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Hearts being filled with the Love of Chrift, we fo 1724. prevailed upon the differing Perfons, that they gave each other Satisfaction, with Hopes that they fhould live in Love for the future; and Friends of the Place greatly rejoiced at the End of that Difference. As I went along this Town, fome Friends told me of a religious People fome few Miles diftant, whom they defired I would have a Meeting with. I defired them to see if it would be granted, and let me know; which was done, and we had a Meeting, and were kindly received, and the divine Nature of the Gofpel of Chrift was freely opened to them, and in great Love we parted from one another. I travelled in this Jour ney about two Hundred Miles; and when I came Home, my dear Wife and Family gladly received me with Hearts full of Love: And this Teftimony I think proper, for feveral folid Reafons, to leave behind me of my virtuous and loving Wife, That since we were married, fhe never hindered me in that Service my great Mafter called me unto, in all the Time of our living together: We always parted, for the Sake of the Gofpel of Chrift, in pure Love, and in the fame Love we always met again.

Soon after this Time I met with feveral great Loffes by Sea and Land, and myself and my little Daughter were dangerously fick, fo that our Recovery feem'd doubtful; yet through the Mercy of God, we both recovered, for which I praife his Name.

Creek.

After fome Stay at Home, I was again moved in the Love of Chrift, to vifit the General-meetings of Duck-Creek and Salem. At Duck-Creek we had a large and fatisfactory Meeting: From Duck-Creek I ap- Duck pointed a Meeting at George's Creek, which was a good George's Meeting. The next Morning we went over to Elfin Creek. burgh, and fo on to Cobanfie, where I met with two of Cobany my Fellow-labourers in the Work of Chrift, Thomas Lightfoot and Benjamin Kid. We had a Meeting together at Cobanfie, in which the People were exhorted

to

Greek.

Salem.

1724. to Sobriety and juft Dealing. The contrary of both is too obvious at fuch Times as Fairs; there being divers of the Fair People there as well as others, the Nature of Chrift's Work in the Heart, was somewhat spoke to, but not fo open a Meeting as fome others, the People thereaway being too flack and dull as to Alloway's Religion. Next Day we had a Meeting at AllowaysCreek, where we all three had fome pretty close Work; and from thence we went to the General-meeting ac Salem, which was larger than common, on account of the faid Friend (Benjamin Kid's) being there; who, in the Love of Chrift came from England, to visit the Churches in this Part of the World. There were fo many Friends and others here at this Time, that fome Houses were so filled, that there was not Room for all that came to lodge there. After this Meeting I return'd Home, and in a few Days went into ChesterCounty, and travelled above 100 Miles; and when I Frankfort, came Home I understood, that fome for Want of a true Sense of the Work of Chrift, had been cenfuring me for my Travelling and hard Labour in the Work of the Ministry of the Gofpel of Chrift; though, by the fame Rule of judging, the Apostles of Chrift, and our ancient Friends, who travelled much, cannot escape their Cenfure; for in all my Travels, I have had an especial Regard to the Unity of the Brethren, and never knowingly went abroad without it: But let this Caution be recorded for the Inftruction of all fuch forward Judges; let them be careful of judging Chrift's Servants, left their Words become their Burden: Judge not, that ye be not judged (faith our great Lord) for with what Judgment ye judge, ye fhall be judged.

Abington

Germanporen

Soon after my Return from Chefter-County, I was at a Marriage at Abington, which was one of the most folemn I have been at; and on the 15th of the Third Month, at the Youth's Meeting at German-town, to my great Satisfaction; and on the 23d of the fame Month, I went to the General-meeting of Ministers

and

Burlington.

and Elders at Burlington; at which Meeting, feveral 1724. Things relating to the Gospel-miniftry were declared; as its being a free, a clear, and a powerful Ministry, reaching to the Confcience, and convincing of the Danger of continuing in Sin: And divine Charity was much recommended, without which, All Miniftry is but as founding Brass, &c. From this Meeting I went with Walter Herbert, into Rucks-County, and at NeShaminy we had an open, tender Meeting. From thence I went to Buckingham, and was at a Marriage of a Son Buckingand Daughter in-law of Thomas Canby's. The Meet- ham, ing was large, and Friends well fatisfied; and it was obfervable, tho' I was very hoarfe, thro' a Cold I had taken, and could hardly fpeak in common Converfation, yet it was much taken away in my Ministry, so that I was carried thro? the Service to our Admiration, for which I was truly thankful. After this Meeting I returned Home with true Satisfaction, fuch as is much more valuable than Silver and Gold, two mighty Idols in the World.

