ton, John Field, Francis Stamper, John Bowater, James Park, and many others of the younger sort.

Considering the many talents of the ministers, their improvement thereof, experience, discerning, and other attainments in the Truth, in their several degrees, their parts and qualifications as men, as also the like qualifications of Friends there in general, together with the politeness, knowledge and understanding of the people in that place, I was kept very low in my mind and circumspect; having no courage of my own to appear in public among them. But the Lord knowing me altogether, my weakness, integrity, simplicity, and good meaning, supported my mind under all these considerations. Aaron Atkinson, my intended companion, having been in the city some time before, and observing him acceptable in his ministry among them, gave me an occasion of reasoning, that I might also, probably, go through the meetings without offence; which was the full amount of my expectation or desire there. And that which added much to my encouragement was, the fatherly care and behaviour of the ministers in general, but especially of that great minister of the gospel, and faithful servant of Christ, William Penn; who abounded in wisdom, discretion, prudence, love, and tenderness of affection, with all sincerity, above most in this generation; and indeed I never knew his equal: nor were Friends in general wanting to me in an open and tender friendship.

Sherburn, Marnhill, Blandford, Bruton, and so by Hallitro to Bristol on the 12th; and on the 13th to Bolton and Chew, to Claverham, and so by Wrinton to Wells, from whence, by Glastonbury and Street, Grinton and Summerton; and then by Longsutton to GregoryStoke, Taunton, Wyvelscomb, Collumpton, Tiverton, and Exeter; the Lord still favouring us with his goodness, by which we were preserved and carried on in the work and service whereunto we were called by his grace; which was ever with us, to the sole praise of the great Giver, who alone is worthy now and for ever.

On the 1st of the second month we were at Totness, then at Plymouth, Rowle, Bodway, Liscard, Melton, Trygongieve, Landwithen, Kellington, King's-bridge, Totness, Exeter, Uffcolm, Spiceland, Collumpton, Wellington, Taunton, Michael-Creech, and so by Grinton to Street, Glastonbury, Puddymore, and from thence to Bristol. Lodging at our ancient and honourable friend Richard Snead's, one morning the canopy of the divine presence came over us in the family, and brought us all into right silence for a time; and then the holy spirit of prayer and supplication came upon us and whilst we were in that exercise, William Penn, who ever loved the truth in the meanest, came into the room and joined with us; and after him, that ancient, able, and eminent Friend and minister of the Lord Jesus, Roger Haydock, who joined us in the same likewise; and some others following them, all coming to see us, were favoured with the same visitation and good presence of the Lord our God, and the enjoyment of him together in the Beloved, to our great and mutual refreshment, edification, and consolation.

In this city we remained in the service of Truth and Friends, according to our several measures and attainments; for as Aaron had been much longer convinced of the Ttruth than 1, and was in the ministry some years before I yielded thereto, he seemed by so This good season being over, we had sweet much the better grown, stronger, experienced, and agreeable unity and conversation toand preferable. On the 13th day of the gether; and it proved a great strength and twelfth month we had a meeting at Wands- encouragement to my companion and me, to worth; the next day at Kingston; on the 15th be thus favoured in the sight of those elders; at Guilford; on the 16th at Alton; on the who, by their free and fatherly, or rather bro19th at Basingstoke; on the 20th at Whit-therly, behaviour towards us then, and from church; next day at Andover; next at Lower-that time forward, declared a firm and settled Wallop, and at Salisbury on the 23rd; on the friendship in the Truth, which never waxed old 25th at Fording-bridge; next day at Ring- or decayed. wood, and on the 27th at Pool; where we staid till the 1st day of the first month, and then proceeded to Corse.

[After taking several other meetings they reached London on the 8th of third month.] In this journey, though we were not with

On the 2nd day of the first month we re-out temptations and exercises of divers kinds, turned to Pool; and thence on the 4th to Weymouth, the Lord preserving us, and favouring us with his good presence; and the aid of his divine grace gave us many acceptable times among his people, and our journey and service was thereby made easy and comfortable, both to us and them. Being thus encouraged, we proceeded further, viz: to

yet the Lord was near to preserve us; and through his divine grace, gave us many open, comfortable and edifying times in the assemblies of his people, and in families, as also in conversation; for the fear of the Lord was over us, and we did not delight in vain and unprofitable talk, but were kept solid; but not cast down, or unconversable.

