Week-day-meetings are much neglected by many, 1725. more is the Pity.The Apostle's Advice is necefnecef-n fary for many in our Age, even of profeffed Chriftians, viz. Let us confider one another to provoke unto Love and Good Works, not forfaking the assembling yourfelves together, as the Manner of fome is,Heb. x. 24, 25.

The 23d of the Sixth Month, my Cart-wheel, being Iron-bound, ran over me, and my Horse kick'd me on my Head; the Wheel put my Shoulder out, and the Horfe wounded my Head, fo that the Scull was bare, and my Leg was forely bruised; the fame Day Dr. Owen, and Dr. Graham, with the Help of two of our Neighbours, fet my Shoulder, and dreffed my Wounds; and the Lord was fo merciful to me, that the next Day I was enabled to write this Memorandum of this wonderful Deliverance and speedy Cure, for which, added to the many I have received from his gracious Hand, I have Occafion to be truly thankful I was obliged to keep at Home fome Time, and thought it long, because I could not go to Meetings as ufual; but many Friends came to fee me, which was a Comfort to me. One Day upwards of thirty Perfons came from several Parts of the Country to fee how I did, and were glad I was like to recover. The Day before The Day before I was fo hurt (being the first of the Week) I was at Meeting at Philadelphia, and was concern'd to fpeak of the Uncertainty of Life, and the many Accidents we are incident to in those frail Bodies, and exhorted Friends to live fo, that they might have a Confcience ferene, and clear of Offence towards God and Man, and then they might expect the Comforts of the holy Ghoft, which in fuch Seafons of Difficulty would be a great Help and Benefit to them, of which I had the tweet Experience the next Day, under great Extremity of Pain; and tho' the Pain of my Body was fuch that I could not for feveral Nights take my natural Reft, yet I

had

1725. had Comfort thro' the fweet Influence of the holy Spirit, which Chrift promised his Followers, John xiv. 26.

Philadel phia.

On the 18th of the Seventh Month began our Yearlymeeting at Philadelphia, which was large, and our Friends, John Wanton and William Anthony, from RhodeIsland, and Abigail Bowles, from Ireland, had good Service therein. From this Meeting an Address was fent to King George for his royal Favour to us as a Society of People, in giving his Affent to a Law made in this Province for prefcribing the Forms of Declaration, Affirmation, &c. inftead of the Forms heretofore us'd.

The Beginning of the Eighth Month, being a little recovered from my Hurt, I had a Defire once more to fee my Friends on the Eaftern Shore of Maryland, at their General-meeting at Choptank. The firft Day I fet out, I travelled about thirty Miles, and at Night was very weary, being but weak in Body, and I was almoft ready to faint in my Mind about proceeding any further; but next Day George Robinson (at whofe Houfe I lodged) offering to accompany me, we travelled about forty Miles to Saffafras River, and both of us, though much tired, were comforted in each others Company and Conversation. On the next Day we travelled near twenty Miles to Maryland, the General-meeting in Cecil County in Maryland, where we met with two Friends from Rhode-Island, and two from Pensylvania, who were there on the like Occafion. The Meeting was large and quiet, many People being there not of our Society, and were very fober: The Meeting held feveral Days, wherein the Gospel-Difpenfation was fet forth, and the Love of God in Chrift was exalted.

From

Cacil we went to Chefter River, and had a Meeting there, at which the People were exhorted to come to Chrift, the eternal Rock, and true Foundation, and to build their Religion on him, against whom the Gates of Hell can never prevail; and they were fo much affected, that they did not

feem

Foreft.

seem forward to leave the House after the Meeting 1725. was over. From Chester River we went to Tred-Haven, to the General-meeting of Friends for Maryland, which was very large; fome Friends from Penfylvania and Virginia being alfo there, and many People of other Societies: Many Teftimonies were born to the Operation of Chrift by his Spirit in the Soul, and Friends were earnestly defired to be diligent in reading the holy Scriptures, and to keep up the Practice of our wholesome Difcipline; by the Neglect of which, a Door would be opened to loose living, and undue Liberties. From Tred-Haven we travelled into the Great Foreft, between the Bays of Chesapeak and Dela- The Greas ware, and had a fatisfactory Meeting; as yet there was no publick Meeting-house in this Place, wherefore I told the People of the Howe, I was obliged to them for the Ufe of it; but they tenderly answered, they were more obliged to me for my kind vifiting of them; and truly we had a folid, good Meeting there: The People being generally Poor, they had but little Notice taken of them by the Moneyloving Teachers, who preach for Hire. From the Foreft I went to Little Creek, in the Territories of Little Penfylvania, where was a General-meeting for the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Suffex. The Meeting was large, and Friends parted in great Love and Tenderness. And I went forward to Duck Creek, Duck. where we had a Meeting; divers Perfons of Note Creek, &c. being there, and all were quiet, and heard with Attention. From Duck-Creek I went to George's-Creek, and had a Meeting; where a Man of a fober Conversation, faid, That he never heard Things so spoken to before; but that he could witness to the Truth of all that was faid. It was a good Meeting before the Conclufion; but I was very low and poor in my Spirit in the Beginning of it. From this Place we fet forward to Newcastle, where we had a Meeting; it was the Time of the Sitting of the General Affembly, and several

