Lords of the immoral land (The Corshan Quadrilogy Book 1)

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His son John joined the Royal Navy and rose to become an admiral. If you fancy a quick trip to Northumbria you can nab some cheese to celebrate. I think Grating the Peel saves Trouble, and does it finer and thinner than you can shred or beat it: But you must beat up the Butter and Sugar with it, and the Eggs with all, to mix them well. Approximately two million people joined their hands to form a human chain spanning over kilometres mi across the three Baltic states — Estonian SSR, Latvian SSR, and Lithuanian SSR — linking the capital cities of the three states.

Organizers used banned radio broadcasts to co-ordinate timing. Singing banned songs and joining hands and not guns ended Soviet oppression. The pact and its secret protocols divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and led to the occupation of the Baltic states in by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union denied the existence of the secret protocols of the Molotov—Ribbentrop Pact, even though they were widely published by western scholars after surfacing during the Nuremberg Trials. The Baltic states claimed that they were forcefully and illegally incorporated into the Soviet Union.

Popular opinion was that the secret protocols proved that the occupation was illegal. Such an interpretation of the Pact had major implications in Baltic public policy. If Baltic diplomats could link the Pact and the occupation, they could claim that the Soviet rule in the republics had no legal basis and therefore all Soviet laws were null and void since Such a position would automatically terminate the debate over reforming Baltic sovereignty or establishing autonomy within the Soviet Union — the states never de jure belonged to the union in the first place.

This would open the possibility of restoring legal continuity of the independent states that existed in the interwar period. Claiming all Soviet laws had no legal power in the Baltics would also cancel the need to follow the Constitution of the Soviet Union and other formal secession procedures. In anticipation of the 50 th anniversary of the Molotov—Ribbentrop Pact, tensions were rising between the Baltics and Moscow. Lithuanian Romualdas Ozolas initiated a collection of 2 million signatures demanding withdrawal of the Red Army from Lithuania.

On 8 th August , Estonians attempted to amend election laws to limit voting rights of new immigrants mostly Russian workers. This provoked mass strikes and protests of Russian workers. The rising tensions in anticipation of the protest spurred hopes that Moscow would react by announcing constructive reforms to address the demands of the Baltic people. At the same time fears grew of violent clampdown. On 17 th August, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union published a project of new policy regarding the union republics in Pravda. However, this project offered few new ideas: The project made few cautious concessions: During the interview, Yakovlev admitted that the secret protocols were genuine.

He condemned the protocols, but maintained that they had no impact on the incorporation of the Baltic states. Thus Moscow reversed its long-standing position that the secret protocols did not exist or were forgeries, but did not concede that events of constituted an occupation. It was clearly not enough to satisfy the Baltics and on 22 nd August, a commission of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR announced that the occupation in was a direct result of the Molotov—Ribbentrop Pact and therefore illegal.

It was the first time that an official Soviet body challenged the legitimacy of the Soviet rule.

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In the light of glasnost and perestroika, street demonstrations had been increasingly growing in popularity and support. In , for the first time, such protests were sanctioned by the Soviet authorities and did not end in arrests. The activists planned an especially large protest for the 50 th anniversary of the Molotov—Ribbentrop Pact in It is unclear when and by whom the idea of a human chain was advanced. Local Communist Party authorities approved the protest.

At the same time several different petitions, denouncing Soviet occupation, were gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures. The organizers mapped out the chain, designating specific locations to specific cities, towns, and villages to make sure that the chain would be uninterrupted. Free bus rides were provided for those who did not have other transportation. Some employers did not allow workers to take the day off from work 23 rd August fell on a Wednesday , while others sponsored the bus rides.

On the day of the event, special radio broadcasts helped to coordinate the effort. Estonia declared a public holiday. The Baltic pro-independence movements issued a joint declaration to the world and European community in the name of the protest. The chain connected the three Baltic capitals — Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn.

The demonstrators peacefully linked hands for 15 minutes at Later, a number of local gatherings and protests took place. Elsewhere, priests held masses or rang church bells. Leaders of the Estonian and Latvian Popular Fronts gathered on the border between their two republics for a symbolic funeral ceremony, in which a giant black cross was set alight. The protesters held candles and pre-war national flags decorated with black ribbons in memory of the victims of the Soviet terror: TASS said 75 were detained for breaches of the peace, petty vandalism, and other offenses.

About 13, demonstrated in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic which was also affected by the secret protocol. Most estimates of the number of participants vary between one and two million. Reuters News reported the following day that about , Estonians and 1,, Lithuanians joined the protests. The Latvian Popular Front estimated an attendance of , Prior to the event, the organisers expected an attendance of 1,, out of the about 8,, inhabitants of the three states.

According to the official Soviet numbers, provided by TASS, there were , participants in Estonia and nearly , in Lithuania. To make the chain physically possible, an attendance of approximately , people was required in each state. Video footage taken from airplanes and helicopters showed an almost continuous line of people across the countryside.

There was an immediate push back from Soviet authorities, of course, both within the Baltic States and from Moscow. You can read the details elsewhere for yourself. In February , the first free democratic elections to the Supreme Soviets took place in all three Baltic states and pro-independence candidates won majorities. On 11 th March , within seven months of the Baltic Way, Lithuania became the first Soviet state to declare independence.

The independence of all three Baltic states was recognized by most western countries by the end of The earliest mention of the food and agriculture of the Baltic people Aestii and related customs comes from Tacitus circa 98 CE: My experience of Baltic cuisine has run to dumplings, potatoes, sour cream, and tons of dill. The region has had many influences from Slavic and German to French, each being given their own twist from area to area. Here is a video on how to make kugelis, a Lithuanian potato pie that is the national dish:. I have encountered multiple John Forrests in my lifetime — unsurprisingly, since Forrest is one of the most common family names in Scotland, and John for decades was the most popular given name.

There are a few things that are slightly surprising, however. John Forrest had a brother called Alexander and so did my father, hence my full English name is John Alexander Forrest — also the full name of a current Australian politician. Needless to say, we are unrelated. He was known as Jack to his family as was my father. Among his seven brothers were Alexander Forrest explorer, surveyor, and politician , and David Forrest drover and politician. In November , he was apprenticed to a government land surveyor named Thomas Carey.

When his term of apprenticeship ended in November , he became the first man born and educated in the colony to qualify as a land surveyor. Between and , Forrest led three expeditions into the uncharted land surrounding the colony of Western Australia. In , he led a fruitless search for the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt who had gone missing in the desert west of the site of the present town of Leonora. They found no sign of Leichhardt, and the country over which they travelled was useless for farming.

However, Forrest did report that his compass had been affected by the presence of minerals in the ground, and he suggested that the government send geologists to examine the area. Ultimately, the expedition achieved very little, but it was of great personal advantage to Forrest whose reputation with his superiors and in the community at large was greatly enhanced. Eyre had crossed the Great Australian Bight 30 years earlier, but his expedition had been poorly planned and equipped, and Eyre had nearly perished from lack of water.

The party left Perth on 30 th March , and arrived at Esperance on 24 th April. After resting and reprovisioning, the party left Esperance on 9 th May and arrived at Israelite Bay nine days later. They had encountered very little feed for their horses and no permanent water, but they managed to obtain sufficient rain water from rock water-holes.

After reprovisioning, the team left for Eucla on 30 May. Again, they encountered very little feed and no permanent water, and this time the water they obtained from rock water-holes was not sufficient. They were compelled to dash more than kilometers mi to a spot where Eyre had found water in Having secured a water source, they rested and explored the area before moving on, eventually reaching Eucla on 2 nd July. At Eucla, they rested and reprovisioned and explored inland, where they found good pasture land.

On 14 July, the team started the final leg of their expedition through unsettled country: During the last leg, almost no water could be found, and the team was compelled to travel day and night for nearly five days. They saw their first signs of civilization on 18 th July and eventually reached Adelaide on 27 th August.

A week later, they boarded ship for Western Australia, arriving in Perth on 27 th September. They were honored at two receptions: Speaking at the receptions, Forrest was modest about his own contributions but praised the efforts of the members of the expedition and divided a government gratuity between them. As a result, his party successfully completed in five months a journey that had taken Eyre twelve and arrived in good health and without the loss of a single horse.

