Section VIII. The author being at liberty to return to England at tr close of the year 1699 or beginning of 1700, is appointe Recorder, &c. &c. by William Penn.-Visits the Jerseys, 1702.-New England, 1704.-A discussion on the subject of freedom from sin in this life. Being ready to return to England, my tre and honourable friend, William Penn, finding the affairs of his province very much embar rassed, and perplexed several ways; and the respect he bare me as a friend, suggesting him an opinion of greater abilities in such matters than I was endued with; he became very importunate with me to remain there for some time, to give him what assistance I coul therein and to the like purpose I had letters from several judicious Friends of my acquaintance, both in England and Ireland; who were concerned for the honour of Truth, with regard to the just and reputable settlement of affairs t Pennsylvania; which had been in much disorder a long time, by reason of the absence of the proprietor; occasioned by the many and great persecutions and troubles which he had bees under, on various accounts for many years, : only in England, but likewise in his own province, by false brethren and an apostate company; who deserted the Truth of God and equity, with that wilful transgressor, George Keith. Having a very great love and respect for the proprietor, and not being under any engagement in myself to return immediately to England; and seeing I might probably be of some service there and elsewhere in America, on several accounts, by staying for some time; and the Friends in the country being also generally desirous I should, my companion also having departed this life, I consented to stay so long as I might see it my place; and being altogether unengaged in any business, and a proper subsistence necessary, the governor appointed me to be a member of the council of state of the province; but as there was not any income or advantage arising thereby, but loss of time and divers fatigues, exercises, and troubles attending that place of empty honour, he made me keeper of the great seal, master of the rolls for the recording of all patents, and of the other office for the enrolling of deeds, and one of his commissioners of property, for enquiring into and confirming old rights, and granting lands upon new purchases; with proviso in my patent for those offices, to have deputies therein respectively, when and so often as my calling in the Truth, and service thereof, might require it; and the rest of the commissioners of property being persons of integrity, were always to be my deputies in the office of the seal. And the governor knowing me himself, did not insist upon any other security from me than my own word, to be faithful in those several posts, and to execute those offices truly. Under these cir cumstances I settled there for a time, and fell also into much business in my own way of con veyancing. And besides, before the proprietor returned to England, which was in about two years after his arrival in the country, he granted a charter to the inhabitants of Philadelphia, and thereby erected the town into a city or corporation, with divers ample privileges, and appointed me the first Recorder thereof in the original patent; but being averse to that station, I resigned it as soon as the corporation was regularly organized and the members of it habituated to their business. These offices not obliging me to any close confinement to the various business of them, I visited the meetings from time to time, in town and country, and also in the Jerseys, as oppor tunity offered and need required, until the 15th of 5th month, 1702, and then went for Long-Island, where I had meetings to a con siderable degree of comfort and satisfaction. At Fairfield, after some endeavours to prevent it, I had a large meeting, and a good time among the people: some of the heads of what I had to say were after this manner : "The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. "That this Word is Christ, in his Divine and spiritual appearance in the hearts of mankind; of which the evangelist bears testimony, that He was in the beginning with God, and was God; that all things were made by Him; that in Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men; that He is the true Light, which lighteth every man who cometh into the world; that He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not: and that this Divine Word was made flesh, or assumed the proper nature of man, a reasonable soul and human body, and dwelt among them full of grace and truth; and of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.' This is the only begotten Son of God, to whom all mankind are 6 directed by the Father, according to the prophet of old, where he saith: Behold my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon Him, He shall bring forth judgment to the gentiles. Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein; I the Lord have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the gentiles.' "This is He, the same who was crucified in the flesh at Jerusalem, according to the testi mony of Holy Writ, and as a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. This is He who was promised a Light to the gentiles; and all being directed unto Him as such, as to the saving object of their faith, and covenant of Light and Life with the Father; all must believe in Him, obey and follow Him in the way of regeneration, they cannot have salvation by Him: as it is also written: By grace ye are saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing or else |