An account of W. Penn's travails in Holland and Germany, anno MDCLXXVII, for the service of the Gospel of Christ, by way of journal containing also divers letters and epistles writ to several great and eminent persons whilst there.

An account of W. Penn's travails in Holland and Germany, anno MDCLXXVII, for the service of the Gospel of Christ, by way of journal containing also divers letters and epistles writ to several great and eminent persons whilst there.

Table of contents

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Title page

THE Preface to the Reader.

AN ACCOUNT OF MY JOURNEY INTO Holland and Germany.

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Title page

TO THE CHURCHES OF JESUS Throughout the VVORLD, Gathered and ſettled in his Eternal Light, Power and Spirit, to be One Holy Flock, Family, and Houſhold to the Lord, &c.

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TO THE Children of Light IN THIS GENERATION, Called of God to be Partakers of Eternal Life in JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb of God and Light of the World.

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AN ACCOUNT OF W. Penn's TRAVAILS IN HOLLAND and GERMANY. Anno MDCLXXVII. For the Service of the Goſpel of Chriſt, by way of Journal. Containing alſo Divers Letters and Epiſtles writ to ſeveral Great and Eminent Perſons whilſt there.

London, Printed and Sold by T. Sowle, near the Meeting-Houſe in White-Hart-Court in Grace-Church-Street, and at the Croked-Billet in Holy-well-lane near Shoreditch, 1694.

THE Preface to the Reader.

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THis Enſuing Journal of my Travils in Holland and Germany, in the Service of the Goſpel of my Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, was written for my own and ſome Relations, and perticular Friends Satisfaction, as the long time it hath lain ſilent doth ſhow: But a Copy that was found amongſt the late Counteſs of Connaway's Papers, falling into the Hands of a Perſon that much frequented that Family, he was earneſt with me, both by himſelf and others, to have leave to Publiſh it for a Common Good: Which upon, peruſal, I have found a willingneſs to [Page] comply with, hoping that the Lord will make the Reading of it Effectual to ſome into whoſe Hands it may Fall; as well thoſe who have received a Diſpenſation of the ſame Miniſtry, for Their Encouragement in their Publick Service for God, as thoſe who are under the ſame Miniſtry, unto Zeal and Faithfulneſs. For it is the Glorious Goſpel-Day in which God is Exalting his Dear Son, as Prophet, Prieſt, and King, in the Hearts of his People. Oh, that the Nations would hear him, their only Saving Health, and Iſraels great Shepherd! who takes care of his Sheep, that hear his Voice, and gives unto them that follow him, in the daily Croſs, unto Regeneration, Eternal Life: And who hath ſent, and is [Page] ſending forth his Servants to gather home the Sheep that are gone aſtray in all Nations, that ſo there may be but One Shepherd and One Sheepfold, according to the Glorious Promiſe made to theſe latter Times; In which he would be the Teacher of his People himſelf: For he is Teaching thouſands, by the Light, Spirit and Grace of his Son Chriſt, in whom he is well pleaſed. To this, God hath ſent forth his Servants in this Day, to turn all People, as God's Call and Viſitation to the Nations: And bleſſed are all thoſe that Hearken to this Teſtimony, both Mediately and Immediately. For God is awakening Men to the Knowledge of his Glory in the Face or Appearance of Chriſt, by his Spirit in their Hearts and [Page] Conſciences, which reveal to Men the Father; yea, the deep things of God.

Oh, that they would Hear, and Fear, and Learn the things that make for their Eternal Peace! For if the Righteous ſcarcely are ſaved, where, O where, ſhall they appear that neglect ſo great Salvation! A Salvation that comes ſo neer them, as to knock at the door of their Hearts; that teaches them and trys their Reins, and tells unto them their moſt inward Thoughts; and brings a Time of Judgment over all their Words and Works. This is Chriſt Jeſus the Light of the World, that was given of God for Salvation to the ends of the Earth. He has Enlightned all, and Shines to all, and Calls all, that [Page] they ſhould ſee their Sins and be ſorry for them, and forſake them, and take up his dayly Croſs and follow him whom God hath given for an Example as well as a Propitiation for our Sins. And none can know him to be their Propitiation that rejest him as their Example and Leader in their Lives and Converſations. Wherefore, Reader, be Serious, Inward and Inquiſitive for thy Souls Sake. What Faith haſt thou? One that over-comes the World, or one that the Spirit of the World over-comes, which is not the Faith of God's Elect, without which we cannot pleaſe God. For that Faith works by love. Such a love to God as will not affend him, but ſeeks his Glory through a moſt willing Obedience to his Holy Will. [Page] Bleſſed are the Souls in which this love dwells. For ſuch have none in Heaven but God, nor in the Earth in compariſon of him: As they receive all good from him, ſo they reſign all up to him; and tho' it be through many Tribulations that they muſt attain the reſt of God, yet as nothing can ſeperate them from his love, ſo neither can anything deprive them of their Reward in the End.

Wherefore, Reader, be thou perſwaded to take thy Lot among that bleſſed Number, if thou art not yet one of them. Thou ſeeſt the way to that Divine Priviledge; walk in it; for the End Crowns all: If one of that number, that have choſen God for their Portion, be Diligent, Zealous, and fervent in the [Page] Work and Service of God. Redeem thy Time and Run thy Race, with care and conſtancy; looking to Jeſus the Author, that he may be the Finiſher of thy Faith. Remember who ſaid, there are many Manſions prepared for the Faithful. Do we beleive and look for another World? Let us not then live in this as if there were no other. Let our Eyes be upon our better World, and live here as Strangers that are but on our way to our Eternal Home; that ſo we may Anſwer the End of God's Love by working out the Salvation of our own Souls (by his Power) with fear and Trembling; knowing God will Judge all, by Chriſt Jeſus, according to the Deeds done in the Body.

[Page] Reader, this Journal is of a Religious Voyage, and has ſome paſſages in it that may Engage thy Soul to Seriouſneſs, and let the ſee how Good▪ God is to thoſe that go of his Holy Errands. May'ſt thou be heartily affected with this Teſtimony of his Love and Preſence with his People; and feel good deſires raiſed in thee to ſerve the Lord alſo, according to his bleſſed will in thy day, that Peace thou may'ſt know to thy Soul when time here ſhall be no more. I am

Thy aſſured Friend in the beſt Things, W. Penn.

AN ACCOUNT OF MY JOURNEY INTO Holland and Germany.

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BEING the Firſt Day of the Week,22d. 5. Month. London. I left my Dear▪ Wife and Family at Worminghurſt in Suſſex, in the Fear and Love of God, and came well to London that Night.

The next day I Emploied my ſelf on Friends behalf that were in Sufferings,2 [...]d. Eſſex. [Page] till the Evening, and then went to my own Mothers in Eſſex.

The next Morning I took my Journey to Colcheſter, 24th. Colcheſter. and met George Wats of London upon the Way, who returned with me, and came well to that Town that Evening. We lodged at John Furly's the Elder, but had a Bleſſed Meeting at Jonathan Furly's Houſe that Night.

25th. Harwich.The next Morning early I left Colcheſter, and came to Harwich about Nine, accompanied with George Wats and John Furly the Elder, William Tallcoat, and J. Whiterly of Colcheſter, where we found dear G. F. at J. Vanderwall's Houſe, with many more Friends.

After Dinner we went all to the Meeting, where the Lord gave us a Bleſſed Earneſt of his Love' and Preſence that ſhould be with us in this Voyage; for his overcoming refreſhing Power did open all our Hearts, and many of our Mouths in Miniſtry, Prayer and Praiſes, to the Magnifying of his own Name, and Truth in that [Page] Place. The Meeting done, we returned to John Vanderwall's Houſe, where we took our leave of Friends, that is to ſay, of the Friends of that place, with others that came with us, or met us there; and ſo we went on Board of the Pacquet-boat, where (by the ſpecial Favour of the Maſter of the Pacquets to me, having formerly ſerved under my Father) we had the beſt Accommodation given to us: Many of the Friends accompanied us to the Ship, not leaving us till all was fixt, and then we parted in the Fellowſhip of Jeſus. Thoſe that came over were G. Fox, G. Keith, R. Barclay, G. Wats, J. Furly, W. Tallcoat, E. Keith, My ſelf, with two of our Servants. We ſet Sail about Three in the Morning,26th. [...] Month. being the fifth day of the Week, and got the Sixth day at Night within half a League of the Briel;27th. we had good Service thoſe two daies in the Ship with ſeveral Paſſengers French and Dutch, and though they ſeemed at firſt to be Shy of us, and to Slight us, yet at [Page] laſt their Hearts were much Opened in kindneſs towards us, and the univerſal Principle had place.

2 [...]th. Briel.The next Morning Friends were fetcht on Shore by a Boat of Rotterdam, with ſome Friends of that City that came to the Briel to meet us; the Friends that came were A. Sonneman, B. Furly and J. Johnſon, Yetterkeuken, with three Young Men that live at B. Furly's Houſe.

After we had Eaten, we took Boat immediately for Rotterdam, Rotterdam. where we arrived about Noon, and where many Friends came to ſee us, among whom we were comforted.

2 [...]th.The next day being the Firſt day of the Week, we had two Meetings at B. Furly's Houſe, whither reſorted a great Company of People, ſome of them being of the conſiderableſt Note of that City. And Oh, bleſſed be the true Word of Life that never failed them that reſt upon it, and abide in it! The Goſpel was Preached, the Dead was Raiſed, and the Living Comforted, and God even our God [Page] bore Heavenly Record to his only begotten Son in us; and Truth is honourable in the Eyes of ſeveral of that place.

The next day being the Second day of the Week,30th. 5 Month. we ſpent in viſiting Friends from Houſe to Houſe, not in one Company, being lodged in ſeveral quarters of the City. All our Viſits were Precious Meetings, for indeed for that end God brought us into this Land. Several of us Dined and Supped that day at two great Men's Houſes, where we had bleſſed Opportunities to make known unto them what was the Hope of our Glory, that Myſtery, which to the Gentiles is now revealing, even Chriſt Jeſus the Light of the World manifeſted in us.

The next day being the Third day of the Week,31ſt. G.F. J.F. W.T. and my ſelf, after having broken our Faſt at A. Sonneman's, took Boat for Leyden, Leyden. where we came that Night in Order to be at Haerlem next day at a Meeting appointed by G.F. and my ſelf from [Page] Rotterdam, being accompanied by J. Bocliffs, J. Arents and J. Claus that came from Amſterdam on purpoſe to conduct us thither.

1ſt 6 Month. Haerlem.At Haerlem we arrived about the 11th. Hour, and went to the Houſe of a good Old Man, that had long waited for, and is now come to behold the Conſolation and Salvation of Iſrael. After we had a little refreſht our ſelves, we went to the Meeting, where the Lord gave us a bleſſed Opportunity, not only with reſpect to Friends, but many ſober Baptiſts and Profeſſors that came in, and abode in the Meeting, to the End; Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord.

The Meeting done,Amſterdam. we went to Amſterdam in Company with ſeveral Friends of that City, and of Alchmaer and Embden, who met us at the Meeting at Haerlem, and we were lodged at Getrueydt Dirck's Houſe. G. K. and his Wife, and R. B. ſtayed over the Fourth day's Meeting at Rotterdam, and ſo came not till the next day, which was the day of the general [Page] Meeting of Friends in this Country.

The Fifth day of the Week at G. D's Houſe the general Meeting was held both of Men and Women.12th. 6 Month. And the Lord who is ſetting up his own Kingdom by his own Power, owned us with his own bleſſed Preſence, and opened us in that Wiſdom and Love, that all things Ended with Peace, great Concord and Comfort, many things being Spoken, eſpecially by our Dear Friend G. F. that were of good Service; and I hope will dwell with them for ever. Theſe ſeveral things being agreed upon, being of good Savour and Report, I think fit here to inſert them.

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At the General Meeting of Friends at Amſterdam, the 12th. of the 6th. Month, 1677.

1. BE it known to all Men that th [...] power of God, the Goſpel, is the Authority of all our Mens and Womens Meetings, and every Heir of that Power is an Heir of that Authority, and ſo becometh a living Member of right of either of thoſe Meetings, and of the Heavenly Fellowſhip and Order in which they ſtand, which is not of Man, nor by Man.

2. That each Monthly Meeting have a Collection apart; and alſo that there be another Collection quarterly at Amſterdam from each Meeting for general Services, and that it be diſpoſed of but by the conſent of the ſaid Quarterly Meeting.

3. It is Agreed upon, that henceforth a Yearly Meeting be held here at Amſterdam, unto which Friends in the Palatinate, Hambrough, Lubeck and [Page] Frederickſtadt, &c. be invited, of which Meeting there ſhall be given Notice to the Friends of the Yearly Meeting at London, to be kept always on the firſt day of that Week, which is fully the third Week following after the Yearly Meeting at London.

4. It is alſo Agreed upon, that henceforth this General Meeting is to be changed into a Quarterly Meeting, and that the firſt Quarterly Meeting hereafter ſhall be held on the ſecond firſt day of the ninth Month following, and ſo forth every Quarter on the ſecond firſt day of the Month; this ſecond of the nine Month is to be this firſt Quarterly Meeting.

5. It is alſo Agreed, that henceforth a Monthly Meeting in Vrieſland ſhould be Eſtabliſhed, as alſo at Rotterdam, and that on the ſecond ſecond day of each Month, and at Harlingen upon the third third day of the Month.

6. Further, that in the interim, the Friends of Alchmaer and Haerlem and Waterland, are to have their Monthly [Page] Meeting with Friends at Amſterdam, and to begin the ſaid Meeting the ſixth, ſeventh Month, and ſo forth alwaies upon the firſt ſecond day of the firſt week of the Month at the Eighth Hour.

7. And further concerning Goſpel▪order, though the Doctrine of Chriſt Jeſus requireth his People to admoniſh a Brother or Siſter twice, before they tell the Church, yet that limiteth none, ſo as that they ſhall uſe no longer forbearance before they tell the Church, but that they ſhall not leſs than twice admoniſh their Brother or Siſter before they tell the Church; and it is deſired of all, that before they publickly complain, they ſo wait in the Power of God to feel if there is no more required of them to their Brother or Siſter, before they expoſe him or her to the Church. Let this be weightily conſidered.

8. And farther, when the Church is told, and the party admoniſht by the Church again and again, and he or ſhe remain ſtill unſenſible or unreconciled, [Page] let not final Judgment go forth againſt him or her, till every one of the Meeting hath cleared his or her Conſcience, that if any thing be inſiſted upon any farther to viſit ſuch a Tranſgreſſour, they may clear themſelves, if poſſibly the party may he reacht and ſaved, and after all clear of the Blood of ſuch an one. Let the Judgments of Friends in the Power of God go forth againſt him or her, as moved for the Lord's Honour and Glory's Sake, that no reproach may come or reſt upon God's Holy Name, Truth and People.

9. As much as poſſible can be, let all Difference be ended by ſome honeſt Friends, and trouble not the Monthly or Quarterly Meetings with them; and if that will not doe, proceed to your particular Monthly Meetings; but if they be not there ended neither, then take aſide ſix honeſt Friends out of the Quarterly Meeting, and let them hear and determine the matter; and in caſe any Perſon or Perſons be ſo obſtinate as that they refuſe the Senſe and Love of Friends, and will not comply with [Page] them, then to proceed towards them according to the way of Truth in ſuch Caſes.

10. That all ſuch as behold their Brother or Siſter in a Tranſgreſſion, go not in a Rough, Light, or upbraiding Spirit to reprove or admoniſh him or her, but in the Power of the Lord and Spirit of the Lamb; in the Wiſdom and Love of the Truth which ſuffereth thereby to admoniſh ſuch an Offender, ſo may the Soul of ſuch a Brother or Siſter be ſeaſonably and effectually reach'd unto, and overcome, and have cauſe to bleſs the Name of the Lord on their behalf, and ſo a bleſſing may be rewarded into the Boſom of the Faithful and tender Brother or Siſter that ſo admoniſheth.

11. And be it known unto all, we caſt out none from among us; for if they go from the Light, and Spirit, and Power, in which our Unity is, they caſt out themſelves; and it has been our way to admoniſh them, that they may come to the Spirit and Light of God which they are gone from, [Page] and ſo come into the Unity again. Fo [...] our Fellowſhip ſtandeth in the Light, that the World hateth, and in the Spirit, that the World grieveth, vexeth and quencheth; and if they will not hear our Admonitions, the Light condemneth them, and then goeth our Teſtimony out againſt them.

12. That no Condemnation is to go farther than the Tranſgreſſion is known, and if he or ſhe return and give forth a Condemnation againſt him or her ſelf, (which is more deſireable than that we ſhould do it) this is a Teſtimony of his or her Repentance and Reſurrection before God, his People and the whole World. As David when Nathan came to admoniſh him, Pſalm 51.

13. That no Teſtimony by way of Condemnation be given forth againſt any Man or Woman (whatever crime they commit) before Admonition, and till ſuch time as they have had Goſpel-order according to Chriſt's Doctrine.

[Page]14. And if any Brother or Siſter hear any Report of any Brother or Siſter, let him or her go to the Party, and know the Truth of the Report; and if true, let the thing be judged; if falſe, go thou to the Reporter, and let him or her be judged, and if any ſhould report it at a ſecond or third hand, without going to the party of whom the Report goeth, let ſuch be brought to Judgment, for thou ſhalt neither raiſe nor ſuffer a falſe Report to lie upon my People, ſaith the Lord, for they are to be Holy as he is Holy, and Juſt as he is Juſt.

15. And if any Controverſie, or Weakneſs ſhould appear in either Mens or Womens Meeting, let it not be told out of your Meetings, becauſe ſuch Speeches tend to the defaming of ſuch Perſons and Meetings, and to the Hurt of the common Unity, and Breach of the Heavenly Society and Previlege.

This is an account of what paſſed in that Meeting.

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Next day (notice being already given) we had a large publick Meeting,13th. 6 Month. in which the ſound of the everlaſting, Goſpel, Teſtament and Covenant went forth, and the Meeting ended with a ſweet and weighty Senſe; that Evening we had a more ſelect meeting of Friends than the day before, in which the Nature of Marriage, and the practice of Friends relating to it, and other things were very weightily and cloſely diſcourſed; the Reſolutions were theſe following.

1. A Scruple concerning the Law of the Magiſtrate about Marriage, being propoſed and diſcourſed of in the fear of God among Friends in a Select Meeting, it was the univerſal and unanimous ſenſe of Friends, that joining in Marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not of Prieſt or Magiſtrate; For 'tis God's Ordinance and not Man's, and therefore Friends cannot conſent that they ſhould join them together; for we Marry none; 'tis the Lord's Work and we are but Witneſſes.

[Page]2. But yet if a Friend through tenderneſs have a deſire that the Magiſtrate ſhould know it before the Marriage be concluded, they may publiſh the ſame, after the thing hath by Friends been found clear, and after the Marriage is performed in a publick Meeting of Friends and others, according to the Holy Order and Practice of Friends in Truth throughout the World, (the manner of the holy Men and Women of old) to go and carry a Copy of the Certificate to the Magiſtrate, they are left to their freedom herein, that if they pleaſe they may Regiſter it. But for Prieſts or Magiſtrates to marry, or join any in that Relation, it's not according to Scripture; and our Teſtimony and Practice have been alwaies againſt it. It was God's work before the Fall, and it's God's work only in the Reſtoration.

3. If any Friend have it upon him to reprint any Book already Printed and approved either in England or here, they may do it upon their own Charges.

[Page]4. It is alſo agreed that the care of reading and approving Books be laid upon ſome of every Meeting, to the end no Book may be Publiſht but in the Unity, yet any other faithful Friends not ſo Nominated, are not thereby excluded, though in all theſe caſes it is deſired, that all would avoid unneceſſary Diſputes about words, which profit not, but keep in the love that Edifieth.

5. It is farther concluded that the general Stock of the Quarterly Meeting be not diſpoſed of, but by the conſent of the Quarterly Meeting; but if betwixt times there ſhould be a preſſing neceſſity concerning the Publick, let that monthly Meeting, where it ſhall fall out, lay down the Money, and give in an Account at the next Quarterly Meeting in Order to their Relief, if it appear that they are thereby overcharged; and let all things be done without Favour, Affection, Relation, or any reſpect to Perſons, even for the Lord's Sake and his bleſſed Everlaſting Truth, that God may bleſs and proſper [Page] his People. And let all things be written down, both as to your monthly and quarterly meeting Collections, what you Receive, what you Disburſe, that all may be fair and clear to the ſatisfaction of all that deſire to ſee and Examine the Books. And the Lord's Fear and Life and Power was over all, in which the Lord God preſerve his for ever.

14th. 6 Month.The next day (being the Seventh day of the Week) was imploied in viſiting of Friends, and preparing our ſelves for a further Journey, that is to ſay, G. K. R. B. B. F. and My ſelf. Finding Letters here from the Friends of Dantzick, complaining of their heavy Sufferings they underwent, informing us alſo that the King of Poland was there, asking advice about an Addreſs to Him, it fell upon me to write the following Letter in the Name of the Friends of Dantzick.

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TO THE KING OF POLAND.

Great Prince,

ACtions of Juſtice, Mercy and Truth are worthy of all Men, but in a moſt excellent manner of the ſerious conſideration of Kings and Princes. We certain Inhabitants of the City of Dantzick have been long great Sufferers, not for any Wickedneſs committed againſt the Royal Law of God, or any Breach of thoſe Civil Laws of this City that relate to the well Government of it in all Natural and Civil things; but purely and only for the cauſe of our Tender Conſciences towards God. This ſeverity being by us repreſented to the Magiſtrates of this City, we could not as yet receive from them any Relief, ſome expreſſing; as if eaſing the Burthen of our Oppreſſions[Page]ſhould give thee, O King, an occaſion of Diſſatisfaction againſt them, who art our acknowleged Protector. Being thus neceſſitated, and in a manner driven to make this addreſs unto Thee, take it not amiſs, that we with that Humility and Patience, that becometh the Servants and followers of Jeſus, and with all manner of Chriſtian reſpect and ſincerity of Mind, briefly relate to Thee, the moſt Fundamental Principles moſt ſurely believed by us, which we hope Thou wilt believe deſerve not thoſe Puniſhments, that are inflicted upon us as evil doers.

1. We do reverently believe that there is one God and Father, one Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and one Holy Spirit, and theſe three are one, Eph. 4.6.

2. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament to have been given forth by Divine Inſpiration, and that they are profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for Inſtruction in Righteouſneſs, able to make the Man of God wiſe unto Salvation through Faith which is in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Tim. 3.15, 16.

[Page]3. That theſe Holy Scriptures are not to be underſtood, but by the Diſcoveries, Teachings and Operations of that Eternal Spirit from whence they came.

4. We beleive that all Mankind through Diſobedience to the Spirit of God are fallen ſhort of the Glory of God, and in that State are under Condemnation; but that God out of his infinite Goodneſs and Kindneſs, hath ſent his Son a Light into the World, that whoſoever believeth and obeyeth this Light ſhould not abide in Darkneſs, but have the Light of Eternal Life.

5. We believe this Gift of Light and Grace through Jeſus Chriſt to be Ʋniverſal, and that there is not a Man or Woman upon Earth, that hath not a ſufficient meaſure of this Light, and to whom this Grace hath not appeared to reprove their ungodly Works of Darkneſs, and to lead them that obey it to Eternal Salvation. And this is the great Condemnation of the World at this Day, under all their great profeſſions of God, Chriſt, Spirit and Scriptures; that though Chriſt hath enlightned them, yet they will not[Page]bring their Deeds to the Light, but hate the Light, and love their dark Cuſtoms and Practices rather than the Light, becauſe their Deeds are Evil.

6. We do believe in the Birth, Life, Doctrine, Miracles, Death, Reſurrection and Aſcenſion of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, and that he laid down his Life for the Ʋngodly, not to continue ſo, but that they ſhould deny their Wickedneſs and Ʋngodlineſs, and live Soberly, Righteouſly and Godlikely in this preſent evil World, as the Saints of old did, that were redeemed from the Earth, and ſat in Heavenly places.

7. We do believe, that as the Devil through Man's Diſobedience brought ſin into Man's Heart, ſo Chriſt Jeſus, through Man's Belief in, and Obedience to his Holy Spirit, Light and Grace, cleanſeth the Heart of Sin, deſtroyeth the Works of the Devil, finiſheth Tranſgreſſion and bringeth in everlaſting Righteouſneſs; that as the Devil hath had his Kingdom of Darkneſs in Man, ſo Chriſt may have his Kingdom of Light, Life, Righteouſneſs, Peace and[Page]Joy in the Holy Ghoſt in the Heart of Man, and not that Chriſt Jeſus ſaveth Men from Wrath and not from-Sin; for the Wages of Sin is Death in whoſe heart ſoever it liveth, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life to all that believe and obey through Jeſus Chriſt.

8. We do believe that all true Miniſtry and Worſhip only ſtand in the experimental Senſe, Operations and Leadings of this Holy Light, Spirit, or Grace, that is ſhed abroad in the Hearts of Men and Women, to conduct them in the Holy way of Regeneration unto Life Eternal; this was the Ancient Apoſtolical Doctrine, they ſpoke what they had ſeen, Taſted and Handled of the Word of God. And this is our Faith, Doctrine and Practice in this day. And be not diſpleaſed with us, O King, we intreat thee, if we give this for the reaſon of our abſenting our ſelves from the publick and common Miniſtry or Worſhip, Namely, that we have no Taſte or Reliſh, no Senſe or Evidence that their Miniſtry and Worſhip are Authorized[Page]and performed by the Apoſtolical Power and Spirit of Jeſus, but rather that they are the Inventions, Studies and Powers of Man's Nature, all which are but ſtrange Fire, and therefore cannot kindle a true and acceptable Sacrifice to God, for it is not Man's Spirit and degenerate Nature, Speaking and Profeſſing the Words of God's Spirit that giveth acceptance with the Lord, or adminſtreth Heavenly Edification to Men, nor can we believe, that where Envy, Paſſion, Wrath, Malice, Perſecution, Envy and Strife, Luſts, Vanity, Wantonneſs and Worldly Mindedneſs have ſuch Sway and Power, that the true Chriſtian Spirit, Life and Doctrine can be heartily received and followed.

And as this is the Reaſon in the ſight and preſence of that God that made Heaven and Earth, and will Judge the Quick and Dead, wherefore we cannot join in the common and publick Worſhip of theſe parts, ſo doth the ſame Light and Spirit of God lay an Holy neceſſity upon us with a Meek and Quiet Spirit to come together after the manner[Page]of the Ancient Chriſtians, that were the true Followers of Jeſus; and with Godly fear and a retired Mind to wait upon God, and Meditate in his Holy Law of Life, that he hath writ in our Hearts according to his New Covenant-Promiſe that he may Feed us, Teach us, Strengthen us, and Comfort us in our inward Man; and as by this Holy Spirit according to the Practice of the Churches of Old, any are inclined or moved to Reprove, Exhort, Admoniſh, Praiſe, or Pray, we are found exerciſed in theſe Holy Practices.

Now, O Prince, give us poor Chriſtians leave to Expoſtulate with Thee. Did Chriſt Jeſus or his Holy Followers endeavour by Precept or Example to ſet up their Religion with a Carnal Sword? Called he any Troops of Men or Angels to defend him? Did he encourage Peter to diſpute his eſcape with the Sword? But did he not ſay put it up? Or did he countenance his over zealous Diſciples, when they would have had Fire from Heaven to deſtroy thoſe that were not of their Mind? No, but did not Chriſt[Page]rebuke them, ſaying, ye know not what Spirit ye are of? And if it was neither Chriſt's Spirit, nor their own Spirit that would have Fire from Heaven? Oh! what is that Spirit that would kindl [...] [...]ire on Earth, to deſtroy ſuch as peaceably diſſent upon the account of Conſcience; if we may not wiſh that God would ſmite Men of other judgments, becauſe they differ from us, (in which there is no uſe of Carnal Weapons) can we ſo far deceive our ſelves, as to eſteem our ſelves Chriſtians and Followers of Chriſt, whilſt we incourage Men with Worldly Weapons to perſecute ſuch as diſſent from us? O King! When did the true Religion Perſecute? When did the true Church offer Violence for Religion? Were not her Weapons, Prayers, Tears, and Patience? Did not Jeſus conquer by thoſe Weapons, and vanquiſh Cruelty by Suffering? Can Clubs, and Staves, and Swords, and Priſons, and Baniſhments reach the Soul, convert the Heart, or convince the underſtanding of Man? When did violence ever make a true Convert? Or bodily puniſhments a ſincere Chriſtian? This[Page]maketh void the end of Chriſt's coming, which is to ſave Men's lives and not to [...]eſtroy them, to perſwade them and no [...] [...]o force them; yea it robbeth God's Spi [...]it of its Office, which is to convince the World, that is, the Sword by which the Ancient Chriſtians overcame: It was the Apoſtle's Teſtimony, that their Weapons were not Carnal but Spiritual, but the Practice of their pretended Succeſſors proveth, that there Weapons are not Spiritual, but Carnal: Suppoſe we are Tares, as the true Wheat hath alwaies been called, yet pluck us not up for Chriſt's Sake, who ſaith, Let the Tares and the Wheat grow together until the Harveſt, that is, till the End of the World; let God have his due as well as Caeſar; the judgment of Conſcience belongeth to him; and miſtakes about Religion are beſt known to him. And here give us leave to mind thee of a noble Saying of one of thy Anceſtors, Stephen King of Poland, I am King of Men, not of Conſciences; King of Bodies, not of Souls; and there have been found and ſtill are among the Emperors, Kings, Princes [Page]and States of the World, ſome that have had that noble Spirit of indulging their Conſcientious diſſenting Subjects, and not only with Gamaliel and Gallio not to perſecute, but alſo eminently to protect and defend them from the Hatred and Violence of their Enemies. Be not then leſs Noble than they, conſider how Quietly and Comfortably our Friends live under other Governments. And indeed we conceive it to be the Prudence of the Kings and States of the World; for if the wiſe Man ſay true, The Glory of a Prince is in the Multitude of his People; but this Practice ſaith, No, the Glory of a Prince is in the Conformity of the People to the Canons of the Clergy; which ſeemeth to ſtrike at all Civil Society, which conſiſteth in Men of Virtue, Parts, Arts and Induſtry. But let Men have never ſuch excellent Abilities, be never ſo Honeſt, Peaceable and Induſtrious, all which render them good and profitable Subjects to the Prince, yet they muſt not live within their Native Country, unleſs they will ſacrifice the Peace of their Conſciences by an Hypocritical Submiſſion to[Page]the Canons and Faſhions of the Church: Is not this, O Prince, to ſet the Church above the State? The Biſhop above the King? to waſte and give away the Strength and Glory of a Kingdom.

O that thou mayeſt be wiſe even in thy Generation, and uſe the Power that God hath given thee, for God and Truth and Righteouſneſs, that therein thou mayeſt be like unto God, who Peter telleth us, Accepteth of all that fear him and work Righteouſneſs throughout the World, whoſe Sun ſhineth upon all, whoſe Rain cometh upon all.

And leaſt any ſhould be ſo injurious to us, as to render us Enemies to Civil Government; Be it known unto thee, O King, that we Honour all Men in the Lord, not with the vain invented Honours of this World, but with the true and ſolid Honour that cometh from above; but much more Kings, and thoſe whom God hath [...]laced in Authority over us; for we be [...]ieve Magiſtracy to be both Lawfull and [...]ſefull for the Terrifying of all Evil Do [...]rs, and the Praiſe and Encouragement [...]f thoſe that do well.

