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my companion and I travelled in harmony, and parted in the nearness of true brotherly love.

Two things were remarkable to me in this journey; first, in regard to my entertainment; when I ate, drank, and lodged free-cost with people, who lived in ease on the hard labor of their slaves, I felt uneasy; and as my mind was inward to the Lord, I found this uneasiness return upon me, at times, through the whole visit. Where the masters bore a good share of the burden, and lived frugally, so that their servants were well provided for, and their labor moderate, I felt more easy; but where they lived in a costly way, and laid heavy burdens on their slaves, my exercise was often great, and I frequently had conversation with them in private concerning it. Secondly; this trade of importing slaves from their native country being much encouraged amongst them, and the white people and their children so generally living without much labor, was frequently the subject of my serious thoughts. I saw in these southern provinces so many vices and corruptions, increased by this trade, and this way of life, that it appeared to me as a dark gloominess hanging over the land; and though now many willingly run into it, yet in future the consequence will be grievous to posterity. I express it as it hath appeared to me, not once, nor twice, but as a matter fixed on my mind.

Soon after my return home, I felt an increasing concern for friends on our sea coast; and on the eighth of eighth month, 1746, I left home with the unity of friends, and in company with my beloved friend and neighbor Peter Andrews, brother to my companion before-mentioned, and visited them in their meetings generally about Salem, Cape May, Great and Little Egg Harbor; we had meetings also at Barnagat, Manahockin, and Mane Squan, and so to the yearly meeting at Shrewsbury. Through the goodness of the Lord way was opened, and the strength of divine love. was sometimes felt in our assemblies, to the comfort and help of those who were rightly concerned before Him. We were out twenty-two days, and rode, by computation, three hundred and forty miles. At Shrewsbury yearly meeting,

we met with our dear friends Michael Lightfoot and Abraham Farrington, whe had good service there.

*The winter following died my eldest sister Elizabeth Woolman, jun., of the small pox, aged thirty-one

years.

Of late I found drawings in my mind to visit friends in New England, and having an opportunity of joining in company with my beloved friend Peter Andrews, we obtained certificates from our monthly meeting, and set forward on the sixteenth of third month, 1747. We reached the yearly meeting at Long Island; at which were our friends Samuel Nottingham from England, John Griffith, Jane Hoskins, and Elizabeth Hudson from Pennsylvania, and Jacob Andrews from Chesterfield; several of whom were favored in their public exercise; and, through the goodness of the Lord, we had some edifying meetings. After this my companion and I visited friends on Long Island; and through the mercies of God, we were helped in the work.

Besides going to the settled meetings of friends, we were at a general meeting at Setawket, chiefly made up of other societies; we had also a meeting at Oyster Bay in a dwelling house, at which were many people; at the former there was not much said by way of testimony, but it was, I believe, a good meeting; at the latter, through the springing up of living waters, it was a day to be thankfully remembered. Having visited the island, we went over to the main, taking meetings in our way, to Oblong, Ninepartners, and New-Milford. In these back settlements, we met with several people who, through the immediate workings of the spirit of Christ on their minds, were drawn from the vanities of the world to an inward acquaintance with him. They were educated in the way of the Presbyterians. A considerable number of the youth, members of that society, used often to spend their time together in merriment, but some of the principal young men of the company, being visited by the powerful workings of the spirit of Christ, and thereby led humbly to take up his cross, could no longer join in those vanities. As these stood

* For an account of this interesting young person, see Appendix.

steadfast to that inward convincement, they were made a blessing to some of their former companions; so that through the power of truth, several were brought into a close exercise concerning the eternal well-being of their souls. These young people continued for a time to frequent their public worship; and besides that, had meetings. of their own; which meetings were a while allowed by their preacher, who sometimes met with them; but in time their judgment in matters of religion, disagreeing with some of the articles of the Presbyterians, their meetings were. disapproved by that society; and such of them as stood firm to their duty, as it was inwardly manifested, had many difficulties to go through. In awhile their meetings were dropped; some of them returned to the Presbyterians, and others joined to our religious society.

