and redeemed from all the hireling teachers insatiable, to the gains of this world, without in the world, of every notion, form and de- any bounds, and then intrude themselves into sign; and that freely, without any mercenary the affairs of the church of God among us. or low views to ourselves, but in that love to Though professing the Truth, such have no the souls of all men, in which the Son of God right, or any calling thereto of God, yet they laid down his life for all mankind, tasting take upon them to act according to the weight death for every man." of their worldly gains, and not of the balance of the sanctuary; in which they are lighter than vanity, or the small dust that weighs nothing. And such an one art thou; for a man's enemies shall be those of his own household.' And so it is at this day in our Christian Society; for as great enemies and stumbling blocks in the way of Truth, as any are this day in the world, are covered with a profession of Truth, and the Christian faith and religion." With more to the same effect; which was not pleasing, yet being his due, I did not think proper to defraud him of it.

Though I did not observe any uneasiness in the people, for they were a mixed multitude, either in the first-day's meeting, or that on the sixth-day, yet some days after, a man rich and high in the world, professing the Truth with us, but a secret supporter of the priests, by paying their demands, contrary to the testimony of Truth in his faithful people, gathered of God, and called and chosen of him, to bear witness for him against the hirelings of the times, and antichristian priestcraft in every shape; this man uttered divers invectives, and false accusations against me, concerning what I had said in those meetings, saying, "We (meaning himself, and such as he) are at peace with our neighbours of all religions: we and they converse freely together, and we do not meddle with matters of religion among us; but thou hast done a great deal of hurt in these meetings, by scolding at them, and inveighing against their religion, with which we have no business. I have heard some of them say, thou deserved to be pelted for meddling with their religion, which did not concern thee;" with other matter of like import.

On the 4th of the ninth month I went to Bath, where I had several meetings to satisfaction; and on the 11th to Chippingham, where I fell in with their monthly meeting, and appointed another for worship the next evening; where we had the company of a Presbyterian minister, and some of his hearers. He was a moderate friendly man, and behaved well, as did the people in general; and it was a good meeting. On the 13th I went to Calne, where we had a large open meeting, and the majesty and wisdom of Truth was over all, to general comfort and satisfaction. On the 14th I went to Devizes, and I replied, "That neither himself, nor such had an evening meeting there; which was other violent persons as he meant, were pro- small, there being few Friends remaining in per judges of my concern on that account: that place: yet the Lord owned us, and a few for, though he and they had a right to judge, neighbours with his good presence. On the so far as to receive or reject, as to themselves, 15th I went to Marlborough, and the day after what I, or another, might utter in public con- being the first of the week, was at their meetcerning religion; yet they had no judgment ings both forenoon and after; where the Lord from what root, or commandment, I uttered gave us comfortable times together in him, these matters in those meetings; nor did I re- and many truths of the gospel were clearly gard him or them, or any other adversaries to opened among us by his divine wisdom. the Truth, in whose wisdom and authority I On the 17th I went to Newbury, and havuttered these things, with demonstration, clearing appointed an evening meeting there from ness, and authority, which I cannot now repeat; Marlborough on the 18th, it happened to be with which all the living of God in those meet- their monthly meeting day; which being held ings, were well satisfied, being sensible also in the forenoon, the evening meeting was held from what power and root they came. There-likewise according to appointment; and the fore the language of these thy honest neigh- next day being their week-day meeting, I atbours, demonstrates their guilt, and the just tended them all and the Lord favoured us in application of those Scriptures, as well to the all of them with his goodness. hireling mercenary teachers, as to their hearers On the 20th I went to Reading, and the then present, and to thyself too, as of the same next day being the sixth of the week, I was spirit and work with them. And I may tell at their meeting; where several of the younger thee, that it is my work and business, as often sort were tendered, and generally comforted as I have the same authority, in the life of the in the good presence of the Lord. And staydivine eternal Truth, to expose all false teach-ing there till the 23rd, I found liberty in my ers and hirelings, as also all hypocrites, and mind to go directly to London the next day, covetous presumptuous worldlings among our- in the Reading coach; where we arrived selves, who give their souls up, in a manner safely.

VOL. X.-No. 9.

