house of my very kind friends Richard and Hannah Hill, and was oftentimes at divers neighbouring meetings, and .sometimes had good service therein.

About this time I had an inclination to alter my condition of being a widower, to a married state; and the most suitable person that I, with some of my good friends, could think upon, was Martha, the widow of Joseph Brown and on the 15th of the second month, 1714, we were joined together in marriage, with the unity of friends in general. We had a large meeting at our marriage, the solemnization thereof being attended with the grace and goodness of God; and, for example sake, we made but little provision for our guests: for great entertainments at marriages and funerals began to be a growing thing among us, which was attended with divers inconveniencies.

My wife was a sober and religious young woman, and of a quiet natural temper and disposition; which is an excellent ornament to the fair sex; and indeed it is so both to male and female; for, according to the holy scriptures, "a meek and quiet spirit is with the Lord of “a great price."

The first child we had I called Abigail (or the father's joy, as the word signifies), and while she lived, I had joy and comfort in her, even more than I could expect, her age considered; for she lived but about eighteen months, yet in that time gave frequent proofs of an uncommon capacity, and dropt such extraordinary expressions, that I have said to her mother, "This child is too ripe for heaven, to live long on earth; therefore let us not set our hearts upon it." And I have thought that in this child the saying of Christ was fulfilled, even in the letter of it, "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, thou hast perfected praise." Mat. xxi. 16.

I was at divers yearly meetings in 1715, viz. at Choptank, in Maryland; at Shrewsbury and Salem, in New. Jersey; all which meetings were very large and comfortable; many things being opened therein, tending to the convincing and establishing the people in the truth and

doctrine of Christ. I was likewise at divers other meetings in those provinces, which were large and satisfactory.

At Salem yearly meeting I was sent for to the prison, where there was a young woman that was to be tried for her life. She desired that I would pray for her, and charged me to warn the young people to be careful not to keep bad company; "for," said she, "it has been my ruin, and brought me to this shame and reproach." She had been tenderly brought up and educated. I knew her when she wore a necklace of gold chains, though now she wore iron ones. Upon which subject I had afterwards a large opportunity to speak to the people in a very moving manner; which seemed very much to af fect the youth, and others in the meeting, which consisted of many hundreds of people. I saw this young woman afterwards, the jury acquitting her; and I told her, that her life was given her for a prey; and reminded her, how it was with her when she was in prison in chains; and I advised her to walk more circumspectly for the future; which she said she hoped she should do.

In the year 1716, I had some concerns which drew me to the island of Bermuda (to which island I went twice that summer). My family increasing, I traded a little to sea for their support and maintenance: and I can truly say, I carried on my affairs and business in the fear of God, having an eye, or regard therein, more to his glory, than to my own interest. We had a rough passage to this island (in the first voyage) and were forced, by distress of weather, to cast some of our goods into the sea; and the storm being very violent, some of the seamen thought we should be devoured by the waves; and as for me, they had shut me up in the cabin alone, all in darkness, and the water came in so that they were forced to take it out in buckets. When the storm was a little over, the master came to me, and asked "How I did all alone in the dark?" I told him pretty well; and said to him I was very willing to die, if it so pleased God; and indeed I did expect no other at that time. After this great storm was over we arrived at Bermuda

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in a few days; but going into the harbour, the bottom of the vessel struck the rocks, but we got well in; for which I was thankful to the Almighty. I stayed on the island about a month, and had several meetings; to some of which, many came who were not called friends. They were all sober, and some well satisfied; and the people of the island generally received me lovingly, and were very kind to me. Our ancients, who bore the burden and heat of the day, met with very different treatment. I tenderly desire, that we who come up after them, may be truly humble and thankful to the Almighty for all his

mercies.

By reason of my outward affairs, I had opportunities with some persons of great note and business on this island; and sometimes opened the principles of friends to their satisfaction; some of them told me, "They never understood so much concerning our friends before; and if what I said was true, they had been misinformed." Divers such opportunities I had with several on this island, there being but very few of our society.

