open meetings, which set me at liberty to was much enlarged by the scholars of Willeave that city, when we again parted, and liam Squire's school, several of whom were afI took meetings at Ulverstone, Thornbury, fected. After a good opportunity with Friends Sadsbury, Dedmartin, Tedbury and at Nails- at Albans, I went to London, where I reworth, when I had an opportunity to ease my mained seven weeks and three days, visiting mind, which was heavily oppressed on account the meetings, and felt much of the weight and of the formal professors of truth, also to the burden of the service before me there, and in comfort of the faithful, which was cause of the opening and authority of truth, I had to thankfulness. speak to the present state of our Society, not only to the instruction of the seeking children and comforting of the mourners; but also by way of rebuke to the disorderly, and close warning to the rebellious.

Calling to visit the widow Fowler who was in affliction, I went to meetings at Plainswick, Gloucester, Ross in Herefordshire, Almerly, Leominster, and Upham; where I visited the wives of the two Friends who are imprisoned During my continuance here I felt my mind at Shrewsbury for their testimony against drawn towards Wiltshire, and thought of attithes. Returning to Leominster, I attended tending the quarterly meeting there; but on the monthly meeting there, in which truth the day I expected to set forward, found a stop owned us, and taking a meeting at Brooms- in my mind; though not relieved from a solid grove went to Worcester, and on first-day concern, which engaged me to inquire sewas at two comfortable meetings, and another on third-day, and the next day attended the quarterly meeting, which was a precious time, wherein Friends were comforted. Finding a concern on my mind I went into the women's meeting, wherein the power of truth accompanied, which is the crown of our religious meetings; here is a tender seed, which will thrive if the Divine power is kept unto.

Being clear of this city, I departed with peace to meetings at Tewksbury, Cheltenham, and again to Nailsworth, where I was at two meetings, in which though hard, I had an evidence that the Lord had not forsaken his seeking people. After attending a conference with several Friends endeavouring to compose a difference, which ended to satisfaction, I proceeded to the quarterly meeting for Gloucestershire, held at Tedbury. Divine goodness and a good degree of the authority of truth attending in the time of worship, and in transacting the affairs of the church.

Next day I went to Cirencester, where I had a hard and dull meeting, the professors of truth having too much departed from the savour thereof; at another in the evening I had an evidence of having discharged my duty. Then proceeded to meetings at Farringdon in Berkshire, Litchfield, Burford in Oxfordshire, Milton, Stow in Gloucestershire, ChippingNorton, Charlbury, Witney, Abingdon, Warbury, North End, and from thence to High Wiccomb, where the weather being very cold I tarried six days, visiting several families of sick Friends, and the last public meeting being in the evening, which many of the town's people attended, and it was a solid opportunity. From thence I went to Amersham, though with difficulty on account of the snow, and on first-day had a meeting at Chesham; then to Hampstead, and had a meeting, which

cretly what I should do. Notwithstanding this concern to Wiltshire, my burden respecting London seemed rather to increase; but as I kept quiet, I found my heart warmed in love and my mind opened, to write an Epistle to to that quarterly meeting, which with thankfulness I esteemed a great favour from my good Master, being in a poor state of health, the weather unfavourable, and the journey long. In the opening of truth, I wrote as followeth.

TO FRIENDS In Wiltshire.

Having had strong desires in my mind for your welfare in the truth, I purposed to attend your quarterly meeting, but being let at this time, and not knowing that I shall ever have an opportunity to see you, I feel a freedom to visit you with a few lines in the opening and love of truth, which flows to you ward.

Dear friends, old and young, as many of you as are desirous to be called the children of God and followers of Christ Jesus, be humble, that you may be taught of him; for it is the humble he teaches of his ways; and be ye meek and low in heart, that you may serve him in your generation and one another in his pure fear, so you will know him for your rest, and his peace your quiet habitation.

