mind, and can sympathize with others in such conflicts, in that much weakness still attends

me.

man: they were not the effect of thought, nor any conclusion in relation to the appearance, but as the language of the Holy One spoken in my mind; the words were, Cer

I find that to be a fool as to worldly wisdom, and commit my cause to God, not fear-TAIN EVIDENCE OF DIVINE TRUTH; and ing to offend men, who take offence at the simplicity of Truth, is the only way to remain unmoved at the sentiments of others.

The fear of man brings a snare; by halting in our duty, and giving back in the time of trial, our hands grow weaker, our spirits get mingled with the people, our ears grow dull as to hearing the language of the true Shepherd, so that when we look at the way of the righteous, it seems as though it was not for us to follow them.

were again repeated exactly in the same manner; whereupon the light disappeared.

Feeling the exercise in relation to a visit to the southern provinces to increase upon me, I acquainted our Monthly Meeting therewith, and obtained their certificate. Expecting to go alone, one of my brothers, who lived in Philadelphia, having some business in North Carolina, proposed going with me part of the way; but as he had a view of some outward affairs, to accept of him as a companion There is a love clothes my mind while I seemed some difficulty with me. I had conwrite, which is superior to all expressions; versation with him at sundry times, and at and I find my heart open to encourage to a length, feeling easy in my mind, I had conholy emulation, to advance in Christian firm-versation with several elderly Friends of Philness. Deep humility is a strong bulwark; adelphia on the subject; and he obtaining a and as we enter into it, we find safety and true exaltation: the foolishness of God is wiser than man, and the weakness of God is stronger than man. Being unclothed of our own wisdom, and knowing the abasement of the creature, therein we find that power to arise, which gives health and vigor to us.

CHAPTER IV.

certificate suitable to the occasion, we set off in the fifth month of the year 1757. Coming to Nottingham week-day meeting, we lodged at John Churchman's, and here I met with our friend Benjamin Buffington, from New England, who was returning from a visit to the southern provinces. Thence we crossed the river Susquehanna, and lodged at William Cox's in Maryland; and soon after I entered this province, a deep and painful exercise came upon me, of which I had often had some feeling since my mind was drawn toward these parts, and with which I had acquainted my brother before we agreed to join as com

His visiting the families of Friends at Burlington-His journey to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina-Considerations on the state of Friends there, and the exer- panions. cise he was under in travelling among those As the people in this and the southern proconcerned in keeping slaves: with some ob-vinces live much on the labour of slaves, servations on this subject-His epistle to Friends at New Garden and Cane creek-His thoughts on the neglect of a religious care in the education of the negroes.

many of whom are used hardly, my concern was, that I might attend with singleness of heart to the voice of the true Shepherd, and be so supported as to remain unmoved at the faces of men.

As it is common for Friends on such a visit to have entertainment free of cost, a difficulty arose in my mind with respect to saving my money by kindness received, which to me appeared to be the gain of oppression.

THE 13th day of the second month, in the year 1757, being then in good health, and abroad with Friends visiting families, I lodged at a Friend's house in Burlington; and going to bed about the time usual with me, I awoke in the night, and my meditations, as I lay, were on the goodness and mercy of the Lord; Receiving a gift, considered as a gift, in a sense whereof my heart was contrite. brings the receiver under obligations to the After this, I went to sleep again; and sleeping benefactor, and has a natural tendency to a short time, I awoke; it was yet dark, and draw the obliged into a party with the giver. no appearance of day or moonshine; and To prevent difficulties of this kind, and to as I opened mine eyes, I saw a light in my preserve the minds of judges from any bias, chamber at the apparent distance of five feet, was that Divine prohibition; "Thou shalt not about nine inches diameter, of a clear easy receive any gift: for a gift blindeth the wise, brightness, and near its centre the most radi- and perverteth the words of the righteous.' As I lay still without any surprise As the disciples were sent forth without any looking upon it, words were spoken to my provision for their journey, and our Lord said inward ear, which filled my whole inward the workman is worthy of his meat, their la

ent.

