IN the Year 1653. it pleased the Lord in his Love and Mercy to send his faithful Servant George Fox, with others of his faithful Servants and Messengers of the Gospel of Peace and Glad-tidings, whom he furnished with the eternal power of his Word, in the wisdom and power of which he proclaimed the Day of the Lord unto us, in this County of Cumberland, and the Northern Parts of England, and discovered the right Path of Life unto thousands that was in Error, seeking the Lord, but knew not where to find him, nor how to come acquainted with him, although he was not far from us: But this blessed man G. F. one of a thousand may many say, and chosen before many thousands, was sent amongst us, in the power of the most High, filled with the strength of his Word, in the wisdom whereof he directed thousands unto the Light and Appearance of Christ Jesus their Saviour in their own hearts, that he might come to know him, and the Glory of the Father through him, in his Appearance, and so come to believe in him, with the Heart and with the Mouth confess him unto Salvation; and blessed be the Lord and the Day of Mercy in which he visited; he was pleased to make his Labour of Love effectual unto thousands, in which he sent his Servants to labour, amongst whom it pleased the Lord to grant me that favour to keep a share of the benefit of this blessed Visitation, whereby I came to be informed concerning the right way of the Lord, and directed unto the true Light, which the Apostle was sent to turn People unto in his Day, and so from the Darkness and from the Power of Satan unto God and his blessed Power, which in my waiting in the Light I received; through which deep Judgment did spring in my Soul, and great Affliction did grow in my Heart, by which I was brought into great Tribulation and Sorrow, such as I had never known before in all my Profession of Religion, so that I might say in Spirit, it was the Day of Iacob's Trouble, for the God of Heaven, by the Light of his blessed Son which he had lighted me withal, which shined in my heart, let me see the body of Death and power of Sin which reigned in me, and brought me to feel the Guilt of it upon my Conscience, so that I could say he made me even as it were to possess the sins of my Youth, and for all my high profession of an Imputative Righteousness, and that though I lived in the act of sin, the guilt of it should not be charged upon me, but imputed it to Christ, and his Righteousness imputed to me. I found it otherwise when I was turned unto the Light, which did manifest all reproved things; then I came to see that the guilt remained while the body of death remained, and through the power thereof was led into the act of sin; then I saw there was need of a Saviour to save from sin, as well as the Blood of a Sacrificed Christ to blot out Sin, or Faith in his Name for the remission of Sins past; then began the warfare of true striving to enter the Kingdom, then Paul's state seen, to will was present, but to do many times power was wanting; then was that cry known, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death! and free from the prevailing power of the Law which remained in the Members, warring against the Law of my Mind, which brought into Captivity to the Law of Sin; then, when this War was truly begun, all my high conceit in my invented Notional Faith, and my pretence and hopes of Justification thereby was overthrown; so that all that I had builded for several years in my Profession, after the days of my Youth, in which tender stirrings was in me, after acquaintance with the Lord, and the knowledge of him, and peace with him, was seen to be but a Babel-Tower, which God brought Confusion upon, and so that which could never be perfected to reach to Heaven, being out of the Faith of his Covenant, and that which never could bring truly to trust in his Word, and rely thereupon, but led out into the Invention, willing and self-acting, though another thing talked of; and then seeing all my Works confounded by the visitations of God, and by the springing of the day from on high which discovered things as they were, seeing them all end at Babel, and the God of Heaven bringing Confusion upon them, I was amazed, and fear beset me on every side, and I began sometimes to fear I was undone for ever, for that had entred my heart that had turned the fruitful Field into a Wilderness, and made that, which I thought had been as the Garden of Eden, a Forest, and so the Day of God discovered all to be Desolation, Driness, and a Heath, and so brought my Soul to a deep Lamentation, to the beginning of such Sorrows as had never been known by me before; then did I lament and bewail my self many a time, and wish my self in a Wilderness, where I might neither meet with Temptation nor Provocation from without, my weakness was such to withstand in my spirit, for all my Notion I had to talk of my Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ being but my own, which by his Spirit I had no seal for, and so but a Presumption, I saw clearly it was my own Invention, and so but like Adam's Fig-leave Apron, in which he could not abide God's coming; O the wo that overtook me! O the distress that seized! O the horrour and terrour that sprung in my Bosom! O the poverty and want that my Soul saw it self in through the springings of the discovering Light, towards which the Eye thereof was turned. And as this Light did spring, which the Apostle of old had wrote of, it manifested all things, not only the want that I was in, but also the reproved things, and then sin became exceeding sinful, and the load and burthen of it became exceeding grievous, and all the pleasure of it was taken away from me, and many more in that day, and then we began to mourn after a Saviour, and look for a Deliverer, and cry for a Helper, and a Healer, for the day of the Lord that made desolate, had overtaken us, and the Fire and Sword that Christ brings upon the Earth, by which he takes away Peace, had reached unto us, and yet we knew not from whence it came, though the Burning and the Judgment thereby was begun, by which the Filth was to be taken away.

And now in this Distress deep was our Groanings and our Cries unto the Lord which reached unto him, and he was pleased to hear, and shew mercy; for we often assembled together, as the Lord's Messengers, whom he sent amongst us, had exorted us, and minded the Light of Christ in our Hearts, and what that discovered, and in our spirits, through its assistance, warred and watched against the evil seen therein, and according to that understanding received, waited therein upon the Lord, to see what he would further manifest, with a holy Resolution to obey his will, so far as we were able, whatsoever it cost us; for this I know was the Condition of many in that day; we valued not the World, nor any Glory nor Pleasure therein, in comparison of our Souls redemption out of that state and freedom, from that horrour and terrour, under the Indignation of the Lord, we were in because of the guilt of sin that was upon us; and so being given up to bear the Indignation of the Lord, because we had sinned, we endeavoured to wait till the Indignation would be over, and the Lord in mercy would blot out the guilt which remained that occasioned wrath, and sprinkle our Hearts from an evil Conscience, and wash us with pure water, that we might draw near with a true Heart, in a full assurance of Faith, as the Christians of old did, Hebr. 10. 22. but alas we had not boldness, for the living Faith was wanting, and a true heart we had not to draw near with, and therefore could not have full assurance, but was compassed with fears, horrours, and amazements, and yet came to know that there was no other way, but to dwell in these Judgments, and wait in the way thereof, understanding that we must be redeemed with Judgment, for as was said of Zion, Isaiah 1. 27. and so waiting therein, we began to learn Righteousness, and strongly to desire to walk therein, and could no longer be satisfied with a talk thereof; and thus waiting for, and seeking after the Lord (though greatly ignorant of him) in a deep sense of our own unworthiness and unpreparedness to meet him, because of the polution of our Hearts, which was seen by his Light that did shine therein, we were still bowed down in spirit, and afflicted and tossed in Soul, and not comforted, and our Hearts unstable, like waters, and the waves going over our Heads, and our Souls in jeopardy every moment, and our Faith so little, we were ready to sink, like Peter, often crying out in the danger; and in that Distress and vail of Tears we walked through; our Hearts became quite dead to the World, and all its Pleasure and Glory, and also to all our former dead Profession, for we saw there was no Life in it, nor Help nor Salvation from it, though some of us had tried it throughly; we saw it was in vain to look to such Hills or Mountains for Salvation; and then when we began to forsake all on both hands, as seeing the Emptiness of all, both the Glory, Vanity, and Pleasure of the World, and the dead Image of Profession, which we had set up in our Imaginations and Inventions, and worshipped with our unprepared Hearts and unsanctified Spirits, being Slaves and Captives to Sin, as all must needs be that obeys it in the Lust thereof, according to Romans the 6th and 16. I say, when we had thus through the sight and sense of the unsufficiency of all (we either had or could do) to give ease, help, or salvation, denied all, and as we had been directed, turned our Minds unto the Light of Christ shining in our Hearts, and believed therein, according to Christ's command, Iohn 12. 36. and so met together to wait upon the Lord therein. Then began the Prophane to mock, scoff, and abuse us, and our very Relations, and old Familiars, to be strange to us, and offended at us, and did hate us, and began to speak evil of us, and did think it strange that we would not run with them to the former excess of Riot, as it was of old, 1 Pet. 4. 4. And also the Professor, even such as we had formerly walked in fellowship with in our lifeless Profession, began to reproach us and vilifie us, and speak evil against us, and charge us with Errour and Schism, and departing from the Faith; and also began to reproach the Light of Christ, as natural and unsufficient, and a false Light, and false Guide. And thus Christ, in his Spiritual Appearance was reproached, vilified, slighted, and undervalued, and set at nought by the Carnal Professors of Christianity, as he was in his Appearance in the Flesh by the Jews, the Carnal Professors of the Law, who saw not through the Vail unto the end. And in this our weak state were we beset on every hand, and greatly distressed, tossed, and afflicted, as poor Israel was when the Sea was before them, and the Egyptians behind, and their hope so little that they looked for nothing but death, and said to Moses, Because there were no Graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to dye in the Wilderness, &c. Exod. 14. 11. Thus through many Tribulations must the Kingdom be entred by all that strives rightly to enter, according to Christ's command, Luke 13. 24.

And when we were thus in our deep fears, and our Minds not well acquainted with either right striving, out of self, in the light and seed of Life that doth prevail and give the entrance, or true waiting or standing still out of our own thoughts, willings, and runnings which doth not obtain, the Lord sent his Servants (who had learned of him) to direct us in what to wait, and how to stand still out of our own thoughts and self-strivings in the Light that did discover, who often did exhort us to abide and dwell in the Judgment that we received therein, and by them as we had been turned to the Light, so was our Understandings informed, and we got to some degree of staidness in our Minds, which before had been as the troubled Sea, and a hope began to appear in us, and we met together often, and waited to see the Salvation of God, (which we had heard of) that he would work by his own power. And after we had met together for some time, as we had seasons and opportunities, and also sought the Lord with travelling Spirits both night and day, when we were at our Callings, and upon our Beds, (for we could not cease, our Souls were so afflicted) being in our Assemblies exercised in the living Judgment that sprung in the Light in our Souls, and looking for the Salvation of God, the wonderful Power from on High was revealed amongst us, and many Hearts reached therewith, and broken, and melted, before the God of the whole Earth, and great dread and trembling fell upon many, and the very Chains of Death was broken thereby, the Bonds loosed, and many Souls eased and set at liberty, and the Prisoners of hope began to come forth, and they that had sitten in darkness to shew themselves, and the Promises of the Lord came to be fulfilled unto many, spoken of by Isaiah the Prophet, Isa. 49. 9. and Isa. 42. 7. and 61. 23. and some taste of the Oyl of Joy came to be witnessed, and a heavenly Gladness entered the Hearts of many, who in the Joy of their Souls broke forth in Praises unto the Lord, so that the Tongue of the Dumb, which Christ the healer of our Infirmities did unloose, began to speak and utter the wonderful things of God, and great was the Dread and Glory of that Power, that one Meeting after another was graciously and richly manifested amongst us, to the breaking, tendering, and melting of our Hearts, Souls, and Spirits before the Lord; then our Hearts began to delight in the Lord, and in his way that he had cast up, and with great servency and zeal; then we began to seek after him, and to meet oftner together than before, our Hearts being so affected with the presence of that blessed Power that daily broke forth amongst us in our Meetings, through which we were greatly comforted, strengthened and edified; for it was that same Comforter our blessed Lord promised he would pray the Father for, and which the Father should send, Iohn 14. 16, and 26.

And then this being come and received, did teach us to know the Father and the Son; and as we came into Acquaintance with it, and into the Unity of it, we came to be taught by it, and so taught of the Lord, according to that New Covenant promise, They shall be all taught of the Lord, Isa. 54. 13. Iohn 6. 4, 5. Then was our Hearts inclined to hearken unto the Lord, and our Ears, which he had opened to hear, was bent to hear what the Spirit's Teaching was, and what he said unto the Church, who was the chief Shepherd and Bishop of the Soul. And thus were we gathered into a right Gospel Exercise, and Gospel Worship by him, and through whose Name we had received Remission of Sins past, and whose Blood had sprinkled our Hearts from an evil Conscience, and who gave the pure Water that washed and made clean; so that with true Hearts many began to draw nigh unto God in the full assurance of Faith, as the ancient Saints did, and was accepted, and had access by that one Spirit, by which we came to be baptized in one Body, and so came to drink into one Spirit, and was refreshed, and greatly comforted, and grew up together in the Mystery of the Gospel fellowship, and so worshipped God, who is a Spirit, in the Spirit received from him, which is the Gospel Worship, according to Christ's appointment, Iohn 4. 24. And then we came to see over all the Worships in the World, which were set up either by Imitation, or man's Invention, and saw it to be in vain to worship God, and teach for Doctrines the Commandments of men, as our Lord had said, Matth. 15. 9. and therefore were we constrained to withdraw from them, and also many of us to go and bear witness against them in their invented and traditional Worships, where they were ignorant of the Life and Power of God.

And thus being gathered by the Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls, we became his Sheep, and did learn to know his Voice, and to follow him, and he gave unto us Eternal Life, and manifested the Riches of his Grace in our Hearts, by which we were saved through Faith, and delivered from that wrath, fear, and terrour, which had been so weighty upon our Souls, and in measure from the power of that Death that had reigned, and made us miserable and wretched, and came to partake of that Life wherein the blessedness doth consist; and so then the Lord becoming our Shepherd, he taught us, and led us forth into green Pastures, where we did feed and rest together with great delight. O the Joy, the Pleasure, and the great Delight that our Hearts was overcome with many times in our reverent and holy Assemblies! how was our Hearts melted as Wax, and our Souls poured out as Water before the Lord, and our Spirits as Oyl, Frankincense, and Myrrhe offered up unto the Lord as sweet Incense, when not a word outwardly in all our Assembly has been uttered! And then did the Lord delight to come down into his Garden, and walk in the midst of the Beds of Spices, and he caused the North-wind to awake, and the South-wind to blow upon his Garden, and the pleasant Showers to descend, for the refreshing of his tender Plants, that they might grow still more and more. And now unto them that had known the Night of Sorrow, was the joyful Morning come, according to that ancient experience of David, Psal. 30. 5. and such as had been in the foregoing deep Afflictions, Tossings, and Distresses, came to witness the fulfilling of that great Gospel Promise; O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted; behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphires; and I will make thy windows of Agates, and thy gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant Stones, and all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy Children; In righteousness shalt thou be established, thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terrour, for it shall not come near thee, Isa. 54. 11, 12, 13, 14.

