the Lord to 
 remove many who were faithful Labourers in their 
 Generation, both in this and thofe Countries, I am 
 very thankful that there is many young People 
 inwardly p-evailed upon by the Power of divine 
 Love, who, I hope, will be faithful Witnefles for 
 the Lord in their Day. 
 
 SECTION 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 37 
 
 .^^~ __™ Sea. 5. 
 
 — » 1720 to 
 
 1725. 
 
 SECTION V. v^^^-VM 
 
 Giving an Account of my Travels after 1 returned 
 from America, till 1723. 
 
 AFter the Yearly-meeting in 1720 was over, 
 I returned into the North in Company with 
 John Richardfon^ and in the latter End of the 
 Fourth Month I got to Tork^ and was at the 
 Yearly-meeting there, which was greatly to my 
 Satisfadlion, being glad to fee Friends who were 
 come from feveral Parts of the County : I fl-aid but 
 little ac Tork before I went into Cumberland^ and 
 feveral other of the Northern Counties, being great- 
 ly comforted amongft Friends in feveral Places that 
 I had formerly vifited. 
 
 In the Firft Month 172 1 I went from York^ and 
 was at the Yearly-meeting in Wales^ which was held 
 at Bologethly in Merioneth/hire -, there was a great 
 Concourfe of People, and Friends had a good Op- 
 portunity to declare theTruth amongfb them : After 
 this Meeting was over, I vifited Friends in Radnor- 
 Jhire and Pemhrookfioirei and fo returned through 
 Monmouihjhire to the Yearly-meeting at Briftol^ 
 which was a good and comfortable Meeting, the 
 Power and Love of God being manifefted therein to 
 the confirming of his Heritage and People. I went 
 from thence to the Yearly-meeting at ZcW<?//, having 
 feveral Meetings in Wilt/hire and other Places before 
 I came there •, the Lord was gracioufly pleafed 
 to favour Friends in this Yearly-meeting with the 
 Renewings of that divine Life and Power, which is 
 the Crown and Glory of our Meetings. 
 
 Soon 
 
i^ 
 
 7J^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 Sed. 5. Soon after the Yearly-meeting was over, our 
 1720 to Friend Edward Dykes^ of Edmuitdjbury in Suffolk^ 
 1723. died, and I went from London to his Burial, where 
 >-'^\^"'^ there was a great Appearance of People, amongtl 
 whom I had a good Opportunity to declare the 
 Truth. I went to the Yearly-meeting at Colchefter 
 which was foon after, and from thence to the 
 Yearly-meeting at IVoodbridge^ and from thence to 
 the /Yearly-meeting u Norwich^ all which were large 
 and comfortable Meetings : I vifited Friends in 
 feveral of the Southern Counties, and in the Winter 
 I ftaid fome Time in and about London. Friends 
 from the feveral Counties came up in the ninth 
 Month or then abouts, to be affifling to Friends 
 there, in folliciting the Parliament to have the 
 Solemn Affirmation made more eafy to Friends in 
 general, which was obtained to their great Satis- 
 fadion : Soon after this was obtained, I having 
 Drawings to vifit Friends in the Weft, I went from 
 London^ and vifited Friends in feveral of the Weftern 
 Counties as far as Cornwall and returned from thence 
 by Way oi Briftol^ and came to the Yearly-meeting 
 at London in 1722, in which that divine Power, by 
 which Friends were firfl gathered to be a People, 
 was richly manifeflied. 
 
 I went from London to the Yearly -meetings at 
 Colchejler and IVoodbridge^ both which were large 
 and good Meetings : In the Fifth Month I went into 
 the North, and our good F>iend Thomas Raylton 
 being at Sedbergh on a Vifit, I went with him over 
 Staine-moor, and kept him Company to Tork •, and 
 he being but in a bad State of Health, I went with 
 him from Tork to London : Although he travelled 
 fometimes in great Pain, and under tnuch Weak- 
 nefb, yet he had very good Service, and his Vifit 
 was very acceptable to Friends : He was a Man of 
 great Sincerity, and the Lord's Power did often 
 very much attend his Miniftry, which made it very 
 
 comfortable 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 3^ 
 
 comfortable and edifying : I afk'd him one Day as Sf 
 we were riding together, when he was pretty rruch . 
 afflided with Pain, How he did ? He faid, Full of jy^^ 
 Pain, hut full of Peace ^ for the Lord was very good to w^"V~^ 
 him under his Aff\i5lion, 
 
 I ftaid about two Weeks in and about London 
 vifiting Friends, and then I went Weflward as far as 
 the Land^s-end Meeting in Cornwall and fo returned 
 ihrougU Devonfhire and Somerfetjhire to EfifioU having 
 Meetings in feveral Places amongft other' People i 
 I went from Briflol to the Yearly-meeting which 
 was held this Year 2i\:Weft-Chefter for the Northern 
 Counties, which was a large and good Meeting : 
 And from thence I went to the Yearly- meeting in 
 Wales, which was held at Frefleign^ where there 
 was great Refort of other People, amongfl whom 
 Friends had a good Opportunity to declare the 
 Truth, and open the Docflrine of the Kingdom : I 
 ftaid and had a few Meetings in Wales, and wenC 
 from thence by Way of Worcejler into TorkfJoire^ ' 
 having feveral Meetings in my Way thither : I 
 went from York on the 19th of the Third Month 
 1723, in order to be atthe Yearly-meeting at Lon- 
 don, which began on the 3d of the Fourth Month, 
 and ended the loth of the fame. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Giving an Account of my 'Travels in Holland, ^c\ 
 in 1723. 
 
 AFter the Yearly-meeting was over, having 
 fome Drawings to vifit Friends in Holland^ I 
 went by Way of Colchefter to Harwich^ and on the 
 19th of the Fourth Month 1723, I went on board 
 
 the 
 
40 r^^ L I F E ^;?i T R A V E L S 
 
 Se6l. 6. the Packet-boat there, and the next Day we landed 
 1723 io at Helvoet Sluyce in Holland ; I went from thence to 
 1724. Rotterdam znd Jmfterdam, and after I had vifited 
 Friends there, I went to vific Friends in North- 
 Holland ; although there are but few Friends there, 
 yet there is a tender People in thofe Parts that the 
 Lord is at work in, by his Power, to bring them 
 more near to himfelf : From thence I went into Frief- 
 land, and our aged Friend Jacob Glaufe kept me 
 Company, and interpreted for me till I came to Har- 
 lingen, and here my Friend Peter Lenders met me, 
 and kept me Company till I came to Frcderickftadt^ 
 where there are a few Friends that keep a Meeting. 
 After I had ftaid feveral Days with them, and had 
 fome good Opportunities with them, and feveral of 
 the Town's People who came to our Meetings to 
 hear the Truth declared, I and my Interpreter Peter 
 Lenders went from thence to Hamburgh •, and after 
 we had a Meeting near Altena, we took fnipping 
 there in a fmall VefiTel that was bound for Amfter- 
 dam \ we went on board on the loth of the Sixth 
 Month, and on the 15th we arrived at Amfter dam : 
 After I had ftaid a little while there, I went for 
 Weft-Frieftand^ having with me Henry Johnfon, a 
 Friend of North-Holland^ for my Interpreter ; we; 
 had feveral Meetings amongfl the ProfelTors there, 
 and in fome Places where I fuppofe none of our 
 Friends had ever had any before ; the Baptifts in 
 feveral Places let us have their Meeting-houfes to 
 meet in, and feveral of their Teachers came to 
 Meetings to hear the Truth declared, who fhewed 
 themfelves very friendly and refpedful to us. There 
 is a tender well-minded People in that Province 
 that are called Menonifts or Baptifts, who refufe to 
 Fight, and alfo to Swear upon any Account, and 
 the States have fo far favour*d them, that their 
 Words pafs in cafe of Evidence inftead of an Oath j 
 only the Law provides, that if any of them give 
 
 falfe 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 4I 
 
 falfe Evidence upon their Word, that they ihall Sc6l. 6. 
 fuffer as if they were guilty of Perjury. I returned 1723 to 
 with my Interpreter tor North-Holland., and from 1724, 
 thence I went to Amfterdam^ where I made feme ^'*y^C^. 
 ftay, in which Time I wrote a fmall Book which I 
 called, A ferious Call to all People., to turn to the 
 Spirit of Chrift in them/elves^ &c. Which was 
 printed in the Dutch Language. From Amfterdam I 
 went to Leyden^ and To to Rotterdam, where I ftaid 
 a few Days. 
 
 On the 28th of the Eighth Month I went on board 
 the Packet-boat at Helvoetjluycey and on the 30th 
 we arrived at Harwich : I have great Caufe to be 
 thankful to the Lord for his Goodnefs and Mercy, 
 and manifold Prefervations extended both by Sea 
 and Land. 
 
 1 went from Harwich to Colchefter and London ; I 
 flaid in and about the City, and had feveral good 
 Meetings there : After I left the City I went into 
 Hertfortfhire and Effex., Suffolk and Norfolk., and fo 
 return'd through lome Part of Huntingtonjhire and 
 Camhridgefhire to the Yearly- meeting at London 
 in 1724, having had many good Meetings both 
 amongft Friends and other People ; for I was often 
 drawn forth to have Meetings amongfl People that 
 were not of our Society. After the Yearly-meeting 
 was over I return'd to Tork, and was at the Yearly- 
 meeting there. In the Fifth and Sixth Months I 
 vifited Friends in feveral Parts of the North. 
 
 D SECTION 
 
4? ^tf L I F E ^;;^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Sea. 7. 
 
 1724 to — — ' • 
 
 1727. 
 \y^\r^ SECTION VII. 
 
 Giving an Account of my Vifit in Ireland from 
 the Tear 1724 to 1727. 
 
 HAving had Drawings for fome Time to vifit 
 Friends in the Nation of Ireland^ I fet forward 
 from York on the 28th of the Seventh Month 1724, 
 where I parted with Friends in great Love (this being 
 the Place of my Settlement when I was at Home.) 
 After I had been near twelve Months in Ireland^ I 
 wrote a Letter to Daniel Bell^ of Tottenham near 
 Loitdony in which I gave him fome Account of my 
 Travels ; a Copy of which is as follows, viz. 
 
 * Dear Friend Daniel Bell, 
 
 « T Hereby kindly falute thee and thy Wife, and 
 « J[ Friends in your Parts, with Defires that Truth 
 
 * may prevail amongft you and them, whom the 
 ' Lord has mercifully vifited every where ; I had 
 
 * Drawings in my Spirit for fome Time to vifit 
 ' Friends in this Kingdom, I came from Tork on the 
 
 * 28th of the Seventh Month 1724, and travelled 
 
 * through lome Parts o\ Lane a/hire 2iX\d Chejhire^ and 
 
 * to Holyhead in Wales^ having feveral Meetings in 
 
 * my Way ; I got there on the 2d of the Ninth 
 
 * Month, and on the 3d I went on fiiipboard, and 
 
 * the next Day, through the Lord's good Provi- 
 
 * dence, I landed at Dublin^ where I Itaid till the 
 ' National Meeting was over, which began on the 
 
 * 8th, and held three Days, in which the Power and 
 
 * Love of God was eminently manifefi-ed, and the 
 
 * Affairs of the Church were managed in great 
 
 « Love 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 4^ 
 
 * Love and Peace. The Care of Friends in thisSed. 7. 
 ' Country, as well as in many other Places^ for the 1724 to 
 ' Poor, and Widows, and Fatherlef'?, is v^ry com- 1727. 
 
 ' mendahle : Since I came over I have vifited feveral v/V^i^, 
 
 ' Parts of the Nation, and there is a great Willing- 
 
 ^ nefs in many People that are not of our Society, to 
 
 ' come to our Meetings to hear the Truth declared, 
 
 « and many do confefs to the Truth of our Doc- 
 
 ' trine -, and although abundance of People are 
 
 « Strangers to the Benefit of waiting in Silence^ it is 
 
 * to be hoped that the Lord, in his own Time, will 
 ' bring many to experience the Benefit thereof in 
 
 * themfclves \ for I know a Bifhop of the Church of 
 ' England in this Kingdom, who I was told fhould 
 ' fay, that Silent JVorJInp^ or worjhipping in Silence^ 
 « was the Height of JVorJhip, 
 
 * The Prejfbyteriani in feveral Parts of the North 
 
 < of this Kingdom are very much divided amongft 
 
 * themfclves, about the IVeftminJler ConfelTion of 
 ' Faith •, Tome of their Teachers refufe to fubfcribe 
 ' it ; they that refufe to fubfcribe it, are called by 
 ' many I^ew Light Men : I could wifli that ic 
 
 < might pleafe God to open the Underftandings 
 
 * of all thofe who go under the Name of Prefhyte- 
 
 * rtans^ that they might fee how unjuftifiable feveral 
 ' Parts of that ConfeiFion of Faith are, as for In- 
 « fiance where they fay, (Pag. 34, Chip, iii.) God 
 
 * from all Eternity^ by the mofl wife and holy Counfd 
 ^ of his own JVill^ f^^^y ^^^ unchangeably ordain 
 
 * whatfoever comes to pafs^ yet fo^ as thereby neither is 
 
 * God the Author of^Sin, nor is Violence offered to the 
 
 < Will of the Creatures^ nor is the Liberty cr Con tin- 
 ' gency of fecond Caufes taken away, but rather efta- 
 « blifhed \ which is contrary to what we read in the 
 
 < viith of Jeremiah, Verfe 31ft. And they fay 
 « further in that ConfefTion, that by the Decree of 
 
 * Gody for the Manifeflation of his Glory, feme Men 
 
 * and Angels are predeftinated unto everlaft ng Life^ 
 
 D 2 * and 
 
44 
 
 Sea. 7. 
 1724 to 
 
 1727. 
 
 Ti^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 and others fore-ordained to everlafting Death ; and 
 thefe Angels and Men^ thus predejlinated and fore- 
 ordained^ are particularly and unchajjgeably deftgned^ 
 and their Number is fo certain and definite^ that it 
 cannot he either increafed or diminifhed ; and this 
 without any Forefight cf Faith or good Works in either 
 of theniy or any other Thing in the Creature^ as Con- 
 ditions or Caufes moving him thereunto^ and all to 
 the Praife of his glorious Grace, pag. 36 and ^y. 
 How flrangely doth thefe Aflertions contradid 
 what the Apoftle Peter faith, Acis x. 34, 35. for 
 if what they fay were true, God were a Refpe5ler 
 of Perfons to a great Degree ; and the Apoftle 
 Paul faith, that it is the IVill of God that all Men 
 Jhould he faved. ift Epiftle to Timothy^ Chap. ii. 
 Ver. I. to 4. I fhould be glad they might come 
 to be fenfible of the great Love of God, in fending 
 his Son the Lord Jefus Chrift to tafle Death for 
 every Man^ Heb. ii. 9. and to be a Propitiation 
 for the Sins of the whole World, 1 John ii. 2. If 
 God had before decreed the Deftrudtion of Jera- 
 faleni, why did he fend his Servants to them, in 
 order that they might be gathered ? And what 
 would they make of our Saviour's weeping over 
 them, if they were before predeftinated to perifh ^ 
 If we confider the Kindnefs of God in opening 
 our Underflandings, and bringing us to be fenfible 
 of his Love and Mercy, which is extended to 
 Mankind univcrfally, it ought very much to 
 humble us. 
 
 * Here is a concerned People amongft Friends in 
 this Country that Truth and Righteoufnefs may 
 prevail in the Earth, and that they who profefs 
 to be of our Society may live agreeable to their 
 holy ProfelTion, that fo they may adorn the Doc- 
 trine of Chrift by their good Converfations, and 
 fair and juft Dealing. 
 
 « And 
 
cf BENJAMIN HOLME. 45 
 
 * And as the King and Parliament have been foS?<5l. 7. 
 favourable, as to allow our Solemn Affirmation to 1724 io 
 pafs here as well as in England^ in cafe of Evi- 1727. 
 dence, inflead of an O.uh, there is great Care t/V^J 
 taken by Friends here, as well as in England^ that 
 none under our Profefllon be found faulty in their 
 Evidence, that fo we may deferve the Favour 
 and Indulgence which the Government has granted 
 us ; and there is fuch Care taken, that none who 
 profefs to be of our Society uf« any clandeftine 
 Ways of Dealing by running Goods, or making 
 falfe Entries, whereby the King is defrauded and 
 the fair Trader hurt, that I think Friends in ge- 
 neral are in very good Credit in the Cuftom- 
 houfes here : It would look very ill, and be very 
 ungrateful in us, when the King and Government 
 have fhewed fo much Lenity and Tendernefs to- 
 wards us, it any under our Profeflion fhould offer • 
 to defraud them of their Dues. And it ought to 
 be r^membred that our Saviour faith, Render to 
 Csfar I he Things that are his, and unto God the 
 Things that are his. 
 
 ' Many very confiderable Men in this Country, 
 that have great Quantities of Land to fet, do 
 very much covet to have Friends for their Te- 
 nants j for many of our Friends have been fo dili- 
 gent and induftrious, and have made fuch fine 
 Improvements upon the Farms that they have 
 taken, and have alfo been fo pundlual in paying 
 their Rents, that they are very much refpc&d by 
 their Landlords. 
 
 ' And many Friends in this Kingdom, that are 
 very confiderable Traders, by their fair and jufl: 
 Dealing have gained great Reputation in the 
 Minds of many that are not of our Society : And 
 if all thofe that are called Chriflians, did but take 
 heed to the Spirit of Chrift in themftlvcs, it would 
 lead them to do unto all People as they would 
 P 3 * have: 
 
Ti^^LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 have others do unto them : Many by their fair 
 and juil Deahng have got abundantly the more 
 Trade, fo that lome from fmall Beginnings have 
 got very confiderable Ellates, which have been 
 ' very much owing to their fair and jull Dealing, 
 ' and through being careful to perform their Pro- 
 ' 'mifesand Bargains ; but fome that have had very 
 
 * confiderable to begin the World with, have 
 ' launched out To far beyond their Stocks, that they 
 
 * have failed in keeping their Words and Promifes, 
 
 * and fo have greatly ftained their Credit ; and 
 
 * feveral by fuch Doings, have come to Ruin. But 
 
 * there is great Care amongfl: Friends here, to advife 
 ^ againfl luch Doings, that fo none may fuffer, nor 
 
 * any Reproach be brought on our holy ProfefTion 
 ' by fuch unwarrantable Practices -, and I believe, 
 
 * that by the Care and good Endeavours of Friends, 
 ^ many have been helped in that and other Re- 
 ^ fpedts ; for in feveral Places there are approved 
 
 * Elders appointed by the particular or Monthly- 
 
 * meetings, to vifit the Families of Friends in the 
 
 * Love and Wifdom of God, and after a Time of 
 ' filent waiting upon the Lord for Wifdom and 
 ' Council from him, the Friends fo appointed do 
 ' give fuch Council as they think proper to thofe 
 
 * they vifit, /r/, That they be careful to be found 
 ' in the Difcharge of that great Duty that they owe 
 
 * to Almighty God, and to one another, and ro 
 ' their Children and Servants, and that they be 
 
 * careful to be good Examples in attending religious 
 ' Meetings for the Worfhip of God, and that they 
 ' may, as much as they well can, give their Chil- 
 
 * dren and Servants Leave to go to fuch Meetings 
 ' both on Firft and Week-days, and when they are 
 ' met, to endeavour as much as may be to have 
 
 * their Minds truly ftaid upon God, that fo they 
 ' may worfhip him acceptably ; and that Parents 
 
 * )ceep thtir Authority over their Children, and 
 
 ' keep 
 
cf BENJAMIN HOLME. 47 
 
 keep them in due Subjtdion ; for too muchSedt. 7. 
 Indulgence hath been a great Hurt to many ChiJ- 1724 to 
 dren ; it is good to train up Children in the Way 1727. 
 that they fhould walk, while they are young, and s-^'S'"^^ 
 it is great Prudence for Parents to watch carefully 
 over them, and keep them out of fuch Company 
 as may be likely to corrupt them, and alfo to keep 
 them out of all vain Fafhions that may lead away 
 their Minds from the Lord \ for although many 
 may be ready to fay, fVhat fignifies the Child* 5 
 having this Thing or the other (that it may be is . 
 really needlefs and fuperfluous) in Apparel ; if it 
 is trained up in fuch Things, it may grow to love 
 and delight in them : Many of our pious Friends, 
 by their Care and good Endeavours, have been 
 greatly inftrumental to preferve their Children 
 from wrong Things, and in fuch family Vifits as 
 before mentioned ; as on the one hand, Friendis 
 do frequently advife Parents and Mafters to be 
 good Examples in all Refpt?<fls to their Children 
 and Servants, fo on the other hand they do fre- 
 quently advife Children to be dutiful to their 
 Parents as they ought to be, and that Servants 
 difcharge an honeft Mind to their Mafters, and 
 that they be obliging, and behave themfelves as 
 becomes their holy ProfefTion : And I believe fuch 
 tender Vifits in the Love of God have been of 
 great Service to many. 
 
 ' There are many hopeful young People growing 
 up in this Country, and feveral of late Years have 
 had their Mouths opened to bear Teftimony to 
 the Power and Efficacy of the Truth: Although 
 many valuable Friends in this Country, that were 
 good Inftruments in their Generation, have been 
 removed by Death of late Years, I am thankful 
 that the Lord has a People here that are concern- 
 ed for his Honour, and that thev that profefs the 
 D 4 ' * Truth 
 
48 7*>6(? L I F E ^;;i T R A V E L S 
 
 Sed. 7. « Truth with us, may live agreeable to their holy 
 J 724 to^ ProfefTion. 
 
 1727. ' And as Pride has very much prevailed amongft 
 vS'"^ ^ abundance of the ProtefTors of Chnftianit'jy there 
 
 * is a religious Concern upon many of our Friends 
 ^ here, that it may not prevail amongft them, and 
 
 * many have and do deny themfelves of the Extra- 
 ' vagancies that are gone into, both in Apparel and 
 ' the Furniture of their Houfes, and many of our 
 ' Friends in this Country that are under good Cir- 
 ^ cumftances in the World, are very much to be 
 
 * commended for their Self-denial in thefe Refpeds. 
 
 * And as it has often happened where People have 
 
 * died without fVill^ that very ill EfFeds have fol- 
 « lowed their not taken Care to fettle their Affairs 
 
 * while living, there is great Care amongft Friends 
 
 * here, to advife one another to fettle their Af- 
 
 * fairs by Will or otherwife in Time of Health, to 
 *- prevent Difcord and Mifunderftanding that has 
 ^ often happen'd for want of fuch prudent Care j 
 ' and there is aifo great Care taken, that when a 
 ^ Friend dies, that they that are left in Truft dif- 
 
 * charge their Truft, that fo the Mind of the De- 
 
 * ceafed may be anfwered. I think, if many that 
 
 * are not of our Society knew the Care that Friends 
 
 * in many Places take in their Meetings upon thefe 
 f Accounts, and for the Poor, it would be a great 
 < Reputation to us : As the Lord has greatly bleft 
 ^ many of his People in many Refpeds, I defire 
 
 * that they may hve in a thankful Senfe of his 
 
 * Kindnefs, every way extended unto them, that fo 
 
 * they may live to fhew forth his Praife and 
 
 * Glory, 
 
 ' Qive my Love to Friends in London^ as thou 
 « haft Opportunity and Freedom •, as the Lord has 
 ^ been gracioufly pleafed to fpare the People in that 
 
 * great City, and in thefe Kingdoms, as he has done, 
 ! I gf'eatly defire thai; his Long-fufFering and For- 
 
 • * bearance 
 
 1 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 49 
 
 f bearance might have that Effedl upon many Thou- Sect. 7, 
 
 ^ fands of the People, to lead them to Repentance 1724 t9 
 
 * and Amendment of Life-, but if after fuch great Fa- 1727. 
 
 * vour and Mercy extended, they Ihould ftill perfift wOr^ 
 'and go on in thofe Things that are difpleafing to 
 
 * the Lord, how juft may it be with him to lay his 
 ^ Hand in Judgment upon them : May many of 
 
 * the Lord's faithful People feek to him, that he 
 ^ may be gracioufly pleafed to lengthen the Day of 
 
 * his gracious Vifitation to the Nations, that fo 
 ■^ many that have been like Sheep going affray, 
 
 * may return to the Shepherd and BiQiop of Souls, 
 ,' is my fincere Defire. So wich true Love to thee, 
 f and Friends that love the Truth in Sincerity, I 
 ^ remain 
 
 ' ny loving Friend^ 
 
 V^Myiore, the Sth of the t BeNT HoLMF * 
 
 Ninth Month 111^, i^CWJ. <nUi.MJi. 
 
 I (laid in Ireland near eighteen Months after the 
 Date of the aforefaid Letter, in which Time I vificed 
 many Parts of the Nation over again, and had 
 Meetings in divers Places where 1 Hippore none of 
 our Friends had ever had any before \ although 
 many Friends have taken great Pains to fpread the 
 Truth in that Country. 
 
 When I was at Waterford I went to make the 
 Bifhop there a friendly Viik, which he took kindly, 
 and fhew'd himfelf very friendly and rcfpcdful : 
 Alfo when I was at Lijna Carvey^ I went to vific the 
 Bifhop of Down and Connor^ who alfo took my 
 Vifit kindly, and was very refpedlful : When our 
 Friends in Ireland follicited the Government there 
 to have the Affirmation made generally eafy, he faid 
 in the Houfe of Lords, as I v/as inform'd, that The 
 Quakers had a great deal to fay from the ^ih of Mat- 
 
 phev7,/f?r tkeir refufing to Swear j and farther, that he 
 
 ■■■-'' ' -je'^; 
 
50 
 
 rbe LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 Sed. 7. was for thi Bill pajTing in our Favour •, which did 
 1724 to pafs that SefTions in Favour of Friends, which gave 
 1727. great Satisfadion to Friends in general. 
 
 Although I met with great Civility from many 
 People in the Kingdom, yet in fome Places, fome 
 of the Priefts were angry, and gave us fome Dif*- 
 turbance \ when I was at Ennis^ which is the County 
 Town for the County of Clare^ we had appointed 
 a Meeting at our Inn, but abundance of People 
 crowding in, and the Room being but fmall, ve 
 drew out, and thought to have kept the Meeting b 
 an open Place without Doors, but foon after I flood 
 up to fpeak, the Parfon, whofe Name was Uptofiy 
 (and he being in the Commiffion of the Peace) cam* 
 and commanded the Conflable to take me down i 
 but the Conflable being backward to lay Hands on 
 me, the Parfon infifling upon his taking me away, 
 he at laft took hold of me, and I went with him tc 
 the Parfon's Houfe, which was hard by *, and when 
 we were before him, for feveral Friends went along 
 with me, he fa id, that If we would promife to have 
 710 more Meetings in the ^own he would fet us ai 
 Liberty *, but we fignified, that we were not willing 
 to come under any fuch Obligation ; fo after fome 
 Time he difmifl us ; and abundance of People 
 waiting without, we drew into an open Place fome 
 Diilance off, where I had an Opportunity to declare 
 the Truth to the People ; and the next Morning 
 we had a Meeting in our Inn, to which feveral ot 
 the Neighbours in the Town came : Before we 
 left the Town the Conflable came to us, and de- 
 fired our Excufe for what he had done to us, for 
 he feem'd to be concern'd for it. 
 
 I had many Meetings amongff the Prefbyterians in 
 the North, at a Place call'd Letterkenny^ where I 
 had been at a Meeting ; and coming to the Town 
 again fome few Days after, in order to lodge there, 
 after we had been a little while at our Inn, the 
 
 Parfpii, 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 51 
 
 Parfon, whofe Name was William Span^ came there, St6!t. 7. 
 and he being in the CommilTion of the Peace, he 1724 t^ 
 fent for us to come before him ; he afk'd me if 1727. 
 / had any Letter of Recommendation from my Friends -, v^^V"^-^ 
 and I fnew'd him a Certificate from my Friends 
 where I Jiv'd ; but notwithftanding my Certificate, 
 he faid, that he would commit us^ without we would 
 take the Declaration of Fidelity to the King ; John 
 SJmrplefs^ a Friend of Edenderry Meeting, was along 
 with me, and ya?nes Burne, that lives near Bally- 
 Murrey, were both with me in that Country, but 
 James Burne having fome Relations near that 
 Town, he went from us that Night to lodge with 
 one of them, fo that he was not with us when the 
 Parfon fent fo<- John Sharplefs and me to come before 
 him ; he tendered us the Declaration of Fidelity 
 made in the fixth Year of the Reign of Q^een 
 ylnne, which faith, that Tou //jail defend to the ut- 
 9nofl of your Power •, I fignified, that we were very 
 free to promife to be true and faithful to the King, 
 but we were not free to promife to defend him to 
 the ucmoft of our Power, becaufe that might be 
 conftrued, that we fhould take up Arms to fight If 
 required, which we could not promife to do ; he 
 being angry, wrote two Mittimuffes, one for John 
 Sharplefs^ and another for me, but the Conftable 
 and the Landlord of the Inn where we were, per- 
 fwaded him to let us flay a Day or two at our Inh 
 before he fent us to the County Goal, which was at 
 Lifford^ about ten Miles from Letterkenney, fo that 
 we were Prifoners at our Inn. The next Morning 
 Ja77ie Burne came to us, and I wrote a Letter to 
 the Bifliop of Rapho, to let him know how we were 
 committed, I fent James Burne with it to him, and 
 alfo gave him my Certificate to fhew to the Bifhop : 
 After James Burne had been with him and fhew'd 
 him my Letter -and Certificate, he wrote to the 
 Parfon s and foon after lie receiv'd the Bifhop's 
 
 Letter, 
 
£Z T/je LIFE and r KAY ELS 
 
 Sc6i. y. Letter, he fent for us and fet us at Liberty, upon 
 
 1724 to our taking the Declaration of Fidelity which was 
 
 1727. made in the fecond Year of the Reign of King 
 
 George the Firfi, in which the Words (you Jhall 
 
 defend to the utmoft of your Power) are left out.* 
 
 After we were fet at Liberty, I with Jacob Mar^ 
 fhall and Jojhua March^ who were come from 
 Charlemount-fide to keep me Company, and give 
 Liberty for the other Friends who had been with 
 me fome Time to return to their Families, (for in 
 thofe Parts there are few or none of our Friends) 
 we went to Caftlefin and StrabaWy and Newtown, 
 Limavadey^ and Londonderry, and fo by Buncladey, 
 till we came to Charletnount, having had many good 
 Opportunities amongft the People in many Parts of 
 that Province, to declare the Truth and open our 
 Principles to them. 
 
 I went by way of CoothilU and Old-Cafile, and 
 Limerick, to Cork, and after I had made fome ftay 
 amongft Friends there, I return'd thro' fome Part 
 of the County of Tipperary, and to the Half-year's 
 Meeting at Dublin^ which began on the 8th of the 
 Ninth Month 1726, and held part of three Days, 
 in which a mighty Concern appeared to be on the 
 Minds of many Friends for the Honour of Truth, 
 and that fuch as profefs to be of our Society might 
 keep within the Bounds of Truth in their Trading, 
 and Dealing, and Living, that fo no Reproach may 
 be brought upon our holy ProfefTion through the 
 failing of any to keep their Words or Promifes, and 
 to pay their juft Debts in due Time ; it was a good 
 Meeting, and the Power of Truth attended Friends 
 therein to their Comfort and Edification •, I ftaid 
 fome Time after the Meeting was over in and about 
 
 the 
 
 * When I was In. Ireland in the Year I7n, I was put in Prifon 
 at Longer d by Benjamin Sf>an, who was Father to WillUm S/ar^ 
 
cf BENJAMIN HOLME. 5^3 
 
 the City, and we had Meetings in feveral Places Sed:. 7. 
 amongft People who were not of our Society. 1724 to 
 
 After fome Time I went into the Counties of 1727. 
 Katherlough and PFexford, and fo to PFaterford and s^-v^s^: 
 Clonmel^ and from thence to a Place call'd ^hurlifs^ 
 where 1 had appointed a Meeting -, but, as we had 
 Reafon to believe the Parfon of the Town, whofe 
 Name was Walter ^homas^ fent for the Kettle- 
 drums and Trumpeters to come and beat and found 
 in the Time of our Meeting, which gave us great 
 Difhirbance, I wrote a Letter to him, (to which 
 Solomon Watfon^ who was prefent there with me, 
 made confiderable Additions) and fent it to him, 
 which is as follows. 
 
 * Fn>«^ Walter Thomas, 
 
 < T and my Friends came in Love to vifit the 
 
 < Jl People at Thurlifs^ and to preach the Gofpel 
 « of Cbrift amongft them, and to perfuade them to 
 « leave their Vanities and turn to the Grace of God^ 
 ' which the Apoftle faith in the fecond Chapter of 
 
 * 2lt/^j, hath appeared to all Men^ teaching //;, that 
 
 < denying Ungodiinefs and worldly Lujis^ we JJjould 
 
 < live foberly^ righteoujly and godly in this prefent 
 
 * World^ looking for that hleffed Hope^ and the glo- 
 ' rious Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour 
 
 * Jefus Cbrifl, who gave himfelf for us, that he might 
 
 * redeem m from all Iniquity^ and purify unto himfelf 
 
 * a peculiar People^ zealous of good Works, And the 
 
 * beloved Difciple John^ in his firft Epidle, Chap. ii. 
 
 * Ver. 27. faith to the Believers, But the Anointifig 
 
 * which ye have received of him^ abide tb in you, and 
 
 * you need not that any Man teach you, but as the 
 
 * fanje Anointing teacheth you of all Ihings^ and is 
 
 * Truth, and is no Lye •, and even as it hath taught 
 ' you, ye fhall abide in him. We define that the 
 
 * Sons and Daughters of Men may come to this 
 
 ' divine 
 
S4- 
 
 72^ L I F E a;2J TRAVELS 
 
 Se6l. 7. ' divine Teacher, and wait for^ his Teachings : 
 1724 io^ It is this Teacher that the Minifters of Chrift 
 1727. ' endeavour to diredb Men to in themfelves ; the 
 ' Apoftle writing to the Hebrews^ Chap. viii. Ver. 
 ' 9, 10, II. repeating the Prophefies of the Pro- 
 « phet Jeremiah, faith, Behold the Days come (faith 
 < the Lord) when I will make a new Covenant with 
 *- the Houfe of Ifrael, and with the Houfe of Judah, 
 ^ not according to the Covenant that I made zviih their 
 ^ Fathers^ for this is the Covenant I will make with 
 
 * the Houfe of Ifrael *, after thofe Days (faith th^ 
 
 * LorJ) I will put my Laws into their Minds, and 
 ' write them in their Hearts^ and I will be to them a 
 ^ God, and they fhall he to me a People, and they 
 
 * fhall not teach every Man his Neighbour, and every 
 
 * Man his Brother^ frying-* know the Lord, for all 
 ^ fhall know me, from the leaft to the greatefi : But 
 
 * the great Unhappinefs of many People is, that 
 ' they will not hearken to this divine Teacher 
 
 * which reproves them when they fay and do ami's. 
 
 * I am forry that thou, who takes upon thee the 
 
 * Care of Souls, fhould exprefs thyfelf after fuch 
 ' a Manner as thou didfl:, when I was firfl at ^hur- 
 < lifs, when thou afked me. How I was ordain'd a 
 
 * Minifler, and who ordain"* d me ? Thou faid, if I 
 
 * was ordain* d by any Bifhop, let thee know it ; but 
 
 * if I was ordained by the Light^ Spirit, or Grace, 
 ' thou kneweft jto thing of fuch an Ordination : If fo, 
 ' thou art a Stranger to the Teaching of the Spirit 
 ' and Grace of God, and haft followed thy own 
 
 * Imaginations ; fuch there were of old, that the 
 
 * Lord would not be enquired of, Ezek, xiv. 3. Son 
 ' of Man, thefe Men have fet up their Idols in their 
 
 * Hearty and put the Stumbling-block of their Iniquity 
 
 * before their Face ; fhould I be enquired of at all by 
 
 * thfm ? A gain 5 Hofea ix. 7. The Prophet is a Fool, 
 •■^ the fpiritual Man is mad, for the multitude of^ thine 
 
 * Iniquity^ and the great Hatred : And Jer, xxiii. 16. 
 
 ' Hearken 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 55 
 
 « Hearken not unto the Words of the Prophets^ that Sedl. 7. 
 
 * prophefy unto you^ they make you vain^ they /peak lyi^. to 
 
 * a V'lfion of their ovjn Hearts^ and not out of the 1727. 
 
 * Mouth of the Lord. And again, E%ek. xiii. 3. T^hus 
 ■ faith the Lord God^ Wo unto the foolifh Prophets^ 
 ' that follow their own Spirit^ and have feen nothing : 
 
 * And in the 7th Verle faith. Have ye not feen 
 
 * a vain Vifton^ and have ye not fpoken lying Divi- 
 
 * nation, whereas ye fay the Lord faith ity albeit I 
 
 * have not fpoken. Now as it is plain, that the 
 
 * Prophets of the Lord were under a Necefllty to 
 
 * wait for Council from him, and to feel his holy 
 « Spirit to open them, before they could offer to 
 « the People, then be thou careful, and all others, 
 
 * that take upon you to be Miniflers of Chrifl, and 
 
 * pretend to have the Cure of the Souls of Men, 
 
 * that ye be not of the Number of thofe that the 
 
 * Lord faith, Shall I be enquired of at all by them ? 
 
 * neither of thofe which by their Converfation 
 
 * make the People vain, nor of them that follow 
 
 * their own Spirits ; but lay afide and part with 
 
 * your own carnal Wifdom, for the Wifdom of this 
 
 * World is FcoUfhnefs with God^ i Cor. iii. 19. and 
 
 * I Cor. i. 20, &c. and wait for Council from him, 
 
 * and know the heavenly Teacher, the Grace of 
 
 * God, to be your Guide and Inflruclor ; then 
 < will you have to minifler to the People that which 
 
 * will be reaching, inflrucling and edifying : The 
 
 * Apoflle to the Hebrews, Chap. vii. Ver, 26. fays, 
 
 * Such an High-Priefi became us, who is holy, harm- 
 ' lefs, undefiled, feparate from Sinners : Surely thea 
 
 * it becomes Miniffers of his Order to be fuch, 
 ' feeing that without Holinejs no Alan (hall fee the 
 
 * Lord, and that our Righteoufnefs is as filthy Rags ; 
 ^ then all have need, but more efpecially his Mini- 
 
 * flers, to be cloathed with the Righteoufnefs of 
 ' Chrift, that they may minifler to the People by 
 
 * the Ability of his holy Spirit. And how didit 
 
 ' thou 
 
56 7%e LIFE and TRAVELS 
 
 y. * thou exclaim againft us for our Difufe of PFatef- 
 
 Baptifm^ charging us with denying Bapttfin and 
 
 the Lord*s Supper, which thou calledft the two 
 
 great Sacraments and Boors into Chrifiianity \ 1 told 
 
 ' thee that we owned them both, vlx. the one Bap- 
 
 « ti(m with the Holy Ghoft, and Communion with 
 
 * the Lord in Spirit ; I intreat thee to obferve what 
 ' John the Baptift fays in Luke^ Chap. iii. Ver. i6. 
 ' / indeed baptize you with Water^ hut one mightier 
 
 * than 1 cometh, the Latchet of whofe Shoes I am not 
 
 * worthy to unloofe, he /ball baptize you with the 
 
 * Holy Ghoft and with Fire^ whofe Fan is in his Hand, 
 
 * and he will thoroughly purge his Floor •, and the 
 
 * Apoftle to the Ephefians tells us. Chap. iv. 
 
