before me springs not from a Clear understanding, and a regard to that use of things which [pure] WISDOM approves; to be brought to a sence of it and Stoped in my pursuit, is a kindness, for when I proceed to business without some evidence of Duty, I have found by experience that it tends to weakness. If I am so scituated that there appears no probability of missing the infection, it tends to make me think whether my maner of life in things outward, has nothing in it which may unfit my Body to receive this messenger in a way the most favourable to me. Do I use Food and Drink in no other Sort, and in no other degree, than was designed by Him who gave these Creatures for our Sustenance? Do I never abuse my Body by inordinate Labour, Striving to Accomplish some end which I have unwisely proposed? Do I use action enough in some Useful Employ, or do I set too much idle, while some persons who labour to support me have too great a share of [Labour] If in any of these things I am deficient, to be incited to Consider it, is a favour to me. There is employ necessary in social life, & this [Mortal] infection incites me to think whether these Social acts of mine are real duties. If I go on a Visit to the widows and Fatherless, do I go purely on a principle of Charity, free from every selfish view. If I go to a Religious meeting, it [should] put me a thinking whether I go in sincerity and in a clear sence of duty, or whether it is not partly in conformity to Custom, or partly from a sensible delight which my animal Spirits feel in the Company of other people, and whether to Support my [reputation]1 as a Religious man, has no share in it. [Am I called upon to assist in] affairs relating to Civil society, as I hazard my health and life [in coming near this infection, it is fit for] me to think Seriously, whether love to Truth and Righteousness is the motive of my attending; whether the manner of proceeding is altogether Equitable; or whether aught of narrowness, party interest, respect to outward dignities, names, or [Collours of] men, do not stain the beauty of those Assemblies, and render [the case] doubtfull in point of duty, whether a Disciple of Christ ought to attend as a Member united to the Body or not. Whenever there are blemishes which for a Series of time re- main Such, that which is a means of Stiring us up to look attentively on these blemishes, and to Labour according to our Capacities, to have [true] health and Soundness restored in our Country, we may justly account a kindness from our Gracious Father, who appointed that mean. The care of a wise and good man for his only Son, is inferior to the Regard of the great PARENT of the Universe for his creatures. [The Most High] hath the Comand of all the powers and operations in nature, and doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. [Chastisement is intended for Instruction, and Instruction being received by gentle Chastisement, greater calamities are prevented.] By an Earthquake hundreds of houses are sometimes shaken down in a few minutes, and multitudes of people perish Suddenly and many more being crushed and bruised in the Ruins of the buildings, pine away and die in great Misery. By the breaking in of Enraged, merciless armies, flourishing Countries have been laid waste and great numbers of people perished in a Short time and many more pressed with poverty and grief. By the Pestilence people have died so fast in a City, that through fear, grief, & Confusion, Those in health have found great difficulty in burying the dead, even without Coffins. By a famine great numbers of people in some places have been brought to the Utmost distress, and pined away for want of the necessaries of life. Thus where the kind Invitations and Gentle Chastisements of a Gracious God have not been attended to, his Sore Judgments have at times been poured out upon people. While some rules approv'd in Civil Society, & Conformable to human Policy so called are distinguishable from the purity of Truth and Righteousness, [it behoves us to meditate on the end to which those ways are leading.] While many professing the Truth are declineing from that ardent Love and Heavenly mindedness, which was amongst the primitive followers of Jesus Christ; [while I and thee as Individuals feel our-Selves Short of that Perfection in Virtue, which our Heavenly Father hath made possible for us, It is a time for Countries, Societies and Individuals] to attend diligently to the intent of Every Chastisement, & Consider the most deep and inward design of them. The Most High doth not often speak with an outward voice to our outward Ears; but if we humbly meditate on his perfections, Consider that He is perfect Wisdom & Goodness, and to Afflict his Creatures to no purpose would be utterly reverse to his Nature, we Shall hear & understand his language, both in his gentle and more heavy Chastisements, and take heed that we do