Thus then came we by him to be gathered into Covenant with God, and to witness the fulfilling of the Promises of God, in whom all the Promises are Yea and Amen, and so come to sit together in heavenly places in him, and so come to feed upon the heavenly food the Bread of Life, that came down from Heaven, which Christ the heavenly Shepherd did give unto us, who had gathered us from amongst the Shepherds that fed themselves with Temporal Things from the Flock, but knew not how to feed the Flock with Spiritual Food, for they had it not. And now we coming to be acquainted with the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ in our Hearts, became great Lovers of it, and Delighters in the Enjoyment thereof, having already counted all things but as Dross and Dung in comparison of the Excellency that we saw therein, and therefore was willing to suffer the loss of all that we might win him, as it was with the Apostle of old; and blessed be the Lord, many obtained their desire; they found their Beloved, met with their Saviour, witnessed his Saving health by which their Souls was healed, and so became his Flock and Family, or Houshold of Faith.

And thus then, as his Children and blessed Family, we still did continue to meet together twice in the Week, or oftner, and in his Name and holy Fear, being gathered together, his Promise we did witness, according to Matth. 18. 20. he was in the midst of us, and did honour our Assemblies with his heavenly Power and Presence; and that was our great delight; and the sweetness of it did wonderfully engage our Souls to love him, and our Hearts to wait upon him; for we did find the ancient experience of the Church true, as testified in the Scripture, because of the savour of thy good Ointments, thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee.

And growing thus into this Experience of the Goodness of the Lord, and of the Sweetness, Glory, and Excellency of his Power in our Assemblies, we grew in Strength and Zeal for our Meetings more and more, and valued the benefit thereof more than any worldly Gain; yea, it was unto some more then our appointed Food: And thus continuing, we grew more and more into an understanding of Divine Things and Heavenly Mysteries, through the Openings of the Power that was daily amongst us, and wrought sweetly in our Hearts, which still united us more and more unto God, and knit us together in the perfect Bond of Love, of Fellowship and Membership, so that we became a Body compact, made up of many Members, whereof Christ himself became the Head, who was with us, and did rule over us, and so further gave Gifts unto us, by which we still came to be enlarged, and further opened, that we might answer the end for which he had raised us up, and so far blessed us, and sanctified us through his Word that dwelt in our Souls; and so we keeping still in our Zeal, and unto our first Love, and keeping our Meetings, and not forsaking the assembling our selves together, as the manner of some was of old, whose Example the Apostle exhorted the Saints not to follow, the Lord's Power still continued with us, and was renewed daily in our Meetings, by the Openings of which, our Understandings was still more enlarged into the Mysteries of Life and hidden things of God, so that many through the favour of God, grew in their Gifts, and had their Mouths opened, and so became Instruments in the Lord's hand to bear witness unto the World of the Day of the Lord that was broken forth again, even of the great and notable Day that Ioel had prophesied of, and Peter bore witness unto; and also they were sent to bear witness against the World, and its evil Deeds, with all the false Religions with which Mankind had covered themselves withal in the Darkness and Apostasie which had spread over them, and now was seen and discovered by the Light and Day of God.

And thus the Truth grew, and the Faithful in it, and many was turned unto God, and his Name, and Fame, and Glory, and Power spread abroad, and the Enemies Work and Kingdom was discovered, and struck at by the Lamb and his Followers, which made him begin to rage, and stir up his Instruments to oppose the Lord's Work, and with all subtilty to hinder People from following the Lamb, or believing in his Light; and so with Pen, and Tongue, and Hands also, the Beast and his Followers began to war, and to whipping, and scourging, and prisoning, and spoiling of Goods, with reproaching, belying, and slandering the way of Truth, and all that they could do to hinder the Exaltation of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, blaspheming his Light and his Power, calling his Light natural, insufficient, false Guide, with many reproachful Names, and calling his Power Diabolical, and the operation and blessed work of it, which was both to the renewing of the Spirit of the Mind, and also to the reformation of the Conversation from Debauchery, Wickedness, Unrighteousness, and Witchcraft, even like them of old, who said Christ cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince thereof. But by this time, they that kept faithful to the Lord, and his Light and Spirit in their Hearts, who had come forth through the deep Tribulation, as before related, was confirmed, setled, and satisfied, and in the Life that was manifested established, in which they saw over Death, and all mens profession in it, and where they were, and what they sed upon, that cried out so against the Light and Power of Christ, that was thus with us, and wrought thus in us in our Meetings, and how they were but mocking at the same that those mocked at, spoken of in the second of the Acts, when they thought the Apostles were full of new Wine, and so drunk; for the high Professors of our days being ignorant of the Holy Ghost, through their resisting of it, blasphemed the Life and Power, and in the Death at the best did but feed upon the Tree of Knowledge. For this I still right-well remember, that in my waiting upon the Lord, in the deep Distress and weighty Judgment that was upon my Soul, to see if he would appear and break through, and open and give relief from under that which kept me down as Bars of Iron, that I could not arise nor asscend, nor have access, although out of the Deep I cried unto him for deliverance; I say, I can remember, that in the first notable inbreaking of the Power of God upon my Soul, or pouring forth of the Holy Ghost upon me, the first opening in the same unto me thereby, was a true discovery of the Tree of Knowledge in the Mystery, upon which I saw I had been feeding, and all the Carnal Professors of Religion, and how we had made a Profession of that which we had no possession of, but our Souls in the Death, feeding upon the Talk of that which the Saints of old did enjoy; and then I saw there was no getting to the Tree of Life, that our Souls might be healed by the Leaves of it, and so feed upon the Fruit thereof, that we might live for ever.

But as there was a coming under the wounding, slaying Sword that Christ brings, by which the Life of the Old man comes to be destroyed, who would still live in sin, and serve that, and yet profess Faith in Christ, and to be his Servant, which is impossible, according to Christ's own saying, No man can serve two Masters, &c. Matth. 6. 24. and therefore I saw there was no remedy, either I must be buried by that fiery Baptism of Christ's with him into Death, or else there could be no rising with him into newness of Life; there might be a rising into newness of Profession, Notion, and Words, but that would not do, it was newness of Life I must come to, the other I had tried over and over; I saw I must dye with him, or be planted with him in the likeness of his Death, that is, dye unto sin, if ever I came to be planted with him in the likeness of his Resurrection, and so live unto God, according to Romans the sixth. Then when things thus opened in me, I clearly saw we had all been deceived, thinking while we did live in the Flesh, and after the Flesh, and so in the Death, feeding upon the Tree of Knowledge, which was forbidden for Food, we might make such a Profession as might bring us to reap Life everlasting; but I soon saw, such as a man lived after, such as a man sowed such should he reap, and not what a man professed, or what he talked of, and then I was willing to bow to the Cross, and come under the fiery Baptism of the Spirit, and let that which was consumable be destroyed, that my Soul might be saved, and come to possess that which would endure and abide, and could not be shaken. Thus were the Heavens shaken also, as well as the Earth, that, that which was not shakeable might remain, according to Hebr. 12. 27. and so that which condemned the evil Fruits of the Flesh (as they were owned by us so to be in our Profession) both in our loose Conversation, and also in the desires of our Hearts, and fleshly Lusts that therein sprang, unto the Judgment of which we did assent, even so did that same Light and true Witness discover and condemn our fleshly Profession of Religion in that same Nature and Mind which brought forth Evil, or in which Evil did dwell and Rule, and so came our Heaven to be shaken, and our Covering and Garment to be taken away, and we left comfortless and naked, destitute and without a Habitation; and then we saw our sacrificing and our sinning to be alike in the sight of God; for our Prayers was rejected, and all loathed, because both was done in one Nature, and from one and the same Seed and corrupt Heart; and therefore it came to be with us as with Iudah of old, as may be read Isa. 1. and Isa. 66. 3. where the Lord told Iudah, their killing an Ox, their sacrificing a Lamb, their offering an Oblation and burning Incense, was as the slaying of a Man, cutting off a Dogs neck, offering Swines blood, blessing an Idol. And thus we saw, for want of Righteousness, and keeping the Commandments of the Lord, and forsaking of our own ways, and that which was evil, our Religion was loathed by the Lord, and we rejected in all our doings, and left in desolation and barrenness; for whatever we might pretend, that true saying must stand, A good Tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, nor a bad Tree good fruit; the Tree is known by its fruit.

And thus things opened wonderfully in us, and we saw not only common sins, which all consess so to be, (though they live in them) but also the hypocrisie and sinfulness of the Professors of Religion, even in their Religion, which was performed out of the true Spirit of Grace and Life, which in the Mystery is the Salt that every Gospel Sacrifice is to be seasoned withal, according to the Example in the Figure; and therefore were we commanded to withdraw, and be separated in our Worship, and wait to have our Hearts sanctified, and the Spirit of our Minds renewed, that we might come before him with prepared Vessels; for we soon learned to see this, that it must be true in the Substance, as in the Figure; all the Vessels of the Tabernacle was to be sanctified, consecrated or made holy; and therefore did we come out from among such in their Worship that lived in Uncleanness, and pleaded for Sin, which made unholy, and met together, and waited together in silence, may be some times not a word in our Meetings for Months, but every one that was faithful, waiting upon the living Word in our own Hearts, to know Sanctification thereby, and a through cleansing and renewing of our Hearts and inward Man; and being cleansed and made meet, we came to have a great delight in waiting upon the Word in our Hearts, for the Milk thereof, which Peter speaks of, 1 Pet. 2. 2. in our so waiting, we did receive the Milk, or Vertue thereof, and grew thereby, and was sed with the heavenly Food that rightly nourished our Souls; and so we came to receive more and more of the Spirit of Grace and Life from Christ our Saviour, who is full of it, in whom the Fulness dwells, and in the Power thereof we did worship the Father, who is a Spirit, and waited upon the Teachings of his Grace in our Hearts; and he taught us thereby to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live righteously, godlily, and soberly in this present evil World. And so we came to know the true Teacher, which the Saints of old did witness, as saith the Apostle, Titus 2. 12. and therefore wanted not a Teacher, nor true Divine Instructions, though we had left the Hireling-Priests, and also other high-flown Notionists, and sat down together in silence, for that was our desire to have all Flesh silenc'd before the Lord and his Power, both in our own Hearts, and from without. And as we thus came into true silence and inward stilness, we began to hear the Voice of him, who said, he was the Resurrection and the Life; and he said unto us Live, and gave unto our Souls Life; and this holy Gift which he hath given, has been in us as a Well springing up unto eternal Life, according to his promise; and therefore hath it been our delight all along to wait upon it, and draw nigh with our Spirits unto it, both in our Meetings, and also at other Times, that we might both be taught and saved by it, for by it the Saints were saved through Faith, &c. as Paul wrote unto them, Ephes. 2. 8.

Now from the Year 1653. as before hinted, in which Year I was convinced of the blessed Truth and Way of Life Eternal, unto the Year 1657. I was not much concerned abroad in Travels upon the account of the Truth, save only to visit Friends that were Prisoners for the Truths Testimony; but being mostly at home, following my outward Calling, I was very diligent to keep to our Meetings, being given up in my Heart thereunto, for I found great delight therein, and many times, when one Meeting was over, and I at my outward Labour, in which I was very diligent also, I did in my Spirit long for the next Meeting-day, that I might get to the Meeting to wait upon the Lord with the rest of his People. And I can also with safety say, that when I was there, I was not sloathful, but in true diligence set my Heart to wait upon the Lord, for a Visitation from him, by the Revelation of his Power in my Soul; and as I waited in the Diligence, Patience, and Faith, I can say this for the Lord, and on his behalf, with many more Witnesses, we did not wait in vain; he suffered not our Expectation to fail, everlasting Glory, and Honour, and Praise to his worthy and honourable Name for ever: The very remembrance of his Goodness and glorious Power in those days revealed and renewed, overcomes my Soul. And so then in diligence waiting, and the Lord so in mercy visiting by his power in our Hearts, my Soul was daily more and more affected with the Glory, and Excellency, and Sweetness of it, and with the holy Dread with which it filled my Heart, for that became pleasant, and then my Spirit was bent to keep near unto it, and to dwell in that holy Fear which the Father thereby placed in my Heart. And then I came to see what David exhorted unto in the Second Psalm, when he bid the Kings and Judges of the Earth be wise and. learned; and further said, Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. O the bowings of my Soul! O the pleasant dread that dwelt upon my Spirit, and the reverent tremblings that came over my Heart, which filled it with living Joy, as with marrow and fatness! And then could I say in my heart, with David, will wash my hands in innocency, and compass thine Altar, O Lord. O the pleasant drawing near unto the Altar of the Lord (and that not unprepared) by many, whose Hearts were filled, and their Souls and Spirits anointed with the true anointing from the holy One, which Iohn speaks off in his first Epistle, which is the substance of what was figured out in that Ointment Moses was commanded to make, Exod. 30. 25. which all the Vessels of the Tabernacle were to be anointed withal.

