AN 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 GOSPEL LABOURS 
 
 CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCES 
 
 JOHN CHURCHMAN. 
 
 And they that understand among the People, shall instruct many. 
 Many shall run to and fro, and Knowledge shall be increased. 
 
 Daniel, xi, 33. xii. 4. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY BENJAMIN h THOMAS KITE, 
 
 NO. 20, NORTH THIRD STREET. 
 J. R. A. SKERRETT, PRINTER. 
 
 1818. 
 
! Of COlW*E»it 
 IwASHlliCffOg] 
 
 
 
 I? 
 
TO THE READER. 
 
 IN the perusal of the following pages thou 
 wilt receive a pious man's plain account of his 
 beginning in the weighty work of religion, and 
 his progress in a life devoted to promote the 
 cause of righteousness, and the real happiness 
 of mankind. 
 
 Having experienced the spiritual taptism 
 which is essential to salvation, and abiding in 
 a state of watchfulness and humility, he became, 
 under the Lord's Anointing, a well qualified 
 instrument for the instruction and edification of 
 others in the way of Godliness ; and by attend- 
 ing to the gift of gospel ministry committed to 
 his trust, and performing the duties required of 
 him, he witnessed a growth from stature to sta- 
 ture, and attained to be an upright elder and 
 father in the church, being an example of the 
 believers in word, in conversation, in charity, 
 in spirit, in faith, in purity. 
 
 It is not for form sake or from a mere mo- 
 tive of commendation, that any thing is here 
 premised respecting the deceased ; but as the 
 ensuing narrative will be likely to come under 
 the observation of many to whom he was either 
 little known, or wholly a stranger, it seems 
 necessary for the information of such enquirers, 
 to make known the estimation in which he was 
 held by his brethren with whom he was con- 
 nected in religious society, who have given full 
 declaration of their christian unity and fellow- 
 ship with him, and that his life and conduct 
 
IV 
 
 adorned the doctrine of the gospel, which he 
 was concerned to publish. 
 
 The monthly and quarterly-meetings of which 
 he was a member from their first establishment, 
 and who were many years partakers of his pi- 
 ous example and labours, after recounting di- 
 vers of his visits abroad, which are fully relat- 
 ed by himself, testify, that 
 
 " Although he was of a weakly constitution, 
 and often infirm, especially in the latter part of 
 his life, yet he appeared to be much devoted to 
 the service of Truth and the good of mankind ; 
 and gave up his time for that purpose, when he 
 apprehended it was required of him, being fa- 
 voured with a sufficiency of outward things ; 
 and we believe he stood loose from the world 
 and its connections, not seeking, but refraining 
 opportunities he might have had to get outward 
 riches ; he visited neighbouring yearly, quar- 
 terly, and other meetings of Friends at times to 
 his last year, and was truly useful in the dis- 
 cipline of the church, having a valuable gift in 
 that respect ; and was a good example in a dili- 
 gent care to attend all the meetings both for 
 worship and discipline to which he belonged ; 
 cautious of being forward in his public appear- 
 ances, and for the most part exampled us to si- 
 lence in our meetings at home, especially in the 
 latter part of his time; yet when he did appear 
 in testimony, we think it may be truly said his 
 doctrine dropt as the dew, being lively and edi- 
 fying to the honest hearted, though close and 
 searching to the careless professors, as well as 
 to the profane, and hypocritical." 
 
 " The elders who have ruled well are to be 
 
accounted honourable, so the remembrance of 
 the fatherly, diligent, humble, upright, honest, 
 and self-denying example of this our deceased 
 friend, as also his various services in our meet- 
 ings and neighbourhood remain fresh, and of a 
 pleasant savour to many minds." 
 
 Abstract from the testimony of the monthly-meeting 
 of Nottingham, dated fourth month, twenty-seventh, 
 1776, and signed by Samuel England, clerk. 
 
 Which is certified to be read and approved in the 
 Western quarterly-meeting held at London Grove 
 in Chester County, the nineteenth of the eighth 
 month 1776, by Isaac Jackson, clerk. 
 
 In confirmation of the truth of which memo- 
 rial concerning him, many others of his breth- 
 ren in various places can freely subscribe. 
 
 His deportment was grave and reverent, his 
 judgment sound and clear in matters of a spi- 
 ritual or temporal concern, and his natural dis- 
 position being cheerful, he sometimes discover- 
 ed a turn of pleasantry in conversation, which 
 being careful to circumscribe within due limita- 
 tions, rendered his company innocently agreea- 
 ble and instructive. 
 
 Being deeply sensible of the weight and so- 
 lemnity of the gospel ministry, he manifested 
 great* circumspection and care, that it might be 
 preserved pure and unblemished from mistaken 
 or false appearances in himself or others ; and 
 in the exercise of his gift his declarations were 
 plain, familiar, and concise, accompanied with 
 a fervent concern that his fellow believers and 
 all others might be brought to the sure know- 
 
 A » 
 
VI 
 
 ledge of an holy living principle given to direct 
 and lead into true devotion of heart, and the 
 practice of self denial, consistent with the doc- 
 trine and precepts of Christ Jesus our Lord ; for 
 the prevalence and enlargement of whose peace- 
 able kingdom he was earnestly engaged, as the 
 following narrative also makes evident ; that 
 with a degree of propriety he might have adopt- 
 ed the language of an eminent minister in the 
 early age of the christian church, addressed to 
 the believers, " Knowing that shortly I must 
 put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord 
 Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will 
 endeavour that ye may be able after my decease 
 to have these things always in remembrance. 
 For we have not followed cunningly devised fa- 
 bles, when we made known unto you the power 
 and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. i. 
 14, 15, 16. 
 
 What he hath written and left us is now re- 
 commended to thy perusal and consideration, in 
 which if thou art seriously attentive, and not 
 superficial, thou mayest under the divine bless- 
 ing receive profitable instruction in righteous- 
 ness, which is the intent of the publication. 
 
 Philadelphia, 9th Month, 1779, 
 
AN 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN CHURCHMAN, 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 His early sense of the impressions of divine love, 
 and spiritual conflicts in his youth. — Death of his 
 father — His marriage — The settlement of a month- 
 ly meeting at Nottingham — His joining with 
 other friends in visiting of families the first and 
 second time — His heing appointed an Elder, and 
 first appearance in the ministry, &c* 
 
 I WAS born in the Township of Notting- 
 ham, in the county of Chester, and province of 
 Pennsylvania, on the fourth day of the sixth 
 Mouth, 1705, and was tenderly brought up in 
 profession of the Truth by my parents, John 
 and Hannah Churchman, who were diligent 
 attenders of Religious Meetings, both on the 
 first, and other days of the week, and encour- 
 agers of their children in that practice ; which 
 is certainly a duty in parents so to do, and often 
 owned by the reaches of Divine Love, even to 
 
8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 those who are very young in years, of which I 
 am a living witness ; for though I early felt re- 
 proof for bad words and actions, yet knew not 
 whence it came, until about the age of eight 
 years, as I sat in a small meeting, the Lord, by 
 the reaches of his heavenly love and goodness, 
 so overcame and tendered my heart, and by his 
 glorious light discovered to me the knowledge of 
 himself, that I saw myself, and what I had been 
 doing, and what it was which had reproved me 
 for evil, and was made in the secret of my 
 heart to confess that childhood and vouth, and 
 the foolish actions and words to which they 
 are propense, are truly vanity ; yet blessed for 
 ever be the name of the Lord, who in his infi- 
 nite mercy and goodness clearly informed me, 
 that if I would mind the discoveries of his 
 Truth and pure light for the future, what I had 
 done in the time of my ignorance he would 
 wink at and forgive ; and Oh ! the stream of 
 love which filled my heart with solid joy at that 
 time, and lasted for many days, is beyond all 
 expression. Indeed I was early taught to think 
 different from such who hold the perdition of 
 infants, and am since confirmed in fully believ- 
 ing, that the sin of our first parents is not imput- 
 ed to us, (though as their offspring we are by 
 nature prone to evil, which brings wrath) until 
 by the discovery of light and grace, we are 
 taught to distinguish between good and evil, 
 and in the seed and inward principle that shew- 
 eth the evil, we feel the enmity placed against 
 the evil, and the author thereof, the devil, or 
 wicked one. If we afterwards commit those 
 things which we saw to be evil; we then fall 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 9 
 
 under condemnation and wrath : and here every 
 soul that sins must die to the sin he hath com- 
 mitted, and witness the being raised again by 
 the power of God, into newness of life in Christ 
 Jesus, not to live to himself, to fulfil the will of 
 the flesh, but to live unto him, who died to 
 take away sin. 
 
 I may not forget to relate this one thing. My 
 father sent me about three miles on an errand ; 
 I rode a mare which had a colt perhaps half a 
 year old : on my return home, the colt ran away 
 from the mare to a company of wild horses, 
 which were feeding not far from the path I was 
 in, so I went home without the colt : my father 
 asked me where the colt was, I told him where 
 it went from me : he bid me go to the place 
 with speed, that it might follow the mare home. 
 I went, and found the wild horses feeding on a 
 piece of ground where the timber trees had 
 been killed perhaps about two or three years ; 
 but before I went among the dead trees, a mighty 
 wind arose, which blew some down, and many 
 limbs flew about. I stood still with my mind 
 turned inward to the Lord, who I believed was 
 able to preserve me from hurt: so I passed 
 among the trees without fear, save the fear of 
 the Lord, which fills the hearts of his humble 
 depending children with love that is stronger 
 than death. I found the colt, which readily 
 followed the mare, and I returned home with 
 great bowedness of heart, and thankfulness to 
 the Lord, for his mercy and goodness to me on 
 this occasion. 
 
 It was my practice when I went to bed. to 
 examine how I had spent the past day, and to 
 
10 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 endeavour to feel the presence of the Lord near ; 
 which I did for some considerable time prefer 
 to all other things ; and I found this practice a 
 great help to sleep sweetly, and by long expe- 
 rience I can recommend it to children, and 
 those also of riper age. 
 
 I suppose that no one living knew my condi- 
 tion ; for I delighted to keep hidden, yet quick 
 to observe the conduct of others. I remember 
 a person once at my father's who spake about 
 religious matters with an affected tone, as if 
 he was a good man ; when he went away, I 
 was near him, and when he mounted his horse, 
 taking a dislike to some of his motions, he 
 called him an ugly dumb beast, with such an w 
 accent as bespake great displeasure, and griev- 
 ed me much; for I did believe, that a man 
 whose mind was sweetened with divine love 
 truly, would not speak wrathfully or diminu- 
 tively, even of the beasts of the field, which 
 were given to man for his use ; he did not make 
 them himself. I relate this instance, that it may 
 be a warning to all, that they be careful of giv- 
 ing offence to the little ones. 
 
 Notwithstanding I had been favoured as be- 
 fore mentioned ; yet as I grew in years, [ was 
 much given to play, and began to delight again 
 in several things, for which I had before been 
 reproved, and still by the divine witness iu my 
 mind, was brought under judgment for ; but 
 having lost my innocence and covering of the 
 pure blessed spirit, I endeavoured through fear 
 to fly from the voice of the holy spirit in my 
 own heart : the enemy persuaded me, that I 
 could never be restored to my former state, be- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 11 
 
 cause I had sinned against so great knowledge., 
 or if I was, the judgment through which I must 
 pass, would be intolerable to bear, so that I 
 had better be cheerful, and take niy ease and 
 delight ; but when I was about nine years old, 
 my father sent me to school to learn to read, 
 (having been taught to know my letters, and 
 spell a little at home) in which I took great de- 
 light, and thereby diverted myself from feeling 
 my pain of mind, for the great loss of my inno- 
 cence which I had sustained ; and although the 
 man, by whom I was taught, was poor, and sat 
 in his loom, being a weaver, while the children 
 read to him, I improved very fast, and he soon 
 put me to writing, and finding my capacity full 
 as ripe as is common in boys of that age, he be- 
 gan to teach me Arithmetic; yet gracious good- 
 ness still favoured me with conviction, and by 
 his spirit was witness against me, and in mercy 
 the Lord visited me with a sore fit of sickness, 
 and by his rod of correction brought me a little 
 more to myself ; this was in the forepart of the 
 winter, when I was between nine and ten years 
 of age, and being pretty well recovered for 
 some weeks, I had in the following spring a 
 relapse of the same disorder, (the pleurisy) in 
 which, by outward correction with sickness, 
 and inward judgment, he was pleased to draw 
 me to himself, which caused me to renew my 
 covenant with him, and I did hope never more 
 to stray from him, to follow lying vanities, 
 whose sweets I had experienced to be bitter, 
 yea exceeding bitterness in the end. I had 
 taken great delight from a child to play with 
 
12 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 whistles, and pipes made of the bark of small 
 branches of trees, and of straws of wheat and 
 rye ; but now it grieved me to observe children 
 delight therein, and I ventured to tell my mind 
 to some concerning such things. 
 
 Man is distinguished from other creatures 
 not only by his voice, but by varying the 
 breath together with the orderly motion of 
 tongue and lips ; that voice is made to convey 
 the ideas of the mind and thoughts of the heart 
 to his fellow-creatures ; and as he was created 
 to glorify his maker, the end and intention of 
 his voice should be directed to promote his 
 glory among men; whether in things natural, 
 or spiritual, that is of this life, or that to come. 
 Music as now commonly used, and whistling and 
 singing have no such tendency ; but are rather 
 diversions of the mind from what it ought to 
 be employed about, and therefore a base con- 
 sumption of precious time, which man must be 
 accountable for ; which, if enough regarded, in- 
 stead of music, whistling, and singing merry, 
 foolish, and profane songs, many would have 
 occasion to lament and weep for their mispent 
 time. I leave it as a caution to parents, to be- 
 ware of indulging their dear children in any 
 thing, which may impress their tender minds 
 with a desire after music, or such diversion 
 when they grow in years ; but that instead 
 thereof, by living in the pure fear of the Lord, 
 and near the spirit of truth in their own hearts, 
 they may be furnished with example and pre- 
 cept to direct the minds of their offspring, to 
 attend to the voice of him who called to Samuel 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 13 
 
 iu the days of old, and remains to be the same 
 teacher to his people in this age ; may his holy 
 name be magnified for ever, and ever ! 
 
 I retained my care and circumspection for 
 some time ; but through unwatchfulness, and a 
 desire for play, which led into lightness and 
 forgetfulness, I lost this state before I was 
 twelve years of age ; and though the Lord was 
 near, and followed me by his reproof, in order 
 to bring me under judgment, I fled from it as 
 much as I could; having let in a belief, that as 
 I had been favoured to taste in so wonderful a 
 manner, " of the good word of life, and power 
 of the world to come, and had so shamefully 
 fallen away, there remained for me no more sa- 
 crifice for sin ; but a fearful looking for of judg- 
 ment, and fiery indignation ;" which as I thought 
 seemed to burn in me to that degree, that 1 was 
 afraid to be alone ; for it seemed to be loudly 
 proclaimed in me, that whether I eat, or drank, 
 waked, or slept, I was accursed, and when 
 alone I abhorred myself; but when in company 
 used my utmost endeavours to hide my condi- 
 tion, by being cheerful and arch in my dis- 
 course, and was thought by most young people 
 to have a knack as they called it, at jesting and 
 witty turns ; yet even in this time, I entertain- 
 ed such a value for religion, that I was not 
 willing to reveal my situation ; lest I should 
 be a reproach thereto, or discourage others 
 from seeking happiness ; but when night came, 
 and I went to bed, no tongue can express the 
 anguish I felt ; afraid to lay awake, and afraid 
 to desire sleep, lest I should be cut off from 
 the land of the living, and my portion appoint- 
 a 
 
14 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ed in utter darkness. I so far neglected nv\ 
 learning, that when about thirteen years old, £ 
 could not read but in a poor manner, though 
 once noted to be a ready reader ; I was not wil- 
 ling that good friends should take notice of me, 
 or look me steadily in the face ; for I thought 
 they would discern my wickedness, and it 
 would be a trouble to them, or by their reprov- 
 ing me, add to my distress ; I seemed to be 
 left without any power to resist what I knew 
 to be evil, and being ashamed that I had so 
 lost my little learning, I sought to divert my- 
 self by endeavouring to regain it; my former 
 genius, and delight so returned, that when I 
 was about fifteen years of age, I had made 
 great improvement, not only in reading, but in 
 writing, and arithmetic, and several branches 
 of the mathematics, and began to value myself 
 in some degree thereon ; and so got over the 
 convictions of the divine witness, which spoke 
 trouble in me ; nevertheless during this time I 
 kept close in attending meetings, hoping at 
 seasons, that perhaps the Lord would conde- 
 scend once more to visit me ; for a saying of 
 an eminent pious man was revived in my re- 
 membrance " That if there remained a desire 
 in the heart after redemption, as it was kept to, 
 the Lord would again assuredly visit such in 
 his own time." So that I was fearful of neg- 
 lecting meetings, if my parents had not for- 
 warded me, lest I might miss of the good in- 
 tended for me ; yet the subtle working of the 
 power of darkness was at times very great, 
 suggesting to me that all things came by na- 
 ture, and that there was no God, no heaven, no 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 15 
 
 devil; no punishment for evil, religion a jest, 
 and painful care about futurity a silly whim, 
 propagated to deprive people of pleasure ; but 
 blessed be the Lord ! he preserved me from that 
 snare ; for while I felt his judgment for sin, I 
 believed in his Being, and holiness ; and I am 
 indeed fully of the mind, that no man can be 
 an atheist before he acts contrary to knowledge ; 
 when, to allay the horror and anguish of mind 
 he feels for the commission of sin, he closes in 
 with this temptation. At other times, the same 
 subtle power would tempt me to despair of 
 mercy, which if given way to, would lead to 
 distraction ; but the hand of the Lord was un- 
 derneath, though for my disobedience he suf- 
 fered me to remain in the wilderness, and to 
 dwell among fiery serpents, until he had wast- 
 ed that in me which lusted after forbidden 
 things. 
 
 In this state I continued until I was about 
 nineteen years of age, and as I was walking 
 one day to meeting, thinking on my forlorn 
 condition, and remembering the bread in my 
 heavenly Father's house, when I was a duti- 
 ful child, and that by straying from him, and 
 spending my portion, I had been eight years 
 in grievous want, I inwardly cried ; if thou 
 art pleased again to visit me, I beseech thee 
 O Lord ! visit my body with sickness, or pain, 
 or whatever thou may please, so that the 
 will of the old man may be slain with the 
 transgression, and every thing in me, that thy 
 controversy is against, that I may be made a 
 sanctified vessel by thy power ; spare only my 
 
16 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 life, until my redemption is wrought, and my 
 peace made with thee ! 
 
 About this time my father died in the tenth 
 month, 17&4, w r hich was a great loss to our 
 whole family, and as he had allotted me to live 
 with, and take care of my mother, it became my 
 duty to keep mostly at home ; I spent near a 
 year much in the condition abovementioned; 
 often out of hope of ever attaining to that state 
 I had witnessed when very young; but in the 
 fall of the year after I had arrived to the age of 
 20 years, it pleased the Lord to remember me, 
 who had been an exile in captivity under the 
 old taskmaster in Egypt spiritually, and by his 
 righteous judgments mixed with unspeakable 
 mercies, to make way for my deliverance. I 
 was visited with a sore fit of sickness, which 
 in a few days so fully awakened me, that I 
 had no hope of ever being again intrusted with 
 health; my mispent time, and all my trans- 
 gressions were brought to my remembrance, 
 and heavy judgment was upon me for them; I 
 was met with in this narrow path, and could no 
 longer fly from God and his spirit in my con- 
 science, whose sore displeasure I had justly 
 incurred. I had heard of men who had been 
 notorious offenders, and fled from the justice of 
 the common law, until they became out-lawed; 
 such in a spiritual sense my case appeared to 
 be ; I thought I had as it were heard an act of 
 grace and free pardon repeatedly proclaimed, 
 if I would return and live uprightly for the fa- 
 hire; but in the time of such visitations, I con- 
 cluded it was only to bring me under judgment 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 17 
 
 to take me from my pleasure, for that mine of- 
 fences would never be pardoned, and so I had 
 withstood, or neglected those visitations. I now 
 saw clearly, that herein I had followed the lying 
 suggestions of Satan mine enemy. At this 
 time my old will in the fallen nature gave up its 
 life, and I cried, " I am not worthy to live or 
 enjoy favour, yet O Lord ! if thou wilt be pleased 
 to look on me with an eye of pity, do what thou 
 wilt with me ; magnify thy own name, prepare 
 me by thy judgments and power, that thy mercy 
 may be shewn in and by me, whether thou cut 
 the thread of my life, or shall grant me more 
 days, which is only in thy power." Now my heart 
 was made exceedingly tender, I w r ept much, and 
 an evidence was given me that the Lord had 
 heard my cry, and in mercy looked down on 
 me from his holy habitation, and a willing heart 
 and patience was given me to bear his chastise- 
 ments and the working of his eternal word of 
 power, which created all things at the begin- 
 ning, and by which poor fallen man only is 
 created a new in the heavenly image, and pre- 
 pared to praise him with acceptance, who lives 
 for ever and ever. 
 
 Whilst I lay in this condition, perhaps I was 
 thought by those who watched with me to be 
 near expiring ; but though I said little or no- 
 thing, I believe I was quite sensible, yet ex- 
 ceedingly weakened ; having for about twenty- 
 four hours felt more inward and inexpressible 
 anguish than outward pain, which was no 
 doubt great ; I take it to be toward the morn- 
 ing of the fifth day and night of my illness, that 
 I felt the incomes and owning of divine love in 
 b S 
 
18 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 a greater degree than ever ; for the prospect I 
 had of so great forgiveness made me love the 
 more ; for love is ever reciprocal. I remember 
 that I saw the morning light, and thought all 
 things looked new and sweet ; I lay where the 
 sun shone near, or on my bed, and have some- 
 times since thought, that being weak, the 
 strength of the light and too much company 
 hurt me. I leave this hint to excite nurses and 
 those who have the care of very weak indis- 
 posed people, to beware of letting over-much 
 light come upon them, or many visitors, except 
 they be such who are sensible of the state of the 
 Weak by being inward and quiet, waiting to feel 
 the sympathy which Truth gives ; the company 
 of such being truly refreshing. 
 
 It pleased the Lord so to restore me, that I 
 recovered my usual strength, and was frequently 
 humbled under a sense of the tender dealings 
 of a merciful (rod, whose goodness and owning 
 love I felt to be very near; I then loved retire- 
 ment and inwardly to feel after the incomes of 
 life, and was often fearful lest I should again 
 fall away. In this time it was manifested to 
 me, that if in patience I stood faithful, I should 
 be called to the work of the ministry. I loved 
 to attend religious meetings, especially those 
 for discipline, and it was clearly shewn me, 
 that all who attend those meetings should in- 
 wardly wait in great awfulness, to know the 
 immediate presence of Christ the head of the 
 Church, to give them an understanding what 
 their several services are, and for ability to 
 answer the requirings of Truth ; for it is by the 
 light and spirit thereof, that the Lord's work 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 19 
 
 is done with acceptance, and none should pre- 
 sume to speak or act without its motion, and 
 direction ; for they who act and speak without it, 
 do often darken counsel, mislead the weak, and 
 expose their own folly, to the burthen and grief 
 of sensible friends. It was in great fear that I 
 attempted to speak in these meetings ; and as I 
 kept low with an eye single to the honour of 
 Truth, I felt peace and inward strength to in- 
 crease from time to time ; and it is good for all 
 who are concerned to speak to matters in meet- 
 ings for discipline, in the first place to take heed 
 that their own spirits do not prompt thereto, and 
 to mind the time when to speak fitly ; for a word 
 in season from a pure heart, is precious, and 
 frequently prevents debates instead of minis- 
 tering contention ; and when they have spoken 
 to business, they should turn inward to feel 
 whether the pure Truth owns them, and in 
 that rest, without an over anxious care whether 
 it succeeds at that time, or not ; so friends will 
 be preserved from being lifted up because their 
 service is immediately owned ; or if it should 
 be rejected or slighted, in this inward humble 
 state the labour is felt and seen to be the 
 Lord's. 
 
 It is a great favour from the Lord, that he 
 is pleased to cover his children with his pure 
 fear, and array their souls with the garment of 
 humility, that they may stand in his presence 
 with acceptance, waiting to be taught of his 
 ways, in meekness to be guided in judgment ; 
 these only feel the necessity of minding that 
 excellent exhortation " Be ye stedfast, immove- 
 able, always abounding in the work of the 
 
20 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Lord." In a degree of reverent thankfulness, 
 I bless the name of the Lord through his be- 
 loved Son, that I then according to my measure 
 knew what I now write ; it was a time of grow- 
 ing with me, I rarely passed a day without feel- 
 ing the incomes of divine life, and was favoured 
 strongly to desire " The sincere milk of the 
 holy word," that in humility I might grow 
 thereby in substance; but afterwards I was 
 left, and withdrawn from, so that for days, yea 
 many days together, I was without inward re- 
 freshment, and ready to fear that I had offended 
 my gracious Redeemer ; and being thoughtful, 
 and inwardly engaged to know the cause, I 
 had to consider, that children, though they may 
 be thriving and darlings of their natural pa- 
 rents, are not fit for much business until they 
 are weaned, and although they grow finely, 
 they are gradually taught to wait the appointed 
 time between meals, before they have much 
 care of their father's business, and are further 
 prepared, so as to miss a set meal, or be a 
 longer time without outward food, before they 
 are fit for a journey: and with these thoughts, 
 (leaving the reader to judge from whence they 
 came) a hope began to revive in me, that I was 
 not forsaken, which indeed, as I kept patient, 
 I was abundantly sensible of at times, even 
 those times which are in the Lord's hand; for 
 his children experience that the times of re- 
 freshment come from him, who, when he hath 
 exercised and proved them in his infinite kind- 
 ness, is pleased to cause them to sit down, and 
 condescends himself to serve them. Blessed 
 for ever be the name of the Lord who knows 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 21 
 
 how to prepare his soldiers to remain faithful, 
 and to endure with patience (what the natural 
 man would account) hardness. 
 
 I had strong desires that elderly friends 
 should be good examples to the youth, not only 
 in word, and conversation, but in meetings for 
 the worship of God ; and it grieved me exceed- 
 ingly to see any of them overcome with sleep ; 
 and my concern for one friend on that account 
 was so great, that I knew not what was best to 
 do, and reasoned after this manner, Lord ! thou 
 knowest that I am young, and he an elderly 
 man, he will not take it well that I should 
 speak to him, and perhaps I may yet fall ; and 
 if so, the more I take upon me the greater my 
 fall will be : besides, though I have spoken in 
 meetings for discipline, when truth hath been 
 strong upon me, yet out of meetings I am not 
 fit to reprove or speak to particulars : for I 
 was cautious indeed in those days, of talking 
 about religion, or good things, from a fear of 
 getting a habit thereof, and so not know the 
 true motion ; which I thought I had observed 
 to be the failing of some. In this straight it 
 came in my mind to go to the person in the 
 night, as the most private time and manner; 
 for if I took him aside before or after a meet- 
 ing, others might wonder for what, and I might 
 betray my weakness, and reproach the good 
 cause, and do no good; and if the friend should 
 be displeased with me, he might publicly shew, 
 what otherwise he would conceal after a pri- 
 vate deliberation. So in the evening I went, 
 desiring the Lord to go with me, and guide me, 
 if it was a motion from him. When I came to 
 
22 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the house it was dark, I called, and the friend 
 came out to see who was there, and invited me 
 in ; I told him I was in haste to go home, but 
 wanted to speak with him if he pleased, and so 
 passed quietly toward home, to draw him from 
 the door; and then told him inv concern for him 
 in a close, honest, plain manner, and without 
 staying to reason much, left him in a tender 
 loving disposition, as I believe. I returned 
 home with great inward peace. When thou 
 doest, or givest alms, let not thy left hand know 
 what thy right doth, was an excellent precept; 
 that left hand of self should not act in such 
 things, no matter how privately they are done, 
 they often answer the end better ; neither is it 
 a fault to lay things low, and familiar; the truth 
 will have its own weight, and accompany what 
 it dictates with its own evidence. My inten- 
 tion in writing this, is to encourage the humble 
 careful traveller in the way of his duty. At 
 some times, it appeared to be likely to do most 
 good to write my mind to some, which I did 
 with success, as I aimed only at a discharge of 
 duty, in the most private manner, and the good 
 of those to whom I wrote. 
 
 When I had entered the twenty fifth year of 
 my age, I accomplished marriage with Marga- 
 ret Brown, a virtuous young woman, whom I 
 had loved as a sister for several years, because 
 I believed she loved religion. I think I may 
 say safely, it was in a good degree of the Lord's 
 pure fear, and a sense of the pointings of truth, 
 on both sides, that we took each other on the 
 27th day of the eleventh month 1/29, (old style) 
 in an appointed meeting at East Nottingham, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 25 
 
 and I thought that our heavenly Father owned 
 us with his presence at that time. The cove- 
 nants made in marriage are exceeding great, and 
 I think they never can be rightly kept and truly 
 performed without Divine assistance; and am 
 convinced, if all who enter into a marriage state 
 would in the Lord's fear truly seek his assist- 
 ance, they would know their own tempers kept 
 down, and instead of jarring, and discord, unity 
 of spirit, harmony of conduct, and a concern to 
 be exemplary to their offspring would increase, 
 and be maintained. 
 
 The summer following, in the year 1730, a 
 monthly-meeting was settled at Nottingham, 
 (being before a branch of "New-Garden monthly- 
 meeting) by the advice, and appointment of the 
 quarterly-meeting. This brought a fear and 
 weighty concern upon me and many others, 
 that the affairs of truth might be managed to the 
 honour thereof; for we had but few substantial 
 elderly friends. Iu a sense of our weakness, it 
 was the breathing desire of my soul, that the 
 Lord would be pleased for his own sake, and 
 the honour of his great Name, to be near to his 
 children, and inspire them with wisdom and 
 judgment for his own work; and blessed for- 
 ever be his holy Name ! I believe he heard our 
 cry, and in measure answered our prayers; be- 
 ing kept low, and humble, it was a growing 
 time to several. My affection to friends of 
 New-Garden monthly-meeting was so great, 
 that for many months after we parted from 
 them, I seldom missed attending it, and therein 
 had great satisfaction ; and some of their mem- 
 
£4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 bers frequently attended ours, for our love to- 
 wards each other was mutual. 
 
 When I was about twenty-six years of age, 
 some friends were appointed to perform a fa- 
 mily visit, and being desirous of my company, 
 I joined with them, and therein felt the ownings 
 of Truth in some degree ; but notwithstanding 
 I saw at times the states of families, and par- 
 ticulars, yet not in so clear a manner as I 
 thought necessary to become my duty to open 
 my mouth in the service, save now and then, 
 in a private way to particulars, of which none 
 knew except those to whom I spake. At one 
 house the friends on the service had a good op- 
 portunity, several young folks, some of whom 
 were not of the family being present. I felt the 
 Divine presence to be very near, and a motion 
 to conclude that sitting in supplication and 
 thanksgiving to the Lord, but was not hasty, 
 for fear of doing what was not required of me, 
 so omitted it; and afterwards asked an experi- 
 enced worthy minister, if he had ever known 
 any friend appear in a meeting in public pray- 
 er, before they had ever appeared in public tes- 
 timony ; which enquiry I made in such a man- 
 ner as to give him no mistrust of me. He an- 
 swered, " nay, I believe it would be very un- 
 common." It struck me pretty closely, but I 
 kept my condition very private; having been 
 exceedingly fearful of deception, and now be- 
 gan to doubt whether it was not a delusion for 
 me, to entertain an apprehension that I should 
 be called to the work of the ministry; the con- 
 cern whereof had been at times very heavy up- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 25 
 
 on me; though no motion that felt like a gen- 
 tle command to break silence until at the house 
 before mentioned. Now I let in reasoning, and 
 so departed for a time from my inward guide 
 and safest counsellor, as all assuredly will who 
 place their dependence on man for instruction 
 to perform duties required of them ; or who for- 
 bear or reason against the humbling, gentle 
 motions and leadings of the spirit of truth. 
 Much safer it is to attend steadily thereunto for 
 instruction and ability to perform religious 
 services; which when so performed in meekness, 
 we ought to be tender of the sentiments of our 
 brethren concerning them, and not over confi- 
 dent of our call and commission ; for our bre- 
 thren have a measure of the same spirit by 
 which we are taught, and have a sense and right 
 thereby given to judge of our service. A be- 
 coming diffidence of ourselves, and a readiness 
 to attend to the advice of such, is ever the badge 
 of true discipleship ; humbling Divine Love 
 teaches to esteem others, rather than ourselves. 
 This was an exercising time to me, but I did 
 not discover it to any one. I seemed to be for- 
 saken, though not sensible of much judgment 
 for my omission of duty; for I could with sin- 
 cerity appeal to him who knoweth all things, 
 that it did not proceed from wilful disobedience, 
 but a fear of following a wrong spirit; and a 
 secret hope revived that my gracious Lord and 
 master would not quite cast me off: and blessed 
 be his holy name ! he did not leave me very 
 long before I was favoured as usual, but had 
 no motion of the same kind. 
 
26 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 When this visit was over, I kept much at 
 home, yet was careful to attend meetings on the 
 first and other davs of the week, and found 
 work enough to watch against a lukewarm, in- 
 dolent Spirit, which would come over me when 
 I sat down to wait upon God. Though I came 
 to the meeting in a lively warm engagement of 
 mind, I found the warfare against lukewarm- 
 ness, sleepiness, and a roving mind, must be 
 steadily maintained ; and if none of these hin- 
 drances were given way to, the Lord when he 
 had proved his children, would arise for their 
 help and scatter his and their enemies ; which 
 my soul experienced many times beyond ex- 
 pression. The Lord alone is all-powerful and 
 worthy to be waited upon and worshipped in 
 humility and reverent adoration of soul for ever. 
 Indolence and lukewarmness bring darkness 
 and death over a meeting ; and when generally 
 given way to, occasion hard work for even the 
 most livingly exercised friends to get from un- 
 der the burthen and weight thereof. It was a 
 mercy that I was preserved seeking, and could 
 not be satisfied without feeling the renewings 
 of Divine favour ; by which I rather grew in the 
 root of religion, though I thought very slow, 
 but had hope it would be lasting. 
 
 The love of truth, I believe it was, and a 
 desire that the discipline and good order of the 
 church might be maintained, made me willing 
 to take considerable pains to attend neighbour- 
 ing monthly-meetings ; which I think was a bles- 
 sing to me in some good degree, being thereby 
 often instructed. And I have often admired at 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 27 
 
 the slackness of some that suffer trifling things 
 to keep them from their meetings for worship 
 on week days and first days ; for though curi- 
 osity brings such to monthly-meetings, they are 
 seldom of any real service when they come, not 
 being sensible of that pure Divine love in which 
 the Church through its several members edi- 
 fieth itself. And as any one becomes truly sen- 
 sible thereof, they will delight to wait upon 
 God with their brethren and sisters, wiio is the 
 fountain of pure love, and so fills the hearts of 
 his humble, depending children therewith, that 
 by it they are known to be his disciples. 
 
 In the year 1731, our ancient and worthy 
 friend William Brown, who had been in the 
 station of an elder many years, growing feeble 
 and incapable to attend the quarterly-meeting 
 of ministers and elders, friends of our particu- 
 lar meeting proposed me to the monthly-meet- 
 ing for that service ; which brought a close ex- 
 ercise upon me, considering myself a youth, and 
 the weight of the service. But after a solid con- 
 sideration, I found most peace in submitting to 
 the meeting, with fervent inward desires that 
 the Lord would be pleased to be with me there- 
 in, to preserve me from acting or judging in my 
 own will and spirit ; knowing that the service 
 could not be performed but by wisdom, under- 
 standing, and ability from him. When I attend- 
 ed those large and weighty meetings of ministers 
 and elders, the care and fear that was upon me 
 is not easily expressed ; and may I never for- 
 get the gracious condescension of kind provi- 
 dence, who was pleased to own me by the shed- 
 ding abroad of his love in my heart, that I ve- 
 
28 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS. 
 
 rily thought they resembled the school of the 
 prophets ; the High PriesF, great Prophet, and 
 Bishop of Souls, our Lord Jesus Christ being 
 president among them. 
 
 An apprehension that I should be called to 
 the ministry, and a concern on that account, had 
 been at times for several years weightily on 
 my mind ; but I now again thought I was mis- 
 taken in that belief, and that it was only a pre- 
 parative to qualify me for the station of an el- 
 der, and thereby my exercise became somewhat 
 lighter for a time. The tenderness and love I 
 felt to those engaged in public ministry, was 
 very great ; and I believe I was made helpful 
 to some by giving private hints when and to 
 whom I thought there was occasion, in plain- 
 ness, simplicity and fear; which often afforded 
 instruction to myself as well as to them. 
 
 In 1733, I accompanied friends on another 
 visit to families ; wherein at times I felt the 
 opening of truth in the love of it, and a few 
 words to speak to the states of some, though in 
 great fear lest I should put my hand to that 
 weighty work without the real requiring of du- 
 ty ; and at one family on a morning pretty early, 
 being the first we went to on that day, I thought 
 it would be better for the whole family in a re- 
 ligious sense, if the heads of it were more zeal- 
 ous in attending meetings. I saw the necessity 
 of being examples to children and servants by 
 a careful attendance of meetings for worship on 
 the first, and other days of the week ; but I 
 was so weak and poor, that I doubted whether 
 it was my duty to mention any thing thereof to 
 them, so concluded to omit it ; by which I hoped 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 29 
 
 to judge of what I bad been about before, and 
 so grew easy in my mind. And as we were on 
 the way to the next house, I began to judge that 
 I had no real business to have said any thing 
 at any house, and having forborne in my own 
 will, I was now left to my own judgment for a 
 time. At the next house friends were particu- 
 larly opened, and tenderly concerned to speak 
 to several states, and of several matters which 
 I thought instructive; but I sat dry and poor, 
 and so remained during our passage to the next 
 house, where I fared no better, but worse ; my 
 feeling and judgment being quite gone as to the 
 service in which we were engaged : and though 
 I did not say any thing to the other friends how 
 it fared with me, yet they were affected there- 
 with as I apprehended. I was in great dark- 
 ness and distress, and sometimes thought of 
 leaving the company privately and go home ; 
 but again concluded that would not only be a 
 disappointment to my friends, but dishonour- 
 able to Truth ; which made me determine to go 
 forward and endure my own pain as much un- 
 discovered as possible. My companions, as I 
 before observed, were affected; and all save 
 one, seemed closed up from doing the service ; 
 and in the evening of the same day, at the last 
 house all of them were silent. There was a 
 school-house near, the master being a friend, 
 and the children mostly belonging to friends, 
 whom some of our company appeared willing 
 to visit ; but others being doubtful, we omitted 
 it ; which now some thought was not right, and 
 therefore this cloud of darkness and distress 
 
SO THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 came upon us, and were willing to meet at the 
 school-house next morning to try if we could 
 recover our former strength in the ownings of 
 Truth; which being agreed to, each took our 
 way home. It being now night and I alone, 
 I rode slow under a deep exercise of mind and 
 humble inquiry into the cause of my own dis- 
 tress ; and after some time being favoured with 
 great calmness and quietude of mind, I was in- 
 wardly instructed after this manner: Thou 
 sawest what was wanting in a family this morn- 
 ing, and would not exhort to more diligence or 
 amendment in that respect, and therefore, if 
 they continue to do wrong, it shall be required 
 of thee. On which I became broken in spirit, 
 and cried in secret, may I not perform it yet 
 and be restored to thy favour? O Lord ! I am 
 now willing to do whatsoever thou requirest of 
 me, if thou wilt be pleased to be with me : and 
 blessed be his name, in mercy he heard my 
 supplication, and I was fully persuaded that I 
 must go to the house again, which I concluded 
 to do next morning; and went home with a de- 
 gree of comfort. And being weary in body and 
 mind, slept sweetly, and awoke in the morning 
 quiet and easy in spirit ; and now began to con- 
 clude that I might meet my company and be 
 excused : but my covenant of going was brought 
 to my remembrance, and I was given to believe 
 that peace was restored on condition of my per- 
 formance; therefore I went to the house, though 
 several miles distant, before sun-rise. The man 
 of the house was up ; he invited me in, and I 
 followed him; and sitting down by the fire, be- 
 ing cool weather, with my mind retired; I felt 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 31 
 
 that I must not speak before the rest of the fa- 
 mily, but rather in private ; yet was fearful of 
 calling him out, being unwilling to discover any 
 thing to them. In the meantime he went out, 
 and walked the way I was to go ; I followed, 
 and told him how I felt when we were at his 
 house the morning before, and could not be 
 easy without exhorting him to be more careful 
 in several respects, and a better example to his 
 family in his attendance of meetings. He seemed 
 affected, and said, he hoped he should mind my 
 advice; I then left him, and met my companions 
 at the school-house, and enjoyed great peace. 
 I leave this remark to excite all to dwell in 
 meekness and fear, and to beware of the will of 
 the creature and the reasonings of flesh and 
 blood, which lead iuto doubting and disobedi- 
 ence : they who are faithful in small things, 
 shall truly know an increase in that wisdom 
 and knowledge which is from above. 
 
 Before we had gone through this visit, I attend- 
 ed the quarterly-meeting of ministers and elders 
 at Concord ; and as I sat therein the unwearied 
 adversary renewed a former charge against me, 
 by suggesting to my mind that I might know 
 I hail been wrong and under a delusion in en- 
 tering a belief! should be called to the work of 
 the ministry ; for that all who had ever been 
 rightly engaged therein, it was in a cross great- 
 ly to the will of the creature, which was not 
 my case, for I was willing. This I felt to be 
 true, and was therefore now exceedingly dis- 
 tressed, not considering that I was made wil- 
 ling by the weight of the exercise, which had 
 been several years at times very heavy upon 
 
32 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 me, until it seemed as a fire in my bones ; and 
 as though I was dumb with silence, I held my 
 peace even from good, and my sorrow was 
 stirred, my heart was hot within me ; while I 
 was musing the fire burned. Psal. xxxix. 2, 3. 
 While under this conflict, a friend stood up 
 with these words : Also I heard the voice of the 
 Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will 
 go for us ? Then said I, here am I, send me. 
 Isa. vi. 8. Shewing, that " to them whose will 
 was rightly subjected to the Lord, it became 
 their meat and drink, to do the will of him, 
 who had subjected them by his divine power, 
 and influenced their hearts with his love of 
 mankind:" by which I was relieved, and 
 my spirit humbled and made thankful. Next 
 morning being the first day of the week, I went 
 to Kennet meeting; and toward the close there- 
 of something appeared to my mind to offer, but 
 was fearful that the motion for speaking was 
 not enough powerful, and had like to have for- 
 borne ; but remembering what I had suffered by 
 neglecting a weak motion in a family visit, as 
 already related, I stood up and spake a few 
 sentences in great fear and brokenness of spirit, 
 and had solid satisfaction. I attended the 
 quarterly- meeting of business at Concord on 
 second day ; on my return from whence home, 
 I let in the old reasoner, who suggested to me, 
 that if I was called to the public ministry, I 
 had not waited for a sufficient commission to 
 speak ; for some had been raised up with great 
 power and authority they could not withstand, 
 but that I might have been still and quiet, the 
 motion was so gentle and low ; and that I must 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, 53 
 
 not think to speak in public testimony in great 
 meetings with so small a motion ; and in so do- 
 ing, I had committed a sin that would not be 
 readily forgiven, perhaps a sin agaiust the Ho- 
 ly Ghost. My exercise was great ; but as I 
 endeavoured to be quiet in my mind, seeking 
 to know the Truth of ray present condition, I 
 was secretly drawn to follow and attend to 
 something that spoke inwardly after this man- 
 ner: " If thou wast to take a lad, an entire 
 stranger to thy language and business, how- 
 ever likely he appeared for service, thou must 
 speak loud and distinctly to him : and perhaps 
 with an accent or tone that might shew thee to 
 be in earnest, to engage his attention and point 
 out the business ; but thou wouldst expect it 
 should be otherwise with a child brought up in 
 thine house, who knew thy language, and with 
 whom thou hadst been familiar ; thou would 
 expect him to wait by thee and watch thy mo- 
 tions, so as to be instructed by thine eye looking 
 upon him, or pointing thy finger, and wouldst 
 rebuke or correct such a one, if he did. not 
 obey thy will on such a small intelligent infor- 
 mation." I was instantly relieved thereby, 
 and leave my reader to judge from whence this 
 intimation came ; believing it would be no crime 
 in me to judge it to be from the spirit of Truth, 
 that was to lead and s;uide into all Truth. 
 
 When this meeting was over, being in the 
 ninth month, 1733, we proceeded to finish our 
 family visit ; the part which remained was on 
 the west side of Susquehanna, at Bush river, 
 and a few families begun to settle near Deer 
 creek. We were remarkably favoured with the 
 
34 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 presence of our great and good master, who 
 opened the states of families to us, and gave 
 ability to speak thereto ; may his holy name be 
 praised. The visit being finished, we returned 
 home ; and in a short time after, as I sat in a 
 week day meeting, I had a few words fresh 
 before me, with a gentle motion to deliver them, 
 which I feared to omit, still remembering what 
 followed a former neglect : so I expressed what 
 was on my mind, and therein had peace, and 
 afterwards was silent for several weeks : in 
 which time I let in a fear I was forsaken by my 
 dear Lord and master, whom I loved above all 
 things, for I had no openings in heavenly 
 things, as I thought, but was left poor and 
 needy ; yet I loved friends, and remembering a 
 saying of a minister formerly, We know that 
 we have passed from death unto life, because 
 we love the brethren, 1 John, iii. 14. I hoped 
 that I was not quite forgotten. Some remarkable 
 sentences had fixed in my mind sometime be- 
 fore, which I now began to understand more 
 sensibly; " ministry should be of necessity and 
 not of choice, and there is no living by silence 
 or by preaching merely." For something in me 
 was ready to wish to be employed, that I might 
 have bread : for when I found a motion to speak, 
 I had the owning love of the heavenly Father; 
 which is, and ever will be bread to his chil- 
 dren ; the creaturely will would choose and 
 would be busy with questioning, is it not, or 
 may it not be so and so. This is that womanish 
 part which is not permitted to speak in the 
 church : it runs first into transgression for want 
 of learning of the husband at home, or being in 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 35 
 
 subjection to him ; which if Eve had literally 
 done, instead of reasoning with the serpent 
 that tempted, she might have been preserved 
 from being a tempter. Our strength, preser- 
 vation, health, and peace stand in our entire 
 subjection to the will of the Lord, whether in 
 silence or speaking, suffering, or reigning ; still 
 dwelling with the seed, Christ, in our own 
 hearts ; humbly waiting for and feeling after 
 his power to arise, who is the Resurrection and 
 the Life : and when he is pleased to appear his 
 children partake in measure of his glory. 
 
 I continued in the station of an elder, and 
 sometimes delivered a few senteuces in public 
 testimony; which occasioned me to apprehend 
 I should not be in my proper place except I re- 
 quested to be released from my eldership. Af- 
 ter a time of weighty consideration, I modestly 
 requested that friends would consider my case ; 
 for instead of taking care of the ministrv of 
 others, I stood in need of the care of others ; and 
 that it would be relieving to my mind if they 
 would nominate an elder in my room, which 
 was taken into consideration for a time ; friends 
 waiting I suppose to see what proof I should 
 make of my ministry. I attended the winter 
 quarterly-meeting of ministers and elders, and 
 had to give an account of the ministry at our 
 meeting ; the elders being called to answer one 
 after another in order, according to the settle- 
 ment of the meetings they belonged to, a fear 
 struck me lest a form of words was too much 
 in general observed, particularly, " that the 
 ministry w r as well received." When my turn 
 came, I could not be easy without varying that 
 
36 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 part; and instead of saying, the ministry of the 
 ministers is well received, I said, that I be- 
 lieved the ministry of the public friends was 
 generally approved of; and added, that I did 
 wish, that the ministry of all the ministering 
 friends was better received than I conceived it 
 was. Whereupon I was asked what I meant ; 
 and under the weight I felt on my mind, I re- 
 plied, it was not from a thought of bearing hard 
 on the service of the public friends, but from the 
 difference between approving thereof, because 
 they believed it to be right, and attending no 
 further, which would not do the work; but to 
 put in practice what they heard recommended 
 was only well receiving of it ; and if that was 
 really the case, our society would appear more 
 beautiful than at present; thus the matter closed 
 and I had peace in the remark. I think this 
 was the last meeting I attended as an elder ; 
 before the next quarterly-meeting in the second 
 month 1734, another was recommended in my 
 place. 
 
 About this time as I sat in one of our own 
 meetings, I felt a flow of affection to the people ; 
 for many not of our society came there perhaps 
 out of curiosity, several young ministers having 
 come forth in public testimony ; in which extra- 
 ordinary flow of affection, I had a very bright 
 opening as I thought, and expected to stand up 
 with it very soon ; but being willing to weigh 
 it carefully was not very forward, viewing its 
 decreasing brightness, until something said as 
 it were within me, " is the woe in it," is neces- 
 sity laid upon thee, 1 Cor. ix. 16. and there- 
 fore woe if thou preach not the gospel. This 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. ST 
 
 put me to a stand and made me feel after the 
 living presence of Him in whose name and 
 power I desired to speak, if I appeared in tes- 
 timony ; and not feeling the pure life and power 
 of truth so as to stand up, the brightness of the 
 vision faded and left me quiet, humble and 
 thankful for this preservation. The drawing 
 strength and lusting desire of the unstable, who 
 centre not to the pure gift in themselves, are as 
 the many waters or sea of mystery Babylon, 
 for her merchants to sail their ships and trade 
 upon. This was a time of inward growing to 
 me; the welfare of the churches was strongly 
 desired, and the extendings of the love of the 
 Heavenly Father, I felt at times to reach over 
 sea and land to my great admiration ; but how- 
 ever my heart was enlarged, I believed it was 
 my duty to retire inward, and wait with patience 
 until my friends should so approve of my mi- 
 nistry, as to recommend me as a minister, be- 
 fore I made any request to go much abroad, 
 though I went to some neighbouring meetings, 
 such as I could go to in a morning, and return 
 home at night, but not without acquainting some 
 elderly friends therewith, and desiring their 
 company, which I generally had. 
 
 In the winter 1735-6, William Brown my 
 brother-in-law, my sister Dinah Brown (then a 
 widoAV,) and myself, were all recommended to 
 the meeting of ministers and elders, as minis- 
 ters ; and at this meeting I let a certain friend 
 know, that for sometime T had a desire to visit 
 friends at Newtown, Middletown, Goshen, 
 Cain and Bradford meetings ; hoping that he 
 would go with me, for without some suitable 
 
 D 
 
38 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 companion I was not easy to go ; because it would 
 be necessary, that notice should be given to an- 
 swer the end of a visit, which he also thought 
 necessary, and let me know that he would take 
 the needful care ; which I supposed was pre- 
 viously to inform some friends of each meeting, 
 in order that they might acquaint their neigh- 
 bours if they had freedom, and I was easy, not 
 knowing but he would bear me company. On 
 third day I was at the general meeting of wor- 
 ship held at Providence, and at the breaking up 
 thereof, the friend whom I had spoken to, stood 
 up and gave public notice, that 1 intended to sit 
 with friends at the meetings aforesaid, and 
 named the days in order, and requested friends 
 would take proper care to give notice ; at which 
 I was exceedingly surprised, and repented that 
 I had spoken thereof; I would have gladly 
 ran home, but for fear of bringing a reproach, 
 and to me it seemed likely it would be the case 
 if I pursued the track laid out for me. In 
 this strait I was humbled even to weeping ; a 
 sympathising experienced friend came to me, 
 and spake affectionately, bidding me not to be 
 cast down, for it was heard with gladness that 
 it was in my heart to visit those meetings, and 
 that if I lived and did well, I must meet with 
 greater trials. I suppose friends of those meet- 
 ings knew more of me than I expected, for I had 
 carefully attended meetings of discipline several 
 years, and had been sometimes active therein ; 
 the meetings were generally pretty full, and I 
 believe truth owned my service, which was to 
 me great cause of thankfulness. In this little 
 journey friends were very kind to me, and I 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 59 
 
 was afraid too free in manifesting of it ; indeed 
 there are many indulgent nurses, many forward 
 instructors, but too few fathers in the church, 
 who having been acquainted with Him the great 
 Alpha in their tender beginning, and by dwel- 
 ling in his holy counsel and fear, have the care 
 of the members at heart ; and in the wisdom of 
 truth know how to instruct, advise and conduct 
 themselves towards such who are called to the 
 Lord's work according to their several disposi- 
 tions, growths, and gifts received ; in order that 
 they might be preserved growing in and by him, 
 the Alpha, experiencing him, their beginning 
 to be with them, and to be the Omega in their 
 conclusion ; the first and the last, all in all, the 
 Lord God over all, blessed in himself and the 
 Son of his love, our holy high Priest and In- 
 structor. For want of proper caution herein, 
 some have valued themselves above what they 
 ought, and thereby reduced their credit with 
 others. 
 