bour in the Gospel was considered as a reward for their entertainment, and therefore not received as a gift; yet, in regard to my present journey, I could not see my way clear in that respect. The difference appeared thus: The entertainment the disciples met with, was from such whose hearts God had opened to receive them, from a love to them, and the truth they published. But we, considered as members of the same religious Society, look upon it as a piece of civility to receive each other in such visits; and such reception, at times, is partly in regard to reputation, and not from an inward unity of heart and spirit. Conduct is more convincing than language; and where people, by their actions, manifest that the slave-trade is not so disagreeable to their principles but that it may be encouraged, there is not a sound uniting with some Friends who visit them.

to the negroes myself, as the way looked clearest to me. As I expected this before I came out, I had provided a large number of small pieces; and thus offering them to some who appeared to be wealthy people, was a trial both to me and them: but the fear of the Lord so covered me at times, that my way was made easier than I expected; and few, if any, manifested any resentment at the offer, and most of them, after some talk, accepted of them.

The 7th day of the fifth month, in the year 1757, I lodged at a Friend's house; and the next day being the first of the week, was at Patapsco meeting; then crossed Patuxent river, and lodged at a public house.

On the 9th breakfasted at a Friend's house; who putting us a little on our way, I had conversation with him in the fear of the Lord, concerning his slaves; in which my heart The prospect of so weighty a work, and was tender, and I used much plainness of being so distinguished from many whom I es- speech with him, which he appeared to take teemed before myself, brought me very low; kindly. We pursued our journey without and such were the conflicts of my soul, that appointing meetings, being pressed in my I had a near sympathy with the prophet, in mind to be at the Yearly Meeting in Virginia. the time of his weakness, when he said, "If In my travelling on the road, I often felt a thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, cry rise from the centre of my mind, O Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight;" but II am a stranger on the earth, hide not thy soon saw that this proceeded from the want face from me. On the 11th day of the fifth of a full resignation to the Divine will. Many month, we crossed the rivers Potomac and were the afflictions which attended me; and Rappahannock, and lodged at Port Royal: in great abasement, with many tears, my and on the way happening in company with cries were to the Almighty, for his gracious a colonel of the militia, who appeared to be a and fatherly assistance; and then, after a time thoughtful man, I took occasion to remark on of deep trial, I was favoured to understand the difference in general between a people the state mentioned by the psalmist, more used to labour moderately for their living, clearly than ever I had before; to wit: "My training up their children in frugality and soul is even as a weaned child." Being thus business, and those who live on the labour of helped to sink down into resignation, I felt a slaves; the former, in my view, being the deliverance from that tempest in which I had most happy life: with which he concurred, been sorely exercised, and in calmness of and mentioned the trouble arising from the mind went forward, trusting that the Lord untoward, slothful disposition of the negroes; Jesus Christ, as I faithfully attended to him, adding, that one of our labourers would do would be a counsellor to me in all difficulties; as much in a day as two of their slaves. I and that by his strength I should be enabled replied, that free men, whose minds were even to leave money with the members of properly on their business, found a satisfacSociety where I had entertainment, when I tion in improving, cultivating and providing found that omitting it would obstruct that for their families; but negroes, labouring to work to which I believed he had called me. support others who claim them as their proAnd as I copy this after my return, I may perty, and expecting nothing but slavery duadd, that oftentimes I did so, under a sense of ring life, had not the like inducement to be duty. The way in which I did it was thus; industrious. when I expected soon to leave a Friend's house where I had had entertainment, if I believed that I should not keep clear from the gain of oppression without leaving money, I spoke to one of the heads of the family privately, and desired him to accept of some pieces of silver, and give them to such of the negroes as he believed would make the best use of them; and at other times I gave them