However, the tangible results were not great. A second expedition by the same team returned to the area between August and November and found further good pastures, north-north-east of Esperance. In August , Forrest was invited to lead a third expedition, from Geraldton to the source of the Murchison River and then east through the uncharted centre of Western Australia to the overland telegraph line from Darwin to Adelaide.

The purpose was to discover the nature of the unknown centre of Western Australia, and to find new pastoral land. They also had 20 horses and food for eight months. On 3 rd May the team passed into unknown land. It found plenty of good pastoral land around the headwaters of the Murchison River, but by late May, it was travelling over arid land. At Weld Springs on 13 th June, the party was attacked by a large group of Aborigines, and Forrest shot a number of them. Beyond Weld Springs, water was extremely hard to obtain, and by 4 th July the team relied on occasional thunderstorms for water.

A few days later, it was rescued by a shower of rain. On 23 rd August, it was again critically short of water and half of their horses were near death, when they were saved by the discovery of Elder Springs. Then, the land became somewhat less arid, and the risk of dying from thirst started to abate. Other difficulties continued, however: The team finally sighted the telegraph line near Mount Alexander on 27 th September and reached Peake Telegraph Station three days later. The remainder of the journey was a succession of triumphant public receptions by passing through each country town en route to Adelaide.

The team reached Adelaide on 3 rd November , more than six months after they started from Geraldton. A large area of previously unknown land was explored, and the popular notion of an inland sea was shown to be unlikely. However, the practical results were not great. Plenty of good pastoral land was found up to the head of the Murchison, but beyond that, the land was useless for pastorage, and Forrest was convinced that it would never be settled.

Forrest also made botanical collections during the expedition that were given to Ferdinand von Mueller, who, in turn, named Eremophila forrestii in his honor. Forrest published an account of his expeditions, Explorations in Australia , in Forrest was an outstanding surveyor, and his successful expeditions had made him a popular public figure as well.

Consequently, he was promoted rapidly through the ranks of the Lands and Surveys Department, and in January he succeeded Malcolm Fraser in the positions of surveyor-general and commissioner of crown lands. After Britain ceded to Western Australia the right to self-rule in , Forrest was elected unopposed to the seat of Bunbury in the Legislative Assembly.

The Forrest Ministry immediately embarked on a programme of large-scale public works funded by loans raised in London. Under the direction of the brilliant engineer C. The two most ambitious projects were the Fremantle Harbour Works, one of the few public works of the s which is still in use today; and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, one of the greatest engineering feats of its time, in which the Helena River was dammed and the water piped over kilometres mi to Kalgoorlie.

However, although Forrest did not always oppose proposals for social reform, he never instigated or championed them. Critics have therefore argued that Forrest deserves little credit for the social reforms achieved under his premiership. In , Forrest guided through parliament a number of significant amendments to the Constitution of Western Australia, including an extension of the franchise to all men regardless of property ownership.

The major political question of the time, though, was federation. Forrest was in favor of federation, and felt that it was inevitable, but he also felt that Western Australia should not join until it obtained fair terms. He was heavily involved in the framing of the Australian Constitution, representing Western Australia at a number of meetings on federation, including the National Australasian Conventions in Sydney in and in Adelaide in , and the Australasian Federal Conventions in Sydney in and in Melbourne in He fought hard to protect the rights of the less populous states, arguing for a strong upper house organized along state lines.

He also argued for a number of concessions to Western Australia, and for the building of a trans-Australian railway. Although he was largely unsuccessful in his endeavors, by he was convinced that better terms were not to be obtained, so called the referendum in which Western Australians voted to join the federation, and Western Australia became a part of the nation of Australia in Forrest was postmaster-general for only 17 days: On 13 th February , he resigned as premier of Western Australia and as member for Bunbury.

In the March federal election, the first one ever, Forrest was elected, unopposed, on a moderate Protectionist platform to the federal House of Representatives seat of Swan. He held the defense portfolio for over two years. After a cabinet reshuffle on 7 th August , he became Minister for Home Affairs. The December federal election greatly weakened the governing party. Shortly afterwards, it was defeated and replaced by a Labour government under Chris Watson. The early days of Australian federation were fraught with complexities that I would rather not get into.

Forrest had been suffering from a cancer on his temple since early in , and by , he was very ill. He resigned as treasurer on 21 st March , and shortly afterwards boarded ship for London, where he hoped to obtain specialist medical attention. He also hoped to be able to take his seat in the House of Lords. However, on 2 September , with his ship off the coast of Sierra Leone, he died. He was buried there, but his remains were later brought back to Western Australia and interred in Karrakatta Cemetery.

Lord John Forrest was a big man. He was lbs when he died. This tells me that he did not spend his evenings dining on short commons and bush tucker, although he would have been no stranger to the latter on his explorations. My posts have given plenty of Australian recipes, bush tucker recipes, and Scottish recipes as well the land of his roots. His family came from Fife, which is reflected in the full title of his peerage.

Fife is a region in Scotland that at one time was a kingdom with a venerable history, and birthplace of numerous luminaries in science, exploration, engineering, politics, and history. Fife is also well known for its beef, lamb, and fish, along with oats, peas, raspberries, and other mainstays of Scottish cuisine. My father, John Forrest, loved his breakfast porridge and his Sunday roast lamb every bit as much as any Scots immigrant to Australia. In that sense, you can take any Scots recipe as a celebratory dish for the day.

Because Forrest was also a notable Victorian, I am going to take a slight left turn and give you this recipe from Mrs Beeton for snow cake. Arrowroot Maranta arundinacea is one of the oldest cultigens from the New World. There is evidence that it was cultivated as early as BCE around the same time that plants were first being domesticated in Mesopotamia. The root is dried and pounded into a flour, which these days is more often used a thickener than as a chief ingredient. I used to use it all the time for sauces because I find it superior to both regular flour and cornstarch.

I have not tried this recipe, which seems to be rather like angel cake — light and airy. Whisk the whites of the eggs to a stiff froth, add them to the other ingredients, and beat well for 20 minutes. Both of his parents had some type of musical background. His father played the mellophone, and his mother played the piano. She gave Basie his first piano lessons. She took in laundry and baked cakes for sale for a living. She paid 25 cents a lesson for piano instruction for him.

He finished junior high school, but spent much of his time at the Palace Theater in Red Bank, where doing occasional chores gained him free admission to performances. He quickly learned to improvise music appropriate to the acts and the silent movies. At age 15 Basie switched to piano exclusively. Greer and Basie played together in venues until Greer set out on his professional career.

Around , Basie went to Harlem, which was one of the centers of jazz in the US. Basie began touring with several acts, and before he was 20 years old, he had toured extensively on the Keith and TOBA vaudeville circuits as a solo pianist, accompanist, and music director for blues singers, dancers, and comedians. Basie later played organ at the Eblon Theater in Kansas City.

A few months later, he was invited to join the band, which played mostly in Texas and Oklahoma. In addition to playing piano, Basie was co-arranger with Eddie Durham, who notated the music. During a stay in Chicago, Basie recorded with the band. He occasionally played four-hand piano and dual pianos with Moten, who also conducted. The band improved with several personnel changes, including the addition of tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. The Barons of Rhythm were regulars at the Reno Club and often performed for a live radio broadcast.

They played at the Reno Club and sometimes were broadcast on local radio. Late one night with time to fill, the band started improvising. We set the thing up front in D-flat, and then we just went on playing in F.

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Another Basie innovation was the use of two tenor saxophone players; at the time, most bands had just one. Many other bands later adapted the split tenor arrangement. His personnel around included: Basie favored blues, and he showcased some of the most notable blues singers of the era after he went to New York: Soon, they were booked at the Roseland Ballroom for the Christmas show.

Well, the Roseland is still standing. The producer John Hammond continued to advise and encourage the band, and they soon came up with some adjustments, including softer playing, more solos, and more standards. They paced themselves to save their hottest numbers for later in the show, to give the audience a chance to warm up. Hammond introduced Basie to Billie Holiday, whom he invited to sing with the band. Holiday did not record with Basie, as she had her own record contract and preferred working with small combos.