 In the summer following I felt a secret gen- 
 tle draft to visit the meetings in the back parts 
 of Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks Counties ; 
 which continuing with me, and my brother-in- 
 law William Brown having the like concern, 
 we acquainted friends at our monthly-meeting, 
 late in the fall of the year, and had their con- 
 currence, and I believe thtlv good wishes for 
 us. So in the tenth month 1736, we proceeded, 
 and went to Goshen, Radnor, and to a general 
 meeting at Haverford, and to an evening meet- 
 ing at a school- house in Upper Merion, and over 
 Schuylkill to Plymouth ; we had good satis- 
 faction mostly. I could see that my brother 
 
THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 grew in his gift, and after one of the meetings 
 a well-meaning friend told me that I was a seer, 
 and knew the states of people better than they 
 could inform me; at which I felt some se- 
 cret pleasure, yet not without, as I thought, a 
 humble fear, knowing that flattery or unguard- 
 ed commendation, if listened to, is a kind of poi- 
 son to young ministers, and sometimes makes 
 them swell beyond the proper size. At Ply- 
 mouth, I had an open meeting ; and it seemed 
 to me, as if what I had to say was received freely 
 by the people ; and after meeting I was filled 
 with joy to such a degree, that I wept, and drop- 
 ped behind my company, to keep undiscover- 
 ed, in our going to a friends house, and inward- 
 ly prayed that it might be taken from me, for I 
 feared that by the natural part in me, it was 
 taken to excess. Next day we had a small 
 meeting in Job Pugh's house, where I thought 
 I saw the states of particulars very clear, and 
 had something to say, which perhaps I deliver- 
 ed in too strong terms, considering my age and 
 experience in the ministry. A becoming fear 
 and modesty in expression is very ornamental 
 and safe for ministers, both young and old. 
 After meeting, we went home with Evan Evans 
 to North Wales, who conversed but little with 
 us, but was grave and solid, and therein a good 
 example to me ; for sometimes young ministers 
 hurt themselves by too much talking, and draw 
 from others of like freedom, things not conve- 
 nient for them to hear. The next day we were 
 at North Wales meeting, which was large, be- 
 ing first day ; my brother W. B. appeared in 
 *he forepart and had good service, afterwards I 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 41 
 
 stood up with a large ant! good opening as t 
 thought, but found hard work and soon sat 
 down again without much relief : which being 
 a little unusual, I ventured to stand up again, 
 and with a zeal that exceeded my childish 
 knowledge, laid on some strokes with the 
 strength of the man's part more than with the 
 humbling power of truth ; for if we deliver hard 
 things to the people, we should ever remember 
 that we are flesh and blood, and by nature sub- 
 ject to the same frailties ; this would lead us 
 closely to attend to the power, and to minister 
 only in the ability of truth, in the meekness 
 gentleness and wisdom which it inspires. I 
 soon sat down again, and in a moment felt my- 
 self left in great darkness, and friends broke up 
 the meeting in a minute or two after ; which I 
 soon thought was rather unkind, as it seemed 
 to shew a public dislike, when a private admo- 
 nition which I believed was my due, would have 
 answered the end better. But when I knew 
 they held an afternoon meetiug, I judged that 
 I had infringed on the time, and the weight of 
 the trial settled still deeper on my mind. In 
 the afternoon I sat silent, and was very much 
 dejected, and my good friend Evan Evans, an 
 experienced minister and father in the church, 
 bid me be steadv and inward, looking to the 
 Lord who knew how to deal with his children, 
 and gently correct, as well when they went too 
 fast, as too slow. This fatherly tender hint 
 fully opened my eyes ; for before I was in some 
 doubt wherein I had missed : I now believed 
 he saw I was too zealous and forward, and be- 
 lieved also that he had the judgment of Truth j 
 
 d3 
 
4 > THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 this was enough for me ; I abhorred myself, 
 and was in great fear that I should not be for- 
 given. Another friend told me that I only felt 
 an opposing spirit in some, whose states had 
 been remarkably spoken to by me, and desired 
 me not to be too much cast down, for I had the 
 mind of Truth. This, instead of relieving, ra- 
 ther added to my affliction, for I saw it would 
 have a tendency, if heeded, to take me from 
 under the hand of the Lord, which was heavy 
 upon me ; and something in me said, " Let 
 (rod be true and every man a liar, keep to the 
 witness in thine own heart, attend to the Spirit 
 of Truth there, and mind its reproof." Man 
 through natural affection and sympathy may 
 err, and administer false instruction, but the 
 other proceeds from the God of Truth. I would 
 have given all that I had to have been at home, 
 for I greatly feared that I should bring a re- 
 proach on the truth, the honour whereof was 
 dear to me. I hid my distress as much as pos- 
 sible, and proceeded to attend meetings with 
 my brother, whom I greatly preferred, and was 
 afraid to discourage by my complaints. 
 
 We were at a meeting at Skippack, and at ano- 
 ther at Perkioming or New Providence, in each 
 whereof I had so much light and understanding 
 as to offer a few words, but the service lay 
 chiefly on my brother. From thence we went 
 to Oley, where I had a few things to deliver 
 in a friend's house in an evening sitting with 
 his family, which was large; the friend in great 
 tenderness observed afterward, that revelation 
 was not ceased, for their states were very ex- 
 actly spoken to j at which I marvelled, for I was 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 43 
 
 greatly reduced, and thought myself one of the 
 poorest and most unqualified that ever travelled 
 In that great service in winch we were now en- 
 gaged. This dispensation, though sorrowful to 
 wade through, was very humbling and profita- 
 ble for me, who perhaps but a little before was 
 ready to think I knew something about preach- 
 ing, but now knew nothing ; that I might more 
 fully understand that he who thinketh of him- 
 self " he knoweth any thing, knoweth nothing 
 as he ought to know :" to wit, that all pure 
 knowledge is sealed up in Him who is the 
 fountain of wisdom and knowledge ; to be only 
 opened by himself to his dependent children, 
 by the revelation of his own Spirit when and 
 to whom he pleases. 
 
 From hence we went to Maiden Creek, and 
 to Richland in Bucks County, being still low 
 in my mind, yet favoured for a few minutes in 
 meetings, in which I had a few sentences, and 
 then was closed up again. I was like one who 
 having learned a few things or rules in literal 
 knowledge, was again turned back to his be- 
 ginning. 
 
 From thence we went to Plumstead in Bucks 
 County. Here I was rather more enlarged ; 
 and to Buckingham, Wrights town, Falls, Mid- 
 dletown, Bristol, and over on the ice to Bur- 
 lington in New Jersey, the weather being ex- 
 ceeding cold ; and came back again on the ice 
 over Delaware the same evening to Bristol, and 
 thence proceeded to By berry and Horsham 
 meetings : and by this time I was relieved from 
 the depression of spirit I felt before, yet was 
 under a humble reverent fear ; not forgetting the 
 
44 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 meeting at North Wales. I was in some de- 
 gree again admitted to behold the lifting up of the 
 Heavenly Father's countenance, which makes 
 the solitary rejoice. From Horsham we went 
 to a meeting appointed at William Hallowell's ; 
 the company of the man who undertook to 
 shew us the way not being agreeable, we per- 
 suaded hi in to return; and so were left not know- 
 ing the way to the house, which made me very 
 thoughtful, lest we should miss our way, and 
 friends would then be blamed for neglect of 
 duty towards us. As I was thus pondering in 
 my mind, a faith arose that providence could 
 direct ; and that moment I beheld the track of 
 a mau who had crossed the road we were in, 
 and felt a sudden turn of mind to follow the 
 same, which made me quite easy: it brought 
 us to a field, where we found the fence down 
 on both sides, and led to the house where friends 
 were gathered, and we were not discovered to 
 be without a guide ; for which I was thankful, 
 believing it to be the secret direction of kind 
 providence, and not barely chance. I relate 
 this with a view to excite such who may meet 
 with difficulties, to rely on him alone who can 
 shew the way, and give faith to follow : but 
 man must be humble and quiet in mind, to un- 
 derstand the inward gentle sense that Truth 
 favours with ; this small gathering was owned 
 in a good degree with the Divine presence. 
 
 From thence we passed to Abington and 
 Frankfort meetings, and to Philadelphia ; and 
 after visiting; those meetings we turned to Ger- 
 mantown, and so over Schuylkill to Merion 
 meeting, where we met our worthy friend John 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 45 
 
 "Fothergill, who had great and good service 
 therein, with whom my brother W. B. returned 
 to Philadelphia to the quarterly -meeting, which 
 began next day; and while he was absent from 
 me I attended Springfield and Newtown meet- 
 ings. When he again came to me, we attended 
 some other meetings until our quarterly -meet- 
 ing began, at which was our friend John Cad- 
 walader from Horsham, who had good service ; 
 after which I returned home and was glad to 
 sit with friends in our own meeting, wherein I 
 did not see it was my place to say much, but by 
 example to recommend silence. 
 
 Early this spring, 1737* the Lord was 
 pleased to try me with poverty and inward 
 want, which brought me into great searchings 
 of heart, and secret inquiry into the cause ; but 
 could not understand that I had wilfully dis- 
 obeyed, neither stood convicted in my mind for 
 doing amiss : but my poverty and inward w r ant 
 increased, with distress and doubting to that 
 degree that I began to fear I had mistaken, and 
 took error for Truth, and in my ow r n imagina- 
 tion formed a religion, and for the rebellion of 
 my youth was suffered to go on until now ; and 
 all that ever I had done was brought into judg- 
 ment and reduced to nothing ; and the enemy 
 endeavoured to stir me up to impatience, and 
 to persuade me that my transgressions would 
 never be forgiven. Many days of sorrow and 
 nights of sore distress I passed through, and 
 began to despair of ever again beholding the 
 Light of the Heavenly countenance lifted up to- 
 wards me again. 
 
 Towards the last of the third month 1 went 
 
46 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 to Sadsbury,to settle a dispute about the bounds 
 of land; and having something to do near Sa- 
 muel Nutt's iron-works on French creek ; as I 
 was going thither, being alone, and my inward 
 sorrow and distress very great, I thought I 
 would now endeavour to vent it, were it but in 
 mournful groans ; and drawing in my breath in 
 order to vent it in a groan, my inward anguish 
 seemed to burn like fire, and I was instantly 
 staid from breaking forth ; for I was persuaded 
 my passion of grief, if given way unto, would 
 go beyond bounds, to the tearing of my clothes, 
 if no further. My heart not being tender, I 
 could not weep, which brought me to a more 
 calm pause than I had known for some time ; 
 and therein was ready to say, can the good hand 
 be still near to stav me. O ! that I mav have 
 patience given, and resolution strengthened, to 
 continue seeking, and if at last I should perish, 
 that it may be at his footstool. For a small 
 space I had some hope of beholding again him 
 whom my soul once loved above all things ; but 
 in a few miles riding it began to look pleasant 
 to me to go into some remote place where I 
 should not be known. When reflecting thus — 
 what ! abandon mine acquaintance ! violate my 
 marriage covenant, and leave my nearest con- 
 nections ! I suddenly knew this prospect of 
 pleasure was from the evil one, and something 
 in me abhorred it as wicked, and as it were 
 closed my eyes therefrom. So that evening I 
 went to the house of a former intimate acquaint- 
 ance to lodge, who received me kindly, and in 
 the evening brought a book containing some 
 astronomical problems, and began to converse 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 47 
 
 very freely thereon, supposing it would be 
 pleasant to me as aforetime : but I wfes heavy 
 in my spirit, and inwardly thoughtful about 
 something of another nature ; and he soon per- 
 ceiving his conversation on that subject was dis- 
 agreealjle, proposed my going to bed as fittest 
 for a weary man, judging that to be my present 
 ailment ; I was glad of the offer, and immedi- 
 ately accepted thereof. I saw now clearly, that 
 when my mind was turned from delighting in 
 that wherein our former friendship consisted, 
 my company was rather unpleasant to him. I 
 soon left his house in the morning, dispatched 
 my business, and returned home with as much 
 speed as I could, without the least inclination 
 to go elsewhere. I believe my prayer was 
 heard ; for I had patience granted to me: I 
 say granted, because no man can endue himself 
 therewith, and I think my distress gradually 
 abated after the time aforementioned. 
 
 When one has fasted, and suffered the want 
 of natural food for a long season, men of pru- 
 dence will portion out the food they give to 
 such with care, that strength may be increased 
 and the constitution preserved healthful and 
 sound. The Lord, whose love and care to his 
 children doth far exceed that of any natural pa- 
 rent to his offspring, dealt with me in his ten- 
 der mercy; giving at times, by the gentle 
 touches of his love, to feel that he had not for- 
 saken me, which in a few minutes would be 
 again withdrawn ; but though of short continu- 
 ance, was sufficient for me to own it was worth 
 all my sorrowful longing for; and hereby he 
 was pleased to let me experimentally know 
 
48 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the value of heavenly bread by the want of it. 
 Having food and raiment, I was now taught to 
 be therewith content. The renewing of hea- 
 venly favour, and the covering of the Holy 
 Spirit, so as to be admitted to stand before him 
 in humble reverence with gracious acceptance, 
 was all my soul craved. I neither wanted this 
 man's gift, nor the other man's popularity and 
 eloquence, but to be in mercy admitted into the 
 number of his family, and occupying mine own 
 gift to his honour alone that gave it. When 
 Peter was examined by his Lord whom he had 
 denied through fear, " Lovest thou me more 
 than these?" the third time answered, "Thou 
 knowest all things, thou knowest that I love 
 thee." He did not answer the question in its 
 full extent, viz. more than these with respect to 
 the rest of the disciples who had not denied 
 their Lord and Master, as Peter had done, w r ho 
 was nevertheless looked upon with forgiving 
 compassion, and therefore had need to love in 
 proportion. Perhaps his honest confession and 
 appeal to his master's knowledge might shorten 
 his answer: his threefold charge of feeding 
 the sheep and lambs of his Lord, was necessa- 
 ry to gain his diligent attention to the work of 
 him whom he had three times denied : he to 
 whom much is forgiven, loveth much if he is 
 not ungrateful. No marvel that I met with 
 this trial of my love and affection, who so often, 
 not through fear, but the desire of indulging 
 my creaturely will, had denied, or neglected 
 to follow my Lord and Master, who had so 
 early made me acquainted with his will, and 
 who now had passed by mine offences, and cal- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 49 
 
 led me to work in his vineyard. Now I was 
 made thankful for favours which before had 
 scarcely been owned as such : for to be pre-, 
 served inwardly watchful, and quietly resigned, 
 to wait upon the Lord, though we partake not 
 of immediate consolation by the renewing of 
 life, is a great blessing, for which we ought to 
 be thankful, as we cannot stay our own minds, 
 nor curb our thoughts : and I did believe that 
 labour was healthful, created an appetite and 
 sweetened the relish of rest and food in a spi- 
 ritual as well as natural sense ; and therefore I 
 wanted not to eat the bread of idleness and live 
 on the labour of others. 
 
 After this trial, which continued most of the 
 summer, I was much favoured with the incomes 
 of divine love and life ; and in the winter fol- 
 lowing, visited most of the meetings in Chester 
 county, and some few in Philadelphia county. 
 The weather was very cold, being about the 
 middle of the tenth month when I set out, and 
 in my journey went to visit a worthy friend who 
 was indisposed, and lodged at his house ; and 
 as we sat together in the evening, he asked ma. 
 why I chose the winter season to visit my 
 friends in, for many infirm folks could hardly 
 attend meetings, and said he was sometimes 
 ready to query, whether public friends do not 
 take that time to serve their master, because 
 they could do but little for themselves. I was 
 thoughtful and low in my mind before, and had 
 some reasoning whether it had not been better 
 that I had staid at home than ventured out on 
 the service at that time of the year. Though I 
 thought I had an engagement sufficient when I 
 
 E 
 
50 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 set out: this query of his made me more 
 thoughtful, and added to my reasoning ; but I 
 soon recovered strength, and it came fresh in 
 my mind to ask him whether friends could eat 
 to supply and sustain their bodies in the sum- 
 mer, and partake also of spiritual food for their 
 souls in that season, so as not to labour in the 
 winter and care for the sustenance of their bo- 
 dies, or assemble and attend meetings to wor- 
 ship and wait upon God for spiritual food for 
 their souls ? He acknowledged I had by this 
 query satisfied him to the full, and said he was 
 glad of my visit, and hoped his talking as he did 
 would not discourage me, for I believe he saw 
 it brought a damp over me at first. This an- 
 swer I believe was given to me for mine own 
 help, and was encouragement to me through 
 this journey ; in which I had most of the time 
 Joshua Johnson, of London-Grove, for a compa- 
 nion, who was very agreeable, and in my re- 
 turn home I felt great peace. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 51 
 
 CHAP. IL 
 
 Hts journey with Robert Jordan to the western part 
 of Maryland in the year 1733. Also to the Quar- 
 terly-meeting at Shrewsbury in New Jersey — 
 And with John Hunt through that Province — His 
 visit to the Eastern-shore of Maryland — His 
 journey to Fairfax and Hopewell in Virginia, in 
 company with a committee of Friends — and a se- 
 cond time to the Eastern-shore of Maryland with 
 John Cadwalader, and his companion — And his 
 visit to New England in company with Samuel 
 Hop wood, in 1742. 
 
 In the summer following I went with Robert 
 Jordan to West-river yearly-meeting in Mary- 
 land, and we visited most of the meetings of 
 friends in that province, and his company was 
 profitably instructive to me who was but young 
 in the ministry. I think I knew him well ; 
 he had a good gift of the ministry, and was 
 highly favoured in the living openings of 
 Truth, but was often low in mind and very 
 humble in spirit. One time as we were riding 
 together, he lagged behind for several miles. 
 I asked him why he rode so slow, he made no 
 reply, whereupon I stopt until he came up, his 
 countenance was solid, and looked as if he had 
 been weeping. I asked what ailed him ; after 
 some time he told me, that he had been think- 
 ing of the great favous which man partook of, 
 particularly in being placed over the beasts of 
 the field, and how easily they were broke, and 
 made subject to his will : what a small turn 
 with the bridle would put them to the right 
 
S THE LIFE ASD TRAVELS 
 
 Land or the left, and on a gentle motion would 
 amend or slacken their pace, at the will or plea- 
 sure of the rider : and that man, the most noble 
 and intelligent creature, should so far neglect 
 the duty of a willing subjection to his Maker, 
 who so highly has favoured him with temporal 
 blessings, and the knowledge of heavenly 
 things. I had been at that meeting about three 
 years before, having had some business to do 
 for a friend of mine on the Eastern-shore of 
 Chesapeake, and crossed over the bay to the 
 Western. shore, and was at the yearly-meeting: 
 and being grieved at the conduct of some of the 
 elders, whose age, if they had kept to the Truth 
 and had been zealous for the honour thereof, 
 would have made them better examples ; I 
 spoke my mind plainly to them, but not with- 
 out proper caution, as I thought, both with re- 
 spect to my youth and their age : but some 
 seemed a little warmed thereby, and asked for 
 my certificate, if I had any. I honestly told 
 them, the principal business that brought me 
 from home was temporal, which having accom- 
 modated, I thought I might attend that meeting 
 without offence, if I did not misbehave myself. 
 William Richardson desired friends to con- 
 sider what I had said, for he believed, if they 
 did, they would perceive the young man had a 
 certificate with him, that might answer for one 
 of a neighbouring province to attend such a 
 meeting. 
 
 It may not be unseasonable to relate, that in 
 the year 1736, one night as I lay in bed, my 
 mind was uncommonly affected with the in- 
 comes of divine love and life ; and therein T 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. ffi 
 
 had a view of the churches in New Jersey, 
 with a clear prospect that I should visit them ; 
 and in that prospect and the strength of affec- 
 tion which I then felt, I said in my heart it is 
 enough. I will prepare for the journey as 
 soon as I can hear of a suitable companion, for 
 I do not expect that I shall have a clearer sight 
 than I now have. I soon heard of a friend 
 who had a visit to New Jersey before him, I 
 spoke to him about my concern, he let me 
 know that he knew of a companion, and they 
 had agreed upon a time to proceed. After I 
 had mentioned it to him and some other friends, 
 my concern seemed to die away ; but I re- 
 membered the resolution that I took up, and 
 that I then thought I would not look to be bid- 
 den again, and was fearful something had 
 drawn my mind from the proper attention to 
 that opening, which was the reason it seemed 
 to go off : but the more I strove to look after 
 it, the duller it grew. I then sorely repented 
 that I had spoken about it, and thought it 
 should be a warning to me in future : for I be- 
 gan to see there was a difference between see- 
 ing what was to be done, and being bidden to 
 do the thing shewn. Besides this, I had to 
 consider there was a time to bud, a time to 
 blossom, a time for fruit to set and appear, and 
 a time for it to ripen. 
 
 And in the forepart of the winter, 1738, I 
 thought it seemed to revive ; and when I saw 
 John Hunt a friend from England, I believed I 
 should go with him when he went through 
 New Jersey, and told him what I thought ; at 
 which he rejoiced, for we were nearly united. 
 
54 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 So we appointed a time to meet at Philadel- 
 phia ; and when we had so far concluded, be- 
 ing about six weeks beforehand, my concern, 
 as I thought, soon withered away, and I began 
 to be in great fear that I had been again too 
 forward therein ; but after some time of hum- 
 bling exercise on that account, the Lord, whom 
 I feared, from the love with which he was 
 pleased to enrich my heart, gave me to remem- 
 ber, that when I made the appointment with 
 my friend, it was in his fear and great abase- 
 ment of self: and as I had seen clearly to 
 make the appointment, it was my place to at- 
 tend in humble reliance on him for ability to 
 perform the embassy : for the Lord who call- 
 eth and sendeth forth his own, will also pro- 
 vide all things convenient for them. 
 
 When the time came, I set forward very 
 poor and needy, which continued until we en- 
 tered our service. We took a few meetings be- 
 fore our general spring meeting ; and after at- 
 tending that, we went to Woodberry, Piles- 
 grove, Salem, Alloways-creek, Cohansie, and 
 so to Cape-may, and had some close work, but 
 in the main satisfactory to ourselves at least. 
 After having several meetings at and near the 
 Capes, we went to Great-Egg-harbour and had 
 a meeting there, and another at the house of 
 our friend Japhet Leeds, and so over the 
 Marshes to Little-Egg-harbour river, and had 
 two meetings with friends ; in one of which I 
 stood up with a large opening as I thought, 
 but after a short introduction it closed up, and 
 I sat down again, which was some mortification 
 to me as a man, though very profitable : being 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 55 
 
 thereby taught to know, that he that would 
 speak as the oracle of God, must, under the 
 gentle burden of the word, in humble fear wait 
 for wisdom, utterance, and ability to perforin 
 the service, to the edification of the church and 
 his own inward peace : and not to look after 
 large and specious openings, sometimes desira- 
 ble to the creaturely part, both in ourselves 
 and others, which must suffer famine. 
 
 At one of the meetings in these parts, coming 
 very early, a friend belonging thereto invited us 
 to go to his house not far off, and he would put 
 up our horses to hay during the time of the 
 meeting; saying that we must go to his house to 
 dine. But I felt a stop in my mind, and told 
 him that our horses could stand very well there 
 until after meeting. It so fell out that neither 
 of us said any thing in the meeting, which ne- 
 vertheless was to us satisfactory ; for we had a 
 sense that the people had been fed with words, 
 and had a hunger thereatter more than for the 
 instruction of the pure word of Power and Life, 
 nigh in the heart and mouth, that they might not 
 only hear it but be found doers thereof. After 
 the meeting no one asked us to dine, but went 
 away and left us; and had it not been for the 
 care of our kind guide that came from the meet- 
 ing we were last at, we should have been at a 
 loss to have got forward. I mention this to 
 show how unacceptable silence is to such whose 
 tars itch after words. 
 
 From hence we went through the desert to 
 Upper Springfield, where we had a satisfactory 
 meeting: then taking the meetings northward 
 to Stonybrook and Trenton, we returned to 
 
56 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Bordentown, and so crossed Delaware. Some 
 of the meetings were large and very satisfactory, 
 under the owning of Truth, the power whereof 
 was in dominion, and the name of the Lord 
 praised, who is worthy for ever : and some were 
 remarkably close and hard; which made me re- 
 member a saying of that experienced minister 
 and elder John Fothergill, that, " When he was 
 first in this country, he had some extraordinary 
 meetings hereaway, the people being industrious 
 in a natural as well as spiritual sense ; some of 
 whomw^re now removed, and their children pos- 
 sessed the temporal estates of their fathers ; and 
 though their outward habitations looked spa- 
 cious, their meetings for worship were dull and 
 heavy, by reason of a worldly spirit, and their 
 indifference about heavenly treasure." One 
 meeting which we Mere at was remarkably 
 hard; my companion J. H. was exceedingly 
 exercised, under a sense that the people were 
 too rich, full, and whole in their own eyes. 
 He sat the meeting through and suffered in si- 
 lence, but L had something to say very close and 
 particular, and felt a degree of the strength and 
 power of Truth, to clear myself in an innocent 
 and loving manner ; and remembering they were 
 brethren, did not preach myself out of charity 
 towards them, and so had peace. We went 
 home with an elderly friend, who in a stern 
 manner asked me from whence I came, and said 
 I was a stranger to him ; I answered him with 
 a cheerful boldness. He asked me what my 
 calling was ; I told him husbandry. He fur- 
 ther queried if I was used to splitting of wood, 
 I let him know I had practised it for many years. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 57 
 
 He again asked me if I knew the meaning of a 
 common saying of those who were used to that 
 business; " *Tis soft knocks must enter hard 
 blocks." I told him I knew it well; but there 
 was some old wood that was rather decayed at 
 heart, and to strike with a soft or gentle blow 
 at a wedge in such blocks, would drive it to the 
 head without renting them, and the labour would 
 be lost, when a few smart lively strokes would 
 burst them asunder ; whereupon he laid his hand 
 on my shoulder, saying, " Well my lad, 1 per- 
 ceive thou art born for a warrior, and I commend 
 thee." And thus we came off better than we 
 expected, for I thought he pointed at my service 
 that day. He was ever afterward very loving 
 to me, and I was inwardly thankful that the 
 Lord was near to me, for which I praise his sa- 
 cred name. To be becomingly bold in the cause 
 of Truth, at times is particularly necessary ; 
 otherwise the weight of the testimony thereof 
 would be lessened, and a carping spirit set over 
 it. 
 
 From Bordentown we went to Plumstead in 
 Bucks county, and on a first day had a pretty 
 good meeting; and to a monthly-meeting at 
 Buckingham, then to Wrightstown, the Falls, 
 and Middletown, which meetings were in a good 
 degree satisfactory, the reaches of the power of 
 Truth being felt to extend, for which we were 
 thankful : though in some of them there is too 
 great a want of faithful members to put the dis- 
 cipline in practice against those that were dis^ 
 orderly, and thereby brought a reproach on the 
 Truth. We then went to Philadelphia, and 
 
58 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 next day to Chester, from whence I went home 
 the same day. 
 
 In the fall of the year 1740, I had some 
 drawings in my mind to attend the quarterly- 
 meeting at Shrewsbury, and was at several 
 meetings on my way thither ; at one of which a 
 friend appeared, who I thought had good ser- 
 vice in the forepart of his testimony, but as 
 Truth did not rise into dominion so high as he 
 expected, perhaps in too much zeal and crea- 
 turely warmth, he laid on a little too fast, and 
 continued until the life rather abated, and some 
 tender minds hurt : for it often happens that 
 such to whom hard things belong, will put them 
 off, and those who are more tender and least 
 deserving of such doctrine, will take it to them- 
 selves to their own hurt. O ! how careful mi- 
 nisters ought to be, whilst they are in their ser- 
 vice, that they may be favoured with an inward 
 feeling sense of the states to which they minis- 
 ter, and be influenced with wisdom from above 
 to divide the Word aright, in meekness, gentle- 
 ness, and holy fear ; then Truth will have its 
 own weight, authority, and power. After the 
 friend sat down, it became the concern of ano- 
 ther, in a few words, as it were to number the 
 slain, and search for the wounded, and set close 
 and hard things where they belonged, by de- 
 scribing their several dispositions in choosing 
 and refusing to take hard things. Afterwards 
 being in company with the friend above hinted, 
 and he being down in his mind and perhaps not 
 fully knowing the cause, asked me what I 
 thought of the meeting, to which I was not for- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 59 
 
 ward to answer ; he said, tell me what I have 
 done this day ? Whereupon I asked him pri- 
 vately and in a pleasant manner, what Gideon 
 did to the men of Succoth? Judg. viii. 16. at 
 which he was greatly humbled, fully under- 
 standing what I meant, and did not in the least 
 resent the hint ; which I thought was truly great 
 in him, and very becoming a minister; for if 
 we would instruct others, we should be exem- 
 plary in taking instruction ourselves when ne- 
 cessary. 
 
 On my way falling in company with Robert 
 Jordan, we had a freedom to propose a meeting 
 to the Anabaptists at Middletown, to which 
 they readily consented ; and we had a profitable 
 opportunity with them in their meeting-house, 
 and on the same evening a meeting at the house 
 of Hugh Hartshorne, to which several baptists 
 came. This was a time of favour, and I hope 
 of service : it was concluded by It. J. in so- 
 lemn prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord, 
 who is worthy forever and ever. Just as the 
 meeting broke up, I felt myself poor and in- 
 wardly weak, to as great a degree as ever I 
 had done, and looking towards my said friend 
 I saw he was in the same condition, for it seem- 
 ed as if we had hardly strength to stand ; but 
 a query of our dear Lord's came suddenly into 
 my mind and ministered relief, viz. Who hath 
 touched me ? Whereupon leaning toward my 
 companion, I repeated it to him, being my be- 
 lief that it was as much for his help as my own. 
 He understood the meaning instantly without 
 further explanation, and was thereby also re- 
 lieved. Perhaps some who may hereafter pe- 
 
60 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ruse these lines, may think this is too bold for 
 a mortal man to mention ; but having by a de- 
 gree of experience known, that when the heal- 
 ing virtue of Truth from the holy Physician of 
 souls, has flowed through an humble servant, 
 to the relief of some of the infirm and poor 
 amongst the people, who have followed physi- 
 cians of no value, and spent all their living 
 thereby, and no cure wrought; notwithstand- 
 ing virtue has gone through them as instru- 
 ments or conduits, they have felt inwardly weak 
 for a time ; that in humble abasement of soul 
 they might be taught to acknowledge, that the 
 kingdom, power, and glory doth belong to him 
 alone, who is God over all blessed forever and 
 ever. 
 
 From thence we went to William Harts- 
 horne's at Sandy-hook, and so to the quarterly- 
 meeting at Shrewsbury, which was large in the 
 several sittings, in which was felt the power of 
 Truth in a good degree ; but many loose and 
 rude people of the neighbourhood and parts ad- 
 jacent coming together at such times to drink, 
 carouse, and ride races, are very hurtful to each 
 other and disturbing to friends. Then going 
 homeward I had several meetings on the way, 
 and enjoyed great inward peace, and could 
 therefore rejoice and ascribe the praise to the 
 Lord, who had called and enabled me to per- 
 form this service. 
 
 Having a concern on my mind to visit the 
 meetings of friends on the Eastern-shore in Ma- 
 ryland, I laid it before our monthly-meeting and 
 obtained a certificate in the tenth month ; my 
 brother-in-law James Brown bearing me com- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 61 
 
 pany ; and we were at Cecil monthly-meeting 
 held at Chester in the eleventh month. Be- 
 fore meeting a friend informed me that he 
 thought it would be best for me to cross Ches- 
 ter river, and go directly Southward ; I told 
 him it might be so, but I could say little to it 
 at present; but some friends consulting about 
 it, and one being there who lived near the meet- 
 ing-house in Queen Ann's county, they thought 
 he could give notice on first day to several 
 meetings ; so a friend ventured to speak pub- 
 licly thereof at the close of the meeting for wor- 
 ship, without letting me know what he intend- 
 ed to do. I had been uncommonly distressed 
 as I sat in the meeting, from an apprehension 
 that but few of the friends belonging to that 
 particular meeting were there, and when he 
 published where it was proposed I should be 
 the ensuing week, I felt my mind opened and 
 turned another way, and stood up and told 
 friends, that I did believe they thought it most 
 for my ease to lay out the meetings after that 
 manner, but if friends at that particular meeting 
 would favour me so far as to meet there next 
 day, I should be glad to sit with them, provid- 
 ed they would please to let other friends and 
 neighbours who were absent know of it ; for if 
 I had a right sense, there were several members 
 not present, and I should be willing to be at 
 Cecil meeting on first day, and Sassafras on se- 
 cond day ; which was directly back, and there- 
 fore told them it seemed easiest to my mind, 
 though it would occasion more riding. This 
 being agreed to, we had a much larger meeting 
 next day ; for many before were absent as I had 
 
62 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 thought, and I had a fall opportunity to dis- 
 charge myself toward the hike- warm and indif- 
 ferent, and disorderly walkers, and had peace. 
 I visited several families on seventh day to 
 good satisfaction, and was at Cecil meeting on 
 first day, and the next day at Sassafras, and 
 had to believe it was by the secret direction of 
 the good Shepherd, who never faileth his de- 
 pendent children, that I was turned this way; 
 for he was pleased to own my service in these 
 meetings by his presence in a good degree to 
 the praise of his own name, which is worthy 
 forever. From thence we passed over the head 
 of Chester by the bridge, John Browning, a 
 friend from Sassafras, going with us as a guide ; 
 who some time before had been convinced of 
 the blessed Truth, by the inward operation of 
 the holy spirit without any instrumental means. 
 He had been a member of the church of Eng- 
 land so called, and for his sobriety was chosen 
 a Vestryman ; but after a time felt a scruple in 
 his mind about taking off his hat, when he en- 
 tered the Church-yard so called, fearing it was 
 a superstitious adoration of the ground, from its 
 supposed holiness ; but would take it off when 
 he entered the worship house, and walk unco- 
 vered to his pew ; but after a time could not un- 
 cover his head, till what they call divine ser- 
 vice began ; which, as he kept inwardly atten- 
 tive to the scruple in his mind, became very 
 lifeless to him, who was inwardly seeking for 
 substance and life ; and therefore withdrew 
 therefrom : and after some time went to one of 
 our meetings, rather out of curiosity than ex- 
 pecting any good ; but felt himself owned, and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 63 
 
 had a taste of the peace which the world can- 
 not give ; and from that time became a constant 
 attender of our meetings. 
 
 We had a meeting at Queen Ann's amongst 
 a people, who, for want of keeping to the life 
 of religion, had almost lost the form. In con- 
 versation at a certain house in the evening, I 
 asked a friend, whether she was a friend's child 
 or one convinced of our principles ; her reply 
 was, that when she was young, she lived at a 
 friend's house, and took a notion of going to 
 meeting with them, which she had done ever 
 since. Alas ! when notion changes the will, 
 and not that faith which works by love to the 
 purifying of the heart, the religion is without 
 reformation, empty and dead. From thence we 
 went to Tuckaho meeting, and the weather be- 
 ing very cold and rivers frozen up, several mas- 
 ters of vessels and sailors came there and divers 
 others, people of fashion with gay cloathing. 
 In the fore part of the meeting there was an ap- 
 pearance made which grieved me, for my heart 
 yearned towards the people. The words that 
 he began with were*, " Wo, wo, to the crown 
 of pride and drunkards of Ephraim;" and with 
 very little application sat down. It appeared 
 to me as if the appearance of gaiety had fired 
 the creaturely zeal, which was the chief motion 
 to this short sermon. This with the cold wind 
 blowing in at the door, much unsettled the 
 meeting, it being at the time when that remark- 
 able snow fell which laid so long in deep drifts 
 this winter. Whereupon I desired the door 
 might be shut, which being done, the house be- 
 came more comfortable, and the meeting settled, 
 
64 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and I stood up with an heart filled with affec- 
 tion, having that passage of scripture before me, 
 in which the apostle Peter declared the univer- 
 sality of the love of God, " I perceive of a 
 Truth that God is no respecter of persons, &c." 
 and was much enlarged thereon to my own ad- 
 miration, and I believe satisfaction of the peo- 
 ple. The meeting ended sweetly with thanks- 
 giving and prayer to the Lord for the continu- 
 ance of his mercy, who is the alone author of 
 all good, and worthy of adoration and worship 
 forever. After which we attended the several 
 neighbouring meetings, through very severe 
 cold weather ; and the houses being very open 
 and unprovided with the means of keeping them 
 warm, of which there is too manifest a neglect 
 in those parts, they were uncomfortable and un- 
 settled. In this journey my companion appear- 
 ed in a few words in several families and meet- 
 ings : we reached home just before our quar- 
 terly-meeting in the twelfth month. 
 
 In this journey, travelling in Talbot county, 
 an elderly man asked us if we saw some posts 
 standing, pointing to them; and added : the first 
 meeting George Fox had on this side of Chesa- 
 peake Bay, was held in a tobacco house there 
 which was then new ; the posts that were stand- 
 ing were made of walnut ; at which John Brown- 
 ing above-mentioned rode to them, and sat 
 on his horse very still and quiet : then return- 
 ing to us again with more speed than he went, 
 I asked him what he saw amongst those old 
 posts, he answered, " I would not have missed 
 of what I saw for five pounds, for I saw the 
 root and grouuds of idolatry : before I went I 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 65 
 
 thought perhaps I might have felt some secret 
 virtue in the place where George Fox had stood 
 and preached, whom I believe to have been a 
 good man ; but whilst I stood there, I was se- 
 cretly informed, that if George was a good man, 
 he was in Heaven and not there, and virtue is 
 not to be communicated by dead things, whe- 
 ther posts, earth, or curious pictures, but by the 
 power of God who is the fountain of living vir- 
 tue." A lesson, which if rightly learned, would 
 wean from the worship of images and adoration 
 of relics. 
 
 I was not many miles from home this summer, 
 save to attend our own quarterly and yearly- 
 meetings ; but in the fall, having some drawings 
 in my mind to visit friends in the new settlement 
 in Virginia, I went with a committee of the quar- 
 terly-meeting, appointed to inspect whether 
 friends at Fairfax were in number and weight 
 sufficient to have a meeting settled amongst them 
 to the reputation of truth ; and we visited all 
 the families of friends there, and had a meeting 
 among them to satisfaction : from thence we 
 went to a place called Providence or Tuskarora, 
 from whence Mordecai Yarnall who was one of 
 the number went home, having heard that his 
 wife was dead or likely to die. We had a meet- 
 ing with the friends there, who were glad to see 
 us, and then went to Hopewell monthly-meeting 
 to some satisfaction : from whence I went to a 
 few families settled up Shanondoa above the 
 Three-top't mountain so called, and had a meet- 
 ing amongst them ; they were pretty much ten- 
 dered and received the visit kindly, especially- 
 such who did not make profession of the truth 
 
66 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 with us. I admired how they had notice, for 
 many came to it, and some ten miles or more. 
 I believe that the delight in hunting and a roving 
 idle life drew most of them under our name to 
 settle there : so having discharged myself in a 
 plain yet loving manner, I returned to Robert 
 M*'Coy jun's. and having had several other 
 meetings thereaway, I went home with peace of 
 mind and thankfulness of heart to him who 
 alone enables his children to answer his requir- 
 ings, having rode in this journey above four hun- 
 dred miles. 
 
 This winter John Cadwalader and Zebulon 
 Heston, in their return from a religious visit to 
 friends in Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina, 
 were at my house ; and being desirous to visit 
 some meetings on the Eastern-shore of Mary- 
 land,! went with them to Sassafras-meeting, and 
 called to see the widow and children of John 
 Browning who had been dead about a month, 
 and she gave me in substance the following ac- 
 count of him, viz. 
 
 " My husband was not long sick, but said 
 that he believed he should not recover, and 
 charged me to endeavour that his children should 
 be brought up in the way of Truth which friends 
 profess ; and if they incline to have trades, to 
 put them apprentice to real friends, not barely 
 nominal ones ; which she said, she was willing 
 to do, though she had never yet joined to friends, 
 and desired she would not trust her own judg- 
 ment, and named some friends with whom she 
 should advise in choosing masters. Then said, 
 when I am dead, bury me by my father and mo- 
 .ther in the grave-yard belonging to our family. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, 67 
 
 and thou knowest that I put a large grave- stone 
 at my father's grave, and there is one ready for 
 my mother's grave, which I did not put there, 
 because 1 began to think they were more for 
 grandeur than service. I sent for them from 
 England, not at the request of my father ; they 
 are mine, and now I have a full testimony against 
 such formal tokens of respect; therefore when I 
 am buried, before the company leaves the grave, 
 inform them what my will is, and desire their 
 help to take the grave-stone from my father's 
 grave, and carry it out of the yard, tliat it may 
 be brought home ; and lay one in one hearth, 
 and the other in the other hearth of this new 
 house, and they will be of real service there :* 
 which she promised him to observe, and told me 
 she had complied therewith. He remained sen- 
 sible to near the last, and departed in a quiet 
 resigned frame of mind." 
 
 How weak are the arguments of such who make 
 profession with us, and plead for those grand 
 marks of memorial or other tokens of distinction 
 set up at or on the graves of their deceased re- 
 lations ; and how soon would they subside, did 
 they but live so near the pure truth as to feel 
 the mind thereof; as I fully believe this our friend 
 did, knowing that the name of the righteous will 
 not perish, but be had in everlasting remem- 
 brance ; because their portion is life for ever- 
 more, having entered into that kingdom pre- 
 pared for the blessed before the foundation of 
 the world. 
 
 * He had built a new brick house and the hearth not 
 fully laid. 
 
68 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 This spring of the year ly42, I felt strong 
 drawings of mind to visit friends in New-Eng- 
 land, having had some view thereof several years 
 before; and. having obtained a certificate, I set 
 forward in the third month ; and after visiting 
 several meetings in New-Jersey, and one in 
 New-York, I attended the yearly-meeting on 
 Long Island ; wherein the power of truth was 
 felt, and a great openness to those of other so- 
 cieties, many of whom were present, particularly 
 the last day, and two priests who behaved so- 
 lidly. 
 
 I then went with Samuel Hopwood, a minis- 
 tering friend from England, with whom I had 
 travelled in this journey through part of New- 
 Jersey, to Ryewood, and had a meeting there, 
 where were a few solid friends, but others too 
 talkative; and being at Old-Seabrook had a 
 meeting in an inn, on the first day of the week ; 
 the people being chiefly Presbyterians, few at- 
 tended besides ourselves, and those of the fa- 
 mily who were kind and civil to us ; then going 
 to Conanicut we had a meeting with friends on 
 that island, and proceeded to Newport on Rhode- 
 Island : and on the fifth day of the week at*- 
 tended the meeting at Portsmouth, where we 
 met with Lydia Dean from Pennsylvania, who 
 was on a religious visit to friends in New- Eng- 
 land, and many other friends coming to be at 
 the yearly- meeting on this island. It began on 
 the sixth day of the week with a meeting of 
 ministers and elders, and two meetings for pub- 
 lic worship, one in the forenoon and the other in 
 the afternoon, and they were held in the same 
 order until the second day of the next week> 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 69 
 
 when the meeting for discipline began. This 
 large yearly- meeting in the several settings 
 thereof was generally solid and satisfactory. 
 After which taking divers meetings in our way, 
 namely^ Portsmouth, Tiverton, Seconnet, Accoa- 
 keset, and Aponigangset, and attending their 
 monthly- meeting there, all which were in a good 
 degree satisfactory, S. Hopwood and myself 
 embarked for Nantucket ; and through the mer- 
 cy of kind providence arrived safe there, after 
 a passage of three days and two nights, occa- 
 sioned by scant winds, and an easterly storm 
 which tore our sails very much, being old and 
 rotten ; so that if some watchful friends on the 
 island had not seen us in distress, and come with 
 three whale-boats, and took all the passengers 
 being twenty-four of us from the vessel, we 
 should have been in great danger: for being 
 near a sand bar, the vessel struck ground soon 
 after we left her, and by the violence of the wind 
 was driven on shore. We looked on this de- 
 liverance as a mercy from (rod, to whom several 
 of us were bowed in humble thankfulness for 
 this particular favour. On the twenty-second 
 day of the fourth month the yearly-meeting be- 
 gan, which though small on this day by reason of 
 the storm, was comfortable ; the other sittings 
 were mostly large and in a good degree owned 
 by the power and virtue of Truth. 
 
 My friend S. Hopwood apprehending him- 
 self clear, inclined to return to the Main-land, 
 but no passage offered ; and notwithstanding 
 the meetings had been generally attended by 
 most of the inhabitants of the island, and large, 
 yet I was not easy without endeavouring to 
 
70 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 have some opportunities with friends by them* 
 selves, as much as could be ; which I obtained, 
 besides attending their usual week day meeting: 
 and in these sittings, it pleased the Lord to 
 open my way to deliver several things which 
 had lain heavy on my mind ; for although some 
 solid tender spirited friends lived on this island, 
 yet I saw there was a libertine spirit secretly at 
 work amongst some others, to draw away from 
 the pure inward life of religion and the sim- 
 plicity of Truth, into ease and liberty. After 
 which I had great peace, and my mind was 
 made thankful to the Lord, who had owned my 
 labour by a good degree of his presence and 
 power. 
 
 Being now fully clear and a passage offer- 
 ing, on the second of the fifth month we took 
 leave of our friends, and landed the same day 
 in the evening at Seconnet ; and on the seventh 
 day S. Hopwood and I went to the quarterly- 
 meeting at Sandwich, and were at their first 
 day meeting also ; after which, I went back to 
 Seconnet, and had a meeting at Benjamin Bore- 
 man's ; then returned to Sandwich where I 
 again met S. Hopwood, and on third day 
 we had a meeting at Yarmouth, and returning 
 to Humphrey Wady's, w r e from thence went 
 towards Boston, taking a meeting with friends 
 at Pembrook ; reached that town on sixth day, 
 and attended their morning and afternoon meet- 
 ings on first day, also one at a friends house in 
 the evening. I have here little to remark, save 
 that religion seems to be at a low ebb. From 
 Boston I went to Lynn, but S. Hopwood re- 
 turned towards Rhode-island. I had a meet- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 71 
 
 ing at Lynn, also at Salem, Newberry and Do- 
 ver, being the monthly- meeting ; the next day 
 at Cachechy, and in the afternoon again at Do- 
 ver at the burial of Mary Whitehouse who was 
 ninety-five years of age ; and on second day 
 morning, I was secretly drawn to have a meet- 
 ing over the river on the Kittery shore among 
 friends, which was satisfactory to myself and 
 them, there being a tender people there. On 
 third day morning as I lay in bed, I felt my 
 mind drawn towards the North- w 7 est, which 
 was an. exercise to me, for I had before thought 
 myself at liberty to return towards Boston. I 
 arose about sun rise, and asked the friend where 
 I lodged, whether any friends lived at a dis- 
 tance on that quarter, for that I had a draft that 
 way ; he answered no, and asked how far I 
 thought to go, I told him it did not seem to me 
 to be more than ten miles : he said there was a 
 people about eight miles distant, which he sup- 
 posed was the place to which I felt the draft. I 
 desired him to send a lad with a few lines to 
 some person that he knew, to inform them that 
 a stranger would be glad to have a meeting 
 among them at the eleventh hour of that day, 
 if they were free to grant it, which he did and 
 with his wife went with me ; so that we got to 
 the place near the time proposed, and found a 
 considerable gathering of people, that I won- 
 dered how it could be in so short a time, not 
 more than three hours warning. They were 
 preparing seats by laying boards on blocks in a 
 pretty large new house, and soon sat down in 
 an orderly manner. I went in great fear and 
 hrvvard weakness, and at the sight of such a 
 
72 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 gathering of people, and none of our profession 
 among them except the friend and his wife who 
 accompanied me, and two others who joined us 
 on the way ; my spirit was greatly bowed, and 
 my heart filled with secret cries to the Lord, 
 that he would be pleased to magnify his own 
 power : and blessed for ever be his holy name ! 
 he heard my cry, and furnished with wisdom 
 and strength to declare his word to the people, 
 among whom there were some very tender seek- 
 ers after the true knowledge of God ; and the 
 doctrine of Truth flowed freely towards them, 
 the universality of the love of God being set 
 forth in opposition to the common predestiua- 
 rian notion of election and reprobation. When 
 the meeting was over I felt an uncommon free- 
 dom to leave them, for they began to shew their 
 satisfaction with the opportunity in many words. 
 So speaking to the friend who went with me, 
 we withdrew and went to our horses, and I 
 immediately mounting, beheld the man of the 
 house where the meeting was held running to 
 me, who taking hold of the bridle, told me I 
 must not go away withput dining with them. I 
 looked steadfastly on him, and told him, that I 
 did believe this was a visitation for their good, 
 but I was fearful that they, by talking too freely 
 and too much, would be in danger of losing 
 the benefit thereof, and miss of the good that 
 the Lord intended for them : and my going 
 away was in order to example them to go home 
 to their own houses, and turn inward, and re- 
 tire to that of God in their own hearts, which 
 was the only way to grow in religion. So I 
 left him, and returned with my friend Joseph 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 73 
 
 JKastees and his wife. Next day I was again 
 at Cachechy meeting, where Lydia Dean and 
 her companion Eliphal Harper met me ; it was 
 a good meeting. From thence we went to Do- 
 ver and had a meeting, and another the same 
 evening at the house of John Kenny ; and be- 
 ing clear in my mind of those parts, I returned, 
 having meetings at Hampton, Salisbury, Aims- 
 bury, and Haverhill ; at which last place, se- 
 veral persons were assembled with us who had 
 never heard the preaching of any friend before. 
 There was great openness among them, and 
 we had a good meeting together, for which I 
 was thankful to the holy author of all good. 
 Next day I again met with Lydia Dean and E. 
 Harper, at Stephen Sawyer's near Newberry, 
 where we had a meeting ; at which I was con- 
 cerned to speak in a brief manner of the begin- 
 ning of the reformation from the errors of the 
 church of Rome, and the sufferings of the Pro- 
 testants, particularly in England, some of whose 
 successors turned persecutors, and were very 
 cruel to those whom thev called Sectarians. 
 Amongst whom the Presbyterians having suf- 
 fered persecution, in order to be eased there- 
 from, came into America and settled in New- 
 England ; expecting there to enjoy that rea- 
 sonable right, the liberty of their conscience ; 
 and in this their ease, forgetting the golden rule 
 of doing to others as they would be done unto, 
 became, to their lasting ignominy, persecutors of 
 the Quakers so called, even to the death of se- 
 veral of them. And I had to speak of the na- 
 ture and ground of persecution, and the great 
 inconsistency thereof with Christianity. Seve- 
 
74 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ral of the Presbyterians were present, and an 
 ancient man from Newberry, one of their lead- 
 ers and an elder among them, when the meet- 
 ing was over, desired he might speak with me. 
 I being withdrawn into a little parlour, friend 
 Sawyer came and informed me, that the old 
 man wanted to be admitted to me, to which I 
 felt no objection, being quiet and easy in my 
 mind, though I expected he would be for dis- 
 puting. When he came in, he let me know 
 that he had some observations to make to me ; 
 viz. " he supposed I was a man that had read 
 much, or I could not be so fully acquainted with 
 the reformation, and that he also supposed I 
 had a college education." As to the last, I 
 told him that I never had been at a school but 
 about three months, and the man I went to be- 
 ing a weaver, sat in his loom and heard his 
 scholars read ; that I was so far from having 
 a popular education, that I was born in a wil- 
 derness place, where a few families had settled 
 many miles remote from other inhabitants ; at 
 which, lifting up his hands, he blessed himself 
 and added, " Heaven has then anointed you to 
 preach the gospel, and you have this day 
 preached the truth; but I can assure you, 
 though I have been a parish officer, I never did 
 take any thing from your friends the Quakers, 
 for I am against persecution ; so God bless you 
 with a good journey." 
 
 The next day I had a meeting at Ipswich in 
 the house of Benjamin Hoeg, none professing 
 with us living in that town but himself and fa- 
 mily : though there was a friendly man, who, as 
 I came late to the town the evening before, in- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 75 
 
 rited me to lodge at bis house, of which I ac- 
 cepted, and being weary slept well. In the 
 morning I heard a noise of high words in the 
 street, and getting up I opened the door of the 
 parlour where I lodged, and through a passage 
 into the kitchen, saw a woman whom I took to 
 be the mistress of the house, and went toward 
 her : but with a look of exceeding displeasure 
 she immediately shut the door, so I turned into 
 mv room a^ain. After a while the landlord 
 came to me, and told me that he had been with 
 the Burgess, who had given leave that a meet- 
 ing might be held in the town-hall ; but the 
 priest and his two sons had since been with the 
 Burgess and forbad him, and that rather than 
 displease them, he had withdrawn the leave. 
 The priest asserted that the Quakers were he- 
 retics, and had gone about the town to for- 
 warn his hearers against going to the meeting, 
 which was the meaning of the noise I had 
 heard in the street. I felt very easy, and de- 
 sired that he would not trouble himself anv fur 
 ther than to inform them, that the meeting 
 would be held at the house of B. Hoeg : for I 
 did believe that the railing of the priest would 
 raise the curiosity of the people the more to 
 come, and so it proved. I asked him to shew 
 me the way to the house, that I mi^ht be assist- 
 ant in making provision for seats if occasion re- 
 quired : he said I must take breakfast with him, 
 which was soon brought in bv the woman who 
 had shut the door as before mentioned. I asked 
 him if she was his wife, he told me she was ; on 
 which I arose from my seat and offered her my 
 hand, asking her how she did; but she in dis- 
 
76 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 pleasure refused, and saying not a word, di- 
 rectly left the room. After breakfast we went 
 to the house where the meeting was to be held j 
 and there soon came a great number of people, 
 and the priest also very near the door, where 
 he stood cautioning his hearers ; but several 
 came by an alley to the back door, and others 
 seemed little to regard him, that after a time he 
 went away, and through the goodness of the 
 Lord we had a solid profitable meeting ; for I 
 believe many were there whose hearts were 
 reached and tendered by the love and power of 
 the gospel of Christ, and among them I saw my 
 scornful landlady. It seems, a woman whom 
 she valued had persuaded her to come with her ; 
 before the meeting ended, I perceived her coun- 
 tenance was changed and her stout heart ten- 
 dered, and after it she came to ine with her 
 husband, and kindly invited me to dine with 
 them. I owned their love, and desired them 
 to mind the Truth by which they had been 
 reached : so in humble thankfulness of heart to 
 the great Author of all living mercies, I left 
 them, and went that night to Salem ; and tar- 
 rying one meeting the next day, passed on to 
 Marblehead, and had a meeting in the town- 
 hall, the magistrates readily granting it, which 
 was large. I had to speak on morality, the 
 nature and necessity thereof, shewing that a 
 man could not be a true christian without being 
 a good moralist. I thought they had need of a 
 reformation in their morals, though they profes- 
 sed Christianity in a high manner. One thing 
 is worthy of remarking, the select men and of- 
 ficers were very careful to keep the rude boys 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 77 
 
 and people that caine to the door from making 
 disturbance; several of them walked to the 
 door and spoke to them, and rapped some on 
 their heads with their canes to make them still; 
 the meeting ended to satisfaction without the 
 least opposition. From thence, taking a meet- 
 ing at Lynn by the way, I went to Boston, and 
 was at their meetings on first day in the fore- 
 noon and afternoon; at both which, several 
 came that were not in profession with us, and 
 Truth opened the doctrine thereof to the people 
 pretty freely ; but I was not easy to leave this 
 town without having an opportunity with friends 
 by themselves, for which purpose it was held 
 at Benjamin BagnalFs ; and therein I was deep- 
 ly bowed under a sense of the state of ease in 
 which some were delighting themselves in their 
 imaginary attainments, whilst the pure seed lay 
 under suffering ; but blessed be the Lord, who 
 was graciously pleased to endue with a spirit 
 of love and tender compassion, and thereby en- 
 abled me to discharge myself fully, and I was 
 released from what had lain very heavy upon 
 me for several days. The next day I had an 
 opportunity with several friends at Samuel 
 Pope's, and then left Boston pretty easy in my 
 mind, and went to Samuel Thayre's at Mendam ; 
 who accompanied me the next day to Uxbridge, 
 where we had a meeting with a few raw, talka- 
 tive people, which, through the goodness of 
 God, was nevertheless to some degree of satis- 
 faction. I returned with Samuel Thayre to his 
 house, where I met with Hannah Jenkinson 
 from Pennsylvania, and we were at Mendam 
 meeting together. She then went towards Bos- 
 
 g2 
 
78 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ton, and I to Wainsokett, and Providencetown, 
 and had a meeting at each place ; the latter of 
 ivhich was a poor meeting, the people looking 
 for words and not waiting for the word of life 
 in their own hearts. From thence I went to 
 and had a large and good meeting at Neshan- 
 ticut, the Lord's presence being felt to his owii 
 praise, and another at Greenwich ; then pro- 
 ceeded to Smithfield and Taunton, taking a 
 meeting at each to some good degree of satis- 
 faction ; from thence to Swanzey, Freetown, 
 Rochester, and Cashnet, having a meeting at 
 each ; at one of which, after I stood up to speak 
 a few words in great fear, life being low and as 
 I apprehended the seed under suffering, I heard 
 a kind of sighing by one in the gallery, which 
 seemed to bring death rather than to raise life ; 
 and after I had spoken a sentence or two, it be- 
 came exceedingly burthensome : whereupon it 
 came fresh in my mind to say ; " can an Is- 
 raelite sing a true Hebrew song whilst the seed 
 is in captivity and under suffering ? an attempt 
 of the kind shews ignorance." At which there 
 was a great silence and the sighing ended, and 
 I received strength to deliver what was on my 
 mind, and truth felt in a good degree to arise : 
 the meeting ended well, and several friends ex- 
 pressed their satisfaction with the service on 
 that day. Being clear of those parts I went to 
 Rhode-Island, and in a sense of the goodness 
 and mercy of the Lord who had helped me in 
 my travels in his work, my soul worshipped 
 before him. 
 
