Garrison's, and here I was much concerned to promote the settlement of a monthly meeting, for the well ordering of the affairs of our Society.

might not have another opportunity of seeing. He met me with gladness, and told me it was their meeting day; so I staid, and was much comforted and tendered by the power of We swam our horses over Egg Harbour Christ; after which I came home that night. river, and went over ourselves in canoes, and On the next first-day after my return I afterwards had a meeting at Richard Sum- went to Philadelphia, and then to a yearly mers', which was as large as could be ex-meeting in Chester county, held at Goshen; pected, considering the people live at such a distance from each other.

though the season was wet, this was a large, good meeting; at which there were three The next meeting we had at John Scull's; young men, who had lately been called to the on first-day we had a large one at Peter work of the ministry, whom I was glad to White's; on second-day at Japhet Leeds'; hear declare the truth in the power and simand then we went five miles through a marsh plicity of the gospel of Christ, being of the to Little Egg Harbour river, and had a meet- mind of Moses, when he said, in answer to ing in their meeting house on the fourth-day Joshua, "Would God that all the Lord's peoof the week, and 11th day of the month, ple were prophets, and that the Lord would which was larger by the addition of the own-put of his spirit upon them." After this ers, masters, and mariners, of two sloops meeting I went to Springfield, and the next from New-York, who, hearing of the meeting, day returned home. came to it. Next day we had another meet- On the 22nd of the fourth month I went ing at the same place, and lodged at Jarvis to the marriage of John Lee's daughter, at Faro's. After these two meetings I left Egg Springfield, in Chester county. I was conHarbour, accompanied by several Friends, cerned to speak mostly to the young people, and travelled about forty miles before we advising them to seek the Lord in that great came to any house. In the evening we affair of marriage, that they be careful on reached a Friend's house, where we were whom they set their affections, and not to kindly entertained, and next morning got to draw out one another's minds, if they did not Burlington, and so home, where I found all intend an honourable marriage; reminding well, and was thankful therefor to the Al- them of the ill tendency of courting several mighty. In this journey I travelled about at a time, or suffering several to court at three hundred miles, had twenty-one meet- once, and that they be chaste and true in ings, and was from home about three weeks. their proceedings, duly regarding the advice In the third month I staid at and about of the apostle, "Be not unequally yoked;" home, visiting the meetings at Philadelphia, for all such marriages are unequal, when Germantown, Abington, and Frankford. those who marry are of different principles In the fourth month I left my family, and of religion. The meeting ended with tender went back in the woods as far as Oley. I supplication for preservation through whatever was from home nine days, travelled about exercises, further troubles or trials, temptaone hundred and fifty miles, and had six tions or afflictions, we might meet with in the meetings at Oley, Perkiomen, and divers other places, chiefly in barns and open places, there being large companies of people, and few meeting houses yet built in those parts of the country. In this journey I suffered much On the receipt of the last letter from my through the heat. The first meeting was at dear father, which I some time since menthe iron works settled a little beyond a place tioned, I was apprehensive it might be his called Mount Misery. I was concerned for last, which it proved to be; for the next letter those people, having heard of their rude from my dear brother gave me intelligence of doings before I left my habitation; and al- his death, which I received the 25th of the though some were rude, others behaved them- fourth month this year. The news of my selves soberly, and expressed their thank- dear father's decease took such hold of my fulness for that visitation, as I do for the mind, though I daily expected it, that for opportunity I had of clearing myself to them. some time I was hardly sociable. Oh! how On my return homewards, I crossed Schuyl- have I been sometimes comforted in his lovkill, and went to Samuel Nutt's iron works, ing and tender epistles! at the receipt of where I had a large, quiet, solid meeting; and which I have cried to the Lord, that if it the next day called to see my old friend pleased him, I might have a double portion of David Meredith, who being about eighty- the spirit which he gave to my father. But nine years of age, I thought it probable I now I must never hear more from him in this VOL. VI.-No. 2.

world, that so we might end well at last, and live for ever to praise and glorify God and the Lamb, who, through the holy, eternal Spirit, is worthy forever.