My soul hath mourned, and is in some degree covered therewith at this time, under a sense that the love of the world, and its pleasures and delights, abound in too many, which are iniquity, and because thereof the love of many towards God waxeth cold. For want of witnessing the love of God in a pure heart, the mind becomes lukewarm, and indifferent about the things which belong to our peace and future happines; and so fathers and mothers, masters and mistresses, become dull, if not dead to that holy concern, which should

excite them, both by example and precept, to instruct and train up their children and servants in godliness of life and conversation.

Oh dear friends! search your hearts, and diligently inquire whether something hath not subtilly crept in and stolen away your affections from God; and the deep attention of your minds from the instructions of his holy Spirit of truth. If this becomes your concern, I fully believe the Lord will bless you with enlightened minds to see, and willing hearts to give up all to the fire and sword of his Word and Spirit, that your hearts may be purged, and made temples in which he would take delight to dwell. If the soul is chaste in love to God, and the eye of the mind single to the instruction of the Spirit of Truth, the whole body will be full of light. It is here that the children of God are preserved safe in their steps before the Lord, and free from giving occasion of stumbling to others.

have lost ground, for want of speaking truth to their neighbours; and the infection of pride, libertinism, and earthly mindedness has spread and prevailed, even to the hurt of some families who were once exceedingly grieved therewith.

Wherefore my dear friends, fear God with a perfect heart, and in his light watch over your own selves and your families. So shall your hearts be warmly influenced and filled with holy zeal and love to God and his truth; in which you will be bold to act in your meetings for discipline, and in the power of God, which is the authority of the church, you will be able to judge those who walk disorderly; and being faithful therein, you will remove the stumbling blocks, and roll away the reproach which is imputed to the church.

London, 4th of the Fourth month, 1754. Let this be read in your men's and women's meetings.

The Lord would feed these faithful labourers with his heavenly bread, and honour them with his life giving presence, and whether the I am fully persuaded there is a remnant disorderly would hear or forbear, the Lord amongst you, who feelingly know, that the liv-would be the shield and exceeding great reing sense of the presence and power of God, ward of his people, and fill their hearts with in your meetings both for worship and disci- praise to his name, who is worthy forever and pline, is not plentifully enjoyed, but is at a low ever. ebb. And it is in my mind to let you know JOHN CHURCHMAN. what has appeared to me to be one great reason of it, viz. There are many professors of the truth amongst you, who delight to be accounted Friends in esteem in the Society; who have a smooth snd fawning behaviour, and flattering tongues, and do seek the love and friendship of such as are Friends of truth, for their own honour and credit, and the reputation of self. Dear friends of such beware, for their frendship is poison, and their intimate fellowship, if cleaved unto, is benumbing, even to insensibility. And for want of a clear discovery of that spirit, some of the tender and sincere hearted amongst you have suffered.

In whomsoever earthly mindedness prevails, or the love of the world and its friendship; there is a secret giving way to, and a gradual reconciliation with its sordid practices; and the eye that once saw in the true light, becomes closed or dimmed, if not wholly blinded by the god of this world.

In my travelling to the meetings in Wiltshire, and attending the quarterly meeting in the seventh month, 1750, I was straitened to clear myself towards them, which occasioned me to leave them in pain of mind, but now having sent them this epistle I was made easy, believing they would read it, and send copies thereof to their several monthly meetings, which would be likely to be heard by more Friends than if my concern had been delivered in the quarterly meeting only. Enclosing it to an innocent Friend at Chippenham, I desired him to deliver it to the said meeting, which I afterwards understood he did, and that Friends had answered my request.

Feeling my mind easy to leave London for a while, I went to Esher, in Surry; was the next day at a large meeting at Kingston, on Thames, which was pretty open as to doctrine, and the people seemed attentive, and several much tendered; there are but few Friends here.