After some further conversation, I said that men having power, too often misapplied it; that though we made slaves of the negroes, and the Turks made slaves of the Christians, I believed that liberty was the natural right of all men equally; which he did not deny; but said the lives of the negroes were so wretched in their own country, that many of them lived better here than there. I only

said there is great odds in regard to us, on race of so wicked a man as Cain was. Then what principle we act; and so the conversa- another spake in support of what had been tion on that subject ended. I may here add, said. To all which, I replied in substance that another person, some time afterward, as follows: Noah and his family were all mentioned the wretchedness of the negroes, who survived the flood, according to Scripoccasioned by their intestine wars, as an ar- ture; and as Noah was of Seth's race, the gument in favour of our fetching them away family of Cain was wholly destroyed. One for slaves; to which I then replied, if com- of them said, that after the flood Ham went passsion on the Africans, in regard to their to the land of Nod, and took a wife; that domestic troubles, were the real motives of Nod was a land far distant, inhabited by our purchasing them, that spirit of tenderness Cain's race, and that the flood did not reach being attended to, would incite us to use them it; and as Ham was sentenced to be a serkindly, that as strangers brought out of afflic- vant of servants to his brethren, these two tion, their lives might be happy among us; families being thus joined, were undoubtedly and as they are human creatures, whose souls fit only for slaves. I replied, the flood was a are as precious as ours, and who may receive judgment upon the world for their abominathe same help and comfort from the holy tions; and it was granted that Cain's stock Scriptures as we do, we could not omit suit- was the most wicked, and therefore unreaable endeavours to instruct them therein. But sonable to suppose they were spared: as to while we manifest by our conduct, that our Ham's going to the land of Nod for a wife, views in purchasing them are to advance our- no time being fixed, Nod might be inhabited selves; and while our buying captives taken by some of Noah's family, before Ham marin war, animates those parties to push on that ried a second time; moreover the text saith, war, and increase desolation amongst them;"That all flesh died that moved upon the to say they live unhappily in Africa, is far earth." I further reminded them, how the from being an argument in our favour. I prophets repeatedly declare, "that the son further said, the present circumstances of shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father; these provinces to me appear difficult; the but every one be answerable for his own slaves look like a burthensome stone to such who burthen themselves with them, and that if the white people retain a resolution to prefer their outward prospects of gain to all other considerations, and do not act conscientiously toward them as fellow-creatures, I believe that burthen will grow heavier and heavier, until times change in a way disagreeable to us. At this the person appeared very serious, and owned, that in considering their condition and the manner of their treatment in these provinces, he had sometimes thought it might be just in the Almighty so to order it. Having travelled through Maryland, we came amongst Friends at Cedar creek in Virginia, on the 12th day of the fifth month; and the next day rode, in company with seve- On the 14th day of the fifth month I was ral Friends, a day's journey to Camp creek. at Camp creek Monthly Meeting, and then As I was riding along in the morning, my rode to the mountains up James river, and mind was deeply affected in a sense I had of had a meeting at a Friend's house; in both the want of Divine aid to support me in the which I felt sorrow of heart, and my tears various difficulties which attended me; and were poured out before the Lord, who was in an uncommon distress of mind, I cried in pleased to afford a degree of strength by secret to the Most High, O Lord! be merciful, which way was opened to clear my mind I beseech thee, to thy poor afflicted creature. amongst Friends in those places. From After some time, I felt inward relief; and soon thence I went to Fork creek, and so to Cedar after, a Friend in company began to talk in creek again; at which place I now had a support of the slave-trade, and said the ne- meeting. Here I found a tender seed; and groes were understood to be the offspring of as I was preserved in the ministry to keep Cain, their blackness being the mark God set low with the Truth, the same Truth in their upon him after he murdered Abel, his brother, hearts answered it, so that it was a time of and that it was the design of Providence they mutual refreshment from the presence of the should be slaves, as a condition proper to the Lord. I lodged at James Stanley's, father of VOL. IV.-No. 9.

sins." I was troubled to perceive the darkness of their imaginations; and in some pressure of spirit said, the love of ease and gain are the motives in general of keeping slaves, and men are wont to take hold of weak arguments to support a cause which is unreasonable. I have no interest on either side, save only the interest which I desire to have in the Truth; and as I believe liberty is their right, and see they are not only deprived of it, but treated in other respects with inhumanity in many places, I believe He, who is a refuge for the oppressed, will in his own time, plead their cause; and happy will it be for such, who walk in uprightness before him: thus our conversation ended.