44

At London, and thereabout, I remained the rest just passing off, but made no reply; several months, visiting the meetings, and and I also withdrew.

making what assistance I could in the solicita- I continued at London till the yearly meettions then on foot, before both houses of Paring; which was, in the main, more peaceable liament, for further ease concerning tithes; than at some other times, there being but two many of the national priests continuing cruel, appeals, as I remember; one of which I through envy, notwithstanding the good in-thought uncommon and remarkable. A certention of the government, in moderating the tain person in Ireland, having been a preacher laws on that account. For though a more among Friends there, and married our way, easy way of recovery of what they call their taking some offence by some ill usage, as be due, had been provided by some former Par- thought, in an arbitration at London; and liaments; yet the old laws being still in force, letting in too deep resentments against some many of the priests continued to take the particulars, and not meeting with such satismost severe and destructive ways they could faction, upon some complaints, as he thought against us. The bill passed the House of was due, by degrees he increased in his preCommons by a very great majority, but was judices till they became general; and then he thrown out, or not committed in the House of became an open and embittered enemy to the Lords, by no great majority, notwithstanding whole Society. Falling in with the bishops the interest and number of the bishops; and in Ireland, he became a strenuous opposer of the many warm speeches made in both houses for us, and against the bishops and clergy, discovered that the temper of the nation, at that time, did not favour them.

our endeavours for an affirmation there, as we had obtained in England; and sued some Friends in chancery for money, where none was due, taking advantage of them, because The meeting for Sufferings, under whose they could not put in their answers upon oath, care that affair was conducted by order of the and hindering, as much as he could, their obyearly meeting, requesting some of our min- taining an affirmation instead of an oath, in istering Friends to solicit some of the bishops such courts and cases; and denying his wife, in our favour, for some of them were mode- because married among Friends, attempted to rate men, it fell to my lot, with my cousin take another; with some other evil practices: John Bell of Gracechurch street, John Fal- for which the monthly meeting he belonged lowfield, and Zaccheus Routh, to speak with to had denied him; and he had appealed to the bishops of Salisbury, Chichester, Roches- the quarterly meeting, but had never appeared ter, Gloucester, Litchfield and Coventry, Ches- there, nor any one for him, to prosecute his ter, and London, on that and some other appeal. But after some time he had come subjects; and they behaved themselves decent- over to London, and unknown to any meeting, ly enough as men, and generally gave up all had prevailed with some ignorant and disor pretensions to divine right of tithes, and insist- derly persons professing Truth to give him a ed on the laws of the land only; but would certificate, but not in any meeting; with which not consent to abridge any of the pretences he went into Pennsylvania. But Friends there of the clergy that way. Only the bishop of being apprized of his doings, from Ireland, he London, with a differing air of height from was not received among them. After some any of the rest, told us, "That as he looked time he returned to England; and insinuating upon himself as guardian of the rights of the himself into the opinions of some members of clergy, which he thought were unjustly at the monthly meeting of Devonshire-house in tacked, he intended to oppose us as much as London, they so far espoused him, and his he could." To which John Fallowfield an- cause, as to find means to bring it before the swered, "Thou speaks like a man; for it is yearly meeting there; which grieved many best to be plain in all things." Though this Friends. However, as it came by way of bishop's terms were general, inclusive of all appeal from the quarterly meeting at London, the clergy in England, yet I understood them the yearly meeting appointed a committee to as restricted to his own diocess; because there hear it; who, after inquiring into the true are two metropolitans, in their way, before state of the case, of the Friends from Ireland him in this point, Canterbury and York; then in the meeting, made their report, That each of whom had a better title to such a pri- it was not regularly before the meeting; for ority, the former especially: but when he that this appellant had appealed, in the same appeared so legally positive and vindictive, all I said to him was, "That this case might be considered equitably and mercifully, as well as legally, by any man under the notion of a Christian bishop.' Upon which he stept a little back, and looked seriously upon me,

case, to a quarterly meeting in Ireland, where the offences arose about sixteen years ago, as I remember; which was so far regular: but never prosecuting his appeal, as above noted, there it remains.

