Friends (as at divers other times alfo) made me pen- 1733. five and forrowful; but it being on a Principle of Juftice, and fometimes meeting with the Prefence and Goodness of God, I was enabled to do my Affairs and Business, and forbore to appear forrowful as much as poffibly I could, or to be of a fad Countenance in the Sight of Men; but to him, who knew all Things, and fees in fecret, I poured out my Soul in all my Afflictions, for he only is able to help me. I met with fome who untruly cenfured me, as covetous of the Things of this World, or to be rich; and that for the fake of thefe outward Things, I might venture my Life until I might lofe it: Really, as to my Life, it hath long been my Defire to be ready to refign it, and is fo ftill: And, as to thofe outward Things, fo far as I know, my Heart is clear; Food and Raiment, and to be clear and even with the World, having rather to give than receive, is all the Grandeur I defire, and if that be not granted, I hope to be contented without it, and to be thankful. I look upon Crowns and Scepters, and all the fine Things of this World, that are of the Nature of it, but as Trifles, and diminutive Things, in comparison of a House and Kingdom eternal in the Heavens. In this Voyage, as ufual, I read in the holy Scriptures, and met with At Sea: ftrong Confolation therein, especially in the New-Teftament; I also read much in the Works of that eminent Judge and good Chriftian, Matthew Hale.

The 7th of the Eighth Month, we arrived at Bar- Arrives at badoes, ftaid three Weeks and one Day, and had divers Barbados. religious Meetings. I haften'd to accomplish my Affairs before Winter, it coming on, and the Time of the Year dangerous for failing on our Coafts. On the 30th of the Eighth Month we left the Ifland of Barbadoes, bound for Philadelphia; and on the 11th of the At Sea. Ninth Month it pleafed God to favour us with a gracious Opportunity to worship him; wherein was declared to the Ship's Company, The Nature and Ad

vantage

1733. vantage of Good, and the Fountain from whence it flows, or fprings; as alfo the Nature and Difadvantage of Evil; the one being or fpringing from God, and the other proceeding from Satan, or the Devil, who is the Root of all Evil; and, that Man might be left without Excufe, God hath fent the divine and fupernatural Light of his holy Spirit, to fhow to Mortals what is Good, and what is Evil; in order that they might embrace the Good, and refuse the Evil.

Philadel bia.

As Seas

The 21ft of the Ninth Month we had a very hard Gale of Wind at North-weft, which blew fo hard, that it put us by from failing, so that we were obliged to lay her to the Wind; for, by the Violence thereof, we could not carry any Sail; and it was fo dark, that we could neither fee Stars nor one another; nor hear one another without we were very near, the Seas rifing very high: Indeed the long, ftormy and dark Nights were very difmal; and fome of our Goods got loose in the Hold. In the Beginning of the Night, about the feventh Hour, Philip Kearney, my Apprentice, fell into the Sea and was loft, which was a deep Affliction to us in divers Confiderations.

The 25th we faw the Land, and next Day we came to an Anchor in Delaware Bay. The Lofs of this Lad, was a Caufe that we were not so joyful, as is ufual for People to be when come to the Shore.

The latter End of the Tenth Month I went the third Voyage (Commander of the Barbadoes-Packet) from Philadelphia, bound to Barbadoes: We were tow'd through the Ice by two Boats from Thomas Mafter's Wharff, and in two Days got to Reedy-Ifland; from whence we failed down Delaware Bay; where we lay two Nights, the Wind being contrary, blowing hard, the Nights being long, the Days very fhort, and Weather fharp; we left our Capes in the Night, it being dangerous lying in the Bay; and after being out feveral Days, we had favourable Winds, and pleasant Weather; but when we got into the Trade-Wind, it

blew

Arrives at

blew hard, and moftly against us; fo that the firft Land 1733 we saw was the Island of Chriftopher's, where we arrived in 20 Days from our Capes; and the Market for Pro- Chrifto vifions being at that Time better than at any other of pher's. those Islands, and the Property of the Veffel mostly belonging to me, and the Cargo generally confign'd to me, I disposed of Part of it. Here being no Meeting of our Society on this Island, I had Meetings on board the Veffel in the Harbour, and divers from the Shore, and feveral Masters of Veffels came to our Meetings, the Snow having large Accommodations for fuch an Occafion; and, fo far as I could understand, the People were generally fatisfied, and spoke well of our Meetings.

