which was between two and three o'clock on fourth-day morning, the 4th day of the ninth month, being speechless about seven hours before. A general invitation was given to Friends and others to his funeral; where three testimonies were borne, all in great brokenness, under a just sense of our great loss. After which he was decently interred on the evening of the said day, in a piece of ground which is since given to Friends for a burial place, and on which a meeting house is built by John Pickering, the governor of the island at that time. It is said in the Scriptures, that the righteous are taken away, and no man layeth it to heart; but I hope it may be truly said, this was not the case at this time; for Friends in general, much lamented their great loss, in being so soon deprived of so instructive a friend and elder, whose care over us was very great; and who, by his loving and exemplary life, and tenderness to people of all ranks and professions, engaged the love and respect of almost all the people in the island. We are fully assured that his labour among us was not in vain, and that many have felt the good effects of it; so that we believe some of the last words he spoke in public, may justly be applied to him, and that he now enjoys a crown of righteousness. GOD'S GREAT LOVE UNTO MANKIND, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LOrd. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying this (i. e. Christ) is my beloved Son, hear ye him. Luke ix. 35. If ye love me, keep my commandments. John xiv. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him might not perish, but have everlasting life. John iii. 16. PREFACE. IN sincerity and unfeigned love, both to God and man, were these lines penned. I desire thee to peruse them in the same love, and then, peradventure, thou mayest find some sweetness in them. Expect not learned phrases or florid expressions; for many times heavenly matter is hid in mean sentences, or wrapped up in plain expressions. It some times pleases God to reveal the mysteries of his kingdom, through the grace of his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, to babes and sucklings; and he oftentimes ordains praise out of their mouths; one of which, reader, I desire thou mayest be. My intent in writing these sheets, is, that they, through the help of God's grace and the good Spirit of Christ, may stir up true love in thee; first to God and Christ, and then to man: so thou wilt be fit to be espoused to him, who is altogether lovely, that is Christ, which is the desire of him who is thy friend, more in heart than word. THOMAS CHALKLEY. I HAVE been concerned for the good and welfare of the children of men from my youthful days, and tasted of the infinite love of God, in and through his dear Son, the holy Lamb Jesus, who laid down his life for the sins of the world; and in my tender years reaped great benefit, through faith in and obedience unto him. And I have found by experience, that one without the other, to wit, faith without works, will not answer the end of the great love of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who offered himself a sacrifice for all mankind; not for people to live in sin, but to take away the sin of the world. In a word, "Faith without works is dead." I found it so, and so must all true believers in the Son of God. Christ first loved us and paid that debt for us, which, of ourselves, we were not able to do. Oh! his infinite love hath oftentimes melted my soul into tenderness. Methinks it is a great pity that the sons of men should requite evil for good, or disobedience for such gracious obedience. I would to God, that all believers in Christ would live in that fear of God and that love to Christ, which keep the heart clean; because nothing un clean can enter the kingdom of heaven. I do not mean a slavish fear; but fear that is wrought by love: for they who love the Lord, the great, everlasting God, will fear to offend him. This is the matter that chiefly concerns my mind at this time; the necessity of love to God and Christ, and one another. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him." For my part I cannot pretend to tell thee, Oh, man! to the full; but only a little to hint at it: it is "Joy unspeakable, and full of glory:" but then we must love him, so as to keep his commandments. This is the work that I am very earnest in pressing people to, whether youth or aged: it is not too soon for the young, nor too late for the aged, to begin this work of obedience, through faith and love to God and Christ, if his spirit is reproving or striving in them. But it is more honourable and acceptable, for a man to give up the strength of his days to serve the Lord and to remember his Creator in the days of his youth, before sin is rooted and grown in him; for then it will be much more labour to get the root of unrighteousness plucked up. In that ability which God hath given me, I would endeavour to stir up all to serve him, and to be in good earnest, and not to put the day of God, even the mighty Jehovah, afar off; but to love the Lord unfeignedly, and with true obedience; since that sacrifice only is acceptable to him; that is to say, to love him in deed and in truth, more than in word and with tongue. The Lord by his servant, complained against a people in old time; "They draw nigh to me with their mouths, and with their lips they do honour me:" but their great misery was, their hearts were far from him. They did not love him with their whole hearts; this was their fault: this thing is also a great evil in the sight of God, in our age; and is too frequent in England, the land of my nativity, as also in other islands and places beyond the seas. What lamentation shall be taken up, for such as do so mock the Lord, the great God of love? Surely he will render vengeance, as in flames of fire, upon all the