unrighteousness. Oh! that New England's professors might live in the sense of the same, and repent. I being a stranger and traveller, could not but observe the barbarous and unchristianlike welcome I had into Boston, the metropolis of New England. "Oh! what pity," said one," it "was, that all of your society were not hanged "with the other four!"* In the eastern part of New England, God hath a seed left of his people.

From thence I returned in order to get a passage to the isle of Nantucket; and from a place called Cushnet, we sailed over to the said island in about ten hours, where we tarried several days, and had five meetings. The people did generally acknowledge to the truth, and many of them were tender-hearted. Some of the ancient people said, that it was never known that so many people were together on the island at once. After the first meeting was over, one asked the minister (so called) whether we might have a meeting at his house; he said, with a good will, we might. This minister had some discourse with me, and asked what induced me to come thither, being such a young man. I told him that I had no other view in coming there, than the good of souls, and that I could say with the apostle, that a necessity was laid upon me, and wo would be to me if I did not

* Marmaduke Stephenson, William Robinson, Mary Dyer, and William Leddra, who were put to death in 1659 and 1660.

you

preach the gospel. "Then," said he, "I wish would preach at my house in God's name." So next day we had a meeting at his house; and on the first-day we had the largest meeting that we had on the island. It was thought here were about two hundred people. The Lord in his power did make his truth known to the praise of his name. Oh! how was my soul concerned for that people! the Lord Jesus did open my heart to them, and theirs to him: they were also loving and kind to us. The chief magistrate of the island desired that I would have a meeting at his house, there being no settled meeting of Friends before I came; and after meeting he disputed about religion with me. I thought we were both but poor disputants; and I cannot remember all that passed between us, but that, in the close of our dispute, he said, "I disputed with your Friends in Barbadoes, and they told me, That we must eat the spiritual flesh, and drink the spiritual blood of Christ: and," said the governor, "Did ever any one hear of such flesh and blood; for is it not a contradiction in nature, that flesh and blood should be spiritual?" "O, surely," said I," the governor hath forgot himself; for what flesh and blood was that which Christ said, 'Except ye eat my flesh, and drink my blood, ye have no life in you.' 66 Why," said he, "I do not think they were to gaaw it from his arms and shoulders." Then I told him he had answered himself. Thus, our dispute ended. And from that time forward they

have continued a meeting, and there is now a meeting-house, and a yearly-meeting for worship; it is a growing meeting to this day, and several public friends are raised up among them, who preach the gospel of Christ freely.

At this time a friend was convinced, whose name was Starbuck, who became very serviceable, and lived and died an eminent minister of Christ on that island. Several scores of them came and accompanied us to the water-side; and when we embarked on board our sloop, they desired that I would come and visit them again. So I recommended them to the grace of our Lord Jesus, and we parted in great love and tenderness. In the evening of the next day we got to the main land, where we were gladly received. Now it was in my heart again to visit the eastern parts of New England before I left America; therefore I went to Boston yearly meeting, thence to Lynn and Salem, where we had a sweet comfortable time; likewise to the yearly meeting at Dover, and so to Piscataway, where we had several meetings, which were profitable opportunities to many. From Piscataway, James Goodbridge and I went over to the Isle of Shoals; we had with us a church member of the Presbyterians, whose brother invited her over with us to the said island, to the meeting which was at his house; and while he was talking with her in the yard or garden, I saw a bible, and took it, and read therein. When she came into the house she asked me what I did

with that book; I told her, if she was offended I would lay it down. "No, no," said she, "Do not think to come off so, for you disown or deny that book." I told her she was mistaken, and asked, Who told her so." Why," said she, "our minister in his pulpit." I replied, that it was a great abuse upon us, for I had been trained up from my childhood in the reading and belief of the scriptures, and my father and mother were friends (that is Quakers). She willing to try me further, said, "Did your father and mother suffer you to read the bible when you were a little boy?" "Yes," said I, "and gave me correction when I was not so willing to read therein as they would have me." "Then," said she, "our minister has belied you; and since you say so, if it please God, I will go and hear you." She went with us to meeting, and after it was over, going home, one asked her, how she would answer it to their minister, for going to meeting; she replied, it was truth she had heard, and she would stand by it through the grace of Christ, and need not be ashamed of it (though we are of ourselves but poor weak creatures.) This woman was sober and religious, and one of good report. By the foregoing we may see how slanders flow from some pulpits; the more is the shame and pity. We went on and preached the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in that ability he gave us, with which the people were affected, and would have had us tarry longer, but we could not, (although they much.

importuned us, because we had appointed a meeting at Oyster River. After we had had several meetings about. Piscataway and Dover, we went to Hampton, where we had meetings; and at Salisbury we had a large open meeting, as it was supposed, of about three hundred people, (which was at this time accounted a great concourse of people thereabouts ;) also at Jamaica and Haverill we had meetings, and from thence went to Salem and Lynn again, where we had good service for truth; and then to Boston, and had a meeting at the meeting-house, and another at a friend's house in the evening, at which there were many people. From Boston I went to visit Friends about Cape Cod, till I came again to Rhode Island. By the way I met with Aaron Atkinson, who was on a visit to Friends in New England. I had several good opportunities, and powerful meetings, in those parts, and truth wrought a tenderness in divers at Rhode Island. The presence of Him, who said, "Where two or three are gathered to66 gether in my name, there am I in the midst of (6 them," being sensibly witnessed by many; for he was with us of a truth. From thence I went round the Narraganset country, and had meetings at several places, and was accompanied by John Rodman and William Beackley, through Connecticut to Long Island, which is accounted two hundred miles. We had one meeting by the way, in which Christ was preached to them, as he is the light of the world, at a place where we were