tioned, still kept there as prisoners; where they were very cheerful, having been well used beyond expectation; for though they refused to work at the castle, none offered to force or threaten them about it.

We went to see the captain of the fort, to acknowledge his civility to our Friends; and he was very respectful to us. But in the mean time came several merchants from Boston, and some members of the assembly, and the chaplain of the castle, by profession a Baptist; who soon began to bring false accusations against the Quakers, and to rail against the light; pretending to give a description of the faith of the Quakers, and prove it erroneous, allowing us to be moral men, but no Christians. Upon which I took him up sharply, and said, that a false accuser of men, and railer against the light of Christ, could not be either a moral man, or a Christian; and that it was immodest and rude in him, to pretend to give an account of other men's faith, and falsely too, in contradiction to themselves.

remained in a solid settled condition, and very attentive. I understood afterwards, that those who went out did not go in dislike to what they had heard.

On the 20th day of this month we had a meeting at Cambridge, where they have a college for the education of youth, and where many of them are fitted for an artificial and mercenary ministry in their way. Many Friends and others came at the time appointed. But the priest of the town, and one that had been sheriff, or some officer in Boston, did what they could to disappoint us.

The priest sending for the inn-keeper, laid before him the great evil, as he called it, of such a meeting; and at the same time he was made apprehensive of the danger, as himself told me, of losing his license for that employment, by which he had his livelihood. This sheriff likewise went about the town, discouraging the people from coming to our meeting. When I came to the house there were pretty many people, but several gone away, seeing the stir which had been made, and no likeliThis surprised him a little; and then I hood of a meeting; but some Friends sitting cited out of the first chapter of John the together in a room, the sheriff came there, evangelist, a text, that the Word is God; and having intimidated the inn-keeper, he disthat he is Light, the true Light, which light-charged us of his house, as to a meeting. eth every man who cometh into the world; Then I asked the sheriff, "Hast thou any and that the same Word was made, or as-public office? for if thou hast, we will take sumed, flesh, and was in that manifestation, called Jesus Christ, the anointed Saviour. This Light is that true Light in whom the Quakers believe; and therefore thou art false and injurious to affirm--as he had then done -that we believe in the false light of our own fallen nature. But it growing late, and we having about a league by water to Boston, and not time to proceed upon that subject, there the matter ended, and we landed at Boston after sunset.

notice of thee accordingly; but if not, we shall look upon thee as a busy-body, and a tool worthy of reprehension." He confessed he did not come there as a public officer. Then I said unto him, "Meddle thyself with thine own affairs; thou hast no business with us, and we shall not regard thee." And to the inn-keeper I said, "Since we are thus disappointed of thy house, once granted, yet we shall not altogether impute it to thee, but to the envy of some others, and must now take our next course;" which was to search out a place in the street, where we might sit together without disturbance, that being as free for us as for any others.

Accordingly we went into the street, not knowing where to pitch; but proceeding along, we came to a fair dry green, before the buildings of the college, where was a large spreading oak; and under the shade of that we sat down upon the ground, and abun dance of people came and sat down with us.

On the 17th, being the first of the week, I was at our meeting there, which was but small at first, by reason of the short notice; but towards the latter part of it there came in many out of a meeting-house of the Presbyterians after they had done with their worship; and things then opened suited to their conditions. My concern soon turned upon their way of making ministers, and their bargaining with the people beforehand about their maintenance, being contrary, both to Christ's way of making ministers, and to Samuel Gaskin, of Salem, stood up first, their maintenance, and the way of the an- and some of the meaner sort of the people cient Puritans, their ancestors in religion; were a little rude in their behaviour, but much whose ministers were often called among more moderate and calm before he had done. themselves, gifted brethren, professing to I stood up next, and being a stranger, they preach by a gift, or manifestation of the spirit of Christ. Upon this some of them went out of the meeting; but the greatest number

seemed still more attentive. Many of the students of the college being there, they were sent for by the president, and some of them

went to him; but others remained in the God hath chosen the weak things of the world, meeting, and several of those who went out to confound the things which are mighty; returned before it was ended. and base things of the world, and things Various matters were opened concerning which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, the state of man in the fall; the necessity of and things which are not, to bring to nought freedom from sin in this life, by the manifest- things which are, that no flesh should glory ation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who appears in his presence." in us the offspring of the Gentiles, according to the promises and covenant of God, by his divine light, grace, and holy Spirit in our hearts; and that Christ is that "true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," as well as he is the "propitiation for the sins of the whole world."