not, in the wisdom of this world, endeavour to Escape his hand by means too powerfull for us [to apply to.] Had he Endowed men with understanding to hinder the force of this disease by innocent means, which had never proved mortal nor hurtful to our bodies, Such discovery might be considered as the period of Chastisement by this distemper, where that knowledge Extended. But as life and health are his gifts, and not to be disposed of in our own wills, To take upon us, when in health a distemper of which some die, requires great Clearness of knowledge that it is our duty to do so. [Was no business done, no visits made nor any Assembling of people together but Such as were consistent with pure wisdom, nor No Inoculation, there would be a great alteration in the Operation of this disorder amongst men.] CHAPTER VII 1760 Having, for some time past felt a Sympathy in my mind with Friends Eastward I opened my concern in our monthly meeting, da mo and obtaining a Certificate, set forward on the 17. 4. 1760, Joyning in Company, by a previous agreement, with my beloved Friend Samuel Eastburn.26 We had meetings at Woodbridge, Raughway,' and Plainfield; and were at their monthly meeting of Ministers and Elders in Raughway. We laboured under some discouragements, but through the power of Truth, our visit was made reviving to the lowly-minded with whom I felt a near unity of Spirit, being much reduced in my own mind. We passed on & visited chief of the meetings on Long Island. It was my Concern from day to day to say no more nor less than what the spirit of Truth opened in me, being Jealouse over myself, lest I should Speak any thing to make my testimony look agreeable to that mind in people which is not in pure obedience to the Cross of Christ. The spring of the Ministry was often low, and thro' the Subjecting power of Truth we were kept low with it, and from place to place, such whose hearts were truly concerned for the cause of Christ, appeared to be comforted in our labours. And though it was in general a time of abasement of the Creature, yet through His Goodness who is a helper of the poor, we had some truly Edefying Seasons both in meetings and in families where we tarried and Sometimes found Strength to labour Earnestly with the unfaithfull Especially with those whose Station in families, or in the Society was Such, that their Example had a powerfull tendency to Open the way for others to go aside from the purity and soundness of the blessed Truth. 1 Rahway, New Jersey. At Jericho, on Long Island I wrote [a letter] home as follows 1 Dearly Belovd Wife, da mo 24. 4. 1760. We are favoured with health, have been at Sundry meetings in East Jersey & on this Island. My mind hath been in an inward watchfull frame Since I left thee, greatly desiring that our proceedings may be Singly in the will of Our Heavenly Father. As the present appearance of things is not joyous, I have been much shut up from outward Chearfulness, remembering that promise, "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord." As this from day to day has been revived in my memory, I have considered that his Internal presence on our minds is a delight of all others the most pure; and that the honest hearted not only delight in this, but in the Effect of it upon them. He regards the helpless and distressed, and reveals his Love to His Children under Affliction, they delight in beholding his Benevolence, & feeling Divine Charity moving upon them: Of this I may speak a little, for though since I left you, I have often found an Engaging love & Affection towards thee and my daughter, and Friends about home; that going out at this time, when Sickness is so great amongst you, is a tryal upon me; yet I often remember there are many Widows and Fatherless, many who have poor Tutors, many who have evil Examples before them, and many whose minds are in Captivity, for whose sake my heart is at times moved with Compassion, that I feel my mind resigned to leave you for a Season, to exercise that Gift which the Lord hath bestowed on me, which though small compared with some, yet in this I rejoyce, that I feel love unfeigned toward my fellow-creatures. I recommend you to the Almighty, who I trust cares for you, and under a Sence of his Heavenly Love, remain thy Loving Husband, J. W. We Crossed from the East end of Long Island to New London, about thirty mile in a large open Boat. While we were out the wind riseing high, the waves several times beat over us, that to me it appeared dangerous, but my mind was at that time turned to Him who made and Governs the Deep, and my life was resigned to him: and as he was Mercifully pleased to preserve us, I 1 Original unlocated. John Woolman's host at Jericho, from whose house this letter was written, was probably Richard Willetts, son of Jacob and Mary (Jackson) Willetts. [J. Cox, Jr.] See other letters to his wife on this Journey in Introduction. J |