teristick, NOT TO SWEAR AT ALL: they think (whe<ther they are mistaken or no) that the righteousness of Christianity does not need or use an oath; fo that you have their religion, in the highest exercises of it, ‹ in human affairs, for your fecurity.

<

Secondly, That they have often, and at very dear rates, proved to the world they MEAN what they SAY; fince they have frequently chofen to lose their 'eftates, and lie and die in jail, rather than save the one, or deliver the other, by deviating from their principle; and fince, in fuch cafes, integrity is the fecurity all aim at, it is hard to conceive which way any man can give a greater: nor are they fo infenfible, as not to know that untruth in them, after this great indulgence, is a more aggravated crime than perjury in others: fince they excufe themfelves from not fwearing, by a profeffion of an exacter fimplicity, and greater ftrictness.

Laftly, They humbly hope, that being to fuffer for untruth as for perjury, their requeft will not be uneafy; fince they fubject their integrity to trial, upon the hazard of a correction, that is fo much. greater than the nature of the offence, in the eye of the law, would bear. Let them then, pray, SPEAK in their own way; and if falfe, BE PUNISHED in ( YOURS. And fince this honourable houfe has tefti'fied an excelling zeal to fecure the rights and privileges of that great body they reprefent, this inferior 'member, with all due refpect claiming a relation to it, requests they may not be left expofed in theirs; but that, by your wifdom and goodnefs, they may 'be provided for, in true proportion to the exigen'cies they are under; which will engage them in the beft wishes for your profperities.

'W. P.'

On the 5th of the 1ft month, 1695-6, he confummated his fecond marriage at Bristol, with Hannah the daughter of Thomas Callowhill, and granddaughter of Dennis Hollifter, an eminent man of that city: VOL. I. I

fhe

she was a fober and religious young woman, with whom he had a comfortable cohabitation during the reft of his life, and had iffue by her four fons and one daughter.

In the 2d month, 1696, his eldest fon by his former wife, named Springett, died of a confumption, at Worminghurft in Suffex, in the 21ft year of his age, a most hopeful and promifing young man; whose character, published together with that of his mother, in the account before mentioned, is as follows:

SORROW and Joy, in the Lofs and End of SPRINCETT • PENN.'

MY

Y very dear child and eldest fon, Springett ‹ Penn, did from his childhood manifest a difpofition to goodness, and gave me hope of a more than ordinary capacity; and time fatisfied me in both refpects. For befides a good share of learning, and efpecially of mathematical knowledge, he fhewed a judgment in the ufe and application of it, much above his years. He had the feeds of many good qualities rifing in him, that made him beloved, and confequently lamented; but especially his humility, plainnefs, and truth, with a tenderness and foftnefs of nature, that, if I may fay it, were an improvement upon his other good qualities. But though these were no fecurity against sickness and death, yet they went a good way to facilitate a due preparation for them. And indeed the good ground that was in him fhewed itself very plainly fome time before his illness: for more than half a year before it pleased the Lord to vifit him with weakness, he grew more retired, and much difengaged from youthful delights; fhewing a remarkable tenderness in meetings, even when they were filent: but when he faw himself doubtful as to his recovery, he turned his mind and meditations more apparently towards the Lord; fecretly (as alfo when they that attended

upon

< upon him were in the room) praying often, with great fervency to the Lord, and uttering very many thankful expreffions and praises to him in a very deep and fenfible manner. One day he said to us, "I am refigned; what God pleafeth; he knows what "is beft. I would live, if it pleased him, that I "might ferve him: but, O Lord, not my will, but thy will be done."

'One speaking to him of the things of this world, and what might please him when recovered; he an<fwered, " My eye looks another way, where the "trueft pleasure is." When he told me he had refted well, and that I faid it was a mercy to him, ' he quickly replied upon me, with a ferious, yet sweet look, "ALL is mercy, dear father, EVERY thing is "mercy." • Another time when I went to a meeting, at parting, he faid, "Remember me, my dear "father, before the Lord: though I cannot go to "meetings, yet I have many good meetings; the "Lord comes in upon my fpirit; I have heavenly. "meetings with him by myfelf."

And not many days before he died, the Lord appearing by his holy power upon his fpirit when alone, at my return, afking him how he did, he told me, "OI have had a sweet time, a blessed "time! Great enjoyments! The power of the Lord overcame my foul: a fweet time indeed!”