[Page] The Premiſes duely Conſidered, we [...]ntreat thee, O Prince, to take our ſuffering Caſe into thy ſerious Regard, and b [...] that Power and Influence thou hadſt with the Magiſtrates of this City to recommend our ſuffering Condition to their ſerious Conſideration, that we may no longer lie under theſe not only Ʋnchriſtian, but Ʋnnatural Severities, but receive that ſpeedy and effectual Relief which becometh Chriſtian Magiſtrates to give to their own ſober and Chriſtian People.

15th. 6. Month.The firſt day of the Week being come, the Meeting began about the Eleventh Hour, and held till about the Fourth Hour in the Afternoon. There was a mighty Concourſe of People from ſeveral places of this Country, and that of ſeveral Perſwaſions, Baptiſts, Presbyterians, Socinians, Seekers, &c. and God was with his People, and his Word of Life and Power, of Wiſdom and Strength covered them; yea the hidden things both of Eſau and Jacob, the myſtery both of Iniquity and Godlineſs were opened [Page] and declared in the Demonſtration of the Eternal Spirit that day; and, O Bleſſed and Magnified be the Name of the Lord that hath not only not left himſelf, but alſo his Servants not without a Witneſs! Oh, he is worthy to be Lov'd and Fear'd, and Obey'd, and Reverenced for ever!

The next day G.K. R.B. B.F. and my ſelf,16th. having taken our leave of dear G.F. and Friends, took Boat for Naerden, Naerden. where we Arrived about the Second Hour in the Afternoon, and after having Eaten,18th. we took our leave of thoſe Friends that had Accompanied us hither, and begun our Journey in the common Poſt-waggon to Oſnaburg, Oſnabrug. where we came the Fourth day following in the Evening.

We paſt through a very dark Country to that place, yet I felt not ſo great a weight and ſuffering in my Spirit as ſix Years ago, when I went through the ſame places.

At Oſnabrug we had a little time with the Man of the Inn, where we lay, and left him ſeveral good Books [Page] of Friends in the Low and High Dutch Tongues to Read and to diſpoſe of.

19th. 6 Month. Herwerden.The next morning (being the fifth day of the Week) we ſet forward to Herwerden, and came thither at Night. This is the City where the Princeſs Elizabeth Palatine hath her Court, whom and the Counteſs in Company with her, it was eſpecially upon us to Viſit, and that upon ſeveral Accompts.

1. In that they are Perſons ſeeking after the beſt things.

2. That they are actually Lovers and Favourers of thoſe that ſeparate themſelves from the World for the ſake of Righteouſneſs.

For the Princeſs is not only a private ſupporter of ſuch, but gave protection to De Labadie himſelf and his Company, yea when they went under the reproachfull Name of Quakers about ſeven Years ſince.

[Page]This Man was a Frenchman, that diſſatisfied with the looſneſs and deadneſs of the French Proteſtants, even at Geneva it ſelf, left them and came for Holland, and ſo vehemently declaimed againſt the Apoſtacy of the Prieſts and People there, that the Clergy were inraged and ſtir'd up the Magiſtrates againſt him; and the rather becauſe many followed him, and ſeveral Women of great Quality: Upon this the Princeſs giveth them an invitation, and they came and were protected by her, but ſince ſome miſcarriages falling out in that place, ſhe thereupon in good meaſure withdrew her Favour from them, and they removed into another place.

I was moved to Viſit this Man and his Company ſix years ago, and did ſee him and his two great Diſciples, but they would not ſuffer me to ſee the People which I laboured for; I in that day ſaw the airineſs and unſtableneſs of the Man's Spirit, and that a Sect-maſter was his Name, and it was upon me both by Word of Mouth and Writing [Page] to let them know, that the Enemy would prevail againſt them to draw them into inconvenient things, if they came not to be ſtay'd in the Light of Jeſus Chriſt, and to know the Holy Silence, and that at laſt they would come to fall out one with another and moulder away; which is in ſome meaſure come to paſs as I fear'd; for I clearly perceived, that though they had received ſome Divine Touches, a danger there was they would run out with them, and ſpend them like Prodigals, not knowing then where to ſtay their Minds for daily Bread; yea though they were ſomething Angelical and like to the Celeſtial Bodies, yet if they kept not their Station, they would prove fallen Stars; they moved not in the motion of him that had viſited them, but were fill'd with groſs Mixtures, and thereby brought forth mixt Births: That is to ſay, things not Natural but Monſtrous. In fine they were Shy of us, they knew us not; yet I believed well of ſome of the People, for a good thing was ſtirring [Page] in them, and in this Caſe was the Counteſs commendable, in that ſhe left all to have joined with a People, that had a pretence at leaſt to more Spirituality and Self-denial than was found in the National Religion ſhe was bred up in; for God had reacht her as ſhe told me about Nine Years ago, and that by an extraordinary way. Now it ſeemed great pity to us, that Perſons of their Quality in the World, ſhould ſo willingly expoſe themſelves for the falſe Quaker, the reprobate Silver, the Mixtures, and that they ſhould not be acquainted with the Life and Teſtimony of the true Quakers.

Now about a Year▪ ſince, R.B. and B.F. took that City in the way from Frederickſtadt to Amſterdam, and gave them a Viſit, in which they informed them ſomewhat of Friends Principles, and recommended the Teſtimony of Truth to them, as both a nearer and more certain thing than the utmoſt of De Labadie's Doctrine. They left tender and loving.

[Page]Soon after this Getrueydt Dircks and Elizabeth Hendricks from Amſterdam viſited them, and obtained a Meeting with them, improving that little, way God by his Providence had made more cloſely to preſs the Teſtimony, and though they, eſpecially the Counteſs, made ſome Objections, in relation to the Ordinances and certain Practices of Friends, yet ſhe ſeemed to receive at that time ſatisfaction from them. Theſe Viſits have occaſioned a Correſpondence by way of Letter betwixt them and ſeveral of us, wherein the Miſtery of Truth hath been more clearly opened to their Underſtandings, and they have been brought nearer into a waiting Frame by thoſe Heavenly Directions they have frequently receiv'd by way of Epiſtles from ſeveral of us.

This Digreſſion from the preſent Hiſtory, I thought not altogether unneſſary or unpleaſing.

But to Return, being arrived at that City, part of which is under her Government, we gave her to underſtand it, deſiring to know what time next [Page] day would be moſt proper for us to Viſit her. She ſent us word, ſhe was glad that we were come, and ſhould be ready to receive us the next Morning about the Seventh Hour.10th./20th. 6 Month.

The next morning being come (which was the ſixth day of the week) we went about the time ſhe had appointed us, and found both her and the Counteſs ready to receive us, which they did with a more than ordinary Expreſſion of Kindneſs. I can truly ſay it, and that in God's fear, I was very deeply and reverently affected with the Senſe that was upon my Spirit, of the great and notable day of the Lord, and the breakings in of his Eternal Power upon all Nations, and of the raiſing of the ſlain Witneſs to judge the World, who is the Treaſure of Life and Peace, of Wiſdom and Glory to all that receive him in the Hour of his Judgments and abide with him. The Senſe of this deep and ſure Foundation which God is laying, as the Hope of Eternal Life and Glory for all to Build upon, fill'd my Soul with an Holy Teſtimony [Page] to them, which in a living Senſe was followed by my Brethren, and ſo the Meeting ended about the Eleventh Hour.

The Princeſs intreated us to ſtay and Dine with her, but with due regard both to our Teſtimony and to her at that time we refuſed it; deſiring if ſhe pleaſed another opportunity that day, which ſhe with all chearfulneſs yielded to; She her ſelf appointing the Second Hour. So we went to our Quarters, and ſome time after we had Dined we returned. The Meeting ſoon began, there were ſeveral preſent beſides the Princeſs and Counteſs; it was at this Meeting that the Lord in a more eminent manner began to appear, the Eternal Word ſhewed it ſelf a Hammer at this day, yea ſharper than a two edged Sword dividing aſunder between the Soul and the Spirit, the Joints and the Marrow; yea this day was all Fleſh Humbled before the Lord; it amazed one, ſtruck another, broke another, yea, the noble Arm of the Lord was truly awakened, and the [Page] weight and work thereof bowed and tendered us alſo after an unuſual and extraordinary manner, that the Lord might work an Heavenly Sign before them and among them, that the Majeſty of him that is riſen among the poor Quakers might in ſome meaſure be known unto them, what God it is we ſerve, and what Power it is we wait for and bow before, yea they had a Senſe and Diſcovery that day what would become of the Glory of all Fleſh, when God ſhall enter into Judgment. Well, let my right hand forget its Cunning, and my Tongue cleave to the roof of my Mouth, when I ſhall forget the loving kindneſs of the Lord, and the ſure Mercies of our God to us his Travelling Servants that day. O Lord, ſend forth thy Light and thy Truth, that all Nations may behold thy Glory. Thus continued the Meeting till about the Seventh Hour, which done, with Hearts and Souls filled with Holy Thanksgivings to the Lord for his abundant Mercy and Goodneſs to us, we departed to our Lodging; deſiring to [Page] know whether our coming the next day might not be uneaſie or unſeaſonable to her with reſpect to the Affairs of her Government, it being the laſt day of the Week, when we were informed ſhe was moſt frequently attended with Addreſſes from her Peopl [...]; but with a loving and ready Mind ſhe replyed, That ſhe ſhould be glad to ſee us the next Morning, and at any time when we would. 11th./12th. [...] Month.

The next Morning (being the Seventh day) we were there betwixt Eight and Nine, where R.B. falling into ſome diſcourſe with the Princeſs, the Counteſs took hold of the Opportunity, and Whiſpered me to withdraw to get a Meeting for the more inferiour Servants of the Houſe, who would have been Baſhful to have preſented themſelves before the Princeſs; and bleſſed be the Lord, he was not wanting to us, but the ſame bleſſed Power that had appeared to Viſit them of High, appeared alſo to Viſit them of Low Degree, and we were all ſweetly tender'd and broken together, [Page] for Vertue went forth of Jeſus that Day, and the Life of our God was ſhed abroad amongſt us as a ſweet ſavour, for which their Souls bowed before the Lord, and confeſs'd to our Teſtimony, which did not a little pleaſe that Noble Young Woman, to find her own report of us, and her great care of them ſo effectually anſwered. Oh, what ſhall we ſay, is there any God like our God? Who is glorious in Holineſs, fearful in Praiſes, working Wonders! To his Eternal Name, Power and Arm be the Glory for Ever.

The Meeting done, the Princeſs came to us expreſſing much Satisfaction, that we had that good opportunity with her Servants, telling us ſhe much deſired they ſhould have a true and right Character of us, and that therefore ſhe choſe to with-draw, that they might have freer acceſs, and that it might look like their own Act, on Words to that Purpoſe. The Twelfth Hour being come we returned to our Inn, letting them underſtand, we purpoſed [Page] (the Lord willing) to Viſit them ſome time that Afternoon.

I muſt not here forget, that we found at our Inn the firſt Night at Supper, a Young Merchant of a ſweet and ingenious Temper, belonging to the City of Bremen, who took occaſion from that Night's Diſcourſe, the ſixth day at Dinner and Supper, and the Seventh day alſo, to ſeek all opportunities of conference with us, and (as we have reaſon to be believe) he ſtayed Twenty Four Hours in that City on our Account. We opened to him the Teſtimony of Truth; I know not that in any one thing he contradicted us. At laſt he plainly diſcovered himſelf unto us to be a Follower of a certain Miniſter in Bremen, that is even by his Fellow-miniſters and Proteſtants reproached with the Name of Quaker, becauſe of his ſingular ſharpneſs againſt the formal lifeleſs Miniſters and Chriſtians in the World. We laid faſt hold upon this, and askt him, in caſe any of us ſhould Viſit that City, if he would give us the opportunity of a [Page] Meeting at his Houſe? which he readily granted us: So we gave him ſome Books, recommending him to the true and bleſſed Teſtimony of Chriſt Jeſus the Light and Judge of the World, and Life of them that receive him and believe in him, and ſo we parted.

It being now about Three in the Afternoon we went to the Princeſs's, where being come, after ſome little time, the Princeſs and Counteſs put me in Remembrance of a Promiſe I made them in one of my Letters out of England, namely, that I would give them an account (at ſome convenient time) of my firſt Convincement, and of thoſe Tribulations and Conſolations which I had met withal in this way of the Kingdom, which God hath brought me to. After ſome pauſe I found my ſelf very free and prepared in the Lord's love and fear to comply with their requeſt, and ſo after ſome Silence, began: But before I had half done, it was Supper time, and the Princeſs would by no means let us go, we muſt Sup with her, which importunity not being well able [Page] to avoid, we yielded to, and ſat down & her to Supper; among the reſt, preſent at theſe Opportunities, it muſt not be forgotten, that there was a Counteſs, Siſter to the Counteſs, then come in to Viſit her, and a French Woman of Quality, the firſt behaving her ſelf very decently, and the laſt often deeply broken, and from a light and ſlighting Carriage towards the very Name of a Quaker, ſhe became very intimately and affectionately kind and reſpectful to us. Supper being ended, we all returned to the Princeſs's Chamber, where making us all to ſit down with her, ſhe with both the Counteſſes and the French Woman preſt from me the Continuance of my Relation, but none more than the Counteſs's Siſter, which (tho' late) I was not unwilling to oblige them with, becauſe I knew not when the Lord would give me ſuch an opportunity, and I found them affected. It continued till about Ten at Night, yet many particulars omitted, partly through forgetfulneſs, and partly for want of time; howbeit, I [Page] muſt needs ſay, they heard me with an Earneſt and Tender Attention, and I hope and believe the Lord hath made it profitable unto them.

This done, ſome diſcourſe they had upon it, and afterwards we ſpoke about a Meeting for the next day, being the firſt day of the Week, and that we might have not only as many of her own Family, but as many of her Town as would willingly be there, ſhe yielded to it, and appointed the Meeting to begin at the Second Hour, ſo we parted being near the Eleventh Hour at Night.12th./22th. 6 Month.

The next Morning we had a Meeting among our ſelves in our Chamber, wherein the Lord refreſht us, and there was a great Travail upon our Spirits, that the Lord would ſtand by us that day and magnifie the Teſtimony of his own Truth by us, that he might have a Seed and People in that place to lift up a Standard for his Name.

At Dinner there were ſeveral Strangers that came by the Poſt-Waggon that day, among whom there was a [Page] Young Man of Bremen, being a Student of Duysburgh, who informed us of a ſober and ſeeking Man of great Note in that City of Duysburgh; to him we gave ſome Books. There was one more who was tender and inquiring, to whom alſo we gave ſome Books.

The Second Hour being at Hand we went to the Meeting, where were ſeveral as well of the Town as of the Family; the Meeting began with a weighty Exerciſe and Travel in Prayer, that the Lord would glorifie his own Name that day, and by his own power he made way to their Conſciences, and ſounded his wakening Trumpet in their Ears, that they might know that he was God, and that there is none like unto him. Oh, the day of the Lord livingly dawned upon us, and the ſearching Life of Jeſus was in the midſt of us! Oh! the word that never faileth them that wait for it, and abide in it, opened the way and unſealed the Book of Life, yea the quickning Power and Life of Jeſus wrought and reacht to them, and vertue from [Page] him in whom dwelleth the God-head bodily, went forth, and bleſſedly diſtilled upon us his own Heavenly Life, ſweeter than the Spices with pure Frankincenſe, yea than the ſweet ſmelling Myrrh that cometh from a far Country, and as it began, ſo it was carried on, and ſo it ended; Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord, and confided in be our God for ever. Aſſoon as the Meeting was done, the Princeſs came to me and took me by the hand (which ſhe uſually did to us all coming and going) and went to ſpeak to me of the Senſe ſhe had of that Power and Preſence of God, that was amongſt us, but was ſtopt, and turning her ſelf to the Window brake forth in an extraordinary Paſſion, crying out, I cannot Speak to you, my Heart is full, claping her Hands upon her Breaſt; it melted me into a deep and calm tenderneſs, in which I was moved to Miniſter a few words ſoftly to her, and after ſome time of Silence, ſhe recovered her ſelf, and as I was taking my leave of her, ſhe interrupted me thus, Will ye not come [Page] hither again? Pray call here as ye return out of Germany: I told her we were in the Hand of the Lord, and being his, could not diſpoſe of our ſelves; but the Lord had taken care, that we ſhould not forget her and thoſe with her, for he had raiſed and begotten an Heavenly Concernment in our Souls for her and them, and that we loved them all with that love wherewith God had loved u [...], with much more to that purpoſe. She then turned to the reſt of the Friends, and would have had us all gone down to Supper with her, but we choſe rather to be excuſed; we ſhould Eat a bit of her Bread and Drink a glaſs of her Wine if ſhe pleaſed in the Chamber where we were. At laſt we prevailed with her to leave us. The Counteſs, the French Woman, and the Counteſs's waiting Woman ſtay'd with us, and we had a very retir'd and ſeaſonable Opportunity with them. After the Princeſs had Supt, we went all down and took our Solemn leave of her, the Counteſs, her Siſter, the French Woman, with [Page] the reſt of the Family, whoſe hearts were reach'd and opened by our Teſtimonies; recommending unto them Holy Silence from all Will-worſhip, and the Workings, Strivings and Images of their own Mind and Spirit, that Jeſus might be felt of them in their Hearts, his holy Teachings witneſſed, and followed in the way of his Bleſſed Croſs that would crucifie them unto the World, and the World unto them; that their Faith, Hope and Joy might ſtand in Chriſts in them the Heavenly Prophet, Shepherd and Biſhop, whoſe voice all that are truly Sheep will hear and follow, and not the voice of any ſtranger whatever. So we left them in the Love and Peace of God, praying that they might be kept from the Evil of this World. So we returned to our Lodging, having our Hearts filled with a weighty Senſe of the Lord's appearance with us in that place, and being late (towards the Ninth Hour) we prepared to go to Reſt.13th./23th. 6 Month.

The next Morning (being the Second day of the Week) G.K. B.F. [Page] and my ſelf got ready to begin our Journey towards Franckfort, wc• by the way of Caſſel is about 200 Engliſh Miles. R. B. prepared himſelf to return by the way we [...]came directly back to Amſterdam. But before we parted, we had a little time together in the Morning in our Chamber, whither came one of the Princeſs's Family, and one of the Town. The Lord moved me to call upon his great Name, that he would be with them that ſtayed, and with them that returned alſo, and with us that went forward in wild and untrodden places, and his bleſſed Love and Life over-ſhadowed us, yea he filled our Cup together, and made us drink into one Spirit, even the Cup of Bleſſings in the Fellowſhip of the everlaſting Seed, in which we took leave of one another, and after having Eaten, it being about the Seventh Hour, we departed the City.

We came to Paderborn that Night, ſix German Miles,Paderborne. which are about thirty ſix Engliſh, it is a dark Popiſh Town, and under the Government of [Page] a Biſhop of that Religion; howbeit, the Woman where we lodged was an Ancient, Grave and Serious Perſon, to whom we declared the Teſtimony of the Light, ſhewing her the difference betwixt an outſide and an inſide Religion, which ſhe received with much kindneſs. We left ſome Books with her, which ſhe took readily.

There was alſo with us at Supper a Lutheran that was a Lawyer, with whom I had very good Service in opening to him the great loſs of the power of Godlineſs, as well among them who ſeparated from Rome, as in the Roman Church: which he confeſſed: I directed him to the Principle of Light in his Conſcience, that let him ſee the lifeleſs State of the falſe Chriſtians; and if he turned his mind to that Principle and waited there for Power, he would receive Power to Rule and Govern himſelf according to true Godlineſs, and that it was the loſs of Chriſtendom that they went from this Principle, in which the Power ſtandeth, that conformeth the Soul into the Image and [Page] Likeneſs of the dear Son of God, and thither they muſt come again, if ever they will have the true knowledge of God, and enjoy Life and Salvation; with much more to that purpoſe, all which he received lovingly.

14th./24th. 6 Month.The next Morning we ſet forwards toward Caſſel, but through great foulneſs of Weather, having only naked Carts to Ride in, the Waters being alſo High with the Rains: We got not to Caſſel till the next day,15th./25th. Caſſel. which was the Fourth day of the Week. It being late we made little inquiry that Night, being alſo wearied with the foulneſs of the Ways and Weather.16th./26th.

But the next day we made our uſual Inquiry, viz. who was worthy in the City, and found ſome that tenderly and lovingly received us, to whom we declared the Viſitation of the Light and Love of God. Among the reſt was Dureus our Countryman, a Man of Seventy Seven Years of Age, who had learned in good Meaſure to forget his Learning, School Divinity, and Prieſt's Craft, and for his approaches [Page] towards an inward Principle is reproachfully ſaluted by ſome with the honeſt Title of Quaker; 'tis much better than Papiſt, Lutheran or Calviniſt, who are not only ignorant of, but Enemies to Quaking and Trembling at the Word of the Lord, as Moſes and others did.

Upon the Sixth day of the ſame week about Noon,17th./27th. 6 Month. we ſet out towards Franckfort, having left ſeveral Books behind us, which hath been our Practice in our Journey.

At Franckfort we Arrived the Second day about Noon,Frankfort. being juſt a Week from Herwerden, and having from thence and Caſſel made known our intentions of coming to that City, two conſiderable Perſons came and met us about half a German Mile from the City, informing us of ſeveral well affected in that Town; upon which we told them the end of our coming, and deſired to have a Meeting with them in the Afternoon, which we eaſily obtained at the Houſe of a Merchant, one of the two that met us. The perſons [Page] that reſorted thither were generally People of conſiderable Note, both of Calviniſts and Lutherans, and we can ſay, they received us with gladneſs of Heart, and embraced our Teſtimony with a broken and reverent Spirit, thanking God for our coming amongſt them, and praying that he would proſper this work in our Hands; this ingaged our hearts to make ſome longer ſtay in this City.

21ſt./31ſt. 6 Month.We therefore deſired another Meeting the next day, which they cheerfully aſſented to, where ſeveral came that were not with us the day before, and the Lord that ſent us into the Land was with us, and by his Power reached to them, inſomuch that they confeſſed to the Truth of our Teſtimony. Of theſe Perſons there were two Women, one a Virgin, the other a Widow, both Noble of Birth, who had a deep Senſe of that power and preſence of God that accompanied our Teſtimony, and their hearts yearned ſtrongly towards us;22/1 6 Mon. the Virgin giving us a particular invitation to her Houſe the next Morning, [Page] where we had the moſt bleſſed Opportunity of the three, for the Lord's power ſo eminently appeared, that not only thoſe that had been with us before were moſt effectually reacht, but a certain Student reſiding in the Houſe of a Lutheran Miniſter (ſent for by that Young Woman) was broken to pieces, and magnified that bleſſed power which appeared. Alſo there accidentally came in a Doctor of Phyſick, who unexpectedly was affected, and confeſſed to the Truth, praying God to proſper us. This was the bleſſed Iſſue of our Viſit to Franckfort.

But there is one thing more not unfit to be mentioned. Among ſome of thoſe that have Inclinations after God, a fearful Spirit together with the ſhame of the Croſs hath entred, againſt which our Teſtimony in part ſtriking, we took Notice it was as Life to theſe noble Women, for that was it as they told us, which had long oppreſt them, and obſtructed the work of the Lord amongſt them. Therefore ſaid the Young Virginour, Quarters are free for [Page] you, let all come that will come, and lift up your Voices without fear, for (ſaid ſhe) it will never be well with us till Perſecution come, and ſome of us be lodged in the Stadthouſe, that is the Priſon. We left the Peace of Jeſus with them, and the ſame Afternoon we departed out of that City, being the fourth day of the week.

Here I writ an Epiſtle to the Churches of Jeſus.

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TO THE CHURCHES OF JESUS Throughout the WORLD, Gathered and ſettled in his Eternal Light, Power and Spirit, to be one Holy Flock, Family, and Houſhold to the Lord, who hath Redeemed them from among all the Kindreds of the Earth.

Godly Zeal, Wiſdom, Power, Perſeverance and Victory, with all Heavenly Bleſſings, be multiplied among you in the Name of the Lord.

William Penn.

Printed in the Year. 1677.

TO THE CHURCHES OF JESUS Throughout the VVORLD, Gathered and ſettled in his Eternal Light, Power and Spirit, to be One Holy Flock, Family, and Houſhold to the Lord, &c.

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Dear Friends and Brethren,

WHO have been viſited with the Fatherly Viſitation from on High, and have received God's Eternal Word and Teſtament in your Hearts, by which you have been gathered home to Chriſt Jeſus, the true Shepherd, from all the Idol-Shepherds, and their barren Mountains, and unprofitable Hills, where you have been ſcattered in the Dark and [Page] Gloomy Day of Apoſtacy, and by hi [...] Light, Spirit and Power have been convinced of Sin, Righteouſneſs, and Judgment, and can ſay, The Prince of thi [...] World is judged by his Holy, Righteous and powerful Appearance in you, unt [...] whom all Judgment in Heaven and Earth is committed; who is the bleſſed Lam [...] of God, the Light and Saviour of the World; who is King of Salem, and Prince of Peace: My Soul loves you with everlaſting Love, even with the Love with which my God and your God, my Father and your Father hath loved me, and viſited my Soul and your Souls; in this do I dearly ſalute and embrace you all, in this the day of the fullfilling of his glorious Promiſes to his Church in the Wilderneſs, and Witneſſes in Sack-cloth. And, O magmagnified be his Name, and everlaſtingly praiſed and renowned be his holy Power and Arm, by which he hath reached unto us, and brought Salvation near us! For he hath found us out, and hath heard our Solitary Cries, the deep and mournful Supplications of our [Page]bowed Spirits, when we were as the [...]ittle ſilly Dove without its Mate, and [...]he lonely Pelican in the Wilderneſs; when we were ready to cry out, Is [...]here none to ſave, is there none to help! O when ſhall the Time and Times and half a Time be finiſht! when ſhall the One Thouſand, Two Hundred and Sixty Days be accompliſht! and when ſhall the Abomination, that ſtands in the Holy Place, [...]e caſt out! when ſhall the Captivity of the People be turned back! O when ſhall Babylon come into Remembrance before God; the Dragon, Beaſt, and Falſe Prophet be caſt into the Lake! And when ſhall the Law go forth out of Sion, and the Word of the Lord out of Jeruſalem! When ſhall Sion become the Joy, and Jeruſalem the Praiſe of the whole Earth! And when ſhall the Earth be covered with the Knowledge of the Lord, as the Wa [...]ers cover the Sea!

Friends, The Lord of Heaven and Earth hath heard our Cries, and the full time is come, yea, the appointed time is come, and the Voice of the E [...]ernal Spirit in our Hearts hath been [...]

[Page]And, Friends, let it never paſs out of our remembrance, what our God hath done for us, ſince he hath made us a People: Hath any Weapon formed againſt us, proſpered? hath he called us, and not protected us? hath he given Power to conceive, and not to bring forth? hath he not ſheltered us in many a Storm? did he ever leave us under the Reproaches and Contradictions of Men? nay, hath he not ſpoken Peace to us? were we ever caſt out by Men, and he forſook us? No, the Lord hath taken us up: Were we ever in Priſon, and he viſited us not? hungry, and he fed us not? naked, and he clothed us not? or have we been ſick, and he came not to ſee us? When were the Jails ſo cloſe, that he could not come in? and the Dungeons ſo dark, that he cauſed not his Light to ſhine upon us? O nay; he hath never left us, nor forſaken us; yea, he hath provided richly for us; he hath brought us into the Wilderneſs, not to ſtarve us, but to try us; yet not above our [Page] meaſure: For he fed us with Manna from on high, with pure Honey and Water out of the Rock, and gave his good Spirit to ſuſtain us: By Night he was a Pillar of Fire to us, to comfort us; and by Day a Pillar of Cloud, to hide and ſhelter us. He was a Shadow of a mighty Rock, that followed us; and we never wanted a Brook by the way to refreſh us. Was God good to Iſrael outward? Much more hath he abounded to his ſpiritual Iſrael, the proper Seed and Off-ſpring of himſelf. O the noble Deeds and valiant Acts that he hath wrought in our Day for our Deliverance! He hath cauſed One to chaſe Ten, and Ten an Hundred, and an Hundred a Thouſand many a Time. None hath been able to ſnatch us out of his Hands, who abode in his Truth. For though the Winds have blown, and the Sea hath raged, yet hath he rebuked the Winds and the Sea for his Seed's ſake: He hath ſaid to the Winds, Be ſtill; and to the Sea, Thus far ſhalt thou come, and [Page]no further. He hath caſt up a high Way for his Ranſomed to walk in, ſo plain, that though a Fool he ſhall not err therein. This is the Light, in which all Nations of them that are ſaved muſt walk for ever.

And therefore, Friends, let us ſtay our Minds in the Light of the Lord for ever; and let the Awe, Fear and Dread of the Almighty dwell in us; and let his Holy Spirit be known to be a Covering to us, that from the Spirit of this World we may be chaſtly kept and preſerved unto God, in the holy Light and Self-denying Life of Jeſus, who hath offered up himſelf once for all, leaving us an Example that we ſhould alſo follow his Steps; that as he our dear Lord and Maſter, ſo we his Servants, and Friends, and Children, might by the eternal Spirit offer up our ſelves to God in Body, in Soul and in Spirit, which are his; that we may be his Workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good Works, to the Praiſe of him that hath called us; which [Page] Calling is an high and an holy Calling, by the eternal Light and Spirit in our Conſciences. O that it might for ever remain in high Eſtimation with us; and that it may be the daily Watch and Travel of us all, in the Preſence of the Holy and Living God, that hath called us, to make our great Call and Election ſure, which many have neglected to do, (who have been convinced by the bleſſed Light and Truth of Chriſt Jeſus revealed in their Hearts, and who for a time have walked among us) have been overcome by the Spirit of this World, and turned their Hands from the Plough, and deſerted the Camp of the Lord, and gone back into Egypt again, whereby the Heathens have blaſphemed, and the Way and People of the Lord greatly have ſuffered.

Therefore, O my dear Friends and Brethren, in the Senſe of that Life and Power, that God from Heaven ſo gloriouſly hath diſpenſed among us, and by which he hath given us [Page] multiplied Aſſurances of his Loving-kindneſs unto us, and crowned us together with heavenly Dominion, and in which my Spirit is at this time broken before the Lord, do I moſt earneſtly entreat you to watch continually, leſt any of you, that have taſted of the good Word of God, and the Powers of the World to come, fall by Temptation; and by Careleſneſs and Neglect tempt the living God to withdraw his fatherly Viſitation from any of you; and finally to deſert ſuch: for the Lord our God is a jealous God, and he will not give his Glory unto another. He hath given to Man all but Man himſelf, and him he hath reſerved for his own peculiar Service, to build him up a glorious Temple to himſelf; ſo that we are bought with a Price, and we are not our own.

Therefore let us continually watch, and ſtand in awe, that we grieve not his Holy Spirit, nor turn his Grace into Wantonneſs: But all of us let us wait, and that in a holy travail of [Page] Spirit, to know our ſelves ſealed by the Spirit of Adoption, unto the Day of our compleat Redemption; when not only all our Sins, but all Sorrows, Sighings and Tears ſhall be wiped away from our Eyes; and everlaſting Songs of Joy and Thankſgivings ſhall melodiouſly fill our Hearts to God, that ſits upon the Throne, and to his bleſſed immaculate Lamb, who by his moſt precious Blood ſhall have compleatly redeemed us from the Earth, and written our Names in the Book of Life.