 On the twenty-second of the sixth month I 
 gat with friends at Newport in their fore and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 79 
 
 afternoon meetings ; and next morning left 
 Rhode-island with a heavy heart, and had a 
 meeting at South Kingston, where I met with 
 Susanna Morris and her sister Hannah Hur- 
 ford ; and the same day had a meeting at James 
 Parry's, and the day following we had one at 
 Thomas Stanton's, in Westerly, among a mixed 
 people of several societies, to whom I felt a 
 stream of gospel love ; but the meeting was hurt 
 by several appearances of one present who lived 
 at no great distance. Our manner of sitting in 
 silence is so very different from the common 
 practice of most other religious societies, that it 
 is no marvel if it should be as time mispent to 
 some, and fill others with wonder, which was 
 the case this day ; and for want of a deep in- 
 ward attention to the living word of Truth, in- 
 stead of instructing the people in the true way 
 of worship in the love of the gospel, there may 
 be a warm censuring of them for what they un- 
 derstand not, and thereby raise a dislike in them, 
 to the foreclosing of other service. And I have 
 sometimes observed hurt done by this means, 
 by some who appeared in the impatience, not 
 having the weight of the work upon them ; cus- 
 tom had taught the people to look for words, and 
 they were offended by words spoken not in sea- 
 son, and therefore not fitly spoken. I left this 
 meeting with sorrow ; and after I mounted my 
 horse, the person who had appeared there three 
 times, came to me, and said, " he hoped he had 
 not hindered my service in it." I reminded him 
 that he had informed the people in that meeting, 
 their looking for words had been one reason why 
 the Lord had shut up the testimony of Truth in 
 
80 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the hearts of his servants, which I told him I 
 did believe was not then the case ; but that his 
 forward appearances had mudded the waters, 
 unsettled the people, and marred the service. 
 So we parted ; and feeling my mind drawn back 
 towards Newport, I went that evening to James 
 Congdon's, and the next day to Newport ; call- 
 ing in my way at James Parry's, where I found 
 Lydia Dean very sick, she being so far on her 
 journey towards home; and on the fifth day of 
 the week I was at two satisfactory meetings 
 there, and on seventh day had a small meeting 
 at Nicholas Eas ton's ; and on first day two large 
 good meetings at Newport; and next day, hear- 
 ing that Lydia Dean was come to Samuel Clark's 
 on Conanicut island, I went with several others 
 to see her, and she returned with us to Newport; 
 where after a very short notice we had a large 
 evening meeting, wherein the Lord was pleased 
 mercifully to favour us with his immediate pre- 
 sence, to the glory and praise of his own eternal 
 name, which is worthy for ever ! After attend- 
 ing their monthly-meeting at Portsmouth, find- 
 ing my mind clear and easy to proceed home- 
 ward, Lydia Dean, Patience Barker, John 
 Easton and myself set out from Newport, tak- 
 ing leave of friends in a tender manner on both 
 sides ; and were the first day following at a 
 meeting in Westerly, which was in a good de- 
 gree satisfactory : and passing through Con- 
 necticut to New Milford, Oblong, and Nine- 
 partners, had meetings in each place. And 
 having a great desire to be at our yearly-meeting 
 for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, to be held 
 at Burlington, which was near approaching, we 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. SI 
 
 passed on and took a meeting at Samuel Field's, 
 to which several not of our society came ; and 
 the opportunity was, through the goodness of the 
 Lord, profitable. We then proceeded as fast as 
 convenient, and reached Burlington on first day 
 in the time of the yearly-meeting; where many 
 friends were gathered, and Michael Lightfoot, 
 in his return from Great Britain, with whom 
 came John Haslam, and Edmund Peckover on 
 a visit to friends in America. This meeting was 
 large and solid, at which I also met my dear 
 wife, to our mutual, thankful rejoicing. After 
 the meeting I went home, where I found things 
 as to the outward in good order : for which I 
 was humbly thankful to the Lord, who had not 
 only been with me by his heavenly presence in 
 this journey, and brought me safe home to my 
 family, but had supported them in my absence. 
 Blessed be his holy name for ever! 
 
82 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 CHAP. Ill, 
 
 His visit to Long Island — Visit with others to the 
 families of Friends in Nottingham, and to some 
 families in Philadelphia, and to the Mayor of that 
 city ; also to the Assembly of Pennsylvania in the 
 year 1748. — His journey with Michael Lightfoot 
 to the yearly-meeting at West River in Maryland ; 
 and, accompanied by Joshua Brown, to divers 
 meetings in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. — His 
 considerations on apprehending it his duty to visit 
 Friends in Europe, and proceedings in preparing 
 to enter upon that weighty service, to the time of 
 his leaving home in order to take shipping for 
 London. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1743, having draw- 
 ings in my mind to make a general visit to 
 friends on Long Island, I sat out in the third 
 month, in order to be at the yearly-meeting at 
 Flushing, which began on the sixth day of the 
 week, and continued until the second of the 
 week following. It was large, and signally 
 owned by the power of Truth in each sitting : 
 the public service in the ministry lay mostly on 
 Edmund Peckover, who was there in his way 
 to New England. On first day I thought I had 
 an engagement to stand up, and considerable 
 matter before me, and after speaking three or 
 four sentences which came with weight, all 
 closed up, and I stood still and silent for seve- 
 ral minutes, and saw nothing more, not one 
 word to speak ; I perceived the eyes of most of 
 the people were upon me ; they, as well as my- 
 self expecting more; but nothing further ap- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 83 
 
 pcaring, I sat down, I think I may say in re- 
 verent fear and humble resignation; when that 
 remarkable sentence of Job, chap. i. 21. was pre- 
 sented to my mind, " Naked came I out of my 
 mother's womb, and naked shall I return ; the 
 Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; 
 blessed be the name of the Lord: and for, I 
 suppose, near a quarter of an hour I remained 
 in a silent quiet ; but afterwards let in great 
 reasonings and fear lest I had not waited the 
 right time to stand up, and so was suffered to 
 fall into reproach; for the adversary who is 
 ever busy, and unwearied in his attempts to 
 devour, persuaded me to believe that the people 
 would laugh me to scorn, and I might as well 
 return home immediately and privately, as at- 
 tempt any further visit on the island. After 
 meeting I hid my inward exercise and distress 
 as much as I could ; when night came I lodged 
 with a sympathising friend and experienced 
 elder, who began to speak encouragingly to me, 
 but I said to him, that I hoped he would not 
 take it amiss if I desired him to forbear saying 
 any thing ; for if he should say good things, I had 
 no capacity to believe, and if otherwise, I could 
 not then understand so as to be profitably cor- 
 rected or instructed, and after some time fell 
 asleep. When I awoke, I remembered that the 
 sentences I had delivered in the meeting were 
 self-evident Truths, which could not be wrested 
 to the disadvantage of friends or dishonour of 
 the cause of Truth ; though they might look 
 like roots or something to paraphrase upon : 
 and although my standing some time silent be- 
 fore I sat down might occasion the people to 
 
84 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 think ine a silly fellow, yet they had not cause 
 to blame me for delivering words without sense 
 or life. Thus I became very quiet, and not 
 much depressed, and was favoured with an 
 humble resignation of mind, and a desire that 
 the Lord would be pleased to magnify his own 
 name and Truth, and preserve me from bring- 
 ing any reproach thereon : so I ventured to have 
 meetings appointed, and my particular friend 
 and intimate acquaintance, Caleb Raper of Bur- 
 lington being at that meeting, went as companion 
 with me, of whose company I was glad, he be- 
 ing a valuable elder. We went first to Rock- 
 away, then to Jamaica, Sequetague, Setakit, 
 Matinicock, Cowneck, and Westbury meetings, 
 and at most of them I had good satisfaction : 
 the good presence of the Lord, in whom I de- 
 lighted above all things, being witnessed to my 
 comfort, and I believe to the edification and com- 
 fort of the sincere in heart. But the testimony 
 of Truth went particularly sharp to the luke- 
 warm professors and libertines in our society : 
 that humbling time I had at Flushing was of 
 singular service to me, being thereby made wil- 
 lingly subject to the Divine openings of Truth, 
 and motion of the eternal Spirit and pure word 
 of Life, in speaking to the several states of those 
 who were present in the meetings ; and life 
 came into dominion, and the power thereof over- 
 shadowed at times, to my humble admiration, 
 blessed be the name of the Lord who is worthy 
 for ever and ever ! 
 
 Then crossing Whitestone ferry we had meet- 
 ings at West- Chester, Momarineck, Ry woods, 
 and Longreach, which were qiostly to good sa- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 85 
 
 tisfaction. We then went to New-York and 
 were at their meeting ; and in the evening had 
 a select one with friends*, which gave me consi- 
 derable relief, and I believe satisfaction to them, 
 and we were made thankful together in the re- 
 newings of the covenant of life. From thence 
 we went to a meeting at Newtown on Long- 
 Island, and to the monthly- meeting at Flushing, 
 where friends gave me a certificate in return to 
 that I brought from home, in which they signi- 
 fied their nnity with my service on the island. 
 Then taking leave of friends in sweetness of 
 mind and inward peace, being clear of those 
 parts, I returned homewards, and went to the 
 Narrows that night, but could not get over. 
 Next morning early crossed the ferry, when 
 there was a great swell, occasioned by the stormy 
 weather in the evening and night before, and 
 having now no wind were obliged to roAV the 
 boat over. In the passage I remembered that 
 in crossing this ferry when coming on this visit, 
 I thought myself never much poorer, having only 
 a secret hope and trust in the holy arm of Power ; 
 and being now inwardly sensible of my own 
 weakness, I had to acknowledge that I went 
 not forth on this embassy in my own will and 
 strength, and therefore craved only that my bles- 
 sed Lord and master would blot out mine offences, 
 and yet enable me so to walk in humble obe- 
 dience the residue of my time, as to be favoured 
 with the answer of well done at the conclusion. 
 And knowing the nature and treachery of self, 
 did not want to be intrusted with too much re- 
 ward at present 5 choosing rather, that the Lord 
 in his infinite wisdom and mercy, should deal out 
 
 H 
 
86 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 to me my daily bread according to his own plea- 
 sure. I passed over this Jordan with my staff 
 and now I am become two bands, was the say- 
 ing of Jacob, Gen. xxxii. 10. As this saying 
 of the good Patriarch came fresh in my mind, 
 I thought, that although I could not see myself 
 much increased in heavenly treasure; I came 
 poor, and had only the staff of faith to lean upon, 
 yet I had to bless the Lord that he was now 
 pleased to favour me with the same staff in my 
 return, on the never failing strength whereof, I 
 might with safety evermore rely, and in holy 
 resignation I had to praise his worthy name. I 
 proceeded with my friend Caleb Raper to Bur- 
 lington, where we parted in much love and near- 
 ness, in which we had travelled together. I 
 reached home about wheat harvest, and found 
 my dear wife and family well. 
 
 I went not much abroad the residue of this 
 summer, and the year following ; but was care- 
 ful to attend our own and many neighbouring 
 meetings : also monthly, quarterly and yearly- 
 meetings in this and the adjacent province. 
 Some business of a public nature, together with 
 my own circumstances, necessarily engaged me 
 for several years : in which time, viz. in the spring 
 of the year 1745, my dear wife having drawings 
 in her mind to visit the meetings of friends in Vir- 
 ginia, Maryland, and North Carolina, obtained 
 a certificate of the unity of friends with her, to 
 travel in that service with JaneHoskins of Ches- 
 ter : and in the same year I was nominated with 
 several other friends to visit the families belong- 
 ing to our monthly-meeting ; which being large, 
 and many friends living at a distance, was a la- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, 87 
 
 borious work, and not fully performed until the 
 fall of the year 1747* when account was given 
 that the service was perfected to a good de- 
 gree of satisfaction. In the winter following, I 
 had it on my mind to visit all the families of the 
 particular meeting of Newark near Brandy wine, 
 who seemed to be in a declining state as to reli- 
 gion, having dropped their week day meeting, 
 and often much neglegted to attend their first-day 
 meeting : many of the elderly friends being deceas- 
 ed, and their children almost turned to the world, 
 and united to the spirit, pleasures, and pastimes 
 thereof. My brother William Brown, and his 
 wife and mine were with me on this service, and 
 great plainness was used in opening to many 
 particulars the cause of their declension; and as 
 the love of truth engaged me in the service, I had 
 peace and satisfaction, and those visited seemed 
 to receive the visit kindly. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1748, I felt draw- 
 ings in my mind to visit some families of friends 
 in Philadelphia, of which I acquainted my bre- 
 thren at home ; aud having their concurrence, 
 in the fourth month I joined with some friends 
 in the city who were sometime before appointed 
 to the service, and we went in much love from 
 house to house, the Lord, by his good presence, 
 being with us to our mutual comfort : and as I 
 attended to the drawings of truth, I found a con- 
 cern to go to the mayor of the city accompanied 
 by my good friend Israel Pemberton the elder, 
 and was engaged to lay before him the nature of 
 his office as a magistrate, and exhorted him to 
 take care thai he bore not the sword in vain, 
 but put the laws in execution against evil doers; 
 
S8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 such as drunkards, profane swearers, &c. and 
 to be, in his authority, a terror to the wicked, 
 and an encourager of them that do well. He 
 was loving and tender, and expressed his satis- 
 faction with the visit. 
 
 While I was in the city, the governor called 
 or summoned the members of Assembly toge- 
 iher, and in pressing terms laid before them 
 ihe defenceless state of Pennsylvania ; in order 
 to prevail with the house to grant a sum of mo- 
 ney to station a ship of force at Delaware capes ; 
 also to encourage the building a battery below 
 the city, which was began sometime before by 
 subscription, but likely to be too heavy for the 
 undertakers. One night as I lay in my bed, it 
 came very weightily upon me to go to the house 
 of assembly, and lay before the members there- 
 of the danger of departing from trusting in that 
 divine arm of power which had hitherto pro- 
 tected the inhabitants of our land in peace and 
 safety. The concern rested on me several days ; 
 which occasioned me with earnest breathings to 
 seek the Lord, that if this was a motion from 
 him, he would be pleased to direct my steps 
 therein, so that I might be preserved from giv- 
 ing just cause of offence to any, for it seemed to 
 be a very difficult time ; many, even of our so- 
 ciety, declaring their willingness that a sum of 
 money should be given to the king, to show our 
 loyalty to him; and that they were willing to 
 part with their substance for his use, though as 
 a people, we had a testimony to bear against all 
 outward wars and fightings. I made no man 
 privy to my concern until a week had near pas- 
 sed : when one morning it became so heavv 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 89 
 
 upon me, that I went to the house of an inti- 
 mate friend, who being just up invited me to 
 come in ; and as we sat together, he had a 
 sense that something of weight was upon me, 
 and asked if I was concerned about the assem- 
 bly ; whereupon I asked him, if he ever knew 
 of any friends going to the assembly with a con- 
 cern to speak to them ? he answered nay, add- 
 ing, " but I have often wondered that they have 
 not, for I have understood that it was formerly 
 a common practice for them to sit in silence a 
 while, like solemn worship, before they pro- 
 ceeded to do business," I told him, that I had 
 it on my mind to go to the house that morning 
 and should be glad of suitable company ; he 
 directed me to one whom he thought such, and 
 I immediately went to him and acquainted him 
 with my concern ; but as I spake, I felt that I 
 had better go alone, and therefore told him, that 
 if he did not feel clear and easy to go with me, 
 I advised him to stay : he replied " thy way is 
 before thee, but I believe I must not go :" I 
 therefore returned to my friend, who did not 
 discourage me, though I had no company. Be- 
 ing pressed in mind, I went directly to the 
 State-house before I took breakfast, and got 
 there just as the speaker, J. K. was going in ; 
 I beckoned to him and he came to me. I told 
 him I wanted to be admitted into the house, for 
 I thought I had something to say to them 
 which seemed to me of importance : he said, it 
 was a critical time, and they had a difficult af- 
 fair before them : and queried, whether I had 
 not better wait until the house parted ; and an- 
 other member being near, said, he thought it 
 
90 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 would be best, and less liable to give offence, 
 for there were divers members not of our so- 
 ciety, and if I would wait until the house broke 
 up, they would inform all the members that 
 were friends, and did not doubt they would be 
 willing to give me an opportunity to inform them 
 what was on my mind. I told them, that would 
 give me no relief, for I had a particular desire 
 that those members who were not of our society 
 should be present ; believing that it would be 
 better for them to hear and judge for themselves 
 than to have it at second hand, as it might be 
 differently represented ; at which they were a 
 little silent. Then I requested the speaker that 
 he would go in and inform the members, that a 
 countryman was in waiting who had a desire to 
 be admitted, having something to communicate 
 to them, and if they refused he would be clear : 
 he readily and affectionately answered he 
 would, and soon brought me word that they 
 were willing. There was a great awe over my 
 mind when I went in, which I thought in some 
 measure spread, and prevailed over the members 
 beyond my expectation. After a silence of 
 perhaps ten or twelve minutes, I felt as though 
 all fear of man was taken away, and my mind 
 influenced to address them in substance after 
 the following manner. 
 
 My Countrymen, and fellow Subjects, Representatives 
 of the Inhabitants of this Province. 
 
 " Under an apprehension of the difficulties be- 
 fore you, I feel a strong sympathy with you, 
 and have to remind you of a just and true say- 
 iug of a great minister of Jesus Christ in his 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 91 
 
 day, The powers that be, are ordained of God. 
 Now if men in power and authority, in what- 
 soever station, would seek unto God, who will 
 be a spirit of judgment to them that sit in judg- 
 ment, for wisdom and counsel to act singly for 
 him that ordained the power, and permitted 
 them to be stationed therein, that they should 
 be his ministers ; such will be a blessing under 
 God to themselves and their country ; but if 
 those in authority do suffer their own fears and 
 the persuasions of others, to prevail with them 
 to neglect such attention, and so make, or enact 
 laws in order to their own protection and de- 
 fence by carnal weapons and fortifications, 
 styled human prudence, he who is superintend- 
 ent, by withdrawing the arm of his power, may 
 permit those evils they feared to come sudden- 
 ly upon them, and that in his heavy displeasure. 
 May it with gratitude be ever remembered how 
 remarkably we have been preserved in peace 
 and tranquillity for more than fifty years ! no 
 invasion by foreign enemies, and the treaties of 
 peace with the natives, wisely began by our 
 worthy proprietor William Penn, preserved in- 
 violate to this day. 
 
 " Though you now represent, and act for a 
 mixed people of various denominations as to re- 
 ligion ; yet remember the charter is the same 
 as at first ; beware therefore of acting to oppress 
 tender consciences; for there are many of the 
 inhabitants whom you now represent, that still 
 hold forth the same religious principles with 
 their predecessors, who were some of the first 
 adventurers into this, at that time wilderness 
 land, who would be greatly grieved to see war- 
 
92 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 like preparations carried on, and encouraged 
 by a law consented to by their brethren in pro- 
 fession, or others, contrary to the charter ; still 
 conscientiously concluding, that the reverent 
 and true fear of God, with an humble trust in 
 his ancient arm of power, would be our greatest 
 defence and safety ; and they who hold differ- 
 ent principles and are settled in this govern- 
 ment, can have no just cause of reflection if war- 
 like measures are forborne, because they knew 
 the charter framed, and the peaceable constitu- 
 tion, and have ventured themselves therein. 
 
 " We may observe by sundry laws enacted 
 in parliament, when the reformation was but 
 newly begun in England our mother country, 
 there seemed to be wisdom from above to influ- 
 ence their minds. May you be rightly directed 
 at this time, many of whom do fully believe in 
 the immediate influence of Christ, the wisdom 
 of God, which is truly profitable to direct ! It is 
 not from disrespect to the king or government that 
 I speak after this manner, for I am thankful in 
 heart, that the Lord in mercy hath vouchsafed, 
 that the throne of Great Britain should be filled 
 with our present benevolent prince, king George 
 the second ; may his reign be long and happy V 9 
 
 I acknowledged their kindness in hearing 
 me with so much patience, and taking leave, 
 withdrew. Several members followed me out, 
 and expressed their satisfaction in an affection- 
 ate manner with my visit ; and embracing each 
 other, we parted in a sense of the love and power 
 of Christ Jesus our Lord, who, with the Father, 
 is worthy of all thanksgiving and praise for 
 ever and ever. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 93 
 
 After my service in Philadelphia was aver, I 
 returned home with peace and satisfaction ; and 
 went not much abroad save to our quarterly and 
 yearly-meetings ; until the spring following, in 
 the year 1749, when I went with Michael Light- 
 foot to the yearly-meeting at West River in Ma- 
 ryland ; in which journey, the weather being 
 hot and some weakness of body attending, it 
 threw me into a strong fever, and a stoppage in 
 my breast, that it was with some difficulty I got 
 home, and continued without any amendment a 
 considerable time. And one evening as I was 
 preparing for bed, an imposthume broke, which 
 I suppose was on my lights, because it came up 
 my windpipe ; almost strangling me for a con- 
 siderable time, that I expected I was near ex- 
 piring ; but felt a resignation in this trying time 
 beyond my expectation, which I took to be a 
 great favour from the Lord. There is no sup- 
 port like the light of his countenance. I con- 
 tinued bleeding more or less many days, but 
 gradually mended. In the eighth month, being 
 pretty well recovered, in much love I felt draw- 
 ings in my mind to visit some meetings in the 
 back parts of Chester, Philadelphia, and Bucks 
 counties, and part of New Jersey ; and laying 
 my concern before my friends, had their concur- 
 rence, and was accompanied by my kinsman 
 Joshua Brown, through most of the journey. 
 Our first appointed meeting was at Radnor, in 
 which Truth owned our service in a good de- 
 gree ; and passing over Schuylkill went to Ply- 
 mouth, North Wales, Skippack, and New Pro- 
 vidence ; which last meeting for want of more 
 careful notice was very small, and not being 
 
94 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 easy in my mind, I had a singular freedom to 
 let them know, that I would endeavour to be at 
 that place again on the second day following, 
 and should be glad they would please to give 
 full notice thereof : and having a strong draught 
 in my mind to turn back to North Wales, I went 
 the same evening to Robert Jones's at Skippack, 
 and next day to see a friend who had been a 
 long time indisposed; with whom we had a good 
 opportunity, which I believe was of advantage 
 to the friend, through the goodness and mercy 
 of the blessed shepherd of Israel. I also vi- 
 sited two other friends, and we were comforted 
 together in the renewing of heavenly goodness ; 
 and on first day was at North Wales meet- 
 ing, which was large and satisfactory ; and at 
 Providence again on second day, where friends 
 generally met, and I had an opportunity to clear 
 myself in a particular manner. Then went to 
 Evans's meeting by the side of Schuylkill, and 
 had a meeting the same evening at the house of 
 Thomas May, both which were to some satis- 
 faction: afterwards went to Maiden Creek, 
 Exeter, and Richland, and from thence over 
 Delaware to Kingwood, and visited, the meet- 
 ings in Burlington, Gloucester, and Salem 
 Counties as far down as Greenwich, and return- 
 ed homewards by Haddonfield ; from whence, 
 in my going down, my kinsman Joshua Brown 
 left me and went home. I called to visit Han- 
 nah Cooper whose husband had not long been 
 dead ; she seemed under affliction of body and 
 mind. I felt a near sympathy with her, and 
 though we did not converse much together, yet 
 in the owning love of him who is a friend to the 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 95 
 
 afflicted, we were mutually comforted. She 
 expressed her satisfaction in a tender manner; 
 saying that soon after I came her exercise was 
 lightened, and she was refreshed in a sense of 
 the kindness of the Lord, in affording a sympa- 
 thy and inward feeling to the children of his 
 family. My soul was humbled in reverent 
 thankfulness to him the author of all good, who 
 is praiseworthy for ever. In the morning I had 
 a passage over Delaware about the tenth hour, 
 which by reason of ice had not been passable 
 for several days before : tarrying in Philadel- 
 phia that night, I went next day to Derby meet- 
 ing, and the day following got well home, and 
 found my dear wife and family well. 
 
 On my leaving home to perform this visit, I 
 felt great inward weakness ; and in going from 
 meeting to meeting, frequent humbling baptisms 
 attended, in which the present state of the church 
 was seen, and the conditions of many spoken 
 to in the love of Truth ; which made me often 
 think that it seemed like a farewell visit, at 
 least for a long time. 
 
 I may now make a remark which I hope will 
 not be improper or unprofitable. As I passed 
 along in this visit, I observed some people would 
 earnestly press me to go home with them, and 
 would say they would not take it kind if I did 
 not, and friends did not use to serve them so, 
 that is, pass by them ; yet I thought there was 
 not much of the innocent sweetness of Truth to 
 be felt at their houses, or even about them; 
 though they would say, why ! thou hast hit the 
 nail on the head, there is just such people among 
 us as thou hast spoken of ; and seemed as to 
 
96 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 themselves safe and easy, when perhaps their 
 religion lay much in thinking that good friends 
 were familiar with them and thought well of 
 them. I also took notice of another sort, who, 
 though they were not fond of having friends to 
 go with them, would speak well of their service, 
 and deal it out liberally to others in a censori- 
 ous manner ; and not look on themselves with 
 a true prospect, which would have led them to 
 smite on their own breasts with a feeling, short 
 prayer, rather than apprehend themselves better 
 than others ; when perhaps covetqusness, and a 
 worldly spirit had almost destroyed charity, 
 which is the sure product of true religion. A 
 third sort I beheld humbled and bowed ; whose 
 words were few, and would frequently, if they 
 said any thing, lament the state of the society, 
 and speak of their own weakness, and fear lest 
 they should not walk in the uprightness of 
 Truth before their own families and the church : 
 the dew rested on them in their humble situa- 
 tion. I was thankful in the sense I had that 
 there were some few of these in almost every 
 meeting ; and I had a firm belief that some 
 among the youth were under the hand of the 
 great preparer of men for his own work. These 
 children are mostly modest and diffident of them- 
 selves, sincerely affectionate, not over forward 
 or fondling, but lovers of Truth in heart; to 
 whom I felt great nearness of spirit, believing 
 they would grow in the root of life. I beheld 
 some others among the youth, whom I feared 
 had too great a delight to live on the labours of 
 others, who nevertheless had been favoured with 
 the reaches of divine love, but for want of dwell- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 97 
 
 ing deep and humble with the pure witness in 
 themselves, ran out in the affectionate part, and 
 were greatly delighted to hear Truth's testimo- 
 ny, and valued instruments according to their 
 own liking. These, though they appear as 
 goodly flowers, for want of an humble abode in 
 the vine, do sometimes wither away as grass on 
 the house top. " If you love me, keep my com- 
 mandments," was a precept of our holy Lord 
 and Master. To keep his commandments we 
 must inwardly dwell with his grace in our hearts, 
 by which the law of the spirit of life is known 
 and understood, by the enlightening and ever- 
 lasting sure word of Prophecy ; which will pri- 
 vately interpret, and secretly shew to every man 
 his duty, and the calling of God, and abilitate 
 to abide therein ; and his law is light, and his 
 commandment as a lamp to the feet of his peo- 
 ple for ever. 
 
 As I sat in a week day meeting in the winter, 
 1748, which was held in a private house, our 
 meeting-house being burnt sometime before ; I 
 felt great weakness and poverty attending my 
 mind, which occasioned a deep inquiry into the 
 cause : and after a time of inward waiting, the 
 humbling divine presence was felt in reverent 
 profound silence, yet the gentle operation of the 
 divine power caused a secret inward trembling, 
 and the following was uttered in a language in- 
 telligent to the inward man. Gather thyself from 
 all the cumbers of the world, and be thou wean- 
 ed from the popularity, love, and friendship 
 thereof. I believed this to be the voice of the 
 Holy One of Israel, as a merciful warning to 
 prepare for my final change, or to stand ready 
 
 i 
 
98 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 for some service which would separate ine from 
 temporal business and the nearest connections 
 in life ; and from that time I endeavoured to set- 
 tle my affairs, and contract my little business as 
 as well as I could. In the summer following 
 I met with an unexpected trial ; for without my 
 know ledge my name was put in the new com- 
 mission for justices of the peace, and endeavours 
 were used to persuade me to be qualified in or- 
 der to act in that station ; and some of my par- 
 ticular friends told me it seemed providential, 
 and they thought it was my place to accept there- 
 of, as I might be helpful by way of example to 
 some in the commission who were friends. For 
 a short time I was exceedingly straitened : but 
 my eye being fixed on the Lord for counsel, it 
 pleased him in great condescension once more to 
 revive the sentence before-mentioned ; gather 
 thyself from all the cumbers of the world, &c. 
 which to me settled the point, and I became 
 easy in mind, and humbly thankful to my bles- 
 sed instructor who had called me for other ser- 
 vice. 
 
 After my return home from the visit to friends 
 in New- Jersey before related, I felt such an in- 
 ward silence for about two or three weeks, that 
 I though I had done with the world, and also 
 any further service in the church ; and the pre- 
 paring hint was brought to my mind, with thank- 
 fulness that I had endeavoured in a good degree 
 to practise it. And one day walking alone, I 
 felt myself so inwardly weak and feeble, that I 
 stood still, and by the reverence that covered 
 my mind, I knew that the hand of the Lord was 
 on me and his presence round about : the earth 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 99 
 
 was silent and all flesh brought into stillness, 
 and light went forth with brightness, and shone 
 on Great Britain, Ireland, and Holland; and 
 my mind felt the gentle, yet strongly drawing 
 cords of that love which is stronger than death ; 
 which made me say, Lord! go before and 
 strengthen me, and I will follow whithersoever 
 thou leads. I had seen this journey near fifteen 
 years in a very plain manner ; and at times for 
 ten years, thought the concern so strong upon 
 me that I must lay it before my friends for their 
 advice ; but was secretly restrained : being made 
 to believe, that an exercise of that sort would 
 ripen best to be kept quiet in my own heart to 
 know the right time, by no means desiring to run 
 without being sent. To see a thing is not a 
 commission to do that thing ; the time when and 
 judgment to know the acceptable time, are the 
 gifts of God. The time I had to prepare for 
 the journey was short, and therefore thought it 
 was needful to employ my time to the best ad- 
 vantage : and as I had a desire to see friends of 
 several particular meetings, namely Bradford, 
 West and East Cain, Uwchland, Nantmill, and 
 Goshen, my sister Dinah James went with me 
 to those meetings ; which through the goodness 
 of the Lord were solidly profitable. We had 
 also a meeting at Henry Hockley's, near French 
 Creek Iron-works, which was to some good sa- 
 tisfaction ; and so to the quarterly-meeting at 
 Concord in the twelfth month, where I met my 
 brother William Brown, who queried of me 
 where I had been, and what I had been doing? 
 I told him I had been doing as he, and every 
 honest man ought to do, collecting little debts 
 
100 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and paying where I owed, and endeavouring fo 
 settle inv affairs ; for that such care was neces- 
 sary when one expected a great sum would be 
 immediately demanded. In a few days after 
 my return from the quarterly-meeting, 1 laid my 
 concern before our preparative meeting, in order 
 that friends might have a month to weigh and 
 consider it before I spoke for a certificate ; for 
 I wanted their feeling concurrence in this weighty 
 undertaking : firmly believing, that my great 
 and good Master would not require any thing 
 of me in which my dear friends could not con- 
 cur. And though while the power of Truth 
 was upon me, I was made freely to give up ; 
 yet now home, and the near affection to a dear 
 wife, only son, relations and friends, were ex- 
 ceedingly quick and affecting ; and something 
 in me seemed to have a choice, that my friends 
 would judge that I was too weakly and infirm 
 in body, or not otherwise qualified for the ser- 
 vice ; and if that should be their mind, I thought 
 1 should be clear. In the interval I visited the 
 neighbouring meetings, and carefully attended 
 to the motion of truth therein : and in the first 
 month having the concurrence of the preparative 
 meeting, I laid my concern before the monthly- 
 meeting, and attended our general spring meet- 
 ing at Philadelphia : and my brother William 
 Brown having spoken for a certificate on the 
 like concern, it seemed pleasant to think of cros- 
 sing the ocean together, and friends were for 
 proposing a passage, and what ship we should 
 go in ; but I felt a secret prohibition against be- 
 ing any ways concerned about a passage until I 
 had a certificate, and knew that I was fully clear; 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 101 
 
 so returned home. And having a desire to see 
 friends in York county over Susquehanna, I 
 went there, accompanied by my brother James 
 Brown, to the meetings at Newberry, Warring- 
 ton, Huntington, and Monallan, which were 
 mostly to a good degree of satisfaction : and in 
 my return being humble and low in mind, and 
 ruminating on my European journey, which was 
 before me, my spirit seemed to sink, and my af- 
 fection to my dear wife, and family, and friends 
 so awakened upon me, that it looked to me ini~ 
 possible to part from them and live ; but endea- 
 vouring to retire, blessed be the name of the 
 Lord the helper of his people ! by whose power 
 a silence was known ; and by a gentle, instruc- 
 tive, inward voice, my attention was gained, 
 and my mind diverted from its pain by the fol- 
 lowing query : " Suppose thou shouldst lend 
 a valuable thing to a neighbour of thine, to be 
 returned on demand, and thou shouldst favour 
 him therewith from time to time, not only one 
 year, but seven, and then shouldst see cause to 
 demand it to be resigned; wouldst thou not 
 think that neighbour ungrateful, if he did not 
 resign it cheerfully, and with thankfulness and 
 acknowledgment suitable to thy kindness?" 
 The proposition demanded my assent, and my 
 understanding was fully opened by the follow- 
 ing application : " All that thou enjoyest is mine, 
 dost thou love these things more than me ? if 
 not, why is it so hard for thee to resign all to 
 follow me ? which made me cry, Lord ! enable 
 me, and I will follow thee ; it is only by thy 
 strength I can do it." And by the gracious 
 goodness of Christ, my great and good Master, 
 
 IS 
 
J 02 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 I felt an humble resignation to his will, who be- 
 ing all things to his people, is worthy to be 
 followed and obeyed for ever. Now I was led 
 to believe this was the instruction of the blessed 
 spirit to me ; and as I had much comfort and satis- 
 faction thereby, I am free to leave it as a hint, 
 that others under trials of what kind soever, may 
 be encouraged to look unto him for help, who 
 is the Lord, mighty to save, and able to deliver 
 to the uttermost all who sincerely trust in him. 
 I returned home, and my certificate being 
 signed in the second month, attended our quar- 
 terly-meeting at Concord in the third month, 
 and went to Philadelphia to see for a passage : 
 and with my brother W. B. found one to our 
 liking, and to the satisfaction of friends, which 
 we also valued. I then returned home, waiting 
 until the ship was near ready to sail, and dur- 
 ing that time visited several neighbouring meet- 
 ings, taking leave of my neighbours and friends : 
 and on the first day of the fourth month, 1750, 
 taking leave of my dear wife and aged mother, 
 I left home before sun rise, and went to Phila- 
 delphia that night, spent the next day in visit- 
 ing some of my acquaintance, and on the first of 
 the week attended three meetings ; in the morn- 
 ing at the Bank, which was a satisfactory good 
 meeting, wherein friends where exhorted to at- 
 tend on the gift of God, for instruction and abil- 
 ity to perform every good word and work ; and 
 in the afternoon and evening at the High, or 
 Market-street house, which though not quite so 
 open as the other, were in the main solid goad 
 meetings. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 103 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 His visit to Great Britain, Ireland and Holland, from 
 the 3'ear 1750 to 1754, with divers observations on 
 the state of our religious society in the course of 
 his travels. 
 
 On the fourth day of the fourth month, 1750, 
 being the second of the week, we left Philadel- 
 phia, accompanied by several of our relations 
 and friends to Chester ; and went on board the 
 ship Carolina, Stephen Mesnard, commander, 
 bound for London, where my brother William 
 Brown and myself took leave of them ; and 
 passing down Delaware, went out to sea in the 
 afternoon of the sixth of the same month, and 
 had a good passage, in which I was not sea 
 sick, though my brother was most of the time. 
 We landed at Dover on the sixth of the fifth 
 month, being just five weeks from the time I 
 left my own house ; and we had to rejoice with 
 humble thankfulness, that, during the passage, 
 we were careful to keep our meetings in the 
 great cabin twice a week, in which we felt the 
 presence of our great Lord and Master, and 
 therein were comforted. On the day we landed 
 we had a meeting at Dover to good satisfaction; 
 then took passage in a stage coach to Canter- 
 bury the same evening, and lodged at William 
 Patterson's who entertained us very kindly ; 
 rested there on seventh day, and on first day 
 sat with friends in their morning and afternoon 
 meetings to some satisfaction. Though I had 
 little to say to them, I thought there was a ten- 
 der people in that city, and W. B. had an open 
 
104 THE LTFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 time. Next morning taking our passage in a 
 stage coach, we reached London the same even- 
 ing, and continued in and about the city until 
 the twenty-first of the sixth month, in which 
 time I wrote divers letters to my wife and par- 
 ticular friends in Pennsylvania; and was se- 
 veral times at each of the meetings in the city, 
 in which I sat mostly silent, under a great ex- 
 ercise of mind from a sense of a too forward 
 ministry, which rather disturbed the solemn 
 quiet thereof than ministered instruction to the 
 humble waiting children, of w hich number I 
 thought there were many in that city : though 
 it seemed delightful to those who loved to hear 
 words eloquently delivered, and to have the 
 itching ear pleased, yet in heart were libertines, 
 and in practice disorderly walkers. I some- 
 times thought, that my silent sitting was so or- 
 dered for an example to others for a more steady 
 waiting in their own gifts, to know life to arise 
 into dominion in meetings. My exercise in- 
 creased so, that my sleep seemed to depart from 
 me, and I remained as one sealed up as to mi- 
 nistry ; nor had I freedom to go from house to 
 house to dine, or to make many acquaintance ; I 
 was therefore censured by some as singular and 
 narrow. At length I felt great enlargement of 
 heart towards other societies, though my mouth 
 was shut towards our own ; and for a time, it 
 seemed as if I must go and have meetings among 
 those who did not profess with us. And one 
 day, as I was walking towards Ratcliff Fields 
 for the air, a draught of affection flowed so 
 strong towards some in high stations in govern- 
 ment, that I concluded, that I must declare the 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 105 
 
 way of life and salvation through Christ Jesus 
 our Lord among them, feeling a greater open- 
 ness that way than to friends ; but making a 
 stand, I secretly cried, ah Lord! what then 
 will become of the family whom thou drewest 
 me hither to visit. Then, after a little while, 
 that charge came into my mind very fresh; 
 Mat. x. 5, 6. Go not into the way of the Gen- 
 tiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter 
 ye not ; but go rather to the lost sheep of the 
 house of Israel : which brought great sweet- 
 ness, and an increasing heart-yearning for and 
 love to the household ; and made me acknow- 
 ledge, good art thou oh Lord God ! for thy 
 mercies endure for ever and ever. And I re- 
 membered that Nehemiah quietly viewed the 
 state of Jerusalem by night ; and saw, that if I 
 had any service to do in London the time for it 
 was not yet come. I also remembered what 
 came into my mind at the second meeting I was 
 in after my landing ; in which I had but a few 
 sentences to speak, and the motion of life ceased, 
 and I sat down, as I have always found it safe 
 to do, and felt inward poverty and weakness, 
 yet a quiet and attentive mind ; but my brother 
 W. B. had good service, and an open time 
 among the people, at which I did admire, and 
 said in my heart ; he is fit to be sent abroad ; 
 but alas ! I am one of the meanest servants that 
 was ever sent over the sea to preach the gospe I : 
 when this gentle caution came before me ; mind 
 thy own business, and be faithful in thy gift, 
 thou hast a great journey before thee and thy 
 store is small ; live therefore frugally, and 
 spend carefully, and covet not another's and 
 
106 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 thou shalt not want what is convenient for thy- 
 self, and something to spare to the needy. 
 Whereupon I desired, with an humble heart, to 
 be preserved in patience and meekness, becom- 
 ing a disciple of my great Lord and Master ; 
 and therein to wait for renewed instruction and 
 ability, to labour in mine own gift without re- 
 pining, however small. 
 
 In a few days I felt some openness towards 
 the West of England, and informed my brother 
 W. B. thereof ; who, after a little pause, told 
 me that his way opened eastward. On some 
 consideration of the matter, we concluded it was 
 best for each of us to mind the pointings of truth, 
 though in some cross to our own wills : for this 
 prospect seemed to part us : and if we should 
 endeavour to go together for a time, and then 
 part, some might judge there was a dislike, or 
 want of unity between us ; and on communing 
 with some of our friends, they were of the same 
 mind. So we resigned, and in much love and 
 affection took leave of each other. 
 
 Understanding there was a yearly-meeting 
 to be held in Somersetshire for several of the 
 western counties, and having some drawings to 
 attend it, I left London on the twenty-first of 
 the sixth month in company with my friend 
 John Hunt, at whose house I lodged, and John 
 Pemberton who came over sea with us on ac- 
 count of his health, and had a meeting that day 
 at Stains, which was pretty good and open ; 
 the next at Basingstoke, and so on to Salisbu- 
 ry, and Shaftsbury, the two last being dull 
 meetings, which is often the case where friends 
 are not careful to live near to truth ; and reach- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 107 
 
 ed to Ivelchester, the place where the yearly- 
 meeting began, on seventh day in the evening 
 the twenty -fifth of the month. On first day we 
 had two meetings in the town-hall ; and many 
 people being there, meetings were held at the 
 market cross in the street at the same time. I 
 sat silent that day. On the next there was a 
 meeting of ministers and elders in the morning, 
 in which I had some remarks to make respect- 
 ing ministry ; there were also two public meet- 
 ings the same day, one of which was dull, the 
 other more open ; and on third day two meet- 
 ings rather better, when the yearly-meeting 
 ended. Some meetings being laid out for me, 
 John Hunt returned to London, but John Pem- 
 berton concluded to go with me a few days, and 
 his company was kindly accepted of by me, he 
 being a sober, well inclined young man. We 
 went to Ilminster the first appointed meeting, in 
 which the good presence was witnessed much 
 to my comfort ; for I saw that the Lord was 
 near, and helped in my gift by opening the 
 state of the meeting, blessed be his name for- 
 ever ! I also had an evening meeting at Chard, 
 and next day at Yeovil which was large and 
 open for doctrine ; then at Sherborn on the edge 
 of Dorsetshire, from thence went to visit the 
 wife and children of Jonah Thompson at Comp- 
 ton, he being in Pennsylvania on a religious 
 visit. I had some good satisfaction in the fa- 
 mily, and tarried there a day : then went to the 
 meetings at Long Sutton, Puddimore, Grinton, 
 Glastonbury, Shipton- mallet, and Frome, in 
 which I had, mostly, close and plain service ; 
 yet not without a degree of the sweetness and 
 
108 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 power of truth, in a sense whereof I was often 
 made humbly thankful to the Lord. Then 
 proceeding to Bath, was at the forenoon and 
 afternoon meetings there, and had an evening 
 meeting at Caleb Tyley's, which were in some 
 good degree owned by truth; but there is a 
 want of weighty solid friends in this place, 
 which is much frequented by most sorts of peo- 
 ple on account of the waters. From thence we 
 went to Bradford, and Pickwick meetings ; but 
 not being clear at the first, I returned, and had 
 an evening meeting there, to which many came, 
 and it ended to satisfaction. Here 1 may note, 
 that having a desire to see friends by them- 
 selves, and something on my mind in a close 
 manner to the society ; when I stood up and 
 began to speak, the house was soon almost fill- 
 ed by others, who would wait without, setting 
 some one to watch when there was any thing 
 spoken. Upon their coming in, the subject in 
 my view closed, and an opening in a doctrinal 
 way presented, and my mind turned to it, and I 
 believe it was to the satisfaction of some seeking 
 people present. After I sat down a few minutes, 
 finding no ease respecting my concern towards 
 friends, I had a freedom to inform the people, 
 that the public service of that meeting was now 
 over, but I had a desire, that the members of 
 the meeting would stay a little while; on which 
 a friend went to the door, and when the others 
 had gone out shut it, and the friends mostly 
 kept their seats ; and in a little time, the state of 
 the meeting came fresh before me again, and I 
 had an opportunity to clear myself in a very 
 plain manner, shewing that the greatest enemies 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 109 
 
 to the truth, were the professors of it, who did 
 not observe the instructions of truth, or grace of 
 (rod in their own hearts. For although the 
 doctrine thereof, when declared by qualified 
 instruments, w r as clear and powerfully convinc- 
 ing, having the love, and sweetening evidence 
 of Truth with it, reaching the witness in their 
 hearts ; yet when the eyes of such so reached, 
 were turned to behold the steps and conduct of 
 the libertine professors among us, they were 
 stumbled by their example; and such were an 
 offence to the little ones, and their portion by 
 way of comparison is hinted at by our Lord, 
 when he says, Matt, xviii. 6 : But whoso shall 
 offend one of these little ones who believe in me, 
 it were better for him that a millstone were 
 hanged about his neck, and that he were drown- 
 ed in the depth of the sea. From thence we 
 went to Westbury, and Lavington meetings, 
 and to the quarterly-meeting for Wiltshire held 
 at Devizes, which began on the first day of the 
 week, two meetings for public worship, and one 
 in the evening for ministers and elders, and 
 next day for worship and business : but I could 
 see no time, nor room to clear myself to advan- 
 tage for want of more stillness. The service of 
 meetings may be hurt for want of silence, and 
 the minds of the people become too unsettled to 
 understand and hear to profit. In a sense 
 whereof, I left this place with an heavy heart, 
 and went to Chippenham, Corsham, Charlcot, 
 and Melksham meetings, besides which had 
 three evening meetings, one at Pickwick in a 
 school house belonging to Thomas Bennet, with 
 his boarding scholars and others ; one at John 
 
110 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Fry's of Sutton Benjar, and the other at Sa- 
 muel Rutty's : some of which were good meet- 
 ings. Then leaving Wiltshire we passed 
 through Bradford, and Bath, and came to Bris- 
 tol on the twenty- second of the month ; where 
 I tarried until first day, the seventh of the eighth 
 month, constantly attending their meetings as 
 they came in course, and visiting several fami- 
 lies as truth opened my way. My mind and 
 spirit were bowed very low in this city, under 
 a sense of too general a declension and falling 
 away from truth, into pride, high-mindedness, 
 and the spirit of the world, and a conformity to 
 the vain customs and fashions thereof, of which 
 I frequently made mention amongst them. I 
 w r as at their two weeks meeting for business, 
 and quarterly- meeting for inspecting the affairs 
 of truth ; and laboured much to encourage them 
 to hold weekly meetings for ministers and el- 
 ders, in order to inquire how meetings for wor- 
 ship were attended by public friends, and whe- 
 ther their ministry was acceptable, and the lives 
 and conversations of ministers and elders cor- 
 respondent with their doctrine and profession ; 
 which care they had dropped for some time. I 
 was at sixteen meetings in this city, and one at 
 Frenchay, and visited Anthony Purver s board- 
 ing school at that place ; and being easy to 
 leave Bristol for the present, we went to Chew- 
 magna in Somersetshire ; and after dining at 
 John Hipsley's, had a religious opportunity in 
 his family, and the next day a meeting at Por- 
 tishead, and an evening meeting at James 
 Players ; then to Claverham, Sidcot, and Mark, 
 some of which were good meetings. A few el- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. Ill 
 
 derly friends here live near truth, and there was 
 a visitation to the youth, several of whom ap- 
 peared tender and growing in religion ; though 
 many professors are seeking after the gain, 
 love, and friendship of the world, not enough 
 considering, that Godliness with contentment is 
 the best gain. Our next meeting was at Bridge- 
 water, then at Taunton, and were comforted to- 
 gether with friends in their morning and after- 
 noon meetings. In the divine presence there 
 is life, and the living are made able to praise 
 the Lord who is worthy. From thence passing 
 to Minehead, Milverton, Wellington, Spice- 
 land, Columpton, having a meeting at each 
 place, we cafne to Exeter in Devonshire, and 
 attended three meetings there on first day, in 
 each of which I had something to offer ; but was 
 much depressed under an apprehension of the 
 prevalence of adeistical spirit over some ; which, 
 with the indifference of others about religion, 
 and a light forward zeal in some others, with- 
 out the deep, inward, baptizing knowledge of 
 Truth, occasion the pure and ever blessed power 
 thereof to be at a low ebb in that city. When 
 the children of the Lord know him their Re- 
 deemer to live by his heavenly power in them, 
 they know also that thereby they live, and feel- 
 ingly know his Truth and the precious testimo- 
 ny ; and by this knowledge are influenced with 
 an holy, humble zeal, in love and meekness to 
 work in his vineyard the church, to the honou* 
 of God, and the edification and restoration one 
 of another. 
 
 Leaving Exeter, we went to Topsham and 
 had a dark dull meeting ; and staying at a 
 
112 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 friends house to dine, one at the table, who, as 
 I understood, could not spare time to attend the 
 meeting, asked me if I was ever in New Eng- 
 land, and whether I could inform him what sort 
 of a country it was ? for, added he, I have heard 
 people say that the corn, that is wheat, will 
 not ripen there, but is smitten with a rotting 
 mildew which blasts the wheat in the ear. I 
 suddenly felt that I had need of being careful 
 in answering, but knew not why. I answered 
 with caution, that I had seen wheat in that 
 country which looked to be well grown, but in 
 the ear where grain should be, there was little 
 else but a black smut in form of a grain. I have 
 heard, said he, that it would bear full, good 
 wheat formerly, and what can now be the cause 
 why it is blasted, didst thou ever hear ? On 
 which I related to him a passage which I had 
 heard, viz. Two persons being in Boston had 
 a curiosity to see the old prison, from whence 
 those friends were led to the place of execution 
 who were hanged at Boston for their religious 
 testimony and principles; and an inhabitant of 
 the town going with them, brought them to the 
 prison, and oneybf the men said to their guide, 
 is this the old fail where the friends lay who 
 were hanged ? An old woman who sat knitting 
 at the door, though not spoken to, answered yes 
 it is, and we feelingly know it, for a curse has 
 been on the land ever since, so that it will not 
 bear wheat without a blasting, and we are be- 
 holden to other colonies for bread. He replied 
 with an air of jesting, I have heard so, but I be- 
 lieve nothing of it. I told him we might ob- 
 serve, that the Almighty had sometimes mani- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 113 
 
 fested his displeasure on a people or nation by 
 famine, the sword, or pestilence, for their trans- 
 gressions, if we had a belief in the sacred writ- 
 ings of the Old Testament. He said, it could 
 not be, that the Almighty who is love in perfec- 
 tion, and in himself infinitely happy for ever, 
 should delight in severity, and take vengeance 
 on man the workmanship of his hand: some 
 who are narrow in their way of thinking may 
 believe such things, but for his part, he had 
 ideas more noble of the Deity than to believe 
 such notions. By which I perceived he was a 
 deist, and did not regard the Scriptures, and 
 that it would be vain to say much to him : 
 having often thought it was very difficult to say 
 any thing to reach those sort of low freethink- 
 ers, who exercise themselves in the wisdom 
 which is from beneath, and dwell safely in their 
 own imaginations and conceits ; whose commu- 
 nication is often infectious to others, and to be 
 perceived in the meetings and neighbourhoods 
 where they reside. 
 
