in the old tennis court, which hath been the usual place for many years; where we had the company of many of the citizens, and a large open meeting. In the afternoon there came a very great concourse of people of all ranks in town and country; and the good presence of the Lord was with us, and the divine power was over all; the ministry being conducted in wisdom and strength, the principles of Truth were opened to demonstration and general satisfaction.

things among them which they took notice of, and thought it was a contrived sermon in our way, so cunning, as they called it, that they could find no fault in it; but were ready to conclude I was a Jesuit, and that I had that sermon written in my pocket: whereas I never prepared any thing to say in any meeting in all my life time hitherto, but have ever depended upon the heart-preparing power and Word of the Lord, and immediate work and openings of it in my own mind. From that time this young woman came nearer and nearer to Friends, and came sometimes to our

On the 17th, in the morning, was held a meeting for conference concerning the affairs of Truth, how they prospered within the pre-meetings, till she found strength to own the cincts of the meeting, and advice given where needful; and then was held the quarterly meeting for that county. At three in the afternoon began the public meeting for worship, which was exceedingly large, consisting of some thousands; for the Quarter Sessions of the peace happening at that same time, all or most of the bench of justices came to the meeting, and many of the women, under the distinction, among them, of ladies, and a very great crowd; and the Lord was pleased to favour his people with his good presence, and his ministers with wisdom and power, and to exalt his own glorious name over all; that great multitude, during the service, being as still as a meeting of Friends.

Truth in a public manner; to the great surprise of her acquaintances, who are generally of the greater and more polite sort of both sexes, and to the grief and trouble of her relations, who are all against her, save only a younger brother. But, for Truth's sake, she hath left and withstood them all; and being of a ready wit, and enlightened by the Truth, she is so furnished with understanding and fortitude, that they have not been able to hurt her by all their subtilties and contrivances, or frowns. She being of late called into the ministry, it renewed their pain; but as she is upon the right foundation, and well furnished for the work, for the time, Friends regard her accordingly; and having good utterance and matter, many people are taken with her. Her character and circumstances drawing many to meetings where she comes, I hope and pray to the Lord, she may stand firm in the divine Truth, and be serviceable in his hand, without whom the best of all his servants can do nothing.

In the close of this meeting several of the great ones asked if there would be any more, and were answered, no; but that the place and seats would remain as they then were, till after the next first-day, and that several of our ministers would stay the meeting: which was held accordingly, and in the morning was large and open. Joshua Toft, myself, and On the 23rd I went to Shrewsbury, where May Drummond, had the public concern upon next day we had a very open meeting, many us, the rest having gone to other meetings in of the people of account being there; some of the country. In the afternoon we had an ex-them remembering that great and glorious ceeding great multitude, rather more than at yearly meeting there about seventeen years any time before; for being the first of the ago: and the Lord was now also with us, to week, and all free from business, they were the exaltation of his own name and glory. at leisure; and beginning at three afternoon, The meeting was solid, and the truths of the some came to our meeting after their own gospel were largely and clearly opened, to the were over. The Lord granted the desires of praise of the Lord, and comfort of his few his people, affording us his blessed presence, people there; who were filled with his good and exalting his own arm over all; so that presence together. On the 25th, in the even among all that great multitude, one could ing, I had a meeting at Colebrookdale, at the hardly see a light look. The meeting ended house of our friend Richard Ford, who looks well, to the honour of the Lord, the satisfac-after some iron works in that place: it was tion of his people, and of the auditory generally.

The young woman above named, May Drummond, is of a considerable family in North Britain, convinced about four years ago at Edinburgh, at a yearly meeting, at the time when her brother was lord provost; and she, and about thirty of her acquaintances, being in the meeting, I happened to speak some

very open, and some persons of account in those parts were there, and all very sober and attentive. On the 27th I was at the meeting at Bewdly, forenoon and after. The first meeting was not large, but alarmed the people, so that we had a very large and open meeting in the afternoon; wherein many necessary doctrines of the gospel were fully opened to the understandings of many, the goodness of

the Lord being with us, to his own praise, I had patience under all their foolish opposiwho alone is worthy now and for ever.