Friends, The Spirit of the Lord hath often brought you into my Remembrance, ſince I have been in this deſolate Land, and with Joy unutterable have I had ſweet and precious Fellowſhip with you in the Faith of Jeſus, that overcometh the World: For, though abſent in Body, yet preſent in him that is Omnipreſent. And I can truly ſay, you are very near and very dear unto me; and the Love that God hath raiſed in my Heart unto you, ſurpaſſes the Love of Women. [Page] And our Teſtimony, I am well ſatiſfied, is ſealed up together. And I am well aſſured, that all that love the Light ſhall endure to the End throughout all Tribulations, and in the End obtain Eternal Salvation.

And now, Friends, as I have been travelling in this dark and ſolitary Land, the great Work of the Lord in the Earth has been often preſented unto my view, and the Day of the Lord hath been deeply upon me, and my Soul and Spirit hath frequently been poſſeſſed with an holy and weighty Concern for the Glory of the Name of the Lord, and the ſpreading of his everlaſting Truth, and the Proſperity of it through all Nations, that the very Ends of the Earth may look to him, and may know Chriſt the Light to be given to them for their Salvation: And when the Senſe of theſe things hath been deeply upon me, an holy and ſtrong Cry God hath raiſed in my Soul to him, That we, who have known this fatherly Viſitation from on High, [Page]and who have beheld the Day of the Lord, the Riſing of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, who is full of Grace and full of Truth, and have beheld his Glory, and confeſſed it to be the Glory of the only begotten Son of God▪ and who by Obedience to his appearance are become the Children of Light, and of the Day, and as the Firſt-Fruits to God after this long Night of Apoſtacy, might for ever walk and dwell in his holy Covenant, Chriſt Jeſus, the Light of the World; becauſe in him we have always Peace, but out of him comes all the Trouble.

And whilſt this heavenly Senſe reſted with me, the Lord God, that made me, and called me by his Grace unto Salvation, laid it upon me, to viſit you in an holy Exhortation. And it is the Exhortation of my Life at this time, in the earneſt and fervent Motion of the Power and Spirit of Jeſus, to beſeech you all, who are turned to the Light of Chriſt, that ſhineth in your Hearts, and believe in it, That you carefully and faithfully walk in it, in the ſame [Page] Dread, Awe and Fear, in which you began; that that holy Poverty of Spirit, that is precious in the Eyes of the Lord, and was in the Days of your firſt Love, may dwell and reſt with you; that you may daily feel the ſame heavenly Hunger and Thirſt, the ſame Lowlineſs and Humility of Mind, the ſame Zeal and Tenderneſs, and the ſame Sincerity and Love unfeigned; that God may fill you out of his heavenly Treaſure with the Riches of Life, and crown you with holy Victory and Dominion over the God and Spirit of this World: That your Alpha may be your Omega, and your Author your Finiſher, and your firſt Love your laſt Love; that ſo none may make Shipwrack of Faith, and of a good Conſcience, nor faint by the Way. And as in this State we are kept in holy Watchfulneſs to God, as in the beginning, the Table which our heavenly Father ſpreads, and the Bleſſings with which he compaſſeth us about, ſhall not become a Snare unto us, nor ſhall we turn the [Page] Grace and Mercies of the Lord into Wantonneſs; but we ſhall eat and drink in an holy Fear, apparel our ſelves in Fear, buy and ſell in Fear, viſit one another in Fear; keep Meetings, and there wait upon the Lord in Fear: yea, whatſoever we take in hand to do, it ſhall be in the holy Fear of God, and with an holy Tenderneſs of his Glory, and Regard to the Proſperity of his Truth: yea, we ſhall deny our ſelves not only in the unlawful things, but in the things that are even lawful to us, for the Sake of the many Millions that are unconverted to God.

For my Friends and Brethren, God hath laid upon us (whom he hath honoured with the beginning of his great Work in the World) the Care both of this Age, and of the Ages to come; that they may walk, as they have us for Examples: yea, the Lord God hath choſen you to place his Name in you; the Lord hath entruſted you with his Glory, that you might hold it forth to all Nations; [Page] and that the Generations unborn may call you Bleſſed.

Therefore, let none be Treacherous to the Lord, nor reward him Evil for Good; nor betray his Cauſe directly by wilful Wickedneſs, nor indirectly by Negligence and Unfaithfulneſs: But be zealous and valiant for Truth on Earth; let none be ſlothful or careleſs: O remember the ſlothful Servant's State. And let the loving-kindneſs of the Lord overcome every Soul to Faithfulneſs; For with him are Riches and Honour, and every good thing: And whither ſhould any go? he hath the words of Eternal Life. O, let none looſe their Teſtimony, but hold it up for God; let thy Gift be never ſo ſmall, thy Teſtimony never ſo little. Through thy whole Converſation bear it for God; and be true to what thou art convinced of: And wait all upon the Lord, that you may grow in your heavenly Teſtimony; that Life may fill your Hearts, your Houſes, and your Meetings; that you may daily [Page] wait to know, and to receive Power to do the Will of God on Earth, as it is in Heaven.

And O! that the Croſs of Jeſus, may be in high and honourable Eſteem with every one; that the Liberty of all may ſtand in the Croſs, which alone preſerveth: for it is the Power of God, that crucifieth us to the World, and the World to us. And through Death, way is made unto Life and Immortality; which by this bleſſed Croſs, the Goſpel, the Power is brought to Light: So ſhall the Seed of Life that God hath ſown in our Hearts, grow; and in that Seed ſhall we all come to be Bleſſed, unto whom God hath appointed the Dominion over us: and it is good for all to live under the Holy Government of it; for the Ways of it are the Ways of Pleaſantneſs, and all its Paths are Peace; and all that are born of it, can ſay, Thy Scepter is a Scepter of Righteouſneſs. And O! That all Friends every where, may continually bow unto his righteous Scepter, [Page] and keep to his holy Law, which is written in their Hearts; that it may be a Light to their Feet, and a Lanthorn to their Paths. So ſhall they come to witneſs that holy Promiſe made good unto them,Iſa. 59.21. That the Spirit, which I have given unto him, the Seed; and the Words▪ which I have put into his Mouth, ſhall not depart from him, nor from his Seed, nor from his Seed's Seed unto all Generations.

Wherefore, Friends, redeem the Time, becauſe the Days are Evil; God hath given you to ſee they are ſo: and be ye ſeparated more and more, yea, perfectly diſentangled from the Cares of this World. And be ye not cumbred with the many things; but ſtand looſe from the things that are ſeen, which are Temporal.

And you that are Poor murmur not; but be Patient, and truſt in the Lord, and ſubmit to his Providence, and he will provide for you, that which is convenient for you, the Days of your appointed Time. And [Page] you that are Rich, keep in the Moderation, and ſtrive not to multiply earthly Treaſure, nor to heap up uncertain Riches to your ſelves; but what God hath given you more than what is convenient for your own Uſe, wait for his Wiſdom, to employ it for his Glory; that you may be faithful Stewards of this World's Mammon; and the Lord God ſhall reward you into your Boſoms, of the Riches of that Kingdom that ſhall never have an End.

O my Friends and Brethren, whether Rich or Poor, in Bonds or at Liberty, in whatſoever State you are, the Salutation of the univerſal Life of Jeſus is to you. And the Exhortation is, to bow to what is made known unto you; and in the Light, by which ye have received in meaſure the Knowledg of God, watch and wait diligently to the farther Revelation of the Mind and Will of God unto you, that ye may be endued from on High with Power and Might in your inward Man, to anſwer the call and [Page] requirings of the Lord; that ye may be enabled to make known to the Nations, what is the Riches of the Glory of this bleſſed Myſtery in the Gentiles; which is Chriſt Jeſus the Light of the World, in you the Hope of Glory. For this I have to tell you in the Viſion of the Almighty, that the Day of the breaking up of the Nations about you, and of the ſounding of the Goſpel-Trumpet unto the Inhabitants of the Earth, is juſt at the Door: And they that are worthy, who have kept their Habitation from the beginning, and have dwelt in the Unity of the Faith that overcometh the World, and have kept the Bond of Peace: The Lord God will impower and ſpirit you to go forth with his Everlaſting Word and Teſtament to awaken, and gather Kindreds, Languages, and People to the Glory of the riſing of the Gentiles Light; who is God's Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth.

And I muſt tell you, that there is a Breathing, Hungering, Seeking [Page] People, ſolitarily ſcattered up and down this great Land of Germany where the Lord hath ſent me; and [...] believe it is the like in other Nations▪ And as the Lord hath laid it upon me, with my Companions, to ſee [...] ſome of them out, ſo have we foun [...] ſeveral in divers Places. And w [...] have had many bleſſed Opportunities amongſt them, wherein our Hearts have greatly rejoiced; having been made deeply ſenſible of the Love of God towards them, and of the great openneſs and tenderneſs of Spirit in them to receive the Teſtimony of Light and Life through us. And we have a ſtedfaſt belief, that the Lord will carry on his Work in this Land effectually; and that he will raiſe up thoſe, that ſhall be as Miniſters of his eternal Teſtament amongſt them. And O! our deſire is, that God would put it into the Hearts of many of his faithful Witneſſes, to viſit the Inhabitants of this Country, where God hath a great Seed of People to be gathered; that his Work [Page] may go on in the Earth, till the whole Earth be filled with his Glory.

And it is under the deep and weighty Senſe of this approaching Work, that the Lord God hath laid it upon me, to write to you to wait for the farther pourings out of the Power and Spirit of the Lord; that nothing that is Careleſs, Sleepy, Earthly, or Exalted, may get up, whereby to diſpleaſe the Lord, and cauſe him to withdraw his ſweet and preſerving Preſence from any that know him. But let all keep the King of Righteouſneſs his Peace, and walk in the Steps of the Flocks of the Companions: For Withering and Deſtruction ſhall come upon all ſuch as deſert the Camp of the Lord, or with their murmuring Spirit diſquiet the Heritage of God; for they are greater Enemies to Sion's Glory, and Jeruſalem's Peace, than the open Armies of the Aliens.

And it is a Warning to all, that make mention of the Name of the [Page] Lord in this Diſpenſation he hath brought us to, That they have a care how they let out their Minds in any wiſe to pleaſe the Luſts of the Eye, the Luſts of the Fleſh, and the Pride of Life; which are not of the Father, but of this World, leſt any be exalted in a Liberty, that maketh the Croſs of Jeſus of none effect, and the Offence thereof to ceaſe: for ſuch will become as Salt that hath loſt its Savour, and at laſt will be trod under the Feet of God and Men. For the Lord will withdraw his daily Preſence, and the Fountain will come to be ſealed up, and the Well of Salvation be ſtopped again.

Therefore, as all would rejoice in the Joy of God's Salvation, let them wait for the ſaving Power, and dwell in it; that, knowing the Myſtery of the Work of Regeneration, Chriſt formed in them the Hope of their Glory, they may be able in the motion of him, that hath begotten them through Death to Life, to go forth and declare the Way of Life and Salvation.

[Page]And all you, that are young, convinced of the Eternal Truth, come into it, and then you will feel the Virtue of it: And ſo, you will be Witneſſes, otherwiſe Vain Talkers, Wells without Water, Clouds without Rain; for which State is reſerved the Blackneſs of Darkneſs for ever.

Wherefore gird up the Loins of your Minds, and be ſober, and tempt not God; but receive the Day of your Viſitation, and walk worthy of ſo great Love, and delight to retain God in your Knowledg; and grieve not his Holy Spirit, but join to it, and be led by it, that it may be an Earneſt to you of an Eternal Inheritance.

And take up your daily Croſs and follow Chriſt, and not the Spirit of this World. He was meek and lowly, he was humble and plain; he was few in Words, but mighty in Deeds: He loved not his Life unto Death, even the reproachful Death of the Croſs; but laid down his Life, and became of no Reputation, and that [Page] for the Rebellious. O the Height, and the Depth, the Length, and the Breadth; yea, the Ʋnſearchableneſs of the Love of God in Chriſt Jeſus.

Wherefore, while it is to Day, hearken to his Voice, and harden not your Hearts; and make no Bargains for your Self, neither conſult with Fleſh and Blood: But let the Lord be your Light, and your Salvation; let him be the Strength of your Life, and the Length of your Days. And this know aſſuredly, that none ever truſted to the Lord, and were confounded.

Wherefore hold up your Teſtimony for God; as ye would enjoy the Increaſings of his Life and Love: And let your Light ſhine, and confeſs him before the whole World. Smother not his Appearance, neither hide thy Candle, God hath lighted in thee, under a Buſhel; for Chriſt walketh among his Candleſticks of pure and tried Gold: Wherefore ſet thy Light upon a Candleſtick, and ſhew forth thy good Converſation in Meekneſs [Page] and godly Fear, that thou mayeſt become a good Example; and others beholding thy good Works, may glorify God. But for the Rebellious, the Fearful, and the Unbelieving, the Day haſtens upon ſuch, that the things that belong to their Eternal Peace, ſhall be hid from their Eyes for ever.

And all you my dear Friends and Brethren, who are in Sufferings for the Teſtimony of Jeſus, and a good Conſcience; look up to Jeſus, the Author and Finiſher of your Faith; who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the Shame; and is ſat down at the Right Hand of the Father in the heavenly Place: into which, if you faint not, you ſhall all be received, after the Days of your Pilgrimage ſhall be at an End; with a Well done, good and faithful Servant.

And though theſe Afflictions ſeem not joyous, but grievous for the preſent; yet a far more exceeding weight of Glory ſtands at the Door.

[Page]Wherefore count it all Joy, you fall into theſe Trials, and perſevere to the End; knowing that he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry, and that his Reward is with him. Remember the Martyrs of Jeſus; that loved not their Lives to the Death for his Name's-ſake, that had called them. And Jeſus himſelf, that made a good Confeſſion before Pontius Pilate; who hath conſecrated through his Blood a new and living Way for all, that come unto God by him, who is made a high Prieſt, higher than the Heavens, one that can be touched and moved; and is daily touched and moved with our Weakneſs and Infirmity; that through him we may be made ſtrong in the Lord, and more than Conquerors through him that hath loved us.

Wherefore let it not ſeem, as if ſome ſtrange thing had happened to you, for all theſe things are for the Trial of your Faith; which is more precious than the Gold that periſheth. 'Tis the old Quarrel, Children of this [Page] World, againſt the Children of the Lord; thoſe that are born after the Fleſh, warring againſt thoſe that are born after the Spirit: Cain againſt Abel, the Old World againſt Noah, Sodomites againſt Lot, Hagar againſt Sarah, Iſhmael againſt Iſaac, Eſau againſt Jacob, Egyptians againſt Iſraelites, the falſe Prophets againſt the true Prophets, as Iſaiah, Jeremiah, &c. the Jews under the Profeſſion of the Letter of the Law againſt Chriſt, that came to fulfil the Law, and all his ſpiritual Followers and Diſciples: And all the falſe Apoſtate Chriſtians againſt the true and Spiriritual Chriſtians and Martyrs of Jeſus.

So, your Conflict is for the Spiritual Appearance of Chriſt Jeſus againſt thoſe that profeſs him in Words, but in Works and Converſations every day deny him; doing Deſpight to the Spirit of Grace in themſelves, and thoſe that are led by it. But though Gog and Magog ſhall gather themſelves together to lay waſte the City [Page] of God; yet the Lord hath determined their Deſtruction, and he will bring it to paſs.

Wherefore rejoyce, O thou little Hill of God, and clap thy Hands for Joy; for he that is Faithful and True, Juſt and Righteous, and able to deliver thee, dwells in the midſt of thee: Who will cauſe thee to grow and increaſe, till thou becomeſt a great Mountain, till thou becomeſt the Praiſe of the whole Earth, and the whole Earth be filled with thy Glory.

And to you all, who are the followers of the Lamb of God, who was dead, but is alive, and lives for evermore; who is riſen in your Hearts, as a bright ſhining Light, and is leading you out of the Nature and Spirit of this World, in the Path of Regeneration. I have this to ſay by way of holy Encouragement unto you all; the Lord God Eternal that was, and is, and is to come, hath reſerved for you the Glories of the laſt Days: and if ſo be, that the Followers and Martyrs of Jeſus in Ages paſt, [Page] when the Church was going into the Wilderneſs, and his Witneſſes into Sackcloth, were notwithſtanding ſo Noble and Valiant for the Truth on Earth, that they loved not their Lives unto the Death, and ſuffered joyfully the Spoiling of their Goods for the Teſtimony of Jeſus, how much more ought you all to be encouraged unto Faithfulneſs, who are come to the Reſurrection of the Day, which ſhall never more be eclipſed; in which the Bride-groom is to come, to fetch you his Spouſe out of the WILDERNESS, to give you Beauty for Aſhes, and the Garment of Praiſe for the SPIRIT of HEAVINESS; who will cover you with his Spirit, and adorn you with his fine Linen, the Righteouſneſs of the Saints. Lean upon his Breaſt for ever; and know your joyning in an Everlaſting Covenant with him, that he may lift up the Light of his Countenance upon you, and delight to do you Good; that in bleſſing he may bleſs you, increaſe you and multiply [Page] you in all ſpiritual Bleſſings now and for ever; that to God through him you may live all the Days of your appointed Time: to whom be Glory and Honour, Praiſes and Thankſgivings in the Church throughout all Ages, and for ever.

I am, In the Faith, Patience, Tribulation and Hope of the Kingdom of Jeſus, your Friend and Brother, William Penn.

My Companions in the Labour and Travel of the Teſtimony of Jeſus, G. Keith and B. Furley, ſalute you all in the Love of our God. We have paſſed through ſeveral Cities of Germany, and are now at Franckfort, where the Lord hath given us Three bleſſed Opportunities with a ſerious and ſeeking People; whereof, as in other places of this Country, many of them are Perſons of great Worldly Quality. Bleſſed be the Name of [Page] the Lord, to whom be Glory be for ever.

W.P.

Franckfort, the 22d of the 6th Month, 1677.

§

The fifth Day we arrived by the way of Worms at Criſheim in the Paltzgrave's Country,5.23. 6 Month. Criſheim. where we found, to our great Joy, a Meeting of tender and faithful People: But it ſeems the Inſpector of the Calviniſts hath injoined the Vooght, or chief Officer, not to ſuffer any preaching to be among our Friends; who (poor Man) fearing the Indignation of the Clergy, came next Day to deſire Friends not to ſuffer any preaching to be amongſt them, leſt he ſhould be turned out of his Place. To whom we deſired Friends to ſay, that if he pleaſed he might apprehend us, and carry us to the Prince, before whom we ſhould give an Account of our Teſtimony. But, bleſſed be the Lord, we enjoyed our [Page] Meeting quietly and comfortably; of which a Coachful from Worms made a part, amongſt whom was a Governour of the Country, and one of the chief Lutheran Prieſts.

It came upon me in this Place to ſalute the Princeſs and Counteſs with this following Epiſtle.

A Salutation to Elizabeth Princeſs Palatine, and Anna Maria d [...] Hornes Counteſs of Hornes, at Herwerden in Germany.

My worthy Friends,

SUCH as I have, ſuch I give unto you, the dear and tender Salutation of Light, Life, Peace and Salvation, by Jeſus Chriſt the bleſſed Lamb of God, with the unſpeakable Joy of which he hath repleniſhed my Soul at this time, that my Cup overfloweth; which is the Reward of them that chearfully drink his [Page] Cup of Tribulations, that love the Croſs, and triumph in all the Shame, Reproaches and Contradictions of the World that do attend it: My God take you by the Hand, and gently lead you through all the Difficulties of Regeneration; and as you have begun to know and love his ſweet and tender Drawings, ſo reſign the whole Conduct of your Lives to him; diſpute not away the precious Senſe that you have of him, be it as ſmall as a Grain of Muſtard-ſeed, which is the leaſt of all Seeds, there is Power in it (if you do but believe) to remove the greateſt Mountains of Oppoſition. O pretious is this Faith, yea more pretious than the Glory and Honour of this World that periſh: It will give Courage, go with Chriſt before Caiaphas and Pilate; yea, to bear his Croſs without the Camp, and to be crucified with him, knowing that the Spirit of God and of Glory ſhall reſt upon them: to the Inheritors of this Faith is reſerved the eternal Kingdom of Peace and [Page] Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. O be you of that little Flock unto whom Jeſus ſaid, Fear not, for it is my Father's good pleaſure to give you a Kingdom: And to be of this Flock, you muſt become as Sheep; and to be as Sheep, you muſt become harmleſs; and to become harmleſs, you muſt hear and follow the Lamb of God: as he is that bleſſed Light which diſcovereth and condemneth all the unfruitful Works of Darkneſs, and maketh harmleſs as a Dove; which word, All, leaveth not one Piccadillo or Circumſtance undiſcovered or unjudged; and the word Darkneſs taketh in the whole Night of Apoſtacy; and the word Ʋnfruitful, is a plain Judgment againſt all thoſe dark Works: Wherefore out of them all come, and be you ſeparated, and God will give you a Crown of Life, which ſhall never fade away.

O! the lowneſs and meanneſs of thoſe Spirits that deſpiſe or neglect the Joys and Glories of Immortality, for the ſake of the things which are [Page] [...]een that are but Temporal, debaſing [...]he Nobility of their Souls, abandoning the Government of the Divine Spirit, and embracing with all ardency of Affection the ſenſual Pleaſures of this Life; but ſuch as perſevere therein, ſhall not enter into God's Reſt for ever. But this is not all that hindereth and obſtructeth in the holy Way of Bleſſedneſs; for there is the World's Fear as well as the World's Joy that obſtructeth many, or elſe Chriſt had not ſaid, Fear not, to his little Flock. The Shame of the Croſs is a Yoke too uneaſy, and a Burden too heavy for Fleſh and Blood to bear, 'tis true; but therefore ſhall Fleſh and Blood never enter into the Kingdom of God. And not to them that are born of the Fleſh, but to thoſe that are born of the Spirit through the Word of Regeneration, is appointed the Kingdom, and that Throne which ſhall judg the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, and all the World. The Lord perfect what he hath begun in you, and give you Dominion [Page] over the Love and Fear of this World▪ And, my Friends, if you would profit in the Way of God, deſpiſe no [...] the Day of ſmall things in you [...] ſelves: Know this, that to deſire an [...] ſincerely to breathe after the Lord, i [...] a bleſſed State; you muſt ſeek befor [...] you find. Do you believe? make no [...] haſte, extinguiſh not thoſe ſmall Beginnings by an over-earneſt or impatient deſire of Victory. God's time is the beſt time; be you faithful, and your Conflict ſhall end with Glory to God, and the Reward of Peace to your own Souls. Therefore love the Judgment, and love the Fire; ſtart not aſide, neither flinch from the ſcorchings of it, for it will purify and refine you as Gold ſeven times tried; then cometh the Stamp and Seal of the Lord upon his own Veſſel, Holineſs to him for ever; which he never gave nor will give to reprobate Silver, the ſtate of the Religious Worſhippers of the World. And herein be comforted, that Sion ſhall be redeemed through Judgment, and [Page] her Converts through Righteouſneſs; and after the appointed time of Mourning is over, the Lord will give Beauty for Aſhes, the Oil of Joy for Mourning, and the Garment of Praiſe for the Spirit of Heavineſs: then ſhall you be able to ſay, Who is he that condemneth us? God hath juſtified us; there is no Condemnation to us that are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walk not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit. Wherefore, my dear Friends, walk not only not after the fleſhly Luſts, but alſo not after the fleſhly Religions and Worſhips of the World: for that that is not born of the Spirit, is Fleſh; and all Fleſh ſhall wither as the Graſs, and the Beauty of it ſhall fade away as the Flower of the Field before God's Sun that is riſen and riſing; but the Word of the Lord in which is Life, and that Life the Light of Men, ſhall endure for ever, and give Life Eternal to them that love and walk in the Light. And I entreat you, by the Love you have for Jeſus, have a care how you [Page] touch with fleſhly Births, or ſay Amen, by Word or Practice, to that which is not born of the Spirit: for God is not to be found of that, in your ſelves or others, that calleth him Father, and he hath never begotten it in them; that Latitude and Conformity is not of God, but ſecretly grieveth his Spirit, and obſtructeth the growth of the Soul in its Acquaintance and intimate Communion with the Lord. Without me, ſaith Jeſus, you can do nothing; and all that came before me are Thieves and Robbers: If ſo, O what are they that Pray, Preach and Sing without Jeſus, and follow not him in thoſe Duties, but even in them crucify him? O that I may find in you an Ear to hear, and an Heart to perceive and embrace theſe Truths of Jeſus. And I can ſay, I have great cauſe to hope, and patiently to wait till the Salvation of God be further revealed to you, and the whole Family; with whom (I muſt acknowledg) I was abundantly refreſhed and comforted, [Page] in that God in meaſure made known the Riches of his Grace, and Operation of his Celeſtial Power to you; and his Witneſs ſhall dwell with you, (if we never ſee you more) that God magnified his own Strength in our Weakneſs. With him we leave our Travels, affectionately recommending you to his holy Spirit of Grace, that you may be conformed to the Image of his own dear Son, who is able and ready to preſerve you: O ſtay your Minds upon him, and he will keep you in perfect Peace, and abide with you for ever. The Almighty take you into his holy Protection now and for ever.

I am, Your true Friend ready to ſerve you, with fervent Love in the Will of God, William Penn.

My dear Companions G. K. and B.F. do with me give you the dear Salutation of unfeigned Love, and [Page] thoſe in the Family that love and deſire to follow the Lord Jeſus in Sincerity and Truth without wavering.

P. S. We are this Evening bound towards Manheim, the Court of the Prince Palatine, and travell'd about twelve Engliſh Miles on foot.

Franckenthall.That Night we lodged at Franckenthall, and go [...] the next Morning, being the ſeventh Day of the Week,7.25. 6th Month. Manheim. to Manheim; but were diſappointed of our Deſign, which was to ſpeak with the Prince, for he was gone the Day before to Heydelb [...]rgh his chief City, about fifteen Engliſh Miles from that Place: and conſidering that by reaſon of the Meeting next Day with Friends at Criſheim already appointed, we could neither go forward, nor ſtay till he returned; and yet being not clear to come away, as if we had never endeavoured to viſit him, it was upon me to write him this following Letter, to let him know we had been there, and briefly our End in coming.

[Page]

To the Prince Elector Palatine of Heydelbergh.

Great Prince,

IT would ſeem ſtrange that I, both a Stranger and a Subject, ſhould uſe this freedom of Addreſs to a Prince, were he not one whoſe Actions ſhew him to be of a free Diſpoſition and eaſy Acceſs to all; would to God all Princes were of that mind: But I have not choſen this way of Application, I am driven to it by the diſappointment thy abſence from this Court gave me, and the neceſſity I am under to expedite my Return. And though I cannot ſo fully, and conſequently not ſo clearly, expreſs by Letter the Grounds inducing me to attempt this Viſit; yet this being all the way that is left me, I ſhall declare them as well as I can.

In the firſt place I do, with all ſincere and Chriſtian reſpect, acknowledg and [Page] commend that Indulgence thou giveſt to all People profeſſing Religion, diſſenting from the National Communion: for it is in it ſelf a moſt Natural, Prudent and Chriſtian thing. Natural, becauſe it preſerves Nature from being made a Sacrifice to the ſavage Fury of fallible yet proud Opinions, out lawing Men of Parts, Arts, Induſtry and Honeſty, the grand Requiſites of Humane Society; and expoſing them and their Families to utter Ruine for meer Nonconformity, not to Religion, but to Modes and Faſhions in Religions. Chriſtian, ſince the contrary expreſly contradicteth both the Precept and Example of Chriſt, who taught us to love Enemies, not to abuſe our Friends, and triumph in the deſtruction of our harmleſs Neighbours. He rebuked his Diſciples, when they called for Fire from Heaven upon Diſſenters, it may be Oppoſers: Certainly then he never intended that they ſhould kindle Fire on Earth to devour Men for Conſcience. And [Page] if Chriſt (to whom all Power was given) and his Apoſtles refuſed to employ Humane Force and Artifice ſo much as to conſerve themſelves, 'tis an Arrogancy every way indefenſible in thoſe that pretend to be their Followers, that they aſſume an Authority to ſupercede, controul and contradict the Precepts and Examples of Chriſt and his Apoſtles; whoſe Kingdom not being of the nature of this ambitious violent World, was not erected or maintained by thoſe Weapons that are Carnal, but Spiritual and Intellectual, adequate to the Nature of the Soul, and mighty through God to caſt down the Strong-holds of Sin, and every vain Imagination exalted in Man above the lowly meek Fear of God, that ought to have the preeminence in the Hearts of the Sons of Men. Indulgence is Prudent, in that it preſerveth Concord: No Kingdom divided againſt it ſelf, can ſtand; It encourageth Arts, Parts & Induſtry, to ſhow and improve themſelves, which [Page] indeed are the Ornaments, Strength and Wealth of a Countrey: It encourageth People to tranſplant into this Land of Liberty, where the Sweat of the Brow is not made the Forfeit of the Conſcience. And, laſtly, it rendereth the Prince peculiarly Safe and Great. Safe, becauſe all Intereſts, for Intereſt-ſake, are bound to love and court him. Great, in that he is not govern'd or clogg'd with the Power of his Clergy, which in moſt Countries is not only a Coordinate Power, a kind of Duumvirateſhip in Government, Imperium in Imperio, at leaſt an Eclipſe to Monarchy, but a Superior Power, and rideth the Prince to their Deſigns, holding the Helm of the Government, and ſteering not by the Laws of Civil Freedom, but certain Eccleſiaſtick Maxims of their own, to the Maintenance and Enlargement of their Worldly Empire in their Church: And all the Villany acted under the ſacred, peaceable and alluring Name of Chriſt, his Miniſtry [Page] and Church; though as remote from their Nature, as the Wolf from the Sheep, and the Pope from Peter.

The next thing I ſhould have taken the liberty to have diſcours'd, would have been this; What Encouragement a Colony of vertuous and induſtrious Families might hope to receive from Thee, in caſe they ſhould tranſplant themſelves into this Country, which certainly in it ſelf is very excellent, reſpecting Taxes, Oaths, Arms, &c.

Further, to have repreſented the condition of ſome of our Friends, and thy own Subjects; who though they are liable to the ſame Tax as Menniſts, &c. (not by part the Caſe of other Diſſenters) yet the Vaught of the Town where they live, came yeſterday to forbid all preaching amongſt them, which implies a ſort of Contradiction to the Indulgence given.

And in the laſt place, for as much as all Men owe their Being to ſomething greater than themſelves, to [Page] which 'tis reaſonable to believe they are accomptable, from whence follow Rewards or Puniſhments.

I had an earneſt deſire to have ſpoken of the Nature of Truth, Uſe, Benefit and Reward of Religion, and therein as to have diſcours'd what is Chriſtian Religion in it ſelf, (freed from thoſe unreaſonable Garbs ſome Men make it to wear, ſo juſtly offenſive to wiſe and thinking Men) ſo to have proved the Principle and Life of the People, in ſcorn called Quakers, to have been ſutable to the true Followers of Holy Jeſus. But as the Particulars would ſwell a Letter to a Book, I ſhall take the Freedom to preſent thee upon my Return with ſome Tracts treating upon all theſe Subjects.