Now when my Heart was thus fitted, filled, and furnished, as it was many a time in our holy Assemblies, with many more, I know that sat under the same dread and power with me; for our Temple and Tabernacle, in which we worshipped, that were Children of the New Ierusalem, was but one, even the Lord God and the Lamb, as Iohn saw, Rev. 21, 22. And so it was in this Power that we sat and worshipped; I say, when my heart was thus fitted and filled, then did I endeavour to keep down my Spirit to the meltings of it, and great was the care of my Soul, that I might no ways miss nor abuse this Power, nor let up a wrong thing into my Mind, to be betrayed thereby; and then I knew, if I kept all that was wrong down, sound Wisdom, and a true Understanding would be grown into, even of those Mysteries that the World was ignorant of; for the Son of God being come, it was he that did give the Understanding, to know him that was true, as Iohn said of old, in his first Epistle; and he was made Wisdom, as Paul said, 1 Cor. 1. 30. So I often observed, and that with great care and diligence in those blessed and pleasant Seasons, wherein the Lord did so wonderfully appear amongst us, and filled our Hearts with the glorious Majesty of his Power, how it was with my own Spirit, and whether that was subject, as it ought, or no; for I clearly saw, the Enemy might beguile, and lead up into the hights, and unnecessary pride and vain-glorying, in that which the Soul might soon be deprived of, if it kept not humble; for it's the humble the Lord teacheth, and the meek he guides in Judgment.

And thus in the greatest Enjoyments I saw, there was need of care and fear to be kept in; for as those that grew sluggish, idle, and careless in waiting in a Meeting for the Power, did sit without the sense of it in a dead, dry, barren state; even so such as weer not diligent to mind to keep low, humble, and tender, and so to mind the Nature of the working of the Power, and the Nature of their own Spirits under the Powers exercise; and also to watch against the Enemies subtilty, who lay in wait to betray, might easily be led aside out of the Powers way by the Stranger, even while the Power was a working, and Joy was in the Heart: And thus for want of true Fear and Care, might the Soul come into a loss e're it be aware; and I believe some have so done, and can scarcely find the reason of it. Great is the Mystery of Godliness, it may truly be said, even the great Mystery which Paul writes of in Colossians the first, Christ in us the hope of glory, &c. And as he is there, great is the Mystery of his working by his Spirit, to the opening and clearing of the Understandings of all that rightly wait upon him: and it is the Soul in the Sanctification and Oneness with the Life, the true Unction that comes to be a Priest, and so of the Royal Priesthood, chosen and elected in God's Covenant, that comes rightly and lawfully to eat of those holy things, and so to partake of the sanctified holy Food. This I did observe, and therefore the Stranger is not to come nigh; this was in the Figure signified, the Stranger was not to eat of the Passover, Exod. 12. 43. and the Command of God was to Aaron by Moses; that no Stranger should eat of the holy things, &c. Lev. 22. 10. And Solomon saith, The heart knoweth his own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy, Prov. 14. 10. Much might be said, but this is the matter; its Wisdom, for the Heart that hath known his own bitterness in the Judgment and Distress, and through it is come to this Peace and Joy to keep it, and not to let that which would have no share with it there, come to intermeddle with the Joy, for if it do, it will soon overthrow the Joy of the Soul, and bring to another state, and then have no more pity in the Day of Distress, than the Iews had of Iudas, when they bad him look to it, what was that to them, when he had betrayed his Master.

And thus I continued, as I have said before, for these four Years, mostly following my outward Calling, and attending and waiting upon the Lord in the workings of his holy Power in my Heart, both in Meetings and at other times, whereever I was, or whatever I had to do; for I found, that as my Heart was kept near the Power, it kept me tender, soft, and living: And besides, I found as I was diligent in eying of it, there was a constant sweet Stream, that run softly in my Soul, of Divine Peace, Pleasure, and Joy, which far exceeded all other Delights and Satisfactions; and this became the great Engager of my Soul to watch with such diligence, for I did find the love of God to constrain. And furthermore, I did observe, that if I neglected, or let my Mind out after any thing else more than I ought, and so forgot this, I began to be like a Stranger, and saw that I soon might lose my Interest in these Riches and Treasure, and true Common-wealth of God's Spiritual Israel, which Christ had purchased for me, and given me the earnest of to inherit.

And thus being mindful of the opening Wisdom of God, which was from above, and heavenly, and not from below, earthly, I was preserved, and helped, and succoured in the needful time; and because of the Blessings and rich Mercies of the Lord that my Soul enjoyed, I was willing to serve him in what I might, and willingly received upon me a share of that Concern that became proper for me, with others, to take upon us in the Church, that I might be helpful in all necessary things. And thus I went on in the holy Fellowship of the Gospel of Life and Salvation, with the rest of my Brethren and Sisters, and many joyful Day we had together in the Power of the Holy Ghost, that was richly and graciously continued amongst us, and daily poured out upon us; so that we still grew in favour with God, and unity one with another, and received daily strength from the Lord, and an increase of his Divine Wisdom and Spirit, which did greatly comfort us. And in this our pleasant state I do well remember, my Heart was satisfied, and setled into a content, where I was willing to abide; but the Lord that had so dealt by me in Mercy, as I have said, began to stir in my Heart by his Spirit to arise, and go forth in the strength of his Word, and declare against the Hirelings that feed themselves, and not the People, and kept the People ignorant of those good things, that he had made me and others Witnesses of.

And when the Word of the Lord came unto me with this Message, it became a great Exercise unto me, and I would willingly have shunned it, and have dwelt in that Ease, Peace, and Pleasure the Lord had brought me into, but there was none but in obeying the Lord, and giving up to do his Will, that I soon came to know, for I was sure it was the Word of the Lord; and then I yielded in Spirit, and longed for the Day that I might clear my self, and be eased of the Charge that was upon me: for weighty was the Dread and Majesty of the Power of the Word of Life that lived, and as a Fire burned in my Heart, that I could not stay.

And when the first day of the Week came, in Obedience unto the word of the Lord I went to Aspetry, the Place which the Lord set before me, to speak to one Warwick a Priest, who when I came, was preaching in their Bell-house, who, soon after I came in, with a Friend with me, began to put forth some subtil Questions to provoke us to speak, that he might have an opportunity to cause us to be haled out, and sent to Prison, but I resolved not to mind his Temptation, but to wait upon the Lord; and when he could not prevail with his Questions to get his end upon us, he spoke to the Constable to put us forth; who answering, bid him go on, and said, They do not disturb us, &c. Then the Priest went on with his Sermon, and finished. And when he had done, I began to speak to the People, and the Priest he got away, and the People hurried me out, and kept me and the Priest asunder, so that I got not to speak to him that Fore-noon. So I came away with my Friend, and thought to have returned home; but immediately after I was got out of the Town; the wrath and displeasure of the Lord in his Word sprung dreadfully in my Heart, and a dreadful Cry was in me, from the same, Cursed is he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently, &c. And then I saw how I had let in a Fear upon me, in which I had shunned the Priest, and spared him, for fear I should be sent to Prison for speaking to him, the Law being such at that day, That whosoever did disturb a Minister, as they termed it, should be sent to Prison, &c. And when I found out my Weakness in this, that I had spoke to the People, and spared the Priest that I was sent to cry against, then was I sore afraid, and my Heart filled with horrour, and a sore cry in me still, Cursed is he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently, &c. then I knew not what to do, for the wrath of God was upon me; and another Cry from the same Word was sounded in my Heart, saying, Babylon hath sinned, all ye that bend the Bow, shoot at her; spare no Arrows, for she hath sinned, &c. Now when it was thus with me, and I saw that I had not been faithful, but had mist my Service; after I had come so far as the Common above Plumland, I sate me down, and there I mourned before the Lord, whom I had so grieved, and humbly desired of the Lord, that he would but grant me liberty to go again to clear my self, that I might come into Peace with him again; and then let Life or Liberty outwards go, I did not value. So waiting upon him in this humble bowed frame of Spirit, the Word of Life rose in me again, and opened my Heart, and sealed to me I might go. Then I arose with boldness, and went with speed, till I came there at the Worship house, and the Priest was preaching again in the After-noon, and I went in and stood before him, till he had done, and then was my Heart filled with Peace, and I resolved in the Name of the Lord not to spare, but speak the Word of the Lord faithfully, whatever I might suffer for it; for in comparison thereof, I valued neither Life nor Liberty. So when he had done, I spoke unto him what the Lord put in my Mouth: He immediately got away and gave me no Answer. But I followed him so quick, and cried out after him, so that he turned again to me in the Grave-yard, and then I did clear my Conscience to him, and a great Dispute we had, for I did not spare him. At last he went away, and would stay no longer. Then I spoke to the People, and did clear my Conscience amongst them; and then I came away in peace, and my Heart was filled with unspeakable Joy, and my Soul with Gladness. Then I saw, it was good to be faithful unto the Lord, and to trust in him, and to obey his Voice; and then I came to feel and see more and more, the woful and dreadful state that the Priests and Hirelings were in, who for their own earthly gain made Merchandise of People; although they were defended by the Laws of Men, yet I found the Laws of God they were in the transgression of, and so were in Cain's, Corah's, and Baalam's way, in Envy, and Gainsayers of the Truth, and Lovers of the Wages of Unrighteousness, and so such as Peter and Iude wrote of, 2 Peter 2. 15. and Iude cried Wo against, Iude 10, 11, 12.

Then some time after I was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to go to Lorton, to speak to one Fogoe a Priest, who was preaching to the People in their Worship-house, and I stayed till he had done; and there he did affirm in his preaching to the People, that both he and they was without the Life of both the Law and the Gospel. And then I spoke to him, and questioned him what he had to preach, or to pray, that was without the Life of both Law and Gospel? But after a few words, he fell into a rage, and stirred up the People, and they fell upon me, and haled me out of the House, and did beat me, and the Priest did threaten to put me in the Stocks. So I came away; and that day two Weeks I was moved to go again to speak to the same Priest at Louswater, the Parish where I did then dwell; and when I came in, the People beginning to look at me, and take notice, the Priest bid them let me alone, if I would be quiet, he would discourse with me, when he had done. So I stood still and quiet, waiting upon the Lord; the Priest he prepared to go to Prayer, but when he saw that I did not put off my Hat (for I could not so do, because I could not joyn with him in his dead lifeless Prayers) Then instead of going to Prayer, he fell a railing against me, and said I should not stand there in that posture. At last I spoke to him, and did ask him, What he had to pray with, that was without the Life of both Law and Gospel. But he continued calling out to the People, to take me away; so that at last, my Father being there, and displeased with me for troubling their Minister, came himself and haled me out of the House, and was very angry with me. Then I stayed in the Grave-yard, till the Priest and People came out, and then I got to him, and spoke to him again, but he soon began to be in a rage, and to threaten me with the Stocks, and got away. And then I cleared my Conscience to the People of what I had to say, and so came away in great peace with the Lord.

Then not long after, in the same Year, I was moved of the Lord by his Spirit to go to Briggham, to speak to one Priest Denton, who then was preaching in the Steeple-house to the People; who in his Sermon, which he had before hand prepared, had many false Accusations, Lyes, and Slanders against Friends, and the Principles of the Truth. I stayed till he had done, and then did speak to him, but got little Answer; but immediately some of his Hearers fell upon me, and did beat me with their Bibles, and with a Staff, or Staffs, all along out of the House, and also out of the Grave-yard, that the next day I was sore with the Blows, and so the Priest commanded the Constable to secure me, and a Friend that was with me, and next day did cause him to carry us to Lancelot Fletcher of Talantyre, who did order a Warrant to be written for us, and so sent us from Constable to Constable, to the common Goal in Carlisle, where I was Prisoner three and twenty Weeks. And when I wrote a Paper to the Priest, wherein I answered his false Accusation, and sent it to him by a Friend, he would not read it, but, as I was told, put it in the fire and burnt it.

Now while I was in Prison, something came upon me for Scotland, but I being a Prisoner, and not yet deeply acquainted with the way and work of the Lord's Power and Spirit, as in relation to such a Service, great was the Exercise of my Spirit that I went under; and for want of Experience and a clear Understanding, I was swallowed up, and for a time quite lost in the Deep, where great was the Distress of my Soul beyond utterance; but the merciful God by his powerful Arm and healing, saving Word of Life, did restore and bring up my Soul out of the Deep, where it was for a time buried, and renewed Life and Understanding, and caused the Light of his Countenance to shine, and the Sweetness of his Peace to spring; so that I may truly say, he caused the Bones that he had broken, to rejoyce. And then when he had thus crushed and humbled, and let me see how he could make all things become as nothing again, and so hide all Glory from Man, then in his Goodness he revealed his Glory, and Power, and Presence, and reviving Life, and so opened to my Understanding his good Pleasure, which with all readiness and willingness of mind I gave up unto, in my Heart and Spirit. So after my being kept about three and twenty Weeks in Prison, I had my Liberty; and so came home, and followed my outward Calling that Summer, and grew more and more into the Understanding of the Mind and Will of the Lord, in that which I had a Sight of, while I was in Prison. And so keeping to Meetings, and waiting upon the Lord in a true travel of Spirit, after more acquaintance with him, and more enjoyment of his Power and Word, I grew not only into an Understanding, but also into a degree of Strength and Ability sit to answer that Service, which the Lord had called me unto.

And so then in the Faith, that stood in God's Power, about the beginning of the Eighth Month 1658. I took my Journey into Scotland, and travelled in that Nation about Three Months, and was both in the North and West of it, as far North as Aberdeen, and back again to Edinborough, and so down West to Lithcow, Hamilton, Aire, and as far as Port-Patrick; and back to Aire and Duglass: and our Service was at their Steeple-Houses, and Markets, and other places, where we met with People; and sometimes at Friends Meetings, where there was any. And our work was, To call People to Repentance out of their lifeless hypocritical Profession and dead Formalities, wherein they were setled in the Ignorance of the true and living God; and so to turn them unto the true Light of Christ Iesus in their Hearts, that therein they might come to know the Power of God, and so come to know Remission of Sins, and receive an Inheritance amongst the Sanctified. And being thus clear of that Nation, we returned into England, and came over the water to Bowstead-hill the first day of the Eleventh Month, 1658.