Durham returned to help with arranging and composing, but for the most part, the orchestra worked out its numbers in rehearsal, with Basie guiding the proceedings. There were often no musical notations made. Next, Basie played at the Savoy, which was noted more for lindy-hopping, while the Roseland was a place for fox-trots and congas. Basie had Holiday, and Webb countered with the singer Ella Fitzgerald. Throughout the fight, which never let down in its intensity during the whole fray, Chick took the aggressive, with the Count playing along easily and, on the whole, more musically scientifically.

The publicity over the big band battle, before and after, gave the Basie band a boost and wider recognition. Hammond introduced Helen Humes, whom Basie hired; she stayed with Basie for four years. Their fame took a huge leap. On February 19 th , , Count Basie and his Orchestra opened a four-week engagement at Southland in Boston, and they broadcast over the radio on 20 th February. The war years caused a lot of turn over in musicians, and the band worked many play dates with lower pay. The big band era appeared to have ended after the war, and Basie disbanded the group.

For a while, he performed in combos, sometimes stretched to an orchestra. He reformed his group as a piece orchestra in Basie credits Billy Eckstine, a top male vocalist of the time, for prompting his return to Big Band. He said that Norman Granz got them into the Birdland club and promoted the new band through recordings on the Mercury, Clef, and Verve labels. Basie also added flute to some numbers, a novelty at the time that became widely copied.

Soon, his band was touring and recording again. In , the band made its first European tour. Jazz was especially appreciated in France, The Netherlands, and Germany in the s; these countries were the stomping grounds for many expatriate American jazz stars who were either resurrecting their careers or sitting out the years of racial divide in the United States. Basie continued to perform with his band in the US and on world tours almost up until his death. He died of pancreatic cancer in Hollywood, Florida on April 26 th , at the age of Chicken fried steak is one of the myriad versions of breaded, fried beef such as milanesa and Wiener schnitzel.

For me it is the country gravy that makes it special, which means it should be served with freshly baked country biscuits. Mix 1 cup flour, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Pour on to a large platter. Heat olive oil and butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat until ripples begin to form.

Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Add the steak to the skillet. Repeat with the remaining steaks adding more oil as needed. Work in batches if necessary so as not to overcrowd the pan. Cook the steaks for 3 to 4 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Flip the steaks and continue cooking for an additional 4 minutes until golden. Transfer the steaks to a platter or baking sheet and cover with foil to keep warm. Add the butter to the skillet the steaks were cooked in and sprinkle over the flour.

Whisk together in the pan and cook until golden. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock and continue cooking until thickened. Stir in the milk until smooth and beginning to thicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the steaks immediately with the gravy poured over. Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, and biscuits. This post is about Protestant theology. Even if you object to religion, bear with me. My thoughts on Christian theology are probably not what you think unless you know me.

Today is another coincidence day. Two important Protestant theologians of the 20 th century were born today, Rudolf Bultmann in , and Paul Tillich in I am not going to wear you out with a complicated theological discussion, but I will give you a few gleanings that may surprise you about these two and their ideas, especially if you have rejected Christianity, but also if you are a regular church member. If you are Catholic or Orthodox, you will probably hate their ideas.

I was and still am more of an historian than a theologian. One of the examiners at my viva voce for the BA made note of that fact. It was a huge shock to me to discover that contemporary Biblical studies thought that most of the history in both the Hebrew and Greek Bibles was made up.

They were all made up too. There is zero evidence for any of them, and archeology shows a very different picture from the Bible narrative. I was gobsmacked, and, in fact, for the rest of my time at Oxford, and 20 years thereafter, I believed none of it. He spent his academic career as professor of New Testament at the university of Marburg. He was one of the major figures of early 20 th century Biblical studies and a prominent voice in liberal Christianity.

Bultmann is known for his belief that the historical analysis of the New Testament is both futile and unnecessary, given that the earliest Christian literature showed little interest in specifics that could be nailed down historically in a modern sense. Bultmann argued that all that matters is that Jesus existed, preached, and died by crucifixion, not what happened throughout his life. Absolute chronology and specific details were unimportant to them. They were pushing a theological point, not an historical one. Bultmann called on interpreters of the gospels to replace traditional supernaturalism with the temporal and existential categories of his philosopher colleague, Martin Heidegger, and to reject doctrines such as the pre-existence of Christ.

That project has yet to be accomplished. Some of us are trying our best. Paul Tillich was born in the small village of Starzeddel Starosiedle , province of Brandenburg, which was then part of Germany, now part of Poland. He too was a Lutheran pastor, engaged in the existentialist philosophical tradition as it pertains to Biblical scholarship. He taught at a number of universities in Germany, including Marburg for 1 year when Bultmann was there, but in he was refused employment because of his vocal criticism of Hitler and Nazism, and left Germany to teach at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and ultimately became a naturalized U.

His magnum opus, Systematic Theology , was written and published in English. Both he and Bultmann address the basic question of what it means to be human, and, though their answers were informed by existentialist philosophy, their thinking was driven by the Christian tradition and not secular humanism. Like all existentialists, his primary concern is the nature of being and non-being. Does it make any sense to call God a being — even the ultimate being, or the source of being?

What is a being? You can see how quickly you can get tied in knots reading his work. I certainly did — and still do. Tillich argues that God is not a supernatural entity among other entities. Instead, God is the ground upon which all beings exist. We cannot perceive God as an object which is related to a subject because God precedes the subject—object dichotomy. Tillich, thus, disapproved of any literal philosophical and religious statements that can be made about God. Such literal statements attempt to define God and lead not only to anthropomorphism but also to a philosophical mistake that Immanuel Kant warned against, that setting limits on the transcendent inevitably leads to contradictions.

Any statements about God are simply symbolic, but these symbols are sacred in the sense that they function to participate or point to the Ground of Being. Tillich insists that anyone who participates in these symbols is empowered by the Power of Being, which overcomes and conquers nonbeing and meaninglessness. You can see how this kind of thinking does not work in Sunday sermons. More liberally-minded Christians may be over images of God with a flowing beard sitting on some celestial throne, but they still want a personal, relatable entity, not a Ground of Being that is completely unrelatable.

Let me stop and turn to cooking. If you have any experience with cooking at all you will know that two cooks can be given identical ingredients, identical equipment, and identical recipes. They can follow the recipes precisely and still end up with two obviously different products. I used to make Argentine tortillas for breakfast all the time for my girlfriend of the time Denise, who took my profile photo.

So, first I showed her what I did. Then I supervised her in making them. I also made videos for her to watch. You can see them here:. They are quite detailed and specific. It did not matter how many times I supervised Denise, she simply could not replicate my tortillas. You can come up with a scientific explanation, but it will fall short.

There is something transcendently different about Denise and me as cooks. We did exactly the same thing physically, but got different results. Here is where faith comes in. You can reject my reasoning, because it does not accord with your belief system. Perhaps you are convinced that there is a scientific explanation for every phenomenon. Roddenberry not only had to beat down numerous doors to get Star Trek aired in the first place, he also had to keep pushing to get it lodged in the popular consciousness. After all, it originally aired for only 3 seasons, and would have been forgotten if Roddenberry had not persisted in promoting it.

Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas, and grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a police officer. As a freelance writer, Roddenberry wrote scripts for Highway Patrol, Have Gun—Will Travel , and other series, before creating and producing his own television series The Lieutenant. In , Roddenberry created Star Trek , which premiered in and ran for three seasons before being canceled.

He then worked on other projects, including a string of failed television pilots. It was the syndication of Star Trek that led to its growing and enduring popularity, which then led to a movie franchise. I got a little more interested in the late s when I briefly owned a television in the US from to I did not own one and re-runs were frequent enough to hold my attention for a while. Even at the time, the sets and costumes seemed cheap and hokey, but I was used to Dr Who episodes that were no better in that regard.

Having the camera shake and the actors throw themselves about when the Enterprise was hit by a photon bomb just made us all laugh. But the scripts were mostly engaging and worth the price of admission, even though the main characters were ridiculously one dimensional. But the plots themselves could be engaging. It is way too common these days for SciFi movies and TV series to rely on stunning effects to make up for weak story lines.

