1707. it be for thofe that have discharged themfelves faithfully therein! Such will (befides the Earneft of Peace in their own Souls in this World) have a bleffed Reward in the glorious Kingdom of the Lord and his Chrift in that World which is to come. It is well known that I have spent much of my Time (fince I have been free from my Apprenticeship) in Travelling and Preaching the Gofpel, being out often many Months, and fometimes a whole Year, and more; and at Intervals I have been apt to think the Time long, till I got to my Business and Family; and fo have divers Times made more Hafte than I fhould have done, which has brought Trouble on my Mind, and is a Trouble to me unto this Day; which may be a Caution to those who travel in the Work of the Miniftry hereafter, not to make too much Hafte from the Work of Chrift; and yet there ought to be Difcretion used; for a Minifter may stay too long, as well as return too foon, which may be perceived as we keep the Eye of our Mind to our Divine Guide. Prepares to vifit West Indies rope. After I had ftaid at and about Home for fome confiderable Time, a weighty Concern came upon me to Friends in vifit Friends in the Weft-Indies, and fome Parts of Europe, as it might please the Almighty to open my Way; and as it was to be a long Travel, both by Sea and Land, and hazardous, by reafon it was War Time, and many Privateers out at Sea, I fettled my Affairs by Will, and otherwife, that if I fhould not live to come Home again, Things relating to my outward Affairs might be done honourably and well: For at this Time, as at many others, I can truly fay, L gave up my Life freely for my holy Mafter's Sake, and in his Caufe, who faid, Go teach all Nations, &c. On the 29th of the Sixth Month, 1707, I had a Certificate from the Monthly-meeting of Friends at Philadelphia, fignifying their Unity with my Undertaking, and Defires for my Welfare; and a tender Concern was on my Mind that I might live according to to what my Brethren had certified concerning me. I 1707. likewise laid my Exercife before the General Meeting of Minifters and Elders held for the Provinces of Penfylvania and New-Jersey, on the 22d of the Seventh Month, who alfo fignified their Fellowship with my intended Travels and Journey, and recommended me to the Grace of God; and in much Love and Tendernefs I parted with my dear and loving Wife, and my near and affectionate Friends and Brethren. I had for my Companion and Fellow-labourer in the Work of the Gospel, my dear Friend Richard Gove, who also had the Approbation and Unity of Friends in this Journey and Undertaking. We went on board a Sloop at Philadelphia bound for Barbadoes, John Knight, Mafter, about the 27th of the Eighth Month, in the aforefaid Year. After a few Days Sailing down the River Delaware, we put to Sea, and in about a Month's Time we came within Sight of Barbadoes, where we met with a Pri- At Sea. vateer, which chafed, and had like to have taken us; a Priva Chafed by but the good Providence of God preferved us out of teer. the Hands of thofe Enemies: For ever bleffed be his great Name! In this Chace the Seamen were uneafy, and belched out wicked Oaths, and curfed the Quakers, wishing all their Veffels might be taken by the Enemy, because they did not carry Guns in them: At which [Evil] I was grieved, and began thus to expoftulate with them: Do you know the Worth of a Man's Life? (Guns being made on Purpose to destroy Mens Lives;) were this Ship and Cargo mine, fo far as I know mine Heart, I do ingenuously declare, I had rather loose it all, than that one of you should loofe his Life (for I certainly knew they were unfit to die.) Lives! fay they, we had rather loofe our Lives than go to France. But, faid I, that is not the Matter; Had you rather go to Hell, than go to France? They being guilty of great Sins and Wickedness, and convicted in their own Confciences, held their Peace, and 1707. faid no more about the poor Quakers; and when we got within Gun-Shot of a Fort on Barbadoes, the Enemy left chafing us. Nevis. Next Morning early we fafely arrived at BridgeBarbadees. Town in Barbadoes, where our Friends gladly received us; amongst whom we labour'd in the Work of the Gospel for about two Months; and from thence, after having had divers good and edifying Meetings for Antigua the Worship of God, we failed for Antigua, and ftay'd fome Days there, having Meetings, and vifiting our Brethren. From Antigua we fail'd for Nevis, but the Montferra:. Wind being contrary, we put in at Montferrat (an Ifle that hath a great Mountain in it, on the Top of which is a hot Spring of Water, which boils up, and the Mud of it is clear Brimftone; fome of which we carried on board our Veffel; the which is admirable, and fhews the wonderful Works of God. They fay that the Spring is hot enough to boil an Egg.) From this Inland we failed to Nevis, and had Meetings with those few Friends that were there, with whom we parted at