general satisfaction of his people and others. generally comforted, though things were terFor it is not man, but the Lord that works rible against the unfaithful, especially such as effectually, and the honour is due to God connive at paying tithes, and supporting the only, though the weak are too apt to look to priests of antichrist. After this meeting I an instrument, which, in itself, is nothing. was greatly comforted in the blessed Truth, An ancient Friend concluding the meeting in and Friends were under a weight of solid love prayer, it ended in much love and comfort; and peace. Friends being generally refreshed in the life of our dear Lord, as much as at any meeting for some years there; as we had our enjoyment together therein, so we also parted.

On the 3rd I went to Frenchay meeting, to which came many from the city; and it was large, and through the goodness of the Lord, a good meeting.

On the 4th I went to Bath, where, about five in the evening, we had a meeting. Many strangers being there, things were opened, first, concerning the Holy Scriptures, their original, by the Spirit of Christ, the word of God; and their divine authority. And secondly, concerning the divine Word, which, in time of old, came to the prophets, saying so and so, as in the Scriptures of the prophets; and his being made flesh, or assuming the whole human nature; and afterwards declared, by the Scriptures of the New Testament, to be the "true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" and that all ought to believe in this light as manifested in their own hearts, &c. And though this meeting was not attended with so much of the overflowings of life, as some others, yet it was to me and several other Friends, a comfortable meeting. Our friend Samuel Bownas, that able and experienced minister of the gospel, being there, I was also comforted in his ministry, having some time after me, as were many more both there and at Bristol; where we also had his help in the Lord. This meeting ended well.

On the 13th, being the first of the week, I was at the forenoon meeting at Oxford, and there being soldiers in town to overawe the Oxonians, much prone to rebellion in that reign;* some of them, and also of the students of the university, came to the meeting; but the former were civil, and the latter rude: for most of the few that came, stood sneering, grinning, and scoffing all the time they staid; though so fluctuating that they could not reasonably take under consideration any matter delivered, so as to form a judgment; but like Ishmael their father, mocked at what they could not prevent, for several things were delivered against the very foundation of their craft and end of their establishments, which they did not otherwise oppose. And yet there were some of them very sober and attentive, and seemed affected with Truth, as were severał sober people also.

In the afternoon the meeting was larger; but as there were more of the scholars, there was more rudeness, so that I thought if they could see their own folly and ill behaviour, as it was exposed to others, they could not but be ashamed: but the greatest part seemed void of sight and sense, though some were of better deportment, as well the collegians as others; and in the main, over all that the enemy could do, the Lord gave us great refreshment, and kept our minds above that evil spirit that moved in them, and we were comforted together in the Lord.

On the 17th I went to London, the Lord having made this journey in some good measure comfortable to me, and also to Friends.

On the 8th I was at the quarterly meeting at Nailsworth, which was large and well in the main, but a little hurt by an unskilful The yearly meeting coming on, I tarried hand; and not having so full a time with them there during the time; and though we had as I desired, I let them know in the meeting, some good times in our meetings for worship, that I intended to stay their week-day meet-yet in our meetings for business, the affirmaing, which fell the fifth-day following of course, tion, and what arose from thence, ministered at the same place. Wanting rest and recruit great occasion of grief to many souls, espeof strength, I staid at the widow Elizabeth pecially such as love the Truth, and the Smith's, where I was respectfully entertained, brethren therein. It was chiefly owing to as many others, on the like occasions, had been some rude and forward spirits, who took boldby herself and late husband, and father; the ness from the connivance and indulgence father being, as Friends told me, as honour- they had met with from such as had all along able a Friend as any in those parts in his day. strenuously contended to force the affirmation The fifth-day's meeting was larger than upon all, and charged all the ill consequences usual, and though heavy in the beginning of of division upon such as could not comply it, some being set down in an empty, drowsy, with it: but though the comfort of our meetdead form, yet after some time and labour of ing was greatly lessened and hindered by that love, the Lord was pleased to break in and

give us a good season; and the meeting was

*King George I.

means, yet the imposing designs of these one of the largest of itself in the county; and were frustrated, and the body preserved to having heard by letter, that those vessels were gether and entire, by establishing a just liber-gone for Ireland from Bristol, by which I inty; which these persons, in their temper and tended to have gone over thither, if 1 had practice have ever denied, to the unspeakable reached them in time, and that another would exercise of the church throughout the world. be ready in ten days; I staid their meeting at On the 8th of the fourth month, inclining Nailsworth the first-day following, and though to visit Friends in Ireland, I set forward from it proved very rainy weather, the meeting was London, and went next day to Ruscomb, to large, both forenoon and afternoon, and many William Penn's, whom I found in the same things were opened to general information and condition he had been in for some time, viz: edification, and the people very solid and satfull of love and sweetness, but not able to isfied. express himself as before that apoplectic fit, which had so much impaired his memory.