Liberty is then taken by parents, and indulgence is given to their children; which occasion pain and distress of heart to those who have not lost their sight and feeling. But some, for fear of being rebuked and disesteemed by such who have a sense of them, will court their affections; with which bait they have been taken, and so have been afraid I then visited other meetings in Hampshire to speak their minds plainly, lest they should and Berkshire, being made thankful to the offend, or drive them further from the Society; great Author of all good, who had been with concluding there is a tender thing in them, me in the journey under my indisposition of because they seem to love Friends. Thus body. Coming to London I met with many many who might have made great progress Friends from different parts of the nation,

assembled in order to attend the yearly meet- fessors. I went to Gosport, in Hampshire, ing, which began on the 2nd day of the sixth where we had a meeting; also one in the month, and continued ten days, being a very evening at Portsmouth, John Griffith and large and in the main a solid meeting. Many Jeremiah Waring being with me; then going weighty affairs relating to our religious So- to Cowes, on the isle of Wight, had a good ciety were therein considered, and it was meeting at Newport, likewise one in the evenagreed, that in future this meeting should ing with the town's people. After another begin with a meeting of ministers and elders, opportunity with Friends, returned to Cowes, on the seventh-day of the week, at the third where I had a meeting with a few of our brehour in the afternoon, that inquiry might be thren, and on first-day the 21st of the seventh made into the state of the ministry in general, month, attended two meetings at Pool, in Dorwhich I hope may be attended with good ser- setshire, which were dull and laborious; a vice hereafter. worldly libertine spirit has brought a blast on many. Next day we had a meeting with a few Friends at Weymouth, and then at Bridport; truth seems at a low ebb in Dorsetshire. The next meeting was at Ringwood, in Hampshire, which was dull; where the life of truth is not abode in, people will wither. The same evening we had a meeting to pretty good satisfaction at Fordingbridge, and one at Alton; at which place we had another very satisfac tory meeting on first-day, and that evening at Godalming; and taking a few others, I came to London for the last time, and spent eight days more with Friends in that city. On my coming here from Albans, on the 19th of the third month before mentioned, I felt great fear to possess my mind, having before spent about thirteen weeks in that city, mostly under a close exercise of spirit, without an openness to say much in public or private to obtain relief; so that to go thither again appeared to me like entering into a cloud, although I was secretly bound in spirit to proceed. But attending all the meetings as they came in course, I felt a gradual openness and strength to declare those things, which before had been sealed up, being now made sensible that every opening or vision, which the Lord is pleased to manifest to his servants, is not for immediate utterance. The Lord who gives judgment, should be carefully waited upon, who only can show, by the manifestation of his heavenly light, the time when, and by the gentle putting forth of his arm of power, give ability in the opening of his spirit, which giveth tongue and utterance to speak the word of truth in the demonstration of the spirit and power, that openeth a door of entrance in the hearts of them who hear. Our dear Lord said, "For it is not ye that speak; but the Spirit of your Father, which speaketh in you."

On the 11th of the sixth month after the parting meeting, I went from London and attended a yearly meeting in Hertford, which was very large. The next day I accompanied several Friends who were appointed to visit a monthly meeting, the members of which paid tithes and contended for liberty so to do without censure. We had a conference with them, in which the testimony of truth was set over them, and they were taken and confounded in their own arguments. After this I attended a general or yearly meeting at Baldock, which was very large and satisfactory, returning next morning to London. I was truly thankful that I had been enabled to attend these three meetings, enjoying great peace in my labours there, which lay heavy upon me; my gracious and good Master gave me wisdom, boldness and strength to clear myself in the love and power of truth, to the tendering of many hearts; may I ever remember his mercies to me, and be enabled to bless and praise his holy name, who is worthy for ever! Continuing in and near London about ten days, I then went to a large satisfactory meeting at Rochester, in Kent, where were several clergymen, who behaved well. Next day had a meeting at Loos, in the house of Thomas Crisp, with a few Friends and others; then going to my friend William Patterson's, at Canterbury, I was at their meeting in that town, and the day following had one on the isle of Thanet, where there are a few friendly people. The meeting next day at Dover was pretty open; on first-day I was at two meetings at Folkstone, which were dull and heavy, though there are many Friends in that place, amongst whom I was favoured with strength to ease my mind.