These are called the Summer Islands, or Bermudas, there being many little islands in the midst of the main island, in form like a horse-shoe, and are about two hundred leagues distance from the capes of Delaware. It is rare to see hail, snow, or ice there.

After I had done my business, and had been for some time on the island, I had a ready and comfortable passage home, where I was joyfully received.

After some little stay at home, I went the second time that summer, to Bermuda and then also I had some meetings, and did some business on the island. It was my constant care, that my worldly affairs should not hinder me in my religious concern for the good of souls. It happened at this time there was a mighty hurricane of wind, so that it blew many houses to the ground, and very many trees up by the roots, and rent divers rocks asunder, which I was an eye-witness of: though it is to be observed, that those rocks in the Summer Islands, are not so hard as in some other parts of the world, particularly to the northward; for here they saw them with

saws, and cut them with axes like wood. I was told there were sixty sail of vessels then at these islands, and all drove on shore but three, and ours was one of the three that rode out the storm; for which I was truly thankful. In this great storm, or hurricane, several sloops, there being no ships, were driven upon dry land, so that after the storm was over, one might go round them at high water, and several blown off the dry land into the water. One that was ready to be launched, though fastened on the stocks with two cables and anchors put deep in the ground, yet the violence of the wind blew her into the water, and dashed her all to pieces.

About this time the Bermuda people had got a vast treasure of silver and gold, out of the Spanish wrecks; and at a meeting which I had with a pretty many people, on the first day of the week before the hurricane, or storm of wind, it came weightily on my mind to exhort them not to be lifted up therewith, nor exalted with pride: for I declared to them, that the same hand that took it from the Spaniards, could take it from those who had now got it out of the sea; and if he pleased, by the same way; which was a storm that cast away the ships going for Spain. And indeed so it happened the same week; for it was reckoned by men of experience and judgment, that they had lost more by the storm, than they had gained by the wrecks of the Spaniards. A sober old man, not of our profession, told me the next day after the hurricane was over, that what I spoke in the meeting was soon come to pass: and he added, I was a true prophet to them. Many houses that were not blown down were uncovered. My landlord's house being old, several thought it would be down; but by the good providence of God, it was one of them which stood. I was in my store, which stood also, though I expected every minute when it would have been blown down. It was by the mercy of God we were preserved, and not for any merit of ours. I intreated the Lord in the midst of this great wind, that he would please to spare the lives of the people; for many of them being seafaring men,

were very unfit to die; at which time I thought I was sensible of the answer of my prayer, and he was pleased to be intreated for them: for, notwithstanding the violence of the storm, and the great destruction it made, yet not one man, woman, child, or creature was lost, that I heard of in all the island, which was to me very admirable. The friend of the house came to me after the storm abated, and said, "The Lord had heard my prayers for them." Although they could not by any outward knowledge, know that I had prayed for them, yet they had a sense given them, that I was concerned for them before the Almighty; which indeed was true. Oh! that we may never forget the merciful visitations of the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity!

While I was on the island I was invited to, and kindly entertained at the houses of several of the gentry, and at the governor's, who invited me several times to his house and once I was with him, and some of his chief officers at dinner, with divers of the first rank, where I was treated very kindly; and after dinner the governor's practice was to drink the king's health, and he hoped I would drink it along with them. "Yes, said the rest at the table, Mr. Chalkley (as they called me) will surely drink the king's health with us." So they passed the glass, with the king's health, till it came to me; and when it came to me, they all looked stedfastly at me, to see what I would do, and I looked as stedfastly to the Almighty, and I said to them, I love king George, and wish him as well as any subject he hath; and it is known to thousands that we pray for him in our meetings and assemblies for the worship of Almighty God; but as to drinking healths, either the king's, or any man's else, it is against my professed principle, I looking on it to be a vain, idle custom. They replied, "That they wished the king had more such subjects as I was; for I had professed a hearty respect for him:" and the governor and they all were very kind and friendly to me all the time I was on the island.

After I had finished my concerns, I embarked in the sloop Dove, for Philadelphia, she being consigned to me