 * Ver. 4, 5» 6. nere is one Body, and one Spirit, 
 
 * even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling, 
 
 * one Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm, one God and 
 
 * Father of all ; and the fame Apoftle in his Epiftie 
 
 * to the Romans, Chap. vi. Ver. 3, 4. faith. Know 
 ^ ye not, that fo many of us as were baptized into Jefus 
 
 * Chrijl, were bapti;zed into his Death, — that like as 
 
 * Chrift was raijed up from the Bead by the Glory of 
 
 * the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in newnefs 
 
 * of Life % and fo goes on to the 22d Verfe, and 
 
 * tells them, But now being made free from Sin, and 
 
 * become Servants to God, ye have your Fruits unto 
 
 * Holinefs, and the End everlafiing Life : And again, 
 
 * to the Corinthians, ift Epiitle, Chap. xii. Ver. 13% 
 
 * By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body^ 
 
 * whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond 
 
 * or free, and have been all made to drink into one^ 
 
 * Spirit, This is the Baptifm that truly makes all 
 ' Mankind one in Jefus Chrift, and by which all 
 
 * true Believers are really united, and not by the 
 ' fprinkling a little Water on the Face of an Infant, 
 ' and figning it with the Sign of the Crofs, and 
 
 * having Perfons called Godfathers and God- 
 « mothers to promife for it, that it fhall renounce 
 
 * the 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. S7 
 
 ^ the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps andSed. 7. 
 
 * Vanities of this wicked World, and all the finful 1724 to 
 ' Lufts of the Flefli, and believe all the Articles of 1727, 
 
 * the Cbnfiian Faith, and that it fhail keep God's ^-^"V^ 
 
 * holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the 
 
 * fame all the Days of its Life : If this was fo, 
 
 * it would be Perfection indeed *, but with Sorrow 
 
 * we fee, that thofe Promifcs and Vows though 
 
 * made, are too much negleded, and on the con- 
 
 < trary. Lying, Swearing, and almofl: all manner 
 
 * of Wickednefs abounds, and the Cry of many is, 
 ' from Youth to old Age, that fro?n the Crown of 
 
 * the Head to the Sole of the Foot, there is no Sounds 
 ' nefs in them, hut Wounds and Bruifes, and putrijy- 
 
 * ing Sores : Surely the more is the pity, that the 
 ' Phyficians of our Time, that pretend to have the 
 
 * Cure of Souls on them, for which they have con- 
 ' fiderable Sums coming unto them Yearly, have 
 
 * done no more : May it not be faid as it was of 
 ' old, fVhy fpend ye your Money for that which is 
 ' not Bread, and ^our Labour Jor that which fatis- 
 
 * feth not ? And I find in the 39 Articles of the 
 
 * Church of England, you lay down, that Holy 
 ' Scripture contain tth all Things necejfiry to Salvation, 
 ' fo that whatfoever is not read therein, nor may be 
 ' proved thereby is not to be required of any Man 
 ' that it Jkould be believed as an Article of Faitb^ or be 
 ' thought reqiifite to Salvation : Surely you cannoc 
 ' prove your fprinkling of Infants by Scripture ; fo 
 
 * not to be believed by your own Articles. My 
 
 * Defign in quoting that Article is to fnew by your 
 
 * own ConfelTion, that nothing fhould be impofed, 
 
 * enforced or taught, but what fhould correfpond 
 ' with the holy Scriptures, Now as to the Supper^ 
 
 < I find that Matthew, Mark and Luke, call it\he 
 
 * Paffover, which was kept by the Ifraelites for 
 
 * feveral Days together ; Matthew fays. Chap. xxvi. 
 ' Vcr. 17, 18, 19. The Difciples came to Jefus^ 
 
5? iTX^ LI F E and TRAVELS 
 
 Se£t. 7. ' y^}f«j^ «/^/c> /^z'/w, Where wilt thou that we prepare 
 
 1724 to ' /or thee to eat the Pajfover ? And he faid^ Go into 
 
 1727. ' the City to fuch a Man^ and jay unto hirn^ The 
 
 \.y\^^ ' Majler faiths my Time is at Hand^ I will keep the 
 
 ' Pajfover at thy Houfe with my Difciples *, and the 
 
 ' Bifciples did as Jefus^ had appointed them^ &c. 
 
 ' Mark fayech. Chap. xiv. Ver. 12. On the jirft Bay 
 
 ' of unleavened Bread, when they killed the Pajfover ^ 
 
 * his Difciples faid unto him^ V/here wilt thou that we 
 ' go and prepare, that thou mayfi eat the Pajfover ? 
 ' See on farther. Luke, Chap. xxii. Ver. 7, 8, 9, 
 
 * 1O5 and (o on, fays much the fame with Mark^ 
 
 * and Ver. 15, 16, 17, 18. fayeth, With Befire I 
 
 * have defired to eat this Paffover with you before I 
 
 * f^ff^^-i h^ ^ f^y ^^^^ j^^' ^ "^^'^^ ^^^ ^^y ^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 * thereof until it he fulfilled in the Kingdom of God ; 
 
 * and he took the Cup, and gave Thanks, and faidj 
 
 * take this and divide it amongft yourfelves, for I fay 
 < unto you^ I will not drink of the Fruit of the Vine 
 « until the Kingdom of God fhall come : Thefe three 
 « are clear that it was the Paflbver, and their lad 
 
 * eating of it was at Supper. Now as Chrift faid, 
 ' that he would eat no more until it was fulfilled in 
 
 * the Kingdom oj God^ nor drink no more of the Fruit 
 ' of the Vine until the Kingdom of God fJjould come ; 
 
 * now, is the Kingdom of God come, yea or nay ^ 
 ' Doth Chrift rule, or are the old Things done 
 « away, and are ail Things become new ? See far- 
 
 * ther in the fixth of John, how our great Lord 
 
 * and Mafter lays down what the true Bread is, thac 
 ' giveth Life unto the World ; yet fome there 
 ' were who did bflieve that he fpake of his outward 
 
 * Body, and faid, How can this Man give us his 
 
 * Flefh to tat ? And when Jcrfus knew that hi^ Dif- 
 ' ciples murmured at it, he faid unto them, // is the 
 
 * Spirit that quickeneth, the FlcfJo profiteth nothings 
 « the Words that I f peak unto you^ they are Spirit a?jd 
 
 * they are Life ; and the Text fays, many of his 
 
 ' 'Bijciples 
 
oj BENJAMIN HOLME. 59 
 
 « Difciples went hack and walked no more with him *, Se6l. 7. 
 
 ^ fo that Jefus faid to the twelve, Will ye alfo go 1724 to 
 
 * away ? Peter anfwered him, Lord^, to whom /hall 1727. 
 
 * we go^ thou haft the Words of eternal Life^ (and fo 
 
 * he hath ftill) but Mt^n are fo bound ro their Cere- 
 « monies, that they will not come unto him that they 
 
 * may have Life •, his Call was. Come unto me^ all ye 
 
 * that labour and are heavy ladcn^ and I will give 
 < you Reft i take my Toke upon you^ and learn of me^ 
 
 * for I am meek and lowly in Hearty and ye fh all find 
 
 * Reft unto your Souls. 'Tis to him that all mud 
 ' come to obtain RemifTion of Sins ; 'tis the whole 
 
 * Heart that he requires ; his Call was of old, ^0 
 
 * Day if ye will hear my Voice^ harden not your 
 
 * Hearts. Suffer me to fay to thee, Truft not fo 
 ^ much in Ceremonies, but come to the Subftance 
 « in thyfelf •, Behold 1 ft and at the Door and knocks 
 ' // any Man hear my Voice., and open the Dsor^ I 
 ' will come in to hitn^ and will fup with him., and he 
 
 * with me» See Rev. iii. 20. Happy would it be if 
 
 * Men would hearken to the Call or Knockings of 
 
 * the Lord, and that they would come to be Com- 
 
 * municants at his Table, and fup with him. Paul 
 
 * in I Cor. x. 2, 3, 4. fays. The Ifraelites were all 
 
 * baptized unto Mofes in the Cloud and in the Sea., 
 ' and did all eat the fame fpiritual Meat.^ and did alt* 
 
 * drink the fame fpiritual Drink, for they drank of 
 
 * that fpiritual Rock that followed them^ and that 
 
 * Rock was Chrift. 'Tis clear that he was here 
 
 * fpeaking of fpiritual Meat and Drink •, then it 
 ' was not outward Meat and Drink that Chrifl 
 ' fpake fo much of, as before quoted. Now lee 
 
 * Ver. 14, 15, 165 17. Wherefore., fays he, my 
 ' dearly Beloved, flee from Idolatry \ I fpeak as to wife 
 ' Men, judge ye what I fay, the Cup of Blejfmg which 
 
 * we hlefs, is it not the Communion of the Blood of 
 
 * Chrift ? The Bread zvhich we break, is it net the 
 
 * Communion of the Body of Chrift ? for ^ we being 
 
 E 2 ' man^ 
 
66 ?Z^ L I F E ^W T R A V E L S 
 
 many^ are one Bread and one Body^ for. we are all 
 Partakers of that one Bread : Now wherein (lands 
 the Unity and Communion of Chrifl's Followers, 
 is it not in Chrifl ? And are they wife Men that 
 live in an outward Profeflion of Chrifl, and do 
 not partake of the Flefh and Blood of Chrift, and 
 do not eat of this fpiritua! Meat, and drink of 
 this fpiritual Drink here fpoken of ? And what is 
 the Table of the Lord, is it outward ; if it be, 
 why cannot all partake of the Lord's Table and 
 the Table of Devils ? The Reafon is plain, the 
 Lord's Table is fpiritual, and none but thofc 
 that are truly fpiritual -minded Men, and that 
 are guided, and carefully keep to the inward 
 Teacher, cati partake of it ; the natural Man re- 
 ceiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God, for they 
 are Foolifhnefs unto him^ neither indeed, faith the 
 Apoftle, can he, becaufe they are fpiritu ally difcernedj 
 and therefore only difcerned by the fpiritual Man, 
 in whom the Spirit of God dwells, fee i Cor. ii. how 
 the Apoflle tells them, that they had not received the 
 Spirit of the U^orld^ hut the Spirit which is of Gody 
 that they might know the Things which are freely 
 given them of God^ which were the Things they 
 fpake not in the Words which Man's Wifdom 
 teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoft teachdh : This 
 is the Teaching the Sons and Daughters of Men 
 fhould come to know. I am forry we have fo 
 great Reafon to believe that thou was the Occa- 
 fion of the bringing there the Drums and Trum- 
 pets, founding and beating in the Time when we 
 were fet down to worfhip God, and when I was con- 
 cerned in Teftimony to the People, as alfo when 
 bowed in Prayer to the Lord •, furely fuch Doings 
 are unbecoming in any one, and the more, that a 
 Magiflrate, and one profefTing to be a Minifler 
 ot humble Jefus, fhould be the Perfon to encou- 
 rage it 5 furely thofe Adlions and fuch Behaviour 
 
 ' was 
 
if BENJAMIN HOLME. 6i 
 
 « was not learned in Chrift's School : Be not ^^-Sedl. 7. 
 « ceived^ God is not mocked^ for whatfoever a Man 1724. to 
 
 * foweth^ that Jhall he alfo reap^ for he that foweth to 1727. 
 
 * his Flefhy Jhall of the Flefh reap Corruption^ but he ^y^\r^ 
 « that foweth to the Spirit^ Jhall of the Spirit reap Life 
 
 * everlafling : Seeing it is fo, then confider what 
 
 * Seed thou art fowing. I wifh that thou may for 
 ' the future fhew forth more of a Chriftian Temper 
 
 * and Spirit ; and as Men like Trees, may be 
 
 * known by their Fruits, I defire that thou may 
 
 * fhew forth the Fruits of Chrifianityy and endea- 
 ' vour to obferve that great Rule of our dear 
 
 * Lord, to learn to do unto others^ as thcu would 
 ' they jhould unto thee \ and as the King gives fuch 
 
 * free Liberty to his peaceable Subjedls to worfhip 
 
 * God in the Way which he perfwades them is mofl 
 
 * acceptable to him, we think that thou ought not 
 
 * to offer to hinder us from meeting in a peaceable 
 
 * Manner to worfhip God ; but notwithflanding 
 
 * thy unbecoming Behaviour towards me and my 
 
 * FViends, 1 defire that we may be found in that 
 
 * Spirit that can forgive Injuries, and do Good for 
 
 * Evil. So with Defires that thou may be bleft with 
 
 * that great BlefTing, that the primitive Chriftians 
 
 * were blefl withal, in being turned from their 
 
 * Iniquities, I remain 
 
 * Thy Friend, 
 
 l^!^'£,!%\t'' Benj. Holme.' 
 
 From Thurlifs I went to Montr ath and Mount- 
 MeUicky and to Kildare, where I had appointed a 
 Meeting ; while we were in the Meeting there, they 
 brought a Piper in to play amongfl us ; after fome 
 Time I began to fpeak, and having fpoken a while, 
 Zdward Medlicot^ who was the under Sovereign ot 
 Kildare, came and ordered the Conflable to take 
 
 E 3 mc 
 
^62 T^'^ L I F E .7;2i T R A V E L S 
 
 Sed. 7. me away, and put me in the Stocks, with another 
 1724 /d? Friend, which he did -, there alfo the Piper was 
 1727. ordered to play, which he did as I apprehend to 
 prevent the People from underflanding what I laid : 
 After we had been in the Stocks a little while, thro* 
 the Means of Ibme fpeaking to the Sovereign he 
 ordered us to be fet at Liberty. Between two and 
 three Weeks after I appointed another Meeting 
 there, they order'd the Piper to come and play 
 again amongft the People, to prevent our being 
 heard, but they did not put us into the Stocks at 
 that Time, although the Sovereign's Son came 
 there, and encouraged the Piper to play. I wrote 
 the following Letter to the Sovereign, concerning 
 his Behaviour towards us, viz, 
 
 * Friend Edward Medlicot, 
 
 < Y Defire thee ferioufly to confider, whether thy 
 
 * J^ Behaviour towards us became a Magiftrate, 
 « and one that profefTes to be a Chrijlian ? As we 
 
 < came in Love to vifit the People in Kildare^ 
 
 * and to perfwade them to live agreeable to the 
 
 * Dodlrine of Chrifl, we think it was very unbe- 
 
 * coming for to allow or fuffer the Piper to come 
 ' and difturb us in the Time of our Meeting ; and 
 ' when I was there declaring the Truth to the 
 
 * People, for thee to come and order the Conftable 
 
 * to take me away and put me in the Stocks : I 
 
 * think this is far from that great Chrijlian Rule, of 
 
 * doing as thou wouldft be done by : And how did it 
 
 * Jook to fbber People, for thy Son to caufe the 
 ' Piper to play when I was in the Stocks, to hinder 
 ' the People from hearing what I had to fay ? And 
 
 * when I came to the Town a fecond Time to have 
 
 * a Meeting, thy Son came and caufed the Piper to 
 ' play, to prevent the People from underftanding 
 « what I faid to them : I believe many fober People, 
 
 « that 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 6f 
 
 * that are not of our Society, loath fuch wrong Do- Se6l. 7* 
 ' ings. I define that thou and thy Son may confider 1724 . 
 
 * what Sort of Fruits thefe are, and what Spirit they 1727/0 
 
 * are led by, that are guilty of fuch Things : I wifla 
 
 * that you may come to fee beyond fuch Doings, 
 
 * and fo truly repent thereof, that they may not 
 
 * be laid to your Charge in the Day of Account. 
 
 * If thou hadft obferved that wife Council which 
 ' Gamaliel gave, A5f5 v. 38. And now I fay unto 
 ' you^ refrain from thefe Men and let them alone^ 
 
 * fi^ V ^^^^ Council or this IVork be of Mtn^ it will 
 
 * come to nought, but if it be of God^ ye cannot over- 
 
 * throw ity lefl haply ye he found even to fight againfi 
 
 * God •, thou wouldll not have adcd as thou haft. I 
 ^ defire that for the future, thou mayft fhew forth 
 
 * more of a C^ny/i^« Temper and Spirit; and be 
 ' careful that thou doft not oppofe the Work of 
 < God, left thou bring a Weight of Guilt and 
 « Condemnation upon thyfelf. I remain 
 
 ' A Friend to thee and all Mcfiy 
 
 Oldcaftle, the uth. of tht < RpNT HoLMF ' 
 
 T-welfth Month 1726. I3ENJ. nUl-Mh. 
 
 From Kildare I went to 7imabo and Tri?n, and fo 
 into the North again, where 1 fpent fome Time 
 vifiting Friends, and having Meetings amongfl the 
 People in feveral Places where none of our Meet- 
 ings are fettled : And whereas I made fome Mentioa 
 in my Letter to Daniel Bell^ concerning the Dif- 
 ference which was amongfl many of the Prefbyte- 
 rians m the North, about the IVeftminfter Confeflion 
 of Faith, I underflood that at their Synod or Gene- 
 ral Afiembly for their Teachers, they put it to the 
 Vote, whether they fhould continue any longer to- 
 gether or part •, as 1 heard, the Majority voted 
 tor their parting ; So that they are become two 
 
 E 4 People 
 
64 ?r^^ L I F E ^,7i T R A V E L S 
 
 Sed. 7. People in many Places, and keep diflind Meetings 
 1724 to one from the other. After I had vifited many Parts 
 1727. of the Province, and had feveral good Opportu- 
 nities, both among Friends and other People, I 
 returned to Dublin^ and was at the Half-year's 
 Meeting there, which began on the 4th ot the 
 Third Month 1727, and held part of two Days, 
 the AfFdirs of the Church were managed in great 
 Love and Concord, and Friends were comforted 
 together in the feeling of the Love of God * 
 
 Having Drawings in my Spirit to be at the 
 Yearly-meeting at London^ 1 parted with Friends in 
 great Love and Peace, and on the 6th of the Third 
 Month in the Evening, we went on board a Ship 
 that was bound from Dublin to Park-gate^ where we 
 landed on the 8th of the fame, feveral Friends being 
 in Company, as John Salkeld and Jofepb Jordan^ 
 who came over from America to vifit Friends, and 
 feveral others came over with us, who were ap- 
 pointed by the National-met ting to attend the 
 Service of the Yearly-meeting at London ; nfter a 
 Meeting we had together with Friends at Cheftery 
 ibme went by Birfni}igham and Coventry to London^ 
 and I went by SbrewJLury^ IVorcefier and Eve /ham y 
 and fo to London : I'he Yearly- meeting began on 
 the 20th of the Third Month, and ended on the 
 27th of the fame ; the Power of Truth was manif.-ft 
 therein from Time to Time, and the Affairs of the 
 Church were managed in fo much Love and Peace, 
 that I believe many Friends returned from the Meet- 
 ing with great Satisfaction. 
 
 I (laid a little after the Meeting was over in the 
 City, and from thence went to Colchejier^ Wood- 
 bridge and Norwich Yearly-meetings : After the 
 
 Yearly- 
 
 • While I was in Ireland I "w^as at the Burial of oi^r good Frienrf 
 Thomas Wilfon, who had been an eminent Minifler, and left a good 
 Name and Savour behind him. 
 
if BENJAMIN HOLME. 65 
 
 Yearly meeting at Norwich was over, I (laid and Sedt. 7. 
 viTited fome Parts of the County, and travelled 1724 to 
 through fome Parts of Hertford/hire^ Bedford/hire and 1727. 
 Northampton/hire^ and was at the Yearly -meeting at s-O^^"^ 
 Marlborough y"^ which was in the Seventh Month for 
 the feven Weflern Counties, which was a large and 
 good Meeting. After the Meeting was over I 
 travelled as far Weft as Penzance in Cornwall and 
 returned by Brijiol and Worcefter for Tork/hire : I 
 got to 2''ork in the Firft Month 1728, and was at 
 the Quarterly-meeting there. 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 Giving an Account of my Tr angels from lyiZ 
 to 1734. 
 
 I Staid but little at Home after the Quarterly- 
 meeting at Tork was over -, for having fome 
 Drawings to be at the Yearly- meeting at Cocker- 
 mouth for the Northern Counties, 1 fet forward 
 from Tork on the 31ft of the Firft Month 1728, 
 and went by Skipton aTid Settle^ to the Quarterly- 
 meeting at Kendal, and next Day to the Quarterly- 
 meeting at Hawkjhead for Lanca/hire^ and from 
 thence I went to the Yearly-meeting at Cockermouth^ 
 where there was a great Appearance of Friends, and 
 
 the 
 
 ♦ Near about the Time of the Yearly-mceting at Marlborough, there 
 was a Puppet Shew or PJay at Barn-joeU near Cambridge, and while 
 they were at the fatd Play or Shew, a Man, as it was fuppofed, fst 
 Fire to fome Straw, which burned the Barn where the People were 
 at the Shew, and the Door being lock'd, it was reported above tour- 
 fcore of the leople pcrifhed in the Flames : 1 wifli that by this, others 
 might be warned to fhun fuch Diverfions. See a Book intituled, A 
 Tour through the whole JJlartd of Great feritainj Vol. i. pag. loo. for a 
 more perledl Account, 
 
66 7/je? L I F E ^;2i T R A V E L S 
 
 Std. 8. the Lord's good Prefence attended them in their 
 1728 /^Meetings from Time to Time, to their Comtorc 
 
 1734. and Edification. 
 v-Or*^ After this Meeting was over, I travelled through 
 fome part of Lancafhire and Chejhire^ to the Yearly- 
 meeting in Wales^ which was held this Year at Breck- 
 nock^ where there was a great Appearance of People 
 of other ProfeflionSj (none of our Meetings having 
 been there for many Years before) and Friends had 
 a good Opportunity to declare the Way of Truth 
 to them. 
 
 After this Meeting was over, I vifited Friends 
 in feveral Parts o{ South Wales^ and returned by 
 Swanzey^ and Pontipool^ and Shere-Newton *, at the 
 laft of thefe Places there was a good Opennefs in the 
 Minds of feveral of the People towards the Truth, 
 and fome of late Years have been convinc'd there- 
 about, that are hopeful Friends. After the Meet- 
 ing at Shere-Newton^ I went the next Day to the 
 Y'early- meeting at Brijiol, which was a large and 
 good Meeting •, from thence I went to London^ hav- 
 ing feveral Meetings in my Way, and was at the 
 Yearly-meeting there, in which the Power and 
 Love of God was manifefted from Time to Time, to 
 Friends mutual Comfort and Edification, and the 
 Affairs of the Church were managed in great Love 
 and Concord : I flaid but little in London after the 
 Meeting was ended, having Drawings for Oxford/hire, 
 I went by Way of Oxford^ and was at their Yearly- 
 meeting at Banbury^ and after this Meeting was 
 over, I vifited Friends in feveral Parts of Bucking- 
 ham/hire and Berk/hire ; and having fome Drawings 
 to be at the Yearly-meeting for the Weftern Coun- 
 ties, which was at Taunton in Somerfetjhire^ I went 
 there •, the Meeting began on the ifl of the Seventh 
 Month, and ended on the 3d of the fame, in which 
 Time Friends had five publick Meetings, and the 
 Lord was gracioufly pleafed to appear in his Love 
 
 to 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 67 
 
 to the comforting of his People, and many that Sefl. 8, 
 came there, that were not of our Society, fhew'd 1728 to 
 forth a great deal of Sobriety and good Behavrour 17:^4. 
 in our Meetings. 
 
 I return'd to BriJloU and from thence I went to 
 Bath^ where 1 made fome flay, it being the Seafon 
 for drinking the Waters ; there was great Refort of 
 Strangers to our Meetings, and fome of confiderable 
 Note in the World : While I flaid there, I had 
 feveral good Opportunities to declare the Truth, 
 and to open our Principles to the People. After 
 I left Bath^ I returner^ through fome Partof G/<?- 
 ceflerjhire and Wore eft erjhire for the North, and was 
 at our Quarterly-meeting at Tork^ which was on the 
 25th and 26ch of the Tenth Month 1728, in which 
 I was comforted with Friends, in the feeling of the 
 Love of God. 
 
 Having had Drawings for fome Time to vifit 
 Friends in North- Britain^ I took my Journey from 
 Tork on the 6ch of the Eleventh Month 1728, and 
 travelled through fome Part of Cumberland^ and fo 
 for Scotland -, 1 went as far North as Elgin in the 
 Murrah, andfo return'd to Jberdeen by theSea-Coaft, 
 having feveral Meetings amongft: People that were 
 not of our Society. After I had vifited moft of the 
 Meetings in the North, I went to the Yearly-meeting 
 at Edinghurgh^ where I met with Robert Jordan^ 
 who was come from America to vifit Friends ; and 
 after the Yearly-meeting there was over, I went to 
 Glajgow, and return'd by Kelfo and Alnwick, and fo 
 to Durham^ where I met with Robert Jordan again ; 
 ' and from thence we went together to the Yearly- 
 meeting at Lo;/^^^;?, having feveral Meetings in our 
 Way thither. At this Meeting the Affairs of the 
 Church were managed in fo much Love and Con- 
 cord, that it was a very fatistaftory Meeting, 
 Friends having been favoured therein with the 
 Lord's good Prefence : At this Yearly-meeting our 
 
 Friend 
 
68 72;^ L I F E ^W T R A V E L S 
 
 Se£t. 8. Friend Samuel Bownas, having been to vifit Friends in 
 1728 to America^ gave an Account of his Travels, and that 
 1734. there was a great Increafe of Friends in thofe Parts, 
 v/V^s^ to what there was when he was there before. 
 
 Soon after the Meeting was over I return'd for 
 the North, and was at the Yearly-meeting at Tork : 
 I have great Caufe to be truly thankful to the Lord 
 for his Goodnefs and Mercy, and manifold Pre- 
 fcrvations. 
 
 I ftaid in the North Parts till the Eighth Month, 
 in which Time I vifited Friends in feveral Parts ot 
 our own County, and in fome Parts of Wejlmorland. 
 Having had Drawings in my Mind to vifit the 
 Churches in the Southern Parts of the Nation, I fet 
 forward from Tork on the 28 th of the Eighth 
 Month 1729, and after I had vifited Friends in 
 feveral Parts of our County, I travelled through 
 Nottinghamfhire^ Berhyjhire and Staffordjhire, and lb 
 for London^ having had feveral good and comfort- 
 able Meetings in my Way thither. After I had 
 made fome flay in London^ and vifited feveral of the 
 Meetings there, I went from thence through fome 
 Part of Buckinghamjhire and Oxford/hire^ to the 
 Yearly-meeting in JVales^ which was in Radnorfhire^ 
 where I met with our good Friend Robert Jordan 
 again. At this Meeting there was a great Refort 
 of People that were not of our Society, amongft 
 whom Friends had fome good Opportunities to de- 
 clare the Truth, and open our Principles to them. 
 
 After this Meeting I went into Femhrookjkire^ and 
 from thence I return'd by Swanfe'j and Ponttpool to 
 Briftol, and was at the Yearly-meeting there, in 
 which Friends were favour'd with the Extendings of 
 divine Goodnefs ; and after the Meeting was over, 
 I return'd by Balb and Marlborough, and Readings 
 to the Yearly-meeting at London, in which the 
 Power and Love of God was witnefTed to the Com- 
 fort and Encouragement of his faithful People. 
 
 Afcer 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 69 
 
 After the Yearly-meeting was over I made a little Sed. 8. 
 {lay in the City, and from London I went into EJfex 1728 to 
 and Suffolk^ and was at the Yearly-meeting at Wood- 1734. 
 bridge. And from thence I went into Norjolk^ and ^A/-n^ 
 was at the Yearly-meeting at Norwich, which was 
 a large and good Meeting •, and alter this Meeting 
 was over, I vifited Friends in feveral Parts of the 
 County ; and from thence I travelled through fome 
 Parts of Huntingtovjhire^ Hertfordjkire Und Oxford- 
 Jhire^ and was at the Yearly-meeting at Kiderminfter 
 for the feven Weftern Counties, which was large, 
 there being a great Reforc of People of other Pro- 
 fefljons, amongft whom Friends had feveral good 
 Opportunities to open our Principles to them. 
 
 After this Meeting was over, I vifited Friends in 
 feveral Parts o^ Wore eft erjhire and GlocefterJIoire, and 
 from thence I went to Bath^ v/here I made fome 
 flay, and had feveral good Opportunities amongfl 
 the People that came there for the Benefit of the 
 Waters -, from thence I went into the Wefl, as far 
 as the Land's-end Meeting in Cornwall and from 
 thence I returned by Falmouth and Lejkard^ and fo 
 to Plymouth^ where I made fome flay, and had 
 feveral Meetings, fome having been convinc'd there 
 fome Time before. 
 
 From thence I went to Kingjbridge and Exon, and 
 through fome Part q{ Dorfetjhire and Hatnpjhire^ and 
 fo to London^ where I made fome flay, and had 
 feveral good Opportunities amongft Friends there. 
 And I travelled through fome Part of Buckingham^ 
 JhirCy and fo through the Country to the IVelch 
 Yearly -meeting at Ludlow in Shro;p/Jjire \ the Meet- 
 ing was very large and peaceable : I vifited Friends 
 in feveral Paris of Wales, and io to the Yearly- 
 meeting at Briftol % and from thence I went to the 
 Yearly- meeting at Lo«^i?« in 1731 > and when that 
 was over, I went to the Yearly -meeting at Colchefter^ 
 which was a large and good Meeting ; and from 
 
 thence 
 
70 7^^ L I F E .7;/^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Se6l. 8. thence I travelled through fome Parts of Oxford- 
 1728 to poire ^ Berk/hire and Sujfex^ and into Cornwall and 
 1734. was at the Yearly-meeting there, which was held at 
 Bodmin for the feven Weftern Counties ; the Meet- 
 ing was large and peaceable, and Samuel Bownas 
 and Samuel Overton being there, had good Service 
 for Truth. 
 
 After this Meeting was over, I vifited feveral 
 Parts of Cornwall and returned by Plymouth and 
 Exeter to Bath^ where I made fome (lay, it being 
 the Time of the Seafon, fo that a pretty many 
 Strangers reforted to our Meetings : From thence I 
 went to Brijlol^ .and into fome Part of JVorcefterJhire^ 
 andfo for London^ where I made fome flay amongfl 
 Friends, and had fome good Opportunities with them. 
 I went from London into fome Parts of Epx and 
 Suffolk: At Ipfwich I met with feveral young Men 
 who had been lately convinced, and come to join 
 with Friends, who feem'd very hopeful ; I under- 
 ftood that feveral of them did ufe to meet together 
 and wait in Silence, before they came to join with 
 Friends. 
 
 I returned to London and (laid two Meetings 
 there, and then went into fome Parts oWxfordJbire 
 and Berkjhire, and was at their Half-year's Meeting 
 at Readings which was a large and comfortable 
 Meeting *, and from thence I went to Batb^ and to 
 the Yearly- meeting at Brijloly in which the Lord's 
 Goodnefs was manifefted, to the Comfort and En- 
 couragement of his faithful People. 
 
 I travelled through fome Parts oiGlocefterJhire and 
 Oxford/hire up to London^ and was at the Yearly- 
 meeting there in 1732, in which Friends were fa- 
 ,voured with the Divine Prefence, which made it 
 very comfortable to them. At this Yearly-meet- 
 ing Friends received an Account, that the People in 
 the Government of Bofton had made a Law to 
 exempt Friends from paying towards maintaining 
 
 the 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 71 
 
 the Priefts, and from repairing of their Worfhfp- Seel. 8. 
 houfes, which faid Law was to continue for five 1728 to 
 Years, and to the End of the next Seffions of Par- 1734. 
 jiament ; which is very remarkable, and what I C/^'^>J 
 thought fit to take Notice ot, that in that Govern- 
 ment where feveral of our Friends were feverely 
 whipt, and fome had a Part of their Ears cut off, 
 and three Men and one Woman were put to Death, 
 viz. Marmaduke Steven/on^ William Robinfon^ JViU 
 Ham Leddra^ and Mary Dyer^ that they Ihould be 
 fo far changed from the Spirit and Temper the 
 People were in, that did fo vigoroufly perfecuteour 
 Friends, is matter of Admiration, and what calls 
 for great Thankfulnefs from us as a People : It 
 may well be faid, this is the Lord's Doings^ who 
 has the Hearts of all Men in his Hand, and can 
 turn them at his Pleafure. 
 
 After the Yearly-meeting was over, I vifited 
 Friends in feveral Parts of Effex and Suffolk : Ac 
 Ipfwicb^ feveral of the young Men who had been 
 lately convinc'd were very hopeful ; I went to 
 Norwich^ and vifited feveral Parts of Norfolk^ and 
 then returned through fome Parts o\ Hunlingion(hire^ 
 and Nottinghamjhirey and by Way of 'Nottmgham to 
 l^ork^ where by the Lord's good Providence I came 
 on the 26th of the Seventh Month 1732, and on 
 the 27th and 28th the Quarterly-meeting was kept 
 there, in which Friends were favour'd with the 
 Enjoyment of divine Goodnefs ; I have great Caufe - 
 to be thankful for the manifold Favours and Pre- 
 fervations extended from Time to Time. 
 
 And after I had (laid a little about Tork^ I vifited 
 Friends in feveral Parts of the County : And in the 
 Twelfth Month I having had Drawings to vific 
 Friends in my native County of Cumberland^ I fee 
 forward from Tork^ and went through fome Parts 
 ef the Bifhoprick of Durham and Northumberlandy 
 and I vifited moft of the Meetings in Cumberland^ 
 
 and 
 
72 ?7j^ LIFE ^/^^ TRAVELS 
 
 Sedl. 8. and from thence I went for PVeftmorlandy and was aC 
 1728 to the Yearly-meeting for the Northern Counties, which 
 1734. was held at Kendal this Year, which v/as a large 
 and comfortable Meeting j from thence I went 
 through fome Parts o{ Lancajhire^ and fo up to the 
 Yearly- meeting at London^ in which Friends were 
 favour'd with the Enjoyment of the divine Prefence. 
 Lftaid fome Time after the Yearly-meeting, and 
 had fome good Opportunities amongft Friends in 
 the City •, and after Lwent from the City, I tra- 
 velled into fome Parts of Ejfeic and Suffolk^ and fo 
 to the Yearly-meeting at hlorwich^ which was a 
 large and good Meeting : In the fifth Month I 
 went for Torkjhirey and to Scarborough, it being the 
 Time of the Spaw-feafon, and ftaid fome Time 
 there : A pretty many People of Account came 
 to our Meetings, and fome of great Note in the 
 World, who fhew'd forth a great deal of Sobriety 
 and good Behaviour. * 
 
 In the Fall of the Year I found Drawings to 
 vifit Friends Weflward, and in the latter, Part of 
 the Seventh Month I fet forward from Tork, and 
 went through fome Parts of Che/hire and Shropjhire : 
 I had a Meeting at a Place called Sifton in Shropjhire, 
 where fome had been convinc'd of late, and they 
 now keep a little Meeting there : I travelled thro* 
 fome Parts of Worcefterjhire and Qlocefterjhlre^ and 
 fo to Br'ifiol and Bath^ where I had fome good Op- 
 portunities amongfl Friends ; and from thence I 
 travelled through fome Parts of Somerfetjhire, and 
 Devonjhire^ into Cornwal •, there was a pretty great 
 Wiilingnefs and Inclination in the People in fome 
 Pares of Cornwal to attend our Meetings, and 
 fcveral have been convinc*d of late. 
 
 I returned through fome Parts of Dorfetjhire and 
 HampJIAre to London : I got into the City on the 
 16th of the Firft Month 1733, ^"^ ^" ^^^ ^^^^ 
 of the fame I was at the Burial of our good Friend 
 
 Alice 
 
cf BENJAMIN HOLME. 73 
 
 Alice Ouldner ; I (laid in and about the City for Sc6l. 8. 
 feme Time, and had feveral good Opportunities 1727 tQ 
 amongH: Friends •, and on the nth of the Second 1734. 
 Month I went into Effex^ and as f\r as Ipfwich : I '^'^^V^, 
 returned from thence by Way of Colchejler and 
 Chelmsford^ and v/cnt over at Gravefend for Kent 5 
 and atter I had vifited moft of the Meetings in 
 Kent and Sujpx, that ire on the Sea-coaft, I went 
 for Portf mouth ; and from thence I went into the 
 IJle of TFight^ and vifited the few Friends there ; 
 and from that Ifland I went to Southampton^ and 
 Rumfey^ and fo to the Yearly- meeting at Brifloly 
 which was on the 13th and 14th ot the Third 
 Month, in which Friends were favoured, with the 
 Enjoyment of divine Goodnefs. I 
 
 From Briflol I went to the Yearly-meeting in 
 London^ which began on the 3d of the Fourth Month 
 1734, and held by Adjournment to the 7th of the 
 fame, in which Friends were favoured with the En- 
 joyment orthe divine Prefence* 
 
 After^the Yearly-meeting was over^ I went thro* 
 fome Part of Hertfordfhire^ and the Firft-day follow- 
 ing I was at a Meeting at Felfled in E^Jftx^^ at. which 
 Meeting the Widow Smith oi Stebbing was Wok ilJ, 
 and died very quickly^ if not in lefs than an Hour : 
 As fhe was a worthy Friend, fhe left a good Name 
 and Savour behind her, and feveral very hopeful 
 Children. I went from thence to Colchefter YenrTy- 
 meeting, which began on the 17th of the Fourth 
 Month, and ended on the 19th, which was a large 
 and good Meeting ; Daniel Bell from Trttenham 
 ■was alfo there : The next Day he and I went to 
 Stebbing to the Burial of our Friend before men- 
 tioned, which was large, and the Power of Truth 
 was fnanifefted in the Meeting on that Occafion. 
 
 From thence I went to JFoodhndge^ and was at 
 the Yearly-meeting there, which began on the 24th, 
 and ended on the 25th of the Fourth Month, in 
 
 F which 
 
74 75^^ L I F E ^«^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Se(5t. 8. which the Lord's good Prefence was manifefled to 
 1727 to Friends Comfort and Encouragement. From thence 
 1734. I went by Edmundfhury towards Northampton and 
 Coventry^ and fo by Way o^ Nottingham for Tork- 
 fhire^ and on the 2d of the Sixth Month I got to 
 Tork •, and it being our Monthly-meeting there 
 that Day, I delivered in my Certificate, and gave 
 Friends fome Account of my Journey. 
 
 Afterwards I was at the Yearly-meeting at F'tck^ 
 ering^ which was very large ; and in a little Time I 
 returned to Tork^ and had feveral Meetings in my 
 Way to Scarborough^ where I ftaid feveral Meetings 
 on Firft-days, and was at other Meetings on Week- 
 days : From thence I went as far as Newcstjlley and 
 took Meetings in my Way, and fo returned by 
 Way of Darlington and Tbirjke to the Quarterly- 
 meeting at Tork^ which held as ufual two Days, in 
 which Friends were favoured with the divine Pre- 
 fence : From thence I went to Leeds, and was at 
 tht Burhl of Nathaniel Englijh 9 and fo went thro' 
 the Weft Parts of the County into Lancajhire^ 
 Chejhire^ and as far as Shrcwfhury^ and had divers 
 fatisfadory Meetings ; and io returned by Way of 
 Warrington and Manchefter to Tork : And having 
 Drawings to vifit Friends in the North Parts of this 
 Nation, North-Britain and Irelandy I fet forward 
 from thence the 19th of the Ninth Month, parting 
 with Friends in Tendernefs and much Love, aod 
 had two Meetings that Day at Hub'^^ fix Miles 
 from Tork, 
 
 SECTION 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 75 
 
 ^ Sea. 9. 
 