I was exceeding weak in those days; and I am persuaded the Lord, in gracious condescension, looked mercifully at the sin cerity of my intention, not marking all my failings, or I could not have stood before him in any degree of acceptance. Very great were my temptations, and deep my distress of mind for about a year; in which time I was but as a little child in under standing the way and work of God upon me, for my redemption. Yet, he who will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoaking flax, until he sends forth judgment unto victory, by his invisible power, bore up my head above the rage ing waves of temptation, so that the enemy found he could not overwhelm me there with: Then began the false pro phet to work with signs and lying won ders, in order to deceive my weak and un skilful understanding; as it is written, 'Satan is transformed into an angel of light: He that goes about seeking whom he may de vour, perceiving I was too much enlighten ed from above, to be easily drawn into sen suality, craftily attempted my destruction another way, viz.

This subtil transformer, tak ing advantage of the ardency of my mind to press forward in this necessary concern, suggested that my work would be much easier in obtaining a complete victory over evil, were I to refrain for a time from some of the necessaries of life, particularly from eating, and taking my natural rest in sleep, except just as much as would preserve life; and that I must constantly keep my hands employed in business, as idleness is the nursery of vice; neither was he want ing to bring scripture, and passages out of other religious books, to confirm these re quirings.

Greatly distressed I was, when at any time I fell short of what I apprehended to be my duty in these respects, he that required this service being a hard master; though he had power to deceive, yet he could not give me faith that I should overcome. My views in those days were indeed very discouraging, my poor afflicted soul being almost sunk into despair.

My friends took notice that I was in uncommon distress. I was forbid in myself to tell my condition to any, as that would be seek ing relief from without; a very improper and unworthy thing. He strictly inquired concerning my inward condition, informing me that friends were much concerned about me, as it was very obvious I was under some uncommon tempt ation.

I was at first very unwilling to open my state to him, however he at length pre vailed, and took the opportunity to shew me that I was under a gross delusion of Satan. Being thus, through the Lord's mercy, delivered from the wicked design of mine enemy, which undoubtedly was to destroy both soul and body, I had, in reverent thankfulness, to rejoice in his salvation. I then clearly saw, that Satan in his religious appearance, was also carefully to be guarded against; as nothing in religion can be accept able to God, but the genuine product of his unerring spirit, distinctly heard and understood by the ear of the soul, and the renewed understanding.

I had many precious openings into the divine mysteries about this time; and when I read the holy scriptures, they were opened to my understanding, far beyond whatever they had been before, so that I had very great comfort; my hope being re vived, and my faith much strengthened, by those things that were written aforetime.

The lip of truth hath signified, they are hid from the wise and prudent of this world, and revealed unto the humble dependent babes and sucklings; those who sensibly experience their sufficiency for every good word and work, to proceed immediately from God alone; and that Christ is made unto them, wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

The want of this inward living sense, hath been the cause of, and hath opened the way for, that great apostasy, dark ness, and error, which have overspread Chris tendom, so called. There is no way for its recovery, but by humbly submitting to Christ inwardly revealed, and learning the nature of true religion of him, the great author thereof: I also saw, that when it pleased the Lord in wisdom, for a trial of my faith and pa tience, to withdraw this holy light, and there was a sitting in darkness, and as in the region of the shadow of death for a time, so that I had no distinct knowledge therefrom what to do; that it was my indispensible duty to stand still, and wait for my sure unerring guide; if at those times, self would arise and be uneasy, it must be brought to the cross, there to be slain.

By such experience, I found I was nothing, and that God was all things necessary for soul and body; that if I was brought into a state of perfect reconciliation with him, I must know all things made new. About this time I had a distant view of being called into the work of the ministry; my mind being at times wonderfully over shadowed with the universal love of God, in the glorious gospel of his Son, to mankind, to that degree that I thought I could, in the strength thereof, give up to spend and to be spent, for the gathering of souls to him, the great Shepherd of Israel; and that I could lift up my voice like a trumpet, to awaken the inhabitants of the earth: A fear was upon my mind, and care, lest I should presume to enter upon this solemn undertaking without a right call; it appearing to me exceeding danger ous to speak in the name of the Lord, without a clear evidence in the mind, that he required it of me; which I then fully believed he would in his own time, which was to be waited for.

From this time, until I was really called into the work, I frequently had, but especially in religious meetings, openings of scripture-passages, with lively operations of the divine power in my mind; and sometimes with so much energy, that I have been almost ready to offer what I had upon my mind, to others. But as, through an holy awe which dwelt upon my heart, I endeavoured to try my offering in the unerring balance of the sanctuary, I found it was too light to be offered, and was thankful to the Lord for his merciful preservation, in that I had been enabled to avoid offering the sacrifice of fools.

But when the time really came that it was divinely required of me, the evidence was so indisputably clear, that there was not the least room to doubt; yet, through fear and human frailty, I put it off, and did not give way thereunto. At the next first-day meeting, the heavenly power over shadowed me in a wonderful manner, in which it was required of me to kneel down in supplication to the Lord in a few words: I gave way thereunto, in the dread of his power, with fear and trembling. After which, oh, how my soul was filled with peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! I could then sing, and make sweet melody in my heart to the Lord.

As I remember, I was twenty-one years of age, the very day I first entered into this great and awful work of the ministry; which was the 21st of the 5th month, old stile, I have found my mind engaged to be some what particular concerning the manner of my entering into the work of the ministry, to stand by way of caution and proper en couragement to others, who may peruse the same; having in the course of my observation had cause to fear, some have taken the work of preparation, as before hinted, for the thing itself; and so have proceeded very far, to their own great wounding, and the hurt of others, in bring ing forth untimely fruit, which is exceed ingly dangerous, and carefully to be avoid ed.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man mi nister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth. The author to the Hebrews saith, that no man taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

Reward Yourself

So that what ever some may pretend to, and intrude themselves into, unless they are really cal led of God, they will have no share in that honour that cometh from God only. The church of Christ hath not been with out its trouble from false ministers, neither in the primitive times, nor in ours. That excellent gospel liberty of all who feel themselves inspired thereunto, whether male or female, speaking or prophesying one by one, hath been, and still is, abused by false pretenders to divine inspiration; yet the liberty ought to be preserved inviolable, and other means found out to remedy this great inconveniency; which would not be difficult, were the members in a general way spiritually minded, rightly favouring the things that be of God.

The case has been otherwise, as I have observed in some places; but little minded, if the words and doctrine were sound, and no thing to blame in the conversation. Here the main thing, which is the powerful demonstration of the holy spirit, is little regarded: And I have observed such pretenders all mouth or tongue, and no ears to receive instruction; fond of teaching others, but very unteachable themselves. I pray God to quicken his people, and raise the society into a more lively sense of that blessed arm of power which gathered us to be a people; or, I fear, the great evil above hinted at will prove a very growing one: I am not quite free to omit a remark on this head, as I am fully persuaded the living members of the church of Christ, groan under a painful sense of this sorrowful token of a declined society.

So be it, saith my soul! I have given some hints how it was with me, by way of preparative for the great and important work of the ministry, and the danger of my being misled; even at some times when I had right openings, and felt the sweet efficacious virtue of the love of God, through Jesus Christ, to mankind: I ardently desire, that all who have the least apprehension of being called into the work of the ministry, may dwell in an holy dread of the divine presence, and know their own wills wholly subjected to the divine will; waiting for a distinct and clear certainty of the Lord's requirings, not only in entering upon it at first, but also at all other times.

And as self comes to be laid in the dust for ever, they will receive undeniable evi dence, in their own minds, of the certainty of their mission; and they will not be with out a testimony thereof, from the witness for God in the consciences of mankind, amongst whom they are sent to minister. They will be a savour of life to the living in the truth, and of death to those who are in a state of death.

Let it ever be remem bered, that nothing of, or belonging to, man, can possibly add any lustre or dignity to so divine a gift. There is no occasion at all, for those who regard his power as the substance of their ministry, to be any wise solicitous about words; as the lowest and most sim ple are really beautiful, when fitly spoken under that holy influence.