Then returning home, I followed my Calling or Trade again from that time, until the Third Month 1659. and then I took shipping for Ireland, according to what had been Opened unto me in the Truth, when I was in Scotland; and grew mightily in me through the Strength of the Power and Word of Life, while I stayed at my Calling at home, and kept to Meetings. For the Lord often filled and enriched my Heart and Soul with his glorious Power, and so sanctified and prepared me for that which he set before me: For often in Spirit was I carried thither, and had it sealed unto me, that it was my place to go into that Nation to serve the Lord, and bear witness unto the Truth, and call People to Repentance, and hold forth the Way of Life and Salvation unto them. So I waited till the full Season came, according to the blessed Counsel of God, in which I found his leading Power with me, and to go before me; and so at the time aforesaid I took shipping at Whitehaven, and landed at Dunacadee in the North of Ireland, and travelled up to Lisbourne, and so up to Lorgan, and on to Kilmore in the County of Armagh, and so up and down in the North for some time amongst Friends, and had Meetings. And many People came to Meetings, and many Convinced and turned to God from the evil and vanity of their ways. And then from thence I travelled up to Dublin, and thence to Mountmeleck, and so forward to Kilkenny, and so on to Caperqueen, and Tallow, and so to Cork and Bandon: and back to Cork, and then to Toughal, and to Waterford, and to Ross, and to Waxford; and had Meetings along, as I travelled: and according to that Ability I received of God, I was faithful, and preached the Truth, and true Faith of Jesus. From Waxford I came to Carlough and Mountmeleck, and so down into the North, and spent some time there.

And so having gone through, and in the fear of God published his Name and Truth, as I had opportunity, I then was willing to return home to England, and for that end as I intended, came down to Carrickfergus, but before I got thither, it came upon me that I should return back again to Lorgan and Kilmore, and from thence to Londonderry. And so I sent word to appoint a Meeting at Lorgan; and went on to Carrickfergus, and got a Meeting, where there was many People at it; and I did clear my self unto them in the fear of the Lord, and then returned to Lorgan, as I had appointed. And there I met with Robert Lodge, newly come out of England, who had something in his Heart also to go to Londonderry; this was about, or near the beginning of the Seventh Month 1659. So Robert Lodge and I became concerned in one Work, Service, and Travel together, and were truly united in Spirit, in the Unity of the Faith and Life of Christ, in which blessed Unity and Fellowship of the Gospel of the Son of God, we laboured and travelled in that Nation of Ireland for Twelve Months, after we met together, not often parting; but sometimes we were moved to part for the Service's sake for a little time, and came together again: and the Lord gave us sweet Concord and Peace in all our Travels; for I do not remember that we ever were angry or grieved one at the other in all that time. And so we went down to Londonderry together, and when we came there, were soon discovered what we were, and then the People were unwilling to receive us, or let us have Lodging for our Money. We were at their great Steeple-house on the first day, and had a large time among the People to declare the Truth: but at last the Major sent his Officers, who would not suffer us to stay any longer, but forced us out of the City, and down to the Boat, and commanded the Boat-man to carry us over, and not to bring us back again. So being clear, we took our Journey towards Coalraine, and then to the Grange, and so to Antrim, and so up to Lorgan, and so through Friends in the North. And then after some time we took our Journey into the South, and did travel through a great part of the Nation, as to Dublin, Mountmeleck, and to Arthlone, and Galloway, Limmerick, Cork, and Bandon, and so through the South, and again into the North. And thus we spent our time with diligent Labour and hard Travel, often in cold, hunger, and hardships in that County, which then was in many Parts uninhabited: And in Prison several times; once in Armagh, once in Dublin, twice in Cork; besides other Abuses we received from many, because of our Testimony which we had to bear for the Lord, in their Towns and in their Steeple-houses, and against their Hireling-Priests, which sought their Rewards, and loved the Wages of Unrighteousness, like Baalam; and worse then he, forces it from the People, like the Sons of Eli, whose Sin was very great, 1 Sam. 2. 16, 17.

And thus having travelled and laboured in the Gospel together for Twelve Months, and many being Convinced and gathered to the Truth, we were clear of our Service there, and in the Seventh Month 1660. we took shipping at Carrickfergus, and intended for Whitehaven in England, but by contrary Wind were driven to Kirkowbry in Scotland, and from thence came over Land into Cumberland, and to Cockermouth: and then I again returned to my outward Calling, and followed that, and kept diligently to Meetings, for it was still my Delight so to do, and there to be diligent in waiting upon the Lord; for I always found, that therein I received an increase of Strength, Life, and Wisdom from the Lord. And as I found any motion upon me from the Lord to go to any Meeting abroad, either in our Country, or any other, I went and cleared my self, as the Lord gave Ability; and so did return again to my Calling, and so to our own Meeting, where I did delight to wait in Silence upon the Lord: for I loved that much, because I found an inward growth thereby through the Teachings and Openings of his Spirit in my Heart; and when something did open in me for that end, to speak in our Meeting, I gave up, for the most part, sometimes ready to quench through backwardness, but that was hurtful; but I grew over it by degrees, and increased in Faith and holy Confidence more and more.

Now from the Seventh Month 1660. unto about the First or Second Month 1662. I was very much at home at my Calling: and then I was moved of the Lord to go to London to see George Fox, and others of the Elders, and to acquaint him with what was upon me from the Lord to go to America, which came weightily upon me in Ireland, when I was there; so that I had a great travel in Spirit, and deep Exercise in Mind, before I gave up. But when I had given up in belief, that it was the Word of the Lord, and so gone through it in my Spirit, and submitted unto his Will, the weight and exercise was removed, and I with my former Openness again restored into my Service, and no more of that remained, but a remembrance of the Prophecy or Opening which I had received, and Faith in the Word, which, I was satisfied, was sure for ever. And therein I rested as to that matter, until the time aforesaid that it came upon me to go and and acquaint G. F. as also Ed. Burrough, who were then at London, and Richard Hubberthorn; for I loved to have the Counsel and Countenance of my elder Brethren, who were in Christ before me. And then I did return through Yorkshire home, and had some Meetings, as I came along; and stayed at home but a little time, and was moved to go again into Yorkshire, and went through divers Meetings to visit Friends. And being, as I thought, clear to return home, I came to Rippon to see some Friends, that were then Prisoners for meeting together to worship God; and going into Prison to see them, and in the Love of God speaking some words of Exhortation unto them, the Goaler took me, and had me to a House in the Town, where the Major and the Chancellor, and several of the Aldermen were together; and there the Chancellor chiefly took in hand to examine me, and sought to ensnare me, that he might get occasion to Commit me to Prison. And first, he would have my going to Prison to my Friends to have been an Offence; but I pleaded, in so doing I had broken no Law. Then he said, I spoke in Prison; I answered, There was no Law, that forbid us to speak to our Friends, when we came to visit them. Then he asked me, when I was at Church, and when I took the Sacrament according to the Laws of England? I answered, I knew no Law I had broken, nor no evil I had done to any man; if any man had evil against me, let him bear witness of the evil. Then he began to be in a rage, and said, He would have an Answer e're we had done, &c. But when he could not get an Advantage that way, he reached for a Book, and asked me, if I would take the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy? And when I answered, Not in Contempt to the King, or his Authority, but in Obedience to Christ's Command, I could not swear. Then he commanded the Clerk to write a Mittimus, and sent me to the Prison, to the rest of my Friends, who were four and twenty before, and there I was kept Prisoner fourteen Weeks. And because, when we sate down to wait upon the Lord (for we fate down once every day together, and many times Friends with us, that came to see us) I spake something in Exhortation unto Friends, and prayed unto the Lord, as he enlarged my Heart, that we might be comforted and edified together, the Magistrates were offended, and sent the Under-Goaler to take me away, and put me in the Dungeon from among my Fellow-Prisoners, who came at three several times, and every time haled me from my knees, when I was at Prayer, and put me in the Dungeon, a little dark Room, where I was one time two days and nights, another time three days and nights, and the last time seven days and nights. There was a Bowling-Alley before the Prison-door, where several of the Magistrates and others did use to come to their Game, and hearing my voice, were offended; and so sent to take me away. So after fourteen Weeks I was set at liberty, and in some little time I had freedom to return home, and then did, as at other times, follow my outward Calling, and kept to our Meetings at home, but when I was moved to go forth to visit Friends, sometimes in our own Country, and sometimes into Yorkshire, and Bishoprick, and would sometimes be Two Months away, or thereabouts, and then return home to my Calling or Trade: and so thus continued till about the fore-end of Summer, in the Year 1664.

And then that which had been opened unto me four years before, began again to arise in my Heart in that Word which lives for ever, and the living motion of it began to press upon my Spirit towards the fulfilling thereof; and then I saw, the Time drew near, and the Season was coming upon me, wherein the Lord would have me go and fulfil his Word, that I had yielded unto in Spirit so long ago. And then I began to prepare, and set my Heart to leave all things behind, and give up all things else, that I might follow him: and so his Power wrought my Spirit into a right frame, that I could easily leave all things; and then he gave me time to settle and order my outward Concerns, and leave all things clear. And then that Summer I took shipping for Ireland, and passed through most Friends, and did visit them. And about the Seventh Month 1664. I took shipping at Galloway in Ireland for the Barbadoes, and was seven weeks and two days in sailing to the Barbadoes; and I stayed there about three or four Months, and did visit Friends, and travelled and laboured in the Work of the Gospel, both for the Confirmation of those that were gathered, and for the gathering of others unto the Truth, that they might partake with us of the like precious Faith. And there I met with many that had been hurt by Iohn Parrot, and carried away with his Imaginations, who lead out of the Power, and from the true Cross, into high Notions, and vain Conceits, and so into a fleshly Liberty, and ease therein, from the true Spiritual Travel and right Exercise, both in Spirit, and outwardly; pretending to be against Forms, and under that pretence led out of the faithful and diligent practice, which Friends had been gathered into, as to their meeting together, and waiting upon the Lord, counting that a Form, which he did lead into a slight of, and so caused many, both there and in Virginia, and other places, to neglect, or in a great measure to forsake the Assembling of themselves together, contrary to Friends practice, and the Counsel and Advice of the faithful Labourers, who first laboured amongst us, as also contrary to the Advice of the Apostle, Hebr. 10. 25. And also, he in his new Notion led many to keep on their Hats in the time of Prayer, when any Friend prayed, and condemned our reverend practice of putting off our Hats at such times: and so in many things led such as were taken with his Notion, out of true Order into Loosness, and such a Liberty, that the Cross in most things was laid down by them, and their own Wills followed, and Truth's Testimony let fall. But he ran out of the Truth so far at last, that many began to see him, and what his Spirit led to; and so came to see their own loss, and returned back unto their first love, and the Power of the Lord went over that dark Spirit, with all the vain Imaginations they had been led into thereby; and so Friends were gathered into their former Unity. Now because of the prevalency of this Spirit, I had the greater travel and exercise among Friends in that Island, and in other places of America, both in withstanding such as were high and hard, and also to gather back and preserve such, as had in some measure been betrayed, and yet were more innocent and tender.

And so when I had travelled and laboured, as I said before, about three or four Months in that Island, and was clear, I took shipping for Maryland about the latter end of the first Month, and landed there about the latter end of the second Month 1665. and so I travelled, and laboured in the Work of the Gospel in that Province that Summer, and large Meetings we had, and the Lord's Power was with us, and Friends greatly comforted, and several Convinced. But a sore Exercise I had with one Tho. Thurston, and a Party he drew after him for a while, so that both I and faithful Friends were greatly grieved, not only with his Wickedness, but also his Opposition that he made against us, and the Disturbance that he brought upon us in our Meetings; and great was the exercise and travel, that was upon my Spirit both Day and Night, both upon the Truth's account, that suffered by him, and also for the People, that were betrayed by him to their hurt, who were under a great mistake. But through much labour and travel in the Lord's Wisdom and Power, that both I and other faithful Friends of that Province had to search things out, and to clear things to their Understandings, both as to what related to the Truth, and also Matter of Fact, which he was guilty of, it pleased the Lord so to assist us, and bless our endeavours, in manifesting the Wickedness and Wrongness of the Heart and Spirit of the Man, that most of the People came to see him, and in the love of God to be restored, into the Unity of the Truth again, to our great comfort, Truth's honour, and their Everlasting happiness. But he himself was lost as to the Truth, and became a Vagabond and Fugitive as to his Spiritual Condition; and little otherwise, as to the outward.