At London we parted; Aaron went back into Cumberland, and I remained in the city, and entered into business there for my necessary subsistence: for my father had not bestowed any thing upon me at parting.

engagement in the affairs of life, and a confinement not consisting with the liberty requi site in the ministry, or with my views that way, I declined, and did my business with the help of such writing clerks as I could employ on any emergency, without further engagement.

The first thing I did was to sell my horse, which I rode in my late journey, for which I got about seven pounds, and with it I About this time George Keith, that conten. put myself into some better clothing; for tious apostate from the truth of God, once what I had was much worn out with riding. made known to him, made great disturbances Friends in London knowing my intention of in and about London, as he had done before settling there, at least for some time, and that in divers parts of America; endeavouring to I desired to be employed in conveyancing, impose some unprofitable, hurtful, and false drawing of settlements, and other public writ- notions of his own and others upon Friends, ings of all sorts; which was a business I was contending fiercely about them; and had also acquainted with, and also the least confining obtained some regard from envious and preof any I could think of, and was fitted for; judiced persons of divers sects and societies. several of them were so kind as to give notice In this same year, [1696] I was concerned, of it in some monthly meetings in the city, in the love of Truth, to visit the meetings in a and on other occasions; and recommend-general way, in the north of England, and ed me to such Friends as might have any likewise in Scotland; and in discharge of that thing to be done in that way. William Penn, duty, set forward from London on the 6th or in a particular manner, was liberal in his re- 7th of the fifth month, accompanied by Henry commendations, and showed himself a warm Atkinson; who was at that time, a very tenfriend in promoting my interest. der and hopeful young man, but had not appeared in a public ministry, though truth was working in him towards it.

We went by Waterford, where I made a visit to the countess of Carlisle, intending to have seen the earl, but he was gone to London, and she received me in her closet with respect, none being present but Helen Fairley, who had been her gentlewoman; but having been late

This succeeded so well, by the blessing of God, that in a short time I had more business than I could do by myself, so that I often employed assistants. As I was rather under than over in my demands for what business I did, so my pay was good and sure, and I soon came into a reputable and plentiful way of living; for which I was truly thankful to the Lord, who thus provided for me in a way Ily convinced, another was then in her place. had not foreseen; but had fully trusted in the Lord, that I should not want, though without any particular prospect how I should be supplied when I left my father's house to follow the Lord, and enjoy his divine peace more fully than I found I could do there.

Remaining some time in the city, Friends employed me to record the foreign sufferings sent, from all parts, to the chamber there; for which they allowed me a gratuity; and after that, put all the deeds and writings belonging to the quarterly meeting of London into my hands, to peruse and consider; and in divers of them I found mistakes, which were rectified. I made a general index and abstract of them, whereby the purport of any deed, and what set of trustees the title of any meeting-house or burying-ground was in, at any time, might be found in a quarter of an hour; for which also I had a consideration.

I kept close to meetings and to business, in their proper places; the countenance of the Lord was with me, and my business increased daily to my satisfaction, so that I had several offers of clerks, with competent sums of money, both from the north, and in London. But considering that as tending to too deep an

The countess asked me divers questions concerning the way of truth as professed by us; of the sacraments, commonly so called, of women's preaching, of our marriages, and of the grace of God, &c. To all which I answered in much plainness, and I believe, to her satisfaction, viz:

"As to the two sacraments, the national church owns that a sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace; and if it is a sign, it cannot be the thing signified. That grace, of which those symbols are called signs, hath appeared, and doth appear, unto all men; as well where those signs are used, as where they are not used or heard of. So that there can be no advantage in the use of such signs, but in that grace which, through Christ, is given of the Father unto all men, being a divine active principle and power, illuminating, instructing and guiding the minds of all that believe therein, into all truth necessary for the salva. tion of the soul. The great God, Creator of heaven and earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords, is no respecter of persons in his dispensation of grace to the children of men; but gives more or less as it pleaseth him, but to

every one that which is sufficient; and hath are melancholy; a ball, or other unchristianno regard therein to those distinctions, formed like diversion must be promoted, and your and imposed by mortals, one upon another, in physicians must give physic to your bodies; this world: so that high and low, rich and when, alas! the sickness is in the soul, and poor, noble and ignoble, have all grace suffi- they know it not, and can never be cured but cient for their salvation, if they believe there- by the Physician of value, the High Priest of in and obey it; as it is written, By grace are God and Saviour of the soul; who first slays ye saved, through faith, and that not of your in it the vain and sinful life of the world, in selves, it is the gift of God.' Yet you who which all the evils thereof dwell, and then are great in this world are in most danger, breathes into it life eternal, the life of Jesus because of the cares, riches, pleasures, hon- the Son of God, who never fell. ours, and glory of it; for as the Most High "As to women's preaching, it ought to be regardeth none of these things, but con-impartially observed, that the difference of siders you only as others of mankind, these sexes consists not in any diversity of faculties high stations and circumstances delude your in the human soul; the intellectual powers hearts by their glittering delights, and betray being alike common to male and female, and you into a forgetfulness of God your Creator, the nature of the mind the same in both, and and a neglect of the gift of his grace which is consequently susceptible of the like and same in you, though the Lord is not wanting to you impressions and impulses. And accordingly in his kind and merciful admonitions and the Almighty, pointing at the dispensation of reproofs in your own minds. the gospel by Joel the prophet, saith, I will

"And though you are sometimes brought pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your thereby into inward and deep considerations sons and your daughters shall prophesy.' of your ways, your latter end, and a future Again, Upon the servants and upon the state, as others are; yet you are under greater handmaids, in those days, will I pour out my disadvantages through the eminence of your Spirit.' By the word prophesy is understood, stations and circumstances in the world, being by all interpreters, preaching the gospel; and thereby placed out of the reach of the conversation and information of the true and sincere ministers of the Lord Jesus; who, as they love you truly, through his grace, would deal plainly, yet discreetly and respectfully with you, for the sake and redemption of your precious souls, without any flattery, or mean mercenary end, or other earthly view.

this prophesy took place in the church of Christ at the coming of the Holy Ghost, or Christ in spirit, at Jerusalem, at the time of Pentecost; where, if no woman spake, though we have no express account that any did, the apostle Peter did not apply that text properly and without exception; which we are not to

suppose.

"But it is lamentable to consider, that when "Though the apostle Paul takes some exthe grace of God, as it is the divine light of his ceptions, and that with sharpness, against presence through the Lord Jesus Christ, let- some women as to that exercise in the church, teth you see yourselves, and the errors of yet not against all; for himself declares how your ways; and brings remorse over you, women, using that exercise, ought to be cirand a secret humiliation and sadness into cumstanced, and recommends Phebe as a your minds, appearing sometimes in your as- minister of the church which was at Cenpect and behaviour; when none of your pas- chrea; and Philip had four daughters, all times, enjoyments, or diversions have any preachers; and Priscilla, as well as Aquilla relish, or afford any satisfaction at all; then, her husband, was a preacher in the days of instead of the counsel and help of such as the apostles; and she, as well as he, instructed have known this word of reproof, and walked Apollos further in the way of Christ, though in the path of life eternal, to direct you in the he had been a preacher before. I conclude way which leads to the kingdom of God, and therefore, with truth, that women both may to that unspeakable glory, the beatific vision and ought to preach, under the gospel dispenof his countenance, which never ends, as all sation, when the Spirit of the Lord is upon this world, and the glory and pleasures of it them, and they thereunto called, and qualified do, even in a moment, and are known no thereby; and many such we have now among more; you have two sorts of men in particular us, very acceptable in their ministry. So near you, by whose ignorance, self-views and flattery, you are in more danger of everlasting ruin than those in lower stations. For, in the times of humiliation, when you are fittest for the teachings of God, as it is written, The humble he will teach, and the meek he will guide in judgment,' then your priests say you

that we know by experience, that they are sent of God, according to the various degrees of their gifts, as well as men, and receive them accordingly in the Lord."

