trial, we felt the Lord's living presence won- faith in the sufficiency of his power: in which derfully with us, to the melting of our hearts, faith, this my said friend lived, and went and strengthening our faith, in the sufficiency through great tribulation, and I doubt not is of his power, that is over all. After which, | entered into rest. Our fellowship was great, on a first-day of the week, the company of and the Lord made us one, both in tribulation the other two ships came aboard the ship we and joy, being bound up together in the bond were in, and we had a large meeting, wherein | of love. the everlasting Gospel of life and salvation

In the year 1713, we took our second voy

was declared amongst them, and they were age together for America, and the Lord made made to acknowledge it was the truth. way for us, both inwardly and outwardly, and When we came into the latitude of Barba-preserved us near to himself, and one to andoes, we met with another trial, in being other, we having nothing in our eye, but the chased by a man of war, but our eye was to honour of his name, and good of mankind. the Lord: the company concluded to fight, I know there was not anything more delightand made preparation for it, having their ful to my dear companion, than to be under places ordered them where they should be; the influence of God's holy Spirit, wherewith but the captain, knowing it was matter of he was often filled, not only for his own good, conscience to us not to fight, was civil, and but the good of others, he having a dispensabade us go to the doctor if we pleased; at tion of the everlasting Gospel committed to which the passengers were very angry, say- | ing, we deserved to be shot to death. We told them, Christ's kingdom is not of this world, and therefore his servants cannot fight. But seeing the captain was so kind as to give us liberty of choosing our places, we would be on the quarter-deck with him, which greatly confounded those who were so much against us, and gave us an opportunity to set the testimony of truth over them. It proved to be an English man of war.

him of God, which he preached freely, and it. was his care to keep it without charge. Though he had a large gift, beyond many, yet was glad of the least child, who spoke from the motion of God's spirit, he having learned to cast down his crown at the feet of the Lamb, for whose exaltation he was given up to spend and be spent. He had much service in this last visit in America, and was greatly comforted in seeing the fruit of his former labours, and those who had been convinced by him, We landed in Barbadoes the 24th of the walking in the light of the Lord Jesus Christ. sixth month, where my companion had great I might say much more of my own knowservice for the Lord, many hearts being ten-|ledge, concerning his faithful and diligent ladered under his testimony, and several con- bours in the work of the Gospel, of which a vinced. His labours were also great in New small account is given in his Journal, yet England, Rhode Island, Long Island, East what I have said, is not to attribute anything and West Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, to man, but to the Lord's power, which Virginia, Carolina, Antigua, and Nevis, where wrought effectually in him, and whereof he many were convinced by him. In some of was a faithful witness, to whom be glory for these places he passed through many perils, ever. Amen. by sea and land, lodging out in the woods in winter season; and the greatest of all, was false brethren, but the Lord's power supported him over all.

JAMES DICKINSON.

The testimony of GEORGE MARKE, concerning our dear friend, THOMAS WILSON, deceased. When we were clear of America, we took shipping at Nevis, the 26th of the twelfth I HAD Some knowledge of him before he month, and landed at the highlands of Scot- was convinced of the blessed truth, whereof land, the 15th of the second month, 1693, he afterward became an able minister; in and thence returned into Cumberland, being filled with thankfulness to the Lord, for his wonderful deliverances; and though we went forth weeping, bearing precious seed, we returned rejoicing, with sheaves in our bosoms. We afterwards travelled together up to London, where we met with Friends from most parts of the nation, who were glad to see us, and the Lord's power was still made manifest for our help in his service; blessed be his holy name for ever. We being sensible, that with out Christ we could do nothing, he wrought all for us, and in us, and strengthened our

which time of my first acquaintance with
him, he was light and airy in conversation,
much given to sporting and jesting, having an
inclination to make people laugh and be merry,
as he called it. But in a little time after, the
Lord was pleased to visit him, and break his
rest, giving him a sense of the vanity, and
unprofitable way of living, wherein he then
seemed to have a life; and in a short time, a
very great change was wrought in him.
his mirth was turned into mourning, and his
laughter into lamentation; solitary places be-
came his resort, and the Lord having in some

All

ing his dear friend, THOMAS WILSON, deceased.