the Sea-fhore in great Love and Tenderness. After Anguilla. which we failed to an Island called Anguilla, and were civilly treated there by the Generality of the People; as alfo by the Governor, George Leonard, at whofe House we had Meetings. I remember, that after one Meeting the Governor went into his Porch, and took the Bible, and opened it, and faid, By this Book, if People believe the boly Scriptures, I am able to convince the World, and prove that the People called Quakers are the People of God, and that they follow the Example and Doctrine of Christ, and the Practices of the Apoftles and primitive Chriftians, nearer than any People in the World; (ie. generally fpeaking.) At this Inland feveral People were heartily convinced, and did confefs to the Truth, among whom a Meeting was fettled, Here was never any Friend before, as the Inhabitants faid. I intreat the Lord Jehovah to preserve the fincere-hearted among them in his boly Fear, whilst they they remain in this World; and not them only, but all 1707. that love and fear him, in all Kindreds and Nations, and amongst People of all Profeffions whatfoever. This, in the univerfal Spirit of God's Divine Love, is the Defire of my Soul. Back from Anguilla we went to Nevis, Nevis. and from Nevis to Antigua; and notwithstanding our Antigua. Sloop was a dull Sailer, yet we were preferved from the Enemy, to the Admiration of ourfelves, Friends, and others, our Course being in the very Road of the Privateers. Juft as we got into the Harbour and were landed, a Privateer came by with a Prize along with her, as we fuppofed, which excited our Thankfulness to the Lord for our Prefervation. Here we met with the Packet-Boat bound for Jamaica, and thence for England. We ftaid a little at the Inland call'd Saint Chriftophers. In our Way to Jamaica we faw St. Chrifte a fmall Privateer, that gave us Chace, and it being phers. calm, the rowed up towards us. The Mafter prepared the Veffel to fight, hoifting up his Mainfail, and putting out our Colours. In the Interim fome were bold, and fome forrowful. One came to me, Chafed by and afked, What I thought of it? And what I thought teer. of the Quakers Principles now? I told him I thought I was as willing to go to Heaven, as himself was; to which he said nothing, but turned away from me. Another asked me, What I would do now? I told him, I would pray that they might be made better, and that they might be made fit to die. Then in the midst of their Noife and Hurry, in Secret I begged of the Almighty, in the Name, and for the Sake of his dear Son, that he would be pleased to caufe a fresh Gale of Wind to fpring up, that we might be delivered from the Enemy without fhedding Blood (well knowing that few of them were fit to die) and even whilft I was thus concerned, the Lord anfwered my Defire and Prayer, for in a few Minutes the Wind fprung up, and we foon left them out of Sight, our Veffel failing extraordinary well, and the next Day a Priva 1707. we got to Jamaica, and had divers Meetings, viz. at Port-Royal, Kingston, and Spanish-Town, &c. At a Jamaica, Meeting at Spanish-Town, there were divers Jews, to whom my Heart was very open, and I felt great Love to them, for the Sake of their Fathers Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and they were fo affected with the Meeting, that they fent us fome unleavened Cakes, made with fine Flour and fweet Oil, it being a Festival Time with them. We had a Meeting at PortRoyal, in a Place where the Earthquake had destroyed a large Building, in which Meeting I had Occafion to remind them of the righteous Judgments of God, which had been justly inflicted on them for their Sins and Wickedness. Some wept, and fome were rude. The People here, as I was informed, were generally very wicked. After having had divers Meetings, the Packet in which we had taken our Paffage, being oblig'd to stay but ten Days, we went off fooner than we otherwife fhould have done, and folemnly taking Leave of thofe Friends that were there, we went on board our Veffel, in order for England, by God's Permiffion. We got readily through the Windward Paffage, which is between the Iflands of Cuba and Hispaniola; and divers Times after we left Jamaica, we were chased by several Ships, but they could not come up with us. One Ship of twenty-eight Guns gave us Chace after a great Storm, and was almost up with us before we could well make Sail; they being eager of their Prey, fent their Hands aloft to let their Reefs out of the Topfails, in order to make more Speed, and came running mightily towards us, and gained much upon us; we fearing to make Sail, by reafon of the Storm, and the Sea running very high, and our Mafts being therefore in Danger, we were fome Time in Doubt, whether we fhould escape or not: But whilft we were in this Confternation, down came the French Ship's three Topmafts at once, fo we escaped, and left her, and went rejoicing on our Way, Sails for that |