Besides the schism between the Province and the Territories, another of a different nature, a religious one, had sprung up. One George Keith was the author of it. He is said to have been a man of quick natural parts and considerable literary attainments, fond of disputation, acute in argument, and confident and overbearing in the same. He had been for some time an acknowledged minister among the Quakers. He now found fault with the discipline of the society. He ridiculed some of its customs, and certain also of its religious tenets, though he had once written in their defence. He passed contempt on the decisions of some of their meetings. Soon after this he founded a new sect. Those who followed him he called Christian Quakers, and all the others Apostates. By his plausible manner and powerful talent of speaking he had drawn so many after him as to fill one meeting-house. Thus, by dividing the Quakers, he added two parties to those which political differences had made before.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

A. 1692.-CONTINUES IN RETIREMENT-WRITES "JUST MEASURES"— GENERAL CONTENTS OF THIS WORK-ALSO “A KEY” WHEREBY TO KNOW AND DISTINGUISH THE RELIGION OF THE QUAKERS-GENERAL CONTENTS OF IT-ALSO "NEW ATHENIANS NO NOBLE BEREANS "____ AFFAIRS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WILLIAM PENN continued in retirement; and it is remarkable that he was never disturbed by constable, magistrate, or any other officer of justice. His friends frequently visited him. Among other objects which interested his mind during this period, he was particularly anxious to promote harmony in his own religious society, and to defend it from the attacks of its enemies. Disputes concerning discipline still continued among the members of it; but There were some, for example, who saw no these had taken a new turn. reason why there should be meetings of women to do any part of the William Penn, therefore, to business of the society separate from the men. do away with this notion, argued the case in a little work, to which be gave the following title: "Just Measures; being an Epistle of Peace and Love to such Professors of Truth as are under Dissatisfaction about the Order practised in the Church of Christ."

He lamented in this work that they, who were one in faith and worship, Had they should be divided as to the mere management of the Church. been divided as to the former points, this would have been a serious cause of difference, because the conscience would have been concerned in it. But the matters in dispute had no such relation. They related to mere modes of government, or formality in order, but not to the essentials of religion. At

the same time the discipline, though it was not a matter of conscience, embraced a care which had a wide range of operation for good. It was the business, for example, of all churches to take care of the births, marriages, and funerals of their members; to look to the poor and necessitous, the young, the aged, and infirm among them; and particularly to those who were morally weak and diseased; so that, by wholesome admonition, they might assist in curing the latter, as well as in trying to prevent similar disorders in others. Now, there must be forms of discipline or Churchgovernment, or the care of such important matters could not be carried on. But were not women, in the sight of God, and according to the light of the Gospel, parts of the Church of Christ, as well as men? And, if they were parts of this Church, ought they not to become helpers in the Church's business? But, besides, it must be obvious that, when women came under the discipline of the society, women were more fit to interfere than men, that is, they were fitter persons than men to have the care and oversight of their own sex. This was the general substance of his essay on this subject.

It happened, at this time, that the Quakers began to be attacked by some of other religious denominations as to their doctrinal creed, after a long interval, during which scarcely any one had disturbed them on this account. Many began, but particularly among the Baptists who lived at Deptford, to misrepresent their principles; that is, they gave out their own perversions of the Quakers' doctrines, and called these their creed. These perversions soon came to the knowledge of William Penn, who, after having diligently collected them, brought out a publication called "A Key, opening the Way to every Capacity how to Distinguish the Religion professed by the People called Quakers from the Perversions and Misrepresentations of their Adversaries; with a Brief Exhortation to all sorts of People to Examine their Ways and their Hearts, and turn speedily to the Lord."