wicked and ungodly, and those that forget him. It is not by saying, but by doing, that we are justified, through faith in Christ; not he that saith, Lord, Lord, only, but he that doth his will also, shall enter the kingdom. The will of God and of Christ his Son, is, that we should love him above all; and in loving him, we shall love one another; for Christ saw the great need there was of loving God above all, and also of loving one an other; therefore he answered thus to him that asked which was the greatest commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." "This, says Christ, is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” If these two great commandments were obeyed, it would answer God's great love to us, in sending his Son to bless us. Oh! the glory of God, how it would shine! it would make the young men as valiants of Israel, and the old men as captains of thousands; then Christ would reign gloriously indeed, in the hearts of the children of men; here the Lamb and his followers, who walk in the light, and in that commandment, that burns as a lamp, would get the victory over the devil and his followers. But, on the contrary, the great error of mankind, is that they talk of God and Christ, in words; but deny him in works: nay, some will not stick to say, it is impossible to keep the commands of Christ. It is too commonly spoken, and also believed, that there is no perfection on this side the grave; contrary to the saying of Christ, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven, is perfect." Yet, say they, it is impossible; which is as much as to say, Christ is a hard master, in commanding what cannot be done; consequently, out of their own mouths they will be condemned; for Christ is not a hard master; I testify it against all such unholy and imperfect believers, in solid fear before the Lord; but according to such people's faith and belief, he must needs be hard. Oh that people would so love God and his dear Son, as to strive to do his commands; for it is impossible they should obey if they neither believe nor endeavour. Let such know, that "Many shall seek, and shall not enter;" much less shall they enter if they do not seek. But we must strive in obedience to his will, and by his assistance, not in our own natural will, to enter in at the strait gate:" man would enter in with all his pleasant things, and in all his bravery and gallantry; but God's will is, that he should be brought low, that he might exalt him. Oh this self is a great enemy to mankind. My intention is, to awaken people out of the sleep of sin, which is death; and to stir them up to righteousness, and love to the Lord and their neighbour, even with their whole heart; for this my heart breathes to, and supplicates the Lord of heaven; then would the end of my labour, in his love, be answered. Great is the love of God, in sending deeds were good, they would love the light, his Son, and also in sending his servants, and Christ Jesus, the Lord of life and glory; and stirring them up, to arouse people out of the bring their deeds to him, that he might judge sleep of security, that they might see the danger them: who will give righteous judgment to they are in, and how near they lie to the brink every man according to his works. The of the pit of burning. Oh that people would but righteous will have their portion in the resurseriously consider that which is showed and rection of life, joy and peace in the Holy told them in the love of the Lord, that it might Ghost; but the wicked in the resurrection of be laid to heart. Whether they will hear, or damnation. Oh! that I might be instrumental forbear, God will be clear, and his servants in the hand of the Lord to open the eyes of also will be clear. But if we not only hear, some who are spiritually blind, that they but also obey, that peace which passeth the might see the beauty and the great glory of understanding of men, and which our Lord the dear Son of God, that most excellent light giveth to his followers, will be our portion, whom God hath prepared, according to good and the lot of our inheritance forever; but old Simeon's testimony of him. "Thou hast, this is on condition of our obedience, and says he, prepared him a light to enlighten keeping the commands of God; "If ye love the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people me, keep my commandments," saith the Lord. Israel." A glorious light indeed! Truly, meIf people live in saying, and not in doing, thinks every body should be in love with him. in professing, and confessing, yet still living For my part, he is my chiefest joy. I would in pride and high-mindedness and in sin, it not part with him for all the pomp and vain is apparent they do not love Christ Jesus, glory of the world; neither would I have the according to his own words, neither doth he shining beams and glorious rays, which comjustify them; for it is only the doers that he fort me for well doing, and discover and rewill justify. The apostle John says, "If a prove me for the contrary, clouded from my man says he loves God, and yet hateth his sight and understanding, for the finest gold, brother, he is a liar ;" and by plain Scripture or choicest rubies. Such is my love to Christ, testimony, such are not of God. Moreover, the bridegroom of souls; but by the way, it if he says he loves Christ, yet keepeth not hath cost me many a tear, and many groanhis sayings, he is also a liar, and the truth is ings in my spirit, before I came thus to enjoy not in him, or, Christ is not in him; who said Christ, who is the beloved of all the redeemed. "I am the truth;" and thus man becomes re- May I never give him cause to withdraw himprobate. Paul, writing to the brethren, saith, self from dwelling in me. Oh! the universal "Examine yourselves, whether you be in the love of Christ: it is everlasting to them that faith, prove your