according to their imaginations. But I was I went to Bruton next day, being the seventhvery easy in my service, and found my heart | day of the week, and was at that small meetvery much enlarged; some of the people took ing on first-day. The funeral was on secondme to have a good share of learning, which, although it was false, served for a defence against some busy fellows, who thought they could dispute about religion and doctrine; which I always endeavoured to avoid as much as possible, seldom finding any advantage by such work, but that it mostly ended in cavil-a very acceptable time, often in the course of ling and a strife of words.

day, which was exceedingly large, John Beere from Weymouth being there, had something to say, but not much. Then as it was with me, I pulled my Bible out of my pocket, and opened it; upon which the people gave more attention than they had done before, and I had

very much. This made him confess, that what he had heard was sound, and according to Scripture, being very well proved from the text; but he desired some private discourse between ourselves at my quarters, if I would permit it. I told him he might; I quartered

my matter referring to the text for proof, and I went through part of Dorsetshire, and at giving an ample testimony of the value we Sherborne an old Friend was sick, and not ex- put upon the Scriptures; earnestly pressing pected to get over that illness, and it came into the careful reading of them, and advising to my mind he would die of that sickness, and consider what they read, and to seek the Lord that I must be at his funeral, and preach with by prayer, for assistance and power, that they my Bible in my hand. This made me shrink, might practice what they read, which was the fearing it was the fruit of imagination, but I ultimate end of reading, as well as of hearing kept it to myself, and had many meetings preaching, for without practice, it would avail about those parts. A young woman, who af- but little; with other advice to the same effect. terwards became my wife, had strong hold of There being sundry teachers of several sociemy affections and I acquainted her parents ties, one of them, a Baptist, took hold of me therewith, and had liberty from them to lay it after meeting was ended, and desired some before their daughter, which I did. At the conversation with me. I looked at him earnsame time a concern was upon me to visit estly, and desired to know if he had an obAmerica before I entered into the state of wed-jection against any part of what I had said? lock, which I also gave her to understand;"If thou hast," said I, speaking with an audifor I had reasoned in my own mind, that it ble voice, that stopped many of the company, might be better to let it rest until my return," this is the most proper place," the people if I lived. But in answer to that, it appeared, being present; for they thronged about us that I might have some prospects there that would be a snare to me, and by this prior engagement I might be freed from all temptations of that kind. For if it was known there that I was already engaged, it would command silence on that account. On this consideration I made suit to her, and she re-at Richard Fry's; and Richard being present, ceived it with such modesty and sweetness as were very engaging. She had an uncle, on whom she had some dependance, who seemed much averse to it, and would have his niece left at liberty, that if any suitable offer was made in my absence she might embrace it; which I very readily complied with. He was then pleased, only he would have me leave it under my hand, which I was very ready to do; and to stand bound myself, and leave her at liberty. To this she objected, as unreasonable on her part to desire such a thing from me. We parted, and I went to Street, Glastonbury, Burnham, Sidcot, Clareham and Bristol, having let slip out of my memory the old Friend's sickness at Sherborne. I had not been many hours in Bristol before a messenger came to desire Benjamin Coole to attend the funeral, and Benjamin came to me to Brice Webb's, where I lodged, and told me how it was, and desired me to go. I pleaded many excuses; first, my horse was not fit, with other objections, which were all removed.

told him he should be welcome to come to his house, and so we parted. When I came to Richard's, he said we should hear no more of him, for that in his discourses amongst his hearers, he had spoken many very unhandsome things against the Quakers, endeavouring to unchristian them, and prove them heathens in denying the ordinances, a common plea used by all our adversaries. But this man carried the matter farther than some others did, by adding, that we denied the Scriptures, and also would not allow of a Bible in any of our meetings, nor did our preachers use a Bible to prove anything therefrom that we preached to the people, with more to the same purport; and as many of his hearers were there, my appearing with a Bible, and referring to the text for proof, no doubt, put him and them upon a thought what had been preached by him, amongst them, concerning the Quakers, which now appeared to be a manifest untruth by what they had both scen and heard that day. As Richard Fry

thought, so it proved; he did not come near me, and Truth was exalted above lies and falsehood.