 =— — ^ 1734 to 
 
 1749- 
 
 SECTION IX. x^>r-v 
 
 Giving an Account of my Tra^-ceh in North- 
 Britain a?id Ireland, from lyT^^ to 1749. • 
 
 AFter I lefc 7'ork, I had feveral Meetings in the 
 North Parts o^ Torkfljire^ and then pafied into 
 the Weft Parts of the County, and into Lancajhifey 
 and vifited many Meetings there, and then was at 
 Kendal at the Quarterly-meeting for Weftmorland^ 
 and at a General-meeting at Prejion^ and was at 
 Sedhergh, Dent, Grijdale, Swale dale, and pa fifed by 
 Richmond into the BiHioprick of Durham^ and had 
 feveral good Meetings there, and at Ne'uucajfle, and' 
 at a General-meeting at Shields, and fo pafiTed into 
 Norfhumherland, where I had feveral Meetings, as 
 at Hexham, and in AllendaU^ and I then went into 
 Cumberland, and vifited Friends pretty g(*nerjlly 
 there ; and then went to Kelfo, Edinhur^b^ Dundee^ 
 and Aberdeen^ and had Meetings at thofe and divers 
 other Places ; from thence 1 went to Frazerburgl\ 
 and vifited him called Lord Piljligo, who received 
 me kindly -, and that Night I went to Lord Saltons, 
 fo called, who likewife received me kindly •, I had 
 a Meeting there, his Wife being a pious tender 
 Woman -, from thence 1 went to Kilmuck^ Old- 
 Meldrum, and again to Aberdeen to the Yearly, 
 meeting •, from thence to Urie, to our Friend 
 Robert Barclay^s, and from thence took Meetings in 
 my Way to Edinburgh to the Yearly-meeting the 
 ift of the Third Month 1735, which held part of 
 two Days ; and I then went 10 Falkirk and Dalkeith, 
 where no Meeting had been before -, and I had a 
 Meeting at an Inn in Leith^ and I went to Muckrcw, 
 
 F 2 Giafp-o'iL\ 
 
76 Ti&^ L I F E ^;/i T R A V E L S 
 
 Sed. 9. Gla/gowy Newhoul^ Stone-Row^ and Port-Patrick, and 
 1734 /(? had Meetings in thofe Places ; and on the i6th I 
 1749. took fhipping at the lad mentioned Port for Ireland^ 
 and through the Favour of divine Providence I 
 Janded that Night at Donahadeey and had a Meet- 
 ing there the next Day, and after the Meeting I 
 went to Newtown to James Brad[haw^%y who kindly 
 received me, and I had two Meetings there ; from 
 thence I went to Lijhurn, and Ballanderry^ and to 
 a Burial at Lurgan, and on the 31ft of the Thjrd 
 Month I was at the Province-meeting at thtGrainge^ 
 and then had Meetings at feveral Places thereabout, 
 and at Portlanoon I had a Meeting, and paid a Vifit 
 to the Bilhop of Down and Connor^ who received 
 me kindly •, and I had a Meeting near Brougb- 
 Sbaines, to which Colonel Ohara and his Wife 
 came •, and I had a Meeting at Monahon at an Inn, 
 to which many came, and behaved (oberly. And 
 on the 23d and 24th of the Sixth Month I was 
 again at the Grainge at the Province-meeting ; and 
 in the following Month 1 had feveral Meetings, and 
 came to Dublin the i3th5 and on the 19th was at 
 the Province-meeting at Cajlle-Dermont^ and on the 
 14th of the Eighth Month at a Morning-meeting at 
 Mountmeleck, and on the 25th at the Province- 
 meeting at Catberlow, and on the 28th I was at the 
 Burial of Ephratm Heritage's Wife near Edenderry, 
 and on the 30th I got to Dublin again, and (laid till 
 the Half-year's Meeting, which began the 8th of 
 the Ninth Month, and ended the nth ; in which 
 Friends were favoured with the Enjoyment of the 
 divine Prelence : I (laid there fome Time after the 
 Meeting, and went from thence to Mountratb, to 
 the Marriage of Jofeph Hillary y and fo to a Monthly- 
 meeting at Edenderry^ and to the Province-meeting 
 at Mountineleck, where Friends were favoured with 
 the Extendirigs of divine Goodnefs, and I had Meet- 
 ings in levcral Places there-aways ; 1 had a Meeting 
 
 in 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. jj 
 
 in the Town-hall at Tallo^ and in the firfl Month ISefl. 9. 
 was at a Marriage in Cork, and in the Second Month 1734 tQ 
 1736 I was again at the Province- meeting in that 1749. 
 City, and at Catherlow Province-meeting, and on the t/V*^ 
 22d at the Burial of the Widow Lackey j and in the 
 Third Month I was at the Province-meeting at Clom- 
 melly and on the 8th of thefaid Month I was again at 
 Dublin at the Plalf-year's Meeting, where Friends 
 were favoured with divine Goodnefs, and the Affairs 
 thereof were managed in Love and Peace, and on 
 the nth was there at the Burial of Jofeph Gill jiin. 
 and on the 14th at Newgarden ;it the Burial of Tho^ 
 mas Hution^ who died fuddenly ; afterwards I took 
 fome Meetings, and returned to 'Dublin^ and tarried 
 feveral Meetings \ from thence I went to the Pro- 
 vint V meeting at Edenderry^ and to Cavan^ where 
 two P'riends were committed Prifoners for Tithes, 
 but through the Kindnefs of the Goaler were allowed 
 Liberty to go home to their Families ; and then I 
 had Meetings in feveral Places where Meetings were 
 not ufualiy held, having a Concern (as well as 
 many others) that all might come to the Know- 
 ledge of the blelTed and laving Truth, and I was 
 kindly accompanied by fome or other Friends of 
 that Nation, which was a great Comfort and En- 
 couragement to me in the laid Service. And I vv^as 
 at the Province-meeting at Lurgan the 19th and 
 20th of the Twelfth Month, fo to Li/burn^ Carrick- 
 fergus and Dunhadee. 
 
 Having parted v/ith Friends in Ireland in great 
 Love, I took fhipping at the laft mentioned Place, 
 and in about five Hours Time I landed at Port- 
 Patrick on the ift of the Firft Month j I had Meet- 
 ings 2ilGarvan, MarybouU Ayre^ Kihnarmck^ Glafgow^ 
 Muckrow^ Kirenlillah, Kilfyth, Falkirk, Linlithgow^ 
 Edinburgh^ and at Night being the loth, at Orm- 
 fton •, at Kinghorne^ Dundee^ Arbroath^ Barveji 
 StonebivCy and Aberdeen^ and on the 16th at Night at 
 F 3 Inverary \ 
 
^8 r^^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 Se(5l. 9. Inverar'j % the 18th at Night I went to the Houfe of 
 1734 to him called Lord5^//^«, then ioOld-Meldrum, King's- 
 1749. ^ellSf Urie^ Montrofs^ and Perth ; fo took Meet- 
 ings in fome Places in my Way to Edinghurgb ; from 
 thence to Kendal^ having Meetings in my Way to 
 the Yearly-meeting there tor the Northern Coun- 
 ties, which held part of three Days ; it was a large 
 and good Meeting : From thence I went to Corn- 
 wood to Cuthbert lViggan\^ where feveral had been 
 convinced, and a Meeting was fettled there ; I had 
 Meetings there-abouts till the Beginning of the 
 Third Month, and then palTed through the Counties 
 of Durham and Tork^ in my Way to the Yearly- 
 meeting at London in 1737. 
 
 Now after my Return from vifiting Friends in 
 Ireland^ I vifited Friends in the Southern and 
 Weftern Parts of this Nation \ and after the 
 Yearly-meeting in "London was over, I returned to 
 Torky and had Meetings in feveral Parts of the 
 County, and in the North Country, amongft People 
 where no Meetings were fettled, nor where any 
 Friends live, to many of which feveral People came, 
 who behaved well and with great Decency, fo that 
 I had many good Opportunities to open our Prin- 
 ciples to them, and to dired them to the divine 
 Teacher in cherqfe-lves. 
 
 In the Ninth Month 1741 I went from Tork^ in 
 order to go fomewhat Southward, and vifjted 
 Friends in feveral Parts of Lincoln/hire^ Leiceftcrjhire^ 
 and Rutlandjhire, Warwick/hire^ IVorcefterJhire^ Staf- 
 ford/hire^ and Derbj/hire^ having Meetings in many 
 Places where no Friends live, nor any Meetings 
 of Friends are held, for I was often drawn forth 
 in much Love and Goodwill to vifit them who 
 were Strangers to the Truth in ihemfelves, in order 
 that ihey might be brought to the faving Know- 
 ledge of it •, but although Paul may plant, an(4 
 Jpllos may water, it is the Lord that givetb ih$ 
 
 Increafe ; 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 79 
 
 Increafe •, . herefore it Is to him that his Servants feek Sect. 9. 
 for a BlcilL.g upon their Labours : May the Bread 1734 to 
 cafl upon the Waters be found, though it may be 1749. 
 after many Dlivg. 
 
 I returned again to 7ork in I743) ^"^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^ 
 fla;d fome Time u, I'orh/hire, i found Drawings in 
 my Mind to vifir Frienub in Wales^ and the Weft and 
 Southern Paris o: L'i^and\ and i parted wichFriends 
 in York in much Love in the Ninth Month 1743, and 
 I vi^ent through fome Parts o{ Lancafhtre and Che/hire^ 
 and fo to the Yearly-meeting in PFales^ which was 
 held this Ye:-..r at a Place called Glanneedlejs^ having 
 had many Meetings in Chefiire^ amongtt Friends 
 and other People in my going thither •, the faid 
 Yearly-meeting was large ^nd very peaceable, there 
 being a grea^ Hefort of other People who were not 
 of our Sociecy *, our Friend Samuel Foihergill was 
 there, and had good Service for the Truni, 
 
 I vificed Friends in moft of their Meetings in 
 Wales^ and had Meetings amongft other People in 
 many Places, to whom many came to hear the 
 Truth declared, who behaved with great Sobriety 
 and Attention \ and in fevcral of their great Market 
 Towns, they let us have the Town-halls andMarket- 
 houfes to keep our Meetings in. 
 
 From WaUi I went into Hereford/hire and JVor- 
 cejierjhire^ and was at the Yearly- meeting for the 
 feven Weftern Counties, v/hich was held chis Year 
 at the City of Worcefter^ our Friends John Foihergill 
 and his Son Samuel were there^ Jojhua Toft and Ben- 
 jamin Kidd ; the Meeting v/as large and peaceable, 
 and Friends were favoured therein with the Enjoy- 
 ment of divine Goodnefs. Our laid worthy Fritnd 
 John Foihergill died at Knarefiorougb in Torkjhire^ 
 not many Months after this Yearly-meeting •, he 
 was an able Minifter, and one who had laboured 
 much in the Service of Truth 5 he vifited Friends in 
 jimerica three Times, where he had good Service. 
 \ F 4 1 then 
 
8o 7*/^^ L I F E ^;/^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Seel. 9. I then vifited Friends in Tome of the adjacent 
 1734 /^Counties, and travelled through the Country to 
 1749. the Yearly-meeting at Brijlol^ which was a large 
 v^r^w/ and good Meeting •, and after that Meeting was 
 over, I went fron:i thence to Shaftjbur'^^ where fc ve- 
 ra! had lately been convinced, and a new Meeting 
 fettled, and fo for London^ to be at the Yearly- 
 meeting there, v/here Friends were favoured with 
 the Extendings of divine Goodnefs : After the 
 Yearly-meeting was over I went into Hertfordflnre^ 
 and was at leveral Meetings vv^ith our Friend Ehe- 
 nezer Large, who was come from America to vific 
 Friends ; I went through the Country into Hamp- 
 [hire, and from thence into the IJle of Wight to vific 
 the Friends there : Whilft I ftaid on the Ifland I 
 had Meetings in feveral Places amongft the People, 
 who for the mofi: part behaved foberly and well. 
 
 As there had been a few convinced on the Ifland 
 of Jerfe'j^ I found Drawings on my Mind to vifit 
 them, and went from the 7/7c" of Wight, and we faw 
 a Privateer that took two fmAll Vefiels but a few 
 Leagues from us -, we run into a fmall Cove, where 
 we ftaid till k v/as near dark, and in the Night 
 we mified them, and in about four or five Days 
 after we left the Jjle of Wight I landed in the Ifland 
 of Jerfey^ where there are a few Friends that keep 
 a Meeting -, the Ma gifl: rates had been pretty fevere, 
 and they had banifhed one Friend from the Ifland, 
 viz. Claude Gay, but after fome Time he returned 
 thither again to his Family, and I have not heard 
 that they gave him any Trouble fince his laft Re- 
 turn thither : I fl:aid on the Ifland between five and 
 fix Weeks, in which Time I had feveral publick 
 Meetings, to which a great many of the Inhabitants 
 came -, I for the mod part fpoke by an Interpreter, 
 who was our kind Friend John Francis Vauinorel, 
 at whofe Houfe I moftly lodged, his Wife alfo gave 
 Urs a kind Reception \ he was a Frenchman by Birth, 
 
 but 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 8i 
 
 but having lived a confiderable Time in England, Se6l. 9. 
 underltooU both Languages pretty well : I writ a 1734 to 
 Letter there to the High Court of Jerfe-j^ to dif- 1749. 
 fuade them from perfecuting the Innocent ; which V^/SpO 
 faid Letter was read in the open Court ; I had no 
 Difturbance from any of the Magifbrates whilft I 
 flayed there *, I took Ihipping, and the next Day 
 after I landed at Southafnplon, having had a fine 
 Pafiage *, and I went to Brijlol^ and was at the 
 Yearly-meeting there, which was large and peace- 
 able ; and from thence I went to the Yearly-meet- 
 ing ac London^ having feveral Meetings in my Way 
 thither •, I ftaid a little while there, and afterwards 
 I went into Siijfex and Kent^ and then returned to 
 "-London again, where 1 ftaid vifiting Meetings in 
 and about the City feveral Weeks ; and afterwards 
 I went Weft ward, and vifited Friends in Devonjhire 
 and Cornwall^ and rc^turned through fome Part of 
 Somerfetflnre^ and fo to the Yearly-meeting at Lon- 
 don in 1747, wherein Friends were favoured with the 
 Extendingsof divine Love and Power, which is the 
 Crown and Glory of our Meetings ; and afterwards 
 I wtnt through fome part of Herifordlhire to the 
 Yearly meeting at Banhurs^ where there was a fine 
 Appearance ot hopeful young Friends, the Meeting 
 was large and peaceable ; after the Meeting was 
 over, I went for Hereford/hire^ having feveral Meet- 
 ings in my Way thither, and was at the Yearly- 
 meeting for the leven Weftern Counties, which w.is 
 held this Year at Leominfter^ it began the 30th of 
 the Sixth Month, and ended the lit of the Seventh 
 Month ; there were there feveraK publick Friends 
 Strangers, the Meetings were large and peaceable, 
 and Friends were divinely favoured *, after this 
 Meeting I went into Shr op/hire and Stafford/hire^ 
 likewife into fome Parts of Leice/ler/hire and fVar- 
 wick/hire^ where I rpet with feveral that were 
 
 convinced 
 
82 7^^ L I F E ^;/^ T R A V E L S 
 
 Sc6t, 9. convinced of late, who came to join with Friends, 
 1734 /i?and feemed hopeful and likely to do well. 
 
 1749. Now having been bng from Home, I returned 
 wV^^ by Way of Nottirjgba?n, and fome Parts of that 
 County, and fo for Torkjhire^ and to 7'ork^ where I 
 came the latter Part of the Eleventh Month 1747 ; 
 I (laid a little while there, and then went into the 
 North Parts of Torkfljire^ and I was at the Yearly- 
 meeting for the four Northern Counties, which was 
 held this Year at JVbitehaven in Cumberland j the 
 Meeting was large and peaceable, and Friends were 
 favoured therein with the Extendings of divine 
 Goodnefs. I went from thence to the Yearly- 
 meeting in Wales^ which was held this Year at 
 S brew/bury in the County of Salop , there was a 
 pretty great Refort of Strangers, who behaved 
 with great Decency, the Meeting was large and 
 peaceable, and Friends were favoured with the En- 
 joyment of the divine Prefence ; our Friend Jojhua 
 Toft was there, who had acceptable Service for the 
 Truth : After this Meeting was over, I returned to 
 Tork^ wherelftaid but little, being defirous to be 
 at the Yearly- meeting in London in 1748, which 
 Meeting I attended, and it was a very comfortable 
 and good Meeting, the Affairs of the Church were 
 managed in great Love and Peace, fo that I believe 
 Friends returned to their Habitations with a good 
 Degree of Satisfadion ; I Itaid in London after the 
 Meeting was over about fix Weeks. After 1 had 
 vifited tlie Meetings in London^ I went from thence 
 through fome Parts of Hertfordjhire^ Huntingtonjbire 
 and Camhridgejhif^^ fome having been lately con- 
 vinced in the two lafl Counties, and fo through a 
 little Part of Lincolnjhire into JSIorfolk, Suffolk^ and 
 fome Parts of Effex to London again, where I (laid 
 fome Time, and had feveral good Opportunities , 
 and on the 4th of the Firft Month I left the City, 
 and went by Way q^ Guildford y Alton d^nd S alijbury 
 
 tor 
 
of BENJAMIN HOLME. 83 
 
 for BriJloU intending for the Yearly-meeting in Wales, Sed. 9, 
 which was to be held this Year at Haverfordweji, — 1734 to 
 
 1749, 
 He \dz Briftoly and purfued his Journey with wOT"^ 
 Intention to be at the faid Yearly-meeting, as an 
 Abftracl of the followi^ig Letter from a Friend 
 intimates. 
 
 < Loving Friends Roger Shackletom and 
 * Jonathan White, 
 
 IT is at the Requefl of our late worthy Friend 
 Benjamin Holme, that I now write to you, to 
 Jet you know, that he came to this Town the 8th 
 Inftant, in Company of a Friend of this Neigh- 
 bourhood -, when he alighted off his Mare, he 
 reded fome Time before he could well walk to 
 the Friend's Houfe where he lodged, viz, at Paul 
 Bevan^s, having an Inflammation in his Legs, 
 and that Evening there were Things applied 
 which made him eafy \ the next Morning he 
 talked of going forward with Friends of this 
 Place to the Yearly-meeting at Haverfordweji ; 
 however, after fome Confideration he determined 
 to flay (as it was the Firfl-day of the Week) 
 and had two Meetings with us that Day, very 
 much to the Satisfaction of all prefent ; I have 
 been acquainted with hirn forty Years, and I 
 don't remember to have known him more lively 
 in his Teftimony ; but as he flood a pretty while 
 the laft Meeting, when he came out into the Air, 
 he was taken with a Shivering, and holding under 
 my Arm, told me he chofe to walk to his Lodg- 
 ing, (having rode up and down to Meeting before) 
 and that he was apprehenfive of the Return of his 
 Ague. That Evening and Night, and almoft all 
 the next Day, he was very drowfy and grew 
 weak i we fent for a Phyfician, and you may be 
 
 ^ alTured, 
 
84 77:;^ L I F E and TRAVELS 
 
 afiured, he did not want any Thing in the Friend's 
 Power with whom he lodged •, I was with him 
 almoft the whole Time of his Sicknefs, which 
 was not attended with much Pain, but a gradual 
 ' Weaknefs accruing, he departed the 14th at five 
 
 * in the Morning.- -As he lived, fo he died, 
 ' a PaUern of Meeknefs and Innocency^ defiring to 
 
 * be rememhred to Friends in general. Being with 
 
 * him alone the Evening before he departed, 1 afked 
 ' him, if he had any Thing particular on his Mind, 
 
 * at which Time he told me to ivrite to you both as 
 
 * Things might happen, with whom^ he faid, he had 
 
 * left his Will \ and that it was a fine Thing to 
 
 * make a right Ufe of Time^ loth with refpe5f to this 
 
 * Lfe, and that which is to come. He often de- 
 *• fired, that Friends in this Place might he good Ex- 
 
 * ample s to their Neighbours^ that they might be 
 « brought out of their Forms and V/i.i-jOorfhip^ into 
 
 * the divine Cuuncil, where all would be fafe and well, 
 < Soon after he departed, I fent a MelTenger to 
 ' Hav erf or dive ft, to acquaint Friends therewith, and 
 'our Friends Samuel Hopwood and Samuel Fothergill 
 ' were with us, and abundance of People attended 
 ' his Corpfe to the Grave, v/here our Friend Samuel 
 
 * Fothergill had a good Opportunity, and I doubt 
 ' not had the Satisfadion of Peace of Mind in 
 ' coming fome Miles out of his Way on that 
 ' Occafion. 
 
 ' Our Friend Thomas Morgan and Jane his Wife, 
 ' who is Benjamin^s Relation, came over to the 
 ' Burial from Caermarthen, I falute you in that 
 
 * Love which fo often fent our dear deceafed Friend 
 
 * to vifit the Churches, and reft therein, 
 
 '7S;^;„r7;(.'*' ' ^our affured real Friend. 
 The End of the JOURNAL* 
 
A S E R I O U S 
 
 CALL 
 
 I N 
 
 Chriftian LOVE 
 
 To all People, 
 
 To turn to the 
 
 ^pttit at €\^M 
 
 In Themselves; 
 
 That they may come to have a right Underftanding 
 of the Things of God, and be enabled thereby 
 to ferve him acceptably : With fome Obfcrvacions 
 on the following Heads ; 
 
 1. The Univerfality 
 of God's Love in 
 fending His Son to 
 die for all Men. 
 
 2. The Holy Scrip- 
 tures. 
 
 3. Worfhip. 
 
 4. Baptilm. 
 
 5. The Supper. 
 
 6. PerfeClion. 
 
 7. The Reiurredlion, 
 
 8. Swearing. 
 
 I Theff. r. 21. Prove all IhbigSt hold fcift that which is good, 
 Rom. i. 19. That which muy be knoxon of God, is manijcfi in 
 them. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by Luke Hinde, 1754. 
 
§7 
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Friendly Reader ! V 
 
 * 
 
 JIZHAT is here prefented to thy View^ is 
 
 yy ^written in great Love^ and I defire that the 
 
 hardy by his holy Spirit^ may give thee a right 
 
 Underjlanding of the I'ruths herein laid down. 
 
 Our Principles ajid DoSri?ie have been very 
 
 much mifreprefentedy and many of our Friends 
 
 Words and Writings have been wrejled and mif- 
 
 cojiflrued by many who wanted Charity, which is 
 
 the Bond ofPerfeSlion ; the Apoftle has excellently 
 
 defcribed it in his Jir/i Epijile to the Corinthians ; 
 
 he faithy Charity fuffereth long, and is kind, i cor, xUi. 
 
 Charity envieth not^ Charity vaunteth not itfelf, ^* ^' 
 
 is not puffed up, doth not behave itfelf un- 
 
 feemly, feekcth not her own, is not eafily 
 
 frovoked, thinketh no Evil, rejoiceth not in 
 niquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth : Oh^ that 
 it might prevail among the Children of Men uni- 
 verfally^ that fo there might be no e?ivyi?ig one 
 CJiother : Charity is fo far from [peaking Evil, 
 or doing Evil, that it thinketh no Evil: Though, i cor. xiii. 
 faith the Apojlky I beftow all my Goods to feed ^* 
 the Poor, and give my Body to be burned, and 
 have not Charity, it profiteth me nothing. It 
 
 were 
 
88 The P R E F A C E. 
 
 were greatly to be dejired^ that all would endea-' 
 'uour to excel therein^ that fo there might be an 
 holy Harmony amongjl the Children of Men, 
 
 This Treatife being fmall, may come into many 
 Hands ^ where fome larger Books ^ that give a more 
 full and particular Account of our DoBrine and 
 Principles^ may not come % and if the Obferva- 
 fions that are made on the fever al Heads touched 
 upony may have the good Effe6h to remove Pre- 
 judice^ and open the Underjlanding of the Religious 
 and Well-minded^ it will very much anfwer the 
 Defire of him who wijhes well to thee^ and all 
 Men. 
 
 Benjamin Holme. 
 
 A SERIOUS 
 
89 
 
 A Serious 
 
 CALL 
 
 I N 
 
 Christian LOVE 
 
 To all P E O P L E^ i^C. 
 
 As the Lord hath been fo wonderfully gracious 
 and kind to the Children of Men who were 
 gone aRray from him, that he has fent x.\\^ Spirit of^^^ ^v. 6. 
 his Son into their Hearts^ to be a Guide and Teacher 
 to them •, it is greatly to be defired, they may all 
 take heed unto it, that thereby they may be enabled 
 to withftand and refill the Enemy of their Souls, in 
 all his Temptations and Aflaults ; for it is certain, 
 as Chrift faid, without me ye can do nothing \ we are 
 not able without the Help of his Spirit, to refill: 
 the lead Temptation -, for in that divine Light, 
 vjhich lighteth every Man that cometh into the World-, John i. 9, 
 and gives Men and Women a Sight and Difcovery 
 of that which is evil, there is Power to enable 
 them to withftand and refift the Enemy in all his 
 Temptations, as they take heed to it •, but many 
 People are Strangers to this divine Light, though 
 the Apoflle Faul tells us, how Men may know it ; Eph. v. 13. 
 he faith, All Ihings that are reproved, are made 
 manifeft by the Light -, for whatfoever doth make 
 manifefl is Light, It is no Sin to be tempted, if Men Mat. i^. i; 
 
 G ' Ihuc - 
 
90 A ferious Call in Christiai^ LOVE 
 
 fhutouc the Temptation as foon as it is prefented ; 
 for we read that Chrift was tempted feveral Ways, 
 but he overcame the Tempter by refilling of him ; 
 
 James iv. the Apoille James faith, Refift the Devil^ and he zvill 
 
 7» ^' flee from you : Drazu nigh to God^ and he izill draw 
 nigh to you. It is to this holy Light and Spirit that 
 lets People fee the Evil when it is prefented, that we 
 endeavour to turn the Minds of the Children of 
 Men, that thereby we may be enabled to with- 
 fland the Enemy in all his Temptations ; we read, 
 
 Rev.^xxi. |-j^^{- cjrfjg Nations of them which are faved /hall walk 
 in the Light of the Lamh. If we walk in the Lights 
 ^*'^' faith John, as he is in the Lights we have Fellowjhip 
 one with another., and the Blood of Jefus Chrift his 
 Son^ cleanfeth us from all Sin. If all that profefs to 
 be the Followers of the Lord Jefus Chrifl, did 
 but walk in this holy Light as they ought to 
 do, they would fhew forth Chrift ianity in the 
 Purity of it, and adorn the Doflrine of God 
 our Saviour, by their good and holy Jiving ; 
 
 John i. 5. we read, The Light fhineth in Darknefs^ and the 
 Darknefs comj-rehended it not. How many that are 
 Strangers to this holy Light which God hath caufed 
 to fhine in Mens dark Hearts, have fpokcn Evil of 
 it, and alfo of many that have borne Teflimony to 
 it ? We read that the Apoflle Paul was fent to 
 turn Men from Darknefs to Lights and from the Power 
 of Satan to God. And this is the great Labour now 
 of thofe that are truly the Miniilers of Chrifl, to 
 turn the Children of Men to that true Light, which 
 
 John i. 9. we read, lightetb every Man that comcth into the 
 World. This divine Light ought not to be re- 
 jedled, nor the true Way of worfhipping God de> 
 fpifed, becaufe they may be evilly fpoken of by 
 many that are ignorant of them : The Way in 
 
 ivasxxiv. which the ApoRle P^i// worfliipped God was, by 
 
 '/: ... fome that were Strangers to it, counted Herefy^ and 
 Avis xxviii ^ 1 
 
 12. ' the Believers were accounted a Se^ every where 
 
 fpoken 
 
to z\\ P E O P L E. 91 
 
 fpoken agamfl. And it was fliid concerning Chrill, 
 Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharifees believed on J^-^" ^'"' 
 him \ hut this People who kno'w jiCt the Law are ac- ^■'^''' 
 curfed. They were fo ignorant:, that they counted 
 thofe that believed in Chrift acciirfed. Many of 
 the Children of God have been evilly fpoken of by 
 thofe that were Strangers to the Lord \ Behold^ faith i Johniii. 
 John^ what manner of Love the Father hath heft owed ^* 
 upon us, that we fhould he called the Sons of God ; 
 therefore the World knoweth us not, hecaufe it knew 
 him not. He affigns the Reafon why the World 
 knew them not, hecaufe, faith he, it knew him not. 
 While Saul was ignorant of God, he perfecuted his 
 People *, all his Lrarning and Scholarfhip did not 
 give him the Knowledge of God, nor yet the Know- 
 ledge of his People ; And Saul, yet hreathing out Aa^ix.t; 
 Threatnings and Slaughter againfl the Difciples of the ^' ^' ^' 
 Lord, went unto the High-Prief^ and defired Letters 
 to Damafcus, to the Synagogues, that if he found any 
 of this Way, zvhether they were Men or Women, he 
 might bring them bound to Jerufalem ; and as he 
 journeyed he came near Damafcus, and fitddenly there 
 fhined round about him a Light from Heaven^ and he 
 heard a Voice faying, Saul, Saul, why ferfecutcfi thou 
 me ? And he faid, who crt thou Lord ? And th^ 
 Lord faid, I am Jesus whom thou perfecuteft s it 
 is hard for thee to kick again ft the Pricks. It is to 
 be feared, that many do not know that it is the 
 Lord by his Spirit that inwardly pricks them when 
 they do amifs. Now here is the Ground of Perfc- 
 cution, when Men know not God, nor thofe that 
 are truly his People, they perfecure the true Wor- 
 Ihippers of God as Hereticks. How many of the 
 Martyrs in Queen Marfs Days Vv^ere perfecuted 
 and put to Death as Hereticks, by thofe that were 
 ignorant of God ? And how many of our Friends 
 have been perfecuted unto Death by thofe that were 
 Strangers to the Lord and his People ? But as ic 
 
 G 2 v/as 
 
92 A ferious Call 171 C^irtstian LOVE 
 
 was of old, fo it is now, He that is horn after the 
 Flejh^ perfecutes hi?n that is born after the Spirit : We 
 John XV. read how Chrift faid to his Followers, If the World 
 ' »'^'^°' Jjate you^ ye know that it hated me before it hated 
 you : If 'jc were of the World^ the World would love 
 his own^ but becaufe ye are not of the Worlds hut I 
 have chofen you out of the Worlds therefore the World 
 hateth )0u : Remember the Word that I faid unto '^ou, 
 the Servant is not greater than the Lord : if they have 
 perfecuted me, they will alfo perfecute you. It has often 
 been the Lot of many of the Followers of Chrift, 
 to be perfecLited and reviled, and evil fpoken of ; 
 but our Saviour to encourage his Difciples to bear 
 . Perfecution, and the Reproaches and the Revilings 
 Mat. V. II, of Men, faith, Bleffed are ye when Men Jh all revile 
 ^^* you^ and perfecute you^ and fhall fay all manner of 
 
 Evil againfi you falfly, for my Sake -, rejoice and he 
 exceeding glad, for great is your Reward in Heaven, 
 for fo perfecuted they the Prophets which were before 
 you. Although they that believed in Chrift were 
 accounted accurfed by fome, it was happy for them 
 joiini. 12. who did believe in, and receive him, to them he 
 gave Rower to become the Sons of God. This is the 
 great Blclfng which they have, that receive Chrift 
 by his Spirit into their Hearts ; as they are fubjedt 
 to him, they do not only receive Power to conquer 
 their Lufts and PalTions, but alfo to do the Will 
 of God, and keep his Commands. But how many 
 that are Strangers to the inward Appearance of the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, by his Light and Spirit in 
 Mens Hearts, have look'd upon it as ftrange Doc- 
 coi \,i6y trine to preach Chrift within ? This is the Myftery 
 V' which hath been hid from Ages and from Generation^ 
 
 but now is made ?}ianifeft to his Saints^ to whom God 
 'Would make known what is the Riches of the Glory 
 ef this Myftery among the Gentiles, which is Chrift 
 in you the Hope of Glory, And when fome of our 
 Friends have borne Teftimony to that divine Light 
 
 which 
 
fo 2i\l P E O P L E. 93 
 
 which lightetb every Man that cometh into the Worlds John 1.9. 
 many have made a Wonder of it, how the Light 
 could be in Men ; and have fpoken flightly of the 
 Spirit, although we read, Ai 7nany as are led by ihe^^^-"^^^^' 
 Spirit of God^ the^ are the Sons of God. Jf an'^ Man ^ * ... , 
 (laith the Apoftle) hath not the Spirit of Chrifl^ he ^^ 
 is none of his. If Men have not this Spirit for their 
 Guide, they cannot be Chrijlians, nor Members of 
 Chrift's Church, although they may be {lri(5l in ob- 
 ferving a great many outv^ard Obfervations *, for 
 we read, that In Chrift Jefus^ neither Circumcijion^^^-'^'^-^^^ 
 availeth any Things nor Uncircumcifton^ but a Netv 
 Creature, It is as Men come to be born of the 
 Divine Nature^ being created anew in Chrift: Jefus 
 unto good Works, that they come to have a right 
 Underftanding of the Things of God ; I thank thee^ Mat.ix.25, 
 O Father^ (Ciid Chrift) Lord of Heaven and Earthy ^^^ 
 hecauje thou hafl hid thefe Wings from the Wife and 
 prudent^ and hafl revealed them unto Babes \ even fo 
 Father^ for fo it Jeemed good in thy Sight, He that 
 is truly a Child of God, and born of his Spirit, has 
 a more true and fenfiblc Knowledge of God, and 
 alfo of the Myfleries of his Kingdom, than Men in 
 their natural and unconverted State can attain unto 
 by all their Wildom and Parts ; for v/e read, that 
 ne natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit '/'°'* *** 
 of God J for they are Foolifhnefs unto him, neither can 
 he know them, becaufe they are fpiritually difcerncd ; 
 they are beyond his Reach and Comprehenfion : 
 The Apoftle faith. Prove all Thi?:gs -, hold faft that i ThefT. t. 
 which is good. Now the Way for Men to have a right ^^* 
 and clear Difcovery of the Truth, is to come to iha^ 
 divine Light, which God has caufed to fhine in Mens 
 Hearts ; the Apoftle faith, God who comjnanded the sCor.iv.^. 
 Light to fhine out ofDarknefs, hath finned in our Hearts^ 
 to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God^ 
 in the Face of Jefus Cbrifl. And as the Lord, by 
 his Light, gives thee a Sight and Difcovery of the 
 G 3 Truth, 
 
94 ^^ fcrious Call In Christian LOVE 
 
 Truth, I defire that thou mayfl: embrace it, and 
 join with it •, The Lord, faith the Prophet, hath 
 Jhewed to thee, O Man^ what is good : And what 
 doth the Lord require of thee^ but to do juflly^ and 
 io love Mercjj and to walk humbly with thy God ? 
 Now the Lord, by his holy Light, doth not only 
 Ihew Men that which is good, and what he requires 
 of them ; but he is near to fnew them that which 
 is Evil, in its very firit Appearance : He that /hews 
 to Man his Thoughts^ faith the Prophet, the Lord 
 of Hofts is his Name : The Apoftle faith, What- 
 foever makes manifeft is Lights and whatfoever is re- 
 proved is made manifeft by the Light. Now this 
 holy Light, which gives Men a Sight and Dif- 
 covery of that which is evil, when it is prefented, 
 is the great Touch-ftone that we defire all may 
 come to. If Men do not take heed to this, they 
 may foon err in Judgment, and receive and em- 
 brace falfe Do6lrine, and v/rong Principles. And 
 Mens receiving falfe and wrong Opinions, doth very 
 much open a Door for wrong Pradices. If Men 
 once entertain a Belief, that there is no Poffibility of 
 their conquering and overcoming their Corruptions 
 while here, what Encouragement is there for them 
 to war againfl them ? Or if they believe that there 
 is a Purgatory., or a Place in which they may be 
 cieanfed trom their Sins after Death, it is no Wonder 
 if they live fo as to fulfil and gratify their own carnal 
 Defires and Inclinations. But it is his Work that 
 was a Lyer from the Beginning, to perfuade Men to 
 believe this ; we do not read, that the rich Man 
 that we have an Account of in Luke^ met with any 
 Place of Cleanfing after Death. And if Men en- 
 tertain a Belief, that God has before ordained a 
 great Part of Mankind to perifh, and the Refl to 
 be faved ; and that the Numbers are fo fixed, that 
 none can be diminifhid from them that are to 
 perifh, or any added to the Number of them that 
 
 are 
 
fo all P E P L E. 95 
 
 are to be faved, what need any Body take any Care 
 about another World ? This Doclrine doth very 
 much deflroy Religion and Chrifiianity, I believe 
 fome have been fo darkened in their Underftandings, 
 that they have not ftuck to fay, that God has fore- 
 ordained whatever comes to pafs ; that he has ap- 
 pointed the Murderer to murder, and the Thief to 
 Ileal, that fo they might confequently perifh. How 
 contrary is this Dodrine to what we read in the 
 Holy Scripture, where the Lord has faid, As I live ^ Ezekxxxiii 
 I have no Pleafure in the Death of the Wicked^ but^^' 
 rather that the Wicked turn from his Way and live. 
 We read, that ^ey have built the high Places ^/J^.vii. 31. 
 Tophet, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnon, 
 to burn their Sons and Daughters in the Fire ; yet^ 
 faith the Lord, / commanded them not^ neither came 
 it into 7ny Heart. Although this came to pafs, the 
 Lord was fo far from ordaining it, that fpeaking 
 after the manner of Men, he faid, it came not into 
 his Heart. It would be abominable to fay, that 
 God ordains all the wicked Things which come to 
 pafs. I wifh that all would be careful how they are 
 impofed upon to receive any Dodrines which are 
 repugnant to the Dodrine of Chrift, and the pri- 
 mitive Chriftians^ recorded in the Holy Scriptures -, 
 and that People would compare their Dodrine with 
 the Dodrine there laid down, and fee how they 
 correfpond. It has pleafed God to raife up a People 
 to preach the fame Dodrine, and bear the fame 
 Teftimony, that the Apofbles and primitive Chrif 
 tians bore: John faith. We are of God^ he that t John ir, 
 knoweth God, heareib us *, he that is not of God^^' 
 hearelb not us. I defire that none may rejed the 
 Truth, becaufe it may be held forth by a People 
 that are defpifed by many that do not rightly 
 know them : For ye fee your Callings Brethren^ hew i Cor. i. 
 that not many wife Men after the FlcfJj^ not many 3^; ^^' ^^' 
 Mighty^ not many Noble^ are called ^ but God hath 
 
 G 4 chofen 
 
96 A ferlous Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 chofen the joonfb Things of the World to confound the 
 Wife^ ayid God hath chojcn the weak Things of the V/orld 
 to confound Things which are mighty^ and hafe Things 
 of the World^ and Things which are defpifed^ hath God 
 chofen •, yea^ and Things which are nol^ to bring to 
 nought Things that are^ that no Flefh may glory in his 
 Sight. Although the mofl of them that believed in 
 and received the Lord Jefus Chrifl, were not the 
 Wife, and Mighty, and Noble ; yet we rnay con- 
 clude fafely, that fome of the Wife, ^c, did believe 
 in him: And although the Generality of them that 
 are now come to believe in, and receive the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift in his fpiritual Appearance, arc not of 
 the Wife and Noble, yet blefied be the Lord, fome 
 fuch are come to believe in, and receive Chrift by 
 his Spirit into their Hearts ; and that all may thus 
 receive him, is my fincere Defire. 
 