Members

Creek.

Providence.
Derby.

1725. Members of the House were at Meeting. The Governor (who has from our firft Acquaintance been very refpectful to me) hearing that I was in Town, fent to defire me to tarry all Night in Newcastle; but being engag'd to a Meeting over the Rivers Christine and Brandywine, and it being near Night, I could not stay, but went away that Evening, and fent my Love to him, defiring to be excufed. That Night I lodged at John Richardfon's, and next Day went to George Robinson's, at Newark, where we had a Meeting on the First day, and on Second-day another at Providence; and went from thence to Derby to vifit our worthy, aged Friend Thomas Lightfoot, who lay very weak in Body, none expecting his Recovery; I called as I went from Home, and then he was very ill, and told me, He thought that Illness would conclude his Time in this World, but faid, that all was well, and likewife, that he had a great Concern upon his Mind for the Growth and Profperity of Truth in the Earth, and defired with Tenderness of Spirit, that I would give his dear Love to all Friends; and he now faid, I never thought to fee thee more, but am glad to fee thee. I ftaid there all Night, and in the Morning we had a comfortable Heart-melting Time together, in which was revived the Remembrance of the many favourable Seafons of God's Love we had enjoy'd in our Travels in the Work of the Ministry of the Gospel of Chrift, and we tenderly prayed, if we never met more in this World, we might meet in that which is to come, where we might never part more, but might for ever live to fing with all the Saints and holy Angels, Hallelujah to God and the Lamb. From Derby I went to Philadelphia Thirdday-meeting, and from thence to my Houfe, where my dear Wife and Children with open Hearts and Arms received me, and I them with Joy; at which Time I had a gracious Reward of Peace for my Laboar of Love, which far exceeded Silver or Gold.

In

In this Journey I travelled above three hundred 1725. Miles, had nineteen Meetings, and was from Home above three Weeks, in which Time I recovered of my Lameness to Admiration; fo that I had with Satisfaction to remember the Apostle's Saying, that All Things work together for Good to them that love God, Rom. vij. 28.

After my Return Home, I was at the General-meeting at Frankfort; and in the Beginning of the Ninth Month, I was at Meetings at Abington, German-town, and divers Times at Philadelphia, particularly at the Youths-meeting, wherein feveral Teftimonies were phia. born, and the Youth exhorted to Piety and Humility.

On the Fifth Day of this Month in the Morning, being under a Confideration of the many fore Exercifes and Trials I had met with from my Childhood, I was much affected; but the following Portions of Scripture being brought to my Remembrance, afforded me fome Relief, viz. Whom the Lord loveth be cha Steneth And if ye be without Chafifement, ye are Baftards, and not Sons -And in this World ye shall bave Trouble, but in me Peace,So that I patiently bore my Affliction, and prais'd God under it.

Philadel

Burial at

In this Month I was at the Funeral of our worthy Thomas antient Friend Thomas Lightfoot. He was buried at Lighton's Derby; the Meeting was the largest that I had ever Derby. feen at that Place. Our dear Friend was greatly beloved for his Piety and Virtue, his tweet Difpofition, and lively Ministry: The Lord was with him in his Life and Death, and with us at his Burial.

After this Burial I was at one at Abington; the Meeting was large, and, on that Occafion, feveral Things fuitable to the States of the People were treated on.

I was also about this Time at German town, and at a General-meeting at Plymouth, to my great Satisfac tion, being accompanied by my antient Friend Rowland Ellis; and at the Third-day Meeting in Philadelphia, at the Time of our Fall-Fair; there were

fervent

Cerman