And as no fountain can send forth sweet and bitter waters at the same time and place, I exhorted the students not to sin against God, by depending upon their qualifications and ac quirements in human learning, and run when God doth not send them; and so imbitter the minds of the people, by sowing tares, a false And as to the way that God raises, quali- and evil seed, prepossessing them against the fies, and sends his ministers in his church, truth; pointing to them some passages in Jereand unto mankind in this dispensation, it is miah the prophet, where it is said, "Thus the same as in the days of the prophets and saith the Lord of hosts, hearken not unto the apostles, and ever will be; for God changeth words of the prophets that prophecy unto not, neither doth his way change. It is not you; they make you vain; they speak a vis by human learning, or in the wit and wisdom ion of their own heart, and not out of the of man, but in and by the word and wisdom mouth of the Lord: they say still unto them of God. Some of the prophets of old were who despise me, the Lord hath said ye shall learned among men, as Isaiah, but generally have peace; and they said unto every one unlearned, as Amos, Elisha, Joel, and the that walketh after the imagination of his own rest, And some of the apostles likewise were learned, as Paul; but generally unlearned, as Peter, James, John, and most of the rest. The Word of God, which was in the beginning with God, came unto the prophets, by which they declared the mind of God unto his people, and his judgments against the school prophets, who were liars, and spoke false things from their own imaginations, and not from the Lord; and some times stole the words of the Lord spoken by the true prophets, and spoke as if the Lord had sent them, and by their false doctrine and lies, made the people err; but the Lord denied these prophets, and reproved them by his true prophets.

The apostles of Christ were not appointed or ordained of men, but by Christ himself, by whose holy Spirit they were filled, being the wisdom of God, and the power of God, by and from which they preached and reproved the rabbies of the age, and exposed their evil ways and errors to the people. Yet human learning, where the mind is fully subjected to the Spirit of Truth, and subservient to it, may be useful, as in Paul, but not to be preferred as the chief qualification in that service; unto which, through the pride and vain-glory of the carnal unmortified minds of self-exalting men, it hath frequently done much more harm than ever it did good. And, as saith the apostle to the Gentiles, "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and

heart, no evil shall come upon you;" with great and terrible threatening against the false prophets, and then adds, "In the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly:" desiring that they might be so seasoned with the salt of the covenant of life, that they might escape all those evils; and that they might come to drink of that living fountain, which as a river of living water issueth out of those who rightly believe in the Lord Jesus.

I observed also to them, that their ancestors who first came into this country, and the an cient Puritans of whom they came, were a religious people, according to the degree of manifestation they then had, depending upon the gift of God in their ministry, and not upon human literature. For though some of them had learning, many of their ministers had not, but were called gifted brethren; and that those were the men who gathered the congregations in those days, the bees who gathered the honey, on the dregs and decays whereof the present drones are now feeding; and that the glory is departed from their Israel, which shall never be restored in the form and image left of their ancestors, but in the life of the Lamb, whom this age have much rejected. But since their ancestors did it ignorantly, it should not be imputed to them their offspring, but only as they rejected the same life. And if they would receive the truth in the present dispensation of it, that is, of divine light and grace revealed in the heart, the glory should yet return to New England, and shine brighter than ever, and more and more unto the perfect day. I concluded the meeting in prayer

to God for them all, both magistrates, minis- lieve it, but was willing I should know it. I ters, the college and people; and all ended in assured them "It was all false; for I undersolidity and peace, to general satisfaction; stood the nature and end of government betfor I did not observe a light or dissatisfied ter than to vilify it: and that when at any countenance. I must say for these young time we suffered for religion under any gostudents, that they did behave themselves bet-vernment, either through the tyranny or mister, and much more like a moral education at understanding of the rulers, we took better least, nay, more like Christians too, than those methods than that to make them sensible of at Cambridge or Oxford, in Old England, or it; using our best endeavours to convince at Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Aberdeen, in Scotland; some of them being very solid, and generally very attentive. I hope this meeting was of some service among them, and that was all we desired.