tion and ill manners; and labouring in the virtue of Truth, so overcame them, that they were generally quiet before I had done, and some of them sensibly touched with the invisible power of Truth; which the alteration of their countenances, from all the signs of levity and wildness, to great solidity, did plainly demonstrate: and in the main it was a good meeting, and ended well. I never had any thing but good-will to these mismanaged and misguided young creatures; whose great geniuses might, under a proper direction and conduct, be improved to great services in this world, in useful arts, and be preserved from the great depravity they learn there, which sullies and overbalances all the good proposed

On the 28th I went to Worcester, and the day after being their meeting, it was put off till three o'clock in the afternoon, and notice given, which occasioned the meeting to be considerably large. The Lord favoured us with his good presence, and opened to us the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament, with brightness and authority, to general satisfaction, both to Friends and others; for which we were thankful unto Him who hath all wisdom and power, and without whom we can do nothing. Yet this meeting was so hard to me for some time in silence, and the people so very heavy, that it put me in mind of a saying of the apostle, "If the dead arise not, why are we baptized for the dead?" But by their education. In the afternoon we sat so soon as a little help from the Lord appear ed, all weakness, and all the power of death, vanished as darkness before the day; and then in him I arose and prevailed: and so let it be with all his ministers, in all places, from henceforth throughout all generations. Amen. On the 30th I went to Evesham, and the day after fell in with their week-day meeting; where the Lord favoured us with his good presence, and gave us a comfortable time together. On the 2nd of the third month I had an appointed meeting at Chipping-Norton; which was very open, the goodness of the Lord accompanying us therein, and the light of his countenance making manifest things of the greatest importance.

On the 3rd I went to Oxford, and lodged with our friend Thomas Nichols; who hath, for many years, borne a faithful testimony, in that old seat of the power of darkness, and subtilty of the sensual and earthly wisdom of this world, against all the envy, scoffs, flouts and jeers, and other immoralities of the scholars; and against all the persecutions of the town; till, by patience in well-doing, he hath so overcome them, that he is now treated with general respect. On the first of the week, I was at their meeting forenoon and after; where now remain only four or five Friends; but in the morning, sitting together in the usual meeting-house, the Lord renewed to us the happy experience of the fulfilling of his promise, while in silence, "That where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he is in the midst of them:" but after some time came in a company of students, most of them full of levity, with vice and folly sitting on their brows. They scoffed and mocked at the great truths of the gospel; especially when some proper texts of holy Scripture were mentioned concerning the divine light and Word of God, as if they meant to repel the force of divine Truth by a flood of laughter.

so long silent, that we tired one set of them
who came first; but another sort coming, after
the first were gone, I had many things to say
to them concerning their learning, manners,
catechism, vows, promises, creeds, and the
martyrs from whom they pretend to derive
their religion: and then preached to them on
the grace of God; by which, their teachers
tell them, in the latter end of their catechism,
they may be able to keep all the promises
made for them, at the time of what they call
their baptism; but that none can make mem-
bers of Christ, children of God, and inherit-
ors of the kingdom of heaven, but Christ
himself, who is the great baptizer of souls,
and by one Spirit baptizeth all into one body,
"the church, which is his body, the fulness
of him who filleth all in all." But if they
were members of Christ, children of God,
and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, by
what their priests had done to them in their
infancy, when altogether ignorant of good or
evil, they are now in the state of fallen an-
gels, by their own confession; for "they
have left undone those things which they
ought to have done, and done those things
which they ought not to have done," and are
become miserable sinners,
bruises, and putrifying sores, from the crown
of the head to the sole of the foot ;" and cer-
tainly none, in this state, can ever enter the
kingdom of God. I told them, I had heard
that the two universities, Oxford and Cam-
bridge, are called the two eyes of the nation;
it is therefore no wonder the inhabitants, de-
pending on them, are so ignorant: for the
blind have led the blind till they are all in the
ditch. Some of them were not easy under
this, and much more of this kind, intermixed
with some of the most glorious truths of the
gospel; yet Truth being over them, they
could not oppose otherwise than by laughter,
more forced than natural. At these times I