than I ever did in one before. John Bowstead and Peter Fearon had a meeting appointed for them at a place called Goose-green, I returned to Bristol well contented, being between Kendal and Milthrop; to which meetfilled with peace and consolation. At my re- ing there was a very great resort; and being turn I gave my friends Benjamin Coole and desired to attend it, I did, and in the beginning some others, a relation of my conduct, and of the meeting, I spoke something of the uniBenjamin was much pleased that I went there, versal love of God to mankind. After which and repeated what he had said before to per- a Friend went on with the same subject, and suade me to go, adding, he was pretty much inferred from the text something more than it assured it was my place to go; but that if he would bear. A young man who taught a had known that it was in my mind to preach school at Beatham, a small parish in that with the book in my hand, although in the neighbourhood, took him up after the meeting sequel it proved right, he should have been was over; and having the advantage of the afraid there was more of imagination than argument, endeavoured to bear the Friend revelation in it. It would rather have back-down. I was gone to see the horses got ready ened him, than been any argument for him to for our return, but being called got with diffipress my going, as he had found some mis-culty into the house, which was much crowdtakes committed from such sights, which proved to be but imaginations. He gave me very suitable advice, to take care how I too easily embraced such things for truth, without a due trial, and that it was not displeasing to heaven to try the spirit from whence such things proceeded.

ed, the meeting being held in the open ground without the house; and when I got in and heard them, I soon found where the pinch was; the Friend had said what the text would not bear him out in, in quoting Obadiah the tenth verse, compared with Romans the ninth chapter and eleventh verse. I observed that I staid in and about Bristol three weeks, he went too far in expression when I first visiting the meetings round the city, but on heard it; and repeating the words more than first-days I was mostly in the city, and it twice, the young man had them very plain. I being the winter fair, meetings were very waited some time, and then desired liberty of large. At the third-day meeting in the fair the young man to ask him a question, the anweek, there was a man out of Wiltshire, a swering of which might bring the argument Separate, named Arthur Ismead, who stood to a point; adding, not that I thought myself up to preach, and was speaking of the light: so capable to maintain that argument as my he put forth a question about bringing our friend was. He gave me leave, and my quesdeeds to the light; adding, "do I bring my tion was, "Whether he believed it consistent deeds to the light?" A worthy elder, named with Divine wisdom and mercy, to punish men Charles Harford, answered, "No, thou dost for such faults, as by his argument they were not: if thou did, thou wouldst not do as thou ordained to be guilty of, and which because of dost." I sat all this time under a very great that ordination they could not avoid?" He concern, and the word was in me like fire; so soon very frankly gave answer, "he did not I stood up, and with a strong and powerful believe it." I then asked him, "Why he arvoice began to preach, he crying out, that he gued against his own faith and judgment?" had not done. I took no account of that, but For although he took advantage of my friend's went on, and he soon sat down and fell asleep, words, not being so well guarded as they and we had a blessed, edifying meeting that should have been, yet that was no just ground day, and Truth was exalted above error. Af to argue against his own judgment. Thus ter this meeting I was clear of the city, and this argument dropped, and then he took up visited some parts of Gloucestershire, Worces- baptism; but soon finding himself not able to tershire, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. support what he undertook to prove by the In many places I had very large, open, quiet text, viz: infant baptism, he confessed that he meetings, and when I found myself high was not qualified to maintain his argument, and full, I expected low times again, for I very and therefore requested that we would favour seldom was drawn forth in doctrine, and en-him to confer on that subject on wednesday larged more than common, but Maplebeck next, in the room where he taught school, would come in my way, and the uncommon with the minister of their parish; withal addtemptation and trial I underwent after that ing, it might be of service both to him and meeting. I reached home about the latter end others. My friends were very much for it, of the first month, and staid with my dear and I was not against it, provided they would friend Robert Chambers part of that summer, go and assist: for I looked on myself very helping him and his brother-in-law, John unequal to such a task as this was likely to be. Moore, at Gale, mowing more days this year However, after some discourse between our