The way in which he managed his " Key" was this:-First, he gave out the general head of the doctrine which had been misrepresented. Under this head he placed the proposition or propositions, as they contained the doctrine in its perverted state. Under this again he gave the proposition or propositions as they contained the doctrine as it was received by true Quakers. Upon the latter he then reasoned, taking care to show the difference between the meaning of the two. The general heads of the doctrines were these: "The Light within, what it is, and the Virtue and Benefit of it to Man-Infallibility and Perfection The Scriptures, their Truth, Authority, and Service-The Holy Spirit of God, and its Office with respect to Man and the Ministry-The Holy Three, or Scripture Trinity-The Divinity of Christ-The Manhood of Christ-Christ Jesus, his Death and Sufferings - Good Works-Water Baptism and the Supper-The Resurrection and Eternal Recompence-Civil Honour and Respect-Civil Government." The propositions under these general heads were drawn up with great conciseness, and yet with remark.

able perspicuity. The pamphlet, indeed, which contained them, was a masterly performance, and reached the twelfth edition even in the lifetime of its author.

The Quakers were attacked also in a periodical paper, which was published in London at this time, and which was called "The Athenian Mercury." In no less than three numbers of the said paper, objections were raised both to their practice and doctrines. They were called persecutors on account of their discipline, and silly enthusiasts for refusing a civil oath. They were charged with speaking contemptibly of the Scriptures, of denying them to be the Word of God, of turning them into allegories, of rejecting the notion of a Trinity, also the notions of the resurrection of the body and of the plenary satisfaction of Christ. These and similar charges appeared in the same paper. William Penn thought it right to answer them. This he did in a work which he called "The New Athenians no Noble Bereans," though in his "Just Measures" and in his " Key" together, he might be said to 'have answered them before.

While he was employed in these works, his mind was deeply affected by a circumstance which seemed to point to an issue materially connected with his domestic happiness. It was but too apparent that the health of his wife began to be seriously impaired; and at this time the symptoms, which had before shown themselves, had broken out into actual sickness. Neither the disorder itself, nor the cause of it, has been handed down to us. It is certain, however, that the great trials, difficulties, and afflictions, under which her husband had laboured and was then labouring, must have affected her mind; and it is, therefore, not improbable, that this affection was the original cause of her complaint.

The intelligence which was sent him from America, during this period, was both pleasing and distressing. In the first place, it was a matter of no small consolation to him to learn, that the Commissions, which he had sent out for two Deputy Governors, had been the instruments of restoring tranquillity to his possessions even beyond his expectations. The people of the Province were pleased with his confirmation of the appointment of Thomas Lloyd, because the latter had been the object of their own choice; and those of the Territories were pleased with the appointment of Markham: first, because he had espoused their cause; and secondly, because, having him for a Deputy Governor, they had their own separate Council also; and, from one or both of these, all appointments to civil offices would be made out of themselves for their own district. The Deputy Governors, too, acted in harmony, so that they agreed to write a joint letter to their Governor, of which the following is a copy :

"WORTHY GOVERNOR-These few lines, we hope, may much ease thy mind in reference to thy exercises concerning the affairs of thy government here, by informing thee, that, with unanimous accord, we rest satisfied with thy two Deputations sent for the Executive government of the Province and

Territories annexed. And thy deputies, concurring amicably at this time to act as one general government in legislation, we have proceeded in preparing jointly some few bills, that, thereby, our present united actings may be as well published as the respective services of the government answered. What particular transactions of moment, which have occurred upon our calm debates of the choice of three, we refer to the Minutes for thy satisfaction. We heartily wish thee well; and with longing expectations desire thy speedy return to us, where, we doubt not, thou wilt find a most grateful reception, and better face of affairs than may seem to thee there at this distance. So bidding thee adieu at this time, we remain thy faithful and well-wishing Friends, "THOMAS LLOYD,

"WILLIAM MARKHAM."

