CHAPTER VI.

His visiting the Quarterly Meetings in Chester county; and afterwards joining with Daniel Stanton and John Scarborough, in a visit to such as kept slaves there-Some observations on the conduct those should maintain who are concerned to speak in meetings for discipline-Several visits to such who kept slaves and to Friends near Salem-Some account of the Yearly Meeting in the year 1759; and of the increasing concern, in divers provinces, to labour against buying and keeping slaves-The yearly Meeting epistle-His thoughts on the smallpox spreading-and. on inoculation.

On the 11th day of the eleventh month, in the year 1758, I set out for Concord; the Quarterly Meeting heretofore held there, was now, by reason of a great increase of members, divided into two by the agreement of Friends, at our last Yearly Meeting. Here I met with our beloved friends Samuel Spavold and Mary Kirby from England, and with Joseph White from Bucks county, who had taken leave of his family in order to go on a religious visit to Friends in England; and through Divine goodness, we were favoured with a strengthening opportunity together.

After this meeting I joined with my friends Daniel Stanton and John Scarborough, in visiting Friends who had slaves; and at night we had a family meeting at William Trimble's, many young people being there; and it was a precious reviving opportunity. Next morning we had a comfortable sitting with a sick neighbour; and thence to the burial of the corpse of a Friend at Uwchland meeting, at which were many people, and it was a time of Divine favour; after which, we visited some who had slaves; and at night had a family meeting at a Friend's

house, where the channel of Gospel love was opened, and my mind was comforted after a hard day's labour. The next day we were at Goshen Monthly Meeting: and thence on the 18th day of the eleventh month, in the year 1758, attended the Quarterly Meeting at London Grove, it being the first held at that place. Here we met again with all the before-mentioned Friends, and had some edifying meetings. Near the conclusion of the meeting for business, Friends were incited to constancy in supporting the testimony of Truth, and reminded of the necessity which the disciples of Christ are under to attend principally to his business, as he is pleased to open it to us; and to be particularly careful to have our minds redeemed from the love of wealth; to have our outward affairs in as little room as may be; that no temporal concerns may entangle our affections, or hinder us from diligently following the dictates of Truth, in labouring to promote the pure spirit of meekness and heavenly-mindedness amongst the children of men, in these days of calamity and distress; wherein God is visiting our land with his just judgments.

Each of these Quarterly Meetings were large, and sat nearly eight hours. Here I had occasion to consider that it is a weighty thing to speak much in large meetings for business. Except our minds are rightly prepared, and we clearly understand the case we speak to, instead of forwarding, we hinder business, and make more labour for those on whom the burden of the work is laid.

If selfish views or a partial spirit have any room in our minds, we are unfit for the Lord's work; if we have a clear prospect of the business, and proper weight on our minds to speak, it behoves us to avoid useless apologies and repetitions. Where people are gathered from afar,

and adjourning a meeting of business is attended with great difficulty, it behoves all to be cautious how they detain a meeting; especially when it has sat six or seven hours, and Friends have a great distance to ride home.

In the beginning of the twelfth month of the year 1758, I joined my friends John Sykes and Daniel Stanton, in visiting such who had slaves: some whose hearts were rightly exercised about them, appeared to be glad of our visit; but in some places our way was more difficult; and I often saw the necessity of keeping down to that root from whence our concern proceeded; and have cause, in reverent thankfulness, humbly to bow down before the Lord, who was near to me, and preserved my mind in calmness under some sharp conflicts, and begat a spirit of sympathy and tenderness in me, toward some who were grievously entangled by the spirit of this world.

In the first month of the year 1759, having found my mind drawn to visit some of the more active members in our Society at Philadelphia, who had slaves, I met my friend John Churchman there by an agreement; and we continued about a week in the city. We visited some that were sick, and some widows and their families; and and the other part of our time was mostly employed in visiting such who had slaves. It was a time of deep exercise, looking often to the Lord for his assistance; who, in unspeakable kindness, favoured us with the influence of that spirit, which crucifies to the greatness and splendour of this world, and enabled us to go through some heavy labours, in which we found peace.

On the 24th day of the third month, of this year, I was at our general spring meeting of Philadelphia; after which I again joined with John Churchman on a visit to some Friends who had slaves, in Philadelphia; and with thank

fulness to our heavenly Father, I may say that Divine love and a true sympathizing tenderness of heart, prevailed at times in this service.

Having, at times, perceived a shyness in some Friends of considerable note, towards me, I found an engagement in Gospel love to pay a visit to one of them; and as I dwelt under the exercise, I felt a resignedness in my mind to go. I went and told him in private, that I had a desire to have an opportunity with him alone; to which he readily agreed: and then in the fear of the Lord, things relating to that shyness were searched to the bottom; and we had a large conference, which, I believe, was of use to both of us; and am thankful that way was opened for it.

On the 14th day of the sixth month, in the same year, having felt drawings in my mind to visit Friends about Salem, and having the approbation of our Monthly Meeting therein, I attended their Quarterly Meeting, and was out seven days, and at seven meetings; in some of which I was chiefly silent, and in others, through the baptizing power of Truth, my heart was enlarged in heavenly love, and I found a near fellowship with the brethren and sisters, in the manifold trials attending their Christian progress through this world.

In the seventh month, I found an increasing concern on my mind to visit some active members in our Society who had slaves; and having no opportunity of the company of such who were named on the minutes of the Yearly Meeting, I went alone to their houses, and in the fear of the Lord, acquainted them with the exercise I was under: and thus, sometimes by a few words, I found myself discharged from a heavy burden.

After this, our friend John Churchman coming into

our province with a view to be at some meetings, and to join again in the visit to those who had slaves, I bore him company in the said visit to some active members, and found inward satisfaction.

At our Yearly Meeting in the year 1759, we had some weighty seasons, where the power of Truth was largely extended, to the strengthening of the honest-minded. As Friends read over the epistles to be sent to the Yearly Meetings on this continent, I observed in most of them, both this year and last, that it was recommended to Friends to labour against buying and keeping slaves; and in some of them closely treated upon. As this practice hath long been a heavy exercise to me, and I have often waded through mortifying labours on that account, and at times, in some meetings, been almost alone therein, observing now the increasing concern in our religious Society, and seeing how the Lord was raising up and qualifying servants for his work, not only in this respect, but for promoting the cause of Truth in general, I was humbly bowed in thankfulness before him. This meeting continued nearly a week; and for several days, in the forepart of it, my mind was drawn into a deep inward stillness; and being at times covered with the spirit of supplication, my heart was secretly poured out before the Lord. Near the conclusion of the meeting for business way opened, that in the pure flowings of Divine love, I expressed what lay upon me; which, as it then arose in my mind, was "first to show how deep answers to deep in the hearts of the sincere and upright; though in their different growths they may not all have attained to the same clearness in some points relating to our testimony. I was led to mention the integrity and constancy of many martyrs, who gave their lives for the testimony of Jesus;