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Lord, and his blessing, more than any outward thing; and that he was greatly blessed with many favours from heaven above, and also from the earth beneath, and they were advised to take him for their example: and many other things were tenderly opened to them in the love of God, and in his fear and counsel they were exhorted from time to time.

It being winter time, we sailed to the southward, and got into warm weather, and were on our passage seven weeks and some odd day's from land to land, in which time we saw several vessels, and spoke with one, whose people said, they were chased by a Turk, but got from him, at which they greatly rejoiced. We apprehended that it was our ship that they saw over night, for we saw a sail that crowded from us as fast as she could, and it being near night, we shortened sail, and so she left us; but in the morning we came up with her, and being pretty near, both they and we put out our colours, and being both Englishmen, we spoke to each other, and were glad to meet with some of our own nation upon the great ocean; but our vessel sailing best, we took our leave of them, wishing them a good voyage.. We met with rough seas and high winds in the latter part of our passage, till we came to the capes of Delaware, which we all rejoiced to see, and we had a pleasant passage up the bay and river to Philadelphia, where I had once more a comfortable meeting with my dear wife and family, which I gratefully acknowledged as a high favour from the hand of the Almighty.

We arrived at Philadelphia the first of the second month, 1720; after which I stayed at, and about home, for some time, and was not idle, but kept to my business, and to meetings, and having a desire to see my friends in the province of Maryland, at their general meeting at West-River, I was accompanied by Isaac Norris and Thomas Masters, both sober young men. It had been a time of pretty much rain, and the waters thereby being high, going over a ford of Brandy-wine, my mare got among the rocks (it being a very rocky creek) she fell down, and the stream being very strong, she rolled upon

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me, and being entangled with the stirrup, I could not easily clear myself, but I gave a spring from her, and swam to clear myself from her; and when I was clear I got to her again, and laid hold of her mane, and through the good providence of God, got well out with the mare on dry land, which was a remarkable deliverance. In three days we got to West-River, to the yearly meeting, which was large, and friends were glad to see me, I having not been there for several years. I was out on this journey about two weeks, and rode about 300 miles: and after my coming home, I travelled pretty much in and about the provinces of Pennsylvania and New-Jersey.

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In the year 1721, Thomas Lightfoot and I, with Will. ́iam Brown, went to a meeting at Bush-River, and going over Susquehannah-ferry, the people were fiddling and dancing. When the dance was over I asked them, believing them to be protestants, If they thought Luther to be a good man? They replied, Yes, there was no doubt of it." Well, said I, and so do I; and I will tell you what he says concerning dancing, "That as many paces as the man takes in his dance, so many steps he takes towards hell;" which spoiled their sport, and they went away, and we went on ours towards the meeting; and a good meeting it was! and we, after it, returned by way of Nottingham, and had a meeting there, and one at New-Garden, and so on to Philadelphia. I was from home about a week, and travelled in this journey about 150 miles, and was well satisfied therein.

In the years 1721 and 1722, I went several journies, and had many large meetings, travelling many hundreds of miles, of which I neglected to keep a particular account, hardly thinking what I did worth recording; but divers of my friends in many parts of the world, put me, upon something of this nature, to which at length, I gave up, and found some benefit and satisfaction therein, in looking back and considering the dealings of God with me in my youth and upwards.

From Philadelphia I went to the general meeting_at Shrewsbury, in East-Jersey, where I heard of J. G's.

being wounded by a young man, with a sword, of which he died, lamenting that he did not take the counsel of his friends; as young men, who slight the counsel of those that wish them well, commonly do, either sooner or lator, if the day of their visitation be not over. Some few days after this meeting at Shrewsbury, I visited friends on Long-Island, and returned home again, having trave elled about 300 miles. In my stay at, and about home, I wrote something concerning Perfection, in answer to a nameless author; as also something concerning Predestination, or Election and Reprobation.

