first purifying them, and thus giving them a just sense of the conditions of others.

This truth was early fixed in my mind; and I was taught to watch the pure opening, and to take heed, lest while I was standing to speak, my own will should get uppermost, and cause me to utter words from worldly wisdom, and depart from the channel of the true gospel ministry. In the management of my outward affairs, I may say with thankfulness, I found truth to be my support; and I was respected in my master's family, who came to live in Mount Holly within two years after my going there.

About the twenty-third year of my age, I had many fresh and heavenly openings, in respect to the care and providence of the Almighty over his creatures in general, and over man as the most noble amongst those which are visible. And being clearly convinced in my judgment, that to place my whole trust in God was best for me, I felt renewed engagements, that in all things I might act on an inward principle of virtue, and pursue worldly business no farther, than as truth opened my way therein.

About the time called Christmas, I observed many people from the country, and dwellers in town, who, resorting to public houses, spent their time in drinking and vain sports, tending to corrupt one another; on which account I was much troubled. At one house in particular there was much disorder; and I believed it was a duty incumbent on me to go and speak to the master of that house. I considered I was young, and that several elderly Friends in town had op

portunity to see these things; but though I would gladly have been excused, yet I could not feel my mind clear.

The exercise was heavy, and as I was reading what the Almighty said to Ezekiel, respecting his duty as a watchman, the matter was set home more clearly; and then with prayers and tears, I besought the Lord for his assistance, who in loving kindness, gave me a resigned heart. Then at a suitable opportunity, I went to the public house; and seeing the man amongst much company, I went to him, and told him, I wanted to speak with him; so we went aside and there in the fear and dread of the Almighty, I expressed to him what rested on my mind; which he took kindly, and afterward shewed more regard to me than before. In a few years afterwards he died, middle-aged; and I often thought, that had I neglected my duty in that case, it would have given me great trouble; and 1 was humbly thankful to my gracious Father, who had supported me herein.

My employer having a negro woman, sold her, and desired me to write a bill of sale, the man being waiting who bought her. The thing was sudden, and though the thoughts of writing an instrument of slavery for one of my fellowcreatures felt uneasy, yet I remembered I was hired by the year, that it was my master who directed me to do it, and that it was an elderly man, a member of our society, who bought her; so, through weakness, I gave way and wrote it; but, at the executing it, I was so afflicted in my mind, that I said, before my master and the

Friend, that I believed slave-keeping to be a practice inconsistent with the Christian religion. This, in some degree, abated my uneasiness; yet as often as I reflected seriously upon it, I thought I should have been clearer if I had desired to be excused from it, as a thing against my conscience, for such it was. And some time after this, a young man of our society spoke to me to write a conveyance of a slave to him, he having lately taken a negro into his house; I told him I was not easy to write it: for though many of our meeting and in other places kept slaves, I still believed the practice was not right, and desired to be excused from the writing. I spoke to him in good will, and he told me that keeping slaves was not altogether agreeable to his mind, but that the slave being a gift made to his wife, he had accepted her.

C

CHAPTER II.

His first journey, on a religious visit, into East Jersey, in company with Abraham Farrington. -His thoughts on merchandizing, and his learning a trade. His second journey with Isaac Andrews into Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.-His third journey with Peter Andrews, through part of West and East Jersey.-Some account of his sister Elizabeth, and her death.-His fourth journey with Peter Andrews, through New York and Long Island, to New England.-And his fifth journey, with John Sykes, to the Eastern shore of Maryland, and the lower Counties on Dela

ware.

My esteemed friend, Abraham Farrington, being about to make a visit to Friends on the eastern side of this province, and having no companion, he proposed to me to go with him; and after a conference with some elderly Friends, I agreed to go. So we set out the fifth day of the ninth month, in the year 1743; had an evening meeting at a tavern in Brunswick, a town in which none of our society dwelt; the room was full, and the people quiet. Thence to Amboy, and had an evening meeting in the courthouse; to which came many people, amongst whom were several members of assembly, they being in town on the public affairs of the province. In both these meetings my ancient companion was enlarged to preach, in the love of the gospel. Thence we went to Woodbridge,

Raway, and Plainfield; and had six or seven meetings in places where Friends' meetings are not usually held, being made up chiefly of Presbyterians, and my beloved companion was frequently strengthened to publish the word of life amongst them. As for me, I was often silent through the meetings; and when I spake, it was with much care, that I might speak only what truth opened; my mind was often tender, and I learned some profitable lessons. We were out about two weeks.

Near this time, being on some outward business in which several families were concerned, and which was attended with difficulties, some things relating thereto not being clearly stated, nor rightly understood by all, there arose some heat in the minds of the parties, and one valuable Friend got off his watch. I had a great regard for him, and felt a strong inclination, after matters were settled, to speak to him concerning his conduct in that case; but I being a youth, and he far advanced in age and experience, my way appeared difficult; but after some days deliberation, and inward seeking to the Lord for assistance, I was made subject, so that I expressed what lay upon me: it was well taken, and I believe was useful to us both.

Having now been several years with my employer, and he doing less at merchandise than heretofore, I was thoughtful about some other way of business, perceiving merchandise to be attended with much cumber in the way of trading in these parts.

My mind, through the power of truth, was in