She heard what I said with candour and patience, and I took leave of her with great satisfaction in my mind. And this visit being

over, I returned to the house of our friend Alice Hayes; where I related the passage, with other circumstances here omitted, to several Friends there at that time, which well affected them; and we were all favoured with the divine presence on the occasion, and had a very comfortable time together in prayer; after which we departed towards Albans, where we had appointed a meeting that afternoon, and then went to Hartford.

The next day, being the 9th of the month, we had a meeting there; which at first was very hard and shut up, but ended well, in a weighty sense of the divine presence.

at Kelso, where, on the first of the week, we were at a meeting in the forenoon, and another in the afternoon, to our satisfaction; on the 11th we were at the meeting at Edinburgh, and next day crossed the Firth, in order for the north, and that night lodged at Coupar, in Fifeshire; where we could get neither grass, hay, nor straw for our horses, but only thistles.

On the 13th we lodged at our friend William Napier's of Tacks, near Montrose, and being willing to hasten to the farthest part of our journey before the winter came on, went to the widow Barclay's, at Urie, and were at a seventh-day's meeting at Aberdeen, which went from family to family by turns.

The day following, being the first of the week, we went to a six-weeks meeting at Woodland, about nine miles, which was large, but not very comfortable; but having another meeting that afternoon at John Forbes', we were favoured of the Lord with some more divine refreshment in his presence; and there we remained that night and the next day. The day following we had a pretty comfortable meeting with a few Friends at Inverary; in the evening we went to Kilmuck, and next day had a small meeting there; after which I was very well and easy, and that evening went to Aberdeen, where we had a meeting next day to satisfaction; and another in the even

That evening we went to John Etteridge's, at Hare-Street, and next day had a meeting near that place; which at first was drowsy, hard and dry, but after a while, became as a little river overflowing its banks, to the comfort and refreshment of the Friends and us, and to the honour of the name of the Lord; of whom alone is the power, which he dispenseth when and where he pleaseth. That evening we returned to the same lodging, and the next morning a concern came upon our minds, and John Etteridge being much spent in a consumption, uttered a few sentences concerning a day coming on apace, wherein the Lord would gather many, as from the four winds, to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God, in divine rest and peace; and after prayer we departed, greatly coming. forted, as also were the Friends in the family. That day we had a meeting at Baldock; which, for a while, was poor and dry, but in the end a little better.

The 12th, being the first-day of the week, we were at Cambridge; where came two priests, several young collegians, and some other people; they were sober, and the meeting was peaceable. From thence we went by Huntington to Stilton, Wentsford, and so on to Nottingham, and on the 15th fell in with the meeting at Mansfield, which was small and poor; and that evening went to Balbur-Hall, and lodged with sir John Rhodes, baronet; who, being convinced of the Truth very young, embraced the same under the cross, forsaking all the honour of this world, and the friendship of it, for that honour which is of God only, and the friendship and fellowship of the faithful and sanctified in Christ, of whom he is beloved and honoured in the truth as worthy.

Thence we went to Sheffield, and so to Burton, to Francis Harrison's, where we lodged; thence through Leeds, and by seve ral stages into Cumberland, and on the 5th of the sixth month, being the fourth of the week, we were at the Border meeting.

On the 7th of the sixth month we began our journey into Scotland, and next day arrived

The next day we had an evening meeting in the said town, at the house of our ancient and eminent friend Andrew Jaffray, where the Lord favoured us with his life-giving presence to a good degree, several persons of note in the world being there. They behaved very solidly, and I had an open time among them, through the grace of God, especially in prayer, to the praise of the great Giver of every good and perfect gift, who is worthy now and for ever.

On the 22nd of the sixth month we had another meeting there, which was very open and tender; after it was over, we visited Friends in their families in a general way, and the next day being the first of the week, we had two more good and open meetings in the fore and afternoon; and there I took public leave of Friends in those parts: but next morning before we departed, the generality of the ancient Friends came to see us, and being together in John Hall's house, where we lodged, the power of the Lord came upon us, and we were greatly comforted together therein. At that time my companion spake a few words seasoned with grace, to general satisfaction; and then I had also a few sentences, concern. ing the bond of our unity and communion, which is the spirit and love of Christ, and

then had a tender season in prayer; after country, that character belonged more properwhich Andrew Jaffray likewise prayed, and ly to us. so the meeting concluded to our mutual consolation and in the remaining sense of the love of our heavenly Father we parted, and that afternoon went to Urie.