THAT the Lord our God, who is the Father of mercies, hath in this day, as in former ages, visited a people with the day-springing from on high, is signally manifested and ex perienced, and that he fails not to answer the desire and breathings of that soul which feels its want of him, and seeks him in sincerity, however bewildered at times, not knowing where to find him whom it seeks after, is evident, by his gracious visitation of this our dear friend, Thomas Wilson, who, I believe, did sincerely seek after the knowledge of the truth, that he might not be deceived; and though his exercise of spirit was great, with strong cries and groans that could not be ut tered in words, yet the Lord, who has said, call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will hear and deliver thee, answered the desire of his long mournful and distressed soul.

measure opened his understanding, he was The testimony of THOMAS PRIESTMAN, concernearnestly concerned to seek for a Saviour, and zealous in going constantly to hear the priests, and some other professors, and would bring a great deal of what he had heard home with him, repeating it over, as if willing to feed a little upon it; which proving like husks, and not solid food to a seeking languishing soul, he came gradually to be made sensible by the glimpse of Gospel light, shining in his own conscience, that all the performances he could attain to in that state, being empty and fruitless, brought no lasting peace to him. In a while he left hearing the priests, and frequented Friends' meetings; and the Lord, in his own time, was pleased further to visit him, whereby he was tendered and broken at times, and scarcely able to contain himself under the great exercise of spirit that was upon him. But the Lord, who had wounded, was pleased in due season to pour healing oil into his afflicted soul, comforting and strengthening his inward man, so that he had a few words sometimes to deliver in the meeting. His apI remember one time at a meeting at Woodpearance therein was in great dread and fear, hall, a Friend there warned the people, and and his words piercing, being attended with a said, it was a day of visitation to some in that divine authority, and several were convinced place; and Thomas Wilson was wonderfully by him in the early time of his ministry: one broken in spirit, until it pleased the Lord to instance I may relate. He was concerned in reveal his Son in him, and give him an undertestimony at the burial of a Friend belonging standing of what he should do, which, for a to our meeting at Mosedale, the burying-place season, he was unwilling to give up unto; but being near my house, and four of my serv- the Lord's power prevailed, and made him ants, not of our persuasion, who were at work willing to deny himself, and obey the Lord, a little distance off, hearing the sound of his in declaring the word of life, as required, and voice, left their work, and drew near to hear which often flowed through him, to the rehim, where they were so reached by his tes-freshing and comforting of the church of timony, that, to the best of my remembrance, Christ, and convincement of several. Many they never went any more to hear a priest, but who had travelled and been afflicted in spirit were all convinced, and came amongst Friends. with him, that he might be preserved, and He was one whom the Lord was pleased to brought through to the praise of God, were bring through the furnace of affliction, and made glad, he often having a word in season make a chosen vessel for his use and service, from the Lord, to speak in great love and being soon called to travel abroad in the work tenderness to tribulated souls, remembering of the ministry; so that his outward settle- he had been afflicted, and not comforted for a ment, or place of abode was little more amongst us; but this I may say, I believe with many more, that when it pleased the Lord to cast his lot amongst us, we partook of his service which the Lord concerned him in, with great satisfaction, comfort, and con

firmation in the blessed truth.

I conclude with my firm persuasion, that he was one of the valiants of Israel, who hath done his day's work carefully, and is entered into that rest, prepared of the Father, for the faithful; and though he is removed, yet his memory will live amongst us.

GEORGE MARKE.

Mosedale, in Cumberland, the 28th of the Third month, 1726.

time.

but

Much might be said on the behalf of this our friend and brother, of whom I had many times a feeling sense while amongst us; his works and labours of love for God, and his people, declare aloud for him, whereby he being dead, yet speaketh. He is fresh in the remembrance of many of us, and the dealings of God with him, who raised him from a low degree, and made him an able minister of the Gospel, to turn people to the knowledge and obedience of the truth in themselves.

THOMAS PRIESTMAN.

Dearudding, the 20th of the
Second month, 1726.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT

OF

THE LIFE AND TRAVELS

OF

THOMAS WILSON.