On the 29th, in the morning, I went to Bristol, to my former quarters, and was at their meeting on the first-day following, which was large, both forenoon and afternoon, and things very open and comfortable. On the third and sixth-days following I was there also, and had comfortable times with Friends, both in meetings and conversation; for the Lord was with us, and love abounded.

On the 12th I was at Reading meeting, and the Lord gave us a very open time, and I was much comforted, having never had so satisfactory a time there before. Having had some thoughts before of endeavouring to bring the remnant of those Friends back, who formerly, by means of John Story and John Wilkinson, &c., had separated themselves; The first-day following I was there again; and several of them having been at this meet- and in the forenoon, at the Friers, the meeting, I went to some of their houses, where I ing was large and open, and in the afternoon, was kindly received, and spoke to them about over the river at the other house, the meeting it, answering their objections as things were being crowded by reason of a funeral, things with me; and I found them not averse to re-opened fully concerning death, the kinds of it, turn, but loath to make any acknowledgement and the resurrection from the dead &c., and of any fault in separating and keeping off, after the meeting I had another time at the unless the Friends there would take blame grave-yard, where there was a great multialso, and so make a balance; which I could tude, and generally very sober. On the 15th not by any means yield to. For they had of the fifth month, being the first of the week, gone off under a jealousy that Friends were I was at Bath, forenoon and afternoon, where apostates and innovators, according to the ac- the meeting was large and open, and Friends cusations in William Rogers's book; and had and strangers generally satisfied. The next long continued in that error and schism; and day I returned to Bristol, where I heard by being now satisfied that they had been mis-letters from London and other parts, that the taken, and that Friends were not such, as several of them owned, I thought they might well own their mistake, and so be reconciled; for they could not desire to be reconciled with apostates and innovators, but with a Christian people. I found one main obstruction was on account of their preacher William Saundy, and therefore I spoke with him the next day, and laid things open and plain before him, and found him condescending: but affairs could not then be brought to a conclusion, he having a mind to consult the rest; but told me he had moved to them the day before, that they should all come to our meeting, and he would go with them, and most went; but some staying at their own meeting, he staid with them. After a full time with him we parted in peace, and I was very easy and comforted in the Lord, after a full and hearty endeavour for their reconciliation; having nothing in view but the honour of Truth, and their own good in it.

On the 21st I was at the week-day meeting at Nailsworth, which was pretty large, being

separate Friends at Reading had laid down their meeting and returned to Friends, which gave me great satisfaction.

On the 17th I was at their meeting, which was very open and comfortable; and therein I took leave of them, being bound for Ireland, and the vessel intending to sail that evening; but the wind coming against us, we sailed not till the 20th, about seven in the evening, from King's-Road, with an easterly wind, which came up just as we fell down thither with the tide.

It being very wet hazy weather, and a fresh gale ahead, we returned back to Minehead, where we anchored about four afternoon, and went on shore with John Davis, the commander of the vessel, where I staid till the 24th, and then had a meeting at that place.

The wind continuing westerly, I remained till the 26th, and set sail about the turning of the tide, and on the 29th came within seven English miles of the city of Cork, and there being no boat fit to carry my mare on shore, I walked, willing to get to

the afternoon meeting at Cork, which I ac- and make us the subject of their discourse and complished, but found myself much fatigued town talk; and we cannot bear to be made so with the heat and dust, besides the walk, particular." which proved hard enough, having been sick. at sea, and but weak otherwise. But going to the house of my good friend Joseph Pike, he gave me a kind and open reception; and I went to their afternoon meeting, which being pretty open and well, I found my strength return a little.