 I. Coitcerning the Ujtiverfalify of God's Love, 
 i?i fending His Son to die for all Men. 
 
 WE freely own, that it is the Duty of the Chil- 
 dren of Men to believe in Chrift, as he did 
 outwardly appear j and we hold it to be abfolutely 
 needful, that they believe his Death and Sufferings, 
 and what he has done for them, without them, 
 where it has pleafed God to afford them the Benefit 
 of the Holy Scriptures that declare thereof; yet 
 we believe this outward Knowledge is not fo abfo- 
 lutely effential to Salvation, but that Men may be 
 faved by the Lord Jefus Chrift that fuffered upon 
 the Crofs for them, if they are fubjedl to his Spirit 
 in their Hearts, although their Lots may be caft in 
 thofe remote Parts of the World, where they are 
 without the Benefit of the Holy Scriptures, and 
 may know nothing of the Coming of Chrift in the 
 
 Flefli i 
 
to ^n P E P L E. 97 
 
 Flefh ; for the Apoftle Paul in the fifth of the 
 Romans faith. As by the Offence of One, Judgment 
 came upon all Men to Condemnation^ even fo by the 
 Righteoufnefs of One^ the free Gift came upon all Men 
 tojufiification cf Life ; for as all Men partake of 
 the Fruit o( Mam's Fall, by reafon of that evil 
 Seed, which through him is communicated unto 
 them, which inclines them unto Evil, although 
 many Thoufands of them never heard of the Fall of 
 Adam, nor of his eating of the forbidden Fruit : 
 So we believe many may, and do receive Benefit by 
 the Lord Jefus Chrift, as they take Heed to that 
 divine Light and Grace, which is communicated to 
 Mankind univerfally, through him, although they 
 may know nothing of his Coming in the Flefli. 
 Now though we hold it absolutely needful, that 
 Men believe in the Death and Sufferings cf Chrift, 
 where they have the Benefit of the Holy Scriptures 
 that declare thereof, as is before obferved \ yet all 
 this Knowledge will not entitle to a Part in the 
 Kingdom of God, unlefs they know him that died 
 for them, to fave them out of tliofe Things that 
 unfit them for that holy Kingdom, into which 
 nothing that is unclean can enter. 
 
 But becaufe we bear Teftimony to the inward J^^n »- 9- 
 Appearance of the Lord Jefus Chrift, by his Light 
 and Spirit in Mens Hearts, fome have been fo un- 
 kind and unjuft, that they have not iluck to fay, 
 that we deny'd the Lord Jefus Chrift that fufi'ered 
 without the Gates of Jenifalem for us •, which is a 
 very great Abufe upon us, for we firmly believe in 
 him that was born of the Virgin Mary^ that fuf-r 
 fered upon the Crofs for the Redemption of Man- 
 kind univerfally j and we are fo far from denying 
 him that died for us, and rofe ag^in, and afcendcd 
 into Heaven, and is come again by his Spirit into 
 our Hearts, that we hold foriii \\v Death and Suf- 
 ferings in a far more extcnfive Manner than many 
 
 others 
 
9? A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 others do ; for a great many will have ir, that 
 Chrift only died for the Believers, and a Parr of 
 Mankind ; but we believe, according to the Scrip- 
 Heb. ii. 5?. ture, that he tailed Death for every Man : But ws fee 
 Jefus^ who was made a little lower than the Angels^ for 
 ihefuffering of Beatb^ crowned with Glory and Honour^ 
 that he hy the Grace of God Jhould tafie Death for 
 1 John iu every Man, My little Children^ thefe 'Things write 1 
 '' ^- unto you^ that ye fin not ; and if any Man fin we 
 
 have an Advocate with the Father^ Jefus Chrifi the 
 Righteous ; and he is the Propitiation for our Sins, 
 and not for ours only^ hut alfo for the Sins of the whole 
 World. Here is the wonderful Love of God fee 
 |lom.v.i8. fo^th to Mankind univerfally ; Therefore^ as by the 
 Offence of One ^ Judgment came upon all to Condemna- 
 tion ; evenfo hy the Righteoufnefs of One^ the free Gift 
 came upon all Men to Jufiification of Life, So that 
 the Plaifler is as broad as the Sore. Now although 
 we believe that Chrift has, by his offering up of 
 himfelf once for all, cleared the Score, fo far upon 
 the Account of Infants and Mankind in general, 
 that no Man will perifh becaufe of the Sin ot Adam ; 
 yet we do not believe that the Death and Sufferings 
 of Chrift v/ithout the Gates of Jerufalem will render 
 Men juftified, and acceptable in the Sight of God, 
 except they know him that died for them, to re- 
 deem them out of adual Sinning, and from thofe 
 Things that unfit them for the Kingdom of God : 
 rcor.vi. Know ye not^ faith the Apoftle, that the Unrighteous 
 9, io, II. jj^^ii ^Q^ inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived \ 
 neither Fornicators^ nor Idolaters^ nor Adulterers, nor 
 Effeminate^ nor Ahufers of themfelves with Mankind, 
 nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Re- 
 viler s, nor Extortioners, fhall inherit the Kingdom of 
 God \ and fuch were fome of yoUy but ye are wafjed, 
 hut ye are fan£fified^ but ye are juffified in the Name 
 of the Lord Jefus Chrifi, and by the Spirit of our 
 God, Here the i^poftle has clearly fet forth how 
 
to ^\l P E P L E. 99 
 
 Men are juftlfied. Now this is what wc are con- 
 cerned for, that all People may come to know the 
 Lord to work a Change in their Hearts, and wafh 
 them by his Spirit ; He faved us by the IVajhing <?/Titus in. 
 Regeneration^ and the Renewing of the Holy Ghoft^ 
 which he [bed on us abundantly^ through Jefus Chrift 
 our Saviour. Now here is Salvation and Juftification 
 by Chrift upon a true and right Foundation ; And ^^^*' *• ^i* 
 Jhe Jhall bring forth a Son, and thou Jloalt call his 
 Name Jesus, for he fhall fave his People from their 
 Sins. Mark, that Salvation from Sin is the Way 
 for Men to be faved by Chrift, from the Wrath to 
 come ; for we read, that Tribulation and AnguifJo Rom, il. 9, 
 will be upon every Soul of Man that doth evil^ of 
 the J^^ frft, and alfo of the Gentile. There is there- Roiw. viii. 
 fore now no Condemnation to them which are in Chriji *• 
 Jejus^ who walk not after the Flefh^ but after the 
 Spirit. As Men come to witnefs a being waftied and 
 fandified, and brought into Chrift, and know their 
 Abiding to be in him, they are redeemed out of 
 thofe Things that bring Condemnation. 
 
 If any Man be in Chrift, he is a new Creature, 
 Whofoever abideth in him^ finneth not. We know that ijohniii^ 
 whofoever is born of God^ Jinneth not ; but he that is , , g 
 begotten of God, keepelb himfelf^ and that wicked One 
 ioucheth him not. He that believeth on the Son of God^ ijohnv.as; 
 hath the Witnefs in himfelf. This is the Sum of all, 
 for Men fo to live, that they may have the Witnefs 
 in themfelves, that they pleafe God. We read con- 
 cerning Ewor^, that before he was tranflated, he had 
 this Teftimony, that he pleafed God. If our Heart ijohaOu 
 condemn us., God is greater than our Hearty and'^^'^^" 
 knoweth all Things : If our Heart condemn us not^ 
 then have we Confidence towards God. Friendly 
 Reader, whoever thou art, that art conderrined and 
 reproved in thyfclf, for that which is evil, I ten- 
 derly dtrfire thou mayft turn to that holy Spirit, 
 which doth inwardly reprove thee for it : If 1 ^0 
 
 not 
 
1 oo A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 John xvi. not awa^^ the Co7nforter will not come tinlo you ; hut 
 7»9' if I depart y I will fend him U7iio you^ and when he is 
 
 come^ he will reprove the World of Sin. The fame 
 Holy Spirit that reproves Men for Sin, will not only 
 give them Power over thofe Things that they are 
 overcome with, which are evil, if they take heed 
 unto it J but as they come out of thofe Things 
 they are reproved for, it will be a divine Comforter 
 to them, and they will be inwardly juftiBed in 
 Titusii.ii, themfelves. We read, xhTiX. The Grace of God that 
 »2, 13. hrifjgeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men^ teaching 
 tis^ that denying Ungodlinefs^ and Worldly Lufi, we 
 Jkould live foherljy righteoufly^ and godly in this prefent 
 World^ looking for that hleffed Hope, and the glorious 
 Appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jefus 
 Chrifi, who gave himfelf for us, that he ?night redeem 
 us from all Iniquity^ and purify unto himfelf a pecu- 
 liar People^ zealous of good Works. Now although 
 the Apoftle has here fo excellently borne Teflimony 
 to the Sufficiency and Univerfality of the Grace of 
 God, many are (o narrow, that they are not willing 
 to own, that Chrift has died for all •, nor will they 
 allow, that faving Grace is given to all, although 
 we read, that a Manifeftation of the Spirit is given 
 to every Man to profit withal. And in the Parable 
 of the Sower^ that went forth to fow, the Seed fell 
 on all the four Sorts of Ground, but it did not 
 bring forth Fruit to Perfedlion, fave only in the 
 good Ground ; and the unprofitable Servant had a 
 Talent committed to him, which was fufficient for 
 him, if he had but improved it -, it is plain, that 
 the Fault was in himfelf •, fo that if any Man perifh, 
 he is the Caufe of his own Deftrudtion, as it was 
 faid of Ifrael, Ifrael, thou haft deftroyed thyfelf ! 
 Meii^ix. ^^^ ^^^y Help is in me. God gave them of his good 
 xo, 26, Spirit lo inftru^ the7}i, hut they rebelled againft him. 
 Many for want of a right tJnderflanding, have 
 made a very wrong Ufe of Paul's Words in the 
 
 Ninth 
 
io 2\\ P E O P L E. 
 
 lOI 
 
 lo. 
 
 Ninth of the Romans : For the Children being not yet Kora ijc. 
 born^ neither having do7ie any Good or Evil, that the^^'^^'^^' ^ 
 Piirpofc of God according to Eleofion might ft and, not 
 of iVorks^ hut of him that calleth, it was faid unto 
 her, the Elder fh all ferve the 2'^ounger, as it is written^ 
 Jacob have I loved, but Elau have I hated. Now the 
 Apoftle doth not fay, that before the Children were 
 born, it was faid, Jacob have I loved, and Efau 
 have I hated ; but that the Elder fhall ferve the 
 Tounger -, and as Uis written, Jacob have I loved, but 
 Efau have I hated : He has Reference to what is 
 written : Read Obediah, For thy Violence againft thy obed i. 
 Brother ]^Qob^ Shame fhall cover thee, and thou fh alt 
 he cut off for ever. If God had hated Efau, and or- 
 dained Pharaoh to perifh, before they were born, 
 he would have been a Refpedler of Ferfons, which 
 is contrary to the Apoftle Peter^s Teftimony ; Ofatiasx. 34 
 Truth, I perceive, faid he> that God is no Reffe6ler ^^* 
 of Perfons, but in every Nation he that feareth him^ 
 
 fnd worketh Righteoufnefs, is accepted with him. Here 
 re the Conditions laid down, upon which all People 
 may be accepted of God ; for we believe, as ir is 
 the Will of God, that all Men fhould be faved, fo 
 he gives to every Man a Day of Vification, in which 
 he inwardly ftrives with them, by his Holy Spirit, 
 to reclaim them. He ftrove long with the People 
 in the old World •, And the Lord faid, my Spirit Gen. vi s 
 fhall not alvjays ftrive with Man^ becaufe he alfo is 
 Flefh. There was a Time in which they might have 
 been faved, but they would not be reclaimed from 
 thofe Things that were difpleafmg to him, there- 
 fore he cut them off in his Wrath ; and there was 
 alfo a Time in which the Inhabitants of Jerufalem 
 might have been gathered, but they would not, 
 and our Saviour wept over them, and fiiid, O Jeru- Mat. x^iii, 
 falem ! Jerufalem ! thou that hlleft the Prophets, and'^'^'^^' 
 ftonejl them which are fent unto thee^ how often would 
 J have gathered thy Children together, even as a Hen 
 
 gather elh 
 
102 A ferlous Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 gather eth her Chickens under her JVings^ and ye would 
 not ? Behold 'jour Houfe is left unto 'jou defolate I 
 Chrift did not fay, they could not be gathered, 
 but faid, '^e would not ; fo that the Caufe why they 
 were not gathered, was not in the Lord, but in 
 themfelves : But if God by a fecret Decree, had be- 
 forehand determined their Deftruction, why fhould 
 he have fent his Servants to them, in order that they 
 might be gathered ? And what will People make of 
 our Saviour's weeping over them, if they were be- 
 fore ordained inevitably to perifh ? I wilh all may 
 confider thefe Things ferioufly *, the Apoflle faith, 
 Kcm. ix. IVhat if Gody willing to /hew his Wrath^ and to 
 22» make his Power known^ endured with much Long- 
 
 fuffering the Vejfels of Wrath fitted to DefiruSlion ? 
 And why is this Long-fuffering, but in order that 
 iPet. iii. ^h^y flight be gained upon ? Why was the Long- 
 ^^' f^ff^^^^Z of God, which waited in the Days of Noah, 
 
 while the Ark was preparing^ but that they might 
 be reclaimed from their wrong Doings ? When 
 Exod. V. 2. Tharaoh had refufed to let Ifrael go, and faid, Who 
 is the Lord^ that I fJoould ohey his Voice y to let Ifrael 
 go ? I know not, faid he, the Lord, neither will I let 
 fcxod.vii. Ifrael go •, then we read, that the Lord faid, / wilt 
 3- harden Pharaoh'j Heart, and jnultiply my Signs and 
 
 my Wonders in the Land of Egypt. And the Lord 
 Excd.xiv. fhewed his Power in his Deftrudion, as he did in 
 *^* the Deftrudion of the old World ; but let it be 
 
 confidered, that they brought this upon themfelves, 
 by their rebelling againft him *, for v/hy fhould the 
 Lord have ftriven with the old World, if he had 
 determined their Deftrudion beforehand ? Friendly 
 Reader, I defire the Lord may open thy Under- 
 ilanding by his Holy Spirit, that thou mayft have 
 a right Dilcerning of thefe Things ; Peter faith, 
 o Pet iii. Account that the Longfuffering of our Lord is Salva- 
 15, !<• tion, even as our beloved Brother Paul alfo, accord- 
 ing unto the Wifdom given unto hiiUy hath zvritten 
 
 ttnt9 
 
fo M P E O P L E. 103 
 
 ^}2to ^OH,^ as aifo in all his Eptfdes^ /peaking in the?n 
 of thefe Things^ in which are fome 1hi?:gs hard to be 
 underftood^ zvhich they that arc tmlearned^ and iin- 
 fiahle^ zvreft^ as they do alfo the other Scriptures^ unto 
 their o'uon T>efiru5lion, Peter did not mean chat ic 
 was thofe that were outwardly unlearned, rhaB 
 wrefled Fanlh Words \ for we read, that he and 
 John were both faid to be unlearned and ignorant 
 Men j Now when they faw the Boldnefs of Peter and Aas ir. i^ 
 John, and perceived that they were unlearned and 
 ignorant Men^ they marvelled^ and they took Know^ 
 ledge of them^ that they had been with Jefus. It was 
 then, and is now, luch as are unlearned in the 
 School of Chrifl-, that did and do wreft Paul's 
 Words ; and if People do not come to learn of 
 Chrift, it is no Wonder if they put wrong and 
 grofs Conftrudiions upon many Places of the Holy 
 Scriptures ; but although this Place hath been made 
 very ill Ufe of by many, the Apoftle Paul doth 
 give ample and full Teftimony of the good Will 
 of God to Mankind ; / exhort^ faith he, therefore^ iTim. ij. 
 that firfl of all^ Supplications^ Prayers^ Inter cejfionsy ' '* ^' ** 
 and giving of Thanks^ be made for all Men ; for 
 .Kings, and for all that are in Authority^ that we jna'Q 
 lead a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godlinefs and 
 Honefty *, for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of 
 God our Saviour, who will have all Men to be favedy 
 and to come unto the Knowledge of the *Truth, U the 
 Apoftle had believed, that a Part of Mankind were 
 ordained to perifh, before they were born, he would 
 not have advifed timothy to pray for all Men, nor 
 have told him, that it was the Will of God that all 
 Men fhould be faved : So that if any Man perifli, as 
 13 before obferved, the Fault is in himfelf ; Say unto Ezek ^x^wi 
 them, as I live^ faith the Lord God, I have no Plea- ^'' '^ '^' 
 fure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked 
 turn from his Way and live. When I fijall fay to the 
 Righteous^ that he fhall furely live •, if he truft to 
 
 his 
 
I04 -^ ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 his own Right eoufnefsy and commit Imquity^ ail his 
 Righteoufnefs Jhall not he rememhred^ hut for his Ini- 
 quity that he hath committed^ he Jhall die for it. 
 Again^ when I fay unto the Wicked^ thou Jh alt fur ely 
 die \ if he turn from his Sin, and do that which is 
 lawful and right \ if the Wicked refiore the Rledge^ 
 give again that he had rohhed^ walk in the Statutes of 
 Life, without committing Iniquity^ he Jhall furely live, 
 he /hall not die. I wifh chat all might ferioufly con- 
 fider this, and that all who think they (land and are 
 fecure, may take heed left they fall ; and that they 
 who have gone into evil Things, may be encou- 
 raged to turn to the Lord, by true Repentance and 
 Amendment of Life, that they may find Mercy at 
 Ifa.iv. 7: his Hand,, as the Prophet faith, Let the Wicked for- 
 fake his Way, and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts^ 
 and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have 
 Mercy^ and to our God^ and he will abundantly par- 
 don. We are not of their Mind that fay, once in 
 Grace and ever in Grace^ or that the lead Degree of 
 true and faving Grace cannot be fallen from •, but 
 we believe Men may now, as fome of old did, 
 make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Confcience *, 
 and from what is before faid, it is plain, that a 
 righteous Man may turn from his Righteoufnefs, 
 therefore it is good for all to be watchful : What I 
 fay to you^ faid Chrift to his Followers, I fay to all, 
 watch. No Man is longer fafe than he is upon his 
 Watch. It was when David and Peter v/trt off their 
 Watch, that they fell -, and the Mifcarriages that 
 are among the Children of Men, are owing to their 
 Unwatchtulnefs •, not but that we believe the Grace 
 and good Spirit of God is fufBcient to keep Men 
 trom falling and finning, and out of all evil and 
 hurtful Things, as they take heed unto it -, unto 
 which Grace, Friendly Reader, 1 commend thee for 
 Safety and Prefervation. 
 
 2. Concerning 
 
to M P E O P L E, 105 
 
 2. Concerning the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 ALTHO' fome have mifreprefcnred us, as tho* 
 we undervalued or difefteemed the Holy 
 Scriptures of the Old and New Teftamenc ; yec 
 we do blefs the Lord, and have great Caufe fo to 
 do, that the excellent Counfel therein contained, 
 which proceeded from the Spirit of God, is pre- 
 ferved upon Record to this Day ; and it is a great 
 Favour that we live under a Government, where we 
 have the Liberty to read them, this being a Privi- 
 lege that many called Chriftians are d'^prived of, 
 in fome other Countries •, and I wi(h that all would 
 be frequent in reading of them : The Apoflle Paul 
 commended Timothy^ in that frojn a Child he had f/^^^',"^- 
 known the Holy Scriptures^ which, faith he, are able 
 to make thee wife unto Salvation, through Faith, 
 which is in Chrift Jefus, All Scripture given by In- 
 fpiralion of God, is profitable for Bo^rine, for Reproof 
 for Corre^ion, for Inftrutlion in Righteoufrnf, that 
 the Man of God may be perfecl, throughly furnified 
 unto all good Works. Search the Scriptures., laith ^^^^^ 5$Jr 
 Chrift, for in them ye think ye have eternal Life^ 
 and they are they zvhich teftify of vie, and ye vfiU not 
 come to me that ye might have Life. They are greatly 
 to be valued, in that they teftify of Chrift, in whom 
 there is Power to give Men Vj^tory over their 
 Corruptions and PafFions, and ennble them to do 
 the Will of God -, we read that Chnft came unto Z?/j Jo^^" »• "» 
 own, and his own received him not j but as many as 
 received him, to them gave he Power to become the 
 Sons of God. They that receive Chrift by his Spirit 
 into their Hearts, they receive Power •, tor Cli rift's 
 Spirit is a Chriffian\ Strength : / can do all Things^ P^ii. ir. 13. 
 
 H faKh 
 
io6 A ferious Call m Christian LOVE 
 
 faith the Apodle, through Chrift, which 'ftrengthens 
 2VQt.i.2o,me, We read, th.a.t No Prop hefy cf the Scripture is 
 ^** of any private Interpretation -, for the Prophefy came 
 
 not in old Tune by the IVill of Man^ but holy Men 
 cf God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghof, 
 Now we fay, the mod true Inff^rpreter of the 
 Holy Scripture, is the Holy Ghoft, or Spirit, from 
 which they did proceed ; we read, that Th^ na4?iral 
 Man receives not the Things of the Spirit of God^ 
 neither can he know them^ faith the Text, and there 
 is a flrong Realbn laid down for it, becaufe they are 
 fpiritually difcerned ; they are beyond his Reach and 
 I Cor. ii. Comprehenfion ; For what Man knoweth the Things 
 "• of a Man^ fave the Spirit of a Man which is in him ; 
 
 even fo the Things of God knoweth no Man, hut the 
 Spirit of God, This is the Key which opens the 
 Myfteries of the Kingdom of God to Men ; I take 
 this to be the great Reafon why there are fuch great 
 Miftakes about Religion, and why many put fuch 
 grofs Confrrui^tions upon many Parts of the Holy 
 Scriptures, as they do, becaufe they do not come 
 to that divine Spirit which gives a right and true 
 Jcbxxxii. Underftanding ♦, as Elihu laid, There is a Spirit hi 
 ^* Man, and the Infpiration of the Ahiighty giveth them 
 
 Underftanding. Till Men come to the Holy Spirit 
 of God in rhemfelves, they can neither know God, 
 ,Mat.xi.27.nor the Things of God *, for we read, that No Man 
 knoweth the Father fave the Son, and he to whomfoever 
 the Son will reveal him. Now if Revelation was 
 ceafed, as fome do imagine it is, what a fad Con- 
 dition would Mankind be in ? For we read, the 
 World by JVifdom knows not God ; there is no 
 Knowledge of God, but by the Revelation of his 
 Son •, and it is as Men come to have an inward 
 Knov/Iedge of God, that they come to have a right 
 Underllanding of the Holy Scriptures, which pro- 
 ceeded from the good Spirit of God, wherefore we 
 highly value them j though it is to be feared, lome 
 
 called 
 
fo ^n P E P L E. 107 
 
 Called Chrijiians do di/believe many of the great 
 Truths therein contained ; for 1 believe, that a Man, 
 through often rebeUing againfl the Holy Spirit of 
 God in himfelf, may arrive to fuch a Degree of 
 Wicktdnefs, that he may rejedl the Scriptures, and 
 count them but Fables -, and may be fo far from 
 owning of any Thing of God in Man, as to deny 
 the Lord that bought him, and according to Pfalm 
 xiv. 1. he may fay in his Heart, there is no God. It 
 is the Work of the Enemy of all Righteoufnefs, 
 to perfuade Men that there is no God, and that 
 the Scriptures are but a Ficlion, and that Men are 
 not accountable for their Words or Actions, and 
 that there are no future Rewards and Punifhments ; 
 that they might walk at large, and take their full 
 Swing in Wickednefs. It is greatly to be defired, 
 if there be any fuch now living, whofe Day of 
 Mercy is not wholly over, that have arrived to 
 fuch a Degree of Hardnefs and Wickednefs as this 
 is, that they may be brought to a Senfe of their Ini- 
 quity and Error, and be io truly humbled in Soul 
 becaufe thereof, that if pofTible, they might find 
 Mercy at the Lord's Hand. The better Chriftian 
 that any Man is, the more true and real Value he 
 has for the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 3. Concerning Worship. 
 
 WE live in a Time in which there is great • 
 Diiierence, even among thofe caUed Chrif- 
 tians^ about Religion and the Worfhip of God. 
 Difference about Religion and the Worfhip of God 
 is no new Thing ; the Jezvs and Samaritans dilTered John iv. 
 to fuch a Degree, that it feems they did not deal 
 with one another. It is very much amifs, where 
 Religion fours People, and mnkes them ri'^id, and 
 bitter one againfi another. Chnjlianits \s Love, rnd 
 
 H 2 he 
 
iq8 a ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 he that is a Chrijlian in his Heart, is full of Pity 
 
 and good Will to them that are under a Mifbake 
 
 in Macttrs of Religion •, and the word that he wifhes 
 
 for all liich, is, that the Lord may dired: them 
 
 right ; for they that have the Mind of Chrift, 
 
 would not have any Soul to err, either in Faith 
 
 or Pracflice. Our Saviour in his Difcourfe with the 
 
 Woman of Samaria^ has clearly defcribed the true 
 
 John iv. and fpiritual Worfhip *, But the Hour cometh^ and 
 
 23> 24. ^^^ ^^^ when the true Worfhippers Jhall worjhip the 
 
 Father in Spirit and in 'Truth -, for the Father feeketb 
 
 fuch to worjhip him, God is a Spirit^ and they that 
 
 %vorJhip him, mufi worjhip him in Spirit and in Truth, 
 
 Now we believe, that as God is a Spirit, he may be 
 
 truly worfhipped, as we are gathered in his Spirit, 
 
 though there be not a Word outwardly fpoken 
 
 Mat. xviii. among us, as Chriftifaid, Where two or three are 
 
 ^°* gathered together in my Name, there am I in the 
 
 ifa. xi. 31. Midjl of them ; and the holy Prophet faith, They 
 
 that wait upon the Lord^ Jhall renew their Strength : 
 
 They Jhall mount up with Wings as Eagles ; they Jhall 
 
 run, and not he weary *, and they Jb all walk, and not 
 
 faint. Although I believe a great many pious good 
 
 Chrijlians can fay, as they have waited humbly 
 
 upon the Lord, in true Silence of all Flefh, with 
 
 their Minds truly ilaid upon him, they have enjoyed 
 
 that divine Comfort which has been beyond what 
 
 they could exprefs in Words ; yet this of filent 
 
 Waiting is a great Myftery to many People. There 
 
 is a divine Teacher near Men, even in their own 
 
 Hearts, which is fufiicient to teach them, as they 
 
 take heed thereto. It is to be feared, that many 
 
 People too much depend upon the Teachings of 
 
 Men, and negledl the divine Teacher in themfelves ; 
 
 t Tohn ii. But the Anointing which ye have received of him^ 
 
 ^7* abide th in you \ and ye need not that any Man teaih 
 
 you^ but as the fame Anointing teacheth you of all 
 
 Things^ and is Truth, and is no Lie \ and even as it 
 
 hath 
 
to d\l P E O P L E. 109 
 
 hath iaithght you, ye Jhall abide in him. Now we 
 underftand the holy Man here, to fpeak in a large 
 Senle \ he told them, that they needed nor that any 
 Man taught them, but as the fame Anointing 
 taught them, ^c. We do very much own outward 
 Preaching and Praying, where ir proceeds from this 
 divine Anointing. If ic pleaOi God to fpeak by this 
 through any Inftnimcnts, whether Male or Female, 
 we beh'eve there Ihould be Liberty amongft us, for 
 every one to fpeak as he requires it of them ; ^^^^ i co^.^xiv. 
 Y may aV prophefy one by one^ that all may learn, 
 and all may he comforted ; and the Spirits of the Pro- 
 phets are fubjcB to the Prophets, And they were all ^^^ *^'- *• 
 filled with tte Holy Ghoft, and began to fpeak with 
 other Tongues^ as the Spirit gave them Utterance. We 
 believe the true Preaching, and Praying, is that 
 which proceeds from the Holy Spirit -, JVe know not^°^ ^'^'^-^ 
 what we JJoould pray for as we ought, but the Spirit 
 itfelf maketh Intercejfton for us^ with Groanings which 
 cannot be uttered, I will pray with the Spirit, and I^^ 
 will pray with the Underfianding aljo : I will fing 
 with the Spirit^ and I will fing with the Underfiand- 
 ing alfo. 
 
 This is the Preaching, and Praying, and Singing, 
 which we own, that is by the Direction and AlTi fi- 
 ance of the Holy Spirit. Now fome being againft 
 Womens fpeaking in the Church, urae what the 
 Apoftle faith, Let your Women keep Silence in the ^ Cor. xir. 
 Churches^ for it is not permitted unto them to fpeak •, ^^*^^' 
 hut they are commanded to be under Obedience, as alfo 
 faith the haw, and if they will learn any Thing, let 
 them ajk their Huflmnds at Home^ for it is a Shame 
 for Women to fpeak in the Church. Let the Women < Tim ». 
 learn in Silence with all Subje5iion *, but I fuffer not a "'"* 
 Woman to teach^ nor to ufurp Authority over the Man^ 
 but to be in Silence. We do not take this to be a 
 prohibiting holy Women to fpeak, whom the Lord 
 calls thereto ^ and I think it would be very much 
 
 H 3 amifa 
 
I lo A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 amifs to fay, that the Apoftle Paul was againfl 
 holy Women fpeaking, whom God called to fpeak ; 
 but fuch troublefome and unruly Women as dif- 
 turbed the Church by their Queftions, and ufurped 
 Authority over the Man, which he v/as againft, we 
 are againft. If the Apoftle Paul had been againft 
 holy Women Praying and Prophefying, why fhould 
 he lay down a Rule how they ought to behave 
 
 I Cor.x.5. themfelves when they Pray or Prophefy ? But every 
 Women that Prayetb or Prophefieth with her Head 
 uncovered^ dijioonoureth her Head, And he commends 
 
 Rom. xvi. to the Believers divers good Women. / commend 
 
 ' ^^ ^^* unto you Phebe our Sifter^ which is a Servant of the 
 Church, All good Minifters of Jefus Chrift are 
 Servants to the Church. And he advifed his true 
 Yoke-fellow, to help thofe Women which laboured 
 with him in the Gofpel ; fo that he was an Encourager 
 of holy Women, that laboured in the Gofpel : We 
 
 Luke ii. read, that y^;?;?^ fpoke in the Temple, and [he was 
 
 ^^'^ ' a Widow qf about Four/core and four Tears, which 
 departed not from the 'temple^ but ferved God with 
 Fajlings and Prayers^ Night and Day ; and flje coming 
 in that Infant^ gave Thanks likewife unto the Lord^ 
 and fpake of him to all them that looked for Redemp- 
 tion in Jerufalem. And we read, that Philip the 
 Evangel lil had four Daughters, Virgins, and they 
 did all Prophefy. And Joel alfo prophefied that 
 
 f^'^'g^'^^' God would pour forth ot his Spirit, i^c. But this 
 is that, faith Peter, which was fpoken by the Prophet 
 Joel ; and it Jhall come to pafs in the lajl Days, 
 faith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all Fleflj, 
 and your Sons and your Daughters (hall prophefy, and 
 your young Men foall fee Vifions, and your old Men 
 Jhall dream Drea?ns, and on my Servants, and on my 
 Handmaidens, I will pour out in thofe Days of my 
 Spirit, and they Jhall prophefy. Now although Pro- 
 phefying is feveral Times taken in the Scripture .^or 
 
 ier. xxi. ioretclling Hiings to come ; read Jeremiah, and 
 
 feveral 
 
fo ^11 P E P L E, HI 
 
 feveral other Prophefies of the Prophets -, yet it is 
 alfo taken for edifying the Church ; Bta he that^^^^'''^''' 
 frophefieth^ fpeaketh unto Men to Edification, and 
 Exhortation^ and Comfort. He that fpeaketh in an 
 unknown ^ongue^ edifieth himfelf \ hut he that pro- 
 phefieth^ edifieth the Church. ' Mary was fent by 
 Chrift to declare of his RefurrediGn, Jefus faith \'^''''''' 
 unto her^ touch me not, for I am not yet afcended to 
 piy Father ; . hut go to 7ny Brethren^ and fay unto 
 them, I afcend unto my Father^ and your Father^ and 
 to my God^ and your God. And the Woman of Sa- ' 
 maria was inftrumental to bring many of her Neigh- 
 bours to believe in Chrifl ; fhe faid. Come fee ^Mj«Johaiv. 
 that has told me all that ever I did^ is not this the ^^' ^^ 
 Chrift ? And many of the Samaritans of that City 
 believed on him, for the Saying of the Woman, which 
 teftified, he told me all that ever I did. Now it is to 
 Chrift, as he inwardly appears in Mens Hearts by 
 his Light and Spirit, that we defire all may come. 
 It is he that fhews Men when they do amifs. Chrift 
 within, which is the Hope ofi the Saints Glory, is acol. i. 27. 
 great Myftery to many People. When it pleafedGaX.i. 16. 
 God^ faith the Apoftle Paul, to reveal his Son in me^ 
 that I might preach him among //[?^ Heathen, imme- 
 diately I conferred not with FUfh and Blood : Here 
 was the Son of God revealed in him. Nov/ that all 
 may have a right Underftanding of the Things of 
 God, we defire that they may come to him that 
 hath the Key o^ David, that opens the Myfteriesof 
 the Kino;dom of God to Men. 
 
 H 4 4. Concerning 
 
112 A ferious Call In Christian LOVE, 
 
 B 
 
 4. Concerning Baptism, 
 
 Ecaufe of our Difufe of Water-Baptifm, and 
 Bread and Wine, we have been very hardly 
 fpoke of, as though we denied the Ordinances of 
 Jefus Chrift ; whenas there is no People that I 
 know of, that do more truly own the Neceffity of 
 believing and being baptized than we do ; but we 
 do not underfland it to be only an hiftorical Belief 
 of the Conception and Birth, and Life and Miracles, 
 and alfo of the Death and Sufferings, and Refur- 
 redion and Afcenfion of Chrift, or a beir^g out- 
 wardly baptized with Water, that will entitle Men 
 Aasviii. ^^ Salvation *, for we read, that Simon the Sorcerer 
 J3, 23. believed^ and was baptized^ and yet he was fo far 
 from being in a State of Salvation, that Peter faith 
 to him, I perceive thou art in the Gall of Bitter nefs^ 
 and in the Bond of Iniqiiit'^. But left any fhould be 
 under a Miftake, and take the Bapcifm of Water 
 to be the one efiential and faving Baptifm, hear the 
 1 Pet. Jii. Apoftle Peter j When once the hongfiiffering of God 
 CO, 21. 1-;:, ailed in the Day of Noah, while the Ark was prc- 
 farin^^ zvherein few^ that is, eight Souls were faved 
 by Water. The Antitype whereof, even Baptifm, doth 
 alfo novj fave us *, not the putting away of the Filth oj 
 the Flefhy [mark that] but the Ayifwer of a good Con- 
 fcience towards God, by the Refurre^ion of Jefus 
 Chrift, Now it is the Baptifm of Chrift, by his 
 Spirit, that brings Men to that ; for it is plain, 
 from the Initance of Simon before noted, that a 
 Man may believe, and be baptized with Water, and 
 be fb far from havir.g the Anfwer of a good Con- 
 fcience, that he may be in the Gall of Bit tern efs^ and 
 in the Bend of Iniquity, wliich \^ the very Reverie of 
 
 Chriftianity 
 
to ^W P E P L E. 113 
 
 ChriJIiamiy, A great many take the CommifTion in 
 the 28th of Matthew^ to be a Commiffion for 
 Water- Baptifm ; Go ye therefore and teacb all Na- Mu^xtviii, 
 tions^ baptizing them in the Name of the Father^ and *5>* 
 of the Son^ and of the Holy Ghojl. Now here is no 
 Mention of Water. Is it not reafonable to fuppofe, 
 that if our dear Lord had intended that they fhould 
 baptize with Water, that he would have exprefly 
 mentioned it. Although the Apoftle Paul was not 
 inferior to the chief of the Apoftles, he faith, /J^or. i. 
 thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crifpus and 17! 
 Gaius, left any Jhould fay, that I had baptized in mine 
 own Name -, and 1 baptized alfo the Houfhold of Ste- 
 phanas ; befides, I know not whether I baptized any 
 other ; for Chrift Jent me not to boilizey but to 
 preach the Gofpel. So that what he di.i -p. that Cafe, 
 was by way of Condefcenlion, as in :he Cafe of 
 Qwcuma^m^ Timothy, and going into the Temple, AasxTi.?. 
 and purifying himlclf. It would be a weak Thing ^'^^*"'^'^' 
 to plead for thefe Things now, becaufe the Apoftle 
 pradifed them. Doth it therefore foih)w, that 
 Water-Baptifm fliould be praclifed now, becaufe 
 the Apoftle Paul^ by way of Condefcenfion, prac- 
 tifed it ? For if he had took that Commilfton, 
 Mat. xxviii. 19. to be a Commiirion for him to 
 baptize with outward Water, we may fafcly con- 
 clude, that he would not have thanked God that 
 he had done him fo little Service. We do not deny, 
 but that fome other of the Apoftles did alfo, by 
 way of Condefcenfion, pra6life Water-Baptifm •, but 
 that they were commanded to baptize with Water 
 in that CommiiiTion, I think will be too hard for Mat.xxviii. 
 any body to prove. It is poftiblc fome may be ^9* 
 ready to fay, it muft needs be meant of Water ; 
 becaufe, fay they, no Man can baptize with the 
 Spirit, or into the Power and Spirit of Chrift : 
 We freely own, that no Man, as he is a Man, by 
 his ov/n Power can do this \ neither can any M.m 
 
 by 
 
114 -^ ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 Mat. X. s. by his own Power, as he is Man, heal the Stck^ 
 
 ckanfe the Lepers^ raife the Dead, caft cut Devils^ 
 and yet we. 5nd the DifcipJes were commanded to 
 do ihefe Things. And by the (amt Power, by which 
 they did cafe out many Devils, and healed the Sick, 
 &c, they were inftrumental to baptize Men into the 
 ^sxi.15, jsjame and Power of Chrid. Jnd ai I began to 
 fpeak^ faith Pete?\ the Holy Ghofi fell on them as on 
 us at the Beginning, Then rememhred I the Word of 
 the Lord^ how that he faid^ John trtdy hapiized with 
 JVaier^ hut ye fhall he hapiized with the Holy Ghoft. 
 At the great Meeting we read of in the fecond of 
 J5fs^ Vtrk the 4th, it is faid, They were all filled 
 with the Holy Ghoft^ and hegan to Jpeak with other 
 Tongues as the Spirit gave them Utterance ; yet-fome 
 of the Mukiiude mocked, and were fo ignorant of 
 the Operation of the Holy Ghoft, that they fliid, 
 Verfe 13, Thefe Men are full of New JVine : But 
 Peter fianding up with the Eleven^ lijt up his Voice, 
 and faid unto them^ T^e Men <?/ Judah, and all ye that 
 dwell ai Jerufalem, he this knovm unto you, and 
 hearken to my Words ^ for thefe are not drunken as ye 
 fuppofe, feeing it is hut the third Hour of the Bay -, 
 but this IS that which was fpoken hy the Prophet Joel, 
 (jjc. It is hard to make Men fenfible oi the Opera- 
 tion of the Holy Ghoft, and of the fpiritual Baptifm, 
 while they are Strangers to the Spirit in themfeives ; 
 but if it could be proved, that the Difciples in that 
 Mat.xxviii. CommifTion were commanded to baptize with or 
 J^>*o. jj^ Water, which I believe cannot be done •, how- 
 will they that are for the Sprinkling of Infants, 
 prove their Praflice from that CommifTion, Go teach 
 all Nations^ &c. for they are not capable of being 
 AlIs xvi. taught. As to what is urged of the Jaylor, and all 
 33' his, and of whole Fanriilies being baptized ; there is 
 
 no Account that there were any Infants baptized in 
 any of them. There is abundance of Families now, 
 as (we may reafonably fuppofe) there were then, 
 
 in 
 
to ^11 P E O P L E. 115 
 
 in which there are no little Children. As to that 
 of our Saviour, where he faith, Suffer little Children 
 'to come unto me^ and forbid them not^ for of fuch is . 
 
 the Kingdom^ it cannot be proved from Scripture, 
 that he baptized any of them in, or with Water, 
 But as to this Pradlice ot Sprinkling Infants, it is 
 fo much without Foundation in the Scripture, that 
 a great many People, who are not of our Society, 
 do not hold it or own it. The Way rightly ro 
 underftand this Commiflion, is to come to that 
 Spirit by which it was given forth. Many urge, 
 that our Saviour was baptized o\ John ; he was alfo Lukeu,2i: 
 circumcifed ; doth it therefore tollow that we muft 
 be circumcifed, becaufe he was circumcifed ? For 
 as he was born under the Law, he fulfilled the 
 Law, and he is the End of the haw for Right eon jnefs" 
 fake^ to all them that believe. When Chnlt came to 
 John to be baptized of him, John forbad him, 
 faying, I have need to be baptized of thee, ]r{tvtJohnM^t,ii\.if^ 
 the Baptift, who was the Adminiftrator of W^ater-^** 
 Baptifm, was fenfible that he had Need to be 
 baptized ot Chrift, with the Baptifm of the Holy 
 Ghoft : Suffer il to be fo 7iow^ f:\id Chrift. for thus Vct^c i^^ 
 it hecometh us to fulfil all Righteoufnefs : So that he 
 fulfilled the Righteoufnefs ot John's Difpenfation. 
 John has very clearly and excellently diftinguifhed 
 his Baptifm v/ith Water, from the Baptifm of Chrift, 
 with the Holy G'noft, I indeed baptize you with Mit/niCu 
 Water unto Repentance ; hut he that cometh after mc^ ^-» 
 is mightier than /, whofe Shoes 1 am not worthy to 
 bear -, he floall baptize you with the Holy Ghoft and 
 with Fire^ whofe Fan is in his Hand, and he will 
 thoroughly purge his Floor ^ and gather his Wheat into 
 the Garner^ but he will burn up the Chaff with un- 
 quenchable Fire. This is the Meflenger of the Cove- 
 nant, the Prophet fpeaks of 'The Lord whoju ye feekiUdX.ni.iyt. 
 J/jall fuddenly come 10 his Tetjiple, even the Meffenger 
 of the Covenant y whom ye delight in j behold he pall 
 
 come^ 
 
1 1 6 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 comey faith the Lord of Hofts^ hut who may abide the 
 Day of his Comings and who flmll ftand when he ap- 
 feareth ? For he is like a Refiner'' s Fire^ and like 
 Fuller^ s Soap : And he JJoall fit as a Refiner and Pu- 
 rifier of Silver^ and he (hall purify the Sons of Levi, 
 and purge them as Gold and Silver^ that they may offer 
 tinto the Lord an Offering in Right eoufn^fs. For this 
 End the Lord Jefus Chrift is come into the Hearts 
 of Men, by his Spirit, to purge them from their 
 Drofs, and waih them from their Uncleannefs, that 
 To they may be fitted for that Kingdom, inro which 
 nothing that is unclean can enter ; this is the Wafh- 
 ing which will avail, for Men to know their Hearts 
 to be wafhed from Wickednefs *, as it was faid to 
 Jerufalem^ wa(h thy Heart from Wickednefs. The 
 Apoftle Paul in his Epiftle to the Ephefians faith, 
 €ph.iv.5. thtrt IS one Lor d^ one Faiths one Baptifm ; John^ as 
 is before obferved, has diftinguifhed very plainly 
 between his Baptifm with Water, and the Baptifm 
 of Chrift with the Holy Ghofl. Now what we 
 defire is, that all might come to the Baptifm of the 
 Spirit, which the Apoflle and primitive Chriflians 
 t Cor. xii. witnefTed, who could fay. By one Spirit are we all 
 ^3* baptized into one Body^ whether we he Jews or Gen- 
 
 tiles, whether we he bond or free ; and have been all 
 Gal. iii. 2 7.'''^'^'^^ /o drink into one Spirit : (this is the one Bap- 
 tifm) For as many of you as have been baptized into 
 Chrtfl^ have put on Chrift. Now this is the Sum of 
 all, for Men to put on the Lord Jefus Chrifl, the 
 new and heavenly Man j then they will witnefs in- 
 ward Communion with the Lord. 
 