Having thus entered upon the solemn and awful service of the ministry, I gave up for the most part, as I found the requirings of truth, through the divine power and effi cacy thereof, moving upon my heart, and subjecting my will, to utter a few words in a broken manner, with fear and trem bling; the Lord being exceeding merciful to me, as a tender father, taking me by the hand, and making me willing by his mighty power, to be counted a fool for his sake and the gospel's.

The meeting I then belonged to was large, and a valuable weighty body of friends therein; who, as far as I could observe by their carriage, did own and approve of my weak and low appearance in this service: About ten appeared with in that time, in the particular meeting of Abington, to which I belonged. As I was enabled to wait on my ministry, I experienced a considerable growth and en largement; and, in a faithful discharge of duty therein, great peace and heavenly con solation, like a pleasant refreshing stream, flowed into my soul.

I also found, that it was a means of engaging the minds of friends, in a sweet and comfortable near ness of unity with me, which I had never before so largely and livingly felt. Many young well-minded people, and some others of little experience, seemed to admire my gift, and would sometimes speak highly of it, which they did not always forbear in my hearing.

But oh how dangerous this is, if delighted in by ministers! It may be justly compared to poison, which will soon destroy the pure innocent life. My judg ment was against it; yet I found something in me, that seemed to have no aversion thereunto, but rather inclined to hearken to it, yet not with full approbation. The same thing in me would want to know, what such and such, who were in most esteem for experience and wisdom, thought of me.

I begun also to take ra ther too much delight myself in the gift; which had not divine goodness in mercy, by a deep and distressing baptism, kindly pre vented; might have opened a door for spiri tual pride which is the worst of pride to have entered in, to my ruin. I have reason to think, that solid friends, by observing my large growth in the top, with spreading branches, were in fear of my downfall, in case of a storm.

THE JOURNAL OF JOHN GRIFFITH.

However, in the midst of my high career, the Lord was pleased to take away from me, for a time, that which he had given me, viz. In this doleful state of mind, I was grievously beset and tempted by the false prophet, the transformer, to keep up my credit in the ministry, by continuing my publick appearances. It might well be said of him, that he would cause fire to come down from heaven, in the sight of men, to deceive them; for so I found it.

It is hard to imagine, how near a resem blance he could make, how exact an imi tation he could form of the very thing it self, to the state of mind I was then in; even to that degree, that I have at times been ready to say, 'Ah! My soul hath been plunged into deeper anxiety, by this false heat, than I was in before. No tongue nor pen can set forth to the full, the deep and almost constant anguish of my soul, for about the space of four or five months; being as near as I can remember the time this sore affliction was upon me.

It fared with me in some degree, as it did with Job, respecting my friends; some conjecturing one thing, and some another thing, to be the cause of this fall, as it was apprehended; though, through mercy, they could not charge me with any evil as the cause thereof. The most probable reason to them, of this alte ration was, that I had been too much set up by others, and so had lost my gift; and this, I think, came the nearest to the truth of the case.

Yet it was not so lost, but that when my gracious helper saw my suffer ing was enough, he restored it again, and appeared to my soul as a clear morning with out clouds: I have very often, in the course of my religious experience, had cause to adore and admire divine wisdom, in his dealings with me for my preserva tion in the way of peace; being well assured, that he will so work for mankind, if they are sufficiently given up in heart and soul to him, that it will not be possible for them to miss of everlasting happiness; for none are able to pluck those out of his almighty hand, who do not first incline to leave him.

After I had appeared in publick some what more than two years, I found some drawings of gospel-love, as I apprehended, to visit the meetings of friends in some part of New-Jersey; and being but young in the ministry, I was in great fear, at times, lest I should be mistaken, in that which I, at other times, thought to be the divine requirings: I entered upon the said journey the 7th of the 8th month ; having a companion much older than myself every way.

We visited the following meetings, viz. Piles grove, Salem, Aloways-creek, and Cohansey, where my companion left me, and returned home, being under some discouragement about the journey in his own mind. But as I found the Lord by his blessed power near, opening my mouth, and enlarging my heart abundantly in his work, I was encouraged thereby to proceed, being join ed in travel by an innocent friend belong ing to Aloways-creek-meeting, who had a few words to drop in meetings. We went from Cohansey, through a great desart or wilder ness, for about forty miles, without inhabi tants, to Cape May, where we had a meet ing.

From thence to Great and Little Egg-Harbour, and had meetings. From thence, through the wilderness, to the yearly-meet ing at Shrewsbury, which was large, and much favoured with the divine presence: I there fore, for the most part, gave way to such as were better qualified for the work, and in my esteem worthy of double honour. I had a great regard in my mind for those whom I thought as pillars in the house of God, whether ministers or elders; and really think, if such had given it as their sense, that I was wrong in my offerings, at any time, I should have been more likely to have depended on their judgment than my own.

I looked upon myself, for many years, as a child in experience every way; and therefore thought a subjection was due from me, to those who were fathers and mothers in Israel, and never, that I remem ber, manifested any disregard to them; which is now a satisfaction to my mind. But, I confess, I have at times since had cause to marvel at the forwardness of some, who though but children, if rightly child ren, have undertaken the work of men, hardly discovering a willingness to give the preference to any; and when they have been admonished by those of much more experi ence than themselves, they have been apt to retort, or to plead a divine commission, and that it is right to obey God rather than man; as if they had the sole right of speak ing and judging too.

This large meeting ended well, and sweetly. Praises to the Lord over all for ever! From thence I went to the following meetings, viz. The Lord made my journey prosperous, and was to me, at times, as a fountain unsealed, furnishing daily for the work he had engaged me in; being, in wonderful condescension to my weak estate, both wisdom and utterance; as it is written, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength. Praises to his holy name for ever! Notwithstanding the Lord committed un to me a dispensation of the gospel, and was pleased to reward my sincere labours therein, with the sweet incomes of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, and with the unity of the brethren, in a comfortable degree; yet great were my temptations, and various the com bats I had, for divers years after; with my soul's enemies.

Thus, for want of a watchful care, not only to shun that which I knew to be really evil, but also every appearance of evil, I sometimes brought great anguish and deep distress upon my own mind; and when I had gone but a little out of the right way, I found many, oh! I have often since been humbly thankful for his preservation, even out of gross evils, considering my danger ous tampering therewith at times in the imagination. How can weak mortals deter mine what length they will go, when any way is given? Most certain it is, they go out greatly to their hurt, who take any plea sure at all in the thoughts of forbidden things.

I have found it the first subtil working of Satan, to draw me off from a constant care of bringing all my thoughts, words, and actions to be tried by the light of Christ in mine own heart; and instead thereof, to examine them by my partial reasoning part. Here, many things really evil in their nature, or tendency, or both, would carry the appear ances of indifferency; the pleading would then be, there is no harm in this, that, or the other thing: So I have many times found it, when the judge of all hath been pleased to arise, and to find me out, with my fig-leaf covering on; having very imprudently, by giving way to wrong things, in a great measure lost the garment of innocence, and an holy confidence to wards God, Oh!

Thus it was with me, until the many chas tenings of the heavenly Father had brought me into more fear, care, and subjection. I could not be quite easy to omit giving these hints of my many weaknesses and failings, that others may learn thereby to be aware. Thou traveller Sion ward, look forward to the joy set before thee, not suffering thine eyes to wander about thee, lest they convey such delight to thy heart, as may infect thy soul with pernicious distempers, by which thou mayest be rendered unable to proceed on thy jour ney towards the holy city; and through the defect occasioned thereby to thy sight, thou mayest, in a great measure, lose the glori ous prospect of its beautiful situation, and the splendor of its structures.

Beware thou do not load thyself with the seeming plea sant fruit of that country through which thou travellest: If thou hast a mind to make thine own way pro sperous, look steadily forward, with a single eye, to the recompence of reward. Bring every motion towards seeking of satisfaction in forbidden places, immediately to the cross, and thou wilt much sooner find the yoke of Christ made easy, and his burden light; all his ways pleasant, and his paths peace. Miserable sinners we must remain, when the cause thereof is wholly in themselves; because they will not come into, and abide in, the help of the Lord, against the mighty enemies of their soul's happiness, which is altogether sufficient to give a complete vic tory over them; yea, to give power to tri umph, and say, We are made more than conquerors through him that hath loved us.