In the year 1722, I went back in the woods to Buckingham, the Great-Swamp, Perkioming, Manatawny, and Oley, where I had meetings, travelling over great mountains, from which we could see many miles. I travelled in this journey about 150 miles, and returned home in about two weeks; and after staying some time at home, and visiting neighbouring meetings; I went to the yearly meeting of friends on Long-Island, which meeting was very large, many people (not of our persuasion) being there, and were very sober. Many things were opened in the love of Christ, and his great love was largely declared to that great congregation. The parable concerning the prodigal son, came before me to speak of to the people in a very moving manner, and strongly to invite the youth to lay hold of the love of the father in his son, to poor souls: and indeed it is a wonderful parable, setting forth the infinite love of the great Lord of all to his poor creatures. Many were affected and reached to at this meeting, and the Almighty was praised and glorified, who alone is worthy.

From thence I went and had a meeting at New-York, and then set forward to Woodbridge, where we had a comfortable meeting; Naaman, the Assyrian, being much the subject of that day's work: and that one thing lov. ed and esteemed more than Christ, whatever it be, is to be avoided, and the people warned to be careful to keep close to the God of Israel (spiritual Israel) and to give up all which is contrary to his nature, and to take up

Christ's cross, and follow him: for it is those who follow him in the regeneration, that are to be heirs of his kingdom.

In this year also I was at the burial of our friend Jonathan Dickinson, at which we had a very large meeting, he was a man generally well beloved by his friends and neighbours. In this meeting a passage (he had often told me in his health) was brought to my remembrance, I think worthy to be recorded to the end of time, which is as followeth: "It happened at Port-Royal, in Jamaica, that two young men were at dinner with Jonathan, and divers other people of account in the world, and they were speaking about earthquakes (there having been one in that place formerly, which was very dreadful, having destroyed many houses and families). These two young men argued that earthquakes, and all other things, came by nature, and denied a supernatural power, or deity, insomuch that divers, surprised at such wicked discourse, and being ashamed of their company, left it; and at the same time the earth shook, and trembled exceedingly, as though astonished at such treason against its Sovereign and Creator, whose footstool it is: and when the earth thus moved, the company which remained were so astonished, that some run one way, and some another, but these two atheistical young men stayed in the room, and Jonathan with them, he believing that the providence of Almighty God could preserve him there, if he pleased, and if not, that it was in vain to fly; but the hand of God smote these two young men, so that they fell down; and, as Jonathan told me, he laid one on a bed, and the other on a couch, and they never spoke more, but died soon after. This was the amazing end of these young men :" A dreadful example to all atheists, and dissolute and wicked livers. Oh! that young people might be warned, that the hand of God might be upon them for good, and that they would tenderly be concerned for their salvation!

On the 30th of the fourth month, 1723, my tenth child, named Thomas, died about midnight (having before bur. ied nine). It was some exercise to me thus to bury my

children one after another; but this did a little mitigate my sorrow, that I knew that if I could have all things relating to them according to my desire; could I see them grow up to be sober men and women, well married, have a competency in the world &c. yet it was safer and better for them, and they more out of danger, being taken away in their infancy and innocency; and I fervently begged of the Almighty, that he would be pleased to take them away while innocent, rather than that they should live to be vicious or unrighteous men and women, and to bring scandal on the holy name of Christ, and upon our christian profession; which considerations did mightily tend to settle and quiet my mind in my sorrowful exercise. The great Lord of all sanctify the sorrows and afflictions of his people and children, and grant them the fulfilling of that blessed portion of holy scripture, that all things shall work together for the good of them that love and fear God: even so it be, saith my soul.

In the sixth month of this year I removed from the city into the country, to a small plantation I had at Frankfort, in order to be more retired, and for health's sake, &c. finding some declining in my bodily strength, which I take to be very much owing to the severe colds and hardships I have sustained in my long and hard travels, more especially in the wilderness of America; for, without vanity, Imay say, that I always loved temperance, and have been sometimes zealously concerned to preach against intemperance; and though I cannot now take so long journies as I have formerly, my spirit earnestly travels for the welfare of Zion, and the peace and prosperity of all those who love, fear, and serve God, and believe in his Son.

On the 6th day of the eighth month it pleased God to give me another son, whom I named George, after my father, brother, nephew, and king; and though this name is now a great name among men, I considered that no name can preserve life. so I gave him up to the will of him who gave him to me, and desire, if I have no name through children to posterity, I may have a name in the Lamb's book of life, which I have ever esteemed far above a name amongst men.

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