selves, I consented, on condition that John nances of baptism and the Supper of our Jepson, the schoolmaster of Kendal, would be Lord." my second; he being well acquainted with, I addressed myself to the young man, to and understanding both the Greek and Latin inform the parson that infant baptism, so callTestament, might help me against being im-ed, was the present point to be considered; posed upon by any false gloss or interpretation which he did in a few words, and very well, put upon the text to prove their arguments. but it was to no purpose. The priest would We told the young man we would endeavour go on in his own way, calling us heretics, to answer his request, by being with him on schismatics, heathens, and what not, bestowfourth-day by nine in the morning: he was ing freely such reflections upon us as came glad to be discharged for the present, for I had into his head; and having gone on in this not seen one sweat more freely than he did, rambling way for some time, with unbecoming being in a very great agony, he could not for- language, I requested that he would hear me bear shaking as he stood by the table: we without interruption, as I had him. I then parted for this time very good friends. But I put him in mind of his old age, he having a grew uneasy, fearing how it would end, and comely personage, and fine white locks, and blamed my friends for bringing me into this that he had more experience, it might with scrape, and not assisting me in it, but leaving reason be supposed, than we young men had; me to dispute with I knew not who; but all I and supposing that thou mayest be right, and got was, that they doubted not but I should be that we may be in an error, yet for all this, assisted to come off well, of which I was very in my opinion, thou must be wrong in thy doubtful, and it hindered me of some hours conduct towards us, in being so liberal to sleep. give us hard names, and yet showest no reaWhen the time came, my friend John Jep-son for doing so. Here I was broken in upon son and two more went with me. We came with a kind of violence, "That all the discipretty early, rather before than after the time ples and apostles had a commission to teach appointed; and the young man had got his all nations, baptizing them in the name of room, and two elbow chairs ready, for the the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.' Do you parson and myself. I was not willing to sit confute this or own it?" I urged, “no water in either, being younger than friend Jepson; is named in the text; and besides, that text but to avoid words about it, I sat down in one. should be rendered, into the name of the FaThe young man acquainted the parson we ther, Son," &c. were come, and he came to us, scraping and Here the young man, and my friend Jepbowing, and the more we supposed, because son, searched both the Latin and Greek, he saw we did not answer him in the same agreeing that it was more proper to render it way. After he sat down, previous to entering into the name, than in the name, &c. Then on what we met about, he would needs have if that was right, as it was my opinion it was, it, that I challenged a dispute with him; to it was plain to me, that the materials of that which I could not agree. But referring my-baptism could not be elementary water, thereself to the young man, I desired that he would fore, I could see nothing in this text to prove inform his neighbour of the true cause of our coming there, which he did very handsomely, to the following effect, viz: "Sir, meeting last sabbath-day with this gentleman, we fell into a conference about infant baptism, supposing that I was able from Scripture to prove that practice; but on trial, finding myself not able to hold the argument, I shut it up. Therefore, believing you, sir, to be more able to defend the practice of our church, than I am, I desired this gentleman to favour me so much as to come and confer with you on this subject, in my hearing, that I might have this matter set in a true light. I beg your pardon, sir, hoping that this modest request to the gentleman is not offensive to you, and I will assure you, it is a great pleasure to me." Thus having made his apology, the priest being a hasty, passionate man, began; "You Quakers are not fit to be disputed with, because you deny the Scriptures, the ordi

the practice of sprinkling infants, or infant baptism. Here I was interrupted with great warmth again: the parson urging, that "the disciples, primitive ministers, and apostles, all had a commission in Matthew xxviii., which by succession was to continue to the end of the world: and this baptism was with water, for the apostles could not baptize with the Holy Ghost." In answer I said, "When Peter, at the house of Cornelius, began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning," said Peter; from which it is plain, that teaching by direction of the Spirit being prior to baptism, the baptism of the Holy Ghost was the consequence of such teaching. But this did not please the parson; but he in answer said, "That undoubtedly the commission in Matthew xxviii. was water, it could be nothing else: What, are you wiser than all our forefathers, who have understood, ever since the first ministers, this text

to mean no other than water, and accordingly An account of my journey into Scotland, in the

work of the ministry, begun the 11th of the eighth month, 1701.