I then visited a number of meetings and came to Chichester, when finding a concern to visit the families of Friends in this city, I spent two days in the service and had some close exercise, though a good degree of peace. I also attended their two meetings on first-day, which were heavy and laborious; for though here are some tender people, yet the spirit of the world has brought a blast on several pro

As my service opened and strength increased, I was invited by some to their houses, who before looked on me with indifference; but now said they should be glad to see me there to be more acquainted. I felt on my first arrival in this city, a secret prohibition from going much from house to house without inward leave, and the same restraint continued

with me, lest by going to such places I might eighth month and sixth of the week, after a somewhat contradict, by example, the precepts solid meeting at Grace-church street, I felt which truth had directed me to deliver in pub-myself at liberty to set my face homewards. lic, to wit: a life of self-denial and temperance The ship in which I came over, and the same in eating and drinking, with a steady inward captain, Stephen Mesnard, being now ready attention to the teachings of the Spirit of grace, to go for Philadelphia, I went that night to in order to know an establishment of heart Gravesend, accompanied by about twelve thereby, as being the certain duty of every Friends. Next morning we went on board follower of Christ Jesus our Lord. I think I the ship, where we had a precious uniting have seen that there is great need to be ex-time, and then returned on shore to dine; ceedingly careful, when the Lord is pleased after which my friend, Samuel Fothergill and to reach unto and convict disorderly walkers nyself, taking leave of our friends, went on by instrumental means, that we do not lessen board again and passed down the Thames to the weight of Divine reproof, by being famil- Margaret bay, near the isle of Thanet. On iar with such, as if all was well; for they are first-day, the 11th, we went to the Downs, by apt to be fond of the instrument through Deal, and though very much indisposed in whom they have been reached; and if by body, I enjoyed such quietude of mind, that I their fondling, they gain the esteem of such was borne up and preserved from repining. a Friend, it seems to heal them before their Samuel Fothergill, before mentioned, came wounds are searched to the bottom; so that I over with me on a religious visit to Friends rather chose retirement, and to live as pri- in America; and during our passage, great vately as I well could. I also saw, that if I nearness was between us; we held meetings had sought many acquaintance, and thereby constantly on the first and fifth days of the beheld the conduct and behaviour of some in week, and landed near Wilmington, in New their families, my way would not have been Castle county, on Delaware, on the 24th of so open as it now was. the ninth month, 1754, in the forenoon. My brother, William Brown, with our friend Joshua Dixon, from the county of Durham, in Great Britain, who was coming over also on a religious visit to Friends in these colonies, having embarked in another ship, which sailed some time before us, arrived on the same day, and quite unexpectedly to each other we met in this town to our mutual joy and satisfaction; from whence after dining, they with Samuel Fothergill, proceeded up to Philadelphia, and I went home that evening, where I found a kind reception. In this visit I was absent from home four years and twelve days, hav. ing travelled by land about nine thousand one hundred miles, and attended about one thousand meetings, besides those in London and Dublin, in which cities I spent nearly half a year, and visited all the families of Friends in North and South Holland.

In many meetings the love and power of truth was felt by the humble dependent children, whose eyes were fixed on their heavenly Helper, and at some of the last in London, I had with an innocent boldness to appeal to Friends to bear witness of the manner in which I had spent my time in that city; that I had not sought to be popular, nor endeavoured to gain the praise of any, or the friendship of those who were not the real Friends of truth, keeping in a good degree under the innocency and simplicity thereof. Though with a near affection I felt my spirit united to the children of the heavenly family amongst them; I had never sought to steal their love from the great Parent to whom they did belong; my prayer and heart's desire having been, that their abode might be in the truth, and their affections placed on God, and the whole delight of their hearts to meditate in his holy law. If through me as an instrument they had received any benefit, the praise belonged to the Lord, the only Supreme good; and if in future they did but love, fear and serve him, it was little to me whether they remembered that I had been amongst them. Nevertheless a participation of the love of God by the members of the true church, has taught them to know the communion of saints and the deeply engraven unity of the one spirit, which makes them as epistles written in one another's hearts, which time or distance

can never erase.