Of late Times, and alfo in this Voyage, meeting with many Loffes and Croffes, and much Afflictions, and various Exercises, I was ready to fay in my Heart, Lord, why am I thus afflicted now in my declining Years, fince thou knows, I love thee above all Things, and that I would not willingly or knowingly offend thee, my great and dear Lord? It was answered (as though vocally spoken) My only begotten and beloved Son, who never offended me, fuffered much more. This Word being fuch an evident Truth, I begg'd Patience to go through all my Sufferings and Afflictions, fo that at laft I might live with Chrift in the glorious Kingdom of God for ever, where I might always bless and praise his holy Name.

Five or fix Days after our Arrival at this Island, a Veffel, that came out five or fix Days before us, arrived, The meeting with the fame boisterous Weather as we did, yet we made our Paffage ten or eleven Days fooner: Divers other Veffels, bound to Barbadoes, put in here, through these contrary Winds; and when I faw others in the like Circumftances with us, I was the more thankful for being preferved fafe, and fo foon to this Place; yet it was a confiderable Lofs and fore Trial not to get to Barbadoes, the Inland I was bound

to,

1733. to, and a great Difappointment to me, and many

more.

At this Inland a Perfon, whofe Name was

Galloway, a Man of a great Eftate, hearing that I kept Meetings on board the Veffel, kindly invited me to have a Meeting at his House, and faid he would give Notice of it to divers of the Gentlemen (as he called them) of the Ifland, telling me, that I fhould be welcome to his Houfe, which was much more convenient than the Veffel; but I was not very forward to accept of my Friend Galloway's kind Offer, being fenfible of my own Weaknefs and inward Poverty, fo that I made feveral Excufes to evade it; but he obviated them all. ft, I asked him, If he could bear the Reproach of having a Quakers Meeting at his House? He anfwer'd, Yes, there is Good and Bad of all Societies. 2dly, I ask'd, If his Wife would like it, or be willing that a Meeting should be in the House? He faid, She defired it, and would be very willing. 3dly, I afk'd, If be thought be could fit in Silence? He told me, He believ'd be could. I then told him, I was obliged to him for his kind and friendly Offer, and, God willing, I intended to come, and tell my People of the Ship's Company to come alfo, and defired him to give Notice of it: The which he did; and there was a large fatisfactory Meeting; Oh may the Almighty fanctify it to fome Souls, is my Defire!

He and his Wife were both very courteous to me, and invited many of his rich Friends and Relations: His Wife's Father was a Judge in this Ifland of good Repute. Divers People, of feveral Profeffions, were at this Meeting, and many expreffed their being glad of it. An-Attorney at Law faid, he was thankful for the Words he had heard that Day, and, if I would stay with them, he would always come to our Meetings. One Judge Mills was at this Meeting, and very kindly invited me to his Houfe. Some meeting me next Day, faid, they were forry they were not there. The Mistress

Mistress of the Houfe told divers of the People, who 1733. were Perfons of Note, That they should remember what they bad beard; and spoke it with a religious Concern, as it seem'd to me. When I went to this Meeting, I was very poor, and in much Fear, fpeaking with a great Concern on my Mind for the Peoples Salvation, and that God, thro' Chrift, might be glorified.

After this Meeting, it was (as tho' a Voice) faid unto me, How doft thou know but for this Caufe, and for this Meeting, thou art brought here to this land, tho' against thy Will? The People told me, that they did not remember that there ever was a Meeting of our Friends before on the Inland. The Meeting had, this Effect, that the People had a beter Opinion of our Society than they had before. The Subject in this Meeting was, The Excellency of the Gospel Difpenfation above that of the Law, in that it brought us to the Law, went through the Law, and was above the Law, and far from destroying the Law, but fulfilled it; for Proof of which, they were referred to Chrift's most excellent Sermon which he preached on the Mount, Mat. v.

From the Inland of Christopher's I propofed, God willing for Barbadoes; the which I apprehended would be a troublesome Voyage, it being about 100 Leagues to Windward, and a ftrong Current against us. On the 19th of the Twelfth Month, we failed towards Barbadoes; and the Wind being a-head, and blowing hard, we tarried two Nights at the Inland of Lucea, where we took in Wood and Water: The People Luca here were mostly French, and were very civil to us.

The 21ft we put out again to Sea; but the Wind and Current being against us, obliged us to go into the Harbour from whence we came, and tarry for an Opportunity more favourable. While we were in this Harbour, which is a very good one, feveral Veffels came in on the like Occafion; and a Veffel that came