Here we staid till the 26th, and then had a meeting, which was heavy for some time, but ended in a more lively state; for which we were thankful. Next morning we had a meeting in the family [of the widow of Robert Barclay,] where we were much comforted together, in the springings of the love of our heavenly Father; and greatly were we satisfied to find his divine presence so near them, not only then, but also on the sixth and seventhdays following; for they have a meeting every morning among themselves.

On the 29th we went back to William Napier's, and next day, being the first of the week, we were at the meeting at Montrose, fore and afternoon: in the latter several people came in, and I said many things to them appertaining to salvation, but they did not seem to be weary or heavy laden, or fit for the cross of Christ, nor sensible of any want. The next morning we went from Tayck, where we had lodged, and William Napier conducted us several miles, and was very kind, and that night we lodged at Kennoway.

This calm reasoning with him, in the grace of God, had so good an effect, that he confessed his fault, and desired it might be passed by; which was freely granted. Then, as we stood together by the side of the vessel, he became very kind and familiar, and told me he was, by profession, an Episcopal minister, but displaced, and deprived of his living by the Presbyterians at the revolution. I informed him that I had been of the same profession of religion; that my nearest relations were so still, and my elder brother a dean of the Episcopal church; [relating also] the manner of my education, my leaving the profession of the law, as not consisting with the calling of God in the concern I was then about; and yet, casting myself on his Providence, I wanted nothing.

I advised him, that since, in the course of Providence, he was divested of his bread in the way he had chosen for himself, he had best now lean upon the arm of the Lord for his subsistence, in a way which might be shown him, in some honest employment, in case he should look no more back to his former dependence: all I said he heard with temper, and said he believed I wished him well therein.

The young gentleman said a little pleasantly, "he himself had a mind to dispute with me on the subject of baptism." "Then," said I, "before we begin the dispute, answer me one question; how many baptisms are there in use in the Christian religion?" He answered, "There are three." Then I told him he would make but a poor hand in dispute, who had missed it so far in the entrance. "For whereas the apostle Paul saith, There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,' thou sayest there are three baptisms; and since thou opposest the apostle, thou art not fit to be disputed with about religion." And not being in earnest in what he had proposed, he only smiled, and dropped his pretension.

The 1st day of the seventh month we went to Kinghorn, in order to pass over to Leith; where we found a ferry boat ready to put off from the shore, in which were several passengers, and among the rest an Episcopal priest. As soon as he perceived what we were, he fell into a rage, and endeavoured to keep us out of the vessel, and disappoint us of our passage; which he seemed more bold in, under the countenance of a young gentleman in the boat, who, by his appearance, seemed to be the priest's patron or benefactor. But I soon gave him to understand we were not to be imposed upon in that point; and insisting on our passage, required the boatman to take in our horses, and we stepped in after them; and then his spirit fell when he saw our resolution and management, and that the gentleman did not oppose us. The priest becoming more calm, so did the wind, which had retarded our passage. After a while, perceiving the spirit of the man to be overcome and quieted, I spake to him concerning his passion and enmity against us without any cause; putting him in mind how inconsistent such behaviour is with Christianity, of which I supposed him to be a professor, if not a professed teacher; and that religion requires all the professors of one another, and thereby lessen their num it to be kind to strangers; and that though he bers, this people are still increasing." was equally a stranger to us, as we to him, he spake pleasantly, and not seeing need to yet since we were strangers in his native reply, or make any observation upon it, I let VOL. X.-No. 2. 7

Then he addressed himself to the passengers, and said, concerning Friends, "They are a people who give no honour to any, nor seek any, and yet are honoured of all; being admitted into the company and friendship of men of all stations and degrees without offence, because they make their plain behavi our an incident of their religion, and badge of their profession. And their principles leading them to peace with all sorts, and against wars and fighting, whilst other professors destroy

This