Having spent first and last in London about twenty-three weeks, on the 9th day of the VOL. VI.-No. 6.

some account of the calamities of the Indian war in Pennsylvania.-An account of the yearly meeting in Philadelphia the same year. -A relation of a visit of Peter Gardiner to Friends in Scotland.-A brief account of an Indian treaty at Easton, in 1757.-Some sentences expressed in two of his public testi

opportunities, many of which were held in silence. I often saw it to be a time of renewed visitation to many, which if not carefully improved, would not be continued very long; but that a more trying season would overtake us, of which I was sometimes led to speak as truth opened, wherein the door of outward ministry would be more closed up, which would prove the religion of the professors of truth, and manifest what they attended meetOUR yearly meeting for worship at Not-ings for, whether to wait upon God for the tingham, was held in the week after I landed, spiritual bread, or on man for outward minand I was greatly rejoiced to see many of my friends and acquaintance there.

monies.

In the eleventh month following I went up to the quarterly meeting in Philadelphia, and returned to ours at Concord, where also was Samuel Fothergill. It was a very large meeting, in which he was divinely opened in speaking to the state of Friends in his public ministry, and serviceable in the discipline; he also attended our general meeting in the same month at London-grove, which was large and profitable; then went towards Lancaster, on his way to the Southern provinces.

I spent this winter mostly at and near home, at times attending some neighbouring meetings, until towards the spring, when I took a small journey to seven or eight others.

During my late travels in Europe, beholding the declension of many of the professors of truth from the ancient simplicity in habit and deportment, I sometimes was ready to cry out and say, O Pennsylvania! may thine inhabitants be for ever strangers to the vanities of the world, and the professors of truth keep their garments clean from the spots thereof, pride and superfluity of every kind; but now with sorrow of heart, I thought I beheld many of the youth in our Society taking their flight as into the air, where the snares of the prince of the power thereof are laid to catch them; some of whom are already much ensnared to their unspeakable hurt, and their demeanour and habit being exceedingly altered in a little more than four years; yet to my comfort I saw a few, who by walking in the light, had escaped the wiles of satan and were growing in the truth.

istry.

In the ninth month I attended our yearly meeting in Philadelphia, which was large and solid, wherein many weighty matters under consideration, were concluded to satisfaction; and many Friends parted in a feeling sense of the overshadowing of the Heavenly wing, with reverent thankfulness of heart.

In the tenth month I attended Shrewsbury quarterly meeting in East Jersey, at which also were our friends John Evans and Joseph White. It was large, the sittings thereof being favoured with a degree of the Divine presence. We also attended the monthly meeting there and had some service; Friends were encouraged to deal with such who were disorderly in conduct, there having been some slackness among them in that respect.

As the sound of war and public commotions had now entered the borders of these heretofore peaceful provinces, some solid thoughts attended my mind at Shrewsbury, respecting the nature of giving money for the king's use, knowing the same to be intended for the carrying on of war. John Evans accompanying me homewards, we took three meetings in our way, the last being at Evesham; at which place I told him I felt an engagement of mind to go to Philadelphia, and he consented to go with me. When we came to the city the assembly of Pennsylvania was sitting, and we understood that a committee of the house was appointed to prepare a bill for granting a sum of money for the king's use, to be issued in paper bills of credit, to be called in and sunk at a stated time by a tax on the inhabitants; on which account several Friends were under In the fourth month, 1755, I attended the a close exercise of mind, some of whom being general annual meeting at Duck creek, also providentially together, and conferring on the meetings at Little creek and George's creek, subject, concluded it was expedient to request the last of which was more open than I ex- a conference with those members of the house pected, several of other societies being there, who were of our religious profession. On who behaved orderly. I spent most of the applying to the speaker, who was one himself, summer at home, diligently attending our we obtained an opportunity of conversing with meetings for worship and discipline, and had them; after which we believed that an address to observe that the greater part of the mem- to the assembly would be necessary; but we bers of our meeting, were for some time re- then being only few in number, consulted with markable in their care to come together near several weighty Friends thereon; at length the hour appointed, and we had some precious upwards of twenty met together, who after