44

William Stanley, one of the young men their own way, some make so little account who suffered imprisonment at Winchester of those marriages, that with views of outlast summer, on account of their testimony ward interest, they often part men from their against fighting; and I had some satisfactory wives by selling them far asunder; which is conversation with him concerning it. Hence common when estates are sold by executors I went to the Swamp and Wainoak meet at vendue. Many whose labour is heavy, ings; and then crossed James river, and lodged being followed at their business in the field, near Burleigh. From the time of my enter- by a man with a whip, hired for that purpose, ing Maryland I have been much under sor-have in common little else allowed but one row, which of late so increased upon me, peck of Indian corn and some salt for one that my mind was almost overwhelmed; and week, with a few potatoes; the potatoes they I may say with the psalmist, " in my distress commonly raise by their labour on the firstI called upon the Lord, and cried to my God;" day of the week. who, in infinite goodness, looked upon my The correction ensuing on their disobedi affliction, and in my private retirement sent ence to overseers, or slothfulness in business, the Comforter for my relief; for which I hum-is often very severe, and sometimes desperate. bly bless his holy name.

Men and women have many times scarcely clothes enough to hide their nakedness, and boys and girls, ten and twelve years old, are often quite naked amongst their master's children. Some of our Society, and some of the Society called New Lights, use some endea vours to instruct those they have in reading; but in common this is not only neglected, but disapproved. These are the people by whose labour the other inhabitants are in a great measure supported, and many of them in the luxuries of life: these are the people who have made no agreement to serve us, and who have not forfeited their liberty that we know of: these are the souls for whom Christ died, and for our conduct toward them, we must answer before Him who is no respecter of persons.

They who know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and are thus acquainted with the merciful, benevolent, Gospel spirit, will therein perceive that the indig. nation of God is kindled against oppression and cruelty; and in beholding the great distress of so numerous a people, will find cause for mourning.

The sense I had of the state of the churches, brought a weight of distress upon me: the gold to me appeared dim, and the fine gold changed; and though this is the case too generally, yet the sense of it in these parts hath, in a particular manner, borne heavily upon me. It appeared to me, that through the prevailing of the spirit of this world, the minds of many were brought to inward desolation; and instead of the spirit of meekness, gentleness and heavenly wisdom, which are the necessary companions of the true sheep of Christ, a spirit of fierceness and the love of dominion, too generally prevailed. From small beginnings in error, great buildings by degrees, are raised, and from one age to another are more and more strengthened by the general concurrence of the people. As men obtain reputation by their profession of the Truth, their virtues are mentioned as arguments in favour of general error; and those of less note, to justify themselves, say, such and such good men did the like. By what other steps could the people of Judah rise to such a height in wickedness, as to give just ground for the prophet Isaiah to declare in From my lodgings I went to Burleigh the name of the Lord, "that none calleth for meeting, where I felt my mind drawn into a justice, nor any pleadeth for truth:" or for the quiet resigned state; and after long silence, I Almighty to call upon the great city of Jeru- felt an engagement to stand up; and through salem, just before the Babylonish captivity, the powerful operation of Divine love, we "If ye can find a man, if there be any who were favoured with an edifying meeting. The executeth judgment, that seeketh the Truth, next meeting we had was at Black Water; and I will pardon it." The prospect of a and so to the Yearly Meeting at the Western road lying open to the same degeneracy, in Branch. When its business began, some some parts of this newly settled land of queries were considered by some of their America, in respect to our conduct toward the negroes, hath deeply bowed my mind in this journey; and though to relate briefly how these people are treated is no agreeable work, yet after often reading over the notes I made as I travelled, I find my mind engaged to preserve them. Many of the white people in those provinces take little or no care of negro marriages; and when negroes marry after

members, to be now produced; and if approved, to be answered hereafter by their respective Monthly Meetings. They were the Pennsylvania queries, which had been examined by a committee of Virginia Yearly Meeting appointed last year, who made some alterations in them; one of which alterations was made in favour of a custom which troubled me. The query was, "Are there any

living in the pure Truth, and acting conscientiously toward those people in their education and otherwise, they might be instrumental in helping forward a work so exceedingly necessary, and so much neglected amongst them. At the twelfth hour the meeting of worship began, which was solid.