ownselves; know ye not are open hearted unto him, and to all that your ownselves, how that Jesus Christ is in will hear his voice, so as to obey it; for, says you, except ye be reprobates?" Which in- he, "I stand at the door and knock," that is dwelling of Christ is a great mystery to many; the door of the heart of man; "if any man although Christ within, which the apostles hear my voice, and open the door, I will come preached, is the hope of the saints' glory. in to him, and will sup with him, and he with And how earnest was Christ in prayer to his me.' And John says, "And we have known Father, that his followers might be one in and believed the love that God hath to us: him, and united together in one. Such is the God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, love of Christ to his church; and what re-dwelleth in God, and God in him." A heamains on the church's part, since Christ has done his part? Surely is, that we love him again; for, saith John, "He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." They that dwell in enmity, are not the children of God, but the children of satan, who always hated the appearance of Christ, the light of the world; and still stirreth up those who are led by his dark spirit, to war against him and his seed in his children, who said, "I am the light of the world." But it is as Christ hath said, "Men love darkness rather than light;" and how strange is it, seeing the one is so glorious, and the other so miserable? The reason is as Christ hath showed, "because their deeds are evil." This is indeed the very cause; for if their venly habitation and glorious dwelling place! Who would not endeavour to dwell in love, and forsake enmity, that they might attain unto such eternal happiness, as to have their abode with the Lord. This fulfilleth the words of Christ: "For he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." How was he to be in them? A comforter for well-doing, that they might have the hope of glory; and a reprover for sin, self-righteousness, and wrong judgment. Indeed it was the great love of God in thus sending his be loved Son, a light into this dark world, to show people their evil deeds, and to condemn sin in the flesh: for he is the sinful world's condemnation, as well as a Saviour and justifier of the righteous and holy believer. The another; for this intent our Lord issued forth Jews of old hated him, and many of them did intend to darken his bright and shining light; but some of the Jews believed on him, and after they came truly to believe on his name, spread his gospel of truth and glad tidings amongst the children of men, and also suffered for his name's sake. It is also said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." But many of those that call themselves by his name, trample upon his light and appearance, and despise the spirit of his grace, which is a swift witness against evil, and lets men see what is good, and what is bad, comforts for the one, and brings judgment and condemnation for the other. I can truly say, I would with my whole heart, that God did dwell a comforter in all, or Christ, or the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, which are all one, but this can never be, while sin remains and has an evil root in mankind. "An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit." By this we may know Christians from anti-christians, and lovers of Christ from them that love him not: if we He that is thus endued with love, is not hinlove him we become subjects to him, subject dered from reproving his brother, but if there to do his will. It is a dignified station to be be a cause, it rather stirs him up to be faithful subjects of the King of heaven, and if we therein, without respect of persons. The love love him unfeignedly, with all our might and that is raised in them that love the Lord mind, and our neighbours as ourselves, and above all, is great to the sons and daughters with the sword of the spirit valiantly encoun- of men: it doth wonderful things; it is valiant ter the devil, then shall we be his subjects, for God; it overcomes its enemies: it is not and Christ will receive us into his war-overcome with evil, but it often overcomes fare, and through him we shall be victorious, for the Lamb and his followers will have the victory. I would press people in love into this warfare, having commission from my Master and Lord, by showing them what anxiety and distress of mind they will procure to themselves, by living in enmity to the Lord and his saints. Oh! my soul, I charge thee, with all those that have any regard to the holy Jesus, obey the commands of the Lord, and love his followers, or thy neighbour as thyself. Let his universal spirit of love to all dwell in thee. evil with good: it smiteth sin in the gate, that is, in its first appearance, before it be entered into man, so as to subject him thereunto; it gets victory over the devil; for he cannot stand before God's love. I would to God that people did but know the virtue of love to Christ, and one another in him; it would cause them, for the enjoyment thereof, to forsake all manner of enmity one against another, and all things else, how near or dear soever; yea, though they were as a right hand or a right eye, they would be forsaken for its sake, and for the sake of him who first the ability of his grace, even the grace or spirit which he told Paul was sufficient for him, to love him again, and our neighbour as ourself; but this cursed self is loved too much and our neighbour too little. I would have all to cast down at his foot-loved us. Then we should strive, through stool, that which they glory in, that is not right in his sight, and do like the poor penitent woman, who lay and wept at his feet. She thought all, little enough to part with to get into his favour. Christ himself was meek and lowly; "Learn of me," said