The next day I was at an appointed meeting at Boston, which was large and comfort able; and on the 23rd we had another meeting between Lynn and Boston, which was small and heavy.

On the 25th, being the first of the week, I was again at the meeting at Boston; which was large, and the truths of the gospel opened well and clear; several of the students from Cambridge were there, and were very sober and attentive.

their understandings of their mistakes, and our innocence; but did not rail or rebel against them. And as to the captain, he had been kind and civil to our Friends, and to myself also; so that not any disrespectful thought of him had entered me: but the tenor of what I had said in the meeting, was something by way of apology for our not giving personal assistance in arms, now in the time of war; when, in common reason, it might look hard, that other men should spend their time, blood, and estates, in defence of us and ours, as they call it, and we do nothing, either for them or ourselves, on such important occasions; but yet it was not any stubborn humour in us, as some might be apt to think, or from cowardice, that we refused to bear arms, but because we take war to be contrary to the doctrine of Christ and the new covenant, and the tenor, nature, and true end of the gospel; and dare not fight or learn war for that reason." The whole company being satisfied of the falsehood of that report, and civil to us, after some further touches upon the subject of war, and the ill effects of it in the world, especially among Christians, we took leave, and I went away very easy.

During the fore part of the next day, I had a great load upon my spirit, but did not then see the cause of it, till after dinner a Friend told me, the Lieutenant-Governor at the castle in the island, had been informed that I had spoken against the government, and against him in particular, in our meeting the day before at Boston, because of their imprisoning those young men at the castle for refusing to bear arms; and he had told the Friends there of it, and they sent me word, that I might set the matter in its proper light. I perceived That evening there came to me a young this to be the cause of my trouble, and man who had been at the meeting at Camquickly took a boat and went to the castle, bridge, and never at one before: he seemed accompanied by Daniel Zachary and some to have been satisfied in general, but could other Friends. When we arrived, the Lieu- not understand the doctrine of the light; but tenant-Governor of the castle, was in com- things opening pretty clearly in our discourse, pany with some other officers; and at our he seemed satisfied both in that, and also about entrance into the room, ordered us seats the sacraments, concerning which he asked with them. I told him, my last visit had been me several questions. He was tender and to my friends, but this was to him; and men-humble in discoursing, not opposing, but intioning the occasion, said I was come to clear quiring; and departed very loving. it, and remove the prejudice, if any had taken place; desiring him to relate before that company what he had been informed on the subject. The captain answered, he had been told, that I had in our open meeting, uttered several hard things against the government, of their cruelty to our Friends; and particularly of their hard usage by him.

Before I had time to reply, one of the company, a stranger to me, and I think, an officer, answered, "There could not be any thing in it; for I did not look like a man that could be guilty of so mean a thing:" the captain himself likewise saying, he did not beVOL. X.-No. 5.

On the 28th we sailed down the bay to Nantasket, to a half-year meeting. We were late, the wind being contrary, and a fog; but were favoured with a good meeting and parting with Friends of Boston there, I went that evening to Scituate. On the 29th we had a meeting at Robert Barker's, which in the beginning was heavy, but ended well. On the 30th we had a meeting at Arthur Howland's, at Marshfield; and Thomas Chalkley was also there, and persuaded us to go to Robert Barker's after that meeting was over; and we had a good time.