full of wounds,

in the midst of them, from meeting to meet his lasting praise. I remained there till the ing, and owned his ministers and people with 16th, and then went to Bath; where I agreehis living presence. To him be honour and ably met with Samuel Bownas from Bridport, dominion, as alone worthy, now and for ever. Andrew Pitt and May Drummond from LonThe meeting held twice a day till the even- don. She hath been public for about two years, ing of the third of the week, being the 2nd and her testimony relishes with people of all of the seventh month; during which time the ranks, especially the greater sort; by whom glorious truths of the gospel, in the authority she is more followed and admired at present and demonstration of it, were set forth by our than any one amongst us, the notion of her ministry beyond contradiction; and the lies being a lady of quality, which is yet a misand calumnies of priests, and their votaries take of her degree, raising a curiosity to hear and supporters, detected and turned backward; her; which occasions crowds not always to and the Truth and Friends cleared. The her satisfaction. But the children of this people behaving with much sobriety and serious attention, I hope the understandings of many of them were opened, so as, in some degree, to perceive we had been formerly misrepresented to them, and our principles hid, but now opened and cleared.

We made a collection of money among Friends at the inns, for such poor persons and families, not of us, as might be most necessitous in the town, and in the end of the last meeting gave away among the people near a thousand books, suitable to their condition, for their information and help; all which were kindly received: and as love and unity abounded among Friends, so we left the town and people in mutual love and good-will between them and us, to the praise of the living Lord, who worketh in us the good-will and the deed, to his own glory.

world will still gaze at the servants of God, but neither believe nor practise what they preach, though in the demonstration of the Spirit, and wisdom of the Truth.

We all staid at Bath till the 18th; and then were at their week-day's meeting; which was much crowded by all sorts, and many could not get in. The concern fell first on Samuel Bownas, an able minister indeed, whose ministry silenced and collected the minds of the auditory in good degree; and after him May Drummond was likewise concerned in testimony, and concluded the meeting in prayer: and several national priests being present, all conformed on the occasion; and the meeting was, I believe, to general satisfaction.

Samuel Bownas retiring home to Bridport, Andrew Pitt, May Drummond and I, staid at Bath till the 21st; which being the first of the On the 3rd Friends generally dispersed, week, we were again at the same meeting. and I went with Benjamin Kid and his wife In the forenoon it was not very large, but to their country house at Plympton; where I open and comfortable; but in the afternoon staid with satisfaction till the 6th, and then was much crowded with people of divers went with them to Banbury. The next day, ranks and notions; who generally were still, being the first of the week, I was at their and many of them attentive to what they meetings, both forenoon and after; which heard, and some affected: and upon the whole, were both small, by reason of the rain. The the Lord exalted his own name and Truth, beginning of each was heavy; but both ended and gave us the reward of his own good prewell, especially the afternoon, which was very sence. open in the latter part of it. On the 8th I Andrew Pitt and May Drummond went to went to Charlbury, and that evening had a Bristol in the beginning of this week; and on very open meeting with Friends and others; the fourth-day I went to Bradford, to their where the truths of the gospel were opened week-day meeting: which was small, no timefreely, with good authority; and a solid com-ly notice having been given, but open; and fortable time the Lord gave us together.

On the 12th I had a meeting appointed at Cirencester, which was an open good time, some of the sober neighbours being with us therein; and the Lord favoured us together. On the 13th I went to Nailsworth, and the day after, being the first of the week, was at their meeting. In the forenoon it was not large, but open; and in the afternoon was very full, both of Friends and others, and the Lord favoured us with his good presence, and with many divine truths relating to his holy kingdom in this world, and that which is to He glorified his own powerful name to

come.

the Lord gave us a comfortable time together, being mostly Friends. On the 25th I was at Bath again, and had another open time among the people; to whom the gospel was preached with clearness, and they behaved with sobriety and attention.

On the 28th I was there again; and being the first of the week, the meetings were large, especially in the afternoon, many persons of note, of both sexes, being present: and the goodness of the Lord was with us; and a solid comfortable time it was to many.