But notwithstanding this report, certain ar

bitrary persons of the monthly meeting of Devonshire-house, and of the quarterly meeting of London, who had, out of all order and rule, espoused this offender and his cause, would have eluded it by subtilties and sophistical reasonings; but the wisdom and power of the meeting silenced them, and the report was received and agreed to.

we returned to Newport; and on the 16th we had a meeting at Wellingborough, considerably large and open, which consisted, for the most part, of the younger sort of Friends; and things opened well to their state, and were comfortable.

Seeing the ill tendency and consequences of such appeals from other nations and places in the world to the yearly meeting at London, I took this occasion to observe to the meeting, That this being a matter of immoral conduct only, in the appellant, and not of faith, doctrine or principle, it was sufficiently cognizable and determinable in and by the monthly meeting in Ireland, where the matters of complaint arose, or by appeal to the quarterly meeting there, or finally in their yearly, or half-yearly meeting, usually held at Dublin. And that no appeal at all ought, in such cases, to be admitted from that meeting at Dublin, or from any yearly meeting of business in any other country or island, to London; nor ought that meeting at London to receive any such, or enter into judgment thereon: for, if they should, the consequences thereof might be very pernicious and oppressive. Such appeals from Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Barbadoes, or other remote places, or even from Ireland or Scotland, would be attended with great charges and trouble many ways, and loss of time, to persons necessary to attend appeals from such places, and likewise to the members of the yearly meeting at London; which would be thereby rendered as a stage of contention by every unruly spirit who could make a party and wrong interest in and among such as himself; and would render London as a kind of head of the churches. But the proceedings of Rome remain in too glaring characters for any men of knowledge and of truth, and friends to the rights and privileges of mankind, to submit to or promote any such thing in this Society, now, or in the succession of ages. So this appeal was rejected as irre-ance and friendship with some of the nobility gular, and not lying there.

On the 17th we went forward to Leicester, and fell in with their week-day meeting next day. It was small and low, things being much declined there; yet a few honest Friends still remaining, the Lord favoured us with a degree of his divine goodness together. On the 19th we were at the week-day meeting at Nottingham, which was large, by the coming in of some strangers; and the Lord favoured us and them with his goodness, and the openings of some important truths of the gospel with au thority and demonstration: it was a good meeting. On the 20th we went to Chesterfield, where we were kindly received and entertained by our steady friends, Joseph Storr and his wife. They have been both able ministers of the gospel many years, and have many children, young men and women, and all preserved from the immoralities of the world, and hopeful. We had no inclination for a meeting there; but next day went forward to Sheffield, and on the 22nd were at their meetings both forenoon and after. That meeting is much enlarged in some years, and was very full, by the addition of many of the inhabitants of other professions; and the Lord favoured us together with his divine, melting, solacing goodness, and suitable matters of doctrine, to convincement and edification.

On the 23rd we went to Bewdley, where we called to see our ancient friend William Francis, then above eighty years of age. In his latter time he had been much in the highlands of Scotland, about some business in which he had been entrusted, and which he had discharged honourably; and on that occasion had preached the Truth in word and doctrine, as also in life and conversation among them, and had obtained near acquaint

as well as the lower rank. And though he At London I remained, attending the meet- was so weak with age and labour of divers ings there, and some in neighbouring places, kinds, that he could scarcely get on horsetill the 12th of the sixth month, 1736; and back, yet he went with us several miles tothen went with my friend Thomas Jackson, wards Leeds. On the 25th the week-day to his country house at Bush-hill; and the meeting at Leeds was large, and consists, for next day to Albans, and that evening had a the greatest part, of young people; sober, but pretty full and open meeting there. On the few of them, yet baptized of the Lord, by his 13th we were at the meeting at Sherington; sanctifying baptism: which is much the case which was large and open, partly occasioned and state of our young people at this day by the company of some Friends from North- throughout the world; being in danger, as ampton: and the Lord favoured us together others have done, of sitting down under the with his good presence; and divers doctrines profession of Truth, in a traditional way, as were opened by the Truth among us, to satis-to the doctrine and form of the discipline of it, faction, on several subjects. That afternoon and yet short and ignorant of the life, light,

virtue and power of Truth essentially in themselves; by which an apostacy from the very form may enter and proceed gradually till the the whole be lost, as to them, and some other thing take place under the same name: which the Lord prevent, by his kind and merciful visitation, in his own time and way; for nothing else can do it, or carry on that great and glorious work, which his own arm hath begun in the earth in and by his people.

