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From thence I returned in order to get a passage to the isle of Nantucket; and from a place called Cushnet, we sailed over to the said island in about ten hours, where we tarried several days, and had five meetings. The people did generally acknowledge to the truth, and many of them were tender-hearted. Some of the ancient people said, that it was never known that so many people were together on the island at once. After the first meeting was over, one asked the minister, (so called) whether we might have a meeting at his house? he said, with a good will, we might. This minister had some discourse with me, and asked, What induced me to come hither, being such a young man? I told him that I had no other view in coming there, than the good of souls, and that I could say with the apostle that a necessity was laid upon me, and wo would be to me if I did not preach the gospel. Then, said he, I wish you would preach at my house in God's name. So next day we had a meeting at his house; and on first-day we had the largest meeting that we had on the island. It was thought that there were above two hundred people. The Lord in his power did make his truth known to the praise of his name. Oh! how was my soul concerned for that people! The Lord Jesus did open my heart to them, and theirs to him. They were also loving and kind to us. The chief magistrate of the island desired that I would have a meeting at his house, there being no settled meeting of friends before I came; and after meeting he disputed about religion with me. I thought we were both but poor disputants; and cannot remember all that passed between us, but that in the close of our dispute, he said, I disputed with your friends in Barbadoes, and they told me, that we must eat the spiritual flesh, and drink the spiritual blood of Christ: And, said the governor, did ever any one hear of such flesh and blood; for is it not a contradiction in nature, that flesh and blood should be spiritual? Oh! surely, said I, the governor has forgot himself; for what flesh and blood was that which Christ said, except ye eat my flesh, and drink my blood, ye have no life in you. Why, said he, I do not think

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they were to gnaw it from his arms and shoulders. Í then told him, he had answered himself. Thus our dispute ended. And from that time forward they have continued a meeting, and there is now a meeting-house, and a yearly meeting for worship; it is a growing meeting to this day, and several public friends are raised up amongst them, who preach the gospel of Christ freely.

At this time a friend was convinced, whose name was Starbuck, who became very serviceable, and lived and died an eminent minister of Christ on that island. Sev. eral scores of them came and accompanied us to the water-side; and when we embarked on board our sloop, they desired that I would come and visit them again. So I recommended them to the grace of our Lord Jesus, and we parted in great love and tenderness. In the evening of the next day we got to the main land, where we were gladly received. Now it was in my heart again to visit the eastern parts of New-England before I left America; therefore I went to Boston yearly-meeting, thence to Lynn and Salem, where we had a sweet comfortable time; likewise to the yearly-meetings, at Dover, and so to Piscataway, where we had several meetings, which were profitable opportunities to many. From Piscataway, James Goodbridge and I went over to the Isle of Shoals; we had with us a church-member of the Presbyterians, whose brother invited her over with us to the said island, to the meeting which was at his house; and while he was talking with her in the yard or garden, I saw a bible, and took it, and read therein. When she came into the house, she asked me, What I did with that book? I told her, if she was offended I would lay it down. No, no, said she, don't think to come off so, for you disown or deny that book. I told her she was mistaken; and asked who told her so. Why, said she, our minister in his pulpit. I replied, that it was a great abuse upon us, for I had been trained up from my childhood in the reading and belief of the scriptures, and my father and mother were friends, (that is Quakers.) She willing to try me further, said, Did your father and mother suffer you to read the bible when you were a little boy?

Yes said I, and gave me correction when I was not so willing to read therein as they would have me. Then, said she, our minister has belied you; and since you say so, if it please God, I will go and hear you. She went with us to meeting; and after it was over (going home) one asked her, how she would answer it to their minis. ter for going to meetings. She replied, it was truth she had heard, and she would stand by it through the grace of Christ, and need not be ashamed of it, though we are of ourselves but poor weak creatures. This woman was sober and religious, and one of good report. By the foregoing we may see how slanders flow from some pulpits: the more is the shame and pity. We went on, and preached the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in that ability he gave us, with which the people were affected. and would have had us tarry longer, but we could not, although they much importuned us, because we had appointed a meeeting at Oyster river. After we had had several meetings, about Piscataway and Dover, we went to Hampton, where we had meetings; and at Salisbury we had a large open meeting, as it was supposed, of about three hundred people, which was at this time accounted a great concourse of people thereabouts; also at Jamaica and Haverhill we had meetings, and from thence went to Salem and Lynn again, where we had good ser vice for truth; and then to Boston, and had a meeting at the meeting-house, and another at a friend's house in the evening, at which there were many people. From Boston I went to visit friends about Cape-Cod, till I came again to Rhode-Island. By the way I met with Aaron Atkinson, who was on a visit to friends in New-England. I had several good opportunities, and powerful meetings, in those parts, and truth wrought a tenderness in divers at Rhode-Island. The presence of him, who said, Where two or three are met in my name, there am I in the midst of them, being sensibly witnessed by many; for he was with us of a truth. From thence I went round the Narraganset country, and had meetings at sev eral places, and was accompanied by John Rodman and William Beackley, through Connecticut to Long