So in the Winter following I went down to Virginia, and when I came there, Friends there, the greatest part of them, were led aside by Iohn Parrot, who had led them into his Notions, as before is related; and they had quite forsaken their Meetings, and did not meet together once in a Year, and had lost the very form and language of the Truth many of them, and were become loose and careless, and much one with the World in many things: so that the Cross of Christ, for which they had suffered, was shunned by them, and so Sufferings escaped, and they got into outward ease. For they had endured very great Sufferings for their Meetings, and did stand faithful therein, till he came among them, and preached up this Notion of his, by which he judged Friends Practice and Testimony in the Truth, and for the Truth, to be but forms: and so pretending to live above such things, drew them from their Zeal for the Truth, and their Testimony therein so far, that they avoided every thing that might occasion Sufferings. And thus they being seduced or bewitched, as the Galatians were, into a fleshly Liberty, the Offence of the Cross ceased, and the Power was lost: and when I came there, it was hard to get a Meeting among them. And much Discourse I had with some of the chief of them, and through much labour and travel with them, and among them, to maintain the Principles of Truth and our Testimony and Practice therein, I obtained a Meeting; and the Lord's Power was with us and amongst us, and several were revived, and refreshed, and through the Lord's goodness, and his renewed Visitations, raised up into a Service of Life, and in time came to see over the wiles of the Enemy. So after some time I returned again to Maryland, and did pass through Friends, and visited their Meetings, and in the first Month came again to Virginia, and did visit them, and so returned again to Maryland, and landed at New-York in the fourth Month 1666. and spent some time there amongst Friends, in going through their Meetings. And then took shipping for Road-Island in New-England, and there spent some time in visiting Friends, and their Meetings; where I had a comfortable Service. And about the latter end of the sixth Month, I took my Journey towards Sandwich; and when I was clear there, I took my Journey by Plymouth to Tewkesbury, and so to Marshfield and Cittuate, and so on to Boston, and did visit Friends, and had Meetings: And from Boston to Salem, and so on to Piscatoway. And when I was clear there, I returned back through the Meetings, and came to Hampton, Salem, Boston, Cittuate, Marshfield, and so by Tewkesbury and Plymouth to Sandwich, and from thence through the Woods to Ponigantsit, and from thence over unto Road Island. And after some time spent there, I took shipping for Long-Island to visit Friends in those parts; and when I was clear, I returned again to Road-Island in the Winter, and stayed for some time; for there was no going off the Island unto the Main, the Snow was so deep. And about the latter end of the first Month I took shipping for the Barbadoes, and landed there in the second Month 1667. and did spend that Summer there, and had blessed and comfortable Service among Friends, large and full Meetings, and the Lord's Power and Presence was with us, and several gathered into the Love of the Truth. And in the seventh Month I took shipping for Bristol in England: and after we had been Ten Weeks at the Sea, except one day or two, being beat off the Coast with an Easterly Storm, and kept out at Sea in a great Tempest, for the most part of two Weeks, at last we got into Milford-Haven, and there I landed, about the 27th of the ninth Month, 1667. and so did go up too Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire in Wales, where I met with a Meeting of Friends the same day: and at that time I stayed four Weeks in that County, and had many blessed Meetings. And then being clear, I took my Journey towards Swanzey, and did visit Friends there; and so came up towards Cardiff, and so on into Monmouthshire: and after I had visited Friends there, I passed over the Water, and came to Bristol, and did stay there some Meetings, and so up into Glocestershire and Barkshire, and so up to London, and stayed there some time. And after I was clear of that City, I was moved to return again into Barkshire, and Glocestershire, and so to Bristol, and so over into South-Wales, and down to Pembrokeshire, all along visiting Friends, and had blessed Service. And then when I was clear of those Parts, I was moved to return again up through the Meetings in South-Wales, and to Glocester, and and through Glocestershire, and Barkshire into Buckinghamshire, and so up to London, and spent some time there that Summer in the Year 1668. And after that I went over into Surry to see George Fox, who then was travelling among Friends in those Parts, to assist Friends in the setling of their mens-Meetings, and also to stir them up to visit such as were fallen away from the Truth, and drawn back, and to see, if they could be restored and brought again to a sense of the Love of God, and so to Salvation and Life; which Work did prove very effectual for the gaining of many. So after I had been a little with him, and at Horsham (with some Friends that went from London with me) to visit some Friends that were Prisoners there for the Truth's Testimony, I returned back again to London, and so took my Journey for the North of England, through Hartfordshire and Huntingtonshire, and then strait down into Yorkshire, and spent some time in visiting the Meetings about Knaisborrough, Netherdale, Massom, Thirsk, and there-aways, and then was moved to go down towards Crake and Malton, and so on to Killam and Burlington, Scarborough and Whitby, and on into Cleveland, and so over into Bishoprick. And after some time spent there, I came over Stanmore, and so into Cumberland, and came home to see my Friends and Relations; and stayed but about a Week, or a few days more, and then took my Journey for London to the yearly Meeting, that then was appointed to be about the beginning of the tenth Month, and so was there about a Week or two: and then I took my Journey again into the West through Barkshire and Glocestershire, and so over into South-Wales, down as far as Pembrokeshire, visiting the Meetings, and serving the Lord and his People with faithfulness in the labours and travels of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. And when I was clear of those Parts, I returned back again through South-Wales up to Bristol, and so up through the Counties, visiting the Churches, and so up to London that Spring, in the Year 1669. and stayed about two Months time in and about the City. And then I was moved again to go into Buckinghamshire, and so through the Country, visiting Meetings in divers places, till I came to Bristol, and was at Bristol about the 25th of the fifth Month 1669. And from thence I went over into Wales again, and did pass through South-Wales, as far as Pembrokeshire; and from thence I took my Journey through the Mountains towards North-Wales, and did visit Friends in Radnorshire; and from thence came down to Shrewsbury, and so on into Cheshire, and so through Lancashire and Westmoreland home into Cumberland, and stayed there a little, and did visit Friends. And then took shipping at Whitehaven for Ireland, and landed at Belfast in the North, and spent that Winter in Ireland in the travels and labour of the Gospel, and had blessed Service for the Lord and his People in that Nation, and was richly comforted and refreshed amongst them in the gracious presence of the Lord, that was with us, who is the Recompencer and rich Rewarder of all that are given up in Faithfulness to serve him. So that now none doth lose their Reward under the Ministration of the Gospel, no more then they did under the Law in the Figure, when he said, Who is thère among you, that would shut the Doors for nought? neither do you kindle fire on mine Altar for nought, Mal. 1. 10. To him be Glory, and Honour, and Praise over all for ever, for he is worthy! And when I was clear of that Nation, I took shipping at Dublin, and landed at Whitehaven in Cumberland, and stayed a little time in Cumberland, and then took my Journey for London to the yearly Meeting, that was in the Spring of the Year 1670. and so spent a part of that Summer in London, and thereabouts, in the Service of the Truth, until I could have a Conveniency to go for Barbadoes, that being upon me.

And in the fifth Month all things being ready, I and William Simpson went down to Gravesend with many Friends from London, that did accompany us; and staying there but a few days, we set Sail from Gravesend the eighth day of the fifth Month 1670. and came to the Downs, and stayed there some days, and then set Sail from the Downs the twentieth day of the same Month, and because of contrary Winds we put in at Falmouth, and stayed two Nights there, and then put to Sea again, and so set Sail for the Barbadoes, and arrived there the thirtieth day of the seventh Month: so that we were twelve Weeks from Gravesend e're we got Barbadoes. And then I stayed in the Barbadoes six Months, and had great and weighty Service in that Island, before I could be clear. And my dear Companion William Simpson, after he had been there was taken sick of a violent Fever, that was very much among People at that time, and very many died; he was sick but about six days, and then was taken away. At his Death, a very little before his Departure, he gave a living, heavenly Testimony unto the Truth, with wholesome Advice unto them that were about him, and departed in the Peace and Joy of the Lord: an Account whereof may be further seen in a Book writ by one, that was with him from his beginning to be sick, until he departed. I was with him very much, but sometimes was constrained to leave him for the Service sake that was upon me. He was a very Innocent man, and full of fear and reverence, and ordinarily very open in his Testimony, and very sweet and pleasant; we walked in great love and unity together; for he was a humble man, and had very low thoughts of himself, and always under dread. He had gone through great Sufferings and Afflictions, and cruel Persecutions for his Testimony and Service sake, that he was called unto; he likewise had met with hard Buffetings from Satan's Messenger, and sore Temptations, by which he had been wounded, and sore hurt, through the wiles of Satan and his cunning slights; of which he would be often speaking to me in our brotherly Fellowship and Communication, wherein we would open our hearts and states one unto another: and in the remembrance of things he was kept very low and tender, and near the Lord, and took great delight in his Power, by which he had been redeemed, and his Soul delivered, and he raised up into a good degree of Dominion, in which he reigned at the last, and with great triumph departed this Life, and is blessed for ever. My Heart is well satisfied, that it is even so; and when he was taken away from me, my Heart was broken within me, my Spirit was bowed down greatly in the sense of my loss, and I could not but mourn, though not as such that have no hope, for my hope was firm concerning his well-being and gain that he had obtained; but great was my loss, for I was left as one alone, as I had been often before, to bear the burthen my self, which was very weighty upon me at that time, considering the state of the Church in that Island, and the care of it was upon me; but the Lord was with me, and his Power did assist me to go through my Charge, and clear my self, and free my self from the Blood of all Men and Women. And so through all being guided by his Spirit in his Wisdom, the Lord's Children and People were comforted, and my Soul and Spirit refreshed and revived: and so in peace, clearness, and gladness I came away, and took shipping for New-England, and set Sail the first of the second Month 1671. and arrived at New-York the 27th day of the same Month, and so did go from New-York unto Long-Island, and did visit Friends on the Island, and other places there-aways, and was with them at their Half-years-Meeting at Oyster-Bay. And so being clear of those Parts, took shipping for Road-Island, and was there at their Yearly-Meeting in 1671. which begins the ninth of the fourth 1671. Month every Year, and continues for much of a Week, and is a General Meeting once a year for all Friends in New-England. And after that Meeting, when I was clear of those Parts, I took my Journey towards Sandwich, and so did visit Friends all along at Tewkesbury, Marshfield, and Cittuate, and so on to Boston, and there had a Meeting, and so on to Salem, and Hampton, and Piscataway, all along visiting Friends, and had many pretious Meetings, and the Lord was with us, and his Power was over all. And from Piscatoway I returned back again the same way, and had blessed Service, and so through I came to Road-Island again, and there I spent some time, (and went up to Providence, and did visit Friends there) and so returned again. And when I was clear of those Parts, I took shipping back again for Long-Island, and landed at Oyster-Bay, and had some Meetings: and then went down to Flushing, and so to Gravesand, and had some Meetings. And then went over to East-Iersey to visit Friends there, and had some Meetings: and then returned back again to Gravesand, and from thence went back again to Oyster-Bay, and was there at their Half-years-Meeting, which began about the eighth day of the eighth Month, and had a blessed time. But in our Meeting for Business, we had an Exercise with several, that rose up in a wrong Spirit against the blessed Order of the Truth, which by the Power of God Friends were gathered into, and sweetly setling in. And chiefly their Envy and Bitterness was against George Fox, and his Papers of Wholsome Advice, which he in the Love of God had sent amongst Friends; and in that unruly, lose Spirit and Mind they were gone into, being some of them filled with Prejudice, they had written a Book, which they brought in Manuscript to the Meeting, and urged to have it read. But I told them, we had the Papers there, and they might lay down their Objections, they being there, and we would Answer them. But that would not serve; but the Book they would read: and we sate in quietness, till they had done. And when they had done, I reached for it, and by my memory, did go over the Heads thereof, and did clear G. F. and Friends in our godly Care and Intents, and opened the Service and Benefit of such Things which they did Cavil at, and shewed Friends the Advantage that was therein, both to the Truth and them; and withal reprehended their Slanders and Falshoods, with which they had hurt the Minds of several young and newly-convinced Friends; and so opened unto them, how it was the same Spirit, that of old led those that opposed the Apostles, and endeavoured to bring a slight, and begit a disesteem in the Minds of the Believers against them, that watched over them for their good, and so endeavoured to lead them into a fleshly Liberty to shun the Cross, &c. And when I had cleared my self, and informed Friends of the truth of Things, that then by them had been objected against; Friends in general were satisfied, and saw the Mistakes which they had let into their Minds, through the Insinuation of those three men, that had been chiefly concerned in the writing of the Book, and in the Opposition. And so the Lord's Power broke in upon the Meeting, and Friends Hearts were broken, and great meltings in the Power there was amongst us; and so in the same we blessed the Lord, and praised him, and prayed unto him, and they were bowed, and went away. And so Friends were comforted, and the Seed and Life reigned over all, everlasting Glory, and Honour, and Praise be given to him for all his Mercies and Preservations, for he is worthy for evermore.

And so when all our Meetings were over, and Friends in the heavenly Power and Seed comforted, and the bad Spirits, and their evil Work confounded, and brought under, as in the Minds of the Simple-hearted, that were like to be hurt and betrayed by them, and so a coolness and calmness amongst Friends, I was clear. And then took my Journey with some Friends that did accompany me, and went to Flushing, and down to Gravesand; and when I had visited Friends there, I went to New-York, and had a Meeting; and then took shipping for Maryland there, and set Sail the the 23d of the eighth Month, 1671. We met with a sore Tempest, a West-north-west-wind, that blew In our going down to Virginia we were in great danger, and had like to have been Castaway with a North-west Storm. so hard, we could carry no Sail for some days; but at last we got into Virginia, and then sailed up the Bay, and got to Pertuxon River in Maryland the fifth day of the ninth Month, and there I landed with my Companion Daniel Gould, who came with me from Road-Island, and did travel with me that Winter. We visited Friends in Maryland, and I went down to Virginia to visit Friends there, and found a freshness amongst them, and they were many of them restored, and grown up to a degree of their former Zeal and Tenderness, and a great Openness I found in the Country, and had several blessed Mettings. And then I did advise them to have a Mens-Meeting, and so to meet together, to settle things in good order amongst them, that they might be Instrumental to the gathering of such as were yet scattered, and stirring up of such as were cold and careless; and so to the keeping of things in order, sweet, and well amongst them.

And thus having cleared my self in the Love of God, I committed them unto the Lord, and the Word of his Grace, and so took Boat again for Maryland, and got well thither at last; but met with strong Winds, and rough Weather, and some danger: and so spent some time more in Maryland, till the Spring. And in the 2d Month I appointed a Meeting 1672. at West-River in Maryland, for all the Friends in the Province, that I might see them together, before I departed, for I was determined to go as soon as I could after that Meeting. And when the time appointed came, and Friends from all Parts began to come, George Fox, with several Brethren, came from Iamaica, and landed at Pertuxon, and from thence came streight to the Meeting. And there were Friends from all Parts of the Province, where they dwelt, and we had a very large Meeting, which did continue for several days; and a Men- and Womens-Meeting for the setling of Things, that Men- and Womens-Meetings might be established in the Province, according to the blessed Order of the Gospel of Christ Jesus, which Friends by the Power thereof were gathered into in most places. And G. F. did wonderfully open the Service thereof unto Friends, and they with gladness of heart received Advice in such necessary Things, as were then opened unto them; and all were comforted and edified. And then when all was over, and we all clear, and all sweet and pleasant among Friends, we departed, and went down to the Clefts, some by Water and some by Land, and there we had a large Meeting of both Friends and other People. And when that was over, we departed, some went down to Virginia, and some stayed in Maryland.