Prince, my Soul is filled with Love and Reſpect to thee and thy Family; I wiſh you all true and laſting Felicity, and earneſtly deſire that you may never forget your Afflictions, and in the remembrance of them be dehorted from thoſe Luſts and Impieties, [Page] which draw the Vengeance of Heaven upon the greateſt Families on Earth, that God may look upon you with the favourable Eye of his Providence. And bleſſed is that Man, whoſe God (by profeſſion) is the Lord in reality, viz. that is ruled and governed by the Lord, and that lives in ſubjection to his Grace, that having a Divine Senſe of God in his Heart, delights to retain that Senſe and Knowledg of him, and be meditating in his Noble Royal Law, that converts the Soul to God, and redeems Man from the ſenſual Pleaſures of this World, to the true Satisfaction of the Intellectual and Divine Life. O the meanneſs and lowneſs of their Spirits, that abandon themſelves to the Government of Senſe, the animal Life, thereby debaſing their Natures, rejecting the Divine Light, that ſhineth in their Hearts, ſaying, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we ſhall die; forgetting whence they are deſcended, and not conſidering the Peace and Joy of the Vertuous!

[Page]I deſire that the Lord would put it into thy Heart to think of thy latter End, and with the Light of Chriſt in thy Conſcience examine how it ſtands with thy Soul, that thou mayeſt know, and diligently watch to do thoſe things that belong to thy eternal Peace.

One thing more give me leave to recommend to thee, and that is, to be very careful of inculcating generous, free and righteous Principles into thy Son, who is like to ſucceed thee, that when thou art gone, the Reputation of the Country may not ſink by contrary Practices, nor the People of divers Judgments (now thy Subjects) be diſappointed, diſtreſſed or ruined. Which, with ſincere deſires for thy temporal and eternal Good, conclude this,

Thy unknown, but ſincere Friend, William Penn.

From Manheim 25th of 6th Mo. 1677.

[Page]Which being done,1.26. 6th Month. and having refreſhed our ſelves, we returned that night by the Rhine to Worms, Worms. from whence we the next Morning (being the firſt day of the Week) walked on Foot to Criſheim, Criſheim. which is about ſix Engliſh Miles from Worms. We had a good Meeting from the tenth till the third Hour, and the Lord's Power ſweetly opened to many of the Inhabitants of the Town that were at the Meeting; yea, the Vaught or chief Officer himſelf ſtood at the Door behind the Barn, where he could hear and not be ſeen, who went to the Prieſt and told him, that it was his Work, if we were Hereticks, to diſcover us to be ſuch, but for his part he heard nothing but what was good, and he would not meddle with us.

In the Evening we had a more retired Meeting of the Friends only, very weighty and tender; yea the Power roſe in high operation among them, and great was the Love of [Page] God that roſe in our Hearts at the Meeting to viſit them; and there is a lovely, ſweet and true Senſe among them: we were greatly comforted in them, and they were greatly comforted in us. Poor Hearts, a little handful ſurrounded with great and mighty Countries of Darkneſs; 'tis the Lord's great Goodneſs, and Mercy to them, that they are ſo finely kept, even natural in the Seed of Life; they were moſt of them gathered by dear William Ames.

2.27. 6th Month.The next Morning we had another Meeting, where we took our leave of them, and ſo came accompanied by ſeveral of them to Worms;Worms. where having refreſh'd our ſelves, we went to viſit the Lutheran Prieſt, that was at the Meeting the ſixth Day before at Criſheim; he received us very kindly, and his Wife, not without ſome ſenſe of our Teſtimony. After we had diſcours'd about an Hour with him of the true and heavenly Miniſtry and Worſhip, and in what they ſtood, and what all People muſt come [Page] unto if ever they will know how to worſhip God aright, we departed, and immediately ſent them ſeveral good Books of Friends in High-Dutch.

Immediately we took Boat about the third Hour in the Afternoon,3.28. and came down the River Rhine to Mentz, Mentz. where we arrived about the fifth Hour in the Morning, and immediately took an open Chariot for Frankfort, Frankfort. where we came about the firſt Hour in the Afternoon.

We preſently informed ſome of thoſe People that had received us the Time before, of our return to that City, with deſires that we might have a Meeting that Afternoon; which was readily granted us by the Noble Women, at whoſe Houſe we met, whither reſorted ſome that we had not ſeen before. And the Lord did, after a living manner, open our Hearts and Mouths amongſt them, which was received by them as a farther confirmation of the coming of the Day of the Lord unto them; yea, [Page] with much joy and kindneſs they received us.

The Meeting held till the ninth Hour at Night; they conſtrained us to ſtay and eat with them, which was alſo a bleſſed Meeting to them: before we parted, we deſired a ſelect Meeting the next Morning at the ſame Place of thoſe that we felt more inwardly affected with Truth's Teſtimony, and that were neareſt unto the State of a ſilent Meeting; which they joyfully aſſented to.

4.29. 6th Month.We went to our Lodging, and the next Morning we returned unto them, with whom we had a bleſſed and heavenly Opportunity, for we had room for our Life amongſt them; it was as among faithful Friends, Life ran as Oil, and ſwom a-top of all.

We recommended a ſilent Meeting unto them, that they might grow into an holy Silence unto themſelves; that the Mouth that calls God Father, that is not of his own Birth▪ may be ſtop'd, and all Images confounded, that they may hear the ſoft [Page] Voice of Jeſus to inſtruct them, and receive his ſweet Life to feed them and to build them up.

About the ninth Hour we departed from that Place, and went to Vander Walls, where the Meeting was the Time before, and there we had a more publick Meeting of all that pleaſed to come: The Lord did ſo abundantly appear amongſt us, that they were more broken than we had ſeen them at any time, yea they were exceeding tender and low, and the Love of God was much raiſed in their Hearts to the Teſtimony. In this ſenſible frame we left them, and the Bleſſings and Peace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt with and among them.

And after having refreſh'd our ſelves at our Inn, we took Boat down the Main to Mentz, Mentz. where we arrived about the fifth Hour: 'tis a great City, but a dark and ſuperſtitious Place, according to the Popiſh Way, and is under the Government of a Popiſh Biſhop; we ſtayed not longer there, than till our Boat was [Page] ready, which might be better than half an Hour. From Mentz we went on our way down the Rhine ſix German Miles, and came that Night to Hampack;Hampack. 5.30. 6th Month. from thence the next Morning we went by Bacherach, Coblentz, and other places upon the Rhine, Treſy. to Treſy that Night, being about eleven German Miles.

6.31.Next day (being the ſixth Day of the Week) we got to Cullen, Cullen. a great Popiſh City, about the third Hour in the Afternoon.

We gave notice to a ſober Merchant in that Town, a ſerious Seeker a [...]ter God, that we were there arrived; who preſently came to us. We ſat down, and had a living and pretious Opportunity with him, opening to him the Way of the Lord, as to us it had been mani [...]eſted; intreating him, if he knew any in that City, who had deſires after the Lord, or that were willing to come to a Meeting, that he would pleaſe to inform them of our being here, and of our deſire to meet with them: He anſwered, [Page] That he would readily do it.

This night when we were in Bed, came the Reſident of ſeveral Princes (a ſerious and tender Man) to find us out; we had ſome diſcourſe with him, but being late, promiſed to ſee us the next Day.

The next Morning came the aforeſaid Merchant, informing us,7.1. 7th Month. that it was a buſy Time, ſeveral preparing for the Maſs or great Fair at Frankfort; yet ſome would come, and he deſired it might be at his Houſe in the Afternoon about Three.

In the Morning we were to viſit that Reſident, whom we met coming to ſee us; but he returned and brought us to his Houſe. We had a good Time with him, for the Man is an antient Seeker, oppreſt with the Cares of this World, and he may be truly ſaid to mourn under them: his Heart was opened to us, and he bleſſed God, that he had lived to ſee us. We gave him an Account, how the Lord appeared in the Land of our Nativity, and how he had dealt with us, [Page] which was as the cool and gentle Showers upon the dry and ſcorched Deſart. About Noon we returned Home; after we had eaten, we went to the Merchant's Houſe to the Meeting; where came four Perſons, one of which was the Presbyterian Prieſt, who preach'd in private to the Proteſtants of that Place, for they are no ways allowed in that City. Surely the true Day and Power of the Lord made known it ſelf to the Conſciences of them preſent; yea, they felt that we were ſuch as had been with Jeſus, and that had obtained our Teſtimony through the Sufferings and Travels of the Croſs. They were tender: the Reſident and Merchant conducted us to our Inn, and from thence to the Boat, being about ſeven at Night. We ſet out towards the City of Duysburgh of the Calviniſt Way, belonging to the Elector of Brandenburgh, in and near to which we had been informed there were a retired and ſeeking People.1.2. 7th Month. Duysburgh

We arrived there next Day about [Page] Noon, being the firſt Day of the Week; the firſt thing we did after we came to our Inn, was to inquire out one Dr. Maſtricht a Civilian, for whom we had a Letter to introduce us from a Merchant of Cullen: Whom quickly finding, we informed him what we came about, deſiring his Aſſiſtance; which he readily promiſed us. The firſt thing we offered was an Acceſs to the Counteſs of Falchenſteyn and Bruch: He told us ſhe was an extraordinary Woman, one in whom we ſhould find things worthy of our Love; that he would write to her to give us an Opportunity with her; that the fitteſt time was the preſent time, in that we might find her at the Miniſter's of Mulheim, on the other ſide of the River from her Father's Caſtle; for that ſhe uſed to come out the firſt Day Morning, and not return till Night: That we muſt be very ſhy of making our ſelves publick, not only for our own ſakes, but for hers, who was ſeverely treated by her Father for the Sake of thoſe Religious [Page] Inclinations that appeared in her, although her Father pretended to be of the Proteſtant Religion.

We therefore diſpatched towards Mulheim, having received his Letter, and being alſo accompanied by him about one third of the way; but being ſix Engliſh Miles, and on foot, we could not compaſs the Place before the Meeting was over, for it was paſt three before we could get out of Duysburgh; and following that way which led to the back-ſide of the Greaf's Caſtle and Orchard, which was alſo a common way to the Town, (tho if we had known the Country we might have avoided it) we met with one Henry Smith, Schoolmaſter and Catechiſer of Speldorp; to whom we imparted our Buſineſs, and gave the Letter of Dr. Maſtricht of Duyſburgh to introduce us to the Counteſs. He told us, he had juſt left her, being come over the Water from the Worſhip, but he would carry the Letter to her, and bring an Anſwer ſuddenly, but notwithſtanding ſtaid near an [Page] Hour: When he came he gave us this Anſwer, viz. that ſhe would be glad to meet us, but ſhe did not know where; but rather inclined that we ſhould go over the Water to the Miniſter's Houſe whither, if ſhe could, ſhe would come, but that a ſtrict hand was held over her by her Father. After ſome more ſerious Diſcourſe with him, concerning the Witneſs of God in the Conſcience, and the Diſcovery, Teſtimony, and Judgment of that true Light, unto which all muſt bow that would be Heirs of the Kingdom of God; recommending him to the ſame, we parted, he returning homewards, and we advancing to the Town: but being [...]ceſſitated to paſs by her Father's Caſtle, who is Seignour of the Country, it ſo fell out, that at that very inſtant he came forth to walk: And ſeeing us in the Habit of Strangers, ſent one of his Attendants to demand who and from whence we were, and whither we went, calling us to him, and asking us the ſame Queſtions. We anſwered, [Page] that we were Engliſhmen come from Holland, going no further in theſe Parts than his own Town of Mulheim. Mulheim. But not ſhowing him, or paying him that worldly Homage and Reſpect which was expected from us, ſome of his Gentlemen ask'd us, if we knew whom we were before? and if we did not uſe to deport our ſelves after another manner before Noble-men, and in the preſence of Princes? We anſwered, we were not conſcious to our ſelves of any Diſreſpect or unſeemly Behaviour: one of them ſharply replied, Why don't you put off your Hats then? is it reſpect to ſtand covered in the preſence of the Soveraign of the Country? We told them it was our practice in the preſence of our Prince, who is a great King, and that we uncovered not our Heads to any but to the Almighty God. Upon which the Graef called us Quakers, ſaying unto us, We have no need of Quakers here; get you out of my Dominions, you ſhall not go to my Town. We told him, that we were an innocent People [Page] that feared God, and had goodwill towards all Men; and that we had true Reſpect in our Hearts towards him, we would be glad to do him any real Good or Service; and that the Lord had made it Matter of Conſcience to us, not to conform our ſelves to the vain and fruitleſs Cuſtoms of this World, or words to this purpoſe. However he commanded ſome of his Souldiers to ſee us out of his Territories, (to whom we alſo declared ſomewhat of the Reaſon and Intention of our coming to that Place in the Fear and Love of God) who were civil to us. We parted with much Peace and Comfort in our Hearts; and as we paſſed through the Village where the Schoolmaſter dwelt, (yet in the Dominions of the Graef) we called upon him, and in the ſenſe of God's Power and Kingdom open'd to him the Meſſage and Teſtimony of Truth, which the Man received with a weighty and ſerious Spirit. For under the Dominion of the Graef there is a large Congregation [Page] of Proteſtants called Calviniſts, of a more religious, inward and zealous frame of Spirit, than any Body of People we met with or heard of in Germany. After we had ended our Teſtimony to him, we took our leave, deſiring him not to fear, but to be of good Courage, for the Day of the Lord was haſtning upon all the Workers of Iniquity; and to them that feared his Name, wherever ſcattered throughout the Earth, he would cauſe the Sun of Righteouſneſs to ariſe and viſit them, with Healing under his Wings; and to remember us with true Love and Kindneſs to the Counteſs, Daughter to this Greaf, and to deſire her not to be offended in us, nor to be diſmayed at the Diſpleaſure of her Father, but eye the Lord that hath viſited her Soul with his holy Light, by which ſhe ſeeth the Vanity of this World, and in ſome meaſure the emptineſs and deadneſs of the Religions that are in it; and he would preſerve her from the Power of the Wrath of Men, that worketh not the Righteouſneſs [Page] of God: So we left the Peace of Jeſus with him, and walked on towards Duysburgh, being about ſix Engliſh Miles from thence, and near the eight Hour at Night. The Lord was with us, and comforted our Hearts as we walked (without any outward Guide) through a tedious and ſolitary Wood (about three Miles long) with the Joy of his Salvation, giving us to remember, and to ſpeak one unto another of his bleſſed Witneſſes in the Days paſt, who wandred up and down like poor Pilgrims and Strangers on the Earth, their Eye being to a City in the Heavens, whoſe Builder and Maker is God. Betwixt nine and ten, we reached the Walls of Duyſburgh; but the Gates were ſhut, and there being no Houſes without the Walls, we laid us down together in a Field, receiving both natural and ſpiritual Refreſhment, bleſſed be the Lord.2.3. 7th Month. About three in the Morning we roſe, ſanctifying God in our hearts, that had kept us that Night; and walked till five, often ſpeaking one to [Page] another of the great and notable Day of the Lord dawning upon Germany, and of ſeveral Places of that Land that were almoſt ripe unto Harveſt. Soon after the Clock had ſtruck five, they opened the Gates of the City, and we had not long got to our Inn,Duysburgh but it came upon me with a ſweet, yet fervent Power to viſit this proſecuted Counteſs with a Salutation from the Love and Life of Jeſus, and to open unto her more plainly the Way of the Lord; which I did in this following Epiſtle.

And then followeth a Letter to her Father, the Graef of Bruch and Falckenſteyn.

[Page]

To the Counteſs of Falckenſteyn and Bruch at Mulheim.

My dear Friend,

JESUS, the Immaculate Lamb of God, (grieved and crucified by all the Workers of Iniquity) illuminate thy Underſtanding, bleſs and be with thy Spirit for ever.

Tho unknown, yet art thou much beloved for the ſake of thy Deſires and Breathings of Soul after the living God: The Report whereof from ſome in the ſame State, hath made deep impreſſions of true Kindneſs upon my Spirit, and raiſed in me a very ſingular and fervent inclination to viſit thee; and the rather, becauſe of that Suffering and Tribulation thou haſt begun to endure for the ſake of thy [Page] Zeal towards God, my ſelf having from my Childhood been both a Seeker after the Lord, and a great Sufferer for that Cauſe from Parents, Relations, Companions, and the Magiſtrates of this World: the remembrance whereof hath ſo much the more endeared thy Condition unto me; and my Soul hath often in the ſweet Senſe and Feeling of the holy Preſence of God, and the precious Life of his dear Son in my Heart, with great tenderneſs implored his Divine Aſſiſtance unto thee, that thou mayſt both be illuminated to do, and made willing to ſuffer for his Name's ſake, that the Spirit of God and of Glory may reſt upon thy Soul. And truly I can ſay, I felt the good Will of God, his holy Care and heavenly Viſitations of Love to extend unto thee. But one thing more eſpecially lay upon my Spirit to have communicated unto thee, which made me the more preſſing for an Opportunity to ſpeak with thee, and that was this; [Page] That thou ſhouldeſt have a true, right and diſtinct Knowledg of thy own State, and what that is which hath viſited thee, and in what thy Faith, Patience, Hope and Salvation ſtand; where to wait, and how to find the Lord, and diſtinguiſh between that which is born of God, and that which is not; both with reſpect to thy ſelf in all the Motions and Conceptions of thy Heart, and with reſpect to others in their Religious Worſhips and Performances, to the end that thou mayeſt not be deceived about the things relating to God's Kingdom, and thy Eternal Peace; this is of greateſt weight. Now know certainly, that which hath diſcovered unto thee the Vanities of this World, the Emptineſs and the Fading of all earthly Glory, the Bleſſedneſs of the Righteous, and the Joy of the World that is to come, is the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, wherewith he hath enlightned thy Soul; for in him was Life, and that Life is the Light of Mankind, [Page] John 1.4, 9. Thus God promiſeth by the Prophet Iſaiah, to give him, viz. for a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and for his Salvation to the ends of the Earth. So that Chriſt the Light is God's Gift, and eternal Life is hid in him; yea, all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledg, who is the Light of the Goſpel-Temple, true Believers, Rev. 21. And all that receive this Light into their Hearts, and bring their Deed to it, to ſee in what ground they are wrought, whether in God or in the evil One, and make this Bleſſed Light the Guide of their Life, fearing with a holy Fear to do any thing that this Light manifeſts to be evil, waiting and watching with a godly Care to be preſerved blameleſs before the Lord: I ſay, all ſuch become Children of Light, and Witneſſes of the Life of Jeſus. O bleſſed wilt thou be for ever, if in the way of this Holy Light thy Mind walks to the end.

[Page]Let this that hath viſited thee lead thee, this Seed of Light and Life which is the Seed of the Kingdom; yea, 'tis Chriſt the true and only Seed of God that viſited my Soul even in my young Years, that ſpread my Sins in order before me, reproved me, and brought godly Sorrow upon me; making me often to weep in ſolitary Places, ſaying within my Soul, O that I knew the Lord as I ought to know him; O that I ſerved him as I ought to ſerve him: yea, often was there a great Concern upon my Spirit about my eternal State, mournfully deſiring that the Lord would give my Soul reſt in the great Day of Trouble. Now was all the Glory of the World as a Bubble; yea, nothing was dear to me that I might win Chriſt: for the Love, Friendſhip and Pleaſure of this World was a Burden unto my Soul. And in this ſeeking-ſtate I was directed to the Teſtimony of Jeſus in my own Conſcience, as the true ſhining Light, giving me to diſcern the Thoughts [Page] and Intents of my own Heart; and no fooner was I turned unto it, but I found it to be that which from my Childhood had viſited me, though I diſtinctly knew it not: and when I received it in the Love of it, it ſhewed me all that ever I did, and reproved all the unfruitful Works of Darkneſs▪ judging me as a Man in the Fleſh, and laying Judgment to the Line, and Righteouſneſs to the Plummet in me: And as by the brightneſs of his coming into my Soul, he diſcovered the Man of Sin there upon his Throne, ſo by the Breath of his Mouth, which is the two-edged Sword of his Spirit, he deſtroyeth his Power and Kingdom; and having made me a Witneſs of that Death of the Croſs, he hath alſo made me Witneſs of his Reſurrection. So that in good meaſure my Soul can now ſay, I am juſtified in the Spirit; and though the State of Condemnation unto Death was glorious, yet Juſtification unto Life was and is more glorious. In [Page] this ſtate of the new Man all is new; behold new Heavens and a new Earth, old things come to be done away, the old Man with his Deeds put off. Now new Thoughts, new Deſires, new Affections, new Love, new Friendſhip, new Society, new Kindred, new Faith, even that which overcometh this World through many Tribulations; and new Hope, even that living Hope that is founded upon true Experience, which holds out all Storms, and can ſee to the Glory that is inviſible (to carnal Eyes) in the midſt of the greateſt Tempeſt. Now 'tis the ſame bleſſed Seed of Light, Life and Grace, that from God the Father is ſown in thy Heart, and hath moved and wrought there that Change which thou haſt witneſſed from the Spirit of this World: turn to it, watch in it, that by it thou mayeſt be kept from all that it diſcovers to be contrary to God; eſpecially from thy ſelf, from thy own runnings, willings and ſtrivings: for whatſoever is not born of the Spirit [Page] is Fleſh, and that inherits not the Kingdom of God; and all that ſow to it, ſhall inherit Corruption. By this thou wilt come to feel, not only all Sin to be a Burden, but all thy own Righteouſneſs, yea, all Man's Righteouſneſs to be a Burden. Thou wilt ſee the difference betwixt the Duties and Prayers which thou begetteſt, and the Duties and Prayers which in thy true ſilence from all ſelf-activity of Mind the Lord begets in thee. O that thou mighteſt know the Myſtery of the new Birth, and what that is that can truly call God Father, even that that is begotten of him, which liveth and breatheth, and hath its Beginning and Being in that Life which is hid with Chriſt in God, and by which it hath been quickened to the Knowledg and Worſhip of Chriſt and God; and this thou ſhalt not fail to know and enjoy▪ as thou patiently ſuffereſt the Lord to work his own Work in thee by his own bleſſed Spirit. And that [Page] which will give thee to ſavour and diſcern the right Motions and Conceptions, Duties and Performances in thy ſelf, from the falſe, will give thee to ſavour and diſcern that which is right in others, from that which is falſe; that which is of God, from that which is of Man. Have a Care of gathering of Sticks, and kindling a Fire of thy own, and then compaſſing thy ſelf about the Sparks of the Fire which thou haſt kindled; for the end of this State is to lie down in Sorrow, becauſe the heavenly Fire is abſent, which maketh the Sacrifice acceptable; yea, the Lord may ſtir in thy Heart, and thou mayeſt bring forth: but he that gives to conceive, he brings to the Birth, and he giveth Power to bring forth, for without Chriſt we can do nothing; and bleſſed are they that ſtir not before the Angel moveth the Waters, and go not before Chriſt, but are led by him, and that awaken not their Beloved till he pleaſe, in whoſe Hand the [Page] Times and the Seaſons are. O bleſſed are they, whoſe Eyes are opened to ſee him always preſent, a God always nigh at Hand, whoſe Hearts are ſtayed upon his holy Appearance in them, and they are thereby tranſlated into his Likeneſs, whoſe Faith and Hope is in Chriſt, in them the Hope of Glory.

My dear Friend, weigh theſe Things with a ſerious, retired, ſweet and tender frame of Spirit; and the God that hath called me and thee, by the Light of his dear Son, open thy Underſtanding to perceive the Truth as it is in Jeſus, and what is the Myſtery of the Fellowſhip of the Saints in Light. So to the Lord I recommend thee, the Watchman and Keeper of Iſrael: the Lord be thy Strength and holy Comfort, and ſpeak Peace to thee, and never leave thee nor forſake thee till he hath conducted thee through all Tribulations to his everlaſting Kingdom of Reſt and Glory.

[Page]O dear Heart, be valiant, and ſtay thy ſelf upon Chriſt Jeſus the Everlaſting Rock, and feel him a Fountain in thy Soul; feel his Blood to cleanſe, and his Blood to drink, and his Fleſh to eat; feed upon him, for God hath given him for the Life of the World.

I had ſeen thee had not thy Father's ſtrange ſort of ſeverity hindred: I confeſs I do not uſe to be ſo treated in my own Country, where the Lord hath raiſed up many hundreds of Witneſſes, that he hath gathered out of all Sects and Profeſſions, to worſhip him, not in their Spirits or Wills, but in his Will, Spirit and Truth: and we are generally, after much Affliction and Suffering, in good Eſteem, even with the great Ones of this World. And this let me add for thy particular Comfort, that though I have been a Man of great Anguiſh and Sorrow, becauſe of the Scorn and Reproach that hath attended my ſeparation from the World, (having been taught [Page] of Jeſus to turn my back upon all the ſake of that Glory that ſhall revealed) yet to God's Honour I [...] ſay it, I have an hundred friends one, yea, God hath turned [...] Hearts of my Enemies towar [...] me; he hath fulfilled his Promi [...] to turn the Hearts of the Paren [...] unto the Children. For my Paren [...] that once diſowned me for this ble [...] ſed Teſtimony's ſake, (of the Jew [...] Chriſtian, Circumciſion, and Ba [...] tiſm inward, againſt the fleſhly Chr [...] ſtian) have come to love me abov [...] all, and have left me all, thinkin [...] they could never do and leave enoug [...] for me. O how good is the Lor [...] yea, the Ways of his Mercy a [...] even paſt finding out.

Whereſore, my dear Friend, tru [...] in the Lord for ever; and the Go [...] of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, the Go [...] of the Prophets and of the Apoſtles the God of all the Holy Martyrs o [...] Jeſus, illuminate, fortify and preſerv [...] [Page] thee ſtedfaſt, that in the end thou mayeſt receive the Reward of Life and Eternal Salvation; to who [...] be Glory, and to the Lamb tha [...] ſits upon the Throne, one God and one Lord, bleſſed and magnified for ever and ever, Amen.

Thy great and faithful Love for the bleſſed and holy Truth's ſake. W. Penn.

Duysburgh 13th of 7th Month S.N. 1677.

P.S. My dear Brethren and Companions G K. and B F. with me ſalute thee in the dear Lo [...]e of God. The encloſed I received from a religious young Woman at Franckfort: We have a bleſſed Opportunity in this Town with ſome that have a deſire after the Lord, in which we are abundantly comforted. We have juſt now received thy Meſſage and Salutation from H.S. which hath exceedingly [Page] refreſhed and revive [...] us, for our trouble wa [...] not fo [...] our ſelves, but for thee, and w [...] hope our Love will not turn [...] thy Diſadvantage, for we men [...] [...] ned nothing of thy Name, nor th [...] Name of any other Perſon, onel [...] that we deſired to ſpeak with the Miniſter of Mulheim, and that wa [...] only to the Souldier. The Lord made us a good Bed in the Fields▪ and we were very well ſatisf [...] [...] ▪ We are going this Afternoon out of the Town towards Weſel, from thence to Cleve, and thence to Herwerden (the Lord will [...] [...]) ſ [...] farewell in the Lord.

[...]

[Page]

To the Graef or Earl of Bruck and Falckenſteyn.

Friend,

I Wiſh thy Salvation, and the Lord reward thee Good for the Evil that thou ſhewedſt unto me and my Friends the laſt night, if it be his Will. But ſince thou art a mortal Man, one that muſt give an Account, in common with all, to the Immortal God, let me a little expoſtulate with thee.

By what Law on Earth are Men, not ſcandalous, under no Proſcription, harmleſs Strangers about lawful Occaſions, and Men not Vagabonds, but of good Quality in their own Country; ſtopt, menaced, ſent back with Souldiers, and that at Sun-ſet, expoſed to the Night in an unknown Country, and therefore forced to lie in the Fields: I ſay, by what Law are we judged, yea, thus puniſhed before heard: Is this the Jus Gentium or Germanicum, Naturale or Chriſtianum? Oh! Where's Nature? Where's Civility? Where's Hoſpitality? But where's Chriſtianity all this while? [Page]Well, but we are Quakers; Quakers, What's that for a Name? Is there a Law of the Empire againſt that Name? No, Did we own it? No, but if we had, the letters of that Name neither make up Drunkard, Whore-maſter, Thief, Murderer nor Traitor: Why ſo odious then? What harm hath it done? Why could Jews paſs juſt before us, that have crucified Chriſt, and not Quakers that never crucified him; but Ignorance is as well the Mother of Perſecution as Devotion, and the falſe Chriſtian, and the falſe Jew have but one Father.

But Argumentum ad hominem, my Friend bear with me a little: Art thou a Chriſtian? How canſt thou be rude, uncivil, and perſecute then? Thou art to love Enemies, not abuſe Friends, harmleſs Strangers. Well, but this Life is dead, this Doctrine antiquated, Jeſus Chriſt turn'd out of doors, I perceive: What art thou for a Chriſtian? A Lutheran? Yes, Canſt thou ſo lately forget the Practiſes of the Papiſts, and with what Abhorrence thy Anceſtors declared againſt ſuch ſort of Entertainment? Were [Page]not they deſpiſed, mocked and perſecuted? And are their Children treading in the ſteps of their old Enemies? Friend, 'tis not reformed Words, but a reformed Life that will ſtand thee inſtead: 'tis not to live the life of the Unregenerate, Worldly-minded, and Wicked under the Profeſſion of the Saint's Words, that will give an Entrance into God's reſt: Be not deceived, ſuch as thou Soweſt, ſuch muſt thou Reap in the Day of the Lord. Thou art not come to the Berean-ſtate that tried all things, and therefore not noble in the Chriſtian ſenſe; the Bereans were noble, for they judged not before Examination. And for thy ſaying, We want no Quakers here, I ſay, under favour you do, for a true Quaker is one that trembleth at the Word of the Lord, that worketh out his Salvation with fear and trembling, and all the Days of his appointed Time waiteth in the Light and Grace of God till his great Change cometh, and that taketh up the daily Croſs to his Will and Luſts, that he might do the Will of God manifeſted to him by the Light of Jeſus in his Conſcience, and according[Page]to the holy Precepts and Examples in the holy Scriptures of Truth, laid down by Jeſus, and his followers, for the Ages to come. Yea, he is one that loveth his Enemies, rather than feareth them; that Bleſſeth thoſe that Curſe him, and prayeth for thoſe that deſpitefully treat him; as God knoweth we do for thee. And O that thou wert ſuch a Quaker! Then wouldſt thou Rule for God, and act in all things as one that muſt give an account to God for the Deeds done in the Body, whether Good or Evil. Then would Temperance, Mercy, Juſtice, Meekneſs, and the Fear of the Lord dwell in thy Heart, and in thy Family and Country. Repent, I exhort thee, and conſider thy latter End, for thy Days are not like to be many in this World, therefore mind the things that make for thy Eternal Peace, leaſt Diſtreſs come upon thee as an armed Man, and there be none to deliver thee. I am

Thy Well-wiſhing Friend W.P.

Duysburgh 3d. 7th. m. 1677. S.V.