Island, which is accounted two hundred miles; we had one meeting by the way, in which Christ was preached to them, as he is the Light of the world, at a place where we were told there never was a friend's meeting before. I came to Long-Island about two weeks before the general meeting, and visited friends in several places on this island, as at Hampstead, Jerusalem, Jericho, and Bethpage, where there were large meetings, and much openness among the people, and some were convinced. We had a meeting at a place calied Matinicock, where I met with some of the people called Ranters, who disturbed our meeting. I may say as the apostle Paul (only altering Ephesus to Matinicock) that I fought with beasts there; and thence I travelled to New-York, where we had two meetings; from thence we went to the Jerseys, and there we had several serviceable meetings that were large; and so to Pennsylvania, where there are many very large meetings of friends, and the Lord is with his people there, and prospereth them spiritually and temporally. Here I met with my dear friend Wm. Ellis. From Philadelphia, Rich. Gove, of that city, and I travelled to Maryland, and visited friends on the western shore, and from thence to Virginia. In Virginia, near James' river, I met with an aged friend whose name was Wm. Porter. He was ninety-two years of age, and had then a daughter two years old.* We had several meetings there amongst friends and others, many being well satisfied concerning the truth, and spoke well of it.

And after we had had several good and open meetings in Virginia, we found ourselves clear of America, and in order for our passage, we agreed with our friend F. Johnson, on board the Elizabeth and Mary, to carry us for England.

* Some years after, I saw him, and he was weeding Indian corn with a hoe. He was then about 106 years of ge, and had upwds of seventy children, grand-children, and great-grano-children. We were divers friends of us to see him, and he preached to us a short, but very affecting sermon, which was, as near as I remember, verbatim, thus: "Friends, you are come to see me in the love of God. God is love, and those that dwell in God, dwell in love. I thank God, I feel his divine life every day and every night." He lived to see his above mentioned daughter married, and died, aged 107 years.

On the 11th of the first month, 1698-9, we were accompanied on board by several friends, who abode with us all night; and the next day, being the first day of the week, we had a little comfortable meeting, and then parted in much love, having the evidence of the power of the Almighty with us. We waited for a fair wind until the 20th of the aforesaid month, and left the Capes of Virginia that day, and at night we got our ship into a sailing posture; and I was glad in my spirit, that I was setting my face towards my native land; and more glad that I was returning with peace in my bosom. Oh! the power and presence of him who said, Go, teach all nations, was sweet to my soul at that time, and now in some measure I enjoyed the fruits of my having laboured in that ability God had given to me. Glory to God, through Christ, who is worthy for ever! The presence of God was with us on the great ocean, and we were strengthened through his goodness wonderfully. We had several good meetings on board our ship, and were opened in the love of God, to the poor seamen very largely.

When we launched forth into the deep, we were sev eral ships in company; but we had been but a little time at sea, before we lost sight of them all. Several ships passed by us about a week after we sailed; and about this time we saw a very large whale, which lifted itself part out of the water, with his mouth open, which looked like the entrance of a large cave. We likewise saw several other large sea-fish, such as grampusses, sharks, &c. all which shew forth the wondrous works of the great Creator of all things. Elizabeth Webb, and Elizabeth Lloyd went over with us in this vessel, both virtuous women. About two weeks the winds were mostly fair for us, in which time we got finely on our way; but for above a week afterwards the winds were mostly contrary, and the ship had a great motion, which caused some of us to be sea-sick, especially Elizabeth Lloyd *,

She was the daughter of Thomas Lloyd, late deputy-governor of Pennsylvania. She lived and died a virtuous woman; and, I think, generally be

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