The 8th month , I set out in order to visit some meetings in East-Jersey; hav ing Richard French, an ancient friend, to bear me company. None of our society were thereabouts, but there were some ranters of Rogers's followers, who had taken upon them the name of Qua kers, to the great scandal of friends in that remote place: Their impatient rest less spirits would not suffer them to let us hold our meeting quietly; yet they did not seem inclinable to contend, but rather to flatter and applaud us.

But we were not free to receive their testi mony, any more than Paul and Silas could that maid's who was possessed with an evil spirit; but rebuked them openly, and pub lickly declared our disunity with them, de siring the people not to look upon them as belonging to the society of the people called Quakers, as we could assure the meeting it was not so; and that we had no more unity with those pretenders, than they had. I thought the chief service we had at that place, was to testify against those wild fran tick people, who we found had, by being accounted Quakers, caused the way of truth to be evil spoken of.

This unexpected op position raised their flighty spirits, so that they became very troublesome, being full of words, and asking frivolous questions. Whereupon that of Paul, to some such wo men in the Corinthian church, came fresh into my mind. I therefore called out aloud, "Let your women be silent in the church;" and opened to them, that it was such women as they were, that the apostle rebuked and commanded to be silent; who not experi encing their spirits to be truly subjected, that they might know how to speak con cerning the things of God with a right un derstanding, ought to learn in silence: The greatest number being of other societies, the testimony of truth flowed forth freely; they appearing to be much tendered and affected therewith.

After meeting, some of them took us by the hand, and in an affectionate manner expressed their satisfaction with our labours amongst them. From thence we went to Plainfield, and Woodbridge, where we had meetings.

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After which we returned home; having been favoured to accomplish this little journey to my own satisfaction. Sometime before I entered upon the be fore-mentioned journey, I found my mind pretty strongly drawn, and much inclined, to enter into a marriage state with a young woman belonging to the same meeting, with in the compass of which I had lately taken a farm, and to which I was then joined by certificate. By the death of her brother, she was then possessed of that part of her said grandfather's estate, where he had lived, and entertained friends from almost the first settlement of Pennsyl vania, until his death; which afterwards was continued by his widow many years, but of late years had been laid aside.

The reason of my being so particular in this account, is to shew the Lord's kindness, and gracious con descension to me, in so fully answering what I had so often desired, viz. We took each other in marriage the 30th of the 10th month , at a large and solemn meeting, held in the meeting-house before-mentioned, under the precious overshadow ing of the power of divine love; I think to a larger degree than I had often, if ever, known before: After marriage, I constantly attended our particular meeting, both on first and other days of the week; also the quarterly and yearly-meetings as they fell in course, and frequently visited adjacent meetings.

I signified to my wife, some time after we were married, that I did expect, in a few years, I should find a concern to leave her for a longer time than I yet had done, and gave her a hint what time I thought it would be; which fell out accordingly; having then a distant view of visiting New-England.

When the time for undertaking that jour ney appeared clear to me, I gave up thereto, in humble resignation and faith in the suf ficiency of that divine power which I be lieved required it of me; yet not without some intervals of discouragement, and rea soning in myself what would become of my family and outward concerns: However, I laid my con cern before the monthly-meeting to which I belonged, requesting their concurrence and certificate, if upon a weighty consideration thereof, they had unity with my concern. A certificate was prepared, whereby I was left to my liberty to proceed; but I had not yet heard of a companion, and greatly feared going without.

Our quarterly-meet ing falling quickly after, I went to it, where I soon made inquiry of my much esteemed friend John Churchman, whether he knew of any suitable companion for me. This was very acceptable to me. When William Brown and I had an opportunity of con ferring together, which was the same day, we found our concerns and views so exact ly agree, and our spirits so closely united for the service, that our hearts bowed in thankfulness to the Lord, for his care and providence over us; believing what we were about to engage in, was agreeable to his will, and in his counsel. It being the meeting for ministers and elders that day, we laid our concern before that meeting, where it appeared to be well approved, which was no small strength to us.

I did then, and hope ever shall, greatly love and highly value the unity of the brethren; having found it no small strength and en couragement to me, in many low and try ing times, which are necessary and unavoid able in that solemn engagement of visit ing the churches; especially now in their low declined state. It became indisputably clear to my understanding, that it is alto gether impossible to administer, in a feel ing effectual manner, to people's several states, unless we are baptized thereinto.

I took leave of my dear wife, and set out with my before-mentioned companion, the 5th of the 7th month, Passing through New Jersey, we had a meeting at Chester field. We crossed Staten-Island, and came to an arm of the sea, called the Narrows, which separates the before-mentioned island from Long-Island. The wind blowing very strong, and the sea running exceeding high, we were obliged to wait some time; the ferry-men being afraid to run the hazard of carrying us and divers others who were there also waiting over.

Towards evening the wind somewhat abating, they appeared willing to venture, if we would; and we being desirous to proceed, agreed to go. I think we had eight or nine horses, besides people, in the boat. We ran over in about ten minutes, which is accounted at least two miles and an half. We were thankful for preservation; as I believe most, or all of us, when we were on the water, apprehended some considerable danger. We made but little stay on Long-Island, only taking New town meeting in our way.

Then crossing the water, to the main land in New-York government, had meetings at Mamaroneck, Long-reach, and the Purchase. From thence, having a guide provided for us, we set out for our journey, about miles through the colony of Connecticut to Rhode-Island. We met with a kind reception and entertain ment for our money, at a very low rate, amongst the high professing Presbyterians of this colony: I remarked, as I passed along, very good order observed in their inns; and, as far as could be discovered, the people in general appeared to be sober, and religious in their way; far from being so vitiated and corrupt as I have found those in the mother-country, as they call it.

I can say with thank fulness, I never was at a loss in giving answers to those that asked a reason of the hope that was in me, when I had my chief dependance on the Lord to be furnished im mediately by him alone, without leaning to mine own understanding. We were kind ly received by our friends at Newport on Rhode-Island, where there is a large body; some of whom we found much hurt by differences and parties about government affairs; which caused hard close work for us in their meetings.

From Rhode-Island we went to the island of Nantucket, where is also a large body of friends, amongst whom we had good satisfaction. We then returned to the main land, visiting meetings as follow eth, viz. Sandwich, Yarmouth, Suckanesset, and a quarterly meeting at Pembroke, where we met our friend Samuel Hopwood, who was arrived at Boston from England a few days before, in company with Moses Aldrich, on a religious visit.

From thence we went to Boston, where we had a meeting, there being a small number of friends in the town; but truth never pro spered much there: Happening to walk into the prison-yard, I observed a very ancient building, which I judged, by its appearance, might have been the same our friends had formerly suffered very great hardships in. Upon which I asked some present, if that was the prison their forefathers put our friends into? A woman answered, Yes; and added, 'It was a very wicked thing of the rulers of that time, for the land had suffered for it ever since;' or to that import.

A friend of Boston related to me, what he said he had from an ancient inhabitant of that town, who had seen that wicked act of putting to death the four friends as above hinted, viz. I had some discourse with one of the inhabitants, as we were riding toge ther near Boston, concerning the above-mentioned wonderful event. He pretended to argue a natural cause for it; but I en deavoured to shew him, that according to my apprehension those very reasons which he advanced to prove a natural cause for the change, if they proved any thing, I thought it was directly the contrary of what he intended, viz.

But if the airy, any thing resembles the watry element herein, the freer its course, and the less the obstruction it meets with, the more it purges and purifies itself, and is therefore the less capable of producing hurtful consequences either to vegetables or animals. Our spirits were often very deeply baptized on their account, in great travail, that Christ might be formed in them.

It was a very exercising laborious journey, but the Lord mercifully made all up to us, by the comfortable enjoyment of his love and peace flowing into our hearts. Glory to his name for ever! From Newport we set our faces home wards, taking Westerly meeting in our way, and proceeded through the colony of Con necticut to Long-Island; upon which we had meetings at Cowneck, Joseph Lea tham's, Jericho, Westbury, Matinicock, and were at the quarterly-meeting at Flushing.

