1728. but if that did not work the defigned End, for which ~he vifited them (of which they were told alfo before it came to pass) he then would chaftife them with the Rod of Man, and this was plainly fpoken to me in my own Habitation, as tho' it had been the Voice of a Man, tho' it was not vocal.

The 12th of the Eleventh Month, being Firft-day, I was at Horsham Meeting, and had a tender bowing Time therein; and in my Way home vifited some Friends who were fick, it being a Time of general Vifitation in thofe Parts, and the next Seventh Day I was at the Meeting of Minifters and Elders at Philadelphia, were we had a good Meeting; here I was earnestly defired to be at the Funeral of Edmund OrpBrankfort. wood, the eldest Friend belonging to Frankfort Meeting; but was in a Strait, this Friend, being my Neighbour, and I had before engaged to be at the Burial of one with whom I had been acquainted near 40 Years, therefore I did my Endeavour to be at both, being each of them buried in the Afternoon, and five Miles diftant; the Days being fhort alfo, divers told me it was impracticable; I told them they might be mistaken, as they were, for though we had a large Meeting, and the Company of Rowland Wilfon, from Britain, who had large and good Service therein, yet after Meeting we mounted and got to Philadelphia, about a Quarter of an Hour after the Corps was brought into the Meeting-houfe, as I was informed; we had a large, and as I thought, a good Meeting, after which I went home, being weary in my Body, but thankful in my Heart, that the Almighty had been with us, and helped us to perform that Day's Service.

On the 20th of the Eleventh Month, and Secondday of the Week, I went into a Piece of Ground (which I was clearing for Meadow) in order to give Directions to the Workmen, and one of the Trees fell contrary to the Kerf, and alfo to the Wind, which was then at North Weft, and when I faw it falling towards

wards me, I ran from it, but before I could get out of 1728. the Way it fell upon me, across my Back, from my Shoulder to my Hips, and ftruk me down to the Earth, where for fome Time I lay speechlefs, and in all Likelihood I should have been immediately killed, if I had not been providentially preferved by the Body of the falling Tree lying on a Stump, which prevented its crushing me, as I lay on the Ground. A Friend that was near me with a Horfe, defired the Wood-cutters (when they were recovered from the Surprize, and I to the Ufe of my Speech) to help me on his Horse, and I rode home, but in extreme Mifery, and I was under great Concern, left I fhould furprize my Wife and Children fuddenly. We fent to Philadelphia for Dr. Griffith Owen, who came in about two Hours, and let me Blood, and ordered feveral Things to be apply'd and taken, which thro' divine Favour proved very serviceable to me; notwithstanding which I was in great Pain many Days, and long and tedious Nights, not being able either to feed myself, nor turn in my Bed, for a great while. In this Confinement I was at Times favoured with a very comfortable Sense of the Prefence of God, whofe Providence is over all his Works; and as his Love to me was great, fo the Love of his People was alfo, many of whom, and of my Neighbours, came to fee me, fympathifing with me in my Diftrefs; but among them I had one of Job's Comforters, who wickedly abused me in this low State. I can fcarce forbear mentioning his Name, having Example for it in holy Writ, but through the Lord's Help I'll put on Charity.

The 9th of the Twelfth Month, I got abroad the first Time to our Meeting at Frankfort, with which divers expreffed their Gladness to see me there again. In this Meeting I exhorted them to think on Eternity, and to prepare for it, by living To-day as tho' they were to die To-morrow; for I found it by Experience to be needful, and then if sudden Death comes, it will not furprize us.

As

1728.

At Sea

As I now found it continue my Bufinefs to go to Sea for a Livelihood, I undertook the Charge of the Ship New Bristol Hope, as Mafter, tho' it was a Way of Living to which I did not incline; I took Care in our Veffel that there fhould be no Swearing in my Hearing, nor Drunkenness to my Knowledge, without Reproof, and if I could not be inftrumental that Way to break them from Swearing and drinking to Excefs, my Manner was, to put them away, fo that we generally had a pretty quiet Ship. We left Philadelphia the 13th of the Twelfth Month, but Storms and contrary Winds detained us in the River and Bay, fo that we did not get out to Sea till the 21ft of the faid Month, when the Pilot left us, by whom I wrote to my Wife and Family; and now I thought I felt the Benefit of the good Wishes of my beloved and dear Friends I left behind, which did me a great deal of Good, as it often hath done on the like Ŏccafion; for faithful Friends, and good Chriftians, are as Epiftles written in one anothers Hearts.-In our Paffage we took several Dolphins, which were very welcome to us, we having a long Paffage, and our fresh Provifions near spent. The 19th of the First Month we faw the Barbadoes. Iland of Barbadoes, having had feveral Meetings on board the Ship in this Voyage, the good Effects I could fee but little of, only for that Day they would be a little more fober, and fome of them addicted to Swearing, did not fwear fo often as they did before. Spright's The Day following we fafely arrived at Speight's-Town, where we had the next Day a very comfortable Meeting for the divine Worship of God. The Fifth Day following I was at Bridge-town, at their Week-daymeeting; and next Firft-day (being the 30th of the Month) I was at a Meeting at Pumpkin-bill, where I was enlarged in the Doctrine of Faith.

