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me on shore. I was thankful that I was delivered out of their hands; and my tender parents were glad to see me again.

Now as I grew in years, the world began to take too much root in me; and my unwearied enemy would tell me that it was lawful enough (and indeed I see that he hurts many with lawful things, with whom he knoweth the unlawful things will not take) and here I had been lost if God had not been gracious to me. But he, in whose presence I delighted, withdrew, and deprived me of that enjoyment which was graceful and comfortable above all things to my soul. Then did I pray, with tears, Oh, that it might be with me as it was at other times before! and I was willing to let the world go, rather than grace and God's glory. The Psalmist saith, no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psal. lxxxiv. 11.

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About this time there was a great concern on my mind, rightly to distinguish between the voice of Christ, and the whisperings of Satan; and thus it opened to me : that Christ, the truth, always speaketh good, and for a good end, and that there is divine life to the soul in this speaking; but the devil never speaks good, unless sometimes for a bad end, and then not good in reality, only coloured with good or fair shew.

And keeping under this exercise, the Lord appeared to me again, and many times refreshed my heart with his goodness. And when I was in my business amongst men, I did witness the Holy Ghost, the comforter, to be near me; which was more to me than all the world, or the riches, glory and beauty of it; the love of God being so sweet to my soul and spirit, my breathings, prayers and supplications, were to the Lord, that my neighbours, acquaintance, and relations, might also partake of the like precious faith and love which I enjoyed; and that the children of men might answer that great and good end for which the Lord did create them; which is, that glory, honour and praise, might ascend and be given to Him.

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I had such a sense and fear of dishonouring God, that I often, with tears, cried, Never let me live to dishonour thee. Oh it had been better for me that I had never been born, or my mother's womb had been my grave, than that I should live to dishonour thee, or wilfully reproach the name of Christ, who, with the Father, is only worthy of divine honour.

In this concern I felt the gospel power of our Lord Jesus Christ to work upon my soul, and the word of God was as a seed in my heart, growing, and opening in me, speaking to me, and making my understanding fruitful in the things of his kingdom; and in that ability which was given me of God, through his grace and holy spirit, I exhorted people to repentance and amendment of life; and I always humbly desired the help and divine influence of God's eternal word therein. Oh! I did fervently pray, that I might minister the gospel in the power of Jesus; for I clearly discerned, in the light of the Son of God, that all ministering out of Christ's power, was neither edifying nor efficacious unto souls: therefore I did earnestly beseech God for the continuance of the gift of his spirit, that I might be enabled to preach the gospel in the power of Christ Jesus. The concern that was upon me on this account at that time, is hard to be expressed in words.

The latter end of the year 1695, my father sent me into Essex, on some business, which, when I had accomplished, I visited some meetings of friends there, and my mind being much affected with the apprehensions of an impending storm (the nation being about this time threatened with an invasion from France, in favour of the late king James, so that there was expectation of much bloodshed and confusion in the land) I wrote a letter to my parents, and another to friends of the evening meeting (kept weekly at my father's house) expressing my thankfulness to the Almighty, in remembrance of the many precious visitations of divine love and favour we had been partakers of, to the uniting our hearts to him, and to one another; and my earnest prayers and supplications, that we might be preserved in true love, and the unity of the spir

it, which is the bond of everlasting peace; and that the world might be made sensible of this true peace, which abounds in those who love and fear the Lord, and truly believe in the name of Jesus. Oh! surely, they would then depart from sin, and abandon iniquity, by which they incur the wrath of the Lord, and provoke the just one to anger; so that the line of confusion seems to be stretched over the city and nation, and the eye of the faithful seeth it to the grief of their souls. Yet the mercy of the Lord, even of the just God (who will render a just reward to every one according to his deeds done in the body) is still handed forth to the land. Oh! that the inhabitants thereof would consider their ways, and be wise, and turn to the Lord with unfeigned repentance, while the day of mercy lasteth, before it be said, now it is hid from thine eyes; for the Lord, even the God and Father of Spirits, hath said, " My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." Gen. vi. 3.

