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ing. In the beginning of the fifth month, I visited friends meetings at Darby, Merion, and Haverford; at the last place the meeting was large, and very open; wherein the mighty power of God was exalted over all and it was plainly manifested, that if there was any virtue, or any good gift or genius in the creature, it derived its excellency from the Creator; and that man, in his best capacity, in either natural or spiritual attainments, hath no cause to boast or glory in any thing or things, which he, as an instrument in the divine hand, might help to do or perform; wherefore we ought to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, attributing no glory to self, or the creature; but all glory and praise to the Creator, who is in and over all blessed forever.

The 20th of the fifth month, I set forward on a journey, in order to visit friends at and near Burlington, and was next day at a meeting at Bristol, which was large, considering the heat of the weather, and the shortness of the notice; next day being the fourth day of the week, and the 22d of the month, I was at Mount-Holly, at the burial of our ancient friend, Restored Lippincot: he was, as I understood, near a hundred years of age, and had upwards of two hundred children,-grand-children, and great-grand-children, many of whom were at his funeral; the meeting was large, and thought to be a serviceable meeting by divers. After this meeting, I went with a few choice friends to visit Susanna Fearon, who had been long ill; in which visit we were favoured with the divine presence and goodness of the Most High; for which we returned him thanks and praise. After which we went to Burlington, and next day had a meeting, which was an acceptable opportunity to many.

Next first day, being the 27th of the month, we had a good solid meeting at Trenton; from thence I went, with divers friends, to Bristol, and so home to Frankfort; and was thankful to the Almighty for the grace which he was pleased to bestow upon me, a poor worm; and that, considering the extreme heat, I had my health better than usual. After coming home, I visited divers meetings, at Philadelphia, Haddonfield, Frankfort, &c.

In the sixth month there was a great mortality in Philadelphia, and many were taken away; on a fifth day, I was concerned to put the people in mind of it, and of their own mortality, and exhorted them to prepare for it, they not knowing whose turn it might be next, nor the hour when death might come to their own habitations; and was concerned, in the same nature, at several large burials. In the meeting at Philadelphia, they were told, it was better to fall into the hands of the Lord than into the hands of men: and that since we had been settled in this province of Pennsylvania, we were preserved from the hands of men; there having never been an enemy in it, in a warlike way; our dependence being in Providence, and our principle against war, and against spilling of human blood by wars and fighting, according to the doctrine of Christ, the peaceable Saviour; wherefore I believe the hand of God was manifested in preserving us in peace yet I would not be understood to be against the magistrates exercising the power committed to them, according to just law; but national wars, woful experience teacheth, are destructive to the peaceable religion of Jesus, to trade, wealth, health and happiness. Our dear Lord preached peace to the people, and against wars; telling his followers, "That they must love and pray for their enemies, and rather take a stroke or a blow, than give one; and that they should not resist evil;" which peaceable doctrine of Christ, the Jews could not away with; no, no, by no means: "Oh! (say they) if we let this man alone, the Romans will come and take away our place and nation;" just as the people now say in this province, among and to those peaceable men, who, for the sake of Christ and his doctrine, cannot use the sword; "The Romans will come and take our country, if we do not build forts and castles, and have military preparations:" and I wish it were not true, that some who profess this peaceable principle, too much endeavour to smother, stifle, and keep under, this peaceable doctrine, through a slavish fear, and too much distrusting of the Divine Providence, which may cause the divine hand to deliver us to the Romans indeed; at which I should not

wonder, since we distrust that divine hand, that hath hitherto preserved us, without our preparing for war, above these fifty years. To which I know that it is objected; "But now there are abundance of people who are not of that principle." I answer, then why did they come among us, if they could not trust themselves with our principles, which they knew, or might have known, if they would? The King gave the province, and the gov ernment of it, to our worthy proprietor, William Penn; who was a man of this peaceable principle; for which the heathens loved him and honour his name and memory to this day, and those of his society and principles; whereof I am a living witness. The sense of the sweetness and social life that the first settlers of the province of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia lived in, makes me express myself in this manner. Oh! that the inhabitants of the city and country, did but live and dwell in that first love, and hold it fast; and then I believe that the Almighty would not suffer any to take our crown; which crown is righteousness, peace, and love, through true faith; which true faith works by love in Christ Jesus.