 But why are many of our fober Neighbours fo 
 ftrenuous for Water-Baptifm, and yet negled to 
 wafli one another's Feet ; v/hen as we read, John 
 xiii. Verfe i, to 14, that our Saviour wafhed the 
 Difciples Feet, and he told them, that he had given 
 them an Example, that as he had done to them, fo 
 they fhculd do to one another : Novv here is both 
 
 Example 
 
io z\l P E P L E. II 
 
 Ejfaqiple and Precept for this ; and if we afk many 
 fober People, why they are not in the Pradice of 
 this, I prelume many would be ready to anfwer, 
 that they look upon it to be but an outward and 
 vifible Sign, by which our Saviour iliewed his Fol- 
 lowers that they ought to ferve one another, and 
 be ready to do the meaneft Offices of Love if Need 
 require : And that they do not hold the ceremonious 
 Part of wafliing one anothers Feet to be obh'gatory 
 upon them, as long as they come to the fpiritual 
 Part of what was thereby fignified, although we 
 find that this was pradifed by our Saviour : Now 
 why they Ihould lay fuch Strefs upon Water- 
 Baptifm, which we cannot find was ever pradlifed 
 by our Saviour, and drop this, deferves their ferious 
 Confideration : But as we difufe Water-Baptifm, fo 
 we do alfo difufe the ceremonious Part of wafhing 
 one anothers Feet, being fenfible, that they who 
 are come to the fpiritual Part of what was thereby 
 fignified, are come to the End of the outward and 
 vifible Signs. 
 
 5. Concerning the Supper. 
 
 ALT HO' we difufe the outward Bread and 
 Wine, we do very truly own the fpiritual 
 Supper of the Lord, which is fpoken of in the 
 Revelations ; Behold^ I Jland at the Door afid knock ; Rev,iii.2». 
 if any Man hear my Voice ^ and open the Door^ I 
 will come in to him, and will fup with him, and he 
 with me. It is what we defire, that all religious 
 well-minded People, who confcientioufly receive the 
 outward Bread and Wine, may open the Door of 
 their Hearts, and receive the Lord Jefus Chrifl: by 
 his Spirit, that fo they may know an inward Supping 
 with him in his Kingdom •, for we read, The Kin^do?n. 
 
1 18 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 20 ^2r^*^ ^/ God cometh not with Ohfervations^ neither Jhall thej 
 fa'j^ lo here^ or lo there^ for behold the Kirigdom of 
 
 johnxiv. God ts withiu '^ou. I will not leave 'jou co?nfortlefs^ 
 (faid Chriil our Lord) I will come to 'jou. But I 
 
 Mat. xxvi.y^y unto you^ I will not drink henceforth of this Fruit 
 
 ^^* of the Vine^ until that Day\ when I drink it new with 
 
 you in 7ny Father'* s Kingdom. 
 
 He dwelleth with you, and Jhall he in 'you. And 
 
 Johnsvii, in that excellent Prayer^ he faith to his Father, / 
 
 ^^» in them^ and thou in me^ that they ?nay he made 
 
 ■perfeul in one^ and that the JVorld may know that thou 
 haft fent me, and haft loved them^ as thou haft loved 
 me. We bear Teflimony to the Coming of Chriil by 
 his Spirit into Mens Hearts ; and they that have 
 known him to wafh them throughly by the Water 
 of Regeneration, will know inward Communion witlv 
 
 ^« John 1. 3. the Lord, as the good Chriftians of old knew •, That 
 which we have feen^ and heard^ declare we unto you^ 
 that ye alfo may have Fellowf/jtp with us \ and truly 
 cur Fellow/hip is with the Father^ and with his Son 
 Jefus Chrift. They were People of blelTed Expe- 
 rience, and it is what we defire, that the Children 
 of Men might come to witnefs this in themfelves ; 
 for they that are come to have Feilowfhip with the 
 Father, and with the Son, are come to the End of 
 the outward Bread and Wine, even to the Glory of 
 the Gofpel Difpenfation, which is a Difpenfation of 
 Enjoyment ; for as Men are inwardly reconciled, 
 and brought into Favour with God, they come to 
 know a Feeding of that divine and living Bread 
 
 John vi.51. which comes down from Heaven ; I am (laid Chrift) 
 the living Bread zvhich came down from Heaven *, if 
 any Man eat of this Bread., he Jhall live for ever ; 
 and the Bread that I will give, is my Fleflo, zvhich T 
 will give for the Life of the IVorld. He that eateth 
 my Flejh^ and drinketh my Bloody dwelleth in me^ and 
 I in him. It is as Men witnefs this, that they can 
 fpeak from their own Experience, what a bielTed 
 
 Thins: 
 
VIU. 
 O, 2f. 
 
 fo M P E O P L E. 119 
 
 Thing it is to have inward Communion with Chrift. 
 It is the great BklTing of Wifdom's Children, that 
 iht brings them to the Subftance ; I U^ifdojn lead in Prov. 
 the V/ay of Right eotifrep^ in the Mid ft of the Paths of^' 
 Judgment^ that I may caufe thofe that love me to 
 inherit Suh fiance *, and 1 will fill their Treafiures, 
 Reader, this is what is defired for thee, that thou 
 mayfl come to the Subilance, that fo thou mayil 
 know a Feeding ot that divine and fpiritual Bread 
 which can only iauisfy the Soul, and a drinking of 
 the Wine of the Kingdom -, but it is hard to make 
 the natural Man fenfible of thefe Things ; they are 
 beyond his Reach and Comprehenfion. When our 
 Saviour told JSlicodemus^ that Except a Man he horn John ill. %, 
 again^ he cannot fiee the Kingdom of God *, Nicode- ^ 
 mus faith unto him. How can a Man he horn when 
 he is eld ; can he enter the fecond Time into his 
 Mother^s Womb, and he horn? Notwithflanding that 
 he was a Ruler of the Jews, he argued very grody ; 
 and how many, when we have borne Teftimony to 
 the inward Appearance of the Lord Jefus Chrift, by 
 his Light and Spirit in Mens Hearts, have made 
 very ftrange of it, and been ready to fay, How can 
 this be ? And when we have fpoken of Mens hav- 
 ing inward Feliowfliip with the Father, and with 
 his Son, v/hije they are upon the Earth, many 
 cannot underliand how this can be, although the 
 primitive Chrifiians had it in their own Experience, 
 as is before obferved. The Apoftle faith, Neither Ga.i.vli^ 
 Circumcifiion availeth any 'Thing, nor Uncircumcifion^ 
 hut a New Creature, It doth not avail in the Sight 
 of God, whether a Man be baptized with Water, 
 or not baptized with Water ; or whether he re- 
 ceives the Bread and Wine, or doth not receive it, 
 if he be not a new Creature : W^e read. If any^^ot y,_ 
 Man he in Chrifi^ he is a new Creature ; and as is *^* 
 before oblerved, except a Man he horn again, he 
 cannot fee the Kingdom of God. We greatly defire 
 
 that 
 
120 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 that all People might have this in their own Expe- 
 rience, that fo they might walk as becomes the 
 Children of God, and manifeft themfelves to be the 
 Followers and Difciples of Chrift, by their living 
 agreeably to his Doftrine ; for I count that is the 
 greateft outward vifible Sign, that any Man can 
 give, that he is truly a ChriHiany and a Member 
 of Chrift's Church, for him to live agreeably to 
 the Do6lrine of Chrift •, By this, faid our Saviour, 
 Jhall all Men know that ye are my Difciples^ if ye love 
 one another. Now, to Jove one another, to love 
 our Enemies, to do Good for Evil, to forgive In- 
 juries, to be juft and merciful, and walk humbly, 
 as Chriftians ought to do, are good outward vifible 
 Signs *, but we believe no outward Obfervations 
 Eph.v. 27. will make Men Chriftians^ and Members of that 
 pure Church which Chrift came to prefent to God, 
 without Spot or Wrinkle, or any fuch Thing, (but 
 that it Ihould be holy and without Blemifh) if they 
 do not knov/ the Lord to v/ork a Change in their 
 Hearts, and redeem them out of thofe Things 
 which unlit them for his holy Kingdom -, the 
 Rom. ii. Apoftle faith. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly^ 
 28, 29. neither is that Circumcijion which is outward in the 
 Flejh \ hut he is a Jew which is one inwardly^ and 
 Circumcijion is that of the Heart in the Spirit^ and not' 
 of the Letter^ whofe Praife is not of Men ^ hut of God. 
 As a Man's being outwardly circumcifed, and ob- 
 ferving a great many Jewijh Rites and Ceremonies, 
 did not make him a true and real Jew^ if he was 
 not one in his Heart *, fo it may be trujy faid, he is 
 not a Chriftian, that is only one outwardly, altho' 
 he has been outwardly baptized, and received the 
 Bread and Wine, and obl'erved a great many out- 
 ward Obfervations : If he is not one in his Heart, 
 all his outward Obfervations will not render him 
 acceptable in the Sight of God. What availed all the 
 Jews outward Obfervations while they lived in thofe 
 
 Things 
 
fo 2\l P E O P L E, Itzi 
 
 Things that difpleafed the Lord ? He that killeth^^^'Y'' 
 an Ox^ is as if he Jletv a Man ; he that [acnficelh a 
 Lamb^ as if he cut off a Bog's Neck ; he that offer elh 
 an Oblation^ as rf he offered SvSuies Blood \ he that 
 hirneih Incenfe^ as if he hleffed an Idol : Tea, they 
 have chofen their own Wap^ and their Scul delighteth 
 in their Abominations, I alfo zvill chufe thdr Delufions^ 
 and will bring their Fears upon them^ becaufe when I 
 called^ none did anfwerr, when I fpake, they did not 
 hear •, but they did Evil before JiJine Eyes, and chofe 
 that in which I delighted not. Here is the Reafon laid 
 down why the Lord was angry with them. Thefe 
 Things afford great Inftruclion and Caution •, and 
 I defire that all may Itrarn from what fuch brought 
 upon themfelves, through their chiifing their own 
 Ways, and delighting in their Abominations, to 
 beware of doing the like ; but they that are Chrift's, 
 and Chrifiians in reality, are crucified to the Worlds 
 with the Afledlions and Lulls thereof; and we de- 
 fire that all who are called Chrifiians, may demon- 
 (Irate themfelves to be fuch, by their fo doing, thac 
 they may witnefs the fpiritual Communion and 
 Supper here fpoken ct. There are many religious 
 People, particularly \n Hcllard, who do not profefs 
 to be of our Society ; though they do not clearly 
 fee beyond the Ufe of Water- Baptiim, and Bread 
 and Wine, do join with us in oppoHng Swearing 
 upon any Account ; becaufe they are convinced, 
 that all Swearing is forbidden by Chrifl : But I fay Mat. v. 94, 
 unto you^ Swear not at all \ neither by Heaven^ for 3?'3^>37' 
 \t is God's 'Throne *, nor by the Earth, for it is his 
 FootJl»ol ; neither by Jerufalern, for it is the City of 
 the great King -, neither JJjalt thon fivear by thy Headj 
 hecaufe thou canfi not make one Hair white or black ; 
 but let your Comjmmiiation be Tea^ 27a -, Nay, Nay ; 
 for whatfoever is more than thefe, cometh of Evil. And J^n^-csv 12. 
 the Apoftle James faith, But above all Things, my 
 Brethren^ fwear net \ neither by Heaven^ nor by the 
 
 I Earth, 
 
122 A ferious Call m Christian LOVE 
 
 Earth, neither by any other Oath •, hut let your Tea^ 
 be Tea \ and your Nay^ Nay -, left you fall into Con- 
 demnation. They are alfo one with us in oppofmg 
 Fighting, becaufe they look upon it to be contrary 
 
 Mat. V. 44. to his Doctrine, that taught his Followers to love 
 their Enemies ; But I fay unto you^ Love your Ene- 
 mies, hlefs them that curfe you^ do good to them that 
 hate you^ and pray for them which defpitefully ufe 
 you^ and perfecute you. They are of our Minds, 
 that the Miniftry (hould be free \ for they look 
 upon it to be contrary to Chrift's Dodrine, for Men 
 
 Mat. X. 8; to preach for Hire, and Worldly Ends, who faid 
 to his Minifters, Freely ye have received, freely give ; 
 • and they are likewife one with us, in holding forth 
 the iiniverfal Love of God to Men. Now although 
 there be many that are purely confcientious for the 
 Ufe of Water-Bapdfm, and Bread and Wine, we 
 have a great deal of Charity for all fuch •, for many 
 that are now joined in Society with us, were once 
 as much for the Uie of thefe Things, as many 
 well-minded People now are •, and as the Lord has 
 mercifully brought many of us, in a good Degree, 
 to witnefs the fpiritual Baptifm and Supper, we de- 
 flre that others might be brought to the Experience 
 thereof in themfeives •, and he that witneffes the 
 Subflance of what many allow that Water-Baprifm 
 and Bread and Wine, to be outward and vifible 
 Signs of, is come to the End of the Signs ; for I 
 hope I may be lafe in faying, all Signs end in their 
 Subilance. Now as we have Charity for all them, 
 who do confcienfioufly ufe thefe Things, we think 
 they ought to have Charity for us, if we difufe 
 them ; becaufe we believe they are ceafed in point 
 
 Kom. xiv. of Obligation •, and wc read, that IVhatfoever is not 
 
 ^3- • of Faith ^ is Sin. 
 
 6. Concerning 
 
to ^W P E P L E. 123 
 
 6. Concerning Perfection. 
 
 THIS Dodrine of Ferfccfion Tcem.^, very (Irange 
 and novel, ro many rhat wicnefs but little 
 Vidory in themlelves, over their Lufts and Paf- 
 fions •, and the Enemy of Man*s Plappinefs has per- 
 fuaded many People to believe, that there is no 
 PofTibiiity of overcoming their Corruptions and 
 Sins, while they are here upon Earth, that To they 
 may be quiet and ealy in them ; or of doing God's 
 Will, and keeping his Commands, that fo tney may 
 not endeavour for it. Now we believe that Goo's 
 Ways are equal ; Is not my T^ay^ faith the Lord,Ezek,xviii^ 
 equal? God is jjil in all his Doinge, and requires no ^^* 
 more of Men than he gives them Ability to per- 
 form. If God require that of Men which they were. 
 not able, neither of thf-mfelves, nor by any Grace 
 received, to perform, then it might be faid, that 
 his Ways were unequal, and that he was an hard 
 Mailer \ but that would be abominable to charge 
 upon the Almighty, who is full of Juilice and 
 Equity. The wife Man faith. Fear God, and hep Ecc\. xii, 
 his Command?nents^ for this is the whole Duty of Man. *^* 
 Now if God requires this of Men, as to be fure he 
 doth, then there is a PofTibiiity of it, or t\ky as is 
 before obferved, his Ways are unequal i but it is 
 tar from the. Children of God to charge him with 
 Injuflice. The difobedient and rebellious People of 
 Ifrael faJd, that the Way of the Lord was not 
 equal *, Tet. faith the Houfe of Ifrae], the fVay of //^^Ezek xviii. 
 Lord is not equal : O Houfe of Ifrael, are not my Ways'^'^' ^^* 
 equal ? Are not your Ways unequal ? Therefore I will 
 judge you ^ OHoufeoflfrd^], every Man according fo 
 his WaySy faith the 'Lord Gcd : Repent and turn your- 
 felves from all your TranfgreJ/ions, fo Iriquity /hail 
 ^"12 ' not 
 
154 ^ ferious Call hi Christian LOVE 
 
 net he your Ruin. Now Reader, from this thou 
 mayft gather what fort of People they were, that 
 faid the Way of the Lord was not equal. And we 
 read in the Parable of the Talents, that it was the 
 unprofitable Servant that complained of his Lord ; 
 Mat. XXV. ^hen he zubich had received the one Talenty came and 
 ^^ [aid., Lcrdy I knew thee^ that thou art an hard Man^ 
 
 reaping where thou haft not fown^ and gathering where 
 thou haft not ftrazved. 
 
 Now we do not read, that the good Servants that 
 had improved the Talents, complained of their 
 Lord ', but we freely own, that no meer Man of 
 himfelf, by his own Power, as he is a Man, can do 
 the Will of God, and keep his Commands •, yet we 
 believe there is Power in that divine Grace, that the 
 Apoftle faith, hath appeared to all Men, to enable 
 them to overcome thofe Things which are evil, and 
 Tims ii, do that which is well pleafing to God ; For the 
 "• Grace of Gody that hringeth Salvation^ hath appeared 
 
 to all Men ; teaching uSy that denying Ungodlinefs and 
 worldh Luftsy we JJoould live foberlyy righteouft,y and 
 godly m this prefent IVorld. Here is both the Uni- 
 / verfality and Sufficiency of it, excellently fet forth 
 
 by the Apoflle ; My Grace, faith the Lord to the 
 Apoftle, is fi^fticient for thee. Although we freely 
 own, that we are weak of ourfelves, as Men, and 
 cannot of our own Power do any Thing that is 
 good, as Chrift faid, TViihout me ye can do nothing ; 
 yet we fay, there is Power and Sufficiency in the 
 Grace of God, to enable Men to do his Will, and 
 keep his Commands, as they take heed unto it ; / 
 am able^ faith tlie Apoftle, through Chrift who 
 ftrengthens ine^ to. do all Things. 
 
 It doth not confift with the Wifdom of the Holy 
 Ghoft, that thofe gracious Promifes which are 
 made conditionally upon Mens overcoming, and 
 doing the Commands ot God, fhould be made as 
 if there were no PofTibility of it j as He that over- 
 
 comes^ 
 
/^ all PEOPLE. 125 
 
 comes, Jkall inherit all Things, and I will he his God^ Rev. xxi. 7. 
 and he [hall he my Son. He that cvercometh^ the fame Kqv. hi 5. 
 Jhall he cloathed in white Rabnent^ and I ivill not blot 
 out his Name out of the Book of Life^ hut I will con- 
 fefs him before my Father, and before his Angels. Him RQy.iii.12* 
 that over Cometh., will 1 make a Pillar in the 'Temple of 
 my God-, and he fhall go no more out \ and I will write 
 upon him the Name of my God, and the Name of the 
 City of my God, which is New Jerufalem, which 
 Cometh down out of Heaven from my God ; and I will 
 write upon him my new Name. To him that overcomeih^ Rer. ii. if. 
 will 1 give to eat of the hidden 'Manna, and will give 
 him a white Stone., and in the Stone a new Name writ^ 
 ten, which no Man knoweth^ faving he that receiveth 
 it. He that overcometh.^ fhall not he hurt of the Jecond Rev. ii. n. 
 Death. Blejfed are they that do his Commandments, Rev. xxii. 
 that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, and may *♦• 
 enter in through the Gates into the City. To him that Rev. iii.2i. 
 over Cometh, will I grant to fit with me on my Throne., 
 even as I have overcome.^ and am fit down with my 
 Father in his Throne. He that overcometh, floall enter 
 in through the Gate into the holy City. And hereby we ijohn ii. z* 
 do know that we know him, if we keep bis Command- ^' 5> ^n 
 ments. He that faith, I know him, and keepeth not 
 his Commandments^ is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in 
 him ; but whofo keepeth his JVord.^ in him verily is the 
 Love of God perfected \ hereby know we that we are 
 in him. He that faith, he abidcth in him, ought him^ 
 felf alfo to walk, even as he walked. O that Chriftians^ 
 fo called, would confider how they ought to walk. 
 It is very unjuftifiable to deny Perfection, for we 
 read, that Chrifl came to prefent the Church to God^i^ y-^7» 
 without Spot or Wrinkle, or any fuch Thing *, hut that^^^, 13? *** 
 it flooidd he holy and without Blemijh. And he gave 
 fome Apojiles, and fome Prophets.^ andfome Evangelifls, 
 and fome Pajiors, and Teacher Sy for the perfecting of 
 the Saints, for the Work of the Minijlry^ for the 
 edifying of the Body of Chrift j //// we all come in the 
 
 I 3 Unity 
 
126 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 Unity of the Faith^ and of the Knowledge of the Son 
 of God, unto a perfe5l Man^ unto the Meajure of the 
 Stature of the Fulnefs of Chrifl. And the Scriptures 
 are for the making of the Man of God perfedl, 
 2Tim.iiL through Faith in Chrift Jefus. All Scripture given by 
 '^' '7- Infpiration of God^ is profitable for Doclrine, for Cor- 
 reiiioHy for Inftru^iion in Right eoufnefs, that the Man 
 of God ?nay be throughly, furnifhed unto all good fVorks, 
 And the Apoftle laboured to prefent Men perfect ; 
 fpeaking of Chrifl; within^ the Hope of Glory^ he faith, 
 poL i. 2?. whom we preachy warning every Man, and teaching 
 every Man in all Wifdom^ that zve may prefent every 
 Man perfe5i in Chrifl Jefus, Why fhould. they 
 Teach and Preach for this End, if there was no 
 PoOibility of attaining it ? Yet many have borne 
 hard upon us for afferting fuch FolTibility, although 
 it be the Doclrine of Chrift : If it be but well con- 
 fidered, I think they hold Perfeflion to a great 
 Degree, that are called God-fathers, and God- 
 mothers, that do promife and vow three Things in 
 See the the Name of a Child when ic is fprinkled, viz. That 
 Engia.ld\^ // ^fhall forjake the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps 
 Catechifm. and Vanities of this wicked Worlds with all the finful 
 Lufis of the Flefo \ and that it fhall do God^s holy 
 IVill^ and keep his Commandments^ and walk in the 
 fame all the Days of its Life. I wifli they themfelves 
 may be found in the Pradice of what they here 
 promife for another. It is certain, Chriflians ought 
 to be as like Chrift as it's pofTible for Men and 
 "Women to be, and to walk even as he walked, as 
 far as they are capable. 
 
 He was holy, himnbic, meek, and merciful ; but 
 how much the reverfe are too many that profefs 
 to be his Followers ? Many who are for Imper- 
 fection, and fay, there is no Vidory over Sin while 
 here, do urge that of the Apoftle Paul^ where he 
 Rom. vii. faith. For I know that in me, that is in my Flefhy 
 ^^' divelletb no good Thing ; for to will isvrefent with 7ne^ 
 
 hit 
 
to ^\l P E O P L E. 127 
 
 hul bow to perform that iMch is good^ I find not ; for 
 the Good that 1 would^ that 1 do not ; hut the Evil 
 which I would not^ that I do. And Verfe 21, he 
 faith, I find then a Law, that -when I would do Good^ Rom vii. 
 Evil is prefent with me ; for I delight in the Law of^^ ^^'^^' 
 God, after the inward Man ; but I fee another Law 
 in my Members^ warring agabift the Law of my Mi'^d^ 
 and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin^ 
 which is in my Members : O wretched Man that I am^ 
 who fhall deliver ?ne frotn the Body of this Death ? \{ 
 the Reader pleafe, he may read the whole Chapter 
 through for his own Satisfadion j but we may not 
 reafonably fuppofe this to be the Apollle's prefent 
 State, but rather perfonating the carnal State of 
 others, or himfelf before Converfion, when he faith, 
 Verfe 14. But I am carnal^ fold under Sin ; for we 
 believe he was in a happy State and Condition when 
 he wrote that Epiftle ; as he faith in the fixrh 
 Chapter, Verfe 2, How fhall we that are dead to Sin^ 
 live any longer therein ? And in the eighth Chap- 
 ter, Verfe i, nere is therefore now no Condemnation 
 to them which are in Chrift Jefus, who walk not ajter 
 the Fle/h, but after the Spirit ; for the Law of the 
 Spirit of Life in Chrift Jefus, hath inade me free from 
 the Law of Sin and Death. I with that all might 
 come to experience thefe Things in themfelves. 
 Now Reader, if thou wilt obferve, although many 
 fay, that there is no Freedom from Sin on this Side 
 of the Grave, the ApoitJe faith in the fixth of the 
 fame Epiftle, Verfe 22, to the believing Romans, But 
 now being made free from Sin, and become Servants to 
 God, ye have your Fruit unto Holinefs^ and the End 
 everl aft ing Life, And Johnh'ilh in his firft Epiftle, 
 / have written unto you young Men, hecaufe ye are i john ii. 
 ftrong, and the IVord of God ahideth in you, and ye^^- 
 have overcome the wicked one. May a-ll come to the 
 Experience of this in themfelves. The Apoftle Paul 
 fj^id to the believing ColoJ/lnns^ ^hat they were com- coi. ii. 10. 
 
 I 4 pleat 
 
J28 A ferions Call tji Christian LOVE 
 
 pleat in him^ ivbich is the Head of all Principality and 
 
 Power, The Apoitle Pettr told the Believers, That 
 
 1 Per. n 9. iijpy ^^jrg ^ chojen Generation, a royal Priejlhood, an 
 
 holy Nation^ a peculiar People, that they might jhew 
 
 forth the Praifes of htjn who had called them out of 
 
 Darknefs into his inarvelous Light. To be lure thefe 
 
 did not break the Commands of God daily, in 
 
 I John V. Thought, Word and Deed, f^^e knew that the Son 
 
 ^^' of God is come, and has given us an Underft a tiding^ 
 
 that ws may knoiv him that is true *, and we are in 
 
 him that is true^ even in his Son Jefus Chrift : This is 
 
 John iii. i. i^g true God, and eternal Life. Beheld what 7tianner 
 
 of L.ove the Father J^ath heftowcd upon us^ that we 
 
 Jhould he called the Sons of God -, therefore the World 
 
 1 John iii. knoweth US not^ hecaufe it knew him not. Beloved^ now 
 
 ^ ^* are we the Sons of God^ and it doth not yet appear what 
 
 we JJoall be ; hut we know that when he fball appear^ 
 
 we fljall he like him ; for we fhall fee him as he is. 
 
 And every Man that hath this Hope in hijn^ purifieth 
 
 I John iii, himfelf^ even as he is pure. John faith, Whofoever 
 
 ^' ^* ahidelh in him, finneth riot. Whofoever is horn of God.^ 
 
 doth not commit Sin ; for his Seed remaineth in him, 
 
 and he cannot fin, hecaufe he is horn of God. It is 
 
 contrary to the divine Nature to fin *, and as Men 
 
 are born of it, they will not only knov/ a ceafing 
 
 from Sin, but it will be their Pleafure and Delight 
 
 to do the Will of God : Except a Man he horn 
 
 again, he cannot fee the Kingdom of God. Unlefs 
 
 Men are born of the divine and heavenly Nature, 
 
 they can never come to do the Will of God, nor 
 
 keep his Commands j for it is impoflible for Men, 
 
 while they are in the fallen and degenerate State, to 
 
 do God's Will, and walk in his Way ; we read, 
 
 That Enoch walked with God ; and before he was 
 
 tranflated, the Text faith, He had this Tefiimony^ 
 
 that he pleafed Gcd^ irieb. xi. 5. And concerning 
 
 Xacbanas and his Wife Elizabeth, the Text fays, 
 
 I^tike i. 6. They were both righteous before God, 
 
 walking 
 
to d\ P E O P L ^. 129 
 
 ^walking in all the Cojnmandments and Ordinances of the 
 Lord^ blamelefs : And tha: ail might take luch heed 
 to that divine Grace and good Spirit, which jGod 
 has gracioudy fent into their Hearts, that they 
 might v/alk in all well-pleafing before him, and in 
 the End have an Inheritance amongft them that are 
 Tanctified, is my fincere Defire. 
 
 7. Concerning the Resurrection, 
 
 BECAUSE we do not hold with a great many 
 People in their grofs Conceptions concerning 
 the Refurreulion^ therefore fome have not ftuck to 
 fay we deny it ; but we believe firmly, that there 
 will be a Refurredlion of the Juit and Unjufl, and Rev. xx. 
 that God will give to every Man a Reward accord- *^' '^' 
 ing to his Works, whether they be good or evil \ 
 but faith the Apoftle Paul, Some Men willfay^ How i Cor.xv, 
 ure the Dead ratfed up \ and with ivhat Body do they^'^' 
 come ? He faith to fuch a curious Enquirer, T/i>oUYe\-fe 36, 
 Fool, that ichich thou fozveft is not quickened except it ^7, ^83 1$, 
 die-, and that which thou fozuejfy thou foweft not that '^ '^'^' 
 Body that Jljall be^ but bare Grain, it may chance of 
 Wheat or fome other Grain ; but God giveth it a Body 
 as it hath pleafed hijn^ and to every Seed his own Body. 
 All Flefh is not the fame FlefJj ; but there is one Kind 
 ef Flefh of Men^ another Fleflj of Beafts^ another of 
 Fi/hes, and another of Birds ; there are alfo Celeftial 
 Bodies^ and Bodies Terr ef rial ; but the Glory of the 
 Celeftial is one^ and the Glory of the ^erreftrial is 
 another -, there is one Glory cf the Sun^ and another 
 Glory of the Moon^ and another Glory of the Stars ; 
 for one Star differ eth from another Star in Glory -, fo 
 'alfo is the Refurre3ion of the Dead : It is fczvn in 
 •Qorrtiptiony it is raifd in hccrntpion ; // is fown in 
 
 Difijonciir^ 
 
130 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 Dijhonour^ it is raijed in Glory ; it is foun in Weak- 
 nefs^ it is raifed in Power ; // is [own a natural Body^ 
 it is raifed a Spiritual Body, There is a natnral Body^ 
 and there is a fpirilual Body, We believe, if we faith- 
 fully ferve the Lord while we are here, we fhall have 
 fuch glorified Bodies hereafter, as he in his Wifdom 
 fees fit, and that fatisfies us : But the Apoftle faith, 
 1 Cor. XV. Verfe the 50th, that Flejh and Blood cannot inherit 
 ^^* the Kingdom of God ; neither doth Corruption inherit 
 
 Incorruption. Now what we defire is, that all may 
 Rev. XX. i. know a Part in the firft Refurredlion ; Bleffed and 
 . holy is he that hath a Fart in the firfl Refurre5iion \ 
 on fuch the fecond 'Death hath no Power, The true 
 1 John ill. Chrijiians knew, That they were paffed from Death to 
 '** *^* Life^ hecaufe they loved the Brethren : He^ faith the 
 Text, that loveth not his Brother^ abideth in Death : 
 Whofoever hateth his Brother,, is a Murderer^ and no 
 Murderer^ faith John,, hath eternal Life abiding in 
 iTim. V. 6. ^/?//. And,y faith Paiil^ fhe that lives in Pleafure^ is 
 dead while Jhe liveth. While Men and Women re- 
 main in a State of Death and Alienation from the 
 Lord, they are full of Envy and W^rath one againft 
 another ; and they live to gratify the luftful Defires 
 ijohniii. ^f the Flefh *, we read. That whofoever doth not 
 ^^- Righteoufnefsy is not of God, neither he that loveth not 
 
 hts Brother, O that all would ferioufly confider of 
 thefe Things, for it is greatly to be lamented how 
 wide many of the Profeifors of Chriflianity live from 
 the Do(5trine of Chrift and the primitive Chrijiians : 
 It is as Men come to know the fecond Adam^ the 
 Lord from Heaven, the quickning Spirit, to quicken 
 them, and make them alive, that they come to 
 Jove one another as Chrijiians ought to do ; and if 
 all did but live in the Spirit and Dodrine of Chrift, 
 they would not only be full of Love and Good-will 
 one to another, but would alfo bring forth other 
 holy and good Fruits ; and they whofe Fruits are 
 unto Holinefs, their End will be everlafting Life. 
 
 As 
 
to 2\\ P E O P L E. 
 
 As Men fow in this V/orld, fo they may exped to 
 reap in the next ; we read, That he that fows to the 
 Spirit^ /hall of the Spirit reap Life everlafling \ and 
 he that fows to the Flejh^ fhall of the Flejh reap Cor- 
 ruption. Men are not only accountable for grofs 
 Sins, but we are told by Chriil our Lord, that a 
 Man muft give an Account in the Day of Judgment 
 for every idle Word he fpeaks •, and the vviie Man 
 faith, God will bring every Work to Judgment^ with 
 everf fecret Things whether it he good or evil. Now 
 we think it not fafe for any to be too inquifuive how 
 the Dead fliall be raifed, and with what Bodies they 
 ihall come ; left that Reproof of the Apoftle, thou 
 Fool^ Ihould belong to them ; but \tl us all endea- 
 vour to live as becomes the Children of God, that 
 when we leave this World, we may have the com- 
 fortable Anfwer o^ Well done, enter into the Kingdom 
 prepared for you from the Foundation of the World ; 
 and all fuch will know a glorious Refurredion. 
 
 8. CGncerning Swearing. 
 
 WE do not only deny vain, rafli and falfe 
 Swearing, but we alfo confcientioufly refufe 
 to Iwear in any Cafe, or on any Account what- 
 Ibever, becaufe we believe that our Saviour, Mat. v. 
 33» 34» 35> 3^5 37^ «^id pofitively forbid all Swear- 
 ing, for he faith. Again ye have heard, that it hath 
 been faid by them of old Time, thou JJoah not forfwear 
 tbyfelf, hut JJoalt perform unto the Lord thine Oath. 
 But I fay unto you. Swear not at all ; neither by 
 Fieaven, for it is God's Throne ; nor by the Earth, for 
 it is his Footfiocl *, neither by Jerufalem, for it is the 
 City of the great King : Neither /halt thou fwear by 
 thy fjead^ becaufe thou canft not make one Hair white 
 
 or 
 
 13^ 
 
r32 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 or Hack. But let your Communication he Yea, Yea ; 
 Nay, Nay ; for wbatfoever is more than the fe^ cometh 
 of^ evil. From which it is very plain, that as they 
 of old allowed true Swearing, but forbad Forfwear- 
 ing or Perjury ^ fo our Saviour here forbids both 
 the one and the other, declaring, without any Ex- 
 ception, that whatfoever is more than Tea^ Tea ; 
 Nay^ Nay, cometh of evil. As for profane, vain and 
 ralh Swearing, it was alfo forbidden under the Law *, 
 )d. xx; for the third Command faith, T'hou Jhalt not take 
 the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, for he will not 
 hold him guiltlefs that taketh his Name in vain. And 
 as this our confcientious Refufal of an Oath, in all 
 Cafes, is grounded upon the exprefs Command of 
 Chrift, we have great Caufe to be thankful to the 
 King and Government, for their Favour, by enadl- 
 ing, that our Word, or Affirmation, fhall pafs in 
 Cafes of Evidence, inftead of an Oath. For many 
 of our elder Friends underwent great and grievous 
 Sufferings, by Fines, Confifcations, Baniffiments, 
 ynd Imprifonments to Death, for this their Chrijiian 
 Teftimony. Swearing is now become fo common, 
 that it may with Sorrow be obferved, that vain and 
 profane Swearing abounds ; Multitudes in their 
 common Converlation, being guilty of it, in open 
 Defiance and Violation, both of the Laws of God 
 and Man. 
 