[Page]This having done, we went to Dr. Maſtricht's to inform him of what had paſt, who tho' of a kind Diſpoſition, and very friendly to us, yet ſeemed ſurprized with fear (the Diſeaſe of this Country) crying out, What will become of this poor Counteſs! Her Father hath called her Quaker a long time, behaving himſelf very ſeverely to her, but now he will conclude ſhe is one indeed, and he will lead her a lamentable Life: I know (ſaid he) you care not for ſuffering, but ſhe is to be pittied: We told him that we both loved her, and pittied her, and could lay down our Lives for her, as Chriſt hath done for us, in the Will of God, if we could thereby do her good, but that we had not mentioned her Name, neither was the Letter, that he gave us to her, ſo much as ſeen or known of her Father. But ſtill he feared that our Carriage would incenſe the Graef ſo much the more againſt both his Daughter, and all thoſe ſerious and inquiring People up and down the Country: We anſwered with an earneſtneſs [Page] of Spirit, That they had minded the Incenſings and Wrath of Men too much already, and true Religion would never ſpring or grow under ſuch fears, and that it was time for all that felt any thing of the Work of God in their Hearts to caſt away the ſlaviſh fear of Man, and to come forth in the boldneſs of the true Chriſtian life; yea, that Sufferings break and make way for greater Liberty, and that God was wiſer and ſtronger than Man. We askt him if there were any in that City who enquired more diligently after the way of the Lord, he recommended us (as we had already been informed in another place) to the Family of the Praetor, or chief Governour of the Town, whoſe Wife and Siſter more eſpecially were ſeeking after the beſt things: So we parted with him in love, and by the help of his Daughter, were conducted to this Family. We had not been long there, before a School-maſter of Duſſeldorp, and withal a Miniſter came in enquiring after us, having [Page] h [...]ard at Mulheim where he preached the day before to the People, or elſe by the way, of our attempt to viſit that place, and the Entertainment we received at the hands of the G [...]ef; He ſat down with us, and though we had already a ſweet Opportunity, yet feeling the Power to riſe, the Meeting renewed: And O magnified be the Name of the Lord, he witneſſed to our Teſtimony abundantly in all their Hearts and Conſciences, who were broken into much tenderneſs, and certainly there is a bleſſed Power and Zeal ſtirring in that young Man, yea he is very near the Kingdom. So we took our Leave of them, leaving the Lord's Peace and Bleſſing upon them. It was now ſomething paſt the 12th. Hour of the Day. In the way to our Lodging we met a Meſſenger from the Counteſs, a pretty young tender Man near to the Kingdom, who ſaluted us in her Name with much love, telling us, That ſhe was much grieved at the Ente [...]tainment of her Father towards us, adviſing [Page] us not to expoſe our ſelves to ſuch Difficulties and Hardſhips, for it would grieve her Heart, that any that came in the Love of God to viſit her, ſhould be ſo ſeverely handled; for at ſome he ſets his Dogs, upon others he puts his Souldiers to beat them: But what ſhall I ſay, That it ſelf, muſt not hinder you from doing good, ſaid the Counteſs, We anſwered him, that his Meſſage was joyful to us, that ſhe had any regard to us, and that ſhe was not offended with us: We deſired the Remembrance of our kind Love unto her, and that he would let her know that our Concern was not for our ſelves, but for her: We invited him to eat with us, but he told us he was an Inhabitant of Meurs, and was in haſte to go home; ſo we briefly declared our Principle and Meſ [...]ge, recommending him to Chriſt the true Light in his Conſcience, and parted: So we went home to Dinner, having neither eaten nor drank ſince firſt-day Morning, and having lain out all Night in the Field. We had [Page] no ſooner got to our Inn, but the Man was conſtrained to come after us, and ſat down with us, and enquired concerning our Friends; their Riſe, Principles and Progreſs, and in all things that he deſired ſatisfaction about, he declared himſelf ſatisfied. Dinner being done, and all cleared, we departed that City, being about th [...] fourth Hour in the Afternoon, and for want of Accommodation were forced to walk on foot 8 Engliſh Miles to a Town called Holton, Holton. where we reſted that Night.

The next Morning we ſet out for Weſel and got thither at Noon.7th. Month. 3.4. Weſel. The firſt thing we did (as had been our Cuſtom) was to enquire who was worthy, particularly for two Perſons recommended to us by the Counteſs of Hornes, that lives with the Princeſs Elizabeth. But upon enquiry, we found one of them was gone to Amſterdam with his Wife, who had been formerly a Preacher, but being conſcienciouſly diſſatisfied with his own Preaching, laid it down, and is now [Page] in a ſeeking State. But in lied of him we found out three more▪ with the other Perſon that had been recommended to us. We beſpoke a Meeting amongſt them after Dinner; which ac [...]ordingly we had at a Woman's Houſe of good Note in the Town▪ who told us, That ſhe had been long in a ſolitary Eſtate, diſſatisfied with the Religions generally profeſt in that Country, waiting for Salvation, and ſhe hoped that now the time was come, and that we were the Meſſengers of it.

The Lord was with us in the Meeting, and their Hearts were opened by the Word of God, to receive our Teſtimony as glad Tidings of Salvation. Meeting being done, we immediately returned to our Lodging, deſiring we might ſee them together in the ſame place the next Morning to take our Leave of them,7th. Month. 4.5. to which they readily aſſented.

Next Morning we came, and had a precious Meeting with them, and there were ſome preſent that were not there the Night before: So we left [Page] them in much Love, and went to our Inn, where after having refreſht our ſelves we went to Rees, Rees. where we met with a Counſellor of Gelderlandt, with whom we had a good Opportunity to declare the Teſtimony of Jeſus, who received it, and parted with us in much kindneſs.

From thence we went to Emrick, Emrick. and there called upon an eminent Baptiſt-teacher, recommended to us by one of Weſel, we ſpent ſome time with him, opening to him the way of Life, as in the Light it is manifeſted to all that love and obey the Light, and of that more ſpiritual and pure Miniſtry that from the Living Word of God is received by many true Miniſters in this Day; the Man was ſomewhat full of Words, but we felt the living Viſitation of the Love of God reacht to him, and ſo we left him, making all the haſte we could to get to Cleve that night,Cleve▪ which accordingly we did, though late, being forced to walk one third-part of the way on foot.

[Page]That Night, notwithſtanding, one of us went to a certain Lady, to whom we had Recommendations from the Princeſs, and that was particularly known to one of us, informing her that we were come to that City, deſiring to know what time next day we might give her a Viſit; ſhe appointed Eight in the Morning. About that time we went to ſee her,7th. Month. 5.6. ſhe received us (conſidering her Quality and Courtſhip) far from any appearance of Offence at our Deportment: We told her our Meſſage and Viſit was to thoſe of that City, that had any Inclinations or Deſires, Hunger or Thirſt after the true and living Knowledge of God; for that end we had left our own Country, and had wandred up and down in ſeveral parts of Germany; ſhe told us, That ſome there were that ſearched after God, but the feared the Name of Quaker would make them ſhy, becauſe they were called Quakers themſelves by People of the ſame Profeſſion, only for being more ſerious and retired in their [Page] Converſation. We replied, That it was an honour to the Name, that all Sobriety throughout Germany was called by it; this ought to make the Name leſs odious, yea it will make the way eaſier for thoſe that are truly called ſo, or that are Quakers indeed; it will take off much of the wonder, and, it may be, of the Severity of the places where we come, that the Name is gone before us, and hath received a Dwelling-place in their Towns and Cities. In fine, to all ſuch God had committed to us the Word of Life to preach, and ſuch we ſeek out in all places where the Lord bringeth us; and hitherto we can ſay it to the praiſe of our God, he hath vindicated our Service and Teſtimony, by his own bleſſed Power, ſhed abroad in their hearts to whom we have been ſent.

So ſhe told us ſhe would ſend for an Attorney at Law, one that was more than ordinarily eminent, having deſerted the Church, and being therefore reproached with the Name of Quaker.

[Page]In this Interval we had cloſe diſcourſe with her, a Woman certainly of great Wit, high Notions, and very ready Utterance; ſo that it was hard for us to obtain a true ſilence, a ſtate in which we could reach to her. But through ſome travel of Spirit more than ordinary, we had [...] ſweet time of refreſhment, and the Witneſs was raiſed in her, and we really and plainly beheld a true Nobility, yea that which was ſenſible of our Teſtimony, and did receive it.

By this time the perſon ſhe ſe [...]t for came, and a bleſſed ſweet time we had, for the power and preſence of the Lord our ſtaff and ſtrength, into which our eye hath been throughout all our travels, that we might onely be acceptable in that, plenteouſly appeared amongſt us (the Lord have the glory of his own work) both confeſſing to the truth of what had been ſaid, and the Attorney to the living ſenſe in which the truth had been declared. We [Page] would have returned to our Inn to eat, according as we had appointed in the morning, but ſhe laid a kind of violent hands upon us, and neceſſitated us to ſtay and eat with her, which we did. And we had no ſooner ſat down, but her Brother in Law, a Man of quality and employment in that Court of the Elector of Brundenburg came in, who dined with us. As we ſat at Meat, we had a good meeting, for the time was much taken up about the Things of God, either in anſwering their queſtions, or our miniſtring to them about the true Chriſtian nature and life; in all which her Brother behaved himſelf with great ſweetneſs and reſpect. After Dinner we took our Ch [...]iſtian leave of them in the fear of God, recommending unto them the Light of Chriſt Jeſus, that brings all that receive it into the one Spirit, to live in holy Peace and Concord together, particularly and alone ſpeaking to the Lady, and the Attorney what was upon us to their States.

[Page]And ſo we departed, and ſoon after took Waggon for Nimwegen, Nimwegen. where arriving about the 7th hour that night, we immediately took Waggon for Utrecht, Utrecht. 7 th. Month, 6.7. and got thither about the 10th hour next morning. We hear there is a People in that City, but had not now time to viſit them, referring it to another opportunity.

About the firſt hour in the afternoon G. K. and B. F. took Waggon for Rotterdam, and I took Waggon for Amſterdam, Amſterdam. where I came ſafely that night about ſix in the evening▪ and I found Friends generally well▪ though it is a ſickly time in thi [...] Country. The Meeting-houſe i [...] much enlarged, and there is a freſ [...] enquiry among many people afte [...] Truth, and great deſires to hear the Teſtimony and Declaration of it. I alſo underſtand that dear G. F. is returned from Frederickſtadt an [...] Hamburgh into Frieſlandt, whether T. R. and I. Y. are gone from this City to meet with him▪ [Page] he hath had a hard time of travel with reſpect to the Weather, yet I hear is in good health through the Lord's power that hath kept him.

This day at night (being the ſeventh day of the week) came John Hill from Frieſlandt to the Houſe of G. D. in Amſterdam. 7th. Month, 7.8.

The next day (being the firſt day of the week) we had a bleſſed and large Meeting,7th. Month. 1.9. larger then ordinary, becauſe a great addition of room ſince our Journey into Germany; indeed there was a great appearance of ſober profeſſing people, yea ſeveral of the chief of the Baptiſts, as Galenus and Companions the Lord's heavenly Power was over all, and the Meeting bleſſedly ended about the fourth hour.

That night after Supper, having taken my leave in a ſweet little Meeting among Friends,Horn. I took Boat for Horn (P. Hendrick's accompanying me) about the ſeventh hour at night,7th Month. 2.10. and got thither about two in the morning; where lying down till [Page] about ſix, we took Waggon for Enckhuyſen, Enckhuyſen. we came thither a little after eight in the morning; where having refreſht our ſelves, about the 9th hour we took Ship for Workum in Urieſlandt, Workum. and arrived about one; and thence immediately took Waggon for Harlingen, Harlingen. where we arrived about ſix, there we met with dear G. F. J T. I Y. T R. J C. and his Wife.

7th. Month. 3.11.The next day we had two bleſſed meetings; one amongſt Friends, being the firſt monthly meeting that was ſetled for Frieſlandt, Groningen and Embden; the other a publick meeting, where reſorted both Baptiſts, Collegians and others; and among the reſt, a Doctor of Phyſick and a Presbyterian Prieſt, all ſate with great attention and ſobriety, but the Prieſt and Doctor more eſpecially: The Prieſt having a Lecture-Sermon to Preach that evening, went away; but notwithſtanding ſpeedily returned, G.F. ſtill ſpeaking; but as a Man in pain to be gone, yet willing to ſtay, ſate at the door till G.F. had done, [Page] and then ſtood up, and pulling off his Hat, looking up to Heaven, in a ſolemn manner, and with a loud voice, ſpake to this purpoſe: The Almighty, the All-wiſe, the O [...]ipotent great God, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, who is bleſſed for ever and ever, confirm his Word that hath been ſpok [...]n this day: Apologizing, that he could not longer ſtay, for that he was a Miniſter of the Reformed Religion, and was now going to Preach, where all that would come, ſhould be welcome; and ſo left the Meeting. The Phyſician alſo was called away, but returned and ſtayed till the Meeting ended: Juſt as the Meeting ended, came the Prieſt again, who ſaid in the hearing of ſome Friends, That he had made his Sermon much ſhorter than ordinary, that he might enjoy the reſt of the Meeting. At night came the Phyſician to ſee me, who, after a ſerious and Chriſtian diſcourſe, expreſſing great ſatisfaction in moſt things relating to Friends, left me; withall telling me, That if I had not been to go the 4th [Page]hour next morning, he would either have ſtayed longer with me, or come again: He alſo remembred the Prieſt's Love to us, and told me, That if it had not been for fear of giving offence, or coming too much under the Obſervation of the People, he would have come to have ſeen us; adding, That it was great pity, that this People had not printed their Principles to the World: To which the Doctor anſwered, That he had, ſome of our Books, and he would lend him them. Bleſſed be the Lord his precious Work goeth on, and his Power is over all: It being now the tenth hour at night, I took my leave of G.F. and Friends.

This day it came upon me to write a Letter to Joanna Eleonora Marlane, the noble young Woman at Franckfort.

Dear Friend J. E. M.

MY dear and tender Love which God hath raiſed in my Heart by his living Word to all Mankind [Page](but more eſpecially unto thoſe in whom he hath begotten an holy hunger and thirſt after him) ſaluteth thee: and amongſt thoſe of that place where thou liveſt, the remembrance of thee, with thy companions, is moſt particulary and eminently at this time brought before me; and the ſenſe of your open-heartedneſs, ſimplicity and ſincere love to the teſtimony of Jeſus, that by us was delivered unto you, hath deeply engaged my heart towards you, and often raiſed in my ſoul heavenly breathings to the God of my life, that he would keep you in the daily ſenſe of that divine life, which then affected you; for this know, it was the life in your ſelves that ſo ſweetly viſited you by the Miniſtry of life through us. Wherefore love the Divine Life and Light in your ſelves; be retired and ſtill; let that holy ſeed move in all heavenly things before you move; for no one receiveth any thing (that truly profiteth) but what he receiveth from above; thus ſaid John to his Diſciples. Now that, that ſtirreth in your hearts, draweth you out of the World, ſ [...]ayeth[Page]you to all the vain-glory, and pleaſure and empty worſhips that are in it; this is from above the heavenly ſeed of God, pure and incorruptible, that's come down from Heaven to make you heavenly, that in heavenly places you may dwell and witneſs with the Saints of old, this heavenly Treaſure in earthen veſſels. O ſtay your minds upon the appearance of Jeſus in you, in whoſe light you ſhall ſee light; it will make you of a weighty conſidering ſpirit more and more, that you may ſee how the myſtery of iniquity hath wrought, and how mankind is corrupted in all things, and what part you yet have, that belongeth not to the paradiſe of God, that you may lay it all down at the feet of Jeſus and follow him, who is going up and down, doing good to all that believe in his Name. So poſſeſs your Souls in the ſenſible feeling of his daily divine viſits, ſhinings and breathings upon your ſpirits, and wait diligently and watch circumſpectly, leſt the enemy ſurprize you, or your Lord come at unawares upon you, and you be unprepared to receive his[Page]ſweet and precious viſitations; that ſo thoſe holy beginnings, which thou art a witneſs of with thy companions, may not be loſt, or as if they had never been, but that you may from day to day feel the growth of his light, life, power and kingdom in your ſouls, that you may be able to ſay, the kingdom of God is come, yea it is given to the Saints. And what I ſay unto one, I ſay unto all that received our Teſtimony in that City, to whom thou mayeſt give, if thou pleaſeſt, the remembrance of my dear Love, who travel in the Spirit for their redemption, that they may be brought into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God: particularly ſalute me the young Woman, that met with us at thy Lodging. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt the Prince of Peace, dwell amongſt you, keep your hearts ſteadfaſt in his holy Light, without wavering, all the days of your appointed time, until your great and laſt change ſhall come, when he will receive his own Sheep into his own everlaſting Kingdom from the power of the Foxes ai [...]d Wolves, and all the devouring Beaſts and Birds of prey, when he[Page]will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and ſighing and ſorrowing ſhall be no more, and when it ſhall be ſaid, There is no more death, no more night, no more time.

So dear I. E. M. know, that the Lord hath brought us well to Amſterdam, not without good ſervice by the way; for at Cullen we had a pretious Meeting, and were received with much gladneſs of heart: We alſo went to Duysburg, and from thence towards Mullheim, being the firſt day of the week, hoping to get an opportunity with the Counteſs of Bruch, and to deliver thy Letter; but her Father (who is a cruel and ſevere Man) meeting us near his Caſtle, ſtopt us; and after ſome little time, finding what we were, ſaid, There wanted no Quakers there, and ſent us with ſome of his Souldiers out of his Territory; it was about Sun-ſet, ſo that we were forced to return towards Duysburg; but the Gates of the City being ſhut, and there being no Houſes without it, we were forced to lye in the Fields all night, where the Lord made us a good and comfortable [Page]Bed; we told the Graef at parting, we were Men that feared the Almighty God, we deſired the good of all Men, and we came not thither for any evil deſign, but he would not hear; the Lord, if he pleaſeth, forgive him. Nevertheleſs we had a good Meeting at Duysburg, where we had our heart's deſire, the bleſſed power and life of God making its own way in the hearts of thoſe that heard our Teſtimony: I alſo writ a large and tender Letter to the Counteſs, and received a ſweet and loving Meſſage from her; and I have great hopes that all things will work for the beſt.

From Duysburg we went to Weſel,Weſel. where we inquired out who was worthy, where we found four or five ſeparated from all Congregations, waiting for the Conſolation of Iſrael, with whom we had two precious Meetings; and leaving the peace of Jeſus with them, went to Emrick, where we viſited the chief Baptiſt-teacher, who confeſſed to our Teſtimony, and received us lovingly: We directed him to that gift of God in himſelf, that pure and eternal Word in the[Page]heart, that he might know the pure Miniſtry of that, from the Miniſtry of Man's Spirit, which cannot profit or give life to the Soul. From thence we went to Cleve, where at a Lady's Houſe belonging to the Court, we had a precious Meeting, and we found ſome that had deſerted the publick Miniſtry, as not being anointed of God to preach, neither knowing by a true experience the way and travel of the new birth, but are made and maintained by Men, we ſounded the joyfull Goſpel amongſt them. And from thence by the way of Nimmegen and Utrecht we came the laſt ſixt day to Amſterdam, which was the 7th of the 7th Month. This laſt firſt day I had a great and bleſſed Meeting at Amſterdam almoſt of every Quality and Religion; the Lord's heavenly Power (that is quickning People into a living ſenſe of him, that they may ſay the Lord liveth, and he liveth in me) reigned that day over all. In the Evening I took Boat for Horn, and from thence came laſt night (being the ſecond day of the Week) to this City of Harlingen, [Page] where we met with ſome of our Brethren, that had been up at Hamburgh and Frederickſtadt; and this day we are to have two Meetings in this City, the one among our Friends, the other publick for the Town. It is upon me to viſit de Labadie 's People, that they might know him in themſelves, in whom their Salvation ſtandeth; for theſe ſimple people are to be pittied. From thence I think to viſit Leeuwaerden, Groningen, Embden, Bremen, Herwerden, Weſel, Emrick, Cleve, Utrecht, and ſo to return to Amſterdam, the Lord enabling me by his Power.

This ariſeth in my Heart to thee, give not thy Bread to Dogs, ſpend not thy Portion, feed not the Serpent, neither hearken to him; abide with Jeſus, and he will abide with thee, that thou mayeſt grow in Wiſdom and in Righteouſneſs through the Croſs that crucifieth thee to the World, and the World to thee. So in the Love, which over-cometh the World, that is divine and from above, and leadeth all thither that receive it[Page]into their hearts, I take my leave of thee, with thy Companions, and all the reſt of that City known to us, remaining

Thy faithful Friend, and the Lord's Day-labourer. W.P.

Harlingen 11. 7th. Month, 1677.

Next Morning about the 4th hour I took Boat for Leeuwaerden, J. Claus who had been at Frederickſtadt with G.F. went with me. G.F. J.Y. and T.R. with P. Hendricks returned that day towards Amſterdam.

Leeuwaerden.At Leeuwaerden we came about 9, and began the Meeting about 10; which we enjoyed with peace and refreſhment, ſeveral being there (as in other places) that were never at a Meeting before.

The Meeting being done, and having refreſht our ſelves with food, we took Waggon for Wiewart, Wiewart. the Manſion-houſe of the Family of the Somerdykes, where De Labadie's Company reſideth, it being ſtrong upon my Spirit to give them a Viſit. We [Page] got thither about 5, and as we were walking over a Field to the Houſe, we met a young Man of that Company who conducted us in. I askt for Ivon the Paſtor, and Anna Maria Schurmans: Ivon preſently came with his Co-paſtor who received us very civilly, however they ſeemed ſhy of letting me ſpeak with A. M. S. objecting her Weakneſs, Age, taking Phyſick, &c. but putting them in mind how unhandſomely I was uſed at Herwerden ſix Years a-go, by de Labadie their Father, who, though I came a great Journy to viſit him and his People, ſuffered me not to ſpeak with them; they preſently complied, and went in to let her know, that ſuch a Perſon deſired to ſpeak with her, and quickly returned, deſiring me to come in: But fore-ſeeing my time would be too ſhort for my Meſſage, the Sun being near ſetting, and having 2 Engliſh Miles of unknown way to our Lodging on foot, deſired them that they would give an Opportunity the next Morning, which they readily [Page] complied with. So I took my leave of them, who in a Friendly manner brought us a little on our way. That night a great weight was upon my Spirit, and eſpecially the next Morning, yet my Faith was in the power of God, and I had a plain ſight, that I ſhould have a good ſervice among them, however I ſhould clear my Conſcience, and my Peace ſhould reſt with me.

7th. Month. 5.13.The next Morning I returned to them, and John Claus along with me; ſo ſoon as we came, we were brought into A.M. Shurman's Chamber, where alſo was with her one of the three Somerdikes.

This A. M. S. aforeſaid is an ancient Maid, above 60 Years of Age, of great Note and Fame for Learning in Languages and Philoſophy, and hath obtained a conſiderable place among the moſt learned Men of this Age. The Somerdikes are Daughters to a Noble-man of the Hague, people of great Breeding and Inhe [...] [...]ances. Theſe, with ſeveral other Perſons, being [Page] affected with the zealous Declamation of de Labadie, againſt the dead and formal Churches of the World, and awakened to ſeek after a more ſpiritual Fellowſhip and Society, ſeparated themſelves from the common Calviniſt Churches, and followed him in the way of a refined Independency. They are a ſerious, plain People, and are come nearer to Friends; as in Silence in Meetings, Women-ſpeaking, Preaching by the Spirit, Plainneſs in Garb, and Furniture in their Houſes than formerly, and more than any other People I know. With theſe two we had the Company of the two Paſtors, and a Doctor of Phyſick: After ſome ſilence, I propoſed this Queſtion to them, What was it that induced them to ſeparate from the common Way they formerly lived in? I deſired them that they would be pleaſed to be plain and open with me, as to the ground of their ſeparation, for I came not to cavil, but in the Chriſtian Spirit to be informed.

[Page]Upon this Ivon the chief Paſto [...] gave us the Hiſtory of de Labadie' [...] Education, how he was bred among the Jeſuites and Deſerted them, and embraced the Proteſtant Religion, and finally of his great Satisfaction with the Proteſtant Churches of France, and that if God would not give them a purer Church, they three would ſet down by themſelves, reſolving never more to mix themſelves among the Babyloniſh Aſſemblies of the World, adding ſeveral ſolemn Appeals concerning the Simplicity and Integrity of their Hearts in theſe things.

Ivon having done, A. M. Shurmans began in this manner, I find my ſelf conſtrained to add a ſhort Teſtimony. She told us of her former life, of her pleaſure in Learning, and her love to the Religion ſhe was brought up in, but ſhe confeſſed ſhe knew not God or Chriſt all that while; and though from a Child God had viſited her at times, yet ſhe never felt ſuch a pow [...]rful Stroke as by the Miniſtry of de Labadie: She ſaw her learning to be [Page] vanity, and her Religion like a Body of Death; ſhe reſolved to deſpiſe the Shame, deſert her former way of Living and Acquaintance, and to join her ſelf with this little Family that was retired out of the World, among whom ſhe deſired to be found a living Sacrifice, offer'd up entirely to the Lord. She ſpoke in a very ſerious and broken Senſe, not without ſome trembling; Theſe are but ſhort hints of what ſhe ſaid.

After ſhe had done, One of the Somerdikes began, in a very reverent and weighty frame of Mind, and in a Senſe that very well ſuited her Contempt of the World: She told us how often ſhe had mourned from her young Years becauſe ſhe did not know the Lord, as ſhe deſired; often ſaying within her ſelf, If God would make known to me his Way, I would trample upon all the Pride and Glory of the World. She earneſtly expreſt the frequent Anguiſh of Spirit ſhe had becauſe of the Deadneſs and Formality of the Chriſtians ſhe was [Page] bred among, ſaying to her ſelf, O the Pride, O the Luſts, O the vain pleaſures in which Chriſtians live! Can thi [...] be the way to Heaven? Is this the way to Glory? Are theſe followers of Chriſt▪ O no! O God, Where is thy little Flock! Where is thy little Family that will live intirely to thee, that will follow thee? Make me one of that number; and when the Servant of the Lord de Labadie came into Holland, I, among others, had a curioſity to hear him, and, among ſeveral others, was deeply affected by him. He ſpoke the very Thoughts of my heart; me-thought my heart was pricked when I heard him, and I reſolved by the grace of God to abandon all the Glory and Pride of this World to be one of thoſe that ſhould ſet down with him in a ſeparation from the vain and dead Worſhips of this World. I count my ſelf happy that I ever met with him, and theſe Paſtors, who ſeek not themſelves but the Lord; and we are a Family that live together in love; of one Soul, and one Spirit, intirely given up to ſerve the Lord; and this is the greateſt Joy in the World.

[Page]After her du Lignon, the other Paſtor, gave us alſo an account of his Inducement to embrace J. de Labadie, but not ſo lively.

After him the Doctor of Phyſick, that had been bred for a Prieſt, (but voluntarily refuſed that Calling) expreſt himſelf after this manner: I can alſo bear my Teſtimony in the preſence of God, that tho I lived in as much Reputation at the Univerſity, as any of my Collegues or Companions, and was well reputed for Sobriety and Honeſty, yet I never felt ſuch a living ſenſe of God, as when I heard the Servant of the Lord de Labadie; adding, The firſt Day I heard him, I was ſo ſtruck and affected, that I can truly ſay, through the good Grace of God, and the Conduct of the Holy Spirit, it was to me as the Day of my Salvation, he did ſo lovingly touch my heart with the ſenſe of the true Chriſtian Worſhip: Upon which I forſook the Univerſity, and reſolved to be one of this Family; and this I can ſay in the fear of the Lord.

[Page] P. Ivon concludeth, This is what we have to ſay concerning the Work of God amongſt us.

All this while I minded not ſo much their Words, as I felt and had Unity, with a meaſure of divine Senſe that was upon them: Certainly the Lord hath been amongſt them; yea, I had a living Senſe in my heart that ſomewhat of the Breath of Life had breathed upon them; and though they were in great mixtures, yet that God's love was towards them.

After ſome ſilence I began on this wiſe: I come not to judge you, but to viſit you; not to quarrel or diſpute, but to ſpeak of the things of God's Kingdom, and I have no prejudice, but great love and regard in my heart towards you: Wherefore hear me with Chriſtian patience and tenderneſs. I do confeſs and believe that God hath touched your hearts with his divine finger, and that his work is amongſt you; that it was his Spirit that gave you a ſight of the vanity and folly of this World, and that hath made you [Page] ſenſible of the dead Religions that are in it. 'Tis this Senſe I love and honour; and I am ſo far from undervaluing or oppoſing this tender ſenſe I feel upon you, that this is it I am come to viſit, and you for the love of it: And as for the reproaches that may attend you on the ſcore of your ſeparation, with all the Reports that therefore go concerning you, they are what I reſpect you for, being well acquainted with the nature and practiſe of this World towards thoſe that retire out of it. Now ſince I have, with patience, and I can truly ſay with great ſatisfaction, heard your account of your Experiences, give me the like Chriſtian freedome to tell you mine, to the end you may have ſome ſenſe of the Work of God in me: For thoſe who are come to any meaſure of a divine Senſe, they are as looking-glaſſes to each other, ſeeing themſelves in each other, as face anſwereth face in a glaſs.

Here I began to let them know, how and when the Lord firſt appeared [Page] unto me, which was about the 12th. Year of my Age, Anno 1656. How at times, betwixt that and 15, the Lord viſited me; and the divine Impreſſions he gave me of himſelf: Of my Perſecution at Oxford; how the Lord ſuſtained me in the midſt of that helliſh darkneſs and debauchery; of my being baniſht the College, the bitter Uſage I underwent when I returned to my Father; whipping, beating and turning out of doors in 1662, of the Lord's dealings with me in France, and in the time of the great Plague in London: In fine, the deep ſenſe he gave me of the Vanity of this World, of the Irreligiouſneſs of the Religions of it: Then of my Mournful and Bitter Cries to him that he would ſhow me his own way of Life and Salvation, and my Reſolutions to follow him whatever Reproaches or Sufferings ſhould attend me, and that with great reverence and brokenneſs of Spirit, How after all this the glory of the world over-took me, and I was even ready to give up my ſelf unto, it, ſeeing no [Page] ſuch thing as the Primitive Spirit and Church on the Earth, and being ready to faint concerning my hope of the reſtitution of all things; and that it was at this time that the Lord viſited me with a certain ſound and teſtimony of his eternal Word, through one of thoſe the World calls a Quaker. I related to them the bitter Mockings and Scornings that fell upon me, the Diſpleaſure of my Parents, the Invectiveneſs and Cruelty of the Prieſts, the ſtrangeneſs of all my Companions, what a Sign and Wonder they made of me; but, above all, that great Croſs of reſiſting and watching againſt my own Inward vain Affections and Thoughts. Here I had a fine opportunity to ſpeak of the Myſtery of Iniquity and Ungodlineſs in the Root and ground, and to give them an account of the Power and Preſence of God, which attended us in our publick Teſtimonies and Sufferings; after an indirect manner cenſuring their Weakneſſes, by declaring and commending the contrary practiſes among [Page] Friends, too large to be here related. And notwithſtanding all my Sufferings and Tryals by Magiſtrates, Parents, Companions, and, above, all from the Prieſts of the falſe Religions in the World, the Lord hath preſerved me to this day, and hath given me an hundred fold in this World, as well as the aſſurance of Life everlaſting: Informing them of the tenderneſs of my Father to me before, and at his death, and how, through patience and long-ſuffering, all oppoſition was conquered: Then beginning my Exhortation unto them, which was on this wiſe.