9

world; yet in this I have some inward com- our relations, I conclude with earnest desires fort, that I hope we shall meet where we shall for thy health and welfare, never part. Here follows a part of my affectionate brother's account of my father's death and burial.

time, the magistrates observing their Christian Our father's old age was attended with courage, boldness, and innocency, and being touched with tenderness towards them, considering their youth, discharged them.

My father about the twenty-fifth year of his age, married my mother, a virtuous young woman, who was the widow of Nathaniel Harding, a Friend who died under the sentence of banishment for his profession of Christ; the above account I had from my father's own mouth; what follows fell within my own observation.

very great exercises: about his seventy-se venth year, as he was assisting his men in the dusk of the evening, he missed his footing, fell down and broke his leg; and soon after his leg was well, he met with another accident by a fall, which disabled him, and made him lame to his death, never recovering the hurt, which was after this manner; he was sitting in a chair by his door, on a plank, which not being set fast, it fell, and he, to save himself from the stroke of the plank, My dear father met with great exercises fell with his hip on the stones, and got hurt and disappointments in his early days; he, exceedingly. Notwithstanding this, he was dealing in his father's business, sold meal to remarkable for his activity; he would walk, some who broke in his debt, which brought though so aged, and also lame, as far as the him low in the world, in which low estate he work house, Devonshire house, and Bull and was an eminent example of patience, resigna- Mouth meetings, two or three miles from tion, and industry, labouring with his hands home. The last bad accident that befel him for the support of his family, and conscien- was about three weeks before his death, when, tiously answering all his engagements; so being walking in the timber yard, a single that it may be justly said of him, he was plank which stood against a pile, fell down, careful that he might owe nothing to any and striking him on his side, threw him down. man but love. He was very constant in He complained not much of the blow till keeping to meetings, being a good example about a week after, when he was taken with therein, though in very hot times of persecu- a violent pain in his side, on the place where tion; for when Friends were sorely and se- he received the stroke, and when his cough verely persecuted on account of keeping their took him, with which he was often troubled, religious meetings, and the prisons filled with the pain was very great. Through the means them through the nation, and their goods used for his relief, he received some ease, the taken away, and much spoil and havoc made pain of his side abated, and the cough went about the years 1680 to 1684, my father con- off; but a violent flux followed, and brought stantly attended meetings, and never missed, him very low, so that it was thought he could as I remember, when well. He was some- not continue long; but he revived. He contimes concerned to speak by way of exhorta- tinued all the time of his illness in a patient tion to Friends in their public meetings, when and resigned frame of mind; on first-day, in they were kept out of their meeting houses, the afternoon, he took his bed, being the 6th by the then powers, to stand faithful to the of the first month, and in the evening, after truth and testifying of the solid comfort and the afternoon meeting, which was the firstsatisfaction those had who truly waited on the day before his death, several Friends came to Lord, which the faithful enjoyed, notwith- visit him, who finding him very weak, after a standing their deep and many sufferings for little stay went to take their leave of him, Christ's sake and his gospel; and it pleased whom he desired to sit down, and after some the Lord to preserve him by his divine provi- time of silence, he broke forth in declaration dence, that he did not suffer imprisonment, in an intelligible and lively manner, to this though the wicked informers were very busy effect, saying, "We have no continuing city in that time of severe persecution. I may fur- here, but seek one to come, which hath foun ther add, that when my father was about sixty dations, whose builder and maker is God: years of age, he had a concern to visit Friends Friends, may we all labour to be prepared in the north of England, and some other parts for our last and great change, that when this of the nation; and in the seventy-fifth year earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved, we may of his age he travelled to Chester, and from have an habitation with the Lord, a building thence, in company with James Bates, a pub- not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. lic Friend of Virginia, went over for Ireland; And that it might be thus, the Lord hath in all which services he had good satisfaction, showed thee, Oh! man, what is good, viz: and was well received of Friends: divers To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly other journies and travels he performed, not here noted; but this journey into another nation at seventy-five years of age, shows that age had not quenched his love and zeal for his Lord's work and service.