And telling him how fome of the gentry, that had been to vifit him, were gone to their games, and fports, and pleasures, and how little confidera' tion the children of men had of God and their lat' ter end; and how much happier he was in this weakness to have been otherwife educated, and to be preserved from those temptations to vanity, &c. 'he answered, "It is all ftuff, my dear father: it is "fad ftuff. O that I might live to tell them fo!" 'Well, my dear child, I replied, let this be the time of thy entering into fecret covenant with God, that if he raife thee, thou wilt dedicate thy youth, ftrength, and life, to him, and his people, and fer

I 2

•vice:

vice he returned, "Father, that is not Now to "do; it is not Now to do;" with great tenderness с upon his fpirit.

Being almost ever near him, and doing any thing for him he wanted or defired, he broke out with ⚫ much fenfe and love, "My dear father! if I live I "will make thee amends." And fpeaking to him. of divine enjoyments, that the eye of man faw not, but the foul made alive by the Spirit of Christ plainly felt, he, in a lively remembrance, cried out, "O I had a fweet time yesterday by myself! O the "Lord hath preferved me to this day! O blessed be

his name; my foul praifes him for his mercy! O father, it is the goodness of the Lord that I am fo "well as I am!" Fixing his eyes upon his fifter, I he took her by the hand, faying, "Poor TISHE! "look to good things, poor child! there is no com"fort without it. One drop of the love of God is worth "more than all the world. I know it; I have tafted "it: I have felt as much, or more, of the love of "God in this weakness, than in all my life before."

At another time, as I ftood by him, he looked up upon me, and faid, "Dear father, fit by me; I "love thy company, and I know thou lovest mine; and if it be the Lord's will that we must part, be "not troubled, for that will trouble me."

Taking fomething one night in bed, juft before his going to reft, he fat up, and fervently prayed thus: "O Lord God! thou whofe Son faid to his difciples, Whatever ye afk in my Name ye shall re"ceive, I pray thee, in His Name, bless this to me this "night, and give me reft, if it be thy bleffed will, O "Lord!" And accordingly he had a very comfortable night, of which he took a thankful notice before us next day.

And when he, at one time, more than ordinarily, expreffed a defire to live, and intreated me to pray for him; he added, "And, dear father, if the Lord "fhould raise me, and enable me to ferve him and "his people, then I might travel with thee sometimes,

" and

and we might eafe one another;" meaning in the miniftry he fpoke it with great modefty: upon which I faid to him; My dear child, if it please the Lord to raise thee, I am fatisfied it will be fo; and if not, then inafmuch as it is thy fervent defire in the Lord, he will look upon thee juft as if thou 'didst live to serve him, and thy comfort will be the 'fame: fo either way it will be well. For if thou 'fhouldst not live, I do verily believe thou wilt have the recompence of thy good defires, without the temptations and troubles that would attend, if long life were granted to thee.

Saying one day thus, "I am refolved I will have "fuch a thing done;" he immediately catched himfelf, and fell into this reflection, with much contrition, "Did I fay I WILL? O Lord, forgive me that "irreverent and hafty expreffion! I am a poor weak "creature, and live by thee; and therefore I fhould "have faid, If it pleafeth thee that I live, I INTEND "to do fo, or fo; Lord forgive my rafh expreffion!"

Seeing my prefent wife ready to be helpful and do any thing for him, he turned to her and faid, "Do not thou do fo; let THEM; do not trouble thy"felf fo much for fuch a poor creature as I am. And taking leave of him a few nights before his end, he faid to her, " Pray for me, dear mother; "thou art good and innocent; it may be the Lord may hear thy prayers for me; for I defire my ftrength again, that I might live and employ it "more in the Lord's fervice."

<

< Two or three days before his departure, he called his brother to him, and looking awfully upon him, faid, "Be a good boy; and know there is a God, a Great and Mighty God, who is a rewarder of the righteous, and fo he is of the wicked; but their "rewards are not the fame. Have a care of idle

"

people, and idle company; and love good company, "and good friends, and the Lord will blefs thee: I "have feen good things for thee fince my fickness, if "thou doft but fear the Lord; and if I fhould not