On the last day of the fifth month, I acquainted my friends of the monthly meeting of Philadelphia, with a concern I had been some time under, to visit the people in the Virgin islands, and more particularly in Anguilla and Tortola; in order to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ freely, to those who might have a desire to hear, as the Lord should be pleased to open my way: and my friends having unity with me therein, at their next meeting, gave me a certificate of their concurrence: soon after which, having settled my affairs, and taken leave of my dear wife and daughter, and the rest of my family and friends; on the 19th day of the seventh month, I embarked at Philadelphia, in the sloop John, Peter Blunder, master, bound for the island of Tortola.

We sailed down the river, and came to an anchor near Christiana-creek that night, in which there was a violent storm, which drove several vessels on the marshes; so that when the tide ebbed, one might walk

round them. Next day we sailed to Reedy-Island, where we waited for a fair wind: we sailed down the bay in company with two sloops, one bound for Bermuda, the other for the island of Christopher's; and left the capes on the 23d day of the month, and in eighteen days from that time fell in with the island of Thomas, and in one day more turned up to Tortola.

In this voyage we saw nine sail of vessels; but spoke with none of them: had a rough passage, the wind being high and contrary above a week, and much rain; yet through the mercy and grace of God, I was preserved above all fear, except the holy fear of the living Lord, in which I blessed his holy name.

On the 12th day of the eighth month, John Pickering, the owner of the sloop, (who was likewise governor of the island) with his spouse, met me at the water side, and lovingly embraced me, and led me up to their house, and the same evening, had a meeting at his house; and on the 15th of the month, being the fifth day of the week, we had a large, satisfactory meeting, at which were many people, divers of them not of our profession; and, I think, the good hand of the Lord was with us. I was concerned in this meeting to shew, that the last dispensation of God to mankind, in and through his dear Son, was a spiritual dispensation; a dispensation of pure, divine love, which is to last and be with the true believers in Christ forever, according to his own doctrine in the New 'Testament.

On the first day of the week, and the 18th of the month, we had another meeting, larger than the former, (and the governor told me, he had never seen so large a gathering on the island, on any occasion), my spirit was much set at liberty in this meeting, and great openness and brokenness was among the people, so that the gospel was freely and largely declared to them. The case of Cornelius, and of the apostle Peter going to his house, was treated of, with divers other matters, tending to edification. I was so affected with the power, spirit, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that when the meeting was over I withdrew, and in private poured out my son

before the Lord, and begged that he would be pleased to manifest his power and glorious gospel more and more. At this meeting there was a woman who had suffered much for her going to meetings; her husband being a proud, haughty man, had beat her to the drawing of blood; he also drew his sword, and presented his pistol, with threatenings to kill her; but she thanked God, that she was resigned to lose her life for Christ's sake: this woman expressed some words in supplication in this meeting in a broken manner. There was also another, (a beautiful young woman) whose father had turned her out of doors for coming to friends' meetings.

I went, with the governor and his wife, to visit a few families up in the mountains, and had a meeting, in which was great brokenness and tenderness in the time of prayer.

On second day we visited several families in the division called the road, to which we went by water in a coble, somewhat like our canoes, there were four of these in company, five persons in two of them, and seven in the other two. In this visiting of families, the people came and filled the rooms, and we had seasonable meetings, in which the people were so loving, and well affected, that we could seldom go in a friendly way to visit our friends, but they would presently fill their rooms, and we scarcely could depart, without having a time of worship.

Next day we went to visit a young man's habitation (who had not yet finished his house) and the neighbours coming in as usual, we had a good meeting.

I cannot but note, that the hand of the Lord God was with us, and I felt his visitation as fresh and lively as ever; for which I was truly thankful, and thought if I never saw my habitation again, I was satisfied in this gospel call, and religious visit; though, being in years, it was sometimes a little troublesome to the flesh; being in the sixty-sixth year of my age, and stiff in all my limbs from hurts with many falls and bruises; but, as to my health, I had it better now than for several years past; for which I am humbly thankful to him, in whom

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