I staid there till the 9th of the seventh month; and there happening to be a burial that day, we were favoured with the divine presence in our meeting on that occasion; and many of the town's people being there, the Lord opened the mysteries of his kingdom freely and plainly to them, in which Friends were satisfied and comforted.

On the 20th I went to my farm called Justice-town, where I had a large nursery of On the 29th we went to the meeting at forest-tree plants, both British and American; Bradford, which was large, and more so, by from which having been absent some years, pretty many of the neighbourhood who came they were in that time grown much out of there. The Lord was with us, and gave me order, and many of them lost, being overa full and open time among them, to our mu-grown and suppressed by others. Here I tual and general satisfaction; to the praise of staid, preparing for a further progress in that the Lord alone, who only is worthy now and concern; but the quarterly meeting for the for ever. On the 31st I went to Skipton, to county happening to fall at Pardsay, below David Hall's; and next day had a meeting Cockermouth, I went thither on the 23rd; there, consisting for the greatest part of stran- and attending the service of the meeting, gers. It was large and peaceable, and the which was to the satisfaction both of myself saving truths of the gospel of our Lord and and Friends, for the Lord was with us. I reSaviour Jesus Christ were freely and plainly turned to Wigton, and it being the seventh of opened; with which several were affected, the week, I was at their meeting next day; some tendered, and generally solid, through where the divine Truth shone over all in mathe weight of Truth then over the auditory. jesty and glory, to the praise of the Father through him for ever.

On the 27th I went to Justice-town, where, with many hands, I began to plant out several sorts of young trees, as oaks, elms, ashes, acermajors, poplars of several kinds, firs, English walnuts, black walnuts, tulip trees, locust trees, cedars of America, occidental planes, lindens, chesnuts, horse-chesnuts, divers sorts of willows, beeches, hornbeams, scarlet oaks, &c., which I had raised from seeds and cuttings, at that farm to furnish that part of the country, in

that I might be an example to others in that useful kind of improvement; which several since have begun to follow. In the mean time I visited some meetings in those parts; as, Kirklinton, Solport, Carlisle, Scotsby, and Moorhouse, and the monthly meeting, consisting of these five.

That night also I lodged there, and the next day went to Settle, to William Birbeck's; and though it was near four in the afternoon before I arrived, yet by the diligence of that family, we had a large meeting beginning at six; where the Lord's good presence accompanied us, and in his love and light, the Truth was preached with authority and demonstration; and though many of the auditory were of the priest's people, mixed with dissenters, yet the wisdom and virtue of Truth came over them, reduced them to quietness and so-time, with timber, which is now scarce; and lidity during the meeting, and they generally retired after the meeting in a sober and grave manner, a sign that they were weighed down by the invisible power of Truth. After this meeting I found my strength much exhausted; and having taken some cold before, the weather being wet, its effects appeared more fully then, so that I could not rest as usual that night yet, by the good providence of the Almighty, and care of the family, I was able to go on the next morning, and in the evening reached Kendal. I staid there till the firstday, and was at their meetings both forenoon and after. It was pretty large in the morning, consisting for the most part of Friends; but being put off in the afternoon till the fourth hour, and notice given to the inhabitants, we had a large and peaceable meeting. The hand of the Lord is open to mankind in general, but meets not with due acceptance and gratitude in many to whom his goodness is extended in this generation; yet his arm is stretched out still.