Town.

Bridge
Town.

After this I went to the Bridge with a Friend from New-England; we had two good Meetings, it being the General-meeting for the Friends of the Inland, and afterwards

afterwards I with several Friends went again to Speight's 1729. Town, and on the 12th of the Second Month, I was at the Thicket's-meeting, at which was Counsellor Weeks, Thicker'sColonel Charnock, and Justice Sims; I dined with them meeting. at Judge Week's, and they difcourfed of what was faid in the Meeting about Dancing, I quoting Luther's Words, That as many Paces as the Perfon takes in the Dance, fo many Paces or Steps they take towards Hell:' And I told them, that I had heard feveral had used that vain Exercise in our Meetinghoufe, which was appointed for the Worship of God, and I said, I hoped for the future it would be fo no more; two of thofe Perfons who danced in our Meeting-house, were then in the Meeting, tho' I did not know it. This Teftimony fo wrought on the Colonel, that he faid, he could fcarcely feel his Legs fince I Spoke it; and the Juftice faid, if thefe Words be true, be bad taken many Steps towards Hell, and the Counsellor and Judge faid, it was home Doctrine to fome that were there: Divers of them feemed to be touched with the Testimony of Truth, though not fo folidly as I defired. Soon after I went with Joshua Byrch to visit the Governor of the Inland, Colonel Worley, who treated us with much Freedom and Civility; he defired me to fit down by him, and then called for a Decanter of Wine, of which he kindly offered me a Glass, but I told him I chiefly drank Water; he said Water is certainly the beft Drink in the World, and told me I was a Credit to my Drink, as I looked as well or better than most who drank Wine,

In the Second Month I was at a Meeting on a Firstday at Bridge-town, which was fomewhat larger than Bridge ufual; it was a good open Time in the Morning, but To more fo in the Afternoon. At this Meeting there was a Merchant of the Town, who fent to know if our Friends (he not being of our Profeffion) would make a Contribution for me, in confideration of my Loffes. He faid he would contribute as much as any, altho' he

had

1729. had heard me only that one Time; but he was informed that we received no Money no Pay for our Preaching; yet his Good-will I acknowledged.

Spring:

Speight's
Jorn

I was

The 4th of the Third Month I was at a Meeting at the Spring, where I met with Jofeph Gamble, and John Oxley and his Wife, and feveral others, not belonging to this particular Meeting, and we were edified together in the Love and Life of Chrift. concerned to speak of the divers Vifitations and Speakings of God to the People fince the World began ; quoting the Words of holy Writ, That, God who Spake to the Fathers by the Prophets, fpeaks now in thofe laft Days by his Son, whom he hath appointed Heir of all Things And that this Difpenfation is the laft and brightest Difpenfation of all, and is the greatest and moft glorious Manifeftation of God's Love to Mankind; and that befides this vocal Speaking of Chrift, when in the Body on Earth, he now fpeaks fpiritually; which spiritual Speaking of Chrift, in and to the true Church, and true Believers, will out-laft Time, and endure to all Eternity; the great Lord of all, for his unfpeakable Benefit therein, was praifed and glorified, as being alone worthy.

I had divers other Meetings on the Island, which I pafs by, not being willing to be prolix. After a Stay of about nine Weeks we propofed failing. Judge Gray, a very noted Man, and much efteemed among the People, took Paffage with us; alfo Joshua Byrch, of Bridge-Town, for his Health, and William Callender, and several others, as Merchants.-Though I came on Account of Trade, our Friends gave me a Certificate that I had good Service among them, and in my outward Affairs had gained Esteem among the People, as well as in my Service in preaching Chrift; all which I acknowledge to be the Effects of divine Grace: Divers Friends and Acquaintance came to the Sea-fhore at Speight's Town, and in a great deal of tender Chriftian Love, and good Defires, we took leave, and committed