lieved liberty of confcience was the natural right of all mankind. Thus the Lord made way for us, bleffed be his holy name for ever. Much close exercise of mind I had for a confiderable length of time, on account of fome particular fcruples which from time to time revived with weight, and fo preffingly accompanied me, that I could not get rid of them. It being a time of war, and preparations for war between Great-Britain and America, and the rulers of America having made a paper currency profeffedly for the special purpose of promoting or maintaining faid war; and it being expected that Friends would be tried by requifitions for taxes, principally for the fupport of war; I was greatly exercised in spirit, both on the account of taking and paffing faid money, and in regard to the payment of fuch taxes, neither of which felt eafy to my mind. I believed a time would come when chriftians would not fo far contribute to the encouragement and fupport of war and fightings, as voluntarily to pay taxes that were mainly, or even in confiderable proportion, for defraying the expenfes thereof; and it was alfo impreffed upon my mind, that if I took and paffed the money that I knew was made on purpose to uphold war, I'fhould not bear a teftimony againft war, that for me, as an individual would be a faithful one. I knew the people's minds were in a rage against fuch as, from any motive whatever, faid or acted any thing tending to discountenance the war. I was fenfible that refufing to pay the taxes, or to take the currency, would immedi ately be conftrued as a pointed oppofition to the prefent war in particular, as even our refufing to bear arms was, notwithstanding our long and welf known teftimony against it. I had abundant reason to expect great cenfure and fome fuffering in confe quence of my faithfulness, if I fhould ftand faithful thefe things, though I knew that my fcruples were were unconnected with any party confiderations, and uninfluenced by any motives but fuch as refpect the propriety of a truly chriftian conduct in regard to war at large. I had no defire to promote the oppofition to Great-Britain; neither had I any defire on the other hand to promote the measures or success of Great-Britain. I believed it my business not to meddle with any thing from fuch views; but to let the pot herds of the earth alone in their fmiting one against another: but I wished to be clear in the fight of God, and to do all that he might require of me towards the more full introduction and coming of his peaceable kingdom and government on earth. 1 found many well concerned brethren, who feemed to have little or nothing of thefe fcruples; and fome others who were like minded with me herein. Under all these confiderations the times looked fomewhat gloomy; and at seasons great difcouragement fpread over my mind. But after fome strugglings, and a length of clofe exercife attended with much inward looking to the Lord for direction and fupport, I was enabled to caft my care upon him, and to risk myself and my all in his fervice, come whatever might come, or fuffer whatever I might fuffer, in confequence thereof. I was well aware of many arguments and objections against attending to fuch fcruples; and fome feemingly very plaufible ones, from feveral paffages of fcripture, especially refpecting taxes; but I believed I faw them all to arife from a want of clear understanding refpecting the true meaning of faid paffages; and I knew I had no worldly intereft, eafe, or honour, to promote, by an honeft attention to what I believed were the reproofs and convictions of divine inftruction. I well knew, not only by reading, but experimentally, that He that doubteth is damned (condemned) if he eat;' and that what is contrary to faith and conviction is fin; therefore I chofe rather to fuffer in this world than incur the difpleasure of him from whom cometh all my confolation and bleffings. In the 9th month this year 1776, in company with my dear friend Mofes Farnum, I vifited Friends at Richmond, in New Hampshire government, a branch of our Monthly Meeting. We were twice at their meeting, and vifited I believe all their families. It was an exercifing time to me; and I was almoft wholly filent both in meetings and families; and even much reftrained from converfation. Yet I had a hope that all was working together for my good; and I endured my trials with a degree of patience, though I often groaned inwardly for deliverance, however the Lord brought me through all, and gave me to rejoice in his falvation. Fifth of 10th month. Having for nearly a year declined taking the paper currency, agreeably to the fecret perfuafion which I had of my duty therein, as before mentioned: I have now the fatisfaction of comparing the different rewards of obedience and difobedience; for though, from the very firft circulation of faid money, I felt uneafy in taking it; yet fears and reafonings of one kind or another prevailed on me to take it for a season; and then it became harder to refuse it than it would probably have been at firft but growing more uneafy and diftreffed about it, at length I refused it altogether, fince which I have felt great peace and satisfaction of mind therein; which has in a very confirming manner been increafing from time to time, the longer I have refufed it and although I get almost no money of any kind, little other being in circulation, yet I had much rather live and depend on Divine Providence, for a daily fupply, than to increase in the mammon of this world's goods, by any ways or means inconfiftent with the holy will of my heavenly Fatherand, the prayer of my foul to him is, that I and all his children may be preferved faithful to him in all his requirings, and out of that love of things here below which alienates from the true love of and communion with him. In the 11th month this year I vifited, in company with a Friend of our monthly meeting, the meetings and many of the families of Friends on Rhode-fland, and had much fatisfaction therein; for though I had hard work in fome families, and paffed through fome clofe exercifes, yet the Lord was with me and bore me up through all, opening my way in the spring of divine life, and furnishing with fuitable matter for communication, to the relief and confolation of my own mind, and I hope to the benefit and comfort of others. And it was remarkable to me, that in a very short time, indeed not many days after I had thus difcharged my duty, and paid this legacy of love to my dear friends on this ifland, the king's troops took poffeffion thereof, whereby the communication was greatly obftructed for a confiderable length of time between. Friends there and the main, that, had I not given up to perform this fmall fervice juft as I did, and when the weight of it was livingly upon me, it is probable I might never have done it at all, or not to much fatisfaction.-A fenfe of the Lord's goodnefs in enabling me to go in the right time, and to find relief and fatisfaction in the vifit, bowed my mind and raised defires therein, that I might ever live like one who knows himself to be but a pilgrim on the earth, and that God alone can fuftain him. Amen. First day, 8th of twelfth month. Divers Friends of our meeting at Providence became exercised in regard to a commotion that was prevailing among the inhabitants. It was faid, and I fuppofe was true, that a British fleet with troops had been seen F 3 not not far from Rhode-Ifland; and it was fuppofed they were aiming to come into New-Port harbour, and probably up the river to this town.. This greatly furprised many of the inhabitantsMany moved their goods, and fome their families out of town, in great hafte and precipitancy. The town feemed in an uproar; carts rattling, and teams driving all night; and, among others, a few Friends in this fudden confternation were induced to move fome of their effects alfo, and a small matter was done at moving their families: and this being, in the view of fome concerned Friends, a weighty, ferious matter, a conference was held after the afternoon meeting upon the occafion, fome Friends of other meetings also being prefent, and though nothing cenforious or uncharitable appeared in any refpecting the conduct of any, yet it was advised that Friends fhould be very careful to act in moderation, and not in the hurry, but wait for clearness, and for ability to act becoming our holy profeffion. Next day this advice was further inculcated by the meeting for fufferings which fat in town, and which, after folid confideration, advised that Friends keep ftill and quiet, and do no more, unless, upon deep and folid confideration, the way fhould be clearly feen for any one to move. It was alfo thought advisable for Friends in all things to conduct fo as not to increase the commotion and intimidation which was already too prevalent among the people. This advice was very favoury to fome of our minds, whofe exercife was great on this occafion; and whofe travail of foul was, that Friends might be preferved in the stability of the unchangeable truth. Fifth day, 12th of 12th month. My mind was impreffed fo deeply with a lively fenfe of the excellency and neceffity of true chriftian charity, that I had to speak of it in our meeting in the constrainings of the Father's love, labouring to encourage Friends |