And George Fox, Robert Withers, George Pattison, and I with several Friends of the Province, took Boat and went over to the Eastern-shore, and there had a Meeting on the first day, and on the second day we began our Journey through the Woods to go over Land to New-England. And took Horse at Iohn▪ Pitts at the Head of Tredaven-Creek, and did go through the Woods above the Heads of Miles-River and Wye-River, and also headed Chester-River, and lay two Nights in the Woods, viz second and third days at night. And on the fourth day we came to Saxifrax-River, and did swim our Horses, and went over our selves in Boats or Canowes. And so rode on to Bohemia-River, and there did cause our Horses to swim, and went over our selves in Canowes. And then came to a Plantation called Augustines, and there we stayed a little; and about three in the Afternoon we set forwards, and some of us got to Delaware to Newcastle, and got Lodging; for we were sore wet with the Rain: but Ro. Withers, and George Pattison lay in the Woods all night, their Horses being tired. Next morning they came to us at New-castle: We stayed there that day, and next day we got over the River. And when we were over, we could not get an Indian for a Guide; and our Dutchman we had hired, would not go without an Indian: so we were forced to stay there that day. And the next day he rode about to seek an Indian, but could get none to go; and so late in the Evening there came some over from the other side from the Town, and we hired one: and so began our Journey early next Morning, to travel through that Country, which now is called New Iersey; and we did suppose that we travelled that day near forty Miles. And at the Evening we got to a few Indian Wigwams, that is, their Houses; for we saw no Man nor Woman, House nor Dwelling that day, for there dwelt no English in that Country then. We lodged that Night in an Indian Wigwam, and lay upon the Ground, as themselves did: and next day we travelled through several of their Towns, and they were kind to us, and helped us over the Creeks with their Canowes; and we made our Horses swim at the sides of the Canowes, and so travelled on. And towards the Evening we got to an Indian Town; and when we had put our Horses to Grass, we went up to the King's House, who received us kindly, and shewed us very civil Respect. But alas, he was so poorly provided, having got so little that Day, that most of us could neither get to eat nor drink in his Wigwam; but it was, because he had it not. So we lay as well as he, that was, upon the Ground; only a Matt under us, and a piece of Wood, or any such thing under our Heads. So next Morning early we took Horse, and travelled through several Indian Towns; and that day at Night we lodged in the Woods. And so the next day, being the fourth day, we got to an English Plantation, to a Town called Middle-Town, in East-Iersey, where there was a Plantation of English, and several Friends; and so we came down with a Friend to his House near the Water-side, and he carried us over in his Boat, and our Horses also to Long-Island. And we got to Friends at Gravesand that Evening; and next day we took our Journey to Flushing on Long-Island. And the next day, being the seventh day of the Week, we took our Journey to Oyster-Bay, and came there that Evening, and several Friends from Gravesand and Flushing with us; for the next day their Half-years-Meeting did begin, which was the cause of our so hard travelling. And besides, we did understand, that those that had been so troublesome the Half-years-Meeting before, when I was there, in opposing the Order of Truth, and reflecting so upon G. F. would then be an Exercise to Friends; therefore George Fox did endeavour the more to get to the Meeting. Which we did very seasonably; and it was of great Service to the Truth, and great Comfort to Friends, for they were greatly under, when we were come, and some of the chief of them began to fawn upon G. F. So we had our Meetings very comfortably; first and second days publick for Worship; third day for our Mens- and Womens-Meetings for Business, about the Affairs of the Church, as usually before. Then on the fourth day we had a Meeting with those dissatisfied People; for G. F. would not suffer the Service of our Men- and Womens-Meetings to be hindered by such a matter. And so on the fourth day, as many Friends as had a desire to be there, did come; and the Lord's Power went over them, and Friends were much satisfied. And he that was the chief Instigator of that Mischief, to wit, George Dennis, who came from London, and his Wife, not being well owned there by Friends, he now began to disown the matter, and would have cast it upon others, and have willingly appeared clear to G. F. but that I did prove under his own Hand, that he was a chief Actor at the Half-years-Meeting before, and read the Book in our Meeting, whether we would or no. And so things being fastened upon him, the Lord's Power went over his deceitful Spirit, and they were all bowed, and the Truth exalted over all; Glory to the Lord for ever, Amen.

Then after this we stayed a little upon the Island, and did go back to have some Meetings, and returned again to Oyster-Bay: and there set Sail for Road-Island the 29th of the third Month, and arrived at Road-Island the thirtieth of the same, and there stayed till the Yearly-Meeting, which began the eighth day of the fourth Month, which was the sixth day of the next Week following; and at that General Meeting there were many Friends from most Places in New-England, where Friends dwelt, and abundance of other People came into our Publick Meetings. And we had Meetings for eight days together, every day a Meeting, some publick, and others Men- and Womens-Meetings, for setling the Affairs of the Churches in the Order of the Truth; that all things might be kept sweet, clean, and well. And when all was over, and the Service of the Meetings finished, I took my Journey Eastward, to go through the Meetings in the Eastern Parts of New-England, and with me went Iohn Cartwright and George Pattison, and several other Friends to accompany us: and we left G. F. upon the Island, and he went to Providence and the Narraganset Country. So we took our Journey towards Sandwich, where we had a blessed Meeting, and were comforted, and richly refreshed in the blessed Presence of the Lord's holy and blessed Power, that was with us, and did open and enlarge our hearts. And when we had spent some time with Friends there, we left them, and travelled on by Plymouth and Duxbury, and had a Meeting at Marshfield, and another at Scituate; and the Lord was blessedly with us.

And at Scituate some of the Elders of their Church came to our Meeting, where were abundance of People in an Orchard, and stood up and made opposition: so I ceased speaking to the People, and joyned with them in Dispute. But the People were so displeased at the Interruption they made, that they signified their dislike, and would have them have stayed till I had done; upon which, they said, they would forbear then, and come again. So they went away: and after their own Meeting was over, they came again, and several Friends stayed with me; and a great Company of People came with them. And then we went into our Meeting-house, which before would not hold the Multitude, and there began to Dispute; and after some time spent, they always endeavouring to make Friends appear to be in the Errour, I said unto them before the People, If I must be disputed with as an Heretick, and your Church esteemed as a true Church, I am willing, we should come to the Rule Christ hath left, and thereby be tried, and that is, by our Fruits: and if you can prove the Fruits of your Church to be agreeable to the Fruits of any antient true Christian Church, I shall yield; otherwise I must hold my Testimony against it, as a false Church, &c. But they were mighty unwilling to joyn with me in that Discourse. But I urged the proof of our Practice by Scripture, especially in such a great Point as that; and so went on to reckon up the Fruits of their Church, which was to fine, and take away Goods for not coming to their Worship, to Imprison, to Whip with Cruelty, to Cut off Ears, to Burn in the Hand, to Banish upon pain of Death, and to Hang; for they had hanged four of our Friends. All which Cruelties their Church had executed upon us, and only upon the account of Religion. And if they could prove these to be the Fruits of a true Christian Church, then I told them, I would own them; otherwise they were to be denied. The proof of these things, or to dispute upon them, they would willingly have evaded; but I stood upon it necessary, that we might be known by our Fruits, and our Practice proved by Scripture, which they pretended to be their Rule; or otherwise all was but vain words, and an idle Notion, and they had nothing to do with Scripture, &c. And then they were confounded, and knew not what to say; but one of them fled to that Decree made by Artaxerxes, Ezra 7. 26. But I shewed, how inconsistant it was with the Gospel-Dispensation, Christ's Command, and the Christian's Practice: and further said, I would prove the Indians, better Christians, than they, by practice. And instanced the Indian King, who when they had banished Nicholas Upshell (an antient, grave, old man, against whom they had nothing, but that he was called a Quaker) from his Wife and Family, and out of their Colony, he being received by his Friends at Sandwich in Plymouth-Colony, they stirred up the Rulers of the Colony to banish him out of their Jurisdiction, which they did. And when the Indian King had inquired, Why they would send that antient Man sixty Miles through the Woods in the cold Winter to Road-Island? and understood the Matter, he desired him to go with him, and he would keep him, and none should molest him; or to that purpose: and offered him Land and Kindness. So (said I) here was one that would entertain a Stranger, a Christian Practice, according to Hebr. 13. 2. when your Church banisheth Neighbours from their own Dwellings; an act of Cruelty, &c. Much Discourse we had, but at these things they were confounded; some of themselves having been Actors in Persecution upon our Friends, as Friends told me, after they were gone. So the Lord's Power went over them, they could not stand the trial; and we parted in the Peace and Love of God.

And next day we came to Boston, where we had a Meeting, and many People came in, and several of Note. After a while, when I was speaking, came the Marshal and a Constable, and many People following them. The Marshal bid the Constable do his Office; the Constable, being a moderate man, said, So he did; he was to see the King's Peace kept And so stood awhile, and heard me; and went away, and told the Deputy-Governour, he had been at our Meeting, but he heard nothing but what was true, or no Blasphemy, or to this effect. So the People stayed, and I had a blessed Season to open things to the People, and clear the truth of those Scandals, which the Priests and others had cast upon it: and the People went away greatly satisfied, and spoke well of the Testimony they had heard. Which when Priest Thatcher heard, it appears he was displeased (for several of his Children were there) and the old, angry, persecuting Spirit got up in him, and next first day he stirred up two Magistrates in his preaching to the People, and they sent, and took Friends at their Meeting, and committed several to Prison. And we had appointed a Meeting for Iohn Stubbs and Iames Lancaster the third day of the next Week, who came after us through the Country: and when they came, they were put in Prison, and banished out of the Colony. Thus their old Fruits, like old corrupt Trees, they brought forth again.

So the next day we took our Journey to Salem, and there had a Meeting, and a blessed Season: But there we met with some, that were gone into that foolish Notion of Iohn Parrots, keeping on their Hats, when Friends prayed, &c. So after Meeting was over, where many People was in a Barn, we had a Meeting with several of the Chief of Friends, and such as were gone after that Spirit; and a great Discourse we had with them, in which we laboured to bring them to an understanding of that Notion they were gone into, and so laboured to open and settle the Minds of Friends in the antient Truth, and blessed Power which they had believed in, and received from Heaven; and then appointed a Meeting to be the next Week against our Return. And so took our Journey towards Piscattaway, and had a Meeting at Hampton, as we went, were several People came in, and some of the Elders of their Church, and were greatly satisfied; and went away, and gave a good report of the Truth, insomuch that Seaborn Cotton the Priest, was greatly offended. And the first day following, he called the Chief of his People together, and would have a Church-Act made, That no Members, nor Members Children, should go to a Quakers Meeting; and it was to be confirmed by their holding up their Hands: But those that were at the Meeting, would not assent; but one of them did declare, what he remembred of the Heads of what he heard at the Meeting, and maintained it to be Truth. So the Priest was in a rage, and endeavoured to stir up Persecution.

And after the Meeting was over, we went along to Piscattaway with Friends, that came from thence to meet us, and stayed there till the first day, and had a blessed Meeting: and also had a Meeting with the chief of Friends, both Men and Women, about setling of Men- and Womens-Meetings: And Friends were very open, and in sweet unity all things were setled, after we had opened things unto them, relating to the blessed Order of the Gospel. And so committing them to the Lord, and the Word of his Grace, we returned back again, and had another Meeting at Hampton, where were several young People, who after the Meeting gave me a Paper, in which they signified their desire to be satisfied in something, that was as a Scruple upon their Minds: To which I answered, and gave them great satisfaction. And when they saw my Openness and willingness to answer, they with reverence, did ask me about divers things, wherein they desired to be informed; and unto all I answered, and gave them satisfaction, and so we parted.

Then I, with Friends with me, took our Journey toward Salem, and came there against the time appointed, and we had the Meeting which we had appointed, with most of the Chief of Friends; and it was about setling of Meetings to look after the Affairs of the Church. And in the Meeting it was upon me largely to open the Service of our Men- and Womens-Meetings, and the Duty and Care of the Faithful therein; and when I had done, they did confess unto the Service, &c. to be very good and right. So then we desired, that they would come into the practice thereof; but when we partly pressed that, they would answer little, but held back; some of them, who (like Diotrephes of old, who loved to have the Pre-eminence, and so withstood the Apostle) did keep off in their Minds, being of that Spirit I wrote of before in Virginia, who pretended to be against Forms. And while we sate waiting upon the Lord, and staying to see what they would come to; and George Pattison labouring to bring them to a Sense of the Service, and so to come into the Practice, and they not being willing to say any thing, my Spirit being very low, the Word of the Lord came unto me, and the dread of his Power fell upon me: so that after some time I opened my Mouth with a Lamentation, and said; I was sorry, or grieved, that I had that to say, that I must declare unto them, and that was, That while they stood in that Spirit they were in, they could not act in Unity with the Body in honour to the Head, &c. and therefore after that, our Exhortation was unto them to Condemn that Spirit, by which they had been led aside, and wait for the Universal Spirit of Life, or to this effect; and so we left them, and they were greatly concerned. So the next day we had a publick Meeting amongst them, and after meeting came away towards Boston. Then their Consciences being troubled, we had to do with several of the Chief of them, who laboured to have Reversed that I had spoken; and said, It was very hard, &c. But I told them, I could not do it, the Power had sealed it, and it must stand; it was, they must come to Repentance, and Condemn that Spirit which had deceived, or to that effect. And so we left it upon them according to the Word of the Lord: And since some of them have seen it, and Condemned that Spirit, and given a Testimony in writing against it; blessed be the Lord, who shews Mercy, and restores out of the Snares of Satan.