On the 2nd of the eighth month, being the fifth of the week, and Bristol quarterly meet

ing, particularly for the edification of the there be among us, to the great grief of those youth, I was there again, and May Drummond who know and follow the Truth, yet they are likewise. The meeting was large, and the but few in comparison of the numbers among things of the kingdom of God, by his divine other professors: but wherever they appear, Truth, and the wisdom and authority of it, they are enemies to the Christian faith, though clearly declared; and I think, from the be- peradventure they do not mean it, but may haviour of the audience, to general satisfac- be fallen into a wrong way of thinking, from tion and the next day I was there again, and a reasonable view of the errors and designs with good satisfaction; for though the meet-of priests and priestcraft; which they think ing was not so large as the former, the power unreasonable, and many of their schemes and of divine Truth was glorious therein. injunctions inconsistent with the attributes of

Here I remained visiting and attending the the all-wise, almighty, and all-good Creator meetings, first-days, third-days, and sixth- of the world, to dictate to, or impose upon days, as usual, till the 4th of the ninth month, mankind. with peace and satisfaction to myself, and Friends in general. But one first day I exposed the pernicious doctrine of transubstantiation, wherein the Papists say, "That up. on uttering the words of consecration by the priest, viz: Hoc est Corpus meum, the wafer which is so consecrated, is immediately changed into the very body of Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, which suffered on the cross at Jerusalem; that this wafer, being now the true God and Christ, is to be worshipped as such and yet, though the priest doth use the words of consecration, if he does not intend to consecrate, which none can tell but himself, there is no consecration or transubstantiation, but the wafer remains what it was; and consequently the poor deceived people are led blindfold into idolatry, and utter uncertainty, and to worship they know not what."

In another meeting in the city of Bristol, on a sixth-day, when there were present seve ral hireling teachers, of divers notions, though I did not know it, and many people of their several sorts, it became my concern, from the Spirit of Truth, to stand up therein, with this prophecy of the apostle, "The days shall come wherein men shall not endure sound doctrine; they shall heap to themselves teachers after their own hearts' lusts, having itching ears; they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and give heed unto fables." Hav. ing repeated the text of Scripture to this effect, I proceeded to observe to the auditory, "That this prophecy is clearly fulfilled in this and other nations at this day; all the several sects adopting to themselves certain notions, principles, and systems of religion, or what they call so, make choice of such teachers as will In this meeting there were people of divers teach and propagate these notions, and no notions, who did not at all relish this doctrine; other, and will pay such teachers. These at neither did some pretenders among ourselves. the same time are rejecting and despising the For at this day we have among us some tra- free, perfect and effectual teachings of the ditionists, the children of such faithful Friends grace of God; which have been publicly and of Truth, who did, in the early part of this freely preached, in this and some other na dispensation of God we are under, not only tions, now nearly a full century, and still are believe, but suffer for the same. These chil- unto this day; contrary to the kind and mer dren have, for a time, taken up, and continued ciful invitation and expostulation of the Alin the doctrines and examples they have heard mighty, where he saith, by his evangelical and seen among us; but when they have come prophet Isaiah, Ho, every one that thirsteth, up into the state of men and women, being come ye to the waters; and he that hath no only in their natural state, and looking out to money, come ye, buy and eat: yea come, buy the world, have been taken by the lust of the wine and milk without money and without eyes, with the vain and sinful fashions, cus-price. Wherefore do ye spend money for toms and notions of the world, and become, some deists, some free-thinkers, others profane libertines, and others atheists; denying all revealed religion as contained in the holy Scriptures, and asserting there never was, is not, nor shall be, any other guide given unto man by God but his own reason, either in matters of duty towards God or man, religion or worship; denying all sense or knowledge of any divine Spirit. Thus renouncing Christ, they shake off his cross and despise it, with all its discipline; and yet come to our meetings as if they were Friends. But though some such

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that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligent ly unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and com mander to the people.' It is to him, the Lord Jesus Christ alone, that we have ever directed mankind, that they may be taught by his grace and Holy Spirit in their own hearts,