 From thence we went to Bovy, Newton- 
 Bushel, Totness, and Kingsbridge. At the 
 last, after the morning and afternoon meetings, 
 we had one in the evening with friends selected, 
 which was to satisfaction ; and hearing of one 
 family that lived many miles from any meeting, 
 I had a desire to see them, and went thither. I let 
 the friend know, that I came there on purpose to 
 see him and his family, and should be glad to 
 have them come together and be still a little 
 while, desiring it might be soon, for we intended 
 to go that night to Plymouth ; he said it would 
 not answer them at that time, his children being 
 
fl4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 employed in pressing out cider. I let him know, 
 that I hoped I should not detain them long, and 
 if they lightened the press, the cider would not 
 run over; but could not prevail with him, though 
 I informed him, that I had left all my business, 
 and had come some thousand miles to see my 
 friends in this nation, and hearing how remote 
 he lived from meeting, had a particular mind to 
 see him. He replied that he should be glad it 
 had suited them, but could not put his business 
 by at that time : so, with a heavy heart, I left 
 his house, and went to Plymouth, where we had 
 a meeting the next day. Then to Germains, 
 Liscard, Looe, Austil, and Denny's in Corn- 
 wall, at which last place the people are mostly 
 employed in the tin mines, and we had a pretty 
 good meeting ; a visit from a friend being ac- 
 ceptable to them, and they willing to leave their 
 business, though poor people. From hence we 
 proceeded pretty direct to the Land's End, in- 
 tending to take the meetings on our return, and 
 were at Penzance meeting on sixth day. At 
 this meeting my companion, John Pemberton, 
 spake a few words in way of testimony, tender 
 and broken, being the first time; and I thought 
 had a good degree of the savour of Truth at- 
 tending: and on seventh day, went to visit an 
 ancient friend, sick and bed-rid, near the Land's 
 End, where formerly there had been a meeting, 
 and returned in the evening to Penzance. On 
 first day had a meeting at Marazion in the 
 morning, and at Penzance in the evening. We 
 then turned eastward, and attended a meeting 
 at Falmouth, and five others in this county of 
 Cornwall 5 then passed through Devonshire, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 115 
 
 taking a meeting at Oakhampton, and twelve 
 others in Somersetshire, some of which were 
 large and open, for there came many seeking 
 people to the meetings at Bridgewater, and I 
 hope some of those opportunities were through 
 Divine favour profitable to some of them : and 
 not being easy in my mind to leave this county 
 without being at the quarterly-meeting for bu- 
 siness to be held at Glastonbury, I returned 
 thither, and was concerned to lay before friends 
 the declining state of the society in that county, 
 and to exhort them to put the discipline in prac- 
 tice, that the church might be cleared from dis- 
 orders, which caused reproach. It was thought 
 by friends to be the most solid quarterly -meet- 
 ing which had been held in that county for many 
 years. From thence we went to Cain in Wilt- 
 shire, being about fifty miles, and were at their 
 meeting on first day the sixteenth of the tenth 
 month, where we met our friend and country- 
 man Daniel Stanton, from Philadelphia, in the 
 course of his religious visit, and were glad in 
 each other's company; though the meetings 
 both forenoon and afternoon were but dull, the 
 people looking for words were disappointed. 
 The next day we went together to a monthly- 
 meeting at Chippenham ; the meeting for wor- 
 ship was held in the meeting-house, at the con- 
 clusion of which friends rose and went out. I 
 asked them where they were going, for I felt 
 very uneasy ; they said to do the business of 
 the meeting : and feeling a strong engagement 
 to be with them while they transacted the affairs 
 of the church, I followed them, though it rained 
 very fast. They went into a spacious house 
 
116 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 where a room was prepared for the purpose, and 
 a good fire. I sat down with theui, though 
 sorely distressed; they seemed to do the busi- 
 ness in a formal ready way. I endeavoured to 
 press them to weightiness of spirit, that they 
 might feel the state of the society, and the need 
 there was to put the discipline in practice, for 
 religion was at a low ebb in that county. They 
 seemed not to understand me, and indeed I 
 found but little room or openness to say much 
 to them ; they soon finished their business. 
 When I rose up and moved for going away, 
 they informed me that friends staid to dine 
 where the business was transacted, and that the 
 friends of the house would think it very strange 
 if I went away : so they told the woman that 
 the friend was going away. She met me in the 
 hall, and said, I must not go before I took din- 
 ner ; I told her I should, for that I had not free- 
 dom to stay to eat or drink in the house : she ask- 
 ed me why? I pressingly desired her to inquire 
 of the Truth in her own heart and she might 
 find the cause, so I went away, and a friend fol- 
 lowed me out, and shewed me the way to his 
 house where I left my horse; and there I found 
 Daniel Stanton, and my companion J. P. who 
 went not to the meeting for business. Daniel 
 informed me, that he followed us to the door, 
 but could not go in, for he thought he felt the 
 life of Truth struck at, or trampled upon in 
 that house, and therefore returned to the other 
 where we had left our horses, and J. P. with 
 him. I was glad that he had such a sense, and 
 he expressed satisfaction that I did not stay to 
 dine, so we dined together; after which Daniel 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 117 
 
 went westward, and we towards London, tak- 
 ing several meetings in our way, and arrived 
 there the thirty-first of the tenth month, and 
 tarried in the city until the twenty-fifth of the 
 eleventh month. In the meantime I carefully 
 visited all the meetings in great awfulness, be- 
 ing bowed in spirit under a sense of a forward 
 ministry, and sat chiefly in silence among them. 
 I also attended their meetings for discipline, 
 namely, one quarterly-meeting, the monthly, 
 two weeks, second day morning meetings, and 
 meeting for sufferings ; and was in much heavi- 
 ness of mind; having a sense of a great neglect 
 in some who were active members, in not wait- 
 ing for a true qualification to act for the honour 
 of God and edification of the church. Never- 
 theless, there is a remnant who are concerned 
 to seek his honour, and to wait for the influence 
 of his Divine Spirit and Power; to whom I 
 was, at times, concerned to speak by way of 
 encouragement. To transact the weighty affairs 
 of the church in as light and easy a manner as 
 men commonly buy and sell in a market, will 
 always rather bring death over a meeting than 
 life, 
 
 We left London on the twenty-sixth of the 
 eleventh month, and went to Chelmsford in 
 Essex ; and the next day sat with friends in 
 their forenoon and afternoon meetings to pretty 
 good satisfaction; through the goodness and 
 power of the Lord, whose presence was measu- 
 rably felt among us to the praise of his ever 
 worthy name. Then taking meetings as regu- 
 larly as we could, we visited that county in 
 twenty-four days, and had twenty-three public 
 
118 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 meetings, and some family sittings. My ser- 
 vice for Truth in this county was in a close plain 
 way, mostly with but few words: for it often 
 appeared to me, that there was a greater desire 
 to hear, than to put in practice those things they 
 were exhorted to, for which I often mourned, 
 and had a strong sympathy with the few sensi- 
 ble, baptised friends amongst them. For bre- 
 vity sake I close this general account without 
 further remark. 
 
 We then passed to Ipswich in Suffolk, and 
 had a meeting; with friends there to some satis- 
 faction, there being a tender sincere remnant 
 among them : and taking the east part of the 
 county, we had ten meetings, and visited several 
 indisposed friends to good satisfaction. Then 
 went to Yarmouth in Norfolk, and after attend- 
 ing their meetings in the morning and afternoon 
 on first day, had a large satisfactory one the same 
 evening, many of the people of the town coming 
 to it : then going to Norwich we tarried with 
 friends there about a week, in which time I had 
 four meetings in that city, and one at Lammas 
 near it, and also visited divers indisposed 
 friends, and had satisfaction therein. Intending 
 to visit all the meetings in Norfolk county, a 
 friend undertook to lav them out for me. and made 
 a list of them, of which he gave me a copy, and 
 told me, it was the way to take the meetings 
 with the least travelling : but I felt a strait in 
 ray mind, which I had always found safe to at- 
 tend to until I saw T a way open, and being 
 thoughtful about it, I desired him to inform me, 
 what meeting bore most to the north-east from 
 that place j he told me it was North-Walsam. I 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 119 
 
 desired liim to begin there, and name the meet- 
 ings most regular afterwards, and I would tell 
 him if the list felt pleasant as he went on ; he 
 then proceeded, and we readily finished one 
 which was easy to me. When I desired him 
 to set down the distances as he had done in the 
 other, and on comparing them, we found the last 
 to be at least three miles less riding. He seem- 
 ed to be pleased, and said it was not the usual 
 way of taking those meetings. I was willing 
 to lay out nine, but told him, I was not fully 
 easy to venture the giving public notice further, 
 that perhaps the weather might be difficult : he 
 said there would be a general meeting in a few 
 days, when friends from many meetings would 
 be together, and likely to have full notice very 
 easily given for a few meetings further, which 
 he thought I had best leave to him : so we went 
 forward to North- Walsam, and had a satisfactory 
 meeting, and taking the meetings in course, came 
 to the quarterly- meeting of ministers and elders 
 at Norwich. The friend who laid out the meet- 
 ings informed me, that if I had taken them ac- 
 cording to his first list, I should have interfered 
 with a public friend at several, who was then 
 on a visit, and he thought there was a hand of 
 providence remarkable in turning me ; for as 
 we were both strangers, we should have been 
 straitened through a tender regard to each others 
 service. He likewise let me know, that he 
 did not remember that their quarterly- meeting 
 began the next day after the meeting beyond 
 which I told him I was not free to appoint any; 
 and that having sent the list to a friend to publish 
 at the general meeting before mentioned, he had 
 
120 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 been obliged to attend that meeting to stop the 
 notice respecting the few meetings he talked 
 of; otherwise I should have missed the quar- 
 terly-meeting, and he thought it would teach 
 him to be more cautious in future. I mention 
 this occurrence with a degree of reverent thank- 
 fulness and humility, with no other view than 
 to encourage those ministers who are called forth 
 to visit the churches, to diligently and innocent- 
 ly attend to the motion of truth ; which the 
 more we are humbled and inwardly quiet, the 
 clearer it is understood and felt : but as this is 
 instruction for ourselves, it is safer for us to trea- 
 sure it up in our own hearts, than to make it 
 too cheap by talking thereof to others. This 
 quarterly-meeting, both in respect to public wor- 
 ship and transacting the affairs of truth, was 
 held to satisfaction, through the Lord's favour, 
 who will be near to them that diligently seek 
 him, blessed be his name for ever ! 
 
 Then taking Eliingham meeting, we went to 
 Thetford, and had a meeting with friends there, 
 both which were distressing, from a sense of 
 the prevalence of a ranting spirit. Here it ap- 
 peared expedient to lay out meetings for the 
 ensuing week, in order that suitable notice 
 might be given ; and as they were named to me 
 in course by friends, I felt a remarkable desire to 
 see the friends of one certain meeting by them- 
 selves, at or near the eleventh hour of the day, 
 although quite a stranger to their situation, num- 
 bers, or state : and a friend being present be- 
 longing to that meeting, I requested her care 
 about it, and then went home with Richard 
 Brewster to Edmondsbury, and attended the 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, Ul 
 
 meetings there on the first day morning and af- 
 ternoon, which were in the main satisfactory, 
 and in the evening had a meeting with a sick 
 friend. In this town there is a considerable 
 number of hopeful friends. We then went to 
 Ratlesden, Bardwell, and through Livermore 
 to Brand, the place where I had the desire to 
 see friends by themselves, as before mentioned ; 
 and coming to the friend's house whose wife had 
 been intrusted with the notice, I asked her if it 
 was not time to go to the meeting, she said, 
 thou must ask my husband, appearing to be 
 distressed. I asked where he was, she replied 
 in his warehouse, and sent for him ; he coming 
 after a while, I suppose about twelve o'clock, I 
 asked him the time of the meeting, he answered 
 at six in the evening ; to be sure. I told him, 
 that I had informed his wife of my desire that it 
 should be at eleven ; he replied, she said so but 
 I thou ght it would be dishonourable, for few only 
 would attend it at that time ; for the people of 
 that town were chiefly such as were obliged to 
 do their days' work, which would be finished at 
 six in the evening, when the house would be 
 nearly full. I told him, I did desire to see 
 friends by themselves, and supposed they could 
 meet at any hour. He granted that they could 
 have met at the time proposed ; but said, he was 
 a man of a more liberal spirit than to want to 
 eat his morsel alone, but was desirous his neigh- 
 bours should partake with him, and thought it 
 his duty to endeavour to inform and help those 
 whom he apprehended were backward or igno- 
 rant in the performance of their duty ; and he 
 said, that the end and intent of ministers going 
 
 L 
 
l&Z THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 forth was to publish the gospel, and he thought, 
 to the more the better. I let him know that it 
 was necessary for those who were called to the 
 work of the ministry, to know r also to whom 
 they were called, or otherwise they might be 
 mistaken, and go north instead of south, or to a 
 different nation or country. He answered, that 
 he believed if they were rightly called, the spirit 
 would inform them where they were to go. I 
 replied very well, and when they are come to 
 the right place, the spirit would let them know r 
 what they have to do ; he said, I believe so too. 
 Whereupon I told him, if I knew the language 
 of that spirit that called me from my native 
 land to Old-England, it was the same that in- 
 clined me to see the friends of that town by them- 
 selves ; and afterwards if I felt an enlargement 
 of mind, could have proposed a public meeting 
 with the townspeople in the evening. And 
 why not one opportunity for both? he queried, 
 adding " for I should be willing that all the 
 town might hear what thou canst have to say to 
 us." I then said to him, " if a certain great 
 person on whom thy prosperity in all things 
 temporal did absolutely depend, should in sin- 
 gular kindness to thee, send a messenger to ac- 
 quaint or advise thee of some matter relating to 
 thyself in thy own particular conduct, in which 
 thy prosperity, peace, and interest would, with- 
 out thy immediate care, be nearly affected, 
 wouldst thou judge it prudent to say to the am- 
 bassador of such a friend, deliver not thy mes- 
 sage to me, until I call my neighbours and the 
 people of the town to hear it, and so expose thy 
 own weakness to thy disadvantage, without be- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 123 
 
 nefit to thy neighbours? Consider it carefully; 
 my heart yearns to the professors of Truth in 
 this town, and it seems to me that my business at 
 present was only with them, and as I can't have 
 an opportunity according to my freedom and 
 desire, I shall hold myself excused." He an- 
 swered, if nothing but a meeting with friends 
 will do, we must send them word to come to- 
 gether as soon as they can. I told him, that 
 would now by no means do ; for he was at pre- 
 sent so chafed in his mind that he could not 
 hear to much advantage. He then asked me 
 what end would be answered by my coming 
 there? I told him, to detect such heady un- 
 sound members as he was, that thought it dis- 
 honourable for a few friends to meet together 
 to worship Grod, though their number was no 
 more than two or three, to whom the promise 
 was. He said, then what will become of the 
 meeting? I let him know he must look to 
 that, who had without orders headily appoint- 
 ed it, and so left him; and went to Milden- 
 hall, where a friend told me, that he being at 
 the meeting aforesaid when public notice was 
 given, that it was on this wise : Friends and 
 neighbours ! " Please to take notice that a friend 
 from America desires a public meeting here on 
 Wednesday next, at six o'clock in the evening," 
 which circumstance I did not know when I was 
 at his house. On the whole I had inward peace 
 in my observations and conduct to this man, and 
 many friends rejoiced; for several had been 
 overborn by him to their grief; and I was since 
 informed, that he somewhat laid the matter to 
 heart, and was often heard to say, that he would 
 
1£4 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 not serve any friend so again. After which we 
 had many meetings in this county ; and passing 
 into Cambridgeshire had eight meetings therein, 
 and I thought the life of religion was low in 
 general, though there are a few tender friends 
 in several places. We then went to divers 
 meetings in Huntingdonshire, Northampton- 
 shire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire ; in which 
 it was mostly my lot to point out to friends the 
 danger they were in, of losing the pure savour of 
 Truth, for want of humbly attending to the dic- 
 tates thereof in their own hearts, which had al- 
 ready occasioned a dwarfishness among the 
 professors in those parts. Several friends met 
 us at Waltham Abbey from London, with whom 
 we went to that city in order to attend the yearly- 
 meeting, which began on the twenty- sixth, and 
 ended on the sixth day of the week, the thirty- 
 first of the third month, 1751 ; and in the seve- 
 ral sittings thereof, both for public worship and 
 the transaction of the affairs of Truth, was 
 thought, by many, to be the most weighty and 
 solid meeting that had been known for many 
 years : which was cause of humbling rejoicing 
 and deep thankfulness to many friends, in that 
 the Lord had vouchsafed his heavenly presence 
 in wisdom and power, to the praise of his sacred 
 name. Several friends staying in the city after 
 the meeting was over, we had a large and satis- 
 factory one on the seventh day of the week, and I 
 tarried, attending divers meetings until the sixth 
 of the fourth month; then went to Chelmsford, 
 and sat with friends in their morning and after- 
 noon meetings on first day, find from thence to 
 the yearly-meeting at Colchester; but being 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 12? 
 
 taken ill of a fever was prevented attending 
 more than one sitting of that meeting; yet 
 through mercy was resigned and had peace. 
 Staid their meeting in that town on the fifth day 
 of the week, and the next day sat forward with 
 my brother William Brown, John Griffith, and 
 my companion, in order to attend Woodbridge 
 yearly- meeting, which began on the seventeenth 
 of the month ; and although the fever had not 
 left me, I was enabled to attend every sitting 
 of it, which was a large and solid meeting 
 throughout, and friends were refreshed toge- 
 ther; praised be the Lord! whose mercy is 
 great to his people. My companion J. P. went 
 with my brother to some adjacent meeting, but 
 I staid the week day meeting in this town, 
 which was through Divine favour satisfactory. 
 We met again at the yearly- meeting at Nor- 
 wich in a few days, which concluded to satis- 
 faction, and friends were made truly thankful 
 to the Lord for this additional favour. We 
 spent a few days longer at this city, and at- 
 tended their monthly -meeting; after which, 
 having a desire to visit a few meetings in com- 
 pany with my brother William Brown, where 
 ranterism seemed to prevail, he having the like 
 concern, we took a monthly-meeting at Wi- 
 mondham, also the meetings at Matssil and El- 
 lingham, in which we were concerned to use 
 great plainness to clear ourselves on account of 
 that ranting spirit: then went to Wareham, 
 and had a precious meeting with the few friends 
 of that place, and to a very large general meet* 
 ing at Downham, many of other societies being 
 there : and it became my concern to recite the 
 
126 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 words of our blessed Lord, John, v. 39, 40: 
 Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye 
 have eternal life, and they are they which tes- 
 tify of me, and ye will not come to me that ye 
 might have life. From whence I had to shew 
 them the danger of trusting to information and 
 knowledge, whether by reading the Scriptures, 
 or hearing them preached, and neglecting to at- 
 tend unto the inspeaking voice of Christ imme- 
 diately in the heart ; which is the only sure in- 
 terpreter of the Scriptures, leading those who 
 attend to his instruction in the sure way to life 
 eternal. Then parting with W. B. we went to 
 Wisbich, and Thornyfenn in Cambridgeshire; 
 and taking divers meetings in Lincolnshire, Ave 
 passed into the East-Riding of Yorkshire ; in 
 which we had twenty-four meetings ; and tak- 
 ing eight in the county of Durham, we came to 
 Shields in Northumberland, New-Castle, and 
 Alnwick Abbey, and reached Kelso in Scotland 
 on the first of the seventh month, where we met 
 Susanna Fothergili on her return home. We 
 attended the morning and afternoon meetings at 
 Kelso, on first day. Alas! Truth is here at a 
 low ebb; and feeling my mind not to be clear of 
 friends in this place, I desired to have a select 
 meeting with them; which Susanna and her 
 companion attended, and we had an opportu- 
 nity of clearing ourselves of friends there, who 
 had much fallen from the simplicity of the pure 
 Truth, into the modes, fashions, and customs of 
 the world, in their dress, language, and man- 
 tiers, and truth owned our service with a degree 
 of its divine authority; blessed be the Lord, the 
 GtoA of Truth ! We then went to a meeting at 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 127 
 
 the house of John Cristy, at Orniston, to which 
 many people came and behaved quietly, and the 
 doctrine of Truth opened pretty freely to them ; 
 from thence to a meeting at Edinburgh, in which 
 I had a sense that silence was best, apprehend- 
 ing the people had been too much fed with 
 words ; after some time one stood up, and spake 
 of the excellence of resignation in ministers to 
 speak, or contentedly to be silent; to be any 
 thing, or nothing, as the Lord was pleased to 
 order ; but a secret distressing fear attended my 
 mind, that he was not enough inwardly engaged 
 to distinguish the order and motion of the Spirit 
 of Truth, from the busy imagination and will of 
 the creature, unsubjected to the Divine Spirit: 
 and I found a concern to shew the nature of 
 true resignation, and the low humble quiet that 
 attended the minds of ministers, or hearers, who 
 had come to the real knowledge of it. The de- 
 sire of such was turned unto the Lord only for 
 heavenly instruction, and an inward evidence of 
 the life and motion of Truth ; for want of which, 
 true gospel ministry was sometimes obstructed, 
 and the reason of silence not fully understood. 
 After I sat down, the same person again stood 
 up, and in a flow of words and a zealous tone, 
 said, that weakness, or the want of experience, 
 led people to mistake both their own and the 
 condition of others. As he appeared to me to 
 be actuated by a confident, ranting spirit, my 
 mind was greatly exercised after the meeting. 
 I remained at this place the two following days, 
 being detained by rainy weather, and attended 
 the meeting in the morning of first day, at which 
 I sat silent ; but the same person spake some- 
 
128 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 time in words very encouraging to the auditory, 
 as if all was well with them, which tended to 
 increase the exercise of my mind; having a very 
 different sense of the state of the meeting. I 
 again attended their meeting in the afternoon, 
 when the same person seemed as if he intended 
 soon to stand up ; but feeling the testimony of 
 Truth strong against that forward ranting spi- 
 rit, and the sense thereof being weighty upon 
 me, I endeavoured to keep under it in patience, 
 and soon the concern of that person began to 
 diminish, and he to be drowsy : after which I 
 had a favourable open time to clear my mind 
 of the exercise that had been upon me. 
 
 Next day we passed over the Firth about 
 seven miles broad, landed at Kinghorn and 
 rode to a town called Cowper, and the day fol- 
 lowing reached to the house of one who esteem- 
 ed himself a friend, near Montross, where we 
 endeavoured to have a meeting ; but he would 
 not allow it, alledging, that it would do his peo- 
 ple or servants no good ; and as for himself, he 
 thought he knew as much of the Truth as we 
 could inform him ; and indeed he seemed so 
 whole and self-righteous, I thought it would not 
 avail to say much to him. We were informed 
 by a person who accompanied us a few miles, 
 that this man, in his younger years, had a pub- 
 lic testimony to bear for the Truth, but had for 
 a long time left it off, as he worded it, and now, 
 his men servants must not approach him with 
 their heads covered. If the light in you become 
 darkness, how great is that darkness. From 
 hence we went to Ury, the seat of Robert Bar- 
 clay* grandson to the Apologist ; but had no 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 129 
 
 meeting until we came to the Old-Town, near a 
 mile north of Aberdeen, which was, through the 
 goodness of the Lord, somewhat strengthening ; 
 from thence went to John Elmslie's at Old-Mel- 
 drum; and on first day morning attended Kill- 
 muck meeting, and in the evening one at Old- 
 Meldrum, to which many people came, and, 
 through divine favour, these meetings were sa- 
 tisfactory. The next day we had a select meet- 
 ing with friends, of whom there are several 
 here, tender and valuable, and we parted in 
 love ; and going to Kingswells had a meeting 
 there with many friends and others, truth own- 
 ing the service, which was cause of humble re- 
 joicing. Continuing at and near Aberdeen, we 
 had a large meeting on first day at Robert Bar- 
 clay's. Although the descendants and children 
 of friends, who were as bright stars in their day, 
 may value themselves on the worthiness of their 
 parents ; yet if they do not love and serve the 
 God of their fathers with a perfect heart and an 
 upright mind, he will not own them with his 
 heavenly presence, but they will be as unsa- 
 voury salt. 
 
 We then set forward on our return towards 
 England, taking two meetings in our way to 
 Glasgow, where, on first day, we had also two 
 which were large, open and satisfactory ; to 
 which many tender inquiring people came, who 
 behaved well ; and in the evening of the same 
 day, had another with those called friends by 
 themselves ; having a concern to lay before 
 them the need they had to look to their ways and 
 conversation, that they might be as lights and 
 good examples among the people in that place, 
 
130 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 who were seekers after the Truth, and not give 
 them occasion of stumbling through an evil con- 
 duct. Then passing to Carlisle in Cumberland, 
 Morehouse, Scoby, Solport and Kirklington, in 
 most of which meetings truth seemed to be pro- 
 fessed, but too few had the life thereof in pos- 
 session, which occasions hard dry meetings. 
 We rode to Cornwood in Northumberland, and 
 lodged at the house of a man who had been for 
 several years of a disorderly conduct, and much 
 given to the excessive use of strong drink, until 
 he had very much impaired his constitution ; but 
 it pleased the Lord to open his understanding, 
 and make him acquainted with his blessed Truth, 
 whereby he was made free from that evil, and 
 received strength to forsake his old companions ; 
 but his joining with friends was a great grief to 
 his wife, who informed me, that through preju- 
 dice for a time, she would rather he had conti- 
 nued his former course of living than to become 
 a Quaker ; until observing the sweetness of his 
 temper and the recovery of his health in some 
 degree, with a solid and sober conduct, she was 
 reached, and made to believe in the power by 
 which he had known such a victory, and joined 
 herself in the same religious profession : they 
 appeared to be steady friends. I would to God, 
 thai all tipplers and drunkards would turn to 
 that great prophet which is in Israel, that they 
 might by him be cleansed from that leprosy of 
 sin ! We had a comfortable meeting the next 
 day in his house, with his neighbours and some 
 friends ; and on first day were at Allondale 
 meeting, where are some solid friends, though 
 others much tainted with a spirit of ranterism, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, 131 
 
 which is a confident, self-righteous spirit and 
 very hard to be won upon. After having a 
 meeting at Aldstinmoor, we passed to the meet- 
 ings at Penrith in Cumberland, Terril, and 
 Strickland which is in a corner of Westmore- 
 land. It was with some difficulty we had the 
 meeting at Terril, a man at that place saying, 
 lie thought it needless, or questioned whether it 
 would be to advantage, as most of their mem- 
 bers had been at Penrith meeting ; but after the 
 meeting he desired that I would not take it hard 
 of him for endeavouring to discourage me, own- 
 ing that he was mistaken ; w hereupon I cau- 
 tioned him to be more careful in future how he 
 discouraged such who had come so many thou- 
 sand miles to visit them. Having meetings at 
 divers places in the week following, I travelled 
 in great pain and anguish of mind, from a sense 
 of the prevalence of a dark, deistical spirit over 
 many of the professors of truth; of which con- 
 cern the Lord was pleased to give me strength 
 and understanding to clear myself both in pub- 
 lic and private. There is no power but his, that 
 can enable his servants to do his work, and is 
 over all the powers of Satan. On the next 
 first day we were at Holme meeting ; in the 
 forenoon I sat silent, one of the stock of the old 
 ranters was there and very troublesome, accus- 
 ing many friends no doubt falsely ; and in the 
 afternoon meeting I had not much to say, be- 
 lieving that old ranting spirit is rather fed with 
 words, and delights in contention ; but found it 
 my place to exhort friends to retire deeply in- 
 ward in all their meetings, humbly waiting to 
 be admitted into the heavenly presence, to know 
 
152 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 their place of feeding to be out of the reach of 
 such ranting spirits ; for if they suffered their 
 own spirits to rise or resent their ill usage, the 
 meeting would be the more disquieted. Our next 
 meetings were at Allonby and Broughton, from 
 whence I went home with our friend Christo- 
 pher Wilson to his house at Graysothen, and 
 the next day attend the burial of a young man 
 at Pardsay Hall, and the day following the bu- 
 rial of a young woman at the same place ; both of 
 which meetings were very large and solid, and I 
 hope through divine goodness profitable to many. 
 The first day of the following week we were at 
 two meetings at Whitehaven, in both which I 
 had some service under the influence and own- 
 ing of truth. We put up our horses at a friend's 
 house who had been used to lodge public 
 friends, but I was not free to tarry there, being 
 burthened with his conduct in the manner of 
 his entertainment, which was even to superflu- 
 ity and grandeur, no way becoming the simpli- 
 city of truth ; so after shewing my dislike 
 therewith I went to the house of John Harris 
 at Highfield, his wife being with us, and rested 
 there a day, the weather being exceeding rainy; 
 then going to the meetings at Cockermouth, 
 Isel, and Graysothen, we returned to Cocker- 
 mouth and had a meeting with friends by them- 
 selves, that is, without giving public notice, 
 which was through Divine favour to good satisfac- 
 tion. Resting another day with our friend John 
 Harris, we went to meetings at Pardsay Hall, 
 and at Keswick, at which last I was concerned 
 to exhort the few friends there to keep up their 
 week day meeting, having a fear they were very 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 133 
 
 slack on that account. We lodged at an Inn, 
 where we had the company of some of those 
 friends, and in particular one who was a public 
 friend; some of them said, if he would attend 
 the week day meeting, they believed the rest of 
 them would; which gave me occasion to ob- 
 serve to him, that he did not example well, and 
 ought to be more careful, as he had a public 
 testimony to bear for Truth ; he replied, that 
 he was obliged to be industrious to support his 
 family ; but at last confessed, that, " He did 
 not like to sit with so few friends, for none else 
 would come on a week day, and it was very 
 dull and poor sitting ; aud he liked to sit in 
 meetings where there were many assembled, 
 for then he had something to say, so life did 
 arise and all were comforted and edified." By 
 which it appeared that he had greater satisfac- 
 tion in preaching than in humble silent waiting 
 to experience the worship which is performed 
 in Spirit and Truth, to edification and comfort. 
 I told him that I feared he was too much a 
 stranger to pure religion and the nature of di- 
 vine worship. 
 
 From thence we went to Hawkshead, in 
 Lancashire, and had an evening meeting there 
 in a friend's house, and next day were at the 
 Hight meeting, and then at Swarthmoor where 
 George Fox formerly lived : though it had been 
 famous for the prosperity of Truth, it is now at 
 a low state there. We then went to Kendal in 
 Westmorelaad, where we attended their two 
 meetings on the first day of the week ; and 
 after taking some other meetings in the neigh- 
 bourhood, returned to that town ; in and about 
 
 M 
 
134 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 which we tarried several days, and visited more 
 than twenty families and attended ten public 
 meetings, many of which opportunities were 
 made precious through the goodness and great 
 condescension of our Lord and Saviour: and in 
 the school of our friend Thomas Rebanks I had 
 an extraordinary meeting ; where many young 
 folks not of our society were reached by the 
 power of Truth, which was comfortably over 
 all, praised be the Lord for ever. In the course 
 of our visiting families here, during our silent 
 sitting in one of them, my mind was much taken 
 up in thinking of a watch, and the several 
 w r heels and movements thereof, until I was 
 grieved at such trifling thoughts, as I esteemed 
 them ; when suddenly there appeared some- 
 thing instructive therein, and I had a freedom 
 to say, the several parts thereof seemed to re- 
 present the excellent inward faculties and gifts 
 bestowed on man ; and that though the wheels, 
 &c. of a watch were truly made, and placed in 
 their proper order, there must be a main spring 
 to give them motion ; so the gifts and faculties 
 of men must have their main spring and cause 
 of motion to every good work, a zeal to the 
 honour of the Lord their Creator, and a fer- 
 vent holy desire to answer the end of their 
 creation. And as there is a regulating spring to 
 a watch, so also there should be the true know- 
 ledge of God and of themselves experienced in 
 his light, to preserve from going too fast; know- 
 ing by his heavenly instruction, that no wisdom, 
 zeal, strength, or ability, will enable to do the 
 Lord's work to his honour and the good of man, 
 but that which God giveth. And in order that 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 135 
 
 a watch may answer the end intended by its 
 maker, there is a visible face and hands to dis- 
 cover the inward motion, thereby shewing time; 
 so it is needful that a man should be a co-worker 
 with the spirit and gift of grace in his inward 
 part, that others beholding the light thereof 
 might be taught to glorify God, and in his light 
 so to number his days and walk in his fear, as 
 to die in his favour. As a zeal for the cause of 
 Truth, and a fear of falling short of duty, may 
 at times prompt man to rush on too fast, it is 
 needful that he should wait in humble reverence 
 to feel the love of God, and the influence of that 
 knowledge and wisdom which is from above, 
 and experienced by those who are spiritual ; 
 that the end of all their labour may be in the 
 spirit of meekness to restore those who are over- 
 taken in error; and that men may ever dwell in 
 mat which gives ability to labour with success 
 in the church of Christ, it is needful that their 
 minds should be inclosed in the bosom of Truth, 
 in humble retirement, to be preserved from the 
 various tumults, cumbers, cares, and temptations 
 of the world, which would otherwise clog their 
 minds and deprive them of their true spiritual 
 sense and motion : and so in a watch it is need- 
 ful that all the inward parts, which are so cu- 
 rious, should be inclosed from damps, vapours, 
 motes, and dust, otherwise it would thereby be 
 deprived of its motion, and become useless for 
 keeping time. 
 
 My intent in this relation is to shew the in- 
 finite condescension of him whose mercy is over 
 all his works, to instruct the children of men, 
 each as it were, in his own tongue, or language 
 
136 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 suitable to his understanding; the man being 
 by trade a watchmaker, and seemed to be ten- 
 derly reached, and we parted in a degree of 
 sweetness. It was the Lord's doing, and mar- 
 vellous to me, praised be his holy name for 
 
 ever 
 
 Being clear of Kendal, we took leave of 
 friends in much affection, and went to a general 
 meeting at Brigflatts in Yorkshire, and to visit 
 our friend Alice Alderson, who had been on a 
 religious visit in our country with Margaret 
 Cowpland, whom we had before seen at Ken- 
 dal where she lives. Alice was glad to see us, 
 and we found her tender in spirit and strong in 
 her love to friends. After attending meetings 
 at Ravonstonedale and Grisedale, we rode to 
 our friend John Burton's, who with his compa- 
 nion William Backhouse, had also been in our 
 country on a religious visit : we rejoiced to see 
 him and were comforted by his grave conversa- 
 tion and conduct. We then went to a meeting 
 at Dent, which was large and favoured by the 
 overshadowing of Truth in a good degree, in the 
 loving kindness of our Lord who is worthy of 
 all praise for ever ! Then taking several meet- 
 ings in Lancashire, and tarrying two days with 
 our friend William Backhouse, which was an 
 acceptable rest to us, the weather being very 
 cold, the ways bad and we weary, we came to 
 Lancaster, and had an opportunity of visiting 
 our friend Lydia Lancaster, who several years 
 past had visited our country. Her faculties 
 of mind and love to friends appeared fresh 
 and strong. From thence, attending divers 
 other meetings in that county, we went to our 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 137 
 
 Mend Samuel Fothergill's at Warrington, where 
 we continued from the second to the fourteenth 
 of the first month, new-style, 1752; he and 
 Susanna his wife being tender and kindly 
 affectionate, we were refreshed in their com- 
 pany, having several meetings in that town aud 
 at Penketh, some whereof were made precious 
 by the ownings of Truth. After many other 
 meetings in this county and Yorkshire, we 
 reached Richmond and had a meeting with 
 friends there, and next morning set forward 
 with a guide for Masham, in order to attend a 
 meeting there, of which friends had previous 
 notice ; the distance was near sixteen miles, the 
 days short, and roads deep and miry. After 
 we had rode five or six miles, I desired our 
 guide to mend his pace, fearing we should be 
 late ; a little further we came to a place where 
 the roads parted, and he taking the left hand I 
 became uneasy, and asked him if he perfectly 
 knew the way ; he said, he thought he did ; I 
 let him know my being in doubt about it, and 
 desired him to inquire of a man Ave saw in a 
 field at some distance ; but he rode on yet fast- 
 er ; when I told him that I was persuaded we 
 had almost turned our backs on the way we 
 should go, at which he smiled. When we had 
 gone about a mile, seeing a man by the way 
 side at work, I asked him if that was the way 
 to Masham, he replied, nay, for you have left 
 it and must go back unless your horses can leap 
 over ditches very well, you may then save a 
 mile, and pointing over a field shewed us a 
 moor, on the other side whereof our right road 
 was. Our guide set forward, we followed with 
 m % 
 
138 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 some difficulty over the ditches, and he rode on 
 a gallop and soon left us. My mind inclined 
 me to vary from his course, and espying a gate, 
 called to him, pointing to it and proceeded thi- 
 ther, on which he turned and came up, but said 
 he believed we were wrong. I let him know 
 that my mind was easy to go that way, and in a 
 while we came into a road at a public house, 
 which he knew to be right; so we just reached 
 the meeting in time, which through Divine fa- 
 vour was profitable and edifying. I mention 
 this passage with no other view than to encou- 
 rage friends to be inward in their minds, and to 
 regard the secret sense which the pure spirit of 
 Truth sometimes gives on particular occasions ; 
 for want of an inward stillness and attention 
 thereunto, the way is often missed in more re- 
 spects than one. 
 
 At Masham we lodged at the house of John 
 Kelden, who related to me something that pass- 
 ed between a knight of the shire and one of his 
 tenants, a member of our religious society, in 
 manner following, viz. 
 
 Landlord. So John, you are busy ? 
 
 Tenant. Yes, my landlord loves to see his 
 tenants busy. 
 
 Land. But John where was you that you was 
 not at your quarterly-meeting at York the other 
 day, I saw most of your staunch friends there, 
 but you I missed ?* 
 
 Ten. Why thou knowest I have a curious 
 landlord, who loves to see his tenants thrive and 
 
 * The assizes are held at York, always at the time of 
 the quarterly-meeting. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 139 
 
 pay their rent duly, and I had a good deal in 
 hand that kept me at home. 
 
 Land. Kept you at home ! You will neither 
 thrive nor pay the better for neglecting your 
 duty, John. 
 
 Ten. Then I perceive my landlord was at 
 quarterly-meeting, how didst thou like it. 
 
 Land. Like it ! I was at one meeting and 
 saw what made my heart ach. 
 
 Ten. What was that ? 
 
 Land. Why the dress of your young folks, 
 the men with their wigs, and the young women 
 with their finery, in imitation of fashions ; and 
 I thought I would try another meeting. So next 
 clay I went again, and then I concluded there was 
 little difference but the bare name, between us 
 whom you call the world's people, and some of 
 you ; for you are imitating of us in the love and 
 fashions of the world as fast as you can ; so that 
 I said in my heart, these people do want a Fox, 
 a Peiin, and a Barclay among them ; and so 
 turned from his tenant. 
 
 I thought it would be a pity that the true and 
 solid remark of this great man should be lost, 
 understanding that it was rather expressed in 
 pity than derision. 
 
 From Masham we proceeded to visit many 
 other meetings in this county, in the course 
 whereof we called to see good old John Richard- 
 son, who was strong in spirit though feeble m 
 body, and nearly blind through age, being about 
 eighty-seven : and finding a draught to visit 
 friends once more at Scarborough, we were 
 there on first day the fifteenth of the third 
 Sionth, and had peace in my owu aiiud, hay* 
 
140 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ing done what I thought was my duty; but 
 from a sense of the prevalence of pride, which 
 had occasioned a great poverty as to true reli- 
 gion among the professors of truth in that place, 
 I left them with an aching heart, and went on 
 our journey in order to attend the quarterly- 
 meeting at York, taking meetings in our way 
 at Pickering, Thornton In the Clay, and Huby. 
 The several sittings of this quarterly-meeting 
 were in the main satisfactory but not bavins: 
 time fully to clear myself, did not leave York 
 quite easy ; after which, having meetings at 
 Clifforth, Leeds, Gildersham, Bradford, Raw- 
 den, Asquith, Fairfield, Keighley, Skipton and 
 Lothersdale, we rode to Settle ; and then to at- 
 tend the quarterly- meeting at Lancaster, which 
 began on the fifth day of the week with a meeting 
 of ministers and elders, and was comfortable. 
 Next day was the meeting for public worship 
 and the discipline, wherein we were made to 
 rejoice together and praise the name of the Lord 
 who is worthy for ever; went home with our 
 friend William Backhouse, and so to Kendal 
 quarterly-meeting, which was satisfactory and 
 very large ; then set out for the quarterly-meet- 
 ing for Cumberland, held at Carlisle, which be- 
 gan with a meeting of ministers and elders ; next 
 day were held two public meetings, and the day 
 following a meeting for the discipline, which end- 
 ed in the afternoon with another for worship ; and 
 going home with Christopher Wilson, we were 
 at a good meeting at Pardsay Hall on first day. 
 My mind had been for some time drawn to- 
 wards Ireland, and being desirous to lose no 
 time, we went to Whitehaven, several vessels 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 141 
 
 being there nearly laden with coals for Dublin ; 
 but on viewing the ships accompanied by seve- 
 ral friends from Graysothen, I had no freedom 
 to take a passage in either of them, at which I 
 was much straitened, and inwardly turning my 
 mind, Ireland was hid from my view ; and go- 
 ing to the house of a friend we sat a while still, 
 and I had freedom to let friends know that I had 
 no prospect but the vessels might go their voy- 
 age with safety, and did not decline a passage 
 on that account ; but feeling a full stop in my 
 mind, had no freedom to proceed any where at 
 present, save to return with our friends John and 
 Hannah Harris, to Highfield. We therefore 
 returned with them, and attended Pardsay Hall 
 monthly-meeting, where I had freedom to pro- 
 pose that friends would enter on the service of 
 visiting families. They informed me that some 
 years before they had nominated friends for that 
 service, but meeting with some discouragement 
 they had not performed it ; and being about to 
 turn over the book to see who were then ap- 
 pointed, considering it was a long time since, 
 they concluded it was better to proceed to a new 
 choice, but seemed at a stand about naming 
 friends then. I had a singular freedom to let 
 them know, that although I was a stranger, I 
 could point out some who I believed would an- 
 swer the service if they would submit to it. Af- 
 ter a solid pause, a friend said, as our friend has 
 the matter before him I am free that he should 
 choose for us ; to which I replied, that being a 
 stranger to their members, one might be chosen 
 who was under some impediment, and therefore 
 it would be safer for the meeting to choose 5 but 
 
142 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 perceiving they were at a loss, I pointed out a 
 few friends in great fear, with a single eve to 
 the sense which 1 did believe truth gave me, 
 and the clerk took their names ; a friend said 
 he believed it was the truth which had made the 
 choice. I then mentioned, that if they could 
 soon enter upon the service, I found a freedom 
 to accompany them therein, if friends had unity 
 therewith, which several expressed, some wo- 
 men friends being also named by their meeting 
 to join in it. Before the service was much pro- 
 ceeded in, a heavy concern came upon me from a 
 secret sense I had, that one of them was under 
 the censure of some, by which I feared her ser- 
 vice would be laid waste, unless it could be re- 
 moved ; and although I had no intimation of any 
 thing of the kind from any person, I became 
 heavily exercised, and at length requested a 
 friend to invite the man and his wife to dine 
 with him, who I apprehended were uneasy with 
 the woman ; and I desired her and her husband 
 to come to the same house in the afternoon, who 
 accordingly came. Thus the parties being met 
 unexpectedly to each other, I was humbled un- 
 der the weight attending my mind ; and no others 
 being present except the friend and his wife at 
 whose house we were, I ventured to let them 
 know the exercise I had been under some days, 
 from an apprehension of a difference, or preju- 
 dice subsisting between them ; which if not re- 
 moved would devour like fire, by which I be- 
 lieved they were already much affected ; but as 
 I had not received information, more or less, 
 I might be mistaken, and did not desire they 
 should say any thing on the subject before ine, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 143 
 
 but honestly confer on it between themselves 
 first, and if it was so, remove the cause, and if 
 nothing was amiss then to let me know, that I 
 might be warned to be more cautious in future. 
 Upon which I left them, and walked by myself 
 about an hour, when the man of the house called 
 me in, and they told me, that I was not mistaken, 
 for that there had been a hardness subsisting 
 for some time, which they hoped was now done 
 away ; but when in the course of our visit, we 
 came to the house of the friends who had been 
 uneasy, I felt it as fresh as before, and told them 
 I did believe they were not easy that the friend 
 should go on in the service ; to which one of 
 them answered, if she judges herself to be clear 
 and others are easy I have no objection ; where- 
 upon I asked what others were meant ; the man 
 replied her husband and relations ; and as the 
 matter rested upon me, it appeared that endea- 
 vours ought to be used for reconciliation before 
 we could with satisfaction proceed on our visit : 
 and believing that the Lord had secretly en- 
 gaged me, I hoped he would accompany and 
 bless the labour for the restoration of peace, 
 which in a few days he was pleased to accom- 
 plish : and then we proceeded more cheerfully, 
 and I think I may say that the Lord was with 
 us, to the praise of his great eternal name, who 
 is worthy for ever. 
 
 We visited the families of friends in White- 
 haven, Broughton, Cockermouth, Pardsay Hall, 
 Eaglesfield and Graysothen, and others remote, 
 and had several profitable public meetings in 
 those towns and places adjacent. Having spent 
 about seven weeks within the verge of Pardsay 
 
144 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Hall monthly-meeting, and finding my mind 
 clear, we went to Whitehaven and took passage 
 in the ship Globe, James Grason, master, for 
 Ireland, on the eighth of the sixth month, 1752, 
 N. S. ; and parting with our dear friends in 
 much love, set sail about the fifth hour in the 
 evening, and landed at Dublin on the eleventh 
 of the same month, and were kindly received at 
 the house of Samuel Judd : as I was going to 
 which, this secret hint was presented to my mind, 
 " Live retired, and be not suddenly acquainted 
 with any inan." After dinner our kind land- 
 lord said, I do not well in that I have not in- 
 formed friends of your arrival, they will blame 
 me. I answered, let us first know that we are 
 here, we have just come from sea and are weary ; 
 for we had a troublesome passage by contrary 
 winds and heavy rains, John Pemberton my 
 companion having been very sea sick, and my- 
 self a little so. The next day we attended 
 Sycamore alley meeting, where we had the 
 company of Susanna Hatton, who had been 
 in America with Ruth Courtney. We were at 
 eight meetings in Dublin, also at a monthly- 
 meeting, and a quarterly-meeting for their young 
 people ; in which I was deeply concerned under 
 consideration of the prevalence of pride and the 
 world's fashions ; which was declared to them 
 in the love of truth : and the Lord was pleased 
 to favour several of the meetings by his heavenly 
 presence, to the praise of his holy name. 
 
 Leaving this city we went towards the North. 
 At Drogheda there is a meeting house belonging 
 to friends, but they are there so declined we 
 could not have a meeting to satisfaction. We 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 14*, 
 
 therefore went on to a meeting with a few 
 friends at Rat hfre land in the county of Down, 
 then to Monallen, where the meeting was com- 
 fortable ; and on first day had two meetings at 
 Lurgan in the county of Armagh, at which 
 place pride and a worldly spirit much prevails. 
 Then taking meetings at Newton, Lisburn, 
 Hillsborough, and Ballinderry in the county of 
 Antrim, the last of which was a large good 
 meeting. We had one at Antrim, where the 
 savour of Truth seems much lost by the few 
 professors there. We then passed on to the 
 Grange meeting, which was very dull, through 
 the prevalence of a worldly dark spirit, and 
 from thence to a meeting at Ballynacre and so 
 to Colerain, where he had a satisfactory oppor- 
 tunity with some of the town's people who came 
 to the meeting out of curiosity ; but I felt no 
 freedom to express the sense I had of the state 
 of friends then : and as the meeting broke up I 
 stept to a young woman, a friend, who lived 
 near the meeting house, and desired her to step 
 forward and turn the few friends in there, as 
 she knew them, and let the others go by, which 
 she readily performed. When we were all set 
 down round the room, it soon felt to me that if 
 I delivered my concern in general terms, the in- 
 tended end would not be answered, being in 
 pain for their good, and close matters spoken 
 might be taken by such to whom they least be- 
 longed ; and being greatly humbled, I was de- 
 sirous to be rightly instructed, not knowing their 
 names, to speak to them separately. The Lord 
 who never fails those who humbly trust in him, 
 shewed me where and with whom to begin, and 
 
 N 
 
146 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 so to the next, and mine eye being fixed on the 
 person to whom I directed my speech, each 
 knew what was delivered to them in particular, 
 and I hope the opportunity was beneficial ; for 
 I had great peace. When the friends were 
 gone I asked the young woman who seemed in 
 some surprise, what ailed her, she said that se- 
 veral were very exactly told their condition, 
 and feared they would judge her for an inform- 
 er ; I told her she need not matter that, as she 
 knew herself to be innocent. I mention this 
 occurrence as a remarkable kindness from the 
 merciful Lord to the children of men, for their 
 help and instruction, and that his servants may 
 be encouraged to wait upon him for instruction 
 to discharge their duty as faithful stewards in 
 his sight, who knows the secrets of all hearts, 
 and taught his servant in old time to know the 
 wife of Jeroboam, though she feigned herself to 
 be another woman. Blessed, and magnified be 
 his holy name, who is over all worthy for ever 
 and ever ! 
 
 Then taking meetings at Toberhead, Char- 
 lemont, and Ballyhagan, we attended the men's 
 meeting at Lurgan, having a great desire to sit 
 ^vith friends there in the management of their 
 discipline, which was adjourned to this time at 
 my request. It began with a meeting for wor- 
 ship, men and women being generally together; 
 at the conclusion of which, the men went into 
 the room where the meeting for business was 
 usually held; when, after sitting some time in 
 silence, a leading friend said, " This is only an 
 adjourned meeting, and bid the clerk enter it, 
 and they might adjourn to the usual time to do 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 147 
 
 their business, when it would be more select." 
 And the meeting sitting awhile without pro- 
 ceeding any way, I asked them what was meant 
 by the words more select; and further said, if 
 any persons were present that had not a right 
 to sit there, they should withdraw, they knew 
 their own members ; if they meant the friend 
 who came with us, he was a neighbouring friend 
 and an elder ; and as for myself, I esteemed my- 
 self a proper member of their meeting, as I came 
 to visit them with the concurrence of my brethren 
 at home, and had certificates from them, wherein 
 I was recommended to friends in Europe and 
 elsewhere ; and if I did any thing among them 
 worthy of censure, I should submit to their deal- 
 ing, and therefore desired them to go on with 
 their business; for I had come thither with a 
 concern to see how the affairs of the church went 
 on. So without more debate or much reply they 
 proceeded; and to my surprise, things of disor- 
 der had lain several years without proper deal- 
 ing with various offenders, such as drinkers of 
 healths, some that had been at cockfightings and 
 races, and one or more marriages out of the 
 order of Truth ; which gave me an opportunity 
 to clear myself fully of the concern that had for 
 some days lain with weight on my mind, which 
 I believe was acceptable to some secretly pained 
 friends, however contrary to some others; so 
 that I left the place with a peaceful mind, and 
 thankful to the Lord who had given me an in- 
 nocent boldness to assert my right of member- 
 ship ; for I believe if we had not been there, 
 the meeting would have been thought select. 
 We then went to Ulster Province meeting at 
 
148 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Ballyhagan, which held two days: the elders 
 and other concerned friends here inquire into 
 the state of things among their members in the 
 province, and it was in the main a satisfactory 
 meeting. From hence we went southward, 
 taking meetings at Castleshane, Coothill, Bal- 
 lyhais, and Old Castle, and to Ballymurry in 
 Connaught : having a meeting in a barn atGailey 
 with a few friends, it being the only one kept 
 up in that province, except at Athlone, which 
 we likewise attended ; and came to James Clib- 
 bonrs at the Moat of Granoge, where we also 
 had a meeting. Although I had travelled every 
 day for more than a week with a fever on me 
 and had eaten little, occasioned as I thought by 
 a cold taken by lying in damp beds, and was 
 now very unwell, but sat the first day meeting; 
 next day my illness became very violent, so that 
 friends thought I should lay my body there, and 
 sent for an apothecary who let me blood, which 
 somewhat allayed the fever, and I fell into a 
 sleep; when I began to bleed again, which 
 brought me very weak, that I was awakenejrl at 
 midnight with great drops of sweat on ray face, 
 and sickness ; and calling my companion who 
 watched with me, we found that I had bled much, 
 the orifice in my arm being very large and not 
 carefully bound up. My kind landlord and his 
 wife being anxious about me, had prevailed 
 with the apothecary to lodge in the house ; who 
 being called to me, on his coming I desired him 
 to peel a bladder and apply a thin piece of it 
 about as broad as a half-penny on the wound. 
 He asked for what ; I told him he would see : 
 and when it was applied I requested him to 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 149 
 
 hold his finger on the piece over the orifice so 
 as to stop the blood, until the plaister dried and 
 stuck, which it soon did and it bled no more. 
 He said that he had not seen the like. I men- 
 tion this for the sake of others ; for the bladder 
 sticks as the blood under it dries, and will stop 
 the bleeding of almost any wound. Next morn- 
 ing a graduate physician of the town came to 
 visit me, and feeling my pulse, I asked him 
 what he thought of me ? He making no answer, 
 I said, be not afraid to tell me, for I am not 
 afraid to hear. He replied, u that is happy for 
 you ;" by which I supposed he thought I should 
 not recover. He viewed my spittle and said I 
 was in a deep consumption, and proposed my 
 taking a vomit ; I told him that I had not taken 
 one many years ; besides as he judged my 
 lungs were inflamed, a moderate purge was bet- 
 ter. At which he replied with an air of banter, 
 " you are an odd patient ; come, you shall be 
 physician and I will be apothecary. I took him 
 at his word and he sent me a purge which gave 
 me some relief; he visited me daily for a week, 
 and could hardly believe I should recover, 
 though I told him I believed that I should : 
 He still judged my cough to be consumptive, and 
 at length told me, if I did recover, to go home 
 as soon as I could, for that the Lord was more 
 merciful than to require such an one as I was to 
 travel as I did ; and that I had already acted 
 as a madman to travel so long time with that 
 fever before I lay by. I asked him, if he was 
 master of a vessel at sea which had sprang a- 
 leak that could not be stopped, what he would 
 do ? He replied, endeavour to make to the next 
 
150 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 port for a dry dock to unlade and search out 
 the leak. Why doctor said I, this is just my 
 case ; I saw no place to lay by until I came 
 hither ; at which he laughed, and wished me 
 well. I think I never was reduced to so weak 
 a state in so short a time, which might be occa- 
 sioned by my great loss of blood ; but the Lord 
 was pleased to heal me, that I gathered strength 
 to admiration, and on first day sat the meeting, 
 which was comfortable ; and continuing to re- 
 cover, though not fit to travel, I tarried until 
 fourth day and attended their monthly-meeting; 
 and understanding they had been endeavouring 
 to visit families, but were backward in begin- 
 ning, I told friends that I had a freedom to oc- 
 company them in the work for a few days for 
 their encouragement ; and we accordingly went 
 with them to a few places to good satisfaction, 
 and friends received strength to go on with the 
 service. Then taking an affectionate leave of 
 our kind landlord James Clibborn and his wife, 
 who is grand-daughter to Robert Barclay the 
 Apologist, we went to meetings at Birr, Kilcon- 
 nermoor, Cashell, Killcommon, Clonsmell, 
 Youghall, and so to Cork on the first day of 
 the week ; where we also attended the men's 
 meeting for discipline, and visited the women's 
 meeting, which were both to some good satis- 
 faction. Then going to Bandon, we returned 
 to an appointed meeting at Cork for parents and 
 their children ; and having strength given me 
 to clear myself, it was, I hope, profitable to 
 many, being a large meeting. We then went 
 to Malo, and had a seasonable opportunity 
 with a family of friends j thence to the Pro- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 151 
 
 vince-meeting for Munster, held at Limerick, 
 the public and select sittings of which and 
 for the discipline ended comfortably ; and after 
 attending the week day meeting, we went to a 
 meeting at Ross, and returned to Limerick; 
 and being unwell with a cold, we tarried their 
 meetings on first day, which were large and 
 satisfactory, and in the eveuing had one with a 
 sick friend. Being clear, and taking three 
 meetings in our way, we proceeded to Leinster 
 Province-meeting at Mountmelic, which began 
 on the sixth day of the week with a meeting of 
 ministers, the next day for worship and the dis- 
 cipline, and on first day morning was a large 
 and precious meeting. In the afternoon the 
 town's people came in, audit was a good satis- 
 factory meeting, though not so large, friends 
 being mostly gone home. We had a meeting 
 next day at Tullamoor, and returning to Mount- 
 melic had a satisfactory one with the children 
 in the school of James Gough. After the week 
 day meeting in this town, we went to Ballacar- 
 rol, Ballanakel, and Cooperhill, having a meet- 
 ing at each ; then to Catherlough monthly-meet- 
 ing on first day, and the next day to Athy, then 
 to Ballitore; which was, through Divine good- 
 ness attending, made profitable; and we had 
 also a satisfactory meeting with the scholars in 
 Abraham Shackleton's school. After a meeting 
 at Newton we went to Samuel Watson's, at 
 Killconner, whose wife, late Abigail Bowles, 
 had been on a religious visit in America, seve- 
 ral years past. She was now near her end, 
 but sensible and in a good frame of spirit, and 
 greatly rejoiced to see us ; and we were mutu- 
 
152 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ally comforted in a sense of the Lord's presence, 
 for which his holy name was praised. After a 
 meeting here and another at Catherlough we 
 went to Waterford, and sat with friends in 
 their morning, afternoon, and evening meetings 
 on the first day : in all which having cleared 
 myself honestly, my spirit mourned under a 
 sense of formality among the people, and a dead- 
 ness to the pure inward life of religion. Then 
 taking meetings at Ross, Lambstown, Wexford, 
 UandaVs-mills or Castlesaw, Cooladine, and 
 several other places, we came to Wicklow ; at 
 which meeting many soldiers attended who be- 
 haved well, and Truth owned the service in a 
 good degree. I have observed, where the sol- 
 diers came into our meetings, they were an awe 
 to the rabble and loose people, who are some- 
 times apt to be rude. From hence we went to 
 Dublin in order to attend the national half- 
 year's-meeting, and were kindly received by our 
 old landlord Samuel Judd and his family. 
 