have so practised?" I queried, if he thought the text meant outward, elementary water? He said he did. I desired to know his reason for so believing. He answered, "The prac I had for my companion in this journey, tice of the apostles in pursuance of that com- Isaac Thompson, a young man who had a mission which all had." I then queried, if he good gift in the ministry. We visited meetthought Paul was included in that commis-ings in our way to Carlisle, finding our unsion? He granted that he was, "and by virtue of his commission he baptized many." But I desired they would turn to the text, 1 Cor. i. 17, where the apostle plainly says, "Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel;" and in the foregoing verses he thanks God, "he baptized no more," &c. Besides, allowing that they did baptize with, or more properly in, water, yet this argues nothing in proof of sprinkling, nor is there any precept or precedent for it in all the Bible. At this the parson stood up in a passion, told us we were no Christians, nor fit to be conversed with as such, and left us in a rage without

any ceremony.

The young man acknowledged that the minister, as he styled him, was not able to defend his own practice from Scripture, and desired we would lend him some books treating on that subject and others, in which we differed from them and other dissenters in point of religion. We agreed to let him have William Penn's Key, Robert Barclay's Apology, and some others, upon applying himself for them to John Jepson, his brother schoolmaster. He was thoroughly convinced, and likely to make a good man; he had several enemies, amongst whom the parson was not the least but he shortly after this sickened and died.

I was very diligent in following harvestwork, both at mowing and reaping, and diligently observing my gift, to attend such meetings as I was inclined to; and I found that I grew in my gift, as I could discern myself. But I would check myself for such thoughts, seeing them by no means proper to have a place in my heart, lest that humility, which is the ornament of every Gospel minister, should be departed from through self-love and conceit, by which I might be brought to have a better opinion of myself than any of my neighbours had; which, if given way to, would eat out all that respect my brethren and the church had for me; and by this foolish pride and conceit, the hearts of Friends would be shut against me, and I should lose my place and interest in them.

derstandings much enlarged in the opening of Divine truths, and our service grew upon us, and we went on with boldness and cheerful minds, meeting in our way, with our dear and worthy friend James Dickinson, who was intending a visit into Ireland. In our journey from the border to Dumfries, we had very profitable conversation of good service to us both, because we, by reason of youth and want of experience, were often very weak, and doubting whether we were right or not in the work; so that this dear friend, by his tender and fatherly care and advice to us, was of great encouragement, in letting us know how weak and poor he often found himself; which so answered my condition, that it was as marrow to my bones. When we came to Dumfries, after we had taken some refreshment at our inn, James said to us, “Lads, I find a concern to go into the street, will you go with me?" For he thought it might only be to show himself, and was desirous that we might all go together, being five in number. So we walked forth, and the inhabitants gazed upon us, for the Quakers were seldom seen in that town; and several came after us, and James lifted up his voice like a trumpet among the people, who were very quiet and attentive. When he was clear, we retired back to our inn, and divers followed us, who were very rude and wicked, but were not permitted to hurt us.

We had sweet comfort and refreshment one in another at our quarters. Next morning we took leave and parted, he went for Portpatrick, and we visited the meetings, though very small, until we came to Hamilton, where we were finely refreshed with a small handful of living Friends; and so to Glasgow, where the people were rude, but something better than in times past, not being so uncivil to us in the streets. We went from thence to Kinneel, Lithgow, and so over the water on our journey northward, taking Boroughstowness and Ury in our way to Aberdeen Quarterly Meeting, where we found Friends in a sweet frame of spirit, being in dear unity one with another. We had meetings with them to good satisfaction, and had some also further I had one journey more to make into Scot-north, as at Inverary, Killmuck, &c. We land, before my going, or at least intending to then came back to Ury by Aberdeen, taking go, into America, of which in its place. our journey to Edinburgh, visiting the small