On the expiration of my apprenticeship, having served my father faithfully seven years, I entered more strongly into covenant with my heavenly Father and master, to serve him all my days, through his assistance; and was soon after drawn forth, in the spirit and love of Christ, to visit the meetings of friends westward from London, viz. through Surry, Sussex, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall to the Land's-end; in which journey I was accompanied by William Hornould. At one of our meetings at Falmouth, in Cornwall, two. men (called gentlemen) came from the inn to hear the strangers; and after meeting, they said they could take their oath that I was a Jesuit, and that they had heard me preach in a Romish chapel in France; which was utterly false; for I never was in France in my life. Besides, had I been a papist, or popishly inclined (which I was not) I was too young to be a Jesuit.

Indeed, I thought I was mean for the work of the ministry, but the good remembrancer brought those truths to my remembrance, which strengthened me in the work and service of God. The spirit breatheth where it list

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eth; out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise, &c. We having great peace in our labours in this journey, and being edified therewith, returned to London, after about four months absence from home.

And after I had been two weeks at home, my dear mother departed this life, in a sweet frame of spirit, praising the Lord. She was one who lived the life of the righteous, and whose latter end was like theirs, and left. a good report behind her, being well beloved (I think I may safely say) by all our neighbours; not only by those of our own society, but others also, to whom she was often very helpful.

So I went to my calling, and got a little money (a little being enough), which I was made willing to spend freely, in the work and service of my great master, Christ Jesus. And about this time I was concerned to travel into the north of England, and part of Scotland, which I did in that ability God gave me ; and that dispensation which I had freely received, I freely handed forth to the people, devoting my strength and time to serve him (that had done so much for me); and I had the satisfaction to find divers confessing the truth, as it is in Jesus. In this journey I was from home about four months, being mostly alone as to any yoke-fellow in that work, travelling many hundreds of miles, being as far as Edinburgh, in Scotland, where our meeting was. in the street, we being locked out of our meeting-house by the then power, and great numbers of people were there. This news being carried to the provost of the city, he said, "The quakers would do more hurt out of doors than within," and he ordered friends their key. Since which I have understood that friends in that city have enjoyed their meetings in the meeting-house; and sometimes when the rabble have disturbed friends, the magistrates have sent officers to disperse them.

Now, after I had visited the churches of Christ in divers parts of England, and had many sweet seasons of God's love, and many good opportunities with my friends and others in this nation; (the word of life being declared in the simplicity of the gospel, in several places

people were very open-hearted, and received the testimony of it with gladness). And after I had been at my father's, and at my calling, a little after this north-country jour ney, I found myself engaged in the love of the gospel to visit friends in America; and having acquainted my friends and relations of my mind (they being willing to give me up) in order for the voyage, friends of the monthly-meeting gave me a certificate, and I had another from the meeting of the ministers in London.

My father, and several other friends with me, took boat from London, and accompanied me to Gravesend, on the 21st of the tenth month, 1697; and I went on board the ship Josiah, Thomas Lurting, master, and sailed that day from Gravesend, and got to the Downs the next day, where we tarried some days for a fair wind; in which time several others, that were concerned in the same gospel-labour, came on board, viz. Thomas Turner, William Ellis, and Aaron Atkinson. In about four days time the wind was fair for us, and we set sail, and in a little time we got out of sight of the land; soon after which the wind was contrary, and we proceeded but a small distance for several weeks; the weather was rough and the sea boisterous, so that with the motion thereof, most of the passengers were sick. In this time we lost a lad, that fell into the sea (as he was drawing a bucket of water) and was drowned; the ship running swiftly, he could not be saved, although it was speedily endeav oured. Several others died before we got over; but for the most part we were healthful. The Lord be praised, he was, is, and will be, with those that faithfully serve him to the end.

We were three ships in company, but by the distress of weather, soon after we came out, we parted. After we had been at sea about eight weeks (on the 25th of the 12th month) we saw two vessels astern of us. One of them came up with us, and the people hailed us, and told us they came from Bristol, and had been out ten weeks. The other came up with us next day. The people informed us they had been at sea seven weeks, and that they had a dreadful time of it.

She had

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