 Leinster Province-meeting began on second 
 day the sixth of the eleventh month, both for 
 worship and discipline, and on third day the 
 national-meeting, which held four days : the 
 several sittings thereof being in general attend- 
 ed with a sense of Divine goodness, and the 
 testimony of Truth ran strong against hypocrisy, 
 covetousness, libertinism, and pride among the 
 professors thereof; but in a consolatory stream 
 to the humble and contrite children of the fa- 
 mily : in a thankful sense whereof, the name of 
 the Lord was praised, who is worthy for ever 
 and ever ! We tarried a few days longer with 
 friends in Dublin; and then went to meetings at 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, 153 
 
 Baltiboys, Tiinahoe, Rathangan, and Eden- 
 derry, and a religious sitting in John Pirn's fa- 
 mily at Nurney; then returning to Edenderry 
 attended their monthly- meeting; where having 
 a concern to visit some families of friends, we 
 went to most of them in that town, and to the 
 house of a widow in the country, where we had 
 a good opportunity with her and her children. 
 1 asked the friend who accompanied us, whether 
 there was any other friend's house to which we 
 had not been; he said he thought not ; but my 
 mind had a draught to some house and I pointed 
 toward it, he then said he believed he knew 
 where; so we went to the place, and the family 
 being called together, I inquired whether there 
 was not another belonging to the house, and was 
 told there was. As soon as he came, I knew it 
 was the man whom my mind was concerned to 
 visit, and something I had to express reached and 
 tendered him very much ; he being exceeding 
 wild and fashionable and did not love to attend 
 religious meetings, but truth now reached him. 
 On the first day following I saw him at Eden- 
 derry meeting, where the visitation seemed to 
 be renewed to him. I afterwards heard that he 
 continued to be sober and thoughtful, and I was 
 thankful to the Lord that he was pleased to con- 
 descend in mercy to gather the outcasts of Israel. 
 Being clear of this place, I returned to Dublin, 
 and having a concern on my mind to visit the 
 families of some who made profession of truth 
 but were disorderly in their conduct, we began 
 that service, being accompanied by several 
 friends : and the Lord was pleased to own the 
 work. During our stay we were careful to at- 
 
154 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 tend all the meetings in this city for worship 
 and discipline, one of which was a quarterly- 
 meeting for the youth ; in which many were 
 tendered by the love of God, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord and Saviour. We visited about 
 sixty families, in most whereof the Lord was 
 pleased to favour with authority to set the tes- 
 timony of truth over the heads of the corrupt, 
 disorderly professors, and to influence with un- 
 derstanding to divide the word and counsel of 
 truth to the different states of those we visited. 
 In an humble sense whereof, let my soul obey 
 and adore him who is alone worthy for ever ! 
 
 As I apprehended the women's meeting to be 
 slack of doing their part of duty as true helps in 
 the exercise of the discipline, and a proper care 
 over the flock and family of the Lord ; a weigh- 
 ty concern attended me to express in writing 
 my sense of what was the proper business be- 
 longing to women's meetings ; which I shewed 
 to the men friends, and had their concurrence 
 to lay it before the women's meeting, in order 
 for their encouragement and practice in the 
 wisdom of Truth ; and it was afterwards sent 
 to the women's meetings throughout the nation. 
 
 The vessel in which we came to Ireland be- 
 ing ready to sail, and the master desirous of our 
 company to return with him, I felt so clear and 
 easy that I intended to go ; but when he sent 
 us word to come on board, I was more inclined 
 to stay that day, and went to meeting, being 
 first day, and he sailed : but meeting with con- 
 trary winds and dark weather, was obliged to 
 put back into Dublin harbour after about a 
 week's fatigue. My being withheld from em 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 155 
 
 barking, I thought was a remarkable kindness 
 and favour from my great and good Master ; 
 praised be his name ! We had afterwards se- 
 veral good meetings, in some of which it be- 
 came my concern to recommend silence by ex- 
 ample, of which they stood in much need; and 
 on the twenty-third of the first month, 1753, af- 
 ter having travelled in Ireland thirteen hundred 
 and fifteen miles, and had one hundred and 
 thirty-four meetings, besides many family vi- 
 sits ; feeling my mind to be fully clear, we 
 went on board a ship of Whitehaven, Allen 
 Wilson, master, having in much love taken 
 leave of our friends ; and after a short, but 
 stormy rough passage of about twenty-three 
 hours, arrived at Whitehaven with hearts hum- 
 bly thankful to the Lord who had preserved 
 us : the master saying, that he had not known 
 the like for twelve years, although he had sailed 
 between the two ports very constantly. Next 
 day after our arrival, our friend John Harris of 
 Highfield, with whom we had left our horses, 
 brought them to us and we went home with him, 
 and visited the meetings in the neighbourhood ; 
 several of which, particularly the last at Pard- 
 say Hall, were large and precious opportuni- 
 ties ; and I thought I could perceive that my 
 former painful labours among them had been 
 blessed : for which I was truly thankful to the 
 holy head of the church and master of the as- 
 semblies of his people. From thence we went 
 to Lortonhall and had an evening meeting with 
 the people of the town, to which came the priest 
 and most of his hearers ; and although the craft 
 
156 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 and conduct of the hirelings were much set 
 forth, all was quiet and it ended well, 
 
 From thence we went to Kendal, and staying 
 a general meeting there, proceeded to divers 
 others in Yorkshire, and Lancashire, and to 
 one we had appointed at Coin, where are no 
 members of our society ; and though a poor 
 dark town in respect to religion, the people be- 
 haved soberly, and many were tendered by the 
 gentle, yet powerful reaches of heavenly good- 
 ness ; and I may say, that in riding through 
 some towns in England where no friend dwelt, 
 I felt a secret salutation of love to the inhabi- 
 tants, though as a seed yet ungathered : but my 
 present business in general was to the children of 
 the family, that when it shall please the Lord 
 to open the eyes of others to behold Zion, no 
 stumbling block might appear to offend the be- 
 holders, or dim her heavenly beauty. 
 
 From hence passing to Halifax we had a 
 large open meeting there, and divers others in 
 Yorkshire, until we came to our friend John 
 Haslam's at Hansworth-Woodhouse; then to 
 Sheffield, where we visited some families to our 
 satisfaction, and after attending two meetings 
 in Derbyshire returned to J. Haslam's, and 
 again to Sheffield, and sat their morning meet- 
 ing on first day ; and in the afternoon attended 
 the burial of Ellen Atwick, a friend of good re- 
 pute, to which many people came and I had a 
 favourable opportunity. Being then clear, I 
 went to Blythe in Nottinghamshire and had a 
 meeting ; and several in other towns this week, 
 and reached Rawcliff in Yorkshire on first day. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 15? 
 
 On the niarlit before I had a dream which much 
 affected me. "I thought I heard a kind of 
 melody and singing at my left hand, whereupon 
 I said, what do ye rejoice at. Which continu- 
 ing I said, your singing is somewhat like Da- 
 vid's rejoicing before the ark, but I see it not ; 
 and heard a voice on my right saying, the ark 
 is in the land of the Philistines, where it was 
 taken through the wickedness of the priests and 
 sins of the people, who removed the ark from 
 Shiloh to strengthen them in battle." Where- 
 upon I awoke and was under some exercise for 
 a time, concluding it was ominous ; but saw no 
 further, until we went to meeting in the fore- 
 noon ; where I soon heard a kind of tuneful 
 sighing, which kept increasing, and turning my 
 head to discover from whence it came, found it 
 to be at my left hand. After a while a person 
 stood up and spake a few sentences of extraor- 
 dinary enjoyments which were to be felt. My 
 mind was pained, and after he sat down I stood 
 up and said, What are ye doing? and what 
 do you feel to occasion this rejoicing? and 
 should have proceeded to have told them my 
 thoughts, but instantly my dream came into my 
 mind, and so with little addition sat down very 
 sorrowful. After the meeting I went to dinner, 
 but could not eat much or be cheerful. At the 
 afternoon meeting we had the same tune until 
 my spirit was afflicted ; but labouring to know 
 that quiet which is not easily disturbed, I re- 
 ceived strength in a loving frame of mind to in- 
 form them, that I feared they were mistaken in 
 their states and conditions, for that death reign- 
 ed, and it was rather a time of mourning. And 
 
 o 
 
158 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 as Truth arose in some good degree, that float- 
 ing formal sea became dried up ; and in the 
 evening having the company of the chief singer 
 among them, 1 had a singular freedom simply 
 to relate my dream to him, with a desire that he 
 might examine whether the ark enclosing the 
 pure testimony was preserved safe amongst 
 them ; which shut up further conversation. In 
 a few days after, an intimate friend asked me 
 how I fared there, I repeated to him my dream, 
 and he told me it was very significant, for that 
 a withering had taken place in that meeting, 
 and that person had several children who were 
 married to such that did not profess with us : 
 and being treated with as a parent, he said it 
 might be a means of increasing the meeting, if 
 those they had married came to meeting with 
 them, and discouraged friends from dealing 
 with them, lest it should prevent them. 
 
 Then taking a meeting at Selby, we proceed- 
 ed to the quarterly-meeting at York, which con- 
 tinued two days, and was a good meeting. Here 
 we met my brother William Brown to our mu- 
 tual comfort after a separation of nineteen months. 
 We soon parted again, he going towards Lan- 
 caster and we to several meetings in York- 
 shire and some in Lincolnshire. In some places 
 I observed the form to remain and life to be 
 wanting, and in others the professors of truth 
 had too generally declined from both. True 
 life gives birth to a true form ; but the mere form 
 will never produce the life of Truth. From 
 hence we went to Retford and Mansfield, iu 
 Nottinghamshire, and at the last town had two 
 meetings, one of which was with friends by 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 159 
 
 themselves ; for it did not always appear con- 
 venient to deliver, too publicly, those things 
 which tended to the reproof of some disorderly 
 walkers in the family, lest it should rather har- 
 den than restore and heal, especially where 
 their conduct did not occasion open reproach ; 
 then taking a meeting at Broughton we went to 
 Nottingham, and had three meetings there on 
 first day, and the next at Oxham with a few 
 friends who were glad thereof, being sometimes 
 missed by travellers : the day following we had 
 an appointed meeting at Nottingham to satisfac- 
 tion. In this place they are troubled with some 
 ranters, who force themselves into meetings for 
 discipline. Friends were exhorted to keep up 
 the testimony of Truth in the meek humble 
 spirit thereof, in which its dominion will stand 
 for ever. We then spent some time in visiting 
 many meetings in Leicestershire, taking one at 
 Oakham in .Rutlandshire, where some innocent 
 friends live, and I think it is the only meeting 
 of friends in that county. At Boswell-streei 
 we had a meeting with some who had been late- 
 ly convinced, but had not yet known a true es- 
 tablishment in humbly waiting for the power of 
 Truth, to give a solid growth in pure religion. 
 The same evening we had a meeting at Coven- 
 try to good satisfaction ; and the week following 
 came to Dudley in Worcestershire, where we 
 lodged at James Payton's, whose sister Catha- 
 rine was preparing to go on a religious visit to 
 America. Staying the meeting on first day in 
 Dudley, we went to divers others in this county 
 and Warwickshire, and came to Eaden in 
 Northamptonshire ; at which meeting many peo- 
 
160 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 pie came, some of whom were very unruly, but 
 the power of Truth prevailing, it ended quietly, 
 praised be the Lord who is all-sufficient for his 
 own work ! Visiting several other meetings in 
 this county, at one of them held on an evening 
 at Chipping-Norton there were many tender 
 young people, to whom I felt a salutation in the 
 love of Truth; but before I thought it safe for 
 me to stand up, a young man not much like a 
 friend stood up, and began to exhort them to be 
 faithful in discharging whatsoever the Lord re- 
 quired of them, and how eminently he would 
 be with, and qualify them for his work, as though 
 they were all appointed to enter upon some ex- 
 traordinary great service ; at which my mind was 
 much grieved, fori thought it would be more suit- 
 able for them deeply to retire and wait for the vir- 
 tue of Truth and sap of life, to experience a growth 
 in grace and the knowledge of God, that they 
 might be prepared to work out their own sal- 
 vation. To expect a young tree to produce 
 abundance of fruit before the branches are come 
 forth and spread with strength to bear it, is not 
 reasonable. The words " sit down," passed 
 through my mind for some time, and at length 
 I spoke them so as for him to hear, which I 
 perceived by a small stop he made ; but going 
 on again, I said prithee friend sit down : which 
 he did, but I felt that my saying so, surprised 
 the people and perhaps offended some, and that 
 it would be in vain to deliver what was on my 
 mind. So expressing a few sentences only, I 
 sat down very sorrowful, and the meeting end- 
 ed. I was informed by a friend at our lodgings 
 that he was one lately come from the Metho- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. .161 
 
 dists, which I before apprehended by his ap- 
 pearance. On going to bed I was much con- 
 cerned lest it should hurt him, and deeply 
 sought to know whether I had not spoken to 
 him in a selfish spirit, because he had taken 
 the time of the meeting appointed on my ac- 
 count; and feeling love towards him, I prayed 
 in spirit that the Lord would be pleased to pre- 
 serve him from harm thereby, and that if I had 
 done wrong, I might be made sensible of re- 
 buke for my future instruction : when in great 
 calmness I understood that it would not hurt 
 him, so I went into a quiet sleep. After a meet- 
 ing the next day at Sibbard, a woman friend 
 who was at the meeting the evening before, de- 
 sired me to send by her a message, or write to 
 the young man, for she was fearful he would 
 go beside himself. I told her that when I spake 
 to him I thought myself right, and knew what 
 I was about; but now I could not see what to 
 do at present, and to act by her direction was 
 dangerous : so we parted ; and in about a week 
 after, a friend let me know that there was no 
 danger of his receiving hurt, but hoped he would 
 be benefited. 
 
 From hence, taking a few meetings on our 
 way, we arrived at London on the seventh of 
 the sixth month, and next day attended Grace 
 Church Street meeting, and in the following 
 week the yearly-meeting, which was comfort- 
 able and solid; divers weighty matters being 
 therein proposed for consideration from several 
 of the counties, which centred rather to benefit ; 
 though in the management of the affairs, there 
 appeared, in some, a disposition to oppose wha* 
 
16* THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 they thought to be mew, notwithstanding the 
 same things appeared very expedient to others, 
 who from their prospect thereof, might urge 
 their sentiments rather too strongly. A pros- 
 pect of the Lord's servants truly disciplined, 
 armed and qualified for his work, and of such 
 who equip, arm and arrange themselves, and 
 move by their own direction, was presented to 
 my view in a dream one night during the time 
 of this meeting. " I thought I beheld two ar- 
 mies set in array against each other, one of 
 them well armed with swords and muskets ; the 
 other had no formal weapons for their defence ; 
 but a charge given them by their general to 
 keep their ranks, and gently to march directly 
 forward as he should lead, no man reaching 
 forth his own hand to defend himself. They 
 joined in battle; and when one of the unarmed 
 soldiers was borne hard upon by his opponent, 
 he reached forth his hand at arms-length, when 
 a sword took oft* one of his fingers, and the 
 blood sprinkled on several of his fellow sol- 
 diers ; whereupon knowing the orders given, I 
 cried out, if that hand had not been so stretched 
 out, this wound would not have been received, 
 and so I awakened." And on the morrow was 
 fully convinced, that in transacting the affairs 
 of Truth, the honour of God should be our only 
 view, with a single eye to his direction, and 
 self made of no reputation, which will be a 
 shield against all reflections and personal cen- 
 sures ; for it so happened, that a valuable zea- 
 lous friend being strongly reflected on as being 
 a prejudiced party, and being a little warmed 
 thereby, made an over-hasty, and perhaps too 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 163 
 
 warm a reply ; which is apt to stir up warmth 
 in those who depend on no other guard than 
 their own armour, and with their own strength 
 use a selfish weapon. By this unguarded reply, 
 the friend brought a reproof on himself and 
 some others, that were united in the cause of 
 truth. The victory belongs to the Lamb for 
 ever, who when he was spit upon and reviled, 
 did not again revile. 
 
 After staying in London and attending the 
 Peel-meeting on first day, and the meeting of 
 ministers and elders on second day morning, 
 we went to Chelmsford and rested a day or two 
 with our friend John Griffith ; attended their 
 week day meeting and a general meeting at 
 Easterfordkelvedon, and proceeded to the year- 
 ly-meeting at Colchester, which held three days 
 and was a time of Divine favour : then going 
 to Tpswich and to a monthly-meeting at Wood- 
 bridge, we there continued on first day, and on 
 the next began their yearly-meeting, which held 
 until the fourth day of the week ; in all eight 
 sittings, some whereof were large and very 
 good. No praise to him that willeth, or to him 
 that runneth, but to the Lord alone that sheweth 
 mercy. And there being a marriage at the 
 meeting on fifth day, I had an open time, where- 
 in I had to set forth ; that as man in the be- 
 ginning was taken from the earth or clay by the 
 hand of the Lord, and a life breathed into him 
 different from the earth, by which he became a 
 living soul, and stood in the image and liberty 
 of his Creator, but falling from the heavenly 
 image and liberty therein through transgression, 
 is now of the earth, earthly in his love and li- 
 
164 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 berty ; so he must now be separated from the 
 earthly low estate which stands in the trans- 
 gression and death, by the Regenerating Word 
 of power, and transformed by the renewing of 
 his mind, will and affections, and placing them 
 on heavenly objects. For as the potter separa- 
 teth the clay from the other earth, and tempers 
 it by itself before he formeth and maketh a 
 vessel thereof, so must man, by the operation 
 of the Heavenly hand, be tempered, wrought, 
 prepared, and thereby freed from his own stub- 
 born will, and made submissive to the Heavenly 
 Will ; that he may not be marred on the wheel, 
 but bear the turning of the heavenly hand until 
 he be formed a vessel to honour. But if the 
 will of man does not become subject, but stands 
 in rebellion, the Lord, who said, my spirit shall 
 not always strive with man, hath power over 
 the clay to reject that which will not be wrought 
 into a vessel for honour, and suffer it to be 
 marred in its own stubborn will. And when 
 an earthly potter hath formed a vessel for use, 
 he carefully setteth it aside, until it be prepared 
 to bear a further operation, to harden and glaze 
 it for the use for which it is made. If man 
 should put even water into an earthen vessel 
 formed for that use, before it is hardened and 
 prepared by fire, he w ould both mar the vessel, 
 and expose that which was put therein. Let not 
 such therefore who have known the heavenly 
 hand of power so to prepare them, that they 
 are willing to be whatsoever the Lord should 
 make of them, marvel if the Lord should be 
 pleased to set them by a while for the trial of 
 their faith. If the earthly potter's vessel should 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 165 
 
 crack in drying, it would be marred ; so if 
 these vessels of the Heavenly Potter keep not 
 the word of his patience in this their drying 
 season, to prepare them for the operation of 
 the Heavenly fire and furnace, in which the 
 Lord will sanctify and fit his vessels for the 
 use of his holy sanctuary, they will also be 
 marred. But otherwise they will come forth 
 vessels to honour in his house, &c. 
 
 I thought this was a remarkable good meet- 
 ing, the praise thereof belongs to the Lord alone. 
 We had also a select meeting with friends, and 
 visited several families in the town to satisfac- 
 tion, Truth owning us together; and after a good 
 opportunity at a friend's house in the country 
 on our way, we went to Norwich and attended 
 their meetings on first day : the yearly- meeting 
 began the next, and ended on fourth day after 
 seven sittings, generally large and satisfactory, 
 through the overshadowing of Divine goodness. 
 I continued in this city several days after, vi- 
 siting families and steadily attending their meet- 
 ings, and had some open satisfactory opportu*- 
 nities. My way now opening for Holland we 
 went to Yarmouth, several friends accompanying 
 us ; and on the twenty-sixth of the seventh month 
 embarked on board the ship Three Brothers, 
 Richard Smith, master, my companion John 
 Pemberton being willing to continue with me. 
 
 On the first day of the week following, we 
 landed at Rotterdam and lodged at an inn. 
 Next morning feeling my mind drawn forward, 
 we went in a stage- waggon to Turgow, and from 
 thence in the track-skute to Amsterdam in the 
 evening, the metropolis of South Holland: and 
 
166 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 were conducted to friends meeting-bouse at the 
 Three-hooks in Princes-street, in which Mi- 
 chael Laars and his sister lived, and were 
 kindly received and rested the next day. 
 
 I found a concern to visit the families of 
 friends in this city, in which service we spent 
 most of the week to our satisfaction, John Van- 
 derwaarf, jun. being interpreter. We also at- 
 tended their week day meeting, in which Peter 
 Linders was interpreter. On first day follow- 
 ing the meeting in the morning was pretty large> 
 and many people came to that in the afternoon, 
 some of whom behaved rudely ; but Truth came 
 over, and they were stilled, and seemed to de- 
 part satisfied. We continued here until their 
 weekday meeting again, which many not of our 
 society attended, and it was to general satisfac- 
 tion. I then felt my mind drawn towards North 
 Holland, and taking passage in the track-skute 
 passed through several towns and arrived at the 
 city of Hoorn, where we were met by our friend 
 Cort Hendricks, who took us in his waggon to 
 his house at Twisk, in North Holland, the 
 same night : being accounted eighteen miles 
 from Amsterdam to Hoorn by water, and from 
 thence to Twisk by land six miles. Here also 
 finding the like concern, we visited the families 
 of friends, and had a meeting with them in the 
 evening together. Next day we went to Abbey 
 Kirk, a village about two miles distant, where 
 about five or six families of friends live, whom 
 we visited also : the friends in general seemed 
 to receive our visits kindly, except one family, 
 where I was concerned to speak of, and open 
 that saying of our dear Lord, " Except your 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 167 
 
 righteousness exceed the righteousness of the 
 Scribes and Pharisees," &c. for I was much 
 burdened under a sense of a self-righteous, 
 whole, exalted spirit ; and in opening that pas- 
 sage, was also led to speak of the parable of 
 the Pharisee and Publican who went up into 
 the temple to pray, which probably touched the 
 heads of that family, ami I felt a strong oppo- 
 sition in them, and perceived the passage was 
 not pleasing to our interpreter. I could not 
 shake off my burden, yet was preserved quiet 
 in my mind, having honestly done my part; and 
 so returned to Twisk, where the meeting was 
 held for both villages, and on first day morning 
 the meeting was pretty large, friends being ge- 
 nerally there ; but our interpreter had most of 
 the time, so that he was too overspent to inter- 
 pret much for me. Several not professing with, 
 us attended in the afternoon, and I had a satis- 
 factory time with them early in the meeting, 
 when an awful sense of Truth seemed to be 
 over us, after which our interpreter had some- 
 thing further to say. I have often lamented the 
 increase of words, and a repetition of former 
 experiences without the renewing of life, which 
 disposition seems to prevail in too many, to the 
 burdening of sensible members in our society. 
 
 As we sat this evening in a friend's house at 
 Twisk two elderly women came in, professors 
 of truth, but very talkative. I had seen them 
 several times before, and as often been burden- 
 ed with them, and now had something in par- 
 ticular to speak ; but feared that such plain 
 dealing would be too strong for our interpreter, 
 who appeared to be very sociable with them; 
 
168 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 therefore I delivered my mind without singling 
 them out, several others being present. These 
 women took it to themselves, but not in such a, 
 disposition as I desired, being disturbed, and 
 following us to our lodgings made their com- 
 plaint to our interpreter, bidding him ask me if 
 I took them to be such persons as I had de- 
 scribed; if so, they desired to know what I 
 had to accuse them with? At first it put me to 
 a stand, but being still, I soon thought it was 
 providential, that they thus gave me an oppor- 
 tunity to clear myself of the burden I had borne 
 on their account, and told them ; that to enter 
 into particular charges was not my business, 
 but was free to let them know that I had been 
 in pain on their account from the first time I saw 
 them, and that if I had a true sense of their 
 states, they were not such as they ought to be, 
 but had lost the savour of what they professed 
 to enjoy, and could so freely talk of : " and told 
 one of them that I took her to be dark and ig- 
 norant of her own state; and the other, that 
 she was too light and chaffy in her spirit ; and 
 that they both wanted the true cloathing of the 
 Lord's children, which is humility of heart and 
 reverence of spirit, which would season all their 
 conversation and conduct, that they would not 
 be stumbling blocks to their neighbours, as I 
 feared they were. I also told them, that I be- 
 lieved when I spake as I did at the friend's 
 house it belonged to them, in which I was now 
 confirmed, for had they been sincere-hearted, 
 they would have borne it without flinching ; but 
 now they had shewn their sore places were 
 touched, and I dared not to lessen the weight 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 169 
 
 of what was then said, but desired them to re- 
 ceive and ponder it well ; for I was sure it was 
 delivered in love, and believed it to be a visita- 
 tion to them in their old age." Which being 
 interpreted to them, they spake something to the 
 interpreter which I did not understand ; then 
 one of them said, she had yet love in her heart 
 for me : I told her that I had nothing but good 
 will towards her, and so they went away. 
 
 After which, the interpreter told me, he had 
 known these women many years ; that I had a 
 true sense of them, and he had delivered my words 
 honestly, and hoped they would do them good. 
 
 We next had a meeting with friends of Twisk 
 by themselves in a private house, in which we 
 were favoured with the savour of truth, the sin- 
 cere-hearted being refreshed, and the disorderly 
 warned to be more careful. 
 
 After taking some refreshment, we hasted to 
 attend another meeting appointed for us at Abbey- 
 Kirk in the afternoon, which was held in the 
 same house where I felt the opposition before- 
 mentioned. I soon was sensible of some matter 
 in my mind to divide to the people ; first to a low 
 afflicted state, and things opened pretty clear, 
 and were interpreted readily ; but proceeding 
 to the other states, I felt the current obstructed, 
 and the force of my sentences evaded, and had 
 a sense that the minds of the friends of that 
 house were shut up against what I had to de- 
 liver ; so I forebore going on, and the interpre- 
 ter soon began and continued to speak near an 
 hour. When he had done, I felt a great weight 
 on my mind, and desired him to interpret a few 
 sentences for me. He did not seem very free, 
 
 p 
 
170 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 saying, " let it be short then." The substance 
 was, " That I had come in love to see them, and 
 was in no way prepossessed or informed ^con- 
 cerning any person or case among them ; yet 
 found they were shut up against what I had to 
 deliver ; nevertheless I could not be easy with- 
 out letting them know, that I did believe, unless 
 they humbled themselves, and were stripped 
 from that self-righteous wholeness, wherewith 
 they had cloathed themselves, they never would 
 grow in the life of true religion ; but would be 
 as stumbling blocks to the sincere-hearted among 
 them." So I went out of the house and return- 
 ed to our lodging, not having freedom to stay 
 there longer. Our interpreter, who tarried with 
 them after we were gone, told me that they 
 judged a certain friend, who had been in Hol- 
 land some time before and spoken very close- 
 ly to them, had informed me concerning them ; 
 and I thought the interpreter also favoured that 
 sentiment, which made me not to wonder at the 
 opposition I had felt both in him and them. 
 Whereupon I told him, that until that time I 
 never knew that the friend whom they thus 
 judged had been there, and that I had never 
 heard of their names, nor the name of the town 
 until I came with him ; and desired him to give 
 it in charge to a friend of Twisk who was pre- 
 sent with us, to let those Mends know from me, 
 what I then said of my innocency. 
 
 Feeling myself now pretty easy respecting 
 that place, we returned towards Amsterdam, 
 accompanied by two friends to Hoorn, where 
 no friends now live, though formerly there were, 
 $nd sometimes meetings have been held there ; 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 171 
 
 and I had some thoughts of having one ; but 
 being under discouragement, had almost con- 
 cluded to proceed on our way. But in walking 
 through the city to the skute, which Avas to set 
 off for Amsterdam in a few minutes, I felt my 
 mind affected with a sense that my great and 
 good Master was near, and desired with earnest 
 breathings to know his will ; and if he would 
 be pleased to be with me, I w r as willing to do 
 the same, as he should require and enable me. 
 I then felt such a stream of love towards the 
 inhabitants, that I was convinced there was a 
 visitation to them, as though the Lord would in 
 his own time gather a people there. As yet I 
 had not disclosed my mind to any one, although 
 I felt a draught back ; when seeing a young 
 man in the street, I desired the interpreter to 
 ask him if he thought we could have a meeting 
 in that town, to which he readily answered that 
 he believed we might ; and taking hold of my 
 baggage said, if we would please to return to 
 his house, he would endeavour to procure a 
 place and acquaint the people, which he very 
 punctually, and with great speed performed : 
 and we met about four in the afternoon at the 
 house of Cornelius Olyslager, and had a good 
 opportunity with a tender friendly people; seve- 
 ral of whom were reached and tendered by the 
 virtue and savour of truth, which spread freely ; 
 for which the giver of all good was reverently 
 praised, who is worthy for ever. The people 
 departed in much love, and we returned to the 
 young man's house, where we were affection- 
 ately entertained that night. We should have 
 been glad to have conversed with the people, 
 
#1 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 but could not understand their language, yet 
 had a sense that they were satisfied with the 
 meeting. 
 
 Being accompanied by this kind young man, 
 Dirk Meschaert, our landlord, to the track- 
 skute, we took leave with tears on each side : 
 and arriving at Amsterdam, we sat with 
 friends that afternoon in their week day meet- 
 ing to satisfaction, having travelled in North 
 Holland about seventy-four miles by boat 
 and waggon. We then visited the remain- 
 der of friends families in this city, and were 
 comforted therein, the Lord being pleased to 
 own our labour, and I pray it may be blessed 
 to them. On first day morning we had a large 
 solid meeting, at which were several strangers, 
 particularly two young men, Italians, supposed 
 to be princes, who behaved well ; also many of 
 the citizens who had never been at a friends* 
 meeting before. The afternoon meeting was 
 also large ; but some of the lower sort who came 
 to gaze out of curiosity, behaved rude, yet it 
 ended better than I expected. There seemed 
 to be an openness in many to hear the testimony 
 and principle of Truth declared; but it is a 
 dull way to speak by an imperfect interpreter. 
 
 On the twenty-second of the eighth month 
 was held what they call their yearly meeting, 
 which was attended by several not of our so- 
 ciety ; but it has little more than the name of a 
 yearly-meeting, the discipline of Truth being 
 much lost. 
 
 Feeling some concern still to continue on my 
 mind towards the friends at Abbey-Kirk where 
 f was sensible of the opposition before hinted, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. ITS 
 
 I had freedom to write them a letter; but on 
 considering that the friend and his wife to 
 whom I wrote were persons of note, I was 
 fearful that their resentment might hurt some 
 others ; and having a tender concern towards 
 the sincere-hearted, it was with me to prepare 
 the way by writing an Epistle to friends of the 
 meeting at T wisk, to which those of Abbey-Kirk 
 do also belong ; both which I got a friend of 
 Amsterdam to translate. That to the meeting 
 I sent immediately, that it might be read on a 
 first day, and directed the other to be sent sooa 
 after. 
 
 That to Friends at Twisk was as follows : 
 u Dear Friends, 
 
 " The honest and sincere-hearted amongst 
 you I salute in Gospel Love ; and as I do be- 
 lieve there is a small remnant that are desirous 
 to know and witness the peace of God in your 
 hearts, and a sure hope of receiving the answer 
 of well-done at the conclusion of your time in 
 this world, mind the instructions of the spirit of 
 Christ Jesus in your own heart, for it is that 
 which leads into all Truth: it shews unto man 
 of what sort the thoughts of his heart are, and 
 it witnesseth against every bad word and action. 
 It was the Spirit of Truth that taught the chil- 
 dren of God in all ages ; it was by this Spirit of 
 Truth that our worthy elders were led from the 
 lo-heres and lo-theres which are in the world; 
 it established them on the true foundation, viz. 
 the revelation or teaching of the Spirit of God 
 in their own hearts ; by this they were upheld 
 
lfi THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 under sore afflictions and outward sufferings 
 from the powers of the earth ; by this they were 
 preserved in the unity of the spirit, in the bond 
 of peace. 
 
 " Dear Friends, beware of letting out your 
 minds after the doctrines and teachings of men, 
 who have not the Word of Life committed to 
 them to preach in the Love and Power of 
 Truth : for if ye do, ye will be unstable and 
 wavering, and a wavering man is as a wave of 
 the sea, tossed to and fro with every contrary 
 wind of doctrine. Neither look you too much 
 to the example one of another, but wait to re- 
 ceive in yourselves a sense of what ye ought to 
 do and to join with, and what ye ought to be 
 separated from. Then will you be able to judge 
 what you hear and see ; because you have the 
 Spirit of Truth in your own hearts ; for that is 
 the true rule, judge and guide, which leads into 
 all Truth. 
 
 " Since I was with you, I have often thought, 
 that you will never grow strong in the Truth, 
 nor teach the principles thereof one to another, 
 until you be obedient thereunto in your own 
 hearts, and act and behave in all things accord- 
 ing to the pure witness thereof in your own 
 selves. This makes living, sound, steady mem- 
 bers, zealous both of love and good works, in 
 themselves, and amongst their brethren and 
 sisters. 
 
 " Dear friends, be careful to meet together, 
 and admonish those that fall short of their duty 
 herein. And when you are assembled, wait on 
 the Lord with a mind turned inward : and if 
 ye do wait in faith and patience, the Lord will 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 175 
 
 be found of you, and reveal himself in the midst 
 of you, to your comfort and consolation. 
 
 " With sincere desires, that every good 
 thought, and secret inquiry after the knowledge 
 of God, in each of your hearts, may be strength- 
 ened and blessed, do I remain your affectionate 
 friend, 
 
 John Churchman. " 
 
 Amsterdam, 23d of ( 
 
 the 8th month, 1753. 
 
 A Copy of my Letter to the Friend and his Wife 
 here follows. 
 
 " My Friends, 
 
 " I have had an exercise on my mind ever since 
 I came first into your house, to visit your family, 
 which was on the eleventh instant. I came an 
 entire stranger, free from any information from 
 man concerning you ; but as soon as I came into 
 the house, I felt the innocent life of Truth and 
 pure seed of the kingdom oppressed in you. 
 
 "Our dear Lord said, Learn of me, fori am 
 meek and low of heart. His spirit in us, if we 
 take heed thereto, will teach us to be meek and 
 low in heart. At this day his teaching is the 
 same, and will remain to be so to all his fol- 
 lowers forever. Oh may you be humble ; for 
 it is the humble that the Lord doth teach of his 
 ways, and the meek he guides in judgment. 
 But the whole and self-righteous, who are wise 
 in their own eyes, and prudent in their own con- 
 ceit, the Lord will hide the mysteries of his 
 pure wisdom from these ; but to the babes who 
 are truly changed, and born from above ; and 
 
176 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 those sucklings who are weaned from the 
 breasts of the world, and its wisdom, and are 
 leaning on the breast of Christ their beloved, 
 desiring the sincere milk of his word, that they 
 may grow thereby ; unto these the Lord will 
 reveal true knowledge, and wisdom from above. 
 And that wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and 
 easy to be entreated ; and those that have the 
 same in possession, they have the seasoning 
 virtue of Truth. They have salt in themselves, 
 and are therefore preserved in peace and unity 
 with the pure Truth, and also one with another. 
 Such professors who inwardly know, and re- 
 ceive the most holy faith, they know the same 
 to work in them by love, to the purifying of 
 their hearts. These are Jews inward, circum- 
 cised in heart, true Israelites indeed, in whom 
 there is no guile ; and their righteousness ex- 
 ceeds that of the scribes and pharisees. 
 
 " I heartily wish that you may, in your old 
 age, be concerned to know the life of pure reli- 
 gion : a sense of the want thereof in your fa- 
 mily, burdened my life whilst I was in your 
 house, which was the reason why I could not be 
 free to eat and drink with you. 
 
 " In order to discharge myself towards you, 
 have I written these few lines, desiring that you 
 may examine yourselves, and see if there be not 
 a cause, — and in the love of Truth, which leads 
 us to deal plainly one with another, 
 
 " 1 remain your real friend and well-wisher, 
 
 John Churchman/ 9 
 
 Amsterdam, 23d of 
 the 8th Month, 1 753. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 177 
 
 We continued with friends in this city and 
 attended their two meetings on first day ; and 
 in the evening had an opportunity with several 
 to satisfaction, for our love rather increased, 
 Next morning feeling my mind clear of friends 
 in Holland, I was easy to return towards Eng- 
 land ; and accompanied by several to the skute 
 we took leave and went to Turgow by water, 
 from thence by waggon to Rotterdam, in all about 
 forty-two miles. There are no members of our 
 society left in this city. We went to see the 
 meeting-house and had some thoughts of having 
 a meeting ; but being the time of a great fair, 
 which occasioned a concourse of rude people, 
 there was no prospect of having one to advan- 
 tage. 
 
 John Vanderwaarf, jun. came with us to Rot* 
 terdam, with whom we parted in much love 
 early on fourth day morning the twenty-ninth 
 of the eighth month ; and went on board the 
 same ship which brought us hither, it having 
 made a voyage to England and back since. We 
 sailed with a fair wind down the Maze to the 
 Briell before noon; when it becoming contrary, 
 we lay at anchor until first day morning ; then 
 proceeding, we passed over the dangerous sands 
 and so to sea ; and arrived at Yarmouth about 
 one the next day, and had a meeting with 
 friends the same evening. 
 
 In this journey to Holland, we travelled by 
 sea and land about five hundred miles. 
 
 From Yarmouth we went in a chaise to Nor- 
 wich, where friends were rejoiced to see us, and 
 we were thankful for our safe return. And be- 
 ing concerned to spend some more time among 
 
1T8 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 them in this city, we visited a few families and 
 attended their monthly-meeting, also their two 
 meetings on first day, which were dull and hea- 
 vy. The minds of the people being too much ' 
 outward, I found it my place to recommend si- 
 lence by example more than by words, in both 
 those meetings. 
 
 Next day in company with other friends I 
 went to visit Hannah Lucas, a school mistress, 
 who was newly convinced. She was in a low 
 state of mind : our visit was to mutual satisfac- 
 tion, being comforted together. 
 
 At their week-day meeting on third day, I 
 had a seasonable time to discharge my mind to- 
 wards friends in that city, in which I was led 
 to deal plainly with them. They are a loving 
 people to strangers and each other ; but there is 
 a want of weightiness of spirit, and of a proper 
 care in the exercise of the discipline of the 
 church. 
 
 Before my going to Holland I was at the 
 shop of a barber in this city several times to be 
 shaved. The second time I was there, I had 
 to wait a while for my turn, he having no as- 
 sistant ; and when others were gone out he told 
 me, he was sorry I had to wait and hoped he 
 should have my custom ; and that if I would 
 come on Saturdays and Wednesdays in the 
 forenoon I need not wait ; but in the afternoon 
 others came. I asked him what days of the 
 week those were which he called Saturday, 
 and Wednesday ? He seemed to wonder at my 
 ignorance, but knew not how to tell me other- 
 wise. I said, I do not read in the Scriptures 
 of any days so named ; he replied, that is true ; 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 179 
 
 for what reason then, said I, dost thou call 
 them so ; because it is a common custom, said 
 he. Suppose then, said I, that we lived in a 
 heathen country among infidels who worshipped 
 idols, should we follow their customs because 
 common ? He replied, by no means. I then 
 said, if I have understood rightly, the heathens 
 gave the days of the week those names. I 
 never heard that before, said he, pray for what 
 reason? I answered, they worshipped the Sun 
 on the first day of the week and named it after 
 their idol, Sunday ; the Moon on the second 
 day of the week, so came Monday, and the 
 other days after other idols, for they had many 
 gods ; third day they called Tuesday after their 
 idol Tuisco ; and after the idol Woden, fourth 
 day they called Wednesday, and fifth day after 
 their idol Thor they called Thursday. From 
 Friga, Friday ; and after Saturn they called the 
 seventh day, Saturday ; and as I believe in the 
 only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath 
 sent, and expect Eternal Life by no other name 
 or power, I dare not for conscience sake own 
 the gods of the heathen, or name a day after 
 them ; but choose the names which the days 
 were called by, when the most high performed 
 his several works of creation, viz. first, second, 
 third, and so on, which is scriptural, most plain 
 and easily understood. 
 
 He seemed somewhat affected with the in- 
 formation, and I desired him to inquire into 
 the matter for himself, and not to think that I 
 designed to impose upon him. The next time 
 of my going to his shop, he shewed me some pa 
 
180 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 pers whereon he had began to learn Algebra, and 
 asked me how 1 liked it ; I said it might be use- 
 ful to some, but that I could take up grubbing or 
 follow the plough without studying Algebra, as 
 he might also shave a man, &c. without it. 
 Besides I found it a more profitable and de- 
 lightful study to be quietly employed in learn- 
 ing the law of the Lord written in mine own 
 heart, so that I might walk before him accep- 
 tably. 
 
 On my return from Holland to Norwich, a 
 man ran to me in the street putting a paper 
 into my hand, and immediately left me, whom 
 I soon found to be this barber. The letter con- 
 tained an innocent child-like acknowledgment 
 to me for my freedom with him, as is before- 
 mentioned, in language rather too much shew- 
 ing his value for me as an instrument ; and be- 
 lieving him to be reached by the love of Truth, 
 and in measure convinced of the principle 
 thereof, I thought it best to leave him in the 
 Lord's hand for further instruction, to learn by 
 the immediate teachings of the Holy Spirit, 
 that his love might be centred on the true belov- 
 ed of souls : for want thereof many are hurt, 
 looking outward and growing in head know- 
 ledge, seeking the esteem and friendship of 
 man, from whom we are to cease, his breath 
 and life being stopped at the Lord's command. 
 
 I mention this passage with a view to stir up 
 my friends of the same holy profession, to let 
 their language in words be the real language of 
 Truth to all men, in purity of Spirit ; and not 
 to name the days of the week or months after 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 181 
 
 the heathenish idolatrous customs; saying for 
 excuse, that they to whom they speak do best 
 understand them, and it saves them any further 
 explanation : which excuse is far from proceed- 
 ing from a disposition apt to teach, and letting 
 the Light of truth shine as they ought. Nei- 
 ther do men, said our blessed instructor, light 
 a candle and put it under a bushel ; but on a 
 candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in 
 the house. Mat. v. 21. Nor doth the Lord 
 enlighten his candle, that is the spirit of man, 
 with the pure knowledge of Truth, that we 
 should cover it, either with an easeful disposi- 
 tion to save ourselves trouble, or hide the work 
 thereof under the covering bushel of worldly 
 saving care, after the gaiu and treasure of this 
 world ; but that it may stand on the candlestick, 
 and thereby crown those who are thus favoured 
 with the holy Light, that as a city set on an hill 
 they cannot be hid. 
 
 The corrupt language of you to a single per- 
 son, and calling the months and days by hea- 
 then names, are esteemed by some to be little 
 things ; but if a faithful testimony in these 
 little*things, was blessed in the instance before- 
 mentioned, even to the raising an earnest inquiry 
 after the saving knowledge of God and his 
 blessed Son, whom to know is Eternal Life ; 
 perhaps such who balk their testimony to the 
 pure talent of Truth given them to profit withal, 
 may one day have their portion appointed with 
 the wicked and slothful servant, See Mat. xxv. 
 24, 25, &c. 
 
 After the last-mentioned meeting I found my 
 mind easy to leave Norwich, and went with 
 
 Q 
 
182 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Richard Brewster and wife to Wymondam 
 i hat evening, and next day to Edmondsbury; 
 where feeling an engagement of mind we staid 
 eight days, attending their several meetings, and 
 monthly-meeting, which is composed of five 
 particular meetings ; where, under a sense of a 
 forward formal ministry, my soul mourned and 
 was cloathed with sorrow. The next day we 
 had a precious meeting, and the same evening 
 another with the ministers and solid friends, in 
 which it became my concern to set forth the 
 care they ought to exercise over each other, 
 and how necessary it was to deal plainly with 
 those who did not keep their places. Truth 
 owned us together, and I believe the opportu- 
 nity will be remembered. 
 
 My mind being drawn towards Wales, my 
 companion John Pemberton, who had been with 
 me three years, having travelled together in much 
 love and unity, inclining to go towards London, 
 we parted in the same love ; and I, accompa- 
 nied by my kind friend Richard Brewster, went 
 to Henry Gray's at Godmanchester in Hunt- 
 ingdonshire, and the next day to Wellingbo- 
 rough in Northamptonshire ; and were at their 
 two meetings on first day the twenty -third of 
 the ninth month; which were heavy for want of 
 more faithful inward labourers : that evening I 
 had also a sitting with a sick friend. 
 
 Next morning my friend R. Brewster re- 
 turned homewards, and several friends coming 
 to take leave of me, I had an opportunity to 
 remark to them the reason that their meetings 
 were so dull and cloudy ; for I thought I clearly 
 saw there was a neglect among them of putting 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 183 
 
 the discipline in practice, where disorders were 
 evident; and that this neglect had caused them 
 to suffer ; which would still continue and increase, 
 until they set the testimony of Truth over the 
 heads of such who by disorderly walking had 
 brought a reproach thereon. The friends were 
 affected, and acknowledged they believed it to 
 be the case amongst them. We parted in ten- 
 derness, and I proceeded on my journey with 
 an income of solid peace ; and after riding thir- 
 ty-seven miles reached Banbury in Oxfordshire, 
 and the next day Eatington in Warwickshire, 
 where I met with my friends Richard Partridge 
 and Mary Weston of London ; and we were 
 truly glad to see each other, spending the day 
 together, and had a meeting with friends in the 
 evening to our mutual comfort. We went in 
 company to Warwick and Coventry; and at the 
 meeting at the last place, which was comforta- 
 ble, I thought I sensibly felt the benefit of the 
 painful labour I had been exercised in when 
 there before. R. Partridge returning to Lon- 
 don, Mary Weston went with me to the quar- 
 terly-meeting at Leicester, which began with a 
 meeting of ministers and elders, and one for 
 worship and discipline was held the same day ; 
 the service in which lay heavy upon me, and 
 Truth favoured, the power thereof being felt to 
 the comfort of many ; and I wish that season 
 may not be forgotten by the members of that 
 meeting. On the first day following I went to 
 a general meeting at Badgeley, and had an 
 evening meeting at Daniel LythaPs at Poles- 
 worth, who hath a large family of hopeful ten- 
 der children. I next went to Allen England's 
 
184 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 at Tamworth, and had a satisfactory opportu 
 nity in his family, to which I had felt a drawing 
 in my mind for some time; but did not know 
 that it would fall so in the way to the quarterly- 
 meeting at Stafford ; which I attended, and there 
 met my friend Joshua Tofft, in company with 
 whom I returned to Ridgeley, aud next day had a 
 meeting at the widow Morris's, and another that 
 evening at Utoxeter, from thence to Leek, and 
 after a favoured meeting went home with Joshua 
 to Hargate ; where after resting one day, had 
 another meeting at Leek, and an opportunity with 
 some friends at Joshua Strangman's, wherewith 
 I had a degree of peace. 
 
 Accompanied by J. Tofft I went to a general 
 meeting at Eaton in Cheshire; then to Maccles- 
 field, Stockport, Morley, and Family, the last of 
 which was a good meeting. There my friend 
 Samuel Fothergill met me, and we went to a 
 meeting at Sutton. The next day Susanna 
 Fothergill and her brother Alexander came to 
 see me, and we had a comfortable time together 
 at Thomas Hough's, being owned by Truth. 
 I was next at a labourious meeting at Newton, 
 though it ended well, and after it I met again 
 with Joshua Tofft at Edgebury, and had a 
 meeting the next day at Middlewich ; then at 
 ISTantwich, and Chester, from whence rode to 
 John Bellows at Stretton. My travelling and 
 labours through Cheshire was in a particular 
 close manner, though there are some solid 
 friends in that county. 
 
 Passing to Shrewsbury in Shropshire, I was 
 at a meeting on first day at Colebrookdale and 
 had some close work ; but Truth seemed to 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 185 
 
 give victory. And in the evening at Abraham 
 Darby's house had an opportunity/ in which 
 the testimony of Truth prevailed to the tender- 
 ing some high and lofty young people ; whose 
 faults were told them in the power of the 
 searcher of hearts, for which the sincere were 
 truly thankful. 
 
 Next day returning to Shrewsbury, I went to 
 visit Benjamin Thomas and Richard Bellows, 
 who had been confined in prison about four 
 years and a half for their conscientious refusal 
 to pay tithes ; and we had a comfortable season 
 together in the jail; feeling the living presence 
 of the Lord, which makes his people free, even 
 in prisons. 
 
 The day following had a meeting in this 
 town, and one in the evening at the house of 
 John Young, both which afforded some peace ; 
 but the life of Truth is at a low state in Shrop- 
 shire, and the professors with us few in num- 
 ber. 
 
 I then passed into North- Wales, to Charles 
 Lloyd's at Dolobran in Montgomeryshire, John 
 Young being with me, and had a meeting there. 
 At this place there was formerly a large meet- 
 ing ; but it is now much declined. From thence 
 we went to Tydenigarrig in Merrionethshire, 
 and had a meeting with a few sincere friends at 
 the house of Lewis Owen ; after which I pro- 
 ceeded on my visit to the other meetings in this 
 county ; first at Llwindu in the family of Hum- 
 phrey Owen, which was a comfortable time, 
 though no other friends live in this place ; then 
 at the house of John Goodwin in Esgingoch in 
 Montgomeryshire, where were several tender 
 
 q2 
 
186 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 friends ; but the living are scarcely able to bear 
 the weight of those professors, who although 
 they know the truth, do not abide therein, and 
 so are as withered branches cast forth. Next 
 was a pretty large and satisfactory meeting at 
 Talcoyd in Radnorshire, then at Cwm, and 
 Gluerindrew, and on a first day at Penbank, 
 where are many professors, though but few solid 
 friends; after which at Penplace and Caermar- 
 then, which last meeting was much to my satis- 
 faction, the few friends here being of the better 
 sort. From hence to Haverfordwest with 
 friends by themselves mostly ; and staying their 
 meetings on first day, that in the afternoon was 
 open and satisfactory as to other professors who 
 came in ; but pride and worldly mindedness 
 liath much hurt the members of our society, 
 though there are a few tender friends. In 
 the evening I had another opportunity with 
 friends, and was enabled to relieve my mind 
 among them with a degree of thankfulness. 
 Next meeting was at Jamestown, and in the 
 evening of the day following at Lara with the 
 people of the town ; who behaved civilly, but 
 seemed barren as to religion in a right sense. 
 There is but one in this town in unity with 
 friends, and he seemed near his end, whom I 
 visited. After crossing a ferry near a mile 
 broad, not Without great danger, being driven 
 on shore and the wind very high, the boat was 
 likely to fill with water, that I was obliged to 
 go over a marsh to Caermarthen, being thank- 
 ful for the deliverance ; where I had a public 
 meeting with the town's people, to a good de- 
 gree of satisfaction : and next morning met with 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 187 
 
 my brother William Brown at Swanzey, and 
 we were made joyful in the company of each 
 other. Here we had two meetings, and another 
 with friends selected, in which he got some re- 
 lief. After his leaving me here having a con- 
 cern on my mind I visited the families of friends, 
 though not without fear ; but felt the help and 
 strength of my great and good Master, who fur- 
 nished me with power and skill to discharge my 
 duty, both to the luke-warm and the corrupt dis- 
 orderly professors, without wounding his own 
 children, some of whom there are in this town. 
 I staid their meeting on fourth day, which sea- 
 son being divinely favoured, I pray may not be 
 forgotten, the power which alone can enable to 
 tread on scorpions or serpents, and preserve from 
 the force of deadly poison, being over all. The 
 honour, praise, aud glory, be ascribed to the Lord 
 w ho is worthy for ever ! 
 
 Next day I rested, and in a degree of hum- 
 ble thankfulness made these remarks. 
 
 I continued many days longer in this town, 
 in which time had divers meetings, some w here- 
 of were very satisfactory, many of the town's 
 people attending ; and the good hand of the 
 Lord was stretched forth towards them ; for 
 which I was truly thankful. After spending 
 sixteen days among them I went to Llantrishon, 
 and the next day had a meeting at Trewaruge ; 
 then one at Hillary with a tender inquiring peo- 
 ple ; also at Cardiff with a seeking people, who 
 had separated themselves from the public wor- 
 ship and met together in silence : this opportu- 
 nity was an instructive season to them. On the 
 first day following I was at Pontipool, where 
 
188 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 at two meetings I had many close things to de- 
 liver, observing want of order among them ; in 
 the evening had an opportunity with some of 
 the friends most active in the discipline, and en- 
 deavoured to discharge myself; and on third 
 day a large and pretty open meeting. Being 
 detained by a great snow, I had another meet- 
 ing with friends of the foremost rank on sixth 
 day, in which I cleared my mind of a great bur- 
 den, which I had borne on account of a formal 
 ministry among them. My next meeting was 
 at Shere-Newton, which was pretty large though 
 dull, the savour of Truth being much lost among 
 friends here ; yet I was favoured with strength 
 to discharge myself, and in the feeling sense of 
 peace went that night to the passage over the 
 Severn, and next day to Bristol, my friend and 
 kind landlord James Griffiths bearing me com- 
 pany from his own house at Swanzey. 
 