Next day, being the first of the week, we

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had a large good meeting at Sandwich; some of the priest's hearers being there; and the day after we had a meeting at Mary Perrie's, she being ancient and sick, and not able to go to the meeting-house. It was the best meeting I ever had at Sandwich, the love, life, and wisdom of truth being over all; to the glory of His great power, who is worthy for ever.

On the 5th I was at their week-day meeting at Dartmouth, which was open and well. On the 7th had an appointed meeting at the house of one Thomas Hadaway, at a village called Cushnet, north of Dartmouth: he was ensign to a company of militia; but both he and his wife were ready to admit of a meeting, as at some other times before: there were many people at the meeting, and generally sober, and some also tender.

discreet woman, well read in the Scriptures, and not attached to any sect, but in great reputation throughout the island for her know. ledge in matters of religion, and an oracle among them on that account, insomuch that they would not do any thing without her advice and consent therein. When such hirelings came to preach among them, and attempted to have a settled maintenance, she always opposed it with solid arguments, as being contrary to the practice of the apostles and primitives, and the nature of the maintenance of a gospel ministry; but would con sent so far, as that when any preachers came among them that they liked, and staid some time, and took pains among them, every samily might give to such what they pleased, for the help of themselves and their families, if they had any, as Indian corn, or such other provisions as they happened to have at the time to spare; and wool, &c., for clothing, but nothing certain or settled.

On the 11th I had an appointed meeting near that place, being between Dartmouth and Seconet; which was large, and indifferent well; only a zealous Baptist woman was of Finding a concern at this time [to visit fended at my saying, "We had no Scripture Nantucket,] on the 13th day of the fifth expressly for dipping, nor any which neces- month, about the tenth hour in the morning, sarily implied it, but only for going into the we set sail for the said island in a shallop bewater, or washing;" and for my saying, "I longing to our friend Peleg Slocumb, and knew of none now who washed the feet one landed there the next morning about six. At of another, as a religious duty; only the our landing, we went to the house of the Pope, who, I had been credibly informed, did widow Mary Gardner; where, after some reonce a year wash the feet of some persons, freshment, came to us Nathaniel Starbuck, out of a vain show of voluntary humility, or husband of Mary Starbuck, before mentioned, pretence of compliance with that saying of and his son of the same name; and we proChrist, If I then your Lord and Master posed to them to have a meeting that day; have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash but there being a court to sit then by special one anothers feet.'" The woman mutter-commission, we found it improper at that ing about this after the meeting, I went to her and discoursed with her on the subject. She had been very angry, as they too frequently are, but went away more calm and friendly. We had some discourse about bread and wine also.

The next day I was again at the meeting at Dartmouth, which was large and well, many hearts being melted and tendered; and that evening I returned to Peleg Slocumb's.

time.

On the 15th we had a meeting at the house of Nathaniel Starbuck, the elder; which was pretty large and open, several of the people being tendered, and generally satisfied with what they heard and felt of the goodness and mercy of God.

On the 16th, being the first of the week, we had another meeting there; which was not so large as was expected, by reason of Before I proceed, I think proper first to two priests, an elderly man and a young one; give a general relation of the state of the the first from the isle of Shoals, and the other people in the island of Nantucket, where I from Martha's Vineyard, who had a meeting went next after this, with respect to religion near us; the former being come to try if he at this time. This small island lies about could obtain a settled maintenance among twenty leagues from the main land of New England, inhabited by a mixed people of various notions, and some among them called Christian Indians, but no settled teachers of any kind and as poor hirelings search all corners for settled maintenance, several such, from time to time, had made their attempts upon this people on that account, but were disappointed; for there was in this island one Nathaniel Starbuck, whose wife was a wise

that people: and several being curious to hear this new preacher in the Presbyterian way, it made our meeting something less than otherwise it might have been; yet it was considerably large, very open and encouraging; for the good presence of the Lord was with us.