That therefore ſince God had given me and them a divine Senſe of him, our Eye might be to him, and not to Man, that we might come more into a ſilence of our ſelves, and a growth into that heavenly Senſe. That this was the Work of the true Miniſtry, not to keep People to themſelves, ever teaching them, but to turn them to God, the new Covenant-teacher, and to Chriſt the great Goſpel-teacher. [Page] Thus, John did, and thought it no diſhonour, that they left him to go to Chriſt. Behold the Lamb of God, ſaith he, that taketh away the Sins of the World! And even John's Diſciples left him to follow Chriſt: Nay, John teſtifies of himſelf, That he was to decreaſe, and Chriſt was to encreaſe. Wherefore I preſt them to have their eye to Chriſt that taketh away the Sin, that is from Heaven, heavenly; to ſee that he increaſe in them. Yea, that henceforward they ſhould know no Man after the Fleſh, no, not Chriſt himſelf. That their knowledge of▪ and regard and fellowſhip one with another, would ſtand in the Revelation of the Son of God in them, which is God's great Prophet by whom God ſpeaketh in theſe latter days: And if their Miniſters be true Miniſters, they will count it their glory to give way to Chriſt, and that they decreaſe, and Chriſt encreaſe; that the inſtrument giveth way to him that uſeth it, the Servant to the Lord; which though it ſeemeth to detract from the [Page] Miniſters, yet it was and is the glory of a true Miniſter, that God and Chriſt ſhould be all in all, and that his Will ſhould be fulfilled: For the day of the Lord God was come, and all People muſt look to him for Salvation: That all People muſt now come to keep God's great Sabbath, to reſt from meer Man, and the Spirit of Man, and all Men's thoughts, words and works; and that if they were true Believers, they were, at leaſt, entring into their reſt. I cloſely recommended that to them, that they might not be of thoſe that begin in the Spirit, and end in the Fleſh; for that thoſe that ſhould do ſo, and thereby break God's Sabbath-day, ſhould be ſtoned to death by the Stone which is cut out of the Mountain without hands; yea, that ſhould fall upon them as a Milſtone and grind them to Powder. Therefore let Chriſt have his honour, let him preach and ſpeak among you, and in you, and you in him, and by him only to ſigh, groan, pray, preach, ſing, and not otherwiſe, leaſt Death [Page] come over you; for thereby the Apoſtacy came in, by their going before Chriſt, inſtead of Chriſt going before them. And wait in the Light and Spirit of Judgment that hath viſited you, that all may be wrought out that is not born of God, ſo will you come to be born of the incorruptible Seed of the Word of God that liveth and abideth for ever. That you may be a holy Pri [...]ſthood, that offers up a living Sacrifice with God's heavenly fire, that God may have his honour in you all and through you all by Chriſt Jeſus. And turning my ſelf towards the Somerdikes, with a ſerious and tender Spirit I thus expreſt my ſelf: That you ſhould be Pilgrims in the Inheritance of your Father, I have a deep and reverent ſenſe of: O that you might dwell with him for ever, and exalt him that hath ſo viſited you, with whom are the Rewards of Eternal Bleſſedneſs!

So I left the bleſſing and peace of Jeſus among them, departing in the love and peace of God; and I muſt needs ſay, they were beyond expectation, [Page] tender and reſpectfull to us; all of them coming with us but the ancient A. M. S. (who is not able to walk) to the outward Door▪ giving us their Hands in a friendly manner, expreſſing their great ſatisfaction in our Viſit; and being come by the Porch, and meeting ſeveral perſons of the Family, I was moved to turn about, and to exhort them, in the preſence of the reſt, to keep to Chriſt, that had given them a ſenſe of the Spirit of this World, and had raiſed deſires in them to be delivered from it, and to know no Man after the Fleſh, but to have their Fellowſhip in Chriſt, Union and Communion with God, and one with another, that all their Worſhip and Performances might ſtand in him, that he might be all in all; deſiring that the Lord might keep them in his fear all the days of their appointed time, that ſo they might ſerve him in their generation in his own univerſal Spirit to his glory, who is bleſſed for ever.

[Page]The two Paſtors and the Doctor came with us a Field's length, where we took Waggon; and the chiefeſt of them took occaſion to ask me, If the Truth roſe not firſt amongſt a poor, illiterate and ſimple ſort of people; I told him yes, that was our comfort, and that we owed it not to the Learning of this World: Then, ſaid he, let not the Learning of this World be uſed to defend that which the Spirit of God hath brought forth; for Scholars now coming among you, will be apt to mix School-learning amongſt your ſimpler and purer Language, and thereby obſcure the brightneſs of the Teſtimony: I told him it was good for us all to have a care of our own Spirits, Words and Works, confeſſing what he ſaid had weight in it; telling him, it was our care to write and ſpeak according to the divine Senſe, and no humane Invention.

The Lord comforted my Soul in this ſervice; yea, all that is within me magnified his holy Name, becauſe [Page] of his bleſſed Preſence that was with us! O let my Soul truſt in the Lord, and confide in him for ever; O let me dwell and abide with him that is faithfull and true, and bleſſed for ever-more! So in a very ſober and ſerious manner we parted, being about the 12th. hour at noon: This night about ten we got to Lippenhuſen, Lippenhuſen. where there is a little Meeting of Friends, being about 25 Engliſh Miles.

7th. Month. 6.14.The next morning we had a bleſſed Meeting among Friends, many of the World came in, were very ſerious and well-affected; one whereof was a Magiſtrate of the Place: The Lord pleads his own Cauſe, and crowns his own Teſtimony with his own Power. There is like to be a fine Gathering in that place.

After Dinner we took Waggon for the City of Groningen, Groningen. where we arrived at eight at night, being about 25 Engliſh Miles.

The next morning we had a Meeting among Friends of that City,7.15. whether [Page] reſorted, both Collegiant and Calviniſt Students, who behaved themſelves ſoberly; the Lord's Power was over all, and his Teſtimony ſtands. When Meeting was ended, they went out; and as I was concluding an Exhortation to Friends, came in a flock of Students to have had ſome Conference with us; but having ſet the time of our leaving the City, we recommended them to the Univerſal love of God, promiſing them ſome Books of our Principles; with which they expreſt themſelves ſatisfied, and civilly parted from us.

After Dinner we took Boat for Delfzyl, Delfzyl. and came there about ſix at night.

The next morning about ſeven we took Boat for Embden, 7th. Month. 1.16. which is about three Leagues: On Board of that Veſſel it came upon me to write a Letter to Friends in England ▪ concerning the preſent Separatiſts, and their Spirit of Separation, which hath ſeveral times been opened unto me, [Page] and had remained ſome days upon my ſpirit. The Letter followeth.

This came upon me in the Ship, between Delfzyl and Embden, upon the the 16th of the 7th. Month, 1677, to ſend amongſt you.

To Friends every where concerning the preſent Separatiſts, and their Spirit of Separation.

Friends and Brethren,

BY a mighty Hand, and by an outſtretched Arm, hath the Lord God everlaſting gathered us to be a People, and in his own Power and Life hath he preſerved us a People unto this Day; and praiſes be to his Eternal Name no weapon that hath yet been formed againſt us, either from without, or from within hath proſpered. Now this I ſay unto you, and that in his Counſel that hath viſited us, whoever goeth out of the Unity with their Brethren, are firſt gone out of Unity with the Power and Life of God in themſelves, in which the Unity of the Brethren ſtandeth, and the[Page]Member of the Body in the Unity ſtandeth on the top of them, and hath a Judgment againſt them, unto which Judgment of both great and ſmall amongſt the living Family that in the Unity are preſerved they muſt bow, before they can come into the Unity again; yea, this they will readily do, if they are come into Unity with the Life and Power of God in themſelves, which is the holy Root, that beareth the Tree, the Fruit and the Leaves all receiving Life and Virtue from it, and thereby are nouriſhed unto God's praiſe.

And let all have a care how they weaken that, or bring that under their exaltation and high imagination that it is revealed againſt: For I feel that unruly Spirit is tormented under the ſtroke and judgment of the Power, and in its ſubtilty is ſeeking occaſion againſt the Inſtruments, by whom the Power gave it forth: Let all have a care how they touch with this Spirit in thoſe Workings, for by being one with this Spirit in judging thoſe that have been faithful, according to the Gift of Wiſdom they have received[Page]from God, they will feed it and fortifie it, and in the end come to be one with them againſt the power it ſelf, and at laſt run out and become open Enemies and Deſpiſers, for whom is reſerved the blackneſs and darkneſs for ever.

Wherefore all that labour for the Reſtoration of thoſe that are out of Unity with the Brethren, let them be ſuch as are of a ſound mind themſelves; Elſe, What will they gather from? Or, What will they gather to? And let them labour in the Simplicity, Integrity, Love and Zeal of the Power that firſt gathered us to God. For that which is rightly gotten will endure, but that which is obtained by the Contrivance, Intereſt and Perſwaſions of Men, getteth no farther than Man, and is of the Fleſh, and what is of the Fleſh is fleſhly, and ſhall never inherit the Kingdom of God.

Therefore let none look out of the Seed for help, for all Power is in it, and there the true Light and Judgment ſtand for ever; and that Seed hath God ordained to bruiſe the Serpent's head. They that would ſave it, and thoſe that would bruiſe [Page]it by any other thing, are Breakers of God's great Ordinance, and fly to Egypt for ſtrength. For 'tis David, the Stripling, that ſhall be too hard for Goliah the Giant, and that not by Saul's Armour, but with God's living little ſtone cut out of the Mountains without hands, without Man's Invention and Contrivance. O this hath wrought all our mighty Works in us, and for us to this day! Wherefore let us be ſtill, and truſt and confide therein for ever. Let none look back, faint or conſult, for if they do, they will darken their pure eye, and loſe their way, and into the Eternal Reſt of the Flocks of the Companions will never come.

Brethren, the Judgment given forth againſt this Spirit (and all thoſe that have reſiſted our love and forbearance that are joined to it) muſt ſtand, and all that are out of Unity with the Judgment are judged by it; therefore as all would ſtand before the Lord, and his People, let not this Spirit be reaſoned withal; enter not into Propoſals and Articles with it, but feed it with Judgment,[Page]that is God's Decree, ſo may the Souls that are deceived come by the right Door into the heavenly Unity. My Brethren, look forwards, and lift up your Eyes, for the Fields are even white unto harveſt up and down the Nations, remember the great Name of the Lord, and behold the great Work that he is doing before all People; whoſe ſaving health is viſiting the World, and whoſe eternal Word and Teſtament muſt from us go forth to gather the Nations; let that, that will be unjuſt, be unjuſt ſtill, let the Dead bury the Dead, to whoſe appearance the King and the Kingdom of the Gentiles ſhall bring their glory: Let us all who have received the Gift from God, wait in deep humility, to be raiſed up and impowered by him more and more to eye and proſecute his univerſal Service in the World; which noble Work had thoſe that are gone into the Sepation but laid deeply to heart, they would never have ſat at home murmuring, fretting and quarrelling againſt the comely and godly Order and Practice of their Brethren: But Love, Peace and Joy had[Page]filled their hearts, and not the troubler and accuſer of the Brethren; who hath opened an evil Eye in them, and begotten them into a diſcontented ſelf-ſeparating mind, and this Image they bear, and the pure Eye ſees it. O let none tempt the Lord! let none provoke the eye of his jealouſie; let us all dwell in that divine ſenſe, that he hath begotten in us: Where our love as a freſh and pure ſtream will always flow to God and one another. Here all his ways are pleaſantneſs, and all his paths are peace; for where he keepeth the Houſe who is Prince of Peace, he will keep all in his heavenly peace. We are but as one Family, and therefore we have but one Lord and Maſter, we are but as one Flock, and we have but one heavenly Shepherd to hear, who goeth before us, and giveth us eternal like to follow him: And if any are offended in him or in his, it is their own fault; if faint and grow weary we are truly ſorry, if through unwatchfulneſs the Enemy hath enter'd, begotten coldneſs to the Brethren, and careleſſneſs of embracing the opportunity by which the Unity is renewed and increaſed,[Page]ſo that what's done by the Brethren without them, is lockt upon, firſt with a ſleight eye, and then with an evil eye, which begets diſtance, and this diſtance in a time ſeparation, and ſeparation continueth enmity, and this enmity death it ſelf: We are in our Spirits truly griev'd for them, however the Judgments of God muſt ſtand againſt them, and that Spirit which leadeth them, in which they gather not to God but to themſelves, and woe to them, that ſtrengthen their hands and deſpiſe counſel, they will have much to anſwer for before the Lord. I feel a ſlighting, ſcornful, laughing Spirit often flying at me with its venemous Sting, but the Seed of Life is over it, and the Lord God will deſtroy it. Wherefore Friends, in all places where the Spirit hath entrance keep ſound Judgment upon it, if you will keep your Garments clean, and enter not into Diſputes and Conteſts with it, 'tis that it ſeeketh and loveth; but go on in your Teſtimony and buſineſs for the Lord, in the Lord's peaceable Power and Spirit, and his bleſſing and preſence of Life ſhall be with you,[Page]and in multiplying he ſhall multiply you, for no good will be withhold from you, we can ſay it of a truth, God is good to Iſrael, and to all that are of an upright heart. And let us be of good chear, for 'tis God's determination, that the Houſe of David ſhall grow ſtronger and ſtronger, and his Branch ſhall encreaſe and ſpread, and of his Government, Kingdom and Dominion there ſhall be no end.

Your faithful Friend and Brother in the ſervice of our dear Lord W.P.

From on Board the Paſſage, between Delfzyl and Embden, 16. of 7th. Month, 1677.

God's bleſſed work encreaſeth and proſpereth in theſe Lands, magnified be his everlaſting Name.

We arrived at Embden about the 11th hour. This is the City,Embden. where Friends have been ſo bitterly and barbarouſly uſed, the like hath ſcarcely been known in any place, where Truth hath broke forth in our day, they having here been baniſhed ſome 30, and ſome 40 times and above. The [Page] firſt Family that received truth in this City was Doctor John William Haeſbaert and his Wife, at whoſe houſe alſo the firſt Meeting was ſet up among Friends to wait upon the Lord by way of publick Teſtimony: they are now both Dead, but the Memory of their Fidelity is a precious Ointment among the Righteous; they were with me at a Meeting ſix years ago in this City, and I remember the power had that operation upon them, that I ſaid to B F. and T R. then with me, it will not be long before they will publickly own and bear teſtimony in this place; and about three months after he came forth, and ſhe about a year after him; and from their fidelity and integrity, notwithſtanding all the ſore and bitter tempeſt of Perſecution, a fine Meeting ſprang, but at this day they are ſcattered, being ſtill ſent away as faſt as they return. We viſited his Mother's Family, where we found three of his Siſters in the love of Truth, his fourth Siſter being alſo a Friend, and is [Page] Wife of John Claus living at Amſterdam. We had a little ſweet comfortable Meeting with them. After it, returning to my lodging, as I was writing to Doctor Andrews, Preſident of the Counſel of State (who is reported to have been the Author of this cruelty to our Friends) a burden came upon me, my writing would not ſerve turn, but I muſt go my ſelf, and in the fear and name of the Lord to plead the innocent and ſuffering cauſe of our Friends with him: So away we went to his houſe, he was at firſt aſtoniſhed to ſee what manner of Men we were; but after a little time he comported himſelf with more kindneſs than we expected at his hand: I askt him if He and the Senate had not received a Letter in Latine from an Engliſh-man about two years ſince concerning their Severity towards the People called Quakers? He told me he had: I replyed, I was the Man, and I was conſtrained in Conſcience to viſit him on their behalf; and I could not ſee how he, [Page] being a Common-wealth's-man and [...] Proteſtant, could perſecute; I pleaded with the Unnaturalneſs, the I [...] chriſtianity and Imprudence of ſuch proceedings, and preſt [...]ur Reaſon [...] earneſtly, but tenderly upon him, he aſſaulted us with ſeveral Objections, but, bleſſed be the Lord, they were moſtly fictitious, and therefore eaſily removed and anſwered: He alſo promiſed me, That if I would write to the Senate a Remonſtrance of the Caſe of our Friends, and expreſs my Requeſt therein, and incloſe it to him, he would both preſent it and get it to be read, and make it appear, that he was not ſo much our enemy as we lookt upon him to be▪ I promiſed to ſend him ſome Books containing a Defence of our Principles, which were accordingly put into the hands of Eliza. Haesbert to deliver him in my name. Having taken our leave of the Old Woman and her Daughters, and a Man-friend reſiding in that City, and left the bleſſings and peace of our God amongſt them.

[Page]We took Ship for Lier, Lier. 17th. 2. where we arrived the next morning; thence we took Waggon for Bremen, Bremen. 7th. Month. 3.18. where we came ſafe, through the Lord's goodneſs the next day, where we met our Friends and Companions G. Keith and B. Burly, who were come hither ſome hours before us from Amſterdam. In this City there is a work of the Lord begun, though yet obſcurely: We had a travel upon our ſpirits, that the bleſſed and precious Truth of our dear Lord and Maſter might find a place to reſt its foot upon; to that purpoſe we wrote to two Miniſters under ſome Suffering from their Brethren, becauſe of their great zeal againſt the formality and deadneſs of the ſo called reformed Churches: This we ſent by a Merchant, who we formerly met at Herwerden: With ſome difficulty we got to them, but the perſon chiefly ſtruck at was ſhy to ſpeak with us, his reaſon was this, it was known that we were in Town, and it was one of the accuſations againſt him, that he was [Page] a Foſterer of all the ſtrange Religions that came through the Town: Alſo he was then actually under Proceſs, and that the People that had heard of the innocency of his cauſe conceived a prejudice againſt our Name, though it might be without cauſe; he could not at preſent confer with us, and ſaid he was ſorry for it with all his heart, but what we ſhould ſay to his Brother ſhould be the ſame as if it been ſaid to him, to whom he referred us, however I took hold of his Arm and ſaid, I have this Meſſage to deliver to thee, that I may diſburden my ſelf before the Lord, which was this: Mind that which hath touched thy heart, let that guide thee, do not thou order that, conſult not with Fleſh and Blood, how to maintain that cauſe, which Fleſh and Blood in thy enemies perſecuteth thee for. He anſwered, rather than I will betray that cauſe or deſert Chriſt, by Gods ſtrength they ſhall pull my fleſh of my bones: So he left us in his houſe, and truely we had a good time with his [Page] Companion the other Miniſter about three hours teſtifying unto him, that the day was come and coming in which the Lord would gather out of all Sects (that ſtand in the oldneſs of the Letter) into his own Holy Spirit, Life and Power, and in this the Unity of Faith and Bond of Peace ſhould ſtand, and therefore that he and all of them ſhould have an eye to the principle of God, that being turned to that, they might ſpeak from it, and that therein they would Glorifie God and be edified. So we parted leaving the man in a ſenſible and ſavoury frame. We viſited the Merchant twice and had a very good time with him, the man is of a loving and ſimple Spirit, and the Love of God opened our hearts to him often.

We alſo viſited Doctor Johan Sophrony Cozack, an odd Compoſitum of a man, he had great and ſtrange openings, he hath writ ſeveral hundred tracts, ſome of them are now printed at Amſterdam, he is a great enemy to the Prieſts, and in ſociety with none, [Page] of a merry yet of a rough diſpoſition, without any method or decency in his Cloaths, Food, Furniture and Entertainments; he wants but three of fourſcore, yet of a wonderful Vigor and pregnancy, we were twice with him, and we have reaſon to think he was as loving to us as to any body, and truly he did ſhow at parting ſome ſerious and hearty kindneſs; but we could faſten little upon him as to God's Power, or any inward ſenſe of us or our teſtimony, yet we had little to object againſt what we had ſaid, nay, ſome things were very extraordinary.

From him we went to Doctor Belingham, an Engliſh Phyſitian a man of a lowly and tender ſpirit, who received us in much love, lamenting when we left him, that he had no more time with us. At the Inn we had frequent opportunity to declare the way of Truth, and we muſt needs ſay, we were heard with patience and Sobriety, particularly of a Doctor of Law who lodged at the houſe, and an ancient Man of Kiel in Holſtein, we [Page] left Books amongſt them all, and in the Love and Fear of God we took our leave of them on the fifth day after dinner,7th. Month. Herwerd [...]n. 7.22. and begun our journey towards Herwerden the Court of the Princeſs, where we arrived on the Seventh day in the morning every way well, through the Mercies of the Lord. We ſent to inform her of our arrival, and to know what hour it would be convenient for us to viſit her, who returned us this anſwer, that being then imployed in the buſineſs of her Government, it would be the 2d. hour in the afternoon before ſhe could be at leaſure. The time being come we went to viſit her, and found her and the Counteſs ready to receive us, which they did with much love and tenderneſs: I obſerved them to be much lower than ever, and that our former bleſſed opportunities had had a bleſſed effect upon them. That afternoon was imployed in the narrative of our travels, which they heard with great attention and refreſhment, the whole diſcourſe ended with a precious little [Page] meeting. The houſe being clear of Strangers, they both earneſtly preſt us to ſup with them, which being not well able to decline we ſubmitted to. At Supper the Power of the Lord came upon me, and it was a true ſupper to us, for the hidden Manna was manifeſted amongſt us, yea a bleſſed Meeting it proved to us: O the reverent tenderneſs and lowly frame of Spirit that appeared this Evening both in the Princeſs and Counteſs. The French-woman we found greatly improved both in her Love and Underſtanding, yea, ſhe is very zealous and very broken, ſhe was always with us on theſe occaſions. After ſupper we returned to the Princeſſe's Chamber, where we ſtayed till it was about 10. at Night, at parting I deſired the Princeſs would give us ſuch another opportunity next day, being the firſt day of the Week, as we had the laſt time we were with her; ſhe anſwered me, With all my heart, But will ye not come in the Morning too? I replied, Yes willingly, What time wilt thou be ready to receive us, ſhe anſwered, at 7.

[Page]About 7 the next Morning we came,7th. Month. 8.23. about eight the Meeting began and held till Eleven, ſeveral Perſons of the City, as well as thoſe of her own Family being preſent, The Lord's power very much affected them, and the Counteſs was twice much broken as we ſpoke. After the People were gone out of the Chamber, it lay upon me from the Lord to ſpeak to them two, the Princeſs and the Counteſs, with reſpect to their particular conditions, occaſioned by theſe Words from the Counteſs; I am fully convinc'd, but O my Sins are great. Whilſt I was ſpeaking, the glorious Power of the Lord wonderfully roſe, yea, after an awful manner, and had a deep entrance upon their Spirits, eſpecially the Counteſſe's, that ſhe was broken to pieces, God hath raiſed, and I hope fixt his own Teſtimony in them.

We returned to our Inn, and after dinner we came back to the ſecond Meeting on that day, which began about the ſecond Hour in the afternoon: [Page] And truly the Reverent, Bleſſed, Sure Word of Life was divided a [...] right, the precious ſenſe of Truth was raiſed in the Meeting; There came more of the City than in the morning, and we were much comforted in the Lord's power that was with us. For the Truth had paſſage, and the hungry were ſatisfied, and the ſimple-hearted deeply affected: This day at both Meetings was one of the Princeſs's Women, that never was at Meeting before, and ſhe (though very ſhy of us the laſt time) became tender and loving to us, ſhe was truly reacht. O, magnified be the Name of the Lord, whoſe preſence was with us, and whoſe arm ſtood by us. After Meeting the Princeſs preſt us to ſtay and ſup with her, pleading the quietneſs of the Family, and that they were alone; At Supper (as the night before) it was upon me to commemorate the Goodneſs of the Lord, his daily Providences, and how pretious he is in the Covenant of Light to the dear Children, and Followers of the [Page] Light. Great was the reverence and tenderneſs that was upon the Spirits of both Princeſs and Counteſs at that inſtant. After Supper we returned to the Princeſs's Chamber, where we ſpent the reſt of our time in holy ſilence or diſcourſe, till about the tenth hour, and then we repaired to our Quarters.7th. Month. 2. [...]4.

Next morning about eight we returned to the Court, where the Princeſs and Counteſs were ready to receive us. The morning was imployed in very ſerious Conference, relating to the affairs, practice and ſufferings of Friends in England, with which they ſeemed greatly affected: When about the Eleventh Hour a ratling of Coach interrupted us. The Counteſs immediately ſtept out to ſee what was the matter, and returned with a countenance ſomewhat uneaſie, telling us, that the young Princes, Nephews to the Princeſs and the Graef of Donaw, were come to viſit her; upon which I told them, we ſhould withdraw, and return to our Lodging; [Page] but intreated, that for as much as we were to depart that night with the Poſt-Waggon, we might not be diſappointed of a farewell Meeting with them; and the rather, for that I had a great burden upon my Spirit, which they readily complied with, telling me, theſe perſons would onely dine and be gone. As we went to the door, the Counteſs ſtept before us, and opened it for us; and as I paſt by, ſhe lookt upon me with a weighty countenance, and fetcht a deep ſigh, crying out, O the cumber and entanglements of this vain World! they hinder all good; Upon which I replied, looking her ſteadfaſtly in the face, O come thou out of them then.

After we had dined in our Lodging, ſomething being upon me to write to the Profeſſors of that Country, I went up to my Chamber that I might be the more retired; juſt as I was about the concluſion of the Paper, cometh the Steward of the Houſe to the Princeſs, with this Meſſage, [Page] That the Princeſs intreated us to come to her, for the Graef of D [...] naw had a great deſire to ſee us, and to ſpeak with us; this brought a freſh Weight and Exerciſe upon us; but committing all to the Lord, and caſting our care upon him, we went.

Being arrived, the Graef approacheth us in French; at firſt took no great notice of our inceremonious behaviour, but proceeded to inquire of us our ſucceſs in our Journey, and what we found anſwering our Journey and Inclinations. Then we fell to points of Religion, and the Nature and End of true Chriſtianity, and what was the way that leadeth to the Eternal Reſt. After ſome ſhort debate about compleat ſatisfaction in this life, we both agreed that Selfdenial, Mortification and Victory was the Duty, and ought to be the endeavour of every ſincere Chriſtian.

From this I fell to give him ſome account of my Retreat from the World, and the inducements I had thereto, and the neceſſity of an inward work, [Page] with which he ſeemed much pleaſed. After this he fell to the Hat, &c. This choaketh; and the rather, becauſe it telleth tales; it telleth what people are; it marketh Men for Separatiſts; it's blowing a Trumpet, and viſibly croſſing the World, and that the fear of Man (greatly prevalent with too many ſerious people in that Land) cannot abide, ſtarteth at, and runneth away from him; howbeit the Lord enabled me to open the thing to him, as that it was no plant of God's planting, but a weed of Degeneracy and Apoſtacy, a carnal and earthly Honour, the effect, feeder and pleaſer of pride and of a vain mind, that no advantage redounded to mankind by it; and how could they that ought to do all to the glory of God, uſe that vain and unprofitable cuſtom, which cannot be done to the glory of God. I intreated him ſeriouſly to conſider with himſelf the riſe and end of it, whence it came, whom it pleaſed, and what that was that was angry that it had it not? I [Page] alſo told him of the ſincere and ſerviceable reſpect which Truth ſubſtituteth in place thereof, and exhorted him to Simplicity and Poverty of Spirit, to believe that Jeſus he profeſſed to be his Saviour, whoſe outſide as well as Doctrine pleaſed not the Jews, and ſo we parted; he took his leave of the Princeſs, and then of us with great Civility.

After he was gone, the Princeſs deſired us to withdraw to her Chamber, and there we began our farewell Meeting; the thing lay weighty upon me, and that in the deep dread of the Lord: and eternally magnified be the Name of the Lord that overſhaddowed us with his Glory; his heavenly, breaking, diſſolving Power richly flowed amongſt us, and his miniſtring Angel of Life was in the midſt of us: Let my Soul never forget the Divine Senſe that overwhelmed all, at that bleſſed farewell I took of them much opened in me of the Hour of Chriſt's Temptation, his Watchfulneſs, Perſeverance and [Page] Victory: about the ten Virgins, what the true Virgin was, the true Oyl and Lamp; what the Bride-groom, his Door, Chamber and Supper: and in concluſion, that torrent of heavenly melting Love that we were all deeply affected; I fell on my Knees, recommending them unto the Lord, crying with ſtrong Cries for their Preſervation, and beſeeched the Lord's Preſence with us, and ſo ended.

After ſome pauſe, I went to the Princeſs and took her by the hand, which ſhe received and embraced with great ſigns of a weighty kindneſs, being much broken, I ſpoke a few words apart to her, and left the Bleſſing and Peace of Jeſus with and upon her. Then I went to the Counteſs, and left a particular Exhortation with her, who fervently beſeeched me to remember and implore the Lord on her behalf. From her I went to the French-woman, and bid her be faithful and conſtant to that which ſhe knew; ſhe was exceedingly broken, [Page] and took an affectionate and reverent Leave of us.

Then I ſpoke to the reſt, and took leave ſeverally of them; my Companions did all the like. They followed us to the outward Room, and there it was upon me to ſtep to the Counteſs, and once more to ſpeak to her and take my leave of her, which ſhe received and returned with great Senſe, Humility and Love. So turning to them all, my Heart and Eye to the Lord, I prayed that the Fear, Preſence, Love and Life of God, with all heavenly Bleſſings, might deſcend and reſt with and upon them then and for ever.

Home we went for our Lodging,7th. Month. 3.25.4.26. clear'd the Houſe, exhorted the Family, left Books, and then took Waggon for Weſel about 200 Engliſh Miles from Herwerden, we rid three Nights and Days without lying down on a Bed, or ſleeping, otherwiſe than in the Waggon, which was only covered with an old ragged Sheet; the Company we had with [Page] us made Twelve in number, which much ſtreightned us; they were often, if not always Vain, yea, in their religious Songs, which is the faſhion of that Country, eſpecially by Night, they call them Luther's Songs, and ſometimes Pſalms: We were forced often to reprove and teſtify againſt their Hypocriſy, to be full of all vain and often prophane Talk one hour, and ſing Pſalms to God the next; we ſhewed them the Deceit and Abomination of it. We paſſed through ſeveral great Towns by the way, as Lipſtad, Ham, &c. many Diſcourſes we had of Truth, and the Religion and Worſhip that was truly Chriſtian, and all was very well; they bore what we ſaid. But one thing was remarkable that may not be omitted. I had not been ſix hours in the Waggon, before an heavy weight and unuſual oppreſſion fell upon me, yea, it weighed me almoſt to the Grave, that I could almoſt ſay, My Soul was ſad even unto Death; I knew not at preſent the Ground of [Page] this Exerciſe, it remained about 24 hours upon me; then it opened in me that it was a travel for the Seed, that it might ariſe over all in them I had left behind, and that nothing might be loſt but the Son of Perdition. O the ſtrong Cries and deep Agonies, many Tears and ſincere bowings and humblings of Soul before the Lord, that this holy ſenſe which was raiſed in them, might be preſerved alive in them, and they for ever in it, that they might grow and ſpread as heavenly Plants of Righteouſneſs to the glory of the Name of the Lord.

The Narrative from the 27th of the 7th Month incluſive, to the 10th of the 8th Month excluſive, is inſerted in the following Letter to the Counteſs of Hornes, beginning in P. 220. and ending with P. 244.

[Page]

For Anna Maria de Hornes, ſtiled Counteſs of Hornes, at Herwerden in Germany.

