especially in Ireland. The earl immediately ordered his discharge. But his imprisonment was fo far from terrifying him, that it strengthened him in his refolution of a clofer union with that people, whose religious innocence appeared to be the only crime, for which they fuffered.

the

His more openly joining with the Quakers now 1667. brought him under that reproachful name; and He openly the compliments and careffes of his companions joins Quakers, were changed into fcoffs and derifion; and he became a by-word, and the subject of fcorn and contempt both to the profeffor of religion, and to the profane.

Great con

be

tween his

His father by a letter from a nobleman of his acquaintance, being informed of the fituation of his teft fon, fent for him home. Upon his return, though father and there was no great alteration in his dress, yet the him. manner of his deportment, and the folid concern of mind, which he appeared to be under, were manifest indications of the truth of the information which his father had received; who thereupon attacked him afresh. "And here my pen (fays the writer of his life) is diffident of her abilities to describe that most pathetic and moving conteft, between his father and him. His father, by natural love, principally aiming at his fon's temporal honour; he, guided by a divine impulfe, having chiefly in view his own eternal welfare; his father grieved to fee the well accomplished fon of his hopes, now ripe for worldly promotion, voluntarily turn his back on it; he, no lefs afflicted, to think that a compliance with his earthly father's pleafure, was inconfiftent with an obedience to his heavenly one; his father preffing his conformity to the customs and fafhions of the times; he mo deftly craving leave to refrain from what would hurt his confcience; his father earnestly entreating him, and, almoft on his knees, befeeching him to yield to his defire; he, of a loving and tender dif

[4]

pofition

A remarka

pofition, in extreme agony of fpirit, to behold his father's concern and trouble; his father threatening to difinherit him; he humbly fubmitting to his father's will therein; his father turning his back on him in anger; he lifting up his heart to God, for ftrength, to fupport him in that time of trial!"

During this conteft, the writer of his life menble inftance tions one very remarkable inftance, among others, of his fin- of his fincerity:" His father, finding him too

cerity.

turns him

fixed, to be brought to a general compliance with the customary compliments of the times, feemed inclinable to have born with him, in other refpects, provided he would be uncovered, in the prefence of the king, the duke and himfelf; this being propofed, he defired time to confider of it; which his father fuppofing to be with an intention of confulting his friends, the Quakers, about it, he affured him that he would fee the face of none of them, but retire to his chamber, till he should return him an anfwer. Accordingly he withdrew, and, having humbled himself before God, with fasting and fupplication, to know his heavenly mind and will, he became fo strengthened in his refolution, that, returning to his father, he humbly fignified, that he could not comply with his defire therein."

"When all endeavours proved ineffectual to His father fhake his conftancy, and his father faw himself utout of doors terly disappointed of his hopes, he could no longer fecond endure him in his fight, but turned him out of

a

time.

doors the fecond time. Thus expofed to the charity of his friends, having no other fubfiftence, (except what his mother privately fent him) he endured the cross with a chriftian patience and magnanimity, comforting himself with the promise of Chrift; "Verily I fay unto you, there is no man, that hath left houfe, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's fake, who shall not receive many fold more, in this present time, and in the world to come, life everlasting."

"After

what abat

"After a confiderable time, his fteady perfeve- His father's rance evincing his integrity, his father's wrath be- wrath fome came fomewhat mollified, fo that he winked at his ed. return to, and continuance in his family; and though he did not publicly feem to countenance him, yet, when imprisoned for being at meetings, he privately used his intereft to get him released." "About the year 1668, being the 24th. of his 1668. age, (continues the writer of his life) he first appeared in the work of the ministry, rightly called to, and qualified for, that office; being fent of God to teach others what himself had learned of him; commiffioned from on high, to preach to others that holy felf-denial, which himfelf had practised; to recommend to all that ferenity and peace of conscience, which himself had felt; walking in the light, to call others out of darkness; having drank of the water of life, to direct others to the fame fountain; having tafted of the heavenly bread, to incite all men to partake of the fame banquet; being redeemed by the power of Christ, he was fent to call others from under the dominion of Satan, into the glorious liberty of the fons of God, that they might receive remiffion of fins, and an inheritance among them that are fanctified through faith in Jefus Christ."