 On third day I attended their meeting in Bris- 
 tol, but sat in silence, and was very heavy-heart- 
 ed, under a sense of a forward spirit, which 
 would prompt to answer the expectations of the 
 people, and is apt to prevail on some who seem 
 to be called to the work of the ministry ; but 
 Truth only blesseth its own motion. 
 
 I continued in and near this city about four 
 weeks, attended their several meetings, but did 
 not feel relief from the burden I was under : and 
 on the fifteenth of the first month, 1754, hear- 
 ing that my brother William Brown was at Ann 
 Young's at Erthcot, I went there to see him, 
 and we were comforted in each others company, 
 and next being their meeting day, we attended 
 it to our refreshment ; from whence we returned 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 189 
 
 together to Bristol, where we tarried until the 
 twenty -sixth, in which time I had several open 
 meetings, which set me at liberty to leave that 
 city : when we again parted, and I took meet- 
 ings at Ulverstone, Thornbury, Sadsbury, Ded- 
 martin, Tedbury, and two at Nailsworth, and 
 another there in the evening : when I had an 
 opportunity to the ease of my mind, heavily op- 
 pressed on account of the formal professors of 
 truth, to the comfort of the faithful, and caused 
 thankfulness. 
 
 From thence calling to visit the widow Fow- 
 ler who was in affliction, I went to meetings 
 at Painswick, Gloucester, Ross in Hereford- 
 shire, Almerly, Leominster, and Uphan, where 
 I visited the wives of the two friends before 
 mentioned, who are imprisoned at Shrewsbury 
 for their testimony against tithes; then return- 
 ing to Leominster attended the monthly-meet- 
 ing there in which truth owned us ; and taking 
 a meeting at Broomsgrove went to Worcester, 
 and on first day was at two comfortable meet- 
 ings, and another on third day ; and the next 
 day attended the quarterly-meeting, which was 
 a precious time, wherein friends were comfort- 
 ed : and finding a concern on my mind I went 
 into the women's meeting, wherein the power 
 of Truth accompanied, which is the crown of our 
 religious meetings. Here is a tender seed, es- 
 pecially amongst the female sex, which will 
 thrive if this Divine power is kept unto. 
 
 Being now clear of this city, I departed with 
 peace to meetings at Tewskbury, Cheltenham, 
 and again to Nailsworth, where I was at two 
 meetings, which though hard, I had an evidence 
 
190 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that the Lord had not forsaken his seeking peo- 
 ple. After attending a conference with several 
 friends endeavouring to compose a difference, 
 which ended to satisfaction, I proceeded to the 
 quarterly-meeting for Gloucestershire held at 
 Tedbury, where I again met with my brother 
 W. B. Divine goodness and a good degree of 
 the authority of Truth attending in the time of 
 worship, and in transacting the affairs of the 
 church. 
 
 Next day my brother went to Bath and I to 
 Cirencester, where I had a hard and dull meet- 
 ing, the professors of Truth having too much 
 departed from the savour thereof; at another in 
 the evening I had an evidence of having dis- 
 charged my duty. Then proceeded to meetings 
 at Farringdon in Berkshire, Litchfield, Burford 
 in Oxfordshire, Milton, Stow in Gloucester- 
 shire, Chipping-Norton, Charlbury, Witney, 
 Abingdon, Warbury, North-End, and from 
 thence to High-Wiccomb ; where the weather 
 being very cold I tarried six days, visiting se- 
 veral families of sick friends ; and the last pub- 
 lic meeting being in the evening, many of the 
 town's people attended, and it was a solid op- 
 portunity. From thence I went to Amersham, 
 though with difficulty on account of the snow, 
 and on first day had a meeting at Chesham ; 
 then to Hampstead, and had there a meeting, 
 which was much enlarged by the scholars of 
 William Squire's school, several of whom were 
 affected ; then having a good opportunity with 
 friends at Albans, I went to London, where I 
 remained seven weeks and three days, visiting 
 the meetings ; and felt much of the weight and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 191 
 
 burden of the service before me there ; and in 
 the opening and authority of Truth, I had to 
 speak to the present state of our society, not 
 only to the instruction of the seeking children 
 and comforting of the mourners, but also by 
 way of rebuke to the disorderly, and close 
 warning to the rebellious. 
 
 During my continuance here I felt my mind 
 drawn towards Wiltshire, and thought of at- 
 tending the quarterly- meeting there ; but on the 
 day on which I expected to set forward, I found 
 a stop in my mind : though not relieved from a 
 solid concern, which engaged me to inquire se- 
 cretly what I should do; for notwithstanding 
 this concern to Wiltshire, my burden respecting 
 London seemed rather to increase ; but as I kept 
 quiet, I found my heart warmed in love and my 
 mind opened, and influenced to write an Epistle 
 to that quarterly- meeting, which with thankful- 
 ness I then esteemed a great favour from my 
 great and good Master, being in a poor state of 
 health, the weather unfavourable, and the jour- 
 ney long. So in the opening of Truth, I wrote 
 as followeth : 
 
 " To Friends in Wiltshire. 
 
 " Having had strong desires in my mind for 
 your welfare in the Truth, I purposed to have 
 attended your quarterly-meeting, but being lett 
 at this time, and not knowing that I shall ever 
 have an opportunity to see you, I feel a freedom 
 to visit you with a few lines in the opening and 
 love of Truth, which flows to you- ward. 
 
 « Dear Friends, male and female, old and 
 
192 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 young, as many of you as are desirous to be 
 called the children of God, and followers of 
 Christ Jesus, be. humble, that you may be taught 
 of him ; for it is the humble that he teaches of 
 his ways. And be ye meek and low in heart, 
 that you may serve him in your generation, and 
 one another in his pure fear ; so you will know 
 him for your rest, and his peace your quiet ha- 
 bitation. 
 
 " My soul hath mourned, and is in some de- 
 gree covered therewith at this time, under a 
 sense that the love of the world, and its plea- 
 sures and earthly delights, abound in too many, 
 which is iniquity ; and because thereof the love 
 of many towards God waxeth cold ; and for 
 want of witnessing the love of God in a pure 
 heart, the mind becomes at ease, luke-warm, and 
 indifferent about the things which belong to our 
 peace and future happiness ; and so fathers and 
 mothers, masters and mistresses, become dull, 
 if not dead to that holy concern, which should 
 ever excite them, both by example and precept, 
 to instruct and train up their children and ser- 
 vants in all godliness of life and conversation. 
 
 " Oh dear friends ! search your hearts, and 
 diligently inquire whether something hath not 
 subtilly crept in, and stolen away your affections 
 from God ; and the deep attention of your minds 
 from the instructions of his holy Spirit of Truth; 
 and if this becomes your concern, I fully believe 
 that the Lord will bless you with enlightened 
 minds to see, and willing hearts to give up all 
 to the fire and sword: of his Word and Spirit, 
 that your hearts may be purged, and made ta- 
 bernacles and temples in which he w r ould take 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 193 
 
 delight to dwell. For if the soul is chaste in 
 love to God, and the eye of the mind single to 
 the instruction of the Spirit of Truth, the whole 
 body will be full of light. It is herein that the 
 children of God are preserved safe in their own 
 secret steps before the Lord, and free from giv- 
 ing occasion of stumbling to others. 
 
 " I am fully persuaded there is a remnant 
 amongst you, who feelingly know, that the liv- 
 ing sense of the presence and power of God, in 
 your meetings both for worship and discipline, 
 is not plentifully enjoyed, but is at a low ebb : 
 and it is in my mind to let you know what has 
 appeared to me to be as one great reason, viz. 
 There are many professors of the Truth amongst 
 you, who delight to be accounted of as friends 
 in esteem in the society; who have a smooth 
 and fawning behaviour, and flattering tongues, 
 and do seek the love and friendship of such who 
 are friends of Truth, for their own honour and 
 credit, and the reputation of self. Dear friends, 
 of such beware, for their friendship is poison, 
 and their intimate fellowship, if cleaved unto, 
 is benumbing even to insensibility. And for 
 want of a clear discovery of that spirit, some 
 of the tender and sincere-hearted amongst you 
 have suffered. 
 
 "In whomsoever earthly mindedness pre- 
 vails, or the love of the world and its friend- 
 ship, there is a secret giving way to, and a gra- 
 dual reconciliation with its sordid practices ; 
 and the eye that once saw in the true light, be- 
 comes closed or dimmed, if not wholly blinded 
 by the god of this world. 
 
 R 
 
194 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 " Liberty is then taken by parents, and in- 
 dulgence is given to their children ; which oc- 
 casions pain and distress of heart to those who 
 have not lost thoir sight and feeling. But some, 
 for fear of being rebuked and disesteemed by 
 such who have a sense of them, will court their 
 affections ; with which bait they have been 
 taken, and so have been afraid to speak their 
 minds plainly lest they should offend, or drive 
 them further from the society; concluding there 
 is a tender thing in them, because they seem to 
 love friends. And so many who might have 
 made great progress have lost ground, for want 
 of speaking truth to their neighbours : and thus 
 the infection of pride, libertinism, and earthly 
 mindedness has spread and prevailed, even to 
 the hurt of some families, that were once ex- 
 ceedingly grieved therewith. 
 
 " Wherefore, my dear friends, fear God with 
 a perfect heart, and in his light watch over your 
 own selves and your families. So shall your 
 hearts be warmly influenced, and filled with 
 holy zeal, and love to God and his Truth ; in 
 which you will be bold to act in your meetings 
 for discipline ; and in the power of God, which 
 is the authority of the church, you will be able 
 to judge those who walk disorderly ; and being 
 faithful therein, you will remove the stumbling 
 blocks, and roll away the reproach which is im- 
 puted to the church. 
 
 " Then would the Lord feed such his faith- 
 ful labourers with his heavenly bread, and ho- 
 nour them with his life-giving presence ; and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 195 
 
 whether the disorderly would hear or forbear, 
 the Lord would be the shield and exceeding 
 great reward of his people, and fill their hearts 
 with praise to his name, who is worthy forever 
 and ever. 
 
 John Churchman." 
 
 London, the 4th of 
 the 4th month, 1754. 
 
 Let this be read in your men's, and women's meetings. 
 
 I have before hinted, that in my travelling to 
 the meetings in Wiltshire, and attending the 
 quarterly-meeting in the seventh month, old 
 stile, 1750, 1 was straitened to clear myself to- 
 wards them, which occasioned me to leave them 
 in pain of mind ; but now having sent them this 
 epistle I was made easy, believing they would 
 read it, and send copies thereof to their several 
 monthly-meetings ; which would be likely to be 
 heard by more friends than if my concern had 
 been delivered in the quarterly-meeting only. 
 Inclosing it to an innocent friend at Chippen- 
 ham, I desired him to deliver it to the said meet- 
 ing, which I afterwards understood he did, and 
 that friends had answered my request. 
 
 Now feeling my mind easy to leave London 
 for a while, I went to Esher in Surry, was the 
 next day at a large meeting at Kingston on 
 Thames, which was pretty open as to doctrine ; 
 the people seemed attentive and several much 
 tendered ; there are but few friends here. 
 
 I then visited divers other meetings in Hamp- 
 shire and Berkshire, being made thankful to 
 the great author of all good, who had been 
 with me in the journey under my indisposition 
 
196 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 of body. Coming to London I met with many 
 friends from different parts of the nation in or- 
 der to attend the yearly-meeting, which began 
 on the second day of the sixth month, and con- 
 tinued ten days, being a very large, and, in the 
 main, a solid meeting. Many weighty affairs 
 relating to our religious society were therein 
 considered. It was then also agreed, that in 
 future this meeting should begin with a meet- 
 ing of ministers and elders, on the seventh day 
 of the week at the third hour in the afternoon, 
 that inquiry might be made into the state of 
 the ministry in general, which I hope may be 
 attended with good service hereafter. 
 
 On the eleventh of the sixth month and third 
 day of the week, after the parting meeting I 
 went from London to Margarets, in Hertford- 
 shire ; next day attended a yearly -meeting in 
 Hertford, which was very large. 
 
 The next day I accompanied several friends 
 who were appointed to visit a monthly-meeting, 
 the members of which paid tithes, and con- 
 tended for liberty so to do without censure. 
 We had a conference with them ; in which the 
 testimony of Truth being set over them for that 
 time, they were taken and confounded in their 
 own arguments. 
 
 After this I attended a general or yearly- 
 meeting at Baldock, which was very large and 
 satisfactory ; returning next morning to Lon- 
 don, I was truly thankful that I had been ena- 
 bled to attend these three meetings, enjoying 
 great peace in my labours there, which lay 
 heavy upon me. My gracious and good Mas- 
 ter gave me wisdom, boldness, and strength to 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 197 
 
 clear myself in the love and power of Truth, 
 to the tendering of many hearts. May I ever 
 remember his mercies to me, and be enabled to 
 bless and praise his holy name, who is worthy 
 for ever ! 
 
 Continuing in and near London about ten 
 days, I then went to a large satisfactory meet- 
 ing at Rochester in Kent, where were several 
 clergymen, who behaved well ; next day had a 
 meeting at Loos in the house of Thomas Crisp 
 with a few friends and divers others ; then go- 
 ing to my friend William Patterson's, at Can- 
 terbury, I was at their meeting in that town, 
 and the day following had one on the Isle of 
 Tlianet, where there are a few friendly people. 
 The meeting next day at Dover was pretty 
 open. On first day I was at two meetings at 
 Folkstone, which were dull and heavy ; though 
 there are many friends in that place, amongst 
 whom I was favoured with strength to ease my 
 mind. 
 
 I then visited the meetings at Marsham, 
 Ashford, Tenterden, to which friends of Cole- 
 brook came, Gardner-street, Lewis, Bright- 
 helmstone, Ifield, Horsham, Shipley, Arundle, 
 and Chichester; when finding a concern to visit 
 the families of friends in this city, I spent two 
 days in the service and had some close exer- 
 cise, though a good degree of peace. I also 
 attended their two meetings on first day, which 
 were heavy and laborious ; for though here are 
 some tender people, yet the spirit of the world 
 has brought a blast on several professors. 
 
 From hence I went to Gosport in Hampshire 
 where we had a meeting; also one in the even- 
 b2 
 
198 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ing at Portsmouth, John Griffith and Jeremiah 
 Waring being with me ; then going to South- 
 ampton, went in a boat to Cow es on the Isle of 
 Wight, and the day after had a good meeting 
 at Newport ; likew ise one in the evening with 
 the town's people. After another opportunity 
 with friends, returned to Cowes, where I 
 had another with a few of our brethren ; so 
 went back to Southampton, and on first day the 
 twenty-first of the seventh month attended two 
 meetings at Pool in Dorsetshire, which were 
 dull and laborious ; a worldly libertine spirit 
 has brought a blast on many. Next day we 
 had a meeting with a few friends at Weymouth, 
 then at Bridport; truth seems at a low ebb in 
 Dorsetshire. The next meeting was at Ring- 
 wood in Hampshire, which was dull : where 
 the life of Truth is not abode in, people will 
 wither. The same evening we had a meeting 
 to pretty good satisfaction at Fordingbridge ; 
 then one at Alton ; at which place we had ano- 
 ther very satisfactory meeting, on first day, and 
 that evening at Godalmen ; the next day had 
 a meeting at Capel in Surry and in the even- 
 ing at Darking; on the day following at 
 Hyegate and in the evening at Croydon ; from 
 whence on fourth day morning, the thirty-first 
 of the seventh month, coming again to London 
 for the last time, I spent eight days more with 
 friends in that city. 
 
 On my coming herefrom Albans, on the nine- 
 teenth of the third month before-mentioned, I felt 
 great fear to possess my mind ; having at sun- 
 dry times before spent about thirteen weeks in 
 that city, mostly under a close exercise of spirit, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 199 
 
 without an openness to say much in public or 
 private to obtain relief; so that to go thither 
 again appeared to me like entering into a cloud, 
 although I was secretly bound in spirit to pro- 
 ceed; but attending all the meetings as they 
 came in course, I felt a gradual openness and 
 strength to declare those things, which before 
 had been sealed up ; being now made sensible, 
 that every opening or vision, which the Lord 
 is pleased to manifest to his servants, is not for 
 immediate utterance : but the Lord who gives 
 judgment should be carefully waited upon, who 
 only can shew, by the manifestation of his hea- 
 venly light, the time when ; and by the gentle 
 putting forth of his arm of power, abilitates in 
 the opening of his spirit, which giveth tongue 
 and utterance to speak the word of Truth, in 
 the demonstration of the spirit and power ; that 
 openeth a door of entrance in the hearts of them 
 who hear. Our dear Lord said, " For it is 
 not ye that speak ; but the spirit of your Father, 
 which speaketh in you," Mat. x. 20. 
 
 Now as my service opened and strength in- 
 creased, I was invited by some in their houses 
 to dine, who before looked on me with indiffe- 
 rence ; but now said they would be glad to see 
 me there to be more acquainted. But as I felt, 
 on my first arrival in this city, a secret prohibi- 
 tion from going much from house to house with- 
 out inward leave, so now the same restraint con- 
 tinued with me ; lest by going to such places I 
 might somewhat contradict by example, the pre- 
 cepts which Truth had directed me to deliver in 
 public ; to wit, a life of self-denial and tempe- 
 rance in eating and drinking, with a steady in- 
 
200 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ward attention to the teachings of the spirit of 
 Grace, in order to know an establishment of 
 heart thereby, as being the certain duty of every 
 follower of Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
 Thus I think I have seen, that there is great 
 need to be exceedingly careful, when the Lord 
 is pleased to reach unto and convict disorderly 
 walkers by instrumental means, that we do not 
 lessen the weight of Divine reproof, by being 
 familiar with such as if all was well ; for they 
 are apt to be fond of the instrument through 
 whom they have been reached ; and if, by their 
 fondling, they gain the esteem of such a friend, 
 it seems to heal them before their wounds are 
 searched to the bottom. So that I rather chose 
 retirement, and to live as private as I well could. 
 Now I also saw, that if I had sought many ac- 
 quaintance, and thereby beheld the conduct and 
 behaviour of some in their families, my way 
 would not have been so open as it now was. 
 
 In many meetings the love and power of 
 Truth was felt by the humble dependent chil- 
 dren, whose eyes were fixed on their heavenly 
 Helper ; and at some of the last in London, I 
 had with an innocent boldness to appeal to 
 friends to bear witness of the manner in which 
 I had spent my time in that city : that I had 
 not sought to be popular, nor endeavoured to 
 gain the praise of any, or the friendship of those 
 who were not the real friends of Truth, keep- 
 ing in a good degree under the innocency and 
 simplicity thereof; yet with a near affection I 
 felt my spirit united to the children of the hea- 
 venly family amongst them ; but had never 
 sought to steal their love from the great parent 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 201 
 
 to whom they did belong ; my prayer and 
 heart's desire having been, that their abode 
 might be in the Truth, and their affections 
 placed on God, and the whole delight of their 
 hearts to meditate in his holy law. That if 
 through me as an instrument they had received 
 any benefit, the praise belonged to the Lord, the 
 only supreme good ; and if in future they did 
 but love, fear and serve him, it was little to me 
 whether they ever remembered that I had been 
 amongst them. Nevertheless, a participation of 
 the love of God by the members of the true 
 church, has taught them to know the commu- 
 nion of saints, and the deeply engraven unity of 
 the one spirit, which makes them as epistles 
 written in one another's hearts, which time or 
 distance can never erase. 
 
 Having spent first and last in London about 
 twenty-three weeks, on the ninth day of the 
 eighth month and sixth of the week, after a solid 
 meeting at Grace Church-street, I felt myself at 
 liberty to set my face homewards. The same ship 
 in which I came over, and the same captain, Ste- 
 phen Mesnard, being now ready to go for Phila- 
 delphia, I went that night to Gravesend accom- 
 panied by about twelve friends : the next morn- 
 ing we went on board the ship, where we had a 
 precious uniting time, and then returned on shore 
 to dine. After which my friend Samuel Fother- 
 gill and myself taking leave of our friends, went 
 on board again, and passed down the Thames 
 to Margaret Bay, near the Isle of Thanet. On 
 first day the eleventh we went to the Downs by 
 Deal. Though very much indisposed in body, 
 I enjoyed such quietude of mind, that I was 
 
202 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 borne up, and preserved from repining. Samuel 
 Fothergill before-mentioned, came over with me 
 on a religious visit to friends in America ; and 
 during our passage, great nearness was between 
 lis ; we held meetings constantly on the first and 
 fifth days of the week, and landed near Wil- 
 mington, in Newcastle county on Delaware, on 
 the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, 1754, in 
 the forenoon. 
 
 My brother William Brown with our friend 
 Joseph Dixon from the county of Durham in 
 Great Britain, who was coming over also on a 
 religious visit to friends in these colonies, hav- 
 ing embarked in another ship, whicli sailed 
 some time before us, arrived likewise the same 
 day ; and quite unexpected to each other we 
 met in this town to our mutual joy and satisfac- 
 tion ; from whence after dining, they with Sa- 
 muel Fothergill proceeded up to Philadelphia, 
 and I went home that evening, where I found a 
 kind reception. 
 
 In this visit I was absent from home four 
 years and twelve days ; having travelled by 
 land about nine thousand one hundred miles, 
 and attended about one thousand meetings, be- 
 sides those in London and Dublin ; in which ci- 
 ties I spent near half a year, and visited all the 
 families of friends in North and South Holland. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, m 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 His attending the Quarterly-meetings at Philadelphia 
 and Concord — The Yearly-meeting at Philadel- 
 phia, and Quarterly-meeting at Shrewsbury in 
 New Jersey. — An account of the Exercise attend- 
 ing his mind relating to war and the public com- 
 motions. — A conference of several Friends thereon, 
 with their address to the Assembly of Pennsylvania 
 on the subject, and an epistle to Friends in that 
 Province in the year 1755. — His attendance of the 
 general Spring-meeting in Philadelphia in 1756* 
 and some account of the calamities of the Indian 
 war in Pennsylvania. — An account of the Yearly- 
 meeting in Philadelphia the same year. — A rela- 
 tion of a visit of Peter Gardner to Friends in 
 Scotland. — A brief account of an Indian treaty at 
 Easton in 1757. — Some sentences expressed in two 
 of his public testimonies. 
 
 Our yearly-meeting for worship at Notting- 
 ham was held in the week after I landed, and 
 I was greatly rejoiced to see many of my friends 
 and acquaintance there. 
 
 In the eleventh month following I went up 
 to the quarterly-meeting in Philadelphia, and 
 returned to ours at Concord, where also was 
 Samuel Fothergill. It was a very large meet- 
 ing, in which he was divinely opened in speak- 
 ing to the state of friends in his public ministry, 
 and serviceable in the discipline. He also at- 
 tended our general-meeting in the same month 
 at London-Grove, which was also large and 
 profitable ; then went towards Lancaster on his 
 way to the southern provinces. 
 
 I spent this winter mostly at and near home; 
 
204 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 at times attending some neighbouring meetings : 
 until towards the spring I took a small journey 
 to seven or eight others. 
 
 During my late travels in Europe, beholding 
 the declension of many of the professors of 
 Truth from the ancient simplicity in habit and 
 deportment, I sometimes was ready to cry out 
 and say, O Pennsylvania ! may thine inhabit- 
 ants be for ever strangers to the vanities of the 
 World, and the professors of Truth keep their 
 garments clean from the spots thereof, pride 
 and superfluity of every kind ; but now, with 
 sorrow of heart, I thought I beheld many of the 
 youth in our society taking their flight as into 
 the air, where the snares of the prince of the 
 power thereof are laid to catch them ; some of 
 whom being already so much ensnared to their 
 unspeakable hurt, I knew them not otherwise 
 than by their natural features and a family re- 
 semblance ; their demeanour and habit being so 
 exceedingly altered in a little more than four 
 years ; yet to my comfort I saw a few, who by 
 walking in the Light, had escaped the wiles of 
 Satan, and were growing in the Truth. 
 
 In the fourth month, 1755, I attended the 
 general annual-meeting at Duck-Creek; also 
 meetings at Little-Creek and George's-Creek, 
 the last of which was more open than I ex- 
 pected, several other societies being there, who 
 behaved orderly. After which I spent most of 
 the summer at home, diligently attending our 
 meetings for worship and discipline : and had 
 to observe that the general part of the members 
 of our meeting, were for some time remarkable 
 in their care to come together near the hour ap- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 205 
 
 pointed, and we had some precious opportuni- 
 ties, many of which were held in silence; 
 wherein I often saw it to be a time of renewed 
 visitation to many, which if not carefully im- 
 proved, would not be continued very long ; but 
 that a more trying season would overtake us ; of 
 which I was sometimes led to speak as Truth 
 opened, wherein the door of outward ministry 
 would be more closed up, which would prove 
 the religion of the professors of truth, and mani- 
 fest what they attended meetings for ; whether 
 to wait upon God for the Spiritual Bread, or 
 on man for outward ministry. 
 
 In the ninth month I attended our yearly- 
 meeting in Philadelphia, which was large and 
 solid ; wherein many weighty matters coming 
 under consideration, were concluded to satis- 
 faction ; that many friends parted in a feeling 
 sense of the overshadowing of the heavenly 
 wing, with reverent thankfulness of heart. 
 
 In the tenth month I attended Shrewsbury 
 quarterly-meeting in East- Jersey, at which also 
 were our friends John Evans and Joseph 
 White. It was large ; the sittings thereof be- 
 ing favoured with a degree of the divine pre- 
 sence ; we also attended the monthly-meeting 
 there and had some service ; friends were en- 
 couraged to deal with such who were disorder- 
 ly in conduct, there having been some slackness 
 among them in that respect. 
 
 As the sound of war, and public commotions^ 
 had now entered the borders of these heretofore 
 peaceful provinces, some solid thoughts attend- 
 ed my mind at Shrewsbury, respecting the na- 
 
 s 
 
■2D6 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 tare of giving money for the king's use ; know- 
 ing the same to be intended for the carrying on 
 of war. John Evans accompanying me home- 
 wards, we took three meetings in our way, the 
 last being at Evesham ; at which place I told 
 him that I felt an engagement of mind to go to 
 Philadelphia, and he consented to go with me. 
 When we came to the city, the Assembly of 
 Pennsylvania being sitting, we understood that 
 a committee of the house was appointed to pre^ 
 pare a bill, for granting a sum of money for the 
 king's use, to be issued in paper bills of credit, 
 to be called in and sunk at a stated time by a 
 tax on the inhabitants ; on which account seve- 
 ral friends were under a close exercise of mind ; 
 some of whom being providentially together, 
 and conferring on the subject, concluded it was 
 expedient to request a conference with those 
 members of the house who were of our religious 
 profession. On applying to the Speaker, who 
 was one himself, we obtained an opportunity of 
 conversing with them ; after which, we believed 
 that an address to the Assembly would be neces- 
 sary ; but we then being only few in number, 
 consulted with several weighty friends thereon. 
 At length upwards of twenty met together; who, 
 after solidly considering the matter before us, 
 were all of opinion that an address to the As- 
 sembly would be proper and necessary. Where- 
 upon one was drawn up, which being consider- 
 ed, agreed to and signed by all of us, we went 
 together to the house, and presenting it to the 
 Speaker, it was read while we were present; 
 a copy whereof here follows, viz. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 207 
 
 To the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province 
 of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met. 
 
 The address of some of the people called Qua- 
 kers in the said Province, on behalf of them- 
 selves and others. 
 
 " The consideration of the measures which 
 have lately been pursued, and are now propos- 
 ed, having been weightily impressed on our 
 minds, we apprehend that w r e should fall short 
 of our duty to you, to ourselves, and to our 
 brethren in religious fellowship, if we did not 
 in this manner inform you, that although we 
 shall at all times heartily and freely contribute, 
 according to our circumstances, either by the 
 payment of taxes, or in such other manner 
 as may be judged necessary, towards the exi- 
 gencies of government; and sincerely desire 
 that due care may be taken, and proper 
 funds provided, for raising money to cultivate 
 our friendship with our Indian neighbours, 
 and to support such of our fellow subjects who 
 are or may be in distress, and for such other 
 like benevolent purposes : yet as the raising 
 sums of money, and putting them into the hands 
 of committees, who may apply them to purposes 
 inconsistent with the peaceable testimony we 
 profess, and have borne to the world, appears to 
 us, in its consequences, to be destructive of our 
 religious liberties ; we apprehend many among 
 us, will be under the necessity of suffering, ra- 
 ther than consenting thereto, by the payment of a 
 tax for such purposes ; and thus the fundamental 
 part of our constitution may be essentially af- 
 fected ; and that free enjoyment of liberty of 
 
208 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 conscience, for the sake of which our forefathers 
 left their native country, and settled this, then a 
 wilderness, by degrees be violated. 
 
 " We sincerely assure you, we have no tem- 
 poral motives for thus addressing you ; and 
 could we have preserved peace in our own minds, 
 and with each other, we should have declined 
 it ; being unwilling to give you any unnecessary 
 trouble, and deeply sensible of your difficulty in 
 discharging the trust committed to you, irre- 
 proachable, in these perilous times ; which hath 
 engaged our fervent desires, that the immediate 
 instructions of Supreme wisdom may influence 
 your minds; and that being preserved in a 
 steady attention thereto, you may be enabled to 
 secure peace and tranquillity to yourselves, and 
 those you represent, by pursuing measures con- 
 sistent with our peaceable principles ; and then 
 we trust we may continue humbly to confide in 
 the protection of that Almighty Power, whose 
 providence has heretofore been as walls and 
 bulwarks round about us. 
 
 « Philadelphia, 11th Month 7th, 1755." 
 
 A bill was, however, brought in by the com- 
 mittee of the Assembly, and a law enacted for 
 granting a large sum of money proposed to be 
 sunk, or called in by a general tax. 
 
 When this service before related was over, 
 which I apprehended it my duty to be concern- 
 ed in, I returned home ; but a close exercise 
 remained on me as well as on the minds of di- 
 vers other friends, on account of the law now 
 passed ; and as care had been taken to apprise 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £09 
 
 the Assembly of the solid sentiments of friends 
 thereon, that we apprehended our charter re- 
 specting liberty of conscience would thereby be 
 affected, therefore a large committee of the year- 
 ly-meeting, which had been appointed to visit 
 the quarterly and monthly-meetings, met at 
 Philadelphia in the twelfth month, had a con- 
 ference thereon, together with another committee 
 nominated to correspond with the meeting for 
 sufferings in London ; and after several solid 
 opportunities of waiting on the Lord to be right- 
 ly instructed ; in which being favoured with a 
 renewed sense of the ownings of Truth, many 
 friends thought they could not be clear as faithful 
 watchmen, without communicating to their breth- 
 ren, their mind and judgment concerning the pay. 
 ment of such a tax; for which purpose an epis- 
 tle was prepared, considered, agreed to, and 
 signed by twenty-one friends ; copies thereof 
 were concluded to be communicated to the 
 monthly-meetings, being as follows, viz. 
 
 An Epistle of tender love and caution to Friendjs 
 in Pennsylvania. 
 
 " Dear and well-beloved Friends, 
 u We salute you in a fresh and renewed sense 
 of our Heavenly Father's Love, which hath 
 graciously overshadowed us in several weighty 
 and solid conferences we have had together, with 
 many other friends, upon the present situation 
 of the affairs of the society in this province ; and 
 in that love, we find our spirits engaged to ac- 
 quaint you, that under a solid exercise of mind 
 to seek for council and direction, from the High 
 s 2 
 
210 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Priest of our profession, who is the Prince of 
 Peace ; we believe he hath renewedly favour- 
 ed us with strong and lively evidences, that in 
 his due and appointed time, the day which hath 
 dawned in these latter ages, foretold by the Pro- 
 phet, wherein swords should be beaten into 
 plough- shares, and spears into pruning-hooks, 
 shall gloriously rise higher and higher ; and the 
 Spirit of the Gospel, which teaches to love ene- 
 mies, prevail to that degree, that the art of war 
 shall be no more learned. And that it is his 
 determination to exalt this blessed day, in this 
 our age, if in the depth of humility we receive 
 his instructions, and obey his voice. And be- 
 ing painfully apprehensive, that the large sum 
 granted by the late Act of Assembly for the 
 king's use, is principally intended for purposes 
 inconsistent with our peaceable testimony ; we 
 therefore think, that as we cannot be concerned 
 in wars and fightings, so neither ought we to 
 contribute thereto, by paying the tax directed by 
 the said act, though suffering be the consequence 
 of our refusal, which we hope to be enabled to 
 bear with patience. And though some part of 
 the money to be raised by the said act, is said to 
 be for such benevolent purposes, as supporting 
 our friendship with our Indian neighbours, and 
 relieving the distresses of our fellow subjects, 
 who have suffered in the present calamities, for 
 whom our hearts are deeply pained ; and we af- 
 fectionately, and with bowels of tenderness, sym- 
 pathize with them therein ; and we could most 
 cheerfully contribute to those purposes, if they 
 vrere not so mixed, that we cannot, in the man- 
 ner proposed, shew our hearty concurrence there- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 211 
 
 with, without at the same time assenting to, or 
 allowing ourselves in practices, which we ap- 
 prehend contrary to the testimony which the 
 Lord hath given us to hear, for his name and 
 truth's sake. 
 
 "And having the health and prosperity of 
 the society at heart, we earnestly exhort friends 
 to wait for the appearing of the true Light, and 
 stand in the council of God, that we may know 
 him to he the Rock of Salvation, and place of 
 refuge for ever. And beware of the spirit of 
 the world, that is unstable, and often draws into 
 dark and timorous reasonings ; lest the god 
 thereof should be suffered to blind the eye of 
 the mind. And such, not knowing the sure 
 Foundation, the Rock of Ages, may partake of 
 the terrors and fears, that are not known to the 
 inhabitants of that place, where the sheep and 
 lambs of Christ ever had a quiet habitation; 
 which a remnant have to say, to the praise of his 
 name, they have been blessed with a measure of, 
 in this day of distress. 
 
 " And as our fidelity to the present govern- 
 ment, and our willingly paying all taxes for 
 purposes which do not interfere with our con- 
 sciences, may justly exempt us from the impu- 
 tation of disloyalty : so we earnestly desire that 
 all who by a deep and quiet seeking for direc- 
 tion from the Holy Spirit, are or shall be con- 
 vinced that he calls us as a people to this testimo- 
 ny ; may dwell under the guidance of the same Di- 
 vine Spirit, and manifest by the meekness and 
 humility of their conversation, that they are really 
 under that influence ; and therein may know 
 true fortitude and patience to bear that ; and every 
 
212 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 other testimony committed to them, faithfully 
 and uniformly. And that all friends may know 
 their spirits cloathed and covered with true 
 charity, the bond of christian fellowship, where- 
 in we again tenderly salute you, and remain 
 your Friends and Brethren." 
 
 " Philadelphia, 12th Mouth 16th, 1755." 
 
 In the year 1756 I attended our general 
 spring meeting in Philadelphia, at which we 
 had the company of our dear friends Samuel 
 Fothergill and Catherine Pay ton from Great 
 Britain, and her companion Mary Peasley from 
 Ireland ; and it was a solemn edifying meeting. 
 
 The Indians having; burnt several houses on 
 the frontiers of this province, also at Gnaden- 
 hutten in Northampton county, and murdered 
 and scalped some of the inhabitants ; at the 
 time of this meeting two or three of the dead bo- 
 dies were brought to Philadelphia in a waggon, 
 with an intent, as was supposed, to animate the 
 people to unite in preparations of war to take 
 vengeance on the Indians, and destroy them. 
 They were carried along several of the streets, 
 many people following, cursing the Indians, 
 also the Quakers, because they would not join 
 in war for destruction of the Indians. The 
 sight of the dead bodies and the outcry of the 
 people, were very afflicting and shocking to me. 
 Standing at the door of a friend's house as they 
 passed along, my mind was humbled and turned 
 much inward, when I was made secretly to cry ; 
 What will become of Pennsylvania? For it 
 felt to me that many did not consider, that the 
 sins of the inhabitants, pride ; profane swearing; 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. v 213 
 
 drunkenness with other wickedness, were the 
 cause, that the Lord had suffered this calamity 
 and scourge to come upon them. The weight 
 of my exercise increasing as I walked along the 
 street ; at length it was said in my soul, This 
 land is polluted with blood, and in the day of 
 inquisition for blood, it will not only be required 
 at the frontiers and borders, but even in this 
 place where these bodies are now seen. I said 
 within myself, " How can this be ? since this 
 has been a land of peace, and as yet not much 
 concerned in war ;" but, as it were, in a moment 
 mine eyes turned to the case of the poor en- 
 slaved negroes. And however light a matter 
 they who have been concerned with them may 
 look upon the purchasing, selling, or keeping 
 those oppressed people in slavery, it then ap- 
 peared plain to me, that such were partakers in 
 iniquity, enoouragers of war and the shedding 
 of innocent blood ; which is often the case, 
 where those unhappy people are or have been 
 captivated and brought away for slaves. The 
 same day I went to Pine-street meeting under 
 an exercising mournful state of mind, and 
 thought I could be willing to sit among the peo- 
 ple undiscovered. 
 
 I attended our quarterly- meeting at Con- 
 cord in the fifth month, and in a few days after 
 went to the yearly-meeting at West-River in 
 Maryland, which was large and in a good de- 
 gree satisfactory ; then going to meeting at Her- 
 ring-Creek, and the Clifts, returned the follow- 
 ing first day to West-River, where I had a good 
 opportunity to clear myself towards friends of 
 that place ; being concerned on account of se* 
 
214 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 veral of the elders, who did not conduct so ex- 
 emplary as they ought before the youth ; and 
 left them relieved in my mind. From thence I 
 returned home, taking several meetings in my 
 way. 
 
 In the ninth month I was at our yearly-meet- 
 ing for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, held 
 this year at Burlington, which was large and 
 edifying ; many weighty matters being in much 
 brotherly love resulted to satisfaction. Our 
 friend Thomas Gawthrop from Great Britain 
 was there. In the time thereof our worthy 
 friend and brother John Evans of Gwynnedd 
 departing this life, Thomas and I went to attend 
 the burial ; on which solemn occasion, he had a 
 seasonable opportunity to remind a large gather- 
 ing of people of their latter end, and I thought 
 it was a solid time. 
 
 Being one of the committee appointed by the 
 yearly- meeting to visit the quarterly and month- 
 ly-meetings, I was careful in attending on that 
 service, as way was opened in company with 
 other friends ; as likewise our meeting for suf- 
 ferings this year established, which is held 
 monthly in Philadelphia; frequently taking 
 meetings in my way goiug and returning. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1757> I also attended 
 our general-meeting for ministers and elders 
 held at Philadelphia. 
 
 Having often remembered a remarkable ac- 
 count given me when in England by our ancient 
 worthy friend John Richardson ; which as it 
 made some impression on my mind I committed 
 to writing, and now reviving, think it is worthy 
 to be preserved ; being nearly as follows, though 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £15 
 
 I was not particular in regard to the time of the 
 occurrence : viz. 
 
 " Peter Gardner, a friend who lived in Es- 
 sex, had a concern to visit friends in Scotland ; 
 but being low in circumstances, and having a 
 wife and several children, was under discou- 
 ragement about it. The Lord in mercy conde- 
 scended to remove his doubts, by letting him 
 know he would be with him ; and though he 
 had no horse to ride, and was but a weakly man, 
 yet he would give him strength to perform the 
 journey, and sustain him so that he should not 
 want for what was sufficient. And having faith, 
 he laid his coucern before the monthly-meeting 
 he belonged to, with innocent weight; and 
 friends concurring with him therein, he took his 
 journey along the east side of the nation, through 
 Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire; and com- 
 ing to a week-day meeting at Bridlington, where 
 John Richardson then dwelt, he lodged at his 
 house. In the evening, the doors being shut, 
 Peter asked him if any friend lived that way, 
 pointing with his finger. John told him lie 
 pointed towards the sea, which was not far from 
 thence. He said he believed he must go and 
 see somebodv that way in the morning ; John 
 asked him ii he should go with him? he said 
 he believed it would not be best, and so went 
 to bed. 
 
 •'•' In the morning when John's wife had pre- 
 pared breakfast, he thought he would go and 
 see if the friend was well, but found the bed 
 empty, and that he was gone; at which John 
 Richardson wondered; but soon after Peter 
 came in, to whom John said, thou hast taken a 
 
£16 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 morning walk, come to breakfast. And before 
 they had done eating, a friend from the quay or 
 harbour, the way that Peter Gardner pointed to 
 over night, came in and said, " I wonder at thee 
 John, to send this man with such a message to 
 my house ;" and related as follows ; viz. That 
 he came to him as he was standing at the Fish- 
 market-place, looking on the sea, to observe the * 
 wind. That he asked him if he would walk 
 into his house. To which Peter answered that 
 he came for that purpose. This was in the twi- 
 light of the morning. That when he went into 
 the house, he inquired whether his wife was 
 well ; to which the man answered, that she was 
 sick in bed, and invited him to go in and see 
 her; he said he came so to do. Then being 
 conducted into the chamber where the sick wo- 
 man was, he sat down by her, and after a short 
 time told her, the will and resignation of her 
 mind was accepted instead of the deed ; and that 
 she was excused from the journey which had 
 been before her, and should die in peace with 
 God and men. Then turning to the man, her 
 husband, he said ; thy wife had a concern to 
 visit the churches in another country beyond the 
 sea, but thou wouldst not give her leave, so she 
 shall betaken from thee ; and behold, the Lord's 
 hand is against thee, and thou shalt be blasted 
 in whatsoever thou doest, and reduced to want 
 thy bread. So the man seemed angry with 
 John Richardson, who said to him, " Be still, 
 and weigh the matter ; for I knew not of the 
 friend's going to thy house ; but thought he was 
 in bed, and did not inform him about thee nor thy 
 wife." At which he went away. So Peter 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 217 
 
 pursued his journey towards Scotland, John 
 Richardson and another friend going with him 
 to Scarborough on horse-back, for he would not 
 let them go on foot with him ; he kept before 
 them full as fast as they chose to ride ; and 
 when they had gone about half-way, he gained 
 ground of them; and John said he was filled 
 with admiration, for he seemed to go with more 
 slight and ease, he thought, than ever he had 
 seen any man before. And riding fast to over- 
 take him, he thought he beheld a small white 
 cloud as it were encompassing his head. When 
 he overtook him, John said to him, Thou dost 
 travel very fast. Peter replied, my Master told 
 me before I left home, that he would give me 
 hind's feet, and he hath performed his promise 
 to me. 
 
 " When they came in sight of Scarborough, 
 Peter said, take me to a friend's house if there 
 is any there. John replied, I will take thee to 
 the place where I lodge, and if thou art not easy 
 there, I will go until we find a place, if it may 
 be. So John Richardson took him to his lodg- 
 ings, and just as they entered the door, they 
 heard some one go up stairs, and anon the wo- 
 man friend of the house coming down with a 
 neighbour of hers invited them to sit down ; 
 and in a short time, Peter saith, here is light 
 and darkness, good and bad in this house. The 
 woman, after she had got them some refresh- 
 ment, came and asked John, " who hast thou 
 brought here?" A man of God, he replied. 
 Having a meeting at Scarborough the next day, 
 John Richardson staid with him, and said he 
 had good service ; he also went with him to 
 
 T 
 
218 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 several friends houses there, and he frequently 
 spake his sense of the state of the families : but 
 as they were near entering one house, Peter 
 stopped, and said, my master is not there, I 
 will not go in, so they turned away. 
 
 " Next morning at parting, John Richardson 
 asked him how he was prepared for money, 
 telling him the journey was long; to whom 
 Peter answered, I have enough, my Master 
 told me I should not want ; and now, a bit of 
 bread, and some water from a brook refreshes 
 me as much as a set meal at a table. But John 
 insisted to see how much money he had, which 
 was but two half-crowns. Upon which John 
 took a handful of small pieces out of his pock- 
 et, and forced Peter to take them, telling him it 
 was as free to him as his own, for so the Lord 
 had put it into his heart. Thus they parted, 
 John and the other friend returning home. 
 
 "In about two weeks afterwards the man/s 
 wife before-mentioned died, as Peter had fore- 
 told. At that time, the same man had three 
 ships at sea, his son was master of one, a second 
 son was on board another, and in their voyages 
 they were all wrecked or foundered and their 
 cargoes chiefly lost ; his two sons and several 
 of the hands being drowned. The man soon 
 after broke and could not pay his debts, but 
 came to want bread before he died, though he 
 had been in good circumstances, if not very rich. 
 
 " John Richardson further said, That after 
 some time he heard Peter Gardner was dead in 
 Cumberland, on his return from Scotland : and 
 being attached to him in near affection, he went 
 to inquire how he ended. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 219 
 
 u John Bowstead, a noted friend near Car- 
 lisle, gave him an account that Peter had been 
 through Scotland, and came to Carlisle; and 
 the small pox being there, he took the infection 
 very suddenly and lay ill with it. So J. Bow- 
 stead went just as the pock was coming out on 
 him, and took him to his house. They never 
 came out kindly, but swelled him very much, 
 so that he was blind, and died about the seventh 
 day ; was quite sensible to the last, and knew 
 the states of those who came to see him. He 
 had enough to pay his funeral charges." 
 
 On the twelfth of the seventh month this year 
 I left home, in order to attend a treaty to be 
 held between the Indians and our government, 
 at Easton, in Northampton county ; and pro- 
 ceeded to Philadelphia, where I was present at 
 several conferences with friends, the governor 
 having declared his dislike to their attendance 
 at that treaty, or their distinguishing themselves 
 by giving the Indians any presents. The re- 
 sult was, that as mutual tokens of the revival 
 of ancient friendship had passed between them 
 and the Indians, with a view to promote a ge- 
 neral peace ; it would be of bad consequence 
 now to neglect or decline attending on this im- 
 portant occasion ; though it was judged neces- 
 sary for friends to act with great caution. We 
 therefore set forward, and taking a meeting at 
 Gwynnedd in the way, reached Easton on fourth 
 day the twenty-first of the month, the governor 
 being got there about two hours before us ; but 
 did not enter on business that day. 
 
 Many friends from Philadelphia and other 
 parts being here collected, we held a meeting 
 
220 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 on fifth day, which was low and dull, things ap- 
 pearing very dark. In the afternoon the In- 
 dians with Teedyuscung their king, or chief 
 man, went to the governor, and signified the 
 sincerity of their intentions to promote the good 
 work of peace : when he delivered several strings 
 and belts of wampum, in order to certify the full 
 power and authority given to Teedyuscung for 
 that purpose ; who also desired, that as things 
 had heretofore been misunderstood or forgotten, 
 he might have the liberty to choose a clerk to 
 take the minutes of the transactions at this treaty 
 on behalf of the Indians ; which was put off by 
 the governor at that time. 
 
 Next morning Teedyuscung renewed the 
 same request, but was again put by. Then the 
 Indians began to be very uneasy, from an ap- 
 prehension that some people from the Jersey 
 side of the river were likely to rise, with a de- 
 sign to destroy them ; but on going to converse 
 with them, and giving them some pipes and to- 
 bacco, which they were told was a present from 
 friends, they became more quiet, and seemingly 
 pacified. This day and the next there was lit- 
 tle business done. 
 
 On first day the twenty-fourth of the month, 
 friends held a public meeting in the Treaty- 
 booth to pretty good satisfaction; to which a 
 great number of people came, two friends having 
 acceptable service therein. In the afternoon 
 friends met again ; but there seemed so great a 
 cloud over the meeting, by reason of a raw care- 
 less spirit prevailing over the minds of the peo- 
 ple, as though there was no God, notwithstanding 
 his judgments are so conspicuous, especially in 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £21 
 
 these parts of the country, that life did not arise 
 in this meeting. About sunset this evening we 
 heard that the Mohawk Indians had requested 
 to have a fire made to dance round, which the 
 governor allowed, as he had the evening before 
 to the Delawares ; with both which we were 
 very uneasy, as the tendency thereof was to 
 make the Indians drunk ; but no endeavours 
 of ours could prevent it. 
 
 On second day morning the governor agreed 
 to allow the Indian king to choose himself a 
 clerk, which he did; and about one o'clock 
 that day the treaty was first opened in public; 
 when Teedyuscung was desired fully to inform, 
 with an open heart, wherein he apprehended 
 the Indians had been defrauded by the propri- 
 etaries ; to which he answered that he would 
 to-morrow ; but they must first clean up the 
 blood, as he expressed it, and bury the dead 
 bodies. Next day being again met, the king 
 said, " that according to his word, he had now 
 met some of the several nations to do what they 
 could for settling peace ; but now in the first 
 place he had seen and considered the black 
 cloud that hung over the land, the blood and 
 bodies of the people who had suffered ;" and 
 then said, " I have gathered up the stained 
 leaves, the blood and dead bodies, and looked 
 round about, when all seemed terrible, that I 
 could find no place to hide them ; but looking 
 up, I saw the great and good Spirit above ; let 
 us heartily join in prayer to him, that he may 
 give us power to bury all these things out of 
 our sight, that neither the evil spirit, nor any 
 wicked person may ever be able to raise them ; 
 
22£ THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 that we may love like brethren, and the sun may 
 shine clear upon us ; that we, our wives, our 
 young men and children, may rejoice in a last- 
 ing peace ; that we may eat the fruits of the 
 earth, and they may do us good, so that we 
 may enjoy peace in the day time, and at night 
 lay down and sleep in it" Gave a belt of se- 
 venteen rows of wampum. 
 
 By another belt he told the governor, that 
 he took him by one hand, and the five nations 
 of Indians and their allies took him by the 
 other; therefore said he, let us all stand as one 
 man, with one heart and one mind, and join in 
 this good work of peace. When we intend to 
 lift or remove a great weight, we must be strong, 
 if all do not exert themselves we can never do 
 it ; but if all heartily join, it is easy to remove 
 it. Our forefathers did not proceed right when 
 they met together, they looked at the earth and 
 things present, which will soon pass out of our 
 sight ; but did not look forward to the good of 
 posterity. Let us set out right, and do better 
 than they did ; that a peace may be settled 
 which may last to our children. 
 
 He next acquainted the governor, that one of 
 the messengers who had gone on a late message 
 to the Indians afar off, meaning Moses Tata- 
 my's son, was shot on his return by one of our 
 young men, and lay in a dangerous condition ; 
 and by a string of wampum insisted, that if he 
 died, the other should be tried by our law, and 
 suffer death also ; and that some of their peo- 
 ple should be present, to be able to inform the 
 other nations of Indians of the justice done. 
 He also revived the ancient agreement, that if 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £25 
 
 any of them should commit the like offence, the 
 criminal should be delivered up to be tried ac- 
 cording to our laws, and suffer death in the 
 same manner. 
 
 On fourth day there was no public treaty, 
 things seemed in much confusion and very dull ; 
 but friends kept quiet. The next day I found 
 myself much indisposed, and therefore thought 
 it best to leave Easton before the treaty ended ; 
 but before I left it friends had a solemn oppor- 
 tunity together, at which time I thought I saw, 
 that the working of the dark revengeful spirit, 
 which opposed the measures of peace, was one 
 reason why friends were so baptised into dis- 
 tress and suffering, of which I made some men- 
 tion to friends ; and that if they kept quiet, the 
 clouds as to them would somewhat break away. 
 Daniel Stanton had a solemn time in supplica- 
 tion. After this meeting taking leave of friends, 
 I rode to Richland, and though my distemper 
 increased and I was very ill, I pursued my 
 journey the next day, and the day following 
 reached Philadelphia ; where I was carefully 
 attended through a time of tedious and close 
 affliction ; my dear wife coming to me in my ill- 
 ness, was also taken with the same disorder, 
 that we were not able to move homewards until 
 the twenty-third of the eighth month ; but 
 through the goodness of kind providence in 
 supporting us, got to our own habitation the 
 next day in the evening ; where after about a 
 week's stay, I set out again to attend the meet- 
 ing for sufferings in Philadelphia, and though 
 very weak, got there. After tarrying part of 
 three days in town, went forward in order to 
 
224 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 attend the monthly-meetings in Bucks county, 
 of which I had a view while I lay sick ; when it 
 appeared to me the way to recover my strength 
 was to be faithful to every discovery of duty. 
 Accordingly, in company with several other 
 friends appointed by the yearly -meeting, I vi- 
 sited the several monthly-meetings in that 
 county ; in some of which a good degree of the 
 divine presence being felt, was cause of thank- 
 fulness ; though at one of them we had some re- 
 markable close work, both in the time of wor- 
 ship and discipline. 
 
 Returning to Philadelphia I perceived myself 
 much recovered, spent five days there attending 
 meetings as they came in course ; and then went 
 to Newtown meeting in Chester county, which 
 was small, there being an evident slackness of 
 attending week-day meetings. From thence I 
 went to Uwchlan, to the marriage of William 
 Trimble and Phoebe Thomas, which was a good 
 meeting ; where I met my dear wife on her way 
 to the yearly- meeting at Philadelphia; and af- 
 ter attending a meeting at Merion, we went into 
 the city the next evening. Our friends Thomas 
 Gawthrop, Samuel Spavold, William Reckitt 
 and others from Great Britain, also Thomas 
 Nicholson from North- Carolina, were at this 
 yearly-meeting; which was large and satisfac- 
 tory, holding from the seventeenth to the twenty- 
 fourth of the ninth month, 1757- 
 
 Here I may note, that before I left home to 
 attend the late Indian treaty at Easton ; in my 
 sleep I thought I was riding eastward in the 
 twilight, and saw a light before me towards sun- 
 rising, which did not appear to be a common 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 5225 
 
 light, but soon observed the appearance of some- 
 thing therein ; whereat the beast that I rode 
 was much affrighted and would have ran from 
 it, which I knew would be in vain ; for I took 
 it to be an Angel, whose motion was as swift as 
 thought ; so rather stopt and reined in my 
 beast towards it. It was encompassed with a 
 brightness like a rainbow, with a large loose 
 garment of the same colour down to the feet. It 
 rather seemed to move even along than to walk, 
 and then stood still in the midst of many curi- 
 ous stacks of corn. It was of a human form, 
 about seven feet high, as I thought ; and smil- 
 ing on me, asked where I was going ; I said 
 towards yonder building, which I thought was 
 an elegant one directly before me ; it seemed to 
 approve my way and vanished upwards. Then 
 I awakened and had particularly to remember 
 the complexion of this angelic apparition, which 
 was not much different from one of the Indians 
 clean washed from his grease and filth ; remem- 
 bering my dream very fresh, when I had seen 
 the Indians at the treaty, and bad heard some 
 matters remarkably spoken by some particulars 
 of them ; I was made to believe, it was not un- 
 reasonable to conclude, that the Lord was in 
 them by his good spirit, and that all colours 
 were equal to him, who gave life and being to 
 all mankind. We should therefore be careful 
 to examine deeper than the outward appearance, 
 with a tender regard to station and education, 
 if we desire to be preserved from error in judg- 
 ment. 
 