with thy God. I do not expect but that this will be the last night I shall have in this world, and I desire these things may be remembered, as the words of a dying man; Oh! that we may labour to be clothed upon

with our house that is from heaven, so that ing short testimony concerning my dear and when the finishing hour comes, we may have greatly beloved father, George Chalkley, viz: nothing to do but to die." About one or two o'clock the next morning, he began to change, and desired to see me; I came to him and found him very sensible, but expected his end quickly to approach; he saying he was waiting for his change. About the fourth hour in the morning he prayed fervently after this manner: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. Thou hast given thy Son, a light to enlighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel; and now, Lord be with thy people and servants, and preserve my near and dear relations, and keep them from the snares and temptations of the enemy, that in thy truth they may fear thy great name."

I have a great deal in my heart, more than I can write concerning my dear father's life, it having been a remarkable life to me from my youth up. His early care of me, and counsel to me, when I was too thoughtless and wild, melts me into tears now in the remembrance of it; and my tender mother was a partner with him in the same exercise, and she died in like peace. The last words I heard her speak were, I long to be dissolved. And as to my tender father, I would record a little briefly in memory of him, that he was a true and faithful servant of Christ, and a tender and affectionate husband. I lived at home with my parents about twenty years: their life was a life of peace and love, and they were an excellent example to us their children. Oh! may we follow them therein to the end!

He had a fatherly care for his children, in tender prayers for us, and in good advice to us, and in giving us learning according to his ability, and teaching us by his example, as well as precept, industry, humility, and the true religion of our blessed Saviour, endea

stroy the evil root of sin in us, while young. I was his servant as well as his son, and I can truly say his service was delightful, and his company pleasing and profitable to me; and he was also beloved much by his other servants. He was universally beloved by his neighbours, and I do not remember any dif ference between him and them, in the many years I lived with him; but all was peace and love.

After a little time of silence he desired me to remember his dear love, in the life of Christ Jesus, to my dear brother, Thomas Chalkley, in Pennsylvania, and to all his old friends and acquaintance. After some time he spoke cheerfully out aloud, so that all in the room might hear him, “I shall go off about five;" his man said, "Master, how dost know?" To which he answered, "I do not know, but Ivouring to plant it in us betimes, and to debelieve it." About noon, the apothecary, one of his neighbours, among whom he was well beloved, came to see him, and asked him how he was? Father answered, that for three or four hours in the night he thought he should have gone. Why, said he, it will be no surprise to you, I hope. No, no, said my father, very cheerfully. He taking leave of father, said, the Lord be with you. To whom he answered, and with thee also. The doctor having ordered him a cordial to drink, he drank it willingly, and then said, I do not think to drink any more in this world; but I hope I shall drink plentifully of the river of life. Finding his strength fail, there being a cord at the bed's feet, he raised himself up Our general meeting held at Frankford the thereby as long as he had strength; when 30th of fourth month, was large, our friend last lifted up, he spoke very low and faulter-William Pigot, from London, being there, in ing, and said, now I am going, and about an the course of his visit to Friends in America, hour after, laying all the while without sigh and had close work and good service. or groan, departed this life, as in a slumber, In the fifth month, 1726, I visited the meetin sweet peace, just as the clock struck five, ings of Friends at Philadelphia, Germantown, in the enjoyment of that legacy which our Byberry and Frankford, and had very comSaviour left his followers; "My peace I leave fortable satisfaction. My testimony was somewith you," &c., leaving us, of the succeeding times pretty sharp to transgressors, and theregeneration, a good example to follow. He fore some of them hate me, as the Jews did died like a lamb, in the eighty-fourth year my great Master; because I was concerned of his age, the 7th day of the first month, to testify, that their deeds were evil, and to 1725-6.

GEORGE CHALKLEY.

He was very loving to his relations, and true to his friends, and a hearty well wisher and lover of his king and country.

