this disease, (the small pox) by means which had never proved hurtful nor mortal, * such a discovery might be considered as the period of chastisement by this distemper, where that knowledge extended. But as life and health are his gifts, and are not to be disposed of in our own wills, to take upon us, by inoculation, when in health, a disorder, of which some die, requires great clearness of knowledge, that it is our duty to do so. CHAP. VII. Visit, in company with Samuel Eastburn, to Long Island, Rhode Island, Boston, &c.-Remarks on the slave trade at Newport; also on lotteries.-Some observations on the island of Nantucket. 4th mo. 1760. Having, for some time past, felt a sympathy in my mind with friends eastward, I opened my con.. cern in our monthly meeting; and, obtaining a certificate, set forward on the seventeenth of this month, in company with my beloved friend Samuel Eastburn. We had meetings at Woodbridge, Rahaway, and Plainfield; and were at their monthly meeting of ministers and elders in Rahaway. We laboured under some discouragement; but through the invisible power of truth, our visit was made reviving to the lowly-minded, with whom I felt a near unity of spirit, being much reduced in my mind. We passed on, and visited most of the meetings on Long Island. It was my concern, from day to day, to say neither more nor less than what the spirit of truth opened in me, being jealous over myself, lest I should say any thing to make my testimony look agreeable to that mind in people, which is not in pure obedience to the cross of Christ. * May not vaccination be considered that innocent means? The spring of the ministry was often low; and, through the subjecting power of truth, we were kept low with it: from place to place, they whose hearts were truly concerned for the cause of Christ, appeared to be comforted in our labours; and though it was in general a time of abasement of the creature, yet, through His goodness who is a helper of the poor, we had some truly edifying seasons both in meetings, and in families where we tarried: sometimes we found strength to labour earnestly with the unfaithful, especially with those whose station in families, or in the society, was such, that their example had a powerful tendency to open the way for others to go aside, from the purity and soundness of the blessed truth. At Jericho, on Long Island, I wrote home as follows: 24th of the 4th month, 1760. "Dearly beloved wife! "We are favoured with health; have been at sundry meetings in East Jersey, and on this island. My mind hath been much in an inward, watchful frame, since I left thee, greatly desiring that our proceedings may be singly in the will of our heavenly Father. "As the present appearance of things is not joyous, I have been much shut up from outward cheerfulness, remembering that promise: "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; "-as this, from day to day, has been revived in my memory, I have considered that his internal presence in our minds, is a delight of all others the most pure; and that the honest-hearted not only delight in this, but in the effect of it upon them. He regards the helpless and distressed, and reveals his love to his children under affliction, who delight in beholding his benevolence, and in feeling divine charity moving in them. Of this I may speak a little; for though since I left you, I have often found an engaging love and affection towards thee and my daughter, and friends about home, and going out at this time, when sickness is so great amongst you, is a trial upon me; yet I often remember there are many widows and fatherless, many who have poor tutors, many who have evil examples before them, and many whose minds. are in captivity; for whose sake my heart is, at times, moved with compassion; so that I feel my mind resigned to leave you for a season, to exercise that gift which the Lord hath bestowed on me; which though small compared with some, yet in this I rejoice, that I feel love unfeigned towards my fellow creatures. I recommend you to the Almighty, who I trust cares for you; and under a sense of his heavenly love, remain, "Thy loving husband, "J. W." We crossed from the east end of Long Island to New London, about thirty miles, in a large open boat; while we were out, the wind rising high, the waves several times beat over us, so that to me it appeared dangerous; but my mind was at that time turned to Him, who made and governs the deep, and my life was resigned to Him: as He was mercifully pleased to preserve us, I had fresh occasion to consider every day, as a day lent to me; and felt a renewed engagement to devote my time, and all I had, to Him who gave it. We had five meetings in Narraganset; and went thence to "Newport on Rhode Island. Our gracious Father preserved us in an humble dependence on him through deep exercises, that were mortifying to the creaturely will. In several families. in the country where we lodged, I felt an engagement on my mind to have a conference with them in private, concerning their slaves; and, through divine aid, I was favoured to give up thereto. Though in this concern, I differ from many, whose service in travelling is, I believe, greater than mine; yet I do not think hardly of them for omitting it; I do not repine at having so unpleasant a task assigned me, but look with awfulness to Him, who appoints to his servants their respective employments, and is good to all who serve Him sincerely. We got to Newport in the evening; and on the next day visited two sick persons, with whom we had comfortable sittings, and in the afternoon attended the burial of a friend. The next day we were at meetings at Newport, in the forenoon and afternoon; the spring of the ministry was opened, and strength was given to declare the Word of Life to the people. The day following we went on our journey; but the great number of slaves in these parts, and the continuance of that trade from thence to Guinea, made a deep impression on me; and my cries were often put up to my heavenly Father in secret, that He would enable me to discharge my duty faithfully, in such way as He might be pleased to point out to me. We took Swansea, Freetown, and Tanton, in our way to Boston; where also we had a meeting; our exercise was deep, and the love of truth prevailed; for which I bless the Lord. We went eastward about eighty miles beyond Boston, taking meetings, and were in a good degree preserved in an humble dependence on that arm which drew us out; and though we had some hard labour with the disobedient, by laying things home and close to such as were stout against the truth; yet through the goodness of God, we had at times to partake of heavenly comfort with those who were meek, and were often favoured to part with friends in the nearness of true gospel fellowship. We returned to Boston, and had another comfortable opportunity with friends there; and thence rode back a day's journey eastward of Boston. Our guide being a heavy 1 man, and the weather hot, my companion and I expressed our freedom to go on without him; to which he consented, and we respectfully took our leave of him this we did, as believing the journey would have been hard to him and his horse. In visiting the meetings in those parts, we were measurably baptized into a feeling of the state of the society; and in bowedness of spirit went to the yearly meeting at Newport; where we met with John Storer from England, Elizabeth Shipley, Ann Gaunt, Hannah Foster, and Mercy Redman, from our parts; all ministers of the gospel, of whose company I was glad. Understanding that a large number of slaves had been imported from Africa into that town, and were then on sale by a member of our society, my appetite failed, and I grew outwardly weak, and had a feeling of the condition of Habakkuk, as thus expressed: "When I heard my belly trembled, my lips quivered, I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble." I had many cogitations, and was sorely distressed. I was desirous that friends might petition the legislature, to use their endeavours to discourage the future importation of slaves; for I saw that this trade was a great evil, and tended to multiply troubles, and to bring distresses on the people for whose welfare my heart was deeply concerned. But I perceived several difficulties in regard to petitioning; and such was the exercise of my mind, that I thought of endeavouring to get an opportunity to speak a few words in the House of Assembly, then sitting in town. This exercise came upon me in the afternoon, on the second day of the yearly meeting, and on going to bed, I got no sleep till my mind was wholly resigned thereto. In the morning I enquired of a friend how long the Assembly was likely to continue sitting; who told me, it was expected to be prorogued that day or the next. As I was desirous to attend the |