226 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 The following sentences being delivered in two 
 of his public testimonies, were soon after 
 committed to writing by a friend who was 
 present, and appearing worthy to be further 
 preserved are now communicated, viz. 
 
 In a first-day meeting at East Nottingham, 
 the nineteenth of the twelfth month, 17^6, he 
 expressed nearly as follows. 
 
 " I felt my mind in this meeting remarkably 
 drawn from outward observation, and was com- 
 manded to centre in deep and awful silence, 
 wherein there was such a flowing of good will 
 to mankind, as is scarcely to be uttered by the 
 tongue ; but thus centring with diligent atten- 
 tion, I thought I felt a strong power of darkness 
 and stupid ignorance, seemingly combined to 
 make war against this solemn attention of mind ; 
 yet, after patiently waiting some time, to my 
 comfort I felt a secret victory, and the darkness 
 vanished. Then a voice was uttered in me, at- 
 tended, I thought, with Divine authority, thus: 
 I will bow the inhabitants of the earth, and 
 particularly of this land, and I will make them 
 fear and reverence me, either in mercy or in 
 judgment. Hereupon a prospect immediately 
 opened to my view of a day of calamity and 
 sore distress which was approaching ; and in 
 which the careless and stupid professors, who 
 are easy, and not concerned to properly wor- 
 ship and adore the Almighty, and have not la- 
 boured to witness their foundation to be laid on 
 him the immoveable Rock, will be greatly sur- 
 prised with fearfulness ; and on the behalf of 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £27 
 
 such, a piercing cry and lamentation ran through 
 me, thus : Alas for the clay ! Alas for the day ! 
 Wo is me ! several times repeated, and a voice 
 which seemed to be connected with the forego- 
 ing, said further, Yet once more saith the Lord, 
 I shake not the earth only but also heaven. Not 
 only the situation of those that know not any 
 place of safety or refuge, that which is outward 
 and earthly ; but also those who assume a higher 
 place ; and in their specious appearances, and 
 false pretences amongst men, do value them- 
 selves on their assumed goodness, and would 
 fain be accounted of the highest rank, and even 
 place themselves among the saints, and are by 
 some accounted as stars in the firmament ; vet 
 in the day of my power, wherein I shall shake 
 the heavens aud the earth, those stars shall fall 
 to the ground. 
 
 " In the opening, something within me was 
 ready to say, Amen, so be it OLord Almighty! 
 cut short thy work in the earth, in order that 
 thou inay'st put an end to sin, and finish trans- 
 gression ; that thy fear, and the knowledge of 
 thee, may cover the earth, as the waters cover 
 the sea. Wherefore, my friends, the fervent 
 desire of my soul is, that all present may with 
 diligence labour to have your minds truly cen- 
 tred and humbled before God, to know a being 
 fixed on that foundation which only standeth 
 sure ; that in a time of outward distress, which 
 perhaps may come in your day, ye may find a 
 place of safety and refuge." All which, with 
 more to the like effect, was delivered in great 
 humility and brokenness. 
 
£23 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 At a week-day meeting at the same place the 
 seventeenth of the second month, 1757? several 
 persons, by unseasonable coming in, had inter- 
 rupted the quiet of the meeting; he gave a suit- 
 able caution in that respect, in gentle winning 
 terms, reminding those met of the awfulness and 
 solemnity which should attend us when we ap- 
 proach the presence of him who is most Holy ; 
 and in what reverence, fear and care, we ought 
 to come together, not forgetting the hour ap- 
 pointed ; and then expressed nearly as follows. 
 
 " A certain sentence has been presented to the 
 view of my mind, which seemed to contain a gen- 
 tle engaging caution, and matter of instruction to 
 me, attended with sweetness ; which was, Work 
 while it is day. Friends, this is our day, where- 
 in we ought to be diligent and industrious : in 
 the light of the day we may sec, and under- 
 stand how to work, and what to do ; that at 
 the conclusion we may obtain from the Master 
 of the day who dwelleth in light, the answer 
 of well done ; for the night will come, wherein 
 no man can work. We are now favoured with 
 liberty in this our day, to assemble together for 
 worship unmolested; and my hearty desire is, 
 that we may properly improve this mercy ; for 
 the time to some of us may come, before our 
 day in this life is closed, wherein this privilege, 
 may, in some measure, be taken from us. Some- 
 thing in me would be ready to say, The Lord 
 forbid that should be the case ; but by reason of 
 the great declension which has overspread the 
 church, I hardly dare to expect any other. Oh 
 may we therefore be careful to prize the mercy 
 of God, and endeavour to gain an inheritance in 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 229 
 
 the light ; that when night overtakes, and dark- 
 ness as to the outward may hang over us, we 
 may be favoured to withdraw into the sure hid- 
 ing place, and know a quiet habitation!" 
 
 CHAP. VL 
 
 Sundry visits to Meetings in Pennsylvania and New 
 Jersey. — Also in Maryland and Virginia. — His 
 apprehensions of duty to proceed on a visit to Bar- 
 badoes, and resignation thereto, but at length be- 
 came most easy to decline it. — The settlement of 
 Uwchlan Monthly-meeting with his Epistle to 
 Friends there. — Also some weighty expressions 
 uttered in the time of his Sickness in the Year 1761. 
 
 Having some drawings in my mind to visit 
 the meetings of friends in the counties of Phila- 
 delphia and Bucks, being also under an ap- 
 pointment of the yearly-meeting to join with 
 some others in a visit to the monthly meetings ; 
 in order to proceed on my service, I acquainted 
 our monthly- meeting at Nottingham ; with 
 whose concurrence I left home on the third of 
 the twelfth month 1757> accompanied by a near 
 relation, and attended Darby meeting on first 
 day; wherein though life and the power of 
 Truth seemed to be low, I thought the humble 
 waiters were encouraged. We went to the 
 evening meeting in Philadelphia, next morning 
 attended the meeting of ministers and elders, 
 and the day following a meeting at the Bank ; 
 also a meeting for sufferings ; and on fourth day 
 returned to Darby to their monthly-meeting, 
 
 v 
 
230 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 where we found friends under a strait about 
 disowning one among them, who denied the 
 divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: 
 on whom they had bestowed much labour to 
 convince him of his error. The meeting ended 
 well ; the company of the friends who attended 
 it being acceptable and of service. We were 
 next day at Haverford monthly-meeting held at 
 Radnor, where the lively exercise of the dis- 
 cipline appeared to be very low, yet I was glad 
 I was there. During the time of the business, 
 feeling a concern on my mind to appoint a meet- 
 ing at Haverford to be held the next day, I 
 proposed it for concurrence ; which being rea- 
 dily agreed to, we attended there accordingly ; 
 and had a large meeting much to satisfaction, 
 having great peace in observing the motion of 
 Truth respecting this appointment. On the fol- 
 lowing day accompanied by my friend Hugh 
 Evans, I visited some ancient friends, who by 
 reason of old age and indisposition could not 
 get out to meetings ; wherein I was favoured 
 with that peace, which I have often experi- 
 enced to attend the acceptable work of visit- 
 ing the afflicted. On first day, after a satisfac- 
 tory meeting at Merion, I went to the even- 
 ing meeting in Philadelphia, in which Truth 
 favoured with a degree of openness, to the 
 instruction and comfort of many. On third 
 day afternoon, accompanied by my brother Wil- 
 liam Brown, went forward to Richland monthly- 
 meeting held on the fifth day, where we had 
 some close hard work; which generally hap- 
 pens when a lifeless formal spirit hath the pre- 
 valence in managing the aftairs of the church, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £31 
 
 for want of feeling after and waiting for the true 
 authority, even the power of God ; yet we were 
 glad that we were there. From thence my 
 brother returned home, the rest of us going to 
 an appointed meeting at Plumstead, which, 
 though the weather was severely cold, was 
 large and comfortable ; in the sense whereof we 
 were thankful to the author of all good. The 
 meeting next day at Buckingham was small but 
 satisfactory. I have often observed, that the 
 severity of the weather is not a sufficient excuse 
 for the Lord's panting children to neglect public 
 worship, which is a duty incumbent on us and 
 due to his glorious name. At Wrightstown 
 meeting the next day, the Master of our assem- 
 blies was pleased to appear in an eminent man- 
 ner, to the comfort of the poor, instruction of 
 the inquirers, rebuke of the backsliders, and 
 edification of many; for which the sacrifice of 
 thanksgiving and praise was oftered to him, 
 who alone is worthy for ever. After this meet- 
 ing I felt the value of that peace, which by the 
 humble is better felt than expressed. We had 
 next a good meeting at Makefield, at which 
 were many seeking tender young people ; then 
 attended the Falls preparative meeting, which 
 was satisfactory, a comfortable degree of unity 
 subsisting among friends. Our next meeting 
 was at Bristol, in which, after a dark distress- 
 ing time in silence, what I had to communicate 
 was introduced by a question thus, " Are you 
 sound in faith and practice ?" And I was led 
 to set forth, " That to profess and acknowledge 
 even sacred Truths, without a life of self-denial 
 with an answerable honest conduct, was no way 
 
£32 THE LIFE A3D TRAVELS 
 
 sufficient ; that being a dead faith, which pro- 
 duceth not good works in him who saith he 
 believeth; shewing what stumbling blocks the 
 nominal professors are, who by their example 
 plainly manifest, that they are not possessors of 
 what they profess to have, and are the greatest 
 enemies the Truth hath ; which I was doubtful 
 was the case with some among them. I had 
 peace in this plain dealing. Our next was a 
 laborious meeting at Byberry, yet yielded a de- 
 gree of the same peace. A friend afterwards 
 told me that the state of the meeting was clearly 
 spoken to, which I relate not for any praise to 
 man ; but that it was an additional confirmation 
 of the Lord's sufficiency to his own work ; and 
 when we are weak, foolish or contemptible in 
 our esteem, his strength appears, and his wis- 
 dom inspires with true knowledge, whereby he 
 magnifieth himself. We went home with our 
 friend James Thornton, and next day to Hors- 
 ham, where was a large and good meeting; 
 after which we had a comfortable time in the 
 family of John Cadwalader. Next day we at- 
 tended the monthly-meeting at Abington in com- 
 pany with Samuel Eastburn and Joseph White. 
 We found things low here, because of a want 
 of that strength in which stands the authority 
 of the church. It is only the pure wisdom from 
 above that preserves friends in peace, meekness, 
 gentleness, and unanimity in the distribution 
 of right justice and judgment in the church of 
 Christ. 
 
 We were next day at Gwynnedd monthly- 
 meeting; which was a precious time through 
 the power of that sacred name, which is as oint- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £33 
 
 ment poured forth, the savour whereof continued 
 through both worship and discipline, in which 
 the faithful were mutually comforted. We 
 from thence went to Ellen Evans's, and had an 
 evening meeting ; some of the neighbours com- 
 ing in, several friends were much enlarged in 
 counsel, and the opportunity ended in solemn 
 prayer and thanksgiving. 
 
 We went from thence to Exeter monthly- 
 meeting, which ended to satisfaction in the 
 main ; then home with our friend Ellis Hugh, 
 where Joseph White and Samuel Eastburn left 
 us to return homewards. My companion and 
 I proceeding to Reading, had a public meeting 
 in the Court-house, which I thought was pretty 
 well, considering the company, many loose 
 people attending ; but Truth seemed to come 
 into dominion and quieted them, that the meet- 
 ing ended in a degree of awful sweetness. 
 
 On first day, being also the first of the new- 
 year, 1758, we were at Maiden Creek meeting; 
 which although a low time, afforded peace and 
 comfort, from a prospect that there were among 
 the youth in particular, some true branches of 
 the vine of Life, who therefore could not be 
 satisfied without the living sap from the Holy 
 root, and in the Lord's time would be favoured 
 therewith, if there was a patient waiting for 
 that springing season. We returned to Read- 
 ing that evening, to a meeting held by appoint- 
 ment at a friend's house, for the members of our 
 society in that town, in the attendance of which 
 I found peace. Crossing the river Schuylkill, 
 we were next day at Robinson or the Forest 
 meeting ; after which I was much humbled in 
 
 v 2 
 
234 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 a sense of the great condescension and mercy 
 of the Lord our God, who was pleased to re- 
 new the reaches of his power to several, who 
 had many years made profession of the pure 
 Truth, and yet dwelt in that which is impure, 
 as drinking to excess and other evils ; some of 
 whom I knew, but did not know that they were 
 there till the meeting was over. The weak were 
 strengthened and the humble seekers encouraged, 
 and great love flowed towards the youth. Ile- 
 turning again over Schuylkill, we went to that 
 called Evans's meeting, which was very open for 
 doctrine, several not of our society being present. 
 The first sentences that appeared in my view were, 
 many are called, but few are chosen ; attended 
 with such weakness and such a sense of my 
 own foolishness and inability for handling that 
 subject, that I was afraid, because I had a se- 
 cret apprehension that some would incline to 
 make an advantage of those words, but few are 
 chosen, in applying them to strengthen them- 
 selves in the corrupt manner in which they hold 
 election ; but it appeared that the words, all 
 liave not obeyed, was the reason why so few 
 are chosen. My mouth was opened in fear, 
 even to trembling, yet with a secret hope and 
 confidence that the Lord would be mouth and 
 wisdom ; with desires that he would bind my 
 attention to his own immediate instruction, that 
 the language of his Spirit might be only uttered 
 by me ; and he was pleased to magnify his own 
 Truth in the opening of these passages. I 
 give this hint, that they who are concerned in 
 the ministry may humbly trust in God, and not 
 leau to their fears, knowledge, experience or 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 235 
 
 wisdom, in opening the mysteries of the Gos- 
 pel, but confide in the. key of David, which 
 when it opens none can shut. Next day we were 
 at Providence or Perkiomen meeting ; which 
 though poor, and truth low, peace was afterwards 
 measurably enjoyed, from an evidence of hav- 
 ing been honest according to the ability given : 
 and the day following at Plymouth, faithful 
 friends were comforted in the gracious condes- 
 cension of our holy head, who was pleased to 
 favour with the aboundings of the life and love 
 of Truth. We then returned to Philadelphia 
 with thankful hearts for the evidence of peace. 
 
 My companion returning home, I went in 
 company with my brother on first day morning 
 to Frankfort, having felt an engagement for a 
 considerable time to visit that meeting. A sense 
 of the declension of friends in this place, both 
 in respect to numbers and the life of religion, 
 was cause of heaviness of heart, but having 
 performed my visit in faithfulness according to 
 ability 9 returned with a degree of peace to the 
 evening meeting in the city^ which was com- 
 fortable ; staying there until the fifth day of the 
 week ; in which time I attended the usual 
 meetings, one with the Negroes much to satis- 
 faction, and also the meeting for sufferings. I 
 got safe home on seventh day the fourteenth of 
 the first month, having travelled in this journey 
 about four hundred and ten miles. 
 
 On the twenty-second of the second month, 
 I again left home in order to attend the quarter- 
 ly-meeting at Burlington, and some particular 
 meetings in New-Jersey ; as well on account of 
 the yearly-meeting's appointment, as my qwh 
 
236 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 sense of duty, of which I had the approbation 
 of our monthly-meeting signified by a minute. 
 In my way I attended the monthly-meeting in 
 Philadelphia with some degree of satisfaction ; 
 then taking Chester or Adam's meeting in New- 
 Jersey, reached Burlington on first day evening: 
 the next day being the quarterly-meeting, at 
 which with William Home and my brother 
 William Brown I had some service. After 
 staying the youth's meeting, they left me and 
 I went to a meeting on fourth clay at a school- 
 house^ where several friends met, also divers 
 others who perhaps had not been at any place 
 of worship for some time, and were easy about 
 religion ; to whom it become my concern to shew 
 how disagreeable and loathsome that state was, 
 from Rev. iii. 15. "I know thy works, that thou 
 art neither cold nor hot ; so then, because thou art 
 luke- warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue 
 thee out of my mouth." It opened to me, that 
 a luke- warm condition, to hold a profession of 
 religion so as to take it ill not to be thought a 
 christian, but at the same time to remain easy 
 and not in earnest to experience the life, virtue, 
 and power of Christianity ; not so cold as to for- 
 get the name, nor so hot or zealous as to wit- 
 ness the life of true religion, was very displeas- 
 ing to the Almighty. A good degree of power 
 attended the opening, and in treating on that 
 passage, with much love to such luke-warm pro- 
 fessors, which reached and tendered several be- 
 yond expectation ; but no praise to man, though 
 he may will or run, but to God who sheweth 
 mercy. 
 
 At Chesterfield monthly-meeting my friend 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 237 
 
 John Wool man met me the next day ; a raw 
 company attending on account of a proposal or 
 two for marriage, which I suppose they expect- 
 ed to be there presented; it was a time some- 
 what low and distressing. The advice of the 
 yearly-meeting not being here enough observed, 
 which is against allowing such who are not mem- 
 bers of our society to sit in our meetings for dis- 
 cipline, unless they are nearly related to the 
 parties concerned, of which that meeting was 
 modestly reminded. I was also grieved that 
 matters were introduced too much at the judg- 
 ment or pleasure of individuals, by reason that 
 they are not in the practice of holding prepa- 
 rative meetings, the service of which, was par- 
 ticularly recommended to their consideration. I 
 had some reward of peace in having attended 
 this meeting. We were next at a meeting in 
 Trenton with a few friends whom the spirit of 
 the world, I thought, had much laid waste ; 
 there seemed more openness towards a few of 
 other societies present, some of whom were ten- 
 dered by Truth's testimony, which seemed to 
 reach the witness in them. At Bordentown meet- 
 ing next day, many were made thankful, the Di- 
 vine presence being felt among us. From hence J. 
 Woolman returned home, and John Sykes ac- 
 companied me to Upper- Springfield, where the 
 meeting was large, and through the Lord's mercy, 
 open and satisfactory ; the testimony of Truth 
 flowing in his love towards the youth, many 
 were tendered thereby, the faithful were en- 
 couraged and the negligent warned ; after which 
 I went to Burlington to attend that monthly- 
 meeting, then to the burial of Margaret Butcher 
 
238 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 at Mansfield, which was a laborious painful 
 meeting, composed of a mixed multitude, yet 
 something of an evidence attended Truth's tes- 
 timony, so that the meeting ended with solidity ; 
 from thence I went to Peter Harvey's and was 
 thankful for the enjoyment of a peaceful quiet 
 mind, though poor. Next day was at Old- 
 Springfield meeting, which was slow and late in 
 gathering, dull and heavy in sitting ; as will be 
 the case, when and wheresoever the life and 
 power of religion is wanting, or not carefully 
 sought after and waited for, by those who pro- 
 fess it ; which was observed to them in the love 
 of Truth, and in the simplicity and plainness 
 thereof; so that I left this meeting with a heavy 
 heart, not from a sense of any omission of duty 
 on my part, but lest they should too soon forget 
 what manner of persons they saw themselves to 
 be in the light, that discovers and answers the 
 witness, as face answers face in a glass. Then 
 taking meetings at Mount Holly, Rancocus, and 
 visiting the widow of Peter Andrews, I was at 
 a large meeting at Evesham on first day follow- 
 ing ; but the expectations of the people being 
 much outward, occasioned a painful deep wait- 
 ing a considerable time, or at least I thought so, 
 when at length I felt some pressure on my mind 
 to stand up, which, as I followed carefully, 
 Truth opened into the state of the meeting to 
 my admiration ; that I was enabled therein with 
 an innocent boldness to attend thereto in speak- 
 ing, which yielded me great peace after the meet- 
 ing, and I was thankful for that opportunity. 
 Next day I attended Haddonfield monthly- 
 meeting, at which were Samuel Nottingham 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 239 
 
 and William Home, whose company was com- 
 fortable and of advantage to the meeting. I then 
 visited the meetings at Pilesgrove, Alloways 
 Creek, Greenwich, Lower Alloways Creek, 
 Salem, and one at Raccoon Creek, to which 
 many sober people came not professing with 
 us ; also a large, and I believe to some a satisfac- 
 tory meeting at Woodberry ; the state whereof 
 opened pretty clearly, the humble being in- 
 structed ; but I was sensible of an opposition 
 here to some part of what I had to deliver to a 
 self-righteous state, yet through the mercy of 
 our gracious Lord, I left this meeting with an 
 evidence of peace, and an affectionate heart 
 yearning towards them ; then went to Haddon- 
 field to attend the quarterly-meeting for Glou- 
 cester and Salem counties, and from thence to 
 the general spring-meeting at Philadelphia ; 
 after which I returned home, having been out 
 five weeks and three days. 
 
 After this journey I did not go much abroad 
 for more than a year, except to attend our quar- 
 terly-meeting, and the yearly and general spring- 
 meeting at Philadelphia. 
 
 In the year 17^9, 1 had some drawings in my 
 mind to visit a few meetings in Maryland and 
 Virginia, also the yearly -meeting at West-Ri- 
 ver ; in which having the concurrence of our 
 monthly-meeting, I left home on the twenty- 
 eighth of the fifth month, and next day w r as at 
 Gunpowder meeting ; then at Elkridge with a 
 few friends and divers not professing with us, 
 amongst whom there was an openness to hear 
 the testimony of Truth declared ; but for want 
 of a steady walking in the professors thereof, 
 
240 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 it seems in a great measure laid waste. That 
 night I lodged at the house of a kind man, but 
 have to remark that natural affability in any 
 one, unless it is sweetened by the baptism of the 
 spirit of Truth, is of little value. On fifth day 
 I was at a new meeting-house at Indian Spring 
 with a few friends, some of whom I fear, scarcely 
 know what they profess ; the next had a meet- 
 ing at Samuel Plummets house at Patuxent to 
 satisfaction ; and on seventh day the yearly- 
 meeting at West-River began, which held until 
 fourth day following, which was in the main 
 the most open and satisfactory meeting I was 
 ever at in that place. I thought a disposition 
 rather prevailed among the younger sort, to at- 
 tend to the discipline more closely than in times 
 past. Then taking a meeting at Sandy Spring, 
 I proceeded to Fairfax, being about forty miles, 
 where I had a comfortable meeting on first day, 
 for which the hearts of many were made thank- 
 ful to the author of all good. The same day 
 we had also a satisfactory opportunity in Mah- 
 lon Janney's family, his mother being indis- 
 posed : and the next day attended Monaquasy 
 meeting in Maryland, where truth is at a low- 
 ebb, through the conduct of some unfaithful pro- 
 fessors. Our next was a precious meeting with 
 a few sincere friends at Bush Creek. That 
 evening I went to William Farquhar's, having 
 a meeting at Pipe Creek next day, which was 
 pretty open, and satisfactory, and one the day 
 following at Petapsco Forest amongst a wither- 
 ed people. Alas ! to profess the truth and not 
 possess it in sanctification of spirit, makes little 
 meetings feel desolate. From thence I returned 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £41 
 
 home to our monthly-meeting, being absent 
 nineteen days, and rode near three hundred and 
 fifty miles, Samuel England being my com- 
 panion. 
 
 In this year I was also engaged with my 
 friend John Woolman in visiting some active 
 members of our society, who held slaves, first 
 in the city of Philadelphia, and in other places ; 
 also in New Jersey ; in which service we were 
 enabled to go through some heavy labours, and 
 were favoured with peace. Divine love in a 
 tender sympathy prevailing at times, with a 
 hope that these endeavours would not be in vain. 
 
 In the second month, I76O, I acquainted our 
 monthly-meeting, that in order to proceed in 
 performing the appointment of the yearly-meet- 
 ing, having also a draught in my own mind, I 
 had an inclination to visit some meetings up 
 the river Delaware, particularly the monthly- 
 meeting of Kingwood in New-Jersey. With 
 which having the approbation of friends, I set 
 out from home on the twenty-sixth of the fifth 
 month following, and reached the Bank meeting 
 in Philadelphia the next day ; from thence 
 proceeded to the quarterly- meeting for Bucks 
 county held at Buckingham, where, though 
 things were low, the affairs of the church were 
 transacted in a good degree of amity and peace. 
 It was a large meeting, therG being a great ap- 
 pearance of young people, some very hopeful ; 
 who in the love of truth were exhorted to come 
 up in their places, by learning discipline of the 
 author thereof, viz. the Spirit of Truth, and 
 they were cautioned against that very unbecom- 
 ing and hurtful practice, though too common, of 
 
 x 
 
24£ THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 going out after worship, and standing without 
 in companies talking when they should keep 
 their places in the meeting ; which should quiet- 
 ly and solidly proceed on the business coming 
 before it. Heavenly love was felt by the tender 
 in spirit, which I hope will be remembered by 
 many. The next day the general or youths- 
 meeting was large, open and satisfactory in the 
 main ; for which the name of the Lord was 
 praised. Next day I spent in visiting a widow, 
 also other aged and infirm friends, in the per- 
 formance of which duty I had some satisfaction ; 
 and on first day was at Plumstead meeting, 
 which was large and Aery comfortable, the di- 
 vine presence being felt, the power of Truth 
 prevailed to the tendering of many : but such 
 favour being not of him that willeth or runneth, 
 but of God that sheweth mercy, to him belong- 
 eth the praise of all, who is worthy for ever. 
 In the evening I attended a meeting at a school- 
 house near Samuel Eastburivs, in which I had 
 some particular service, the states of many pre- 
 sent being very clearly opened before them in 
 the love of the Gospel ; which made deep im- 
 pression on some who were much broken, and 
 I believe it would be as dew on their hearts, if 
 they would remain enough in the valley of hu- 
 mility. 
 
 I was the next day at Buckingham monthly- 
 meeting, which in the time of business suffered 
 much by the prevalence of a talkative noisy 
 spirit, which mightily darkens counsel in those 
 who give way to it, and leads into doubtful and 
 trifling disputations ; so that I left that meeting 
 with pain of heart, in a sense that the time had 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. M3 
 
 been so lost, that several weighty matters could 
 not be brought under consideration to advan- 
 tage : which were therefore continued until the 
 next month. 
 
 Wrightstown monthly-meeting on third day 
 was more satisfactory, the spirit for discipline 
 rather reviving, and I hope a desire among the 
 youth at least for an improvement. It too fre- 
 quently is the case, that some of the elderly 
 sort are so bigotted to their old forms and cus- 
 toms, that they will scarcely trouble themselves 
 to examine whether these customs are agreeable 
 to the testimony of Truth, or whether through 
 inattention they have not swerved and fallen 
 short in various matters that now occasion a dif- 
 ficulty in the churches ; which difficulties^ must 
 be laboured under for a season by the bajptized 
 members, who nevertheless, as they keep their 
 places will grow stronger. 
 
 x\ccompanied by my friend Thomas Ross I 
 attended the Falls monthly-meeting, wherein I 
 was comforted from a sense that a tender people 
 were among them, though they felt a time of 
 dearth, whom the Lord would in his own time 
 water as his peculiar heritage ; but this comfort 
 was heavily ballasted from a secret fear attend- 
 ing me, that there were among them some, who 
 like the heath in the desert, know not when 
 good cometh ; such who were easy in a dead 
 form, and contented with a name, neglecting to 
 wait for that transforming power which would 
 renew into the image and life of the Son of 
 God ; to whom in the love, and plainness of 
 the Gospel, I was constrained to clear myself. 
 The meeting for discipline was pretty open and 
 
244 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 ended in a good degree of sweetness ; we went 
 home with the wife of Joseph White, who was 
 then on a religious visit to friends in Europe, 
 and had a comfortable season in the family with 
 the children ; she appearing to be resigned in 
 the absence of her husband, her spirit being 
 sweetened with the truth in innocent quietude. 
 At Middletown monthly- meeting the next 
 day truth seemed to be low, but we had some 
 service in the discipline, that I came away with 
 peace; and the day following, in company with 
 Joshua Ely, went to Jacob BirdshaPs in Am- 
 well township, New-Jersey, and had a meeting 
 in his barn, which, being a wet time, was small. 
 There are few here who profess with us, some 
 of wfyom seem to have nothing more than the 
 name.. Next morniug we called at the house 
 of an old professor ; he and his wife were both 
 ancient but full of talk. I felt a desire to visit 
 them, and had a full time to clear myself in a 
 close and plain manner, though in love to them. 
 After which going to Kingwood or Bethlehem, 
 attended two meetings there on first day, when 
 truth favoured in opening the states of the peo- 
 ple in mercy to many, which may be of advan- 
 tage if rightly remembered ; then proceeding to 
 the Drowned-lands so called, had there a meet- 
 ing with a few professors who seemed too much 
 withered ; then taking another at Paulinas Kiln 
 to pretty good satisfaction, returned to King- 
 wood monthly-meeting then held at Hardwick. 
 Several hopeful young people belong thereto ; 
 the meeting was comfortable, friends rejoicing 
 in the company one of another, and in the Lord 
 for his merciful regard. Next day I returned 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 245 
 
 to Bethlehem, and from thence to Gwynnedd 
 meeting on first day ; after which I rode to 
 Uwchlan, about twenty-eight miles, from thence 
 home, where I found all well ; having been ab- 
 sent three weeks, and rode about four hundred 
 and sixteen miles in this journey. 
 
 Having a draught of love and a motion there- 
 in to visit the monthly and particular meetings 
 within our own quarter, on the west side of Sus- 
 quehanna river; with the concurrence of our 
 monthly-meeting on that occasion, I set out from 
 home on the seventeenth of the tenth month in 
 company with my brother-in-law James Brown, 
 who likewise had the approbation of Goshen 
 monthly- meeting for this purpose. We visited 
 the meetings at Pipe Creek, Bush Creek and 
 Monaquasy in Maryland ; in the first of which 
 the Lord was pleased to favour in opening the 
 state of friends to the tendering the hearts of 
 many ; the other was satisfactory, and the last 
 seemed to be a renewed visitation to a raw de- 
 clining people, several of whom were tendered 
 through the gracious long-suffering of Infinite 
 goodness. We were next at the preparative 
 meeting at Fairfax in Virginia ; then at Goose 
 creek, wherein truth owned our service to the 
 comfort of the faithful; we then attended the 
 meeting of ministers and elders, also the month- 
 ly-meeting at Fairfax, likewise the first day 
 meeting there, and one that evening in Francis 
 Hague's house, whose wife was indisposed. Se- 
 veral disorderly walkers being present, the Lord 
 was pleased to open, and give ability to speak 
 to their states in a measure of his heart-tendering 
 
 x2 
 
£46 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 love, to the reaching the witness in some ; after 
 this returning to the widow Janney's, we had 
 a precious opportunity with her and children to 
 our mutual satisfaction. 
 
 Our next meeting was at Potts's near the 
 South-mountain, which was open for doctrine, 
 several of other religious professions attending, 
 who appeared loving and well satisfied ; then at 
 Crooked-run, near the North-branch of Shan- 
 andoa-river, in company with several other 
 friends from Pennsylvania, some of us being a 
 committee appointed by our quarterly-meeting, 
 the friends living here having requested to have 
 a meeting settled among them. The opportu- 
 tunity was to some satisfaction, there being some 
 young people who I hope will grow in the truth, 
 though some of those who are elderly appear 
 too superficial. From hence we went to Hope- 
 well preparative meeting, also to a small meet- 
 ing over the mountain near Jesse Pugh's ; then 
 we attended a select meeting at Hopewell ; and 
 at the same place on first day, which was large 
 and solid, many therein being much tendered, 
 to the praise of the Lord whose mercy endureth 
 for ever. In the evening we had also a satis- 
 factory meeting at the widow Lupton's near 
 Winchester. Next day we were at Hopewell 
 monthly-meeting, where we found considerable 
 weakness, as to the practice of the discipline ; 
 on which account we had some labour to the 
 comfort of the well-minded. On our return we 
 had meetings at Monallan, Huntington, War- 
 rington, and Newberry in York county Penn~ 
 sylvaaia, and a seasonable opportunity with 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 247 
 
 friends in Yorktown ; from whence I proceeded 
 home with a thankful mind, having travelled 
 about four hundred miles in this journey. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1761, having an en- 
 gagement on my mind to visit Barbadoes and 
 some of the adjacent Islands, I proposed the same 
 to my brethren at home for their weighty consi- 
 deration before I asked for their certificate ; who 
 after a time expressed their unity therewith, and 
 gave me a certificate, to which the quarterly-meet- 
 ing signified their approbation. At our next year- 
 ly-meeting I laid my concern before the ministers 
 and elders, when, for any thing that appeared, I 
 had their unity and prayers. I came home, in- 
 tending to proceed before the winter sat in, and 
 attended our general meeting at Nottingham in 
 the tenth month, but in a few days after was 
 taken ill with a fever, which with bodily pain 
 and exercise of mind reduced me to a very low 
 and weak state j* but the Lord was pleased to 
 give me inward strength, influencing my mind 
 with love to all men, and great love to the mem- 
 bers of our religious society, the state whereof 
 I saw in a clear manner ; and I so far recover- 
 ed as to attend our quarterly-meeting at Lon- 
 don- Grove in the eleventh month, at which I 
 had an opportunity to clear myself to my hum- 
 ble admiration, and was inwardly comforted. 
 Soon after which, my concern for going to Bar- 
 badoes continuing, I went to Philadelphia to 
 inquire for a passage, when my friends inform- 
 ed me of five vessels, three of which were near 
 ready to sail ; but understanding that all of 
 
 * Seepage 251>. 
 
248 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 them were prepared with guns for defence, I 
 felt a secret exercise on my mind, so that I 
 could not go to see any of them ; but kept quiet 
 from sixth day evening until second day morn- 
 ing, when I went to the meeting of ministers 
 and elders, where I had a singular freedom to 
 let friends know, " that I came to town in order 
 to take my passage for Barbadoes, but found 
 myself not at liberty to go in any of those ves- 
 sels, because they carried arms for defence ; for 
 as my motive in going, was to publish the glad 
 tidings of the gospel, which teacheth love to all 
 men, I could not go with those who were pre- 
 pared to destroy men, whom Christ Jesus our 
 Lord and Master laid down his life to save and 
 deliver from that spirit in which wars and fight- 
 ings stand." I further added, " if I had a con- 
 cern to visit in gospel love, those now living at 
 Pittsburgh or Fort Duquesne, do you think it 
 would become me to go along with a band of 
 soldiers, as if I wanted the arm of flesh to guard 
 me ; would it not be more becoming to go with 
 a few simple unarmed men ? I now tenderly 
 desire your sympathy and advice." One honest 
 friend said, " keep to the tender scruple in thy 
 own mind, for it rejoices me to hear it; and se- 
 veral said, they believed it would be best for me 
 to mind my own freedom." I then begged that 
 friends would consider weightily, whether it 
 was right for any professing with us, to be 
 owners or part owners, charterers, freighters, 
 or insurers of such vessels that a friend could 
 not be free to go passenger in on a gospel mes- 
 sage. And as I returned to my lodgings, I felt 
 so much peace of miud in thus bearing my tes* 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 249 
 
 iimony, that I thought if all my concern ended 
 therein, it was worth all my trouble ; though at 
 that time I did not think it would, yet was quite 
 easy to return home and wait until my way ap- 
 peared more open. And as my concern went 
 off in this manner, I have been since led to con- 
 sider, that I could not have borne that testimony 
 so fully and feelingly, if I had not been thus re- 
 strained. The wisdom and judgments of the 
 Lord are unsearchable, and his ways past find- 
 ing out ; and happy are they who move at his 
 command and stand stedfast in his counsel. 
 
 Our worthy friends John Stephenson, Robert 
 Proud, Hannah Harris and Elizabeth Wilkin- 
 son of Great Britain, being in this country on a 
 religious visit, attended our yearly-meeting in 
 Philadelphia this year ; which was large and 
 favoured with humbling goodness, and in a 
 sense of the divine presence that meeting ended 
 very solidly. The services of these friends, I 
 think, have been great among us in this land, 
 both in their public ministry, also in the disci- 
 pline of the church; and the remembrance 
 thereof is precious I believe to many whom the 
 Lord is preparing for his work. 
 
 After this I spent a considerable time at and 
 near home, except attending the quarterly, year- 
 ly-meetings, and the general spring-meetings 
 as they came in course ; in the meantime being 
 careful to frequent the meeting I belonged to. 
 
 A new monthly-meeting being allowed to be 
 established at Uwchlan in Chester county, it 
 arose in my mind to salute friends there with 
 an epistle ; a copy thereof I sent to the first 
 meeting in the first month 1763, being as follows, 
 
CM THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 " Dear Friends, 
 
 " In the gentle springing up of gospel love 
 and fellowship I salute you my dear brethren 
 and sisters, and hereby let you know, that it is 
 my fervent desire and prayer that you may in- 
 dividually attend to the gift of God in your own 
 hearts, and therein wait for the arising of his 
 pure life and power ; that therein and thereby 
 only, the affairs of the church may be transacted 
 to the honour of Truth and your own peace and 
 safety. For to speak in the church to the busi- 
 ness and affairs of Truth, by the will, wisdom, 
 and power of man, however knowing he thinks 
 himself, will lead into its own nature ; and in 
 the end minister strife and contention, and break 
 the unity of the one spirit wherein the peace of 
 the church stands. Wherefore I beseech you 
 beware thereof, and as I know there are among 
 you such whom the Lord by his spirit and the 
 gentle operation of his power, is preparing for 
 his own work ; mind your calling in deep hu- 
 mility and holy attention of soul ; for in your 
 obedience only, will you be elected and chosen 
 to the work whereunto he hath called you. So 
 shall you be made skilful watchmen and watch- 
 women, placed on the walls of Zion to discover 
 the approach of an enemy, in whatsoever subtle 
 appearance ; and enabled to give warning there- 
 of to others. May each of you stand upright 
 in your own lots in the regeneration, waiting for 
 the pouring forth of the spirit and anointing of 
 the Holy Ghost ; by the renewing whereof, a 
 true qualification is given, in the influence of the 
 love of the Father, rightly to oversee the flock 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 251 
 
 and family of oar God ; amongst whom there 
 are some plants with you worthy of your care. 
 
 " I should have been glad to have sat with 
 you, in your monthly- meeting, from the sense 
 of that love which I now renewedly feel to 
 spring and flow towards you, but cannot well 
 leave home. I therefore at this time, in the 
 pure refreshing stream thereof again salute you, 
 and remain your friend and brother, 
 
 John Churchman." \ 
 
 East Nottingham, 
 1st Month 4th, 1763. 
 
 In the time of his illness in the year 1761, as 
 mentioned in page 34*7, he uttered divers 
 weighty expressions, some of which were 
 committed to writing by a friend who teas 
 present; and being well worthy to be further 
 preserved are here inserted, viz. 
 
 In this sickness he was reduced very low, 
 and sometimes said it looked unlikely that he 
 should recover ; in the forepart thereof he often 
 mentioned his being in great poverty of spirit, 
 saying, that before he was taken ill, he felt such 
 deep distress of mind, that he thought he was 
 a cumber to the ground, and scarcely worthy 
 to partake .of the meanest necessaries of life; 
 that even bread and water seemed too good for 
 him. 
 
 On the fourth of the eleventh month, four 
 friends being present, he spake in a very awful 
 frame of mind nearly as follows. " Such build 
 
252 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 on a sandy foundation who refuse paying that 
 which is called the Provincial or king's tax, 
 only because some others scruple paying it, 
 whom they esteem ; yet I have now clearly seen, 
 as well as heretofore, that the testimony of Truth, 
 if deeply attended to, will not be found to unite 
 with warlike measures. And that it will in the 
 Lord's time be exalted above all opposition, 
 and come to possess even the gates of its ene- 
 mies ; though it may appear mean and contemp- 
 tible in the eyes of some now a days, as the con- 
 duct of our primitive friends did, in divers re- 
 spects in the world's view. And whosover con- 
 tinues to trample upon, or despise the tender 
 scruples of their brethren in relation to their 
 clearness concerning war, will certainly find it 
 a weight too heavy for them to bear. 
 
 " My testimony on this account, so far as I 
 have borne it, yields me satisfaction at this time; 
 and the painful steps I have taken on sundry 
 occasions, both in public and private, to dis- 
 charge my conscience in the sight of God, in 
 giving faithful warnings to my brethren and 
 countrymen, both in a civil and religious capa- 
 city, afford me comfort in this distressing season. 
 I have clearly seen, and the prospect at this 
 time adds divine strength to my soul, that the 
 God of Truth is determined in due time to ex- 
 alt the mountain of his Holiness above all the 
 hills of an empty profession ; and all such who 
 shall be admitted as clean inhabitants thereon, 
 he wills them to be quite clean handed ; and 
 that they should become subject to the Lamb's 
 nature in every respect, and not shake hands 
 with that nature which would tear and devour, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 253 
 
 uor in any shape contribute to the price of 
 blood." 
 
 At another time he said ; " I have been led in 
 the present dispensation allotted me, to behold 
 the situation of divers particular friends, to whom 
 I feel ardent affection ; who seem to have given, 
 or sold away for this world's friendship, the tes- 
 timony they should have borne for the Prince of 
 Peace, who is the High Priest of our profession ; 
 and for fear of breaking an outside unity, which 
 will surely come to be broken, that the true uni- 
 ty in the bond of peace may be exalted, have 
 acted contrary to the former sight of their duty, 
 and are thereby become halt, and dimsighted in 
 several respects ; such, though they still seem 
 to desire it, cannot attain to the spotless beauty of 
 Truth, nor approach to the top of the mountain; 
 on whose account I am afraid, that some of them 
 will never recover their former strength, nor at- 
 tain to that dignity the truth would have placed 
 upon them, if they had been faithful ; the situa- 
 tion of whom I have bewailed with anxiety of 
 mind. I have been from my youth up accustom- 
 ed to sorrow, and am a man acquainted with 
 grief, and now remarkably. The lives of my 
 brethren, and of all men appear exceeding pre- 
 cious in my sight. It looks doubtful whether I 
 shall ever see my friends met in a quarterly- 
 meeting again, yet if it be the will of Divine 
 Providence, I much desire it; having heretofore, 
 through a timorous disposition, lest I should of- 
 fend some, and for fear of the frowns of elder 
 brethren, concealed some things I should have 
 declared. And if I should now never more 
 have a public opportunity, I speak thus in your 
 
 Y 
 
254 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 hearing, to let it be known that I am still a 
 well-wisher to all men ; and that my integrity 
 to the testimony of Truth, against all connec- 
 tions with wars and fighting, is now full as 
 strong, or stronger than ever." 
 
 On second day morning, the ninth of the ele- 
 venth month, he said to this effect, viz. " I 
 have been led to see the necessity there is for 
 friends to beware of the custom of drinking 
 drams, or strong spirits mixed ; I have for many 
 years rarely taken any, except on particular 
 occasions, and then but a very small quantity. 
 It is my judgment, that the less any of us ac- 
 custom ourselves to the use of those spirits, 
 the better it would be for our constitutions iu 
 general. I believe it is not consistent with the 
 will of Divine Providence, that the course of 
 nature should be obstructed and changed, and 
 our animal spirits corrupted through the unna- 
 tural warmth of spirituous liquors. 
 
 " From my present sense and feeling of that 
 regular temperance which is truly pleasing in 
 the eyes of Heaven, I have mourned that the 
 use of strong drink should become so prevalent 
 amongst us who make so high a profession ; 
 whose bodies should be temples of the Holy 
 Ghost, and should not be defiled, or tainted with 
 any degree of intemperance. In harvest there 
 is generally plenty of other refreshment, which 
 would keep the bodies of men as strong, and as 
 capable to perform hard labour. Witness the 
 health and strength of our forefathers in the 
 first settlement of this country ; when strong 
 liquors were very little used amongst them. 
 
 " Alas ! how dimness has overtaken us, when 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 255 
 
 we compare ourselves and our practices, with 
 the temperance and moderation of our forefa- 
 thers, and the early settlers of this Province t 
 How sumptuous now are the tables, how rich 
 and costly the apparel, the diet and the furni- 
 ture of many of our friends even in the country ; 
 but more especially in the city! How is the 
 simplicity and plainness of Truth departed from, 
 and pomp and splendid appearances taken their 
 place ! And how much cost and time might be 
 spared from needless things, and applied to 
 better uses, to the bettering of our country, and 
 helping to turn away the judgment which hangs 
 over us, in part occasioned by these things, 
 
 " I desire that my grand children may be 
 brought up in a plain simple way, accustomed 
 to industry, and some useful business in the 
 creation ; not aiming at great estates, nor fol- 
 lowing others in that way ; but give them useful 
 learning, and rather chuse husbandry, and a 
 plain calling for them in the country, than en- 
 deavour to promote them to ways of merchan- 
 dize ; for, according to my observation from 
 my youth up, the former is less dangerous, and 
 less corrupting. I observed when I was in 
 England, that some of the greatest and wisest 
 men in a religious sense, were brought up at 
 the plough tail, or in some laborious occupa- 
 tion ; where the mind is less liable to be divert- 
 ed from an awful sense of the creator, than in 
 an easy idle education. How many great men 
 there are, whom I could name, whose way of 
 living is mean and homely, in this world's ac- 
 count, so that they have little more than real 
 
256 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 necessity requires ; and yet they are rich in the 
 best sense." 
 
 The next day, being asked how he was, he 
 said nearly as follows. " 1 have slept sweetly, 
 and seem much refreshed ; and though 1 feel 
 myself very weak in body, I am full of Di- 
 vine consolation, having never before had such 
 prospects of heavenly things. It seems even 
 as though my soul was united in chorus with 
 glorified Saints and Angels, both sleeping 
 and waking. I now believe I shall reco- 
 ver, and that this sickness did not happen to 
 me altogether on my own account. My way 
 to recover is to be industrious and diligent 
 in what I believe is required of me ; I have 
 many messages to deliver, both in public, 
 and privately to divers friends, whom I have 
 seen to have missed their way ; and have in 
 a great measure deprived themselves of the 
 beauty wherewith an humble abiding in the 
 truth would have dignified them : and some of 
 my elder brethren, for whom I feel an uncom- 
 mon nearness of affection, their lives never ap- 
 peared to be more near to me, and I dare not 
 conceal counsel from them, whether they will 
 hear or forbear. Yea, I thought last night, I 
 had a clear prospect of the situations of many 
 within the verge of our quarterly-meeting ; it 
 seemed as though the inward states of particu- 
 lars were opened to me in full view ; the pure 
 life in the brightness of religion never appeared 
 to be more precious. An uncommon earnest- 
 ness attends my mind, for the recovery of the 
 rebellious, hypocritical, and backsliding profes- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 257 
 
 sors of all ranks amongst us. And if I get to 
 our quarterly-meeting, which I believe I shall, 
 and can have time allowed me when there, I 
 have tidings; important tidings, as from a dy- 
 ing man, to many particulars. I have seen the 
 mystery of the three days, or the prophet's laying 
 three days and three nights in the belly of the 
 fish. A wicked and adulterous generation are 
 now, as well as formerly, seeking for a sign to 
 things spoken closely ; but no sign shall be 
 given them, save the sign of the prophet Jonah. 
 Oar Saviour's sufferings for mankind, and af- 
 terwards descending into the bowels of the 
 earth, prefigured that his followers must, after 
 his pattern, descend into Spiritual Baptism ; 
 that they may rise again, freed from the dregs 
 of nature, and from the corruptions of the crea- 
 turely passions, before they can be qualified to 
 see, and suitably to administer to the states of 
 others. I have likewise seen the mystery of 
 Ezekiei's sufferings, and bearing the sins of the 
 house of Israel for the space of three hundred 
 and ninety days ; which being accomplished, 
 he was commanded to turn on the other side, 
 and to bear the sins of Judah forty days, for 
 the corruptions of that princely tribe, who 
 should have been as way-marks to others. My 
 state has been for several years past, my deep 
 baptisms, and painful sittings in our meetings, 
 like bearing the rod of the wicked ; in which 
 dispensation I have been sometimes ready to 
 conclude with Elijah, that the altars were 
 thrown down, and the Lord's Prophets slain, 
 and I, a mean worthless servant left alone, and 
 that my life was sought also. I have now seen 
 
 y 2 
 
258 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the use of those dispensations to me, with the 
 use of my late sickness, whereby I am reduced 
 to great weakness of body; that I might be as 
 a sign to this generation, and as with the mouth 
 of a dying man, utter tidings without fear of 
 giving offence ; tidings which I have hereto- 
 fore concealed, through a timorous disposition. 
 I have seen at this season, that the Lord hath 
 preserved a living number in Israel, who have 
 not bowed the knee to Baal, or the god of this 
 world; I have also seen the conditions of many 
 who have worshipped strange gods. And the 
 corruption even of some who have assumed the 
 station of ministers in our society, how they are 
 deceived so far as to believe a lie ; have seen 
 lying visions, and have caused the weak to 
 stumble ; they have been speaking peace to the 
 people as in the Lord's name, when it was only 
 a flash, or divination of their own brain, which 
 has tended to corruption and putrefaction in the 
 churches. And I have seen how that many little 
 ones have laid groaning as under the burden and 
 oppression of these things, whose day of redemp- 
 tion draweth near, when they shall be made by 
 the Almighty as bright stars in the firmament 
 of his power; and those who are corrupt, and 
 settled on their lees, shall be punished. In this 
 dispensation I have abundantly witnessed the in- 
 comes of that peace and love which passeth all 
 understanding ; neither my tongue nor capacity 
 are able to set forth the bowels of compassion 
 which I livingly feel to flow towards the whole 
 bulk of mankind ; and especially to my brethren 
 in profession. Yea, it seems as though no afflk> 
 iiou would be too great to endure for their sakes, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 259 
 
 if it might be a means to have some of them, 
 whose situation I hare now been led to behold 
 as particulars, restored to their former greenness 
 and spiritual health, from whence they have 
 fallen, and dimness has overtaken them. And 
 though my outward man seems almost wasted, 
 my spirit is strong in the Lord ; and in the in- 
 expressible strength of affection, I have found 
 my spirit led from place to place over the coun- 
 try, to visit the souls in prison. Yea, I have 
 beheld the dawning of that precious morning, 
 wherein corruption shall be swept away from 
 the church, and righteousness and Truth begin 
 to flourish greatly. The day seems to me to be 
 at hand ; and what if I say, I have a degree of 
 faith that some of the children now born may 
 live to see it. Through innocent boldness, my 
 face now seems to be as brass ; and in the open- 
 ings of the vision of life, I think I could utter 
 gospel Truths, and discover the mystery of ini- 
 quity which I have seen, without fearing any 
 mortal man. I may be raised to live a while 
 longer, though to die now, would be a welcome 
 release to me. Yea, I could not desire to live, 
 but for the longings of soul, and pantings of 
 heart which I feel towards the precious seed in 
 many whom I have now been led in spirit to 
 visit. I have beheld their situation to be as 
 lumps, taken or cut out from the bowels of their 
 mother the earth, though much hidden from the 
 view of mortals ; and are tempering and fashi- 
 oning by the Divine Potter, in different shapes, 
 for divers uses ; and I have seen that the Pot- 
 ter's power is sufficient to pick out, and take 
 away every gravel and little pebble of nature. 
 
260 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Many I have beheld in this situation, set by, as 
 it were, out of sight to dry, until all the damp- 
 ness and natural moisture is removed from them ; 
 not being yet fitted to undergo the operation of 
 burning. But when properly prepared, and 
 thoroughly dried, many will be brought to the 
 fire, burned, and glazed, so that they may retain 
 the liquor or wine of the kingdom with a sweet 
 taste, without any degree of taint, or nauseous 
 smell.** 
 
 On the twelfth of the eleventh month, early in 
 the morning, lie spake to this purpose. "I be- 
 lieve 1 must endeavour to go to our quarterly- 
 meeting, which began the fourteenth, although 
 as to bodily strength I am very weak. There 
 my mind is remarkably, sleeping and waking ; 
 there I hope to be relieved of some things which 
 seem to remain like a fire in my bones. I dare 
 not forbear, I know it is the wav for me to re- 
 cover my strength outwardly, and to be eased 
 of that which is a heavy burden inwardly. I 
 see I must go, and believe I shall recruit, and 
 gain strength every day/* which was the case 
 accordingly. He further said, " My mind has 
 for several days been attended with an uncom- 
 mon sweetness, the like I never knew for so 
 long together, with a succession of soul- melt- 
 ing prospects. I have freedom to relate what I 
 had a sight of this morning before day, as I lay 
 in a sweet slumber;" which was nearly in these 
 words, viz* " I thought I saw Noah's Ark 
 floating on the deluge, or flood, with Noah and 
 his family in it ; and looking earnestly at it, I 
 beheld the window of the Ark, and saw Noah 
 put out the dove ; and I beheld her flying to and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 26 i 
 
 fro, for some time ; but finding no rest for the 
 sole of liev foot, I thought she returned, and I 
 saw Noah's hand put forth to take her in again. 
 After some time I thought I beheld her put forth 
 a second time, and a raven with her ; the dove 
 fled as before for some time, and then I saw her 
 return with a green olive leaf in her mouth, as 
 a welcome token of the flood's being abated. I 
 thought I saw also the raven fly, cawking, to and 
 fro, but he did not return ; and it came into my 
 mind, this is a ravenous bird, and seeks only 
 for prey to satisfy his own stomach, otherwise 
 he might have returned to the Ark with good 
 tidings, or some pleasant token, as well as the 
 dove. Again after a short space, I thought I 
 beheld the mountain tops and some of the tree 
 tops, beginning to appear above the waters, and 
 that I could perceive the flood abate very fast ; 
 and as the waters fell away I saw the trees began 
 to bud and a gradual greenness of new leaves 
 came upon them; and I heard the voice of the 
 turtle, and saw many symptoms of a pleasant 
 and happy season approaching, more than I can 
 now relate ; and the prospect thereof ravished my 
 soul. I beheld the trees blossoming, the fragrant 
 valleys adorned with grass, herbs, and pretty 
 flowers, and the pleasant streams gushing down 
 towards the ocean ; indeed, all nature appeared 
 to have a new dress ; the birds were hopping on 
 the boughs of the trees, and chirping ; each in 
 their own notes, warbled forth the praise of their 
 creator. And whilst I beheld these things, a 
 saying of the Prophet was brought fresh in my 
 memory, and applicable as I thought to the view 
 before me, viz. The mountains and the hills 
 
£62 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 shall break forth before you into singing, and 
 ail the trees of the field shall clap their hands ; 
 instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, 
 and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle 
 tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for 
 an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. See 
 Isaiah, lv. 12, 13. 
 