With respect to the other part of the intelligence, it appeared that Keith had increased the religious schism before mentioned. He had drawn off with him so large a portion of persons, as to have set up meetings in divers places. He had, however, in consequence of these proceedings, been excommunicated or disowned by those who had remained faithful at their post. Exasperated at this, he had made himself doubly troublesome. He had proceeded to vilify the magistrates, and this in cases where, if they had not acted as they did, they would not have done their duty. One instance of this will suffice. A man of the name of Babit, with some others, had stolen a small sloop from a wharf in Philadelphia, and these, in going down the river with it, had committed other robberies. Intelligence of this having been given to the magistrates, three of them gave out a warrant in the nature of an hue and cry to take them, with a view of bringing them to punishment. It so happened, that the men were taken and brought to justice. Now, as the magistrates who granted this warrant were all Quakers, Keith had gone about and represented their conduct on this occasion as a violation of their religious principles: for he considered the apprehension of the offenders as a species of war against their persons; and against war they, the magistrates, pretended to bear their testimony as a religious people. From one thing he had proceeded to another. He had published virulent books, reflecting upon the magistrates in other respects, endeavouring thereby to degrade them in the eyes of their inferiors. For one of these publications he had been presented by the Grand Jury of Philadelphia, and had afterwards been tried, found guilty, and fined. Notwithstanding this, he was still following the same disorderly career,

CHAPTER XXIX.

A. 1693.-CONTINUES IN RETIREMENT-IS DEPRIVED OF HIS GOVERN-
MENT BY KING WILLIAM-HIS FORLORN SITUATION AT THIS PERIOD
-RESOLVES UPON RETURNING TO PENNSYLVANIA-LETTER TO THAT
EFFECT-BUT IS PREVENTED BY EMBARRASSED CIRCUMSTANCES-
WRITES "FRUITS OF SOLITUDE"-PREFACE AND CONTENTS OF THE
SAME-ALSO "ESSAY TOWARDS THE PRESENT AND FUTURE STATE
OF EUROPE"-ANALYSIS OF THE LATTER-LETTER TO N. BLANDFORD
-IS HEARD BEFORE KING WILLIAM AND HIS COUNCIL, AND AC-
QUITTED-DEATH OF HIS WIFE-HER CHARACTER-AFFAIRS OF
PENNSYLVANIA.

THE intelligence which William Penn had received last from America, as it
related to Keith, gave him, on the very first perusal of it, the most serious
uneasiness, not only because the conduct of the latter tended to spread still
wider the seeds of confusion in the Province and Territories, but because he
foresaw, as several of his letters at the time testify, those unhappy conse-
quences which very soon afterwards resulted to himself. They who were
at the head of affairs in England were no strangers to the disorders which
had taken place in his government during the last two years; and, as he
himself had become obnoxious to them, they had taken care already to
make the most of them to the King. They had already held up to him the
quarrels between the Province and Territories, as arguments to prove that
he, William Penn, was incapable of governing the new country which had
been granted to him. As soon, therefore, as the schism of Keith, with all
its ramifications and consequences, became known, they considered their
arguments as confirmed. Hence they spread reports of it, but particularly
of his trial and punishment by fine, throughout the kingdom. By the pains
taken to communicate the latter, they occasioned a great sensation both in
Westminster Hall and in the two Houses of Parliament. They soon after-
wards affirmed, that Pennsylvania was in a state of ruin, and that nothing
could save it but taking away the government from William Penn. Not a
moment, they said, was to be lost in resorting to this expedient; and so
rapidly was this notion disseminated, and industriously impressed upon the
King and Queen, that by a Commission granted by William and Mary to
Colonel Fletcher, the Governor of New York, to take upon him the govern-
ment of Pennsylvania and the Territories thereunto annexed, William
Penn was, very soon after the news had arrived, deprived of all authority
over the same—and this before he had time to explain himself on the
subject, or to throw in any reasons in bar of the appointment which had
taken place.

One may more readily conceive than describe the feelings which must have sprung up in his mind, when the news of this cruel measure was conveyed to him, All his hopes and prospects of giving to the world a pattern, as he