THOMAS CHALKLEY.

excite my friends to manifest a Christian zeal, by openly denying ungodly men, while they continue in their ungodly works; but when

To which account I shall add the follow-they become truly penitent, and reform their

lives, the arms of Christ and his church, will be open to receive them.

served in my travels in any other of the British plantations; and there hath long been a desire in my mind that they might prosper in the work of true and thorough reformation. A godly fear and concern being upon me, I have sometimes put them in mind of the state of this land, when their fathers first came and settled in it; and cautioned them against growing careless, and forgetting the Lord, lest he should forsake them, and turn their now "fruitful fields into a barren wilderness," as this was so lately; which it is easy with him to do, if he pleases, for the sins of the people.

Being under some melancholy thoughts, because some persons for whom I wished well, and to whom I had been of service, were so envious and malicious as to tell false stories of me, tending to defame me; as I was riding to our meeting, it opened with satisfaction to my mind, the more my enemies hate me, the more I will love, if that can be. I had hearty desires to come up in the practice of this resolution; and I then thought I should come up with them all, for if a man loves and prays for his enemies, if they are gained, he is instrumental to their good, and After my return home, I visited Abington so hath cause of rejoicing; and if they are youths' meeting, and the meetings at Philadel not gained, he heaps coals of fire upon their phia and Chester. At Chester I was conheads; so that every true Christian, by keep-cerned to direct the people to that power in ing under the cross of Christ, and in the practice of his doctrine, gets the better of his enemies.

In the beginning of the sixth month, I was at the burial of Robert Fletcher, a worthy man, and one universally beloved by all sorts of people, as far as ever I heard. There was a large meeting at his funeral, wherein several testimonies suitable to the occasion were borne: some of his last words were mentioned, which were, that he had lived according to the measure of grace given him. The doctrine of the resurrection was maintained according to the Scripture, and the people were exhorted to prepare for their final change. The death of this Friend was a loss to the country, to our Society, and to his neighbours, as well as to his family and friends.

themselves, which is the life of religion, and exhorted them to be careful not to rest in the best forms without it; for if we had only the form of godliness, and had not the life and power of it, it might be as reasonable for people to turn away from us, as it was for our forefathers to turn away from other societies. In the seventh month I was at our yearly meeting held at Burlington, for the provinces of New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, which was a very large meeting, there being Friends from New-England, Rhode Island, and Europe.

First-day morning I went to Evesham, to the burial of our serviceable friend Jervice Stockdale; he being in good esteem, there was much people. The meeting was in a good, tender frame, and continued several hours, in After meeting I travelled towards Uwch- which divers testimonies were delivered, in land, had a meeting there on first-day; on order to stir up people to truth and righteoussecond-day, one at Lewis Walker's, and on ness, and godly living, that they might die third-day was at the general meeting at Hav-well. I lodged the night before at Peter erford. Friends were exhorted to dwell in Fearon's, and in the morning I was awaked the love of God, one towards another; for if they lost their love they would lose their religion, their peace, and their God; for "God is love, and those that dwell in God, dwell in love."

My neighbour, Daniel Worthington, accompanied me in this rough travel, some part of the way being hilly, and very stony and bushy, and the weather wet. We had four meetings, and rode about fourscore miles; and though I had travelled much in this province, I had never been at some of those places before. A few nights before I set out, I had a plain prospect of them in a dream, as I saw them afterwards, which I thought somewhat remarkable.

The people inhabiting this province are now become numerous, and make many settlements in the woods, more than I have ob

out of my sleep, as it were by a voice, expressing these words: "He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die." This I took to be the voice of Christ; I do not know that it was vocal, but it was as plain as if it were. From these expressions I had to observe to the people, the happy state and privilege of those who live and believe in Christ, and that such must not live in sin.

During the time of our yearly meeting, some rude people came up the river in a small sloop, provided by them for that purpose, and spent their time in drinking, carousing, and firing of guns, to the grief and concern of Friends, who were religiously discharging their duty, in serving and worshipping the Almighty. It is observable, that one of these disorderly persons had his hand shot off at that time, and that the chief promoters