 " When I awoke, the prospect remained clear 
 in my mind, and had a sweet relish, which now 
 continues with me ; and the application of the 
 vision seems to me in this manner. The flood 
 which appeared to cover the face of the earth, is 
 the corruption and darkness which is so preva- 
 lent over the hearts of mankind ; the Ark repre- 
 sents a place of safe, though solitary refuge, 
 wherein the Almighty preserves his humble at- 
 tentive people, who, like Noah, are aiming at 
 perfection in their generation. The dove sets 
 forth the innocent, harmless, and loving dispo- 
 sition, which attends the followers of the Lamb, 
 who are always willing to bring good tidings, 
 when such are to be had. The raven represents 
 a contrary disposition, which reigns in the hearts 
 of the children of disobedience, who chiefly aim 
 at gratifying their own sensual appetites ; the 
 waters gradually abating, the trees appearing, 
 and afterwards budding, the voice of the tur- 
 tle and the pleasant notes of the birds, all 
 seem clear to me to presage the approach of 
 that glorious morning, wherein corruption and 
 iniquity shall begin to abate, and be swept 
 away; and then every thing shall appear to 
 have a new dress. I am fully confirmed in the 
 belief, that that season will approach, which was 
 foretold by the prophet, wherein the glory of the 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 263 
 
 Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover 
 the sea ; and in a sense of these things my soul 
 is overcome. I feel the loving kindness of the 
 Lord Almighty yet waiting for the return of 
 backsliders with unspeakable mercy ; and my 
 soul in a sense of it, seems bound stronger than 
 ever, in the bonds of the gospel travail ; which 
 travail I hope will increase, and spread amongst 
 the faithful, for the enlargement of the church : 
 that the nations may iiock unto Sion ; which 
 shall become an eternal excellency, even the 
 joy of the whole earth." 
 
 Again he expressed his having a prospect of 
 the morning; and said, " The day star is risen, 
 which presages the approach of the morning ; 
 I have seen it in its lustre, and have a lively 
 sense of that saying being again fulfilled in the 
 New-Creation, see Job, xxxviii. 7« The morning 
 stars sang together, and the sons of God shout- 
 ed for joy. I have heard their sound intelligi- 
 bly, and my heart is comforted therein. The 
 potsherds of the earth may clash together for a 
 season ; but the Lord in due time will bring 
 about the reformation. The predictions of 
 Archbishop Usher, mentioned in the preface to 
 SewelPs History, have come fresh in my me- 
 mory, and nearly correspond with the sense I 
 have, that a sharp and trying dispensation is 
 to come upon the professors of Christianity ; 
 wherein the honest and upright hearted shall be 
 hid as under the hollow of the Lord^s hand ; 
 when rents, divisions and commotions shall en- 
 crease amongst the earthly-minded, and one 
 branch of a family be at strife with another, 
 like the daughter-in-law against the mother-in- 
 
264 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 law, &c. and happy will it be for those who 
 endeavour to stand ready for the approach of 
 such a dispensation." 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 His Visit to the Quarterly-meeting at Salem, and the 
 General-meetings at Uwchlan and Goshen, in 
 1764. — His attendance of the Yearly-meeting in 
 Philadelphia, 1767 — And the General-meeting at 
 Cecil in Maryland. — The Death of his Wife. — 
 His Visit to divers Meetings in Chester and Bucks 
 Counties — to the Yearly-meeting in Maryland.— 
 Also to several Meetings in New-Jersey. — And 
 some others in York County, Pennsylvania. — Also 
 to Fairfax, &c. in Virginia. 
 
 In the spring of the year 1764, I acquainted 
 my friends, that I had a desire to attend the 
 quarterly-meeting at Salem, in New- Jersey j 
 wherewith having their concurrence, on the se- 
 venteenth of the fifth month I left home and 
 went to Wilmington, and next day in company 
 with several friends from thence by water to 
 our friend Joshua Thompson's at the mouth of 
 Salem Creek. At the meeting of ministers and 
 elders we were comforted together through the 
 goodness of the Lord. On first day there was 
 a large gathering of a mixed multitude, and 
 quiet, the Divine power being felt and Gospel 
 Truths preached, by the influence of the love 
 whereof many hearts were tendered ; though I 
 thought the beauty and solemnity of the meet- 
 ing was a little marred by an appearance that 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £65 
 
 was continued too long. To begin in the life 
 and conclude in the power and life, is becoming 
 a minister of the gospel. 
 
 On second day morning the meeting of minis- 
 ters and elders was again held ; it was a pre- 
 cious instructive season in the love of Christ our 
 holy head, by which the humble were united ; 
 afterwards we had a large meeting for public 
 worship, wherein the testimony of Truth flowed 
 freely ; the call to the ministry and qualifica- 
 tion necessary to preach the gospel being clearly 
 set forth. In humble admiration I could re- 
 newedly acknowledge, Thou art, oh Lord ! 
 strength in our weakness, mouth and Avisdom, 
 yea all things to thy humble depending servants 
 whose trust is on thee, waiting for thy putting 
 forth in the way, and gently going before them, 
 blessed be thy holy name forever. In transact- 
 ing the affairs of the discipline a spirit of bro- 
 therly love prevailed. The youth's-meeting at 
 Pilesgrove was also large and edifying ; the 
 Shepherd of Israel being pleased to stretch 
 forth the crook of his love, for gathering of the 
 straying youth from pursuing after lying vani- 
 ties and worldly pleasures ; ministering reproof 
 to hypocrites and formal professors, yet comfort- 
 ing his children and humble dependent follow- 
 ers, to the praise of his own eternal name. The 
 meeting of ministers and elders sat again by 
 adjournment, when we had an uniting parting 
 season. I returned to my friend Joshua Thomp- 
 son's, next day to a meeting at Wilmington, 
 and in the evening home ; being thankful that 
 I had been enabled to perform this small jour- 
 ney. 
 
 z 
 
266 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 After which, having a strong desire to attend 
 the general-meetings at Goshen and Uwchlan, 
 on the eighth of the sixth month my dear wife 
 and I left home, though I was very unwell with 
 a cold taken in my return from Salem, and a 
 fever attending me every day. We attended 
 Uwchlan meeting on first day, also one in the 
 evening at the house of our brother Daniel 
 Brown ; which was dull and exercising, from a 
 sense of the prevalence of a spirit which leads 
 many into forgetfulness of God, after the vani- 
 ties, love and pleasures of this perishing world. 
 Next day the general meeting at Goshen was 
 very large, and much disturbed by the going out 
 and coming in of many, but through divine 
 goodness it came to a better settlement before it 
 concluded ; when solid friends, in a degree of 
 the renewing of the Lord's comforting love, 
 were refreshed in him and one another ; a visi- 
 tation being continued to the youth, the praise 
 whereof belongs to the great author of all good ! 
 
 The general-meeting at Uwchlan on the day 
 following was also large, and measurably at- 
 tended with the ownings of Truth ; under the 
 influence of which, admonition and counsel 
 flowed freely to the youth ; the divine witness 
 in several of whom was reached, and the name 
 of the Lord praised, who is for ever worthy. 
 
 In these large meetings, as on all other such 
 occasions, it is necessary, in order for a proper 
 qualification to minister to the people, humbly 
 to wait to know the inward life, and baptizing 
 virtue of the spirit and power of Jesus Christ, 
 our all in all ; without whose help we can never 
 do his work to his praise, but instead of gather- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 267 
 
 ing the flock, we shall minister to their scatter- 
 ing from the true place of feeding. After being 
 at the preparative meeting at East-Cain and a 
 meeting at Uwchlan, we returned home thank- 
 ful to the Lord, who mercifully supported us in 
 this small journey ; both of us being weakly 
 and indisposed in health. 
 
 In the ninth month, 1707, I attended our 
 yearly-meeting in Philadelphia, which held a 
 week ; all the sittings whereof, both for worship 
 and discipline, were, through the overshadow- 
 ing of divine favour, instructive to the humble 
 waiters ; and the testimony of Truth, particu- 
 larly against the unjust and unrighteous prac- 
 tice of slave-keeping, greatly prevailed ; and 
 friends were fully cautioned against bequeath- 
 ing by will, as slaves to their posterity, the 
 poor negroes, their fellow -creatures ; it being 
 an unlawful act in the sight of the great and 
 righteous parent of all mankind. This meet- 
 ing concluded with a degree of awe and rever- 
 ence, under the sweetening influence of the 
 Father's love. I returned home to our general- 
 meeting at Nottingham, which was held on the 
 fourth and fifth days of the tenth month. 
 
 After which, having a strong desire to attend 
 the general-meeting at Cecil, in Maryland, I sat 
 out in company with several other friends, and 
 reached the first sitting of the meeting, which 
 was small and dull ; the public meeting next 
 day was very large and attended with some sa- 
 tisfaction, those of other societies who were there 
 were mostly pretty quiet. At the meeting of 
 ministers and elders, the want of solid elders 
 being evident, the consideration thereof was 
 
268 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 proposed to the quarterly-meeting, which was 
 held in the afternoon of the same day ; when it 
 was recommended to the monthly-meetings to 
 observe the directions of the yearly-meeting, to 
 chuse well qualified solid friends for that 
 weighty station. 
 
 The meeting for public worship was again 
 large, being attended by many of other societies, 
 and my brother William Brown was largely 
 opened in doctrine to the edification of the audi- 
 tory ; after which I had a short testimony tend- 
 ing to close the foregoing. In the meeting for 
 discipline I had occasion to lament that there 
 were too few who feelingly understood the 
 weight of such meetings, or were clean handed 
 to move therein, either to their own profit or the 
 help of their brethren ; yet there are a few who 
 seern to be under a preparation for the work, 
 and I hope will grow in their gifts. On third day 
 morning business began again, and ended full 
 as well as I expected. I thought the Lord was 
 mercifully pleased to open considerable instruc- 
 tion to such among them, who had ears to hear 
 and hearts disposed to receive it. The meeting 
 for worship, held that afternoon, was not so 
 large as on the other two days ; the service 
 thereof lay weightily on me, and I had a full op- 
 portunity to relieve my mind towards the peo- 
 ple, in opening to them the nature and ground of 
 spiritual worship and true prayer ; also the true 
 call and qualification for gospel ministry, de- 
 claring what it was to live of the gospel, in op- 
 position to a forced maintenance. Truth fa- 
 voured, and the people were solid, several be- 
 ing much reached ; the meeting ending to satis 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 269 
 
 faction, with a sense of humble thanksgiving in 
 many hearts to the Lord, whose mercies through 
 Christ Jesus are to his people yea and amen 
 for ever. 
 
 His wife being under many years affliction with 
 a Cancer on her head, which was now so 
 greatly increased as to require his daily af- 
 fectionate attendance, confined him mostly at 
 home until after her decease, which was in 
 the seventh month, 1770. She was a steady 
 exemplary friend. Concerning whom the 
 monthly -meeting of Nottingham give the fol- 
 lowing testimony. 
 
 " Our friend Margaret Churchman was born 
 of believing parents William and Esther Brown, 
 who lived at Chichester, in the county of Ches- 
 ter in Pennsylvania, the thirteenth of the first 
 month 1706-7 ; her father removing with his fa- 
 mily into Maryland near the Susquehanna, 
 died before she was ten years old. In the 
 twenty-third year of her age, she entered into a 
 marriage state with John Churchman, of Not- 
 tingham, and being religiously inclined from 
 her childhood, became a diligent seeker after 
 that bread which nourishes the inward man, 
 and thereby grew in religion ; and about the 
 thirty-fourth year of her age, it pleased the Lord 
 to put her forth in the ministry ; in which she 
 was frequently exercised to the comfort and 
 edification of the churches where she visited, in 
 this and the southern Provinces ; being delivered 
 
 z2 
 
270 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 in a degree of life, and gospel sweetness in per- 
 tinent expressions, free from unbecoming ges- 
 tures. She was an example in plainness, a 
 diligent attender of meetings, and an humble 
 waiter therein ; serviceable in meetings of bu- 
 siness, having a good sense of discipline, with 
 a becoming zeal to support the testimony of 
 Truth in its various branches, and useful in the 
 weighty service of visiting families. 
 
 " In the latter part of her life she was for 
 many years afflicted with a cancer on her head, 
 which she bore with remarkable patience, re- 
 signation and innocent cheerfulness ; attending 
 meetings to the admiration of many who knew 
 her disease ; which, notwithstanding various 
 applications, so increased, that she became too 
 weak to attend meetings some time before her 
 decease, yet she retained her love to truth and 
 friends to the last ; and in the sixty-fourth year 
 of her age, being a minister about thirty years, 
 she departed this life, on the twenty- eighth of 
 the seventh month 1770? and was buried on the 
 thirtieth, in friends burying ground at East- 
 Nottingham, attended by many friends and 
 neighbours ; at which time we had a solid sa- 
 tisfactory meeting. 
 
 f< Given forth by our monthly-meeting held at 
 East-Nottingham, the twenty-seventh of the 
 seventh month 1771* and signed on behalf 
 thereof, by 
 
 Samuel England, 1 Clerks * 
 Rebecca Trimble, 5 
 
 Having an inclination to attend Chester quar- 
 terly-meeting, also some meetings within the 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £71 
 
 verge thereof ; with the concurrence of friends 
 I sat out on the first of the second month 1771 ; 
 attended New-Garden monthly-meeting next 
 day, in which the love of our merciful Father 
 was measurably felt, to the comfort of the hum- 
 ble in heart ; and on first day at Birmingham ; 
 on the next had a meeting in the house of Rich- 
 ard Downing at Milltown, with people of vari- 
 ous sorts ; the Lord was pleased to assist with 
 wisdom and ability, in measure, to divide his 
 word in reproof, counsel, admonition and cau- 
 tion, to the praise of his own name. On third 
 day at Pikeland was a pretty full meeting 
 though a very cold day. Truth was felt to be 
 near us. A profitable opportunity was had also 
 in the family of the widow Meredith, she being 
 weakly did not get out to their meeting ; next 
 day had a cold ride to Nantmill, where was a 
 large full meeting and I believe beneficial to 
 many present, by the tendering goodness of the 
 blessed Shepherd of spiritual Israel ; the crook 
 of whose heavenly love is still stretched forth 
 to his sheep, who are not yet acquainted with 
 the true fold of rest and safe feeding place ; his 
 own works praise him. Uwchlan monthly- 
 meeting on the day following was a laborious 
 season, yet through Divine favour made com- 
 fortable to the weary travellers, who had to 
 rejoice together in a participation of the conso- 
 lation of Israel, and thereinto worship his name 
 who is worthy for ever. Goshen monthly- 
 meeting was also laborious. When former ex- 
 perience is fed upon, or the love or honour of 
 the world and fleshly ease takes place, a spirit 
 grows up in the church, which cannot judge for 
 
£72 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 God and his Truth ; for the judgment is his, in 
 whose fear his children are made to rejoice, 
 when his presence is known, and his humbling 
 goodness manifested to his people. On flrst 
 day I was at Middletown meeting, in which 
 there seemed to be a tender visitation and call 
 to the youth, to acquaint themselves with the 
 God of their Fathers ; his love being measura- 
 bly witnessed among us. The quarterly-meet- 
 ing for Chester held at Concord, was solid and 
 edifying, through the extending of the Heaven- 
 ly father's love to the children of his family. 
 From thence I went to Wilmington, visited some 
 of my acquaintance, and had a comfortable sit- 
 ting in the family of David Ferriss, his son Ben* 
 jamin being ill in a consumption. I also attend- 
 ed the monthly-meeting; which, though a search- 
 ing time, was I believe to the comfort and edi- 
 fication of many ; the uniting love of truth being 
 experienced, rested on friends in the time of the 
 business. After which I went to the monthly- 
 meetings at Center and Bradford, and from 
 thence to our quarterly-meeting at London- 
 Grove ; then returned home, having great peace 
 in performing this journey, and being favoured 
 with ability, felt a degree of reverent thankful- 
 ness to the Lord, who is all things to his ser- 
 vants, who truly abide in nothingness of self ; he 
 is therefore worthy of all obedience and honour 
 for ever. 
 
 On the twenty-first of the third month, I left 
 my habitation in order to attend our general 
 spring- meeting at Philadelphia ; in my way 
 called at Wilmington, and was at the burial of 
 Benjamin Ferriss before-mentioned. Our spring- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 273 
 
 meeting was to me.. very comfortable, in a sense 
 of the living presence of the Holy Head of the 
 church, in which his true children were edified, 
 and strengthened and mutually comforted one in 
 another ; blessed be his name for ever ! 
 
 At this meeting the brethren, both ministers 
 and elders, apprehend it their duty in the love 
 of Christ, to appoint such who are willing to give 
 up their names to attend the several large or ge- 
 neral meetings, which come in course in the en- 
 suing summer before our yearly- meeting; to which 
 they are expected to give some account of the 
 meetings so attended by them; and feeling a 
 small draught in my mind to be at that at Duck 
 creek, I gave in my name to attend it. 
 
 On my return from Philadelphia I sat with 
 friends at their week day meeting in Wilming- 
 ton ; which, through the continued goodness of 
 the Lord, was in some measure a profitable sea- 
 son, I hope to many. Here I felt a strong de- 
 sire to see the friends together, who are owners 
 of the grist-mills lately built at and near Bran- 
 dywine, and upon notice thereof, they met the 
 same afternoon at the house of Daniel Byrnes ; 
 when I had an opportunity to discharge my mind 
 in an affectionate manner, of what had impres- 
 sed it towards them ; which they appeared to 
 receive in a degree of the same love ; and as I 
 believe it came from the author of all good, who 
 is alone worthy of praise, a blessing may attend 
 that opportunity if rightly remembered. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of the fourth month, be- 
 ing accompanied by a friend and neighbour, I 
 went to Duck creek, and was at the monthly- 
 meeting there the next day : which was heavy, 
 
£74 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 occasioned by the prevalence of a formal luke* 
 warm worldly spirit over many of the professors 
 belonging thereto ; but through the long suffer- 
 ing and continued mercy of God, there seemed 
 to be a renewed awakening visitation to some. 
 The meeting on first day was very large, the 
 Lord being mercifully pleased to open the states 
 and conditions of many, in a particular instru- 
 mental manner, and in a measure of his holy 
 heart- tendering power, which reached the wit- 
 ness ; divers were humbled, and the meeting 
 ended with thanksgiving, prayer and praises, to 
 the Lord who is worthy for ever. 
 
 On second day the meeting was not so large, 
 occasioned by a fair being near ; nevertheless it 
 was a season in which the doctrine and myste- 
 ries of the kingdom of Christ were largely set 
 forth to the people, by the influence of the spirit, 
 and in the love and wisdom of the holy High 
 Priest, who is all in all to his people. 
 
 We had also three select opportunities with 
 the ministers and elders, among whom there 
 was great apparent weakness ; the reasons 
 whereof were plainly made known to them, 
 from the sense given in the love and fear of 
 him, who will not own and unite with such as 
 are defiled ; which plainness we had a hope 
 would be profitable. 
 
 Next day several of us were at George's 
 Creek, which meeting is much declined. Where 
 the love of the world and its alluring vanities 
 prevail on the professors of truth, their affections 
 are drawn from God, they grow slack in attend- 
 ing meetings, and are a bad example one to an- 
 other. It w 7 as a hard meeting ; but through 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 275 
 
 the love of Christ, a measure of gospel anoint- 
 ing enabled to open to them their states in great 
 love and plainness, which seemed to affect some 
 particulars; may it be remembered with reve- 
 rence before him who is the author of all good, 
 and praise worthy for ever ! 
 
 Soon after my return home, feeling my mind 
 engaged to attend the quarterly-meeting in 
 Bucks county, with a few other meetings in 
 Philadelphia quarter, I set out on the twenty - 
 sixth of the fifth month, accompanied by Sa- 
 muel England, and on the third day of the 
 week following, was at the Bank meeting in 
 Philadelphia, which was comfortable : on fifth 
 day at the quarterly-meeting at Buckingham, 
 and next day at the general youth's-meeting, 
 which was large and divinely favoured ; then 
 visiting several indisposed friends, on first day 
 I attended Plumstead meeting, and in that week 
 the several monthly-meetings of Buckingham, 
 Wrightstown, the Falls and Middletown, also 
 a public meeting at Maketield ; was on first day 
 at Bristol, from whence I went with my friend 
 James Thornton to their afternooon meeting at 
 Byberry; had an appointed one at the same 
 place next day, and in that week visited the 
 several neighbouring meetings, one of which 
 was a general youthVmeeting at Horsham, 
 large and instructive, w herein the love of our 
 Heavenly Father was felt by his truly depend- 
 ing children; then taking meetings atGwynnedd, 
 Providence, Richland, Oley, Exeter, Maiden 
 creek, Reading, and on first day at the Forest, 
 I from thence rode to Uwchlan, and on second 
 day had a meeting at Mill town in the house of 
 
Z76 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 Robert Valentine; then proceeded home, hav- 
 ing rode about three hundred and seventy miles 
 in this journey, in which I was favoured with 
 my health, and held travelling beyond my ex- 
 pectation. At the gentle drawings of Truth I 
 left my habitation, having little prospect of 
 much before me, but was preserved in a quiet 
 resignation to the divine will to do whatsoever 
 should appear my duty ; beseeching the Lord 
 to enable me to watch against every appearance 
 of self in the great and pure work of declaring 
 the gospel to the people ; and have great cause 
 to be humbly thankful, that the Lord was pleased 
 to own my service beyond expectation, to the 
 exaltation of his own Truth ; blessed be his 
 name for ever ! 
 
 In the tenth month following I went to the 
 yearly-meeting at Third-haven, in Maryland ; 
 the meetings for worship held three days, and 
 each of them were very large, and many gospel 
 Truths were delivered in the love and power 
 thereof, by which the witness of God was 
 reached in the hearts of many of the people, and 
 friends comforted and made thankful to the 
 Lord, that he was pleased to own us with the 
 overshadowing of his heavenly love. On fourth 
 day morning the affairs of the discipline were 
 finished; when we had a parting meeting, which 
 through divine favour was a precious time to 
 many. I had never been at the yearly-meeting 
 when held at this place before, and now wit- 
 nessed my heart enlarged in the love of the gos- 
 pel to declare the same among the multitude of 
 people who professed the christian name, and 
 to remind them of their conduct and dress ; how 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMxlN. 277 
 
 different it was from that of those who formerly 
 suffered martyrdom for their religion as now 
 professed by the members of the church of Eng- 
 land so called, who own the reformers as their 
 predecessors. 
 
 Feeliug a draught of love in my mind to- 
 wards some meetings in New-Jersey, particu- 
 larly at Egg-harbour ; having the concurrence 
 of my friends at home, I set out on second day, 
 the first of the sixth month, 1772 ; and taking 
 in my way a meeting at Haddonfield, and ano- 
 ther at the house of my friend Thomas Evans, 
 which through the presence and power of the 
 searcher of hearts was made profitable to some 
 there present, reached Little Egg-harbour on 
 seventh day, and the next attended the yearly- 
 meeting ; in which the love of the gospel was 
 felt to flow towards a loose, raw, uncivilized 
 people, who appeared to attend there more out 
 of curiosity, than a reverent thoughtfulness of 
 worshipping almighty God. In the afternoon 
 of the same day, the continuance of Divine fa- 
 vour was remarkably evident towards the inha- 
 bitants, for which the Lord made the hearts of 
 his sensible children thankful to himself who 
 is the author of all good. The meeting on se- 
 cond day was also very large, in which the 
 true children of the family were comforted in 
 Christ Jesus the Lord and holy head of the 
 church ; by the anointing virtue of whose pre- 
 cious name and power, they were made to re- 
 joice in the company one of another. Here 
 parting with many valuable beloved friends, I 
 went over the bay, to the upper meeting on 
 Great Egg-harbour shore, which was large con- 
 a a 
 
278 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 sidering the notice; here I was comforted in 
 knowing for whose name sake I was made wil- 
 ling to leave my company, and turn that way ; 
 the Lord being pleased to own my service by 
 the inspiration of a degree of his heavenly 
 wisdom and love, to speak to the states of those 
 that were present, blessed be his name who is 
 worthy for ever. I went home with my friend 
 Joseph Mapes, next day attended the lower 
 meeting, which through Divine favour was a 
 precious season ; then passed over to the Cape, 
 and next morning was at a meeting at the up- 
 per house, where many not of our society 
 attended ; to whom the doctrine of the Gospel 
 flowed in describing the nature of pure and 
 undefiled religion, and wherein it consisted ; 
 the people were still and quiet. In the after- 
 noon of the same day I had a meeting at the 
 lower house, which is called eight miles down 
 the Cape ; this was an heart- tendering time, for 
 which friends were made truly thankful. I 
 thought it seemed like to be my last visit to 
 these parts. From thence I went to Cohansy, 
 Forty-five miles, to Mark Reeve's, where I 
 rested the next day, being very weary and 
 almost overcome with hard travelling. On first 
 day I was at Greenwich meeting, and in the 
 afternoon at Alloways Creek, which was very 
 large; many of other societies attending, the 
 doctrine of Truth flowed to them in a measure 
 of the love thereof; next day the meeting at 
 Salem was held in the Court-house, the meet- 
 ing-house being taken down, and a new one 
 building; on third day I was at the upper 
 meeting near Alloways Creek, which through 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, 279 
 
 Divine goodness was an instructive time to some 
 seekers. The passage treated upon was our 
 Lord's description of the pharisee and publican 
 who went up to the temple to pray ; the great 
 difference in the form of their addresses was 
 opened in a clear manner-, by the spirit of him 
 who gave forth that parable, to my humble ad- 
 miration, which was cause of reverent thankful- 
 ness ; they who were sensible being encouraged, 
 and the conceited formalists rebuked. 
 
 From hence I went to John Davis's, had a 
 comfortable opportunity with some indisposed 
 friends in his family ; then taking meetings at 
 Pilesgrove, Upper Greenwich and Woodberry, 
 was on first day morning at Haddonfield, and 
 in the afternoon at Newtown, which last was 
 laborious, though I believe being blessed to se- 
 veral present, was thereby made profitable ; that 
 evening I went over to Philadelphia, weary in 
 body, but cheerful in mind, being sensible of 
 a degree of thankfulness for the continued fa- 
 vour of my Lord and Master, who had been to 
 me a quiet habitation and secret support in this 
 journey. After staying two days, and on each 
 attending meetings in the city, I took Wilming- 
 ton meeting in my way home; having travelled 
 about three hundred and fifty miles, attended 
 about twenty meetings, besides having several 
 comfortable opportunities in families. 
 
 Being under an appointment with other friends 
 of our quarterly-meeting, to visit friends of the 
 monthly-meetings of Warrington and Fairfax, 
 I set out on the seventh of the tenth month ; and 
 taking a meeting with friends in Yorktown, we 
 were at Warrington on first day, then visited 
 
£80 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 the several meetings of Newberry, Huntington, 
 and Monallen, in which Truth owned our ser- 
 vice in a good degree : our labour of love appear- 
 ing to be kindly received, I hope may be useful. 
 On the first day following five of us were at Pipe 
 creek meeting; then at Bush creek, Monaquasy, 
 Fairfax, Goose creek, and Southfork ; wherein 
 the Lord was pleased in his wonted goodness 
 and mercy to magnify his own name who is 
 praiseworthy for ever. 
 
 After a seasonable opportunity with friends 
 held in the house of Abel Janny, at parting with 
 them, we returned to Fairfax meeting on first 
 day, where, under the influence of the Divine 
 presence, the testimony and doctrine of Truth 
 flowed freely to the people ; in a humble sense 
 whereof, praises ascended to his holy name who 
 is over all worthy for ever. 
 
 Several of our company now r returning home- 
 wards, three of us not being easy yet to return, 
 two of us went to visit a friend who lay in a lan- 
 guishing condition, which I believe w as service- 
 able ; the love of our Heavenly Father being in 
 some degree felt among us ; on third day we 
 had a meeting at the Gap, so called, among a 
 raw people, where Divine goodness measura- 
 bly favoured the opportunity ; on the day fol- 
 lowing we attended Fairfax preparative meeting, 
 the two next days we visited some sick friends, 
 and on seventh day w ere at the monthly-meet- 
 ing, which was in the main satisfactory. On 
 first day the meeting was thought to be the 
 largest ever held at this place, and the gospel 
 being preached in the love of it to the tendering 
 the hearts of many, the meeting ended in hum- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £81 
 
 ble thanksgiving to the holy Author of all good. 
 Next day, in company with several friends of 
 Fairfax, I attended a meeting at Monaquasy, 
 where some came who did not make religious 
 profession with us, which was an instructive 
 tendering season, through the Lord's goodness. 
 After a meeting at Bush creek, and another at 
 Pipe creek, I travelled to Gunpowder, and at- 
 tended the quarterly-meeting for the western 
 shore of Maryland ; likewise the general meet- 
 ing for worship on first day, at which were se- 
 veral not of our society, whose hearts were reach- 
 ed with the love of truth. Next day I had a 
 meeting at the little Falls, and from thence re- 
 turned home ; where, after staying three days, I 
 went to our quarterly-meeting at London-Grove, 
 the two last days of which afforded some com- 
 fort and satisfaction. On the fourteenth of the 
 twelfth month I went to Wilmington, on which 
 day Margaret, the wife of John Perry was buried, 
 after a short illness ; I spent part of the evening 
 in his afflicted family to satisfaction. Staying in 
 the town two days I attended their monthly -meet- 
 ing, and thought there was a want of more mem- 
 bers deeply baptized for the work which ap- 
 pears necessary in the church at that place. At 
 this time Deborah the daughter of David Fer- 
 riss being in a declining consumptive state, and 
 wasting fast, I visited her to my satisfaction; 
 she appearing to be in a resigned humble frame 
 of spirit, was an exemplary young woman 
 whom I esteemed ; then going to Center and 
 Hockesson meetings, I was at New-Garden on 
 first day, which I thought, through divine fa- 
 vour, an instructive profitable meeting to my- 
 
 Aa3 
 
282 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 self, and perhaps to some others. The subject 
 which opened was the necessity of not leauing 
 to, or following any man, but of attending to 
 the pure motion and secret influence of the spirit 
 of Truth manifested in the heart, in the meek- 
 ness and purity of the wisdom from above. It 
 was that by which the churches were gathered, 
 and the members preserved in the unity of the 
 one blessed Spirit, and perfect bond of peace 
 and good order. 
 
 I next attended our preparative and monthly- 
 meetings ; after which was confined mostly at 
 home for about a month by a fever, during 
 which time my mind was often much humbled 
 under a sense of the prevalence of a dull, luke- 
 warm spirit, as to the life and power of Truth ; 
 earthly mindedness, and the cares and cumbers 
 concerning the things of this present life, having 
 drawn the minds of many into death. I never 
 more clearly saw the necessity there was for us 
 who profess the Truth, singly to attend to the 
 gentle instructions of the holy Spirit thereof; 
 which only doth, and ever will, lead and guide 
 into all Truth, and preserveth from those errors 
 and failings which are so abundantly evident 
 among us ; whereby our hands are weakened in 
 respect to a careful exercise of the discipline of 
 the church. 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 283 
 
 CHAP. vni. 
 
 His attendance of the western Quarterly -meeting in 
 the second month 1773 — The Spring-meeting in 
 Philadelphia — And the General-meeting at Duck 
 Creek — The Quarterly-meeting at Shrewsbury — 
 With several other meetings in New- Jersey — The 
 Spring-meeting in Philadelphia in 1774.* — His last 
 visit to New- York — And Long-Island. — His last 
 attendance of the Yearly-meeting in Philadel- 
 phia. — His being at the Spring-meeting there in 
 1775.— And his last Journey to sundry Meetings 
 on the Eastern-shore of Maryland. — His last ill- 
 ness with some weighty expressions in that time. — 
 His Death and Burial. 
 
 Being somewhat recovered of my indisposi- 
 tion of body, I sat in our select meeting of 
 ministers and elders on the first of the second 
 month, 1773> » which I was comforted under a 
 sense of our being owned in some degree by the 
 visitation of Divine love ; and afterwards at- 
 tended our quarterly-meeting at London-Grove, 
 each sitting whereof was favoured with the con- 
 tinuance of heavenly help, to the encourage- 
 ment of the humble waiters. I returned home 
 with thankfulness in my mind to the Lord, who 
 had furnished me with strength in my weak 
 state to sit with my friends, in which we ought 
 to be good examples. I attended our own meet- 
 ing on the fifth and first days following, and in 
 the same week went to Wilmington to the burial 
 of Deborah Ferris, before-mentioned ; after 
 which, a solid and profitable meeting was held. 
 
 On the twenty-sixth of the third month I set out 
 
284 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 from home in order to attend our general spring- 
 meeting at Philadelphia, but did not get there in 
 time for the first sitting thereof; such of them as I 
 did attend, I thought were in the main, times 
 of Divine favour. On my return homeward I 
 was at a small meeting at Chester, also the ge- 
 neral meeting at Wilmington, and soon after 
 the general meeting at Duck creek, and their 
 monthly-meeting preceeding it. The meeting 
 there on first day was large, and though a mixed 
 multitude attended, it was solid through the 
 overshadowing of heavenly power; the Lord 
 was pleased to open the mysteries of the king- 
 dom, influencing my heart to preach the gospel 
 in the love thereof to my humble admiration ; 
 and many w ere tendered ; for which renewed 
 visitation and favour, a sacrifice of thanksgiving 
 ascended from the hearts of his children, to the 
 all-powerful and merciful God who is worthy 
 for ever. The meeting on second day was a 
 time of consolation to the heavy hearted, instruc- 
 tion to the humble seekers, and a season of 
 strengthening to the weak ; blessed be the name 
 of the Lord, for his mercies endure for ever. I 
 was next at George's creek meeting, in which 
 friends were encouraged, and in some degree 
 refreshed, divers not of our society attending; 
 the doctrine of personal election and reprobation 
 as held by some, was refuted, and it was clearly 
 pointed out wherein the election stood, viz. In 
 Christ the seed, which cleaved unto, and cho- 
 sen by man for his true instructor and leader, by 
 his light and witness in the heart as a reprover 
 for sin, and so followed and obeyed, man comes 
 to know himself elected in him. I went home 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. £85 
 
 with George Ford at Back creek, and had an 
 opportunity in his family, I hope to some profit. 
 Towards the fall of the year I had a draught 
 in my mind to attend some meetings in the Jer- 
 seys, particularly the quarterly- meeting at 
 Shrewsbury; of which having acquainted my 
 brethren at home, and had their concurrence, 
 after attending our yearly-meeting in Philadel- 
 phia and returning from thence, I set out in com- 
 pany with my friend Samuel England on the 
 twelfth of the tenth month, but was detained at 
 Philadelphia by a fever which held me several 
 days ; yet I so far recovered as to proceed on 
 our journey, taking on our way meetings at 
 Mount Holly, at a school-house near Shreve's 
 mount in Upper Springfield, in which I had a con- 
 cern to warn the youth to beware of Deism, and 
 to shew the ground and cause of falling into that 
 error; also at Upper Freehold, and in a friend's 
 house near that called Robbins's meeting. There 
 seems to be a visitation to the youth in that place, 
 to which if they are faithful, that meeting may 
 again increase. We reached the meeting of mi- 
 nisters and elders at Shrewsbury, in which truth 
 owned the lovers thereof; the public meetings 
 on the three following days were large, and 
 thought to be the most quiet and satisfactory 
 which had been known of late years there ; the 
 affairs of the discipline were, as I thought, pretty 
 well conducted. Finding myself not clear of 
 the members of our society at this place, I there- 
 fore proposed to several friends, that they would 
 favour me so much as to meet on their week 
 day meeting day, which I understood they usu- 
 ally had omitted in this week, requesting that 
 
J8G THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 they would acquaint their members with my de- 
 sire of seeing them, their children, and families 
 together. I therefore waited until fifth day, when 
 they generally met, which gave me an opportu- 
 nity comfortably to clear myself towards friends 
 here, to the encouragement of the sincere ; be- 
 ing led to shew the active members the cause of 
 dwarfishness,' the love of the world, and its 
 friendships choaking the good seed, which 
 should grow and bear rule. I was thankful 
 for this opportunity, and left them with the en- 
 joyment of a quiet mind. From hence we pas- 
 sed to Rahway, had a meeting at Woodbridge, 
 and another at Plainfield, in both which truth 
 owned my service. I thought there was a ten- 
 der visitation renewed to friends in those parts, 
 in the sense whereof I was thankful, and that 
 I had been favoured with strength to pay them 
 a visit in the love of my great and good Master; 
 may I ever walk answerable to his manifold 
 favours, who is praiseworthy for ever ! We 
 were next at Stonybrook meeting, which was 
 made precious in the renewing of Divine favour, 
 and then at Trenton with a people who have 
 much lost the life and savour of truth. From 
 thence going to Byberry and Philadelphia, I 
 reached the quarterly-meeting at Concord, which 
 began on the sixth of the eleventh month. The 
 next day I went to Chichester, where I wa9 
 enabled to speak to the states of the people in 
 the love of truth, which may be useful if re- 
 membered in a right manner ; and returned to 
 the quarterly-meeting on second day, which 
 was comfortable, the Divine presence being felt ; 
 our friend Elizabeth Robinson was there, and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. flsr 
 
 had good service. On third day I attended the 
 general meeting at Chester, which was poor 
 and dull ; the expectations of the people being 
 too much outward, they were disappointed ; 
 then attending the monthly-meeting at Wil- 
 mington, tarried their meeting the next day, and 
 proceeded to our quarterly-meeting at London- 
 Grove ; at which we had the company of our 
 friends Robert Walker, Elizabeth Robinson, 
 and Mary Leaver, from Great- Britain. It was 
 a season of refreshment and comfort to many 
 friends. Then went home, having travelled 
 in this journey about three hundred and sixty 
 miles. 
 
 In the third month, 177% I attended our ge- 
 neral spring-meeting in Philadelphia, the divers 
 sittings whereof were divinely favoured ; and 
 after it, the general meeting at Wilmington, 
 which was held chiefly in silence, and on that 
 account remarkable. 
 
 Having an engagement on my mind for some 
 time to visit friends on Long-Island, with some 
 adjacent meetings, I laid it before my brethren, 
 who gave me their certificate for that purpose ; 
 and on the third of the fifth month I set out on 
 the journey, having the company of a friend 
 from Wilmington. Taking a meeting at Phi- 
 ladelphia, we reached New- York, attended their 
 morning and afternoon meetings on first day ; 
 and had an opportunity with divers friends in 
 the evening; which was to me, at least, instruc- 
 tive, and I believe through Divine goodness 
 profitable to some others. We then had meet- 
 ings at West-Chester, Mamaroneck, and the 
 Purchase, the last being a monthly-meeting. 
 
£88 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 These opportunities were close and searching ; 
 the testimony of Truth was encouraging to the 
 well-minded, but very sharp to the formalists, 
 and my mind was made thankful for the bles- 
 sing of peace in the discharge of my duty. 
 We next attended meetings at Flushing on 
 Long-Island, Cow neck, Westbury, Matinicock, 
 Sequitogue and Bethpage ; then at Newton, the 
 monthly-meeting at Westbury, and the quar- 
 terly-meeting at Flushing, where the yearly- 
 meeting began the next day, which held four 
 days ; and on the whole I believe it may be 
 said, that the authority of Truth was in some 
 good degree felt to keep down forward spirits 
 both iii the ministry and discipline ; which was 
 cause of thankfulness to the Lord who rules 
 among his children, and is worthy of all praise 
 for ever. Here I had the company of our dear 
 friends Robert Walker, Elizabeth Robinson, 
 and Susanna Lightfoot ; who intending for 
 Rhode-tsland, I parted with them, and went 
 to the monthly-meeting at New-York, which 
 through merciful regard was comfortable ; from 
 thence going to Rahway, had a meeting at 
 Plainfield which Mas satisfactory through the 
 extendings of Divine favour ; then at Kingwood 
 on first day ; from whence, crossing Delaware, 
 we were at Buckingham monthly-meeting, where 
 I thought the true Spirit of discipline appeared 
 to be much wanting in many. Here my com- 
 panion returned homewards. The next day I 
 was at WrightVtown monthly-meeting, which 
 through the Lord's blessing was edifying to 
 many, and we parted in peace and sweetness of 
 Spirit. The day following I attended the meet- 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 289 
 
 iug at Pine- street in Philadelphia, also that at 
 High- street on fifth day, which was a precious 
 opportunity to such who loved to live near the 
 Spirit of Truth. From thence I went to visit 
 my brother-in-law Daniel Brown near Chester, 
 was at Newtown meeting on first day, and at 
 an afternoon meeting near Amos YarnaPs ; then 
 went to the general meetings at Goshen, and 
 Uwchlan; after which, taking London-Grove 
 meeting, I came home, having rode in this 
 journey about six hundred miles, and feeling 
 a degree of thankfulness that the Lord was 
 pleased to give me ability to perform it. 
 
 I tarried much at home the remaining part of 
 this summer. On the twenty-first of the ninth 
 month, set out in order to attend the yearly- 
 meeting at Philadelphia ; which was very large 
 in the several sittings, continued a full week, 
 and I thought it the most solid and weighty in 
 transacting the affairs of truth that I ever knew. 
 The testimony thereof against slave keeping 
 was wonderfully exalted, through the power 
 and love of God, who is worthy of all praise 
 for ever. In my way home I was at Provi- 
 dence meeting, in which the testimony of truth 
 went forth by way of warning to the luke- warm 
 and declining professors, and of encouragement 
 to the youth. 
 
 Our general meeting at Nottingham next day 
 was large, and I hope profitable to some. After 
 which having a desire to be at the general meet- 
 ing at Cecil, in Maryland, I left home on the se- 
 venth of the tenth month, was at the quarterly- 
 meeting of ministers and elders there on first 
 day morning, which was profitably instructive 
 
 8b 
 
290 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 through Divine goodness ; two public meetings 
 for worship were held on first and second days, 
 both large and solid; several other friends 
 from Pennsylvania were there. The business 
 of the quarterly-meeting ended on third day 
 morning. On the same day we had a comforta- 
 ble public meeting, from which we parted with 
 friends in much love and nearness. On the 
 following day was their monthly-meeting, to 
 attend which several of us staid ; then having 
 a desire to see friends at Chester-River, I went 
 to their week day meeting, Nicholas Wain 
 bearing me company ; the meeting was large, 
 and through the Lord's goodness, it was, I be- 
 lieve, made profitable to many. Then taking 
 meetings at Sassafras, Duck-Creek, Motherkill, 
 and Little-Creek, the two last being their pre- 
 parative meeting at each place, the next day 
 was their select meeting of ministers and elders, 
 and their monthly- meeting the day following ; 
 which, with divers other friends from Pennsyl- 
 vania, we attended, and on the first and second 
 days of the next week the general meeting at 
 Little- Creek. I believe there is a renewed visita- 
 tion to friends, and some others hereaway ; but 
 formal professors at present appear to be as 
 stumbling blocks by joining with the spirit of 
 the world. I returned home with an easy mind. 
 
 Weakness and infirmity of body gradually 
 increasing upon our beloved friend, he frequently 
 mentioned ; that many years past, it was unex- 
 pected to him to live to his seventieth year, and 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN, £91 
 
 to be favoured with health and strength suffi- 
 cient to travel so much as he lately had 4 saying, 
 that now he scarcely thought much more would 
 be required of him. He however attended the 
 western quarterly-meeting in the eleventh month 
 this year, and in the second month 1775 ; in 
 both which he was favoured with strength and 
 clearness to speak to the state of the church, 
 as well in some of the select, as the more public 
 meetings ; tending to the edification and comfort 
 of many. 
 
 In the third month, 1775> he also attended 
 the general spring- meeting at Philadelphia, and 
 in some of the sittings thereof was much favour- 
 ed. On his return home from thence, he was at 
 Wilmington general- meeting, in company with 
 our friends Robert Walker and Elizabeth Ro- 
 binson, from Great Britain. 
 
 His last journey was on a visit to most of the 
 meetings on the Eastern-shore of Maryland, and 
 to attend the yearly-meeting at Third-haven in 
 Talbot county ; for which purpose he set out 
 from his own habitation on the twenty-second 
 of the fifth month ; having, according to his 
 usual care, obtained the concurrence of his bre- 
 thren; and was accompanied by a young man, 
 William Jackson, a member of New- Garden 
 monthly-meeting, who has given the following 
 account of this journey. 
 
 " Our first days ride was to George Ford's 
 near Back-creek ; the next morning being damp 
 and foggy, was very trying to his weak consti- 
 tution ; yet we rode forty miles that day to Han- 
 nah Turner's in Queen Ann's-county, which 
 was thought to be a means of bringing on him a 
 
392 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 disorder which proved painful and afflicting, 
 and increased till near his end. Being ad- 
 vanced in age, his bodily infirmities appeared 
 great, but the fervency of his mind for the pro- 
 motion of Truth and righteousness, and his care 
 as a father in Israel, was truly as prevalent as 
 ever. On the twenty-fourth of the month he 
 went to the preparative meeting at Tuckahoa ; 
 wherein he was concerned to exhort some to 
 faithfulness in times of temptation and trial, that 
 they might experience an overcoming, and be 
 enabled to strengthen their brethren. Next day 
 we attended Third-haven monthly-meeting, in 
 which he was qualified to speak instructively to 
 the members thereof, particularly to such who 
 were incumbered with much care about the 
 things of this life; things, which although law- 
 ful in themselves, yet when suffered to engross 
 the minds and affections of people, obstruct a 
 progress in religion. On the twenty-sixth, a 
 meeting at Choptank was a time of heavy exer- 
 cise on account of a lifeless, luke-warm, indif- 
 ferent situation of mind, which seemed to attend 
 divers there assembled : the next day we at- 
 tended a burial at Third-haven, on which occa- 
 sion a meeting was held, and he laboured honest- 
 ly to arouse those that lived in the neglect of 
 making timely preparation for their last awful 
 and solemn change. On the twenty-eighth we 
 w r ere at Tuckahoa-meeting, and on second-day 
 at the Bay-side, where were but few of our so- 
 ciety ; but several others attended who behaved 
 soberly, and some of the younger sort were 
 reached and tendered by Truth's testimony ; to 
 whom he was led instructively to shew, That 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 293 
 
 they need not give their money for that which 
 is not bread, nor their labour for that which 
 satisfieth not ; and opened to them the way of 
 life and salvation, which is attained through the 
 spirit, or free gift of grace that is come upon 
 all men for justification ; so that if they attend- 
 ed to the dictates thereof in their own hearts, it 
 was sufficient to instruct them in the way of 
 godliness ; but when people go from, and ne- 
 glect this inward teacher, seeking to, or depend- 
 ing on learned men, they err. 
 
 " Next day we had a religious opportunity 
 in the family of John Bartlett, and on fourth 
 day went to Tuckahoa meeting again ; where 
 he had to speak of the sufficiency of the 
 grace of God, and the inconsistency of peo- 
 ple's living in a profession thereof without be- 
 ing sound in the faith, or fully believing in this 
 principle as sufficient for salvation. We next 
 attended the meetings at Third-haven, and 
 Marshy- creek. The yearly-meeting began on 
 seventh day, and continued until the fourth of 
 the following week ; which, although he was 
 feeble and unwell, he attended the several sit- 
 tings thereof, being nine in the five days, and 
 the last held seven hours. He was enabled 
 to appear for the cause and testimony of truth, 
 both in the meetings for worship and discipline; 
 and like the good scribe well instructed in the 
 things of the kingdom, had to bring forth 
 out of the treasury, things new and old, profi- 
 table and instructive, being seasoned with the 
 love and virtue of truth. After the meeting on 
 fourth day, we went to the house of Joseph Berry, 
 where next morning had a religious opportunity 
 
 Bb2 
 
294 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 in the family ; and the day following a meeting 
 in Queen Ann's Forest, from whence we went 
 to Joshua Vansant's. Here he was very poorly, 
 having taken some fresh cold ; the next day be- 
 ing very warm, he was much spent with riding, 
 and said, as he had at several times before on 
 this journey, " that he believed it would be his 
 last, if he lived to reach home, which at times 
 he thought seemed unlikely." On first day, the 
 eleventh of the sixth month, he had a meeting 
 in a school-house at Back-creek, among a peo- 
 ple who behaved with much sobriety, which was 
 a satisfactory time, very instructive and open 
 for doctrine ; and that evening reached home, 
 having travelled in this journey about two hun- 
 dred and ninety miles." 
 
 On the fourteenth of the sixth month he went 
 to the week day meeting at London-Grove, to 
 meet with a committee of our quarterly-meeting 
 on particular business, and returned to our meet- 
 ing a^ Nottingham the next day. On the first 
 day of the week following, was there also. In 
 the same week he attended our preparative and 
 monthly-meetings ; but a fever daily increasing 
 upon him, he was afterwards chiefly confined at 
 home. 
 
 On the fourth of the seventh month he ex- 
 pressed himself thus. " I am glad that I am 
 at home, I have ever found it best when my ser- 
 vice abroad was over, to get home as quick as 
 might be ; and though I have felt great inward 
 poverty and weakness since my last journey, 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 295 
 
 so that I can neither see my beginning, nor end- 
 ing, but seem as if all were hidden ; yet I hope, 
 if Providence shall see meet to remove me at 
 this time, some light will appear again, and 
 that it will be otherwise before I go." 
 
 At another time he spake to this purpose. " I 
 have found myself much stripped as to a sense 
 of good, and tried with poverty many days. I 
 suppose I have been accounted by some, as one 
 of the better sort of people ; but have seen great 
 occasion to beware of a disposition that would 
 seek to feed upon the praise or commendations 
 of others. A carnal selfish spirit is very *ipt to 
 present, and creep in here if possible ; and I 
 have seen it hurt many who have had right be- 
 ginnings. It always introduceth dimness, and 
 oppression to the pure, precious, innocent life 
 of truth ; which only groweth up into dominion, 
 through deep abasement of soul, and the entire 
 death of self. 
 
 At several other times he signified to this ef- 
 fect. " My present baptism of affliction hath 
 tended to the further refinement of my nature, 
 and to the bringing me more perfectly into the 
 image of my master." 
 
 He frequently expressed his full submission 
 to the Divine Will, either respecting life or 
 death ; several times sayiug, " I now expe- 
 rience my life and my will to be slain, and I 
 have no will left." 
 
 In the two last weeks of his time it appeared 
 that his desire and hope, mentioned in the fore- 
 part of his illness, for light again to appear, 
 was fully answered by the fresh influence there- 
 of ; so that although his pain was often great, 
 
296 THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 he would many times in a day break forth into a 
 kind of melody with his voice, without uttering 
 words ; which, as he sometimes intimated, was 
 an involuntary aspiration of his soul in praise 
 to the Lord, who had again been pleased to 
 shine forth in brightness after many days of po- 
 verty and deep baptism : which though painful 
 had proved beneficial to him ; being a means of 
 further purifying from the dregs of nature ; say- 
 ing, he was at times afraid to discover that me- 
 lody in the hearing of some that visited him, lest 
 they could not comprehend its meaning, and 
 might therefore misconstrue it. 
 
 On second day morning, the seventeenth of 
 the seventh month, being asked by a friend how 
 he was, he replied, " I am here in the body yet, 
 and when I go out of it I hope there is nothing 
 but peace." And soon after further said. " I 
 have seen that all the bustles, and noises that 
 are now in the world will end in confusion ; 
 and our young men that know not an establish- 
 ment in the Truth and the Lord's fear for a 
 ballast, will be caught in a trying moment." At 
 another time he said. " I feel nothing but 
 peace, having endeavoured honestly to discharge 
 myself in public, and privately to individuals 
 as I apprehended was required; and if it be 
 the Lord's will that I should go now, I shall 
 be released from a great deal of trouble and 
 exercise, which I believe friends who are left 
 behind will have to pass through." 
 
 On the twentieth of the same month he thus 
 expressed himself. " I love friends who abide 
 in the truth as much as ever I did ; and I feel 
 earnest breathings to the Lord, that there may 
 
OF JOHN CHURCHMAN. 297 
 
 be such raised up in the church who may go 
 forth in humility, sweetness, and life ; clear of 
 all superfluity in expressions and otherwise ; 
 standing for the testimony, that they may be 
 useful to the church in these difficult times." 
 
 About three days before his death, several 
 friends being in his room, he spake as follows. 
 " Friends in the beginning, if they had health 
 and liberty, were not easily diverted from pay- 
 ing their tribute of worship to the Almighty on 
 week days as well as first days ; but after a 
 while, when outward sufferings ceased, life and 
 zeal decaying, ease and the spirit of the world 
 took place with many ; and thus it became cus- 
 tomary for one or two out of a family to attend 
 meetings, and to leave their children much at 
 home ; parents also if worldly concerns were 
 in the way could neglect their week day meet- 
 ings sometimes; yet be willing to hold the 
 name, and plead excuse because of a busy 
 time, or the like. But I believe that such a 
 departure from primitive integrity ever did, and 
 ever will, occasion a withering from the life of 
 true religion." 
 
 To a friend who came to visit him on the 
 twenty-first of the seventh month, he said. " T 
 feel that which lives beyond death and the grave, 
 which is now an inexpressible comfort to me 
 after a time of deep baptism that I have passed 
 through. I believe my being continued here 
 is in the will of Providence, and I am fully 
 resigned. 7 " 
 
 His illness increasing, he said but little on 
 seventh day the twenty-second ; in the after- 
 noon he was very low, and speechless about 
 
9M THE LIFE AND TRAVELS 
 
 twelve hours ; early on first day morning he 
 recruited a little, and gave directions about his 
 coffin to a friend who sat up with him being a 
 joiner; continuing rather easier the forepart of 
 that day and appearing cheerful, he expressed 
 divers weighty sentences, like farewell exhor- 
 tations to some who came to see him. On se- 
 cond day morning he set up a considerable 
 time. In the afternoon he appeared lively and 
 sensible, though very weak ; thus expressing 
 himself. " I am much refreshed with my 
 Master's sweet air, I feel more life, more light, 
 more love, and sweetness than ever before :" 
 and often mentioned the Divine refreshment and 
 comfort he felt flowing like a pure stream to his 
 inward man ; saying to those who were with 
 him, " I may tell you of it, but you cannot feel 
 it as I do." 
 
 In the evening, a young person coming into 
 the room, looking at her earnestly and affection- 
 ately, he said, "Deborah arose a mother in Is- 
 rael f* and shortly after, " The sweetness that 
 I feel;" then his difficulty of breathing increas- 
 ed, and being turned once or twice, he request- 
 ed to be helped up, and was placed in his chair, 
 in which he expired, about the ninth hour, on 
 second day night, the twenty-fourth of the se- 
 venth month, 1775 ; being aged near seventy, 
 and a minister about forty-two years : and was 
 buried on the twenty-sixth in friend's grave- 
 yard at East-Nottingham, a large concourse of 
 people attending ; after which a solemn meet- 
 
 ing was held. 
 
 THE END.