My dear Friend,

O That thou mayeſt for ever dwell in the ſweet and tender Senſe of that divine Love and Life which hath viſited thy Soul, affected and overcome thy heart: O tell me, hath it not ſometimes raiſed thy Spirit above the World, and fill'd thee with fervent and paſſionate deſires, yea, holy reſolution to follow Jeſus thy bleſſed Saviour; who hath given his moſt precious Blood for Thee, that thou ſhouldeſt not live to thy ſelf, but to him that hath ſo dearly purchaſed thee, O the Retired, Humble, Reverent Frame that I have beheld thee in, when this bleſſed life hath drawn thee into it ſelf, and adorned and ſeaſoned thee with its own heavenly Vertue; beautifying thy very Countenance beyond all the vain and fooliſh Ornaments of the wanton Daughters of Sodom and Egypt, (for therein are Charms not known to the [Page] Children of this World) O that this holy and chaſt Life may be always pretious with thee, and that thou mayeſt be for ever chaſtly kept in the Love and Fellowſhip of it: That out of this World's nature, ſpirit and practice thou mayeſt be redeemed by him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, who as thou watcheſt with thy holy vigilance will not only daily manifeſt the Devices of the Enemy to thee, but ſave thee from him. For Chriſt's work in thee is thy ſanctification, as it is in him his Father's Will, as he ſaid of old to his Diſciples, This is the Will of God even your Sanctification. O my dearly beloved Friend! [...]e ſtedfaſt, immoveable, without wavering, and work out thy great Salvation with fear and trembling, and loſe not that ſweet and precious Senſe that the Lord hath begotten in thee, it is ſoon loſt, at leaſt weakened, but hard to recover, wherefore let not the Spirit of the World in any of its appearances, vain Company, unneceſſary Diſcourſe or Words, or worldly Affairs prevail upon the civility of thy Nature,; for they will oppreſs the innocent [Page] Life, and bring grievous weights and burdens upon thy Soul, and prolong the coming of the Lord, whom thou lookeſt for, and put the Day of thy Redemption a far off. O beware of this compliance! Let me put thee in mind of that ſenſible reſolution ſo frequently and ſo paſſionately repeated, Il faut que je rompe, Il faut que je rompe. Ah this ſpeaketh a weight, this weight a ſenſe, and this ſenſe a ſtrong Conviction. Now be aſſured, that till Obedience be yielded to that preſent manifeſtation and conviction, the good things deſired and thirſted after can never be Enjoyed.

Wherefore, my dear Friend, be faithful, and watch againſt the Workings o [...] the Spirit of this World in thy ſelf; that the Nature and Image of it in all things may be crucified, that thou mayſt know an entire Tranſlation with holy Enoch, and walk with God. Jeſus the holy Light, is this Croſs and Power of God, that killeth and maketh alive, and [...] is the heavenly Vine too, if thou abide [...] in him, thou wilt bring forth fruit, b [...] if thou abideſt not in him, thou wilt no [...] [Page] bring forth that fruit, in which his heavenly Father only can be glorified. O ſee what the mind dayly abideth in. O my Soul is even raviſht with the ſence of that holy and quiet habitation. In me, ſaith he, you ſhall have peace, but in the World trouble, however be of good cheer I have overcome the world, I am not of the World: as if he had ſaid, I am not of the Worlds ways, Worſhips, Cuſtoms nor Faſhions, for what, ever is of the nature and ſpirit of this World hath no part in me, and as I am not of this World, neither are you of this world, for I have choſen you out of the world, out of the invention, out of the worſhips and faſhions [...]f the world; you are to leave them all, to come out of them all, and live and walk as Pilgrims in the world, that is ſtrangers: To what? To the life and practice of the World, not uſing but renouncing the vain Cuſtoms and Ceremonies, yea, the whole Converſation of the World, remembring that the friendſhip of this World is Enmity with God, and what if the World hate you, it hated me firſt, and the Diſciple [Page] is not greater than his Maſter, nor the Servant than his Lord; if you were of the World, the World would love you, and not reproach and perſecute you; for the World loveth its own. O my dear Friend, mayſt thou be perfectly ſenſible what it is not to be of this World. But there is yet a farther myſtery in theſe Words, not diſcerned even of many, in whom ſome tenderneſs and inquiry is begotten, much leſs of the worldly Chriſtians. This World hath a falſe Earth and a falſe Heaven, a falſe Foundation, and a falſe Ioy; not only groſs Wickedneſs, but Iniquity in a Myſtery inwardly and outwardly. The Whore, falſe Prophet and Dragon, and all their Offſpring are here concerned: This is their World, that muſt be burnt with fire, that Chriſt is not of, nor his true Diſciples. O the Light of Jeſus diſcovereth it! And he is that ſpiritual Solomon that giveth true judgment, and that ſaveth the living Child, the true Birth, giving it to the right Mother, and not to the falſe pretender. And all that hear his voice and follow him, ſhall [Page] receive true Light, diſcerning and Judgment, to whom all Judgment is given: They ſhall know his Voice from Man's.

There are two Trees of differing Natures have contrary Fruits and Leaves, the one is the Tree of Life, that is Chriſt, the other the Tree of Death, and that is Satan, the fruit of the one giveth life, the fruit of the other bringeth Death; the leaves of the firſt Heal, the leaves of the laſt Poiſon, many that diſcern the Tree cannot clearly diſtinguiſh the Branches: And thoſe that ſee many Arms and Branches cannot diſtinctly behold the fruit, much leſs the leaves, this cometh by the gradual Diſcoveries and Revelations of the Light of Jeſus, the Word of God, as it is daily received, and daily obeyed; yea, and that Word is the Ax and Sword of the Almighty to cut it down, daily feel the ſtrokes of this eternal ſearching Light and Word at the very root of this corrupt Tree, this evil one, and his corrupt Nature, Works and Effects, for which end Jeſus Chriſt is come, and therefore is called a Saviour, which is little known in truth to the Chriſtians of [Page] this World. Ah, my dear Friend, thou knoweſt this Word, yea, thou haſt fel [...] it, O hide it in thy heart! Treaſure it up it up in thy Soul and love it, and abide with it for ever. Alas! Whether ſhouldſt thou go? This hath, and is the the Word of Eternal Life, daily therefore watch and wait that thou mayeſt be grafted more and more into it, that thou mayeſt live and grow by the virtue and life of it, and that it may grow in thy heart, as it grew among the firſt Chriſtians, the holy followers of the perſecuted Jeſus; and when it ſearcheth thy Wound, and cutteth away thy dead fleſh, yea, when it ſeparateth between the Soul and the Spirit of this World, and divideth between Joints and Marrow, when it cutteth off the right hand, and plucketh out the right eye. O watch unto Prayer, and pray that thou mayeſt endure! O keep the holy patience of this pure and living Word, and this very Word will keep thee in the hour of thy ſharpeſt Trials and ſoreſt Tribulations! O all virtue is in it! O 'tis a tried Word, a ſure refuge, the ſtaff and ſtrength [Page] of the Righteous in all Ages. 'Twas David's Teacher and Buckler, a Light to his feet, and a Lamhorn to his Paths, Walk thou in the Light thereof, and thou ſhalt not ſtumble; in this word is life, as in the root, and this life is the Light of Men: They that receive and love the Light of it, will therein receive divine Life from it to live to God, this is the bread of God, that cometh from God, and ſeedeth and leadeth up to God, by this only that which is born of God liveth, and is nouriſhed; this is that Carcaſs to which the wiſe Eagles gather, ſee thou gathereſt to no other, nor fe [...]deſt on no other. This is that hidden Manna that cometh from heaven that feedeth God's Iſrael; the World hath a Manna but it periſheth, but this endureth for ever, for 'tis not of Man nor from Man but immortal and from God, hid from the knowledge of all the vain Chriſtians in the World: So that the Iſrael of God can ſay to the Children of this World, and that in Truth and Righteouſneſs, we have a Bread you know not of. For this Manna wait daily that thou mayſt be [Page] ſtrengthened in thy wilderneſs-travel to the Land of Eternal Reſt. Wherefore labour not for the Bread that periſheth, that is the Bread of Man's inventing and making, which cometh from below, and profiteth not, becauſe it giveth not life eternal. But labour thou (my dear Friend) for the Bread that never periſheth, that endureth for ever, and that giveth life eternal to all that feed upon it. O caſt thy care upon this Word, love it, and dwell with it, wait daily upon it, hear its Voice only and follow it, for it bringeth the Soul to the eternal Habitation of reſt and glory. Yea, when all Fleſh wither, and the beauty thereof fade away, this Word, and they that are grafted in ſhall abide for ever. O that this may be thy choice, and it ſhall be thy Diadem, and thy Eternal Crown and Glory.

Theſe are the fervent deſires, and theſe the daily prayers of my Soul to the God of my Salvation for thee, not only that nothing in thee may be loſt beſides the Son of Perdition: But that thou mayſt caſt off every weight and burden, [Page] and that Sin that doth ſo eaſily be-ſet thee, that grieveth, boweth and oppreſſeth thee: Under the heavy weight of which thou groaneſt and ſigheſt that the Redeemer would come from Zion to deliver thee. O give not heed to the Enemy, the falſe accuſer, that ſeeketh to devour that which is begotten of God in thee, neither look upon thy own Sins, Burdens, or Weakneſſes, but lift up thy head and look to Jeſus, the Author of thy bleſſed Viſitation, and wholly hunger and thirſt after him, the ſpiritual brazen Serpent that healeth and relieveth all that in Faith and full Aſſurance look to him. Want of looking to him, hearing and obeying him, and having true faith in him, is the cauſe both of all the Preſumption and Deſpair that are at this day. He did no mighty things of old in thoſe places where they believed not. O faint not, look not back, remember the holy Ancients, the holy Pilgrims of Faith, the Royal Generation of Heaven, Heb. 11. Thou believeſt in God, believe alſo in him for the Work's ſake that he has already wrought in thee: [Page] He will miniſter to thee, as he was miniſtred unto by his Father's Angel in the Hour of his Abaſement and great Temptation. O watch and be faithful, and thou ſhalt be a noble Witneſs for the Lord.

Once more let me expoſtulate with thee, would thou overcome the Enemies of thy Soul's peace, and enjoy the delightful preſence of the Lord with thee, then keep nothing back, let nothing be withheld that he calleth for, remember that Saul of old loſt his Kingdom, for keeping that alive, which he ſhould have ſlain: Thou knoweſt what be [...]el Ananias and Saphira outwardly. But be thou like the poor Widow of old, that therefore gave more into the Treaſury than all the reſt, becauſe they reſerved the greateſt part to themſelves, but ſhe gave all ſhe had. O bleſſed are they that make no Bargains for themſelves, that have no reſerves for Self, neither conſult with Fleſh and Blood, nor in any Senſe conform to the leaſt Ceremony which▪ is born of them: But that ſubmit their Wills in all things to the Lord's, that [Page] they may be made perfect through Sufferings as Chriſt was. Read me in the myſtery of Life, I ſpeak not of deſerting or flinging away all outward Subſtance, but that thy Heart may reign above all Viſibles, and make God its Treaſure, and never reſt in any thing of this lower World, or ſhort of Chriſt the Eternal Reſt of all the Seed of Faith.

Here beginneth the Narrative.

THE Lord brought us well to Weſel on the fift day after we left Herwerden, 27.7th. Month. Weſel. having ſome Service by the way: At Weſel we had a good time with Dr. Schuler and Roſendale, and the Woman we mentioned to thee, but the Taylor was ſhy and fearful of coming to us at the Doctor's.

The next day we went towards Duysburgh, 28th. Duysburgh. we viſited the Schult or Chief Governour that Night, whom we found at home, he received us with much Kindneſs. His Wife and [Page] Siſter, we fear, have been ſhaken in their good belief of our Teſtimony, ſince we were laſt there, ſome Fowls of the Air have devoured the Seed that was ſown. O that ſweet and tender frame in which we left them the time before! however the entrance we had upon the Spirit of the Schult, a little conſolated us. Hence we ſent Maria, Martha's Friend, a Letter, deſiring him to let us have his Anſwer the next Night at Duſſeldorp, incloſed to Neander, when and w [...]ere we might ſee him, either at Duſſeldorp, Mulheim, or Duysburgh, and if it were poſſible, we would gladly viſit the Counteſs of Bruch.

We got early to Duſſeldorp, 29th. Duſſeldorp. next day, being the laſt day of the Week: but Neander was gone to Mulheim, in order to Preach on the Morrow; ſo that we were diſappointed of our Intelligence.

8.30. Ceulen.Next Morning we went towards Ceulen, and there arrived that Evening.

[Page]The next day we had a good opportunity with van Durando and Docemius at the Houſe of the latter,2.1. 8th. Month. Duſſeldorp. and that Afternoon took Boat for Duſſeldorp. 3.2. Where arriving next Morning we preſently ſent for Neander, who came to us, and three more in company; we had a bleſſed meeting with them, and one of the three that came with him, our Souls were exceedingly affected with. The Meeting done, they went away, but Neander returned, and firſt of our Letter to Mulheim, we found by him (as alſo at our return to Duysburgh) that Kuper was ſo far from endeavouring ou [...] viſit to the Counteſs, that he would not meet us himſelf neither at Duſſeldorp, Mullheim, nor Duysburgh: nay, it did not pleaſe him to ſend us an Anſwer, much leſs any the leaſt Salutation, I confeſs it grieved us. Now for Neander, the Young man hath a Zeal for God, and there is a Viſitation upon him, my Soul deſireth that it may not be ineffectual: but I have a great fear [Page] upon me, for this I know certainly from the Lord God that liveth for ever, and I have a Cloud of Witneſſes to my Brethren, that Retirement and Silence before God, is the alone way for him to feel the heavenly gift to ariſe, and come forth pure and unmixt; this only can preach for God, pray to God, and beget People to God, and nothing elſe. But alas, his office in that Family is quite another thing; namely to perform Set Duties of fixt times, Pray, Preach, and Sing, and that in the way of the World's Appointments. His very office is Babyloniſh, namely, a Chaplain; for 'tis a Popiſh Invention: In the good old times, Godly Abraham that was a Prince, and Joſhua a great General, and David a King, with many more, inſtructed their Families in the knowledge and fear of God: But now People are too Idle or too Great to pray for themſelves, and ſo they worſhip God by Proxy. How can a Miniſter of the Goſpel be at the [Page] beck of any Mortal living, or give his Soul and Conſcience to the time and appointment of another? the thing in it ſelf is utterly wrong, and againſt the very Nature and Worſhip of the new and everlaſting Covenant. You had better meet to read the Scriptures, the Book of Martyrs, &c. if you cannot ſit and wait in ſilence upon the Lord, till his Angel move upon your Hearts, than to uphold ſuch a formal, limited and ceremonious, Worſhip: this is not the Way out of Babylon. And I have a deep ſenſe upon my Soul, that if the Young Man ſtrive beyond the talent God hath given him to anſwer his Office and fill up his Place, and wait not for the pure and living Word of God in his Heart to open his Mouth, but either ſtudieth for his Sermons or ſpeaketh his own Words, he will be utterly ruined. Wherefore, O Dear Friend, have a care thou art no Snare to him, nor he to thee: Man's Works ſmother and ſtifle the true life of Chriſt, what have you to do but [Page] to look to Jeſus the Author of the holy deſires that are in you, who himſelf hath viſited you, tempt not the Lord, provoke not God, what ſhould any Man Preach from, but Chriſt? and what ſhould he Preach people too, but Chriſt in them the hope of Glory? Conſider nothing feedeth, that which is born of God, but that which cometh down from God, even the Bread of God which is the Son of God, which giveth his life for the World, feel it and feed on it, let none mock God nor grieve his eternal Spirit that is come to ſeal them up from the mouth of Man that hath deceived them: that Jeſus the anointing may teach them and abide with them for ever. Be ſtedfaſt and immoveable, and this will draw the Young Man near to the Lord, and empty him of himſelf and purge away mixtures, and then you will all come to the Divine Silence: and when all Fleſh is ſilent before the Lord, then is it the Lord's time to Speak, and if you will hear [Page] your Souls ſhall live. O my Soul is in great pain, that you may be all chaſtly preſerved in that divine Senſe begotten in your Hearts by the eternal Word of God that abideth for ever, that nothing may ever be able to extinguiſh it. But more eſpecially thou, my Dear Friend, mayeſt be kept in faithfulneſs: for the Lord is come very near to thee and thou muſt begin the Work, the Lord God expecteth it at thy hand: if one Sheep break through the reſt will follow; wherefore watch, O watch, that thou may'ſt be ſtrengthned and confirmed, and ſtrengthen all that is begotten of God in that Family, by thy weighty, ſavoury and circumſpect life. O how is my Soul affected with thy preſent condition! it is the fervent Supplication of my heart, that thou may'ſt through the daily obedience of the Croſs of Jeſus, conquer and ſhine as a bright and glorious Star in the Firmament of God's eternal Kingdom: So let it be, Lord Jeſus. Amen.

[Page]We tenderly, yet freely ſpoke ou [...] hearts to him before we parted which done, in God's love we too [...] our leave of him and Duſſeldorp ▪ and got that Night to Duysburgh▪ Duysburgh. being the third Day of the Week▪ We firſt viſited Dr. Maſtricht, a Ma [...] of a good natural Temper, but a rigid Calviniſt. I perceived by him, that they held a Conſultation about ſeeing us at Bruch; but they all concluded, it was beſt to decline meeting with us, becauſe of the Graef, he being ready to fling our Name in reproach upon them in his diſpleaſure, and this would confirm him in his Jealouſies of them. This might excuſe the Counteſs, but by no means Kuper, and if I had any ſenſe, Maſtricht was there with them, upon deſign to fruſtrate the hopes we had conceived of meeting with her. We from tha [...] deſcended to other things of weight [...] and in love and peace parted.

From his Houſe we returned to our Inn, and after Supper we viſited [Page] the Schult, who with much civility and ſome tenderneſs received us: his Siſter alſo came to us, and we had a good little Meeting with them, and our God was with us, and his pure and tender life appeared for our Juſtification, and pleaded our innocent Cauſe in their Conſciences, and ſo we parted with them, leaving our Maſter's Peace amongſt them.

The next day we came to Weſel, 3. 8th. Month. Weſel. being the 4th day, where we underſtood by Dr. Schuler that thy Siſter deſired, that we would be ſo kind as to ſee her when we returned; upon that we went and viſited her, ſhe received us very kindly. Thy Brother in Law's two Siſters were preſent, we ſtayed with them at leaſt two Hours. Many Queſtions ſhe put to me, which I was glad to have an Opportunity to Anſwer, for it made way for a Meeting; ſhe intreated us to come again if we ſtayed, and told us, our Viſit was very grateful to her; [Page] adding, That becauſe we paſt [...] by the laſt time, ſhe concluded wi [...] herſelf we had no hopes of her▪ with more to that effect. From thence we went to Dr.Schuler's, who freely offered us his Houſe for a Meeting next day; and indeed, the Man is bold after his manner.

5.4.The next day about Seven, I writ a Billiet in French to thy Siſter, to inform her of the Meeting to begin about Eight. She came and her two Siſters with her, there was Roſendale, Colonel Copius and his Wife, and about three or four more, and to our great Joy the Lord Almighty was with us, and his holy Power reached their Hearts, and the Doctor and Copius confeſſed to our Teſtimony.

The Meeting laſted about three Hours, being done, we took our leave of them in the Spirit of Jeſus, and ſo returned to our Inn. The Taylor all this while afraid of coming to our Inn, or to the [Page] Doctor's to the Meeting: great Fears have overtaken him, and the poor Man liveth but in a dry Land: After Dinner, we viſited Copius and Roſendale, and at Copius's we had a bleſſed broken Meeting, he, his Wife, Roſendale, his Wife, and another Woman (Wife to one Dr. Willick's Brother) preſent, they were extreamly affected and overcome by the Power of the Lord, 'twas like one of our Herwerden Meetings; indeed, much Tenderneſs was upon all their Spirits.

This done, and having left Books both there and with thy Siſter, we left Weſel with Hearts full of Joy and Peace: and let me ſay this, That more kindneſs, more openneſs, we have ſcarcely found in all our Travels. O that this bleſſed Senſe may dwell with them. A Seed there is in that place God will gather; yea, a noble People he will find out: And I doubt not but there will be a good Meeting of Friends [Page] in that City before many Years go about; my love is great to that place. O how God is our dear Lord to us, who helpeth our Infirmities and carrieth through all Oppoſition, and feedeth us with his Divine Preſence in which is Life, his Candle hath hitherto reſted on our Tabernacle, and he hath made us glad in his own Salvation; Eternal Glory to his excellent Name.

8th. Month. 6.5. Cleve.We immediately took a Poſt-Carr, and came next day about two in the Afternoon to Cleve, where we had a very pretious Meeting at an honeſt Procurator's Houſe, who received us with much love; four or five more were preſent, all Grave and Tender, our Hearts were greatly affected with their love and ſimplicity; We alſo viſited the Lady Hubner, who was kind to us.

Next Morning we ſet out for Nimeguen, 8th. Month. 7.6. Utrecht. and thence immediately to Utrecht, where we arrived that Night, and took the Night-boat for [Page] Amſterdam; becauſe of a preſſure upon my Spirit to be next day at the Meeting, and the rather having intimated as much from Ceulen.

We arrived in the Morning at Amſterdam, 1.7. Amſterdam. where we found our dear Friends generally well, the City much Alarm'd, and great Curioſity in ſome, and Deſires in others to come to the Meeting; we had a very great Meeting, and many People of note reſorted. God's Goſpel Bell was rung, the great Day of the great God ſounded, and the Dead was raiſed, and much tenderneſs appeared in ſeveral. O bleſſed be the Name of the Lord, whoſe Work and Teſtimony proſpereth.

The next day was ſpent in divers Affairs relating to the Truth.2.8.5. 3.9.

The day following we had a Meeting with Galenus Abrahams (the great Father of the Socinian Menniſts in theſe Parts) accompanied with ſeveral Preachers and others [Page] of his Congregation, divers of our Friends were alſo preſent. It continued about five Hours, he affirmed in oppoſition to us, That there was no Chriſtian Church, Miniſtry, or Commiſſion Apoſtolical now in the World; but the Lord aſſiſted us with his Wiſdom and Strength to confound his Attempts.

Here endeth the Narrative.

I intend a Viſit to the Hague, to the Lady Overkirks, Siſter of the Somerdikes, and ſome others that have ſober Characters of Truth and Friends; and thence to Rotterdam, where I have much to do, both with reſpect to Meetings and the Preſs, G K. and B F. go with me.

Thus, my Dear Friend, have I given thee a tedious Narrative, yet I hope not altogether unpleaſant; perhaps the brevity of my Letters [Page]hereafter may beſt Apologize for the length of this: However, I conſider two things; one is, That thou haſt time enough one time or other to look over it: And next, That I have plentifully, as were thy requeſts, demonſtrated, I have not forgotten thee. O Dear Friend, let us live and remember one another (now abſent) in that Divine Senſe in which the Lord God diſſolv'd our Spirits when together. O the Unity of this Faith, the Purity of this Love, and the Bond of this Peace. The Lord Jeſus be with thy Spirit, and keep thee in this the Hour of thy Temptation; that thou mayeſt come forth as Gold ſeven times tryed; ſo ſhall thy Teſtimony ſhine for the God that hath called thee, and he will reward thee with Honour, Glory, and Eternal Life. Amen.

Thus, ſaith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindneſs of thy Youth, the love of thine Eſpouſals, when thou wenteſt after me in the Wilderneſs, [Page] in a Land that was not ſown. Jerem. 2.2.

Dear Friend, conſider this yet again, The way of the juſt is Uprightneſs, thou moſt upright do'ſt weigh the Paths of the Juſt, yea, in the Way of thy Judgment, O Lord, have we waited for thee, the deſire of our Soul is to thy Name, and to the Remembrance of thee.

With my Soul have I deſired thee in the Night; yea, with my Spirit within me will I ſeek thee early, for when thy Judgments are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteouſneſs.

Lord thou wilt ordain Peace for us, for thou haſt wrought all our Works in us.

O Lord our God, other Lords beſides thee have had Dominion over us; but by thee only we make mention of thy Name.

Lord in trouble have they viſited thee, they poured out a Prayer when thy chaſtning was upon them.

[Page]Like as a Woman with Child that draweth near the time of her Delivery is in Pain, and cryeth out in her Pangs, ſo have we been in thy Sight, O Lord.

We have been with Child, we have been in Pain, we have as it were brought forth Wind, we have not wrought any Deliverance in the Earth, neither have the Inhabitants of the World fallen.

Thy dead Men ſhall live together with my dead Body ſhall they ariſe; awake and Sing ye that dwell in the Duſt, for thy Dew is as the Dew of Herbs, and the Earth ſhall caſt out the dead.

Come my People, enter thou into thy Chamber, and ſhut thy door about thee; hide thy ſelf as it were for a little moment, until the Indignation be overpaſt.

For behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to puniſh the Inhabitants of the Earth for their Iniquities; the Earth alſo ſhall diſcloſe her Blood, [Page] and ſhall no more cover her Slain, Iſa. 26.7, 8. to 21. So come Dear Lord Jeſus that was dead, but is alive and liveth for ever. Amen.

Very dearly Farewell. Thy Friend that faithfully Travelleth for thy Redemption, W.P.

Amſterdam. 10th. of the 8th. Month, 1677.

[Page]The ſame day we had a bleſſed Publick Meeting never to be forgotten, O the Majeſty,8th. Month. 4.10. Glory and Life that the Lord attended us with, our Hearts were deeply affected with his Preſence; great Reverence and Brokenneſs was over the Meeting, more than I had ſeen. The Meeting done, we were oppoſed by a Preacher, who was cloſely encountred and purſued by ſeveral Merchants, &c. (not of us) that cryed he was Rude and Ignorant, and that they had a Teſtimony for us, who offered to Diſpute in our Defence; but the Prieſt run away, they followed him till they houſed him, &c.

It was upon me this day to engage Galenus Abrahams to a ſecond Conference, that we might more fully debate and confute his grand Objections againſt the preſent Diſpenſation of Truth, and the heavenly Miniſtry witneſſed among Friends: he refuſed not my offer [Page] of a ſecond Meeting; but ſent me word, his Buſineſs would not give him leave to let it be any time this day, upon which the next was [...]ixt for the Conference to begin at Eight, which accordingly it did, and held till One.5.11. The moſt impartial account of both theſe Conferences that I am briefly able to give followeth.

The Meeting ended, and having refreſht our ſelves, after a ſolemn leave taken of our dear Friends at Amſterdam, G. F. and I, went that Night to Leyden,, accompanied by B. Furly;Leyden. coming there late at Night, we forbore to inquire after any worthy in that place.

8th. Month. 6.12.But the next Morning we found out two, one a German of, or near Darmſtad, who not only expreſs'd much love to the Principle of Truth, and unto us the Friends thereof; but alſo informed us of a retired Perſon of great Quality that liveth about two hours back again [Page] towards Amſterdam, at a Village called Nortwyck. Our Reſolutions of being that Night at Rotterdam, and having the Hague to Viſit by the way, made our return at that time unpracticable; however the Relation of the German concerning the good Inclinations of the great Man and his Wife, their diſdain of the World, voluntary retreat from the Greatneſs and Glory of it reſted ſtrongly upon our Spirits. This Perſon preſently conducted us to the Houſe of one who had formerly been a Doctor in the Univerſity, and there left us: To this Perſon both G. F. and my ſelf were more than ordinarily open, he was of a ſweet, yet quick, wiſe, yet very loving and tender Spirit; there were few Strangers we felt greater love to; He aſſented to every thing we ſaid, and truly his Underſtanding was very clear and open to the things that lay upon us to declare, and expreſs'd his [Page] firm Belief of great Revolutions at hand, and that they ſhould terminate in the ſetting up of the glorious Kingdom of Chriſt in the World. What ſhall I ſay, the Man felt our Spirits and therefore loved us, and in the freſh ſenſe of that love, writ a Letter by us to a retired P [...]rſon at the Hague like himſelf; which in ſeveral places of Germany was the way whereby we found out ſeveral of the retired People we viſited: After near two Hours time with him, we took Waggon for the Hague, leaving the Peace of God upon him.

Hague.The firſt thing we did there was to enquire out the Lady Overkirk a Perſon of a retired and religious Character, ſeparated from the publick Worſhip of that Country: She was a home, but her Huſband with her, being a great Man of the Army of another Diſpoſition and Way of Living, hindred our Acceſs at that time.

[Page]The next Perſon we went to was a Judge at the Law of Chief Court of Juſtice in that Republick, he received us with great Reſpect, and a more than ordinary deſire to know the truth of our Faith and Principles: We declared of the things moſt ſurely believed amongſt us in the Power and Love of God: He made his Obſervations, Objections, and Queries upon ſeveral things we ſpake, to whom we replied, and explained all Mattters in queſtion, inſomuch that he declared himſelf ſatisfied in our Confeſſions, and his good Belief of us and our Principles: We took a ſolemn and ſenſible leave of him, and we felt the Witneſs reacht, and his Spirit tendred, which filled our hearts with dear love to him; he brought us to his Streetdoor, and there we parted.

From him we went to viſit that Perſon for whom we had a Letter from the Dr. at Leyden, but he was not at home. We immediately took [Page] Waggon for Delft, Delft. Rotterdam. and from thence an Expreſs-Boat for Rotterdam, where we arrived well about Eight at Night.

8th. Month. 7.13.The next day was moſtly ſpent in viſiting of Friends, and the friendly People in that place, which conſiſted of ſeveral Perſons of worldly Note.

8th. Month. 1.14.The next day being the firſt Day of the Week, we had a large and bleſſed Meeting, wherein the deep Myſteries of the Kingdom of Chriſt and Antichriſt were declared in the power of an endleſs Life. Several of divers Religions were there, but no Diſturbance and Contradiction, but a profound Silence and reverent Attention were over the Meeting.

That Night I had a bleſſed Meeting at my Lodging with thoſe Perſons of Note, that at ſometimes viſited our publick Meetings, as at that day, and have a Convincement upon them: The Lord's Love, Truth and Life preciouſly reached towards [Page] them, and they were very ſweetly affected.

Next day I beſtowed in perfecting and correcting ſeveral publick Letters,2.15. which I was moved to write both in my firſt and ſecond Journey in Germany, and after my return to theſe Low-Countries: They are left behind to be Tranſlated and Printed; they are omitted here, becauſe they are large and likely to be [...]ereafter printed in Engliſh. The Titles whereof follow,

I. A Summons to Chriſtendom in an earneſt Expoſtulation with her, to prepare for the great and notable Day of the Lord that is at the door.

II. To all thoſe who are ſenſible of the Day of their Viſitation, and who have received the Call of the LORD by the Light and Spirit of his Son in their Hearts, to partake[Page]of the great Salvation, whereever ſcattered throughout the World; but more eſpecially in the High and Low-Dutch Nations. Faith, Hope and Charity which over-come the World be multiplied among you.

III. To all thoſe Profeſſors of Chriſtianity, that are Externally ſeparated from the viſible Sects and Fellowſhips in the Chriſtian World, (ſo called) wherever hidden or ſcattered; true Knowledge, which is Life Eternal from God the Father by Chriſt Jeſus.

IV. A tender Viſitation in the Love of God that over-cometh the World, to all People in the High and Low-Dutch Nations, who hunger and thirſt after Righteouſneſs,[Page]and deſire to know and worſhip God in Truth, and in Sincerity, containing a plain Teſtimony to the Ancient and Apoſtolical Life, Way and Worſhip that God is reviving and exalting in the Earth in his Spirit and Truth.

The ſenſe of the ſerious retreat of this great Man we heard of at Leiden was ſo ſtrong upon me, that I could not ſee my ſelf clear to leave the Country, before I had given him a Viſit. I purpoſed therefore the next Morning to ſet forward to the Hague, from thence to Leiden, and ſo to Nortwyck. 8th. Month. Nortwyck.