 It is very much to be defired, that all who 
 profefs themfelves to be Followers of Chrift, may 
 live in Subjeftion to the Spirit of Chrift in tfiem- 
 felves, which leads into all Truth, and confe- 
 quently to fpeak Truth on all Occafions : Men and 
 Women under this Influence, may be very fafely 
 trufted. And it is a Reproach to any under the 
 Denomination of Chrifiians, that they cannot be 
 depended upon for the Truth of what they fay. 
 Religion, hov/ever, is not yet at fo low an Ebb, but 
 that there are many honed well-minded People 
 
(0 all PEOPLE. 133 
 
 of different Profeflions and Perfwafion*?, who have 
 gained fo great Credit and Reputation amongft fuch 
 
 .know them, that they are, and can be relied on 
 or the Truth of what they write or fpeak. And 
 were all to live up to the Dodrine of Chrid, there 
 V/ould be no Occafion for Swearing to awe Men 
 into Truth-fpeaking ; for the P'ear of God, which 
 is a ftronger and more forcible Tye than any Oath 
 that ever can be made, would always oblige and 
 engage them thereunto. 
 
 The People called fakers are not the only 
 People principled againlt Swearing. The Menomfts 
 in Holland^ and in the United Provinces^ they, and 
 their Ancellors, have for a long Series of Time con- 
 flantiy refufed to take an Oath in any Cafe what- 
 foever ; and the States have fo far indulged them, 
 as to eflablifli, that their Word fhall pafs in Evi, 
 dence, inftead of an Oath ; fubjeding them who 
 falfify their Words, to the fame Penalties as thofe 
 who are guilty of Perjury ; which we hold to be 
 very jufl and reafonable. The primitive Chriftians 
 did generally refufe to fwear ; and it is obfervable, 
 that when their cruel Perfecutors fometimes called 
 upon them to fwear, they return'd this fhort An- 
 fwer, / am a Chriftian. Divers of the ancient 
 Fathers, and Martyrs, and early Reformers, were 
 of the fame Sentiments on this Subjc6l ; fee Treatife 
 of Oaths, where the Reader will find many weighty 
 Reafons againft all manner ot Swearing, fupported 
 by the Example and Practice of eminent ChrifiianSy 
 Martyrs, and Reformers, in divers Ages of Chrif- 
 tianity ; and as this Subjed: is thoroughly difculs'd 
 in that ^reatife, and a full Anfwer there given to 
 the feveral Objections ufually made on this Head, 
 the Reader will find it well worth his Perufal ; a 
 few Qiiotations out of which faid Treatife, tran- 
 fcribed from William Penn's^ W^orks, Vol. 1. p. 6iG^ 
 627, 676^ 6.^:;, 6^7, are as follows j 
 
 *' ^ I. POLY. 
 
134 ^ ferious Call in Christian LOP^E 
 
 I. POLYCARPUS. * 
 
 « The firfl: Teftimony recorckd againft Swearing, 
 
 * after the Apoftles Times, was chat of Polycar- 
 
 * PUS, who had lived with the Apoftles, and was 
 ' faid to have been Difciple to Jchn^ not the lead 
 
 * of the Apoftles ; for at his Death, when the 
 
 * Governour bid himjwear^ defy Chrifi, &c. he faid, 
 
 * Four/core and fix Years have I ferved him^ yet hath 
 
 * be never offended me in any '^htng. The Proconful 
 
 * ftill urged and faid, Swear by the Fortune c/Casfar ; 
 
 * to whom Polycarpus anfwered. If thou re^uir eft this 
 < vain Glory ^ that 1 -proteft the Fortune of Caefar, as 
 
 * thou fayeft^ feigning thou knoweft not who I am^ hear 
 
 * freely^ fl am a Chriftian. This good Man began 
 ' his Fourfcore and Sixth Year about twenty Years 
 
 * after James wrote, Ahove ail Things^ my Brethren^ 
 « \wear yiot \ and feveral Years before John the 
 
 * *Apoftle deceafed, for he is called his Difciple.' 
 See his Hiftory and Commendations in Eufehius'% 
 Eccl. Hift. Lib. 4. Cap. 15. 
 
 2. JUSTIN MARTYR. II 
 
 Jpol. 2. 'pro Chriftiams ad Anton, Pium. Oper, p. 6q^, 
 
 * It was fome Time before his Suffering that 
 < J uftin- Martyr^ who is the firft we find writing of 
 ' it, publiih'd an Apology for the Chriftians in the 
 
 * Year 150, as himfelf faith *, and a fecond after 
 ' that, wherein he tells us, after the Dodrine of his 
 
 * Mafter, that we jJoould not [wear at alU but always 
 ' fpcak the Truth, He (that is Chrift) hath thus com- 
 
 * mandedf 
 
 * He fuffered Martyrdom at Smyrna about the Year \6^^ 
 
 + See the following Teftimony oi Bafilides, 
 
 II Me was put to Death at Rome, being fcgurged, apd afterwards 
 
 beheaded. Anno \6'6 
 
to all T TS, V Z E. 135 
 
 « manded^ Swear not at all ; but let your Yea be 
 
 * Yea, and your Nay, Nay j and what is more than 
 
 * jchefe is of Evil.' See his Praife and Martyrdom 
 in Eufehius foon after Polyarpts. 
 
 3. P O N T I C U S * and B L A N D I N A. 
 
 Eufeh. Ecclef. Hlfl:. Lib, 5. Cap, i. 
 
 * Under the fame Emperor, viz. yintoniuus Philo- 
 < fophus^ (fays Eufebius) fuffered alfo Ponticus of 15 
 ' Years of Age^ and Blandina a Virgin, with all 
 
 * kind of bitter Torments ; the Tormentors now 
 
 * and then urging them to jkjoear^ which they con- 
 ' ftantly refufed.' 
 
 4. BASILIDES. t 
 
 Eufeh, Ecclef. Hift. Uh. 6. Cap. 4. 
 
 * And in another Emperor's Reign, viz, Severusy 
 Bafilidesy a Soldier of Authority among the Hoft, 
 being appointed to lead Petamiena to Execution, 
 and by her convinced of the Truth in Chrid, was 
 after a while requiicd to fwear, but he affirmed 
 plainly, it ^-^cas not lawful for* him to fwear ; for^ 
 faid he, I am a Chriftian. He did not lay the 
 Unlawfulnefs upon that Oath, but upon fweari/ig 
 at all. The Hiftory only fays, his Companions 
 would have him fwear upon fome Occafion or 
 other, not mentioning by what, his Anf^ver was, 
 // is unlawful for me to fwear ; and why ? becaufe^ 
 faith he, lam a Chriftian. The Confequence is 
 plain, Chrijlians took no Oaths, theretare not 
 their Oaths/ 
 
 5. C H R Y. 
 
 • Ponticus a Youth of fifteen Years of Age, fuffered Maityrdo^aa, 
 together with Blandina, about the Year 177. 
 f iie was beheaded at Alexandria about the Year 204, 
 
J36 A ftrious Call in Christian LOFE 
 
 5. CHRYSOSTOM. 
 
 < Cbryfoftom in his Days, about the Year 398, a 
 
 * Man very famous in the Church, and therefore 
 
 * filled the Golden Bo^or, in his 15th Homily on 
 « Genefis^ faith, A Chriflian 77iufi Jlee Oalhs by all 
 ^ Means, hearing the Sentence ot Chrift, which 
 
 * faith. It was /aid to them of old^ ye Jhali not For- 
 
 * fwear^ hut I fay unto yoii^ Swear not at all. Let 
 ' none fay therefore, I fwear in a juft Bufinefs : It 
 ' is not lawful to fwear, neither in a juft nor unjuft 
 « Thing.' 
 
 6. The W A L D E N S E S. 
 
 ' The ancient ^ TValdenfes^ we have good Giufe 
 
 * to fay, denied the taking of any Oath in what 
 ' Senfe the primitive Chriflians and Fathers refufed, 
 ' and that was all together: To.be fure their Enemies 
 ^ charged them with it for above three hundred 
 
 * Years, and we cannot find that they then denied 
 
 * the Charge : We fuppofe none v/ill attempt to 
 
 * prove they did, for they were well known in the 
 
 * World as to this Particular.* 
 
 7. JOHN W I C K L I F F. 
 
 * John Wickliff^ our Countryman, and in his 
 ' Tmie Divinity Profejfor of Oxford^ famous for his 
 ' Learning and godly Courage, in oppugning the 
 ' Doctrines and FracSlice of Rome^ in the Time of 
 ' Edward the Thirds and Richard the Second^ about 
 ' the Year 1370, was accufed among other Things, 
 ' tor maintaining, that all Oaihs which he jnade for 
 
 * any ContraEl^ or civil Bargain^ betwixt Man and 
 
 * Man-t are unlawful,' 
 
 8. P R O- 
 
 * About the Year 131P. 
 
to all P E O P L K 137 
 
 S.PROTESTANT MARTYRS. 
 
 ^ < John Hufs^ Jeromoi Prague, Walter Brute^ WiU 
 
 * liam Swinderby^ William Sazv/ry, William Whiter 
 
 * William Thorp, Michael Sadler, and others, who 
 
 * futfered Death for the Froteftant Caufe, are re- 
 
 * corded to have refufed all Swearing, in any Cafe, 
 ' publick or private.' 
 
 The Conclusion. 
 
 HAVING made the foregoing Obfervations, 
 which are left to the Reader's ferious Con- 
 lideration ; what I greatly defire is, that all may 
 come to the practical Part of true Religion and 
 Chriflianily ; for although a Man may believe (ac- 
 cording to the Scripture) in God, who created the 
 Heavens and the Earth, and formed it to be in- 
 habited ; fee Ifa. xiv. 18. and alfo believe, thac 
 Chrift was conceived by the Holy Ghofb, born of 
 the Virgin Mary, and that he wrought many won- 
 derful Miracles, and luffered Death upon the Crofs, 
 as he was Man, for he could not die as he was God, 
 and that he was dead and buried, and rofe again, 
 and afcended up to Heaven, and that he is alfo 
 come again by his Spirit into Mens Hearts \ akho* 
 a Man may believe all thefe great Truths, and all 
 the Articles of the Chrijlian Faith i all this will not 
 entitle him to a Part in the Kingdom of God, unlefs 
 he comes to live an holy Life ; for we read. That lUh.xn, 
 ^without Holinefs no Man JJjall fee the Lord. Thou be- l^^^^ j^ 
 lieveft, faith the Apoflle, there is one God *, thou dofl 19, 20. * 
 li^ell : The Devils alfo believe and tremble. But wilt verfe 2^, 
 thou knoWf O vain Man^ that Faith without Works 
 is dead. F.r as the Body without the Spirit is dead, fo • 
 
 K Faitb 
 
138 A ferious Call in Christian L0V1& 
 
 James H. Faith withcut tVorks is dead. He faith. Shew my thy 
 '*** Faith without thy Works, and I will /hew thee my Faith 
 
 hy my Works. The Saints Faich gave them Vidlory^ 
 and wrought by Love, to the purifying of their 
 Hearts. The pradlical Part of Chrijlianity is too 
 much wanting amongft many of them that profefs 
 James i.27» to be the Followers of Chrift. 'To vifit the Widow 
 and Fatherlefs in their Affii5lion, and to keep themfelves 
 un[potted from the World, is the Religion which will 
 avail Men in a dying Hour. It is very good for 
 thofe unto whom the Lord has opened his Hand 
 wide, and bleft with a plentiful Share of thefe low 
 Things, to be full of Bowels of CompafTion towards 
 them that are in Want and Diftrefs, and to ftand up 
 for the Right of the Widow and Fatherlefs, this is 
 one Part of true Chrijlianity ; but to wrong and op- 
 prefs the Widow and Fatherlefs, is the Reverfe of 
 Chrijlianity ; many, not only amongft us, bur, I 
 hope, alfo among other Societies, have fo much of 
 the Fear of God, that they hate this. The Scripture 
 faith, That the Fear of Gcd is to hate Pride and Arro- 
 gancy, and the evil Way. The more Men live in the 
 Fear of God, there is the greater Hatred in their 
 Hearts againft ill Things -, but many for want of 
 this, have fallen into very bad Company, and evil 
 Things, whereby they have brought great Ruin and 
 Contempt upon themfelves. Bad Company has been 
 the Overthrow of many. My Son^ faith the Wife 
 Man, if Sinners entice thee conjent not. The Enemy 
 of Mens Happinefs doth often make ufe of ill Inftru- 
 ments to draw People into ill Things •, and as many 
 have been drawn into very wrong and ill Things^ 
 by keeping of loofe and bad Company, fo I believe 
 many have been greatly corrupted, through read- 
 ing of corrupt and ill Books ; fo that fome from 
 reading of AheiJIical Books, have arrived to a great 
 Degree of Atheifm. But it is very profitable to read 
 the Holy Scriptures, which proceeded from the 
 
 good 
 
tb all PEOPLE. 13^ 
 
 good Spirit of God, as People read them in the fame 
 Spiric from which rhey did proceed •, and there are 
 alfo a great many other good Books, that are 
 written by fuch as did fear God, which do greatly 
 tend to promote Piety and Virtue, and are very 
 profitable to be read. 
 
 Great Controverfies have been, and yet ate 
 among the ProfefTors of Chrifiianity^ about Reli- 
 gion : One faith one Thing, and another another ; 
 ib that I believe many well-minded People are at a 
 very great ffand to know which is the right Way : 
 Now the Apoftle Peter^ by the Direction of the 
 Holy Ghoft, has told us, nat God is no Refpe5!er ^^ K 34^* 
 of Perfons^ but in every Nation^ he that fears God^ 
 and works Right eoufnefsy is accepted with him. Now 
 here are the Terms and Conditions clearly laid 
 down, upon which Acceptance with God ftands ; 
 and this is what we defire all People may come to be 
 found in the Pradice of, that fo all Bitternefs and 
 Envy one againfl another^ about Religion, might 
 ceafe and come to an End, that Truth and Righ- 
 teoufnefs may flourifh in the Earth. 
 
 If all did but truly live in the Fear of God as 
 they ought to do, there would be an holy F^ar- 
 mony among the Children .of Men, and Love^ 
 Peace, Mercy, Truth, Juftice and Equity would 
 abound among them ; but for want of this, how 
 doth Strife, Envy, Injuftice and OpprefTion abound, 
 even amongfl many ot them who profefs to be the 
 Difciples and Followers of Chrill. O that the 
 Children of Men had but in their own Experience^ 
 what great Reward and Peace there is in Jiving in. 
 the Fear of God^ and in keeping of his Commands, 
 then they would ferve him with Plcafure ; for there 
 is Peace and Comfort in obeying and ferving the 
 Lord, beyond what any are fenfibleof, except ihofe 
 that have it in their own Experience ; fo that { 
 believe many pious and good People are thankful 
 
 K 2 beyond 
 
''140 A ferious Call in Christian LOVE 
 
 beyond what they can exprefs in Words, that they 
 were prevailed upon toftrve him. 
 
 And fuch are concerned in Heart, that others 
 might alfo be gained upon to ferve the Lord, that 
 fo they might be truly happy ; it is tor this End, 
 that many of our religious good Friends have tra- 
 velled from one Land and Country to another, in 
 Hazard of their Lives *, it is alfo upon this Account, 
 that many have appeared in Print, that if poflible, 
 they might be inftrumental to gain upon the Chil- 
 dren of Men to fear and ferve the Lord ; for if 
 Men obferve a thoufand outward Obfervations, if 
 they do not obey the Lord, they will not all render 
 them acceptable in his Sight : Samuel told Saul, that 
 Obedience was better than Sacrifice, and to hearken to 
 the Voice of God, was better than the Fat of Rams, 
 
 When it pleafed God to reach to the Apoftle Fauly 
 and bring him to partake of his Love and Good- 
 nefs, how did his Bowels yern for his Relations and 
 Kinsfolks after the Flefh, that they might be gained 
 upon to ferve the Lord. And his Love did not only 
 reach to them, but to Mankind univerfally *, for in 
 iTim. ii. I. his firft Epiflle to timothy ^ he faith, / ei(hort that 
 Praters and Inter ceffons, &c. be made for all Men , 
 and the Apoflle laboured as in Chrift^s Stead, that 
 Men 7night be reconciled to God, O what could a 
 true Chriflian, that hath the Mind of Chrift, go 
 through, that Men might be won upon to ferve 
 God truly, that fo they might experience the Love 
 and Goodnefs of God in themlelves ; for the Nature , 
 of the Love of God is fuch, that when it prevails in 
 Mens Hearts, then they defire that others might 
 come to fhare thereof with them ; as the good Man 
 of old fa id 5 Come tafle and fee that the Lord is good. 
 It is when Men are truly prevailed upon, by the 
 Power of divine Love, that they come to be in 
 Love with God, and to run the Ways of his Com- 
 mands with Cheertulnefs ; for if there were no 
 ^.ltu.^e Rewards and Punifhments, that Peace and 
 
 Comforr 
 
to 2\\ P E O P L E. 24^ 
 
 Comfort which they enjoy, who truly ferve the 
 Lord, is very encouraging to them to perfevere 
 therein. FriendJy Reader, if thou believed the 
 Death and Sufferings of the Lord Jtfus Chrift, who 
 was crucified without the Gates of Jerujalem^ ac- 
 cording as the Holy Scriptures relate, let not this 
 fatisf y thee, but be concerned that thou mayft know 
 the Lord to bear Rule, and fet up his Kingdom in 
 thy Heart, then will it be eafy for thee to do the 
 Will of God, and keep his Commands. And if thou 
 haft a Value and Efteem for the Holy Scriptures, 
 do not fatisfy thyfelf with only reading the Expe- 
 •riences of the holy Men of God, that fpake what 
 they were WitnefTes of, who knew a being wafhed 
 by the Water of Regeneration, but feek that thoi; 
 mayft alfo come to the Experience thereof in thy- 
 felf. And if thou art confcientious for the outward 
 Water-Baptifm, and Bread and Wine, be careful 
 thou do not reft in the outward Obfervations, ftiort 
 ot that inward and fpiritual Baptifm and Commu- 
 -nion, which the good Chrijlians of old witnefTed ; 
 that through the Enjoyment thereof, thou mayft 
 grow beyond the U(e of the outward and vifible 
 Signs : And a5 thou findeft that fome of old knew 
 an overcoming of the Enemy of their Souls, and 
 received Power to become the Sons of God, con- 
 fider what Vidtory thou haft gotten over the Enemy 
 in thyfelf. And as fome People have been too in- 
 quifitive how the Dead fhould be raifed, and with 
 what Bodies they ftiould come, let it be thy great 
 Concern to know thou art raifed out of the Grave 
 of Sin and Iniquity, that thou mayft walk with the 
 Lord in Newnefs of Life, and live to his Praife and 
 Gloi-y whilft thou haft a Being here, that fo thou 
 niayfl attain to the Refurredlion of the Juft hereafter. 
 As the Lord in his wonderful Love and Mercy, 
 hath fent the Son of his dear Love, the Lord Jefqs 
 Chrift, to die for the Children of Men, whi lift they 
 )^ere Enemies to him *, 1 tenderly defire that all 
 
 K 3 may 
 
22, 
 
 ai, 22. 
 
 142 ^ ferious Call in Christian LOFE, &c. 
 
 may confider the great Love of God to them therein; 
 and as he is the Fountain and Author ot all the 
 Good that we receive, it is greatly to be defircd that 
 his long Forbearance, great Goodnefs, and manifold 
 Mercies extended to the Children of Men, might 
 engage them to Care and Watchfulnefs : We read 
 1 Pet. Hi. that the Long-futfering of God waited in the Days 
 of Noab, while the Ark was preparing ; and when 
 the Lord had long driven with them by his Spirit, 
 and they would not be gained upon, then he de- 
 Gen. vi. 3, flroyed them all, fave only eight Perfons that were 
 in the Ark. Jt is not long fince the Peflilence did 
 very much prevail in France, by which many Thou- 
 fands were fwept away. Now as the Lord has mer- 
 cifully fpared the People of thefe Countries, and the 
 Britifh Ifles adjacent, in lengthning a Day of Mercy 
 to them \ I defire that his great Goodnefs and long 
 Forbearance may lead them to Repentance and 
 Amendment of Life ; for the Lord, as a tender 
 Father, feeks to endear the Children of Men to him- 
 id{\ by his Kindnefs and Love. 
 
 And Friendly Reader, that thou and all Men 
 may be prevailed upon, to walk humbly with God, 
 and live fuch pious and holy Lives, that the great 
 and good End, for which the Lord has made Man, 
 and given him a Being upon the Earth, to fhew 
 forth his Praife and Glory, may be anfwered, that 
 thou and they may be happy to ail Eternity, is the 
 fincere Defire of one of the People called fakers , 
 
 Benjamin Holme, 
 
 If the Reader defires a more full and particular 
 Account of our Principles, there is an Apology 
 written by Robert Barclay, which has been 
 printed in Englifh^ Latin^ High and Low DuUb^ 
 i'Venchy S^anijh, and Dan'ijJo^ to whieh he is referred. 
 
HI 
 
 A 
 
 TESTIMONY 
 
 AGAINST 
 
 Mixt Marriages. 
 
 I Can fay, I bear Goodwill to all Mankind, 
 under what Name or Denoniination of Religion 
 foever they go, although I count it very wrong for 
 them, that profefs to believe in the inward and 
 fpiritual Appearance of the Lord Jefus Chrift, to 
 join in Marriage with thofe that do not fo believe : 
 And as there ought to be a near Union in Spirit 
 between a Man and his Wife ; where People of 
 different Faith and Perfwafion in Matters of Reli- 
 gion join together in Marriage, it often lays a very 
 great Foundation for Difcord •, and the fad Etfeds 
 that have often followed fuch Marriages, ought to 
 be a Caution to others, to have a Care hov/ they 
 offend God in marrying out of his Counfel. 
 
 The infpired Apoftle carefully advifes againfl 
 being unequally yoaked^ Believers with Unbelievers. 
 
 We find how the People in the old World, 
 
 as in other Things, fo in that of Marriage, did 
 mightily provoke the Lord by marrying out of his 
 Counfel, for the Sons of God took to themfelves JVives 
 of the Daughters of Men ; which Thing was a Means 
 to caufe the J^ord to deflroy them in his Anger, 
 And we read in the Book of Ezra^ how the Lord 
 was offended with the People of Ifrael, becaufe they 
 bad taken to themfelves ft range Wives, We find there 
 K 4 was. 
 
14+ ^ TESTIMONY 
 
 Gen xxlv. was a godly Care upon good Abraham, who was 
 3' *• faid to be z/?^ Friend of God, that his Son Ifaac might 
 
 not marry one of the Daughters of the Canaamtes, 
 amongfl: whom he dwelt, but he was to go to his 
 Country, and to his Kindred, Oh that there was 
 that godly Care, which was upon good Abraham^ 
 on all them that are favoured with the Knowledge 
 of the Truth, that their Children might be pre- 
 ferved from mifcarrying in that great Concern of 
 Marriage : And I wilh that all that incline to 
 marry, might feek to the Lord to. direct them, as 
 we find Abraham^s Servant did, when he went to 
 feek for a Wife for his Matter's Son *, and this 
 "would be the Way to have the Lord blefs and 
 profper them in that great Undertaking : For as 
 Marriage is God's Ordinance, and was inflituted 
 while Man was in Paradife, it is a weighty Thing, 
 and there ought to be a great Regard to the Lord 
 in it, that fo they may know him to dired: them, 
 and feel his holy Hand to join them together : We 
 jBnd when Abraham^ Servant was fatisfied (by that 
 Sign coming to pafs as he defir'd) that Rebeccah was 
 the Woman who was to be a Wife for his Matter's 
 Son, how he went and acquainted her Relations 
 therewith, before he did fo much as once mention 
 the Thing to Rebeccah, It would be well for young 
 Men, before they make any Otter of Marriage to 
 any young Woman, firft to acquaint her Parents 
 or Guardians therewith, to prevent Trouble and 
 other Inconveniencies that otherwife may follow ; 
 for what fad Effedls have followed oftentimes, where 
 a young Man has drawn out a young Woman's 
 Affedlions without the Knowledge of her Parents, 
 and when the Parents have come to the Knovvleds'e 
 thereof, not being willing to give their Confent, how 
 often has it happened, that they have taken fuch 
 Courfes as have greatjy tended to their Ruin, and 
 CO the Grief and Sorrov/ of their Parents. And it 
 
 is 
 
againjl Mixt Marriages. 145 
 
 is greatly to be defired that no young Woman 
 entertain any young Man in that Relation, without 
 the Knowledge and Confent of her Parents : And I 
 dcfire that all Parents may be careful, that they do 
 not encourage their Children to embrace any Oifers 
 in relation to Marriage, from fuch as are of a dif- 
 ferent Faith and Perfwafion in Matters of Religion, 
 although there might be a great Profped: of outward 
 Preferment to their Children. Good Reheccah was 
 concerned in a near Manner for Jacobs that he might 
 not offend the Lord by marrying out of his Coun- 
 fel, as Efau had done *, for, faid fhe. What Goodwill 
 my Life do me^ if Jacob take to himfelf a Wife of the 
 Daughters of the Land ? Oh that you who arc 
 Parents of Children, that the Lord has mercifully 
 vifited and brought to be acquainted with himfelf, 
 may be concerned that the Lord may reach to your 
 Children, and bring them to be fenfible of the 
 Power and Virtue of Truth : And I defire that 
 you may be tenderly concerned, that your Children 
 may be married to fuch as may be a Help and 
 Strength to them in a religious Senfe : You find the 
 People of Ifra£l were not to give their Sons in Mar- Ocut. vii. 
 riage to the Daughters of the La?id, 77 or to take their ^' *' 
 Sons to their Daughters ; and the Reafon was very 
 good — lefl they draw thy Sons and Daughters from 
 following of the Lord. And how many in our Time, 
 that have married out of the Counfel of God with 
 thofe of other Perfwafions, to the Grief of their 
 Parents, have been drawn away from ferving of the 
 Lord ? And the beft Ufe then that any can make of 
 the Failings and Mifcarriages of others is, to learn 
 from their Harms to beware. 
 
 Friends^ all of you be careful to watch over your 
 Children and Servants in the Fear and Love of God, 
 and endeavour to keep them who are under your 
 pare, from all evil and loofe Company, for that 
 has been the Way that many have come to great 
 
 Lofs, 
 
146 ^TESTIMONY 
 
 Lofs, thro* keeping of Joofe and corrupt Company ; 
 and endeavour to keep them to that Plainnefs of 
 Habit and Speech which Truth leads into. And I 
 delirc that yoa who are the Children ot fuch as the 
 Lord has gracioufly vifued with his blelTed Day- 
 fpring from on high, may walk in great Humility 
 and Fear before the Lord, that a BlefTmg may at- 
 tend you ; and let me tenderly treat with you, to 
 be careful to keep low in the Fear ot God j for 
 many, when they have grown high, have let out 
 their Minds and AfFedions, and have married out 
 of the Council of God, and have brought great 
 Ruin and Sorrow upon themfelves : And you who 
 are the Children of godly Parents, as you defire a 
 Elefling may attend you, 1 defire that you may obey 
 your Prrents in the Lord, and carefully fhun vain 
 and idle Company, for the keeping fuch Company 
 has greatly tended to corrupt many young People. 
 We may obferve the ill Confequences which fol-* 
 Gen. xxuv. lowed on Dinah, JacoFs Daughter, and the Family, 
 ^" through her goi?ig to fee the Daughters of the Land : 
 
 I tenderly defsre^ that you may be careful, that you 
 do not give way to that Mind, that would lead you 
 to vain and idle People's Company, for that is the 
 way to be corrupted in your Minds j and by keep- 
 ing fuch Company, may have not only learnt to 
 talk vainly and idlejy, but they have alfo mightily 
 jolt that Modefly and Shame-facednefs, which be- 
 cometh People profefTmg Godlinefs, and they are 
 become fo loofe minded, and are got into fuch 
 a Familiarity, as doth very much open the Way 
 for grofs Wickednefs. And it would be well for 
 fuch Parents, as give way to any young Man to 
 keep Company with their Daughter upon the Ac- 
 count of Marriage, not to let them keep unfeafon- 
 able Hours ; for the bad Effeds, which have often 
 followed fuch Doings, ought to be a Caution to 
 others. 
 
 And 
 
againft Mixt Marriages. 147 
 
 And confidering what loofe and idle People do 
 mightily refort to Fairs and Markets, it would be 
 well for Friends to be careful how they lee their 
 Children go to fuch Places, without there be a real 
 Occafion for their going. Oh that you whom the 
 Lord hath blefTed with Children may feel your 
 Minds engaged in a near Manner upon their Ac- 
 counts, and that you mi^y watch over them, and 
 endeavour to keep them out of fuch Things as will 
 lead away their Minds trom the Lord, and fetk a 
 Part and Portion in the Truth for them above all 
 Things, that fo they may be a Seed to ferve the 
 Lord in their Generation ; and be you careful to 
 give them good Example in all Rcfpefls, and do 
 not allow them 10 fpeak crofsly and perverfely to 
 one another, but teach them to fpeak meekly and 
 lovingly : I am fatisfied the Lord has BlelTings in 
 ftore for you that are the Children of his People, if 
 you do but truly and faithfully ferve him in your 
 Generation : But if any of you difobey the Lord, 
 and grieve your Parents and Friends, through keep- 
 ing loofe and evil Company, or in your marrying 
 out of the Council of Truth, the Lord may take 
 you away in Judgment. I tenderly defire that you 
 may folidly confider ot thefe Things ; and I befeech 
 Almighty God to give you Underftanding, and 
 incline you to feek him before the Day of your 
 Vifitation be over. Remember you are accountable 
 for your Words and Actions, and therefore let the 
 Fear of God take place in all your Hearts, and 
 confider, that fuch as you fow in this World, you 
 ihall reap in the next ; therefore be awakened to 
 prepare to meet the Lord, left he cut you off in an 
 unprepared State. And as you may read in the 
 Holy Scriptures, T^hat all Liers Jhall have their 
 Part in the Lake that (ball burn for ever and ever ; 
 and that the Adulterer and Adulter ejs^ and Drunkard^ 
 [hall not inherit the Kingdom of God. I dcfire that 
 
 you 
 
148 :/f T E S T I M O N Y, Gf^. 
 
 you may be careful, and lay Things to Heart, left 
 a Day of Sorrow and Calamity overtake any of 
 you. 
 
 I have been where many, within thefe late Years, 
 have been fwept away by fevere Sicknefs, and I 
 defire that none of you whom God has favoured 
 with the Knowledge of his Truth, and that are the 
 OfF-fpring of fuch as have been mercifully vifited 
 with his blefTed Day-fpring from on high, may 
 provoke the Lord to turn his Hand in Judgment 
 againft you. I believe the Lord is angry with many 
 People in thefe American Parts becaule of their 
 wicked living. Oh that you, who are concerned 
 that you may be found faithfully ferving the Lord 
 in your Generation, may like good Abraham inter- 
 ceed with the Lord, that he may be gracioufly 
 pleafed to remember the Wicked, and blefs them, 
 in turning them from their Iniquities. Although 
 "Wickednefs abounds very much amongft many of 
 the People in thefe Countries, I rejoice that the 
 Lord has a People fcattered up and down in thefe 
 Parts, that do truly love and fear him, and are 
 engaged in a holy Care and Concern, that their 
 Children and Families may be kept out of all the 
 Corruptions and Evils of the World ; oh that their 
 Number may encreafe, that fo the great End for 
 which God has made Man, and given him a Being 
 here, may be anfwered, which is to glorify his 
 Maker^ is the Defire of one that in Sincerity wilhes 
 the Salvation of all Men. 
 
 Kent County in Pcnfilvania, -Rp *, t TTot M F ^ 
 
 the i^th of the Smk Month i^ENJ. nOLME. 
 
 J7'7. 
 
 A N 
 
149 
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 O F 
 
 Tender Counfel 
 
 T o X H E 
 
 Vifited of the Lord e^dery where. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 AS you have been mercifully vifited, and raifed 
 up for a peculiar End, there are fervent 
 Defires in my Soul, that the End for which you 
 have been vifited, and raifed up to be a People to 
 bear Witnefs for the Lord, may be anfwered \ that 
 fo, by your holy and upright Living, you may 
 fhew forth his Praife and Glory who has vifited 
 you. 
 
 And now. Friends^ I do tenderly defire, that you 
 who are grown into Years, and have been anciently 
 convinced, may wait daily, in great Humility of 
 Soul, to feel the Vifitations of the Almighty re- 
 newed unto you, that fo you may be fruitful in 
 your old Age. And for you that are young, there 
 is a Travail upon my Spirit, that you may grow in 
 Grace, that you may be fruitful while you are 
 young, like holy Jofeph^ who was faid to be a 
 fruitful Bough by a Welly whofe Branches fpread over 
 the Wall. Oh that the Lord's Power may bd 
 
 cxaked 
 
150 ^/z E P I S T L E 
 
 exalted over all in your Hearts, that he may reigh 
 and rule there, who'fc Right it is. 
 
 There is a great Concern upon many of your 
 faithful Parents, for your Growth and Eftablifh- 
 ment in the Life and Power of Truth, that you 
 may Hand in a Teftimony for the Lord in your 
 Generation. And if it fliall pleafe the Lord to 
 concern any of you to fpeak to any who have not 
 flood in their Places, nor difcharged themfelves to 
 their Children as they ought to have done, as he 
 did concern the Man of God to fpeak to £/f, fee that 
 you are faithful to the Lord in what he requires 
 of you. 
 
 And you that are grown into Years, have a Care 
 that you do not turn againfb the leaft Child that 
 the Lord may concern to fpeak to you. It was very 
 commendable in Eli, that he did not refufe to hear 
 Samuel, who fpoke fo plain and clofe unto him. 
 And you may find how Eli's Houfe fell, who had 
 not difcharged himfelf to his Children as he ought : 
 *Tis true, he did fhew fome Diflike by Words to 
 their wicked and evil Doings, yet becaufe his Sons 
 made themfelves vile, and be reftrained them noty 
 therefore the Lord was angry with him. 
 
 Thefe Things are left upon Record for our In- 
 llrudion ; therefore I defire, that all you who are 
 Parents of Children, may be careful to give your 
 Children a good Example, and in ail refpe6ls not to 
 fuffer them to go into thofe Evils you have been 
 reproved for in yourfelves, that you may be made 
 a Blcffing unto them : But if any of your Children 
 go into Pride and Wickednefs, if you do not dif- 
 charge yourfelves of them, you will not be clear 
 on thtir Account ; for the Lord faid of Abraham, 
 I know that he will command his Children and Houf- 
 hold after him, that they keep 7ny Statutes, 
 
 See that you keep your Authority in the Truth 
 over your Children and Families. And you, who 
 
 are 
 
t)f Tender Counsel, &c. i^i 
 
 are Children of good Parents, fee that you fucceed 
 them in that which is good, that he that has bleil 
 them may blefs you. And you may find how the 
 Blefllng was continued from Abraham to Jfaac^ and 
 to Jacobs and to Jofeph^ becaufe there was a fuc- 
 ceeding in that which was good : But when the 
 Pofterity of Abraham forfook the Lord, and iufted 
 after evil Things, we read how he cut them off in his 
 Anger •, yet fuch was his Goodnefs and Mercy to 
 thofe Children that were born to the People of JfraeC 
 in the Wiidernefs, that although many of their 
 Parents fell therein, yet he brought them into the 
 holy Land ; which may be an Encouragement to 
 thofe whofe Parents have fallen from the Truth ; 
 but then let them remember, that they were to be 
 Circumcifed before they entred the Promifed Land^ 
 according as the Lord required. 
 
 So all you into whofe Hands thefe may come, 
 wait to feel your Hearts to be inwardly Circufncifed 
 by the Lord's Power, whether you are old or 
 young ; for it's written, "That Abraham was Cir- 
 citmcifed when he was old : Not being Circumcifed 
 when they are young, they mud be Circumcifed 
 when they are old, or elfe they cannot enter the 
 Pro?ni/ed Land. All thofe who were born in Abra- 
 ham\ Houfe, and thofe who were bought with his 
 Money, were to be outwardly circumcifed, which 
 was a Type of the Circumcifion made without 
 Hands, which we are to witnefs in this Gofpel- 
 Bijpenfation^ or elfc we cannot enter that Spiritual 
 Canaan. 
 
 Therefore, all Friends, wait to feel your Hearts 
 ipwardly wrought upon by the Lord's Spirit, that 
 you may witnefs them to be made pure through the 
 effedlual Working thereof 5 and then as you come 
 to experience this, you will fee the Truth in its 
 Glory, and then you will be fo afTtfted therewith, 
 
 that 
 
152 ^;/ E P I S T L E 
 
 that all Enjoyments this World can afford, will be 
 but httle to you in comparifon thereof. 
 
 And although I am one of the lead of many, 
 that the Lord has raifed up amongft his People, 
 I may fay, that my Heart's Defire and Prayer to 
 God for Ifrael is, That they may he faved. And in 
 order thereunto, there is upon my Spirit a Concern 
 that they may abide in their Tents, where he that 
 envieth their Happinefs cannot hurt them. 
 
 All Friends therefore, beware of going out like 
 Jfrael of old, into thofe Things that provoke the 
 Lord, left his fierce Wrath come upon you, as it 
 did upon them : But fee that you (land in his 
 Counfel, that in Blelling he may blefs you. Oh how 
 wonderfully did the Lord blefs old i/r^^/, while 
 they flood in his Counfei \ but when they rejeded 
 him, and would have their own W^ays, then he cafl 
 them off in his Anger. 
 
 I fervently defire that this may never be the State 
 of any : I befeech you all» in the Love of ChrifV^ 
 to live in a thankful Remembrance of the Lord's 
 tender Mercy and Kindnefs, which he has been 
 gracioufly pleafed to extend unto you : And then 
 I am fatisfied you will be often ready to break out 
 into an holy Admiration of the unexprelTible Love 
 and Mercy of God to you, with the holy Prophet 
 of old, who faid. What is Man, that thou art 
 mindful of him P and the Son of Man^ that thou 
 jhouldft vifit him ? Oh ! how has the Lord been 
 gracioufiy pleafed, in his Kindnefs, to open your 
 Underftandings, and convince you of the Empti- 
 nefs of that Worfhip which ftands in the Will pf 
 Man, and has given many of you to partake of 
 that inward Comfort in your W^aitings upon him, 
 which has been beyond what you have had Words 
 to exprefs. It is the Defire of my Soul, that you 
 may be found much in the Pradlice of waiting upon 
 him •, for it is through a holy, humble Waiting 
 
 upon 
 
.15/>'T^N»ER Counsel^ G?r. 1^3' 
 
 upon him in- the true Silence -of all FIcJIj^ that the 
 People of God do feel their Strength renewed in 
 him, in whom they have believed. Havc a Care' 
 that your Minds be not overcharged, and furfeited . 
 with the Cares ot this Life ; for there is an Enemy 
 that lies near to draw away the Mind too much after 
 lower Enjoyments, and Things that are Lawful m 
 themfelves, that fo it may be hindered and diverted 
 from a true Waiting upon God. And as many of 
 you as are redeemed out of the grofs Evils and 
 Corruptions of the World, fee that the lawful 
 Things do not prevail, fo as to take up your 
 Minds ; for we find there was a difmal Sentence 
 went forth againft thole that were invited to the 
 Supper, that we read of in Luke xiv. 16. that were 
 too much taken up with Things that were lawful in 
 themfelves -, one had married a Wife, and another 
 had bought a Farm, and another had bought Oxen. 
 So I beleech you to take Care that you are not 
 brought into Bondage to the lawful Things, left the 
 Tord be angry with you •, but let him that is mar- 
 ried, be as though he. married not ; and he that 
 pofiefles thefe lower Enjoyments, as though he did 
 not poflefs them, that fo he may live to enjoy the 
 Lord in all thole lower Enjoyments : So Ihail we 
 praife him who is the Giver of them. And that ic 
 may be thus, is what I defire, that his Mercies and 
 Favours may be continued unto us. 
 
