for to such it is, as Christ said, like the blowing of the wind, which no man knows, whence it cometh, or whither it goeth. Yet this proof and seal went along with their ministry, that many were turned from their lifeless professions, and the evil of their ways, to an inward and experimental knowledge of God, and a holy life, as thousands can witness. And as they freely received what they had to say, from the Lord, so they freely administered it to others. "The bent and stress of their ministry was conversion to God, regeneration, and holiness. They directed people to a principle in themselves, though not of themselves, by which all that they asserted might be known to them, through experience, to be true; which is a high and distinguishing mark of the truth of their ministry, both that they knew what they said, and were not afraid of coming to the test. For as they were bold from certainty, so they required conformity upon no human authority, but upon conviction of this principle, which, they asserted, was in them that they preached unto; and unto that they directed them, that they might prove the reality of those things which they had affirmed of it, as to its manifestation and work in man. This is more than the many ministers in the world pretended to. They declare of religion, say many things true, in words, of God, Christ, and the Spirit; of holiness, and heaven; that all men should repent and amend their lives, or they will go to hell, &c. But which of them all pretend to speak of their own knowledge and experience; or ever directed to a divine principle or agent, placed of God in man, to help him; and how to know it, and wait to feel its power to work that good and acceptable will of God in them? Some of them indeed have spoken of the Spirit, and the operations of it to sanctification, and performance of worship to God; but where and how to find it, and wait in it to perform our duty to God, was yet as a mystery to be declared by this further degree of reforma

tion. So that this people did not only in words, more than equally press repentance, conversion and holiness, but did it knowingly and experimentally; and directed those to whom they preached, to a sufficient principle; and told them where it was, and by what tokens they might know it, and which way they might experience the power and efficacy of it to their souls' happiness. Which is more than theory and speculation, upon which most other ministers depend: for here is certainty; a bottom upon which man may boldly appear before God in the great day of account.”

In this spirit did William Penn go forth in the work of the ministry, and many were the sufferings and trials to which he was subjected, for his devotion to the cause which he had so heartily espoused. Some of the remarkable transactions of this enlightened man we shall have to review as we pass along.

CHAPTER XXIV.

REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF A WOMAN IMPRISONED FOR DEATH OF FRANCIS HOWGILL IN PRISON.

MURDER.

A

REMARKABLE circumstance occurred during the imprisonment of William Bennit for conscience sake, in Bury jail, in the year 1668.

One day, he seriously accosted a certain young woman, who was a criminal, asking her, whether during the course of her life she had not many times transgressed against her conscience? and whether thereupon she had not often felt some secret checks and inward reproofs, and been troubled in her mind on account of the evil committed? This he

did in such a convincing way, that she not only assented to what he laid before her; but, her heart being reached by his discourse, she came clearly to see, that if she had not been so stubborn and disobedient to these inward reproofs, she would not have come into this miserable condition. For man not desiring the knowledge of God's ways, and departing from Him, is left helpless, and cannot keep himself from evil, even though it be such as he would formerly have abhorred in the highest degree.

William thus opening matters to her, by his wholesome admonitions so wrought upon her mind, that she who never had conversed with the Quakers, and was altogether ignorant of their doctrine, now came to apprehend that it was "the grace of God which bringeth salvation," which she had so often withstood; and to perceive that this grace had not yet quite forsaken her, but was now making her sensible of the greatness of her transgression. This consideration weighed so powerfully with her, that from a most grievous sinner, she became a true penitent, and with hearty sorrow she cried to the Lord, that it might please Him not to hide his countenance. Continuing in this state of humiliation and sincere repentance, and persevering in watching unto prayer for the pardon of her sins, she was at length favored with a sure hope of forgiveness, through the precious blood of the "Immaculate Lamb," who came into the world to save sinners, and call them to repentance, and who died also for the sins of the world.

Of this change, graciously wrought in her by the Spirit of Christ revealed in her heart, she gave clear evidence, at her trial before Judge Hale; who, having heard how penitent she was, wished much to save her from the capital punishment due by the law to her offence, and accordingly had procured the insertion in the indictment, of the words "wilfully and designedly," hoping that thence she might find occasion to deny the charge, and so to quash the indict

ment. But she, being as usual asked whether "Guilty or Not Guilty?" readily answered, "Guilty." This astonished the judge, who told her that she seemed not duly to consider what she said; since it could not well be believed, that such a one as she, who, it might be, had inconsiderately handled her child in a rough manner, should have wilfully and designedly killed it. Here the judge was opening as it were a back door for her to avoid the penalty of death. But now, the fear of God had obtained so much room in her heart, that no tampering would do-no figleaves could be made use of for a cover-she knew that this would have been adding sin to sin, and covering herself with a covering but not of God's Spirit. She therefore plainly acknowledged to the court, that she had indeed. committed this wicked act intentionally; adding, that "having sinned thus grievously, and being now affected with true repentance, she could by no means excuse herself, but was willing to undergo the punishment the law required. She could not therefore but acknowledge herself guilty, since otherwise how could she expect forgiveness from the Lord?"

This undisguised and free confession, spoken with a serious countenance and demeanor, so affected Judge Hale, that with tears trickling down his face, he sorrowfully said, "Woman, such a case as this I never met with before. Perhaps you, who are but young, and speak so piously, as being struck to the heart with repentance, might yet do much good in the world. But now you force me, that ex officio I must pronounce sentence of death against you, since you will admit of no excuse." Standing to what she had said, the judge then pronounced the sentence of death.

When afterwards she came to the place of execution, she made a pathetic speech to the people, exhorting the spectators, especially those who were young, to have the fear of God before their eyes, to give heed to His secret

reproofs for evil, and so not to grieve and resist the good Spirit of the Lord: she not having timely attended to this, had run on in evil, and thus proceeding from one wickedness to another, had brought herself to this dismal exit. But since she firmly trusted in God's infinite mercy, nay surely believed that her sins, though of a bloody dye, were washed off by the pure blood of Christ, her Redeemer, she could contentedly depart this life. Thus she preached at the gallows, a doctrine very consonant with the views of the people called Quakers, and gave heart-melting proofs that her immortal soul was to enter into paradise, as well as in ancient days that of the thief on the cross.

This year, died Francis Howgill, a prisoner for the cause of Truth, in Appleby jail. He had been imprisoned in the year 1663, and the next year sentenced under premunire, to be confined during his life, and his property confiscated to the king; without any other crime being found against him, than that he could not transgress the command of his Divine Master, to "swear not at all," nor bind himself by any agreement to forsake the assembling together with his Friends for the worship of Almighty God, in spirit and in truth. "Hard sentence," he remarked to the court, "for obeying the command of Christ: but I am content and in perfect peace with the Lord; and the Lord forgive you all-it is for Christ's sake I suffer, and not for evil doing." Being by this sentence "put out of the king's protection," he was remanded to the prison where he first suffered for his righteous testimony, and remained there until released by death, towards the end of the year 1668, after an illness of nine days.

During his long imprisonment in this filthy jail, he evinced the peaceful condition of his soul, by great patience and resignation to all his sufferings; and his outward losses were abundantly compensated by that inward consolation. which the Lord alone can bestow. As he approached the