And so being clear of all those Parts, we came away strait to Road-Island, and there we met with G. F. who was preparing to go Westward towards Long-Island: So he went away, and Robert Withers, Iames Lancaster, and George Pattison with him. And from Long-Island they went over to East-Iersey, and so over Land back again to Maryland; and Iohn Stubbs and I were left at Road-Island: Iohn Cartwright we left at Piscattaway, he went further Eastward; and after some time came to Iohn Stubbs and me at Road-Island. I. S. and I went up to Providence, had a Meeting there; and as we returned, we had a Meeting at Warwick, where none had been before; and several were Convinced, and did own the Truth. And there we had to do with one Gorton, and his Company, who were by other People there called Gortonians, but they called themselves Generalists: They were of Opinion, All should be saved. But they were in reality Ranters: for in our Discourse they would maintain, and say, No Creaturely Actions could be Sin; and would have no Whoredom, nor Drunkenness, nor the like to be Sin, but what was spiritual; the Outward action was but creaturely. And thus in their filthy, unclean Spirits, they, like the old Ranters, made merry over the reproof of God's Spirit.

So from thence we came down again to Road-Island, and there we spent some time, and had a long Dispute with one Roger Williams, that sent us a Challenge from Providence, with fourteen Propositions, as he called them, but they were Charges; and he engaged to maintain them against all Comers; the first Seaven to be disputed on at Road-Island, and the latter Seven at Providence. We spent in Dispute with him three days at Road-Island; but he could not make any proof of his Charges to the satisfaction of the Auditory; for there was a great Congregation every day: it would be tedious here to insert the Discourse, if I were able; but I cannot remember it. There is a Book in Manuscript, of what was taken in Short-hand of the Discourse at that present; besides there is a Book in print, entituled, New-England-Fire-Brand quenched, &c. which is an Answer to a Book of the said R. Williams, which gives some relation of some part of the Dispute; to which I refer the Reader. William Edmondson came from Virginia, and was also with us at the same Dispute: W. E. and I. Stubbs went up to Providence, and spent one day with him there about the latter Seven, and so cleared themselves to the People, and came away, when they had done with him.

So after some time together upon the Island, Iohn Stubbs and I went over, with several Friends that did accompany us, to Narraganset; and there we had a Meeting the four and twentieth of the sixth Month at one Richard Smith's; and next day took our Journey towards Hartford. We came first to New-London, and from thence to Norwich, and so to Hartford, and stayed there one day: and several of the Professors came in to us, to Dispute with us. And the next day we rode to a Town called Westfield, near thirty Miles, which was within the Massachuset's Colony. And there was a Man and his Wife that received us; and we appointed a Meeting: But when they heard of it, some of their Officers came to us, and commanded, that we should have no Meeting; and so affrighted the People, that none durst come to us. We had a little Discourse with their Officers or Elders that came to us; but they would not stay, but cried out against our Religion. We asked them, If they knew our Principles, that they so condemned? Some of them answered, and said, Nay, they knew them not, nor did not desire to know them. We asked them, How they could judge of them: and withal told them, They were such as the Scripture did speak of, who spoke evil of the things they knew not: and they were confounded, and went away; and so scared the People, that none durst come near us.

So we came away to Hartford again on the sixth day of the Week, and on the seventh day several came to us, and discoursed with us: and we desired that we might speak with the Priest, and they had promised that we should; but when we desired him to come, he, or they for him, made an Excuse, he could not that day come from his Study. So the next day (being the first day of the Week) we did go to their Meeting, and the Fore-noon stayed without, till they had done. And when they had done, and came forth, we spoke to the People; but they got away, as if they had been afraid of us; and none would stay. So we returned to the Inn; and stayed there till the After-noon. And then we did go into their Meeting-house, and stayed till the Priest had done. And then I stood up, and called unto the People, and desired their patience a little to hear, I had a word of Exhortation to them; and so began to speak. But immediately the Sexton came to me to interrupt me: but when he saw that he could not stop me, then he drove the People away. And when I saw the People most of them gone, I stept down, and thought to have gone forth after them; but he got to the Door, and shut the Door to keep me in. Then I went round an Alley to get to a second Door, but he got over the Seats, and shut that. Then I made for a third Door; he also got to that before me, and shut that; and so made their Meeting-house a Prison, and kept us in, with a very few People that got not away, till the People was gone, and then let us forth. So we came to our Inn again.

And after some time several of their Elders came to us, to dispute with us, on purpose to keep the younger People away, as some of them confessed; and when we came to Discourse with them, they would seem to charge us with breach of the Sabbath in coming to their Meeting that day. We took the Bible to us, and said, Come, first prove a Sabbath-day under the Gospel-Dispensation, and then prove our practice this day to be a breach of it, if you can, and vindicate Paul, who disputed every Sabbath-day in the Synagogue, &c. and then prove by Scriptures your practice this day, and shew, Where any Christians drove the People away from hearing the Truth? (for they had granted, we spoke nothing but Truth) and made their Meeting-house a Prison? And so we shut them behind the unbelieving Iews, who gave liberty to Paul and Silas. And they were confounded, and could not tell how to vindicate their doings; and so went away.

Then after they were gone, came into our Chamber many younger People, and we opened many things to them relating to the Way of Truth, and cleared things up from the Scriptures; and they were mightily satisfied. And when the old, dry Professors saw, that the younger People were affected; they sent in a Constable, to Command all to depart; but they answered and said, They were House-keepers many of them, and therefore he had nothing to do with them: so they would not go. So we continued still opening the Scriptures unto them; and they were affected. Then the Inn-keeper, being one of their Elders, came and took the Candle away, that we might not see to read in the Scriptures; and so left us in the dark: then the People went away, being displeased. So the next Morning, I. S. and I took our Journey Westward; and our Friends that came to Accompany us, returned home to Road-Island. And we went from Hartford to New-haven, then to Milford, and then to Stratford, and to Fairfield, and to Norwich, then to Stanford, and so to Greenwich, where we met with Friends; and there we appointed a Meeting. The Priest of that Town in his Pulpit had preached against Friends, and often had boasted, how he would Dispute with the Quakers, if any came there; so when the Meeting was appointed, the People came with a great expectation, of what the Priest would do. But in the Morning he rode away to Stanford to a Magistrate, and sent a Constable with a Warrant to apprehend us; who came at the beginning of our Meeting, and took us, and carried us away to the Magistrate at Stanford. The People being displeased, many of them followed after us to Stanford, and our Friends also, to see what they would do: and when we came there, many People was gathered about the House, (for it was but two miles between the Towns) but after a little time we were called into an inner Room, where the Magistrate lay upon his Bed, he not being very well. And when we came in, there was none with him but two Priests, the Priest of Greenwich, and the Priest of Stanford, nor none was to be suffered to come in but the Constable, and one man of Stanford that was a Merchant, as they said; he went in and out when he pleased. So the Magistrate asked us many Questions, and we answered him; and he discoursed with us long in many things, and we answered him; for he was very moderate. Then after a long time one of the Priests put in a Question: then I said, If we must Discourse of Divine Things, we did desire to be more publick; for the People were without, desirous to hear. Then the Magistrate said to the Priests, Master Iones and Master Bishop, I desire you to go into the Publick Meeting-House with these men, and there Discourse with them before the People; for, said he, they are sober, rational men. So we accepted kindly of the proffer, and rose up, and went forth; and the Priests came after us displeased. But when we were forth of the Door among the People, we called upon the Priests to go up with us, as they were desired; and so we went up, and they and the People also. And when we were setled in their Meeting-House, and many People, then the Priests put it upon us to begin; and so we began with them first about their Wages, and so went on to our Call, which they put upon us. And so about the Light, which they denied: and so about Election and Reprobation, and free Grace. They affirmed, the Grace of God had not appeared to all men, and that Christ did not dye for all men. Several hours we spent; but the Discourse is drawn up in a Book in Manuscript, and therefore shall forbear it here, for it is large. And so the next day we had a Meeting at Greenwich, but the Priest came, and we had a great Discourse; which is in the said Book. And the first day following we had a Meeting about six Miles from thence; and then, being clear of these Parts—

We took Boat, and went over unto Long-Island, to Oyster-Bay, and met with Iohn Cartwright; and so did visit Friends upon the Island. I. W. and I went over to East-Iersey, and did visit Friends there; and had several blessed Meetings. And returned back again to Long-Island, and had several Meeings. And then being clear of those Parts, Iohn Cartwright and I came to New-York, in order to get a Passage for Maryland; and we set Sail from New-York the first day of the ninth Month, 1672. but set Sail at Sandy-hook out to the Sea the third day of the same, and met with rough Weather; but the sixth day of the same we got in at the Capes of Virginia, and on the ninth of the same Month we came to Anchor in Pertuxon-River in the Province of Maryland, and so got up within a day or two to Iames Prestons: but the North-west-wind blew so hard, that we could not get up the first day. And then we did go through Friends in that Province, as the Lord made way. And G. F. and Friends that were with him, who came over Land together, were gone down to Virginia, and he also did travel over Land to North-Carolina, and there found some Friends, and returned back again over Land to Virginia, and so came up the Bay again to Maryland, and while they were below in Virginia and Carolina, we travelled among Friends in Maryland, and had blessed Service.

Upon the first day of the eleventh Month we had a Meeting at Iohn Baldwin's at South-River, where were many Friends, and other People, who were come together upon the Occasion of a Dispute which one Henry Pierrepoint had challenged us unto, who was a kind of a Fifth-Monarchy-Man. The first thing we had to prove, which he had assumed, was, That the Scriptures were the only Rule to try all things by in matters of Faith and Doctrine. About which we had a great Discourse: and we proved, That the Patriarchs had Faith and a Rule for Faith, before any Scriptures we have, were written: and shewed, what was their Rule. We spent several hours in Dispute about the other three things, which he had affirmed; but there is a Book in Manuscript, which is an Answer to them all: therefore shall omit any further mentioning of it here. So after some time spent in visiting Friends, from Meeting to Meeting, where many People came in, at several places (and the Lord's Power opened us, and we were comforted, and the Consciences of People reached) G. F. and the other Friends returned, and Iohn Cartwright took shipping for Barbadoes.

G. F. and I were some time together; and we were up at an Indian Town, at the Emperour's House, where he had ordered the Indians, both Men and Women, to be there at his House, to wit, the antient and grave; the young People were at another Wigwam. G. F. spoke unto them by an Interpreter for the space of four or five hours, I suppose, it was nigh five hours, and they were very still and quiet, and very attentive, and delighted (as we did perceive) to hear. And when the time was over, and we clear, they shewed us kindness, and were going to hang a Kettle on the fire to boil Fish for us to eat, as they told us; but we could not stay, having a great way to go by Water, and it was late. So we came away to the Water-side, and some of them accompanied us till we took Boat: so we came down the River again to Friends, and spent some time more in travel and labour in that Province.

And Iames Lancaster, George Pattison, and I, took a Journey to visit some People that was Convinced, up Potomick-River, but we did Ferry over Pertuxon-River, and then travelled through the Woods on foot over Land, till we came to them, and stayed a few days, and had a Meeting or two, and then returned back again to Pertuxon, and on to the Clifts, where we left Iames, being very weary. Then next day George and I travelled to West-River, and were there at their Meeting. And next Week we got a Boat, and went over the Bay to the Easternshore, and went up Miles-River to Friends; and from thence we went to meet with G. F. to speak with him, having some Intentions to take shipping, and to go for England with one Iohn Ore a Friend, a Master of a Katch, that did belong to some Friends at London.

And when we had been with G. F. a little time, we returned to Miles-River to our Boat; and after a little time went away to go over the Bay towards West-River, and through some exercise with contrary Winds. At last we got over; and after a little time spent there with Friends, we departed, and went down by the Clifts, where we met with G. F. come over the Bay. And stayed but little there; but went on towards Pertuxon, where we took shipping, and set Sail out of Pertuxon-River the 25th day of the second Month, 1673. 1673. and came out at the Capes of Virginia to the Sea on the sixteenth day of the same Month. And when we had sailed but a few days, in a Morning early we espied a Fleet of Ships behind us, about four and twenty, and then we stopt a little, supposing them to be an English Fleet, that sailed out of the Capes from Iames-River, two or three days before us. And when some of them came up to us, they told us, it was the same Fleet. So we stayed, and went in company with them, till we came about the Bank of New-found-Land: and then we met with foul Weather, which did part us one from another, so that we no more got all together again. We were six that got together again in our Company, and kept together, until we came into the Bay at Galloway in Ireland, where we arrived the 24th day of the third Month 1673.

And then from Galloway I travelled to Limmerick, and so to Charlefield, to Mallo, and to Cork, and to Bandon, and as far almost as Baltimore, visiting Friends, and having Meetings: and then returned back to Cork, and then took my Journey to Youghill, and so on to Tallagh, and to Kilcomin, and to Waterford, and so on into the County of Wexford, having Meetings in all these places; and the Lord's good Presence with us, to our comfort, Glory, and Honour, and Praise to him for ever!

And then I came up through the County of Catherlough, and the Queens County, and so on into the County of Westmeath, having Meetings all along, and visiting Friends, (and there George Pattison left me, and took his Journey for Dublin, and from thence to London) but I took my Journey for Caan, and when I had seen Friends, and had a Meeting or two, I took my Journey for the North, the County of Ardmagh, and the County of Antrim, and those parts, and did visit Friends, and had many precious Meetings, and the Lord was with us, and his gracious Presence was our daily comfort; to him be the Glory for ever!