I was born in Soulby, in the parish of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to the scribes Daker, and county of Cumberland; my pa- and pharisees, formerly, "Ye hypocrites, well rents' names were Edward and Ann Wilson, did Esaias prophecy of you, saying, This who brought me up in the profession of the people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, church of England, and taught me the cate- and honoureth me with their lips; but their chism, having been sprinkled or baptized, in heart is far from me. But in vain they do my infancy, according to the manner of that worship me, teaching for doctrines the comchurch. While I was a youth, I had great mandments of men.' hungerings and thirstings in my heart after Thus was I made sensible, that too many righteousness, and the true knowledge of the of the doctrines of the church, wherein I was living God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ, in educated, were precepts of men's making, and which time I went with great diligence to hear that our blessed Lord and heavenly Saviour the priests; and when there, did carefully had said to the woman of Samaria, at Jacob's mind what was spoken: and when I heard of well, "the hour cometh, and now is, when the a priest that was noted for a good man, and true worshippers shall worship the Father in preached two sermons in one day, I went Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh from our own parish, after the forenoon ser- such to worship him. God is a spirit, and mon, eight miles on foot to hear an afternoon they that worship him, must worship him in sermon. The more I sought to hear, my in- Spirit and in Truth.". This worship, in the reward hunger and thirst more increased, so newings of the Holy Ghost, and not in the that I was sensible of great poverty of spirit; oldness of the letter, I greatly longed to know, and in the time of singing psalms, a thought- but could not find it, neither could any priest fulness came into my heart, that men should I conversed with, tell me how or where to find be made holy, before they could rightly sing it. But after long travail of spirit and great to the praise and glory of God. My mouth concern of soul, the Lord was graciously was stopped from singing with them, through pleased to make me sensible, that what was a godly sorrow that was in my heart, with to be known of God, was manifested in man; secret cries and humble prayers to the living about which time I went into an evening Lord God of heaven and earth, for the know- meeting of the people called Quakers, with ledge of the way of salvation; but being yet strong desires in my mind to the Lord, that if in the wilderness of men's doctrines, creeds, it was the true way of salvation which they articles, and outward forms, I could not find preached, I might have some inward feeling true peace in my conscience, nor see any and testimony thereof, by the blessed word in bright beams of salvation. In this state I my own heart. After sitting some time in sitravelled in great godly sorrow, having reli-lence, a Friend began to speak, directing_and gious seekings in my heart; and being weary exhorting to an inward waiting upon the Lord of the heavy load of sin, as also the doctrines in faith, to receive power from him over every and worship of men's making, my mind was unclean thought; by which heavenly power much inclined to dispute about religion with they might glorify and praise the holy name all sorts of professors that I met with, yet of the Lord, through the ability of his own still could not meet with peace of conscience. free gift.

But many texts of holy Scripture were opened This, I understood to be his holy word of to my understanding, so that I began to see, grace, which the true apostles of our dear Lord what was not of faith, was sin, even in points and blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ, preached, of worship, and pretended service to the great and turned the minds of people unto, and then God, remembering the saying of our blessed I felt my soul much in love therewith; and

smiting upon my breast, said in my heart, Lord, in and through me, was as a devouring this is what I greatly wanted; that is, power fire, burning against all sin and iniquity; and against every vain thought, and idle word, the Lord made us cry aloud to turn people being things that troubled me. The Lord's from all vain worships, to the living God, power arose in the meeting, and fell mightily who is a holy Spirit. The precious life of upon me, to the breaking and tendering of my Jesus broke in wonderfully amongst us, so heart, and a glorious time it was, as the that we felt drawings to visit other meetings mighty day of the Lord; so that great fear in the country, wherein the Lord's heavenly and trembling seized me, insomuch that the power was plentifully enjoyed amongst us, table whereon I leaned, was shaken. Thus and several were convinced of the truth, who being sensible in some measure of the glorious turned to the Lord with all their hearts, and name and power of the Lord Jesus, I was full joined with Friends; particularly in our own of inward cries, to this effect; O Lord! create meeting, whereby it was enlarged. I was often in me a clean heart; for I saw the old one very much affected in feeling the love and was not clean, and that I had been kissing the power of God break through the whole meetletter, but not the Son, as advised by the holy ing, and many such heavenly meetings we Scripture, which saith, "Kiss the Son, lest he had, and the word of the testimony, in the be angry," &c. Lord's ministers increased amongst us. I then found further drawings to other counties, and visited the meetings of Friends in Lancashire and Westmoreland.