 Dear FriendSi look not out at the Greatnefs of the 
 World, neither covet great Things for your Chil- 
 dren ; but wreltle in Soul with the Lord for them, 
 that they may be brought to be inwardly acquaint- 
 ed with him, and to have a Part in Chrift, and 
 then they will be well provided for •, for many of 
 you have had large Experience of the Lord's Care 
 over you, fo that you have great Encourngem.enn 
 ftill to truft in him, who has hitherto provided for 
 yoM, and will ftill provide, if you make ic your 
 * L Care 
 
Care to pleafc him ; for he delights in doing Good 
 to his People. Oh that his great Goodnefs and 
 Mercy, which he has been gracioufly pleafed to 
 extend unco you, may engage you to Care and 
 Watchfulnefs ; that by your holy and good Living, 
 you may demonftrate unto the World, that you 
 are indeed the Followers of Chrift : So fhall you 
 be as Lights in the World, and as the Salt of the 
 Earth : See that you keep to the feafoning Word 
 of Life in your own Hearts, that your Words and 
 Adions may anfwer the juft Witnefs in all with 
 whom you have to do. 
 
 And I have to fay, for your Encouragement, 
 that your Reward will be great with the Lord, if 
 you, whom he has mercifully vifitcd, are timely 
 and fervently concerned to anfwer the End for which 
 he has vificed you : But if any of you go into a 
 wrong Liberty, and caufe the Way of Truth to be 
 evilly fpoken of, through your going into thofe 
 Things that provoke the Lord, he will meet with 
 you in a narrow Place, that you will find no Way 
 to efcape the Stroke ot his Hand, except you return 
 to him while he mercifully drives with you. 
 
 I therefore befeech you all in the tender Love of 
 Chrift, to be careful to live up to thofe Discoveries 
 and Convidions which the Lord has given you, 
 and then your Peace and Comfort will be beyond 
 what Words can fee forth ; for there is none knows 
 the Comfort that there is to be enjoyed in obeying 
 of the Lord, but thofe who have come to the 
 Experience thereof in themfelvcs. 
 
 Oh that you may ferve him fo truly and faithfully 
 in your Generation, that in the Winding up and 
 Conclufion of your Time here, you may have a 
 Part in that Kingdom of Reft which is prepared 
 for the Righteous. This is the fervent and finccre 
 > Defire of ^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 tondon, fb^J-mflft^ R « *, t 14 n t iwr v 
 
 AUntbiji^, UEKJ. nOLMF* 
 
»55 
 
 AN 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 T O 
 
 FRIENDS 
 
 I N 
 
 Great - Britain and Ireland. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 TN that pure Love in which our Fellowfhip 
 J|[ (lands, do I tenderly falute you, fervently de- 
 liring, that Grace, Mercy and Peace may encreafc 
 and abound amongft you, and in all the Churches 
 of Chrift every where ; that fo thofe whom the 
 Lord has gathered by his divine Power, may fhew 
 forth his Praife and Glory, 
 
 And, dear Friends^ you that are Members of 
 Montbl'j and ^arterly Meelin^s^ I tenderly defire, 
 that you may live under the Exercife of the Power 
 of Truth, and wait for the renewed Vifitations of 
 the Love and Goodnefs of God, that fo you rnay 
 be a living and fruitful People. And ?s you waic to 
 feel the Life and Power of Truth to prevail in your 
 Hearts, fowill you be fitted and quc»lified for every 
 Service which the Lord requires of you ; for with- 
 out divine Affiftance we can do nothing that will 
 tend to the Praife and Glory of God. Therefore, 
 L 2 Friends^ 
 
156 yf « E P I S T L E 
 
 Friends^ in all your Meetings, whether they be for 
 Worfhip, or to maintain good Order in the Church, 
 fee that you wait to feel the Lord to be with you, 
 and feek tor Wifdom r.nd Countel from him ; thaC 
 fo you may in all Tbwgs a5l to his Praife and Glory, 
 
 And you that are as Watch rrien in Ifraely \ defire 
 . that you may look well to-yourlclves, and to the . 
 Flock over whom the Holy Ghoft hath made you Over-* 
 Jeers. Oh ! that you may be fervently conVerned, 
 that a Stop may be put to all wrong Liberty and 
 wrong Things, that fo the Church of Chrift may 
 appear in her Glory and Beauty. And as the Lord 
 in his Wifdom and Counfel has opened it in the 
 Hearts of his People in divers Places, to vifit one 
 another in their Families, I defire that this good 
 Work might be promoted yet more and more in 
 the Churches •, for where faithful Men and Women 
 vifit Friends Families in the Drawings of the Love' 
 and IFifdom of God, they go under a true Concern ; 
 and vifiting them in the Seed of Life^ the Lord may- 
 make them injlrumental in his Hand, for the gat- 
 ing upon them that have gone into wrong Liberty^ 
 as well as they may be helpful to fuch as lahour 
 under Difconragements^ becaule of the many and 
 various Exercifes that they meet with in therr 
 Travel and Paflage through this World. 
 
 And, dear Friends^ let me fay to you that meet 
 with renewed Exercifes from Time to Time, and 
 drink deeply of the bitter Waters ; be careful that 
 you do not look out at what you meet with, left 
 the Dilcourager prevail to weaken you in your 
 fpiritual Tra.vel -, but look to him that has hitherto 
 been with you, and made Way for you by his divine 
 Power i for he is able, and will bring you through 
 all your Troubles and Exercifes, if you follow him 
 faithfully unto the End. 
 
 ^nd you that are concerned in the Management 
 of the Affairs of Truth, iec that you keep in the 
 
 meek 
 
to pRiEiiDStn Gregt-Britain, &c. 157 
 
 meek Spirit of Chrifl, that what you fpeak and do 
 qiay be to the Praife and Glory of God *, and be, 
 careful to be good Examples in all Refpeds, and 
 endeavour to bring your Families to IVeek-day Meet-. 
 ihgSj and watch over them in the Fear of God, and. 
 keep thtrm in that Plainnefs cf Habit and Speech- 
 -vyhich Truth leads into, and labour to bring them. 
 to a Senfe of the Truth in their tender Years. 
 David was concerned for Solomofj his Son, that he 
 might know his God, and alfo that he might ferve 
 him in Truth and with a perfeol Heart. And you 
 that are the Children of Friends^ there are fervent 
 Delires in my Soul for you, that you may fully 
 follow the Lord while you have a Being here *, that 
 fc he that h«3 blelf your faithful Parents may blefs 
 you. As the Work of the Day is great, I defire 
 that a holy Senfe thereof may live upon your 
 Hearts*, and that you may feel your Minds engaged 
 in a clofe Concern, that the Work of the Lord might 
 profper ; it would be matter of great Rejoicing and 
 Comfort to thofe that travel in Spirit for the Prof- 
 perity of Sion^ to fee you come up in a holy Zeal for 
 the maintaining of the Teftimony of Truth in every 
 thing, that fo ye may abide in the Lord's everlafting 
 Covenant of Peace. I do tenderly intreat, that you 
 may obey the Lord, and be dutiful to your Parents, 
 as you ought to be careful to fhun all evil and loofe 
 Company ; for keeping corrupt and bad Company 
 has been the Ruin of many : And therefore I would 
 have you to remember the Counfel, My Son, if 
 Sinners entice thee^ con font thfu not. Oh that this 
 may be faftned upon all your Minds. 
 
 I alfo greatly defire, that you that are of thft 
 Female-Sex, may come up in your Places and Services 
 in the Church, for in the building of the firll: Taber- 
 nacle there was a Part of the Work belonged to the 
 Women, and if you are found in the faithful Bif-- 
 Charge of your Services^ you will have Returns of 
 
 L 3 Peacl 
 
158 An E t> I S T L E 
 
 Peace from the Lord -, and fee that you watch care- 
 fully over your own Families : And as you live under 
 z holy Concern^ that all that are under your Care^ 
 may be preferved within the Bounds and Limits of 
 Truih^ you will have fignal Tokens of his Kindnefu 
 1 am glad that the Lord has raifed up a People in 
 thefe American Parts, that are concerned that Truth*% 
 Teftimony may be kept up and niaintained, and 
 that the Church of Chrift may flourifh yet more 
 and more. Oh ! that it might pleafe the Lord to 
 encreafe their Number that are fervently and zea- 
 loufly concerned upon this Account. 
 
 And, Friends^ it may be well for you that are 
 the Heads oi Families, to be careful to flir up your 
 Children and Servants to be frequent in reading of 
 the Holy Scriptur^s^ and put them in mind to confider 
 what they read ; and if you labour to make them 
 truly fenfible v/hat will be the Portion of the Liers^ 
 and Drunkards^ and proud and wicked Livers^ you 
 may be very inftrumcntal to principle them againft 
 ill Things : And if you endeavour to implant it in 
 their Minds, what a happy Thing it is to do welly 
 andy^ri;^ the Lord ; and if you obferve to them, 
 how he has favour*d and blefs'd the Righteous from 
 one Generation to another^ this may greatly tend 
 to excite them to virtuous Living, 
 
 And I defire that you who are fenfible of the 
 Power and Virtue of Truth, may often take fea- 
 fonable Times to wait upon the Lord in your own 
 Families with your Children and Servants ; and as 
 you are truly bowed in Soul before the Lord, that 
 he may be gracioufly pleafed to look down upon 
 you, it may pleafe him to open his holy Hand, and 
 minifter a fuitable Supply to your Wants ; for, 
 blefTed be his Name, his Regard is great to his 
 People i he has been pleafed to give many of them 
 renewed Favours in their Waiting upon him in their 
 own Families, fo that they can fay from Expe- 
 rience, 
 
to FrieKDS in Great-Britain, &c. 159 
 
 ricnce. The Lord Is good to the Soul that truly 
 feeks him, and diligently Waits upon him for the 
 frefli Vifitations ot his Love. 
 
 The Difciples were taught to pray for Daily 
 Breads and the Lord has prelerved a Remnant in a 
 holy Senfe of the Need they have to receive every 
 Day of that living Bread which comes down from 
 above, which can only fatisfy the Souls of the 
 Faithful. 
 
 So with Defires that the Lord may make you as 
 his Fineyardj which he delights to water, and that 
 you may be as a Garden enclofed, into which no 
 hurtful Thing can come, that fo good and holy 
 Fruits may be brought forth, is the fervent Defircs 
 
 of 
 
 Tour Friend and Brother in the Truths 
 
 !&••■• f*tf Bay-fide f« Maryland BeNT HoLME*" 
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 T O 
 
 FRIENDS, and Tender- minded People 
 in America^ 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 WHOM the Lord in the Riches of his Love 
 has gathered and raifed up to be Witneffes 
 for his Name and Truth in thofe remote Parts 
 of the World, I hereby tenderly falute you, with 
 Defires that you may anfwer the great and good 
 End of the Lord therein, that you may be at 
 
 L 4 Lights 
 
i6o :An E P I S T L E 
 
 Lights and Way- marks amongft the People, where 
 your Lots are cafl •, the manifold BlelTings and 
 Prefervations, which many of you have been fa-- 
 voured with, ought to be a deep and flrong Obli- 
 gation upon you to walk in great Humility and 
 Fear before the Lord, while you have a Being here. 
 
 It ought to be remembred with great Thankful- 
 nefs, how wonderfully rnany of you that are In-. 
 habitants in New-England^ and fome other Parts of 
 thofe Countries were preierv'd, when the Lord fuf- 
 fer'd many of your Neighbours to fall by the; 
 Hands of the favage /«Jz^;2j. - 
 
 I greatly defire that, the Senfe of his great Love 
 and Mercy every way .extended unto you, may cn^ 
 gage you to walk as becomes your holy ProfefTion, 
 that fo you, may Ihew.forth Chriftia?ulym the Purity 
 of it. And, dear Friends^ let the Spirit of the Lord 
 TefusGhrift bear Rule in all your Hearts, that' you 
 may be as a Family of Love, in which there is no 
 Jar, that it may be minifeft that you are indeed the 
 Drl^plesand Fo-|lt>wrnr of Chritf f" J^trd keep yoiir 
 felves pure and unipotted in all Refpecfls, that you 
 may fiiew forth the unfpotted Life, fo will you 
 pre>iqji for the Lor^din y<>ur Generation., and be as 
 Sayiaurs upob Mou^t Sioni; And ^s therj^ is a tender 
 People in many Parts of this Wildcrnefs Country, 
 to whom tlicre is a merciful Vifitation extended 
 from the Lord, I defire that you rnay fpeak coa- 
 vinci-ngly to them by your good and holy Living t 
 that they may have to fay of a Truth, that you are 
 a People that live a Life oi Chrijlianily ; for many 
 have got the Saints and holy Mens Words in 
 their Mouth?, that are out of the Life and Spirit 
 "which they were in : And it is becaufe hereof ,that 
 rnany of thefe called CbrijJiafis, are fo full of Envy 
 -and Hatred one againft another 5 but let that Spirit 
 bear Rule in all your Hearts, which can forgive 
 Lnemies, and do Good againll Evil. ; this was the 
 
 Mind 
 
to Friends, ^c, in America. i6i 
 
 Mind which was in the Lord Jefus Chrifl:, when he 
 was about to be offered up upon the Crofs \ he faid. 
 Father forgive them. And when the People were- 
 about to (tone holy Stephen to Death, he faid, Lord^ 
 lay not this Sin to their Charge. Here the forgiving 
 Spirit appeared ; Men in the unregenerate State are 
 ready to render Injury for Injury, and Reviling for 
 Reviling -, but fee that you learn of him, who when 
 he was reviled^ reviled not again. 
 
 And, dear Friends^ let the condefcending Spirit, 
 which was in Abraham the Friend of God, be in 
 you, that you may not differ one with another 
 about Land and worldly Things •, for when his and 
 Lot^s Herdfmen differed, he was for having no Dif- 
 ference, but he was willing to take either hand. 
 And how wonderfully did the Lord blefs Abraham in 
 that condefcending Spirit ; which Spirit has appeared 
 in many of our good Friends, in which they have 
 been greatly bleft. I can fay I bear great good Will 
 10 you in thofe Wildernefs Countries, and greatly 
 defire that you may be preferv'd from all evil and 
 hurtful Things, that you may be Members of that 
 pure Church which Cbrifh came to preient to God 
 without Fault. 
 
 I defire that you, young Men and Women that 
 are growing up, may be careful to keep yourfclves 
 pure and unfpotted in all Refpeds ; and it may 
 pjeafe the Lord to anOint many of you to preach th^ 
 Gofpel of Life and Salvation to many People ; and 
 as it ha§ p.leafed the AH- wife God to remove many 
 in your Parts that were, good Inflruments in his 
 Hand in their Generation, it would be great Re- 
 joicing to many who travel for the Welfare of Sion^ 
 to fee you that arc of a fucceeding Stock, called 
 forth, and {landing in a holy Zeal for the Truth ; 
 and if you faithfully ferve the Lord, he that has 
 greatly blefs'd many of your good and pious Pa- 
 • rents, will blefs you. 
 
 And, 
 
i62 ^;? E P I S T L E 
 
 And, dear Friends^ I defirc that you may be very 
 much concerned to keep up and maintain good 
 Order in the Church, that fo afl wrorg Things, and 
 falfe Liberty may be kep': from among you, and 
 that a due and tender Regard may be had to the 
 poor Widows and Fathenefs, and fuch that arc in 
 Want -, and where any that make ProfefTion with 
 us are likely to be drawn away with loofe Company, 
 let them be tenderly advifed and dealt with, that if 
 pofFible, they may be prefervcd from bringing Dif- 
 honour to the Truth, and Ruin upon thcmfelves. 
 
 And I defire, that all fuch may hearken to the 
 Lord's Counfel in themfelves, and through his 
 People, It would have been happy for the People 
 of Ifraely if they had obeyed the Call of God by 
 the Prophets ; but becaufc they rejected his Counfel 
 through them, and would not be reclaimed from 
 their evil Doings, therefore be turned his Hand in 
 Judgment againft them. 
 
 As the Lord has concerned many of his Servant^ 
 to travel as with their Lives in their Hands to vilic 
 you, and call you to walk in holy Fear before 
 him, I defirc that you may live in a thankful Senfe 
 of his Kindnefs and Mercy to you herein ; for if 
 now when the Lord has raifed many of you from a 
 low Condition, and has greatly blcfji'd your Endea- 
 vours, and preferv'd you in a wonderful Manner, 
 you fhould prove forgetful, and go into thofe 
 Things that provoke him, how juft may it be with 
 the Lord to punifh you, by fuffering your Enemies 
 to make a Prey upon you. 
 
 But I am fatisfied, there is a People amongft you, 
 that are deeply humbled under a Scnfe of the great 
 Love and Mercy of God to them who are con- 
 cern'd, that they may be found walking in weil- 
 pleafing before him, while they have a Being here ; 
 to all luch my Spirit is united in a near manner, and 
 1 fervently defire, that he that was Abraham'^ Shield, 
 
 and 
 
to Friends, CSc. in America. 163 
 
 and exceeding great Reward, may be with you, 
 and prefer ve you to his Praife and Glory, while 
 you have a Being here. 
 
 And, dear young People, whom the Lord has in- 
 wardly reach'd unto, and brought to partake of 
 his Love and Goodnefs, I defire that you may re- 
 tain that holy Scnfe of his Love which you have 
 receiv'd, that thereby you may be prevailed upon 
 to follow the Lord fully ; and if you are faithful to 
 the Requirings of Tiuth, you may be eminently 
 ferviceable in your Generation, as many of our 
 worthy Elders were, that are now removed : Oh ! 
 that it might pleafe the Lord to raife up many 
 faithful Labourers in thofe Countries, and fend 
 them into his great Harveft, that many may be 
 gathered to Sbilo the peaceable Saviour, the Lord 
 Jcfus Chrift, to whom the Gathering of the People 
 is to be. I tenderly defire, that you that have been 
 mercifully vifited, may dwell in Heart with the 
 Lord, that you may be preferved from all the 
 Snares and Temptations of the Enemy, who enviel 
 your Happinefs, for none are longer fafe than they 
 keep upon their Watch j the Strong and Wife, and 
 fome that have known good Tlnngs, have fallen 
 through Unwatchfulnefs •, but fucu is the Love and 
 Mercy of God to Mankind, that he has given fo 
 much of his Grace as is fufficient to keep them 
 from falling and finning, as they take heed there- 
 unto ; for all the Mifcnrriages thcU arc amongft 
 Mankind, are owing to their Neglect of the Grace 
 and good Spirit of Gvod in their own Hearts. 
 
 The Apoftle Paul declares, i Cor. xii. Tbat the 
 Manifeftatiott of the Spirit is given to every Man ta 
 profit withal ; in wliich every one hath his proper 
 Gift : And therefore, clear Friends, as you have 
 receiv'd a divine Gift from the Lord, fee that you 
 make a right Improvement of it ; that like the 
 good and faithful Servants fpokcn of in the Parable, 
 
 that 
 
i64 An-.E PIvS ,T,.X E 
 
 \that had improy'd their TalentSj you may be wel- 
 corn'd with the comfortable Reward of tVell done \ 
 that w'hen you leave this World, it may be a happy. 
 Change to you j and that hone of you may be 
 found like the flothful Servant, that had negledled 
 to improve his Talent. 
 
 I can fay I am fin cere in my Defires, that you 
 may by your holy and humble walking, anfwer the 
 great Love and Mercy of God every way extended 
 unto you, that Men feeing your qood Works^ 7nay 
 have Caufe to glorify God on your Behalf. 
 . And I defire that you may be Examples of 
 Humility and Plainnefs ; and in your Trading and 
 Dealing, and whole Converfation, be careful that 
 you anfwer your holy Profeflion. And I would 
 have you zealouOy concern'd to keep up your re- 
 ligious Meetings, both on Firft and Week-days ; 
 and as much as you well can, endeavour that your 
 Children and Servants may attend fuch Meetings ; 
 and as many of you have been made greatly inftru- 
 mental for the Good of your Children, through 
 your Love and Care to keep them out of hurtful 
 and loofe-minded Company, and from vain Fafhions, 
 which leads away the Mind from the Lord , I defire 
 that you may continue the fame Care over them : 
 And, dear Children^ as you defire that a BlefTing may 
 attend you, have a tender Regard to your Parents 
 and good Friends Counfel. And as it has often laid 
 Vi great Foundation for Strife and Difcord, where 
 fuch as have profefs'd the Truth with us, have gone 
 out to marry with them of another ProfelTion of 
 Religion •, I tenderly defire that you may feek td 
 the Lord to direct you in this great Concern of 
 Marriage. 
 
 And you tender People, that do not profefs to be 
 of our Society, to whom there is a Hand of Love 
 and Mercy ftretch'd forth from the Almighty, in 
 order that you may be gather'd to the great and 
 
 good 
 
 ] 
 
■ to I^RiENDS^ ^€, in America. 165 
 
 good Shepherd (^ IfraeU the Lord Jefus Chrift, that 
 '"has laid down his Life for his Sheep ; it was the 
 wonderful Love and Mercy of God to Mankind, 
 that he was pleafed to fend the dear Son of his Love 
 to tafte Death for every Man, and to be a Propitia- 
 tion for the Sins of the wjiole Wdrld, i Epid. John^ 
 Chap. ii. 2. that fO ail Men" through him miglit be 
 reconciled and broifght into Favour with God 
 again ; and he has fent his Spirit into their Hearts 
 to lead them to hirnfelf again. And I -tenderly de- 
 fire that all you into whole Hands thefe may come, 
 may take heed to that good Spirit of God which 
 convinces you of Sin, and inwardly reproves you for 
 it •, that thereby you may know an overcoming of 
 thofe Things which are evil •, for it is certain there 
 is Power in the divine Light, to give Men a Sight 
 and Difcovery of that which is evil ; and alfo t6 
 enable them to refift and overcome it ; and there- 
 fore it is that we endeavour to diredl and turn Mens 
 Minds to that true Light fpoken of, John i. 9. whkh 
 li^hteth ever'^ Man that cometh into the World \ and 
 all the Nations of them that are found walking in 
 this holy Light Ihall be faved. This Light will 
 difcover to Men the bye Paths and crooked Ways, 
 in which they have gone in their fallen and dege- 
 nerate State *, and as they come to walk in the 
 Light, they will witnefs Accefs to God, and know 
 inward Communion with him •, which that you, and 
 the Children of Men in an univerfal manner, may 
 be brought to the Experience of, is the fincere 
 Defire of 
 
 Tout loving Friend^ 
 
 London, the id of th» 'Rfmt Hot tvtp 
 
 Scvmh Month 172X. 1>FNJ. nOLMIv, 
 
 A N 
 
i66 yf« E P r S T L E 
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 T O 
 
 Friends in London- 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 ITIO whom the gracious Vifitation of the Love 
 JL and Mercy of God, has been freely and 
 largely extended, I hereby tenderly falute you, fer- 
 vently defiring that you may walk humbly before 
 the Lord, and as becomes a People that he hath 
 favoured in a peculiar manner ; that fo you may 
 anfwer his Kindnefs and Love in vifuing of you. 
 I very much defire that you may all keep to the 
 pure Principle of Truth in yourfelves ) that fo you 
 may preach well by your good Converfation, and 
 fair and juft Dealing. Many of our good Friends 
 that were early raifed up in that great City, to be 
 Witnefles for the Lord, are removed : I very 
 much defire that you may (land in a holy Zeal for 
 the maintaining of Truth's Teftimony in all its 
 Branches, and where any go into any Thing that is 
 reproachful, either in Converfation or Dealing, let 
 them be dealt with in the Wifdom of Truth. And 
 I defire that all may be careful that they do not 
 take part with any that go in:o wrong Things, left 
 they ftrcngchen them in their wrong Liberties, but 
 (land for (he Honour of Truth^ and againft all 
 
 Things 
 
to Friends in London.' 167 
 
 Things that may incur the Lord's Difpleafure. You 
 may find how Ifrael fell before their Enemies, when 
 the Babyloni/h Garment and Wedge of Gold were 
 coveted after. This is preferved upon Record for 
 our Inftru<5lion, I very much defire, that you may 
 all be^careful not to touch with that which is wrong 
 of any kind, that fo >ou may fhcw forth the Truth 
 in the Purity of it, and be as Lights and fVay-marks 
 in your Generation, that in the End, you may have 
 the Returns of Peace, and the Evidence of divine 
 Favour, 
 
 And, dear young People, who are the Children of 
 believing Parents, I hereby tenderly falutc you with 
 Defires, tha you may not only come to believe in 
 the Sufficiency of the Grace of God, which the Apoflle 
 Paul faith, Tit. ii. 11, 12, bath appeared unto all 
 Men^ but that you may be lubjed to the Teachings 
 thereof, that thereby you may be taught to deny 
 Ungodlinefs and Worldly LuJlSj and to Wvc fiber ly and 
 righteoufly and godly^ that you may anfwer the great 
 and holy End, for which the Lord has given you 
 a Being here. I very much defire that you may 
 be prevailed upon by the Power of divine Love, to 
 follow the Lord in the Way of his holy Requirings, 
 that you may be faithful WitnefTes for his Name and 
 Truth in your Generation : And if you bear the 
 Yoke and Crofs of Chrift in your Youth, you will 
 enjoy great Peace and Comfort in yourfelves, be- 
 yond what any can make you fenfible of by Words ; 
 for there is great Reward in ferving of the Lord, fo 
 that I believe many are thankful beyond what they 
 can exprefs, that they were made willing to ferve 
 him i and there are great Longings and ilrong and 
 fervent Defires in the Hearts ot many of thofe, that 
 their Children and Families might be prevailed upon 
 to obey and follow the Lord. And I defire that 
 you may be careful not to go againll Convidion, 
 but if you are faithful to what the Lord has already 
 
 made 
 
i68 ^;; E P I S T L E, ^£. , 
 
 made hnown to you, he will give you farther Dif- 
 coveries, as our Saviour faith, If any Man he a 
 Doer of his Will^ he fh all know of his Doctrine, And 
 as many young People have been greatly corrupted 
 through keeping loofc and idle Company, I wifh 
 you may be fo wife to Jearn from others Harms to 
 beware, and have a tender Regard to your Parents 
 and good Friends Counfel, that are concerned for 
 your doing well. But many that have grov/n high 
 and lofty, and have rejected their Parents and 
 Friends Counfel, have brought great Ruin and 
 Mifery upon themfelves. And many that have 
 married out of the Counfel of Truth with them of 
 other Profeflions, have laid a Foundation for 
 making their Lives very uncomfortable and un- 
 happy : I defire that you may be careful of too 
 much Familiarity with Strangers, left any of you 
 be enfnared thereby, as many have been to their 
 great Sorrow and Ruin. And I defire you may all 
 be careful not to give way to little Things that are 
 wrong, for I believe many that have given way to 
 one little Thing after another that was fo, have been 
 drawn into very grofs Things in procefs of Time. 
 
 Touch not with the wrong Thing of any kind, 
 that you may be unfpotted in all Refpedts, that 
 whenever it fhall pleafe the Lord to call you hence, 
 you may be prepared for that glorious Kingdom, 
 into which nothing that is unclean can enter, is my 
 fmcerc Defire for you : So with true Love to you, 
 I remain 
 
 Tour loving Friend^ 
 
 Rofs-Shanne, in the County of "Rr-xT t W/^r -^/r-n 
 
 Antrim ;« Ireland, the i^i ^^N J. tiOLME 
 
 Antrim in Ireland, the i6ik 
 of the Firft Month lyzG. 
 
 A N 
 
169 
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 O F 
 
 LOVE 
 
 T O T H £ 
 
 Churches of Christ^ &c. 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 WHOM the Lord has called to be Wif- 
 nefTes for hts Name and Truth, I hereby 
 tenderly falute you, with Defires that you may 
 anfwer the Call oi the Lord, by an holy and humble 
 walking before him, while you have a Being here, 
 that in the End you may have the Evidence of his 
 Favour and Love in yourfelves. 
 
 And I defire that you, who have made any Pro- 
 grefs towards the Spiritual Canaan, may be encou- 
 raged to hold on your Way ; and if you meet with 
 Difficulties and difcouraging Things in your Travel 
 and PafTage through this World, have a Care that 
 you do not look out at them, left the Difcourager 
 prevails to weaken you in your fpiritual Travail : 
 But when Things look hard and difficult, let your 
 Eye be to him who is all-fufficienr, who divided the 
 Waters of old for his People Ifrael^ and who re- 
 mains to be what he has always been to his faithful 
 People, ^ Cod near at bandy and a frefent Help in 
 
 M every 
 
lyo ''Jn EVISTLE of Love 
 
 e'uery needful ^ime of Trouble ; fo that there is great 
 Encouragement for fincere Minds ftill to trufl in 
 him, who has faid concerning the true Seen, Heb. 
 xiii. 5. / will never leave thee^ nor forfake thee. We 
 read, that the Race is not to the Swift, nor the 
 Battle to the Strong, but he that endures to the 
 End, the fame fhall be faved : Many that have 
 made good Beginnings, and run well for a Time, 
 for want of VVatchiulnefs have mifcarried, and 
 gone into dilLonourable and reproachful Things, 
 whereby the Way of Truth has been evil fpoken 
 of. 
 
 It is certain, that they who have begun in the 
 Spirit, may fall Ihort of Salvation, if they do not 
 continue to follow the Lord ; we read concerning 
 Calebs ihuhefcllowed the Lord fully ; and although 
 the People of Ifrael had been mightily favoured, yet 
 many of them forfook the Lord, but good Jofhua 
 faid, Jofh. xxiv. 15. But as for me and my Hcufe^ we 
 will ferve the Lord \ he and Calebs who were Men 
 of right Spirits, entered the holy Land. 
 
 It is not what Men have formerly fufFered or gone 
 through upon a religious Account, that will render 
 them acceptable in the Sight of God, if they do not 
 continue in well-doing to the End, for if the rigb- 
 teous Man turn away from his Righteoufnefs^ and com- 
 mit Iniquity, all his former Righteoufnefs fhall not ht 
 rememhrtd^ hut for his Iniquity that he hath co7U- 
 milted^ he fhall furely die \ therefore it is good for 
 him that thinks he (lands, to take Heed left he 
 fall, for no Man is longer fafe than he is upon his 
 Guard •, and if you are careful that you may be 
 found living agreeable to the divine Will, and 
 walking as becomes your holy ProfefTion, you will 
 be greatly bleft, and he that '^2iS Abraham's Shield, 
 and his exceeding great Reward, will defend and 
 preferve you, as you abide in his Fear and Counfel, 
 and in obeying of the Lord, you will enjoy great 
 
 Reward 
 
to the Churches of Christ, Gfr. 171 
 
 Reward and Peace, beyond what Tongue or Pen 
 can fee forth. 
 
 And, m^ Friends^ wliere any of you are called to 
 fuffer upon a rtJigious Account, I would have you 
 to fuffer cheerfully, like the true Believers we read 
 of, that took joyfulJy the fpoihng of their Goods, 
 being thankful that they were not only accounted 
 worthy to believe, but alfo to fuffer for the Sake; 
 and Caufe of Chrlft \ let no Intereft prevail with 
 you to go againfl Conviction to avoid fuffering, for 
 fome that have finned agiinft Knowledge, and have 
 taken indirect Ways to avoid fuffering, have 
 brought a great deal of Guile upon themfelves -, buc 
 follow thofe Things which bring Peace, that whea 
 ever it fliall pleafe the Lord to call you hence, it 
 may be a happy Change to you. 
 
 And as it has been a very humbling and afHicling 
 Time in divers Parts of the Nation, and in many Peo- 
 ples Families, becaufe of the great Mortality that has 
 been of late, I very much defire that you may be care- 
 ful to make a right Improvemerit of the Time and 
 Opportunity which is put into your Hands, that you 
 may be prepared to meet the Lord \ and as you find 
 that it was according to divine Direction, that Heze- 
 kiah fhould fet his Houfe in order, for the Prophet 
 told him, l\\2il he Jhould die and not live. Now, akho* 
 it is a prudent Confideration for People to take Care 
 to fettle their Affairs by Will or otherwile, in Time 
 of Health, to prevent Difcord and Milunderffand- 
 ing, that has often happened for want of fuch pru- 
 dent Care, yet I defire that you may above all, 
 make it your Care to have all in order in a fpiritual 
 Relation, that whenever ic fhall pleafe the Lord to 
 call you to give an Account of your Stewardfhips, 
 you may give it with Joy, like the good Servants 
 ^vhom we read of, that had improved their Talents. 
 
 And as it is one great Part of the Chriftian Reli- 
 gion, to be full of Bowels and CompafTicn to them 
 
 M 2 that 
 
172 ^An EPISTLE?/' Levi; 
 
 that are in Want and Diftrefs, I defire that you 
 whom the Lord has blefl with a plentiful Share of 
 this World's Goods, may be full of Pity to the 
 Poor and Needy •, for I count it is a great Blcmifli 
 upon the rich Man that we read of in Luke^ that he 
 did not fhew CompafTion to the poor Man who was 
 laid at his Gate full of Sores, and defired the Crums 
 that fell from his Table ; but we do not find that 
 ihey were granted to him. When the Apoftle James 
 defcribes true Religion, he faith, James i. 27. Pure 
 Religion and undefiled before God the Father^ is to vifit 
 the Fatberlefs and JVidows in their Affli5lion, and to 
 keep our/elves unfpotted from the World, May you 
 all fhew forth the Truth in the Purity of it, that 
 you may be as fo many Lights and Way-marks in 
 the feveral Places where your Lots are cafl. 
 
 And, my beloved Friends^ I tenderly defire that 
 you may manifeft yourfelves to be truly, and indeed, 
 the Followers of the Lord Jefus Chrifl, by your 
 loving one another, and living agreeable to his 
 holy Dodrine, whofe Followers you profefs to be, 
 who taught his Difciples not only to love one ano- 
 ther, but alfo to love their Enemies, and to do 
 Good for Evil, and to blefs them that curfe them, 
 and pray for thofe that did defpitefully ufe them : 
 And as Difcord in Families, and amongfl Relations, 
 and Neighbours, has often had mighty pernicious 
 and bad Effeds, I defire that you may guard 
 againft Tale-bearings and all Things that may tend 
 to make Strife, and if any that have not Govern- 
 ment and Command of their Tongues, fhould revile 
 you, iearn of him, viz. the Lord Jefus Chrifl, 
 who when he was reviled by evil and wicked 
 Tongues, did not revile again ; but let it be mani- 
 feft, that you have got Command of your Tongues 
 end Tempers ; we read, that he that governs his 
 civn Spirit^ is faid io be flronger than he that takes a 
 
 City y 
 
to the Churches of Christ, ^c\ 173 
 
 City ; and the wife Man faith, that a foft Anfwer 
 turns away Wrath, 
 
 As the Holy Scriptures are fo full of Inflrudlion, 
 I wiih that you may be very frequent in reading, 
 or caufing them to be read in your Families. And, 
 dear Fnends^ I tenderly defire that you may all be 
 careful to keep to the heavenly Salt in yourfelves, 
 that fo thrc'gh your keeping to the feafoning Grace 
 of God in yoiu own Minds, you may be indru- 
 mental to leafon the Minds of your Children and 
 Servants : Let your Words be few and favoury, 
 fcafon'd with Grace, that they may minifter Grace 
 to the Hearers ; you may afTure yourfelves, that 
 our Saviour intended to difcourage idle Talking and 
 foolifli Jefting, by giving us to underftand, that a 
 Man fhould give an Account in the Day of Judgment 
 for every idle Wordy Mat. xii. 36. and if Men muft 
 render an Account to the righteous Judge of all the 
 Earth, for every idle Word, how much more for 
 grofs Enormities *, and as I believe, that many of 
 you are fenfible, that fome Peoples Children have 
 been greatly hurt through keeping loofe and evil- 
 minded Company, therefore I entreat, that you 
 would watch carefully over your Children and 
 Families, and endeavour to keep them from fuch 
 Company as may be a Snare to them ; many young 
 People have learn'd to talk idlely and foolifhiy, 
 and to drink to Excefs, and game, and be proud 
 and wanton, through keeping Company with them 
 that were given to thefe Things ; and how many 
 who have kept fuch Company, have married out of 
 the Counfel of the Lord, to their own Ruin and 
 Grief of their religious Parents *, but happy are they 
 who learn from othew Harms to beware : I wifl^ 
 that all young People, into whofe Hands thefe may 
 come, may be careful to keep good and virtuous 
 Company, for as many have been greatly hurt 
 through keeping idle- Company, fo I believe manv 
 
 M 3 call 
 
74 ^n EPISTLE ^Z' Love 
 
 can fay, they have reapt great Profit and Comfort 
 by keeping pious and virtuous People Company ; 
 I gr:^::tly defire that you may humbly feek the Lord- 
 to preferve you out of all the Evils and Corrupcions 
 that are in the World, and as you defire that a 
 BlefTing may attend you, fee that you obey your 
 Parents in the Lord, as the Apoftle advifes, for 
 many undutiful Children have brought great Ruin 
 and Mifery upon themfelves, and Sorrow to their 
 Parents ; and as ic was pleafing to the Lord, that 
 Solomon fought for Wifdom from the Lord, that he 
 might know how to behave himfe'f before that 
 great People, I defire, 7ny Friends^ that all of you 
 that have Children and Families to walk before, 
 may wait for WifJom from the Lord, that you 
 may know how to behave yourfelves, and v/hat to 
 cherifli, and v/hat to fupprefs i and as many Chil- 
 dren have been greatly hurt, through being too 
 much indulged in high Things, and having their 
 own Wilis gratified, 1 defire that you may keep 
 your Children out of high Things, that mriy lead 
 away their Minds from the Lord, and keep your 
 Authority over them in the meek Spirit of the 
 L^mb, that you may keep their Love and AiFec- 
 tion •, many of our good Friends that have ruTd 
 Vv'ith Sweetnefif, their Children both love and fear 
 them ; but if any rule in a wrong Spirit and Tem- 
 per, they may mightily four their Children, and 
 Jofe their Love and Affedion, fo that they may 
 flight and difregard them ; may the Lord guide 
 ' ^ou in his Wifdom and Counfel, that by your wife 
 and prudent Conduft, you may be a BlefTing to 
 your Families, as many have been through their 
 cartful walking and good Endeavours : And I wifh 
 that you may be exemplary in attending of religious 
 Meetings for the Worfnip of God, and endeavour 
 to bring your Children and Servants to frequent 
 fuch Meetings both on Firft and Week-days, as 
 
 much 
 
to the Churches of Christ, ^c\ 175 
 
 much as you well can ; and as it is certain, that 
 God who is a Spirit, may be truly worfhipped in 
 Spirit when noUnng is outwardly fpoken, I would 
 have you wait to be fenfible thereof in your reli- 
 gious Meetings, that (0 they may be made truly 
 comtortable and edifying to you ; and if you wait 
 to fed the Power ot Chrift in your fiient Waiting, 
 you will be encouraged to keep up your Meetings ; 
 and as you may read, how the primitive Chriftians 
 were baptized into Chrifl, and fo came to put en 
 the Lord Jcrfus Chrift, the new and heavenly Man, 
 I very much define, that you may experience v/hac 
 it is to be baptized into the divine and heavenly 
 Nature of the Lord Jefus Chrift ; and as you wit- 
 nefs chc divine Nature to bear Rule in your Hearts, 
 you will fnev/ forth Chriftianity in your Lives and 
 A61;ions, and for this I am fincere in my Defi res, that 
 fo you may anfvvcr the Kindnefs and Love of God, in 
 vifiting you, and gathering you to be a People •, and 
 as you are fenfible that we are but Sojourners here, 
 and that the End of all fading Enjoyments are near 
 at hand to us, therefore 1 tenderly defire, that you 
 may look beyond all thefe low Things, to the Re- 
 ward which will not fade away ; If you are rifen with 
 Chrift^ faith the Apotlle, [et your Affeuliom on Things 
 which are above : Although it is lawful for Chriftians 
 to mind earthly Things in their Plnces, yet we 
 ought to be careful, that we do not mind thefe low 
 Things too much, left thereby we are diverted 
 from feeking of the durable Treafure •, you find 
 what a fad Sentence went out againft them that we 
 read of in Luke^ that were invited to the Supper, 
 and made Excufes \ although the Things that they 
 were taken up with, were lawful in themfelves, one 
 had married a Wife, and another had bought a Farm% 
 and a third, Oxen^ and they all defired to be ex- 
 cufed ; and we find, that becaufe they made Excufes, 
 the Lord of the Servant fa id, that none of them that 
 
 M 4 wcr% 
 
176 'An EPISTLE of Love 
 
 were hidden fhould tafte of his Supper : Now this is 
 left upon Record for our Inftrudtion ; may you all 
 be truly redeemed out of the Love and Spirit and 
 Friendfhip of the World, that you may fenfibly 
 witnefs what it is to have your Converfation in 
 Heaven, and have inward Communion with the 
 Lord, as the true C^rf/?f^«i of old had, while they 
 were living in the World : We read, that the 
 Friendfhip of the World is Enmity with God, 
 
 As many good natured People have been greatly 
 enfnared and drawn into drinking to Excefs, thro* 
 keeping too much Company with them that were 
 given to hard Drinking, I tenderly defire that you 
 may all be very much upon your Guard againft be- 
 ing enfnared this Way ; for how many Men of 
 bright Parts have fhortned their Days through ex- 
 ceffive Drinking ; but live rather abftemioufly, for 
 as Temperance is a great Step towards Salvation, fo 
 it is likewife very conducing to Health ; the Apoftle 
 Paul faith, that he kept his Body under ^ lefi while he 
 p-eached to others^ he himfelf jhould become a cajl 
 aivay ♦, it is greatly to be defired, that this were the 
 Care not only of every Minifter, but of all them 
 v/ho profefs to be the Followers of Chrift. 
 