meetings, and some other places which we was at the foot of the hill, and had an ascent inclined to visit in our way thither. We of three or four steps, and a place to sit on at had but one little meeting there, and then the top, we sat down; but we had not sat went to Kelso, where we staid two meetings long before a man came to us with a bunch on the first-day of the week, and in the eve- of large keys in his hand, and took me by ning Friends laid before us the desire they the hand and said, I must go into the Tolhad for our going to Jedburg, a town about booth, meaning the prison; I asked him for seven miles from them, and not much out of what? He said for preaching. I told him we our way to England. We considered the had not preached. We considered the had not preached. "Ay! but" quoth he, "the matter, but not the exercise that might attend provost," meaning the mayor, "has ordered us in going there; so next morning we went, me to put you in the Tolbooth." For what? and when we came to the town, Samuel Ro-I again replied. "I tell you for preaching." binson being our guide, the landlord at the inn I told him, I did not know whether we would not give us entertainment. We went should preach or not; but it was soon enough to another inn, and the landlord took us in, to make prisoners of us when we did preach. withal telling us, how indecently the minister" Ay!" says he, "I ken very weel that you had railed against the Quakers the day before, will preach by your looks." Thus we argued asserting they were the devil's servants, and the matter, he endeavouring to pull me up, that by his assistance they did in their preach- and I to keep my place; and when he found ing what was done; with very many vile I was not easily moved, he turned to my words; but observing one of his hearers companion, who likewise was unwilling to be taking what he had said in short-hand, he confined, and then he went to Samuel Robincalled out, charging him not to write what he son, our guide, who was easily prevailed on spoke at random against the Quakers; with to go, and the easier, for that he had been much more to the same effect. We called for there but the week before with two Friends, some refreshment, but my mind was under so viz: John Thompson and Thomas Braithmuch concern, I could neither eat nor drink. waite, both of our county of Westmoreland. We desired to pay for what we had, and gave By this time we had a large assembly, and the landlord charge of our horses and bags, Samuel Robinson supposing we should have a whereby he suspected that we were going to better conveniency to preach to them in the preach he took me by the hand, and begged prison, as the Friends afore-named had the that we would not go into the street, but week before, we were conducted there, just by preach in his house, and he would have his the cross where we held the parley, and put in family together, and they would hear us. I at the door. But Samuel Robinson soon saw looked steadily upon the poor man, who trem- his mistake, for the week before the windows bled very much, telling him, we thought it of the prison were all open, nothing but the our place and duty to preach to the inhabi-iron grates in the way, the windows being tants of the town; and thinkest thou," said I very large for the sake of air, but now all to him, "we shall be clear in the sight of were made dark, and strongly fastened up God, whom we both fear and serve, by preaching to thee and thy family, what we are required to preach to the people in the town?" The poor man I found was smitten in himself, and his countenance altered greatly, but he made this reply, "Is this the case, sir?" I said it was. "Then," said he, " go, and God preserve and bless you, but I fear the mob will pull down my house for letting you have entertainment, and kill you for your good will." I bid him not fear, for he whom we served was above the devil, and that not a hair of our heads should be hurt without his permission. He then seemed willing to let us go, and followed at a distance to see

our treatment.

66

The chief street was very broad, with a considerable ascent, and near the top of the ascent was a place made to cry things on, to which we walked, where we paused a little, but I had nothing to do there at that time. Returning back to the market-cross, which

with boards. We had been but a short time there, before a messenger came to offer us liberty, on condition we would depart the town without preaching; but we could make no such agreement with them, and so we told the messenger. A little after he was gone, I wrote the following lines to the provost.

"It is in my mind to write these few lines to thee, the provost of this town of Jedburg, to let thee understand that our coming within thy liberties is not to disturb the peace of your town, nor to preach false doctrine or heresy, as is by your teachers maliciously suggested, whose interest it is, as they suppose, to make the people believe it, but in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, whose servants we are, for he hath bought us with his most precious blood; and we are no more our own, but his who has bought us, whose power is an unlimited power, and all other power is limited by him. His power is not to be limited by any other power; therefore we his servants dare not