he. All Paul, the apostle of Christ, after his conpower in heaven and earth was given unto version, did not hate his neighbours, nor was him; "Take me, said he, for an example;" he in enmity with them. When he was Saul, when he washed his servants' feet. Seeing he oppressed and injured his nearest neighhis love was so great to them, and is also to us, let us love him again, not with feigned love, but with love that may manifest us to be his followers; and in it let us love one bours and chief friends; for his blind zeal was part of that body of sin and death that was upon him, and from which, by the help of Christ's grace, he was delivered, and came 66 one towards another, and are not so ready to forgive one another their trespasses, as the Almighty is to forgive them: though to forgive one another their trespasses be every Christian's duty, without which we cannot justly expect God to forgive us our trespasses, as Christ taught. Persecution for righteousness sake, also is another branch of that corrupt tree, which never did, and never will bring forth good fruit, but must be cut down by the axe of God's power, which is laid to the root of every corrupt tree, in order to cut it down; and the Lord will burn it with unquenchable fire. It is the true church's lot to be persecuted, but she never persecutes any: for he that is her High Priest for ever, commanded quite the contrary, viz: Love to enemies, and to do good to them that hated them, to pray for them that despitefully used and persecuted them. They were also to rejoice, and to be exceeding glad when all manner of evil was spoken falsely against them for Christ's sake; because great should be their reward in heaven; and Christ observes, that so they persecuted the prophets. to love his enemies, and for their good haz- not, except by report and supposition, which arded his life; and, for his love to Christ, too often lets in enmity, and is not according laid it down, as many holy martyrs have to the mind of Christ, but is a snare of the done since. Surely they had not much regard enemy of man's salvation. Surely if people for self, then! It is a common expression were sensible thereof, they would not so now-a-days, "Every one for himself, and God hardly censure one another; for indeed we for us all;" but if every one were for his ought to be well satisfied before we give judgneighbour or his brother, as much as for ment, and then it ought to be in love, and not himself, God would be more for us all. This in enmity. It is better to suffer, than to cenself-love is an abomination in the sight of the sure; to be judged, than to judge. Judge Lord, and the great eternal God abhors it; not, that ye be not judged," said the Judge of therefore were the first and second command-heaven and earth. But people are too much ments given forth, and if all people would possessed with uncharitableness and revenge obey these, the whole law and the prophets, yea, and the gospel too, would be fulfilled. Self-love is a great enemy to man, and very much hinders his eternal happiness; it shutteth the ear from hearing the cause of the widow and fatherless, or of the needy, and drowns the cry of the oppressed; to which we ought not only to lend an ear, but also to administer relief according to their necessity, and our ability. Mankind are too apt to join with that which is pleasant to the eye, and agreeable to the lust of the heart; like Dives, the rich glutton of old, who loved self better than poor Lazarus, but do not consider that which is lasting, and would do them good forever. How shall I express the excellent glory and eternal sweetness of this love to the Lord and our neighbour? Oh! how is my soul grieved, and how doth my spirit mourn before the Lord, when I see any walk contrary to the commands of Christ, or who are in enmity to the truth, and in hatred one to another, even from my tender years, ever since God Almighty opened my understanding, and made known to me him that is true. And my cry hath been many times to him, to keep and preserve me in his true love and fear, to the end of my days; in love both to him and to the brethren, more especially to those that do his will, although there is universal love in my heart to all. Christ said, "For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Therefore my love is more singly unto those. The apostle also thus writes concerning love to the brethren: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren; he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death." Are they then in death that are at enmity with the brethren? Assuredly they are, for this enmity is sin; "And the wages of sin is death;" and those that are therein, are dead while they live. I wish and heartily pray to the God and Father of spirits, that from the snares of death his people may forever be preserved. Some people are too apt to judge one another, and to speak evil of things they know Many are rebelling against God, and doing despite to the spirit of grace in their own hearts, and trespassing one against another, not living in love, but in enmity against God and one another. The judgment of man is terrible to the rebellious, how much more if men rebel against God, our Saviour, will his judgment be just and dreadful, as he hath not only power to kill the body, but can afterwards cast the soul into hell! Oh! that the sons and daughters of men, would but fear to offend him, the King of eternal glory. Israel of old, his own peculiar people, did fear and tremble before him; even all their host, his presence was so dreadful. And a noble king made a decree, that men should fear and tremble before the living God. Oh! that all would work out their salvation with fear and trembling, according to Scripture testimony, and as people truly love the Lord, they would fear exceedingly to offend him; also if one man did truly love another, |