From thence we crossed the water to West chester on the main; got thither some time before the hour appointed for the meeting, and staid a while at an inn in the town. The landlady coming into our room in a pleasant manner, said, 'I suppose you are travelling friends? I then asked her what we should baptize withal. She replied, 'With water to be sure; for it is not in the power of man to baptize with any thing else.

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. It is evident from this account, that by the effectual preaching of Peter, the Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Ghost; and as the dispensation of God to man is the same now it was then, and he has graciously pro mised to be with his ministers always to the end of the world, and man, by nature in a fallen degenerate estate, as much involved in sin, and a stranger to God as he was then; no good reasons can be given, why the same powerful efficacious means are not as necessary for his recovery, by a reconcilia tion with his maker, as they were at that time.

We invited her to our meeting; she told us, it was what she in tended, and also to prevail with her hus band to go too, if she could, but doubted being successful therein. However, she and her husband were both at the meeting, and the Lord was graciously pleased to give us a precious opportunity together, wherein I am persuaded she was made in some degree sensible of that baptizing power, which, in a comfortable degree, accompanied the ministry that day.

She was tendered, and, at parting, with tears desired us to remem ber her and pray for her. After this meeting we proceeded home wards, taking three meetings in the Jerseys as they fell in our way, viz. Elizabeth-Town, Woodbridge, and Stonybrook. I got home the 7th of the 10th month, and found my dear wife and family well, which was cause of mutual thankfulness; having per formed near as much in about three months, as was usually done in about four. It is very necessary to avoid both extremes in travelling on truth's account; neither to be over-hasty, nor too dilatory: Having staid at home some time, to make necessary provision for an increasing family, I found a concern upon my mind to visit friends a second time on Long-Island and the main land in New-York govern ment, and set out in order thereunto, the 27th of the 8th month, ; being ac companied by my well esteemed friend, John Sykes.

The first meeting we attended on the island, was a yearly-meeting, which was held on a first day at Matinicock. It was a large precious meeting; many not of our society being there, the Lord was plea sed to open the doctrine of his kingdom largely, and his glorious truth was over all; to whom alone be the praise for ever! Notice was given at this meeting, of our intending to be on the next first-day at Westbury, not far from this place; and that week we had meetings at Brook haven, Islip, Bethphage, Rockaway, Henry Willis's, and so to the before-mentioned meeting on first-day.

Friends came to it from divers parts of the island, and also many people of other societies, so that it was a very large meeting. After this meeting we crossed the water, and had meetings at Westchester, Mamaroneck, Long-reach, and Ryewoods; we then returned to the island, and had meetings at Flushing, Oyster-bay, Cowneck, Flushing again, and Newtown.

Having finished our service thereaway, we travelled homewards, taking meetings as we passed along in East-Jersey, at Raliway, Plainfield, and Woodbridge; and in West-Jersey at Upper Springfield, and attended the quarterly-meeting at Cros wicks; after which I returned home, and have to say with thankfulness, that the Lord was to me in this little journey, strength in weakness and riches in the time of poverty; and was pleased to con duct me safe to my dear wife and family in peace.

About the latter end of the year , I found my mind drawn to visit friends meet ings in the western part of our county; and had meetings at East and West Not tingham, Deer-Creek, New-Garden, Lon don-Grove, Ockeshan, Kennet, and Con cord. The Lord enabled me, either to do or suffer, in this little journey, as the same appeared to be my duty.

Soon after my return home, I went into West-Jersey, to visit the following meet ings as I found my mind drawn thereunto, viz. I think it was about this time, I went in company with my well-beloved friend Michael Light foot, to the yearly-meetings at Cecil, and Treadhaven in Maryland, wherein we were greatly favoured. He returned home wards from Maryland, but I went to some meetings in the lower counties of Kent and Newcastle, had a meeting at Duck-Creek, and went to the yearly-meeting at Little-Creek, which was a very precious meeting, divine goodness greatly overshadowing the same, to the tendering many hearts.

From thence I went to George's-Creek, and New castle, and returned home. In the 3d month the same year, I went to Chesterfield quarterly-meeting in the Jerseys, and had meetings at Stony-Brook, Burlington, and Haddon field. In the 5th month the same year, I vi sited the county of Bucks, and had meet ings at Middletown, Bristol, the Falls, Wrights-Town, Buckingham, and Plum sted; taking North-Wales meeting in my return home. The Lord was my sure help and sufficiency in all these journies, affording the comfortable enjoyment of sweet peace in my return: Soon after my return home, great and inexpressible afflictions were permitted to befal me, and my greatly afflicted family, most of whom were seized with the bloody-flux; of which distemper I buried a daughter between four and five years old, and was taken very ill myself of the same disorder: I well remember, when my dear wife lay with great symp toms of death upon her having also some times, as I thought, intervals of hopeful symptoms my mind was in a very great and painful fluctuation between hope and fear.

It seemed to me then impossible to give her up for death, and to be wholly separated from so valuable a companion; but the Lord, who formerly rebuked the winds and allayed the ragings of the sea, was pleased, as in an instant, to bring an holy calmness over my mind, in which there was an intire resignation to his divine will; so that I could say, with Job of old, The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, blessed be his name.

I did not, from that time, look upon her as any more mine, but gave her up into his hands who had kindly bestowed her upon me. I write this by way of encouragement to others, that they may live in the fear of God, and give up in steady obedience to his re quirings; and then, I am well assured, they may lean upon him in all their afflictions, and they will find to their comfort, that those things which appear impossible with man, are possible with God: She departed this life the 22d of the 7th month, ; we having lived together near nine years.

And when I found a concern to travel abroad in the service of truth, she freely gave me up thereunto; having, with great satisfaction, to acknowledge the Lord's goodness, in favouring her with true peace and contentment in my absence; and also, in a steady trust and dependance on his providence, for our support every way in a faithful discharge of duty. She took her leave of our children in a very tender and affectionate manner, committing them to divine providence, and expressing her belief, that his watchful care would be over them when she was gone.

The apprentice and servant boys were called for, at her request; she took them by the hand, and in a loving tender manner, gave them good advice; an heavenly sweetness accom panying her words, which much affected those present. She discovered great near ness of affection to me, to almost the very last, and so departed this life in sweet peace, of which I was favoured, after her removal from me, with a certain evidence to my unspeakable satisfaction; whereby I plainly saw my great loss was her everlasting gain, and was enabled to bow in humble ac quiescence to the divine will, who knows what is best, and orders all things in per fect wisdom.

Being apprehensive that I should be con cerned to travel pretty much abroad in the service of truth, for some years; I thought it my duty, as soon as I conveniently could, to place my children where they might be trained up in the way of truth, and to go myself out of business. The first journey I entered upon, was a second visit to friends in New-England. I set out in order thereunto, the 23d of the 3d month, , and was at two meetings in Burlington next day. Next day I at tended their week-day meeting. The year ly-meeting for that province then came on, which held four days.

It was large, and the divine presence appeared therein to our mutual comfort and strength. The 2d of the 4th month, being four in number, we set out for Rhode-Island; passing through the colony of Connecticut, we met with civil courteous usage, as be fore, when I travelled through that country.

I felt great love in my heart towards them, in which I had a strong persuasion, if not something of a foresight, that truth, in the Lord's time, will break forth and spread in that colony. I found an inclination to go amongst the collegians, who gathered about me, carrying them selves civil and respectful. I had much discourse and reasoning with them con cerning our principles: I could not help remarking, with pleasure, the becom ing order they observed in their questions and answers: I found work also amongst them, to remove the prejudice some had imbibed against us as a people, on account of the wicked and frantick behaviour and conduct of one Rogers and his followers; who, I think, dwelt about New-London in that pro vince, calling themselves Quakers; and as there were none of the right sort, that people might see the difference, they were ready to conclude, that all the people cal led Quakers were such, to the great re proach of our society.

These young students readily admitted what I said to be very just and reasonable. I believe this opportunity tended to the reputation of our society; and am sure it was to my comfort and satisfaction; feeling the love of God flow in mine heart towards those young men, some of whom I did not think far from the kingdom.