I arrived there in the Evening with B F. A Sonnemans and M Sonnemans, and immediately made known our coming, and the end of it to him and his Wife, by the means of the young German, who was got thither before us to viſit them. An [Page] Invitation came to us all at our Inn, and immediately we repaired to his Houſe, which was very ſtately, and yet plain; he preſently came to us, took us by the hand, and bid us heartily welcome. We immediately ſate down, and after ſome time of retirement, I ſpoke ſomething of what was upon me, yet not before he had given us a ſober and pathetical Account of his Life, and of the preſent frame and diſpoſition of his Spirit. All this was in the abſence of his Wife; but ſo ſoon as I had finiſht what was then upon me to ſpeak of the Witneſs of God, and of its Work in Man, upon the occaſion of the Hiſtory he gave us of his [...]; he led us into another Room, [...] his Wife was, he told her here were [...]om [...] Chriſtian Friends come to viſ [...]t her, ſhe ſaluted us very kindly.

We all ſat down, and after ſome [...]ence, the heavenly Power of God did in a living and tender manner [Page] open their States and Conditions to me, and opened my Mouth to them; the ſubſtance of my Teſtimony was to this purpoſe, That Death reigned from Adam to Moſes, Moſes was till the Prophets, the Prophets till John, and John till Chriſt: What Chriſt's day was, how few ſee this day; and whilſt People are talking of being in Chriſt under Grace, and not under the Law, Death reigneth over them, and they are not come to Moſes, nor the ſhaking Mountain, the Thundrings, Lightnings and Whirlwinds, and what it was that led to Chriſt, and what it was to be in him, and under the Government of his Grace; directing them to the bleſſed Principle of Light and Truth and Grace, which God had ſhed abroad in our hearts. I declared the nature and manner of the appearing and operating of this Principle, and appealed to their own Conſciences for the truth of what was ſaid: And I can truly ſay the holy Life [Page] of Jeſus was revealed amongſt us, and like Oil ſwom at the top of all: In this I was moved to kneel down and pray, great brokenneſs fell upon all, and that, that was before the World began, was richly manifeſted in us and amongſt us. The Meeting done, the great Man and his Wife bleſt us, and the work of God in our hands, ſaying, with tears in his eyes, My houſe is bleſſed for your ſakes, and bleſſed be God that I ever lived to ſee you.

And thus we left them, though with much difficulty, for they preſt us with great earneſtneſs both to eat and to lodge with them, and were hard to bear our refuſal. They ſaid it we was a Scandal to their houſe, that they ſhould let ſuch good people as were to go out of it; or ſuffer us to lodge in any other place: But we declared our pre-engagement elſewhere, and that it was not for want of true kindneſs towards them. One paſſage I had almoſt forgot to mention, [Page] I was (ſaid he) once at table with the Duke of Holſteyn at Frederickſtadt, when the Magiſtrates came to complain againſt a people called Quakers in that City. The Duke was ready to be prejudiced againſt them, but at the very naming of them I conceived a more than ordinary kindneſs in my mind towards them. I askt the Magiſtrate what they were for a People, he told me that they would not pull off their hats to their Superiors; I askt him whether they would pull off their hats to God, he ſaid, yes; ſaid I, that may be the reaſon why they will not pull them off to Man. Do they live peaceably? Yes, Do they pay their Taxes? Yes, Do they rub their hats in your eyes? No, Do they do any harm with them? No, Why what is your Quarrel then; not they meet in ſilence, and they will ſpeak or pray unleſs they be moved by the Spirit; why, that is according to the Doctrine of Scripture: If this [Page] be to be a Quaker, I would I were a Quaker too, but, ſaid he, I never ſaw one before, but I bleſs God I ſee you now. He very much inveighed againſt the falſe Chriſtianity that is in the World, and greatly magnified a tender, mortified and retired Eſtate. I have great hopes he and his Wife will eye the truth. We returned to our Inn to ſupper, and to bed.

8th. Month. 4.17. Hague.Next morning we took Waggon for the Hague, where we [...]t with Docemius, the King of Denmark's Reſident at Ceulen, who had been at Rotterdam to ſeek us, and came back thither with hopes to meet us. We had ſome ſervice there with a Lawyer, but were again diſap [...]ointed viſiting the Lady Overkirk, [...]ecauſe of her Husband's preſence; and the other retired Man befor [...] [...]entioned was again from home, the Judge would gladly have received us, but a great Cauſe then depending commanded his attendance. That Afternoon [Page] we took Boat for Delft, Delft. Rotterdam. 8th Month. 5.18. and ſo to Rotterdam, where we all arrived well.

It was my deſire to have been the next day at a Meeting at Dort, but it ſeems that Way that we hoped had been open for us was ſhut, inſomuch that we were prevented of that ſervice. However I applied my ſelf to the perfecting of what yet wanted to be compleated in thoſe Writings, I left behind me to be printed.6.19.

The next day being the ſixth day of the Week, we had a very bleſſed publick Meeting, taking therein our leave of the Country; and after that was done we had another amongſt Friends, recommending to them the peaceable, tender, righteous Truth, deſiring that they might live and grow in it, and be a People to the Lord's praiſe; ſo ſhould his Work proſper, his Dominion enlarge and encreaſe among them. In the Evening I had alſo a Meeting at my Lodging among the great People of [Page] that place, of which I have before made mention, and magnified be the Name of the Lord, his Power did ſweetly viſit him, and effectually reacht them, that at their departure ſome of them fell upon our Necks, and with Tears of Love prayed that they might be remembred by us, and that they might have ſtrength to anſwer our great Travel for them. We recommended them unto the Lord, and the pure Word of his Grace in their hearts.

8th. Month. 7.20.The next day the generality of Friends of that place met at Sim. Johnſon's houſe early in the Morning, where we took our leave of one another in the Love and Power of the Lord, feeling his living Preſence with them that ſtayed, and with us that went.

Several accompanied us to the Briel, Briel. we arrived about Noon, there accompanied us the King of Denmark's Reſident, who had been with us at thoſe Meetings at Rotterdam, P. Hendricks [Page] and Corn. Roeloffs of Amſterdam, and A. Sonnemans, B. Furly, M. Sonnemans and Sim. Johnſon, with ſeveral others of Rotterdam.

The Pacquet-boat not being come we were neceſſitated to lie there that night.

That Night it was upon me in the earneſt Love of God to ſalute the Princeſs and Counteſs, with a few farewell-lines, as followeth.

[Page]

TO THE Princeſs Elizabeth, &c. Salvation in the Croſs, Amen.

Dear and truly reſpected Friend,

MY Soul earneſtly deſireth thy Temporal and Eternal Felicity, which ſtandeth in thy doing the Will of God now on Earth, as 'tis done in Heaven. O dear Princeſs do it, ſay the Word once in Truth and Righteouſneſs, not my Will, but thine be done, O God. Thy Days are few, and then thou muſt go to Judgment, then an Account of thy Talent God will require from thee; what improvement haſt thou made, let it prove and ſhew its own excellency, that it is of God, and that it leadeth all that love it to God: O that thou mayeſt be able to give an Account with joy.

[Page]I could not leave this Country, and not teſtifie the Reſentments I bear in my mind of that humble and tender Entertainment thou gaveſt us at thy Court; the Lord Jeſus reward thee, and ſure he hath a Bleſſing in ſtore for thee. Go on, be ſteadfaſt, over-come, and thou ſhalt inherit, do not deſpond, one that is mighty is near thee, a preſent help in the needfull time of trouble. O let the deſire of thy Soul be to his Name, and the remembrance of him. O wait upon the Lord and thou ſhalt renew thy Strength, the Youth ſhall faint, and the young Men ſhall fail, but they that truſt in the Lord ſhall never be confounded. I wiſh thee all true and ſolid Felicity with my whole Soul: The Lord God of Heaven and Earth have thee in his keeping, that thou mayeſt not looſe, but keep in that Divine Senſe, which by his Eternal Word he hath begotten in thee. Receive, dear Princeſs, my ſincere and Chriſtian Salutation. Grace, Mercy [Page] Peace be multiplied among you all that love the Lord Jeſus.

Thy Buſineſs I ſhall follow with all the diligence and diſcretion I can, and by the firſt give t [...]ee an Account, after it ſhall pleaſe the Lord to bring me ſafe to London. All my Brethren are well, and preſent thee with their dear love, and the reſt (that love Jeſus the Light of the World) in thy Family. Thou haſt taught me to forget thou art a Princeſs, and therefore I uſe this freedom, and to that of God in thee am I manifeſt, and I know my integrity. Give, if thou pleaſeſt, the Salutation of my dear Love to A.M. de Hornes, with the incloſed. Dear Princeſs, do not hinder but help her, that may be required of her, which (conſidering thy Circumſtances) may not yet be required of thee: Let her ſtand free, and her freedom will make the paſſage eaſie unto thee; Accept what I ſay, I intreat thee, in that pure and heavenly love and reſpect in which I [Page] write ſo plainly to thee. Farewell my Dear Friend, and the Lord be with thee. I am more than I can ſay,

Thy Great Lover and Reſpectful Friend W.P.

I referr thee to the Incloſed for Paſſages. We viſited Giltall and Hooftman, and they us, they were at one or two of the Meetings at Amſterdam. Vale in aeternum.

[Page]

For ANNA MARIA de Hornes, ſtiled Counteſs of Hornes.

Jeſus be with thy Spirit. Amen.

BEloved and much Eſteemed for the ſake of that love which is raiſed in thy Heart to the Eternal Truth of God, the increaſe of which I earneſtly deſire, that thou mayſt be more than Conqueror, through the powerful Workings of that divine Love in thy Soul, which caſteth out all fear and overcometh the World. In this eternal Love it is, that I love thee, and would be loved of thee, bleſſed are they that hold their fellowſhip in it: It is Pure, Harmleſs, Patient, Fervent and Conſtant. In fine, it cometh from God, and leadeth all that receive it to God, indeed it is God, and they that live in God, live in Love. If we keep and abide in him that hath viſited [Page] us, we ſhall always feel his love as a fountain, and Wonderful are the Effects of it. O it can lay down its Life for its Friend, it will break through all Difficulty, and hath Power to conquer Death and the Grave. This tranſcendeth the Friendſhip of the World, and the Vain-glorious Honours of the Courts of this World. O this kindneſs is inviolable! our pureſt Faith worketh by this Love. O the Tenderneſs of that Soul in which this Love liveth and hath place; the Humility and Compaſſion that always keeps it Company, and who can lively enough deſcribe the lovely Image it giveth, the attracting and engaging Converſation it hath: but it is diſcerned and greatly valued by the Children of Love, who are born of it, which all the Children of Light are. What ſhall I ſay, it is the great Command and keepeth all the Commands, Love pure and undefiled, it fulfilleth the Law and Goſpel too: Bleſſed are they that feel any of this Love ſhed abroad in [Page] their Hearts; with this Love it is that God loved us, and by the Power of this Love Chriſt Jeſus hath died for us. Yea, 'tis this Love that quickeneth us to Jeſus, that enflameeth our Souls with pure and ardent Love to him and Zeal for him; Yea, 'tis this holy Love, that forſaketh Father and Mother, Siſter and Brother, Husband, Wife and Children, Houſe and Land, Liberty and Life for the ſake of Jeſus, that leaveth the Dead to bury the Dead, and followeth Jeſus in the narrow Way of Regeneration: that can truſt him in the Winds, and in the Earthquakes, in the Fire, and in the Waters; yea, when the Floods come in even unto the Soul, this deſpondeth not, neither murmureth; and as it cannot deſpair, ſo it never preſumeth, yea, it can triumphantly ſay, What ſhall be able to ſeparate me from the Love of God that is in Chriſt Jeſus; Shall Principalities or Powers? Things preſent, or Things to come? Shall Life or Death? O no, neither Time nor Mortality.

[Page]My Dear Friend, let this noble Plant of Paradiſe grow in thy Heart, wait upon the Lord that he would Water it, and Shine upon it, and make an Hedge about it; that thy whole Heart may be repleniſhed with the heavenly increaſe and fruits of it. O that thou mayſt grow in thy inner Man▪ in Wiſdom; Strength, and a pure Underſtanding, in favour with God; and with all People that are in the ſame Nature and Image; for the World only loveth its own.

I hoped not to have been ſo quick upon my laſt long Letter, but God's pure Love (that hath redeemed me from the Earth, and the earthly Nature and Spirit) moved fervently upon my Spirit to Viſit thee once more before I leave this Land. I deferr'd it to this Extremity, and being not clear to go hence, I ſend thee my Chriſtian Salutation in this pure Love; that many Waters cannot quench, diſtance cannot make it forget, nor can time wear it out. My Soul reverently boweth before the God [Page] and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt▪ that it would pleaſe him to preſerve thee. Fear him and thou needeſt not fear, for the Angel of the Lord encampeth about thoſe that truſt in his Name. The Angel of his Eternal Preſence guard thee, that none of the Enemies of thy Soul's Peace may ever prevail againſt thee. Perſeverance and Victory be thy Portion in this World, and a Crown of endleſs Glory be thy Reward in that which is to come. Amen.

Since my laſt (being the next day after the Date thereof) we had a meeting with Galenus Abrahams and his Company (for they are the moſt virulent and obſtinate Oppoſers of Truth in that Land) the ſucceſs thou mayſt perhaps ſee ſuddenly in Print, and therefore I may defer the Narrative, only in general our Dear Lord, our Staff and Strength was with us, and Truth reigned over all.

That Night we went to Leyden, where we viſited ſome.

Thence next day to the Hague, where alſo we had a little Meeting. [Page] O the Luſt and Pride of that place, thou cameſt into my Mind as I walked in the Streets, and I ſaid [...]n my ſelf, Well, ſhe hath choſen the better part. O be faithful, and the Lord will give thee an eternal Recompence.

Thence we came to Rotterdam, where the Lord hath given us ſeveral heavenly Opportunities in Private and Publick.

We are now come to the Briel and wait our Paſſage, the Lord Jeſus be with you that ſtay, and with us that go, that in him we may live and abide for ever.

Salute me to my French Friend, bid her be Conſtant: I wiſh thy Servants felicity, but thine as mine own, God Almighty overſhadow thee, hide thee under his Pavillion, be thy Shield, Rock and Sanctuary for ever: Farewell, Farewell.

Thy Friend and the Lord's Servant W.P.

Briel 30. 8th. Month S.N. 1677.

[Page] 8 th. Month. 1.21. Next morning the Pacquet-boat arrived, and about Ten we went on board, having firſt taken our ſolemn leave of our Friends that accompanied us thither.

2.22. We immediately ſet ſail with a great number of Paſſengers, but by reaſon of contrary and tempeſtuous Weather we arrived not at Harwich till the third day about the 6th hour. 3.23. Harwich. 4.24. Whence next Morning I writ this following ſalutation and Account to the Friends of Holland and Germany.

A Letter from Harwich to Friends in Holland and Germany, containing the Paſſages from Holland to England.

Let this be ſent to Friends in High and Low-Dutch-Land.

O My Soul magnifieth the Lord, and my Spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour, who hath rebuked the Winds and the Seas, and made us to drink of his Salvation upon the great Deeps. Yea [Page] we could not but praiſe him in the Tempeſt, for all things are full of his Majeſty. Bleſſed is the eye that ſeeth, and the heart that dependeth upon him at all times; there is not another God; he is the Lord alone that the holy Ancients truſted in, and were not confounded, what ſhall my Soul render unto the Lord. We are full of his Mercy, he hath made us Witneſſes of his care: We can ſay in righteouſneſs, they are bleſſed whoſe God is the Lord, and that ſerve all the day long no other Maſter than our God.

Friends, this is an endeared Salutation to you all in High and Low Dutch-land, in the deep and freſh ſenſe of the Lord's preſerving Power, O that you may abide in that ſenſe of him which he hath begotten in you, and in the reverent knowledge of him according to the manifeſtation which you have received of him in the light of his dear Son. O that you may be faithful and fervent for the Lord, that his glorious life and power may break thro' you. And theſe Lands long dry and barren, as the Wilderneſs may ſpring and bloſſom as the Roſe. For [Page] what have we to do here, but to exal [...] him that hath viſited and loved us, yea, ſaved us in great meaſure. A [...] he is worthy, my Spirit reverenceth him, my Heart and Soul do bow before him, eternal Bleſſings dwell for ever with him.

Dear Friends, my love followeth to you as a fountain, God, even my God, and your God hath made you dear to me, yea, dearer than all natural Kindred. You are Fleſh of Fleſh indeed, Sea nor Land, Time nor Place can never ſeparate our Joy, divide our Communion, or wipe out the remembrance that I have of you; yea, the living Remembrance that my God often giveth me of you in the life of his Son abideth; which breaketh my heart to pieces, and I can ſay I have left moſt of my heart behind me, and the Lord only could have outwardly ſeparated me ſo ſoon from you. O this Love that is ſtronger than Death, more excellent than the love of▪ Women that endureth for ever; this Privilege have all the Saints. Jeſus the light of the World that ſaveth from the World, be with you, Amen.

[Page]We got well laſt night about Seven to Harwich, being three days and two Nights at Sea: Moſt part of the time was a great ſtorm of Wind, and Rain, and Hail, the We [...]ther was againſt us, and the Veſſel ſo leaky, that two Pumps went night and day, or we ha [...] periſht, 'tis believed that they pumpt twice more water out than the Veſſel could contain, but our peace was as a River, and our joy full. The Seas had like to have waſht ſome of the Seamen overboard, but the great God preſerved all well. Frights were among the People, and Deſpondencies in ſome, but the Lord wrought deliverance for all, we were mightily throng'd, which made it the more troubleſome.

But it is obſervable that though the Lord ſo wonderfully delivered us, yet ſome vain People ſoon forgot it, and returned quickly to their wanton Talk and Converſation, not abiding in the ſenſe of that hand which had delivered them, nor can any do it as they ſhould, but thoſe that are turned to his appearance in their hearts, who know him to be a [Page] God nigh at hand, which may it be your Experience and Portion for ever.

And the Lord be with you, and refreſh and ſuſtain you, and in all your Temptations never l [...]ave you nor forſake you, that Conquerors you may be, and in the end of Days and Time ſtand in your Lot among the Spirits of the Juſt made perfect. Amen, Amen.

Yours in that which is Eternal W.P.

Harwich 24. of the 8th Month, 1677.

Here I left dear G F. G Diricks and her Children, that came over with us, to follow me in Coach▪ who having a deſire to be that day at Colcheſter Meeting, Colcheſter. went early away on horſe-back. G K. accompanying me, we got the Meeting, and were well refreſht in Friends.

That Evening we had a mighty Meeting at J. Furly's houſe, where we lay, many being there of the Town, that would not come to a publick Meeting; and indeed the Lord's[Page]divine Power and Preſence was in the Aſſembly.

Next day we had a great Meeting at a Marriage, 8th. Month. 5.25. where we had good ſervice for the Lord. Afternoon about four we took horſe for London. G. F. &c. through miſcarriage of a Letter about the Coach, not being come to Colcheſter: That night we lay at I. Ravens, eight miles on our Way; there we met Giles Barnadiſton and Willam Bennet, with whom, and ſome other Friends thereabout, we were comforted in the Life and Power of the Lord.

The day following we took our journey for London,6.26. London. came there in good time that Evening, where I found all things relating to Friends in a good condition, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. I ſtayed about a week in Town, both to viſit Friends at Meetings, and to be ſerviceable to the more general Affairs of Truth.

The firſt day of the next week I went to Worminghurſt,9th. Month. 5.1. Worminghurſt. my houſe in [Page] Suſſex, where I found my dear Wife, Child and Family all well, bleſſed be the name of the Lord God of all the families of the Earth. I had that Evening a ſweet meeting amongſt them, in which God's bleſſed Power made us truly glad together; and I can ſay truly bleſſed are they, who can chearfully give up to ſerve the Lord: Great ſhall be the encreaſe and growth of their Treaſure, which ſhall never end.

To Him that was, and is, and is to come, the eternal, bleſſed, righteous, powerful and faithful One, be glory, honour and praiſes, Dominion and a Kingdom for ever and ever. Amen.

William Penn.

TO THE Children of Light IN THIS GENERATION, Called of God to be Partakers of Eternal Life in JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb of God and Light of the World.

[Page]

My Endeared Friends and Brethren,

MAny Days and Weeks, yea, ſome Months hath my Heart been Heavy, and my Soul unuſually Sad for the ſake of this Nation, the Land of our Nativity! For I have not only long beheld with a grieved Eye the many Abominations and groſs Impieties that reign therein, the Luſts, Pleaſures, Wantonneſs, Drunkenneſs, Whoredoms, Oaths, Blaſphemies, Envy, Treachery and Perſecution of the Juſt, but [Page] for ſome time I have had a deep Senſe, that the Overflowing Scourge of God's Wrath and Indignation was juſt ready to break out upon the People, Confuſion Amazement and Miſery! The Weight of which hath cauſed me to Cry within my ſelf, Who ſhall Save us! Who ſhall Deliver us! Is there none to ſtay the Stroke, to blunt the Edge, to ſtop the Fury, and intercede for the People, and mediate for this poor Land, that the Lord may not utterly depart, and take his Glory and his Name from it, and make it a Deſolation for the Wild Beaſts of the Field and Fowls of the Air, a Land of Judgment and not of Promiſe;Hague. of Curſes, and not of Bleſſings.

My Friends, whilſt the Senſe of this Diſtreſs, that is coming as a Dreadful Viſitation from the Hand of the Diſpleaſed God upon this Ungodly Land to Stain its Glory, Bring down its Pride and Puniſh its Forgetfulneſs of the Lord and his many Deliverances, lay ſo Heavy upon my Spirit, the Lord preſented before me all the Truly Conſcientious [Page] and Well-inclined People in theſe Nations; and more eſpecially You, his Deſpiſed but Choſen Generation, for whoſe ſake he would yet have Mercy. And in the midſt of his Judgments: This I received for you from the Lord, as his Holy Will and Counſel, and it often ſprung in my Heart with a very Freſh and Strong Life;

TO THY TENTS, O ISRAEL!

TO THY TENTS; O ISRAEL! God is thy TENT: To thy God, O Iſrael▪

PREPARE, O Friends, to ſtand in this Day before the LORD (that is in the firſt place) for ye ſhall alſo have your Exerciſe. Yea, Great is that Work, which we have to do for the Lord by his Powerful, but very Peaceable Spirit; for God will by all theſe Hurries, Confuſions and Vexations, that are at the Door, drive People from their Falſe Gods, and bring them home to HIMSELF. He will throw down Wickedneſs, and eſtabliſh Righteouſneſs; he will waſte Sin, but Truth ſhall grow. He will debaſe the Mountain [Page] of Empty Profeſſion; but the Mountain of his Holineſs ſhall be Exalted▪ He hath determined to raiſe up and renown the Seed of Light, Life and Truth in the Hearts of People; Holy Patience, Meekneſs, Wiſdom, Love, Faith, Purity and Perſeverance (ſo much wanting in the World) ſhall be ſeen to dwell in it, and only to come from it. And my witneſs is, that ye are the People, through whom this Heavenly Seed of Righteouſneſs muſt Clearly and Stedfaſtly ſo ſhine unto others in theſe Uneven and Rough Times, that are Come and Coming, as that your Heavenly Father may be Glorified by you.

Wherefore in the Name of the Lord be ye all diſ-incumbred of the World and diſcharged of the Cares of it; Fly as for your Lives from the Snares therein, and get you into your Watch-Tower, the NAME of the LORD! Which is not a Dead Name▪ or a meer Literal Name; but a Living Spiritual and very Powerful Name: A Strong Tower indeed, [Page] yea, an Invincible Fortreſs; where▪ dwell ye with God, and in him who ſpeaketh Peace to his Children, and ordains Quietneſs for them that truſt in him. He will make you to lie down Safely, even then when Darkneſs and Confuſion ſhall be thick about you; yea, ye ſhall live in the Fire, that will Conſume the Stubble of the World, and your Garments ſhall not be ſo much as Singed: for the Son of God, whom the Flames, as well as Winds and Seas obey▪ will be in the Midſt of you.

Next Friends, this know, We are the People above all others, that muſt ſtand in the Gap, and Pray for the putting away of the Wrath, ſo as that this Land be not made an Utter Deſolation; and God expects it at our Hands. PREPARE ye therefore to Meet and Sanctifie the Lord in his Coming and Judgments! Why ſtand any of you Gazing? Let none Gaze or Look out, I beſeech you, that is the Enemy's Work to weaken you within; but be ye Retired, [Page] be ye Centered in the Eternal One, and Meditate upon the Lord and his Living, Pure Law, that ye may be Wiſe in Heart ▪ and travel in Spirit for this Poor Land, and that for Enemies as well as Friends. The Lord is ready to hear you for this people, when ye are ready to Intercede; and I teſtifie Abraham is amongſt you, God's Friend, and his Juſt Lot too; yea, Jacob, that Prevailed: and One, that is Greater than them all, JESUS, the Lamb of God, whoſe Blood ſpeaketh better things, than that of Abel, in whom is the Mediation and Attonement. Be therefore encouraged to wait upon the Lord, and to bow before him, and humbly to Meditate in the Life of JESUS with him: I know, he will put it into your Hearts ſo to do, if ye wait upon him. For he will not caſt off this Land, as he did Sodom; he hath a Right Seed, a Noble People in it, that he hath and yet will gather: many Sheep there be not yet of our Fold, whom he will [Page] bring in, and the foul Weather and the Storms will but help to drive them Home to JESUS, the Living and True Witneſs and Light within, that he whom God hath ordained to Reign, may be Great in them.

And Laſtly, my Dear Friends and Brethren, by how much this Day draws Nigh, by ſo much the more do ye Stand looſe in your Affections to the World, but fa [...]t in the Faith. And Aſſemble your ſelves together, and let God Ariſe in you, and his Power and Spirit of Life among you, that ye may not only Wreſtle, but in the End Prevail; That it may be ſeen, that SALVATION is of the Jews, the Jews Inward, in Spirit and in Truth: And truly, the time haſtens, that Ten ſhall take hold of the Skirt of ſuch a Jew, and they ſhall be ſaved. But Wo to the Hypocrite in that Day, the Formaliſt, the Jew Outward, the Circumciſion in the Fleſh and Fleſhly Chriſtian, that cannot Reſiſt the Temptations [Page] of this World, the Temporizer, one that Runs with the Tide, he will be Divided. For there will be more Tides, more Intereſts on Foot at once, than One; wherefore Perplexity will take hold on him, his Policy will be Confounded. He will not know what to do to be Safe, nor what to Joyn with; this Double-minded Man will be Unſtable in his Counſels and in his Actions, his Sandy Foundation will be Shaken. Therefore, as I ſaid, Wo to the Hypocrite, and to the Covetous Man too, for his Gods will fail him; the Thief, the Moth and Ruſt will invade his Baggs and ſurpriſe his Treaſure: his Anguiſh will be Great in this Day! But my Dear Brethren, as the Power and Spirit of our Lord God will Preſerve and Eſtabliſh us, if we Sincerely and Entirely confide therein, and that above our Sollicitation or Need of Carnal Conſultations or Contrivances, which we have therefore laid aſide; ſo ſhall it Vindicate [Page] us in Due Time in the Eyes of all Nations, and preſent us a People owned, beloved and protected of God, in whom we have firmly believed. Nor is this Preſumption, as ſome may think, who being not ſo well acquainted with that Entire Reſignation and Supreme Faith (of which Jeſus is the Author, that removes Mountains into the Sea) conclude from meer Natural and Human Conſiderations againſt us; yet we know him in whom we have believed: and the ſame, that hath Cured us of our Diſeaſes, the ſame ſaid unto us, Ariſe and Walk in this Way of Faith; Truſt in me, and not in another. And truly, this is much of that Wonder, which Men ſhall have in their Minds and Mouths about us in thoſe Latter Days, In Troubles not to be dejected, and in Jeopardies not to be concerned to make to our ſelves Defences; but as the Lillies, that neither toil nor ſpin, yet feed and grow, ſo we may both [Page] be preſerved and become Victorious without Worldly Force or Projections. For we muſt ſhew our ſelves to be that Little City and Hill of God, that hath only his Salvation for our Walls and Bulwarks; by whom he will renown his Arm, and magnifie his Power above the Arts and Contrivances of Men. Our Weapons and our Armour is Spiritual; it hath prevailed, and it will prevail, if we keep in the Faith, which was firſt delivered to us: a bleſſed Shield, by which the Juſt live.

And therefore, My Dear Friends, let us be Careful not to mingle with the Crowd, leſt their Spirit enter us inſtead of our Spirit entering them, and we thereby come to fall into the ſame Temptations they are liable to, of Fear and Flying to the Hills and Mountains to protect them, confiding in the Arm of Fleſh to deliver them; no, no! they muſt come to us, we muſt not go to them. Yet can we not be Unſenſible [Page] of their Infirmities, as well as we ſhall not be free from ſome of their Sufferings; we muſt make their Caſe as our own, and travail alike in Spirit for them, as for our ſelves. Let us ſtand in the Counſel of our God, and he will make us Preachers-forth to them of the Works of his Divine Power, and the Virtue of that Faith which comes from Heaven; yea, he will make us as Saviours to the People, that they may come to know the Holy Law and Word of the Lord (their Creator) in their Hearts, and have their Minds and Souls turned to him, and ſtay'd upon them, that Iniquity may no more abound, nor Ungodlineſs find a place: but that in Truth, Righteouſneſs and Peace they may be eſtabliſht, and the Land keep its SABBATH to the Lord for ever! Then ſhall God lift up the Light of his Countenance upon us, and water us from Heaven, and bleſs us with all Temporal and Spirital [Page]Bleſſings; and we ſhall be yet called, THE ISLAND SAVED BY THE LORD! Amen, Amen!

This was upon my Soul from God to you; I could not Viſit you all with a Diſtinct Meſſage upon many Accounts: beſides, the Time is Short, and the Confuſion appears to me to be at hand. Therefore have I ſent it by way of Epiſtle, with the Brotherly Salutation of Unfeigned and Unalterable Love to you all in your Reſpective Meetings and Families. And the Lord God of our Viſitation and Redemption ſtir you up to theſe things, and keep us all in his Holy Fear, Wiſdom, Love and Patience through all thoſe Travails and Exerciſes to the End of our Days; that having finiſht our Teſtimonies, our Heads may go down to our Graves in Peace, and our Souls be received into the Reſt, which is reſerved for the [Page] Righteous with God, and with his Bleſſed Lamb forever! I am

Your Brother and Companion through the many Tribulations of our Day and Teſtimony William Penn.

Worminghurſt in Suſſex, the 4th of the 9th Month, 1678.

I deſire, that this Epiſtle may be read in the Fear of the Lord in your ſeveral Meetings.

Information about this book

Title statement

An account of W. Penn's travails in Holland and Germany, anno MDCLXXVII, for the service of the Gospel of Christ, by way of journal containing also divers letters and epistles writ to several great and eminent persons whilst there.

Penn, William, 1644-1718.

Edition statement

1694

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A54095

ID [STC]

Wing P1244

ID [STC]

ESTC R18015

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12657461

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12657461

ID [VID]

65409

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A54095)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 65409)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 364:5)

Source

— An account of W. Penn's travails in Holland and Germany, anno MDCLXXVII, for the service of the Gospel of Christ, by way of journal containing also divers letters and epistles writ to several great and eminent persons whilst there., Penn, William, 1644-1718., Penn, William, 1644-1718. To the churches of Jesus throughout the world..

Extent

[10], 295 p.

Printed and sold by T. Sowle ...,. London :: 1694.. ("To the churches of Jesus throughout the world" (p. [59]-90) has special t.p. dated 1677.) (Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.)

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