On the 7th was a meeting more select for the young people, in which I had a very opensation in the garden, to which we adjourned and full time in the love of Truth, and many of them were much reached. The Lord gave us a good season of his love together, to his own praise, and our mutual consolation, help and edification.

though I had a fever, all was made very easy, and the Lord gave us a good meeting; Truth, to his own praise, being over us and the people. That afternoon, I went forward to Limerick, where we arrived in the evening; but I found myself much spent, and very weary. But one of my biles breaking, and my friend Thomas Pearce, where I lodged, being an apothecary, providing suitable things, I was better in the morning, and went to the meeting; which was large, the people expecting my coming, and wanting to gaze at the dean's brother, it being a rarity to see such an one a Quaker; and many fancies they had about me; but curiosity, not Truth, drawing them thither, I had not much comfort among them; though things were well, and without exception.

On the 19th, being the first-day of the week, both forenoon and afternoon, the meeting was crowded, and Truth was over them. But the greatest part having no want of Truth, but drawn by curiosity, I had not so much satisfaction in them as in some other places, where their coming had not the same induce

ment.

leaving undone those things they ought to
have done, and doing those things they ought
not; and so are in the state of the fallen angels
who were once in heaven, but kept not their
first station, but fell by transgression. I di
rected them therefore to God's covenant of
light, and the grace which came by Jesus
Christ; (for, though they mention it in their
catechism, yet they regard it not in practice,
but commonly assert that no man can be free
from sin in this life,) as the only means to at-
tain that freedom and perform those vows;
which, though they made so very light of
them, would be exacted to the utmost farthing,
in a day that was hastening over all nations,
when all must give an account before the
great Judge of all the world, and every one
be rewarded according to his works.
which they seemed to bear with patience. But
when I rejected purgatory as a satanic inven-
tion, to elude the end of the coming of Christ,
which was to destroy the works of the devil,
to finish sin, put an end to transgression, and
bring in everlasting righteousness, and render
poor weak mortals secure in their sins, in vain
hopes of purification after death; some of the

All

On the 24th, being the sixth of the week, I was at the meeting again; which being most-Papists went out of the meeting; being obstily of Friends, and few strangers, was more comfortable than before; and a good time the Lord gave us together; some of the strangers were also tendered.

nately bent on the slavery of sin and priestcraft to the end of the world; which God will disappoint and destroy by the brightness of his coming and glory, now advancing as the rising sun through the thick darkness; and none shall be able to hinder or delay him.

I continued here till the next first-day, when the meeting was again crowded, both forenoon and afternoon, and things opened fully on several points; especially concerning freedom. On the 28th, being the third-day, I was from sin in this life, and the necessity of it; there again; and the crowd being now well in which I urged the catechism of the Church over, and the meeting more select, it was very of England, and the great vows and promises open to Friends, and the Lord gave us a bap therein mentioned. That the composers there-tizing season of his love together; and things of either believed the possibility of the attain-ended to general satisfaction. ment, or they did not; if they did, then they taught a perfection higher than ever we had done, viz. that men may live from the eighth day of their age, their canon requiring baptism to be then administered, to the eightieth year, if so long they live, and never sin. For he that renounces the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh; keeps God's holy will, or law, and commandments, and walks in the same all the days of his life; and, finally, believes all the articles of the Christian faith; [such an one] never sins, or errs, in faith or practice. But if they did not believe the attainment, and yet enjoined and promised the thing, then they committed great sin in so doing; for what is not of faith is sin. But, alas! though despising the covenant of grace, and have thus invented to themselves a covenant of works, they have not kept it, being, by their own confession, miserable sinners,

On the 29th, having had a kind invitation by my brother and sister to their house at Bilboa, I went thither, accompanied by Joseph Phelps, George Pease and my cousin Charles Story, one of the Prebends of Limerick. This was an uncommon mixture, but no occasion of offence given or taken on any hand, but all free and friendly. My sister being a person of excellent natural temper, and very discreet, and my brother also well pleased with our company, we were fully and kindly en tertained. The next day, after he had showed us his deerpark, and some of his fields, with some other entertainments, the two Friends went back to Limerick, but I staid till the 1st of the seventh month, [1716]; and, being the seventh-day morning, my brother and cousin went with me, about five miles, where some Friends from Limerick met me. That evening we went to John Ashton's, within five miles of Birr, and had a large meeting next

day, but not very open.

harvest, and wet weather, and not so open as the last, and yet a good meeting.

