in these times doth speak to us in or by his fpirit; fo take heed to his (piritual appearance in the heart, for there muft the work of our falvation be perfected, after fin is purged out, and the guilt thereof taken away; to fuch death is easy, where fin, the fting of death, is taken away, having a part in Chrift, the first-born of many brethren, and refurrection from the dead; I fay, having a part in him that is the refurrection indeed, and the life; over fuch the second death (which is a perpetual feparation from the heavenly prefence of God, and company of holy angels) shall have no power. I now leave, I think, this not unprofitable digreffion, and return to the more historical part, where one thing, I think, is worthy of inferting here, viz.

In my young years I was very much afflicted in my travels, upon taking cold, with a fore throat, that I could fcarce speak fo as to be heard, and had much trouble at times to fwallow any thing which nature did require; and in one journey northward, in truth's fervice, coming to Hawkshead, and fitting in the meeting under no fmall exercife with the trouble. aforefaid, not without fome reasonings and conflicts of fpirit, having left all, as I believed, to do what the Lord required of me, and yet I apprehended myself, by means of this affliction, not likely to be of any fervice; and after fome reafonings, and a fervent feeking to the Lord to know the cause of this great trouble, and withal to bring my mind to a true refig

nation

nation to the will of God in this, and in all the trials the Lord might see good in his wisdom to exercise me in; I had not been long brought into this devoted and refigned ftate to be and do what the Lord would have me do, but oh! I felt of the virtue of Christ as a fweet and living fpring, by which I was healed; I was, and am to this day, (when I remember the Lord'skind dealings with me) very thankful to him.

It has been frequently obfervable, that the Lord leads his fervants through many ftates, that they, having the experience thereof, may be the more capable of helping others in the like ftraits; it is an excellent thing to love and truly believe in Jefus Chrift, and keep felf down as in the dust for ever..

ΑΝ

ACCOUNT

O F MY

FIRST VISIT TO FRIENDS

IN

AMERICA.

W the time came on for my going into America, having had a fight of it about ten years before; I alfo acquainted my wife therewith about a year before fhe died, and I found it was likely to be a very near trial to her; fhe was a virtuous good woman, but was taken away, and left me three small children, the eldest not above four years old, the youngest not much above one month old, and I having but little of this world, reafoned much about going, thinking my circumftances at present might excufe me; my intentions were good in it, that I might not leave things any way to the difhonour of the truth: my innocent young child was taken away when about a year

a year old; and foon after, wherever I went, while I was awake, it founded in my ears feveral days and nights, Now is the time, Now is the time. My other two children, Providence fo ordered it, that they were placed to mine and friends fatisfaction: I went through many provings that no man knew of, but I believe, when I am gathered to my place, I fhall leave many brethren behind me yet in mutability, that will read my lines in their own experience. I would not have any to misunderstand me, for as to my outward circumftances, I left no debt, neither was I in a way of going backward in the world; for ever after I received the knowledge of the truth, I could not fee what pretence I could have to religion, if any fhould lose by me: I have often faid, and been hearty in my intentions, That rather than truth should suffer on that fcore, I would live upon bread and water, and wear very mean cloaths, and work very hard if I were able, and upon any mean, if but lawful calling. It hath been matter of wonder to me, how any that appear to carry any pretenfions to religion, dare run such great ventures, fometimes beyond their own bottoms or abilities; which to me hath always appeared an unwarrantable risk; and, as I apprehend, pride and oftentation is much the occafion of it, which are much against truth, and men are no better for their greatness, for the more plain, and the more humble we are, the more we resemble humble Jefus, and his religion, which he laboured to inculcate. If any are lifted up,

or

or afpire above their place, let them confider well the foregoing paragraph.

Now I must leave my little children, and my very near friends, and my native country, and all for Chrift and the gofpel's fake, without any finifter end or view; and then I appealed to the Lord, in the fimplicity of my heart, That he knew I was willing to be at his difpofal, and what he had favoured me with, I could leave to him; yet whether what I had was sufficient to defray mine and my two little ones neceffary charges, was fomewhat in my way; and to fatisfy me in this doubt, the Lord's voice founded exceeding clear to that fenfation I was then endued with, saying, Go, and be faithful, and I will bless thee every way. Oh! my heart seemed to me to melt, and my fpirit to diffolve within me, and I faid, Good is the word of the Lord, thou haft not failed me in any of my great ftraits and trials to this day; I have great cause to trust in thee : renowned be thy most excellent name, now and for ever.

I parted with my friends with much brokenness of heart, and set forwards on my journey towards London, in order to take shipping there, the 11th of the eighth month, 1700; and when I, with my companions Thomas Thompson, Jofiah Langdale, and John Estaugh, with some other friends, went on board a fhip in the river Thames, we had not been long there, and having confidered our freedom about going in the ship, it

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