 And, my Friends, in all your Dealings remember 
 that great Rule of our dear Lord, to do unto allPeople 
 as ye would they fhould do unto you, that fo you may 
 anfwer the juft and equal Principle in all with whom 
 you have to do ; many of our good Friends have 
 brought great Reputation to their ProfefTion, and 
 Credit to themfelves, by their fair and juft Dealing, 
 and peaceable Behaviour, and good Converfations ; 
 remember that excellent Counfel of the Apoftle, 
 where he faith, Heb, xii. 14. Follow Peace with all 
 Men^ and Holinefs^ without which no Man fhati fee 
 the Lord, And be tender of one another's Reputa- 
 tions i and if any Friend or Brother be overtaken 
 in a Fault, endeavour to reftore him in the Spirit 
 
 of 
 
to the Churches of Christ, i£?r. 177 
 
 of Meeknefs, and watch in the holy Light, which 
 Hiews you the Evil and the Temptations of Satan, 
 when they are prefented, that thereby you may be 
 preferved from joining with them. 
 
 So with Defires that you may all be fo conflant 
 upon your Watch, that he that envies your Happi- 
 nefs, and that goes about continually, feeking who 
 he can get in upon, may be fruftrated in his Defigns 
 upon you ; I remain 
 
 Tour Friend and Brother in the Truths 
 
 London, the iith of the Pr«M t T-T^t i»,„ - 
 
 Second Month 17^1, i3ENJ. HOLME, 
 
 Tender Invitation and Call 
 
 T o 
 
 All People, to embrace the Offers 
 of God's Love, ^c 
 
 STRONG and fervent are the Defires that are 
 -in my Soul, that you may be prevailed upon 
 to embrace the Day of God's merciful Vifitation, 
 which is extended unto your Souls through Jefus 
 Chrift our Lord, that fo the Complaint that was 
 taken up againfl Jerufalem of old, may not be 
 taken up againfl any of you ; for we find, that 
 fuch was the Kindnefs of the Lord to the People 
 of that great City, that he would often have gathered 
 them, but they would not be gathered, although 
 the Lord in Kindnefs and Mercy fent his Sf rvi^nts 
 
 and 
 
jyS A 7'ender Invitation and Call, ^?c. 
 
 and Prophets amongft them, to call them to break 
 off from their Wickednefs : Yet fuch was their 
 Hardnefs and Impenicency, that they killed the Fro- 
 fhets^ and ftoned them that were fent of God, to call 
 unto them for Repentance and Amendment of Life ; 
 and that which was greatly to be lamented, they 
 perfifted on in their Wickednefs to that Degree, 
 that the Lord gave over flriying with them ^ and 
 when their Day of Vifitation was over, our Saviour 
 wept over them, and faid, O Jerufakm ! Jerulalcm ! 
 thou that killeft the Prophets, and ftoneft them that are 
 fent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy 
 Children together, even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens 
 under her livings, and ye would not : Bemlc!^ your 
 Houfe is left unto you defolate, iMat. xx'.ii. 37. A very 
 difmal State indeed ! I fervently defire, that this 
 n)ay never be the State of any : And in order that 
 it may not, I befeech you, in the Love of Chrift, 
 to break off from yOur Sins by true and unfeigned 
 Repentance^ while the Lord in his Mercy and Kind^- 
 nefs is inwardly driving with you, by his holy 
 Spirit, to reclaim you trom them. For fuch is the 
 Kindncfs and Mercy ot the Almighty God unto all 
 Mankind, that he gives to every Man a Day of 
 Vifitation, in which Day of Vifitation he is gra- 
 cioufly pleafed to drive with them inwardly by his 
 holy Spirit. The Lord drove with the People of 
 the old World by his Spirit, to reclaim them ; but 
 after he had long driven with them, and they would 
 not be reclaimed from their wicked and evil Doings, 
 he faid concerning them, that His Spirit Jhould not 
 ahvays ftrive with Man, for that he alfo is Flejb^ 
 Gen. vi. 3. And you may find how, through 
 perfiding on in their Wickednefs, they provoked 
 the Lord to fweep them away in* his Anger ; they 
 went on in thofe Things that provoked the Lord to 
 Anger, but did not truly confider what would be 
 the Confequence of their fo doing j they did fo 
 
 little 
 
 1 
 
A lender Invitation and Call, Sfr. 179 
 
 little confider how near they were to perifh in their 
 Iniquities, that the Scripture faith, ne'j eat and 
 dranky and married^ and- were given in Marriage^ 
 until the Day that Ncah entred into the Ark^ Mat. 
 xxiv. 38. 
 
 And as in other Things, fo in that of Marriage, 
 they did mightily provoke the Lord to Anger ; 
 for it's fa id, *The Sons of God took to ihe?/ifeives 
 Wives of the Daughters of Men, of all which they 
 chofe. And the Confequence thereof was v<Ty jif- 
 mal, for they were cut off in Anger, v;ho thus 
 provoked the Lord by marrying out of his Counfel, 
 contrary to his Mind, as v/ell as the r^d of the 
 Wicked. Oh ! that this might be Warning :o all 
 to be careful that they do not provoke the Lord, 
 by marrying out of his Connie), left he turn his 
 Hand in Judgment agninft iliem, as he did againfl; 
 thofe People in the old World. And we may read 
 in the Book of Ezra^ Chap. ix. how that the fierce 
 Wrath oi- the Lord was come upon Jfrael, becaufe 
 they had taken to themfelves firange Wives. 
 
 Now thefe are Things of great Weight, and I 
 defire they may be truly confidered, for he i\\M 
 v/as provoked with the People in the old World, 
 and v/ith the Jews for their wicked and ungodly 
 Doings, he is provoked with many of the People 
 in this our Day, becaufe of their wicked and un- 
 godly Doings, for which he will affuredly punifh 
 them in an heavy Manner, if they do not repent, 
 and return from their evil Ways, while the Day of 
 his merciful Vifitation is extended unto them •, for 
 he hath whetted his Sword, and bent his Bow, and he 
 will be avenged on the Workers of Iniquity. 
 
 Therefore I call unto you, trom a Concern that 
 I am under for your eternal Welfare, to prepare to 
 meet the Lord, while the Day of his Mercy is ex- 
 tended unto you, left a Day of Calamity and Sor- 
 row overtake you j for the Lord is highly provoked 
 
 (an.d 
 
i8o A Tender Invitation and Call, (3c. 
 
 (and his Spirit grieved) with the Wickednefs that 
 doth abound in this Generation, and he will bring 
 a Day of great Humih'ation and Sorrow upon many, 
 if they do not fpeedily repent, and return from the 
 Evil of their Ways. Oh ! how many of the pro- 
 voking Sins of Sodom do abound in this Age, for 
 which God will afluredly vifit Mankind in his fore 
 Difpleafure, if they will not anfwer his Call, which 
 is to come out of them. 
 
 Therefore be entreated for your Souls eternal 
 "Welfare, to anfwer when the Lord calls, left the 
 Time come that you call, and he will not anfwer, 
 which will be dreadful. See Proverbs^ Chap. i. from 
 Verf. 24, to Vcrf. 31. Becaufe I have called^ and ye 
 refufedt I have ftretched out my Hand^ and no Man 
 regarded, hut ye have fet at nought all my Counfelsy 
 and would none of my Reproof ; / alfo will laugh at 
 your Calamity^ I will mock when your Fear cometh^ 
 when your Fear cometh as Defolation, and your De- 
 fir u5!ion cometh as a Whirlwind ; when Bijlrefs and 
 Anguijh cometh upon you : Tea then (hall they call upon 
 me, hut 1 will not anjwer ; they Jhall feek me early^ 
 hut they /hall not find me ; for that they hated Know- 
 ledge, and did not chufe the Fear of the Lord. 
 
 So it is plainly manifeft, the Lord will not always 
 ilrive with Man : He ftrove long with the People 
 of Jfrael, that went into evil Things ; but when 
 they ftill perfifted, and would not be reclaimed, 
 you may find, how he turned his Hand in Judgment 
 againft thole very People whom he had chofen 
 above all the People ot the Earth. So that the 
 Apoflle faith, that 'Three and Twenty Thou f and of 
 them fell in one Day ; and he gives the Reafon why 
 they fell, /. e. becaufe they lufled after evil Things. 
 Oh ! that the Children of Men in our Tirne would 
 but make a right Application of thefe Things : For 
 if the Lord turned his Hand in Judgment againft 
 thofe that were once his peculiar and chofen People 
 
 when 
 
A "tender Invitation and Call, ^c. i8 i 
 
 when they lulled after evil Things, how can they 
 expect other, but that God will turn his Hand in 
 Judgment againft them, if they luft after evil 
 Things as they did ? And as was faid unto Ifraely 
 Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die ? Ezek. xxxiii. 
 II. fo fay I unto you. Turn ye, turn ye from your 
 evil Ways, why will you die ? Why will you go 
 on, and perfift in that which provokes the Lord to 
 Anger, and fo bring Mifcry upon your Souls to all 
 Eternity ? If you will turn to the Lord with all your 
 Hearts, he will have Mercy •, for he is gracious and 
 merciful, and will abundantly pardon ; as was faid 
 of old, Ifaiah, Chap. Iv. Verf. 7. Let the Wicked for- 
 fake his fFay, and the unrighteous Man his noughts^ 
 and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have 
 Mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abun- 
 dantly pardon. 
 
 It is not turning from one ProfefTion of Religion 
 to another, that will turn away the Wrath of the 
 Lord from Men, if they do not turn away from 
 their Iniquities : So I befeech you, into whofe 
 Hands thefc may come, to fee that you turn from 
 that which grieves the Lord, that fo you may efcape 
 the Wrath to come, and turn to that divine Light, 
 by which every Man that cometh into the World is 
 enlightned, (John i.) which Light gives a Difcovery 
 of, and brings Trouble and Sorrow upon Men for 
 that which is evil, during the Day of their Vifita- 
 tion •, in which divine Light there is Power and 
 Sufficiency to give the Soul Victory over all that 
 which is evil, where People come to believe in it, 
 and walk in it : In which holy Light, all the Nations 
 of them that are faved ?nufi walk. For it is certain, 
 that when Men go into that which they are inwardly 
 reproved for by the Light of Chrift in their own 
 Hearts, they difpleafe God. So fee that you come 
 out of thofe Things, that the Light inwardly dif- 
 covers to be evil, and fecretly reproves vou for, or 
 
 tlfe 
 
iSz A lender Invitation and Call, ^c. 
 
 elfe you will not be juftified in the Sight of God, 
 although you may be high in Profelfion, and ftrid 
 in obferving a great many outward Obfervations : 
 For it is not Mens high Pretences to Religion, or 
 their being ftrid in obferving of a great many out- 
 ward Ceremonies, that will render them acceptable 
 in God's Sight, if they are fuch as rebel again ft the 
 Light, and holy Spirit of God in their own Hearts. 
 I befeech you ferioufly to confider, what fignified 
 ■all the Jews outward Obfervations and Ceremonies, 
 when they rebelled againft the holy Spirit of God 
 in their own Hearts \ for God gave them of his 
 good Spirit to inftru6l them, but that which was 
 their great Unhappinefs, they rebelled againft it \ 
 and then to what purpofe was the Multitude of their 
 Sacrifices ? for he faith, Bring no more vain Ohla- 
 iions^ Incenfe is an Abominaiion unto me^ the new 
 Moons and Sabbaths^ the calling of Ajfemblies^ I cannot 
 away with *, it is Iniquity even the folemn Meeting : 
 Tour new Moons and sour appointed Feafts my Soul 
 hateth^ they are a '^'rouble unto me^ I am weary to bear 
 them : And when you fpread forth your Hands ^ I will 
 hide mine Eyes frofu you \ yea^ when ye make many 
 Prayers 1 will not hear. Tour Hands are full of 
 Blood *, wafh ye., make you clean^ put away the Evil 
 of your JOoings from before mine Eyes ; ceafe to do 
 Evil, learn to do well -, feek Judgment^ relieve the 
 Oppreffed^ judge the Fatherlefs^ plead for the Widow. 
 Come now and let us reafon together^ faith the Lord^ 
 though your Sins be as Scarlet^ they fhall be as white 
 as Snow *, though they be red likeCri?nfon^ they fhall be 
 as Wool : If you be willing and obedient^ ye fhall eat 
 the Good of the Land ; but if ye refufe and rebels ye 
 /hall be devoured with the Sword ; for the Mouth of 
 the Lord hath fpoken it, Ifaiah, Chap. i. from Verf. 
 13, to 21. 
 
 So fee, all you ProfelTors, what Name of Religion 
 foever you go under, that you do not .value your- 
 
 felveJ 
 
A Tender Invitation and Call, G?c. 183 
 
 fclves upon your Profefiion, or upon your outward 
 Observations and empty Performances ; for you 
 may find by what is aforet-iid, that the Obferva- 
 tions of the Jews did not avail in the Sight of God, 
 when they were found in thofe Things that grieved 
 him ; although h^ had once required the Per- 
 formance of thofe outward Solemnities and Obfer- 
 vations, as aforefaid. And I fay to you, That all 
 your outward Obfervations and Ceremonies will not 
 avail in the Sight of God ; for nothing fhort of 
 ..knowing the Lord to work a Change ih the Heart, 
 will avail in his Sight, as the Apoflle Paul well ob- 
 ferves, that He is not a Jew ivho is one outwardly^ 
 neither is that Circumcifwn which is outward in tte 
 Flejh ; hut he is ^ Jew who is one inwardly^ and Cir- 
 cumcifion is of the Hearty Rom. ii. 28, 29. 
 
 And as Paul faith concerning the Jew^ fo it may 
 be truly faid concerning the Chrijlian^ that he is not 
 a true and real Chrijlian^ who is one outwardly, 
 although he has been outwardly baptized^ and re- 
 ceived the Bread and fVine^ and may obfcrve a 
 great many outward Ceremonies, if he is not one 
 inwardly in his Heart to the Lord ; for the Baptifm 
 that faves, (as faith the Apoftle, i Pet, Cap. iii. 21.) 
 is not the putting away the Filth of the Flejh^ hut the 
 Anfwer of a good Confcience towards God^ by the Re- 
 furre5iion ofjefus Chriji. That which is really need- 
 ful for Men to know, is the Work of Sandlification 
 in their Hearts, that they may know their Hearts 
 to be purified, and made clean by the Baptifm of 
 Chrifl, which is with the Holy Ghofl, that ib they 
 may be made truly Members of him, and brought 
 to witnefs inward Communion v/ith him, Mark 
 Chap. i. Verf. 8. that fo they may be fitted for that 
 Kingdom, into which nothing that is unclean can 
 enter. Ktjow -se not, faith the Apoftle, i Cor. vi. 9. 
 and II. that the Unrighteous fhall not inherit the 
 Kingdom of God ? Be not deceived^ neither Fornicators^ 
 
 nor 
 
1 84 A lender Invitation ajid Call^ &c. 
 
 nor Idolaters^ nor Adulterers^ nor Effeminate, nor 
 Ahujers of themfelves with Mankind ; nor Ihieves, 
 nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Ex- 
 tortioners^ /hall inherit the Kingdom of God : Andfuch 
 wer^ fome oj you ; but ye are wafhed, hut ye are 
 fan5fified^ hut ye are juflified in the Name of the 
 Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God, This is 
 the great Thing that is wanting in this our Day, for 
 Men to be cleanfed from their Corruptions, and to 
 be brought to keep the Commandments of God ; 
 for the ApoRle in the next Chapter faith, that Cir- 
 cumcifion is nothing, nor Uncircumcijion is nothing, hut 
 the keeping of the Commandments of God, So that it 
 is not whether a Man obferves this outward Obfer- 
 vation, or the other, or whether he doth not, that 
 will avail ; but the keeping of the Commandments 
 of God : And Bleffed are they that do his Command- 
 tnents, that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, 
 and may enter in through the Gate into the holy City, 
 
 And fuch is the wonderful Goodnefs and Mercy of 
 God unio Mankind, that he hath given To much of 
 his Grace and holy Spirit, as is fufficient to enable 
 them to keep his Commands, according to the 
 Apoftie's Teftimony, Tit, ii. 11. which Grace is 
 fufHcient to give the Soul Vidory over all that 
 which is Evil, and to enable it to do all that the 
 Lord requires of it. 
 
 You that are Parents of Children, I tenderly en- 
 treat you to mind this divine Grace, that inwardly 
 appears in your Hearts, and in the Hearts of all 
 People, againft all that which is Evil, that fo, by 
 taking Heed thereunto, you may be a Blefling in 
 the Lord's Hand to your Children. 
 
 And all you young People, into whofe Hands 
 thefe may come, let me prevail with you, to join 
 with this holy and divine Grace of God in your 
 ovvn Hearts, which will teach you true Humility 
 and Self-denial j and it will preferve you from all 
 
 the 
 
A Tender ImaxATioN a?2d Call, &c> 185 
 
 the Evils that are in the World : And if you keep 
 to it, and mind the Teachings of it, as you ought 
 to do, you will witncrfs the BltrfTing of the Lord, 
 which makes truly rich, and adds no Sorrov/ v^ith 
 it, to red upon you, and your Peace and Coiiitort 
 w^Il be beyond what you will be able to exprefs in 
 Words. 
 
 Oh ! how my Soul dcfires, and travels, that all 
 may come to join, with, and be taught by this divine 
 Grace, that fo thereby they may be taught to deny 
 all Ungodlinefs and Worldly Luils, and to live 
 foberiy and righteoufly, and godly in this pr^fent 
 World •, that To thereby they may be brought into 
 Favour with God ; for the Lord is greatly pro- 
 voked to Difpleafure, becaufe of the Wickednefs 
 and Unrighteoufnefs that doth abound among Peo- 
 ple pretending to Cbrijlianily. 
 
 Oh ! confider that you are accountable to Al- 
 mighty God, not only for grofs Sins, as Swearing , 
 Lying, Uncleannrfs, and ij^afting cf the good Qrcalnres 
 of God upon your Lufls, but remember, that for 
 every idle Word you fpeak, you muft give an Ac- 
 count thereof in the Day of Judgment. Oh ! that 
 the Senfe thereof might weightily fcize upon all 
 Hearts, that fo there might be a true and thorough 
 Repentance come unto amongft Mankind -, that 
 the Lord, who in tender Mercy and Kindnefs, 
 look'd down upon the A'i/ieviles, upon their repent- 
 ing and humbling themfelves before him, may be 
 pleafed to look down in his Mercy upon this People 
 in this Age. 
 
 And to you that are tender, whofe Sins are a 
 Burthen too heavy for you to bear, and are under 
 an inward Concern, how you may know an Over- 
 coming of them ; turn your Minds inward, and 
 retire to the Gift of God in your own Hearts, for 
 Help is near, God has placed his Grace in you, 
 which is fufticient for you : Wherefore do not feek 
 
 N withour. 
 
iS6 A Tender Invitation and Call, ^c. 
 
 without, but mind his Appearance within ; although 
 he may appear as a Reprover, it is to deflroy that 
 in you, which is not of himfelf, that fo he may rule 
 and reign, whofe Right it is. 
 
 Now, dear Friends^ you whom the Lord, in the 
 Riches of his Love, has gracioufly vifited with the 
 bleiTcd Day-fpring from on high, fee that you daily 
 live in a holy Senle of his Goodnefs and Mercy ex- 
 tended unto you through Jefus Chrift his beloved 
 Son •, that fo you may walk in great Humility and 
 Fear before him, the Days you have to fojourn here, 
 that it may pleafe him, who hath done great Things 
 for you, to do yet more abundantly for you ; that 
 the Complaint which was taken up againft the Vine- 
 yard of old, may never be taken up againft any of 
 you : Read Ifaiah the 5th. For it is certain, that 
 after fuch fingular Favours and Kindnefs extended 
 many Ways, the Lord expefts Fruits of Holincfs 
 from us. Therefore confider what Returns you are 
 making to the Almighty, and fee that your Fruits 
 are unto Holinefs, that the End may be everlafting 
 Life : For we find, although the People o{ Ifrael 
 were favoured above all other People, yet becaufe 
 they went into evil Things, they were to be puniflied 
 above all other People. Therefore have a Care that 
 you join not with the Wicked, in thofe Things 
 which are difpleafing unto God ; but be you fepa- 
 rate, and touch not the unclean Thing in any kind, 
 and then the Lord will receive you, and his Care 
 will be over you ; So that if he brings his Judgments 
 in an heavy manner upon the Vv^icked, becaufe of 
 their Wickednefs, he will be a Wall of Salvation 
 round about you, to defend you fo that nothing 
 fhall hurt you. But if any of you go into Pride, 
 or thofe Thing*; that difpleafe the Lord, and will 
 hot be reclaimed, while he mercifully ftrives with 
 you, he will alTuredly lay his Hand in Judgment 
 upon you. 
 
 And 
 
A lender Invitation a?id Call, &c. 187 
 
 And now to you that are mourning in Soui before 
 the Lord, becaufe of the Wickednefs riiac doth 
 abound amongd- Mankind, it is in my Heort to lay 
 unto you, for your Comfort, The Lord in a peculiar - 
 Manner hath Regard unro you, andwhem his Hand 
 will be heavy upon the Wicked, his Care v/iil be 
 great over you, as it hath been over his People 
 throughout all Ages of the World. 
 
 We read, that the Lord's Care v/as great over. 
 ISIoah (and thofe other righteous Perfons that v/ere 
 in the old World) to preferve him, and his Houf- 
 hold, when his Judgment was executed upon the , 
 
 Wicked. And when the Lord dedroyed the Sodo^ 
 fnUeSy becaufe of their great Sins, he had Regard 
 unto juft Lot^ and thofe of his Family who heark- 
 ned unto him, and preferved them .alive. And 
 when he fent the fix Men unto Jenifalem^ who had 
 Slaughter -W^eapons, and one Man amorg them 
 with a Writer's Inkhorn by his Side ; as we may 
 read in Ezekiely Chap. ix. Verf. 2, and 4. He thac 
 had the Writer's Inkhorn, was to go throuah Jeru- 
 falem^ and to fet a Mark upon them that figtied and 
 crieei for the Abominations that were committed 
 araongft them ; and thofe that had the Mark fee 
 upon them, the Deftroyers, with their deftroying 
 Weapons, were not to hurt them. 
 
 So be encouraged, whoever you are that gp 
 bowed down, and forrowful on your Way, and are 
 ready to fay. Oh ! that we had a weepwg Blace in 
 the fVildernefs^ or that our Heads were IVaters, and 
 our Eyes a Fountain of Tears^ that we mi^ht weep 
 Day and Nighty hecaufe of the Wickednefs that doth 
 abound amongfl , the Children of Men, The Lord's 
 Eye is upon you lor Good, and when Days of great 
 Calamity and Sorrow fliall overtake the Wicked, 
 the Lord will abundantly comfort you. Therefore 
 be you encouraged to look unto him, in whom yqu 
 have believed, and he will fupport you by his 
 N 2 almighty 
 
288 ^;z E P I S T L E 
 
 almighty Power, and in the End give you a Crovm 
 of Glory, that will not fade away : Which, that 
 you may, through a faithful following of the Lord 
 obtain, is the fincere Defire of one that defines the 
 Salvation of all Mankind, 
 
 Benjamin Holme. 
 
 A N 
 
 EPISTLE 
 
 O F 
 
 Tender COUNSEL 
 
 T O 
 
 Parents^ School- Masters, and 
 School-Mistresses; and 
 likewile to the Youth. 
 
 w 
 
 Dear Friends, 
 
 ROM the Lord, in the Riches of his Love 
 and Mercy, has gracioufly vifited and done 
 great Things for, I hereby tenderly falute you, with 
 Defires that you may daily live in a holy Senfe of 
 the deep and manifold Obligations that you are 
 under, to walk humbly and reverently before him 
 while you have a Being here ; and as it is fo, you 
 will have great inward Longings in your Hearts and 
 Minds, that the fame divine Hand of Love and 
 Mercy which has reach'd to you, and Jed you out 
 
 of 
 
of Tender Counsel, G?r. 189 
 
 of the Vanities and Evils which are in the World, 
 may reach to your Children ; that fo they may be 
 a Seed to ferve the Lord in their Generation : And 
 endeavour as much as in you lies, to train them up" 
 in the Way o^ 'Truth while they are young *, the wife 
 Man faith, Train up a Child in the Way he fwuldgo^ 
 and when he is old he will not depart from it. 
 
 Although there are but few general Rules but 
 what will admit of fome Exceptions ; yet without 
 Difpute, a virtuous and good Education has very 
 often had good EfFedls, fo that many have great 
 Caufe to be thankful to the Lord, for the Care and 
 good Endeavours of their religious Parents, that 
 they did not indulge them in thofe Things which 
 tend to gratify a proud and vain Mind : And fhew 
 them by your Example, how good Chrijiians ought 
 to live. And I very much defire, that you may 
 difcourage thofe Things in your Children, which 
 you have been reproved for by the Spirit of Truth 
 in yourfelves, both in Converfation, Habit and Speech^ 
 that you may be a BlelTing to them. 
 
 And .now, niy Friends^ give me Leave to intreat 
 you who are School- M after 5 and School- MiftrejJeSy 
 and have the Education and Tuition of Youth com- 
 mitted to your Care, humbly feek, that you may 
 be helped to fet them good FZxamples : The Apoftie 
 exhorted his beloved Timothy^ to be an Example of 
 the Believers, in Word, in Converfation^ in Charity, in 
 Spirit, in Faithy in Purity ; and if your Converfa- 
 tions are fuch as become the Followers of Chrift, 
 you may be great Inftruments of Good to the Chil- 
 dren under your Care : And let them fee you have 
 got Command of your Tongues and Tempers, and 
 of your own Spirits, that when you fee Occafion to 
 reprove or correct any of them, it may be done in 
 Wifdom, and v/irh that Command of Temper, that 
 you may anfwer the divine Principle in their Minds : 
 We are told by the wife Man, that Wifdom is IfetterTxciu^tS, 
 
 N 2 tban^^ 
 
190 ^/2 E P I S T L E 
 
 than Strength or Weapons of JVar. And we read, 
 Prov. xvi. that He that ruleth his own Spirit^ is fa id to be better 
 ^"* than he who takes a City. 
 
 Many of our prudent and good Friends, by their 
 wife Condud, have kept a fine Authority over their 
 Children, and thofe that were under their Care, and 
 yet they have very much kept their Love and Af- 
 feclion, which is very excellent : But if People rule 
 in a four Temper and Spirit, over their Children 
 and Servants, and them that are under their Care, 
 they may very much lofe their Love and Affeflion ; 
 and if they do fo, then no wonder if they flight and 
 difregard them. It was pleafing to the Lord, that 
 SdlomoH fought TVifdom^ that he might know how to 
 go in and out before his People ; and there is no 
 doubt but you wiii be regarded, as you humbly wait 
 for the Wifdom which comes from above, that you 
 may know what to cherifli, and what to fupprefs v 
 and endeavour as much as in you lies, to inflil vir- 
 tuous and good Principles into their Minds ; and 
 beget an iVbhorrence in them againfl Vice and Immo- 
 rality, And as many good-natur'd young People have 
 very much fhorten'd their Days by Intemperance and 
 drinking to Excefs ; and feveral have alfo very much 
 wafted their Subftance by Gaming^ I very much de- 
 fire, that you may endeavour to principle your Chil- 
 dren, while they are young, againft thefe Things, 
 and endeavour to perluade them to mind that divine 
 Principle of Light and Grace m themfelves, which 
 ihews them the Evil and the Temptations of Satan 
 when they are prefented ; that thereby they may 
 be enabled to withftand them. You have great 
 Opportunities to influence their Minds, and to 
 make good Imprellions upon them : It is much to 
 * be defired, that you may have their Good truly at 
 
 Hearf •, and if you keep to the feafoning Grace 
 of Qod in yourfeJves, you may be greatly inftru- 
 niental to feafon their Minds in their tender Years. 
 
 And 
 
of Tenper Counsel, ^c. 191 
 
 And as you fervently feek their Good, it may be, 
 that you may have a Word of Counfel to drop 
 now and then, which may prove like a Nail faftened 
 in a fure Place. We read, that Words fitly fpoken^ 
 or fpoken in Seafon, are faid to be like Apples of 
 <aold in Piuiures of Silver. And as you are found in 
 the Difcnarge of your Duty to them, in all Refpeds, 
 you win enjoy great Peace in your own Minds : I 
 believe fome School-Mailers and School-MiflrefieS 
 havf^ very much recommended themfelves, and en- 
 creas'd their Schools, by their Care and Diligence, 
 and in doing to other Peoples Children, as they 
 would have had their own Children done to, if they 
 were under the fame Circumftances. 
 
 And dear Children and young People, who are 
 growing up, I tenderly defire that you may take 
 that wife and excellent Counfel of our Saviour, 
 where he exhorts, firjl to feek the Kingdom of God ^^^- '^**- 
 and bis Righteoiifriefs^ and all thefe Things Jhall he 
 added unto you \ then the Lord's Care will be over 
 you, and the Hand which is full of Bleflings will 
 be opened to you : If you remember, our Saviour 
 faith, that l^he Kingdom of God cometh not with Ohfer- Luke xvii. 
 vations^ neither fhail they fay ^ lo here, er lo there., buf^^' '^'• 
 behold the Kingdo?n of God is within you. May you 
 fervently leek to know the Lord to bear Rule and 
 govern in your Hearts, whofe Right it is to rule there. 
 You find in that very excellent Prayer which our 
 Saviour taught his Difciples, they were diredled to 
 pray for the Kingdom of God to come, and that his Will 
 might be done in Earth as it is done in Heaven : But till 
 Men come to witnefs the Lord to be King in them, 
 and have the Dominion in their Hearts, they can 
 never live according to his Will. And as they were 
 taught in that excellent Prayer, to pray that their 
 Trefpaffes might be forgiven them, as they forgave thofe 
 that trefpajfed againft them \ I deli re that you may 
 learn, while you are young, to forgive Injuries, and 
 N 4 torgec 
 
192 ^// E P I S T L E 
 
 forget them too : Be fure that you bear no Preju- 
 dice in your Minds one againil another, but Jive in 
 Love and Peace, and ftnve to excel in Humility 
 Mat, xi. and Meeknefs : Learn of me^ laith our Saviour, for 
 29- 1 am meek and lowly in. Heart. He was not only an 
 
 Example of Plainneis to Mankind, but he was in- 
 wardly humble : The more meek, humble, and 
 merciful. People are, they are the more like our 
 great Pattern the Lord Jcfus Chrift. Remember the 
 £ph, vi, I. hoTy Apoftle's Counfcl, to Obey your Parents in the 
 Lord ; for^ faith he, this is right. This is the Way 
 CO profper and be blefl : Many good natured Chil- 
 dren, that were of an obliging Temper, and of a 
 condefcending Spirit, have very much endear'd 
 themfelves to their Parents •, but on the other hand, 
 many that would not be ruled by their good Pa- 
 rents, have fallen into bad Company, and have been 
 drawn into Gaming and hard Drinking^ and fo have 
 brought fwift Ruin upon themfelves. 
 
 And if any of you fhall hereafter incline to Marry, 
 I would have you to pay a very great Regard to 
 your Parents and Friends Couiifcl ; and like that 
 good Servant of Abraham, who, when he went to 
 letk for a Vv'ife for his Mailer's Son Jfaac., fought 
 that the Lord might direct him : Let Truth and 
 Virtue be your chief Objeds, that you may be 
 happy in a married State. But how many that have 
 not regarded the Thith, and would not be ruled by 
 their Parents and Friends, have married very im- 
 prudently, and have laid a great Foundation for 
 making their own Living very unhappy and un- 
 comfortable, and have brought great Sorrow to 
 their good Parents. 
 
 I very much defire, that as you grow in Years 
 you may grow in Grace -, that fo, iike good Samueh 
 you ^ rnay grow in Favour with the Lord and good 
 Men.: Good and virtuous Living will not only very 
 much recommend you to the better Pare of Man- 
 kind, 
 
of Tender Counsel, ^c. 193 
 
 kind, but it is the Way to cltain the Blejjvng which 
 maketh truly rich^ and adds no Sorrow with it. And 
 live in Love and Peace, and fpeak lovingly and 
 mildly to one another. And if you behave well, 
 you will be a Credit to your Mafter, and to your 
 Friends : And make good Ufe of your Time, and 
 ftrive to excel in Learning, and in the bell Things. 
 If you fhould live in the Fear of God, and take 
 good Ways (if it fnould pleafe the Lord to fpare 
 you) you may be very Serviceable in your Genera- 
 tion : The holy Man of God (viz. John) wrote to 
 Gaius, faying, / have rio greater Joy than to hear ^idhni.^^ 
 that my Children walk in Wruth, And to be furc it 
 would be a great Comfort to many of your Parents, 
 and good Friends, to have you take good Ways : 
 And if any of you fhould want to be put out to 
 'Trades^ if you are honed and peaceable, and careful 
 tofpeak the Truth, and to make good Improvement 
 of your Time while you are at School, fo that the 
 Mafter can give a good Account of you, his good 
 Recommendation may be a Means to help fevcral 
 of you to good Places. 
 
 And dear Children, Remember your Creator in the 
 Bays of your Touth, and confider the Obligations 
 you are under to ferve him, who is the Author of 
 your Being, and the Fountain from whom all the 
 good Things which you receive comes : And as the 
 wife Man faith, God hates a proud Look^ and a lying 
 Tongue^ and him that fows Difcord amongft Brethren *, 
 be lure that you hate to t^ll an Untruth^ and have 
 a Care, of bt'ivig proud^ becaufe we read, that Pride ^^'^^- ^v^- 
 goes before Beftrucfion^ and a haughty Spirit before a 
 Fall. And 1 would have you guard againfl a quar- 
 rel fo me Spirit and Temper \ and if at any Time, any 
 ill-natur'd People fhould call any of you unbecom- 
 ing Names, be fuie chat you do not give one un- ' 
 becoming or unbandfomeWord for another ; neither 
 render Reviling for Reviling; but remember that 
 
 the 
 
194 
 
 Jn EPISTLE,© 
 
 6. 
 
 ^b xxxii 
 
 22. 
 
 t Chiron 
 iv. 10. 
 
 the wife Man faith, that A foft Anfwer turns aivay 
 Wrath ; neither give flattering Titles to any j if you 
 remen?.ber, Elihu faid, th«t he did not know to give 
 flattering Title; ; info doing his Maker would foon take 
 bim away. Now although I would not have you to 
 give flittering Titles, which may tend to gratify the 
 vain and proud Mind in any, yet I would have you 
 learn to fpeak handfomely and becomingly to every 
 Body, even to the pooreft Servant or Apprentice 
 about any of your Parents Houfes, and alfo to the 
 Beggar that comes for an Alms ; and feek and -pray, 
 like good Jahez^ that the Lord may keep jcu from 
 Evil ; and we read, that the Lord anfv/ered his 
 Prayer. The Fear of the Lord is a great Blcffing to 
 all thofe who live in it, it is a Fountain of Life which 
 freferves from the Snares of Death. And it you would 
 not be drawn into any evil and hurtful Things, I 
 would have you to be very choice of your Com- 
 pany ; for Peoples Company has often great In- 
 fluence upon them : Remember the wife Man's 
 Prov.i. 10. Counfel, My Son^ faith he, if Sinners entice thee, con- 
 fent thou not : Many good-natur'd People have been 
 ruined to a great Degree, through hearkening to 
 the Enticements of Sinners ; but they are wife, who 
 learn from others Harms to beware. Love to read 
 the Holy Scriptures, and other good Books ; but 
 do not read any idle and corrupt Books, which may 
 tend to corrupt your Minds. I very much defire 
 vou may be prevailed upon, by the Power of divine 
 Love, to bear the Yoke and Crofs of Chrifl: in your 
 Youth, that in the End you may witnefs that Peace 
 tibich the World can neither give nor take away. So 
 with Defires that you may make a right and good 
 •Application of this friendly CounfeU and that you 
 may benefit thereby, I conclude your Friend^ who 
 wilhes well to you and all Men, 
 
 London, thi \%ih of tht 
 Tiivelfth Month 4748. 
 
 Benj. Holme^ 
 
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 AN Account of the Life and Travels, in the 
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