Many of the inhabitants of this island are convinced of some points of the doctrine of Truth, and some of them have been reached

by the divine virtue and power of it; but part, being prepossessed by false principles some other things they do not yet see; and if against it. there were no cross, would, in all appearance, come generally under our profession. Some few are for a priest, and to allow him some certain maintenance, for they walk not by faith but sight, but the majority is against it: so that one of these, not being able to effect his purpose, went home in a few days, but the other staid a little longer.

That afternoon we went about visiting several people at their houses, and they were generally very well pleased, kind, and respectful; but one justice Gardner, an ancient man, who had much sway in the affairs of the government of the island, soon after we went into his house, uttered some invectives and reproaches against Solomon Eccles, George Fox, and others of our friends.

On the 21st we had a meeting at Stephen Hussey's, which, in the beginning of it was a little hard; but the Lord favouring us with his good presence, several were melted and tendered under the influence of the power of Truth before it was over, and it was a good meeting. That night I lodged there, and observed the woman of the house full of questions and fault-finding. The first thing she began with, was an expression she said I uttered in some former meeting, viz: To say that man may be saved in his sins by a bare belief of Christ's outward coming in the flesh, is a doctrine of devils. I did not remember the expression, but owned the thing to be true; and proved to her before the company, that without the inward work of the Spirit of Christ, nothing else can complete our salvation. The next morning she had folded down many leaves and places of Scripture about predestination, and I confuted the sense that sect commonly put upon them; showing her how she misunderstood and misapplied them; that she was seeking a false rest in her sins, and Christ without his cross, and knowledge with

He also told us, that thirty or forty years since, a Quaker at Salem denied that the body of Jesus Christ ever rose from the dead. I replied, "That is nothing to us, seeing we hold no such error, nor ever did, as a people, but deny all such holders and their tenets." Then Susannah Freeborn, one of our company, informed us what gave occasion to this report, and that it was one who had been de-out life; and answered all her questions, connied by Friends before that time; so that we were not accountable for his error. I said to the justice, "I perceive thou hast long been convinced of Truth; but not liking the cross, thou hast laid hold on such trifling occasions and pretences as these, as excuses for thy disobedience, which will not cover thee in that day which is hastening upon thee, when no such fig-leaves will hide thee from the face of an all-seeing, all-knowing Judge ;" and advising him to repent and return to the Truth, if not already too late, I left him.

On the 18th we had a large good meeting there among the people; and on the 19th another large good meeting at Nathaniel Starbuck's, the elder, his wife Mary, as before hinted, being the first in that island who had any regard to the way of Truth as among us; but now her three sons and daughters, and sons' wives, are all in a hopeful way to the knowledge of Truth, and liberty of the sons of God, with several other tender people at this time in that small island.

trary to her desires or expectations; removing those perversions she had received upon divers Scriptures, both of the Old Testament and the New. At length, finding herself hedged round, and her way blocked up on every hand, she burst out into weeping, and endeavouring to hide it, went away a while, but came again, and we had some more discourse; but she could not say much then, being in tears again; and still loath to submit to the cross of Christ; she went and came several times, still striving against the Truth in herself and me, and at last was silent, and sighed deeply, till being quite still for a time, and new life springing in her soul, she became very gentle, loving, and sweet spirited, and would have had us stay longer. But being otherwise engaged, we returned to Nathaniel Starbuck's, the elder.

On this 23rd of the fifth month, being the first of the week, we had another large open meeting at Nathaniel Starbuck's, senior, where several were tendered and comforted; but it To this meeting came Thomas West, the was a little exercising and painful to my body, elder of the priests aforesaid, and staid till I for having a sore throat, and not willing to had done, though many things had been spare myself, I spit much blood in the time of opened concerning the hireling priests, the my ministry. Esther Palmer and Susannah. merchants of Babylon, their doctrine and Freeborn being there, had good service. They maintenance; yet I heard after the meeting, were living ministers, and their testimonies that he said, there was a good life and power reaching and affecting the people, all objecin that meeting; but I having spoken of tions were removed against women's preaching the universal grace of God, through Christ, without the labour of dispute or contention, or unto mankind, he could not receive that jar about it. One night before we returned