ness, and wicked houses, in which our youth are grossly corrupted and also the Lord is angry with many of the better sort of the people, because they seek after and love the things of this world, more than the things of his kingdom and it was shewed me that the anger of the Most High would still be against us, until there was a greater reformation in these things." It is worthy of commendation, that our governor, Thomas Lloyd, sometimes in the evening, before he went to rest, used to go in person to public houses, and order the people he found there to their own houses, till at length, he was instrumental to promote better order, and did, in a great meas ure, suppress vice and immorality in the city.

For some days after we were at sea, the weather was pleasant, and we had our health, for which my heart was truly thankful. I exhorted the sailors against swearing; and though they had been much used to it, they left it off, so that it was rare to hear any of them swear; for which reformation, so far, I was glad. I lent and gave them several good books, which they read, and shewed much respect to me: but soon after the wind was con trary, for some days, and some in the vessel were quar relsome. I asked them what they thought of the saying of Christ, "If a man smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the other also;" at which they were silent, and bet ter conditioned to one another afterwards, and we had some reformation both from fighting and swearing. This voyage I was not so sea sick as I formerly had been, though I had, before I left home, some uneasy thoughts about my usually being sea sick, which I took as a pecu. liar favour from heaven. About the latitude of 20 degrees north, we met with calms and contrary winds, which was very hard for some in the vessel to bear, they putting themselves much out of temper about it; as for my own part, I had been used to disappointments, and therefore did not so much mind it. I spent pretty much of my time in reading and writing, and God being gra cious, it was, in the main, a comfortable time to me; and I enjoyed my health as well as ever I did at sea in my life, for which I often breathed forth inward thanks to

the Almighty. On the 5th of the third month we arrived at Barbadoes, and I was lovingly received by our friends, but came to a very low market for my goods.

I visited friends' meetings on the island, and had several open meetings at Bridge-town and Speight's-town, and likewise at Pumpkin-hill, and the Spring. On the day of Pentecost (so called) we had a meeting at Bridgetown, in which was shewn the work and operation of God's spirit on the old world, and under the law; and the everlasting duration and operation of the same holy spirit under the gospel dispensation, which Christ said should abide forever. At the quarterly meeting at Speight's-town were Judge Allen, and the captain of the man of war stationed there, with several others, not of our society. I was much drawn forth in this meeting to speak of the power of the Father, Son, and the Spirit, opening to the people how we had been misrepresented in respect to our belief in the Trinity, or the Holy Three which bear record in heaven, the Father, Word, and Spirit, which three are one; for that it was clear and plain that we are more orthodox in our belief in the Deity, than those who do not believe in the operation of the Holy Ghost; as also that none could be true Christians without it. It was queried, how could they be clear in their belief in the Holy Trinity, or the Three that bear record in heaven, who believe the Holy Spirit is ceased in its operations, gifts, or immediate revelations, and, if ceased, when, and where, to whom, and how? The people were very sober and attentive, and stayed all the time, and after the meeting was done some time, divers expressed their satisfaction with what was said. My good friend, Peter Sharp, of Maryland, was with me at this meeting, on whose account some of the people came. He had good service in the meeting, and I was glad of his company in this island, where we joyfully met and parted in the love of Christ. At this meeting we had each of us a certificate from friends, signifying their unity with our conversations and services. The last meeting I had at Barbadoes was at Speight's-town, on a first day. It was a solid, good meeting, in which I

took my leave of friends there, and exhorted them to believe in and hear Christ, he being a teacher that could not be removed from them, as men often were; and, though they were but few, they were desired to meet in Christ's name; and I had to shew them the difference between us and other christian professors, who hold no public worship, if there be no outward teacher: whereas, if but two or three meet in the name of Christ, he has promised to be in the midst of them; and he is the best teacher we can have.

On the 14th of the fourth month we set sail from this island, and, for the most part, had fair weather and fair winds, and saw several ships, but spoke with none.