I had conversation with some of the latter, to my help and edification; and believe several of them are acquainted with the nature of that worship, which is performed in spirit and in truth. Amos Powel, a friend from Long Island, accompanied me through Connecticut, which is chiefly inhabited by Presbyterians; who were generally civil to us. After three days riding, we came amongst friends in the colony of Rhode Island, and visited them in and about Newport, Dartmouth, and generally in those parts; we then went to Boston, and proceeded eastward as far as Dover. Not far from thence, we met our friend Thomas Gawthrop from England, who was then on a visit to these provinces. From Newport we sailed to Nantucket; were there nearly a week; and from thence came over to Dartmouth. Having finished our visit in these parts, we crossed the Sound from New London to Long Island; and taking some meetings on the island, proceeded towards home; which we reached the thirteenth of seventh month, 1747, having rode about fifteen hundred miles, and sailed about one hundred and fifty.

In this journey, I may say in general, we were sometimes in much weakness, and labored under discouragements; and at other times, through the renewed manifestations of divine love, we had seasons of refreshment, wherein the power of truth prevailed. We were taught, by re

newed experience, to labor for an inward stillness; at no time to seek for words, but to live in the spirit of truth, and utter that to the people which truth opened in us. My beloved companion and I belonged both to one meeting, came forth in the ministry near the same time, and were inwardly united in the work. He was about thirteen years older than I, bore the heaviest burden, and was an instrument of the greatest use.

Finding a concern to visit friends in the lower counties of Delaware, and on the eastern shore of Maryland, and having an opportunity to join with my well-beloved ancient friend John Sykes, we obtained certificates, and set off the seventh of eighth month, 1748, were at the meetings of friends in the lower counties, attended the yearly meeting at Little Creek, and made a visit to most of the meetings on the Eastern shore; and so home by the way of Nottingham. We were abroad about six weeks; and rode by computation, about five hundred and fifty miles.

Our exercise at times was heavy; but through the goodness of the Lord, we were often refreshed; and I may say by experience, "He is a strong hold in the day of trouble." Though our society, in these parts, appeared to me to be in a declining condition; yet I believe the Lord hath a people amongst them, who labor to serve him uprightly; but they have many difficulties to encounter.

CHAPTER III.

1749.-1756.

His marriage. The death of his father.-His journies into the upper part of New Jersey, and afterwards into Pennsylvania.-Considerations on keeping slaves, and visits to the families of friends at several times and places.-An epistle from the general meeting.-His journey to Long Island. Considerations on trading, and on the use of spirituous liquors and costly apparel.-Letter to a friend.

About this time believing it good for me to settle, and thinking seriously about a companion, my heart was turned to the Lord, with desires that he would give me wisdom to proceed therein agreeably to his will; and he was pleased

to give me a well-inclined damsel, Sarah Ellis; to whom I was married the eighteenth of eighth month 1749.

In the fall of the year 1750 died my father, Samuel Woolman, of a fever, aged about sixty years. In his lifetime he manifested much care for us his children, that in our youth we might learn to fear the Lord; and often endeavored to imprint in our minds the true principles of virtue, and particularly to cherish in us a spirit of tenderness, not only towards poor people, but also towards all creatures of which we had the command.

After my return from Carolina in 1746, I made some observations on keeping slaves, which sometime before his decease I showed to him; he perused the manuscript, proposed a few alterations, and appeared well satisfied that I found a concern on that account. In his last sickness, as I was watching with him one night, he being so far spent that there was no expectation of his recovery, though he had the perfect use of his understanding, he asked me concerning the manuscript, and whether I expected soon to proceed to take the advice of friends in publishing it? After some further conversation thereon, he said, “I have all along been deeply affected with the oppression of the poor negroes; and now, at last, my concern for them is as great

as ever."

By his direction I had written his will in a time of health, and that night he desired me to read it to him, which I did; and he said it was agreeable to his mind. He then made mention of his end, which he believed was near; and signified that though he was sensible of many imperfections in the course of his life, yet his experience of the power of truth, and of the love and goodness of God from time to time, even till now was such, that he had no doubt that on leaving this life, he should enter into one more happy.

The next day, his sister Elizabeth came to see him, and told him of the decease of their sister Anne, who died a few days before; he then said, "I reckon sister Anne was free to leave this world?" Elizabeth said she was. He then said, "I also am free to leave it;" and being in great

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