On the 30th day, about the tenth hour, Friends met to finish their business, and then the meeting for worship ensued, which to me was a laborious time; but through the goodness of the Lord, Truth, I believe, gained some ground; and it was a strengthening opportunity to the honest-hearted.

About this time I wrote an epistle to Friends in the back settlements of North Carolina, as follows:

To Friends at their Monthly Meeting at New

Garden and Cane creek, in North Carolina.

Dear Friends,

concerned in the importation of negroes, or carefully to themselves: expressing how needbuying them after imported?" which they ful it was for them, in that situation, to be altered thus: "Are there any concerned in thoroughly divested of all selfish views; that the importation of negroes, or buying them to trade in?" As one query admitted with unanimity was, "Are any concerned in buying or vending goods unlawfully imported, or prize goods?" I found my mind engaged to say, that as we professed the Truth, and were there assembled to support the testimony of it, it was necessary for us to dwell deep, and act in that wisdom which is pure, or otherwise we could not prosper. I then mentioned the alteration; and referring to the last mentioned query, added, as purchasing any merchandize taken by the sword, was always allowed to be inconsistent with our principles; negroes being captives of war, or taken by stealth, those circumstances make it inconsistent with our testimony to buy them; and their being our fellow creatures, who are sold as slaves, adds greatly to the iniquity. Friends appeared attentive to what was said; some expressed a care and concern about their negroes; none made any objection, by way of reply to what I said; but the query was admitted as they had altered it. As some of their members have heretofore traded in negroes, as in other merchandize, this query, being admitted, will be one step further than they have hitherto gone. I did not see it my duty to press for an alteration; but felt easy to leave it all to Him, who alone is able to turn the hearts of the mighty, and to make way for the spreading of Truth on the earth, by means agreeable to his infinite wisdom. But in regard to those they already had, I felt my mind engaged to labour with them; and said, that, as we believe the Scriptures were given forth by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and many of us know by experience that they are often helpful and comfortable, and believe ourselves bound in duty to teach our children to read them; I believe that if we were divested of all selfish views, the same good Spirit that gave them forth, would engage us to teach the negroes to read, that they might have the benefit of them: there were some amongst them who, at this time, manifested a concern in regard to taking more care in the education of their negroes.

IT having pleased the Lord to draw me forth on a visit to some parts of Virginia and Carolina, you have often been in my mind; and though my way is not clear to come in person to visit you, yet I feel it in my heart to communicate a few things, as they arise in the love of Truth. First, my dear friends, dwell in humility; and take heed that no views of outward gain get too deep hold of you, that so your eyes being single to the Lord, you may be preserved in the way of safety. Where people let loose their minds after the love of outward things, and are more engaged in pursuing the profits and seeking the friendships of this world, than to be inwardly acquainted with the way of true peace, such walk in a vain shadow, while the true comfort of life is wanting; their examples are often hurtful to others; and their treasures, thus collected, do many times prove dangerous snares to their children.

But where people are sincerely devoted to follow Christ, and dwell under the influence of his holy Spirit, their stability and firmness, through a Divine blessing, is at times like dew on the tender plants around about them, and the weightiness of their spirits secretly works on the minds of others; and in this On the 29th day of the fifth month, at the condition, through the spreading influence of house where I lodged, was a meeting of min- Divine love, they feel a care over the flock; isters and elders, at the ninth hour in the and way is opened for maintaining good ormorning; at which time I found an engage-der in the Society. And though we meet ment to speak freely and plainly to them concerning their slaves; mentioning how they, as the first rank in the Society, whose conduct in that case was much noticed by others, were under the stronger obligations to look

with opposition from another spirit, yet, as there is a dwelling in meekness, feeling our spirits subject, and moving only in the gentle peaceable wisdom, the inward reward of quietness, will be greater than all our difficulties.