of things, and time and the event will vindicate it from untruth. In the meanwhile, it is matter of great satisfaction to the author, that he has so plainly cleared his conscience in pleading for the liberty of other men's, and publicly borne his honest testimony for God, not out of season to his poor country."

Another tract was, "A Serious Apology for the Princi ples and Practices of the People called Quakers," in reply to the aspersions of Thomas Jenner and Timothy Taylor, in their book called "Quakerism Anatomized."

In explanation of the doctrine of Friends on the subject of immediate revelation, we take the following from this work:

"By revelation, we understand the discovery and illumination of the light and spirit of God relating to those things that properly and immediately concern the daily information and satisfaction of our souls in the way of our duty to Him and to our neighbor.

"We renounce all fantastical and whimsical intoxications, or any pretence to the revelation of new matter in opposition to the ancient Gospel declared by Christ Jesus. and his apostles; and therefore not the revelation of new things, but the renewed revelation of the eternal way of Truth."

On the subject of the primary rule of life, he says:

"Methinks this, our demonstration, should satisfy all; when neither man nor Scriptures are near us, yet there continually attends us that Spirit of Truth which immediately informs us of our thoughts, words, and deeds, and gives us true directions what to do and what to leave undone. Is not this the rule of life? If ye are led by

the spirit of God, then are ye sons of God. Let this suf fice to vindicate our sense of a true and unerring rule, which we assert not in a way of derogation from those holy writings, which with reverence we read, believe, and desire always to obey the mind and will of God therein contained; and let that doctrine be accursed that would overturn them."

To the charge that Friends were displeased with others for observing times, days, and hours, he says:

"As to consecrated days and times, and the superstitious observation of them, as if the holiness of the day called loudly on us for our particular devotion, as being this or the other saints', and not that our devotion rather required a time to be performed in; this we are displeased with, and boldly testify against, as beggarly and Jewish. What said the apostle, urged by his godly jealousy, to the Galatians? But now after ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days and months, and times and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain."

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Though we utterly renounce all special and moral holiness in times and days, yet we both believe it requisite that time be set apart for the worship of the Almighty, and are also every where found in the diligent practice of the same. And howbeit we cannot own so strict an institution as to sabbatize the First day, or that it has any holiness inherent to it; yet, as taking the primitive saints for an example, with godly reverence we constantly assemble upon it.

"His charge of our denying family duties is equally false with all the rest; for we know it is our duty, and it is also our practice, to retire from our external affairs and wait upon the Lord every day, that we may receive strength from Him, and feel his heavenly peace and blessing to descend upon us at our rising up and lying down; that so to Him, over and above all visible things, honor and praise may be returned, who is worthy forever."

In the sixth chapter he says:

"I am constrained, for the sake of the simple-hearted, to publish to the world, of our faith in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

"We do believe in one only holy God Almighty, who is an eternal Spirit, the Creator of all things.

"And in one Lord Jesus Christ, his only son, and express image of his substance, who took upon Him flesh and was in the world; and in life, doctrine, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension, and mediation, perfectly did, and does continue to do, the will of God; to whose holy life, power, mediation, and blood we only ascribe our sanctification, justification, redemption, and perfect salvation.

"And we believe in one Holy Spirit that proceeds and breathes from the Father and the Son, a measure of which is given to all to profit with; and he that has one has all; for those Three are One, who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, God over all, blessed forever. Amen."

In these employments of his pen the time of his con finement passed away, and at the expiration of the six months he was released. It appears that soon after, he

visited Holland and some parts of Germany, in the capacity of a minister of the Gospel; but of these labors or the fruits of them we have no particular account.

In the spring of this year, King Charles issued a proclamation, suspending the execution of all the penal laws against non-conformists. This act is attributed, by historians, to a wish to favor the Roman Catholics, and was considered as a stretch of prerogative. Its practical effect, however, was very favorable to Friends-near five hundred of them who had been imprisoned upon a præmunire, and some who had been detained several years, being set at liberty, and the rage of persecution was checked for a time.

IN

VII.

N the beginning of 1672, being then in the twenty-eighth year of his age, William Penn was married to Gulielma Maria Springett, the daughter of Sir William Springett, who lost his life in the war between the king and Parliament, in the time of Charles I. His widow was afterwards married to Isaac Penington. While this daughter was yet young the family were convinced of the principles of Friends, and became valuable members of the Society. She was beautiful in person, highly accomplished, of great sweetness of disposition combined with natural dignity, and much esteemed for her piety and benevolence. After their marriage they took up their residence at Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire.

His marriage, and the consequent cares of a family, did not prevent the exercise of his ministerial gift; for, besides the attendance of meetings in his own neighborhood, he visited Friends in the course of the year in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. He closes his narrative of the journey in the following manner:

"The Lord sealed up our labors and travels according to the desire of my soul and spirit with his heavenly refreshments and sweet living power and word of life, unto the reaching of all, and consoling our own hearts abundantly. Thus hath the Lord been with us in all our travels