Wales.

After a little Stay at Home I went on a First Day Frankfort. to North Wales or Gwinneed, where was a pretty large NorthMeeting, many young People being there, to whom I was concern'd to fhew, that Chrift is the Way by which we must come into the true Church, thro' Regeneration, and that all who invent other Ways are Thieves and Robbers. I rode twenty-five Miles that Day, and the next Day came to Frankfort, and was at the Burial of an antient Friend, Joan Orpwood, at which our Friend John Salkeld was, with whom I was the next Day at Philadelphia, at our Third Day Meeting, which was a good Meeting.

On the 4th Day of the Fourth Month, intending foon to take a Journey to Long-Island, I thought it a proper Time to alter my Will, as I had kept one by me for divers Years before, confidering the Uncertainty of Life. On the 5th of the Fourth Month I went to Merion to vifit an antient Friend, John Roberts, Merion.

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1724. who was fick near unto Death, where I again met with John Salkeld. The Friend expreffed his Satisfaction in this Vifit, and we had a Reward of Peace in the Exercise of that Chriftian Duty of Vifiting the Sick, which is recommended by the Apoftle to the primitive Churches of Chrift. After we had been fome Time with our faid fick Friend, we went to the Meeting which had been appointed for us feveral Days before, and was large and fatisfactory; for which favourable Vifitation we bleffed the great Name of the Almighty, and parted tenderly in Chriftian Love and Good-will. The Friend we went to vifit died the next Day. He was a Helper of the Poor, and a Maker of Peace in the Neighbourhood: Of fuch, Chrift faid, Blessed are the Peace-makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.

An Epiftle to Friends in Barbadocs.

On the 10th of the Fourth Month 1724, I had a Concern to write the following Epistle to Friends in the Island of Barbadoes.

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Frankfort, the 10th of the 4th Month, 1724.

Dear Friends,

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N the tender Love of God, our heavenly Father, and of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, do I, your Brother, at this Time greet you, and wish you Health and Salvation. Understanding by a concerned Friend, that of late feveral of our Friends are taken • away from you by Death, a Concern came on my Mind to put you in Remembrance of your latter • End, and of the Caufe of Chrift; and alfo, of the Profperity of his bleffed Light and Truth in your (in that Refpect, poor, tho' in fome others, rich and • luxurious) Inand: The Pofterity of many that have ⚫ been taken away there, as well as in divers other Places, having gone aftray; and that it may not be fo with those who are left behind, let a weighty ConO dear Friends! let your cern come upon you. • Practices

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Practices and Expreffions, manifeft to the rifing Ge- 1724. neration, that the Welfare of their Souls, more than of their Bodies, is at Heart with you; and do not indulge them in that which you in yourselves were 'convinc'd to be of an evil Tendency, when your Hearts were firft reached by the Power of Truth. How many Youths have been loft, thro' the Loofenefs of the Example of their Elders, and thro' an ' undue Indulgence of them in Vanity, Folly, Pride, and Idleness! Woful Experience doth but too much declare that they are many: O they are many indeed, who have been loft by so doing! Wherefore dear Friends, clear yourselves of your Children ; and, if they will obftinately go aftray, faithfully bear your Teftimony against them, in Life, Doc'trine, or Expreffions and Converfation, which will witnefs for you when you are dead and gone, and 'your Heads laid in the filent Grave. Thus will your Youth, thro' the Bleffing of God, and your 'Endeavours, come up in your Places, or at least you will be clear, and their Blood will be upon their own Heads. A pure ftrict Watch is required of you in Converfation, in all thofe Relations: First, That God may be glorify'd. Secondly, That your Children may be exampled. Thirdly, That your Neighbours may be edify'd, or built up in pure Religion: And Fourthly, That you may die in Peace 'with him that created you, and died for you; remembring the bleffed Doctrine of Chrift Jefus, Let your Light fo fhine before Men, that others feeing your good Works, may glorify your Father which is in Heaven. And again, You are as a City Jet on a Hill, which cannot be bid. And as you thus train up your Children in the Way which they fhould go, when they are young, you may have Reason to hope they will not depart from it when they are old; for many have been convinced of the Truth, as it is in Jefus Chrift, thro' the good Converfation of his Followers.

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