In the evening I went to Birr, and on the 3rd we had a meeting there; where came many people, and On the 21st I had a meeting at the Ship some officers and soldiers. They behaved inn, near the bridge over the Band, at Portlacivilly, and Truth was over all, and it was a none; where came many people and Friends good meeting. from several places. Many things were openOn the 4th we set forwards, and that nighted in the word of life to general satisfaction; lodged with Joshua Clibborn, at the Moat of and it was a good meeting. Greenogue; where we had a large meeting next day, but not very open. There were many young people in it, not yet arrived at a sufficient sense of Truth; and though under a profession of it, many of them have little desire after it, but consider themselves safe; having had their education in the form, they think all is well, and want nothing; and so it is in many other places.

On the 7th, we had a small, but open and tender meeting at Oldcastle; and on the 9th, being the first of the week, two large meet ings at Coot-hill, which were filled, especially in the afternoon, with many strangers, there being great openness among the people thereaway; and things were very well.

On the 22nd I was at their six-weeks meeting at Grange; where some strangers came, and among others, one Moses Cleck, who had received his education at Glasgow, in Scotland, was a good scholar, and had commenced minister among the Presbyterians, to whom he had often preached, and was in good repute among them. But having fallen in with one of our meetings providentially, some years before, he was reached by Truth, under the ministry of Hugh Hamilton, and afterwards by John Salkeld, though he still continued in his old way till the week before this, when he had, before their presbytery, disclaimed his ministry and left them; though they had taken great pains to reclaim him, and offered him On the 10th, in the morning, we went for- his choice of several parishes, or places, but ward to Monaghan; where there were three in vain. He owned himself convinced of or four Friends; and got a meeting at the Truth as professed by us in many things; Bull inn, in a large upper room. To this though not in all at that time. We had a meeting came a crowd of Papists, Episcopa- good meeting; but he took exceptions at some lians and some Presbyterians; and some of things I delivered, there being some of the old the younger sort, especially Papists, were a imbibed notions still, as a veil of darkness little wanton and airy at first; but Truth aris-over his understanding. After the meeting he ing, they were generally tamed by the power discoursed with me upon them; and I satisfiand wisdom of it, though they did not know ed him, by explaining them fully, so that all what did it; and the meeting continued sober ended well; and he staid with me there till to the end, though some two or three papists the third-day following. withdrew, when I exposed the insignificancy of their doctrine of transubstantiation. The meeting ended well, to the honour of our great Lord; of whom is the power and wisdom.

On the 12th, attended the meeting at Charlemount; but, though large, it was not very open, there being some contention among them about a marriage too near of blood; where some sided one way, and some another; there being scarcely any thing so bad but that one or other will espouse it, to their own hurt and exercise, and the hurt of others also; but in the main, things were well.

The 23rd, being the first of the week, I was at their meeting again; which was large, and a good time, though some were disappointed, having heard that this young man was come among us, and was to preach in our meeting that day; but though they missed of that, they were generally satisfied with what they heard.

On the 25th, I set forward to Antrim; and the same expectations being among the people there also, many came to the meeting; but some of the Presbyterian sect, being disappointed, went out before it ended, though most staid; and the Truth shining bright that day over them, they were generally satisfied; and it was a good meeting to Friends also.

On the 13th, I went to the meeting at Ballyhagen, which was pretty open; and on the 16th, being the first of the week, I was at the meeting at Toberhead, which was pretty large On the 26th I was at their mens' meeting and tender, and Friends and others generally at Ballinderry, which was large and good; satisfied. On the 18th, the great rains hav- and on the 27th, I had a meeting at Lisburn; ing raised the waters, we had but a small several towns people came in and were ordermeeting at Dunclaudy; but a very brokenly, and some affected with the testimony of tender time it was, and we were generally Truth, which was large and free that day, and comforted. a good time we had. On the 28th I was at the meeting at Hillsborough, which was pretty large, and open. On the 30th, being the first

On the 19th I had a meeting near James Moor's, the elder, which was small, being VOL. X.-No. 7.

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