I was one evening leaning over the side of the vessel, as being very lonesome (having little conversation with any in the vessel, for divers reasons), I turned from all outward things to the Lord, and was glad to feel his presence and goodness, which was a comfort to me in my lonesome state; and as my travels and concerns had called and caused me to be much on the seas, it also pleased my good and gracious God, to support me thereon many times, in divers trials, temptations, and exer. cises; for all which, I bow in awful reverence before him, and return thanksgiving and praise to his great

name.

The 1st of the fifth month, about noon, we came to the capes of Delaware, and sailed up the bay; but, in a little time, we touched the ground with our vessel several times; there being little wind we got no harm; but two hours after, or thereabouts, a gust, or storm of wind, took us, which, if it had met with us on the shoals where we struck, in all likelihood we must have perished; which I took to be a remarkable deliverance. Next tide we got to Newcastle, and. it being first day, I had a meeting with friends there, with which we were greatly refreshed in the Lord, and in one another. After meet ing I went on board the sloop, and, having a fair wind, we sailed for Philadelphia, where we arrived about the eleventh hour, lodged that night at Paul Preston's, and next day went home to my family at Frankfort, where

my wife, children, and servants, received me with much rejoicing.

When I was in Barbadoes, P. M. who accompanied me from Bridgetown to windward to counsellor Weeks', told me, that when I was in the island before, he and I had some discourse concerning the use of the sword, he then, not being of our society, wore a sword, but now had left it off, and his business also, which was worth some hundreds a year. I had reminded him of Christ's words, that, "Those who take the sword, shall perish with the sword," Mat. xxvi. 52. and, "Resist not evil, and if a man smite thee on one cheek, turn the other also: love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you.' After I had used these arguments, he asked me, if one came to kill me, would I not rather kill than be killed? I told him, no; so far as I know my own heart, I had rather be killed than kill. He said, that was strange! and desired to know what reason I could give for it. I told him, that I being innocent, if I were killed in my body, my soul might be happy; but if I killed him, he dying in his wickedness, would consequently be unhappy; and if I were killed, he might live to repent; but if I killed him, he would have no time to repent; so that, if he killed me, I should have much the better, both in -respect to myself and to him. This discourse had made so much impression, and so affected him, that he said, he could not but often remember it. And when we parted at Bridgetown, we embraced each other, in open arms of christian love, far from that which would hurt or destroy.

After I had been at home some time, I visited the meetings at Philadelphia, Burlington, and Germantown, in which places I had service of divers kinds, and was lovingly received by friends and others.

In the fifth month, Joshua Fielding and John Oxley had a large and satisfactory meeting at Frankfort. Joshua came from London, on a religious visit to America, and having been on divers islands, he landed on the main at South-Carolina, and from thence travelled through the B b

wilderness 400 miles, or more, where no public friend had ever travelled before: the journey was perilous, but the Lord was with him; who may, in his own time, make way for his servants in those desert places. John Oxley came on the same account from Barbadoes, and had good service among friends in his public ministry.

In this month we thinking it convenient to send our little children to school, and not having a schoolmaster of our society near us, concluded to put or son and daughter under the care of Nathaniel Walton, to whom I thought it my duty to write a few lines about the salutations and language I would have them trained up in, which were on this wise.

"Frankfort, 30th of the 5th Month, 1727.

Loving Friend, Nathaniel Walton,

And as

"I HOPE thou wilt excuse this freedom which I take with thee, in writing this on account of my children, in the se particulars, viz. Respecting the compliment of the hat, and courtseying, the practice thereof being against my professed principle; 1st. because I find nothing like it in the bible; but, as I think, the contrary. Thou knowest the passage of the three children of God, who stood covered before a mighty monarch; and Mordecai, who could not bow to great Haman: and, 2d. I believe those practices derived from vain, proud man. to language, I desire my children may not be permitted to use the plural language to a single person; but I pray thee to learn them to say thee, and thou, and thy, and to speak it properly, divers using it improperly, and the rather I desire it, because it is all along used in the divine, inspired, holy writings. I suppose thou art not a stranger to its rise, being from the grandeur and apostacy of the Romish church; and also, that you, to a single person, not consonant to the book of God, nor the true rules of grammar. I know it is generally objected, that the end of speech is to be understood; but it is understood better

is