Here I staid till the 17th of the ninth month, and that day set forward from Carlisle, and on the 18th, being the fifth of the week, I went to Kendal, to Thomas Ellwood's, and was at their week-day's meeting the day following; where we were mercifully favoured with the good presence of the Lord. On the 21st I was at that meeting again; which, in the forenoon consisted for the most part of Friends; and the Lord was with us, to our mutual consolation. And as I was known to many of the inhabitants, who had been often at our meetings, and some times when I had been there, Friends thought proper to put off the afternoon meeting till between four and five in the evening; when we had a great

number of the inhabitants with us, by computation about one thousand in all; and being very quiet and orderly, some necessary and important truths of the gospel were clearly opened among us with divine authority. On the 22nd I went to Gale, on the 23rd to Settle, on the 24th to Skipton, to David Hall's, and on the 25th to Bradford, where I was kindly received by my friend Benjamin Bartlet. Here I staid till the 28th, being the first of the week, and was at their meeting; which consisted generally of Friends, and for the most part of young persons of both sexes: and the Lord was pleased to open their states to them in a good degree, and many were much tendered and broken in a sense of his fresh visitation and goodness that day, to the comfort likewise of the elders in general, and to the praise of his own arm, who alone is worthy now and forever.

Blythe, to attend the burial of an ancient and honourable Friend: on which occasion many Friends and people were at the meeting; and the Lord gave us a comfortable time together, opening many important truths of the gospel unto us, and things were well.

The first of the week I was at the meeting at Albans; which was small in the forenoon, but open and comfortable, and not large in the afternoon, little, if any notice having been given to the neighbours; yet a few sober people being there, we were favoured with a good meeting; and the Lord's good presence was among us.

On the 21st I went to London; where I was kindly received by my friend Joseph Green.

In this journey I had suffered very much by the badness of the weather and roads; which affected my constitution so, that I remained at London, visiting the meetings there, and in the country near, till the 13th of the fourth month, 1738, and then went to Hartford; where the next day we were favoured with a comfortable meeting; for which I was thankful to the Lord, who is the fountain of all our mercies.

On the 15th I was at another meeting in the afternoon at Hitchin; and on the first of the week, was at the meetings at Northampton, forenoon and afternoon; which were large, especially that in the afternoon, and very open and comfortable: and the truths of the gospel opened clearly and plentifully, with demonstration and authority, to the sole praise of the great and gracious Giver of every good and perfect gift. On the 19th, accompanied by Thomas Binyon, jun., I went forward to Leicester, where I rested that night. A meeting being appointed at Nottingham on the 21st, the Lord favoured us with a degree of his good presence; and though we were in silence a considerable time, the things of God opened well, and were delivered with good authority, there being some of the town's people there; and all was very quiet and well.

On the 30th I went to William Ilird's, where I staid two nights, his company and conversation being very agreeable; and on 2nd of the tenth month we went together to Leeds; where I was kindly received by my long acquainted friend Benjamin Horner, to our mutual satisfaction; and next day was at their week-day meeting. On the 5th, being the first of the week, I was at their meeting again; which being postponed till three in the afternoon, pretty many of the neighbours came in, and were sober and attentive to the things that were opened, so far as I could observe; and the meeting was well in general. On the 6th the corpse of an ancient Friend was buried there, and we had another meeting on that occasion: and many neighbours being there, some truths of the gospel were opened to them with clearness; and it was a comfortable meeting. But what use they make of the kind visitations of the Lord, time must show; but it seems, that delaying to own their convictions, and join with Truth and Friends, they return and sit down under the gloomy shadow of their dark priests, spending their money for that which is not bread, and their labour for that which profit- On the 23rd I was at the week-day meeting eth not; buying of them who sell, till buyers at Blythe; which was small, few Friends reand sellers are shut out together. On the 7th | maining there, but very open and comfortable. I went to Pontefract, and next day had a On the 25th, being the first of the week, I was meeting there; which was open and comfort- at a general meeting for worship, falling of able, some of the neighbours being there of course at Warnsworth yearly about that time. various notions of religion, and all quiet. It was large and comfortable, the goodness of On the 10th I went to Sheffield, where I the Lord being sensibly with us. staid till the first-day following, and was at On the 27th, accompanied by several. their meeting; which consists, for most part, Friends, we set forward for York, by way of young people: and the Lord favoured us of Tadcaster; where, falling in with other with his good presence, and a fresh visitation Friends from Leeds and places adjacent, we of kindness to them; which I believe many all dined together at an inn; and before we of both sexes were sensible of. That evening arose from the table, the divine Truth tenderI went to Woodhouse, and next day went to ed me very much, and reached the Friends in