Now was a time of the Lord's fierce anger because of sin; he showed me all things that ever I had done, and condemned the evil; so that I was made willing to love and dwell In the year 1682, it was upon me from the under his righteous judgments, being truly Lord, to visit Friends in some parts of Ireland. convinced it was the way to come unto the I took shipping at Workington, and landed at mercy seat. Then it was upon my mind, Dublin, where I was altogether a stranger; that I must cease from all the doctrines of and after I had staid a meeting amongst men, will-worship, hearing the priests, and Friends, they inquired which way I intended repeating their sermons, which I had delighted to go; I told them, I had a desire to see some in and was in the practice of, as religious du- Friends who dwelt between the west and ties; it being made plain to me, that I should north. A Friend answered, he did not think turn from them, and mind the gift which was there was such a place inhabited by Friends, in me, and sit down among Friends in their or to that effect, but if I would see Friends, I silent meetings, to wait upon the Lord in re- must go north or south, which brought great tiredness of mind, for his heavenly teachings trouble upon my mind, and I became very and holy leadings. In the performance of low in spirit, questioning in myself, whether I this inward, divine, and heavenly worship, the was not mistaken in that which I thought was great power of God did wonderfully break in the Lord's powerful opening in my heart, among us, and many young people were con- showing me both the place and people, and vinced of the inward work of God, and turned wherein I thought I had the mind of Christ, to the Lord with all their hearts. The meet- in the holy vision of life. The cries of my ing, in general, became very tender and hea-heart were great unto the Lord in secret, why venly-minded, and Friends had great love one I was mistaken; but after some time, a living to another, the heart-melting power of the Lord being much felt and inwardly revealed, when no words were spoken by either man or A Friend, named Abraham Fuller, spoke woman. In this state we travelled in the si- kindly to me, and said, he lived near the midlence of all flesh, in which times the Lord dle of Ireland, and if I would go with him, often renewed our strength in the inward we might get a meeting amongst Friends at man, so that we knew and experienced what Edenderry, and I had much peace in going the apostle exhorted the primitive Christians with him. We had a blessed meeting with unto, even Christ to dwell in us by faith. The Friends at Edenderry; and next day travelrenewings of the Holy Ghost increased, and ling towards Lehinche, where he dwelt, he were shed on us abundantly in our meeting, asked me if I understood the compass; I told whereby some were so filled, that they were him no, and that I had not seen any compass concerned to declare and preach the things of in all my life, but the one in the ship, wherein the kingdom of God, and what he had done I came to Dublin. He was then very cheerfor their souls. One of the first that came ful, and lovingly said, he remembered that I forth in prayer to the Lord, was William Greenup, and I was the next, that came forth there in testimony, which was in very great fear and much trembling. The word of the

hope sprung in me, that I was not mistaken, and that the Friends lay as I had seen.

had said in Dublin, I would go between the west and north, which now, said he, I see is true, for we go even as thou then said; at which I was truly thankful to the Lord, who

never fails to be gracious, and his blessed hearts of many Friends, and we had a pros word is infallible. For then I, like Samuel, perous journey in the will of God: so I saw knew it was the word of the Lord that called it was good to wait the Lord's time in all me into his work and service, and showed me things; and having travelled through Leinster these things before I went from home. We and Munster, James Dickinson went northcame cheerfully on our way, until we got to ward, but I was afraid of running before my Lehinche, and thence to the Moat, where we true guide, because they who run and are not had a blessed heavenly meeting; so to Mount-sent of God, can neither profit the people nor melick, and had a meeting there, and thence themselves. So I staid at work in the city of to James Hutchinson's, and from thence to the Waterford, about sixteen weeks, and went Province Meeting at Castledermot. from thence to Dublin, and attended the Halfyear's Meeting there, which was large and very good; then took shipping and landed at Liverpool with my former companion, James Dickinson; and though it was now a time of great persecution of Friends in England, it pleased the Lord to give us a peaceable and prosperous journey through the meetings of Friends, in our way to Cumberland.