I called again to see them in my return, and gave them some books, viz. How have they frequently broken in upon our peaceable quiet meetings, like the raging foaming waves of a troubled sea, casting up mire and dirt! Such a con duct gives sober discerning people, cause to look upon them as a nest of unclean birds; who, instead of promoting true re ligion, may be instrumental to subvert it. I have often wondered, seeing the conduct of many of these pretended gospel-ministers is obviously so very bad, not only whilst they are learning the trade of preaching, but also in their following the same for a livelihood; how it comes to pass that the people bear them.

It is plain, that the strength and security of such ministers, is in the darkness and ignorance of people's minds. We do not read in the Revela tions, of the locusts coming upon the earth, until the smoke arose out of the bottomless pit and darkened the sun and air; and whenever the children of men shall, in a general way, turn to the light of the Sun of Righteousness in their own hearts, mystery Babylon, the mother of harlots, must fall, and these her merchants will be wholly rejected.

All their abominable craft will be fully discovered. Great will be their torment, fear, and distress in that day! The Lord Almighty hasten the time for his own name's sake, when all craft violence, and shedding of human blood may be at an end; and righteousness cover the earth, as water covers the sea! Here we were kindly received by friends, and attended their yearly-meeting, which begun at Ports mouth, where it held only one day, being a meeting for worship; after which, the meetings for worship and business were held four days at Newport: When this great meeting was over, I had meetings at Tiverton, Little Compton, Accoakeset, and Aponyganset, on first-day, and was at their monthly-meeting on second-day.

Next morning, about eight o'clock, I went on board a vessel bound to the island of Nan tucket, John Hanes master, where we ar rived about one o'clock next morning. I staid upon this island about six days, and was at their yearly and monthly-meetings; having good satisfaction therein. I re turned in the same vessel, and landed on the continent in about six hours; had a meeting at Falmouth, and went to their monthly-meeting at Sandwich, and attend ed the quarterly-meeting which was held there.

Here I met with divers friends from our parts who were on the service of truth. We endeavour ed to lay the weight of things more closely upon the active members, and lest them to the Lord's dealings; knowing, that al though Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, it is he alone that can give the increase. I went from thence to Pembroke, where I had a meeting; and through Boston to Lynn, where I had a meeting also; thence to Salem monthly-meeting, and returned to Boston, and had two meetings there, being first-day.

From thence I went directly to Rhode-Island, and had meetings at Ports mouth, and Newport, to good satisfaction: I then re turned homewards with much satisfaction and peace of mind; taking meetings in my way at Connanicut-Island, and South Kingston; so proceeded on my journey through Connecticut, and lodged at New-Haven. I spent part of a day in conver sation, and reasoning with some well dis posed people, to satisfaction.

From thence I travelled homewards, having, as hereto fore, cause to be humbly thankful to the fountain of all goodness, who was near to help as the eye was single to him, in all proving times, whether in heights or depths; and as he was waited upon, gave wisdom and utterance.

I desire he alone may for ever have the praise and glory, if any good is done; as there is no good but what proceeds from him. I had not been long returned from the before-mentioned jour ney, when I laid before the monthly-meeting I belonged to, a concern which had been upon my mind some years, to visit the churches in divers parts of Great-Britain and Ireland; desiring their con currence and certificate, if, upon weighty deliberation, they found unity with my proposal; intimating the time for entering upon that solemn undertaking had appeared to me for some time to be drawing near, and that I should look out for a passage before the end of the year.

I took some little turns in visiting adja cent meetings; and before the yearly-meet ing came on, I went to North-Wales meet ing, and about twenty miles further up the country to Richland, in order to take my leave of some friends and relations, as well as to visit that meeting. In my re turn homewards I was taken very ill of what is there called the yellow fever; be cause the patient is thereby turned as yellow as if he had the jaundice.

I reached to the house of my worthy friend, Thomas Foulke, who, with his good wife and children, were as affectionately kind to me as if I had been one of their nearest relations. But this malignant fever greatly increased upon me. My sister was sent for, and several doctors were employed. Those who saw me concluded all was over, and that I must depart out of this life. I look little no tice of any thing; yet I think I was for the most part sensible, and could perceive I was given up for death, by those who had the care of me.

For my part, I could not see how it would go with me; but had not much, if any apprehen sion of being taken away by death at that time. It was laid before the said meeting by my good friend Michael Lightfoot, and the meetings free concurrence obtained; it was signed by a very great number of friends. This was done when many thought there would be no occasion for a certificate, as they fully expected it was near over with me, as to this world. But I was not easy to miss so good an opportunity of having a concern of so great importance solidly weigh ed by such a substantial body of friends; as I was not likely to have such another opportunity, if the Lord should be pleased to raise me up again.

On my return home, my friends and neighbours came to see me, greatly rejoice ing at my recovery, which they did not expect from what some had seen and others had heard, for several of them visited me in my illness. This was a time of deep probation to me both inwardly and out wardly; being tried, as I sometimes have been when great weakness of body hath been upon me, with sore and distressing poverty of spirit; not having distinct satis faction and clearness in my own mind how it was with me as to my inward con dition, judging an evidence of peace and comfort from the holy spirit would be a wonderful support at such times of bodily affliction; and have found it so, when it hath pleased the Lord to favour me there with.

But he knows what is best and most suitable for us; and therefore I find by ex perience, it is the safest way to resign our wills to his holy will; as we must, for the most part, whilst in this militant state, walk by faith, and not by sight. Soon after my health was restored, an ancient friend whose name was Peter Davis, from New-England, came to Phi ladelphia in order to take a passage for England, and our friend Thomas Gawthrop having performed a religious visit to friends on the continent of America, intending to embark shortly for the same, with Isaac Greenleaf a friend on trade, I joined them; all agreeing to take our passage in a new ship bound for London.

One thing I would just remark, that some friends, and, as I understood, some others also, taking notice how providentially publick friends had been preserved during the war which was then with France and Spain, so that none of them had been taken by the enemy, did presume thereon; and would say There is no need to insure goods in that ship, as so many publick friends are going in her, she will doubt less go safe.

I much disliked this as I thought injustifiable confidence, seeing the judgments of the Lord are a great deep, being unsearchable, and his ways past our finding out. Even Job had no cause to complain of his un parallelled afflictions, when they were over and he saw how greatly he had profited thereby. A friend said to me before we embarked, he did not pretend to determine whether we should be taken or not; but however that might happen, he did be lieve some friends in our station would be taken: I did not pretend any assurance in my own mind, of preservation out of the enemies hands; but was made willing to commit my soul, body, and all that I had unto the Lord, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, not doubting the sufficiency of his power for preservation in every condition of life.

On the 30th of the 9th month , the before-mentioned friends, who were to be my companions upon the mighty ocean, set out from Philadelphia in order to em bark at Chester, in company with many friends, and called for me at my house in Derby, being the direct road. Next day, being the 1st of the 10th month, about two o'clock in the afternoon, we took leave of friends in great love and tenderness, and went on board the ship, which fell down the river that evening a little lower than Newcastle.

Next day in the evening, we came to an anchor near Reedy-Island, where we were detained by a great storm of wind and rain until the 5th in the morning, when we set sail with a fair wind, taking our depar ture from the Capes of the Delaware about six the same evening. The wind continued fair for the most part, though very strong, and a following sea running exceeding high until the 18th; when, according to their calculation, we had run about two-thirds of our passage; seldom having more than a foresail set, and that sometimes reefed, and at other times double reefed.

As we had such a high following sea, it was thought the ship was a-head of their reckoning. From the 18th to the 23d the wind con tinued pretty fair, but more moderate than before. Then it turned about to the east ward and blew exceeding hard, with a very high sea, until the 29th, in which time we lay to, and drove about withersoever the wind and waves could carry us. This was indeed a very trying time; the motion of the waves was so violent, that though she was a strong new ship, she was beat upon with so much force as to make her crack from end to end in a shocking manner, as if she would have been broken to pieces.

I then thought those in my situation had good reason to know well what they were about, and what they exposed themselves to such dangers for; that they had great need to have the mighty Ruler of the sea and land for their friend.

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