Of the rife, religious principles and practice, &c. of the people called Quakers.

Before I proceed to be more particular refpec- Account ting William Penn, I fhall here intermit the further of the Quaaccount of his life; and, that the reader might kers, &c. have some just idea of the people, with whom he joined in religious fociety, and who first fettled the province of Pennfylvania, under him, I fhall next exhibit a fhort fummary of the rife, religious principles, general fyftem and practice or manners, of the people called Quakers, fufficient for the purpofe, principally extracted from their own accounts,

and

Evidences

and in their own words, referring the more inquifitive enquirer to their particular writings, for further information.*

Nothing can be a more fignal evidence of an of God's over-ruling Providence, fuperintending the works providence, in the rife of the creation, and directing the end of things, of the Qua- than the rife of good out of evil; and the converkers. fion of the wicked machinations of perverfe man

Time

of

the Qua

Rers.

kind to good purposes: that out of perfecution and hatred should spring charity, and mutual benevolence; that from tyranny and ignorance fhould flow rational liberty, and true knowledge, is as manifest a demonstration of an all preferving cause, as the creation itself is evident of its own existence: this appears, in part, from the rife of the religious people called Quakers, and the fettling of the flourifhing province of Pennsylvania.

Near the middle of the 17th. century, during the the rife of civil war, in England, when men were tearing each other in pieces, and when confufion and bloodshed had overfpread the nation, many fober and thinking perfons of the different religious focieties, weighing the uncertainty of human affairs, and beholding the various viciffitudes in the political system, after having examined the many vain and futile opinions, and abfurd customs, in religion, which were either impofed, practifed or infifted on, by the various profeffors of Christianity, under all denominations, in that country, withdrew themfelves from their affemblies for divine worfhip; and, having their minds turned to what appeared to them more rational, and confiftent with a rightly informed understanding, and a life more congruous, or agreeable, to the mind of that Deity which is spiritual, and communicates his goodnefs and knowledge

Among other writings of this people, the reader is referred to the following:

Their history, by W. Sewel, in folio, and by J. Rutty, in 4to. Their fufferings, in two vols. folio, by Jof. Befle, alfo to the works, or writings, of R. Barclay, W. Penn, G. Fox, If. Penington, Samuel Fisher, Ed. Bur roughs, Fr. Howgill, Thomas Story, with many others.

knowledge more nearly through a medium of his own nature; and places the human mind above the reach of terreftrial influence; they thence fell into that practical belief, and chriftian conduct, which gave rife to this religious fociety.*

kers.

1650.

It was not till the year 1650, that the name of when firft Quakers was impofed on them; who before had ge- called Qua nerally gone under the denomination of profeffors, or children, of the light; but the most common appellation, by which they diftinguished themselves from others, and even to this day, is by the name of Friends.

their firft

"Now these people (faith Robert Barclay, one Caufe and of their early and principal writers) who hold forth manner of the principles and doctrines hereafter to be menti- rife and oned, were not gathered together by an unity of uniting in opinion, or by a tedious and particular difquifition of fociety. notions and opinions, requiring an affent to them, and binding themselves by leagues and covenants thereto; but the manner of their gathering was by a fecret want; which many truly tender and ferious fouis in divers and fundry fects, found in themselves, which put each fect in fearch of fomething beyond all opinion; which might fatisfy their weary fouls, even, the revelation of God's righteous judgment in their hearts, to burn up the unrighteous root and fruits thereof; that, the fame being destroyed, and done away, the inward peace and joy of the holy spirit, in the foul, might be felt to abound, and thence power and life to follow him, in all his commandments. And fo many came to be joined and united together in heart and fpirit, in this one life of righteousness, who had been long wandering

in

It may be here noted, that the fame unhappy and distracted times likewife originally gave rife to the inftitution of the Royal Society, in London: When men were tired out with wars, contentions, and the changes confequent thereon, divers perfons of genius and fortune began to turn their minds from the broils of state affairs, to a philofophic life; and by degrees formed that venerable body, for the promotion of science and natural knowledge; a fociety, which has done no fmall honour to the Britife nation, and has been of great benefit to mankind.

Vide fpectator, No. 262, on the rife of the R. Society,