And when I had spent some time in the North of Ireland in the Service of the Truth, I took my Journey for Dublin. And after some Meetings there, I took my Journey into the County of Wicklow, and so through the Province of Munster a second time, and also through Friends in Leinster, and in the North: so that I did travel through most Meetings a second time in that Nation. And then being clear of the Nation, I took shipping at Belfast the 25th day of the tenth Month 1673. and the 26th we set Sail out of the Lough, and arrived at White-haven in Cumberland in England the 27th of the same Month, and stayed about three Months in Cumberland for the most part. And then I took my Journey out of Cumberland towards Newcastle, visiting Friends and their Meetings, as I went along. And from Newcastle I went on into Bishoprick, and through their Meetings, and so on into Yorkshire, and through Cleveland, and to Whitby, and Scarborough, Malton, and York, and had many precious Meetings. And so went up to Massom, and from thence Robert Lodge and I, with Iames Hall, took our Journey towards London to the Yearly-Meeting in the Year 1674. and there stayed some time (labouring 1674. in the Word and Testimony which God had committed unto me) in that City. And then I took my Journey into the Country, and went down into Buckinghamshire, through their Meetings; and so on into Oxfordshire, to Worcestershire, and Glocestershire, and to Bristol, and then back again, and so through to Shrewsbury, and on as far as Wrexham in Wales, visiting the Churches of Christ: and the good Presence of the Lord in his heavenly Power accompanying, we were often refreshed and sweetly comforted together, to his Praise and our Joy, who is our God for evermore.

And so from Wrexham in North-Wales, I took my Journey with Iohn ap Iohn, who accompanied me towards South Wales, and we did visit Friends, and had many Meetings as we went along, in Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire, and Cardiganshire; and so we passed on by the West-Sea into Pembrokeshire, and there visited the Lord's People, and spent some time amongst them there. And then we took our Journey through Carmarthenshire to Swanzey; and having a Meeting or two, we passed on towards Cardiff, visiting Friends in Glamorganshire; and then into Monmouthshire; and having visited Friends in that County, we parted; he returned home, and I passed over the Water into Glocestershire, and so to Bristol. And so continued travelling through several Counties, visiting the Churches, and so to London; spent some time there, and then went down into Essex, and visited Friends in that Country; and returned again to London to the Yearly-Meeting in the Year 1675. And from London I took my Journey to Hartford, and so down Northward with Iohn Graves and Iames Hall to 1675. York, and there we parted. And I went from York to Malton, and so to Scarborough, and Whitby, and through Friends in Cleveland, and so to Stockdon in Bishoprick, visiting Friends, and having many pretious Meetings. And then passed through several Meetings in that County; and being clear, I then took my Journey for Cumberland; and being there, I with several Brethren was desired to come over into—

Westmorland to a Meeting appointed by Friends at their Quarterly-Meeting in Westmorland, which was to be at Powbank. So I went thither against the day appointed, with Iohn Graves, Iohn Tiffin, Hugh Tickell, and Thomas Laithes, where we met with several Brethren, that were come out of Yorkshire, at the request of the aforesaid Quarterly-Meeting. And upon that occasion many Friends of Westmorland were come together; who, when we were sate together in the Meeting, did present unto us several Disorders in many things, that were contrary to the Truth; by which they had been grieved, and sorely exercised for a long time in their Monthly and Quarterly-Meetings, so that the Spirits of a lose Company were set at liberty, and so much born up and countenanced by Iohn Story and Iohn Wilkinson, that the blessed Order of the Truth brought forth amongst us by the Power of God, was greatly slighted, and endeavoured to be trodden under by that lose Company, being thus encouraged by these two men, that looked upon themselves to be Elders, and so, like Diotrephes, loved to have the Pre-eminence; which brought great grief upon the honest and simple-minded. So we hearing, what Friends had to say in that matter, and observing, what was charged and proved, we desired Friends to give us another Meeting, and let I. S. and I. W. be sent to, and desired to meet us, that we might hear them face to face: although they had been desired from the Quarterly-Meeting, and several others, to come to this Meeting so appointed by the Quarterly-Meeting, and had refused; and withal sent us a Letter, denying to come, and disowning our Meeting.

Nevertheless, we were willing to have another Meeting, which Friends of Westmorland freely assented unto; and so it was appointed at Milthrop the next day. And we (to wit) six or more of Cumberland and Yorkshire Friends, did our selves go to them as Messengers, and did intreat them to go with us to the Meeting, that we might hear them and the Friends of Westmorland, that were agrieved, face to face, concerning those things that were in charge against them; but they were so high, and so obstinate, that they slighted us all, or any Advice we could give. And so after some hours discourse with them, in which we throughly saw their Spirits to be wrong, we left them, and went to the Meeting appointed at Milthrop, where Friends were waiting for us. And after we were setled a little in the Meeting, we gave an acccount, how we had endeavoured to perswade them to come through all entreaty we could, but could not prevail. And so we gave a hearing a second time to the Friends; and then we of Yorkshire and Cumberland with-drew; and amongst our selves viewed the whole matter, for it was in writing, and opened our Hearts one unto another. And waiting upon the Lord, there fell a Weighty Concern upon us for the Truth's sake, and the blessed Order thereof, with our holy Testimony we had been raised up into, which by them had been slighted, and scorned, and reproached. So that we could not pass it by, but in the Power of the Lord God, that was dreadful amongst us, gave Iudgment against that Spirit, that was grown so high, and lose, and fleshly, as thus to undervalue the Testimony of God, and the bringings forth of his holy Power in the Churches of Christ: that thereby all might be kept sweet, clear, and in good Order. And when we had cleared our selves in the rising and springing of the Word of Life, and drawn up our Testimony in writing, we gave it unto Friends there, and so departed. Of the Iudgment given I shall say no more here, because it is in writing in many places.

So I went over to Swarthmore, and stayed a Meeting there; and then returned into Cumberland, and stayed there some Weeks, and visited Friends. And being clear, I returned again to Swarthmore, in order to go over the Sands towards Wales, which was before me. And when I was at Swarthmore, I was moved to go over first into Westmorland, to visit the Meetings there. So I went over to Sedber, and had a Meeting there; and then had a Meeting at Grayrigg, and then came to Kendall, where I met with Robert Lodge, and so we had a blessed Meeting there. And the next day we were at Preston-Meeting; and then I was clear of that County.

And so after a little time, took my Journey into Wales through Lancashire and Cheshire, and so coming to Iohn ap Iohns, near Wrexham in North-Wales, he did go along with me. And in the first place, we went to a Quarterly-Meeting that was at Deloberon, at Charles Lloyds, for two Counties, (viz.) Merionethshire and Mongomeryshire, and had a blessed Service for the Truth there among Friends. And then went down into Merionethshire, and visited the Meetings: and then to Mehuntleth, and had a Meeting. And then returned up into Radnorshire, and visited the Meetings there in that County. And then took our Journey through Brecknockshire, and Carmarthenshire, into Pembrokeshire, where we spent some time amongst Friends, and had several pretious Meetings. And being clear, we took our Journey towards Swanzey, and Cardiff, and had several pretious Meetings in Glamorganshire, and then went over into Monmouthshire. And after we had visited Friends, Iohn went with me to the Ferry, and stayed to see me take Boat, and then returned.

And I went that same day to Bristol, and stayed some Meetings there. And then went down into Somersetshire, and did visit Friends there, and had many blessed Meetings. And returned back to Bristol, and stayed some Meetings there. And then went up into Wiltshire, and so into Glocestershire, and through Barkshire, and into Oxfordshire, and so into Worcestershire, as far as Worcester, and visited Friends, and had many pretious Meetings through those Counties. And from Worcester returned again down through Glocestershire, and had several Meetings. And came again to Bristol; and from thence took my Journey through several Counties, visiting Friends: And so came to London, and stayed there some time in the Service and Work of the Gospel.

And being clear, I took my Journey for the North, and did not make much stay at any place, till I came into Cumberland. And the reason of my so travelling was, because of a Meeting, that was agreed upon by Friends to be at Draw-well in Sedber-Parish, about the former Difference, that had been heard at Powbank, that was among Friends in Westmorland, chiefly occasioned by the aforesaid Iohn Story and I. Wilkinson, and a lose sort of People, that they did countenance in a Liberty, that the Truth would not allow; and therefore could not be born with by such tender Friends, as were zealous for the Truth, who kept their first love, and therein delighted to uphold that Antient Testimony for the Lord, against the Priests and their Tithes, Hire and Maintenance, with other things, that were to be born Witness against through Sufferings: as also for Meeting together to worship God, which from the beginning had been our practice against such, there being divers Statutes with Penalties upon us, for so doing; for fear of which, the aforesaid I. S. and I. W. with such as had let in the same fear through fleshly Reasoning, did shrink, and hide, and so let fall the Nobility of that Testimony, which we had received, and were raised up to stand for in the beginning. And so because of a failure in divers things, and a pleading for a Liberty, from under the exercise of the Cross, that the Offence thereof might cease, the Faithful became concerned, to stand up against that Spirit, that thus was like to weaken or overthrow the Faith and Testimony of many, through its subtil Workings in and through divers, who like them the Apostle writes against in his Epistle to the Galatians, that to avoid Persecution, endeavoured to bring the Believers under Circumcision, that so the Offence of the Cross might cease, or Sufferings for the Gospel might be avoided.

Now this Difference still continuing, and they abiding obstinate, and not willing to receive Advice, nor bear the Iudgment in the Truth placed upon them, Friends in condescension, to see, if they could be gained, appointed a Meeting at Draw-well near Sedber, that 1676. they might have another opportunity, and be heard, what they could further say. And then the Matters were fully gone through before many antient, faithful Brethren, that were there then assembled, who spent four days in hearing, and going through the Matters relating to that Difference, that was then occasioned through their Opposition to the blessed Order of the Truth, who withstood Friends godly Care for the Preservation of the Dominion thereof in Righteousness. And when all things were heard and gone through by the Brethren, the Iudgment was again given in the Power of the Lord upon that Spirit, that they had let in, whereby they had been led into a Separation, and Division, and Opposition to the Truth, and the holy Order and Testimony thereof; and they in the same Power and Love, with great Bowels and Tenderness, sought to return back again unto that Spirit of Love and Peace, wherein the Unity and Fellowship of the true Body doth consist. But alas! many of them would not be wrought upon, nor prevailed with; but in that hardness the Enemy had wrought their Hearts into, did persist, until they became open Enemies to the Truth, and the faithful Witnesses of it, even to the Writing and Printing publickly against them, and what the Truth doth lead into: and so are become such as the Apostles write of, that greatly withstood their words, and slighted them: of which both Paul, Peter, Iohn and Iude write. This Meeting at Draw-well was in the second Month 1676.

From thence (after Friends had done what could be done at that time, with holy Endeavours for the reconciling and gathering into the Heavenly Unity, and making up of the Breach) I returned again into Cumberland with several Brethren, to wit, I. T. I. B. Hugh Tickhill, Thomas Laythes, Iohn Steel, and so spent a little time in Cumberland, and then I took my Journey with Iohn Tiffin towards London. And in our Journey we came into Westmorland, to visit Friends there, where we met with some of those, with whom we had to do at Draw-well; and then they were grown hard, through resisting the Counsel of the Lord, and had set up a Separate Meeting, and so run into the Self-Separation, and grown more into the Enmity, and stronger in the Opposition, through Resisting the love of God, that so richly was reached forth unto them in the Heavenly Bowels, that by the Power of the Lord Jesus Christ were opened in the Brethren at the aforesaid Meeting at Draw-well. For then did the Power of the Eternal God in great Majesty appear, and in a weighty Dread was Iudgment set and sealed upon that Spirit, by which they had been betrayed; and by the same Power and Word of Life was a Door opened unto them that had been betrayed, and an entrance in the same set before them, and they with much brokenness and tenderness, in the Power of Love, were sought to return, and be reconciled unto God, and unto his People. But this great Visitation by them being rejected, they grew harder and harder, until they grew, many of them, as before said, Enemies unto the Cross of Christ; and so withered as to their Spiritual State, and so did become as some of old, whom the Apostle wrote of, as Trees twice dead, and pluckt up by the Roots—

And then from Westmorland I went over into Yorkshire, had a Meeting at Sedber, and went through the Dales to Massom, and visited Friends there-aways. And then I. T. and I, with Robert Lodge, took our Journey to York, and from thence towards London, visiting Friends by the way, and so came to the Yearly Metting in the Year 1676. where there were many faithful Brethren assembled together there from most Parts of the Nation: Amongst many things of Concern, relating to the Truth, and the Churches of Christ, that Division in Westmorland was laid before the Meeting, and how they were hardened, and had set up a Separate Meeting, and so had withdrawn themselves from the rest of their Brethren, and broken the Christian Fellowship: which thing, when understood by the Brethren there assembled, was a grief unto them. And thefore under the sence thereof, and in that Brotherly Love, with which their Hearts were filled towards them, were there Two Epistles writ from the Meeting, one to I. S. and I. W. warning and advising them, as Heads and Leaders in that Sedition and Schism, to endeavour to break up that Separate Meeting, and to be Reconciled unto their Brethren, before they did go abroad to offer their Gift. And the other was writ to the Meeting, as Advice unto them to Return to their former Fellowship with Friends, and lay that Separate Meeting down, and joyn with their Brethren in the Unity of the Truth, &c.

But all this did not prevail with them; but still they grew higher and harder, and went on in the strong Resolutions of their Wills. Only there were divers Particulars, that were for a time concerned in that Opposition and Separation, whose Understandings the Lord opened, so that they did see the Snare of the Enemy, and returned; and under a sense of the Lord's Iudgments, did give forth divers Testimonies in Writing against that Spirit, by which they had been Seduced, with a Confession of the Errour they were led into; and so returned into the true Fellowship and Unity with the Church of Christ, and were received with Gladness. Glory to the Lord, who is the Saviour and Healer of his People, who now heals and saves by his Word, as he did of old.